Great Britain Books

365 Days in Ireland Calendar 2009 (Picture a Day Wall Calendars)

Colum McCann

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Editorial Review:

Theres just something about Ireland. The mysterious, ancient dolmens. The bright charm of cobblestoned villages. The shaggy, white sheep, impossibly green hills, rugged coasts, or perhaps it is all of this along with something intangible a sense of magic that hangs over the land like a mist after a shower. Size Closed: 12" w x 14" h. Size Opened: 12" w x 28" h.

This Is Ireland

M. Sasek

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

On the heels of the runaway bestsellers This is New York and This is Paris, Universe is pleased to reissue another title from M. Sasek's beloved and nostalgic children's travel series.

Like the other Sasek classics, This is Ireland is a facsimile edition of his original book from the 1960s and is still timely and current in every way. The brilliant, vibrant illustrations have been meticulously preserved, remaining true to his vision more than 40 years later and, where applicable, facts have been updated for the twenty-first century, appearing on a "This is...Today" page at the back of the book. The stylish, charming illustrations, coupled with Sasek's witty, playful narrative, makes for a perfect souvenir that will delight both children and their parents, many of whom will remember this book from their childhood.



This is Ireland, first published in 1964, brings the Emerald Isle to life, where the shamrock grows and a leprechaun stands at the end of every rainbow, guarding a crock of gold. There's Dublin with its bustling crowds, tall steeples, and Trinity College; there's Clonmacnois, the burial place of kings; there's the Blarney Stone to kiss for eloquence, and much, much more in this verdant, friendly land filled with enchanted lakes and mountains that fall steep to the sea.

The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland

Christopher Fitz-Simon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Absolutely Breathtaking 5 out of 5 stars.
43 of 44 people found this review helpful.

This is a fantastic coffee table book. The photographer has captured so much color in each photograph, you almost expect some sort of visual explosion -- how can such a dynamically variegated palette be contained in a single picture?! The whitewashed cottages, the blue-green sea, the dun colored old castle walls... even the street signs are beautiful. I myself am half of Irish descent, and half of Italian descent. Although I must confess that in culinary terms, my Italian forebears had considerably more "on the ball" than my Irish ancestors, this book makes me appreciate some of the beauties that Ireland itself has to offer. It makes me determined to visit it at some point.

The book is divided into four parts. Each traditional ancient Irish kingdom has its own section -- Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, and Munster. Each section is also followed by a brief photographic essay, dealing with such topics as "Ancient Ireland," "Bar and Shop Fronts," and "Painted Villages." At the end, there is a useful map, a travellers guide complete with phone numbers and addresses of Inns and hostels, and a very handy little bibliography.

I would just like to also recommend, for anyone with an interest in Irish history, "The Atlas of Irish History" by Sean Duffy. It is out of print, but you should ask your local librarian if he or she can find it, using OCLC or inter-library loan. If, like me, you have Irish blood in you, you will be familiar with the feeling of being quite alienated from the broader sweep of European history prior to the settlement of America. I once looked in the index of an encyclopedia, and actually found more entries on Native Americans, who of course are considered to be a marginalized people, than I could find on the Irish. This book, and the atlas I recommended, can help remedy that situation, and "The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland" can beautify any home. Two thunbs up -- check this one out.

Editorial Review:

This work presents images and impressions of numerous villages in Ireland which as well as being beautiful are working, living communities. The book follows the divisions of ancient provinces - Ulster, Leinster, Connacht, and Muster - and uncovers various rural beauty spots - some well-known, others less so. Places featured include the coastal villages of Cork, Ardagh in County Longford - where Oliver Goldsmith was inspired to write "She Stoops to Conquer", Roscommon and Galway, in Connacht and the villages of Donegal. This visual and verbal record to Irish villages also contains a guide to various sites of interest, markets, hotels, and restaurants.

365 Days in Great Britain Calendar 2009 (Picture-A-Day Wall Calendars)

Phillip Hoffhines

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

My trip to the Isles 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

One of my great regrets is that I've never made it to Britain -- yet. But, I buy the 365 Days calendar each year and take a different trip there every month. This is a marvelous calendar, chock-a-block with beautiful photos. Buy it and enjoy.

Editorial Review:

365 Days in Great Britain Wall Calendar: For the millions of American Anglophiles, Britain holds a singular and eternal appeal. Storied old castles with impeccably manicured gardens. Royal watching as a pastime. Towns with names like “Stow-on-the-Wold.” The Indian food of Brick Lane, gloriously overgrown cottages, Scotland’s hardy terriers, swans bobbing along the Thames. The 365 Days in Great Britain calendar features a year of glorious photographs showcasing the culture and spirit of England, Scotland, and Wales—the land described by Shakespeare as a “precious stone set in the silver sea.” From the ivy walls of Cambridge to the dramatic coast of Cornwall to London’s changing of the guard, it’s all that we love about Britain.

Ireland: A Photographic Tour

Carol Highsmith, Ted Landphair

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Another great book in the series. 5 out of 5 stars.
29 of 29 people found this review helpful.

Masterfully photographed, and printed on high quality paper, this book is a must have for any armchair traveller.
The book provides a map of the region on the inside cover, and then follows a brief and informative historical overview, which introduces the region to the reader. From that point onwards the book consists of one splendid photograph after the other, very often on a full page, or even spread over double pages, all with short descriptions to accompany them. The book depicts rural country scenes as well as historical landmarks, grand vistas to great architectural photos and even prominent statues. In short, everything the region has to offer.
I am also the proud owner of New England (Photographic Tour) by the same author and photographer and as such, I can highly recommend any one of the books in this series.

A Beautiful Country......A Beautiful Book 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this book as a gift and was so impressed I had to buy one for myself! Photography which captures the distinct and rare beauty of Ireland and well-written text that describes and explains the many points of interest found in Ireland. If you've never been to Ireland this book will make you plan a holiday. If Ireland is already a favourite place to visit reading this book will make you want to return. High quality binding.

Editorial Review:

Ireland is a spectacular new addition to the series, with warm words and gorgeous photographs that perfectly capture the Emerald Isle's unique spirit.

Parisiennes: A Celebration of French Women

Carole Bouquet, Madeleine Chapsal, Marie Darrieussecq, Catherine Millet, Mireille Guiliano

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Divided by theme into chapters, this light-hearted and nostalgic romp through 20th-century Paris creates a beautiful history of the world’s most romantic city and its exceptional women. This collection of one hundred and thirty duotone photographs captures the essence of the Parisian femme fatale. All of the great French photographers from the late 1930s through the 1960s are featured, including Robert Doisneau, Brassaï, Willy Ronis, Jacques-Henri Lartigue, Edouard Boubat, Jean-Philippe Charbonnier, Sabine Weiss, and many more. The photographs reveal Parisian women and all of their glorious facets: from the love-struck waif strolling along the banks of the Seine to the belles of the neighborhood balls flushed from their raucous dance moves, from no-nonsense career girls to flirty neighbors. Chanel-clad locals and runway models alike showcase the glamour of the fashion and haute-couture world with inimitable style. One chapter pays homage to the courageous women who battled for justice in World War II, the Resistance, the Liberation, and the revolts of May 1968, including role models such as philosopher and writer Simone de Beauvoir and journalist and playwright Marguerite Dumas. The Parisiennes featured here go to work, ride bikes, pose seductively, smile coyly, and are all devastatingly irresistible.

Ireland: History, People, Culture

Paul Brewer

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Editorial Review:

Here's the next best thing to a trip to Ireland. Rich with illustrations and beautiful color photographs, this 416page volume is a comprehensive survey of that country's history and culture, from the pre-Christian era through the creation of the United Kingdom and into the 20th century, right up to the recent economic boom. There's plenty more, including a dictionary of clans and families, a glorious appreciation of the landscape organized by county, and a selection of classic Irish recipes.

Berlin Then and Now (Then & Now Thunder Bay)

Nick Gay

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

An excellent book from an excellent series 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book is a good size, and photos are given full priority on each page. It's kept nice and simple with old on the left, new on the right, and with just as much informed commentary as you'd need running along beneath.

Only a few of the 'then' pics are from the 50s and 60s; the majority show the Berlin streets as they were before the devastation of the Second World War, and as such are as fascinating as looking at pictures of ancient Rome.

An excellent book from an excellent series.

Editorial Review:

Hitler’s ascendancy and defeat transformed a stable, confident Berlin into a ruined city, fractured by post-WWII political divisions. Only with the 1989 destruction of the Wall and the subsequent Unification Treaty did Berlin begin to regain its cosmopolitan standing as one of the world’s great cities. With highlights that include then and now images of the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie, one can experience the tumultuous events of the city’s modern history through archival and contemporary photography. This historical look at Berlin's ever-changing fortunes is a must-have for WWII history buffs, and offers a rare glimpse into the city's fascinating metamorphosis.

The Most Beautiful Country Towns of England (Most Beautiful Villages Series)

Hugh Palmer

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

An inspirational tour and celebration of some of the most attractive small towns in the English countryside.

Complementing the best-selling The Most Beautiful Villages of England, Hugh Palmer has produced a stunning sequence of images of those ancient towns in which the true heart of England lies. All the places included here embody a long, preindustrial heritage; they are also communities of a well-preserved beauty, widely visited by travelers from all parts of the world.

Twenty-five of the most beguiling small towns of rural and seaside England are included. Here are market towns that have traditionally owed their importance and prosperity to the agricultural land surrounding them, towns that grew up by river crossings, small ports harboring both fishing and trading fleets, centers of religious activity, and even spas.

The whole of England is represented in Palmer's delightful photography and perceptive commentaries, revealing how history, site, and the availability of local building materials have combined to shape the appearance of towns in different parts of the country. Darker stones lend a slightly forbidding yet noble air to the towns of the north, such as Barnard Castle. The eastern counties have a wealth of ancient half-timbered architecture, punctuated by buildings in flint and limestone, while to the west lie the honey-colored streets and houses of the Cotswolds.

Here, too, are towns formed by their social and cultural contexts—the elegant Georgian and Victorian houses of Buxton, Derbyshire, reflecting its heyday as a fashionable spa; the imposing terraces in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, an expression of its importance as a market town and religious center with a magnificent abbey.

A Traveler's Guide, listing places to visit, to stay, and to eat, helps both armchair and actual travelers enjoy even more a visit to England's delightful countryside. 260 color photographs.

The Most Beautiful Villages of Scotland

Hugh Palmer

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Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the dramatic landscapes of Scotland, beloved of Romantic poets and composers, lies a wealth of delightful villages, here revealed in Hugh Palmer's evocative photographs and commentaries. The traditional architecture and stunning natural settings of the Highland villages have long proved an attraction to visitors. Some of the most picturesque are former fishing villages, like Auchmithie, from which the herring fleet has long since departed, leaving the splendid harbor to the contemplation of visitors and a couple of lobster boats. Lowland villages often have an air of quiet, well-ordered prosperity. Rows of stone cottages and a fantastic profusion of hanging baskets make places like Luss on Loch Lomond a charming stop on the road north. Here, too, is the extraordinary Dean Village a complete, self-contained community surrounded by the city of Edinburgh. And among the many ravishing port-villages on the Islands is the little gem of Tobermory on Mull, where the reflection of a main street of brightly painted houses shimmers in the waters of the harbor. Altogether, thirty-five villages are included. Special sections on the Scottish castle and the monuments of the country's Celtic past round out the account, making this beautiful book one of the most complete pictures of rural Scotland in recent years. A Travelers' Guide listing places to visit, to stay, and to eat helps the reader to enjoy even more a visit to the Scottish Highlands, Lowlands, and Islands. Hugh Palmer's previous books include many titles in The Most Beautiful Villages series.