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English Eccentrics & Their Bizarre Behaviour
by David LongJust why has England been blessed with so many quirky people? A delightful look at this phenomenon from an award–winning and &“superbly talented&” author (Sunday Express). From the eighteenth-century judge who insisted all babies were born with tails that were secretly removed by midwives to the twentieth-century schoolmaster who left twenty-six thousand pounds to the Lord Jesus Christ (upon His return and satisfactory proof of His identity), England is famed for its colorful characters. In this exploration of eccentrics through history, David Long studies these beloved real-life figures and their bizarre legacy, including the many strange buildings they left behind—not just follies but re-creations of exotic palaces. He also discusses why eccentrics still spark a continuing fascination, and highlights the most notable (not just the most famous) in his entertaining essays. In addition to a useful timeline that sets the scene, this book reveals where readers can see the long-lasting legacy of the eccentric for themselves, from Brighton Pavilion to the follies at Stourhead and Castle Howard. &“A new book by David Long is always something to cherish.&” —Londonist
The English Experience: A Novel (The Dear Committee Trilogy #3)
by Julie SchumacherA NEW YORKER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • Beleaguered Professor Jason Fitger chaperones Payne University&’s annual &“Experience: Abroad&” to London and beyond, with eleven undergrads in tow • The bestselling author of Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement completes her hilarious trilogy of academic mishap&“Wise and hilarious and heartbreaking.&”—Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire FallsJason Fitger may be the last faculty member the dean wants for the job, but he&’s the only professor available to chaperone Payne University&’s annual &“Experience: Abroad&” (he has long been on the record objecting to the absurd and gratuitous colon between the words) occurring during the three weeks of winter term. Among his charges are a claustrophobe with a juvenile detention record, a student who erroneously believes he is headed for the Caribbean, a pair of unreconciled lovers, a set of undifferentiated twins, and one young woman who has never been away from her cat before.Through a sea of troubles—personal, institutional, and international—the gimlet-eyed, acid-tongued Fitger strives to navigate safe passage for all concerned, revealing much about the essential need for human connection and the sometimes surprising places in which it is found.
English Girl in New York: The Greek's Tiny Miracle The Man Behind The Mask English Girl In New York The Final Falcon Says I Do
by Scarlet WilsonRescued on her doorstep After an annus horribilis, the glittering lights of Manhattan are irresistible to English girl Carrie McKenzie. She's climbed the Empire State Building, but can't get a smile from her gorgeous neighbor! Until a tiny abandoned baby on her doorstep brings her to his door.... Cop Dan Cooper has an obligation to protect, and with Carrie out of her depth, he must come to her rescue. Surely two pairs of hands are better than one? Until she becomes a distraction, not just because of her tempting curves, but because of the pain in her eyes when she looks at the precious bundle in their charge....
English Humour for Beginners
by George Mikes'To write a book is hard; to write a funny book is harder; to write a funny book both wise and funny is the prerogative of Mr. Mikes' The Times_________________________If you want to succeed here you must be able to handle the English sense of humour.So proclaims George Mikes' timeless exploration of this curious phenomenon. Whether it's understatement, self-deprecation or plain cruelty, the three elements he identifies as essential to our sense of humour, being witty here is a way of life.Perfectly placed as an adopted Englishman himself, Mikes delivers his shrewd advice - helpfully divided into 'Theory' and 'Practice' - with a comic precision that does his chosen country proud. Drawing on a trove of examples from our rich comic canon, from Orwell ("Every joke is a tiny revolution") to Oscar Wilde, this is the essential handbook for natives and foreigners alike.Mrs Kennedy: "I don't think, Mr Churchill, that I have told you anything about my grandchildren."Winston Churchill: "For which, madam, I am infinitely grateful."
English Is Not Easy: A Visual Guide to the Language
by Luci GutiérrezA cheeky, sophisticated, and strikingly illustrated guide that leaves generic English reference books in the dust When prominent Barcelona-based illustrator Luci Gutiérrez found herself tuning out in English class, she used her love of drawing to help retain what she’d learned. Ditching the kind of bland and useless phrases that fill most English textbooks, Gutiérrez uses whimsical characters, cheeky dialogue, and even insults to bring vocabulary, grammar, and usage topics to life. Nearly forty-seven million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home, and even most native speakers struggle with subtle distinctions, such as when to use “whether” as opposed to “if.” (For example: I wonder whether I should have added a little more poison to his tea.) Already published to wide acclaim abroad, English Is Not Easy is sure to delight grammar mavens and students of English in America.
An Englishman in Madrid
by Eduardo MendozaAnthony Whitelands, an English art historian, is invited to Madrid to value an aristocrat's collection. At a welcome lunch he encounters José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder and leader of the Falange, a nationalist party whose antics are bringing the country ever closer to civil war. The paintings turn out to be worthless, but before Whitelands can leave for London the duque's daughter Paquita reveals a secret and genuine treasure, held for years in the cellars of her ancestral home. Afraid that the duque will cash in his wealth to finance the Falange, the Spanish authorities resolve to keep a close eye on the Englishman, who is also being watched by his own embassy. As Whitelands - ever the fool for a pretty face - vies with Primo de Rivera for Paquita's affections, he learns of a final interested party: Madrid is crawling with Soviet spies, and Moscow will stop at nothing to secure the hidden prize.
An Englishman in Madrid
by Eduardo MendozaAnthony Whitelands, an English art historian, is invited to Madrid to value an aristocrat's collection. At a welcome lunch he encounters José Antonio Primo de Rivera, founder and leader of the Falange, a nationalist party whose antics are bringing the country ever closer to civil war. The paintings turn out to be worthless, but before Whitelands can leave for London the duque's daughter Paquita reveals a secret and genuine treasure, held for years in the cellars of her ancestral home. Afraid that the duque will cash in his wealth to finance the Falange, the Spanish authorities resolve to keep a close eye on the Englishman, who is also being watched by his own embassy. As Whitelands - ever the fool for a pretty face - vies with Primo de Rivera for Paquita's affections, he learns of a final interested party: Madrid is crawling with Soviet spies, and Moscow will stop at nothing to secure the hidden prize.
Engrenage
by Anna MartinLorsque James, lycéen, rencontre des problèmes avec son pick-up, Dylan, étudiant en mécanique, vole à son secours. James est à la fois surpris et ravi que Dylan veuille le revoir. Puisque James est nouveau dans le domaine de la romance, ils prennent les choses lentement, et parce que Dylan est à l’université, James garde sa relation naissante secrète auprès de son père surprotecteur. De l’autre côté de la ville, Mark, enseignant et père célibataire de James et de sa sœur, Frankie, rencontre Steve dans un bar pour ce qu’ils pensent tous les deux être un petit coup rapide. Mark ne voit aucune raison de parler de Steve à ses enfants ou d’insister pour que son amant d’un soir lui donne des détails au sujet de son fils adoptif… ce n’est que du sexe entre eux, n’est-ce pas ? Deux histoires très différentes grandissent côte à côte, chacune à l’insu de l’autre. Tout change lors d’un barbecue, lorsque Mark décide qu’il est temps que ses enfants rencontrent Steve et que lui fasse connaissance avec Dylan, le fils de Steve. L’inévitable explosion entraîne des explications pour les deux couples afin d’apaiser les sentiments blessés de leur famille – et de leurs amants.
Enhorabuena por tu fracaso
by Arturo González-CamposEl libro de Arturo González-Campos que te autoayuda a fracasar estrepitosamente en la vida. «Amo las cosas y, por lo tanto, amo a las personas que hacen cosas. Gente que dedica su vida a hacer libros, pelis, canciones, cómics..., cosas. Gracias a ellas soy un poco menos imbécil, lo cual, en mi caso, tampoco es mucho decir». Enhorabuena por tu fracaso es un desnudo integral de Arturo González-Campos, lo que no sabemos si dice mucho a su favor. Una oda a lo genuino y una invitación a que te atrevas a persistir en lo que te apasiona; a fracasar y fracasar y volver a intentarlo para, con toda probabilidad, seguir aprendiendo a fracasar. Este es un relato (¿o unas memorias?) sobre esos fracasos que, sólo a veces, se convierten en éxitos y que han permanecido en la mente de Arturo González-Campos durante toda su vida. Listas de canciones, de películas, de libros, pequeñas historias personales que se hacen universales y anécdotas amargamente tristes que te matarán de risa. Todo eso y mucho más podrás encontrar en esta «artubiografía de las cosas» que es una puta locura. «Este libro no te va a llevar ni a Ítaca ni a Mordor. Mira fijamente el trayecto de la Roomba de tu casa; eso va a ser este libro. Este libro son mis cajitas».
The Enigma of Garlic: 44 Scotland Street Series (16) (44 Scotland Street Series #16)
by Alexander McCall SmithThe latest installment in the charming and congenial 44 Scotland Street series finds all our favorite residents of Scotland's most celebrated address up to their usual hilarious hijinks.It's the most anticipated event of the decade—Big Lou and Fat Bob's wedding—and everyone is invited! But the relative peace and tranquillity of 44 Scotland Street is about to be disrupted. Domineering Irene is set to return for a two-month stay, consigning young Bertie to a summer camp. Not content with that, she somehow manages to come between the enigmatic nun, Sister Maria-Fiore dei Fiori di Montagna, and her friend, the hagiographer, Antonia Collie.And can a person really change, even after being struck by lightning? Bruce Anderson&’s metamorphosis and new-found outlook on life is put to the test as he prepares to leave his creature comforts for the monastic simplicity of Pluscarden Abbey. His house sitter, meanwhile, gets a little too comfortable in his new life and discovers that his talented employer's shoes are all too easy to slip into. With great taste comes great responsibility.Alexander McCall Smith's delightfully witty, wise and sometimes surreal comedy spirals out in surprising ways in this new installment, but its heart remains where it has always been, at the center of life in Edinburgh's New Town.
Enigmas para antes de ir a dormir
by Laura Overdeck Jim Paillot¡Deja de contar ovejitas! Llegan los enigmas para antes de ir a dormir, ¿estás preparado para el reto? Con más de cien divertidos enigmas sobre refrescos explosivos, submarinos, montañas rusas y pingüinos, este libro está lleno de retos de lógica y cálculo para compartir en familia antes de ir a dormir.
Enigmas para antes de ir a dormir
by Jim Paillot Laura OverdeckCon más de cien divertidos enigmas sobre refrescos explosivos, submarinos, montañas rusas y pingüinos, este libro está lleno de retos de lógica y cálculo para compartir en familia antes de ir a dormir.
The Enigmatic Greek
by Catherine GeorgeHer toughest assignment yet...?Getting an interview with mediahating billionaire Alexei Drakos was never going to be easy, but Eleanor Markham is nothing if not resourceful! If she can get this international rebel on his home turf-the beautiful island of Kyrkiros-he might be persuaded to open up... Alexei’s first instinct is to banish her, furious that Eleanor has invaded his sanctuary. But the feisty Eleanor appeals to him, and it has been too long since a beautiful woman has warmed his bed. He strikes a deal: an exclusive interview in return for a few nights in his exclusive company..."Great read, exciting and pacey."-Belinda, Retired, Heathfield
An Enigmatic Man (Do Not Disturb)
by Carole MortimerFrom the moment Crystal had arrived at Sam Barton'sremote mansion, she'd got the message: Sam had noroom in his life for emotional involvement. But itwasn't as if she wanted to marry him, for goodness' sake—just somewhere to stay for a couple of nights!Crys steeled herself to endure enforced proximitywith this arrogant, infuriating man. Only, she wastaken aback to discover that beneath Sam's tough,brooding exterior there existed a passionatesensuality…
Enigmatic Pilot: A Tall Tale Too True
by Kris SaknussemmEnigmatic Pilot is Kris Saknussemm's outrageously brilliant yet profoundly moving exploration and excavation of the American dream--and nightmare. In 1844, in a still-young America, the first intimations of civil war are stirring throughout the land. In Zanesville, Ohio, the Sitturd family--Hephaestus, a clubfooted inventor; his wife, Rapture, a Creole from the Sea Islands; and their prodigiously gifted six-year-old son, Lloyd, whose libido is as precocious as his intellect--are forced to flee the only home they have ever known for an uncertain future in Texas, whence Hephaestus's half-brother, Micah, has sent them a mysterious invitation, promising riches and wonders too amazing to be entrusted to paper. Thus begins one of the most incredible American journeys since Huck Finn and Jim first pushed their raft into the Mississippi. Along the way, Lloyd will learn the intricacies of poker and murder, solve the problem of manned flight, find--and lose--true love, and become swept up in an ancient struggle between two secret societies whose arcane dispute has shaped the world's past and threatens to reshape its future. Each side wants to use Lloyd against the other, but Lloyd has his own ideas--and access to an occult technology as powerful as his imagination.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Enjoy Agenda: At Home and Abroad
by Rick BaileyPart memoir, part travelogue, The Enjoy Agenda takes readers from Rick Bailey’s one-stoplight town in Michigan farm country to Stratford, England, to the French Concession in Shanghai, the Adriatic coast of Italy, and to a small village in the Republic of San Marino. With his self-deprecating style, Bailey recalls the traumas of picture day in elementary school and lugging a guitar to the Cotswalds and back. He reflects on food safety in China, relives a dental emergency in Venice, and embarks on a quest for il formaggio del perdono (the cheese of forgiveness) in the hills above the Adriatic. Bailey, whose voice is a combination of Dave Barry and Rick Steves with just a soupçon of Montaigne, writes with humor and wit about how these experiences reflect the issues and conflicts of contemporary American life: environmental change, life in digital times, and the vicissitudes of arriving at ripe old age. Throughout The Enjoy Agenda Bailey asks, “Where am I and how did I get here?” a question less about geography than the difficulties and gifts of becoming a husband and ultimately a partner changed and improved by a very smart woman and challenged and delighted by a gradual but seismic culture shift.
Enjoy the View (Moose Springs, Alaska #3)
by Sarah MorgenthalerThe award-winning author of The Tourist Attraction turns up the charm with this sweet, laugh-out-loud story about:A grouchy mountaineerA determined Hollywood starletA love-sick marmotA gorgeous Alaskan wildernessAnd a journey neither will ever forget.Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb.Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good."Fresh, fun and romantic."—SARAH MORGAN, USA Today bestselling author for The Tourist Attraction
Enjoyment of Laughter
by Max EastmanHumor at its best is a somewhat fluid and transitory element, but most books about it are illustrated with hardened old jokes from the comic papers, or classic witticisms jerked out of their context. Max Eastman, in this work, avoids this catastrophe by quoting mainly from contemporary American humor. This is not an anthology in that selections have been made with a view to making a point rather than covering the field.The purpose of Eastman's fabled work is to make the reader laugh. Since his early school days, it has seemed to him that textbooks are wrongly written in that they are conducted in a way which ignores the natural operation of the mind. As a result, the opinion is universal, and under the circumstances a fact, that in order to learn anything you have to study. Since this introduction to humor is itself near to writing a textbook, Eastman uses the very text he constructs to illustrate the manner in which textbooks should be written.Examination and classification of the kinds of humorous experience upon the basis of a theory is a science. As such, this work offers a fair chance to illustrate a method of instruction. However, the distinction between a good joke and a bad one will not prevent the reader from making bad jokes nor enable one to make good ones. There is an artistic and playful element that simply cannot be taught. Enjoyment of Laughter presents a total view of the science of laughter and draws upon some of the great American humorists to do so.
El enlace perdido: El poder feérico I (El poder feérico #1)
by Michelle BryanMuero cada noche en mis pesadillas. Si a eso le sumas que tengo alucinaciones en las que salen personas que no conozco y criaturas que no existen, te puedes imaginar por qué no me abro con nadie. A la gente no le gustan los raritos que no distinguen la fantasía de la realidad. Todo eso cambió el día en que me atacó un dragón. Sí, eso he dicho. Un dragón auténtico que echaba humo por la boca me persiguió por el instituto. Logré escapar porque un hada me obligó a cruzar a un reino mágico por un portal de fuego. Todo muy normal, ¿no? Justo cuando pensaba que las cosas no podían ponerse más raras, le conocí. El príncipe de los seres feéricos. Ojos de jade, cabello negro azabache y una sonrisa que hacía que me temblasen las rodillas. Qué pena que fuese mi enemigo mortal, al que habían enviado para que acabase lo que el dragón había empezado. Ahora que tengo que enfrentarme a mundos paralelos, a un arriesgado plan de huida y a una reina malvada empeñada en hacerse con el universo, solo estoy segura de una cosa: estoy pringada hasta el cuello.
The Enlightened Cyclist: Commuter Angst, Dangerous Drivers, and Other Obstacles on the Path to Two-Wheeled Trancendence
by Bike Snob NYCThe author of Bike Snob helps bike commuters transcend common obstacles and handle cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists with grace.The joys of commuting by bike attract scores of new converts every year. But as fresh-faced cyclists fill the roads, they also encounter their share of frustrations—careless drivers, wide-flung car doors, zoned-out pedestrians, and aggressive fellow cyclists, to name a few. In this follow-up to Bike Snob, BikeSnobNYC takes on the trials and triumphs of bike commuting with snark, humor, and enthusiasm. He asks the question: If we become better commuters, will that make us better people? From the deadly sins of biking to tactics for dealing with cars, pedestrians, and other cyclists, this primer on bike travel is a must-read for cyclists new and seasoned alike.
Enlightening Delilah (The School for Manners Series #3)
by M. C. BeatonIn this Regency romance by the New York Times–bestselling author of the Agatha Raisin mysteries, one little kiss causes big trouble for a debutante.The formidable but lovable spinster sisters, Amy and Effie Tribble are back with their salty exchanges and impossible schemes. Earning their livings by sponsoring young girls and finding them husbands, they take on the case of Delilah, a beautiful, mindlessly flirtatious country heiress. What puzzles everyone is why such a beauty is unmarried at 23, and why she is ensconced in the London school of the zany Tribbles. The answer is found in the handsome person of Sir Charles Digby, returned from the Napoleonic Wars and startled to learn he is the cause of Delilah&’s single state. He&’s eager to remedy it—if Delilah doesn&’t botch things up first…ABOUT THE SERIES The Misses Tribble, Amy and Effie, spinster sisters of a certain age, have lived for years on expectations of a great inheritance. When this fails to materialize, they are truly destitute. Desperate, they advertise that they will refine wild and unruly daughters, present them, and see them safely wed. The School for Manners six book series follows these two stalwart spinsters as they undertake enterprises of matchmaking and navigate the troublesome machinations of the London marriage mart.&“Still the best of the Regency assortment: old fans—and new ones—can dig in with total confidence.&”—Kirkus Reviews
The Enlightenment of Daniel (Sex In Seattle Ser. #2)
by Eli EastonSex in Seattle: Book TwoBusiness tycoon Daniel Derenzo lives for his work until his dying father reminds him life is short. When Daniel starts to reevaluate his world he experiences a startling revelation--he's attracted to his business partner and best friend, Nick, even though Daniel always believed himself to be straight. In typical type-A fashion, Daniel dissects his newfound desires with the help of the experts at the Expanded Horizons sex clinic. He goes after Nick with the fierce determination that's won him many a business deal. Nick Ross was in love with Daniel years ago, when they were roommates in college. But Daniel was straight and Nick patched his broken heart by marrying Marcia. Two kids and fourteen years later, they go through the motions of their marriage like ships passing in the night. But Nick's kids mean the world to him, and he's afraid he'll never get joint custody if they divorced. If he can trust his heart to an awakening Daniel, they all might find their way to a happily ever after.
Enormous Boobs: Stupidest Bloopers and Hilarious Headlines
by Richard Benson‘The away team were prevented from making a final strike due to a well-timed tickle.' Laugh out loud at this selection of the funniest faux pas and most blatant bloopers that ever made it into print, from newspaper headlines to menus, and from small ads to signs. You’ll be checking everything you type after reading this!
Enormous Boobs: Stupidest Bloopers and Hilarious Headlines
by Richard Benson‘The away team were prevented from making a final strike due to a well-timed tickle.' Laugh out loud at this selection of the funniest faux pas and most blatant bloopers that ever made it into print, from newspaper headlines to menus, and from small ads to signs. You’ll be checking everything you type after reading this!
The Enormous Crocodile
by Roald DahlFrom the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG! This picture book has a beautiful full-color interior and large trim to feature Quentin Blake's iconic art.The Enormous Crocodile is a horrid greedy grumptious brute who loves to guzzle up little boys and girls. But the other animals have had enough of his cunning tricks, so they scheme to get the better of this foul fiend, once and for all!