HarperCollins Publishers

The second book of a new story arc in the «New York Times» — bestselling Vampire Diaries series.

Can the secrets of one woman's past change another woman's future? Cate is a gifted young artist who survives in New York by producing remarkable copies of Old Masters.She arrives in London to stay with her aunt Rachel who owns an auction house, determined to leave the pain of her past behind. Cate is sent to Devon with Rachel's colleague Jack to value the contents of Endsleigh, the grand Georgian home of a former socialite. But inside, its once elegant interiors are now worn with age and dust. Then Cate discovers hidden in the back of one of the bookshelves, an old shoebox containing an exquisite pair of silk dancing shoes from the 1930's along with a mysterious collection of objects — a diamond brooch, a photograph of a handsome young sailor, a dance card, and a beautiful pearl and emerald bracelet from Tiffany's. Unable to solve the questions in her own life, Cate quickly becomes engaged in solving the mystery of the shoe box and begins to unravel the story of Baby Blythe; bright, beautiful and reckless, she was the most famous debutante of her generation. The clues in the box reveal a tale of a dark, addictive love, a tale that will lead Cate to uncover some secrets of her own. A timeless novel from the bestselling author of Elegance.

Matt Ridley, acclaimed author of the classics 'Genome' and 'Nature via Nurture', turns from investigating human nature to investigating human progress. In 'The Rational Optimist' Ridley offers a counterblast to the prevailing pessimism of our age, and proves, however much we like to think to the contrary, that things are getting better. Over 10,000 years ago there were fewer than 10 million people on the planet. Today there are more than 6 billion, 99 per cent of whom are better fed, better sheltered, better entertained and better protected against disease than their Stone Age ancestors. The availability of almost everything a person could want or need has been going erratically upwards for 10,000 years and has rapidly accelerated over the last 200 years: calories; vitamins; clean water; machines; privacy; the means to travel faster than we can run, and the ability to communicate over longer distances than we can shout. Yet, bizarrely, however much things improve from the way they were before, people still cling to the belief that the future will be nothing but disastrous. In this original, optimistic book, Matt Ridley puts forward his surprisingly simple answer to how humans progress, arguing that we progress when we trade and we only really trade productively when we trust each other. 'The Rational Optimist' will do for economics what 'Genome' did for genomics and will show that the answer to our problems, imagined or real, is to keep on doing what we've been doing for 10,000 years — to keep on changing.

Meet Carrie Bradshaw before 'Sex and the City!' The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation. Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small town girl who knew she wanted more. She's ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend's betrayal makes her question everything. With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself, and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Readers will learn about her family background, how she found her writing voice, and the indelible impression her early friendships and relationships left on her. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we'll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

The warm and wonderful new novel from the natural heir to Maeve Binchy Eleanor Levine left Ireland seventy years ago with little more than a suitcase and her mother's handwritten recipe book. Now, a lifetime later, she's returning from New York with hard won wisdom and memories of her own. A renowned psychoanalyst, Eleanor knows there's one final journey she has to make! Lovely young actress Megan Bouchier didn't have to chase success — it arrived effortlessly. Fame was what she always wanted until a disastrous affair made her the wrong kind of headlines — now Megan needs a place to hide! Darkly beautiful Rae is a wonderful wife, a loyal friend and a dedicated community carer. From Titania's Tea Rooms she dispenses tea and sympathy to everyone — until a painful secret from her past threatens everything she holds dear. Big-hearted teacher Connie O'Callaghan has given up on love. She's cheerfully approaching forty and besides, why does no man ever match the heroes in her beloved romantic novels? As Eleanor re-reads her mother's comforting words and watches life unfold from her window in Dublin's pretty Golden Square, she slowly becomes drawn into the lives of Megan, Rae and Connie. But can treasured wisdom handed down from mother to daughter really be relevant today? And what are the ingredients for a life well lived?

The perfect guide for those looking to improve their English grammar for use in the workplace. If you use English on a regular basis, but you feel you need to brush up a little on your grammar, Collins' new Business Grammar and Practice is the perfect solution. Well-known EFL experts Nick Brieger and Simon Sweeney guide the user through 72 short, succinct units to explain the structure of the English language. They provide examples of real usage, explanations and then practice exercises to cement your understanding. All of the sample sentences are taken from the COBUILD corpus, ensuring that users don't learn traditional, theoretical language, but rather, they come to understand real, useful, everyday expressions. Aimed specifically at the business learner, the vocabulary and structures used are a reflection of the English that is used in the business world around the globe today. Work through the book from start to finish, or pick and choose the topics of most interest to you.

The perfect guide for those looking to improve their English grammar for use in the workplace. If you use English on a regular basis, but you feel you need to brush up a little on your grammar, Collins' new Business Grammar and Practice is the perfect solution. Well-known EFL experts Nick Brieger and Simon Sweeney guide the user through 72 short, succinct units to explain the structure of the English language. They provide examples of real usage, explanations and then practice exercises to cement your understanding. All of the sample sentences are taken from the COBUILD corpus, ensuring that users don't learn traditional, theoretical language, but rather, they come to understand real, useful, everyday expressions. Aimed specifically at the business learner, the vocabulary and structures used are a reflection of the English that is used in the business world around the globe today. Work through the book from start to finish, or pick and choose the topics of most interest to you.

The perfect guide for those looking to improve their written English for use in the workplace. Collins' new Business Skills: Speaking guide features the language you really need to communicate — not the language you always meet in books.

The first volume in the hugely popular and highly acclaimed epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. There is passion here, and misery and charm, grandeur and squalor, tragedy, nobility and courage. Now a major HBO TV series. During Spring 2011, the first volume of George R Martin's glorious high fantasy will be aired as an HBO series on Sky in the UK. Martin unfolds with astonishing skill a tale of truly epic dimensions, thronged with memorable characters, a story of treachery and ambition, love and magic. Set in a fabulous world scarred by battle and catastrophe over 8000 years of recorded history, it tells of the deeds of men and women locked in the deadliest of conflicts and the terrible legacy they will leave their children. In the game of thrones, you win or you die.

Opportunities multiply as they are seized. Written in the 6th century BC, Sun Tzu‘s The Art of War is a Chinese military treatise that is still revered today as the ultimate commentary on war and military strategy. Focussing on the principle that one can outsmart your foe mentally by thinking very carefully about strategy before resorting to physical battle, this philosophy continues to be applied to the corporate and business world. Words that are as resonant today in every aspect of our lives as they were when he wrote them.

Deep in the forest a call was sounding, and he felt compelled to turn his back upon the fire, and to plunge into the forest. Half St. Bernard, half sheepdog, Buck is stolen away from his comfortable life as a pet in California and sold to dog traders. He soon finds himself aboard a ship, on its way to Northern Canada. Surrounded by cruelty, Buck's natural instincts and behaviour begin to emerge as he works as a mail carrying sled dog, scavenging for food, protecting himself against other dogs and sleeping out in the cold snow. Sold to a group of American gold hunters who are inexperienced living in the wilderness, the dogs are treated badly and as misfortune besets them, Buck is saved by John Thornton. Indebted to his new master, Buck remains by Thornton's side, saving him from drowning and protecting him with fierce loyalty throughout their time together. However, Buck can not deny the strong lure of the wilderness around him. Exciting and action-packed, THE CALL OF THE WILD explores the timeless relationship between man and dog, and the inevitable draw of primitive instincts that pull Buck away from civilization and humanity towards the lawless and harsh wilderness.

Whether Owl is inviting Winter in on a snowy night or welcoming a new friend he meets while on a stroll, Owl always has room for visitors!

'Captivate, kill or destroy the whole force of the enemy' was the order given to the American soldiers. THE FORT is the blistering new novel from worldwide bestseller Bernard Cornwell. Summer 1779. Seven hundred and fifty British soldiers and three small ships of the Royal Navy. Their orders: to build a fort above a harbour to create a base from which to control the New England seaboard. Forty-one American ships and over nine hundred men. Their orders: to expel the British. The battle that followed was a classic example of how the best-laid plans can be disrupted by personality and politics, and of how warfare can bring out both the best and worst in men. It is a timeless tale of men at war, written by a master storyteller.

The perfect skills-based preparation book for the IELTS exam. This book has been specially created for foreign learners of English who plan to take the IELTS exam to demonstrate that they have the required ability to communicate effectively in English, either at work or at university.

Clearly and attractively presented, this reissue of the second edition of the Collins COBUILD Elementary English Grammar offers pre-intermediate learners of English a firm foundation in the principles of English Grammar. The second edition of the Collins COBUILD Elementary English Grammar has been written for pre-intermediate to intermediate learners of English in order to provide them with a sound understanding of the basics of English Grammar. The reference material is attractively presented on the left-hand pages, with useful and challenging exercises on the right-hand pages, serving as reinforcement. Examples from the Bank of English have been used to illustrate the patterns shown, common phrases have been identified and highlighted, and additional help is offered for spelling and pronunciation. Hundreds of specially-drawn cartoons vividly illustrate the grammatical points being made. Logically organized and attractively presented, the Collins COBUILD Elementary Enlglish Grammar offers learners of English all the help they need when starting to study English Grammar.

This reissue of the second edition of the Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs offers comprehensive coverage of the most important phrasal verbs in English. With up-to-date coverage of thousands of phrasal verbs, the Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs offers learners of English detailed help with this difficult language area. Thousands of examples of real English from the Bank of English provide essential guidance on context and usage. It also includes additional help with pronunciation and stress, and special labelling of core phrasal verbs. Attractively presented, the Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs is invaluable for all learners of English wishing to gain a fuller understanding of phrasal verbs and use them more effectively.

This reissue of the second edition of the Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Idioms offers in-depth treatment of the most important idioms in current British and American English. The Dictionary of Idioms offers in-depth coverage of the most important idioms in English, and provides additional information about their frequency, contexts, meanings, and usage. Thousands of examples from the Bank of English have been used to illustrate clearly how the idioms are used in the language today. New to this edition is fascinating information about the origins of hundreds of idioms, essential for learners wishing to gain a fuller understanding of the language. Clearly laid-out and easy-to-use, the Collins COBUILD Dictionary of Idioms will prove to be fascinating and invaluable to teachers and learners of English at all levels.

The Collins COBUILD Key Words for IELTS series is a brand-new range of three graded books which contain the essential vocabulary students need to succeed in the IELTS exam. These books have been specially created for foreign learners of English who plan to take the IELTS exam to demonstrate that they have the required ability to communicate effectively in English, either at work or at university. Collins COBUILD Key Words for IELTS: Book 3 Advanced is the final book, and builds on Key Words for IELTS: Book 2 Improver to deliver the essential vocabulary students need to succeed in the IELTS exam. Book 3 Advanced covers the harder vocabulary that may appear in the exam, and that students may need to master to achieve the scores required by the top universities and employers. These vocabulary books are unique in that the vocabulary items are organized alphabetically, in a dictionary style, and words are clearly labelled according to topic. Hundreds of vocabulary-building features, synonyms, phrases and collocations help students to enrich their vocabulary and increase their accuracy and fluency. Key words from the Academic Word List are also covered. To help students consolidate what they have learnt, the title also includes a thematic vword list section, organized according to topics that frequently appear in the IELTS exams. Vocabulary items are explained using simple language and are presented in a clear and easy-to-use format, which makes the Collins COBUILD Key Words for IELTS series ideal for students who are preparing for IELTS. Students can feel confident that the Collins COBUILD Key Words for IELTS series will fully prepare them for the exam and help them achieve the score they are aiming for.

A fascinating exploration of the contents of Agatha Christie's 73 recently discovered notebooks, including illustrations, deleted extracts, and two unpublished Poirot stories. When Agatha Christie died in 1976, aged 85, she had become the world's most popular author. With sales of more than two billion copies worldwide, she had achieved the impossible — more than one book every year since the 1920s, every one a bestseller. So prolific was her output, it was even claimed that Agatha must have a photographic memory. Was this true? Or did she resort over those 55 years to more mundane methods of planning her ingenious crimes? Following the death of Agatha's daughter, Rosalind, at the end of 2004, a remarkable legacy was revealed. Unearthed among her affairs at the family home of Greenway were Agatha Christie's private notebooks, 73 handwritten volumes which, though known about for years, had been largely ignored, probably because Agatha's unmistakable handwriting was so hard to read. But when archivist John Curran began deciphering the notebooks, the extent of this treasure trove became apparent! This book lifts the lid on Agatha Christie's biggest secret — how her pencilled notes, lists and drafts led to her many successful books, plays and stories. Alternative plots, titles and characters, deleted scenes, even her plans for the books she didn't get to write — John Curran's investigation reveals a wealth of unpublished material, including two complete Hercule Poirot short stories never before published: The Incident of the Dog's Ball and the unseen thirteenth Labour of Hercules!

With the launch of the most exciting Narnia film yet, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, we publish a beautiful tie-in edition of the entire Chronicles of Narnia. Relive the magic with the entire seven novels in one beautiful and great value volume.

The fairytale ending was just the beginning...Avon's hot new acquisition presents a tale of princes who turn out to be frogs, Manolo Blahnik glass slippers and not-so-happily-ever-afters! Jessie Woods absolutely believes in fairytale endings. So would you if you had a recession-proof career as a daredevil TV host, a palatial pink mansion, and the dream boyfriend. But, quicker than you can say Cinderella, her life falls to pieces and suddenly her prince isn't quite so charming, her party-loving friends disappear and even her faithful friend Visa no longer loves her! Utterly heartbroken and jobless, Jessie is forced back home, to live with her stepmum and two evil stepsisters. Is it time for her to give up on the dream — or will Jessie learn that happy endings can come in the strangest of places?

Forget the Government's Citizenship Test — this is the real measure of Britishness. With a wealth of brand-new material that will bring a smile of recognition to even the stiffest of upper lips, Iain Aitch brings us even more explorations of innate Britishness. Continuing in the snappy A-Z format, Iain Aitch brings us all things uniquely British, whether it's our love of fish and chips, our high regard for James Bond or the red telephone box, everything you've ever regarded as being inimitably British is contained within these pages. Test your knowledge of Britain and what it means to be British by answering the multiple choice questions at the end of the book. What kind of peas are used to make mushy peas? What were the last words of Admiral Lord Nelson? What exactly is Readers' Wives? Were you paying attention? With more style than Jarvis Cocker's moves and more pomp than Elgar's masterpiece, this is a celebration of all that is truly glorious about good old Blighty. A book for the entire British population — Northerner, Southerner, and even tourist and immigrant alike — this is the perfect read for someone seeking a truly British experience.

Alt rock, grunge, gangster rap, pop: the '90s were one of the most dynamic and diverse decades in music history. In this gorgeous 4-color book, the editors of Rolling Stone take us through the last decade of the twentieth century: From The Backstreet Boys to the Beastie Boys. The '90s offers an unforgettable portrait of the decade that rocked.

Organized to encourage creativity, serendipitous discovery, and inspiration, The New Big Book of Layouts includes techniques that can be used to enhance any layout design — be it in print or online. It provides insight into the elements that make layouts effective, and covers a range of styles — from traditional to cutting edge — selected to help designers and design students make their work more creative, more readable, and more visually engaging for an audience. With more than 750 outstanding layouts featured in a robust visual gallery with detailed descriptive information and design analyses, this book provides a thorough look at what goes into today's most effective layout designs and how designers and design students can improve their work.