Memoirs Books

Book Synopsis** SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA'S ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION **In 1985, Peter Everett landed the job as Superintendent of Southwark Mortuary. In just six years he'd gone from lowly assistant to running the UK's busiest murder morgue. He couldn't believe his luck.What he didn't know was that Southwark, operating in near-Victorian conditions, was a hotbed of corruption. Attendants stole from the dead, funeral homes paid bribes, and there was a lively trade in stolen body parts and recycled coffins.Set in the fascinating pre-DNA and psychological profiling years of 1985-87, this memoir tells a gripping and gruesome tale, with a unique insight into a world of death most of us don't ever see. Peter managed pathologists, oversaw post mortems and worked alongside Scotland Yard's Murder Squad - including on the case of the serial killer, the Stockwell Strangler.This is a thrilling tale of murder and corruption in the mid-1980s, told with insight and compassion.Trade ReviewA seriously eye-opening memoir - four stars * Sunday Sport *

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Book Synopsis'A groundbreaking debut from an extraordinary writer ... a testament to where a woman can go after rock-bottom'PIPER KERMAN, New York Times bestselling author of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACKKeri Blakinger's brave, brutal memoir, Corrections in Ink, is a riveting story about suffering, recovery and redemption' DAVID SHEFF, NEW YORK TIMES'A raw, fast-paced portrait of one woman's descent into a mental abyss'Irish IndependentKeri Blakinger had always lived at full throttle. Whether flying through the air, chasing Olympic dreams on the ice rink; surviving on as few calories as she could; or balancing a heroin addiction with pursuing a degree at an Ivy League university. But on a cold December day, Keri is arrested with a Tupperware container full of heroin. Shortly afterwards, she is convicted and sent to prison.Forced to confront her addiction, Keri finally manages to break free of it, and finds herself in a place unlike anything she has experienced before: a world built on senseless brutality, but whose inhabitants, her fellow inmates, will change her life forever.Written in luminous prose, with searing honesty and flashes of dark humour, Corrections in Ink shines a light on a broken prison system, and the cruelty and kindness Blakinger experienced there. It is a radical call for justice, and a testament to the power of finding one's voice.Trade ReviewCorrections in Ink is a ground-breaking debut from an extraordinary writer; in her memoir, Blakinger offers a searing work of self-examination, an inquiry of power, and a funny, provocative, and inspiring personal story of addiction, prison, and investigative journalism... a testament to where a woman can go after rock-bottom, the power to transform oneself, and the imperative to discover and tell the truth * Piper Kerman, New York Times bestselling author of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK *Keri Blakinger's brave, brutal memoir, Corrections in Ink, is a riveting story about suffering, recovery and redemption... I was tempted to close the book - it's hard to witness self-harm - but Blakinger is a gifted writer and she'd ensnared me. I needed to stay with her; I wanted her to be OK... [An] inspiring and relevant memoir -- David Sheff * New York Times *Blakinger has a gift for careful, intimate writing and for a self-revelation that perhaps equals her former penchant for destructiveness... This is a raw, fast-paced portrait of one woman's descent into a mental abyss, and her efforts to clamber out of it. It's more than a tale of recovery from addiction, but also offers up a damning picture of America's flawed and chaotic corrections system - and an impassioned argument against it -- Frieda Klotz * Irish Independent *A gorgeously written, page-turning memoir about addiction, prison, and privilege * Kirkus *It's hard to think of a reporter more deeply devoted to exposing the brokenness of the American prison system than Keri Blakinger, who in Corrections in Ink turns her journalistic eye and narrative gift to her own story - a riveting journey through the depths of addiction and incarceration * Wesley Lowery, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author of THEY CAN'T KILL US ALL *'A resonant call for criminal justice reform rings out from investigative journalist Blakinger's extraordinary debut... Chronicling in unsparing prose the cruelties she suffered for nearly two years behind bars - where "you are nothing," and "torture" prevails over "treatment" - Blakinger depicts the slow stripping away of her humanity, but she also writes of learning "how to steal joy in a place built to prevent it."... absolutely sensational' * Publishers Weekly Starred Review *Transferring powerful internal dialogue onto the page, Blakinger offers vulnerable, honest recollections, and a story that won't be forgotten and could even inspire much-needed change * Booklist *Corrections in Ink is a bleak account of a life most of us will luckily never see, but it's also a tale of redemption, not only in the moments of shared humanity Blakinger manages to find in prison, but also in the courageous way she pulled her life together after her release to become an inspiring investigative journalist. Her account of going on to expose wrongdoing behind bars, and helping prisoners with issues such as dental care, is really quite touching. * The Independent - Book of the Month *

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Book SynopsisA stag leaps on an ancient brooch. A doe and a fawn step across a field at first light. A pair of antlers is silhouetted by the side of a busy road. From the earliest cave paintings to the present day, humans and deer have a long and complex history. Royal harts were the coveted quarry of European kings, while the first Americans relied on deer for everything from buckskins to arrow heads. Once hunted to the point of extinction in some parts of the world, deer numbers have exploded in recent years, causing tension between scientists and conservationists. And yet, this is our own story, as the fortune of deer is inextricably bound up with the actions that we humans take on the world around us. Weaving together history and reportage, in The Age of Deer Erika Howsare deftly explores the relationship between our two species in the line where wildness meets humankind. It is a reminder of the poetry and violence of the natural world, from an exciting new voice in nature writing.

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Book Synopsis'A transfixingly readable amalgam of memoir and history... Superbly written and researched.... [Meller] has turned the raw material of her life into literature'Ian Thomson, author of Primo LeviRachel Meller was never close to her aunt Lisbeth, a cool, unemotional woman with a drawling Viennese-Californian accent, a cigarette in her hand. But when Lisbeth died, she left Rachel an intricately carved Chinese box with a sunflower clasp. Inside the box were photographs, letters and documents that led Rachel to uncover a story she had never known: that of a passionate Jewish teenager growing up in elegant Vienna, who was caught up by war, and forced to flee to Shanghai.Far from home, in a strange city, Lisbeth and her parents build a new life - a life of small joys and great hardship, surrounded by many others who, like them, have fled Hitler and the Nazis. 1930s Shanghai is a metropolis where the old rules do not apply - a city of fabulous wealth and crushing poverty, where disease is rife, and gangsters rub shoulders with rich émigrés; where summer brings unspeakable heat, and winter is bitterly cold; and where European refugees build a community and, maybe, a young woman can find love.Set against a backdrop of the war in the Far East, The Box with the Sunflower Clasp is a sweeping family memoir that tells the hidden history of the Jews of Shanghai. Rachel Meller writes with elegance and insight as she examines what it means to survive, and what the legacy of displacement and war might mean for the generation that comes afterwards.Trade ReviewThe Box with the Sunflower Clasp is a transfixingly readable amalgam of memoir and history, which poignantly evokes the pain and loss attendant on a Viennese Jewish woman's exile in Shanghai during the war. Superbly written and researched, Rachel Meller's is by no means a conventional account. Into her extraordinary family saga Meller has assimilated elements of detection, travel, biography, moral essay and personal revelation. She has turned the raw material of her life into literature -- Ian Thomson, author of PRIMO LEVIRachel Meller sensitively tells the story of her aunt Lisbeth and her parents who arrived in Shanghai from Vienna in March 1940... Fascinating -- Harry Freedman, author of BRITAIN'S JEWSThis meticulously researched family memoir is as full of drama, emotion and feeling as any novel. It explores a little-known corner of history but also the endlessly fascinating subject of close family relationships and how mysterious those we love can sometimes be. I found it completely engrossing -- Adèle Geras, author of FACING THE LIGHTThis memoir is as absorbing as any William Boyd novel - the fact that it's all carefully documented and true makes it even more fascinating. I predict it will become a distinguished account of a scarcely credible world of gangsters, Jewish millionaires, British class snobbery and the fate of one small family in a world where one false move can lead to death. Totally absorbing. A must-read. -- The Cambridge Critique * The Cambridge Critique *

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Book SynopsisIn this rich and diverse collection, 28 writers describe what positive experiences they have had as an autistic person, and show how the most unexpected subject areas can be a source of the positive. They demonstrate that individuals can, and do, experience life in positive ways, sometimes in the face of adversity. Sharing both dark and joyful moments with unreserved honesty, their insights are moving, often hilarious, creative, and highly intelligent, and usually surprising. From hair-raising travelling experiences to parenting with verve, volunteering to teaching, running a marathon to taking on a PhD, they show that autism need not limit life. Introduced by Luke Beardon and Dean Worton, their stories challenge stereotypes surrounding autism, empower, and entertain.Trade ReviewAutism in the words of autistic people. Alongside fascinating individual tales of personal triumphs, this collection of insights and tales shows the amazing reflection, articulation and self-awareness of these autistic authors. This book is surely a must for parents of autistic children to let them see into the future and inspire them to know what their children have the capacity to become. -- Sarah Hendrickx, autistic adult, Autism Specialist and authorIn a world where ASD is officially classified as a 'disorder', this book contains wonderful and uplifting accounts of how autism can be a blessing. The enthusiasm and strength of the contributors shines through in each revealing chapter. A must read for everyone newly diagnosed with the condition and for clinicians who insist on representing autism as a deficit-based condition. -- E. Veronica (Vicky) Bliss, Clinical PsychologistTable of ContentsForeword. Luke Beardon. 1. Opening the Umbrella (Multi Coloured Thank You Very Much!). Alyssa Aleksanian. 2. How Volunteering With Bradford Autism Support Gave Me Confidence and Helped Me Come To Terms With My Own Diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome. Gwen Greenwood. 3. A New Career Path - Undertaking a PhD - The Doctor Will See You Now! Dr Christopher Wilson. 4. Becoming a Parent is Really, Really Hard... Who Would Have Guessed? Becky Heaver. 5. Autism and Music. Michael Barton. 6. How Discovering Creative Writing Opened Up a Whole New World For the Aspie in Me. Andrew Smith. 7. Lifelines - How I Manage my Autism to Create a Positive Life Experience. Tracy Turner. 8. Positive Experiences of Being on the Autistic Spectrum - Personal Reflections From Joanna Treasure. Joanna Treasure. 9. A Year in Normandy - Learning a Foreign Language and Culture. Dean Worton. 10. The Story Behind a Story - My Novella: The Atlas Legacy. Colin Newton. 11. My London Marathon Experience: Walking Into a New Day. Dominic Walsh. 12. In an Economic Climate When the Most Able in Society are Having Difficulty Finding Work, What Chance Do Those With Disabilities Have? Tony's Journey. Maggie. 13. Loyal Companions: Animals Can Teach Us All a Lot About Happiness and Acceptance. Debbie Allen. 14. Celebrating the Autism Spectrum. P J Hughes. 15. Positive Experiences for Sarah (aged 27) - Enjoying Freedom That I Never Thought I'd Have. Sarah Galley. 16. How Our Negative Experiences Can Raise Awareness of Autism and Produce Positive Results For Society. A Nonny Mouse. 17. Positive Experiences in Theatre. C.A. Smart. 18. The Day I (Nearly) Became a Male Prostitute.. Atul Movelis. 19. My Radio Show: Making People Happier with My Strong Music Interest and Knowledge. Gerard Wilkie. 20. Turning Points: How Thinking Outside the Box Helped Me Overcome Hurdles in My Music Teaching Career. Eloise. 21. Why Bother: Aiming to Create Social Fairness and Harmony. Maurice Frank. 22. Positives I Can Draw From Experiences as a Result of the Tragic Events on 7 July 2005 in London. Serena Shaw. 23. Interview With a Music Lover on Positive Aspects of His Life. Andy R. 24. Revelations on Planet Autism. Planet Autism. 25. Two Very Different Birth Stories. Nat Goldthorpe. 26. Syndromes, Spectra and Starlight. Barnabear. 27. Turning a Negative Into a Positive. Alex Wilkinson. 28. Dream Big, There Can Be Another End to the Rainbow. Lynette Marshall.

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Book Synopsis"So while the assumption when I was born was that I was or would grow up to be a neurotypical heterosexual boy, that whole idea didn't really pan out long term."In this candid, first-of-its-kind memoir, Laura Kate Dale recounts what life is like growing up as a gay trans woman on the autism spectrum. From struggling with sensory processing, managing socially demanding situations and learning social cues and feminine presentation, through to coming out as trans during an autistic meltdown, Laura draws on her personal experiences from life prior to transition and diagnosis, and moving on to the years of self-discovery, to give a unique insight into the nuances of sexuality, gender and autism, and how they intersect.Charting the ups and downs of being autistic and on the LGBT spectrum with searing honesty and humour, this is an empowering, life-affirming read for anyone who's felt they don't fit in.Trade ReviewHauntingly relatable, Uncomfortable Labels is an incredibly necessary tale of living at the intersection of transgender and autistic identities. Humorously and accessibly written, Laura Kate Dale's story treads grounds scarcely discussed in memoir. A valuable addition to any library collection - personal or academic - on disability or gender issues. -- Jes Grobman, writer and sexuality educatorLaura has written something that highlights the personal challenges that arise from an intersection of identities that are commonly paired, but rarely discussed in the public sphere. -- Mia Violet, author of Yes, You Are Trans EnoughAs well as being incredibly informative, the book was a joy to read, due to Laura's unique voice... The book is overall an inspiring, celebratory read, and marks Laura's talent of being able to balance the uplifting drive of the book with the harder struggles and serious topics she writes honestly about. * NetGalley reviewer *A brilliant memoir about Laura's life and the ways being autistic and trans intersect.. Autistic people are much more likely to be on the LGBTQ spectrum than allistic people and it was really interesting to have it highlighted here as it's something that is often ignored but adds to the struggles we face. There were so many moments I identified with (I think I highlighted about half the book) and helped me understand parts of my life as an autistic person. It's always amazing to read anecdotes from someone elses life that could read as if they were talking about you. It's one of the best things about the autistic community speaking about their experiences... It's my favourite book about autism that I've read since being diagnosed and recommend it to any autistic people whether they are LGBTQ or not, as well as to anyone who wants to learn more about trans or autistic experiences. * NetGalley reviewer *In this memoir, Laura Kate Dale discusses her life as a gay trans autistic woman. She does a fantastic job explaining to the reader how each of her identities has affected her life, and how the identities intersect and affect each other. It was an effective way to gain some insight into the thoughts and feelings of a person dealing with so many challenges presented to them by a society that often lacks care and understanding. Highly recommend. * NetGalley reviewer *This book is a masterpiece that tells an uplifting tale of victory in the face of hardships, and the battle it often takes to be uncompromisingly true to yourself. Uncomfortable Labels is a must-read for anyone on the autism spectrum, any member of the LGBTAIQ+ community, anyone who knows someone in either group, or anyone who wants greater insight into the myriad of ways minority labels (especially working in conjunction) effect those who bear them. * NetGalley reviewer *Dale's prose is charmingly matter-of-fact and conversational, weaving in asides on cats, video games, and her "favourite ever vegan chocolate cheesecake," and she perceptively identifies the challenges she has faced and workable solutions for them. This hopeful and reflective account will resonate with readers affected by similar issues and inspire others. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsPrologue - Being LGBT and Having Autism is Actually Pretty Common; PART I - Life Pre-Transition & Diagnosis; 1. The Ignored Early Signs; 2. Being the Weird Kid; 3. The Teen Tipping Point; 4. Coming out the Closet; 5. Depression and Addiction; PART II - Living through Transition and Diagnosis; 6. Transition, and learning to read who I wanted to be; 7. Squeezing a Late Youth into Adulthood; 8. I'm Proud I'm Not Invisible; PART III - Life Post Transition and Diagnosis; 9. LGBT Spaces are not for Autistic Adults; 10. Transgender Conflicts and Autism; 11. Learning to Watch Your Friends Die; 12. Being a Trans Woman with Autism is Sometimes Pretty Rad; 13. Roller Derby: The Intersection of LGBT and Autism Friendly Group Sport; 14. Where do I go from here?; Further Resources

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Book SynopsisTHE TOP TEN BESTSELLER: The Inspirational Life of Finn, Britain's Bravest Dog, Winner of the 2017 Daily Mirror Animal Hero of the Year Award and Star of Britain's Got Talent 2019Hertfordshire, October 5th 2016. At around 2 a.m., PC Dave Wardell and his dog, PD Finn, were trying to apprehend a robbery suspect when he turned around and attacked them. Finn was stabbed with a ten-inch-bladed knife, both through his chest, via his armpit and then - the knife bound for Dave - through the top of his head. Finn no doubt saved Dave's life, but the race was on to try and save Finn's.Dave Wardell's heartfelt memoir charts an incredible journey of friendship and loyalty. It is a celebration of the bond between one man and his dog, from when Dave collected Finn from his kennels at just nine months old, all the way through to Finn's recent and hard-earned retirement. The book charts the career of a highly trained, highly decorated dog. In his time on the job Finn tracked offenders of all kinds; found missing children; tackled armed offenders; saved lives. But Finn isn't just a police dog - he's also a cherished family pet and this is his remarkable, life-affirming story.

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Book SynopsisIncludes an exciting sneak peek extract from Three Sisters - the conclusion to The Tattooist of Auschwitz Trilogy. Available now. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of the bestselling books of the 21st Century. Now, in this essential companion, Heather Morris presents an inspiring manual for life, with a series of tales of the remarkable people she has met, the incredible stories they have shared with her, and the lessons they hold for us all. In Stories of Hope, Heather will explore her extraordinary talents as a listener - a skill she employed when she first met Lale Sokolov, the tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the inspiration for her bestselling novel. It was this ability that led Lale to entrust Heather with his story, which she told in her novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the bestselling follow up, Cilka's Journey. Now Heather shares the story behind her inspirational writing journey and the defining experiences of her life, including her profound friendship with Lale, and explores how she learned to really listen to the stories people told her - skills she believes we can all learn.'Stories are what connect us and remind us that hope is always possible.' Heather MorrisAn international phenomenon, The Tattooist of Auschwitz has sold over six million copies. Cilka's Journey has sold over a million copies worldwide.Trade ReviewA thoughtful and insightful exploration * Library Journal *Showcasing her talents as a listener, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris, here presents a series of tales. She presents the remarkable people she has met along her writing journey and the stories they shared with her. Additionally, Morris reveals more about her close friendship with Lale Sokolov, whose story she told, and the lessons we can take from those who open up to us. A wonderfully moving literary companion. * Woman & Home *In a heartfelt memoir, the author extols the act of listening as an expression of love and empathy . . . A celebration of human connection * Kirkus Review *In this exquisite work, novelist Morris makes an impassioned case for the value of spoken history . . . Weaving spectacular storytelling with wise advice, this underscores the beauty of slowing down in an age of distraction * Publishers’ Weekly *a sincere...moving attempt to speak the unspeakable * The Sunday Times on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *What an extraordinary and important book this is. We need as many memories of the Holocaust as we can retain, and this is a moving and ultimately uplifting story of love, loyalties and friendship amidst the horrors of war. I'm so glad Lale and Gita were eventually able to live long and happy lives together, and thankful that Heather Morris was moved to record their incredible story. It's a triumph -- Jill Mansell on The Tattooist of AuschwitzExtraordinary - moving, confronting and uplifting . . . a story about the extremes of human behaviour: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I recommend it unreservedly. -- Graeme Simsion on The Tattooist of Auschwitza touching and redemptive tale of love and selflessness * Times Literary Supplement on The Tattooist of Auschwitz *Cilka's extraordinary courage in the face of evil and her determination to survive against the odds will stay with you long after you've finished reading this heartrending book * Sunday Express on Cilka's Journey *her courage and determination to survive makes for a heartrending read * Daily Mirror on Cilka's Journey *Her truly incredible story is one to be read by everyone * The Sun on Cilka's Journey *

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Book Synopsis'These two sisters might be some of our final living first-hand witnesses to the horrors of the Holocaust. With this book, they break the silence and give us the immeasurable gift of their story.' Gwen Strauss, author of The NineOn 28 March 1944, Italian sisters Tati (six) and Andra (four) were roused from their sleep and taken to Auschwitz, to the infamous Kinder Block presided over by Josef Mengele, the Angel of Death. By the time Auschwitz was liberated, 230,000 children had been murdered, and the sisters were among only 70 child survivors.Throughout their ordeal in the camp and the liberation of Auschwitz, their long journey from Poland to Czechoslovakia and finally to Lingfield House in Britain, they hung on to their promise to their mother to 'always remember your name'. They never forgot they were Tati and Andra Bucci, and it was this connection to their heritage that brought them miraculously back to their parents, years later and many countries away. The sisters overcame their trauma to live long lives, bearing witness as survivors of the Holocaust.'Always Remember Your Name is heart-breaking and yet utterly uplifting, with the fierce bond of two sisters at its heart, who survived the Holocaust to bear witness, so that none of us will ever forget.' Heather Morris, international bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz'A valuable record of what was suffered by surely some of our youngest survivors. Insightful and illuminating, the road to recovery - with its silences, loyalties, and self examinations - is never what we might suppose.' Esther Freud, bestselling author of Hideous Kinky

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Book SynopsisYou won’t become the real you unless you face up to what you’ve avoided most. Once you allow yourself to be who you are, the change will come. Kodo Nishimura, international make-up artist and Buddhist monk, rose to stardom after appearing in the Queer Eye: We’re In Japan! special that aired to massive viewership on Netflix. His wide smile, however, hid a painful past. The book starts with Kodo’s childhood in Japan, playing dress up as Little Mermaid, and his lonely adolescence when, although born into a family of priests, all he wanted to do was wear pretty dresses and become a princess. Growing up an outsider in a society that celebrates uniformity, Kodo’s time in New York at the Parsons School of Design and his work as a leading make-up artist finally brought him to embrace his own uniqueness. The book is full of practical tips for positive thinking and insights into the philosophical approach to life Kodo has crafted as a Buddhist monk. Detailing his journey to self- love, the book provides a gentle, loving, and encouraging voice for all those who dare to be different. This is the English translation of Seisei Dodo, published in Japan in 2020 by Sunmark Publishing, Inc., Tokyo.

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Book Synopsis'London is a giant kaleidoscope, which is forever turning. Take your eye off it for more than a moment and you're lost.' Robert Elms has seen his beloved city change beyond all imagining. London in his lifetime has morphed from a piratical, bomb-scarred playground, to a swish cosmopolitan metropolis. Motorways driven through lost communities, accents changing, skyscrapers appearing. Yet still it remains to him the greatest place on earth. Elms takes us back through time and place to myriad Londons. He is our guide through a place that has seen scientific experiments conducted in subterranean lairs and a small community declare itself an independent nation; a place his great-great-grandfather made the Elms' home over a century ago and a city that has borne witness to world-changing events.Trade ReviewA love letter to the capital . . . Part memoir, part cultural history, it sees him embarking on a voyage through the London of his youth and that of his forebears while assessing the city of today . . . He offers warm and often vivid snapshots of the capital of the '60s and '70s * * Guardian * *[Robert Elms'] observations are fresh, incisive and sometimes revelatory . . . His love of his city shines from every page * * Observer * *London Made Us is a marvellously detailed and wonderfully evocative memoir of London trembling on the border of extinction. Our tears and dreams are made of this -- PETER ACKROYDThis great city of ours has been truly blessed with some notable social and historical chroniclers . . . Robert Elms is a worthy addition in my humble opinion. This book will quite literally give the reader, whether London-born or not, the most fascinating in-depth history lesson of my beloved city (warts an' all) to date. The reading of this book should be made a compulsory addition to the curriculum of every state and private school in the capital -- NORMAN JAY MBERobert Elms's bright, sparky, self-aware homage to his home . . . Elms writes as he speaks . . . His voice surfs on waves of sentimental passion and it, too, conjures up a vanishing world * * Times Literary Supplement * *This is a freewheeling book that revels in the tales it tells - and it tells plenty . . . A delight * * Evening Standard * *A celebration of [London's] utterly vital past, and a stinging critique of present pseudo-posh . . . Elms is good at taking a little piece of our hearts . . . But he gives, too. His stories are funny and memorable * * Spectator * *

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Book Synopsis'When I was a child in Scotland, I was fond of everything that was wild, and all my life I've been growing fonder and fonder of wild places and wild creatures.'John Muir was eleven when he and his family left Scotland in 1849 to build a new life on a homestead in the vast wilderness of Wisconsin. Written in simple yet beautiful prose, we see Muir's delight as he discovers and observes the landscape and wildlife around him, as he recalls his childhood and reveals himself as a master of natural description.Trade ReviewHis books are illuminated by sunshine and starlight . . . No other writer is so ceaselessly astonished by the natural world as Muir, or communicates that astonishment more urgently -- ROBERT MACFARLANEAn inspirational figure for modern environmentalism . . . his enthusiasm and heart-felt love of nature is immensely impressive * * Guardian * *Muir was a geologist, an explorer, philosopher, artist, author, and editor, and to each of his avocations he devoted that deep insight and conscientious devotion which made him its master * * New York Times * *The great mountain man . . . [John Muir] remains a towering presence in American cultural life, and is internationally acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of modern conservation -- MARK COCKER, author of OUR PLACEA superbly told, moving and challenging story. For anybody remotely interested in the environment, Scottish culture, American history, the art of biography or the art of life, this book is essential * * Scotland on Sunday * *The richness of Muir's writing roots deeper into the terrain than any other wilderness writer known to me * * Los Angeles Times on MY FIRST SUMMER IN THE SIERRA * *

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Book SynopsisA Uyghur poet's piercing memoir of life under the most coercive surveillance regime in history***LITHUB'S #1 BEST-REVIEWED NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023******A FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023******AN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023***'Essential reading' AI WEIWEI, author of 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows'Deserves to be read widely... Beautiful' FINANCIAL TIMESIf you took an Uber in Washington DC a few years ago, there's a chance your driver was one of the greatest living Uyghur poets, and one of only a handful from his minority Muslim community to escape the genocide being visited upon his homeland in western China.A successful filmmaker, innovative poet and prominent intellectual, Tahir Hamut Izgil had long been acquainted with state surveillance and violence, having spent three years in a labour camp on fabricated charges.But in 2017, the Chinese government's repression of its Uyghur citizens assumed a terrifying new intensity: critics were silenced; conversations became hushed; passports were confiscated; and Uyghurs were forced to provide DNA samples and biometric data.As Izgil's friends disappeared one by one, it became clear that fleeing the country was his family's only hope.Escape to America spared Izgil's family the internment camps that have swallowed over a million Uyghurs. It also allowed this rare personal testimony of the Xinjiang genocide to reach the wider world.Waiting to Be Arrested at Night charts the ongoing destruction of a community and a way of life. It is a call for the world to awaken to a humanitarian catastrophe, an unforgettable story of courage, escape and survival, and a moving tribute to Izgil's friends and fellow Uyghurs whose voices have been silenced.Trade ReviewAn urgent tale of survival and subversion * Economist, *Books of the Year* *Deserves to be read and listened to widely... This is a beautiful read. Izgil’s poetic gaze, and the elegant translation by Joshua L Freeman, together produce a compact, compelling prose that pushes you to keep reading on, even as you blink back tears * Financial Times *So much more than a thrilling account of a great escape. It is nothing less than a call to the West not to look away from one of the most terrible genocides of our times * Sunday Times *Izgil's memoir is a story about how to survive in, and to negotiate one's way through, a society in which repression has become routine, and the power of the state is unfettered. The book's restraint is also its strength * Guardian *I… devoured it in one night. It is a stunning work with its lyrical prose and elegiac translation, a page-turner that stands alongside any thriller for the skill with which it builds tension as a noose tightens round an entire community… Tahir reveals again the banality of evil * i *In the elegant, elliptical poems that appear throughout the text – translated, like the rest of the memoir, with great skill and subtlety by Joshua L. Freeman – Tahir both acknowledges and transforms the worsening political situation. Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of the book is its refreshing lack of political rhetoric: there are no pronouncements on the great evil of the Chinese state. Tahir lets the awful facts speak for themselves * Times Literary Supplement *A heart-wrenching but beautifully written memoir * Daily Telegraph *More than just a memoir... It is also the story of the Uyghur people and the political, social, and cultural destruction of their homeland by the Chinese state * TIME *To call this merely 'a good book' is an understatement - it is essential reading -- Ai Weiwei, author of 1000 Years of Joys and SorrowsAn outlier among books about human rights. This is in effect a psychological thriller, although the narrative unfolds like a classic horror movie as relative normalcy dissolves into a nightmare -- Barbara Demick, author of Nothing to EnvyA vital and urgent book about the tragedy of the Uyghur people, abandoned by the world and brutally oppressed by the Chinese government. The voice of Tahir Hamut Izgil is one that must be heard -- Janine di Giovanni, author of The Morning They Came for UsElegiac and deeply courageous, a most powerful literary indictment of the unfettered power of the state. A remarkable book -- Philippe Sands, author of East West StreetI was riveted and chastened by Tahir Hamut Izgil's memoir. Izgil's crystalline, courageous prose is a wake-up call for everyone invested in the myth - and also the possibility - of freedom -- Tracy K. Smith, Poet Laureate of the United States of AmericaThis powerful and poignant memoir is an instant classic. He lays bare the vicious genocidal persecution of the precious Uyghur people in a very personal and persuasive way -- Cornel West, author of Democracy MattersAn essential testimony to one of the defining crimes against humanity of the twenty-first century so far. The poet Tahir Hamut Izgil is one of the few Uyghurs who escaped just in time to tell us -- Philip Gourevitch, author of We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our FamiliesA terrifying, compelling read of one family's efforts to escape the jaws that were closing around them -- Ian Johnson, author of The Souls of ChinaAn exceptionally powerful, profoundly lyrical and beautifully translated book - I urge you to read it -- Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global HistoryEven if we can't comprehend why this tragedy is happening in Xinjiang, Tahir Hamut Izgil reminds us why it matters -- Peter Hessler, author of River TownA lived-in page-turner with the slow, grim boil of a Le Carré novel (no shooting, but no hope of justice either, with plenty of code words and offstage violence). Lucid and quietly terrifying * Washington Post *A compelling account of Izgil’s ultimately successful escape to the US. It is a story of mounting fear, as friends disappear one by one, and he and others take to sleeping next to a pile of warm clothes that they can hastily put on if the doorbell rings in the night * Prospect *

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Book SynopsisIn the year of her 100th birthday, Dame Vera Lynn's fascinating and life-affirming wartime memoir from the forces' sweetheart's of her adventures entertaining the troops in far-flung Burma.'I was just twenty-seven years old when I went to Burma. It was an experience that changed my life for ever. Up until that time I had not really travelled anywhere at all, apart from one touring visit to Holland with a band I was singing with before the war, and I had certainly never been in an aeroplane. But I wanted to make a difference, to do my bit.'And she did.Written with her daughter, Virginia Lewis-Jones this is a powerful and life-affirming account of the time she spent with troops in wartime Burma. Based, in part on a diary she kept, alongside unpublished personal letters and photographs from surviving veterans and their families, it explores why it was such a life-defining event for her and shows how her presence helped the soldiers, airmen and others who heard her sing.Trade Reviewa book that is valuable to us all…definitely for everyone * Frost Magazine *one of the 15 best music books of 2017 * i Paper *

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Book Synopsis'The shepherdess whose flock you definitely need to follow' - Hello!'A new breed of shepherdess blazing a trail across social media, challenging outdated ideas about the job and capturing the public's imagination along the way' - Daily MailZoë Colville left her life as a hairdresser in a fancy London salon for the rolling hills and hard graft of life on a Kent farm. One where the only use for a hairdryer is warming new-born lambs; where the cycle of life on a farm gives new meaning and purpose, and where nature is both a strict teacher and a source of ultimate satisfaction.In this memoir, Zoë brings her trademark hilarious, heartfelt voice to tell readers all about her transformation from hairdresser to farmer, and the lessons she learned along the way, from mental health, social media and identity to surviving as an entrepreneur in a shifting economy. And through those lessons - in love, loss, and lambing - discovering something even more important: that it's always the right time to take a bold step and try something new.Trade ReviewA new breed of shepherdess blazing a trail across social media. * Daily Mail *Humorous, gritty and enlightening -- Martin Chilton * The Independent *One of the industry's most well-known shepherdesses. -- Emily Ashworth * Farmers Guardian *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2019 PEN Ackerley Prize Gloucester Crescent is a curving, leafy street, tucked between Camden Town and Primrose Hill. It's unremarkable in many ways, unless you notice the lady in the van, and the familiar-looking residents crossing the road ... This is the story of the Miller family and their circle of brilliant, idealistic and intellectual friends in London in the 60s, 70s and 80s. We follow William through the ups and downs of childhood, as he explores the homes of his famous neighbours, attends dramatic rehearsals with his dad Jonathan Miller, gets drugs and advice from the philosopher A. J. Ayer's wife, and tries to watch the moon landing with Alan Bennett and a room full of writers. Hilarious, and at times heart-breaking, this is also about how we grow up and move on - and what happens when we come back. Not only a picture of an extraordinary time in Britain's cultural history - and a hitherto unseen portrait of some of the brightest minds of a generation - this book tells the funny, tender and moving story of a young boy trying to carve out his own identity.Trade ReviewStuffed with hilarious literary gossip and anecdote * Observer *I was charmed by this evocative and tender portrait of an extraordinary street and its extraordinary inhabitants -- Deborah MoggachWilliam Miller is not just writing about a street. This is about family, love, art and the whole of life, and it's wonderful -- Jeremy Vine, BBC2A wonderful insight into life surrounded by the culturati of the late 20th century - funny, wise and finely observed through glasses that are far from rose-tinted. -- Shaun Bythell, author of A Diary of a BooksellerA love letter to a unique and special time, place and family -- Dermot O'LearyIt's a brilliant book, a touching, funny view of life for the family of a remarkable person who, like many remarkable people, could be hard to live with. -- Kirstie Allsopphas a charm of its own. His portrait of his father, exasperated yet tinged with affection, is beautifully drawn, and he's particularly good at putting himself in his own childhood shoes. -- John Preston * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to be 'bad' at money? Money is not a maths problem. Spending, saving, splitting the bill or asking for a pay rise - these are moments dominated by our own hang-ups, habits, anxiety and ambitions. Money features in our friendships, family life, our choice of late-night treat and who we date. And yet it's so often hidden behind shame and silence. We need to start talking about it. Funny, frank, and filled with insights, practical advice and conversations with everyone from company CEOs to debt advisors to housemates, Open Up is the book that will transform your relationship to money. It shows how talking can change your life, relationships and bank balance, and influence bigger issues like pay gaps or the living wage. This book strips away the awkwardness to help you gain knowledge, take control of your finances and finally get 'good' with money.Trade ReviewSuch a refreshing read - tackling the benefits of exploring our financial beliefs and habits, it's all you need to revamp your fiscal fortitude * Stylist Loves *Empowering, educational and very entertaining * Elle *Alex writes about money in a completely honest, courageous and original way. No subject is too taboo. She's also funny as hell. -- Gillian Orr, Content Director * Refinery 29 *Drugs, dating, shame, secrets, motherhood and mental health...Alex Holder's EXCELLENT new book about money is not like any other book about money. -- Terri White, editor-in-chief * Empire magazine *

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2022 National Book Critics' Circle John Leonard Prize for best first book '...I don't know what comes after, once I decide to let desire have its way with me. How to un-melt the melted? How to turn the ground powder back into a person? This idea points to a knowledge that I don't have: how to love without losing the self.' Plumbing the well of culture for clues about love and loss - from Agnes Martin's abstract paintings to Anne Carson's Eros the Bittersweet to Frank Ocean's Blonde - this brilliant work of debut nonfiction explores the state of falling in love, whether with a painting or a person. Pham creates a perfectly fractured portrait of modern intimacy, triumphant in its vulnerability and restlessness. Pop Song is a book about distances: the miles we travel to get away from ourselves, or those who hurt us, and the impossible gaps that can exist between two people sharing a bed. Here is a map to all the routes by which we might escape our own needs before finally finding a way home.Trade ReviewGenerous, insightful, and piercingly honest ... brings new light to the hidden contours of the heart. -- Alexandra Kleeman, author of IntimationsThere are so many times in my past when reading Pop Song could have saved my life. It may very well save yours -- Esmé Weijun Wang, author of The Collected SchizophreniasReading Pop Song is like being deep in a midnight email exchange with the first person who broke your heart. Pham darts between heartbreak and fine art with startling and delightful ease. -- Rowan Hisayo BuchananCombines the thrilling and agonized travails of her young narrator with the lucid and steady eye of a born critic ... A bold and promising debut -- Melissa Febos, author of Abandon MePop Song takes me everywhere I didn't realize I was longing to go ... I am absolutely in love. You will be, too. -- Kristen Radtke, author of Imagine Wanting Only ThisA roadmap to transcendence, in essays that are as intimate as their subjects -- Tony Tulathimutte, author of Private CitizensA vulnerable, nuanced story about the non-linear process of overcoming heartbreak and letting go. Like your favourite song or first love, Pham's words won't just get stuck in your head, they'll stay there * Bust *Her gaze is ceaselessly empathetic, and it is this generosity that binds the reader to her quest for understanding ... even with all the pain of heartbreak, violence and loss, Pham manages to generate sincere hopefulness * Observer *In a manner reminiscent of contemporaries Leslie Jamison and Jia Tolentino, Pham seamlessly blends the personal and the cultural, the confessional and the critical, the cerebral and the sentimental, to create an exciting and imaginative memoir. * Kirkus *A masterclass in emotional vulnerability ... Pop Song pivots between art and personal narrative with such dexterity that they begin to feel inseparable. * Nylon *Pham takes your head in her hands, looks you in the eyes, and makes her desire known. That's what the journey is all about * Bitch magazine *Pham's attention is delicate and lucid, cleaving to her subjects like film... As accessible as it is smart. Pham's introspection is never solipsistic, but rather an insight into a mind tuned to life's minute rhythms. * Columbia Review *Blends memoir with commentary acutely attuned to various art objects and experiences in the present. Pop Song explores what it means to want a life and to strive for it: * LA Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisMuhammad Hasan al-Husayni, also known as Hasan 'Ali Shah and, more generally, as the Aga Khan (1804-1881), was the 46th Imam of the Nizari Ismailis and the first Ismaili Imam to bear the title of Aga Khan, bestowed on him by the contemporary Qajar monarch of Persia. This book is the first English translation of his memoirs, the 'Ibrat-afza, `A Book of Exhortation, or Example', and includes a new edition of the Persian text and a detailed introduction to the work and its context. The 'Ibrat-afza was composed in the year 1851, following the Ismaili Imam's departure from Persia and his permanent settlement in India. The text recounts the Aga Khan's early life and political career as the governor of the province of Kirman in Persia, and narrates the dramatic events of his conflict with the Qajar establishment followed by his subsequent travels and exploits in Afghanistan and British India. The 'Ibrat-afza provides a rare example of an autobiographical account from an Ismaili Imam and a first-hand perspective on the regional politics of the age. It offers a window into the history of the Ismailis of Persia, India and Central Asia at the dawn of the modern era of their history. Consequently, the book will be of great interest to both researchers and general readers interested in Ismaili history and in the history of the Islamic world in the nineteenth century.Table of ContentsIntroduction 'Ibrat-afza Hasan 'Ali Shah al-Husayni, known as the Aga Khan -English Translation Bibliography

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Book SynopsisCelebrates the rich history and vibrant culture of old Dublin through engaging anecdotes and historical insights.50th Anniversary Edition A beautifully presented and attractively laid out commemorative edition, with new introductions by Ivan O?Brien, MD of The O?Brien Press and best-selling author Dónal Fallon.The very first book published by The O?Brien Press in 1974 celebrates fifty years in print.The O?Brien Press launched its first publication in November 1974. Me Jewel and Darlin'' Dublin , written by Éamonn MacThomáis and published while the author was in jail, was an immediate success and has become a classic. Full of historical facts, anecdotes and Dublin wit, this book evokes the spirit, the characters and colours, the sights, sounds and even the smells of old Dublin. With sections on markets, pawn shops, street characters, the Liberties, slang and wit of Dublin?s newspapers, the city?s history is traced right back to Brian Boru, the Huguenots, ?the debtors? prison'', and Dublin''s troubled history of risings and revolutions .Celebrating fifty years of Me Jewel & Darlin? Dublin ? and of The O?Brien Press.

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Book Synopsiswhat we must remember, what we would forgetHow do we carry the past when memory begins to splinter, when daily words and faces elude us while the distant past haunts and torments? How do we carry the past as the adult children of ageing parents whose vitality has given way to a dependency the parent cannot accept? And where are the safe places for our elders in a society with no patience for the slow and the old, a society that sees them as products for an industry of care' that exists first for its share-holders?These questions weave through l'Aubier as Isabelle Llasera explores the final stages of her mother's life in a residential home in the South of France and as her mother's dementia escalates in an environment where profit ranks above care. Written with grace, tenderness and extraordinary clarity, the narrative is addressed to you'. And so we are immersed in a story that brims with frustration (the clothes that disappear, the cold air conditioning in November, the persistent odour of urine in the lounge) alongside small acts of rebellion that we revel in (the unauthorised car trip in the rain and snow with the best rainy coffee ever). And through it all, the fragments of a long and accomplished life dissolving into moments that won't let go the horror of whether three Jewish children ever reached safety or the teenage joy of the fur coat her father gave herDeeply personal and searingly political, without a whiff of didacticism, l'Aubier will make you laugh and cry. But most of all it will leave you with questions. Dignity? Memory? Identity? Responsibility? So many questions society needs to face if we are to retain humanity.

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Book SynopsisSammy Woodhouse was just 14 when she met Arshid Hussain. Ten years older, he promised to take care of her. Sammy thought she was in love, but in reality she was being groomed by a ringleader of Britain's most notorious child sex ring.Just A Child tells the heartbreaking story of how a young girl from Rotherham was abused by her drug-dealing 'boyfriend', eventually giving birth to his baby, right under the nose of the very authorities who were meant to protect her. When reality dawned and Sammy realised she was one of countless vulnerable child victims - many of whom were trafficked around the north of England - she took it upon herself to blow the whistle and save others from a similar fate.Thanks to Sammy's bravery, the gang was fully exposed, as well as the authorities that did little to help her. Her shocking account of how these events came to pass will enrage and sadden but, above all, it will offer hope and show why this must never happen again.

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Book Synopsis'Absorbing... revealing and affecting. There are pleasures here, and lessons to be learnt, whatever colour you are' - The Sunday Times'Michael Fuller is an extraordinary man with a remarkable and interesting story' - Helen MirrenA story about race, identity, belonging and displacement, "Kill the Black One First" is the memoir from Michael Fuller - Britain's first ever black Chief Constable, whose childhood in care and career in policing is not only a stark representation of race relations in the UK, but also a unique morality tale of how humanity deals with life's unfairness.Hoping to tackle injustice and create change from within, Michael joined the police force. There, he experienced racism and inequality, from colleagues shouting racist insults, to the Brixton Riots where 'Kill the black one first!' was yelled from the crowds. Determined, despite everything, not to turn and walk away, he rose through the ranks and made his way to the very top."Kill the Black One First" is an unflinching account of a life in policing during a tumultuous period, and how one man set out, against the odds, to try and belong.

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Book Synopsis'A really lovely book for dog lovers' - Jilly Cooper'Charming, funny, heartwarming and full of dogs - what more could you want?' - Adam Kay, bestselling author of This is Going to Hurt'A joy from start to finish. I loved it!' - Stacey Halls, bestselling author of The Familiars'An absolutely glorious romp of a book' - Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost ThingsKate MacDougall always knew her heart wasn't really in her job at Sotheby's. All around her, friends were finding their dream jobs and whooshing up career ladders. After yet another breakage, this time of two precious porcelain pigeons, she had enough, and walked out of her snoozy, back office existence into the unknown world of the then-nascent gig economy. London's No. 1 Dog-Walking Agency is the story of her next 9 years and the dogs (and people) she meets along the way. There's Winston, the Labrador, who isn't allowed to get muddy, even after his owners split up and then enlist Kate in their custody battle. There's the chic trio of Islington couples whose immaculately arranged dog walking schedule is thrown off when one of them gets off with the dog walker Kate has employed. There's Kate's long-suffering, dog-agnostic boyfriend Finlay, and her mother, who is always on the alert for wedding bells. Amongst all this, there's Kate herself: trying to work out what she wants from life, and when and how to get there.Trade ReviewA really lovely book for dog lovers * Jilly Cooper *'Charming, funny, heartwarming and full of dogs - what more could you want?' * Adam Kay *This is a glorious romp of book starring a cornucopia of canines and their hapless humans. It tickles the funnybone and tugs at the heartstrings. Hugely entertaining. * Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things *A joy from start to finish. I loved it! * Stacey Halls, bestselling author of The Familiars *It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me long for a dog! Incredibly moving, very funny and wonderfully wise, this is a brilliant debut memoir and a beacon of hope when we need it most. I shall be recommending it to everyone I know, dog-loving or otherwise. * Annie Lyons *Kate gives you a peek into London lives, where nothing is quite as it seems. I raced through like a dog in its favourite park. * Ericka Waller, author of Dog Days *"Top on my list of dog lover's must-reads. London's Number One Dog-Walking Agency positively fizzes with wit - and it's all the funnier because it's true. You literally couldn't make it up!" * Graeme Hall (The Dogfather) *

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Book SynopsisWe've all had those moments. The ones where you look in the mirror and nothing feels ok. For Anita Bhagwandas, this started when she was a child and it created an enduring internal torment about her looks.We're all told that this is just part of growing up, but it stays with us, evolving as we age. The internet tells us we should love ourselves, whilst bombarding us with images of airbrushed perfection, upholding centuries-old beauty standards which we can't always see. Our beauty rituals are so often based around things we think we need to fix, grow and develop - sometimes tipping into dangerous obsession.So, what seismic shift does it take to break free from this mentality? In Ugly, Anita uncovers where these beauty standards started, unpicks why they've been perpetuated and unmasks the structures that continue to support them. From the ever-growing cosmetic surgery industry, to the hidden pitfalls of 'pretty privilege', it is time to finally break free from those limiting beauty standards, because feeling ugly should have nothing to do with how we look, and everything to do with who wants us to feel lacking.Trade Review'Anita's deep dive into beauty, its history and the pressure to look "perfect" is essential reading' * Caroline Hirons *'A bold, beautiful undertaking - this book unravels what we think we know about beauty, both in how we view ourselves and others. Anita's thorough research, lived in experience and brilliant prose makes it a must read for anyone struggling to find their place in the world.' -- Poorna BellUgly is not only a must read, it's an urgent read. [...] This book is the real deal - taking over from where Naomi Wolf's The Beauty Myth left off. * Farrah Storr, Things Worth Knowing newsletter *[Ugly is one] of the best releases of 2023 * Glamour *UGLY is provocative, powerful, and will challenge everything you thought you knew about beauty standards. I'm so grateful for Anita Bhagwandas's work * Virigina Sole-Smith, author of THE EATING INSTINCT and FAT TALK *'A brilliant and necessary book. Anita combines memoir with analysis to dissect the ways in which notions of beauty are subverted to subjugate and undermine. Anyone who has ever worried about their looks - and that's pretty much every girl and woman - should read this to understand the mechanisms driving their sense of inferiority and inflicting the worst social, economic and psychological penalties on people furthest from imposed, Barbified ideals.' -- Catherine Mayer, founder of Women's Equality Party

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Book SynopsisTHE POWERFUL AND UPLIFTING NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERIn March 2022, much-loved pop star, father and son Tom Parker died from incurable brain cancer. This story is his legacy, in his own words.A proud working-class lad from Bolton, he rose to chart-topping fame with The Wanted and even took America by storm. A loving father to Aurelia and Bodhi and a devoted husband to Kelsey, his life after pop superstardom was all about family, friends and finding new purpose.After his diagnosis in 2020, he become a prominent campaigner for brain cancer research, appearing in the House of Commons as well as holding a massively successful concert in aid of Stand Up to Cancer in the Royal Albert Hall.Throughout it all, Tom had hope. This inspirational memoir shows how far hope and daring to dream can carry you, no matter what cards you're dealt.

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Book Synopsis*** The Sunday Times Bestseller ***'Intimate, tender and brutally honest ... a remarkable book.' Decca Aitkenhead, The Sunday Times'These are probably the toughest times we have faced in many decades, and we all have to find within us the strength and resilience to get through and to find happiness and love in our futures, whatever life throws at us.'Kate Garraway has had to learn how to adapt ever since her husband Derek began his fight against the devastating impact of Covid, a condition that has left him needing 24-hour care at home and long spells in hospital, before he sadly passed away in January, surrounded by his loving family. In The Strength of Love, Kate explores issues that resonate with so many of us. She looks at the impact of trauma as well as the importance of resilience, adaptability, curiosity and positivity when recovering from it. She talks about identity, purpose, how to embrace uncertainty and take back control of our lives. Through her and Derek's story, she provides comfort and wisdom that will help anyone who has ever felt desperate, lonely or experienced profound loss, or who is fearful about what the future holds.Despite all that she and her family have had to endure, Kate shows us that love truly is the most powerful and resilient emotion of all.Trade Review'It's a book that is both heartbreaking and life-affirming, reminding us how love can fuel us in the darkest hour.' * Psychologies magazine *'Intimate, tender and brutally honest ... a remarkable book.' * Decca Aitkenhead, The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisWe take summer holidays for granted but, back in the 1940s, the picture was very different. War had gripped Britain. Wave after wave of bombs fell, beaches were closed off, and petrol was rationed by the forbidding question, 'Is your journey really necessary?'But the summer days (with double summer time) seemed to go on forever, war or no war - and British families were determined to make the best of their paralyzed country.For evacuated children, this meant freedom that is unimaginable today: wandering at will, discovering wildlife in fields and ponds, foraging from orchards and hedgerows and swimming in the streams. Elsewhere, country estates were requisitioned for the war efforts, the tennis courts given over for training and the Lord and Lady of the manor sent packing! Dances attracted people from all walks of life - from ballroom dances to the thrill of the arrival of the GIs and the jitterbug.But the shadow of war was never far away; the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, and the D-Day Landings in 1944 took place in June - with unreliable summer weather playing a part in both.In this book, Caroline Taggart shows us how Britons succeeded in keeping up spirits in spite of the constant devastation of battle. It is a revealing and entertaining collection of first-hand reminiscences from people who lived through those six long years. Touching, tragic, occasionally hilarious, it shows the British soldiering on as best they could.

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Book Synopsis'I look back now and see that I never stood a chance. It's hard when you realise your whole childhood was taken away. I never got the chance to be a child.'Shaneda Daly was only 6 years old when her father started grooming her. For more than ten years, he would go on to sexually abuse and rape his daughter at least once a day. In her house of doom, the emotional and physical toll on Shaneda was immense. Eventually, her ex-army and prison officer father admitted to his family what he had been doing, agreeing to leave home to get help. Returning after only a year, he was welcomed back, apparently a changed man. With no choice but to accept it, Shaneda lived alongside him again only for him to try and abuse her once more.Shaneda managed to contact the police and leave home, finally reclaiming her power and standing up to the man who destroyed her childhood. Decades later, in 2011, she watched as her father was convicted on 227 counts of abuse - the average number that usually secures a conviction is less than 20. Shaneda now fights as a campaigner for other victims and is bravely telling her story fully for the first time: the story of a survivor.

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Book SynopsisFrom No.1 bestselling author Toni Maguire comes a new true story of abuse and survival.'Whatever you do, don't go back to him, not this time. If not for your sake, then for your children's.'Ava Thomas knew leaving was the right decision. Trapped and manipulated in her relationship, and after yet another violent beating whilst she was pregnant, Ava was helped to a women's refuge with her children.Listening to the stories of other women there, Ava began thinking back to where it all started to go wrong. Brought up by a mother who never loved her, Ava sought that missing care and warmth elsewhere. Running away to her father's home as a teenager, she thought she might finally be safe. But after being abused by her own brother, she was thrown out onto the streets. Ava searched for the love she had been desperately missing her whole life, and ended up in a relationship controlled by domestic violence.Lifted by the strength of the other women around her, Ava found a new home, a fresh start and never looked back - with her loving children by her side.*In aid of the NSPCC: for each paperback book sold, Bonnier Books UK shall donate 2.5% of its net receipts to the NSPCC (registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717).*

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Book SynopsisSet against a backdrop of East End London, Georgia experienced a childhood few of us could imagine. Though brought up in a loving family, she watched her family break apart through deceit and her mother descend into heroin addiction. Escaping into what she felt was a loving sanctuary, Georgia ended up trapped in a violent relationship with a man who would beat and abuse her. After having her three children by him, she knew she had to escape to finally find safety. Now in a loving relationship, Georgia is sharing her story of survival to help others going through the same trauma.

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Book SynopsisFor yoga and meditation practice, for daily affirmation and mental health, for manifestation and cleansing, and for setting specific intentions, here are over 100 mantras for different times of the day, such as at meals, with exercise or spiritual practice and before bedtime. They include traditional Sanskrit invocations from the Bhagavad Gita as well as modern interpretations, and the book also encourages you to set your own.A self-help tool that uses repetitive sounds to reach the subconscious mind, mantras will help counter negative self-talk, empower you to achieve your goals, and help you gain greater focus and clarity, as well as a sense of positivity, happiness, peace and wellbeing.SAMPLE QUOTE: 'I am enough. Who I am is enough. What I do is enough, and what I have is enough.' AnonymousSAMPLE FACT: The earliest mantras were composed in Vedic Sanskrit in India and thought to be at least 3,000 years old.Table of ContentsTraditions and Practices: The origins of mantras in spiritual traditions, types of mantas and methods for chanting. Mantras for the Day: Here are mantras to start and end your day, to use with yoga or other exercises, or for specific activities, situations, celebrations and religious or spiritual days. Mantras for Inspiration and Fulfilment: Creativity, inspiration, motivation, dream fulfilment and decision-making are the themes of this chapter. Mantras for Courage and Confidence: This section offers phrases and sayings to build self-esteem, confidence, resilience and inner strength. Mantras for Gratitude, Peace and Universal Love: The mantras here promote gratitude for all aspects of your life and the world at large, and help create calm, balance and serenity. Mantras for Growth, Health and Abundance: The mantras here are used to stimulate growth, healing and fulfilment in your mind and body.

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Book SynopsisWe live in busy, stressful times and finding happiness in our modern world can be a challenge. From the demands of a hectic working life to the relentless cycle of 24/7 news or the constant beep of our smartphones, there are all many things that can trigger negative emotions.The Little Book of Happiness offers guidance for when the scales of life are tipped and feeling positive feels beyond our reach. Packed full of wise words from some of the world's best-known figures – from ancient philosophers and celebrated writers to modern-day figures – this book will help you to shift your thinking, boost your mood and find your inner joy.'Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.' - Frank Tyger'To be content means that you realize you contain what you seek.' - Alan CohenTable of ContentsHappiness is...: Defining happiness is almost as hard as feeling it – but that's not stopped us trying • The Pursuit of Happiness: Searching for happiness: the quest of a lifetime or the ultimate fallacy? That's up to you to decide... • Carpe Diem!: You've only got one life to live after all – so don't waste it: make it a happy one • When Happiness Eludes Us: Take comfort and inspiration from these words of wisdom when happiness is hard to come by • Don't Worry, Be Happy: If you find yourself fixating on everything that's wrong, you'll never be able to appreciate what's right – so sit back, relax, and simply BE • The Secret to Happiness: Some final words of advice on the secret to a happy life.

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Book SynopsisWe live in busy times and stress is an inescapable fact of modern life. As we juggle jobs, family and other responsibilities – not to mention the constant beep of our smartphones or the endless cycle of 24/7 news – it often feels like the world is spinning too fast. Finding peace or quiet amid the noise can seem impossible, and it can be all too easy to feel pessimistic.The Little Book of Hope offers guidance for when the scales of life are tipped and hope seems to be in short supply. Packed full of wise words from some of the world's best-known figures – from ancient philosophers and celebrated writers to modern-day figures – this book will help you to find your footing, take a deep breath and look to the future more positively.'Don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.' - Michelle ObamaTable of ContentsWhen You Need A Push: Sometimes we just need a little extra oomph to get us over the finish line, or even to make it to the end of the day • When Nothing's Going Your Way: If you feel like life is stacked against you, don't despair: these words of wisdom will help you see things in a new light • When Love Gets You Down: Whether you've loved and lost or are still waiting for the right one to arrive, soothe your heartache with these sage words of advice • When You Need A Lift: Turn low moments into high points with these inspiring words of encouragement and positivity • When The World Seems Bleak: If you find yourself despairing of the world, remember: the rainbow is there if you look for it, you just have to see past the rain • When All Else Fails: When there is nothing else, remember: there is always hope.

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Book SynopsisCanada is repeatedly ranked the world''s most favourite tourist destination. And there''s a lot of reasons why. It is a nation of vast, unspoiled wilderness, and yet you still get the feeling everyone still knows each other''s name. It has a ton of bears. And maple syrup. And lakes. Great lakes, the best. And a handsome, competent Prime Minister.The Little Book of Canada a compact companion stuffed to the Gills (a common Canadian surname, FYI) with so much fun stuff you''ll pass your citizenship test with flying colours. This tiny tome celebrates almost everything that is unique, special, and ''nice'' about Canada because, quite frankly, Canada deserves it more than any other place on earth.''I believe the world needs more Canada.'' Bono''Canada is the essence of not being. Not English, not American, it is the mathematics of not being.'' Mike Myers

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Book SynopsisDad''s Time to Shine! War. Work. Wives. Brexit. Cost of living. Cholesterol. In-laws. Lost youth. Kids.The list of things that make poor ol'' Dad sad, tired and frustrated these days is growing by the minute, each one worse than the next. Dads have never been so unhappy, tired, stressed and overworked. Look at him he looks terrible. He needs a break!While this may be terrible news for mums, grandparents and children, the return of dad jokes is the good news that all Dads needed to hear. It''s packed with all the pun-tificating and funny feels Dads need to cheer them up... and get those laugh-out-loud groans they so desperately need to keep them operational.With more than 175 killer jokes (barely) contained within this tiny tome, this little book is so powerful with wholesome fatherly humour it will send the family packing to the in-laws in no time, just as Dad deserves. Job done. You''re welcome.Why should you never trust

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing true story of Heinrich Himmler''s masseur who used his influence over the S.S. commander to save the lives of over a hundred thousand people, including sixty thousand Jews.''Remarkable'' The Times''Extraordinary and gripping'' Mail on Sunday, Book of the Week''Fascinating'' Sunday PostOskar Schindler is well known for having saved a thousand Jews from Nazi extermination during World War II. Yet Felix Kersten, Heinrich Himmler''s personal physician, remains almost unknown to this day.Only Kersten was able to relieve the Reichsführer of his crippling and chronic abdominal pains. Though despising the Nazis, he continued to work for Himmler throughout the war, using his position to pass intelligence to Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands, and demanding as payment from Himmler the liberation of victims sentenced to imprisonment or death.Drawing on unseen archive material from Germany,

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Book Synopsis'The funniest book of the year' SPECTATOR'The funniest imaginable version of a grief memoir and brilliantly unpacks male vanity and insecurity' GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE DAY'Stuart is made for baldness' LARRY DAVID'A genuine tonic and very funny read' NATHAN FILER'Excellent and should be read by vaguely vain men of all hair types' SIMON USBORNEThis is a guide to life in the club that nobody wants to join.Nobody chooses to be bald. Nobody wants to look into the mirror and be confronted with an absence. Nobody gains any comfort from having a slightly better idea of what their skull looks like. Stuart Heritage has been bald for two years. But before he accepted the inevitable, he spent a number of years ineptly trying to conceal this fact with an array of expensive treatments and terrible haircuts. Can a man go bald with dignity? Maybe. But can a man go bald with more dignity than Stuart Heritage? Oh good god yes, and this book is his attempt to make that happen for you.Part-manual-part-tant

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Book Synopsis''Few people have shown more commitment to investigative journalism than Patrick Alley. His latest book is a vivid, compelling testament to the importance of revealing corruption and wrong-doing and shining a light into dark places, wherever in the world they are.'' -Peter Geoghegan, author of Democracy for SaleA small number of people, motivated by an insatiable greed for power and wealth, and backed by a pinstripe army of enablers (and sometimes real armies too), have driven the world to the brink of destruction. They are the super-villains of corruption and war, some with a power greater than nation state and the capacity to derail the world order. Propping up their opulent lifestyles is a mess of crime, violence and deception on a monumental scale. But there is a fightback: small but fearless groups of brilliant undercover sleuths closing in on them, one step at a time.In Terrible Humans, Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness and the au

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Book SynopsisAutobiography of the front man of ground breaking 70s rock Welsh group, Edward H Dafis. As well as stories about the band and his career as a TV director, Cleif Harpwood shares personal stories about his regrets and his divorce.

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Book SynopsisSharon Morgan, the Welsh actress of stage and screen opens up to reveal the hidden challenges she has faced as a devoted mother of two.

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Book Synopsis'An extraordinary and important book. Read it immediately' Claudia Winkleman 'Superbly written, this deeply moving book underlines how truly precious mother-daughter relationships are, and never more so than in those teenage years' Gloria Hunniford 'Read this book. Then talk to your sons. It is essential reading' Jamie Theakston A gripping memoir of two battling narratives and a mother-daughter relationship stretched to its absolute limits.Roxy was 13 years old when she was coerced then blackmailed into sending explicit photos, which were spread around her school. The shame led to self-loathing. The blame led to a psychotic breakdown. Roxy started hearing voices. Then she started seeing things...What happens when your teenager starts to lose it, and then you lose each other? What happens when you can't tell your mother you desperately need help? And how can a family move past a devastating mental health crisis?When You Lose It is a brutally honest true story, written from two perspectives, of consent, coercion and shattering consequences.Trade Review'Written with excruciating honesty ... For any parent open to learning from her own mistakes ... An act of self-exposure, honesty and altruism from both mother and daughter' * The Times *

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Book SynopsisFOREWORD BY ADAM KAY, AUTHOR OF THIS IS GOING TO HURTPortion of proceeds from sales go to NHS Charities TogetherWhat shines through with all the stories is a deep affection for the NHS.Henry Marsh, author of Do No Harm Founded on the concept of providing healthcare to rich and poor alike, the National Health Service (NHS) has been at the heart of our everyday experiences of life and death since 1948, and has been lived by millions.From Joan Meredith, who stood on street corners in the freezing winter to campaign for a new health system, to one of the first patients diagnosed with HIV/Aids, Jonathan Blake, and Klarissa Velasco, who comforted and held the hands of people suffering from Covid-19, this beautiful book tells, for the first time ever, the moving story of our world-leading health service through the voices of the patients, nurses, doctors, porters and ordinary people who have turned it into the beating heart of our country.<

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Book SynopsisHIGHLY COMMENDED FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE TRUE CRIME AWARDS 2023'Jaw-dropping' -Val McDermid'A police memoir like no other' -Kerry Daynes, bestselling author of The Dark Side of the Mind'Honest, shocking and funny' - Barbara Machin, creator of Waking the Dead When Jackie Malton joined the police force in 1970, male recruits were given a truncheon and female recruits were given a handbag. At every step, she fought sexism and homophobia on top of the rapists, murderers, and armed robbers she tackled in the streets. And when she was harassed by her own colleagues for reporting bent coppers, Jackie was thrown into a shame and isolation that she tried to dim with alcohol. At the height of her success, as she became one of only three female detective chief inspectors in the Met, and as a chance meeting with the writer Lynda La Plante catapulted her into the world of TV, Jackie was battling her own demons harder than ever before.In this thrilling and revealing memoir, meet the real woman behind the iconic character Jane Tennison ­- every bit as tenacious, determined, and fearless, with an extraordinary story to tell.Trade ReviewJackie Malton lifts the lid on the jaw-dropping day-to-day realities that have faced women cops. * Val McDermid *Jackie Malton was one of the women who blazed a trail in the very macho world of policing. She was indeed the real Prime Suspect, viewed with suspicion because of her gender and her sexuality and, while it took its toll, she stood out, proud and independent. She gave policing a good name. A terrific read! * Baroness Helena Kennedy QC *Unputdownable. A uniquely personal journey through recent decades of policing. Searingly honest, shocking and funny. * Barbara Machin, creator and showrunner, Waking the Dead *The story of a pioneer, a determined police officer who used her talent as a force for good. If it were not for women like Jackie, policing today would be very different. * Colin Sutton, author of the Manhunt series *A fascinating account of Jackie Malton's remarkable career as a police officer, and how she used that experience to bring a new kind of authenticity to Prime Suspect and many other TV crime dramas and documentaries. * Neil McKay, TV writer and producer, Appropriate Adult *The Real Prime Suspect is a police memoir like no other. An intimate and eye-opening account of one woman's talent and tenacity in an institution that was once the bastion of white, heterosexual male privilege. Jackie Malton has my upmost respect, she is a ground-breaking detective and also the very best of us - this is a surprising, candid and unmissable read. * Kerry Daynes, bestselling author of 'What Lies Buried' and 'The Dark Side of the Mind' *

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Book SynopsisIn the tradition of Walter Benjamin and with the journalistic attunement of Joan Didion, Jacqueline Feldman tells the story of Le Bloc, a legendary squat at the far edge of Paris which housed artists and activists.

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Book Synopsis**The abridged memoirs of Anthony Powell, with a new introduction from Louisa Young**''Powell can offer many of the rewards of comic creation we find in a Dickens or a Jane Austen'' TLS Anthony Powell earned a reputation as a literary giant within the generation of Waugh, Orwell and Greene, best known for his twelve-volume work A Dance to the Music of Time.These memoirs reveal Powell - the man and author - providing an insider''s view of the British literary scene and social elite from the 1920s to the 1980s. In these pages, Powell observes the obscenity trial sparked by Lady Chatterley''s Lover, and Shirley Temple''s libel suit after Graham Greene reviewed Wee Willie Winkie with ''more than his usual verve''. Throughout, Powell paints vivid, witty and superbly written portraits of his contemporaries, other authors including Kingsley Amis, V.S. Naipaul, T.S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf.Featuring an illuminating new introduction by Louisa Young, TO KEEP THE BALL ROLLING is the abridged version of Anthony Powell''s four volumes of memoir, first published between 1976 and 1982.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever struggled with your mental health, your terrible relatives or a dysfunctional relationship? Or simply wondered what the hell is wrong with you? This story is for you. Finley recounts her chaotic life with deadpan humour and honesty, wryly embracing her colourful lovers and a series of futile attempts to fix her. When a catastrophic encounter in France sends her into meltdown, she winds up receiving daily psychoanalysis on the NHS with a cast of unsettling characters - mainly the therapists. On leaving hospital, Finley stitches her life back together, living for a short time with a Bristol theologian before finding domestic bliss with a transgender civil servant. A cutting-edge approach to mental illness eventually leads her to a key revelation about her past, and she finally understands herself through the lens of her history. Aware at last of what she has survived, she faces an agonising decision about her future. Trauma has never been so funny or so shocking. Finley de Witt is a writer, bodyworker and trauma specialist.

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