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Catalog

FATHER'S DAY

City of Fortune, How Venice Ruled the Seas

Roger Crowley

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PROVENCE & THE COTE D'AZUR

A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France

Georgeanne Brennan

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OUR FAVORITES

Arctic Dreams

Barry Lopez

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PENGUIN CLASSICS

The Log from the Sea of Cortez

John Steinbeck

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UMBRIA

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Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy

Al Dente, The Adventures of a Gastronome in Italy


by William Black

  • FOOD
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 368 PAGES

William Black tosses a few receipts into this mix of travel, gastronomy and family history. (ITL548, $13.95)

The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance

The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance


by Peter Murray

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

A classic, informative guide to Renaissance architecture throughout Italy. with black-and-white photographs and site plans. Ideal for travelers to Italy with an interest in architecture. (ITL34, $20.40)

The Art of the Renaissance

The Art of the Renaissance


by Peter Murray

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 286 PAGES

A classic, illustrated survey of the world of the Renaissance and its art. With chapters on Florence and its artists, the Netherlands, early illustrated books and many individual artists. (ITL14, $18.95)

Birds of Britain & Europe

Birds of Britain & Europe


by Hermann Heinzel | Richard Fitter | John Parslow

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 384 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

This masterfully organized Collins Pocket Guide, featuring 3,000 color illustrations covers the birds of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. (EUR49, $27.50)

The Birth of Venus, A Novel

The Birth of Venus, A Novel


by Sarah Dunant

  • LITERATURE
  • 2004
  • PAPER
  • 397 PAGES

A rich novel of art, passion and patronage, memorably set in late 15th-century Florence and prominently featuring the famously pious reformer Savonarola. (ITL532, $15.00)

Blue Guide Florence

Blue Guide Florence


by Alta Macadam

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 408 PAGES

A comprehensive guide to Florence, heavily focused on art and architecture. This edition also includes practical information on hotels, restaurants and shops. Tenth Edition (ITL137, $24.95)

Blue Guide Northern Italy, from the Alps to the Adriatic

Blue Guide Northern Italy, from the Alps to the Adriatic


by Paul Blanchard

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 735 PAGES

This guide by a popular tour leader provides a thorough overview of the history, art and architecture of northern Italy from Trieste across to the Valle d'Aosta, Venice, Verona, Milan, Genoa and Bologna. (ITL48, $32.95)

Blue Guide the Marche

Blue Guide the Marche


by Ellen Grady

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 416 PAGES

Covering Rimini and Urbino, the cuisine of the region, its history and culture, art and architecture in detail. (ITL691, $26.95)

Blue Guide Tuscany

Blue Guide Tuscany


by Alta Macadam

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A guide to the cultural riches of Tuscany with a focus on history, art and architecture. Serious-minded travelers will not want to be without it. (ITL43, $24.95)

Bonaventure: The Life of St. Francis


by Ewart Cousins

  • RELIGION
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 142 PAGES

The Church's official life of St Francis, written by the Franciscan monk Bonaventure in the 13th century. (ITL602, $11.99)

Cadogan Guide Tuscany, Umbria & the Marches


by Dana Facaros | Michael Pauls

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 704 PAGES

A comprehensive guide in the British series covering the entire region from Florence and Siena to Chianti, the Tuscan Coast, Umbria and the Marches in detail. (ITL493, $22.95)

Casa Rossa

Casa Rossa


by Francesca Marciano

  • LITERATURE
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 340 PAGES

A vivid novel following the lives of a mother, daughter, and granddaughter from Puglia over the course of the 20th century, opening as the narrator prepares to sell Casa Rossa, the family farm. (ITL534, $14.95)

Cathedrals and Castles, The Cathedral Builders of the Middle Ages

Cathedrals and Castles, The Cathedral Builders of the Middle Ages


by Alain Erlande-Brandenburg

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 175 PAGES

This pocket-size encyclopedia of the art, architecture and culture of the Middle Ages features hundreds of drawings, color illustrations and a brief chronology. (MED07, $15.95)

Central Italy Map

Central Italy Map


by Touring Club Italiano

  • MAP

A regional map of Central Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria and Rome, at a scale of 1:400,000. (ITL103, $14.95)

Charming Small Hotel Guides, Tuscany & Umbria : Including Florence and Siena

Charming Small Hotel Guides, Tuscany & Umbria : Including Florence and Siena


by Fiona Duncan | Leonie Glass

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 208 PAGES

A full page with a color photograph is dedicated to each entry in this guide focused on hotels with 20 bedrooms or less. (ITL771, $15.95)

Christ Stopped at Eboli, The Story of a Year

Christ Stopped at Eboli, The Story of a Year


by Carlo Levi | Frances Frenaye

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 268 PAGES

An affecting memoir of southern Italy, originally published in 1947, it stems from the author's forced relocation to the region as punishment for anti-fascist political activity. (ITL09, $15.00)

The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings

The City of Florence, Historical Vistas and Personal Sightings


by R.W.B. Lewis

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 350 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

A vivid tour of the city and its riches by the fine biographer of Edith Wharton and Henry James. Lewis has written what he calls "a partial biography of Florence," beautifully interweaving the personal and the historical. (ITL47, $21.99)

The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy


by Jacob Burckhardt | S. G. C. Middlemore | Peter Gay

  • HISTORY
  • 2002
  • PAPER
  • 401 PAGES

A classic survey of life, society and culture suring the Italian Renaissance. (ITL307, $15.95)

D.H. Lawrence and Italy

D.H. Lawrence and Italy


by D.H. Lawrence

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 495 PAGES

This omnibus Penguin Classics edition includes Lawrence's three travel tales, each very different in tone and all wonderful: Sea and Sardinia is a nostalgic look at traditional ways of life; Twilight in Italy, an evocation of Lawrence's memorable stay on Lake Garda; and Etruscan Places his musings on ancient sites, including the painted tombs of Tarquinia. (ITL62, $18.00)

Dante


by R.W. Lewis

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2001
  • HARD COVER
  • 224 PAGES

A brief, literate biography of the exceptionally literate Dante Alighieri. (ITL313, $19.95)

Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens

Edith Wharton's Italian Gardens


by Vivian Russell

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1997
  • HARD COVER
  • 192 PAGES

Edith Wharton's essays on the magnificent villa gardens of Lombardy, Veneto, Florence, Siena and Rome are as full of interest today as when they were first published in 1904. (ITL716, $45.00)

Eyewitness Guide Florence & Tuscany

Eyewitness Guide Florence & Tuscany


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 336 PAGES

Superbly illustrated, this compact guide shows the neighborhoods, museums, shops and sites of Florence and surroundings in full color. (ITL46, $25.00)

Eyewitness Guide Italy

Eyewitness Guide Italy


by Eyewitness Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 720 PAGES

This superb guide features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a region-by-region synopsis of the country's attractions. (ITL32, $30.00)

Fodor's Exploring Italy


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 288 PAGES

An excellent, up-to-date overview of Italy and its attractions. (ITL73, $22.00)

Fodor's Florence's 25 Best

Fodor's Florence's 25 Best


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 128 PAGES

This shirt-pocket guide includes an excellent map and essential information on the city's highlights, including sightseeing, restaurants and shopping. (ITL140, $11.99)

Fodor's See It Italy

Fodor's See It Italy


by Fodor's

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 496 PAGES

Fodor's informative guide to touring Italy, notable for its especially vibrant presentation of the country. (ITL550, $24.99)

The Food of Italy

The Food of Italy


by Waverly Root

  • FOOD
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 750 PAGES

Evocative of Italy and its diverse cuisine, this classic book, organized geographically, offers a cook's tour of the country. It's a well-informed and wonderful culinary guide. (ITL75, $22.00)

For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys

For the Beauty of the Earth: Birding, Opera, and Other Journeys


by Thomas Urquhart

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

Urquhart chronicles a lifelong affair with nature, combined with a passion for music, as he travels-- and bird watches-- through pastoral England, Italy, the Camargue in Provence, and the villages of Mali. (BRD35, $15.00)

Frommer's Flornce, Tuscany & Umbria

Frommer's Flornce, Tuscany & Umbria


by Reid Bramblett

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 450 PAGES

A practical guide in the popular series, revised annually. (ITL83, $21.99)

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral

The Gothic Enterprise, A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral


by Robert A. Scott

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 294 PAGES

An enthusiast, Scott delves into the history, design, architecture and wonder of Europe's medieval cathedrals and great Abbey churches. (EUR190, $21.95)

Here Is Where We Meet

Here Is Where We Meet


by John Berger

  • LITERATURE
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

This novel weaves a portrait of several European countries through encounters with the dead, from the narrator's mother, whom he discovers on a park bench in Lisbon, to a childhood friend wandering a market in Krakow. (EUR189, $15.00)

The Hill Towns of Italy

The Hill Towns of Italy


by Carol Field | Richard Kauffman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 116 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A delightful illustrated survey of the towns, people and countryside of Tuscany and Umbria by a favorite writer on things Italian. With full-color photographs of towns, including Siena, San Gimignano, Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto. (ITL96, $19.95)

The House of Medici, Its Rise and Fall

The House of Medici, Its Rise and Fall


by Christopher Hibbert

  • HISTORY
  • 1982
  • PAPER
  • 364 PAGES

A well-written, entertaining history of the Medicis in Renaissance Florence. Great to read before going to Florence, where the influence of the Medicis and the artists they supported is still very much in evidence. (ITL135, $16.99)

Il Postino


by Michael Radford

  • 1995
  • DVD

A shy Italian postman who learns the ways of poetry and romance while delivering mail to the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. (ITL541, $19.99)

The Inferno of Dante, A New Verse Translation


by Dante Alighieri | Robert Pinsky

  • LITERATURE
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 355 PAGES

The celebrated modern translation of Dante's "Inferno." (ITL411, $12.00)

Innocence


by Penelope Fitzgerald

  • LITERATURE
  • 1998
  • PAPER
  • 224 PAGES

A comic novel set in mid-twentieth century Italy, by the inimitable Penelope Fitzgerald, author of "The Blue Flower". (ITL317, $13.95)

Insight Guide Italy

Insight Guide Italy


by Insight Guides

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 432 PAGES

An illustrated overview of Italy with essays on its attractions, history and culture. (ITL108, $23.99)

Italian English Bilingual Visual Dictionary


by DK Publishing

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 360 PAGES

With thousands of neatly arranged color photographs, this compact book is impressively comprehensive, covering everything from the basics of la casa (house) to the vocabulary of le granaglie e i legumi secchi (grains and legumes). (ITL626, $14.95)

Italian Hours

Italian Hours


by Henry James

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 376 PAGES

A classic series of travel essays written between 1872 and 1909 on the art, religion and people of Italy. James is an observant guide to Rome, Naples, Florence and other great destinations in the 19th century. (ITL07, $17.00)

Italian Indispensables Vocabulary Builder


by Audio-Forum

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • CASETTE TAPE

A short audio program wiith 50 common words and phrases for travelers. (ITL401, $9.95)

Italian Journey, 1786-1788

Italian Journey, 1786-1788


by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe | W.H. Auden | Elizabeth Meyer

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 498 PAGES

"Sicily is the key to everything" is only one of Goethe's many astute observations included in this Penguin Classics edition of his journals and letters from his grand tour of southern Italy. (ITL144, $18.00)

Italian Villas and Their Gardens

Italian Villas and Their Gardens


by Edith Wharton

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2008
  • HARD COVER
  • 284 PAGES

A facsimile edition of Wharton's witty, astute essays on the history and pleasures of Italy's famous villas. With photographs and the original full-page illustrations by Maxfield Parrish. (ITL91, $35.00)

Italian, A Language Map

Italian, A Language Map


by Kristine K. Kershul

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 1999
  • PLASTIC CARD

This durable, foldout card, featuring 1,000 words and phrases, works as a quick reference for travelers. (ITL645, $7.95)

Italy and Its Invaders

Italy and Its Invaders


by Girolamo Arnaldi

  • HISTORY
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

A wide-ranging history of the many empires and world powers that have invaded Italy, and their lasting influences, both positive and negative, on Italian art, architecture and culture up to the present day. (ITL661, $19.95)

Italy Map

Italy Map


by Borch Maps

  • 2011
  • MAP

A handy, laminated map. (ITL19, $11.95)

Italy Northeast Map

Italy Northeast Map


by Michelin Travel Publications

  • MAP

An excellent map at a scale of 1:400,000, covering the northeast region of Italy including Bolzano, Verona, Bologna, and Firenze. (ITL72, $12.95)

Italy, A Short History

Italy, A Short History


by Harry Hearder

  • HISTORY
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 294 PAGES

Elegantly written, generous and informative, this compact book takes in the sweep of Italian history from the Roman Republic through the Renaissance, World War II and up to the present. (ITL56, $29.00)

Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion

Italy, A Traveler's Literary Companion


by Lawrence Venuti

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2003
  • PAPER
  • 256 PAGES

Not just a literary companion, this anthology is also a who's who of contemporary Italian writers that captures the spirit, history and allure of the country. (ITL466, $14.95)

Karen Brown's Tuscany & Umbria, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries

Karen Brown's Tuscany & Umbria, Exceptional Places to Stay & Itineraries


by June Brown | Clare Brown | Nicole Franchini

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 278 PAGES

A survey of inns and other lodging of character, along with suggested itineraries and highlights of the region. (ITL768, $19.95)

The Lady in the Palazzo, At Home in Umbria

The Lady in the Palazzo, At Home in Umbria


by Marlena de Blasi

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 317 PAGES

In this sequel to A Thousand Days in Venice, de Blasi and her husband move to Orvieto, where they set up house in an apartment in the Palazzo Baschieri. Her love for the sensual pleasures of Italy, especially the food, is infectious. (ITL757, $14.95)

The Lives of the Artists, Vol 1

The Lives of the Artists, Vol 1


by Giorgio Vasari | Julia Conway and Peter Bondanella

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1987
  • PAPER
  • 477 PAGES

Written in the mid-16th century, Vasari starts with Giotto as painting's prophet and ends with Michelangelo as its messiah in these short, influential biographies. (ITL17, $14.00)

M, The Man Who Became Caravaggio


by Peter Robb

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 592 PAGES

A masterful biography of the Renaissance painter by the author of "Midnight in Sicily." (ART47, $24.00)

The Middle Sea

The Middle Sea


by John Julius Norwich

  • HISTORY
  • 2007
  • PAPER
  • 720 PAGES

A marvelous writer who has already tackled Byzantium, the Normans in Sicily and Venice, Norwich spins his magic in this story of culture, trade and politics, royalty and rulers, wars and religion in the Mediterranean. (MED98, $21.00)

Modigliani


by Doris Krystof

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 96 PAGES

This slim illustrated volume showcases Modigliani's distinct colorful style of painting and portraiture in the handsome Taschen style. (ART44, $9.99)

One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy

One-Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy


by Paolo Lazzarin

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2004
  • HARD COVER
  • 276 PAGES

Each charming town gets an appreciative essay and evocative color photographs in this handsome tribute and excellent guide. (ITL546, $45.00)

Pimsleur Quick & Simple Italian


by Pimsleur Language Method

  • LANGUAGE & PHRASEBOOKS
  • 2005
  • AUDIO CD

Four audio CDs with eight 30-minute lessons in basic Italian, covering elementary vocabulary and phrases used in travel and everyday situations. (ITL630, $19.95)

Renaissance Florence, The Invention of a New Art

Renaissance Florence, The Invention of a New Art


by A. Richard Turner

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 176 PAGES

A cultural and social history of the city focusing on the great art and famous monuments, featuring vivid color pictures and illustrations. (ITL50, $42.20)

Rome Antics


by David Macaulay

  • HISTORY
  • 1997
  • HARD COVER
  • 80 PAGES
  • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12)

The incomparable MacAulay depicts Rome, ancient and modern, in this illustrated book told from the point of view of a wayward pigeon. For readers of all ages. (ITL64, $18.00)

Rough Guide Italy

Rough Guide Italy


by Ros Belford

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 1096 PAGES

A comprehensive guide in the British series with a good overview of culture and history, dozens of sketch maps and extensive listings. (ITL328, $24.99)

Short Stories in Italian, Racconti in Italiano


by Nick Roberts

  • LITERATURE
  • 2001
  • PAPER
  • 174 PAGES

These modern tales in the bilingual series of Penguin Parallel Texts make for good reading in any language. (ITL730, $14.00)

A Small Place In Italy

A Small Place In Italy


by Eric Newby

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 240 PAGES

Naturally, the Newbys return to Italy. In this warm tale of 25 splendid years at their farm in northwest Tuscany, their house I Castagni plays as much a role (it was a ruin) as the uproarious Newby, the unflappable Wanda and their many eccentric neighbors. (ITL111, $14.99)

The Stones of Florence

The Stones of Florence


by Mary McCarthy

  • ART & ARCHITECTURE
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 230 PAGES

The classic history of the art, architecture and culture of Florence. Novelist McCarthy takes us on a quick and vivid tour of the history of the Medicis and the city of Florence, focusing on Renaissance art. (ITL15, $14.00)

The Talented Mr. Ripley


by Anthony Minghella

  • 1999
  • DVD

A suspenseful thriller of obsession and jealousy starring Matt Damon and Jude Law, based on the popular mystery by Patricia Highsmith. (ITL542, $14.99)

That Fine Italian Hand


by Paul Hoffman

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1991
  • PAPER
  • 246 PAGES

An affectionate -- and insightful -- portrait of a people. (ITL346, $17.99)

Trentino Alto-Adige Map

Trentino Alto-Adige Map


by Touring Club Italiano

  • MAP

A colorful regional map of the Italian Dolomites at a scale of 1:200,000. (ITL42, $14.95)

A Tuscan Childhood

A Tuscan Childhood


by Kinta Beevor

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 2000
  • PAPER
  • 271 PAGES

A vibrant, rosy-hued memoir of growing up privileged, bohemian and English in Tuscany during the interwar period. (ITL388, $13.95)

Tuscany and Umbria, The Collected Traveler

Tuscany and Umbria, The Collected Traveler


by Barrie Kerper

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 608 PAGES

Kerper hauled out her clipping files, interviewed her friends and raided her library for this inspired miscellany -- a quirky guide to the history, food, and landscape of Tuscany and Umbria. With travel essays, recommended reading and suggested hotels, restaurants, sights and shops. (ITL389, $19.00)

Tuscany in Mind

Tuscany in Mind


by Alice Powers

  • ANTHOLOGY
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

A fine literary anthology covering the region's history, geography, culture and (of course) food, featuring contributions by luminaries including D.H. Lawrence and Robert Browning. (ITL607, $14.95)

Tuscany Map

Tuscany Map


by Touring Club Italiano

  • 2011
  • MAP

A detailed map at a scale of 1:200,000. Imported from Italy. (ITL102, $14.95)

Walking

Walking


by Henry David Thoreau

  • REFERENCE
  • 1994
  • PAPER
  • 92 PAGES

Slip this pocket edition of Thoreau's meditations on the spiritual benefits of this most civilized form of travel in your daypack for inspiration. (WLK04, $9.99)

Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria

Walking and Eating in Tuscany and Umbria


by James Ladsun | Pia Davis

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2005
  • PAPER
  • 394 PAGES

A practical guide to walking and eating your way through the region, this book includes 40 suggested itineraries, mostly day hikes, with maps, details on local attractions, and illustrations. (ITL97, $20.00)

Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries

Wine Country Europe, Touring, Tasting, And Buying At European Regional Wineries


by Ornella D'Alessio | Marco Santini

  • FOOD
  • 2005
  • HARD COVER
  • 324 PAGES

Part how-to, part guidebook, part picture book, this charming coffee table treat covers sprawling French vineyards as well as lesser-known hidden treasures in Austria and Hungary. (EUR191, $35.00)

The World of Venice

The World of Venice


by Jan Morris

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 315 PAGES
  • FAVORITE

Morris displays her talent for research, anecdote and well-wrought prose in this spirited history of a beloved city. (ITL12, $18.95)

 

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