Bloomsbury

Book SynopsisThirty years from now and the effects of climate change are overwhelming the planet but so are the global efforts to combat it.For young Americans a generation from now, climate change isn't controversial, it's a fact of life.But there are still those Americans who cling to their red trucker caps, their anger, their nostalgia for the golden age of assault rifles. Their alternative' news sources reassure them their resentment is right and pure and climate change' is a con.They're your grandfather, your uncle, your great-aunt. They're not going anywhere. And they're armed to the teeth.

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Book SynopsisWimbledon meets Blue Crush in this sexy sports romance, where sports writer Iris accompanies former pro surfer Leo as he attempts to qualify for Australia's legendary Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest.

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Book SynopsisApplicable to a wide spectrum of design activity, this book offers an ideal first step, clearly explaining fundamental concepts and methods to apply when designing for the user experience. Covering essential topics from user research and experience design to aesthetics, standards and prototyping, User Experience Design explains why user-centered methods are now essential to ensuring the success of a wide range of design projects. This second edition includes important new topics including; digital service standards, onboarding and scenario mapping. There are now 12 hands-on activities designed to help you start exploring basic UX tasks such as visualising the user journey and recognising user interface patterns. Filled with straightforward explanations and examples from around the world, this book is an essential primer for students and non-designers needing an introduction to contemporary UX thinking and common approaches. Designed specifically for newcomers to UX Design, the coTrade ReviewGavin and Peter offer fundamental and practical insights into design thinking for those of us passionate about crafting experiences for people. * Daniel Yates, Product Designer at ThoughtWorks, Australia *The authors do a great job at breaking down the core parts of UX and making them easily digestible. A worthy addition to the bookshelf of anyone looking to break into the field of UX. * Chris Gibbons, Principal UX Developer at Auto Trader, UK *Table of ContentsOverview Introduction 1. What is User Experience Design? - Designing interactive experiences - Life’s experiences - Activity #1 - The Big Picture - Scenario - Hints - Roles in User Experience Design (UX) - Today’s Multidisciplinary Teams - Methods and background - Stakeholders - Activity #2 - Designing for others - Activity 2. Users - User research - The user’s world - Co-experience - Activity #3 - Listening and learning - Emotional Responses - Memory - Fallibility - Expectation - Motivation - Activity #4 - The journey concept - Outcomes 3. Experience Design - Competitive advantage - Brands - Productivity - Activity #5 - Quantifying sentiment - Fun - Usability - Simplicity - Challenge - Feedback - Gestalt Theory - Semiotics - Narrative - Constraints - Activity #6 - Recognizing intuition - Outcomes 4. Design Process - The life of a project - User involvement - Personas - Scenarios - Activity #7 - Scenario Mapping - Design requirements - Communication and planning - Design Standards - Digital Service Standards - Activity #8 - A Design Problem - Conclusion 5. Design Constraints - Aesthetics - Meeting the requirements - Semantic Design - Design patterns - Activity #9 - Recognising UI patterns - Layout - Responsive Design - Image - Type - Accessibility - Activity #10 - Onboarding 6. Mindset and Toolset - Platforms and technologies - Communications and Organisations - Empathy - Ideation - Problem Solving - The first right solution - Activity #11 - Visualising Data - Maps and flows - Working with users - Prototypes - Mock-ups - Activity #12 - Simple Prototyping - Evaluating tools and resources - Choice - Conclusion Further Reading Books Websites

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Book SynopsisHenri Lefebvre is widely recognized as one of the most influential social theorists of the Twentieth Century. His writings on cities, everyday life, and the production of space have become hugely influential across Cultural Studies, Sociology, Geography and Architecture. Key Writings presents the full range of Lefebvre''s thought in a single volume. The selection of essays spanning 1933 to 1990, reinforce the relevance of Lefebvre''s work to current debates in social theory, politics and philosophy. The book is divided into five sections: Philosophy and Marxism', The Critique of Everyday Life', The Country and the City' History, Time and Space' and Politics' and includes a general introduction by the editors as well as separate introductions to each section.Trade ReviewA wide-angle snapshot of an entire itinerary, the earliest from 1933, the latest from 1990. This volume's richness is undeniable. * Philosophy in Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction: Coming to Terms with Lefbvre- Stuart Elden and Elizabeth Lebas Marxism and Philosophy Introduction - Stuart Elden Retrospections (from L 'Existentialisme, 1946) Unity of the Doctrine (from Dialectical Materialism, 1939) Prolegomenas (from Metaphilosophie, 1965) Marxian Thought and Sociology (from The Sociology of Marx, 1966) Beyond Structuralism (from Au-de/a du structuralisme, 1971) Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche (from Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche ou le royaume des ombres, 1975) Triads and Dyads (from La Presence et L'absence, 1980) Twelve Theses on Logic and Dialectic (from Logique formelle, logique dialectique, 3rd edn, 1982) State (from Le Retour de La dialectique, 1986) Becoming and the Historical (from Le Retour de la dialectique, 1986) The Critique of Everyday Life Introduction- Elizabeth Lebas Mystification: Notes for a Critique of Everyday Life (Henri Lefebvre and Norbert Guterman, Avant Poste, 2 [1933]) Elucidations (from Critique de La vie quotidienne II: Fondements d'une sociologie de La quotidiennete, 1961) The Social Text (from Critique de la vie quotidienne II: Fondements d'une sociologie de la quotidiennete, 1961) The End of Modernity? (from Critique de La vie quotidienne Ill: De fa modernite au modernisme (Pour une metaphilosophie du quotidien), 1981) On Vulgarity (from Critique de Ia vie quotidienne IlL De la modernite au modernisme (Pour une mhaphilosophie du quotidien), 1981) Myths in Everyday Life (from Cahiers Internationaux de Sociologie, XXXIII (1962)) The Country and the City Introduction- Eleonore Kofman Perspectives on Rural Sociology (from Cahiers Internationaux de Sociologie, XIV (1953)) Preface to the Study of the Habitat of the 'Pavilion' (from L 'Habitat Pavillonnaire, 1966) Levels and Dimensions (from La Revolution urbaine, 1970) The Other Parises (from Espaces et Societes, 13/14 (1974-5) History, Time and Space Introduction - Stuart Elden The Inventory (from La Somme et le reste, 1959) Time and History (from La Fin de l'histoire, 1970) The Style of the Commune (from La Proclamation de La commune, 1965) The Rhythmanalytical Project (Henri Lefebvre and Catherine Regulier, Communications, 41 (1985)) The Worldwide Experience (from De l'Etat, Vol IV, 1978) Preface to the New Edition (from La Production de l'espace, 3rd edn, 1986) Politics Introduction - Elizabeth Lebas Nation and Culture (from Norbert Guterman and Henri Lefebvre, La Conscience mystifiee, 1936) Between Yourself and You (from Norbert Guterman and Henri Lefebvre, La Conscience mystifiee, 1936) Being a Communist (from La Somme et le reste, 1959) From the Social Pact to the Contract of Citizenship (from Du Contrat de citoyennete, 1990) Some Questions About Asking Questions (from M: Marxisme, Mensuel, Mouvement, 7 (Janvier 1987)) Notes Index

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Book Synopsis**Shortlisted for the 2021 British Book Design and Production Awards for the Best Jacket / Cover Design**For years illustration has lacked a strong critical history in which to frame it, with academics and media alike assessing it as part of design rather than a discipline in its own right. Illustration Research Methods addresses this void and adds to a fast-emerging discipline, establishing a lexicon that is specific to discussing contemporary illustration practice and research.The chapters are broken down into the various roles that exist within the industry and which illustration research can draw from, such as ''Reporting'' and ''Education''. In doing so, users are able to explore a diverse range of disciplines that are rich in critical theory and can map these existing research methodologies to their own study and practice.Supported by a wealth of case studies from international educators, student projects sit alongside those of world-renowTrade ReviewA treasure chest of ideas, insights, new terminology and eye-opening case studies ... It will make a vital contribution to the discipline's discourse. * Rick Poynor, University of Reading, UK *I've been waiting for a book that illustrates how valuable illustration is to art, culture, politics, science – well, society as a whole ... An essential volume. * Steven Heller, School of Visual Arts, NY, USA *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Illustration research Definitions Illustration as process Identity Language and terminology The principles of illustration practice Shifting roles - an expanded practice Can illustration ever be authorless? A social practice Research into, through and for illustration - a framework for categorising methods Rigour in illustration Originality in illustration 2. Authorship Tell me a story Narrative components Narrative inquiries - different ways of thinking of narrative research The autoethnographic illustrator Adaption and interpretation Picture visual research Illustrative writing 3. Reporting Illustrator as reporter This is research How to Drawing from life Sketchbooks Listening Observation A multisensory lifeworld Walking Me you and everyone else Is this real Reporting the news 4. Crafting Illustration and craft, a happy marriage? ‘I already know what I’m going to do’ The meaning in the mark Tools of the trade The meaning of material The stuff of life Illustration as object, 3d, physical and virtual form The illustrated object or the object illustration? Collected Fabricated Immaterial technologies 5. Activism Am I political? Power play An informed practice The visual identity of protest Detournement The illustrators joke Who do you think I am? The meme Future visions Illustration as event Models of behaviour ‘How can I help you?’ 6. Education What is your philosophy? What is an education space? Signature pedagogies Shop talk Learning through illustration Residency as method Documents of experience Illustration-based research Data visualisation The language of reliability Interactive illustration 7. Illustration futures Appendix Proposals Working with others Interviews Reflective practice Positioning Who benefits? Legacy Informed consent Illustration research

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Book SynopsisThis volume traces the history of Western philosophy of education in Antiquity. Between the fifth century BCE and the fifth century CE, Plato, Isocrates, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, and others raised questions about the nature of teaching and learning, the relationship of education and politics, and the elements of a distinctively philosophical education. Their arguments on these topics launched a conversation that occupied philosophers over the millennia and continues today.About A History of Western Philosophy of Education:An essential resource for researchers, scholars, and students of education, this five-volume set that traces the development of philosophy of education through Western culture and history. Focusing on philosophers who have theorized education and its implementation, the series constitutes a fresh, dynamic, and developing view of educational philosophy. It expands our educational possibilities by reinvigorating philosophy's vibrant critical tradition, conneTrade Review[About the series] Not since Robert Ulich's groundbreaking A Thousand Years of Educational Wisdom has there been such a comprehensive examination of the history of western educational thought. Given that Ulich's work was published almost eighty years ago, there is an obvious need for an update. This series more than fills the bill by adding important topics such as feminism, racism, pluralism, and critical theory. The series goes a long way in bringing the history of Western educational thought up to date. It will be of enormous value to students of educational history and philosophy. * Walter Feinberg, Charles Hardie Professor Emeritus, Educational Philosophy, The University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana, USA. *Table of ContentsList of Figures Series Introduction, Megan J. Laverty and David T. Hansen General Editors’ Acknowledgements Volume Editor’s Acknowledgements Timeline Introduction: A Story of Educational Philosophy in Antiquity, Avi I. Mintz 1. The Sophistic Movement and the Frenzy of a New Education, M.R. Engler 2. Plato: Philosophy As Education, Yoshiaki Nakazawa 3. Xenophon the Educator, William H.F. Altman 4. Isocrates: The Founding and Tradition of Liberal Education, Bruce A. Kimball and Sarah M. Iler 5. Educating for Living Life at Its Best: Aristotelian Thought and the Ideal Polis, Marianna Papastephanou 6. Ancient Schools and the Challenge of Cynicism, Ansgar Allen 7. Roman Educational Philosophy: The Legacy of Cicero, James R. Muir 8. Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius: Education and the Philosophical Art of Living, Annie Larivée 9. St. Augustine’s Pedagogy as the New Creation, Yun Lee Too Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisCan we reach the psychotic subject in their delusion? Psychopathological theorists often try to find a way to characterise this subject's inner predicament so that their opaque utterances and actions will now rationally hang together. In this pathbreaking work, philosopher and clinical psychologist Richard G. T. Gipps demonstrates how such efforts at rational retrieval actually result in us setting our face against the psychotic subject in their distress. Bringing together patient memoir, psychopathological observation and philosophical thought, Gipps offers a profound alternative. On the one hand he shows how, by appreciating just why we can't locate rational order within psychotic thought, we can better understand what it is to suffer delusion and psychosis. On the other, he recovers for us the value of such expressive, motivational and symbolic forms of understanding as only become available once we've been turned away at reason's door. In such ways Gipps not only solves the psychTrade Review'What is it for a mind to become ill?' In On Madness, Richard Gipps takes us on a richly textured philosophical and psychological journey showing, in a Wittgensteinian spirit, how delusion, as other psychopathological concepts, have their meaning only 'in the stream of life'. A work of philosophical psychopathology which, in resisting the temptation of definition remains firmly grounded in understanding. * Danièle Moyal-Sharrock, President of the British Wittgenstein Society, Professor of Philosophy, University of Hertfordshire, UK *Gipps’s is a deeply necessary work, because it is the first book of philosophy to take seriously that madness and delusion defy positive definition. For the ground required in order to predicate of the non-sane the kinds of things we can normally take for granted is missing. The desire to say of someone who is suffering the severest forms of strangeness that she thinks such-and-such is typically, Gipps wisely warns us, dangerously over-reaching, running the risk, if doggedly pursued, of being itself a madness of method. This brilliant book retrieves the disturbing, disturbed, difficult reality of psychoses from beneath the layers of motivated metaphysical scientism that have accreted over them. Moreover, Gipps shows how the very failures of the various forms of scientism themselves often take us as close as we can get to understanding the non-sane. * Rupert Read, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of East Anglia, UK *In this fascinating meditation, grounded in the thought of Wittgenstein, Richard Gipps argues that an adequate understanding of madness must first recognize the limits, perhaps even the impossibility, of any such understanding. Psychosis for Gipps is like the God of “negative theology”: indescribable and unknowable, approachable only through negation. His subtle critique of psychiatric and psychological concepts nevertheless illuminates many mysteries that are typically obscured by standard forms of explanation and description. * Louis Sass, Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, USA *Richard Gipps has produced a remarkable book that forces us to reconsider the rather easy definitions of madness that we are so easily drawn into, often quite unwittingly. Delusions are not just false beliefs in the house of reason, which might be corrected or easily translated, for reason itself is functioning here in a different way. Gipps has the advantage of being both a clinician and very talented philosopher with a deep understanding of Wittgenstein. This book will appeal both to psychiatrists and psychoanalysts who have an interest in philosophy and to philosophers who will see how examining madness brings fresh new ways of thinking into knowledge, reason and epistemology more generally. * David Bell, Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, Former President British Psychoanalytic Society, UK *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction 1. Mental Illness 2. Delusion’s Rational Irretrievability 3. Reality Contact 4. A World of One’s Own 5. The Divided Self 6. Self and Other 7. Hallucination 8. Disordered Thought 9. Psychotic Symbolization 10. The Politics of Insanity Ascription Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisQueer premises provide vital social and cultural infrastructure a queer infrastructure connecting different generations and locations, facilitating the movement of resources, across and beyond the city.Queer Premises offers evidence for how London's diverse LGBTQ+ populations have embedded themselves into urban space, systems and resources. It sets out to understand how, across their different material dimensions, bars, cafés, nightclubs, pubs, community centres, and hybrids of these typologies, have been imagined, created and sustained. From the 1980s to the present, Campkin asks how, where, and why these venues have been established, how they operate and the purposes they serve, what challenges they face and why they close down.Trade ReviewThis terrific book deftly unpicks the shifting and unequal forces – from LGBTQ+ activism to clunky planning processes and neo-liberal urban redevelopment – that have affected the survival or closure of London’s queer venues since the 1980s. Professor Campkin’s fine-grained and authoritative analysis illuminates our understanding of London’s queer nightlife and will reshape queer urban studies. * Alison Oram, Institute of Historical Research, University of London, UK *In these pages lives a network of places that scale up into structures of urban governance, planning, and “queer infrastructure” in London. The clever move to examine the heritage values of these LGBTQ+ venues enables Campkin to show the collectivist project of placemaking initiatives. An absolute tour de force. * Amin Ghaziani, Professor of Sociology, University of British Columbia *Table of ContentsTable of contents List of figures List of abbreviations Queer Premises Chapter 1 Queer infrastructure Chapter 2 Perverted purposes Chapter 3 Mainstreaming pride Chapter 4 Rupture and repair Chapter 5 Seeking closure Chapter 6 Sui generis Chapter 7 Macho city Chapter 8 Pandemic premises About the author Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisSuccess in the fashion industry is not solely based on creativity and innovation; thought-out strategy and an astute application of management concepts are just as essential. The second edition of Fashion Management: A Strategic Approach is the ideal companion for students determined to understand the strategic frameworks vital to achieving success in the highly competitive world of fashion.Written by expert academics Rosemary Varley, Ana Roncha, Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas and Liz Gee, the highly anticipated second edition of this market-leading text solidifies the book's place as the go-to guide for students studying the business of fashion. With its truly international approach and host of pedagogical features, including abstracts from key Bloomsbury Fashion Business Cases in each chapter, it is the perfect resource for students determined to get to grips with the breadth of issues and concerns facing fashion organisations today. Covering prominent bran

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Book SynopsisOffering an accessible introduction to both the historical roots and the contemporary dynamics of today's world economy, this seventh edition equips students with the knowledge required to make sense of the fast-paced discipline of the global political economy. Illustrating the breadth of the subject, the authors show how the national and the international interact, while also placing an emphasis on the historical evolution of the world economy in order to appreciate the nuances of today's economy structures. It gives students a firm grounding in both traditional and critical theories of global political economy.Tracing the global economy from its early origins through each phase of a shifting world order, the book takes a non-Eurocentric approach, covering both traditional elements of the global economy (such as trade and finance) while also addressing important contemporary areas of concern, including social inequality, cryptocurrencies, populism and protectionism.<

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Book SynopsisMatthew McCormack is Professor of History at the University of Northampton, UK, course leader for MA History and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Higher Education Academy. His previous books include The Independent Man, Embodying the Militia in Georgian England and Citizenship and Gender in Britain, 1688-1928. He edited the Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies' (2015-20). He regularly blogs, and tweets at @historymatt.

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Book SynopsisThe only exam-board approved book for OCR's Latin AS and A-Level prescription of Nepos' Life of Hannibal, Tacitus' Annals XIV and Apuleius' Metamorphoses VI for examinations in 202628.

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Book SynopsisIngrid E. Mida is an art and dress historian with a PhD in Art History and Visual Culture and the author of The Dress Detective (Bloomsbury, 2015), Reading Fashion in Art (Bloomsbury, 2020), and Dressing & Undressing Duchamp (Bloomsbury, 2022). She is a Research Fellow at the Modern Literature and Culture Centre at Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada. Ingrid has acted as a consultant to museums and private collectors in helping date and interpret photographs, artworks, and dress artifacts and has lectured in universities and museums in North America, Europe, and the UK.

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Book SynopsisThe third edition of this popular, innovative and engaging textbook introduces students to the various methods of modern social science, explaining how these have emerged, their strengths and limitations for understanding the world in which we live, and how it is possible to combine methodological pluralism with intellectual rigour. Focussing on the debate between positivist and constructivist approaches, this new edition features contemporary research examples, expanded discussion of experimental methods, and a new emphasis on methods that have recently grown in popularity, such as process tracing and controlled randomized trials. This is the perfect textbook for students studying the philosophy of science in the context of political science or the social sciences more broadly, and it is essential reading for all those seeking to understand how different ways of knowing affect the methods we choose to study social phenomena. New to this Edition:- Contemporary research examples- A Trade ReviewNo book does a better job rendering accessible so much of the history and concepts of philosophy of science for the budding social scientist. * Craig Parsons, University of Oregon, USA *Ways of Knowing is probably the best introductory book on the market on social science philosophy and methodologies. The book has been a regular part of the curriculum for 300 political science and social science students per year for almost 10 years at the University of Copenhagen. This is because both teachers and students are very satisfied with it. * Peter Nedergaard, University of Copenhagen, Denmark *With an elegant set-up, imaginative use of examples from inside and outside of academia, and unrelenting commitment to methodological pluralism, the third edition of Ways of Knowing remains the leading political science textbook on methodology. * Liam Stanley, University of Sheffield, UK *The social sciences are a site of deep and divisive debate about the nature of reality and how it ought to be studied, between positivists and interpretivists, econometricians and qualitative researchers, experimentalists and observationalists. In this lucid and innovative book, Moses and Knutsen help readers make sense of a multiplicity of empirical approaches by explicating the philosophical tenets of, and research strategies that flow from, two broad methodological outlooks: naturalism and constructivism. Surveying the most prominent methods in the social sciences (experimental, statistical, comparative, and narrative-historical) the authors show how both naturalists and constructivists scholars employ each of these frameworks, but on differing logics and toward differing knowledge-producing ends. For students of sociology or political science, this text will serve as an invaluable map of the methodological terrain while making a timely case for building intellectual bridges between traditions. * Alan M. Jacobs, University of British Columbia, Canada *With their third edition of Ways of Knowing, Moses and Knutsen carefully revise and update a must-have for every scholar of social and political research. Strengthening the strengths of their excellent textbook, they provide a comprehensive and insightful discussion of two main strands of social science methodologies and methods: naturalism and constructivism. * Rolf Frankenberger, University of Tübingen, Germany *This is an extremely clear, straightforward and well-exemplified guide to social science. Any student struggling to grasp the idea of a social science should read chapters 2 to 6 of this excellent book, which covers experiments, statistical analysis, comparison, and historical/case study approaches. The third edition further updates and expands the diversity of techniques within each camp. * Adrian Blau, King's College London, UK *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Naturalist Philosophy of Science 3. The Experimental Method 4. The Statistical Method 5. The Comparative Method 6. History, Interviews and Case Studies 7. Sowing Doubts about the Naturalist Methodology 8. A Constructivist Philosophy of Science 9. From Story Telling to Telling Histories 10. Comparing Contexts 11. Contextualizing Statistics 12. Interpretive Experiments 13. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PEOPLE''S BOOK PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024SELECTED FOR THE BBC AND READING AGENCY''S BIG SPORTING READ 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 WOMEN''S SPORT WRITING AWARDA WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 - SPORT''Incredibly moving and inspiring'' Gabby Logan''It's brilliant I loved it'' Lorraine Kelly''Brilliant impressive and vividly told'' The Times ---JOIN LOUISE MINCHIN ON 17 EXHILARATING ADVENTURES WITH TRAILBLAZING WOMEN WHO ARE BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS, SMASHING RECORDS AND CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES. ''To get to the heart of who these women are I decided to do it the way that I know best, by taking part, spending time right beside them to experience the things they love.''Driven to bring more attention to female stories of courage and endeavour, Louise Minchin pushes herself to the extreme and embarks on thrilling enduranc

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWhatever your equipment, these tips will help readers produce stunning images, and even learn a little trickery to take pictures to the next level. * Countryman *This masterclass from photographer and writer Mark will help you capture the perfect shot of your favourite birds, regardless of experience, equipment or space. * RSPB Magazine *If you want to develop your techniques and enjoy inspiring photography then don't miss RSPB How to Photograph Garden Birds. * Outdoor Photography *This super practical masterclass [is] packed with inspiring images. -- Margaret Bartlett * BBC Countryfile *Table of ContentsIntroduction Where in the world are you shooting? Food and feeders What not to take Working the light and the weather Backgrounds (and foregrounds) Essential (and non-essential) equipment Composition The basic set-up: bird on a perch Birds with other props Birds on the ground Birds in flight Wide-angle close-ups Woodpecker & nutchatch special Reflecting pool Careful observation and chance encounters Spot the mistakes Getting creative

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Book SynopsisThe British monarchy has been through turbulent times of late. Rocked by scandal and strife, and without it seems a clear plan for the future following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, we have been left wondering: what happens next?Nothing seems certain. Will the monarchy survive with its continuing echoes of an Imperial past? Will young people - disenchanted with the political status quo - find the ritual and practice of the monarchy quite so mesmerising as previous generations have done? What might a republican Britain look like?Ed Owens argues that the monarchy must embrace reform and transform itself radically. No more private jets while preaching about the importance of the environment; no more secrecy obscuring royal influence in high places; and no more hangers on enjoying grace-and-favour homes. A major slimming down is essential. And it''s time the family archives were opened.All these issues will have a direct effect on the common good of theTrade ReviewA lucid, clear-sighted, and highly readable analysis of the British monarchy's self-inflicted crisis. * Richard Toye, author of Age of Hope: Labour, 1945, and the Birth of Modern Britain. *With the clarity of expertise, Owens sets out an agenda to give the Crown an energetic role in the 21st century. * Kirkus Reviews *[Ed Owens] thoroughly and expertly examines the past and present of the British monarchy… Highly recommended and though-provoking, with practical and well-informed ideas. * Library Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Crown and country in crisis Part One Ceremony, Spectacle and Tradition 1 Is it still something to be proud of? 2 Consecrated obstruction 3 The seasonable addition of nice and pretty events 4 An alien and uninspiring court? 5 The bride waves, the crowd cheers 6 The new Elizabethans 7 The glamour of backwardness Part Two Duty, Service and Philanthropy 8 Devoted to your service 9 Benevolence sweetens authority 10 A living power for good 11 The heavy burden of responsibility 12 Come on Margaret! 13 A new Jerusalem? 14 The Queen had no choice 15I t’s all part of minding deeply about this country Part Three Family, Celebrity and Scandal 16 The press creates … the press destroys 17 A family on the throne 18 The royal soap opera 19 Killing the monarchy? 20 Annus horribilis 21 Never complain, never explain 22 Don’t make my final years a misery Part Four Nation, Democracy and the Constitution 23 No more good chaps 24 Democratic monarchy 25 One who reigns but does not rule? 26 To be invisible is to be forgotten 27 The spirit of generous compromise 28 The good of the country 29 The perfect constitutional monarch? 30 Queen’s consent Conclusion Acknowledgements Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisRSPB ID Spotlight Ladybirds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 27 of our most widespread and familiar ladybirds by renowned artist Richard Lewington. - Species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field, or the chart can be fixed to the wall as a beautiful poster - The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our ladybirds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how we can support them The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and learn more about our most common species using accurate colour illustrations and informative, accessible text.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2024 CRICKET BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE CRICKET SOCIETY AND MCC BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024 ''The gripping story of England's transformation from prissy blockers to double world champions''The Times''A must-read for any cricket lover''Nasser Hussain, Former England captain and Sky Sports commentatorThe inside story of how England became the first men's team to hold both of cricket's World Cups simultaneously, from the players and key people involved.When England lifted the T20 World Cup in November 2022, they became the first ever men's team to be One-Day International and Twenty20 world champions simultaneously. In English sport, triumphs aren't just rare they also tend to be followed by a collapse. England's white-ball cricket side was different: a team that followed scaling the summit by doing so again. They became, as Australia's captain

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Book Synopsis'I hope somebody gives me this for Christmas' Adrian Chiles, BBC Radio 5 Live'A gold mine for football fans and collectors.' Dan Keane, Sport Cards UK'If you're a fan of classic football history and football stickers, get your hands on one.' Paolo PaniniPANINI'S GREATEST FOOTBALL STICKERS STAR IN ONE AMAZING BOOKPANINI LEGENDS showcases in sticker form 85 of the most-celebrated players in men's and women's football. Icons like Pelé, Diego Maradona, Franz Beckenbauer and Bobby Moore are present, of course, but they share the limelight with modern stars such as Lionel Messi, Marta, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Alexia Putellas. Written by respected sticker authority Greg Lansdowne, the book features stickers from a host of domestic leagues and all the major international tournaments, expertly selected from over 60 years' worth of albums. Which players made the PANINI album but didn't play? Who never missed a season as a sticker? Whose rookie a player's first sticker is

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisA stunning and bloody history of nineteenth-century India and the reign of the Last Mughal by the bestselling author of White MughalsTrade Review'Dalrymple is an outstandingly gifted travel writer and historian who excels himself in his latest work' Max Hastings, Sunday Times 'Vivid unmatched revolutionary humane No previous book has delved so deeply into the history of Delhi in those days, nor painted such a vivid portrait of the late Mughal court' Sunday Telegraph 'Brims with life, colour and complexity outstanding one of the best history books of the year' Evening Standard 'Magnificent shames the simplistic efforts of previous writers' Spectator

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Book SynopsisThe countryside, towns and cities of Britain are full of churches. They represent some of the most iconic, beautiful and occasionally bizarre buildings in the country. They have a lot to say about our history, our art and our ideas. But how do you read them? Through charming illustrations, Rice''s Church Primer reveals the basic grammar and vocabulary of church architecture throughout the United Kingdom. As Matthew Rice says, ''Once you can speak any language, conversations can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The same is the case with Architecture: an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it.'' Rice''s Church Primer explains the language of architecture in churches, from the restrained Norman style of William the Conqueror to the gilded excesses of the Baroque. The primer begins with an explanatioTrade ReviewThe perfect stocking filler for the ecclesiastical enthusiast * House & Garden *The words are as engaging as the illustrations, for Mr Rice is a wordsmith as well as a penman, and manages, through both skills, to bring an understanding of the development of church architecture within reach of any reader whose depth of ignorance is matched by the breadth of their curiosity. -- Alan Titchmarsh * Sunday Telegraph *Charming, wittily illustrated ... Definitely one to slip into the glove apartment * Saga *Delightful * Country Life *Beautifully illustrated throughout ... It’s easy to not only be enlightened but also delighted by Rice’s drawings, which border on impish and quirky at times ... This is a delightful book, a welcoming introduction that’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t know their Perpendicular from their Decorated * BBC Countryfile *

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Book SynopsisNeil Gaiman is the WINNER of the 2010 Cilip Carnegie Medal, the Newbery Medal and the Booktrust Teenage Book Prize 2009 for his novel, The Graveyard Book What would you do if you found yourself in a fairytale? This stunning picture book guides you through a fantasy world where anything is possibleTrade ReviewPraise for Instructions: A lyrical fairytale treat. Gaiman is extremely collectable * The Bookseller *An extraordinarily original reading experience which is both fascinating and unsettling . . . This is a book that stands many readings: it amazes, perplexes and entertains * School Librarian *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Savage God, a unique memoir of growing old, and a lesson in not going gently into that good nightThe ponds of Hampstead Heath are small oases; fragments of wild nature nestled in the heart of north-west London. For the best part of his life Al Alvarez poet, critic, novelist, rock-climber and poker player has swum in them almost daily. An athlete in his youth, Alvarez chronicles what it is to grow old with humour and fierce honesty from his relentlessly nagging ankle which makes daily life a struggle, to infuriating bureaucratic battles with the council to keep his disabled person's Blue Badge, the devastating effects of a stroke, and the salvation he finds in the three Ss Swimming, Sex and Sleep.As Alvarez swims in the ponds he considers how it feels when you begin to miss that person you used to be to miss yourself. Swimming is his own private form of protest against the onslaught of time; proof to others, and himself, that Trade ReviewThe adrenalin still flows in lively extracts from 11 years of journals * The Times *A beautiful unfolding of a story, told in deceptively simple prose but with a great power to move * Sunday Times *A marvellous book. Even the title Pondlife is spot-on: unlaboured, light and right. But it has no business to be as invigorating and absorbing – its success is against the odds * Observer *Al Alvarez is a writer’s writer whose brilliant insight has illuminated everything from suicide to his love of poker ... A miniature classic of a man’s defiant assertion against ageing * Metro *

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Book SynopsisGluten is found in an extraordinary number of foods, yet it can be problematic for so many of us. Whether you need to cut gluten out of your diet or you're cooking for friends and family with gluten intolerance, River Cottage Gluten Free will provide the tools you need to gain inspiration and navigate mealtimes. Nutrition expert Naomi Devlin gives clear advice for gluten-free eating including detailed guidance on alternative flours, methods of fermentation and delicious baking ideas.She offers 120 ingenious recipes for breakfasts, bread, pastry, soups, salads, snacks, main meals and puddings, including Prosciutto and egg muffins, Blinis with crème fraîche and smoked salmon, Leek and bacon quiche, Courgette hummus, Blackberry bakewell tart, Luscious lemon cake and Chocolate fondants.With an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and helpful tips from Naomi throughout, this definitive gluten-free cookbook will add fresh vitality to your cooking and eating, and a host of recipes to make you feel great.Trade ReviewIt’s about … embracing “delicious, simple, health-enhancing food”. Yes, please! * Psychologies *

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Book SynopsisReaders of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration from Elizabeth Gilbert's books for years. Now, this beloved author shares her wisdom and unique understanding of creativity, shattering the perceptions of mystery and suffering that surround the process and showing us all just how easy it can be. By sharing stories from her own life, as well as those from her friends and the people that have inspired her, Elizabeth Gilbert challenges us to embrace our curiosity, tackle what we most love and face down what we most fear. Whether you long to write a book, create art, cope with challenges at work, embark on a long-held dream, or simply to make your everyday life more vivid and rewarding, Big Magic will take you on a journey of exploration filled with wonder and unexpected joys.Trade ReviewIf a more likable writer than Gilbert is currently in print, I haven’t found him or her … Gilbert’s prose is fuelled by a mix of intelligence, wit and colloquial exuberance that is close to irresistible, and makes the reader only too glad to join the posse of friends and devotees who have the pleasure of listening in * Jennifer Egan, New York Times Book Review *A writer of incandescent talent * Annie Proulx *Gilbert dares us into adventures of worldly discovery * Barbara Kingsolver, New York Times Book Review *Sumptuous ... Gilbert's prose is by turns flinty, funny, and incandescent * New Yorker *Readers prepared to enter Gilbert Time will be rewarded: she is an unflaggingly curious writer, prone to delightful touches * Lucy Atkins, Sunday Times *Smart but unpretentious, funny, warm, and generous … By the end of one of her books, you feel as if she is your friend, too * San Francisco Chronicle *Charming … Her tone is relentlessly endearing. It’s like talking to your hippy-est friend, the one who never turns up at the right bar but always makes you feel great once she’s got there … Some great stuff about the power of ideas themselves, about how utterly useless emotions such as fear are when trying to do anything creative, and why we all have a right to live creatively * The Debrief *Gilbert writes about enchantment and wonder, but her feet are always firmly on the ground …Eminently practical … Witty and self-aware, she never urges her readers to just follow their dreams or to believe that they can’t fail, or any of the usual platitudes often thrown at people with creative ambitions … It’s all very refreshing … In almost every section of Big Magic I found something that rang perfectly true to my situation, something that helped me to view my work and creative stumbling blocks in a new and more productive way … Whether you’re worried about getting started, burning out, making money, failing or even succeeding, there is something in this book that will speak to you * Irish Times *Gilbert offers powerful insights into the mysterious nature of creativity, and she delivers the vibrant message that we can all find, and create, magic * Veggie *Doing that [Turning fear into a positive force in your life] starts simply by acknowledging that having fear isn’t the same as letting it control you. In her book Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert describes this brilliantly, explaining that living life healthily alongside fear is like taking it on a road trip * Top Sante Health and Beauty *I was feeling fragile about quite a few exciting projects that were up in the air. This book, which is all about creativity, helped me recognise anxiety is just part of the creative process, which made me much more accepting of the way I was feeling. Elizabeth Gilbert is the author of Eat, Pray, Love – she’s so open and makes me laugh. I buy this for loved ones and recommend it to clients and students who I think will find it inspiring -- Eve Menezes Cunningham * Fit & Well *Absurdly comforting * Mslexia *

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Book SynopsisNO! I do not want this BIG CURLY HAIR!It''s messy and silly and just plain unfair.All Curly Haired Girl has ever wanted is straight and luscious locks, but when she meets a little girl with the smoothest, silkiest hair, who says all she''s ever wanted is spirally, squiggly hair, they are BOTH confused!A hilarious tale about loving what we have. And hair, lots and lots of hair.I Don''t Want Curly Hair! is glorious new picture book for little people who always want what they can''t have! From the brilliant Laura Ellen Anderson illustrator of the bestselling Witch Wars series.Trade ReviewEnergetic illustrations will let your imagination run wild * The Guardian *Fizzing with energy and charm, this is a hilarious hymn to loving what we have * The Bookseller *Bouncily written with a hint of Seuss * The Guardian *Anderson's cute and brilliantly funny illustrations make our protagonist bounce off the page and, at its core, is a message of learning to accept our looks, however old we are * The Belfast Telegraph *Colour, vivacity and energy animate the often hilarious illustrations, depicting the wildness of the curls and their owner's frustration in this funny, engaging story about accepting who you are * BookTrust *Whilst we may often crave what others have, this picture book embraces what makes us individuals and emphasises the need to accept and celebrate our quirks and foibles * Picture Books Blogger *Brimful of energy, fun and wonderful details * Library Mice Picture Book of the Week *Fabulous, colourful, and fun * Twirling Book Princess *I Don't Want Curly Hair is heaps of fun * My Book Corner *Told in rhyme, with exuberant illustrations, this book gives the message that we should love what we have * CBI Mind Yourself 2020 Reading Guide *

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Book SynopsisThis gift edition hardback, presented in a beautiful foiled cloth slipcase decorated with brand new line art by Jonny Duddle, is a perfect addition to any Harry Potter fan''s collection.The fifth book in the global phenomenon series that changed the world of books foreverYou are sharing the Dark Lord's thoughts and emotions. The Headmaster thinks it inadvisable for this to continue. He wishes me to teach you how to close your mind to the Dark Lord.'Dark times have come to Hogwarts. After the Dementors' attack on his cousin Dudley, Harry Potter knows that Voldemort will stop at nothing to find him. There are many who deny the Dark Lord's return, but Harry is not alone: a secret order gathers at Grimmauld Place to fight against the Dark forces.Harry must allow Professor Snape to teach him how to protect himself from Voldemort's savage assaults on his mind. But they are growing stronger by the day and Harry is running out of tTrade ReviewI’ve yet to meet a ten-year-old who hasn’t been entranced by its witty, complex plot and the character of the eponymous Harry * Independent *Spellbinding, enchanting, bewitching stuff * Mirror *Teachers say a chapter can silence the most rowdy of classes * Guardian *One of the greatest literary adventures of modern times * Sunday Telegraph *The Harry Potter stories will join that small group of children’s books which are read and reread into adulthood * TLS *

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Book SynopsisFrom the prize-winning author of In the Place of Fallen Leaves comes a beautiful, hypnotic pastoral novel reminiscent of Thomas Hardy, about an unexpected friendship between two children, set in Devon in 19111911. In a forgotten valley on the DevonSomerset border, the seasons unfold, marked only by the rituals of the farming calendar. Twelve-year-old Leopold Sercombe skips school to help his father, a carter. Skinny and pale, Leo dreams of a job on the estate's stud farm. He is breaking a colt for his father when a boy dressed in a Homburg, breeches and riding boots appears. Peering under the stranger's hat, he discovers Miss Charlotte, the Master's daughter. And so begins a friendship between the children, bound by a deep love of horses, but divided by rigid social boundaries boundaries that become increasingly difficult to navigate as they approach adolescence.Trade ReviewA novel that is as moving and profound as it is evocative of the landscape and period … Pears’s fiction has been likened to Thomas Hardy’s, and the comparison is apposite. As a coming-of-age novel, The Horseman is wise and insightful. As a love story, it is moving and sincere. And as a portrayal of rural Edwardian England, it is powerful, vivid and humane * Observer *Pears has often been praised for his strong, clear prose and his ability to tell fascinating stories without fuss or fanfare. The Horseman is his best work in many years. As a testament to a forgotten generation of countrymen it is unsurpassed * The Times *The pleasure of it lies in taking in the language and the setting - the West country, in 1911 and 1912 - and in reading it like a long poem, with each chapter a stanza ... The natural world is sometimes antagonistic, sometimes beautiful, but always alive with detail ... I am ready for volume two -- Jane Smiley * Guardian *With hypnotic lyricism, Pears describes this bucolic Devon world and the people who inhabit it ... [A] paean to the pastoral * Mail on Sunday *A mesmerising book … An evocation of the pre-First World War countryside, sparely written and imagined with exceptional fidelity -- Clive Aslet * Country Life *The most entrancing novel I read this year is The Horseman by Tim Pears. This intelligent and moving evocation of life on a country estate just before the First World War is both down-to-earth and magical -- Allan Massie * Sunday Herald, Books of the Year *This book needs to be read with quiet attention to reap its rich rewards -- John Harding * Daily Mail *An assured, slow-burn, lyrical book, a rewarding read in our troubled times. Once again Pears celebrates growing up, the trials of family life and the beauty and wildness of untamed nature, offering fascinating insights into the consolations as well as the cruelties of rural life -- Jackie McGlone * Herald *A beautiful portrait of rural life at the turn of the century … Tim Pears combines meticulously researched historical material ... all depicted in rich, evocative detail – with lush, languorous, melodic prose ... A distinctly compelling pastoral bildungsroman that leaves the reader eager for the next installment * BBC Countryfile *Evocative of Hardy … The Horseman is itself an exhilarating vision, a bittersweet elegy for the innocent certainties of an agrarian world before the industrialised horrors of the 20th century come crashing down * Irish Times *A magnificent novel. In spare yet elegant precise prose Tim Pears offers entrance into a place and characters otherwise lost to time ... Leo Sercombe is one of the most engaging creations to come along in fiction in a long time and I eagerly look forward to following his life in future tellings. Tim Pears is a novelist of the first rank and I can't recommend The Horseman more highly -- Jeffrey LentNeatly crafted and compelling * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisA gorgeous new edition of the Hogwarts Library containing three much loved classics Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through the Ages and The Tales of Beedle the Bard from the wizarding world. These handsome hardback editions feature stunning jacket art by Jonny Duddle and beautiful interior illustrations by Tomislav Tomic they are irresistible reading for all Harry Potter fans, wizards and Muggles. A treasure trove of magical facts and fairy tales, the Hogwarts Library is an essential companion to the Harry Potter series. This set includes the updated edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them which features a new foreword from J.K. Rowling (writing as Newt Scamander) and six new beasts!

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Book Synopsis_______________''James Campbell is the funniest man I know' - Chris Riddell_______________A fun and engaging activity book from bestselling author and stand-up comic James Campbell, who has visited over 3,000 primary schools to tell stories and encourage children to write their own.Have you ever wanted to write your own sizzlingly stupendous stories but just don''t know where to start? Then look no further! Write Your Own Funny Stories will guide you step by step towards becoming the witty wordsmith you always wanted to be.Written by children''s stand-up comic and best-selling author of The Funny Life of series, James Campbell, this amazing interactive guide is packed full of everything you need to become an awesome author. From planning story ideas and plots, coming up with brilliant characters and settings, and, of course, ''finding the funny'', this refreshing and reassuring toolbox of tips and tricks will have you reaching for your duck fea

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Book Synopsis-''Pam Corbin is the master, and the first person I turn to for everything to do with preserving. I''ve learnt so much from her'' DIANA HENRYPam Corbin is the expert who professional cooks consult when they want to make jams, jellies, marmalades, chutneys, pickles or anything else to do with preserving. They know her as ''Pam the Jam'', and this book is the culmination of her years of experience, distilled into more than 100 tried-and-tested recipes. Her jams, marmalades and fruit spreads contain far less sugar than traditional recipes, which means that they taste astonishingly fruity and delicious. Likewise, her chutneys and pickles are lighter and sprightlier than the old-fashioned kind. Pam will show you how to make more unusual preserves too such as glossy fruit cheeses to serve with everything from Stilton to manchego (which calls for her classic quince membrillo). Or creamy yet zesty fruit curd: there''s a recipe for classic lemon curd,Trade ReviewPam Corbin is the master, and the first person I turn to for everything to do with preserving. I’ve learnt so much from her -- Diana HenryPam takes you on a fruit-filled journey, teaching you the skills to capture each season’s brief flavourful moments in jars that you’ll treasure -- Dan LepardI’ve learnt so much from Pam about making preserves. I love the way she’s dialling down the sugar and dialling up the fruit and veg in a lot of these recipes – and the results are as good as ever -- Hugh Fearnley-WhittingstallPam’s super-delicious recipes capture flavour at its peak, with even more fruit, and far less sugar and vinegar in her preserves and pickles -- Darina AllenThere is no greater authority on preserving than Pam the Jam. Her knowledge is endless, matched only by her infectious enthusiasm and down-to-earth competence -- Guy Singh-Watson, Founder of Riverford Organic FarmersA handsome, practical tome -- Delicious magazineThe new bottling bible * Daily Telegraph *Everything you need to know about making jam * Country Life *

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Book SynopsisEnthralling'' ObserverA spectacular read'' Sunday Express''An award-winning writer at the top of her game'' TelegraphA moving story of overlapping lives from the Orange Prize-winning author of Bel CantoTip and Teddy are becoming men under the very eyes of their adoptive father, Bernard Doyle. A student at Harvard, Tip is happiest in a lab, whilst Teddy thinks he has found his calling in the Church, and both are increasingly strained by their father''s protective plans for them.But when they are involved in an accident on an icy road, the Doyles are forced to confront certain truths about their lives, how the death of Doyle''s wife Bernadette has affected the family, and an anonymous figure who is always watching...Trade Review‘Enthralling ... It's a skilled piece of writing, a jigsaw narrative that leaps from one character to another with apparent seamlessness' * Observer *‘A spectacular read ... Full of suspense, exciting and unpredictable, this is a novel that keeps you guessing until the end' -- Viv Groskop * Sunday Express *‘Her books are so warm, so overflowing with love and affection, that when you've finished reading one your first inclination is to embrace it' -- Patrick Ness * Guardian *‘Patchett's mastery means there are no slips on the ice for her readers ... It is a long time since I have read such a delicately nuanced novel, where the overall pleasure lies simply in reading an award-winning writer at the top of her game' * Sunday Telegraph *Patchett’s novels are remarkable for their generosity of spirit and deep sympathy for their characters … Covering issues of race and class, nurture and nature, Run is a touching exploration of America’s melting pot * Sunday Times *Humane and sympathetic … All the magic is in the way Patchett enables us to enter the lives of this group of people and to appreciate the kinship that runs through their society * Daily Telegraph *Deeply moving and absorbing … Patchett has once again written an intelligent, thoughtful novel that oozes emotional intensity. She is the kind of storyteller who makes the reader sad to come to the last page * Financial Times *Patchett tells this complex story of inheritance and loss with accomplished ease -- Helen Dunmore * The Times *Engaging, touching and satisfying * Evening Standard *In deftly plotted, graceful prose, Patchett reflects on the binds of both family and community * Daily Mail *A gentle, finely observed book that stays with you long after you have finished it * Harper's Bazaar *Run is a novel with timeless concerns at its heart – class and belonging, parenthood and love ... The book is lovely to read and is satisfyingly bold in its attempt to say something patient and true about family -- Andrew O'Hagan

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE ''A gripping and masterful portrait of the brutal court of Mao, based on new research but also written with great narrative verve'' Simon Sebag Montefiore''Harrowing and brilliant'' Ben Macintyre''A critical contribution to Chinese history'' Wall Street JournalBetween 1958 and 1962, 45 million Chinese people were worked, starved or beaten to death. Mao Zedong threw his country into a frenzy with the Great Leap Forward, an attempt to catch up with and overtake the West in less than fifteen years. It led to one of the greatest catastrophes the world has ever known. Dikotter''s extraordinary research within Chinese archives brings together for the first time what happened in the corridors of power with the everyday experiences of ordinary people, giving voice to the dead and disenfranchised. This groundbreaking account definitively recasts the history of the People''s RepuTrade Review'A masterpiece of historical investigation into one of the world's greatest crimes' * New Statesman *‘It is hard to exaggerate the achievement of this book in proving that Mao caused the famine ... only thanks to brilliant scholarship such as this will the heirs of the vanished millions finally learn what happened to their ancestors' * Sunday Times *‘The most authoritative and comprehensive study of the biggest and most lethal famine in history. A must-read' * Jung Chang *‘Gripping ... Prof Dikötter's painstaking analysis of the archives shows Mao's regime resulted in the greatest "man-made famine" the world has ever seen' * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis_______________WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTIONTHE TOP 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEKAN OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR_______________Mudlark (/mAdla;k/) noun A person who scavenges for usable debris in the mud of a river or harbourLara Maiklem has scoured the banks of the Thames for over fifteen years, in pursuit of the objects that the river unearths: from Neolithic flints to Roman hair pins, medieval buckles to Tudor buttons, Georgian clay pipes to Victorian toys. These objects tell her about London and its lost ways of life.Moving from the river's tidal origins in the west of the city to the point where it meets the sea in the east, Mudlarking is a search for urban solitude and history on the River Thames, which Lara calls the longest archaeological site in England.As she has discovered, it is often the tiniest objects that tell the greatest storTrade ReviewThis is a quirky and delightful read, wonderfully evocative of London’s gloopy, ghost-haunted river * Daily Mail *A treasure. One of the best books I’ve read in years -- Tracy BormanReveals to us the fascinating and poignant micro-world of London's history -- Hallie RubenholdEnchanting. It made even a capsized cynic like me feel more sentimental about the Thames. In fact, I am quite tempted to join Maiklem on the riverbed looking for treasure * Sunday Times *Mudlarks are river scavengers, but Lara Maiklem is more like a time traveller. Her prose has none of the self-conscious sensibility that defines contemporary nature writing; her thoughtful sentences read as though she were talking to herself. There is a great deal to learn from these pages, not least the insight that finding lost things is the best way of losing yourself. It is, above all, her wisdom that makes Lara Maiklem such restful company * Guardian *Maiklem persists, in this weirdly engaging book, in seeking out a curious beauty. Maiklem’s description of the fog is worthy of Dickens or Joseph Conrad. Maiklem pungently evokes the broken bridges, slippery river stairs, causeways, jetties and boatyards. No one has looked at these odd corners since Sherlock Holmes * Sunday Telegraph *Maiklem’s storytelling shines. Her imagined histories for her special finds read like waterborne fairy stories, a hard kernel of truth clothed in mythical finery. Reading it, I felt like I was down on the foreshore myself, sifting through the pages for titbits * Daily Telegraph *A lovely, lyrical, gently meandering book, filled with fascinating diversions and detail * Literary Review *Maiklem's enthusiasm is infectious, and her reimagining of the lives of those who parted with these items is an illuminated joy * i *Whoever buys it is blessed. I love the fact that [Maiklem] makes herself the centre of this huge, timeless, endless story that reaches from the distant past and flows past all our consciousnesses out to a place far beyond the reach of the estuary. Lara is such a natural writer; every page just tingles with her imagination. It is a love letter to life itself -- Ian MortimerMaiklem has an infectious love of linking the present with the past. It is historic detail like this that makes Mudlarking much more than just a lengthy list of discarded bric-a-brac. Lara is a romantic, motivated primarily by the human stories behind the objects. Curiosity may kill the cat, but it is the making of many an author. And Lara has it in spades * Daily Mail *Maiklem augments the Thamesian tally, summoning old Londoners out of silty suspension from a discarded Victoria Cross or a pot-lid. There are other mudlarking books, but this one offers engaging insight into an amphibian ambience of strongly marked characters, semi-secret exploits and outlandish theories. Maiklem is not alone in resorting to the river for salvation as much as salvage * Spectator *A beautifully written memoir of one woman’s relationship with the sacred Thames and the ghosts of its past. Lara Maiklem’s book on mudlarking is as deep and as rich as the Thames and its treasures. Fascinating -- Stanley TucciA hybrid of personal memoir, London history and literary cabinet of curiosities * Telegraph *Maiklem’s knowledge and skill are evident and unarguable. [She] leaves the door open for the rest of us: with a bit of luck and patience you too, she suggests, could spot something interesting on the foreshore, ask around, take it to a museum and end up owning a little bit of history. What a thrill -- Caught by the River[An] enthralling and evocative history of London and its people -- Book of the Month * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisA brilliant and moving work unique, refreshing, imaginatively powerful' New York TimesYou are at a nightclub talking to a girl with a shaved head. The club is either Heartbreak or the Lizard Lounge. All might become clear if you could just slip into the bathroom and do a little more Bolivian Marching Powder. Then again, it might not... So begins our nameless hero''s trawl through the brightly lit streets of Manhattan, sampling all this wonderland has to offer yet suspecting that tomorrow''s hangover may be caused by more than simple excess. Bright Lights, Big City is an acclaimed classic which marked Jay McInerney as one of the major writers of our time.Trade Review‘Probably the best book ever written about being young, about doing drugs and about music' * Tony Parsons, Daily Express *‘McInerney earns his place in literary history with Bright Lights, Big City ... A landmark evocation of the wasteful decade it lampoons' * Guardian *Bright Lights, Big City defined, and even determined, the mood of this whole town * Vanity Fair *

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Book SynopsisDive back into the UNIverse with Neon for another goo-tastic adventure from Sibéal Pounder, the bestselling author of the Witch Wars and Bad Mermaids seriesNow a fully-fledged unicorn (no, not the horse kind, the ultra-powerful human-looking kind), Neon Gallup is LOVING her secret double life in the extraordinary UNIverse, creating goo-powered magic and going on adventures with her unicorn friends.Little does she know that she has been spotted opening a portal by none other than the neighbourhood unicorn hunter, Priscilla. Now that she's seen Neon's portal opener, Priscilla is determined to steal it and destroy unicorns once and for all.With the unicorn hunters closing in on all sides, will Neon discover the sinister plot in time to save the day once again?Trade ReviewFun, funny, magical and fizzing with imagination * Sophie Anderson, author of The House with Chicken Legs *A glorious, galloping, life-affirming stampede of pure multi-coloured joy * Chris Smith, author of Kid Normal, The Great Dream Robbery and Frankie Best Hates Quests *I adored not-at-all normal Neon and her madcap adventure * Joanna Nadin, author of The Worst Class in the World series *The inside of Sibéal Pounder’s head must be a spectacular place! Full of colour and glitter and goo – and a bonkersly brilliant imagination! * Lesley Parr, author of The Valley of Lost Secrets and When the War Came Home *Bright, bubbly and never knowingly normal, Neon’s Secret Universe is a whirlwind of witty wonderful adventure! * Mo O’Hara, author of My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish and Agent Moose *[An] imaginative adventure that's as silly as it is magical * i *

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Book SynopsisThe captivating debut children''s novel from popular television historian Lucy Worsley is an exciting and charming glimpse behind the scenes of the Tudor court. I would often wonder about my future husband. A knight? A duke? A stable boy?Of course the last was just a wicked fancy.Eliza Rose Camperdowne is young and headstrong, but she knows her duty well. As the only daughter of a noble family, she must one day marry a man who is very grand and very rich. But Fate has other plans. When Eliza becomes a maid of honour, she's drawn into the thrilling, treacherous court of Henry VIII ...Is her glamorous cousin Katherine Howard a friend or a rival? And can a girl choose her own destiny in a world ruled by men?

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Book SynopsisLet the magic of J.K. Rowling's classic series take you back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Issued to mark the 20th anniversary of first publication of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, these irresistible House Editions celebrate the noble character of the four Hogwarts houses. Featuring gorgeous house-themed cover art and interior line illustrations by Kate Greenaway Medal winner Levi Pinfold, each book will also have vibrant sprayed edges in the house livery. Entertaining bonus features exclusive to each house accompany the novel. All seven books in the series will be issued in these highly collectable House Editions. A must-have for anyone who has ever imagined sitting under the Sorting Hat in the Great Hall at Hogwarts waiting to hear the words, Better be HUFFLEPUFF!'You'll always find a home at Hogwarts!

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Book Synopsis_______________The epic conclusion to the laugh-out-loud funny Kid Normal series for readers aged 8+, from radio stars Greg James and Chris Smith_______________Praise for Kid Normal:''So funny, it''s almost criminal'' - Independent''Outrageous capers'' - Guardian_______________Murph Cooper is famous and he's not happy about it.Kid Normal and the Super Zeroes used to save the day in secret. But suddenly everyone knows who they are.Oily villain Nicholas Knox has told the public that superheroes are dangerous. He wants to lock them all up and take over the world! *Cue evil cackling*Murph must expose Knox's evil plan, or the world of heroes is doomed forever!Trade Review...you can come at it fresh, having had no previous encounters with ‘’capability-free’’ Murph and his super-powered pals. The gang are back in motion thanks to slimy supervillain Knox, who wants to take over the world. There is mild peril, silliness, wordplay, and much fun-poking * The i *There is mild peril, silliness, word play, and much fun poking (mainly at politician-style characters), but it's all bound together with strong messages on friendship, teamwork, and the inner strengths we all have, it's just a matter of identifying them. * Woman's Way *PRAISE FOR KID NORMAL: So funny, it's almost criminal * Independent *Outrageous capers for eight and up … Amusingly surreal super-powers and a trust yourself message combine to strong effect with Erica Salcedo’s entertaining, huge-eyed images * Guardian *An extraordinary tale about an ordinary boy in a world of heroes … A fast-paced, humorous adventure with likeable heroes and a suitably ridiculous, evil villain * Times Educational Supplement *Packed with very amusing asides, it’s a fun and fast-paced read that will make James and Smith into children’s heroes * Western Mail *Chock full of slapstick humour, outrageous characters and pop culture references. It mocks school pecking orders and will make all kids who have fallen foul of them feel much better about it. And somehow, it ties all the mania together in a credible and thrilling story * The Bookbag *A superlative adventure story that will resonate with children who like to read whacky, wild things * Books Monthly *This spoof superhero epic certainly delivers: deliciously dastardly villains, capes, tights and mild-mannered heroes. Yet it also explores familiar school anxieties that everyone else is smarter, stronger, better * BookTrust *A very promising start to a laugh-out-loud funny adventure series * Parents in Touch *Incredibly funny, witty and stuffed full of heart * Book Lover Jo *

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