Literary companions, book reviews and guides Books

991 products


  • The Battle for Middleearth Tolkiens Divine Design

    William B Eerdmans Publishing Co The Battle for Middleearth Tolkiens Divine Design

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis

    Out of stock

    £18.99

  • The Book Club Journal: All the Books You've Read,

    Adams Media Corporation The Book Club Journal: All the Books You've Read,

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisKeep track of your book club selections and record your latest literary adventures with this reading journal to stay organized for your next meeting! Book clubs are a great way to read new books and discover different genres and new topics that you may not be too familiar with. You can share your thoughts in a social setting and enjoy interesting conversations that might open your eyes to other opinions about the book. But all too often we forget the best details once the book is finished and put back on the shelf. With The Book Club Journal, you can collect and remember all your important thoughts and feelings so that you can reflect on them for future meetings or rereadings. Made specifically for book club members, this journal has prompts for all the basic book stats, such as the title, author, and who suggested the book, along with book club specific questions like “How does this book compare with the titles we have read previously?” This fun and useful journal also includes reference pages with lists of classic book club must-reads, and room for you to create your very own to-read list.

    Out of stock

    £11.04

  • The Crucible York Notes for GCSE Grades AG

    Pearson Education The Crucible York Notes for GCSE Grades AG

    1 in stock

    Table of Contents Part 1: Induction Part 2: Plot and Action Part 3: Characters Part 4: Key Contexts and Themes Part 5: Language and Structure Part 6: Grade Booster Literacy Terms

    1 in stock

    £7.71

  • A Christmas Carol York Notes for GCSE  everything

    Pearson Education Limited A Christmas Carol York Notes for GCSE everything

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis updated edition is designed to support students in study and revision for the new GCSE (9-1) English Literature exams. Table of Contents Part 1: Induction Part 2: Plot and Action Part 3: Characters Part 4: Key Contexts and Themes Part 5: Language and Structure Part 6: Grade Booster Literacy Terms

    15 in stock

    £6.50

  • Twelfth Night York Notes for AS  A2

    Pearson Education Twelfth Night York Notes for AS A2

    10 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of Contents Part 1: Introducing Twelfth Night Part 2: Studying Twelfth Night Part 3: Characters and Themes Part 4: Structure, Form and Language Part 5: Contexts and Critical Debates Part 6: Grade Booster Essential Study Tools

    10 in stock

    £7.99

  • The Hooded Gunman An Illustrated History of

    HarperCollins Publishers The Hooded Gunman An Illustrated History of

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWinner of the 2019 H.R.F. Keating Award for best biography or critical book related to crime fiction!A lavish full-colour celebration of the 2000 books by more than 250 authors published by the iconic Crime Club between 1930 and 1994.The Hooded Gunman was the sinister figure who, having appeared in various guises on the covers of Collins' various series of Mystery and Detective books in the 1920s, finally gained recognition with the launch of Collins' Crime Club, becoming the definitive imprint stamp on more than 2,000 books published by that august imprint between 1930 and 1994. From Agatha Christie to Reginald Hill, the Hooded Gunman was a guarantee of a first-class crime novel for almost 65 years, and those books are now as sought after and collectable and almost any other book series, with many commanding high prices and almost impossible to find.In the year that Collins the publisher founded by William Collins in Glasgow in 1819 is enjoying its 200th birthday, this book celebratTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR AGATHA CHRISTIE’S SECRET NOTEBOOKS: 'Many of Curran's discoveries will shape how Christie is read in future… This book is fascinating.' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY ‘Agatha Christie’s notebooks have had to wait for the meticulous attention, dedication and prodigious knowledge of John Curran to achieve publication.’ THE TIMES ‘A meticulously detailed study that is packed with shrewd perceptions about Christie's fiction… Curran has produced an enthralling miscellany of a book, in which her fans will rummage to their heart's content.' SUNDAY TIMES 'Curran has organized his material as efficiently as an Agatha Christie mystery… His enthusiasm for his subject carries us along.' IRISH TIMES

    1 in stock

    £34.00

  • The 100 Best Novels: In English

    Galileo Publishers The 100 Best Novels: In English

    1 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • Medieval Latin and French Bestiaries

    MP-NCA Uni of North Carolina Medieval Latin and French Bestiaries

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis is the first English-language study of bestiaries, mediaeval works that described and illustrated animals, birds, and other creatures. Florence McCulloch describes the nature of the Latin Physiologus, which is frequently cited as among the earliest examples of serious works of natural history.

    1 in stock

    £27.96

  • Conundrums for the Long Week-End: England,

    Kent State University Press Conundrums for the Long Week-End: England,

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisLord Peter Wimsey-amateur detective, man of fashion, talented musician, and wealthy intellectual-is known to legions of readers. His enduring presence and popularity is a tribute to his creator, Dorothy L. Sayers, who brought Lord Peter to life during “the long week-end” between the First and Second World Wars, as British aristocracy began to change, making way for a modern world.In Conundrums for the Long Week-End, Robert McGregor and Ethan Lewis explore how Sayers used her fictional hero to comment on, and come to terms with, the social upheaval of the time: world wars, the crumbling of the privileged aristocracy, the rise of democracy, and the expanding struggle of women for equality.

    Out of stock

    £29.66

  • The Sweet and the Bitter: Death and Dying in J.

    Kent State University Press The Sweet and the Bitter: Death and Dying in J.

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisIn 1956, J. R. R. Tolkien famously stated that the real theme of The Lord of the Rings was "Death and Immortality." The deaths that underscore so much of the subject matter of Tolkien's masterpiece have a great deal to teach us. From the heroic to the humble, Tolkien draws on medieval concepts of death and dying to explore the glory and sorrow of human mortality. Three great themes of death link medieval Northern European culture, The Lord of the Rings, and contemporary culture: the way in which we die, the need to remember the dead, and above all the lingering apprehension of what happens after death. Like our medieval ancestors, we still talk about what it means to die as a hero, a traitor, or a coward; we still make decisions about ways to honor and remember the departed; and we continue to seek to appease and contain the dead. These themes suggest a latent resonance between medieval and modern cultures and raise an issue not generally discussed in contemporary Western society: our deeply rooted belief that how one dies in some way matters.While Tolkien, as a medieval scholar, naturally draws much of his inspiration from the literature, folklore, and legends of the Middle Ages, the popularity of his work affirms that modern audiences continue to find these tropes relevant and useful. From ideas of "good" and "bad" deaths to proper commemoration and disposal of the dead, and even to ghost stories, real people find comfort in the ideas about death and dying that Tolkien explores."The Sweet and the Bitter": Death and Dying in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings examines the ways in which Tolkien's masterwork makes visible the connections between medieval and modern conceptions of dying and analyzes how contemporary readers use The Lord of the Rings as a tool for dealing with death.Trade Review"[Although Amendt-Raduege] supports her arguments with a wide array of scholarly sources, her clear prose and explanations render this text truly accessible to the general reader. . . . Such a volume serves an important function at any time in the human experience. Amendt-Raduege has crafted a powerful, extended meditation on facing the end of life, preparing for a good death, avoiding a bad one, and memorializing those who have passed from this world. General fans of The Lord of the Rings as well as specialists will appreciate this book." — Journal of Tolkien Research"Amendt-Raduege has produced an insightful and comprehensive study on the thematic and contextual importance of death in Tolkien's work.... The strength of [her] book lies in its series of interconnected close readings. She devotes a significant amount of attention to each character and culture of Middle-earth, parsing their differences and similarities. Additionally, the robust historical context, which draws on both medieval and twentieth-century history, enhances the significance of her conclusions. The Sweet and the Bitter is an impressive achievement: focused, nuanced, and comprehensive, and it marks what I hope will continue to be a growing area of research in Tolkien studies." — Fafnir: Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research"Amendt-Raduege's treatment of Tolkien's use of death and dying reminds the reader that death is not trivial, no matter how common or abundant it may feel. She employs literary criticism, but her work is not bloated with technical jargon. The book is a piece of scholarship, and yet accessible to the curious fan of Middle-earth and its unique influences."—Journal of Faith and the Academy

    1 in stock

    £24.71

  • Thou Shalt Not Speak My Language

    John Wiley & Sons Thou Shalt Not Speak My Language

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe act of translation and bilingualism are steeped in a tension between surrender and conquest, yielding conscious and unconscious effects on language. First published in 2002, Abdelfattah Kilito's Thou Shall Not Speak My Language explores this tension in his address of the dynamics of literary influence and canon formation within the Arabic literary tradition.

    Out of stock

    £16.10

  • Women Writers of Meiji and Taisho Japan Their

    McFarland & Co Inc Women Writers of Meiji and Taisho Japan Their

    Out of stock

    Book SynopsisThe Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926), periods in Japanese history saw changes in both the way women wrote and the way they were read. This study of the women who wrote in the modern era examines writers within the context of their moments in time and their influence on later generations of Japanese women writers.Trade ReviewA valuable aid." —Choice"Truly a cause for celebration.." —Public Library Quarterly"A study of creative women writers of the Meiji." —Japan Quarterly"Significant contributions to the field of Japanese literature." —Monumenta Nipponica

    Out of stock

    £27.54

  • Spark Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas The

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisWhen an essay is due and dreaded exams loom, this title offers students what they need to succeed. It provides chapter-by-chapter analysis, explanations of key themes, motifs, and symbols, a review quiz and essay topics. It is suitable for late-night studying and paper writing.

    5 in stock

    £5.99

  • The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and

    Granta Books The Possessed: Adventures with Russian Books and

    10 in stock

    Book Synopsis'The funniest book I've read in a long time: its deadpan, dry humour and its accumulation of absurdities will leave you rolling on your floor with laughter' The Times She thought she was a lover of the great classics of Russian literature - until she met the superfans... Roaming from Tashkent to San Francisco, this is the true story of one budding writer's strange encounters with the fanatics who are devoted - absurdly! melancholically! ecstatically! - to the Russian classics. Combining fresh readings of the great Russians from Tolstoy to Dostoevsky with the sad and funny stories of the lives they continue to influence, The Possessed is comic, humane, charming, poignant and full of an infectious love for literature. 'Dazzlingly good... Very bookish, very clever and very funny... A preposterously engaging volume' Jane Shilling, Sunday Telegraph 'The highest compliment you can pay such a book is that it sends you back to the original authors refreshed. I can go one higher - I found myself simply wanting to read more from Elif Batuman' Evening Standard 'An intoxicating mix of travel memoir, autobiography, literary criticism and philosophy... Charming and hilarious' Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewWildly original, creatively rambling... the funniest book I've read in a long time: its deadpan, dry humour and its accumulation of absurdities will leave you rolling on your floor with laughter * The Times *Dazzlingly good ... very bookish, very clever and very funny ... [The Possessed is] a preposterously engaging volume -- Jane Shilling * Sunday Telegraph *The highest compliment you can pay such a book is that it sends you back to the original authors refreshed. I can go one higher - I found myself simply wanting to read more from Elif Batuman * Evening Standard *An intoxicating mix of travel memoir, autobiography, literary criticism and philosophy... charming and hilarious * Daily Telegraph *Deeply clever and very funny * Guardian *Elif Batuman seems at home in that borderland between tragedy and comedy the great Russian writers colonised. The Possessed is insightful, poignant and very funny -- James MeekWise and delightfully funny -- Rachel PolonskyCharming, complex and life-enhancing -- Sarah Bakewell * Sunday Times *Hilarious, wide-ranging, erudite, and memorable * New York Times Book Review *Odd and oddly profound ... she's the kind of reader who sends you back to your bookshelves with a sublime buzz in your head. You want to feel what she's feeling. It's tempting to keep quoting her book forever * New York Times *A vividly engaging travelogue-cum-memoir ... Batuman is an astute observer with a terrific sense of humour and immense bravado -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *Batuman's refreshingly unlikely memoir recounts how she decided to devote her life to studying the great Russian novelists ... the result is the funniest book you're ever likely to read about Russian fiction -- Robert Collins * Sunday Times *The Possessed weaves anecdotes and literary criticism around Batuman's tales of her adventures in America, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Russia ... In some complicated way, this is a book about the relationship between art and life. But it's also a simple book about the relationship between art and life. Or, rather, it's a complicated book about the simple relationship between the two. In the end, all memoirs tend to end up as a defence of something. Batuman's is a defence of reading as a form of living -- Ian Sansom * Guardian *An eccentric, funny and always perceptive account of the authors long time immersion in the classics of Russian literature * Observer *I loved Batuman's quirky and perceptive account of her passion for Russian literature ... A move away from objective criticism towards the personal and what books actually mean to people, it is hugely appealing -- Lesley McDowell * Sunday Herald *Told in nimble and often funny prose * Guardian *Batuman's very different sentimental education is a wryly brilliant portrait of herself as a young Turkish intellectual emerging among American and Uzbek Russianists and rogues -- Selected by Fiona Sampson as a book of the year * New Statesman *

    10 in stock

    £9.49

  • Turquoise Blank Artisan Notebook (Flame Tree

    Flame Tree Publishing Turquoise Blank Artisan Notebook (Flame Tree

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisBlank Artisan Notebooks, the new Journals from Flame Tree in a range of hues to suit the mood and the moment. They’re hand crafted with decorated edges overflowing with petals, teasing vines and patterns. A unique blend of the practical and beautiful, with two ribbons and unlined pages, the Blank Artisan Notebooks are perfect for notes, creative writing, poetry, sketches and doodles. And, with robust flexi covers, they’re easy to slip into your bag, a pleasure to use. Simply, they feel good! Flame Tree: The Art of Fine Gifts.

    1 in stock

    £11.21

  • Explorons LEtranger dAlbert Camus

    McFarland & Co Inc Explorons LEtranger dAlbert Camus

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis L''Etranger (The Stranger) by Albert Camus is one of the most read twentieth-century novels and is studied around the world. This workbook provides students with tools that are essential to read and study L''Etranger in its original French language. Formulated for advanced reading levels, this book includes a chapter-by-chapter study of L''Etranger along with 220 vocabulary, grammar and comprehension activities that incorporate strategies to support various learning needs and styles. Biographical and historical contexts are also included, as well as the outlines of Camus'' philosophy in relation to the novel.Table of ContentsTable des matièresAcknowledgmentsNote to the StudentIntroductionL'auteur, son temps, son œuvre, sa philosophie (Albert Camus Le contexte historique La chronologie L'existentialisme L'absurde et la révolte Le résumé de L'Étranger)Les activités de prélecture (Le vocabulaire pour parler d'un roman Les normes de la société Le titre L'Étranger Le personnage de Meursault Le Mythe de Sisyphe L'introduction au roman)Les activités au cours de la lecture (Les personnages Les grands thèmes de l'existentialisme)Première partieChapitre 1Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Les synonymes Exercice à trous)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)À vos plumes (À l'asile)Grammaire (Les adjectifs possessifs Les pronoms relatifs Les temps du passé)Chapitre 2Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Les synonymes Exercice à trous)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2)À vos plumes (Une lettre à Meursault)Grammaire (Les prépositions et les articles Les adjectifs qualificatifs Les adverbes L'impératif Les temps du passé)Chapitre 3Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2)À vos plumes (Une lettre à la Mauresque)Grammaire (Les adjectifs possessifs Les pronoms relatifs [1, 2] Le subjonctif, l'indicatif ou l'infinitif Les temps du passé)Chapitre 4Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste Les synonymes Exercice à trous)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)À vos plumes (Le témoignage contre la Mauresque)Grammaire (Les adverbes L'imparfait ou le conditionnel Lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles)Chapitre 5Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste [1, 2] Les synonymes)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4)À vos plumes (Une lettre d'amour)Grammaire (Les pronoms d'objet direct, indirect, y, en Les temps du passé Le subjonctif, l'indicatif ou l'infinitif)Chapitre 6Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste Exercice à trous Les synonymes)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3)À vos plumes (En chanson La scène du meurtre)Grammaire (Les adjectifs possessifs L'imparfait ou le conditionnel le présent ou le futur Les temps du passé [1, 2])Conclusion de la première partieFiche de lectureCompréhension (Vrai ou faux)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4)Deuxième partieChapitre 1Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste Les synonymes Exercice à trous)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3)À vos plumes (Au commissariat de police)Grammaire (La voix passive Les temps du passé L'imparfaitle conditionnel)Chapitre 2Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste [1, 2] Les synonymes)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4)À vos plumes (L'article sur le Tchécoslovaque)Grammaire (Les pronoms relatifs Les pronoms d'objet direct, indirect, y, en)Chapitre 3Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Les synonymes Le mot juste Exercice à trous [1, 2])Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)À vos plumes (L'avocat de Meursault Pour ou contre Meursault)Grammaire (Les mots interrogatifs Les pronoms relatifs subjonctif, l'indicatif ou l'infinitif)Chapitre 4Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste [1, 2] Les synonymes)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)À vos plumes (Vous êtes journaliste Au tribunal)Grammaire (Les pronoms d'objet direct, indirect, y, en L'imparfait ou le conditionnel Le présent ou le futur de l'indicatif)Chapitre 5Fiche de lectureVocabulaire (Quelques révisions Le mot juste Les synonymes Exercice à trous)Compréhension (Vrai ou faux Le bon choix Testez vos acquis)Discussion (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)À vos plumes (En prison Débat)Grammaire (Les temps du passé Les pronoms relatifs Les pronoms d'objet direct, indirect, y, en)Conclusion1. Pour aller plus loin sur L'Étranger2. L'indifférence du monde3. L'existence, la révolte et la liberté4. Questions supplémentairesBibliographie sélective avec suggestionsDe CamusSur CamusSur le travail de CamusSur L'ÉtrangerAdaptations de L'Étranger

    Out of stock

    £14.24

  • The Bite the Breast and the Blood

    McFarland & Co Inc The Bite the Breast and the Blood

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis Central to every vampire story is the undead''s need for human blood, but equally compelling is the human ingestion of vampire blood, which often creates a bond. This blood connection suggests two primal, natural desires: breastfeeding and communion with God through a blood covenant. This analysis of vampire stories explores the benefits of the bonding experiences of breastfeeding and Christian and vampire narratives, arguing that modern readers and viewers are drawn to this genre because of our innate fascination with the relationship between human and maker.

    Out of stock

    £32.39

  • This is the Canon: Decolonize Your Bookshelves in

    Quercus Publishing This is the Canon: Decolonize Your Bookshelves in

    Out of stock

    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

    Out of stock

    £15.29

  • SPELLING PUNCTUATION  GRAMMAR WORKBOOK  the ideal

    Pearson Education Limited SPELLING PUNCTUATION GRAMMAR WORKBOOK the ideal

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFind everything you need to achieve your full potential with York Notes for GCSE Study Guides, now updated for GCSE (9-1).

    15 in stock

    £6.50

  • Northanger Abbey York Notes for AS  A2

    Pearson Education Northanger Abbey York Notes for AS A2

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisTable of Contents Part 1: Introducing Northanger Abbey Part 2: Studying Northanger Abbey Part 3: Characters and Themes Part 4: Structure, Form and Language Part 5: Contexts and Critical Debates Part 6: Grade Booster Essential Study Tools

    3 in stock

    £7.99

  • Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde York Notes for GCSE

    Pearson Education Limited Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde York Notes for GCSE

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThis updated edition is designed to support students in study and revision for the new GCSE (9-1) English Literature exams.Table of Contents Part 1: Induction Part 2: Plot and Action Part 3: Characters Part 4: Key Contexts and Themes Part 5: Language and Structure Part 6: Grade Booster Literacy Terms

    15 in stock

    £6.50

  • The Food Almanac: Volume Two

    HarperCollins Publishers The Food Almanac: Volume Two

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe Food Almanac II is an annual, seasonal collection of recipes and stories celebrating the joy of food – a dazzling, diverse mix of memoir, history, short stories and poems alongside recipes, cooking tips, menus and reading lists. Following on from The Food Almanac, which was shortlisted for the Jane Grigson Trust Award and the Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink Awards and received a tranche of stunning reviews, the second in the series offers another fascinating collection of recipes and stories. Prepare to go on a seasonal and joyful journey of food and what it means to different people. This curation is a dynamic, diverse mix of history, memoir, stories and poems, alongside recipes, cooking tips and techniques, menus and reading lists – from Caroline Eden describing the dining car on the Siberian Express to Diana Henry honouring the softness of autumn, from Simon Hopkinson discussing the glory of puddings to Russell Norman celebrating bitterness in the beautiful form of chicory and its many Italian varieties. Each month includes a seasonal three-course menu from food writers such as Jeremy Lee, Tommi Miers, Emily Scott and Calum Franklin, plus additional recipes from the likes of Mary Berry, Asma Khan, Darina Allen and Gill Meller – there is an abundance of thought-provoking, hunger-making food writing for you to tuck into, whatever the season. This book is an inspirational companion in the kitchen and an enriching, comforting read for the armchair cook. Join Miranda York, editor of At The Table, as she guides you through the year, accompanied by legendary food writers, lauded chefs, up-and-coming poets and award-winning novelists.Trade Review‘Even more handsome and diverting than the first. A gorgeous mixture of menus, food writing and book lists for every month of the year. A book to read.’ - Diana Henry 'Beautifully illustrated, winningly written' – The Times 'Beautifully illustrated and produced, it’s a book to curl up with as we head towards the darker months.' – Telegraph Weekend 'What better gift for a foodie?' -The Bookseller 'The perfect book to tuck into for a long read during the cold days and nights of winter and then dip back into throughout the year.' – The Independent 'A literary pick-and-mix by your favourite food writers…suitable to enjoy snuggling under the duvet, with Love Actually on a loop.’ – The Oldie 'A lovely, convivial celebration of all that is good about food.' – The Simple Things 'This is one for the armchair cook who likes to dip in and out of a volume of good food writing. Simply lovely. – The Irish Sunday Times 'This is a book to keep both in the kitchen and on your bedside table. Reading it felt as soothing as podding broad beans. This collection of seasonal thoughts & recipes is packed full of delicious treats from wonderful food writers, from Claudia Roden to Diana Henry, from Itamar Srulovich to Meera Sodha.' – Bee Wilson "A joy for anyone who loves reading about food, The Food Almanac weaves poetry, recipes, essays and illustrations together to make a book that will carry you through the year. Rich, diverse and thoughtful." – Diana Henry "Not just a book for all seasons, but for all moods too – a timeless, eclectic, truly satisfying feast of great food writing." – Felicity Cloake "A brilliantly curated collection of work from the best, freshest and most thought provoking voices in food." – Tim Hayward "The Food Almanac is a tonic for the palate and the mind." – Fuchsia Dunlop

    5 in stock

    £18.70

  • The Outlandish Companion Volume 1

    Cornerstone The Outlandish Companion Volume 1

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisDiana Gabaldon has captivated millions of readers with her critically acclaimed Outlander novels. In this beautifully illustrated compendium, Diana Gabaldon opens a door through the standing stones and offers a guided tour of what lies within. Including:· Full synopses of Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager and Drums of Autumn· A complete listing of the characters (fictional and historical) in the first four novels in the series, as well as family trees and genealogical notes· A comprehensive glossary and pronunciation guide to Gaelic terms and usage· The Gabaldon Theory of Time Travel, explained· Frequently asked questions to the author and her (sometimes surprising) answers· An annotated bibliography· Essays about medicine and magic in the eighteenth century, researching historical fiction, creating characters and more· Professionally cast horoscopes for Jamie and Claire· The making of the TV series: how we got there from here, and what happened next (including ‘My Brief Career as a TV Actor’)

    2 in stock

    £17.99

  • Bibliotherapy

    HarperCollins Publishers Bibliotherapy

    2 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    2 in stock

    £13.49

  • The Little Book of J.R.R. Tolkien: Wit and Wisdom

    Headline Publishing Group The Little Book of J.R.R. Tolkien: Wit and Wisdom

    7 in stock

    Book SynopsisA renowned scholar of the English language, Tolkien is today celebrated as the father of the high fantasy genre. Drawing on his knowledge of languages, mythology and legend, he created an entire alternative reality, Middle Earth, and populated it with hobbits, orcs, ents, dragons, magicians and giant spiders.Packed with fascinating facts about Tolkien's life and labours, this delightful volume includes extracts from his works, letters and interviews, as well as from his contemporaries and admirers. It's a celebration of the writer whose imagination and creative genius changed the course of fantasy literature.'I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.' The Fellowship of the Ring (1954)'I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking...' Tolkien in a letter to Deborah Webster, 25 October 1958In July 1915, Tolkien took part in the Somme offensive, the bloodiest battle of the Great War. While recovering in hospital from trench fever, he wrote his first Elvish word list, as well as the first fragments of what would become The Silmarillion.The inspiration for The Hobbit came to Tolkien unexpectedly in the summer of 1930, while he was working his way through a huge stack of student essays. On a blank page he found himself scrawling, 'In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.'Table of ContentsTolkien the Man and the Hobbit • Languages • Storyteller • Fantasy Worlds and Fables • Ents and Elves • Tolkien's Legacy

    7 in stock

    £5.99

  • Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring: To Rule the Fate

    Kent State University Press Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring: To Rule the Fate

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisIlluminating the central struggle in The Lord of the Rings to deepen understanding of the whole of Tolkien's legendariumIn this remarkable work of close reading and analysis, Thomas P. Hillman gets to the heart of the tension between pity and the desire for power in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. As the book traces the entangled story of the One Ring and its effects, we come to understand Tolkien's central paradox: while pity is necessary for destroying the Ring, it cannot save the Ring-bearer from the Ring's lies and corruption.In composing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien explored the power of the Ring and the seeming powerlessness of pity. All the themes his mythology had come to encompass—death and immortality, fate and free will, divine justice and the problem of evil, power and war—took on a new dimension in the journey of Frodo Baggins. Hillman's attention to specific etymologies and patterns of words used in the text, complemented by his judicious use of Tolkien's letters, earlier drafts of the novels, and Tolkien's essays, leads to illuminating and original insights. Instead of turning his interpretation to allegory or apologetics, Hillman demonstrates how the story works metaphorically, allowing Tolkien to embrace both Catholic views and pagan mythology.With this fresh understanding of familiar material, Pity, Power, and Tolkien's Ring will ignite new discussions and deeper appreciation among Tolkien readers and scholars alike.Trade Review"Tom Hillman brings compassion—and a wealth of knowledge—to this analysis of Tolkien's use of pity in The Lord of the Rings. Scholars, students, and fans will learn from it." —Verlyn Flieger, author of Splintered Light and A Question of Time "Thomas Hillman gives the finest sustained close reading that The Lord of the Rings has ever received. Hillman examines how pity, as a concept and sentiment, manifests itself in the actions of Frodo and others as they struggle with the uncanny, malevolent lure of the One Ring." —Nicholas Birns, author of The Literary Role of History in the Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien "Hillman's study of Tolkien is both timely and timeless. Timely, because events in our world seem to be mirroring what Tolkien saw around him as he wrote and revised his masterpiece. Timeless, because Hillman's insights, despite being entirely original, are the kinds of observations that make you think 'Of course! How did I not think of that?' and forever change your understanding of a work you thought you knew."—Michael D. C. Drout, Wheaton College, Massachusetts

    5 in stock

    £32.21

  • Stephen King

    Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Stephen King

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisCelebrate the King of Horror’s 75th birthday with Stephen King, which explores the connections between Stephen King’s life and his body of work.Trade Review"Holy smokes, what an awesome book…It’s a must read for any fan." * Being Fictional *"...noted King chronicler Bev Vincent’s spent years delving into the undoubtedly haunted halls of King’s archives, unearthing letters, notes, outlines and photos that shed light on the novelist’s inspirations and frustrations. The resulting encyclopedic account of the novelist’s life and career, with pitstops in such terrifying towns as Castle Rock and Derry, is a (trick or) treat for all of us Constant Readers." -- Marcus Errico * Yahoo! *"Frankly, it’s a beautiful book, designed with character and creepiness that enhance the experience without becoming a gimmick or nuisance to reading." * Horror Obsessive *"Vincent consistently displays that same knack for expertly tucked-away nuggets amidst a more conventional narrative paved on book publications and career milestones. Vincent writes about King in a direct and simple style that allows King, often quoted verbatim, to rise to the fore. The volume, ‘‘published on the occasion of Stephen King’s seventy-fifth birthday,’’ transcends the simple marketing tool or hagiographic indulgence it might have been by combining studious knowledge with accessibility and insight." -- Alvaro Zinos-Amaro * Locus Mag *"Less than a dozen pages in and I knew this was everything I had hoped for. Bev Vincent has found a way to celebrate King’s complete body of work in a way that feels both academic and casual." * Derry Public Radio - Constant Readers *"This is a great reference book that the casual reader of King’s books will learn a lot from and in which, even we King nerds that read everything he has written still find new things." * Lilja's Library *"The almost conversational tone of the book is engaging and accessible, with extensive footnotes, credits, and appendices to extend readers’ experience with the topic." * Library Journal *"Bev Vincent did an amazing job putting this book together. It has everything you need to know about Stephen King. If you are about to delve into Stephen King, I recommend you start with Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work Life, and Influences by Bev Vincent." * Sandbox World *"...takes fans on an in-depth look at exactly what it is that makes the King of Horror tick. Vincent knows his material and delivers the sort of depth and detail that many ‘behind the scenes’ books promise, but rarely deliver." * FilmJuice *"When it comes to expounding on King’s work, Vincent knows his stuff, through and through. Whether writing about King’s radio station or time with the Rock-Bottom Remainders, Vincent is curious in his approach and thorough in his results." -- Michael Berry * Portland Press Herald *"It’s a blast to open the book at random and dive in, and Vincent ensures every King text receives its just due." * TheFilmStage.com *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 THE FUTURE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN (1950–1969) INTERLUDE: THE POETRY OF STEPHEN KING CHAPTER 2 THE DOUBLEDAY YEARS (1970s) INTERLUDE: STEPHEN KING AS RICHARD BACHMAN INTERLUDE: WELCOME TO CASTLE ROCK CHAPTER 3 MIDAS TOUCH (1980s) INTERLUDE: THE DARK TOWER INTERLUDE: UNSEEN KING INTERLUDE: WELCOME TO DERRY CHAPTER 4 EXPERIMENTATION AND CHANGE (1990s) INTERLUDE: THE ACCIDENT CONTENTS CHAPTER 5 AFTER THE ACCIDENT (2000s) INTERLUDE: THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE CHAPTER 5 KING OF CRIME (2010 AND BEYOND) CONCLUSION THE TEST OF TIME SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX I BOOKS APPENDIX II SHORT STORIES AND NOVELLAS APPENDIX III ADAPTATIONS ENDNOTES IMAGE CREDITS ABOUT THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    5 in stock

    £17.85

  • Televisions Outlander

    McFarland & Co Inc Televisions Outlander

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis Over its five seasons on the air, the televised series Outlander has combined romance, adventure, history, and time travel into a classic saga of love, war, and the ties that bind family together. After surviving the 1746 uprising of the Scottish Highlanders, the intrigue-ridden Paris of Charles Stuart, and a sea voyage across the Caribbean, Claire and Jamie Fraser finally settle in the mountains of North Carolina. There, they build a community of immigrant farmers who continue to struggle for justice, democracy, and independence from British colonialism. This companion volume offers detailed information on more than 125 topics including characters, themes, places, events, actors, herbalism, and historical chronology. For fans and scholars alike, it separates fact from fiction and aids in understanding the effects of the 1746 Jacobite uprising on the formation of the United States.

    Out of stock

    £27.54

  • Banned Books

    Dorling Kindersley Ltd Banned Books

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in the stories behind the most shocking and infamous books ever published!Censorship of one form or another has existed almost as long as the written word, while definitions of what is deemed acceptable in published works have shifted over the centuries, and from culture to culture.Banned Books explores why some of the world''s most important literary classics and seminal non-fiction titles were once deemed too controversial for the public to read - whether for challenging racial or sexual norms, satirizing public figures, or simply being deemed unfit for young readers. From the banning of All Quiet on the Western Front and the repeated suppression of On the Origin of the Species, to the uproar provoked by Lady Chatterley''s Lover, entries offer a fascinating chronological account of censorship and the astonishing role that some banned books have played in changing history. Packed with eye-opening insights

    2 in stock

    £11.69

  • Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein’s Afterlives

    Bucknell University Press,U.S. Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein’s Afterlives

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisOn the 200th anniversary of the first edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Transmedia Creatures presents studies of Frankenstein by international scholars from converging disciplines such as humanities, musicology, film studies, television studies, English and digital humanities. These innovative contributions investigate the afterlives of a novel taught in a disparate array of courses - Frankenstein disturbs and transcends boundaries, be they political, ethical, theological, aesthetic, and not least of media, ensuring its vibrant presence in contemporary popular culture. Transmedia Creatures highlights how cultural content is redistributed through multiple media, forms and modes of production (including user-generated ones from “below”) that often appear synchronously and dismantle and renew established readings of the text, while at the same time incorporating and revitalizing aspects that have always been central to it. The authors engage with concepts, value systems and aesthetic-moral categories—among them the family, horror, monstrosity, diversity, education, risk, technology, the body—from a variety of contemporary approaches and highly original perspectives, which yields new connections. Ultimately, Frankenstein, as evidenced by this collection, is paradoxically enriched by the heteroglossia of preconceptions, misreadings, and overreadings that attend it, and that reveal the complex interweaving of perceptions and responses it generates. Published by Bucknell University Press. Distributed worldwide by Rutgers University Press.Trade Review"Mary Shelley’s novel has had so many afterlives: the text lives and is constantly reincarnated as an unparalleled text of revision, rewriting, misreading, and overreading in science fiction, film, young adult literature, feminism, biomedical ethics, drama, and many other arenas. On the occasion of the anniversary of the 1818 edition of Frankenstein, editors Francesca Saggini and Anna Enrichetta Soccio have gathered an admirably wide range of approaches to that vast afterlife. The productive analyses here of these transmedia incarnations demonstrate the power of Shelley’s ur-text and offer delightful opportunities to enliven our teaching and understanding of Frankenstein and his afterlives." -- Audrey Fisch * New Jersey City University *"One rarely encounters scholarly territory upon which Mary Shelley's peripatetic creature has not already left its mark, but this exceptional collection has managed to uncover new and exciting ground in Frankenstein studies. In Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein's Afterlives, Saggini and Soccio present original interdisciplinary essays by international scholars that explore Shelley's novel as it is incarnated through the lens of multiple media and differing modes of production. Erudite and entertaining, this work gives us a fresh and often-startling view of that famous 'hideous progeny' as it is reborn in everything from fanfiction and steampunk adaptations to musical compositions and video games." -- Ghislaine McDayter * Bucknell University *"Chronicle of Higher Education new scholarly books weekly book list," by Nina C. Ayoub * Chronicle of Higher Education *"The scholarship is sound. . .Transmedia Creatures offers some exciting new avenues to explore in the wake of the bicentenary of Shelley’s novel. Recommended." * Choice *"Saggini and Soccio’s [book] defies expectations and has a great deal to say about the pedagogical uses to which Frankenstein’s textual afterlives might be put. [...] many of the essays in this volume, although they don’t define themselves that way, might be characterized by what we now call presentist in that they trace how cultural forebodings about the dangers of difference that preoccupy the novel get re-mediated in contemporary culture to address those same concerns. [...] All of these essays are never less than illuminating, in their varied ways, on some understudied or overlooked aspect of the novel’s afterlives, as should be obvious from the book’s title but is never a given." * European Romantic Review *"In Transmedia Creatures, Saggini and Soccio collect a truly international group of thirteen contributors who investigate the ways how Frankenstein adaptations traverse media, genre, and national boundaries....[T]his volume particularly appealing to instructors looking for innovation in teaching the novel." * Science Fiction Studies *"Mary Shelley’s novel has had so many afterlives: the text lives and is constantly reincarnated as an unparalleled text of revision, rewriting, misreading, and overreading in science fiction, film, young adult literature, feminism, biomedical ethics, drama, and many other arenas. On the occasion of the anniversary of the 1818 edition of Frankenstein, editors Francesca Saggini and Anna Enrichetta Soccio have gathered an admirably wide range of approaches to that vast afterlife. The productive analyses here of these transmedia incarnations demonstrate the power of Shelley’s ur-text and offer delightful opportunities to enliven our teaching and understanding of Frankenstein and his afterlives." -- Audrey Fisch * New Jersey City University *"One rarely encounters scholarly territory upon which Mary Shelley's peripatetic creature has not already left its mark, but this exceptional collection has managed to uncover new and exciting ground in Frankenstein studies. In Transmedia Creatures: Frankenstein's Afterlives, Saggini and Soccio present original interdisciplinary essays by international scholars that explore Shelley's novel as it is incarnated through the lens of multiple media and differing modes of production. Erudite and entertaining, this work gives us a fresh and often-startling view of that famous 'hideous progeny' as it is reborn in everything from fanfiction and steampunk adaptations to musical compositions and video games." -- Ghislaine McDayter * Bucknell University *"Chronicle of Higher Education new scholarly books weekly book list," by Nina C. Ayoub * Chronicle of Higher Education *"The scholarship is sound. . .Transmedia Creatures offers some exciting new avenues to explore in the wake of the bicentenary of Shelley’s novel. Recommended." * Choice *"Saggini and Soccio’s [book] defies expectations and has a great deal to say about the pedagogical uses to which Frankenstein’s textual afterlives might be put. [...] many of the essays in this volume, although they don’t define themselves that way, might be characterized by what we now call presentist in that they trace how cultural forebodings about the dangers of difference that preoccupy the novel get re-mediated in contemporary culture to address those same concerns. [...] All of these essays are never less than illuminating, in their varied ways, on some understudied or overlooked aspect of the novel’s afterlives, as should be obvious from the book’s title but is never a given." * European Romantic Review *"In Transmedia Creatures, Saggini and Soccio collect a truly international group of thirteen contributors who investigate the ways how Frankenstein adaptations traverse media, genre, and national boundaries....[T]his volume particularly appealing to instructors looking for innovation in teaching the novel." * Science Fiction Studies *Table of ContentsAbbreviations ix Introduction: Frankenstein: Presence, Process, Progress Francesca SagginiPA R T I Labs, Bots, and Punks: Transmediating Technology and Science 1 Frankenstein and Science Fiction Gino Roncaglia 2 Monstrous Algorithms and the Web of Fear: Risk, Crisis, and Spectral Finance in Robert Harris’s The Fear Index Lidia De Michelis 3 Frankensteinian Gods, Fembots, and the New Technological Frontier in Alex Garland’s Ex_Machina Eleanor BealPA R T I I Becoming Monsters: The Limits of the Human 4 Staging Steampunk Aesthetics in Frankenstein Adaptations: Mechanization, Disability, and the Body Claire Nally 5 Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus in the Postcolony Claudia Gualtieri 6 Four- Color Myth: Frankenstein in the Comics Federico MeschiniPA RT I I I The Evolution Games of Sight and Sound 7 “Uncouth and inarticulate sounds”: Musico- Literary Traces in Frankenstein, and Frankenstein in Art Music Enrico Reggiani 8 Enter Monsieur le Monstre: Cultural Border- Crossing and Frankenstein in London and Paris in 1826 Diego Saglia 9 The Theme of the Doppelgänger in James Searle Dawley’s Frankenstein Daniele Pio Buenza 10 Perverting the Family: Re- Working Victor Frankenstein’s Gothic Blood- Ties in Penny Dreadful Ruth HeholtPA R T I V Monster Reflections 11 The Masked Performer and “the Mane Electric”: The Lives and Multimedia Afterlives of Margaret Atwood’s Doctor Frankenstein Janet Larson 12 Young Adult Frankenstein Andrew McInnes 13 Revivifying Frankenstein’s Myth: Historical Encounters and Dialogism in Back from the Dead: The True Sequel to Frankenstein Anna Enrichetta Soccio Acknowledgments Bibliography Index About the Contributors

    1 in stock

    £22.94

  • Sherlock Holmes

    Oldcastle Books Ltd Sherlock Holmes

    5 in stock

    Book SynopsisWho is Holmes? The world's most famous detective? A drug addict with a heart as cold as ice? A millstone around the neck of his creator? He's all of these things and much, much more. Sherlock Holmes was the brainchild of Portsmouth GP Arthur Conan Doyle. A writer of historical romantic fiction, Doyle became unhappy that the detective's enormous success eclipsed his more serious offerings. But after attempting to wipe him out at the Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland, Doyle was faced with a vociferous backlash from the general public and eventually he had no choice but to bring his sleuth back from the grave to face more puzzling mysteries. While not strictly speaking 'canonical', Holmes' deerstalker, curved pipe and cries of 'Elementary, my dear Watson!' have been immortalised in countless stage, film, television and radio productions. An iconic fictional creation, inseparable from his partner-in-crime Dr John Watson, Sherlock Holmes has charmed and fascinated millions of people around the world since his first appearance over a century ago. He is one of English literature's finest creations.Trade ReviewMark Campbell on Conan Doyle's Dartmoor * Independent on Saturday *Mark Campbell on Sherlock Holmes' London Haunts * Independent on Saturday *

    5 in stock

    £9.49

  • Robert Burns and the Hellish Legion

    NMSE - Publishing Ltd Robert Burns and the Hellish Legion

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDevils, witches and evil - the insubstantial but terrifying world of the supernatural as it was seen by Robert Burns and his contemporaries is examined in this new book, brought out for the 250th anniversary of the poet's birth. Several of Burns' poems dealt with the supernatural, the most famous of which, "Tam o Shanter", is examined in detail. It is from this poem that the book's title comes: 'And roars out, "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" And in an instant all was dark And scarcely had he Maggie rallied When out the hellish legion sallied.' In contrast with the 'other world' was the everyday lives of the country people and the nature of the material world in which they lived; the book also examines this and the changes that were taking place in Burns' time.Trade Review'The "hellish legion" referred to in the title of this informative and friendly book, is that body of witches, ghosts, satanic sprites and anything else devilish that might have informed the lives of Robert Burns and his fellow Ayrshire men and women, and further, his own epic poem, Tam o' Shanter. ... It's possible, then, to read Tam o' Shanter also as a nostalgic piece, a recording of a way of looking at the world that was passing by.' The Herald '... does an excellent job in introducing the man and the places in which he lived.' The Folklore SocietyTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Life of Robert Burns The People of Lowland Scotland The Deil, Death and Ghosts Witches, Spirits and otehr Curious Things Eveil Men, Bad Weather and the Awful Future Medicines The Year Tam o' Shanter Select Bibliography Further Reading and Exploring Index

    15 in stock

    £7.10

  • Between the World and Me by TaNehisi Coates

    Union Square & Co. Between the World and Me by TaNehisi Coates

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisFeatures explanations of key themes, motifs and symbols and detailed analysis of important characters.

    15 in stock

    £5.99

  • Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books

    Pan Macmillan Dear Reader: The Comfort and Joy of Books

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Last Act of Love, Cathy Rentzenbrink's Dear Reader is the ultimate love letter to reading and to finding the comfort and joy in stories.'Exquisite' - Marian Keyes, author of Grown Ups'A warm, unpretentious manifesto for why books matter’ - Sunday ExpressGrowing up, Cathy Rentzenbrink was rarely seen without her nose in a book and read in secret long after lights out. When tragedy struck, it was books that kept her afloat. Eventually they lit the way to a new path, first as a bookseller and then as a writer. No matter what the future holds, reading will always help.A moving, funny and joyous exploration of how books can change the course of your life, packed with recommendations from one reader to another.Trade ReviewCelebrates reading as a means of connection and a vehicle for escapism . . . a heartfelt reminder that, for all the wholesome effects that reading arguably has, the first reason to do it is for pleasure. Fittingly, Dear Reader is a pleasure to read * Times *I will never, ever forget the way Dear Reader made me feel: it is profoundly tender, generous, joy-filled, love-filled and compassionate. I have read so many wonderful books this year but this is the one I would buy and give away to everyone in the world if I could -- Daisy Buchanan, author of How to Be a Grown-UpIf you love books or if you need companionship during a difficult patch in your life or if you simply want to be taken by the hand by a writer who is kind, wise, funny, generous, insightful and profound, then this is the book for you -- Elizabeth DayExquisite. Dear Reader is touching, beautiful and contains countless excellent book recommendations! -- Marian KeyesCathy Rentzenbrink’s exploration of reading books and the comfort they bring in Dear Reader feels like art in your hands * Stylist, 'Best Gift Books this Christmas' *Joyful, poignant and essential reading for people who love books . . . it is a book to cherish -- Nina StibbeBeautifully written and a joy to read, Dear Reader is a best friend of a book -- AJ Pearce, Sunday Times bestselling author of Dear Mrs BirdThis love letter to reading, which is packed with recommendations, is pure joy * Good Housekeeping *Dear Reader restored my soul -- Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie LangtonA companion for readers everywhere . . . intimate, kind and self-effacing, it feels like someone is sitting right next to you, holding your hand and sharing their secrets. I loved it -- Kit de Waal, author of My Name is LeonA warm, unpretentious manifesto for why books matter * Sunday Express *Dear Reader is the best thing I’ve read for ages and it will stay with me forever -- Philippa Perry, author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did)Your first port of call if you’re looking for a book to recommend or just a bit stuck on what to choose next. But it’s more than a reference book; it’s a personal account of how books have comforted the author and what they can do for the soul -- Kit de Waal * New Statesman, Books of the Year *A wonderful warm bath of a book. Perfect for all bookworms to sink into -- Jenny Colgan, author of Meet Me At The Cupcake CaféThis is a book that shows what can happen when reading becomes one of the foundation stones in someone’s life, how it miraculously reveals a map when you’ve lost your path and how it will always provide a connection to the world when we feel alone . . . Cathy, prepare for adulation -- Diane Setterfield, author of The Thirteenth TaleDear Reader is a comfort, an inspiration and a gift of a book for readers, reluctant readers and anyone who wants to feel better about themselves and the world. I applaud Cathy Rentzenbrink, she is a truly brilliant writer -- Julia Samuel, author of Grief WorksYour first port of call if you’re looking for a book to recommend or just a bit stuck on what to choose next. But it’s more than a reference book; it’s a personal account of how books have comforted the author and what they can do for the soul -- Kit de Waal, 'Books of the Year' * New Statesman *Comfort reading has been to the fore lately, and you'll find it in abundance in this joyous memoir of a life immersed in the pleasures and consolations of books by the author of The Last Act of Love . . . It's chock-full of Rentzenbrink's splendid reading recommendations, from "Children's Books I Love to Reread" and books about "Bad Love", to "Posh People Behaving Badly" and "Helpful Non-Fiction", which her own book most certainly is -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller *

    1 in stock

    £9.49

  • York Notes for AQA GCSE 91 Rapid Revision Guide

    Pearson Education York Notes for AQA GCSE 91 Rapid Revision Guide

    15 in stock

    Book Synopsis

    15 in stock

    £6.06

  • Los Angeles Review of Books Quarterly Journal:

    Los Angeles Review of Books Los Angeles Review of Books Quarterly Journal:

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisLos Angeles Review of Books is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and disseminating rigorous, incisive, and engaging writing on every aspect of literature, culture, and the arts. Since its founding in 2011, LARB has quickly established itself as a thriving institution for writers and readers. TheLARB Quarterly Journal, a signature print edition, reflects the best that this institution brings to a national and international readership. The print magazine cultivates a stable of regular and ongoing contributors, both eminent and emerging, to cover all topics and genres, from politics to fiction, film to poetry, and much more.LARB specializes in a looser and more eclectic approach than other journals: grounded in literature but open to all varieties of cultural experience. Headquartered in Los Angeles, but home to writers and artists from all over the world, theLARB Quarterly Journal brings the pioneering spirit of the online magazine into print and and remains committed to covering and representing today’s diverse literary and cultural landscape.

    15 in stock

    £8.54

  • Terry Pratchetts Ethical Worlds

    McFarland & Co Inc Terry Pratchetts Ethical Worlds

    Out of stock

    Book Synopsis Terry Pratchett''s writing celebrates the possibilities opened up by inventiveness and imagination. It constructs an ethical stance that values informed and self-aware choices, knowledge of the world in which one makes those choices, the importance of play and humor in crafting a compassionate worldview, and acts of continuous self-examination and creation. This collection of essays uses inventiveness and creation as a thematic core to combine normally disparate themes, such as science fiction studies, the effect of collaborative writing and shared authorship, steampunk aesthetics, productive modes of ownership, intertextuality, neomedievalism and colonialism, adaptations into other media, linguistics and rhetorics, and coming of age as an act of free will.Table of Contents Introduction: Terry Pratchett's Ethical Worlds — Kristin Noone and Emily Lavin Leverett Something That Gods Are: Acts of Creation in Terry Pratchett's Early Science Fiction — Kristin Noone Conan the Nonagenarian: Beyond Hyborian Hypermasculinity with Terry Pratchett's Cohen the Barbarian — Mike Perschon Carrot Ironfoundersson: Medieval Romance, Narrative Causality and the Ethics of Choice in Terry Pratchett's Guards! Guards! — Emily Lavin Leverett Self-Discovery, Free Will and Change: The Ethics of Growing Up in the Fantasy Novels of Terry Pratchett — Kathleen Burt The ­Anglo-Saxon Ælf: Old English Influences in Terry Pratchett's The Wee Free Men and The Shepherd's Crown — Livia Bongiovanni Constructing Identity Through Language in Discworld — Elise A. Bell Rhetoricity of Discworld: Magic and the Ethics of Footnotes — Amy Lea Clemons The Golempunk Manifesto: Ownership of the Means of Production in Pratchett's Discworld — Janet Brennan Croft Neomedievalism and the Ethics of Colonization in Pratchett and Baxter's The Long Earth and The Long War — Sadie E. Hash Appendix: Works and Adaptations About the Contributors Index

    Out of stock

    £20.89

  • The French Riviera A Literary Guide for

    Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The French Riviera A Literary Guide for

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisA reader''s journey along the French Riviera, from Hyeres and Saint-Tropez to the Italian border, introducing the lives and work of writers who passed this way.The sunlight and calm of the French Riviera have been a magnet for writers since the fourteenth century. The Cote d''Azur has provided the inspiration and setting for some of the greatest literature of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.From distinguished Nobel laureates to new authors who found their voices there, Ted Jones''s encyclopaedic work covers them all: writers such as Graham Greene and W. Somerset Maugham, who spent much of their lives there; F. Scott Fitzgerald and Guy de Maupassant, whose work it dominates.The book also includes the countless writers who simply lingered there, including Louisa M. Alcott, Hans Christian Anderson, J.G. Ballard, Samuel Beckett, Arnold Bennett, William Boyd, Bertholt Brecht, Anthony Burgess, Albert Camus, Bruce Chatwin, Joseph Conrad, Charles Dickens, T.S. Eliot, Ian Fleming,Trade ReviewThe ultimate travel book for anyone who likes sun and literature. I found it irresistible. -- Peter MayleThere are two views of the French Riviera. One says it is an overdeveloped blot on the landscape; the other that it is the epitome of style. If you veer towards the latter, and enjoy literary history, this book is for you. Drawing on the stories of more than 150 writers, Jones does a great job of buffing up the legend. -- Anthony Sattin * Sunday Times, Books of the Week *Thoughtful, entertaining and vivid, Jones’s The French Riviera sweeps us along the coast ... Jones’s book is sad only because it reminds us of how much of the Riviera’s tranquil beauty has been sacrificed. The list of literary lovers of the Riviera almost beggars belief. It is delightful to have their eloquent, acerbic, lyrical responses collected here, in a book that deserves to become a favourite with all travellers. -- Miranda Seymour * Sunday Times *There is much to relish. The author is assiduous in recording who wrote what where and when, in seeking out memorial plaques and mourning lost landmarks. -- E. S. Turner * Times Literary Supplement *A vivid guide to the Cote d’Azur in the eyes of some of the greatest writers of their time. -- Jane Meys * Daily Mail *Certainly among the best of recent books on the area. Jones has done a lot of research and presents his results in a clear and lively style. The book will appeal obviously to those with literary interests but it’s also designed to please those who enjoy Sunday paper-style gossip (broadsheet, of course). -- Patrick Middleton * The Riviera Reporter *Unsurpassed in literary name-dropping. -- David Armstrong * San Francisco Chronicle *Some travel guides offer the basics. Others, such as Ted Jones’ The French Riviera, weave the works of other literary giants into a narrative that gives a sense of history of a place. Jones’ book provides glimpses of works by writers such as Agatha Christie, Joseph Conrad, Ian Fleming, Aldous Huxley, Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo and James Joyce and their feelings about the French Riviera. * Salt Lake City Tribune *With a cast of more than 150 authors, the book is an incredible tour-de-force. Through taking several years of diligent research to complete, Ted guides the reader on a remarkable journey, where the lives and loves of so many writers unfold before us along the sundrenched shores of the French Riviera. * www.amb-cotedazur.com *Part travel-guide, part biography, the elegant text retraces the footsteps of some of the world’s greatest literary geniuses. Enough to tempt even the strongest-willed to book a ticket. Snap up a copy of Ted’s book. ... The literary world’s answer to Heat magazine, Ted uncovers endlessly fascinating material. * Slough & Windsor Express *The palm-fringed beaches of Cannes, Nice, Monaco and the other magical Mediterranean coastal towns and villages of sun-swept southeastern France are lovingly described by travel journalist Ted Jones. * Frequent Flyer Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Map Preface Introduction Hyères: Gateway to the Riviera Cannes: City of Festivals Antibes: The City Opposite The Back Country: The Balcony of the Mediterranean Nice: The Heart of the Riviera Cap Ferrat: Almost an Island Monaco: City of Millionaires Menton: Sanatorium Citu Epilogue Author Profiles Bibliography Index

    15 in stock

    £13.49

  • The Catcher in the Rye

    Union Square & Co. The Catcher in the Rye

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisDesigned for teachers, this is a comprehensive book of lesson plans, projects, discussion questions, reproducible worksheets and more.

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • The Diary of Samuel Pepys

    HarperCollins Publishers The Diary of Samuel Pepys

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe companion volume to the complete Diary of Samuel Pepys in its most authoritative and acclaimed edition.Samuel Pepys's Diary was first published in abbreviated form in 1825. A succession of new versions brought out in the Victorian era made the Diary one of the best-known books and Pepys one of the best-known figures of English history. However, not until the publication of the Latham and Matthews edition was the Diary presented in its complete form, with a newly transcribed text and the benefit of a systematic commentary. The text of the Diary is in nine volumes, followed by this Companion and an Index. The edition has justly become established as the definitive version, hailed by The Times as one of the glories of contemporary English publishing' and by C. P. Snow as a triumph of modern scholarship'.The Companion has been compiled and edited by Robert Latham, with specialist contributions from other scholars. The result of many years' research, it is an essential adjunct to the DiTrade Review‘In paperback at last! The maps, glossary, single-volume Companion and superbly usable Index, the inexhaustible footnotes, are all here. This is a marvellous and cheering event.’Observer ‘There is horror… and there is humour… and its availability at an affordable price deserves recognition as a laudable publishing achievement.’Cambridge Evening News

    15 in stock

    £17.09

  • The Bible Book

    HarperCollins Publishers The Bible Book

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisA completely revised edition of this best-selling Bible resource with new ideas, diagrams and illustrations Uniquely presented, this handbook uses modern language, humour and ingenious diagrams to bring the Bible to life.The Bible Book is a unique kind of guide to the Bible. Informative, though-provoking and very, very readable, this is a book that will help you explore the most famous book in the world. Informal, but informed, simple but never simplistic, The Bible Book tackles the Bible with honesty, humour and inventiveness. This book won''t baffle you with jargon, but it won''t insult your intelligence either.Nick Page maps out the way the Bible works, showing you the route through and the places of interest along the way. With its illuminating graphics and user-friendly design, The Bible Book is an indispensable handbook for anyone setting out to explore the exciting world of the Bible.Contents include:Quick Guide Your at-a-glance introduction to every book of the BibleQuestions,

    1 in stock

    £17.09

  • A House of Air

    HarperCollins Publishers A House of Air

    15 in stock

    Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY HERMIONE LEE The previously uncollected occasional prose of a great English writer – full of wit, feeling and illumination.Trade Review‘Of all the novelists in English of the last quarter-century, Penelope Fitzgerald has the most unarguable claim on greatness.’ Philip Hensher ‘This generous selection of essays, reviews, introductions and other occasional writings proves yet again that stylistically, intellectually and morally Fitzgerald couldn’t put a foot wrong if she’d tried. Hers is an impeccable and unique voice not just from another century but another world.’ Michael Dibdin, Books of the Year, Daily Telegraph ‘Remarkable. It is the range of her scholarship that impresses.’ Doris Lessing, Books of the Year, Daily Telegraph ‘An intelligent writer, superbly and unfailingly so. Wise and funny, with a dry wit allied to a great emotional sympathy.’ Sunday Times

    15 in stock

    £15.29

  • The Life of Crime Detecting the History of

    HarperCollins Publishers The Life of Crime Detecting the History of

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisWinner of four major prizes for the best critical/biographical book related to crime fiction: the Edgar, Anthony, Macavity and H.R.F. Keating Awards; and shortlisted for both the Agatha and Gold Dagger Awards.Martin Edwards is the closest thing there has been to a philosopher of crime writing.' The TimesIn the first major history of crime fiction in fifty years, The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators traces the evolution of the genre from the eighteenth century to the present, offering brand-new perspective on the world's most popular form of fiction.Author Martin Edwards is a multi-award-winning crime novelist, the President of the Detection Club, archivist of the Crime Writers' Association and series consultant to the British Library's highly successful series of crime classics, and therefore uniquely qualified to write this book. He has been a widely respected genre commentator for more than thirty years, winning the CWA Diamond Dagger for making a significant contribution to crime writing in 2020, when he also compiled and published Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club and the novel Mortmain Hall. His critically acclaimed The Golden Age of Murder (Collins Crime Club, 2015) was a landmark study of Detective Fiction between the wars.The Life of Crime is the result of a lifetime of reading and enjoying all types of crime fiction, old and new, from around the world. In what will surely be regarded as his magnum opus, Martin Edwards has thrown himself undaunted into the breadth and complexity of the genre to write an authoritative and readable study of its development and evolution. With crime fiction being read more widely than ever around the world, and with individual authors increasingly the subject of extensive academic study, his expert distillation of more than two centuries of extraordinary books and authors from the tales of E.T.A. Hoffmann to the novels of Patricia Cornwell into one coherent history is an extraordinary feat and makes for compelling reading.Trade Review‘Magisterial but wickedly entertaining … reliably readable and frequently amusing. It also inspires awe: Edwards combines wide reading with a good memory, meticulous control over his unruly material, critical acumen and sheer bloody persistence.’ ANDREW TAYLOR, THE SPECTATOR ‘As entertaining and illuminating a history of crime and thriller fiction as I’ve ever read.’ IAN RANKIN ‘Impressively scholarly and joyfully anecdotal… it’s hard to imagine this book being superseded for many years to come.’ MORNING STAR ‘Vastly entertaining … [Edwards] plots the development of the genre and the bizarre lives of writers … You’ll find all your favourites here, from Edgar Allan Poe to PD James … But be warned – you’ll end up with a reading list as long as a giant’s arm.’ DENIS MANN, DAILY EXPRESS ‘A magisterial history of mysteries and their creators.’ THE TIMES ‘There is plenty here for mystery readers, whether well-versed in the genre’s history or not —and mystery writers will welcome this book as a resource.’THE NEW YORK TIMES ‘A magisterial work… THE LIFE OF CRIME does more than just inform, entertain and provoke, it also sends new readers back to old books.’THE WASHINGTON POST REVIEWS FOR MARTIN EDWARDS: ‘Few, if any, books about crime fiction have provided so much information and insight so enthusiastically and, for the reader, so enjoyably’ THE TIMES ‘Illuminating and entertaining – provides a new way of looking at old favourites.’ LEN DEIGHTON, author of The Ipcress File ‘Forensically sharp and exhaustively informed… Crime fiction is driven by death. In this superbly compendious and entertaining book, Edwards ensures that dozens of authorial corpses are gloriously reborn.’ MARK LAWSON, Guardian

    1 in stock

    £27.00

  • Girl With Dove A Life Built By Books

    HarperCollins Publishers Girl With Dove A Life Built By Books

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisThe word mesmerising is frequently applied to memoirs, but seldom as deservedly as in the case of Girl With Dove' Financial TimesReading is a form of escape and an avid reader is an escape artist'Brilliantly original, funny and clever Honor Clark, Spectator, Book of the YearGrowing up in a dilapidated house by the sea where men were forbidden, Sally's childhood world was filled with mystery and intrigue. Hippies trailed through the kitchen looking for God their leader was Aunt Di, who ruled the house with charismatic force. When Sally's baby brother vanishes from his pram, she becomes suspicious of the activities going on around her. What happened to Baby David and the woman called Poor Sue? And where did all the people singing and wailing prayers in the front room suddenly go?Disappearing into a world of books and reading, Sally adopts the tried and tested methods of Miss Marple. Taking books for hints and clues, she turns herself into a reading detective. Her discovery of Jane Eyre Trade Review‘This is a very eccentric memoir … I liked it, because I was captivated by Sally Bayley's poetic light touch … Thanks to the guidance of three beloved fictional characters … who came alive in her imagination, young Sally negotiated her way through the jungle of her childhood’ The Times ‘The strangest and most striking memoir I have read in years … Her bold poetic prose carries the sinister cackle of Bertha Mason on a warm breeze through St Mary Mead, to be wafted away in comic disdain by Betsey Trotwood’ Helen Brown, Daily Telegraph ‘A testament to innocence, resilience and the protective power of the imagination …This is a story about the child’s need to make sense of chaos and the redemptive power of stories to bestow meaning … The word “mesmerising” is frequently applied to memoirs, but seldom as deservedly as in the case of Girl With Dove, a work suffused with psychological depth, literary inventiveness and subtle brilliance’ Financial Times ‘Bayley’s family are compelling, certainly, but it’s the formidable and moving lines of much-loved prose, sketched long ago in the classics, that provide much of Girl With Dove’s horsepower’ Irish Times ‘A brilliant evocation of the porousness for children between reality and fiction …The book is beautifully written … just let its poetic rhythms lap over you … it left me longing for more of Bayley's recollections from a place of relative tranquility’ Spectator ‘A moving, highly original memoir … It’s a remarkable testament to reading as a “strong torch, shining through the dark”’ The Bookseller ‘This extraordinary book … an astonishing tale, astonishingly written in clear, precise prose … Bayley is exceptionally good at bringing us into the child's world … there's a raw, visceral power to the writing, which turns the abstract physical on almost every page … the prose sings … This bold, arresting memoir is about the quest for a different kind of truth’ Sunday Times

    1 in stock

    £10.44

  • Animal Farm AQA GCSE 91 English Literature Text

    HarperCollins Publishers Animal Farm AQA GCSE 91 English Literature Text

    3 in stock

    Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2024 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise Animal Farm by George Orwell in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

    3 in stock

    £7.48

  • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

    HarperCollins Publishers The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2024 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

    1 in stock

    £7.48

  • The History Boys AQA GCSE 91 English Literature

    HarperCollins Publishers The History Boys AQA GCSE 91 English Literature

    2 in stock

    Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2024 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise The History Boys by Alan Bennett in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your AQA exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

    2 in stock

    £7.48

  • Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Edexcel GCSE 91 English

    HarperCollins Publishers Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Edexcel GCSE 91 English

    1 in stock

    Book SynopsisExam Board: EdexcelLevel: GCSE Grade 9-1Subject: English LiteratureSuitable for the 2025 examsEverything you need to revise for your GCSE 9-1 set text in a snap guideEverything you need to score top marks on your GCSE Grade 9-1 English Literature exam is right at your fingertips! Revise Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson in a snap with this new GCSE Grade 9-1 Snap Revision Text Guide from Collins. Refresh your knowledge of the plot, context, characters and themes and pick up top tips along the way to ace your Edexcel exam. Each topic is explained in an easy-to-read format so you can get straight to the point. Then, put your skills to the test with plenty of practice questions included in every section. The Snap Text Guides are packed with every quote and extract you need. We've even included examples of how to plan and write your essay responses! This Collins English Literature revision guide contains all the key information you need to practise and pass.

    1 in stock

    £7.48

© 2025 Book Curl

    • American Express
    • Apple Pay
    • Diners Club
    • Discover
    • Google Pay
    • Maestro
    • Mastercard
    • PayPal
    • Shop Pay
    • Union Pay
    • Visa

    Login

    Forgot your password?

    Don't have an account yet?
    Create account