Frances Lincoln

This book presents the best garden designs of the last five years from more than 50 top garden designers. It offers design solutions for every situation, every area, all tastes and budgets, and any size of garden. It draws on the talents of celebrated designers such as Tom Stuart Smith, Luciano Giubbilei, Cleve West, Dan Pearson and Joe Swift. It also showcases the work of lesser-known designers whose innovating designs deserve wider recognition. The process of garden design requires many thousands of small decisions in the pursuit of the most appealing solutions for outdoor spaces. But this book makes the complex process simpler by offering ample choices of contemporary design for you to explore what's possible, what's practical and what's affordable. Comprising garden rooms, ornamental details, styles and planting ideas, this book will appeal to every forward-looking garden owner, whether they manage a small or medium sized garden, a roof terrace, balcony or courtyard space. It offers cutting edge solutions for those seeking an entirely new look as well as key details that can make all the difference.

Mick and Brita tell the story of the Beatles in the vivid and exciting way which has become the hall mark of their books. The story begins... John Lennon's Liverpool childhood with Auntie Mimi, and his school band The Quarrymen; the friendships with Paul McCartney and George Harrison, and their entry into the band; renaming the band The Beatles; the arrival of Brian Epstein as manager; the tour to Hamburg; record label boss George Martin becomes an important influence; Ringo Starr joins the group; fame and screaming fans; the famous tour to the USA; the making of the albums, key hit songs and films; the later years, with the influence of Indian spirituality after their visit to India, and finally the break-up of the band and the beginning of solo careers for the Fab Four.

William Burges (1827-81) was arguably the greatest of all Victorian architects. But he was more than just the creator of a modest number of fabulous, and fabulously expensive, buildings. He dreamed of hundreds more, designed dozens, and in addition created some of the most remarkable furniture and jewellery of all time. He was an art-architect. Rich, clever, well connected and short lived, he was uncompromising, profoundly learned, skilled in every process of design and explosively inventive. A brilliant talker, pungent critic and hilarious companion, he was one of Victorian London's great eccentrics and networkers, though he was bewitched by the Middle Ages. The great buildings that he completed include Cork Cathedral, Cardiff Castle and the even more eccentric Castell Coch, the great Yorkshire churches of Skelton and Studley Royal, the magnificent country houses of Knightshayes in Devon, and Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute, and his own astonishing Tower House in Kensington. His furniture, fabric and jewellery designs and his unrealised projects were also hugely influential, and the former are now enthusiastically collected. This book was a landmark in Victorian studies when first published in 1981 and is now completely revised and re-illustrated substantially in colour.

Portraits of 40 majestic models The best-selling Beautiful... series has seen a plethora of handsome thoroughbreds step into the spotlight to have their looks preserved for posterity. Now our leading portrait photographer focuses his lens on beasts of an altogether different nature. Beautiful Tractors presents a fabulous variety box of the world's most magnificent agricultural machines, each primed, polished, and gleaming in all its robust glory. Stylishly lit against a studio backdrop, these superb photographs of vintage and modern masterpieces make for an impressive line-up of engineering prowess. Each photograph is accompanied by a directory, offering information on the machine's history, production and distribution, use, and, of course, size. From the elegant early Titan (oddly reminiscent of Stephenson's Rocket) to the classic 'big red tractor' looks of the prosaically named Allis-Chalmers 'Model U', there's plenty here to stir the senses, whether you're a bona fide petrol head or simply nostalgic for a simpler world in which a straightforward piece of farm machinery could also be a feast for the eyes.

The Alhambra palace complex is imposingly situated above the town of Granada, on the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada, southern Spain. It is the most important surviving medieval Islamic palace in the world. Michael Jacobs takes a fresh look at this magical palace-fortress, built by the Muslim Nasrid rulers and the potent mythology that has grown up around it. The heart of the book is a tour of the palace and the adjoining gardens of the Generalife. The final chapter assesses the literature, art and architecture inspired by this legendary place.

The RHS Wild in the Garden Diary 2014 celebrates British wildlife. It is illustrated with photographs of birds, mammals, amphibians and insects that may be found in gardens, plus tips on how to manage your garden to enhance the wildlife potential and thereby add interest and enjoyment. Illustrated with full colour photographs this week-to-view diary includes an internal storage pocket and ribbon marker.

This is an anthology of short diary entries (with the occasional journal entry or letter), one or two for each day of the year, which, taken together, will provide an impressionistic portrait of life in the city over the last five centuries. The book will vividly evoke moments in the lives of Londoners in the past, providing snapshots of the city's inhabitants at work, at play, in pursuit of money, sex, entertainment, pleasure and power. A prefect book for readers of The Assassin's Cloak or Craig Taylor's Londoners, and essential reading for all those who live in or love the city.

Cats are the most enigmatic and alluring of domestic animals. Beguiling beauty, fierce independence and aloof intelligence characterize their long and exotic history. The Grace of the Cat is a celebration of this captivating animal and a moving account of the feline's journey from the wild to a comfortable domestic existence. In this beautifully illustrated book, Tamsin Pickeral traces the colourful and tumultuous history of the cat, from its glory days in Egypt to its transport on creaking ships to America. She explores the diverse role of the cat in each culture, culminating in the origins of cat shows, and the selective breeding of pure bred, pedigree animals. Inside this richly illustrated book you will discover the stories behind more than fifty breeds of cat, from the lithe-bodied Abyssinian to the intelligent Russian Blue, and from the graceful, long-haired Balinese to the lop-eared Scottish Fold. The evocative and informative text is accompanied by stunning photographs of every featured breed by award-winning photographer Astrid Harrisson. Her breathtaking images capture the many facets of what makes a cat a cat-its elegance, spirit and wit. The Grace of the Cat is an essential volume for everyone who loves cats.

As weird and wonderful as Escape from Mercy Hall and Secrets of Mercy Hall, the final book in the trilogy see the children back behind the Hedge again, this time on a rescue mission. Where is the lever to the Hedge? Shouted Jethro Barking as he towered over them! I'll feed you to the sharks, I'll hang you by your feet, I'll give you to the Muttons, one by one 'till you tell me. So ended Secrets of Mercy Hall. Now, Digby, one of the orphans, has gone missing after visiting a travelling circus. Whilst investigating behind the scenes Milly, Singer and Charlie discover a sinister secret. Minlings from behind the Hedge are caged and ready to be displayed in the circus freak show. The worst has happened — Jethro Barking, or Old Barking Mad, has finally escaped and is selling everything he can, gold, diamonds and Minlings! Aided by their old friends, Drago, and Batty the Tick-Tock bird, the children use powers gained in the Rainbow Cave to outwit Old Barking Mad and finally solve the mystery of the Hedge forever.

This weird and wonderful tale follows the exploits of eight year old Milly, and nine year old George and Samuel, as they escape from the grey world of a Victorian orphanage into a land of curious and unsettling modernity.

In ad 79, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and rock, and leaving them remarkably well preserved for centuries. While Pompeii has been extensively written about and popularized, the remains of its sister city, a smaller yet wealthier community close to the sea, are less widely known, but they have yielded spectacular archaeological evidence. This is the first major study of Herculaneum since that of Joseph Jay Deiss, published in 1966 and last revised in 1993. And in any language there have only ever been a handful of books available, mostly guidebooks and exhibition catalogues. Herculaneum is based on the latest excavation work and incorporates much new material that has revolutionized our understanding of the site. The book draws on a decade's work with the Herculaneum Conservation Project which, thanks to the Packard Humanities Institute, has begun to reverse the neglect of previous years which had reduced this extraordinary site to a critical condition. Illustrated with more than 300 newly taken colour photographs and archive illustrations, plus eight spectacular 360-degree panoramas, it is the definitive overview for the general public of what we know and understand about Herculaneum, of what is still unknown and mysterious, and of the potential for future discoveries in both archaeological and political contexts.

The great houses of London represent one of the marvels of English architecture and yet they are almost entirely unknown. They are for the most part disguised behind sober facades but their riches within are astonishing. This book will range from the romantic 17th century Ashburnham House, nestling in the shadow of Westminster Abbey, through the splendid 18th century aristocratic palaces of the West End, to the curious and quirky arts and crafts houses of Holland Park and Kensington, to the cool modernist houses of Hampstead and the exuberant post-modern interiors of the last thirty years. Every house has its own story to tell. This might be the colourful history of the occupants (such as the Duke of Wellington entertaining ladies at Apsley House), the great art collections they held (the Titians at Bridgewater House or Sam Courtauld's Impressionist paintings at Home House), or the architectural wonders of William Kent's 44 Berkeley Square and Burges's Tower House in Melbury Road. The book promises to be a great revelation.

This book recounts the architectural and social history of this era, describing the clients, architects, styles and accoutrements of the country houses built in Britain between 1890 and 1939.

“Any creature who gets changed after passing through the Rainbow Cave is sentenced to death by pegging out,” said Drago soberly. “They are simply chained out in the fields and when the evening comes the Muttons appear and eat everything in sight.” In trouble again with the unpopular headmaster of Mercy Hall, Jethro Barking, Milly escapes from the orphanage with the help of her friends George and Samuel, and sets out to find her lost older brother, Tom. Little did any of them expect to be bundled through a thorn hedge by shadowy figures, into a strange land of Muttons (flesh-eating sheep), and forbidden Changelings. Finding Drago, a slave dog, staked out and at the mercy of the Muttons, they save him. In doing so they learn about the mysterious Rainbow Cave and the strange people, called the Robes, who control the cave and the glowing city beyond. Aided by Drago, and Batty the Tick-Tock bird, the children travel through the Rainbow Cave itself and discover the Dome, an enormous electro-magnetic power generator, worked by slaves kidnapped from their own world. Can the children escape? Can they help the slaves escape? And are they now changelings themselves?

A colourful snail asks you to help him look for his favourite painting. Follow his silver trail through a selection of famous modern paintings by an exciting range of modern artists including Pollock, Rothko, Mondrian, Dali, Picasso and Matisse in search of a piece of art that represents him.

This beautiful book is a collection of poetry from all around the world, illustrated by some of the finest picture book artists working today including Peter Sis, Children's Laureate Anthony Browne and Quentin Blake. Produced by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), this is a poignant and uplifting book to treasure, inspire and educate.

Captain Pugwash is delighted at the prospect of earning five hundred golden crowns for smuggling barrels of brandy across the English Channel. But little does he suspect what is really inside the barrels! Luckily Tom the quick-witted cabin-boy uncovers Cut-throat Jake's dastardly plot and not only saves the day, but secures the Captain's reward as well!

In AD 79, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, burying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under ash and rock, and leaving them remarkably well preserved for centuries. While Pompeii has been extensively written about and popularized, the remains of its sister city, a smaller yet wealthier community close to the sea, are less widely known, but they have yielded spectacular archaeological evidence. This is the first major study of Herculaneum since Joseph Jay Deiss's book, published in 1966 and last revised in 1993. And in any language there have only ever been a handful of books available, mostly guidebooks and exhibition catalogues. It is based on the latest excavation work and incorporates much new material that has revolutionized our understanding of the site. Illustrated with more then 300 newly taken colour photographs and archive illustrations, it is the definitive overview for the general public of what we know and understand about Herculaneum, of what is still unknown and mysterious, and of the potential for future discoveries in both archaeological and political contexts.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti is the most intriguing and flamboyant figure in nineteenth-century British art. He inspired the first Pre-Raphaelite generation of 1849 and the second generation ten years later and both brought about significant changes in British art. His poetry, too, acted as a stimulus to many writers at the end of the century, who saw in his subtle manipulation of the sonnet and the ballad forms ways of giving expression to issues that were peculiar to the that century. Dominant among those issues was that of sexual desire, for Rossetti, more than any other artist in this period, struggled with the contradictions of sexuality. When he died in 1882 people knew of him as the painter of alluring women with exotic names — Lilith, Monna Vanna, Fiammetta — and the writer of subtly erotic verse. He projected onto women his anxieties, his pleasures and his needs. He also mythologized them, so that Elizabeth Siddal, Fanny Cornforth, Jane Morris and others became for him Beatrice, Guenevere, and Isolde. In doing so he shaped them, he changed the direction of their lives, and in some cases he both made and destroyed them. This richly illustrated book, by tracing the development of Rossetti's painting and poetry in the context of the drama of his life, follows this powerful thread. Sometimes sensual, at others spiritual, Rossetti's mission was to transcend the Manichean division that separated body and soul and, through the visionary power of art, reconcile what he saw as elements fundamental to human experience.

'No other city has the variety of hairstyles male and female that parade the streets of London. The bouffant, the duck arse, the white wings of power swept over the ears, the coxcomb punk, the flat top, the social outrider's bowl cut. They're all there to make a place. In respect of the hair of the 80s, the rest of the world was dead from the neck up.' Buy a 35 mm camera at the beginning of 1980 and spend the next 10 years walking around London taking half a roll of black and white a day and photograph whatever happens in front of you. You get Mick Jagger, New Romantics, ra-ra skirts, Boy George, Sloane Rangers. The beginning of Covent Garden, yuppies, the IRA bombings, the Iranian Embassy siege. Hundreds of headlines — John Lennon Shot Dead, Royal Romance: Andrew To Wed. Margaret Thatcher's London, fashions that came and went. Here are 160 unique street photographs of London when it was the style, musical, political and fashion capital of the world.

This entertaining collection of rhymes explores counting backwards, counting in twos, and counting numbers beyond 10. From 'Five Little Monkeys' and 'Ten in a Bed' to 'One, two, buckle my shoe' and 'One hundred bees round a hive', these rhymes provide a rich range of enjoyable opportunities to familiarise children with ways of manipulating numbers. An introduction, 'Cracking the Code', discusses ways of learning to count and use numbers beyond 10 — tens and teens — thus providing a useful help for adults. Collected by a highly reputable early years educationalist with the clear aim of developing early number skills, these rhymes are vividly illustrated by an exciting new talent in children's picture books. This is a book that no foundation stage class should be with out.

Find out about all things British in this unusual alphabet picture book. A is for Arthur, B is for Beatles… this innovative new picture book delight looks at some of the things that give the UK its vibrant and unique cultural identity.

Since the mid-1990s an exciting building project has been underway, new cancer caring centres that offer a fresh approach in architecture and health. Named after Maggie Keswick and co-founded with her husband, the writer and landscape designer Charles Jencks, these centres aim to be at all the major British hospitals that treat cancer. Already six have been completed and six more are in the pipeline. Starting in Scotland, where the first were built, they have implications well beyond their modest size and origins. Complementary to the large hospital, and huge National Health Service, they present a face that is welcoming, risk-taking, aesthetic and spiritual; and with their commitment to the other arts, including landscape, they bring in the full panoply of constructive means. Basically they are a new mixed building type for healing that has several roots in the past. As Jencks and Heathcote show this hybrid quality is a response to the condition of cancer, its myriad causes and bewildering number of possible therapies. The architecture of hope is this new hybrid genre emerging with Maggie Centres, and a multiple metaphor that corresponds in kind to the many different types of cancer and their various treatments. Such caring centres, offering psychological, social and informational guidance, will inevitably grow in the future with an aging population, and cover the myriad of chronic problems such as heart disease. Because the genome project increases choice of treatment, cancer caring centres are a model for what may soon become a standard building type. The Centres have been designed by well known architects Richard Murphy, Page and Park, Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Richard Rogers. Further projects underway include buildings by Richard MacCormac, the late Kisho Kurokawa, Piers Gough, Foreign Office Architects, Wilkenson & Eyre and Rem Koolhaas. Almost all of these architects were close friends of the architectural critic Charles Jencks and his late wife Maggie, whose vision was the initial inspiration. This close friendship and commitment helps explain the somewhat unusual choice of designers. But the Centres are committed first to helping cancer sufferers help themselves, to inspiring carers to care more, and secondly to architecture. The allegiance of arts and building in the perennial struggle with cancer leads to the architecture of hope. As patients walk into a Centre after a diagnosis, or an enervating treatment, often disoriented and losing self-confidence, they enter another world which acknowledges their importance and operates on a basic condition that may become prevalent: living with cancer and not losing hope.

A patio offers all sorts of possibilities: a place for sitting out or entertaining, a place for retreat or a party, a place to enjoy plants. Almost any garden, however small, can accommodate a patio and this book tells you how you can have one.Considering the range of possible styles and all the practical options, Andi Clevely helps you lay first your plans and then your patio, whether it be paved with stone, decked with timber or adorned with pebbles. Ideas for lighting, furniture, heating and eating help you turn the structure into an inviting outdoor room. He then describes suitable plants for different situations and to create different moods – cool and refreshing white and silver plants for sunny sites, foliage plants for shade, tropical plants for an exotic feel – showing the variety of ways in which plants in beds, crevices or containers can complete a patio by providing it with structure, colour, texture and seasonal change.