The Azerbaijan Republic

     Azerbaijan is an independent country today.It is the motherland of more than ten million people living in its territory.

The Republic is situated in the eastern part of the Caucasian region.

The country is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea,i.e it is on the shore of this huge water basin.The territory of the Republic is about 86,6 thousand square kilometers.The Republic borders on the countries,like Iran,Turkey,Russia ,Georgia and Armenia.

         Azerbaijan Republic is famous for its rich oil resources and oil industry,instrument making,metallurgy,chemical industry,

machine building for oil and gas industry and many,many others.

          The Republic is famous for its beautiful landscapes,large fruit orchards,snow-white cotton fields,wine and tobacco 

plantations,silk industry,large towns,nice villages,mountain chains and green forests as well.As it is known Azerbaijan is a country of longevity in the world.

          There are many technical schools,music schools,institutes,

universities,academies,the National Academy of Sciences in the Republic.Today Baki State University and the National Oil 

Academy in the capital are accepted as the most advanced and popular educational institutions in the country.

          There are many hospitals,rest homes,various health resorts in different parts of the country now."Istisuh","Naftalan","Mardakan","Shusha",famous"Gey-Gel" and many many others are known by the millions of people living in different countries.

           Azerbaijan inherited rich literary legacy of Great Nizamy,

Mahammad Fizuly,Imadaddin Nasimy,Mirza Alakbar Sabir,

Aliaghah Vahid and many many others.For many people Azerbaijan is considered to be the country of music and art.Great Uzeyirbay Hajibayov,maestro Niyazy,Gara Garayev,Arif Malikov have got real world fame.

             Azerbaijan for the fist time in this centry got its independence in 1920s but in two years lost it for many years. In 1922 the Republic by force was entered into the Union of Sovet Socialist Republics and it continued till1990s.When former USSR fell dawn completely Azerbaijan like the others Soviet Socialist Republics became independent.

             Today the Republic has got its own flag,state Emblem,

Constitution and the national Anthem as well.

              Azerbaijan is the pride of millions of Azerbaijanians.Let the Republic grow and flourish forever.

              Men know that you are mine by birth,

              My nest,my refuge,and my heart,

              My mother,native land,dear earth!

              Seven soul and body?Death but can,

              O Azerbaijan,my Azerbaijan!

                                                           /S.VURQUN/

             

William Shakespeare

      William Shakespeare was born in the house preserved as his birthplace in Stratford in 1564 where he spent his early years. At that time Stratford was prosperous,it was known as a good market place and had appreciable contacts with the outside world.Shakespeare came from good middle-class parentage on both sides.His mother Marry Arden was a daughter of a farmer and father John Shakespeare  was a whittawer by trade,who is also described as a yeoman.

      William was the eldest son and the third child of the marriage and at the time of his birth John Shakespeare took an active part in municipal affairs.William received his early education at the local grammer school.Little more than eighteen William married to Anne Nothaway,daughter of well respected,substantional yeoman family,established in Stratford.Anne was 26 and marriage took place in 1582.In 1583 his first child-daughter Susanna was born,then twins Hammet and Judith.Later Shakespeare left Stratford and spent the busiest years of his life in London.During the first years of his life in London he had to go through many hardships.Shakespeare resumed his connection  with his native town once his success as aplaywright was assured.The quartest of all English authors,William Shakespeare belongs to the geniuses of mankind who have become landmarks in the history of world culture.For more than 25 years Shakespeare had been associated with the best theatres of England.His activities as a dramatist,poet and proprietor lasted till the year of 1612 when he retired from the strage.During his literary work he produced 37 plays,two narrative poems and 154 sonnets.He is aglory of world literature.

        Shakespeare died at the age of fifty-two in 1616 and was buried in the chancel of the Parish Church of Stratford.

London

          London is the capital of Great Britain.It stands on the Thames. London is one of the biggest cities in the world.It is very beautiful and large city.More than 8 million people live in London.The important parts of London are: the City,the West End,the East End and the Wesminister.

           The City is the commercial part of the capital,most of London banks,offices and firms are there.City is the business centre.It contains the Bank of England,several big banks and business offices.There is also a famous Mansion House,the official residence of the Lord Major of London.

         The West End is the richest and the most beautiful part of London. There are fine theatres,museums,the best hotels and big shops there.

           The East End is the poorest part of London.There are many factories,ship ports and docks there.Most workers and poor people live in this part of London.

          The most governmental buildings are in Westminnister. There are the Houses of Parliament there.In one of the tall towers of the House we can see Big-Ben which is one of the finest timekeepers in the world up to now.

           London is the centre of British cultural life.It holds great national collections,the famous British Museum which is the largest museum in the world.The are many places of interest in London.The Tower of London is the most famous of all the historical buildings in London.It stands today almost unchanged sincethe day it was built in the 11^th century.St.Paul΄s Cathedral is the greatest among many memorials to many famous men of England.

             It is very interesting for many people to visit London at least once in their own lives.

         

Jack London

       Jack London is my favourite writer.His books are realistic and true to life.And that is why I think him to be one of the best American writers. Jack London was born in 1876 in San-Fransisco.At the age of ten he began to earn for his living.

       In 1894 he attended Oakland high school for a short time and then had a year at the University of California.

       In 1897 he took part in the Klondike gold rush.Jack London found no gold,but he could accumulate much experience and material for his stories and novels.

       In 1902 he visited London.For three months.Jack London lived in the slums of East End and saw the life of its inhabitants.In his book “The people of the Abyss” he gave a realistic picture of the life of people  in London”s East End.

       Jack London was a member of the American Labour party and took an active part in the working class movement.He took great interest in the Russisan revolution of 1905,and in his novel “The Iron Heel”,written under the influence of his revolution,Jack London gave a vivid picture of the working class struggle.

       Jack London published about fifty books:short stories,novels,and essays.Many of his stories deal  with sea life and adventures.One of his best publications is “Martin Iden” a semi-biographical novel.The story of the “Love of life” was one of his beloved stories as well and it is still estimated to be one of the strongest stories.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain

      The British Isles are a group of Islands off the north-west coast of the continent of Europe.The largest islands are Great Britain and Ireland.England,Wales and Scotland are in Great Britain.Being the larger part of Ireland the Irish Republic is independent. 
     The British Isles has many rivers but they are not very long.The lagest and longerst river is the Stern.The deepest river is the Thames.
      The climate of the British Isles is not very cold in winter and not very hot in summer.But the weather changes very often there.
      There are at least four main nationalities,the English,the Scots, the Welsh and the Irish.These nationalities each have their own language,culture,traditions and habits.Traditions and habits the population of Great Britain is more than fifty-six milion today.
      Great Britain is a highly developed industrial country.And it is famous for its producing machinery and textile industry.Britain"s most important industry producers of computers and equipments are also famous all over the world.Building and repairing of ship is an important in the United Kingdom too.
      The United Kingdom is a country of parliamentary monarchy. But many people say that the country doesn"t need a king or a qween,because much money is spent  on keeping up the monarchy.
      As you know the laws are made in the Parliament,consisting of two Houses,as they are called the House of Lords and House of  Commons.The members of the House of Lords are not elected.The members of the Lower House,the House of Commons are elected for a period of five years.Members of the House of Commons belong to by the party,which has the greatest number of members elected in Parliament of the country.
      Great Britain exports a great deal of goods,being one of the famous industtial countries in western Europe.