Roman emperors, Arab scholars, and early travellers were already drawn to and enchanted by the fascination of the land along the Nile. The pyramids of Giza, the temple-city of Karnak, or the Valley of the Kings with the grave of Tutankhamen even today maintain their extraordinar... read more

1661 is a year of destiny for France and its young King, Louis XIV. Cardinal Mazarin, the prime minister who has reigned throughout the king's early years, lies dying. As a fierce power struggle develops to succeed him, a religious brotherhood, guardian of a centuries old secret, al... read more

Why is Nelson Mandela a pocket GIANT? Because he personified the struggle against apartheid Because, after twenty-seven years in prison, he sought reconciliation not vengeance Because he bridged the divide between black and white Because he was loved and admired across the globe

Why is Napoleon Bonaparte a pocket GIANT? Because he was one of the greatest generals in history. Because he ended the French Revolution. Because he tore up the map of Europe, and reshaped much of the world beyond. Because his legacy echoes to this day.

Isaac Newton believed everything in the physical universe could be described using mathematical relationships. His law of gravity explained why objects fall downwards, how the moon causes the tides, and why planets and comets orbit the sun. While his work has been... read more

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The history of Ireland is one of oppression and emancipation, characterized by foreign rule and the fight for freedom. It is a history in which religious and political conflicts sit side by side with a shared love of the ancient magic that enshrouds the isla... read more

Elizabeth Woodville is a historical character whose life no novelist would ever have dared invent. She has been portrayed as an enchantress, as an unprincipled advancer of her family's fortunes and a plucky but pitiful queen in Shakespe... read more

With intricate cut-paper collages that reveal the insides of some of the world's most fascinating structures, this book shows how the purpose of these buildings greatly influenced their designs, locations, and materials used in construction. Full color.

Kith is Jay Griffiths's passionate polemic in defence of childhood. In Kith, Jay Griffiths seeks to discover why we deny our children the freedoms of space, time and the natural world. Visiting communities as far apart as West Papua and the Arctic, as well ... read more

The Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most famous - and bestselling - books of all time. Yet the girl who wrote it remains an enigma. The real Anne Frank has been lost, hidden behind the phenomenon that her posthumously published Diary produced. This concise biograp... read more

From a range of leading academics and historians, this collection of essays examines Irish emigration during the Great Famine of the 1840s. From the mechanics of how this was arranged to the fate of the men, women and children who landed on t... read more