New Releases by Jane Bingham

he Cotswolds have featured on a thousand country calendars, but what is the real story behind the picture-perfect rural scene? Jane Bingham reveals a history of privilege and poverty, idyll and conflict, through the eyes of travellers, writers and artists. Lying in the heart of Southern England, the Cotswolds occupy a significant place in the history of the nation. Ancient stone circles and ruined Roman villas provide reminders of a distant past. Fine churches and manor houses survive from the prosperous Middle Ages, and the landscape also bears the scars of Civil War. The home of kings and nobles since Saxon times, the region is famous for its grand estates, while signs of an industrial age can be seen in its mills and factories. After the wool trade reached its peak in the fifteenth century, the fortunes of the Cotswolds suffered a slow decline as its villages sank into picturesque decay. But in the 1890s the region began to experience a remarkable transformation. It was then that William Morris and his followers discovered the area, establishing thriving centres for Arts and Crafts. In the following century, writers and artists moved to the Cotswolds and there followed a steady rise in tourism. Today, the region continues to attract visitors, as well as country-weekenders and celebrities. Observing all these changes, and picturing the landscape, has been a lively company of writers, artists and musicians. Some, like Laurie Lee, belong to a particular place, while others have viewed the Cotswolds as outsiders. In their writings, art and music, they have all celebrated the distinctive, and sometimes surprising, character of the Cotswolds. FAMOUS FIGURES: Elizabeth I at Woodstock; Charles I at Edgehill; Marlborough and Churchill at Blenheim; The Mitford sisters at Swinbrook; Prince Charles at Highgrove; Damien Hirst at Toddington Manor. THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT: William Morris at Kelmscott and Broadway; C. R. Ashbee at Chipping Campden: Ernest Gimson and the Barnsley brothers at Sapperton. WRITERS AND MUSICIANS: William Shakespeare in the northern hills; Alexander Pope at Cirencester Park; Laurie Lee in the Slad Valley; T. S. Eliot at Burnt Norton; Ralph Vaughan Williams and A. E. Housman on Bredon Hill.

A building site sticker book packed with diggers and trucks to add to colourful, exciting scenes. Help a team of animal workers tackle some big projects, whether it's building a school, making an adventure playground, or laying a road. Discover over 170 detailed stickers to bring each busy scene to life with bulldozers, diggers, dump trucks and more. This is the perfect book for any child interested in how things are built. Sticker books are brilliant for developing essential fine motor skills and creativity as children carefully choose stickers for each scene. In addition, this book is a fun and interactive way to help young children develop their vocabulary and take a lively interest in the world around them. With action-packed scenes and lots of exciting vehicles and building jobs to talk about, this book will keep children busy for hours.

Traces the development of train travel, from the first rails through the advent of the Maglev train in Germany and China, with the major emphasis on Europe.

The World of Mythology series introduces the myths of the world's greatest civilizations. The Classical world of ancient Greece and Rome has had an immeasurable impact on Western culture, but what inspired some of the greatest writers, philosophers, and architects of all time? Gods were not only worshipped, but consulted for both minor problems and victory in battle. The legends of mortals Heracles and Perseus were wrapped up in the lives of the immortals. Art and artifacts, as well as photographs of the landscapes immortalized in the tales, bring the world of Classical myth to life.

Why has the recent War in Iraq been so contentious, whereas the First Gulf War was supported by a broad coalition of nations? Why are they of such global significance? And how did the wars affect people on both sides of the conflict? This book seeks to relate the overall events and chronology of the wars and shows their impact on everyday lives.

Who were the flappers? What were talkies? What was the Harlem Renaissance? Covers the effect of prohibition and the newfound freedom of women on the popular culture of the era. The effects of the Great Depression, as well as the rise of communism and fascism is also discussed in terms of their impact on popular culture.

A comprehensive dictionary with over a thousand colour illustrations, over 10,000 entries and 25,000 straightforward definitions with part of speech indicators, example sentences and pronunciation guides for tricky words. A comprehensive dictionary with over a thousand colour illustrations, over 10,000 entries and 25,000 straightforward definitions. Fully revised and updated for 2014 and beyond, with new words added and redundant words removed. Includes example sentences and pronunciation guides for tricky words, as well as information about the conventions of written English and a brief history of the English language. An essential home or school reference book that is perfect for children beginning their SATs and similar exams.

Readers learn about the Amazon River, the region around it, and stories of its exploration.

This volume examines the bravery of children suring wartime.

Why has the recent War in Iraq been so contentious, whereas the First Gulf War was supported by a broad coalition of nations? Why are they of such global significance? And how did the wars affect people on both sides of the conflict? This book seeks to relate the overall events and chronology of the wars and shows their impact on everyday lives.

The varied titles in this new series build up into a comprehensive library, covering a range of arts topics. Each book contains activities with easy-to-follow instructions designed to reinforce literacy skills and arts knowledge. With these books, the arts are brought to life!

Profiles the life and work of the Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor Michelangelo.

Examines the practice of creating graffiti and graffiti inspired art, including its history and its destructive aspect.

Why was posture important to the early French dancers? Who developed the five ballet positions? How many pairs of ballet shoes can a dancer wear out in a single performance? Ballet provides a detailed look at the development of ballet dancing from the earliest court dances to the political ballets of choreographers such as Paul Taylor and David Bintley today. The book looks at how the choreography and improvisation differ from other styles of dance, highlighting techniques specific to ballet. It also explores the part played by costumes, make-up and lighting, and offers advice on how to become a ballet dancer.

A brief biography of Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, describing her life, marriage to Louis XVI, the French Revolution, and her execution.

Presents the life of the last Queen of Egypt, who was a powerful ruler in her own right and was famous for her relationships with two Roman leaders, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony.

Describes everyday life among the ancient Romans, covering family life, marriage, leisure, education, clothing, food and drink, warfare, religion, and funerals.

Describes everyday life among the ancient Egyptians, covering family life, marriage, leisure, education, clothing, food and drink, warfare, religion, and funerals.

Outlines the principal eating disorders and discusses prevention and treatment.

This title solves the mysteries of the Aztecs. Discover where to find skull altar in the Great Temple, why the Aztecs had two calendars, and how to avoid becoming a human sacrifice!

This title discusses topics such as the ancient Olympic events, what the stadium looked like and ancient Olympic ceremonies.

This exciting new series promotes the understanding of global problems and news stories by helping readers understand the issues and organizations involved.

This book looks at how some artists play tricks with the viewer and confuse us with their fascinating optical illusions. This book will help students discover and understand the world of illusion art and inspire them to create their own optical illusions.

This title looks at Smoking and the pros and cons of making particular choices young people must make about their behavior. Up-to-date and detailed information make this a valuable books for understanding what is at stake.

In each period of history, in every country, artists have been inspired by emotion and relationships. They have created works that show every type of emotion, from fear and sadness, to madness, joy, and love. Artists have explored the relationships within families, between lovers, or between individuals and the world around them. This book explains how art styles have developed through time, and how artists' techniques add to our understanding of their work. Emotion is captured in a wide range of media, including photography, painting, sculpture, posters, textiles, and film. The information to help interpret works of art and understand the time in history in which they were created are included in this book..

From ancient to modern times, as scientific and technological discoveries have been made, artists have responded to them. Science has allowed them to work in different media, from oil paint, to printing or film. From the first anatomy lessons to computer animation, science and technology have had a huge impact on art. This book explains how art styles have developed through time, and how artists' techniques add to our understanding of their work. Art is captured in a wide range of media, including photography, painting, sculpture, posters, textiles, and film. The information to help interpret works of art and understand the time in history in which they were created are included in this book.

Each region of the world has produced artwork inspired and influenced by nature. Over thousands of years, artists have created millions of images of animals and plants. These may be sculptures, cave paintings, costumes, or other types of image, but they all express the artists' fascination with the living world around them. This book explains how art styles have developed through time, and how artists' techniques add to our understanding of their work. Art is captured in a wide range of media, including photography, painting, sculpture, posters, textiles, and film. The information to help interpret works of art and understand the time in history in which they were created are included in this book.

Society and class influence all cultures and have always inspired important works of art. For thousands of years, artists have been holding up a mirror to our world. Through their images, we can see the way that people of different classes have lived, and how they have related to each other in society. This book explains how art styles have developed through time, and how artists' techniques add to our understanding of their work. Art is captured in a wide range of media, including photography, painting, sculpture, posters, textiles, and film. The information to help interpret works of art and understand the time in history in which they were created are included in this book.