First published in 1993, The Ultimate Cigar Book has become a classic in its field, and is generally credited with having helped launch the current cigar smoking craze. It has been reprinted numerous times in the United States, and is now sold worldwide. No other book contains as much detailed and factual information on virtually every facet of cigar making and cigar smoking. And now this trendsetting been has been revised in this fourth edition for the aficionado of the future! Forget 1492. This book starts out in B. C. (Before Columbus) and transports the cigar enthusiast on a fun and fact-filled adventure into virtually every realm of today’s popular and growing cigar smoking pastime. Written by one of the most knowledgeable and internationally-celebrated pipe and cigar authors of our time, Richard Carleton Hacker’s well-known wit and wisdom will keep the reader enthralled with every turn of the page, as he takes you on an information-packed would tour of cigars. Starting off with a history of cigar smoking, the author then shows us how cigars are made today (handmade, handrolled, and machine made), divulges the secrets of finding the “perfect” cigar, and discusses the ritual of smoking and how to properly care for and store our cigars. From there the book lists a number of innovative cigar accessories, suggests which beers, wines, whiskeys, brandies, and cognacs go with what cigars, enlightens us with a chapter on cigar smoking celebrities, and concludes with the world’s first International Compendium of virtually every cigar brand known today, complete with histories and observations on taste, according to the author’s HPH (Highly Prejudiced Hacker-Scale) ratings. If that was not enough, there is even a dictionary of CigarSpeak! The Ultimate Cigar Book is the most comprehensive, factual, and up-to-date book for the cigar smoker or for those who just want to learn more about the fascinating and popular world of cigar smoking.

Lifestyle journalist Nick Hammond takes readers on a quarter-century expedition of wonder. From the bamboo forests of Japan to the peat burns of the Scottish Hebrides; from the dripping rainforest of Borneo to the scorched savannah of Africa; Around The World In 80 Cigars follows a natural observer through weird and wonderful adventures, each linked by the golden thread of a fine cigar. Ever been stuck in a minefield? Wondered what a sultry night in Havana is really all about? Wished you could sail in a hot air balloon over Cognac, go lobster fishing off Scotland, or dive with great white sharks off Gaansbai? All these adventures and more are told in searing detail in this beautifully packaged memoir.

Luxury, exclusivity, status--for centuries, the cigar has been a symbol for the special and extraordinary. Cigar smoking, which began over 2,000 years ago with the Maya, is experiencing a huge renaissance today. The cigar is a recreational luxury item in high demand, a combination of craftsmanship and tradition with a cult following that is hard to top. Connoisseur and cigar expert Cosima Aichholzer is one of the world's leading authorities on cigars. There isn't a cigar lounge in the world she hasn't travelled to, or a brand that she hasn't personally tested. In this standard reference work for all cigar experts and fans, the sophisticated Austrian provides authoritative answers to questions about the cigar's history, production process, where tobacco for cigars is grown, how to buy and store cigars, and much more. Let us take you on an exciting and fascinating journey into the world of cigars. Learn more about the countries they come from, the raw materials that go into them, the craftsmanship involved in making them, and the world's most beautiful cigar lounges, all shown in captivating pictures. Take a look at exclusive accessories, custom-made humidors, luxurious lighters, and many other items. So sit back, light up a cigar with celebrity fellow smokers, and peruse entertaining interviews that include tidbits like the cigar that Arnold Schwarzenegger finds unforgettable. Text in English German and French SELLING POINTS: * Never-before-seen insights into the fascinating world of the elegant cigar * Exclusive interviews with prominent smokers about their favourite brands and great cigar moments * A wonderfully entertaining book, not just for smokers! 200 colour and b/w photos

Sound like a connoisseur and get the most out of your cigars. For beginners and regular cigar smokers alike.

From the wild and wonderful mind of Gibby Haynes—world famous Butthole Surfers front man/lyricist and self-proclaimed eternal Texan adolescent—comes the surreal tale of seventeen-year-old Oscar Lester and his trusted dog, Mr. Cigar. Oscar and his dog have made a pretty good life for themselves, despite the fact that Oscar’s family has all but vanished—his father is dead; his mother has a new boyfriend. His older sister, Rachel, fled five years ago . . . right after Mr. Cigar bit off her hand. Despite the freak accident, Oscar knows his dog is no menace. Mr. Cigar is a loyal protector: a supernatural creature that can exact revenge, communicate telepathically, and manipulate car doors and windows with ease. So, when Rachel—now twenty-two and an artist living in New York—calls out of the blue and claims she’s being held hostage, Oscar sees an opportunity to make things right between them. He races north, intent on both saving Rachel and fleeing the mysterious evil forces targeting his dog. And it’s only by embarking on this dual quest that Oscar starts to untangle his own life and understand the bizarre reality of Mr. Cigar. *Features original artwork by Gibby Haynes as full color endpapers and illustrations throughout the book.

A historical saga of one strong woman’s journey from poverty and servitude in New York City to a new life in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. At ten, Lily Malone watched her mother die in their shabby apartment on Mulberry Street. Ma’s last wish was for Lily to keep an eye on her wild, rebellious brother—but after the two children move into the Catholic orphanage, she’s helpless to stop Fergy from abandoning her and heading out west to find gold in California. With the last of her family gone, Lily has little choice but to eventually accept a position in another family’s household. They’re Irish like her, but far wealthier—and it is here that the innocent girl begins to understand that she has little to bargain with aside from her beauty. This is the story of a young woman fighting her way out of hardship, as she learns to sell her body at an elegant brothel; becomes a mother desperately trying to keep the truth from her daughter; and finally is forced by love to return to the city of her shame and seek to conquer it. Moving from tenement squalor to the Fifth Avenue splendor of old New York, from the rolling decks of a great clipper ship to the brawling streets and magnificent Nob Hill mansions of San Francisco, through storm and earthquake and fire, Lily Cigar is a breathless saga of love, intrigue, and illicit passion.

Imprisoned by her husband and forced to roll cigars despite a nicotine allergy, Conchita Marquez falls in love with a sailor while on a journey to cure her ailment that leads to their becoming trapped in Orson Welles's drawing room.