This is a much-needed & authoritative account of Common Buzzards gained from extensive studies by the author over 60 years & also from enthusiasts in this country & across northern Europe. The accounts describe the life history & ecology of Buzzards mainly inhabiting the British uplands where historically they have always been most numerous. For the first time, population activities are followed through successive seasonal stages of their life cycle. These include the vital & inter-related aspects of Buzzard territories & social behaviour, diets & hunting methods, food requirements, prey abundance & breeding success, survival & life spans & how Buzzard numbers & distribution have changed, particularly in relation to the influence of Man. The book also demonstrates how well Buzzards have adapted to living in our modern & rapidly-changing landscapes, constantly adapting their habits in response to prey resources & environmental conditions. In the book`s first section, The Year of the Buzzard, the sequential changes in the composition & behaviour of a Buzzard community, their seasonal patterns of food habits & hunting methods, their breeding season from courtship until fledging of broods & their subsequent dispersal are outlined. The second section, Special Topics, provides greater detail of six key aspects of their ecology which are explored within the following chapter topics: Territory; Energy & Food Needs; Predation; Food Supply & Breeding Success; Demography & Population Dynamics; & Changes in Buzzard Abundance. ...

The villagers had never seen anything like it: dense white curtains of snow that instantly transformed the landscape. Not in autumn, not here in Burgundy. & on the same night a baby was discovered, dark-eyed little Maria, who would transform all their lives. Hundreds of miles away in the mountains of Abruzzo, another foundling, Clara, astonishes everyone with her extraordinary talent for piano-playing. But her gifts go far beyond simple musicianship. As a time of great danger looms, though the girls know nothing of each other, it is the bond that unites them & others like them, which will ultimately offer the only chance for good to prevail in the world. ...

Mahatma Gandhi became a legend in his own time. A tireless fighter for human rights & for Indian independence, his strategy of satyagraha, or passive resistance, earned him the admiration of millions. Louis Fischer`s biography is the definitive account of Gandhi`s life; it tells the astonishing story of one man who changed the world forever. ...

Great traveller & explorer Wilfred Thesiger was born in Addis Ababa & spent his early years in Abyssinia. In this book he reveals to what extent the early experience of Abyssinia influenced his future & provides a precious personal account of the tragic history of East Africa. ...

Harper Collins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Meet the greatest entertainer of the 19th Century... In 1834, desperate to create a better life for his family, small-time Connecticut businessman P. T. Barnum moved to New York City. With true entrepreneurial spirit & against all odds, he wowed audiences with his ensemble of musical spectacles, attractions & variety shows
- often exploiting the vulnerable for entertainment value. A master showman, his crowning achievement was the world-famous circus, Barnum & Bailey`s Greatest Show on Earth. In this account of his life & work, written by the man himself & first published in 1855, P. T. Barnum creates an aura of excitement about himself & his enduring fame, confirming his reputation as the greatest impresario of all time & revealing the controversial decisions that helped him to his fortune.
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In this book Steven Parissien examines the impact, development & significance of the automobile over its turbulent & colourful 130-year history. He tells the story of the auto, & of its creators, from its earliest appearance in the 1880s
- as little more than a powered quadricycle
- via the early pioneer carmakers, the advances of the interwar era, the ` Golden Age` of the 1950s & the iconic years of the 1960s to the decades of doubt & uncertainty following the oil crisis of 1973, which culminated in the global mergers of the 1990s & the bailouts of the early twenty-first century. This is not just a story of horsepower & performance. The Life of the Automobile is a tale of people: of intuitive carmakers such as Benz, Agnelli, Royce & Citroen; of exceptionally gifted designers such as Issigonis, Lefebvre, Michelotti & Bangle; & of visionary industrialists such as Ford, Tata & Porsche. Above all, The Life of the Automobile demonstrates how the epic story of the car mirrors the history of the modern era, from the brave hopes & soaring ambitions of the early twentieth century to the cynicism & ecological concerns of a century later.

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” In this book Steven Parissien examines the impact, development & significance of the automobile over its turbulent & colourful 130-year history. He tells the story of the auto, & of its creators, from its earliest appearance in the 1880s
- as little more than a powered quadricycle
- via the early pioneer carmakers, the advances of the interwar era, the ` Golden Age` of the 1950s & the iconic years of the 1960s to the decades of doubt & uncertainty following the oil crisis of 1973, which culminated in the global mergers of the 1990s & the bailouts of the early twenty-first century. This is not just a story of horsepower & performance. The Life of the Automobile is a tale of people: of flamboyant entrepreneurs, shrewd businessmen & gifted engineers; of outstanding success & abject failure. It is a chronicle of innovation, & a testimony to the value of good design. Above all, The Life of the Automobile demonstrates how the epic story of the car mirrors the history of the modern era, from the brave hopes & soaring ambitions of the early twentieth century to the cynicism & ecological concerns of a century later.”

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The bestselling book everyone is talking about, revealing the surprising art of caring less & getting more. Are you stressed out, overbooked & underwhelmed by life? Fed up with pleasing everyone else before you please yourself? Then it`s time to stop giving a f**k. This irreverent & practical book explains how to rid yourself of unwanted obligations, shame, & guilt
- & give your f**ks instead to people & things that make you happy. From family dramas to having a bikini body, the simple ` Not Sorry Method` for mental decluttering will help you unleash the power of not giving a f**k & will free you to spend your time, energy & money on the things that really matter.` The anti-guru` Observer` Absolutely blinding. Read it. Do it.` Mail on Sunday` Genius` Cosmopolitan`I love Knight`s book even before I start reading... Works a charm` Sunday Times Magazine` Life-affirming... The key practice she advocates is devising for yourself a ”fuck budget”... It`s a beautiful way of streamlining your psyche` Lucy Mangan, Guardian ALSO AVAILABLE FROM SARAH KNIGHT:YOU DO YOU: how to be who you are & use what you`ve got to get what you want ANDGet Your Sh*t Together
- the New York Times bestseller helping you organise the f**ks you want & need to give

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Transform your home into a permanently clear & clutter-free space with the incredible Kon Mari Method. Japan`s expert declutterer & professional cleaner Marie Kondo will help you tidy your rooms once & for all with her inspirational step-by-step method. The key to successful tidying is to tackle your home in the correct order, to keep only the things you really love & to do it all at once
- & quickly. After that for the rest of your life you only need to choose what to keep & what to discard. The Kon Mari Method will not just transform your space. Once you have your house in order you will find that your whole life will change. You can feel more confident, you can become more successful, & you can have the energy & motivation to create the life you want. You will also have the courage to move on from the negative aspects of your life: you can recognise & finish a bad relationship; you can stop feeling anxious; you can finally lose weight. Marie Kondo`s method is based on a `once-cleaned, never-messy-again` approach. If you think that such a thing is impossible then you should definitely read this compelling book.
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. For nearly two hundred years its volunteers have shown courage & selflessness in facing storm & shipwreck to offer assistance. Never taken for granted, these qualities of service transcend the centuries to ring as true now as in the earliest days of the lifeboats. This unprecedented new book is a photographic celebration of every-day bravery, compassion, & outstanding commitment in the toughest of conditions. From the Cornish coasts to the Shetland Isles, we join crewman & photographer Nigel Millard as he travels the length of Britain & Irel&, living & working with his fellow lifeboatmen & accompanying them on their rescue missions. In 2011 alone some 7, 976 people were saved by lifeboat crews & a further 17, 670 were assisted by the service`s new lifeguard units, with lifeboats launching on average almost 20 times a day. This book honours the dedication of generations of hard-working people who generously give their time to those in danger & their families who wait for news while the lifeboats are out
- a visual tribute to the sea & those who go to it. All around our coasts, & every day of the year, the men & women of the RNLI are on duty`s call. Though the RNLI has evolved, through its technologies & size of organisation, its sense of purpose & vision
- to end preventable loss of life at sea
- is as clear as it was in the very beginning. This is a simple story of a voluntary rescue service, of men & women happy to race to the assistance of strangers at all hours of day or night should ever the need arise. We hope these photographs show something of this spirit. We are encouraged never to forget the bravery, skill & sacrifice of the people of the RNLI. They are heroes all.


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