In this remarkable book, now reissued in paperback, Brian Lavery examines every aspect of the Royal Navy, both ashore & at sea, during the Second World War, & casts a lucid eye over the strengths & weaknesses of an organisation that was put under acute strain during the period, yet rose to the challenge with initiative & determination. Divided into twelve sections, the book delves into the structure of naval power from the Board of Admiralty & shore commands to officers & crews, their recruitment & training, daily life & discipline. The roles of the Reserves, Merchant Navy, Royal Marines & Wrens within this structure are also explained. Developments in ship design & technology, as well as advances in intelligence, sensors & armament are all discussed & set in context. The different divisions are dealt with one by one, including the Submarine Service, Fleet Air Arm, Coastal Forces, & Combined Operations. The text is complemented by over 300 illustrations & the personal accounts of those who served. ...

Churchill`s War in Words transports the reader back to the storm-struck days of the Second World War. Focussing only on words used at the time, it reveals the way that Winston Churchill talked about the conflict in public & in private
- & the way that he himself was viewed at the time by family, friends, politicians, military leaders, staff, voters, allies & enemies. Presented in chronological order & accompanied by short year-by-year introductions, the"ations convey afresh the full force of Churchill`s oratory, the wit he displayed in the face of often appalling odds, & the hopes & fears that he inspired in those around him. Together they reveal to the modern reader what it was truly like to be locked in a struggle in which victory
- or total defeat
- was yet to be decided. Together they tell the extraordinary story of Churchill`s War in Words.


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Churnet Bouldering is a comprehensive guide to the magical sandstone bouldering in the Lower Churnet Valley. Located just south of the Peak District National Park boundary & neighbouring the Alton Towers theme park, the Churnet features some of the best bouldering in the Peak area. This guide features never-before documented venues, such as Farley Woods & Threapwood Woods, as well as classic venues, including Cottage Rocks & Wright`s Rock. Over 600 problems are included & grades range from Font 3 to 8a+, with a particularly high concentration of Font 5s & 6s. Meticulously researched over several years, Churnet Bouldering is written by Stuart Brooks, one of the area`s most active developers, supported by a team of local climbers. Problem descriptions are accompanied by photo topos & maps, & there are detailed notes on access & conditions
- especially important in the Churnet
- as well as a host of other important information.

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Chuuk Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia on a waterproof & tear-resistant map from the diving specialists Franko Maps, with on the reverse a map showing the area with drawings & details of Japanese ships & aircraft deployed during the Operation Hailstone on 17/18th February 1944. On one side are two maps of the Chuuk Islands for visitors. One panel covers a wider area within the reefs surrounding the lagoon, plus the Neoch Atoll, indicating numerous diving sites for examining shipwrecks. Several sites are accompanied by a brief description of the wreck & some are illustrated with drawings of the sunk ship. The second panel presents the lagoon itself in greater detail, with more wreck sites & notes on tourist facilities. On the reverse is a historical map with drawings of Japanese ships & aircraft involved in the WWII Operation Hailstone on 17/18th February 1944. Each ship is shown as a profile & plus top deck, accompanied by a note about its size, tonnage & circumstances when sunk. ...

Chu, the little panda with the BIG sneeze, is BACK
- & this time he`s going to the seaside! Like all pandas, Chu LOVES the seaside.
...

Hill`s account of his time in the African state of Eritrea is a welcome addition to the literature available on contemporary Africa. The author recounts a remarkable historical legacy, from Eritrea`s creation through to the hostilities of the twentieth century. A former Italian colony & under Ethiopian control since 1950, armed conflict between Ethiopia & Eritrea ignited in 1961 & war ensued for the next thirty years. Independence was finally declared in 1993. Hill introduces us to the people he met & the land he explored. Ardently protective of their independence, the struggle to re-build on both a personal & national level is all too apparent, as is the awareness that with freedom comes new challenges. This is a personal & engaging travelogue, providing a unique insight into a nation that I for one had known very little of. Reviewed by Paul Harniess, European Books buyer, Stanfords Covent Garden Shortlisted for the 2003 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award. ...

At the age of eleven, Helena Frith Powell`s mother gave her a letter after school. It was from her real father her mother told her, not the abusive & moody man Helena had always assumed was the one. This new father was glamorous, an Italian film maker, & he would like her to meet his family on a grand tour of Italy. The moving discovery of Italy & the many relatives Helena never knew she had is wittily described in Ciao Bella, the memoir of her trip through Italy with her father. In a new twist, her father receives a prestigious literary prize in 2008 at the age of 80 & is reunited with her mother after 25 years
- will it last?
...

The Ciao, Italia 2013 Wall Calendar from Universe Publishing, offers 12 vintage travel posters from the Library of Congress. These 20th century graphic prints capture the glamour of Italian destinations for the European & American tourists during the Golden Age of Travel. The calendar displays names of days & months both in English & Italian, offers room for writing notes each day, & a monthly planner of previous & subsequent month. ...

CIBI (`a little one`) is a book on home-style Japanese cooking inspired by the eponymous Melbourne cafe & design space created by Meg & Zenta Tanaka. It contains more than 80 seasonally relevant recipes across vegetables, fish & seafood, meat, grains & noodles, & sweets, plus small features on elements of Japanese cooking & food culture, accompanied by beautiful photography & illustrations. The recipes, many designed for sharing, strongly reflect Meg & Zenta`s ethos
- a fresh approach to simplicity using quality produce. CIBI incorporates elements of Japanese design culture & glimpses of their young family`s worlds in Collingwood, Tokyo, & Meg`s birthplace, Okayama, alongside snapshots (in words & pictures) of the CIBI-feel: an enjoyment of food, community & sharing.
...

Over 40 delightful recipes for Venetian bar bites, cocktails & spritzes that will transport you to the stone streets that line the interconnected canals of la Serenissima. Arguably the most seductive city in the world, Venice exudes magic & mystery, history & tradition, so it comes as no surprise that a city which delights at every turn should have a few little-known treasures to discover, too. Not least the custom of enjoying cicchetti (pronounced `chee-keh-tee`). Discover the charms of a small but bustling bacaro, where traditionally a glass of wine, known as an `ombra`, is served together with a selection of small plates or `cicchetti`. There are over 40 recipes starting with Verdura (vegetables) including Rosemary Roasted Chickpeas, Venetian Cheese with Cipolline in Agrodolce & Fig & Blue Cheese Pizzette; or try simple Pesce (fish) plates of Mixed Fried Fish, Soft Shell Crab with Lemon & Caper Mayonnaise, Red Mullet in Saor & Scallops with Borlotti Beans. Also featured are Carne (meat) recipes for Artichokes with Taleggio Cheese & Prosciutto, Calves` Liver with Onions & Potato, Speck & Smoked Ricotta Crocchette. Finish up a selection of Crostini & Tramezzini (breads) as well as Bevande (drinks) to do as the Venetians do. Venetians love to linger a while with friends, chatting over these wonderful morsels & a glass of wine, a Spritz or Campari Soda, but cicchetti make perfect food for entertaining at home, too. Whether for pre-dinner nibbles, or a full blown party, bring a little taste of Italy to your kitchen at home. ...