An illustrated guide to their origins and meaning



Published:1st July, 2009  

Price: £16.99



Discover every aspect of mythology – its purpose, power, and influence on today’s culture.

Explore the world’s great myths and legends, brought to life in this enthralling retelling of age-old stories passed down from generation to generation.  From the heroes of Ancient Greece to The Dreaming of Australian Aborigines, here are the myths that, thousands of years after they were first told, are still relevant today.



Unravel the meaning and context behind the myths, understand their cultural significance and discover the characters and themes.  Thematic spreads explore global ideas such as fate and fortune, mythical objects, and gods of war, investigating how different cultures have addressed questions such as “How was the world created?” and special family-tree illustrations show how gods and characters are entwined.



Philip Wilkinson has more than 50 titles to his credit in the fields of history, mythology and the arts, including DK’s Illustrated Dictionaries of Mythology and Religions and DK’s Eyewitness Companion: Mythology, as well as A Celebration of Customs and Rituals of the World, which was endorsed by the United Nations.

Mini''s pioneering engineer launches the ultimate Mini book



To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini, Haynes has published Mini -The Definitive History. This sumptuously illustrated book took a full 20 years to research and is the most comprehensive history of the Mini to be published.



As the book rolled off the presses, Dr Alex Moulton CBE, who designed the Mini''s groundbreaking rubber suspension, was the first to receive a copy. The author of Mini - The Definitive History, Mini expert, Jon Pressnell, spent much time talking with Dr Moulton over many years. As creator of the Mini''s suspension, Dr Moulton made a crucial contribution to the design of the original Mini - now matched by his considerable involvement with Mini - The Definitive History.



Later, John Haynes OBE, Chairman, Haynes Publishing Group joined Dr Moulton beside the collection of Minis in the Haynes International Motor Museum.



John Haynes said: "For Dr Moulton to join us at this historic moment is a real honour. He is a true genius and his involvement with Mini -The Definitive History adds substantial prestige to the book."



Pressnell conducted nearly 100 interviews with people who designed and developed the Mini in his quest to produce the most authoritative and complete book about the history of the Mini to be published. Much of the testimony from those involved with the Mini during its 41 years in production has not been seen before. With 288 pages and 350 illustrations yet priced at just £30, Mini -The Definitive History is likely to be equally as popular as the Mini itself.



We have this great book  as a prize! Go to our Book Quiz and take part for your chance to win!

Collectables Manual - Cash in on the Credit Crunch

by Jamie Breese



Discover the hidden value of your household items.

What do you do with your obsolete mobiles phones, unwanted children''s toys and old books? Recycle them, take them to a car boot sale, or perhaps banish them to the loft? Before you hastily clear out all these items that you may think will never be of use to you again, think twice about how valuable they could become in the future.



Written with verve by TV''s Jamie Breese, the Collectables Manual covers everything from the obvious to the obscure. Whether it''s Action Man or action comics, Elvis or Elton John, stamps or Star Wars - a truly remarkable range of twentieth-century collectables is covered. Whether you are thinking of taking up collecting as a hobby, looking to cash in on the value of your collectables or are just keen to find out if there may be hidden treasures around the house, this manual has it all.



Topics covered include:

• Toys and children''s collectables - Action Man, Bagpuss, Barbie, Beanie Babies, Cabbage Patch Kids, dolls, Noddy, Peter Pan, Sindy, Smurfs



• Sports memorabilia - Beckham, cricket, football, Formula 1, Olympics, rugby, tennis



• TV and film collectables - Avengers, Blue Peter, Dr Who, Alfred Hitchcock, Magic Roundabout, Simpsons, Star Trek, Star Wars, Starsky & Hutch, Terminator



• Music memorabilia - The Beatles, Elvis, Elton John, Fender Stratocaster, jukeboxes



• Surprising collectables - Jelly moulds, jigsaws, lava lamps, NatWest piggies, phonecards, plastic furniture, prams, Rubik''s Cube



• Model collectables - Britains farm figures, Corgi, Dinky, Hornby, Matchbox



• Pottery and ceramic collectables - Alfred Meakin, Belleek, Beswick, Carlton Ware, Clarice Cliff, Denby Pottery, Portmeirion Pottery, Wade



And much more: autographs, books, cameras, coins, comics, flying ducks, fountain pens, home computers, luggage, medals, phones, newspapers, pin-ups, postcards, radios, stamps, televisions. Beautifully illustrated, this manual is a fun and comprehensive guide to collecting for all tastes and pockets.



Jamie Breese''s experience includes ten years of network TV presenting (including BBC2''s The Life Laundry, The Antiques Show and ITV1''s This Morning and Everything Must Go!), journalism (nine years of weekly columns for the Sunday Mirror and magazine features including BBC Homes & Antiques and Woman''s Weekly) and consultancy (eBay''s collectables spokesman). He often appears on GMTV as an antiques and collectables expert.