Four princes : henry viii, francis i, charles v, suleiman the magnificent and the obsessions that forged modern europe (defekt) - john julius norwich

'Never before had the world seen four such giants co-existing. Sometimes friends, more often enemies, always rivals, these four men together held Europe in the hollow of their hands.' Four great princes - Henry VIII of England, Francis I of France, Charles V of Spain and Suleiman the Magnificent - were born within a single decade. Each looms large in his country's history and, in this book, John Julius Norwich broadens the scope and shows how, against the rich background of the Renaissance and destruction of the Reformation, their wary obsession with one another laid the foundations for modern Europe. Individually, each man could hardly have been more different -- from the scandals of Henry's six wives to Charles's monasticism - but, together, they dominated the world stage. From the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a pageant of jousting, feasting and general carousing so lavish that it nearly bankrupted both France and England, to Suleiman's celebratory pyramid of 2,000 human heads (including those of seven Hungarian bishops) after the battle of Mohacs; from Anne Boleyn's six-fingered hand (a potential sign of witchcraft) that had the pious nervously crossing themselves to the real story of the Maltese falcon, Four Princes is history at its vivid, entertaining best. With a cast list that extends from Leonardo da Vinci to Barbarossa, and from Joanna the Mad to le roi grand-nez, John Julius Norwich offers the perfect guide to the most colourful century the world has ever known and brings the past to unforgettable life. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Funny, heartbreaking, rich and wise, this is a story with the power to cast a spell all of its own.Vaclav and Lena seem destined for each other. They first meet as children at their English class in Brooklyn. Vaclav dreams of becoming a famous magician with Lena as his lovely assistant. But then Lena disappears; it seems that life can play cruel tricks too. Vaclav says goodnight to Lena every night for seven years to keep her safe, and then discovers why she was taken from him. Is their connection strong enough to survive the truth, or is happily ever after only an illusion? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Wilhelm von Habsburg wore the uniform of an Austrian officer, the court regalia of a Habsburg archduke, the simple suit of a Parisian exile, the decorations of the Order of the Golden Fleece and, every so often, a dress. He spoke the Italian of his archduke mother, the German of his archduke father, the English of his British royal friends, the Polish of the country his father wished to rule and the Ukrainian of the land Wilhelm wished to rule himself.Timothy Snyder's masterful biography is not only a reconstruction of the life of this extraordinary man - a man who remained loyal to his Ukrainian dreams even after the country's dissolution in 1921- but also charts the final collapse of the ancien regime in Europe and the rise of a new world order. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Jimmy Soni, 304 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná Perfect for readers of Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance and Zero to One by Peter Theil Out of PayPal's ranks have come household names like Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Max Levchin and Reid Hoffman. Since leaving Paypal, they have formed, funded, and advised the leading companies of our era, including Tesla, Facebook, YouTube, SpaceX, Yelp, Palantir, and LinkedIn, among many others. Yet for all their influence, the incredible story of where they started has gone largely untold. In The Founders, award-winning author Jimmy Soni narrates how a once-in-a-generation collaboration turned a scrappy start-up into one of the most successful businesses of all time. Facing bruising competition, internal strife, the emergence of widespread online fraud, and the devastating dot-com bust of the 2000s, their success was anything but certain. But they would go on to change our world forever. Informed by hundreds... (alza.cz)

Anthony Patch and Gloria Gibson are the golden children of the Jazz Age. They marry and embark on a life of glittering parties, lavish expenditure and scandalous revelry. When the money dries up their marriage founders. In this wistful novel Fitzgerald portrays the decline of youthful promise with devastating clarity. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Less than a month after it marched into France in summer 1870, the Prussian army had devastated its opponents, captured Napoleon III and wrecked all assumptions about Europe's pecking order. Other countries looked on in helpless amazement. Pushing aside further French resistance, a new German Empire was proclaimed (as a deliberate humiliation) in the Palace of Versailles, leaving the French to face civil war in Paris, reparations and the loss of Alsace and Lorraine.Bismarck's War tells the story of one of the most shocking reversals of fortune in modern European history. The culmination of a globally violent decade, the Franco-Prussian War was deliberately engineered by Bismarck, both to destroy French power and to unite Germany. It could not have worked better, but it also had lurking inside it the poisonous seeds of all the disasters that would ravage the twentieth century.Drawing on a remarkable variety of sources, Chrastil's book explores the military, technological, political and social events of the war, its human cost and the way that the sheer ferocity of war, however successful, has profound consequences for both victors and victims. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Inferior is more than just a book. It's a battle cry - and right now, it's having a galvanising effect on its core fanbase' ObserverAre women more nurturing than men?Are men more promiscuous than women?Are males the naturally dominant sex?And can science give us an impartial answer to these questions?Taking us on an eye-opening journey through science, Inferior challenges our preconceptions about men and women, investigating the ferocious gender wars that burn in biology, psychology and anthropology. Angela Saini revisits the landmark experiments that have informed our understanding, lays bare the problem of bias in research, and speaks to the scientists finally exploring the truth about the female sex.The result is an enlightening and deeply empowering account of women's minds, bodies and evolutionary history. Interrogating what these revelations mean for us as individuals and as a society, Inferior unveils a fresh view of science in which women are included, rather than excluded. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Three of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novels of the Jazz Age in one volume. F. Scott Fitzgerald's stories are emblematic of the Lost Generation, which came of age in the years following World War I. Along with The Great Gatsby--Fitzgerald's most well-known novel--this luxurious leather-bound volume also includes his earlier works, This Side of Paradise and The Beautiful and Damned. Each novel presents the aura of the Jazz Age in a different context, painting a wide-ranging picture of the uncertainty and upheaval faced by Americans at the time. This classic collection also includes a scholarly introduction about Fitzgerald's life and work, offering insights into his creative genius. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Funny, heartbreaking, rich and wise, this is a story with the power to cast a spell all of its own.Vaclav and Lena seem destined for each other. They first meet as children at their English class in Brooklyn. Vaclav dreams of becoming a famous magician with Lena as his lovely assistant. But then Lena disappears; it seems that life can play cruel tricks too. Vaclav says goodnight to Lena every night for seven years to keep her safe, and then discovers why she was taken from him. Is their connection strong enough to survive the truth, or is happily ever after only an illusion? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The dramatic inside story of the first four historic flights that launched SpaceX-and Elon Musk-from a shaky startup into the world's leading edge rocket company. In 2006, SpaceX-a brand-new venture with fewer than 200 employees-rolled its first, single-engine rocket onto a launch pad at Kwajalein Atoll. After a groundbreaking launch from the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the Falcon 1 rocket designed by Elon Musk's engineers rose in the air for approximately thirty seconds. Then, its engine flamed out, and the rocket crashed back into the ocean. When he founded SpaceX, Elon Musk had only budgeted for three launches. After two more failed flight tests, and with only one Falcon 1 rocket left in its factory, SpaceX decided to try one last, dramatic launch. Over eight weeks, engineers worked furiously to prepare this final rocket. If it crashed and burned, so would SpaceX. In September 2008, SpaceX's last chance for success lifted off . . . and accelerated like a dream, soaring into orbit flawlessly. That success would launch a miraculous decade for the company, in which SpaceX grew from building a single-engine rocket to one with a staggering 27 engines; created two different spacecraft, and mastered reusable-rocket descents using mobile drone ships on the open seas. But these achievements would not have been possible without SpaceX's first four flight tests. Drawing on unparalleled access and exclusive interviews with dozens of former and current employees-engineers, designers, mechanics, and executives, including Elon Musk-Eric Berger tells the complete story of this foundational generation that transformed SpaceX into the world's leading space company. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Od počátků urbanizace v Mezopotámii až po dnešní globální metropole byla velká města průvodním znakem rozvoje lidské civilizace. Kniha Příběhy velkých měst vypráví jejich příběhy počínaje starověkem, od Uruku a Memfisu až po Jeruzalém a Alexandrii. Následují města prvního tisíciletí, od Damašku a Bagdádu přes Teotihuacán a Tikal až po Konstantinopol a Čchang-an. Za středověku vzkvétaly např. Paříž v Evropě, Benin v Africe či Angkor v jihovýchodní Asii. Předposlední oddíl uvede čtenáře do počátku moderního světa, mj. s Prahou, Amsterodamem a Mexikem, a poslední do doby moderních měst s Londýnem, Tokiem či Sao Paulem. Víc než 50 významných přispěvatelů přibližuje čtenáři charakter každého místa - jeho obyvatel, architektury a umění i jeho vládců - a vysvětluje příčinu jeho úspěchu. Kniha, kterou doprovází na 51 fotografií, kreseb, map a plánů, je vlastně portrétem světové civilizace. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Od počátků urbanizace v Mezopotámii až po dnešní globální metropole byla velká města průvodním znakem rozvoje lidské civilizace.Kniha Velká města v historii vypráví jejich příběhy počínaje starověkem, od Uruku a Memfisu až po Jeruzalém a Alexandrii. Následují města prvního tisíciletí, od Damašku a Bagdádu přes Teotihuacán a Tikal až po Konstantinopol a Čchang-an. Za středověku vzkvétaly např. Paříž v Evropě, Benin v Africe či Angkor v jihovýchodní Asii. Předposlední oddíl uvede čtenáře do počátku moderního světa, mj. s Prahou, Amsterodamem a Mexikem, a poslední do doby moderních měst s Londýnem, Tokiem či Sao Paulem. Víc než 50 významných přispěvatelů přibližuje čtenáři charakter každého místa - jeho obyvatel, architektury a umění i jeho vládců - a vysvětluje příčinu jeho úspěchu.Kniha, kterou doprovází na 300 fotografií, kreseb, map a plánů, je vlastně portrétem světové civilizace. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook:,Evropské 16. století bylo převratným věkem, kdy se díky zámořským objevům rozšiřoval horizont Evropanům známého světa, reformace změnila náboženskou i politickou mapu kontinentu a v končící nádheře „podzimu středověku“ se již ohlašoval nový věk. Kniha známého britského autora sleduje tuto barvitou éru z perspektivy čtyř výjimečných panovnických osobností. Anglický král Jindřich VIII., milovník rytířské pompy a válečných tažení, uskutečnil roztržku Anglie s Římem a proslulým se stal také pro svých šest žen, z nichž dvě skončily na popravišti. Francouzský král František I. byl prototypem renesančního vladaře, milovníkem umění i žen, a jeho srdce se upíralo k italskému Milánu. Habsburský císař Karel V. a osmanský sultán Sulejman Nádherný se oprávněně mohli navzájem podezírat z touhy po světovládě. Společně psali dějiny Evropy i světa. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The Hunger of the Gods continues John Gwynne's acclaimed Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeanceLik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest. As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own - and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance. Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god. Their hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead . . . and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The most corrupt judge in US history. A young investigator with a secret informant. John Grisham will keep you on the edge of your seat with his electrifying number one bestseller. The most corrupt judge in US history. A young investigator with a secret informant. The electrifying new thriller. Lacy Stoltz never expected to be in the firing line. Investigating judicial misconduct by Florida's one thousand judges, her cases so far have been relatively unexciting. That's until she meets Greg Myers, an indicted lawyer with an assumed name, who has an extraordinary tale to tell. Myers is representing a whistle blower who knows of a judge involved in organised crime. Along with her gangster associates this judge has facilitated the building of a casino on an Indian reservation. At least two people who opposed the scheme are dead. Since the casino was built, the judge has made several fortunes off undeclared winnings. She owns property around the world, hires private jets to take her where she wishes, and her secret vaults are overflowing with rare books, art and jewels. No one has a clue what she's been doing - until now. Under Florida law, those who help the state recover illegally acquired assets stand to gain a large percentage of them. Myers and his whistle blower friend could make millions. But first they need Lacy to start an investigation. Is she ready to pit herself against the most corrupt judge in American history, a judge whose associates think nothing of murder? 'The best thriller writer alive' Ken Follett (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Bilingvní vydání tří skvělých povídek známého amerického spisovatele, představitele "ztracené generace" a jazzového věku, které s humornou nadsázkou vyprávějí příběhy o bohatství a moci. (patro.cz)

Bilingvní vydání tří skvělých povídek známého amerického spisovatele, představitele "ztracené generace" a jazzového věku, které s humornou nadsázkou vyprávějí příběhy o bohatství a moci. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2016. "One of China's greatest living authors and fiercest satirists". (Guardian). In the ninety-ninth district of a sprawling labour camp, the Author, Musician, Scholar, Theologian and Technician - and hundreds just like them - are undergoing Re-education, to restore their revolutionary zeal and credentials. In charge of this process is the Child, who delights in draconian rules, monitoring behaviour and confiscating treasured books. But when bad weather arrives, followed by the 'three bitter years', the intellectuals are abandoned by the regime and left on their own to survive. Divided into four narratives, The Four Books tells the story of the Great Famine, one of China's most devastating and controversial periods. WINNER OF THE FRANZ KAFKA PRIZE 2014. NOMINATED FOR CZECH AWARD MAGNESIA LITERA 2014. HUA ZHONG WORLD CHINESE LITERATURE PRIZE 2013. FINALIST FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2013. WINNER OF THE HUA ZHONG WORLD CHINESE LITERATURE PRIZE 2013. SHORTLISTED FOR THE INDEPENDENT FOREIGN FICTION PRIZE 2012. SHORTLISTED FOR THE PRIX FEMINA ETRANGER 2012. SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN ASIAN LITERARY PRIZE 2011. WINNER OF THE LAO SHE LITERATURE AWARD 2004. WINNER OF THE LU XUN AWARD 1997 (knihydobrovsky.cz)

O. Henry was a master of the short story and one of the most popular American writers of the twentieth century. This selection of tales from across his writing career ranges from New York apartments to the cattle-lands of Texas, taking in con men, clerks, hustlers, shop assistants, tramps and tricksters. They all highlight his ironic, comic eye, his gift for evoking speech and setting, and his unique approach to life's quirks of fate. The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

It is an ordinary Thursday and things should finally be returning to normal.Except trouble is never far away where the Thursday Murder Club is concerned. A decade-old cold case leads them to a local news legend and a murder with no body and no answers.Then a new foe pays Elizabeth a visit. Her mission? Kill...or be killed.As the cold case turns white hot, Elizabeth wrestles with her conscience (and a gun), while Joyce, Ron and Ibrahim chase down clues with help from old friends and new. But can the gang solve the mystery and save Elizabeth before the murderer strikes again? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The last of the devastating series of conflicts resulting from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s, the Kosovo War saw more than 13,500 fatalities, with reports of atrocities, amid controversial intervention and bombing by NATO. Twenty years have passed since the war’s end on 11 June 1999, yet Kosovo’s status remains uncertain and questions remain about the possibility of future conflict on European soil. Tim Marshall, then diplomatic editor at Sky News, was on the ground covering the war. This is his captivating account of how events unfolded, exploring the inside story of the way MI6 and the CIA helped the Serbian people to overthrow Slobodan Milosevic, the president of Yugoslavia. It is also a thrilling journalistic memoir, revealing key strategic insights that went on to shape the ideas behind the million-copy international and no.1 Sunday Times bestseller Prisoners of Geography. Drawing on personal experience, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with intelligence officials from five countries, this is the definitive account of one of the major events in recent geopolitical history, the repercussions of which continue to be felt today. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy, the revolutionary, acclaimed book, radio series and podcast, bestselling economist Tim Harford introduced us to a selection of fifty radical inventions that changed the world. Now, in this new book, Harford once again brings us an array of remarkable, memorable, curious and often unexpected 'things' - inventions that teach us lessons by turns intimate and sweeping about the complex world economy we live in today. From the brick, blockchain and the bicycle to fire, the factory and fundraising, and from solar PV and the pencil to the postage stamp, this brilliant and enlightening collection resonates, fascinates and stimulates. It is a wonderful blend of insight and inspiration from one of Britain's finest non-fiction storytellers. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In Fifty Things that Made the Modern Economy, the revolutionary, acclaimed book, radio series and podcast, bestselling economist Tim Harford introduced us to a selection of fifty radical inventions that changed the world. Now, in this new book, Harford once again brings us an array of remarkable, memorable, curious and often unexpected 'things' - inventions that teach us lessons by turns intimate and sweeping about the complex world economy we live in today. From the brick, blockchain and the bicycle to fire, the factory and fundraising, and from solar PV and the pencil to the postage stamp, this brilliant and enlightening collection resonates, fascinates and stimulates. It is a wonderful blend of insight and inspiration from one of Britain's finest non-fiction storytellers. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Explore the final stages of the New York Times Bestselling Series The Horus Heresy in this fantastic miniseries, a must have for all fans!After seven years of bitter war, the end has come at last for the conflict known infamously as the Horus Heresy. Terra now lies within the Warmaster's sights, the Throneworld and the seat of his father's rule. Horus' desire is nothing less than the death of the Emperor of Mankind and the utter subjugation of the Imperium. He has become the ascendant vessel of Chaos, and amassed a terrible army with which to enact his will and vengeance. But the way to the Throne will be hard as the primarch Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian and protector of Terra, marshals the defences. First and foremost, Horus must challenge the might of the Sol System itself and the many fleets and bulwarks arrayed there. To gain even a foothold on Terran soil, he must first contend the Solar War. Thus the first stage of the greatest conflict in the history of all mankind begins. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Explore the final stages of the New York Times Bestselling Series The Horus Heresy in this fantastic miniseries, a must have for all fans!After seven years of bitter war, the end has come at last for the conflict known infamously as the Horus Heresy. Terra now lies within the Warmaster's sights, the Throneworld and the seat of his father's rule. Horus' desire is nothing less than the death of the Emperor of Mankind and the utter subjugation of the Imperium. He has become the ascendant vessel of Chaos, and amassed a terrible army with which to enact his will and vengeance. But the way to the Throne will be hard as the primarch Rogal Dorn, the Praetorian and protector of Terra, marshals the defences. First and foremost, Horus must challenge the might of the Sol System itself and the many fleets and bulwarks arrayed there. To gain even a foothold on Terran soil, he must first contend the Solar War. Thus the first stage of the greatest conflict in the history of all mankind begins. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A deeply moving and insightful collection of personal essays from #1 bestselling author John Green, adapted from his critically acclaimed podcast. The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity has profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. In this remarkable symphony of essays adapted and expanded from his groundbreaking podcast, John Green reviews different facets of the human-centered planet - from the QWERTY keyboard and Staphylococcus aureus to the Taco Bell breakfast menu - on a five-star scale. Complex and rich with detail, the Anthropocene's reviews have been praised as 'observations that double as exercises in memoiristic empathy.' John Green's gift for storytelling shines throughout this artfully curated collection that includes both beloved essays and all-new pieces exclusive to the book. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In The Mathematics of the Breath and the Way, Charles Bukowski considers the art of writing, and the art of living as writer. Bringing together a variety of previously uncollected stories, columns, reviews, introductions, and interviews, this book finds him approaching the dynamics of his chosen profession with cynical aplomb, deflating pretensions and tearing down idols armed with only a typewriter and a bottle of beer. From numerous tales of the author's adventures at poetry readings, parties, film sets, and bars, to an unprecedented gathering of Bukowski's singular literary criticism, the author discusses his writing practices and his influences. The Mathematics of the Breath and the Way is a perfect guide to the man behind the myth and the disciplined artist behind the boozing brawler. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Babylón, Memfis, Trója, Jeruzalém, Atény, Pompeje, Kartágo… měst, která se nesmazatelně zapsala do dějin lidstva, je dlouhá řada, a každé z nich má svůj jedinečný příběh a charakter. V knize, ke které britský historik, spisovatel a dokumentarista John Julius Norwich přizval třicítku renomovaných archeologů a odborníků na starověké dějiny, je představeno celkem čtyřicet měst. Geografický záběr bohatě ilustrované knihy sahá od Blízkého východu – Egypta a Mezopotámie – až po Střední a Jižní Ameriku. V prvním a nejrozsáhlejším oddílu věnovaném Blízkému východu najdeme sumerská centra Uruk a Ur, chetitskou Chattušu, asyrské Ninive či perskou Persepoli. Afriku zastupují kromě měst Starého Egypta (Théby, Amarna) núbijské Meroe, etiopský Aksúm či římská Leptis Magna, Evropu Knóssos, Mykény, Pompeje či Trevír, Asii indická města jako Mohendžodaro a Pátaliputra a čínský Sien-jang. Závěrečný oddíl představí města obou Amerik, jako monumentální Teotihuacan či mayská města dlouho ukrytá v pralesech, Tikal a Palenque. Aktuálnost publikace je dnes o to větší, že v nedávné době byla některá z uvedených měst poničena vinou válečných konfliktů a náboženského extremismu, jiným podobný osud hrozí. (patro.cz)

Translated by George Chapman, with Introductions by Jan Parker. Hector bidding farewell to his wife and baby son, Odysseus bound to the mast listening to the Sirens, Penelope at the loom, Achilles dragging Hector's body round the walls of Troy - scenes from Homer have been reportrayed in every generation. The questions about mortality and identity that Homer's heroes ask, the bonds of love, respect and fellowship that motivate them, have gripped audiences for three millennia.Chapman's Iliad and Odyssey are great English epic poems, but they are also two of the liveliest and readable translations of Homer. Chapman's freshness makes the everyday world of nature and the craftsman as vivid as the battlefield and Mount Olympus. His poetry is driven by the excitement of the Renaissance discovery of classical civilisation as at once vital and distant, and is enriched by the perspectives of humanist thought. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

** PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW **A new mystery is afoot in the third book in the Thursday Murder Club series from million-copy bestselling author Richard Osman. Coming Autumn 2022! ----PRAISE FOR THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB SERIES:'This is the most perfect Sunday afternoon read' RED'Full of humour and heart . .. I loved it' HARLAN COBEN'Superbly entertaining' GUARDIAN'It's like reading ice cream... a pure pleasure' LINWOOD BARCLAY'Thrilling, moving, laugh-out-loud funny' MARK BILLINGHAM'A great read, I really enjoyed it' GRAHAM NORTON'One of the most enjoyable books of the year' DAILY EXPRESS (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Od počátků urbanizace v Mezopotámii až po dnešní globální metropole byla velká města průvodním znakem rozvoje lidské civilizace. Kniha Velká města v historii vypráví jejich příběhy počínaje starověkem, od Uruku a Memfisu až po Jeruzalém a Alexandrii. Následují města prvního tisíciletí, od Damašku a Bagdádu přes Teotihuacán a Tikal až po Konstantinopol a Čchang-an. Za středověku vzkvétaly např. Paříž v Evropě, Benin v Africe či Angkor v jihovýchodní Asii. Předposlední oddíl uvede čtenáře do počátku moderního světa, mj. s Prahou, Amsterodamem a Mexikem, a poslední do doby moderních měst s Londýnem, Tokiem či Sao Paulem. Víc než 50 významných přispěvatelů přibližuje čtenáři charakter každého místa – jeho obyvatel, architektury a umění i jeho vládců – a vysvětluje příčinu jeho úspěchu. Kniha, kterou doprovází na 300 fotografií, kreseb, map a plánů, je vlastně portrétem světové civilizace. (patro.cz)

Od počátků urbanizace v Mezopotámii až po dnešní globální metropole byla velká města průvodním znakem rozvoje lidské civilizace. Kniha Příběhy velkých měst vypráví jejich příběhy počínaje starověkem, od Uruku a Memfisu až po Jeruzalém a Alexandrii. Následují města prvního tisíciletí, od Damašku a Bagdádu přes Teotihuacán a Tikal až po Konstantinopol a Čchang-an. Za středověku vzkvétaly např. Paříž v Evropě, Benin v Africe či Angkor v jihovýchodní Asii. Předposlední oddíl uvede čtenáře do počátku moderního světa, mj. s Prahou, Amsterodamem a Mexikem, a poslední do doby moderních měst s Londýnem, Tokiem či Sao Paulem. Víc než 50 významných přispěvatelů přibližuje čtenáři charakter každého místa – jeho obyvatel, architektury a umění i jeho vládců – a vysvětluje příčinu jeho úspěchu. Kniha, kterou doprovází na 51 fotografií, kreseb, map a plánů, je vlastně portrétem světové civilizace. (patro.cz)

Nonstop suspense from the Sunday Times bestselling author: Investigator Lacy Stoltz follows the trail of a serial killer, and closes in on a shocking suspect - a sitting judge.In The Whistler, Lacy Stoltz investigated a corrupt judge who was taking millions in bribes from a crime syndicate. She put the criminals away, but only after being attacked and nearly killed. Three years later, and approaching forty, she is tired of her work for the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct and ready for a change.Then she meets a mysterious woman who is so frightened she uses a number of aliases. Jeri Crosby's father was murdered twenty years earlier in a case that remains unsolved and that has grown stone cold. But Jeri has a suspect whom she has become obsessed with and has stalked for two decades. Along the way, she has discovered other victims.Suspicions are easy enough, but proof seems impossible. The man is brilliant, patient, and always one step ahead of law enforcement. He is the most cunning of all serial killers. He knows forensics, police procedure, and most important: he knows the law.He is a judge, in Florida - under Lacy's jurisdiction.He has a list, with the names of his victims and targets, all unsuspecting people unlucky enough to have crossed his path and wronged him in some way. How can Lacy pursue him, without becoming the next name on his list?The Judge's List is by any measure John Grisham's most surprising, chilling novel yet. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Shocking and controversial when it was first published in 1939, Steinbeck's Pulitzer prize-winning epic, The Grapes of Wrath,remains his undisputed masterpiece. Set against the background of Dust Bowl Oklahoma and Californian migrant life, it tells of the Joad family, who, like thousands of others, are forced to travel west in search of the promised land. Their story is one of false hopes, thwarted desires and broken dreams, yet out of their suffering Steinbeck created a drama that is intensely human, yet majestic in its scale and moral vision; an eloquent tribute to the endurance and dignity of the human spirit. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

For most of the last hundred years, Biloxi was known for its beaches, resorts, and seafood industry. But it had a darker side. It was also notorious for corruption and vice, everything from gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor, and drugs to contract killings. The vice was controlled by small cabal of mobsters, many of them rumored to be members of the Dixie Mafia. Keith Rudy and Hugh Malco grew up in Biloxi in the sixties and were childhood friends, as well as Little League all-stars. But as teenagers, their lives took them in different directions. Keith’s father became a legendary prosecutor, determined to “clean up the Coast.” Hugh’s father became the “Boss” of Biloxi’s criminal underground. Keith went to law school and followed in his father’s footsteps. Hugh preferred the nightlife and worked in his father’s clubs. The two families were headed for a showdown, one that would happen in a courtroom. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The best of Bukowski's novels, stories, and poems, this collection reads like an autobiography, relating the extraordinary story of his life and offering a sometimes harrowing, invariably exhilarating reading experience--a must for this counterculture idol's legions of fans. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert and Locke and fled the country?The answer is in THE EXCHANGE, the riveting sequel to THE FIRM, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of the world's bestselling author.It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favour that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the centre of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications - and once again endangers his colleagues, friends and family. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The classic Cold War thriller, published as a Penguin Essential for the first time. Alec Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in Berlin for his British masters, and has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment. He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done. In le Carre's breakthrough work of 1963, the spy story is reborn as a gritty and terrible tale of men who are caught up in politics beyond their imagining. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert and Locke and fled the country?The answer is in THE EXCHANGE, the riveting sequel to THE FIRM, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of the world's bestselling author.It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favour that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the centre of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications - and once again endangers his colleagues, friends and family. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

What became of Mitch and Abby McDeere after they exposed the crimes of Memphis law firm Bendini, Lambert and Locke and fled the country?The answer is in THE EXCHANGE, the riveting sequel to THE FIRM, the blockbuster thriller that launched the career of the world's bestselling author.It is now fifteen years later, and Mitch and Abby are living in Manhattan, where Mitch is a partner at the largest law firm in the world. When a mentor in Rome asks him for a favour that will take him far from home, Mitch finds himself at the centre of a sinister plot that has worldwide implications - and once again endangers his colleagues, friends and family. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The Sleeping and The Dead is a tense psychological thriller from Ann Cleeves, author and creator of the three astounding TV series: Shetland, Vera and The Long Call.Detective Peter Porteous is called to Cranwell Lake where the body of a teenager has been discovered.After trawling through the missing persons files, he comes to the conclusion that the corpse is Michael Grey, an enigmatic and secretive young man who was reported missing by his foster parents in 1972.The news report that a body has been found leaves prison officer Hannah Morton in shock. Michael had been her boyfriend, and she had been with him the night he disappeared. And now the discovery is bringing back dreaded and long buried memories from her past . . . (knihydobrovsky.cz)

By the author of Look Who's Back, a radical and bold satire in inequitable times.REFUGEE CAMPS IN AFRICA ARE SWELLINGAnd Europe has closed its borders. The refugees have no future, no hope, and no money to pay the vast sums now demanded by people smugglers. But what they do have is time.AND THEN AN ANGEL ARRIVES FROM REALITY T.V.When German model and star presenter Nadeche Hackenbusch comes to film at the largest of the camps, one young refugee sees a unique opportunity: to organise a march to Europe, in full view of the media. Viewers are gripped as the vast convoy moves closer, but the far right in Germany is regrouping and the government is at a loss. Which country will halt the refugees in their tracks?THE HUNGRY AND THE FATA devastating, close-to-the-knuckle satire about the haves and have-nots in our divided world by one of Europe's finest and most perceptive writers, in which an outlandish conceit follows a kind of impeccable logic to a devastating conclusion.Translated from the German by Jamie Bulloch (knihydobrovsky.cz)

While marooned at his banking job in the bewilderingly damp and insular realm known as Ireland, Claude Martingale is approached by a down-on-his-luck author, Paul, looking for his next great subject. Claude finds that his life gets steadily more exciting under Paul's fictionalizing influence; he even falls in love with a beautiful waitress. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a terrible surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she may be falling in love with a murderer. Shazi discovers that the villainous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. It's up to her to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all. "So you would have me throw Shazi to the wolves?" "Shazi? Honestly, I pity the wolves." (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud is the explosive international bestseller that mixes fact and fiction to tell the riveting story of one of the world’s most controversial relics—the Holy Shroud of Turin—and the desperate race to save it from those who will stop at nothing to possess its legendary power....A fire at the Turin cathedral and the discovery of a mutilated corpse are the latest in a disturbing series of events surrounding the mysterious cloth millions believe to be the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ. Those who dare to investigate will be caught in the cross fire of an ancient conflict forged by mortal sacrifice, assassination, and secret societies tied to the shadowy Knights Templar.Spanning centuries and continents, from the storm-rent skies over Calvary, through the intrigue and treachery of Byzantium and the Crusades, to the modern-day citadels of Istanbul, New York, London, Paris, and Rome, The Brotherhood of the Holy Shroud races to a chilling climax in the labyrinths beneath Turin, where astounding truths will be exposed: about the history of a faith, the passions of man, and proof of the most powerful miracle of all…. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

NATIONAL BESTSELLERAN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR"Ozzi's reporting is strong, balanced and well told...a worthy successor to its obvious inspiration, Michael Azerrad's 2001 examination of the '80s indie underground, Our Band Could Be Your Life."-New York Times Book ReviewA raucous history of punk, emo, and hardcore's growing pains during the commercial boom of the early 90s and mid-aughts, following eleven bands as they "sell out" and find mainstream fame, or break beneath the weight of it all. Punk rock found itself at a crossroads in the mid-90's. After indie favorite Nirvana catapulted into the mainstream with its unexpected phenomenon, Nevermind, rebellion was suddenly en vogue.Looking to replicate the band's success, major record labels set their sights on the underground, and began courting punk's rising stars. But the DIY punk scene, which had long prided itself on its trademark authenticity and anti-establishment ethos, wasn't quite ready to let their homegrown acts go without a fight. The result was a schism: those who accepted the cash flow of the majors, and those who defiantly clung to their indie cred.In Sellout, seasoned music writer Dan Ozzi chronicles this embattled era in punk. Focusing on eleven prominent bands who made the jump from indie to major, Sellout charts the twists and turns of the last "gold rush" of the music industry, where some groups "sold out" and rose to surprise super stardom, while others buckled under mounting pressures. Sellout is both a gripping history of the music industry's evolution, and a punk rock lover's guide to the chaotic darlings of the post-grunge era, featuring original interviews and personal stories from members of modern punk's most (in)famous bands:Green DayJawbreakerJimmy Eat WorldBlink-182At the Drive-InThe DonnasThursdayThe DistillersMy Chemical RomanceRise AgainstAgainst Me! (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In 1850, China was the 'sick man of Asia'. Now it is set to become the most powerful nation on earth. The Penguin History of Modern China shows how turbulent that journey has been. For 150 years China has endured as victim of oppression, war and famine. This makes its current position as arguably the most important global superpower all the more extraordinary. Jonathan Fenby's comprehensive account is the definitive guide to this remarkable transformation. 'His book is a miracle of thoroughness, truthfulness and readability - the perfect primer for a time when China is about to enter all our lives' Sunday Telegraph 'Jonathan Fenby's ... illuminating book [is] the first major history that looks at the country with the eyes of the 21st century rather than the 20th' Rana Mitter, Financial Times 'Reads like a novel and is never less than thoughtful and compassionate for the fate of a much-abused people ... [Fenby has] a journalist's eye for telling detail' Herald 'Taut, anecdote-studded ... a great introduction for a general audience, with vivid scene setting and character sketches' Michel Sheridan, Sunday Times 'For an accessible, authoritative, fair and comprehensive and well written account, this would be hard to better' BBC History 'A wonderful history of modern China and a cracking good read' Chris Patten Jonathan Fenby, CBE, has been the editor of the Observer and the South China Morning Post. His books include Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the China He Lost and Dealing with the Dragon: A Year in the New Hong Kong. He is currently Editor-in-Chief and China Editor of the analytical service, Trusted Sources. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A brilliant novel from Pulitzer Prize-winning Annie Proulx, author of 'The Shipping News' and 'Brokeback Mountain'. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

It all begins with a fugitive billionaire and the promise of a cash reward. Turtles All the Way Down is about lifelong friendship, the intimacy of an unexpected reunion, Star Wars fan fiction, and tuatara. But at its heart is Aza Holmes, a young woman navigating daily existence within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts. In his long-awaited return, John Green shares Aza's story with shattering, unflinching clarity. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Phoebe, an eight-year-old girl, lies comatose following a car accident. She is a body without a spirit, a stolen child. Ceres, her mother, can only sit by her bedside and read aloud to Phoebe the fairy stories she loves in the hope they might summon her back to this world.But it is hard to keep faith, so very hard.Now an old house on the hospital grounds, a property connected to a book written by a vanished author, is calling to Ceres.Something wants her to enter, and to journey - to a land coloured by the memories of Ceres's childhood, and the folklore beloved of her father, to a land of witches and dryads, giants and mandrakes; to a land where old enemies are watching, and waiting.To the Land of Lost Things. (knihydobrovsky.cz)