Traditionally, Devon was seen as unimportant because of its distance from London and its bad roads – lesser, it was thought, than the historical capital or culturally rich home counties. How wrong could non-Devonians have been? The county is all about its splendid prehistoric and historic remains, its myths, and its maritime legacy. That's not to forget the tenacious people who have lived there for thousands of years: wreckers, misbehaving clergymen, eccentrics and determined women who bucked the trends. From stories of early man right up to modern times and every period in-between, Devon (and this book) has it all.
Do you know? Which MP was the first woman to take her seat in parliament? Who was the man they could not hang? Which member of the Beatles lost his temper at a famous Devon landmark? A compendium of fascinating information about Devon past and present, this book contains a plethora of entertaining facts about the county's famous and occasionally infamous men and women, its towns and countryside, history, natural history, literary, artistic and sporting achievements, agriculture, transport, industry, and royal visits. A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage, the secrets and the enduring fascination of the county. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.
To the young child holding this book in your hand. Do you believe someone just like you could become a history maker? I believe you can. Read this story and discover how Devon, a little boy from Jamaica, became a Canadian history maker. You will see that anything is possible and that dreams can come true. For Parents, Teachers and Everyone who cares for a Child There’s nothing like the inspiration to be drawn from a story of someone overcoming challenges and achieving the impossible, especially when that story involves a child. And no example sings so loudly as this one, about a little black boy growing up in rural Jamaica without electricity or indoor plumbing who would go on to become Canada’s first-ever black Chief of Police. In Devon Clunis’s inspiring tale, we find a shining illustration of how hope can lift a person above their conditions to the very height of their dreams. In the simple, welcoming language that ushers along this moving narrative, we learn about the simplicity of the life that marked Devon’s early years. When he was a little boy, Devon had no lights or power or running water in his house. Today, that same boy — now a man — holds an impressively prominent position in Canada’s law enforcement community and history. Through Devon’s story, readers will learn that hard work, help from others, and a powerful belief in yourself, are all essential elements in achieving truly spectacular things. The potential for greatness resides in all of us, just as they did little Devon. If we can each capitalize on this immense gift to the best of our abilities, think how far we can go toward making our world a better place.
Perfect for fans of Every Summer After and Lucy Score, Bend Toward the Sun is an angsty slow-burn romance between two complicated, imperfect people–and a love story you’ll never forget. “A steamy romance about humans’ ability to grow and heal.”—Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of Love, Theoretically Guarded, self-reliant botanist Rowan McKinnon doesn’t believe in love. With her new PhD, two steadfast best friends, and the occasional no-strings sex, she’s convinced she has everything she needs. When an academic setback throws her off course, she takes on the restoration of an overgrown vineyard to re-center herself and her career. Dr. Harrison Brady is in an emotional freefall. Since losing a patient, he no longer believes he can keep people safe. Hoping rural sunshine and the hard labor of renovation work will help him heal, Harry heads home to Pennsylvania, where his family has just bought a long-abandoned vineyard. The last thing Rowan and Harry expect is each other. Despite deeply different views on life and love, their chemistry is explosive, their connection magnetic. Even though their time at the vineyard is only temporary, Harry is compelled to explore the undeniable pull between them. Rowan is committed to protecting her heart at all costs. But some things are too powerful–and too right–to be ignored. “Intoxicatingly sensual and undeniably sexy.” – Mazey Eddings, author of The Plus One Don’t miss Jen Devon’s sizzling second-chance romance Right Where We Left Us!
The West Country's colourful past encompasses a pageant of historical figures and peculiar stories – from Lawrence of Arabia's flamboyant motorbike forays across Dartmoor and the terrifying account of a lion attack on the Exeter mail coach, to Devonian wives still being sold at auction until the 1900s and the unsolved mystery of the Devil's footprints at Dawlish. Here too lies the truth about the location of Arthur's Lyonesse, the devilish deeds of the murderous pirate queen of Penryn, and the Cornish knight who ordered his corpse to overlook St Mullion for eternity. All these tales and more can be found in this collection of amusing, surprising and downright odd true stories from Devon and Cornwall.
There is nothing 'little' about the history of Cornwall! However, this small volume condenses that fascinating, rich history into a collection of stories and facts that will make you marvel at the events the county has witnessed. Discover Henry VIII's plan to protect the county from invasion from Catholic Europe, the important development of tin mining on the north coast and the rise of seaside resorts all around the county. Take a journey through Cornwall's historic struggles and celebrations or jump in to the era of your choice to discover the who, what and why of Cornish history.
Pretty Penny has lots of big ideas. For instance, she wants to throw a birthday party for her grandmother, Bunny, but there is only one problem—she doesn't have any money! What's a creative, industrious girl to do? When Penny notices that Bunny's attic is cluttered with old things that still have value, Penny has an idea—create a "Small Mall!" Penny will have to clean up and set up shop in the attic to sell the old items to earn the money for Bunny's surprise celebration. Author/illustrator Devon Kinch has created a charming, stylish character with a signature look, just like such classic children's book characters as Madeline, Eloise, Pippi Longstocking, and Olivia—Penny is never without her fuschia purse! With Pretty Penny's help, kids can get money savvy!
Walking one day in the woods behind her cottage in Devon, nature illustrator and blogger Jo Brown became captivated by the sight of a Green Dock Beetle on a leaf and took a photograph of it in order to be able to draw it. That first tiny emerald bug was followed by more insects, and then birds, fungi, plants and flowers. The result is Secrets of a Devon Wood, a rich illustrated memory of her discoveries in the order in which she encountered them, so that the book flows smoothly with the seasons and the emergence of different wildlife. In enchanting, minute detail she zooms in on a bog beacon mushroom, a buff-tailed bumblebee, or a native bluebell. And she notes facts about their physiology and life history: "The flowers are narrow & darker than H. hispanica & H.x. mossartiana," she writes. "Drooping stem. Almost all flowers are on one side. Sweet scent." This journal is a treat for the senses, both a hymn to the intricate beauty of the natural world and a quiet call to arms for all of us to acknowledge and preserve it. It is a book that will stay with you long after you finally put it down
More than 400 million years ago, the oldest rocks in Somerset were formed. On those rocks, a county was built over thousands of years; from prehistoric man and Roman invasion, through a Pitchfork Rebellion and two world wars to where we are today. Revolution, wassailing, Templars and alchemists – all can be found in this friendly guide to Somerset's colourful history.
