Memoirs Books

Book Synopsis'Four million quid. There it was, inches away from me on a hotel table. Not in conventional currency, but in the world's deadliest commodity. Heroin.' As part of Scotland Yard's undercover team, it was Peter Bleksley's job to infiltrate some of the capital's most dangerous gangs and bring them down. For ten years, he went deeper into the criminal underworld than any cop had before him. Meeting with dealers, gangland leaders and members of the IRA and the Mafia, he lived the life of the Great Pretender, constantly changing his identity to ensure his cover was never blown. Whilst undeniably thrilling work at times, it came at a heavy price. The more successful he was at bringing criminals to justice, the longer the list of those who wanted revenge became. Even now, Peter looks over his shoulder in case someone should wish to act on an old threat. In The Gangbuster, Bleksley draws us into the world of drugs, violence and covert operations he inhabited for so long in the pursuit of justice. Now a renowned policing and crime expert seen on the BBC and as the Chief on Channel 4's Hunted, Peter Bleksley reputation still precedes him the world over.

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Book SynopsisIn The Edge of the Sea Rachel Carson introduces us to the 'strange and beautiful place' where the sea meets the land. She explores a tide pool, an inaccessible cave, and watches a lone crab on the shore at midnight. From these, and other, encounters she offers us not just a scientifically accurate study of the ecology of the seashore, but also a hauntingly beautiful account of the fragile balance of life found at the edge of the sea.The Edge of the Sea, like all her writing, sounds a prophetic alarm for the damage mankind is doing to the natural world, but also offers us inspiration: here is beauty, here is something worth saving.Trade ReviewThe timely reissue of a classic maritime trilogy shows that the "poet of the oceans" was far ahead of her time . . . What's striking is that Carson is a keen observer of the interconnectedness of things . . . Her sea series is not only fascinating for those with an interest in the prehistory of Silent Spring. There is much to marvel at in these pages. The Edge Of The Sea is a book to take down to the beach and rockpools - I will pack it in my own bag for the summer holidays * * Herald * *A brilliantly written argument that changed the course of history -- AL GORECatching the life breath of science on the still glass of poetry * * Time * *Praise for the Sea trilogy: This combination of science and scintillating prose provides fascinating insights into the mysteries of the tides . . . a masterpiece of ecological writing * * Guardian * *Rereading her natural histories, what stands out is how beautiful the writing is. Carson combined a scientist's ability to see with a novelist's ability to imagine * * New Yorker * *[Carson] is the poet laureate of the sea, but also of that "web of life", in which everything is connected to everything else * * London Review of Books * *Rachel Carson was one of the reasons why I became so conscious of the environment and so involved with environmental issues . . . Her picture hangs on my office wall among those of political leaders, presidents and prime ministers. It has been there for years, and it belongs there. Carson has had as much or more an effect on me than any of them, and perhaps all of them together -- AL GOREPraise for Silent Spring: Brilliantly written: clear, controlled and authoritative . . . one of the most effective books ever written . . . the impact is, in all senses, stunning * * Guardian * *Much of what Carson wrote to great controversy is now conventional wisdom. To read Silent Spring now is in part to understand how we got to where we are * * Wall Street Journal * *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING - HIGHLY COMMENDED'Remarkable' Robert Macfarlane'Beautiful' Amy Liptrot'Powerful, unflinching . . . Part hymn to nature, part Troubles memoir' GuardianKerri ní Dochartaigh was born in Derry at the very height of the Troubles. One parent was Catholic, the other Protestant. In the space of a year Kerri's family were forced out of two homes and when she was eleven a homemade petrol bomb was thrown through her bedroom window. For families like hers, terror was in the very fabric of the city.In Thin Places, Kerri explores how nature kept her sane and helped her heal, and how we are again allowing our borders to become hard and terror to creep back in. Kerri asks us to reclaim and rejoice in our landscape, and to remember that the land we fight over is much more than lines on a map.Trade ReviewA remarkable piece of writing. I don't think I've ever read a book as open-hearted as this. It resists easy pieties of nature as a healing force, but nevertheless charts a recovery which could never have been achieved without landscape, wild creatures and "thin places". It is also flocked with luminous details (moths, birds, feathers, skulls, moving water). Kerri's voice is utterly her own, rich and strange. I've folded down the corners of many pages, marking sentences and moments that glitter out at me. Wow -- ROBERT MACFARLANEDochartaigh takes great solace in nature, and much of the book is a meditation on the beautiful landscapes and flora and fauna that surround her . . . Passionate, moving and beautifully written, this is a remarkable account of trauma and ways to acknowledge and overcome it * * Sunday Times * *What was Kerri ní Dochartaigh's burden as a child - to exist in "the gaps between" the Catholic and Protestant communities in Northern Ireland - has become her gift as a writer. She is sensitive to the legacies of loss and trauma and highly attuned to the gifts of the natural world and the possibilities of place. This is a special, beautiful, many-faceted book -- AMY LIPTROTPowerful, unflinching . . . Part hymn to nature, part Troubles memoir . . . Vividly descriptive . . . Thin Places is at heart a survivor's story located in the real and brutally Darwinian world of lived experience * * Guardian, Book of the Day * *Fabulous . . . Piercingly honest, movingly heartfelt. There is so much soul and knowledge and compassion, it gave me shivers -- ELIF SHAFAK * * Guardian, Best Books of the Year * *An eloquent, moving work of politics, geography and the self. Full of wisdom and deeply engaging -- SINÉAD GLEESONThe power of place to heal trauma makes for a beautiful read . . . It contains moments of great beauty . . . It is heady, bright and difficult to pin down. It is also redemptive. The Irish word for hope, we are told, is dòchas or dòigh, which holds, within its roots, glimmers of dóighiúil, the word for giving. Ní Dochartaigh takes that hope and gives it to us all * * Big Issue * *A beautiful and harrowing book about trauma, the potential to heal and the subtle magic of the wild. Kerri ní Dochartaigh offers us a fragile kind of redemption, full of truth and solace -- KATHERINE MAYNí Dochartaigh's delight in wild things weaves a thread of light through her childhood, adulthood and the book itself . . . Acutely personal . . . Wonderfully evocative . . . This heartfelt memoir, with its message on the saving grace of nature, may speak to an even wider audience than it first imagined * * Daily Mail * *A powerful, bracing memoir that asks what happens when a child grows up in a city that isn't safe . . . This is a book that will make you see the world differently * * Irish Times * *

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Book Synopsis‘Malcolm Alexander is to GPs what James Herriot is to vets’ – MATT GAW_____________________‘An ode to island life in all its glorious foibles’ – THE HERALD _____________________'A fascinating, funny and utterly heart-warming family adventure.’ – RUTH HOGAN_______________________An immensely heart-warming story of life on the frontline within extreme circumstances. When Malcolm Alexander saw the job advert, ‘urgent: island doctor needed’, he applied immediately. What he didn’t anticipate was how much Orkney would affect his family, for better or worse. In stories that range from the humorous to the deeply moving, Malcolm describes what it’s like adjusting to life without modern conveniences and to the extreme – and constantly changing – weather; and what it means to be providing the best medical care to the local population with limited resources. Which often includes the wildlife as well ... Malcolm’s journey evokes the awe that the Orkney landscape can inspire, as well as the challenges of island life and the demons that the dark, cold winter months can give birth to. Gripping and beautifully written, Close to Where the Heart Gives Out reminds us of the importance of listening to our heart, as well as to the rhythms of the landscape.Trade ReviewA fascinating memoir... an ode to island life in all its glorious foibles and heart-soaring delights * The Herald *Orkney, more than any other place that I've been, really did get under my skin... I love the descriptions of the landscape and everyday life in Close to Where the Heart Gives Out * Dolly Alderton *Wind-whipped and salt-stung, Malcom's account of island life is both grounding and immensely heart-warming. He is to GP's what James Herriot is to vets * Matt Gaw *A fascinating, funny and utterly heart-warming family adventure. Beautifully written and completely unforgettable * Ruth Hogan, author of 'The Keeper of Lost Things' *[An] utterly enchanting casebook * Daily Mail *A mesmerising read about a personal journey, this book is all versions of love (with the island of Eday in starring role) * Hannah Persuad *

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Book SynopsisQueen Victoria so liked the Isle of Wight she built a royal residence here. Thousands of people got stoned here at music festivals in the late 1960s. And, in the very un-hippyish Covid summer of 2020, Hunter Davies and his girlfriend escaped locked-down North London for a week’s holiday on the Isle of Wight, fell in love with its sleepy charm – and ended up buying a Grade II-listed love nest in the elegant Victorian seaside resort of Ryde. Love in Old Age tells the story of their first twelve months on the island. It brings together the themes of love in old age; Covid lockdown; rural escape; the anxieties of house-buying; and the history and curiosities of England’s largest and second most populous island – all bound together by Hunter Davies’s inquisitiveness about people and places, and his irrepressible and ironic sense of humour.Trade ReviewHunter's wit and charm and insatiable curiosity about people and places will have you captured * Our Man On The Ground *PRAISE FOR HUNTER DAVIES: 'Affable, curious, unpretentious, never dull, Hunter is one of the most agreeable egomanics I know' Michael Palin. 'Brilliantly funny' Daily Mail. 'Easy-going, humorous and a natural journalist, Hunter Davies comes across as a thoroughly nice man' Sunday Times. 'Our own national treasure' Helena Kennedy. 'Davies is a wonderful companion, leading readers down memory lane with great chumminess' * Daily Express *

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Book Synopsis"In her new book Why It''s OK to Talk About Trauma, she forges a new path for all survivors of trauma, as well as breathing much-needed humour into a stigmatised condition." - Lucy Morgan, Glamour, May 2024THIS IS THE BOOK YOUR BRAIN, BODY AND FUTURE SELF NEED TO READ.More than half of us will have experienced some kind of trauma in our lives - many of us multiple times over. But most of us ignore or avoid our traumatic experiences, and struggle alone in the emotional pain that remains. In Why It''s OK to Talk About Trauma, award-winning journalist and campaigner Charlie Webster explores what trauma is, how trauma impacts us mentally, emotionally and physically, and why our past experiences influence our day-to-day behaviours. She draws on her own story, research and insight, backed by the clinical psychologist that treated her.''I wrote this book following my journey through trauma recovery. I''ve included everything I''ve learnt in the hope that it will also help you. I want to show you that it is okay to talk about trauma, but I know it''s not easy. Sometimes it''s hard to admit that what has happened to us affects us so deeply. But by the time you turn the final page, my intention is that you will feel different; what has happened will not have disappeared but it will feel more manageable and you will be equipped to deal with trauma and life moving forward.Whatever has happened to you, we can face it together in this book. I am with you on this journey.''

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Book SynopsisThe new page-turner from the Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Traitor of Colditz, this is the true story of a spy whose betrayal changed the face of the Twentieth Century.

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Book SynopsisIn her latest work, Annie Ernaux recounts a relationship with a student thirty years her junior – an experience that transforms her, briefly, back into the ‘scandalous girl’ of her youth. When she is with him, she replays scenes she has already lived through, feeling both ageless and closer to death. Laid like a palimpsest on the present, the past’s immediacy pushes her to take a decisive step in her writing – producing, in turn, the need to expunge her lover. At once stark and tender, The Young Man is a taut encapsulation of Ernaux’s relationship to time, memory and writing.Trade Review‘[Shame and The Young Man] deserve to be read widely. Her work is self-revealing, a series of pitiless auto-autopsies….Their disparate achievements work together to illuminate something perennially fascinating about Ernaux: her relationship to revelation and visibility. These are deeply intimate books, but in another way, Ernaux brings a disquieting impersonality to her project.’ — Megan Nolan, The Times‘Annie Ernaux’s work is proof of how expertly autobiography can be done… The Young Man does offer a taste of what’s so unique and astonishing about her honesty, her intelligence, the deceptive simplicity of her narratives. And for those who have been reading her for decades, it adds invaluable information to what we have already learned about the sources of her energy and courage, about the complex connections between her life and her work, her lived experience and the grace with which she transforms memory into art.’ — Francine Prose, Guardian‘Reading her is like getting to know a friend, the way they tell you about themselves over long conversations that sometimes take years, revealing things slowly, looping back to some parts of their life over and over.’ — Joanna Biggs, London Review of Books‘Annie Ernaux is one of my favourite contemporary writers, original and true. Always after reading one of her books, I walk around in her world for months.’ — Sheila Heti, author of Pure Colour‘I find her work extraordinary.’ — Eimear McBride, author of A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing‘But the brevity has a function. Ernaux’s works aren’t coy or glancing; they’ve been sharpened to a point. Though she seems like a writer of details, each book is a vital mission, carried out with thrusting force.’ — Tobi Haslet, Harper’s‘That Ernaux can do so much — “The Young Man” tackles love, aging, desire, loss, misogyny, class and death — in such a small space is clearly the hallmark of a writer who has honed her craft to be razor sharp. It cuts to the bone.’ — Jessica Ferri, Washington Post‘Ernaux has inherited de Beauvoir’s role of chronicler to a generation.’ — Margaret Drabble, New Statesman‘Across the ample particularities of over forty years and twenty-one books, almost all short, subject-driven memoirs, Ernaux has fundamentally destabilized and reinvented the genre in French literature.’ — Audrey Wollen, The Nation‘The Young Man is another opportunity to journey with Ernaux as she peels back an experience…’ — Pat Reber, Artsfuse‘As Ernaux’s work shows, telling the story of a life always involves more than putting the facts of it in order. It means moving backward and forward through time, repeating and revisiting, uncovering old memories and fleshing out stories that have already been told. If you end up returning again and again to the same episodes, then so be it. Show them from different angles. Rearrange the order. Do whatever you must to make it new.’ — Maggie Doherty, New Republic‘Like Anna Karenina and Madame Bovary, Ernaux’s affair should be counted as one of the great liaisons of literature.... I suspect the book will become a kind of totem for lovers: a manual to help them find their centre when, like Ernaux, they are lost in love. All her books have the quality of saving frail human details from oblivion. Together they tell, in fragments, the story of a woman in the twentieth century who has lived fully, sought out pain and happiness equally and then committed her findings truthfully on paper. Her life is our inheritance.’ — Ankita Chakraborty, Guardian (praise for Getting Lost)‘Getting Lost is a feverish book. It’s about being impaled by desire, and about the things human beings want, as opposed to the things for which they settle ... it’s one of those books about loneliness that, on every page, makes you feel less alone.’ — Dwight Garner, New York Times (praise for Getting Lost)‘From the very first lines, we feel ourselves, like her, caught up in the vertigo of waiting, obsessed by the telephone that never rings, time that passes too quickly and the meetings that become less frequent. Love, death and literature are constantly intertwined in this story that plunges us into the intimacy of a couple, without ever giving us the impression of being voyeurs.’ — Pascale Frey, Elle (praise for Getting Lost)‘Ernaux has once more created a living document of existential terror and hope.’ — Catherine Taylor, Irish Times (praise for Getting Lost)

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Book SynopsisA warm, sharply written memoir about embracing one's truest self in a world that demands gender fit in neat boxes.

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

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Book SynopsisA design monograph series on the most remarkable architects, designers, brands and design movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, each book contains a historical-critical essay discussing the life and work of the subject, followed by an illustrated appreciation of groundbreaking work.The most widely recognized of US architects, Wright designed over 1000 buildings in 70 years. He transformed American architecture and suburban homes with his 'Prairie' style, closely tying his structures into their settings and landscapes in residential designs – most notably in Fallingwater. In this book you will see his both his organic work and his precast concrete forms, as seen in spiral shape of the Guggenheim Museum in New York.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE What is home? It''s a question that has troubled Marchelle Farrell for her entire life. Years ago she left Trinidad and now, uprooted once again, she heads to the peaceful English countryside - the only Black woman in her village.Drawn to her new garden, Marchelle begins to examine the complex and emotional question of home in the context of colonialism. As her relationship with the garden deepens, she discovers that her two conflicting identities are far more intertwined than she had realised. Full of hope and healing, Uprooting is a book about finding home where we least expect it, and which invites us to reconnect to the land - and ourselves.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE BIOGRAPHERS' CLUB SLIGHTLY FOXED BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE'Full of love, wisdom and yearning' Kit de WaalA coming-of-age story set in Birmingham in the 1980s and 1990s, The Go-Between opens a window into a closed migrant community living in a red-light district on the wrong side of the tracks.The adult world is seen through Osman's eyes as a child: his own devout migrant Muslim patriarchal community, with its divide between the world of men and women, living cheek-by-jowl with parallel migrant communities. Alternative masculinities compete with strict gender roles, and female erasure and honour-based violence are committed, even as empowering female friendships prevail. The stories Osman tells, some fantastical and humorous, others melancholy and even harrowing, take us from the Birmingham of Osman's childhood to the banks of the river Kabul and the river Indus, and, eventually, to the London of his teenage years.Osman weaves in and out of these worlds, struggling with the dual burdens of racism and community expectations, as he is forced to realise it is no longer possible to exist in the spaces in between.Trade ReviewA beautifully observed and funny book * * Guardian * *I don't think I properly understood the true nature of multiculturalism before reading Osman Yousefzada's The Go-Between. Only really good writing can bring alive the truth, the colour, the reality and the meaning of an experience like Osman's. And he really is a good writer . . . I read with such pleasure, terror, amusement, admiration and fascination - it is surely one of the great childhood memoirs of our times -- STEPHEN FRYA poetic and moving book. Osman paints pictures with words, unfolding hidden stories that stay with you beyond the final page -- HANIF KUREISHIThat rare thing, a memoir that reads like a novel; a page-turner full of love, wisdom and yearning that examines what it means for the outsider to belong and the winding route that takes us there. I loved it -- KIT DE WAALOsman's compelling and humane memoir shines light into a hidden world I didn't realise existed down the road from me. It's an essential book that will help you understand multiculturalism in all its complexities -- SATHNAM SANGHERAYousefzada's funny and fascinating story of moving between two cultures . . . this memoir is a welcome exploration of time and place * * Stylist * *Moving and vivid . . . distinctive and memorable . . . by turns harrowing and humorous. [Yousefzada] is adept at portraying life through the eyes of a child as well as infusing passages with reflective wisdom and perspective. In evocative prose that skilfully charts both outer landscapes and inner emotional worlds, The Go-Between captures how it feels to be an outsider, and the yearning to belong * * i * *A remarkable insight into multicultural Britain and the pain inherent in following your own path * * Observer * *A fascinating memoir, quite chilling in parts, and uplifting in others -- NIHAL ARTHANAYAKEEloquently honest and eye-openingly frank * * The Times * *

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Book SynopsisA narrative account of Jim Crow as people experienced it.

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Book Synopsis'One of the most enjoyable travel books I've read' The Times Acclaimed novelist Sarah Moss's compelling account of living in Iceland with two small children in the year the volcano erupted At the height of the financial crisis in 2009, Sarah Moss and her husband moved with their two small children to Iceland. From their makeshift home among the half-finished skyscrapers of Reykjavik, Moss travels to hillsides of boiling mud and volcanic craters, and the remote farms and fishing villages of the far north. She watches the northern lights and the comings and goings of migratory birds, and as the weeks and months go by, she and her family find new ways to live. By turns meditative and wickedly observant, Sarah Moss's account of her time in Iceland is the adventure of a lifetime with the baggage of a lifetime too. 'Moss is a wry and a very good companion...and her book is as perceptive of the southern English middle-classes, as it is of Icelanders' Kathleen Jamie, Guardian 'A wry, intimate and beautifully-observed portrait of a culture both alien and familiar. Sarah Moss's account of her Icelandic sojourn is a vicarious treat' Philip MarsdenTrade ReviewOne of the most enjoyable travel books I've read -- Helen Rumbelow * The Times *Beautifully written ... Moss grapples with new foods, customs and landscapes that are both oddly familiar and wildly alien in this absorbing memoir -- Carl Wilkinson * Financial Times *A fascinating and unusual book, a genuine news from nowhere, the gripping account of one person thinking and perceiving for herself -- Joanna Kavenna * Literary Review *Moss is a wry and a very good companion... and her book is as perceptive of the southern English middle-classes, as it is of Icelanders -- Kathleen Jamie * Guardian *A wry, intimate and beautifully-observed portrait of a culture both alien and familiar. Sarah Moss's account of her Icelandic sojourn is a vicarious treat -- Philip MarsdenHolds an uncompromising mirror up to the British life that she has left behind. Honest, funny, frank, and insightful, it is a reassuring guide to the strangeness of being a stranger. An enviable experience beautifully described -- Gavin Francis[Moss] sheds light on the strangeness of the country for an outsider as well as on the Icelanders' ongoing trauma... Absorbing -- Emily Read * Spectator *A thoughtful and moving description of a country -- Giles Foden * Conde Nast Traveller *It is Moss's inquisitive excursions into the real and imagined Icelandic landscapes that enthral the most... engaging [and] expressive -- Rob St John * List *This tale perfectly evokes the country's natural splendours, but it's the colourful cast of friends and hangers-on that is so touching * National Geographic Traveller *Moss writes honestly... She mocks her won cultural assumptions drily -- Nancy Campbell * Times Literary Supplement *This delightful and appealing book is written in a crisp and insightful style... filled with descriptions of the northern landscape which capture it perfectly... Very funny * We Love This Book *Fantastic and perceptive... Moss is so subtle and skilled at what she does, as careful and precise a prose specialist as you will find, that it hangs together seamlessly and brilliantly * Big Issue *An insightful account of a year in a beguiling but often incomprehensible land of fire and ice... this is a delightful tale with a strong sense of place -- Duncan Mills * Traveller *Her wit, like her sensitivity to social matters, is complemented by her astoundingly alert writing about the natural world -- Kevin Canfield * Star Tribune *Always illuminating * Washington Post *Beautiful * Travelers Today *A wry memoir about a family who move to Iceland for a year in the aftermath of the financial crash. Moss discovers as much about herself as she does the Icelanders she writes about. -- Destination books this summer * Elle *A wonderful, meditative and informative introduction to a country that's both progressive and steeped in more myths, legends and sagas than any other... All Icelandic life is here * New European *

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Book SynopsisSir David Attenborough is Britain's best-known natural history film-maker. His career as a naturalist and broadcaster has spanned nearly six decades, and in this volume of memoirs Sir David tells stories of the people and animals he has met and the places he has visited. His first job - after Cambridge University and two years in the Royal Navy - was at a London publishing house. Then in 1952 he joined the BBC as a trainee producer, and it was while working on the Zoo Quest series (1954-64) that he had his first opportunity to undertake expeditions to remote parts of the globe, to capture intimate footage of rare wildlife in its natural habitat. He was Controller of BBC2 (1965-68), during which time he introduced colour television to Britain, then Director of Programmes for the BBC (1969-1972). However, in 1973 he abandoned administration altogether to return to documentary-making and writing, and has established himself as the world's leading Natural History programme maker with several landmark BBC series, including Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials of Life (1990), The Private Life of Plants (1995), Life of Birds (1998), The Blue Planet (2001), Life of Mammals (2002), Planet Earth (2006) and Life in Cold Blood (2008). Sir David is an Honorary Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, a Fellow of the Royal Society and was knighted in 1985. He is also Britain's most respected, trusted and lauded natural history broadcaster and writer, championing conservation and standing at the forefront of issues concerning the planet's declining species. A lot has changed since his first television documentary, and in this updated edition of Life on Air Sir David tells us of his experiences of filming in the 21st century.Trade ReviewIt's almost impossible to believe that all these things happened to one man... but David Attenborough wears his achievements lightly and there are as many laughs here as there are animals. -- Michael PalinWhat shines through most of all is his enthusiasm - as undimmed now as when he started out. * Sunday Telegraph *An enthralling autobiography from one of the linchpins of television. His life has been fascinating. Attenborough is a master story-teller, and his book is crammed with anecdotes. * Good Book Guide *Life on Air, David Attenborough's professional autobiography, tells the entertaining story of how he turned us all into armchair experts in natural history. -- Douglas Palmer * New Scientist *[An] engaging and often amusing text. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisFor over four decades, Cameron McNeish has chronicled Scotland’s majestic landscapes and the outdoor communities who inhabit them. While much has changed, especially in terms of conservation and access, the hills themselves remain little altered, as do the reasons people visit them. In An Eye to the Hills, Cameron collates a collection of essays and diary entries, which shine the light of experience on memory and renew his vision, sharing his insights with the many people who love Scotland’s outdoors.

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Book SynopsisThe White Review Anthology of Writing in Translation will bring the most innovative and exciting international writers working today to an Anglophone audience. The anthology will place the work of celebrated authors and translators alongside emerging voices. It will include excerpts from novels, full-length short stories and narrative non-fiction previously unpublished in English. Part of the content will be selected from a global open call to translators', which closes in September 2023. Confirmed contributions to the anthology include: Butterflies', a short story by Geetanjali Shree, translated from Hindi by Daisy Rockwell; Peach', a short story by Sema Kaygusuz, translated from Turkish by Maureen Freely; 'Red (Hunger)', an extract from a novel by Senthuran Varatharajah, translated from German by Vijay Khurana; Alegría', a story by Colombian writer Margarita García Robayo, translated from Spanish by Carolina Orloff; Mulberry Season' an excerpt from the novel Darkness

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Book SynopsisThe long-awaited memoir, generously illustrated with never-before-seen photos, from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and New York Times bestselling author of Geddy Lee''s Big Beautiful Book of Bass.Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll''s most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust.As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart?deeply mourning Peart?s recent passing?and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.Trade Review"As someone who has spent his life telling made-up stories that are obliged to sound somewhat plausible, I am deeply envious of Geddy Lee. And it’s not only the improbable, absurd, wondrous and at times heartbreaking true story that life has gifted him that I envy, but also the warmth, care, artfulness, hard-earned wisdom and—always—the gently skewed humor with which he tells it. He’s one of my musical heroes, for reasons that are there on record, but with this book everyone can see why for so long he has also been one of my heroes as a man." — Michael Chabon "An effin' good read." — Associated Press “There was never a band like Rush. Geddy Lee doesn’t want to forget it. It took a series of losses for the high-voiced rock star to confront his personal history. It all came out in his new memoir.” — The Washington Post “A page-turner . . . gives readers a fly-on-the-wall, tick-tock perspective . . . and also provides a backstage pass into Lee’s inner monologue as he balanced rising fame and enduring fears.” — Toronto Star “My Effin’ Life is joyously thoughtful and engaging.” — The Boston Globe “The main takeaway from Geddy Lee's new memoir, My Effin’ Life, is that anything can happen as long as you live your life with an honest conviction.” — Vulture “The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer—who played bass, keyboards, and sang on the progressive rock band's biggest hits—holds nothing back in his highly-anticipated memoir.” — Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Bestseller A candid and inspiring memoir from Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and the most decorated US female Olympian in history: Katie Ledecky.Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. She is a four-time Olympian, a nine-time gold medalist, a twenty-one-time world champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and a world record-holder in individual swimming events. At the 2024 Olympics in Paris, she became the most decorated US female Olympian of all time. Time and again, the question is posed to her family, her coaches, and to her—what makes her a champion? Now, for the first time, she shares what it takes to compete at an elite level. Again and again, Ledecky has broken records: those of others and, increasingly, her own. She is both consistent and innovative—consistent at setting goals and shattering them, and innovative in the way she approaches her tr

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Book SynopsisMulti-platinum artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Big Sean shares his five key practices for­ inner work and self-acceptance in this interactive guidebook on maintaining daily mental wellness. Sean Anderson, better known as Big Sean, has reached incredible levels of success in his music career. And while, from the outside, his life looks like a collection of enviable achievements, in truth, he has experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows that come with anxiety and depression. At the age of eighteen, Sean decided to forgo college to sign with Kanye West’s record label. Even though he saw his wildest dreams coming true, almost like a rap fairytale, he found himself contemplating taking his own life. It was in this, his darkest moments, that he started applying the spiritual practices he’d witnessed his mother embrace throughout his childhood from books like The Four Agreements, The Secret, and many more.

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Book SynopsisSunday Times bestseller'When I see something old, that I think is beautiful, special, valuable, it's not about the money. It's about being in another time and place.'Star of TV's Salvage Hunters, Drew Pritchard will go to the greatest lengths for the best deals. He discovered the casts Lord Elgin made of his infamous marbles in a school garage, and broke the bank to buy the tool box Malcolm Campbell used when he set the water speed record in 1934. He made a million. Lost it. And made it again.The face of the compulsively fascinating business of finding and restoring lost treasures, visionary Drew takes us up and down the country, into garages, factories, schools and pubs, digging out incredible items from that 'other time and place'. Then by lovingly restoring them, he brings our history back to life.A flat cap among silver spoons and old school ties, our favourite no-bullshit expert may be a one-off, but his story makes us all dream of that obscure piece of antiquity gathering dust in the garden shed...

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Book SynopsisHeidi Mavir is a late-identified, neurodivergent adult. She is a public speaker, advocate, author of Your Child Is Not Broken, podcaster, and parent to an autistic/ADHD teenager. A trained Mental Health First Aider and CPD Accredited Trauma-Informed Professional, Heidi uses her knowledge, learning, and experience to help other parents and carers to become powerful advocates for their neurodivergent kids. She has built an online community of over 6000 families, supported by parent professionals and SEN advocates, who want to improve opportunities for autistic learners. Heidi has been featured in The Sunday Times, The Guardian , and BBC National News. She founded EOTAS MATTERS to support families like hers whose children and young people need education outside a school setting.

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'A beautiful book' - Jo Good, BBC Radio London'When Harry Met Minnie made me cry and made me dance with joy. It's an exquisite tale about heartbreak and healing, critters and humans, and the little miracles life hands us when we need them the most' - Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses'Teichner's main themes are sure to warm readers in this cold coronavirus winter: the steadfast devotion between dogs and their owners, and the essential role friendship plays in sustaining both humans and their beloved pets ... Teichner has learned that we all have the capacity to create and build new friendships and attachments at whatever age or stage of life. That such rewards are possible is the inspirational lesson for all the characters in - and readers of - this touching saga' - The Washington Post'When Harry Met Minnie is a tour-de-force of storytelling. Martha Teichner not only charts the course of two remarkable friendships, between two people and two dogs, she invites us to consider our own relationships. The stars that had to align to put someone special in our life. This is a love story, masterful, warm and funny, heartfelt and heartbreaking. I absolutely loved this book' - Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author of All the Devils Are Here'When Harry Met Minnie is a story of laughter and tears, of friendship and dogs. It shows us the loyalty and resilience of Bull Terriers?and of two women who love them. A book of generosity and hope for an era badly in need of both' - Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of GOOD BOY: My Life in Seven Dogs'When Harry Met Minnie belongs on the shelf next to Travels with Charley and Marley and Me. But the unforgettable dogs we meet in these pages don't just help the people in their lives, they save each other. Martha Teichner has written an extraordinary story filled with love and humor about the transformative power of friendship, among dogs and people, in the thick of life and at its end. I fell in love with Harry, Minnie, their humans, and this marvel of a book' - Will Schwalbe, New York Times bestselling author of The End of Your Life Book Club and Books for Living'I decided to write this book, because I didn't want to stop living the story of what happened when Harry met Minnie. I didn't want to forget any of it, even the sad parts. This story of unexpected friendship, of love, was a wonderful gift, and in the end, it made me and Minnie happy' - Martha TeichnerThere are true fairy tales. Stories that exist because impossible-to-explain coincidences change everything. Except in real life, not all of them have conventional, happily-ever-after endings...Carol, who is dying of cancer caused by the toxic pollution in New York in the aftermath of 9/11, needs someone to take care of Harry, who is a 'great listener but does have a problem with large dogs. He is great with smaller dogs. If he sees a hose he will destroy it to protect you. He will figure out ways to let you know exactly how he feels'. When Martha has a chance encounter with Carol's friend, he can't help but notice Minnie, 'oh those chunky little legs', and so the matchmaking begins. After a disastrous first meeting, when Minnie doesn't appear to think much of Harry (who is super keen), things improve and soon they are inseparable. As Carol's illness progresses, so a new friendship and community blossoms, Carol's Club.The bonds that grew changed Martha's life, Carol's life, Minnie's life and Harry's life. And they changed Carol's death as well.In this rich and touching narrative, Martha considers the ways our stories are shaped by the people we meet, and the profound love we can find by opening our hearts to unexpected encounters.

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Book SynopsisCathy Glass, international bestselling author, tells the shocking story of Zeena, a young Asian girl desperate to escape from her family.When 14 -year-old Zeena begs to be taken into care with a non-Asian family, she is clearly petrified. But of what?Placed in the home of experienced foster carer Cathy and her family, Zeena gradually settles into her new life, but misses her little brothers and sisters terribly. Prevented from having any contact with them by her family who insist she has brought shame and dishonour on the whole community, Zeena tries to see them at school. But when her father and uncle find out, they bundle her into a car and threaten to set fire to her if she makes anymore trouble. Zeena is too frightened to press charges against them despite being offered police protection in a safe house.Eventually, Cathy discovers the devastating truth from Zeena, and with devastation she believes there is little she can do to help her.Trade ReviewREVIEWS FOR DAMAGED: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.'Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.'Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.'OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’First magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’Star magazine

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Book SynopsisProviding an insight into the mind of one of the leading intellectuals of the modern age, this title chronicles the cultural, moral, and political journeys of this renowned critic and artist at the height of her powers.Trade ReviewRevelatory in the most profound sense * The Times *Gold dust * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis‘Powerful and affecting’ Mail on Sunday‘Flesh and Blood is living drama extracted like buried treasure from old documents and the hand-me-down stories of his relatives. I couldn't put it down’Jenny Agutter 'Intelligently structured and eloquently written, McGann’s book is a powerful homage to his family and Irish ancestry, to modern medicine and the welfare state.  Packed with lively anecdotes and insights on social history, Flesh and Blood is a humble human story with a majestic theme' Times Literary Supplement.  'Drama and reality repeatedly intersect in unexpected ways in this powerful and revealing memoir' Mail on Sunday  'Eloquent in its metaphors, this book is about memory, how it shapes us, and what we choose to pass on' Irish Times  'With its mix of readable sciTrade Review‘Drama and reality repeatedly intersect in unexpected ways in this powerful and revealing memoir’ -- Mail on Sunday‘With its mix of readable science and passionate sensibility, Flesh and Blood is essentially an attempt to heal the old rift between science and art’ -- Radio Times‘It is an artful, honest book, marked by the author’s clear-eyed examination of how his family’s lives were entwined with history’s often terrible markers’ -- New Statesman‘Each event becomes real, in one breath fascinating with medical detail, in the next an emotional contraction. Elegant in its metaphors, this book is about memory, how it shapes us, and what we choose to pass on. If all that remains of us is the story we tell, then McGann’s narrative is an insightful, beautiful legacy’ -- The Irish Times‘Flesh and Blood is living drama extracted like buried treasure from old documents and the hand-me-down stories of his relatives. I couldn't put it down’ -- Jenny Agutter

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Book SynopsisFrom the stars of A CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM BOB, now a major film starring Luke Treadaway as James and Bob himself, the sequel to the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob.Trade ReviewBowen writes with compelling, brutal honesty. Ranging from heartbreakingly sad to laugh-out-loud funny, The World According To Bob is a life-affirming story of sheer human strength in the face of adversity. * Daily Express *The second installment from one of north London's most loved double acts ... The long-awaited sequel picks up where the first book left off, telling the story of what happened to this odd couple of cool cats after their initial success. * Evening Standard *Close proximity to animals does wonders for your mental health. Close proximity to this book will do wonders for it, too. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisUnlock the secret to creating an expansive life with this must-read guide from Cathy Heller, the renowned host of the mega-hit podcast Abundant Ever After, a leading voice in spiritual growth, manifestation, and personal empowerment.Rooted in profound spirituality, Abundant Ever After is a powerful guide for anyone ready to embrace abundance, unleash their most authentic self, and transform their life. With three years of immersive study in Jewish mysticism in Jerusalem and over twenty years of dedicated meditation practice, this book invites you to recognize and embrace the abundance that is often hidden in plain sight. Learn the art of surrender and the law of reception to manifest abundance and a life filled with joy, peace, and unlimited possibilities. Through the practical tools and exercises included in this guide, you can expand your capacity for abundance, dismantle limiting beliefs about money, align with your inherent worthiness, and redefine what it means to steward possibilities on behalf of the collective. Ultimately, Abundant Ever After reminds us that we are here for so much more than material possessions. We seek synchronicity, mystical experiences, connection, and profound meaning. As you deepen your connection with your soul and the divine, you will uncover that love is the true essence of abundance. Embrace this journey and awaken to the limitless possibilities that await you.

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Book SynopsisEwen Montagu's legendary memoir is released to coincide with the film version of Operation Mincemeat

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Book Synopsis''An engrossing history of the deep connection between humans and clay'' KATHERINE MAY, author of Enchantment''Fascinating and powerful'' BRIAN ENOClay is baked into our culture: we have been taking handfuls of earth and forming them into their own image since our history began. In Clay: A Human History, Jennifer Lucy Allan navigates the story of humankind and our relationship to making and creativity through our relationship with this enigmatic, ancient material. Born out of a desire to know and understand the spiritual and practical applications of clay in both its micro and macro histories, Clay: A Human History is a hybrid of archaeology, history and lived experience as an amateur potter.''I have loved learning from every chapter in this beautiful and affecting book'' VASHTI BUNYAN

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Book SynopsisAs read on BBC Radio 4 'Book of the Week'Shortlisted for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year AwardLonglisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize'Sherman’s is a special book. Every sentence, every thought she has, every question she asks, every detail she notices, offers something. The Bells of Old Tokyo is a gift . . . It is a masterpiece.' - The SpectatorA hauntingly original book about Tokyo and the Japanese relationship to time, memory and history.For over 300 years, Japan closed itself to outsiders, developing a remarkable and unique culture. During its period of isolation, the inhabitants of the city of Edo, later known as Tokyo, relied on its public bells to tell the time.In her remarkable book, Anna Sherman tells of her search for the bells of Edo, exploring the city of Tokyo and its inhabitants and the individual and particular relationship of Japanese culture - and the Japanese language - to time, tradition, memory, impermanence and history.Through Sherman’s journeys around the city, The Bells of Old Tokyo presents a series of hauntingly memorable voices in the labyrinth of the Japanese capital: An aristocrat plays in the sea of ashes left by the Allied firebombing of 1945. A scientist builds the most accurate clock in the world, a clock that will not lose a second in five billion years. A sculptor eats his father’s ashes while the head of the house of Tokugawa reflects on the destruction of his grandfather’s city.'This mesmerising cultural history explores the neighbourhoods where Tokyo's bells once rang . . . As our own locked-down days squeeze and elongate, Tokyo time feels strangely familiar.’ - Daily TelegraphTrade ReviewSherman’s is a special book. Every sentence, every thought she has, every question she asks, every detail she notices, offers something. The Bells of Old Tokyo is a gift . . . It is a masterpiece. * Spectator *[Sherman's] perambulations around the bells yield fascinating, frequently moving narratives . . . In Tokyo's every nook and cranny, she finds the possibility of something profound, something elevating. * New Statesman *A subtle, beautifully written meditation . . . Profoundly moving . . . The bells of old Tokyo are no longer heard, but this lyrical yet serious work deserves ringing endorsement. * Literary Review *A completely extraordinary book, unlike anything I have read before. At once modest in tone and vast in scale and ambition . . . Delicately wrought, precise, lucid and strange as a dream. -- Olivia LaingBeautifully written, surprising, original and humane . . . A truly stunning debut. -- Joanna KavennaThe Bells of Old Tokyo is part personal memoir, part cultural history, but wholly unique . . . It is the best book I have read about Tokyo written this century, and deserves to take its place alongside the works of Donald Richie, Edward Seidensticker and Paul Waley as one of the great interpretations of this great city. -- David PeaceDelightful . . . Bells is unknowable, but brilliantly so. * Japan Times *Good travel writing is often hard to come by - it’s a delicate balance of bringing a destination to life while also informing of its noteworthy aspects, but Anna Sherman does so flawlessly. * Japan Today *In her haunting, beautiful debut travel narrative, Anna Sherman takes the reader along on her quest to find the bells of old Tokyo, illuminating a lost world hidden in plain sight . . . The Bells of Old Tokyo paints an intricate, rich portrait of this labyrinthine city . . . as much a history of Japan as it is a travelogue. * South China Morning Post *Only a handful could match Sherman for respectful curiosity, detailed knowledge and sensitivity to her surroundings. * Canberra Times *It is very possible – refreshingly, exhilaratingly, possible – for a great book to exist that is all at once a memoir, a travelogue, a history book, and an examination of what defines a culture and its people: their customs, arts, architecture, habits, and priorities. That is what The Bells of Old Tokyo is. It is also a masterwork. * Books and Bao *A staggering reassembling of an ancient city turned neon metropolis . . . An exceptional and exceptionally original piece of writing. * The Big Smoke *A fascinating portrait of a city and its people, epic and intimate at the same time * The Weekly Times *A reading treasure . . . A work of literary art . . . Magnificent both in its content and in the exquisite, lyrical writing of its author. * Cape Times *Sherman’s writing is elegant and accessible, and the story of Tokyo quickly becomes the story of time itself. -- Best Books of Summer 2019 * Uproxx *A beautifully written evocation of a place and a philosophical inquiry into the nature of time itself. An astonishing gift. * Shelf Awareness *A tour-de-force mapping, in four dimensions, of the amazing place we call “Tokyo.” I realized I barely know the city . . . So much is dealt with so beautifully – Mishima, the 1945 firebombs, the tangle that is Shinjuku . . . Wonderful . . . -- Liza DalbyAn enchanting read, drawing you into Sherman’s Tokyo world in a way that makes you wonder why you shouldn’t fly there right this minute, with her book as the only guide you’ll ever need. -- Xu Xi

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Book SynopsisTHE ENTERTAINING AND HEARTWARMING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER.Like many couples, Dick and Angel had long dreamed of living in France, but where others might settle for a modest bolthole in the French countryside, the Strawbridges fell in love with a 19th-century fairytale château, complete with 45 rooms, seven outbuildings, 12 acres of land and its own moat.Throwing caution to the wind, Dick and Angel swapped their two-bedroom flat in East London for an abandoned and derelict castle in the heart of the Loire valley and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime with their two young children Arthur and Dorothy.Sharing their full journey for the first time, A Year at the Château follows Dick and Angel from when they first moved to France in the depths of winter and found bedrooms infested with flies, turrets inhabited by bats, the wind rattling through cracked windows, and just one working toilet, which flushed into the moat, through to the monumental efforts that went into readying the château for their unforgettable wedding and their incredibly special first Christmas.Along the way we'll read glorious descriptions of rural life in France, with charming characters, delicious food and wonderful seasonal produce, together with the extraordinary list of renovations and restorations Dick and Angel completed, many of which were never shown on TV.As warm and entertaining as their much-loved show, A Year at the Château is a truly irresistible story of adventure and heart, epic ambitions and a huge amount of hard graft.

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Book SynopsisFor Billy Hayes, 1970 was a horrifying year. It was the year when he tried to smuggle 4lbs of hashish from Istanbul back to his home in America. It was the year when he was arrested at Istanbul airport, tried, and sentenced to 30 years in a Turkish jail. For five years he suffered the filth, brutality and degradation of imprisonment in an environment of hellish squalor, while his family fought in vain to secure his release. Finally in desperation, he made a daring escape bid and incredibly the bid succeeded. This is the astounding true story, told in Billy Hayes''s own words, of those five years of living hell and of the harrowing ordeal of his time on the run. Vivid and realistic without being morbid, it is a classic story of survival and human endurance, told with humour, intelligence and total honesty.

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Book SynopsisRough Trade Book of the Year Resident Book of the Year A Rolling Stone Book of the Year A Mojo Book of the Year A Sunday Times Book of the Year Formed in 1988, Lush were part of the London gig scene during one of the most vibrant and creative periods in UK music. Now, Miki Berenyi tells all.From the bohemian ways of her father's social circle to the privileged glamour of her mother's acting career, Miki's young life was a blur of travel, celebrities and peripatetic schooling. But frequent relocation, parental neglect and the dark presence of her abusive grandmother resulted in crippling shyness, mental-health issues and a vulnerability to exploitation.The route out of this hole was music - a passion shared by schoolmate Emma Anderson. The teenagers began attending gigs together and would ultimately go on to form Lush. Talented and exuberant, the band became hot property, swiftly transitioning from shoegaze icons to Britpop darlings.Re-living the tours, recording sessions and music-industry madness they experienced along the way, this uncompromising memoir documents Lush's thrilling rise and untimely fall. Yet at the heart of the book are Miki's own battles: the conflict between her mouthy public persona and her thin-skinned private identity; the trials of being a woman in an infuriatingly male world; the struggle to find a middle ground between 'safe' indie obscurity and 'sell-out' international success. Miki also explores her complicated relationship with Emma - one that has fluctuated between camaraderie and rivalry over the years - and addresses the devastating tragedy that led to the band's split.Told through frank confession, wry humour and searing emotional honesty, this is the incredible tale of a trailblazing woman and a seminal band.Trade Review'So relatable, so poignant, so emotionally intense, it's an irresistible rush of a book.' -- Rolling Stone'A great memoir requires an extraordinary life story and the ability to write it. Miki has been blessed with both. Compelling. Funny. Vivid. 4/5' -- Mojo'This is quite the revelation ... infinitely superior to the average rock autobiography ... the most candid, full-disclosure demystification of the indie scene you'll ever read. This is special, a superbly written book about a vanished world and so much more. 5/5' -- Record Collector'A beautifully written memoir.' -- Stylist'A remarkable, revelatory memoir.' -- Will Hodgkinson, The Times'Fiercely honest and emotionally acute ... Fingers Crossed breaks the mould of music memoir ... Berenyi's writing is characterised by arch humour and a delight in the absurd.' -- Fiona Sturgess, The Guardian'Fingers Crossed provides a salutary corrective to a much mythologised musical era; it's often extremely funny. But it's also a nuanced portrait of personal survival.' -- Kitty Empire, The Observer'Intelligent and searingly candid.' -- Grazia'Miki writes beautifully with soul and humour. A brilliant, engaging read. 8/10' -- Classic Rock'I felt like I was on the rollercoaster with Miki, from making mixtapes with her school friends to the wild dream of making it as a pop star. It's a gripping and delightful read even as, without an ounce of self-pity the bright energy of Miki's star is always tailed by darkness - the neglect and worse of an abusive childhood and the misogyny and exploitation that hangs like a pall over the Britpop years. A thrilling, moving and essential book for anyone who grew up in love with pop music.' -- Samira Ahmed'Extremely colourful and dramatic.' -- Mark Ellen'Brave and forthright. It instils in you the thing most necessary from a musician's memoir: the urgent need to play the records again.' -- John Niven'This is extraordinarily good. A memoir that reads like a novel, full of vivid characters, wild highs and lows and brutal honesty. And it's the single best thing I've read on the sexism and toxicity at the heart of Britpop.' -- Matt Osman, Suede'A tumultuous childhood and chaotic coming of age propel Miki in to the famously stable world of rock and roll. Beautifully and movingly written, this is a hugely entertaining read.' -- Shaun Keaveny'Miki tells it like it was, warts and all. Most of it's warts actually.' -- Steve Rippon, Lush'A powerful, emotional journey intensely well told. All other autobiographies should be judged against it.' * Louder than War *'Honest and brilliantly written.' * We Are Cult *'Few autobiographies depict the highs and lows with quite the merciless clarity as Fingers Crossed.' * The Monocle *'A great life story combined with excellent recall and refreshingly honest writing is a bonus when it comes to any memoir, but the superb Fingers Crossed achieves brownie points by delivering details with real dexterity.' * Irish Times *'A really incredible book.' -- Skin, Skunk Anansie'*****' * The Sun *'By far the best music memoir of 2022. An utterly riveting peek into an extraordinary early life.' -- i-Paper'You will laugh, you will cry, you might never, ever form a band.' -- Virgin Radio

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Book SynopsisMillion-copy bestselling author Cathy Glass tells the story of Dawn, a sweet and seemingly well-balanced girl whose outward appearance masks a traumatic childhood of suffering at the hands of the very people who should have cared for her.Dawn was the first girl Cathy Glass ever fostered. Sweet and seemingly well balanced girl, Dawn's outward appearance masked a traumatic childhood so awful, that even she could not remember it.During the first night, Cathy awoke to see Dawn looming above Cathy's baby's cot, her eyes staring and blank. She sleepwalks which Cathy learns is often a manifestation in disturbed children. It becomes a regular and frightening occurrence, and Cathy is horrified to find Dawn lighting a match whilst mumbling it's not my fault in her sleep one night.Cathy discovers Dawn is playing truant from school, and struggling to make friends. More worryingly she finds her room empty one night, and her pillow covered in blood. Dawn has been self-harming in order to release thTrade ReviewReviews for ‘Damaged’: 'Cannot fail to move those who read it.' Adoption-net ‘Heartbreaking.' The Mirror ‘A truly harrowing read that made me cry.’ The Sun 'A true tale of hope. ****.' OK! ‘Foster carers rarely get the praise they deserve, but Cathy Glass’s book should change all that.****’ First Magazine ‘A hugely touching and emotional true tale.’ Star Magazine

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Book Synopsis The instant no. 1 Sunday Times bestseller WINNER of the Autobiography of the Year at the Sports Book Awards A Sunday Times best biography of the year ''It''s an incredible read for anyone facing adversity in their life; how to cope with it, how to stay positive in really difficult situations.'' - Sally Nugent''A throat-catching love letter to his wife and children . . . this lovely man has reframed a universally sad story into a life-enhancing one. The overall message is one of hope.'' - The Times ''It''s just stunning; funny and beautifully written'' - as heard on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show''A candid, sad yet ultimately life-affirming book. There is a thread of gratitude that runs far deeper than performative celebrity humility.'' - Guardian-------- Sir Chris Hoy knows better than most how life can change in the blink of an eye. In elite sport, the margin between victory and defeat is miniscule, and the pressure is immense. Chris has built a glittering sporting career on understanding these moments: how to feel for them, how to cope with them, how to make them count.Last year, he faced another life-changing moment. He found out that the ache in his shoulder was in fact a tumour, and that he had Stage 4 cancer.He will be living with this disease for the rest of his life.In this memoir, Chris shares the next phase of his extraordinary life with exceptional bravery. He looks over the challenges he has faced thus far, and the ways he has taken them on. With his wife Sarra and their young children by his side, he shares how he has used these experiences to find ways to focus on the moments that matter, showing us how to do the same.--------What readers think:''Honest, inspirational and beautifully written.'' ????? ''A must read for anyone facing adversity in their lives, or indeed anybody who needs to put positivity back into theirs.'' ????? ''This has really helped me navigate my own cancer journey. Thank you Chris!'' ????? ''I already had a sense of pride when I bought this book. It turned out to be everything I had hoped it would be.'' ????? ''What a man. Such an inspiring read - read it over a weekend. Couldn''t put it down.'' ?????

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Book SynopsisIn December 1991, Allende's daughter Paula, aged 26, fell gravely ill and sank into a coma. This book started as a letter to Paula written during the hours spent at her bedside, and became a personal memoir and a testament to the ties that bind families a brave, enlightening, inspiring true story.This book was written during the interminable hours the novelist Isabel Allende spent in the corridors of a Madrid hospital, in her hotel room and beside her daughter Paula''s bed during the summer and autumn of 1992. Faced with the loss of her child, Isabel Allende turned to storytelling, to sustain her own spirit and to convey to her daughter the will to wake up, to survive. The story she tells is that of her own life, her family history and the tragedy of her nation, Chile, in the years leading up to Pinochet''s brutal military coup.Trade Review'Allende's best work to date…she has everything it takes: the ear, the eye, the mind, the heart, the all-encompassing humanity.' New York Times 'Allende's writing is so vivid we smell the countryside, hear the sounds, see the bright birds, smell and even taste the soft fruit. Moving through Paula's last days, we enter that world, and share it, gladly, sadly, gratefully, and ultimately changed by the very reading of it.' Julia Neuberger, The Times 'This is a tender, moving and vivid record of a mother's agony at the bedside of her daughter. “Paula” begins as a long letter as a way of giving her back the life that is ebbing away…the result is a mesmerizing story. In flawlessly rich prose Allende shares with us her most intimate feelings…an emotionally charged, spellbinding memoir.' Washington Post 'Allende brings the natural storytelling power so evident in her novels to this courageous testament. She shares her personal tragedy with a warmth and passion that make “Paula” exceptional.' Sunday Express

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Book Synopsis''A joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory'' Sue Townsend, Sunday Times_____________________________________All Points North is part-memoir and part-excursion. Charting the rugged and uneven terrain of a writer''s formative years - from tax problems to probation to American tours, football to family to running away to Iceland - Simon Armitage explores growing up and being Northern. It''s about humour, language, writing, film, houses, homes, time wasters, one loose tyre, you, me and all points in-between._____________________________________''Laugh-out-loud funny'' Independent''A delight'' Jonathan Raban, Times Literary Supplement ''A perfect holiday dipper'' Scotsman''An Alan Bennett-style diary'' Daily Telegraph Trade ReviewA joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory -- Sue Townsend * Sunday Times *I was irresistibly reminded of Alan Bennett - there is the same wry humour, wonderfully telling selection of detail or remark . . . a fine balance of humour and poignancy * The Times *The salty prose of an original poetic voice -- Melvyn Bragg * Observer *A thoughtful, witty combination of travel writing, autobiography and Alan Bennett-style diary -- John-Paul Flintoff * Daily Telegraph *Laugh-out-loud funny . . . has all the resonant precision of a poet's ear and eye * Independent *An original and talented writer . . . highly entertaining and there are flashes of wit and moments of tenderness and brilliantly accurate observation -- Vernon Scannell * Sunday Telegraph *The best book I have read in a long time on what he insists is the true North of England -- Geoffrey Moorhouse * Daily Telegraph *I was irresistibly reminded of Alan Bennett - there is the same wry humour, wonderfully telling selection of detail or remark... a fine balance of humour and poignancy * The Times *The salty prose of an original poetic voice -- Melvyn Bragg * Observer *Laugh-out-loud funny... has all the resonant precision of a poet's ear and eye * Independent *A delight - high-spirited, light-footed, very funny and wickedly observamt -- Jonathan Raban * The Times Literary Supplement *A joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory -- Sue Townsend * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisJeremy Clarkson shares his opinions on just about everything in The World According to Clarkson.Jeremy Clarkson has seen rather more of the world than most. He has, as they say, been around a bit. And as a result, he''s got one or two things to tell us about how it all works; and being Jeremy Clarkson he''s not about to voice them quietly, humbly and without great dollops of humour.In The World According to Clarkson, he reveals why it is that:Too much science is bad for our health''70s rock music is nothing to be ashamed ofHunting foxes while drunk and wearing night-sights is neither big nor cleverWe must work harder to get rid of cricketHe likes the Germans (well, sometimes)With a strong dose of common sense that is rarely, if ever, found inside the M25, Clarkson hilariously attacks the pompous, the ridiculous, the absurd and the downright idiotic, whilst also celebrating the eccentric, the clever Trade ReviewClarkson humorously gives his views on everything from the M25 to Rock Music -- DRIVETRIBEPraise 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 SynopsisAugust Kubizek met Adolf Hitler in 1904 while they were both competing for standing room at the opera. Their mutual passion for music created a strong bond, and over the next four years they became close friends. Kubizek describes a reticent young man, painfully shy, yet capable of bursting into hysterical fits of anger if anyone disagreed with him. The two boys would often talk for hours on end; Hitler found Kubizek to be a very good listener, a worthy confidant to his hopes and dreams. In 1908 Kubizek moved to Vienna and shared a room with Hitler at 29 Stumpergasse. During this time, Hitler tried to get into art school, but he was unsuccessful. With his money fast running out, he found himself sinking to the lower depths of the city: an unkind world of isolation and constant unappeasable hunger. Hitler moved out of the flat in November, without leaving a forwarding address; Kubizek did not meet his friend again until 1938. The Young Hitler I Knew tells the story of an extraordinary friendship, and gives fascinating insight into Hitler's character during these formative years. This is the first edition to be published in English since 1955 and it corrects many changes made for reasons of political correctness. It also includes important sections which were excised from the original English translation.

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Book SynopsisThe adventure filled memoir from the world's most beloved trainspotter, TikTok sensation Francis Bourgeois.'Francis is one of the kindest, most genuine people I've met in a long time. His passion and unadulterated happiness is inspiring. I can't wait for more magical adventures with him.' - Joe Jonas'A National Treasure Of The TikTok Age.' - Grazia'Thrashing builds and builds. I look down and pull up my sleeve: I've got goosebumps, making all the hairs on my arm stand on end. I'm absolutely buzzing.' From sleeping in a car to get a good shot of 73962 Dick Mabbutt to trainspotting with Niall Horan, Francis Bourgeois has been on one hell of a ride over the past year. Bringing joy to millions, his epic journeys have highlighted the importance of connecting with your passions.In The Trainspotter's Notebook, Francis shares his greatest trainspotting adventures and takes you with him across the fields and footbridges of Britain, passing through historic terminals and backwater stations in pursuit of tones, thrash and locomotive perfection. Told in his inimitable style, these hilarious and heart-warming tales take you behind the scenes of his most popular videos, and celebrate the places and people of the railway.Are you ready to depart?'Oh for goodness sake, I'm on the wrong platform!'Trade ReviewA National Treasure Of The TikTok Age. * Grazia *Our favourite TikTok trainspotter. * The Face *Francis Bourgeois' unique style and infectious enthusiasm is proving to be a 'hellfire' hit. His delight is infectious. * The Observer *The world's most famous trainspotter. * The Times *'Francis is one of the kindest, most genuine people I've met in a long time. His passion and unadulterated happiness is inspiring. I can't wait for more magical adventures with him.' * Joe Jonas *

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Book Synopsis

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