28 Nature


75300 FIESTA: Days of the Dead and Other


Mexican Festivals by Chloë Sayer


We just adore all the merry skeletons in what you would expect to be a depressing book. Not at all. It is full of fun and jollification. The author draws on


her extensive travels in Mexico and on the wide-ranging collections in the British Museum, to give a contemporary context to these delightful, uniquely Mexican festivities. After the Spanish Conquest of 1521, Roman Catholic teachings fused with the beliefs of native civilisations and, even today, the popular arts and crafts draw upon the Church as a rich source of imagery and a catalyst for creativity. Fiestas are often lavish and extremely costly. With extensive preparations, they commemorate local saints’ days and religious holidays such as Christmas, Carnival and Holy Week. Many festivals are dominated by masked dances, with the devil, death, angels and the deadly sins doing battle. On 1st and 2nd November, the deceased are thought to visit friends and relatives on earth. Families welcome the returning souls with flowers, incense, candles and feasting. On 12th December, Mexicans everywhere honour Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and an important symbol of national identity. There are sad moments, of course, when a sorely missed person is mourned but, overall, this volume is guaranteed to entrance. Surely a devil, an angel and a skeleton riding a bicycle have to be irresistible? 128 pages 22cm x 22cm with over 125 stunning, brightly coloured illustrations. £14.99 NOW £7


75226 OPENING PANDORA’S BOX: Phrases Borrowed from the Classics and the Stories Behind Them by Ferdie Addis


Achilles’ heel, Midas touch, Oedipus complex, sword of Damocles, Halcyon days, to run a marathon, to cross the Rubicon, a chorus of disapproval, to rest on your laurels - classically derived expressions are commonly used in our everyday language. But how many of us have a great understanding of the Greek and Roman legends which inspired them? Providing a very entertaining and useful introduction to classical mythology and history, this is an endlessly fascinating book containing the stories behind these and many other phrases. Beautifully presented gift edition with dedication page. 175pp. $14.95 NOW £3


75174 COMPLETE PROPHECIES OF


NOSTRADAMUS by Mario Reading


It was when the verse prophesies of Michel de Nostredame (1503-66, and henceforth known as Nostradamus) began to be fulfilled during his lifetime that people began to take notice of what he predicted, and the world continues


even today to find them spellbinding. He wrote down his prophesies, called the Centuries, in 1555, and one of the first and most dramatic occurred in 1559, when his prediction of the exact manner and cause of the death of Henri II of France came true. Although a respected physician and scholar, this precise foretelling risked him being denounced as a sorcerer, but Catherine de Medici, Henri’s widow, afforded him protection and he lived out his days in safety. In his research he discerned that the numerals on the 942 extant verses were not, as previously thought, index numbers, but in fact ciphers for the date upon which the prediction would come true, within the seven centuries of the prophet’s scope. Nostradamus predicted the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the 2008 Credit Crunch, New Orleans’ flooding, the Iraq War, the Twin Towers disaster, in the future the break up of the European Union and Global War. He even predicted his own death in 1566 on 1st July! What will happen in 2021-2? Brace yourselves: Elizabeth II dies and new king, Charles III, now 74 and tired of innuendo regarding Princess Diana, abdicates shortly after his coronation, handing the crown not to William, but Prince Harry, who goes on to become King Henry IX at the age of 38, though not without a great deal of muttering regarding his paternity. Endlessly fascinating. 990pp.


£20 NOW £7.50


74465 ULTIMATE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FANTASY by David Pringle


First, there is a run-down of the major story types, then comes fantasy cinema, including feature film info, cast lists, plot points, commentary and notes of interest. Television fantasy is first of all chronologically arranged then alphabetically by title and even includes coverage of relevant radio shows from the 1930s up to today. There is an alphabetical Who’s Who, an A-Z of fantasy characters and entities, a look at some of the most popular fantasy worlds, and fantasy games. Foreword by Terry Pratchett. 304 large paperback, colour and b/w photos and list of fantasy magazines. $27.95 NOW £5.50


74355 A BRIEF GUIDE TO THE GREEK MYTHS: Gods, Monsters, Heroes and the Origins of Storytelling by Stephen P. Kershaw


A classicist points out how, although the Greek myths are thousands of years old, they still live in our language and imagination. We have the ‘Midas touch’ or an ‘Achilles heel’. The author retells well-known stories like Jason and the Argonauts and Theseus and the Minotaur, and forgotten ones such as the Birth of the Gods and the Creation of Man and Woman, exploring how their inspiration has remained vital for western culture, from Renaissance painters through the poets of the Great War to the modern myth makers of Hollywood. 531 paperback pages, maps, family trees, spellings and dates. £9.99 NOW £4.25


We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts.


- William Hazlett


75233 SHETLAND BREEDS: Ancient Endangered and Adaptable


by Nancy Kohlberg and Philip Kopper


As precious as they are


unsung, the native beasts of Shetland prove the value of adaptation, the miracles of evolution. Where else can you find so many indigenous farm animals, some endangered, some just plucked from the brink of extinction? Rare breeds survive: Shetland Pony, Shetland Sheep, Shetland ‘Coo’, Shetland Goose, Shetland Duck and more. All are hardy, frugal and small for their ilk. A Shetland pony’s hair pattern sheds rainwater from its flanks. Shetland sheep know the tides, and browse the shores for seaweed at the ebb. Shetland geese drive their young to cover, long before weather-wise fishermen see a coming storm. This charming volume celebrates Shetland’s unique community. Chapters by experts describe the animals’ special traits, a geneticist probes heredity, a historian plumbs the past and islanders offer their views and wisdom in this beautiful anthology. Among the authors, Lawrence Alderson is an authority on livestock conservation. Ronnie Eunson graduated from Edinburgh


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74666 ANIMAL STORY BOOK by Andrew Lang


Here are 66 charming stories adapted and translated from tales by Dumas, Gautier, Pliny and many are by Mrs Lang. They range from delightful narratives about the tiniest creatures (Stories of Ants) to large four legged mammals (The Ship of the Desert). Here too are Snake Stories, What Elephants Can Do, How A Beaver Builds his House, The Battle of the Mullets and the Dolphins, Dolphins at Play and Eccentric Bird Builders among them. Charming woodcut facsimile illus, reprint of the 1896 edition, unabridged. 400 page paperback. £11.49 NOW £4.50


75077 OLD WIVES’ LORE: A Book of Old-


Fashioned Tips and Remedies by Polly Bloom This volume explores a combination of folklore and time- honoured teachings, illuminating the history behind female wisdom from yesteryear. It offers both seasoned advice and peculiar cures for a huge range of problems from recipes for health and well-being to practical guidance for home and garden, and from tips on predicting the weather to banishing spots, warts, boils and blackheads. You will no longer suffer from coughs, colds, stings, skin irritation, insect bites or head lice, nor need you worry about how to get that ingrained grease off your oven or remove stains from carpets, upholstery and furniture, but do take note of the Not So Wholesome Recipes. 224 pages with line drawings. £12.99 NOW £5


23958 ANDERSEN’S FAIRY TALES: SELECTED STORIES


Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in Odense, the son of a shoemaker. His early life was wretched, but he was adopted by a patron and became a short-story writer, novelist and playwright, though he remains best known for his magical fairy tales, which were published between 1835 and 1872. For 150 years his stories have been delighting both adults and children. Here over 40 of Andersen’s 168 tales, and among the favourites are The Red Shoes, The Mermaid, The Real Princess, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Tinder-Box and, of course, The Ugly Duckling. Illus, 400pp. Paperback. ONLY £2


73890 THE DEATH OF KING ARTHUR: The Immortal Legend Thomas Malory’s Le Morte


d’Arthur A Retelling by Peter Ackroyd Thomas Malory created for posterity the images of the lovers Lancelot and Guinevere, the bold Galahad and Gawain, sad Tristram and Isolde, Merlin the wily magician and Arthur, the once and future king. It is still a remarkable tribute to Malory’s inventive genius that Arthur and the Round Table have found a secure and permanent place in the affections of the English-speaking people. As a result of his plangent and often elaborate prose, the song of Arthur has never ended. It inspired both Milton and Dryden. In the 19th century Tennyson revived its themes. William Morris wrote The Defence of Guenevere and Algernon Swinburne composed Tristram of Liones. Ackroyd takes on the task of abridging and retelling this much loved tale, and transforming a 15th century work into a dramatic modern story, bringing to life a world of courage and chivalry, magic and majesty. 316 stirring pages. $26.95 NOW £5


73996 SUPERSTITIONS: 1013 Wacky Myths Fables and Old Wives’ Tales by Deborah Murrell


Have you ever stopped to think about why people pick up a ‘lucky’ penny or say ‘God bless you’ when someone sneezes? Who doesn’t sometimes get a shiver down the spine when a black cat crosses his path or feel uneasy when a dog howls in the middle of the night? Our book reveals the geographical, religious and social origins behind more than 1000 intriguing superstitions from around the world grouped by Hearth and Home, Sickness and Health, Love and Romance, Babies and Children, Spirits and Souls, Magical Little People, Omens, Good Luck Charms, Protective Amulets, Numbers, Calendar Customs and Rituals and more. 200 charming illus, 256 large pages. ONLY £5.50


NATURE


University, then returned to the area to become a crofter, and Nancy Kohlberg raised the first Shetland Goose flock outside the UK. Their love of Shetland permeates this nostalgic book. 180 pages with illustrations in b/w, and short biographies of the contributors. £16 NOW £5


75448 GREEN CHINA by Heather Angel The author, a biologist and award-winning wildlife photographer, has travelled to China more than 20 times to photograph its fauna and its wild places. This lovely volume is simultaneously a


celebration of the country’s natural heritage and a sharp reminder of what the world stands to lose if it is not carefully preserved. China is one of the most biologically diverse countries on earth. Her habitats range across the deserts of the Gobi and Taklamakan, to the forested mountain slopes, a myriad of rivers and lakes and the tropical forests of the far south. The Chinese Government is grappling with the dual challenge of sustaining healthy economic growth while ensuring that the health of the people, the land and its wildlife are not sacrificed. The wild areas that remain are often rich in unusual plants and animals found nowhere else, from the famous pandas and flamboyantly coloured pheasants to rare ginkgo trees and snub-nosed monkeys, as well as countless herbs, many with medicinal properties. Throughout this gorgeous book, special sections focus on the ancient kinship between man and nature, the role of nature in Chinese art the tenuous survival of the Siberian tiger, the other-worldly landscapes of karst rock formations, the multi-purpose bamboo and, of course, China’s symbolic treasure, the giant panda. This truly is ‘Green’ China. 169 pages 32cm by 28cm with over 300 superb colour photographs, map of provinces, map of principal habitat zones, list of Chinese Dynasties, list of abbreviations, index of scientific names. £29.95 NOW £5


75518 SPECIES ON THE


EDGE OF SURVIVAL by IUCN


Biodiversity loss is one of the world’s most pressing crises, with many species declining to critically low levels and with significant numbers becoming extinct. At the same time, there is growing


awareness of how biodiversity supports human livelihoods. In an effort to draw attention to the seriousness of the problem, The International Union for Conservation of Nature has produced this beautiful book. It is not only a volume that readers will enjoy for its stunning photos and wealth of facts, but also a unique guide to 365 animals, fungi and plants. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is widely recognised as the world’s most comprehensive information source on the conservation status of wild species and their links to livelihoods. For instance, more than 70,000 different plant types are used in traditional and modern medicine. Waste regulation is another important function carried out by the likes of dung beetles and animals which feed on extraneous products at the bottom of the sea. Different plants and animals also carry out supporting services, including nutrient cycling, photosynthesis, water cycling and soil formation. With this book, readers can discover which species are at each level of threat from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Extinct in the Wild’. They will learn, through authoritative descriptions, why each species is included on the Red List, and find where it lives, with a location map for each one. 400 paperback pages very lavishly illustrated with photos in exquisite colour individually credited, maps, species listing and glossary. £14.99 NOW £6.50


73725 SKULLS: An Exploration of Alan Dudley’s Curious Collection by Simon Winchester


Over many years, Alan Dudley became an extremely accomplished collector, known as an authority and with a collection of skulls prepared and labelled to a quality fit for a museum. Unfortunately, when he began trading on the internet, he was found to have breached the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. His possession of: a howler monkey, a penguin, a loggerhead turtle, a chimpanzee, a Goeldi’s marmoset and a tiger was found to be illegal and he was fined and sentenced to 50 weeks in prison - luckily for him, suspended. Since then, he has been more careful, but remains as enthusiastic as ever. Here is every kind of animal you can imagine, from amphibians, birds and fish to mammals and reptiles. We were particularly gripped by the Longnose Gar, the Hammer-headed Bat and the fearsome Sabre-toothed Cat. What a collection! 256 pages 26cm x 26cm, clear, close-up photos. £19.95 NOW £12


74389 A LAND by Jacquetta Hawkes A Land is Jacquetta Hawkes’s seminal work, a classic piece of British nature writing, first published in 1951. It leaps from ecology to geology and archaeology to anthropology and assuming the mantle of, by turns, a patriotic hymn of love to the British Isles, a romantic view of the British countryside as a vast work of art, an account of British identity and a lamentation of centralisation, industrialisation and severance from the land. Robert Macfarlane provides an excellent short history of the author’s life and achievements, and we begin the book proper with Hawkes’s musings on the physical and human geography of London from her Primrose Hill back garden on a summer’s evening. There follows her own take on the formation of the Earth, and Britain in particular, the creation of lowland Britain and the dinosaurs which roamed it and the combination of rock, soil and man that leads to civilisation, and her vision of what the future might hold for Britain, particularly its rural regions. Colour and b/w photos and maps. 242pp, handsomely bound in olive-green linen. £20 NOW £7.50


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75108 THE ENGLISH YEAR: A Literary Journey Through the Seasons


edited by Peter Buckingham This delightful anthology focuses on the weather and the landscape, with occasional observations about the people who inhabit it. On 15 January Coleridge sees “the brightest halo circling the roundest and brightest moon I ever beheld”, and the next day Queen Victoria


regretfully leaves her private retreat at Claremont for the grandeurs of the palace at Windsor. On 24 March Katherine Mansfield exclaims “Thank God! There’s a sprinkle of sun today!” and by 31 May Jane Austen hears that “an apricot has been detected on one of the trees”. On 31 July Dorothy Wordsworth admires “the river and a multitude of little boats” while crossing Westminster Bridge, and no anthology of the seasons would be complete without Keats’s “Ode to Autumn”: “Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn”. A quotation for every day of the year. 255pp, line drawings.


£9.99 NOW £4


74093 GARDEN BIRD CONFIDENTIAL: Discover the Hidden World of Garden Birds by Dominic Couzens


Watching the interactions of our garden birds as they come to your bird table, fatballs, peanut holders or good old-fashioned crusts chucked on the lawn is fascinating enough, but what happens when they have eaten their fill? Here are full profiles of the most popular garden species, 60 in total, which includes superb colour photos (often full-page) and colour artworks of each alongside Latin name, identification rules, shape and character, song, habitat, preferred food, habits in the garden, breeding, migration, distribution and abundance. Keep one by your lounge window, 192pp softback, 7½”×10". £14.99 NOW £5


74908 WATER SUPPLY: A


Shire Book by Peter Naylor The book explains how the expansion of towns and cities from Jacobean times necessitated the bringing of water long distances to ensure a supply of pure and unpolluted water and to achieve this, the construction of large dams and reservoirs that flooded valleys and submerged villages. The book includes a list of places to visit


throughout the UK where water supply and its history can be better understood like pumping stations with historical machinery such as beam engines in steam. With a list of reservoirs and outdoor recreations. 56 page Shire paperback, colour photos and diagrams. £5.99 NOW £2.75


74104 PHILIP’S GUIDE TO THE MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS OF BRITAIN AND


NORTHERN EUROPE by Geoffrey Kibby Fungi are neither animals nor plants and are a hugely under- researched form of life: it is estimated that only half the planet’s fungi have been identified, so far totalling around 100,000. This book takes 400 of the most common mushrooms and toadstools and makes them easy to identify and classify. A field key at the beginning summarises the most obvious features such as size, cap colour and shape, spores, stem, root and smell, and then directs you to detailed entries for the fungi that match your initial description, giving habitat and full measurements including the length of the spores. 256pp, paperback, diagrams, colour illus. £9.99 NOW £3


74238 THE INSHORE FISHERMEN OF WALES by J. Geraint Jenkins


From salmon trapping on the river Wye and cockle gathering at Pen-clawdd in north Gower, to fishing for herring off the Llyn peninsula and mussel dredging in the Conwy estuary, over-fishing and pollution have reduced fish stocks, modern equipment has replaced age-old practices, and international restrictions on fishing grounds and the quantity of fish caught have all imposed new patterns on the industry. This volume is the first full- scale survey of Welsh coastal fishermen, past and present. 167 paperback pages, map, diagrams. £17.99 NOW £5


74416 STORY OF FOSSILS: In Search of


Vanished Worlds by Yvette Gayrard-Valy The tale of the discovery in August 1900, in Siberia, of a spectacularly well-preserved mammoth, completely entombed in the earth and ice, its massive body frozen solid. As the study of fossils became a science, the reality uncovered by palaeontologists was found to be even more astonishing than the myths. This gripping book reveals the tasks and tools of palaeontology, the wondrous world of microfossils, and much more. Fossil hunters are still making revolutionary finds which, with the aid of modern technology, continue to rewrite the history of life on earth. 191 paperback pages teeming with illus in colour, sepia/w and b/w with timeline. £7.95 NOW £4


74434 NATURE NEAR LONDON by Richard Jefferies


Today, interest in what Richard Mabey termed “unofficial countryside” and its inhabitants has never been higher. However, Richard Jefferies got there in 1883, which is when Nature Near London was first published. Arranged as a collection of observational pieces from locations near London, it is full of the minutest details of near-city wildlife. One bittersweet tale, A London Trout, describes an overgrown brook in which, by a small bridge, lived for four years a trout that was so wily it eluded both the eyes and lures of countless anglers and passers-by. One day the brook was dammed and the trout became trapped in a pool barely deep enough to cover its back - Jefferies remorsefully relates how four men then got into the muddy pool intent on capturing his iridescent friend. This and a further 18 similarly heartfelt tales make this book simply unique. 207pp in handsome duck-egg blue linen binding. £20 NOW £6.50


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