Random House Inc.

Winston Churchill famously described Russia as 'a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma' and even today it remains a country little understood by the West. In this revealing portrait, Jonathan Dimbleby crosses eight time zones and covers 10,000 miles in an attempt to get to the beating heart of the new Russia. His epic journey takes him from the Arctic city of Murmansk in the west to the Asian port of Vladivostok in the east, and he encounters an extraordinary range of people: urban intellectuals and entrepreneurs, war veterans and migrant labourers, spiritual leaders and aging rock stars, bootleg vendors and fish poachers, loggers in the forests of Siberia and fellow journalists under siege in an increasingly autocratic society. «Russia» is both a deeply personal odyssey and a mesmerizing account of a country undergoing profound economic, cultural and political change.

»Why Is God Laughing?» tells the story of successful comedian Mickey Fellows and his friend Francisco as they explore how to overcome fear, egotism and addiction (which are the three major obstacles to joy) and become more optimistic. The final chapter highlights how to conquer these obstacles in our own lives and open the door to real joy and happiness. It spells out the lessons that Mickey's story tells us: ten reasons to be optimistic, even in a challenging world. Rich with humour and practical advice, «Why Is God Laughing?» shows us there is always a reason to be grateful, that every possibility holds the promise of abundance, and that obstacles are simply opportunities in disguise.

This is a great value book covering everything the beginner needs to master cartooning. It teaches how to draw cartoon people, fantasy characters, layouts, background design and much more. It is from the world's bestselling author of drawing and cartooning books. This latest cartoon title from Chris Hart packs a wallop. It's the cartooning book that has it all: cartoon people, animals, retro-style 'toons', funny robots (no one has ever done cartoon robots in a how-to book before, and movies like «Wall-E» and «Robots» were smash hits and prove their appeal), fantasy characters and even sections on cartoon costumes, character design and cartoon backgrounds and composition. The book is itself humongous, not only because of its page count, but also because it includes a huge amount of original eye-catching characters and copious visual 'side hints' that Chris is famous for. There is more actual instruction in this book than in any other of Chris' cartooning titles. In short, if you want to know how to draw cartoons, it's in this book.

Graham Hendrick, an historian, has left his wife Barbara for the vivacious Ann, and is more than pleased with his new life. Until, that is, the day he discovers Ann's celluloid past as a mediocre film actress. Soon Graham is pouncing on old clues, examining her books for inscriptions from past lovers, frequenting cinemas and poring over the bad movies she appeared in. It's not that he blames Anne for having a past before they met, but history has always mattered to him...

The twisted maze of Venice's canals has always been shrouded in mystery. Even the celebrated opera house, La Fenice, has seen its share of death. But nothing so horrific and violent as that of world-famous conductor, Maestro Helmut Wellauer — poisoned during a performance of La Traviata. Even Commissario of Police, Guido Brunetti, used to the labyrinthine corruptions of the city, is shocked at the number of enemies Wellauer has made on his way to the top — but just how many have motive enough for murder? The beauty of Venice is crumbling — and evil can seep through its decaying stones.

One frozen January morning at 5 am, Inspector Wallander responds to what he believes is a routine call out. When he reaches the isolated farmhouse he discovers a bloodbath. An old man has been tortured and beaten to death, his wife lies barely alive beside his shattered body, both victims of a violence beyond reason. The woman supplies Wallander with his only clue: the perpetrators may have been foreign. When this is leaked to the press, it unleashes racial hatred. Kurt Wallander is a senior police officer. His life is a shambles. His wife has left him, his daughter refuses to speak to him, and even his ageing father barely tolerates him. He works tirelessly, eats badly, and drinks his nights away in a lonely, neglected flat. But now, with winter tightening and his activities being monitored by a tough-minded district attorney, Wallander must forget his troubles and throw himself into a battle against time and against mounting xenophobia.

Tyrant, blackmailer, racketeer, murderer — his influence reaches every level of American society. Meet Don Corleone, a friendly man, a just man, a reasonable man. The deadliest lord of the Cosa Nostra. The Godfather. A modern masterpiece, «The Godfather» is a searing portrayal of the 1940s criminal underworld. It is also the intimate story of the Corleone family, at once drawn together and ripped apart by its unique position at the core of the American Mafia. Still shocking forty years after it was first published, this compelling tale of blackmail, murder and family values is a true classic.

Every day, Mayor Tibo Krovic stops off at the local cafe on the way to work, drinks his Viennese coffee with extra figs, leaves a bag of sweets for the owner, and goes to wait in his office for the arrival of his glorious secretary Agathe. He has worshiped Agathe from afar for years but she has always been out of reach. However, a family tragedy has changed things in Agathe's home and a chance occurrence one day leads her to confide in Tibo. What ensues is a magical story of love, fate, mistakes and ginger biscuits that is both deliciously funny and intensely moving.

Sammy's had a bad week — his wallet's gone, along with his new shoes, he's been arrested then beaten up by the police and thrown out on the street — and he's just gone blind. He remembers a row with his girlfriend, but she seems to have disappeared. Things aren't looking too good for Sammy and his problems have hardly begun.

Mia Lockhart has a secret. Her mother was a keeper, as was her grandmother — women who were warriors, healers and protectors. And when a mysterious man enters her life, she puts this to the test. Adrian Ashton is a brilliant scientist — and a killer. With the aid of an ancient Chinese text, he has mastered the art of capturing the chi of his opponents — the vital energy that flows through their bodies. Mia finds herself drawn to his dark genius. But when he targets the man with whom she is falling in love, she is forced to choose between them. Soon it becomes a fight to the death in which love is both the greatest weakness — and the greatest prize.

In a corrupt world where crooked cops and desperate gamblers play dangerous games of betrayal, one man has power over them all. «The Last Don» is Mario Puzo at his finest — a masterful saga of the last great American crime family, the Clericuzios, and their powerful reach into Hollywood and Las Vegas. Domenico Clericuzio is a wise and ruthless man who in his old age is determined to create a life free from criminal activities for his grandchildren. But as he strives to establish his heirs in legitimate society, secrets from his family's past spark a vicious and bloody war between cousins...

What happens when a psychic tells Lucy that she'll be married within the year? Her flatmates panic! Lucy reassures her friends that she's far too busy arguing with her mother and taking care of her irresponsible father to get married. And then there's the small matter of not even having a boyfriend. But then Lucy meets gorgeous, unreliable Gus.

This title lets you explore Merlin's world and find out all there is to know about the characters and their secrets. It is with facts and great imagery of all the cast, locations and props. It lets you discover the lore and legend of Merlin! It looks at each character and their various relationships as well as exploring the baddies and the monsters that lurk in Camelot! Never seen before footage as well as maps and spells from the spell book finish this complete guide. It's a must have for any Merlin fan!

Merlin wants to help his new friend, Lancelot, become a Knight of Camelot — but it's not as easy as he hopes. Then the Lady Morgana is struck down by a mystery illness. Gaius is baffled and a new physician arrives to help. He seems to have all the answers, but Merlin suspects that there's something sinister going on.

Merlin arrives in Camelot full of excitement and eager for adventure. But sorcery is outlawed in Camelot and so he must learn to hide his own unique magical talents. When a mysterious new knight arrives for the sword tournament, Merlin suspects that dark magic is afoot. He's determined to investigate, but soon finds that keeping the magic secret — and Prince Arthur alive — is much harder than he thought...

A deadly plague is sweeping through Camelot and Gwen is suspected of witchcraft. Somehow Merlin must help Gaius find a cure and save his friend. But before long Merlin is poisoned too! Prince Arthur sets off to find the antidote, but is he walking into a trap?

When Merlin and Morgana join forces to save a child the king has commanded to death, they soon discover that going against King Uther could prove fatal. Meanwhile, a mysterious black knight arrives to challenge the Knights of Camelot to mortal combat. Old secrets, long hidden, are stirring and the king is afraid for his only son. The black knight seems invincible and Merlin senses that only magic can stop him.

No more struggling against the wind to fold back the extra large city map you picked up at the tourist office. The unique Everyman MapGuide series cleverly combines maps and text in an easy-to-use format, listing the best sights, restaurants and shops alongside fold-out maps of exceptional clarity. Each guide divides the city into sections and devotes two double pages to each of them. Sections are colour coded, and a small area map at the bottom of the page tells you where you are within the city, and within the guide. There are also four pages of useful information about the city at the front of the book, and a four-page city-wide hotel section at the back; plus a street index and thematic index. Stylish, clever, practical and, at GBP5.99, very good value for money, a MapGuide is the indispensable pocket companion to your week end or short break away.

Wormold, a vacuum cleaner salesman, was short of money. His daughter had reached an expensive age — so he accepted Hawthorne's offer of $300-plus a month and became Agent 59200/5, MI6's man in Havana. To keep the job, he pretends to recruit sub-agents and sends fake stories. Then they come true.

'Sell the Hall unseen; burn it to the ground and plough the earth with salt, if you will; but never live there...' London, the 1880s. A young girl grows up in a household marked by death, her father distant, her mother in perpetual mourning for the child she lost. Desperate to coax her mother back to health, Constance Langton takes her to a seance. Perhaps they will find comfort from beyond the grave. But that seance has tragic consequences. Constance is left alone, her only legacy a mysterious bequest will blight her life. So begins «The Seance», John Harwood's brilliant second novel, a gripping, dark mystery set in late Victorian England. It is a world of apparitions, of disappearances and unnatural phenomena, of betrayal and blackmail and black-hearted villains — and murder. For Constance's bequest comes in two parts: a house, and a mystery. Years before a family disappeared at Wraxford Hall, a terrifying stately home near the Suffolk coast. Now Constance must find the truth behind the mystery, even at the cost of her life. Because without the truth, she is lost.

Shy, sensible banker Stuart has trouble with women; that is, until a fortuitous singles night, where he meets Gillian, a picture restorer recovering from a destructive affair. Stuart's best friend Oliver is his complete opposite — a language teacher who 'talks like a dictionary', brash and feckless. Soon Stuart and Gillian are married, but it is not long before a tentative friendship between the three evolves into something far different. Talking it Over is a brilliant and intimate account of love's vicissitudes. It begins as a comedy of misunderstanding, then slowly darkens and deepens, drawing us compellingly into the quagmires of the heart.

This text contains two of Graham Greene's novels. The Third Man is a recreation of post-war Vienna in which Rollo Martins visits his friend and hero, Harry Lime, to find Harry has died in suspicious circumstances. The Fallen Idol is the chilling story of a small boy caught up in adult games.

Having been dumped by his girlfriend, Danny really wasn't doing the young, free and single thing very well. Instead, he was avoiding people. Texting them instead of calling them. Calling them instead of meeting them. This is the story of what happened when Danny decided to say yes to everything, in order to make his life more interesting.

When the TARDIS materialises in medieval Worcester, the Doctor finds the city seemingly deserted. He soon discovers its population are living in a state of terror, afraid to leave their homes after dark, for fear of meeting their doom at the hands of the legendary Devil's Huntsman.