Autobiography: adventurers and explorers Books

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Book SynopsisPeter Fraenkel here gives a vivid account of a childhood in a middle-class, non-observant Jewish family in Nazi Germany, forced to emigrate to Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia) in 1939. Here the contrast could hardly be greater, from persecuted Jew, to ''enemy alien'' in colonial Northern Rhodesia, to re-assimilation into the privileged colonial elite. Following education in Northern and Southern Rhodesia he worked for the Northern Rhodesian and later, Central Broadcasting Service. Here his pioneering work and support for racial equality in a deeply racist society connected with his earlier life - ''no fixed abode'' but in tune with humane liberalism.Table of ContentsList of illustrations – vi Part I: Silesia – 1 1. Roots in the air – 3 2. But we were Germans – 15 3. We became Jews – 39 4. Exodus – 76 Part II: Rhodesia – 101 5. Where you die of hunger doesn’t make much of a difference, does it? – 103 6. Encountering Dimitrov and Macbeth – 130 7. Quit you like men – 142 8. Red thug? – 157 9. Becoming a bwana – 163 10. Out of the saucepan – 176 11. Vultures high and low – 200 12. Vampire men – 217 13. Searchlights in the dark – 235 14. The watch on the Rhine – 238 Index - 241

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Book SynopsisIn the fascinating autobiography, the author details his testing civilian aircraft, from aeroplanes, helicopters, through to autogyros and even microlights.

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Book SynopsisThis is the remarkable story of one man's service in the Royal Navy, RAF and the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch of the Fleet Air Arm.

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Book Synopsis''A searing, honest and courageous account of professional soldiering in a toxic military culture'' Senator Tom Clonan, retired army captainDuring her 31-year career as a soldier in the Irish Defence Forces, Karina Molloy achieved many firsts. First female to get promoted to Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) rank. First to attempt the Army Ranger Wing selection course - Ireland''s SAS equivalent - when it was considered impossible for women. And, to date, Karina has the most overseas service as a female senior NCO.But despite a pioneering career, she faced many setbacks in an institution rife with misogyny - from sexual assault to routine bullying to promotional glass ceilings. And yet she persevered.From Lebanon to Eritrea to Bosnia, A Woman in Defence is the often shocking story of a determined soldier who forged her way in a man''s world, and who continues to fight to make the army a safer and more equitable place for women. What Trade ReviewMolloy's recollections are delivered with an arresting mix of in-your-face military precision and an emotional intelligence that provide an absorbing, poignant and often shocking account of her time in the Defence Forces * Irish Times *Clear-eyed and unsentimental, A Woman in Defence is a sobering and timely testament * RTÉ Guide *The picture that Molloy paints of the Irish army is far from flattering. She was sexually assaulted, bullied, ridiculed and belittled, with obstacles placed in the way of every promotion * Sunday Independent *

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Book Synopsis''Absorbing, poignant and often shocking'' Irish Times''Clear-eyed and unsentimental ... a sobering and timely testament'' RTÉ Guide''A reporter once asked me what justice would look like for me, and I replied from the heart. Justice for me simply means that the next 18-year-old female and male who walk through those gates will be protected, and that no one will ever again have to deal with the physical, sexual and psychological abuses we experienced.''When Karina Molloy took early retirement from the Irish army in 2012, she left behind a trailblazing career spanning over three decades. For the first woman to ever reach the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer rank, however, that trail was marked by setbacks, as she faced repeated promotional glass ceilings, routine harassment and bullying, and incidents of sexual assault. Despite the toll it took on her, Karina persevered, going on to become one of the key voices today i

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Book Synopsis This is the secret memoir of a submissive. A vivid, electric, stunning account of how one woman gets her kicks. It is all true... ''I was gripped. . . thought-provoking and hot!'' LALALALETMEEXPLAIN''Eye-opening, jaw-dropping and also inspiring'' MARIANNE POWERSonnet is a writer. She is a professional with a wide network of important contacts. She is athletic, creative and successful. She always remembers to send Christmas cards. Sonnet also likes to be caned. She likes to be humiliated. She likes to go into a room blindfolded with ten strangers and have them do whatever they want to her. Sonnet likes whatever you tell her she likes. This is an experience that can''t be missed - all we ask is that you submit...''An intense and unapologetically sex-positive self-portrait''KIRKUS REVIEWS

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Book SynopsisYou''ve seen Manhunt, now read this powerful and personal account from Milly Dowler''s sister Gemma . . . ''My name is Gemma Dowler. On 21 March 2002, a serial killer named Levi Bellfield stole my sister and sent our family to hell . . .'' In My Sister Milly, Gemma Dowler recounts the terrible day of Milly''s disappearance, the suspicions that fell on the family, the torture of encountering the murderer in court, the fatal errors made by the police, how it very nearly destroyed her family and how love and hope helped the family survive.Everyone thinks they know the story of Milly Dowler, but only one person knows the true pain of having lost her sister, and how a family can rediscover hope to survive.________________ ''Compelling. An amazing book'' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 ''Heartbreaking'' Daily Mail ''Tragic, poignant, full of emotional memories'' Daily MiTrade ReviewThis is Gemma Dowler's powerful account, as seen on The One Show and This Morning . . . 'My name is Gemma Dowler. On 21 March 2002, a serial killer named Levi Bellfield stole my sister and sent our family to Hell . . .'Everyone thinks they know the story of Milly Dowler. * From the publisher's description *Compelling, an amazing book -- Jeremy Vine * BBC Radio 2 *The most honest and unsettling account * BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour *Powerful * Daily Express *Tragic . . . poignant . . . full of emotional memories * The Mirror *[Gemma] opens up . . . the books serves as 'fighting spirit' * Newcastle Journal *Inspired . . . the book to allows her voice to be heard * OK! Magazine *Gemma Dowler has finally revealed how deep they sank in My Sister Milly . . . her family's story is told in their own words * Daily Record *Gemma's book paints happy memories of her sister, a quirky teen who loved music, dancing and playing the saxophone * Reveal *

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Book Synopsis''DESERVES TO JOIN REACH FOR THE SKY AND THE LAST ENEMY AS ONE OF THE GREAT RAF BOOKS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR'' - ANDREW ROBERTSAs I write, I can clearly recall the stinging heat of aburning Blenheim, smells, tastes, expressions, sounds of voices and, most ofall, fear gripping deep in me.Flying Officer Alastair Panton was just twenty-three when his squadron deployed across the Channel in the defence of France. They were desparate days.Pushed back to the beaches as the German blitzkrieg rolled through the Low Countries and into France, by June 4th 1940 the evacuation ofthe Allies from Dunkirk was complete. A little over two weeks later France surrendered.Flying vital, dangerous, low-level missions throughout the campaign in support of the troops on the ground, Panton''s beloved but unarmed Bristol Blenheim was easy meat for the marauding Messerschmitts. At the height of fighting he was losing two of his small squadron''s crewTrade ReviewThis totally gripping account of the air war of May and June 1940 was written by one of the bravest of "The Few". Its short pages encompass all the timeless themes of war: comradeship, sacrifice, patriotism, fear, and sheer, raw courage. Panton's engaging and immediate prose style recalls the Battle of France in all its pity and tragedy, with his Mark IV Blenheim bomber as much a character in the story as any of his comrades. This deserves to join Reach for the Sky and The Last Enemy as one the great RAF books of the Second World War. -- ANDREW ROBERTSThis is a wonderfully vivid account of those forgotten heroes of 1940. It deserves to become one of the great aerial memoirs of the Second World War. It's an absolutely brilliant book -- JAMES HOLLANDThis is a gem of a memoir. An RAF pilot of rare tenacity and courage, Alistair Panton writes vividly but artlessly and with no hint of bravado about the grimly chaotic weeks of Dunkirk when he and his crew brushed with death in the sky most every day. His front-line story - humane, modest, and compassionate - inspires admiration to the point of awe -- JONATHAN DIMBLEBYA hidden gem of a diary on a little known episode of the Second World War. It speaks to everyone with its drama, pathos, humour and above all, compassion. It should be read by every history student -- PAUL BEAVER, author of SPITFIRE PEOPLESimply wonderful. One of the best accounts of WWII that I have ever read -- JOHN NICHOLThe soldiers on the Dunkirk beaches who jeered the RAF for not making their presence felt in the skies above them would have cheered if they had read this stirring vivid account of the torment suffered by one of Britain's most heroic pilots during the battle for France in May to June 1940. -- HUGH SEBAG-MONTEFIOREIt is the best account of the chaos and confusion of war outside the pages of Evelyn Waugh -- BORIS JOHNSONOne can't help feeling awe and reverence. There are enough adventures here for a lifetime, let alone six weeks -- LOUIS DE BERNIERESAn amazing story of bravery and courage in the air and on the ground -- GENERAL THE LORD DANNATTThis story grips you by the lapels and sometimes by the throat, and all who love tales of war will devour every page -- MATTHEW PARRISExtraordinary ... The clarity of this book is as surprising as its humanity ... both great drama and poignant social commentary ... His story deserves to be told * THE TIMES *What comes over is the extraordinary life of these airmen, who were living in care-free comfort one moment and dying horrible deaths only a few minutes later * SHROPSHIRE STAR *

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Book SynopsisCarefully labelled, and each clutching little brown suitcases, Terry, aged seven, and his elder brother Jack, eleven, stand amid the throng of children which crowds the narrow platform at Welling station awaiting the steam engine which pulls them and their fellow evacuees across the country towards their unknown destination, and their new lives...Trade Review'In World War Two evacuation was often more frightening for a child than the air-raids from which he was being saved, so it is surprising and delightful to read a positive account of the experience. Frisby has done something difficult: he has made good times and good people more fun to read about than any melodrama, in a book that leaves one feeling grateful and happy' Diana Athill 'Frisby has written a heart-warming account of his life as a 'vacky" Daily Telegraph 'A lovely, lovely book' randomjottings.typepad.com

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Book SynopsisMore gypsy tales from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author...Trade ReviewWith her first book a Sunday Times bestseller and as a finalist in The Peoples Author competition on the Alan Titchmarsh Show, the author excels herself yet again with this non fiction story of everyday life in a Romany Gypsy family. * TELEGRAPH & ARGUS *Her innate warmth and vibrancy shine through. Often poignant and always charming, it offers a glimpse into a lost, lamented, world. * FAMILY TREE Magazine *

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Book SynopsisA visceral, riveting, no-holds-barred military memoir told from the front line of the war against ISIS with a foreword by Andy McNab. In the summer of 2014 the world watched in horror as the black flag of ISIS swept all before it. Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq fell, ISIS proclaimed the caliphate and the horror mounted: from the mass murder, rape and enslavement of the Yazidis to the public beheading of journalists by British jihadis. For Macer Gifford it wasn''t enough to ask why more wasn''t being done, he knew he had to act. So, he left his job in the city, split from his girlfriend and a few weeks later found himself illegally crossing the border into Syria to join the Kurdish YPG in their fight against the savagery of ISIS.Macer Gifford became one of longest serving British International Volunteers and one of the only few to be promoted to be a Commander in the YPG. He fought alongside the Kurds (and their Syrian Allies) for three long tours of duTrade ReviewA riveting, visceral, no-holds-barred account from the front line of the war against ISIS. Compelling; raw; savage; yet beautifully written, this is a crie de coeur from a defining story of our age, with an international cast like no other. * Damien Lewis, bestselling author of Operation Certain Death, SAS Ghost Patrol etc. *

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Book Synopsis'A hilarious insight into the everyday heroics of firefighter who put their lives on the line for us all'Russell BrandWARNING: MAY CONTAIN CATS UP TREES Leigh Hosy-Pickett has seen it all in his twenty-five years as a firefighter. He's battled infernos and pulled people from the wreckage of twisted metal but the closest he ever came to death was at the hands of a confused hen do. Now he's here to tell us the funniest, most eye-opening and moving stories from a life lived amongst the smoke. From blazes involving sex toys, to navigating cannabis farm security measures, this brilliantly warm and entertaining book by a third-generation firefighter is a celebration of the everyday heroism of our Fire Service. But it is also a clear-eyed and honest record of the many sacrifices made in the line of duty and the consequences of that heroism. 'A likeable and illuminating account... one that will leave readerTrade ReviewA firefighter's life is well worth a book. Firefighters may be lionized and occasionally fetishized, but on the whole their work is less known or written about than that of the other emergency services. They see all of human life, often in its rawest and most extreme states...Up in Smoke is a likeable and illuminating account, nevertheless - one that will leave readers admiring of firefighters' skill and grit * TLS *

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Book SynopsisMike Pannett, once of the Metropolitan Police, is back in Yorkshire, policing one of the largest rural beats in England.Mike is called to investigate a series of burglaries, which are sending shock waves through the area. Remote farmhouses appear to be the targets, which stretches Mike''s small team to the limits. Then, as winter sets in, two dogs are found running loose - Mike fears the owner has gone missing in the dreadful weather and is forced to call on a full-scale search. Throw in a night-time operation in an empty museum, and the harrowing business of taking three children into care against their mother''s wishes, and it''s quite a case-load for the author of Now Then, Lad, You''re Coming With Me, Lad, Not On My Patch, Lad and Just the Job, Lad.Trade Review'a warm and entertaining read'. * Choice *Pannett, the James Herriot of policing, tiptoes his way through domestic issues, stag nights, and sword-wielding madmen bent on decapitation and tells his tales with warmth and humour. * Daily Express on You're Coming With Me Lad *Move over James Herriot and Gervase Phinn - there is a new name on the North Yorkshire literary block. * York Press *Think 21st-century Heartbeat meets James Herriot with the occasional white-knuckle ride of The Sweeney thrown in. All delivered with a Yorkshire twang. * The Telegraph *'After years in the Metropolitan Police, on the beat in central London, Mike Pannett is hoping for a quieter life when he moves back to his home county, Yorkshire. But crime lurks amid the hills and dales, moors, villages and towns and he finds some of the policing tactics he's learned in London come in very useful. More tales from this Yorkshire bobby, who is building a loyal collection of fans with his engaging books.' * Choice Magazine *

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Book Synopsis Ashley Dartnell''s mother was a glamorous American, her father a dashing Englishman, each trying to slough off their past and upgrade to a more romantic and exotic present in Iran. As the story starts, Ashley is eight years old and living in Tehran in the 1960s: the Shah was in power, life for Westerners was rich and privileged. But somehow it didn''t all add up to a fairytale. There were bankruptcies and prisons, betrayals and lovers, lies and evasions. And throughout it all, Ashley''s passionate and strong-willed mother, Genie. Stories of mothers and daughters are some of the most compelling in contemporary memoir, from The Liar''s Club and The Glass Castle to Don''t Let''s Go to the Dogs Tonight and Bad Blood. Farangi Girl deserves to be in their company. It''s an honest and endlessly recognisable portrait of a mother by a daughter who loved her (and was loved in return). Against this extraordinary background, Ashley''s journeyTrade Reviewa moving account * Times Literary Supplement *Crazy, colourful, shocking, compelling. You'll read it straight through once you start. * Susan Elderkin, author of Sunset over Chocolate Mountains *a vivid, gripping memoir of childhood in little-known pre-revolutionary Iran * Maggie Gee, author of The White Family *Ashley Dartnell's memoir evokes 1960s Iran in all its beauty and turmoil and conjures a wilful, passionate, fascinating woman in its depiction of her mother. This is a vivid, compelling story woven from both politics and desire * Maura Dooley, author of Life Under Water *captures the violence of Iran's 1979 revolution - along with finer details, such as the taste of barbari bread with butter and honey, and the exaggerated politeness ta'arof, which drives Persian social life . . . her late American mother Genie looms largest, a potently glamorous woman in the Elizabeth Taylor mould * Harper's Bazaar *This memoir is both a fascinating and heartbreaking insight into a childhood interrupted . . . gripping * Cosmopolitan Australia - Book Club Choice *Fascinating . . . a desperate quest for sanctuary and redemption which, in the end, discovers solace in the most unexpected of places * The Herald *compelling memoir of a unique childhood and a fairytale gone wrong * The Gloss, Irish Times *Amid the tumults of a family that reflected the flux of Iranian politics in the 70s, Ashley Dartnell writes her true tale of an astonishing childhood with flair and feeling. A rich and intensely addictive read which teems with the odd particulars that come from real experience - Farangi Girl is an unforgettable book * Martina Evans *If there is one book I am glad I read this year - this would have to be it. Beautifully written, full of amazing characters - all the more fascinating for being real - this is the memoir of a woman who has led an extraordinary life... excellent reading * South Coast Register *Engaging . . . a gifted raconteur . . . she weaves an astonishing narrative that keeps us speculating, How on earth will this end? * The Lady *Farangi Girl is a remarkable memoir, an extraordinary story, brilliantly told. . . . intense as any page-turning novel. Right to the last page the reader wonders, what next? All of this is set against a background of seismic historic events in Iran. Compelling. * Pam Johnson *'Crazy, colourful, shocking, compelling. You'll read it straight through once you start.' * Susan Elderkin, author of Sunset over Chocolate Mountains and The Voices *'a vivid, gripping memoir of childhood in little-known pre-revolutionary Iran.' * Maggie Gee, author of The White Family *'Ashley Dartnell's memoir evokes 1960s Iran in all its beauty and turmoil and conjures a wilful, passionate, fascinating woman in its depiction of her mother. This is a vivid, compelling story woven from both politics and desire.' * Maura Dooley, author of Life Under Water *'captures the violence of Iran's 1979 revolution - along with finer details, such as the taste of barbari bread with butter and honey, and the exaggerated politeness ta'arof, which drives Persian social life . . . her late American mother Genie looms largest, a potently glamorous woman in the Elizabeth Taylor mould.' * Harper's Bazaar *'This memoir is both a fascinating and heartbreaking insight into a childhood interrupted . . . gripping.' * Cosmopolitan Australia - Book Club Choice *'Fascinating . . . a desperate quest for sanctuary and redemption which, in the end, discovers solace in the most unexpected of places.' * The Herald *'compelling memoir of a unique childhood and a fairytale gone wrong.' * The Gloss, Irish Times *'Amid the tumults of a family that reflected the flux of Iranian politics in the 70s, Ashley Dartnell writes her true tale of an astonishing childhood with flair and feeling. A rich and intensely addictive read which teems with the odd particulars that come from real experience - Farangi Girl is an unforgettable book.' * Martina Evans *'If there is one book I am glad I read this year - this would have to be it. Beautifully written, full of amazing characters - all the more fascinating for being real - this is the memoir of a woman who has led an extraordinary life... excellent reading.' * South Coast Register *'Engaging . . . a gifted raconteur . . . she weaves an astonishing narrative that keeps us speculating, How on earth will this end?' * The Lady *Farangi Girl is a remarkable memoir, an extraordinary story, brilliantly told. . . . intense as any page-turning novel. Right to the last page the reader wonders, what next? All of this is set against a background of seismic historic events in Iran. Compelling. * Pam Johnson *'a moving account' * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis An extraordinary wartime memoir, combining the best kind of adventure story with a coming of age testimony of unforgettable resonance and poignancy. September 2011, Halkidiki, Northern Greece. A solitary 86 year-old man gazes across an Aegean headland, knowing that he must finally confront his past. He begins to write... September 1939, Nieppe, Northern France. 14 year-old Stephen is living with his family, 25 kilometres from Ypres. His French mother battles with her encroaching blindness. Failing to escape the advancing German army, his English father can no longer look after the war graves that cast so heartbreaking a shadow across the region. Stephen and his friend Marcel embark upon their great adventure: collecting souvenirs from strafed convoys and crashed Messerschmitts. But their world turns dark when arrested and imprisoned for sabotage and threatened with deportation or the firing squad. Upon his release, and still only 16, STrade ReviewRemarkable...extraordinary. * Libby Purves, BBC Radio 4 Midweek *A heart breaking, beautifully crafted true story of courage, loss, loneliness and the reality of what it meant to fight the Occupation. * Kate Mosse, author of CITADEL *This is not only a remarkable coming of age story, it is also one of the finest memoirs of the war I have ever read. Stephen Grady brilliantly conveys the journey from childhood adventure to a far more sinister world where the threat of betrayal and torture lurks at every turn. At turns profoundly moving and grippingly tense, this book, like The Railway Man and First Light before it, deserves to become a classic. * James Holland, author of HELLFIRE *An extraordinary memoir of the journey to manhood unfolding against a backdrop of terror, destruction and stark tragedy. At times charmingly whimsical, at times almost unbearably poignant, Gardens of Stone is the best book I have read about the struggle of seventy years ago - and its haunting legacy - bar none. * Colonel Tim Collins *His heroism is of the very real kind...vividly recreates , in a simple and unadorned style, life under Nazi occupation. * Sunday Times *Stephen Grady has made his authorial debut at the age of 87 with a book that is thrilling, honest, funny and sad. * Spectator *British schoolboys doubtless have quite different fantasies nowadays, but for much of the last century most of them liked to imagine themselves leading their friends in guerrilla warfare against the German army. Stephen Grady is probably unique in having lived the fantasy, an experience he recalls in Gardens of Stone. Now he has made his authorial debut at the age of 87 with a book that is thrilling, honest, funny and sad. * Spectator *This terrifying and utterly gripping account. * Daily Mail *He joined the Resistance at the age of 16, an abrupt journey to manhood in occupied France, and he recalls it with astonishing clarity and without sparing our emotions. * Country Life *

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Book SynopsisForthright, witty and deliciously opinionated, Jean Trumpington's Coming Up Trumps is a spirited account of a life very well lived.In this characteristically incisive memoir, the indomitable Jean Trumpington looks back on her long and remarkable life. The daughter of an officer in the Bengal Lancers and an American heiress, Jean Campbell-Harris led an early life of luxury - until the Wall Street Crash wiped out her family's fortune. At fifteen, Jean was sent to Paris to study but two years later, with the outbreak of the Second World War, she became a land girl. But Jean sought adventure and soon found it while working in Navy Intelligence throughout the war. Her post-warr life took her from the glamour of Paris to the 'mad men' of Madison Avenue. It was here that she met her husband, the historian Alan Barker, and their marriage, in 1954, ushered in the happiest period of her life before embarking on her distinguished political career,

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Book SynopsisIn his New York Times bestselling memoir, A Work in Progress, Connor Franta shared his journey from small-town Midwestern boy to full-fledged Internet sensation. Exploring his past with humor and astounding insight, Connor reminded his fans of why they first fell in love with him on YouTube—and revealed to newcomers how he relates to his millions of dedicated followers. Now, two years later, Connor is ready to bring to light a side of himself he’s rarely shown on or off camera. In this diary-like look at his life since A Work In Progress, Connor talks about his battles with clinical depression, social anxiety, self-love, and acceptance; his desire to maintain an authentic self in a world that values shares and likes over true connections; his struggles with love and loss; and his renewed efforts to be in the moment—with others and himself. Told through short essays, letters to his past and future selves, poetry, and or

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Book SynopsisWinner of Red Magazine's Book of the Year 2019 'Raw, poetic and breathtaking' Fearne Cotton  'It is rare to find an author who writes with such authenticity, empathy and humour. I couldn't recommend this read enough. It will enrich your life' Will Young  'Poorna's beautiful, thoughtful writing is a gift of calm, laughter and stoic contemplation in an increasingly anxious world. Simultaneously earthed and sometimes ephemeral, this book is absolutely delightsome, compassionate, tender and a lesson to us all in self-love and nurture. I read it in a matter of days and started over again' Jack Monroe  Poorna Bell was sold the fairytale of life. That love wins the day. That marriage is the rescue to an otherwise unhappy existence. That children are the natural progression of any relationship. But really, is it? Are we actually being honest with ourselves about the expectations we have

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Book Synopsis''Harry Leslie Smith is a vital and powerful voice speaking across generations about the struggle for a just society'' Jeremy CorbynTHIS A CALL TO ARMS FOR THE MANY, NOT THE FEW: DON''T LET THE PAST BECOME OUR FUTUREHarry Leslie Smith is a great British stalwart. A survivor of the Great Depression, a Second World War veteran, a lifelong Labour supporter and a proud Yorkshire man, Harry''s life has straddled two centuries. As a young man, he witnessed a country in crisis with no healthcare, no relief for the poor, and a huge economic gulf between the North and South. Now in his nineties, Harry wanders through the streets of his youth and wonders whether anything has actually changed.Britain is at its most dangerous juncture since Harry''s youth - the NHS and social housing are in crisis, whilst Brexit and an unpopular government continue to divide the country - but there is hope. Just as Clement Attlee provided hope in 1945, Labour''s triumphant Trade ReviewThis is a heartfelt, important work which stands both as a fine memoir and a warning to those who have not experienced first-hand the dark and difficult times that shaped the life of author. Harry Leslie Smith is deeply articulate, his words are moving and powerful, and his voice is authentic and sincere. Everyone under 95 should take heed! * Joanne Harris *This is a wonderful book and a timely reminder that so much of the progress we take for granted came not from the benevolence of the great and good, but from the collective struggles of previous generations of working people. At a time when the need for decent jobs, homes, rights and services is more pressing than ever, Don't Let My Past Be Your Future is a must read for trade unionists, campaigners and everyone on the left. * Frances O’Grady, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress *History, they say, is written by the winners. Harry is a winner. He defied the odds and poor health to beat poverty and inequality to live a long and full life. He has been a tremendous public servant to this country, and his relentless spirit spills from these pages ensuring his service to us all will survive to benefit future generations . . . Don't dismiss these as the dreams of an old man. Harry is our own 'a living bridge' to history. Read this book, cross this bridge. Take a long, good look at what you see on the other side. We must do better than be destined to repeat our history as tragedy. * Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite *I dipped into the book and then I kept on reading - it's a beautiful, wise and righteous piece of work and truly generous to the coming generation * A.L. Kennedy *Told with passion and eloquence, Mr Smith's personal story of growing up in a time without social services is a stark reminder of how close we may be (in the UK and the US) to consigning millions of people to a life of abject misery for no other reason than they were born poor. * Gale Anne Hurd, producer of The Walking Dead *This is a powerful and deeply moving personal memoir of a Dickensian-like childhood shaped by hunger, suffering and family despair in pre-war Britain. As today's world drifts back towards the extreme inequality that marked Harry Leslie Smith's childhood, we would be crazy to ignore his stirring call-to-arms in defence of the welfare state. * Linda McQuaig *With eloquence, passion and insight that can only come from lived experience, Harry Leslie Smith once again holds up a mirror to contemporary Britain and the hazardous path it is currently on.By reminding us so vividly of the recent past and shining a light on present perils this book is an urgent warning flare against a gathering storm of far-right ideology and the collective scourges of austerity, inequality and Brexit. Most importantly of all though, it exhorts us to do something now or pay the price for complacency in the face of such threats. Please read - and give it to those you care about to read * Mary O'Hara *Through reading Harry's words, I feel as if I am walking the bridge between his generation and my own. His experiences as a child in the Great Depression highlight the dangerous times we now live in - in which the destruction of the NHS and welfare state risk dragging us back to a Britain of the 1930s. Harry's work to defend and champion our public services is something I am endlessly grateful for. He is an inspiration * Emily Berrington *Harry has lived through the Great Depression, World War 2, and has borne witness to many of our world's greatest economic, social and cultural conflicts. He's an ordinary man, who has lived through extraordinary times, and brings his experiences of life forward with breath-taking lucidity and ability. His words are not a reflection on history, but a warning that history may be about to repeat itself. A brilliant book, by a brilliant man * Professor Vikas S. Shah, FRSA *If you truly want to comprehend the dangerous place in which we find ourselves today, social, economic and political and how we came to be in this mess, look no further then Harry Leslie Smiths extraordinary new book Don't Let My Past Be Your Future. Never have the words of this great man been of more relevance, not just to you and I but to our children and our children's children. At times Harry's book will make you angry; it will make you cry; but ultimately it will fill you with the desire to rise up against injustice and what a testament that is to the words of this incredible man * Peter Stefanovic, lawyer, blogger *Harry Leslie Smith's bravery and honesty are irreproachable, and his timely, lucid and often harrowing memoir is the perfect antidote to the schmaltzy, romanticised British history we've been force fed by the media. It serves as a chilling warning to my generation of the dangers of repeating the mistakes of British and European history. The heroes here aren't generals or politicians but the working-class men and women who struggled against hypocrisy, war and the overhanging threat of injury, disease and homelessness to achieve a tolerable life. Nothing is romanticised. Smith is candid about the machismo and mistreatment of women, not least his mum, in coal mining communities. But he never lets us forget the hidden injuries of class, the shame and stigma that comes with poverty, or the sense of hope that led people to build the welfare state. For readers today, this book is much more than a personal account of how ordinary men and (especially) women achieved dignity in history. It's a wakeup call for a society that seems intent on giving this dignity away, voting for cuts one day and retreating behind right-wing demagogues the next. It's a must-read rejoinder to Britain's patriotic myths of the Second World War that never goes soft on fascism. And it shows the heroic things that downtrodden people achieve when they put aside their differences and unite in struggle. In his ninety-four years, Smith has never faltered from his commitment to truth and international justice. This autobiography ensures that people of all generations can learn from his amazing life * Cat Boyd, co-founder of the Radical Independence Campaign and the Scottish Left Project *Harrowing with a moving message * Sunday Mirror *Harry and I were born 50 years apart, in the same town, to the same stock of hardworking Barnsley miners which is why I jumped at the chance to read his stark warning to our current and forthcoming generations. After enduring a heart breaking struggle, Harry has sought to turn the life of extreme hardship he endured into something positive and this book is exactly that. Holding up a mirror between then and now, it deftly compares our current existence with the one our ancestors trod and horrifically we are not a million miles away from each other. This is our chance to momentarily walk in the footsteps of those who trod before us and prevent the repetition that history so eagerly desires.Coming from a genuine position of concern, this is an incredibly important book written by one of the last remaining voices of those times. It should be studied and its message heeded because, if we ignore Harry's past, our future may well return to those dark days. * Shaun Dooley *Anyone not persuaded of the risks of believing the siren voices of selfishness and intolerance should read Harry Leslie Smith's book -- Tim Fenton * Zelo Street blog *Through reflecting on his own experiences during his childhood, Harry Leslie Smith has painted a frank and uncompromising picture of the grim, appallingly miserable childhood he had to endure due to the poverty faced by his family contrasted with the, shamefully still, grim and miserable lives many people endure today in a country ravaged by cuts, austerity and political turmoil . . . The strength of Smith's work is in his deftly woven narrative which features examples from his past, contrasted with the experiences of those living in poverty today, effectively highlighting how far we have sunk back into the cesspit of greed and injustice. It is also a testament to Smith that he manages to uplift as well as horrify the reader, particularly when discussing his own route out of the wretchedness of his situation * The Book Bag *Wonderful, impassioned . . . important * Rick O'Shea *In his winter years, Smith has lost none of his righteous passion, nor his knack for vivid prose * New Statesman *Utterly compelling . . . measured but unflinching . . . the clear-sighted power of his writing is something that all of us should pay heed to and its call is one we must answer * Unison *There is not a life away from poverty once you've known it. The nicest sweets will always leave you with the shadow of hunger as an aftertaste. In this book, Harry Leslie Smith has remembered the Britain of his youth, and it's a cautionary tale. Without safety nets, people die, and poverty's few survivors always bear lifelong scars. There are few thinking-men I respect more in the world than Harry, and in clear prose he explains poverty's brutality, sparing himself nothing, so that the rest of us might learn something from his pain. The man is in his nineties and reading this book is like watching him turn austerity's boosters over his knee like naughty children; it's well worth your time. I am grateful to have been able to read this book. * Linda Tirando, anti-poverty activist *Powerfully written . . . with a passion and poignancy still all too rare in our body politic * Open Democracy *

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Book SynopsisThree men. 470 kilometres. Twenty-one days.Welcome to the Downhill Hiking Club . . .At a boozy, cricket-filled afternoon at Lord''s, Dom Joly convinces his two closest friends to agree to the unthinkable: a challenging hike across Lebanon, from the Israeli border in the south, along the spine of the country''s mountain range, all the way to the Syrian border in the north. For Joly it is something of a homecoming, having grown up in Beirut. It was a happy childhood, though he did go to school with Osama bin Laden.Arriving in Lebanon armed with copious amounts of Vaseline - and no walking experience, bar taking the dog for the occasional stroll - Dom, Chris and Harry don''t quite know what they''ve got themselves into. Joined by their bemused chaperone Caroll, they meet a variety of characters along the way including Ali, a stony-faced Hezbollah Museum guide who seems unperturbed by circling Israeli jets, and part-time Londoner Raf, who challengesTrade ReviewDom Joly writes travel books for people who don't usually read travel books. This is the best adventure I've had on my sofa for years. It's funny, weirdly informative and most importantly, blister-free. -- Jenny Eclair, Sunday Times bestselling author and award-winning comedianCompelling, enlightening, funny and yet serious too. This trip through Lebanon is both journey and reportage, both intimate and informative on this complex country -- Simon Sebag Montefiore, Sunday Times bestselling authorA total delight, from beginning to end. Immensely funny, and shot through with illuminating and telling insights into a country Joly clearly adores. I read it at a sitting and was charmed and enlightened by every page -- John Simpson CBE, World Affairs Editor, BBC News

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Book Synopsis**From the star of SAS AUSTRALIA**''Dean''s journey from the Special Boat Service to intrepid adventurer is truly inspirational.'' - Sir Ranulph Fiennes''An extraordinary tale of courage and adventure. Dean''s story is inspirational.'' - Levison Wood''Dean''s relentless determination to help those who face many mental health battles is incredible and admirable - he''s a hero to many.'' - Bear GryllsFor readers of Ant Middleton, Jason Fox, Brian Wood, Bear Grylls and Billy Billingham comes the extraordinary, inspirational story of Special Boat Service soldier and adventurer Dean Stott.Everybody has heard the SAS motto that who dares wins, but special forces warrior Dean Stott also lives his life by another powerful mantra - that of the relentless pursuit of excellence. In 16 years of service, Dean rose to the top of Britain''s fighting force, taking part of some of the most daring and dangerous operatioTrade ReviewAn extraordinary tale of courage and adventure. Dean's story is inspirational. * Levison Wood *

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Book SynopsisIn Remarkable People, Dan Walker, the host of BBC1''s Breakfast, recounts inspiring stories of the courage and selflessness of people he has met throughout his career. An uplifting tonic for the darkness and negativity of recent times.We live in an age of anxiety, besieged by bad news and uncertainty. But Dan Walker, the host of BBC1''s Breakfast and Football Focus, is determined to shine a light onto stories of selflessness and compassion that seldom make the headlines. In the course of his professional life, Dan has encountered many inspiring stories of bravery and kindness. In Remarkable People, he recounts tales of incredible humanity, empathy, compassion, and a steely determination to transform lives, restore trust, renew hope.Remarkable People is the perfect book for these challenging times; an escape from the negativity of our everyday news cycle, and a tribute to courage and positivity.Trade ReviewA compilation of inspirational stories from ordinary - in the best sense of the word - people [Dan Walker] has met over the years living through extraordinary circumstances, both joyous and torturous. * Radio Times *A celebration of goodness, kindness and humanity * Radio Choice *A vital tonic and antidote to the darkness and negativity of recent times * Methodist Recorder *

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Book SynopsisThis title details the author''s unique military experience, from platoon command in the jungles of Vietnam, through service with the Paras in Northern Ireland and commanding a troop in the legendary 22 SAS, to operating with the ParaBats in South Africa and training the Special Forces of Oman. We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go, Always a little further; it may be, Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow.If there was ever anyone who went a little further, a little beyond, it was Alastair MacKenzie. In a career spanning 30 years, MacKenzie served uniquely with the New Zealand Army in Vietnam, the British Parachute Regiment, the British Special Air Service (SAS), the South African Defence Force''s famed ParaBats, the Sultan of Oman''s Special Forces and a host of private security agencies and defence contractors. MacKenzie lived the soldier''s life to the full as he journeyed the Golden Road to Samarkand. This extraordinary new work fromTable of ContentsGlossary 1. Early Days, 1948–65 2. New Zealand Army, 1966–73 3. 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, 1973–76 4. 22 Special Air Service Regiment, 1976–80 5. 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, 1980–81 6. 44 South African Parachute Brigade (The Parabats), 1981–82 7. KMS Limited, 1982 and 21 SAS 8. New Zealand Army, 1982–85 9. The Sultan of Oman’s Special Forces, 1985–89 10. Royal Ordnance plc; Reliance Security Limited; Territorial Army, 1989–94 11. AMA Associates Limited; Territorial Army; and a Return to New Zealand, 1994–present Index

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Book Synopsis''An evocative portrait of a forgotten period of Britain''s farming history... is an ode both to the soil, and those who have worked it alongside her'' Daily TelegraphJoan Bomford wanted to be a farmer so much she always wore a tie like her dad. She ran away from school whenever she could to help him. As an 8 year-old she was the first person in the family to drive a tractor. No job was ever too tough for her. Now aged 83, she''s still as active, still driving tractors, still feeding the farm''s beef cattle and horses, and still giving riding lessons.This is her account of a lifelong love-affair with the land and the people who work on it. With the warmth and wit of a born story teller, she tells us what it''s been like to live through an era of enormous change, her love of animals kindled by her father''s shire horses who did all the heavy work until machinery took over. Up With The Lark is not only the portrait of a forgotten era, but also the sTrade ReviewAn evocative portrait of a forgotten period of Britain's farming history... is an ode both to the soil, and those who have worked it alongside her. * Daily Telegraph *Remarkable story in this warm and witty account of a life in farming. * WALK magazine *Up with the Lark recalls her small but remarkable place in the history of an ever-changing industry. * Radio Times *

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Book SynopsisFormer BBC correspondent's graphic personal account of National Service with the Suffolk Regiment in the 1950s based on the letters he wrote home to his family at the time.

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Book SynopsisA riveting account of what it meant to be a homosexual in 1950s Britain, by a central figure in the infamous Montagu Case - a landmark in the gay history of Britain.Trade ReviewA moving story of men who refused to feel ashamed * Telegraph *The noblest, and wittiest, and most appalling prison book of them all * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis''Memoirs of such richness are rare . . . a joy'' JAMES NAUGHTIE''A remarkable personal journey, by one of the great political correspondents of our world - eloquent, enlightening, exhilarating'' PHILIPPE SANDSA trailblazer for women in journalism, Hella Pick arrived in Britain in 1939 as a child refugee from Austria. Over nearly four decades she covered the volatile global scene, first in West Africa, followed by America and long periods in Europe. In her thirty-five years with the Guardian she reported on the end of Empire in West Africa, the assassination of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King''s march from Selma to Montgomery, the Vietnam peace negotiation in Paris, the 1968 student revolt in France, the birth of the Solidarity movement in Poland, and the closing stages of the Cold War. A request for coffee on board a Soviet ship anchored in Malta led to a chat with Mikhail Gorbachev. A request for an interview with Willy Brandt led to a peTrade ReviewA remarkable personal journey, by one of the great political correspondents of our world - eloquent, enlightening, exhilarating -- Philippe SandsMemoirs of such richness are rare. Hella Pick's personal and journalistic journey from Nazi Europe to Brexit teems with humanity, diamond insights into the leaders and events of our time, and endless fun. A joy -- James NaughtieHella Pick, the doyenne of post-war foreign correspondents, had a ringside seat throughout the Cold War, from her journalist's start in West Africa to her Guardian postings in the UN and USA, to her commanding role in reporting on the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This is a moving and fascinating autobiography that captures a world that now feels distant -- Baroness Helena Kennedy QCHella Pick arrived in England in 1939 on one of the last Kindertransport trains from Austria and became one of the luckiest as well as the most skillful journalists of her generation. She always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. These memoirs offer a shrewd, detached and wise insight into some of the great events of the late 20th century -- Jonathan SumptionHella Pick's vivid and moving account of her trailblazing life on the inside track of international politics over four dramatic decades is a revelation - and a triumph of her extraordinary spirit -- Cate HasteThrilling and moving, Hella Pick's odyssey from child exile to trailblazing woman journalist and confidante of world leaders shines a bright light on two of the greatest challenges of our time: achieving gender equality and the refugee's struggle for identity and belonging -- Simon MayAn elegant and engaging memoir. Hella Pick escaped the Nazi death-camps to come to Britain and became the doyenne of diplomatic journalists. Hers is an inspirational story -- Lionel BarberIn her extraordinary memoir, Hella Pick reveals why she is one of the foremost Foreign Correspondents of her age . . . this is a memoir of great hope and a fascinating testimony, often with telling microscopic detail, that explains how we just managed to make it through the five decades after the Second World War without blowing ourselves up -- Misha GlennyAn extraordinary life, told by a veteran among Foreign Correspondents who reported in-depth on the forces which shaped the Cold War - and its uneasy aftermath. From the building of the Berlin Wall to its demise, the scramble for Africa, power play of Washington and New York and rise of China, Hella Pick has been on hand with her notebook and keen eye. Her odyssey from a child sent to Britain in the Kindertransport to doyenne of the foreign corps is a rich journey of discovery - professional and personal -- Anne McElvoyHella Pick is the doyenne, the queen, of diplomatic writers. Her memoirs are beautifully written, and filled with revealing and moving detail. If you want to understand why the world is in the state it is, Hella's story helps to explain it all. At the end, I closed it with real regret -- John SimpsonAn extraordinary life, and Hella Pick's impressive insights are remarkable -- Thomas Harding, author of 'The House by the Lake'From pre-war Vienna to Fleet Street via the Kindertransport, Hella Pick's memoir is an enjoyable mix of the personal and political, following her journey from refugee to senior journalist with a front-row view of world politics -- Katharine Viner, Editor-in-chief, Guardian News & MediaHella Pick lived through, and reported on, many of the most seismic moments of the past fourscore years or so. Now she turns her exceptional reporting skills on herself - and the result is fascinating, moving and truly inspiring -- Alan Rusbridger, Principal of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and former Editor-in-Chief of the GuardianThe great Guardian journalist Hella Pick's memoir Invisible Walls is not just a fascinating account of how this Austrian refugee went on to cover some of the most significant events of the last century, but is also a clarion call for good old-fashioned journalism in a world of social media and fake news * CHOICE *A touchingly open account of a stellar career and its disappointments, personal and professional. She arrived at Liverpool Street station in 1939, and eleven-year-old Kindertransport refugee from Vienna... Her account of her long career is remarkable, partly owing to the range of postwar politicians who knew her and gave her stories... This account of her extraordinary life is a considerable achievement -- Frances Cairncross * LITERARY REVIEW *Both an eyewitness account of many of the defining moments and figures of the post-1945 age as well as a poignant reminder of the searing personal story of a generation of immigrant children who, having fled Nazism, grew up to make a remarkable impact on Britain... In what was still very much a male domain, Pick stood out as an independent woman with a sharp intellect, ambition and disarming charm. The result was insightful coverage as well as some memorable encounters in pursuit of the story... "I had no pretensions to see myself as a pioneer, let alone a role model,", she concludes. In this aspect, the celebrated diplomatic correspondent, foreign policy expert and roving world reporter most certainly failed -- Tessa Szyszkowitz * FINANCIAL TIMES *[A] formidable memoir of a dynamic life spent gathering information in some of the world's most powerful corridors * STRONG WORDS magazine *As a journalist, [Pick] covered the end of empire in Africa, the cold war, the 1968 upheavals in Paris, Kennedy's assassination and the collapse of the Soviet bloc. At the UN, or at the Royal Institute for International Affairs in London she cut a distinctive figure, always elegantly dressed, her dark hair swept back from her strong features. Her deep voice with its cut-glass accent was instantly recognisable when she was interviewed on BBC radio. Those of us who followed her as female foreign correspondents in what was then a male-dominated profession could only envy her poise - and her legendary contacts book. She knew everyone, from diplomats to prime ministers and presidents. More importantly, they knew her. -- Lindsey Hilsum * THE GUARDIAN *Pick's book is a celebration of a lost age of journalism, when, once accepted, reporters were free to roam the corridorsof power unfettered by security constraints, with easy access to the powerful, dictating copy over the phone, with no competition from the internet or social media... A constant refrain runs through Pick's book. "Irrespective of their achievements", she writes, refugees like herself "carried throughout their lives a sense of insecurity that would never truly evaporate". No amount of recognition, scoops or praise ever quite freed her from what she calls "an open prison" bound by invisible walls, with no key to the gates... In work as in her life, admirable and tough-minded, she chose not to look back, but to keep marching forwards. -- Caroline Moorehead * TLS *Hella Pick has lived an extraordinarily rich life... one of Britain's most highly respected journalists, a woman whose articles, primarily for the Guardian, revealed an authentically global perspective... Hella Pick is a brilliant narrator and, in the course of an action-packed book, we encounter distinguished figures from across the world -- Daniel Snowman * JEWISH CHRONICLE *Pick was the doyenne of the diplomatic press corps and her legend preceded her... Invisible Walls is a book of great power and honesty, packed with vivid detail of her reporting adventures from the newly independent African states of the late 1950s, through the US of the turbulent 60s and on, through the cold war and into this uncertain age of populist promise-makers, all told with a keen intelligence and relentless dedication to the facts... She brought to the job the intellectual hunger and moral purpose of one who had escaped the great catastrophe that descended on Europe in the 1930s... I commend her book to the widest audience possible but particularly those setting out in journalism. Pick is testament to the necessity of having a broad intellectual hinterland and an open mind, the value of cultivating sources and finding things out. There is no better manifesto against the current clickbait culture and narcissistic social media obsession. This voice from before the age of Facebook and Twitter is profound and urgent -- Fergal Keane * THE OBSERVER *

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Book Synopsis''Brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless'' Spectator''Fascinating ... as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war'' Daily TelegraphAs Assistant Private Secretary to four monarchs, ''Tommy'' Lascelles had a ringside seat from which to observe the workings of the royal household and Downing Street during the first half of the 20th century.These fascinating diaries begin with Edward VIII''s abdication and end with George VI''s death and his daughter Elizabeth''s Coronation. In between we see George VI at work and play, a portrait more intimate than any other previously published.This compelling account also includes Princess Margaret''s relationship with Peter Townsend, and throws an intriguing new light on the way in which King George VI and Winston Churchill worked together during the Second World War. Lascelles was a fine writer - like most of the best diaries his are a delight tTrade ReviewElegant and precise ... a revealing glimpse into the drawing rooms of the great during the years of crisis and victory ... Lascelles was an excellent judge of character, and posterity has almost always proved him right * EVENING STANDARD *This fascinating volume is as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Most - though by no means all - of the facts we know already: it is the angle from which they are viewed and the humour and intelligence of the observer which make these diaries both brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless * SPECTATOR *Offers fascinating and hitherto unseen glimpses of some of the most significant figures of our age ... however, none emerges more engagingly than the diarist himself * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Offers genuine insights into the role of the King's adviser * INDEPENDENT *A great read, written with humour and elegance * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *I greatly enjoyed KING'S COUNSELLOR -- Robert Harris * MAIL ON SUNDAY Book of the Year *

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Book Synopsis A farm boy from the mountains of North Carolina, Rufus Edmisten could not have been prepared for the halls of power in Washington, D.C., during the Vietnam War era, as young men burned their draft cards and pro-cannabis factions held smoke-ins in the capital. A University of North Carolina Chapel Hill graduate, he earned a law degree at George Washington University and landed a job as counsel to U.S. senator Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. This led to Edmisten''s appointment as Deputy Chief Counsel for the Senate Watergate Committee--he personally served Richard Nixon the first ever subpoena of a sitting president by Congress. Returning to North Carolina, he served as Attorney General and Secretary of State before retiring from public life to practice law and participate in charitable activities. Written with humor and candor, his memoir recalls the cultural contrasts of American life in the 1970s and 1980s, and affirms that the business of government is to enable us to li

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Book SynopsisOne of the inspirations for the smash hit Broadway musical Come From Away, Channel of Peace is an unforgettable memoir of the extraordinary kindness afforded to passengers whose flights were re-routed to Gander, Newfoundland, on September 11, 2001.When Kevin Tuerff and his partner boarded their flight from France to New York City on September 11, 2001, they had no idea that a few hours later the world and their lives would change forever. After U.S. airspace closed following the terrorist attacks, Kevin, who had been experiencing doubts about organized religion, found himself in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, with thousands of other refugees or come from aways.Channel of Peace is a beautiful account of how the people of Gander rallied with boundless acts of generosity and compassion for the plane people, renewing Kevin's spirituality and inspiring him to organize an annual and growing giving back day. His unforgettable and uplifting story, along with others, has reached thousands of people when it was incorporated into the Broadway musical Come From Away.Trade Review"Kevin Tuerff's first-hand account takes us inside a 9/11 story that's largely unknown and which helps restore our faith that human beings need not always be divided by our differences." -- Wade Goodwyn * NPR *

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Book SynopsisA poetic memoir as intricately woven as a dreamcatcher about overcoming the pain of generational trauma with the power of traditional healing. In her deeply affecting memoir, Soft as Bones, Chyana Marie Sage shares the pain of growing up with her father: a crack dealer who went to prison for molesting her older sister. She details the shame and guilt she carried for years after her family's trauma as she went from one dysfunctional relationship to another, from one illegal drug to another. In revisiting her family's history and weaving in the perspectives of her mother and sisters, Chyana examines the legacy of generational abuse, which began with her father's father, who was forcibly removed from his family by the residential schools and Sixties Scoops programs. Yet hers is also a story of hope, as it was the traditions of her people that saved her life. In candid, incisive, and delicate prose, Chyana braids personal narrative with Cree stories and ceremonies, all as a means of heal

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Book Synopsis'Gripping pulse-racing adventure by a true legend. Louis Rudd's courage and determination is admirable' – Andy McNab_____________________In 2018 Captain Louis Rudd MBE walked into the history books when he finished a solo, unsupported crossing of Antarctica, pulling a 130 kg sledge laden with his supplies for more than 900 miles. Louis’ skills had been honed in the SAS, on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but now – in the most hostile environment on earth – they would be tested like never before. Alone on the ice, Louis battled through whiteouts, 50 mph gales and temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius. It would take all his mental strength to survive.In this gripping book Louis reveals how a thirst for adventure saw him join the Royal Marines at sixteen and then pass the SAS selection course at only twenty-two. He describes his first gruelling polar expedition with legendary explorer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Worsley in 2011 and the leadership challenges he faced a few years later when he led a team of Army Reservists across Antarctica. And he takes us with him step by painful step as he pushes himself to the limit, travelling alone on his epic and lonely trek across the continent’s treacherous ice fields and mountains. With edge-of-the-seat storytelling, Endurance is an awe-inspiring account of courage and resilience by a remarkable man.‘Resilience and tenacity against the odds. An extraordinary tale of bravery, written with humility by the toughest of the tough’ – Levison Wood'Capt Rudd is an inspiration to us all, I believe his name will go down in polar history' – Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBETrade ReviewI’ve spent enough time in Antarctica to know what an extremely remarkable thing Capt Rudd has achieved. To have crossed the continent alone without assistance or support of any kind in the time of 56 days without a single day’s rest is nothing short of astonishing – a true testament to Lou’s mental and physical endurance. Capt Rudd is an inspiration to us all, I believe his name will go down in polar history. * Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE *It’s an incredible story of resilience and tenacity against the odds. An extraordinary tale of bravery, written with humility by the toughest of the tough. * Levison Wood *Gripping pulse-racing adventure by a true legend. Louis Rudd's courage and determination is admirable. * Andy McNab *

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Book SynopsisAn undercover detective is a buyer, and their commodity is intelligence. But what is the real price of justice?''A compelling and powerful account from the darker side of policing and the terrifying impact it has on those who strive to keep us safe'' Nazir AfzalLiam Thomas was an officer in the Met for over a decade, many of those years spent deep at the heart of Britain''s most dangerous criminal enterprises in the murky world of undercover surveillance. Before him, his father had also been a police officer, a pillar of their small community.Fighting corruption was Liam''s life. But the murky world of undercover work teaches him that justice is far from black and white - and a family secret reveals that corruption is closer to home than he had ever expected. The revelations push him to the edge of his sanity - and then he discovers that his bosses are investigating him...A thrilling memoir of a life lived amongst a world of corru

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Book Synopsis'The thinking man's action hero.' - The Times Magazine'Inspiring survival stories from Aldo Kane, the man behind Tom Hardy, Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall expeditions.' - Trail MagazineTrained Royal Marines Sniper, world record breaker and extreme TV adventurer, Aldo Kane is known for his ability to navigate and lead through challenging and pressured environments, whether it be abseiling into an erupting volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, rowing the Atlantic, getting locked in a bunker for 10 days with zero daylight, leading Steve Backshall into the jungle or being held at gunpoint...In his debut book, Lessons From The Edge, Aldo will inspire readers with his jaw-dropping stories and show them how to survive and thrive through sheer strength of mind and sharp decision-making. It will reveal how this tough military man was able to cope with suddenly feeling worthless, how he overcame doors literally slamming in his face, how he came to realise that you can't wait for things to happen and instead how he rediscovered his identity and harnessed his emotions to his advantage to find determination, purpose, and a renewed sense of belonging. And how, to use his own words, he became the captain of his own ship.Aldo is a firm believer that with the right head game, however hard it feels, you can get through anything life throws at you. Lessons From The Edge will inspire readers to find the spirit to do the things in life they've previously been too scared to tackle, build the courage to know that failure isn't the end, and the knowledge that the impossible can be made possible.Aldo is currently co-presenting The Bridge on Channel 4.Trade ReviewInspiring survival stories from Aldo Kane, the man behind Tom Hardy, Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall expeditions. * Trail Magazine *The perfect motivation to live your life to its fullest. * The Sun *Lessons From the Edge is a book we should all have within arms' reach for those days we need to regain a sense of perspective. * Scottish Field *

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Book SynopsisBY THE AUTHOR OF INTERSTATE, WINNER OF THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR"Sayarer''s thoughtful, meditative travelogue feels very important . . . [An] exploration of how people persevere in the darkest of circumstances" Guardian"It conveys powerfully what life is like for people on both sides of ''the world''s most entrenched impasse''. At the same time, it''s full of free spirits and the joys of freewheeling" TelegraphTen years after breaking a world record for cycling around the world, award-winning travel writer Julian Sayarer returns to two wheels on the roads of Israel and occupied Palestine. His route weaves from the ancient hills of Galilee, along the blockaded walls of the Gaza Strip and down to the Bedouin villages of the Naqab Desert. He speaks with Palestinian hip-hop artists who wonder if music can change their world, Israelis hoping that kibbutz life can, and Palestinian cycling clubs determined to keep on riding despite the army checkpoints and settlers that bar their way. Pedalling through a military occupation, in the chance encounters of the roadside, a bicycle becomes a vehicle of more than just travel, and cuts through the tension to find a few simple truths, and some hope. As the miles pass, the journey becomes a meditation on making change - how people in dark times keep their spirit, and go on believing that a different world is possible."The vast energy of his commitment to discover, observe and communicate makes for engrossing, often incandescent prose. We need writers who will go all the way for a story, and tell it with fire. Sayarer is a marvellous example" HORATIO CLARE

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