A. L. Kennedy's remarkable new collection of stories shows us exactly what becomes of the broken-hearted. She reveals the sadness, violence, hurt, and terror, but also the redemption of love, and she does so with enormous human compassion, wild leaps of humour, and the brilliantly original linguistic skill that distinguishes her as one of the world's finest writers. Always attuned to the moment of epiphany, these twelve stories are profound, intimate observations of men and women whose lives ache with possibility. Each story is a dramatization of the instant in a life that exposes it all; love and the lack of love, hope and the lack of hope. These men and women are perfectly ordinary people whose marriages flounder; who sit on their own in a cinema watching a film with no soundtrack; who risk sex in a hotel with an anonymous stranger. They conceal tenderness and disappointment, vulnerability and longing, griefs and wonders. Devastating and funny, intimate and profound, the stories in What Becomes are further proof that Kennedy is one of the most dazzling and inventive writers of her generation.

Go beyond the Mall to see Washington, D.C.'s lesser-known gems with this guide, from the National Museum of Women in the Arts to the peaceful urban forest of Olmsted Woods.

A travel guide with character, this fact-filled keepsake offers all the history, beauty, charm, and culture of our nation's capital city. In eye-catching watercolors and detailed sketches, artist Diana Gessler captures the allure that makes Washington DC one of the most visited destinations in the country. In addition to the national landmarks, stirring memorials, and vibrant neighborhoods, there's the Cherry Blossom Festival, the Twilight Tattoo (a military pageant featuring the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and the U.S. Army Drill Team), colorful row houses, famous hotels and restaurants, and more museums than you'll be able to visit in just one trip. Gessler covers the city's most popular attractions but also heads off the beaten path to share hidden gems, like the quirky Albert Einstein Memorial and Eastern Market, where you can dine on bluebucks and browse for flea market finds. Also included are an index of sites and a useful appendix of addresses, Web sites, Metro stops, and phone numbers. Very Washington DC is a picture-perfect guidebook—a one-of-a-kind memento for tourists and a cherished reminder of the city's riches for those who have always lived in America's hometown.

Air and Space Museum! Ben's Chili Bowl! Capitol Hill! Based on the chic designs of Mr. Boddington's Studio, this board book brings to the life the ABCs of the capital city, Washington, D.C. This board book teaches the letters of the alphabet with illustrations of people, places, and things unique to nation's capital. It is the perfect gift for policy wonks, politics nerds, and the little ones who love them.

Maryland and Delaware Off the Beaten Path features the things travelers and locals want to see and experience––if only they knew about them. From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales, Maryland and Delaware Off the Beaten Path takes the reader down the road less traveled and reveals a side of these two states that other guidebooks just don't offer.

In an America obsessed with quickie enlightenment and wisdom-acquisition, Ptolemy Tompkins is a seeker who has been there and done that. From Black Elk to the Dalai Lama -- from Hun Tun and mescaline to motorcycle Zen and mind at large -- the acclaimed author of Paradise Fever has followed many roads in pursuit of a universal truth. And he has survived to tell the tale. The Beaten Path Ptolemy Tompkins came of age in the '70s -- before Americans began spending uplifting Tuesdays with Morrie or perusing Little Instruction Books. In the wake of a quintessentially New Age childhood as the son of the radical freethinker Peter Tompkins, author of the bestselling The Secret Life of Plants, Ptolemy began a personal quest for enlightenment decades before it became trendy to do so. He gained much valuable insight as he careened from Buddha to the Bhagavad-Gita, from Krishna to Carlos Castaneda. But how much actual "wisdom" he accrued is a matter the author himself admits is up for debate. The Beaten Path is a work of great intelligence that is profound, moving, and hilariously entertaining. In his funny and touching account of a spiritual journey that went wildly off course, the author bares his soul even as he knocks down the gaudy signposts that guide eager pilgrims through today's pop-wisdom landscape. Yet he never loses sight of what is valuable and true in the literature of the spirit. Part gripping personal memoir, part merciless-yet-affectionate critique, and part genuine prescription for the good life, The Beaten Path is a provocative gift from a man who left no page unturned, no odyssey uncompleted, in his determination to find direction and meaning in the cosmos. In exploring what it is that makes so many of his contemporaries actively seek the light of peace and transformation in its most convenient and palatable form, he offers readers a unique, idiosyncratic insight into our modern world. And he has great fun while doing so.

One of the world's most captivating metropolises, London is a cultural colossus-renowned for its pulsating theater district, museums, monuments, and fabulous array of restaurants and bars. Your DK Eyewitness Top 10 travel guide ensures you'll find your way around London with absolute ease. Our annually updated Top 10 travel guide breaks down the best of London into helpful lists of ten-from our own selected highlights to the best museums and art galleries, places to eat, parks and gardens, and riverfront sights. You'll discover: • Thirteen easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day trip, a weekend, or a week • Top 10 lists of London's must-sees, including detailed descriptions of the British Museum, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Tate Modernand Tate Britain, Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square, Tower of London, and St Paul's Cathedral • London's most interesting areas, with the best places for shopping, going out, and sightseeing • Inspiration for different things to enjoy during your trip-including festivals and cultural events, traditional pubs, hidden gems off the beaten track, and things to do for free • A laminated pull-out map of London and its environs, plus eleven full-color neighborhood maps • Streetsmart advice: get ready, get around, and stay safe • A lightweight format perfect for your pocket or bag when you're on the move Looking for more on London's culture, history, and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness London.

Discover the wonders of Washington’s complex ecosystem with this field guide to the district’s parks, gardens, urban forests and more. Every neighborhood of Washington, D.C., is home to abundant wildlife, and its large park network is rich in natural wonders. A hike along the trails of Rock Creek Park, one of the country’s largest and oldest urban forests, quickly reveals white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, and little brown bats. Mayapples, Virginia bluebells, and red mulberry trees are but a few of the treasures found growing at the National Arboretum. A stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers might reveal stealthy denizens such as bullfrogs, largemouth bass, and common snapping turtles. In Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., naturalist Howard Youth takes readers on an urban safari, describing the wild side of the nation’s capital. Detailed drawings by Carnegie artist Mark A. Klingler and photography by Robert E. Mumford, Jr., reveal the stunning color and beauty of the flora and fauna awaiting every D.C. naturalist. Residents and tourists alike will find this guide indispensable, whether seeking a secluded jog or an adventurous outing away from the noise of the city.

Highlighting some of the most breathtaking scenery and wildlife in the eastern United States, this guide to the greater Washington, DC, area makes it easy to explore natural beauty spots in central Maryland and northern Virginia over a day or a weekend. With an emphasis on efficiency, all the destinations listed can be reached within a three-hour drive from the nation's capital. To save time, the book goes after the best outdoor experiences, including the best hiking, biking, and paddling in the region; the best vantage points to glimpse birds and animals; and the best times for seasonal events such as the spring bloom and the peak autumn color. From hiking in the Appalachian Mountains or paddling the mighty Potomac River to watching the winter snow geese migrate on the eastern shore of Maryland, the book provides an inspiring range of adventures, all illustrated with stunning, full-color photos.