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  The Habsburg Empire - Central...

  Nova Ashford

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  The Habsburg Dynasty, one of the most influential and enduring families in European history, laid the foundation for an empire that would dominate much of Central Europe for over six centuries. The family’s rise to power was not a result of military conquest or economic dominance, but rather strategic marriages, political alliances, and a series of calculated moves that allowed them to amass territories and influence across Europe. At the heart of the Habsburg's success was their ability to use dynastic marriages to expand their reach, securing land, titles, and influence through the marriages of their children to powerful European houses. 
  The origins of the Habsburgs can be traced to the 11th century, with the rise of the family’s first significant member, Radbot, a nobleman from what is now Switzerland. However, it was not until the 13th century that the Habsburgs began their ascent to prominence under the leadership of Rudolf I. In 1273, Rudolf was elected King of Germany, marking the beginning of the Habsburgs' long reign in Central Europe. This election not only established their position within the Holy Roman Empire but also set the stage for their future expansion. 
  The key to their continued rise lay in the Habsburgs’ unparalleled ability to form advantageous marriages. Rather than relying on military might, the family expanded its territorial holdings through strategic unions with other royal and noble families. One of the most significant of these marriages was that of Maximilian I in 1477 to Mary of Burgundy, which brought the Habsburgs the rich territories of the Burgundian Netherlands. This marriage effectively linked the Habsburgs with the wealth and influence of the Low Countries, establishing them as key players in European politics.

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  The Olive Tree - A Personal...

  Carol Drinkwater

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  An olive farmer journeys through Spain, Italy, and North Africa to find the future of agriculture in an age of chemicals and climate challenges. Carol Drinkwater’s beloved olive farm in the South of France was suffering badly from destructive pests and premature ripening. In a hunt for answers, she decided to set out on her own for a fact-finding tour of Spain, Italy, Morocco, and Algeria. In The Olive Tree, Carol recounts not only the agricultural education she gained during her travels, but the dangers she faced as terrorist bombs rocked one of her destinations and a group of beekeepers helped shepherd her through dangerous territory. Through it all, she confronts issues faced by farmers and non-farmers alike in today’s world, from climate change to diminishing water reserves to the excessive use of chemicals. Ultimately, she will return to her land in Provence with a new appreciation for the urgency of these problems—and with an ingenious vision for the future shared with her by a brilliant group of olive growers . . .Praise for the Olive Farm series “Vibrant, intoxicating and heartwarming.” —Sunday Express “Spellbinding . . . a must for anyone who dreams of moving to a kinder climate and starting a new life.” —Choice

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  Inside Qatar - Hidden Stories...

  John McManus

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  An intimate portrait of life in the world’s richest nation ahead of the FIFA 2022 World Cup. 
   
  Just 70 years ago, the Gulf nation of Qatar was a backwater, reliant on pearl diving. Today it is a gas-laden parvenu with seemingly limitless wealth and ambition. Skyscrapers, museums and futuristic football stadiums rise out of the desert and Ferraris race through the streets. But in the shadows, migrant workers toil in the heat for risible amounts. 
   
  INSIDE QATAR reveals how real people live in this surreal place, a land of both great opportunity and great iniquity. Ahead of Qatar’s time in the limelight as host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, anthropologist John McManus lifts a lid on the hidden worlds of its gilded princes, manual labourers and domestic workers, its teachers and policemen, culture vultures and thrill seekers. 
   
  “A stunning exposé... A social anthropologist by trade, McManus's focus is not on the secretive intrigues of Qatar's ruling family, but on the lives of ordinary people... McManus is an engaging writer, who can bring even anonymous interviewees to life.” TELEGRAPH

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  Travellers At Home Gazette - A...

  Mr Punch

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  Join us on a fascinating ramble through the towns and villages of the British Isles during the last four hundred years in the company of some of its most illustrious chroniclers, including Jane Austen, William Cobbett, Daniel Defoe, Sir Walter Scott, Virginia Woolf, Francis Kilvert, Celia Fiennes, Chips Channon, Fanny Burney and many others. Told entirely in the words of those who were there. 
    
  Performed by an outstanding company of award-winning actors including Dame Eileen Atkins, Cheryl Campbell, Nigel Davenport, Alex Jennings, Richard Johnson OBE, Hugh Laurie CBE, Michael Maloney, Geoffrey Palmer OBE, Michael Pennington, Prunella Scales CBE, Samuel West, John Wood CBE & full supporting cast. 
      
  Also available as part of The Gazettes Box Set, a six-volume edition creating a vivid portrait of British life through the centuries. 
    
  It is a highly enjoyable collection. Some pieces are just dazzling. Independent on Sunday 
    
  An extraordinary series... deserves a medal. The readers are all excellent and many of them distinguished. The Spectator 
    
  From the same stable that produced The Chronicle, my favourite audio this year, I've just listened equally spellbound to a compilation of travellers' tales at home. The Guardian 
    
  Time travel as well as the geographical kind is offered in this anthology, which takes extracts from books, journals, letters and newspapers to form a collage of impressions and details of the British Isles over the past 400 years, with a cast of big-name readers. Sunday Times 
   
  ©2022 Mr Punch Audiobooks Ltd. (P)2022 Mr Punch Audiobooks Ltd

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  The Mythology of the Incas -...

  Odessa Nightshade

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  The mythology of the Incas is a fascinating tapestry of gods, legends, and rituals that shaped the spiritual and cultural identity of one of the most powerful civilizations in the Americas. Unlike written traditions found in other ancient cultures, Incan mythology was passed down orally, with each generation preserving and refining the stories that explained the origins of the world, the forces of nature, and the role of human beings in the cosmos. These myths were deeply intertwined with the daily lives of the Inca people, influencing everything from their agricultural practices to their political structures.  
    
  At the heart of Incan mythology was a complex belief system that divided the universe into three realms: Hanan Pacha, the upper world of the gods; Kay Pacha, the earthly realm of humans; and Uku Pacha, the underworld where spirits and ancestors resided. These realms were connected by sacred mountains, rivers, and celestial bodies, all of which were considered divine. The gods of the Incan pantheon, led by Viracocha, the supreme creator, played a central role in shaping the world and maintaining balance within these realms. Inti, the sun god, was revered as the divine ancestor of the ruling class, while Pachamama, the earth goddess, was honored for providing sustenance and fertility.  
    
  Rituals and ceremonies were essential to maintaining harmony between the natural and supernatural worlds. The Inca performed elaborate festivals, such as Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun, to honor their deities and ensure the continuation of prosperity. Priests and oracles played a crucial role in interpreting the will of the gods, often conducting sacrifices—both animal and human—as acts of devotion and appeasement. Sacred sites, including Coricancha in Cusco and Machu Picchu, served as centers of worship where offerings were made to the gods. 

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  Mountain Guru - The Life of Doug...

  Catherine Moorehead

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  Winner of the Kekoo Naoroji Award
  Doug Scott was a legend among mountaineers. His expeditions, undertaken over a period of five decades, are unparalleled achievements. This book describes the extraordinary drama of them all, from the Himalaya to New Zealand, Patagonia, Yosemite and Alaska. It includes his famous 'epic' on The Ogre, one of the hardest peaks in the world to climb, his ascent of Kangchenjunga without supplementary oxygen and his ascent, with Dougal Haston, of Everest in 1975.
  Catherine Moorehead also uncovers the elusive man behind the obsessive mountaineer. From his rumbustious youth in Nottingham through two tempestuous marriages to a secure third marriage, she shows how Scott matured in thought and action as his formidable global reputation increased. In doing so she reveals him to be a clash of opposites, an infuriating monomaniac who took extraordinary risks yet who developed a deep interest in Buddhism and inspired widespread affection.
  Scott spent almost as long as his climbing career in founding and developing Community Action Nepal, providing schools and health posts in remote parts of Nepal, where he is still much revered. Doug Scott died in 2020.

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