Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisRobert A. Caro is one of the most acclaimed writers of his generation, whose landmark biographies are widely hailed as masterpieces.This is the captivating account of his life as a writer, describing the sometimes staggering lengths to which he has gone in order to produce his books and offering priceless insights into the craft of non-fiction writing, be it the pursuit of truth, the writer's process, the art of interviewing or the creation of literature.Including several of Caro's most famous speeches and interviews as well as new material, this is the self-portrait of a man who knows the meaning and importance of great story-telling - and, like all his books, is an utterly riveting example of that too.Trade ReviewAnyone trying to write in any form will devour it * Evening Standard *One of the greatest non-fiction works ever written -- Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times, on The Power BrokerIrresistibly readable, an outright masterpiece -- David Sexton, Evening Standard, on The Power BrokerA stupendous achievement … Caro’s style is gripping, indeed hypnotic, and he squeezes every ounce of drama from his remarkable story -- Vernon Bogdanor, Independent, on The Power BrokerI think about Robert Caro and reading The Power Broker back when I was twenty-two years old and just being mesmerized -- Barack Obama on The Power Broker

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Book Synopsis''Grimly funny and superbly written, with a twist on every page'' Hilary Mantel''Delightfully compulsive and unforgettably original'' Hadley Freeman''Wonderful, funny and wise'' Kate SummerscaleShortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize 2021A Sunday Times, TLS, Spectator and New Statesman Book of the Year Aunt Munca never told the truth about anything. Calling herself after the mouse in a Beatrix Potter story, she was already a figure of mystery during the childhood of her nephew Ferdinand Mount. Half a century later, a series of startling revelations sets him off on a tortuous quest to find out who this extraordinary millionairess really was. What he discovers is shocking and irretrievably sad, involving multiple deceptions, false identities and abandonments. The story leads us from the back streets of Sheffield at the end of the Victorian age to the highest echelons of English sTrade ReviewAunt Munca flees the streets of Sheffield for a suite at Claridges, getting younger by the year and leaving behind her a trail of brazen lies and shattered pieties. In his family memoir, Ferdinand Mount pursues her with wit and skill through a career in which crime pays, marriage is for a week, and children are lost like old gloves. Kiss Myself Goodbye is grimly funny and superbly written, with a twist on every page. -- Hilary Mantel, author of the Wolf Hall TrilogyDelightfully compulsive and unforgettably original. Mount unpeels the layers of this mysterious life with the tenacity of an experienced detective and the excitement of a fresh-eyed enthusiast. -- Hadley Freeman, author of House of Glass: The Story and Secrets of a Twentieth-Century Jewish FamilyExtraordinary … shed[s] a brilliant light on the strangeness of people’s lives, the need for disguise and masquerade, the shame that drives people to act in the most peculiar ways, the ghosts that reside, unburied, within us. -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Wonderful, funny and wise -- Kate Summerscale, author of The Suspicions of Mr WhicherDelicious … As well as an ear for the cadences of a sentence, Mount has a remarkable ability to convey the feeling of place … Beneath the surface of this sparklingly wry book you sense all kinds of unexplored feelings of abandonment and loss. * The Oldie *Mount is one of our finest prose stylists and Kiss Myself Goodbye is a witty, moving and beautifully crafted account of one woman’s determination to live to the full. * Daily Telegraph *An extraordinary book * Tatler *Unique and immensely enjoyable. I only wish it were longer. * Spectator *Kiss Myself Goodbye is a work of beauty. The simple truthfulness of Ferdinand Mount’s storytelling is irresistible. * Literary Review *...A superbly written and jaw-dropping memoir. * Daily Telegraph *Veering giddily from grand guignol to poignant melancholy, this is an exquisitely wrought portrait of a wickedly fascinating woman. -- Jane Shilling * Daily Mail *...this book, which is partly a family history and partly a detective novel, with extraordinary revelations and an impressive cast of characters dotted through the narrative. -- Roland White * The Sunday Times (Culture) *Witty, moving and beautifully crafted, Kiss Myself Goodbye is a “masterclass” in bringing long-buried secrets to light. * The Week *[Mount ]… vividly captures bygone Britain. * Daily Record *It needs a writer of wit, imagination and empathy to carry me along from one layer of the tissue to the next. Mount is such a writer. * The Oldie *A wonderful memoir of the author’s aunt – deadpan, shrewd and very dryly funny. -- William Boyd, bestselling authorTable of Contents1 Angmering-on-Sea 2 Georgie 3 Buster 4 Charters 5 Brightside 6 Crawford Mansions 7 Eileen and Elizabeth 8 W. F. 9 Brightside Revisited 10 Seven Hills Postscripts Thanks Picture and Text Credits

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Book Synopsis'Destined to be a classic' Sunday Independent'Gabriel Byrne tells his story brilliantly' - Edna O'Brien'Dazzles with unflinching honesty' Washington Post'An absolutely marvellous book' - Colm TóibínBorn to working-class parents and the eldest of six children, Gabriel Byrne harboured a childhood desire to become a priest. Four years later, Byrne had been expelled from an English seminary and he quickly returned to his native Dublin. There he took odd jobs as a messenger boy and a factory labourer to get by. In his spare time he visited the cinema, where he could be alone and yet part of a crowd. It was here that he could begin to imagine a life beyond the grey world of ’60s Ireland.It was a friend who suggested Byrne join an amateur drama group, a decision that would change his life forever and launch him on an extraordinary forty-year career in film and theatre. Moving between sensual recollection of childhood in a now almost vanished Ireland and reflections on stardom in Hollywood and on Broadway, often through the lens of addiction. Hilarious and heartbreaking Walking With Ghosts is a lyrical homage to the people and landscapes that ultimately shape our destinies.Trade ReviewThe wonder of this memoir is its unembellished truth. It is written by a man whose amazing story is the stuff of literature -- Edna O'BrienSo beautiful, it seems extraordinary that [Byrne] has kept this light under a bushel all this time . . . Gorgeous -- Graham Norton, BBC Radio 2An absolutely marvellous book . . . beautifully written, poetic . . . it’s a really riveting read -- Colm TóibínGabriel Byrne has written the most beautiful memoir. This is haunting prose and wondrous, sad, uplifting, my book of the year -- Claire KeeganWalking With Ghosts is lavish with lyricism, but presents a pretty unvarnished version of its author . . . The book is also a conscious departure: stylistically ambitious, purposefully (and successfully) so * The Guardian *Thoughtful, moving and without a trace of self-indulgence, this honest and beautifully-written book reads more like a novel than a memoir, drawing the reader into a narrative that is full of courage, humour and above all, humanity. I really loved Walking with Ghosts and can't recommend it highly enough -- Christine Dwyer HickeyImagine Séamus Heaney's eye falling on Hollywood's glare . . . it really did remind me of Séamus Heaney, it seemed to have that very sharp focus and also that wonderfully lyrical way of expressing it -- Richard Coles, BBC Radio 4Make no mistake about it: this is a masterpiece. A book that will wring out our tired hearts. It is by turns poetic, moving and very funny. You will find it on the shelf alongside other great Irish memoirs including those by Frank McCourt, Nuala O'Faolain and Edna O’Brien -- Colum McCann, author of Let the Great World SpinThe allure of Gabriel Byrne's memoir is that it persuasively humanizes what it is to be a big deal movie star. Byrne is wonderfully without cant or bluster or phony humility. Instead he leads with felicity, candor, humor and empathy. In the end, he seems to be somebody you'd be glad to know -- Richard FordByrne arrives at a truth greater than an honest and sensitive memoir; he verges on a profoundly touching articulation of our short time on earth, time that will make of each of us nothing more or less than a ghost -- Mia Colleran * Irish Independent *A wry and warm, swirling poetic reverie of a memoir -- Colin BarrettA joy of a book - full of heart and humour, beautifully told -- Sinéad GleesonDestined to be a classic . . . What makes Gabriel Byrne a great writer is that he knows that whether we are wicked or good, few of us get what we deserve * Sunday Independent *Reading the book was a beautiful experience; it’s superb. It really is a very special book so if you love someone buy it for them for Christmas -- Eamon DunphyStructured around an imaginary, haunted visit to the Dublin of his youth, the book does offer sketches from the movie wonderland – John Boorman being bossy on Excalibur, testy encounters with Laurence Olivier in the 1980s – but it is more to do with conjuring up a now-vanished Ireland. The smell of the Guinness brewery. Early acting experiences in a nativity play. The church, everywhere the church * Irish Times *The writing is so vivid it’s as if we are by Gabriel Byrne’s shoulder through the sorrowful times and the joyous moments. He weaves an intimate and absorbing tapestry of the poignant and the funny -- Kirsty WarkA working-class family memoir as well as a meditation on fame and its discontents -- Sena O'Hagan * Observer *Walking with Ghosts is exquisite. This book feels like the culmination of a long literary career and not the debut of a famous actor. Byrne makes himself fully vulnerable while in total command of language and form. There is great truth and great beauty in this close examination of a life and the passage of time. I’ve never read a memoir so raw and honest and literary and absolutely, staggeringly brilliant -- Lily King[Byrne] writes with much more depth than the typical celebrity memoirist, accessing some of Seamus Heaney’s earthiness and James Joyce’s grasp of how Catholic guilt can shape an artist . . . A melancholy but gemlike memoir, elegantly written and rich in hard experience * Kirkus (starred review) *Mercurial, ferociously honest and moving . . . A poignant symphony of memories and dreams, longing and loss, in a search for the immigrants most elusive prize, home -- Karl Geary, author of MontpelierA poetic journey into those secret realms of memory which dominate our lives, but are rarely spoken about. By revealing himself with such courage, compassion, and exquisite poise, Gabriel Byrne gives readers that rare gift of being able to see themselves in the feelings of another person. This book is more than a memoir—it’s a mirror that reflects the deepest parts of us in exile -- Simon Van BooyA remembrance of the Ireland Byrne left behind, one which is no longer there * Hot Press, '2020 Books of the Year' *Dazzles with unflinching honesty, as it celebrates the exuberance of being alive to the world despite living through pain. [Byrne's] portrait of an artist as a young boy is steeped in nostalgia of the best sort, re-creating the pull of home . . . With this tender book — full of warm and often funny stories — Byrne shows us the depth of his true character * Washington Post *In emotional, evocative prose, Walking With Ghosts describes the town outside Dublin where [Byrne] grew up, the oldest of six children crammed into a small house, their father working as a barrel-maker for the Guinness brewery, everyone in each other’s business. They were steeped in Catholicism . . . In passages that are horrifying, then funny, then both, he describes, for instance, learning the story of Adam and Eve from a fire-and-brimstone nun, in a lesson that ends with God declaring to the fallen pair: 'And by the way, your children will be miserable as well.' ('That’s why the world is such an unhappy place,' the nun adds.) . . . Can you go home again? That is the tantalizing question raised by Walking With Ghosts -- Sarah Lyall * The New York Times *This is a book about grief, loss, the secrets that we keep and the joys of creativity. It's also about dealing with addiction and the vertigo of fame. We always knew Gabriel Byrne was an astonishing actor but now we also know what an elegant, intelligent and dignified writer he is -- Mariana Enríquez, author of Dangers of Smoking in BedByrne is very honest and interspersed with all of the beautifully evoked sadness [in Walking With Ghosts] are very funny moments . . . you know he has a very good sense of humour but he probably wouldn’t admit it -- Jane SmileyIn pared down prose both luminous and raw, Walking with Ghosts is about first things—parents, siblings, loves, heartbreaks, parts, failure, success, loss, but most of all it is a tender embrace of the past as Byrne discovers and accepts the truth of who he is in all his human struggle to be at peace with oneself and one’s imperfections. In a voice full of warmth, compassion, humor and wonder, Byrne steps into the role of writer with the same assurance, humility and intensity that he brings to his acting roles. More, this debut marks a welcome new voice that blends memory and imagination for an all-encompassing and wise memoir that reads like a novel -- Vanessa Manko, author of The Un-AmericanIt is at times a heartbreakingly tender excursion between the living and the dead. The actor is an artist of the written as well as the spoken word -- Tommy Condren * Sunday Independent *A beautifully judged blend of sparkling anecdotes spliced with the darkest of memories -- Sarah Halliwell * The Gloss Magazine *The diary of a poet who also happens to be a famous movie star -- Monique RoffeyActor Byrne channels his fellow countrymen and Ireland's literary masters - Beckett, Heaney, Joyce, Yeats - to create an exceptionally lyrical and expressive memoir about his childhood and early career . . . Bracingly revealing about his struggle with alcoholism, achingly passionate about the Ireland of his youth, and piercingly frank about his acting life, Byrne is a vivid, evocative, and sumptuously compelling memoirist * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEARIn Island Dreams, Gavin Francis combines stories of his own travels with psychology, philosophy and myth, shedding new light on the importance of islands and isolation in our collective consciousness. Francis draws on thirty years of island adventures from the Faroe Islands to the Aegean, from the Galapagos to the Andaman Islands. He contrasts these quests for freedom with the demands for commitment required as a doctor, community member and parent. Island Dreams riffs on the twin poles of rest and motion, independence and attachment, never more relevant than in today''s ever-connected world.

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Book Synopsis“Finding Ultra blends Rich Roll’s story of superhuman personal transformation with an amazingly practical guide to plant-based living. It’s also an enlightened manifesto for anyone wanting to transform their life.”—Dan Buettner, National Geographic Fellow and New York Times bestselling author of the Blue Zones books “An incredible story of mental, emotional, and physical endurance.”—Michael Greger, MD, FACLM, New York Times bestselling author of How Not to Die On the night before he was to turn forty, Rich Roll experienced a chilling glimpse of his future. Nearly fifty pounds overweight and unable to climb the stairs without stopping, he could see where his current sedentary life was taking him—and he woke up.Plunging into a new routine that prioritized a plant-based lifestyle and daily training, Rich morphed—in a matter of mere months—from out of shape, mid-life couch potato to endurance machine. Finding Ultra recounts Rich’s remarkable journey to the starting line of the elite Ultraman competition, which pits the world’s fittest humans in a 320-mile ordeal of swimming, biking, and running. And following that test, Rich conquered an even greater one: the EPIC5—five Ironman-distance triathlons, each on a different Hawaiian island, all completed in less than a week.One of Men’s Fitness Magazine’s “25 Fittest Men in the World,” Rich has become one of the most recognized advocates of plant-based living. In this newly revised and updated edition, he shares the practices, tools, and techniques he uses for optimal performance, longevity, and wellness, including diet and nutrition protocols. Rich reflects on the steps he took to shift his mindset and leverage deep reservoirs of untapped potential to achieve success beyond his wildest imagination, urging each of us to embark on our own journey of self-discovery.

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Book SynopsisVivid, powerful and absorbing, this is a first-person account of one of the most startling military episodes in history: the overthrow of Montezuma''s doomed Aztec Empire by the ruthless Hernan Cortes and his band of adventurers. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, himself a soldier under Cortes, presents a fascinatingly detailed description of the Spanish landing in Mexico in 1520 and their amazement at the city, the exploitation of the natives for gold and other treasures, the expulsion and flight of the Spaniards, their regrouping and eventual capture of the Aztec capital.Table of ContentsThe expedition of Francisco Hernandex de Cordoba; the expedition of Juan de Grijalva; the expedition of Hernando Cortes - preparations; the voyage; Dona Marina's story; a pause on the coast; the stay at Cempoala; the foundation of Vera Cruz; the march to Cingapacinga and return of Cempoala; events at Vera Cruz - the destruction of the ships; the Tlascalan campaign; peace with Tlascala - embassies from Mexico; the march to Mexico; the entrance into Mexico; the stay in Mexico; Montezuma's captivity; Cortes in difficulties; the flight from Mexico; Cortes collects fresh strength; expeditions around the lake; the siege and capture of Mexico.

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Book Synopsis_______________''A beautiful meditation on the writer's relocation from bustling London to bucolic Florence. It reminded me why I cherish slow living in southern Europe'' - Taiye Selasi, Guardian''Easy-to-read and punctuated with simple recipes, the book's lively narrative bounces you from page to page Shows you how to embrace la bella figura wherever you are'' - Italia''A charming hybrid of self-help and memoir'' - Publishers Weekly_______________CHOSEN AS BOOK OF THE YEAR BY RANDOM JOTTINGSMade redundant from her job, Kamin Mohammadi flees the bleak streets of London for a friend's sun-dappled apartment in Florence. There, among the cobbled streets, the bustling, vibrant markets and the majestic palazzos, she finds a new lease of life, and a new way to live it. At once lyrical and practical, Bella Figura shows us how to make every aspect of life as beautiful as it can be. From how to choose the perfectly riTrade ReviewA beautiful meditation on the writer’s relocation from bustling London to bucolic Florence. It reminded me why I cherish slow living in southern Europe -- Taiye Selasi * Guardian *This book is my ideal type of armchair travel: immersive, insightful, seductive. In Bella Figura, Kamin Mohammadi takes us to the year in Florence that changed her life, and gives us the tools to bring the grace of the Italian lifestyle to our own lives. It’s a reminder to slow down, look around, taste, listen, and to open ourselves to new possibilities -- Stephanie Danler, author of SweetbitterEasy-to-read and punctuated with simple recipes, the book’s lively narrative bounces you from page to page … Shows you how to embrace la bella figura wherever you are * Italia *A charming hybrid of self-help and memoir * Publishers Weekly *A down-to-earth modern-day fairy tale for the world-weary * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisA memoir in the form of a series of sharply etched vignettes that shift astonishingly in time and mood, and range in place from Africa and the US to the streets of London. It demonstrates that no moment is isolated, and that privilege, conflict, race and gender are inherent in all our encounters, from the banal to the extreme

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Book SynopsisOne spring, many years ago, Esther Woolfson's daughter rescued a fledgling rook. That rook, named Chicken, quickly established herself as part of the family, and other birds, including an irascible cockatiel and a depressive parrot, soon followed. But it was the corvids - members of the crow family - who amazed Woolfson with their personality and their capacity for affection. This classic blend of memoir and natural history combines the author's fascination with all things avian, from the mechanics of flight to the science of birdsong, with her funny, tender stories of life among the birds.

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Book SynopsisPacy, witty and affectionate' GuardianRob Beckett never seems to fit in. At work, in the middle-class world of television and comedy, he's the laddy, cockney geezer but to his mates down the pub in south-east London, he's the theatrical one, a media luvvy. Even his wife and kids are posher than him.In this hilarious exploration of class, Rob tries to understand the life he lived growing up as a working-class kid in comparison to the life he lives now.Will he ever favour a craft beer over strong lager? When did it become normal for kids to eat sushi? Is he still working class? Why does he feel so embarrassed about success? And, will it ever be acceptable to serve pie mash on a wooden board?Tackling the questions big and small, A Class Act is a funny, candid, often moving account of what it feels like to be an outsider and why actually that's the best (slightly awkward) place to be.Trade Review ‘Pacy, witty and affectionate’ Guardian

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Book Synopsis''One of the most powerful books of the year'' Daily Mail''Nobody can make the serious funny and the funny serious quite like Ruby.'' - Alastair CampbellDear Reader,Checking into a mental clinic wasn''t exactly on my radar in 2022. Writing about it wasn''t either. But here we are.I spent a lifetime trying to create a ''front'' to give everyone the illusion that all is well. It wasn''t, and it isn''t. Now I look back and I think, ''what the f*ck was that all about?''I began the book trying to find meaning by going on various, life-changing journeys, I ended up in a mental clinic; obviously things didn''t work out the way I expected. This is the story of what happened after the mental car crash . . . From then on, the journey had to turn inward. It turns out I wasn''t looking for meaning, I was looking for home.I''m not a fiction writer. I can''t fake it. I could say I rode into the sunset, but life isn''t like that unless you''re a cowboy. Truth is I''m not as well as I thought I was.These days, trying to stay sane in a completely chaotic world makes life incredibly difficult. For those readers who are deep in the darkness of mental illness, I hope my book makes you feel less alone.Take care, love,Ruby x---------------------------------------------------------------------''If you buy only one book this year, make it this one.'' - Joanna Lumley''A true tour de force. We''re all a little messed up in our own ways, but we should all strive to be as fabulously fearless as Ruby.'' - Fearne CottonAs seen on Channel 5 CastawaySunday Times bestseller, May 2023

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Book Synopsis''Clement has lived a life like no other, and made of it a shimmering mosaic, a masterpiece, which is this book'' Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of LessGrowing up in 1970s Mexico City, Jennifer Clement lived next door to Frida Kahlo''s house. It was a bohemian childhood, living alongside artists, communists, revolutionaries and poets, which allowed an awakening of creative freedom and curiosity about the world.Leaving behind Latin America for the burgeoning counter-culture scene in ''80s New York, Clement inhabited the world of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Colette Lumiere and William Burroughs. Spanning two great cities, The Promised Party explores what it means to be young, free and alive.

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Book SynopsisThe daughter of Iraqi-Jewish refugees, Samantha Ellis is the author of the books How to be a Heroine and Take Courage and her plays include How to Date a Feminist, Cling to me Like Ivy and Operation Magic Carpet. Her journalism has appeared in the Guardian, TLS, Spectator, Literary Review and more. She worked on the first two Paddington films. She lives in London.Trade ReviewAny woman with a remotely bookish childhood will find great pleasure in How to be a Heroine... like Ellis, I find it reassuring that Lizzy Bennet can admit that she was wrong about Darcy, have used Scarlett's indomitable mantra in times of adversity, and have every sympathy with the women who keep their bank accounts separate as in Lace -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *This is quite simply a genius idea for a book.... A fantastically inspirational memoir that makes you want to reread far too many books -- Viv Groskop * Observer *Brilliant... From Lizzy Bennet to 'go-getting Judy Jordan' from Lace, Samantha Ellis did what we all do, mostly without realising: tried other people's lives on for size in literature * Red *The best kind of book: one that I gobbled up, wanting to go slow to savour it but unable to stop reading until it was all gone. One that made me want to run to the bookshop to buy copies of novels I’ve never got round to reading and devour those, too -- Rebecca Armstrong * Independent *Delightfully honest and warmly funny -- Eithne Farry * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWith new commentary and Insights on the life and times of Jesse LivermoreReminiscences of a Stock Operator is the fictionalized biography of perhaps the most famous financial speculator of all time-Jesse Livermore.Trade Review"...is big and beautiful, cutting across two centuries of booms and busts and market and economic history, with a myriad of vintage historical photos and instructive historical charts throughout." (Barron's, November 1, 2010) "This is a wonderful classic for any investor or economic historian...the style is pacey, robust and humorous." (Professional Investor, October, 2010) "A 10 best finance book. Does the ongoing financial turmoil leave you scratching your head? Worry not, here's our pick of the finest - and most readable - books about Big Money..." (The Independent) Table of ContentsForeword by Paul Tudor Jones v Preface vii Chapter I 1 Chapter II 17 Chapter III 35 Chapter IV 51 Chapter V 71 Chapter VI 87 Chapter VII 105 Chapter VIII 115 Chapter IX 131 Chapter X 151 Chapter XI 167 Chapter XII 183 Chapter XIII 203 Chapter XIV 219 Chapter XV 239 Chapter XVI 251 Chapter XVII 269 Chapter XVIII 287 Chapter XIX 297 Chapter XX 313 Chapter XXI 331 Chapter XXII 351 Chapter XXIII 373 Chapter XXIV 389 Appendix: Dow Jones Industrial Average (1895–1929) 395 Paul Tudor Jones on Reminiscences 399 Selected Quotes 407 Credits 419 About the Author 423

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Book SynopsisIn the breaststrokes of Roger Deakin's Waterlog, this is the story of one man's search for himself across the breadth of Britain's wild waters.Trade Review'Lovely, lively, passionate... a celebration of nature's ability to inspire healing and joy' Robert MacFarlane‘Minihane writes with refreshing candour... a transformative emotional journey’ Observer 'Roger Deakin’s Waterlog journey, rebooted for the 21st century, Floating is a delicious slice of nature writing with a truly human heart' Alexandra Heminsley, author of Leap In ‘Minihane writes cleanly and with honesty, and never misses a factual or stylistic stroke’ TLS'A gem... so thoughtful. Prose as clean and beautiful as a good swim' Jessica Lee, author of Turning‘An ode to the joys of wild swimming in Britain’ Lonely Planet‘I love this book... this has to sit next to Waterlog in every swimmer’s library’ Jenny Landreth, author of Swell: A Waterbiography'Minihane finds in swimming a rare moment of being free from anxiety and learns that it can be integral in overcoming depression' Wanderlust ‘A string of immersive green dreams, from still, pollen-dusted ponds of warm days to the cold churning power of the sea... this is an effortless, absorbing read. Floating highlights the beautiful variety of outdoor swims possible in Britain and the great positive impact they can have’ Caught by the River ‘Minihane writes with a compulsive honesty and clarity that draws you into its stream as beguiling as any river Deakin ever swam – a wonderful read. Highly recommended!’ Kate Rew founder of the Outdoor Swimming Society‘Engaging and enjoyable... as much a commentary on the changing nature of Britain as a celebration of wild swimming’ The Idler‘A wonderful book: a love letter to wild swimming, a hate letter to anxiety and a story of how we can learn to live with ourselves, our overclocked minds, even after we climb out of the water’ Joe Dunthorne, author of Submarine

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Book SynopsisThe Ship Beneath the Ice is the extraordinary story of how the world’s most famous shipwreck was found, told by the search's Director of Exploration.Trade ReviewAs thrilling as any tale from the heroic age of exploration . . . Bound’s account is a triumph. The storytelling is piano-wire taut, the writing saturated with polar moodiness * Sunday Times *Bound has a natural flair for storytelling and his narrative cracks along with the pace of a well-crafted thriller . . . Captivating and engrossing -- Mail on SundayThe story of Shackleton’s Endurance is one of the most extraordinary in the history of exploration. This is more than just an astonishing sequel. It is a tale just as powerful, and one which redefines the meaning of impossible -- Sir Michael PalinGloriously written . . . Written with the verve of a thriller, Bound's narrative deftly weaves together his voyages and Shackleton's . . . Bound is blessed with a poet's ear for richly evocative language -- Times Literary SupplementThe juxtaposition of the original Shackleton expedition with the quest to find the wreck of the Endurance is utterly compelling -- Professor Alice Roberts, Sunday Times bestseller author of Ancestors and TV PresenterUtterly spellbinding and a rollercoaster of a story. This gripping tale of international collaboration at its best oozes the steely resolve of a modern explorer and is a massive accolade to all involved in bringing the Endurance back into our lives -- Pippa Wordie, granddaughter of James Wordie, the geologist and chief scientist on the EnduranceAn enthralling tale of an extraordinary venture which brings Shackleton’s epic story bang up to the present day -- Camilla Nichol, Chief Executive, UK Antarctic Heritage TrustBound's passion . . . for the most unexplored geography on Earth is evident on every page. His writing blends the required scientific explanations with what touches on poetry . . . Captivating * Daily Mail *Mensun Bound tells [his] story with passion and flair . . . Evocative * Washington Post *An acclaimed book -- ObserverRemarkable . . . Bound’s account has a bittersweet intensity -- The Australian

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Book SynopsisIstanbul, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Hanoi, Delhi, Cairo: the author spent two months in each to explore, in search of man-made beauty still resisting the march of time: winding alleys, cobbled squares, shingled roofs and grand palazzi, which have somehow escaped globalisation and slipped through the tourist net. I was captivated by this book. It is concise, witty, unusual, honest and excellently contrived. It certainly deserves to succeed. Alexander Waugh, author of The House of WittgensteinI couldn't put it down. One of the best travel books I've ever read. Rupert Everett, actor; author of Red Carpets and Other Banana Skins and Vanished YearsJohn Seilern has orchestrated a valse noble et sentimentale in this vividly personal, and deeply sentient account of random journeys to several far-flung, diverse cities their environs, their history, customs, and colour. Take it when going to any one of them, and keep it close at hand. Nicky Haslam, author of Redeeming Features and Folly de Grandeur.A trip like none other. One would like to join him. Esther Vilar, author of The Manipulated ManA highly readable account of the travels of a latter-day homme du monde''. Philip Hook, author of Breakfast at Sothebys.Trieste native and cosmopolitan writer John Seilern brings an eye for absurdity and a respect for ritual to this compelling tour in search of beauty past and present. Blessed with a vast network of relations dotted across the globe, he forms new friendships wherever he goes. A delight to read. Flora Fraser, author of Beloved Emma and The Unruly Queen

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Book Synopsis*Now a major international TV series starring Rachel Griffiths and Martin Henderson* A poignant and darkly comedic memoir from a mother who opened an ethical escort agency in small town New Zealand – the only country in the world where sex work is fully legalised – and dared to make a difference. I’m Antonia, a real-life madam. I’ve got a blended family of six kids; I spend my mornings packing lunchboxes and my evenings reading bedtime stories. And two days a week, I work as a pimp. Procurer, madam – whatever you want to call it. Personally, I think of myself as a union organiser. For vaginas. An ex-pat from San Francisco, Antonia Murphy is living on a farm in rural New Zealand with her husband and two kids, bored and isolated, when her husband leaves her. Suddenly, she has to figure out how to survive. Upon discovering the decriminalisation of sex work in New Zealand, Antonia’s mind

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Book SynopsisHave you ever read Lolita?So begins seventeen-year-old Alisson''s metamorphosis from student to lover and then victim. A lonely and vulnerable high school senior, Alisson finds solace only in her writing and in a young, charismatic English teacher, Mr. North. He praises her as a special and gifted writer, and she blossoms under his support and his vision for her future.Mr. North gives Alisson a copy of Lolita to read, telling her it is a beautiful story about love. The book soon becomes the backdrop to a relationship that blooms from a simple crush into a forbidden romance, with Mr. North convincing her that theirs is a love affair rivalled only by Nabokov''s masterpiece. But as time progresses and his hold on her tightens, Alisson is forced to evaluate how much of that narrative is actually a disturbing fiction.In the wake of what becomes a deeply abusive relationship, Alisson is faced again and again with the story of her past, from

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Book SynopsisHeartbreaking, inspirational memoir by Sarah Corbett Lynch, daughter of Jason Corbett - who was killed by his wife and father-in-law in North Carolina in 2015

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Book SynopsisStanley Price's collected pieces for The Oldie, introduced by Munro PriceFrom the Foreword by Maureen Lipman: He was a quietly unshowy and elegant writer ... He was erudite, airy, emotional, dry, witty and intellectual but wore his gifts lightly and never on his sleeve.From the Introduction by Munroe Price: They look back on the most memorable encounters of his life as a writer. They have a cast to die for: Marilyn Monroe, Noël Coward, Gloria Swanson, Laurence Olivier, Sophia Loren, Gregory Peck, Maureen Lipman, Woody Allen, the Duchess of Argyll, Benito Mussolini, and many more. They are also often side-splittingly funny, and contain some of his best writing.

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Book SynopsisA magical collection of vignettes from the pen of Antonia FraserWhen I was a teenager I had a passion for patchwork. I liked the patterns, but even more than that I liked the action of creating the patchwork. There was something about pulling A to pieces, in order to create B, which I found infinitely satisfying. In a sense, this book satisfies that Passion for Patchwork. There is no particular order to the various pieces, and yet I hope that all together they make up a colourful picture of the history that I love, have loved and will always love.

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Book SynopsisClarkson is back with a brand new book of hilarious stories and observations about our gone-wrong world.___________In November 2016 we woke up to the news that the forthright presenter of a popular television programme had become the most powerful man on the planet. His name, sadly, was not Jeremy Clarkson, but we might not have been any more surprised if it had been.Because the world seems to have taken a decidedly odd turn since Jeremy last reflected on the state of things between the covers of a book. But who better than JC to help us navigate our way through the mess?And while he''s being trying to make sense of it all he''s discovered one or two things along the way, including- The disabling effects of being vegan- How Blackpool might be improved by drilling a hole through it- The problem with meditation- A perfect location for rebuilding Palmyra- Why Tom Cruise can worship lizards if he wants toIt''s all been aTrade ReviewA good book to dip in and out of * Auto Express *Praise for Clarkson: * - *Brilliant...laugh-out-loud * Daily Telegraph *Very funny...I cracked up laughing on the tube * Evening Standard *Outrageously funny...will have you in stitches * Time Out *

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Book SynopsisA Richard and Judy Book club selection.In the summer of 1990, Cathy's brother Matty was knocked down by a car on the way home from a night out. It was two weeks before his GCSE results, which turned out to be the best in his school. Sitting by his unconscious body in hospital, holding his hand and watching his heartbeat on the monitors, Cathy and her parents willed him to survive. They did not know then that there are many and various fates worse than death. This is the story of what happened to Cathy and her brother, and the unimaginable decision that she and her parents had to make eight years after the night that changed everything. It's a story for anyone who has ever watched someone suffer or lost someone they loved or lived through a painful time that left them forever changed. Told with boundless warmth and affection, The Last Act of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink is a heartbreaking yet uplifting testament to a family's surTrade ReviewBeautiful, devastating and ultimately uplifting, intimate and universal all at once . . . Cathy Rentzenbrink has found a way to express the things that all of us wrestle with at times - knowing how to live and taking the risk to love; facing what has damaged us, and owning it as much as a person can. -- Jessie Burton, bestselling author of The MiniaturistProfoundly moving . . . The book's real power lies in Rentzenbrink's skill as a writer, her ability to unearth precise and agonising details quietly, with no self-pity or drama . . . it falls into a tradition of beautifully written accounts of grief, such as Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking . . . Rentzenbrink offers a message of enormous hope for anybody who is going through loss, grief or trauma . . . She emerges from this unflinching memoir with dignity, strength and an enormous heart * Sunday Times *Devastatingly honest and heartbreakingly raw, The Last Act of Love is not simply a book about grief or love or a family's unstinting hope to do the best for their son and brother. It's a book about courage. About the courage to face reality even at its most bleak. And for all the book's sadness it is, ultimately, a book about hope: about how even the darkest tunnels have a glimmer of light beckoning you at the other end. I defy anyone not to be moved by this remarkable and brave story. -- Hannah Beckerman, author of The Dead Wife's HandbookThis is a brilliant book. Harrowing and heartbreaking, but also warm and human and healing. It is about a rare kind of tragedy, but feels universal, as it is about love and loss and how we learn to live, in the face of what life throws at us. You may well cry, but you will feel better for having read it, which you absolutely must. A triumph of love. -- Matt Haig, author of Reasons To Stay AliveBrilliant. Moving, warm, agonising, unputdownable. One of the best memoirs I've read. -- Sophie Hannah, author of The CarrierThis is a touching and brave book, heartbreaking yet beautiful. -- S J WatsonThis lovely, tender, painful book speaks for anyone who has suffered loss, on a scale from minor to cataclysmic . . . which pretty well means us all. -- Deborah Moggach, author of the Best Exotic Marigold HotelExtraordinary . . . An honest, heartbreaking, uplifting account of family tragedy. Read it. -- Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before YouI never knew a story of grief could have so much joy in it. -- Nina Stibbe, author of Love, NinaThis is not only an unflinching and powerfully told account of an unimaginably painful family tragedy. It is also an unforgettable meditation on a close sibling relationship, on growing up with grief, on life, love and everything in between. I am in awe of how Cathy has managed to write so bravely and beautifully of something so devastating, and forge such a positive affirmation of familial love from such desperately bleak circumstances. * The Bookseller *There are only two ways that this book will be read: devoured in the middle of the night in one sitting, or eked out, only a few pages a day, because the feelings it prompts are simply too intense. Either way, it will both stick with you and have you grabbing the forearm of whoever asks you what to read next intensely, so they know how great this is . . . a gobsmacking memoir about family and love. Truly, it will inspire you to be your very best self for a long time after the final page. * The Debrief *Profoundly moving . . . It is a great achievement to transform such a terrible story - one of a kind with which, as a neurosurgeon, I am painfully familiar - into something rather beautiful and uplifting . . .This book should be read by everybody who has either personal or professional experience of severe head injury and, indeed, by anybody who is concerned by the way our society has such difficulty in accepting that meaningful life is about more than just a beating heart. -- Dr. Henry Marsh * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisACTRESS. ICON. ACTIVIST. Her story, in her voice, for the first time. In this honest, layered and unforgettable book that alternates between storytelling and her own poetry, Pamela Anderson breaks the mould of the celebrity memoir while taking back the tale that has been crafted about her.Her blond bombshell image was ubiquitous in the 1990s. Discovered in the stands of a football game, she was immediately rocket launched into fame, becoming Playboy''s favourite cover girl and an emblem of Hollywood glamour and sexuality. But what happens when you lose grip on your own life - and the image the notoriety machine creates for you is not who you really are?Growing up on Vancouver Island, the daughter of young, wild, and unprepared parents, Pamela Anderson''s childhood was not easy, but it allowed her to create her own world-surrounded by nature and imaginary friends. When she overcame her deep shyness and grew into herself, she Trade ReviewA revelatory and fascinating dive beyond the usual bimbo clichés -- Alexander Larman * The Spectator *Pamela Anderson tackles her journey from small-town girl to one of the icons of the 90s, terrorised by the LA paparazzi who were obsessed with her personal life . . . this is a chance for her to tell her story in her own way. * Stylist *Reveals the woman behind the iconic image in this intimate and well-written journey of self-discovery, uncovering the layers that make up her complicated past and sharing her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism. * Library Journal *A page-turner . . . throughout her account of this kooky, messed-up, enviable, and often thrilling life, her humility . . . never fails her. * Kirkus *This pensive and free-spirited narrative reflects both Anderson's naivete and her wild spirit. * Publishers Weekly *The most disappointing thing about Love, Pamela is that it doesn't come in a form that can be injected directly into your viens . . . Dazzling. * The New York Times *The iconic Anderson uses a mixture of poetry and prose to present an impressionistic view of a fascinating life . . . the book paints a picture of a wild spirit, a proud mother, and a seeker that will draw in fans and those who have misunderstood this complicated woman. * Booklist, starred review *Anderson reveals the woman behind the iconic image in this intimate and well-written journey of self-discovery, uncovering the layers that make up her complicated past and sharing her lifelong thirst for knowledge. Anderson fully takes control of her own story, addressing the salacious aspects but also sharing inspiring tales of survival, motherhood, and activism. * Library Journal *

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Book Synopsis''Piercingly honest witty wonderful'' - The Observer''My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me that''s why I love Rosie Wilby!'' - Sara Pascoe''Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming...'' Viv Groskop''Hilarious, honest and brilliant'' Helen Thorne''Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak'' Abigail TarttelinIn 2011, comedian and podcaster Rosie Wilby was dumped by email... though she did feel a little better about it after correcting her ex's spelling and punctuation. Obsessing about breakups ever since, she embarked on a quest to investigate, understand and conquer the psychology of heartbreak. This book is a love letter to her breakups, a celebration of what they have taught her peppered with anecdotes from illustrious friends and interviews with relationship therapists, scientists and sociologists about separating in the modTrade ReviewWe all know about the joys of love and relationships, but there's so much more to discover about the glorious benefits of breakups. Rosie reassures and entertains you through brilliant stories and fabulous facts, about what can be gained from the end of a relationship. This is a hilarious, honest and brilliant book! * Helen Thorn, Scummy Mummies podcaster *Piercingly honest… witty… wonderful * The Observer *For anyone who has ever been disenchanted by idealised romantic fairytales, this book will make you feel less alone. Rosie Wilby unearths the hope and hilarity that can come from heartbreak. * Abigail Tarttelin *My favourite way to learn is when a funny, clever, honest person is teaching me - that's why I love Rosie Wilby! * Sara Pascoe *Funny, sweet, entertaining, insightful, life-affirming... this book is all the things a breakup is not. Rosie’s wisdom is balm for the soul for anyone who has ever been in love. * Viv Groskop *[A] gem of a book * Red Magazine *Comedian Rosie Wilby deftly blends her own experiences with insights from therapists, sociologists and scientists to explore why heartbreak can be so devastating. -- Therapy TodayIf you’ve ever been heartbroken, this will help you heal. Plus it’s FUNNY -- Nichi Hodgsonwise, funny and clever -- Lucy-Anne HolmesI unexpectedly found this really brilliant. It’s about how heartbreak can be a real turning point and the creativity that comes with the depths of depression. It’s a really new take on it. -- Lorraine CandyThe smartest and most thought-provoking book about breakups in recent memory… expertly blends comedy, personal memoir and science to create the most essential book of the season * The Maritime Edit *The Breakup Monologues is a book to go back to, again and again. It’s smart, funny, and wise. Buy it for all your friends, single, coupled, or otherwise. * Liza Delfouli, Arts Hub *The perfect blend of humour, memoir and science * Diva *

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Book Synopsis***Now a major motion picture on Netflix, starring Kevin Hart***''It will make you cry... for the beauty of love and its miraculous power to heal.'' John Grogan, author of Marley & MeMatt and Liz Logelin had it all: a perfect marriage, a gorgeous new home in LA, and a baby girl on the way. Just twenty-seven hours after they welcomed a healthy Madeline into the world, Liz suffered a pulmonary embolism and died instantly, without ever holding the daughter whose arrival she had so eagerly awaited.Though confronted with devastating grief and the responsibilities of being a new and single father, Matt did not give in. He chose to keep moving forward - to make a life for Maddy. In his memoir, Matt shares bittersweet and often humorous anecdotes of his courtship and marriage to Liz, of relying on his newborn daughter for the support that she unknowingly provided, and of the extraordinary online community of strangers who have become his friends.

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Book Synopsis''That nickname . . .''''Little bird. It wasn''t mine. I found out later he gave it to every little girl that came in to be injected. Little Bird didn''t mean anything. It was a trick. There were thousands of little birds, just like me, all thinking they were the only one.''As a reporter, Jacques Peretti has spent his life investigating important stories. But there was one story, heard in scattered fragments throughout his childhood, that he never thought to investigate. The story of how his mother survived Auschwitz.In the few last months of the Second World War, thirteen-year-old Alina Peretti, along with her mother and sister, was one of thirteen thousand non-Jewish Poles sent to Auschwitz. Her experiences there cast a shadow over the rest of her life.Now ninety, Alina has been diagnosed with dementia. Together, mother and son begin a race against time to record her memories and preserve her family''s story

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2021 PEN ACKERLEY PRIZE ‘A strange and mesmerising piece of work’ Sunday Times ‘An absolute masterpiece’ Laura Cumming ‘An uncommon delight’ Observer Claire Wilcox has been a curator of fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum for most of her working life. In Patch Work, she turns her curator’s eye to the fabric of life itself, tugging at the threads of memory: a cardigan worn by a child, a tin button box, the draping of a curtain, a pair of cycling shorts, a roll of lace, a pin hidden in a seam. Through these intimate and compelling close-ups, we see how the stories and the secrets of clothes measure out the passage of time, our gains and losses, and the way we use them to unravel and write our histories. ‘Effervescent, poetic, puzzle-like ... Wilcox picks at the heartstrings’ Financial TimesTrade ReviewInto this tapestry of memories Wilcox weaves a melancholy thread ... The clothes are Proust’s madeleines, cocooned in hatboxes and airing cupboards ... Gripping * Mail on Sunday *In this remarkable self-portrait, fashion curator Claire Wilcox has set out mementoes of her life like objects in an exhibition, like treasures in a cabinet of curiosities ... The result is magical ... Her spellbinding memoir is like a cherished book of poetry * Wall Street Journal *Wilcox writes about clothing with an intoxicating specificity ... she uses her encounters with objects to explore themes of love and loss, birth and bereavement, family and tribe ... As skilful and oblique in its structure as the precious gowns she describes, is stitched together with loving care from narrative scraps and images, ultimately revealing how materiality and memory operate on one another again -- Rebecca Mead * New Yorker, Books of the Year *An uncommon delight -- Rachel Cooke * Observer *Effervescent, poetic, puzzle-like ... Wilcox picks at the heartstrings * Financial Times *Filled with dreamlike memories, this autobiography is both surprising and delightful ... A strange and mesmerising piece of work, one that tears apart the usual fabric of an autobiography * Sunday Times *In her beautifully written memoir Wilcox takes readers behind the scenes of life at the museum – while recounting the many ways that clothes have shaped her personal development in a series of lyrical vignettes * Vogue, 12 Of The Best Autumn Reads To Curl Up With Now *An extraordinary mixture of museum work interleaved with memoir … beautifully written, her book is a love story, with clothes as much as people as its heroes * Spectator *I am overwhelmed by this book. It is an absolute masterpiece. A book of such beauty and profundity, of such poetry in its emotion and observation ... The way it puts words to objects and events is so original. I have been moved to such tears by the lives told here, but also by the infinite care with which she has considered them over and over again, stitched them together, pieced out of memories and love -- LAURA CUMMING, author of On Chapel SandsPatch Work is a unique memoir told in rich, tantalising fragments that made me look at what we all wear with new interest and respect -- TRACY CHEVALIERI couldn't put it down ... What a wonderfully woven tangle of stories, from dreamlike rememberings of her past to the intimate glimpses of a world behind the polished facade of the museum, bound together by her devotion to clothes. Claire looks at clothes with an obsessive's eye, analysing every stitch and imagining the history of every crease, stretch and wrinkle ... Pure delight -- LARA MAIKLEM, author of MudlarkingAn exquisite book that works like a well-curated and eccentric exhibition. The chronology of time and the logic of life's sequences become irrelevant as you are led from one brightly-lit cabinet of memories and thoughts to another, while also learning about cloth, clothes and curating -- JULIA BLACKBURN, author of Time SongI loved its close detail, its sense of the warp and weft of life, of clothes and favoured objects. Everything seen is seen intensely. It’s a book to linger over and return to -- LYNN KNIGHT, author of The Button BoxIntelligent and tactile - part memoir, part beautifully curated collection of treasures. I loved it -- JOHN CRACE, author of Decline and FailA series of exquisite meditations * Harper's Bazaar *Patch Work will never leave me. Wilcox’s memoir of life as fashion curator at the V&A is as delicate and finely wrought as seventeenth-century lace -- MEG ROSOFFIn elegant, evocative prose, Victoria & Albert Museum fashion curator Claire tells her life story, from formative family life to love and loss, through the prism of a life-long obsession with clothes and the beautiful garments that inspired her intriguing career * Sunday Express *Among the books that most surprised and most moved me this year was Patch Work ... The book, which is as skillful and oblique in its structure as the precious gowns she describes, is stitched together with loving care from narrative scraps and images, ultimately revealing how materiality and memory operate on one another * New Yorker, Best Books We Read in 2021 *

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Book Synopsis'Read this book' Alastair Campbell'A really wonderful book' Nigella Lawson via TwitterIn 1975 Richard Beard was sent away to boarding school. So were Boris Johnson and David Cameron.He didn't enjoy it. But the first and most important lesson was not to let that show.A public school education has long been accepted in Britain as a preparation for leadership, but being separated from your parents at a young age is traumatic. What sort of adult does it mould? Tackling debates about privilege head-on, Sad Little Men reveals what happens when you put a succession of men from boarding schools into positions of influence, including at 10 Downing Street, and asks the question: is this really who we want in charge?'The most important book I've read this year' Adam RutherfordTrade ReviewRead this book * Alastair Campbell *Definitive and brilliantly expressed * Viv Groskop *Dazzling in its anger and the force of its argument * Times Literary Supplement *A sensitive and incisive analysis of the British class system...insanely readable * Tom Holland, author of Dominion *One of the finest polemics I have ever come across... Sad Little Men has been an eye-opener * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis'As informative as it is poetic' Dolly Alderton'Compassionate, funny and beautifully written' Daisy Buchanan------------------------------Every woman will experience the panic years in some way between her mid-twenties and early-forties.This maddening period of transformation and personal crisis is recognisable by the myriad of decisions we make - about partners, holidays, jobs, homes, savings, friendships - all of which are impacted by the urgency of the single decision that comes with a biological deadline, the one decision that is impossible to take back; whether or not to have a baby. But how to stay sane in such a maddening time? How to know who you are and what you might want from life? How to know if you're making the right decisions? Raw, hilarious and beguilingly honest, Nell Frizzell's account of her panic years is both an arm around the shoulder and a campaign to start a conversation. This affects us all - women, men, mothers, children, partners, friends, colleagues - so it's time we started talking about it with a little more candour.WHAT READERS ARE SAYING- 'Loved this book! Highly recommend for any woman (or man!) during the weird time in your 20s' *****- 'Those panicky feelings of being a 24-30 something put into words' *****- 'This book brings forth a sigh of relief. Excellent book that really taps into what so many of us are thinking and feeling, but not saying' *****Trade ReviewNell Frizzell's thoughts on womanhood and motherhood are as informative as they are poetic. Writing that challenges and enlightens you just as much as it entertains and stimulates you is rare, this book confidently does both on an important and complicated topic for modern women. * Dolly Alderton *Searingly honest, witty and moving. For anyone who knows what it's like to simultaneously want to weep with joy and throw your child out of the window, Frizzell is a very welcome voice in the conversation on motherhood. * Vogue *There is so much about womanhood that feels indefinable. And yet with her definitions of the flux, and the panic years, Nell manages to define the indefinable - as well as uniting childfree women and mothers, where the two are so often pitted against one another. Lyrical, moving and thorough, this is a memoir, a feminist text and a piece of social commentary. Every millennial woman should have it on her bookshelf. * Pandora Sykes *Wonderful... touching, helpful and enlightening. * Sara Pascoe *A compassionate, funny and beautifully written exploration of contemporary womanhood - the book may have 'panic' in the title, but Nell's words calmed and soothed me deeply. * Daisy Buchanan *Nell Frizzell is a master. In The Panic Years, she picks you up and drops you deep inside herself and makes you see what she sees and feel what she feels in a manner that is both jarring and beautiful. I particularly recommend this book to men as it will start to heal the rift between the sexes that capitalism has – if not created – nourished and exploited. This book is a visceral exploration of one young woman’s life that has immediately applicable lessons for us all. Vital reading. Lest my trumpeting make you worry it’s only “important,” The Panic Years is also fun, funny, and warm. I love it dearly! * Rob Delaney, writer and star of Catastrophe *Heartening, eye-opening, hilarious. I'm glad Nell has given this weird time a term we can all use.Smart and perceptive...Written with real humour and consideration for the point at which every woman is in their life, this is a must-read for 2021. * Stylist, best new non-fiction for 2021 *Frizzell's compassionate, compulsive prose fizzes with imaginative humour and metaphor. A memoir that's funny and heartfelt, personal and political. * Evening Standard *One of the most gripping, beautiful and euphoric glimpses of motherhood that I have ever read. Frizzell is an engaging and endearing narrator of this poignant memoir. * Telegraph *Lively, informative... Nell uses her own experience generously and the effect is inclusive, reassuring and funny. She articulates feelings I've had but never quite explored - it's excellent * Amy Liptrot *Incredibly relatable and comforting, addressing the constant comparison and confusion women often face. Frizzell writes beautifully and poetically while reassuring and validating the reader's concerns with hilarious anecdotes from her own panic years. This is an important read for all women who are wondering what should come next, and when. * Independent *The Panic Years made me laugh and it made me cry. There’s a rare tenderness to this book that comes from not having felt seen before. It’s for our generation, and Nell gets it. She understands and respects us. * Rhiannon Cosslett *A wonderful, candid memoir about the personal and political implications of motherhood, full of humour and fizzing prose. I loved it. * Luiza Sauma, author of Flesh and Bone and Everything You Ever Wanted *For someone older, in a different set of panic years altogether, part of the pleasure of this book lies in reminiscence, reflecting and reframing. But it’s also galvanising, engaging and enraging. The personal is political, philosophical, emotional, and very funny. I resisted the urge to highlight everything that made me laugh, or think, or fired me up, because the whole thing would have been one big neon block * Jenny Landreth *Breathtakingly good * Lauren Bravo *Informs, educates, entertains... This book will resonate with so many readers. * Red's top picks of 2020 *Brilliant * Grazia *A must-read... sharp, funny, it chronicles all of the big decisions a woman is expected to make between the ages of 25-40: where to live, if they should marry, what to do with one's career. And that other biggie: to have a baby or not. * Culture Whisper *Ab-definingly funny, The Panic Years captures the female experience perfectly. Discussing all of the large, looming decisions women have to make between their late 20s and early 40s, this is a must-read. * ES Magazine *Offers advice and feminist learnings on how to survive when it feels like everyone around you is becoming a parent. * Cosmopolitan *Wise, perceptive and refreshingly open...a memoir that feels inherently personal to womanhood and what being a woman means. * Culturefly *A must read. Timely, honest, brave and funny calling for a new kind of conversation about love, work and parenthood. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAN INSPIRING STORY OF STARTING OVER'We all need a Devorgilla Cottage somewhere in our hearts' - KIRSTY WARK'Beautifully written' - ALEXANDER ARMSTRONG 'A magical and beautifully written memoir and so evocative of Wigtown and its landscape' - RUTH HOGANThis is a story about uncovering the things that really matter, and discovering what makes us feel alive. It is a story about finding that inner strength and resilience, and never giving up hope.Eight years ago, Kathleen Hart was diagnosed with breast cancer. Further complications led to a protracted recovery and months spent in hospital, where Kathleen had to learn how to walk again. While recuperating, she came across a small whitewashed cottage for sale in Wigtown, Scotland. Driving hundreds of miles on nothing more than a few photographs and an inkling, she bought it that very same day, and named it Devorgilla after the formidable 13th century Scottish princess.Devorgilla Days is the story of how Kathleen left behind her old life to begin again in Scotland's book capital. From renovating her cottage to exploring the seemingly quiet, but actually bustling town, she encounters a whole community of book lovers, beekeepers, artists and writers - and Lobster Fishermen. Kathleen starts wild swimming, a ritual that brings peace and clarity to her mind as her body heals. And, with the support of her virtual worldwide community who know her as PoshPedlar on Instagram, she rebuilds her life again.Heartwarming and deeply moving, Devorgilla Days is an inspiring tale of one woman's remarkable journey, a celebration of community, and a call-to-arms for anyone who has ever dreamt of starting over.Trade ReviewWe all need a Devorgilla Cottage somewhere in our hearts and in our imaginations. This is a book about survival and renewal and sheer willpower. -- Kirsty WarkSo beautifully written and so enchanting I feel quite bereft having reached the end... So many achievements all wrapped in one beautiful narrative. It's heaven. -- Alexander ArmstrongA magical and beautifully written memoir and so evocative of Wigtown and its landscape. * Ruth Hogan, author of THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS *From renovating her cottage to exploring the seemingly quiet, but actually bustling town, she encounters a whole community of book lovers, beekeepers, artists and writers and lobster fishermen throughout the book. Furthermore, Kathleen starts wild swimming, a ritual that brings peace and clarity to her mind as her body heals. * Irish Times *

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**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**'As a chronicle of an extraordinary friendship between man and animal, and its unexpected consequences, it's entirely delightful' DAILY MAIL'This uplifting retelling of their adventures together proves a welcome tonic' THE SUN'Heartwarming and utterly charming' GUARDIAN'A heart-warming and captivating travelogue' THE i'A gorgeous book about their adventures, complete with photos that will melt your heart' Lorraine Kelly, ITV***Instagram phenomenon @1bike1world Dean Nicholson reveals the full story of his life-changing friendship with rescue cat Nala and their inspiring adventures together on a bike journey around the world.When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn't bargained on the lessons he'd learn from his unlikely companion.Three months after leaving home, on a remote road in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia, he came across an abandoned kitten. Something about the piercing eyes and plaintive meowing of the bedraggled little cat proved irresistible. He couldn't leave her to her fate, so he put her on his bike and then, with the help of local vets, nursed her back to health.Soon on his travels with the cat he named Nala, they forged an unbreakable bond - both curious, independent, resilient and adventurous. The video of how they met has had 20 million views and their Instagram has grown to almost 750k followers - and still counting!Experiencing the kindness of strangers, visiting refugee camps, rescuing animals through Europe and Asia, Dean and Nala have already learned that the unexpected can be pretty amazing. Together with Garry Jenkins, writer with James Bowen of the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, Dean shares the extraordinary tale of his and Nala's inspiring and heart-warming adventure together.

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring and life-affirming story of a difficult childhood transformed into happy adulthood through the power of nature and gardensBeloved author Marc Hamer writes about finding refuge in his tiny back garden in this highly original story of childhood, old age, and the restorative power of gardens. As a child, he kindled a deep love of the earth by watching plants and insects and exploring the world through a stack of old encyclopaedias he found in the shed. Now an old man, he creates a garden for himself in the neglected plot behind his house.A little book with a big heart: the insights glow as vivid as a flowerbed. If you want to be inspired, or you've lost your belief in the goodness of this world, this could be for you.'A sublime meditation on life, love, nature and family, woven with the wisdom gained through a life well lived' Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell'Patterned with Hamer's gifts for observation, compression, and tone' New Yorker'Rich and tender' New York Times'A book of great but tender power' Charles Foster, author of Being a BeastTrade ReviewA memoir infused with wisdom and a deep love of nature, as well as a how-to book for finding peace of mind * Saga *Hamer's prose proceeds by association and by charismatic detail... but it also has a strong sense of arc, of change...He has an inclination to celebrate and express love-an inclination that seems built out of the humus of a difficult childhood...he is not an Adam cast out of the garden but "a boy cast out of hell," and into a series of gardens. * New Yorker *An illuminating, powerful read * Woman's Own *Marc Hamer knows how to live - simply, sparely, reverently, abundantly. Spring Rain is a tonic for the soul. * Sy Montgomery, author of How to Be A Good Creature *Interwoven with the writer's deep-seated love of the natural world... I highlighted many passages while reading this book * Countryman *A breathtaking narrative that transcends genre and geography. * Shelf Awareness * *Hamer explains why a garden is not just a place of work - it's also a place of worship. -- Margaret Roach * New York Times *Mr. Hamer has found his ideal calling in this book stitched together from small essays, a genre in which such capricious mutability of opinion is not only tolerated but encouraged. Through his words, we connect with the ultimate text, the landscape itself. * Wall Street Journal *Hamer's signature prose, rich with precise, detailed observations that evoke the luminous wonder that informs and illuminates all being, is on full display * Vancouver Sun *A book of great but tender power; acute, wise and intimately observed, speaking with the unmistakable voice of the land itself - which is equally unmistakably Hamer's own. And what a voice that is! -- Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild'A sublime meditation on life, love, nature and family, woven with the wisdom of age gained through a life well lived' * Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell *Hamer has a canny way of divining the sacred in the quotidian * Booklist *No facet of nature, however subtle, eludes Marc Hamer - and I relish being invited along on each intimate adventure * Margaret Roach, author of A Way to Garden *A wonderful book about our relationship with the earth, with other animals and with our own troubled humanity. It has taught me a lot. I feel great love for it -- Max Porter, on How to Catch a Mole: A Life in NatureA wholly original, semi-autobiographical book on how to live, how to be calm and content with only a little, in a quietly humming garden * Daily Mail, on Seed to Dust *From a hardscrabble childhood and vagrancy to the life-enhancing rewards of nurturing both 12 acres and an unusual friendship... Hamer meditations take similar forms, starting down to earth, if not actually in it, and ending taking off for the skies one way or another. His prose mimics this, beginning earthy and becoming airy. -- Tim Dee * Guardian, on Seed to Dust *A fascinating, lyrical account of the loneliness and beauty of life on the margins * Times Literary Supplement, on How to Catch a Mole: A Life in Nature *A beguiling and poetic memoir - illustrated with Hamer's line drawings - he encourages us to tune into the consoling rhythms of nature * Bookseller *Hamer lets us in; we learn what his tools feel like in hands hardened by decades of manual labour... But it is also an unlikely love story * Telegraph, on Seed to Dust *Patterned with Hamer's gifts for observation, compression, and tone. . . I tend to think of a garden story as inevitably circular: every winter is followed by a spring, again and again. Hamer's garden story has that element, but it is as neighborly with the mortal arrow as it is with the return -- Rivka Galchen * New Yorker *

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Book SynopsisIn this unforgettable memoir, Emerald Garner recounts her father’s cruel and unjust murder, the immense pain that followed, the pressures of an exploitative media, and her difficult yet determined journey as an activist against police violence. She begins with the morning of July 17, 2014—a rare day off from work, one she had hoped to enjoy with rest and family, that quickly turned her world inside out. What follows is a personal account of the suffering Emerald and her family endured: unsympathetic camera lenses, the stares and whispers of strangers, and the inability to mourn in private. In addition to these vulnerable, personal essays, Finding My Voice includes conversations in which Emerald found inspiration, empathy, and community: with politicians, athletes, and activists like Brian Benjamin and Etan Thomas; with others surviving similarly unfathomable grief like Lora Dene King, Angelique Kearse, and Pamela Brooks; and with Emerald’s own family, Mrs. Esaw Garner and Eric Garner Jr. The book ends with a powerful call-to-action by author and daughter of Malcolm X, Ilyasah Shabazz. As calls for radical transformation and accountability grow, Emerald Garner’s memoir is a story of family and community, and the strength it takes to survive, to stand, to speak.Trade Review"Emerald Garner has fought tirelessly for justice for her father Eric Garner. Her Story is one that needs to be heard." —Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., Civil Rights Leader, Founder, Rainbow PUSH Coalition

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Book SynopsisA profound and gripping memoir by Nicole Walters, the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants who became a self-made multi-millionaire by showing others how to recognize their own strengths—and her own harrowing journey to the discovery that she was worthy all along of the life of her dreams.Nothing Is Missing is a riveting, unputdownable story of what it takes to show up for yourself—and the joy that can come once you do. Raised in a home where food was unstable and anger was the norm, Nicole learned early that she needed to take charge of her own safety and security. So she did: She got into an elite private school by talking to a stranger in her dad’s cab, she strategized her way onto Wheel of Fortune to pay for college, she adopted three girls after meeting their mother panhandling, she quit her job to launch her own business, and she struggled. Hustling endlessly to try to achieve society’s definition of success left her exhausted, compromising her own sense of worth in order to accommodate others. Nicole worked herself straight into a health crisis that threatened her life and the family she had worked so hard to build. It was not until she was forced into a major reckoning in both her business and her marriage that Nicole realized that she was already enough, that she had and was everything that she needed. In Nothing Is Missing, Nicole contemplates how she was able to create the life she wanted using the strength she had within herself all along.Trade Review"Nicole is always authentically herself, and this book is no exception. Her abundant wisdom and courageousness inspires on every page.” — Octavia Spencer, Actress"She needed a hero, so she became one." --Nate Burleson, CBS Mornings"Nicole's insights are invaluable in helping you break cycles and create the life you truly desire. If you're feeling stuck or uninspired, this book is exactly what you need to get back on track and start flourishing." - Nedra Glover Tawwab, New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace“Starting over in life is something every woman experiences—with marriage, career, and reinventing themselves. In this book, Nicole Walters transparently shares her own story as a first-generation Ghanaian American growing up and navigating how to show up entirely while society tells her there’s always something missing. This book is for every shelf in need of a bit of inspiration!” –Rachel Cargle, activist, entrepreneur, and author of A Renaissance of Our OwnNicole is my friend and I love her, but reading this book shook me. Don’t mistake her shiny, megawatt smile for ease; she has suffered, persevered, and overcome. Nicole's story is no joke. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to weep on the floor for such a tender retelling, or demand through a megaphone that every woman I know read this. The best endorsement I can give is this: I will immediately put this book in the hands of my daughters.” —Jen Hatmaker, Speaker, Host of the For the Love Podcast, and 4x New York Times Bestseller author"In this sparkling and impassioned story, [Walters] found passion in choosing herself… a celebration of self-actualization and belief, with a beating heart at the center.” —Glamour "Like only she can, Nicole’s beautiful storytelling in Nothing is Missing both inspires and affirms. After the tears, after laughing out loud, readers will find themselves reflecting on how they too can not just survive but thrive. Nicole’s story will resonate with anyone who has the courage to defy and transform any prevailing narratives about who they are or should be. This book is a must-read for anyone determined to create a life they love." —Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts, Author of Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration“Nothing Is Missing is a testament to self-discovery and the transformative power of recognizing one's strengths. You will feel seen and supported, and will be given a path to create the life you deserve." —Amy Porterfield, author of New York Times bestseller Two Weeks Notice“From the first sentence, Nicole’s story hooked me, and I walked away with this mantra reverberating in my ears: Everything’s very wrong. Everything is also very right. But nothing is missing. Nicole is as relatable as they come, all while reminding you to realize that you are worthy when you wake up. It’s a story of what it means to live the American dream and what happens when your dreams change into something more beautiful than you ever imagined. I sped through every page.” –Sharon McMahon, Author, Educator, & "America's Government Teacher"

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Book SynopsisNot a Novel is the best of Jenny Erpenbeck's non-fiction. Moving and insightful, the pieces range from personal essays and literary criticism to reflections on Germany's history, interrogating life and politics, language and freedom, hope and despair. By turns both luminous and explosive, this collection shows one of the most acclaimed European writers reckoning with her country's divided past, and responding to the world today with intelligence and humanity.

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Book SynopsisRichard Wright's memoir of his childhood as a young black boy in the American south of the 1920s and 30s is a stark depiction of African-American life and a powerful exploration of racial tension.‘A compelling indictment of life in the Deep South between the wars’ Daily Telegraph At four years old, Richard Wright set fire to his home in a moment of boredom; at five his father deserted the family; by six Richard was - temporarily - an alcoholic. It was in saloons, railroad yards and streets that he learned the facts about life, about fear, hunger and hatred, while his mother's long illness taught him about suffering. In a world of white hostility and subjugation it would be his love of books and pursuit of knowledge that would propel him to follow his dream of justice and opportunity in the north.A chronicle of coming of age under the racial prejudices of the American south, as much the story of a writer finding his voice, Black Boy remains one of the great, impassioned memoirs of the twentieth century.

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Book SynopsisA Buddhist psychotherapist travels to Peru to scatter the ashes of her heroin addict son

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Book Synopsis'Acute, funny and moving' - Ian Hislop'A heartfelt memoir through grief, family and a very funny, obsessive love of sports' - Cariad Lloyd, host of GriefcastA funny, heartfelt, nostalgia-infused story of grief, sport and the journey of a lifetime.What do you do when your world changes in an instant? For Jon Harvey, after the sudden death of his brother, it meant turning to the thing that had given him support, joy and a lifetime of memories: sport, in all its myriad sublime and ridiculous forms. A kaleidoscopic twelve months took him from London Olympia to ancient Olympia, from rugby balls to Rubik's Cubes, Wimbledon tennis to Wimbledon greyhounds, Twickenham to Frimley Green, Roger Federer to Martin 'Wolfie' Adams, and much, much more. It's a celebration, of a life shaped by sport, and the ultimate season ticket.Trade ReviewWarm, sad and funny... There is something very eccentric and British about A Fan for All Seasons * Sunday Times *Vivid and funny... This is a wonderfully touching book about fandom and grief * Daily Mail *The book…[has] honesty and passion at its heart. Jon Harvey is an excellent recreator of the atmosphere at a packed stadium or a hushed theatre… Most affectingly of all, he shows how sport can play its part in grieving * Times Literary Supplement *Acute, funny and moving * Ian Hislop *A heartfelt memoir through grief, family and a very funny, obsessive love of sports * Cariad Lloyd, host of Griefcast *

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Book Synopsis'Extraordinary. It is about death, but I can think of few books which have such life. It shows us what love is.' Max Porter, author of Grief is the Thing With Feathers and Lanny'There is no one quite like Naja Marie Aidt' Valeria Luiselli'Devastating, angry, challenging, fragmented and filled with the beautiful hope that the love we have for people continues into the world even after they're gone.' Culturefly'Fragmented, poetic, informative and truthful, Aidt faces the greatest loss we can ever know with all the force of great elegy writers like Anne Carson and Denise Riley. Essential.' Polly Clark, author of Larchfield and Tiger_______"I raise my glass to my eldest son. His pregnant wife and daughter are sleeping above us. Outside, the March evening is cold and clear. 'To life!' I say as the glasses clink with a delicate and pleasing sound. My mother says something to the dog. Then the phone rings. We don't answer it. Who could be calling so late on a Saturday evening?" In March 2015, Naja Marie Aidt's 25-year-old son, Carl, died in a tragic accident. When Death Takes Something From You Give It Back is about losing a child. It is about formulating a vocabulary to express the deepest kind of pain. And it's about finding a way to write about a reality invaded by grief, lessened by loss. Faced with the sudden emptiness of language, Naja finds solace in the anguish of Joan Didion, Nick Cave, C.S. Lewis, Mallarmé, Plato and other writers who have suffered the deadening impact of loss. Their torment suffuses with her own as Naja wrestles with words and contests their capacity to speak for the depths of her sorrow. This palimpsest of mourning enables Naja to turn over the pathetic, precious transience of existence and articulates her greatest fear: to forget. The insistent compulsion to reconstruct the harrowing aftermath of Carl's death keeps him painfully present, while fragmented memories, journal entries and poetry inch her closer to piecing Carl's life together. Intensely moving and quietly devastating, this is what is it to be a family, what it is to love and lose, and what it is to treasure life in spite of death's indomitable resolve.Trade ReviewNaja Marie Aidt's shattering elegy about her grown son's death is a modern Greek tragedy-and a relentless account of grief's deepest reality. * Weekendavisen *Naja Marie Aidt's book on the loss of her son is a genuine and unbearable masterwork. ...[Her writing] about death, grief and the indescribable consequences make up this incredibly good book. I wish Aidt never had to write about this endless nightmare, indeed, one of its most important points is that grief never goes away. And yet, we now have a book without illusions, a merciless and insistent depiction of how deeply death reaches into the body and soul. Aidt has rendered a convincing reconstruction of the depths of grief. * Jyllands Posten *An immense work of art ... an extremely beautiful and shockingly sorrowful work and a declaration of love's communality. One of the most painful and paradoxically one of the most beautiful books I have ever read... * Kristeligt Dagblad *

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Book SynopsisIt was a low-level panic at first, but very quickly there were big changes taking place. Day by day, wards were being cleared to make way for Covid-positive patients. Things were getting worse by the day. For the first time in my nursing career, I felt scared.As a palliative care nurse, it is Kelly Critcher's job to look death in the eye - to save a patient while the fight can still be won, and confront life's end with grace and kindness when it can't. In early 2020, everything changed for nurses on the NHS front line. Working on Covid wards and the High Dependency Unit, Kelly spent the height of the coronavirus crisis at Northwick Park hospital - perhaps the UK hospital most deeply ravaged by the illness.She, and many others like her, battled tirelessly in a critical care unit pushed to breaking point, delivering the bad news and fighting the good fight, day-in, day-out, throughout the gravest test our health service has faced since its inception.Kelly's story weaves together her raw, emotional diaries from the COVID frontline with a broader reflection on the truths about a life spent caught between battling for her patients' lives and helping them face down death with courage and compassion. Bringing together the enormity of the last twelve months - and the scars it will leave - this is a book for our times.

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