Biography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Bestseller. 'Breathtaking. Kim Hughes is the man who stands between us and oblivion.' Andy McNab (author of Bravo Two Zero) 'An uplifting and enlightening account of the personal courage and dedication required to do a very lonely job in the most extreme of conditions'. John Nichol (The Mail On Sunday) This is a book about science, bombs, and what happens to the human psyche when every day you go to work might be your last. Kim Hughes is the most highly decorated bomb disposal operator serving in the British Army. He was awarded the George Cross in 2009 following a grueling six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan during which he defused 119 improvised explosive devices, survived numerous Taliban ambushes and endured a close encounter with the Secretary of State for Defence. The back drop to Painting the Sand is the

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Book SynopsisOnly full length biography of Maximinus Thrax in English.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the lives of some of the most fascinating and unconventional characters of recent times, with 85 obituaries carefully curated from The Times archive. Be they dons, pop stars, vicars, MPs, rugby players or aristocrats, each has marched to the beat of their own drum and led a life far from ordinary.The Times obituaries have given readers throughout the world an instant picture of a life for more than 150 years. Meet the mavericks, rogues and eccentrics from recent history, including:Baroness Trumpington, the codebreaking, chainsmoking, two-finger-flicking grande dame of British politicsMagic Alex' Mardas, inventor who was the Beatles' scientific guru'Zsa Zsa Gábor, Hungarian socialite and actress who made a success out of celebrity and was best known for having married nine timesJohn Lucas, influential philosopher who argued against determinism and had a reputation for being the most eccentric don in OxfordBrigadier Jack Thomas, military police commander who survived a landmine,

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Book SynopsisPart biography, part forensic jigsaw puzzle, part cold-case detective investigation, The Eagle in the Mirror is the story of Charles Howard 'Dick' Ellis. The longest-serving spy for the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Ellis helped set up the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), now known as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). In the 1940s he was considered one of the top three secret agents in MI6 and controlled its activities, as one journalist put it, 'for half the world'.But in the 1980s crusading espionage journalist Chapman Pincher (in the hugely successful books Their Trade is Treachery and Too Secret Too Long) and retired MI5 intelligence officer Peter Wright (in the worldwide bestseller Spycatcher) posthumously accused Ellis of having operated as a 'triple agent' for Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. In 1965, while under interrogation in London, El

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Book SynopsisAn intimate, insightful portrait of an extraordinarily private leader' WALTER ISAACSONFrom the bestselling author of Enemies of the PeopleAn intimate and deeply researched account of the extraordinary rise and political brilliance of the most powerful and elusive woman in the world.Angela Merkel has always been an outsider. A pastor's daughter raised in Soviet-controlled East Germany, she spent her twenties working as a research chemist, only entering politics after the fall of the Berlin Wall. And yet within fifteen years, she had become chancellor of Germany and, before long, the unofficial leader of the West.Acclaimed author Kati Marton sets out to pierce the mystery of this unlikely ascent. With unparalleled access to the chancellor's inner circle and a trove of records only recently come to light, she teases out the unique political genius that is the secret to Merkel's success. No other modern leader has so ably confronted authoritarian aggression, enacted daring social policieTrade Review‘[Marton] has recruited a formidable cast of talking heads … and obtained a remarkable degree of access to the chancellor’s inner circle’The Times ‘One of the best and most readable text books we have about this “indispensable European” … a fascinating portrait of a powerful woman’Literary Review ‘A masterpiece of discernment and insight’New York Times ‘A riveting story, adroitly told, full of engrossing anecdotes and rich details’Los Angeles Review of Books ‘This is the best English-language biography of her rise from a tough and traditional family, through her career as a physical chemist in communist East Germany, to her current renown’ Foreign Affairs ‘It’s instructive to spend time in Merkel’s competent and humane company … [Marton] has doggedly retraced Merkel’s trail, and the story she brings is a good one’New York Times ‘Fascinating. For anyone who thinks they know a lot about Angela Merkel; for anyone who knows nothing about Angela Merkel – pick up this book and do not put it down until the very last page’New York Journal of Books ‘With her signature superpowers of rigorous research and unparalleled empathy, Marton brings us deep into the private sphere of Angela Merkel’Eliza Griswold ‘A compelling and memorable portrait … Angela Merkel’s life is a testament to the power of commitment, diligence, and the possibilities of politics … Tells that story with insight and grace’JON MEACHAM ‘An intimate, insightful portrait of an extraordinarily private leader, who, in her quiet and determined way, made Germany the economic and moral leader of Europe’WALTER ISAACSON ‘It’s a thrilling tale, skillfully told, and a reminder of the role of fate and timing in leadership’JONATHAN ALTER ‘Definitive and brilliantly written, I discovered again in reading it how astonishing Merkel’s life and career have been – and how eventful the period’VOLKER SCHLÖNDORFF

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Book SynopsisGeorge Carman QC was, and perhaps still is, Britain's most famous lawyer within living memory. Karen Phillipps presents a portrait of this eminent advocate through the cases that made him famous.

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Book SynopsisViv is about to turn 21 and is on a study year abroad, supposedly immersed in the language, history and politics of a world that has just ceased to exist: the Soviet Union. Instead, she finds herself immersed in Bogdan Bogdanovich - the lead guitarist of a Ukrainian punk rock band.

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Book SynopsisBen Law's incredible sense of the land and his respect for age old traditions offers a wonderful insight into the life of Prickly Nut Wood.Having travelled to Papua New Guinea and the Amazon, observing age-old techniques for living in, working in and preserving forests and woodland, Ben Law felt compelled to return home and apply his learnings to a 400-year-old plot of woodland near where he grew up Prickly Nut Wood.This is the story of how he came to know and love his woodland, how he lived off the land, how he coppiced and hedged and created charcoal, how he puddled and built shelter, and finally how he carved out his famous, characterful woodland home that Kevin McCloud has cited as his favourite ever Grand Design.Trade Review‘Ben Law’s house is my favourite Grand Design’ Kevin McCloud ‘This book will leave you with a sense of awe and admiration but also a yearning to follow in Ben’s footsteps’ Permaculture magazine ‘Ben continues to inspire his readers about woodland … In Prickly Nut Wood, Ben Law practically demonstrates the benefits of living close to the land’ Woodland Matters

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2019 PEN HESSELL-TILTMAN PRIZEThe fascinating history of Christopher Columbus's illegitimate son Hernando, guardian of his father's flame, courtier, bibliophile and catalogue supreme, whose travels took him to the heart of 16th-century Europe' Honor Clerk, Spectator, Books of the YearThis is the scarcely believable and wholly true story of Christopher Columbus'' bastard son Hernando, who sought to equal and surpass his father''s achievements by creating a universal library. His father sailed across the ocean to explore the known boundaries of the world for the glory of God, Spain and himself. His son Hernando sought instead to harness the vast powers of the new printing presses to assemble the world's knowledge in one place, his library in Seville.Hernando was one of the first and greatest visionaries of the print age, someone who saw how the scale of available information would entirely change the landscape of thought and society.His was an immensely eventual life. As Trade Review‘It’s a captivating adventure … For lovers of history, Wilson-Lee offers a thrill on almost every page … The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books offers a vivid picture of Europe on the verge of becoming modern, but still holding tight to its ancient baggage … Magnificent.’ New York Times ‘READ THIS TRANSPORTING BOOK. Take it to the beach, to the countryside wherever – and thank you Edward Wilson-Lee for writing it, and with such a sense of vital grace’ Simon Schama ‘Perfectly pitched poetic drama – the closest thing documented history can get to magic realism… The Catalogue of Shipwrecked Books is a wonderful book …The true measure of Edward Wilson-Lee’s accomplishment, delivered in a simile-studded prose that is seldom less elegant and often quite beautiful, is to make Hernando’s epic, measured library shelves, not nautical miles, every bit as thrilling as his father’s story’ Financial Times ‘Wilson-Lee’s book – the first modern biography of Hernando written in English – is far more than just a straight account of a life, albeit a rich one… moving… Wilson-Lee does a fine job of capturing the intellectual excitement of a moment in European history’ New Statesman 'Edward Wilson-Lee’s fascinating and beautifully written account of how Hernando conceived and assembled his library is set within a highly original biography of the compiler. It’s a work of imagination restrained by respect for evidence, of brilliance suitably alloyed by erudition, and of scholarship enlivened by sensitivity and acuity' Literary Review ‘Hernando Columbus deserves to be as famous as his father, Christopher… Wilson-Lee’s greatest strength is the subtlety with which Hernando’s public life as a courtier and his private life as a collector are interwoven … Wilson-Lee leads us almost by stealth to an understanding of his subject’s greatest achievement’ Spectator

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Book SynopsisA litany of fresh heroes to make the embattled heart sing' Caitlin MoranNewman is a brilliant writer' ObserverA fresh, opinionated history of all the brilliant women you should have learned about in school but didn't.For hundreds of years we have heard about the great men of history, but what about herstory?In this freewheeling history of modern Britain, Cathy Newman writes about the pioneering women who defied the odds to make careers for themselves and alter the course of modern history; women who achieved what they achieved while dismantling hostile, entrenched views about their place in society. Their role in transforming Britain is fundamental, far greater than has generally been acknowledged, and not just in the arts or education but in fields like medicine, politics, law, engineering and the military.While a few of the women in this book are now household names, many have faded into oblivion, their personal and collective achievements mere footnotes in history. We know of EmmeliTrade Review‘Newman is a riveting teller of history. We are given an insight into the lives of women from Queen Victoria to the suffragists and suffragettes fighting for franchise, political pioneers and present day female advocates of the arts … A celebration of women who helped shape modern Britain – as entertaining as it is enlightening … Newman is a brilliant writer; each chapter throws up something even more interesting than the last and the prose shifts seamlessly between them … I could read a whole second volume’ Hannah Jane Parkinson, Observer ‘Modern, punchy and fresh. A pacy compendium of fascinating nuggets’ Katie Glass, Sunday Times ‘For far too long, women’s achievements have been airbrushed out of history. In this groundbreaking book, the first of its kind, Cathy Newman has done a bloody brilliant job of painting them back in bright, vivid colours. She has repaid the debt due by all of us to women pioneers of the past and created a treasure trove of inspiration for women of today and tomorrow. I just wish this book had been written when I was growing up.’ Nicola Sturgeon ‘Powerful, poignant and often provoking – this book shines a light on the contribution of women of all ages, ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds who have helped to make our city and country so great. Cathy Newman narrates the stories of women who have helped shape the world in which we live today, by challenging gender stereotypes, smashing glass ceilings and blazing a trail for the next generation to follow. Eloquently written and hugely enjoyable to read.’ Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London ‘Brilliant, enlightening, and a powerful reminder of the extraordinary and sustained courage of the women who fought against overwhelming odds for equality of opportunity, for rights and respect. This book is so important. No library, no school or university, should be without a copy.’ Michael Morpurgo

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A sweeping overview of four men whose careers largely defined the American experience in the 20th century. . . . O’Connell narrates with a lively style, with plenty of lighter moments balancing the rigors of the subjects’ military careers. . . . the book is serious and worthy of the subjects.” — Kirkus Reviews "A de­li­cious blend of in­sight, wit and his­tory, “Team Amer­ica” is a punch-packed in­tro­duc­tion to four great mil­i­tary minds and the zeit­geist that pro­duced them." — Wall Street Journal "Call it destiny or luck, America was fortunate to have extraordinary military leaders and “soldier-statesmen” during World War II and the Cold War that followed. They were not perfect human beings, by any means, but they possessed a genius for war and, most of the time, for keeping the peace. Robert O'Connell has written a rollicking, insightful story of some particularly American heroes." — Evan Thomas, author of Ike’s Bluff “O’Connell delivers an entertaining group biography. . . . he incisively analyzes these commanders’ strengths and weaknesses and their essential roles in transforming the U.S. Army. Military history buffs will be enthralled.” — Publishers Weekly “Insightful and informative. . . . ‘Team America’ combines compelling biographies of our heroes as they reach the heights of military, then civilian, leadership during five pivotal decades. O’Connell also explains why industrial warfare grew into a juggernaut, and how they managed to control it to achieve an uncertain peace that still holds.” — Associated Press "Team America profiles the lives of four extraordinary military leaders on and off the battlefield. Author Robert L. O’Connell has constructed a wonderful quadrilateral perspective of Patton, Eisenhower, MacArthur, and Marshall along with their long-lasting impact in the world of combat and leadership. All four men walked divergent paths off the field but shared common ground in their loyalty to the country. Brilliant work." — Seattle Book Review “[O’Connell] writes clearly and concisely. . . . He has a feel for the important detail and for how the personal, political, and strategic work together. . . . [He] has provided a service in laying out in full these men’s great contributions.” — American Spectator “Melding rock-solid research with lively analysis of their larger-than-life personas, O’Connell makes a convincing case for why the foursome —whom he dubs “Team America” — is, and continues to be, history’s most influential cabal of military leaders.” — HistoryNet “An outstanding group biography… Well written and well organized. O’Connell’s study of these four American military giants should take its place among the best works on the role of the U.S. Army in World War II.” — New Criterion

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewSimultaneously nostalgic and eye-opening in its novelty, Mayumu is the perfect example of what makes the modern Filipino American food movement so exciting. By building on the basics of both American and Filipino desserts, Abi shows us how refreshing and fun it can be to loosen the boundaries of tradition and let the two schools mingle a little more. — Bettina Makalintal, food writer at Eater Every recipe and every story in Mayumu bursts off the page with joy, love, ingenuity, and personality. Abi’s work is vibrant, eclectic, comforting, funny, deeply moving, and, to me, feels like a uniquely perfect articulation of the intricacies, depths, and jubilations of being Asian American. Mayumu is a celebration of what it means to be human and alive today. I absolutely adore this book. — Jonny Sun, New York Times bestselling author of Goodbye, Again As a Filipino-American baker, I’ve very much longed for the representation in the culinary world that is Mayumu. Abi's recipes are a creative blend of Filipino and American flavors and treats, marrying the best of both worlds. — Michelle Lopez, blogger at Hummingbird High and author of Weeknight Baking

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Mike is a real-life Tom Clancy American hero, and our nation is better for his service. The world is changing, and this book tells the story.” — Marc Andreessen, cofounder of Andreessen Horowitz “Our family is forever grateful for experiencing the brave work of Secretary Pompeo, defending faith and freedom for all Americans and those in every nation, no matter their beliefs. Secretary Pompeo rose above disparagement and danger to protect us all, making history as the only person to lead the CIA and the State Department.” — Kathy Ireland, chair/CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide “An American patriot and a truly gifted leader, Mike led the Agency through one of the most important and challenging periods in American history. His unparalleled ability to build and lead teams in a highly successful fashion through complex strategic challenges was extraordinary. Mike’s actions were always focused on achieving the absolute best results for the American people.” — Tom Higgins, retired officer, Central Intelligence Agency “Having served as a fellow Army officer with Mike in the Second Armored Cavalry, I spent many a cold, wet, and sleepless night with Mike on ‘Freedom's Frontier.’ There are two things you always knew about Mike: His dedication to duty and to the mission was paramount, and his loyalty to his soldiers and fellow officers was unquestionable. This book is an important read for all Americans.” — Jeff Boobar, former Army officer and retired DEA special agent “Weakness invites aggression. No one appreciates this dictum better than Secretary Mike Pompeo, a patriot and a pipehitter. Never Give an Inch is Mr. Pompeo’s account of the state of America and the adversaries we face. It is a fascinating read, sensational and at times terrifying. I couldn’t put it down. If you care about America’s place in an era of seemingly endless crises, I urge you to pick up this book.” — Ayaan Hirsi Ali, research fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University “Secretary Pompeo’s effort on behalf of religious freedom for people of all faiths from across the world increased hope for many.” — Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York “A true tour de force that reads like a thriller, densely packed with important content. Written with real humor, the messages, while often alarming, are delivered in a uniquely positive way. Shining through on every page is the author’s deep love of country and dedication to the principles enshrined in our founding documents. This riveting memoir is the most compelling summary to be found anywhere of the challenges currently facing the United States in today’s increasingly dangerous world.” — Mary Ann Glendon, professor emerita of law at Harvard University and former US ambassador to the Holy See

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Book Synopsis''The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth'' Evening Standard A woman in a man''s world, Queen Elizabeth I was to become England''s most successful ruler. Confident in her destiny, intensely intelligent, passionately sexual yet (she said) a virgin, Elizabeth''s reign was characterised by a self-assurance unusual for the time. Finding her way through the labyrinthine plots that surrounded the court, she had to live by her wits, surrounded by betrayal and suspicion, not knowing who to trust with her desire to be queen, or her desire to be a lover.David Starkey''s portrait of the first female ruler of England is an enlightening account. Filled with lucid and clear scenes with fascinating insight throughout, Elizabeth is a truly masterful retelling of the life of a legendary monarch.''What a page turner!'' Time Out''Fresh and lively... Vividly told'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewFresh and lively... Vividly told... He sets before us not only the woman behind the throne but the girl behind the woman * Sunday Times *The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth... One of the most zestful pieces of narrative history written...a racy read and first-rate history * Evening Standard *What a page turner! A white knuckle ride through history...inspired research, from the clues embedded in the portraits to court ceremonial to the often circumlocutory letters * Time Out *I found myself compelled by David Starkey's vivid recreation of the hazardous uncertainty of Elizabeth's early life, her successive exclusions from the centre of power, the studiedly ambiguous answers she offered her interrogators, her inevitable implications in conspiracies and narrow escapes from execution * Times Literary Supplement *Combines a relaxed and unfussy style with a thorough knowledge of the period and a sharp eye for detail. Elizabeth's life makes for a compelling story and Starkey tells it well * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisIn 1593, the brilliant and controversial young playwright Christopher Marlowe was stabbed to death in a Deptford lodging house. The circumstances were shady, the official account - a violent quarrel over the bill, or ''recknynge'' - long regarded as dubious.For the first time tracing Marlowe''s shadowy political and intelligence dealings, Charles Nicholl uncovers critical new evidence about that fatal day. Also providing an enthralling revelation of the extraordinary underworld of Elizabethan crime and espionage, the ''secret theatre'', Nicholl penetrates four centuries of obscurity to expose a complex and chilling story of entrapment and betrayal.Trade ReviewAn absorbing detective story with many twists and dark secrets. It is a passionate tale that haunts the imagination -- Michael Sheldon * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *Remarkable...for the first time reveals the true mystery of his death... Extraordinary * The Times *A book full of wit, scholarship and ingenuity... Extraordinary -- Colm Toibin * Irish Times *A remarkable academic thriller, a brilliant recontruction -- Michael Coveney * Observer *This book blows open the world of Elizabethan espionage, and presents the most comprehensive case yet for disbelieving the official inquest * Independent *

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Book SynopsisA gripping biography by the author of Brave New WorldThe life of Father Joseph, Cardinal Richelieu''s aide, was a shocking paradox. After spending his days directing operations on the battlefield, Father Joseph would pass the night in prayer, or in composing spiritual guidance for the nuns in his care. He was an aspirant to sainthood and a practising mystic, yet his ruthless exercise of power succeeded in prolonging the unspeakable horrors of the Thirty Years'' War. In his masterful biography, Huxley explores how an intensely religious man could lead such a life and how he reconciled the seemingly opposing moral systems of religion and politics.Trade ReviewPenetrating and vivid... This biography will rank amongst Huxley's best books. He never wrote better; he never hit upon a more interesting theme * Sunday Times *A remarkable biography * Observer *Grey Eminence is lucid, scholarly and thoughtful. Huxley has used all his ingenuity to explain this extraordinary character * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY KATE WILLIAMSFrederick II of Prussia attempted to escape his authoritarian father as a boy, but went on to become one of history''s greatest rulers. He loved the flute, and devoted hours of study to the arts and French literature, forming a long-lasting but turbulent friendship with Voltaire. He was a military genius and enlarged the borders of his empire, but he also promoted religious tolerance, economic reform and laid the foundation for a united Germany. Nancy Mitford brings all these contradictions and achievements to sparkling life in an fascinating, intimate biography.Trade ReviewHe is everything I like, brave, funny, no nonsense, marvellous taste, common sense, interested in everything -- Nancy Mitford on Frederick II of PrussiaThe unmistakable Mitford trill, in whose light, bright cadences an entire hard-to-shock and easy-to-bore view of life is made manifest -- Zoe Heller * Daily Telegraph *Elegant and entertaining * Chicago Tribune *Witty and atmospheric * Sunday Times *[Her books] have the air of having been talked on to the page, in a voice as direct and intimate and clear as a child's -- Laura Thompson * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisSelected as a Book of the Year by the New York Times, Times Literary Supplement and The TimesDespite his status as the most despised political figure in history, there have only been four serious biographies of Hitler since the 1930s. Even more surprisingly, his biographers have been more interested in his rise to power and his methods of leadership than in Hitler the person: some have even declared that the Führer had no private life. Yet to render Hitler as a political animal with no personality to speak of, as a man of limited intelligence and poor social skills, fails to explain the spell that he cast not only on those close to him but on the German people as a whole. In the first volume of this monumental biography, Volker Ullrich sets out to correct our perception of the Führer. While charting in detail Hitler's life from his childhood to the eve of the Second World War against the politics of the times, Ullrich unveils the man behind the pTrade ReviewEveryone concerned about democracy should read this book. -- Richard J. Evans * The Nation *A superb biography of the Führer’s pre-war years… It is a tribute to Ullrich’s absorbing biography that one contemplates its second volume with a shudder. -- Miranda Seymour * Daily Telegraph *[A] fascinating Shakespearean parable about how the confluence of circumstances, chance, a ruthless individual and the wilful blindness of others can transform a country. -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *A substantial addition to the Fuhrer canon. -- David Aaronovitch * The Times, Book of the Year *Where Ullrich adds greatly to our understanding is by making the mercurial, changeable and…profoundly unknowable Hitler believable… This is a major achievement… Impressive and revealing biography. -- Nicholas Stargardt * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisJuliet Nicolson is the bestselling author of three works of social history, The Perfect Summer: Dancing into Shadow in 1911; The Great Silence: 1918-1920 Living in the Shadow of the Great War; and Frostquake: The frozen winter of 1962 and how Britain emerged a different country; as well as a family memoir, A House Full of Daughters. She is a mother and a grandmother and lives with her husband in East Sussex.Trade ReviewShocking and brave... Nicolson's anger, tenderness and insight have resulted in an exceptionally moving book -- Miranda Seymour * Daily Telegraph *I couldn't put it down... Enthralling, touching and beautifully written -- Joanna LumleyOriginal and illuminating… A House Full of Daughters gallops through seven generations with confidence and ease: it is funny in parts, painful in others but always honest. -- Andrea Wulf * Guardian *Tense, highly personal and beautifully written... A powerful and moving family portrait -- Christena Appleyard * Literary Review *Candid, poignant, well-written and wonderfully life-affirming -- Sebastian Shakespeare * Tatler *

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Book SynopsisAs a contemporary of Krishnamurti and one of his closest associates. Pupul Jayakar offers an insiderâs view of the fascinating life and thought of an extraordinary individual.

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Book SynopsisTHE EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF THE FATHER OF MODERN GEOLOGYHidden behind velvet curtains above a stairway in a house in London''s Piccadilly is an enormous and beautiful hand-coloured map - the first geological map of anywhere in the world. Its maker was a farmer''s son named William Smith. Born in 1769 his life was troubled: he was imprisoned for debt, turned out of his home, his work was plagiarised, his wife went insane and the scientific establishment shunned him. It was not until 1829, when a Yorkshire aristocrat recognised his genius, that he was returned to London in triumph: The Map That Changed the World is his story.''For a geologist, this is a must read'' Amazon Reviewer''It serves to lift a genius from academic semi-obscurity and to award him the acknowledgement he undoubtedly deserves'' Amazon Reviewer''Never realised how seminal this map was'' Amazon Reviewer

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Book SynopsisCharles Nicholl's previous publications include The Reckoning: The Murder of Christopher Marlowe (winner of the James Tait Black Prize for Biography), Somebody Else: Arthur Rimbaud in Africa (Winner of the Hawthornden Prize), The Fruit Palace and The Creature in the Map.

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Book SynopsisA haunting, evocative recounting of her life as a slave in North Carolina, and her final escape and emancipation, Jacobs'' narrative, written between 1853 and 1858 and published in 1861, is one of the most important books ever written documenting the traumas and horrors of slavery in the antebellum South.

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Book Synopsis''A ripping read ... fascinating, charming, enjoyably unorthodox'' Daily TelegraphWas Niccolò Machiavelli really the cynical schemer of legend - or was he a profound ethical thinker, who tried to save the democratic freedom of Renaissance Florence as it was threatened by ruthless dynasties? This revelatory biography shows us a man of fox-like dissimulation: a master of disguise in dangerous times. ''A gripping portrait of a brilliant political thinker, who understood the dangers of authoritarianism and looked for ways to curb them'' The New Yorker''Compelling ... this unconventional biography questions whether the philosopher deserves his reputation as an advocate for tyranny'' Julian Baggini, Financial TimesTrade ReviewLively, compulsively readable, fluently written and unshowily erudite—Terry Eagleton, GuardianCompelling, unconventional—Julian Baggini, Financial TimesA ripping read . . . fascinating, charming, enjoyably unorthodox—Tim Smith-Laing, TelegraphA remarkable work of imaginative engagement backed by scholarly learning. . . can be read with pleasure by anyone interested in the craft of politics and the life of ideas.—Edmund Fawcett, The New York TimesEngaging, clever, entertaining . . . Benner brings to life a Machiavelli who's a man of considerable political principle . . . a creative, lively and very readable book with more than a little contemporary resonance.—Catherine Fletcher, Literary ReviewA gripping portrait of a brilliant political thinker, who understood the dangers of authoritarianism and looked for ways to curb them even though independent speech had become impossible.—The New YorkerA rich, vivid and endlessly surprising portrayal of the man and his times—Tracy Borman, BBC History MagazineErica Benner succeeds brilliantly in overturning centuries-old received views of a seminal but misunderstood writer and thinker. Her enthralling and moving evocation of Machiavelli's turbulent career, set in the milieu in which he lived, also reveals how much he is our contemporary—Rosamund BartlettTimely, dramatic . . . an eye-opening, captivating portrait. Benner succeeds at what every biographer tries to do: she brings her subject to life for her readers.—KirkusA readable and excellent book . . . In our world of new princes and divided societies, with increasing confrontations that can seem in constant danger of escalating to conflict, Be Like the Fox reads like a cautionary call from the past—General Sir Rupert SmithFascinating, remarkable . . . Erica Benner illuminates not only the life of Machiavelli but the complex and cruel political world in which he operate—Avi ShlaimVividly drawn . . . biography at its best—Times Higher Education SupplementEnjoyably revisionist . . . Benner deserves great praise for dragging this much-maligned man's reputation at least partly out of the mud—Andrew Lynch, Sunday Business PostA lively and engaging study told with empathy, passion and imagination . . . well-researched, forceful and thought-provoking—Historical Writers' Association

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Book Synopsis''A superb book'' Financial Times, Books of the YearAdam Smith is now widely regarded as ''the father of modern economics'' and the most influential economist who ever lived. But what he really thought, and what the implications of his ideas are, remain fiercely contested. Was he an eloquent advocate of capitalism and the freedom of the individual? Or a prime mover of ''market fundamentalism'' and an apologist for inequality and human selfishness? Or something else entirely? Jesse Norman''s brilliantly conceived ook gives us not just Smith''s economics, but his vastly wider intellectual project. Against the turbulent backdrop of Enlightenment Scotland, it lays out a succinct and highly engaging account of Smith''s life and times, reviews his work as a whole and traces his influence over the past two centuries.But this book is not only a biography. It dispels the myths and debunks the caricatures that have grown up around Adam Smith. It expTrade ReviewThis splendid book not only presents an excellent introduction to the life and ideas of Adam Smith, but also explains why - and how - Smith's insights can help us solve some of the most difficult social and economic problems of the contemporary world. Smith loved lucidity and relevance, and I think he would have been very happy with Norman's book. -- Amartya SenMasterly ... amid the superficiality and hysterics of modern British politics, an admirably thoughtful brain is lurking -- Edward Lucas * The Times *An important work of revisionist biography with a direct and important impact on the intellectual underpinnings of liberal free-market thought -- Oliver Letwin * Telegraph *Superb ... Norman succeeds in demonstrating the coherence and subtlety of Adam Smith's thought -- Martin Wolf * Financial Times (Books of the Year) *A remarkable and intensely readable book ... a rejoinder to those who fear that the intellectual has disappeared from politics -- John Kay * Financial Times *This book is well-written, well-argued and intensely thought-provoking, and it will rightly raise Smith's posthumous reputation -- Simon Heffer * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperbackCharles II has always been one of the most instantly recognisable British kings - both in his physical appearance, disseminated through endless portraits, prints and pub signs, and in his complicated mix of lasciviousness, cynicism and luxury. His father''s execution and his own many years of exile made him a guarded, curious, unusually self-conscious ruler. He lived through some of the most striking events in the national history - from the Civil Wars to the Great Plague, from the Fire of London to the wars with the Dutch.Clare Jackson''s marvellous book takes full advantage of its irrepressible subject.

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Book Synopsis A remarkable account of Kurt Gödel, weaving together creative genius, mental illness, political corruption, and idealism in the face of the turmoil of war and upheaval. At age 24, a brilliant Austrian-born mathematician published a mathematical result that shook the world. Nearly a hundred years after Kurt Gödel''s famous 1931 paper On Formally Undecidable Propositions appeared, his proof that every mathematical system must contain propositions that are true - yet never provable within that system - continues to pose profound questions for mathematics, philosophy, computer science, and artificial intelligence. His close friend Albert Einstein, with whom he would walk home every day from Princeton''s famous Institute for Advanced Study, called him the greatest logician since Aristotle. He was also a man who felt profoundly out of place in his time, rejecting the entire current of 20th century philosophical thought in his belief that mathematical truths existed independent of theTrade ReviewBudiansky opens up the history of a time where great progress was achieved in foundations of mathematics against the backdrop of the Second World War. This is an easily accessible account for those who did not have the chance to meet Kurt Gödel in person...For the generations that possibly enjoy the t-shirt version of Gödel's work, I would hope that the variety of his work would spark more diversified Gödel merchandise * Annika Kanckos, Metascience *It would be easy to fall into the trap of repeating somewhat exaggerated anecdotes and to ridicule the leading character of this biography. Therefore, it is a pleasure to read a book on the life of Gödel that does all but that. The book offers a serious and unapologetic account of Gödel's life ... The new take on the topics is refreshing and brings the past to life through a coherent narrative. * Annika Kanckos, Metascience *Selected as a 2021 Book of the Year in the Times Literary Supplementwonderfully engrossing * Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker *Budiansky, for all his tremendous efforts and exhaustive interrogations of Gödel's times and places, acquaintances and offices, can only leave us, at the end, with an immeasurably enriched version of Gödel the wise child. It's an undeniably distracting and reductive picture. But - and this is the trouble - it's not wrong. * Simon Ings, Spectator *Journey to the Edge of Reason covers [Gödel's life and work] engagingly and clearly, which is quite a feat given the difficulty of the material. The author... also manages successfully to convey Gödel's naivety, eccentricity and paranoia as well as his genius. * Nick Spencer, Financial Times *In this excellent new biography, Stephen Budiansky introduces the reader to Gödel's stunning achievements in logic, illuminates his devastating mental illness and considers how the two might be related. * Cheryl Misak, Times Literary Supplement *An engaging read, both on a personal and professional level. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *One of the great geniuses of the 20th century, barely known outside the academy today, receives a much-needed expert biographical treatment ... An outstanding biography of a man of incomprehensible brilliance. * Kirkus reviews *Journey to the Edge of Reason is an intimate and haunting portrait of one of the most elusive gods on Princeton's Mt. Olympus. A triumph of research and a wonderful read. * Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind *Kurt Gödel's mathematical results on incompleteness and undecidable propositions leave it up to us, as individuals, to choose whether to mourn these limits to the power of formal systems, or celebrate his proof that even the most rigid numerical bureaucracy contains the tools by which higher truth will always be able to effect an escape. Stephen Budianksy's Journey to the Edge of Reason expertly and humanely frames these results between Gödel's childhood under the dark shadow of the Austrian and Nazi bureaucracies, his escape to America, his descent into physical and mental illness, and his achievement of a reconciliation between spiritual faith and scientific proof. * George Dyson, author of Analogia and Turing's Cathedral *A painstakingly researched and lucidly presented biography—a close-up of one of the most influential and enigmatic thinkers of the twentieth century—full of vivid detail and sharp historical insight. * Karl Sigmund, professor of mathematics, University of Vienna, and author of Exact Thinking in Demented Times *A brilliant biography of one of the most original thinkers of all time, Journey to the Edge of Reason is as deep and precise as the genius it describes. In a paradox befitting Gödel himself, it takes a tale of logic and its limits and finds, at its heart, something strangely soulful and sympathetic. * Steven Strogatz, professor of mathematics, Cornell University, and author ofInfinite Powers *Prepare yourself for a great adventure and fascinating book that can be picked up at ease and read at pace..Budiansky provides a gripping and interesting dialogue fitting the great story of this fascinating figure...an excellent book. * Kenny Green, Mathematics Today *

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Book SynopsisThis extraordinary re-creation of the life of a medieval Italian merchant, Francesco di Marco Datini, is one of the greatest historical portraits written in the twentieth century.Drawing on an astonishing cache of letters unearthed centuries after Datini''s death, it reveals to us a shrewd, enterprising, anxious man, as he makes deals, furnishes his sumptuous house, buys silks for his outspoken young wife and broods on his legacy. It is an unequalled source of knowledge about the texture of daily life in the small, earthy, violent, striving world of fourteenth-century Tuscany.''Datini has now probably become most intimately accessible figure of the later Middle Ages ... brilliant and intricate'' The Times''As a picture of Tuscany before the dawn of the Renaissance it is a complement to The Decameron'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewFrancesco di Marco Datini, the fourteenth-century Tuscan merchant who forms the subject of Origo's brilliant study, has now probably become the most intimately accessible figures of the later Middle Ages ... paints, in brilliant and intricate detail, a picture of Italian domestic life on the eve of the Renaissance * The Times *As a picture of the daily round in Tuscany before the dawn of the Renaissance it is a complement to The Decameron * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe sensational second volume of Charles Moore''s bestselling authorized biography of the Iron LadyIn June 1983 Margaret Thatcher won the biggest increase in a government''s Parliamentary majority in British electoral history. Over the next four years, as Charles Moore relates in this central volume of his uniquely authoritative biography, Britain''s first woman prime minister changed the course of her country''s history and that of the world, often by sheer force of will.The book reveals as never before how she faced down the Miners'' Strike, transformed relations with Europe, privatized the commanding heights of British industry and continued the reinvigoration of the British economy. It describes her role on the world stage with dramatic immediacy, identifying Mikhail Gorbachev as ''a man to do business with'' before he became leader of the Soviet Union, and then persistently pushing him and Ronald Reagan, her great ideological soulmate, to order world affaTrade ReviewMoore has finally completed one of the most thrilling, comprehensive, fair-minded and elegantly written biographies of modern times. It is full of complex argument, and a very large cast, but it is a joy to read.—Andrew Marr, New StatesmanReviewers are supposed never to use the word "definitive" about a history book or biograph, but with Charles Moore's life of Margaret Thatcher, of which this is the triumphant last volume, one has no other option. ... an absolute masterpiece of the biographer's art.—Andrew Roberts, Daily TelegraphMoore's Margaret Thatcher is one of the truly great biographies. Throughout the three volumes it has been comprehensive and subtle, breaking new ground while being surefooted on familiar terrain. He provides a portrait of Thatcher - her anxiousness and her certainty, her strength and her frailty - that is surprising and fresh while still convincing. This volume completes a historical masterpiece.—Daniel Finkelstein, The TimesNot merely the authorized biography, Moore's is the definitive biography of Thatcher, and perhaps one of the definitive books about Britain in the late twentieth century.—Anne Applebaum, New York Review of BooksThis is a magnificent political biography which takes its place next to Robert Blake's Disraeli and Robert Caro's Lyndon Johnson on the highest level. Outstanding... superb... extraordinarily compelling.—Philip Hensher, Spectator

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Book SynopsisAn astonishing memoir of the Holocaust through the eyes of a child, and an exquisite meditation on memory and trauma Aharon Appelfeld was the beloved only child of middle-class Jewish parents living in what is now Ukraine at the outbreak of World War Two. Their peaceful life is upended when soldiers invade their town. His mother is shot dead in her own garden. The then-seven-year-old Aharon does not witness her murder, but he does hear her scream.Aharon and his father are sent to a concentration camp and separated. Memory and trauma combine to create a patchwork of reminiscences. Aharon is ten years old when he escapes from the camp into the forests of Ukraine, and is overwhelmed by the sight of an apple tree laden with fruit.Living off the land for two years before making the long journey south to Italy and eventually Israel and freedom, Appelfeld finally found a home in which he could make a life for himself, eventually becoming one of Israel's most

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Book SynopsisAn absolutely unique book, this is the Second World War in Burma as seen through the eyes of ordinary Japanese soldiersOver 305,000 Japanese soldiers fought in Burma between 1942 and 1945; 180,000 of them died. This book, uniquely, tells how the common soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army lived, fought and died in that terrible conflict. Here are straightforward accounts, sometimes moving, often shocking, of what it was like to fight a war in a strange country, far from home, short of food and weapons, confused, facing death from disease and starvation as well as enemy action.Sixty-two ''tales'', translated from the Japanese, trace the Burma campaign in chronological sequence and together offer a new perspective on a terrible war. Japanese soldiers, navy men, fighter pilots, and others were from a different culture, but they were not the devils of popular legend. Just like their enemies, they were scared young men, fighting to the death a war they didn''t

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Book SynopsisMarta Tienda sees life stories in numbers. She is a sociologist, a scientist who studies human society. Numbers are the tools she uses to uncover information about people and their behavior. This work presents the story of this Mexican American girl raised in a home without books who grew up to become one of the world's leading sociologists.Table of Contents1 Sample Chapter 1: Sociology of the Soul

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Book SynopsisBrilliantly researched and wonderfully written, LOVE AND CAPITAL is a heartbreaking and dramatic saga of the family side of the man whose works would redefine the world after his death. Drawing upon years of research, acclaimed biographer Mary Gabriel brings to light the story of Karl and Jenny Marx''s marriage. We follow them as they roam Europe, on the run from hostile governments amidst a secret network of would-be revolutionaries, and see Karl not only as an intellectual, but as a protective father and loving husband, a visionary, a jokester, a man of tremendous passions, both political and personal. In LOVE AND CAPITAL, Mary Gabriel has given us a vivid, resplendent, and truly human portrait of the Marxes-their desires, heartbreak and devotion to each other''s ideals.

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Book SynopsisA Top 10 Best Books of the Year (Wall Street Journal), Top 10 Best Nonfiction (Time), Top 5 Nonfiction (LA Times), Top 10 Books of 2022 (Fresh Air), and One of Oprah Daily''s Favourite Books of 2022: A revelatory biography from a Pulitzer Prize-winner about the most essential Founding Father- the one who stood behind the change in thinking that produced the American Revolution.A glorious book that is as entertaining as it is vitally important. -Ron ChernowA beautifully crafted, invaluable biography...Schiff ingeniously connects the past to our present and future, underscoring the lessons of Adams while reclaiming our nation''s self-evident truths at a moment when we seemed to have forgotten them. -Oprah DailyThomas Jefferson asserted that if there was any leader of the Revolution, Samuel Adams was the man. With high-minded ideals and bare-knuckle tactics, Adams led what could be called the greatest campaign of civil resistan

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Book SynopsisIn Cook''s relatively short and adventurous life (1728-79) he voyaged to the eastern and western seaboards of North America, the North and South Pacific and the Arctic and Antarctic bringing about a new comprehension of the world''s geography and its people''s. He was the linking figure between the grey specualtion of the early eighteenth century and the industrial age of the first half of the nineteenth century.Richard Hough''s biograpahy is full of new insights and interpretations of one of the world''s greatest mariners.Trade ReviewHighly readable * Terry Waite, The Sunday Times *Richard Hough's biography is as fascinating as it is felicitous in style and entertaining in content * Field Marshal Lord Carver, The Sunday Telegraph *Hough tells the story with skill to give a convincing smell of the sea * Flora Fraser, The Times *Captain James Cook does handsome justice to the navigator * Ian Thomson, The Independent *

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Book SynopsisTwo years after writing his celebrated childhood autobiography Ake, Wole Soyinka opened a tin box that had belonged to his father. The simple contents of this box provide the fuel for Isara the second instalment of Soyinka's memoirs.Trade Review"One of the finest achievements of this author's varied and brilliant career."--Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisThis first of its kind memoir offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of the Navajo code talkers.

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Book SynopsisMargaret Thatcher is one of the most iconic politicians of the twentieth century. With the possible exception of Winston Churchill, no other Prime Minister has had such an impact on modern British history. Like it or not, her radical social and economic policies have made Britain the country it is today. Without Margaret Thatcher there could have been no New Labour, no Tony Blair and no David Cameron.Now Robin Harris, for many years Thatcher''s speechwriter, trusted adviser and the draftsman of two volumes of her autobiography, has written the defining book about this indomitable woman. He tells her extraordinary life story, from humble beginnings above her father''s grocer''s shop in Grantham, her early days as one of the first women in Westminster who became known as ''Thatcher milk-snatcher'' during her days in the Ministry for Education and then as Prime Minister. We follow her through the ''Winter of Discontent'', the tribulations of the miners'' strike and the FalklandTrade ReviewThe political biography of the decade * Daily Mail *No-holds-barred, well-written... contains the most authoritative account of her life after leaving office... a dramatic account. -- Philip Webster * The Times *[a] lively and accessible insider's account -- Peter Clarke * Financial Times *After all the eulogies, it is refreshing to read about an odd, driven, believable person – rather than some abstract national saviour or demon... Harris is like a long-faithful courtier freed by a monarch's death to speak the truth about them. -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *Remarkable... A vivid and concise study in adversity, triumph and treachery. -- Daniel Johnson * Standpoint *Readable and well-informed... detailed and fascinating -- Philip Ziegler * Spectator *A pacy and entertaining book... well-sourced and packed with anecdotes. A first rate potted history. -- Patrick O'Flynn * Express *Irresistible reading ... the brilliance of Harris's gift for narrative has not deserted him. -- Ferdinand Mount * Times Literary Supplement *Excellent -- Andrew Gimson * Conservative Home *Insightful and very readable. Its strength lies in its personal approach. -- Jack Carrigan * Catholic Herald *

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Book SynopsisWilliam Dampier, (1651-1715), was an English adventurer and pirate who preyed on ships on the Spanish Main. Poor and ill-educated and determined to make his fortune, he nonetheless had a passion for exploration and scientific research. Dampier was the first to map the winds and currents of the world''s oceans; led the first recorded party of Englishmen to set foot on Australia - 80 years before Cook; wrote about Galapagos wildlife 150 years before Darwin, who drew on Dampier''s notes in his own work; was the first travel writer: A NEW VOYAGE AROUND THE WORLD was instant bestseller when it was published in 1697 - said to have influenced the novels of Swift and Defoe. A man full of contradictions: he who achieved so much ''blew it'' later in life, declining into scandal, failure and even farce. A unique man ahead of his time, he lived a large part of his life among pirates yet managed to preserve what Coleridge called his exquisite refinement of mind. A classic exampleTrade ReviewLively... extraordinary life - an unlikely combination of plundering and pioneering achievements in natural history and exploration * The Sunday Times *Gripping and well-researched... An impressive achievement * Guardian *This long overdue biography wonderfully brings to life one of the most important explorers of the seventeenth century -- Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the SeaThis eloquently enthusiastic biography, besides charting Dampier's astonishing achievements, offers fascinating information about his times * The Age, Melbourne *

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Book SynopsisPERFECT FOR FANS OF NETFLIX''S THE QUEEN''S GAMBIT''Gripping.'' SUNDAY TIMES''Pure drama.''INDEPENDENT''Compelling.''NEW YORK TIMESBobby Fischer Goes to War by David Edmonds and John Eidinow details the occasion when Bobby Fischer met Boris Spassky in one of the most thrilling and politically charged chess matches of all time.For decades, the USSR had dominated world chess. Evidence, according to Moscow, of the superiority of the Soviet system. But in 1972 along came the American, Bobby Fischer: insolent, arrogant, abusive, vain, greedy, vulgar, bigoted, paranoid and obsessive and apparently unstoppable.Against him was Boris Spassky: complex, sensitive, the most un-Soviet of champions. As the authors reveal, when Spassky began to lose, the KGB decided to step in. . .

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Book SynopsisLed by Erasmus Darwin, the Lunar Society of Birmingham was formed from a group of amateur experimenters, tradesmen and artisans who met and made friends in the Midlands in the 1760s. Most came from humble families, all lived far from the centre of things, but they were young and their optimism was boundless: together they would change the world. Among them were the ambitious toy-maker Matthew Boulton and his partner James Watt, of steam-engine fame; the potter Josiah Wedgwood; the larger-than-life Erasmus Darwin, physician, poet, inventor and theorist of evolution (a forerunner of his grandson Charles Darwin). Later came Joseph Priestley, discoverer of oxygen and fighting radical. Led by Erasmus Darwin they joined a small band of allies, formed the Lunar Society of Birmingham (so called because it met at each full moon) and kick-started the Industrial Revolution. Blending science, art, and commerce, the Lunar Men built canals, launched balloons, named plants, gases and miner

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