Since his boyhood in Qadhafi's Libya, Neil Mac Farquhar has developed a counterintuitive sense that the Middle East, despite all the bloodshed in its recent history, is a place of warmth, humanity, & generous eccentricity. In this book, he introduces a cross-section of unsung, dynamic men & women pioneering political & social change. There is the Kuwaiti sex therapist in a leather suit with matching red headscarf, & the Syrian engineer advocating a less political interpretation of the Koran. Mac Farquhar interacts with Arabs & Iranians in their every day lives, removed from the violence we see constantly, yet wrestling with the region's future. These are people who realise their region is out of step with the world & are determined to do something about it-on their own terms. ...

Having founded the bank that became the most powerful in Europe in the fifteenth century, the Medici gained political power in Florence, raising the city to a peak of cultural achievement & becoming its hereditary dukes. Among their number were no fewer than three popes & a powerful & influential queen of France. Their patronage brought about an explosion of Florentine art & architecture. Michelangelo, Donatello, Fra Angelico & Leonardo are among the artists with whom they were associated. Thus runs the `received view` of the Medici. Mary Hollingsworth argues that the idea that they were wise rulers & enlightened fathers of the Renaissance is a fiction that has acquired the status of historical fact. In truth, the Medici were as devious & immoral as the Borgias
- tyrants loathed in the city they illegally made their own & which they beggared in their lust for power.
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A dazzling history of the modest family which rose to become one of the most powerful in Europe, The Medici is a remarkably modern story of power, money & ambition. Against the background of an age which saw the rebirth of ancient & classical learning
- of humanism which penetrated & explored the arts & sciences & the `dark` knowledge of alchemy, astrology, & numerology
- Paul Strathern explores the intensely dramatic rise & fall of the Medici family in Florence, as well as the Italian Renaissance which they did so much to sponsor & encourage. Interwoven into the narrative are the lives of many of the great Renaissance artists with whom the Medici had dealings, including Leonardo, Michelangelo & Donatello, as well as scientists like Galileo & Pico della Mirandola, both of whom clashed with the religious authorities. In this enthralling study, Paul Strathern also follows the fortunes of those members of the Medici family who achieved success away from Florence, including the two Medici popes & Catherine de` Medicis who became Queen of France & played a major role in that country through three turbulent reigns. Vivid & accessible, the book ends with the gloriously decadent decline of the Medici family in Florence as they strove to be recognised as European Princes.

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How did people travel in the middle ages? Evidence shows that despite all the likely deterrents
- danger from man & beast, uncertainty
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This lyrical adventure sweeps us through time & across Europe & the Middle East, charting the lands & events of the period known as the Middle Ages. Artworks, maps, & fine photography illuminate the key events of every century, beginning with the fall of the Roman Empire in A.D. 476 & moving forward to A.D. 1500
- the beginning of the age of discovery. Vibrant text from author John M. Thompson captures the drama & intrigue of the era, exploring wars, migrations, occupations, & inventions. Three hundred illustrations
- antique paintings, magnificent portraits, illuminated manuscripts, & historical documents such as ” Magna Carta” & the ” Domesday Book”
- lend rich immediacy. More than 60 maps, among them specially commissioned illustrated presentations & a lavishly drawn crusader map from A.D. 1170, chart important routes & events including the spread of Christianity & Islam. Twelve richly illustrated spreads chronicle the amusements, clothing, feasts, science, books, animals, & other aspects of daily life in the Middle Ages. Voices of the medieval world come alive through"ations from literature, letters, & journals that have survived the passage of time. Sidebars in every chapter examine important beliefs, arts & letters, architecture, & innovations. Biographical features introduce fascinating women & men, revealing the stories behind famous names like King Arthur, whose legend is noted in medieval Welsh literature. Joan of Arc, the teenage French peasant whose infamous trial is documented word for chilling word. Charlemagne, 8th-century ruler of an empire that encompassed Western & Central Europe. Saladin, sultan of the Arab world & enemy of the crusaders, yet respected by them for his high standards of chivalry. & his foe, Richard the Lionhearted, iconic king of England who spent most of his life elsewhere. In a unique feature that helps readers trace the march of time & progress, a world-class city is highlighted to exemplify the character & developments of each century. These key urban areas include London, Paris, Barcelona, Constantinople, & Damascus. Their histories are traced on fascinating time lines that also tie in global happenings during the century, for a rich overview of world events & progress. Painstakingly designed for accuracy & ease of use, ” The Medieval World” is a fine reference for libraries, schools, families, & all who find fascination in this pivotal yet mysterious era of world history.


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In The Mediterranean Traveler Guide by National Geographic, Mediterranean expert Tim Jepson takes you on a tour of the countries of the Northern Mediterranean & Adriatic, considering the major cruise ports from Gibraltar to Turkey, including Barcelona, Valencia, Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo, Genoa, Rome Naples, Palermo, Bari, Venice, Dubrovnik, Split, Athens, & Istanbul. The guide features practical information on how to get to the main ports from the ship & information on how to avoid pricey shore excursions, & the time needed to explore each destination; maps to guide you around the location; illustrations to help you appreciate the sites; a Travelwise section provides a selection of places where to eat & practical information about the individual countries.A rich overview of the best Northern Mediterranean sights is designed to help you plan your visit, whether you are travelling by cruise ship, car, or train, & focus on active port city experiences that give travellers behind-the-scenes possibilities; insider tips on favourite hot spots & practicalities from National Geographic photographers, writers, & experts; not-to-be-missed lists; & a practical introduction. This guide also

Includes:: popular walking tours with maps colour-coded to site descriptions; features on contemporary life, history, & culture. National Geographic Traveler Guide to the Mediterranean brings you the National Geographic’s incomparable experience, travelling the world, going behind the scenes & into the heart of an area’s culture, history & people!

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Discover the joy of cooking & eating Mediterranean food with this tempting selection of 150 recipes, full of sunshine flavours that will transport you to a summer holiday state of mind. The only cookbook you will need this summer provides all the inspiration you need to create memorable occasions in the warmer months. Mediterranean food is known for its punchy yet warm flavours of garlic, fresh herbs, chilli, olive oil & lemon. It is renowned for its naturally healthy ingredients & quick & easy methods
- from cured meat & fresh seafood to salty cheeses, olives, anchovies & roasted vegetables. Whether you are having an impromptu picnic on the beach with the kids, an al fresco lunch with a friend on a shaded verandah or a romantic dinner under a canopy of stars, you will find just the recipe you need here. Chapters include Snacks & Plates to Share
- a selection of Mediterranean-style small dishes to share
- perfect for serving with drinks on a warm evening. In Salads & Summer Soups, you`ll find Courgette, Feta & Mint Salad, Chorizo & Squid Salad & Iced Gazpacho. Best-Ever BBQ shows you how to get the best from cooking outdoors over charcoal. Try Olive-infused Chicken with Charred Lemons or Sicilian-spiced Seabass with Grilled Tomatoes & Baby Fennel. Sunshine Lunches features great ideas for light meals & picnics. Al Fresco has simple yet stunning ideas for more substantial fare for feeding a crowd in the fresh air, from simple pastas, such as Penne with Melted Ricotta & Herb Sauce to Oven-roasted Peppers with Anchovies & Basil. Finally, a chapter of fresh ideas for Desserts & Drinks

Includes:: Blood Orange & Amaretto Ice Cream, Caramelized Figs with Vanilla Mascarpone Cream & homemade Limoncello.




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The Medway Towns in 1893 in a series of reproductions of Ordnance Survey’s famous ” Inch to the Mile” maps published in the Alan Godfrey Editions to provide a historical record of England & Wales in the second half of 19th & early 20th century. The map covers the area of north Kent from the Medway towns eastward to Sittingbourne, & northward to Sheerness & the western half of the Isle of Sheppey. Locations on the map include Allhallows, Bapchild, Borden, Bredgar, Bredhurst, Brompton, Burham, Chatham, Cliffe, Cooling, Cuxton, East Tilbury, Frindsbury, Gillingham, Grain, Hartlip, High Halstow, Higham or Church Street, Hoo, Iwade, Linsted, Lower Halling, Lower Halstow, Milton, Minster, Murston, Newington, Queenborough, Rainham, Rochester, Rodmersham, Stone, Snodl&, St Mary Hoo, Stockbury, Stoke, Strood, Teynham, Tonge, Tunstall, Upchurch & Wouldham. On the reverse is a detailed map of Minster. About the Alan Godfrey Editions of the OS Inch to the Mile Maps: the maps provide an invaluable overview of a wider area, typically 18 x 12 miles (29 x 19 kms approx.), & offer historical mapping for small towns & villages not covered by the more detailed series for which the Godfrey Editions are better known. On the reverse all the maps have historical notes & most titles also include a more detailed, large scale map of a small town or a village in the area. To see other titles in this series please click on the series link. ...

In 1550 Rochester was the only Medway town. It dominated the river estuary & an agricultural hinterland in which Strood, Chatham & Gillingham were nearby villages, reliant on fishing & farming for their livelihood. By the beginning of the twentieth century these four towns had become an urban conurbation. The key factor in this dramatic change was the growth of the Royal Naval Dockyards at CA--A--hatham, home to the English fleet from the mid-sixteenth to the mid-eighteenth century & subsequently the foremost shipbuilding & repair docks in Engl&. The yards at Chatham soon became the largest industrial complex in the south of Engl&. Over the course of the next 350 years, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham & Strood grew. They merged physically but developed distinct characteristics. Chatham became the dockyard town whilst Rochester retained a more genteel air. Gillingham gained a military presence & covered agricultural land with terraced housing. Strood, on the opposite bank of the river, abandoned fishing & farming for brick & cement manufacture & engineering. This book explores the impact of these changes on the people who lived & worked in the Medway Towns, the transformation of the political & economic scene & of the built environment. ...

When Euan & Ruth set off with their young daughter to live in Bahrain, it is meant to be an experience & adventure they will cherish. But on the night they arrive, Ruth discovers the truth behind the missionary work Euan has planned & feels her world start to crumble. Far from home, & with events spiralling towards war in nearby Iraq, she starts to question her faith
- in Euan, in their marriage & in all she has held dear. With Euan so often away, she is confined to their guarded compound with her neighbours &, in particular, Noor, a troubled teenager recently returned to Bahrain to live with her father. Confronted by temptations & doubt, each must make choices that could change all of their lives for ever. Compelling, passionate & deeply resonant, The Meeting Point is a novel about idealism & innocence, about the unexpected turns life can take & the dangers & chances that await us.
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