A partisan fighting with the Red Army in Germany comes across a gr&, abandoned house, seemingly untouched by the devastation sweeping the country. Exhausted, he falls asleep in the living room, but wakes to find a German patrol marching up the garden path. His only hope is to pose as the house`s owner, but how will he keep up the pretence when the real owner returns? Dazzling, dark & scorchingly violent, with the breakneck pace of a thriller, this timeless classic is a vivid depiction of what happens when the mask of decency is cast aside in the savagery of war. ...

Following his hugely popular account of the previous 2000 years, John O` Farrell now comes bang up to date with a hilarious modern history asking ` How the hell did we end up here?`. ” An Utterly Exasperated History of Modern Britain” informs, elucidates & laughs at all the bizarre events, ridiculous characters & stupid decisions that have shaped Britain`s story since 1945; leaving the Twenty-First Century reader feeling fantastically smug for having the benefit of hindsight. ...

Many of us were put off history by the dry & dreary way it was taught at school. Back then ` The Origins of the Industrial Revolution` somehow seemed less compelling than the chance to test the bold claim on Timothy Johnson`s ` Shatterproof` ruler. But here at last is a chance to have a good laugh & learn all that stuff you feel you really ought to know by now... In this ” Horrible History for Grown Ups” you can read how Anglo-Saxon liberals struggled to be positive about immigration; ` Look I think we have to try & respect the religious customs of our new Viking friends
- oi, he`s nicked my bloody ox!` Discover how England`s peculiar class system was established by some snobby French nobles whose posh descendents still have wine cellars & second homes in the Dordogne today. And explore the complex socio-economic reasons why Britain`s kings were the first in Europe to be brought to heel; (because the Stuarts were such a useless bunch of untalented, incompetent, arrogant, upper-class thickoes that Parliament didn`t have much choice.)A book about then that is also incisive & illuminating about now, ”2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge”, is a hilarious, informative & cantankerous journey through Britain` fascinating & bizarre history. As entertaining as a witch burning, & a lot more laughs.
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This fully illustrated history is divided geographically according to the sequence of succeeding Thai kingdoms. Each section follows a historical chronology, covering accounts of major events during each reign, with an assessment of the character of individual kings & their particular achievements, together with those of other major players. This record of events is blended with descriptive passages about monuments surviving today that are relevant to & help illuminate the history. Political development is thus paralleled by Thailand`s cultural development, especially in relation to the religious & royal architecture. Thailand`s historical progression has been complex, & although the foundations of national identity
- religion & monarchy in particular
- were established in the earliest days of statehood dating back to the 13th century, it is only in comparatively recent times that all elements
- social, political, cultural & linguistic
- have cohered into what is recognizable today as Thai & Thail&. By linking the text to existing landmarks the history provides both an enjoyable read in its own right & a fascinating guide to the monuments & buildings that visitors can see on their travels around the country.



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In Vietnamese, ”AN” means ”TO EAT, ” a happy coincidence, since the An family has built an award-winning restaurant empire-- including the renowned celebrity favorite Crustacean Beverly Hills--that has been toasted by leading food press, including Bon Appetit, Gourmet, In Style & the Food Network. Helene An, executive chef & matriarch of the House of An, is hailed as the ”mother of fusion” & was inducted into the Smithsonian Institute for her signature style that brings together Vietnamese, French, & California- fresh influences. Now her daughter Jacqueline tells the family story & shares her mother`s delicious & previously ”secret” recipes, including ” Mama`s” Beef Pho, Drunken Crab, & Oven-Roasted Lemongrass Chicken. Helene`s transformation from pampered ”princess” in French Colonial Vietnam, to refugee then restaurateur, & her journey from Indochina`s lush fields to family kitchen gardens in California are beautifully chronicled throughout the book. The result is a fascinating peek at a lost world, & the evolution of an extraordinary cuisine. The 100 recipes in An: To Eat feature clean flavors, simple techniques, & unique twists that could only have come from Helene`s personal story. ...

Topographic survey of Portugal at 1:50, 000 from the Instituto Geográfico Português, the country’s civilian survey organisation. The maps have contours at 25m intervals & in addition to the standard features shown on topographic mapping at this scale also indicate various types of vegetation (vineyards, olive groves, etc). Each sheet covers an area of 32 x 20km (20 x 12.5miles approx). The maps have latitude & longitude margin ticks at 1’ intervals & UTM coordinates for the map corners – each sheet also shows conversion details from BBLx (Bessel-Bonnie system, Datum Lisbon) to UTM. Map legend is in Portuguese only.EDITION DATES: most titles in this series have now been updated in the 1990s or later. To see all the titles in this series please click on the series link. ...

Greek island of Anafi on a light, waterproof & tear-resistant, contoured & GPS compatible map at 1:15, 000 from Terrain Editions, with on the reverse descriptions of seven specially selected hiking trails, notes on two climbing sites, plus general information about the isl&. All place names are shown in both Greek & Latin alphabet. Map legend & all the text include English. Maps of the Greek islands from Terrain Editions have topography well presented by contours at 20m intervals (unless indicated differently in the map`s individual description), enhanced by spot heights, subtle relief shading & additional altitude colouring. Road network is very clearly graded according to width & the type of surface, distinguishing between good & rough dirt roads. Distances are marked on most small local roads, as well as locations of petrol stations and/or tyre repair workshops; scenic routes are highlighted. Each map also shows which ports are served by ferry services. Hiking paths are graded as main or narrow trails. National parks & other protected areas are marked & a wide range of symbols indicate various places of interest & recreational facilities, with main sights clearly highlighted. Most titles distinguish between sandy & pebble beaches; some also indicate beaches with natural shade and/or the type of sea bed. The maps have a UTM grid, plus latitude & longitude margin ticks. The reverse side of each title is covered by general information about the isl&, illustrated with colour photos. Many titles also include brief descriptions of recommended hiking trails and/or a street plan of the island’s main town, with colouring clearly showing various tourist facilities. To see the other titles in this series please click on the series link. ...

Greek island of Anafi on a light, waterproof & tear-resistant, contoured & GPS compatible map at 1:15, 000 from Terrain Editions, with on the reverse descriptions of seven specially selected hiking trails, notes on two climbing sites, plus general information about the isl&. All place names are shown in both Greek & Latin alphabet. Map legend & all the text include English. Maps of the Greek islands from Terrain Editions have topography well presented by contours at 20m intervals (unless indicated differently in the map`s individual description), enhanced by spot heights, subtle relief shading & additional altitude colouring. Road network is very clearly graded according to width & the type of surface, distinguishing between good & rough dirt roads. Distances are marked on most small local roads, as well as locations of petrol stations and/or tyre repair workshops; scenic routes are highlighted. Each map also shows which ports are served by ferry services. Hiking paths are graded as main or narrow trails. National parks & other protected areas are marked & a wide range of symbols indicate various places of interest & recreational facilities, with main sights clearly highlighted. Most titles distinguish between sandy & pebble beaches; some also indicate beaches with natural shade and/or the type of sea bed. The maps have a UTM grid, plus latitude & longitude margin ticks. The reverse side of each title is covered by general information about the isl&, illustrated with colour photos. Many titles also include brief descriptions of recommended hiking trails and/or a street plan of the island’s main town, with colouring clearly showing various tourist facilities. To see the other titles in this series please click on the series link. ...

When a blind, retired dentist is run down by a logging truck as he crosses the road to post a letter, Dr Siri Paiboun, official & only coroner of Laos, finds himself faced with his most explosive case yet. The dentist`s mortal remains aren`t nearly as intriguing as the letter in his pocket. Written in invisible ink & encrypted, the letter presents Dr Siri with an irresistible challenge. Enlisting the help of his old friend, Civilai, now a senior member of the Laos politburo; Nurse Dtui (` Fatty`); Phosy, a police officer; & Aunt Bpoo, a transvestite fortune-teller, Dr Siri soon finds himself on the trail of an international plot to overthrow the government of Laos. ...

Anatolia is a beautifully illustrated exploration of classic Turkish cuisine & culture, adapted for modern life. Turkish-born chef Somer Sivrioglu & co-author David Dale re-imagine the traditions of Turkish cooking, presenting recipes ranging from the grand banquets of the Ottoman empire to the spicy snacks of Istanbul`s street stalls. In doing so they explain their take on the classics & reveal the surrounding rituals, myths, jokes & folk wisdom of both the old & new Turkey. Somer & David bring us more than 150 accessible recipes with rich colour photographs shot on location in Turkey. Also included are feature spreads on local Turkish chefs & producers & their specialities, adding another fascinating layer to the book. Take a unique glimpse into the worlds of old & new Turkey with this beautiful, multidimensional cookbook. ...