Biography: adventurers and explorers Books
Penguin Random House LLC Kingmaker
Book Synopsis“A thorough account of Harriman’s rise which also manages to be a brisk, twisty read … riveting and revelatory.” —The New Yorker“Rigorous but rollicking.” —The New York TimesNamed a BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR by Apple Books, The Economist, Town & Country, The Guardian, The Spectator, The Telegraph, The Oldie, and The Times Literary Supplement and a Must-Read Book of Fall 2024 by People MagazineFrom the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, an electrifying re-examination of one of the 20th century’s greatest unsung power playersWhen Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing – and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes – on both sides of the Atlantic - remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.At age 20 Churchill’s beloved daughter-in-law became a “secret weapon” during World War II, strategically wining, dining, and seducing diplomats and generals to help win over American sentiment (and secrets) to the British cause against Hitler. After the war, she helped to transform Fiat heir Gianni Agnelli into Italy’s ‘uncrowned king’ on the international stage and after moving to the US brought a struggling Democratic party back to life, hand-picking Bill Clinton from obscurity and vaulting him to the presidency.Picked as Ambassador to France, she deployed her legendary subtle powers to charm world leaders and help efforts to bring peace to Bosnia, playing her part in what was arguably the high-water mark of American global supremacy.There are few at any time who have operated as close to the center of power over five decades and two continents, and there is practically no one in 20th Century politics, culture, and fashion whose lives she did not touch, including the Kennedys, Truman Capote, Aly Khan, Kay Graham, Gloria Steinem, Ed Murrow, and Frank Sinatra. Written with the novelistic richness and investigative rigor that only Sonia Purnell could bring to this story full of sex, politics, yachts, palaces and fabulous clothes, KINGMAKER re-asserts Harriman’s rightful place at the heart of history.
£29.60
The University of Chicago Press Nietzsche and the Vicious Circle
Book SynopsisNow published in English, this work takes a structuralist approach to the relation between Nietzsche's thought and his life. The author emphasizes the centrality of the notion of "eternal return" for understanding Nietzsche's propensities for self-denial, self-reputation and self-consumption.
£30.26
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Building Material
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£21.25
Oxford University Press Inc Napoleon A Concise Biography
Book SynopsisThis book provides a concise, lively, up-to-date portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte''s character and career, including his most important battles, while situating him firmly in historical context.David Bell emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility - for both good and ill - that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become absolute master of Europe''s most powerful country. In his early forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell underlines the importance of the French Revolution of 1789 in understanding Napoleon''s career. It was the Revolution that made possible the unprecedented concentration of political authority that Napoleon developed, as well as his unprecedented success in mobilizing human and material resources. The Revolution gave birth to the radically new, intense form of warfare that Napoleon later practiced. Without the political changes brought about by the Revolution, Napoleon could not have fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held onto power. He did betray much of the Revolution''s heritage of liberty and equality, and ruled as a virtual dictator. But his life and career were, nonetheless, revolutionary.Trade ReviewThere are plenty of big lives of Napoleon, and the last few years have seen the appearance of a whole new crop. Their general standard has been very high, but the detail is often daunting, not to mention the weight in the hand. Pocket-sized biographies by reputable scholars have been surprisingly less common. The best English one in recent times, by Felix Markham, was published as long ago as 1963. Napoleonic studies have moved on considerably since then, and David Bell has been one of the leaders in advancing the field with his survey in 2007 of what he called the First Total War. Now he offers a crisp and up-to-date introduction to the amazing career of the man at the centre of it all. - * William Doyle, History *A very concise, but very illuminating history of one of the world's greatest generals. * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *It is entertaining to read and discusses the important events and developments surrounding Napoleons reign. * Michael J. Hughes, European History Quarterly *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Corsican, 1769-1796 2. The General, 1796-1799 3. The First Consul, 1799-1804 4. The Emperor, 1804-1812 5. Downfall, 1812-1815 Epilogue: 1815-2015
£999.99
Crown Leaving the Saints
£14.20
Grand Central Publishing Teacher by Teacher
£21.75
HarperCollins 19311934 01 Diary of Anais Nin
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£17.59
Random House USA Inc The Woman Who Would Be King
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£17.00
Cambridge University Press The Career and Legend of Vasco da Gama
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£29.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Save Me from Myself
Book SynopsisDiscusses the authors end to his time in Korn and how his faith has influenced his relationship with his daughter, his life and his music. This book describes challenging but rewarding events over two years, and exposes the truth about how his moments of doubt and his hardships have only deepened his faith.
£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Writing Life
Book SynopsisFor nonwriters, it is a glimpse into the trials and satisfactions of a life spent with words. For writers, it is a warm, rambling, conversation with a stimulating and extraordinarily talented colleague. — Chicago TribuneFrom Pulitzer Prize-winning Annie Dillard, a collection that illuminates the dedication and daring that characterizes a writer''s life.In these short essays, Annie Dillard—the author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and An American Childhood—illuminates the dedication, absurdity, and daring that characterize the existence of a writer. A moving account of Dillard’s own experiences while writing her works, The Writing Life offers deep insight into one of the most mysterious professions.
£13.59
Little, Brown Book Group Call Me When You Get To Heaven Our amazing true
Book SynopsisIn this fascinating and moving memoir, sisters Jacky and Madeline share the communications they have received from their beloved father, Ron, since he passed away in February 2008. Ron reaches out to them from ''the other side'' to show his family that there most certainly is life after death. Ron visits family and friends in dreams, shows them the future in visions, and plays havoc with door bells, light switches and alarms. He reaches out to them to prove that he is safe in the afterlife, and to offer reassurance and guidance from beyond.This extraordinary book shows that this life is not the end, and that happiness can be found in the afterlife. It is a touching and emotional tribute to their father that will offer comfort and hope to anyone who has lost someone they love.Trade ReviewIsn't it reassuring to know each of us are being looked upon, even from way up in our big blue sky. * Melissa Porter, TV Presenter *CALL ME WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN is an inspiring and heartfelt read. * Rustie LEE, celebrity chef *This is a moving and compassionate memoir * Cygnus Books *
£10.99
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc Life of Christ
Book SynopsisWidely proclaimed a classic work of Christian faith, Life of Christ has been hailed as the most eloquent of Fulton J. Sheen''s many books. The fruit of many years of reflection, prayer, and research, it is a dramatic and moving recounting of the birth, life, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Christ, and a passionate portrait of the God-Man, the teacher, the healer, and, most of all, the Savior, whose promise has sustained humanity for two millenia.With his customary insight and reverence, Sheen interprets the Scripture and describes Christ not only in historical perspective but also in exciting and contemporary terms -- seeing in Christ''s life both modern parallels and timeless lessons. His thoughtful, probing analysis provides new insight into well-known Gospel events.An appealing blend of philosophy, history, and biblical exegesis, from the best-known and most-loved American Catholic leader of the twentieth century, Life of Christ has long been a sour
£18.90
WW Norton & Co Wedding Toasts Ill Never Give
Book SynopsisPoignant and witty essays on the beautiful complexity of marriage.Trade Review"... short, sharp and sensitive volume... Her [Ada Calhoun's] witty, enthusiastic, cautionary, emotional and hard-headed reflections ought to be required reading for anyone entering, experiencing, leaving or avoiding marriage." -- The Guardian"Calhoun is at her strongest when she probes into the unrealistic expectations people hold about the institution..." -- Times Literary Supplement"This is a fascinating meditation on monogamy, and when we focus so much on beginnings and endings when we talk about relationships, it's refreshing to read a book that focuses on what many of us are familiar with - just trying to make it work." -- Daisy Buchanan - The Pool"Hopeful, sensible and grounded in reality, it serves as guidance to those in long-term relationships and those embarking on them." -- Sunday Post"Whatever your status or views on the institution, Ada’s book offers invaluable insight into marriage: the good parts, the bad parts, and the ugly parts." -- Refinery29"What’s the last book that made you laugh? Ada Calhoun’s “Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give.” I mean, underlining and yellow marker bust-out laughs." -- Tom Hanks interview - The New York Times
£18.99
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc October Sky
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£999.99
Random House USA Inc Letters to a Young Poet Vintage An Erotics of
Book SynopsisThe ten letters collected here are arguably the most famous and beloved letters of our century. Written when Rainer Maria Rilke was himself still a young man with most of his greatest work before him, they are addressed to a student who had sent Rilke some of his work, asking for advice about becoming a writer. The two never met, but over a period of several years Rilke wrote him these ten letters, which have been enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of readers for what Stephen Mitchell calls the vibrant and deeply felt experience of life that informs them.
£9.49
Taylor & Francis Ltd JeanFrancois Lyotard
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£24.51
Creative Media Partners, LLC The Life of Friedrich Nietzsche
£24.65
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Coolidge
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£999.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Underboss Sammy the Bull Gravanos Story of Life
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£16.19
Penguin Putnam Inc The Midwife A Memoir of Birth Joy and Hard Times
Book SynopsisAn unforgettable true story, The Midwife is the basis for the hit PBS drama Call the MidwifeAt the age of twenty-two, Jennifer Worth leaves her comfortable home to move into a convent and become a midwife in post war London's East End slums. The colorful characters she meets while delivering babies all over London-from the plucky, warm-hearted nuns with whom she lives to the woman with twenty-four children who can't speak English to the prostitutes and dockers of the city's seedier side-illuminate a fascinating time in history. Beautifully written and utterly moving, The Midwife will touch the hearts of anyone who is, and everyone who has, a mother.
£15.30
Basic Books Endurance
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£12.34
Basic Books The Last 100 Days
Book SynopsisA revealing portrait of the end of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's life and presidency, shedding new light on how he made his momentous final policy decisions
£999.99
Yale University Press Louis
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Captivating…Hanley’s work vividly depicts the texture of the times with an enthralling, novelistic narrative.”—Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *“I have been waiting for a biography of Louis for a long time, and few are better qualified to write it than Hanley. She has a command of the sources and skilfully deploys her expertise in medieval arms and warfare… this is serious history, as well as a gripping – and poignant – story.”—Sophie Ambler, BBC History -- Sophie Ambler * BBC History Magazine *“Hanley breaks new ground with this engaging and readable first biography in English of Louis VIII.”—Choice * Choice *“This is a volume aimed at a wide audience, with an appealing, fast-paced prose style… will open up new perspectives and debates on the era of Louis”—Sean L. Field, Royal Studies -- Sean L. Field * Royal Studies *
£30.00
Oxford University Press Cleopatra
Book SynopsisFew personalities from classical antiquity are more famous--yet more poorly understood--than Cleopatra VII, queen of Egypt. In this major biography, Duane Roller reveals that Cleopatra was in fact a learned and visionary leader whose overarching goal was always the preservation of her dynasty and kingdom. Roller''s authoritative account is the first to be based solely on primary materials from the Greco-Roman period: literary sources, Egyptian documents (Cleopatra''s own writings), and representations in art and coinage produced while she was alive. His compelling portrait of the queen illuminates her prowess as a royal administrator who managed a large and diverse kingdom extending from Asia Minor to the interior of Egypt, as a naval commander who led her own fleet in battle, and as a scholar and supporter of the arts. Even her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius--the source of her reputation as a supreme seductress who drove men to their doom--were carefully crafted Trade ReviewThis is Cleopatra laid bare without any distractions: a good beginning for readers who know little about her and want to learn more. * History Today *Roller offers a superb panorama of the society and culture of late Ptolemaic Egypt, with vivid sketches of....Cleopatra's Alexandria. * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsPreface ; Abbreviations ; List of Illustrations ; Introduction ; 1. Cleopatra's Ancestry and Background ; 2. The Ptolemaic Heritage and the Entanglement With Rome ; 3. Cleopatra's Youth and Education ; 4. Becoming Queen (51-47 BC) ; 5. Consolidating the Empire (47-40 BC) ; 6. The Peak Years (40-34 BC) ; 7. The Operation of the Kingdom ; 8. Scholarship and Culture at the Court of Cleopatra ; 9. Downfall (34-30 BC) ; Appendices ; Bibliography ; List of Passages Cited ; Index
£13.29
Penguin Books Ltd Letters on England Penguin Classics
Book SynopsisAlso known as the Lettres anglaises ou philosophiques, Voltaire's response to his exile in England offered the French public of 1734 a panoramic view of British culture. Perceiving them as a veiled attack against the ancien regime, however, the French government ordered the letters burned and Voltaire persecuted.Table of ContentsLetters on England - Voltaire Translated by Leonard TancockIntroductionLetter 1: On the QuakersLetter 2: On the QuakersLetter 3: On the QuakersLetter 4: On the QuakersLetter 5: On the Anglican ReligionLetter 6: On the PresbyteriansLetter 7: On the Socinians, Arians or Anti-TrinitariansLetter 8: On ParliamentLetter 9: On the GovernmentLetter 10: On CommerceLetter 11: On Innoculation with SmallpoxLetter 12: On Chancellor BaconLetter 13: On Mr. LockeLetter 14: On Descartes and NewtonLetter 15: On the System of GravitationLetter 16: On the Optics of NewtonLetter 17: On Infinity and ChronologyLetter 18: On TragedyLetter 19: On ComedyLetter 20: On Noble Lords who cultivate literatureLetter 21: On the Earl of Rochester and Mr. WallerLetter 22: On Mr. Pope and some other famous poetsLetter 23: On the Consideration due to Men of LettersLetter 24: On AcademiesLetter 25: On the Pensées of PascalNotesAppendix
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd A Life in Letters
Book SynopsisFrom the teenager in provincial Russia in 1875 to his premature death in Germany in 1904, Chekhov wrote over 4,500 letters to a range of correspondents, including family and friends, his publisher and fellow writers - not to mention actresses. These letters tell the story of Chekhov''s life as a man and a writer and he emerges from them as a tough, generous, life-enhancing, and enigmatic character.
£16.14
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc Yeager An Autobiography
Book Synopsis#1 MULTI-MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER • A one-of-a-kind portrait of a true American hero: General Chuck Yeager “The secret of my success is that I always managed to live to fly another day.” General Chuck Yeager was the greatest test pilot of them all—the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound . . . the World War II flying ace who shot down a Messerschmitt jet with a prop-driven P-51 Mustang . . . the hero who defined a certain quality that all hotshot fly-boys of the postwar era aimed to achieve: the right stuff.Now he tells his whole incredible life story with the same “wide-open, full throttle” approach that has marked his astonishing career. What it was really like engaging in do-or-die dogfights over Nazi Europe. How after being shot down over occupied France, Yeager somehow managed to escape. The amazing behind-the-scenes story of smashi
£9.49
Footnote Press Ltd Propaganda Girls The Secret War of the Women in the OSS
£21.03
Penguin Young Readers Far from Home
£20.00
Basic Books Jefferson
Book SynopsisFrom an eminent scholar of the American South, the first full-scale biography of Thomas Jefferson since 1970
£31.50
Random House Captivated
Book SynopsisPiers Dudgeon is the author of many works of non-fiction. He worked for ten years as an editor in London before starting his own company producing books with authors as diverse as John Fowles, Catherine Cookson, Peter Ackroyd, Daphne du Maurier, Shirley Conran and Ted Hughes. Subsequently, he left London for Yorkshire where he wrote a number of biographies as well as illustrated books evocative of the spirit of place.
£7.49
Rowman & Littlefield Servant of Beauty
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£30.00
£14.83
Anagrama Hannah Arendt
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£35.62
Workman Publishing Women of the Fairy Tale Resistance
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£24.00
Orison Books The Divine Magnet
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£17.10
Yale University Press Sight Unseen
Book SynopsisBlind since the age of 11, Georgina Kleege draws on her own experiences to provide this account of visual impairment - both her own view of the world and the world's view of the blind. She addresses topics such as the negative status of the blind and how blindness is portrayed in literature.
£58.26
Yale University Press Frederick Barbarossa
Book SynopsisTrade Review“Freed has done so much to illuminate the ins and out of German politics in the late 12th century, ensuring that his book will be a constant point of reference for scholars.”—David Abulafia, History Today“Crafting an erudite biography on Frederick Barbarossa is no easy task, but Freed offers a comprehensive account of Frederick’s reign, rich in historical detail, that is suitable for scholars, students, and the general reader alike. This may be the go-to work on Frederick Barbarossa in English for quite some time yet.”—Stephen Donnachie, Royal Studies Journal‘John Freed's Frederick Barbarossa is a monumental achievement. Not only is it the first serious biography in English of one of the most fascinating and important individuals of the European Middle Ages. It also offers a thoughtful, lucid and immensely readable way into the environment and society from which Barbarossa emerged, and of the challenges and opportunities to be faced in writing about the wonderful world of the first Staufen emperor. We owe John Freed a collective debt of gratitude not only for having braced and mastered these challenges so magisterially, but also for the enjoyment and instruction that his book brings. It will teach experts much they did not know or had not thought about, but it will equally appeal to anyone interested in one of the most transformative periods in the history of medieval Europe.’ – Björn Weiler, author of Kingship, Rebellion and Political Culture: England and Germany, c.1215–c.1250‘John Freed has written a truly monumental biography, which will remain unchallenged as the authoritative account of Barbarossa for a long time to come. Rooted in a comprehensive command of the medieval sources and enriched by Freed’s profound understanding of twelfth-century aristocratic politics and society, this book reveals a Barbarossa stripped at last of many centuries of accumulated myth: as prince, dynast and warlord. Students of medieval history have waited a long time for a fully satisfactory treatment of one of the twelfth century’s most dazzling and complex personalities. With this brilliant and deeply learned book, their wait is over.’ - Len Scales, author of The Shaping of German Identity: Authority and Crisis, 1245–1414 “John Freed’s biography is the first in English for half a century. A 700-page doorstopper, this impressive, learned book certainly makes amends for this previously serious oversight… Thanks to Freed’s scholarly but highly readable biography, this pragmatic Teutonic Arthur might finally gain greater renown beyond Germany.”—Sean McGlynn, Spectator -- Sean McGlynn * Spectator *“Freed’s book is certainly a cause for celebration and will be a lasting resource… gives us a compelling, readable and very well-informed narrative of Frederick’s thirty-eight reign, that made him —with Henry II of England, Louis VII of France and Manuel I of Byzantium — one of the leading political personalities of Europe.”—Mark Whittow, TLS -- Mark Whittow * TLS *“Freed has done so much to illuminate the ins and out of German politics in the late 12th century, ensuring that his book will be a constant point of reference for scholars.”—David Abulafia, History Today -- David Abulafia * History Today *
£47.50
Oxford University Press Deng Xiaoping A Revolutionary Life
Book SynopsisDeng Xiaoping joined the Chinese Communist movement as a youth and rose in its ranks to become an important lieutenant of Mao''s from the 1930s onward. Two years after Mao''s death in 1976, Deng became the de facto leader of the Chinese Communist Party and the prime architect of China''s post-Mao reforms. Abandoning the Maoist socio-economic policies he had long fervently supported, he set in motion changes that would dramatically transform China''s economy, society, and position in the world. Three decades later, we are living with the results. China has become the second largest economy and the workshop of the world. And while it is essentially a market economy (socialism with Chinese characteristics), Deng and his successors ensured the continuation of CCP rule by severely repressing the democratic movement and maintaining an iron grip on power. When Deng died at the age of 92 in 1997, he had set China on the path it is following to this day.Alexander Pantsov and Steven Levine''s new biography of Deng Xiaoping does what no other biography has done: based on newly discovered documents, it covers his entire life, from his childhood and student years to the post-Tiananmen era. Thanks to unprecedented access to Russian archives containing massive files on the Chinese Communist Party, the authors present a wealth of new material on Deng dating back to the 1920s. In a long and extraordinary life, Deng navigated one epic crisis after another. Born in 1904, Deng, like many Asian revolutionary leaders, spent part of the 1920s in Paris, where he joined the CCP in its early years. He then studied in the USSR just as Stalin was establishing firm control over the Soviet communist party. He played an increasingly important role in the troubled decades of the 1930s and 1940s that were marked by civil war and the Japanese invasion. He was commissar of a communist-dominated area in the early 1930s, loyal henchman to Mao during the Long March, regional military commander in the anti-Japanese war, and finally a key leader in the 1946-49 revolution. During Mao''s quarter century rule, Deng oscillated between the heights and the depths of power. He was purged during the Cultural Revolution, only to reemerge after Mao''s death to become China''s paramount leader until his own death in 1997.This objective, balanced, and unprecedentedly rich biography changes our understanding of one of the most important figures in modern history.Trade ReviewThe best biography of the man who, along with Mao, was China's dominant statesman of the 20th century. * Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week *Alexander Pantsov and Steven Levine have been able to mine the Russian archives for their book, which gives [this biography an] intimate flavour... This is best seen in their description of the crucial relationship between Deng and Mao Zedong. * Times Higher Education, Kerry Brown *This is the best biography of him so far... The book is written in a clear, direct style that leads the general reader painlessly through the thickets of Maxism and Sinology. It is punctuated with neat, vivid anecdotes. It is balanced but unflinching. * Sunday Times, Michael Sheridan *Alexander V Pantsov and Steven I Levine's use of previously closed Soviet archives and a wider range of Chinese sources has informed the most comprehensive biography to date... In changing China, Deng changed the world: since we live with his legacy, this biography is essential reading. * Prospect, Isabel Hilton *A painstaking and worthwhile effort... [the authors] have made extensive use of a hitherto untapped source: once secret archives kept by the Soviet Union... The book contains many interesting details, especially of Deng's career before he became the paramount leader. * Economist *A strong and solid contribution to our understanding of Deng's importance. In particular, Pantsov's impressive access to the Russian archives permits a range of useful insights on Deng's early life and revolutionary career, as well as the sweep of his life... The biography makes a distinctive and welcome contribution to our understanding of Deng, and the style is accessible. * The Times, Rana Mitter *For a critical, evidence-based biography, turn to Pantsov and Levine. * Jeremy Brown, Times Literary Supplement *This biography is the most balanced and well researched to date, combining a lively style with genuine insights derived from many years of close study. * Literary Review, Frank Dikotter *[This books provides] a wealth of detail on Deng's tasks as a CCP organiser ... Pantsov and Levine's life is no whitewash: Deng's centrality to a number of the bloodiest events in the PRC's history is fully documented. In addition to trawling the extensive Soviet archives, they have mined an impressive number of Chinese, Russian and English-language documents and memoirs to reference every possible detail and cross every empirical 't'. * New Left Review *The definitive life of Deng Xiaoping. * Dr Jonathan Chatwin, Asian Review of Books *Deng Xiaoping: A Revolutionary Life, is a rich, full and balanced account of this diminutive but mighty figure. * Martina Steber, Journal of Contemporary History *Table of ContentsCONTENTS ; Cast of Characters ; Note on the Spelling of Chinese Words ; Introduction ; PART ONE ; THE BOLSHEVIK ; 1 Born in the Year of the Dragon ; 2 From Paris to Moscow: The Lessons of Bolshevism ; 3 From Xi'an to Shanghai ; 4 The Guangxi Experiment ; PART TWO ; THE MAOIST ; 5 'The Spirit of Five Fearlessness' ; 6 Master of the Taihang Mountains ; 7 At the Forefront of the New Democratic Revolution ; 8 Chief of the Southwest Region ; 9 The Beijing Hippodrome ; 10 'Critique of the Cult of Personality' and Its Consequences ; 11 'A Great Growing Force' ; 12 Being and Consciousness ; 13 'Yellow Cat, Black Cat' ; 14 'No. 2 Capitalist Roader' ; 15 Arrest and Exile ; PART THREE ; THE PRAGMATIST ; 16 'Soft as Cotton, Sharp as a Needle' ; 17 New Trials ; 18 Practice as the Criterion of Truth ; 19 The Cardinal Principles ; 20 'Let Some Families Get Rich First' ; 21 One Country, Two Systems ; 22 Reforms and Democracy ; 23 The Tiananmen Tragedy ; 24 A Retired Patriarch ; Epilogue ; Acknowledgments ; Illustration Credits ; Bibliography ; Appendix 1: Deng Xiaoping's Chronology ; Appendix 2: Deng Xiaoping's Genealogy ; Notes ; Index
£25.19
Yale University Press Léon Blum
Book SynopsisA new appreciation of the extraordinary life and legacy of Leon Blum, the first Jewish prime minister of FranceTrade Review“Twenty years ago, Pierre Birnbaum wrote a brilliant Political History of State Jews in France, and now he has written a beautiful biography of the greatest of the state Jews. Léon Blum has never gotten the recognition he deserves as a French statesman, a socialist leader, and a proud Jew. That will change with this book.”—Michael Walzer, author of The Paradox of Liberation: Secular Revolutions and Religious Counterrevolutions -- Michael Walzer“A succinct, interesting, and compelling overview of the life of French politician and former Prime Minister Léon Blum. Pierre Birnbaum draws on a rich series of primary sources that bring Blum and his adversaries to life.”—Maud S. Mandel, author of Muslims and Jews in France: History of a Conflict -- Maud S. Mandel“…a surprisingly human portrait of the Zionist socialist and three-time prime minister of France.”—Melody Amsel-Arieli, Segula -- Melody Amsel-Arieli * Segula *
£16.14
Focal Point Publications The War Path
£40.84
Alfred A. Knopf Citizen
Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ?A powerful, candid, and richly detailed memoir from an American icon, revealing what life looks like after the presidency: triumphs, tribulations, and all.On January 20, 2001, after nearly thirty years in politics?eight of them as president of the United States?Bill Clinton was suddenly a private citizen. Only fifty-four years old, full of energy and ideas, he wanted to make meaningful use of his skills, his relationships with world leaders, and all he?d learned in a lifetime of politics, but how? Just days after leaving the White House, the call came to aid victims of a devastating earthquake in India, and Clinton hit the ground running. Over the next two decades, he would create an enduring legacy of public service and advocacy work, from Indonesia to Louisiana, Northern Ireland to South Africa, and in the process reimagine philanthropy and redefine the impact a former president could have on the world. Citizen is Clinton?s front-row, first-person chronicle of his postpresidential years and the most significant events of the twenty-first century, including 9/11 and the runup to the Iraq War, the Haiti earthquake, the Great Recession, the January 6 insurrection, and the enduring culture wars of our times. With clarity and compassion, he also weighs in on the unprecedented challenges brought on by a global pandemic, ongoing income inequality, a steadily warming planet, and authoritarian forces dedicated to weakening democracy. Yet Citizen is more than a political memoir. These pages capture Clinton in a rare and unforgettable light: not only as a celebrated former president and a foundation leader, but as a father, grandfather, and husband. He recounts his support for Hillary Clinton during her time as senator, secretary of state, and presidential candidate, and shares the frustration and pain of the 2016 election. In this landmark publication, the highly anticipated follow-up to the best-selling My Life, Clinton pens an illuminating account of American democracy on a global stage, offering a frank reflection on the past and, with it, a fearless embrace of our future. Citizen is a self-portrait of equal parts eloquence, insight, and candor, a testament to one man?s unwavering commitment to family and nation.
£28.12
Yale University Press The Rise of Thomas Cromwell Power and Politics in
Book SynopsisHow much does the Thomas Cromwell of popular novels and television series resemble the real Cromwell? This meticulous study of Cromwell's early political career expands and revises what has been understood concerning the life and talents of Henry VIII's chief minister. Michael Everett provides a new and enlightening account of Cromwell's rise to power, his influence on the king, his role in the Reformation, and his impact on the future of the nation. Controversially, Everett depicts Cromwell not as the fervent evangelical, Machiavellian politician, or the revolutionary administrator that earlier historians have perceived. Instead he reveals Cromwell as a highly capable and efficient servant of the Crown, rising to power not by masterminding Henry VIII's split with Rome but rather by dint of exceptional skills as an administrator.
£13.99
McClelland & Stewart Inc. True Reconciliation
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£15.29
Amazon Publishing Trial by Ambush
Book SynopsisIn this dramatic true account about the power of sensationalized crime, one woman’s case is exposed for its sexism, flagrant disregard for the truth, and, ultimately, the dangers posed by an unbridled prosecution.Unwanted and neglected from birth, Barbara Graham had to overcome the odds just to survive. Her beauty was both a blessing and a curse—offering her too many options of all the wrong kind. Her innate sensitivity left her vulnerable to the harsh realities of the street, where she was left to fend for herself before she reached double digits. Her record of petty crimes spoke to a life that constantly teetered on the brink of disaster.But in 1953, a catastrophic twist of fate would catapult her out of obscurity and into the headlines.When a robbery spiraled out of control and escalated into a brutal murder, Barbara became the centerpiece of a media circus. Her beauty enraptured the press, and they were quick to portray her as a villainous
£18.99
Hachette Books Easy Street the Hard Way
Book SynopsisThe engaging, passionate, always-honest, and often-hilarious memoir of actor Ron Perlman--his triumphant story of perseverance and determination navigating the slippery slopes of Hollywood, with a foreword by Guillermo del Toro Ron Perlman was a kid who had a myriad of self-image issues, yet he triumphed in an industry that trades on image and self-confidence. He landed a leading role in Quest for Fire. He won a Golden Globe for Beauty and the Beast. And he played the title role in two Hellboy movies, becoming along the way an icon among sci-fi and comic book fans worldwide. Although his name may be unknown to some, most people know Ron Perlman''s face, despite the fact that for nearly half his career he''s been disguised under feature-altering foam-rubber prosthetics. On his offbeat path to success, Ron has amassed nearly 200 stage, TV, voiceover, and major motion picture credits, including roles in Drive, Pacific Rim, and a six-year gig as the badass biker boss Clay Morrow in Sons of Anarchy. In Easy Street (the Hard Way), Ron shares his life story, starting with his up-by-your-bootstraps background in New York''s Washington Heights. His father, a Swing Era drummer, gave up his dream in order to feed his sons while his mother worked as a municipal clerk. Ron''s hard-earned road to Easy Street included bouts of abject poverty, heartbreaking familial episodes, and a long, often uncomfortable struggle for self-acceptance. He sheds light on his life as a working actor and also offers behind-the-scenes insight into the working styles of internationally famous directors, including Jean-Jacques Annaud, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, and Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy and Academy Award-winning Pan''s Labyrinth). He provides his own peek into Hollywood, up close and personal, where he has encountered the likes of Marlon Brando, Sean Connery, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and others. Plus, he turns his eye on the trajectory of American culture--the good and the bad--as observed by a man who started out in a mom-and-pop world where the arts were disseminated by individuals rather than corporations.Easy Street (the Hard Way) will inspire anyone who has ever dared to dream and offers a roadmap to the next generation of dreamers.
£16.14
Picador USA A Small Place
£12.75
