Biography Books

Book Synopsis''a wonderful book ... a great read'' Daily Mail''a fascinating book ... I really enjoyed it'' Piers Morgan, Good Morning Britain''a heart-warming, funny and insightful read. Perfect for a rainy day by the fire.'' FourFourTwo magazineOne of the Guardian''s ''Biggest Books of Autumn 2020''''A beautiful book about football, family, friendship and finding out who you really are.'' JACK WHITEHALL''One of the best books I''ve ever read about what it takes to become a pro.'' FRANK LAMPARDFor the Redknapp clan, football is a family concern; it''s the family business. Me, Family and the Making of a Footballer is a deeply moving, heartfelt and beautifully personal account of growing up as the second son of Harry Redknapp, and also an enchanting love letter to football.I''m Jamie Redknapp. Chances are my surname rings a bell. I want to introduce you Trade ReviewA beautiful book about football, family, friendship and finding out who you really are * Jack Whitehall *One of the best books I've ever read about what it takes to become a pro * Frank Lampard *An engaging account of [Jamie Redknapp's] childhood and how he blossomed into a professional footballer in a family steeped in the game. * The People (Love Sunday) *A great read... honest. * Daily Mail *A warm, family-orientated account. . . the tales are genuine which means that readers will feel as though they have a seat at a family get-together where reminiscences and anecdotes tumble amid much laughter. * South Wales Evening Post *Part memoir, part manual, on playing your way to the top. * PA *This wonderful book is about. . . the fun. the laughter, the hard work, the disappointments and the triumphs * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisDuring the Second World War, across the frontline as well as on the Home Front, millions of people recorded their thoughts of their experiences - whether in letters, their personal diaries or those prosecuting the war giving speeches. Much as Letters of Note celebrated the great letters written through history, so Words of War allows the Imperial War Museum to showcase its incredible array of first-hand material to shine a light on how people journeyed through the 1939-45 conflict.Ten chapters take the reader chronologically through the key moments of the war: from the retreat to Dunkirk to the battle of the Atlantic; the savage fighting in the jungles of the far East to the RAF Bomber Command's campaign in Europe; the discovery of the Nazi's concentration camp system to the war's ultimate conclusion at the Nuremburg trials. One hundred documents are researched and selected by the Imperial War Museum's expert archivists, with commentary from thTrade ReviewIt is a remarkable treasure trove, beautifully assembled, and a snapshot testimony to the incredible breadth and extent over which the war was fought and experienced first-hand. -- James HollandExtraordinarily powerful and mesmerising - there is a haunting intimacy and immediacy about these recovered letters, documents and images that opens a window directly into the past, vividly summoning the darkest days but also the greatest courage and endurance and the fascinating quirks and passions of human nature in war. -- Sinclair McKay

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Book Synopsis''A beautiful book'' Tim Birkhead, author of Bird Sense''The prose is sublime, and so is the intelligence behind it'' Bel Mooney, Daily MailThe extraordinary world of birds has the power to change lives, as it did the author''s. The pleasure and fascination of bird-watching, together with the silence and stillness involved, can play a part in changing the way that we live our lives - and can help us when we have to deal with adversity.Personal and elegiac, Waiting for the Albino Dunnock shows us how beauty is central to our emotional wellbeing, and reminds us of the careless damage we are inflicting on the natural world. This glorious pilgrimage into the soaring world of birds opens our eyes afresh to the beauty which surrounds us.Trade ReviewA beautiful book -- Tim Birkhead, author of BIRD SENSEGlorious, beautifully written pilgrimage into the soaring world of birds ... The prose is sublime, and so is the intelligence behind it -- Bel Mooney * DAILY MAIL *Rare, charming and unforgettable ... Her prose has the clarity, poise, precision and transcendent beauty of someone who was brought up reading the classics and knows the joy of finding the right words. Every sentence is perfect -- Richard Davenport-Hines * THE OLDIE *Beautifully written * CHOICE magazine *[Richardson] writes...with a poetic lyricism -- Eithne Farry * SUNDAY EXPRESS *This exquisite depiction of bird-watching as personal pilgrimage is written with passion, poetry and thefreshness of a newcomer: 'the real voyage of discovery consists in...seeing with new eyes' * THE LADY *Richardson is both a looker and a see-er and her open-eyed delight in the beauty around her has an infectious quality enhanced by exquisite writing -- Sara Maitland * BBC COUNTRYFILE *[Richardson's] lyrical memoir of a year of birdwatching in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Greece is a life-enhancing record of birds (and books). * DAILY MAIL *

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Book SynopsisByron, more than any other poet, has come to personify the poet as rebel; imaginative and lawless, reaching beyond race, creed or frontier, his notorious flaws redeemed by a magnetism and ultimately a heroism that by ending in tragedy raised it and him from the particular to the universal.Everything about Lord George Gordon Byron was a paradox - insider and outsider, beautiful and deformed, serious and facetious, profligate but on occasion miserly, and possessed of a fierce intelligence trapped forever in a child''s magic and malices. He was also a great poet, but as he reminded us, poetry is a distinct faculty and has little to do with the individual life of its creator.Edna O''Brien''s exemplary biography focuses upon the diverse and colourful women in Byron''s life.''O''Brien charts the many loves of the notorious 19th-century poet''s reckless life in immediate and candid prose''Sunday Telegraph''Edna O''Brien has always had a gift fTrade Review'A beguiling blend of sympathy, humour and, of course, her signature lilting style... a delightful, though poignant, account' - MAIL ON SUNDAY'O'Brien charts the many loves of the notorious nineteenthth-century poet's reckless life in immediate and candid prose' - STELLA'Reading this compact and hugely enjoyable retelling of his life, one feels the inevitability of the biographer and her subject' - DAILY TELEGRAPH'Edna O'Brien has always had a gift for writing about affairs of the heart' - GUARDIAN'There is much to enjoy in this idiosyncratic and highly readable account of the poet whose writing enthralled and whose actions appalled in equal measure' - INDEPENDENT'Immaculately researched and beautifully written' - CHOICE

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Book SynopsisA radically honest and uplifting memoir about defying death and learning to live.Trade ReviewRadically honest memoir . . . Roche's story is one of survival and what it means to stay alive * Bookseller *This book reminded me why Juno is one of my favourite writers. Few can write with such fresh analysis, whilst remaining so full of heart, wit and charm. I'm obsessed with this book -- Travis AlabanzaJuno Roche is a sharp-eyed writer who journeys into dark territory with warmth and wit. An important voice for our time. -- John McCullough'For so many of us who grew up in dysfunctional families, our lives are all about escape, but by telling this incredibly important story, Juno Roche teaches us that our identity is not just about the past or the journey, but a future life built on our own terms and the discovery of a destination we can truly call home' -- Natasha Carthew, Writer and Artistic Director Class FestivalA wonderful, indelible work. Juno Roche's prescient exploration of intergenerational trauma and self-regeneration should be read by everyone. -- Irenosen OkojieJuno Roche's memoir is a beautiful and important book, testifying to an extraordinary life of enormous difficulty and enormous courage. It is simultaneously an intensely personal account and an insightful, moving commentary on public events, told with anger and humour in equal measure. It exemplifies what good memoir must have - an authentic interior voice and the story of hard-won transformation. Roche's writing about AIDS, particularly the story of Simon, is delicate and devastating. The movement back and forth in time makes the book a compelling page-turner - and yet, I didn't want it to end. A Working-Class Family Ages Badly is not like any memoir I've read before, and it is up there with the best of them. -- Hannah LoweIn equal parts brutal and beautiful, dark and funny. An incredible story of survival. -- Jenny KleemanSo gripping, I had to make myself slow down to appreciate the quality of the writing. When I say it's an addictive read, I mean it in the best possible sense. Such a powerful story, and so beautifully written. Bravo, Juno! -- Paul BurstonThis is a powerful combination of beautifully evocative writing with many profound and important messages about the society in which we live -- Natasha DevonPerfect for fans of Shuggie Bain, Roche's story is enormously moving. Roche is a charming, unflinchingly honest, guide on a journey that's as funny as it is heartbreaking. Written with verve and much lyricism. -- Juno DawsonJuno writes with a daring honesty that makes me feel braver. This is truly a tale of survival. -- Cat WhiteJuno Roche rips up the notion of memoir and replaces it with something far more bold and exciting. A beautifully written elegy to our shared humanity -- Angela ChadwickI was completely drawn into Juno's world from the opening pages. A compelling memoir of the complexities of family, and intergenerational trauma made lyrical by the beauty of Juno's writing. This is a must read. -- Nana Darkoa SekyiamahJuno has always been a literary voice like no one else, scathingly honest and endlessly expansive. A Working-Class Family Ages Badly makes the much needed links between queerness and class, the HIV pandemic and Covid, and between Brexit and feeling belonging. -- Amelia AbrahamBrutally honest and disarmingly witty, A Working-Class Family Ages Badly overflows with Roche's hallmark unflinching, tender wisdom. Roche, as ever, is generous in giving the reader a new and vital perspective on the many conflicted meanings of life, love, self, and family. Compassionate, dreamlike, and deeply moving -- CN LesterAre you worthy of tenderness? For survivors, this most human question impels grotesque considerations, which Juno Roche lays bare in masterful prose and with exacting candour. A Working-Class Family Ages Badly is a gripping meditation on how abuse, addiction, and internalised stigma can banish the individual from even the humblest of desires. By the last page, Roche succeeds in revealing just how universal such exile can be, which will leave any reader with a pulse feeling a little less alone. -- Jakob GuanzonLike Louise Bourgeois' generative and reparative maternal spider, Roche weaves threads from their life into stories that viscerally and cinematically explore intergenerational trauma and the search for love and family from London to Spain via Egypt's Valley of The Kings. And in that beguiling web, they create stories that leave you feeling alive and nourished, or crying and still glad to be alive because they're deftly and beautifully told from the heart. Roche's last three books were already touchstones for me because of the generous space they gave to bold, reflective, and sensitive thinking about queer sex, desire, identity and transness. In this literary memoir, that soft power is infused with their emotional acuity and humour - who else could write a love story that centres pubic lice? Roche's poetic prose, kaleidoscopic colour and killer lines you'll want to memorise, and treasure make A Working-Class Family Ages Badly a singular work of artistic genius. -- Chance Czyzselska, writer & psychotherapistJuno's writing is such that it both holds you and challenges you at once. Theirs are never easy ideas, but somehow they take big, hard things and make them absolute no brainers. I love Juno's books, but this memoir in particular feels utterly unique in the landscape of memoirs. Nobody has had a life like Juno, and nobody can write with warmth and confrontation the way Juno can. This makes for a totally compelling mix. I found myself laughing and in tears; angry and elated; and overjoyed that Juno's generosity means that this book speaks to everyone while being so remarkably unique to one of the most unique writers I've encountered. It'll be one of few books on my read again and again pile. -- Tom RasmussenI'm floored by Juno's exquisite prose paired with stark brutality, portraying pain and love and hope and despair, all in the same sentence. It's a beautiful book. -- Julie Cohen[A] remarkable memoir . . . An incredibly honest tale of survival, escape and resilience -- Ben East * Observer *Achingly exquisite . . . Roche stands out as a memoirist of the highest calibre with a voice that teaches us how to live with emotional intelligence, wit and vigour, a voice that is sorely needed in this moment. -- Chance Czyzselska * DIVA *A sentence or two gives a whole back story, a comma gives insight, a reflection shared offering a re-assessment of trauma and painful memories in the comfort of a well-worn safe place. More than once I felt the tears come before being made to smile by the raw swift wit laid like flowers between the hard spaces -- GScene

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Book SynopsisFilmed over three years with the participation of 30 countries around the world, the documentary examines the world of yoga, modern and ancient, east and west and explores why millions today have turned their attention inwards, bucking the limitations of the material world in pursuit of self-realisation.Archival material from the life of Yogananda (who died in 1952) creates a spine for the narrative, but the film stretches the dimensions of a standard biography. The footage includes stylised interviews, metaphoric imagery and recreations, taking us from holy pilgrimages in India to Harvard''s Divinity School and its cutting-edge physics labs, from the Center for Science and Spirituality at the University of Pennsylvania to the Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California. By evoking the journey of the soul as it pushes its way through the oppression of the human ego and delusion of the material world, the film creates an experiential immersion into the unseen realms. AWAKE is ultimately the s

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John Waters is putting his life on the line. Armed with wit, a pencil-thin moustache, and a cardboard sign that reads 'I'm Not Psycho', he hitchhikes across America from Baltimore to San Francisco, braving lonely roads and treacherous drivers. But who should we be more worried about, the delicate film director with genteel manners or the unsuspecting travelers transporting the Pope of Trash? Along the way, Waters fantasizes about the best and worst possible scenarios: a friendly drug dealer hands over piles of cash to finance films with no questions asked, a demolition-derby driver makes a filthy sexual request in the middle of a race, a gun-toting drunk terrorizes and holds him hostage, and a Kansas vice squad entraps and throws him in jail. So what really happens when this cult legend sticks out his thumb and faces the open road? Laced with subversive humour and warm intelligence, Carsick is an unforgettable ride with a wickedly funny companion - and a celebration of America's weird, astonishing, and generous citizens.

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Book Synopsis''Brilliant'' Guardian''Exuberant'' Financial Times''Colourful'' The TimesIn June 1986 Diego Maradona, considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time, proudly hoisted the ''86 Mexico World Championship Cup in his hands.Now over thirty years on from that magical game, and after a life in sports marked by controversy, Maradona tells, for the first time, the untold stories behind that one-of-a-kind World Cup. Mexico ''86 was the pinnacle of Maradona''s career, and in this book he reveals all about every game, what happened afterwards in the locker room, the months leading up to the World Cup, when the team had to go to Mexico City a month early to avoid the overthrowing of the technical director by the Argentine president, Alfonsin, the mystery behind ''El Gran Capitán'' Passarella (''78 World Cup Champion), the strategies and tactics that revolutionised the game, training in a country that was recovering fTrade ReviewBrilliant -- Barney Ronay * Guardian *An exuberant narrator, bursting with telling details . . . enjoyable . . . Maradona's authentic voice of unreason and the best story in World Cup history carry you through -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times *Characteristically colourful -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *Open, honest contemplation * When Saturday Comes *The book's greatest strength is that it feels unmistakeably like 1986 all over again . . . I loved this book. I loved its nostalgia * Irish News *

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Book SynopsisGroom or bride, straight or gay. Nail the perfect words to say.There''s no longer an excuse for wedding speeches to be a tedious succession of predictable platitudes, outdated etiquette and cheesy wedding gags. This book is for nearlyweds who want to make their wedding speeches one of the day''s highlights.Written by Heidi Ellert-McDermott, award-winning wedding speechwriter and founder of Speechy, this guide will help you write and deliver a speech that''s memorable for the right reasons.Heidi''s advice has been quoted everywhere from the Daily Mail to the New York Times, and with insights and trade secrets from comedians, TV scriptwriters and wedding influencers, this is the ultimate toolkit for couples wanting to make their wedding speeches a little more wonderful.Create a lifelong memory as you: Plan the perfect speech line up Decide how to represent your union ''on mic'' Swot up on modTrade ReviewA wonderful book for couples who want to prepare a memorable speech and create something personalised for such a special occasion -- Eleonora Tucci * Weddings & Honeymoon Media *This comprehensive guide is a must-have for any modern couple who want their wedding speeches to be creative and curated - no cookie-cutter templates here! -- Zoe Burke * Hitched *For as long as there have been speeches, there's been a need for advice on how to give great ones. Heidi's book provides anyone giving a speech - wedding or otherwise - with the tools, tips and tricks to turn the mic-shy into great orators, and great orators into history makers! -- Eduardo Braniff * Men's Vows *The perfect book for couples who want to break the rules and avoid clichés when it comes to their wedding day speeches -- Kat Williams * Rock n Roll Bride *This book will ensure you spend your big day enjoying yourself, not being nervous about your speech! -- Hamish Shephard, founder of BridebookAs most of us have witnessed bad wedding speeches, this is a timely and necessary accessory for any couple and their wedding party, filled with immediately usable tips and techniques -- Alan Berg, professional speaker, author and host of the Wedding Business Solutions Podcast

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Book Synopsis''A grisly treat'' Financial Times''These mysteries are all the creepier for being true'' TatlerBASED ON THE ''WORLD''S SPOOKIEST PODCAST'' OF THE SAME NAME COMES UNEXPLAINED: A BOOK OF TEN REAL-LIFE MYSTERIES WHICH MIGHT BE BEST LEFT UNEXPLAINED . . .What can a case of demonic possession in 1970''s Germany teach us about free will?What might we learn about how we construct reality from the case of a poltergeist in the Fens?And what can a supposed instance of reincarnation in Middlesbrough tell us about how we develop a concept of the self? Taking incidents once thought of as supernatural or paranormal and questioning whether radical ideas in science might provide a new but equally extraordinary explanation, Unexplained asks what real-life unexplained events can reveal of our unique human experience.Trade ReviewA grisly treat * Financial Times *Possibly the spookiest podcast in the world * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Critics'' Pick for 2023 Born into a Jewish family in Vienna in 1919, George Weidenfeld fled to England in 1938 to escape the Nazi regime. There he began a career in publishing that would make him one of the most influential figures in the industry. Over the course of his long and illustrious career he championed some of the most important voices of the twentieth century, from Vladimir Nabokov, Mary McCarthy and Saul Bellow to Harold Wilson, Isaiah Berlin and Henry Kissinger.But what do we know about the man himself? Was he, as described by some, the ''greatest salesperson'', ''the world''s best networker'', ''the publisher''s publisher'' and ''a great intellectual''? Was his lifelong effort to be the world''s most famous host a cover for his desperate loneliness? Who, in fact, was the real George Weidenfeld and how did he rise so successfully within the ranks of London and New York society? Providing a full, unvarnished and at times difTrade ReviewA history of the golden age of publishing from the perspective of one man . . . fascinating -- Anne de Courcy * SPECTATOR *A marvellous biography . . . Thomas Harding has brought a great publisher and the shenanigans of the book trade gloriously to life -- Jilly Cooper * DAILY MAIL *An entertaining biography . . . The Maverick is packed with fascinating accounts of book deals and debacles during the 'golden age of publishing,' as well as plenty of high-society gossip * WASHINGTON POST *Thomas Harding's admirably even-handed and readable biography places Weidenfeld in both his social and cultural contexts, never excusing his more dubious actions, but also celebrating his undeniable pizzazz, application and drive -- Alexander Larman * OBSERVER *The Maverick anchors George Weidenfeld as one of the foremost influencers in modern literature and a man who rose from extraordinary circumstances to lead an even more extraordinary life and legacy. A treasure trove of insight and history -- ARIANNA HUFFINGTONMeticulously researched, cunningly constructed and compellingly written. A vivid account of publishing's glory years told through the action-packed life of one of its most charismatic pioneers -- ANTHONY HOLDENThe Maverick recalls a champion of ideas with a knack for networking and a taste for the high life . . . an organizational feat * NEW YORK TIMES *Uncovers the secrets of a chameolonic outsider who made himself a fixture of the cultural establishment . . . [A] compact, unfussy and well-sourced life * Financial Times *George Weidenfeld was a titan of a man, an irresistible character and something of a genius. This book does him full justice -- SIMON HEFFER, author of THE AGE OF DECADENCE and HIGH MINDS[George Weidenfeld] modernized Britain's small but influential publishing sector. . . The Maverick traces the parallel arcs of Weidenfeld's career and postwar publishing through his contacts and contracts . . . a skillful and subtle study in biography, British attitudes and the book business -- Dominic Green * WALL STREET JOURNAL *Like George Weidenfeld himself, Thomas Harding's accomplishment is substantial, lively and full of interest. The Maverick is a fine biography -- HENRY KISSINGERHarding has fun detailing his subject's four marriages and associated romantic interludes . . . We're always on the edge, wondering if George, the cosmopolitan charmer who made it to the House of Lords, will pull another cracker from the hat -- Andrew Lycett * DAILY MAIL *Offers a behind-the-scenes peek at an imprint that published some of the most seminal works of the 20th century, when books, and the ideas within them, were far more revered. A golden age indeed * IRISH TIMES *A fascinating biography of an unlikely cultural hero. I couldn't put it down -- ALAN POSENER, journalist for Die WeltThe Maverick is a vivid portrait, warts and all, of perhaps the most successful publisher in post-war Britain. But it is much more than this - a gripping study of the assimilation of Jewish emigres into Britain's strangely rigid but porous class system, a guide to the golden age of publishing, an analysis of post-war intellectual life through a succession of landmark books -- ADRIAN WOOLDRIDGE, Bloomberg OpinionIf a publisher can be called a genius . . . [George Weidenfeld] undoubtedly merits a place on this list. [He made] an astounding contribution to the world of literature and ideas. The riveting standout among Harding's chapters is the story of Weidenfeld's publication, in 1976, of David Pryce-Jones's biography of Unity Mitford -- Mark Bostridge * THE OLDIE *Weidenfeld was perhaps the most well-connected man in the Western world, whose calls to politicians, thinkers, business leaders and philanthropists - even popes - would always be taken. The strength of Thomas Harding's biography is the context it provides . . . by structuring the book as a series of chapters telling the stories behind Weidenfeld's publication of various key books, and then diverting within those stories to other aspects of his life - ignoring chronology to explore what made Weidenfeld tick, what he was interested in and what he was doing - The Maverick well reflects Weidenfeld himself, who was never at any time focused on just one thing . . . a sensitive and worthy study of a great man * THE JEWISH CHRONICLE *[An] intriguing life story * SUNDAY INDEPENDENT *A revealing look behind the scenes . . . Harding takes an intriguing approach by looking at Weidenfeld's life story through the lens of specific books he published. Along the way, readers are treated to firsthand accounts of author versus publisher spats and insights into the challenges of managing international rights for a surefire bestseller . . . will leave readers with a vivid picture of the working life of a publisher * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *Thomas Harding has doggedly unearthed fascinating and surprising tales from George Weidenfeld's life as he rose from poverty and Nazi persecution to become one of the world's most powerful publishers. Harding reveals a complex personality in a richly told narrative that leaves the reader awed -- LYNN MEDFORD, former editor, Washington Post Magazine[George Weidenfeld] was fascinating in many ways. [He] had more backbone than most . . . his life was courageous, too * THE ECONOMIST *Makes the inspired choice of leading with the books that built the publisher's fame and fortune . . . Harding's approach works exceptionally well and allows him to cover a huge amount of ground . . . Will inform and entertain in equal measure * PROSPECT *

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Book SynopsisStarting with the viral poem "Crossing Half of China to Fuck You," Yu Xiuhua's raw collection chronicles her life as a disabled, divorced, single mother in rural China. Yu Xiuhua was born with cerebral palsy in Hengdian Village in the Hunan Province, in Southern China. Unable to attend college, travel, or work the land with her parents, Yu remained home where she could help with housework. Eventually she was forced into an arranged marriage that became abusive. She divorced her husband and moved back in with her parents, taking her son with her. In defiance of the stigma attached to her disability, her status as a divorced single mother, and as a peasant in rural China, Yu found her voice in poetry. Starting in the late 90's, her writing became a vehicle with which to explore and share her reflections on homesickness, family and ancestry, the reality of disability in the context of a body's urges and desires. Then, Yu's poem "Crossing Half of China to Fuck You" blew open the doors on the patriarchal and traditionalist world of contemporary Chinese poetry. She became an internet sensation, finding a devoted following among young readers who enthusiastically welcomed her fresh, bold, confessional voice into the literary canon. Thematically organized, Yu's essays and poems are in conversation with each other around subjects that include love, nostalgia, mortality, the natural world and writing itself.Trade Review"Yu finds the numinous in the very dust and air of Hengdian....Sze-Lorrain’s translation successfully evokes Yu’s transcendental connection to the world around her, from the grass at her feet to the sky above her."—Anne Henochowicz, Los Angeles Review of Books​“...a lyrical translation by Fiona Sze-Lorrain...The ruminative essays, rendered in elegant but somewhat mannered prose, offer context and insight on her life and poetry, [...] The poems, which compress her thoughts into daring and disconcerting forms, are another matter. [...] The multiplicity, therefore, becomes essential, as the poems are rarely frozen in a single feeling. Yu renders her life in a way that is irreducible.” — Chris Littlewood, The Washington Post“Yu Xiuhua’s writing is steeped in the imagination [...] Many of the poems included in this work are moving precisely because of how they register the limits of the imagination, rather than its transformative capacities. [...] Rejecting the poetics of metaphor, lines like [Yu’s] call on us to look closely, listen carefully, and notice the world around us.”—Rebecca Ruth Gould, Harriet Books, the Poetry Foundation"Yu Xiuhua’s Moonlight Rests on My Left Palm, translated by Fiona Sze-Lorrain, grows out of highly personal terrain. This farmer-poet says in an essay (Moonlight is sectioned by eight lyrical essays): 'We have man-handled so many words that I only dream of using them anew.' Yu says exactly what she means; and Sze-Lorrain honors the feeling and music in intimate translation. Thus, the poet’s language rises out of the natural, tinged by elemental soil and light."—Yusef Komunyakaa, author of Everyday Mojo Songs of Earth “‘Truth once spoken tends to be false,’ writes Yu Xiuhua in her incredible debut of essays and poems. I am smitten with Yu’s powerful writing, erotic poetry, and reflections on disability in daily life. One poem reads, ‘So risky, so heavy / O this love.’ I want nothing but risk in poetry and I feel proud to be a disabled poet in Yu’s company.”—The Cyborg Jillian Weise, author of Common Cyborg “I love reading these poems and essays by Yu Xiuhua. I feel befriended by them, by her. Courage, honesty, a love of words, and a wry sense of humor run through the pages of Moonlight Rests on My Left Palm, translated with grace and simplicity by Fiona Sze-Lorrain. When Yu writes in an essay, ‘There is no better ode to life than a weed that grows ruthlessly and arches out of the ground, despite its trauma,’ we know she is telling us her own story. And yet, in a poem called ‘Wheat Has Ripened,’ she says, ‘I am pleased to have landed here / like a sparrow skirting through the sky-blue.’ How can we be anything but grateful to a poet who ends a poem of love lost: ‘I still hope / to err over and over’?”—Mary Helen Stefaniak, author of The Cailiffs of Baghdad, Georgia “I couldn’t stop underlining phrases, sentences, whole passages that I wanted to quote, and think about! Yu Xiuhua’s marvelous collection, a hybrid of poetry and poetical essays, each reflecting back on the other, is a transport into the soul, heart, and sensibility of a unique and exquisite mind. Fiona Sze-Lorrain’s translation, generous with silence, space, and pitch-perfect transparency, is a triumph in its own right. This is the sort of book that you’ll want to share immediately with your most thoughtful friend.”—Minna Zallman Proctor, author of Landslide: True Stories, editor of The Literary Review, and translator of Natalia Ginzburg and Fleur Jaeggy

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Book SynopsisWhen Sky and her older sister Avril were taken into care, the social workers knew this was a case like no other. Raised by troubled parents who hoarded compulsively, creating horrific conditions no child should live in, the two girls arrived at foster carer Louise's home, neglected, malnourished, and indoctrinated. Louise had to draw on all of her experience as one of Britain's leading foster carers to rehabilitate and change the course of their lives.But with constant attempts to thwart her work, Louise ends up under siege in her own home. Will she succeed or is their fate sealed forever?

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Book SynopsisA LOUDER THAN WAR BOOK OF THE YEAR'A unique insight... An excellent companion for both the casual and obsessive Bowie fan'Louder Then WarThe life of an icon, in his own words.David Bowie had a unique relationship with the BBC, making more appearances on 'the beeb' than any other broadcaster throughout his career. An anonymous pre-fame teenager, a blossoming starlet, a white-hot rock star and a veritable elder statesman of pop: the BBC had the inside scoop on it all.In this fascinating collection of BBC television and radio transcripts, Bowie's life story is told in his own words, across more than 35 appearances spanning over forty years. Each provides an illuminating snapshot of moments in a remarkable career. But read together, they offer a completely new take on Bowie himself, a first-person look at the rise and rise of a star.Compiled and guided by David Bowie expert and BBC journalist Tom Hagler, Bowie at the BBC is the complete story of an incredible life lived on the airwaves.

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It was a time of house burnings, mob violence, kidnapping, mass imprisonment, torture, endless trials, summary executions and secret burials. This was Iran in the early 1980s, and everyday reality for the Baha'is, Iran's largest religious minority. Headlines across America screamed out the story, Congress passed motions, President Reagan appealed to Iran. This detailed, eye-witness account of the persecution of Iran's largest religious minority in the 1980s is the story of one woman's experiences at the hands of the Iranian Revolutionaries. Amid the escalating pogrom, Olya Roohizadegan witnessed friends, neighbours and relatives being imprisoned, tortured and executed. For months she visited the prisoners, comforted their relatives, found clothes and shelter for the homeless, and smuggled news and photographs out of Iran to the outside world. And then it was her turn. The book culminates in her dramatic escape from the hangman's rope in a hazardous overland journey to Pakistan and the West.

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Book SynopsisMax Verstappen is Formula 1's sensational new superstar. Born into motorsport, Max started karting aged four and in 2015 became the youngest driver ever to race in F1, less than six months after his 17th birthday. Following his first Grand Prix victory in 2016, he quickly established himself as a future World Champion and by 2021 his goal was in sight. Like a true Dutch Master, he has brought fresh artistry into F1 and made this most glamorous of sports even more exciting. This unauthorised biography, written by a leading Dutch F1 journalist, examines Max's remarkable rise to worldwide fame, covering every step of his career in detail as well providing insights into his spirited character and supreme talent.

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Book SynopsisNo criminal sparked as much fear and loathing among the public and law enforcement as underworld crime boss, Kenny Noye; a man with a central role in some of the most high-profile crimes of a generation. From the GBP125 million (current value) Brink's Mat gold bullion raid to the death of Covert Police Operative John Fordham, and road rage victim Stephen Cameron, the multimillionaire villain became universally known as 'Public Enemy: No 1'. He had spent more than a third of his life in jail, but for two years, with near unlimited resources, and underworld connections around the globe, Noye played a game of hide and seek with Scotland Yard, MI5, INTERPOL, The FBI, and other national police forces as he fled the UK after the death of twenty-one-year-old Stephen Cameron in a road rage incident in May 1996. From South America to Africa, from Cuba to Holland, France to Aruba, and beyond, Noye evaded capture despite the best efforts of some of the most powerful agencies and global security services. From dining with unwitting FBI officers on cruise ships to sitting on Castro's presidential seat in Havana, Noye's 'Grand Tour on the Run' was as unbelievable as it was unprecedented. It was life on the run but not as we know it. Back in the UK, the family of Stephen Cameron grieved under the weight of the life of impunity and privilege that Noye was covertly leading but the takedown was as dramatic and extraordinary as the secrets of Noye's life under the radar. The police would ultimately get their man. His downfall would be placed at the door of an informant. Was it his lover or a gangland rival? Or was it the secret services? When the Spanish police ultimately swooped down with their English counterparts and arrested the affluent and charming 'Mick the Builder' - they were armed with a secret weapon of their own - Stephen Cameron's fiance. With unique access to Noye, and key witnesses, the secret battle of wits between the underworld's 'Governor' and law enforcement is reported in chilling detail. The reader is given a 360' vista of one of the most expensive manhunts in British policing history. The authors deliver a compelling account of a major criminal, who shunned the effective discomfort of bunkers and safe houses to live a life on the run brimming with luxury, women, sun, sea, and Bacardi - and all while hiding in plain sight.

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Book SynopsisShorlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards 2023Less than a year after being diagnosed with inoperable cancer, Fiona's husband died at home. She was his carer. Unflinching in its detail, 36 Hours is a delicate chronicle of his last day; one that changerd her life.Trade ReviewThis is a beautiful and moving account by Fiona Mason of her husband’s death at home. Their experience of care professionals, who attended in person yet without compassion, is so deftly observed it made me wince. A perfect 36 Hour memoir. It’s incredibly powerful. It’s beautifully told. It’s a gem. I think this is a book that has the power to make a difference. DR KATHRYN MANNIX; Fiona's intimate account of the last 36 hours of a man's life is a powerful work of life writing. It's courageous, tender, exasperated, angry, lyrical and occasionally even funny, but never voyeuristic. The simplicity of the prose and the honesty of observation are compelling. BLAKE MORRISON; Very moving and beautifully written. Marvellously clear and brave. JENNY UGLOW; Powerful and precise writing. It tackles elusive emotional states in a highly nuanced way. The detail is so lovingly preserved and presented. SASHA DUGDALE; Rarely have I felt so transported by someone else's words. Fiona draws you into the most intimate and personal of spaces and offers you the privilege of sharing 36 hours that would normally be invisible to the outside world. With great honesty and generosity, she invites us into her home as she cares for her dying husband. It's an invitation you won't want to turn down. BOBBIE FARSIDES, Professor of Clinical and Biomedical Ethics, Brighton and Sussex Medical School; 36 Hours addresses an area of real current debate and interest and does so in a way that prioritises both aesthetic and human concerns equally. Committed and talented writing. CHRIS GRIBBLE, National Centre for Writing; The writing is vivid and very clear, highlighting the delicate balance and poignancy of the work involved in end-of-life care and the minutiae of support involved in the simplest of daily activities, making the mundane poetic. A remarkable piece of work. KATE FLATT OBE; 36 Hours is such a powerful, moving and beautifully written book. Fi share’s the truth of such an intimate and harrowing experience with so much clarity, grace and compassion. This story speaks to the need for more humanity in the treatment and care for those facing end of life. TOBY OLIVER, Author, Rise and Shine. Deeply moving and intensely raw. LI MILLS, Death Doula; I'm in awe of the honesty and openness with which Fiona described her experience. Her account is a wonderful way of opening up some much-needed conversations about death and dying, not only at a public/societal level but, also at the patient-professional level. DR SIMONE ALI, Consultant in Palliative Medicine;

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Book SynopsisThis is the true story of how a ten-year-old's charity challenge led through young philanthropy to a calling in medicine. Recalled by the girl as a young woman, it is a light-hearted but poignant memoir of parent-child journey, set amid the cultural and natural heritage of a beautiful part of the world. May gives a moving account of a trek prompted initially by bereavement. Clashes of attitudes and interests give the dialogue a playful vein; but as the miles go by, often with no other person in sight, father and daughter find new depths of conversation. Relics of war prompt her to ask of past generations, whose legacies he tries to convey; and as she reconnects him with childhood, its innocence and imagination, both see their worlds from new perspectives. Having made front-page news their venture bears lasting fruit. She raises enough for a permanent endowment providing grants from its income, giving her a role in selecting local charities, and allowing her to see their work at first hand. As a budding musician she gains insight into the therapy that music can bring, and while still at school she becomes a recorded composer; meanwhile, seeing different forms of disability and treatment, she learns what fulfilment can be gained from making a difference. Warmly received as an enchanting and inspirational story, ‘Fifty Miles with my Dad' is a celebration of quality time and of rewards from philanthropy that are open to all.Trade ReviewThis is an enchanting book that any parent will relate to. Full of wise observations on life as seen through the eyes of a ten-year-old child. Delightful and moving. MIRANDA AND WILLIAM KENDALL DL. This moving story is living proof of how philanthropy is open to everyone and of how even a child's walk on the coast with a parent can turn into such a seismic inspiration. DAVID SHEEPSHANKS CBE DL, FORMER CHAIRMAN, SUFFOLK AND UK COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS. This will be an inspirational read for anyone wondering about how to encourage a spirit of giving in young people, for anyone embarking on their own philanthropic journey and for anyone interested in working with their local Community Foundation. THERESA LLOYD, FOUNDER DIRECTOR, PHILANTHROPY UK; AUTHOR (WITH DR. BETH BREEZE), 'RICHER LIVES'. May's touching book provides an insight into the special nature of this beautiful part of the world. The East Coast is rich in culture and heritage, and it is heart-warming to have these qualities portrayed so personally and in aid of such an important cause. ROGER WRIGHT CBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SNAPE MALTINGS. A smashing read evoking the special nature of this stretch of our coastline. ADAM BURROWS, NATURAL ENGLAND. A fantastic celebration of a journey along the Suffolk coast, sharing the best of all that binds us inextricably to the natural world through the lens of intergenerational discovery. MICHAEL STRAND, SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST. This beautiful and deeply personal account of ten-year-old May's journey along our incomparable Suffolk coast challenges us to rediscover the wisdom of childhood, the difference between achievement and fulfilment, and whether we are 'soldier, poet, or soldier-poet.' Reminding us of the life-changing power of music, May recalls the parts music played in her walk. Above all, she invites us to make that journey ourselves, a 'sort of treasure hunt without any clues,' asking: "so what are you going to do?" PHILIP SHAW OBE, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES, THE CHORAL FOUNDATION FOR ST MARY-LE-TOUR CHURCH, IPSWICH; FORMER DIRECTOR, SUFFOLK YOUTH ORCHESTRA. A lovely insight into a very beautiful part of the world, rich in culture and heritage. JO HENRY, BOOKBRUNCH. This is a lovely portrait of a very special part of the world and a hugely inspirational story. EDWARD CREASY, 2021/22 HIGH SHERIFF OF SUFFOLK. It has been a privilege to be a part of May's journey. This moving story will provide an inspiration for many people from all walks of life. STEPHEN SINGLETON MBE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION.

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Book SynopsisThe Great Post Office Scandal is the extraordinary story behind the recent ITV drama series Mr Bates vs The Post Office. This gripping page-turner recounts how thousands of subpostmasters were accused of theft and false accounting on the back of evidence from Horizon, the flawed computer system designed by Fujitsu, and how a group of them, led by Alan Bates, took their fight to the High Court. Their eventual victory in court vindicated their claims about the defects of the software and exposed the heavy handed attempts by the Post Office to suppress them. The book also chronicles how successive senior managers, business leaders, lawyers, civil servants and Government ministers, at best failed to expose the injustice or, even worse, sought to cover it up, resulting in one of the largest miscarriages of justice in UK history. The author, Nick Wallis, is a journalist and broadcaster who has been reporting on the scandal for over ten years and who acted as script consultant on Mr Bates vs The Post Office, the ITV drama that brought the affair into the national consciousness. As the public inquiry reaches its climax, and senior figures such as Paula Vennells come to be questioned, The Great Post Office Scandal reveals the full scale of what happened and will leave you enraged at how so many of our trusted institutions allowed the saga to go on for nearly a quarter of a century, shattering the lives of thousands of innocent people.

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Book SynopsisAuto-biography of a Doctor whose experiences both in personal and professional life are inspirational

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Book SynopsisThe name Cliff Slade will be instantly recognised as a frequent and indefatigable correspondent to the Letters to the Editor columns. This book is written in the first person, as being most appropriate for someone who is speaking directly to his audience. This is a very personal journey in letters. It is touching and different insofar as it provides detailed insight into the life and mind of a man, the author, his relationships with his family and his take on local society, business, and politics. This is accomplished through the sharing of letters, only some of which have previously been published. However, this is not just a book of letters, along the lines of `The Times Great Letters’ as there is depth, emotion, pain, laughter, joy, sadness, and a progressive personal and emotional journey of accomplishment and enlightenment. Each correspondence is introduced, and most have accompanying explanations and information about the background and reason for each of the letters that have been included. Beginning with what motivated his writing, he reflects on his upbringing by delving into his childhood and the reasons that explain why he finds it easier to communicate through the written word, rather than verbally. An excellent sense of humour is clearly evident in the self-depreciatory letters written to the paper under a pseudonym and in his letters to himself. The account of when the author met his wife and their marriage, ups and downs and all, along with his thoughts about life as a parent and his children, is very touching in its openness and honesty. He doesn’t claim celebrity status and claims to be from an ordinary walk of life. In this remarkable book, Cliff shares his life and part of himself with the audience with a great deal of emotion. With an auto-biographical narrative, we are regularly moved from tears to amusement and back again.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the ABIA Nonfiction Book of the Year'A tender, touching and at times bloody funny meditation on life. And death. And how to live.' David Wenham'For as long as I can remember, there has always been just the three of us. Three sisters. Only a year between each. Inseparable. It's been like that for almost 50 years ... Until my youngest sister walked out into her suburban backyard and took her life.Is it possible to ever heal a tear in your universe?'After her younger sister died suddenly, broadcaster Indira Naidoo's world was shattered. Turning to her urban landscape for solace, Indira found herself drawn to a fig tree overlooking Sydney harbour. A connection began to build between the two - one with a fractured heart, the other a centurion offering quiet companionship while asking nothing in return.As Indira grappled with her heartbreak, an unnoticed universe of infinite beauty revealed itself: pale vanilla clouds pirouetting across the sky, resilient weeds pushing through cracks in the footpath, the magical biodiversity of tiny puddles. With the help of a posse of urban guides, she began to explore how nature - whatever bits of nature are within reach - can heal us during life's darker chapters, whether nursing a broken heart or an anxious mind.The Space Between the Stars is a heart-rending, at times funny, and uplifting tribute to love and our innate need to connect to the natural world, a celebration of the reassuring cycle of renewal that sustains and nourishes us all.'As long as you can see the stars, you can never truly be lost.'Trade Review'A tender, touching and at times bloody funny meditation on life. And death. And how to live. The Space Between the Stars is a little treasure. I am richer for having read this book.' David Wenham'Indira Naidoo's writing beats with the strength and power of love and hope, and is a moving meditation on the solace and healing we find in the natural world.' Holly Ringland'The world is crying out for more intimate and granular paths through the landscape of grief right now. Thank you dear Indira for taking our hand and bravely showing us how being in nature can provide our way.' Sarah Wilson'This book is life-changing - from deep loss and despair there is also light. Put your face towards it. It may be the only thing that feels real at this time. Let nature do its job and fix what has been broken in all of us.' Kate Ceberano'A powerfully moving and insightful journey. Careful attention is a form of love, and Indira Naidoo's vivid writing shows us how such love can lift and expand our minds and spirits, drawing us into the wonders of the universe.' David George Haskell, author of Pulitzer finalist The Forest Unseen and Burroughs medallist The Songs of the Trees.'Part memoir, part requiem, part journalistic meditation on the natural world ... Naidoo has penned a beautiful reflection on grief, and the unexpected pathway she took to overcome it.' Chris TaylorTable of ContentsPrologue: In the beginningChapter 1: StargirlChapter 2: Exit woundChapter 3: MooksChapter 4: Under the milky wayChapter 5: Aiya's sari and the curtains Chapter 6: Tree of life Chapter 7: CricketChapter 8: Birds of a featherChapter 9: Highland dancingChapter 10: On a wing and a prayerChapter 11: Ice-cream and apartheidChapter 12: Weeds in the cracksChapter 13: Peas in a podChapter 14: The shape of thingsChapter 15: Smiley hair clip and birthday party Chapter 16: Garden in the skyChapter 17: Dad's toupe Chapter 18: The secret life of puddlesChapter 19: High as a kiteChapter 20: Ants in your pantsChapter 21: DrivingChapter 22: 40th and surprise weddingChapter 23: Uber goodbyeEpilogue: Dust to dust

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Book SynopsisPhilosopher, psychoanalyst, politician, propagandist, prophet. although difficult to categorise, Frantz Fanon (1925 - 1961) is one of the most important thinkers of the 20th century and one of our most powerful writers on race and revolution. FANON FOR BEGINNERS provides a clear, detailed introduction to the life and work of the man Jean-Paul Sartre called the voice of the Third World.The book opens with a biography, following Fanon from his birthplace of Martinique through combat in World War II and education in France, to his heroic involvement in the fights for Algerian independence and African decolonisation. After a brief discussion of Fanon''s political and cultural influences, the main section of the book covers the three principal stages of Fanon''s thought:The Search for Black Identity, as presented in Black Skin, White Masks, the stunning diagnosis of racism that Fanon wrote while he was studying medicine and psychoanalysisThe Struggle Against Colonialism, as explained in A Dying Colonialism and Toward the African Revolution, essays Fanon produced when he was actively engaged in Algeria''s war of independenceThe Process of Decolonidation, as analysed in The Wretched of the Earth, the book that extended insights gained in Algeria to Africa and the Third World.FANON FOR BEGINNERS concludes by examining Fanon''s influence on political practice, such as the Black Power Movement in the United States, on literary theory and on political studies. This book will serve as an introduction as well as a tribute to the Frantz Fanon and how his works and words continue to have a profound impact on contemporary cultural debate.

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Book SynopsisWhile countless memoirs exist written by Zen students and teachers, few are as engaging and as tantalizing as Taisen Deshimaru''s. Looking back at his early life, growing up in Japan, from the viewpoint of his status as a Zen teacher in Paris, the author reflects on his earliest misadventuresfrom defacing a valuable painting of Bodhidharma as a child, to turning the Zen stick on a young monk during a retreat. Adventures abound with stories about alcohol and women, during his student years, and his activities during World War II in working for the arms industry in Malaysia, where he was sympathetic to the underground freedom movement. This first English-language translation of Taisen Deshimaru''s autobiography will be prized for its clear and honest documentation of this great master''s life. Many people all over the world have been influenced by Deshimaru''s Zen teachings, especially his book on Zen and the martial arts. This memoir fills an important gap in our knowledge of his teacher, Kodo Sawaki''s influence on the world of Zen. The story of how Deshimaru met Sawaki as a boy, even slept in the same room with him, and later received monastic ordination is the story of a lifelong friendship of two extraordinary characters in the history of modern Zen. Deshimaru''s influence extends beyond Zen practitioners, though, especially in those interested in the martial arts, as he touches on his martial arts experience as a young man and offers a look into the master''s early training. Additional interest extends to historians who recount the supposed scandals of Zen masters'' participation in the war effort. Although Deshimaru''s viewpoint is decidedly subjective, he was intimately acquainted with priests and generals alike, and approaches the difficult subject with a refreshing lack of judgmental disdain which counterbalances many other more lopsided works.

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Book SynopsisPrince Rogers Nelson.Guitarist, Drummer, Bass Player, Pianist, Keyboardist, Song Writer, Producer, programmer, Arranger, Vocalist, Business entrepreneur, Actor, Director, Dancer, Choreographer.James Court has been an avid collector, writer and follower of Prince and his work for more than thirty years. Upon Prince’s death in April 2016, James set about the colossal task of revealing every part of this fascinating ever-changing musician, leaving no stone unturned. The Biography tackles the issue’s that plagued the Superstar, his fight for Musical freedom and his constant need to write record and perform without restriction or filter.Often described as the greatest Musician of his generation Prince remained at the very top of the game, a multi-instrumentalist with the ability to write cutting edge songs at will, his talent ability and influence were simply unmatched.The results make this the most comprehensive, detailed and exhaustingly accurate depiction of one of the most popular, misunderstood and illusive musicians in modern day music....

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Book SynopsisALICE COOPER CONFIDENTIAL is the profusely illustrated ultimate Alice Cooper book, written by Alice''s authorized biographer. In 1992, veteran CREEM Magazine rock critic Jeffrey Morgan was chosen to write the authorized biography of Alice Cooper, which appeared in the Warner Bros. box set The Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper. Now, decades later, Jeffrey Morgan unseals his confidential Coop files in this full color hard cover coffee table size book to reveal previously unpublished interrogations, rare incriminating photographs, and hysterical fan letters-plus other ghastly horrors too shocking to mention here. No wonder Alice doesn''t look happy. He''s read ALICE COOPER CONFIDENTIAL!

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Book SynopsisLife isn''t how to survive the storm, it''s about how to dance in the rain This is the definitive story of Taylor Swift and her incredible rise to success from being just a smalltown girl with a dream to becoming one of the most influential and successful artists of her generation. Ever since she was 14-years-old Taylor has never known any other world than showbusiness, and we follow her journey through the good times and the times not so good, none more heartbreaking than losing the rights to her own music - her stolen lullabies. In her own words and those who have played major parts in her career, we look back at how she turned failures into unbelievable success and chart the creation of a wonderful legacy by one of music''s undoubted masterminds. There is no doubt that with her words of inspiration and the powerhouse lyrics to her songs, the world is a far better place thanks to the unstoppable force that is TAYLOR SWIFT.

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Book SynopsisFor over three decades, renowned Japanese voice actress Megumi Hayashibara hasbreathed life into countless iconic characters-including Ranma Saotome (Ranma 9;),Rei Ayanami (Neon Genesis Evangelion), Lina Inverse (Slayers), Jessie (Pokémon),Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop), and Paprika (Paprika)! In this new autobiographicalmemoir, Megumi provides an in-depth look at her illustrious career, and how the verycharacters she has portrayed have impacted her life on both personal and professionallevels.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of a Jewish refugee boy, Erich, who arrived in this country from Nazi-occupied Europe three days before the start of the war. He was just four, and would never see his parents again. His earliest memories are of the tiny room he slept in off the bedroom of the couple he called mutti and fater but who were the Kreibichs, his foster parents. Traumatised by the separation from his birth family he blocks out, from then to now, all memory of his life before, even failing to recognise his eldest brother when he turns up years later. Erich must come to terms with the realisation that the Kreibichs are not his real parents, to learn of his past, his family and how he came on the Kindertransport. The book follows his unusual journey from orphan refugee boy to man, and from Vienna to Buckingham Palace!

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Book SynopsisWhen she was nine years old, Savitri was married to thirteen-year-old Jyotirao Phule. Savitri yearned to be able to go to school, to read books. Jyotiba wanted his wife to be educated as well, and so he taught her. Soon, she learnt not just to read and write, but also trained as a teacher. Together, Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule started schools where girls and boys, Dalit children, and those who had been shunned from schools till then could get educated. They fought against caste atrocities. They made sure that women learnt of their rights to exist with dignity.Savitribai Phule became one of India's first woman teachers and female reformers.

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Book SynopsisAmitava Kumar uses drawing and writing to document his experiences during the pandemic, capturing moments of isolation, fear, love, and beauty in The Blue Book. It serves as a panoramic portrait of the individual and collective impact of the pandemic, reflecting on deaths, fake news, and diverse landscapes.

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Book SynopsisFrom the largest elephant to the smallest bee, and a part of, rather than holding dominance over, nature, we can take the necessary steps towards the betterment of all the planet's inhabitants.

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