This commemorative portfolio displays all the 100 pictures awarded in the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, together with the stories of what they reveal and how they were created. Representing the work of photographers worldwide, they illustrate both the beauty and drama of the natural world and our conflicted relationship with it. Chosen by an international panel of judges from around 50,000 entries, the images are the work of photographers from dozens of countries and represent a worldwide range of styles and ways of seeing nature. You will find a rich variety of subjects, from wild regions, remarkable behaviour and portraits of creatures you may never have seen before, to reportage of vitally important ethical and environmental issues. Adding depth are the background stories - not just about how the pictures were made and the equipment used but also information about the subjects and why the photographers chose them.

These are the unforgettable highlights from the latest Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, the most famous and prestigious event of its kind in the world. Drawn annually from around 40,000 entries from scores of countries, it provides both an inspiring annual catalogue of the wonders of nature and a thought-provoking look at our complex relationship with the natural world. This book includes each of the category winners and incorporates all aspects of wildlife photography, from animal portraits to Earth's environments. For each photograph there is a caption that reveals the memorable story behind the picture and, for some, members of the international jury share their insightful thoughts. Twenty five striking photographs from the competition's People's Choice vote are also included.

The 1980s transformed Britain with Thatcher's leadership, technological innovations, and key RAF aircraft developments amidst economic challenges.

Britain changed more in the 1980s than in almost any recent decade, as readers will recall with differing emotions. A decade dominated by the rise of the City and the fall of the Unions, the wider retreat of the left and the return of military confidence, it also featured an energy of entrepreneurialism, but with entrenched unemployment - more than twice as high in the mid-1980s boom as when Margaret Thatcher took office in 1979. Innovation and technology reigned in the decade that spawned mobile telephones and the World Wide Web: where would the younger generation be without these items in their lives today?

To many, it was more simply seen as the decade of Margaret Thatcher, yuppies, chunky mobile telephones, and BMX bikes - although in reality it featured so much more, including the little matter of not one, but two royal weddings, and the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982. With little apparent diplomatic alternative, Britain set about creating a task force to recover the islands - effectively declaring war on Argentina.

During the 1980s, only a few aircraft types were completely withdrawn from the RAF, most of them hardly creating a whimper. These included the Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopter, the Devon C.1, the Pembroke C.1, and some of the earlier Jet Provost T.3, T.4 and T.5 aircraft. However, during the decade, the RAF said farewell to a pair of military icons - the Avro Vulcan in 1984, and the English Electric Lightning in 1988.

Aircraft arriving into RAF service included the Tornado GR.1 in the strike/attack role, an aircraft that had been developed as the Multi-role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) by a multi-national organisation from Italy, Germany, and the UK. It was soon followed into service by the Tornado F.2 and F.3 interceptor variants in the Air Defence role. Other new aircraft and helicopters to enter service during the decade included the Chinook HC.1, the Harrier GR.5, the British Aerospace BAe 146 CC.1, and the Tucano T.1.

The 1980s was something of a decade of 'mend and make do: the RAF purchased a batch of former US Navy F-4J Phantom aircraft as an air defence stop-gap, converted six Vulcan B.2 aircraft into AAR tanker platforms, and later, converted six Hercules C.1 aircraft into single-point C.1K tankers, initially for use on the Falklands Air Bridge. Further second-hand purchases included a number of former airline Lockheed Tristar and Vickers VC10 aircraft; once converted, these aircraft would later provide the backbone of the RAF's strategic and tactical tanking force for the foreseeable future.

Keith Wilson takes up from where he left off with RAF in Camera 1970s, continuing the journey through another significant decade. All of the landmark events are covered in this thorough, well-researched and image-packed publication.

Each chapter focuses on a specific year, detailing all of the highlights and events that characterised it. As with previous volumes in this series, this new addition to the In Camera series is sure to be regarded as a collector's edition and a real enthusiast's favourite.

When studying the origins of the First World War, scholars have relied heavily on the series of key diplomatic documents published by the governments of both the defeated and the victorious powers in the 1920s and 1930s. However, this volume shows that these volumes, rather than dealing objectively with the past, were used by the different governments to project an interpretation of the origins of the Great War that was more palatable to them and their country than the truth might have been. In revealing policies that influenced the publication of the documents, the relationships between the commissioning governments, their officials, and the historians involved, this collection serves as a warning that even seemingly objective sources have to be used with caution in historical research.

For aviation, the 1950s was a fascinating decade. For the Royal Air Force, it witnessed the transition from propeller to jet aircraft in the fields of fighter, bomber, trainer and transport aircraft. The 1950s saw the end of the Second World War veterans - Lancasters, Spitfires, Mosquitoes and Sunderlands. They were replaced by the first generation of jet aircraft including the Vampire, Hunter, Javelin and, at the end of the decade, the English Electric P.1 - later named the Lightning.

This photographic record of the RAF during the period illustrates all the varied and wonderful array of equipment in use and also considers the important events of the decade including Korea, the Malayan Emergency, Kenya and the Suez Crisis.

The decade also saw the beginning of the Cold War, which in turn led to significant developments in military aviation. For the RAF this included the V-bomber force of Valiant, Victor and Vulcan. Another development was the nuclear weapon and this volume includes images and information from Operation Grapple; testing Britain's first live thermonuclear weapon - 70 times more powerful than that dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 - which was dropped from Vickers Valiant XD818 at Christmas Island on 15 May 1957. Another Cold War item featured is the Thor Intermediate-range Ballistic Missile, three of which were located on their launches at twenty RAF Bomber Stations around the UK.

1953 saw the Coronation of HRH Queen Elizabeth II take place at Westminster Abbey on 2 June. Shortly afterwards, a Coronation Review of the Royal Air Force was organized at RAF Oldham, and many images of the never-to-be-repeated event are included in this volume; as are details of all the 640 aircraft involved in the spectacular flypast that followed the Royal inspection.

Each chapter in this volume focuses on a specific year, relaying all the fascinating events and highlights. Lavishly illustrated from the archives of the Air Historical Branch, this is a colorful and insightful history, told with narrative flair and a clear passion for the subject matter.

Matt Strong, a high school biology teacher in a small New Hampshire town is stunned when people from the town start dying of a mysterious ailment. They're fine when in the town, but get sick and soon die horribly when they venture away.

As more deaths occur, he gets the CDC and other government agencies involved in his investigation. Meanwhile clandestine government forces are using deadly force to stop Matt, and his friends, from reaching the truth.

Are you yearning for resilience in the bustling pace of modern life? Do you seek a sanctuary of inner calm amidst the chaos? Enter the enlightening world of our Special Report, 'Applied Stoicism: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Resilience'. This comprehensive guide merges ancient nuggets of wisdom seamlessly into the fabric of today's lifestyles and challenges.

Connect with stoicism's timeless tenets, tap into its profound resources, and meet life's adversities with unmatched tranquility. Our Special Report offers pragmatic, engaging lessons which trace their lineage back to the age-old teachings of stoic sages. Infusing this understanding into modern contexts, the report serves as an empowering companion for anyone navigating life's turbulent waters or aspiring to tread its high tides with grace.

The wisdom of stoic thinkers comes alive in a vibrant blend of historical insights, transformative principles, and actionable advice. The wisdom you will discover inside can help buttress personal resilience, spark a surge of inner peace, and foster a robust stoic spirit to traverse life's ebb and flow.

Authored by a renowned philosopher and psychologist, Keith Wilson, this report emanates the rich aroma of ancient philosophy, leaving an indelible impact on our understanding of resilience in the face of modern-day rigors.

It's time to take a purposeful stride forward. Embark on an exceptional journey where robust resilience smoothly marries the wisdom of ages and shapes a superior quality of modern living. Claim your share of this treasure trove - a transformative sojourn into ancient wisdom, contemporary practicality, and the unexplored dimensions of human resilience!

Faithful Finances Forever was written to help people become better stewards of their financial resources. This book will help them achieve their goals and help them utilize their faith in their finances so that they can make better financial decisions.

This memoir by Freeman Sparks Bowley, a young white officer who served as a lieutenant in a regiment of U.S. Colored Troops in the Union Army, is the work of a superb storyteller who describes how his Civil War experiences transformed him from a callow youth into an honorable man. Describing in detail his relationship with the men in his company, Bowley extols the role of black soldiers and their officers in the Union victory. Bowley's service in the Union Army began when his regiment joined Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign. His courage was tested at the battles of the Wilderness and the Crater. Captured at the Crater, Bowley spent seven months in prison in Columbia, South Carolina. Paroled in March 1865, he rejoined his regiment to serve in the army of the occupation in the coastal regions of North Carolina and was mustered out of military service in December 1865. His memoir is an invaluable record of the fighting capabilities of black soldiers during the Battle of the Crater and the strategies they employed to cope with racism and adapt to military life. It is also a detailed account of the social dynamics of prison life. Editor Keith Wilson's three introductory essays historically position the coming of age narrative as a significant account of race relations in the Union Army and explore Bowley's developing sense of manhood and honor, offering a unique perspective to Civil War scholars and history buffs.

When studying the origins of the First World War, scholars have relied heavily on the series of key diplomatic documents published by the governments of both the defeated and the victorious powers in the 1920s and 1930s. However, this volume shows that these volumes, rather than dealing objectively with the past, were used by the different governments to project an interpretation of the origins of the Great War that was more palatable to them and their country than the truth might have been. In revealing policies that influenced the publication of the documents, the relationships between the commissioning governments, their officials, and the historians involved, this collection serves as a warning that even seemingly objective sources have to be used with caution in historical research.

TRANSCENDENTAL STUDIES is an essential new work by Keith Wilson which reconstructs popular notions of what is commonly thought of as western literature in America today. Here are poems as intimate as breathing, recognitions quick as a lizard's moving in the sudden sun. Back of it all is the abiding love for those one's lived a life with. May this circle forever be unbroken.--Robert Creeley

The idea of a Channel Tunnel has always aroused strong emotions in Britain. It has been supported by those wanting closer political, economic and cultural links with Europe but opposed by believers in Britain's island identity and overseas empire. In contrast, the French have been almost unanimously in favour. Channel Tunnel Vision 1850-1950 is an account of attempts over a century to build a link with France. Early schemes, some owing more to Heath-Robinson than to sound engineering practice, were succeeded by serious proposals based on scientific surveys of the sea-bed carried out in the 1860s. After describing the major entrepreneurs and their plans, Keith Wilson goes on to show the reactions of successive British Governments. On several occasions the decision on whether or not to go ahead was a very close-run thing. He quotes the views, which make remarkable reading, of Prime Ministers from Gladstone to Ramsay MacDonald; of Foreign Secretaries including Grey and Curzon; and of admirals and generals ranging from Fisher to Wolseley, French and Henry Wilson. Their fears of sabotage, invasion and a future political rift with France were set against hopes of economic advantage. They also saw an enhanced ability to respond quickly to future German aggression. How the existence of a Channel Tunnel would have affected the 1940 campaign is an intriguing speculation.

When the King's Flight was officially formed in 1936, passenger flying was very much in its infancy. Creating the Royal Flight was a most innovative action by King Edward VIII, although members of the Royal Family had enjoyed a passion for flying almost since the dawn of aviation: during a visit to Paris in 1909, King Edward VII met the Wright Brothers and watched them demonstrate their new 'Flying Aircraft'. In order to facilitate flying members of the Royal Family, the Royal Air Force officially allocated a series of specific aircraft for these duties. The very first of these was Bristol Fighter J8430, which in 1928 was fitted with a specially modified rear cockpit for VVIP flying, although the cockpit was still very much open to the elements. Over the years, the King's and Queen's Flight have operated an interesting variety of aircraft and helicopters, many of them of British design and manufacture. Their visits provided an excellent opportunity to promote British aviation, and a number of orders were received from airlines around the globe as an indirect result. This book covers not just the King's and Queen's Flight, but also the Duke of Edinburgh's, Prince Charles's and Prince William's military and civilian flying activities. Profusely illustrated with historical images, many of which have never previously been published.

Once man had mastered the ability to fly, there came the desire to fly faster, higher and further with increased payloads. Some of the earliest experiments with air-to-air refuelling occurred in the 1920s and as long-distance record attempts progressed, Alan Cobham was in the thick of it. Cobham would later revolutionise air-to-air refuelling, initially with the 'Grapple-line looped-hose' system, along with the formation of Flight Refuelling Limited (FRL). By the 1930s, the emphasis was on transatlantic flights - especially by providing a faster postal service between Europe and the USA. With the advent of the Cold War, the need for air-to-air refuelling became a clear military requirement. When Boeing announced the Model 367-80, the USAF saw a unique opportunity and placed large orders for the KC-135A version. Meanwhile, the RAF also saw the necessity for tanker aircraft to support its new V-bomber force. Initially, surplus Valiant bombers were converted and later Vulcan and Victor aircraft too. Today, air-to-air refuelling is an essential part of modern warfare, providing both strategic and tactical tanking capabilities. This book is profusely illustrated with images from a variety of sources including the Air Historical Branch and the author's own extensive collection - many of which have never previously been published - and all are supported with a concise but informative text.

Dr. Brett Carson, Epidemic Intelligence Service agent for the Centers for Disease Control, rushes to Guatemala to investigate the source

of a mysterious and deadly Ebola-like virus that is sweeping through jungle villages.

Can he stop the spread to the outside world?

Through original essays from a distinguished team of international scholars and Hardy specialists, A Companion to Thomas Hardy provides a unique, one-volume resource, which encompasses all aspects of Hardy's major novels, short stories, and poetry

• Informed by the latest in scholarly, critical, and theoretical debates from some of the world's leading Hardy scholars
  
• Reveals groundbreaking insights through examinations of Hardy's major novels, short stories, poetry, and drama
  
• Explores Hardy's work in the context of the major intellectual and socio-cultural currents of his time and assesses his legacy for subsequent writers

As a writer who achieved major eminence in both fiction and poetry and whose engagement with these genres encompassed the period of transition from Victorianism to Modernism, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) enjoys a unique position in English Literary History. Michael Millgate, University Professor of English Emeritus at the University of Toronto is widely recognized as the world's foremost Thomas Hardy scholar. His contributions to the study of Hardy over more than three decades include his recently 'revisited' biography, the seven volume edition of Hardy's collected letters, and the influential critical study Thomas Hardy: His Career as a Novelist.

In Thomas Hardy Reappraised, editor Keith Wilson pays tribute to Millgate's many contributions to Hardy studies by bringing together new work by fifteen of the world's most eminent Hardy scholars. These essays address questions of biblical and literary allusiveness, cultural, historical, and philosophical context, narrative and poetic theory and practice, as well as Hardy's place in the modern world and his influence on younger writers. Together, the contributors offer one of the most significant reappraisals of Hardy's work to have appeared since Michael Millgate helped to transform Hardy studies. They offer graphic testimony to Hardy's enduring popularity and importance.

Contributors:
Pamela Dalziel
Mary Rimmer
Dennis Taylor
Barbara Hardy
U.C. Knoepflmacher
Marjorie Garson
Ruth Bernard Yeazell
Simon Gatrell
J. Hillis Miller
George Levine
Jeremy V. Steele
William W. Morgan
Samuel Hynes
Norman Page
W. J. Keith

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Keith Wilson, professor emeritus and former New Mexico State University poet-in-residence, defines Graves Registry as a Joint Service Operation that comes in after battles, and wars, to count the dead, identify bones, draw up a total of what has been lost. Wilson is a native New Mexican who attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served in Korea. Much of his work has been dominated by the reality and memory of war and the altered sweetness of life after it.