"The Magnificent 100 presents, in an alphabetically organized lexicon, 97 illustrated vignettes popularizing the biographies and works of over 100 Polish artists and writers through the ages. It also contains numerous online links to galleries of the artworks of artists and books of writers described in it, so readers can significantly expand their knowledge through those sources. The idea of presenting artists and writers together shows the more complex picture of the connections and interactions among them that are often treated separately. (By the way, some Polish writers were great painters as well!) The shocking aspects of the lives of our Magnificent 100 are presented in this book to help understand the psychological 'genesis' of their works (and there is a lot of it)." -- publisher.
Suleiman the Magnificent, most glorious of the Ottoman sultans, kept Europe atremble for nearly half a century. In a few years he led his army as far as the gates of Vienna, made himself master of the Mediterranean and established his court in Baghdad. Faced with this redoubtable champion, who regarded it as his duty to extend the boundaries of Islam farther and farther, the Christian world struggled to unite against him. 'The Shadow of God on Earth', but also an expert politician and all-powerful despot, Suleiman ruled the state firmly with the help of his viziers. He extended the borders of the empire beyond what any of the Ottoman sultans had achieved, yet it is primarily as a lawgiver that he is remembered in Turkish history. His empire held dominion over three continents populated by more than thirty million inhabitants, among whom nearly all of the races and religions of mankind were represented. Prospering under a well-directed, authoritarian economy, Suleiman's reign marked the apogee of Ottoman power. City and country alike experienced unprecedented economic and demographic growth. Istanbul was the largest city in the world, enjoying a remarkable renaissance of arts and letters; a mighty capital, it was the seat of the Seraglio and dark intrigue.
The Magnificent Century, the second volume of Costain's A History of the Plantagenets, covers Henry III's long and turbulent reign, from 1216 to 1272. During his lifetime Henry was frequently unpopular, unreliable and inconsistent. Yet his reign saw spectacular advancement in the arts, sciences and theology, as well as in government. Despite all, it was truly a magnificent century. "Combines a love of the subject with factual history. . .a great story." —San Francisco Chronicle A History of the Plantagenets includes The Conquering Family, The Magnificent Century, The Three Edwards and The Last Plantagenets.
Sample # 01: The Test of Frugality An old man, while having his first wife, brought a beautiful and young female disciple into his life as a second wife. When their financial situation deteriorated, there was no other option but to divorce one of them. Deciding whom to divorce was a very difficult decision. On one side was a lifelong companion, and on the other was the pinnacle of beauty and culture. To ensure no injustice, The old man decided to conduct a test. The old man gave both his wives ten thousand rupees each and went away for two weeks. Upon his return, he saw that his first wife had not only managed her expenses for the two weeks but also saved thirty-five hundred rupees. On the other hand, the young and beautiful wife had not only spent the ten thousand rupees but had also borrowed an additional five thousand rupees for her expenses. The old man decided that his first wife was extremely frugal and efficient, able to manage her expenses somehow. However, this poor young wife would starve to death without him. Therefore, he divorced his first wife. Moral: Emotional influence often leads to an arguably unfair decision. Sample # 02: The Lesson of Fear and Understanding Hazrat Sheikh Saadi narrates: An Ajami (non-Arab) slave was traveling in a boat. He had never seen a river before. When the boat was hit by waves in the middle of the river, he started screaming and panicking. Despite people trying to comfort him and making him sit down, nothing could calm his anxious heart. There was a wise man also on the boat. He looked at the people with a questioning glance and said, "If you allow, I can quiet him down with a simple trick." The annoyed passengers replied in Persian, "What could be better than that?" The wise man then had the slave thrown into the river. After the slave had struggled and was half-drowned, he told the sailors to pull him back into the boat. A sailor dragged him close to the boat, and the slave clung to the edge with both hands and climbed back aboard. He then quietly sat in a corner. The passengers, amazed, asked, "What's the secret behind this?" Twirling his mustache, the wise man said, "O simple-minded folks, this person did not know the misery of drowning before, nor did he appreciate the safety of the boat. Now that he has experienced both, he is sitting quietly." Moral: The wise man's actions serve as a reminder that understanding and appreciation often come through encountering both hardship and safety, leading to a deeper sense of peace and acceptance. Just as in "The Test of Frugality", and "The Lesson of Fear and Understanding" this book is a treasury of timeless tales, fables, and short stories that blend wisdom, morality, and human insight. This book also contains selected stories from great spiritual masters such as Rumi and Saadi. It showcases their wisdom, uniqueness, and limitless knowledge. It is an inspiring book with moral endings, providing readers with great perspective on how small advice can have a huge impact on someone's success. It puts young readers in the mood for learning lessons to make life a pleasant one. Many of the stories feature themes of morality and human values. From ancient parables to contemporary anecdotes, this collection explores the complexities of human behavior, the consequences of choices, and the enduring lessons found in everyday encounters. Each story unveils profound truths through engaging narratives, offering reflections on life's challenges, virtues, and the pursuit of understanding. Whether exploring the folly of greed, the power of forgiveness, or the essence of true greatness, these stories inspire contemplation and resonate with universal themes that transcend time and culture.
Why buy our paperbacks? Standard Font size of 10 for all books High Quality Paper Fulfilled by Amazon Expedited shipping 30 Days Money Back Guarantee BEWARE of Low-quality sellers Don't buy cheap paperbacks just to save a few dollars. Most of them use low-quality papers & binding. Their pages fall off easily. Some of them even use very small font size of 6 or less to increase their profit margin. It makes their books completely unreadable. How is this book unique? Unabridged (100% Original content) Font adjustments & biography included Illustrated About The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington The Magnificent Ambersons is a 1918 novel written by Booth Tarkington which won the 1919 Pulitzer Prize for the novel. It was the second novel in his Growth trilogy, which included The Turmoil (1915) and The Midlander (1923, retitled National Avenue in 1927). In 1925 the novel was first adapted for film under the title Pampered Youth. In 1942 Orson Welles wrote and directed an acclaimed film adaptation of the book. Welles's original screenplay was the basis of a 2002 TV movie produced by the A&E Network.
The story behind The Magnificent Seven could have been a movie in itself. It had everything--actors' strike, writers' strike, Mexican government interference and a row between the screenwriters that left one removing his name from the credits, all under the lingering gloom of post-McCarthy era Hollywood. A flop on release, it later became a box office hit. This book tells the behind-the-scenes story: how Yul Brynner became the biggest independent producer in Hollywood; why John Sturges was not the first choice after Brynner surrendered the director's chair; why Sturges quit; the truth about the Mirisch Company (producers); the details of the film's botched release and unlikely redemption; the creation of Elmer Bernstein's classic score; and how internecine fighting prevented the making of the television series in 1963. Myths about Steve McQueen, his feud with Brynner and the scene-stealing antics of the cast are debunked. A close examination of the various screenplay drafts and the writers' source material--Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai--shows who wrote what. Extensive analysis of Sturges' directorial work is provided.
Why buy our paperbacks? Standard Font size of 10 for all books High Quality Paper Fulfilled by Amazon Expedited shipping 30 Days Money Back Guarantee BEWARE of Low-quality sellers Don't buy cheap paperbacks just to save a few dollars. Most of them use low-quality papers & binding. Their pages fall off easily. Some of them even use very small font size of 6 or less to increase their profit margin. It makes their books completely unreadable. How is this book unique? Unabridged (100% Original content) Font adjustments & biography included Illustrated About The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkingto
Why buy our paperbacks? Standard Font size of 10 for all books High Quality Paper Fulfilled by Amazon Expedited shipping 30 Days Money Back Guarantee BEWARE of Low-quality sellers Don't buy cheap paperbacks just to save a few dollars. Most of them use low-quality papers & binding. Their pages fall off easily. Some of them even use very small font size of 6 or less to increase their profit margin. It makes their books completely unreadable. How is this book unique? Unabridged (100% Original content) Font adjustments & biography included Illustrated About The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkingto This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare's finesse to Oscar Wilde's wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim's Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.
"This ... book will take you deep into the forest, far out to sea, and high into the air to discover the amazing birds that live there. From the majestic condor to the tiny bee hummingbird, this book captures a variety of birds .... See the dazzling quetzel, the lightning-fast peregrine falcon, the gigantic ostrich, and the incredible emperor penguin"--Back cover.
