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Book SynopsisJournalist Tom Roston’s The Writer’s Crusade is the story of Kurt Vonnegut and Slaughterhouse-Five, an enduring masterpiece on trauma and memory.“A book about time; or, put another way, a book about how Pilgrim (and Vonnegut) became unstuck in time and how this ‘unsticking’ created Slaughterhouse-Five . . . Roston [casts] himself as part literary scholar and part psychoanalytic sleuth.” —Washington Post Kurt Vonnegut was 20 years old when he enlisted in the United States Army. Less than two years later, he was captured by the Germans in the single deadliest US engagement of the war, the Battle of the Bulge. He was taken to a POW camp, then transferred to a work camp near Dresden, and held in a slaughterhouse called Schlachthof Fünf where he survived the horrific firebombing that killed thousands and destroyed the city. To the millions of fans of Vonnegut&rsquTrade Review“A book about time; or, put another way, a book about how Pilgrim (and Vonnegut) became unstuck in time and how this 'unsticking' created ‘Slaughterhouse-Five'... Roston [casts] himself as part literary scholar and part psychoanalytic sleuth.” * The Washington Post *“A fresh look at Kurt Vonnegut’s classic 1969 novel through the lens of PTSD...[Roston] successfully reenergizes a major work from a writer whose star has faded somewhat. New wars, and more recent fiction about them, may have overshadowed Slaughterhouse-Five, but Roston persuasively shows how the novel speaks both to Vonnegut’s moment and to our own.” * Kirkus Reviews *“Part biography, part literary interpretation, and part fan notes, The Writer's Crusade is a spellbinding reexamination of both Slaughterhouse-Five and its author, Kurt Vonnegut. Although the emphasis of this marvelous book is on PTSD, Tom Roston never loses sight of the intuitive, imaginative genius of a boldly original prose stylist. Any Vonnegut enthusiast, and anyone interested in the sources of fine literature, will find pleasure in these pages.” -- Tim O’Brien“[An] engrossing tale...an absorbing biographical study...Roston [makes] a strong case that the roots of the novel—and its ultimate message—stem from Vonnegut’s attempts to process all he had witnessed in the war.” * Bookpage *“[Roston’s] passion for Vonnegut’s writing is contagious. … a fresh take on a classic.” * Publishers Weekly *“The Writer's Crusade is a multifaceted look at one of the great modern novels. It’s part history of how the book came to be, part Vonnegut biography, and a thoughtful consideration of the book’s impact on America’s post-WWII combat vets...The Writer’s Crusade is an important consideration of Kurt Vonnegut and the legacy of Slaughterhouse-Five. Even better, Roston’s work will send readers back to the original novel, and with fresh new insights on Vonnegut’s complex masterpiece.” * New York Journal of Books *“Mr. Roston gives the reader a book that encompasses many things — simultaneously biography, literary analysis, an inquiry into the creative process, and a concise history of the perception and recognition of war trauma and the development of the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder. He writes with informed insight as well as wit, and his tone is light and engaging despite the seriousness of the subject.... ‘The Writer's Crusade’ provides a thoughtful head start for a renewed appreciation of the author and his best-known work.” * East Hampton Star *A stark reminder of Vonnegut’s uneasy position with contemporary liberalism * The American Conservative Magazine *“Kurt Vonnegut’s dogged pursuit of the truth about his war experiences in writing what would become Slaughterhouse-Five is fully rendered in Tom Roston’s perfectly titled The Writer’s Crusade. In readable and probing prose, Roston illuminates Vonnegut as a veteran, writer, and human being, and investigates haunting questions about war and human nature. For anyone touched by war, Slaughterhouse-Five, or intrigued by the intersection of creativity with trauma and recovery, this superb book is for you.” -- Suzanne McConnell, coauthor, with Kurt Vonnegut, of Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style"I read Slaughterhouse-Five when I had just returned from my war in Vietnam. I didn't understand it until I read The Writer's Crusade. Tom Roston's insightful exploration of Vonnegut's struggle to write the novel, and its significant place in our ongoing task of better understanding and treating the trauma of war should be read by all fans of Vonnegut, and all who suffer from trauma, no matter what the source.” -- Karl Marlantes“I absolutely loved The Writer’s Crusade. As soon as I finished it, I picked up Slaughterhouse-Fiveagain. Tom Roston’s excellent book has given me the great gift of getting to read Vonnegut’s masterpiece as though it were my first time.” -- Kevin Powers“The best thing that Roston does...is to give context to the question of whether Slaughterhouse-Five is an autobiographical portrait of Vonnegut’s own war trauma. Roston writes in depth about the novel itself and how it came to be written... Roston also provides a history of war trauma and how our understanding of it has evolved over the years.” * The Millions *

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Book SynopsisThe inside story of the two Swallows and Amazons books set on the Norfolk Broads.

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Book SynopsisWitty and well researched.' THE TIMESA scientific dose of reality.' MAIL ON SUNDAYA fun and comprehensive exploration.' LINDA McROBBIEEndlessly fascinating.' LIBRARY JOURNALThe science behind James Bond's exploits armaments, tactics, plots and enemy tech.The adventures of James Bond have thrilled readers since Ian Fleming's novel Casino Royale was published in 1953, and when the movie of Dr No was released in 1962, Bond quickly became the world's favourite secret agent.Science and technology have always been central to the plots that make up the world of Bond, and in Superspy Science Kathryn Harkup explores the full range of 007's exploits and the arms, technologies, tactics and downfalls of his various foes. From the practicalities of building a volcano-based lair, to whether being covered in gold paint really will kill you, and if your plan is to take over the Trade ReviewHighly entertaining ... witty and well researched, this book is great fun to dip into if you're watching any of the Bonds and are curious about the facts behind an eyebrow-raising plot element. * The Times *Harkup is the ideal boffin to probe the facts behind the Bond films' more fanciful diversions from reality ... A great way to know the Bond series' artistic licences from its total thunder-balls. * Total Film Magazine *Bond’s evil foes are doomed … by a scientist’s lethal dose of reality. * Mail on Sunday *Films starring secret agent James Bond are famous for their technology. But how reliable is their science? Kathryn Harkup provides a stylish answer. * Nature *Whichever Bond is your favourite, Harkup’s book is a fun and comprehensive exploration of the not-so-gentlemanly spy’s improbable exploits. ... Harkup writes with clear and contagious affection for the franchise; peppered with just as much historical back story and film trivia as scientific analysis. * Linda Rodriguez McRobbie, author of Ouch! *Harkup has a true skill for turning complicated ideas into easily digestible and endlessly fascinating reading… An entertaining, page-turning, sure-fire hit with all fans of 007. * Library Journal *Superspy Science brings science, technology, history, and adventure together in a tantalising look at the gadgets and inventions that make 007 invincible. * Foreword Reviews *Table of ContentsPre-title sequence 001: Dr No and the gun-barrel sequence 002: From Russia with Love and Rosa Klebb’s shoe 003: Goldfinger and the laser 004: Thunderball and the gamma gas 005: You Only Live Twice and the volcano lair 006: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and Blofeld’s bioterrorism plot 007: Diamonds Are Forever and diamonds 008: Live and Let Die and the crocodile run 009: The Man with the Golden Gun and the golden gun 010: The Spy Who Loved Me and the parachute jump 011: Moonraker and the exploding space station 012: For Your Eyes Only and electrocution through headphones 013: Octopussy and the atomic bomb 014: A View to a Kill and May Day 015: The Living Daylights and the cello case 016: Licence to Kill and a tanker full of cocaine 017: GoldenEye and the EM pulse 018: Tomorrow Never Dies and the stealth boat 019: The World Is Not Enough and Renard’s bullet 020: Die Another Day and being sucked out of a plane 021: Casino Royale and the knotted rope 022: Quantum of Solace and the girl covered in oil 023: Skyfall and the cyanide capsule 024: Spectre and Bond’s backstory 025: No Time to Die and the nanobots Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR FILM STARRING MICHELLE PFEIFFER AND LUCAS HEDGES A tragedy of manners from the Man Booker-shortlisted author of The Sisters Brothers ‘My favourite book of his yet’ Maria Semple, author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette 'Pure joy' Mail on Sunday 'Buoyantly insane' New Yorker Frances Price is in dire straits. Scandals swirl around the recently widowed New York socialite, and her adult-aged, toddler-brained son Malcolm is no help. Cutting their losses, they grab their cat, Small Frank, and head for the exit. Paris becomes the backdrop for a giddy drive to self-destruction, helped along by a cast of singularly curious characters. Brimming with pathos, warmth and wit, French Exit is a riotous send-up of high society and a moving story of mothers and sons.Trade ReviewFrench Exit made me so happy ... Brilliant, addictive, funny and wise -- Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'Less'Dazzling … deWitt writes in a gorgeously relaxed, freeform style, dabbing a clause here, a phrase there. The book is studded with tiny pleasures … Sharp and strange … DeWitt’s particular comic genius is to evoke the darkness behind the dazzle ... Whichever style he adopts or genre he inhabits, deWitt remains a true original * Guardian *An accomplished comic novel shot through with DeWitt’s trademark genre defiance and caustic sense of humour * i *Pure joy – think Noël Coward shaken up with Ivy Compton-Burnett and garnished with a twist of Lemony Snicket * Mail on Sunday *DeWitt is in possession of a fresh, lively voice that surprises at every turn -- Kate Atkinson, author of 'Transcription'My favourite book of his yet. The dialogue is dizzyingly good, the world so weird and fresh. A triumph from a writer truly in the zone -- Maria Semple, author of the bestselling 'Where’d You Go, Bernadette'Gloriously, acerbically funny and odd -- Melissa HarrisonA sparkling dark comedy ... DeWitt’s tone is breezy, droll, and blithely transgressive ... These are people you may not want to invite to dinner, but they sure make for fun reading * NPR *A thrilling madcap caper anchored by memorable characters, emotional depth and forensically sharp writing -- Hannah Rothschild, author of 'The Improbability of Love'The first time I read French Exit, I raced through, impatient to know the fates of its characters. Then I turned back to page one to enjoy Patrick deWitt's understated satire and casually brutal wit -- Nell Zink, author of 'Mislaid' and 'The Wallcreeper'A modern story, a satire about an insouciant widow on a quest for refined self-immolation .... DeWitt’s surrealism is cheerful and matter-of-fact, making the novel feel as buoyantly insane as its characters .... DeWitt is a stealth absurdist, with a flair for dressing up rhyme as reason * New Yorker *DeWitt is a promiscuous writer, flirting and subverting a different genre with each new novel. With French Exit he has served up a wry, soufflé-light, European-style comedy … A diverting oddball tale that treads just the right line between bite and whimsy * Metro *A Preston Sturges-esque satire on New York’s moneyed classes and the casual brutality of their emotional lives, with more than a whiff of The Royal Tenenbaums … Think Cary Grant’s uptight paleontologist trading barbs with Katharine Hepburn’s blithe heiress in Bringing Up Baby’ * Telegraph *A breezily enjoyable social comedy … Frances and Malcolm make for a memorable double act, with Frances in particular zinging out waspish one-liners * The Times *Patrick deWitt has taken all of what I usually expect and want from a story, misted it in Chanel No 5, and set to it an immeasurably classy lighter. Love it -- Natasha Pulley, bestselling author of 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street'Patrick deWitt is an artful ventriloquist: for each of his three novels he has deployed a distinctive and utterly beguiling voice * Metro *DeWitt is a true original, conjuring up dark and hilarious images * The Times *DeWittland is a place of exaggerated, creeping horror; a place populated by unfeeling characters who engage in bouts of baroque violence; above all a place suffused with grim humour. It's also a place in which the limits of genre are explored * Daily Telegraph *Disarmingly funny ... DeWitt can inject so much exposition with a single sentence that the reader seldom feels the need for elaboration … True to the theatrical form deWitt appears to have been inspired by, French Exit includes multiple layers of meaning and social commentary, wrapped up in a whip-smart package that cracks with wit and wordplay * Quill and Quire *From the author of the masterpiece of comic taciturnity The Sisters Brothers, French Exit is a “tragedy of manners” delivered with similar devastating wit and brilliance … Combining Edward St Aubyn levels of social awfulness with a masterclass in understated absurdity, any new deWitt novel should be a cause for a national holiday, this one deserving champagne, fireworks and a marching band besides * Strong Words *If you liked Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, you’ll love the quirky characters and sharp humour of French Exit * Good Housekeeping *A highly enjoyable read … deWitt’s style is nothing if not idiosyncratic, and his elevated language – played for particular comic effect when it comes to dialogue – is perfectly suited to affectionately chiding upper-class mores … The tenderness between Frances, her son and her old friend Joan is of the real stuff * Esquire *Frances and Malcolm are terrific characters, immediately arresting … The greatest achievement of French Exit however is the glamorous, formidable Frances; eccentric, highly intelligent, cold-blooded in both personal and business relationships, she's as witty as any Evelyn Waugh mother … A terrible tale of self-ruin more akin to Gatsby or Patrick Melrose than the Wodehouse or Mitford stories it initially conjures … Faintly comparable to Waugh's A Handful of Dust * Big Issue *If you like Paris, cats, dark humour and satire this is the book for you … With a unique cast of characters and an unusual relationships the book is both witty and warm * Living France *

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Book SynopsisSharp wit and compassion combine in a novel about girls and the women who shape them; about influence, identity, individual freedom and group responsibility.

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Book SynopsisJames Bond is possibly the most well known fictional characters in history. What most people don't know is that almost all of the characters, plots and gadgets come from the real life experiences of Bond's creator - Commander Ian Fleming. In this book, we go through the plots of Fleming's novels explaining the real life experiences that inspired them. The reader is taken on a journey through Fleming's direct involvement in World War II intelligence and how this translated through his typewriter into James Bond's world, as well as the many other factors of Fleming's life which were also taken as inspiration. Most notably, the friends who Fleming kept, among whom were Noel Coward and Randolph Churchill and the influential people he would mingle with, British Prime Ministers and American Presidents.Bond is known for his exotic travel, most notably to the island of Jamaica, where Fleming spent much of his life. The desk in his Caribbean house, Goldeneye, was also where his life experiences would be put onto paper in the guise of James Bond. As the island was highly influential for Fleming, it features heavily in this book, offering an element of escapism to the reader, with tales of a clear blue sea, Caribbean climate and island socialising. Ian Fleming might have died prematurely aged 53, but so much of him lives on to this day through the most famous spy in the world, James Bond.Trade ReviewThe reader is taken on a journey through Fleming's direct involvement in World War II intelligence and how this translated through his typewriter into James Bond's world, as well as the many other factors of Fleming's life which were also taken as inspiration.--Washington Times

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Book Synopsis'A vital and timely introduction to some of the best books I've ever read. Perfectly curated and filled with brilliant literature'Nikesh Shukla'The ultimate introduction to post-colonial literature for those who want to understand the classics and the pioneers in this exciting area of books'Symeon BrownThese are the books you should read. This is the canon.Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay have curated a decolonized reading list that celebrates the wide and diverse experiences of people from around the world, of all backgrounds and all races. It disrupts the all-too-often white-dominated 'required reading' collections that have become the accepted norm and highlights powerful voices and cultural perspectives that demand a place on our shelves.From literary giants such as Toni Morrison and Chinua Achebe to less well known (but equally vital) writers such as Caribbean novelist Earl Lovelace or Indigenous Australian author Tony Birch, the novels recommended here are in turn haunting and lyrical; innovative and inspiring; edgy and poignant.The power of great fiction is that readers have the opportunity to discover new worlds and encounter other beliefs and opinions. This is the Canon offers a rich and multifaceted perspective on our past, present and future which deserves to be read by all bibliophiles - whether they are book club members or solitary readers, self-educators or teachers.Trade ReviewA vital and timely introduction to some of the best books I've ever read. Perfectly curated and filled with brilliant literature. -- Nikesh ShuklaThe ultimate introduction to post-colonial literature for those who want to understand the classics and the pioneers in this exciting area of books -- Symeon BrownA beautiful opportunity to rethink your reading lists and discover books from around the world... Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay are well respected and explain their thoughts, reasoning, and hold their arms wide in welcoming you to This is the Canon -- LoveReading.co.uk

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Book SynopsisThis compelling historical novel spans the early and very formative years of feminist and women’s health activist Margaret Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, as she struggles to find her way amidst the harsh realities of poverty.Margaret was determined to get out. She didn’t want to clean the dirty dishes and soiled diapers that piled up day in and day out in her large family’s small home. She didn’t want to disappoint her ailing mother, who cared tirelessly for an ever-growing number of children despite her incessant cough. And Margaret certainly didn’t want to be labeled a girl of “promise,” destined to become either a teacher or a mother—which seemed to be a woman’s only options. As a feisty and opinionated young woman, Margaret Higgins Sanger witnessed and experienced incredible hardships, which led to her groundbreaking work as an advocate for women’s rights and the founder of Planned Parenthood. This fiery novel of Margaret’s early life paints the portrait of a young woman with the passion and courage to change the world.

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Book SynopsisThe first Sherlock Holmes adventure appeared in 1888, but today the detective is more popular than ever-witness the upcoming release of "Sherlock Holmes", starring Robert Downey Jr. as the legendary Victorian sleuth and Jude Law as his faithful chronicler, Dr. John H. Watson. For readers who dream of solving crimes in turn-of-the-century London, "The Sherlock Holmes Handbook" features skills that every would-be sleuth should know: How to Use Deductive Reasoning, How to Analyze Fingerprints - Without Computers, How to Master a Dozen Disguises, How to Survive a Plunge over a Waterfall, and How to Fake Your Own Death. Readers will also discover a host of information about Holmes and his universe: How was the real Scotland Yard organized? Could people really buy cocaine over-the-counter back then? And why were the British so terrified of Australia? Packed with fascinating trivia, evocative illustrations, and a classic Victorian design, "The Sherlock Holmes Handbook" will appeal to 'Baker Street Irregulars' of all ages.

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Book SynopsisFrom a nurse who sees a rattlesnake in the pediatric ICU to an animal control officer convinced she's found her abducted daughter in the house of a dog hoarder, the thirteen stories in Freak Weather are as unpredictable as the atmospheric changes that give this collection its name. With dark and raucous humor, Mary Kuryla creates female characters who, at times, combine a violent urgency with lack of introspection as they struggle to get out from under the thumb of a perceived authority. The intricate language is inseparable from the narrator's conviction; the characters lie with such bravado they're soon tangled up in their own webs. This brand of romanticism in a female character is little tolerated, and Freak Weather's mission - Kuryla's artistic mission overall - is to scratch at the intolerable. Call it bad instructions for moral behavior.

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Book SynopsisWho is Snape? What’s a horcrux? When did Sirius Black escape from Azkaban? Why was Hermione sorted into Gryffindor?It’s easy for new fans to get overwhelmed by the sprawling mythology and complexity of the Harry Potter movies and books. Unlike encyclopedias and guides that offer diehard fans trivia, details, and deep dives into every on-screen moment, this first-of-its-kind explainer is an easy, fun, and accessible introduction to the hundreds of characters, plots, and interconnected stories that make up one of the greatest pop culture franchises of all time. Maybe you’re a First Year and need an entry level class on the magical Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Are you trying to figure out why Slytherins are so slippery? Trying to parcel out parceltongue? Having trouble sorting out when Dumbledore battled Grindelwald? Or maybe you’re a confident Ravenclaw who wants to understand why it’s leviOsa, not levioSA! If you’re a Muggle, witch, or wizard looking for an easy entry into what literally everyone is talking about then this is the book for you. As the perfect and unauthorized resource to keep on hand when watching something for the first—or tenth—time, Smart Pop ExplainsHarry Potter Movies and Books to you like no one could!

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Book SynopsisWith 100 concise essays on significant novels and movie adaptations, ranging from classics to contemporary favorites, this new Salem edition will appeal to students of literature and film, not to mention movie lovers from every walk of life. This reference work brings value to students and teachers at the high school and undergraduate levels, and the essays can be used to complement individual or classroom study.

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Book SynopsisInspired Traveller’s Guides: Literary Places takes you on an enlightening journey through the key locations of literature’s best and brightest authors, movements and moments – brought to life through comprehensively researched text and stunning hand-drawn artwork. Travel journalist Sarah Baxter provides comprehensive and atmospheric outlines of the history and culture of 25 literary places around the globe, as well as how they intersect with the lives of the authors and the works that make them significant. Full-page colour illustrations instantly transport you to each location. You’ll find that these places are not just backdrops to the tales told, but characters in their own right. Travel to the sun-scorched plains of Don Quixote’s La Mancha, roam the wild Yorkshire moors with Cathy and Heathcliff or view Central Park through the eyes of J.D. Salinger’s antihero. Explore the lush and languid backwaters of Arundhati Roy’s Kerala, the imposing precipice of Joan Lindsay’s Hanging Rock and the labyrinthine streets and sewers of Victor Hugo’s Paris. Featured locations: Paris, Les Miserables Dublin, Ulysses Florence, A Room with a View Naples, My Brilliant Friend Berlin, Berlin Alexanderplatz Nordland, Growth of the Soil St Petersburg, Crime and Punishment Sierra de Guadarrama, For Whom the Bell Tolls La Mancha, Don Quixote Davos, The Magic Mountain Bath, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion London, Oliver Twist Yorkshire Moors, Wuthering Heights Cairo, Palace Walk Soweto, Burger's Daughter Kerala, The God of Small Things Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), The Quiet American Kabul, The Kite Runner Hanging Rock, Picnic at Hanging Rock New York, The Catcher in the Rye Monterey, Cannery Row Mississippi River, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Monroeville, To Kill a Mockingbird Cartagena, Love in the Time of Cholera Chile, The House of the Spirits Delve into this book to discover some of the world’s most fascinating literary places and the novels that celebrate them. Each book in the Inspired Traveller's Guides series offers readers a fascinating, informative and charmingly illustrated guide to must-visit destinations round the globe. Also from this series, explore intriguing: Artistic Places (March 2021), Spiritual Places, Hidden Places and Mystical Places.Trade Review"A slam-dunk for bibliophile armchair travelers." * Booklist *Table of Contents1. Paris, France – Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. Uncovering and exploring the settings of Hugo’s classic book – the sewers, bridges, the river Seine.2. Dublin, Ireland – James Joyce’s Ulysses. Discover Davy Byrne's pub, the iconic location where you can still drink in the spirit of Leopold Bloom.3. Florence, Italy – EM Forster’s A Room with a View. Exploring the city that sparked a young English woman’s awakening.4. Naples, Italy – Elsa Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend. A modern classic of two girls building a life on the outskirts of Naples. 5. Berlin, Germany – Alfred Doblin’s Berlin Alexanderplatz. Exploring the working-class neighbourhoods near the Alexanderplatz in 1920s Berlin. 6. Rural Norway – Knut Hamsun’s Growth of the Soil. Nobel Prize winning novel, exploring the relationship between settlers and the natural environment in 1920s Norway.7. St Petersburg, Russia – Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment. Follow in the footsteps of Raskolnikov roaming the back streets of the city.8. Sierra de Guadarrama, Spain – Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom The Bell Tolls. Setting for the classic Spanish Civil War story.9. La Mancha, Spain – Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. Explore the plains of Don Quixote, a founding work of modern Western literature.10. Davos, Switzerland – Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain. One of the most influential works of 20th-century German literature.11. Bath, UK – Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. A tour of Austen locations in the Georgian city.12. London, UK – Charles Dicken’s Oliver Twist. The city streets and site of the slums where Fagin’s gang lived.13. Yorkshire Moors, UK – Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights. Walk where Cathy and Heathcliff roamed.14. Cairo, Egypt – Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Palace Walk, part of the Nobel Prize winner's Cairo Trilogy, depicting the life of a family over three generations in Cairo.15. Soweto, South Africa – Nadine Gordimer’s Burger’s Daughter. The Nobel Prize winner's novel set in South Africa is about apartheid struggle.16. Kerala, India – Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. The Booker-winning novel follows the lives of twins, and captures many facets of Kerala life.17. Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam – Graham Greene’s The Quiet American. Featuring the street on which the protagonist and writer lived.18. Kabul, Afghanistan – Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. The setting for this evocative tale of two boys set against the fall of Afghanistan’s monarchy and the rise of the Taliban.19. Hanging Rock, Australia – Joan Lindsay’s Picnic at Hanging Rock. The real location of this classic novel.20. New York, USA – JD Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. Take a Holden Caulfield tour of NYC.21. Monterey, USA – John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row. The California street packed with Steinbeck resonance. 22. Mississippi River, USA – Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The mighty waterway, brimming with adventure and social significance.23. Monroeville, Alabama, USA – Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Lee's hometown, the inspiration for the setting of this classic novel.24. Cartagena, Colombia – Gabriel García Márquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera. Exploring locations used in the novel by the iconic Colombian author.25. Chile – Isabel Allende’s The House of Spirits. Evocative novel set in unnamed place but believed to be Santiago under Pinochet.

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Book SynopsisThe Daily Doctor is a page-a-day guide to living your best Time Lord life. As days turn to weeks turn to months, stay serene with your daily dose of the inspirational plans, pronouncements and principles that bring order this crazy and chaotic universe.From what it means to be human, when it's best to run and the best approach to filling your pockets, this book contains nothing less than the tao of Doctor Who - 365¼ hot tips on life and how to live it!

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Book SynopsisThe One Ring contains the entire epic and famously labyrinthine history of Middle Earth, taken from J.R.R. Tolkien's books (The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, as well as all the lesser known volumes), broken down into easy-to-absorb chunks, arranged in chronological order and fully explained. For the first time ever, fans of the films, TV series and books can benefit from: All the events of all Tolkien's books slotted into a timeline from the very start to the very finish, with narrative arcs outlined Easy-reference lists of the players, places, gods, weapons, magical tools, creatures - and much more. Explanation of why certain actions were highlighted in the narrative, for example how Gimli the Dwarf being given three strands of golden hair by the Lady Galadriel would have sent shockwaves through the elven community Resolution of confusing issues, eg multiple names in different languages being given to the same characters and places Around 140 full-colour illustration details, diagrams and graphics to help make concepts clearer. Offering the complex history, mythology and geography of Middle Earth in bite-sized super-accessible form, this is an unusual and compelling approach to Tolkien's work and a must for all his fans.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the wisdom of your inner Ravenclaw with this official, year-long guided journal inspired by the beloved Harry Potter films.In the Harry Potter films, students sorted into the house of Ravenclaw are known for their wisdom, wit and intelligence. Now, fans of the iconic film series can embrace their inner Ravenclaw with this deluxe guided journal. Featuring classic Ravenclaw iconography, this year-long journal includes a mix of one-line-a-day activities, lists and free-writing prompts to help fans tap into and develop the key trait that makes Ravenclaws so special: their wisdom. With film quotes from famous Ravenclaws throughout and prompts and activities inspired by key scenes from the movies, this thoughtful journal offers Harry Potter fans a space for self-reflection, evaluation and empowerment inspired by the movies they love.

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Book Synopsis*Please note this is not a novel, but a companion book for Reacher fans*NOW UPDATED TO INCLUDE A Q&A WITH LEE CHILD AND ALAN RITCHSON, STAR OF PRIME TV'S HIT SERIES, REACHERMy name is Jack Reacher.No middle name, no address.I'm a man with a rule. People leave me alone, I leave them alone. If they don't, I don't.As every Reacher fan knows, you don't have to break the rules if you make the rules.Rule 1. NEVER VOLUNTEER FOR ANYTHINGRule 2: BE ON YOUR FEET AND READYRule 3. SHOW THEM WHAT THEY'RE MESSING WITH Rule 4: DON'T BREAK THE FURNITURERule 5: IF IN DOUBT, DRINK COFFEE'There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes'MICK HERRONTrade ReviewJack Reacher is today's James Bond, a thriller hero we can't get enough of. * Ken Follett *Everyone needs to kick some butt sometimes, even if it's just imaginary. * Jojo Moyes *There's only one Jack Reacher. Accept no substitutes. * Mick Herron *One of the thriller genre's great heroes...Women love him as much as men...a new version of the righteous avenger, a Robin Hood for our troubled times...we all want to be Jack Reacher. * Daily Telegraph *Jack is Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis all rolled into one, a superman for our time. * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisThe world of books in one little book. It doesn't matter how well read you are, A Little Book About Books is packed full of quotes, one-liners and famous lines from names that everyone will recognise. For bibliophiles, they'll enjoy recognising their favourite passages and authors, all captured in one place. For the less-well-read, they can enjoy discovering new, illuminating quotes and passages that will provide guidance, humour and food for thought.Enjoy exploring the world of books, and the power of writing, in one small, perfectly giftable book.SAMPLE QUOTES: 'Let us read and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.' -Voltaire. 'Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.' - A. A. Milne. 'There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book' - Marcel Proust. 'When I think about how I understand my role as citizen, setting aside being president... the most important stuff I've learned I think I've learned from novels.' - Barack Obama.Table of ContentsOne Liners • The Magic of Books • The Power of Words & Writing • A Precious Gift • Mirrors of the Soul • Famous Lines from Famous Books.

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Book SynopsisThe foxes and their tricksy friends collect up all the sparks of joy and inspiration that flow out into the world as we dance, picnic, swim, play and tell stories in the warm summer days. They take the sparks and hide them around the world for others to find. Meanwhile Grandmother Badger watches over it all and sews what she sees.

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Book SynopsisDangerous, dark and difficult to detect, poisons have been a common character in literature from ancient times to the modern day. Their ability to perform deadly deeds at a distance is a common device for creating dramatic tension and playing on our real life fears. But what is fact and what is pure fiction? From Shakespeare and Dickens to Hugo and Poe, the macabre world of literary poisonings is as large as it is fascinating. Utilising real forensic science Poisonous Tales explores the real science inspiring the toxins and tinctures in our favourite works. Could a poison really mimic death in Romeo and Juliet? What is the cause of the mad Hatter’s malady in Alice in Wonderland? And could a stone from the stomach of a goat really have been used as an antidote in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Through these and many more ‘cases’ we discover the captivating truth in the texts and how real-life tragedies can replicate themselves in fiction.Table of ContentsUseful Herb or Dreadful Poison;The Cry of Death;A Ghostly Encounter with Poison;The Flattering Truth of Sleep;The Queen of Poisons;Outfoxed by Digitalis;Poison for a Broken Heart;The Power to Heal as well as Harm;Beautiful but Deadly;Nature’s Toxic Gift;Mad as a Hatter;The Silent Killer

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Book SynopsisOur fascination with the vampire myth has scarcely diminished since Bram Stoker’s publication of the classic Dracula tale in 1897, but how much of the lore is based in fact and can science explain the origins of horror’s most famous fiend? Vampirology charts the murky waters of the vampire myth – from stories found in many cultures across the globe to our sympathetic pop-culture renditions today – to investigate how a scientific interpretation may shed light on the fears and phenomena of the vampire myth.Trade ReviewFascinating, compelling and informative, Vampirology is a must-read for fans of vampire media, regardless of the form! -- A. P. Sylvia * Journal of Vampire Studies *I simply couldn't get enough of Katheryn Harkup’s fascinating, sparkling and erudite account of the history of the vampire. Using actual accounts she demonstrates how the vampire myth spread like a contagion - gossip and rumour mixed with a very modern taste for sensation. How every country and region has its own particularly variety of the blood-sucker, from the upior and the vrykolas to the Romanian Striogi. And how this area of the world became a melting pot for the superstitions that would give birth to Dracula. She takes us through the endlessly shifting criteria - the Rules of the Beast, as it were - which govern the existence of the vampire: shape-shifting, sunlight and the primary importance of blood itself. She also examines in detail the physical processes of decay and how their misinterpretation could lead the credulous to believe their dear-departed were not so departed after all… As compulsively readable as a bloated undead feasting on a fresh corpse, this is an absolute must for all children of the night out there. The blood is the life! -- Mark Gatiss, writer, actor, director and co-creator of BBC’s DraculaTable of ContentsPrologue; Evolution; Vampirology; Undead; Blood; Sunlight; Supernatural; Shapeshifting; Disease; Species; Vampiroids; Prevention; Slaying; Epilogue

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Book SynopsisCricket, Fiction and Nation examines how cricket has been used by fiction writers from the early nineteenth century to the present day to explore matters such as national identity, class, sexuality, murder, suicide, empire, migration and the global post-colonial world.

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Book SynopsisSpewing filth and fury since 1988, celebrate the 20th anniversary of Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett's foul-mouthed, anarchic creation with "The Cream of Tank Girl"!Boasting tons of unseen artwork, rarely seen comic strips, every Jamie Hewlett "Tank Girl" cover ever, publicity posters, script samples and more besides, this is the ultimate guide to Tank Girl and her world!Bask in the glory of exclusive new commentary from writer Alan Martin! Shiver with pleasure at the sight of rarely seen drawings by Gorillaz genius Jamie Hewlett! Have a nice cup of tea whilst studying the recipe page! Verily, "The Cream of Tank Girl" is a smorgasbord of Tank Girl-osity.Trade Review"THE CREAM OF TANK GIRL is an impressive work for sure. Mostly impressive because of its display of the mad brilliance of Jamie Hewlett's artwork. Each page is just chock full of Hewlett's masterful cartoon work and it puts so much of comicdom to shame. There is just page after page of beautifully produced material here and it's breathtaking for someone like myself who is such a huge fan of Hewlett's work. Any cartoonist or fan of cartoon art would do themselves a favor by picking this book up as it shows a master at the top of his game.It was a joy for me to read and look at. With the publication of WATCHING THE WATCHMEN and THE CREAM OF TANK GIRL I think Titan Books has put out two of the best books about comics I've ever seen." Ain't It Cool News

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Book Synopsis‘Everything you ever wanted to know about cats in books. A wonderful idea, beautifully executed.’ - Viv Groskop Cats have provided the inspiration for an incredible range of fiction, memoir and poetry, from ancient myths and fables to much-loved children’s books, and from classic tales to contemporary novels. Featuring such famous feline characters as Puss in Boots, Tom Kitten, Pangur Bán, the Cheshire Cat, Macavity, Pluto and Bob the street cat, this light-hearted book is a whirlwind journey through the history of literary cats, uncovering their domestication, early cultural beginnings and religious associations, exploring their roles in different literary genres and revealing some real-life authors’ cats, including those belonging to Edgar Allen Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Patricia Highsmith and Muriel Spark. A section on cats in world literature introduces narrator cats and cat companions from Japan, Eastern Europe, France, Greece, Germany and Finland, demonstrating their enduring worldwide appeal. A must for all cat-lovers, this book celebrates the inspirational connections between our favourite feline friends and the literary imagination.Table of ContentsContents Introduction Felines of Note Classic Cats Poetical Cats Books for Kittens Talking Cats Authors and their Cats Astrocats Cats in Fact Cats in Translation Notes Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe majority of the pretty villages that make up Midsomer country areactually strewn over four counties - Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshireand Oxfordshire. Here for the first time is a comprehensive guide to thegorgeous locations used in filming the series.From Aldbury to Windsor, this book, published in conjunction with theMidsomer Murders Society, surveys over one hundred of these picturesquelocations, complete with filming anecdotes. However, it concentratesprimarily on the historical aspects of each site, most of which are open to thepublic and worth a visit in their own right. The guide is fully indexed bycounty and episode, and covers everything from public houses to churchesand stately homes. Midsomer Murders on Location is extensively illustratedand contains maps to assist the reader in planning their own visit.This book is a must for all Midsomer Murders enthusiasts as well asthose interested in visiting some of England''s finest countryside. Published in conjunction with The Midsomer Murders Society and Bentley Productions.

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Book SynopsisThe definitive tour guide for anyone looking to retrace the steps, physically or virtually, of Arthur Conan Doyle during his time in Devon and see the places that inspired the Sherlock Holmes stories. The book features a comprehensive tour map with GPS co-ordinates for around thirty key sites. Arthur Conan Doyle is best remembered for writing sixty tales that feature his legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes. Between 1882 and 1923, Doyle visited Devon on no fewer than ten occasions and he resided there for some four months in total.

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Book SynopsisEver since Arthur Conan Doyle created the pipe-smoking, deer-stalkered character, Sherlock Holmes, he has become a part of popular culture for generations, and here every aspect of the legendary detective is investigated. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide-range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.Table of ContentsIntroduction The Doyle Family - Background of the author Literary beginnings - Conan Doyle at school Dr Joseph Bell - Mentor and model for Holmes The doctor who wanted to write - Conan Doyle sets up practice in Southsea Who came before? - Other literary detectives A Study in Scarlet - How Sherlock Holmes was born A slow birth process - Beeton's Christmas Annual 1887 Holmes described - Appearance, character and background Watson described - Appearance, character and background Holmes' Baker Street - Numbers and complications So many choices - The search for 221B The Sign of (the) Four - The story of the follow-up novel Evocative of its time - Conan Doyle's London The Strand Magazine - Reading for the masses Sidney Paget - The first great Holmes illustrator The human side - Re-introduction of Holmes Central attraction - Why Holmes still works today Deduction - It's a science Mycroft Holmes - Sherlock's big brother Mrs Hudson - The long-suffering landlady Scotland Yarders - Lestrade and all the rest Professor Moriarty - The Napoleon of Crime Women and Holmes - What he really thought of them Holmes' literary tastes - What he reads and what he recommends Holmes' musical tastes - The detective takes time to relax A rare actor - Sherlock Holmes in disguise Town versus country - Holmes, the city-dweller Expert monographs - Holmes, the writer Great quotations - Holmes, the brilliant conversationalist The early plots - Short story breakdown, Part 1 Holmes is critical - Watson's writing analysed Increasing returns - Conan Doyle and his considerable earnings Reichenbach beckoned - The killing of Sherlock Holmes Start of something - The Holmes phenomenon First parodies - Sherlock Holmes becomes a copied man The footlights - Holmes takes to the stage Sherlock Holmes - The play that became Gillette's great success The Hound looms - The return of the detective It was inevitable - The story of the real return The Return of Sherlock Holmes - Short story breakdown, Part 2 The start of scholarship - Something new in detective fiction The bright Ronald Knox - 'Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes' Baffled! - Holmes in the silent film era Output dwindles - The story of writing His Last Bow His Last Bow - Short story breakdown, Part 3 Post Gillette's masterpiece - More Holmes on stage, Part 1 Spiritualism dominates - Conan Doyle and his religious beliefs The final demise - Conan Doyle's last decade of writing The Case-book of Sherlock Holmes - Short story breakdown, Part 4 Mystery stories - And yet another three? The 'talkies' - The arrival of film with sound Rathbone arrives - A triumph before typecasting Rathbone runs away - The Rathbone-Bruce partnership ends Up to date - More Holmes on stage, Part 2 The birth of societies - With their roots firmly in scholarship An insatiable appetite - Holmes and modern media Enduring appeal - Holmes in the 21st century Epilogue - Remembering Conan Doyle Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisYou don't know Jack--Jack Reacher, that is ...In The Jack Reacher Field Manual: An Unofficial Companion to Lee Child's Reacher Novels, from ex-Army major and New York Times bestselling author George Beahm, get up-close and personal with Reacher like never before. The only book of its kind, the Field Manual draws on 17 years of interviews, novels, stories, and more to demystify author Lee Child's larger-than-life, name-taking, quick-thinking one-man avenger. Child calls the Reacher novels "almost entirely autobiographical," and The Jack Reacher Field Manual seamlessly integrates the literary creator and his creation to provide the most complete portrait of Jack Reacher available. Dive into Jack Reacher's life with: - A detailed dossier on Reacher and his life at West Point and in the Army's Military Police Corps - Reacher's rules of engagement, including how he handles a street brawl - A full-color drifter's roadmap of the US, detailing the places Reacher has visited in the novels - Reacher's philosophy for surviving under the radar - A biography on Child and an A-to-Z list of the key people, places, and things in his life - And more, including a glossary of US Army acronyms that appear in the series and a comprehensive reading list of Reacher novels, novellas, and stories The Jack Reacher Field Manual belongs in the fatigue jacket of any fan craving more information about this internationally popular literary antihero.

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Book SynopsisIn the stillness of the air every tree, everyeaf, every bough, every tendril of creeper and every petal of minute blossoms seemed to have been bewitched into an immobility perfect and final. Nothing moved on the river but the eight paddles that rose flashing regularly, dipped together with a single splashSomewhere deep in the jungles, in a boat anchored on aagoon, a manistens to the doomedove story of his friend and his dyingover. In an apple orchard, a philosopher tries hard to decipher the codes ofove,ittle realizing that he is ruining his own chances. With stories from writersike O. Henry, Joseph Conrad, Guy de Maupassant, Anton Chekov and others, this collection brings alive the many shades ofove, from the heartbreaking to the joyous.

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Book SynopsisThe Definitive Tagore, a collection of Tagore''s finest works, includes some of his most famous writings such as Chokher Bali, a classic exposition of an extramarital affair that takes place within the confines of a joint family; Gitanjali, verses from his Nobel Prize winning composition; Nationalism, an acclaimed essay which calls for a future based on racial tolerance and cooperation between people everywhere and some of his best-known stories, including The Hungry Stones'', a gripping tale of the supernatural and The Cabuliwallah'', a poignant portrayal of an adored character of Indian fiction.Encompassing works of one of the most influential writers of the modern era, this selection will give a glimpse into the mind of a visionary and some of his path-breaking ideas.

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Book SynopsisThirteen-year-oldaila is mad about cricket, but ever since her favourite player admitted to match-fixing, she wonders if she couldove the game again. All this is complicated further when she discovers that her school is going to be home to the town''s first ever girls'' cricket club. Can her hero''s betrayal and herove for the game coexist? Meanwhile, working on a school project about their town''s historical spots,aila and her friends stumble upon a series of apparently unrelated questions that point to a mystery just begging to be solved. What is the secret behind the new owners ofaila''s erstwhile secret hideout, old mister Marshall''s house? Who are the anonymous benefactors who have sponsored the renovation ofaila''s school? What is the secret behind the new girl jasmine''s grumpiness and why is she so good at cricket?aced with a niggling mystery, some nail-biting cricket and a few precarious friendships, this book is sure toeave you asking for more.

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Book SynopsisThe Daffodil Case brings together the best of Ruskin Bond''s fiction and non-fiction. From the thoroughly delightful Dinner with Foster'' and Who Kissed Me in the Dark'' to spooky talesike A Fright in the Night'' and Wilson''s Bridge'', and classicsike Death of a Familiar'', Voting at Barlowganj'' and My Father''s Trees in Dehra''this volume is a selection of some of Bond''s best works. One of India''s most prolific writers, Ruskin Bond creates a charming portrait of the quiet, unhurriedife for his readers with this collection.

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