What makes the English so . . . English? The English are often confused about who they are. They say 'British' when they mean 'English', and 'English' when they should say 'British.' And when England, more than the rest of the UK, voted to leave the EU, polls showed national identity was a big concern. So it's time the English sorted out in their minds what it means to be English. A nation's character is moulded by its history. In Who Do the English Think They Are? historian and journalist Derek J. Taylor travels the length and breadth of the country to find answers. He discovers that the first English came from Germany, and then in the later Middle Ages almost became French. He tracks down the origins of English respect for the rule of law, tolerance and a love of political stability. And, when he reaches Victorian times, he investigates the arrogance and snobbishness that have sometimes blighted English behaviour. Finally, Taylor looks ahead and asks: faced with uncharted waters post-Brexit, what is it in their national character that will help guide the English people now?

In The English Jeremy Paxman sets out to find about the English. Not the British overall, not the Scots, not the Irish or Welsh, but the English. Why do they seem so unsure of who they are? Jeremy Paxman is to many the embodiment of Englishness yet even he is sometimes forced to ask: who or what exactly are the English? And in setting about addressing this most vexing of questions, Paxman discovers answers to a few others. Like: Why do the English actually enjoy feeling persecuted? What is behind the English obsession with games? How did they acquire their odd attitudes to sex and to food? Where did they get their extraordinary capacity for hypocrisy? Covering history, attitudes to foreigners, sport, stereotypyes, language and much, much more, The English brims over with stories and anecdotes that provide a fascinating portrait of a nation and its people.

Discover why outsiders from Trump to Corbyn are succeeding like never before - and what this means for you. In recent years, voters have deserted the political centre like never before. Whether it's Trump, Brexit, Le Pen, or Corbyn, outsiders and populists are flourishing on the far left and far right. Celebrated political commentator Steve Richards explores factors from globalization and fake news to rising immigration and stagnant wages. Richards argues that the reasons for the success of the outsider also sows the seeds of their eventual demise. If they do gain power, they inevitably become insiders themselves - and fail to live up to their extravagant promises. This landmark book examines the rapidly shifting global political landscape of the last decade, and is essential reading for anyone who has been bothered by Brexit, troubled by Trump or confused by Corbyn.

A grandfather who learns to let go. A grandson who learns to love. Eighty-five years old, a rebel, a retired boxer, Napoleon Sunshine is unlike other grandparents. His ten-year-old grandson, Leonard, is unlike the other boys in his class. Together they are unstoppable. Or so they think. From Paris to the coast of Normandy, Napoleon and Leonard run away to seek an adventure: they visit the seaside, adopt a dog and plot to kidnap a famous radio presenter. But, really, they are trying to save Napoleon from spending his final days in a retirement home.

Mother Duck has six ducklings. But one duckling is very big, and he looks different from the other ducklings. Everyone says, 'You are an ugly duckling!' The ugly duckling is sad until one spring day he looks down into the water. What do you think he sees? Macmillan English Explorers have been written specifically for young learners of English. They bring first language teaching methods to reading lessons in first foreign language classrooms. Adapted by Gill Munton.

Understanding the modern city and the powerful forces within it is the life’s work of Harvard urban economist Edward Glaeser, who at forty is hailed as one of the world’s most exciting urban thinkers. Travelling from city to city, speaking to planners and politicians across the world, he uncovers questions large and small whose answers are both counterintuitive and deeply significant. Should New Orleans be rebuilt? Why can’t my nephew afford an apartment in New York? Is London the new financial capital of the world? Is my job headed to Bangalore? In Triumph of the City, Glaeser takes us around the world and into the mind of the modern city – from Mumbai to Paris to Rio to Detroit to Shanghai, and to any number of points in between – to reveal how cities think, why they behave in the manners that they do, and what wisdom they share with the people who inhabit them.

The home of trusted English learner's dictionaries for everyday language learning. Collins Easy Learning English Idioms is an easy-to-use guide to the most common English idioms, designed for everyone who wants to improve their knowledge of English. With simple and clear explanations, this helpful, and often fun guide will help you understand what English idioms, such as 'the cat's whiskers' and 'step up to the plate' really mean. Examples from the Collins corpus show how key idioms are used in everyday English and usage notes explain where idioms come from and how they should be used. Idioms are displayed in an accessible and easy-to-use format, making this an indispensible tool for anyone who wants to speak and write fluent and idiomatic English.

This is the funniest book that you will read about English people! Why are the English different from Europeans? George Mikes’ book describes the strange things the English do and say. And the English don’t get angry when they read the book. They love it! You will too!

England, 1937.Gwen, Noor, Dodo and Vera are four very different teenage girls, with something in common. Their parents are all abroad, leaving them in their English boarding school, where they soon form an intense friendship. The four friends think that no matter what, they will always have each other. Then the war comes.The girls find themselves flung to different corners of the war, from the flying planes in the Air Transport Auxiliary to going undercover in the French Resistance. Each journey brings danger and uncertainty as each of them wonders if they can make it through - and what will be left of the world. But at the same time, this is what shows them who they really are - and against this impossible backdrop, they find new connections and the possibility of love.

England, 1937.Gwen, Noor, Dodo and Vera are four very different teenage girls, with something in common. Their parents are all abroad, leaving them in their English boarding school, where they soon form an intense friendship. The four friends think that no matter what, they will always have each other. Then the war comes.The girls find themselves flung to different corners of the war, from the flying planes in the Air Transport Auxiliary to going undercover in the French Resistance. Each journey brings danger and uncertainty as each of them wonders if they can make it through - and what will be left of the world. But at the same time, this is what shows them who they really are - and against this impossible backdrop, they find new connections and the possibility of love.

How are borders built in the modern world? What does Brexit mean for Ireland's border? And what would happen if Elon Musk declared himself president of the Moon? In Border Wars, Professor Klaus Dodds takes us on a journey into the geopolitical conflict of tomorrow in an eye-opening tour of the world's best-known, most dangerous and most unexpected border conflicts from the Gaza Strip to the space race. Along the way, we'll discover just what border truly mean in the modern world: how are they built; what do they mean for citizens and governments; how do they help understand our political past and, most importantly, our diplomatic future?

Award-winning original fiction for learners of English. At seven levels, from Starter to Advanced, this impressive selection of carefully graded readers offers exciting reading for every student's capabilities. Diamonds smuggled from the bloody civil-war zones of Africa and traded illegally for weapons are known as 'blood diamonds'. London journalists Harley Kirkpatrick and Annie Shepherd sense the scoop of a lifetime when they try to trap a deal in the diamonds. But who is trapping who and are the people involved what they seem?

Nellie Choc-Ice is on her way home to the North Pole at last! But things don't go so smoothly when Captain Beardy-Beard's trusty submarine grinds to a halt in an island of plastic - and they aren't the only ones who are trapped. It's up to Nellie to untangle everyone from the mess ... But what are they going to do about all this plastic in the ocean? A touching and funny Little Gem from an author-illustrator dream team!

This is the funniest book that you will read about English people! Why are the English different from Europeans? George Mikes’ book describes the strange things the English do and say. And the English don’t get angry when they read the book. They love it! You will too! Retold by Karen Holmes.

This is the funniest book that you will read about English people! Why are the English different from Europeans? George Mikes’ book describes the strange things the English do and say. And the English don’t get angry when they read the book. They love it! You will too! Retold by Karen Holmes.

This new edition of the Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary offers comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the most important English idioms from around the world. Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary offers in-depth coverage of the most important idioms in English, and provides additional information about how common they are, in which contexts they should be used, what they mean and how to use them. This edition has been revised and updated to provide learners with detailed information on idioms in a language that is easy to understand. The 2-colour layout of the dictionary means that it is easier than ever for students to find the information they need. With new idioms and updated examples from the Collins Corpus, this new edition is packed with information on what idioms really mean and how to use them. Many of the new idioms come from varieties of English spoken all over the world, from Britain to the USA, from South Africa to Australia. The dictionary also includes helpful cross-references, making finding the idiom you need easy. There is also a self-study exercise section at the back of the book so that students can practise and consolidate what they have learnt. The fully-revised thematic index provides learners with the most useful English idioms, organized according to theme, along with real corpus examples. As with all COBUILD products, the Collins Corpus provides thousands of examples showing how the idioms are used in the English language today. In addition, there are hundreds of fascinating notes on the origins of idioms, which will allow students to gain a fuller understanding of the English language. Attractively presented, the Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary will prove to be a fascinating and invaluable resource for learners and teachers of English and anyone who wants to gain a greater appreciation of the English language. 4th edition.