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He printed 'full and accurate scores' along with indispensable facts about the Derby, the St Leger, the university rowing matches 'and other Interesting Information', including potted histories of the Wars of the Roses. The 1864 edition is now valued at anything up to £25,000, and Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has been published continuously ever since – not for nothing is it known as ‘the cricketer's bible’.   The Almanack has, despite some close shaves, never missed a year. In 1937 it was just 48 hours from liquidation, and in the Second World War a German bomber set fire to the company’s headquarters, destroying its records. And yet somehow, the yellow (since 1938) book has retained its antique, rugged character. It is a labour-of-love collection of records for cricket obsessives, but also a hearty eccentric. It loves to count the number of wides in a season, but also delights in relating tales from far-flung pavilions.   Through the telling of Wisden's story, we also glimpse the history of English – and world – cricket. The book is a window onto the game's most charismatic characters, its high points, lows and political storms. In The Little Wonder Robert Winder traces the central role the game has played in national life for so long. The book's 150th anniversary in 2013 is the ideal time to tell the extraordinary story of Wisden’s – and cricket’s – journey from Victorian times to the modern world. 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Now there may be a new twist in this Great game. With soft power's quiet ingredients - education, science, trade, cultural values - and a new emphasis on shared mutual interest, it may be the only force supple enough to tackle the challenges the future looks likely to pose - not least the slam-the-door reflexes pulling in the other direction.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49535073321233,"sku":"GOR012654536","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49644213960977,"sku":"GOR013705639","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49740307792145,"sku":"NGR9780349143460","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50348200493329,"sku":"CIN0349143463G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0349143463.jpg?v=1772708718"},{"product_id":"soft-power-book-robert-winder-9781408711460","title":"Soft Power","description":"In recent years the modern world has developed a brave new concept: 'soft power'. 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He printed 'full and accurate scores' along with indispensable facts about the Derby, the St Leger, the university rowing matches 'and other Interesting Information', including potted histories of the Wars of the Roses. The 1864 edition is now valued at anything up to £25,000, and Wisden Cricketers' Almanack has been published continuously ever since – not for nothing is it known as ‘the cricketer's bible’.    The Almanack has, despite some close shaves, never missed a year. In 1937 it was just 48 hours from liquidation, and in the Second World War a German bomber set fire to the company’s headquarters, destroying its records. And yet somehow, the yellow (since 1938) book has retained its antique, rugged character. It is a labour-of-love collection of records for cricket obsessives, but also a hearty eccentric. It loves to count the number of wides in a season, but also delights in relating tales from far-flung pavilions.    Through the telling of Wisden's story, we also glimpse the history of English – and world – cricket. The book is a window onto the game's most charismatic characters, its high points, lows and political storms. In The Little Wonder Robert Winder traces the central role the game has played in national life for so long. The book's 150th anniversary in 2013 is the ideal time to tell the extraordinary story of Wisden’s – and cricket’s – journey from Victorian times to the modern world. 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England’s Ashes Test victory at Lord’s (later known as Verity’s match) saw Australia seeking revenge after the Bodyline series of 1932–33, but Verity bowled England to a famous innings victory, taking 15 wickets – 14 in one day! That same day, Cotton set out on the first qualifying round of the British Open. He went on to set a new Open record with a game so sparkling the Daily Express called it “the best round of golf ever played”. And within a fortnight, Perry had beaten Australia’s Jack Crawford in the Wimbledon final. England had an extraordinary national hat-trick.  Together, these three contests and these three singular life stories weave a vivid portrait of an England that has faded from view. Half-Time celebrates a time of intense and rapid social and cultural change, a time that was both the last hurrah of the ancien regime and the stirring of something new. 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Here he traces the thrills and spills of a resonant sporting drama, listens to the players and  administrators, and describes the many ways in which the Open truly is open: the world, to the elements, and to the neverending outrages of fortune.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49596937011473,"sku":"GOR004687695","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50130928107793,"sku":"GOR013865492","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ WELL_READ \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50811479130385,"sku":"GOR014082417","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1408703521.jpg?v=1751083674"},{"product_id":"final-act-of-mr-shakespeare-book-robert-winder-9780349122502","title":"The Final Act Of Mr Shakespeare","description":"In the spring of 1613 Mr William Shakespeare, a gentleman farmer in Warwickshire, returns to London. 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It was never possible to write about Henry VII while his granddaughter Elizabeth was Queen, but now he must. It is a perilous enterprise: King James I's spies are everywhere. There is no evidence that Shakespeare wrote Henry VII, but in a compelling piece of historical recreation, Robert Winder asks: what if he did? And after 400 years, he gives us a unique world premiere - a brand-new, full-length Shakespeare play, incorporated brilliantly into this extraordinary novel. THE FINAL ACT OF MR SHAKESPEARE is an exhilarating portrait of England's greatest author - not in love but raging against the dying of the light. 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After four heady days on the fabled Turnberry links (one day it went see, the next it went saw) Tom Watson, an all-tim e great but nearly 60 and with an artificial hip, faced an eight-foot putt to become not just the oldest but also the most successful (along with Harry Vardon) player in Open history. The golfing world held its breath. History hung on the roll of a small white ball. As drama it verged upon the magical. Surely he couldn't prevail; surely he couldn't falter. But this was only one of hundreds of such moments. Robert Winder followed them all, from the start of the qualifying process to the dramatic last gasp. 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To a sporting audience still groaning through the quagmire left by the Great Depression, greedy for inspiring distractions, these heroic efforts made for a heady spectacle.  England’s Ashes Test victory at Lord’s (later known as Verity’s match) saw Australia seeking revenge after the Bodyline series of 1932–33, but Verity bowled England to a famous innings victory, taking 15 wickets – 14 in one day! That same day, Cotton set out on the first qualifying round of the British Open. He went on to set a new Open record with a game so sparkling the Daily Express called it “the best round of golf ever played”. And within a fortnight, Perry had beaten Australia’s Jack Crawford in the Wimbledon final. England had an extraordinary national hat-trick.  Together, these three contests and these three singular life stories weave a vivid portrait of an England that has faded from view. Half-Time celebrates a time of intense and rapid social and cultural change, a time that was both the last hurrah of the ancien regime and the stirring of something new. 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Coursing down through the peaks, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po gave birth to three different European cultures – German, French and Italian – as they flowed across the continent.        From this shared geological cradle, these waterways have shaped the landscape, influenced the pattern of towns and cities, laid the foundation for economies and created an intricate network of transport, trade and agriculture. From the Romanesque buttresses and vines of Provence to the Wagnerian music of the Rhine and the artistic miracles of Lombardy, the heart of Western Europe – its languages, religion, philosophy, science, politics and art – has been nourished by these waters.        Setting off in the dramatic mountain landscape where this story begins, acclaimed historian Robert Winder traces the rivers’ journeys from their increasingly fragile glacial sources, revealing in shimmering detail their impact on Europe’s rich history as they flow towards the sea.        ‘Revelatory and inspirational, a passionate love-letter to Western Europe’s great trinity of waterways.’ James Hawes, author of The Shortest History of Germany        ‘Enthralling . . . gives intriguing insight into the ebb and flow of Western Europe’s culture, history and geography.’ Jasper Winn, author of Water Ways        ‘In this love letter to the Continent, Robert Winder takes a meandering and always entertaining journey down Western Europe’s three great rivers. His affection for his subject shines through on every page . . . and his daring digressive style gives him latitude for quirky erudition and the chance to deliver unexpected delights.' Stephen O’Shea, author of The Alps        ‘Insightful, elegant, and deeply researched to the very last drop, this book will change the way you see rivers – and the continent they have shaped – forever.’ Matt Gaw, author of In All Weathers        ‘Three Rivers is wonderful excursion into history, travel and stories about some of the most fascinating rivers of Europe – do yourself a favour and take a holiday with this book.’ Robert Twigger, author of Red Nile","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53019973681425,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":53019973746961,"sku":"NGR9781783968794","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9781783968794.jpg?v=1769683033"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-ie\/collections\/author-books-by-robert-winder.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}