'Outrageous Jilly Cooperesque' Sunday Times Style * Take a grand English country house, one (heartbroken) American divorcée, three rich wives, two tycoons, and one (bereaved) butler; put them all into the blender and out comes the impossibly funny Wives Like Us. Welcome to the rose-strewn county of Oxfordshire and the Cotswold villages of Little Bottom, Middle Bottom, Great Bottom, and Monkton Bottom, recently annexed by a glittering new breed of female: the Country Princess. Following a ghastly row about a missing suite of diamonds, Tata Hawkins has flounced out of Monkton Bottom Manor with her daughter, Minty, and Executive Butler Ian Palmer in tow, decamping to the Old Coach House to teach her husband, Bryan, a lesson. But things don't go to plan: Bryan disappears to Venice with a bikini designer; Selby Fairfax, the glamorous American divorcée who has inherited the beautiful estate next door, refuses Tata's neighborly overtures; and Tata's very best friends, Fernanda Ovington-Williams and Sophie Thompson, are distracted by their own heartaches. Worst of all, Ian has nowhere to store his collection of vintage Gucci loafers. With the help of a pig farmeress moonlighting as a personal assistant, a male model moonlighting as a stable hand, and a London barrister moonlighting as a gentleman farmer, can Ian restore harmony to the Bottoms? ' So wickedly smart, so effortless, so chic and hilarious. Plum Sykes is in a class of her own when it comes to peeling back the layers of status paranoia amongst the poshest of the posh as she delivers a delectable tale that you never want to end.' Kevin Kwan, author of Crazy Rich Asians 'The brilliantly satirical new novel that's got the Cotswolds smart set buzzing with speculation.it may finally be time for Jilly [Cooper] to make way for a new chronicler of Cotswolds life' Daily Mail 'A fabulous and funny bucolic romp - Plum Sykes does it again.' Hannah Rothschild, author of The Improbability of Love 'Wives Like Us may be set in the most gorgeous English manor house, but I'd happily sleep in the shed if it meant I could tag along with these marvelous characters - Tata, Minty, and their chic and crafty butler.' Jenny Jackson, author of Pineapple Street 'Delightful' Vogue 'I absolutely adored Wives Like Us , I thought it was so fun and funny, a romp and a riot - and a glorious dollop of much needed escapism.' Daisy Buchanan 'A stiletto-sharp look at the glamorous end of the Cotswolds. I loved it!' Katie Fforde 'Wickedly funny' Citizen Femme ' A comedy of manners with an emphasis on the comedy' Town & Country * Readers are loving Wives Like Us: 'I devoured this in one day' ***** 'Gloriously good fun' ***** 'Absolutely delightful' ***** 'A perfect summer read' *****

Introducing our versatile and innovative multifunctional sofa, designed to transform your living room into a personalized haven of comfort and flexibility! This exceptional piece of furniture combines thoughtful engineering with premium materials to deliver an unparalleled relaxation experience for you and your family. The star feature of this sofa lies in its **adjustable backrest system**, which offers not one, but two layers of customization. First, the main backrest can be effortlessly adjusted to three distinct angles—108°, 135°, and 180°—catering to every activity on your agenda. Whether you’re binge-watching your favorite TV show, diving into a gaming session, or stretching out for a quick nap, you can easily find the perfect angle to support your body and enhance comfort. But that’s not all: the sofa also boasts an **innovative split design with independently adjustable left and right backrests**. This means you and your family members can each set your own "exclusive comfort angle" based on personal sitting habits or space needs—no more compromising! Whether someone prefers a upright position for reading or a reclined one for unwinding, everyone gets to enjoy their ideal setup, creating a dynamic and flexible relaxation space in your living room. Complementing the exceptional backrest functionality are the sofa’s **versatile armrests**, which take comfort to the next level. With five adjustable angles, these armrests adapt to your every need, whether you’re resting your arms while working, propping up a book, or snuggling in for a nap. The armrest cushions are generously sized and incredibly soft, resembling a cozy pillow that invites you to lean in and unwind. Imagine adjusting the armrests to your preferred angle, then leaning into their plush support—pure bliss for your shoulders and arms! Durability and safety are also at the forefront of this sofa’s design. It is equipped with **carefully selected solid wood legs paired with auxiliary feet**, working in harmony to provide a rock-solid, stable foundation. You can relax with complete peace of mind, knowing the sofa stays firmly in place even during lively family gatherings or playful moments—no tipping, no wobbling, just reliable stability that ensures safety all around. Whether you’re seeking a sofa that adapts to your dynamic lifestyle, caters to multiple family members’ preferences, or simply adds a touch of modern functionality to your home, this multifunctional sofa is the ultimate choice. Experience the perfect blend of comfort, flexibility, and durability—transform your living room into a space where every moment feels tailor-made for relaxation!

Caspar David Friedrich's works and Romantic paintingIn this highly recommended book, art historian and author Barbara Hess provides new perspectives on one of the most influential artists of German Romanticism - Caspar David Friedrich. Emotion, passion, individual experience and, above all, the tortured soul are the characteristics of this epoch. The famous German painter from Greifswald knew how to realise these basic themes in his paintings like no other. Landscapes and religious motifs took centre stage. One of his main concerns was to involve viewers and their emotional feelings in the interpretation of his art.Caspar David Friedrich: The Romantic era as reflected in his paintingsMotifs of Romanticism: nature, mystical landscapes and medieval monastery ruins as an expression of the search for (inner) harmony and infinityMasterpieces of art: chalk cliffs on Rügen, the monk by the sea, village landscape in the morning lightEnjoying art in pocket format: a fresh look at the artworks of Caspar David FriedrichFocus on the life and work of famous artists: the A-Z series from Hatje Cantz Verlag, which invites you to think furtherFamous paintings revisited: Brief analyses of Caspar David Friedrich's artThe explosive nature of Caspar David Friedrich's paintings can still be felt today. Whether discussions about climate change and sustainability or the relationship between man and nature: the allegorical paintings of the famous German painter are often used as silent witnesses. The pictorial motifs, which focus on the aesthetics of impact, continue to radiate far into the art history of the 20th century. With this volume, Barbara Hess succeeds in providing unique access to Friedrich's work. On 120 pages and with 35 illustrations, she opens up new perspectives on his motifs and themes for art enthusiasts and Caspar David Friedrich fans.CASPAR DAVID FRIEDRICH (1774-1840) is the most important artist of the German Romantic period. Born in Greifswald, then part of the Kingdom of Sweden, he studied drawing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, before settling in Dresden in 1798. His compositions are visualizations of emotional landscapes that create an instant of sublimity. His works elude lucidity and have therefore continuously been open to new interpretations. Art historian BARBARA HESS (*1964) has published works on avant-garde galleries, Abstract Expressionism, the documenta, Lucio Fontana and Jasper Johns, among others. Most recently, she has co-edited the diary of the German post-war avant-garde artist HP Zimmer, published this spring by Hatje Cantz.

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: English in Africa, language: English, abstract: Due to the spread of English to so many parts of the world which was triggered during the colonial era and by migration of English-speaking people, the importance of English not only as a language of commerce, science and technology but also as an international language of communication has been realized (Platt, Weber, Ho 1984: 1). In my research paper I will provide an overview of the English language in South Africa by looking at its origins concerning the historical background. Furthermore, I am going to focus on the English language in South Africa in more detail in order to point out the influence of the immigrants¿ speech from England and Scotland on some phonetic features of South African English. Eventually, I am going to discuss whether the spread of English can be seen as an evidence of a ¿killer language¿ which has been used as a tool for subtle linguistic imperialism, occurring at the expense of local languages, stabilizing hierarchical structures and reinforcing existing status differentials (de Klerk 1996: 7-8). So, the main purpose of my paper is to show that the English language in South Africa before, during and after apartheid policy is one of the official languages since there is more than one local language in a multilingual nation. While English in South Africa is seen by many ¿as a medium of achieving and announcing independence and maturity, for many others English represent colonialism, power and elitism, and acts as a vehicle of values not always in harmony with local traditions and beliefs¿ (de Klerk 1996: 7). In this chapter, I will focus on the historical and social background of the English language in South Africa in regard to different language varieties. In the following, based on Roger Lass¿s article ¿South African English¿, I will, as I mentioned before, refer to the historical background of the English language in South Africa and so discuss the aspect of different language varieties that were influenced by the English language. Then, concerning L.W. Lanham¿s The Standard in South African English and its Social History, I will point out in which way the English language developed there. By referring to the historical background in more detail, I will eventually focus on Josef Schmied¿s English in Africa, thus stressing the strategic importance of South Africa for the British.

【Dreifach-Monitore 4K@60Hz – Maximale Produktivität】: Dank fünf Videoanschlüssen (2x DisplayPort + 2x HDMI + HDMI (Alt Mode)) können drei externe Monitore gleichzeitig angeschlossen werden – jeder zeigt individuelle Inhalte für müheloses Multitasking. Die Dreifach-Anzeige unterstützt unter DP1.4-Ausgang bis zu 3840×2160@60Hz. Hinweis: Der HDMI (Alt Mode)-Anschluss erfordert, dass der USB-C-Anschluss Ihres Laptops Videoausgang unterstützt. 【Game-Changer für Multitasking – Auch für M1/M2 Macs】: Mit drei unabhängigen Videoausgangsgruppen verbinden Sie problemlos drei Monitore. Der HDMI (Alt Mode)-Port liefert unter DP1.4 bis zu 4K@60Hz und eignet sich ideal für anspruchsvolle Aufgaben wie Videobearbeitung und Gaming. Die DISPLAY 1/2 (HDMI/DP)-Anschlüsse mit DisplayLink-6950-Chipset ermöglichen duale 4K@60Hz-Ausgabe – die perfekte Lösung zur Erweiterung mehrerer Monitore mit unterschiedlichen Inhalten, selbst auf M1/M2-basierten Macs. DISPLAY 1/2 werden für Web- und Produktivitätsanwendungen empfohlen; für Gaming nicht optimiert. 【Ausreichende 100W-Stromversorgung】: Der mitgelieferte 160W-Netzteil liefert über den USB-C (Host)-Anschluss bis zu 100W zum Laden Ihres Laptops – auch während der Bildschirmausgabe oder Datenübertragung. So bleibt Ihr Gerät den ganzen Tag betriebsbereit, während gleichzeitig angeschlossene Peripheriegeräte mit Strom versorgt werden. Sorgenfrei ohne Akkuprobleme. Bitte stellen Sie sicher, dass der USB-C-Anschluss Ihres Laptops Power Delivery unterstützt. 【15 Anschlüsse für maximale Flexibilität】: Über eine einzige USB-C-Verbindung verwandelt diese Dockingstation den USB-C-Anschluss Ihres Laptops in: 3x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort, 1x USB-C mit 100W Power Delivery (Host), 1x DC-Buchse, 2x USB-C 3.1, 4x USB-A 3.1, 1x Gigabit-Ethernet (RJ45) und 1x 4-polige Audio-Kombibuchse. Die perfekte All-in-One-Lösung für Ihren Home- oder Office-Arbeitsplatz. 【Hochgeschwindigkeits-USB 3.1 & stabiles Netzwerk】: 4x USB-A 3.1 und 2x USB-C 3.1 ermöglichen Datenübertragungen mit bis zu 10 Gbit/s – verzögerungsfrei und ideal für externe Festplatten, USB-Sticks und mehr. Der Gigabit-Ethernet-Anschluss gewährleistet eine sichere und stabile kabelgebundene Netzwerkverbindung (abwärtskompatibel mit 10/100/1000 Mbit/s). 【Breite Kompatibilität】: Perfekt für Laptops mit vollduplex-fähigem USB-C 3.1-Anschluss oder Thunderbolt 3/4. Unterstützt Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/XP/Vista, Mac OS 10.14–13.x und neuer, Chrome OS, Ubuntu, Android und Harmony OS. Nicht kompatibel mit Unix-Systemen, Linux und iPad OS. (Bitte vor der ersten Nutzung die aktuellen DisplayLink-Treiber herunterladen.)

A meticulously-observed drama of class warfare, E.M. Forster's Howards End explores the conflict inherent within English society, unveiling the character of a nation as never before. This Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction and notes by David Lodge. 'Only connect...' A chance acquaintance brings together the preposterous bourgeois Wilcox family and the clever, cultured and idealistic Schlegel sisters. As clear-eyed Margaret develops a friendship with Mrs Wilcox, the impetuous Helen brings into their midst a young bank clerk named Leonard Bast, who lives at the edge of poverty and ruin. When Mrs Wilcox dies, her family discovers that she wants to leave her country home, Howards End, to Margaret. Thus as Forster sets in motion a chain of events that will entangle three different families, he brilliantly portrays their aspirations to personal and social harmony. David Lodge's introduction provides an absorbing and eloquent overture to the 1910 novel that established Forster's reputation as an important writer, and that he himself later referred to as 'my best novel'. This edition also contains a note on the text, suggestions for further reading, and explanatory notes. E. M. Forster (1879-1970) was a noted English author and critic and a member of the Bloomsbury group. His first novel, Where Angels Fear To Tread appeared in 1905. The Longest Journey appeared in 1907, followed by A Room With A View (1908), based partly on the material from extended holidays in Italy with his mother. Howards End (1910) was a story that centered on an English country house and dealt with the clash between two families, one interested in art and literature, the other only in business. Maurice was revised several times during his life, and finally published posthumously in 1971. If you enjoyed Howard's End, you might like Forster's A Room with a View, also available in Penguin Classics.

Boston is one of the oldest cities in the USA and known as the cradle of American democracy. Explore the metropolis by day and night to experience history and modernity in all its facets. Whether you're on the Freedom Trail, which takes you past the sites of historic events, or many other routes, it is a city full of variety and harmony. From picturesque parks to the captivating Harborwalk, Boston invites you to immerse yourself in its unique blend of history, nature, and coastal charm. CALVENDO offers a large selection of photo calendars for a wide range of topics. Just pick and choose a family planner that fits your kitchen! Our beautiful calendars are also perfect gifts for friends and family. 14 Pages Including 1 Cover | 12 Months Featuring Beautiful Images (Top of Page) and Big Dated Grid for Notes (Below Image) | 1 Index Page | Size Closed: 12 x 12 Inch, Opened: 12 x 24 Inch This calendar was re-released this year with the same images and new dates. Illustrations:January: Skyline, Custom House Tower February: Old State House March: Boston Tea Party Museum April: Bunker Hill Bridge May: Massachusetts State House June: Evelyn Moakley Bridge, Downtown July: Public Garden August: North End, Old North Church September: Bunker Hill Monument October: Faneuil Hall November: Quincy Market December: Skyline seen from Harborwalk LOTS OF SPACE – Big calendar grid for notes, appointments and to dos. Organising made easy! HANDY – Size closed: 12 x 12 Inch, opened: 12 x 24 Inch, days in five languages: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian. BEAUTIFUL IMAGES – This planner is not only ideal for planning everyday life but also adorns your home. Perfect also for gifting! WORKS WITH ANY PEN – Use ballpoint pens, pencils or sharpies. Enjoy landmarks and typical cityscapes, author: Melanie Viola

The highly anticipated second instalment of the new adult fantasy saga that took BookTok by storm picks up where A Broken Blade left off . . . To the kingdom, Keera is the king's Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow - the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to kill a tyrant king. In Myrelinth, the lush, secret city of trees, Fae, Elves, and Halflings like Keera live in harmony. But Keera cannot escape her past: her crimes against her own people have followed her all the way to the Faeland. There is a traitor in their midst, and Keera is the top suspect. Keera finds comfort in the allies that have become her family. She swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined . . . Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, A Shadow Crown is a tour-de-force high fantasy novel with stunning world building and a slow burn enemies to lovers romance. Readers seeking more LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation in the fantasy realm will fall in love with the unforgettable cast of characters introduced in A Broken Blade, whose sagas are only beginning . . . READERS ARE HOOKED! 'An epic, emotional rollercoaster! The stakes are higher, the betrayals cut deeper, and the romance? Absolutely breathtaking' 'I can't get enough of this series . . . The world building is lush & the characters are multi layered' 'I love Keera SO much! She has got to be one of my favorite characters ever' 'A beautifully written novel with intricate world-building and endearing characters . . . I will read anything that [Melissa Blair] writes forever' ' GOD THAT ENDING I'M STILL IN SHOCK'

Discover everything you need to know to create beautiful ceramics and unleash your pottery potential! Want to start exploring your creativity with clay and find harmony working with your hands? Or are you looking to expand your range of skills as a potter? Then Complete Pottery Techniques is the book for you! With the expert advice of makers working across a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary - Complete Pottery Techniques helps you master every skill needed to bring your ideas to life. Dive straight in to discover: -A wide range of pottery forming techniques equipping you with everything you need to bring your designs to life. -Stunning showcase spreads for each section including beautiful close-up photography. Did you know that pottery has become a very popular wellness trend in recent years due to its relaxing and restorative qualities? With the expert advice of makers working across a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary - Complete Pottery Techniques can help you master every skill needed to bring your ideas to life. From modelling to moulding, slabbing to sprigging, this all-encompassing pottery book is a one-stop guide to develop your design skills, taking an in-depth look at forming, decorating and firing, whilst featuring vivid photographs of inspirational pieces to show you what you can achieve using different pottery techniques. A must-have volume for both pottery beginners and intermediate potters seeking a technical guide alongside their pottery class, or potters of any level seeking inspiration for their ceramic projects. So whether you're looking to take up a new hobby this New Year, or you simply want to connect with this craft as a form of relaxation and mindfulness, Complete Pottery Techniques can teach you tonnes of techniques and tips so you can master your pottery skills and create beautiful art along the way!

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,7, University of Duisburg-Essen, course: English in Africa, language: English, abstract: Due to the spread of English to so many parts of the world which was triggered during the colonial era and by migration of English-speaking people, the importance of English not only as a language of commerce, science and technology but also as an international language of communication has been realized (Platt, Weber, Ho 1984: 1). In my research paper I will provide an overview of the English language in South Africa by looking at its origins concerning the historical background. Furthermore, I am going to focus on the English language in South Africa in more detail in order to point out the influence of the immigrants¿ speech from England and Scotland on some phonetic features of South African English. Eventually, I am going to discuss whether the spread of English can be seen as an evidence of a ¿killer language¿ which has been used as a tool for subtle linguistic imperialism, occurring at the expense of local languages, stabilizing hierarchical structures and reinforcing existing status differentials (de Klerk 1996: 7-8). So, the main purpose of my paper is to show that the English language in South Africa before, during and after apartheid policy is one of the official languages since there is more than one local language in a multilingual nation. While English in South Africa is seen by many ¿as a medium of achieving and announcing independence and maturity, for many others English represent colonialism, power and elitism, and acts as a vehicle of values not always in harmony with local traditions and beliefs¿ (de Klerk 1996: 7). In this chapter, I will focus on the historical and social background of the English language in South Africa in regard to different language varieties. In the following, based on Roger Lass¿s article ¿South African English¿, I will, as I mentioned before, refer to the historical background of the English language in South Africa and so discuss the aspect of different language varieties that were influenced by the English language. Then, concerning L.W. Lanham¿s The Standard in South African English and its Social History, I will point out in which way the English language developed there. By referring to the historical background in more detail, I will eventually focus on Josef Schmied¿s English in Africa, thus stressing the strategic importance of South Africa for the British.

Discover everything you need to know to create beautiful ceramics and unleash your pottery potential! Want to start exploring your creativity with clay and find harmony working with your hands? Or are you looking to expand your range of skills as a potter? Then Complete Pottery Techniques is the book for you! With the expert advice of makers working across a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary - Complete Pottery Techniques helps you master every skill needed to bring your ideas to life. Dive straight in to discover: -A wide range of pottery forming techniques equipping you with everything you need to bring your designs to life. -Stunning showcase spreads for each section including beautiful close-up photography. Did you know that pottery has become a very popular wellness trend in recent years due to its relaxing and restorative qualities? With the expert advice of makers working across a range of styles - from classic to cutting-edge contemporary - Complete Pottery Techniques can help you master every skill needed to bring your ideas to life. From modelling to moulding, slabbing to sprigging, this all-encompassing pottery book is a one-stop guide to develop your design skills, taking an in-depth look at forming, decorating and firing, whilst featuring vivid photographs of inspirational pieces to show you what you can achieve using different pottery techniques. A must-have volume for both pottery beginners and intermediate potters seeking a technical guide alongside their pottery class, or potters of any level seeking inspiration for their ceramic projects. So whether you're looking to take up a new hobby this New Year, or you simply want to connect with this craft as a form of relaxation and mindfulness, Complete Pottery Techniques can teach you tonnes of techniques and tips so you can master your pottery skills and create beautiful art along the way!

A fallen empire. A warrior determined to protect her people. And the masked soldier who captures her behind enemy lines. The first novel in a dark, seductive, and all-consuming trilogy where hope is fickle but the fight is never over. Vordell was beautiful once. Its people lived in harmony, and their civilization flourished as they learned to harness and control the power of Light. Then the darkness came. The Iron Sky unfolded dark clouds across the land, thick enough to choke out the light of the suns. The ground cracked, releasing vicious creatures that looked like humanity's oldest fears. The Dar'rak--an enemy long believed to be buried and forgotten--returned to claim the world above. Soraya Tollmere has spent most of her life on the front lines of the brutal war that followed. Now a high-ranking commander, she knows loss better than anyone. By day, she leads troops across ruined landscapes and guides covert teams through enemy territory. By night, she meets with a Dar'rak defector who has kept humanity alive with his steady stream of secrets. On a mission to investigate his latest lead--one that could turn the tide of the war--Soraya is captured by The Demon, the Dar'rak's most feared soldier, his true identity unknown. His orders are simple: break the human commander, uncover where the humans are keeping a weapon that could win them the war, and bring it to the Dar'rak. But as he gets to know the fierce warrior, the lines between interrogator and enemy, prisoner and ally, begin to blur. As devastating truths surface and loyalties shatter, Soraya must decide who to trust in a world where light is dying--and where her greatest enemy may be her only salvation.

Bloomsbury presents The Children by Melissa Albert, read by Rebecca Lowman, Saskia Maarleveld, Kristen Sieh, Iggy Costello and Leslie Alerman 'A joyously grim, open-eyed, adult fairy tale with the messiest of morals' PAUL TREMBLAY 'An insidious and masterfully cast spell of a book . . . Gorgeous and dreadful, I devoured it' MONA AWAD _____________________________________________ Their childhood was yours. They want it back . . . Guinevere's late mother, Edith Sharpe, needs little introduction. Bestselling author of the unendingly successful Ninth City series, her books brought so much joy and inspired the imagination of countless children the world over. Guin's childhood with her mother, brother Ennis and her actor father was a blissful, bohemian affair, filled with continuous laughter and surrounded by artistic types in their Vermont barnhouse. At least, this is the story Guin presents as she prepares for the press tour for her upcoming memoir about life in the Sharpe family. Now estranged from her brother and her parents long dead after a devastating fire, strange events threaten the veneer of serenity and familial harmony Guin is keen to project. Ennis, now a notorious artist with a troubled past, announces a new installation – his first since a disastrous last show one year prior – simply entitled Mother. And Guin can't help but worry that the truth behind their idyllic childhood is about to blow her world apart. Told in alternating narratives between 1990s Vermont and present-day New York, The Children is a twisting narrative of family secrets and long-held resentments, which asks whether we can ever really exorcise the ghosts of a childhood forsaken in favour of a parent's artistic vision. _____________________________________________ 'A poison apple of a book: glossy, sweet, and absolutely terrifying' ALIX E. HARROW 'Twisty and strange in all the best ways' HEATHER FAWCETT

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A fallen empire. A warrior determined to protect her people. And the masked soldier who captures her behind enemy lines. The first novel in a dark, seductive, and all-consuming trilogy where hope is fickle but the fight is never over. Vordell was beautiful once. Its people lived in harmony, and their civilization flourished as they learned to harness and control the power of Light. Then the darkness came. The Iron Sky unfolded dark clouds across the land, thick enough to choke out the light of the suns. The ground cracked, releasing vicious creatures that looked like humanity's oldest fears. The Dar'rak--an enemy long believed to be buried and forgotten--returned to claim the world above. Soraya Tollmere has spent most of her life on the front lines of the brutal war that followed. Now a high-ranking commander, she knows loss better than anyone. By day, she leads troops across ruined landscapes and guides covert teams through enemy territory. By night, she meets with a Dar'rak defector who has kept humanity alive with his steady stream of secrets. On a mission to investigate his latest lead--one that could turn the tide of the war--Soraya is captured by The Demon, the Dar'rak's most feared soldier, his true identity unknown. His orders are simple: break the human commander, uncover where the humans are keeping a weapon that could win them the war, and bring it to the Dar'rak. But as he gets to know the fierce warrior, the lines between interrogator and enemy, prisoner and ally, begin to blur. As devastating truths surface and loyalties shatter, Soraya must decide who to trust in a world where light is dying--and where her greatest enemy may be her only salvation.

A meticulously-observed drama of class warfare, E.M. Forster's Howards End explores the conflict inherent within English society, unveiling the character of a nation as never before. This Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction and notes by David Lodge. 'Only connect...' A chance acquaintance brings together the preposterous bourgeois Wilcox family and the clever, cultured and idealistic Schlegel sisters. As clear-eyed Margaret develops a friendship with Mrs Wilcox, the impetuous Helen brings into their midst a young bank clerk named Leonard Bast, who lives at the edge of poverty and ruin. When Mrs Wilcox dies, her family discovers that she wants to leave her country home, Howards End, to Margaret. Thus as Forster sets in motion a chain of events that will entangle three different families, he brilliantly portrays their aspirations to personal and social harmony. David Lodge's introduction provides an absorbing and eloquent overture to the 1910 novel that established Forster's reputation as an important writer, and that he himself later referred to as 'my best novel'. This edition also contains a note on the text, suggestions for further reading, and explanatory notes. E. M. Forster (1879-1970) was a noted English author and critic and a member of the Bloomsbury group. His first novel, Where Angels Fear To Tread appeared in 1905. The Longest Journey appeared in 1907, followed by A Room With A View (1908), based partly on the material from extended holidays in Italy with his mother. Howards End (1910) was a story that centered on an English country house and dealt with the clash between two families, one interested in art and literature, the other only in business. Maurice was revised several times during his life, and finally published posthumously in 1971. If you enjoyed Howard's End, you might like Forster's A Room with a View, also available in Penguin Classics.

DIVINATION / EASTERN PHILOSOPHY "A careful comparison of Huang's translation with the Wilhelm, Legge, and Blofeld versions reveals its superiority in nearly every respect. Readers interested in acquainting themselves with the I Ching for the first time need to look no further; those who have formed a deep personal attachment to a previous translation owe it to themselves to explore this one as well." --Intuition "What is constant through this translation is both a sense of tradition and an appreciation of modernity. Throughout is a philosophical calmness, a sense of the intellectual mingling with the spirit of things. Most importantly, Huang makes this a useful I Ching, more useful for the current temperament than older, more self-conscious translations." --The Book Reader Translated by the eminent Taoist Master Alfred Huang, The Complete I Ching has been praised by scholars and new students of the I Ching since its first edition. A native Chinese speaker, Master Huang first translated the original ideograms of the I Ching into contemporary Chinese and then into English, bringing forth the intuitive meanings embodied in the images of the I Ching and imbuing his translation with an accuracy and authenticity not possible in other English translations. However, what makes his translation truly definitive is his return to prominence of the Ten Wings, the commentaries by Confucius that are essential to the I Ching's insights. This 10th anniversary edition offers a thorough introduction to the history of the I Ching, how to use it, and several new divination methods; in-depth and easy-toreference translations of each hexagram name, description, and pictogram; and discussions of the interrelations between the hexagrams and the spiritual meaning of their sequence. Born in 1921, MASTER ALFRED HUANG is a professor of Taoist philosophy, former Dean of Students at Shanghai University, and a third-generation master of Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Kung, and Oriental meditation with more than 70 years of experience. He studied the I Ching--a forbidden book at the time--in secret with one of China's greatest I Ching masters, only to be branded an antirevolutionary by the Communist government and forced into manual labor in 1957 and imprisonment in 1966. During his 22 years of confinement, he found the strength to survive through meditation on the I Ching. Released in 1979, he emigrated to the United States. The founder of New Harmony, a nonprofit organization devoted to self-healing, and the author of The Numerology of the I Ching and Complete Tai-Chi, Master Huang lives on the island of Maui.

“This quietly ambitious and beautifully achieved novel is one of the most convincing historical novels I have ever read.” —Hilary Mantel, Booker Award-winning author of Wolf Hall “[Lyon] has shaped history into a narrative not only gripping, but also accessible and poignant, even tender…. Here we have a novel that is brave enough to raise the universal questions about how a man should live his life.” —The Boston Globe “Sensational. . . . The Golden Mean] hooked me as a first novel should, carried me along, and left me determined to read whatever the author writes next.” —Taylor Antrim, The Daily Beast “Here’s a story that gives us the classical world with everyday liveliness and narrative force, without ever sacrificing intellectual integrity and historical accuracy. . . . Splendidly intelligent and entertaining.” —NPR; “All Things Considered” “[A] vivid imagining of the encounter between Aristotle and the young Alexander the Great . . . Lyon’s evocation of the ancient world is earthy and immediate.” —The New Yorker “As authoritative and compelling as Mary Renault’s renowned novels set in the ancient world. One hopes we may learn more about Lyon’s immeasurably brilliant, unflappably human Aristotle.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred) “I absolutely loved The Golden Mean. Annabel Lyon brings the philosophers and warriors, artists and whores, princes and slaves of ancient Macedonia alive, with warmth, wit and poignancy. Impeccably researched and brilliantly told, this novel is utterly convincing.” —Marie Phillips, author of Gods Behaving Badly “The Golden Mean is more than a brilliant and beautifully told novel: it’s also a profound exploration of moral and philosophical issues that have troubled and perplexed us since Aristotle.” —Russell Banks, author of Cloudsplitter “Lyon draws the curtain back on the smoke-filled huts and palace chambers that shaped the lives of these two great men, whose mutual admiration and intellect transformed civilization. It’s historical fiction at its finest.” —Louisville Courier-Journal “The 4th century BC and the youth of Alexander the Great are marvelously re-imagined in Lyon’s justifiably garlanded novel . . . The daily intrigues of the court, the visceral aspects of battle, philosophical discussion, and Aristotle’s household are all evoked in measured, burnished prose, which combines thrilling immediacy with a stately timelessness.” —The Guardian (London) “Lyon [has] established herself as this generation’s answer to Alice Munro. A master of wordplay and storytelling, Lyon takes readers deep into the hearts and secret desires of her characters.” —The Vancouver Sun “Extraordinary. . . . It’s entertaining to watch for the places in the novel where Lyon integrates the development of Aristotle’s thought and the seeds of his greatest works. . . . The Golden Mean gives us a life of Aristotle, and a life of Alexander, that we can feel, rather than just hear. . . . Lyon’s powerfully imagined novel deserves its critical and popular success, as it effectively dramatizes key moments in the story of Aristotle’s new loves, and it’s also a lot of fun to read.” —Open Letters Monthly “This is Lyon’s first novel, and it is a remarkable one. . . . The Golden Mean does beautifully what the best historical novels do. It recreates a past time whose manners are different from ours; yet it shows what is permanent in human nature . . . This is an outstanding novel, admirably structured, economical and evocative, keenly intelligent, amusing and sad—a book in which imagination and intellect are yoked in harmony.” —The Scotsman “It takes chutzpah to make your main characters Aristotle and Alexander the Great, but Lyon pulls it off; she has the gift of finding the pulse of the ancient world and bringing it back to glorious life . . . Gripping, with a powerful sense of time and place.” —The Times (London) “While no one can ever really know how Aristotle spoke or thought, it’s to Lyon’s considerable credit that The Golden Mean convi

DIVINATION / EASTERN PHILOSOPHY "A careful comparison of Huang's translation with the Wilhelm, Legge, and Blofeld versions reveals its superiority in nearly every respect. Readers interested in acquainting themselves with the I Ching for the first time need to look no further; those who have formed a deep personal attachment to a previous translation owe it to themselves to explore this one as well." --Intuition "What is constant through this translation is both a sense of tradition and an appreciation of modernity. Throughout is a philosophical calmness, a sense of the intellectual mingling with the spirit of things. Most importantly, Huang makes this a useful I Ching, more useful for the current temperament than older, more self-conscious translations." --The Book Reader Translated by the eminent Taoist Master Alfred Huang, The Complete I Ching has been praised by scholars and new students of the I Ching since its first edition. A native Chinese speaker, Master Huang first translated the original ideograms of the I Ching into contemporary Chinese and then into English, bringing forth the intuitive meanings embodied in the images of the I Ching and imbuing his translation with an accuracy and authenticity not possible in other English translations. However, what makes his translation truly definitive is his return to prominence of the Ten Wings, the commentaries by Confucius that are essential to the I Ching's insights. This 10th anniversary edition offers a thorough introduction to the history of the I Ching, how to use it, and several new divination methods; in-depth and easy-toreference translations of each hexagram name, description, and pictogram; and discussions of the interrelations between the hexagrams and the spiritual meaning of their sequence. Born in 1921, MASTER ALFRED HUANG is a professor of Taoist philosophy, former Dean of Students at Shanghai University, and a third-generation master of Wu-style Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Kung, and Oriental meditation with more than 70 years of experience. He studied the I Ching--a forbidden book at the time--in secret with one of China's greatest I Ching masters, only to be branded an antirevolutionary by the Communist government and forced into manual labor in 1957 and imprisonment in 1966. During his 22 years of confinement, he found the strength to survive through meditation on the I Ching. Released in 1979, he emigrated to the United States. The founder of New Harmony, a nonprofit organization devoted to self-healing, and the author of The Numerology of the I Ching and Complete Tai-Chi, Master Huang lives on the island of Maui.

Public Talks 1. Can I see wholly? - 16 July 1972 Duration: 71 minutes Do we act casually, expecting division to end as a result of outer environment? Does change demand immediate attention and action? Freeing of the mind from conditioning and in that freedom bringing about a cooperative action. Can one who is conditioned by the past change totally? Will change come through analysis or is there a totally different approach? Is time needed to have relationship in which there is love and not division? Does one of the many fragments of the 'me' assume authority or is the mind free to look? Observation not investigation. Is there analysis if there are no parts? Is analysis a waste of time? Questions from the audience followed the talk. 2. What is it to be creative? - 18 July 1972 Duration: 76 minutes Not being deeply creative we escape from the fact of deep frustration. Is there insight only when the mind is free of belief? Insight without conclusion is creative action. Why does thought draw conclusions from insight and cling to the structure of control? I am isolated when I resist. Is aloneness insight into isolation? Moving in insight, relationship changes. Freedom from images is responsibility and love. The brain needs security to function. There is security in insight, which brings intelligence. When you don't compare, what are you? Questions from the audience followed the talk 3. Thought and its limitations - 20 July 1972 Duration: 85 minutes Can thought investigate something which is not of time, experience and knowledge? What is the mind that can enter into the dimension which has no word? Can there be a harmony in which division does not exist between the known and freedom from the known? Is the mind such a slave to words that it cannot see the movement of thought without the word? Will knowledge bring about a better world when used with the 'me'? When the body dies what happens to thought? If I am aware that I am neurotic, in that awareness am I neurotic? Questions from the audience followed the talk 4. Can the mind be totally unconditioned? - 23 July 1972 Duration: 84 minutes Society, culture and economic divisions have created images in us. Can the deep hurts of the mind be wiped away so that no mark is left? Will this be done through analysis? Who is analysing? Is hurt a problem if you do not move away from it? Does conflict destroy the brain? Is comparison an escape from 'what is'? Am I the word, the description, the thought? If I don't compare, what am I? Wanting to cross to the other side of the river becomes a problem. Questions from the audience followed the talk 5. Will the discovery of the cause of suffering end it? - 25 July 1972 Duration: 83 minutes Is sorrow ignorance of oneself? How does one go beyond loneliness? Can thought as measurement put an end to itself? When belief is threatened there is fear. Can the brain have security in which every form of fear has come to an end? Can the mind realize there is no security in the things that thought projects? The perception of truth is security. Can the mind invite joy? Can one help another in crisis? Questions from the audience followed the talk 6. Pleasure, joy and death - 27 July 1972 Duration: 92 minutes Does the mind have any existence apart from the thing to which it is attached? Why does the mind act from a series of conclusions of thought? How can I love you if I am attached to you? What is the actual activity of the structure of memory which is the past? Can the mind have an insight into conditioning and therefore tremendous energy to change it? How do I communicate love without the word? Is there anything permanent beyond death? Questions from the audience followed the talk 7.