economic heart of Britain, and one of the great hubs of world affairs.brNow, in this fascinating volume, the doyen of London historians, Francis Sheppard, provides the definitive account of London's diverse past, from its origins as a Roman settlement (founded at the lowest bridgeable point across the Thames) to the world-class metropolis it is today. It provides a vivid account of a city which was the `deere sweete' place which Chaucer loved more than any other city on earth, which was for Dickens his `magic lantern', and to Keats `a great sea', howling for more wrecks. It is also a story of much contrast and remarkable resilience; through great fires and pestilence, civil war, and the Blitz, London has rebuilt and reinvented itself for each generation.brSheppard is the great authority to whom we all look up, Roy Porter has written. He has made the history of London his life's work, and I suspect there's no one in the world with so full a knowledge and so rich a grasp as he of sources, physical fabric, and all manner of details. In this colorful new history, Sheppard takes us on a fascinating voyage through London's past. It is the definitive account of the rise to power of one of the world's great metropolitan centers.brPart I Londinium:br1, Urban origins; 2, early Londinium; 3, change and decaybrPart II From Londinium to the Chartered City of London, c.400-c.1530:br4, Londinium and Lundenwic c.400-c.886; 5, from Lundenburg to the birth of a municipal commune c.866-1215; 6, the emergence of the medieval capital c.1216-c.1530brPart III The Genesis of Modern London 1530-1700:br7, The rise of the metropolis; 8, religious and educational revolution; 9, political revolutions; 10, the processes of growth; 11, the administration of the@B33333ÿ¾Û€  (less)

illusions. Beginning with the 1790s multimedia show phantasmagoria--a performance using a simple magic lantern and wall projections--the documentary provides insight into the early special effects that made magicians legendary. Peppered with interview segments conducted with many modern artists, the DVD shows us how magicians of the past harnessed the powers of sound, light, optical illusions, and even narcotics to bewilder their audiences. The program also features the "Allied Arts," which are illusions such as fire-eating and -breathing, and a clip from an old Laurel and Hardy film spotlighting the funny and engaging performance of a regurgitationist. There are marvelous and entrancing automatons, tricks from the early days of electricity, an...  (less)

Hathaway 9-Early mornin' rain-Oliver 10-Summer in the city-Quincy Jones 11-Mom-Earth,Wind&Fire 12-I can't stop-Osmond Brothers 13-Tell Laura I love her-Johnny T. Angel 14-Country girl-Jeannie C. Riley 15-Animal zoo-Spirit 16-Holly go softly-The Cornerstone 17-Baby make it soon-Flying Machine 18-One night stand-Magic Lanterns 19-It's four in the morning-Faron Young 20-I'm so glad-The Fuzz 21-Let me live-Charlie Pride 22-Angelica-Oliver 23-Where would I be without you-Edgar Winter Group 24-Little bit o' soul-Bullet.  (less)