{"title":"Edward Brooke-Hitching","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEdward Brooke-Hitching\u003c\/em\u003e is a curious craftsman of captivating chronicles, seamlessly weaving storytelling and historical inquiry. His exceptional works transport readers into the realms of history, geography, and culture with a unique flair for uncovering the oddities and wonders of the world. Whether you're an enthusiast of history \u0026amp; military, arts \u0026amp; culture, or science \u0026amp; nature, Brooke-Hitching has curated an impressive array of literary treasures bound to intrigue and educate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDelve into \u003cem\u003eThe Golden Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Sky Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e to embark on journeys exploring ancient maps and celestial bodies, where the intersections of cartography and history reveal untold stories. If the more peculiar fascinates you, \u003cem\u003eThe Madman's Library\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Madman's Gallery\u003c\/em\u003e offer an eccentric look at the world's strangest collections, from rare books to bizarre works of art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Devil's Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e present spellbinding voyages through mythical tales and phantom territories, blending fact and fiction in unexplored lands. Readers young and old can relish the whimsically curious in \u003cem\u003e365 Amazing True Things to Read in Bed\u003c\/em\u003e or expand their knowledge with \u003cem\u003eThe Most Interesting Book in the World\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Brooke-Hitching's captivating titles, such as \u003cem\u003eLove; A Curious History\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Madman's Orchestra\u003c\/em\u003e, provide rich tapestries of stories that are both enlightening and entertaining. A perfect addition for any inquisitive mind yearning for a journey through the marvels of history and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-most-interesting-book-in-the-world-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781398532373","title":"The Most Interesting Book in the World","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Charming, hilarious, and guaranteed to make you the most interesting person at any party. Or the most annoying' - Adam Rutherford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Weird and wonderful facts you didn’t know you needed. Full of quirky nuggets of information and trivia’ - \u003ci\u003eSun\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Joyously bizarre facts in a new book from a \u003ci\u003eQI\u003c\/i\u003e brainbox’ - \u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrawn from a former BBC \u003ci\u003eQI\u003c\/i\u003e Elf's lifetime’s search for the weird and the wonderful, \u003ci\u003eThe Most Interesting Book in the World\u003c\/i\u003e is a miscellany of things too strange to be true, yet somehow are.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis remarkable treasury of tales and trivia will whisk you on a jaw-dropping journey through time and space, stopping off to marvel at only the obscure, the startling and the straight-up weird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn it, Edward Brooke-Hitching considers questions such as:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy is a cat technically a liquid and a solid?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow did nineteenth-century scientists attempt to signal aliens?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhy did the Dutch once eat their prime minister?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNowhere else will you find woven together the stories of the religious leader who attempted to build a robot messiah from a dining table, the anti-gravity ‘air-walkers’ of Victorian London, and the pirates who rode sheep; or practical advice for correctly exorcising a house and casting ancient love spells, along with recent scientific discoveries like the mould that can navigate a maze and that humans can glow in the dark.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA unique hybrid of encyclopaedia, trivia and drunken-bar raconteur, all stitched together in one colossal Frankenstein volume packed full of images and photographs - this is the ultimate must-read for anyone looking to tickle the cortex of their curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46124943114476,"sku":"9781398532373","price":45.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781398532373_721fe6fa-b89a-4051-8ccd-2eb71a0f8fac.jpg?v=1737512201"},{"product_id":"the-madmans-library-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781471166914","title":"The Madman's Library","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Anybody who loves the printed word will be bowled over by this amusing, erudite, beautiful book about books. It is in every way a triumph. One of the loveliest books to have been published for many, many years' — Alexander McCall Smith\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Quite simply the best gift for any book lover this year, or perhaps ever' — Lucy Atkins, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e Literary Book of the Year\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'An utterly joyous journey into the deepest eccentricities of the human mind… The most cheering, fascinating book I’ve read for ages' — \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the author of the critically acclaimed and globally successful \u003ci\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Golden Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Sky Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e comes a stunning new work. \u003ci\u003eThe Madman’s Library\u003c\/i\u003e is a unique, beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of literature, delving into its darkest territories to hunt down the very strangest books ever written, and uncover the fascinating stories behind their creation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a madman’s library of eccentric and extraordinary volumes from around the world, many of which have been completely forgotten. Books written in blood and books that kill, books of the insane and books that hoaxed the globe, books invisible to the naked eye and books so long they could destroy the Universe, books worn into battle, books of code and cypher whose secrets remain undiscovered… and a few others that are just plain weird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the 605-page \u003cstrong\u003eQur'an written in the blood of Saddam Hussein\u003c\/strong\u003e, through the gorgeously decorated 15th-century lawsuit filed by the Devil against Jesus, to the lost art of binding books with human skin, every strand of strangeness imaginable (and many inconceivable) has been unearthed and bound together for a unique and richly illustrated collection ideal for every book-lover.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46517165228268,"sku":"9781471166914","price":48.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21892453482711.jpg?v=1748937149"},{"product_id":"the-phantom-atlas-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781471159459","title":"The Phantom Atlas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA STUNNINGLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK REVEALING THE GREATEST MYTHS, LIES AND BLUNDERS ON MAPS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Highly recommended' - Andrew Marr\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A spectacular, enjoyable and eye-opening read' - Jonathan Ross\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e is an \u003cstrong\u003eatlas of the world\u003c\/strong\u003e not as it ever existed, but \u003cstrong\u003eas it was thought to be\u003c\/strong\u003e. These marvellous and mysterious phantoms—non-existent islands, invented mountain ranges, mythical civilisations, and other fictitious geography—were all at various times presented as facts on maps and atlases. This book is a collection of striking antique maps that display the most erroneous cartography, with each illustration accompanied by the story behind it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExploration, map-making, and mythology are all brought together to create \u003cstrong\u003ea colourful tapestry of monsters, heroes and volcanoes; swindlers, mirages and murderers\u003c\/strong\u003e. Sometimes the stories are almost impossible to believe, and remarkably, some of the errors were still on display in maps published in the 21st century. Throughout much of the 19th century, more than 40 different mapmakers included the Mountains of Kong, a huge range of peaks stretching across the entire continent of Africa, in their maps—but it was only in 1889 when Louis Gustave Binger revealed the whole thing to be a fake. For centuries, explorers who headed to Patagonia returned with tales of the giants they had met who lived there, some nine feet tall. Then there was Gregor MacGregor, a Scottish explorer who returned to London to sell shares in a land he had discovered in South America. He had been appointed the Cazique of Poyais and bestowed with many honours by the local king of this unspoiled paradise. Now he was offering others the chance to join him and make their fortune there, too—once they had paid him a bargain fee for their passage...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e is a \u003cstrong\u003ebeautifully produced volume\u003c\/strong\u003e, packed with \u003cstrong\u003estunning maps and drawings\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eof places and people that never existed\u003c\/strong\u003e. The \u003cstrong\u003eremarkable stories\u003c\/strong\u003e behind them all are brilliantly told by Edward Brooke-Hitching in a book that will appeal to cartophiles everywhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46555678114028,"sku":"9781471159459","price":54.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21817903482711.jpg?v=1750108973"},{"product_id":"love-a-curious-history-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781398522718","title":"Love; A Curious History","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Edward Brooke-Hitching's delightful book is a collection of curiosities. From a 19th-century lonely hearts ad to a nuptial blessing of the bride’s buttocks, an entertaining history of love over the millennia that proves when it comes to the heart, little has changed.’ \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the author of the critically acclaimed \u003cem\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Madman’s Library\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e Literature Book of the Year) comes a magnificent new illustrated work. From prehistoric carvings and ancient Egyptian statues, to medieval spell books and Victorian code-writing, this unique collection gathers a wealth of curious objects and surprising stories to trace the story of love through the ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover the royal marriage that crossed the boundary of death in 14th-century Portugal, the judicial duels between husbands and wives in Early Modern Europe, the love spells found in medieval manuscripts, and the romantic codes hidden in some of art’s greatest masterpieces. Meet the feared ancient Greek army regiment comprised entirely of male couples; the French pirate queen avenging her murdered husband; the first woman to sail around the world; and the quack sexologist who conned 18th-century London with his musical mechanical bed. Here are ancient gods, mythical monsters, the Elizabethan portraits of smiling men on fire and the erotic paintings hidden beneath the ash of Pompeii, as well as Nigerian wedding chains, Welsh love spoons, cryptic postcards and the centuries-old cartographic tradition of mapping the heart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA curiosity cabinet of romantic treasure, \u003cem\u003eLove: A Curious History in 50 Objects\u003c\/em\u003e draws on a wide range of sources to form a collection perfect for fans of beautiful illustrated works and curious history, while also forming the ideal romantic gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘In his new book, Edward Brooke-Hitching sets out to explore this mysterious emotion. Throughout this lusciously produced volume, he dissects a range of weird and wonderful objects that illustrate the diverse ways by which humans have expressed their loves and lusts.’\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eBBC History Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A glorious cornucopia of a book, celebrating love from the hilarious to the divine - as always, Brooke-Hitching's encyclopaedic knowledge shines through.’ Fern Riddell, author \u003cem\u003eSex: Lessons From History\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46655390154988,"sku":"9781398522718","price":59.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25681033482685.jpg?v=1752468331"},{"product_id":"365-amazing-true-things-to-read-in-bed-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781836004554","title":"365 Amazing True Things to Read in Bed","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBedtime is about to get a lot more interesting. \u003cem\u003e365 Amazing True Things to Read in Bed\u003c\/em\u003e is a joyful collection bursting with wild facts, weird wonders, and unbelievable-but-true stories — one for every night of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou'll learn things like... Where does it rain diamonds? What does a comet smell like? Why would you keep a dog up your sleeve? Where can you find fish that live in trees? And who exactly was William Johnson Hippopotamus?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom frog trousers and glass trees to lawn-mowing camels and chimpanzee painters, this is a book made for curious minds and giggly bedtimes. Each bite-sized story is perfect for winding down, sparking questions, and filling young heads with big, brilliant thoughts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by former QI writer Edward Brooke-Hitching and brought to life with whimsical illustrations by Oksana Drachkovska, this is non-fiction at its most playful and surprising. Whether read aloud or under the covers with a torch, it's the kind of book kids will return to night after night.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA brilliant gift for curious minds, and a treasure trove of facts to enjoy together or alone, \u003cem\u003e365 Amazing True Things to Read in Bed\u003c\/em\u003e will fill your dreams with adventure — and leave you ready to wake up and make your own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46825498902764,"sku":"9781836004554","price":27.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9e9fd4977539a03b25c75bd60c492fde.jpg?v=1758145498"},{"product_id":"the-madmans-gallery-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781398503571","title":"The Madman's Gallery","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEnter \u003ci\u003eThe Madman's Gallery\u003c\/i\u003e - the perfect gift book for any art lover. Discover an eccentric exploration through the curious history of art, to find the strangest paintings, sculptures, drawings, and other artistic oddities ever made.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the author of the bestseller \u003ci\u003eThe Madman’s Library\u003c\/i\u003e (\u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e Literature Book of the Year 2020, Radio 4 \u003ci\u003eBook of the Week\u003c\/i\u003e) comes an extraordinary new illustrated collection. This unique exhibition gathers more than a hundred magnificent works, each chosen for their \u003cb\u003estriking beauty, weirdness, and captivating story\u003c\/b\u003e behind their creation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eObscure and forgotten treasures sit alongside famous masterpieces with secret stories to tell. Here are Doom paintings, screaming sculptures, magical manuscripts, impossible architecture, \u003cb\u003edog-headed saints\u003c\/b\u003e, angel musketeers, and the first \u003cb\u003eportrait of a cannibal\u003c\/b\u003e. Stolen art, outsider art, ghost art, revenge art, and art painted at the bottom of the sea take their place alongside scandalous art, forgeries and hoaxes, art of dreams and nightmares, and cryptic paintings yet to be decoded. Discover the remarkable Elizabethan portraits of men in flames, the mystery of the \u003cb\u003enude Mona Lisa\u003c\/b\u003e, the gruesome ingredients of lost pigments, the \u003cb\u003ewerewolf legion of the Roman army\u003c\/b\u003e, and the Italian monk who levitated so often he’s recognised as the patron saint of aeroplane passengers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom prehistoric cave art to portraits painted by artificial intelligence, \u003ci\u003eThe Madman’s Gallery\u003c\/i\u003e draws on a remarkable depth of research and variety of images to form a book that surprises at every turn, and ultimately serves to celebrate the endless power and creativity of human imagination.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘…a feast of artistic curiosities’ – \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘What that last book did for bibliophiles, this \u003cb\u003enew, beautifully produced and elegantly written anthology\u003c\/b\u003e does for art lovers … The research that has gone into this is prodigious, but Brooke-Hitching loves storytelling even more than scholarship, and he has a gift for it.’ - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Spectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e‘Extraordinary’ – \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eArtists \u0026amp; Illustrators\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46833663607020,"sku":"9781398503571","price":75.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25489563482685.jpg?v=1758473742"},{"product_id":"the-madmans-orchestra-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781398532403","title":"The Madman's Orchestra","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the bestselling author and former BBC \u003ci\u003eQI\u003c\/i\u003e Elf comes a fascinating and beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of music. In \u003ci\u003eThe Madman’s Orchestra\u003c\/i\u003e, join Edward Brooke-Hitching as he lifts the curtain on the strangest episodes from the entire history of music, taking us on a backstage tour of surprising and eccentric stories.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the musical secrets of prehistoric monuments to the future of compositions by artificial intelligence, \u003ci\u003eThe Madman’s Orchestra\u003c\/i\u003e uncovers the most curious tales, madcap musicians, and unusual instruments lost in time – and answers questions including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWhat does the song of a black hole sound like?\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWhich composition requires four helicopters and a string quartet with strong stomachs to play it correctly?\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHow exactly would the ‘cat piano’ sound, and would it be any more pleasing to the ear than the ‘hog harmonium’?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover musical hoaxes, compositions relayed by ghosts, the code-writing of ‘musical cryptography’, the pop songs smuggled past Soviet censors using X-rays, the beauty of Renaissance ‘eye music’, compositions by the Devil, the supernatural instruments played by witches, and the experimental female scientist who created the ‘visible voice’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFascinating, funny, and at times barely believable, \u003ci\u003eThe Madman’s Orchestra\u003c\/i\u003e is a unique exploration of the history of music that will strike a chord with fans of beautiful books and bizarre history, and delight with a rich depth and variety of research that ultimately celebrates the boundless creativity of our musical imagination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46841738133740,"sku":"9781398532403","price":69.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/d4666a11cd921980cf29cdc25f813c45.jpg?v=1758753968"},{"product_id":"the-devils-atlas-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781398503557","title":"The Devil's Atlas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Very beautiful and illuminating'\u003c\/em\u003e – Mariella Frostrup\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEdward Brooke-Hitching, author of the international bestseller \u003cem\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e, delivers an atlas unlike any other. \u003cem\u003eThe Devil’s Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e is an illustrated guide to the heavens, hells, and lands of the dead as imagined throughout history by cultures and religions around the world. Packed with colourful maps, paintings, and captivating stories, the reader is taken on a compelling tour of the geography, history, and supernatural populations of the afterworlds of cultures around the globe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether it’s the thirteen heavens of the Aztecs, the Chinese Taoist netherworld of ‘hungry ghosts’, or the ‘Hell of the Flaming Rooster’ of Japanese Buddhist mythology (in which sinners are tormented by an enormous fire-breathing cockerel), \u003cem\u003eThe Devil’s Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e gathers together a wonderful variety of beliefs and representations of life after death. These afterworlds are illustrated with an unprecedented collection of images, ranging from the marvellous ‘infernal cartography’ of the European Renaissance artists attempting to map the structured Hell described by Dante and the decorative Islamic depictions of Paradise to the various efforts to map the Garden of Eden and the spiritual vision paintings of nineteenth-century mediums.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Devil’s Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e accompanies beautiful images with a highly readable trove of surprising facts and narratives, from the more inventive torture methods awaiting sinners, to colourful eccentric catalogues of demons, angels, and assorted death deities. A traveller’s guide to worlds unseen, \u003cem\u003eThe Devil’s Atlas\u003c\/em\u003e is a fascinating study of the boundless capacity of human invention, a visual chronicle of man’s hopes, fears, and fantasies of what lies beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850025226476,"sku":"9781398503557","price":59.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/25489423482685.jpg?v=1759076161"},{"product_id":"the-sky-atlas-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781471178931","title":"The Sky Atlas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBeautiful\u003c\/b\u003e ... \u003cb\u003eendless, brilliant, unforgettable stories' Cerys Matthews, BBC Radio 6*\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCombining myth and science, this breathtaking book [is] packed with stunning images' \u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the enormous international success of \u003ci\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Golden Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e, Edward Brooke-Hitching's brilliant book unveils some of the most beautiful maps and charts ever created during mankind's quest to map the skies above us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis \u003cb\u003erichly illustrated\u003c\/b\u003e treasury showcases the finest examples of \u003cb\u003ecelestial cartography\u003c\/b\u003e - a glorious genre of map-making often overlooked by modern map books - as well as medieval manuscripts, masterpiece paintings, ancient star catalogues, antique instruments and other appealing curiosities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the sky as it has never been presented before: the realm of stars and planets, but also of gods, devils, weather wizards, flying sailors, medieval aliens, mythological animals, and rampaging spirits. The reader is taken on a tour of star-obsessed cultures around the world, learning about \u003cb\u003eTibetan sky burials\u003c\/b\u003e, star-covered Inuit dancing coats, \u003cb\u003eMongolian astral prophets\u003c\/b\u003e and Sir William Herschel's 1781 discovery of Uranus, the first planet to be found since antiquity. Even stranger are the forgotten stories from European history, like the English belief of the Middle Ages in ships that sailed a sea above the clouds, \u003cb\u003e16th-century German UFO sightings\u003c\/b\u003e and the Edwardian aristocrat who mistakenly mapped alien-made canals on the surface of Mars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAs the intricacies of our universe are today being revealed with unprecedented clarity, there has never been a better time for a highly readable book as beautiful as the night sky to contextualise the scale of these achievements for the general reader.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46855259455724,"sku":"9781471178931","price":64.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781471178931_0b843e95-dcac-4e10-a6a4-fe818b9264d5.jpg?v=1759266146"},{"product_id":"the-golden-atlas-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781471166822","title":"The Golden Atlas","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Stunning...divine' Stephen Fry\u003cbr\u003e ‘A fabulous book, good enough to eat with a spoon! Marvellous’ John Lloyd, creator of \u003ci\u003eQI\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ‘Perfect for the armchair adventurer historian, this is a rich visual exploration of some of the most beautiful charts ever created’ \u003ci\u003eNational Geographic\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Introduces us to a whole different way of looking at maps. Great illustrations, most engaging - the author is just a mine of information' Simon Mayo's Books of the Year\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Golden Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e is a spectacular visual history of exploration and cartography, a treasure chest of adventures from the chronicles of global discovery, illustrated with a selection of the most beautiful maps ever created.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book reveals how the world came to be known, featuring a \u003cstrong\u003emagnificent gallery of exceptionally rare hand-coloured antique maps, paintings and engravings\u003c\/strong\u003e, many of which can only be found in the author's collection. Arranged chronologically, the reader is taken on a breathtaking expedition through Ancient Babylonian geography and \u003cstrong\u003eMarco Polo\u003c\/strong\u003e's journey to the Mongol Khan on to buccaneers ransacking the Caribbean and the voyages of seafarers such as \u003cstrong\u003eCaptain Cook\u003c\/strong\u003e and fearless African pathfinders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir stories are told in an engaging and compelling style, bringing vividly to life a motley collection of \u003cstrong\u003eheroic explorers, treasure-hunters and death-dealing villains\u003c\/strong\u003e - all of them accompanied by eye-grabbing illustrations from rare maps, charts and manuscripts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Golden Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e takes you back to a world of darkness and peril, placing you on storm-lashed ships, frozen wastelands and the shores of hostile territories to see how the lines were drawn to form the shape of the modern world. The author's previous book, \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Phantom Atlas\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, was a \u003cstrong\u003ecritically acclaimed international bestseller\u003c\/strong\u003e, described by Jonathan Ross as 'a spectacular, enjoyable and eye-opening read' and this new book is sure to follow suit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072734871788,"sku":"9781471166822","price":64.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21891533482711.jpg?v=1765128777"},{"product_id":"whats-the-weirdest-thing-about-animals-by-edward-brooke-hitching-9781526685155","title":"What's the Weirdest Thing About Animals?","description":"\u003cp\u003eThink you know everything there is to know about our world’s weird and wonderful animals?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWell think again\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom bottom-breathing turtles to fish that live in trees, set off with Edward Brooke-Hitching on a fact-packed safari to discover the strangest, silliest and down-right \u003cb\u003eweirdest \u003c\/b\u003ethings our planet’s amazing animals has to offer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWritten by former QI elf and author extraordinaire, the first book in Brooke-Hitching’s spectacular new series is extraordinarily enlightening and seriously shareable. Both information- and humour-rich, it is a glorious treasure trove of bite-sized facts for children to either snack on throughout the week or gobble up all in one go. And with a ‘Who’s the Smartest?’ quiz at the end of each section, this book is \u003ci\u003ethe \u003c\/i\u003eperfect companion for children determined to know their barking piranhas from their purring rottweilers – and that’s a fact!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlso available in this series: \u003ci\u003eWhat’s the Weirdest Thing About the World.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Allen \u0026 Unwin Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47289256050924,"sku":"9781526685155","price":22.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/15359063482731.jpg?v=1770590104"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/edward-brooke-hitching.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}