The Living Wood

The author reconstructs the atmosphere of fourth-century Rome in this story of intrigue, romance, and power politics revolving around Helena, mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor.

The renowned novelist De Wohl, with his usual crisp language and descriptive narrative, as well as irony and humor, presents the colorful and tumultuous times of the early Christian era in this story of intrigue, romance and power politics revolving around Helena, the devoted and saintly mother of Constantine, the first Christian emperor. This historical novel tells the story of the quest for the True Cross through fifty years of the most exciting events in Roman and Christian history. The narrative begins when the Tribune Constantius, a Roman officer stationed in Britain, meets and wins Helena, only daughter of the mystical and oracular King Coel of Britain. Through the course of their early lives together, and during their ten-year separation when Constantius returns to Britian as a conquering Caesar and Helena has become a rejected wife, devoted mother, and militant Christian, there is a sure and convincing portrayal of character growth and personal conflict. Helena's fierce determination to raise Constantine as a warrior son and her gradual discovery and dramatic acceptance of Christianity prepare her for the final miracle of her life discovery of the True Cross, the Living Wood on Calvary. The Living Wood is a chapter from the turbulent half-forgotten pages of early Christian history and legend in which the religious conflicts and problems are handled with moving simplicity. It is also an action-packed novel of those times-with a lesson for us today-that captures with equal skill and tumult and the shouting of the battlefield and the devious plots and counter-plots of the court.

First published in 2002, Living Wood is both a practical manual and an inspirational guide, updating much of the information included in Mike's best-selling book Green Woodwork. Living Wood covers: • Becoming a green woodworke--Mike's story, from playing in the woodlands to owning a share in a woodland in Herefordshire • Buying, managing, and harvesting a woodland; • Developing woodland facilities, including tracks, steps, huts, a barn, a kitchen, and a compost toilet • Setting up a woodland workshop--plans for a shelter and updated designs for a shaving horse, a pole lathe, and other green wood-working tools and devices • Making ladder-back chairs, including cleaving, steam-bending, and techniques for ultra-tight joints without glue • Seating chairs with bark and with cord • A comprehensive list of suppliers, woodland organizations, and books Now in its fourth edition, Living Wood includes a selection of photographs of Mike’s latest workshop at Brookhouse Wood.

Reading The Living Wood makes you forget the real world around you. Trui has managed that faith in the power of storytelling and fantasy is restored. Her stories make the reader curious and curious again how conflicts are resolve and how the story will end.

This book covers fundamental wood anatomy, wood chemistry and the best ways to utilize and care for wood in the kitchen, in furniture and in toys.

Revealing the fascinating breath of both the architectural and the interior design possibilities inherent in this material from across the globe.

Wood has very many positive attributes as a natural construction material, but was for a long time neglected in the architecture of western Europe. However, this situation has changed a great deal over the course of recent decades. Construction with wood has gained a solid reputation and is seen as a valid alternative to traditional building with bricks. Wood also offers many advantages: processing it is both energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, the construction time is short, and it is a very durable material. Many wooden constructions have withstood the test of time over hundreds of years. The most important reason for selecting wood, though, is the pleasant atmosphere enjoyed by owners of wooden houses. This also applies when wood is used as an essential element of an interior: floors, panelling and fitted cabinetwork create a welcoming feeling of warmth and cosiness in a home. This book features many inspiring examples of both houses and interiors: homes constructed out of wood and also traditional brick buildings where wood occupies a prominent position inside the house.

This study looks at the fundamentals of soil science and soil biology, encompassing topics such as the building blocks of the soil system and bioremediation of contaminated soils.