This is life

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Danielle Steel

"A dazzling contemporary novel that interweaves the lives of a Russian mistress and the young French painter who falls in love with her. Set in the South of France, London, and Paris, a gorgeous, innocent mistress of a Russian oligarch gradually finds independence via her own efforts and through her friendship with the artist son of a world-renowned painter and his devoted muse/now restaurateur mother, reminiscent of Picasso and La Colombe D'or in St-Paul-de-Vence. A glamorous, elegant story that will resonate with Steel's audience, with an element of intrigue that will keep readers turning the pages"--

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Honoré de Balzac

"One of Balzac's most celebrated tales, The Unknown Masterpiece is the story of a painter who, depending on one's perspective, is either an abject failure or a transcendental genius - or both. This work, which has served as an inspiration to artists as various as Cezanne, Henry James, Picasso, and New Wave film director Jacques Rivette, is, in critic Dore Ashton's words, a "fable of modern art."". "Published here in an outstanding new translation by the poet Richard Howard, The Unknown Masterpiece appears, as Balzac intended, with Gambara, a grotesque and tragic novella about a composer undone by his dreams."--BOOK JACKET.

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Susan Breslow Sardone

Want to have a wonderful wedding away from home? Destination Weddings For Dummies is your all-in-one guide to getting married out of town, giving you savvy tips on everything from making travel arrangements to hiring vendors to dressing the wedding party. Fron Vegas to the Vatican, this hands-on, practical resource helps you arrange a unique, unforgettable wedding anywhere in the world. Focusing on the various ways you can use the Internet in your planning, Destination Weddings For Dummies is filled with Web tips, shortcuts, and URLs, as well as instructions for creating your own digital wedding planner. You'll see how to establish a realistic wedding budget and get your friends and family on board. Then, you'll choose the perfect location; from Europe to the tropics to the open sea, we've done the scouting for you! You'll also discover how to: Get married legally around the world Know who, when, and how to invite Create your own destination wedding Web site and blog Fit all the basics into your budget-- from flowers and catering to the rings, photography, and music Hire wedding pros from a distance Decide on your ceremony's style Dress the bride, groom, and the wedding party Communicate your plans to invited guests Compare wedding packages Save money on travel arrangements Test-drive your destination wedding site Organize fun wedding activities Handle various wedding emergencies If money is no object, you'll also see how to host a blowout wedding and make a splash when you splurge. Whether it's a small, intimate ceremony in a Hawaiian garden or a large gathering on a yacht in the Mediterranean, Destination Weddings For Dummies is all you need to get married anywhere you choose with ease and in style!

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P.N. Furbank and Alex Cain

In 1874, Stephane Mallarme, the great French poet, undertook a highly idiosyncratic project--the publication of a fashion magazine called La Derniere Mode (The Latest Fashion)--that he almost single-handedly compiled. Using a variety of feminine and masculine pseudonyms to theorize about fashion and to advise on popular vacation destinations, home furnishings, and entertainment, Mallarmé created a spectacularly original work. The distinguishing feature of Mallarme's magazine is that it explores the nature of fashion from the inside. While it is a genuine fashion magazine, it also satirizes the entire genre. Various theories have been entertained about the work: it has been viewed as a prose poem, a hoax, and a cynical money-making venture. Furbank and Cain, however, argue that such guesses are hopelessly off the mark. Complete with the original artwork and a contextualizing introduction and commentary, this is the definitive translation of one of French literature's greatest enigmas.