In the first authoritative biography of Alexander the Great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian Philip Freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from Hannibal to Napoleon, with countless more in between. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly: crowned at age nineteen, dead by thirty-two. He established the greatest empire of the ancient world; Greek coins and statues are found as far east as Afghanistan. Our interest in him has never faded. Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Alexander spent nearly all his adult life away from his homeland, and he and his men helped spread the Greek language throughout western Asia, where it would become the lingua franca of the ancient world. Within a short time after Alexander’s death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture. Best known among his successors are the Ptolemies of Egypt, whose empire lasted until Cleopatra. In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander’s astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing—which he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire. Only a handful of people have influenced history as Alexander did, which is why he continues to fascinate us.

Pullover-Stil/Tunika-Top mit V-Ausschnitt / A-Linie drapierter Saum/Empire-Taille Das flie脽ende Sch枚脽chen am unteren Ende versteckt den runden Bauch sch枚n oder bietet Platz f眉r eine Babyw枚lbung Grundlegender Stil f眉r den t盲glichen Gebrauch, kann l盲ssig oder elegant f眉r die Arbeit sein Es passt gut zu Leggings oder Skinny Jeans und Stiefeln International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, and language of product, labeling or instructions.

«Ein Internatsroman, ausgezeichnet mit dem Deutschen Buchpreis, der den Vergleich mit Robert Musil oder Hermann Hesse nicht scheuen muss.» Denis Scheck, ARD Druckfrisch Auf den ersten Blick ist es die Kulisse für ein großes Abenteuer: das traditionsreiche Internat mitten in Wien, umgeben von einem Park mit Hügeln, Sportplätzen und einer historischen Grotte. Aber Till kann weder mit dem Lehrstoff noch mit dem snobistischen Umfeld viel anfangen. Seine Leidenschaft sind Computerspiele, konkret: das Echtzeit-Strategiespiel Age of Empires 2. Ohne dass jemand aus seiner Umgebung davon wüsste, ist er mit fünfzehn eine Online-Berühmtheit, der jüngste Top-10-Spieler der Welt. Nur: Wie real ist so ein Glück? «Eine witzige, kühl analysierende, einfühlsame Geschichte junger Menschen im 21. Jahrhundert ... Ein herausragender Gegenwartsroman.» FAS

The New York Times bestseller 'Silicon Valley needed a history lesson and Ferguson has provided it' Eric Schmidt What if everything we thought we knew about history was wrong? From Niall Ferguson, the global bestselling author of Empire, The Ascent of Money and Civilization, this is a whole new way of imagining the world. Most history is hierarchical: it's about popes, presidents, and prime ministers. But what if that's simply because they create the historical archives? What if we are missing equally powerful but less visible networks - leaving them to the conspiracy theorists, with their dreams of all-powerful Illuminati? The twenty-first century has been hailed as the Networked Age. But in The Square and the Tower Niall Ferguson argues that social networks are nothing new. From the printers and preachers who made the Reformation to the freemasons who led the American Revolution, it was the networkers who disrupted the old order of popes and kings. Far from being novel, our era is the Second Networked Age, with the computer in the role of the printing press. Once we understand this, both the past, and the future, start to look very different indeed. 'Ambitious and illuminating ... the historian who more than most connects our age to its past' Evening Standard, Books of the Year 'Captivating and compelling' The New York Times 'Niall Ferguson has again written a brilliant book ... In 400 pages you will have restocked your mind. Do it' Wall Street Journal

In March 1896 a well-disciplined and massive Ethiopian army did the unthinkable-it routed an invading Italian force and brought Italy's war of conquest in Africa to an end. In an age of relentless European expansion, Ethiopia had successfully defended its independence and cast doubt upon an unshakable certainty of the age-that sooner or later all Africans would fall under the rule of Europeans. This event opened a breach that would lead, in the aftermath of world war fifty years later, to the continent's painful struggle for freedom from colonial rule. Raymond Jonas offers the first comprehensive account of this singular episode in modern world history. The narrative is peopled by the ambitious and vain, the creative and the coarse, across Africa, Europe, and the Americas-personalities like Menelik, a biblically inspired provincial monarch who consolidated Ethiopia's throne; Taytu, his quick-witted and aggressive wife; and the Swiss engineer Alfred Ilg, the emperor's close advisor. The Ethiopians' brilliant gamesmanship and savvy public relations campaign helped roll back the Europeanization of Africa. Figures throughout the African diaspora immediately grasped the significance of Adwa, Menelik, and an independent Ethiopia. Writing deftly from a transnational perspective, Jonas puts Adwa in the context of manifest destiny and Jim Crow, signaling a challenge to the very concept of white dominance. By reopening seemingly settled questions of race and empire, the Battle of Adwa was thus a harbinger of the global, unsettled century about to unfold.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR • A grand, devastating portrait of three generations of the Sackler family, famed for their philanthropy, whose fortune was built by Valium and whose reputation was destroyed by OxyContin. From the prize-winning and bestselling author of Say Nothing. "A real-life version of the HBO series Succession with a lethal sting in its tail…a masterful work of narrative reportage.” – Laura Miller, Slate The history of the Sackler dynasty is rife with drama—baroque personal lives; bitter disputes over estates; fistfights in boardrooms; glittering art collections; Machiavellian courtroom maneuvers; and the calculated use of money to burnish reputations and crush the less powerful. The Sackler name has adorned the walls of many storied institutions—Harvard; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oxford, the Louvre. They are one of the richest families in the world, but the source of the family fortune was vague—until it emerged that the Sacklers were responsible for making and marketing a blockbuster painkiller that was the catalyst for the opioid crisis. Empire of Pain is the saga of three generations of a single family and the mark they would leave on the world, a tale that moves from the bustling streets of early twentieth-century Brooklyn to the seaside palaces of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Cap d’Antibes to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. It follows the family’s early success with Valium to the much more potent OxyContin, marketed with a ruthless technique of co-opting doctors, influencing the FDA, downplaying the drug’s addictiveness. Empire of Pain chronicles the multiple investigations of the Sacklers and their company, and the scorched-earth legal tactics that the family has used to evade accountability. A masterpiece of narrative reporting, Empire of Pain is a ferociously compelling portrait of America’s second Gilded Age, a study of impunity among the super-elite and a relentless investigation of the naked greed that built one of the world’s great fortunes.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR A grand, devastating portrait of three generations of the Sackler family, famed for their philanthropy, whose fortune was built by Valium and whose reputation was destroyed by OxyContin. From the prize-winning and bestselling author of Say Nothing. "A real-life version of the HBO series Succession with a lethal sting in its tail…a masterful work of narrative reportage." - Laura Miller, Slate The history of the Sackler dynasty is rife with drama-baroque personal lives; bitter disputes over estates; fistfights in boardrooms; glittering art collections; Machiavellian courtroom maneuvers; and the calculated use of money to burnish reputations and crush the less powerful. The Sackler name has adorned the walls of many storied institutions-Harvard, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oxford, the Louvre. They are one of the richest families in the world, but the source of the family fortune was vague-until it emerged that the Sacklers were responsible for making and marketing a blockbuster painkiller that was the catalyst for the opioid crisis. Empire of Pain is the saga of three generations of a single family and the mark they would leave on the world, a tale that moves from the bustling streets of early twentieth-century Brooklyn to the seaside palaces of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Cap d'Antibes to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. It follows the family's early success with Valium to the much more potent OxyContin, marketed with a ruthless technique of co-opting doctors, influencing the FDA, downplaying the drug's addictiveness. Empire of Pain chronicles the multiple investigations of the Sacklers and their company, and the scorched-earth legal tactics that the family has used to evade accountability. A masterpiece of narrative reporting, Empire of Pain is a ferociously compelling portrait of America's second Gilded Age, a study of impunity among the super-elite and a relentless investigation of the naked greed that built one of the world's great fortunes.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR A grand, devastating portrait of three generations of the Sackler family, famed for their philanthropy, whose fortune was built by Valium and whose reputation was destroyed by OxyContin. From the prize-winning and bestselling author of Say Nothing. "A real-life version of the HBO series Succession with a lethal sting in its tail…a masterful work of narrative reportage.” – Laura Miller, Slate The history of the Sackler dynasty is rife with drama—baroque personal lives; bitter disputes over estates; fistfights in boardrooms; glittering art collections; Machiavellian courtroom maneuvers; and the calculated use of money to burnish reputations and crush the less powerful. The Sackler name has adorned the walls of many storied institutions—Harvard; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oxford, the Louvre. They are one of the richest families in the world, but the source of the family fortune was vague—until it emerged that the Sacklers were responsible for making and marketing a blockbuster painkiller that was the catalyst for the opioid crisis. Empire of Pain is the saga of three generations of a single family and the mark they would leave on the world, a tale that moves from the bustling streets of early twentieth-century Brooklyn to the seaside palaces of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Cap d’Antibes to the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. It follows the family’s early success with Valium to the much more potent OxyContin, marketed with a ruthless technique of co-opting doctors, influencing the FDA, downplaying the drug’s addictiveness. Empire of Pain chronicles the multiple investigations of the Sacklers and their company, and the scorched-earth legal tactics that the family has used to evade accountability. A masterpiece of narrative reporting, Empire of Pain is a ferociously compelling portrait of America’s second Gilded Age, a study of impunity among the super-elite and a relentless investigation of the naked greed that built one of the world’s great fortunes.

Inside the opulent, decadent world of the Mughal emperors The Mughal emperors were larger-than-life figures, men written on a supra-human scale who exercised absolute power. The three centuries of their rule, as laid out in Eraly's previous volume, THE MUGHAL THRONE, mark one of the most crucial and fascinating periods of Indian history. Here, he looks beyond the story of the empires rise and fall - an exotic growth that was transplanted to India from Islamic Persia - to bring the world of the Mughal ruler and Hindu subject vividly into focus. Blending contemporary sources and detailed description he introduces an India full of strangeness and contrast: of sacred harems and suttee rites, of brutal war and cultural and artistic refinement, of staggering opulence, deviant indulgences and abject poverty. From bizarre religious cults to the Mughal fondness for formal gardening, from murderous female bandits to the sex lives of the nobles, almost every angle of life is examined making this a comprehensive and absorbing introduction to India's last Golden Age.

ATTENTION HOMESCHOOLERS! THIS CLASSIC HISTORY SET FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS FINALLY BACK IN PRINT! A Picturesque Tale of Progress was written by Olive Beaupré Miller. Her assistant for this lovely set was Harry Neal Baum, former professor of history at the University of Wisconsin. A Picturesque Tale of Progress was first printed in 1929, and remained in print through 1963. The set consists of 8 volumes (with a separate Index) broken down into four themes ('Beginnings', 'Conquests', 'New Nations', 'Explorations'), with two volumes devoted to each theme. As an aid to schools, Dawn Chorus is also publishing the set condensed into 4 volumes (again with a separate Index). The 'picturesque' in the title refers not to quaintness, but to the extraordinary number of carefully chosen and beautifully rendered illustrations (many hundreds per volume) and maps that give this set its unique and unsurpassed value. The captions to the page-by-page illustrations essentially retell the story of the text but in reference to art. In a world where the level and quality of education has so grievously deteriorated, may the reappearance of this wonderful historical set shine as a beacon to a new generation of young (and not-so-young) scholars. Beginnings I starts with 'Early Man', including wonderful illustrations of early cave art, followed by excellent coverage of the rise and fall of Egypt. Beginnings II covers Babylonia, the Assyrian empire, and an extensive overview of biblical history from Abraham to the Fall of Jerusalem. Conquests I follows the history of Crete and then Greece, from their rise as political states through to the conquests of Alexander the Great. Conquests II teaches the history of Rome, and includes extensive coverage of early Christianity, including the missionary journeys of Paul and the peaceful conquest of Rome by Christianity. New Nations I covers the Fall of the Roman Empire, and then turns to the Byzantine Empire, the Medieval Church, the Vikings, and the Feudal Age. New Nations II reveals the glory of the Byzantine Empire, the Crusades and their effects, Spain and the Moors, the development of England, of France as a monarchy, of Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, and of Italy and the Renaissance. Explorations I covers Marco Polo, Genghis Khan, the conquests of the Mongols, and Africa and India. Explorations II follows the New World from ancient times. The voyages of Leif Ericsson and Columbus introduce extensive treatment of the peoples in the Americas, with special focus on the civilizations of Mexico, Central America, and southwestern America and their conquest by the Spanish. The series ends here-with the discovery of America. The ninth volume is an invaluable index to peoples and places throughout world history from Ancient Egypt through the discovery of America, and doubles as an excellent resource for further study and projects.

In the first authoritative biography of Alexander the Great written for a general audience in a generation, classicist and historian Philip Freeman tells the remarkable life of the great conqueror. The celebrated Macedonian king has been one of the most enduring figures in history. He was a general of such skill and renown that for two thousand years other great leaders studied his strategy and tactics, from Hannibal to Napoleon, with countless more in between. He flashed across the sky of history like a comet, glowing brightly and burning out quickly: crowned at age nineteen, dead by thirty-two. He established the greatest empire of the ancient world; Greek coins and statues are found as far east as Afghanistan. Our interest in him has never faded. Alexander was born into the royal family of Macedonia, the kingdom that would soon rule over Greece. Tutored as a boy by Aristotle, Alexander had an inquisitive mind that would serve him well when he faced formidable obstacles during his military campaigns. Shortly after taking command of the army, he launched an invasion of the Persian empire, and continued his conquests as far south as the deserts of Egypt and as far east as the mountains of present-day Pakistan and the plains of India. Alexander spent nearly all his adult life away from his homeland, and he and his men helped spread the Greek language throughout western Asia, where it would become the lingua franca of the ancient world. Within a short time after Alexander’s death in Baghdad, his empire began to fracture. Best known among his successors are the Ptolemies of Egypt, whose empire lasted until Cleopatra. In his lively and authoritative biography of Alexander, classical scholar and historian Philip Freeman describes Alexander’s astonishing achievements and provides insight into the mercurial character of the great conqueror. Alexander could be petty and magnanimous, cruel and merciful, impulsive and farsighted. Above all, he was ferociously, intensely competitive and could not tolerate losing—which he rarely did. As Freeman explains, without Alexander, the influence of Greece on the ancient world would surely not have been as great as it was, even if his motivation was not to spread Greek culture for beneficial purposes but instead to unify his empire. Only a handful of people have influenced history as Alexander did, which is why he continues to fascinate us.

Turn back the clock and revisit Portugal's greatest historical moments that shaped this modern European wonder On the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, touching the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean lies a nation with a proud history that influenced Europe and the rest of the world. Known as Portucale by Ancient Romans (which gave rise to its modern name), the country of Portugal - and its island groups - are fantastic wonders to behold. But the Portugal of today carries within its soil the history of bygone eras, one that you can trace back to prehistoric times - there's a reason it's one of Europe's oldest countries. And if you've got that itch of curiosity to satisfy your hunger for Portugal's history, you've come to the right place. Taking you on a fantastic journey, here's what awaits you within this book: The traces and settlements of prehistoric humans that inhabited Portugal's geographical landscape Under the banner of the Roman Empire - find out the beginnings and ends of the Roman Empire, along with involvements of the Celtic, Visigothic, and Moorish peoples The Portuguese Reconquista - explore the medieval military campaigns of the Christian kingdoms that laid the foundations of Portugal's language and culture In the Age of Exploration and Discovery - climb aboard the golden age of Portuguese navigators, voyagers, and seafarers responsible for mapping the New World Portugal's independence, the Restoration war, and the political ambitions of the House of Braganza And much more. If you're a history buff - curious about the Portuguese language, its people, and its culture - or someone who wants to dive into this European treasure of history, then this book will be your perfect companion. So, pack your bags, put on your best historian's hat, and start your time machine. Portugal and its history await your arrival... Travel back in time and witness Portugal like never before: scroll up and click "Add to Cart" right now.

Cynthia Biggs is one of the last of the renaissance women: grand artist, exemplary teacher and superb scholar. Her musical artistry has sustained many of us in the works of Patti LaBelle, the Stylistics, the Jones Girls and Teddy Pendergrass. Her inspiring teaching has touched thousands of students in the USA and abroad. And her first-rate scholarship is manifest in this pioneering book on Hip Hop, plutocratic capitalism and empire. This book is profound, poignant and provocative. It takes seriously a subtle class analysis of American society that serves as the backdrop for probing the complex cultural phenomena known as Hip Hop. It takes us into the intimate worlds of Hip Hop artists by means of interviews and lyrical expressions. And it challenges us to keep track of progressive and prophetic artists in the present age of Obama. I am blessed to be a genuine friend, colleague and comrade of this grand artist, exemplary teacher and superb scholar in her quest for beauty and crusade for justice. Cornel West, Princeton University

A compelling history of the Ptolemies, the decline of Egypt, and the rising power of the Roman Empire The Ptolemaic era, Egypt’s last and one of its longest dynasties, was in many ways a gilded age. Its early rulers restored and even expanded Egyptian power. Over a span of 300 years the period was witness to intellectual enlightenment, imaginative state-building, and some of the most memorable characters in ancient history, including Alexander the Great and Cleopatra VII. But these Macedonian Greek pharaohs embarked on ruinous warfare, faced rebellion, and descended into murderous family feuds. Increasingly reliant on the dizzying rise of Roman power, Ptolemaic Egypt was finally annexed by Augustus in 30 BCE. How did such an ancient civilization come to this? Exploring the lives of the Ptolemaic pharaohs, de la Bédoyère reveals the jealousy, greed, and murderous ambition in their Egypt and the legendary city of Alexandria, their capital. This is a lively, accessible account of Ancient Egypt’s last days—and of the new power rising in its place.

Cynthia Biggs is one of the last of the renaissance women: grand artist, exemplary teacher and superb scholar. Her musical artistry has sustained many of us in the works of Patti LaBelle, the Stylistics, the Jones Girls and Teddy Pendergrass. Her inspiring teaching has touched thousands of students in the USA and abroad. And her first-rate scholarship is manifest in this pioneering book on Hip Hop, plutocratic capitalism and empire. This book is profound, poignant and provocative. It takes seriously a subtle class analysis of American society that serves as the backdrop for probing the complex cultural phenomena known as Hip Hop. It takes us into the intimate worlds of Hip Hop artists by means of interviews and lyrical expressions. And it challenges us to keep track of progressive and prophetic artists in the present age of Obama. I am blessed to be a genuine friend, colleague and comrade of this grand artist, exemplary teacher and superb scholar in her quest for beauty and crusade for justice. Cornel West, Princeton University

A compelling history of the Ptolemies, the decline of Egypt, and the rising power of the Roman Empire The Ptolemaic era, Egypt’s last and one of its longest dynasties, was in many ways a gilded age. Its early rulers restored and even expanded Egyptian power. Over a span of 300 years the period was witness to intellectual enlightenment, imaginative state-building, and some of the most memorable characters in ancient history, including Alexander the Great and Cleopatra VII. But these Macedonian Greek pharaohs embarked on ruinous warfare, faced rebellion, and descended into murderous family feuds. Increasingly reliant on the dizzying rise of Roman power, Ptolemaic Egypt was finally annexed by Augustus in 30 BCE. How did such an ancient civilization come to this? Exploring the lives of the Ptolemaic pharaohs, de la Bédoyère reveals the jealousy, greed, and murderous ambition in their Egypt and the legendary city of Alexandria, their capital. This is a lively, accessible account of Ancient Egypt’s last days—and of the new power rising in its place.

In the Squad Pack This is Rogue One, Jyn Erso leads a rag-tag band of freedom fighters against the might of the Empire. Joined by former temple guardians Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus and Imperial deserter cargo pilot Bodhi Rook, this unlikely squad is willing to sacrifice everything in the fight against Imperial oppression. Adds 4 playable characters to the game: Jyn Erso, Bodhi Rook, Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus. Includes 4 unassembled and unpainted miniatures, 3 Unit Stats Cards, 3 Stance Cards and 3 Order Cards. A base game of Star Wars: Shatterpoint is required for playing. 2 players, from age 14+, 90-120 minutes, author: Will Shick, game in English, French, Spanish, multilingual, Hersteller: ATOMIC MASS GAMES

LEISTUNG – Mit diesem Prozessor, dieser Grafikkarte und diesem Arbeitsspeicher bewältigst du selbst die anspruchsvollsten Games überall problemlos UNGLAUBLICH SCHNELL – GPUs der NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 Serie sind unglaublich schnell. Erlebe lebensechte virtuelle Welten mit Raytracing und Gaming mit besonders hohem FPS 144 HZ FHD-DISPLAY – Jetzt ist Schluss mit lästigen Verzögerungen und Ghosting-Effekten – dank eines Displays mit einer Aktualisierungsrate von 144 Hz und einer 1080p FHD-Auflösung für flüssiges, gestochen scharfes Gaming Spiele Age of Empires IV und Hunderte weitere Spiele mit der enthaltenen Game Pass Ultimate Mitgliedschaft (1 Monat) OMEN GAMING HUB - Deine Anlaufstelle für ein neues Level beim Gaming - von der Kontrolle über jede kleine Funktion bis hin zu Beleuchtungsoptionen und mehr

"THE SORCERER'S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers." —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding A Quest of Heroes) "[An] entertaining epic fantasy." —Kirkus Reviews (regarding A Quest of Heroes) "The beginnings of something remarkable are there." —San Francisco Book Review (regarding A Quest of Heroes) A DREAM OF MORTALS is Book #15 in the Bestselling series THE SORCERER'S RING, which begins with A QUEST OF HEROES (book #1)—a free download! In A DREAM OF MORTALS, Thorgrin and his brothers struggle to break free from the grips of the pirates, and to continue their search for Guwayne at sea. As they encounter unexpected friends and foes, magic and weaponry, dragons and men, it will change the very course of their destiny. Will they finally find Guwayne? Darius and his few friends survive the massacre of their people—but only to find that they are captives, thrown into the Empire Arena. Shackled together, facing unimaginable opponents, their only hope for survival is to stand and fight together, as brothers. Gwendolyn wakes from her slumber to discover that she and the others have survived their trek across the Great Waste—and even more shocking, that they have come to a land beyond their wildest imagination. As they are brought into a new royal court, the secrets Gwendolyn learns about her ancestors and her own people will change her destiny forever. Erec and Alistair, still captive at sea, struggle to break free from the grips of the Empire fleet in a bold and daring nighttime escape. When odds seem at their worst, they receive an unexpected surprise that might just give them a second chance for victory—and another chance to continue their attack on the heart of the Empire. Godfrey and his crew, imprisoned once again, set to be executed, have one last chance to try to escape. After being betrayed, they want more than escape this time—they want vengeance. Volusia is surrounded on all sides as she strives to take and hold the Empire capital—and she will have to summon a more powerful magic than she's ever known if she is to prove herself a Goddess, and become Supreme Ruler of the Empire. Once again, the fate of the Empire hangs in the balance. With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A DREAM OF MORTALS is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. Rice's writing is solid and the premise intriguing." —Publishers Weekly (regarding A Quest of Heroes)

At the age of only 36, Sir Mark Sykes was signatory to the Sykes-Picot agreement, one of the most reviled treaties of modern times. A century later, Christopher Sykes' lively biography of his grandfather reassesses his life and work, and the political instability and violence in the Middle East attributed to it. The Sykes-Picot agreement was drawn by the eponymous British and French diplomats in 1916 to determine the divide of the collapsing empire in the event of an allied victory in World War I. Excluding Arab involvement, it negated their earlier guarantee of independence made by the British - and controversy has raged around it ever since. But who was Mark Sykes? A century on, Christopher Simon Sykes reveals new facets of a misremembered diplomatic giant. Using previously undisclosed family letters and cartoons by his grandfather, he delivers a comprehensive and humbling account of the man behind one of the most impactful policies in the Middle East.