Biography Books

Book SynopsisI try to write something every day even though I am not writing poetry, just to get myself in touch with language.Edwin MorganEdwin Morgan (19202010) is one of the giants of modern literature. Scotland's national poet from 2004 to his death, throughout his long life he produced an astonishing variety of work, from the playful to the profound.Edwin Morgan: In Touch With Language presents previously uncollected prose journalism, book and theatre reviews, scholarly essays and lectures, drama and radio scripts, forewords and afterwords all carefully moulded to the needs of differing audiences. Morgan's writing fizzes with clarity and verve: the topics range from Gilgamesh to Ginsberg, from cybernetics to sexualities, from international literatures to the changing face of his home city of Glasgow. Everyone will find surprises and delights in this new collection.

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Book SynopsisNew Writing Scotland is the principal forum for poetry and short fiction in Scotland today. Every year we publish the very best from emerging and established writers, and list many of the leading literary lights of Scotland among our contributors.

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Book SynopsisFinally available in English, Thomas Meyer's major biography of Ludwig Polzer-Hoditz (1869-1945) offers a panoramic view of an exceptional life. One of Rudolf Steiner's most valued and independent-minded colleagues, Polzer-Hoditz was born in Prague - in the midst of the Austro-Hungarian Empire - to an aristocratic family with royal connections. Leaving behind the traditions of his background, he was to become a key actor in Steiner's regenerative 'threefold' social impulses, working tirelessly for a genuinely unified and free Europe. Polzer-Hoditz also fought to protect Rudolf Steiner's esoteric legacy and the integrity of the Anthroposophical Society that had been founded to further his work. Following Steiner's untimely death, Polzer-Hoditz fostered a broad range of friendships and alliances with key figures such as D.N. Dunlop, Walter Johannes Stein and Ita Wegman. In a bid to avoid further division and conflict, he made significant interventions to alter the tragic course of events that consumed the Anthroposophical Society, although he was unable to stop the major split within the membership that was to follow. In the final decade of his life he concentrated his energies on world issues, seeking to influence events in Europe in particular, lecturing widely and writing a number of books and memoranda. In contrast to the destructive 'special interests' of the national and religious groups that craved dominion and power, Polzer-Hoditz sought to build a true understanding between Central and Eastern Europe and to cultivate a spiritual connection with the West. Meyer's book is a pioneering work in biographical literature, structured in four main sections that reflect the stages of an individual's personal development. In the concluding section he studies world events up to the present day, practising a method referred to as a 'symptomatological observation of history', which Polzer-Hoditz himself sought to develop. Much more than a standard biography, Ludwig Polzer-Hoditz presents a vibrantly living picture of how a spiritual individuality can work in human culture and history - in past, present and future. This first English edition is based on the latest German version and features additional material.

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Book SynopsisWhy was the act of arson that destroyed the first Goetheanum so devastatingly successful in its malicious intent? What was the nature of the poisoning that Rudolf Steiner suffered in 1923? What was the significance of Steiner's encounter with an unknown Master in 1879, and his later meeting with Friedrich Nietzsche on his sickbed? Rather than presenting an accumulation of data, Meyer takes a symptomatological approach to the evolution of Rudolf Steiner's thinking, pinpointing specific moments in his biography, whilst making numerous links to contemporary issues. Seemingly unimportant details are significant - such as Steiner's boyhood habit of smashing dishes, or the droplet of water that adorned Steiner's forehead at his funeral. The often overlooked language of such images is evaluated within the scope and grandeur of Rudolf Steiner's life's work. An incisive theme running through Milestones is the dual nature of time - 'involution' and 'evolution' - and how it affects the Anthroposophical Society and movement. Following Steiner's death, a one-sided involution process has been evident in the overemphasis on the Christmas Foundation Meeting, as well as Steiner's supposedly 'indissoluble' connection with the Society. This is coupled with distorted evolution processes, as seen in the urge to enter the public domain by jettisoning anthroposophy altogether. Such disharmonies can only be healed, says Meyer, by seeing the reality. This book serves as an essential guide to understanding the task of anthroposophy in the modern world.

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Book SynopsisBurl was aware of wasps with stings nearly as long as his own body that could rapidly kill prey. The skulking tribe members of Burl had minimal fear of wasps since each species had a defined prey item. Invoking the horrifying screams of his grandfather, who had been attacked by a black-bellied tarantula years ago, he opened his mouth to scream. In addition to crickets, beetles, and spiders, Burl once spotted a swarm of large, red Amazon ants moving in a neat line across a blue-green mold that had emerged from the river. Under the same silky covering, the tarantula writhed in agony on Burl's spear point. He awaited the introduction of the poison fangs. Above the flames, moths, flying beetles, enormous gnats, and midges performed the death dance. Burl could see them as the flames drew closer to him. Moths beat the air fiercely with their wildly colored thirty-foot-spread wings. As they fixed their crazed attention on the blazing fires below them, their enormous eyes shone like carbuncles. It didn't matter to Burl that one large insect was consuming another. He kept vigil, his eyes darting from the cricket to the odd opening behind the trap.

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Book Synopsis"Out on the estuary a slab of land had separated itself from the horizon and was moving closer" Shortlisted for the New Angle Prize 2019 In 2016 Tom Bolton set out on a mission to walk the long, winding coastline of Essex — from Purfleet on the Thames Estuary to the Suffolk border. Low Country records his probing, hallucinatory journeys along crumbling sea-walls and through retail parks, past abandoned military forts and plotlands. He uncovers an ancient battlefield upstream from a decommissioned nuclear power station, visits England’s most deprived community and treks the remote and beautiful Dengie peninsula in search of forgotten stories. In the treacherous mudflats and coastal resorts of England’s eastern edge, an alternative vision begins to emerge, shaken by Brexit and the rise of new, populist politics in Britain and America. In this low country of vast horizons, where land and sea are in constant flux, Bolton discovers a hidden history of invasion, resistance and radical thinking. A timely new book from the celebrated author of London’s Lost Rivers and Vanished City, Low Country repositions the edgelands of Essex at the political and imaginative heart of England.Trade Review'We are given a rich sense of the wonders of the Essex coast both from Bolton and from the writers who trudged along these muddy paths long before the words Britain and Exit had ever been fused together.' James Canton, TLS'Low Country: Brexit on the Essex Coast [is] a handsome volume illustrated with atmospheric black and white photographs. Although it treads familiar ground, it deftly seeks to understand the relationship between marginal landscapes and embattled identities and loyalties in a world of political turmoil. [...] Bolton’s book, with its engaging style and terrific bibliography will further enhance the county’s singular appeal, the astringent nature of which surely suits the times.' Ken Worpole, The New English Landscape'Bolton’s walk takes him from Purfleet on the Thames Estuary to Manningtree on the Suffolk border. But his odyssey is not unbroken: work commitments and the practical limitations of public transport mean that the journey needs to be made in stages and on weekends often weeks apart. But this does not seem to affect the continuity and power of Bolton’s narrative, indeed there is a hypnotic quality to his landscape descriptions in this book; something to do, perhaps, with the way that the writer conveys how it seems the three elements of the coastline of Essex, sky, sea and sand, constantly coalesce at the vanishing point forming an unreachable fourth place.' Bobby Seal, Psychogeographic Review'Low Country is a wide-raging and fascinating book taking in people, political and newsworthy events, and the changing industry, landscape and use of the coastal region.' Clare Wadd, Caught by the River'We are given a rich sense of the wonders of the Essex coast both from Bolton and from the writers who trudged along these muddy paths long before the words Britain and Exit had ever been fused together.'James Canton, TLS * TLS *'Low Country: Brexit on the Essex Coast [is] a handsome volume illustrated with atmospheric black and white photographs. Although it treads familiar ground, it deftly seeks to understand the relationship between marginal landscapes and embattled identities and loyalties in a world of political turmoil. [...] Bolton’s book, with its engaging style and terrific bibliography will further enhance the county’s singular appeal, the astringent nature of which surely suits the times.'Ken Worpole, The New English Landscape * The New English Landscape *'Bolton’s walk takes him from Purfleet on the Thames Estuary to Manningtree on the Suffolk border. But his odyssey is not unbroken: work commitments and the practical limitations of public transport mean that the journey needs to be made in stages and on weekends often weeks apart. But this does not seem to affect the continuity and power of Bolton’s narrative, indeed there is a hypnotic quality to his landscape descriptions in this book; something to do, perhaps, with the way that the writer conveys how it seems the three elements of the coastline of Essex, sky, sea and sand, constantly coalesce at the vanishing point forming an unreachable fourth place.'Bobby Seal, Psychogeographic Review * Psychogeographic Review *'Low Country is a wide-raging and fascinating book taking in people, political and newsworthy events, and the changing industry, landscape and use of the coastal region.'Clare Wadd, Caught by the River * Caught by the River *

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Book SynopsisWithout Nancy Tennant, Humphrey Waterfield's exquisite horticultural creations might never have existed. The two of them were life-long partners and together created 'the most beautiful small garden in England' at Hill Pasture in Essex and collaborated on the restoration of the gardens at Le Clos du Peyronnet, Menton, France. It was Nancy who kept Hill Pasture going during the Second World War, and this garden and subsequently Le Clos became their earthly paradise, publicly acclaimed works of art and a consolation for the loss and trauma of their pasts. The gardens were a smokescreen for their deepest feelings, but one day, the smoke would begin to clear and the truth of who and how they really loved would be plain to see. It wasn't what it appeared to be, at all. This challenging love story of paradise lost, found and lost again is set against the backdrop of the 20th century, the traumas of two world wars, polarised British politics, the changing position of women in society, and the transformative power of nature's beauty on the human heart.

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Book SynopsisFrom Antarctica and the deserts of the US-Mexico border, to a Siberian whale-killing station and the alleyways of Taipei, these dispatches describe a world in perpetual motion (even when it is ''locked-down''). To travel, we are reminded, is to embrace the experience of being a stranger - to acknowledge that one person''s frontier is another''s home.In 1984 Granta published its first issue devoted to travel writing. Nearly forty years after that genre-defining volume, a new generation of writers from around the globe offers a new vision of what travel writing can be.Granta 157 is guest-edited by award-winning travel writer William Atkins. It features:Jason Allen-Paisant remembers the trees of his childhood Jamaica from his home in LeedsCarlos Manuel Alvarez navigates Cuba''s customs systemEliane Brum travels from her home in the Brazilian Amazon to Antarctica in the era of climate crisisFrancisco Cantu and Javier Zamora: a former border guard travels to the US-Mexico border with a former undocumented migrant who crossed the border as a childJennifer Croft''s richly illustrated essay on postcards and graffiti, inspired by Los Angeles Bathsheba Demuth visits a whale-hunting station on the Bering Strait, RussiaSinead Gleeson visits Brazil with Clarice LispectorKate Harris with the Tinglit people of the Taku River basin, AlaskaArtist Roni Horn on Iceland Emmanuel Iduma returns to Lagos in his late father''s footsteps, NigeriaKapka Kassabova among the gatherers of the ancient Mesta River, BulgariaTaran Khan with Afghan migrants in Germany and Kabul Jessica J. Lee in the alleyways of Taipei, Taiwan, in search of her mother''s homeSven Lindqvist in the Mauritanian Sahara in 1987 - a previously unpublished essay by the late icon of travel writingBen Mauk among the volcanoes of Duterte''s Philippines Pascale Petit tracks tigers in Paris and IndiaPhotographer James Tylor on the legacy of whaling in Indigenous South Australia

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Book SynopsisBaby-boomers, gen-X, millennials, zoomers: the dividing lines among generations in literary culture have become stark to the point of parody. Granta 166 tests the limits of each generation''s given definition in popular culture against the reality of its most sharply observed fiction.Stories by Andrew O''Hagan, Brandon Taylor, Nico Walker and Lillian Fishman fill an issue that captures the change in values, aesthetic emphasis and technological experience among different age cohorts, all the while questioning the legitimacy of the generational conceit. Non-fiction includes meditations on the short history of the idea of ''a generation'', as well as on the relative absence of youth revolts in our time, and the shadowy rule of the old - gerontocracy - in societies across the globe.

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Book SynopsisWhen Alejandro Luque receives a book of photographs taken in Sicily by the Argentinian writer, essayist, and poet Luis Borges, he decides to trace the writer's journey, setting off with a group of friends on his own Sicilian odyssey. Meticulously identifying the location of each photograph, Luque uses Borges's pictures to imagine the range of emotions that the renowned writer felt as he experienced the same views. As his hunt for the locations of the original photographs unfolds, Luque chronicles the ways in which he begins to fall in love with both the island itself and with his friend, Ro. This winding journey features literati both past and present, indigenous and foreign. These characters live alongside Luque's own comments and observations in a narrative that is rich in historical and personal detail. The writer who inspired this great journey, Borges himself, becomes a character in this narrative that is infused with extracts and reflections from his essays and poetry. Borges in Sicily acts as a travel diary, a guide to the most fascinating places in Sicily, a recounting of Borges's journey around the island, and a deeply poetic story of Luque's own adventures. The book also includes twenty-three photographs from the renowned Magnum photographer Ferdinando Scianna, and it won the 1st Premio International del Libros de Viajes.

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Book SynopsisCan you be a pilgrim without leaving your life behind? How does it feel to approach everyday places with the same reverence as grand cathedrals? And how are we changed by even the smallest of journeys? James Attlee asks these questions and more in his thoughtful, streetwise, and personal account of a pilgrimage to a place he thought he already knew: the Cowley Road in Oxford, right outside his door. Attlee's Cowley has little to do with the dreaming spires of his city. Leaving tourism and student life aside, Attlee instead presents a vital and delightfully motley collection of places, people, languages, and cultures. From a sojourn in a sensory-deprivation tank to a furtive visit to an unmarked pornography emporium, from halal shops to Brazilian art dealers to reggae clubs to quiet churchyards, Attlee celebrates the appealing and homegrown eclecticism that so often comes under attack from predatory developers. Drawing inspiration from sources ranging from Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy to contemporary art, Isolarion is at once a charming road movie, a battle cry raised against creeping homogenisation, and a love song to the gloriously messy real life of the city he calls home.Trade Review‘With an eclecticism that ropes in Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy, Foucault, a porn shop and a Jamaican restaurant, Attlee scrutinises a sense of place. He reminds me of the old scholars, chock full of intellectual curiosity and an almost alchemical sensibility. Here you will find wry humour, intellectual curiosity, strangeness and charm.' Ray Mattinson, Blackwell, Oxford ----'The attraction, for Attlee, is that the Cowley Road 'is both unique and nothing special'; the resulting book is unique and very special . . . Residents of East Oxford can be proud to have this eccentric advocate and eloquent explorer in their midst.' Geoff Dyer, The Guardian ----'A new Oxford that no guide book has yet captured.' Richard B. Woodward, New York Times ----'Attlee proves that good travel writing is not about where you go, or how you go there, but the way that you look at the world that you pass through.' Sunday Telegraph ----'Isolarion, despite its title, is about engagement. Attlee shows the hidden beauty of the plural society.' Financial Times ----'Attlee captures the essence of this city better than any tour bus ever could.' Paul Kingsnorth, The Independent ----'A vivid account of daily life, fluid and unsettling, in a modern British town with powerful allegorical reflections on the connections between past and present, time and space, and high culture and the hard-scrabble world that sustains it. Oxford may be the city of lost causes, and this book is indeed ambitious; it could easily sound sententious or twee. But it works, gloriously.' The Economist ----'I have written much about the streets of Oxford myself, but seldom so perceptively or interestingly . . . Anyone who can drag Lucretius, Susanna, Bathsheba, and St. Jerome into a Cowley Road porn shop deserves our attention and admiration.' Colin Dexter, OBE ----'I have never read a better book about Oxford - its oddities and eccentricities. The peripatetic local form of James Attlee's delightful book makes it a storehouse of information as well as a joy to read for its wit and humour.' John Bayley ----'The fish-out-of water travelogue is a staple of the bookstore, but Attlee . . . has set himself a different task: to be the fish, and to give a detailed description of the properties of the water. . . Attlee's reading is deep and wide and engagingly circuitous, and this book frequently provides the delights of discovery that make any adventure worth undertaking.' Rebecca Mead, Bookforum----'All the messy glories of Cowley Road - pubs and porn shops alike - come to life in this work, which becomes a meditation on home and the nature of pilgrimage.' National Geographic Traveler----'A force for good when it comes to resisting the drive and the dismal dialect of modernisation . . . To stiffen the sinews for the rearguard action every Oxonian should buy this book.' Eric Christiansen, The Spectator ----'In an age in which air travel opens up the world, and holidays are to escape the mundane, Attlee encourages us to look at the riches on our doorstep . . . The end of our journey as humankind is not known, but Isolarion provides an invaluable guide to how to progress along the way.' Elizabeth Garner, London Times ----'The vignettes, like marks on a painting by a pointillist, eventually coalesce to become a beautiful work of art.' Sydney Morning Herald ----'It's now a familiar story of the local versus the global; the tide of increasing uniformity as chains proliferate and streets succumb to banal prescriptions . . . But Attlee tells the story vividly and well, and it's a book that anyone concerned for the future of their own town's Cowley Road could read with profit.' Andrew Mead, Architect's Journal

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Book SynopsisWales is a nation of contradictions. It boasts incredible natural resources and crushing poverty; fierce patriotism and a stark north/south divide; an energy surplus, and some of the highest bills in the UK. It also has a famously rugby-mad culture - but its football team are lighting up international tournaments. So what''s going on? And how might Wales look in decades to come? Rhys Thomas hails from Laugharne - the village on which, it is rumoured, Dylan Thomas based Under Milk Wood''s ''Llareggub'' (read it backwards). In this affectionate investigation into his home country - via Welsh geography, food, culture and sport - he aims for the heart of its contrasts. In doing so, Thomas builds a mosaic-like image of how Wales looks today - and how it might look in the future.

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Book SynopsisThe first edition of Lord Dunsany's collection of fantasy short stories, The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories. There are many stories in the book, each of which is set in a distinct realm of magic and fantasy. In the title story, The Sword of Welleran, four warriors travel on their quest to recover a potent sword that has been taken by a wicked sorcerer. On the other hand, In The Kith of the Elf-Folk, a man stumbles onto a secret settlement of elf-like creatures with the ability to control the weather. In the novel The Highwayman, a man trades his soul for money and power with the devil, only to come to regret it. Hereby, readers who are interested in fantasy writing will love this book. Now, his stories are full of unique people, vivid settings, and magical animals, and Dunsany's style is rich and evocative. Hence, the book is still regarded as a masterpiece of the fantasy genre and has received accolades for its inventive storytelling.

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Book SynopsisIn a society battered by economic, political, cultural and ecological collapse, where do we place our trust, now that it is more vital than ever for our survival? How has that trust - in our laws, our media, our governments - been lost, and how can it be won back? Examining the police, the rule of law, artificial intelligence, the 21st century city and social media, Ros Taylor imagines what life might be like in years to come if trust continues to erode. Have conspiracy theories permanently damaged our society? Will technological advances, which require more and more of our human selves, ultimately be rejected by future generations? And in a world fast approaching irreversible levels of ecological damage, how can we trust the custodians of these institutions to do the right thing - even as humanity faces catastrophe?

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to lose your roots within your culture, within your family? And what happens when you find them? Nicole Chung was born severely premature, placed for adoption by her Korean parents, and raised by a white family in a sheltered Oregon town. From childhood, she heard the story of her adoption as a comforting, pre-packaged myth. She believed that her biological parents had made the ultimate sacrifice in the hope of giving her a better life, that forever feeling slightly out of place was her fate as a transracial adoptee. But as Nicole grew up - facing prejudice her adoptive family couldn't see, finding her identity as an Asian American and as a writer - she began to wonder if the story she'd been told was the whole truth. With warmth, candor, and startling insight, Nicole Chung tells of her search for the people who gave her up. All You Can Ever Know is a profound, moving chronicle of surprising connections, and family secrets.

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Book SynopsisCleopatra is a historical novel by H. Rider Haggard. The story revolves around the survival of a dynasty bloodline protected by the Priesthood of Isis, set in the Ptolemaic era of Ancient Egyptian history. The main character, Harmachis, is the living descendant of the pharaoh's bloodline, and he is charged by the Priesthood to overthrow the supposed impostor Cleopatra, drive out the Greeks and Romans, and restore Egypt to its golden era. As the story unfolds, Harmachis returns to Egypt after years in exile in Greece. He is accompanied by the Greek philosopher who serves as his advisor and confidante. Together, they devise a plan to overthrow Cleopatra and restore the old religion of Egypt. However, Harmachis soon finds himself falling in love with Cleopatra, complicating his mission and putting his loyalty to Egypt to the test. Will Harmachis get the realization of his mission? Are they going to be successful? Cleopatra is a captivating historical novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Ancient Egypt and the enigmatic queen who ruled it, with a thrilling plot that combines action, romance, and political intrigue.

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Book SynopsisHatton Garden... straight from the horse's mouth, as told to the factual producer on ITV's new HATTON GARDEN drama series.For this team of old-school career criminals, The Hatton Garden Heist was supposed to be one last job, the fortune that would sort their retirement for good. The plan was to smash in and grab tens of millions of pounds from beneath the world-famous gold-and-jewellery district, and get away to live in luxury.But somewhere it all went wrong. Now, for the first time ever, we hear what happened from the gang behind bars.Based on exclusive interviews and featuring shocking revelations from their associates, this explosive and gripping read includes fresh information and evidence from unheard sources. This is the full story of one of the most audacious crimes in British history.

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Book Synopsis'We were just sacks of flesh existing as punchbags for their rage, or toys for their entertainment'Chris Wild lost his dad aged 11, leaving him to grow up in the care system. There, he witnessed the incessant physical and sexual abuse of children, with the only escape leading to the streets. So many others like him, failed by the systems put in place to protect them, ended up with nothing but drink, drugs, prostitution and crime as their normality.Later, working in a care home himself became the only way Chris could help, but he was shocked to discover little had changed and vulnerable children were still being failed. In Damaged, he shares heartbreaking memories of the care system along with the stories of all the boys, girls, men and women he met along the way - exposing why we must take action now to protect all of Britain's forgotten children.Trade ReviewA powerful book that pulls on your heartstrings * Denise Welch *Chris Wild's searing exposé of life in and around the children's care system in the early 1990s... this no-holds-barred, often distressingly graphic depiction of young lives lost to neglect and abuse in the north of England. The reader is at once moved, outraged and ashamed. Moved, because you would need a granite heart not to weep at the brutal destruction of innocence; outraged at how the perpetrators could get away with so much for so long, and how the system's indifference facilitated such horrors, and ashamed because chances are that you and I have, at some point, walked past and ignored these lost souls on the high street or in our local park...Read the book, get angry, and do anything and everything to ensure that, even in times of austerity and budget cuts, that those charged with caring for our nation's children remain scrutinised and accountable to the public. * outnewsglobal.com *

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Book SynopsisAutobiography is a memoir written by John Stuart Mill, one of the most prominent philosophers and political economists of the 19th century. The book details Mill's life from his childhood through his adulthood and his intellectual development as a philosopher and economist. Mill begins the autobiography by discussing his upbringing and the education he received from his father. He goes on to describe his own experiences with education and his struggles with depression and a lack of purpose in his early adulthood. The book also delves into Mill's political and philosophical beliefs, including his advocacy for utilitarianism and his support for women's rights and social equality. Mill discusses his work as a member of parliament and his involvement in the debates over colonialism and the treatment of India by the British Empire. Throughout the autobiography, Mill reflects on the influences and experiences that shaped his intellectual development and his contributions to political and philosophical thought. Autobiography is a fascinating and insightful account of the life and intellectual development of one of the most influential philosophers and political economists of the 19th century.

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Book SynopsisA pioneering cardiac surgeon expertly sews up the heart of surgery, the health of the nation, and the NHS. The Angina Monologues speeds from the transporting of a donor’s heart up the motorway hard shoulder, to cautionary stories of excessive intervention gone awry in US hospitals, to a traumatic trip to bring advanced cardiac surgery to the Palestinian West Bank. Nashef tells heart-stopping stories of transplants, coronary artery bypasses, aorta repair, and cardiac arrest. He also delivers humane advice about medical realities rarely observed: the futility of obsessing over diet, the necessity of calculating risks, the role of decision making, the resilience of doctor and patient alike, and the threadbare brilliance of the NHS. Nashef is a magnificently warm and likeable doctor and writer; and he has the best imaginable bedside manner.Trade Review‘Nashef's honest, unvarnished writing about his life and death work has given his readers new insights into the reality of life inside the operating theatre.’ -- Stephen Sackur * BBC World News HARDtalk *‘Enthralling and outspoken.’ -- Andrew Billen * The Times *‘It’s funny, sad, uplifting and hopeful. Samer Nashef’s writing style is easy for the lay person to understand (his description of how to do a heart transplant is unforgettable) but is also interesting to those who have some knowledge of cardiology ... Whether you work in medicine or are just interested in how heart problems can be corrected by surgery, this is a great read. I read this book in a couple of days because the stories were so varied and enthralling.’ * Sam Still Reading *Praise for The Naked Surgeon: ‘A Malcolm Gladwell-esque look at what happens in operating theatres … Nashef’s humanity and compassion shine through.’ * The Times *Praise for The Naked Surgeon: ‘One can’t help but think of Henry Marsh when reading Samer Nashef … [He] writes clearly, with plentiful moments of humour.’ * The Independent *Praise for The Naked Surgeon: ‘[The Naked Surgeon] takes a scalpel to the medical profession and asks if patients get the standard of care they have the right to expect from their surgeons … A valuable resource.’ * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisIn September 2013, the body of a woman was found in the Paktika province of Afghanistan, riddled with twenty bullets. She was identified as Sushmita Bandyopadhyay from Kolkata. The story in the area was that she was killed by Taliban militants, although the organisation formally denied being involved. Subsequently, the police arrested two men suspected of killing her, both of them members of the Haqqani militant network. The murder marked the tragic and violent end of a story that began in the second half of the 1980s in the city of Kolkata, when she met, fell in love with, and finally married, in 1988, a man named Jaanbaz Khan.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE CRICKET SOCIETY AND MCC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2020The much-loved former England player, Guardian cricket correspondent and TMS broadcaster tells the story of his life in cricket for the first time.In April 1974 new recruits Viv Richards, Ian Botham, Peter Roebuck and Vic Marks reported for duty at Somerset County Cricket Club. Apart from Richards, 'all of us were eighteen years old, though Botham seemed to have lived a bit longer - or at least more vigorously - than the rest.'In this irresistible memoir of a life lived in cricket, Vic Marks returns to the heady days when Richards and Botham were young men yet to unleash their talents on the world stage while he and Roebuck looked on in awe. After the high-octane dramas of Somerset, playing for England was almost an anti-climax for Marks, who became an unlikely all-rounder in the mercurial side of the 1980s. Moving from the dressing room to the press box, with trenchant observations about the modern game along the way, Original Spin is a charmingly wry, shrewdly observed account of a golden age in cricket.Trade ReviewA lovely read: self-written and thus well-written; authentic, genial and full of good anecdotes -- Matthew Engel * New Statesman *[Marks] must be cricket's most avuncular man, a warm, wry presence in voice and print. His memoir has those qualities too, as well as being deeply English, deeply modest...Marks' real gift as writer and broadcaster is an eye for human detail...this is a memoir in Vic Marks' image, and offers joy and solace in plentiful measures. -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *[Marks] is unfailingly courteous, friendly and knowledgable. His autobiography does absolutely nothing to dispel that impression. He tells his story in an engaging style... * Cricket Web *Elegantly written and...often gently penetrating in its judgements. * Country Life *There are some great anecdotes as well as a revealing account of his relationship with former Somerset skipper Peter Roebuck * Choice *a sunny and modest read * Literary Review *Table of Contents1: Taunton 1974 2: On the farm 3: Oxford 4: Full-time pro 5: Great losses 6: Great wins 7: Caps no. 55 and 499 8: One-day cricketer 9: On tour 10: Perth 11: Trouble over Bridgwater 12: Retired hurt 13: The Observer 14: Test Match Special (then) 15: Test Match Special (now) 16: Loose ends

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Book SynopsisThe Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay by Maurice Hewlett is a historical fiction novel set in medieval Europe during the time of the Crusades. The story follows the life of a fictional character Richard, a nobleman who becomes a knight and goes on a quest to reclaim the Holy Land from the Muslims. Richard embarks on his journey, as he faces many challenges and moral dilemmas. He is torn between his loyalty to his king and his own sense of justice, and he struggles to reconcile his desire for glory and his conscience. Now, What will Richard do? The novel explores themes of chivalry, honor, love, and religion, and it provides a vivid portrayal of life in the Middle Ages. The title of the book, Richard Yea-and-Nay, refers to the nickname given to the main character because of his habit of giving ambiguous answers to questions. This adds an element of mystery and intrigue to the story and reflects the complexity of Richard's character.

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Book SynopsisAfter the 1993 Oslo Accords, a handful of Palestinians were allowed to return to their hometowns in Israel. Fida Jiryis and her family were among them. This beautifully written memoir tells the story of their journey, which is also the story of Palestine, from the Nakba to the presenta seventy-five-year tale of conflict, exodus, occupation, return and search for belonging, seen through the eyes of one writer and her family. Jiryis reveals how her father, Sabri, a PLO leader and advisor to Yasser Arafat, chose exile in 1970 because of his work. Her own childhood in Beirut was shaped by regional tensions, the Lebanese Civil War and the 1982 Israeli invasion, which led to her mother's death. Thirteen years later, the family made an unexpected return to Fassouta, their village of origin in the Galilee. But Fida, twenty-two years old and full of love for her country, had no idea what she was getting into. Stranger in My Own Land chronicles a desperate, at times surreal, search for a homel

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Book SynopsisA Palestinian activist recalls his adolescence in Gaza during the Second Intifada, and how he made a strong commitment to peace in the face of devastating brutality in this moving, candid, and transformative memoir that reminds us of the importance of looking beyond prejudice, anger, and fear.

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Book SynopsisEdith Maryon (1872-1924) was a trained sculptor who worked alongside Rudolf Steiner to create the unique sculpture of Christ (the ‘Representative of Humanity’) at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. One of Steiner’s closest collaborators, she was a highly-valued colleague and esoteric pupil. As one of his dearest friends, Maryon kept a busy and detailed correspondence with Rudolf Steiner, in which he confided freely about his personal situation, his lack of true colleagues, difficulties with lecture tours, and the embattled public standing of anthroposophy. Almost invariably, these letters emphasized Steiner’s longing for the Dornach studio and their shared work on the Christ statue. Maryon’s early death, aged 52 – following fifteen months of illness – shook Rudolf Steiner to the core. He was to die himself less than a year later. With this book, the author’s central aim is to illuminate the spiritual signature of Edith Maryon’s relationship with Rudolf Steiner and their mutual work in anthroposophy and on the sculpture of Christ. Building on Rex Raab’s (1993) biography, Peter Selg’s moving study features dozens of photos and facsimiles of letters, utilizing previously unpublished sources from Edith Maryon’s and Ita Wegman’s literary estates and the Rudolf Steiner Archive in Dornach. –– The most essential and intrinsic quality of her soul … was not a particular branch of human endeavour, not even art; the most salient of her soul tendencies, her soul intentions, was the striving for spirituality…’ – Rudolf SteinerTable of ContentsForeword – I. ‘Doing what it is my destiny to do’, Edith Maryon’s Path to Rudolf Steiner (1912-1914) – II. ‘What she does, I have done’, Work on the ‘Christ Group’ and the First World War (1914-1918) – III ‘With the essential being / of another soul’, Inner Accompaniment and Continuing Work (1919-1922) – IV. ‘The Story of Job’, The Fire, Illness and Death (1923-1924) – Notes and References – Bibliography

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Book SynopsisPlutarch's Lives Vol 2, written by the ancient Greek historian and biographer Plutarch, is a captivating collection of biographies that offers deep insights into the lives of prominent figures from Greek and Roman history. This second volume serves as a continuation of Plutarch's comprehensive examination of notable individuals and explores the parallel lives of influential personalities. The biographies in Plutarch's Lives Vol 2 go beyond mere historical accounts, as Plutarch employs a blend of factual information and insightful anecdotes to paint vivid portraits of these illustrious individuals. With its rich historical context, engaging storytelling, and philosophical underpinnings, Plutarch's Lives Vol 2 stands as a timeless work that continues to captivate readers, offering profound wisdom and a window into the lives of extraordinary men.

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Book SynopsisR.M. Murray has a story. Quite a few of them. Of seasickness, hangovers, the wrong kind of weather. Of the joy of woe, and disappointments fairy-lit with hope. From fishing in the endless rain on the Isle of Lewis to performing in a band with Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson at Glasgow School of Art. A stargazer, looking through the wrong end of the telescope. This is a memoir... of sorts. A join-the-dots journey through a life. A series of vignettes and minor personal fables, sardonic and self-deprecating. If it were a wine it would be very dry with an insolent nose and a desperate finish. Complex but approachable. And affordable.Trade Review"A heartwarming trip through the ruins of youthful delusion, much of which I don't remember." Peter Capaldi; "Here we have the trampings of a slight Chaplinesque figure whose fickle fate seldom tires of tripping him up." Finlay MacLeod; "The moors, a hamster perishing from hypothermia, the drinking habits of Glaswegian punks, the fascination with boxing, a sheep in a house, the outdoorsy tramping....the subjects are indeed bleak. But the writing is animated, curious, precise and horribly candid. Not bleak. Nor are the many incidental digressions and the constant wryness. Invigorating as a gallon of Lanliq with an Eldorado chaser." Jonathan Meades

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Book SynopsisHow would any of us feel if we could meet our teenage selves, a ghost on the road? Everything Passes, Everything Remains is a confluence of journeys, made by Chris Dolan, his friends, and writers before him. It’s a bit about cycling, a bit about walking, and a bit about buses. It’s a kind of travelogue, over time, and through some lesser-known parts of Spain. It’s an obsession with Spain’s writers and its history, from the Inquisition to the Civil War to the questions it faces as a country today. What makes a nation, or a family for that matter, or a group of friends? In many ways it’s as much about Dolan’s native Scotland as Spain. But mostly, it’s about the highs and lows of growing up and growing older – how the past plays merry hell with the present. About friendship, loss, music, memory, and the demons that follow us as we try to make sense of our history and our place in the world.Trade Review"The warmth of friendship and wanderlust of retirement, making good on decades of dreaming – Everything Passes, Everything Remains is brilliantly relatable, a personal journey shared candidly, painting a vivid picture of Spain with self-deprecating Scottish humour." Mark Beaumont; "Magical. A story for our times and what it is to be alive now.’ Elaine C Smith; "Everything Passes, Everything Remains is the multi-talented Dolan’s 'My Back Pages': a rich, evocative ramble through Spain, history and memory. It’s a constant delight." Graeme Macrae Burnet; "A treat from start to finish… To those who love life, read this book." David Hayman; “You can be gallus enough to busk across Spain but your demons and weaknesses still come with you … Chris Dolan celebrates the power of cycling to link his friendships, music and the Iberian ways of life.” Alan Brown;“A life remembered, a past revisited, proof of the healing power of friendship… thoughtful, hopeful and beautifully written." Colin Blane, cyclist and former BBC Europe Correspondent

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Book SynopsisThe Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Vol-1' is an enlightening collection of writings by the renowned polymath Leonardo da Vinci. In this volume, readers are granted a glimpse into the mind of one of history's greatest geniuses as they explore da Vinci's personal notebooks. The book presents a compilation of da Vinci's observations, ideas, sketches, and reflections on a wide range of subjects. From anatomy and engineering to art and philosophy, da Vinci's writings cover an astounding breadth of knowledge and curiosity. Readers are treated to da Vinci's meticulous studies of the human body, his inventive engineering designs, and his musings on the nature of light, perspective, and aesthetics. The volume provides a fascinating window into da Vinci's creative process and the depth of his intellectual pursuits. It is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration for art enthusiasts, scholars, and anyone intrigued by the boundless curiosity and brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci.

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Book SynopsisThe Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci Vol-2' is an enlightening collection of writings by the renowned polymath Leonardo da Vinci. The second volume of Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks contains a wide range of writings on a variety of topics, including sculpture, architecture, zoology, physiology, medicine, astronomy, geography, naval warfare, swimming, flying machines, mining, music, and more. Leonardo's writings are often accompanied by detailed drawings and diagrams, which provide a fascinating glimpse into his mind and his work. The volume begins with a section on sculpture, in which Leonardo discusses the principles of design and proportion. He also provides detailed instructions on how to create sculptures, including how to model clay, cast bronze, and carve marble. The next section of the volume is devoted to architecture. Leonardo discusses the design of buildings, including churches, palaces, and fortifications. He also provides insights into the principles of engineering and construction.

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Book SynopsisOne of the English language's great humourists provides a masterful account of how humour worksand of how it very often doesn't.

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Book SynopsisAn Elementary Study of Insects is a foundational work within the subject of entomology authored by using Leonard Haseman, a distinguished entomologist. This book, while not well known in famous literature, is distinctly appeared among students, researchers, and lovers interested by the take a look at of insects. Published throughout a generation whilst entomological understanding become still evolving, Haseman's work served as a vital aid for the ones in search of a complete introduction to the world of insects. The book offers a meticulous exam of insect anatomy, behavior, ecology, and class, making it accessible to both beginners and extra pro entomologists. Haseman's ardour for the subject count number shines via in his writing, as he conveys the marvel and intricacies of the insect world to his readers. He offers treasured insights into the life cycles, adaptations, and ecological roles of numerous insect species, fostering a deeper appreciation for these creatures. While An Elementary Study of Insects might not be a literary masterpiece within the traditional feel, it stands as a testament to Haseman's willpower to the sphere of entomology and his dedication to training. His paintings maintains to function a valuable reference for everybody interested in the have a look at of bugs, contributing notably to the understanding of these vital and various organisms in the herbal world.

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Book SynopsisA COSMOPOLITAN BEST NON-FICTION BOOK OF 2022 The Lonely Hunter explores the rise of singledom, the realities of loneliness, and whether it is possible to live contentedly alone. ‘So what’s going on in your love life?’ This seemingly innocent question at a dinner party prompted Aimée Lutkin to finally tell the truth: it had been six years since her last relationship, and she was starting to suspect that it would be better to accept the life she had as a single woman — a life she liked very much — rather than keep searching for a partner. But Lutkin’s answer was met with uproar; surely she couldn’t give up on love? So she threw herself into dating, going on two dates every week over a number of months. Documenting her experiences, Lutkin explores the reality of sexual relationships today and reveals how the cultural messages we receive shape our expectations of love. From weird Tinder hookups to the way the self care industry capitalises on our fear of being alone, and from the complexities of queer dating to the truth about the ‘loneliness epidemic’, she uses her experiences to fearlessly tell a wider story about how we love now.Trade Review‘A funny, honest and confronting account that challenges views about being single in a world built for couples.’ * The Sunday Times *‘A Sex and the City for mid-30s millennials that is confessional, ironic, and fun … Lutkin injects a fresh anti-glamour into her escapades.’ -- Fried Klotz * Sunday Independent *‘A brilliant reframing of the cultural narrative around singledom with an impassioned defence of its pleasures ... With sparkling intellect and wit, Lutkin argues that being single can be just as life-giving as companionship.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘[The Lonely Hunter] will change the way you perceive solitude forever.’ -- Hayley Maitland * Vogue Australia *‘In unflinching, honest prose that deftly weaves sociological and cultural analysis with her personal journey, The Lonely Hunter challenged everything I assumed about the nature of loneliness and what it means to lead an authentic life ... A deeply relatable story that will resonate with readers, lonely or not.’ -- Doree Shafrir, author of Thanks for Waiting and Startup‘An insightful and thorough investigation into one woman’s loneliness and the systemic ways we’re all becoming less connected ... It might seem like a depressing topic, but I laughed so hard and learned so much.’ -- Blythe Roberson, author of How to Date Men When You Hate Men‘Wry, smart, full of bittersweet detail and vivid scenes, The Lonely Hunter is engaging without giving in to easy answers and is willing to ask the big questions — what makes a good life, and what do we want from each other?’ -- Rosalie Knetch, author of the Vera Kelly novels‘Interesting and thoughtful.’ -- James Greig * Dazed *‘At once heartbreaking and deeply funny, Lutkin’s The Lonely Hunter captures the essence of seemingly endless singlehood in a world built for couples. As vulnerable as she is illuminative, Lutkin achieves what so many of us singles are looking for — she makes us feel less alone.’ -- Rebecca Fishbein, author of Good Things Happen to People You Hate‘I’m not sure how one could read The Lonely Hunter and NOT fall in love with Aimée Lutkin! Her memoir is at once a tender, vivacious consideration of modern romance and an incisive cultural study of American loneliness — a great and heartwarming achievement.’ -- Rachel Vorona Cote, author of Too Much‘[The Lonely Hunter is an] astute, poignant, meditation on the single life, as well as dating, sex and connection.’ * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘Part memoir, part cultural criticism, The Lonely Hunter reveals society’s pathologising of love and loneliness for an insightful and full-of-heart read.’ * Denizen *‘A blend of memoir and reportage, The Lonely Hunter will convince you that our “search for love is broken”, whether you’re single or not.’ * Vogue *

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