It was a winter night, and the ground around Paris was covered with snow, although the flakes had ceased to fall since some hours.?Spite of the cold and the darkness, a young man, wrapped in a mantle so voluminous as to hide a babe in his arms, strode over the white fields out of the town of Villers Cotterets, in the woods, eighteen leagues from the capital, which he had reached by the stage-coach, towards a hamlet called Haramont. His assured step seemed to indicate that he had previously gone this road.?Soon above him streaked the leafless boughs upon the grey sky. The sharp air, the odor of the oaks, the icicles and beads on the tips of branches, all appealed to the poetry in the wanderer.??Through the clumps he looked for the village spire and the blue smoke of the chimneys, filtering from the cottages through the natural trellis of the limbs.?It was dawn when he crossed a brook, bordered with yellow cress and frozen vines, and at the first hovel asked for the laborer's boy to take him to Madeline Pi-tou's home.??Mute and attentive, not so dull as most of their kind, the children sprang up and staring at the stranger, led him by the hand to a rather large and good-looking cottage, on the bank of the rivulet running by most of the dwellings.?A plank served as a bridge.?"There," said one of the guides nodding his head to-wards it.?Gilbert gave them a coin, which made their eyes open still more widely, and crossed the board to the door which he pushed open, while the children, taking one another's hand, started with all their might at the handsome gentleman in a brown cloth coat, buckled shoes and large cloak, who wanted to find Madeline Pitou.?Apart from them, Gilbert, for such was the young man's name, simply so for he had no other, saw no liv-ing things: Haramont was the deserted village he was seeking.??As soon as the door was open, his sight was struck by a scene full of charm, for almost anybody, and par-ticularly for a young philosopher like our roamer.?A robust peasant woman was suckling a baby, while another child, a sturdy boy of four or five, was saying a prayer in a loud voice.?In the chimney corner, near a window or rather a hole in the wall in which was stuck a pane of glass, an-other woman, going on for thirty-five or six, was spin-ning, with a stool under her feet, and a fat poodle on an end of this stool.?Catching sight of the visitor the dog barked in a civil and hospitable manner just to show that he had not been caught napping. The praying boy turned, cutting the devotional phrase in two, and both females uttered an exclamation between joy and surprise.?"I greet you, good mother Madeline," said Gilbert with a smile.

This is not a book about writing or innovation, arts or craft but a guide to being more creative and to applying the creative process to everything. Orna Ross, award-winning and best-selling novelist, and founder of the global non-profit self-publishing association, the Alliance of Independent Authors, has gathered extracts from a selection of her books -- novels, poems and the Go Creative! series into this anthology of inspirations, aimed at helping you to be more creative in everything you do. Ranging widely across her work, this anthology is at once a memoir, a meditation on the creative process, and an eloquent companion to living life as a conscious creator: a creativist. At its core is the concept of creativism, the art of creating more of what you truly want in your life and less of what you don’t. Through a blend of stories from lore and literature, from science and psychology, from her students and from her own life, Orna offers enduring wisdoms about creative practice as it applies to life, love and the pursuit of happiness -- including how to foster flow, overcome self-sabotage and enjoy true creative living. Chapters include: "The Seven Stages of The Creative Process"; "How To Create Anything" and "Where The Law of Attraction Goes Wrong” but what makes this volume unique is the stories and poems. Extracts from Orna's novels illustrate creative principles in action in the lives of her characters. And inspirational poems ignite the state of creative presence as you read. The combination of ancient wisdoms and up-to-date creative research equips you for the creative age in which we now live. Guaranteed to inspire and ignite your own creative spark, this compendium is also an excellent introduction to the Go Creative! series, as well as a practical guide to being more creative at work, at home and in everything you do.

A comprehensive guide to one of the greatest composers in history, Franz Joseph Haydn. This book covers the whole of Haydn's life and works.

English author Thomas de Quincey's autobiographical account of his addiction to laudanum (opium and alcohol) was his first major success. It paints a fascinating picture of the lives of the opium-eaters in 19th century London.

Are you a fan of the film - Back To The Future - Do you think you know all there is to know about the film. Containing questions about the plot, characters and actors, as well as facts about the making of the film. This fun quiz book will test you, your family and friends knowledge of this great film.

Firefly is the brainchild of the hugely talented Joss Whedon. A space western drama that lasted on 14 episodes but in that time gathered a hardcore and vociferous following that like to call themselves Browncoats. This quiz book contains well over 100 questions from subjects like the original crew of the Firefly-class ship Serenity, the interpersonal relationships of the crew members, the deadly Reavers, the antics of the hero they call Jayne and many more. Prepare to test your knowledge on this short lived but much loved series.You can't stop the signal.

Are you the world's biggest Red Hot Chili Peppers Fan? Do you know everything there is to know about Anthony, Flea and the rest of the boys? Then this is the book for you! In this easy-to-digest eBook are 101 facts about your favourite band - do you know all of them?Test yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts easily organised into categories for maximum enjoyment. Sections include the members of the band, how they formed, awards they have won and some crazy facts about their antics over the years. Show everyone that you are the master of RHCP knowledge!

How well do you know your 90s Movies? This Quiz book will test even the most avid fan, with questions that span the 90s films of all genres! Test yourself and your friends with this 90s Movies Quiz Book.

The 'The Ultimate Classical Music Quiz Book' is a fun selection of original questions (and answers!), comprehensively covering all facets of classical music between 1730 and 1820! As a quiz game it will separate the Mozart's from the Salineri, the Beethoven's from the Luchesi's and is a fantastic way to enjoy classical music even more.

Are you the world's biggest Rod Stewart fan? Or do you want to find out everything there is to know about one of the world's best-loved singers?If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are 101 amazing facts about how Rod got started in the music industry, the numerous awards he has won, the beautiful women he has dated, plus many more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast!

Are you the world's biggest Ed Sheeran fan? Or do you want to know everything there is to know about one of the most talented singer-songwriters of a generation?If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are 101 amazing facts about everything, from how Ed got started in the music industry to his many tattoos, collaborations with other artists and much more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast and is perfect for all ages!

Did you know that President Theodore Roosevelt had a guinea pig called Fighting Bob Evans along with many other hilariously named pets? Were you aware that a certain Brazilian Emperor didn't oppose a military coup because he no longer enjoyed his job? Brought to you by renowned trivia historians Jack Goldstein and Jimmy Russell, this eBook is full of facts that will make you laugh, gasp in amazement and possibly blow your mind. Find out what percentage of the world's wood is used just by IKEA, the unusual job Sylvester Stallone once had, who wrote the world's first knock-knock joke and much, much more.

Did you know that the dog who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz earned more money for the film than any of the munchkins did? Or that Jack Nicholson was considered for the role of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs? If you enjoy going to the movies, you will love this book which contains over one hundred amazing facts about your favourite flicks. Organised into sections such as cameos, money, props and more, this is the perfect addition for any film fan's bookshelf.

The private letters to friends and family of one of history's greatest musical minds, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A wonderful look into the personal life of the great composer.Translated into English and with full notes on names and phrases used in the letters.

Are you the world's biggest Mahomie? Or do you want to find out everything there is to know about the heartthrob and singer-songwriter? If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are over one hundred facts about Austin, from his childhood to his emergence as a megastar, his embarrassing secrets, relationships and much, much more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast... and is an unmissable addition to any true fan's bookshelf!

The A-Z of Atari 2600 Games: Volume 1 features reviews of three different games for each letter of the alphabet. The games range from the very earliest releases in the 70s to the modern homebrew games of today. This book shows you just how diverse the library of titles is for the Atari 2600 and how it became one of the best-selling consoles of all time.

A wonderfully comprehensive look at the subject of crime, written by American lawyer Clarence Darrow. Looks at everything from the reasons people commit crimes, to the effects and ethics of punishment, to the role of the police, to the criminal mindset and underworld, to the concept of war crimes, and much more besides.

Are you the world's biggest Leonardo DiCaprio fan? Do you know everything there is to know about the actor of a generation? Then this is the book for you! In this easy-to-digest eBook are 101 facts about your favourite movie star - do you know all of them?Test yourself and your friends with these handily-packaged facts easily organised into categories for maximum enjoyment. Sections include Leo's films, his family and friends and some crazy facts about his life!Whether your favourite film is Titanic, Inception or The Great Gatsby, this fantastic eBook is full of great fun facts for you.

Are you the world's biggest fan of The Wanted? Or do you want to find out everything there is to know about the world's greatest boy-band?If so, then this is the book for you! Contained within are 101 amazing facts about how they boys got started in the music industry, the women they have dated, incredible things about their personal lives plus many more. The book is easily organised into sections so you can find the information you want fast!

A comprehensive study of several great operas from the renowned musicologist Henry Edward Krehbiel. Includes in-depth analyses of: Il Bariere di Siviglia Le Nozze Di Figaro Die Zauberfloete Don Giovanni Fidelio Faust Mefistofele La Damnation de Faust La Traviata Aida Der Freischuetz Tannhaeuser Tristan und Isolde Parsifal Die Meistersinger von Nuernberg Lohengrin Haensel und Gretel

The Renaissance,' a word which means being born again, or a new awakening, when men began to draw real pictures of real things and fill the world with images of beauty.Now it is the stories of the men of that time, who put new life into Art, that I am going to tell you--men who learned, step by step, to paint the most beautiful pictures that the world possesses.In telling these stories I have been helped by an old book called The Lives of the Painters, by Giorgio Vasari, who was himself a painter. He took great delight in gathering together all the stories about these artists and writing them down with loving care, so that he shows us real living men, and not merely great names by which the famous pictures are known. It did not make much difference to us when we were little children whether our pictures were good or bad, as long as the colours were bright and we knew what they meant. But as we grow older and wiser our eyes grow wiser too, and we learn to know what is good and what is poor. Only, just as our tongues must be trained to speak, our hands to work, and our ears to love good music, so our eyes must be taught to see what is beautiful, or we may perhaps pass it carelessly by, and lose a great joy which might be ours.So now if you learn something about these great artists and their wonderful pictures, it will help your eyes to grow wise. And some day should you visit sunny Italy, where these men lived and worked, you will feel that they are quite old friends. Their pictures will not only be a delight to your eyes, but will teach your heart something deeper and more wonderful than any words can explain.