Autobiography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book SynopsisBrendan Behan was born in Dublin in 1923. A member of the IRA, he was sentenced to three years in Borstal in 1939 and a further fourteen years in 1942. He became a dominant literary figure almost overnight with the 1956 production of his play The Quare Fellow, based on his prison experiences. This recognition was reinforced by the success of Borstal Boy and his second play, The Hostage. Brendan Behan described his recreations as 'drinking, talking, and swimming' but no factual description could do justice to his flamboyant, larger-than-life character. Generally regarded as irreverent and unpredictable if not actually dangerous, there was nonetheless no publicity which ever obscured his marked talents or his great understanding of human nature. A man whose contemporaries include Flann O'Brien, Patrick Kavanagh and Anthony Cronin, Behan was a key part of Ireland's great modern literary tradition.Brendan Behan died in 1964.Trade ReviewHe has more than charm, he has instinctive kindness and charity, a verbal grace, an unforced assertion of a strong personality * Sunday Times *The best thing in Irish writing since Sean O'Casey * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisMajor Dick Winters was born in Pennsylvania in 1918. He was one of the initial officers assigned to Easy Company of the 101st Airborne. Winters jumped into France on D-Day and commanded the unit now known as the Band of Brothers. Promoted to captain and then battalion commander, he led his men through the Battle of the Bulge and captured Berchtesgaden, Hitler's Bavarian retreat. Major Winters died in January 2011.Trade ReviewPraised as an exemplar of leadership, [Winters] shows here what he did to earn that praise, and how he did it * Booklist *[An] extraordinary memoir * H. R. McMaster, author of Dereliction of Duty *

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Book SynopsisGervase Phinn thinks he's heard just about everything in his two years as a school inspector, but a surprising enquiry from an angelic six-year-old reminds him never to take children for granted. His marriage to Christine Bentley, finding somewhere idyllic to live in the Yorkshire Dales, and chance of a promotion.

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Book Synopsis'A beautifully drawn picture ... that will surely number among the classics of childhood' Evening Standard Ake is the first volume of Wole Soyinka's acclaimed series of autobiographical works. This vivid, exuberant book is Soyinka's record of his childhood in colonial Nigeria. In rich and evocative prose he tells the tales of his schooldays and adventures in a captivating narrative, sometimes recollecting fears and dangers but always sensitive to the surprises of childhood life. His days were full of discoveries, excitements, the presence of spirits and the tribal rituals of his colourful family - including his father whom Soyinka portrays in Isara, the second volume of his autobiography. Ake ends with Soyinka about to go to college at the age of eleven and enter a new world of responsibility and wider horizons as his remarkable childhood comes to an end.

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable and moving story of Jacques Lusseyran, a blind French resistance leader of the Second World War, who was incarcerated at Buchenwald concentration camp.Trade Review'This was the most inspiring autobiography I read this year.'-- Jill Hawkes, Towards Wholeness'This is a remarkable true story by a remarkable man. This makes gripping reading and left me feeling uplifted and greatly strengthened. Highly recommended.'-- Stephanie Sorrell, New Vision

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Book Synopsis''Like my father before me, I believe that both the playing and watching of sport can teach us important lessons about ourselves by providing practical instruction in co-operation, tests of resolve and temper''Michael Parkinson was destined to spend his life in sport. Introduced at a young age to cricket and football by his father, he rose through the ranks of Barnsley cricket alongside Dickie Bird and Geoffrey Boycott. But while they went on to find fame on the field, he found a career watching, writing and talking about sport.My Sporting Life is Sir Michael''s love letter to sport, to the heroes and legends of his Yorkshire youth, to the characters of the international games he watched and wrote about, and to the very idea of sport itself. With warm, humorous anecdotes about many icons of sport, from Shane Warne to George Best and Muhammad Ali to Fred Trueman, Sir Michael Parkinson reflects on his life writing about his one great passion.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR MICHAEL PARKISON:A lovely kind of nostalgia, which colourises the black and white of yesteryear * The Oldie Review *He writes about them all with wonderful precision and a powerful evocation * Radio Times *A quietly impressive book, which does something most celebrity autobiographies shy away from: it seeks the truth and, more often than not, finds it * Mail, on Like Father, Like Son *A joyous, breezy read . . . It is also beautifully written * Daily Telegraph on Parky *Funny and self-deprecating and just as laid-back as he is on camera * Independent on Parky *Engrossing and entertaining * Irish Time on Parky *

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Book Synopsis''A powerful, eloquent and deeply affecting book. I loved it'' EDMUND DE WAAL''Tender, evocative and deeply moving'' JONATHAN FREEDLAND''Profound, elegiac and fascinating . . . I zipped through it'' PHILIPPE SANDS''Compelling'' DAILY MAIL, BOOK OF THE WEEK''Terrifying and enthralling'' ALAN RUSBRIDGER ''A touching, fascinating tribute to a father'' LITERARY REVIEWIn 1938, before Kindertransport, Jewish parents in Vienna took out adverts in the Manchester Guardian asking for people to take in their children - a desperate, last-ditch attempt to save them from the Nazis. Eighty-three years later, Julian Borger discovers an advert for an ''intelligent boy, aged 11, Viennese of good family''. It was his father, Robert. Like almost everything about his childhood, Robert had kept this a secret, until he took his own life.Starting with nothing b

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Book SynopsisIn January 1988, aged twelve, Martin Pistorius fell inexplicably sick. Within eighteen months he was mute and wheelchair-bound, being cared for at centres for severely disabled children. What no-one knew is that while Martin''s body remained unresponsive, his mind slowly woke up, yet he could tell no-one, a prisoner inside his own body. During this time, he suffered abuse of a kind that is barely imaginable, yet still he kept the spirit of hope alive. It wasn''t until he was twenty-three that a gentle therapist realised he was alert to everything and, along with his parents, assisted his road to recovery. Since then, against all odds, he has fallen in love, married, and now runs a thriving web design business. Martin''s extraordinary story is a deeply moving account of the power of love.

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Book SynopsisYoung and beautiful, she was well on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a model.But then she met Daniel Lynch on Facebook and her world quickly turned into a nightmare ...After being held captive and brutally raped by her new boyfriend, Katie was subjected to a vicious acid attack.Trade ReviewKatie's account of her experiences is unflinching, but marked with a deeply impressive dignity and courage. * Daily Mail *Read Beautiful and you will be angered, moved and inspired. Above all, you will be in awe of Katie Piper. * Sunday Express *[Katie Piper} relives her story, movingly showing us that beauty really is more than skin deep. * Woman *heart-wrenching... truly inspiring... * Glamour *

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Book Synopsis''Zarifa will break your heart'' Christina Lamb, author of Our Bodies, Their Battlefields and I Am MalalaZarifa Ghafari was two years old when the Taliban banned girls from schools, and she began her education in secret. She was seven when American airstrikes began. She was twenty-four when she became the youngest and one of the first female mayors of Maidan Wardak, Kabul. An extremist mob barred her from her office; her male staff walked out in protest; assassins tried to kill her six times. Through it all, Zarifa stood her ground. She ended corruption in the province, promoted peace, and tried to lift up women, despite constant fear for herself and her family. When the Taliban took Kabul in 2021, Ghafari had to flee. But even that couldn''t stop her. Six months later, she returned, to continue her work empowering women.Zarifa is an astonishing memoir that offers an unparalleled perspective of the last two decades in Afghanistan from a citizen, daughter, woman and mayor. Written with honesty, pain, and ultimately, hope, Zarifa describes the work she did, the women she still tries to help as they live under Taliban rule, and her vision for how grassroots activism can change their lives and the lives of women everywhere.Trade ReviewAnyone wanting to know the grim reality of being a woman in Afghanistan and trying to make a difference, could not find a more illuminating book. Zarifa will break your heart. * Christina Lamb, author of Our Bodies, Their Battlefields *Incredible -- Francesca Brown * Stylist *In this earnest and fiery memoir, an activist and politician from Afghanistan recounts how her country's instability marked her life * New York Times *Frank and impassioned, Ghafari's narrative spotlights the power of activism... a remarkable story of perseverance and resilience * Publishers Weekly *Candid, poignant and powerful ... This gripping book can be read at one go and surely is a must buy * Telegraph (India) *This is a simply written and inspiring work that zips along with the pace of an adventure story. You can only be left in awestruck admiration at everything Zarifa has already achieved in her short life. Despite the current situation, you at least feel some hope that Afghanistan's trajectory will have been nudged towards a better tomorrow by her unceasing vision for a just and corruption-free homeland' -- Olivia Edward * Geographical Magazine *[Ghafari] tells her inspiring life story with sincerity and passion, providing a nuanced and, at times, horrifying glimpse into Afghanistan's devastating history ... A searingly honest, profoundly courageous memoir of one fearless woman's fight for her homeland * Kirkus *Zarifa's words, like her life, are an act of courage, weaving heartache with hope. They illuminate all the things we take for granted, especially the ordinary moments, the daily freedoms and most intimate of relationships. They illuminate the threads that connect our rights, freedoms, and happiness into an interconnected whole. * Shubhangi Swarup, Tata Prize winning author of Latitudes of Longing *Zarifa Ghafari's story is one of strength in the face of adversity. She perfectly captures the tragic reversal of fortune over the past year in Afghanistan as the Taliban have once again risen to power. Everyone should read this inspirational and heart-wrenching account of life in Afghanistan for women. * Layla Moran, MP *

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable, true and inspirational trilogy from No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dave Pelzer, now in one volume.

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Book SynopsisWinner of Best Memoir at the Parliamentary Book Awards 2020''Dan Jarvis''s story is a belter. It''s about love, loss, courage and determination told with his customary modesty which fails to disguise the amazing man behind the story'' Alan JohnsonDan Jarvis is an MP and a Mayor, but this is not a book about politics. This is a book about service and family - specifically his time serving in the elite Parachute Regiment, and the tragic death of his wife Caroline.Dan used to be a soldier, and although soldiering provides the backdrop to some of the book, what it is really about is love, life and death - and all the stuff that goes in between. It is about making decisions when under extreme pressure, about keeping calm, keeping going and keeping a smile on your face - well, most of the time, anyway. Specifically, it is about the two biggest challenges Dan faced and the way he tried to cope with them - taking on the Taliban in Afghanistan, and losinTrade ReviewDan Jarvis's story is a belter. It's about love, loss, courage and determination told with his customary modesty which fails to disguise the amazing man behind the story -- Alan JohnsonThis is an incredibly moving memoir -- Dan SnowA terrific memoir; moving, heartfelt and genuinely engaging -- Joanne HarrisImagine going off to war only to lose the one you love back home - a raw and gripping account of coping with war, risk, grief and being a single dad -- Christina Lamb

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Book SynopsisTV star, former SAS soldier, Guinness World Record holder, author and the first ever Chief Ambassador to World Scouting, Bear Grylls is an inspiration for youngsters who want to make the most of life's adventures. In his recent bestseller Soul Fuel Bear revealed for the first time the inspiration that helps him to stand strong and find peace each day. Now Soul Fuel for Young Explorers takes his message and inspires children and young people to find courage and confidence in this source too.Bear offers seventy reflections along with stories from his own life -- brilliantly illustrated by Patrick Laurent -- making it a vibrant and engaging devotional for young readers. 'Faith doesn't mean you have to be especially "religious". But, in a nutshell, my faith tells me that I am known, that I am secure and that I am loved - regardless of the storms I may find myself in from time to time, regardless of how often I fall and fail.'- Bear GryllsTrade ReviewWritten in clear but simple language the book seeks to motivate and inspire young people at a critical time in their lives. * Life & Work *

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Book Synopsis''Michael Mansfield has given power to the voiceless, the innocents ... For this, he too is a hero'' - JOHN PILGER''Michael Mansfield combines rare humanity with a brilliant understanding of the law'' - JON SNOW''A book of great importance ... Mr Mansfield''s thoughtful reflections demand our attention'' - KEN LOACH''I want this book to inspire people, give them a blueprint for fighting their own battles, and challenge the status quo. To see that together, we are always stronger. To understand that those who stand in the way of change cannot do so forever.'' Michael Mansfield, KCBarrister Michael Mansfield, KC, has spent his career fighting injustice, persecution and corruption. And be it the Birmingham Six, Bloody Sunday, Stephen Lawrence, the Marchioness, Hillsborough or Grenfell, he has come to learn one thing - that people power is unstoppable.Time and again he has witnessed governments, police forces, legal institutions and the establishment, try to block change and maintain the status quo in order to protect their interests. But almost every time he has seen that passion, perseverance, collectivity and courage create a powerful momentum which is increasingly difficult to stop.In this short but powerful book, the veteran barrister draws upon his 50 years of fighting for justice and revisits his most important cases and clients, proving without doubt that when people get together they can make lasting and positive change.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.''The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides.''Scientist Pierre Aronnax and his colleagues set out on an expedition to find a strange sea monster and are captured by the infamous and charismatic Captain Nemo and taken abroad the Nautilus submarine as his prisoners. As they travel the world''s oceans, they become embroiled in adventures and events beyond their wildest dreams. Visionary in its outlook, Vern''s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a legendary science fiction masterpiece.

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Book SynopsisNUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERNo one is born a leader. But through sheer determination and by confronting life's challenges, Ant Middleton has come to know the meaning of true leadership. In First Man In, he shares the core lessons he's learned over the course of his fascinating, exhilarating life.Special forces training is no walk in the park. The rules are strict and they make sure you learn the hard way, pushing you beyond the limits of what is physically possible. There is no mercy. Even when you are bleeding and broken, to admit defeat is failure.To survive the gruelling selection process to become a member of the elite you need toughness, aggression, meticulous attention to detail and unrelenting self-discipline, all traits that make for the best leaders.After 13 years service in the military, with 4 years as a Special Boat Service (SBS) sniper, Ant Middleton is the epitome of what it takes to excel. He served in the SBS, the naval wing of the special forces, the Royal Marines Trade Review [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 SynopsisFrom somewhere out in the vast whiteness of the blizzard we hear a cry for help. Instinctively the three of us turn and head across the mountainside. We find two men and a woman, huddled together in the snow, unable to descend the steep icy slope between them and safety.The woman asks if we are experienced in conditions like this. My friends and I have tackled a few winter hills in the Lake District and bumbled up easy rock climbs, but we have never been in a full Scottish winter snowstorm. I laugh and assure her that this is nothing to mountaineers like us.Soon our hills will be empty and one day the last hillwalker will disappear over the horizon. In the 21st century we are losing our connection with the wild, a connection that may never be regained.The Last Hillwalker by bestselling author John D. Burns is a personal story of falling in and out of love with the hills. More than that, it is about rediscovering a deeply felt need in all of us to connect with wild places.Trade ReviewCaptures the essence of what it means to love mountains and love being in mountains. -- Chris Townsend * The Great Outdoors Magazine *Table of Contents1 Psycho Killer2 American Pie3 Horizontal Everest4 Three Men in a Tent5 The Hidden World6 Winter in Langdale7 The White Giant8 North and South9 Dangerous Days10 Meeting the Reaper11 Death by Armchair12 The Bothy Hunter13 The Last HillwalkerPostscriptThe Journey Continues

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Book SynopsisWhen Abraham Verghese, a physician whose marriage is unravelling, relocates to Texas, he hopes to make a fresh start as a staff member at a county hospital. There he meets David Smith, a medical student recovering from a drug addiction, and the two men begin a tennis ritual that allows them to shed their inhibitions and find security, in the sport they love and in each other. But when the dark beast that is David''s addiction emerges once again, almost everything Verghese has come to trust and believe in is threatened. Compassionate and moving, The Tennis Player is an unforgettable, illuminating story of how men live and how they survive.Trade ReviewVerghese is a fine writer, lyrical and controlled, and he captures the attachment between two men - its motives, its allure - with both precision and charm... Wise and compassionate * New York Times Book Review *A brave and heart-baring story * Time *Heartbreaking... Indelible and haunting... An elegy to friendship found and an ode to a good friend lost * Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisThe brilliant new memoir by one of the last great statesmen, aman who has towered over British politics for more than fifty years.

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Book Synopsis''Grimly funny and superbly written, with a twist on every page'' Hilary Mantel''Delightfully compulsive and unforgettably original'' Hadley Freeman''Wonderful, funny and wise'' Kate SummerscaleShortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize 2021A Sunday Times, TLS, Spectator and New Statesman Book of the Year Aunt Munca never told the truth about anything. Calling herself after the mouse in a Beatrix Potter story, she was already a figure of mystery during the childhood of her nephew Ferdinand Mount. Half a century later, a series of startling revelations sets him off on a tortuous quest to find out who this extraordinary millionairess really was. What he discovers is shocking and irretrievably sad, involving multiple deceptions, false identities and abandonments. The story leads us from the back streets of Sheffield at the end of the Victorian age to the highest echelons of English sTrade ReviewAunt Munca flees the streets of Sheffield for a suite at Claridges, getting younger by the year and leaving behind her a trail of brazen lies and shattered pieties. In his family memoir, Ferdinand Mount pursues her with wit and skill through a career in which crime pays, marriage is for a week, and children are lost like old gloves. Kiss Myself Goodbye is grimly funny and superbly written, with a twist on every page. -- Hilary Mantel, author of the Wolf Hall TrilogyDelightfully compulsive and unforgettably original. Mount unpeels the layers of this mysterious life with the tenacity of an experienced detective and the excitement of a fresh-eyed enthusiast. -- Hadley Freeman, author of House of Glass: The Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish FamilyExtraordinary … shed[s] a brilliant light on the strangeness of people’s lives, the need for disguise and masquerade, the shame that drives people to act in the most peculiar ways, the ghosts that reside, unburied, within us. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Wonderful, funny and wise -- Kate Summerscale, author of The Suspicions of Mr WhicherDelicious … As well as an ear for the cadences of a sentence, Mount has a remarkable ability to convey the feeling of place … Beneath the surface of this sparklingly wry book you sense all kinds of unexplored feelings of abandonment and loss. * The Oldie *Mount is one of our finest prose stylists and Kiss Myself Goodbye is a witty, moving and beautifully crafted account of one woman’s determination to live to the full. * Daily Telegraph *An extraordinary book * Tatler *Unique and immensely enjoyable. I only wish it were longer. * Spectator *Kiss Myself Goodbye is a work of beauty. The simple truthfulness of Ferdinand Mount’s storytelling is irresistible. * Literary Review *...A superbly written and jaw-dropping memoir. * Daily Telegraph *Veering giddily from grand guignol to poignant melancholy, this is an exquisitely wrought portrait of a wickedly fascinating woman. -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *...this book, which is partly a family history and partly a detective novel, with extraordinary revelations and an impressive cast of characters dotted through the narrative. -- Roland White * The Sunday Times (Culture) *Witty, moving and beautifully crafted, Kiss Myself Goodbye is a “masterclass” in bringing long-buried secrets to light. * The Week *[Mount ]… vividly captures bygone Britain. * Daily Record *It needs a writer of wit, imagination and empathy to carry me along from one layer of the tissue to the next. Mount is such a writer. * The Oldie *A wonderful memoir of the author’s aunt – deadpan, shrewd and very dryly funny. -- William Boyd, bestselling authorTable of Contents1 Angmering-on-Sea 2 Georgie 3 Buster 4 Charters 5 Brightside 6 Crawford Mansions 7 Eileen and Elizabeth 8 W. F. 9 Brightside Revisited 10 Seven Hills Postscripts Thanks Picture and Text Credits

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Book SynopsisPatric Gagne is a writer, former therapist, and advocate for people suffering from sociopathic, psychopathic, and anti-social personality disorders. She earned a PhD in clinical psychology with a dissertation that examined the relationship between sociopathy and anxiety. This research became the groundwork for her continued studies on sociopathic disorder, as well as the foundation for her memoir. She did her undergraduate work at UCLA and earned her masters and doctorate at the California Graduate Institute of The Chicago School.

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Book SynopsisThis first volume of Margaret Thatcher''s memoirs, which encompasses the entirety of her career as Prime Minister.Margaret Thatcher was the towering figure of late-twentieth-century British politics. This is the story of her remarkable life in her own words.This first volume of her memoirs is a riveting first-hand portrait of the events and personalities of her eleven years in power. She recalls the triumphs and the critical moments of her premiership the Falklands War, the miners'' strike, the Brighton bomb, the Westland Affair and her unprecedented three election victories. Her judgements of the men and women she encountered, whether world statesmen or Cabinet colleagues, are astonishingly frank. She is lavish with her praise; devastating with her criticism. The book reaches a gripping climax with an hour-by-hour description from inside 10 Downing Street of her dramatic final days in office.Margaret Thatcher''s compelling account stands as a powerful testament to her influential legTrade Review‘A book which should be read by everyone with any interest in contemporary history of political affairs’ Norman Tebbit, Daily Mail ‘Some things in this life are priceless. So are Margaret Thatcher’s guts. They have left their mark on the world. So will “The Downing Street Years”’ Daily Express

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Book SynopsisThe superb, bestselling diaries of Victor Klemperer, a Jew in Dresden who survived the war - hailed as one of the 20th century's most important chronicles.'Compulsive reading' LITERARY REVIEW 'Deeply engrossing' SPECTATORTrade ReviewKlemperer's diary deserves to rank alongside that of Anne Frank * SUNDAY TIMES *These diaries constitute one of the most vital historical and human documents of their age. Packed with vivid observation, profound reflection ... they find hope, dignity and even tart humour in the jaws of hell * INDEPENDENT *One of the greatest diarists - perhaps the greatest - in the German language * NEW YORK TIMES *Compulsive reading ... Klemperer's diary also offers a superb window on life in Soviet-occupied Germany in 1945-9 and the early years of the German Democratic Republic * LITERARY REVIEW *Klemperer's acute eye for the corruption of his contemporaries and his sharp ear for the corruption of language make these diaries an inexhaustible mine of information and insight for anybody interested in the German catastrophe ... In the hands of a master, the ephemeral is perennial * DAILY TELEGRAPH *The diary juxtaposes the profound and the mundane, rather like life itself. That is what makes it such a vivid and powerful account of a remarkable life * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *Deeply engrossing ... he has the supreme gifts of honesty and scepticism ... He doesn't exaggerate, he doesn't fantasize ... one of the supreme chroniclers of the 20th century * SPECTATOR *No other testimony remotely as truthful exists of the locked-in half of Germany. The voice of Victor Klemperer is simply indispensable * EVENING STANDARD *Puts tears and blood into a political era that is otherwise difficult to dramatise and so to imagine * SCOTSMAN *The enhance Victor Klemperer's rare standing as a truth-teller * IRISH TIMES *The triumph of these diaries ... is precisely this: not for one moment does Klemperer lose his essential humanity. The diaries testify to the integrity of private space and truth to self ... This is the epic of a self-confessedly commonplace mortal with extraordinary qualities of intellect, wit and self-knowledge - recording his insights with unswerving fidelity to the truth * GUARDIAN *

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Book SynopsisI sometimes fear we shall never wake till we are jerked out of it by the roar of bombs.In 1936, George Orwell volunteered as a soldier in the Spanish Civil War. In Homage to Catalonia, first published just before the outbreak of World War II, Orwell documents the chaos and bloodshed of that moment in history and the voices of those who fought against rising fascism.His experience of the civil war would spark a significant change in his own political views, which readers today will recognise in much of his later literary work; a rage against the threat of totalitarianism and control.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERThe brilliant new book from the multiple Sunday Times bestselling author that will explain the principles behind maintaining a healthy mind and body.The mind and body are often talked about as separate entities, but it's only when they work in harmony with one another that one can truly push oneself to the highest heights.In his new book, Ant Middleton lays out and explains the principles that he lives by to best keep his mindset and body as strong as they can possibly be.

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Book SynopsisTriumphs and disasters in the deep seaThis is a journey through time and water, to the bottom of the ocean and the future of our planet.We do not see the ocean when we look at the water that blankets more than two thirds of our planet. We only see the entrance to it. Beyond that entrance is a world hostile to humans, yet critical to our survival. The first divers to enter that world held their breath and splashed beneath the surface, often clutching rocks to pull them down. Over centuries, they invented wooden diving bells, clumsy diving suits, and unwieldy contraptions in attempts to go deeper and stay longer. But each advance was fraught with danger, as the intruders had to survive the crushing weight of water, or the deadly physiological effects of breathing compressed air. The vertical odyssey continued when explorers squeezed into heavy steel balls dangling on cables, or slung beneath floats filled with flammable gasoline. Plunging into the narrow trenches between the tectonic pla

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Book Synopsis''Wonderful. A manifesto of horticultural delight'' Literary Review ''Beautiful. Perfect for literary garden lovers'' Good Housekeeping''Rich and unusual, a book to treasure. Few recent gardening books come anywhere close to its style, intelligence and depth'' Observer''The two central activities in my life - alongside writing - have been reading and gardening.''Penelope Lively has always been a keen gardener. This book is partly a memoir of her own life in gardens: the large garden at home in Cairo where she spent most of her childhood, her grandmother''s garden in a sloping Somerset field, then two successive Oxfordshire gardens of her own, and the smaller urban garden in the North London home she lives in today. It is also a wise, engaging and far-ranging exploration of gardens in literature, from Paradise Lost to Alice in Wonderland, and of writers and their gardens, from Virginia Woolf to Philip Larkin. ''Exquisite and original'' Daily Telegraph ''A gentle survey of the garden''s place in Western culture, which morphs into a personal meditation on time, memory and a life well lived'' i ''Scholarly bedtime reading'' The Times, Books of the YearTrade ReviewRich and unusual, this is a book to treasure. Few recent gardening books come anywhere close to its style, intelligence and depth. Moves between Lively's own horticultural life and a broad history of gardening * Alex Preston, Observer *Exquisite and original * Daily Telegraph *A gentle, scholarly progress through the lives and works of Penelope Lively's favoured authors - from Jane Austen to Beatrix Potter, Philip Larkin to Tom Stoppard * The Times *Enchanting. Reading this book is like walking with a wise, humorous guide through a series of garden rooms . . . and finding that vistas suddenly open out, on to history, fashion, politics, reflections on time and the taming of nature * Tablet *Lively finds memories of her own gardens scrambling like roses through insights into the history of gardening and the artists - including Woolf, Monet and PG Wodehouse - who have been inspired by their gardens * Daily Mail *Delightful * Lady *Elegant, entertaining and inspirational * Woman & Home *The perfect book for dedicated garden lovers * S Magazine *A blossoming triumph * Waterstones Newsletter *

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Book SynopsisThere''s no pain, no theatrical agony. No screaming, no shouting. The kill shot is catastrophic and conclusive. I slump silently on to my knees and topple forward, head first, into the dirt. The lads have seen enough death to assume mine is instantaneous. The lights are out. That''s him gone.Toby Gutteridge was only 24 when he was shot through the neck while operating behind enemy lines in Afghanistan. He survived despite not breathing for at least 20 minutes. Back in the UK, doctors recommended that his life support machine be switched off, but with the defiant spirit that would define his recovery, Toby pulled through.Now quadriplegic, capable of movement only with his head, Toby has rebuilt his life. His is an extraordinary story of survival against overwhelming odds, and of the power of the human spirit to overcome extreme adversity. Brutally honest and authentic, he builds a compelling picture of the type of person produced by the Special Forces syTrade ReviewToby's sheer grit and determination is a powerful testament to his character. His story demonstrates the true nature of inner strength and courage. I think he's an inspiration to all of us. * Tom Hardy *The inspiring soldier who never gave up. * This Morning *'Inspirational. An amazing book.' * Jason Fox *Visceral... utterly inspirational. A compelling tale of incredible determination. What makes this account of a journey to hell and back so fascinating is that the devastation of Gutteridge's body somehow triggered the unleashing of his mind. * Daily Mail *Toby's truly humbling journey will realign your benchmark for the words determination, hero and inspiration. * Victoria Pendleton CBE *

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Book SynopsisA classic of its kind.' William BoydThought-provoking, hilarious, sardonic and scarily brilliant.' ScotsmanA work of dazzling craft.' Times Literary SupplementA memoir in a million.' Sunday Times** Chosen as a Time Book of the Year ** Don Paterson was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1963. He spent his boyhood on a council housing estate.When he wasn't busy dreading his birthdays, dodging kids who wanted to kill him in a game of toy fights,working with his country-and-western singer dad, obsessing over God, origami, sex or Scottish football cards, he was developing a sugar addiction, playing guitar and descending into madness.While he didn't manage to figure out who he was meant to be, the first twenty years of his life before he took a chance, packed his guitar and boarded a train to London did, for better or worse, shape who he would becomeA book that swan-dives in

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Book SynopsisThe Ship Beneath the Ice is the extraordinary story of how the world’s most famous shipwreck was found, told by the search's Director of Exploration.Trade ReviewAs thrilling as any tale from the heroic age of exploration . . . Bound’s account is a triumph. The storytelling is piano-wire taut, the writing saturated with polar moodiness * Sunday Times *Bound has a natural flair for storytelling and his narrative cracks along with the pace of a well-crafted thriller . . . Captivating and engrossing -- Mail on SundayThe story of Shackleton’s Endurance is one of the most extraordinary in the history of exploration. This is more than just an astonishing sequel. It is a tale just as powerful, and one which redefines the meaning of impossible -- Sir Michael PalinGloriously written . . . Written with the verve of a thriller, Bound's narrative deftly weaves together his voyages and Shackleton's . . . Bound is blessed with a poet's ear for richly evocative language -- Times Literary SupplementThe juxtaposition of the original Shackleton expedition with the quest to find the wreck of the Endurance is utterly compelling -- Professor Alice Roberts, Sunday Times bestseller author of Ancestors and TV PresenterUtterly spellbinding and a rollercoaster of a story. This gripping tale of international collaboration at its best oozes the steely resolve of a modern explorer and is a massive accolade to all involved in bringing the Endurance back into our lives -- Pippa Wordie, granddaughter of James Wordie, the geologist and chief scientist on the EnduranceAn enthralling tale of an extraordinary venture which brings Shackleton’s epic story bang up to the present day -- Camilla Nichol, Chief Executive, UK Antarctic Heritage TrustBound's passion . . . for the most unexplored geography on Earth is evident on every page. His writing blends the required scientific explanations with what touches on poetry . . . Captivating * Daily Mail *Mensun Bound tells [his] story with passion and flair . . . Evocative * Washington Post *An acclaimed book -- ObserverRemarkable . . . Bound’s account has a bittersweet intensity -- The Australian

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Book SynopsisIn 1918, the RAF was established as the world''s first independent air force. To mark the 100th anniversary of its creation, Penguin are publishing the Centenary Collection, a series of six classic books highlighting the skill, heroism and esprit de corps that have characterised the Royal Air Force throughout its first century.The Last Enemy is Richard Hillary''s extraordinary account of his experience as a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War. Hillary was shot down during the Battle of Britain, leading to months in hospital as part of Archibald McIndoe''s ''Guinea Pig Club'', undergoing pioneering plastic surgery to rebuild his face and hands. The Last Enemy was first published in 1942, just seven months before Hilary''s untimely death in a second crash and has gone on to be hailed as one of the classic texts of World War II.The Centenary Collection:1. The Last Enemy by Richard Hillary2. Tumult in the ClouTrade ReviewOne of the classic books of World War Two * London Review of Books *The Last Enemy rapidly acquired the aura of a book that says something vital, whose importance goes beyond what it literally describes -- Sebastian FaulksRivetingly well told...It will speak to anyone who cares for the romance and tragedy of a lost hero. -- Godfrey Smith * Sunday Times *Elegantly affecting memoir -- David Horspool * The Times *This slim volume of Hilary's seems to have a weight which makes it sink into the depths of one's memory * Arthur Koestler *

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Book SynopsisA Croft in the Hills, first published in 1960, is now acknowledged as a classic among Highland books. It captures, in simple, moving descriptions, what it was really like trying to make a living out of a hill croft near Loch Ness fifty years ago. A couple and their young daughter, fresh from city life, immerse themselves in the practicalities of looking after sheep, cattle and hens, mending fences, baking bread and surviving the worst that Scottish winters can throw at them.Their neighbours are few, but among them they find the generosity and community spirit that has survived in the Highlands for generations. Working as a tight family unit, they learn to cope, and in time grow to love their little croft. As Neil Gunn writes in his Foreword, their lives gain extra dimensions that give the book its unusual quality, its brightness and its wisdom'.

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Book SynopsisLeo Varadkar shares his fascinating experience as Irish prime minister at a time of much change and turbulence, in this remarkably honest memoir. Leo Varadkar was an unlikely Taoiseach the youngest on taking office in 2017, the first Taoiseach to be gay, and the first person of colour to be Taoiseach. Equally unlikely was his decision to bow out of politics in his mid-forties. Now, liberated from the constraints of office, he tells his fascinating story with characteristic courage and candour, and provides a unique insight into the formation and evolution of a senior politician. In Speaking My Mind Leo Varadkar shares his pride in helping to bring about transformational changes, such as marriage equality. He describes experiences that only a prime minister could have speaking frankly to Pope Francis on the legacy of church abuses, connecting with Barack Obama about both being the tall, dark guy with the funny name', navigating challenges such as the pandemic and the fallout from Brexit. And he writes honestly about the costs that go with the immense privilege of holding high office. Speaking My Mind is a revealing, intimate and important memoir from a singular public figure.

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Book SynopsisA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR''A completely extraordinary autobiography. One that reads like the most outlandish, beguiling fiction but that is - amazingly - all true'' - William Boyd, Sunday Times bestselling author''Outrageous fun...my goodness there are knee-tremblers galore in this racy memoir'' - The Times''A wonderful journey through 20th Century history. I thoroughly enjoyed it'' - Lady Anne Glenconner, author of Lady in Waiting ---For fear of growing up like his stiff-upper-lipped Uncle Dick, Roderic Fenwick Owen (1921-2011) survived Eton, Oxford and the Second World War to become a travel writer, experiencing the varied wonders of the 20th century''s people and places in that guise. Frequently finding himself party to crucial historical events (including experiencing Nazi Germany in 1939 and the Pentagon during the Cold War Years), his life featured Trade ReviewGamey, rollicking and hugely entertaining ... I can think of no better recommendation * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisWith knowledge, spirit, good humour and passion, The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr brings to life a remarkable man whose thoughts and actions speak to our most burning contemporary issues and still inspire the desires, hopes and dreams of us all. Written in his own words, this history-making autobiography is Martin Luther King: the mild-mannered, inquisitive child and student who rebelled against segregation; the dedicated young minister who constantly questioned the depths of his faith and the limits of his wisdom; the loving husband and father who sought to balance his family''s needs with those of a growing nationwide movement; and the reflective, world-famous leader who was fired by a vision of equality for people everywhere.Relevant and insightful, this autobiography offers King''s seldom discussed views on some of the world''s greatest and most controversial figures including John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi and Richard Nixon. Trade ReviewWe owe a debt to Carson for delivering King to us whole... we are sumptuously prepared for the carrying the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr into the 21st Century. * THE TIMES *worthy... King's life was rich in emotions and intellect. * FINANCIAL TIMES *This book is amazingly thorough and offers many insights into one of America's most turbulent times. * SOUTH TYNESIDE HERALD, GATESHEAD HERALD, NEWCASTLE HERALD *This is so well-written; I really felt I had began to know the man. * DAILY MAIL *

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Book SynopsisA classic of mountaineering literature, this is the story of the harrowing first ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the most legendary and terrifying climb in history.Heinrich Harrer, author of Seven Years in Tibet' and one of the twentieth century's greatest mountaineers, was part of the team that finally conquered the Eiger's fearsome North Face in 1938. It was a landmark expedition that pitted the explorers against treacherous conditions and the limits of human endurance, and which many have since tried and failed to emulate.Armed with an intimate knowledge that comes only from first-hand experience of climbing the Eiger, Harrer gives a gripping account of physical daring and mental resilience. A new introduction by Joe Simpson, author of Touching the Void', confirms the lasting relevance of this true adventure classic.Trade Review‘An outstanding book in the mountaineering library.’ Guardian ‘Even to look at the photographs of the terrible slopes of the Eiger chills the blood. Heinrich Harrer enables the reader to vicariously experience the cold and the terror of the climb.’ Irish Press ‘”The White Spider” provides almost the classic statement of the weird and frequently misunderstood psychology of the modern rock-climber. Despite the grimness of much of what he is doing, Harrer communicates the irresistible joy of climbing as an antidote to the idea that climbers are masochistically trying to prove something to themselves.’ Sunday Times ‘A true classic from the early days of mountaineering…The terror and respect that the Eiger inspires is evoked superbly in Harrer’s narrative.’ Maxim

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