Best Selling Books by John Julius NORWICH

When did humans first come together in cities and what were they like to live in? Illustrated with spectacular photographs of the sites of ancient cities today, as well as fabulous objects and works of art, this book provides a fascinating exploration of cities that shaped the ancient world. From the world''s first cities, in Mesopotamia, to the spectacular urban monuments of the Maya in Central America, the cities described here represent almost three millennia of human history and development. Under John Julius Norwich''s expert editorship, eminent historians and archaeologists with first-hand knowledge of each site bring these silent ruins to life as the teeming metropolises they once were.

Traditional Chinese edition of France：A History from Gaul to de Gaulle

Norwich''s life reflects an appetite for living, enlivened by a sense of personal theater, as seen in "Trying to Please," his meditation on a glamorous but vanishing world. From the monasteries on Mt. Athos to a camel trek across the Sahara, Norwich''s passions for history, travel, and music combine with simpler pleasures like friendship and a close family.

Travel back in time in search of long-lost attitudes on love, lust, and passion. Beautifully illustrated in full color, this fascinating exploration uncovers how ancient civilizations regarded sex and sexuality. Exquisite photographs showcase sculpture, pottery, paintings, and architecture that feature graphic representations of the human form and the art of love. Seeing how romance was represented, communicated, and mythologized from the cave dwellers through the sophisticated Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans gives us new perspectives on history and on our lives today.

Each year these small anthologies of poetry and prose are sent out to friends instead of a Christmas card.

Evropské 16. století bylo převratným věkem, kdy se díky zámořským objevům rozšiřoval horizont Evropanům známého světa, reformace změnila náboženskou i politickou mapu kontinentu a v končící nádheře „podzimu středověku“ se již ohlašoval nový věk. Kniha známého britského autora sleduje tuto barvitou éru z perspektivy čtyř výjimečných panovnických osobností. Anglický král Jindřich VIII., milovník rytířské pompy a válečných tažení, uskutečnil roztržku Anglie s Římem a proslulým se stal také pro svých šest žen, z nichž dvě skončily na popravišti. Francouzský král František I. byl prototypem renesančního vladaře, milovníkem umění i žen, a jeho srdce se upíralo k italskému Milánu. Habsburský císař Karel V. a osmanský sultán Sulejman Nádherný se oprávněně mohli navzájem podezírat z touhy po světovládě. Společně psali dějiny Evropy i světa.

For thirty years John Julius Norwich was been sending out Christmas Crackers - personal selections of poetry, prose and literary odds and ends - to his friends instead of Christmas cards. This, the third volume of his wonderfully offbeat and varied collections, brings together a multitude of treasures that includes an appearance by the ghost of Wilfred Owen; Adam and Eve conversing in palindromes; the story of Oedipus told in car number plates; and David Livingstone getting lost on the railway.

Views of the city of lagoons and gondolas; Henry James was passionate: ''You desire to embrace it, to caress it, to possess it...'', whereas Mark Twain found St Mark''s ''so ugly...Propped on its long row of thick-legged columns, its back knobbed with domes, it seems like a vast, warty bug taking a mediaeval walk.'' Reactions to Venice have been, throughout the ages, astonishingly different. John Julius Norwich has produced a dazzling anthology from the writings of Byron, Goethe, Wagner, Casanova, Jan Morris, Robert Browning, and Horace Walpole, among many others. From the days of the sixth century, when lagoon-dwellers lived ''like sea-birds'' in huts built on heaps of osiers, to the Venice of eighteenth-century revellers and nineteenth-century art lovers - the city''s many different guises are all portrayed as its inhabitants and visitors saw them.

The city of Venice through the eyes of nineteenth century visitors.For this portrait of Venice in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Lord Norwich has abandoned the historical approach, preferring to look at the city through the eyes of the most distinguished of its foreign visitors or residents. Beginning with Napoleon - with, perhaps, the most mysterious of all his mistresses - we continue with Byron, who cut his usual swathe among the feminine population while embarking on the last great affair of his life. Ruskin, Browning, Wagner and Henry James are among the others who for a longer or shorter time made the city their own, together with the two great Anglo-American painters James McNeill Whistler and John Singer Sargent. The survey ends with the insufferable ";Baron Corvo";, who poisoned the life of the British colony in Venice in the years immediately before the First World War.John Julius Norwich has long been the foremost authority on Venice and in Paradise of Cities he confirms his reputation as an unparalleled historical storyteller. His book will delight and fascinate all lovers of this remarkable city.

In 1969, John Julius Norwich, the legendary popular historian, gathered together the favourite things he''d come across in the last 365 days into one short charming pamphlet. Initially just a treat for his friends, it rapidly turned into a huge word-of-mouth success. And soon the arrival of John Julius Norwich''s latest ''Christmas Cracker'' became as essential a part of the English Christmas experience as holly and mistletoe. Norwich had a brilliant eye for a story and telling detail, and his Crackers are full of jokes, warmth and wit. Here in one bumper book is his final and 50th Christmas Cracker, alongside all the very best bits as picked out by his daughter Artemis Cooper. This is the perfect Christmas gift.

Bizans otokrasiyle idare ediliyordu, baştaki imparator Havarilere eş, Tanrı’nın yeryüzündeki temsilcisi, tüm tebaasının hayatını avucunda tutan yarı ilahi bir varlıktı. Bu imparatorlardan bazıları kahramandı, bazıları da canavar; fakat asla silik değillerdi. Sadece bundan ötürü bile bu kitabı yazmak sürekli bir zevkti, fakat mütevazı anlamda, bir borcun ödenmesiydi aynı zamanda. Bizim medeniyetimiz Doğu İmparatorluğu’na ne kadar çok şey borçlu olduğunu asla yeterince değerlendiremedi. Hıristiyanlığın bu Doğu Kalesi olmasaydı, Avrupa’nın VII. yüzyılda Sasani ordularına, VIII. yüzyılda Bağdat Halifesi’nin ordusuna karşı şansı olur muydu? Bugün hangi dili konuşuyor ve hangi tanrıya tapıyor olurduk? Kültürel alandaki borcumuz da çok büyüktür. Barbar istilaları ve Roma’daki imparatorun düşüşünden sonra, Batı Avrupa’daki öğrenme ışığı, tek tük manastırdaki titrek alevler dışında, sönmüştü. Alev alev yanmayı sürdürdüğü ve klasik mirası koruduğu yer Bosphoros kıyılarıydı. Antik Çağ hakkındaki bilgilerimizin çoğu -özellikle Yunan ve Latin edebiyatı ve Roma hukuku- Constantinopolis’in âlimleri ve yazmanları olmasaydı sonsuza değin kaybolacaktı. JOHN JULIUS NORWICH

這是一本關於法國的古今全史，也是一紙寫給法蘭西的情書 英國大眾歷史作家界的祖師爺諾里奇爵士，以幽默風趣、引人入勝的筆調， 引領讀者走進「高盧雄雞」兩千年的迷人歷史 *** Amazon 4.2分、Goodreads 4.0分 讀者好評 *** 《牛雜》《泰晤士報文學增刊》《旁觀者》《星期天獨立報》《鄉村生活》《今日歷史》《每日電訊報》《泰晤士報》《歷史揭密雜誌》一致盛讚！ 提到法國的歷史，勾起讀者的第一印象通常是聖女貞德、路易十四世、戴高樂等歷史著名人物，又或者是英法百年戰爭、法國大革命、拿破崙戰爭等重要事件，但作者認為大多數人對法國的認識也就僅止於此，我們需要一則動聽的故事把諸多法蘭西的歷史人、事、時、地、物串聯起來，填補人們心中法國史的空白，約翰．朱利葉斯．諾里奇爵士的《法蘭西全史》就因此而生。 從高盧部落領袖抵抗羅馬將軍凱撒入侵的故事開始，講述查理大帝如何巧妙地奪取教宗的帝冠。緊接著細述描寫法國大量人員參與東方的十字軍東征，以及聖殿騎士團如何一夜之間消失在歷史的長河中。從太陽王路易十四的驚世功績，到法國人民攻占巴士底監獄的革命風潮，再到法軍如大軍壓境般奔赴戰場的劇烈場景，還有二戰中，諾曼底登陸如何改變了世界的命運。《法蘭西全史》將帶你穿越兩千年，揭開法國歷史的多彩面貌，呈現極為豐富且扣人心弦的歷史敘事。 約翰·朱利葉斯·諾里奇爵士作為英國著名的歷史學者，他的作品涵蓋了西西里、威尼斯共和國、拜占庭帝國、教宗以及地中海等歷史領域，長期以來深受讀者推崇。《法蘭西全史》是諾里奇爵士歷史寫作生涯中的巔峰之作，也是他獻給法國的深情之作。猶如一封獻給法國的深情書信，這本書是對所有熱愛法國、對這片土地懷有深厚情感的讀者的致敬。 【國際書評】 滿腔熱情之作……可嘆諾里奇在不久前去世，他最為平易近人的學究氣息貫穿全書，這位如長輩般的導師邀請各位一邊喝著葡萄酒，一邊聽他娓娓道來兩千年法國史。從高盧人講到查理曼，從凱撒講到戴高樂。他以熟練但溫和的筆調描述性、死亡和網球。閱讀本書可以搭配一次暑假的法國之旅，或讓你突然想造訪法國。──《牛雜》 諾里奇這本法國政治史從維欽托利談起，到一九四五年的戴高樂結束，它邀請我們一起對歷史上的偉人肅然起敬，甚至使我們對這些人的勝利感同身受……極具啟發性。──《泰晤士報文學增刊》 這是一本有溫度又宜人的法國簡史，它以歡快的筆調鎖定一般讀者，這是諾里奇所寫的情書，獻給他熟悉的法國。──《旁觀者》 一本以英文寫成的簡明法國史絕對有其必要，而且在許多方面來說，諾里奇都是寫作本書的最佳人選……他對法國的熱愛可以追溯到童年時期，這份愛意顯然也處處出現在這本易讀又具娛樂性的歷史書中。──《星期天泰晤士報》 諾里奇處理歷史事件的方式，就像是和讀者在火爐邊親切地閒聊。──《星期天獨立報》 作者以十足的魅力和對法國顯而易見的熱情訴說這則故事……我的孩子時常問我，英國中等教育普通證書（GCSE）的教學大綱為什麼不是介紹英國歷史，而是神祕兮兮地探究威瑪共和國、納粹德國與俄國。他們想要的是以全面、易讀和令人享受的故事檢視我們島嶼──這正是諾里奇書寫法國的方式……這本值得推薦的簡明歷史書籍，最吸引人的就是它娛樂性高，同時見聞廣博，筆調流暢，機智又帶著一抹幽默感：閱讀這本法國史是一大樂事，它令人愛不釋手。──《鄉村生活》 作者簡短的結語「法國的精髓」，幾乎可說是本書最精采的部分。他列出這個令人陶醉但偶爾也令人惱怒的國家裡他最喜愛的事物，包括建築、繪畫與音樂，他對這些文化懷抱最大的熱情，並且自始至終都以忠實可信、迷人與機智的方式加以描述。──戴斯蒙．蘇爾德（Desmond Seward），《今日歷史》 不久前過世的諾里奇在他最後一本書中，以令人欽佩的輕快氣氛與都市風格著手處理兩千年法國史這令人望之卻步的龐大主題。它的語氣裡帶著那麼點（或許是刻意的）幽默作家塞拉爾（W. C. Sellar）《一○六六年之種種》（1066 and All That）的味道──「卡佩王朝的國王們逐步打造法國，把如同卡士達醬糊成一團的卡洛林王朝轉變為一個統一的國家」──此外他逗趣的注解值得讀者單獨重溫其內容。──《每日電訊報》夏日選書 諾里奇以大量精采故事，不費吹灰之力講述法國歷史：風流倜儻的國王、可怕的瘟疫和傳說中的晚餐。──《泰晤士報》 諾里奇以他一貫溫暖而愉快的引導，帶領讀者踏上一場從歷史之初到二十一世紀的法國史之旅……他以高度的娛樂性介紹這迷人的國家。──《歷史揭密雜誌》

Mitreißend und elegant erzählt John Julius Norwich die turbulente Geschichte der »Königin der Inseln«, die ein einzigartiges Kaleidoskop der Völker und Kulturen war und ist. Unterhaltsam führt er uns durch die Jahrtausende, in denen Sizilien im Brennpunkt der Weltgeschichte stand. Sizilien: die größte Insel des Mittelmeers, die Schwelle zwischen Europa und Afrika, Bindeglied zwischen dem lateinischen Westen und dem griechischen Osten. Ihre einzigartige strategische Lage lockte Phönizier, Griechen, Römer, Araber und Normannen, französische Fürsten und spanische Könige. Die Kämpfe um die Insel spielten für den Aufstieg und Fall der mächtigsten Dynastien der Welt eine Schlüsselrolle. Erstmals verknüpft John Julius Norwich all die bunten Fäden der sizilianischen Geschichte zu einer umfassenden Darstellung und führt die Leser durch die Jahrtausende. Von ihren Anfängen in der Antike bis zu ihrem Aufstieg zur multikulturellen Drehscheibe des Handels während der Kreuzzüge, vom Widerstand gegen die Vereinigung mit Italien bis zum Aufkommen der Mafia ist die Insel reich an weltgeschichtlichen Ereignissen und dramatischen Persönlichkeiten. Wie die Insel selbst, ist dies ein Buch voller kräftiger Farben und Aromen, das man immer wieder zur Hand nehmen möchte.

For 1,123 years, Constantinople remained the capital of the Byzantine Empire, the longest-lived and most inspired Christian empire in the world. In this book, the author tells of the dire consequences of the defeat by the Seljuk Turks at the battle of Manzikert in 1071, of the Fourth crusade, and of the two-hundred-year struggle by the restored Empire against the advance of the Ottoman Turks.

La Sicile est au carrefour de l''histoire du monde. Dans un récit vivant et érudit, John Julius Norwich narre le tumultueux destin de cette île fascinante, et des tyrans, des monarques et des reines remarquables qui ont combattu pour la dominer. La Sicile est la plus grande île de la Méditerranée, le relais entre l''Europe et l''Afrique, le lien entre l''Occident latin et l''Orient grec. Sa situation stratégique a tenté les empereurs romains, les princes français et les rois espagnols. Les luttes qui s''en sont suivies pour la conquérir et la garder ont joué un rôle crucial dans l''essor et le déclin des dynasties les plus puissantes du monde. Le récit palpitant de John Julius Norwich est le premier à nouer ensemble les fils de l''histoire sicilienne dans une seule étude globale. De ses débuts comme cité-Etat grecque à son émergence comme carrefour commercial multiculturel pendant les croisades, et de la rébellion contre l''unification italienne à l''essor de la mafia, l''histoire de la Sicile est riche de moments extraordinaires et de personnages spectaculaires.

Refleja la decadencia de la Casa de Hauteville, durante el periodo de 1130 a 1194. Cautiva con sus anécdotas históricas, el tratamiento de los personajes y las gotas de humor y fina ironía que salpican la obra, narrando cono hasta ahora nadie había hecho.

Le livre de J.J. Norwich retrace l''histoire d''un empire de onze siècles, sans rival en durée ou en influence culturelle. Cette " nouvelle Rome " naît en 330 lorsque l''empereur Constantin choisit d''établir sa capitale dans un port d''Asie Mineure appelé Byzance. Elle s''effondre en 1453 sous les coups du sultan Mehmet II. Pendant ce long millénaire s''est développé un empire au corps romain, à l''esprit grec et à l''âme orientale. J. J. Norwich le raconte comme une immense fresque où la galerie des quatre-vingt-huit empereurs est brossée avec un luxe de précisions, le souci de choisir le détail piquant de la vie privée, d''isoler la bataille décisive ou l''acte politique majeur. L''histoire de l''Empire byzantin devient, à la lecture de ce livre, pittoresque et colorée. L''auteur navigue avec habileté entre mythe et réalité, entre hypothèses et événements documentés. Ses points de vue sont pertinents et tranchés. Son écriture, fluide et imagée.