Biography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book Synopsis The boundless positivity and radiant world of renowned street artist Mr Brainwash is captured in this vivid survey, now in a revised and extended paperback edition. Playful, colourful, with a hint of mischief, each work is a journey through his pop culture wonderland. Every surface in the world is a cloak-and-dagger canvas for Mr. Brainwash's franchise of the mind. In 2006 Mr. Brainwash set aside his video camera and quickly became renowned in the burgeoning street art scene alongside Banksy, Shepard Fairey and Invader. Brought to wider attention by Banksy's 2010 documentary film Exit Through the Gift Shop, Mr. Brainwash's massive solo art shows have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors globally and his works have become desirable collector's items. This first paperback edition is an updated version of the popular 2018 publication, with 16 extra pages showcasing the artist's latest works including giant Beverly Hills origami sculptures and the

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Book SynopsisLudwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) was an extraordinarily original philospher, whose influence on twentieth-century thinking goes well beyond philosophy itself. In this book, which aims to make Wittgenstein''s thought accessible to the general non-specialist reader, A. C. Grayling explains the nature and impact of Wittgenstein''s views. He describes both his early and later philosophy, the differences and connections between them, and gives a fresh assessment of Wittgenstein''s continuing influence on contemporary thought. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewLucidly and attractively written. * Heythrop Journal *Anyone wanting to come to grips with the later Wittgenstein's views on philosophy, his beliefs about the nature of thought and language, and his many unignorable (if sometimes muddled and often muddling) ideas in the philosophy of the mind could do no better than start here. * Guardian *[Grayling] is to be congratulated on the success of his enterprise in a book which is a model of expository elgance ... an admirably clear and concise introduction * Philosophical Books *Table of ContentsTHE EARLY PHILOSOPHY; THE LATER PHILOSOPHY

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Book SynopsisChristina Lamb''s The Africa House is the bestselling account of an English gentleman and his African dream. In the last decades of the British Empire, Stewart Gore-Brown build himself a feudal paradise in Northern Rhodesia; a sprawling country estate modelled on the finest homes of England, complete with uniformed servants, daily muster parades and rose gardens. He wanted to share it with the love of his life, the beautiful unconventional Ethel Locke King, one of the first women to drive and fly. She, however, was nearly twenty years his senior, married and his aunt. Lorna, the only other woman he had ever cared for, had married another many years earlier. Then he met Lorna''s orphaned daughter, so like her mother that he thought he had seen a ghost. It seemed he had found companionship and maybe love - but the Africa house was his dream and it would be a hard one to share.From a world of British colonials in Africa, with their arrogance and vi

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Book SynopsisA gripping portrait of the man considered the last universal genius that takes us on a mind-expanding journey through the history of ideas'The Leibniz biography for our time. It is difficult to even begin to do justice to his rich spirit, but Kempe succeeds' Daniel Kehlmann, author of Measuring the WorldGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was one of history's most astounding thinkers, a universal genius akin to Leonardo da Vinci or Benjamin Franklin, but comparatively little known. In this mind-expanding biography, historian Michael Kempe charts a thrilling course through Leibniz's work, illuminating the continued impact of his unparalleled contributions to knowledge.Recreating seven crucial days in Leibniz's life, Kempe shows us a great mind in action, surging with ideas that would change the course of mathematics and philosophy, even laying early foundations for modern digital culture. We find him in Paris, working from his bed amidst a sea of notes

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Book SynopsisReveals the military mastermind who established Iran as a major power in the Middle East and the regional ambitions of the Islamic Republic todayTrade Review‘An important book about one of the Middle East’s most charismatic and powerful men in recent years.’ * Middle East Monitor *‘This energetic account sheds more light on Soleimani’s character and his relationships with [Ayatollah] Ali Khamenei…and [Hezbollah’s] Nasrallah.’ * The Times *‘A brilliant primer on the politics of the Islamic Republic and an in-depth study on one of its most famous sons.’ * The New Arab *‘[A] groundbreaking new biography of the late Qassem Soleimani… Azizi is a skillful interpreter of Soleimani’s moves, and an astute analyst of how Iran’s “living martyr” lied, schemed, and abetted the ugly torture and murder of true revolutionaries and Muslims across the Middle East, and wherever else the IRGC’s reach permitted.’ * Tablet *‘An excellent contribution to our knowledge of Iran and Soleimani.’ -- Kim Ghattas, author of Black Wave‘Mr. Arash Azizi…provides one of the most fascinating books of 2020 and one of the most insightful – into not just Soleimani, but also Iran’s foreign and security aims in the Middle East. A story that easily could have descended into hagiography is masterfully told by Mr. Azizi, who weaves one of the richest and most complex tapestries about the region I’ve come across in some time, especially in so short of a book. It is not just a biography of Soleimani, but a biography of modern Iran and its role in the Middle East.’ * Diplomatic Courier *“The strength of Azizi’s book lies in his achievement in presenting the first written work about Soleymani’s life story… the prose is reader-friendly; the author describes events chronologically and in a straightforward format.” -- Ali Alavi, Senior Teaching Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Middle East Journal‘Extensively researched and drawing on a vast range of sources, this is the definitive account of one of the Middle East’s most powerful, ambitious and enigmatic figures. Essential reading.’ * Christopher Davidson, author of Shadow Wars *‘A fascinating account of the strengths and weaknesses of the most enigmatic warlord in the Middle East. Azizi skilfully portrays Soleimani’s life and death in the wider context of Iran’s recent history and politics.’ * Anshel Pfeffer, author of Bibi: The Turbulent Life and Times of Benjamin Netanyahu *Table of ContentsIntroduction: #WorldWarIII 1 A Life on the Margins 2 A Young Man in the City 3 To Guard a Revolution 4 “A Gift from the Heavens” 5 War Makes Man 6 No Islamism in One Country 7 A Chalice Full of Poison 8 An “Unwritten Pact” 9 We Protect the Shrines 10 Busy in Beirut 11 Islamic Awakening, Sectarian Degeneration 12 Black Flags, White Flags Epilogue: The Endgame Timeline Acknowledgments A Note on Sources Bibliography Notes Index

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Book Synopsisconquered Wales, extinguishing forever its native rulers, and constructed - at Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris and Caernarfon - the most magnificent chain of castles ever created.Trade ReviewMorris tells Edward's story fluently and conveys a compelling sense of the reality, and the contingency, of personal rule... It is on the subject of "the forging of Britain" that Morris is most consistently thought-provoking * Guardian *Marc Morris's new account of the life of Edward I is a splendid example of the genre. Edward's life is in many ways an ideal subject for such an approach, full of incident and action... An excellent, readable account of his reign * Literary Review *This is a direct, forthright and welcoming book... Edward I was called a "great and terrible king" and he has been well served by Marc Morris. He leads us confidently through the litany of battles and conflicts * Scotland on Sunday *A highly readable account of an important reign * Scotsman *Marc Morris has written the first full biography of Edward I for around 100 years, and uncommonly good it is too ... He was a remarkable man, and a great king. Marc Morris does him justice, brings him clearly before our eyes, and, like a true historian, judges him by the standards of his age, not ours. It's compelling stuff -- Allan Massie * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisJoseph Goebbels was one of Adolf Hitler's most loyal acolytes. But how did this club-footed son of a factory worker rise from obscurity to become Hitler's malevolent minister of propaganda, most trusted lieutenant and personally anointed successor? In this definitive one-volume biography, renowned German Holocaust historian Peter Longerich sifts through the historical record and thirty thousand pages of Goebbels's own diary entries to answer that question. Longerich paints a chilling picture of a man driven by a narcissistic desire for recognition who found the personal affirmation he craved within the virulently racist National Socialist movement and whose lifelong search for a charismatic father figure inexorably led him to Hitler. This comprehensive biography documents Goebbels' ascent through the ranks of the Nazi Party, where he became a member of the Führer's inner circle and launched a brutal campaign of anti-Semitic propaganda. Goebbels delivers freTrade ReviewA landmark biography * Daily Mail *A landmark biography * Daily Mail *An impressive achievement... illuminating … indispensable -- Richard J EvansMeticulous in its detail… a major work of scholarship -- Ben Shephard * Observer *[A] grimly compelling new biography * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisThe brilliantly compelling new biography of the treacherous and tyrannical King John, published to coincide with the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.King John is familiar to everyone as the villain from the tales of Robin Hood — greedy, cowardly, despicable and cruel.Trade ReviewFine, timely... jaunty, authoritative... Morris has already proven himself as a 13th-century royal biographer - his study of Edward I is a modern classic. He is on form here, too. His split-chronology approach to John’s life before and after the loss of Normandy highlights just how disastrous it was for the king’s reign and reputation. -- DAN JONES * Sunday Times *Outstanding ... This is by far the best book on the monarch’s reign since W L Warren’s trail-blazing biography, King John, written in 1961 – with the literary bravura of which Morris’ book may not unfavourably be compared. * BBC History Magazine *An excellent and sardonic new biography of King John. It will delight all who enjoyed his books on 1066 and Edward I. -- TOM HOLLANDA masterpiece of historical writing… Morris is a wonderful storyteller * TLS *A riveting and timely portrait of an execrable king -- Jessie Childs, author of God's Traitors

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Book SynopsisSome twenty years ago, anthropologist Carlos Castaneda electrified millions of readers by describing his initiation--under the Yaqui Indian brujo Don Juan--into an alternate reality. Now Taisha Abelar, who was taught by the female members of Don Juan's group, recounts her own crossing in this arresting book.While traveling in Mexico, Abelar became involved with a group of sorcerers and began a rigorous physical and mental training process designed to enable her to breach the limits of ordinary perception. The Sorcerers Crossing details that process, giving us a highly practical sense of the responsibilities and perils that face a woman sorcerer. Abelar's enthralling story is invaluable as a virtual sorcerers manual, as anthropology, and as a provocative work of women's spirituality.

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Book SynopsisThis is the classic life of Cromwell by one of the great radical historians of the English Civil War''A triumph of complex interpretation and delicious prose ... Hill introduced nuance into the character of Cromwell and the nature of his revolution ... the finest of guides to the man of the times'' Tristram Hunt, Guardian''A humane and imaginative book by a historian writing at the peak of his powers'' Ivan Roots, Daily Telegraph''This is the most intelligent summation we have on Cromwell, and it is written with the grace and power we have come to expect from Hill'' J. P. Kenyon, Observer''One of the finest historians of the age'' The Times Literary Supplement ''The dean and paragon of English historians'' E.P. ThompsonTrade ReviewThe master ... Hill is the reason why most of us know anything about the 17th century at all -- Martin Kettle * Guardian *One of the finest historians of the age * The Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis''A compelling guide for leaders grappling with the pandemic'' Financial Times ''A remarkable book telling business leaders what to do when disaster strikes'' The TimesAN INSPIRING STORY OF RESILIENT LEADERSHIP IN THE TOUGHEST OF TIMESLouai Al Roumani was head of finance and planning at one of the largest banks in Syria, when the war broke out in 2011.In Lessons from a Warzone, Al Roumani shares his very personal account of coping with the day-to-day realities of leading an organization in dangerous and hostile conditions. His story shows how inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places - from the timeless wisdom of merchants in ancient souks to the changing patterns of military checkpoints. During that time, not only did the bank remain robust when others faltered - it thrived and became the undisputed leading bank as people''s trust in its capability to safeguard their life-long savings strengthen

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Book SynopsisEscape to Languedoc in this poignant and transportative true account of life in a beautifully restored house in the south of France''This love affair between an English family and a very old French house is by turns turbulent, lyrical and tragic . . . Enriched by an insatiable, ever-eager curiosity, he takes us down many a side alley, adding another dimension to the timeless story of what it is that makes France irresistible'' MICHAEL PALIN''What a wonderful book. Exquisitely written, it is by turns laugh-out-loud funny then suddenly, unexpectedly and profoundly moving... an utter joy and a treat to read from the first to last pages'' JAMES HOLLAND''He writes with genuine emotion . . . He writes beautifully about life in a French village'' DAILY MAIL________One day a Londoner and his wife went a little crazy and bought a crumbling house in deepest Languedoc. It was love at first sight.Over the years these Lo

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Book SynopsisMaya Angelou''s seven volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. Loving the world, she also knows its cruelty. As a Black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy,achievement and celebration. In this first volume of her six books of autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American south of the 1930s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother''s lover.Trade ReviewA brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman -- President Barack ObamaThe poems and stories she wrote . . . were gifts of wisdom and wit, courage and grace -- President Bill ClintonShe moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace . . . She will always be the rainbow in my clouds -- Oprah WinfreyShe was important in so many ways. She launched African American women writing in the United States. She was generous to a fault. She had nineteen talents - used ten. And was a real original. There is no duplicate -- Toni MorrisonI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity -- James BaldwinA trailblazer in decolonial, anti-racist movements and intersectional feminism, memoirist, poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou is a powerhouse of a woman * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe true story of a foundling. ''Extraordinary ... A fascinating, moving book: part history of the Foundling Hospital and the development of child psychology, part Cowan''s own story, and part that of Cowan''s mother'' LUCY SCHOLES, TELEGRAPH Growing up in a wealthy enclave outside San Francisco, Justine Cowan''s life seems idyllic. But her mother''s unpredictable temper drives Justine from home the moment she is old enough to escape. It is only after her mother dies that she finds herself pulling at the threads of a story half-told - her mother''s upbringing in London''s Foundling Hospital. Haunted by this secret history, Justine travels across the sea and deep into the past to discover the girl her mother once was. Here, with the vividness of a true storyteller, she pieces together her mother''s childhood alongside the history of the Foundling Hospital: from its idealistic beginnings in the eighteenth century, how it influenced somTrade ReviewPage-turning and profoundly moving. Her meticulous research has uncovered a strand of British history and she brings it sharply and vividly to life through her personal quest. * Virginia Nicholson *Part-memoir, part-detective story, The Secret Life Of Dorothy Soames will break your heart then piece it back together again ... Simultaneously exploring her mother's story of escape and the history of the Foundling Hospital, this is an unforgettable read * Stylist *An extraordinary memoir . . . Although telling a deeply personal story, Cowan painstakingly gathers her material as if assembling testimony for a day in court. She is also admirably honest about her fraught relationship with her mother . . . The result is this fascinating, moving book; part history of the Foundling Hospital and the development of child psychology, part Cowan's own story, and part that of Dorothy Soames (the name Cowan's mother was given at the hospital) -- Lucy Scholes * Daily Telegraph *The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames is the gripping true story of a daughter's quest to find the truth about her mother's origins-and, in the process, come to terms with her own life and choices. As she uncovers an increasingly dramatic tale of abuse, escape, and recovery, Justine Cowan must grapple with her complex feelings about this woman who, as she comes to learn, never had a real childhood of her own. A riveting, heartbreaking, and ultimately healing journey of discovery * Christina Baker Kline, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Orphan Train *Part investigative journalism, part emotional excavation, this breathtaking and heartbreaking book tells the story of a daughter's need to understand her difficult mother. An unexpected and original addition to the mother/daughter memoir oeuvre, The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames is both moving and artful, rewarding its readers page after page * Adrienne Brodeur, bestselling author of Wild Game: My Mother, Her Secret and Me *Cowan debuts with an impressive memoir about the unearthing of her deceased mother's secret past and a generations-long cycle of family trauma. This frank account of a real-life Dickensian dystopia captivates at every turn * Publishers Weekly *Well-researched and highly personal, the book presents a fascinating narrative tapestry that both informs and moves. A candidly illuminating debut memoir * Kirkus Reviews *In this moving story, Cowan painfully recalls the effect her mother's volatility had on her childhood in California, and how it led to estrangement in adulthood as her legal career developed and she left her mother behind. Yet, despite their broken relationship, upon Eileen's death Cowan found herself drawn to discovering her mother's past: a history that had remained entirely hidden to her until she read Eileen's memoir, which she had previously refused to open . . . This is a beautifully written and tender account of how a daughter came to a late understanding of her mother, and how she began to heal the wounds of all that had gone before * New Statesman *

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Book Synopsis''Grylls takes you behind the scenes on his most thrilling adventures. Riveting.'' - Daily Mail''A rocket-fuelled adventure.'' - Tim Peake''His passion for adventure is truly infectious.'' - Gareth Southgate------------------------------------Bear Grylls has always sought out adventure. From childhood escapades to would-record-breaking expeditions, to his infamous survival challenges, Bear has spent a lifetime in the wild. In his autobiography, the global adventurer, Chief Scout and TV presenter reflects on the extraordinary adventures that have shaped his life. Sharing personal stories from his toughest expeditions and capturing the exhilarating reality behind some of the hairiest survival missions, Bear takes readers up mountains and across oceans, through jungles and deserts. Immersing us in the behind-the-scenes action on his celebrated television shows, and with a rare insight into his family lifeTrade ReviewIn his gripping new memoir, Grylls takes you behind the scenes on his most thrilling adventures. Riveting. * Daily Mail *A rocket-fuelled adventure. * Tim Peake *Bear Grylls is an inspirational leader for people of all ages. Having had the privilege of spending time with Bear personally, I have seen what an amazing person he is. His passion for adventure is truly infectious. * Gareth Southgate *So many positive messages wrapped up in Bear's many incredible adventures. * Roger Federer *Bear is someone who truly grabs life with both hands. * Jonny Wilkinson *

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Book SynopsisIn this long-overdue second biography, the author shows how Portal was one of the men most directly responsible for Allied victory in the Second World War. President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said: I always think that Peter was the greatest of all the British war leaders - greater even than Churchill.'

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Book SynopsisA WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024A century ago, a Labour government took power for the first time. Meet the Wild Men who led the way...''Superb'' -- New Statesman ''Fascinating'' -- The Sunday Times.In 1923, the passing of the Act which gave all men the vote opened the door for a radically different sort of government: men from working-class backgrounds who had never before occupied the corridors of power at Westminster. Who were these wild men'? Ramsay MacDonald, their leader and Labour's first Prime Minster, was the illegitimate son of a Scottish farm labourer; Arthur Henderson was a Scottish iron moulder; J. H. Thomas, a Welsh railwayman; John Wheatley, an Irish-born miner and publican; and William Adamson, a Fife coal miner.The Wild Men - this new edition with a fully updated preface - tells the story of that first Labour administration its unexpected birth, fraught existence, and controversial downfall through the eyes of those who found themselves in the House of Commons, running the country for the people. Blending biography and history into a compelling narrative, David Torrance reassesses the UK's first Labour government a century after it shook up a British establishment still reeling from the War and how the establishment eventually fought back.This is an extraordinary period in British political history which echoes down the years to our current politics and laid the foundations for the Britain of today.

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Book Synopsis''A thrilling biography, filled with the imperial ambitions and merciless intrigues'' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORECleopatra: lover, seductress, and Egypt''s greatest queen.A woman more myth than history, immortalized in poetry, drama, music, art, and film.She captivated Julius Caesar and Marc Antony, the two greatest Romans of the day, and died in a blaze of glory, with an asp clasped to her breast - or so the legend tells us.But the real-life story of the historical Cleopatra VII is even more compelling. She was the last of seven Cleopatras who ruled Egypt before it was subsumed into the Roman Empire. The seven Cleopatras were the powerhouses of the Ptolemaic Dynasty, the Macedonian family who ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great. Emulating the practices of the gods, the Cleopatras married their full-blood brothers and dominated the normally patriarchal world of politics and warfare. These extraordinary women keep a close grip on power in the wealthiest country of the ancient world.Each of the seven Cleopatras wielded absolute power. Their ruthless, single-minded, focus on dominance - generation after generation - resulted in extraordinary acts of betrayal, violence, and murder in the most malfunctional dynasty in history. Professor Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones offers fresh and powerful insight into the real story of the Cleopatras, and the beguiling and tragic legend of the last queen of Egypt.Praise for The Cleopatras:''A real treat for those who relish epic histories of family power'' SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE''Admirably readable'' ROBIN LANE FOX''Unlocks the fascinating history of many queens'' KARA COONEY ''A vivid account'' ADRIAN DODSON

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Costa Biography AwardWhat makes a Stalin? Was he a Tsarist agent or Lenin''s bandit? Was he to blame for his wife''s death? When did the killing start? Based on revelatory research, here is the thrilling story of how a charismatic cobbler''s son became a student priest, romantic poet, prolific lover, gangster mastermind and murderous revolutionary. Culminating in the 1917 revolution, Simon Sebag Montefiore''s bestselling biography radically alters our understanding of the gifted politician and fanatical Marxist who shaped the Soviet empire in his own brutal image. This is the story of how Stalin became Stalin.Trade ReviewSimon Sebag Montefiore's thrilling portrait of Stalin's youth ... A remarkable book ... Montefiore gives a brilliant account of the 1907 Tiflis heist ... the resulting scenes of mayhem were worthy of the De Niro and Pacino film HEAT -- Michael Burleigh * Sunday Telegraph *Montefiore brings Stalin to life -- Vince Cable * DAILY EXPRESS *Should the life of a black-hearted ogre, a mass murderer ... be quite so entertaining? The story Montefiore has told requires the psychological penetration and social omniscience of a great novelist. Dickens once or twice peeps over the biographer's shoulder ... A racy, vivid biopic -- Peter Conrad * Observer *This picture of Stalin as a poet is one of the revelations of Simon Sebag Montefiore's macabrely fascinating YOUNG STALIN ... Stalin's life [is] worthy of Dumas ... Brilliantly drawn -- Antonia Fraser * Mail on Sunday *Magnificent ... YOUNG STALIN is a masterpiece of detail. Sebag Montefiore has unearthed documents long lost in Georgian archives, found the descendants of Soso's friends and produced a vivid psychological portrait of this dangerous, alluring, enigmatic man ... This book moves with pace and authority -- Michael Binyon * The Times *A gripping read... Simon Sebag Montefiore's research ... is brilliant. The book provides a wealth of serious and scurrilous detail, creating a memorable portrait of one of the 20th century's greatest monsters -- Antony Beevor * Daily Telegraph *An outstanding book, full of surprises. A rich and complex figure emerges from the new material Sebag Montefiore has unearthed in archives ... This book is a triumph of research and storytelling -- Victor Sebestyen * Evening Standard *On practically every page of YOUNG STALIN, there is a reason to smile with satisfaction at the thrust of revelation, and often a reason to gasp or even to chuckle. As quasi-academic populist biography goes ... this is as good as it gets -- Christopher Silvester * Independent on Sunday *Montefiore gives us a richly and fluently documented study of the chief terrorist in the making. His chapters have an anecdotal exuberance and factual novelty. It is an impressive work of examination -- Robert Service * Sunday Times *Familiar material is transformed with fresh depth and detail. While magnificently entertaining, it reveals the complexity of historical conditions that forge revolutions and their leaders -- Carol Rumens * Independent *Outstanding ... It is hard to imagine how this account can be improved on. The narrative flows with insight and humour: YOUNG STALIN is a prequel that outshines even THE COURT OF THE RED TSAR -- Donald Rayfield * Literary Review *An enthralling but appalling account ... The author writes with panache, style and acerbic wit ... Paints a portrait of Stalin which is the most rounded we have in any language. A mass of contradictions, he is brilliantly brought to life in this superb biography -- Martin McCauley * History Today *YOUNG STALIN, like its predecessor, bubbles over like an erupting volcano. A better metaphor might be a Siberian snowstorm: the details glitter, and freeze the blood -- Daniel Snowman * Jewish Chronicle *Full of fascinating nuggets ... A gripping but dark Boys' Own adventure, packed with bombs, violence and treachery * Financial Times Magazine *Montefiore is in a class of his own. As he did in STALIN: COURT OF THE RED TSAR, Montefiore has unearthed an unprecedented range of evidence from archives, and has tracked down an astonishing range of witnesses ... in this brilliantly researched book. The portrait of Stalin that emerges from these pages is more complete, more colourful, more chilling and far more convincing that any we have had before -- Orlando Figes * New York Review of Books *A dark and terrifying story, and there could be no better guide than Montefiore. He's uncovered a mind-blowing amount of material from archives in Moscow and Georgia. The ultimate effect of YOUNG STALIN is to create a haunting, meticulous and compelling story of a man well worth trying to understand -- Nicholas Thompson * Los Angeles Times *The most revelatory and scoop-laden biography I have read in ages, besides being a factual thriller -- Andrew Marr * Observer *Vividly written and exhaustively researched, this remarkable book gives new insight into the making of the monster who often emerges less as a steely ideologue than a repellent rogue - but more complex and multifaceted than before -- Colin Thubron * Observer *A gripping and convincing account of the web-toed monster from his earliest years -- Jonathan Mirsky * Spectator *Montefiore offers a portrait as chilling as it is intimate -- Ruth Scurr * The Times *Gripping. Montefiore approaches Stalin's early life with the insight of a novelist and the eye of a cinematographer and achieves a rare trick: a work of scholarship which is also a page turner -- Stephanie Merritt * Observer *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZE A SPECTATOR, WATERSTONES, BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE, PROSPECT AND HISTORY TODAY BOOK OF THE YEAR A profound and ground-breaking new history of one of the most important encounters in the history of colonialism: the British arrival in India in the early seventeenth century. ‘A triumph of writing and scholarship. It is hard to imagine anyone ever bettering Das's account of this part of the story’ - William Dalrymple, Financial Times ‘A fascinating glimpse of the origins of the British Empire . . . drawn in dazzling technicolour’ - Spectator ‘Beautifully written and masterfully researched, this has the makings of a classic’ - Peter Frankopan SHORTLISTED FOR THE POL ROGER DUFF COOPER PRIZE LONGLISTED FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA CROWN AWARDS When Thomas Roe arrived in India in 1616 as James I’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, the English barely had a toehold in the subcontinent. Their understanding of South Asian trade and India was sketchy at best, and, to the Mughals, they were minor players on a very large stage. Roe was representing a kingdom that was beset by financial woes and deeply conflicted about its identity as a unified ‘Great Britain’ under the Stuart monarchy. Meanwhile, the court he entered in India was wealthy and cultured, its dominion widely considered to be one of the greatest and richest empires of the world. In Nandini Das's fascinating history of Roe's four years in India, she offers an insider's view of a Britain in the making, a country whose imperial seeds were just being sown. It is a story of palace intrigue and scandal, lotteries and wagers that unfolds as global trade begins to stretch from Russia to Virginia, from West Africa to the Spice Islands of Indonesia. A major debut that explores the art, literature, sights and sounds of Jacobean London and Imperial India, Courting India reveals Thomas Roe's time in the Mughal Empire to be a turning point in history – and offers a rich and radical challenge to our understanding of Britain and its early empire.Trade ReviewA triumph of writing and scholarship . . . For Das the Roe mission is the lens through which to give sharp focus to a remarkably wide-ranging study that does much to illuminate the bigger story of the unpromising origins of British power – and initial powerlessness – in India . . . Her style, while nuanced and erudite, is also jaunty and often witty. The book is as full of lovely passages of prose and finely shaded pen portraits as it is of new archival research, of which there is a great deal . . . It is hard to imagine anyone ever bettering Das’s account of this part of the story -- William Dalrymple * Financial Times *A fascinating glimpse of the origins of the British Empire . . . The picture that emerges of the first official encounter between Jacobean England and Mughal India is a vivid one, drawn in dazzling technicolour. Courting India is as much about Britain as India, a glimpse of one of history’s turning points, and the start of a relationship that would change not just England but the world -- Sam Dalrymple * Spectator *The story of the very earliest years of British activity on the Indian subcontinent, Das’s book goes to the heart of the initial, heady meeting of courts and cultures and presents a novel look at the roots of colonialism -- Books to Read in 2023 * Financial Times *Skilfully reconstructs the slights and stand-offs, the escalating tensions . . . Courting India is a scholarly biography with an antiquary’s eye for detail . . . Das’s leisurely diversions into the world of Jacobean fashion, food and curiosities are fascinating -- Pratinav Anil * The Times *An utterly absorbing narrative . . . What makes Das’s account of Roe’s experiences in India so fascinating is the depth of her research. She has mined the East India Company archives . . . as well as Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and, particularly, Mughal sources, to present Roe’s four years in the round . . . Das has portrayed Roe and the unfamiliar world of the Mughal court in which he found himself with the piercing detail of a miniature painted with the finest squirrel-hair brush -- Lucy Moore * Literary Review *Captivating . . . A truly impressive work of scholarship and an enthralling read . . . Makes a major contribution to our understanding not just of the origins of empire in India, but of the seventeenth-century world -- Andrea Major * History Today *[Das] is the rare scholar who combines a sensitivity to the literature of Jacobean England with a sympathetic and nuanced understanding of the Mughal empire … Das successfully rescues [Roe] from the stilted role of the progenitor of colonial rule and reveals something more interesting: an ambassador too honourable and too inexperienced to achieve anything much for either himself or his country … Das does not flinch from this difficult history of the spread of European dominance. Yet she remains admirably evenhanded in her appraisal, revealing the subtle change of views and blurring of boundaries in this unpropitious moment of intercultural contact * New York Times *A sparkling gem of a book. Beautifully written and masterfully researched, this has the makings of a classic -- Peter FrankopanStretching from the dark waters of the Thames to the blossom-strewn floors of the Jahangiri Palace, Courting India covers a vast canvass with masterful aplomb. Nandini Das's debut is a marvellous piece of detective work -- Amanda ForemanWhat a joy to find the first official Indo-British encounter receiving the scholarly attention and enthralling treatment it deserves . . . A modern masterpiece, delightful, enlightening and faultless -- John KeayThis is a book I wish I had written! It’s a glorious read by a talented historian about an important and rather overlooked journey. Marvellous -- Suzannah LipscombStartlingly eye-opening. . . . If we want to to truly understand the impact and legacy of the British Empire on our modern world, we have to start where it all began -- Pragya Agarwal, author of 'Sway'Jacobean London and Mughal India come face to face through the eyes of Thomas Roe. A figure previously marginalised, in Nandini Das’s layered exploration, Roe finds a new life. And with him, we encounter rich pictures of imperial Britain being formed. A fine achievement and a great read -- Professor Ruby Lal, author of 'Empress: The Astonishing Reign of Nur Jahan'This well researched and written volume is a work of authority and quality. It is essential reading for the understanding of Britain's early encounter with India -- Ian Talbot, Emeritus Professor in the History of Modern South Asia at the University of SouthamptonNandini Das moves seamlessly between the inner worlds of the courts of seventeenth century England and India and with a mastery of both. This important book brings the earliest days of the British empire vividly to life -- Dr Yasmin Khan, University of OxfordThis lucid and imaginatively written book tells us a great deal about the hesitant early days of the first British Empire, as a traditionally inward-looking island nation sought to engage with the wider world. Professor Nandini Das captures the mixture of excitement, prejudice, anxiety, misunderstanding and mutual interest that characterised an encounter that did so much to shape the contours of the modern world -- Professor Andrew Hadfield, University of SussexCourting India is a tour de force of detailed archival research and riveting storytelling. Its main character, King James I's first ambassador to India Thomas Roe, emerges here in all his historical as well as individual complexity – a low-budget, over-dressed herald of the juggernaut that the East India Company would become, and a bit-part actor in a transnational theatre of state he couldn't begin to fathom -- Professor Jonathan Gil Harris, author of 'Masala Shakespeare'Courting India, by Nandini Das, is a brilliant and insightful study of Thomas Roe’s embassy at the Mughal court. It serves as a rich repository of cultural memories from the beginnings of the colonial encounter – memories that have continuing resonance and relevance in our own era as we grapple with the aftermath of empire. Das offers a compelling account in which deft archival research navigates through English intellectual, literary and political worlds as they interconnected with the Mughal empire -- Jyotsna G. Singh, Professor, Department of English, Michigan State UniversityNandini Das's rich, absorbing account of a critical juncture of global history, the Englishman Sir Thomas Roe's embassy to the court of the Mughal emperor Jahangir, charts both a remarkable personal narrative and the prehistory of colonial expansion, told from the perspective of an imperial go-between. This is a fascinating story of early modern political and cultural transactions, brilliantly researched and attractively written. It is destined to become the classic treatment of its subject. -- Professor Supriya Chaudhuri, Department of English, Jadavpur UniversityFascinating . . . India was a huge continental empire, England a minor maritime kingdom on the fringe of Europe; but with their itchy feet the English were pushing to expand global trade. Their paths would cross in ways they could never have dreamed of’ -- Michael Wood * BBC History Magazine, 2023 Books of the Year *Courting India is ostensibly a study of Sir Thomas Roe’s time as the East India Company’s representative to the Mughal court from 1615 to 1619, but it is so much more than that . . . [Nandini’s] book makes us rethink the idea that Britain was always dominant in India -- Hannah Cusworth * BBC History Magazine, 2023 Books of the Year *

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Book Synopsis''a quietly impressive book, which does something most celebrity autobiographies shy away from: it seeks the truth and, more often than not, finds it.'' - THE MAILA look at the life and times of the man Sir Michael most looked up to.It started in the shadow of the pithead in a South Yorkshire mining village and ended up in tears before an audience of millions. Michael Parkinson''s relationship with his late father John William was, and remains, a family love story overflowing with tenderness and tall tales of sporting valour, usually involving Yorkshire cricket or Barnsley FC. However, it was the overwhelming grief which poured out of Michael when Piers Morgan pressed him about John William in a television interview - four decades after the death of the father he encapsulated as ''Yorkshireman, miner, humorist and fast bowler'' - that convinced one of the outstanding broadcasters and journalists of our time to delve deeper into the dynamics of t

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Book SynopsisThe compelling personal account of Dr. Wu Jieping (1917-2011), one of China's most prestigious Physicians, who experienced the great revolution of the old China and developed from a former style of intellectual into a national leader of the new China. New 2024 edition features maps and photographs to assist and inspire learning.

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Book SynopsisGreat Irish Wivesshines a spotlight on ten wives who were instrumental in their famous husbands' success: Matilda Tone, Mary O'Connell, Constance Wilde, Charlotte Shaw, Emily Shackleton, Annette Carson, Sinéad de Valera, Margaret Clarke, George Yeats and Beatrice Behan.

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Book SynopsisI Am Andrà is an amazing real-life story of espionage, of courage and resistance, and of friendship and love. It pulls back the veil on the hidden history of the struggle for the identity of the Resistance in France. The life of âAndrÃâ Joseph Scheinmann is more intriguing and compelling than any work of fiction.

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Book SynopsisOn the morning of Saturday 15 April 1989, Jenni Hicks, her husband, and their two teenage daughters, Sarah and Vicki, went to watch a football match. That was to be their last day as a family. Sarah and Vicki didn''t come home, and Jenni''s world was changed forever. Since that fateful day, Jenni has tirelessly campaigned for justice for her own and others'' families. But this is not the story of the Hillsborough tragedy. This is a story of what came before and after that day: of a mother''s love, her unimaginable bravery, a flame of hope that never died, and a quest for justice that has lasted three decades. It is a journey that has taken her from Allerton Cemetery to the Courts of Appeal, from the depths of despair to meetings with Prime Ministers and royalty.With the final court cases coming to a conclusion in spring 2021, Jenni''s role as the longest-serving committee member of the Hillsborough Family Support Group is coming to an end - and she can finally give h

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Book SynopsisGeorgina Howell began working in magazine journalism at the age of seventeen. She was Fashion Editor of the Observer, Features Editor of Vogue, Deputy Editor of Tatler and a principal feature writer for the Sunday Times. Georgina Howell died in January 2016.

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Book SynopsisOn the 250th anniversary of Captain Cook's successful navigation to the coast of Australia, this is Alistair MacLean's absorbing story of one of Britain's great national heroes, from his obscure beginnings to his sudden and violent death at the age of fifty-one.When James Cook was hacked to death by Hawaiian islanders on 14 February 1779, he was already considered the greatest explorer of his age. Born in obscurity but gripped by a boundless passion for new horizons, he became the greatest combination of seaman, explorer, navigator, and cartographer that the world had ever known. He still is. He had driven himself mercilessly, and his men likewise, and yet the surgeon's mate on the Resolution was able to write: In every situation he stood unrivalled and alone; on him all eyes were turned; he was our leading star, which at its setting left us involved in darkness and despair'.Between 1768 and 1779, Captain Cook circumnavigated the globe three times in voyages of discovery that broke recTrade Review‘The words on Palliser’s monument to Cook – “the ablest and greatest navigator this or any country has produced” – will not seem extravagant after reading Mr MacLean’s book.’Times Educational Supplement

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE 2018A SUNDAY TIMES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2019''A masterpiece of history and memoir'' Evening Standard''Superb. This is a necessary book - painful, harrowing, tragic, but also uplifting'' The Times__________________________________________________Little Lien wasn''t taken from her Jewish parents in the Hague - she was given away in the hope that she might be saved. Hidden and raised by a foster family in the provinces during the Nazi occupation, she survived the war only to find that her real parents had not. Much later, she fell out with her foster family, and Bart van Es - the grandson of Lien''s foster parents - knew he needed to find out why.His account of tracing Lien and telling her story is a searing exploration of two lives and two families. It is a story about loTrade ReviewAstonishing. Van Es has created a masterpiece of history and memoir, concluding on a note of reconciliation, hope and great love * Evening Standard *An extraordinary, harrowing story of loss, survival and love * Guardian *Deeply moving, this is a remarkable memoir * Sunday Times *Powerful . . . extraordinary * Irish Times *Brought to life with family photographs and diary entries that add further impact to Lien's harrowing memories and testimony - this deeply affecting and fascinating story is guaranteed to haunt you * Sunday Mirror *Remarkable - the story of one traumatic childhood, deeply moving, and told with great dexterity, allowing the wisdoms of today to run parallel with the absorbing narrative of wartime events * Penelope Lively *Compassionate and thoughtfully rendered, the book is both a memorable portrait of a remarkable woman and a testament to the healing power of understanding. A complex and uplifting tale * Kirkus *A nuanced, moving, and unusual "hidden child" account * Publishers Weekly *Superb. This is a necessary book - painful, harrowing, tragic, but also uplifting * The Times Book of the Week *Fascinating, beautifully written. Van Es carefully salvages Lien's story and creates a deeply moving and complex book about war, atrocity and human suffering * The Oldie *Sensational and gripping . . . shedding light on some of the most urgent issues of our time * Judges of the Costa Book of the Year Prize 2018 *Luminous, elegant, haunting - I read it straight through * Philippe Sands, Author of East West Street *Deeply moving. Writes with an almost Sebaldian simplicity and understatement * Guardian *Harrowing and beautiful * Bookseller *An awe-inspiring account of the tragedies and triumphs within the world of the Holocaust's "hide-away" children, and of the families who sheltered them * Georgia Hunter, author of We Were the Lucky Ones *The Cut Out Girl is a reminder of the extraordinary richness of archives and the treasures released by scholarly research * TLS *An extraordinary story, harrowing, deeply affecting. This fascinating story is guaranteed to haunt you * People *A moving story of personal and family history, with a scholar's objective eye for the bigger picture. * Irish Times *Harrowing . . . profoundly moving * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis'An astonishingly rich story... wonderfully informative' The Times 'Rappaport does a terrific job of bringing respectful rigour to her account of Seacole's extraordinary life' Daily MailIn Search of Mary Seacole is a superb and revealing biography that explores her remarkable achievements and unique status as an icon of the 19th century, but also corrects some of the myths that have grown around her life and career. Having been raised in Jamaica and worked in Panama, Mary Seacole came to England in the 1850s and volunteered to help out during the Crimean War. When her services were turned down, she financed her own expedition to Balaclava, where she earned her reputation as a nurse and for her compassion. Popularly known as ‘Mother Seacole’, she was the most famous Black celebrity of her generation – an extraordinary achievement in VTrade Review'I salute Helen Rappaport for taking us to this place so completely with all her imagination, research and thinking. This is an astonishingly rich story... This wonderfully informative book presents Seacole in all her roundness: a ministering angel who was no angel; a driven woman who basked in adulation, and was forgotten for 90 years after her death.' -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * The Times *'Lively and entertaining... Seacole has become such an iconic figure that many legends have grown up around her, but Rappaport's book is a more valuable monument to Seacole's legacy than that painting [she discovered], or many of the other books and poems celebrating her life. Myth is important; but not as important as history.' -- Tomiwa Owolade * Sunday Times *'Scholarly biographer Helen Rappaport says that...the authors of school textbooks have failed to check the facts...[and] Rappaport crisps up the details. Rappaport does a terrific job of bringing respectful rigour to her account of Seacole's extraordinary life.' -- Helen Brown * Daily Mail *'The story of Seacole's life is riven with holes and clouded with myth. And it's these absences and confusions that Helen Rappaort seeks to fill in and smoooth out in her impressive...new biography. The Seacole we meet in these pages is enterprising, intrepid, and...really rather shrewd.' -- Lucy Scholes * Daily Telegraph *'Richly detailed...much of the book reads like a detective story. What leaps from these pages, as well as Seacole's remarkable deeds and character, is the great esteem, indeed love, in which she was held. In this wonderful book, Dr Rappaport has created a fitting tribute.' -- Jacqueline Riding * Country Life *'Well-researched...Rappaport leaves no shred of evidence unexamined... And her work pays off; the Crimean section of In Search of Mary Seacole is the book’s beating heart... A comprehensive and much-deserved tribute to an incredible life' -- Linda Villarosa * New York Times *'An invaluable contribution to the scholarship on Seacole... Rappaport paints a vivid picture of Seacole's portly and brightly dressed figure treating grateful soldiers... Rappaport's biography is a welcome contribution to our understanding of this truly remarkable medical pioneer.' -- Wendy Moore * Literary Review *'Strips away the layers of mystery from the life of the heroine of the Crimean War. I love history books like this that describe the author’s voyage through the archives.' -- Lucy Worsley * Irish Independent *'Inevitably comparisons have been made with Florence Nightingale, who also achieved fame for her nursing exploits in the Crimea, but this is unfair to both women... Rappaport’s eloquently argued work sets the record straight by revealing the life story of a most extraordinary woman.' -- Trevor Royle * Herald *'Rappaport fleshes out Seacole's own account...she throws light on her subject's family [and] there are vivid passages about British and Caribbean society. Rappaport is particularly good at addressing her subtitle [The Making of an Icon]. This portrait of an outstanding woman is timely.' -- Andrew Lycett * Spectator *'A carefully researched piece of scholarship, balanced and informative... I was also struck by an insightful analysis of the impact that Seacole’s pioneering work has had on the development of the nursing profession. This book will serve specialists in the field and casual readers equally well, and opens a window into the life of a unique and remarkable woman about whom there is still much to be discovered.' -- Nick Goulding * Church Times *'A major new study...Rappaport's work is thoroughly documented. She has discovered a significant amount of new material. Various myths are demolished... In Search of Mary Seacole presents its subject as a woman and writer who overcame much and resists the too easy categorisations of both her own time and ours.' -- John T. Gilmore * History Today *'Rappaport’s fascination with her subject started twenty years ago when she discovered the 1869 portrait of Seacole that now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. This image of an older woman, resolute, unfussy yet proudly wearing her honours, seems incredibly modern. The book, equally measured and impressive, feels like the biography Seacole has so long deserved.' -- Clare Mulley * Historia *'This is an excellent book... She has doggedly pursued and expanded the leads thrown up by her methodology with consummate success. The tone of the book is engaging.' -- Glenn Fisher * The War Correspondent: Journal of the Crimean War Research Society *'A welcome addition to the growing body of scholarship on the presence of people, especially women, of African ancestry in the UK. Detailed and interesting...the book highlights the joys, frustrations, and often unrecognised challenges in all history writing.' -- Meleisa Ono-George * Lancet *

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Book SynopsisBOB WOODWARD’S NEW BOOK, RAGE, IS AN UNPRECEDENTED AND INTIMATE TOUR DE FORCE OF NEW REPORTING ON THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY FACING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, ECONOMIC DISASTER AND RACIAL UNREST.   Woodward, the No 1 international bestselling author of Fear: Trump in the White House, has uncovered the precise moment the president was warned that the Covid-19 epidemic would be the biggest national security threat to his presidency. In dramatic detail, Woodward takes readers into the Oval Office as Trump’s head pops up when he is told in January 2020 that the pandemic could reach the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 675,000 Americans. In 17 on-the-record interviews with Woodward over seven volatile months - an utterly vivid window into Trump’s mind - the president provides a self-portrait that is part denial and part combative interchange mixed with surprising moments of doubt as

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Book SynopsisNot For Turning is the first volume of Charles Moore''s authorized biography of Margaret Thatcher, the longest serving Prime Minister of the twentieth century and one of the most influential political figures of the postwar era. Charles Moore''s biography of Margaret Thatcher, published after her death on 8 April 2013, immediately supersedes all earlier books written about her. At the moment when she becomes a historical figure, this book also makes her into a three dimensional one for the first time. It gives unparalleled insight into her early life and formation, especially through her extensive correspondence with her sister, which Moore is the first author to draw on. It recreates brilliantly the atmosphere of British politics as she was making her way, and takes her up to what was arguably the zenith of her power, victory in the Falklands. (This volume ends with the Falklands Dinner in Downing Street in November 1982.) Moore is clearly an admirer of his suTrade ReviewMoore has produced a biography so masterly ... that it comes as close as biography can come to being a work of art -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Moore's great gift is his ability to make Thatcher's story fresh again, and above all to remind us of how odd she was ... the access to her family and friends enabled Moore to produce a multifaceted picture of a compelling life ... [this] will now become the definitive account -- Anne Applebaum * Daily Telegraph *Intricate, elegant and laced with dry humour -- Andrew Rawnsley * Observer *Outstandingly good -- A.N. Wilson * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisIn this autobiography, Quentin Crisp describes his unhappy childhood and the stresses of adolescence that led him to London. There in bedsits and cafes he found a world of brutality and comedy, of shortlived jobs and precarious relationships. All of which he faced with humour and intelligence.

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Book SynopsisAdam Nicolson tells the story of England through the history of fourteen gentry families from the 15th century to the present day. This sparkling work of history reads like a real-life Downton Abbey, as the loves, hatreds and many times of grief of his chosen cast illuminate the grand events of history.We may well be a nation of shopkeepers', but for generations England was a country dominated by its middling families, rooted on their land, in their locality, with a healthy interest in turning a profit from their property and a deep distrust of the centralised state. The virtues we may all believe to be part of the English culture honesty, affability, courtesy, liberality each of these has their source in gentry life cultivated over five hundred years. These folk were the backbone of England.Adam Nicolson's riveting new book concentrates on fourteen families, from 1400 to the present day. From the medieval gung-ho of the Plumpton family to the high-seas adventures of the Lascelles iTrade Review“Dazzling…..there is an exhilarating narrative sweep that takes the story across the centuries, but above all there is a unity of theme and place that roots it in English history and the English landscape….This is an enviably good book” THE SPECTATOR “Clever, moving and put together with expert craftsmanship, THE GENTRY is the most enjoyable book I’ve read this year” FINANCIAL TIMES “Masterly….. a wonderfully evocative work of historical rehabilitation” SUNDAY TELEGRAPH “A consummate writer and keen-eyed reader of landscape, Nicolson gives us mouth-watering descriptions…a fantastic book”. TIME OUT “[Nicolson] paints a fascinating picture of forced marriages, violent deaths, corruption, loyalties, betrayals and, ultimately, a lost way of life… the book has flashes of insight and empathy to remind us that each family had its own individual dramas as well as being symbols of their time.” DAILY MAIL “Nicolson’s fascinating and brilliantly written examination of the gentry across seven centuries….creates a vivid portrait gallery of a class at the heart of English society …..wonderfully readable” SUNDAY TIMES

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Book SynopsisThe story of Abelard and Heloise remains one of the world''s most celebrated and tragic love affairs. Through their letters, we follow the path of their romance from its reckless and ecstatic beginnings when Heloise became Abelard''s pupil, through the suffering of public scandal and enforced secret marriage, to their eventual separation.Table of ContentsThe Letters of Abelard and HeloiseAcknowledgmentsPreface to the Revised EditionChronologyIntroductionThe Letters of Abelard and Heloise in Today's ScholarshipFurther ReadingLetter 1. Historia calamitatum: Abelard to a Friend: The Story of His MisfortunesThe Personal LettersLetter 2. Heloise to AbelardLetter 3. Abelard to HeloiseLetter 4. Heloise to AbelardLetter 5. Abelard to HeloiseThe Letters of DirectionLetter 6. Heloise to AbelardLetter 7. Abelard to Heloise (summarized)Letter 8. Abelard to HeloiseAbelard's Confession of FaithLetters of Peter the Venerable and HeloisePeter the Venerable: Letter (98) to Pope Innocent IIPeter the Venerable: Letter (115) to HeloiseHeloise: Letter (167) to Peter the VenerablePeter the Venerable: Letter (168) to HeloiseTwo Hymns by AbelardSabbato ad VesperasIn Parasceve Domini: III. NocturnoAppendix: An Excerpt from the 'Lost Love Letter' of Heloise and AbelardMapsThe Kingdom of France in the time of AbelardParis in the time of AbelardNotesIndex

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Book Synopsis One couple''s inspiring memoir of healing a Rwandan village, raising a family near the old killing fields, and building a restaurant named Heaven. Newlyweds Josh and Alissa were at a party and received a challenge that shook them to the core: do you think you can really make a difference? Especially in a place like Rwanda, where the scars of genocide linger and poverty is rampant? While Josh worked hard bringing food and health care to the country''s rural villages, Alissa was determined to put their foodie expertise to work. The couple opened Heaven, a gourmet restaurant overlooking Kigali, which became an instant success. Remarkably, they found that between helping youth marry their own local ingredients with gourmet recipes (and mix up the best guacamole in Africa) and teaching them how to help themselves, they created much-needed jobs while showing that genocide''s survivors really could work together. While first a memoir of love, adventure, and family, A Thousand Hills to Heaven also provides a remarkable view of how, through health, jobs, and economic growth, our foreign aid programs can be quickly remodeled and work to end poverty worldwide.Trade Review"Part memoir, part history lesson, part discourse on how to make a public health project work using business standards, the story of Ruxin's life in Rwanda is riveting and inspirational.... From the depths of destruction to "Heaven," Ruxin chronicles the regeneration of this remarkable country, ultimately revealing the healing power of forgiveness and hope." -- Publishers Weekly"The upbeat story of an American couple raising their three children in Rwanda and making a huge difference in the lives of thousands.... A personal adventure tale with a serious message for those concerned with eradicating poverty." -- Kirkus"Josh Ruxin is a dynamic and creative leader in the fight for Health for All in Africa and the world. His stories are like Josh himself: lively, interesting, and inspiring. Read this terrific book and you'll be filled with ideas of how you too can help to change the world." -- Jeffrey D. Sachs, director, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, author of To Move the World"Heart-wrenching. Heart-warming. Poignant. Inspirational. Written with uncommon empathy and deftly turned phrases, full of entrepreneurial idealism tempered by hard-boiled common sense, and told with a modesty worthy of Mother Teresa and a page-turning suspense reminiscent of Stieg Larsson, A Thousand Hills to Heaven may well be the most meaningful book you read this year." -- Steven Raichlen, author of Planet Barbecue and host of Primal Grill on PBS"Josh Ruxin is an entrepreneur for the 21st century who works at the intersection of health and business. His book beautifully captures his family's experiences and their ground-breaking - and often tasty - initiatives." -- Ambassador Mark R. Dybul, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria"This breezy memoir traces a wide-eyed do-gooder American duo from their naive arrival to Rwanda, across years of work and lessons learned with the poor, concluding with a boutique bed-and-breakfast called Heaven. Wild ride." -- Laurie Garrett, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations"Josh Ruxin limns the trajectory of his work, and his family's life, against the backdrop of a country's transformation. As all of us privileged to work in Rwanda know, there are remarkable opportunities-and stories-here, personal, professional, and universal. Some of these are recounted in A Thousand Hills to Heaven, Ruxin's account of the origins and growth of a project, a family, and a restaurant." -- Dr. Paul Farmer, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Partners In Health

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Book SynopsisThe first major biography of 18th century France's most mysterious woman, the daughter of Marie Antoinette, who vanished from public view during the tumultuous last days of the ancien regimeTrade Review'A poignant biography that recreates royalty, terror, tragedy, revolution, and restoration with verve and vividness' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'A powerful story told with wonderful verve: a triumph' Amanda Foreman 'Masterly and compelling a triumph' Tina Brown, author of The Diana Chronicles 'An utterly compelling biography' Daily Express

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