Transformers Figuren

Skeletons, demons and ghosts rub shoulders with classically rendered ukiyo-e courtesans The Japanese artist Kawanabe Kyosai (1831-89) was celebrated for his exciting impromptu painting performances at calligraphy and painting parties. Described by British scholar Timothy Clark as "an individualist and an independent, perhaps the last virtuoso in traditional Japanese painting," Kyosai saw Japan transform itself from a feudal country into a modern state. The politically turbulent times in which he lived are reflected in his riotous images, in which skeletons, demons and ghosts rub shoulders with classically rendered ukiyo-e courtesans. Among his most charming and inventive works are his brilliant depictions of animals--crows, frogs and elephants, among many others--which often stand in for political figures of the day. Overlooked for decades, particularly compared to his earlier counterparts Hokusai and Hiroshige, Kyosai is now celebrated for his ability to bridge popular culture and traditional art. His important place in the art of Japan is here explored in depth by Koto Sadamura, a leading authority on the artist, in this catalog of the exceptionally rich holdings of the Israel Goldman Collection, one of the finest Kyosai collections in the world.

In the United States, ninety miles from Cuban shores, tempers flare on the subject of Fidel Castro: some say he is a liberator, some say a dictator. In Fidel, Nestor Kohan and Nahuel Scherma present one of the towering figures of the twentieth-century as he is seen by Latin Americans: as the leader who, for over fifty years, has stood up to the greatest military power in the world, and remained standing. Here, in Kohan's incisive prose and Scherma's passionate illustrations, is the man who, inspired by decades of Latin American Marxist thinking, fought from the mountains of the Sierra Maestra to free his country—the man who walked the razor's edge between military threats by the United States and political coercion by the Soviet Union—the man who became a leader in the revolution against colonial governments from Angola to Vietnam to Latin America—the man who fought, above all, to transform the conscience of his people, spreading literacy, culture, and free medical care to everyone on the island. Here is Fidel—the man who became the symbol of the revolution in the New World.

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Théophile Gautier's Wanderings in Spain is a vivid travel narrative born of his 1840 journey across the Iberian Peninsula, moving through Madrid, Andalusia, Granada, bullrings, cathedrals, inns, galleries, and sun-struck landscapes. Written in a richly pictorial Romantic style, it fuses anecdote, art criticism, ethnographic curiosity, and sensuous description. The book belongs to the nineteenth-century French tradition of literary travel, yet it is distinguished by Gautier's painterly eye and his fascination with Spain as both historical reality and imaginative elsewhere. Gautier, poet, novelist, dramatist, and one of the great French critics of his century, was shaped by Romanticism while helping to define the aesthetic creed of art for art's sake. His friendships with figures such as Victor Hugo and his lifelong devotion to painting, theatre, costume, and architecture inform every page. Spain offered him a stage on which color, form, memory, and spectacle could be rendered with unusual intensity. This book is recommended to readers of travel literature, Romantic prose, and cultural history. It rewards those interested not merely in Spain, but in how a brilliant nineteenth-century observer transforms travel into art.

Vor dem Hintergrund der etablierten These, dass die Wiederherstellung des Tempels in der frühen nachexilischen Zeit in der Haggai-Schrift allein als Werk Gottes angesehen wird, fokussiert sich diese Studie auf die Darstellung der Gottesfigur. Unter Anwendung sowohl der klassischen exegetischen Methoden als auch narratologischer Analyseelemente eröffnen sich neue, bisher in der Forschung nur wenig beachtete Perspektiven. So zeigt die traditionsgeschichtliche Analyse, dass die Haggai-Schrift Bezug auf die altorientalische Tempelbauideologie nimmt und diese theologisch transformiert. Als zentrales Gottesbild dieser Schrift lässt sich schließlich die Vorstellung von JHWH als einem emphatischen Pädagogen, der sein Volk zum Handeln ermutigt, identifizieren. [Haggai and the Restoration of the Temple. Conceptions of YHWH's Actions in Persian Times] Against the background of the established thesis that the restoration of the temple in the early post-exilic period is seen in Haggai solely as the work of God, this study focusses on the representation of the divine figure. By applying both classical exegetical methods and narratological elements of analysis, new perspectives are developed that have so far received little attention in research. Thus, the tradition-historical analysis shows that Haggai refers to the ancient Oriental temple building ideology and transforms it theologically. Finally, the idea of YHWH as an emphatic pedagogue who encourages his people to act can be identified as the central image of God in Haggai.

Set in Jerusalem during the Third Crusade, Nathan the Wise unfolds as a dramatic poem of encounter among Jew, Christian, and Muslim, centering on the humane merchant Nathan, Saladin, and a rescued Templar. Its measured verse, lucid dialogue, and carefully balanced five-act structure embody Enlightenment drama at its most purposeful. The celebrated "Ring Parable" transforms theological rivalry into an ethical test, making tolerance, reason, and active goodness the work's true subjects. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, one of the defining figures of the German Enlightenment, wrote the play in the aftermath of fierce religious controversy, especially his dispute with the orthodox pastor Johann Melchior Goeze. His friendship with the Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn deeply informed his portrayal of Nathan, while his lifelong commitment to intellectual freedom shaped the drama's resistance to dogma. The work thus reflects both personal allegiance and philosophical conviction. Readers interested in literature that joins moral urgency to artistic elegance will find Nathan the Wise indispensable. It is recommended not merely as a plea for interfaith understanding, but as a searching exploration of how humanity proves itself through conduct rather than creed.

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Dans Louis XIV et son siècle, Alexandre Dumas embrasse le règne du Roi-Soleil comme une vaste fresque où s'entrelacent politique, guerre, religion, arts et moeurs de cour. L'ouvrage relève de l'histoire narrative romantique: moins traité académique que chronique animée, il fait revivre Mazarin, Colbert, Louvois, Mme de Maintenon, Molière ou Racine avec le sens dramatique propre au romancier. Dumas situe Versailles au coeur d'un XVIIe siècle français devenu théâtre de la grandeur monarchique et de ses tensions. Alexandre Dumas, nourri d'archives, de mémoires et d'un goût passionné pour les destinées exceptionnelles, trouve dans Louis XIV un sujet conforme à son génie: un pouvoir absolu entouré d'intrigues, de gloire militaire et de figures éclatantes. Auteur des Trois Mousquetaires, il connaît intimement l'imaginaire du Grand Siècle; son intérêt pour l'histoire vient autant de la documentation que de la conviction que les époques se comprennent par leurs personnages. Ce livre se recommande aux lecteurs qui souhaitent entrer dans le règne de Louis XIV par une voie vivante, ample et intelligente. On n'y cherchera pas la froide neutralité d'une monographie moderne, mais une initiation vigoureuse à l'esprit d'un siècle, portée par un écrivain qui transforme l'histoire en spectacle sans en abolir la portée morale.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was one of the most significant political leaders of the twentieth century. He rose from obscure origins to become the founder of the new Republic of Turkey out of the ashes of the Ottoman Empire and go on to radically transform Turkish society. How should one understand Atatürk and his legacy? In this book, George Gawrych studies Atatürk's career in detail, showing how Atatürk married the traits of the classic military man-of-action with those of the intellectual, theorist and pragmatist as a statesman. Gawrych places Atatürk in the context of his times to reveal how he harnessed wider forces to set Turkey on a path of secular nationalism and comprehensive modernization. His legacy can be seen everywhere in Turkey today, from the role and rights of women in society to the struggle for developing a democracy in the Republic. Gawrych addresses the costs of Atatürk's policies, including the suppression of minorities and the imposition of a cult of personality and authoritarian rule in the name of 'Turkification'. The book presents a nuanced analysis of a complex figure who consciously created a living legacy that still casts a shadow over Turkey's political and intellectual discourse.

Publié en 1869-1870, Vingt mille lieues sous les mers est à la fois roman d'aventures, méditation scientifique et fable politique. À travers le récit du professeur Aronnax, de Conseil et du harponneur Ned Land, prisonniers volontaires ou forcés du capitaine Nemo à bord du Nautilus, Verne explore les océans comme un continent inconnu. Le style allie précision documentaire, émerveillement descriptif et tension dramatique, inscrivant l'ouvrage dans les Voyages extraordinaires et dans l'essor du roman scientifique du XIXe siècle. Jules Verne, nourri par les progrès techniques, la géographie, les récits d'exploration et l'imaginaire industriel de son époque, transforme ici la vulgarisation savante en littérature. Son intérêt pour les machines, les cartes, les classifications naturelles et les horizons encore inaccessibles explique la puissance visionnaire du sous-marin. Nemo, figure de savant, d'exilé et de révolté, porte aussi les interrogations morales de Verne sur le progrès, la domination impériale et la solitude du génie. Ce livre se recommande à tout lecteur désireux de voir l'aventure dépasser le simple divertissement. On y trouve la beauté des fonds marins, l'ambiguïté d'un héros inoubliable et une réflexion toujours actuelle sur la science sans conscience. C'est une oeuvre fondatrice, accessible, profonde et durablement fascinante.

Arsène Lupin introduces one of modern crime fiction's most dazzling figures: the gentleman thief whose elegance, wit, and audacity transform theft into performance. Across its intricately plotted adventures, the book blends detective fiction, adventure romance, and social comedy, often reversing the Sherlockian model by making the criminal-not the sleuth-the center of intellectual fascination. Leblanc's style is brisk, theatrical, and ironic, rooted in Belle Époque France, where modern technology, mass journalism, and shifting class identities create the perfect stage for Lupin's disguises and exploits. Maurice Leblanc, born in Rouen in 1864, was a journalist and novelist before achieving lasting fame with Lupin. His literary formation included admiration for Flaubert and the psychological novel, yet popular magazines encouraged him toward serialized suspense. The creation of Lupin in 1905 reflects both commercial demand for gripping crime narratives and Leblanc's shrewd awareness of French cultural pride in response to British detective fiction. This book is highly recommended to readers interested in the origins of the antihero, the evolution of detective fiction, and the pleasures of ingenious plotting. Arsène Lupin remains irresistible because he is not merely a thief, but a critic of convention, a master of identity, and a symbol of intelligence liberated from ordinary rules.

Transform darkness into art as you color intricate, line-drawn illustrations of monsters, apparitions, and mysterious landscapes. Within the pages of Macabre Masterpieces, gothic romance meets the grotesque, where shadowed figures, moody locales, and haunting details come together to create a mesmerizing world of macabre elegance. Each design invites quiet reflection and creative escape, blending the strange and the stunning in perfect harmony. Inside, you’ll find: More than 100 detailed designs blending horror and beauty Intricate, line-drawn illustrations of creepy creatures, gruesome ghouls, and spooky places Back-of-the-page meditative patterns for extended coloring and relaxation A beautifully illustrated full-color introduction to spark inspiration Perfect for horror enthusiasts, Halloween lovers, and admirers of dark art, Macabre Masterpieces is a chillingly gorgeous journey into the beauty of the darkly bizarre. Chartwell Coloring Books is the ultimate coloring book series, encompassing designs of every kind. From intriguing abstract patterns to beautiful pictures from the natural, technological, and fantasy worlds, each of these coloring books will soothe the mind and inspire the inner creative in anyone. With so many variations of complex, beautiful designs in each book, you’ll have plenty of pages to bring to life. Whether young or old, creative or not, this series has something for you.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS has proved enduringly popular for more than a century and a half. Inspiration for many a movie and TV adaptation, this swashbuckling epic of chivalry, honour and derring-do, set in France during the 1620s, is satisfyingly peopled with romantic heroes, unattainable heroines, kings, queens, cavaliers and criminals, and contains in abundance adventure, espionage, conspiracy, murder, vengeance, love, scandal and suspense. Taking as its starting point the memoirs of the historical Comte d'Artagnan, Dumas's imagination transforms the bit-players of history into larger-than-life characters: d'Artagnan himself, the impetuous young man in pursuit of glory but ever ready to respond to an insult; the beguilingly evil seductress 'Milady' (entirely his own creation) and of course the Three Musketeers of the title, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, whose motto 'all for one, one for all' has come to epitomize devoted friendship. Interwoven amongst them are vivid fictionalized portraits of major historical figures, amongst them the powerful and devious Cardinal Richelieu, the weak and ineffectual Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, his unhappy Spanish queen. Throw in some stolen diamonds, masked balls, purloined letters, a crumbling medieval prison and a great deal of sword-fighting together with a gripping plot, tremendous narrative drive and a hint of discreet humour, and you have a book totally impossible to put down.

Asserting the central role of the dressed body in art throughout history, this catalogue presents fashion as an essential expression of creativity and identity Fashion transforms our bodies. Exploring this concept through the lens of age, size, gender, and disability, Costume Art demonstrates how the clothed body is central to artistic expression and representation. The luxuriously designed book features a die-cut cover, three specialty papers, debossed details, and metallic silver foils. New assemblages created specifically for this volume by artist Julie Wolfe, composed of photographs by stylist and designer Nathalie Agussol, highlight the connection between art and fashion through collage, overlay, and juxtaposition. The contemporary and historic fashions draw on a range of artistic inspirations-from Greek molded cuirass armor and carved Roman sculptures to manuscripts, enameled decorative figures, and grand painted canvases. New photography by Paul Westlake of designs by makers such as Madame Grès, Alexander McQueen, Rick Owens, and Madeleine Vionnet-some dressed on bespoke mannequins made by scanning real people-reevaluates idealized representations of the human form. Bookended by essays from art and design scholar Llewellyn Negrin and award-winning author Andrew Solomon, the texts reveal the ways the body shapes how we dress and how we understand ourselves and others. Published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art/Distributed by Yale University Press Exhibition Schedule: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (May 10, 2026-January 10, 2027)

Transformers MixMashers Megatron individuell kombinierbare Deluxe Action-Figur & AccessoiresZUM ZERLEGEN ERSCHAFFEN: Hier bestimmen die Kinder das Geschehen – mit Transformers Spielzeug, das sie zerlegen, kombinieren und auf witzige, individuelle Weise zusammensetzen könnenMILLIONEN VON KOMBINATIONEN: Dank Millionen kreativer Möglichkeiten, die austauschbaren Teile zu kombinieren, fördern diese Transformers Roboter-Spielzeuge für Kinder stundenlanges fantasievolles Spielen beim Kreieren einzigartiger FigurenENTHÄLT 2 OPTIMUS PRIME TEILE: Die Transformers Megatron Roboter Action-Figur kommt mit einem orange-blauen Optimus Prime Jetpack, 2 schwarzen Blastern sowie 4 Accessoires, darunter ein biegsamer violetter StreitkolbenHEY, DEN KERL KENNE ICH: Die MixMashers Transformers Figuren präsentieren ausschließlich die kultigsten Helden und Schurken, darunter Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Optimus Primal, Starscream und MegatronMEHRMALIGES ZERLEGEN: Die für Kinder entwickelten MixMashers Spielzeugfiguren verfügen über robuste Universa

Did you know that there is a connection between neuroscience and free will? While humans have the power to make conscious choices, they are heavily influenced by social media, YouTube, the news they watch and read, their surrounding community, the people they interact with on a daily basis, and even the places they shop. Philosopher, spiritual figure, and author Jiddu Krishnamurti reminds us, "We look to someone to tell us what is right or wrong behavior, what is right or wrong thought, and in following this pattern our conduct and our thinking became mechanical, our responses automatic." The good news is you can choose all of the things that influence your freedom. Krishnamurti's Freedom from the Known will show you how to free yourself from the tyranny of the expected, so you can open the door to transform society and your relationships. You'll discover the primary cause of disorders is the reality promised by someone else instead of being our own authority for our way of life. If you want to challenge the way you look at the world, enhance your spiritual awareness, and open your mind and hearts to others Freedom from the Known is for you. After reading, you'll gain a more meaningful perspective of life that will: · Enhance your existing and future relationships · Help you identify and overcome your fears · Better understand the totality of life · Enhance your communication skills · Help you increase your confidence and ability to self-love Krishnamurti reminds us, "To understand yourself is the beginning of wisdom."

A bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story," this #1 New York Times Bestseller is "both epic and intimate in its scope, recasting the most infamous female figure from the Odyssey as a hero in her own right" (Alexandra Alter, The New York Times ). In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child--not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power--the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. >But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world. #1 New York Times Bestseller--NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR, The Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor and Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider

- Mini-Figuren - Material: Vinyl - Sammelobjekte: Enthält Mystery Rare oder Hyper Rare Figur - Verwendung: Tortenaufleger, Partytütenfüller, Geschenke - Maße: Höhe 2,5 cm

- Transformers Action-Figur - Verwandlung: Roboter zu Fahrzeug in einem Schritt - Spielspaß durch Flip-Bewegung - Neue Generation von Transformers Bots - Für kreative Spiel- und Fantasieunterstützung

The first woman protagonist of the sword-and-sorcery genre, the strong and defiant Jirel of Joiry A Penguin Classics Hardcover In the pages of Weird Tales, which introduced readers to the writings of some of the most legendary authors in the speculative genre, one heroine’s name stood out from the rest with her bravery and fierceness: Jirel of Joiry. With fiery red hair, lion-yellow eyes, and a mighty two-handed sword, Jirel’s quick wit and defiant demeanor immediately entranced readers and cemented her as one of the first and most iconic characters in the sword-and-sorcery genre. Jirel was the creation of C.L. Moore, a secretary at a bank in Indianapolis, whose short stories, published in the premier pulp fiction magazines of the 1930s, distinguished themselves with their unique blend of engaging prose, thematic depth, rapid pacing, and sensual, lucid depictions of imagined historical and interstellar worlds. With Jirel, Moore introduced a physically and emotionally powerful warrior woman whose hot-blooded fearlessness still inspires the strong women protagonists in the genre today. Featuring seven classic Jirel tales and three of Moore’s finest short stories—“Shambleau;” “No Woman Born;” and “Vintage Season”—this collection celebrates one of the most influential speculative fiction authors who changed the rules of the game for early twentieth-century fantastic literature. Penguin Speculative Fiction Special is a hardcover series of horror, science fiction, fantasy, and more published by Penguin Classics. Featuring custom endpapers, specially commissioned cover art, and introductions by scholars and notable figures, these collectible editions celebrate classics that invite us to ask, “What if?” and that, through bold imagination, alternative visions, and magical realms, transform our perception of our world.

Two men marked by boyhood adventures now stand together, forced to confront a country changing beyond recognition. Cities of the Plain brings Cormac McCarthy's legendary Border Trilogy to its brutal, inevitable conclusion. 'The completed trilogy emerges as a landmark in American literature' âEUR" Guardian 1952, New Mexico. John Grady Cole, last seen in All the Pretty Horses, works as a ranch hands alongside Billy Parnham, of The Crossing. These are the dying days of the American frontier. From the north, the military encroaches upon the ranch. To the south are the mountains of Mexico, the pull of which prove irresistible to John Grady. And so it is that, when he falls in love with a sex worker south of the border, events are set into motion that will prove as dangerous as they are unstoppable. 'This haunting, deeply felt novel completes one of the literary masterworks of the 1990s' âEUR" Telegraph 'Like a slow-acting hallucinogen, the book has managed to transform a Texas boy of sixteen looking for adventure into a mysterious figure that augurs the destruction of the world' âEUR" Rachel Kushner, author of The Mars Room Cities of the Plain is the final novel in the Border Trilogy. It is preceded by the first two volumes: All the Pretty Horses and The Crossing. Praise for Cormac McCarthy âEUR¿McCarthy worked close to some religious impulse, his books were terrifying and absoluteâEUR(TM) âEUR" Anne Enright, author of The Green Road and The Wren, The Wren 'His prose takes on an almost biblical quality, hallucinatory in its effect and evangelical in its power' âEUR" Stephen King, author of The Shining and the Dark Tower series '[I]n presenting the darker human impulses in his rich prose, [McCarthy] showed readers the necessity of facing up to existence' âEUR" Annie Proulx, author of Brokeback Mountain Part of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.

**WINNER OF PULITZER PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY** **WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD (Nonfiction)** Shortlisted for the HWA Non-Fiction Crown Award Finalist, LA Times Book Prize A landmark biography of one of the twentieth century's most compelling figures, rewriting much of the known narrative. Les Payne, the renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, embarked in 1990 on a nearly thirty-year-long quest to interview anyone he could find who had actually known Malcolm X - including siblings, classmates, friends, cellmates, FBI moles and cops, and political leaders around the world. His goal was ambitious: to transform what would become hundreds of hours of interviews into a portrait that would separate fact from fiction. The result is this magisterial work that conjures a never-before-seen world of its protagonist, whose title is inspired by a phrase Malcolm X used when he saw his followers stir with purpose to overcome the obstacles of racism. Setting his life not only within the political struggles of his day but also against the larger backdrop of American history, this remarkable masterpiece traces his path from street criminal to devoted moralist and revolutionary. An author who saw Malcolm X speak and could not stand the phrase 'we may never know', Payne writes cinematically from start to finish and delivers extraordinary revelations - from a hair-raising scene of Malcolm's clandestine meeting with the KKK, to a minute-by-minute account of his murder in Harlem in 1965, in which he makes the case for the complicity of the American government. Introduced by Payne's daughter and primary researcher, Tamara Payne, who, following her father's death, heroically completed the biography, The Dead Are Arising is a penetrating and riveting work that affirms the centrality of Malcolm X to the African American freedom struggle and the story of the twentieth century.

- Transformers Figur - Maximals & Predacons hinzugefügt - F.O.S.S.I.L. Technologie - Verwandlung in Mini-Truck in 17 Schritten - Enthält 2 Blaster, Goldscheibenkarte

A newly traded, newly out third baseman on the cusp of his first major contract hires a fake boyfriend-not expecting him to be the former player who ghosted him years before. But as their star ascends in public, their feelings burn hot in private...threatening to expose what's for the cameras-and what's for real. Eitan Rivkin is used to being first. First generation born to Russian immigrant parents, first overall pick in the draft, now the first ballplayer to come out... before his first big contract. It's lonely being the first, and it's especially lonely in the inescapable eye of New York sports media. So when he wants to practice dating openly for the first time, he hires a boyfriend-only for the cameras of course. But he never expected that boyfriend to be Akiva Goldfarb, a once-promising player who disappeared after he and Eitan played together way back when. Akiva is used to being first too. The first-and only-Orthodox Jewish player drafted to play professional ball. The first to quit when things got rough. The first named in the acknowledgements of the books he freelance edits, because, hey, the rent's due on the first of the month. Being hired as someone's (fake) boyfriend is just another gig, right? Even if Akiva left baseball-and baseball players-behind for a reason. What starts out as a brief arrangement gradually transforms into something more. But being the first openly gay active player in professional baseball comes with a heavy personal cost, one Eitan is less and less certain he's willing to pay. And when an on-field incident threatens to disrupt Eitan's free agency plans, they'll have to figure out if the truth is better than fiction. 2026 IngramSpark® Editorial Selection - Romance

The inspiration for the STARZ original series, The Serpent Queen — second season premiering July 12th! “A beautifully written portrait of a ruthless, subtle and fearless woman fighting for survival and power in a world of gangsterish brutality, routine assassination and religious mania. . . . Frieda has brought a largely forgotten heroine-villainess and a whole sumptuously vicious era back to life. . . . This is The Godfather meets Elizabeth.” —Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar Poisoner, besotted mother, despot, necromancer, engineer of a massacre: the dark legend of Catherine de Medici is centuries old. In this critically hailed royal biography, Leonie Frieda reclaims the story of this unjustly maligned queen of France to reveal a skilled ruler and master of Renaissance statecraft battling extraordinary political and personal odds. Based on comprehensive research including thousands of Catherine’s own letters, Frieda unfurls Catherine’s story from her troubled childhood in Florence to her tumultuous marriage to Henry II of France; her transformation of French culture to her reign as a queen who would use brutality to ensure her children’s royal birthright. Brilliantly executed, this enthralling historical biography goes beyond myth to paint a very human portrait of this remarkable figure. How did a Florentine merchant’s daughter become the most powerful woman in sixteenth-century France? Political Intrigue: Uncover the intricate web of alliances and betrayals Catherine navigated, using her intelligence to survive a court where assassination was commonplace. A Woman in Power: Explore the story of a queen who, denied power for years, ultimately seized control to protect her children’s legacy and transform French culture forever. Primary Source Research: Draws on thousands of Catherine’s own letters, revealing her personal thoughts and strategies in her own words. The Woman Behind the Myth: Separates fact from the dark legend of the poisoner and necromancer to present a human portrait of a complex and formidable ruler.

This #1 New York Times bestseller is a "bold and subversive retelling of the goddess's story" that brilliantly reimagines the life of Circe, formidable sorceress of The Odyssey (Alexandra Alter, TheNew York Times). In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child -- not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power -- the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves. Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus. But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love. With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language, and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world. #1 New York Times Bestseller -- named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR, the Washington Post, People, Time, Amazon, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Newsweek, the A.V. Club, Christian Science Monitor, Refinery 29, Buzzfeed, Paste, Audible, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Thrillist, NYPL, Self, Real Simple, Goodreads, Boston Globe, Electric Literature, BookPage, the Guardian, Book Riot, Seattle Times, and Business Insider.

Leverage the power of neuroscience to supercharge your sales success! A must-read for salespeople, business development managers, and business leaders. In The Neuroscience of Selling, acclaimed author John Asher unveils the closely guarded secrets that tap into the very core of human decision-making, empowering you to become a master of the sales process. By blending cutting-edge neuroscience with practical sales strategies, this guide will arm you with the tools you need to forge deep and lasting connections with your buyers, skyrocketing your sales figures to unprecedented heights. You''ll discover: Neuroscience-Based Sales Techniques: Learn how to harness the power of the human brain to influence buyer behavior positively. Discover the inner workings of decision-making processes and tailor your sales approach to win over even the toughest prospects. Winning Over Hearts and Minds: Gain a profound understanding of the emotional triggers that drive buyer decisions. Craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience on a deep, personal level, forging unbreakable connections that lead to increased loyalty and repeat business. The Art of Influence: Master the art of persuasion with cutting-edge neuro-selling techniques. Discover how to navigate objections, build trust, and close deals with confidence, making your competition fade into the background. Sales Strategies that Work: Leave outdated sales techniques behind and embrace a new era of effective selling. Explore practical, proven strategies that will help you surpass your targets and set new sales records. Empowering Your Sales Team: Whether you''re a seasoned sales professional or a budding entrepreneur, this book equips you with the knowledge and tools to empower your entire sales team. Unleash their potential and transform them into a force to be reckoned with. In today''s fast-paced and fiercely competitive market, understanding the intricacies of human behavior is the key to unlocking unparalleled success in sales. With The Neuroscience of Selling, you hold the ultimate playbook for mastering the art of sales persuasion and fostering genuine connections with buyers. Note: The Introduction and Chapter One to The Neuroscience of Selling are adapted under license by SalesBrain, LLC, © 2002-2019.

'An original and outstanding new history of the New World ... Magisterial' Spectator 'An extraordinarily ambitious book . . . America, América reads at times as the historical equivalent of the great epic novels of Gabriel García Márquez' Irish Times THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, SHORTLISTED FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE, LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN AMERICA LITERARY AWARDS The first definitive history of the Western hemisphere, a sweeping five-century narrative of North and South America that redefines our understanding of both continents - perfect for readers of How the World Made the West. The story of the United States' unique sense of itself was forged facing south - no less than Latin America's was indelibly stamped by the looming colossus to the north. In this stunningly original reinterpretation of the New World, Professor Greg Grandin reveals how the Americas emerged from constant, turbulent engagement with each other, shedding new light on well-known historical figures like Bartolomé de las Casas, Simón Bolívar and Woodrow Wilson, as well as lesser-known actors such as the Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda, who almost lost his head in the French Revolution and conspired with Alexander Hamilton to free America from Spain. America, América traverses half a millennium, from the Spanish Conquest - the greatest mortality event in human history - through the eighteenth-century wars for independence and the Monroe Doctrine, to the coups and revolutions of the twentieth century. This monumental work of scholarship fundamentally changes our understanding of Spanish and English colonialism, slavery and racism, the rise of universal humanism, and the role of social democracy in staving off authoritarian impulses. At once comprehensive and accessible, America, América shows how the United States and Latin America together shaped the laws, institutions, and ideals that govern the modern world. Drawing on a vast array of sources, and told with authority and flair, this is a genuinely new history of the New World. 'Compelling and written with zest...Don't be surprised if he wins another Pulitzer' Financial Times 'Dazzling. Mind-altering. World-changing. A once-in-a-generation contribution' NAOMI KLEIN 'Sweeping and provocative ... groundbreaking' AMITAV GHOSH 'Will transform your understanding of the modern world' JONATHAN KENNEDY 'Masterful and erudite yet absolutely riveting' ADA FERRER 'A major and desperately needed synthesis of the Americas' NED BLACKHAWK 'An awe-inspiring masterpiece' SAMUEL MOYN * Professor Greg Grandin won the Pulitzer Prize for Non-fiction in 2020 with his book The End of the Myth. America, América has been shortlisted for the Cundill History Prize and is a finalist for the Kirkus Prize.

Deng Xiaoping joined the Chinese Communist movement as a youth and rose in its ranks to become an important lieutenant of Mao's from the 1930s onward. Two years after Mao's death in 1976, Deng became the de facto leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the prime architect of China's post-Mao reforms. Abandoning the Maoist socio-economic policies he had long fervently supported, he set in motion changes that would dramatically transform China's economy, society, and position in the world. Three decades later, we are living with the results. China has become the second largest economy and the workshop of the world. And while it is essentially a market economy ("socialism with Chinese characteristics"), Deng and his successors ensured the continuation of CCP rule by severely repressing the democratic movement and maintaining an iron grip on power. When Deng died at the age of 92 in 1997, he had set China on the path it is following to this day. Alexander Pantsov and Steven Levine's new biography of Deng Xiaoping does what no other biography has done: based on newly discovered documents, it covers his entire life, from his childhood and student years to the post-Tiananmen era. Thanks to unprecedented access to Russian archives containing massive files on the Chinese Communist Party, the authors present a wealth of new material on Deng dating back to the 1920s. In a long and extraordinary life, Deng navigated one epic crisis after another. Born in 1904, Deng, like many Asian revolutionary leaders, spent part of the 1920s in Paris, where he joined the CCP in its early years. He then studied in the USSR just as Stalin was establishing firm control over the Soviet communist party. He played an increasingly important role in the troubled decades of the 1930s and 1940s that were marked by civil war and the Japanese invasion. He was commissar of a communist-dominated area in the early 1930s, loyal henchman to Mao during the Long March, regional military commander in the anti-Japanese war, and finally a key leader in the 1946-49 revolution. During Mao's quarter century rule, Deng oscillated between the heights and the depths of power. He was purged during the Cultural Revolution, only to reemerge after Mao's death to become China's paramount leader until his own death in 1997. This objective, balanced, and unprecedentedly rich biography changes our understanding of one of the most important figures in modern history.