1588: Queen Elizabeth is felled by an assassin's bullet. Within the week, the Spanish Armada had set sail, and its victory changed the course of history. 1968: England is still dominated by the Church of Rome. There are no telephones, no television, no nuclear power. As Catholicism and the Inquisition tighten their grip, rebellion is growing.

Following art historian Bernard Smith's award-winning autobiographical account of his earlier life ("The Boy Adeodatus: the portrait of a lucky young bastard", first published in 1984) he now reflects on life in the 1940s. Themes recalling the period before the family departed for England in September 1948 include; courtship and marriage; forebodings of war and attitudes to Communism and Fascism; political involvement in cultural activities with artists and emigre European-trained art historians anxious to promote modern art and knowledge of art history (not taught in universities at that time) and early employment at the Art Gallery of New South Wales pioneering the arrangement of travelling exhibitions for regional centres. Smith's formative training as an art historian and critic is the important and recurring theme of this book. It encompasses his encounters at London's Courtauld and Warburg Institutes with art historians Anthony Blunt, Ernst Gombrich, Rudolf Wittkower and many others; his introduction to art historical methodologies and insights (such as Gombrich's insistence on the linkage between image and concept); and his obligatory 'grand tours' of a range of European cities and their museums, art works and architectural monuments.

A collection of linked short stories set in a twentieth century where The Roman Catholic Church controls the western world, the Protestant Reformation never happened, the Inquisition thrives, and a tyrannical Rome maintains its power in a Dark Age by limiting knowledge, outlawing electricity, and curbing technology.

1588: Queen Elizabeth is felled by an assassin's bullet. Within the week, the Spanish Armada had set sail, and its victory changed the course of history. 1968: England is still dominated by the Church of Rome. There are no telephones, no television, no nuclear power. As Catholicism and the Inquisition tighten their grip, rebellion is growing.

This nicely spaced, very readable edition of the beautiful Ravel piece is especially well-notated and comes with historical notes and suggestions for performance by the composer himself.

Ravel composed the original piano version of this piece in 1899 after resuming his studies at the Paris Conservatory. It was published the next year and became an overnight success. Despite some self-criticism of his youthful work for being "poor in form", Ravel thought well enough of it to prepare an orchestral version in late 1910, which was given its premiere under the baton of Henry Wood at the Manchester Gentlemen's Concerts on 27 February 1911. This newly-engraved critical edition will be appreciated by Ravel fans, students, and conductors everywhere. With the demise of the publisher E. F. Kalmus, the only authorized source for this edition is Serenissima Music, where the large score and orchestra parts are now available.

One of the world's most lovely melodies now available as a piano duo. This lush arrangement was made from the original orchestral score and lays easily under the hands. The flow of the melody from piano to piano is nice. This arrangement is perfect for advancing pianists, and will be a welcome addition to any recital.