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  Real Pirates of the Caribbean

  Editors Charles River

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  The Golden Age of Piracy generally refers to the era when history’s most famous pirates roamed the seas of the West Indies from 1670-1720, engaging in colorfully daring and oftentimes murderous attacks on any ship they felt emboldened enough to take on. And it is no coincidence that while the end of the Golden Age was marked by the death of Blackbeard, the beginning of it was marked by the rise of Henry Every. Though Every is no longer as well-remembered as the likes of Blackbeard or Black Bart, in his day he was the “King of Pirates”, and he is recognized as blazing the trail and setting the gold standard for the pirates that followed him.  
  Although Captain Morgan has become somewhat synonymous with spiced rum in the 21st century, Henry Morgan has been one of the best known pirates and privateers for centuries, long before an alcohol was named after him. The swashbuckling captain, who fought nearly as hard as he drank, has long been a favorite among authors looking to write exciting novels about pirates. 
  	It would be an understatement to say that pop culture’s perception of piracy and pirates has been primarily influenced by Captain Edward Teach, known to the world as Blackbeard, the most famous pirate of all time. An English pirate who terrorized the high seas near the Carolinas in the early 18th century, a period often referred to as the Golden Age of Piracy, Blackbeard was the gold standard, and in the 300 years since his death he has inspired legends that have spanned books like Treasure Island, movies, and even theme park rides.  
  Black Bart may not be as well known today as other pirates of the era, but he was truly the gold standard during the Golden Age of Piracy. Despite the fact he was initially reluctant to become a pirate and had to be talked into it, Roberts and his crew captured nearly 500 ships in just a few years, making him the most successful pirate in history. 

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  Heraclitus - Ancient Philosophy...

  Hector Davidson

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  Heraclitus of Ephesus, a pre-Socratic philosopher who lived in the 6th century BCE, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the history of Western thought. Known for his cryptic sayings and profound insights into the nature of reality, Heraclitus' ideas have had a lasting influence on philosophy, science, and the arts. His philosophy, often centered around the concept of change, emphasized that everything in existence is in a constant state of flux. This view is encapsulated in one of his most famous quotes: "You cannot step into the same river twice." For Heraclitus, the essence of life and the universe lies in this unceasing transformation, where stability and change are not opposing forces but interconnected aspects of existence. 
  At the core of Heraclitus' thought is his doctrine of "flux", which asserts that everything is in a perpetual state of becoming rather than being. This contrasts sharply with other pre-Socratic philosophers like Parmenides, who held that change was illusory and that true reality was unchanging and eternal. Heraclitus, however, rejected this view and instead argued that change is not only inevitable but also necessary for the very existence of the cosmos. To him, the dynamic interplay between opposing forces—such as life and death, hot and cold, light and dark—was the fundamental structure of reality. These dualities, far from being contradictions, were essential for the creation and maintenance of order in the universe.

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  All the Way by The Grand Canal

  Jo Kerrigan

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  Stretching from Dublin right through the Midlands and west to the mighty Shannon, the Grand Canal was a stunning feat of engineering in the eighteenth century, vital for Ireland's trade and industry.
  Over two centuries later, the canal has a new life as a walking and cycling trail. Visitors can step back in time, enjoying the peace and quiet of yesteryear while discovering quirky humpbacked bridges and ivy-covered warehouses, in a landscape far removed from modern pressures.
  Jo Kerrigan examines the history, life and lore of the waterway over the centuries, while master photographer Richard Mills offers gorgeous images of its elegant locks and bridges, and the wildflowers, animals and birds found along its leafy banks.

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  The Napoleonic War In 100 Facts

  Jem Duducu

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  Sparked by the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars became one of the largest European conflicts in history as Napoleon fought to expand his French Empire. The wars were instrumental in the formation of Europe as we know it today, and confirmed Britain's dominance as a seafaring nation. It was a period famous for strategic warfare and cunning battle tactics. From this background emerged Nelson as national hero and politician. The Napoleonic Wars in 100 Facts covers the twenty-five years of war from the 1790s to the final victory in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo. Jem Duducu guides us through some of the key figures and their stories, for example Wellington, Napoleon and Nelson, as well some of the major battles and tactics in this era of epic conflict that took British troops to Egypt, Argentina, America and of course a little town in Belgium called Waterloo.

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  The Frontier Below

  Jeff Maynard

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  Triumphs and disasters in the deep sea 
  This is a journey through time and water, to the bottom of the ocean and the future of our planet. 
  We do not see the ocean when we look at the water that blankets more than two thirds of our planet. We only see the entrance to it. Beyond that entrance is a world hostile to humans, yet critical to our survival. The first divers to enter that world held their breath and splashed beneath the surface, often clutching rocks to pull them down. Over centuries, they invented wooden diving bells, clumsy diving suits, and unwieldy contraptions in attempts to go deeper and stay longer. But each advance was fraught with danger, as the intruders had to survive the crushing weight of water, or the deadly physiological effects of breathing compressed air. The vertical odyssey continued when explorers squeezed into heavy steel balls dangling on cables, or slung beneath floats filled with flammable gasoline. Plunging into the narrow trenches between the tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust, they eventually reached the bottom of the ocean in the same decade that men first walked on the moon. 
  Today, as nations scramble to exploit the resources of the ocean floor, The Frontier Below recalls a story of human endeavour that took 2,000 years to travel seven miles, then investigates how we will explore the ocean in the future. 
  Meticulously researched and drawing extensively on unpublished sources and personal interviews, The Frontier Below is the untold story of the pioneers who had the right stuff, but were forgotten because they went in the wrong direction. 
  The Frontier Below by Jeff Maynard is a captivating journey through the history of maritime expeditions, the science of physiology, and the economics of resource extraction. It is a testament to human endeavour and the indomitable spirit of exploration, offering a glimpse into the future of our oceans. 
  For fans of Julian Sancton (Madhouse at the End of the Earth), Buddy Levy (Empire of Ice and Stone), Rachel Lance (In the Waves), James Bradley (Ghost Species), and Helen Czerski (Blue Machine). 
  HarperCollins 2023

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  Vanishing Ann Arbor

  Patti Smith, Britain Woodman

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  Ann Arbor has seen many cherished landmarks and institutions come and go - some fondly remembered and others lost to time.When the city was little more than a village in the wilderness, its first school stood on the now busy corner of Main and Ann. Stores like Bach & Abel's and Dean & Co. served local needs as the village grew into a small town. As the town became a thriving city, Drake's and Maude's fed generations of hungry diners, and Fiegel's clothed father and son alike. Residents passed their time seeing movies at the Majestic or watching parades go down Main Street. Join authors Patti F. Smith and Britain Woodman on a tour of the city's past.

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