Biography Books

Book SynopsisSet in the urban pastoral of an East London postcode, Feral Borough asks what it means to call a place home, and how best to share that home with its non-human inhabitants. Meryl Pugh reimagines the wild as 'feral', recording the fauna and flora of Leytonstone in prose as incisive as it is lyrical. Here, on the edge of the city, red kite and parakeets thrive alongside bluebell and yarrow, a muntjac deer is glimpsed in the undergrowth, and an escaped boa constrictor appears on the High Road. In this subtle, captivating book - part herbarium, part bestiary and part memoir - Pugh explores the effects of loss, and lockdown, on human well-being, conjuring the local urban environment as a site for healing and connection. 'A subtle, heartfelt and affecting book about home, the city and the self -- Pugh reminds us that nowhere, however urban, is without nature; that wherever we go, the intricate web of life continues to shape and change us.' Rebecca TamasTrade Review'A subtle, heartfelt and affecting book about home, the city and the self' Rebecca Tamas; 'Feryl Borough' is original, curious, expansive. Pugh's writing seeks beauty in urban surroundings, with echoes of Jenny Odell's 'How To Do Nothing' by placing value on looking, recording and appreciating our local environment and of Leslie Kern's 'Feminist City' on the joy, frustrations and solidarity of women navigating routes through the city. A brilliant, honest account of London, a place of golden sunlight and strange shadows, written with remarkable emotional clarity. Pugh holds up the city for us to witness in all its tiny, profound detail.' Gemma Seltzer; 'After five chapters, you'll wish you lived in Leytonstone. Five more and you'll begin to wonder about the natural treasures lurking in your own part of town. Another five and you'll be out in the park with your magnifying glass and binoculars. Anyone who reads this terrific book will also want to live it. This is a most democratic bestiary. Skylarks and buzzards enjoy equal billing with hawthorn and common wood pigeons. Bluebells, six-toed cats, an escaped boa constrictor... Each is subject of a mini-essay that revels not only in the joys of urban wildlife, but also the quirks and oddities. Nature, strange in tooth and claw.' Matt Brown; 'An intimate journey into places that are at once familiar and strange, known and unfathomable, Meryl Pugh's writing conjures a wild city full of wonder among the everyday' Kerri Andrews

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of the legendary comedian Tony Hancock in words, pictures, and not without a few interruptions from The Lad Himself, who proves a little infuriated at how his story is told... as those who know and love his work would fully expect!When he appeared on radio and television in the 1950s, Hancock immediately became an archetype and so he has remained. The writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson basically invented the sitcom form for him, teasing out the threads of his personality and creating from them a universally recognisable figure: the ever-aspiring, grumpy, petty, frustrated everyman pitted against society, bureaucracy, jobsworth vindictiveness and whatever you're having yourself; the best and worst of all of us, down to his last shilling for the meter.WC Fields, Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Sid Field all came before him. Young Hancock was hugely influenced by them all, just as successive generations of comic actors (Cleese, Fry and Merton, to name a few) have been massively influenced by Hancock. The Office, Black Books, Peep Show and all the other great British sitcoms of the present day are variations on the Hancock template.The Lad Himself is the creation of writer Stephen Walsh and artist Keith Page, exploring the strange life of a much-admired comedian.Trade Review"It's really good in a way that creeps up onyou. Hancock's brilliance and comedy are timeless but the inner demons andinsecurities that caused him to destroy himself are timeless too. This graphicnovel shows us both sides of the man." -- Neil Gaiman (Good Omens,Sandman)"This work of love by talented fans is atriumph." -- Nick West, The Tony Hancock Appreciation Society"Stone me, it's a work of genius." --Robert Ross, Comedy Historian"Simply put, instantly one of the greatestBritish graphic novels ever. An immediate classic. Moving, funny, tragic andsurreal. A tale that could only be told in comics form. Buy it and becomeentranced in the funny yet melancholy life of a British icon, beautifully told."-- Mike Collins (2000AD, Doctor Who, Good Omens)"The Lad Himself is a complex,darkness-touched story told with kindness and elegance about a man convinced hedeserved neither. It's a salute to a generation who changed comedy. Most of allit's a complex series of nested punchlines about a man whose life was far morethan all of them, and who could never quite let himself believe that. Tragedy,comedy, horror and joy, all wrapped up in a big hat and a bigger coat,repeating the eternal half hour." -- Alasdair Stewart, The Full LidAn authentic voice transmits throughout viaexcellently devised speech patterns, with a recurring motif of aself-destructive propensity for mistaking ambition for capability. In all, thegood, the bad, and ugly of Hancock are duly and stylishly offered to present aman who delighted millions, but tragically never himself." -- FrankPlowright, Slings & Arrows

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow did Syria's revolution lose its way? Drawing on the author's firsthand knowledge of the country's complex religious and ethnic communities, this book illuminates the darker recesses of Syria's history, politics, and society. With the unique perspective of an Arabic-speaking British woman, Diana Darke became deeply embedded in all levels of Syrian society when she bought and restored a house in a mixed Sunni/Shi'a neighborhood of the walled Old City of Damascus. In September 2012, as fighting intensified and millions were forced to flee their homes, she offered her house as a sanctuary to friends. By following her experiences and struggles with the realities of life on the ground inside Syria, the reader will arrive at a clearer understanding of why the country remains locked in conflict and why most ordinary Syrians are caught between a repressive government and a splintering opposition.Trade Review'...written with the pace of a novel and the colour of the best travel writing... much more than a personal memoir: it is an eclectic but learned encyclopedia of Syrian history, of the Arabs and their language and traditions, of Islamic art and architecture, and more.' - Times Literary Supplement '...glows with...an understanding of and affection for the peoples of Syria.' - The Irish Times 'Darke's powerful, moving new book - elegantly contrasts a property dream with Syria's ongoing violent reality - Her sensitive, knowing story captures a rare view of Syria and the stakes of the conflict from an up-close observer deeply versed in its culture.' - New Republic

Read more less

Book SynopsisSir Alex Ferguson is arguably Britain's greatest ever football manager. In the year that he celebrates his 80th birthday, this new book from experienced journalist and author John Richardson will offer an original insight into what makes the Scot tick, his unique way of operating and how his genius changed the footballing landscape.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow would you make sense of your life if you thought it might end tomorrow? In this captivating and best-selling memoir Vesna Goldsworthy tells the story of herself, her family and her early life in her lost country. There follows marriage, a move to England and a successful media and academic career, then a cancer diagnosis and its unresolved consequences. A profoundly moving, comic and original account by a stunning literary talent.Trade Review'Exceptional. If there has been a more honest, calm and profoundly moving memoir written in the last few years, then I've missed it.'--Times Literary Supplement 'Funny, painful, and brilliant - Fantastically well written - I hope that it will soon take its place among the Lolitas of Tehran and the Booksellers of Kabul' Tim Judah, Observer 'Exceptional. If there has been a more honest, calm and profoundly moving memoir written in the last few years, then I've missed it' Andrew Taylor, TLS 'Three qualities make Vesna Goldsworthy's memoir stand apart - her honesty, he skill as a writer and the fascinating circumstances of her life. Her ability to find unexpected, subtle connections in the pattern of her own life elevates this absorbing memoir into something extraordinary' Josh Lacey, Guardian 'Engrossing - the work of a fiercely honest and cultivated intelligence' Paul Bailey, Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisMark Girouard has, he claims, scarcely ever thrown away a letter that he has received, and here he selects and reproduces 29 of them, ranging from his early childhood during the war to recent years, and uses them to characterise and memorialise their authors who range from the grand, the distinguished and the once or still famous, to the entirely ordinary, and from minor British gentry to Belgian monks, from American businessmen to African street traders. In the process a selective autobiography emerges as he discusses his relationship with this diverse crowd, and at the same time he paints a riveting picture of Bohemian cultural life in post-war Britain and Ireland. And the point of it all is that friendship has nothing at all to do with fame, success or wealth, but entirely with that sudden click of reciprocity, or pleasure in companionship, that makes life worth living. So the reader can savour walks with John Betjeman through the ruins of blitzed London, or with Denys Lasdun through the concrete dramas of the National Theatre; be regaled with stories about the Gorbals by Ruby Milton, champion child dancer from Glasgow; eat disgusting rook pie off Bourbon gold plate with the Duke of Wellington; be touched by the surprising love life of Sir John Summerson, loftiest of scholars; grieve at the decline of Mariga Guiness, gifted, drunken and loveable queen of the Irish Georgians; and hear how a Chelsea landlady modelled half-naked for the figure of Fame riding her chariot on top of the arch at Hyde Park Corner, and myriad other life stories, poignant, moving and compelling in turn.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMariner is Plymouth Argyle legend, an FA Cup and UEFA Cup winner with Ipswich Town, a scorer for England at the World Cup and a former Arsenal and Portsmouth striker. A true front man in every sense - talented, brave and fearless - but his toughest fight was yet to come when he was diagnosed with brain cancer in October 2020. This is his story.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA must-read autobiography by the legendary Spurs player and manager.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA compelling, relevant and dramatic life story from the front line of the modern game. Paul Davis's story takes us on a journey through almost 50 years at the very top in football: a leading player's take on an extraordinary and memorable period in Arsenal's history, during which the club and football changed radically and forever around him. Davis won titles and cups with Arsenal but, to do so, had to battle against career-threatening injuries and to handle the frustrations and injustices of the worst kinds of club and dressing room politics. His subsequent experiences as a coach and as a coach-developer have been just as challenging, just as emotionally charged, and just as significant. It's a life story worth the telling, that's for sure. Arsenal And After - An Education offers more than just a fascinating football story. Paul's mum, Ruby, arrived in England from Jamaica in the late 1950s, as part of the Windrush generation. She brought up Paul and his sister, Sandra, on her own, on a council estate in Stockwell, South London. Much of the Davis family history was - and still is - a mystery to Paul, who never knew or knew anything about his father. He was already a senior player at Arsenal before he discovered he had siblings: the three children Ruby had left behind in Kingston when she'd struck out for a new life in England, thirty years before. As a teenager, Davis was often the only black player wearing Arsenal colours. As often as not, he'd be the only black player on the pitch. With that came challenges: racism in football and beyond in the early 1980s was undiluted and unapologetic. The fight for recognition - for opportunity and for change - has been part of the Davis story ever since. His own emotional experiences are the lens through which he now looks back on everything he's achieved as a player, as a coach and as an educator.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisShakespeare Vs CthulhuAn anthologie of fine stories inspir'd by the Bard of Stratford and the Lovecraftian MythosImagine if it had been William Shakespeare, England's greatest playwright, who had discovered the truth about the Great Old Ones and the cosmic entity we know as Cthulhu, rather than the American horror writer H P Lovecraft. Imagine if Stratford's favourite son had been the one to learn of the dangers of seeking after forbidden knowledge and of the war waged between the Elder Gods in the Outer Darkness, and had passed on that message, to those with eyes to see it, through his plays and poetry.Welcome to the world of Shakespearean Cthulhu!To mark the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, Snowbooks proudly presents fifteen stories of eldritch horror that blend the Bard's most famous plays with Lovecraft's most terrifying creations. But before you dip into this curséd tome, be warned that way madness lies...

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe 1989 Tour de France is arguably the greatest ever. It saw American rider Greg LeMond overturn a 50-second deficit to France's Laurent Fignon on the final stage on the Champs Elysees to snatch the title by a mere eight seconds. After three weeks and more than 2,000 miles in the saddle, these few seconds remain the smallest margin of victory in the race's 100+ year history.But as dramatic as that Sunday afternoon on the streets of Paris was, the race wasn't just about that one time-trial. During the previous fortnight, the leader's yellow jersey had swapped back and forth between LeMond and Fignon in a titanic struggle for supremacy, a battle with more twists and turns than the maziest Alpine mountain pass. At no point during the entire three weeks were LeMond and Fignon separated by more than 53 seconds.In Three Weeks, Eight Seconds, Nige Tassell brings one of cycling's most astonishing stories to life, examining that extraordinary race in all its multi-faceted glory with fresh interviews and new perspectives and laying bare that towering heights of adrenaline, agony, excitement, torment and triumph that it produced.

Read more less

Book SynopsisManchester United enjoyed their greatest generation under Sir Alex Ferguson. The rulebook on domestic domination was rewritten as the club became the most successful in British football history. For the first time, one of Ferguson's closest aides lifts the lid on the inner workings at Carrington, as Rene Meulensteen, one of the game's greatest minds, shares all the stories and secrets that contributed and illuminated the most glittering managerial era in football history. Meulensteen's story begins in a provincial region of Holland; a student of the game, Rene explains how he fought through red tape and bureaucracy to establish himself as a coach with principles he firmly believed in, and how those visionary methods saw him land a remarkable position at the world's biggest club, overseeing the technical development of their most precious department - the youth system. Meulensteen talks about working with stars like Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs, before he was called to work with the first team on a more permanent basis. There, he enjoyed notable contributions, transforming Cristiano Ronaldo into a goal monster and featuring heavily in the move that brought Robin van Persie to Old Trafford. From being Ferguson's right-hand man to going out on his own, Meulensteen explains his philosophy in an inspiring and accessible way. Moreover, this autobiography is a compelling and addictive love-letter to the fabric of everything Manchester United stands for. The exploration and explanation of United's style of play will thrill supporters and stun analysts, as one of the sport's greatest minds finally shares his fascinating journey in football.

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for The Telegraph Sports Book Awards Biography of the Year 'A splendid new biography. How good was young Tom Morris? Stephen Proctor makes his case cogently. Young Tom Morris was one of the greatest of them all' - Allan Massie Young Tom Morris, the son of the legendary pioneer of golf, Tom Morris, was golf’s first superstar. Born at a pivotal moment in history, just as the new and inexpensive ‘gutty’ ball was making golf affordable and drawing thousands of new players to the game, his genius and his swashbuckling personality would set a game that had been frozen in amber for four centuries on the pathway to becoming worldwide spectator sport we know today. Exhaustively researched and beautifully illustrated, Monarch of the Green is a stirring and evocative history of Tommy’s life (which also includes, for the first time, a compilation of his competitive record in stroke-play tournaments, singles matches, and foursomes) and demonstrates how, in one dazzling decade, this young superstar dominated the sport like few others have ever done.Trade Review'Brings to sharp focus the impact this young golfing genius had on the formative years of the game. Proctor’s clean and readable style, grounded in solid research … puts into context what the prodigy accomplished. …Proctor paints Young Tom in a fresh light, as the young man who revolutionized the way the game was played and whose brilliant star was so quickly extinguished in tragedy. If you would know Young Tom and his impact on golf [this] is the book you must read' * The Golf (the Golf Heritage Society) *'Very ably convinces us young Tom was a giant on the links, equally as talented as anyone that came after him—Ballesteros, Hagen, Jones, Nicklaus, Woods ... but he saves his best, most moving and poignant writing for Morris’s tragic death, on Christmas Day 1875, at just 24 years old' * Links Magazine *'To write about Tommy Morris is a very brave thing to do. [Proctor] has been successful in bringing something new to the table. … An informative, charming book' * Through the Green *'The short but very intense life of this star of golf is told with detail and passion in this compelling book' * Il Mondo del Golf Today *'Tells of the short but significant life of golfing legend young Tom Morris. Proctor sets his achievements within the context of the time. A useful book to newcomers to the game of golf, who want to understand its history and traditions' * Scots Magazine, Book of the Month *'A splendid new biography. How good was young Tom Morris? Stephen Proctor makes his case cogently. Young Tom Morris was one of the greatest of them all' -- Allan Massie'a stirring work and a great read for any golfer who appreciates the history of the game' * Flagstick, Holiday Gift Guide (US) *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA wide-ranging and fact-filled compendium of influential women, all with a connection to the Reading area. Some are well known international names, others deserve to be. They are pioneers, familiar faces, recognisable voices, unsung heroes, campaigners, world changers, socialists, celebrities, Olympic champions, writers, artists, and scientists. This book features more than 60 individual Women who have a connection with Reading and have made a notable difference in the world. They include a fish scientist called ET, an air racer and one of Britain's worst serial killers. Illustrated with a quirky mix of artistic styles, chosen to complement the individuals' stories, this book will open your eyes to the parts women have played in our town's life over centuries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a footballing career spanning 21 years, Tony Gale played over 720 games on almost every league pitch across the four divisions. He is one of only 16 players in the UK to have played over 300 games for two teams and one of a handful to be part of a Premier League winning side. As a pundit he's commentated on over 3,000 live games for the likes of Sky and Capital Gold, covering virtually every major football competition in his inimitable light hearted manner. Gale made his first team debut at Fulham Football Club at the ripe age of 16, before being made captain at 18. Playing alongside a golden era of greats, the anecdotes which Gale recounts while playing alongside George Best, Bobby Moore and Rodney Marsh are a nostalgic masterclass. Moving to West Ham for the next decade, the Pimlico born defender was part of the iconic 'Boys of 86' squad, which broke 17 records that year, 16 of which are still unbeaten. Exiting at his lowest point from West Ham in 1994, with two weeks to go before the new season, Gale was in effect homeless and jobless in footballing terms. That however all changed when he landed a place at Blackburn Rovers. Sir Kenny Dalglish recalled the decision to include 35-year-old Gale into the squad of 94/95. "His experience was a big help and the positive impact he made in the dressing room was excellent. He made his contribution to us winning the league, same as everybody on that team." Void of any media training, Gale's move into radio and television commentary in the late 90's was as natural as kicking a ball. In the words of Chris Kamara, "The one thing that stayed with Galey is that dressing room humour, which you all miss when you stop playing football. The one liners, the windups. Galey brought them from the dressing room and into real life."

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating look at the life, influences, techniques and works of 18th-century landscape gardener Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. His transformation of unpromising countryside into beautiful parks changed the face of a nation and created a landscape style which for many of us defines the English countryside. One of the most remarkable men of the 18th century, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown was known to many as ‘The Omnipotent Magician’ who could transform unpromising countryside into beautiful parks that seemed to be only the work of nature. His list of clients included half the House of Lords, six Prime Ministers and even royalty. Although his fame has dimmed, we still enjoy many of his works today at National Trust properties such as Croome Park, Petworth, Berrington, Stowe, Wimpole, Blenheim Palace, Highclere Castle (location of the ITV series Downton Abbey) and many more. In Capability Brown, author and garden historian Sarah Rutherford tells his triumphant story, uncovers his aims and reveals why he was so successful. Illustrated throughout with colour photographs of contemporary sites, historical paintings and garden plans, this is an accessible book for anyone who wants to know more about the man who changed the face of the nation and created a landscape style which for many of us defines the English countryside.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMembranes - porous biological interfaces which regulate flows between one zone and another - are the foundational image for an issue guest-edited by Granta contributor and best-selling novelist Rana Dasgupta.Featuring new poetry from Andrew McMillan and Tishani Doshi, photography from Ruchir Joshi, Arturo Soto Gutierrez, Monica de la Torre and Anita Khemka, as well as cutting-edge fiction and thought-provoking essays: Fatin Abbas on the border between Sudan and South SudanLydia Davis on faultlines in families Mark Doty on homelessness in New York CityAnouchka Grose on infidelity and the idea of the unwanted thirdDaisy Hildyard on membranes in the human bodyAdam Jasper on Christian Enzensberger and ''smut''Kapka Kassabova on lakes and EuropeAnita Roy on the newtEyal Weizman on contemporary architectural strategies for repelling and dividing people

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortly before his death, the Devonshire-born cleric, writer and antiquarian, Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) wrote: 'To this day I consider that the recovery of our West Country melodies has been the principal achievement of my life.' Though there have been a number of biographies of this Victorian polymath, none has looked in detail at his role as a leading figure in the English folk song. Most of Baring-Gould's childhood was spent travelling in Europe with his family. Away from the influences of a conventional education he explored the mythology, romances and folklore of northern Europe and took particular delight in the Icelandic sagas. He entered the church at the age of thirty and became a curate in Yorkshire where he accumulated folk tales, riddles and the first of the thousands of traditional songs he collected during his long life. He inherited the Lew Trenchard estate in Devon to become both squire and parson of this little parish. It was in 1888 that a chance remark at dinner prompted his hunt for old songs in the area around his home. From Lew Trenchard he travelled around Devon and Cornwall to meet the singers in their pubs and their cottages and to coax them to part with their old songs. He used his celebrity status as a leading novelist and writer to bring the folk songs of the West Country to a wider audience through his publications, lectures, costume concerts and the first folk opera, Red Spider, based on one of his novels and on songs he had heard. The books of songs that he published have been criticised for the way in which he edited them for publication, striking out coarse material or rewriting songs but, in doing so, he was acknowledging the limits and demands of public taste of his time. Martin Graebe has been fascinated by Baring-Gould for many years, but the re-discovery of a large quantity of his personal papers in 1992 propelled him towards a re-evaluation of Baring-Gould's work on folk song. What he has uncovered is a fascinating collaborative project between Baring-Gould and the musicians, singers and ordinary members of the public in Devon and Cornwall. He also looks at his relationships with other folk song collectors such as Lucy Broadwood, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Cecil Sharp. This book will be of interest, not just to enthusiasts for English folk song, but also to those who wish to know more about their place in the lives of the ordinary people of the late nineteenth century.Trade Review'The book is the result of meticulous, thorough, painstaking research. . . The picture that emerges is quite clear. In most ways, Baring-Gould was a very admirable man, helpful, kind, generous, but a frustrating one to understand as well with a carelessness about sequencing events properly in his writing being one of them. . . This volume will stand alongside Steve Roud's as major studies of traditional song.'--fRoots; 'Graebe's book celebrates Baring-Gould's achievement and it is difficult to overestimate the importance of his book - not only in its contribution to the body of knowledge of English folk song but also in according Baring-Gould his rightful place as one of the most significant figures in 19th-century West Country cultural life.'--Dartmoor Magazine; The book is the result of meticulous, thorough, painstaking research. . . The picture that emerges is quite clear. In most ways, Baring-Gould was a very admirable man, helpful, kind, generous, but a frustrating one to understand as well with a carelessness about sequencing events properly in his writing being one of them. . . This volume will stand alongside Steve Roud's as major studies of traditional song.'--fRoots; 'As I Walked Out is enjoyable, captivating and a joy to read.'--Tatters: The Newsletter of Tigerfolk

Read more less

Book SynopsisNearly 100 years after Franz Kafka's death, his works continue to intrigue and haunt us. Even for those who are only fleetingly acquainted with his unfinished novels, or his stories, diaries, and letters, `Kafkaesque' has become a byword for the menacing, unfathomable absurdity of modern existence and bureaucracy. Yet for all the universal significance of his fiction, Kafka's writing remains inextricably bound up with his life and work in Prague, where he spent every one of his 40 years. Klaus Wagenbach's account of Kafka's life in the city is a meticulously researched insight into the author's family background, his education and employment, his attitude toward the town of his birth, his literary influences, and his relationships with women. The result is a fascinating portrait of the 20th century's most enigmatic writer and the city that provided him with so much inspiration; W.G. Sebald recognised that `literary and life experience overlap' in Kafka's works, and the same is true of this book.Trade Review`A useful addition to any thinking person's library... Wagenbach's volume on Kafka includes reproductions of Kafka's letters, original book covers and a well-drawn map of Prague showing the places mentioned in the text'- New Statesman; `Wonderful... Wagenbach is the doyen of Kafka scholars, and this is easily the best guide to his life and work: succinct, handsomely produced, and endlessly informative' - New York Sun

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe memoir of Maria McErlane, well-known actor, writer and broadcaster.

Read more less

Book SynopsisErnest Hemingway is most often associated with Spain, Cuba and Florida, but Italy was equally important in his life and work. This book, the first full-length study on the subject, explores Hemingway’s visits throughout his life to such places as Sicily, Genoa, Rapallo, Cortina and Venice. Richard Owen describes how Hemingway first visited Italy during the First World War, an experience that set the scene for A Farewell to Arms. The writer then returned after the Second World War, and found inspiration for Across the River and into the Trees. When Men Without Women was published, some reviewers declared Hemingway to be at heart a reporter preoccupied with bullfighters, soldiers, prostitutes and hard drinkers, but their claims failed to note that he also wrote sensitively and passionately about love and loss against an Italian backdrop. Owen highlights the significance of Italy in the writer’s life. Showing how the Italian landscape, from the Venetian lagoon to the Dolomites and beyond, deeply affected one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Hemingway in Italy demonstrates that this country stands alongside Spain as a key influence on his writing — and why the Italians themselves took Hemingway and his writing to heart.Trade Review‘An exceptionally lively study... Hemingway’s adoration of Italy never waned’. — Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsErnest Hemingway is most often associated with Spain and Cuba, but Italy was equally important in his life and work. This book, the first full-length study on the subject, explores the many visits Hemingway made throughout his life, to Sicily, Genoa, Rapallo, Cortina and Venice. Owen describes how Hemingway first visited Italy during the First World War, an experience that set the scene for A Farewell to Arms. After the Second World War, it was in Italy that he found inspiration for Across the River and into the Trees. Again and again, the Italian landscape – from the Venetian lagoon to the Dolomites and beyond – deeply affected one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Hemingway in Italy demonstrates that Italy stands alongside Spain as a key influence on his work – and why the Italians themselves held Hemingway and his writing close to their hearts.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Brilliantly funny.' - Matt Lucas'You have to read this book.' - Tim Harford'It's funny, touching and gobsmacking in equal measure. At its heart is a breathtaking account of life on the COVID frontline.' - Jay Rayner'Ed's journey is funny, sad, harrowing, hilarious... I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO READ THIS.' - Colin Mochrie'Very Funny.' - Fern Brady'I love your book Catch your Breath, it just feels so personal and so refreshing.' - Adil Ray, Saturday LiveA gut punch of a memoir by a doctor - and comedian - whose job is to keep people alive by putting them to sleep.Ed Patrick is an anaesthetist.Strong drugs for his patients, strong coffee for him. But it's not just sleep-giving for this anaesthetist, as he navigates emergencies, patients not breathing for themselves and living with a terrifying sense of responsibility. It's enough to leave anyone feeling numb.But don't worry, there's plenty of laughing gas to be had.'Very funny, very timely, scary in places. Ed writes with wit, insight, surprise and pathos. He is cutting his teeth in anaesthetics, taking people as close to death as you can take them, and then trying to wake them up again. And makes it funny. A joy to read.' - Phil Hammond

Read more less

Book SynopsisLondon, a city of constant transition, transaction, translation. London does not exist; London is a language without a place and it is the aphasic city; it's the mother of all languages. Lucifer Over London is a new anthology nine narrative essays written by a host of international prize-winning authors including Chloe Aridjis, Viola di Grado, Xiaolu Guo, Joanna Walsh and Zinovy Zinik. First published in Italy by Humboldt Books, Lucifer Over London is now appearing in English for the first time. This is a version of London as seen from the immigrants of recent migrations, of deportations to come, from those who create London even as they contradict it.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFar from Winston Churchill's jibe that he was a "modest little man with plenty to be modest about," in this acclaimed biography, comprehensively revised in this new edition, Francis Beckett makes the case that Clement Attlee's reputation as Britain's greatest ever reforming Prime Minister is fully deserved. With new research, thinking and stories (many of them never published before) Beckett compelling shows Attlee's relevance to a new political generation. Far from being a dull, grey man, he was a poet and a dreamer. Here is an eloquent portrait of Attlee the man, not only his remarkable political life but also of the poetry he wrote, the poetry he loved, and more of the famous Attlee anecdotes.Trade Review'Beckett gets near to the essence of Attlee, and does so in an easy, flowing narrative.' - - Independent 'More government records have been opened, and Beckett has used them to great effect.' - The Times 'An engrossing personal biography of Attlee.' - History Today 'The triumph of this work is the author's success in passing on his love for his subject. By the final chapter...I too liked Attlee, whom I had previously barely known.' - The Spectator 'A formidable work of scholarship...draws out the many facets, including the real subtlety, of his character.' - John Bercow MP

Read more less

Book SynopsisCraft is at the very heart of British identity, from stained-glass windows in country churches to the Enid Blyton charm of thatched houses; from Harris Tweed® (famously poached by Coco Chanel) to the ceremonial livery worn by horses at Buckingham Palace. The burgeoning of digital craftsmanship is also enriching ground-breaking technologies, including microbial weaving and bespoke-made vessels for growing human tissue. Craft Britain brings together watchmakers with saddlers; bell casters with neon benders; shoemakers with silversmiths; potters with orrery-makers; stonemasons with weavers; embroiderers with basket-makers – and a myriad other craft traditions.This book aims to beat the drum for craft, waking people up to the fact that they need to support the country's rich seam of incredible craftspeople and so encourage new generations to master the skills needed to preserve and continue craft traditions. Craft Britain proves that craftsmanship in Britain is neither dying nor dead, but is a continuing and exciting exploration of process, materials and ideas spanning architecture, interiors, fashion, art and design.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKay Hutchison had a successful career, a beautiful home, and a loving husband until the day she woke up and said `I'm leaving'. Why on earth did she walk away from it all and turn to a host of weird and wonderful treatment in search of answers to a question she couldn't even articulate? Part memoir, part guide, this is Kay's journey of self discovery as she faces up to her darkest moments via homeopathy, astrology, silent retreats and reiki, whilst also dabbling in past-life regression, sonic therapy, shamanic retreats and many more along the way. My Life in Thirty-Seven Therapies is the frank, funny, moving and ultimately uplifting story of one woman's pursuit of happiness and inner peace.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1778, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart leaves Salzburg for Paris. The French capital promises to liberate the 22-year-old from the suffocating grip of his father, and from a city that is unable to accommodate his genius. But there is no grand entrance for the former child prodigy. When Mozart arrives in Paris, he is cash-strapped, unknown and his French is poor. His mentor, the critic Baron von Grimm, introduces him to a number of Parisian nobles. But recognition is hard-won, and at times the French court appears indifferent to Mozart's talents and disapproving of his spontaneity. Tracing the composer’s six-month stay in the city of lights, Mozart in Paris dramatizes the confrontation between a sparkle-eyed genius and mundane reality. Frantz Duchazeau spotlights a frustrating yet formative period of the composer’s life — and in doing so creates a living, breathing portrait of a man whose music, as Einstein famously said, “was so pure that it seemed to have been ever-present in the universe, waiting to be discovered by the master.”

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe cat-tastic companion to Dogs Who Changed the World.50 awe-inspiring stories of cats who have altered history, inspired art and literature, reunited lost lovers, saved lives, or just ruined everything. These inspiring, humorous, heart-breaking, or just plain weird stories reveal why cats have earned their place as our weirdest, most endearing companions, and how our fascination with them is age-old. Along the way you'll meet Félicette, the first moggy in space; Unsinkable Sam, a sea-faring feline; Tama, the railway cat who saved a community; and Snowball, the crime-solving cat.Cats Who Changed the World celebrates the unique relationship we have with our feline best friends, from contemporary times to all throughout history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHugh Miller was born in 1802 in Cromarty, North East Scotland. He started his working life as a stonemason's apprentice. A keen interest in fossil collecting followed and he was successful in arousing public interest in geological history. He later became a social commentator and crusader (he was one of the first writers to condemn the Highland Clearances) while his role as a serious religious journalist is highlighted in his discussions on the Disruption of the Church of Scotland and its consequences. As Hugh Miller, a tall man with a shepherd's plaid over his rough tweed suit, walked about Edinburgh he was pointed out with pride. His was a household name in his lifetime, not only in Scotland but also across the English-speaking world. After his death, by his own hand in 1856, his work was mined by historians and anthologists for its acute observations, and geologists continued to love the spirit which imbued his writings, as did the Free Church - but in the 20th century his thoughts on evolutionary biology were sorely obsolete. However, a recent revival in Scots history and culture, and a reassessment of the 19th century debates in science, geology and religion, have all led to a fuller appreciation of the rich and complex stories in which Hugh Miller played a part, and of the man himself. This biography follows the 2003 facsimile edition of Hugh Miller's "The Cruise of the Betsey and Rambles of a Geologist", which Michael Taylor edited. With the benefit of recent research for the 2002 centenary conferences, the book does full justice to a neglected figure whose work and writings continue to give enjoyment and inspiration.Trade Review'This is an excellent, interesting and scholarly biography of Hugh Miller. ... This book is well researched and a pleasure to read. ... effectively brings to life the complex character of Hugh Miller.' Palaeontological Newsletter 'Taylor deftly organizes his immense quantity of research and Miller's complex life into clear and manageable sections. ... The pictures, excerpts and thematic chapters create a comprehensive and enjoyable volume.' IRSS University of Guelph 'Michael Taylor casts much-needed light upon the character of this singular man ... well illustrated and written in short, tube-length chapters that are all perfectly judged. Buy it now.' Geoscientist 'It is well worth reading to understand the context of Miller's life, his impact on Scottish geology, and as an introduction to his writing.' John Muir Trust Journal ' … Taylor's prose streams effortlessly from the page and carries the reader along, rather like a gold thread embroidered through the history of Miller's life. … Anyone with an interest in Miller, or indeed in Victorian era Scotland and its complex social, religious and political history, would doubtless enjoy Taylor's biography.' Hugh's News (review of the reprinted edition 2022)Table of ContentsMap of Scotland; Map of Edinburgh and Leith in the 1850s; Foreword by Marian Allardyce McKenzie Johnston MA MSC; Preface by Dr David Alston; Introduction: One of the living forces of Scotland; A wild insubordinate boy; A Life of manual labour; The literary lion of Gromarty; A sort of Robinson Crusoe in geology; A long, and, in its earlier stages, anxious courtship; A plain working man, in rather humble circumstances; Among the remains of a different creation; Strife, toil and comparative obscurity; His business was to fight; The truth I speak, impugn it whoso list; The landscape was one without figures; The quiet enthusiasm of the true fossil-hunter; He clothed the dry bones of science; Exceedingly plausible and consummately dangerous; A gray maud, buckled shepherd-fashion; These are but small achievements; A tenderly affectionate parent; 19 Dearest Lydia. dear children. farewell; Life itself is a school; Glossary; Index.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn 24 May 1948, the Empire Windrush sailed from Kingston, Jamaica, to harbour at Tilbury Docks. It carried 1,027 passengers and some stowaways, and more than two thirds of them were West Indies nationals. On 22 June 1948 they disembarked onto the docks, Alford Dalrymple Gardner was among them. Alford's story traverses both the uplifting highs and intolerant lows that West Indian migrants of his generation encountered upon travelling to Britain to forge out a life. From joining the British military during World War II to returning to Jamaica once it was won-only to come back to the UK when the government decided it needed him again-Alford witnessed milestone events of the 20th century that shaped the country he still lives in today. In the context of a supposedly 'post-Imperial' Britain where the lives of West Indian migrants hang precariously on the whims of the Home Office, Alford's heartening testimony is a celebration of those who endured hardships so that generations to come could call this place home.Trade ReviewAlford Dalrymple Gardner, an amateur guitarist and wicket keeper, was among the Windrush passengers. Along with his youthful fellow travellers (the average age on the ship was 24), he traded the certainty of devastating Caribbean hurricanes and unemployment for the chance of a better life in bombed-out Britain. His zestful style, undiminished by his 97 years and the challenges faced in his bigoted adoptive country, is commemorated in Finding Home, a memoir co-authored with his son, Howard. The book chronicles Caribbean pioneers' pitfalls and triumphs in a country that often seemed to despise them. "I'll never understand," writes Gardner early on, "how the colour of my skin can make these people so mad."Critics scoffed that the sun-kissed West Indians "wouldn't last one bad winter" in Britain. Finding Home illuminates the antipathy towards the pioneers (prime minister Clement Attlee received a letter from angry MPs warning it was a mistake to admit the migrants), showing that a hostile environment was in place long before the then home secretary Theresa May's 2012 policy ensnared some of the Windrush generation in a bureaucratic conundrum to prove, decades on from their arrival, that they had a right to live here. -- Colin Grant * The Observer, ‘What comes across clearly is the emotional cost of migration’: Windrush commemorated in books *This is a hugely important book giving a vivid account of what it was like to arrive in Britain in 1948 on Empire Windrush. Alford Gardner has written a fascinating personal account of how he built a happy life in an often hostile country. A really engaging read and a vital piece of contemporary history. -- Amelia Gentleman, Journalist and author of The Windrush Betrayal: Exposing the Hostile EnvironmentFinding Home is a notable account of one of our pioneering Windrush elders who made a personal choice as a young person to charter a life into new environments of opportunities. This account is a real discovery for all to acknowledge people's early lives in the Caribbean, the storm of challenges faced and the lasting contributions of their unique blend of determination and vibrancy in all facets of UK society. We are honourably standing on the shoulders of these legends of legacy because their journey continues to provide a momentous height of inspiring vision and hope for all future generations. -- Nigel Guy, Director at Windrush Generations UKSuch testimonies are a crucial part of understanding modern British history. This story should have been part of our national reading in the 1970s. The fact that it's coming out now, in the 2020's shows how vast the gap is in the honest portrayal of this country's past and the crucial role of Jacaranda Books in commissioning such work. -- Tony Warner, author of Black History WalksSince 1948 only a handful of autobiographies have been published by passengers who came to Britain on the Empire Windrush and so Alford Dalrymple Gardner's Finding Home - A Windrush Story is a fantastic resource. I thoroughly enjoyed his stories of serving in the RAF in wartime, his post-war journey to Britain on the Windrush and his long and eventful life in this country. Finding Home is a superb chronicle of Mr Gardner's journey through life and the ups and downs he has faced. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about the Windrush from someone who was there, and has provided us with first-hand experience. -- Stephen Bourne, author of War to Windrush and Evelyn Dove: Britain's Black Cabaret QueenBesides Sam King's 1998 autobiography, Climbing Up the Rough Side of the Climbing, Alford's book is the only one that reflects the true spirit of Windrush and what Sam wrote about, except that Alford's life is unique and just as adventurous and inspiring. If there was no World War Two, there might not have been an Empire Windrush, and no Alford in Leeds, England. Alford Dalrymple Gardner's autobiography is one of the classics. -- Arthur Torrington CBE, Co-founder and Director, Windrush FoundationAlford Gardner's memoir is a joy to read, capturing the adventure and challenges of this Windrush Pioneer who represents an important link between the first and 4th generation of Windrush descendants. The book should be in the hands of all children as part of the drive for Windrush history and legacy should embedded in the national curriculum -- Professor Patrick Vernon OBE

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt what point does faith turn into tyranny? In Immanuel, winner of the inaugural Fitzcarraldo Editions Essay Prize, Matthew McNaught explores his upbringing in an evangelical Christian community in Winchester. As he moved away from the faith of his childhood in the early 2000s, a group of his church friends were pursuing it to its more radical fringes. They moved to Nigeria to join a community of international disciples serving TB Joshua, a charismatic millionaire pastor whose purported gifts of healing and prophecy attracted vast crowds to his Lagos ministry, the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Years later, a number of these friends left SCOAN with accounts of violence, sexual abuse, sleep deprivation and public shaming. In reconnecting with his old friends, McNaught realized that their journey into this cult-like community was directly connected to the teachings and tendencies of the church of their childhood. Yet speaking to them awakened a yearning for this church that, despite everything, he couldn’t shake off. Was the church’s descent into hubris and division separable from the fellowship and mutual sustenance of its early years? Was it possible to find community and connection without dogma and tribalism? Blending essay, memoir and reportage, Immanuel is an exceptional debut about community, doubt, and the place of faith in the twenty-first century.Trade Review‘Matthew McNaught is a strong and welcome new voice in essayism, clear-sighted and hugely empathetic. In this deeply affecting account of his own spiritual journey, he weaves in and out of the byways of religious belief once known as “enthusiasm”, charting the body-shaking, mind-breaking experiences of friends and strangers alike. By turns cynical, doubtful, wounded and yearning, his words give astonishing shape to the space that only faith can fill.’ — Marina Benjamin, author of Insomnia‘“Empathy” is a popular critical buzzword, but Matthew McNaught’s writing exemplifies the work of empathy at its most intense and, dare one say, sincere. Whether his subject is ordinary Syrians trapped by war or the fellow parishioners of his childhood church, ensnared by a false prophet, he always gives voice to the motives and emotions of those he writes about, mixed as they are and fraught with tragic consequence. McNaught is a sublime listener who knows how to put listening into words.’ — Marco Roth, author of The Scientists‘Matthew McNaught’s Immanuel is a mesmerising and compelling trip to the very edges of faith. The author explores the seductive pull of radical belief systems that can lead followers towards communal joy, transcendence, human folly and, at times, brutality. Through his journey as a member of an evangelical Christian community in his youth to an adulthood of questioning the more extreme manifestations of this community in Nigeria, McNaught has created an expansive narrative that asks the fundamental questions around our need for faith and belonging whilst exploring their limits. Immanuel is a beautiful and important book.’ — Joanna Pocock, author of Surrender‘This patient, absorbing account of evangelicalism in England and Pentecostalism in Nigeria neither romanticizes nor disdains religious belief. Instead, McNaught adopts friendship’s middle distance as the right vantage point from which to narrate his own spiritual history and that of childhood church friends who found themselves caught up in a cult. Neither indulgent nor disdainful toward believers, McNaught offers a fascinating look at how the search for ultimate meaning can go both wrong and right.’ — Emily Ogden, author of On Not Knowing: How to Love and Other Essays‘Taking us on an unexpected journey from English suburbia to a Lagos megachurch, Immanuel offers a fascinating, empathetic glimpse into the extreme edges of evangelical Christianity.’ — Samira Shackle, author of Karachi Vice‘The book is brilliantly crafted; McNaught moves deftly between incisive analysis of religions and cults, and an experiential free indirect style that takes the reader to the heart of the SCOAN compound. He frequently laments all he has lost since extricating himself from organized religion – a community, a shared identity, a coherent, overarching world-view...The nuance underpinning his work is anything but paralysing.’ — Lamorna Ash, TLS‘Acknowledging the attractions of communal worship while being alert to its profound awkwardness is one of the things that Matthew McNaught does very well in Immanuel. The book is in part an account of his own experience growing in Immanuel, a Christian community founded in Southampton in the 1970s. But it is also a journalistic investigation into the Synagogue Church of All Nations - or SCOAN - a Nigerian megachurch… McNaught writes well about the social pressures of collective worship and the ways these have intensified in the age of the internet. He and his friends had a term for feeling compelled to appear sloan in the spirit: the ‘courtesy drop’... But despite all the fakery, despite the abuse and the charlatanism of SCOAN, McNaught is sensitive to the fact that charismatic churches appeal to values that lie beyond the reach of capitalism and contemporary politics.’ — Jon Day, London Review of Books‘McNaught looks into his own relationship to his religious upbringing with nuance, in a blend of essay, memoir and reportage that asks us in turn to question what community and faith means today. Incredibly emotional, yet clear-eyed and generous.’ — Anna Cafolla, The Face ‘The most distinctive and admirable quality of this memoir is the way it bears witness to what McNaught calls the ‘mixture of longing and dismay’ he still feels in relation to his religious past.’ — Julia Dallaway, Oxonian Review‘In elegant and patient prose, McNaught does an admirable job balancing introspective, tricky questions about his own faith, beliefs, and mistakes with deep empathy for those who, when their paths diverged, were enticed down a much different route.’ — Laura Waddell, The Scotsman

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the early years of the PRC, Fujian was something of a poisoned chalice. Its proximity to Taiwan brought with it a concentration of top cadres who were at first lined up to lead the planned retaking of Taiwan, but later left behind to become a thorn in the side of future governors.Xiang Nan, a native Fujianese, was one such ‘unlucky’ leader who ran into direct conflict with the cadres. However, thanks to Xiang, the reformers won the day over the hardliners, cementing Fujian as a key player in China’s 1980s ‘Reform and Opening Up’.Xiang Nan: Champion of Reform in Fujian tells the story of this fearless reformer through pictures and anecdotes from those who knew him best. Featuring many previously unpublished photographs and anecdotes from his travels within China and overseas, readers will gain a fascinating insight into this important figure in recent Chinese history.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs the first Chinese female scientist to win a Nobel prize (in physiology or medicine) in 2015, what were Tu Youyou’s formative experiences and the major events that shaped her life? How did this remarkable woman − without a medical degree, doctorate or overseas work experience – makesuch a valuable contribution to the control of malaria? This book explores the extraordinary career of this modest, frugal and very unconventional scientist and records her inspirational work.During early clinical trials, Tu traveled to malaria-endemic areas of Hainan and was the first to test her medicine on herself to ensure it was safe after the drug had shown promising results in mice and monkeys. Only then were the clinical trials expanded to include other humans.Afflicted with tuberculosis at the age of 16, Tu Youyou recovered two years later with a determination to make up for lost time. In fact, the illness was the making of her in that it sparked an interest in medicine and pharmacology and a desire to help save the lives of others. Indifferent to fame and wealth, and courageous in the pursuit of truth, she went on to make remarkable scientific achievements.Although born in Ningbo at a time of turmoil, Tu Youyou was among the first intake of female college students in the new China. She made the most of this good fortune by devoting herself to decades of quiet and patient labor in which she embraced Chairman Mao Zedong’s quest for the country to combine traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine.Separated from her family, she led a national research group codenamed ‘Mission 523’ tasked with developing antimalarial drugs from Chinese medicines. Exposing themselves to considerable hardship and danger, the team’s pioneering work led to the discovery of artemisinin, a drug therapy that has since saved millions of lives across the globe, especially in developing countries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJeff Bauman woke up on 16th April 2013, in the Boston Medical Center, groggy from a series of lifesaving surgeries and missing his legs. Just 30 hours prior, Jeff was surrounded by revelry at the finish line of the Boston Marathon cheering on his girlfriend, Erin, when the first bomb went off at his feet. When Jeff awoke, rather than take stock of his completely altered life, he ripped out his breathing tube and tried to speak. He couldn't. So he wrote seven words, 'Saw the guy. Looked right at me,' setting off one of the biggest manhunts in the country's history and beginning his own brave road to recovery. His remarkable story is a testament to what it means to be Boston Strong.Trade ReviewBauman's moving story illustrates what he believes: 'We are better than cowards with bombs...We are stronger." * People Magazine *A moving demonstration of how strength of mind and character helped one man stand tall despite the loss of his legs * Kirkus *Stronger is not merely a triumph-over-adversity story, but a love story... the book exudes a sense of transparency and honesty. * Boston Globe *Bauman gives a riveting, detailed account of the explosion and its immediate aftermath... as well as a heartfelt, honest, and occasionally hilarious description of his challenging recovery. * Penthouse *[An] inspiring and poignant memoir about learning to live with grace and new purpose after the attack. * Boston Herald *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHinterland is a quarterly, print and digital magazine dedicated to creative non-fiction. Hinterland's fourth issue celebrates the art of a beautifully turned piece of flash writing, with our Flash Non-Fiction Special: 40 pages of the best bite-sized writing around. Mark Cocker leads with a piece on the army ant, others consider topics as varied as migrant youth, New York through the decades, the troubling life of pets, inter-racial relationships, and the fall of dictators. Inside a stunning cover, created exclusively for Hinterland by artist Mia Hague, is an outstanding line-up of new creative non-fiction plus all our great regular features, including a beautiful photo essay by Lily Bungay and an interview with Tessa McWatt.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration through the renowned Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf, a cornerstone source that remains unrivalled nearly a century after its creation by John Gordon Lorimer in 1908. Officially published in 1915, this Gazetteer remained classified until 1953, shared among a select few?political agents, military planners, and diplomats?serving in the British and Indian Governments. It allowed the British to assert control over the region?s historical narrative for over 35 years and even then, remained under tight control until 1970.John Gordon Lorimer steps into the light in this groundbreaking historical triumph?a rare figure from the early 20th century whose life remained untouched by biographical dispute, despite his pivotal role in documenting the Gulf''s history.In this unprecedented study, Dillon unveils previously unseen political, societal, and economic landscapes and sheds light on a valuable artefact that moulded history despite its biases and subjectivity. Lorimer unfolds as a compelling investigation of historical impact, enriched by an indispensable Gazetteer index?never before published. This book is an undeniable revelation that should not be overlooked.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn March 10, 1920, in Pachuca, Mexico, the Compania de Santa Gertrudis - the largest employer in the region, and a subsidiary of the United States Smelting, Refining and Mining Company - may have committed murder. The alert was first raised at six in the morning: a fire was tearing through the El Bordo mine. After a brief evacuation, the mouths of the shafts were sealed. Company representatives hastened to assert that "no more than ten" men remained inside the mineshafts, and that all ten were most certainly dead. Yet when the mine was opened six days later, the death toll was not ten, but eighty-seven. And there were seven survivors. A century later, acclaimed novelist Yuri Herrera has reconstructed a workers' tragedy at once globally resonant and deeply personal: Pachuca is his hometown. His work is an act of restitution for the victims and their families, bringing his full force of evocation to bear on the injustices that suffocated this horrific event into silence.Trade Review'A searing, painful, poetic, simple, extraordinary book about a 1920 mine disaster. Remembering Grenfell – do we learn?' Philippe Sands----'A precise and devastating account that peers into the dark mouths of the El Bordo mine as if they were the gates of hell. In these pages, Yuri Herrera paints a portrait of poverty and neglect and reveals, once again, the way exploitation and abuse lurk at the source of all violence.' Alia Trabucco Zerán, author of The Remainder----‘A Silent Fury is a narrative rebellion against the archive of atrocity. Herrera subverts the archive, turns it against itself, upends its silencing mission and reveals within it the traces of corporate and governmental abuse, disregard and murder.’ John Gibler, author of I Couldn’t Even Imagine That They Would Kill Us----‘Like Life of a Klansman, Herrera’s book is a microhistory inspired by an absence in the archives. But where Ball enriches the record with context and speculation, Herrera conducts a crisp, matter-of-fact investigation. In quietly seething prose—ably translated by Lisa Dillman—he parses the evasive accounts of contemporary journalists, judges, mine administrators, and civil authorities, noting the implications of each elision and discrepancy. By the end, the “accident” looks more like homicide, a crime quickly covered up by local officials and company bureaucrats who barely saw their workers as human . . . The book is a gripping demonstration of how much can be unearthed from the omissions of official accounts.’ Julian Lucas, Harper’s Magazine----‘By bringing moral exactitude to a story long silenced for American profit, A Silent Fury joins that most vital of canons, the literatures of witness. Reading against the grain of official documents, defining what is there by what is not, Herrera bears witness to a crime that preceded his birth by 50 years.’ Washington Post----‘Herrera's quietly impassioned account has much to say to movements that now work to reclaim a buried past.’Boyd Tonkin, The i----‘At its heart, this is not a book about a mine or even a fire. It is about blame, and what powerful people do to make it disappear . . . This is a book that demands to be read.’ Oliver Balch, The Spectator----‘A story that resonates around the world today . . . and in this short book, Herrera tells it with a poetic concision and eye for detail, made all the stronger for the narrative’s measured pace of revelation.’ 5* New Internationalist----'The book reminded me, naturally, of the disaster that is unfolding around us at this moment [COVID, 2020]. Power doesn’t care about the powerless, Herrera shows us; he’s talking about miners a century ago but could as well be talking about a bartender today. Though often beautiful, A Silent Fury is not pleasurable reading; it is, nevertheless, essential.' Rumaan Alam, The New Republic----‘Herrera knows how to plot an intense plot and handle an original style, as capable of revealing a miserable and anguished social reality as well as elevating with poetry the humble and everyday life in order to reach symbolic proportions.’ Arturo García Ramos, ABC----‘What Yuri Herrera does is Literature, beyond genres or labels. He amply proves it again now, after five years of silence, with a fascinating story that reads like a novel.’ Matías Néspolo, El Mundo----‘With his characteristic sharp prose and exciting rhythm, Herrera is one of the most remarkable writers of Latin America. The El Bordo Mine Fire is an impeccable exercise of journalism.’ Jaime G. Mora, ABC Cultural----‘With his trio of books set in the narco-war borderlands, Herrera has shown that he’s a master of the short, tense fiction, and with A Silent Fury, he proves it further, this time venturing into a more historical mode.’ Remezcla----Booksellers on A Silent Fury----‘A plaque. A press release. A mislabeled photograph. Like a paleontologist drawing a beast from a jawbone, Herrera tells a story of greed, imperialism, and complicity from a few fragments of information. The El Bordo Mine Fire is just one almost forgotten tragedy but, like Rukeyser's Book of the Dead, the bright, poetic light Herrera shines on it with A Silent Fury, casting a shadow on our biggest questions.’ Josh Cook, Porter Square Books----‘Yuri Herrera's slim and devastating A Silent Fury documents the mining tragedy in Pachuca in 1920 and the government and mining company's attempts to cover up the deaths. There is no more relevant time to read about workers' fights for safety and justice in their workplace.’ Tom Flynn, Pilsen Community Books----‘Silence pervades this short book; that of the historical record; that of the the U.S. corporation that owned the mine; that of the survivors; and that of the dead. Herrera is haunted by the silence of the El Bordo mine fire,100 years after 87 miners died, and seeks to record the whispers of ghosts. In this, he is only partly successful, but by attempting to give voice to the silenced, hope is given breath.’ Chapter Books----‘Yuri Herrera explores the history of century-old mine disaster in a small Mexican town. Due to the owner’s influence, the historical record is dubious. Herrera’s investigation raises important questions about how the callousness of the powerful can ensure that a callous history is all that survives them.’ Keith Mosman, Powell's Books----‘Herrera gives voice to the story untold, to clarifying, devastating effect.’ Molly Moore, Book People----‘A Silent Fury is an astonishing piece of journalism. The story is about the El Bordo mine fire in Pachuca, Mexico, and how, when capital comes before workers, lives are too often lost, and justice too long unserved. My favorite book from Herrera yet, and that is an incredibly high bar to reach.’ Matt Keliher, Subtext----‘An astonishing combination of history, cultural anthropology, and journalism that sheds light on a previously forgotten mining disaster . . . and a good example of why we need more translated nonfiction.’ Lesley Rains, City of Asylum Bookstore

Read more less