Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
|
Your cart is empty |
|||
Showing 1 - 24 of 24 matches in All Departments
The yew is one of the most fascinating and versatile life forms on Earth, botanically rich and intriguing, and culturally almost without comparison. In history, mythology, religion, folklore, medicine and warfare, this tree bears timeless witness to a deep relationship with mankind. Yew was the wood chosen to make some of mankind's oldest artefacts: spears, bows and musical instruments. These include items like the prehistoric spear found near Clacton, the 2,000-year-old wooden pipes from Greystones, County Wicklow and, of course, the famous medieval English longbow. In modern medicine, too, yew has proved a boon. Since 1992 taxol/paclitaxel has helped revolutionise the treatment of certain types of cancer. In botanical terms, yew is a mass of contradictions. It is a conifer which bears scarlet 'berries' with sweet juicy pulp instead of cones. It is highly poisonous in all its parts except the red fruit pulp, and yet both wild and domesticated animals feed upon it. It can live for thousands of years with the potential to renew itself. A new tree from an interior root can grow slowly within the hollow trunk of an ancient yew and centuries later 'take over' the older tree. When it come to habitat, the yew tree is nothing if not versatile. It can grown on different continents at a wide range of altitudes: from rainy Edinburgh to sultry Istanbul, from Canada to Mexico, Scandinavia to North Africa and Sumatra, Japan and the Himalayas. Fred Hageneder's fascinating book is the first to cover all aspects of the botany as well as the cultural history and mythology of the genus Taxus. This is the remarkable story of the oldest living things in Europe.
3 previously unpublished short stories by the great Patrick O'Brian - Noughts and Crosses, Two's Company and No Pirates Nowadays. Noughts and Crosses: When Sullivan and Ross decide to go shark fishing among the atolls of the Great Barrier Reef little do they know what awaits them. With their schooner beached for cleaning they take a small whaler out to sea, but when the very devil of a storm turns the whole of the sea white, it drives them to the nearest atoll for shelter. It is only when they set out once again that they discover the seas are now filled with sharks, driven to a bloodlust by the smell of their butchered fellows that clings to the whaler. Becalmed and surrounded by the world's most fearsome predators, Sullivan and Ross discover that the hunters have become the hunted. Two's Company: The lighthouse was one of the most lonely in the world, guarding a dangerous reef in the cold northern seas. It therefore seemed a good idea to Sullivan and Ross that they both be its keepers; after all, two's company. But long months of isolation and boredom can test even the stoutest of friendships. So when a great storm deposits the carcass of a huge whale on the rocks, attracting to it flocks of hungry seabirds and packs of deadly sharks, and later the arrival of two unexpected guests, it provides the two friends with a welcome distraction from their tedium. Yet as the months drag on, they find that there is only so long that man can live in peace with his fellow. No Pirates Nowadays: As their schooner inches through the dense yellow fog of the northern Pacific, Ross is beginning to regret agreeing to Sullivan's latest plan. Their search for the island of Sakhalien, to hunt for precious sea-otters, is leading them nowhere. The appearance of a fellow ship should be cause to lift their mood, yet the captain and swarthy Malay crew of the Santa Maria leave Ross feeling all the more uneasy. But when their paths cross once again it is Sullivan's nephew, Derrick, who has good cause to doubt that there are no pirates nowadays.
Palm Sunday 1461 was the date of a ruthless and bitterly contested battle, fought by two massive medieval armies on an exposed Yorkshire plateau for the prize of the crown of England. This singular engagement of the Wars of the Roses has acquired the auspicious title of the longest, biggest and bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. But what drove the contending armies of York and Lancaster to fight at Towton and what is the truth behind the legends about this terrible encounter, where contemporaries record that the rivers ran red with blood? Andrew Boardman answers these questions and many more in the new updated edition of his classic account of Towton which provides a fascinating insight into the reality of the battlefield. The Battle of Towton is illustrated throughout with contemporary illustrations, modern photographs and specially drawn maps.
At the time of his death, Patrick O'Brian had begun to write a novel to follow on from Blue at the Mizzen. These are the chapters he had completed of the final voyage that have been recorded for the audiobook of Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin - the greatest friendship of modern literature For the first time ever Patrick O'Brian's famous and much-loved Aubrey-Maturin novels will be available on audio CD which have been split into seven collections. Follow the adventures of Jack Aubrey and his ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin. Theirs is one of the greatest friendships in all literature. These collections are a perfect tribute to such a literary achievement and a perfect gift for the O'Brian enthusiast. Collection Seven contains The Hundred Days, Blue at the Mizzen and The final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey, newly recorded for this collection and read by Sir Robert Hardy.
Beasts Royal is the second book written by Patrick O'Brian - made available, at last, for the first time since the 1930s and beautifully repackaged. Published when Patrick O'Brian was just nineteen, this is the enchanting, often bloodthirsty collection of twelve tales of animal adventure that would be published in 1934 as the author's second book. His first, Caesar, had been published in 1930 and was an instant success, seeing O'Brian hailed as the 'boy-Thoreau'. As with Caesar, Beasts Royal sheds fascinating light on the formation of the literary genius behind the Aubrey-Maturin series of historical adventure tales. With the dry wit and unsentimental precision O'Brian would come to be loved for, we see the tragedies of ...
For many commentators, it was the English archers who won the day for Henry V. This new history tells the story of the battle and Henry V's Normandy campaign from the perspective of the reputed commander of the English archers, Sir Thomas Erpingham. Sir Thomas, an experienced warrior with military experience dating back 40 years, is known for his brief but pivotal appearances in Shakespeare's "Henry V," where he is correctly portrayed as an elderly, white haired veteran. But what was his background? How did he command his archers to such a place in history? And what role did the longbow and battlefield tactics play in the victory? Copiously illustrated with reproductions of battle plans and rosters never before published, Anne Curry steers the reader through the history of the most important battle of the Hundred Years War from an entirely fresh perspective.
The Mary Rose was one of King Henry VIII's favourite warships until she sank during an engagement with the French fleet on 19 July 1545. Her rediscovery and raising were seminal events in the history of nautical archaeology. Apart from the Captain and the Vice Admiral, nothing is known about the crew of the Mary Rose - the only evidence about her complement of 415 men rests with their skeletal remains. In The Men of the Mary Rose A.J. Stirland uses archaeological and skeletal evidence to give the reader a welcome insight into the soldiers of the Mary Rose, from their ages and height to their health, diet and physical condition. This book examines the building, sinking and raising of the Mary Rose and her historical context, before moving on to the examination of what the remain of the crew can reveal to us about the fighting men of that period. Many new findings have been made through analysis of their bones, including the effects of some activities and occupations on the skeletons of the men. This is the first book to deal with the men who made up the crew of the Mary Rose. It provides an exciting glimpse of Tudor life and the Tudor navy, relating archaeological findings to existing documentary evidence, opening a fascinating window into one of Henry VIII's great ships and a frozen moment of sixteenth-century time. This book will appeal both to professionals in the area, and to those for whom Tudor history holds a general fascination.
Collection of ghost stories adapted by the BBC. In 'Whistle and I'll Come to You' (1968) Michael Hordern plays Professor Parkin who heads to a hotel on the east coast of England. While out on a walk he comes across a mysterious bone whistle which ends up having disturbing consequences for Parkin. In 'Whistle and I'll Come to You' (2010) John Hurt stars as James Parkin who, in this version, is a retired astronomer taking a much needed break from caring for his ailing wife. In 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972) Mr Paxton (Peter Vaughan) travels to English seaside town Seaburg hoping to find the last of three Anglo Saxon crowns belonging to the Agers family whose last descendant has recently died. In 'The Stalls of Barchester' (1971) Dr. Black (Clive Swift) is cataloguing the Barchester Cathedral Library when he comes across an old diary belonging to Archdeacon Haynes (Robert Hardy) who died mysteriously. In 'Lost Hearts' (1973) young orphan Stephen (Simon Gipps-Kent) goes to stay at the generous Mr. Abney (Joseph O'Connor)'s estate where he is haunted by two children who previously lived in the house. In 'The Ash Tree' (1975) Sir Richard Fell (Edward Petherbridge) inherits his uncle's manor and grounds. He moves in and decides to cut down an ash tree that could prove harmful to the property... In 'The Treasure of Abbot Thomas' (1974) cynical Reverend Somerton (Michael Bryant) is completely close-minded when it comes to paranormal activity. But his steadfast beliefs falter when his search for the treasure of alchemist Abbot Thomas (John Herrington) unleashes a terrifying spectre. In 'The Signalman' (1976), based on the story by Charles Dickens, Denholm Elliott stars as a troubled railway signalman who has witnessed some unsettling sights and sounds along his stretch of track. In 'Stigma' (1977) Katherine Delgado (Kate Binchy) and her family move into a new home but have difficulty removing a menhir from their garden. In 'The Ice House' (1978) Paul (John Stride) goes to stay at a spa resort to help him get over the breakdown of his marriage. In 'A View from a Hill' (2005) historian Dr. Fanshawe (Mark Letheren) visits his friend, Squire Richard (Pip Torrens), and, having broken his own binoculars, borrows a pair through which he can see into the past... In 'Number 13' (2006) Professor Anderson (Greg Wise) is staying in room 12 of a local hotel while working in a cathedral town to authenticate historical documents. But after being disturbed at night, Anderson discovers that a previously missing room 13 has appeared... Finally, Robert Powell reads a selection of tales by M.R. James which were partially dramatised for the series 'Classic Ghost Stories'. The episodes comprise: 'The Mezzotint', 'The Ash Tree', 'Wailing Well', 'The Rose Garden' and 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'.
On a summer night in 415 BCE, unknown persons systematically mutilated most of the domestic "herms"-guardian statues of the god Hermes-in Athens. The reaction was immediate and extreme: the Athenians feared a terrifying conspiracy was underway against the city and its large fleet-and possibly against democracy itself. The city established a board of investigators, which led to informants, accusations, and flight by many of the accused. Ultimately, dozens were exiled or executed, their property confiscated. This dramatic period offers the opportunity to observe the city in crisis. Sequential events allow us to see the workings of the major institutions of the city (assembly, council, law courts, and theater, as well as public and private religion). Remarkably, the primary sources for these tumultuous months name conspirators from a very wide range of status-groups: citizens, women, slaves, and free residents. Thus the incident provides a particularly effective entry-point into a full multifaceted view of the way Athens worked in the late fifth century. Designed for classroom use, Athens 415 is no potted history, but rather a source-based presentation of ancient urban life ideal for the study of a people and their institutions and beliefs. Original texts-all translated by poet Robert B. Hardy-are presented along with thoughtful discussion and analyses by Clara Shaw Hardy in an engaging narrative that draws students into Athens' crisis.
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Sixty Years Of Saint Lawrence St. Lawrence University. Class of 1916, Charles Kelsey Gaines, George Robert Hardie Malcolm S. Black St. Lawrence university, 1916
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!
Don't say a word. Bobby Barnes was ten the day his father shot himself, and the first lesson he learned about it was that he should never tell a soul because people might reject him. From that day forward, he hid his secret behind a series of masks--the mask of the Eagle Scout, the wise doctor, community and church leader--and feared that one day his mask would be torn off and he would be naked amid his humiliation and self-doubt. This is the story of a man who achieved the outward signs of success but yearned for inner peace. It took Bob Barnes many years and an unexpected turn of events to discover himself and realize the true meaning of his life. Read his story, and you will learn that doctors are human; they are susceptible to emotional pain and doubts about their profession. Read his story, and learn something about yourself. " ... a deeply moving account of someone coming to grips with a painful past." - Archbishop Desmond Tutu. " ... should prove helpful to many people." - Frederick Buechner
"The Great Warbow" is a vivid and exciting exploration of the bow and arrow as weapons of war. From before the Domesday Book, through Anglo-Saxon England, medieval Wales and Ireland, the crusades, Bannockburn and the Wars of the Roses, until the time of the Tudors, this book takes us on a wide-ranging and fascinating journey through history. Tactics, myths, origins, defence and armour are all discussed; as are the different types of bow - shortbow, longbow, composite bows and crossbow. Crucial to our understanding of archery through the ages was the discovery of the wreck of the Mary Rose. Built during Henry VIII's reign, she sank in 1545 and it was not until 1979 that a great discovery was made. On board were chests of bows, many in excellent condition, which challenged ideas of historical bow design. Robert Hardy was one of the experts consulted when the bows were found. From this evidence, as from archaeological finds and medieval illustrations, Robert Hardy and Matthew Strickland have produced the definitive work on medieval military archery. This lively and informative book is a must-read for anyone interested in the historical background of the great warbow.
The yew is one of the most fascinating and versatile life forms on Earth, botanically rich and intriguing and culturally almost without comparison. In history, mythology, religion, folklore, medicine and in warfare, the yew bears timeless witness to a deep relationship with mankind. It is the tree that Darwin often rested beneath and under which he wanted to be buried until public opinion decreed a higher-status interment in Westminster Abbey. It was under the great Ankerwyke yew at Runnymede in Buckinghamshire that Magna Carta is believed to have been sworn by the barons in 1215. In 1803, Wordsworth celebrated the great yew in Lorton Vale, 'single, in the midst of its own darkness', a tree under which both the great Quaker George Fox and John Wesley preached. In many cultures it is the Tree of Life, and its association with churchyards in Britain and Europe has given it a particular claim on the popular imagination as a living link between our landscapes and those of the distant past.
|
You may like...
Suid-Afrikaanse geslagsregisters/South…
J.A. Heese, R.T.J. Lombard
Hardcover
R206
Discovery Miles 2 060
Foundations of Social Work Practice with…
Gerald P Mallon
Paperback
The Golden Treasure of the Entente…
Michel Becker, Vincenzo Bianca, …
Hardcover
R705
Discovery Miles 7 050
Textbook of Ion Channels - Three Volume…
Jie Zheng, Matthew C. Trudeau
Hardcover
R7,349
Discovery Miles 73 490
Diving in Indonesia - The Ultimate Guide…
Sarah Ann Wormald
Paperback
(1)
|