Since the end of its crippling 27-year civil war over a decade ago, Angola has changed almost beyond recognition. An oil-fuelled bonanza has brought about massive foreign investment & a fabulously wealthy new elite, making its capital, Luanda, the second most expensive city in the world. Today, fortunes are being made & lost overnight, & rich Angolans are eagerly buying up the assets of its former coloniser, Portugal. Fascinated by this complex nation perched at the forefront of a resurgent Africa, writer Daniel Metcalfe travelled to Angola to explore the country for himself. Ebullient & proud, & often unwilling to dwell on its past, Angola has a large army, a hunger for wealth & a need to prove itself on the continent. But as Metcalfe also discovers, it has some of the most grinding poverty in Africa as few Angolans have reaped the rewards of the peace. Nonetheless, amid Angola`s brash reality, Metcalfe finds there is a place for a traveller who isn`t there to make a quick buck. Crossing the country as ordinary Angolans do, talking to tribal elders, oil workers, mine clearers & street children, he encounters a place of extremes, where cynicism & excess go h&-in-hand with great hospitality & ingenuity. Metcalfe also reveals a colourful history of pirates & slave traders, capuchin monks, syncretic Christian cults & elaborate spirit masks. This is an Angola that symbolises nothing less than a broader turning point between the continents, the repositioning of the rich developed world versus Africa. It is a land that, until now, few outsiders have managed to unlock. ...

When a family tragedy means Mick is sent to the outback to live with his Granpa, it looks as if he has a lonely life ahead of him. The cattle station is a tough place for a child, where nature is brutal & the men must work hard in the heat & dust. However, after a cyclone hits, things change for Mick. Exploring the floodwaters, he finds a lost puppy covered in mud & half-drowned. Mick & his dog immediately become inseparable as they take on the adventures offered by their unusual home, & the business of growing up, together. In this charming prequel to the much-loved Red Dog, Louis de Bernières tells the moving story of a young boy & his Granpa, & the charismatic & entertaining dog who so many readers hold close to their hearts. ...

From the author of Captain Corelli`s Mandolin, the spellbinding story of a young boy & his dog adventuring through the outback. When a family tragedy means Mick is sent to the outback to live with his Granpa, it looks as if he has a lonely life ahead of him. The cattle station is a tough place for a child, where nature is brutal & the men must work hard in the heat & dust. However, after a cyclone hits, things change for Mick. Exploring the floodwaters, he finds a lost puppy covered in mud & half-drowned. Mick & his dog immediately become inseparable as they take on the adventures offered by their unusual home, & the business of growing up, together. In this charming prequel to the much-loved Red Dog, Louis de Bernieres tells the moving story of a young boy & his Granpa, & the charismatic & entertaining dog who so many readers hold close to their hearts. With illustrations by Alan Baker. ...

Completely updated, this edition contains superb coverage of painting, architecture & sculpture as well as updates on museums ...

Trentino & the South Tyrol (Alto Adige) in the north of Italy are high alpine regions of extraordinary beauty, perfect for trekking, skiing & enjoying the outdoors, with beautiful alpine towns & villages to explore, full of history & interest. Long a part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, the meeting of cultures in this part of Italy is fascinating. This book is an excerpt from the forthcoming update of Blue Guide Northern Italy. ...

Barcelona in the Blue Guides series focuses primarily on cultural tourism for the visitor who wishes to understand more of what they might see &, as such, the title provides thorough & objective reference information covering art, history & architecture. The guide features illustrations aimed to inform rather than just decorate, such as maps, diagrams, floor plans, architectural details & photographs. Cross referenced indexing means information is accessible & layout navigable. Selective listings of restaurants & accommodation are chosen in the belief that good, practical recommendations will contribute to the enjoyment of good art & culture. ...

Hay-on-Wye Blue Guide is a pocket sized volume covering the sites & culture of this world-famous book lovers’ haven. The guide is indexed by place, historical/cultural reference point & the bookshops in the village. Major sites are covered, a history of the life & legacy of Richard Booth is provided, & information is given on both the phenomenon of the ‘town of books’ & the Hay-on-Wye festival. Out of town trips feature in the ‘environs of Hay’ section, & practical information on accommodation, food & drink, further reading & Welsh place names is supplied. Simple yet useful maps for Hay town centre & the environs of Hay are included in the back of the guide. ...

Istanbul in the Blue Guide Series is a cultural, literary & historical guide to the city at the crossroads of East & West, where Europe meets Asia. Focusing primarily on cultural tourism for the visitor who wishes to understand more of what they might see, the book provides thorough & objective reference information covering art, history & architecture. The guide features colour illustrations aimed to inform rather than just decorate, such as maps, diagrams, floor plans, architectural details & photographs. Cross referenced indexing means information is accessible & layout navigable. Selective listings of restaurants & accommodation are chosen in the belief that good, practical recommendations will contribute to the enjoyment of good art & culture. ...

Fully revised & updated new edition of this essential Blue Guide, by London resident & fine art expert Emily Barber, assisted by other members of the Blue Guides team. The guide retains the Blue Guides` traditional focus on architecture & the fine arts, but explores London in all its many ramifications, both high & low, past & present, including in-depth coverage of all the major sights but straying well off the beaten track to find little-known treasures elsewhere. Eating & drinking is also a major part of enjoying London & each chapter contains up-to-date suggestions of places to eat & what bars, cafes & pubs to sample. A fully revised accommodation section is also included. Ideal for on-site use as well as for at-home study & to help visitors plan ahead. ...

Madrid in the Blue Guides series focuses primarily on cultural tourism for the visitor who wishes to understand more of what they might see &, as such, the title provides thorough & objective reference information covering art, history & architecture. The guide features illustrations aimed to inform rather than just decorate, such as maps, diagrams, floor plans, architectural details & photographs. Cross referenced indexing means information is accessible & layout navigable. Selective listings of restaurants & accommodation are chosen in the belief that good, practical recommendations will contribute to the enjoyment of good art & culture. ...