One of the great autobiographies of the twentieth century.. .A journey from luminous childhood, through the dark experiences of supposed madness, to the renewal of her life through writing fiction. It is a heroic story, & told with such engaging tone, humorous perspective & imaginative power` Michael Holroyd, Sunday Times After being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia as a young woman, Janet Frame spent several years in psychiatric institutions. She escaped undergoing a lobotomy when it was discovered that she had just won a national literary prize. She then went on to become New Zealand`s most acclaimed writer. As she says more than once in this autobiography: ` My writing saved me.` ` One of the most beautiful & moving books I have ever read.. .A masterpiece.. . Janet`s autobiography had an enormous effect on me. She struck a blow right to my heart` Jane Campion ...

A beautiful special gift, this is a children`s animal encyclopedia with a twist. Alongside interesting facts are the stories & myths behind children`s favourite animals as well as incredible pictures & stunning illustrations. Containing more than 100 species, this beautiful modern bestiary will take children through the animal kingdom from the huge whale to the tiny spider. Discover how the koala got its name or which animal the Ancient Egyptians thought rolled the Sun across the sky. Each page features fun animal facts & detailed close-up photographs for children to pore over, including firm favourites such as dolphins, tigers & butterflies as well more unusual animals such as walrus, lemur & peacock. A perfect gift for children who can`t get enough of animals, wildlife & nature, An Anthology of Intriguing Animals covers animals big & small & feathered & furred & will be a treasured favourite book. ...

An irresistible invitation to reject the work ethic & enjoy life`s simple pleasures (such as laughing, drinking & lying in the open air), Robert Louis Stevenson`s witty & seminal essay on the joys of idleness is accompanied here by his writings on, among other things, growing old, visiting unpleasant places & the overwhelming experience of falling in love. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves
- & each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war & revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked & comforted. They have enriched lives
- & destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals & visionaries whose ideas shook civilization & helped make us who we are.

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An Appetite for Lombardy is a series of portraits of the most interesting characters behind some of the best food & wine in Lombardy. This book explores not only their cooking but also their stories & views, which are thought –provoking & inspiring. ...

An Appetite for Umbria by Christine Smallwood is both a beautifully illustrated recipe book & a series of portraits that highlight the best restaurants in Umbria. But ‘best’ certainly doesn’t mean ‘similar’. In the book you will find up-market restaurants next to informal wine bars & casual eating places, establishments that have been run by the same families for many decades next to newcomers, & the modern & stylish next to the more traditional. An Appetite for Umbria gives a snapshot of the heroes of Italian food in this region, some of international renown, others unsung, accompanied by samples of the type of food you can expect to find at their restaurants, trattorie, osterie & enoteche. This book explores not only their cooking but also their history, stories & views, which are though-provoking, entertaining & inspiring. Many of the featured establishments are small, & their owners have every intention of keeping them that way, preferring 25 customers to feel delighted about the food & service they have received, rather than 50 merely think the experience was good. In none of them is there a frenzied race for culinary decorations, nor are quality or innovation sacrificed for easy returns: many of these chefs & proprietors are supporters of small, local food suppliers & producers rather than supermarket chains, & all believe that offering good food
- & wine
- is a duty as much as a delight. Each restaurant in the book is listed according to its location, & information is provided on the restaurants address, contact details, opening hours & number of covers. Sections at the back of the book provide an overview of the regions specialties, & comprehensive directions & maps are included for each of the restaurants listed in the text.

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Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? Can beggars be choosers? Is it always better late than never? Proverbs are short, well-known, pithy sayings that offer advice or words of encouragement & are used in everyday English without much thought ever being given to their meanings, or indeed, usefulness. In An Apple A Day Caroline Taggart explores the truth behind our favourite proverbs, their history & whether they offer any genuine help to the recipient. Did you know that The Old Testament has an entire book devoted to proverbs? Or that `a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush` is a proverb from falconry that dates back to the Middle Ages? Many proverbs are still in use today, including the very famous `slow & steady wins the race`, which derives from one of the many fables of Aesop. Lighthearted but authoritative, An Apple A Day proves that proverbs are as useful today as they ever were. ...

A luminous & challenging work of autobiographical travel writing. In An Area of Darkness, V.S. Naipaul describes his encounter with a force in his life which shocked him into awareness of a need for self-examination & self-explanation. It is perhaps natural that his year-long sojourn in India should have provided such a shock. The experience was not a pleasant one, but the pain the author suffered was creative rather than numbing, & engendered a masterful work of literature that is by turns tender, lyrical, explosive & cruel. With spectacular narrative skill, Naipaul provides a revelation both of India & of himself: a displaced person who paradoxically possesses a stronger sense of place than almost anyone. He spins his web not so much to entrap his readers as to make them think for themselves.V.S. Naipaul won the 2001 Nobel Prize for Literature. ...

THE FIRST BOOK IN V.S. NAIPAUL`S ACCLAIMED INDIAN TRILOGY -- WITH A NEW PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR An Area of Darkness is V. S. Naipaul`s semi-autobiographical account -- at once painful & hilarious, but always thoughtful & considered -- of his first visit to India, the land of his forebears. He was twenty-nine years old; he stayed for a year. From the moment of his inauspicious arrival in Prohibition-dry Bombay, bearing whisky & cheap brandy, he experienced a cultural estrangement from the subcontinent. It became for him a land of myths, an area of darkness closing up behind him as he travelled.. . The experience was not a pleasant one, but the pain the author suffered was creative rather than numbing, & engendered a masterful work of literature that provides a revelation both of India & of himself: a displaced person who paradoxically possesses a stronger sense of place than almost anyone. ` Brilliant` Observer ` His narrative skill is spectacular. One returns with pleasure to the slow h&-in-hand revelations of both India & himself` The Times ...

Apulia – An Armchair Traveller’s History by Desmond Seward & Susan Mountgarret is a compelling reading that links the landscape of this region to its history & early travellers. As the writers explore Apulia area by area they unravel the local history presenting comments & observations from early travellers such as Abate Giovanni Battista Pacichelli, an extensive traveller & member of the Royal Society at London from the 17th century, Henry Swinburne, Englishman from the 18th century & author of Travels in the Two Sicilies, Charles Macfarlane a Scottish writer from the 19th century & Norman Douglas writer of South Wind & Old Calabria, just to name a few. Learn about the landscape that makes up the heel of Italy, from the mountainous north of the Gargano to the flat Tavoliere. Marvel at the fascinating history its monuments & ruins tell & unveil the legacy of repeated invasions, from the arrival of the Greeks in 800 BC, the Goths in the 5th century to the Bourbons & the French in the 19th century, & many others in between. Discover the resourcefulness for survival shown by its people, creating cave-cities to escape the Goths & Saracens, or generating wealth exporting oil & wine while under Norman’s harsh rules or building Lecce in a Baroque style despite plague & Spanish taxation. This book, wonderfully written, tells a riveting story that will fascinate anyone interested in the past & the impressions of early travellers who visited this little known part of Italy. ...

As China s global influence continues to rise, its capital, Beijing, has become increasingly important & a popular tourist destination, greeting close to five million international visitors each year. ” An Armchair Traveller s History of Beijing” presents the capital from its earliest beginnings as a prehistoric campsite for Peking Man through its fluctuating fortunes under a dozen dynasties. Home tocapitals ofseveral states over time, the site of modern Beijing has been ruled by Mongolian chiefs & the glorious Ming emperors, whose tombs can still be found on its outskirts. Through Beijing, we can experience Chinese history itself, including its more famous residents including Khubilai Khan, Mulan, & Marco Polo. Special emphasis is placed on Beijing s precarious heritage in the twenty-first century, as modern construction wipes out much of the old city to make way for homes for twenty million people. This book also offers detailed information on sites of tourist interest, including the pros & cons of different sections of the Great Wall & the best ways to see the Forbidden City & the fast-disappearing relics of the city s Manchu & Maoist eras.A chapter on food & drink examines not only local delicacies, but the many other Chinese dishes that form part of Beijing s rich dining traditions. With its blend of rich history & expert tips, ” An Armchair Traveller s History of Beijing ”is an essential introduction to one of the world s most remarkable cities. ” ...