For centuries, Yoshiwara was the famed pleasure center ofTokyo. An erotic world unmatched by the West was created bybeautiful courtesans, geishas, dancers, actors and artists. To this'floating world' came the hedonists and the sensual pleasurehunters of old Japan. A hotbed of art and creativity, it also sawthe enslavement of countless women, sold or driven into the sextrade. "Yoshiwara" traces the rise and fall of this city within acity, a sanctioned preserve of teahouses and brothels that was notabolished until 1958, sketching a vivid portrait of social andsexual mores in Japan's capital.

With a flaming holographic cover, the new GWR 2011 edition explodes with new and updated records. There's 100% new photography and hot new categories and features including TV's 75th anniversary, eye popping 3-D cinema, the historic Space Shuttle and a 270 city record-breaking GPS World Tour.

Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published between 1776 and 1788, is the undisputed masterpiece of English historical writhing which can only perish with the language itself. Its length alone is a measure of its monumental quality: seventy-one chapters, of which twenty-eight appear in full in the edition, With style, learning and wit, Gibbon takes the reader through the history of Europe from the second century AD to the fall of Constantinople in 1453-an enthralling account by ‘the greates of the historians of the Englightenment'. This edition includes Gibbon's footnotes and quotation, here translated for the first time, togerther with brief explanatory comments, a precis of the chapters not included, 16 maps, a glossary, and a list of emperors.

Following the enormous success of "Hitler: Hubris" this booktriumphantly completes one of the great modern biographies. Nofigure in twentieth century history more clearly demands a closebiographical understanding than Adolf Hitler; and no period is moreimportant than the Second World War. Beginning with Hitler'sstartling European successes in the aftermath of the Rhinelandoccupation and ending nine years later with the suicide in theBerlin bunker, Kershaw allows us as never before to understand themotivation and the impact of this bizarre misfit. He addresses thecrucial questions about the unique nature of Nazi radicalism, aboutthe Holocaust and about the poisoned European world that allowedHitler to operate so effectively.

This celebration of the English countryside does not only focus on the rolling green landscapes and magnificent monuments that set England apart from the rest of the world. Many of the contributors bring their own special touch, presenting a refreshingly eclectic variety of personal icons, from pub signs to seaside piers, from cattle grids to canal boats, and from village cricket to nimbies. First published as a lavish colour coffeetable book, this new expanded paperback edition has double the original number of contributions from many celebrities including Bill Bryson, Michael Palin, Eric Clapton, Bryan Ferry, Sebastian Faulks, Kate Adie, Kevin Spacey, Gavin Pretor-Pinney, Richard Mabey , Simon Jenkins, John Sergeant, Benjamin Zephaniah, Joan Bakewell, Antony Beevor, Libby Purves, Jonathan Dimbleby, and many more: and a new preface by HRH Prince Charles.

The Histories, by Herodotus, is part of the Barnes NobleClassics series, which offers quality editions at affordableprices to the student and the general reader, including newscholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully craftedextras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today s topwriters and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies ofcontemporary historical, biographical, and cultural eventsFootnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations,parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, andfilms inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Studyquestions to challenge the reader s viewpoints and expectationsBibliographies for further reading Indices Glossaries, whenappropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed tosuperior specifications; some include illustrations of historicalinterest. Barnes Noble Classics pulls together aconstellation of influences—biographical, his

A New York Times Book Review Notable Book of the Year A Washington Post Best Book of the Year A Businessweek Best Business Book of the Year A Chicago Tribune Best Book of the Year In this brilliant, essential book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Thomas L. Friedman speaks to America's urgent need for national renewal and explains how a green revolution can bring about both a sustainable environment and a sustainable America. Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations, and the expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a dangerously unstable planet--one that is "hot, flat, and crowded." In this Release 2.0 edition, he also shows how the very habits that led us to ravage the natural world led to the meltdown of the financial markets and the Great Recession. The challenge of a sustainable way of life presents the United States with an opportunity not only to rebuild its economy, but to lead the world in radically innovating toward cleaner energy.

An entertaining, anecdotal look at the origins of language and ideas in the USA. Bryson explains why two bicycle repairmen from Ohio succeeded in mastering manned flight, why the assassination of President Garfield led to the invention of air conditioning, and many other improbable but true facts.

Tanks and armored fighting vehicles have dominated the battlefield in all conflicts all over the world. Their amazing firepower, armor, and mobility has lead to most countries maintaining a fleet of these versatile and fearsome machines. Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles features the best of these vehicles.Entries are listed chronologically from 1915 to the present day. Each entry is accompanied by a de*ion of its development and service record, and a full specification table is included, detailing all the essential data:armament, crew, dimensions, speed,range, engine types, and power utput. Specifications are given with both imperial and metric measures listed. Among the vehicles featured in the volume are the British Mk I tank of World War I, the German Panther, and the American M4 Sherman of World War II, and the MI Abrams seen in battle today. All of the major manufacturers in the US, UK, Germany, France, and Russia are covered, alongside the smaller nations to present a global commentary on the

From Solon to Socrates is a magisterial narrativeintroduction to what is generally regarded as the most importantperiod of Greek history. Stressing the unity of Greek history andthe centrality of Athens, Victor Ehrenberg covers a rich anddiverse range of political, economic, military and cultural issuesin the Greek world, from the early history of the Greeks, includingearly Sparta and the wars with Persia, to the ascendancy of Athensand the Peloponnesian War.

A few hours after Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated at a Memphis motel, violent mobs had looted and burned several blocks of Washington a few miles north of the White House, centered around the U Street commercial district. Quick action by D.C. police quelled the violence, but shortly before noon the next day, looting and arson broke out anew -- not just along U Street, but in two other commercial districts as well. Over the next several days, the immediate crisis of the riots was matched by an equally ominous sense among the nation's political leadership that they were watching the final dissolution of the 1960s liberal dream. For many whites who watched flames overtake city after city -- Washington, Chicago, Baltimore, Kansas City -- the April riots were an unfathomable and deeply troubling response during what should have been a time of national mourning. To them the rioters were little better than common criminals. But a look at the average rioter complicates such conclusions: they were

THIS UNIQUE TIMECHART CELEB RATES THE 100 YEAR LEGEND OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES 11-foot foldout chronological Timechart showing a full color illustrated history of Harley-Davidson.

Now at last in a single, abridged paperback - the definitivelife. Ian Kershaw's two-volume biography of Hitler was greeted withuniversal acclaim as the essential work on one of the most malignfigures in history. Now this landmark biography is available in onesingle, abridged edition, tracing the story of how a bitter, failedart student from an obscure corner of Austria rose to unparalleledpower, destroying the lives of millions and unleashingArmageddon.

A unique guide to every UNESCO World Heritage site. The global list has proved a valuable tool in the battle to preserve the world's heritage. Managed by the World Heritage Committee with strict criteria, only the world's most spectacular and extraordinary sites making it onto the List. Major sites Details of all 878 UNESCO sites including!.the remarkable Dazu Rock Carving of China!!the last substantial expanse of monsoon forest in Thailand, the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex!.Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania which contains the highest mountain in Africa one of the largest volcanoes in the world!.one of the greatest Mayan temples Tikal in Guatemala!the legendary Acropolis in Athens!..the ancient Nabataean city of Petra in Jordan!.the unique ecosystem of the Serengeti, Tanzania. / Over 650 colour photographs / De*ions of 878 UNESCO World Heritage sites / Location map for every 878 site Background The World Heritage List includes properties forming part of the cultural and natural heritage which the

Herodotus (c480-c425) is 'The Father of History' and his Histories are the first piece of Western historical writing. They are also the most entertaining. Why did Pheidippides run the 26 miles and 385 yards (or 42.195 kilometres) from Marathon to Athens? And what did he do when he got there? Was the Battle of Salamis fought between sausage-sellers? Which is the oldest language in the world? Why did Leonidas and his 300 Spartans spend the morning before the battle of Thermopylae combing their hair? Why did every Babylonian woman have to sit in the Temple of Aphrodite until a man threw a coin into her lap, and how long was she likely to sit there? And what is the best way to kill a crocodile? This wide-ranging history provides the answers to all these fascinating questions as well as providing many fascinating insights into the Ancient World.

A highly illustrated and cemprehensive reference guide tn more than 66 tanks and armeured fighting vehicles from 1916 tn the present day Illustrated threaghnut with photographs and detailed artworks shewing every aspect ef the featured military vehicles Ileledes a full specification table fer each machine,detailing arilaleat, crew, dimensien, weight, speed, range, engine types and pewer output

Most current reconstructions of Aegean prehistory are predominantly based on archaeology. This book, however, approaches the subject from the vantage point of linguistics and Greek heroic tradition. Its main thesis is that the ancient Greeks started their history as a mixed population group consisting of both Greek-speaking newcomers and the indigenous population of the land. Issues such as intermarriage and cultural and linguistic fusion are discussed as well as the eventual collapse of Mycenaean Greece and the creation of the myth of the Trojan War.

This story provides a glimpse into the powers of the mischievousMonkey King, who is able to transform himself into many differentimages such as a tree, a bird, a beast of prey or a bug as small asa mosquito. He can travel around the world three times in the blinkof an eye! Filled with a host of memorable characters and delicious dialoguethat young children will savor (and older ones delight to readaloud!), and illustrated by the renowned artist Lak-KheeTay-Audouard, Monkey: The Classic Chinese AdventureTale promises to become another favorite in our growingcollection of Asian children’s books.

Edward III is a major new addition to the Shakespearean canon.Melchiori claims that Shakespeare is the author of a significantpart of the play, the extent of which is discussed in detail. Theintroduction explores the play's historical background and itsrelationship to the early cycle of history plays. The commentaryexamines in depth the play's linguistic and poetic features, whilean extensive appendix on the use of sources explains the stages ofits composition.

At the time this remarkable work was written, Neo-Platonism was only just beginning to regain intellectual favor. Today, of course, this brilliant book is celebrated as a classic example of New Age scholarship.

In October 1942, a panzer officer wrote Stalingrad is no longer a town... Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure . The battle for Stalingrad became the focus of Hitler and Stalin's determination to win the gruesome, vicious war on the eastern front. The citizens of Stalingrad endured unimaginable hardship; the battle, with fierce hand-to-hand fighting in each room of each building, was brutally destructive to both armies. But the eventual victory of the Red Army, and the failure of Hitler's Operation Barbarossa, was the first defeat of Hitler's territorial ambitions in Europe, and the start of his decline. An extraordinary story of tactical genius, civilian bravery, obsession, carnage and the nature of war itself, Stalingrad will act as a testament to the vital role of the soviet war effort.

Provides an accessible introduction to 28 0f the most important actions of World War ll,including Dunkirk，the Battle of Britain，Operation Barbarossa，Pear Harbor,El Atamein．the siege of Leningrad，Kursk，Monte Cassino，the D-Day landings，Battle of the Bulge，lwo Jima，the Battle for Berlin，and many，many more. Includes full-color tactical maps that allow the reader to grasp at a glance the decisivemoves of the battle. Features rnore than 250 color and black,and—white photographs and artworks illustrating the soldiers,uniforms,and military technology of the era.