Cristian Crisbasan lives and works as an independent Photographer in Bucharest, Rumania. He was working as stylist and editorial journalist at the Playboy Magazine in Rumania, until he dedicated himself to photography and became already a well known name inside the fashion world.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841–1919) was one of the most audacious and original landscape artists of his age. Throughout his career, he continually experimented with composition, light, paint handling, and pictorial structure in innovative new ways that challenged traditional and contemporary painting. He taught himself by working side-by-side with fellow Impressionist masters Monet and Sisley, and in the 1870s began to define his distinctive landscape style of quick, silvery brushstrokes. By the end of the decade he had moved decisively in the direction of unparalleled painterly freedom. This stunning book is the first to examine Renoir’s landscape art in depth, tracing its evolution from the beginning of his career through his Impressionist period and the early 1880s, when he began to incorporate new landscape motifs and new levels of coloristic intensity in paintings after traveling to Algeria and Italy. With over 200 illustrations, a detailed chronology, and bibliography, the book includes essays by highly distinguished scholars that discuss the range and importance of these works and present many fresh discoveries. They also place Renoir’s landscapes in the overall context of the genre in 19th-century France, revealing how his experiments were radical and in ways that have not yet been fully acknowledged influential on the later development of modern art.

Here is the perfect introduction to the work of William Shakespeare for older children. Extracts from his plays, as well as his poetry, are helpfully arranged by themes such as love, mystery, nature and justice. Quotations are used in decorative headings to highlight the content of each spread. Exquisite full-colour illustrations ensure this is a collection that can be referred to with ease and enjoyment and is perfect for dipping into time and again. Deluxe presentation, including linen half-binding and gold blocking, make this beautiful volume a perfect gift for older children and Shakespeare enthusiasts of all ages.

One of the most delightful and witty Russian operas, The Love of Three Oranges was composed by Prokofiev in 1919 and first performed at the Chicago Opera House with Prokofiev conducting in 1921. This complete vocal score includes both Russian and French text and a piano reduction of the orchestral part. Indispensable for recital and rehearsal purposes.

The Maltese Falcon set the standard by which the private eye genre is judged. Sam Spade is hired by the fragrant Miss Wonderley to track down her sister, who has eloped with a louse called Floyd Thursby. But Miss Wonderley is in fact the beautiful and treacherous Brigid O'Shaughnessy, and when Spade's partner Miles Archer is shot while on Thursby's trail, Spade finds himself both hunter and hunted: can he track down the jewel-encrusted bird, a treasure worth killing for, before the Fat Man finds him?

When 14 people arrive to colonize the otherwise uninhabited planet of Delmark — O, they quickly discover that their bizarre new world is more dangerous — and much, much stranger — than they ever could have imagined, in this 1970 novel by Philip K. Dick. The colonists have nothing in common, and no idea why they've been sent there. All they know is that there's no way to leave, and one by one they are being killed. A visionary, Hugo Award–winning author, Philip K. Dick was inducted posthumously into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His stories have been made into such blockbuster films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, and he was the first science fiction writer to be included in the Library of America series.

The Department of Precrime has cut major crime by almost 100 percent, in the 1956 short story by Philip K. Dick that inspired the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report. No one doubts the efficiency and fairness of a system that can look into the future, arrest soon-to-be criminals, and punish them before they can commit the crime — until the Precrime Commissioner himself is accused, and must go on the run as a convicted murderer to prove his innocence. Eight other stories are also presented in this collection, including We Can Remember it for You Wholesale, the inspiration for the film Total Recall. A visionary, Hugo Award–winning author, Philip K. Dick was inducted posthumously into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His stories have also been made into other blockbuster films like Blade Runner, and he was the first science fiction writer to be included in the Library of America series.

World War III is raging — or so the millions of people crammed into their underground tanks believe, in this 1964 novel by Philip K. Dick. For 15 years, subterranean humanity has been fed on daily broadcasts of a never-ending nuclear devastation, sustained only by their belief in the all — powerful Protector. But up on the surface, a different kind of reality reigns: East and West are at peace, while across the planet, an elite corps of expert hoaxers preserve the lie for those below. A visionary, Hugo Award–winning author, Philip K. Dick was inducted posthumously into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. His stories have been made into such blockbuster films as Blade Runner, Total Recall, and Minority Report, and he was the first science fiction writer to be included in the Library of America series.

In this delightful introduction to the art of Henri Rousseau, children explore a tropical jungle while they learn about the colours and themes that make the artist's paintings masterpieces of deceptive simplicity. As a customs official, Henri Rousseau escaped the boredom of his job by creating colourful paintings of a fantastic dream-world — a place where apes and lions cavort, snakes slither, flamingoes stroll, tigers hunt and enigmatic figures entice unsuspecting visitors amid lush, tropical plants and flowers. This book draws children into Rousseau's famous works, pointing out the many elements and symbols he incorporated, and helping them understand the use of perspective and colour that were his trademarks. Biographical information reveals the importance the natural world played in Rousseau's life and the playful text encourages further investigation into the power of imagination.

Like artist's everywhere, Paul Cezanne painted what was familiar to him: his family, his surroundings, the objects in and around his home. He delighted in the most basic elements of colour, size, and shape. This captivating look at the artist's life uses Cezanne's numerous paintings of his studio to explore his methods and technique, and his portraits of his family and friends to reveal Cezanne's personal history. It also points out details from his greatest masterpieces, encouraging young readers to investigate for themselves just as Cezanne explored the brilliance of the French countryside — its light and hues, textures and shadows — in a way no other artist ever has.

A Christmas cavalcade! Here's a festive feast of folktales and contemporary stories by popular and classic authors such as Joan Aiken, Adele Geras, Beverly Cleary, Hans Christian Andersen and Alf Proysen. From traditional tales, such as the story of Brer Rabbit's Christmas dinner and the legend of Baboushka's Christmas gifts to contemporary writing about drama-packed nativity plays and starlit sleigh rides with Santa Claus, this sparkling treasury captures all the magic, excitement and wonder of Christmas. It's an ideal stocking filler!

There's always time for a story... Children love storytime — especially when their parents have time to share it with them. This anthology contains 22 delightful stories, all carefully selected to be both brief and entertaining. It is perfect for parents struggling to make time for reading with their children. Ideal for reading aloud at bedtime or any time, and accessible enough for newly independent readers to tackle alone, every tale from this versatile collection has the power to transport children to other worlds, introduce them to unforgettable characters, and feed their imaginations — in just five minutes!

At the dawn of the twentieth century, the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) became a worldwide political focal point. The war, marked the rise of Japan as a world power, paved the way for the Russian Revolution, and made Theodore Roosevelt the first American ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize. It engaged the fervent attention of Asia, Europe and the United States — so much so that the Milton Bradley Co. created a popular board game based on the war. But more than this, the Russo-Japanese conflict was the first war to be fully recorded by the international media. Journalists, photographers, and filmmakers poured into the areas, capturing the battles in words and visuals, and creating in the process a flood of images remarkable for their vibrancy and power. A Much Recorded War examines the Russo-Japanese conflict from the viewpoint of its artistic legacy, exploring the ways in which it was represented, promoted, and mythologized. Featuring more than 80 objects — from woodblock prints, lithographs, watercolors, and photographs to film, postcards, and even garments — the book discusses the origins and history of the war, the development of its imagery in Japanese art, and the groundbreaking role of photography and film. Published to mark the 100th anniversary of the Portsmouth Treaty, which ended the war, this is both a remarkable work of historical scholarship and a brilliant compendium of period graphic art.

Interspersed with charts, graphs, and various crossword puzzles, A Book of Evil Marauders, Purple Blobs, and Some Other Things... features some of today's best authors spinning new tales ranging from the spooky to the strange. George Saunders tells the story of a father who takes caution to dangerous extremes in Lars Farf, Excessively Fearful Father and Husband. In ACES by Phone, a small boy finds a cellphone that lets him listen in on the thoughts of dogs, and in Small Country, Nick Hornby introduces a country too small for a postal system but, unfortunately for one bookish boy, just big enough for a football team. Each story features full-color illustrations by artists including Barry Blitt, Lane Smith, David Heatley, and Marcel Dzama. The collection includes previously unpublished children's stories from Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything is Illuminated), Nick Hornby (High Fidelity), Neil Gaiman (Sandman), George Saunders (CivilWarLand in Bad Decline), Kelly Link (Stranger Than Fiction), and Jon Scieskza (Stinky Cheese Man). The dust jacket folds into a unique aerogram, which factors into a special contest involving a story written partly by Lemony Snicket, partly by thousands of children.

Join Arthur Dent, earthling, jerk, kneebiter and time-traveler; sexy space cadet Trillian; mad alien Ford Prefect; unflappable Slartibartfast; two-headed, three-armed ex-head Honcho of the Universe Zaphod Beeblebrox... and learn to fly. Is it the end? With Douglas Adams it's always up in the air!

«The Washington Post Book World Facing annihilation at the hands of the warlike Vogons is a curious time to have a craving for tea. It could only happen to the cosmically displaced Arthur Dent and his curious comrades in arms as they hurtle across space powered by pure improbability — and desperately in search of a place to eat. Among Arthur's motley shipmates are Ford Prefect, a longtime friend and expert contributor to the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy; Zaphod Beeblebrox, the three-armed, two-headed ex-president of the galaxy; Tricia McMillan, a fellow Earth refugee who's gone native (her name is Trillian now); and Marvin, the moody android who suffers nothing and no one very gladly. Their destination? The ultimate hot spot for an evening of apocalyptic entertainment and fine dining, where the food (literally) speaks for itself. Will they make it? The answer: hard to say. But bear in mind that the Hitchhiker's Guide deleted the term «Future Perfect» from its pages, since it was discovered not to be! «What's such fun is how amusing the galaxy looks through Adams' sardonically silly eyes.»

Back on Earth with nothing more to show for his long, strange trip through time and space than a ratty towel and a plastic shopping bag, Arthur Dent is ready to believe that the past eight years were all just a figment of his stressed-out imagination. But a gift-wrapped fishbowl with a cryptic inscription, the mysterious disappearance of Earth's dolphins, and the discovery of his battered copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy all conspire to give Arthur the sneaking suspicion that something otherworldly is indeed going on... God only knows what it all means. And fortunately, He left behind a Final Message of explanation. But since it's light-years away from Earth, on a star surrounded by souvenir booths, finding out what it is will mean hitching a ride to the far reaches of space aboard a UFO with a giant robot. But what else is new?

Architect Irving J. Gill (1870 — 1936) is widely considered the first and preeminent architect of the Modernist era. In her groundbreaking work, Five California Architects, Esther McCoy asserts that, along with Bernard Maybeck, Charles and Henry Greene, and R.M. Schindler, Gill is one of California's most important architects. As one of the most influential architects of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, Gill is said to have been so far in advance of his time that there was yet no discussion of Modernism — it simply had not emerged as a movement or a consciousness. Gill followed no one, choosing instead to lead a paradigm shift from crafts construction to machinic building, particularly in light of the development and evolution of concrete as a material of choice. This book is a must-own for any serious fan of Gill, California architecture, modernism, and turn-of-the-century development in building. Marvin Rand has been published in numerous books and magazines throughout the world and has been showcased in major exhibitions. He is the author of Green & Greene (Gibbs Smith, 2005). He lives in Marina del Rey, California.

What made Chekhov tick? What served as a source of creative inspiration in his life? In answering these questions, Russian scholar Rosamund Bartlett focuses on the writer’s intimate relationship with the places where he lived and traveled—Taganrog and the southern Russian steppes, Moscow, Petersburg, Siberia, the French Riviera, and Yalta. By looking at his life through the prism of these landscapes, it is possible to gain a far greater insight into one of the most enigmatic writers who ever lived. Chekhov: Scenes from a Life restores the humor and warmth to a man too often seen as merely melancholic, and reminds us why many consider him to be the greatest short-story writer of all time.