Usage And Abusage: A Guide to Good English by Eric Partridge

Usage And Abusage: A Guide to Good English by Eric Partridge lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Book Club Associates, 1975, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: "Eric Partridge's books on the English language are known throughout the world. The present work combines scholarship with a lively readability; reference-book accuracy with literary distinction. Not only is it trenchant and witty but also it has been kept up to date.

The reputation, like the sales, of Usage and Abusage has been steadily growing ever since its publication. This new edition has been improved in all respects, enlarged and completely revised."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently faded at the spine.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 392 pages. 8¾" x 5½".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Language category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Story Of The French Foreign Legion by Edgar O'Ballance

The Story Of The French Foreign Legion by Edgar O'Ballance lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Purnell Book Services, 1961, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Black & White Drawings; Maps;

From the cover: "The facts about the Foreign Legion are all too often obscured by the mists of romantic fiction. Major O'Ballance, whose Arab-Israeli War, 1948 was widely praised, offers an impartial view and demonstrates that the facts often put the fiction to shame.

The last in the long line of Grand Companies — the mercenary soldiers who sold their swords to the highest bidder — the Legion is perhaps the most famous and distinguished of them all. In Africa, Russia, Italy, Madagascar, Germany and Austria, legionnaires have fought and died. In Mexico, in support of Maximilian, they fought their most famous engagement; and in Indo-China, in the course of nine years' fighting which culminated at Dien Bien Phu, over 10,000 legionnaires were killed. Major O'Ballance's account of the Legion ends in 1960, when Algeria was still being torn and tormented by war, and men of many different nationalities were fighting on the French side.

The author has visited the Legion at headquarters and in the field. His study of it is based both on his own observation and discussions there and on his personal examination of the records held at Sidi-Bel-Abbes. For the military historian and general reader alike he has written a book of first-class interest and importance."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded with heavier tanning to the spine. Top edge of the text block spotted. Previous owners' inscription to the first blank. Text complete, clean and tight but a little age-tanned.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 271 pages. Index. 8¾" x 5¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Military — Army category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Master by Colm Toibin

The Master by Colm Toibin lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Picador, 2004, Hardback in dust wrapper.

7th impression.

From the cover: "In The Master, his brilliant and profoundly moving fifth novel, Colm Toibin tells the story of Henry James, an American-born genius of the modern novel who became a connoisseur of exile, living among artists and aristocrats in Paris, Rome, Venice and London.

In January 1895 James anticipates the opening of his first play in London. He has never been so vulnerable, nor felt so deeply unsuited to the public gaze. When the production fails, he returns, chastened, to his writing desk. The result is a string of masterpieces, but they are produced at a high personal cost.

Colm Toibin captures the exquisite anguish of a man whose artistic gifts made his career a triumph but whose private life was haunted by loneliness and longing, and whose sexual identity remained unresolved. Henry James circulated in the grand parlours and palazzos of Europe, he was lauded and admired, yet his attempts at intimacy inevitably failed him and those he tried to love.

The Master is Colm Toibin's most accomplished and powerful novel to date. It is a portrait of a man who was elusive to both friends and family even as he remained astonishingly vibrant and alive in his art — a searching exploration of the hazards of putting the life of the mind before affairs of the heart."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Price Clipped. Leans slightly. Edges of the text block lightly tanned. Text complete, clean and tight.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 360 pages. 9½" x 6¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Fiction — Author: T category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

A Sketch-Map History of the Great War and After 1914-1935 by Irene Richards, J. B. Goodson & J. A. Morris

A Sketch-Map History of the Great War and After 1914-1935 by Irene Richards, J. B. Goodson & J. A. Morris lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

George G. Harrap & Co., 1943, Hardback.

2nd printing. [First Published: 1938] Number 3 in the series. Illustrated by way of: Maps;

In the Sketch-Map Histories series.

Good. Gently bruised at the head, tail and corners of the binding with tanning to the boards. Previous owners' inscription to the first blank. Pages very gently age-tanned.

Blue Spine Strip with Green boards with Black titling to the Upper Board. 136 pages. Index. 10" x 7¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Military — History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Notes On European History Volume I: The Break-Up of the Roman Empire to 1494 by William Edwards

Notes On European History Volume I: The Break-Up of the Roman Empire to 1494 by William Edwards lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Rivingtons, 1964, Hardback.

2nd edition, 7th impression. Illustrated by way of: Chronological Tables; Genealogical Tables;

Very Good.

Green boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XII] 633 pages. Index. 7½" x 4¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my History — Europe category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Persian Painting by Basil Gray

Persian Painting by Basil Gray lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Ernest Benn, 1930, Hardback.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Plates [16];

Good. Gently faded at the spine and onto the margins of the boards. Edges of the text block lightly spotted. Text complete, clean and tight but a little age-tanned with scattered spotting.

Brown boards with Black titling to the Spine. [XIV] 92 pages. Bibliography. 8½" x 6½".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Art category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Making of Europe: An Introduction to the History of European History 400-1000 A.D. by Christopher Dawson

The Making of Europe: An Introduction to the History of European History 400-1000 A.D. by Christopher Dawson lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Sheed & Ward, 1953, Hardback in dust wrapper.

A Later Printing. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Fold-Out Maps [4];

From the cover: "It looks as if, in the present disorganisation of Europe, conflicting nationalisms are being stressed to the point where the very notion of Europe itself has almost vanished: and this is the natural result of a couple of centuries in which history has been written from a national standpoint which gave the impression that Europe was no more than the postal address of the nation the writer happened to belong to. If any sort of political unity is to come to a torn Europe, then the European point of view must be recovered in history too. Men must realise afresh what it is that Europe stands for and how that unique society of peoples which we call Europe came into existence.

It is from this point of view that Mr. Dawson has approached the subject. He has chosen what is perhaps the most neglected of all periods of history — the 700 years from the fourth to the eleventh centuries : for that age, in spite of its apparent confusion and emptiness, witnessed the formation of a new society and a new culture — the birth of the European unity.

In order to bring out the essential character of this movement Mr. Dawson has devoted special attention to the parallel and contrasted developments of culture in the Near East; in fact his book gives a very complete survey of the remarkable achievements of Byzantine and Islamic culture, which are so often neglected or misunderstood by students of mediaeval European history. In this, as in the main subject of the book, it has been his aim to view history from inside as a living spiritual process instead of as an external study of an inorganic mass of dead facts and past events."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded with heavier tanning to the spine.

Blue boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XXVI] 254 pages. Index. Bibliography. 8¾" x 5¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Political — European category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Inside Africa by John Gunther

Inside Africa by John Gunther lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Hamish Hamilton, 1955, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Charts; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "AFRICA, the least known of all continents, four times the size of the U. S. A. , is the setting for John Gunther's mightiest feat of reporting in the only comprehensive single volume coveting the whole vast area. Packed with exotic history, colour and background information such as no one has ever before assembled, it is a unique accomplishment, a one-man encyclopaedia of the most varied and mysterious region on earth.

Starting in French Morocco and continuing through every part of the Dark Continent, reader will make astonishing discoveries — for instance where the uranium-came from that went into the first atomic bombs; the reasons why witchcraft is increasing among primitive people out in the bush; the tyranny of the veil in Arab countries, and what is being done about female emancipation; the great market of Marrakesh — 'one of the extreme sights of Africa or anywhere else in the world'; places where, under colonial rule 'a boy of thirty, with a European staff of not more than three or four, may be in charge of a territory larger than England and Wales'.

Fabulous and powerful figures parade through its pages, many of them introduced virtually for the first time to tile western world: the Bey of Tunis, who 'positively reeks of the Dark Ages' with his private troupe of dwarfs; the King of Swaziland, who has ninety-three wives; Williamson, Tanganyika's 'King of Diamonds', perhaps the world's richest man; Mr. Tubman of Liberia, where cabinet ministers have been known to steal cabbages and tommy-guns may salute guests of honour; and countless others besides.

Matched with his famous eye tor the colourful and significant is Mr. Gunther's fair-mindedness, his sympathy, towards people of all kinds, his appreciation of complex problems. He discusses such questions as the survival of the white man in Africa, the differences between British, French and Belgian colonial systems, the infiltration of communism. Men such as Strijdom, Nasscr, Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, Kenyatta, and innumerable other leaders are presented, together with the forces that shaped them for good or evil. He has never written a more solid, carefully proportioned, penetrating book, nor one that exerts such a hold on the reader."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper has tape offset to the flaps, a little edgewear but pleasant overall. Previous owners' inscription to the first blank. Text complete, clean and tight.

Black boards with Silver titling to the Spine. 960 pages. Index. 8½" x 5½".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Travel — Africa category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford

Our Village by Mary Russell Mitford lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

George G. Harrap & Co., 1949, Hardback in dust wrapper.

2nd impression. [First Edition: 1947] Illustrated by way of: Black & White Drawings;

From the cover: "Here, for the first time, is an edition of Our Village that contains everything written by Mary Russell Mitford about the Berkshire village of Three Mile Cross, and omits all those essays on other subjects which have been featured among the mere sixteen sketches published under the title since 1873; for more than seventy years, that is, no different selection has been prepared until now. The editor of this volume has collected from the whole body of Miss Mitford's writings all the essays (thirty in number) which are concerned with 'the village' — and nothing else.

The Introduction by Mr William J. Roberts, who has made a life-long study of Mary Mitford's works, gives a moving and illuminating account of the background to the author's inspired writings.

Miss joan hassall's splendid and delicate wood-engravings show once again, as in Cranford, her distinctive flair for the illustration of books of this type and period."

Introduction by: William J. Roberts

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Unlaminated dust wrapper a little edgeworn and faded. Price Clipped. Edges of the text block lightly tanned. Leans slightly.

Blue boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 228 pages. 8¾" x 5¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Social History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Life of Birds by David Attenborough

The Life of Birds by David Attenborough lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

British Broadcasting Corporation, 1998, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Colour Photographs;

From the cover: "Birds. Over 9000 species, the most widespread of all animals: on icebergs, in the Sahara or under the sea, at home in our gardens or flying for over a year at a time. Earthbound, we can only look and listen, enjoying their lightness, freedom and richness of plumage and song.

David Attenborough has been watching and learning all his life. His new book, with its accompanying series of films for BBC TV, is a brilliant introduction to bird behaviour around the world: what they do and why they do it. He looks at each step in birds' lives and the problems they have to solve: learning to fly; finding food; communicating; mating and caring for nests, eggs and young; migrating; facing dangers and surviving harsh conditions."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper very slightly rubbed at the edges otherwise a very well presented copy.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 320 pages. Index. 10" x 7".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Ornithology category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Richard III and the Princes in the Tower by A. J. Pollard

Richard III and the Princes in the Tower by A. J. Pollard lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Alan Sutton, 1991, Paperback.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Colour Photographs; Maps; Genealogical Tables;

From the cover: "Richard III has divided opinion for over five hundred years. Traditionally, he has been perceived as a villain, a bloody tyrant and the monstrous murderer of his innocent nephews; to others he was and remains a wronged victim who did his best for kingdom and family, a noble prince and enlightened statesman tragically slain.

This lavishly illustrated and stimulating book explores the story of Richard 111 and the tales that have been woven around the historic events; discusses his life and reign and the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower; and assesses the original sources upon which much of the 'history' is based. While telling the story as he sees it. Professor Pollard also suggests that 'the truth' may never be known: the controversial nature of the events at the time is partly to blame; but at least as important are the paucity of the surviving evidence and the fact that the received stories are now so deeply ingrained.

The text is illustrated by over 200 manuscript illustrations, engravings, contemporary documents and photographs, in both black and white and colour. In addition, a number of 'picture essays' explore particular aspects of Richard Ill's life and reign: his birth sign of Scorpio; the portraits of Richard; the symbolism of pigs and boars: Richard's saints; his books; the Princes; historical paintings of Richard III; and cartoons and caricatures. The book is also supported by full source notes and references."

Very Good. Lightly rubbed at the tips of the wrappers otherwise a very well presented copy.

260 pages. Index. Bibliography. 10½" x 7¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Biography category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Fantasy Encyclopedia by Judy Allen

Fantasy Encyclopedia by Judy Allen lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Kingfisher Publications, 2005, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Contains a glossary of terms. Illustrated by way of: Colour Drawings; Illustrated endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "This magical book is a comprehensive guide to the creatures and people of the fantasy genre. The exquisite illustrations and richly descriptive stories will captivate both children and adults alike as they delve into the spellbinding world of elves, monsters and ghouls."

Introduction by: Jonathan Stroud

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.

Pictorial boards. 144 pages. Index. 11" x 8¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Fantasy category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Country Style: Home Decorating the Country Way by Stewart & Sally Walton

Country Style: Home Decorating the Country Way by Stewart & Sally Walton lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Southwater, 2001, Paperback.

Illustrated by way of: Colour Photographs; Patterns;

From the cover: "Not everyone can make the move out of town or city, but everyone can bring a touch of the country into their own home. The country style of decorating evokes a time when the pace of living was unhurried, when decorations had a natural handmade charm, and when furnishings might be worn from use but were beautiful, long lasting, and much loved. Soft fabrics, wood and wirework, simple furniture, natural colours, folk-art patterns and motifs, scented flowers and foliage — all have their place in the country home.

Country Style — Home decorating the country way presents 40 projects to bring the freshness of country style into your own home, with simple but delightful ideas for every part of the room. Walls and surfaces can be distressed and colour washed, and many of the techniques use easily available materials to create highly personal pieces — glorious rag rugs, cross-stitched napkins, or a folk-style pierced tin frame for a favourite photograph. Everything is practical as well as beautiful, whether a bay wreath for a door or a wirework rolling-pin holder for the kitchen.

Guidance on country colours, textures, patterns, and motifs, and lists of all the materials and techniques you need to complete each project, are included. Every design is shown with easy-to follow, step-by-step photographs for complete success, whatever your level of expertise. With Country Style — Home decorating the country way to inspire you, you too can bring the country atmosphere of calm and natural simplicity into your home."

Very Good.

160 pages. Index. 11" x 9".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Home & Garden — Decorating category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Home Spa: Pamper Yourself from Head to Toe by Chrissie Painell-Malkin

Home Spa: Pamper Yourself from Head to Toe by Chrissie Painell-Malkin lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Carlton Books, 2000, Hardback.

Illustrated by way of: Colour Photographs;

From the cover: "Home Spa is the ultimate guide to pampering yourself at home, using plant extracts that are known for their mood-enhancing, healing properties. There is inspirational and practical advice for everything from bathing, skincare, hair care and make-up to fragrance and aromachology, with recipes for creams, oils, scrubs and masks.

Bathing is a wonderfully luxurious experience that cleanses the body, soothes tired muscles and lifts the spirits. The ancient custom of scenting bath water with flower extracts is still practised, and the choice is endless — from scented bath salts to moisturizing

shower creams, baths oils and soaps. Find out the best treatments for your skin and hair types, and learn make-up techniques to enhance your natural beauty. There is a fragrance to suit every mood for yourself and your home -uplifting rose, refreshing mandarin, exotic amber; discover the essences that help restore harmony in body and soul. Written by beauty expert Chrissie Painell-Malkin, Home Spa will help you create the luxury of a beauty salon in the privacy of your home."

Very Good.

Pictorial boards. 144 pages. Index. 10¼" x 9¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Aromatherapy category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Washington, D.C. A Photographic Tour by Carol M. Highsmith & Ted Lamphair

Washington, D.C. A Photographic Tour by Carol M. Highsmith & Ted Lamphair lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Crescent, 1997, Hardback in dust wrapper.

A Later Printing. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "Carved out, at the close of the eighteenth century, of some of the thickest woods and foulest swamps north of Georgia, the glorious city of Washington, D. C. , is among America's most stately, most beautiful, and most impressive. Indeed, once maligned by Charles Dickens as simply "spacious avenues that begin in nothing and lead nowhere; streets a mile long that only want houses, roads, and inhabitants; public buildings that need but a public to be complete", Washington, D. C. , today is a powerful symbol not only of our nation but of democracy.

Spanning the Potomac in majestic fashion, the city fans out gracefully, offering a multitude of pleasures to the more than twenty million tourists who visit annually. From official Washington (the imposing Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, the White House, the Capitol, the soaring obelisk of the Washington Monument) to its lush public parks and gardens; from Union Station to Ford's Theatre; the Willard Hotel to the Library of Congress to the fabled Belgian Embassy; the charm of its celebrated Cherry Blossom Festival to the sombre beauty of the Vietnam Wall; from the delightful Easter-egg roll to the profoundly moving Holocaust Museum — Washington, D. C. , A Photographic Tour, a marvellously evocative portrait in words and pictures, captures this historic city memorably. The perfect souvenir for anyone who has ever visited Washington, and an enticing gift for anyone who even dreams of strolling down Pennsylvania Avenue, "America's Main Street", Washington D. C. , A Photographic Tour manages to convey all the grandeur of the nation's capital while reminding us that this splendour belongs, of course, to all who prize democracy."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Top edge of the dust wrapper slightly ruffled otherwise a very well presented copy.

Pictorial boards. 128 pages. 12¼" x 9¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Travel — U.S.A. category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Sicily by Anthony Pereira

Sicily by Anthony Pereira lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

B. T. Batsford, 1972, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Chronological Tables [1]; Maps [1];

From the cover: "From the point of view of the tourist, it has been said that Sicily can claim to be the world's most beautiful and interesting island. Certainly it is one of the most rewarding regions of Italy, offering a quite remarkable variety of architectural, scenic, historical, artistic and general interest. Here Anthony Pereira, who knows Sicily intimately, does ample justice to all these themes. Having surveyed the colourful and turbulent history of the island, he presents an informative and sensitive account of the towns and villages, landscape and monuments, that will so richly repay a visit. He describes in detail the sights to be seen in Palermo, Messina, Catania, Cefalu, Taormina, Syracuse and the many other fascinating places along the coastline and inland. The result is a book that, with its 25 exciting and atmospheric photographs — some of them taken by the author himself — will be greatly welcomed by those wise enough to visit Sicily as well as by the armchair traveller at home."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper with closed tears at the joins of the upper panel. Gently faded at the spine. Price Clipped. Previous owners' inscription to the pastedown. Text complete, clean and tight.

Blue boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 231 pages. Index. 8¾" x 5¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Travel — Italy category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Britain in Our Century: Images and Controversies by Arthur Marwick

Britain in Our Century: Images and Controversies by Arthur Marwick lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Thames & Hudson, 1985, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black and White Photographs;

From the cover: "Here is the story of what has been happening to Britain and her people in what Arthur Marwick calls this most exciting century, our century.

Britain in 1900 was the world's greatest trading nation, ruled by an upper class that had a near monopoly of power, with a female population for whom domestic service was the single largest occupation. Professor Marwick takes us on a journey through the successive decades of the century, painting in strong colours the features of each period — the twenties, for example, with their sense of the future in movies and cosmetics and civil aviation; or the fifties, heavily flavoured by Suez and Teddy Boys, Look Back in Anger and Lucky Jim. There is much that is unexpected in this tale, partly because of the great and rich regional diversity of the nation, but from beginning to end we are taken to the heart of the vital themes in British life: the extent to which old England — one part of which was J. B. Priestley's land of "cathedrals and minsters and manor houses and inns" -ever existed, the extent to which it became a "modern" state with cocktail bars, Woolworths and swimming pools; whether, as Winston Churchill said, the First World War really effaced "the old landmarks and frontiers of our civilization", and what the wars that followed — among them the Falklands conflict — contributed; and, above all, that strange "secular Anglicanism" which despite colossal and continuing differences in privileges and living conditions, demands for violence and revolution, marks out British society from all others.

This is social history of a very special kind, written around a marvellously revealing collection of illustrations, all especially researched for a probing vision of Britain in our Century."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper, heavier at the head of the spine which is now frayed, nicked at the bottom corner of the lower panel. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 224 pages. Index. Bibliography. 10¼" x 7¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Social History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Diary Of A Nobody by George & Weedon Grossmith

The Diary Of A Nobody by George & Weedon Grossmith lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

The Folio Society, 1969, Hardback.

First in this edition. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Drawings;

From the cover: "'Why should I not publish my diary? I have often seen reminiscences of people I have never even heard of, and I fail to see — because I do not happen to be a 'somebody' — why my diary should not be interesting.

The Diary of a Nobody (1892) created a cultural icon, an English archetype. Anxious, accident-prone, occasionally waspish, Charles Pooter has come to be seen as the epitome of English suburban life. His diary chronicles encounters with difficult tradesmen, the delights of home improvements, small parties, minor embarrassments, and problems with his troublesome son. The suburban world he inhabits is hilariously and painfully familiar in its small-mindedness and its essential decency. Both celebration and critique, The Diary of a Nobody has often been imitated, but never bettered."

Very Good — in Very Good Slip Case.

Yellow Decorative boards. 165 pages. 8¾" x 4¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Biography category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser

The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

WEIDENFELD & NICOLSON, 1993, Hardback in dust wrapper.

7th impression. [First Edition: 1992] Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Colour Photographs; Genealogical Tables;

From the cover: "Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived. So the six wives of Henry VIII — Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr — have become defined in a popular sense not so much by their lives as by the way these lives ended. In the same way their characters are popularly portrayed as female stereotypes: the Betrayed Wife, the Temptress, the Good Woman, the Ugly Sister, the Bad Girl and, finally, the Mother Figure.

But, as Antonia Fraser brilliantly and conclusively proves, they were rich and feisty characters. They may have been victims of Henry's obsession with a male heir, but they were not willing victims. On the contrary, they exhibited remarkable degrees of spirit and defiance of which women living now might still be proud. They displayed considerable strength and intelligence at a time when their sex supposedly possessed little of either.

Antonia Fraser deals with each woman in turn with sympathy — the sympathy they deserve for having had the unenviable fate of being Henry's wife. Inevitably there was great rivalry between them, so high were the stakes in the great game of marrying the King of England. There was jealousy too — the desperate jealousy of Queens who found themselves abandoned, but also the sexual jealousy of the King who discovered himself betrayed.

The story Antonia Fraser tells is romantic and cruel, funny and sad, dramatic and enthralling. This is historical biography at its very best."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper which is faded at the spine. Previous owners' inscription to the first blank. Text complete, clean and tight otherwise.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [IX] 479 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½" x 6¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Royalty category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Words About Music: A Treasury of Writings by John Amis & Michael Rose

Words About Music: A Treasury of Writings by John Amis & Michael Rose lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Paragon House, 1992, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: "Words About Music is an enchanting, lively, and delightfully varied anthology of writings about music — musicians, music critics, music-lovers, music-haters, musical performances, musical instruments, and musical history — by over five hundred celebrated figures, including George Gershwin, P. J. Wodehouse, Lenin, Richard Wagner, and George Sand. The selections of anecdotes, prose, poetry, criticism, letters, and memoirs gathered here range from a few lines to a few pages and are linked irregularly by entertaining informal comments and explanatory asides from the editors."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper.

Red Spine Strip with Cream boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 440 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9¼" x 6¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Anthology category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

A History of Britain Volume 3: 1776-2000 The Fate of Empire by Simon Schama

A History of Britain Volume 3: 1776-2000 The Fate of Empire by Simon Schama lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

British Broadcasting Corporation, 2003, Paperback.

First in this, paperback, edition. Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs; Maps;

From the cover: "While Britain was losing an empire, it was finding itself… The compelling opening words to this volume, The Fate of Empire, set the tone and agenda for the final stage of Simon Schama's epic voyage around Britain, her people and past. Spanning two centuries, crossing the breadth of the empire, and covering a vast expanse of topics — from the birth of feminism to the fate of freedom — he explores the forces that shaped British culture and character from 1776 to 2000.

The story opens on the eve of a bloody revolution, but not a British one. The French Revolution's spirit of fiery defiance and Romantic idealism sparked off a round of radical revolts and reforms that gathered momentum over the coming century — from the Irish Rebellion to the Chartist Petition. How could the world's first industrial society come through its growing pains without falling apart in social and political conflict? Would the machine age destroy or strengthen the institutions that held Britain together? And if the British Empire helped to make Britain stable and rich, did it live up to its promise to help the ruled as well as the rulers? Amidst the military and economic shocks and traumas of the 20th century, and through the voices of Churchill, Orwell and H. G. Wells, The Fate of Empire asks the question that is still with us — is the immense weight of our history a blessing or a curse, a gift or a millstone around the neck of our future?

It is a vast, compelling epic, made more so by the lively storytelling and big, bold characters at the heart of the action. Schama also exposes the grand illusions that cost untold lives, as when India's viceroys let millions of starving Indians die. Why? What went wrong with the liberal dream? The answers emerge in The Fate of Empire, which reveals the living ideals of Britain's long history, a history that tied together social justice with bloody-minded liberty."

Very Good. Upper wrapper slighty curled otherwise a very well presented copy.

447 pages. Index. Bibliography. Trade Paperback (9¼" x 6").

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my History — British category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella by Stephenie Meyer lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Atom, 2010, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: "Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits.

Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood… life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as her. As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagined, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trust. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?

In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion."

Very Good+ — in Very Good+ Dust Wrapper.

Black boards with Red titling to the Spine. 177 pages. 8¾" x 5½".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Fiction — Author: M category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

A Wild Life on Exmoor by Johnny Kingdom

A Wild Life on Exmoor by Johnny Kingdom lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Bantam Press, 2006, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs; Illustrated endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "Johnny Kingdom is the English countryside made flesh. He has lived his whole life on the edge of Exmoor, from his childhood spent trapping moles to sell their skins, to his early adventures as a poacher, to today, when the demands of wildlife photography mean that extraordinary patience is more important than the ability to run fast. Johnny embodies a way of life that may soon be gone for ever.

Johnny still lives in the same area near Exmoor as his father and his father before him. Married to his childhood sweetheart, Julie, he took on his father's official job as the local gravedigger (and his unofficial living as a poacher) before a horrific accident made him change his lifestyle and seek solace in less physically demanding work — wildlife photography. Johnny's book is full of hilarious escapades, from the story of his night sharing a jail cell with a red deer stag to how he persuaded the local badger population to run along a mini assault course, turning wheels and tilting up and down on see-saws.

Johnny is a wonderful and charismatic raconteur and this captivating book sees him well on his way to becoming a national treasure."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Gently bruised at the head of the spine and the top corners of the boards with commensurate wear to the dust wrapper. Text complete, clean and tight.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 288 pages. Index. 10" x 7¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Biography category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Royal Collection: A Thematic Exploration of the Paintings in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen by Christopher Lloyd

The Royal Collection: A Thematic Exploration of the Paintings in the Collection of Her Majesty the Queen by Christopher Lloyd lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Book Club Associates, 1992, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Colour Photographs;

From the cover: "The British Royal Collection of paintings is the largest and most famous private collection in the world, reflecting the personal tastes of British sovereigns from the Tudor period to the present day. Charles I, George IV and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were the greatest of these collectors.

The paintings in the collection include masterpieces by Bruegel, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Canaletto, among many others. Here, the text is arranged thematically, recounting the formation of the collection and using the paintings for separate discussions on: the Genius of Italy, the Kingdom of Nature, the Sword and the Sceptre, Private View and the Regal Image.

A sense of history and an appreciation of the literature of the period clarify and enrich the meaning of the pictures within specific contexts.

This handsome book gives readers the opportunity to see works which hang in Royal Residences throughout the kingdom."

Introduction by: HRH the Prince of Wales

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Top edge of the text block lightly spotted. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 318 pages. Index. Bibliography. 11¾" x 8".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Art category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The King's Jaunt: George IV in Scotland, 1822 by John Prebble

The King's Jaunt: George IV in Scotland, 1822 by John Prebble lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Collins, 1988, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "The visit of King George IV to Scotland in August 1822 was the first by a British monarch for almost two centuries. He was received with all the ceremony which Sir Walter Scott — the official pageant-master — could discover or devise. Scott created a 'Plaided Panorama', whereby an invented mythology of Highland customs and dress was accepted as ancient tradition — as it is still. The feasting, the processions, the presentations continued for ten days before the satiated monarch sailed again for London.

But the Royal Visit, and John Prebble's account of it, are more complex than they appear at first sight. When it was still no more than a hope it was disparagingly referred to in the ante-chambers of the London court as 'The King's Jaunt', to distinguish it from another visit proposed to the King at the same time. This was 'The King's Journey'- a state visit to Vienna, where he would join the Tsar of Russia and the Emperor of Austria in disposing the affairs of Europe. His ministers, however, had no desire to let George loose on the Continent. The way in which they, his mistress and his confidants each attempted to influence the dithering, self-pitying, sybaritic royal hypochondriac is here witheringly sketched in some of John Prebble's most memorable scenes.

There was a darker side to the tartan and the tinsel. The King's Jaunt took place only two years after Scotland's Radical Insurrection, when 60,000 workers struck in Glasgow, a force of armed weavers was brutally dispersed by Yeomanry, and three of its leaders bloodily executed. The Highland clans that Scott called to Edinburgh for a Gathering in honour of the King had been the victims of eviction, roof-burning, poverty and enforced emigration for more than ten years. Scott believed that his inspiring pageant would restore Scotland's faith in herself, and that an understanding of her colourful history would help her resist the corruption of alien change."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Price Clipped. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper with a small nick at the tail of the spine. Text complete, clean and tight.

Brown boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 399 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½" x 6¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Royalty category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

World War II Almanac 1931-1945: A Political and Military Record by Robert Goralski

World War II Almanac 1931-1945: A Political and Military Record by Robert Goralski lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Hamish Hamilton, 1981, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Maps;

From the cover: "There have been innumerable books written about the Second World War, its conduct and its results. This book does something quite new, indeed unique. It presents a chronological account of all the significant military and diplomatic events of World War II, illustrated with photographs, maps and charts, and containing a wealth of statistical information on armies, navies, weapons, density of bombing, and every other aspect of warfare. The facts have been rigorously checked by military historians on both sides of the Atlantic, so that the events of the Second World War are seen in a worldwide context, with equal weight being given to each campaign.

The book opens with the final, desperate years of shadowy peace, with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, Mussolini's conquest of Ethiopia, the Spanish Civil War, and the collapse of democracy in Austria and Czechoslovakia. The complexities of the World War range from the Battle of Britain and El Alamein, to the Siege of Leningrad and the German conquest of Greece, from Guadalcanal and Stalingrad to the Normandy Landings and the Burma Campaign. Finally come the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945 and the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The accompanying graphs offer statistics on an equally wide scale, from Jewish emigration from Germany to German U-boat losses, from Luftwaffe bomb tonnage during the Battle of Britain to aircraft production.

This is a book that no one interested in modern history and warfare can afford to neglect. It is the one essential book about the Second World War."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper a little faded. Top edge of the text block lightly spotted. Text complete, clean and tight.

Black boards with Silver titling to the Spine. 486 pages. Index. Bibliography. 9½" x 7¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Military — History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Planet Ustinov: Following the Equator with Sir Peter Ustinov by Michael Waldman

Planet Ustinov: Following the Equator with Sir Peter Ustinov by Michael Waldman lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Simon & Schuster, 1998, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Colour Photographs; Maps; Illustrated endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "One hundred years ago humorist and storyteller Mark Twain travelled the world. Zig zagging sedately along the Equator he dropped anchor in Hawaii and Fiji, Australia and New Zealand; in India, Mauritius and South Africa. He encountered a world painted red, a British Empire upon which the sun never set.

Now, a hundred years later, Sir Peter Ustinov has travelled in Twain's wake, finding a very different world. In Hawaii and Mauritius, they are trying to reclaim and validate their native languages. From Australia, dispossessed Aborigines travel the world in search of mummified, desecrated ancestors. The Maoris bare their bottoms at the Queen's entourage; and in South Africa there has been the greatest upheaval of all.

Travelling through the vivid landscapes of some of the world's most beautiful countries, Sir Peter encountered extraordinary people along the way, ranging from the King of Abemama, a tiny island in the South Pacific, to Nelson Mandela in South Africa. Throughout, Sir Peter shared his unique and sometimes humorous observations with TV producer Michael Waldman, during the filming of their epic journey for Channel 4.

Mixing history with acute observation of people, places and customs, Michael Waldman has written a witty, shrewd and evocative account of a world in transition on the brink of a new millennium."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper.

Blue boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 256 pages. 10½" x 8".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Travel category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Great Tales from English History: Cheddar Man to the Peasants' Revolt by Robert Lacey

Great Tales from English History: Cheddar Man to the Peasants' Revolt by Robert Lacey lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Little, Brown, 2003, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Maps;

From the cover: "From ancient times to the present day, the story of England has been laced with drama, intrigue, courage and passion — a rich and vibrant narrative of heroes and villains, kings and rebels, artists and highwaymen, bishops and scientists. Now, in Great Tales from English History, Robert Lacey captures some of the most pivotal moments: the stories and extraordinary characters that helped shape a nation.

This first volume begins in 7150 BC with the intriguing life and death of Cheddar Man and ends in 1381 with Wat Tyler and the Peasants' Revolt. We meet the Greek navigator Pytheas, whose description of the woad-painted Celts yielded pretannike ('the land of the painted people'), which became the Latin word Britannia. We witness the Roman victory celebrations of AD 43, where a squadron of elephants was paraded through Colchester. And we visit the New Forest, in 1100, and the mysterious shooting of King William Rufus.

Packed with insight, humour and fascinating detail, Robert Lacey brings the stories that made England brilliantly to life. From Ethelred the Unready to Richard the Lionheart, the Venerable Bede to Piers the Ploughman, this is, quite simply, history as history should be told."

Very Good+ — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper otherwise a very well presented copy.

Blue boards with Silver titling to the Spine. [XI] 254 pages. Index. 8½" x 5¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my History — British category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Complete Gardener by Monty Don

The Complete Gardener by Monty Don lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Dorling Kindersley, 2005, Paperback.

Illustrated by way of: Colour Photographs;

From the cover: "Written with passion and brimming practical advice, Monty Don's Complete Gardener will breathe new life into every aspect of your gardening.

Plants and Produce

Drawing directly on the experience gained from his own organic plot in Herefordshire, Monty explains how a sustainable approach to gardening is the way forward for all keen gardeners. An irresistible mixture of Monty's customary magical turns of phrase and extraordinarily beautiful photographs taken over the course of a year in his own garden, The Complete Gardener shows you how to grow strong, healthy plants and harvest delicious produce while respecting the needs of the environment.

Food and Flowers

Straightforward, practical advice and step-by-step photographs combine to show best practice from composting and pest management to sowing, planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables, and which varieties to choose for the most successful results. Good design is also emphasized with expert advice on using colour, shape and texture in the flower garden."

Very Good.

440 pages. Index. 10" x 8".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Gardening category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The English Companion: An Idiosyncratic A-Z of England and Englishness by Godfrey Smith

The English Companion: An Idiosyncratic A-Z of England and Englishness by Godfrey Smith lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Pavilion, 1984, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: "THE ENGLISH COMPANION is an attempt to give coherent form to that great body of arcane and eccentric knowledge which every Englishman carries in his head, but which can be found in no one reference book. It is compiled in an A to Z of notes ranging from a few lines to a page. 'It is important in this world to be pushing', said the great Oxford professor Benjamin Jowett, 'but it is fatal to seem so'. That really sums up the English view on ambition, and no more on it is said. Not all subjects can be dismissed so succinctly, and entries range from bangers to barmaids, from picnics to Proms, from Jaguars to Johnson (Samuel), from autumn to apples.

The intention is to entertain as well as to inform. Is the national character changing? Or is it the perception of England which changes? As time has passed, old stereotypes have been upended: England, once the richest nation, now only ranks fifteenth; and far from being considered cold fish, we're rapidly acquiring the reputation of being one of the randiest races on earth. Some things never change though: a daunting philistinism, a shaky grip on hygiene, an obsession with animals, a penchant for gambling, a gift for gardens, a passion for sports and a huge sense of humour.

Godfrey Smith's compilation is both witty and stylish, but even in his most waspish comments it is possible to sense his profound fondness for all things English. A marvellous read for all Anglophiles, the Companion is an intriguing bedside book where the foibles and predilections of the English are unmasked at last."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper heavily faded at the spine and onto the margins of the panels. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 272 pages. Index. 9½" x 6¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Social History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Civilisation: A Personal View by Kenneth Clark

Civilisation: A Personal View by Kenneth Clark lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

British Broadcasting Corporation & John Murray, 1970, Hardback in dust wrapper.

4th impression. [First Edition: 1969] Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs; Colour Plates; Black & White Plates;

From the cover: "When Kenneth Clark introduced his magnificent BBC television series Civilisation he emphasised that it was not a history of the arts, but a history of life-giving beliefs and ideas made visible and audible through the medium of art. The continuous praise and enthusiasm with which the series was received proves how successful he has been in making this 'personal' view an exciting and stimulating search into the sources and development of Western Civilisation.

For this book the author has revised the scripts of the thirteen television programmes. As he takes us from the fall of the Roman Empire to the present day, he does not attempt to give a complete record but concentrates on crucial civilising episodes — from lona in the ninth century to France in the twelfth, from Florence to Urbino, from Germany to Rome, England, Holland and America. Against these historical backgrounds he shows us both the men who gave new energy to civilisation and expanded our understanding of the world and ourselves, and the works of genius, in architecture, sculpture and painting, in philosophy, poetry and music, in science and in engineering, which they produced and with which the series has been filled. In relating works of art to the history of civilisation Kenneth Clark's perception of their quality and the spirit they embody enables him to let us see a painting, a building or a piece of sculpture, whether it is something we know, like Raphael's School of Athens, or something we might not have thought of considering a work of art, like a Brunei bridge, with the excitement of new discovery.

The enormous television audience that has been delighted by Kenneth Clark's clarity and lucidity in covering and interpreting so wide a span of time, so versatile a range of ideas and their manifestations, will be in no doubt at all about the value and importance of this book.

On the front of the jacket is a detail from Raphael's fresco in the Vatican, known as the School of Athens. It shows Euclid (in fact a portrait of the architect Bramante) proving a geometrical theorem to a group of graceful young men, who are enraptured at the logic and clarity of his demonstration. On the back of the jacket is a later result of drawing diagrams -the old Forth Bridge."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper. Edges of the text block lightly spotted. Text complete, clean and tight but a little age-tanned.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. [XVIII] 359 pages. Index. 10" x 7".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Shakespeare And His World by Ivor Brown

Shakespeare And His World by Ivor Brown lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Lutterworth Press, 1964, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Facsimiles;

From the cover: "Shakespeare's lifetime coincides with one of the most remarkable periods of English history when a great Queen reigned who was adored by her people, followed by a King who was a man of wide learning and a lover of the theatre. The attempted invasion from Spain was defeated and the greatest seafarers of any age were probing the coasts of newly discovered countries. The arts were flourishing; the theatre, as we know it, was established; books, no longer written by hand, were becoming increasingly available. It was a time when England became a great power in the world, but for the world of to-day one of its supreme glories is the work of William Shakespeare.

To understand the genius of Shakespeare, we need to see him in the setting of his own times — the town in which he was born, the school he attended, the types of houses in which he stayed and their furnishings, the books he used, the London to which he came, and the entertainments people enjoyed.

Ivor Brown, well-known for his books about Shakespeare, has drawn a vivid picture of the age and illustrated it with a wide range of material showing everyday objects and great treasures, the daily life, the clothes and the pursuits of humble people, as well as portraits of the famous. It is a book that brings us closer to an appreciation of Shakespeare and his world."

Very Good — in Good+ Dust Wrapper. Gently faded at the spine of the dust wrapper with small nicks to the top corners of both panels. Pages lightly age-tanned.

Black boards with Gilt titling to the Spine & Upper Board. 48 pages. 10" x 8".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Social History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Spotted Sphinx by Joy Adamson

The Spotted Sphinx by Joy Adamson lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Collins & Harvill Press, 1969, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Plates; Maps to the endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "Joy Adamson, known for her epic of ELSA, the Kenya lioness, has a new and fascinating animal story to tell. This time it is centred on Pippa, a cheetah given to her by a family who were leaving Kenya and wanted to find a good home for their pet. Mrs. Adamson determined to restore this great cat to its natural wild heritage, but the problem presented many difficulties, for hitherto no domesticated cheetah had ever consented to return to the bush.

To her self-imposed task, Pippa's new friend brought immense patience, understanding and endurance. Gradually the cheetah began to absent herself from camp, first for short and later for long periods, though she continued to call in at intervals to get food when she had not made a kill. When she did so she was always affectionate. Eventually she mated with a wild cheetah. The experiment had succeeded; Pippa had become independent; but this did not lead to a break in her relationship with Mrs. Adamson and when the first litter was born she led her to her cubs.

The life of a wild animal is harsh; of the first three litters — eleven cubs — all but three died and one of the survivors owed its life to the medical care which was provided for it after it injured a leg.

But no less harsh is the life of someone dedicated to keeping in touch over several years with a family of wild cheetah. Against a background of terrifying floods, an alarming bush fire and the menace of bandits, Joy Adamson kept contact by making daily long treks, often in the hot hours, always burdened with heavy loads, through bush in which a herd of elephant might stampede at any moment, or the round ears of a lion appear above the grass.

In addition, she had many conscience problems to resolve: at what point should she intervene to help the cheetah if they were sick or hungry. Could she do this without interfering with their adjustment to wild life? The story of the three years during which she watched the development of Pippa and her young is as thrilling and as scientifically observed as her account of her relationship with Elsa. Moreover, Mrs. Adamson is now in a unique position to describe the contrast in character between the elegant, affectionate but enigmatic cheetah — the spotted sphinx — and that of the magnificent Elsa.

The author's photographic coverage of this story is complete and extraordinarily beautiful. We have reproduced twelve pages of colour plates and sixty-four pages of black and white prints."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. A little rubbing to the edges of the dust wrapper with a small triangular tear to the head of the upper panel. Price Clipped. Text complete, clean and tight.

Illustrated boards. 217 pages. 9¾" x 6¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Natural History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Hannah Hauxwell: 80 Years in the Dales by W. R. Mitchell

Hannah Hauxwell: 80 Years in the Dales by W. R. Mitchell lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Great Northern Books, 2008, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Colour Photographs;

From the cover: "Who has not heard of Hannah Hauxwell? For years, she lived quietly, austerely, with only a dog and a few cows for company, at a little farm in an obscure North Pennine dale. Her income and her wants were negligible.

Hannah's life changed dramatically when she was 'discovered' by the press, then by Yorkshire Television. A film, Too Long a Winter, which on first showing gave five million people an insight into her hard life, led to instant celebrity. This was a status she was to retain through her last few years of farming and into quiet retirement in a village not many miles from Low Birk Hatt, where her solitary — but never lonely — farming life unfolded.

This book updates and puts into perspective the Hannah Hauxwell story. It has been written by one who regularly visited her on the farm. He has also sat beside her on the platform at public appearances when she invited questions. Some of her homely answers, with a touch of wit, are recorded. Read also about her last years in farming, about the circumstances of the sale that took place when she retired and of some of her activities and friendships in various parts of her beloved north-country.

Hannah, through television, toured Europe and the New World and attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. She also rejoiced, in later years, when she was introduced to the Lake District and when Cedric Robinson, the official Guide, accompanied her on a jaunt across the Sands of Morecambe Bay.

Through all the changing scenes of life — as one of her favourite old hymns has it — Hannah has retained her faith, her modesty and her charm…"

Very Good+ — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper has offset on the flaps from the heavy gold-printed lining papers.

Black boards with Silver titling to the Spine. 153 pages. 10" x 7¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Biography category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

Bertie, May and Mrs Fish: Country Memories of Wartime by Xandra Bingley

Bertie, May and Mrs Fish: Country Memories of Wartime by Xandra Bingley lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Harpercollins, 2005, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated by way of: Black & White Photographs; Illustrated endpapers and blanks;

From the cover: "Bertie, May and Mrs Fish is Xandra Bingley's captivating account of her early years on a Cotswold hill farm, set against the backdrop of the Second World War and its aftermath. The author's mother, the elegant and remarkably hardy May, turns from a sparkling debutante and horsewoman into a farmer while Xandra's father, Bertie, is away at war. Isolated by landscape, farmyards and a thousand acres, Xandra is an only child among animals, farm workers, landgirls and prisoners of war as the certainties of Christianity and 1930s upper-class values disappear. This book captures the essence of a country childhood and, obliquely through a young girl's eyes and ears, the complicated, often harsh, adult world surrounding her.

Xandra Bingley's acute observation, and her emotional, sensual descriptive gift for place, people, sound and touch make this a brilliantly authentic and evocative portrait."

Very Good — in Very Good Dust Wrapper. Price Clipped. Leans. Edges of the text block lightly tanned. Text complete, clean and tight.

Red boards with Gilt titling to the Spine. 227 pages. 9" x 6¼".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Biography category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

A Victorian Flower Album by Henry Terry

A Victorian Flower Album by Henry Terry lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Allen Lane / Godfrey Cave Associates, 1978, Hardback in dust wrapper.

Illustrated with coloured line drawings. From the cover: "The colours of the most lovingly pressed flowers fade, and the vivid joys of childhood are all too mistily remembered, but for two little girls and a boy in Oxfordshire their Victorian Papa made, one spring and summer in 1873, this perfect keepsake.

Here are captured in watercolour and held in all their glory the wildflowers for which the children had hunted in the meadows, as bright as on the day they were picked. No impressionism here, but exquisitely faithful recording, portraits of their treasures such as children would have loved to have. Here is a sense of wonder at the trumpeting blue of the humble bugloss, here the excitement of discovery of the exotic that had seeded itself so bravely on the Bishop of Oxford's lawn. The Latin as well as the English names are duly recorded for the children's improvement, but there is no academic arrangement by species or by the alphabet — we see them just as they were brought triumphantly into the house each day. Bring this book into any room and there comes with it the air, almost the scents of that summer, as they did for the publisher who happened upon it in a bookshop where it had been brought by a descendant of Henry Terry for advice on the rebinding of the family treasure."

Introduction by: Bridget Boland

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Gently faded at the spine of the dust wrapper with nicks to the tail of the spine and the head of the lower panel. Price Clipped. Text complete, clean and tight.

Brown boards with Gilt titling to the Spine & Upper Board. 119 pages. Index. 8¾" x 10¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Social History category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!

The Illustrated Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee

The Illustrated Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee lands on the |> SALE <| shelves in my shop.

Cresset Press, 1989, Hardback in dust wrapper.

From the cover: "Laurie Lee's matchless memories of his childhood, told in glittering prose and with a wonderfully wicked sense of comedy, have made Cider with Rosie one of the most famous of all autobiographies. Since it was first published twenty-five years ago more than two million copies have been sold throughout the world, it has been filmed, translated into numerous languages, and studied in schools. Yet the book remains as powerfully evocative as ever, and as deeply moving to any reader who comes to it for the first time. The author was born just before the end of the First World War, almost the youngest in a crowded but fatherless family, and grew up in a tiny Cotswold village in the early 1920s. The countryside then had scarcely changed in hundreds of years. Its people were still wholly tied to their few acres, and their movements were still limited to the power and range of the horse. As Laurie Lee reached manhood that world was vanishing irretrievably, and he gives us a haunting vision of its last days. His pages teem with unforgettable scenes and characters — like Granny Trill and Granny Wallon, those 'traditional ancients' who lived and quarrelled next door; the Uncles, 'figures of legend'; Annie Lee, Mother of mothers; and Rosie Burdock, with whom the author took his first bite of the apple, 'never to be forgotten, or ever tasted again'. The illustrations in this beautiful new edition speak for themselves, but among them are some special treasures — a handful of precious photographs of that time and place preserved by the author for over fifty years, and carefully reproduced in their original sepia tones."

Very Good — in Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper is pulled and frayed at the head of both panels and faded at the spine. Text complete, clean and tight.

Pictorial boards. 224 pages. 10¼" x 7¾".

This book will be eventually reach my delightful website...(added to my Biography category.) but get 60% off buying from this very blog blog... Buy it now for just £2.60 + P&P! Of course, if you don't like this one there are plenty more available here!