” Fast-paced & punchy.. .accomplished”. (Independent). With journalistic acumen & a novelist`s flair, Xinran tells the remarkable stories of men & women born in China after 1979
- the recent generations raised under China`s single-child policy. At a time when the country continues to transform at the speed of light, these generations of precious `one & onlies` are burdened with expectation, yet have often been brought up without any sense of responsibility. Within their families, they are revered as `little emperors` & `suns`, although such cosseting can come at a high price: isolation, confusion & an inability to deal with life`s challenges. From the businessman`s son unable to pack his own suitcase, to the Ph D student who pulled herself out of extreme rural poverty, Xinran shows how these generations embody the hopes & fears of a great nation at a time of unprecedented change. It is a time of fragmentation, heart-breaking & inspiring in equal measure, in which capitalism vies with communism, the city with the countryside & Western opportunity with Eastern tradition. Through the fascinating stories of these only children, we catch a startling glimpse of the emerging face of China.
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Buying a Home in France is essential reading for anyone planning to buy a home in France, & is designed to guide you through the property maze & save you time, trouble & money. Most importantly, it is packed with vital information to help you avoid disasters that can turn your dream home into a nightmare! Since it was first published in 1996, Buying a Home in France has been the best-selling & most comprehensive book about buying property in France. It contains up to twice as much information as similar books & is now printed in full colour."es from readers: 'I would recommend this book to anyone considering the purchase of a French property
- get it early so you do it right! ' If you're thinking about buying property in France. Hampshire is totally on target. I read his book before going through the buying process, & couldn't believe how perfectly his advice dovetailed with my actual experience.' ' This book details everything one could wish to know about buying a home in France, & also

Includes:: a vast range of other information on such things as renting property, insurance, taxation, work, & much more.'' Thankfully, with several very helpful pieces of information from this book I am now the proud owner of a beautiful house in France. Thank God for David Hampshire!'.' We bought an apartment in Paris, using this book as a daily reference. It helped us immensely, giving us confidence in many procedures from looking for a place initially to the closing, including great information on insurance & utilities. Definitely a great source!'. 'I would highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of buying property in France. It will tell you everything you need to know to make the process as easy & painless as possible. It is also the only book I have found that is fully up to date with the latest French property regulations, Euro etc. Well worth reading.' Well worth adding to your bookshelf. I've bought 'em all but this is the one you really need. If there's any information they haven't put in this book you don't really need it!'. ' What a wonderful book! I recently purchased several books on buying a house in France but this one is by far the best. It contains absolutely everything you could need to know if you're considering taking the plunge & all in a friendly, easy to absorb format too. A real gem now that we're going ahead & buying I just wouldn't want to be without it!.


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Buying a Home in New Zealand is essential reading for anyone planning to buy property in New Zeal&, & is designed to guide you through the property maze & save you time, trouble & money. Most importantly, it is packed with vital information to help you avoid disasters that can turn your dream home into a nightmare! Buying a Home in New Zealand is the only book published especially for foreign property buyers in New Zealand & is guaranteed to smooth your way to many happy years in your new home. It is now printed in full colour. ...

Buying a House in France is only book with up-to-date information on the current French property market. Written by trusted property experts who live & work in France, Buying a House in France provides inside information on the up-&-coming areas in France, where the bargains are to be found as well as full coverage of the regions already popular with British buyers. Many Brits dream of buying property in France & thanks to the Eurostar & budget airlines the country is closer than ever. Buying a House in France provides everything you need to know to buy a house whether for use as a second home, weekend retreat, base while working abroad, investment or retirement home. It provides a step-by-step guide to the buying process, advice from legal & financial experts to guidance on what you can get for your money & where. This comprehensive guide

Includes:: cultural & economical information & uncovers how to find all types of property from villas & apartments to farms & vineyards. Buying a House in France also

Includes:: case studies from people who have already bought property in France with tips on how to get a bargain. Buying a House in France covers all of the essentials for buying a house in France, from raising finance & dealing with estate agents to arranging removals, getting power & water connected & dealing with builders. Buying a House in France addresses everything you`re unsure of, equipping you with all the information you could ever need so that you know what to expect & how to avoid being ripped-off, helping you to get the best deal for your dream house in France.



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Gordon Neale's Buying a House in Italy provides a definitive resource covering all the practicalities from raising finance & transferring currency, to dealing with estate agents, surveying information & exchanging contracts. Special features include comparative tables of prices to show where to find the best value for your money & details on up & coming areas. The book also gives essential information for after the purchase is complete, from how to deal with builders & other craftsmen when restoring or renovating to renting the property out. Also provided is essential background information covering the history, culture & economy of Italy, its climate & language, visa, permit & residence regulations & aspects of daily life. ...

Buying a House in New Zealand is an authoritative guide of practical information to help prospective buyers Intended for those looking for property in New Zeal&, whether they are moving to live & work, retire, find a holiday home or an investment. New Zealand's property procedure is explained in detail & the book covers all the practicalities from raising finance & transferring currency, to dealing with estate agents, surveying information & exchanging contracts. Information also

Includes:: the country's terrain & average temperatures & gives insight into New Zealand's culture & daily life.

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Spanning the entire country, not just those areas already popular with British buyers, Buying a House in Portugal explains the character of the different regions & the types property available. Special features include full coverage of the up & coming areas & information useful after purchase, including how to deal with builders & making money by letting out your home. This title gives essential background information on Portuguese history, culture & daily life. A detailed geographical guide gives profiles of the different regions including their climate, topography & attractions. It is richly illustrated with original line drawings, & full colour photographs showing regional maps & the types of property to be found. ...

Buying a House in Spain details the best regions to buy in & the latest trend information. Spain is becoming an increasingly attractive & realistic prospect for Britons wanting a second home, be it for holiday or retirement. Due to the low interest rates & reasonable house prices, every year 50, 000 second homes are bought by the British, making Spain an accessible country to buy in. This book covers the entire country, not just those areas really popular with buyers, explaining the character of the different areas & the types & price of property This all-encompassing guide provides a step-by-step guide to the buying process including advice from legal & financial experts to guidance on what you can get for your money & where. It combines cultural & economical information with practical tips & advice & reveals how to find all types of property from villas & apartments to farms & vineyards. Fully revised, this new edition boasts up-to-date information on subjects such as property prices, housing regulations & taxation. It will cover all of the essentials, from raising finance & dealing with estate agents to arranging removals, getting power & water connected & dealing with builders, helping you to get the most out of buying a house in Spain. ...

Although Spain, France & Italy remain the most popular of countries in which to buy a house abroad, people are now looking further afield to countries which include Croatia, Greece, Cyprus & Turkey & even Malta, Gibraltar & North Africa. This title gives an up-to-date overview of the possibilities in all the different countries around the Mediterranean & their pros & cons, including where to get best value for your money & the ease of getting there, & comparisons of infrastructure & cost of living. For each country it

Includes:: background info on the way of life, a regional section explaining where to look for your dream house, & guidance on how to make the purchase.

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Buying a boat can be a minefield, but a handbook like this will make it a lot easier for would-be boat owners to make sensible, informed choices. Whether buying a new or secondhand boat, would-be owners will gain expert advice on topics including:
- the type of boat best suited to their needs
- where to find it (brokers, etc)
- what to look out for
- how to assess it (especially important for secondhand boats)
- questions to ask
- setting a realistic budget
- finding a mooring
- insurance
- documentation required Lively, modern & attractive, & illustrated with colour photographs throughout, this guide is packed with checklists & insights from real owners who share their experiences. Armed with this book, would-be boat owners are far more likely to end up with the right boat for them!








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