” My mother is not a foodie. But for as long as I can remember, once a year, she becomes possessed of a profound & desperate need to serve up a perfect roast turkey. Faced with a walk into the village though, she might think `oh, f*** it` & decide to get a frozen one from Bejams on the 23rd & leave it to defrost in the downstairs toilet for not quite 48 hours.” From perennially dry turkeys to Christmas pudding fires, from the round robin code of conduct to the risks & rewards of re-gifting, An Almost Perfect Christmas is an ode to the joy & insanity of the most wonderful time of the year. ...

Exquisitely illustrated by award-winning, bestselling picture book creator, Oliver Jeffers, this irresistible board book gloriously brings the alphabet to life. From Astronaut to Zeppelin, this is no ordinary alphabet... Boldly colourful, funny & specially adapted from Oliver Jeffers` highly-acclaimed Once Upon an Alphabet, winner of the CBI Book of the Year, this new edition is perfect for younger readers. ...

London is the only city in the world where you could ever find Gilbert & George sharing space with the Gherkin & the Globe while the Great Fire burns & a gin drinker glugs her favorite tipple, & where members of the Bloomsbury Group hail a black cab while barrage balloons hover over Broadcasting House during the Blitz. In A London Alphabet, Christopher Brown presents a series of wonderfully whimsical linocuts illustrating every aspect of London past & present, including personalities, buildings, monuments, legends, historic events, & other metropolitan icons. From Dickens, Dr Johnson, Tower Bridge, & the Shard to the Diamond Jubilee, Wimbledon, pigeons, & jellied eels, all London life is here. A born-&-bred Londoner, Brown recounts his own memories of growing up in the capital, & also describes how he creates his distinctive prints. His unique, often humorous take on London will delight anyone who lives in or visits the city. ...

Have fun with reading, using this unusual alphabet first published in 1915. The illustrations, drawn by the well-known artist Charles Pears & inspired by London`s transport, are packed with interesting details designed to appeal to all ages. New readers will enjoy learning their letters while they talk about the colourful pictures. Older children will love the rhyming text & delightful detail in the drawings. The poignant historical background to this unique little booklet is revealed in Oliver Green`s introduction. ...

Exquisitely illustrated by award-winning, bestselling picture book creator, Oliver Jeffers, this irresistible board book gloriously brings the alphabet to life. From Astronaut to Zeppelin, this is no ordinary alphabet.... Boldly colourful, funny & specially adapted from Oliver Jeffers` highly-acclaimed Once Upon an Alphabet, winner of the CBI Book of the Year, this sturdy edition is perfect for younger readers. ...

As Stephen Rojack, a decorated war hero & former congressman who murders his wife in a fashionable New York City high-rise, runs amok through the city in which he was once a privileged citizen, Mailer peels away the layers of our social norms to reveal a world of pure appetite & relentless cruelty. One part Nietzsche, one part de Sade, & one part Charlie Parker, An American Dream grabs the reader by the throat & refuses to let go. ...

In the 1860s & 1870s Whistler produced a body of work based on Battersea Bridge, London. Pivotal to his career, this beautiful group of paintings permits a detailed examination of his approach to composition, subject & technique. The earliest pieces, notably Brown & Silver: Old Battersea Bridge, produced soon after his arrival in London, mark one of his most profound & successful challenges to the art establishment of the time & his influence on the aesthetics of the day. This comprehensive & handsomely illustrated study presents the definitive examples of Whistler`s radical new approach to the time-honoured subject of the city & river. The works reveal to us Whistler`s world
- the exhibitions, personalities, buildings, style & atmosphere which inform his art & root this American cosmopolitan securely in the ranks of noted artists inspired by London & the Thames.
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Ben Matson lost someone he loved in the 9/11 attacks. Or thinks he did
- no body has been recovered, & she shouldn`t have been
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Where do we seek adventure? In the early 1920s more Americans were finding it in Europe. The majority of travellers were exploring & experiencing a connection with their historical & cultural past. Anna Mc Cleary’s diary is a reflection of the curiosity of so many of her fellow Americans. ...

Each chilli demands & deserves to be known in its own right. With hundreds of varieties, & a dizzying array of flavours, shapes, sizes & colours, chillies are a key ingredient in everything from our favourite curries to drinks & desserts. But even the most experienced chilli fanatic needs a guide to which variety to choose & how hot to go on the infamous Scoville scale. This essential kitchen companion profiles 100 versatile chilli varieties, chosen to showcase their impressive range of shape, colour, flavour & heat, ranging from milder everyday favourites such as the jalapeno, ancho & bell pepper to exotic new superhots including the Dorset Naga & Carolina Reaper. Organized by heat level on the infamous Scoville scale, An Anarchy of Chillies tells the story of each variety & offers advice on how to identify, grow & prepare them. The striking illustrations, in a vivid graphic style inspired by the CMYK process, make this not only a go-to reference but also a beautiful art piece. Written & illustrated by Caz Hildebr&, author of the successful Herbarium & The Grammar of Spice, this is a wonderful gift book for any cook, gardener or chilli lover. ...