Autobiography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book Synopsis''A meditation on race, and class, and grief ... Uplifting, but just wrenching'' BARACK OBAMAONE OF BARACK OBAMA''S BEST BOOKS OF 2020AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARWINNER OF THE ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 CARNEGIE MEDAL IN NON-FICTION''This will be read for many, many years to come as a classic not just of the memoir genre but of contemporary writing'' Simon Schama''Astonishing'' Thandiwe NewtonAs gripping as any thriller' Mail on SundayA masterpiece' Elizabeth GilbertPowerful' The TimesAt age nineteen, Natasha Trethewey had her world turned upside down when her former stepfather shot and killed her mother.Heartbreakingly clear-eyed and tender, Memorial Drive is a daughter's act of love and an unflinching excavation of the wounds that never heal. For as Trethewey tells her story, and reclaims her mother's, sheTrade ReviewNatasha Trethewey has crafted an indelible memorial to her mother, sentence by crystalline sentence ... A journey through searing personal grief, its scope is broadened by sharp insights into domestic abuse and racism, and the power of storytelling * Mail on Sunday *This is so good … What an unforgettable and breathtaking privilege, to be drawn into the lived pain of losing a mother to murder. No longer is it unimaginable, thanks to the courage and wisdom of Natasha Trethewey … Astonishing -- Thandiwe NewtonBeautiful and devastating … Trethewey excavates her mother’s life, transforming her from tragic victim to luminous human being … This is a political book – the story of a woman cut down in her prime and the larger story of power in America * Washington Post *Stirring ... Trethewey was just nineteen years old when her former stepfather killed her mother in a fit of horrific rage. In Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir, Trethewey steps back from this moment to unveil all that came before it, combing through her mother’s history in lush and vivid prose * Time, 100 Must Read Books of 2020 *At the center of Trethewey’s memoir is the wrenching story of her mother’s murder, by her ex-husband, in 1985. But this haunting elegy by the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet is also a work of great beauty and tenderness, an atmospheric evocation of innocence and loss * New York Times, 100 Notable Books of 2020 *One of the most beautiful memoirs I have ever read ... A masterpiece ... A writer whom I admire with all my being -- Elizabeth GilbertI’ve not read an American memoir where more happens in the assemblage of language ... Memorial Drive forces the reader to think about how the sublime Southern conjurers of words, spaces, sounds and patterns protect themselves from trauma when trauma may be, in part, what nudged them down the dusty road to poetic mastery ...The more virtuosic our ability to use language to probe, the harder it becomes to protect ourselves from the secrets buried in our - and our nation’s - marrow. This is the conundrum and the blessing of the poet. This is the conundrum and blessing of Memorial Drive -- Dwight Garner * New York Times *There are moments when you pull yourself away from this work simply to admire its sheer artistry ... Trethewey’s masterpiece suggests that the greatest act of defiance a black person can do is to remember * Financial Times *Emotionally charged and exquisitely written, Memorial Drive is an unforgettable tribute to Trethewey’s mother, and a poignant portrait of her self-realisation as a writer * Tatler *Beautifully poetic but heartbreakingly sad … An intense, gut-wrenching act of remembrance * Sunday Express *Powerful * The Times *Powerful ... It's such a beautiful book to read, I can't tell you ... The timing of this book gives it a very powerful resonance * Front Row, BBC Radio 4 *Natasha Trethewey has composed a riveting memoir that reads like a detective story about her mother’s murder by a malevolent ex-husband. It reads with all the poise and clarity of Trethewey’s unforgettable poetry - heartrending without a trace of pathos, wise and smart at once, unforgettable. The short section her mother penned as she was trying to escape the marriage moved me to tears. I read the book in one gulp and expect to reread it more than once. A must-read classic -- Mary KarrShe brings tenderness, compassion, and forensic attention to language * BBC *A searing, moving memoir * Net-A-Porter, 12 Moving memoirs you should add to your reading list *Natasha Trethewey’s memoir is predicated on a brutal act, but there is nothing sensational about the way it reads. This memoir-cum-true-crime story from the two-time Poet Laureate and Pulitzer winner is a narrative about how her mother was murdered by her ex-stepfather, but it is also a coming-of-age story for a young artist ... This book may have been written by one of our most celebrated poets, but its lyricism is tethered to the author’s lived and deeply felt experience. * Vogue, The 22 Best Books to Read in Summer 2020 *In Memorial Drive, Natasha Trethewey has transformed unimaginable tragedy into a work of sublimity. There’s sorrow and heartbreak, yes, but also a beautiful portrait of a mother and her daughter’s enduring love. Trethewey writes elegantly, trenchantly, intimately as well about the fraught history of the south and what it means live at the intersection of America’s struggle between blackness and whiteness. And what, in our troubled republic, is a subject more evergreen? -- Mitchell S. JacksonHaunting, powerful, and painfully stunning, Memorial Drive is one of the best memoirs I've read in a long time. A brilliant storyteller, Trethewey writes the unimaginable truth with a clear-eyed courage that proves, once again, that she's one of the nation's best writers -- Ada Limón, author of Bright Dead Things and NBCC award-winner The CarryingA story that burrows deep in your emotional centre ...The work enraptures like a thriller, unraveling as it races against the inevitable * Esquire *A moving, poignant reflection on grief * Buzzfeed *A tragic tale, told with clarity and shattering insight * BBC *Natasha Trethewey’s forthcoming memoir Memorial Drive just bowled me over. Is it the best true crime memoir I’ve read? It’s certainly in my upper echelon now -- Sarah WeinmanHer exquisite and brutal lyricism as well as her commitment to truth makes Trethewey one of the most important American poets of our time ... A tremendously empathic and enthusiastic force in our nation’s bleak period. Her words settle with profound gravity * Paris Review *A glorious example of what results when one listens – and writes – brilliantly … Her work is loved because she refuses to forget those who’ve been lost and the struggles of those who remain * Washington Post *Trethewey has an insistent intellect and a gift for turning over rich soil * New York Times *Impassioned but clear-eyed … She is poised to build a powerful legacy … We can look forward to the fresh direction that Trethewey’s compass will, inevitably, point us * New Yorker *What a devastating story she has to tell; if it is at all like her Pulitzer Prize-winning poems, it will lift and mourn and make you think at the same time * Literary Hub *She reveals how keenly all of us are shaped by loss, and how much America, too, has been forged by the ever-present shard of grief * O Magazine *This is a black woman who has committed an entire life and career to holding a country accountable, despite the weight of her own grief * Buzzfeed *The wide scope of her interests and her adept handling of form have created an opus of classics both elegant and necessary -- Marilyn Nelson, 2016 Academy of American Poets Fellowship judgeA marker in America’s conversation on race and gender … A must-read for people interested in where America has been, where it’s headed, and how to traverse the crossroads of the country’s literature while also perhaps saving their soul at the beginning of this turbulent century -- Tyehimba Jess, Poetry Foundation

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Book SynopsisDes Powell left school with no qualifications and little in the way of formal education. At nineteen he signed up to join the Parachute Regiment.Famously, the Paras is home to the UK military''s second-toughest training regime after the SAS. Des Powell knows all about both. In fact, Des knows SAS selection better than anyone because he''s done it twice. In SAS: Trial by Fire he tells the story of those gruelling tests: how Para training turned him into a soldier but, more crucially, how the SAS process turned him into a member of the elite.Des describes exactly what it takes to be an elite special forces operator. From raw recruit to trained fighting machine - including the heart-breaking moment he was forced to withdraw, only to begin the process again - Des shares the details of his personal journey, itself a tale of prevailing against almost overwhelming odd. He teaches us valuable life skills by taking us deep into the training regime itself: fitness, navigation, endurance, weapons and combat training, survival techniques in hostile climates, the terrifying jungle phase, the dark arts of escape and evasion, the secret of surviving interrogation.No one''s lifted the lid on what it takes to join the SAS and become the best of the best. Until now.Praise for Bravo Three Zero''A must read. Honesty, integrity and real experience that puts you in the thick of the action.'' Billy Billingham''The story that needed to be told'' Jason Fox''The attention to detail is unbelievable'' Tim Lovejoy''Thrilling'' Express

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Book Synopsis*A new roundup of personal essays - surprising, disarming, heartbreakingly funny - from the #1 bestselling writer Time named America's Favorite Humorist.Trade ReviewSo often Sedaris's phrasing is beautiful in its piquancy and minimalism...His life is extraordinary in so many ways - the drug addiction, the eccentric family, the crazy jobs, the fame, the globetrotting - but one of the more unlikely achievements here is in making it all seem quite ordinary. Ultimately, his masterstroke is in acting as a bystander in his own story * Guardian *He makes me laugh so much. In an era when US satire is outpacing our own he's a sharp, humane and hilarious voice that never fails to make you smile - and sometimes weep. Apparently effortless humour is difficult, and precious. He's the real thing -- James Naughtie * Radio Times *A deadpan, darkly comical portrait of the American underbelly . . . Sedaris shares something of [Alan] Bennett's detached curiosity, and they both have a thirst for amusement -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *These are scenes of family life at its best, written with clarity but also with great affection, through which the character of the author emerges, watchful, self-mocking and full of understanding. * TLS *This is a man who could capture your heart and lift your spirits while reading out the ingredients of a rice cake. OBSERVER * 'Mr Sedaris's humour is dry, witty and consistently successful.’ *ECONOMIST * 'Sedaris is like an updated Thurber: domestic, laconic, slightly warped but never bitter, and extremely funny.’ *CULTURE, SUNDAY TIMES * 'His best, funniest, most satisfying book.’ *

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Book SynopsisNow in paperback, Thi Sui's intimate and moving portrait of her family's journey from their war-torn home in Vietnam to their new lives in AmericaTrade Review“In The Best We Could Do, Bui poignantly depicts her parents’ journey and struggle from war-torn Vietnam in comic form—and it’s one book you can’t miss.” Medium "This is a stunning graphic novel that is not only enjoyable but important. It’s a memoir about Thi’s story of immigration, family, and hardship. It is a book that proves yet again how powerful the graphic novel medium can be in creating empathy and understanding." Tillie Walden, author of On a Sunbeam’ “In telling the story of her childhood in the U.S. and, later, the birth of her son, Bui explores her relationship with her mother and father, reflecting on how their experiences shaped them as individuals.” The Chicago Reader online “…a cinematic epic, following several generations through the travails of immigration and emotional dislocation.” PBS NewsHour Online “The book delves as much into her family's history as it does Vietnam's; traumatic things her parents had seen as children and young adults in the years before and during the war… For now, she's reconciled her story with her parents' — and she says hopes her book can provide a starting point for others to do the same.” All Things Considered, NPR

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Book SynopsisI can move only with the aid of barrels of anti-inflammatory gel, sticking plasters and real ale anaesthetic. Martin and I descend from hours of walking to the small town of Middleton-in-Teesdale. I walk, stiff legged, into the campsite office and a plump, middle-aged woman looks up from her desk and can see the old timer is in trouble.“Oh, what a shame you weren’t here last week,” she says, pity radiating from behind her horn-rimmed specs. “You’ve missed him.”I look at her, puzzled.“Elvis!” she explains. “You missed Elvis.”Oh God, now I’m hallucinating…In Bothy Tales, the follow-up to The Last Hillwalker from bestselling mountain writer John D. Burns, travel with the author to secret places hidden amongst the British hills and share his passion for the wonderful wilderness of our uplands.From remote glens deep in the Scottish Highlands, Burns brings a new volume of tales – some dramatic, some moving, some hilarious – from the isolated mountain shelters called bothies. Meet the vivid cast of characters who play their games there, from climbers with more confidence than sense to a young man who doesn’t have the slightest idea what he’s letting himself in for…Table of ContentsGhost RidersFaindouranAre You a Real Man?The Unforgiven MountaineerThe Night the Bothy BurnedDry Man WalkingOf Fire and MenOf Bothies and BikesWe Are LegendsGelder Shiel BothyBen Alder CottageA Night in Two-Hat BothyA Quiet WordRequiem in SutherlandBlack Norman’s HouseNever on SundayThe Cherry Tree King of KearvaigThe Yellow-Eyed Bird of Glen Dubh-LigheFrom My Cold Dead HandThe Man from the MinistryFolk Lost on the HillThe Ghost BothyThe Journey ContinuesAlso by John D BurnsThe Last Hillwalker

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Book SynopsisAn autobiographical work that describes firsthand the great tectonic shifts in English society following the First World War, Robert Graves''s Goodbye to All That is a matchless evocation of the Great War''s haunting legacy, published in Penguin Modern Classics.In 1929 Robert Graves went to live abroad permanently, vowing ''never to make England my home again''. This is his superb account of his life up until that ''bitter leave-taking'': from his childhood and desperately unhappy school days at Charterhouse, to his time serving as a young officer in the First World War that was to haunt him throughout his life. It also contains memorable encounters with fellow writers and poets, including Siegfried Sassoon and Thomas Hardy, and covers his increasingly unhappy marriage to Nancy Nicholson. Goodbye to All That, with its vivid, harrowing descriptions of the Western Front, is a classic war document, and also has immense value as one of the most candid self-portraitTrade ReviewA remarkable book ... Essential reading for the centenary of the first world war—GuardianOne of the most candid self-portraits of a poet, warts and all, ever painted—The Times Literary SupplementWe see the dark heart of the book even more clearly, and hear it beating even more loudly, in this original edition than we do in the comparatively careful and considered terms of the later one—Andrew Motion

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Book SynopsisA RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKAn affectionate and revealing account Funny,sad, real, rueful.' The TimesWarm, rambling and self-aware' GuardianThe long-awaited, rambling, tender, and very funny memoir from Adam BuxtonRamble/'ramb(?)l/Verb1. walk for pleasure in the countryside.Dr Buckles and Rosie the dog love rambling in the countryside.'2. talk or write at length in a confused or inconsequential way.Adam rambles on about lots of consequential, compelling and personal matters in his tender, insightful, hilarious and totally unconfused memoir, Ramble Book.'Ramble Book is about parenthood, boarding school trauma, arguing with your partner, bad parties, confrontations on trains, friendship, wanting to fit in, growing up in the 80s, dead dads, teenage sexual anxiety, failed artistic endeavours, being a David Bowie fan; and how everything you read, watch and listen to as a child forms a part of the adult you become.It's also a book about the joys of going off topic and letting your mind wanderTrade Review‘I recommend Ramble Book… There are wonderful, melancholy passages about his father, and Bowie, and 80s nostalgia, perfect for those of us who get teary-eyed remembering the first time we heard Dexys Midnight Runners or whatever.’ Jon Ronson ‘Give yourself some love with Adam Buxton’s funny and moving Ramble Book.’ Stylist ‘Had me guffawing and bawling simultaneously.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Like listening to your most goofily funny friend on his finest form.’ Daily Mirror ‘A work that feels spontaneous and fresh… The triumph of the book is Buxton’s account of his relationship with his father. The ways in which Adam’s expectations of an emotional reconciliation fail to match reality make for some beautifully tragi-comic scenes.’ Daily Express ‘An extremely funny and insightful coming-of-age story.’ Mail on Sunday ‘Eminently relatable and effortlessly readable with a penchant for sly jokes just when you don’t expect them.’ Chortle

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Book SynopsisHeart-rending, shocking and totally gripping, The Slave Across the Street is the incredible true story of how an ordinary girl was lured into the sinister world of human trafficking - and how she eventually escaped and rebuilt her life.''Flores puts a different face on human trafficking''-- Guardian''An absolute must read...written by a true warrior'' -- ***** Reader review''A gripping and shocking story'' -- ***** Reader review''A compulsive read'' -- ***** Reader review''Absolutely brilliant book - couldn''t put it down. Well worth reading'' -- ***** Reader review''This story truly rocks your foundations to the core'' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU. IT HAPPENED TO THE GIRL NEXT DOOR...When Theresa was 15 she moved to a new school and fell for an older pupil, Daniel. Theresa was thrilled when one afternoon he asked if he could drive her home. But this simple decision would result in her being forced to work as a sex slave for two long years.Daniel was part of a criminal ring that bribed and trafficked Theresa whilst she was still living in her own house, unknown to her parents. Theresa would go to school alongside these boys in the day and be called into service at night...This is the shocking tale of how easily these things can happen. This is the story of her journey from victim to survivor...Trade ReviewFlores puts a different face on human trafficking...She is white, middle class and blond...She grew up in a wealthy suburb and did well at school. Yet Flores tells a nightmarish story. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA landmark collection of poems from the author of Cider with RosieLaurie Lee is beloved for his writing on a lost rural world. His evocative poetry springs from his deep connection with nature, as he tracks the seasons changing and the years turning over. Yet Lee's poems also captured war, human relationships and distant places, informed by his own experiences of lives uprooted by change and conflict. Written during the course of his lifetime, the verses brought together in Collected Poems range over Lee playing his fiddle in a Spanish town; ecstatic in springtime of his beloved Slad valley; or digging for faith in the depths of winter. Gathered in one volume for the first time, and including a generous selection of previously unseen verses from Lee's archives, these timeless, poignant poems show him expressing the essence of life, love and loss.

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary story of how Jason Padgett was transformed from an aimless thirty-two-year old to a mathematical genius following a vicious mugging outside a karaoke bar.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Jews Don't Count

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Book SynopsisA glorious piece of rich, romantic travel writing that takes the reader along old paths, into ancient villages, sharing rural homes and stables of farmers and shepherds in the Ligurian Alps, Pyrenees, Basque country and Galician coast, from a brilliant new talent

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Book SynopsisThe brilliant, inspirational next book by the author of the incredible No. 1 bestseller FIRST MAN IN.Without fear, there's no challenge. Without challenge, there's no growth. Without growth, there's no life.Ant Middleton is no stranger to fear: as a point man in the Special Forces, he confronted fear on a daily basis, never knowing what lay behind the next corner, or the next closed door. In prison, he was thrust into the unknown, cut off from friends and family, isolated with thoughts of failure and dread for his future. And at the top of Everest, in desperate, life-threatening conditions, he was forced to face up to his greatest fear, of leaving his wife and children without a husband and father.But fear is not his enemy. It is the energy that propels him. Thanks to the revolutionary concept of the Fear Bubble, Ant has learned to harness the power of fear and understands the positive force that it can become. Fear gives Ant his edge, allowing him to seek out life's challenges, whetheTrade Review Praise for First Man In: ‘[A] thumping bestseller… searingly honest’ Sunday Times ‘The best book of the year. First Man In will supercharge your life. Incredible’ Tom Marcus, author of bestseller Soldier Spy ‘Superb, fist-biting fun’ GQ ‘Visceral… Inspirational reading’ Daily Mail Books of the Year

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Book SynopsisIt was truly the most breathless and in a way the most exhilarating time I have ever had in my life.This beautiful edition of Going Solo, part of The Roald Dahl Classic Collection, features official archive material from the Roald Dahl Museum and is perfect for Dahl fans old and new.So, enter a world where invention and mischief can be found on every page and where magic might be at the very tips of your fingers . . .The Roald Dahl Classic Collection reinstates the versions of Dahl's books that were published before the 2022 Puffin editions, aimed at newly independent young readers.Trade ReviewHis account of life as a fighter pilot in the Western Desert and in Greece has the thrilling intensity and the occasional grotesqueness of his fiction—Sunday TimesVery nearly as grotesque as his fiction. The same compulsive blend of wide-eyed innocence and fascination with danger and horror—Evening StandardA non-stop demonstration of expert raconteurship—The New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisMy Family and Other Animals is the bewitching account of a rare and magical childhood on the island of Corfu by treasured British conservationist Gerald Durrell. Escaping the ills of the British climate, the Durrell family - acne-ridden Margo, gun-toting Leslie, bookworm Lawrence and budding naturalist Gerry, along with their long-suffering mother and Roger the dog - take off for the island of Corfu.But the Durrells find that, reluctantly, they must share their various villas with a menagerie of local fauna - among them scorpions, geckos, toads, bats and butterflies.Recounted with immense humour and charm My Family and Other Animals is a wonderful account of a rare, magical childhood.''Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities'' Sunday Telegraph''A bewitching book'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewDurrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Intensely readable, poetic, truthful, wise and wonderful.'' STEPHEN FRY''An extraordinary book.'' SUNDAY TIMESStruggling to comprehend the shocking death of his teenage daughter, Ben Goldsmith finds solace in nature by immersing himself in plans to rewild his farm.In July 2019, Ben Goldsmith lost his fifteen-year-old daughter, Iris, in an accident on their family farm in Somerset. Iris's death left her family reeling.Grasping for answers, Ben threw himself into searching for some ongoing trace of his beloved child, exploring ideas that until then had seemed too abstract to mean much to him. Missing his daughter terribly and struggling to imagine how he would face the rest of his life in the shadow of this loss, Ben found solace in nature, the object of a lifelong fascination. As Ben set about rewilding his farm, nature became a vital source of meaning and hope.This book is the story of a year of soul-searching that fo

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of the rise and fall of the iconic Concorde plane from British Airways'' former Chief Concorde Pilot''A remarkable story'' DAILY EXPRESS''A stonking good read'' FLYER_________What''s it like to fly faster than a bullet?Could you really glimpse the edge of space?Why will we never see Concorde''s like again?Mike Bannister was British Airways'' Chief Concorde Pilot. One of the few in that legendary aircraft''s quarter-century of flight to fully understand both the plane''s intricate engineering and what it took to fly her at supersonic speeds.In this definitive account of the rise and fall of the world''s greatest aircraft, Bannister explores its origins, development, service, highs, lows and, finally, the terrible crash which ended its flying life.Part celebration, part history, part detective story and part courtroom drama, it''s almost as riveting as flying in ConcordTrade ReviewExcellent, revealing. Well-related at both the personal and the technical levels * Aeroplane *

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable and shocking true account of the kidnap of Natascha Kampusch in 1998, who shares her deeply moving story. On 2 March 1998 ten-year-old Natascha Kampusch was snatched off the street by a stranger and bundled into a white van. When she emerged from her prison eight years later, her childhood had gone. In 3,096 Days Natascha tells her incredible story for the first time: her difficult childhood, the day of her abduction, her imprisonment in a five-square-metre dungeon, and the mental and physical abuse she suffered from her abductor, Wolfgang Priklopil. A story about the triumph of the human spirit, 3,096 Days describes how, in a situation of almost unbearable hopelessness, she learned how to manipulate her captor and, against inconceivable odds, she managed to escape unbroken.''A brilliantly insightful dissection of her years in captivity'' Jon Ronson, Guardian ''An excellent book'' KatTrade ReviewA brilliantly insightful dissection of her years in captivity -- Jon Ronson * Guardian *An excellent book -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *Thoughtful, unflinching and remarkably devoid of self-pity... Remarkable - not just for Kampusch's account of her ordeal but as a testament to her indomitable spirit -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisMy Family and Other Animals is the bewitching account of a rare and magical childhood on the island of Corfu by treasured British conservationist Gerald Durrell, beautifully repackaged as part of the Penguin Essentials range.''What we all need,'' said Larry, ''is sunshine...a country where we can grow.''''Yes, dear, that would be nice,'' agreed Mother, not really listening. ''I had a letter from George this morning - he says Corfu''s wonderful. Why don''t we pack up and go to Greece?''''Very well, dear, if you like,'' said Mother unguardedly. Escaping the ills of the British climate, the Durrell family - acne-ridden Margo, gun-toting Leslie, bookworm Lawrence and budding naturalist Gerry, along with their long-suffering mother and Roger the dog - take off for the island of Corfu.But the Durrells find that, reluctantly, they must share their various villas with a menagerie of local fauna - among them scorpions, geckos, toads, bats and butterflies.Recounted with immense humour and charm My Family and Other Animals is a wonderful account of a rare, magical childhood.''Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities'' Sunday Telegraph''A bewitching book'' Sunday TimesGerald Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, India, in 1925. He returned to England in 1928 before settling on the island of Corfu with his family. In 1945 he joined the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper, and in 1947 he led his first animal-collecting expedition to the Cameroons. He later undertook numerous further expeditions, visiting Paraguay, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Mexico, Mauritius, Assam and Madagascar. His first television programme, Two in the Bush which documented his travels to New Zealand, Australia and Malaya was made in 1962; he went on to make seventy programmes about his trips around the world. In 1959 he founded the Jersey Zoological Park, and in 1964 he founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust. He was awarded the OBE in 1982. Encouraged to write about his life''s work by his brother, Durrell published his first book, The Overloaded Ark, in 1953. It soon became a bestseller and he went on to write thirty-six other titles, including My Family and Other Animals, The Bafut Beagles, Encounters with Animals, The Drunken Forest, A Zoo in My Luggage, The Whispering Land, Menagerie Manor, The Amateur Naturalist and The Aye-Aye and I. Gerald Durrell died in 1995.Trade ReviewA bewitching book * Sunday Times *Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisTHE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE ECONOMIST, THE GUARDIAN The riveting, deeply personal account of history in the makinga record-breaking, critically-acclaimed no.1 bestseller, now out in paperback''Gorgeously written, humorous, compelling, life affirming'' Justin Webb, Mail on SundayIn the stirring first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidencya time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he

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Book SynopsisI started writing this book as an exclusively work memoir but the work and the personal kept overlapping. I don't know if that's because I'm a woman or a mother or both, or none of those reasons. I just know that for my story to be authentic and truthful, I couldn't simply focus on the work side of my life. Miriam O'Callaghan is one of Ireland's best-known broadcasters, covering every election, referendum, major controversy and important public event for TV, and hosting an award-winning radio show. Combining career success, high-octane glamour and being a mother-of-eight makes her a truly unique figure in Irish public life. In her absorbing memoir, Miriam shares touching stories from her personal life from the life-changing impact of losing her beloved sister and father in a matter of months, and the end of her first marriage that same year, to the joys and challenges of bringing eight children into the world and juggling a frenetically busy life (give up on perfection' is her wise advice!). Miriam includes fascinating insights into a career that has given her a ringside seat to a changing Ireland. Like attending Bobby Sands' wake even before she was a journalist, and life coming full circle when she championed John Hume to be declared the greatest figure in Irish history. She describes extraordinary debates, important and heart-breaking conversations with people in the eye of a media storm, and how she goes after and prepares for the big interviews as well as what happens when things go wrong. Miriam also addresses the recent RTÉ controversies that cast a shadow over its high-profile presenters, not least herself. Miriam is an exceptionally honest and personal memoir from one of Ireland's most esteemed broadcasters

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Book Synopsis''A surprising page-turner, full of humour and startling details'' THE TIMES''If I read a better history this year, I will be lucky'' TOM HOLLAND''An astonishing tour de force' SPECTATORFrom Peter Marshall, winner of the Wolfson Prize 2018, Storm's Edge is a new history of the Orkney Islands that delves deep into island politics, folk beliefs and community memory on the geographical edge of Britain.Peter Marshall was born in Orkney. His ancestors were farmers and farm labourers on the northern island of Sanday where, in 1624, one of them was murdered by a witch. In an expansive and enthralling historical account, Marshall looks afresh at a small group of islands that has been treated as a mere footnote, remote and peripheral, and in doing so invites us to think differently about key events of British history.With Orkney as our point of departure, Marshall traverses three dramatic centuries of religious, political and economic upheaval: a time when what we think of as modern Scotland,

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Book Synopsis''Mind blowingly brilliant'' PHILIPPA PERRY''Few other writers have such passion for granular detail, intellectual heft and boundless curiosity'' THE TIMES''As suspenseful and pacy as an episode of peak-era ER'' GUARDIANA near-fatal health emergency leads to this powerful reflection on deathand what might followby the bestselling author of Tribe and The Perfect Storm.For years as an award-winning war reporter, Sebastian Junger travelled to many front lines and frequently put his life at risk. And yet the closest he ever came to death was the summer of 2020 while spending a quiet afternoon at the New England home he shared with his wife and two young children. Crippled by abdominal pain, Junger was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Once there, he began slipping away. As blackness encroached, he was visited by his dead father, inviting Junger to join him. It's okay, his father said. There's nothing to be scared of. I'll take care of you. That was the last thing Junger remembered until

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Book SynopsisIn 2004, bad boy Billy Fingers Cohen, a homeless small-time drug dealer and addict in a state of drug induced euphoria ran into a busy intersection and was killed instantly by a speeding automobile. He left behind a grieving sister. For weeks she struggled with grief and tried to make sense of Billy''s seemingly wasted life and tragic death.A few weeks after his death, William Cohen, aka Billy Fingers, woke his sister Annie at dawn. ''I''m drifting weightlessly through these glorious stars and galaxies and I feel a Divine Presence, a kind, loving beneficent presence, twinkling all around me.''Billy''s ongoing after-death communications take his sister on an unprecedented journey into the bliss and wonder of life beyond death. Billy''s profound, detailed description of the mystical realms he traverses, the Beings of Light that await him, and the wisdom he receives take the reader beyond the near-death experience. Billy is, indeed, as Dr. Raymond Moody points ouTrade ReviewA fresh, uplifting thoroughly modern account of life after death. I wholeheartedly recommend you read it. * Gordon Smith *The Afterlife of Billy Fingers is one of the best books I've read on the subject of life after death. Part of the book's premise is Annie's questioning whether her communication with Billy is real or her own craziness, and that mystery keeps us reading and seeking answers. We want to find out for ourselves what the source of this communication really is. Along the way, what Billy tells Annie is inspiring, enlightening, and insightful. * Hal Zina Bennett *...a work of transcendent wisdom, irreverent humour and sublime beaut * Mirabi Starr, author of 'Dark Night of the Soul' *The Afterlife of Billy Fingers is an extraordinary example of extended after-death communication. It's one of the most powerful, liberating and healing books on 'life after death' I've ever read. * Barry Guggenheim, Author of 'Hello From Heaven' *A fascinating book! * Dr Raymond Moody *

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Book Synopsis‘A fascinating account of a man of great humility and remarkable courage.’ – The Daily Record. The Cairngorm mountains in Scotland are a magnet for climbers and walkers. John Allen spent more than thirty years in the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team saving the lost and injured, and in Cairngorm John he shares stories of life and death, alongside discussions of hypothermia, first aid, new technology and rescue dogs. Allen's book is a must-read for anyone who spends time in the great outdoors, whether as a casual hillwalker or as part of a mountain rescue team. This latest edition includes additional photographs and new chapters discussing how mountain rescue has developed in the early years of the twenty-first century.Trade Review‘Indispensable to those who love the hills. The stories it contains are poignant and full of emotion.’ * The Inverness Courier *‘A fascinating account of a man of great humility and remarkable courage.’ * The Daily Record *‘The twisting mix of sadness and wit are blended together with perfection. Kick Ass Day and the true meaning of TLC are the kind of priceless gems that we all need.’ -- Neil Woodhead * Mountain Rescue Magazine *‘Cairngorm John portrays the human side of mountain rescue, clearly demonstrating the emotional roller coaster that's involved, as well as the camaraderie that exists within teams like Cairngorm Mountain Rescue.’ * TGO Magazine *‘Allen’s book is an invaluable source.’ * Climber Magazine *Table of ContentsThree reasons for writing this book Acknowledgement List of illustrations Introduction by Sir Chris Bonington PROLOGUE: The Mountains A LIFE IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE EPILOGUE: The Sea TEN YEARS AFTER 1. Rescue from the ai 2. New technology: Can-Ams and Ski-Doos, Go-Pros, Apps and Drones 3. A new beginnin 4. Safety in the mountain AFTERWORD: Thai Boys MAPS Cairngorm Mountains Northern Corries Cairngorm Plateau Glossary of climbing terms Gaelic pronunciation and meanings Select bibliography About the author

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Book Synopsis'Mind blowingly brilliant' PHILIPPA PERRY 'Few other writers have such passion for granular detail, intellectual heft and boundless curiosity' THE TIMES 'As suspenseful and pacy as an episode of peak-era ER' GUARDIAN A near-fatal health emergency leads to this powerful reflection on deathand what might followby the bestselling author of Tribe and The Perfect Storm. For years as an award-winning war reporter, Sebastian Junger travelled to many front lines and frequently put his life at risk. And yet the closest he ever came to death was the summer of 2020 while spending a quiet afternoon at the New England home he shared with his wife and two young children. Crippled by abdominal pain, Junger was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Once there, he began slipping away. As blackness encroached, he was visited by his dead father, inviting Junger to join him. It's

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Book SynopsisTHE UK'S NO.1 MILLION COPY BESTSELLING TRUE CRIME AUTHOR - A PETRIFYING GLIMPSE INTO THE MOST EVIL MINDS OF OUR TIME...'No one else does true crime quite like it,' Crime Monthly Magazine'Terrifying and chilling... True crime at its best.' Daily Express Unique and unheard audiotapes and video interviews with: Aileen WuornosArthur John ShawcrossMichael Bruce RossAnd many more...Christopher Berry-Dee is the man who talks to serial killers. A world-renowned investigative criminologist, he has gained the trust of murderers across the world, entered their high security prisons, and discussed in detail their shocking crimes.The killers' pursuit of horror and violence is described through the unique audiotape and videotape interviews which Berry-Dee conducted, deep inside the bowels of some of the world's toughest prisons.

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Book SynopsisAn exhilarating and deeply moving story of one man's attempt to sea kayak the areas of the Shipping Forecast, perfect for fans of The Salt Path and Attention All ShippingForeword by Charlie Connelly, author of Attention All Shipping The Shipping Forecast has been described as the UK's national lullaby: a source of dependability and calm in our often chaotic world, it has charmed millions of listeners and aided generations of seafarers across the decades. No stranger to weathering a storm after living with a rare life-limiting condition and facing the death of his brother, avid kayaker Toby Carr set out to explore the areas of the Forecast.On a journey that took him to the harshest and most tranquil stretches of our sea, Toby found the real people, places and stories behind the familiar names and imagined environments of the well-loved BBC broadcast. From the wildness and peace of the sea, looking back at the land, Toby hoped to gain the strength and balance he knew nature could provide and to discover what anchors us to each other.Written by Toby's sister Katie from his extensive notes and recordings after his untimely death, Moderate Becoming Good Later is both an epic adventure - sometimes choppy, constantly moving - and a personal voyage of discovery that includes old friends and new, plenty of wildlife, and the ever-present sea.Trade ReviewHeartbreaking, and utterly wonderful. A journey that had to be made, and a story that had to be told. * Alex Bescoby, adventurer and author *The sort of adventure I've often dreamed of late at night, with additional layers of poignancy and love. * Alastair Humphreys, adventurer and author *A very moving tale, in every way imaginable. * Tristan Gooley, author of The Natural Navigator *What a special book. A manifesto for living, loving and laughing full-heartedly, whatever life's storms and forecasts bring. A guide and companion for us all, whether we are embarking on voyages of our choosing or dealing with waves and storms dealt to us. * Sarah Outen, adventurer and author *Toby was a true adventurer, undaunted by rough seas or the waves his own health lashed upon him. Like the broadcast shipping forecast, this is a voyage against the clock. Toby's outrageously fearless spirit and good humour will not fail to uplift and spur you on to pursue your own adventures. * Zeb Soanes, broadcaster and author *You can almost taste the sea air reading Moderate Becoming Good Later. This incredibly moving story weaves together one family's story and shows the sense of hope and love that can be found through adventure even when things don't go according to plan. It's a privilege to be allowed a glimpse into life offshore Britain through Toby and Katie's words. * Elise Downing, adventurer and author of Coasting *The perfect book for our times: from tragedy and stormy seas, come hope, connection, and elemental awe. Exceptionally beautiful and moving, a book that conjures connection to people, places and the ocean with the immediacy, grace and clarity of a kayak cutting through sea spray. * David Gange, historian and author of The Frayed Atlantic Edge *An incredible read of adventure and life that will draw you in and inspire you to pursue your own journeys. Katie has truly honoured her brother with this gripping recount. * Jenny Tough, adventurer and author of Tough Women Adventure Stories and Solo *Moderate Becoming Good Later is a wonderfully salty adventure, a quixotic odyssey driven by equal parts grit and good humour around the stormy shores of western Europe. But what really elevates this above other travellers' tales is the astonishing and moving story of the book's completion - a remarkable collaboration across the ultimate gulf. * Tim Hannigan, travel, nature and history writer *As enduring as any ancient Scandinavian saga, this is a candidly honest tale of a risk-laden, yet existentially meaningful and powerful sea kayaking project. The descriptive and eloquent storytelling had me entranced from their first lines. I read this wonderful book often with a lump in my throat, many tears in my eyes and a racing pulse, because of the pure adventure of his inspirational physical and emotional endeavours. * Nick Ray, expedition sea kayaker and author *What a brave and tenderly written account of one man's fortitude in coming to terms with a shortened life using visits by kayak to the familiar shipping forecast sea areas as "stepping stones" on his final journey. * Peter Jefferson, broadcaster and author of And Now The Shipping Forecast *Courageous, uplifting and exquisitely written, Moderate Becoming Good Later is a tale of the indefatigable resilience of the human spirit, the unbreakable bond of family, the life-affirming kindness of strangers and the perpetual freedom of exploring the unknown. It's a testament to how a shared passion can break down borders - when kinship with our peers from abroad is needed more than ever. I'll never hear The Shipping Forecast the same way again. * Si Willmore, journalist, author and editor *Toby Carr's epic adventures by kayak fill with colour and life those familiar yet mysterious areas of the Shipping Forecast. Thrilling and moving in equal parts, it should inspire us all to get out into the world and embrace its beauty. * Wyl Menmuir, author *Moderate Becoming Good Later is not just the brave and revelatory account of Toby Carr's long kayak around the Shipping Forecast, it is also a sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the author's emotional journey as he paddled from Fair Isle to FitzRoy, from Thames to Trafalgar. One of the most moving and affecting books I've read in a long time, it is profound, thoughtful, fascinating and, above all, beautiful. * Charlie Carroll, author of The Lip, No Fixed Abode and The Friendship Highway *Engaging, well-observed, well-written and full of life wisdom. Anyone who liked The Salt Path will love this book. * Nic Compton, photographer, sailor and author of The Shipping Forecast: A Miscellany *A mesmerising and poignant story that shares how the sea can bring together people, places and purpose. This is a must-read book not just for sea kayakers, but for anyone looking for inspiration to make the most out of life. * Doug Cooper, author of Scottish Sea Kayaking and coach *It's rare to read a book that links place and motivation so clearly. Toby's story of seizing life's opportunities despite obstacles should inspire all of us to not let life pass us by. And the love of his sister Katie in finishing this story for Toby is profoundly moving. * Ash Bhardwaj, travel journalist and broadcaster *A fascinating account of the people, places and conditions encountered in paddling a kayak around some of the areas covered by the well-loved Shipping Forecast. * Storm Dunlop, author of The Weather Almanac *Armchair travel at its best. And I say "armchair" because I was very happy to just read this one, with all its thrills and spills, without feeling the need to go and do it myself. At times, I could practically feel the ocean churning beneath me, and my queasy stomach doing somersaults. A unique and heart-warming adventure, and beautifully written too. Bravo. * Simon Parker, journalist and author of Riding Out *A beautiful, poignant but ultimately uplifting reminder to us that life is an adventure and we need to snatch every minute before it's gone. * Gavin Knight, author of The Swordfish and The Star *

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Book SynopsisThe unique childhood and life of the author Eleanor Berry who is the daughter of the newspaper proprietor Lord Hartwell and grand daughter of F E Smith.

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Book SynopsisMelania is a compelling and inspirational memoir that offers a glimpse into the life of a remarkable woman who has navigated challenges with grace and determination.    In her memoir, Melania reflects on her Slovenian childhood, the pivotal moments that led her to the world of high fashion in Europe and New York, and the serendipitous meeting with Donald Trump, a chance encounter that forever changed the course of her life. Melania opens up about their courtship, life in the spotlight, and experiencing the joy of motherhood. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from her time in the White House, shedding light on her advocacy work and the causes close to her heart.Melania offers an unprecedented look into her time as a First Lady who was born outside the United States -- a role she embraced with honor and dedication. It brings readers into her world and presents an in-depth accoun

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface to the Reissue, 1977Preface to the First Edition, 1966At the Mind's LimitsTortureHow Much Home Does a Person Need?ResentmentsOn the Necessity and Impossibility of Being a JewTranslator's NotesAfterword by Sidney Rosenfeld

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Book SynopsisThe classic, No.1 bestselling and much-loved memoir by Hannah Hauxwell about life in remote Yorkshire in the 1970s.''The world''s favourite Daleswoman'' YORKSHIRE POST''She brings the reader back to the essentials'' MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS''Hannah''s humility, simplicity and strange accent - a mix of Yorkshire and Northumbrian with a Scandinavian lilt - touched many viewers ... Hannah''s attachment to Low Birk Hatt remained with her for life: My heart and soul will always be up on the Dales, ''COUNTRYFILE MAGAZINEHannah Hauxwell first came to the nation''s attention on Yorkshire television''s award-winning documentary TOO LONG A WINTER, when she captured the hearts and imaginations of millions who were captivated by her ability to single-handedly run her family''s farm in an isolated area in Yorkshire. Since the age of 35, following the deaths of her parents and uncle, she lived a self-sufficient life withTrade ReviewThe world's favourite Daleswoman * YORKSHIRE POST *When Hannah Hauxwell speaks, people listen. She possesses a quality which cannot properly be defined * THE JOURNAL *Yorkshire farmer and recluse, Hannah Hauxwell lived a hard life, alone on her small Pennine farm - until she became an unlikely TV star in the 1970s ... Hannah's humility, simplicity and strange accent - a mix of Yorkshire and Northumbrian with a Scandinavian lilt - touched many viewers ... Hannah's attachment to Low Birk Hatt remained with her for life: "My heart and soul will always be up on the Dales," * COUNTRYFILE MAGAZINE *Anyone who watched the amazing documentary will want to read SEASONS OF MY LIFE * LANCASHIRE MAGAZINE *She brings the reader back to the essentials * MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS *[Hauxwell] was living a harsh existence as a hill farmer in the Yorkshire Dales, without electricity or running water, when the 1973 television documentary Too Long a Winter turned her into a national celebrity * GUARDIAN *When Hannah Hauxwell speaks, people listen. She possesses a quality which cannot properly be defined. -- David Whetstone * The Journal (Newcastle) *

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Book SynopsisKuki Gallmann was born near Venice and moved to Kenya in 1972 with her husband and young son. Following their deaths, she set up the Gallmann Memorial Foundation to promote new ways of combining development and conservation, and to provide sponsorship for the education of Kenyans. I Dreamed of Africa was first published in 1991 to international acclaim and it became a world-wide bestseller. Her subsequent books, African Nights and Night of the Lions, were also published by Penguin. She lives in Kenya with her daughter and her dogs.Trade ReviewPowerful, poetic, unbearably moving: I wept * Clare Francis *'This is a book that belongs on a shelf with the memoirs of Olive Schreiner, Elspeth Huxley, Beryl Markham – and with Out of Africa Judith ThurmanMs Gallmann captures perfectly the magic of Kenya, creating an almost overwhelming picture of beauty and drama, pain and joy, death and resurrection . . . Vividly reminiscent of Isak Dinesen * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisMy Bondage and My Freedom is the second of Frederick Douglass's full-length autobiographies. An important slave autobiography, it is significant both for what it tells us about slave life and about its author.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography A Chronology of Frederick Douglass My Bondage and My Freedom Appendix: The Heroic Slave Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisIn the life-affirming sequel to Welcome to St Hell, author, illustratorand filmmaker, Lewis Hancox, gives guidance and wisdom tohis past self, helping him navigate what it takes to become the manhe wants to be - from his first chin hair to his first bromance. This funny and honest personal story shows what it truly meansto find self-acceptance.

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Book SynopsisA remarkably simple and yet profoundly deep narrative, this translation is an introduction to the remote world of the 19th-century Altai: a mountainous region of southern Siberia possessing unique flora and fauna and peaks rising to nearly 15,000 feet.

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Book SynopsisRecollections of Jerusalem vividly opens up to us a world very different from our own. It affords the rare opportunity to see major world events through the eyes of one shaped by them, but unable to influence them.

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Book SynopsisM. E. Thomas is a practising attorney and law professor, and the founder of the popular blog Sociopathworld.com.

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Book SynopsisDoing my Bit for Ireland is Margaret Skinnider's autobiography, focusing mostly on the time period shortly before and after the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland. In it, she details her activities and motivations, along with her observations of the quality and nature of Irish life under English rule. This is a detailed, colourful account of a complex and highly controversial series of events, provided by an eyewitness to and participant in this vital part of Ireland's history.

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Book Synopsis‘It’s a preposterous plan. Still, if you do get up it, it’ll be the hardest thing that’s been done in the Himalayas.’So spoke Chris Bonington when Peter Boardman and Joe Tasker presented him with their plan to tackle the unclimbed West Wall of Changabang – the Shining Mountain – in 1976. Bonington’s was one of the more positive responses; most felt the climb impossibly hard, especially for a two-man, lightweight expedition. This was, after all, perhaps the most fearsome and technically challenging granite wall in the Garhwal Himalaya and an ascent – particularly one in a lightweight style – would be more significant than anything done on Everest at the time.The idea had been Joe Tasker’s. He had photographed the sheer, shining, white granite sweep of Changabang’s West Wall on a previous expedition and asked Pete to return with him the following year. Tasker contributes a second voice throughout Boardman’s story, which starts with acclimatisation, sleeping in a Salford frozen food store, and progresses through three nights of hell, marooned in hammocks during a storm, to moments of exultation at the variety and intricacy of the superb, if punishingly difficult, climbing. It is a story of how climbing a mountain can become an all-consuming goal, of the tensions inevitable in forty days of isolation on a two-man expedition; as well as a record of the moment of joy upon reaching the summit ridge against all odds.First published in 1978, The Shining Mountain is Peter Boardman’s first book. It is a very personal and honest story that is also amusing, lucidly descriptive, very exciting, and never anything but immensely readable. It was awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for literature in 1979, winning wide acclaim. His second book, Sacred Summits, was published shortly after his death in 1982.Table of ContentsForeword by Chris Bonington 'A Great Partnership'Chapter 1 From the WestChapter 2 The Rim of the Sanctuary (22nd August-7th September)Chapter 3 The First Stone (8th-20th September)Chapter 4 The Barrier (21st-27th September)Chapter 5 Survival (28th September-2nd October)Chapter 6 Recovery (3rd-8th October)Chapter 7 The Upper Tower (9th-13th October)Chapter 8 Beyond the Line (14th-13th October)Chapter 9 Descent to Tragedy (15th-19th October)Chapter 10 The Outside (20th October-1st November)Chronology

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