Biography Books

Book SynopsisSamuel Smiles published Lives of the Engineers in 1862. The noted biographer presented his engineers as heroic progress makers who conquered nature and overcame impossible obstacles to drive the Industrial Revolution forward, but included twisted and often fabricated accounts in his work.In Ten Engineers Who Made Britain Great, Anthony Burton seeks to correct this narrative by offering nuanced portraits of some of the best-known engineers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Burton investigates the common themes that run between the stories of John Metcalf, James Brindley, John Smeaton, William Jessop, Thomas Telford, James Watt, Richard Trevithick, George and Robert Stephenson, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and also explores how each of these men learned from one another.

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Book SynopsisBright, attractive and well-connected, in any other family the Churchill sisters – Diana, Sarah, Marigold and Mary – would have shone. But they were not in any other family, they were Churchills and neither they nor anyone else could ever forget it. From their father – ‘the greatest Englishman’ – to their brother, golden boy Randolph, to their eccentric and exciting cousins, the Mitford Girls, they were surrounded by a clan of larger-than-life characters which often saw them overlooked. Marigold died when she was very young but her three sisters lived lives full of passion, drama and tragedy …Diana, intense and diffident; Sarah, glamorous and stubborn; Mary, dependable yet determined – each so different but each imbued with a sense of responsibility toward each other and their country. Far from being cosseted debutantes, these women were eyewitnesses at some of the most important events in world history, including at the Second World War Conferences of Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam. Yet The Churchill Girls is not a story set on the battlefields or in Parliament; it is an intimate saga that sheds light on the complex dynamics of family set against the backdrop of the tumultuous twentieth century.Accomplished biographer Rachel Trethewey draws on unpublished family letters from the Churchill archives to bring Winston and Clementine’s daughters out of the shadows and tell their remarkable stories for the first time.

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Book SynopsisThe musical child of Russia’s golden age, Sergei Rachmaninoff, was the last of the great Romantics. Scorned by the musical establishment until very recently, his music received hostile reviews from critics and other composers. Conversely, it never failed to find widespread popular acclaim, and today he is one of the most popular composers of all time.Biographer Michael Scott investigates Rachmaninoff’s intense and often melodramatic life, following him from imperial Russia to his years of exile as a wandering virtuoso and his death in Beverly Hills during the Second World War, worn out by his punishing schedule.In this remarkable biography which relates the man to his music, Michael Scott tells the colourful story of a life that spanned two centuries and two continents. His original research from the Russian archives, so long closed to writers from the West, brings us closer to the spirit of a man who genuinely believed that music could be both good and popular, a belief that is now triumphantly vindicated.

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Book SynopsisIn 1697, a 34-year-old woman mounted her horse and set off on a 3,000-mile journey which over two summers would take her to every county in England. Her name was Celia Fiennes. It was a time when women didn’t do such things. It could be gruelling, unhealthy and dangerous. As she discovered, most roads were unsigned, marshy tracks, lodgings could be filthy and vermin-ridden, and highwaymen lay in wait for the unwary.Luckily for us, Celia Fiennes kept a detailed diary about the places she saw and the people she met. She reports on the brutal justice system and political shenanigans of the time, and is fascinated by industry and commerce – workshops, shipping and especially coal-pits and tin mines. What she tells us is significant as the Industrial Revolution would soon change England forever.Yet this remarkable woman and her story have, until now, been largely neglected.In England From a Side-Saddle, historian and journalist Derek J. Taylor seeks to put that right. As we follow the route Celia Fiennes took, we see through her eyes an England of 320 years ago, and learn of the courage, determination and curiosity of one woman who was centuries ahead of her time.

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Book SynopsisWilfrid Brambell was one of Britain’s most loved and complex character actors. As Albert Ladysmith Steptoe, the unscrupulous rag-and-bone man with questionable habits in Ray Galton and Alan Simpson’s long-running Steptoe & Son, he quickly became a household name with co-star Harry H. Corbett. But despite scores of other successes in roles on stage, TV and film, Brambell died a sad and lonely man.Alongside fame and fortune, ‘You Dirty Old Man!’ reveals how Brambell suffered unbelievable personal heartache, battling an inner turmoil that eventually drove him to drink as his marriage collapsed in the most deceitful circumstances imaginable. His torment led to a secretive life off camera where he did everything possible to stay out of the public eye.Featuring original interviews with film directors Richard Lester, Terence Davies and Tony Palmer, as well as recollections from his own family members, the family of Harry H. Corbett and those who worked alongside him, author David Clayton seeks to re-examine the legacy of a man whose loyal fanbase remains undiminished sixty years on from his heyday.

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Book Synopsis'Theirs was a pre-urban world in the glow of its last sunset, without a care or doubt, in which it seemed as if nothing could ever come to harm. Here was their version of that ideal world that has haunted the dreamer, rebel and pastoral poet for centuries.'Between 1850 and 1939 such well-known writers as Rudyard Kipling, Virginia Woolf and Richard Jefferies came to Sussex, a county already home to the likes of Wilfrid Blunt, Hilaire Belloc and others. The result was an explosion of literary creativity which rejected modernity and the London scene, and instead developed writing imbued with a sense of nature and landscape.In this, his last book, Peter Brandon (1927–2011) has drawn on his vast knowledge of the Sussex landscape to show how such writers, seeking a foil to London, were inspired by their surroundings and found peace and a tranquillity which existed in few other places.

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Book SynopsisIn the early hours of Thursday, 8 August 1963, sixteen masked men ambushed the Glasgow–Euston mail train at Sears Crossing in Buckinghamshire.Making off with a record haul of £2.6 million, the robbers received approximately £150,000 each (over £2 million in today’s money). While twelve of the robbers were jailed over the next five years, four were never brought to justice – they evaded arrest and thirty-year prison sentences, and lived out the rest of their lives in freedom. In stark contrast to the likes of Ronnie Biggs, Buster Edwards and Bruce Reynolds, they became neither household names nor tabloid celebrities.Who were these men? How did they escape detection for so long? And how, almost sixty years later, are their names still not common knowledge? In No Case to Answer, Andrew Cook gathers and examines decades of evidence and lays it out end to end. It’s time for you to draw your own conclusions.

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Book SynopsisRunning a railway is a complex business. However organised it is, there will always be surprises: often hilarious, frequently unexpected, but sometimes serious.Along Different Lines includes such bizarre ‘everyday’ events as coping with hurricanes, rogue locomotives and runaway wagons; PR successes and otherwise; the Brighton Belle, Flying Scotsman and Mallard; training-course capers; a wino invasion; trackside antics; the Eurostar backdrop; the birth of a prison; and royal and other special occasions.Expert authors Geoff Body and Bill Parker lovingly compiled this entertaining collection in which railway professionals recall notable incidents from across their careers. This illustrated compilation provides an enjoyable look back at life on the railways.

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Book SynopsisThe life of Bavarian Hans Frank, one of the ten war criminals hanged at Nuremburg in 1946, has not received the full attention the world has given to other Nazi leaders. In many ways, he warrants it more. His life symbolised Germany’s hubristic and visionary ambition to an alarming degree, much better than anyone else’s, perhaps because he was an intellectual of the highest calibre.An early supporter of the Nazi Party, Frank ultimately became Hitler’s personal lawyer and later served as Governor General of Poland during the Second World War. He was a fervent advocate of Nazi racist ideology and became the primary – if not the archetypal – symbol of evil, establishing a reign of terror against Polish civilians and becoming directly involved in the mass murder of Jews. The Butcher of Poland is a harrowing account of Hans Frank, the man who formalised the Nazi race laws.

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Book SynopsisRichard III, the most notorious and most discussed of English kings, was also unusual among his contemporaries in regularly signing his books. This characteristic, among others, has enabled Anne Sutton and Livia Visser-Fuchs to reconstruct his library, and link it to the culture and reading habits of his generation.The books of Richard III are typical of what was available to and popular with the medieval reader religion, chivalry, history, genealogy, advice on how to govern, romance and prophecy and allow us to draw an interesting overview of fifteenth-century opinions.Each type of book is examined on its own terms and then related to the known preoccupations of Richard himself, his associates and to the political practices of his time. Containing valuable biographical material, insights into the history and politics of the later fifteenth century, and much detail on late medieval piety and other important aspects of contemporary culture, this fully illustrated survey has wide-ranging significance for all who study the history and literature of the medieval period.

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Book SynopsisThey all excited and inspired me by how they fought their corners […] So I want to place them all round a fantasy dinner-table, not just to dine, but to relive how I saw them in action and how much they had in common.Who would be on your dream dinner party guest list? Over his 50 years in broadcasting, Archie Macpherson has seen many sports personalities come and go; in Touching the Heights he collects the 13 who have inspired him most around his fantasy dinner table. Some are well-known, others less so, but all shaped both their sport and those, like Macpherson, who watched their careers unfold.Tommy Docherty · Jackie Paterson · Jim Baxter Eric Brown · Jimmy Johnstone · Sandra Whittaker Dr Richard Budgett · Ally MacLeod · Jock Stein · Sir Alex Ferguson · Bill McLaren · Jim MacLean · Graeme SounessFrom football to golf, boxing to athletics, Touching the Heights celebrates the breadth of Scottish sporting achievement. Whether telling the tale of a boy who acquired new shoes by stealing them from the local baths, or that of a distinguished medical scientist at the centre of sporting transgender debates, one thing unites them all: Without them life would have been much poorer.Trade ReviewFrom football to golf, boxing to athletics, Touching the Heights celebrates the breadth of Scottish sporting achievement. ANN FOTHERINGHAM, Glasgow Times

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Book SynopsisIn 1912, Rash Behari Bose made his dramatic entrance into India's anti-colonial freedom movement when he orchestrated a bomb attack against the British Viceroy during a public procession in Delhi. Forced to flee his homeland, Bose settled in Japan, becoming the most influential Indian in Tokyo and earning the affectionate title 'Sensei' among Japanese youth, military personnel and far-right ultranationalists. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Bose remained a perpetual thorn in the side of the British Empire as he built and maintained a global network of anti-colonialists, radicals, smugglers and intellectuals. After siding with Imperial Japan against his British adversaries during the Second World War, Bose died in 1945--just two years before India gained its independence. A complex, controversial and often contradictory figure, Bose has been described as a committed democrat, an authoritarian, an advocate of religious harmony, a Hindu chauvinist, an anti-Communist, a political pragmatist, an idealist, a Japanese collaborator, an anti-racist, a cultural conservative, a Pan-Asianist, an Indian nationalist, and much more besides. Drawing on extensive archival research in India, Japan and the UK, this refreshing new biography brings to life the largely forgotten story of one of twentieth-century Asia's most daring revolutionaries.Trade Review'Relocates Rash Behari Bose’s place in modern Indian history.' -- The Times of India'An intriguing account of a forgotten but significant figure in the annals of anticolonialism.' -- Priyamvada Gopal, author of 'Insurgent Empire''Rash Behari Bose is a key figure among Indian "expatriate patriots", and, like many of his contemporaries, defies easy political categorisation. Well-written, fast-paced, and filled with remarkable events, "Fugitive of Empire" is a compelling story.' -- Carolien Stolte, Assistant Professor, University of Leiden, and author of 'The League Against Imperialism''McQuade's meticulously researched biography of Rash Behari Bose reveals the multifaceted nature of anti-colonialism in the first half of the twentieth century. An original and captivating read, connecting waves of revolutionary movements, it fills a major gap in global historiography.' -- Ole Birk Laursen, Researcher, Lund University, and author of 'Anarchy or Chaos: M. P. T. Acharya and the Indian Struggle for Freedom''McQuade's evocative account of Rash Behari Bose reads like a novel, taking us through some of the most dramatic moments of India's struggle for independence and revealing the global dimensions of anti-colonialism during the first half of the twentieth century.' -- Kim A. Wagner, Professor of Global and Imperial History, Queen Mary, University of London, and author of 'The Skull of Alum Bheg' and 'Amritsar 1919'

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Book SynopsisEstablished in the wake of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-8 by the Australian army officer Major-General Walter Cawthorne, then Deputy Chief of Staff in the Pakistan Army, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for years remained an under-developed and obscure agency. In 1979, the organisation's growing importance was felt during the Soviet war in Afghanistan , as it worked hand in glove with the CIA to support the mujahideen resistance, but its activities received little coverage in news media.Since that time, the ISI has projected its influence across the region - in 1988 its involvement in Indian Kashmir came under increasing scrutiny, and by 1995 its mentoring of what became the Afghan Taliban was well attested. But it was the organisation's alleged links with Al Qaeda and the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, at the heart of Pakistan's military zone, that really threw it under the spotlight. These controversies and many more have dogged the ISI, including its role in Pakistan's testing of a nuclear weapon in 1998 and its links with A.Q. Khan.Offering fresh insights into the ISI as a domestic and international actor based on intimate knowledge of its inner workings and key individuals, this startlingly original book uncovers the hitherto shady world of Pakistan's secret service.Trade Review'In Faith, Unity, Discipline, Hein Kiessling explores its shadowy history ... Notable episodes from the ISI's past have been covered recently elsewhere ... however, the ISI is seen out of focus or relegated to the sidelines. Mr. Kiessling, whose style, befitting his subject, is lean and restrained, fills this void nicely.' -- The Wall Street Journal'Former ISI chiefs who spend their time on the seminar circuit defending their agency's action have a new cause for worry thanks to a new book, Faith, Unity, Discipline, by German historian Hein G. Kiessling, which takes an incisive look into the organisation's functioning.' -- The Wire'Sheds new light and insight into the trajectory of Pakistani politics from Ayub Khan to Nawaz Sharif (in his third stint). As such, it is required and compelling read for all students of South Asia, beyond security.' -- The Indian Express'Provides a comprehensive account of how the tentacles of the ISI extend from the Pakistan military to virtually every aspect of national life in Pakistan. Kiessling also dwells on the various pursuits of the ISI, ranging from interfering in domestic politics, manipulating the media and mortally threatening individuals who come in its way, while even eliminating those found to be "inconvenient".' -- G. Parthasarathy, Outlook India'An excellent account of the ISI's development and history which is especially helpful on its early years. This book will be an important addition to both Pakistan studies and to intelligence studies.' -- Bruce Riedel, Brookings Institution Intelligence Project, and author of Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America, and the Future of the Global Jihad'By definition, studying intelligence agencies is particularly challenging. This book meets that challenge by relying on open and confidential sources. It is, to date, the most comprehensive analysis of the ISI. Tracing its history since its inception, it shows how foreigners helped Pakistan to build the ISI, how the agency faced fiascos during the wars against India, and how it became a major actor in domestic politics under Bhutto. It will never cease to be one, but it played a more dramatic role during the anti-Soviet Jihad, while collaborating with the CIA. The relative autonomy of the ISI vis-à-vis the Pakistani army and its relations with Islamists are some of the key questions addressed by the author of this remarkable book.' -- Christophe Jaffrelot, author of The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resistance

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Book SynopsisShinzo Abe entered politics burdened by high expectations: that he would change Japan. In 2007, seemingly overwhelmed, he resigned after only a year as prime minister. Yet, following five years of reinvention, he masterfully regained the premiership in 2012 and, until his resignation in 2020, dominated Japanese democracy as no leader had done before. Abe inspired fierce loyalty among his followers, cowing Japan’s left with his ambitious economic programme and support for the security and armed forces. He staked a leadership role for Japan in a region being rapidly transformed by the rise of China and India, while carefully preserving an ironclad relationship with Trump’s America. The Iconoclast tells the story of Abe’s meteoric rise and stunning fall, his remarkable comeback, and his unlikely emergence as a global statesman who laid the groundwork for Japan’s survival in a turbulent century.Trade Review‘Comprehensive and engaging.’ -- The Economist‘In exhaustive detail, [Harris] describes a career of setbacks, half-successes and frustrated ambitions.’ -- The Times‘The Iconoclast is a definitive, must-read biography of Abe, and will be the standard English-language work on his life and times for years to come.’ -- The Japan Times‘Journalists, scholars – anyone interested in the political evolution of the leading democracy of East Asia – will need to add The Iconoclast to the reading pile.’ -- Asia Times'Offer[s] in non-specialized language accessible to a general reader detailed coverage of Abe’s family ties to politics, entry into politics, rise to the premiership, and style and substance of governing.' -- Pacific Affairs‘Reflecting on the past and speculating the future, the book contains rich insight about Japan under Abe’s government as well as in the coming post-Abe era, which will help us envision Japan’s future.’ -- Nikkei Asian Review‘For more than a decade, Shinzo Abe has been the doorknob of international politics – largely unnoticed but functionally crucial. Throughout a period of tumult, both international and domestic, he has remained a grimly determined steady hand, a conservative force in a world of radical uncertainty. In translucent prose, Tobias Harris is a subtle commentator on Japan and a remarkably sure-footed guide to the inner workings of its longest-serving prime minister in history.' -- David Pilling, Financial Times, author of Bending Adversity: Japan and the Art of Survival‘Harris has very skilfully told one of the great political comeback stories of our era – the fall and rise of not just Abe Shinzo, but Japan itself. With colourful anecdotes and insightful analysis, the author shows us how Abe, a political blue-blood, pulled off the most remarkable second act in modern Japanese history by being an iconoclast. Harris tells how Abe challenged taboos and broke the mould to help Japan reclaim its confidence, and its rightful place in the world.’ -- Martin Fackler, former Tokyo bureau chief, New York Times'A superb biography of Abe Shinzo, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, as well as a remarkably detailed political history of Japan, from Abe’s grandfather Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke (1957-60) to Prime Minister Abe. Thoroughly researched, lucidly written. A great achievement.’ -- Ezra Vogel, Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences Emeritus, Harvard University‘The Iconoclast is a well written and comprehensive chronicle of the politics and policies of Japan’s longest serving prime minister.’ -- Gerald L. Curtis, Burgess Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Columbia University

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Book Synopsis'Puts Cavendish back into the literary history books where she belongs' Kate Mosse 'Scholarly, articulate, and never less than fascinating' Alice Loxton A biography of the remarkable, and in her time scandalous, seventeenth-century writer Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. ‘My ambition is not only to be Empress, but Authoress of a whole world.’ Margaret Cavendish, then Lucas, was born in 1623 to a wealthy family. In 1644, as England descended into civil war, she joined the court of the formidable Queen Henrietta Maria at Oxford, before following the court into exile in France. It was there that she met her much older lifelong partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Cavendish was a revolutionary writer. At a time when literature was dominated by men, she wrote passionately on gender, science and philosophy, defied convention by publishing under her own name, and advocated for women in work that predates the feminist movement. In 1666, she published The Blazing World, a brilliant, trail-blazing proto-novel thought to be one of the earliest works of science fiction. But her legacy divides opinion. And history has largely forgotten her. In Pure Wit, Francesca Peacock shines a spotlight on the fascinating, pioneering, yet often complex and controversial life of Margaret Cavendish.Trade ReviewIt’s a gripping read, wonderfully researched and puts Cavendish back into the literary history books where she belongs. I loved it. * Kate Mosse *Fascinating * William Boyd *Well-written, well-researched, interesting and peppy. * The Observer *5 STARS... Margaret Cavendish was a woman out of time. This blazing biography does her proud * The Telegraph *[An] erudite and entertaining book * The Spectator *Scholarly, articulate, and never less than fascinating, this is a sensational debut. * Alice Loxton *[A] sparky celebration of a remarkable woman * Financial Times *Pure Wit is thorough and scholarly * Literary Review *A stellar debut. Francesca Peacock is as bold, bright and witty as her subject. Margaret Cavendish sears through every page and so does her blazing world. * Jessie Childs *This is historical biography as it should be written: intelligent and nuanced, witty and thoroughly riveting. * Lucasta Miller *A fascinating book on a fascinating woman, who was not the “crazy duchess” of hostile legend, but a daring feminist pioneer. * Penelope Corfield *Francesca Peacock adroitly recounts Cavendish’s ordeals as a monarchist under Cromwell, her years in exile in Paris, her supportive marriage, her ennoblement and fame. * New Statesman *[Peacock's] enjoyable book is enriched by accounts of other women who lived remarkably in those remarkable times. * The Times *Perceptive and nuanced. A blazing account of a blazing woman. * Holly Kyte *

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Book SynopsisFilled with terrifying tales of gruesome murders, grand theft and kidnappings, this compendium of the worst side of humanity is guaranteed to chill the bloodDid you hear about London's Victorian, all-female gang? What about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist? Do you know the story of the killer nun? Prepare yourself for the urge to sleep with the light on and to double-check you've locked the door, because this collection of True Crime Stories is not for the faint-hearted. Spanning criminal activity from across the world, this book will take you on a journey to the darkest reaches of human nature. Ranging from white-collar criminals and con artists to kidnappers and killers, there's plenty to shred your nerves. Whether you're a true crime junkie or just morbidly curious, let these stories of charismatic criminals and their sinister deeds ensnare your interest and send a shiver down your spine.

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Book SynopsisDelving into Frederick Sandys's unconventional life, Betty Elzea's research reveals much about his complicated and often scandalous relationships. Born and educated in Norwich with an artisan background, Sandys was bohemian by nature, though from necessity, to the world at large, he appeared genteel and respectable. Unfortunately disorganised, un-businesslike and preferring to live alone as a bachelor in lodgings, he struggled to support two growing families of illegitimate children. From youth, developing skills as a draughtsman and painter, he moved to London, meeting Dante Gabriel Rossetti and the Pre-Raphaelites and their associates, while keeping a foothold in Norwich where he maintained friendships and enjoyed the support of the Norfolk gentry and several notable Norwich industrialists. Norfolk landscape painting and nature studies led to commissioned portraiture which became his main source of income. He is known for depictions of beautiful women in legendary disguises as well as meticulously-detailed portraits of elderly women. He also pioneered a new type of large-scale portrait drawing in chalks.

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Book SynopsisNOW A NETFLIX FILM STARRING EDDIE REDMAYNE AND JESSICA CHASTAIN'A stunning book... should and does bring to mind In Cold Blood' New York TimesAfter his arrest in 2003, registered nurse Charlie Cullen was quickly dubbed 'The Angel of Death' by the media. But Cullen was no mercy killer, nor was he a simple monster. He was a favourite son, husband, beloved father, best friend and celebrated caregiver. Implicated in the deaths of as many as 300 patients, he was also perhaps the most prolific serial killer in American history. Cullen's murderous career in the world's most trusted profession spanned sixteen years and nine hospitals.Chronicling Cullen's deadly career and the breathless efforts to stop him, The Good Nurse paints an incredibly vivid portrait of madness and offers an urgent, terrifying tale of murder, friendship and betrayal.Trade ReviewCharles Cullen is thought to be responsible for the deaths of as many as 400 patients during his career as a nurse... His crimes are outlined in The Good Nurse, an absorbing tale that's simultaneously terrifying and barely credible.... A standout true-crime book, one that doubles as both a thrilling horror story and a cautionary tale * Boston Globe *The most terrifying book published this year. It is also one of the most thoughtful... The Good Nurse is gripping, sad, suspenseful, rhythmic and beautifully documented (the endnotes to this book are impressive). * Kirkus Reviews *Graeber doesn't pull punches... A deeply unsettling addition to the true crime genre. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisSteve Cauthen commenced his 14-year 'English Odyssey' in April 1979. The erstwhile 'Kentucky Kid' had taken American racing by storm. A champion jockey at 17 and a Triple Crown winner at 18, the teenage prodigy became a bona fide celebrity but a slump of 110 consecutive losers saw him cross the Atlantic seeking to resurrect his career. Within weeks of his arrival 'The Kid' won an English Classic, the 2000 Guineas. He'd go on to become the only jockey to win both the Derby and the Kentucky Derby (plus those of Ireland, France and Italy); be the most recent jockey to win an English Triple Crown courtesy of Oh So Sharp in 1985; and secure three jockeys' championships - making him the only man to win titles in both America and England. Moreover, Cauthen was a supreme stylist who transformed English race-riding: his streamlined American toe-in-the-iron seat and clock-in-the-head judgement of pace sparking widespread imitation. The list of household names benefiting from his sublime talents are legion and this most articulate of jockeys recalls every one of them in his own inimitable style along with all the attendant highs and lows in this first complete retelling of his 'English Odyssey'.

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Book SynopsisIn Wild Winter, John D. Burns, bestselling author of The Last Hillwalker and Bothy Tales, sets out to rediscover Scotland’s mountains, remote places and wildlife in the darkest and stormiest months. He traverses the country from the mouth of the River Ness to the Isle of Mull, from remote Sutherland to the Cairngorms, in search of rutting red deer, pupping seals, minke whales, beavers, pine martens, mountain hares and otters. In the midst of the fierce weather, John’s travels reveal a habitat in crisis, and many of these wild creatures prove elusive as they cling on to life in the challenging Highland landscape.As John heads deeper into the winter, he notices the land fighting back with signs of regeneration. He finds lost bothies, old friendships and innovative rewilding projects, and – as Covid locks down the nation – reflects on what the outdoors means to hillwalkers, naturalists and the folk who make their home in the Highlands.Wild Winter is a reminder of the wonder of nature and the importance of caring for our environment. In his winter journey through the mountains and bothies of the Highlands, John finds adventure, humour and a deep sense of connection with this wild land.

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Book SynopsisJoe Tasker lies, struck down by illness, in a damp, bug-infested room in the Himalaya, wondering if he will be well enough to climb Dunagiri, his first venture to the ‘big’ mountains. One of Britain’s foremost mountaineers and a pioneer of lightweight climbing, he is about to attempt one of the first true ‘alpine-style’ climbs in the Greater Ranges.The Dunagiri attempt forms part of Tasker’s striking tale of adventure in the savage arena of the mountains. A superb writer, he vividly describes the first British winter ascent of the North Face of the Eiger, the first ascent of the West Wall of Changabang – considered a ‘preposterous’ plan by the climbing world – and his two unsuccessful attempts on K2, the second highest mountain on Earth.Savage Arena is both moving and exciting, an inspirational tale of the adventuring spirit which follows its own path, endlessly seeking new challenges, climbs and difficulties to overcome. It is not reaching the summit which counts, it is the journey to it. It is also a story of the stresses and strains of living for long periods in constant anxiety, often with only one other person, and of the close and vital human relationships which spring from those circumstances.Trade Review‘The most riveting book on climbing that I have ever read.’ – Sir Chris Bonington‘A gripping story of tremendous courage and unbelievable endurance.’ – Sir Edmund HillaryTable of ContentsPublisher's NoteForeword by Chris Bonington 'A Great Partnership'Chapter 1 Or Men Will Come For YouChapter 2 It is Forbidden to Walk on the Track: The EigerChapter 3 It Could be Worse: DunagiriChapter 4 Figures on a Screen: ChangabangChapter 5 ‘Let’s Draw Matchsticks’: K2Chapter 6 In the Treasure House of the Great Snow: KangchenjungaChapter 7 Apocalypse: K2PostscriptChronology

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Book Synopsis‘If we were guaranteed success in everything we tried then life would be pretty boring.’Mainstream news reports about climbing are dominated by action from the world’s highest mountains, more often than not focusing on tragedy and controversy. Far removed from this high-altitude circus, a group of visionary and specialist mountaineers are seeking out eye-catching objectives in the most remote corners of the greater ranges and attempting first ascents in lightweight style.Mick Fowler is the master of the small and remote Himalayan expedition. He has been at the forefront of this pioneering approach to alpinism for over thirty years, balancing his family life, a full-time job at the tax office and his annual trips to the greater ranges in order to attempt mountains that may never have been seen before by Westerners, let alone climbed by them.In No Easy Way, his third volume of climbing memoirs following Vertical Pleasure and On Thin Ice, Fowler recounts a series of expeditions to stunning mountains in China, India, Nepal and Tibet. Alongside partners including Paul Ramsden, Dave Turnbull, Andy Cave and Victor Saunders, he attempts striking, technically challenging unclimbed lines on Shiva, Gave Ding and Mugu Chuli – with a number of ascents winning prestigious Piolets d’Or, the Oscars of the mountaineering world.Written with his customary dry wit and understatement, he manages challenges away – the art of securing a permit for Tibet – and at home – his duties as Alpine Club president – all the while pursuing his passion for exploratory mountaineering.

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Book SynopsisKen Wilson’s Classic Rock is one of the most popular and iconic works of climbing literature ever written. Along with Hard Rock and Extreme Rock, it has acquired legendary status. First published in 1978, Classic Rock represented the absolute best of British climbing at that time, quickly establishing itself as a must-have publication. It is a celebration of 80 of the best lower-grade routes in Great Britain, bringing them to life through a superb selection of photographs, anecdotes and essays from some of the most accomplished climbers of the day. ‘Ticking’ the book became an instant and obvious challenge, and remains so to this day (Wilson wasn’t a fan, describing it as ‘puerile ticking’). Any climber working his or her way through the book will be taken on a tour of the finest routes on the best cliffs and crags to be found throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Many of the routes in the book were established over a century ago. At that time the Victorian and Edwardian alpinists, flushed with successes abroad, sought harder challenges at home. With their well-honed confidence, they went straight for the biggest cliffs of Scotland. Anyone seeking to retrace their steps will immediately be transported to bold lines of weakness up otherwise daunting precipices! Before long these pioneers trailed their hemp ropes and balanced their hobnail boots up the sea cliffs of Cornwall and the gritstone edges of the Pennines, and the crags of the Lake District and North Wales. These climbers provided us with a great national treasure – a repository of adventure and spectacle that can provide a lifetime’s enjoyment and challenge. An ascent of a great historic route will rarely disappoint. Such routes retain much of their original challenge, unsullied by the pitons and bolts often found on their continental equivalents. They take bold, logical lines up otherwise difficult cliffs – usually cleaned and stabilised by years of use. Classic Rock provides a mere sampling of these treasures. This latest edition has been transformed with over 300 new colour photos. These sit alongside archive images to create an inspirational dialogue between today’s climbers and those of history. Fifty-five chapters, contributed by acclaimed climbers and writers such as Jim Perrin, Paul Nunn and Angela Soper, describe the finest classic rock climbs in Britain.Table of ContentsPreface The Early Days of Classic Climbing PEAK AND PENNINE1 FLYING BUTTRESS, APRIL CRACK, BLACK SLAB Stanage Edge Jim Perrin 2 SAIL BUTTRESS, TOPSAIL, POWDER MONKEY PARADE Birchen Edge Charles Clark 3 CENTRAL CLIMB (K2 and Modern) Hen Cloud Paul Nunn 4 VIA DOLOROSA, BLACK AND TANS, TECHNICAL SLAB The Roaches Dave Cook 5 PARSONS’ CHIMNEY Almscliff Crag Angela Soper 6 RED PENCIL DIRECT Penyghent Anthony Greenbank NORTH WALES7 MILESTONE DIRECT ROUTE Milestone Buttress Barbara James 8 GASHED CRAG, FIRST PINNACLE RIB, GROOVED ARÊTE Tryfan Showell Styles 9 DIRECT ROUTE Glyder Fach David Cox 10 HOPE, LAZARUS, THE ARÊTE, GREY SLAB Idwal Slabs/Glyder Fawr Ron James 11 GREAT GULLY Craig yr Ysfa Tony Moulam 12 FLYING BUTTRESS, SPIRAL STAIRS Dinas Cromlech Roger Grimshaw 13 CRACKSTONE RIB, WRINKLE Carreg Wastad Dave Cook 14 NEA Clogwyn y Grochan Nea Morin 15 THE CRACKS Dinas Mot Anne Wheatcroft 16 MAIN WALL Cyrn Las Sir Charles Evans 17 AVALANCHE, RED WALL, LONGLAND’S CONTINUATION Lliwedd Harold Drasdo 18 CREAGH DHU WALL Tremadog Rocks Jim Perrin 19 WILL-O’-THE-WISP Craig Cywarch John SumnerSOUTH-WEST ENGLAND20 PITON ROUTE Avon Gorge Mike Thompson 21 CLIMBERS’ CLUB ORDINARY Dewerstone Mike Banks 22 THE DEVIL’S SLIDE Lundy John Cleare 23 DEMO ROUTE Sennen Robert Moulton 24 TERRIER’S TOOTH, PENDULUM CHIMNEY Chair Ladder Dave Cook 25 DOORPOST Bosigran Mike Banks THE LAKE DISTRICT26 LITTLE CHAMONIX Shepherd’s Crag Angela Soper 27 TROUTDALE PINNACLE Black Crag Anthony Greenbank 28 GILLERCOMBE BUTTRESS Gillercombe Joann Greenhow 29 NAPES NEEDLE Great Gable Paul Nunn 30 TOPHET WALL Great Gable Dennis Gray 31 ASH TREE SLABS, C ROUTE Gimmer Crag Lord Hunt 32 BRACKET AND SLAB Gimmer Crag Tom Price 33 BOWFELL BUTTRESS Bowfell Walt Unsworth34 MURRAY’S ROUTE Dow Crag Anthony Greenbank 35 NEW WEST CLIMB, RIB AND SLAB Pillar Rock C. Douglas Milner 36 JONES’S ROUTE DIRECT FROM LORD’S RAKE Scafell Pinnacle Tony Toole 37 MOSS GHYLL GROOVES Scafell Crag Tom Price SCOTLAND 38 SOU’WESTER SLABS, LABYRINTH Cir Mhor, Isle of Arran Graham Little 39 RECESS ROUTE, PUNSTER’S CRACK, ARDGARTEN ARÊTE The Cobbler John Mackenzie 40 NORTH FACE ROUTE,AGAG’S GROOVE Buachaille Etive Mòr Tom Weir 41 THE CHASM Buachaille Etive Mòr Ken Crocket 42 LONG CRACK,ARCHER RIDGE,CRYPT ROUTE Aonach Dubh/B.nam Bian John Mackenzie 43 CLACHAIG GULLY Glen Coe Allan Austin 44 ARDVERIKIE WALL Binnein Shuas Bill Skidmore 45 SAVAGE SLIT Coire an Lochain Doug Lang 46 THE CLEAN SWEEP Hell’s Lum Crag Allen Fyffe 47 THE TALISMAN Creagan a’Choire Etchachan Brian Lawrie 48 SQUAREFACE Garbh Choire, Beinn a’Bhuird Martin Burrows Smith 49 MITRE RIDGE (CUMMING/CROFTON ROUTE) Garbh Choire, Beinn a’Bhuird Robin Campbell 50 EAGLE RIDGE Lochnagar Bill Brooker 51 THE CIOCH NOSE Applecross Donald Bennet 52 CIOCH DIRECT, ARROW ROUTE, INTEGRITY Sron na Ciche, Isle of Skye Paul Brian 53 THE BLACK CUILLIN RIDGE Isle of Skye Ted Maden 54 TOWER RIDGE Ben Nevis Robin Campbell 55 THE LONG CLIMB Ben Nevis Malcolm Slesser Other Good Climbs Map Guidebooks/Maps Grading Comparisons Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisAndy Pollitt is as close to a Hollywood A-lister as the climbing world will ever get. He had the looks, and he starred in all the big roles in the 1980s and 1990s - Tremadog, Pen Trwyn, the big Gogarth climbs, Raven Tor and the cult Australian adventures. Alongside co-stars like Jerry Moffatt, John Redhead and Malcolm 'HB' Matheson, he brought us sexy climbing - gone were the beards, the woolly socks and the fibre pile. Andy was all skin-tight pink Lycra, vests and brooding looks. For those watching, Andy Pollitt had it all. But Punk in the Gym gives us the whole truth. The self-doubt, the depression, the drinking, the fags, the womanising, the injuries, the loss of a father and the trouble that brings, and a need for something - for recognition, a release for the pain, and, for Andy, more drinking, more tears, bigger run-outs.With nothing held back, Andy tells his roller-coaster story from the UK to Australia, exactly as it happened. Exposing his fragile ego and leaving us to laugh, cry, marvel and judge, this is a sports autobiography like no other. The legendary routes are all here - The Bells, The Bells!, Skinhead Moonstomp, The Hollow Man, Boot Boys, The Whore of Babylon and Knockin' on Heaven's Door. And the route that broke him and robbed the climbing world of its Hollywood star - Punks in the Gym.

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Book Synopsis‘The idea of owning anything except the experience is hubris.’Unknown Pleasures is a collection of works by the climber and award-winning author Andy Kirkpatrick.Obsessed with climbing and addicted to writing, Kirkpatrick is a master storyteller. Covering subjects as diverse as climbing, relationships, fatherhood, mental health and the media, it is easy to read, sometimes difficult to digest, and impossible to forget.One moment he is attempting a rare solo ascent of Norway’s Troll Wall, the next he is surrounded by the TV circus while climbing Moonlight Buttress with the BBC’s The One Show presenter Alex Jones. Yosemite’s El Capitan is ever-present; he climbs it alone – strung out for weeks, and he climbs it with his thirteen-year-old daughter Ella – her first big wall.His eye for observation and skilled wordcraft make for laugh-out-loud funny moments, while in more hard-hitting pieces he is unflinchingly honest about past and present love and relationships, and pulls no punches with an alternative perspective of our place in the world. Unknown Pleasures is Andy Kirkpatrick at his brilliant best.Trade Review'A wonderful book, I raise a glass to you.' – Stevie Haston'Eminently readable, perfectly written, thought provoking, challenging and very current. Read every page, think about them, agree or disagree, but don’t miss out on these superbly expressed cogent tales. This book deserves to be read widely and not just by those who know Andy Kirkpatrick is “a bit of a climber”!' – John Hall, Professional Mountaineer magazine'I have no doubt that some will find this book controversial, demanding and challenging. But I enjoyed reading it, and would recommend others to do the same. It is well produced, and is a case bound book that meets the high standards Vertebrate have set for this type of production.' – Dennis Gray, Footless Crow'Kirkpatrick is at his strongest (which is very strong indeed) in the climbing pieces. It is climbing that gives him the lens through which he can most clearly see what it means to be alive.' – Ian Crofton, Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal

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Book SynopsisPer Wimmer is equally known as a global financier, philanthropist, adventurer and explorer. Today, Per owns and runs his own investment bank, Wimmer Financial, which he founded in 2007. He has also supported numerous charities financially with a particular view to inspiring children to live out their dreams. His penchant for exploration and adventure has taken him to 85 countries, a world landspeed record attempt, crossing the USA on a Harley-Davidson motorbike, living with the Indians of the Amazon Forest, skydiving over Mount Everest - and soon to be the first Dane private citizen to fly into space via Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. This is the first volume in the autobiography of a person who a commentator described as "a true Indiana Jones meets 007 James Bond". Per Wimmer's life story is far from ordinary and very much driven by the desire to push boundaries. This first volume covers Per's formative years, his growing fascination for adventure, travel and space, and the growth of his career in international finance, culminating in the founding of Wimmer Financial.

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Book SynopsisAn important contribution Delving lucidly into the most significant ideological battles of the era, this book deftly outlines the thinking and dialogue that laid the foundations of the Republic and which remain deeply relevant and contentious today'Shashi Tharoor, author of Inglorious EmpireA history of Nehru that dives deep into the debates of his era to understand his ideology and that of his contemporaries and opponents, asking what India would look like had another bold young mind with fiercely held views led during the country's formative years of independence.Sixty years after the death of Jawaharal Nehru, the independence activist and first prime minister of India continues to be deified and vilified in equal measure. And still in contemporary political debate, the ideological spectrum remains defined by the degree of divergence from Nehru's ideas. With the Nehruvian ideals increasingly juxtaposed against the positions of Nehru's erstwhile contemporaries and questions asked aTrade Review‘Nehru: The Debates that Defined India is an important contribution to the continuing evaluation of Nehru’s role in the crafting of modern India. Examining four key debates between Nehru and the leading figures of his age on religion, foreign policy, and civil liberties, Tripurdaman Singh and Adeel Hussain allow Nehru and his interlocutors to express themselves in their own words. Delving lucidly into the most significant ideological battles of the era, this book deftly outlines the thinking and dialogue that laid the foundations of the Republic – and which remain deeply relevant and contentious today’Shashi Tharoor, author of Inglorious Empire ‘[A book that] Reminds us of an era when Indian politics thrummed with ideas and arguments, articulated with conviction and civility. There is much to learn from, and in turn to argue with, in this timely anthology of some of modern India's most contentious – and still continuing – debates’Sunil Khilnani, author of The Idea of India and Incarnations ‘This innovative book allows us to understand Nehru's legacy by focussing on some of the most important debates of his career. Putting together his correspondence and conversation with powerful rivals and colleagues, ranging from Jinnah to Sardar Patel, the authors have for the first time made available in a single volume the intense arguments that went into the making of modern India. The result is a nuanced exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of the country's first prime minister’Faisal Devji, Professor of History at the University of Oxford and author of Muslim Zion ‘Tripurdaman Singh and Adeel Hussain have brought to life the intellectual vibrancy and excitement that surrounded the debates. These were not mere political arguments but cerebral duels that enriched public life. Resurrecting these for today’s audiences is a public service’Swapan Dasgupta, Member of Parliament

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Book SynopsisThe King of White Hart Lane is the authorised life story of Alan Gilzean, the legendary, world-class Tottenham Hotspur, Dundee and Scotland footballer. Exclusive insights provided by his family, closest friends and colleagues add to the author's own experience to reveal Gilzean, the man and the player. A reserved, charming and intelligent individual who shunned the limelight off the field, Gilzean played with a swagger as a maker and taker of goals, especially alongside Jimmy Greaves at Spurs. We discover how the native of the Perthshire town of Coupar Angus became one of the greatest performers in the history of both his clubs. Gilzean emerged a Scottish folk hero having scored the winning goal against England in front of 133,000 at Hampden Park - and was later welcomed back with open arms by the game after ending a self-imposed exile during which the uninformed conjured often defamatory myths. The elegant striker dubbed 'Nureyev in Boots' left us on Sunday, 8 July 2018. There will never be another like him.

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Book SynopsisHomer and Bart. Phil and Luke. God and Jesus. Charles and William. Perhaps no other relationship is as complex, rewarding and ever-changing as that of a father and son. Whether the son becomes a mini-me of the father or rebels entirely, who you grow up to be is inevitably shaped by your father.Over the last 50 years, the relationship between a father and son has changed from being a more distant and emotionally strained one to a more loving, open and honest one, which provides a whole new minefield for fathers to navigate. They''re more hands-on than ever before, no longer just the traditional breadwinner and disciplinarian. But this thankfully means the father-son bond is often now stronger than ever, as this book shows.Packed full of facts, quotes and trivia, The Little Book of Fathers and Sons is the perfect insight into this unique relationship, whether the parent or child. Full of wit and wisdom, this is the perfect gift for your old man or little man.

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Book SynopsisBitesize nuggets of poo trivia too witty to wipe away. To celebrate the 540-millionth anniversary of the very first butthole thanks sea sponges this is the The Little Book of Poo(p). And, rather wonderfully, it''s utter shit. A real turd. 100 per cent crap. In short, the perfect toilet book.This compact compendium is anything but constipated, despite being stuffed with perfectly shaped nuggets of poo knowledge squeezed into the easily digetsible form of facts, stats, trivia, quotes and history and much more to boot.This little book lifts the lid on humankind''s greatest obsession to celebrate its many shapes, sizes, smells and backstories all for your reading please next time you''re on the throne without your phone. With this book, you''ll be straining to hold back the tears... of laughter. That''s our shat-isfaction guarantee. Enjoy!''Just poopin''. You know how I be.'' Michael Scott, The Office U.S., Series 6, Episode

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Book SynopsisBiography of Joseph Jenkins (1818-98) who left his family and successful farm in Wales to travel Australia as a farm labourer. His self-improvement through reading led to prizes for his poetry, and his diary is one of the most celebrated sources of information about life in rural Australia then.

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Book Synopsis1966 legend Sir Geoff Hurst is the only footballer in history to score a World Cup final hat-trick. To mark his 80th birthday, he has named the 80 sportsmen who most inspired and motivated him throughout his life. Sir Geoff, who scored 24 goals in 49 England games, also had a talent for cricket, and has an in-depth knowledge of all the major sports. His A to Z of sporting heroes covers multiple sports and decades, from Muhammad Ali to Zinedine Zidane. The book is filled with surprising facts, and Sir Geoff challenges you to count how many times you exclaim, 'I didn't know that!' when reading his entertaining and enlightening breakdown on his sporting idols. Writing in collaboration with renowned sports historian Norman Giller, who reported Sir Geoff's West Ham debut in 1960, Hurst personalises each profile with anecdotes that offer a unique insight into the individual. Pitch Publishing are planning a similar book on the greatest post-war sportswomen, but for now enjoy Sir Geoff Hurst discussing his 80 greatest sportsmen.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on new interviews and previously hidden police and intelligence files, Reckless finally reveals the full corruption of America's Camelot.

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Book SynopsisHistorians and broadcasters Peter Snow and Ann MacMillan tell the real stories of the most powerful men and women in British history.Kings & Queens explores the lives, loves, triumphs and disasters of a monarchy that is the envy of the world. Snow and MacMillan offer a unique insight into those born to rule, whether villains or heroes – from cruel King John and warrior-king Edward III, to our own Elizabeth II: dutiful, discreet and the longest-reigning queen in the world.This is the story of modern civilization through the lens of those who have ruled.Table of ContentsThe Anglo-Saxons c.800-1066 • William I the Conqueror 1066-87 • William II 1087-1100 • Henry I 1100-35 • Stephen 1135-54 • Henry II 1154-89 • Richard I 1189-99 • John 1199-1216 • Henry III 1216-72 • Edward I 1272-1307 • Edward II 1307-27 • Edward III 1327-77 • Richard II 1377-99 • Henry IV 1399-1413 • Henry V 1413-22 • Henry VI 1422-61 • Edward IV 1461-70 • Henry VI 1470-71 • Edward IV 1471-83 • Edward V 1483 • Richard III 1483-85 • Henry VII 1483-1509 • Henry VIII 1509-47 • Edward VI 1547-53 • Mary I 1553-58 • Elizabeth I 1558-1603 • James I (VI of Scotland) 1603-25 • Charles I 1625-49 • Charles II 1660-85 • James II 1685-88 • William III and Mary II 1689-1702 • Anne 1702-14 • George I 1714-27 • George II 1727-60 • George III 1760-1820 • George IV 1820-30 • William IV 1830-37 • Victoria 1837-1901 • Edward VII 1901-10 • George V 1910-36 • Edward VIII 1936 • George VI 1936-52 • Elizabeth II 1952-

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Book SynopsisWhen the world stopped, all hopes rested on finding a vaccine. An unlikely team answered the call.Before Covid-19 was even given its name, a select group of scientists in Germany, assembled by married couple and decades-long research partners Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, began building 20 potential vaccines.As the deadly disease spread from country to country, what followed was a desperate race against time to conduct rigorous tests and clinical trials, whilst navigating political interference and seeking the support of the pharmaceutical industry.Shedding a light on the science behind the breakthrough, The Vaccine tells the story of the trailblazers who led the fightback against Covid-19, whose discoveries could now help the world tackle cancer, along with many other pervasive diseases. It draws back the curtain on one of the most important medical achievements of our age, containing contributions from the fascinating couple themselves, as well as more than

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Book SynopsisThis nostalgic and absorbing memoir tells the story of a real-life female police detective in post-war Britain, as she navigates a man's world.It's 1956, and the Berkshire Constabulary has never had a woman detective before. That is, until bright and ambitious WPC Gwen Crockford passes out of Hendon Detective Training School with flying colours...After five years serving as one of Britain's first policewomen, Gwen Crockford becomes one of its first female detectives. Swapping crime prevention for detection, she must soon become comfortable with attending murder scenes and post-mortems, investigating sex crimes and going undercover. Her police work is diverse and challenging: dealing with Teddy boy violence, arson, a paedophile 'war hero', and solving an unexplained death are all part of her remit.Gwen is sharp and quick to learn, considered 'one of the boys' by her colleagues, DS Kinch and DS Le Mercier. Until, that is, the traumatizing death of a child, the arrival of a new sexist DS, and near-zero opportunity for promotion force Gwen to reevaluate her career.Written and researched by Gwen's daughter Ruth from family papers, remembered stories from her mother and contemporary newspapers, this is a fascinating insight into late-1950s society and the challenges faced by female police officers.This is the second book in the Crockford series, following Calling WPC Crockford – Gwen's time as a pioneering uniform policewoman in the early 1950s.

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Book SynopsisSunday Times Bestselling author of The Traitor of Colditz Robert Verkaik reveals the incredible never-before-told story of the role played by the Cambridge Spies in the British defeat at ArnhemA bombshell book. Daily MailOriginal, thought-provoking and exceedingly well written. Robert KershawSensational. Daily ExpressRobert Verkaik''s best book yet, a testament to his investigative skills, journalistic nous for a compelling story, and impressive understanding of the spy world. Richard Kerbaj***The end of the Second World War is in sight.Following the overwhelming victory on D-Day, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin all seek to shape the global future to their own ends and win the race to Berlin.The British launch Operation Market Garden, the greatest airborne operation the world has ever seen. It is a bold roll of the dice, which, if successful, will end the war in weeks. But behind t

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Book SynopsisA haunting homage to life and liberty, to society and solitude, and to the binding and unbinding that constitute the weft of our lives. Drawing on materials from across many cultures, Pascal Quignard makes an effort to establish shared human values as the breeding ground for a modern Enlightenment. Considering atheism as a spiritual liberation, suicide as a free act, and the rejection of society as a free choice, the author explores philosophical themes that have run through human civilizationsmost often as heresiesfrom our earliest days. In his search for freedom, Quignard questions the binding dependency of religion, querying how, in a world where all forms of society presuppose that someone (or some collective) is looking over our shoulders, we can be free. These reflections, he implies, are the essential spiritual exercise for our times. Few voices in contemporary French literature are more distinct than that of Quignard. By reading this fragmentary, episodic assemblage of intimate experiences and borrowed tales, we open up a space of liberty, creating for the reader space for meditation and, perhaps, liberation.

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Book SynopsisThe life of Captain Robert Falcon Scott Scott of the Antarctic and the courage that he exemplified have marked him out as a hero to generations, despite his failure to be the first to reach the South Pole.Born in 1868, Scott joined the Royal Navy as a cadet at the age of 13 and progressed through the ranks to become a lieutenant. In 1899, after a chance encounter with Clements Markham, president of the Royal Geographical Society, he asked to be involved in the forthcoming exploration of the Antarctic. A year later he was appointed to lead the National Antarctic Expedition, which reached further south than any previous attempts, and Scott returned to Britain a national hero. But Scott was not content to stop there: he dreamed of becoming the first explorer to reach the South Pole. And so it was that, in 1910, he and his team ventured out on a second Antarctic expedition.Scott of the Antarctic vividly recreates that fateful journey across the unforgiving, frozen continent. In practical terms, the mission was a failure, but the men's bravery ensured that they would become part of exploration history.

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Book SynopsisBill Shankly is the man who shaped Liverpool Football Club. His legendary status on Merseyside and within the history of the game cannot be overestimated. Renowned for his commitment, restless energy and laconic aphorisms, he followed a respectable career as a player with an incredible one as a manager.Having been in charge at Carlisle, Grimsby, Workington and swiftly Huddersfield, he arrived at a struggling Liverpool in 1959 and transformed the club into one of the most successful in British football. This, together with the force of his incredible personality, ensured Bill Shankly would be remembered forever as one of the all-time great figures in football.With superb photography from sports photographer Steve Hale, prolific Merseyside writer Phil Thompson records Shankly's life in this delightful biography from his birth in Glenbuck to the glory days when Shankly laid the foundations for Liverpool's rise to domination of the domestic and European f

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Book SynopsisMagnaccioni (Roman dialect): people who live to eat well. I know no other word that captures that rare gift, that supremely basic human quality of eating with mind, eyes and heart and radiating uncontainable pleasure in so doing.Writing as a passionate food aficionada, Anne Pia has created a convivial and open-hearted cookery book that invites you into her kitchen. In Magnaccioni, she shares her own family recipes and the food she has enjoyed in Italy based on la cucina povera, la cucina di terra – the use of fresh produce and simple ingredients to create sumptuous, joyful feasts.Get ready to listen to Italian music, pour a glass of wine and enjoy cooking with Anne. Join her in becoming magnaccioni!Trade ReviewIn Magnaccioni poet and author Anne Pia departs from familiar forms, creating a book of recipes, philosophy and well-being that reflects the culture of her native Southern Italy. BOOKSFROMSCOTLANDThis is more than a cookery book. It is a glorious ‘Te Deum’ to Italy expressed through food, wine, music and anecdote. When you feel the ‘nostalgia d’Italia’ really badly and can’t hop on a flight straight away, open this book, plunge in and all will be well. CAV. RONNIE COVERY, Honorary Italian ConsulYou will not read Anne Pia's 'Magnaccioni', you will devour it.' FRANCESCA CONTINI MACKIE, Valvona & Crolla Ltd.This is a book not to be simply read and admired, but one destined to become a close companion in the kitchen, simultaneously feeding the body and soul. With prose which demands to be read and recipes just begging to be cooked, all written with a style and poetic flair which we have come to expect from Anne Pia, Magnaccioni: My Food… My Italy stands alongside the work of Diane Henry, Simon Hopkinson, and Nigel Slater – writers whose cookbooks you return to again and again. Anne Pia’s Magnaccioni: My Food… My Italy is a hymn to eating well as part of living life to the full. This appetite is evident on every page, inspiring not only conversations about food and drink, but music, philosophy, history, friends, and family. ALISTAIR BRAIDWOOD, Scots Whay HaeMagnaccioni," a cookery book that not only teaches you to cook like an Italian but also to live like one. Get ready to don your dancing shoes and indulge in authentic recipes with Anne Pia's celebration of Italy. CAV GIOVANNA EUSEBI

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Book Synopsis

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