Editora: Imagination Books
Cuba Beauty Through Watercolors A wonderful collection of watercolor paintings of this beautiful country, showcasing the sublime and amazing sites through the beauty of the brush stroke...Get it now!
The Kushan Empire, one of the most influential powers in Central and South Asia, originated from the nomadic Yuezhi people. The Yuezhi were an Indo-European group that initially resided in the western regions of China, near the Tarim Basin. However, in the 2nd century BCE, they were forced to migrate westward due to conflicts with the Xiongnu, a dominant steppe confederation. This migration led them into Central Asia, where they eventually settled in the Bactrian region, which had previously been under Greek influence following the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Over time, the Yuezhi tribes consolidated their power, and by the 1st century CE, one of their clans, the Kushans, emerged as the dominant force. Kujula Kadphises, the first major ruler of the Kushan Dynasty, is credited with unifying the fragmented Yuezhi groups and establishing the foundation of the empire. Under his leadership, the Kushans expanded their influence, incorporating regions of modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India. His military campaigns against the remnants of the Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian kingdoms allowed the Kushans to gain control over crucial trade routes, solidifying their position as a major power in the region. The early political structure of the Kushan Empire reflected its nomadic roots while incorporating elements from the civilizations it encountered. The rulers maintained a centralized authority but allowed local governance to continue in many areas, a practice that helped integrate diverse cultural and ethnic groups into the empire. This pragmatic approach to governance enabled the Kushans to sustain their rule over a vast and multicultural domain.Ver livro
Grief is all around us. Even at the heart of the brightly coloured, vividly characterised, joyful films of Studio Ghibli, they are wracked with loss – of innocence and love, of the world itself and our connection to it. Whether facing the realities of death, the small and continual losses we encounter through our daily lives, or the anticipatory grief of the environment's ongoing decline, each has a distinct presence in these beloved films, with their own lesson to hold close in our lives, and comfort to be found. Now Go enters the emotional waters to interrogate not only how Studio Ghibli navigates grief, but how that informs our own understanding of its manifold faces. Touching on some of the cornerstone films and characters — from My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and beyond — and their intersections with his own life, the broader spectrum of loss, and how we can move forward, Smith invites us to consider how these beacons of joy offer us a winking light in the darkness. (Please note this title is unaffiliated with Studio Ghibli.)Ver livro
Born in 1852 in a small coastal town in Scotland, Helen D'Oyly Carte, through academic brilliance and an incredible talent for 'managing chaos', developed and ran the world's foremost top entertainment and hospitality organisation with her husband, Richard D'Oyly Carte (known as D'Oyly). By the age of 30, she was running five Gilbert & Sullivan companies for the Savoy Group in the United States, crossing the Atlantic thirty times, and for the next three decades she ran the Savoy Theatre, the Savoy Hotel, Claridges and Simpson's-in-the-Strand. She was the only one trusted by the prickly, brilliant William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, to keep them from breaking apart, as they so regularly wanted to do. From a conventional upbringing, she chose to remain in London after the emigration of her family to Australia, first as an actress, then working alongside D'Oyly – she took over the reins as he became ill in the late 1880s. Until her death in 1913, she flourished and was famous, interviewed and admired, in a competitive, vibrant London that was the centre of world power and commerce. Queen of The Savoy charts Helen's course from Wigtown to the West End, where running a company with hundreds of employees, led to her fame and fortune. The artists Whistler and Sickert were friends and immortalised her in portraits. She was known in her time as the true founder of the Gilbert and Sullivan franchise and this biography will bring to light, some 110 years after her death, the extraordinary role that she played in one of Britain's greatest success stories.Ver livro
DIE HARD THE ULTIMATE TRIVIA COLLECTION FROM THE MOVIE DIRECTED BY JOHN MCTIERNAN CREATED BY FILM TRIVIA METAVERSE ABOUT THE FILM "Die Hard" is a 1988 action thriller directed by John McTiernan, centered on New York cop John McClane, who is visiting his estranged wife in Los Angeles. While attending her company’s Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza, the building is seized by a group of terrorists led by Hans Gruber. McClane becomes the only hope for the hostages as he uses his wit and resourcefulness to fight back against the heavily armed group. The film explores themes of heroism, isolation, and resilience, with a mix of suspense, action, and moments of dark humor, making it a hallmark of the action genre. TRIVIA SAMPLES: “The fictional Nakatomi Plaza, used as the setting for the film, actually serves as the headquarters for 20th Century Fox. The company charged itself rent for using the still-under-construction building.” “Bruce Willis's costume department had 17 undershirts on hand, each in varying stages of wear and tear, to match the degradation of his shirt during the film.” “Bruce Willis was paid an unprecedented $5 million for the role, a figure that was approved by Fox President Rupert Murdoch.” “In 2007, Bruce Willis donated the iconic undershirt worn by John McClane to the Smithsonian Museum.” “The scene where Bruce Willis meets Alan Rickman was not rehearsed to increase the sense of spontaneity between the two actors.”Ver livro
Innovative techniques in painting woodlands from renowned artist Ann Blockley. Watercolourist Ann Blockley is known for her striking and intriguing paintings of natural landscapes. In this beautiful guide she explores woodlands in a variety of interpretations, from tangled groves and ancient trees to fiery leaves and springtime orchards. With simple instructions and easy-to-follow demonstrations throughout, the book draws inspiration from forest poetry, birdsong and folklore. There's practical advice on working outside, experimenting with mixing colours (especially greens), playing with water effects, using salt and granulation, mark-making and spattering with found objects such as leaves and twigs, creating texture with gesso and working with collage. Other techniques include working with oak gall ink and charcoal, and how to incorporate words, text and photo transfer. The book is illustrated throughout with stunning examples of Blockley's colourful, expressive work, including a case study of her own woodland garden. Also showcased are works by fellow artists from The Arborealist group, the Royal Institute, and the Pastel Society to inspire you further. Pushing the boundaries of watercolour and other mixed media, this delightful wander through the woods is the ideal companion for both beginners and the more experienced landscape painter who wishes to take their painting to the next level.Ver livro
The story of China's imperial unification represents one of history's most consequential political transformations. "Imperial Chinese Foundations: Uniting the Land" explores the three dynasties that forged China's imperial system—a political structure that would endure for over two millennia. The brief but revolutionary Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) ended centuries of warring states by conquering all rivals under the leadership of the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Through military might, standardized writing, currency, measurements, and a unified legal code, the Qin created China's first centralized bureaucratic empire—though their harsh Legalist policies triggered rebellion after the emperor's death. The Western Han Dynasty (206 BCE-9 CE) consolidated imperial rule through a more pragmatic blend of Confucian ideology and centralized governance. Under Emperor Wu's dynamic leadership, the Han expanded Chinese territory, opened the Silk Road, established the civil service examination system, and created cultural and political institutions that would define Chinese civilization for millennia. As power shifted to the Eastern Han (25-220 CE), the dynasty initially flourished before facing mounting challenges from natural disasters, court intrigues, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Yet even as political cohesion weakened, this period saw remarkable innovations—including paper, the seismograph, and advances in mathematics and medicine—while Buddhism began its profound influence on Chinese civilization. Through examining these three foundational dynasties, we witness the birth and evolution of the imperial Chinese state that would serve as a template for governance across East Asia and continue to influence Chinese identity into the modern era.Ver livro
