THOMAS PAKENHAM

Sesenta árboles únicos y excepcionales elegidos por su acentuada personalidad o su originalidad. Árboles clasificados en Gigantes y Enanos, Matusalenes, Santuarios, Sueños, Amantes y Bailarines, Espectros y Arboles en peligro. Obra indispensable para aquellos que sepan apreciar las maravillas de la naturaleza. El espiritu de los exploradores del siglo XIX permanece vivo en el historiador britanico Thomas Pakenham. Despues del exito internacional de su obra anterior, una maravillosa coleccion de sesenta arboles o grupos de arboles del Reino Unido e Irlanda, decidio proseguir y fotografiar otros sesenta arboles unicos de todo el planeta. De hecho, una buena parte de estos arboles eran ya celebres por uno u otro motivo (el grosor del tronco, su altura, su volumen o su edad), aunque tambien los hay que nunca antes habian sido inmortalizados por camara fotografica alguna. A pesar del profundo conocimiento de que hace gala el autor, el libro resultante poco tiene que ver con las obras de botanica convencionales. El criterio seguido viene marcado por los propios rasgos caracteristicos de los arboles. Un esplendido libro que obsequia al lector con la prosa y las fotografias del autor de una calidad excepcional. Sin duda, sera una de esas obras que pasara de generacion en generacion entre los amantes de la naturaleza.

For centuries English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries By the end of the seventeenth century they had begun to collect trees Within the space of a few years hundreds of new specimen trees enriched the British landscape and demand was high for the most splendid imports maples and tulip trees from the American colonies cypresses and cedars from Europe and Lebanon and oriental plane from Greece and Turkey with its romantic associations with Plato s Academy How did these extraordinary trees make their way to the gardens of Britain and Ireland Who were the scholars and daredevils who combed the new and old worlds in search of green treasure What crimes did they commit and what price did they pay to bring the world s charismatic megaflora to the gardens of home In this exuberant history Thomas Pakenham reveals the marvellous tales of adventure discovery rivalry and passion that created the modern British landscape

The war declared by the Boers on 11 October 1899 gave the British, as Kipling said, no end of a lesson. The public expected it to be over by Christmas, but it proved to be the longest (two and three-quarter years), the costliest (over 200 million), the bloodiest (at least 22,000 British, 25,000 Boer and 12,000 African lives) and the most humiliating war that Britain fought between 1815 and 1914.Thomas Pakenhams was the first full-scale documentary history of the war to be attempted since 1910. His narrative is based on first-hand and largely unpublished sources, from British and South African archives to the private papers, letters and diaries of the protagonists and soldiers of both sides, and the tape-recorded memories of over fifty survivors. Out of this historical goldmine, Thomas Pakenham has constructed a narrative as vivid and fast-moving as a novel, and throws new light on the blunders and personal feuds of the British generals. He writes movingly of the plight of the 100,000 black Africans who served both armies, and explains the final political victory of the Boers - how they lost the war but won the peace - with far-reaching consequences for Europe and South Africa.

The master. Puts all other modern tree-writers in the shade John Lewis-Stempel, author of MeadowlandThomas Pakenham is an indefatigable champion of trees. In The Company of Trees he recounts his personal quest to establish a large arboretum on the family estate, Tullynally in Ireland; his forays to other tree-filled parks and plantations; his often hazardous seed-hunting expeditions; and his efforts to preserve magnificent old trees and historic woodlands.Whether writing about the terrible storms breaking the backs of hundred-year-old trees or a fire in the peat bog on Tullynally which threatens to spread to the main commercial spruce-woods, his fear of climate change and disease, or the sturdy young saplings giving him hope for the future, his book is never less than enthralling.

For centuries, English country gentlemen had collected exotic pictures for their saloons and rare books for their libraries. By the end of the seventeenth century, they had begun to collect trees. Within the space of a few years, hundreds of new specimen trees enriched the British landscape, and demand was high for the most splendid imports: maples and tulip trees from the American colonies, cypresses and cedars from Europe and Lebanon, and oriental plane from Greece and Turkey, with its romantic associations with Platos Academy.How did these extraordinary trees make their way to the gardens of Britain and Ireland? Who were the scholars and daredevils who combed the new and old worlds in search of green treasure? What crimes did they commit, and what price did they pay to bring the worlds charismatic megaflora to the gardens of home?In this exuberant history, Thomas Pakenham reveals the marvellous tales of adventure, discovery, rivalry, and passion that created the modern British landscape.

Thomas Pakenhams beautifully illustrated, bestselling book of tree portraits.With this astonishing collection, Thomas Pakenham produced a new kind of tree book. The arrangement owes little to conventional botany. The sixty trees are grouped according to their own strong personalities: Natives, Travellers, Shrines, Fantasies and Survivors. From the ancient native trees, many of which are huge and immeasurably old, to the exotic newcomers from Europe, the East and North America, MEETINGS WITH REMARKABLE TREES captures the history and beauty of these entrancing living structures. Common to all these trees is their power to inspire awe and wonder. This is a lovingly researched book, beautifully illustrated with colour photographs, engravings and maps - a moving testimonial to the Earth`s largest and oldest living structures.

The Scramble for Africa astonished everyone.In 1880 most of the continent was ruled by Africans, and barely explored. By 1902, five European Powers (and one extraordinary individual) had grabbed almost the whole continent, giving themselves 30 new colonies and protectorates and 10 million square miles of new territory, and 110 million bewildered new subjects. Thomas Pakenhams story of the conquest of Africa is recognised as one of the finest narrative histories of the last few decades.

Unforgettable . . . no better compilers could have been found - History TodayDublins past comes dazzlingly alive - Publishing NewsErudite and practical simultaneously - Gemma Hussey, Irish IndependentDublins turbulent history, its intensely literary and theatrical character of long literary lineage, its revolutionary ideals and heroes, and its ordinary life are all brought to life in this collection of letters, diaries and memoirs of travellers to the city and by Dubliners themselves. The extracts, from medieval times onwards, include Red Hugh ODonnells escape from Dublin Castle, James Joyces plans for a novel while staying at the Martello Tower, and the seizure of the GPO by Irish volunteers during the Easter Rising. The book also includes gossip and story-telling in the humorous sketches of many famous Dubliners.