Are you the world's biggest Foo Fighters fan? Or do you want to discover some interesting facts about Dave Grohl's band, generally considered to be the best rock act in the entire world? If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are more than one hundred amazing facts about everything, from the band's formation and early days of recording all the way to their most recent tour. With sections about each member as well as information on their music, awards and much more, you can find the information you want fast - and the book is perfect for all ages. No fan should be without it!

Do you love 5 Seconds of Summer, are you a fan of 5SOS, then you need these 50 Quick facts about the band! It's a quick facts fix for fans!

Are you the world's most knowledgeable Brat? Or do you want to find out everything there is to know about one of the world's freshest female singers? If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are over one hundred facts about Cher Lloyd, from her loves and hates to her relationships and secret marriage plus much, much more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast and is perfect for all ages!

Are you a fan of Miley Cyrus? Have you followed her unprecedented rise to fame from the star of Disney Channel's Hannah Montana to teen idol? Do you think you know everything there is to know about the talented American actress and singer? Then why not test your knowledge with the 100 thought provoking questions in this quiz book. Do you know how Miley came about her unusual name, where she celebrated her 16th birthday or how many tattoos she has? Can you name her famous father and Godmother? The answers to all these questions and more can be found inside this book as well as many personal details such as Miley's height and shoe size and her likes and dislikes. Packed full of fascinating facts, you are guaranteed to discover something new about the Hannah Montana star. A fun and entertaining way to learn more about your favourite celebrity, The Miley Cyrus Quiz Book is a must have for all Miley fans from five to 95.

Brief Description: Are you a Michael Jackson fan? Have you followed every twist and turn in the amazing Michael Jackson story? Did you mourn his untimely death? Then what better way to pay tribute to the undisputed king of pop than with this quiz book? The 100 questions in the The Michael Jackson Quiz Book are designed to test your memory of the people and places that shaped the life of one of the most popular and controversial entertainers in the history of popular music. Michael Jackson leaves behind a legacy of ground breaking hits, who can forget Thriller or Billie Jean? This book covers the phenomenal success of the early years singing with his brothers, to Michael's transformation into a multi award winning solo artist and innovative performer. With questions about all aspects of Michael's life, you are certain to discover something new about the iconic superstar. This book is a must have for all Michael Jackson fans and for anyone interested in learning more about the man responsible for some of the most famous songs and memorable dance videos of all time.

Are you an expert on Britney Spears? Have you followed every dramatic twist and turn in the amazing Britney Spears story from child wannabe to controversial princess of pop? Are you familiar with Britney's early work before finding international acclaim and stardom? And would you like to find out more about the blond schoolgirl who went on to become a global icon? If so The Britney Spears Quiz Book is just what you need. Packed with fascinating facts this quiz book covers the phenomenal success of the young Britney through to more troubled times. With 100 questions about the chart topping hits, awards and nominations, career highlights and low points, as well as many personal details, you are certain to learn something new about your favourite celebrity. This book is a fitting tribute to the woman listed by Forbes as the third most mentioned musician on the Internet and who is purported to be the best-selling female artist of the first decade of the 21st century. If you are a fan of Britney, you will love this quiz book.

Are you a wine connoisseur? Do you prefer to try different makes and vintages or do you have a firm favourite? At the weekend, do you like to open a bottle (or two!) to enjoy with family and friends? Whatever your wine drinking habits, if you like wine, you are certain to enjoy this new trivia book. Do you know how the American 'Starboard' wine came to be named? What did the eminent scientist William Lemeck discover about champagne? Who said, "e;Whether wine is a nourishment, medicine or poison is a matter of dosage."e;? The answers can all be found in Wine - 101 Truths, Myths and Legends.With sections on names of wines, champagne, colour, history, labels, quotes, cost, and much more, you can't help but find out some fascinating new facts about wine and the myths and legends surrounding it. Whether red, white or rose is your tipple, and even if you only ever drink champagne, if you like wine and are interested in the facts and figures associated with its production, you won't want to without this book.

Is Fulham your local football team or the one you have chosen to support? Do you go to every match? Are you clued up on all the events, people and places that have shaped the club's long history? Then why not find out how much you really know about The Cottagers with this fun quiz book?With 250 thought-provoking questions about all aspects of the club, including the top players and managers, nationalities and playing positions, worthy opponents, club honours, and all those memorable matches from days gone by, this book can't fail to turn up one or two surprises alongside all the well known facts.Packed full of information, The Fulham Quiz Book is certain to score a hit with football fans of all ages, whether you want to impress family and friends with your knowledge or simply find out more about the club. This tribute to the Cottagers is an indispensable guide for all fans of Fulham FC and anyone who is interested in learning about London's oldest professional football team.

Are you the world's biggest Eminem fan? Or do you want to know everything there is to know about the rapper and best-selling artist of the last decade?If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are 101 amazing facts about everything, from his upbringing as Marshal Mathers III, how he got started in the music industry, his rocky relationship with Kim and much more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast and is a great addition to any bookshelf.

Are you a fan of the Eurovision Song Contest? Do you follow all the pre-show build-up and eagerly tune in to watch the contest on television when the big night arrives? Can you remember all the past winners, and losers, who have provided so many golden Eurovision moments? If so, you won't want to be without 101 Interesting Facts on the Eurovision Song Contest. Find out when and where the very first Eurovision Song Contest was held, how many countries took part and what the contest was originally called. Gen up on which country has finished in first and last place the greatest number of times and all the famous artists who have participated in the contest through the years. This book is full of fascinating Eurovision trivia about the performers, compares and participating countries as well as all statistics about the contest, to delight even the most knowledgeable Eurovision fans. If you enjoy the annual singing spectacular that is the Eurovision Song Contest, this book is for you.

Does a member of your family have Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or is someone close to you showing signs of being affected by it? Do you know what traits to look out for and how to respond to people with ASD? Would you like to gain a better insight of the problems associated with the disorder? If so, this book has been written with you in mind. How long do the effects of ASD last and can it be accurately diagnosed? Is ASD more common in boys or girls? What are the traits peculiar to people with ASD? 101 Interesting Facts on Autistic Spectrum Disorder has all the answers and is an excellent starting point for anyone who wants to understand the characteristics of ASD and how to recognise them. Written in a positive, easy-to-understand format, this book is the ideal reference for anyone who looking for a fast way to learn the basics of ASD. This is an invaluable guide that you won't want to be without.

Three Sisters was written for the Moscow Art Theatre and was directed by Staniskavski himself on first opening. The play is often included in Chekhov's list of four outstanding plays and part of the classic repertoire of many world theatres. The play follows Chekhovian tradition of subtle character development and humour which often makes it a challenge for both performers and directors.

The Frogs tells the story of the god Dionysus, who, despairing of the state of Athens' tragedians, travels to the underworld to bring the playwright Euripides back from the dead. He brings along his slave Xanthias, who is smarter and braver than Dionysus. As the play opens, Xanthias and Dionysus argue over what kind of jokes Xanthias can use to open the play.

A group of women, led by the wise and redoubtable Praxagora, has decided that the women of Athens must convince the men to give them control of the city, as they are convinced they can do a better job. Disguised as men, the women sneak into the assembly and command the majority of votes needed to carry their series of revolutionary proposals, even convincing some of the men to vote for it on the grounds that it is the only thing they have not tried.

Carte nominalizat? la premiile Samuel Johnson, Duff Cooper ?i Marsh Biography?O biografie splendid scris?, o carte care reu?e?te s? ne surprind? ?n multiple feluri. Nu numai c? scoate din umbra istoriei personalitatea lui Potemkin ?i cariera sa excentric?, dar aduce la via?? Rusia aristocratic? a secolului al XVIII-lea… Este evident c? ceea ce l-a fascinat pe Sebag Montefiore este ?nsu?i omul – personalitatea, realiz?rile, rela?ia sa de o via?? cu suverana-amant? –, iar aceast? fascina?ie transpare ?n fiecare pagin? a c?r?ii.“ – Anne Applebaum?O carte magnific?… Reabilitarea plin? de pasiune ?i de devotament a eroului lui Montefiore este numai unul dintre nenum?ratele atuuri minunate ale acestei c?r?i. Realizat? ?n urma cercet?rii am?nun?ite a arhivelor ruse?ti, este o lucrare ?tiin?ific? deosebit?… O biografie superb?… greu de imaginat c? va putea fi ?ntrecut? vreodat?.“ – Frank McLynn?Entuziasmul ?i erudi?ia lui Montefiore fac din aceast? carte mult mai mult dec?t o biografie captivant?, lectura ei este un galop n?valnic… Un triumf al muncii de cercetare ?i o bucurie a lecturii.“ – Antony BeevorCa t?n?r ofi?er de gard?, Grigori Potemkin a atras aten?ia Ecaterinei, la acea vreme Mare Duces? a Rusiei, cu un gest teatral plin de mare galanterie ?n timpul loviturii de palat care a adus-o pe aceasta la tron. ?n cei treizeci de ani care au urmat, avea s? devin? iubitul ei, partener la domnie ?i so? ?ntr-o c?s?torie secret?, care l?sa libertate am?ndurora pentru satisfacerea propriilor extravagan?e sexuale. Potemkin s-a dovedit a fi unul dintre cei mai sclipitori oameni de stat ai secolului al XVIII-lea, ajut?nd-o pe Ecaterina s? extind? Imperiul Rus ?i manipul?nd cu ?ndem?nare alia?i ?i adversari, de la Constantinopol p?n? la Londra.Aceast? biografie recreeaz? cu ?nsufle?ire personalitatea flamboaiant? ?i realiz?rile lui Potemkin ?i ?i red? locul cuvenit ca un adev?rat colos al secolului al XVIII-lea.Volumul este o cronic? a rela?iei tumultuoase dintre Potemkin ?i Ecaterina, a extraordinarei pove?ti de dragoste dintre dou? personalit??i puternice care au influen?at cursul istoriei. Aduc?nd la via?? aceste personaje cu destine romane?ti, Montefiore relateaz? totodat? povestea cre?rii Imperiului Rus. O biografie la superlativ – intim? ?i panoramic?, explod?nd de via?? ?i pasiune.?Una dintre marile pove?ti de dragoste ale istoriei, ?n aceea?i lig? cu Joséphine ?i Napoleon, Antoniu ?i Cleopatra… O carte excelent?, scris? cu o extraordinar? m?iestrie a detaliului ?i un talent literar uluitor.“ – The Economist

Cartea de fa?? vrea s? relateze succint, dar temeinic, evenimentele petrecute în cei dou?zeci de ani de insecuritate ?i criz? ce au urmat Marelui R?zboi. Indiferent cât de puternice sau de durat? au fost for?ele ce au dus la izbucnirea celui de-al Doilea R?zboi Mondial, a existat un moment când principalii actori pe scena istoriei s-au v?zut nevoi?i s? se confrunte cu aceste for?e ?i s? ia anumite decizii. Marile evenimente ale istoriei î?i genereaz? o dinamic? ?i o desf??urare proprii. Din perspectiva noastr?, a celor de acum, al Doilea R?zboi Mondial pare s? fi izbucnit din cauza crizei interna?ionale provocate de Germania lui Hitler. Îns? nimic din ce se întâmpl? în istorie nu este inevitabil, dup? cum va încerca s? demonstreze acest volum. Dialogul straniu între sistem ?i actorii lui se afl? la baza relat?rii istorice. Evenimentele înse?i pot fi, în acela?i timp, cauz? ?i efect – la fel cum s-a întâmplat ?

Aceast? carte este un demers pe care l-am g?ndit ca pe o lucrare de sintez? care s? surprind?, ?n m?sura posibilit??ilor, puncte de referin?? ?ntre texte ?i autori din perioade diferite, din Evul Mediu european ?i Rena?tere, con?tient? fiind c? epoca medieval? nu trebuie considerat? cu nimic mai prejos dec?t grandorile Greciei vechi sau ale Rena?terii. Problematica acestui concept al Alegoriei ?n receptarea sa de c?tre literatura Evului Mediu, dar ?i de c?tre epocile ulterioare, este complex? ?i bogata bibliografie ce i s-a consacrat ?n ultimele decenii nu face dec?t s? provoace la noi discu?ii ?i interpret?ri a?a cum este ?i aceast? lucrare.

Apariia n 1948 a primei reviste romneti n exil, la Paris, intitulat de creatorii ei, Virgil Ierunca i Mircea Eliade, Luceafrul“, a venit dup ce tvlugul sovietic reuise s anihileze n ar Romnia politic, iar pe cea spiritual parial, ducnd, dup cum spunea Julien Benda, la trdarea crturarilor. Reacia la aceast stare a venit, aa dup cum era i firesc, din partea unor intelectuali exilai i cu precdere a lui Virgil Ierunca, unul dintre cei doi componeni a ceea ce putem denumi instituia Lovinescu – Ierunca“. Acest cuplu a tiut s prezerve valorile romneti i nu numai pe cele spirituale, s anime, s conving, s scoat din inerie pe acei intelectuali romni exilai care i cutau menirea n acea lume care, pe atunci, nu oferea, ca mai trziu, linitea interioar att de necesar creaiei. Ierunca a fost deseori cel care l-a mpins pe Mircea Eliade s nu rmn ancorat ntr-o literatur de mrturii, ci ntr-o via activ de creaie, de cutri. Volumul de fa, care ne restituie“ Luceafrul“, se datoreaz meritului deosebit al autorilor Mihaela Albu i Dan Anghelescu.Studiul efectuat cu ntreaga dragoste i acribie a cercetatorului ne dezvluie, cu rafinament, ndeosebi o cunoatere aprofundat a simirilor celor care, cu 60 de ani n urm, nu abdicaser de la datorie. Impresioneaz nu numai relatarea faptic, dar i bogia cu care cei doi autori pun n relaie imensul lor bagaj cultural cu ceea ce au produs cu o jumtate de secol n urm autorii Luceafrului“.“ (Dinu Zamfirescu)

O istorie politico-sentimental? a capitalei noastre. De ce o istorie politico-sentimental?? Pentru c?, ?n evolu?ia Bucure?tiului, de-alungul secolelor, afacerile politice s-au ?mpletit adesea, inevitabil, cu b?t?ile inimii. Chiar prima perioad? a cet??ii, ca ?i capital? domneasc?, tutelat? de figu ra dominant? a doamnei Chiajna, poate fi b?nuit? de un senzualism crud care a deschis drum acelui fenomen pe care Ionescu-Gion ?l numea at?t de plastic ?ginecolatrie“, adic? ascultarea dovedit? de domnitorii valahi fa?? de so?iile lor.

Cartea t?n?rului universitar Mihai-Bogdan Marian consacrat? analizei conflictelor interna?ionale este o invita?ie la luciditate, la reflec?ie autonom?, dezinhibat?, la cercetare aplicat?, f?r? prejudec??i ?i partizanate apriorice. Autorul este un analist pentru care exerci?iul ?n sine al disec?rii cauzelor ?i ?mprejur?rilor ce favorizeaz? apari?ia ?i acutizarea conflictelor interna?ionale nu este unul fortuit sau gratuit. Ideea sa tutelar? este c? orice astfel de conflict poate fi pre?nt?mpinat. Iar dac?, fatalmente, el s-a declan?at ?i s-a dezvoltat, sc?p?nd poate de sub control, poate fi dezamorsat, factorii angrena?i ?n acest proces av?nd la ?ndem?n? algoritmi ?i proceduri standard care nu trebuie s? fac? obiectul unei ac?iuni in extremis, care s? justifice de fapt prin e?ec escaladarea ?n continuare a conflictului ca atare. (Mihai Milca)

THE Mesopotamian civilization shares with the Egyptian civilization the honour of being one of the two earliest civilizations in the world, and although M. J. de Morgan’s excavations at Susa the ruined capital of ancient Elam, have brought to light the elements of an advanced civilization which perhaps even antedates that of Mesopotamia, it must be remembered that the Sumerians who, so far as our present knowledge goes, were the first to introduce the arts of life and all that they bring with them, into the low-lying valley of the Tigris and Euphrates, probably themselves emigrated from the Elamite plateau on the east of the Tigris; at all events the Sumerians expressed both “mountain” and “country” by the same writing-sign, the two apparently being synonymous from their point of view; in support of this theory of a mountain-home for the Sumerians, we may perhaps further explain the temple-towers, the characteristic feature of most of the religious edifices in Mesopotamia, as a conscious or unconscious imitation in bricks and mortar of the hills and ridges of their native-land, due to an innate aversion to the dead-level monotony of the Babylonian plain, while it is also a significant fact that in the earliest period Shamash the Sun-god is represented with one foot resting on a mountain, or else standing between two mountains. However this may be, the history of the Elamites was intimately wrapped up with that of the dwellers on the other side of the Tigris, from the earliest times down to the sack of Susa by Ashur-bani-pal, king of Assyria, in the seventh century. Both peoples adopted the cuneiform system of writing, so-called owing to the wedge-shaped formation of the characters, the wedges being due to the material used in later times for all writing purposes—the clay of their native soil—: both spoke an agglutinative, as opposed to an inflexional language like our own, and both inherited a similar culture. A further, and in its way a more convincing argument in support of the mountain-origin theory is afforded by the early art of the Sumerians. On the most primitive seal cylinders1 we find trees and animals whose home is in the mountains, and which certainly were not native to the low-lying plain of Babylonia. The cypress and the cedar-tree are only found in mountainous districts, but a tree which must be identified with one or the other of them is represented on the early seal cylinders; it is of course true that ancient Sumerian rulers fetched cedar wood from the mountains for their building operations, and therefore the presence of such a tree on cylinder seals merely argues a certain acquaintance with the tree, but Ceteris paribus it is more reasonable to suppose that the material earthly objects depicted, were those with which the people were entirely familiar and not those with which they were merely casually acquainted. Again, on the early cylinders the mountain bull, known as the Bison bonasus, assumes the r?le played in later times by the lowland water-buffalo. This occurs with such persistent regularity that the inference that the home of the Sumerians in those days was in the mountains is almost inevitable. Again, as Ward points out, the composite man-bull Ea-bani, the companion of Gilgamesh, has always the body of a bison, never that of a buffalo. So too the frequent occurrence of the ibex, the oryx, and the deer with branching horns, all argues in the same direction, for the natural home of all these animals lay in the mountains.