From the alleyways of Soho to the medieval remains of Moorgate, the new book by Sunday Times bestselling author Jack Chesher takes you on a journey through London and its history, showing you its hidden corners. Explore the fascinating history of the city with the creator of the ever-popular @LivingLondonHistory. Have you ever wondered where a notorious Victorian murderer was captured? Or in which backstreet you can find the pub that hid the masterminds behind the Great Train Robbery? Or perhaps which pocket park contains the remains of a great medieval monastery? Have your questions answered and let London: The Hidden Corners reveal the capital’s unique and shadowy mysteries.Illustrated throughout and complete with a selection of maps to help you discover your new favourite locations, London: The Hidden Corners promises to bring the city to life for intrepid explorers and local Londoners alike.Whether you are new to the city or a seasoned traveller, London: The Hidden Corners is a must-have guide for anyone looking to uncover something beyond the familiar. So, in true @LivingLondonHistory style, turn the page and get ready to transform the city into the museum you never knew you had. Read more

Explore the world’s most incredible buildings, from the magnificent architecture of the ancient world to green buildings of the present day.Discover the beautiful details, principal elements, and decorative features of every architectural style, from the Great Pyramid of Giza, Machu Picchu, and the Colosseum to the Sydney Opera House, the Gherkin, and Burj Khalifa. Architecture offers a truly worldwide look at historical and contemporary buildings, with breathtaking photography and intriguing cross-sections to enhance your view. See how and why certain features were common in specific time periods and how these amazing buildings have stood the test of time.Unique specially-commissioned CGI artworks throughout the book showcase more than 10 specific buildings, including The Pantheon and the United States Capitol, giving you an pristine view of their features. Clear annotations of each artwork, along with exquisite photography of specific details, make sure that you don’t miss a thing.Presented in a special slipcase, this stunning guide makes the perfect purchase for anyone who is fascinated by our world’s most wondrous buildings. Read more

"The wonderful cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the greatest achievements of European civilization, was on fire. The sight dazed and disturbed us profoundly. I was on the edge of tears. Something priceless was dying in front of our eyes. The feeling was bewildering, as if the earth was shaking." (Ken Follett)"[A] treasure of a book." (The New Yorker)In this short, spellbinding book, international best-selling author Ken Follett describes the emotions that gripped him when he learned about the fire that threatened to destroy one of the greatest cathedrals in the world - the Notre-Dame de Paris. Follett then tells the story of the cathedral, from its construction to the role it has played across time and history, and he reveals the influence that the Notre-Dame had upon cathedrals around the world and on the writing of one of Follett's most famous and beloved novels, The Pillars of the Earth.Ken Follett will donate his proceeds from this book to the charity La Fondation du Patrimoine. Read more

From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the Pharos of Alexandria and the mystery of Stonehenge, our eternal fascination with wonders is ceaseless. In their presence we are transported and brought face-to-face with things that command awe, admiration or even reverence. WONDERS OF THE WORLD explores man-made treasures that have captured the human imagination across cultures and throughout time.Please note that this product is an authorized edition published by Time Inc. and sold by Amazon. This edition is printed using a high quality matte interior paper and printed on demand for immediate fulfillment. Read more

Journalist Julie Satow's thrilling, unforgettable history of how one illustrious hotel has defined our understanding of money and glamour, from the Gilded Age to the Go-Go Eighties to today's Billionaire Row. From the moment in 1907 when New York millionaire Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt strode through the Plaza Hotel's revolving doors to become its first guest, to the afternoon in 2007 when a mysterious Russian oligarch paid a record price for the hotel's largest penthouse, the eighteen-story white marble edifice at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street has radiated wealth and luxury. For some, the hotel evokes images of F. Scott Fitzgerald frolicking in the Pulitzer Fountain, or Eloise, the impish young guest who pours water down the mail chute. But the true stories captured in THE PLAZA also include dark, hidden secrets: the cold-blooded murder perpetrated by the construction workers in charge of building the hotel, how Donald J. Trump came to be the only owner to ever bankrupt the Plaza, and the tale of the disgraced Indian tycoon who ran the hotel from a maximum-security prison cell, 7,000 miles away in Delhi. In this definitive history, award-winning journalist Julie Satow not only pulls back the curtain on Truman Capote's Black and White Ball and The Beatles' first stateside visit-she also follows the money trail. THE PLAZA reveals how a handful of rich, dowager widows were the financial lifeline that saved the hotel during the Great Depression, and how, today, foreign money and anonymous shell companies have transformed iconic guest rooms into condominiums that shield ill-gotten gains-hollowing out parts of the hotel as well as the city around it.THE PLAZA is the account of one vaunted New York City address that has become synonymous with wealth and scandal, opportunity and tragedy. With glamour on the surface and strife behind the scenes, it is the story of how one hotel became a mirror reflecting New York's place at the center of the country's cultural narrative for over a century. Read more

Relax and delve into a world of dot-to-dots made just for you! This adult dot-to-dot book of large print, relaxing sea life images will put your mind at ease as you let your cares slip away and enjoy connecting a simple numbers of dots!The puzzles in this book include a wide variety of beautiful landscape and outdoor images. Our professional artists will leave you with breathtaking finished images that you can color, tear out and hang up if you like. You’ll be blown away by the drawings and can try to figure each one out as they gradually appear in front of your eyes. There is an answer key at the end in case you get stuck!Each image is printed on high-quality paper and every drawing is followed by a blank sheet of paper so you never have to worry about tearing individual images out of the book.You will get:Puzzles ranging up to 433 dotsA wide variety of large print, easy to read beautiful landscape imagesSkip around and start with easier images to ease into the challengeRelaxation and stress reliefProfessionally created images that will amaze you when completed!Bonus images from other dot-to-dot books in our series!Answer key at the endEnjoy the puzzles and let your stress melt away! Read more

Palm Springs Tiki presents a visual exploration of a mid-century tropical paradise in the California desert.From the 1930s through the 1970s, Palm Springs and other desert communities embraced the mid-century fantasy of a home-grown Polynesian paradise. The concept of the oasis and that of the tropical island shared the qualities of exotic escapism for the urban dweller, these would-be islanders under the desert sun. Sprouting from the arid desert were Polynesian restaurants, bars, nightclubs and lounges, hotels, motels, apartments, and trailer parks decorated with Tikis.Celebrities frequented Palm Springs’ Don the Beachcomber, the El Mirador’s South Pacific Room, the Bamboo Room at the Racquet Club, and Aloha Jhoe’s. Average Americans vacationed at the city’s Tropics Motor Lodge with its Reef Bar and the Tiki Spa; and resided at the Aloha Palms and Kauai apartments and condominiums such as the Royal Hawaiian. In Rancho Mirage, the “Fly In / Drive In” Desert Air Hotel hosted luaus attracting over a thousand people, and at Bing Crosby’s Blue Skies Village was parked a trailer disguised as a Polynesian hut surrounded by Tikis. Palm Desert, the Salton Sea, Desert Hot Springs, and far-flung desert outposts all had their own tropical hideaways.Through myriad captivating objects, historic photographs, vintage postcards, colorful architectural renderings, and other ephemera, Sven Kirsten’s and Peter Moruzzi’s Palm Springs Tiki shows readers the many imaginative concepts that proprietors developed in creating a tropical paradise in the California desert. This book is a brightly colored gem full of historical information for both lovers of Tiki and mid-century Palm Springs. Read more

London is a spectacular place to visit, and there are endless things to see and do all year round.In London, Block by Block, illustrator Cierra Block shares 40 maps showing the best places that London has to offer, whether it's the food or history, culture, shopping, beautiful buildings or gardens. Each map starts with an idea - it might be, Where are the best pancakes in London? What are the places everyone should visit in Marylebone? Or, Where in London can you lose hours browsing the shelves of a beautiful bookstore? From there, Cierra has curated a list of the best places and has painted a charming accompanying map. From best afternoon tea to most impressive views, haunted places and things to do in summer, there really is something for everyone.This book will be an inspiration for all, whether it's your first visit to London, you're a seasoned vacationer or an all-your-life local. That's the wonderful thing about London - there's always more to explore!" Read more

“The wonderful cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, one of the greatest achievements of European civilization, was on fire. The sight dazed and disturbed us profoundly. I was on the edge of tears. Something priceless was dying in front of our eyes. The feeling was bewildering, as if the earth was shaking.” —Ken Follett“[A] treasure of a book.” —The New Yorker In this short, spellbinding book, international bestselling author Ken Follett describes the emotions that gripped him when he learned about the fire that threatened to destroy one of the greatest cathedrals in the world—the Notre-Dame de Paris. Follett then tells the story of the cathedral, from its construction to the role it has played across time and history, and he reveals the influence that the Notre-Dame had upon cathedrals around the world and on the writing of one of Follett's most famous and beloved novels, The Pillars of the Earth. Ken Follett will donate his proceeds from this book to the charity La Fondation du Patrimoine. Read more

In a work rich in maritime lore and brimming with original historical detail, Eric Jay Dolin, the best-selling author of Leviathan, presents the most comprehensive history of American lighthouses ever written, telling the story of America through the prism of its beloved coastal sentinels. Set against the backdrop of an expanding nation, Brilliant Beacons traces the evolution of America's lighthouse system, highlighting the political, military, and technological battles fought to illuminate the nation's hardscrabble coastlines. In rollicking detail, Dolin treats listeners to a memorable cast of characters, including the penny-pinching Treasury official Stephen Pleasonton, who hamstrung the country's efforts to adopt the revolutionary "Fresnel Lens", and presents tales both humorous and harrowing of soldiers, saboteurs, ruthless egg collectors, and, most importantly, the light-keepers themselves. Read more

Get ready to relax and unwind with this Large Print Dot To Dot Book For Adults! Featuring intricate designs and patterns, this book offers a fun and engaging way to destress and improve focus. With larger print for easy viewing, this book is perfect for all skill levels. Challenge yourself with hundreds of dots to connect and reveal stunning images. Whether you're a seasoned dot-to-dot enthusiast or a beginner looking to try something new, this book is sure to provide hours of entertainment and satisfaction. Grab your markers or pencils and get ready to connect the dots! Read more

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Critically acclaimed author Robert Klara's The Hidden White House leads readers through an unmatched tale of political ambition and technical skill: the Truman administration's controversial rebuilding of the White House.In 1948, President Harry Truman, enjoying a bath on the White House's second floor, almost plunged through the ceiling of the Blue Room into a tea party for the Daughters of the American Revolution. A handpicked team of the country's top architects conducted a secret inspection of the troubled mansion and, after discovering it was in imminent danger of collapse, insisted that the First Family be evicted immediately. What followed would be the most historically significant and politically complex home-improvement job in American history. While the Trumans camped across the street at Blair House, Congress debated whether to bulldoze the White House completely, and the Soviets exploded their first atomic bomb, starting the Cold War.Indefatigable researcher Robert Klara reveals what has, until now, been little understood about this episode: America's most famous historic home was basically demolished, giving birth to today's White House. Leaving only the mansion's facade untouched, workmen gutted everything within, replacing it with a steel frame and a complex labyrinth deep below ground that soon came to include a top-secret nuclear fallout shelter.The story of Truman's rebuilding of the White House is a snapshot of postwar America and its first Cold War leader, undertaking a job that changed the centerpiece of the country's national heritage. The job was by no means perfect, but it was remarkable―and, until now, all but forgotten. Read more

An in-depth look at America’s historic skyscraper and Chicago’s most iconic building.This is the captivating story of the spectacular architecture of the century-old Wrigley Building—its design, construction, and enduring significance as one of Chicago’s most emblematic buildings. Through meticulous research and spectacular photography, the book unearths a century’s worth of architectural, social, and business history, shedding light on many aspects of the Wrigley Building for the first time.The Wrigley represents the high-water mark of Beaux Arts Classicism in the city, a gleaming white palazzo at the head of Chicago’s grandest boulevard, Michigan Avenue. With lavish terra-cotta ornamentation, it was Chicago’s tallest building when it opened in 1921. The book focuses on the intertwined stories of William Wrigley Jr., the larger-than-life founder of the chewing gum empire, and Charles Gerhard Beersman, the relatively unknown architect who, mentored by architect Julia Morgan, brought the building to life.With stunning new photography alongside archival images, renderings, and original blueprints and drawings, this volume is a must-have for any architecture enthusiast. It unveils a fresh perspective on this architectural marvel as well as a wealth of fascinating social history illuminating the building’s significance as more than just a structural landmark but as a nexus of Chicago’s cultural, social, and business evolution. The book incorporates multiple paper stocks and two gatefolds. Read more

“The Tower is also present to the entire world... a universal symbol of Paris... from the Midwest to Australia, there is no journey to France which isn’t made, somehow, in the Tower’s name.”— Roland BarthesWhen Gustave Eiffel completed his wrought iron tower on Paris’s Champ de Mars for the World’s Fair in 1889, he laid claim to the tallest structure in the world. Though the Chrysler Building would, 41 years later, scrape an even higher sky, the Eiffel Tower lost none of its lofty wonder: originally granted just a 20-year permit, the Tower became a permanent and mesmerizing fixture on the Parisian skyline. Commanding by day, twinkling by night, it has mesmerized Francophiles and lovers, writers, artists, and dreamers from all over the world, welcoming around seven million visitors every single year.Based on an original, limited edition folio by Gustave Eiffel himself, this fresh TASCHEN edition explores the concept and construction of this remarkable building. Step by step, one latticework layer after another, Eiffel’s iconic design evolves over double-page plates, meticulous drawings, and on-site photographs, including new images and even more historical context. The result is at once a gem of vintage architecture and a unique insight into the idea behind an icon. Read more

I draw buildings quickly and easily with Desi Press.This book is for beginner and intermediate artists who want to learn how to draw buildings in a realistic way.Learn step by step how to draw houses, buildings, monuments etc... while having fun.Perfect for aspiring drawers of all ages who want to improve their skills and learn to draw quickly. Read more

Nobody knows the city of light like Paris resident and travel writer John Baxter – and nobody is able to write about its culture quite so intriguingly. Let him guide you around the Paris you’ve always wanted to know. How was Ernest Hemingway received by the city he wrote so much about, and where did he rub shoulders with other literary greats? Are Parisian waiters really as rude as their reputation, and why do they race each other down the street in the annual Course des Garcons de Café? And where can you find fascinating remnants of the city’s history of violent revolution, jazz music, and bold artistic movements? From the reality of the city’s café culture and its literary luminaries, to some of its more curious landmarks, obscure events, and unusual inhabitants, Untold Paris will give the first-time visitor a vivid impression of the city and offer seasoned travelers a new vision of the city they love. The people, the quirks, peculiarities, charms, and eccentricities; the history and secrets. Welcome to the untold Paris.Praise for John Baxter's previous work:We'll Always Have Paris: Sex and Love in the City of Light – "towers above most recent memoirs of life abroad" Sunday Times.The Perfect Meal: In Search of the Lost Tastes of France – International Association of Culinary Professionals Award, “Full of humor, insight, and mouth-watering details… a delightful tour of traditional French culture and cuisine.” Travel and Leisure.   Eating Eternity: Food and Wine in the Art and Literature of France – "Gorgeous" New York Times Read more

A sweeping new history of the city of Rome, told through its emperors and the monuments they built to leave their mark on one of the great capitals of the classical world.Rome wasn’t built in a day, but over several centuries and under many different emperors. This story of continual creation and renewal lies at the heart of Ancient Rome in Fifty Monuments. Rome’s history has been explored by countless classicists, historians, poets, and authors, but rarely has its history been recounted through the building programs of its emperors, which transformed a small village in Italy into the apogee of empire.Paul Roberts takes the reader on a historical tour of ancient Rome, from the luxurious bathhouses of Caracalla and Diocletian, the rowdy Circus Maximus, and the Colosseum to monuments such as the Column of Trajan that celebrated Rome’s imperial project. Roberts expertly weaves together the latest archaeological research with social and cultural history, vividly evoking the story of a city always in some way rising, falling, and being rebuilt.He tells this story emperor by emperor, seeking out the personalities behind the great building projects and the very human motivations that gave rise to their construction―and destruction. When and why were they built? What did they add to the lives of the people who used them? What impact did they have on the shape of the city? Often the importance of a monument lies not intrinsically in the structure itself, but instead in the political, social, or cultural developments at its foundations. Through these monuments and the emperors who built them, Rome’s mythical and real past are intertwined, reflecting the empire’s triumphant yet often turbulent history. 185 color illustrations Read more

A fully updated and revised edition of the book USA Today called "jim-dandy pop history," by the bestselling, American Book Award–winning author"The most definitive and expansive work on the Lost Cause and the movement to whitewash history."―Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of New OrleansFrom the author of the national bestseller Lies My Teacher Told Me, a completely updated―and more timely than ever―version of the myth-busting history book that focuses on the inaccuracies, myths, and lies on monuments, statues, national landmarks, and historical sites all across America.In Lies Across America, James W. Loewen continues his mission, begun in the award-winning Lies My Teacher Told Me, of overturning the myths and misinformation that too often pass for American history. This is a one-of-a-kind examination of historic sites all over the country where history is literally written on the landscape, including historical markers, monuments, historic houses, forts, and ships. New changes and updates include:• a town in Louisiana that was the site of a major but now-forgotten enslaved persons' uprising• a totally revised tour of the memory and intentional forgetting of slavery and the Civil War in Richmond, Virginia• the hideout of a gang in Delaware that made money by kidnapping free blacks and selling them into slaveryEntertaining and enlightening, Lies Across America also has a serious role to play in contemporary debates about white supremacy and Confederate memorials. Read more

Originally conceived as an examination of the rise and fall of the defunct state hospital system, Philadelphia photographer Matthew Christopher's award winning website Abandoned America rapidly grew to encompass derelict factories and industrial sites, schools, churches, power plants, hospitals, prisons, military installations, hotels, resorts, homes, and more. Through his collection of writing and photography, Christopher has spent the last decade documenting the ruins of one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known: our own. The locations presented are the monuments to America's great ambition and crumbling future. They are the remnants of a nearly forgotten past. They are some of America's last standing vestiges of our industrial age, the buildings that put our forefathers to work.Now, broken and ruined, these places are documented in Christopher's book, Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences. Exploring sites like the charred remains of the Hotel Do De, the rusted cells of the Essex County Jail Annex, the majesty of the Church of the Transfiguration, or the eerie and dilapidated remnants of the New Castle Elks Lodge, the work spans architectural treasures left to the elements and then all too often lost forever.With 240 pages of beautiful photographs, a foreword by celebrated author James Howard Kunstler, and detailed historical background on each site, Abandoned America: The Age of Consequences is sure to captivate anyone with an interest in the modern ruins in our midst. Read more