The latest addition to the Dedalus Series on European Fantasy Literature, this anthology of short stories presents the richness and diversity of Greek fantasy literature, steeped in Homeric tradition. This first such collection spans the 20th century and contains mostly work in first English translations, including- classic Greek authors: Papadiamantis, Karkavitsas, Theotokas, Karagatsis- leading contemporary writers: Ambatzoglou, Valtinos, Yatromanolakis, Skakianakis, Tatsopoulos- prose of major Greek poets: Cavafy, Karyotakis- Greek Surrealists: Embeirikos, Engonopoulos, Valaoritis

Roides irreverent, witty and delightful novel tells the story of Joan who, according to a popular medieval legend, ascended to the Papal Throne as Pope John VIII. The truth of the legend is of little importance as the book is far more than a historical novel and, in fact, parodies the popular historical romances of the time. In Joan, Roides has created one of the most remarkable characters in modern Greek literature and in so doing has assured his place as one of its classic authors.

Fey Folk is characteristic of Papadiamandiss work. Its characters are quaint, simple-hearted folk living their humble lives in accordance with centuries-old traditions and customs, delightfully described by Papadiamandis with both reverence and humour. The setting is the hinterland of his native island of Skiathos with its intoxicating vegetation, its hillsides, springs and ravines, where the belief in spirits and the supernatural is deeply rooted in the consciousness of the otherwise God-fearing and devout inhabitants. Generally recognized as one of the foremost Greek prose writers of the modern period, Alexandros Papadiamandis holds a special place in the history of modern Greek letters, but also in the heart of the ordinary Greek reader.

It has been said that Odysseys Elytis' national and international reputation as a poet has obscured the fact that he was an accomplished prose writer and a sensitive critic as well. Born in Crete in 1911 he published his first poems in 1935 and established himself as one of the leading figures in the "Generation of the Thirties" which also included Greece's other Nobel Laureate, George Seferis. In 1979, Elytis was awared the Nobel Prize for literature. His first volume of poetry "Open Book" was characterized by a polemical and often apologetic tone, the texts in "Carte Blanche" are more confessional and reflective, sometimes prophetic, yet always poetic and with the same boldness of expression.

Cavafy is by far the most translated and most well-known Greek poet internationally. His work exists in multiple translations in a wide range of languages and major 20th-century poets as diverse as Auden, Brecht, Brodsky, Durrell, Milosz and Montale have all paid tribute to Cavafy, either by writing poems in the style of Cavafy, or by openly admitting their debt to his poetry in their own work. Whether his subject matter is historical, philosophical or sensual, Cavafys unique poetic voice is always recognizable by its ironical, suave, witty, world-weary and aesthetic tones. It is a voice which lends itself to translation. Indeed, translations of Cavafys poetry are the best possible counter to the often quoted platitude that poetry is what is lost in translation. Cavafys is a poetry that not only survives but actually thrives in translation.

Derided and maligned more than any other Greek artist for his innovative and, at the time, often incomprehensible modernist experiments, Engonopoulos is today justifiably regarded as one of the most original artists of his generation and as a unique figure in Greek letters. Though he considered himself first a painter and only afterwards a poet, his poetry is widely read and admired, with many critical studies of his work appearing in recent years and with a growing recognition of its value and of its creative use of the Greek tradition and language. He enriched post-war Greek poetry with a host of poetic expressions, figures and images that have come to constitute part of the Greek poetic consciousness. In both his painting and poetry, he created a peculiarly Greek surrealism, a blending of the Dionysian and Apollonian, though always in keeping with basic surrealist tenets and, as such, his work is an important and original contribution not only to Modern Greek art and poetry but also to modern art and poetry worldwide.

When an Albanian husband and wife are found dead in their home, Inspector Costas Haritos, a veteran junta-trained homicide detective on the Athens police force, is called to what seems at first to be an open-and-shut case. For the Greek police, two dead Albanians are hardly a matter of concern. But when Albania's celebrity television news reporter Janna Karayoryi insists that thecase was closed too early, Haritos becomes unnerved. He doesn't exactly like the ambitious young journalist, but could she be right in thinking the murder has something to do with babies? Before Haritos can find out, Janna is murdered suddenly and chillingly, moments before she is to go on the air with a startling newsbreak. Did her mysterious report have something to do with the murdered Albanians? Who wanted her silenced, and why? Caught between a bumbling junior officer and higher-ups all too easily influenced by news executives determined to protect their own. Costas Haritos sets out to get to the bottom of the matter--and ends up neck deep in a dark form of capitalism that has emerged in Albania after the dictatorship.

An illustrated record book of theropod facts and figures-from the biggest to the fastest to the smartest The theropod dinosaurs ruled the planet for millions of years, with species ranging from the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex to feathered raptors no bigger than turkeys. Dinosaur Facts and Figures is a stunningly illustrated book of records for these marvelous creatures-such as the biggest, the smallest, and the fastest theropods, as well as the ones with the most powerful bite. This one-of-a-kind compendium features more than 3,000 records, covers some 750 theropod species, and includes a wealth of illustrations ranging from diagrams and technical drawings to full-color reconstructions of specimens. The book is divided into sections that put numerous amazing theropod facts at your fingertips. "Comparing Species" is organized by taxonomic group and gives comparisons of the size of species, how long ago they lived, and when they were discovered. "Mesozoic Calendar" includes spreads showing the positions of the continents at different geological time periods and reconstructions of creatures from each period. "Prehistoric Puzzle" compares bones, teeth, and feathers while "Theropod Life" uses vivid, user-friendly graphics to answer questions such as which dinosaur was the smartest and which had the most powerful bite. Other sections chart theropod distribution on the contemporary world map, provide comprehensive illustrated listings of footprints, compile the physical specifications of all known theropods and Mesozoic birds, and much more. The essential illustrated record book for anyone interested in dinosaurs Features thousands of records on everything from the smartest and fastest theropods to the largest theropod eggs Includes more than 2,000 diagrams and drawings and more than 300 digital reconstructions Covers more than 750 theropod species, including Mesozoic birds and other dinosauromorphs Provides detailed listings of footprints, biometric specifications, and scholarly and popular references

Clutching his vodka and his memories, he seeks refuge on an island in the Cyclades. There by chance he meets a young woman who reactivates love's vocabulary. His survival instinct faintly reappears through the distorting mirror of alcohol. Yet the craving is an irresistible, clever adversary that shows no mercy. He is drawn by his love to places that affect his emotional world ever more forcefully. Moving from Paris and Munich to London and a mountain village in central Greece, he meets a young woman and it becomes clear that the greatest magic is to be found in reality, not the bottle.

Yorgi Yatromanolakis is a professor of ancie nt Greek, and is regarded as one of Greece''s most important 20th century novelists. His third novel, The History of a Ve ndetta, was awarded the First Greek National Prize for Liter ature '

White Castle: The evaluation of an upstanding prehistoric enclosure in East Lothian describes the results of a four year research programme of archaeological works between 2010 and 2013, at the later prehistoric enclosure of White Castle, East Lothian, carried out under the auspices of the Rampart Scotland project. The site is a Scheduled Monument, but, despite being subject of mapping and survey for some 200 years, it has never been examined by excavation prior to the Rampart Scotland project’s interventions. White Castle was the first of the series of comparable sites to be excavated in the Lammermuir area. The programme of archaeological evaluation and sequence of radiometric dates furnished evidence for four major phases of activity at White Castle – with the main enclosure period dating to the second half of the first millennium BC. The excavations demonstrated a clear sequence of enclosure development over time, whereby the design and visual impact often appeared to be more important than defence alone. White Castle’s location on the main route through the Lammermuirs with surrounding upland pasture is also highly suggestive to its function and it seems probable that the site’s economy was concerned primarily with controlling access to grazing. The final phase of the prehistoric enclosure appears to combine two key factors: impressing visitors and stock control. While maintenance of White Castle’s enclosure system was abandoned in the closing centuries BC, it is unlikely that the area was deserted and there is also limited evidence for two later phases of activity on site around the Medieval and Early Modern Periods.

The Falstaff Principle is a fast moving trans-national thriller which asks "When is discretion the better part of valour?" It questions many of the values we take for granted and gives a glimpse into the workings of the establishment in modern Britain.

The powerful and stylistically brilliant saga of a family by one of contemporary Greece's literary masters Zyranna Zateli's ambitious multigenerational saga is the story of Christoforos-husband to Petroula, Eftha, and finally Persa; of his promiscuous son Hesychios and the many children left behind following the untimely demise of so many would-be daughters-in-law; and of the sisters, brothers, children, and grandchildren who inhabit a household and a history expanding to near-bursting. Rich in symbolism and magical realism, this complex and wondrous story unfolds in ten interrelated "tales" in David Connolly's magnificent translation. Unique in structure, style, and narrative voice, Zateli's novel, considered her masterpiece, is an ingenious combination of classical mythology, ethnic folklore, and historical events. It is a touchstone of contemporary Greek literature, awarded the Greek State Prize for Best Novel in 1994, and is an essential introduction to this celebrated author.

This volume brings together critical editions, translations into English, and textual studies of two seminal early printed books in the history of German mining. Johan Haselberg's "Der Ursprung gemeynner Berckrecht," dating from the 1530s, is the earliest printed compendium of legal and scientific texts on metal mining, some dating back to the 12th century. The "Bergkordnung Norwegen," printed in 1540, stands out as the first mining code composed in Germany for use in another country (Norway). The lengthy introduction surveys early German mining and mining literature in general, then examines the two books in their cultural, historical, and linguistic contexts. On the one hand, early practices and developments in the evolution of compiling technical information are demonstrated in the texts; however, the books also reveal some of the problems adherent to textual transmission in the early period of book printing.

This study describes and illustrates, with plans, drawings and photographs, 75 of the defensive towers in the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, which occupies the western side of the Musandam peninsula at the entrance to the Arabian Gulf. The material comes from a survey undertaken between December 1991 and January 1992, and includes an introduction discussing geography, history, typology and distribution, and construction techniques and features.

A journey full of love, denial and danger, where fiction is not that distant from reality. The answers will be found at Bar Flaubert. One man's quest to discover and understand the driving force behind an aspiring novelist who's written words seem to echo his innermost thoughts. Both a search for identity and an intriguing family saga, this tale follows the journey-filled with love, denial, and danger-undertaken by a young man who tries to discover why a novel by an aspiring writer seems to echo his own innermost thoughts. In Barcelona, Berlin, and Florence, he traces his Greek family's many connections and at last uncovers a mysterious ancestor who links together the strands of his investigation. Readers are taken on a journey where fiction is not that distant from reality.