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Discover half-hidden chateaux and artists’ country houses; walk, boat or dance by the river; explore old towns and country footpaths; and eat in family-run restaurants with 1950s decor – and prices to match. Based on over 20 years’ experience of exploring the Paris countryside by train, each visit includes the essential historical context and practical information to help you discover places unknown to many Parisians. Written with humour and a flair for the unusual and authentic, the text is illustrated with original photos and local maps. It includes a unique guide to using the excellent local train network.

A richly illustrated book about the celebrated connoisseur, collector and philanthropist Sir Richard Wallace (1818-1890), published by the Wallace Collection to mark the bicentenary of his birth.

Includes 490 illustrations and new information on Wallace’s origins and life.

Experience the sights and sounds of the City of Lights like a true native with this expanded edition Bill Gillham has been visiting Paris for decades. For him, the pleasure is not in revisiting the tourist sights, but rather in immersing himself in a particular quartier, discovering little shops and bistros, exploring markets, parks, and local entertainment, and finding the quirks and particularities of the city’s day-to-day life. In this unique guidebook, Bill takes travellers to 21 of his favourite areas in Paris–some central, some suburban, all off the beaten track. Neglected or completely ignored by ordinary guide books, each of these locales has a purely individual, Parisian character and make superb bases for traditional sightseeing, and in particular an ideal way of seeing Paris with children. All the information about where to stay; how to get about; where to shop and eat; which museums, parks, playgrounds to not miss; and what to avoid is provided along with lush photographs that give a hint of the pleasures to be gleaned. All the information has been meticulously updated, and many sections have been enlarged and improved.

This eighth edition of Best of Austria offers a survey of the creative and economic achievements of Austrian architecture firms and the country’s building culture in general, exemplified by the projects and people who have been awarded national and international architecture prizes in 2020 and 2021. The book features 117 buildings through photos, plans and concise texts by renowned authors. In addition, distinguished individuals, architectural teams and institutions are introduced in brief portraits. An introductory essay by Triin Ojari, director of the Estonian Museum of Architecture in Tallinn, analyses architectural events and building culture in Austria with an outside perspective. The book is rounded out by a detailed index providing relevant information on the various awards.

Text in English and German.

For all its pivotal importance historically and politically, not to mention gastronomically, Brussels remains one of the least known cities in Europe. Derek Blyth has lived in Brussels for many years, and his book takes the visitor to the secret and surprising places of Brussels as well as round the grandiose monuments and spectacular museums. Thirteen walks, illustrated with historical paintings, engravings and photographs explore the centre of Brussels. Further pleasures described include not only the forests and villages on the outskirts of Brussels, but also Waterloo, the matchless art nouveau architecture, the superb cemeteries, and surrealist art in the métro. Comprehensive practical information gives a connoisseur’s guide to the restaurants of Brussels, some of the finest in Europe.

First as the powerful bulwark of Christendom against the East in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and then as the victim of rapacious neighbours, Poland’s fate has been central to European culture. Her turbulent history has left a wealth of monuments and historic landscapes that have been virtually hidden from the rest of the world. This guide explores Poland’s remarkable heritage in full, with comprehensive coverage of art and architecture, and with introductions to the more recent contributions in film, music and theatre. The contents of this second, revised edition include introductions to Poland’s history and culture, detailed tours and practical information.

Discover the hidden beauty of some 30 mountain cabins and their distinctive architecture in this captivating book. From cosy retreats nestled in the woods to modern structures perched on cliffsides, explore the unique and innovative designs that blend seamlessly into their rugged surroundings. Follow along as renowned architects share their visions and inspirations for creating mountain cabins that not only provide shelter but also enhance the natural beauty of the landscape. Stunning photographs showcase the details of each cabin, from the materials used to the panoramic views that greet visitors. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or simply seeking inspiration for your next mountain retreat, this book has you covered. The selection includes cabins in both Europe & North America and has detailed information on the hiking trails located near each featured mountain cabin.

Some of the habitats designed by animals to defend themselves, their families and their society, are absolutely fascinating; many are well known, but at the same time they are hidden from us and difficult to interpret. We know that ants and termites build complicated underground tunnels, that bees in their hives create precise and impeccable geometric structures, that mammals like beavers design ingenious and unique solutions to protect the entrance to their dens, but all these structures hide unexpected and interesting secrets. By investigating and clearly showing them, this book explains and highlights, as never before, the genius of certain animals. The clear and colourful illustrations by Giulia de Amicis, combined with the scientifically and didactically accurate texts, suited to young readers, lead us on a unique journey to see for ourselves the hidden lives of animals. Ages 6 and up

This book helps children aged three and up explore various themes related to the seasons of the year, highlighting the peculiarities of each season and reinforcing the idea of change and the cyclical passage of time. The book furnishes information and curious facts about the typical weather of each season, the fruits and vegetables that are grown in each season, the habits of animals in different seasons and what kind of clothes are most adapt in which months. All the activities make it possible to assimilate information in the simple, independent manner inspired by the Montessori Method. Ages: 3 plus

Follow the adventures of an intrepid explorer and meet some of the world’s most bizarre animals! Did you know there’s a wasp that looks like a panda, a basilisk snake that runs over water, a butterfly with a large skull on its body, and a fish that seems to be wearing lipstick? Kids will discover all this and more, as they join an explorer doing research in the wild and see a world of curious animals. Along with detailed illustrations of these cool and surprising creatures, young naturalists get lots of fascinating information from a team of experts. Ages: 7 plus

This book guides young readers on a quest for fascinating and unforgettable fantasy creatures through the diary of a young apprentice who studies information, legends and details. Two sections dedicated to the Creatures for Beginner Keepers (the most docile and sweet) and the Creatures for Expert Keepers (the most dangerous). Short, fun, approachable stories that describe each creature and explain how to catch sight of it, how to tame it and what makes it angry at the end of the story, the readers will find a short test, similar to the one the book’s narrator must take, so that they’ll get their Certificate of Fantastic Creatures Keeper, that children can detach from the book and fill. Ages: 7 plus

Every four years, during the summer, the whole world comes together to celebrate and support the best athletes from each country. The Olympic Games are a worldwide event, and their roots can be found in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea: Greece. Starting from the origins in Ancient Greece to the modern times games – including the Winter Games – children will discover every fun fact, sport, and champion of the games. Filled with information, easy texts and funny illustrations, this book will also help children to think on the deepest meaning of sport and to consider what it takes to become a champion. A selection of the most inspirational profiles of champions of all time, from every country, with also a special list of the most winning of all. Ages: 7 plus

Developed in the late ’80s, the eco-tourist approach is characterised by a two-fold concern for the places visited and the well-being of the people who live there. The means of eco-sustainable transport can be diverse: a canoe or kayak, a bicycle, a horse or mule… even our own legs! You may say the same for accommodation facilities: hotels, bed and breakfasts, farmhouses that are keen on recycling, using renewable energy sources and meeting the criteria to be a green-building. Fifty routes to eco-friendly travel around the world: each chapter will provide useful travel directions, schematic maps, information on stages to follow and tips for travelling in an environmentally sustainable way (from equipment to contacts of ecological facilities). Stunning pictures will accompany the reader in discovery of the most beautiful scenarios of the world: from forests and mountains to historic roads, small villages, peaks and deserts.

All living beings have energy and all energy is connected. As such, understandably, our ability to be the cause of that energy – to expel what is unsettling and radiate what is pleasant – is undoubtably related to our wellbeing. Terms like “aura,” “subtle bodies,” and “chakras” are useful to enable an understanding of our psychophysical health, how we connect with the external environment, and what we can do about it. With that, this engaging and life-changing book provides theoretical information and practical approaches to both changing the way we feel, as well as, the energy that most immediately surrounds us, and which connects us to the “universal energy field.”

Discovering the world around us thanks to science! This book teaches children about the chemical-physical properties of water, through games, fun facts, and loads of interesting information. They’ll also learn about the different forms water has in nature, as well as its fundamental importance in our daily lives! – Increasingly difficult games and activities, for learning without ever getting bored. – Colourful stickers, mazes, and simple, yet detailed instructions, for learning while having fun. – Simple experiments that can be done with materials found around the house, for learning concepts by using the experimental method. We are excited about this new series from the best-selling concept, Water: Mad for Science. 56 packed pages with games and activities, including instructions for inventing your own gems and for executing your own, easy-to-do, experiments at home! Ages: 6 plus

Dinosaurs were the undisputed rulers of a very long period in the history of our planet; and even today, millions of years after their mass extinction, they amaze and fascinate us with their appearance and their proportions. But how did dinosaurs really live, what did they eat, how did they move about, and what differences existed between their families? The palaeontologist and scientific author Riley Black will guide you through the discovery of some of the most iconic and rarest species of dinosaurs, revealing the history of the discovery of their fossils and providing you with the most up-to-date information that scientific research has made available.

Baby on Board is both a day-by-day diary and a pregnancy guide, rich with practical information, advice, stories, and space to keep track of everything and feel supported, from conception to delivery. Pregnancy journals are not only a way to track the passing of time, but also the opportunity to create a personalised souvenir, immortalising a life-changing 9-month journey. Baby on Board features quirky, but accurate, humour, engaging graphics, and spaces for self-reflection. It offers:

This well-illustrated book – previously published as Carpets & Rugs (9789401476928) – features 200 carpets found amazing homes around the world. Get inspired and upgrade your own interior with amazing carpets and rugs. In thematic chapters, the book covers the main international trends, from Ethnic to Art Deco and from Contemporary to Artsy. These dressed-up living spaces provide new ideas for anyone fascinated by stylish living, creative interior design and the myriad possibilities for home decor. In addition, the author provides helpful information on the provenance of materials, quality of design, composition and workmanship possibilities for home decor. It’s a fascinating glimpse into the homes of people with a good taste.

“The Technical Notes by Lesley Stevenson provide extensive, thoroughly researched information on the paintings… this has brought fascinating new information to light” — Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History, Volume 29, 2024-2025, p.128
The Scottish National Gallery’s outstanding collection of French paintings is described fully in this two-volume illustrated catalogue. Underpinned by extensive scholarly research, this comprehensive work includes many of the great names, including Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Poussin, Watteau and Delacroix.

Since opening its doors in 1859, the Scottish National Gallery’s collection of French paintings has grown continuously, reflecting changing tastes and priorities, thanks to inspired and enlightened purchases and many generous donations. The collection’s fascinating history is related in the introductory essay.

Each artist is introduced by a concise biography, followed by a study of their individual works featuring the most up-to-date research. Illustrating and describing 189 works of art, this catalogue is the definitive authority on the French paintings in Scotland’s national collection.

The best-selling guide to the first year of fatherhood, trusted by hundreds of thousands of new dads and their partners.

This indispensable handbook, from the author of the million-selling Expectant Father, provides a reassuring month-by-month overview of your baby’s first year. It covers the milestones in your child’s development; ways you can bond with your child and support your partner; and what’s going on with you, as a new dad.

The fourth edition of The New Father features a user-friendly new design and is updated from cover to cover with the latest information about healthcare, financial planning, parental leave and work-life balance, and much more. It incorporates the expertise of leading pediatricians and researchers, and the real-life experiences of hundreds of dads and mums.

Illustrated with stress-relieving cartoons, The New Father is a friendly, readable, and inclusive companion for all new dads. (Mums will love it, too!).

The best-selling guide to the first year of fatherhood, trusted by hundreds of thousands of new dads and their partners.

This indispensable handbook, from the author of the million-selling Expectant Father, provides a reassuring month-by-month overview of your baby’s first year. It covers the milestones in your child’s development; ways you can bond with your child and support your partner; and what’s going on with you, as a new dad.

The fourth edition of The New Father features a user-friendly new design and is updated from cover to cover with the latest information about healthcare, financial planning, parental leave and work-life balance, and much more. It incorporates the expertise of leading pediatricians and researchers, and the real-life experiences of hundreds of dads and mums.

Illustrated with stress-relieving cartoons, The New Father is a friendly, readable, and inclusive companion for all new dads. (Mums will love it, too!).

“If you really want to get under the skin of a city, the 500 Hidden Secrets series, which covers a number of cities from Chicago to Ghent, all written by people who know the cities inside out, is ideal. It’s an innovative and refreshing take on the traditional travel guide.”- The Independent

What are the 5 restaurants for new Flemish cooking? Where would you find the 5 best antique shops? Where can you find the most unexpected view of Ghent? Where are the cool coffee bars that play the best music? And if you wanted to find the most mysterious places in the Citadelpark, where are they? The 500 Hidden Secrets of Ghent is a wonderfully eclectic guide to this multifaceted city. An insider’s view of Ghent featuring little known facts and snippets of useful information, presenting the quirky and the off-beat, and sharing the whereabouts of some of the city’s wonderful hidden gems like the Hotel d’Hane-Steenhuyse and the Gruut City Brewery.

The 500 Hidden Secrets of Ghent offers a practical guide to Ghent’s finest places, and Derek Blyth covers all bases to ensure no visitor to the city is ever anything short of captivated. Packed with accessible, easy-to-read information summarised in handy lists, maps, itineraries, sections on food & drink, accommodation, green spaces, museums, galleries and shops; this guide is an essential resource for the inquisitive traveller.

Also available: The 500 Hidden Secrets of London, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Dublin, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Paris, The 500 Hidden Secrets of Lisbon, and many more. Discover the series at the500hiddensecrets.com

Fully revised and updated for its sixth edition, this benchmark book chronicles the changing face of Sherry – its viticultural methods, the complex production techniques, the growth of the wine’s trade and the region itself – taking us from the area’s early Phoenician settlers right up to the present day. Detailed sections on cultivation and production include information on both traditional and the now more commonly used modern methods of viticulture. Manzanilla, the ‘wine of joy’, receives an entire chapter to itself, before Jeffs brings the information on blending and tasting Sherry up to date. Sherry provides extensive details for all the shippers, updated for 2019, from the traditional family firms to the new boutique bodegas, along with thorough appendices for those who wish to delve into the fine details. This classic wine book unravels the timeless appeal of one of Spain’s greatest wines, making it an essential resource for anybody with an interest or involvement in the world of Sherry.

Readers will buy this book because they’re intrigued by the sketches. They’ll read it because it’s a compelling story of lighthouse road trips with sidebars introducing a wealth of lighthouse information.

This is a history of lighthouse building on the Great Lakes. Road trip sojourns introduce about 140 lighthouse sketches. Captions explain each lighthouse story and drawings introduce even more captioned lighthouses. Sidebars present a wealth of information explaining how lighthouses and their components work as well as the lighthouse establishment itself and other support services. An epilogue contains thumbnail sketches of lighthouses from around the world. In all about 400 sketches, maps, and diagrams illustrate the book.