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Moon Spotlight Banff National Park
By Andrew Hempstead. 2010
Moon Spotlight Banff National Park is an 80-page compact guide covering the best of this scenic wilderness reserve, including Fairmont…
Banff Springs, Sunshine Meadows, Lake Louise, and Cascade Gardens. Travel writer and photographer Andrew Hempstead offers his firsthand advice on what sights are must-sees, and sightseeing highlight maps make planning your time easy. This lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food, and transportation, making navigating this picturesque destination uncomplicated and enjoyable.On Royalty: A Very Polite Inquiry into Some Strangely Related Families
By Jeremy Paxman. 2006
In On Royalty Jeremy Paxman delves deep into Britain's royal past. What is the point of Kings and Queens? What…
do they do all day? And what does it mean to be one of them? Jeremy Paxman is used to making politicians explain themselves - but royalty has always been off limits. Until now. He takes a long hard look at our present incumbents to find out just what makes them tick. Along the way he discovers some fascinating and little-known details. Such as: how Albania came to advertise in England for a king which English queen gave birth in front of 67 people how easy it is to beat up future kings of England and how meeting the Queen is a bit scary - whoever you are . . . No other book will tell you quite as much about our kings, queens, princes and princesses: who they are and what they're for. 'Paxman's book is everyhing that royalty is not allowed to be - witty, stylish, intelligent, pugnacious and political. The Times 'On Royalty is an absorbing, well-researched book, part serious enquiry, part rollicking anecdote' Evening Standard 'Action-packed and entertaining' Sunday Telegraph Jeremy Paxman is a journalist, best known for his work presenting Newsnight and University Challenge. His books include Empire, On Royalty, The English and The Political Animal. He lives in Oxfordshire.Moon Montréal & Québec City
By Sacha Jackson. 2011
Writer Sacha Jackson guides travelers to the highlights of Montréal and Québec City, from the trendy bars, restaurants, and festivals…
of Montréal to the original city walls and historic center of Québec City. Jackson also offers one-of-a-kind trip ideas, like Canadian History 101: Where it Started and Edible Québec: A Foodie Feeding Frenzy. Complete with details on kayaking the Lachine canal, eating your own weight in maple-cured meats in the Laurentians, and participating in the concerts, parades, and sleigh races of the Carnaval de Québec, Moon Montréal and Québec City gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.Moon Spotlight Victoria & Vancouver Island
By Andrew Hempstead. 2011
Moon Spotlight Victoria & Vancouver Island is a 100-page compact guide covering Victoria and Vancouver Island, including the Vicinity of…
Victoria, Southern Gulf Islands, Nanaimo and Vicinity, Highway 4 to the West Coast, Tofino, Oceanside, Comox Valley, and Northern Vancouver Island. Author Andrew Hempstead offers seasoned advice on must-see attractions and activities, and sightseeing highlight maps make planning your time easy. This lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food, and transportation, making navigating this popular northern getaway uncomplicated and enjoyable.The Iron Princess
By Tryntje Helfferich. 2013
Thrust into power in the midst of the bloodiest conflict Europe had ever experienced, Amalia Elisabeth fought to save her…
country, her Calvinist church, and her children’s inheritance. Tryntje Helfferich’s vivid portrait reveals how this unique and embattled ruler used her diplomatic gifts to play the great powers of Europe against one another during the Thirty Years War, while raising one of the most powerful and effective fighting forces on the continent. Stranded in exile after the death of her husband, Amalia Elisabeth stymied the maneuvers of male relatives and advisors who hoped to seize control of the affairs of her tiny German state of Hesse-Cassel. Unshakable in her religious faith and confident in her own capacity to rule, the princess crafted a cunning strategy to protect her interests. Despite great personal tragedy, challenges to her rule, and devastating losses to her people and lands, Amalia Elisabeth wielded her hard-won influence to help shape the new Europe that arose in the war’s wake. She ended her reign in triumph, having secured the birthright of her children and the legalization of her church. The Iron Princess restores to view one of the most compelling political figures of her time, a woman once widely considered the heroine of the seventeenth century.The Queen's Speech: An Intimate Portrait of the Queen in her Own Words
By Ingrid Seward. 2016
On 9 September 2015, Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest-serving monarch in British history. During her 63 years on…
the throne, few have got to know her well, but there is one body of work that sheds new light on her thoughts, personality and the issues that really concern her: the Queen's own speeches. For many years, the Queen's Christmas address was the most-watched programme on television on Christmas Day, and millions still tune in to hear what she has to say. Now, in this wonderful, intimate portrait of Her Majesty, Ingrid Seward uses the Queen's speeches as a starting point to provide a revealing insight into the character of the woman who has reigned over us since the days when Churchill was prime minister. Starting with her first ever broadcast, in December 1940, when the teenaged Princess Elizabeth addressed a wartorn nation, right through the annus horribilis, and on into the 21st century, the book highlights the most important moments in her life and how she has responded to them. Based on in-depth research and interviews with many of those who know the Queen best, this book sheds new light on the life and career of our monarch. Renowned as one of the most authoritative writers on royal matters, Ingrid Seward, the editor of Majestymagazine, has written a charming and fascinating portrait that will be cherished by all who read it.Doomed Queens
By Kris Waldherr. 2008
Illicit love, madness, betrayal--it isn't always good to be the queenMarie Antoinette, Anne Boleyn, and Mary, Queen of Scots. What…
did they have in common? For a while they were crowned in gold, cosseted in silk, and flattered by courtiers. But in the end, they spent long nights in dark prison towers and were marched to the scaffold where they surrendered their heads to the executioner. And they are hardly alone in their undignified demises. Throughout history, royal women have had a distressing way of meeting bad ends--dying of starvation, being burned at the stake, or expiring in childbirth while trying desperately to produce an heir. They always had to be on their toes and all too often even devious plotting, miraculous pregnancies, and selling out their sisters was not enough to keep them from forcible consignment to religious orders. From Cleopatra (suicide by asp), to Princess Caroline (suspiciously poisoned on her coronation day), there's a gory downside to being blue-blooded when you lack a Y chromosome. Kris Waldherr's elegant little book is a chronicle of the trials and tribulations of queens across the ages, a quirky, funny, utterly macabre tribute to the dark side of female empowerment. Over the course of fifty irresistibly illustrated and too-brief lives, Doomed Queens charts centuries of regal backstabbing and intrigue. We meet well-known figures like Catherine of Aragon, whose happy marriage to Henry VIII ended prematurely when it became clear that she was a starter wife--the first of six. And we meet forgotten queens like Amalasuntha, the notoriously literate Ostrogoth princess who overreached politically and was strangled in her bath. While their ends were bleak, these queens did not die without purpose. Their unfortunate lives are colorful cautionary tales for today's would-be power brokers--a legacy of worldly and womanly wisdom gathered one spectacular regal ruin at a time.Bali: A Travel Adventure
By R. Ian Llyod, Patrick R Booz. 2005
This stunning Bali travel pictorial features stunning photography that highlights the breathtaking landscapes of Bali and the diverse customs and…
traditions of the Balinese people.The tropical Indonesian paradise of Bali has extraordinarily vivid beauty. Terraced rice paddies seemingly rise up to the sky, while silhouetted palms, still active volcanoes and volcanic lakes contrast with lovely beaches and lagoons. Bali's temples, carved statues, and colorful art are evidence of a thriving culture that maintains its freshness and simplicity in a modern age. Bali: A Travel Adventure is an unforgettable visual record of the island and its people. The culture of Bali is a colorful world of ceremony, ritual, Balinese dance, and drama. Bali: A Travel Adventure explores what you will find rooted in Balinese culture, when you travel to Bali. You might learn when uncovering Balinese history, rituals and performing arts, that Bali is quite an alluring place.The Murder of King James I
By Alastair Bellany, Thomas Cogswell. 2015
A year after the death of James I in 1625, a sensational pamphlet accused the Duke of Buckingham of murdering…
the king. It was an allegation that would haunt English politics for nearly forty years. In this exhaustively researched new book, two leading scholars of the era, Alastair Bellany and Thomas Cogswell, uncover the untold story of how a secret history of courtly poisoning shaped and reflected the political conflicts that would eventually plunge the British Isles into civil war and revolution. Illuminating many hitherto obscure aspects of early modern political culture, this eagerly anticipated work is both a fascinating story of political intrigue and a major exploration of the forces that destroyed the Stuart monarchy.Renaissance Emir: A Druze Warlord at the Court of the Medici
By T. J. Gorton. 2013
This groundbreaking biography of Fakhr ad-Din, Prince of the Druze, is based on the author's vivid new translations of contemporary…
sources in Arabic and other languages. It brings to life one remarkable man's beliefs and ambitions, uniquely illuminating the elusive interface between Eastern and Western culture.The Baker Who Pretended to Be King of Portugal
By Ruth Mackay. 2012
On August 4, 1578, in an ill-conceived attempt to wrest Morocco back from the hands of the infidel Moors, King…
Sebastian of Portugal led his troops to slaughter and was himself slain. Sixteen years later, King Sebastian rose again. In one of the most famous of European impostures, Gabriel de Espinosa, an ex-soldier and baker by trade--and most likely under the guidance of a distinguished Portuguese friar--appeared in a Spanish convent town passing himself off as the lost monarch. The principals, along with a large cast of nuns, monks, and servants, were confined and questioned for nearly a year as a crew of judges tried to unravel the story, but the culprits went to their deaths with many questions left unanswered. Ruth MacKay recalls this conspiracy, marked both by scheming and absurdity, and the legal inquest that followed, to show how stories of this kind are conceived, told, circulated, and believed. She reveals how the story of Sebastian, supposedly in hiding and planning to return to claim his crown, was lodged among other familiar stories: prophecies of returned leaders, nuns kept against their will, kidnappings by Moors, miraculous escapes, and monarchs who die for their country. As MacKay demonstrates, the conspiracy could not have succeeded without the circulation of news, the retellings of the fatal battle in well-read chronicles, and the networks of rumors and correspondents, all sharing the hope or belief that Sebastian had survived and would one day return. With its royal intrigues, ambitious artisans, dissatisfied religious women, and corrupt clergy, The Baker Who Pretended to Be King of Portugal will undoubtedly captivate readers as it sheds new light on the intricate political and cultural relations between Spain and Portugal in the early modern period and the often elusive nature of historical truth.The Rise and Fall of War Crimes Trials
By Charles Anthony Smith. 2012
This book is the first comprehensive analysis of the politics of war crimes trials. It provides a systematic and theoretically…
rigorous examination of whether these trials are used as tools for political consolidation or whether justice is their primary purpose. The consideration of cases begins with the trial of Charles I of England and goes through the presidency of George W. Bush, including the trials of Saddam Hussein and those arising from the War on Terror. The book concludes that political consolidation is the primary concern of these trials - a point that runs contrary to the popular perception of the trials and their stated justification. Through the consideration of war crimes trials, this book makes a contribution to our understanding of power and conflict resolution and illuminates the developmental path of war crimes tribunals.Karim Khan Zand
By John R. Perry. 1979
A forward thinking and notably popular leader, Karim Khan Zand (1705-1779) was the founder of the Zand dynasty in Iran.…
In this insightful profile of a man before his time, esteemed academic John Perry shows how by opening up international trade, employing a fair fiscal system and showing respect for existing religious institutions, Karim Khan succeeded in creating a peaceful and prosperous state in a particularly turbulent epoch of history.Off the Beaten Path
By Norman D. Watt. 2014
With a total of 31 North Shore hikes (15 in West Vancouver and 16 in North Vancouver), plus two in…
the Pemberton area, this is the most comprehensive collection of North Shore hiking trails to be found anywhere. Focusing on the varied and interesting hiking trails through the wilderness of Metro Vancouver's North Shore forests, many entries feature historical information about the area not often found in other hiking books, including points of local interest such as old homesteads and logging camps from the early 1900s.The level of detail, including thorough trail descriptions and approximate walking times, makes this book a distinctive and invaluable resource for the seasoned outdoor adventurer as well as the casual hiker. From Horseshoe Bay and Lighthouse Park to the Baden-Powell Trail and Goldie Lake, discover the rugged beauty of the North Shore up close and on foot.Fantasy Farm Amusement Park
By Scott E. Fowler. 2014
Not many developers would build an amusement park next door to the successful LeSourdsville Lake amusement park, but Edgar Streifthau…
was a one-of-a-kind man in Butler County, Ohio. Streifthau, the original owner of LeSourdsville, was forced to sell his beloved park, but he still had the amusement-park bug, and in 1963 he built Fantasy Farm directly next to LeSourdsville. Fantasy Farm's audience was young children, and the concept was successful for decades. The two parks coexisted for 28 years despite periodically appearing in court opposite each other. In 1982, Streifthau sold Fantasy Farm to local carnival owner William Johnson, who ran the park for another decade before finally becoming a victim of the economy. Johnson closed Fantasy Farm in 1991 and sold off all of its assets.Trimper's Rides
By Brandon Seidl, Monica Thrash. 2014
No trip to Ocean City, Maryland, is complete without a visit to Trimper's Rides. The unforgettable bright lights, carousel music,…
and elated screams from riders on the Tidal Wave are cherished memories for generations who return to the park annually. The evolution and success of Trimper's Rides embodies the American dream. It began when an enterprising German immigrant named Daniel B. Trimper and his large family took a chance on a little-known seaside town. They built a top-notch family-entertainment experience that continues to delight visitors today. The Trimpers rebuilt after storms, endured wartime challenges, and experienced periods of rapid growth and prosperity. Trimper's Rides chronicles this journey with nostalgic images of past attractions and the people who made Trimper's Rides the destination for family fun.Story Land
By Jim Miller. 2010
When sedans and station wagons replaced trains for vacationers heading to New Hampshire's rugged and picturesque White Mountains, new motels…
and attractions catering to middle-class families sprang up amidst the established grand hotels and diversions for socialites, artists, skiers, and hikers. In 1954, a tiny children's park inspired by a collection of storybook dolls opened in the quiet village of Glen. Through a unique combination of independent innovation and regional cooperation, Story Land has continually grown for more than 50 years through economic and cultural changes that undermined many amusement parks. Parents still travel great distances for a Story Land getaway with their children, just as their own parents did, sharing a common experience that is talked about between multiple generations at family gatherings. This photograph collection illustrates the unlikely beginnings and creative entrepreneurship behind one of New England's most memorable and enduring childhood institutions.The Young Investigator's Guide to Ancient Aliens
By History Channel. 2015
As a tie-in to the wildly successful History Channel show, here's a book filled with fascinating tales, ancient folklore, and…
compelling evidence of the role extraterrestrials may have played in human history. What really happened to the dinosaurs? Who actually built the ancient pyramids in Egypt? Are airplanes really as modern as we think they are? This book takes a close look at landmark events throughout history and asks the question: What if aliens were involved? Spanning history, from the earliest of human civilizations to the modern period, this book exposes evidence of the presence of extraterrestrials in some of our most triumphant and devastating moments.Empress: The Astonishing Reign Of Nur Jahan
By Ruby Lal. 2018
Four centuries ago, a Muslim woman ruled an empire. When it came to hunting, she was a master shot. As…
a dress designer, few could compare. An ingenious architect, she innovated the use of marble in her parents’ mausoleum on the banks of the Yamuna River that inspired her stepson’s Taj Mahal. And she was both celebrated and reviled for her political acumen and diplomatic skill, which rivaled those of her female counterparts in Europe and beyond. In 1611, thirty-four-year-old Nur Jahan, daughter of a Persian noble and widow of a subversive official, became the twentieth and most cherished wife of the Emperor Jahangir. While other wives were secluded behind walls, Nur ruled the vast Mughal Empire alongside her husband, and governed in his stead as his health failed and his attentions wandered from matters of state. An astute politician and devoted partner, Nur led troops into battle to free Jahangir when he was imprisoned by one of his own officers. She signed and issued imperial orders, and coins of the realm bore her name. Acclaimed historian Ruby Lal uncovers the rich life and world of Nur Jahan, rescuing this dazzling figure from patriarchal and Orientalist clichés of romance and intrigue, and giving new insight into the lives of women and girls in the Mughal Empire, even where scholars claim there are no sources. Nur’s confident assertion of authority and talent is revelatory. In Empress, she finally receives her due in a deeply researched and evocative biography that awakens us to a fascinating history.Feminism, Absolutism, and Jansenism
By Daniella Kostroun. 2011
Feminism, Absolutism, and Jansenism chronicles seventy years of Jansenist conflict and its complex intersection with power struggles between gallican bishops,…
Parlementaires, the Crown and the Pope. Daniella Kostroun focuses on the nuns of Port-Royal-des-Champs, whose community was disbanded by Louis XIV in 1709 as a threat to the state. Paradoxically, it was the nuns' adherence to their strict religious rule and the ideal of pious, innocent and politically disinterested behavior that allowed them to challenge absolutism effectively. Adopting methods from cultural studies, feminism and the Cambridge School of political thought, Kostroun examines how these nuns placed gender at the heart of the Jansenist challenge to the patriarchal and religious foundations of absolutism; they responded to royal persecution with a feminist defense of women's spiritual and rational equality and of the autonomy of the individual subject, thereby offering a bold challenge to the patriarchal and religious foundations of absolutism.