London is a great city for walking, and what better way to see the capital than on a walking tour of its historic pubs? As a guide, no one knows the city and its drinking establishments better than Ted Bruning. The 15 walks he presents here each have a linking theme, from the political world of Westminster to the grand streets of Belgravia. Each of the walks includes stops at 6 to 12 pubs, with notes on opening hours as well as food and beer selections. Enhanced with 100 fine photos, London By Pub is a first-class guide to the city's unique drinking establishments. Ted Bruning's previous books include Historic Pubs of London and Historic Inns of England .
It comes as no surprise that one of the least documented and most difficult periods of British history should also be its most keenly studied and hotly debated. Thanks to the continuing and intensive scholastic dissection of our meagre literary sources for the period and the flowering of archaeology since the war, the Dark Ages are not as dark as they were. But the sources are still sufficiently patchy and inadequate and the archaeology still sufficiently ambiguous to provide a playground for amateur historians from the barely literate to the frankly insane - to anyone, in fact, who finds themselves intrigued by the romance of King Arthur. Clearing the clutter of knights, necromancers and nymphs, though, both a serious question and a possible answer emerge. What happened after the last legions departed that ploughed such a diverse jumble into a single, identifiable tilth in which the seeds of nationhood could root and grow? The answer may be that while Constantine I, the Great, made Britain the birthplace of the Christian Roman empire Constantine III, the last usurper, left it a firm fastness in a greater empire still - a fastness that would endure until Rome's return.
In 2012, there were more than 1 million American home brewers, and that number is climbing. More Americans are becoming interested in do-it-yourself production and local sourcing, as well as artisanal craft beers and the creativity and artistic expression they represent. Now, for the first time since before Prohibition, home brewing is legal in all 50 states, paving the way for home brewers everywhere to build their community through sample swaps and competitions, and, in a few places, small-scale production at pubs. Complete novices can enter the home-brewing market for as little as $50, which will buy a low-end beer-making kit. Brew masters who have been crafting beer for many years search out new ingredients and experiment with blending styles. Anyone who brews, regardless of skill level, will search out advice to help ensure their beer is satisfying and delicious. In Wisdom for Home Brewers, a collection of 500 brewing tips plus basic recipes for different kinds of beer, Ted Bruning combines practical instruction for beginners with more detailed, obscure, and even a little surprising information for those who’ve been at it for years. Tips are divided into ten chapters covering everything from equipment and ingredients to troubleshooting and storage. The tips are accompanied by simple annotated diagrams where required, and a series of specially commissioned linocut prints by printmaker Melvyn Evans completes the charming package.
