"To those who think Europe matters, and even more so, to those who don’t”… Michael Tracy’s “Memoirs” recount his experiences from boyhood in wartime Scotland, through hi life in “public school” and university, to postings in various international organisations and a senior position within the European Union in Brussels; then to involvement in Russia and other Central/European countries in the 1990s. The book concludes with an assessment of current issues facing both the EU and Russia; also Britain in its relations with the EU. . . . . . Michael Tracy grew up in Scotland during the war of 193945. After gaining scholarships to Fettes College in Edinburgh, then to Cambridge University (studying Modern Languages, then Economics), he worked in international organisations and for ten years was a Director in the Council Secretariat of the European Union. He also pursued an academic career, writing on agricultural policy and economics and lecturing in various European universities, including Wye College in England and the College of Europe in Bruges. In Moscow in 1991 he witnessed at close quarters the collapse of the Soviet Union, and subsequently was involved in a new institute in St. Petersburg. Subsequently he had advisory and teaching roles in the countries of Central/Eastern Europe during their transition to market economies and accession to the European Union. His final chapter assesses the issues currently facing both the European Union and Russia. Taking the story up to May 2010, it discusses the prospects for the eurozone, and the implications of Britain’s new coalition government for Britain’s relations with the EU (a subject which he has followed from the outset in the late 1950s). This is not a history: it is a personal, lively and often humorous account of Michael Tracy’s experiences, in which personal contacts figure largely. Nor is it a tract for or against the European Union; on the other hand, it sheds a more human light on proceedings in “Brussels”. Graham Dalton of the University of Aberdeen admires the depth of knowledge at the heart of Michael Tracy’s memoir and concludes: “His thoughts on Europe are wellfounded, rounded and are to be taken seriously.” Michael Tracy has been President of the British Agricultural Economics Society and is an honorary member of the Académie d’Agriculture de France. His other main works are: Government and Agriculture in Western Europe, 18801988 (3rd edn. 1989); Food and Agriculture in a Market Economy – an introduction to theory, practice and policy (1993); and in retirement: The World of the Edwardian Child, as seen in Arthur Mee’s Children’s Encyclop?dia 19081910 (2008). c After retirement, Michael continues to live mainly in Belgium, where he and his wife have a “hobby farm” with pedigree sheep. He also spends time in an Andalucian mountain village. His main hobby in both places is as an amateur pianist, is making music with friends.

Meomi is a team dedicated to creating compelling visual characters and stories that delight, entice, and inspire. Meomi's characters have appeared in clothing, toys, merchandise, and magazines worldwide. They are the designers of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic mascots and have also created art for clients such as Electronic Arts, Google, Time Out Magazine, CBC4Kids, Zune, and Girls Inc. Meomi likes tea and accordions.^MEOMI is Vicki and Michael Murphy. Meomi enjoys sitting by the ocean, making up stories, drinking tea and drawing strange creatures. Meomi's characters have appeared in clothing, toys, merchandise and magazines worldwide. They have also created art and animation for clients such as CBC4Kids, Google, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Yo Gabba Gabba, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and Paralympics. Meomi likes sea slugs, yarn hats, and ukuleles.

Oliver Jeffers graduated from The University of Ulster in 2001 with First Class honours. His outstanding talent has been recognised by several high-profile awards, including the Nestlé Children’s Book Prize Gold Award. ‘Lost and Found’ animation was broadcast on Channel 4. Oliver lives and works in Brookyln, New York.

Mandy Stanley was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk. She attended Great Yarmouth College of Art and Design and then went on to do a fashion degree in Nottingham. Mandy has won awards for her soft toy designs and has also worked as a children’s clothes designer. She has now turned her attentions to children’s book illustration and previous titles include Tiny Trumpet and Bloomer.

Sarah Gibb studied Graphic Design at St Martins and then did an MA in Sequential Illustration at the University of Brighton. She illustrates the incredibly popular children’s fiction series, The Tiara Club, and novels such as The Nanny Diaries. As well as illustrating books, Sarah works on greetings cards and packaging for clients including Crabtree and Evelyn, Marks and Spencer and Harrods. She lives in London with her husband and young son

Eggy Heads & Diggers (Bing)

Michael Bond was born in Newbury, Berkshire on 13 January 1926 and educated at Presentation College, Reading. He served in the Royal Air Force and the British Army before working as a cameraman for BBC TV for 19 years. In 2015, Michael was awarded a CBE for his services to children’s literature, to add to the OBE he received in 1997. Michael died in 2017, leaving behind one of the great literary legacies of our time.

The question seems unnecessary. After all, argument is a universal human activity in which we all engage as regularly and naturally as breathing. Even if we have never given much thought to the theory behind it, we have enough practical experience to recognize an argument the moment we become embroiled in one or hear others engaged in verbal conflict.

Emma studied art at the Royal College of Art . She has worked as a freelancer for magazines, publishers and advertising agencies as well as teaching art for several years, but now dedicates most of her time to children’s books.

Mark Sperring is the author of several highly-acclaimed pciture books including the Sunflower Sword and Captain Buckleboots on the Naughty Step. He lives in Bristol where he also works as a bookseller.Sarah Warburton is the illustrator of Rumblewick, the Ruby and Grub stories and Sir Laughalot. She has a staller track record in fantastic picture books. Sarah lives in Bristol with her busband and two children.

A new-look picture book featuring the irrepressible little Twirlywoos and their elusive sidekick, Peekaboo.Join the Twirlywoos on their latest adventure as they explore the concept of ‘collecting’. First the Twirlywoos visit a hen yard where they see some children collecting eggs, and help them finish the job. Then they find lots of other examples of collecting in the outside world, before coming back to the Big Red Boat to discover a collection of brightly-coloured pebbles belonging to Peekaboo, which they have fun dividing into different colours.

《安娜·卡列宁娜》是托尔斯泰第二部里程碑式的长篇小说，成功塑造了安娜这一极富艺术真实性、*美丰满的女性艺术形象。小说首次成功采用了互相对照、相辅相成的平行线式结构，通过贵妇安娜追求自由爱情而失败的悲剧——在矛盾与绝望中卧轨自杀，庄园主列文进行庄园改革失败的结局——梦想破灭后皈依宗教，揭露了十九世纪六七十年代俄罗斯上流社会的丑恶与虚伪，反映了农奴制改革后俄国整个社会在政治、经济、道德、心理等方面的矛盾，表达了作者对伦理、灵魂、社会等因素的思考与探索。

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history. Contents: Alfred Nobel, creator of the Nobel Prize Andrew Carnegie, the businessman who built libraries for poor people John D. Rockefeller who made money from oil and gave it all away Thomas Barnardo who created homes for poor children Henry Wellcome who used his money for medical research Madam C. J. Walker who gave her money to the African-American community BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 13,950 Headword count: 1179 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 3 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 3 is equivalent to CEF level B1. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 - elementary (A2) Level 2 - pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 - intermediate (B1) Level 4 - upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history. Contents: Geoffrey Chaucer, writer of the first great works of English Literature William Shakespeare, writer of the greatest plays in history Charles Dickens who wanted to make England a better place Victor Hugo, the French writer who cared about the poor Leo Tolstoy, the man who wrote War and Peace Rudyard Kipling who wrote The Jungle Book and won a Nobel Prize BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 12,886 Headword count: 1,039 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 3 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 3 is equivalent to CEF level B1. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 – elementary (A2) Level 2 – pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 – intermediate (B1) Level 4 – upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.

Build key business relationships Collins Small Talk gives you the confidence to start a conversation and transition into bigger conversation topics so that you are able to build relationships, develop business partnerships and be successful in business. Learn the language to: ? Meet people for the first time ? Greet people in subsequent meetings ? Show and receive hospitality ? Deal with remote communication ? End a conversation The book includes information on best practice and key phrases for students to refer to and practise saying out loud using online audio. Online audio also includes good and bad examples of authentic recordings of small talk for learners to listen to and assess. Suitable for students whose level of English is Intermediate / CEF level B1 and higher. Small Talk is part of Collins’ English for Business range of materials to help business people who need to use English frequently in their work. It is designed for people who are about to or already work for a foreign or multinational company, deal with overseas customers or travel for business. Other titles in the Collins English for Business range: Reading ? Writing ? Listening ? Speaking ? Key Business Skills ? Business Grammar & Practice ? Business Vocabulary in Practice ? Effective International Business Communication

Learn to write better academic essays *The Collins Academic Skills Series – winner of the ELTon 2014 Innovation in Learner Resources Award.* Collins Academic Skills Series: Writing gives you the skills and strategies you need to write well-structured essays, reports and case studies and achieve academic success at university. Learn how to ? interpret the question ? structure your work ? paraphrase, quote and reference your sources ? avoid plagiarism ? understand your reader Collins Academic Skills Series: Writing will help you to make the most of your time at university. ? A step-by-step guide to the writing process including a complete 2500-word model essay ? Information on academic expectations – understand the requirements of studying at university ? Helpful tips and summaries ? Answer key and glossary Writing is part of a new six-book series to help international students achieve academic success at college or university. It is designed to support students who are studying, or preparing to study, at an English-speaking institution. Suitable for students whose level of English is Upper Intermediate / CEF level B2 / IELTS 5.5 and higher. Other titles in the Collins Academic Skills Series Group Work ? Lectures ? Numbers ? Presenting ? Research

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history. Contents: Gaius Julius Caesar, the powerful Roman leader Queen Elizabeth I who ruled England for 45 years George Washington, the first president of the USA King Louis XVI, the last king of France Winston Churchill who led Britain in the Second World War Che Guevara, the Argentinian doctor who fought for revolution BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 18,924 Headword count: 1,654 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 4 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 4 is equivalent to CEF level B2. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 - elementary (A2) Level 2 - pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 - intermediate (B1) Level 4 - upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.

The inspiring stories of 5 people who changed history. Contents: Glenn Miller, the leader of the most famous big band in the USA Pérez Prado, the Cuban musician who was known as ‘the King of Mambo’ Ella Fitzgerald, the most popular female jazz singer in the USA Luciano Pavarotti, one of the world’s best opera singers John Lennon, member of the famous band The Beatles BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 7,530 Headword count: 687 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 1 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 1 is equivalent to CEF level A2. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 - elementary (A2) Level 2 - pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 - intermediate (B1) Level 4 - upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history. Contents: Antoine Lavoisier who wrote the first modern chemistry textbook Humphry Davy who discovered ‘laughing gas’ Charles Darwin who changed people’s ideas with his theory of evolution Gregor Mendel who first discovered the science of genetics Louis Pasteur who saved millions of lives by killing germs Francis Crick who helped to discover the structure of DNA BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 13,021 Headword count: 1,064 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 3 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 3 is equivalent to CEF level B1. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 - elementary (A2) Level 2 - pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 - intermediate (B1) Level 4 - upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history. Contents: Mayer Amschel Rothschild who started a bank which made his family rich Cornelius Vanderbilt who became one of the richest people in the USA W. K. Kellogg who started the world’s biggest cereal company Elizabeth Arden who built the Elizabeth Arden cosmetics company Walt Disney who started the famous entertainment company Soichiro Honda who started the Honda motorbike and car company BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 6,901 Headword count: 623 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 1 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 1 is equivalent to CEF level A2. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 - elementary (A2) Level 2 - pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 - intermediate (B1) Level 4 - upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.

The inspiring stories of 6 people who changed history. Contents: Harriet Tubman, the slave who helped hundreds of other slaves to escape Emmeline Pankhurst who wanted women to be able to vote Maria Montessori, the doctor who found a new way to teach children Helen Keller, the deaf and blind woman who became a famous teacher Eva Perón, the actress who helped poor and sick people in Argentina Nancy Wake, the Second World War spy BRITISH ENGLISH Word count: 7,001 Headword count: 665 Each book includes a free CD with a full recording of each story. PLUS: visit www.collinselt.com/readers for videos, teacher resources and self-study materials. This book is Level 1 in the Collins ELT Readers series. Level 1 is equivalent to CEF level A2. About the Amazing People series: A unique opportunity for learners of English to read about the exceptional lives and incredible abilities of some of the most insightful people the world has seen. Each book contains six short stories, told by the characters themselves, as if in their own words. The stories explain the most significant parts of each character’s life, giving an insight into how they came to be such an important historic figure. After each story, a timeline presents the most major events in their life in a clear and succinct fashion. The timeline is ideal for checking comprehension or as a basis for project work or further research. Created in association with The Amazing People Club. About Collins ELT Readers: Collins ELT Readers are divided into four levels: Level 1 - elementary (A2) Level 2 - pre-intermediate (A2–B1) Level 3 - intermediate (B1) Level 4 - upper intermediate (B2) Each level is carefully graded to ensure that the learner both enjoys and benefits from their reading experience.