GIFT BOOKS

Jane Austen's scalpel disinters the motives of her characters, and though her age is so remote, her insights strike a modern note. At Winchester you'll find her bones; her books are all in Waterstone's. Alfred the Great, Robert the Bruce, Francis Drake, Christopher Wren, Elizabeth Fry, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Emmeline Pankhurst, Ernest Shackleton, Agatha Christie, J. K. Rowling... What do they all have in common? They're all great Brits, and their works and achievements are celebrated in charming verse along with many more in this entertaining book. Muirden has regaled us before with rhyming romps through British history. Now he presents us with "100 Great Brits"; witty and erudite, this is the perfect gift to illuminate and amuse.

ISBN: 9781840246117

"If you can learn to lift your ribs right out of your waist, and to let them expand outwards and inwards when breathing, you will soon develop that "upward buoyant poise" which is the secret of grace and which would bring less drudgery and more joy to the daily dusting, bedmaking, picture straightening, and all the dozens of things which go towards making your home beautiful'. A classic piece of 1940s publishing from B. T. Batsford (originally published 1949) reissued to inform and delight all readers about the housewife's lot as Britain emerged from the war. Although the war-time emphasis on making do is still paramount, we see glimpses of a new world of 'luxuries' with 'Washing and Ironing with Electricity' and 'Making a Modern Divan Bed'. Advice on every aspect of the housewife's life is given, from household chores to useful hobbies for themselves and wholesome ones for their children. Choose from: Arranging the menus - Carpet sweeping; Hobbies for housewives (leather work, basketry and pewter modelling); How to make a pouffe; Physical culture (Irish jig in front of the window in the morning); Cleaning gloves; Care of the complexion and hair; Hat wardrobe; Repairing and binding carpets; and, toys from matchboxes. With dozens of diagrams, patterns and instructions, this book is not only a delightful look at the past but can be used for reference even now: very much the intention of the authors more than 60 years ago. These 101 suggestions are, by turn, funny, charming and useful, but all are a fantastic insight into a woman's life and aspirations after the watershed of the war.

ISBN: 9780713490565

This is a delightful piece of wartime publishing from B. T. Batsford (originally published 1940) reissued to inform and delight all readers about life on the home front during World War II. The make-do-and-mend ethos helped win the war, from knitting balaclava helmets for the navy to making croquet games for the floor and table for blackout days. This original 1940 publication has 101 suggestions for things to do during Britain's darkest hour. It reveals a practicality and ingenuity that we hope lives on.... The 101 suggestions include: Home-made working toys; Using up scraps of metal and wood; Croquet for the table and floor; Puzzles in cardboard; Toys in wool and felt; Wartime reading; Meatless dishes; Waterless cooking; Knitting projects; The garden in wartime; Lamp shades for the blackout; Economizing artificial light; and, Let us tidy up. With dozens of diagrams, patterns and instructions, this book is not only a delightful look at the past but can be used for reference even now: very much the intention of the authors more than 60 years ago. The suggestions are, by turn, funny, charming and useful, but are a fantastic insight into a nation's psyche.

ISBN: 9780713490572

"If this country were ever at war the target of the enemy's bombers would be the staunchness of the people at home. We all hope and work to prevent war but, while there is risk of it, we cannot afford to neglect the duty of preparing ourselves and the country for such an emergency". - Samuel Hoare, March 1938. During the late 1930s it was finally realised that war with Hitler's Germany was a major possibility. As the armed forces began their re-arming, the Home Front was not neglected. In the intervening twenty years since the end of the First World War, war had changed for the worst. Aircraft had progressed and had become potent fighting machines, capable of flying huge distances with large payloads of bombs. The realities of 'Total War' and of the 'Blitz' were almost upon Britain and "Air Raid Precautions" was sent out to almost every home in the land. Filled with useful advice, much of which was to become second nature to those in our industrial heartland and large cities, "Air Raid Precautions" became a classic of wartime reading, so much so that Britain's "Air Raid Precautions" was printed in its entirety, with no changes, for the American, New Zealand and Australian household

ISBN: 9780752444703

Mistakes, mishaps, cock-ups - they just aren't given the recognition they deserve. They make life interesting and human beings (some more than others) have a genuine flair for them. So why does history only record the world's dull and worthy achievements? "Annus Horribilis" sets the record straight by celebrating good old-fashioned failures. From the man whose spectacular escape from prison was spoiled when he was eaten by a crocodile to the husband who choked to death on his own wife, via several exploding whales, numerous celebrity meltdowns and countless predictions that proved to be wholly inaccurate, "Annus Horribilis" proves once and for all, that there's no success like failure.

ISBN: 9780719524707

Death comes to us all, but never in so pleasing a way as now. As a Dodo is a satirical compilation of faux obituaries to make you wipe tears of laughter from your eyes as you bid farewell to all things lost. From Britney's hair and the comedy double act of Bush and Blair to Prince Harry's bad-boy reputation, nothing is safe from the scathing wit of the award-winning blogsters. Speaking ill of the dead has never been so much fun!

ISBN: 9781840246025

"Best of British" is a celebration of the nation's greatest 100 sporting heroes, from Henry VIII to Red Rum, Roy of the Rovers to Torvill and Dean. Jon Henderson has combed through the annals of our glorious and not so glorious past to bring us the geniuses and the eccentrics, the national treasures and the villains who together have shaped our present. Trueman and W. G., Best and Edwards, racing drivers, jockeys, rowers - just what does it take to make a sporting superhero? Hendo's 100 reveals all. Opinionated and provocative, his witty character studies - accompanied by stylish illustrations - capture the essence of his subjects' greatness, re-evaluating the famous and rescuing the forgotten. But when there's a cast of thousands to choose from, and hundreds of years of history to explore, who will make the cut for the most heroic of the heroic? Find out, in "Best of British".

ISBN: 9780224082488

Why did Isaac Newton invent the cat flap? How did the first mousetrap come about? Did Thomas Crapper really invent the flushing toilet? What accident led to the invention of the Microwave oven? Why did it take nearly 20 years to make sliced bread? From the moment the alarm clock wakes us in the morning until the time we switch the light off at night, we are surrounded by things without which our lives would be impossible. Kettles, microwaves, televisions, cars, mobile phones and credit cards - the list is endless. Yet how often do we consider how such miniature wonders of our lives came about, who invented them and why? The answers are so often incredibly interesting. In this delightful volume, best-selling author Harry Oliver reveals the most diverting and amusing stories that lie behind the objects and inventions we take for granted, from household items to the technology that fills our world. Everything around us was born from an idea, and as you read the pages in this book, the ordinary will soon appear rather more extraordinary than it did before.

ISBN: 9781844544745

'No people in Europe are as clumsy and awkward with their hands as the Portuguese'. In the middle of the 1800s, Mrs Favell Lee Mortimer set out to write an ambitious guide to all the nations on Earth. There were just three problems. She had never set foot outside Shropshire. She was horribly misinformed about virtually every topic she turned her attention to. And she was prejudiced against foreigners. The result was an unintentionally hilarious masterpiece: 'People who are dainty must not come to Norway.' 'If the Siberians' taste in dress is laughable, their taste in food is horrible.' 'British America <Actinic:Variable Name = 'Canada'/>'s Lake Superior is so immense, that Ireland might be bathed in it; that is, if islands could be bathed.' In "The Clumsiest People in Europe", Todd Pruzan has gathered together a selection of Mrs Mortimer's finest moments, celebrating the woman who turned ignorance into an art form.


ISBN: 9781905211753

Viewed from the air, even the most familiar landscapes take on a startling new life. The countryside becomes a pattern; the coast becomes an edge. Humanity recedes and the land itself takes centre stage. From small harbours to expansive bridges, towering cliffs to seaside resorts - "Coast from the Air" gives an incredible new perspective on our green and pleasant land, and how beautiful and fragile that land can be. In 20 chapters - each one focusing on a specific coastal region of the British Isles - over 200 outstanding aerial photographs portray the beauty and diversity of our coastline. From the Dingle to The Wash; from the mild seaside towns of England's south coast to the storm-lashed fishing villages of the Outer Hebrides, "Coast from the Air" is a true visual feast.


ISBN: 9781846072666

This is a practical guide to the Good Old Days. Rediscover the lost world of traditional household crafts with 'the grand master of self-sufficiency' ("Kitchen Garden") John Seymour. Master tried and trusted methods that have been honed over the centuries and learn to make butter and cheese, embroider, keep bees, decorate your home, and more. As Seymour himself once said "we must fill our homes and our lives with beautiful things again and cast out the mass-produced rubbish. This book shows that such things are possible." It contains all the practical advice you need to produce what you need for yourself.

ISBN: 9781405322225

Whether you care for a rambling country garden or a modest town plot, "Garden Secrets" offers a variety of seasonal hints and practical tips to help you make the most of your outside space. For those who are inspired by the year-round beauty of the Trust's gardens, here is a chance to learn from the experts and benefit from their years of experience. This illustrated book includes advice for urban gardeners working with small plots or container planting, larger country gardens that may include lawn space and those perhaps looking to grow vegetables.

ISBN: 9781905400355

The recipe for Gentleman's Relish has remained a secret since it was first invented by John Osborn in 1828 and no doubt some, whose taste buds recoil at this intensely salty blend of anchovies, butter, herbs and spices are happy for it to remain secret. But as 'one man's meat is another man's poison', the book "Gentleman's Relish" is packed with a range of exotic, strange and downright unexpected English culinary oddities. From Piccalilli and marmite through Bombay duck, Brown Windsor Soup to Sloe Gin and Samphire, the book has histories, recipes and anecdotes on a range of eccentric eats that delight the taste buds of the English. This is an essential reference for anyone who relishes sampling the exotic and the unexpected.

ISBN: 9781905400553

With hundreds of funny one-liners that'll have you and your caddy chuckling down the fairway, this is the perfect companion for the golf-obsessed, and an ideal gift for the newly converted. So put your best ball forward, tee off with "Golfing Wit" and you'll be sure to get a hole in one. And when you buy everyone a drink at the nineteenth hole, you'll have the perfect quips for the occasion.

ISBN: 9781840246216

It was May 1940, and Hitler stood on the cliffs at Calais and eyed up his next conquest - England! There was a call to arms that saw the founding of the Home Guard, a motley collection of men, poorly armed, many too old to fight in the war. The Home Guard was untried in action, often without weapons or training and they were Britain's last ditch defence against the Germans. But all was not lost and, over the period of a few months, this rag-tag group was armed, uniformed and trained using the "Home Guard Manual". Taught basic fieldcraft, how to survive in the open, how to destroy tanks, ambush the invaders, use weapons of varying sorts, make boobytraps, read maps and send signals, the fledgling volunteer was turned into a veritable fighting machine...or was he just another member of Dad's Army? Read the manual and find out.

ISBN: 9780752444710

First published in 1916, A.L. Fowler's book of household tips is an indispensable guide to all those Kim and Aggy moments - from how to clean a dirty clothesline to removing paint from window panes, and how to get rid of a whole host of stains, from rust and indelible ink to blood and mildew. This delightful little volume also reveals how to rid yourself of those annoying household pests, including ants, beetles and flies, how to remove odours from your hands and how to use natural products to clean floors, windows and cooking utensils. Fowler also shows the twentieth-twentieth century housewife how to perform miracles in the kitchen, from how to make pastry extra flaky to the quickest way to peel carrots and how to remove burns from a cake.

ISBN: 9780752443447

What constitutes a village? What is the significance of the maypole? What was the true purpose of a village green? What is a 'moot hall'? What is the origin of lich-gates? What was the real role of a yeoman? How come whole villages have disappeared over the centuries? This book reveals the answers and provides all the tools a village detective will need. Village history, points out the author, is embedded in the village landscape. Village stories can, therefore, be 'read': this book will reveal how. Arranging the book thematically, chapters cover ancient villages; the village green (including maypoles, pubs and ponds); the village church; cottages and farmsteads; village architecture (including lock-ups and market crosses); village casualties; fishing villages; clachans and fermtouns; and, villages of the modern era. Drawing on dozens of real villages as examples, the author, an expert on the landscape, matches up popular images and perceptions with the realities of old village life and history. Illustrating his theories with photographs, maps and drawings, he shows how amateur enthusiasts can pursue local village history with fascinating results. Covering the whole of Britain, he also points out key regional differences - for example, why villages in Scotland follow a different pattern to villages in England. This is a fascinating book that will delight lovers of local history everywhere.

ISBN: 9780091920111

What is like to be another person? Why is stupidity not painful? Is it possible for a human ever to do a selfless act? Do chimpanzees really enjoy eating bananas? How can an exception ever prove a rule? Everyone confronts philosophical issues, so why shouldn't everyone have access to a philosopher? In this wise and witty book, forty philosophers from universities around the world answer real readers' most difficult questions. They address dilemmas and queries on every subject, from adultery and the afterlife, to ethics and existentialism, God, sex, suicide and war. They even address the question, 'Why can't philosophers agree?' This is an entertaining and jargon-free exploration of the philosophy of everyday life.

ISBN: 9780340923887

This is a fully illustrated edition of this unique and fascinating storehouse of accumulated wisdom; from health tips and kitchen tricks to gardening know-how, and even predicting the weather. Ruth Binney has brought together a fascinating variety of traditional sayings, superstitions and axioms and explains whether, and why, they still work today. Before dismissing a well-known proverb as an old wives' tale, consult "Wise Words and Country Ways" and discover that it's never too late to learn from experience. Charming illustrations throughout, captivating content, attractive format and a great price make this the perfect gift for anyone interested in country life.

ISBN: 9780715327760

Laugh in the face of death! That's what this bold, brash and often irreverent collection of epitaphs encourages readers to do. Every fascinating quote presents an unexpectedly cheeky perspective on the tragic, like this one from Uniontown, New Jersey: "Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake; stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake." Some come from the gravestones of the famous: Bette Davis' proudly notes that "she did it the hard way." Each thought-provoking line makes an indelible contribution to our folklore.

ISBN: 9781402729690

This is an address book featuring floral illustrations by artist Pierre-Joseph Redoute [1759-1840] from the collection of the New York Botanical Garden.

PRICE INCLUDES VAT

ISBN: 9780811859097

This is a twelve-month datebook for keeping track of friends' and family members' birthdays featuring floral illustrations by artist Pierre-Joseph Redoute [1759-1840] from the collection of the New York Botanical Garden.

PRICE INCLUDES VAT

ISBN: 9780811859134

"Life's Too Short to Drink Bad Wine" is the latest addition to our "Born to Shop" hardback gift book series. Produced in a modern style of pastel watercolours and providing humorous, sophisticated sentiments, this book is the perfect gift for the female of the species.

ISBN: 9781841612751

Mr McGreevy's "Absolute Howlers" is a side-splitting collection of the most earnest and mangled attempts at the English language made by generations of schoolchildren. From the historical - 'Rome was overthrown by invasions of the Huns, Visigoths and Osteopaths' - to the religious - 'Solomon had 300 wives and 700 cucumbers'; the R-rated - 'As he walked through the room he heard the sound of heavy breeding' - to the unintentionally profound - 'Matrimony is a place where souls suffer for time on account of their sins' - under Mr McGreevy's tutelage nothing is safe, or sacred. Be they funny, irreverent or just plain silly, Mr McGreevy's "Absolute Howlers" are guaranteed to have you weeping with laughter. But be warned: don't read too many in one sitting, you may just do yourself a permanent injury.

ISBN: 9781845296322

PUBLICATION DATE NOVEMBER 2007

All men are disgusting. FACT. Let's face it - boys don't like pretty things. In fact, the smellier and more putrid something is, the better...that's why boys like bottom burps and scampy fries. So this book is stuffed full of the most hilarious and disgusting cartoons "The Odd Squad" could find...so disgusting in fact, that we've caught a horrendous disease which has probably infiltrated every page of this book. Hope you're wearing gloves whilst reading this. Oops...too late!!

ISBN: 9781841612737

We may all know that dandelions make us wet the bed, and that stewed prunes are a cure for constipation, but how many of us were aware that a poultice of chicken manure is a remedy for baldness? Or that eel liver will aid a difficult labour? The woman healer is as old as history. For millennia she has been doctor, nurse and midwife, and even in the age of modern medicine her wisdom is handed down in the form of old wives' tales. Using extensive research into archives and original texts, and numerous conversations with women in city and countryside, Mary Chamberlain presents a stimulating challenge to orthodox medicine and an illuminating history of female wisdom which goes back to the earliest times. What are old wives' tales? Where do they come from? Do they really work? These questions, and many more, are answered in this fascinating compendium of remedies and cures handed down from mother to daughter from the beginning of time.

ISBN: 9780752439914

Do you know how to make a raft of logs, find your way by the north star, or bake biscuits on a stone? From what to wear in camp to how to identify poisonous plants, making flapjacks in the outdoors to preparing a tourniquet, "An Outdoor Book for Girls" is the perfect manual for all those tomboys out there who would rather be on the trail than tied to the kitchen sink. First published in 1915, in an era before televisions and video games, "An Outdoor Book for Girls" was an indispensable guide for any young lady wanting to make the most of the great outdoors. With sections on the identification of poisonous plants, telling apart different animal footprints, useful knots and how to tie them, some Sunday games for a quiet day in camp and even making an outdoor dressing table, this valuable little book will help outdoorsy girls to regain their spirit of adventure and experience the thrill of the wind in their hair. No boys allowed.

ISBN: 9780752443140

"Peter the Cat", Aurum's 2006 collection of the most eccentric and unexpected obituaries from "Wisden Cricketer's Almanack", was a very successful first collaboration with "Wisden", making a delightful and elegant little hardback that has already sold over 13,000 copies. Here is the follow-up. At the back of every "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" is an "Index of Unusual Occurrences", referencing all the strange and indeed surreal things reported throughout its 1600 pages. "Man in Osama Bin Laden Mask Stops Play", for example, or "Ball lost in umpire's trousers", or "Six smashes spectator's cornet", or even "Glamorghan defeat blamed on seagulls". And all these examples, plus two dozen more, just from the 2006 edition! Now Gideon Haigh, increasingly acclaimed as the best living cricket writer, has compiled a selection of "Wisden's" best and funniest Unusual Occurrences since its earliest days in the last century. It will be another perfect gift at Christmas and for the tea interval at the Test Match. The key features include: the follow-up to "Peter the Cat", Aurum's first successful collaboration with "Wisden"; trademark yellow cover with Wisden logo and elegant lino-cut illustration; also edited by Gideon Haigh, one of cricket's finest writers; another perfect Christmas gift book at an impulse-buy price; and a handsomely designed and beautifully produced book.

ISBN: 9781845132569

This is a classic re-issue of poems written by Abigail, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel aged six. She has composed verse since she was a tiny puppy and feels that this small collection of her work might be of interest to other dogs and their owners. This selection of Abigail's poems is perceptive and enchanting, revealing the variety and richness of a dog's life: the discomfort of a visit to the vet; first love for a fickle Labrador; and her favourite reading matter and what she would like to become when she grows up.

ISBN: 9781840245882

With chapters on husbands and wives, age, luck, wealth and many more, these sayings reveal about their countries of origin, and about human nature.

ISBN: 9781840246193

The Cloud Appreciation Society's Manifesto states: 'We believe that clouds are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul. Indeed, all who consider the shapes they see within them will save on psychoanalysis bills.' This is a glorious collection of clouds that look like things, including dragons, skateboarders, pasta, witches and poodles. It is a proud celebration of the carefree, aimless and endlessly life-affirming pastime of cloudspotting.

ISBN: 9780340952429

If ever there was a book to make you switch off your television set, 'The Dangerous Book for Boys' was it. And now, from the same authors, comes 'The Pocket Book of Things to Do' - packed with exciting and fun things to keep you entertained all summer. 'The Dangerous Book for Boys' was the book of the year in 2006, inspiring a newfound passion for adventure, fun and all things 'dangerous'. Now, the authors have expanded their knowledge of all things fun to do and have come up with the fantastic 'Pocket Book of Things to Do'. With everything from how to win at poker, how to make a paper hat and how to skim stones to how to tie a knot to how to write a note in secret ink, the Pocket Book will appeal to men and boys alike, not forgetting the women in their lives!

ISBN: 9780007253968

The latest in "Frances Lincoln's" series of "RHS Treasuries", this charming anthology brings together a wealth of poetry and prose from a broad range of writers, from the Roman natural historian Pliny and the Chinese poet Po Chu-I, to Sir Walter Scott and Robert Fortune, to twentieth-century poets such as Seamus Heaney. The poems and extracts are illustrated with botanical prints from the remarkable collection of artworks at the Royal Horticultural Society's Lindley Library, acknowledged as the world's finest horticultural library. It is an ideal gift book, to appeal to lovers of literature, gardening and nature. It will showcase some of the most beautiful artwork from the enormous range of material in the RHS Lindley Library. It is a fourth volume in our successful series of "RHS Treasuries".

ISBN: 9780711227361

What phrase enrages you most? "How are you spelling that?" perhaps, or, "issues around"? When the question came up in the Letters page of "The Daily Telegraph", hundreds of readers nominated the ones they loathed, and thousands more were posted on line. Provoked beyond endurance, Christopher Howse and Richard Preston compiled "The Infuriating Phrasebook", drawing on written and spoken insults to the intelligence from television, radio and the press. Infuriating and entertaining, this A-Z lexicon covers politicians' cliches, business jargon; shop assistants' rudenesses; public-service padding; menu madness and idiotic innovations. "The Infuriating Phrasebook" is sharply illustrated by the "Telegraph's" award-winning cartoonist Matt. All right - You all right there? A patronising enquiry made by nurses to old ladies already humiliated by being addressed by their Christian names. It is also used by shop assistants to customers who have been waiting a long time for service. Blue-sky thinking - Species of daydreaming for which businesses are usually billed by the hour. It can lead to thinking the unthinkable or saying the unsayable <Actinic:Variable Name = 'qv'/>. Enjoy! - An order issued by waiters or baristas <Actinic:Variable Name = 'qv'/> after they have delivered yours. First invented by - The second inventor is deservedly less well known. I'll let you go now - But you'll buttonhole me later. Inappropriate - Used by officials who want to blame people for behaviour that is not illegal or forbidden. The patient used an inappropriate tone when raising issues around ward cleanliness. Jus - gravy. Pan-fried - instead of being fried in an old dustbin-lid. Serving suggestion - On the label of a prepared meal, a warning that the plate, tablecloth, and accompanying boar's head shown in the picture are not included in the small plastic container. Spiral out of control - Residents feared that costs for the leisure complex would spiral out of control. When aeroplanes spiral out of control they go downwards. Spiralling costs seldom do the same. See also: Escalate. You're a star - Excessive and therefore patronising term of thanks for the performance of a routine duty. See also: legend, hero.

ISBN: 9781845296759

This charming little handbook was first published in the 1950s as an aid for stewards entering the Merchant Navy. It contained notes on the necessary etiquette and skills required to serve passengers on the great ocean liners of the day, whether in first class or the emerging tourist class.Packed with all sorts of fascinating facts, tips and hints and supported by diagrammatic drawings of table settings from breakfast to dinner, this will appeal not only to former ship stewards reminiscing on days gone by, but also to anyone who is part of the burgeoning cruise industry, where people can still enjoy this level of service. Cookery historians will also find much of interest in the menus of the time that are listed together with the handy glossary of French terms at the back of the book. Finally, this is also the book for anyone who ever wondered how to get a drinking glass clean and smudge free: 'Glasses should be washed in warm water, rinsed in cold, dried with a linen cloth (linen does not leave fluff on the glass in the same way as cotton).' or correctly uncork and serve a bottle of champagne. Its nostalgic impact is further reinforced by the inclusion of the adverts that appeared in the first edition, from Sun-Pat peanuts to Old Charlie Rum.

ISBN: 9781844860562

Admit it. Whether it's shopping while drunk, eating ice cream as a late-night treat or checking your blog for hits, all of us have a list of secret sins. This book is the definitive collection of things from modern life we secretly love but never own up to loving. So now is the time to own up to your flaws. To help you along the way, there is a fun interactive section where you can tick which secret sins you have indulged in...be honest now. Secret sins include: sleeping in taxis; celebrity sex tapes; second breakfasts; chucking a sickie; fake tan; yorkshire pudding - from a packet; bog books; personalized number plates; teeth whitening; wine-in-a-box; and the Dutch oven.

ISBN: 9780719521768

On its first appearance in 1957, Hugh and Graham Greene's "The Spy's Bedside Book" provoked a storm of interest, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, 100 copies were bought by East German Intelligence. This classic anthology, with a new introduction by the former head of MI5, Stella Rimington, includes stories by some of the great writers on spying and many practitioners, including Ian Fleming and John Buchan, Sir Robert Baden-Powell and Belle Boyd, Walter Schellenberg, Sir Paul Dukes and Vladimir Petrov, and from the golden age of mystery and suspense, William Le Queux and E. Phillips Oppenheim.There are also some unexpected figures: William Blake, D.H. Lawrence and Thomas Mann, all suspected of spying in three great wars. How can you hide messages in a boiled egg? Why should you always put pepper in your vodka when in Russia? Answers to these questions and much more can be found in this thrilling collection, which will enthral readers once again with its tales of espionage from a bygone era.

ISBN: 9780091920616

"What the Doctor Smokes" celebrates a time of innocence, when advertisers could tell us any old garbage and we'd believe it.From the minor untruth - typewriters that make the working day so much fun (really?) - to the amazing claim - cigarettes that are recommended by doctors and electric corsets (ouch!) that promise the perfect figure - and featuring some that can't ever have seemed a good idea - such as a chin reducing head cage - this book contains 85 of the most outrageous adverts ever to have been thought up by ad execs.Hilarious and shocking, "What the Doctor Smokes" reminds us not to believe everything we're sold!

ISBN: 9781845379803

"Why Not Catch 21?" is an expansion on Gary Dexter's long-running "Sunday Telegraph" column. Each of its fifty chapters focuses on the origins of one of the great titles of world literature, presenting a bite-sized piece of literary history, with fascinating details of the work's genesis and composition. The emphasis is on titles that are literally inexplicable without this background knowledge. Do you know: What was Wordsworth's Prelude a prelude to? Who was the original Jeeves? Why A Clockwork Orange and not A Robot Banana? Read "Why Not Catch 21?" and find out.

ISBN: 9780711227965

Poppy is the epitome of cool, wondering as she varnishes her toenails, if she should have a little dolphin tattooed on her ankle. Besides being long, books are not quite so cool - what she really needs are her friend's notes. Downloading songs on to her iPod and reading "Hello!" instead of doing her A-level revision, Poppy fobs off her despairing parents by telling them that Google's ace for research on As You Like It. Whatever: she'll get an A. Social Stereotypes has itself just become a teenager and in this new collection Victoria Mather and Sue Macartney-Snape return pin-sharp in their aim to immortalize the characters de nos jours. From Krystal and Craig practising the samba at the Palais de Glide and dreaming of being on the telly, to the Compost Enthusiasts Constance and Caroline, by way of Hedge Funder Giles - with a house within the congestion zone, a Euro-wife with collagen implants, a 4 x 4 for the Croatian nanny and a Riva - every aspect of contemporary life is covered. It's impossible to resist being drawn in by the sparklingly mischievous prose and hilariously accurate illustrations of these stereotypes from the "Telegraph Magazine". You will join the ever-increasing number of fans already officially classed as the Totally Hooked.

ISBN: 9780719596704

"The Wit and Wisdom of the Master" - all compacted into 128 pithy pages! Tony Ring, the president of the Wodehouse Association and author of the 600,000-word "Millennium Wodehouse Concordance", has drawn on his extensive knowledge and even more wonderful enthusiasm to compile an absolutely cracking anthology, which answers all our Christmas present problems in one volume. Here are not only witty epigrams we all know and love (and perhaps lots we don't!) but also longer humorous extracts which are full of wisdom. Evelyn Waugh has written that Wodehouse produced three wholly original similes on every page he wrote - which, even allowing for exaggeration, must make this one of the most original gift books ever! It will certainly be one of the funniest...

ISBN: 9780091921255

Have you ever wondered: o How to deliver a baby? o How to put up a tent in the dark? o How to buy a swimming costume? o How to decide whether or not accept a marriage proposal? Or have you grappled with the thorny issues of the etiquette of group sex, where to sit dysfunctional family members at a wedding, or how to say 'Please', 'Thank you' and 'Would you like to dance?' in thirty different languages? Have you found yourself lost for words at a dinner party, or struggling to remember Kate Moss's boyfriends - and the haircuts she had while she was with them - or wanting to know the ingredients of a lipstick or the central premises of the world's main religions? Then look no further. The answers to all these questions, and more, lie within the pages of this book. Everything But the Kitchen Sink is the definitive distillation of current wisdom for the modern woman. It is a celebration of all things female: a delightful cornucopia of essential facts, figures, diagrams, lists, pie charts, quotes and practical advice that deserves a place in every handbag, backpack or Birkin.

ISBN: 9780297852711

This work offers a compilation of the most fascinating unusual and entertaining material from "The Countryman" magazine's long and prestigious history. Celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2007, the magazine has always reflected what is happening in the countryside - the good and the bad, the nostalgic and the current - and embraced a wide range of social strata and attitudes. With contributions from J.B. Priestley (author), Spike Milligan (comic/author), Robin Page (columnist and broadcaster) and many others, "Words from the Countryman" is a wonderful source of social history, containing everything from hard fact to quirkiness and wry humour.

ISBN: 9780715327043

Garden lovers everywhere will cherish this collection of beautiful poetry and prose inspired by all things green and flourishing. With quotations from down the ages and through the seasons, this beautifully-designed book contains words of wisdom on everything from allotments to arboretums, from pergolas to potting sheds, and will provide moments of laughter and reflection whether you are cooped up on a rainy day or admiring the fruits of your labour on a summer evening.

ISBN: 9781840246537

It is a fact universally acknowledged that the British are obsessed with the weather. This is not surprising -- no country in the world has such unpredictable weather, with such power to rule people's lives. The Wrong Kind of Snow" is the complete daily companion to this national phenomenon. From the Spanish Armada to the invention of the windscreen wiper, each of the 365 entries beautifully illustrates a day in the weird and wonderful history of the British and their weather. 31 January: The 'Big Freeze' of 1963brings the FA Cup competition to a halt: every football pitch in Britain is frozen: the third round takes 66 days to complete: the Pools Panel is formed as a result. 9 February: 'British Rail blames the Wrong Kind of Snow' --it was ajournalist's phrase, but on this day in 1991 itstuck to the beleagured BR like flesh to ice. 15 July: The exceptionally hot and steamy summer of 1858 caused the Great Stink of London,resulting in the building of London's sewage system, still in use today. On the same day in 1930, rainfall in Yorkshire is so heavy that the Whitby lifeboat makes a rescue two miles inland.1 0 September: A violent storm -- rather than British sea power -- defeats the Spanish Armada in1588. Had the weather held and the fleet reached home, it would have been hailed as a Spanish triumph. Four centuries later, bad light and rain stop play at the Oval ...And much more.

ISBN: 9780340937877