Books with author John R Matthews

At last the ultimate book of pirates is here! Inside is the stuff of legend, where tales of adventure and intrigue are written in blood. Read about Blackbeard and Captain Kidd. Learn about walking the plank and buried treasure. Discover what was like aboard a pirate ship -- from a pirate's strict code of conduct to the punishments that awaited those that broke them. All the intrigue, adventure, and grizzly details are brought to life in this lavish hardcover package jam packed with fact and fiction, pirate lore, and amazing memorabilia, including: a booklet of pirate slang a genuine advertisement to recruit pirates a booklet of pirate biographies a letter from William the III to Captain Kidd a pullout featuring pirate weapons a treasure map a wanted poster for Blackbeard sample playing cards as well as flaps and fold outs galore!

As the 1840s rolled around, the frontier was no longer Ohio and Tennessee, it was further west. If a young man wanted to make a fresh start, he had to go to the edge of the known west. Saint Joe, Missouri was such a place. It was the new “Jumpin Off Place”. Angus Wade was such a young man. He, his young wife and baby son would journey to that frontier. A place where civilization was behind them and the unknown was out there ahead. Nearly five decades of success and failure, happiness and tragedy, lay ahead of them. That was the gamble that had to be accepted by every Pioneer.

An exciting re-imagining of the early years of the boy who would become King Arthur. John Matthews has conceived a quartet of books under the title Red Dragon Rising, of which this is the first volume.We meet Arthur, Merlin, the Questing Beast, the Green Knight and the mysterious Nine women who rule the castle of Avalon, with its ever-shifting rooms and prophetic bronze mirror. There are horrific enemies such as Amangons and the hideous Fir Bolg. And stalwart companions in the shape of the four Eldest: the shape-shifting Salmon, Stag, Eagle and Blackbird.And there is Mabon, the shining golden boy-god, whom Arthur and his companions must rescue from an underground dungeon which quenches his powers.He must also achieve the four Hallows of Albion, of which gaining the Sword of Ice and Fire is the first quest.

Enlightened teachers insist enlightenment isn’t about finding the solution to a complicated problem.They say it’s just a matter of acknowledging the obvious. When these teachers experience their great realizations, they smile.They smile at the conspicuous nature of their discoveries, as if the truth is hidden in plain sight. And they smile at the ridiculous nature of their previous search. What did these teachers discover?This book tries to answer this question as simply as possible, insofar as the answer can be put into words.

Ever wanted to be a pirate? Sign the contract that comes with this book and you'll be ready to sail the high seas. There's even a pirate slang dictionary, to help you talk the talk as you walk the plank. With detailed biographies of legendary pirates plus features on their weapons, codes of conduct and punishments, Pirates delivers a thrilling portrait of life at sea in a bygone age - a story rich in colour, intrigue and adventure. Documents include a guide to pirate weaponry, a guide to their bloodthirsty flags, wanted posters, and the grisly notice of a death sentence on the crew of Bartholomew Roberts.

King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have captured the world's imagination since medieval times. The tales of King Arthur are rooted in history, but over the years the facts have become shrouded in myth and mystery. In this beautifully illustrated book Arthurian expert John Matthews explores the legends that have grown around the king and uncovers the mysteries of Arthur's Britain. The numerous characters surrounding King Arthur are introduced and the facts behind the epic saga are revealed. •Contains 120 color and black-and-white images•Covers Merlin, Guenevere, Lancelot, the Holy Grail, and all the mythic search for characters