The Ivy Press: 69 books

This book is full of surprises, from the “undying love” that the last Tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, felt for his Tsarina, to the unlikely love that flourished between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Amongst them, too, are less happy loves – of Crown Prince Rudolph for his 17-year-old lover, Countess...

Born under a bad sign? Of course you were, we all were. In this case Gemini the Twins, the zodiac’s now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t artful dodger. Everyone knows their bright starry self, but the Darkside Zodiac reveals what you are like on the bad days. You’d rather it didn’t, Gemini, as wearing...

Exactly what did Roman architects do for us? Can you identify a voussoir or a vault? What is “architecture of the veil?” Are you able to articulate on Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles? And who was the father of the skyscraper? This set of 50 explanations of the innovations, theories, styles, and...

Artist, anatomist, architect, botanist, cartographer, engineer, mathematician, musician, scientist, sculptor – the word ‘polymath’ cannot provide the full measure of Leonardo da Vinci’s extraordinary talents. If you only know Leonardo as the painter of the famous, much copied portrait, the...

Born under a bad sign? Of course you were, we all were. In this case Aries the Ram, the zodiac’s mindless headbanger. Everyone knows their bright starry self, but the Darkside Zodiac reveals what you are like on the bad days. Not that you care much, being Aries; if the rest of the zodiac can’t...

We all know our eyes from our elbows but what are the duodenum, the basal ganglia, and the islets of Langerhans? Could you locate any of them, let alone say how they make you tick? For an instant, edifying diagnosis of your amazing self, inside and out, simply digest these 50 easy-to-swallow topics....

‘What if...?’ are the two words that sow the seeds for human speculation, experimentation, invention, evolution, revolution, revision and change. Consider the consequences of travelling back to the future or exploring the past. What if we dug a black hole or built a warp drive? How far away is...

The music world has seen some of the most iconic partnerships of all time: Sonny and Cher, Mick and Marianne, Elvis and Priscilla, Ike and Tina.... Rock 'n' Roll Love Stories looks at 14 of the best, taking us from the 1950s all the way up to the early 2000s. Along the way we see behind the public...

From the earliest days of Hollywood, the pressures of fame led to a febrile atmosphere among its stars. The magic of the movies made audiences’ pulses quicken, but what was really happening in the lives of the actors up on the silver screen? Hollywood Love Stories looks at 14 real-life love affairs...

Mindfulness is a lifelong exercise and the older we get the more appreciative we can become of the practice. Galileo & the Art of Ageing Mindfully reveals how the father of modern science introduced a new era in our mindful understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe. Adam Ford turns...

The Bible has been a bestseller for centuries, and we all think we know our Scriptures, but do you know why Noah built the Ark? What happened at Sodom and Gomorrah? Just how many miracles did Jesus perform? For instant revelation, this is the essential guide to the Old and New Testaments. 30-Second...

The Art of Mindful Baking is a delightful insight into how the act of baking is, by its very nature, a practical meditation that provides a wealth of physical, mental and social benefits. Julia Ponsonby (author of the best-selling Gaia’s Kitchen, Green Books) looks at what it means to use...

Designed to be of assistance to all who venture on the world’s oceans, whether for private cruising or commercial activities, the Skipper’s Medical Emergency Handbook provides practical advice for managing medical and trauma problems offshore. > Aimed at the on-board ‘medic’ who may...