A Museum Miscellany by Claire Cock-Starkey

$28.99 NZD

Category: History

Which are the oldest museums in the world? What is a cabinet of curiosity? What is on the FBI's list of stolen art?A Museum Miscellany celebrates the intriguing world of galleries and museums, from national institutions such as the Louvre, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to niche Which are the oldest museums in the world? What is a cabinet of curiosity? What is on the FBI's list of stolen art?A Museum Miscellany celebrates the intriguing world of galleries and museums, from national institutions such as the Louvre, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to niche collections such as the Lawnmower Museum and the Museum of Barbed Wire. Here you will find a cornucopia of museum-related facts, statistics, and lists, covering everything from museum ghosts, dangerous museum objects, and conservation beetles to treasure troves, museum heists and the Museum of London's fatberg.Bursting with quirky facts, intriguing statistics, and legendary curators, this book is the perfect gift for museum aficionados and collectors alike. ...Show more

Famous Last Words by Claire Cock-Starkey

$29.99 NZD

Category: Languages & Reference

Who said 'I should have drunk more champagne'? Did Nelson really utter 'Kiss me Hardy' from his deathbed? Which statesman was, at the end, 'bored with it all'? Which king begged, 'Let not poor Nelly starve ...' An extraordinary number of deathbed sayings have been recorded over the years, some proving i Who said 'I should have drunk more champagne'? Did Nelson really utter 'Kiss me Hardy' from his deathbed? Which statesman was, at the end, 'bored with it all'? Which king begged, 'Let not poor Nelly starve ...' An extraordinary number of deathbed sayings have been recorded over the years, some proving irresistible to embellishment, others displaying wry humour, still more showing remarkable lucidity in the final hours of life. The last words of politicians, kings, queens, actors, philosophers, scientists and writers are sometimes profound, sometimes prescient, often strange, funny and usually poignant. They can reveal the essence of an extraordinary life or tell us something about a celebrated person's final hours. In our ultimate moments, it seems, we are not averse to cracking a joke, losing our temper or begging for help from those we are leaving behind. The most interesting, controversial and insightful of these exit lines are collected here, from deathbed desperation to the fondest of farewells. ...Show more

Lore of the Land: Folklore & Wisdom from the Wild Earth by Claire Cock-Starkey

$28.00 NZD

$33.00 (15% off)

Category: Children & Young Adult | Series: Nature's Folklore

The Lore of the Land is a treasury of fascinating tales and ancient wisdom, unearthing the folklore of the worlds wildest places. Unearth the secrets of our natural world with The Lore of the Land, a richly illustrated compendium of folklore and wisdom from the land, skies and seas. From thundering rive The Lore of the Land is a treasury of fascinating tales and ancient wisdom, unearthing the folklore of the worlds wildest places. Unearth the secrets of our natural world with The Lore of the Land, a richly illustrated compendium of folklore and wisdom from the land, skies and seas. From thundering rivers to shady groves, flickering marshes to lightless caves, and from snow-capped mountains to the depths of the ocean, discover the folklore of Earth's wildest places. Stories and spirits abound in these land- and seascapes, where traditional wisdom and mysterious magics have intertwined over centuries. Each of the six chapters covers a different natural landscape, revealing the worldwide folklore surrounding Woodlands, Seas & Oceans, Wetlands, Mountains, Rivers & Streams and Hills & Caves. Beginning with tales from cultures spanning the globe, each chapter then dives into the legends of how these places were formed, their place in the human imagination and their natural and otherworldly denizens. Learn how the forests hold up the sky in Mori tradition; how in Ireland, seaweed was once thought to predict the weather; and that the ancient Greeks believed Mount Etna housed the fiery forge of the gods. All this and more is accompanied by beautiful artwork based on real folklore, uncovering the secrets of our natural world as never before. A treasury of fascinating tales and ancient wisdom, The Lore of the Land is sure to fire the imaginations of young nature-lovers, and delight anyone who has ever wondered whether there is more to our natural world than meets the eye. Also in the series: The Lore of the Wild: Folklore and Wisdom from Nature ...Show more

The Book Lovers' Miscellany by COCK-STARKEY, CLAIRE

$32.99 NZD

Category: Non-fiction

How is ink made? What is the bestselling book of all time? What are the oldest known books in the world? And how does one make sense of the colors found on Penguin paperbacks? The answers to these questions and many more await readers in The Book Lovers' Miscellany.The Book Lovers' Miscellany is a cornu How is ink made? What is the bestselling book of all time? What are the oldest known books in the world? And how does one make sense of the colors found on Penguin paperbacks? The answers to these questions and many more await readers in The Book Lovers' Miscellany.The Book Lovers' Miscellany is a cornucopia for bibliophiles. With customary wisdom and wit, Claire Cock-Starkey presents a brief illustrated history of paper, binding, printing, and dust jackets, with a wealth of arcane facts that even the most avid book lovers may be hard-pressed to answer: Which natural pigments were used to decorate medieval bibles? Which animal is needed for the making of vellum? Curious facts are drawn from throughout the history of books and publishing, including many more recent examples, such as a short history of the comic and the story behind the massively successful Harlequin romance imprint Mills and Boon. Readers can explore the output of the most prolific writers and marvel at the youth of the youngest published authors--or lament the decisions of the publishers who rejected books that later became colossal bestsellers. The book also includes a collection of lists, including unfinished novels, books that have faced bans, books printed with mistakes, the most influential academic books of all time, and the longest established literary families.The perfect gift for every bibliophile, The Book Lovers' Miscellany is equally well suited to reading straight through or dipping into here and there. ...Show more

The Curious History of Weights & Measures by Claire Cock-Starkey

$34.99 NZD

Category: School booklists

0 How long is an ell? What is the largest size of champagne bottle?How do you measure the heat of a chilli pepper? Why is the depth of water measured in fathoms? And what is a cubit?The Curious History of Weights & Measures tells the story of how we have come to quantify the world around us. Looking 0 How long is an ell? What is the largest size of champagne bottle?How do you measure the heat of a chilli pepper? Why is the depth of water measured in fathoms? And what is a cubit?The Curious History of Weights & Measures tells the story of how we have come to quantify the world around us. Looking at everything from carats, pecks and pennyweights to firkins and baker’s dozens through to modern science-based standards such as kilograms and kilometres, this book considers both what sparked the creation of myriad measures and why there were so many efforts to usher in standardisation.Full of handy conversion charts and beautiful illustrationsThe Curious History of Weights & Measures is a treasure trove of fun facts and intriguing stories about the calculations we use every day. ...Show more

The Georgian Art of Gambling by Claire Cock-Starkey

$0.00 NZD

Category: History

The Georgian Art of Gambling takes the reader on a miscellaneous tour through high and low society to reveal all aspects of gambling in the Georgian era. Descriptions of the most fashionable card and dice games of the day are interspersed with snippets of contemporary anti-gambling pamphlets, descriptio The Georgian Art of Gambling takes the reader on a miscellaneous tour through high and low society to reveal all aspects of gambling in the Georgian era. Descriptions of the most fashionable card and dice games of the day are interspersed with snippets of contemporary anti-gambling pamphlets, descriptions of the most famous (and degenerate) gambling houses, and accounts of the ruination of many high-profile aristocrats. The Georgian Art of Gambling covers wagering on sports such as cockfighting, bull baiting, boxing and cricket as well as the more sedentary pleasures of the card table. Both the civilised (card games portrayed in the novels of Jane Austen) and the debauched (card sharps and loaded dice) are explored, offering the reader a fascinating glimpse into the extent of gambling in Georgian Britain. ...Show more

The Library Lovers' Miscellany by Claire Cock-Starkey

$29.99 NZD

$32.99 (9% off)

Category: Languages & Reference

What can be found in the Vatican's Secret Archive? How many books did Charles Darwin's library aboard the Beagle hold? Which library is home to a colony of bats?Bursting with potted histories, quirky facts, and enlightening lists, this book explores every aspect of the library, celebrating these remarka What can be found in the Vatican's Secret Archive? How many books did Charles Darwin's library aboard the Beagle hold? Which library is home to a colony of bats?Bursting with potted histories, quirky facts, and enlightening lists, this book explores every aspect of the library, celebrating these remarkable institutions as well as the individuals behind their inspiring collections. From the ancient library at Alexandria to the Library of Congress in Washington DC, and from university libraries to those of humble villages, A Library Miscellany explores institutions both old and new. Opening the door to unusual collections such as herbaria, art libraries, magic libraries, and even the "library of smells," this book also charts the difficulties of cataloging books deemed to be subversive, heretical, libelous, or obscene.Packed with unusual facts and statistics, this is the perfect gift for library enthusiasts, bibliophiles, collectors, and readers everywhere. ...Show more

The Real Mccoy and 149 Other Eponyms by Claire Cock-Starkey

$32.99 NZD

Category: Languages & Reference

From diesel to gerrymandering, the English language is rich with eponyms--words that are named after an individual. The many histories behind these words are often mesmerizing--a word named, incidentally, after the German physician Franz Mesmer, who developed the practice of hypnotism as a form of thera From diesel to gerrymandering, the English language is rich with eponyms--words that are named after an individual. The many histories behind these words are often mesmerizing--a word named, incidentally, after the German physician Franz Mesmer, who developed the practice of hypnotism as a form of therapy. Deriving from numerous sources, eponyms are full of intrigue. This book features one hundred and fifty of the most interesting and enlightening specimens, delving into the origins of the words and describing the fascinating people after whom they were named. Some honor a style icon, inventor, or explorer, such as pompadour, Kalashnikov, and Cadillac. Others have roots in Greek or Roman mythology, such as panic and tantalize. Still others are far from celebratory and were created to brand the negative association of their origins--into this category can be filed boycott, Molotov cocktail, and sadist. Encompassing words from medicine, botany, invention, science, fashion, food, and literature, this book uncovers the curious tales of discovery, mythology, innovation, and infamy behind the eponyms we use every day. The Real McCoy is the perfect addition to any wordsmith's bookshelf. ...Show more