Daedalus Books

The locals in the southern Italian town where he lives call him Signor Farfalla — Mr. Butterfly: for he is a discreet gentleman who paints rare butterflies. His life is inconspicuous — mornings spent brushing at a canvas, afternoons idling in the cafes, and evening talks with his friend the town priest over a glass of brandy. Yet there are other sides to this gentleman's life. Clara — the young student who moonlights in the town bordello. And another woman who arrives with $100,000 and a commission, but not for a painting of butterflies. With this assignment returns the dark fear that has dogged Signor Farfalla's mysterious life. Almost instantly, he senses a deadly circle closing in on him, one which he may or may not elude. Part thriller, part character study, part drama of deceit and self-betrayal, A Very Private Gentleman shows Martin Booth at the very height of his powers.

In the early hours of New Year's 1994, Russian troops invaded the Republic of Chechnya, plunging the country into a prolonged and bloody conflict that continues to this day. A foreign correspondent in Moscow at the time, Asne Seierstad traveled regularly to Chechnya to report on the war, describing its affects on those trying to live their daily lives amidst violence. In the following decade, Seierstad became an internationally renowned reporter and author, traveling to the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other war-torn regions. But she never lost sight of this conflict that had initially inspired her career. Over the course of a decade, she watched as Russia ruthlessly suppressed an Islamic rebellion in two bloody wars and as Chechnya evolved into one of the flashpoints in a world now focused on the threat of international terrorism. In 2006, Seierstad finally returned to Chechnya, traveling in secret and under the constant threat of danger. In a broken and devastated society she lived with orphans, the wounded, the lost. And she lived with the children of Grozny, those who will shape the country's future. She asks the question: What happens to a child who grows up surrounded by war and accustomed to violence? A compelling, intimate, and often heartbreaking portrait of Chechnya today, The Angel of Grozny is a vivid account of a land's violent history and its ongoing battle for freedom.

For the first time in his life, Jacob Reckless is afraid. For years he's stolen across to another world. A dark enchanted place he's loved for its treasure, secrets and dangers. Until now. Will, his younger brother, has followed him with terrible consequences: the boy will turn to beast; the girl he loves will break her heart and chaos will rule forever, unless Jacob can spin a fairytale to save them..

Deck the iceberg wrap a gifty Fa la la la la la la la la... Tacky, Goodly, Lovely, Angel, Neatly, and Perfect are celebrating the holiday with good cheer, singing, and lots of presents. Tacky's present is a little bit different, and not exactly what his friends had in mind, but when the Christmas merrymaking is interrupted by hunters in search of pretty penguins, it's Tacky's gift that helps to save the day...

In this masterly new work, acclaimed historian Giles MacDonogh explores the moment when Hitler gambled everything. Until 1938, Hitler could be dismissed as a ruthless but efficient dictator, a problem to Germany alone; after 1938 he was clearly a threat to the entire world. In that year, The Third Reich came of age and the Fuhrer showed his hand — bringing Germany into line with Nazi ideology and revealing long-held plans to take back those parts of Europe lost to 'Greater Germany' after the First World War. The sequence of events began in January with the purging of the army, and escalated with the merger with Austria — the Anschluss, and the first persecutions of Viennese Jewry. In the following months Hitler moulded the nation to his will. Elections brought him a 99 per cent approval rating. MacDonogh gives a full account of the nationalist opposition that failed to topple Hitler in September 1938. By the end of the year the brutal reality of the Nazi regime was revealed by Joseph Goebbels in Kristallnacht, a nationwide assault on Germany's native Jewish population. MacDonogh's access to many new sources gives insights into what life was like under the eye of the regime, revealing the role of the Anglican Church after the Anschluss, saving those Jews who were willing to convert, and also the Kendrick Affair — the still-secret details of the Austrian double agent who brought down the whole MI6 operation in Austria and Germany, just as the Chamberlain government began negotiations with Hitler at Munich. A remarkable and revealing account of Hitler's opening moves to war.

This new book — inspired by three classic, award-winning books — reveals the how and why behind some of the most fascinating and enduring structures humankind has ever created. Macaulay has revised texts based on new research, created gorgeous new drawings, in some cases wholly re-imagined scenes from the books — bringing Castle and Cathedral to life in full-color for the very first time. The resulting illustrations add to the reader's understanding of these buildings, capturing intriguing new perspectives and a depth of detail in structure and atmosphere. This impeccably researched volume is not only a necessary addition to the bookshelf of any David Macaulay or architecture fan, but will delight readers of all ages who are experiencing his work for the first time.

In these five tales of intellectual derring-do, Sherlock Holmes is shown at the height of his powers: he cooperates with a young Winston Churchill in the famed siege of Sydney Street; helps defeat a plan for a German invasion outlined in the Zimmerman Telegram; establishes a link between two missing light-house keepers and the royal treasures of King John; contends with a supernatural curse placed upon an eccentric aristocrat and discovers a lost epic of Lord Byron. But it is all in a day's work for the great detective, who continues to defy the odds and lives to ratiocinate another day.

Georgie Sinclair's life is coming unstuck. Her husband's left her. Her son's obsessed with the End of the World. And now her elderly neighbour Mrs Shapiro has decided they are related. Or so the hospital informs her when Mrs Shapiro has an accident and names Georgie next of kin. This, however, is not a case of a quick ward visit: Mrs Shapiro has a large rickety house full of stinky cats that needs looking after that a pair of estate agents seem intent on swindling from her. Plus there are the 'Uselesses' trying to repair it (uselessly). Then there's the social worker who wants to put her in a nursing home. Not to mention some letters that point to a mysterious, painful past. As Georgie tries her best to put Mrs Shapiro's life back together somehow she must stop her own from falling apart...

Do you like scratchy cat kisses? Or do you prefer squeaky pig kisses? How about a velvety cow kiss? Kids will adore puckering up to Barney Saltzberg's irresistible menagerie of animals with fuzzy, sticky, and rubbery mouths just waiting for big smooches.

In the Russian winter of 1878 a shy, aristocratic young woman named Vera Zasulich walked into the office of the governor of St. Petersburg, pulled a revolver from underneath her shawl, and shot General Fedor Trepov point blank. Revenge!, she cried, for the governor's brutal treatment of a political prisoner. Her trial for murder later that year became Russia's trial of the century, closely followed by people all across Europe and America. On the day of the trial, huge crowds packed the courtroom. The cream of Russian society, attired in the finery of the day, arrived to witness the theatrical testimony and deliberations in the case of the young angel of vengeance. After the trial, Vera became a celebrated martyr for all social classes in Russia and became the public face of a burgeoning revolutionary fervor. Dostoyevsky (who attended the trial), Turgenev, Engels, and even Oscar Wilde all wrote about her extraordinary case. Her astonishing acquittal was celebrated across Europe, crowds filled the streets and the decision marked the changing face of Russia. After fleeing to Switzerland, Vera Zasulich became Russia's most famous terroristka, inspiring a whole generation of Russian and European revolutionaries to embrace violence and martyrdom. Her influence led to a series of acts that collectively became part of the age of assassinations. In the now-forgotten story of Russia's most notorious terrorist, Ana Siljak captures Vera's extraordinary life story — from privileged child of nobility to revolutionary conspirator, from assassin to martyr to socialist icon and saint — while colorfully evoking the drama of one of the world's most closely watched trials and a Russia where political celebrities held sway.

An egg cracks — crickety crack — and out comes a little yellow chick! He peeps, he cheeps, he eats, and at the very end, he sleeps under Mommy's wing — zzzzzz. Each eye-popping page in this interactive novelty book invites the reader to jump in and play with the chick, and Ed Vere's art is appealing and brightly colored. Ed Vere's new pop-up book is the perfect Easter gift for all your little chicks!

The American road to empire started when the first English settlers landed in Virginia. Simultaneously, the first Russians crossed the Urals and the two empires that would dominate the twentieth century were born. Empires Apart covers the history of the Americans and Russians from the Vikings to the present day. It shows the two empires developed in parallel as they expanded to the Pacific and launched wars against the nations around them. They both developed an imperial 'ideology' that was central to the way they perceived themselves. Soon after, the ideology of the Russian Empire also changed with the advent of Communism. The key argument of this book is that these changes did not alter the core imperial values of either nation; both Russians and Americans continued to believe in their manifest destiny. Corporatist and Communist imperialism changed only the mechanics of empire. Both nations have shown that they are still willing to use military force and clandestine intrigue to enforce imperial control. Uniquely, Landers shows how the broad sweep of American history follows a consistent path from the first settlers to the present day and, by comparing this with Russia's imperial path, demonstrates the true nature of American global ambitions.

Donald Sturrock's Storyteller is the authorized biography of Roald Dahl, one of the greatest storytellers of all time.

Music is Andrew Zuckerman's latest masterpiece, an extraordinary sequel to the highly acclaimed Wisdom. For this new, ambitious project, he now turns his unique perspective to music. Sixty eminent individuals — artists, composers, producers and performers from rock, rap, dance, soul, R&B, country, classical, reggae, pop, jazz, world and more — have all been subjected to Zuckerman's democratic interview technique and hyperreal photographic style to create an inspiring, illuminating and brilliant glimpse into the world of music and musicians. A full list of participants is still to be finalized, but confirmed participants include Tori Amos, Billy Corgan, Peter Gabriel, Yoko Ono, Ozzy Osbourne, Tom Petty, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Tom Waits, Philip Glass, Burt Bacharach, Danny Elfman, Quincy Jones, John Williams, Willie Nelson, Dave Brubek, Cindi Lauper, Ziggy Marley, Mary J. Blige, Ravi Shankar and Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens).

The general outline of Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, the battle of Borodino, the burning of Moscow and the interminable, grinding misery of the great retreat are well known. What is much less well known are the background details of the campaign, the orders of battle, the vast efforts which were devoted — in vain — to the logistics, the many actions, great and small, which took place on the flanks of Napoleon's main body, and the dramatic losses suffered by the Grand Armee even in the first few weeks of the advance when many of his corps had not even seen the enemy.

Come feel the cool and shadowed breeze, come smell your way among the trees, come touch rough bark and leathered leaves: Welcome to the night. Welcome to the night, where mice stir and furry moths flutter. Where snails spiral into shells as orb spiders circle in silk. Where the roots of oak trees recover and repair from their time in the light. Where the porcupette eats delicacies — raspberry leaves — and coos and sings. Come out to the cool, night wood, and buzz and hoot and howl — but do beware of the great horned owl — for it's wild and it's windy way out in the woods!

In this urgent new book, Noam Chomsky surveys the threats and prospects of our early twenty-first century. Exploring challenges such as the growing gap between North and South, American exceptionalism (even under Obama), the fiascos of Iraq and Afghanistan, the Israeli assault on Gaza and the recent financial bailouts, he also sees hope for the future and a way to move forward — in the so-called democratic wave in Latin America and in the global solidarity movements which suggest 'real progress towards freedom and justice'.

A new biography of Lewis Carroll, just in time for the release of Tim Burton's all-star Alice in Wonderland Lewis Carroll was brilliant, secretive and self contradictory. He reveled in double meanings and puzzles, in his fiction and his life. Jenny Woolf's The Mystery of Lewis Carroll shines a new light on the creator of Alice In Wonderland and brings to life this fascinating, but sometimes exasperating human being whom some have tried to hide. Using rarely-seen and recently discovered sources, such as Carroll's accounts ledger and unpublished correspondence with the real Alice's family, Woolf sets Lewis Carroll firmly in the context of the English Victorian age and answers many intriguing questions about the man who wrote the Alice books, such as: — Was it Alice or her older sister that caused him to break with the Liddell family? — How true is the gossip about pedophilia and certain adult women that followed him? — How true is the romantic secret which many think ruined Carroll's personal life? — Who caused Carroll major financial trouble and why did Carroll successfully conceal that person's identity and actions? Woolf answers these and other questions to bring readers yet another look at one of the most elusive English writers the world has known.

Don't you dare laugh. Andy Riley's hilariously morbid cartoons of cute little rabbits creatively offing themselves decorate the yellow coves of this standard-sized, wide-ruled composition notebook.

Our Composition Books are a modern statement on a writing tradition. Its durable construction and lined pages are great for academic assignments, notes or daily journal entries. Conversion tables and other helpful information can be found on the inside covers. It also features a removable no-residue label that let's you decide whether or not to keep the classic-look.

Our Composition Books are a modern statement on a writing tradition. Its durable construction and lined pages are great for academic assignments, notes or daily journal entries. Conversion tables and other helpful information can be found on the inside covers. It also features a removable no-residue label that let's you decide whether or not to keep the classic-look.

A female broad-tailed hummingbird, frozen in flight, dips her beak into a pink blossom in this photo by Tim Fitzharris. This small wire-bound journal allows you to turn the covers to the back, leaving a single new page on top for a very compact writing space. Just 4 x 5 1/4 inches closed (or with the cover turned back), it features thin-ruled pages (about five to the inch) and an elastic closure band.

The two stories in this exciting novella follow the adventures of the intrepid young Viking Odd. As a brave and solitary twelve-year-old, in the first tale, he endeavours to free three Norse Gods trapped in the bodies of an eagle, a bear and a fox; then, in the second, a few years older, taller and stronger he sets off on a testing and epic journey to the Holy City of Jerusalem. But of course with Neil Gaiman's wit and style the stories transcend the normal and become humorous, rich and layered tales of a life lived courageously.

This is a landmark reassessment of the Second World War, of its origins and prosecution. It looks set to become the definitive single-volume military history. In this major new history, Gordon Corrigan argues that what we call the Second World War was in fact two separate conflicts: one against Germany (and, for a while, Italy) in Western Europe, Soviet Russia and North Africa; the other against Japan in the Far East and Pacific. Each conflict had distinct causes and had to be fought in different ways against very different enemies, who rarely, if ever, coordinated their efforts. This is a new and cogent account of an immense, exhausting six-year conflict that continues to fascinate. Corrigan examines the agendas of the warring nations and offers fresh and vivid interpretations; Britain's own part in the war comes in for particularly close scrutiny: militarily, the British suffered an agonising series of defeats before the tide turned. The country emerged economically broken, with the loss of her empire a virtual certainty. The Second World War is vast in its erudition and epic in its execution. It will change forever the way we think about the titanic conflicts that dominated the years 1939 to 1945. It is suitable for fans of Gordon Corrigan's Mud, Blood and Poppycock and Blood, Sweat and Arrogance, and Andrew Roberts' The Storm of War, as well as Anthony Beevor, Max Hastings, and Richard Holmes.