Set in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Havana, Hemingway\'s magnificent fable is the story of an old man, a young boy and a giant fish. It was The Old Man and the Sea that won for Hemingway the Nobel Prize for Literature. Here, in a perfectly crafted story, is unique and timeless vision of the beauty and grief of man\'s challenge to the elements in which he lives.

Written in political exile during the Second World War and first published in 1945, Karl Popper\'s The Open Society and Its Enemies is one of the most influential books of the twentieth century. Hailed by Bertrand Russell as a \'vigorous and profound defence of democracy\', its now legendary attack on the philosophies of Plato, Hegel and Marx exposed the dangers inherent in centrally planned political

Learning Chinese is notoriously difficult and has long put off even the most linguistically savvy Westerners until now. ShaoLan has used her entrepreneurial and software background to unpick Chinese characters and create a simple system for quickly understanding the basic building blocks of the written language. Working with renowned illustrator Noma Bar, she has developed a unique set of illustrations

Dorina Basarab is a dhampir - half-human, half-vampire - and the only way she can stay sane is by unleashing her sometimes uncontrollable rage on demons and vampires that deserve killing. After the fortunate demise of her insane uncle Dracula, Dory is back home in Brooklyn, hoping that life will calm down for a while.

\"Moonfleet\" (1898) begins as a mystery and an adventure story, a tale of smuggling set among the cliffs, caves, and downs of Dorset. What will be the outcome of the conflict between smugglers and revenue men? And how can the hero, John Trenchard, discover the secret of Colonel John Mohune\'s treasure? As the book progresses these two interwoven themes resolve themselves into a third and richer one,

O the deceitfulness of the heart of man! This John, whom I took to be the honestest of men ...this very fellow was all the while a vile hypocrite, and a perfidious wretch, and helping to carry on my ruin.\' Fifteen-year-old Pamela Andrews, alone in the world, is pursued by her dead mistress\' son. Although she is attracted to Mr B, she holds out against his demands, determined to protect her virginity

Look, I didn´t want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That´s when things started really

In this reader you will find nine of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous stories of mystery and suspense. They range from Gothic historical stories such as The Pit and the Pendulum, through to detective fiction like The Murders in the Rue Morgue and an early science fiction tale - A Descent into the Maelström. Ghostly mysteries such as Ligeia and The Fall of the House of Usher are also in the collection

Based on the true story of conjoined Russian twins, Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova, The Less You Know the Sounder You Sleep is a tale of survival and self-determination, innocence and lies. `We\'re waiting. I squeeze my eyes shut and dig my fingers into Masha\'s neck where I\'m holding her. She digs hers into mine. The curtains slowly open. I can\'t see anything because the spotlight is on us, bright

Durable and easy to clean, tile has been a popular practical material for thousands of years, but its allure extends far beyond its ability to withstand wear and tear. Tile is a medium for bringing light and beauty into a space. Now, with more choices than ever before, tile has become an incredibly popular way to add personalized character to a home. In The Art of the Tile, tile enthusiast and design

Edward Lincoln has scaled the Himalayas, survived deadly car chases and defeated scores of assassins. As a movie action man he\'s even suffered stoically at the hands of sadistic directors. After finishing his latest film, he\'s asked to visit South Africa to discover why a dying friend\'s horses are suddenly failing on the race track. Unfortunately, Lincoln\'s attempt to help a friend soon puts him

Mary Shelley, whose Frankenstein is the foundation of modern SF, fantasy and horror fiction, was born to the writer William Godwin and social campaigner Mary Wollstonecraft. This new, special collection brings together extracts of her novels and short stories, with an emphasis on the supernatural.

Buck is forced into life as a sled dog, where he must fight for his survival. Can he rise above his enemies and become master of his realm?

It is a frosty December night in Stockholm. Inside the City Hall, over a thousand guests attend the prestigious Nobel Prizewinners\' dinner. With a lavish meal laid on to the backdrop of a full orchestra, this is one of the city\'s most glamorous events of the year. But things are different tonight. Two shots are fired on the dance floor. Crime reporter Annika Bengtzon is there, covering the event

Cousin Bette (1846) is considered to be Balzac\'s last great novel, and a key work in his Human Comedy. Set in the Paris of the 1830s and 1840s, it is a complex tale of the devastating effect of violent jealousy and sexual passion.Against a meticulously detailed backdrop of a post-Napoleonic France struggling with massive industrial and economic change, Balzac\'s characters span many classes of society,

Inferno

The essence of Filipino food has always remained somewhat secluded in the family kitchens of Filipino homes, passed down through the generations, melding native traditions with those of Chinese, Spanish and American cuisines. With Memories of Philippine Kitchens Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan, owners and chef at New York\'s Soho\'s popular Cendrillon restaurant, present a fascinating look at Filipino cuisine

Director no more, Nick Fury is a plain ol\' Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. - but that won\'t stop him from calling the shots! And there are plenty to be fired, because Baron Strucker has a new vision for Hydra...and S.H.I.E.L.D. As Strucker strikes and Nick Fury faces treachery and betrayal from within his own ranks, he reunites with the Howling Commandos and Captain America - as well as a few faces he never