Who was the real Jane Austen? Overturning the traditional portrait of the author as conventional & genteel, bestseller Paula Byrne`s landmark biography reveals the real woman behind the books. In this new biography, bestselling author Paula Byrne (author of Perdita, Mad World) explores the forces that shaped the interior life of Britain`s most beloved novelist: her father`s religious faith, her mother`s aristocratic pedigree, her eldest brother`s adoption, her other brothers` naval & military experiences, her relatives in the East & West Indies, her cousin who lived through the trauma of the French Revolution, the family`s amateur theatricals, the female novelists she admired, her residence in Bath, her love of the seaside, her travels around England & her long struggle to become a published author. Byrne uses a highly innovative technique whereby each chapter begins from an object that conjures up a key moment or theme in Austen`s life & work-a silhouette, a vellum notebook, a topaz cross, a laptop writing box, a royalty cheque, a bathing machine, & many more. The woman who emerges in this biography is far tougher, more socially & politically aware, & altogether more modern than the conventional picture of `dear Aunt Jane` would allow. Published to coincide with the bicentenary of Pride & Prejudice, this lively & scholarly biography brings Austen dazzlingly into the twenty-first century. ...

An innovative, informative, & entertaining history of Roman Britain told through the lives of individuals in all walks of life The Britain of the Roman Occupation is, in a way, an age that is dark to us. While the main events from 55 BC to AD 410 are little disputed, & the archaeological remains of villas, forts, walls, & cities explain a great deal, we lack a clear sense of individual lives. This book is the first to infuse the story of Britannia with a beating heart, the first to describe in detail who its inhabitants were & their place in our history. A lifelong specialist in Romano-British history, Guy de la Bedoyere is the first to recover the period exclusively as a human experience. He focuses not on military campaigns & imperial politics but on individual, personal stories. Roman Britain is revealed as a place where the ambitious scramble for power & prestige, the devout seek solace & security through religion, men & women eke out existences in a provincial frontier l&. De la Bedoyere introduces Fortunata the slave girl, Emeritus the frustrated centurion, the grieving father Quintus Corellius Fortis, & the brilliant metal worker Boduogenus, among numerous others. Through a wide array of records & artifacts, the author introduces the colorful cast of immigrants who arrived during the Roman era while offering an unusual glimpse of indigenous Britons, until now nearly invisible in histories of Roman Britain. ...

America is the land of the free, the beacon of democracy, & the leader of the world. It is the land of opportunity & a nation of homeowners. Or is it? Packed with maps, graphics, illustrations, & incisive essays, this handy, concise atlas examines the most cherished ideals about American life to see how they measure up to the realities: Who votes for whom? Are Mc Mansions really taking over? Where do soldiers come from? Where are the guns? Is the foreclosure crisis affecting everyone? Where are the uninsured? How are women faring in the Great Recession? Are there any wild open spaces left in America? ...

The cuisine of Indonesia is some of the tastiest & exciting in the world. Yet it is hard to find recipes that are authentically Indonesian. ” The Real Taste of Indonesia” is, as the title suggests, real Indonesian food with a wonderful selection of recipes from the mildly sweet dishes of Java to the spicy kitchen of Sumatra. It is the cuisine of Indonesian families, who celebrate special occasions at home with relatives & friends rather than eating out in restaurants. They will prepare the favourite delicacies of the family: yellow rice, Sumatran rendang or babi guling- a Balinese sucking-pig, grilled over a charcoal fire in local Balinese herbs. This unique collection of recipes has been passed from grandmothers to mothers, to daughters & sons: highly original recipes from all parts of Indonesia. There is a wealth of additional information (such as on the Balinese cuisine, where, through the influence of Hinduism, more pork is eaten than in the rest of this mostly Islamic country)with stunning location photography, stories & culinary tips so you can`t go wrong. ...

From the famous Boqueria in Barcelona to the tiny village markets of rural Spain, market life & fresh regional products are at the heart of Spanish life & cuisine. ” The Real Taste of Spain” focuses on basic ingredients & core principles to offer simple & delicious Spanish recipes. Here are the everyday foods of Spain that are central to good home cooking: plump tomatoes, fresh fish & vegetables, ripe fruits, tasty cheeses & perfectly cured meats. With more & more of us wishing to eat a varied & healthy diet, this illustrated cookbook & reference combines this demand with Spain`s ever-increasing popularity. Jenny Chandler has divided the book by the stalls of the local market: Shellfish & Fresh Fish, Poultry & Game, Meat & Offal, Cereals & Legumes, Olives & Spices, Vegetables, Fruit, Dried fruits. Each section

Includes:: quick Tapas, smaller dishes & main meals. Jenny brings the vitality of the market to life with introductions to each stall & explanations of the products. She then

Includes:: traditional cooking techniques & easy variations. Beautiful reportage shots bring the vitality of the market to life & accessible text ensures that even novice cooks can make mouth-watering dishes. ” Shows how to make delicious recipes inspired by the glorious markets of spain.” Food & Travel Magazine



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Admit it
- you`ve always wanted to know how to eat a scorpion, or catch a speeding arrow while blindfolded, or rip a phone directory
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- GIFT OF THE YEAR 2008* The “ Really Tiny Book Light” requires 3 AG3 batteries (included).
...

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- GIFT OF THE YEAR 2008* The “ Really Tiny Book Light” requires 3 AG3 batteries (included).
...

“ The Really Tiny Book Light” blue clips discreetly onto the pages of your book so you can indulge your late-night reading habits without disturbing others or straining your eyes. This LED book light even sports a handy neck hinge that means that you can rotate the arm of your reading light a full 90 degrees, allowing you to direct the light beam towards the edge of the page & comfortably read text left in shadow by many other inferior reading lights. *WINNER
- GIFT OF THE YEAR 2008* The “ Really Tiny Book Light” requires 3 AG3 batteries (included).
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