Biography Books
Granta Publications Ltd There Is No Blue
Book SynopsisThe three protagonists in this memoir are dead: a mother, a father, and a sister. A bookish and artistic family living in a beautiful old house in a pleasant part of Toronto. Two girls growing up in the 60s and 70s. All seems well until one of them begins to manifest signs of distress, leading, eventually, to a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In this triptych of beautifully written memoir-essays, Canadian author Martha Baillie reflects on the complex entangled lives of her mother, father and sister. There Is No Blue is both a close observation of a family's experience of a diagnosis of mental illness, and a layered story of grief.Trade ReviewThis is a stunning memoir, intense and meticulous in its observations of family life. Baillie subtly interrogates and conveys the devastating mistranslations that take place in childhood, the antagonism and porousness of siblings, and the tragedy of schizophrenia as it unfolds. I couldn't put it down. -- Lisa AppignanesiA meditation on the mystery and wonder of grief and art making and home and memory itself... Baillie's variety of attention, carved out of language, is tenderness, is love... Extraordinary -- Maud Casey, author of City of Incurable WomenExquisite -- Souvankham Thammavongsa, author of How to Pronounce KnifeStrange, unsettling, highly evocative, often disturbing. Its brave honesty is amplified by a persistent lyricism; its undercurrent of fear is uplifted by a surprising, resilient hopefulness. It is both a plea for exoneration and an act of exoneration, an authentic meditation on the terrible difficulty of being human -- Andrew Solomon
£15.29
The History Press Ltd And on Guitar...: The Autobiography of Jim Cregan
Book SynopsisJim Cregan’s career as a rock guitarist, songwriter and producer has spanned over fifty years, touring and recording albums with stars such as Elton John, Cat Stevens, Family, Willie Nelson, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Joe Cocker, The Gypsy Kings, and Katie Melua. However, he is perhaps best known for his forty-year association with Rod Stewart, not only as his guitarist but also being best friends and godfathers to each other’s children.In his autobiography Jim Cregan lifts the lid on his extraordinary life, recounting his experiences with music’s biggest stars, from his first band at the age of 14 playing in youth clubs in Poole to performing in front of 350,000 people in Rio de Janeiro. In And on Guitar . . . Cregan holds nothing back: from his early life and anecdotes about his family to shenanigans on the road and extraordinary tales of hedonism, love and loss, his stories feature a Who’s Who of music’s biggest stars.
£11.69
The History Press Ltd The Unique Life of a Ranger: Seasons of Change on
Book SynopsisFew people have had the privilege of living on an isolated nature reserve of international importance, their every move judged by countless critics. Young ranger Ajay Tegala, embarking on his placement at Blakeney Point aged just nineteen, would have to stand firm in the face of many challenges to protect the wildlife of one of Britain’s prime nature sites.In over 120 years, only a select few rangers have devoted their heart and soul to the wildlife of Norfolk’s Blakeney Point. Watching and learning from his predecessors, Ajay faced head-on the challenges of the elements, predators and an ever-interested public. From the excitement of monitoring the growing grey seal population, to the struggles of trying to safeguard nesting birds from a plethora of threats, in The Unique Life of a Ranger, Ajay shares the many emotions of life on the edge of land and sea with honesty and affection.Trade Review“This is Ajay’s first book and contains fifty illustrations of beautiful scenery as well as insight into life “behind the scenes” of the first coastal nature reserve in the National Trust’s care…” * Suffolk Norfolk Life *
£15.29
The History Press Ltd Forbidden Wife: The Life and Trials of Lady
Book SynopsisOn the night of 4 April 1793, two lovers were preparing to compel a cleric to perform a secret ceremony. The wedding of the sixth son of King George III to the daughter of the Earl of Dunmore would not only be concealed – it would also be illegal.Lady Augusta Murray had known Prince Augustus Frederick for only three months but they had already fallen deeply in love and were desperate to be married. However, the Royal Marriages Act forbade such a union without the King’s permission and going ahead with the ceremony would change Augusta’s life forever. From a beautiful socialite she became a social pariah; her children were declared illegitimate and her family was scorned.In Forbidden Wife Julia Abel Smith uses material from the Royal Archives and the Dunmore family papers to create a dramatic biography set in the reigns of Kings George III and IV against the background of the American and French Revolutions.Trade ReviewAbel Smith is a wonderful storyteller, her descriptions of late-eighteenth-century Virginia, Rome and London are almost novel-like in colour and detail. Meticulously researched and elegantly told, it’s an excellent biography of a woman forbidden, but – thanks to Abel Smith – not forgotten -- Francesca Carington * TATLER *A fascinating and poignant story, beautifully told, of the tumultuous life of Lady Augusta Murray played out against the epic backdrop of Europe and America in the age of revolution. A wonderful read -- Anna Keay, author of THE LAST ROYAL REBELThis is a terrific story - well told -- John Martin Robinson, author of BUCKINGHAM PALACE: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
£999.99
The History Press Ltd Secret Spitfires: Britain’s Hidden Civilian Army
Book SynopsisSeptember 1940: In the midst of the Second World War, The Luftwaffe unleashed a series of devastating raids on Southampton, all but destroying its Spitfire factories.But production didn’t stop. Instead, manufacturing of this iconic fighter moved underground, to secret locations staffed by women, children and non-combatant men. With little engineering experience between them, they built a fleet of one of the greatest war planes that has ever existed.This is their story.
£14.39
The History Press Ltd The Little Book of Mary Queen of Scots
Book SynopsisMary Queen of Scots is perhaps one of the most controversial and divisive monarchs in regal history. Her story reads like a particularly spicy novel, with murder, kidnap, adultery, assassination and execution. To some she is one of the most wronged women in history, a pawn used and abused by her family in the great monarchical marriage game; to others, a murderous adulteress who committed regicide to marry her lover and then spent years in captivity for the crime, endlessly plotting the demise of her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I of England.This book covers the breathtaking scope of her amazing life and examines the immense cultural legacy she left behind, from the Schiller play of the 1800s to The CW teen drama Reign. Temptress, terrorist, or tragic queen, this book will give you the lowdown on one of history’s most misunderstood monarchs.Trade Review'A bright and breezy account of the complex life of Mary Stuart' -- Philippa Gregory
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Fifty Mysterious Postcards: Pitman Shorthand
Book SynopsisThe lines, circles, ticks, hooks, dots and dashes of Pitman shorthand used by some postcard writers during the early twentieth century are obscure to most people. Could the mysterious messages contain scandalous gossip, tales of adventure or declarations of undying love?Fifty Mysterious Postcards presents fascinating examples from the ‘Golden Age’ of the postcard, each with a message written in the dying art of Pitman shorthand. The rules of Pitman have changed since the postcards were written and posted over 100 years ago, but careful transcription has unlocked their meaning to bring stories of penfriends, sweethearts, holidays and the First World War to life once more.Trade Review“The format mostly features spreads with the postcards – beauty scenes, landmarks, cute animals – with the original name and address written longhand and the message in shorthand.” * Best of British magazine *
£14.39
The History Press Ltd Untold London: Stories from Time-Trodden Streets
Book Synopsis“Just pick up a copy and set off. You’ll be amazed at what you’ve missed.” - Sir Michael PalinMARCH, 2020: A columnist watches as London locks down, facing a conundrum as his weekly deadline for his newspaper diary approaches.With the city shutting up shop and column inches to fill, journalist Dan Carrier takes to the deserted streets of Central London to uncover the forgotten stories the heart of the UK capital holds.Untold London is a consideration and celebration of a city whose famous landmarks and thoroughfares are often taken for granted. Setting out to find lingering evidence of days gone by, Dan reveals unexpected delights, triumphs and tragedies alongside plenty of skulduggery and scandal in the greatest city in the world.Trade Review"Dan about town! CNJ reporter publishes his lockdown ‘love letter’ to London" - featured in Camden New Journal. * Camden New Journal *
£16.99
The History Press Ltd London's Forgotten Children: Thomas Coram and the
Book SynopsisIn 1739, the London Foundling Hospital opened its doors to take in the abandoned children of the city. It was the culmination of seventeen years of campaigning by Captain Thomas Coram, driven by his horror at seeing children die in the streets. He was supported in his endeavours by a royal charter and by William Hogarth and George Frideric Handel. The Hospital would continue as both home and school for over 215 years, raising thousands of children until they could be apprenticed out.London’s Forgotten Children is a fascinating history of the first children’s charity, charting the rise of this incredible institution and examining the attitude towards illegitimate children over the years. The story comes alive with the voices of children who grew up in the Hospital, and the concluding, fully updated, account of today’s children’s charity Coram is an ongoing testament to the vision of its founder.
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Stalin: A Pocket Biography
Book SynopsisJoseph Stalin was one of the most ruthless and authoritarian dictators in world history, who plunged Russia into a barbarous nightmare, leaving behind a damaged nation and a legacy of grief.This concise biography presents Lenin’s heir from his humble and troubled beginnings to the highest rank of all: General Secretary of the Communist Party. Stalin: A Pocket Biography is an accessible account of a complex tyrant, perfect for students or anyone taking a first look into modern Russian history.
£8.54
The History Press Ltd The Great Stink of London: Sir Joseph Bazalgette
Book Synopsis‘An extraordinary history’ PETER ACKROYD, The Times‘A lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated’ HERMIONE HOBHOUSE‘Halliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated’ RUTH RENDELLIn the sweltering summer of 1858, sewage generated by over two million Londoners was pouring into the Thames, producing a stink so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons.The Times called the crisis ‘The Great Stink’. Parliament had to act – drastic measures were required to clean the Thames and to improve London’s primitive system of sanitation. The great engineer entrusted with this enormous task was Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who rose to the challenge and built the system of intercepting sewers, pumping stations and treatment works that serves London to this day. In the process, he cleansed the Thames and helped banish cholera.The Great Stink of London offers a vivid insight into Bazalgette’s achievements and the era in which he worked and lived, including his heroic battles with politicians and bureaucrats that would transform the face and health of the world’s then largest city.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary history -- Peter AckroydA lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated -- Hermione HobhouseHalliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated -- Ruth RendellAn extraordinary history -- Peter AckroydA lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated -- Hermione HobhouseHalliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated -- Ruth Rendell
£17.00
The History Press Ltd Black Yanks
Book SynopsisBlack Yanks is the story of how an African American soldier from Missouri ended up on death row in D-Day Britain and the extraordinary campaign that set him free. The drama plays out over a tumultuous six weeks, set against a backdrop of the most audacious sea-borne invasion ever attempted.As the build-up to D-Day escalates, Leroy Henry's story unfolds, allowing us to view a pivotal point in history with an entirely new perspective: making race, the special relationship' and the British peoples' collective powerful key considerations.This fascinating, alternative timeline reveals an edgier wartime society, hidden tensions in Anglo-American relations and the moment the British tabloid press learned to roar. Ultimately, Leroy Henry's court martial and everything it stood for provoked mind-blowing decision-making at the highest military level.Kate Werran unearths a wealth of archival material to help disclose the story behind the first
£18.70
The History Press Ltd The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo:
Book SynopsisTHE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF THE MAN WHO BROKE THE BANK AT MONTE CARLO.'Brilliant – a terrific read' - Michael Aspel OBE'The best book I’ve read all year' - Nigel Jones, editor, Devonshire MagazineCharles Deville Wells broke the bank at Monte Carlo – not once but ten times – winning the equivalent of millions in today’s money. He followed up with a colossal bank fraud in Paris, and became Europe’s most wanted criminal, hunted by British and French police and known in the press as ‘Monte Carlo Wells – the man with 36 aliases’.Is he phenomenally lucky? Has he really invented an ‘infallible’ gambling system, as he claims? Or is he just an exceptionally clever fraudster?
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Recollections of the 1950s: Home, Family and New
Book SynopsisThe 1950s saw a major shift in the lifestyles of many in Britain. Employment levels rose to new heights, white consumer goods appeared in shop windows for the first time, television replaced the radio in many homes, rock ‘n’ roll was born, the National Health Service provided free healthcare to the nation, families went on holiday, and the new Queen was crowned — bringing in a glorious new Elizabethan age.Including interviews with former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock and footballers Bobby Charlton, Wilf McGuinness and Terry Venables, Recollections of the 1950s will appeal to all who grew up in this post-war decade. With chapters on schooldays, television and radio, trips to the seaside, music and fashion, these wonderful stories are sure to jog the memories of all who remember this exciting era.
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Poor Bickerton
Book SynopsisOn 8 October 1833 Coroner Thomas Higgs opened an inquest into the death of John Bickerton, an elderly eccentric who, despite rumours of his wealth and high connections, had died in abject squalor, from the want of the common necessaries of life'.Over the coming hours, Higgs and his jury would unpick the details of Bickerton's strange, sad story: a story that began with comparative wealth, including education at Oxford and the Inns of Court, and brought him to the attention of two sitting prime ministers, but which descended into madness, imprisonment, mockery and starvation.Using Bickerton as a narrative thread to weave the story around, historian Stephen Haddelsey explores the lives of the down-and-outs and out-of-favours of Georgian and early Victorian England, tracking the deprivations society's lost children faced. For any fan of the era of balls and intrigue, here is revealed the story of Society's rejects and those whose star was only ever doomed to fall.
£17.00
The History Press Ltd Tales of Lancasters and Other Aircraft: Dangerous
Book SynopsisOf every 100 operational airmen in the Second World War, nearly seven were killed flying in England and more than three severely injured in crashes. With a total of 12,398, the number of non-operational casualties was significant. Operational casualties were of course chillingly grim – over 56,000 airmen died in the war.George Culling was a 19-year-old Lancaster navigator whose own experiences often involved battling tricky and dangerous conditions. Fascinated by the ever-present dangers for airmen even well away from combat, he has collated tales from comrades and combined them with his own to preserve some of the unexpected, inconvenient, dangerous, and often downright bizarre experiences that frequently typified daily life for airmen in the Second World War.
£11.69
The History Press Ltd The Many Faces of Crime
Book SynopsisI have an excellent memory for faces. I recall the face of every dead body I have ever seen. Every murder victim, every suicide, every cot death and every death reported as unexplained.'At the age of 22, Dennis McGookin was made a Detective Constable in the Criminal Investigation Department of Kent County Constabulary. He had no way of knowing at the time, but this career decision would put him at the heart of some of the most notorious crimes in Britain, including the case of Kenneth Noye, the so-called M25 Road Rage Killer', and the largest human-smuggling homicide investigation in British history.Told with forensic detail, but also humanity and heart, The Many Faces of Crime is the story of an extraordinary career that took McGookin from the south side of Belfast to the diplomatic echelons of Beijing, and put him face-to-face with both victims and murderers.
£19.54
The History Press Ltd Lambert Simnel and the Battle of Stoke
Book SynopsisWithin two years of the battle of Bosworth, Henry Tudor was forced to defend his throne against a formidable challenge mounted on behalf of a ten-year-old boy who had been crowned in Dublin as Edward VI'. Though presented as the last surviving Plantagenet, the young lad is generally known to history as Lambert Simnel.Lambert Simnel and the Battle of Stoke unravels the tangled web of dynastic politics and rivalries in Yorkist England, seeking a context for the bizarre events of 1487. It considers the political instability and the miasma of intrigue associated with the reign of Richard III and the first years of Henry VII. It seeks to probe the mysteries surrounding Lambert Simnel, raising questions about his identity and the roots and ramifications of the movement that centred on him. Above all, it charts the progress of the conspiracy and rebellion, from the raising of troops in the Netherlands and Ireland to the coronation' in Dubli
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Hellfire
Book SynopsisThis is a pacey and colourful read elegantly written.' Daisy Dunn, The TimesThe whole book reads rather like a Powell novel, with unexpected meetings and reversals it is a constant pleasure.' Mark Amory, The SpectatorAt a rollicking pace, it follows the post-Oxford careers of all the main Hypocrites Waugh addicts will wish to add it to their shelves.' A.N. Wilson, Times Literary SupplementDaily Mail top ten history book of 2022Described by one habitué as a kind of early twentieth-century Hell Fire Club', the Hypocrites Club counted some of the brightest of the future Bright Young People' among its members. The one-time secretary was Evelyn Waugh, who used ten of his fellow Hypocrites as inspiration for his fictional characters seven of them in Brideshead Revisited alone.The Hypocrites didn't just lend themselves to Waugh's fiction. Many went on to p
£17.09
The History Press Ltd SAS
Book SynopsisIn 1943, and with Allied victory in North Africa imminent, 1st Special Air Service Regiment was in danger of being disbanded. However, with the timely and vital intervention of Major Robert Blair Mayne, the unit was saved and replaced by an organisation known as HQ Raiding Forces, and Mayne was appointed to command the Special Raiding Squadron.The heroic spirit of 1st SAS Regiment continued to thrive in the squadron, and Paddy Mayne as he was known to his soldiers was an inspiration to those he commanded. Through action in Sicily in July 1943, undertaking distraction missions in Bagnara and finally aiding the Eighth Army in Termoli before being recalled to the UK to aid the SAS with the invasion of France, Paddy's Men worked as a well-oiled, dangerous and fiercely loyal unit, performing skilfully under the immense pressure of war.In this book Stewart McClean provides an illustrated history of the Special Raiding Squadron, detailing the formation of the unit, the lives of the men and their operations during the Sicilian and Italian campaigns, and the extraordinary man who commanded the squadron: Robert Blair Mayne DSO, or Colonel Paddy Mayne as he became famously known throughout the world.
£11.69
The History Press Ltd Truly Criminal
Book SynopsisTruly Criminal showcases a group of highly regarded writers who all share a special passion for crime, reflected in this superb collection of essays re-examining some of the most notorious cases from British criminal history.Contributors are all members of the Crime Writers' Association (CWA), including leading novelists Peter Lovesey, Andrew Taylor and Catherine Aird (winner of the 2015 CWA Diamond Dagger). There is also a bonus essay by the late great Margery Allingham about the controversial William Herbert Wallace case, which has only recently been rediscovered.Among the real-life crimes explored in the book are the cases of some of the most infamous killers in British history, including Samuel Herbert Dougal, the Moat Farm murderer; George Joseph Smith, the brides in the bath' killer; and Catherine Foster, who murdered her husband with poisoned dumplings.With a foreword by international best-selling author Peter James and updated w
£13.49
The History Press Ltd Suddenly an Englishman
Book SynopsisEngland is my home, and if someone asks me what I am German, Norwegian, Jewish or British I answer, I'm an Englishman.'In 1934, aged just 16, Louis Hagen was sent to Lichtenberg concentration camp after being betrayed for an off-hand joke by a Nazi-sympathising family maid. Mercifully, his time there was cut short thanks to the intervention of a school friend's father, and he escaped to the UK soon after. The Life of Louis Hagen' follows his adventures across the globe and the characters he met along the way, from the founder of the NHS to a Nobel Prize winner to one of the earliest animated-film directors, all told in lively and unflinching detail.Of the 10,000 men who landed at Arnhem, 1,400 were killed and more than 6,000 were captured a bloody disaster in more ways than one. Arnhem Lift' is Hagen's breathtaking and frank account of what it was like in the air and on the ground, including his daring escape from the German Army by
£17.00
Verso Books Lenin's Childhood
Book SynopsisWhen he died suddenly in 1967, Isaac Deutscher had completed only the compelling first chapter of a long-anticipated biography of Lenin, published here. It covers Lenin's family background, birth and early years in the backwater town of Simbirsk up to the execution of his brother, a traumatic formative event. Drawing on a lifetime of background research, including access to the closed section of Trotsky's archives, Lenin's Childhood gives a novel interpretation of the earliest influences on Lenin's personality and thinking. Most of all, it is a glimpse into an unfinished work which would have striven to save Lenin from fanatical anti-revolutionary condemnation and, perhaps more important, from uncritical communist beatification.This anniversary edition includes an introduction by Deutscher's biographer, Gonzalo Pozo, which situates the Lenin project within Deutscher's oeuvre and discusses the sources, influences and evolution of his never completed life of Lenin.Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Anniversary Edition - Gonzalo PozoIntroduction - Tamara DeutscherLenin's Childhood
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Best of World SF
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR ''BEST COLLECTION'' AT THE BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION AWARDS 2023The third annual instalment to the ''excellent, lovingly curated'' (Financial Times) The Best of World SF series The Best of World SF series is a fixture on the global science fiction scene. If you want to find the most exciting SF authors writing today, look no further. In this third instalment, you''ll discover alien artists, rioting dinosaurs, shape-shifting rabbits, heartbreak-harvesting cafes and one robot on a quest for meaning. You will be transported to the stars and back down to Earth and sideways, with the order of the world turned upside down. Featuring authors from Austria, Bulgaria, China, Finland, Ghana, Greece, India, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore and South Africa, this collection''s stories have been selected by award-winning writer,
£10.44
Canongate Books Springfield Road
Book SynopsisThis is the story of a home. A story rooted in love. The story of a poet born of an Irish jazz musician and a Jamaican go-go dancer, an absent father and a resilient mother. In Springfield Road, Salena Godden evokes an era when oranges seemed bigger and summers were longer, a world of half-penny sweets, free school milk, hand-me-downs and Thatcher''s Britain, for those too young to remember and for those old enough to know. For Salena, it was a time for learning that life can be brutal with first betrayals and first losses, but also that there are endless riches to uncover in the world. In equal parts powerful, tender and fearless, Springfield Road shows us where, in a world full of shadows, hope is to be found.
£10.44
Pushkin Press The Allure of Chanel
Book SynopsisThe story of Coco Chanel in her own words, as told by her to Paul Morand Told in her own words, Coco Chanel's memories offer a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential women in fashion history. During a visit to St. Moritz at the end of World War II, Chanel shared intimate details of her life, loves and fashion philosophy with her life-long friend, Paul Morand. Only coming to light after Chanel's death, her intimate recollections reveal the secrets behind her success and the captivating charm that made her a true iconTrade Review“It’s an interesting memoir because it's all about what she thinks not what she did.” —David Patrick Columbia, The New York Social Diary “Morand was a citizen of the world, with a sharp eye and a neat turn of phrase.” —The Tablet “This enchanting, tiny book is the closest anyone can get to a face-to-face with Coco. It’s written in her voice (‘that voice that gushed forth from her mouth like lava’) and in her words (‘those words that crackled like dried vines’), and though it's full of lies, omissions and contradictions, there’s enough raw truth in it to reflect the extraordinary woman who was Chanel, even though glimpsed shard by shard in a broken mirror. —The Spectator “Paul Morand recaptures a WWII-era conversation between the author and the fashion icon.” —Publishers Weekly “Morand was the all-round aesthete.” —Nicholas Lezard, Guardian
£11.69
Pushkin Press War Diary
Book SynopsisThe artist and writer Yevgenia Belorusets was in her hometown of Kyiv when Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on the morning of February 24, 2022. For her and millions of Ukrainians, reality changed overnight. She set out to document the war and its effects on the ordinary residents of the country: the relentless sound of sirens and gunfire; intense moments of connection and solidarity with strangers; the struggle to make sense of a good mood on a spring day. Published each day in German by the newspaper Der Spiegel and in English by ISOLARII, War Diary had an immediate impact worldwide. Issued here with a new preface and more recent entries by the author, it stands as a unique monument to the devastation and resilience of a city under siege.Trade Review'How do you remain an artist at such a moment of terror? One answer might come in the form of Belorusets's war diary which she began publishing as the invasion started and which has gained the appreciation of writers like Margaret Atwood and Miranda July' - Atlantic'The surreal circumstances Belorusets depicts, both in her writing and in the accompanying photographs, set against the drama of war are quietly disturbing. A compelling portrait of a nation under siege as well as the inspiring resilience of ordinary Ukrainians' - Kirkus Reviews
£9.49
Quarto Publishing PLC Van Goghs Finale
Book SynopsisA captivating and definitive account of the final days of Van Gogh''s life and the incredible story of what followed. Divided into three parts, the book first examines the eventful days from the artists’ departure from the asylum in Saint-Remy and arrival in Auvers until the shooting which brought his life to an end. During this time Van Gogh completed 74 paintings in 70 days.The second part delves deeper into the story of the artist’s death, which has intrigued both experts and the public for years, revealing little-known stories and uncovering overlooked accounts.We then follow the story of how Van Gogh subsequently rose from relative obscurity to international renown and ultimately fame as one of the most recognisable and popular artists in the world.Leading Van Gogh specialist Martin Bailey writes with insight and intelligence, bringing these fateful days to life with
£10.44
Canongate Books Small by Small
Book SynopsisAs he works his way through his medical training, Ike Anya''s grandmother reassures him, saying:Everything worthwhile is achieved small by small.It''s the 1990s, a turbulent time in Nigeria''s political history, and a young Ike Anya embarks on the journey to qualifying as a medical doctor. In a story that charts the triumphs and failures of his student days through to his first demanding year as a house officer, Anya''s sharp wit, gentle humour and abounding curiosity present a medical memoir unlike any from the West. Recalling the vibrancy of tempestuous 1990s Nigeria - the political unrest, social change and worsening economy - Anya also celebrates the friendships, minor rebellions and hard graft of student days. Small by Small is a deeply intimate memoir imbued with determination, compassion and a love of storytelling.
£10.44
Octopus Publishing Group Dog Tales
Book SynopsisExperience the unconditional love and incredible stories of remarkable dogs in Dog Tales. This heartwarming collection celebrates the uplifting impact and unwavering bond between dogs and humans, leaving you inspired and filled with joy.This collection of heart-warming stories shares true accounts of some extra-special pups and celebrates the many ways dogs uplift and enrich our lives every day Dive into these pages to meet some of the most incredible dogs and puppies who have touched the lives of their owners in unforgettable ways. From loyal service dogs who have helped their owners through some of life's toughest challenges, to playful puppies who bring joy to every moment, the furry friends featured in this heart-warming collection of stories will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. Whether you're a dog lover or simply need a dose of positivity, the stories inside are sure to raise your spirits. Filled with tales
£8.54
Summersdale Publishers Grief
Book SynopsisNavigate the journey of grief with compassionate guidance and healing activities tailored to support you through every stage of your personal healing processWith simple advice and guided activities, this workbook is a comforting companion to support you through your healing journey after experiencing loss Grief is the natural response to loss, and it's something that affects everyone at some point in their lives. It can manifest itself in many ways - sadness, panic, confusion, anger - and it's often completely unpredictable. If you're experiencing grief, you may feel isolated and alone, but this guided workbook is here to support you through each step of this personal journey. Filled with activities for exploring your emotions and coming to terms with your grief, this book will help you begin the gradual healing process. Inside you will find: - An overview of what grief is and how you might experience it -
£11.69
Ignota Books Pharmako-AI
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£12.59
Ignota Books Air Age Blueprint
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£12.59
Herb Lester Associates Ltd Situation Vacant: The Sex Pistols & Malcolm
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£10.80
Cipher Press Front Lines: Trans Journalism 2007-2020
Book SynopsisJuliet Jacques was one of the first trans writers in the UK to contribute broadly to both British and foreign media, writing widely about the trans experience. Spanning over a decade, Jacques' ground-breaking journalism about selfhood, society, art, politics, freedom, and gender identity, tracks the backlash against emerging trans rights and the rise of a new and more explicit form of media transphobia. Front Lines is a seminal collection of writings on trans and queer art, politics, and media, from a period in which the relationship between trans and non-binary people and the British media was exceptionally turbulent. Jacques navigates the tension between wanting to simply write about art and culture and needing to counter the dishonest, damaging rhetoric being published about trans people in virtually every national newspaper in the UK. 'I never believed any journalism was objective, nor that there was any point in even trying to be,' writes Jacques in her introduction. 'Above all, activism is needed to fight this, with journalism to support it: there is no point in pretending to be objective in our work, as the stakes remain just as high as they were back in 2010, perhaps even higher... We're entering a new phase of collective struggle, with new fronts and new tactics needed: I hope this book can help to inform that.' This crucial collection asks what we can learn from the last decade and, importantly, what we can do now. How can new writers take up the struggle for trans liberation? And what will the future of trans writing look like?
£10.79
Canongate Books Billy No-Mates: How I Realised Men Have a
Book Synopsis'Where have all my friends gone?'When Max Dickins decided to propose to his girlfriend, he realised there was no one he could call on to be his best man. He quickly learned that he wasn't the only man struggling with friendships. For decades, countless studies from across the world have confirmed that men have fewer close friends than women - and the problem gets worse the older men get. But what goes wrong? And what can men do about it? Dickins is going to find out. His funny and charmingly candid search takes him to the doors of world-leading experts. It forces him to examine the friendships he's had over the years, and where they have foundered. And, briefly, it sends him to the website 'Rent A Friend', where he pays someone to hang out with him. But let's not dwell on that. Join Max as he takes a defibrillator to his social life. As he ultimately discovers that if he wants a Best Man, then he needs to be a better man.Trade Review[Max Dickins] couldn't think of anyone to be his best man. It was a realisation that triggered a poignant - and very funny - odyssey * * Daily Mail * *A funny but deeply uncomfortable read for those men . . . who have allowed their male friendships to wither * * Sunday Times * *On the spot * * Guardian * *A funny, meaty, informative read where [Max Dickins] uses himself as a hook to guide us through male friendships * * Independent * *Very funny, utterly charming and above all, wise, Billy No-Mates is not so much about getting the friendships you deserve, but deserving the friendships you've got -- TIM DOWLINGFascinating -- JEREMY VINE * * BBC Radio 2 * *Brilliant . . . one of the most important books I've read this year . . . [it] asks us to put a mirror up to our own friendships -- NIHAL ARTHANAYAKE * * Radio5Live * *Billy No-Mates should be required reading for all us fellas. I wish I had it 10 years ago. Hilarious, elegantly-written and fascinating. As a life-improving call-to-arms, it's impact on me is hard to overstate. It has - without exaggeration - made me a better friend. And maybe even a better man. As absorbing as it is funny -- PHIL WANGWe need a conversation about why men don't have a mate they can talk to * * The Times * *Here Max exposes something worrying and fundamental but with such a lightness of touch -- RUFUS HOUNDMax's book is brilliant. Very funny. So well researched and inspiring in lots of ways. Get a copy if you can! -- SPENCER JONES, comedian from LIVE AT THE APOLLO and 8 OUT OF 10 CATSI've left a copy on my husband's bedside table -- EMMA BARNETT * * Woman's Hour - BBC Radio 4 * *Poignant, extremely funny and worryingly accurate. Rarely has such a frightening wake-up call been so hilariously put -- RHYS JAMESFascinating and very funny. This is such an important subject -- SAM DELANEY * * The Reset * *I love Max's book so much -- RHIK SAMMADER, author and journalistI really enjoyed Max's insights around why men are struggling to connect . . . it's a problem that everyone needs to help fix -- CHRIS WILLIAMSON * * Modern Wisdom * *
£15.29
Amber Books Ltd Endangered Places: From the Amazonian rainforest
Book SynopsisOur beautiful planet is in danger: the warning signs are there, year after year – from vast forest fires across Australia to coral bleaching in the Pacific and the rapid break up of polar ice and the consequent rise in sea levels, threatening low-lying coastal communities everywhere. Arranged by continent, Endangered Places introduces the reader to many of the most stunning natural locations from the around the world that are currently under threat. Learn about the magnificent Bornean rainforest, home to threatened species such as orangutans, probiscis monkeys and the Sumatran rhinoceros; marvel at the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef, stretching 2,300 kilometres along Australia’s east coast and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps; explore the Aral Sea, formerly the fourth largest lake in the world and today less than 10 per cent of it’s original size after the rivers that fed it were diverted by Soviet irrigation projects; and understand the process of desertification, which has led to the huge expansion of the Sahara Desert and the dramatic shrinkage of Lake Chad. Illustrated with more than 180 photographs of more than 100 threatened locations, Endangered Places celebrates the beauty of our planet while reminding us of how easily this can be lost through human behaviour and climate change.Trade Review"the book's 180 vibrant photographs feel at once like a call to travel and a call to action, inspiring readers to seek out these astonishing destinations and take steps to help conserve them before it's too late." * Frommers *Table of ContentsContents: Introduction EUROPE: Bittern, Reedbed, Suffolk Hurst Castle, Hampshire, England Thornham Marshes, Norfolk, England Bennerley Viaduct, Derbyshire– Nottinghamshire, England Canning and Salthouse Docks, Liverpool, England St-Émilion Vineyards, Nouvelle- Aquitaine, France St-Jorioz Reedbed, Lake Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France Gironde Estuary, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France Couvent de Récollets, Nivelles, Wallonia, Belgium De Duivelskuil Nature, Limburg, Netherlands Wadden Sea Salt Marsh, Netherlands Simbach-am-Inn, Bavaria, Germany Sylt Island, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Historic Centre of Vienna, Austria Venice, Italy Civita di Bagnoregio, Lazio, Italy Lake Balaton, Veszprém, Hungary Zahara de la Sierra, Cádiz, Spain Orleans-Bourbon Palace, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cádiz, Spain Neptune Baths, Baile Herculane, Romania Danube Delta, Tulcea, Romania Black Sea, Ukraine–Russia St Stephen, Nesebar, Bulgaria Patriarchate of Pec Monastery, Peja, Kosovo Big Kemeri Bog, Latvia Yelnya Reserve, Belarus AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST: Municipal Hall, Benghazi, Cyrenaica, Libya Atiq Mosque, Benghazi, Cyrenaica, Libya Ghadamès, Tripolitania, Libya Tadrart Acacus, Ghat, Libya Leptis Magna, Tripolitania, Libya Telouet, Drâa-Tafilalet, Morocco Lake Burullus, Kafr El Sheikh, Egypt Osireion, Abydos, Sohag, Egypt Temple of Ramesses II, Abydos, Sohag, Egypt Pyramids of Giza, Greater Cairo, Egypt Nuri, Northern State, Sudan Kasubi Tombs, Kampala, Uganda Timbuktu, Mali Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali Nabiyotum Crater, Lake Turkana, Kenya Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha, Tanzania Great Mosque of Kilwa Kisiwani, Lindi, Tanzania Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Cape of Caotinha, Benguela, Angola Table Mountain National Park, Western Cape, South Africa Etosha National Park, Kunene, Namibia Congo Basin Rainforest, Democratic Republic of the Congo Garamba National Park, Haut-Uélé, Democratic Republic of the Congo Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo Batammariba Home, Koutammakou, Togo Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire Ashanti Shrine, Ashanti, Ghana Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Arlit, Niger Adrar Plateau, Mauritania Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal Hebron Old Town, West Bank Petra, Ma’an, Jordan Dead Sea, Jordan–Israel–West Bank Beirut Central District, Lebanon Damascus, Syria Citadel of Aleppo, Syria Zabid, Al Hudaydah, Yemen ASIA, PACIFIC & the POLES Sea Ice, Svalbard, Arctic Ocean Aral Sea, Kazakhstan–Uzbekistan Minaret of Jam, Ghor, Afghanistan Bamyan Valley, Afghanistan Shakhrisabz, Qashqadaryo, Uzbekistan Shahdara Bagh, Lahore, Pakistan Taj Mahal, Agra, India Chand Baori, Abhaneri, India Western Ghats, Karnataka, India Hawksbill Turtle, Maldives, Indian Ocean Panam Nagar, Narayanganj, Bangladesh Horton Plains National Park, Central Province, Sri Lanka Yongtai Fortress, Gansu, China Zhuangzhai, Fujian, China Choijin Lama Temple, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia Kaathe Swayambhu Shree Gha Chaitya, Kathmandu, Nepal Bunong Village, Mondulkiri, Cambodia Preah Khan, Siem Reap, Cambodia Sea Pong Lai Waterfall, Bolaven Plateau, Laos Inle Lake, Myanmar Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall, Khuean Srinagarindra National Park, Thailand Rainforest of Borneo, Indonesia– Malaysia–Brunei Mt Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia Barrington Tops National Park, New South Wales, Australia Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia Yarra Ranges National Park, Victoria, Australia Cassowary Falls, Daintree, Queensland, Australia Stirling Range National Park, Western Australia Torres Strait Islands, Queensland, Australia Nan Madol, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia Coastal Dunes, New Zealand Cape Bird, Ross Island, Antarctica Juhyo, Mt Zao, Yamagata, Japan NORTH AMERICA North Shore Alvar Preserve, Kelleys Island, Lake Erie, USA Herschel Island–Qikiqtaruk Territorial Park, Yukon, Canada Athabasca Glacier, Canada Bull Kelp, Alexander Archipelago, Alaska, USA Bandelier National Monument, New Mexico, USA Boston Harbor, Massachussetts, USA Cachuma Lake, California, USA Everglades, Florida, USA Logan Pass, Glacier National Park, Montana, USA North Sixshooter Peak, Bear Ears Monument, Utah, USA Fallen Roof Ruin, Bears Ears Monument, Utah, USA SOUTH AMERICA Hotel Oloffson, Port-au-Prince, Haiti Gulf of California, Baja California, Mexico Old Town, Ponce, Puerto Rico Barrier Reef, San Pedro, Belize Temple I, Tikal, Guatemala Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica La Mosquitia, Honduras Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, Riviera Maya, Mexico Fortifications of Portobelo and San Lorenzo, Colón, Panama Tepuis, Venezuela Madidi National Park, Beni, Bolivia Salar de Uyuni, Potosí, Bolivia Potosí, Tomás Frías, Bolivia Machu Picchu, Cusco, Peru Chan Chan, La Libertad, Peru Huaquis, Nor Yauyos Cochas Reserve, Lima, Peru Monte Alegre State Park, Pará, Brazil Amazon Rain Forest, South America Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works, Iquique, Chile Grey Glacier, Southern Patagonian Ice Field, Chile Floreana Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador Moai, Easter Island, Chile
£17.99
ACA Publishing Limited China in Five Cities: From Hohhot to Hong Kong
Book SynopsisKerry Brown began his life in nineties China almost by chance, cutting his teeth in its northern backwaters. He went on to become a British diplomat in Beijing and then one of the world's foremost sinologists. Since then, the Middle Kingdom has transformed from 'backwater' to 'emergent superpower' to fanfare, scrutiny and a tidal wave of thinkpieces. Offering a light alternative to the bluster, the Kentish academic draws on wit, allusion and anecdotes of adventure to render the People's Republic 'knowable' to Western readers, and in so doing, humanise its monumental ascent.
£13.49
Atlantic Books No One Listens to Your Dad's Show
Book Synopsis'Christian has achieved something very beautiful and funny with this book, weaving ordinary life and every day sadness into something hopeful and profound. I loved it.' Russell BrandAs a radio DJ in London, Christian O'Connell appeared to have it all. He held the number one spot nationally, with a faithful audience of millions who'd listened to him for years. Celebrities flocked to come on his show and no other radio DJ had won more awards.But not everything was as it seemed. Minutes before going live one morning, something happened that changed everything and led to a decision of seismic proportions. He quit his job, moved to the other side of the world, where no one knew him, and took on the toughest radio market in the world - Australia.Why? is the question he's been asked every day since landing Down Under. Until now he's never shared the real reason.No One Listens to Your Dad's Show is the story of Christian risking everything, uprooting his wife, two daughters and his dog to move to Australia. A move that lands him as a complete unknown in a country where, he soon finds out, no one wants to hear him on the radio.He was failing, fortysomething and falling apart.Until he wasn't.Trade ReviewChristian has achieved something very beautiful and funny with this book, weaving ordinary life and every day sadness into something hopeful and profound. I loved it. -- Russell BrandSmart and funny -- Ricky GervaisReading this book is like spending time with Christian. Funny and inspiring. -- Adam HillsTable of Contentsi: Prologue: My last show on air, London, May 2018 ii: Introduction: The story I don't want to tell you iii: PART ONE 1: The man in the shed 2: Son of Fonzie 3: Mind your language, Prime Minister 4: Halfway dead 5: Leslie and me 6: 'Every time you open your mouth, people will hate you.' iv: PART TWO 7: Come fail with me 8: Pets before dads 9: 520 hours to make it work 10: Nineteen-minute honeymoon 11: Clowns with feelings 12: Notes from Down Under 13: Neighbours 14: Embrace the suck 15: 'Try giving birth.' 16: The biggest decision I had to make 17: Meet my new nemesis 18: Notes from my wife 19: Home alone v: PART THREE 20: Life lessons in a boxing ring 21: Fudge Man save me 22: A disgusting man 23: New besties 24: I bought a house drunk 25: Replaced 26: Building the treehouse 27: The Peter Logan effect 28: Drives with my daughters 29: 'Man Walks into a Radio Station with Ten Thousand Dollars' 30: 'Who's Calling Christian?' vi: Epilogue What happened to me? vii: Some words from the girls viii: Thank-you note
£9.49
Atlantic Books In Bed with the Blueshirts
Book SynopsisThe definitive inside account of the 2016-20 coalition government.Cabinet minister Shane Ross reveals the bitter internal battles fought with the old Blueshirts, the crises when the coalition came close to collapse and the sometimes fraught personal relationships between the fifteen figures who made up the last government.He recounts how a group of Independents risked everything to form a government that was expected to last for only months but which ran for more than four years, under two Taoisigh with utterly different styles. With great humour and charm, Ross unveils the skulduggery, the secret deals, the drama of how Irish football was rescued and Olympic chief Pat Hickey toppled, showing us what really happens behind the closed doors of Ireland's government.Trade ReviewIn the small anecdotes and pen pictures, he achieves what a most skilled diarist should - subtle illustration of themomentous through the seemingly trivial. And, of course, it is all highly entertaining...As Irish political memoirs go, Ross sets a new high bar here. * Irish Mail on Sunday *[E]ntertaining, honest and truly reflective. Shane Ross has shone a light on many dusty corners of Irish political life, and throughout the pages his humour, his acceptance and his acumen shine through. -- Mary O'Rourke * Galway Advertiser *In his racy and entertaining memoir...Ross blasts open the door into the inner workings of Cabinet * Irish Examiner *...a breezy and engaging account of his four years at the Cabinet table. It covers his failures, successes and multiple slip-ups, and provides laugh-out-loud moments for any reader. -- David Murphy * RTE Culture *In Bed With The Blueshirts may not enhance your confidence in Irish politics, but it will lighten the gloom of the pandemic. -- Pat Rabbitte * Sunday Business Post *This is a well-written book that moves along at a good pace. It is a personal memoir that does not seek to vilify those who opposed Ross, nor to claim infallibility for his own views. He may portray himself as the outsider, but ultimately he shows a great liking for his colleagues of all hues. -- Richard Bruton * Irish Independent *This is a book worth reading...well written and entertaining * The Phoenix *He has written one of the best Irish political memoirs, bulging with casually shared nuggets and indiscretions, chiefly but not exclusively his own. * Village magazine *Table of Contents1: A Big Idea Is Born 2: The Blueshirts Play Hardball 3: A Cabinet at War 4: Pat Hickey's Olympic Downfall 5: Gaffes Galore 6: Pork Barrel Politics 7: Drink Drivers Divide the Dáil 8: Judges Defend Four Courts Fortress 9: Mandarins Rule, OK? 10: Irish Football Pulls Back from the Brink 11: The Covid Cabinet: A Big Win for Leo
£13.49
Atlantic Books Late Cuts: Musings on cricket
Book SynopsisWhat follows, which explores some of the charms, the quirks and the peculiar allure of cricket from a variety of perspectives, is not intended as a memorial for long-lost sepia days. The game is still alive. Whether it turns out to be therapy for me or entertainment for you remains to be seen. To achieve both would be a bonus.From Somerset stalwart to acclaimed writer and broadcaster, Vic Marks has lived a life steeped in cricket. In Late Cuts he takes us beyond the boundary rope, sharing the parts of the game fans don't get to see, from the food served at lunchtime (then - sweaty ham; now - quinoa, cranberry and feta salad) to the politics of the dressing room.Whether revisiting his playing days to reveal the secrets of bowling a killer spell and what it feels like to be heckled by a riled-up crowd, or ruminating on the current state of the game (don't mention The Hundred!), this amusing and insightful collection will delight all cricket lovers.Trade ReviewIn amongst his artfully delivered stock balls, enough deliveries grip to keep the pages turning. It's the literary equivalent of an afternoon in the sun at a county outground, and who doesn't enjoy that? -- Jon Hotten * Wisden Cricket Monthly *Distinctively Marksist: thoughtful and wry, gentle and wise * The Cricketer *Table of Contents1: Selection 2: Captains 3: Partnerships 4: The Spell 5: Declarations 6: Crowds 7: Failure 8: Food 9: Twelfth Man 10: Press Conferences 11: The Library 12: Somerset
£9.49
Atlantic Books The Wood Life: WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK
Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE 2023 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR**FOREWORD BY BEN STOKES*Hallo - I'm Mark Wood. As an England and Durham cricketer who was born, raised and refined in Ashington, Northumberland, my life has been quite unique. Over the course of my career so far, I've won an Ashes and a World Cup in an international career that at the time of writing is going on seven years and counting. Being a fast bowler like myself is up there with the toughest of all sporting pursuits, like being Tyson Fury's punchbag or working behind the bar during the darts at Ally Pally.Being a cricketer? There's nothing like it. And doing it for England? Well, I'm lucky to call it a profession. There's been a lot of hard work along the way. Plenty of sacrifices and pain to accompany the good times that make them all worthwhile.I've been everywhere, from Barbados to Brisbane, Chester-le-Street to Chennai, waiting rooms to operating tables. I've played in some of the most exotic locations in the world and eaten margherita pizzas in every single one of them. To be honest, it's amazing I've waited this long to bring out my own self-help book.Trade ReviewA self-help manual laced with simple humour, homespun wisdom and an insight into the England cricket machine. -- Richard Hobson * The Cricketer *Table of Contentsi: Foreword by Ben Stokes ii: Introduction 1: How to Celebrate 2: How to Kill Time 3: How to Be Fast 4: How to Love 5: How to Travel 6: How to Stay Healthy 7: How to Keep Level 8: How to Be True to Yourself 9: Q & A x: Epilogue: Mark Wood, A Second Opinion by Miles Jupp
£10.44
Atlantic Books The Platinum Queen: Over 75 Speeches Given by
Book Synopsis***Published in honour of our late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, The Platinum Queen presents seven decades of world history through the words of Britain's longest-reigning monarch: over 256 exquisitely designed pages, packed with 130 photos and featuring every single major speech given over the course of Her late Majesty's time on the throne, a foreword by Jennie Bond and historical context to each decade.***For the first time, all 70 of our late Queen's Christmas speeches are published together in full, along with six additional feature speeches made at significant points in her life.Organised by decade, each chapter opens with a narrative essay on the key events that follow, providing an important contextual backdrop to the speeches. From times of national and global turmoil - including wars, terror attacks and health crises - to times of joy - such as the new millennium and Olympics - The Platinum Queen is a testament to the late Elizabeth's unwavering resolve, faith and dedication to her role.
£17.00
Pitch Publishing Ltd Reading Between the Lines: The Biography of
Book SynopsisThis is the story of ‘Cockney’ Cliff Lines and his memories of 70 years spent in horseracing. Knowing nothing about racing or even how to ride, Cliff started as a 14-year-old apprentice to Noel Murless, and the book details his life, from riding a winner for the Queen, trying to make it as a jockey, through being a work rider/head lad to Michael Stoute, pre-training and eventually training himself. It covers the trials and tribulations he endured: apprentice accommodation, bullying, doping scandals, the stable lads’ strike and his own health issues including a brain tumour. The stories of famous horses he worked with, such as JO TOBIN, SHERGAR and SONIC LADY, and those he nurtured in their early years, including PILSUDSKI and FUJIYAMA CREST, the last runner in Frankie Dettori’s Magnificent Seven, are all covered, as are his travels with horses around the world by boat and plane from 1954 to the present day. And despite all the ups and downs, Cliff genuinely has no regrets about his lifetime in the Thoroughbred racing industry.
£16.99
John Donald Publishers Ltd Somerled: And the Emergence of Gaelic Scotland
Book SynopsisThrough most of eight hundred years, Somerled of Argyll has been variously denounced as an intractable rebel against his rightful king and esteemed as the honoured ancestor of the later medieval Lord of the Isles, but he can be recognised now as a much more complex figure of major prominence in twelfth-century Scotland and of truly landmark significance in the long history of the Gael. In this book individual chapters investigate his emergence in the forefront of the Gaelic-Norse aristocracy of the western seaboard, his part in Gaeldom's challenge to the Canmore kings of Scots, his war on the Manx king of the Isles, his importance for the church on Iona, and his extraordinary invasion of the Clyde which was cut short by his violent death at Renfrew in 1164. Perhaps most impressive is the book's demonstration of how almost everything that is known of or has been claimed for Somerled reflects the same characteristic fusion of Norse and Celt which binds the cultural roots of Gaeldom. It is this recognition which has led its author to his proposal of Somerled's wider historical importance as the personality who most represents the first fully-fledged emergence of the medieval Celtic-Scandinavian cultural province from which is directly descended the Gaelic Scotland of today.
£19.00
John Donald Publishers Ltd Æthelflæd: Lady of the Mercians
Book SynopsisThe true story of the Lady of the Mercians. At the end of the ninth century AD, a large part of what is now England was controlled by the Vikings – heathen warriors from Scandinavia who had been attacking the British Isles for more than a hundred years. Alfred the Great, king of Wessex, was determined to regain the conquered lands but his death in 899 meant that the task passed to his son Edward. In the early 900s, Edward led a great fightback against the Viking armies. He was assisted by the English rulers of Mercia: Lord Æthelred and his wife Æthelflæd (Edward’s sister). After her husband’s death, Æthelflæd ruled Mercia on her own, leading the army to war and working with her brother to achieve their father’s aims. Known to history as the Lady of the Mercians, she earned a reputation as a competent general and was feared by her enemies. She helped to save England from the Vikings and is one of the most famous women of the Dark Ages. This book, published 1100 years after her death, tells her remarkable story.Trade Review'An enjoyable read and meticulously researched. Lucid, deft, highly recommended' * Historical Novels Society *
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers 100 Children's Books: that inspire our world
Book Synopsis An amazing guide to some of the most beloved, original, inspiring, hysterical, heart-warming, compelling, rude and downright scary books that have enchanted children the world over. In 100 Children's Books That Inspired Our World, author Colin Salter surveys an exceptional collection of truly groundbreaking children's books – from Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer to the graphic novels of Dr. Seuss. All the classic children's authors are represented with one stand-out book, plus mentions for their best-known works. Ordered chronologically, the book showcases favourite children's books ranging from Victorian classics to modern day bestsellers. Books featured include: Alice in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Charlotte's Web, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Matilda, Watership Down, Tales of Hans Christian Anderson, Grimms Fairy Tales, Peter Pan, A Bear Called Paddington, The Snowman, The Secret Garden, How to Train Your Dragon, Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter, James and the Giant Peach, The Gruffalo, Mr Men, Coraline, Herge's Adventures of TinTin, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Finn Family Moomintroll, Swiss Family Robinson, Heidi, The Hobbit, The Red Balloon, The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, His Dark Materials, The Railway Children, Noddy, The House at Pooh Corner, The Sheep Pig, Stig of the Dump, Fungus the Bogeyman, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Secret Seven, Famous Five, Black Beauty, The Diary of a Young Girl, The Boy in Striped Pyjamas, Artemis Fowl and many more who lived happily ever after.Trade Review'Reveals how children’s literature has changed over time, from earnest instruction to playful adventure... includes bright covers and lively descriptions of beloved children’s books from 1697 to 2011.' -- Alexandra Wolfe, * The Wall Street Journal *'The is the most fantastic book - inspiring, interesting, reflective, nostalgic, informative and attractive.' * Juno magazine *'This is a lovely keepsake for book lovers who can look back on the stories that shaped their childhoods (and adulthood!). It is also a nice gift for children who can discover some “new” books, or learn about the authors who wrote some of their favourites.' * Picture Book Perfect blog *'Great for suggestions of books and extracts which would be worth using in the classroom; I want children in my class to see how brilliant some older texts can also be… This is an ideal book for any lover of children’s books and literature.' * Teacher Bookworm blog *'A beautiful selection of old and new books ... A real keepsake book' -- The Green Parent magazine'This is a lovely keepsake for book lovers who can look back on the stories that shaped their childhoods (and adulthood!). It is also a nice gift for children who can discover some “new” books, or learn about the authors who wrote some of their favourites.' * Picture Book Perfect blog *
£16.50
ERIS Luminous Lives: A Biography of Anna-Eva Bergman
Book Synopsis
£27.00
