Create your own fantasy art with this comprehensive guidebook by the lead conceptual designer on The Lord of the RingsTM and The HobbitTM trilogies.Discover the creative processes and intriguing inspirations behind the work of John Howe – lead conceptual designer on The Lord of the RingsTM and The HobbitTM movie trilogies. Through step-by-step drawings and finished paintings, Howe reveals his artistic approach in action: from dev...

In "Memoir of John Howe Peyton," the author presents an introspective exploration of his life'Äôs journey through the lens of personal experience and historical reflection. Written in a poignant yet accessible prose style, this memoir weaves together themes of identity, resilience, and the impact of external events on individual lives. Peyton'Äôs narrative not only captures the essence of his formative years but also contextualizes his experiences within the broader tapestry of historical ...

When we get near money, our decision-making processes often go haywire. It’s like placing a compass next to a magnet—we can’t figure out which direction is north, and our finances can head south as a result.Within the growing academic field of behavioral finance, researchers are discovering just how easily we are swayed by subtle emotional forces, no matter how hard we try to make rational choices. Do you hate losing a hundred dollars more than you love receiving a hundred dollars?...

This “passionate affirmation of the simple life, and joy in simple things” explores how walking influenced history’s greatest thinkers—from Henry David Thoreau and Jack Kerouac to Gandhi and Nietzsche (Observer).In this French bestseller, leading thinker and philosopher Frédéric Gros charts the many different ways we get from A to B—the pilgrimage, the promenade, the protest march, the nature ramble—and reveals what they say about us.Gros draws att...

The aim in preparing this work has been to bring together the best examples of the products of the pulpit through the Christian centuries, and to present these masterpieces in attractive and convenient form. It is believed that they will be found valuable as instruction to ministers of to-day. They should also be helpful to others who, tho not preachers, yet seek reading of this kind for the upbuilding of personal character and for strengthening their Christian faith.The sermons ha...

The aim in preparing this work has been to bring together the best examples of the products of the pulpit through the Christian centuries, and to present these masterpieces in attractive and convenient form. It is believed that they will be found valuable as instruction to ministers of to-day. They should also be helpful to others who, tho not preachers, yet seek reading of this kind for the upbuilding of personal character and for strengthening their Christian faith.The sermons ha...

Discover the Ultimate Puritan Collection Dive into the timeless wisdom and spiritual depth of Puritan literature with The Ultimate Puritan Collection. This comprehensive anthology brings together some of the most profound works by Puritan authors, offering guidance, encouragement, and insight into living a life of faith and devotion. Included in this Collection: The Excellency of Christ On Revival Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Freedom of the Will The Mortification of Sin Communion w...

Hugo Award Nominee: George R. R. Martin, Ursula K. Le Guin, Terry Pratchett, Harry Turtledove, and others reveal how Tolkien inspired and influenced them.When J. R. R. Tolkien created the extraordinary world of Middle-earth and populated it with fantastic, archetypal denizens, reinventing the heroic quest, the world hardly noticed. Sales of The Lord of the Rings languished for the better part of two decades, until the Ballantine editions were published in A...

Rare and previously unpublished tales of one of the most famous legends in literature is brought to life for a new generation by one of the world’s leading Arthurian experts and illustrated by an acclaimed Tolkien artist.It is a time of magic and adventure, of chivalry and courtly love, when great evil must be met with heroic deeds. It is a time of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.Realms of the Round Table presents for the first time ...

''Here's how I do it, and why''This is the premise behind John Howe's first practical exploration of his artistic inspirations, approaches and techniques. This title will appeal to practical artists and fans of John Howe's work by providing step-by-step demonstrations, sketches and oustanding finished paintings, some designed specifically for this book. It covers a wide range of subjects essential to any aspiring fantasy artist, including materials and the creative process, and d...

Harun al-Rashid, the legendary caliph portrayed in The Thousand and One Nights, was the son of a Yemenite slave who cleared Harun's path to power, very probably by poisoning her eldest son. Harun reigned for a quarter of a century, his empire spreading over south-west Asia and into north Africa. He waged war on the Byzantine Empire, and dealt ruthlessly with the religious and social insurrections which threatened his kingdom, executing almost the entire Barmakid family when they threatened...

Robespierre’s justification of the Terror in the French RevolutionRobespierre’s defence of the French Revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written. It has an extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents. Yet today the French Revolution is celebrated as the event which gave birth to a nation built on the principles of Enlightenment. So how sho...