Random House Inc.

This is the definitive edition of P.G. Wodehouse's letters, edited with a commentary by Oxford academic Sophie Ratcliffe. The funniest and most adored writer of the twentieth century, P.G. Wodehouse always shied away from the idea of a biography — a retiring sort of chap, he expressed himself through the written word. So his letters — expertly collected and edited here — provide the best biographical accompaniment you could wish for to legendary comic creations such as Jeeves, Wooster, Psmith and the Empress of Blandings. Tapping hitherto unknown sources, these letters give an unrivalled insight into the great man, from his schooldays at Dulwich College, the family's financial reverses which saw his hopes of university dashed, life in New York working in musical comedy alongside Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and George Gershwin, the years of fame as a novelist, and not least the strange episode in 1940 where he was interned by the Germans and accused of broadcasting pro-Nazi propaganda. It is a book every lover of Wodehouse will want to possess.

While the Coast Guard is preparing Pensacola Beach for a severe hurricane, they find an oversized fishing cooler filled with body parts tightly wrapped in plastic floating offshore. Special Agent Maggie O'Dell is sent to investigate, despite the fact that she is putting herself in the projected path of the hurricane. She's able to trace the torso in the cooler back to a man who mysteriously disappeared weeks earlier after a hurricane hit the Atlantic coast of Florida. How did his body end up six hundred miles away in the Gulf of Mexico? Using her signature keen instincts and fearless investigating, O'Dell discovers Florida's seedy underworld and the shady characters who inhabit it. «Damaged» is Alex Kava's most terrifying thriller yet.

A completely revised edition of a best-selling classic, this book lets photographers in on all the secrets of successful, professional glamour photography. It explains how professional photographers achieve their results and how readers of this book can match many of those techniques in their own photography. Jargon-free text discusses lighting equipment needed, whether a digital camera or film should be used, and how to pose models and set up location shots. Filled with hundreds of stunning glamour photographs to highlight the techniques being taught, this book explains every facet of this fascinating, complicated, competitive, yet lucrative genre of photography.

Perfect Letters and Emails for All Occasions is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to get the most out of their written communication. Covering everything from advice on how to write to your MP to tips about 'netiquette' and avoiding offensive blunders, it is a one-stop-shop for anyone who wants their writing to get results. Whether you're sending a reply to a formal invitation or a covering letter for a job application, Perfect Letters and Emails for All Occasions has all you need to make sure you get your message across elegantly and effectively. The Perfect series is a range of practical guides that give clear and straightforward advice on everything from getting your first job to choosing your baby's name. Written by experienced authors offering tried-and-tested tips, each book contains all you need to get it right first time.

An elegy for lost childhood, for a culture and language lost to the turmoil of history, and it is also a glimpse of the source of the writer's delicate, mysterious imagination. By focussing on writing about beautiful things, it takes the poems beyond narrative to these sensual images — given to us in a language that is cursive and exquisite.

From 1892, when he was eighteen, until 1949, when this book was first published, Somerset Maugham kept a notebook. It is without doubt one of his most important works. Part autobiographical, part confessional, packed with observations, confidences, experiments and jottings it is a rich and exhilarating admission into this great writer's workshop.

The internationally heralded author of How Proust Can Change Your Life presents the wisdom of some of the greatest thinkers of the ages as advice for our day-to-day struggles in this remarkable new book. Solace for the broken heart can be found in the words of Schopenhauer. The ancient Greek Epicurus has the wisest, and most affordable, solution to cash-flow problems. A remedy for impotence lies in Montaigne. Seneca offers advice upon losing a job. And Nietzsche has shrewd counsel for everything from loneliness to illness. The Consolations of Philosophy is a book as accessibly erudite as it is useful and entertaining.

Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it's good. MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever. Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister's murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years. What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh — a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds. In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves. Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card? From the luxury of the Lord Master's penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac's journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world... or destroy it.

In this sweeping cultural history, Solomon Volkov effortlessly unwinds the twisted relationship between art and the royal family from the rise of the Romanovs in 1613 to their downfall in 1917. Throughout the Romanov dynasty, Russia's great artists served two masters: their craft and their tsar. Now, Volkov illuminates as never before the complex system of patronage and loyalty that bound the artists to the monarchs, and vice versa. He explains how Pushkin, the rebellious poet, was suffered by — and then suffered under — Alexander I; he explores why Nicholas I never embraced Gogol, in spite of the writer's outspoken nationalism; we see how Dostoevsky — the last great literary defender of the monarchy — was won over to the tsarist cause after Alexander II released the writer from prison in Siberia; and how composers such as Glinka and Tchaikovsky, and painters including Ivanov and Briullov, navigated the royal court. Romanov Riches is a work of epic scale in which the individual comes vividly to life. It is an essential work that helps us grasp Russia's passionate, and timeless, devotion to its most important artists.

Well, it just gets worse and worse doesn't it? Collapsing banks, collapsing countries, massive government cuts, rising debt, inflation and the possibility of a double dip. It's amid all this uncertainty that the already embattled modern woman needs the best advice she can get about how to be as cool and calm in life as possible. Keep Calm for Ladies offers the same pearls of life wisdom, inspirational quotes, proverbs and mantras as Keep Calm and Carry On but with women at their wits' end in mind. An emergency pocket survival bible for today's plucky female.

Whether you’re a pro looking to update and diversify your portfolio, or an amateur ready to experiment with exacting new styles, you’ll find inspiration and clear how-to in The Portrait Photographer's Lighting Style Guide. Today’s most popular portrait styles are broken down with lighting diagrams and exposure information, as well as the story behind the shot, to create an indispensable reference for anyone interested in creating more up-to-date, professional-style portraits. Inside you’ll find: • Diagrams for lighting 60 portraits in a wide variety of styles • Gear, lens, and exposure information for each shot • Photoshop tutorials for everything from RAW processing to HDR, digital makeovers, and more • Inspiring photographs — including celebrity shots of Angelina Jolie, Samuel L. Jackson, and more—from 11 international photographers.

The tomb of China’s First Emperor, guarded by an underground army of terra-cotta warriors, has remained sealed for more than two thousand years. Though it’s regarded as one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world, the Chinese government won’t allow anyone to open it. Why? That question is at the heart of a dilemma faced by former Justice Department operative Cotton Malone, whose life is shattered when he receives an anonymous note carrying an unfamiliar Web address. Logging on, he sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who’s saved his life more than once, being tortured at the hands of a mysterious man who has a single demand: Bring me the artifact she’s asked you to keep safe. The only problem is, Malone doesn’t have a clue what the man is talking about, since Cassiopeia has left nothing with him. So begins Malone’s most harrowing adventure to date — one that offers up astounding historical revelations, pits him against a ruthless ancient brotherhood, and sends him from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam then on to China, a vast and mysterious land where danger lurks at every turn.

Nothing is more crucial to landing your dream job than a stellar performance in the all-important interview, that nerve-wracking final step to every job search. Extensively updated and revised for today's highly competitive employment market, this compact, concise handbook will prepare you for the most challenging and frequently asked questions you can expect to encounter. Following each question is a list of savvy, can't-miss sample answers, which can be easily modified to reflect your own experience level, skills, and qualifications.

Stuck in a job he doesn't want — but can't afford to lose — as nominal Head of the Communications Department at Fenland University, Wilt is still subject to the whims of The Powers That Be, both in and outside of work. The demands of his snobbish wife Eva, and the stupendous school fees of his despicable quadruplet daughters, cause him the biggest headaches... apart from the hangovers, that is. When Eva signs him up for a summer job, teaching the gun-toting idiot son of a lusty local aristocrat, Wilt is not amused. But, as circumstances unravel and the summer goes on, Wilt sees that the situation could be put to his financial advantage, as well as giving Eva some headaches of her own. With Tom Sharpe's famous dark humour in full evidence, and an explosive plot which takes its readers to places they never realised they wanted to visit, The Wilt Inheritance is another instant classic from the British master of farce.

This title includes over 40 fantastic full-colour stickers and 24 black and white pages — choose your own colours and make the world your own. Imagine you could go anywhere, with anyone and do anything. Where would you live? Where would you sleep? Who would be your friends? What games would you play? Go on... You choose! With the help of Nick Sharratt's wonderful illustrations, Pippa looks at a whole range of scenarios where choosing is made fun.

Nick and Sally are playing hide and seek but Nick's just too good, he always finds Sally wherever she's hiding. Luckily the Cat in the Hat is there to show them how become the best hide and seekers ever! This rhyming adventure is perfect for young first readers who are just learning to recognize words, basic vocabulary and short sentences. The Cat in the Hat knows all about that.

Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded shops, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That's just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they'll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on the street without a rooftop Frosty the snowman; they won't be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren't even going to have a tree. They won't need one, because come December 25 they're setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences-and isn't half as easy as they'd imagined. A classic tale for modern times, Skipping Christmas offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that has become part of our holiday tradition.

Classic short stories that expand the epic Legend of Drizzt! For years, the Legend of Drizzt has included short stories published in Forgotten Realms® anthologies and DragonTM magazine. Collected here for the first time are all the classic stories and one all new tale by The New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore! From the startling origin of Drizzt s panther companion, to the tale of Jarlaxle and Entreri s first encounter with the dragon sisters, the tales in The Collected Stories enrich this epic series, and many are available here for the first time in years.

Christmas 1951, Los Angeles: a city where the police are as crooked as the criminals. Six prisoners are beaten senseless in their cells by cops crazed on alcohol. For the three L. A. P. D. detectives involved, it will expose the guilty secrets on which they have built their corrupt and violent careers.

Join Martha Stewart for a celebration of handcrafted holidays all year-round! New Year’s – Valentine’s Day – Easter – Mother’s Day – Father’s Day – Fourth of July – Halloween – Thanksgiving – Hanukkah – Christmas. Let Martha inspire your creativity with the most beautiful crafts. The 225 handmade projects include cards and greetings, decorations, gifts and gift wrapping, tabletop accents, party favors, and kids’ crafts, as well as more holiday-specific activities, such as egg-dyeing, pumpkin carving, and tree trimming. Each idea is sure to make the holidays more festive — and memorable.

Nigel Hamilton brings all the magisterial authority he brought to his Whitbread-winning biography of Monty, and all the talent for tracking down and verifying hidden, controversial material that he showed in JFK: Reckless Youth, which topped the American bestseller charts for months, in this new biography of Bill Clinton. Born into a 'white trash' family in backwoods, racially segregated Arkansas, he suffered under an alcoholic, violent stepfather, on one occasion having to fight him physically in order to protect his mother. As a youth he would become inspired by the civil rights movement, particularly Martin Luther King, and as a student became a long-haired hippy musician, involved in radical politics and also discovering free love. Hamilton tells the story of how Clinton's sexual and political career developed hand in hand. This is a book about sexual politics on many levels, showing how Clinton's life was formed by changing attitudes. Here is a man who, far from being a sexual predator or exploiter of his position — like JFK — was swept to power because women adored him, whether Democratic party helpers, the women of the American electorate — or indeed Hilary Clinton, whose powerfully manipulative personality is shown to have been vital to his success,. Clinton has been polygamous throughout his adult life, and Hamilton's fascinating portrait of a marriage examines Hilary's relationship with his quite astonishing number of girlfriends. The book also covers his time at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar, his political apprenticeship and his rise to power, culminating in his election as President in '92.

'You want more time Mr Brown, of course you do. We all want more time. Let me make you an offer'... Andrew Brown never has enough time. No time to call his sister, no time to prepare for that important presentation at the bank where he works... The train's late, the lift jams, the all-important meeting's started by the time he arrives. Disaster. If only he'd had just a little more time. Time is the business of Mr Symington and Mr Blenkinsop. They'll lend Andrew Brown some time — at a very reasonable rate of interest. If he was in trouble before he borrowed time, things have just got a lot worse. Detecting a problem, the Doctor, Amy and Rory go undercover at the bank. The Doctor's a respected expert, and Amy's his trusted advisor. Rory has a job in the post room. But they have to move fast to stop Symington and Blenkinsop before they cash in their investments. The Harvest is approaching. A thrilling all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.

In Dr Bloom's clinic at a remote spot on the Italian coast, at the end of the 18th century, nothing is ever quite what it seems. Maria is a lonely little girl with no one to play with. She writes letters to her mother from the isolated resort where she is staying. She tells of the pale English aristocrats and the mysterious Russian nobles and their attentive servants. She tells of intrigue and secrets, and she tells of strange faceless figures that rise from the sea. She writes about the enigmatic Mrs. Pond who arrives with her husband and her physician, and who will change everything. What she doesn't tell her mother, is the truth that everyone knows and no one says — that the only people who come here do so to die.

'The Squall feed on psychic energy, absorbing it to establish new hives. They spread like a plague, a contagion of the whole universe. And if they are not stopped they will strip the Earth clean'... London 1910: An unsuspecting thief gets more than he bargained for when he breaks into a house in Kensington. He finds himself confronted by horrific, grey-skinned creatures that are waiting to devour his mind. London 3189: An unimaginably ancient city. The remains of an android are dredged from the Thames. It's one of the latest models, only just developed. But it's been in the water for over a thousand years. And when the android is reactivated, it has a message — a warning that can only be delivered to a man named the Doctor. The Doctor and his friends must solve a mystery that has spanned over a thousand years. Travelling backwards and forwards in time, they must unravel the threads of an ancient plot. If they fail, the deadly alien Squall will devour the world... A thrilling all-new adventure featuring the Doctor, Amy and Rory, as played by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill in the spectacular hit series from BBC Television.