Classic Guide to ...

The first human attempts to collect honey from wild bees were some 15,000 years ago, while the Ancient Egyptians depicted domesticated bees around 4,500 years ago. But it was only in the eighteenth century that a better understanding of how bees live led to the invention of a moveable comb hive that allowed beekeepers to harvest honey without destroying the colony. Beekeeping had become truly popular by the late nineteenth century, when this manual was written as a comprehensive guide by John Hunter, Honorary Secretary of the British Beekeepers' Association. Whether you are a seasoned urban beekeeper or an aspiring countryside smallholder, this book will provide you with a fascinating insight into the essentials of the hobby.

At a time when there were no easy guides to turn to for experience in British sports, The Classic Guide to Cycling was an imperative and insightful glance into its history and benefits when first written, thanks to the dedication of the Rt-Hon. Earl of Albemarle and G. Lacy Hillier. A cyclist enthusiast, not only did the Earl coin the name for the National Cyclists' Union, but was also its president, demonstrating his keen knowledge and experience as an avid sportsman. As Lacy Hillier remarked, 'No history of cycling in the future will be complete which does not do full justice to the efforts of the late Earl of Albemarle to further the interests and the well-being of the sport.' With original illustrations, this updated version of The Classic Guide to Cycling is a must for any bike enthusiast.

Well placed to discuss the art of skiing, Arnold Lunn was editor of the Climber's Club Journal and the Alpine Ski Club Annual, founded the Oxford University Mountaineering Club, invented the skiing slalom race and was eventually knighted for his services to British Skiing and Anglo-Swiss relations. Originally published as a cheap handbook for skiing, this Classic Guide is devoted to the needs of the beginner, from the technical aspects of how to ski to what to wear while doing it, published during a time when the Alps were relatively unexplored by British skiers. As ski lifts were an unknown entity during the early twentieth century, Arnold Lunn traces the difficulties of a ski-runner and the problems encountered while mountaineering in the dangerous winter alps.

Freshly baked bread is an incredibly evocative aroma, feeding in to a shared understanding of this versatile food which has been an important staple in our diet since the dawn of agriculture. There are probably few people who, were the question put to them directly, would not say that they consider bread one of the most, if not the most, important article of food. Throughout recorded history, bread's popularity around the world has given it the reputation as one of mankind's oldest artificial foods. In its various forms, bread has been made in almost every portion of the world and every period of time. Making bread was surely one of the first chemistry experiments and today remains a staple food throughout the world. In this informative volume, Sylvester Graham and Robert Wells take us from the history of bread all the way through to its properties, fermentation, preparation and the different varieties of this universal foodstuff.

Rowing can be traced back to as early as 1430 BC, with oarsmanship mentioned in Egyptian funeral inscriptions and Virgil, including rowing as a funeral game in the Aeneid. Rowing as a sport can be traced back to the early eighteenth century where teams competed against each other on the River Thames. The famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, begun in 1829, has been held annually ever since. Author R. C. Lehmann was an English writer and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1906 to 1910. Perhaps better placed to coach and write about rowing than compete in it, Lehmann finished last in every heat he entered in the Henley Royal Regatta from 1877 to 1888. He later found success in coaching both Oxford and Cambridge rowing teams. The Classic Guide to Rowing gives a glimpse into the world of rowing in the twentieth century, showing how techniques, still used today, first originated.

'Polo is perhaps the most ancient of games.' Often called the 'Sport of Kings', the fast and furious game of polo has a long and varied history. Originating in Persia, the popularity of the game spread to North Africa, China and the Indian subcontinent, where it was picked up by the British. Polo is now played professionally in numerous countries and continues to inspire as a sport celebrating the alliance between human and horse, as enjoyable to observe with a drink in hand as it is in which to participate. In 1905, T. F. Dale created the definitive manual for the sport, explaining its origins and rules, offering strategic advice, and reflecting on what might be to come. The Classic Guide to Polo reveals that Dale's instructions and observations are as relevant today as they were at the beginning of the twentieth century.

'A new beverage is the pride of the Bartender, and its appreciation and adoption his crowning glory.' Written in 1887, Jerry Thomas's seminal bartender's manual is the definitive guide to cocktails for professionals and enthusiastic amateurs alike. Thomas, described as the 'father of American mixology', provides the reader with clear and engaging instructions on how to mix a range of popular and more obscure cocktails, with recipes from America, Britain, France, Italy and Russia. From the Spread Eagle Punch to the mint julep, and from White Tiger's Milk to the Champagne Cup, you will discover all manner of creations to suit any occasion, enabling you to become the ultimate party host.

Athletic contests in running, walking, jumping and throwing are among the oldest of all sports and their roots are prehistoric. Athletics events were depicted in the Ancient Egyptian tombs in Saqqara, with illustrations of running at the Heb Sed festival and high jumping appearing in tombs from as early as 2250 BC. The original and only event at the first Olympics in 776 BC was the stadion, a stadium-length running event. The turn of the century was a time of renewed interest in the sport, with the foundation of the Amateur Athletics Association in 1880, the first modern Summer Olympics in 1896 and the International Amateur Athletics Federation in 1912. In this classic guide, Montague Shearman traces the evolution of athletics and shares his expertise in training and discipline.

The nineteenth-century American writer Theodore Gordon wrote 'it is impossible to grow weary of a sport that is never the same on any two days of the year'. It is this enthusiasm for the sport that H. Cholmondeley-Pennell, one of Britain's most famous nineteenth-century naturalists, conveys in this comprehensive guide to fly fishing, one of its very first 'manuals'. From deciding upon the most suitable gear to tips on may-fly and bait fishing, Cholmondeley-Pennell gives practical advice to inspire both the experienced angler and the occasional hobbyist. H. Cholmondeley-Pennell was a renowned British naturalist of the nineteenth century. An editor and occasional contributor to Punch, he was known for publishing widely upon both coarse and fly fishing.