Sir Edmund Hillary
A new six-part documentary on Sir Edmund Hillary started last night on New Zealand television (TV1). It promises to be a superb production about the life of a really special New Zealander.
He is famous, of course, for climbing Mount Everest along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay but that was only the start of the rest of what was to be a remarkable life, one which makes him a true New Zealand hero. He has left a lasting legacy to New Zealand and to Nepal and has touched the hearts of many.
His work will live on long after him. If you are watching the series and would also like to read more about the truly special Sir Ed, then have a look at the great selection of books we have, including signed copies and first editions.
Advice to a Young Lady in the Colonies
This great little book is the transcript of a letter written to a young woman living in New South Wales in 1812.
It contains menus, recipes, household hints and other advice, including when it is and isn't acceptable to serve certain meals, proper dining table etiquette, and how to keep the servants in line.
It gives a fascinating insight into home life and social expectations in the early 1800s. Most sounds dated now but there is some great advice as well, such as this snippet on how to serve a proper breakfast:
"Breakfasts of company are not usually given before 1 o’clock, and it is customary to put wine in small decanters on the table … so that the breakfast is turned into a tolerable dinner"
Accompanying this is a sketch of how the breakfast table should be laid out - a lavish spread of meat and seafood, bread and butter, fruit and nuts, eggs, chocolate, and of course, wine!
Attention all science fiction fans
This science fiction novel is inspired by the Ridley Scott 1982 film Blade Runner and by Philip K Dick's 1962 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? on which the film was based. This has been called "a worthy sequel to a brilliant novel" so if you are a sci fi fan and haven't read it yet, it might be worth a go.
Sadly the world will hear no more from Philip K Dick but, on the plus side, it will take you years to read everything he wrote. He was a prolific writer and not just of science fiction.
This particular edition is beautiful. It's a signed first edition bound in full dark blue leather with gilt lettering & gilt decorative rule to the spine & boards, The end pages are textured turquoise silk and all page edges are gilt. It has a turquoise 'bookmark ribbon' incorporated. It would make a lovely present for the science fiction fan in your life.
From the sublime to the ridiculous
Some of you may wonder about this latest purchase of Warwick's - what is it and what's it for and why would you buy it and other logical questions. There is no logic to it.
For some of us here, it reminds us of the film 'Kinky Boots', a really great little film. If you haven't seen it, you should certainly make the effort to watch it. It's highly recommended. Once you've done that, pop into the shop and see why our new boot makes us think of the film.
You can see it was a bit of a drawcard for one of our customers at least.
The Folio Society Books
The Folio Society bills itself as 'the world's most extensive collection of beautifully illustrated books'. It is certainly true that the array of titles is impressive, covering just about every subject imaginable: think ancient history, humour, children's literature, fiction, poetry, travel, biography, military, classics, and many more.
These lovely books combine exceptional typsetting and illustrations with quality paper and binding. They often come presented in an attractive matching slipcase. They are testament to skilled designers and master printers.
The Folio Society books are not only captivating to the eye but to the mind as well. As PD James said, "‘Folio books are such joy ... to be cherished, handled with pleasure, read and reread and handed down to the next generation."
Come and have look through our huge selection and treat yourself to a book which will be a joy to read.
A History of the Rod
When we saw this beautiful book we thought we'd send out a news item calling all keen fishermen. It seemed the perfect gift for the fanatic angler (don't most families have one?) or a great buy for any enthusiastic fly fisherman.
Unfortunately not. All you keen fishermen will have to get on our website and check out our HUGE selection of books on all types of fishing or come into the shop and browse the dedicated fishing section because this book is not what it appears to be.
This book won't interest you unless you also have an interest in flagellation & the flagellants - a bit of a hidden subtitle that we hadn't noticed.
But if you don't already know, you can learn about whipping, flogging, scourging and hundreds of uses of the rod: discipline in the monasteries, penal flagellation, celestial castigation, military flogging, whipping of thieves, and MORE. You can see beautiful illustrations of lots of different types of whips or rods and their many and varied uses, including birch in the boudoir. Not quite your average fisherman's book but something different.
A Child's Guide to Crime
A Child's Guide to Crime: Get them started as young as possible; it's never too early to begin!
Just kidding. How could anyone resist that title?
This is really subtitled A Child's Guide to Crime: New Perspectives on Criminology. Written by New Zealander Allan Nixon, it's an interesting read due, perhaps, to his undoubtedly unique background as a former convicted prisoner, a psychologist and a criminal lawyer.
He approaches the subject in a down-to-earth, matter-of-fact way that is thought-provoking and clear for the layman. For example, his explanation of the absurdity of defining a criminal as one convicted of breaking the law rather than as one who breaks the law is illuminating (in other words, almost every one of us breaks the law somehow but unless we are convicted we don't count as criminals; that is often the only difference between us).
Given that this book was written in 1974, well before new research showing that young people's brains do not fully mature until their mid-twenties, it is remarkably accurate in its discussion of youth offending.
This is a very well written book and is accessible to the non-lawyer and lawyer alike. Give some of your prejudices a challenge and read it.
Latin Crosswords
Crossword question: Existing condition of a very old pop group? (6,3)
Do you feel like you could do a regular crossword in your sleep? Sigh at the cryptic clues with boredom? Wish you had a use for all those Latin classes you worked so hard at?
We have a new puzzle book for those who want a bit of a challenge - Latin crosswords by Peter Jones. Whether you know a lot or a little, this book has crosswords of varying difficulties with something to suit every level.
The questions are all in English so even someone with no knowledge of Latin can have a go at some of the easier ones. Did you figure out the one at the top of the page? The answer is Status Quo.
