Davies Stuart

From the world-leading expert on the Maya, a monumental history of a flourishing civilization across three millenniaThe Four Heavens brings to life the cultural and visual splendor of the ancient Maya, drawing on the oldest indigenous texts of the Americas and the latest archaeological discoveries to present an entirely new history of this spectacular civilization. Renowned historian and archaeologist David Stuart, who has made groundbreaking contributions to the decipherment of Maya hieroglyphics, shows how there was no single rise and fall of the Maya but a series of births and collapses over a breathtaking span of nearly three millennia. Maya history was seemingly lost forever when the first Europeans encountered the great ruins of ancient cities in what is today Mexico and Central America. Today, with the recent decipherment of their ancient writings, the story of the Maya can now be told from their perspective. Stuart traces the rapid emergence of permanent settlements in the rainforest, which gave rise to monumental architecture and a flourishing urbanism and ushered in the Classic period of Maya civilization beginning in the mid-second century CE. He reveals a world of majestic royal courts tightly bound together by marriages, shifting alliances, and warfare, much of it driven by the ambitions of two major dynasties, the Kanuls and Mutuls. Stuart describes how the long-standing rivalry between these two great houses shaped the fates of the surrounding kingdoms and may have set the stage for “the Great Rupture” of the ninth century, when the royal courts buckled under the weight of internal strife, social unrest, and environmental crisis, transforming Maya civilization yet again. With stunning illustrations, including many of Stuart’s own drawings and images, The Four Heavens is a work of momentous historical sweep, one that paints an unforgettable portrait of the Maya and the richly complex social, political, and cosmological worlds in which they lived. Available in Spanish from our partners at Grupo Planeta

Scottish football authors David Stuart and Robert Marshall cross the border to salute the contributions and successes of their fellow countrymen and women who have displayed their skills in the English football leagues – from the end of the Second World War to the present day.They take a celebratory look at great Scots – Law, Mackay, Bremner, Dalglish, Gemmill, Strachan, McAllister and other – who have played their part in era-defining teams crafted by the likes of Bill Nicholson, Don Revie, Brian Clough and Bob Paisley, plus Scots managers Matt Busby, Bill Shankly and Alex Ferguson.As well as celebrating the top-notchers, the book pays tribute to various lesser lights – Caledonian cult heroes who’ve been immortalised in England’s green and pleasant land, including Jim McNichol (Torquay United), Willie Carr (Coventry City) and Ted MacDougall (Bournemouth).These riveting tales of Anglo-Scottish players are brought to life by stunning colour images of trading cards, matchday programmes and magazines.

A spine-chilling anthology that celebrates the thrilling pleasure and rich literary legacy of horror writing. From the sinister imagination of Edgar Allan Poe to the supernatural suspense of H. G. Wells, this collection of stories explores a range of eerie experiences. There are hauntings, monsters and plenty of often inexplicable and always terrifying dramas. The classic masters of the genre are here; in Algernon Blackwood’s deeply unnerving ‘The Occupant in the Room’ a hotel room hides a terrifying secret. In Guy de Maupassant’s 'Vendetta’, a mother is bent on terrible revenge and in ‘The Treasure of Abbot Thomas’ M. R. James turns a treasure hunt into a nightmare. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, cloth-bound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

The Sherlock Holmes Book chronicles every case of the world's greatest detective and his assistant Dr Watson. The game is afoot and now you can discover every detail of Sherlock Holmes' world. From the first novel A Study in Scarlet, through to the masterpiece that is The Hound of the Baskervilles and the detective's last story, The Adventure of Shoscombe Old Place, The Sherlock Holmes Book explores every facet of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most memorable creation. Discover how Holmes reaches his conclusions through deductive reasoning, plus in-depth biographies of key characters, from Holmes and Watson themselves to Inspector Lestrade, Mrs Hudson, and the detective's arch-enemy Professor Moriarty. Whether you're a fan of the books, movies or TV shows, The Sherlock Holmes Book offers all you want to know about the world-famous sleuth and his stories.