A rollicking tour of the English country home after World War II, when swinging London collided with aristocratic values As the sun set slowly on the British Empire, its mansions fell and rose. Ancient families were reduced to demolishing the parts of their stately homes they could no longer afford, dukes and duchesses desperately clung to their ancestral seats, and a new class of homeowners bought their way into country life. A delicious romp, Noble Ambitions pulls us into these crumbling halls of power, leading us through the juiciest bits of postwar aristocratic history—from Mick Jagger dancing at deb balls to the scandals of Princess Margaret. Capturing the spirit of the age, historian Adrian Tinniswood proves that the country house is not only an iconic symbol, but a lens through which to understand the shifting fortunes of the British elite in an era of monumental social change.

Ever since the English aristocracy embarked on the Grand Tour in the seventeenth century, a passion for collecting has become a national trait. This is reflected not only in England's aristocratic palaces and ancient manors, but in more modest residences, too. Romantic English Homes features 14 such homes. Large or small, old or new, they all exude typical English style: massed objects intentionally mingling a variety of styles and tastes, with the classical placed next to the gothic, and plaid checks alongside floral prints. Criss-crossing the country, from Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall to East Anglia and Suffolk, from London to Staffordshire and Northumberland, it is both the romantic timelessness of these properties and their comfortable, many-layered appearance that makes them so alluring and romantic to modern eyes.

In this charming book, chef, restaurateur and author Boulestin dispels the myth that French cooking is complicated and full of nondescript dishes with pretentious names by offering over 300 delicious recipes. Written in an engaging style and filled with anecdote and advice, it is a timeless classic that demands to be included in any cook's library.

This book is essential reading for property professionals and laymen alike. Anyone who would like to know more about the houses of England’s cities, towns and villages will benefit from reading this book. Through a wealth of pictures, easy to read comments and architectural notes the book helps the reader to identify the different architectural periods and understand the development of the construction of English houses. The book illustrates a number of influential styles and features of English houses throughout history. Also included are examples of houses that have been altered by several generations and different periods enabling the reader to trace trends and discover the more subtle nuances of English houses.