Freemasonry is part of a long tradition of Western mysticism, steeped in an enduring and eclectic mixture of historical fact and legend. Much of the ritual and symbolism prevalent in Freemasonry has developed over many centuries and relies heavily on notions inherited from the customs and practices of medieval stonemasons. In this absorbing book, the history and legends of the Freemasons - from links with the Knights Templar, their explorations into alchemy and the hermetic tradition, through the age of Enlightenment and the founding fathers of the USA, to the Victorians and up to the present day - are discussed alongside the mystical symbolism of the Square and the Compass, the Five-pointed Star, the All-seeing Eye, and the Sun and the Moon. Illustrated throughout, this intriguing account will appeal to anyone interested in this 'secret' Brotherhood.

This is a fantastic compendium of the greatest card games from around the world, including the history, rules, and winning strategies for each game, with more than 400 illustrations. It covers everything from fun and simple games for beginners and family players, to professional tips and expert guidance for advanced play in serious games of chance. It is a comprehensive, practical guide to over 200 games, explaining how to play and win. It offers clear instructions make the book a useful one for players at all levels - beginners, intermediates and experts. It covers all the world's most popular games, including bridge, gin rummy, blackjack, poker, solitaire, piquet and cribbage. It details the rules of each game, with strategies for play, history and fascinating facts about famous players. This essential reference for card-game players brings together all the best card games, including canasta, bridge, rummy, blackjack, cribbage, whist, solitaire and poker. The book opens with a brief history of cards, with tutorials for beginners on general play, and a gold mine of tips for intermediate and advanced players. The practical heart of the book is divided into two sections covering trick-taking and non-trick taking games. Here are all the classics plus scores of lesser-known treats such as Thirty-One Rum and Spit. Whether you want to settle a dispute about rules or find a new game for the family, this is the only book you will ever need on the subject.

This expertly presented book gives all the information needed to begin playing cards, with advice on the rules and strategies of each game. The bulk of the book is 200 card games, covers fun and classic games for families and friends. Special sections on poker and bridge guide you through all the basic information needed to begin playing. For every card game there is an explanation of the type of pack required, ideal age, playing and scoring, and plenty of diagrams of sample games. This beautifully presented guide is a great resource for all card game enthusiasts. Suitable for beginners and advanced players alike, this practical book will teach you everything you need to play a variety of exciting games* Learn how to play classics such as Baccarat, Cribbage, Go Fish, Gin Rummy and Kaluki * Similar card games are grouped, so it is simple to find fun and challenging family games as well as advanced games * A special focus on poker gives rules and winning strategies, skills and tactics, with useful tips for players at all levels as well as expert guidance for professional players * Clearly explained with more than 1200 easy-to-follow photographs and illustrations

This book presents the history, rules and winning strategies for bridge, whist, hearts, canasta and many other games, with 200 photographs and diagrams. It is a compendium of the greatest card games from around the world, with clear diagrams of sample deals and hands providing an invaluable visual guide. It details the number of players for each game. It includes professional tips and expert guidance for advanced play in serious games of chance and skill. This beautifully presented compendium explores classic card games from every continent that many players will immediately want to add to their repertoire. The practical heart of the book details all kinds of advanced card games. For every game there is a full explanation of the rules, the type of pack required, card ranking, ideal age, playing and scoring. Diagrams of sample games in play make instructions easy to follow. This is a wonderful resource for all card game enthusiasts. The expert advice and lively background information will appeal to anyone wanting to settle a dispute about rules, find a new game or discover more about the incredible range of card games.

World War Two From Above tells the amazing story of the daring photo-reconnaissance flyers and backroom boffins whose role was key in helping the Allies win the war. Copiously illustrated with aerial photographs drawn from the archives of the major Allied and Axis powers, this book examines all the theatres of the war; from Europe to the Pacific.

This is a comprehensive handbook to over 250 card games from beginner to more advanced levels of play. It includes games from all over the world, such as Blackjack, Boonaken, French Tarot, Bid Whist, Crazy Eights and Schwimmen. It clearly and simply guides new players through the rules and strategies of play, with fascinating insights into the history and development of the game. The games are grouped logically, so it is easy to find fun family games as well as advanced games. The straightforward illustrations provide an invaluable visual guide, making it simple to follow the rules and quickly get started on each new game. It is beautifully illustrated with more than 1200 colour photographs and diagrams. This expertly presented book gives all the information needed to begin playing cards, with advice on the rules and strategies of over 250 games. The first section, Card Games, covers fun games for families and friends such as Six-Card Cribbage as well as advanced games, such as Brag. The second section, Poker, guides you through all the basic information needed to begin playing poker. This section outlines the recent origins of poker as part of the colourful American Wild West culture, along with memorable games and notable players. For every game there is a complete explanation of the type of pack required, ideal age, playing and scoring, and plenty of diagrams of sample games in play to make the instructions easy to follow.