Memoirs Books

Book Synopsis***THE MUST-READ AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ONE OF THE GREATEST BRITISH BOXERS EVER – LAUGH-OUT-LOUD FUNNY, INSPIRATIONAL AND BRUTALLY HONEST***'It's a fascinating read' - Chris Moyles'I cannot recommend it enough - I absolutely tore through this. Fight For Your Life is not a normal Sports autobiography – it is much more than just that – it is very personal and very open and honest’ - TalkSPORT'An absolutely amazing book' - Alison Hammond, ITV This Morning'Some people are born to be sports stars. I wasn't one of them. I was born to be . . . actually what was I born to be? Probably, like most Asian kids growing up in the late Nineties, a doctor, or a teacher. At a push I might have been a cricketer. A boxer? Come off it! No Asian lad did that sort of thing. Hanging up my gloves has given me the opportunity to reflect not just on my career but on who I am and the kind of person I want to be. Whoever that is, I just hope they get a few less slaps to the face! Boxing has only ever been part of the storyline. Whether it be winning an Olympic medal at 17, death threats from Al-Qaeda, gunpoint robbery, family fallouts, marriage to a New York socialite, three kids, a reality show, a money pit wedding hall, or walking through a flood and earthquake devastated Pakistan, I'm struggling to think of a quiet day. That means a lot of lessons hard-learned - and here, in my autobiography, you'll notice that I try to pass a few on here. I've become a teacher after all!'

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Book SynopsisA unique combination of memoir and artistic biography, interspersed with original artworks, from the acclaimed artist and author of SELF-PORTRAIT.We are both painters. We can connect to each other through images, in our own unvoiced language. But I will try and reach you with words. Through talking to you I may come alive and begin to speak.Celia Paul has felt a lifelong connection to the artist Gwen John. There are extraordinary parallels in their lives and work. Both have always made art on their own terms. Both were involved with older male artists. Both worked hard to keep themselves and the sacred flame of their creativity from being extinguished by others.Letters to Gwen John is Paul's imagined correspondence with this groundbreaking painter. These intimate, passionate, haunting letters offer a unique form of memoir and conversation, and an unforgettable insight into a life devoted to making art.''Beautiful, tender, and r

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Book SynopsisA dazzling exploration of the global intersections of beauty and power''Fascinating'' NIGELLA LAWSON''Awe-inspiring'' FUNMI FETTO''A treat to read'' KASSIA ST CLAIRA Sunday Times Style Barometer and New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceFor centuries, humans have been drawn to lining our eyes. The aesthetic trademark of icons from Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools: ancient royals and Gen Z influencers alike have harnessed its power.Through Zahra Hankir's kohl-lined eyes, this ubiquitous product becomes proof of the stunning variety among cultures across time and space. By way of intimate conversations with Chadian nomads, Japanese geisha, Indian dancers, New York's drag queens and more Eyeliner embraces the profound significance of its namesake, especially among communities of colour.Eyeliner is a delightful and unexpected

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Book SynopsisNow airing as the three-part documentary series The Other Mrs Jordan on ITVX. From whirlwind romance to gaslighting campaign: this is truth far stranger than fiction. When Mary met Will Jordan online, she was a single mother who’d given up trying to find Mr Right. And yet here he suddenly was: articulate and attractive, with a fascinating background. Soon they were in love, and when he proposed after a month it seemed recklessly romantic. Caught up in a whirlwind, Mary accepted that Will’s work often took him away from home, out of contact. She was his rock, supporting him emotionally when a misunderstanding led to criminal charges, and even selling everything when blackmailers threatened to kidnap their children. Together, they took on the world. And then one day the phone rang, and a woman introduced herself as ‘the other Mrs Jordan’… In this raw account of deception on a grand scale, Mary Turner Thomson recounts what happened after she discovered every word he’d said, from the very first moment, was a lie. This is her painful, humiliating truth—but she tells it for one reason: she too was once a strong, independent woman who would have read all this and thought It could never happen to me… Revised edition: Previously published as The Bigamist: the true story of a husband’s ultimate betrayal, this edition of The Bigamist includes editorial revisions.Trade Review“A brilliant and incisive account of [Thomson’s] nightmare.” —Daily Express “I couldn’t put down this gripping read.” —Woman “The most shocking Internet-dating story you will ever come across.” —The Sun “Gives the misery memoir concept a horrible new twist.” —The Bookseller “If ever there was a story to prove the age-old adage that love is blind, this is surely it.” —Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisA powerful, lush memoir about a Hawaiian woman who ran away from paradise to discover who she is and where she belongs. Born and raised in Hawai‘i by a father whose ancestors are indigenous to the land and a mother from the American South, Jessica Machado wrestles with what it means to be “local.” Feeling separate from the history and tenets of Hawaiian culture that have been buried under the continental imports of malls and MTV, Jessica often sees her homeland reflected back to her from the tourist perspective—as an uncomplicated paradise. Her existence, however, feels far from that ideal. Balancing her parents’ divorce, an ailing mother, and growing anxiety, Jessica rebels. She moves to Los Angeles, convinced she’ll leave her complicated family behind and define herself. Instead, her isolation only becomes more severe, and her dying mother follows her to California. For Jessica, the only way to escape is a reckless downward spiral. Interwoven with a rich and nuanced exploration of Hawaiian history and traditions, Local is a personal and moving narrative about family, grief, and reconnecting to the land she tried to leave behind.Trade Review“[A] memoir about loneliness, loss, and finding a cultural identity…[that] gorgeously portray[s] the complexity of Machado’s spiral into despair…Machado’s rich descriptions and frank voice make the book worth reading.” —Kirkus Reviews “Machado movingly excavates notions of identity, family, and Native culture in her debut, a memoir…[Her] narrative hums with raw emotion...Her depiction of Hawaii is far from the carefree paradise shaped by tourists and Western colonialism and instead offers a sharp consideration of class distinctions and the islands’ history. The result is a luminous coming-of-age portrait.” —Publishers Weekly “Mixing in Hawaiian history and folklore throughout her memoir, Machado offers a heady and enticing read.” —Booklist “At long last, a book that shatters the colonial gaze too often cast on the Pacific; here, Jessica Machado brings the islands to life with incendiary dynamism and pitch-perfect prose. A mesmerizing portrait of a woman, her ‘ohana, and the ancestral knowledge deep within — I never wanted this to end. Local is an unforgettable debut and a triumph for Kanaka and APIA literature.” —T. Kira Madden, author of Long Live the Tribe of the Fatherless Girls “Machado is a ferociously talented writer who blends insight, compassion, history, and love into this breathtaking story of home, family, and belonging. This book is necessary reading for anyone who has ever wanted to understand Hawai’i, their families, or themselves.” —Lyz Lenz, author of Belabored “A deeply moving memoir about navigating pain—both personal and systemic—through the complex history of Hawai’i. By revealing her own story, she also reveals the stories of the Kanaka, and the result is both heartbreaking and uplifting.” —Samhita Mukhopadhyay, author of the forthcoming The Myth of Making It

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Book SynopsisPresident Trump's former White House Press Secretary and Communications Director analyzes our current political moment through the lens of politics and culture, arguing that President Trump has put the country back on the right track and that he needs to be elected again in 2020.When it was announced that Sean Spicer would be the newest guest on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, he was promptly attacked by countless liberal media institutions. Apparently, they'd rather see him crawl under a rock forever than have a little fun on television (while raising money for charity). And that was only a small example. All over the country, liberals are attacking conservatives with the kind of fervor once reserved for hardened criminals. It's a zero sum game -- either you're with them one hundred percent, or you're the enemy. Whether you're in politics, media, academia, or entertainment, it's the same story.As one of the few people who's played a small part in all of those worlds, Sean Spicer has a unique perspective on the methods used by the left to shut down conservative voices. He's been parodied on SNL, ripped apart on the nightly news, and protested on college campuses, all for doing his job. Outside of the left's bubble, however, he's been able to transition from politics to entertainment very well, and he's got huge numbers of supporters.In Leading America, he writes about all the ways President Trump has fought back against the Left, and examines all the ways conservatives can take a stand to uphold their rights and values.

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Book SynopsisAmerica''s greatest living tailor and the most interesting man in the world, Holocaust survivor Martin Greenfield tells his incredible life story from the darkness of Auschwitz to the glitz and glamour of tailoring bespoke suits for celebrities and world leaders.Taken from his Czechoslovakian home at age fifteen and transported to the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz with his family, Greenfield came face to face with Angel of Death Dr. Joseph Mengele and was divided forever from his parents, sisters, and baby brother. In haunting, powerful prose, Greenfield remembers his desperation and fear as a teenager alone in the death camp—and how an SS soldier''s shirt dramatically altered the course of his life. He learned how to sew; and when he began wearing the shirt under his prisoner uniform, he learned that clothes possess great power and could even help save his life. Measure of a Man is the story of a man who suffered unimaginable horror and emer

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Book SynopsisBetty Trask Award winning author of In Search of the Missing Eyelash (Vintage). Female identity, sexuality and familial ties explored. Lifting Off will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered who they really are or has taken a job that diverts them from who they thought they would be.

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Book SynopsisTraversing decades and continents – from Iran to India, Sri Lanka to the Czech Republic, Adelaide to the Torres Strait — The God of No Good is a beautifully lyrical and funny intergenerational memoir about six women and how their lives intertwine. Filled with wit and wisdom, it is a story that only Sita Walker could tell, but it will resonate with readers everywhere. It’s Wild Swans meets Nora Ephron.This is not a book about divorce. It’s not a book about God, either. You might think it is a book about goodness and what it means to be a good person, but it isn’t. Like everything else, this is about love. Sita Walker was raised by five strong matriarchs who taught her to believe in God and to be good. Her grandmother, mother and three aunts believed in their unshakeable Bahá’í faith, in the power of prayer, in sacrifice, in magic, in the healing of turmeric and tea, and the wisdom of dreams. But as hard as she tries to be good, Sita always suspects that deep down, she isn’t very good at all. At thirty-five, she hasn’t prayed in years, her dream of true love has died, and along with it, her faith – not that she’s telling her mother, or her aunts. Now, the only way she can fulfill her destiny is to seek out the wisdom of the ones who came before, and truly understand the women who raised her. But will they understand her? Either way, the matriarchy will never be the same again.

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Book SynopsisLoneliness is one of the most important and difficult topics of our time, and this book is a beautiful meditation on it, taking us from The Moomins to the far right. Inspiring and original.Johann Hari, New York Times-bestelling author of Lost Connections and Stolen FocusA cerebral, intricate study of loneliness from an acclaimed Scandinavian writer. Praise for Hilde Øtsby:Østby's thoroughly researched offering is a joy to read. . . Curiosity seekers will be enlightened.Publishers Weekly on The Key to CreativityAn accessible book, which makes it all the more joyful.NYLON on Adventures in MemoryFar beyond a personal difficulty, loneliness has grown into a problem that plagues whole societies. Many countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, have gone as far to declare a loneliness epidemic. Loneliness can lead to depression and anxiety, and can even increase your chance of death by 26%. But what defines loneliness, and is it true that we are lonelier now than we have ever been?As COVID-19 forced entire populations into isolation in 2020, author Hilde Østby set out to investigate loneliness in all its forms. To frame this huge, multidisciplinary undertaking, she turned to the Moomin novels by revered Norwegian children's author Tove Jansson. Under the watchful eye of such Jansson creations as the tragically alienated Groke, this fascinating book recounts Østby's own struggles with the condition and her many conversations with researchers, artists, and journalists who have looked closely at the myriad faces of loneliness and the ways it can be overcome. Again and again, she returns to the nightmarish events of the 2011 Utøya terrorist attacks, a collective trauma for Norwegian society that Østby views as permeated with loneliness, in both its causes and effects. This is a deeply personal and yet universally relevant book about the costs to all when some are pushed out of society. But it is also a book about the incredible capabilities of human beingshow resilient we are, and how we survive and find ourselves through our relationships with others.

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Book SynopsisCaught between these covers is the authentic, forthright voice of Christian Watt, servant girl, lady?s maid and fishwife. Born in 1833, her working life began in domestic service before the age of nine and ended with her selling her husband?s catch from door to door. The tragic death of most of her close male family ? her husband, four brothers and her favorite child ? drowned by a sudden squall that sunk their boat, robbed her of her sanity. But cared for in the remarkable Cornhill Asylum in Aberdeen, a kindly doctor encouraged her to write her memoirs in pencil. In 1983 this bundle of papers, which included other family documents, was turned into a book by the historian David Fraser, and has been saluted as the Montaillou of Scotland.

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Book SynopsisIn 2021, Ruby Free, 21, got her dream jobworking on an RSPB reserve. But this position wasn't for the faint hearted it meant moving to live on Rathlin Island, off the County Antrim coast. One of the wildest and most biodiverse corners of the UK and Ireland, to Ruby, who had grown up in the south-west of England, it felt both thrilling and very far from home.Ruby thought she knew what wildness was but arriving on the island alongside a quarter of a million seabirds, her perception of it changed forever. From swimming with seals and late-night trips to hear the call of the corncrake, to spotting dolphins from her front door and getting to know some very special seabirds, this is the story of Ruby's time on Rathlin. It's also the story of what happened next how Ruby took everything she'd learned through living on the island to the following stage of her life.Heartfelt, impassioned and full of joy, Rathlin, A Wild Life is a love letter to the island and the wildlife Ruby finds there, but it's also a call to action; a reminder of everything we stand to lose if we don't change.

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Book Synopsis'On a subject that has in fact been written, sung and talked about extensively, Meijer manages to avoid all clichés. The Limits of my Language shows, despite the title, what language is capable of'Trouw (five stars) Much has been written about the treatment of depression, but relatively little about its meaning. In this strikingly original book, Eva Meijer weaves her own experiences and the insights of thinkers from Freud to Foucault and Woolf into a moving and incisive evocation of the condition. She explores how depression can make us grow out of shape over time, like a twisted tree, how we can sometimes remould ourselves in conversation with others, and how to move on from our darkest thoughts. The Limits of My Language is both a razor-sharp analysis of depression and a steadfast search for the things great and small - from philosophy and art to walking a dog or sitting quietly with a cat - that make our lives worth living.Trade Review'From the first sentences you realize that Eva Meijer selects her sentences with care, setting literature, experience and analysis beside one another...One of the best novelists and essayists the Netherlands has to offer' - De Revisor'On a subject that has in fact been written, sung and talked about extensively, Meijer manages to avoid all cliches. The Limits of my Language shows, despite the title, what language is capable of' - Trouw (five stars)

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Book SynopsisOver the last seven years Etgar Keret has had plenty of reasons to worry. His son, Lev, was born in the middle of a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. His father became ill. And he has been constantly tormented by nightmarish visions of the Iranian president Ahmadinejad, anti-Semitic remarks both real and imagined, and, perhaps most worrisome of all, a dogged telemarketer who seems likely to chase him to the grave. Emerging from these darkly absurd circumstances is a series of funny, tender ruminations on everything from his three-year-old son's impending military service to the terrorist mindset behind Angry Birds. Moving deftly between the personal and the political, the playful and the profound, The Seven Good Years takes a life-affirming look at the human need to find good in the least likely places, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our capricious world.

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Book SynopsisA powerful and deeply personal exploration of mental health, and an indelible account of the legacy of familial illness and living with a fracturing mind.

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Book Synopsis* THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *Young Mary Newton, born into a large Irish family in a small Watford semi, was always getting into trouble. When she wasn’t choking back fits of giggles at Holy Communion or eating Chappie dog food for a bet, she was accidentally setting fire to the local school. Mary was a trouble magnet. And, unlike her brothers, somehow she always got caught…Britain in the 1970s was a world where R White's lemonade was drunk in secret, curry came in a cardboard box marked Vesta and Beanz meant Heinz. In Mary’s family, money was scarce. Clothes were hand-me-downs, holidays a church day out to Hastings and meals were variations on the potato. But these were also good times which revolved around the force of nature that was Theresa, Mary’s mum.When tragedy unexpectedly blows this world apart, a new chapter in Mary’s life opens up. She takes to the camp and glamour of Harrods window dressing like a duck to water, and Mary, Queen of Shops is born…Trade ReviewPortas writes with wit and verve... The book has the narrative charm of Anita and Me or The Buddha of Suburbia; so when the darkness comes it's genuinely shocking. Shop Girl is a testament to survival. But most of all it is a love letter to her mother, Mary Flynn. Every joke, argument, cake baked, tenderness proffered, sings off the page. 'To my mum - How lucky was I getting you' is the book's dedication. And we are lucky to read it. * Independent *Enormous fun, readable, nostalgic, poignant and authentic... Read it then give it to your daughter * Daily Express *Absolutely fabulous... Colourful, camp and unexpectedly heart-rending, I loved it. -- Caroline Sanderson * The Bookseller *Her school stories are hilarious... a nostalgia-fest * Heat *Portas's memoir is witty, fascinating and, at times, sad but always compelling * Stylist *It breezes along seamlessly... with levels of charm, depth and humour * The Observer *Poignantly described * Telegraph *Heartbreaking * The Times *Inspiring and emotional * OK! *[A] delightful memoir... full of evocative images * Choice Magazine *Warm, witty and evocative, Shop Girl is a cloudless trip down memory lane * The Tablet *Undeniably compelling * Irish Sunday Independent *Searingly honest... A fascinating memoir * Hello! *[Shop Girl] is both a beautifully nostalgic look back at a world long gone and a testament to family ties and our inherent strength * Irish Independent *

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*MUCH RAVED ABOUT BY CHRIS EVANS ON HIS BBC RADIO 2 BREAKFAST SHOW*EVERYONE ELSE IS WINGING IT TOO. You know you're a grown-up when... ·You become impatient while scrolling down to your year of birth. · You’ve lost and gained the same 10lbs so many times you now regard it as an old friend. · Your parents have stopped trying to change you. · You don't want to be with the cool people anymore; you want to be with your people. · You know that 'Soul mate' isn't a pre-existing condition. It's earned over time. Does it ever feel like everyone - except you - is a bona-fide adult? Do you wonder how real grown-ups get to be so mysteriously capable and wise? When she turns 40, Pamela Druckerman - author of the #1 Sunday Times bestseller French Children Don't Throw Food - wonders whether her mind will ever catch up with her face. Waiters start calling her ‘Madame’, and she detects a disturbing new message in mens' gazes: I would sleep with her, but only if doing so required no effort whatsoever. There Are No Grown-Ups is a midlife coming-of-age story, a hilarious quest for wisdom, self-knowledge and the right pair of pants. It's a book for readers of all ages about - finally - becoming yourself

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Book SynopsisThe sequel to the bestselling Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs TonightBorn in England and uprooted to southern Africa as a toddler by her parents, Alexandra Fuller experienced a unique upbringing – both coloured with tragedy and joy – against the backdrop of the Rhodesian wars. Following her marriage to American Charlie Ross, she leaves Africa for Wyoming in the United States. This sequel to the bestselling Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight vividly captures the highs, lows and ultimate dissolution of Fuller’s twenty-year marriage and her unbreakable tie to her African past as she searches for explanations for the present and answers for the future.Interlaced with stories from her childhood in Africa, Fuller paints a brilliant picture of an expatriate’s love for her homeland, a daughter’s acceptance of her father and the moving journey of her marriage and divorce. Poignant, candid and wistfully humorous, Leaving Before the Rains Come will resonate with anyone who has ever fallen out of love – with a person, idea or a place – and into self-acceptance and the belief that only we can save ourselves.‘Remarkable, beautifully written and fantastically entertaining… a compulsive read’ ObserverTrade ReviewRemarkable, beautifully written and fantastically entertaining… a compulsive read * Observer *[An] honest, powerful and moving memoir -- Kate Figes * Mail on Sunday *[An] urgent, eloquently fearless book * Guardian *[A] bold, brave memoir of [Fuller’s] emancipation from the past * The Times *Fuller doesn’t write misery memoirs. She writes warm, humorous and honest memoirs, and Leaving Before the Rains Come is another must-read * Sunday Express *

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Book SynopsisA powerful, personal agenda-changing exploration of poverty in today's Britain.'Totally engrossing and deliciously feisty' Bernardine Evaristo'Staggering... An absolute inspiration' Douglas Stewart, Herald'When every day of your life you have been told you have nothing of value to offer, that you are worth nothing to society, can you ever escape that sense of being 'lowborn' no matter how far you've come?'Kerry Hudson is proudly working class but she was never proudly poor. The poverty she grew up in was all-encompassing, grinding and often dehumanising. Always on the move with her single mother, Kerry attended nine primary schools and five secondaries, living in B&Bs and council flats. She scores eight out of ten on the Adverse Childhood Experiences measure of childhood trauma.Twenty years later, Kerry's life is unrecognisable. She's a prizewinning novelist who has travelled the world. She has a secure home, a loving partner and access to art, music, film and books. But she often finds herself looking over her shoulder, caught somehow between two worlds.Lowborn is Kerry's exploration of where she came from. She revisits the towns she grew up in to try to discover what being poor really means in Britain today and whether anything has changed.'One of the most important books of the year' GuardianTrade ReviewI loved Lowborn... A powerful exploration of Hudson's working-class childhood and its legacy -- David Nicholls, author of One DayHudson's resilience, grace and humility is staggering. She's an absolute inspiration -- Douglas Stewart * Herald *Absolutely beautiful -- Stanley TucciKerry Hudson blew me away, opened my eyes -- Philippa Perry, author of The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read * You're Booked *Compelling, fascinating and well-written, undeniably grim but peppered with humour and tenderness...Hudson demonstrates that only by lifting whole communities out of poverty...can we hope to avoid consigning children and young people like her - vulnerable and blameless - to the worst of lives -- Kit de Waal * Daily Telegraph *Lowborn is in part an indictment of a country that claims to still have a functioning welfare state... Most of all, it is a moving portrait of the survival and eventual flourishing of a remarkable spirit -- John Harris * Guardian *I've been in thrall to the words of Kerry Hudson since reading the very first sentence of her spectacularly good debut novel. I'm so glad she is writing Lowborn. It's an important book that needs to exist and she is exactly the right person to write it. The hideous divisiveness that the horror that is Brexit has both revealed and fuelled, only makes this book more necessary -- Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of THE LAST ACT OF LOVEElegant, compassionate and powerful... tells the hidden story of what it means to be poor in Britain today -- Charlotte Heathcote * Sunday Express *Lowborn is an insider's view of the complexities of modern-day poverty, written with humour and compassion, but without judgement. It should be required reading for anyone who unknowingly believes poverty is a personal choice and that if you work hard enough you'll avoid its fate... a fearless writer, an inspiring woman -- Jackie Annesley * Sunday Times *One of the most important books of the year -- Nikesh Shukla * Guardian *Beautifully written but with emotional hand grenades detonating on almost every page...a breathtaking odyssey -- Stephen McGinty * Sunday Times *Where there are few working-class stories, there are fewer still from working-class women. Lowborn stands out as rare, as well as compassionately and skilfully told… Some books help us understand the world around us. Others do that, and make us feel less alone in it, too. Lowborn is one such book, holding out a hand of friendship to anyone who might pick it up and find something forgotten or familiar among its pages -- Laura Waddell * Scotsman *I wish I’d had access to such honest and relatable work as Hudson’s when I was younger. She proves that successful women can have a working-class story -- Hollie Richardson * Stylist *Hudson has written a moving and readable account of growing up in the poorest section of society. Her book is also a meditation on social mobility… Hudson’s life is proof that a person can, against the odds, make a success of themselves. In Lowborn, she shows us very clearly why so many do not -- James Bloodworth * The Times *Lowborn is the opposite of a misery memoir. The chapters alternate between Hudson's raw memories and accounts of her present-day attempts to confront them. There's warmth and courage as well as pain and ultimately triumph here * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisA captivating, life-affirming memoir of a life in nature that celebrates finding wonder in our world. 'A wonderful book... It has taught me a lot. I feel great love for it' MAX PORTERAt the age of sixteen, Marc Hamer left home with only a rucksack and started walking. By day, he observed the animals and birds. By night, he slept under hedges, in woodlands and on riverbanks. It was the beginning of a life in nature.Years later, now working as a gardener and mole-catcher in the Welsh countryside, Marc tells of the experiences that have shaped him and of the wonders that he encounters each day. He considers, too, the fascinating ways of the mole and the myths that surround this curious creature.This beautiful, meditative book explores what nature can teach us about ourselves and our search for contentment. It is a celebration of living peacefully and finding joy in the world around us.'It is rare to encounter such respect and understanding of nature' Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of Cows** Longlisted for The Wainwright Prize 2019 **(Published in hardback as How to Catch a Mole)Trade ReviewIn lyrical prose, Hamer revealed a curious kinship with moles - creatures who, like him, often work alone. Like Laurie Lee, Hamer is an elegist, attracted to what's beautiful precisely because it's poised to pass away. * Washington Post *From the first few words I knew I had encountered loving honesty and no one needs more than that. It is rare to encounter such respect and understanding of nature for herself. -- Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of CowsHow To Catch A Mole is a beguiling mixture: part autobiography, part handbook, part travel book, part philosophical treatise. I’m happy to report that it succeeds on each level -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Not only a compelling meditation on the 'little gentleman in black velvet'…but also a fascinating, lyrical account of the loneliness and beauty of life on the margins, a memoir of vagrancy * Times Literary Supplement *This is 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

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Book Synopsis*A SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021*'Raw, tender and urgent' Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater'Irreducible. Once read, it will never be forgotten' Helen Mort, author of Division StreetThis is the story of an abortion. The days and hours before the first visit to the clinic and the weeks and months after.The pregnancy was a mistake and the narrator immediately arranges a termination. But a gulf yawns between politics and personal experience. The polarised public debate and the broader cultural silence did not prepare her for the physical event or the emotional aftermath. She finds herself compulsively telling people about the abortion (and counting those who know), struggling at work and researching the procedure. She feels alone in her pain and confusion.Part diary, part prose poem, part literary collage, Larger than an Orange is an uncompromising, intimate and original memoir. With raw precision and determined honesty, Lucy Burns carves out a new space for complexity, ambivalence and individual experience.'Lucy Burns' writing on choice and its aftermath is boldly innovative, achingly human, and powerfully vulnerable' Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women'Rapturous, engrossing and beautifully impossible' Holly Pester, author of Comic TimingTrade ReviewA visceral account of an abortion that is praiseworthy not only for the conversations it will spark, but for its beautiful prose, emotional intensity and unabashed complexity... although there is no happy ending, the book's very existence is hopeful. The point is to start a conversation - and Larger Than an Orange will certainly do that -- Laura Hackett * Sunday Times *Boldly innovative, achingly human, and powerfully vulnerable -- Dr Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell WomenLarger Than an Orange provides us with vital nuance, and articulates emotions that feel unspoken, even to women... The importance of Burns's work lies in its permission-giving * Guardian *Rapturous, engrossing and beautifully impossible -- Holly Pester, author of Comic TimingPowerful * Harper's Bazaar *Irreducible. Once read, it will never be forgotten -- Helen MortParticularly courageous... propulsive -- Katherine Cowles * New Statesman *A formally innovative, unflinching story that offers a raw, tender and urgent contribution to a vital conversation about bodies, ownership, freedom and reproductive rights -- Jessica Andrews, author of Saltwater

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Book SynopsisA stunning self-portrait of a woman trying to make sense of the misogyny and sexism she has faced throughout her life. - TIME MagazineIn early 2021, popular artist Anna Marie Tendler checked herself into a psychiatric hospital following a year of crippling anxiety, depression and self-harm. Over two weeks, she underwent myriad psychological tests, participated in numerous therapy sessions, connected with fellow patients and experienced profound breakthroughs, such as when a doctor noted, There is a you inside that feels invisible to those looking at you from the outside.In Men Have Called Her Crazy, Tendler recounts her hospital experience as well as pivotal moments in her life that preceded and followed. This is a memoir that speaks to every woman who has been made to question her own sanity, doubt herself and her worth. Anna Marie Tendlers powerful writing, insight and clarity enabled her to find a way out of the narratives that had been foisted on her since girlhood and create her own, new story. This beautiful and heartfelt book invites us to do the same.This stunning literary self-portrait examines the unreasonable expectations and pressures women face in the 21st century. Yet overwhelming and despairing as that can feel, Tendler ultimately offers a message of hope. Early in her stay in the hospital, she says, My wish for myself is that one day Ill reach a place where I can face hardship without trying to destroy myself. By the end of the book, she fulfils that wish.

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Book SynopsisThe enthralling inside story of Scottish football's golden age Over 25 years have passed since Scotland last qualified for the World Cup Finals in 1998. It's been a long wait, but with qualification for the last two Euro Championship finals, and reaching the play-offs in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, recent years have offered a glimmer of hope. As the 2026 World Cup qualifiers approach, could the long wait finally be over?Qualification has never been easy, but the golden age of many memorable and nail-biting nights is well worth remembering - in the hope that one day they may come again. Archie Macpherson commentated on all 18 of Scotland's World Cup matches during that purple patch from 1974 to 1998, and now in his Adventures in the Golden Age, he tells the story of the matches and the men that raised and dashed hopes in almost equal measure at the greatest tournament on earth.Between the 1974 clash with Zaire and the defeat against Morocco in 1998, there were adventures against Iran, Peru, Costa Rica, Brazil and many others. And, throughout it all, Archie was the voice of Scottish football. He knew the players, the managers and the fans. He witnessed clashes of personality, managerial rages, nocturnal antics, BBC wranglings, the shadiness of FIFA - and that last painful evening in France.Archie Macpherson's World Cup adventures are brilliantly entertaining, capturing a golden age in Scottish football that may never be seen again.

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Book SynopsisElisabeth Spencer's daughter Milly came out as trans at the age of twenty-one. Just a few days later, in one of life's perfect storms, Spencer's husband was diagnosed with an advanced terminal illness - and so she was set on course to confront rebirth in the face of death. In this compelling and poignant memoir, Spencer recalls her emotional journey over the course of her daughter's life, as she struggles first with the mystery of Milly's constant unhappiness, then with the revelation of her coming out, through a sense of bereavement, bewilderment and guilt, culminating in her determination to help her child become her true self. Written with remarkable warmth, generosity and honesty, The Road to My Daughter is both a deeply moving meditation on motherhood and a nuanced and compassionate reflection on trans issues, illuminating not only how it feels to witness the physical and mental processes of transitioning, and the realities behind embarking on this journey together, but also what it means to be a parent.Trade Review"A beautifully honest, informative and tender story from a perspective that has been all but silenced in the public 'debate' about what's best for kids who grow up feeling as I felt growing up. Thank you." - Paris Lees "I read Elisabeth Spencer's story with my heart in my mouth. It is heartbreakingly honest and lyrical, and she is so frank about the challenges she and her daughter have faced. It could not be more timely, compassionate and important. I urge you to read it." - Rosie Fiore

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Book SynopsisBrought to you by Penguin.'It is at Christmas time that want is most keenly felt, and abundance rejoices.'Charles Dickens, 'A Christmas Carol' 1843'Yeah, and a partridge up your pear tree, an' all.'Derek Trotter, 'Christmas Crackers', 1981'Think of this memoir as a Christmas special in book form, from someone who has been involved in a few of those and understands a bit about the concept. But a Christmas special very much like Only Fools and Horses, in the sense that the stories will be always heading outwards, ranging far and wide and well beyond the traditional festive gags involving giblets left in turkeys.As I sift through various festive-related episodes in my career, loosening the ribbons, parting the wrapping paper, I'll be doing my best to reach any relevant conclusions about life, work and the meaning of it all that I can usefully pass on to you - baubles of wisdom if you like. Or certainly baubles. You'll learn why I have the perfect face to play Scrooge. And if you're lucky I'll also share what it's like to fly in a helicopter with my old mucker Tom Cruise. Merry Christmas, you plonkers.'© David Jason 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022Trade ReviewYou'll be chuckling your Christmas socks off by the end...A merry memoir linked to the festive episodes and the life lessons to go hand in hand with them * Woman & Home *Full of the actor's characteristic down-to-earth warmth, wit and wisdom, this is the perfect book for Del Boy fans * Culturefly *

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Book Synopsis2022 Business Book Award Winner: Business Journey Judy Piatkus did not come from a monied background and began her career as a secretary after failing to achieve a university place. By the time she founded Piatkus Books from her spare bedroom, she was married with a disabled small daughter and pregnant with her second child. Gradually she learned how to be both a publisher and a managing director and to combine that with her family life as she had become a single mother of three. A lot of mistakes were made but she also got a lot of things right. The company prospered, thanks to the risks Judy took in tackling new subjects in the marketplace and also her approach to running the company, which focused on transparency, honesty and trust and was rewarded by the loyalty of the staff, many of whom worked alongside Judy for upwards of twenty years. Throughout the book Judy describes her learning experience as an entrepreneur, what it really means to run a company, the many triumphs and the pitfalls, what worked and what didn’t, how the company learned to reinvent itself through lean times and how it felt to finally strike gold.Trade Review"London-based book publisher and author Piatkus details the ups and downs of her 28 years at the helm of Piatkus Books in this chatty memoir. There’s much to admire in this bootstrapping account . . . and the authors who chose Piatkus as their house—Danielle Steel, VC Andrews, Nora Roberts, and on and on. Lots of industry gossip, some decent explanations of book trends and implications, and, at the end . . . Much to learn from an early serial entrepreneur.""Judy is a publishing legend who has written a riveting memoir. Graceful and witty, it opens a fascinating window on the entrepreneurial life." - Julia Hobsbawm OBE, entrepreneur and broadcaster"In sharing her experiences here, [Judy] will enable a whole new generation of female entrepreneurs to follow their dream of setting up a business of their own." - Trisha Ashley, Sunday Times bestselling author"A fantastic and engaging rollercoaster ride ... A powerful memoir from a woman who stormed into the world of publishing." - Malcolm Stern, psychotherapist, author and co-founder of Alternatives"This is Judy’s honest, gossipy, fascinating story of how she created a multi-million selling book brand that sent the New Age mainstream. I loved it." - Jessica Adams, astrologer and author"Extraordinary life, extraordinary women and a wonderful book.... This book will inspire and support all those still dreaming of living a meaningful and conscious life." - Caroline Shola Arewa, coach, speaker, trainer, author of Opening to Spirit and Energy 4 Life"The author also gives great insight into the world of publishing as an added bonus to an already very informative and engaging book." - Lucy Mullins, entrepreneurship expert at the University of Oxford, co-founder of StepLadder and #RideTheWave professional coaching. "Ahead of Her Time provides amazing insight into the journey and achievements of an extraordinary woman... this [is a] candid, honest and often deeply touching story." - Maryon Stewart, BEM, wellbeing coach, author and broadcaster"An inspiring book, especially for anyone who has dreamed of building a rewarding business ... The implicit message is ‘if I can do it, so can you!’" - Dr Dina Glouberman, author, psychotherapist and co-founder of Skyros Holidays"An inspirational read – especially for aspiring female entrepreneurs." - Charlotte Mason, INSEAD start-up bootcamp director and venture partner at Antler

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Book SynopsisFrom 2015 to 2017, Peter Sagan achieved the seemingly impossible: he won three road race World Championships in a row, ensuring his entry into the history books as one of the greatest riders of all time.But to look at Peter’s record in isolation is to tell only a fraction of his story, because Peter doesn’t just win: he entertains. Every moment in the saddle is an opportunity to express his personality, and nobody else has succeeded in making elite cycling look so much fun. From no-hands wheelies on the slopes of Mont Ventoux to press conference mischief with clamouring journalists, Peter exudes a passion for the sport and a lovable desire to bring smiles to the faces of his fans.So, for the very first time, you will have the opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes of Peter’s world. You will discover the gruelling training programmes necessary for success, and how Peter copes with the pressure of high expectation. You will feel that sense of elation when crossing the line ahead of the pack, and moments of desperation, like in 2017 when Peter realised he wouldn’t be allowed to challenge for his sixth Tour de France green jersey. But what better tonic than to ensure a third year in rainbow – an achievement which may never be repeated again.Trade ReviewSagan is not only one of the greatest riders of all time, he’s probably one of the most entertaining as well. His autobiography offers a glimpse behind the scenes and into his world of mischief -- Mildred Locke * Bike Radar, *Books of the Year* *

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Book Synopsis'Richardson writes beautifully about his return to the land, about listening to the soil and about understanding the ancient world.' - The Spectator Each new field is hope, each old one reality.There are things below the surface that pull people together in a shared love of history, landscape and the hope that, this time, something incredible will be unearthed.When a travel writer is stuck on home soil in the middle of a pandemic he tries his hand at metal detecting - and is instantly addicted. This all-consuming hobby takes him around the country, back through history and deep into the psyches(his own included) of those hooked on 'happy bleeps'.The Accidental Detectorist is a big-hearted dig into a pastime sometimes mocked but always enticing.***When locked-down travel writer Nigel Richardson is looking for a travel story close to his country cottage he turns to a leading metal detectorist with an infectious passion for the hobby. Before he knows it the mysteries of the fields are leading him on, into a world that casts the history of these isles and its people in an intriguing new light.Sifting Britain's soil from Portsmouth to Edinburgh, Nigel yearns to lose his detectorist's virginity by finding a 'hammered' coin - while learning that the search for treasure comes with a serious responsibility to our common heritage. As he immerses himself further in the world of metal detecting, exposing the shady activities of 'nighthawks', attending rallies and making lifelong friends, a change comes over him. This country beneath his feet, these people who scour it for clues and tokens - they are the treasure he's been looking for.

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Book SynopsisAlice's garden is her refuge. Inherited from Uncle Jacky, she introduces the great variety of plants and objects she has gathered everything, of course, with its own unique and fascinating story, brought to life by a master storyteller.

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Book SynopsisStephen Smith is the boy who did not exist.Born out of wedlock in the early 1960s, Steve's parents hid him away from the world by locking him in the cellar...for thirteen years. Starved and beaten, the little boy's world was a darkened room that measured just eight feet by ten with a single makeshift bed, bare light bulb, and a solitary table. Steve would spend his days conjuring up an imaginary world full of monsters he would draw to try and block out the physical and mental torture inflicted on him by his brutal father. Apart from a few admissions to hospital as a result of his 'imprisonment', Steve remained in the coal cellar of the family home where he was deprived of daylight, his childhood, school, and human contact until he'd reached his teenage years. Eventually, he escaped only to fall prey to the instigators of two of the worst cases of institutional abuse in the UK at Aston Hall hospital and St. William's Catholic School. The Boy in the Cellar is a horrifying true story of torture and cruelty, that reveals a human's full capacity to fight for survival and search out happiness and hope.

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Book Synopsis'This is a book for anyone who has ever thought they didn't quite fit in' -- Beverley Cuddy, Dogs Today'An inspirational story that is told with humour, candour and humility that I am sure will offer hope to others who also struggle with their mental health' -- Mark Winstanley Chief Executive, Rethink Mental IllnessIncredible Kratu tells the story of the lovable rascal from Crufts who became the peoples' champion worldwide and, in so doing, healed his owner's heart. A solitary child who only really found solace in nature, Tess Eagle Swan ran away from home aged sixteen and, by her late twenties, had already survived violence and drug addiction. In the following decade, life spiralled further out of control. Something had to change.Tess had always loved animals, so when she saw a post on Facebook about the plight of two dogs in Romania, she was moved to take action, helping find homes for both. It was the first step on the road that led her to Kratu - the Carpathian/Mioritic Shepherd cross she adopted in 2014. From his humble beginnings on a Roma camp in Transylvania, Kratu has gone on to become a canine international treasure. Now a trained assistance and therapy dog, he has brought joy to millions with his lovable antics - not least with his legendary appearances at Crufts. But the role he has played in Tess's story is more compelling still. After a lifetime of distress, Tess and Kratu's bond allowed Tess to finally learn to love herself and answer some of the questions behind her troubled beginnings. Incredible Kratu is the inspirational true story of this unlikely pair, who found in each other the love and support they needed to beat the odds and turn both their lives around.Trade ReviewKratu is such a big personality it's quite amazing he can fit inside a book. It's also hard to believe he was ever small and vulnerable, but Tess saved him and he saves her, too. However, neither could be relied on to blindly follow pointless rules. When Kratu went rogue in the big ring at Crufts he showed the world that different is often very much better. This is a book for anyone who has ever thought they didn't quite fit in -- Beverley Cuddy * Dogs Today Magazine *An uplifting and inspirational story about how one life-changing bond saved two souls. Perfect for dog-lovers and those on their healing journey * Happiful mag *Laugh... cry... learn. An astonishing book: by turns emotional, funny, eye-opening. A moving story of how two souls that knew so much suffering found each other and became a force for good. Very thought provoking and ultimately uplifting, not just for dog lovers but for anyone with a heart. It's a five star book in all possible ways -- Ann Green, Chief reporter * Psychic News Magazine *You won't want to miss Incredible Kratu, Tess Eagle Swan's book about her fascinating journey with this very special dog. I love how she has honoured who he is as an individual, delights in his entertaining assertions of his own personality, and gives him agency whenever possible. As if the story isn't compelling enough, the excellent writing keeps the reader turning the pages. Anyone who loves dogs will love this book. Highly recommended. -- Risë VanFleet, PhD, CDBC Author, The Human Half of Dog Training

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Book SynopsisStanley Aylett's remarkable account of six years' service as a front-line surgeon with the British Army is that rare thing: a complete narrative from the first week of the Second World War until months after the final capitulation of Nazi Germany. That war was the last Western conflict in which military surgeons performed operations immediately behind the front line, often in makeshift theatres set up in tents or abandoned, battle-scarred buildings. This memoir records the resilience and resourcefulness of the medical teams, fighting to save each wounded soldier's life, and the advances in medicine such as penicillin and plastic surgery that transformed their experience. The author draws on his extensive diaries to describe the first advance into France at the start of the 'Phoney War' in 1939; the chaos of the retreat to Dunkirk and subsequent evacuation of British and French forces; the sea voyage round the Cape to join the Eighth Army in Egypt; leading a Field Service Medical Unit in the Western Desert; the Allied invasion of France following the D-Day landings; crossing the Rhine into Germany; and VE Day, which Lieutenant-Colonel Aylett spent amid the horror of the Sandbostel concentration camp in northern Germany. Alongside the challenge of serving the wounded and dying, Surgeon at War also reveals the passions of a young man - in search of lasting love, exasperated by the incompetence of his superiors, encountering different peoples and cultures, anxious that the narrow focus of battle surgery will not jeopardise his medical career when peace returns. Few war testimonies have the scope of this account. Stanley Aylett signed up in the week war was declared, and survived to tell his story, edited here by his daughter with extensive use of his own photographs and letters home. It is a narrative of courage, duty and endurance amid the fog of war, but above all a tribute to the skill and humanity of those whose daily lives revealed mankind at both its best, and its worst.

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Book SynopsisAudrey Hepburn was one of the most admired and emulated women of the twentieth century, an Oscar-winning actress, a model and humanitarian. But Hepburn also had huge sadness in her life: two failed marriages, a broken engagement, and the crushing disappointment that occupied her triumph in My Fair Lady. Chronicling Hepburn's life, from her nearly dying in Hitler's occupied Europe, to her conquering, in just one year, the New York stage and the Hollywood screen, this fascinating tribute illustrates and illuminates all things Audrey Hepburn.While trapped in the Netherlands at the end of WW2, Audrey and her family received critical food and medical relief from UNICEF – an act of charity she never forgot, as later in life, Hepburn devoted much of her time to UNICEF, becoming a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. From her early years as an ingénue to her status as an icon of elegance, in her Oscar-winning performance for Roman Holiday and the career high of Breakfast at Tiffany's, Hepburn's star quality resonates across the globe – even so long after her death. Few stars before or since are as beloved as Audrey Hepburn and The Little Guide to Audrey Hepburn details why.'My appearance is accessible to everyone. With hair tied in a bun, big sunglasses and black dress, every woman can look like me.' Audrey Hepburn'For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.' Audrey Hepburn'Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm. As you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.' Audrey HepburnTable of ContentsThe Young Audrey • Screen Legend • Style Icon • The Private Audrey • Fairy Godmother • The Inimitable Audrey.

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Book SynopsisLudovic-Mohamed Zahed is an Imam and Koranic scholar. He is also gay. In this memoir, he explains the journey he has taken to be both the founder of a mosque in Paris and to be openly gay, after a troubled childhood in Algeria in poverty and living with an aggressive and often violent father. He explains how a journey to Mecca brought him back to a deeper understanding of his Muslim faith and how there is nothing in the Koran that condemns sexual, racial, gender or political diversity.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of bestseller Fake History, Otto English, comes a shocking yet hilarious look at ten of the greatest liars in history. ''A brilliant book.'' James O''BrienWhether it''s virtuous leaders in just wars, martyrs sacrificing all for a cause, or innovators changing the world for the better, down the centuries supposedly great men and women have risen to become household names, saints and heroes. But just how deserving are they of their reputation? Exploring everything from Captain Scott''s reckless hunt for glory to Coco Chanel''s murky Nazi past, Otto English turns his attention to some of history''s biggest (and most beloved) figures, bringing to light the darker truths that they would rather have kept buried away, while also celebrating the unsung heroes. Fake Heroes exposes the truths of the past and helps us understand why they matter today. ''The most controversial book of the year.'' Dai

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Book SynopsisThe behind-the-scenes story of an innocent man, arrested and imprisoned in Iran and finally released after 222 daysBernard Phelan was working for an Iranian tour operator when he was arrested on false charges of spying on 3rd October 2022, becoming a political hostage.He shared 'Satan's block' in Mashhad prison with political prisoners and drug traffickers - and condemned inmates awaiting execution.He was released from prison in May 2023 after being held hostage for seven months.Bernard Phelan grew up in Stillorgan, Dublin and lives in Paris with his husband.

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Book SynopsisIn 1983 an off-duty prison officer was shot by the IRA in cold blood on a Dublin street. Over 40 years later, no one has been convicted of his murder. In this book, his son outlines why justice must be done.Brian Stack was the chief prison officer working on the IRA wing of Portlaoise Prison in 1983. He was also a fan of amateur boxing, and had travelled to see a match in Dublin in March of that year. After the match, he was shot outside the venue by an IRA gunman, leaving him paralysed and brain damaged.Brian survived the attack but succumbed to his injuries within 18 months, leaving a wife and three young sons. Austin Stack was 14 when his father passed away, but he has never forgotten him nor has he ever given up hope of bringing his murderers to justice. Over the years, he has held secret talks with Gerry Adams and members of the IRA, but to date no one has been convicted of the crime. This book is an account of a son's ongoing quest for justice, and his determination to set the record straight.

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