The rise & fall of great powers - tom rachman

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BYNPR - The Seattle Times - The Globe and Mail - Kirkus Reviews - Daily Mail - The Vancouver Sun From the author of The Italian Teacher and The Imperfectionists comes a brilliant, intricately woven novel about a young woman who travels the world to make sense of her puzzling past. Look in the back of the book for a conversation between Tom Rachman and J. R. Moehringer Following one of the most critically acclaimed fiction debuts in years, New York Times bestselling author Tom Rachman returns with a brilliant, intricately woven novel about a young woman who travels the world to make sense of her puzzling past. Tooly Zylberberg, the American owner of an isolated bookshop in the Welsh countryside, conducts a life full of reading, but with few human beings. Books are safer than people, who might ask awkward questions about her life. She prefers never to mention the strange events of her youth, which mystify and worry her still. Taken from home as a girl, Tooly found herself spirited away by a group of seductive outsiders, implicated in capers from Asia to Europe to the United States. But who were her abductors? Why did they take her? What did they really want? There was Humphrey, the curmudgeonly Russian with a passion for reading; there was the charming but tempestuous Sarah, who sowed chaos in her wake; and there was Venn, the charismatic leader whose worldview transformed Tooly forever. Until, quite suddenly, he disappeared. Years later, Tooly believes she will never understand the true story of her own life. Then startling news arrives from a long-lost boyfriend in New York, raising old mysteries and propelling her on a quest around the world in search of answers. Tom Rachman--an author celebrated for humanity, humor, and wonderful characters--has produced a stunning novel that reveals the tale not just of one woman but of the past quarter-century as well, from the end of the Cold War to the dominance of American empire to the digital revolution of today. Leaping between decades, and from Bangkok to Brooklyn, this is a breathtaking novel about long-buried secrets and how we must choose to make our own place in the world. It will confirm Rachman's reputation as one of the most exciting young writers we have. Praise for The Rise & Fall of Great Powers (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Satirický, a přitom dojemný ohňostroj lidské marnosti odehrávající se v kulisách mezinárodního deníku sídlícího v Římě Hrdinové románového debutu bývalého novináře Toma Rachmana nejsou zrovna ideálními kandidáty na Pulitzerovu cenu. Představte si šéfredaktorku prožívající manželskou krizi či postaršího pařížského korespondenta, který byl kdysi váženým reportérem a velkým svůdcem, ale dnes nemá "žhavější" téma než chov strnadů. Nebo anorektickou redaktorku ekonomického zpravodajství, jež se zamiluje do dredatého irského povaleče. Odborníka na nekrology a křížovky, jehož životním cílem je "nic nedělat", avšak rodinná tragédie ho ironií osudu posune v kariéře. Mladého naivního káhirského dopisovatele, snažícího se zdokumentovat "sexuální život islámských extremistů", kterého bez skrupulí vysává starší kolega. Afektovanou osamělou a zatrpklou finanční ředitelku nebo korektora sisyfovsky bojujícího proti překlepům typu Saddám Hnusajn nebo genitální ekonom. Ti všichni jsou závislí na vnukovi zakladatele novin, jenž se však zajímá jen o svého baseta jménem Schopenhauer. Jsou to ztracenci, antihrdinové, věční smolaři lapení do sítě pochyb, zmítaní osudem. Jsou patetičtí i dojemní současně. Jsou zkrátka neodolatelní. Rachman je sleduje výsměšným perem milovníka opileckých portrétů a anekdot posbíraných u automatu na kávu. Kniha prostřednictvím jedenácti příběhů vykresluje více než padesát let historie jedněch novin, od zlatých časů k jejich úpadku. Ačkoli se každá z kapitol odehrává v jiném období a točí se kolem jiné postavy, je kniha - právě díky hrdinům, kteří proplouvají napříč jednotlivými epizodami - důmyslně propojeným příběhem. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A masterful novel about the son of a great painter striving to create his own legacy, by the bestselling author of The Imperfectionists. Conceived while his father, Bear, cavorted around Rome in the 1950s, Pinch learns quickly that Bear's genius trumps all. After Bear abandons his family, Pinch strives to make himself worthy of his father's attention--first trying to be a painter himself; then resolving to write his father's biography; eventually settling, disillusioned, into a job as an Italian teacher in London. But when Bear dies, Pinch hatches a scheme to secure his father's legacy--and make his own mark on the world. With his signature humanity and humor, Tom Rachman examines a life lived in the shadow of greatness, cementing his place among his generation's most exciting literary voices. (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)

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)

The relentless rise of Communism was the most momentous political development of the first half of the twentieth century. This book explains how and why Communists came to power; how they were able, in a variety of countries on different continents to hold on to power for so long; and, what brought about the downfall of so many Communist systems. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Andrew Martin, 248 stran, anglicky, pevná bez přebalu lesklá In journeys to Istanbul, Lisbon, Venice and elsewhere, bestselling author of the Jim Stringer railway mysteries Andrew Martin recaptures the glamour and intrigue of the night train in this new book. Martin is also author of "Underground, Overground" and "Belles & Whistles". (alza.cz)

The relentless rise of Communism was the most momentous political development of the first half of the twentieth century. This book explains how and why Communists came to power; how they were able, in a variety of countries on different continents to hold on to power for so long; and, what brought about the downfall of so many Communist systems. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

66 million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped from the face of the earth. Today, Dr. Steve Brusatte, one of the leading scientists of a new generation of dinosaur hunters, armed with cutting edge technology, is piecing together the complete story of how the dinosaurs ruled the earth for 150 million years. The world of the dinosaurs has fascinated on book and screen for decades – from early science fiction classics like The Lost World, to Godzilla terrorizing the streets of Tokyo, and the monsters of Jurassic Park. But what if we got it wrong? In The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, top dinosaur expert Brusatte, tells the real story of how dinosaurs rose to dominate the planet. Using the fossil clues that have been gathered using state of the art technology, Brusatte follows these magnificent creatures from their beginnings in the Early Triassic period, through the Jurassic period to their final days in the Cretaceous and the legacy that they left behind. Along the way, Brusatte introduces us to modern day dinosaur hunters and gives an insight into what it’s like to be a paleontologist. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is full of thrilling accounts of some of his personal discoveries, including primitive human-sized tyrannosaurs, monstrous carnivores even larger than T. rex, and feathered raptor dinosaurs preserved in lava from China. At a time when Homo sapiens has existed for less than 200,000 years and we are already talking about planetary extinction, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a timely reminder of what humans can learn from the magnificent creatures who ruled the earth before us. (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)

When Palpatine declared the birth of his new Empire, he expected it would stand for millennia. Instead, it lasted only 24 years. This is the story of how a tyrannical regime rose from the ashes of democracy, ruled the galaxy with an iron fist, and then collapsed into dust.It is a story of war and heroes, of the power of propaganda and the dangers of complacency. But most of all, it is a story of normal people trying to live their lives in the face of a brutal dictatorship. From the ruthlessness of Darth Vader's campaigns to the horrors of the Tarkin Initiative, this book offers fresh new insights into the dark entity at the core of Star Wars. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

66 million years ago the dinosaurs were wiped from the face of the earth. Today, Dr. Steve Brusatte, one of the leading scientists of a new generation of dinosaur hunters, armed with cutting edge technology, is piecing together the complete story of how the dinosaurs ruled the earth for 150 million years. The world of the dinosaurs has fascinated on book and screen for decades – from early science fiction classics like The Lost World, to Godzilla terrorizing the streets of Tokyo, and the monsters of Jurassic Park. But what if we got it wrong? In The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs, top dinosaur expert Brusatte, tells the real story of how dinosaurs rose to dominate the planet. Using the fossil clues that have been gathered using state of the art technology, Brusatte follows these magnificent creatures from their beginnings in the Early Triassic period, through the Jurassic period to their final days in the Cretaceous and the legacy that they left behind. Along the way, Brusatte introduces us to modern day dinosaur hunters and gives an insight into what it’s like to be a paleontologist. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is full of thrilling accounts of some of his personal discoveries, including primitive human-sized tyrannosaurs, monstrous carnivores even larger than T. rex, and feathered raptor dinosaurs preserved in lava from China. At a time when Homo sapiens has existed for less than 200,000 years and we are already talking about planetary extinction, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs is a timely reminder of what humans can learn from the magnificent creatures who ruled the earth before us. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

A portrait of a civilisation which flourished within living memory and left an indelible mark on history (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Typ: Nové vydání;Dotisk;Remastered;Stereo;LP deska;Album Balení obsahuje: LP Země původu: Evropská unie Subžánr: Elektronický;Experimental;Rock;Pop;Glam Rock Interpret / Téma: David Bowie Žánr: Pop;Rock;Glam Vydavatelství: Parlophone Varianta: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (Vinyl LP) Země interpreta: Spojené království Dekáda interpreta: 2010 - 2019;1980 - 1989;1970 - 1979;2000 - 2009;1960 - 1969;1990 - 1999 Rok nahrávky: 1972.0 Rychlost: 33 1/3 RPM Rok vydání: 2019.0 Barva podle výrobce: Black Barva: Černá Složení setu: 1 ks Hmotnost: 180 g (muziker.cz)

eBook:,This is a unique history of what in the 1980s was the world’s largest association in the media field. However, the IOJ was embroiled in the Cold War: the bulk of 300,000 members were in the socialist East and developing South. Hence the collapse of the Soviet-led communist order in central-eastern Europe in 1989–91 precipitated the IOJ’s demise. The author – a Finnish journalism educator and media scholar – served as President of the IOJ during its heyday. In addition to a chronological account of the organization, the book includes testimonies by actors inside and outside the IOJ and comprehensive appendices containing unpublished documents. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

How subtler forms of balance-of-power politics can help states achieve their goals against aggressive powers without wars or arms races At the end of the Cold War, the United States emerged as the world's most powerful state, and then used that power to initiate wars against smaller countries in the Middle East and South Asia. According to balance-of-power theory-the bedrock of realism in international relations-other states should have joined together militarily to counterbalance the U.S.'s rising power. Yet they did not. Nor have they united to oppose Chinese aggression in the South China Sea or Russian offensives along its Western border. This does not mean balance-of-power politics is dead, argues renowned international relations scholar T.V. Paul, but that it has taken a different form. Rather than employ familiar strategies such as active military alliances and arms buildups, leading powers have engaged in "soft balancing," which seeks to restrain threatening powers through the use of international institutions, informal alignments, and economic sanctions. Paul places the evolution of balancing behavior in historical perspective from the post-Napoleonic era to today's globalized world. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Žánr: Rock Balení obsahuje: LP Země původu: Německo Barva: Grafika Vydavatelství: Parlophone Typ: Limitovaná edice;Remastered;Nové vydání;Obrázkový disk;Barevná;Album;LP deska;Stereo Subžánr: Glam;Glam Rock;Art Rock Interpret / Téma: David Bowie Barva podle výrobce: Picture Disc Složení setu: 1 ks Dekáda interpreta: 1960 - 1969;2000 - 2009;1980 - 1989;1970 - 1979;2010 - 2019;1990 - 1999 Rok vydání: 2022.0 Rychlost: 33 1/3 RPM Datum vydání: 2022-06-17 Varianta: The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars (Picture Disc) (LP) Země interpreta: Spojené království (muziker.cz)

LP vinyl - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (nebo zkráceně Ziggy Stardust) je konceptuální album Davida Bowieho, vydané v roce 1972. V roce 2017 vyšlo v remastrované podobě. V posledních letech byly Bowieho nahrávky pečlivě zvukově ošetřeny. Na technické vylepšení jednotlivých desek hudebník osobně dohlížel a za jeho asistence vznikl unikátní 12CD a 13LP komplet Five Years (1969-1973). The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (nebo zkráceně Ziggy Stardust) je konceptuální album Davida Bowieho, vydané v roce 1972. V roce 2017 vyšlo v remastrované podobě. Hudební chameleon patří k nejinovativnějším a nejinspirativnějším umělcům hudební historie. Ovlivnil mnoho následovníků včetně řady českých muzikantů. Když v roce 2002 BBC vyhlásila anketu o největšího Brita, umístil se Bowie na 29. místě. Prestižní časopis Rolling Stone ho zařadil na 39. příčku mezi největšími umělci všech dob. Obsah: LP Five Years (2012... (alza.cz)

Rise and Fall opens with the Akkadian Empire, which ruled over a vast expanse of the region of ancient Mesopotamia, then turns to the immense Roman Empire, where we trace back our western and eastern roots. Next Strathern describes how a great deal of western classical culture was developed in the Abbasid and Umayyid Caliphates. Then, while Europe was beginning to emerge from a period of cultural stagnation, it almost fell to a whirlwind invasion from the East, at which point we meet the Emperors of the Mongol Empire . . . Combining breathtaking scope with masterful concision, Paul Strathern traces connections across four millennia and sheds new light on these major civilizations - from the Mongol Empire and the Yuan Dynasty to the Aztec and Ottoman, through to the most recent and biggest Empires: the British, Russo-Soviet and American. Charting 5,000 years of global history in ten succinct chapters, Rise and Fall makes comprehensive and inspiring reading to anyone fascinated by the history of the world. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The Fall of the House of Fifa is the definitive story of Fifa's rise - and the most spectacular fall sport has ever seen. 1904: 'No person should be allowed to arrange matches for personal profit' - Fifa congress A century later: 'Fifa is a Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organisation (RICO) enterprise' - A judge in Brooklyn, using a term originally coined for the mafia For forty years Joao Havelange and then Sepp Blatter presided over a Fifa now plagued with scandal - dawn raids, FBI investigations, allegations of money laundering, industrial-scale bribery, racketeering, tax evasion, vote-buying and theft. Now David Conn, football's most respected investigative journalist, chronicles the extraordinary history and staggering scale of corruption. He paints revealing portraits of the men at the centre of Fifa - the power brokers, the indicted, the legends like Franz Beckenbauer and Michel Platini - and puts the allegations to Blatter himself in an extended interview. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

For some four centuries the Ottoman Empire had been one of the most powerful states in Europe as well as ruler of the Middle East. By 1914 it had been drastically weakened and circled by numerous predators waiting to finish it off. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Sebastien de Castell, 400 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná The Alchemist meets The Three Musketeers - with card tricks - in the first of two prequels to the best-selling Spellslinger series. A brilliant origin story of adventure, wit, and philosophy to enrapture devotees as well as newcomers to the series. Ferius Parfax has a simple plan: Kill every last inhabitant of the spell-gifted nation that destroyed her people, starting with the man who murdered her parents. Killing mages is a difficult and dangerous business, of course, but when she meets the inimitable and extraordinary Durrall Brown, she discovers that physical strength is not the only way to defeat evil of all kinds. So Ferius undertakes to study the ways of the Argosi: the loosely-knit tribe of tricksters known for getting the better of even the most powerful of spellcasters. But the Argosi have a price for their teachings, and by the time Ferius learns what it is, it may... (alza.cz)

Kniha - 304 stran, anglicky, pevná s přebalem lesklá (alza.cz)

Kniha - autor Dan Simmons, 528 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná In the continuation of the epic adventure begun in Hyperion, the far future is resplendent with drama and invention. On the world of Hyperion, the mysterious Time Tombs are opening. And the secrets they contain mean that nothing--nothing anywhere in the universe--will ever be the same. (alza.cz)

eBook: Ready for a food-filled adventure? Let\'s go! Join the Rainbow Chicks in \'King of Snacks Has a Great Fall!’, a colourful story set on Cloud Island. These seven feathered friends - each a different hue of the rainbow - will teach your little one all about yummy foods that are good for them. This playful tale is designed to tackle dietary problems – such as picky eating, preferring snacks etc. – and encourage kids to recognise different foods and their impact on the body and health. Rainbow Chicks Through 24 heart-warming stories, you experience the growth process of the Rainbow Chicks, by focusing on six EQ themes: emotion management, sense of responsibility, self-confidence, problem-solving ability, social skills and concentration. It guides children to control their emotions, care for others, respect and tolerate others and take initiative to solve problems, so as to make them independent and strong. Seven chicks are living on Cloud Island and it is paradise! Each chick is a colour from the rainbow – say hello to Rainbow Chicks! The stories are based on colourful childlike innocence and teach young readers about friendship, sharing, and teamwork. They help children grow and see the beauty in the world. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

LP vinyl - U příležitosti padesátého výročí vydání legendární desky je nahrávka nově k dispozici na vinylovém picture discu a také ve formě half speed mastered LP. Oba formáty vycházejí v limitovaných sériích. U příležitosti padesátého výročí vydání legendární desky je nahrávka nově k dispozici na vinylovém picture discu a také ve formě half speed mastered LP. Oba formáty vycházejí v limitovaných sériích. Jedna z největších osobnostní světové hudby, proslulý hudební chameleon a průkopník hned několika hudebních směrů. Za svůj život vydal tento britský umělec rovných dvacet pět alb, z nichž velká část se zařadila do zlatého fondu populární hudby a ovlivnila hned několik generací hudebníků z několika hudebních žánrů. Své poslední album Black Star David Bowie vydal 8. ledna 2016 v den svých šedesátých devátých narozenin a pouhé dva dny před svou smrtí. Rok reedice : 2022 Seznam stop LP Five Years / Soul Love / Moonage Daydream / Starman / It Ain't Easy /... (alza.cz)

Spine-tingling, mind-altering and deliciously atmospheric, journey into the dark side of America with nine of its most uncanny classics. Edgar Allan Poe was a writer of uncommon talent; in The Murders in the Rue Morgue he created the genre of detective fiction while his genius for finding the strangeness lurking within us all has been an influence on everyone from Freud to Hollywood. This complete collection of all his short stories and novellas contains well-known tales 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart' alongside hidden gems that both unsettle and enthrall the reader. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

For more than 40 years after the Second World War the Iron Curtain divided Europe physically, with 300 km of walls and barbed wire fences; ideologically, between communism and capitalism; psychologically, between people imprisoned under totalitarian dictatorships and their neighbours enjoying democratic freedoms; and militarily, by two mighty, distrustful power blocs, still fighting the cold war. At the start of 1989, ten European nations were still Soviet vassal states. By the end of the year, one after another, they had thrown off communism, declared national independence, and embarked on the road to democracy. One of history's most brutal empires was on its knees. Poets who had been languishing in jails became vice presidents. When the Berlin Wall fell on a chilly November night it seemed as though the open wounds of the cruel twentieth century would at last begin to heal. The Year of Revolutions appeared as a beacon of hope for oppressed people elsewhere who dared to dream that they too could free themselves. In a dizzying few months of almost entirely peaceful revolutions the people's will triumphed over tyranny. An entire way of life was swept away. Now, twenty years on, Victor Sebestyen reassesses this decisive moment in modern history. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - anglicky, Brožovaná bez přebalu matná - anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná "Barbarians at the Gate" is the classic account of the defining takeover in Wall Street merger history. The authors' gripping record of the frenzy that overtook Wall Street, in fall of 1988, gives a richly textured social history of wealth at the twilight of the Reagan era. (alza.cz)

Kniha - 560 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná Edited with an Introduction by David Galloway. (alza.cz)

eBook: The chilling classic that inspired the new Netflix horror drama, \"The Fall of the House of Usher\". Venture, if you dare, into the House of Usher...The narrator visits his friend, Roderick Usher in his decaying mansion, only to witness the harrowing unravellings of Usher\'s mind and the dark family secrets lurking beneath the crumbling ancestral home. A classic tale of gothic horror that has haunted readers for generations. This collection includes \"The Raven\", \"The Tell-Tale Heart\", “The Cask of Amontillado”, \"The Masque of the Red Death\", \"The Purloined Letter\", \"The Pit and the Pendulum\", \"Berenice\", \"The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether\", \"The Fall of the House of Usher\", and \"MS. found in a Bottle\". Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) was an American writer renowned for his macabre and horror-themed tales. His poetic and mysterious style explored themes of death, love, and madness, leaving a lasting impact on gothic literature. Poe\'s notable works include \'The Raven,\' \'The Tell-Tale Heart,\' and \'The Fall of the House of Usher. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In the early eighteenth century, Newstead Abbey was among the most admired aristocratic homes in England. It was the abode of William, 4th Baron Byron - a popular amateur composer and artist - and his teenage wife Frances. But by the end of the century, the building had become a crumbling and ill-cared-for ruin. Surrounded by wreckage of his inheritance, the 4th Baron's dissipated son and heir William, 5th Baron Byron - known to history as the 'Wicked Lord' - lay on his deathbed alongside a handful of remaining servants and amidst a thriving population of crickets.This was the home that a small, pudgy boy of ten from Aberdeen - who the world would later come to know as Lord Byron, the Romantic poet, soldier, and adventurer - would inherit in 1798. His family, he would come to learn, had in recent decades become known for almost unfathomable levels of scandal and impropriety, from elopement, murder, and kidnapping to adultery, coercion, and thrilling near-death experiences at sea. Just as it had shocked the society of Georgian London, the outlandish and scandalous story of the Byrons - and the myths that began to rise around it - would his influence his life and poetry for posterity.The Fall of the House of Byron follows the fates of Lord Byron's ancestors over three generations in a drama that begins in rural Nottinghamshire and plays out in the gentlemen's clubs of Georgian London, amid tempests on far-flung seas, and in the glamour of pre-revolutionary France. A compelling story of a prominent and controversial characters, it is a sumptuous family portrait and an electrifying work of social history. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

The brilliant conclusion to the Chronicles of the One trilogy - an epic story of love, war, family and magic.Fallon Swift has spent all her life preparing for this moment. No longer can she stand by whilst her fellow Magicks are hunted by the fanatical Purity Warriors or rounded up and experimented on by the government.Fallon must follow her destiny to restore the magical shield that once protected them all. But she can't do it alone. It is time to build her army, to take on her nemesis and take down the enemy.She has learned to fight, now she must restore the light and banish the dark forever. The final battle has begun... (knihydobrovsky.cz)

For more than 40 years after the Second World War the Iron Curtain divided Europe physically, with 300 km of walls and barbed wire fences; ideologically, between communism and capitalism; psychologically, between people imprisoned under totalitarian dictatorships and their neighbours enjoying democratic freedoms; and militarily, by two mighty, distrustful power blocs, still fighting the cold war. At the start of 1989, ten European nations were still Soviet vassal states. By the end of the year, one after another, they had thrown off communism, declared national independence, and embarked on the road to democracy. One of history's most brutal empires was on its knees. Poets who had been languishing in jails became vice presidents. When the Berlin Wall fell on a chilly November night it seemed as though the open wounds of the cruel twentieth century would at last begin to heal. The Year of Revolutions appeared as a beacon of hope for oppressed people elsewhere who dared to dream that they too could free themselves. In a dizzying few months of almost entirely peaceful revolutions the people's will triumphed over tyranny. An entire way of life was swept away. Now, twenty years on, Victor Sebestyen reassesses this decisive moment in modern history. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for the first time as a standalone work, the epic tale of The Fall of Gondolin will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, Balrogs, Dragons and Orcs and the rich landscape and creatures unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth.In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar.Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs.Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Turin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Earendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Tuor and Idril, with the child Earendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Earendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources.Following his presentation of Beren and Luthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, it was 'the first real story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Luthien and The Children of Hurin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar.Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs.Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Turin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Earendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Tuor and Idril, with the child Earendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city.They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Earendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources. Following his presentation of Beren and Luthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R.Tolkien, it was 'the first real story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Luthien and The Children of Hurin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

From the prize-winning author of Ring of Steel, a gripping history of the First World War's longest and most terrible siege In the autumn of 1914 Europe was at war. The battling powers had already suffered casualties on a scale previously unimaginable. On both the Western and Eastern fronts elaborate war plans lay in ruins and had been discarded in favour of desperate improvisation. In the West this resulted in the remorseless world of the trenches; in the East all eyes were focused on the old, beleaguered Austro-Hungarian fortress of Przemysl. The siege that unfolded at Przemysl was the longest of the whole war. In the defence of the fortress and the struggle to relieve it Austria-Hungary suffered some 800,000 casualties. Almost unknown in the West, this was one of the great turning points of the conflict. If the Russians had broken through they could have invaded Central Europe, but by the time the fortress fell their strength was so sapped they could go no further. Alexander Watson, prize-winning author of Ring of Steel, has written one of the great epics of the First World War. Comparable to Stalingrad in 1942-3, Przemysl shaped the course of Europe's future. Neither Russians nor Austro-Hungarians ever recovered militarily from their disasters. Using a huge range of sources, Watson brilliantly recreates a world of long-gone empires, broken armies and a cut-off community sliding into chaos. The siege was central to the war itself, but also a chilling harbinger of what would engulf the entire region in the coming decades, as nationalism, anti-semitism and an exterminatory fury took hold. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Return to the world of A Secret History of Witches with the bewitching tale of Ursule Orchiere and her discovery of magical abilities that will not only change the course of her life but every generation that comes after her.Brittany, 1741: There hasn't been a witch born in the Orchiere clan for generations. According the elders, that line is dead, leaving the clan vulnerable to persecution. Ursule Orchiere has been raised on stories of the great witches of the past. But the only magic she knows are the false spells her mother weaves over the women who visit their fortune-telling tent.All of that changes when Ursule comes of age and a spark of power flares to life. Thrilled to be chosen, she has no idea how magic will twist and shape her future. Guided by the whispers of her ancestors and an ancient grimoire, Ursule is destined to walk the same path as the great witches of old. But danger hovers over her. Will she be able to escape the bloodlust of the mob or the flames of the pyre? (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor David Fromkin; Kaya Oakes, 688 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná (alza.cz)

Nedávno zesnulý fotograf František Kressa (1951-2019) představuje v 6. díle série "Normalizační Brno" moravskou metropoli v roce 1989, kdy se zrhoutil komunistický režim. Kressa jako fotograf Brněnského Večerníku trávil všechen pracovní i volný čas v ulicích během listopadu a prosince 1989, kdy Brno zažilo největší vlnu protestů ve své historii. Kressa svými fotografiemi ukazuje vše, co sametové revoluci předcházelo, jak si režim kupoval lidi zábavou, přestože husákovskému režimu nevěřil už skoro nikdo. Jednu kapitolu Kressa věnoval také Frantovi Kocourkovi, jehož zábava vytrhávala lidi z normalizačního bezčasí, další fenoménu Husákových dětí, které tvoří to nejlepší, co v době politického temna vzniklo. Kniha obsahuje také unikátní snímky brněnských tváří totality - představitelů režimu a zachycuje ihned po revoluci zaniklé Muzeum dělnického hnutí a samostatně se věnuje propagandě režimu. Mapuje také první cesty prezidenta Václava Havla do Brna. (patro.cz)

Nedávno zesnulý fotograf František Kressa (1951-2019) představuje v 6. díle série "Normalizační Brno" moravskou metropoli v roce 1989, kdy se zrhoutil komunistický režim. Kressa jako fotograf Brněnského Večerníku trávil všechen pracovní i volný čas v ulicích během listopadu a prosince 1989, kdy Brno zažilo největší vlnu protestů ve své historii. Kressa svými fotografiemi ukazuje vše, co sametové revoluci předcházelo, jak si režim kupoval lidi zábavou, přestože husákovskému režimu nevěřil už skoro nikdo. Jednu kapitolu Kressa věnoval také Frantovi Kocourkovi, jehož zábava vytrhávala lidi z normalizačního bezčasí, další fenoménu Husákových dětí, které tvoří to nejlepší, co v době politického temna vzniklo. Kniha obsahuje také unikátní snímky brněnských tváří totality - představitelů režimu a zachycuje ihned po revoluci zaniklé Muzeum dělnického hnutí a samostatně se věnuje propagandě režimu. Mapuje také první cesty prezidenta Václava Havla do Brna. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Kniha - autor Robert A. Caro, 1344 stran, anglicky, Brožovaná bez přebalu matná - autor Robert A. Caro, 1344 stran, anglicky, brožovaná bez přebalu matná This is the first and foremost a brilliant multidimensional portrait of a man-an extraordinary man who, denied power within the normal framework of the democratic process, stepped outside that framework to grasp power sufficient to shape a great city and hold sway over the very texture of millions of lives. (alza.cz)

eBook: Dive into this electrifying tail-wagging tale filled with magic, mystery, and the timeless bond between man\'s best friend... and mankind! When an ordinary dog named Faraday vanishes from a science experiment, he reappears in the unlikeliest of places - right next to Harry and his friends Sofia, Jack, Alex, and Vivi. But this is no ordinary dog. With sparks flying off his fur and the power to float into mid-air, Faraday leads the kids on a journey beyond their wildest imaginations. Suddenly they\'re transported to an ancient desert valley where construction of magnificent pyramids is underway! Facing Egyptian spearmen and royal feasts with Pharaohs, can they get home safe without unravelling the historical timeline? Meet Sophia, Jack, Vivi, Alex and Harry - friends who stumble upon a stray dog named Faraday from a local science lab. But Faraday is no ordinary dog; he possesses quantum powers including time travel and teleportation! Each story whisks them through different historical periods where they must safeguard the timeline. Their adventures start to echo in history - an imprint of their quantum canine companion! Jeffrey Archer (1940-) is a bestselling British author and former politician, renowned for his captivating novels, short stories, and children\'s books published in over 97 countries and over 37 languages. His best-known works include ‘First Among Equals’, ‘Kane and Abel’ and ‘Only Time Will Tell’. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Noty pro ukulele LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF GREAT SONGS FOR UKULELE Zpěvníky z edice Little Black Book obsahují texty a akordy k desítkám populárních skladeb. Tato verze těchto zpěvníků kapesní velikosti představuje ty největší hity v aranžmá pro ukulele. Seznam skladeb: 5 Years Time [Noah & The Whale] Ain't No Sunshine [Withers, Bill] Alison [Costello, Elvis] All Along The Watchtower [Hendrix, Jimi] Always On My Mind [Presley, Elvis] America [Razorlight] Angels [Williams, Robbie] Better Together [Johnson, Jack] Bigmouth Strikes Again [Smiths, The] Both Sides Now [Mitchell, Joni] Boys Don't Cry [Cure, The] Bright Side Of The Road [Van Morrison] Can't Help Falling In Love [Williams, Andy] Crazy [Cline, Patsy] Crippled Inside [Lennon, John] Daniel [John, Elton] Daydream [Lovin' Spoonful, The] Dream Catch Me [Faulkner, Newton] Dreams [Fleetwood Mac] Every Breath You Take [Police, The] Free Bird [Lynyrd Skynyrd] Give A Little Bit [Supertramp] Golden Brown [Stranglers, The] Good People [Johnson, Jack] Have I Told You Lately [Van Morrison] Here Comes Your Man [Pixies, The] Here, There And Everywhere [Beatles, The] Homeward Bound [Simon & Garfunkel] I Don't Want To Talk About It [Everything But The Girl] I Walk The Line [Cash, Johnny] If You Could Read My Mind [Lightfoot, Gordon] I'm A Believer [Monkees, The] I'm Yours [Mraz, Jason] Love Is All Around [Wet Wet Wet] Maggie May [Stewart, Rod] Many Rivers To Cross [Cliff, Jimmy] Marrakesh Express [Crosby, Stills & Nash] Mr. Tambourine Man [Byrds, The] New York, New York [Adams, Ryan] Oh, Pretty Woman [Orbison, Roy] Other Side Of The World [Tunstall, KT] Perfect Skin [Cole, Lloyd] Poker Face [Lady Gaga] Price Tag [Jessie J] Rolling In The Deep [Adele] Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town [Rogers, Kenny] Run [Snow Patrol] Sloop John B [Beach Boys, The] Somewhere In My Heart [Aztec Camera] Starman [Bowie, David] Stuck In The Middle With You [Stealers Wheel] Sunday Morning [Velvet Underground, The] Suzanne [Cohen, Leonard] Sweetest Thing [U2] That's Entertainment [Jam, The] The Boxer [Simon And Garfunkel] The Cave [Mumford & Sons] The Day We Caught The Train [Ocean Colour Scene] The First Cut Is The Deepest [Stevens, Cat] The Power Of Love [Frankie Goes To Hollywood] The Scientist [Coldplay] The Sound Of Silence [Simon And Garfunkel] The Weight [Band, The] Try A Little Tenderness [Redding, Otis] Unchained Melody [Righteous Brothers, The] Waiting In Vain [Marley, Bob] Waltz #2 (Xo) [Smith, Elliott] What's Up [4 Non Blondes] Where Did You Sleep Last Night? [Nirvana] Who'll Stop The Rain [Creedence Clearwater Revival] Why Does It Always Rain On Me? [Travis] Will You? [O'connor, Hazel] Wonderful Tonight [Clapton, Eric] Wuthering Heights [Bush, Kate] Yellow [Coldplay] You Do Something To Me [Weller, Paul] Your Cheatin' Heart [Williams, Hank] You've Got To Hide Your Love Away [Oasis] (kytary.cz)

An untried acolyte desperate to speak with the orisha she worships accidentally reignites a cosmic war. The fate of her gods - and of her world - now lies in her inexperienced hands. Perfect for fans of N. K. Jemisin, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Daughters of Nri, and Godkiller. Ashake is an acolyte in the temple of Ifa, yearning for the day she is made a priest and sent out into the world to serve the orisha.But of all the acolytes, she is the only one the orisha refuse to speak to. For years she has watched from the sidelines as peer after peer passes her by and ascends to full priesthood. Desperate, Ashake attempts to summon and trap an orisha-any orisha.Instead, she experiences a vision so terrible it draws the attention of a powerful enemy sect and thrusts Ashake into the center of a centuries-old war that will shatter the very foundations of her world. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar.Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs.Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Turin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Earendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Tuor and Idril, with the child Earendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city.They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Earendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources. Following his presentation of Beren and Luthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R.Tolkien, it was 'the first real story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Luthien and The Children of Hurin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for the first time as a standalone work, the epic tale of The Fall of Gondolin will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves and Men, Balrogs, Dragons and Orcs and the rich landscape and creatures unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth. In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar. Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs. Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Turin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Earendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo. At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Tuor and Idril, with the child Earendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Earendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources. Following his presentation of Beren and Luthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, it was 'the first real story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Luthien and The Children of Hurin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe, chief of the Valar.Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs.Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Turin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's daughter, and their son is Earendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo.At last comes the terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of Tuor and Idril, with the child Earendel, looking back from a cleft in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of their city.They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of Earendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in this book from other sources. Following his presentation of Beren and Luthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R.Tolkien, it was 'the first real story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Luthien and The Children of Hurin, he regarded it as one of the three 'Great Tales' of the Elder Days. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

Minions: The Rise of Gru, will be released in UK cinemas in July 2022.This retelling of the highly anticipated movie Minions: The Rise of Gru brings the magic home so fans can experience the Minions' adventures again and again. (knihydobrovsky.cz)

eBook: Enter Big Willy C. In this his first published novel, Collins tackles two conflicts in the Rome of 408 AD: Paganism vs. Christianity and the titular hero, the daughter of a Christian Roman zealot, Antonia vs. Goisvintha – a Goth survivor of a Roman massacre. And when mild-mannered Antonia ends up captured by Goisvintha's brother during a siege, a tale of betrayals, sex and cat and mouse can truly unfold. It's not giant mech battles on distant planets exactly, but for 1850 English literature, this is pretty darn exotic. (knihydobrovsky.cz)