`I am taking a few months off to travel & wander, drinking my way across the Islamic world to see whether I can dry myself out, cure myself of a bout of alcoholic excess. It is a personal crisis, a private curiosity. I am curious to see how non-drinkers live. Perhaps they have something to teach me.` Booze is mankind`s premier drug of choice, the most popular mind-altering substance ever devised, & it plays a furtive, celebrated & subversive role in nearly every culture on earth. In ” The Wet & the Dry”, Lawrence Osborne explores the culture of permission, particularly in the West, & the opposing culture of prohibition, notably in the Islamic East. Osborne`s globe-trotting odyssey takes him from the luxurious bars of Milan to the vineyards of Lebanon, threatened by Hezbollah; from Swedish vodka to Pakistani strawberry gin; from the Nellie Dean pub in Soho to the dangerous brothels & drinking dens on the Malaysian border; from the boutique scotch produced on Islay to the liquor destroying Native American reservations; & from the only brewery in the dry country of Pakistan to the search for a bottle of New Year`s champagne in Oman. All the while, Osborne`s own Irish family history of terrifying alcoholism fails to deter him from seeking out a drink wherever he can. ...

There is a legend that a Great Spotted Whale lives in the ocean; local fishermen still talk of it, although the first sighting fifty years ago was never corroborated. Now, two young whale watchers each set out to find the whale, one armed with sound recording equipment, the other a camera. Mid-ocean their boats collide, so they pool their resources & set off together to capture incontrovertible proof that the mythical Great Spotted Whale exists. The eventual sighting is a magical moment: the whale is truly phenomenal, & swimming along beside her is a small whale calf. The children return to shore, solid proof in h&. As an added twist to the story, they discover that it was their own grandparents who first sighted the Great Spotted Whale fifty years ago. The Murrow`s epic, wordless adventure is brought to life with Ethan`s stunning graphite drawings, which convey the drama & haunting beauty of the ocean, & capture the majesty of this awe-inspiring creature. ...

A mystical story of Maori culture The birth of a daughter
- Kahu
- breaks the lineage of a Maori tribe. Rejected by her grandfather,

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” The Whale Road” is a creative non-fiction story based on a true tale told to an unborn child in which a sailor falls off a cliff, & turns into an albatross, & a pod of female sperm whales chases the setting sun. The journey begins on a research vessel, as her small crew follow the path of the Hwaelweg through the South Pacific, a hunting ground once so fertile that sailors` logs claim the whales formed a black road in the sea. The expedition sails from Tahiti to New Zeal&, making an enthralling tale about human & animal nature, nurture, love & a search for peace. ...

Whale-watching in South Africa
- one of the most exciting activities in some of the most beautiful destinations in the world. The
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Revisiting some of the locations seen by John Steinbeck, Pino Cacucci travels the length of Baja California--the world`s longest peninsula. Along the way, he hears the story of a man still suffering from injuries sustained during his past life as a pirate, tales of buried treasure chests, & of the trials of Jesuit missionaries among the Indios. But it is the whales, with their extraordinary intelligence, playfulness, sense of revenge, & touching generosity, that capture the author`s heart. Written with humility & humor, ” The Whales Know” is an insight into a land where appearances can be deceptive. ...

EXPLORE BRITISH HISTORY as you have never seen it before! A beautiful 2m-long timeline unfolds to reveal key moments including the story of kings & queens, famous battles, the heroes of science, art & culture as well as iconic national buildings & monuments, all of which have shaped the history of our islands from before humans to the present day. Also

Includes:: 16 pages of newspaper-style chronicle with crosswords, letters-to-the-editor & a multiple-choice quiz. The finishing touch of a handy pocket magnifier make this Wallbook Timeline of British History the perfect gift for curious kids & adults alike.

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IMAGINE TAKING a trip through the history of everything from the beginning of the universe to the present day! This unique `big history` wallbook

Includes:: a 2 metre-long fold-out timeline containing more than 1, 000 pictures & captions that tell the story of the history of the world. The timeline is divided into 12 sections covering both natural history as well as the history of human civilisations in each of the world`s continents. Readers can easily compare what was happening across the world at any given moment in time. The Wallbook also

Includes:: the Wallbook Chronicle which reports on more than 30 key moments from the timeline in the style of a newspaper. Also

Includes:: a crossword, letters to the editor, 50-question quiz & pocket magnifier. Perfect for 7-14 year olds but equally fascinating for all curious adults.





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WITNESS HOW people have changed the world with their hands & brains over more than 10, 000 years from the Stone Ages to the present day. This unique history of science & engineering

Includes:: a 2 metre-long fold-out timeline containing more than 1, 000 pictures & captions thattell the story of the world`s greatest scientists & inventors from ancient China to the Middle East & from enlightenment Europe to modern America. The Wallbook of Science & Engineering also

Includes:: the Wallbook Chronicle that reports on more than 30 key moments from the timeline in the style of a newspaper. Other features include a crossword, letters to the editor, 50-question quiz & pocket magnifier. Perfect for 7-14 year olds but equally fascinating for all curious adults. Developed with experts at the Science Museum in London.



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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE`S plays are presented as never before, with all 38 masterpieces performed in front to you at once on a timeline set in the iconic Globe Theatre. Spot the ghosts, hunt for the murderers, discover the poison & revel in Elizabethan romance as each play reveals its story with a plot summary, key"es & characters. The timeline features essential moments in Shakespeare`s life providing a unique, visual & narrative context to the works of the world`s favourite bard. The Wallbook of Shakespeare also

Includes:: the Wallbook Chronicle that reports on more than 30 key moments from the timeline in the style of a newspaper. Other features include a crossword, letters to the editor, 50-question quiz & pocket magnifier. Perfect for 7-14 year olds but equally fascinating for all curious adults. Developed in partnership with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

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