Wildfowling is the most romantic, exciting and challenging of all the field sports. All wildfowlers have a little poetry in their souls. The majority of fowlers are thoroughgoing individualists. A typical wildfowler is a true hunter, bred and born - a lone wolf pitting his wits and knowledge against the wiles of some of the wariest and fastest birds on earth. Taking all this into account it is no surprise that wildfowling has fascinated a great many well known writers as well as inspiring many lesser known and even amateur writers to write with brilliance and passion about their sport. In this book I have attempted to select a number of gems and rarities of fowling literature from famous writers as well as including notes, articles and snippets from less well known, but nevertheless, enthusiastic scribes. This anthology will, I hope, help preserve some of the more obscure wildfowling tales for gunners of the future. Several of the post war wildfowling stories include those of writers who contributed to now defunct sporting periodicals of that era. Their stories I consider masterpieces of the genre and have been included for the benefit of future generations. In some cases it has been impossible to communicate with them or their relatives, who may contact the publishers if they so wish.

The Basset Hound - A Complete Anthology of the Dog gathers together all the best early writing on the breed from our library of scarce, out-of-print antiquarian books and documents and reprints it in a quality, modern edition. This anthology includes chapters taken from a comprehensive range of books, many of them now rare and much sought-after works, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. These books are treasure troves of information about the breed - The physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era and these are all reproduced to the highest quality. Books used include: My Dog And I by H. W. Huntington (1897), Dogs Of The World by Arthur Craven (1931), Hutchinson's Dog Encyclopaedia by Walter Hutchinson (1935) and many others.

Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s 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.

THE CALL OF THE WILD WEST - Ultimate Western Collection is an unparalleled anthology that brings together over 175 novels and short stories from the pens of some of the most celebrated authors in the American literary canon. This collection features a vast array of themes, including the rugged beauty of the American frontier, the complex relationships between man and nature, and the tumultuous path towards justice and redemption. Embedded within its pages are tales that traverse the whole of the Western genre, from thrilling adventures to poignant histories, all aimed at exploring the essence of what it means to confront the wild unknown. The anthology stands as a testament to the diversity and significance of the Western narrative, offering readers standout pieces that highlight the periods dynamic range of literary stylesfrom the raw realism of Twain to the romanticized vistas by Grey. The contributing authors, a veritable whos who of the literary world, including but not limited to Mark Twain, Willa Cather, and Jack London, bring a rich tapestry of backgrounds to the collection. Their collective works encapsulate not only the evolving character of the American West but also the broader shifts in American culture and literature. The anthology aligns with key historical and cultural movements such as Manifest Destiny and the taming of the frontier, enabling a multifaceted exploration of these themes through the prism of various literary movements. By amalgamating the distinct voices and narratives of authors who have defined the genre, the collection invites readers to a deeper understanding of the enduring myths and realities of the American West. THE CALL OF THE WILD WEST - Ultimate Western Collection offers readers an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the Western genre in all its complexity and grandeur. It is an imperative read for those who wish to delve into the rich narrative of American expansion and the diverse interpretations of frontier life. Beyond its educational value, the anthology serves as a platform for the intricate dialogues between different periods, themes, and styles, encapsulated within the Western tradition. It invites lovers of history, literature, and culture to explore the depths of human resilience and the landscapes that shaped Americas literary heritage.

The Irish Water Spaniel - A Complete Anthology of the Dog gathers together all the best early writing on the breed from our library of scarce, out-of-print antiquarian books and documents and reprints it in a quality, modern edition. This anthology includes chapters taken from a comprehensive range of books, many of them now rare and much sought-after works, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. These books are treasure troves of information about the breed - The physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era and these are all reproduced to the highest quality. Books used include: My Dog And I by H. W. Huntington (1897), British Dogs by W. D. Drury (1903), Dogs Of The World by Arthur Craven (1931) and many others.

This exciting second edition provides an exceptional range of plays edited by leading scholars of Restoration and eighteenth-century theatre. In addition to fifteen plays from the first edition are four new plays and one new afterpiece: Nathaniel Lee’s The Rival Queens, John Vanbrugh’s The Provoked Wife, David Garrick’s Miss in Her Teens, Richard Cumberland’s The West Indian, and Elizabeth Inchbald’s Such Things Are. Every play now features an engaging headnote and a fully edited dramatis personae, prologue, and epilogue. The innovative introduction plunges its readers into the experience of playgoing in London, and the edition features supplementary texts, including select actor and actress biographies and theatrical documents that provide a vivid cultural context.