Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisThe memoirs of a legendary figure in TV and the arts, beautifully written, honest and fascinating.Trade ReviewMesmerising * Caroline Gascoigne, Books of the Year, Sunday Time *A beautifully written, fascinating glimpse into the childhood and personal life of the woman who was one of the pioneers for equality for women in the BBC. * Lesley Pearse, Daily Mail *She has the rare ability to observe her life from a semi-detached position and to lace her own story into the social history of our times * Michael Cockerell, Daily Mail *Few can match Bakewell for the qualities that abound in her book: class and composure and a deeply unfashionable concern for more than her own career. * Lesley White, Sunday Times *Wise and wry * The Times *Bakewell's level-headed discussion of her ambivalent response to the tag (the 'thinking man's crumpet') makes fascinating reading...as does her calm but moving account of her lengthy affair with Harold Pinter. * The Sunday Times *Like the devil in the Rolling Stones' song, Joan Bakewell was everywhere at every stage: reporting on the Cuban missile crisis, interviewing Allen Ginsberg and Vaclav Havel, taking chunks out of the Berlin Wall when it fell...draped in the kaftan of Sixties sophistication...her evocations of grief [are] powerful and honest. * Independent on Sunday *vividly believable and tinged with sadness...a tender, unshowy memoir * Casilda Grigg, The Telegraph *Joan Bakewell's superb autobiography is honest and intriguing, but it is also beautifully-written...Contemplating her gender, Cambridge, politics, ideas, she appears charming without being self-righteous. Well conveyed is the tension she felt between seizing opportunities finally available to women like herself and the enduring expectations of motherhood and the perfect family. * The Observer *

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Book Synopsis''This is a very personal book, about being alone and lost''. In 1975 Kapuscinski''s employers sent him to Angola to cover the civil war that had broken out after independence. For months he watched as Luanda and then the rest of the country collapsed into a civil war that was in the author''s words ''sloppy, dogged and cruel''. In his account, Kapuscinski demonstrates an extraordinary capacity to describe and to explain the individual meaning of grand political abstractions.

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Book SynopsisI hadn''t been planning on making Mexico my new home, but the little house on the sea was all that I had left . . . Intimate, honest and touching, this is the story of Deborah Rodriguez''s often hilarious journey of self-discovery. Forced to flee her life in Afghanistan, she leaves behind her friends, her possessions and her two beloved businesses: a hair salon and a coffee shop.But life proves no easier ''back home''. After a year living in California where she teeters on the edge of sanity, Deborah makes a decision: she''s going to get the old Deb back. So, at the age of forty-nine, she packs her life and her cat, Polly, into her Mini Cooper and heads south to a pretty seaside town in Mexico. Home is now an unassuming little house on Carnaval Street.If you liked Eat, Pray, Love you will love The House on Carnaval Street. Rodriguez''s story speaks to every woman, mother, sister, wife - to anyone who has ever questionTrade ReviewReaders who fell in love with Rodriguez's chronicle of life in Afghanistan [The Kabul Beauty School] will surely revel in this candid, intimate tale of starting over in middle-age in a new country * Kirkus Reviews *Fans of Rodriguez's brash and honest tone will thoroughly enjoy this next installment in her remarkable story * Publishers Weekly *This inspirational read is bound to appeal to anyone contemplating their second or third act * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR NEW TV SERIES: CAROL DRINKWATER''S SECRET PROVENCELife and love, olive groves and bee hives in Provence - further adventures in the bestselling Olive Farm series from the author of THE FORGOTTEN SUMMER''Drinkwater is a rare writer who tackles other people brilliantly...Vibrant, intoxicating and heart-warming'' SUNDAY EXPRESS''She writes so well you can almost smell the sun-baked countryside'' BELLAAfter sixteen months of travelling round the Mediterranean in search of the ancient secrets of the olive tree, Carol returns to her beloved olive farm in the south of France, to her husband Michel and his burgeoning family. However, the homecoming celebrations are overshadowed by disturbing discoveries.The plight of the honey bee has become an international crisis and Carol is faced with unsettling news about the hives on her own olive farm.While the multinational companies are pushing for ''bigger, betTrade ReviewA spellbinding memoir * CHOICE *A passionate book about confronting difficult environmental issues * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *Drinkwater is a rare writer who tackles other people brilliantly...Vibrant, intoxicating and heart-warming * SUNDAY EXPRESS *One cannot resist Drinkwater's courage and joie de vivre, nor the enormous appetite and enthusiasm for her subject -- Wendy Holden * DAILY MAIL *The new leader of the pack * THE TIMES *She writes so well you can almost smell the sun-baked countryside * BELLA *Beautifully written with a great sense of humour, it captures perfectly the dreamy atmosphere of the South of France and its people * WOMAN & HOME *I love Carol Drinkwater's Olive Farm series about her life in Provence. I read them on the beach, thinking how wonderful a summer in France would be -- Jane Brown * GOOD HOUSEKEEPING *I found this the most absorbing of Carol Drinkwater's reports from her Provence Olive Farm, a sink or swim account of attempting to free the farm and its inhabitants from the dangerous chemicals needed to bring an Olive crop to fruition. -- Sue Baker * LOVEREADING.CO.UK *A passionate book about confronting difficult environmental issues. * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book SynopsisA warm and poignant narrative about finding one’s self amidst the grind of restaurant life, the cross-generational immigrant experience, and a daughter’s attempts to connect with parents who have always been just out of reach.When she was three years old, Rachel Phan met her replacement. Instead of a new sibling, her parents’ time and attention were suddenly devoted entirely to their new family restaurant. For her parents—whose own families fled China during the Japanese occupation during the Second Sino-Japanese War and then survived bombs and starvation during the war in Vietnam—it was a dream come true. For Rachel, it was something quite different. Overnight, she became a restaurant kid, living on the periphery of her own family and trying her best to stay out of the way. While Rachel grew up, the restaurant was there—the most stalwart and suffocating member of her family. For decades, it’s been both their crowning achievement and the origin of so much of their pain and suffering: screaming matches complete with smashed dishes , bodies worn down by ever-spreading arthritis, and tenuous relationships where they love one another deeply without ever really knowing each other. In Restaurant Kid, Rachel seeks to examine the way her life has been shaped by the rigid boxes placed around her. She had to be a good daughter, never asking questions, always being grateful. She had to be a “real Canadian,” watching hockey and speaking English so flawlessly that her tongue has since forgotten how to contort around Cantonese tones. As the only Chinese girl at school, she had to alternate between being the Asian sidekick, geek, or slut, depending on whose gaze was on her. Now, thirty-one years after their restaurant first opened, Rachel''s parents are cautiously talking about retirement. As an adult restaurant kid, Rachel’s good daughter role demands something new of her—a chance to get to know her parents on the trip of a lifetime. Bringing to lyric life the prism of growing up in a third culture, Rachel Phan has crafted a vibrant new narrative of growing up, the strength and foibles of family, and how we come to understand ourselves.

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Book SynopsisP. D. James''s extraordinary memoir of her early life and time starting out as a novelist, as well as diaries recording her in old age.In this intriguing and very personal book, part diary, part memoir, P. D. James considers the twelve months of her life between her 77th and 78th birthdays, and looks back on her earlier life.With all her familiar skills as a writer she recalls what it was like to be a schoolgirl in the 1920s and 1930s in Cambridge, and then giving birth to her second daughter during the worst of the Doodlebug bombardment in London during the war. It follows her work, starting out as an administrator in the National Health Service, then on to the Home Office in the forensic and criminal justice departments. She later served as a Governor of the BBC, an influential member of the British Council, the Arts Council and the Society of Authors, and eventually entering the House of Lords.Along the way, this diary and personal memoir deals with

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Book SynopsisWhen Carrie Fisher discovered the journals she kept during the filming of the first Star Wars movie, she was astonished to see what they had preserved - plaintive love poems, unbridled musings with youthful naiveté, and a vulnerability that she barely recognized. Now her fame as an author, actress, and pop-culture icon is indisputable, but in 1977, Carrie Fisher was just a teenager with an all-consuming crush on her co-star, Harrison Ford. With these excerpts from her handwritten notebooks, The Princess Diarist is Fisher’s intimate and revealing recollection of what happened on one of the most famous film sets of all time – and what developed behind the scenes. Fisher also ponders the joys and insanity of celebrity, and the absurdity of a life spawned by Hollywood royalty, only to be surpassed by her own outer-space royalty. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and endlessly quotable, The Princess Diarist brims with the candour and introspection of a diary while offering shrewd insight into the type of stardom that few will ever experience.Trade ReviewSmart and funny...the pages crackle with one-liners * Guardian *It’s an eye-opener for fans, but it also shows a gifted writer even at a young age. There was a lot going on between Princess Leia’s hair buns. * USA Today *An unflinching, sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious look inside the mind of a 19-year-old … It’s invasive, juicy, sad, nostalgic and gripping all at once. It’s as if you’ve knocked the lock off of your cooler older sister’s journal and discovered she’s been sleeping with the hottest boy in school this whole time. * LA Times *Fisher offers a thoughtful, sardonic meditation on the price of fame, cost-of-living adjustments included. -- J.D. Biersdorfer * The New York Times Book Review *[The Princess Diarist] is a radical truth bomb -- Julia Felsenthal * VOGUE.com *Carrie Fisher was so real it was dangerous…. My God, girls, we owe her a lot. -- Sharon HorganShe didn't need The Force. She was a force of nature, of loyalty and of friendship. -- Steven Spielberg

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Book SynopsisAs seen on This Morning!'A magical memoir.' - Daily Mail WeekendOur Yorkshire Vet embarks on this newest adventure treating the animals and their assorted owners across the Yorkshire Dales.A Yorkshire Vet: The Next Chapter follows Julian's veterinary stories and amusing anecdotes through his work as a mixed practice vet in North Yorkshire.Julian has spent over twenty years working in Thirsk, literally following in the footsteps of James Herriot - the world-renowned vet and author. This book follows Julian's passion for treating the animals under his care, be they cows, sheep, pigs, horses, alpacas or dogs and cats, along with the interesting and amusing characters who own and care for them. His voice, well known from his television work, rings out from the page - as does the humour, dedication and love for the animals. A Yorkshire Vet: The Next Chapter tracks Julian's work around the beautiful North York Moors and, more recently, around the Vale of York and the Yorkshire Dales from his new veterinary home in Boroughbridge, where the Herriot spirit lives on!

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Book Synopsis'A nuanced and witty meditation on confronting the challenges life throws at us all' Oliver Burkeman Jonathan Rowson’s competitive success as a chess Grandmaster and work as an applied philosopher have given him a unique perspective on why the great game is more important than ever for understanding the conflicts and uncertainties of the modern world. In sixty-four witty and addictive vignettes, Rowson takes us on an exhilarating tour of the game of life, from the psychology of gang violence, to the aesthetics of cyborgs, the beauty of technical details, and the endgame of death. Chess emerges as a singularly powerful metaphor for the thrills and set-backs that invest our daily lives with meaning and complexity.Trade ReviewProfound ... Part memoir, part guide to living * Daily Mail *At a time when we urgently need new ways to think about the challenge of creating a meaningful life – far more than we need conventional self-help advice – Jonathan Rowson has written a powerfully unconventional and mind-expanding book ... A generous, nuanced and witty meditation on confronting the challenges life throws at us all -- Oliver Burkeman, author of 'The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can't Stand Positive Thinking'Terrific … What a beautiful, thoughtful work. I see thinking in a fresh light. I see my own life in a fresh light as well -- David Bodanis, author of 'Einstein’s Greatest Mistake' and 'E=MC2'One comes away feeling better able to navigate not so much a chessboard but the world outside it -- Sarah Stein Lubrano * The School of Life *A remarkable, highly original and personal book, unlike anything else you have ever read, packed with wisdom about life. You need to know next to nothing about chess to enjoy it and to want to keep coming back for more -- Iain McGilchrist, author of 'The Master and his Emissary'Rowson's is an unusual, important voice and perspective on our times: a humane thinker deeply interested in the implications of technology; an expert constantly probing at the limits of expertise ... A wise, surprising and uplifting book -- Tom Chatfield, author of 'Critical Thinking'A fascinating insight into how top chess players think * Glasgow Herald *

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Book SynopsisIn To Be a Gay Man, Will Young speaks out about gay shame, revealing the impact it had on his own life, how he learned to deal with it, and how he can now truthfully say he is gay and happy.We know Will as a multi-platinum recording artist, Olivier-nominee, and the first winner of the Idol franchise. But his story began long before his first audition. Looking back on a world where growing up being called gay was the ultimate insult and coming out after a lifetime of hiding his sexuality, Will explores the long-lasting impact repressing his true self has had.As Will's own story demonstrates, internalised shame in childhood increases the risk of developing low self-worth, and even self-disgust, leading to destructive behaviours in adult life. Will revisits the darkest extremes he has been to, sharing his vulnerabilities, his regrets, tracing his own navigation through it all and showing the way for others who might have felt alone in the same experience.Trade ReviewWrites with likable fizz...and colours his vulnerabilities with humour. How brilliant it is that he's written [this book]. * The Observer *An unfussy and unself-pitying mixture of memoir and advice manual * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisIn his first venture into non-fiction, the celebrated novelist Rupert Thomson has produced one of the most extraordinary and unforgettable memoirs of recent years. On a warm, sunny day in July 1964, Thomson returned home from school to discover that his mother had died suddenly while playing tennis. Twenty years later, Thomson and his brothers receive word that their father, who suffered chronic lung damage during the war, has died alone in hospital. In an attempt to come to terms both with their own loss and with their parents' legacies, the three brothers move back into their father's house. The time they spend in this decadent, anarchic commune leads to a rift between Thomson and his youngest brother, a rift that will not be addressed for more than two decades. This Party's Got to Stop works Thomson's memories into a powerful mosaic that reveals the fragility of family life in graphic and often heartbreaking detail. It is both a love letter to a lost brother and a chronicle of the murderousness and longing that can characterize blood relationships.

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Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture starring Eddie Redmayne as Stephen Hawking and Felicity Jones as his wife Jane. It chronicles their relationship, from his early development of ALS to his success in physics In this compelling memoir, Jane Hawking, Stephen Hawking’s first wife, relates the inside story of their extraordinary marriage. As Stephen’s academic renown soared, his body was collapsing under the assaults of motor-neuron disease, and Jane’s candid account of trying to balance his twenty-four-hour care with the needs of their growing family will be inspirational to anyone dealing with family illness. The inner strength of the author and the self-evident character and achievements of her husband make for an incredible tale that is always presented with unflinching honesty; the author’s candour is no less evident when the marriage finally ends in a high-profile meltdown, with Stephen leaving Jane for one of his nurses, while Jane goes on to marry an old family friend. In this exceptionally open, moving and often funny memoir, Jane Hawking confronts not only the acutely complicated and painful dilemmas of her first marriage, but also the fault lines exposed in a relationship by the pervasive effects of fame and wealth. The result is a book about optimism, love and change that will resonate with readers everywhere.Trade ReviewA great read. * Daily Mail *Stephen Hawking may think in 11 dimensions, but his first wife has learnt to love in several. * The Sunday Times *What becomes of time when a marriage unravels? And what becomes of the woman who has located her whole self within its sphere? For Jane Hawking, the physics of love and loss are set in a private universe. * The Guardian *Jane describes the final, painful years of her marriage in candid detail. * The Independent *Jane Hawking’s harrowing and compelling account… rings very true. * Irish Times *This is not a vindictive book, although the agony she went through is palpable; if Stephen’s struggle to keep his mind clear is heroic, so is her determination to balance his escalating needs and those of their three children. * Independent on Sunday *Jane writes about her former husband with tenderness, respect and protectiveness. * Sunday Express *Jane Hawking has written a book about what it was like to be pivotal to her husband’s celebrated existence… but it is much more a shout from the outer darkness. * The Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThis new edition celebrates the 65th anniversary of the publication of Period Piece, which has never been out of print. Period Piece is the classic memoir of a Cambridge childhood, written by Charles Darwin's granddaughter. It evokes a time when long summer days were disturbed by nothing noisier than a horse, and long winter nights were lit only by candle or gas lamp. It is a shrewd, touching and comic portrait of eccentric relations, and of Cambridge society when it was small enough to be treated as an extension of the family. As a young girl Gwen thought it impossible that she could ever succeed as an artist, and yet the observations of the small incidents of life, recorded here in delightful prose and beautiful illustrations, reveal an artist's careful eye.

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Book SynopsisI am a work in progress. There are times when I feel in control and like I know what I''m doing...and there are times (quite a few)(actually lots) when I''ve got no idea whats going on, where to turn, what to do, how to behave, and those are the times I''ve sought help! I have been helped by some extraordinary people. I''ve been supported and counselled through my recovery from drugs and alcohol. I''ve been hypnotised to get me through going to the bottom of the sea in a sub (life at the extreme). I''ve read a squibillion (that''s a lot) of fantastic self help books and I have shared and shared with the greatest girlfriends and family of all time. These nuggets of wisdom have at times literally kept me going, so I thought I''d pay it forward and share them with you.Presenter, wife, mother, fundraiser, fitness inspiration and now bestselling author,is there nothing Davina McCall cannot do? But success didn''t come easy for Davina, and she has faced many challenges along the wTrade ReviewFrom drug addiction and the death of her sister to living with her husband's infuriating habits, Davina McCall has a wealth of hard-earned wisdom to share. Here, with brutal honesty, she reveals the highs and lows of her world beyond the cameras. * MAIL ONLINE *With her glittering presenting career, incredible body and loving family, it would be easier to think Davina McCall has it all. But her journey hasn't been without its challenges and, in this refreshing honest collection of life lessons, the former Big Brother presenter shares what she's learned - sometimes the hard way - with her trademark warmth and humour. If you're feeling a little far from your goals, down-to-earth Davina gives a much-needed reminder that we are all a 'work in progress'. * OK! *Hands up, how many times have you felt a little lost in life? You're not alone. TV favourite Davina McCall opens up about the challenges she has faced and shares the self-love lessons she has uncovered in the process. * SOUL & SPIRIT *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Born on a Blue Day and Thinking in Numbers, a delightful and eclectic exploration of language, and what it can teach us about ourselves and our lives.Trade Review'Full of charm and fascination . . . a veritable verbal treasure house.' - The Bookseller[Tammet] shows us that language is a far more ornately feathered fowl than casual consideration can conceive . . . there are many moments of delightful and surprising luminescence - Kirkus Reviews'Like Oliver Sacks' compendium of rare neurological anomalies, Tammet's intriguing cases of linguistic idiosyncrasies expand our notions on what it means to be human . . . Most fascinating is Tammet's own astonishing linguistic mind, in which a single word evokes fully textured experiences - an innate ability that would dazzle any storyteller in love with words and their deepest meanings.''A generous book and a beguiling read'Praise for Born on a Blue Day: 'A memoir of outstanding lucidity and charm' - The Sunday Times'Admirably modest but affecting autobiography by a man blessed with incredible mental gifts but struggling with Asperger's' - The Sunday Times - top choice of books 'you really must read'Praise for Embracing the Wide Sky: 'Entertaining and informative about an impressive range of subjects . . . fun and inspirational' - FT Weekend'Packed with his clear summaries of fascinating experiments . . . Recent debate has bumped up this book from delightful to vital' - Daily Telegraph

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Book Synopsis______________________''Too much to do? Stop and read this'' - Guardian''For a fresh take on an eternal dilemma, Overwhelmed is worth a few hours of any busy woman's life if only to ensure that she doesn't drop off the bottom of her own To Do list'' - Mail on Sunday______________________In her attempts to juggle work and family life, Brigid Schulte has baked cakes until 2 a.m., frantically (but surreptitiously) sent important emails during school trips and then worked long into the night after her children were in bed. Realising she had become someone who constantly burst in late, trailing shoes and schoolbooks and biscuit crumbs, she began to question, like so many of us, whether it is possible to be anything you want to be, have a family and still have time to breathe. So when Schulte met an eminent sociologist who studies time and he told her she enjoyed thirty hours of leisure each week, she thought her head was going to pop ofTrade ReviewEvery parent, every caregiver, every person who feels besieged by permanent busyness, must read this book * Anne-Marie Slaughter, author of Why Women Still Can't Have It All *Why is life so insanely busy? What happened to “leisure” time? Tired of the modern hamster wheel, Brigid Schulte set out to find a better way to live. Overwhelmed is a passionate, funny, very human book * William Powers, author of Hamlet’s BlackBerry: Building a Good Life in the Digital Age *Features the author’s personal search for balance alongside her advice for busy women * Red *Startling ... May well do for time-poor workers that Lean In has done for guilt-ridden working mums * Evening Standard *The very real and sometimes moving book is a masterly combination of social observation, interview, statistics and riveting human stories. Schulte’s honesty is appealing * Irish Daily Mail *Thought-provoking ... Brigid Schulte takes to takes our headlong descent into multi-tasking madness * Daily Telegraph *She says we turn leisure into work, thinking we are lazy if we’re not ‘doing something’. I couldn’t agree more * Janet Street-Porter, Daily Mail *Engaging … by turns a pop science explainer, self-help guide and subtle feminist polemic – aims to discover why some of us feel there simply aren’t enough hours in the day ... This book’s strength is mixing research and anecdote in a lively, accessible way, with a reporter’s eye for detail * Guardian *In one of the best sections of the book, Ms. Schulte interviews Pat Buchanan, the man who more than anyone else destroyed the prospect of a high-quality universal child care system in the United States * New York Times *Brigid Schulte writes directly of her own cubicle experience, and it is not pretty * Financial Times *Too much to do? Stop and read this * Guardian *For a fresh take on an eternal dilemma, Overwhelmed is worth a few hours of any busy woman’s life – if only to ensure that she doesn’t drop off the bottom of her own “To Do” list ***** * Mail on Sunday *Not only captures the conundrum so many people face but also offers some practical solutions. It’s not a self-help book per se, but I found many of the anecdotes and stories personally instructive * Andrew Ross Sorkin, International New York Times *

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Book SynopsisIn the early 1950s, the Berkshire Constabulary finally opened its ranks to more women. And WPC Crockford was one of those early pioneers... When 21-year-old Gwendoline Crockford signed up to join the Berkshire Constabulary in 1951, she had little idea of what she was getting herself into. Whether carrying a human skeleton out of the woods, finding a missing child, investigating thefts, or chasing an escaped zebra, every day brought fresh adventures.In this nostalgic, tender and honest account of post-war British society, we follow a bright, determined woman navigating a man's world, serving as many people as she can. From performing traffic duties to unravelling a dark secret at the heart of an impoverished family, WPC Crockford's career was full of joy, thrills – and heartbreak.Written by her daughter Ruth, this is the story of a real-life woman police constable as she embarks on her police career.

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Book Synopsis‘I am already planning the next adventure. The wanderlust that infected me has no cure.’It all started in Fishguard in the mid-1970s when, aged fifteen, Martyn Howe and a friend set off on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path armed with big rucksacks, borrowed boots, a Primus stove and a pint of paraffin, and a thirst for adventure. After repeating the route almost thirty years later, Martyn was inspired to walk every National Trail in England and Wales, plus the four Long-Distance Routes (now among the Great Trails) in Scotland. His 3,000-mile journey included treks along the South West Coast Path, the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way and the West Highland Way. He finally achieved his ambition in 2016 when he arrived in Cromer in Norfolk, only to set a new goal of walking the England and Wales Coast Paths and the Scottish National Trail.In Tales from the Big Trails, Martyn vividly describes the diverse landscapes, wildlife, culture and heritage he encounters around the British Isles, and the physical and mental health benefits he derives from walking. He also celebrates the people who enrich his travels, including fellow long-distance hikers, tourists discovering Britain’s charm, farmers working the land, and the friendly and eccentric owners of hostels, campsites and B&Bs.And when he is asked ‘Why do you do it?’, the answer is as simple as placing one foot in front of the other: ‘It makes me happy.’Table of ContentsIntroduction1 – Pembrokeshire Coast Path2 – The Ridgeway3 – South West Coast Path4 – Thames Path5 – Offa’s Dyke Path6 – Glyndwr’s Way7 – Pennine Way8 – Cotswold Way9 – North Downs Way10 – South Downs Way11 – Hadrian’s Wall12 – Yorkshire Wolds Way13 – Cleveland Way14 – Pennine Bridleway15 – Southern Upland Way16 – West Highland Way17 – Great Glen Way18 – Speyside Way19 – Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path

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Book Synopsis'This book will take your breath away, break your heart, and leave you in awe' President Bill Clinton_______Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines speak in their own words about real life in today's armed forces. These are the brutally honest stories usually only shared amongst comrades in arms; stories of life-and-death decisions, and learning how to live with the effects of horrific injuries, both physical and mental. In the voices of the men and women who've fought overseas, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, this is a rare eye-opening look into what it's really like to wear the uniform, fight in combat, lose friends and come home. Walk in my Combat Boots is a powerful collection of never-before-told war stories crafted from hundreds of original interviews by James Patterson, the world's most trusted storyteller, and First Sergeant US Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann, part of the Ranger unit involved in the infamous Battle of Mogadishu portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down._______'Raw, authentic, and above all, inspiring' Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Ret.) 'Each of these stories of the personal experience of combat is unique, homespun, and honest' Brigadier General Peter Dawkins, US Army (Ret.)'Painfully raw, improbably funny, and completely human' Stanley A. McChrystal, General, US Army (Ret.) 'A vivid and authentic portrait of life in the modern military . . . Powerful. This edifying collection captures the highs and lows of the military experience' Publishers Weekly 'Urgent and full of suspense . . . In this wide-ranging, consistently absorbing collection, the authors cover the entire spectrum of American military action during the last 50 years' Kirkus 'Extraordinary . . . a deeply intimate insider's look' Richard Engel, NBC News Chief foreign correspondentTrade ReviewThis book will take your breath away, break your heart, and leave you in awe -- President Bill ClintonRaw, authentic, and above all, inspiring -- Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Ret.)Combat is hard to make sense of. Probably because, in many ways, it makes no sense. James Patterson and Matt Eversmann's unvarnished portrayal of soldiers is right on. Each of these stories of the personal experience of combat is unique, homespun, and honest. God bless them, one and all. -- Brigadier General Peter Dawkins, US Army (Ret.)A vivid and authentic portrait of life in the modern military . . . Powerful. This edifying collection captures the highs and lows of the military experience. * Publishers Weekly *Up close war is a tapestry of individual stories, as painfully raw, improbably funny, and completely human as the soldiers themselves. James Patterson and my former Ranger comrade Matt Eversmann, have brilliantly woven together an image that is as compelling as it is entertaining. -- Stanley A. McChrystal, General, US Army (Ret.)

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Book SynopsisAs a young boy, Raja Shehadeh was entranced by a forbidden Israeli postage stamp in his uncle's album, intrigued by tales of a green land beyond the border.He couldn't have known then what Israel would come to mean to him, or to foresee the future occupation of his home in Palestine. Later, as a young lawyer, he worked to halt land seizures and towards peace and justice in the region. During this time, he made close friends with several young Jewish Israelis, including fellow thinker and searcher Henry. But as life became increasingly unbearable under in the Palestinian territories, it was impossible to escape politics or the past, and even the strongest friendships and hopes were put to the test. Brave, intelligent and deeply controversial, in this book award-winning author Raja Shehadeh explores the devastating effect of occupation on even the most intimate aspects of life. Looking back over decades of political turmoil, he traces the impact on the fragile bonds of friendship across the Israel-Palestine border, and asks whether those considered bitter enemies can come together to forge a common future.Trade ReviewShehadeh [...] is a great inquiring spirit with a tone that is vivid, ironic, melancholy and wise. -- Colm ToibinA courageous and timely meditation on the fragility of friendship in dark times, illuminating how affiliation and love[...]can have a profound political power. -- Madeleine ThienWritten with fierce clarity and unusual compassion, this book touches the human heart of a political tragedy. -- Gillian SlovoThe question of how and if friendships can survive across political divides is a resonant one - and I can think of no one better than Raja Shehadeh to treat it with the wisdom, toughness and humanity that it deserves. -- Kamila ShamsieIn the dark agony of the Palestine-Israel conflict, Raja Shehadeh offers a rare gift: a lucid, honest, unsparing voice. His humanity and wisdom are invaluable. -- Claire MessudThe wisdom and elegance of Raja Shehadeh's thinking and writing are more necessary than ever. This book...appeals to - and speaks of - an insistence on dignity, regardless of borders and of endless war. Raja Shehadeh is a buoy in a sea of bleakness. -- Rachel KushnerBrilliantly evokes the Palestinian tragedy by way of a complex friendship. This is a fiercely intelligent and honest account. -- Ian McEwanShehadeh describes with courage and grace the internal struggle to remain fair. * The New Yorker *This is one of the most intensely human and humane books one is likely to read in a very long while, replete with an elevating dignity and suffused with deep melancholy. -- Trevor Royle * Edinburgh Sunday Herald *Praise for Palestinian Walks: 'Few Palestinians have opened their minds and their hearts with such frankness * The New York Times *Shehadeh writes beautifully, his language infused with a lyrical, melancholic sense of loss. An important record of a land marked by conflict that is changing every day * Sunday Telegraph *Shehadeh describes how the destruction of a beloved landscape mirrors the damage to Palestinian identity ... lyrical nature writing with understated political passion * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA dysfunctional family lives in the shadow of a world famous comic strip and its tyrannical creatorCaleb is a middle-aged painter with a non-starter career. He also happens to be the only child of one of the world's most famous cartoonists, Jimmi Wyatt. Known for the internationally beloved father and son comic Sonny Side Up, Jimmi made millions drawing saccharine family stories while neglecting his own son.Now sober, Caleb is haunted by his wasted past and struggling to take responsibility for his present before it's too late. His always patient boyfriend, James, is reaching the end of his rope. When Caleb gets the chance to step out from his father's shadow and shape the most public aspect of the family business, he makes every bad decision and watches his life fall apart. Is it too late to repair the harm? Are we forever doomed to make the same mistakes our parents did?Joe Ollmann is a master at portraying inner torment. His characters vacillate and sob and rage. His furrow-browed and deeply-lined cartooning has never been more expressive than in Fictional Father. Caleb storms around and slumps in equal measure as he tries to figure out who he is beyond the neglected son of a famous man. In addition to being a devastating portrait of the Wyatt family, Fictional Father is a hilariously sardonic interrogation of art-making and cartooning in particular.

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Book SynopsisIn this gripping true-life memoir, Patrice Chaplin returns to the ancient city of secrets, Girona - its magnetism and enchantment never to be forgotten. It was in Girona that she first encountered the hidden Society, preserved since antiquity, that influenced such illustrious figures as Salvador Dali, Jean Cocteau, Otto Rahn and Howard Hughes - and even the cryptical priest of Rennes-le-Chateau, Berenger Sauniere. What mystery is protected by this esoteric society? In the spirit of her books The City of Secrets and The Portal, Patrice continues her search to solve the enigmas of Girona. When the Society appears to offer her its secret - on the basis that she becomes its custodian and remains in Catalonia - she is faced with a decision that will change her life forever. Sensing danger, she must anticipate the intentions of those around her. Knowledge is not only power, but also the best way to survive. Drawn into a series of adventures, she is taken to holy sites, isolated castles and ancient graves said to be linked to religious figures from the distant past. Finally, Patrice is led to a secret chapel in an isolated place: the domain of the Stone Cradle. Once touched, she is told, one would always return, even in dreams. This is a place of multidimensional reality, but also of peril - a portal to the unknown. What is its purpose? In The Stone Cradle, the culmination of her work, Patrice Chaplin discovers the secret of Girona and glimpses the truth beyond everyday reality.

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Book SynopsisIn this updated edition, taking in his experiences during the coronavirus pandemic, Dan Farnworth brings vividly to life his astonishing times as a medic working on the frontline of the UK Ambulance Service. When the 999 call goes out, he has little idea what he will find - and how he will cope with the challenges he faces when he gets there.  Having worked in the emergency services for more than fifteen years, Dan has seen it all. In 999, he shares stories that are sometimes sad, occasionally hilarious, often moving, but always inspirational. However, the work also takes its emotional toll. Which was why he set up a mental health campaign that helps those in his profession suffering from PTSD – something that struck him after a truly shocking event. His story will make you see our ambulance service in a completely new way.  

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Book SynopsisA charming and beautifully written account of the pleasures of slow travel - for readers of Patrick Leigh Fermor, Colin Thubron and Eric Newby.Trade ReviewAfter a lifetime exploring and enjoying the world, Alastair Sawday is a man who wears his wisdom as lightly as he travels, bringing people and places delightfully to life, with timely political and philosophical insights * Jonathon Porritt *Thoughtful and informative, this book is also funny and entertaining as it rises to a crescendo of enthusiasm and hope towards the end. I couldn't put it down * Country Life *This sun-drenched memoir brings together half a century of travellers' tales, from Wales to Greece via France, Italy and Sawday's home town of Bristol. It evokes and promotes a slower sort of journey than the Easyjet generation typically "enjoys", featuring meandering tours by cycle and foot, and lazy meals eaten at farmhouse kitchen tables . . . His affection, excitement and anxiety for our planet are delivered in a fresh, unpretentious style that will make you want to crank up the old 2CV and barrel off across the Channel * The Times *It is hard to resist Sawday's charm . . . it's frankly blissful to follow in his wake -- Alexandra Harris * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA heartwarming true story of a small kitten who helped a family overcome tragedy and who, over the next 24 years, became that loving family's high priestess and guardian.Trade ReviewPossibly the next Marley & Me, Cleo, is an honest and un-mawkish true story of ordinary people rebuilding their lives after a tragedy, with the help of a kitten. Even non cat-lovers will be moved. * Good Housekeeping *Cat-lovers will be charmed and amused by Brown's lively description of the imperious way in which Cleo reconfigured a distraught household. And her generous and . . . admirably unsentimental account of Cleo's long life is a salutary reminder of the gratitude we humans owe to our companion animals. * Daily Mail *Possibly the next Marley and Me, Cleo, is an honest and un-mawkish true story of ordinary people rebuilding their lives after a tragedy, with the help of a kitten. Even non cat-lovers will be moved. * Good Housekeeping *Cat-lovers will be charmed and amused . . . a salutary reminder of the gratitude we humans owe to our companion animals. * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''In these strange days Michael Harding''s route taking and wise words gently nudge us towards the future, steadying us as we navigate the great unknowns ahead'' Joe Duffy The bestselling new book from acclaimed writer and Irish Times columnist. It''s dawn and in the early morning light, Michael Harding is walking in his garden in the hills above Lough Allen in Leitrim, dreaming of the new beginning in Donegal he had planned before the world changed in the early months of 2020. Here, in his stunning and intimate new book, we travel with Michael through this day as he looks back at a life lived within, and as part of, the Irish landscape. In doing so, he vividly brings to life what is at the heart of Irish identity: storytelling, love and human connection. With honesty, insight and tenderness, he shows that while everything has changed, that which is important remains the same; and how, in this new world, we can live with hope and faith in e

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Book SynopsisBoris Pahor spent the last fourteen months of World War II as a prisoner and medic in the Nazi camps at Bergen-Belsen, Harzungen, Dachau and Natzweiler-Struthof. Twenty years later, as he visited the preserved remains of a camp, his experiences came back to him: the emaciated prisoners; the ragged, zebra-striped uniforms; the infirmary reeking of dysentery and death.Necropolis is Pahor's stirring account of providing medical aid to prisoners in the face of the utter brutality of the camps - and coming to terms with the guilt of surviving when millions did not. It is a classic account of the Holocaust and a powerful act of remembrance.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary book . . . The raw intensity of Pahor's writing takes the reader deep into the world of the camps. It stands equal to Primo Levi's If This Is A Man * * Sunday Times * *A superb English translation . . . [Pahor's] determination to provide the most truthful account possible brings him to question continually, and to examine every complication and contradiction. This is a testimony all of us would do well to discover * * Los Angeles Review of Books * *A harrowing book . . . described with hallucinatory precision and exceptionally subtle analysis * * Le Monde * *Deserves a place alongside Primo Levi and Imre Kertesz's masterpieces of Holocaust literature * * La Repubblica * *Extraordinarily poetic * * Mirror * *

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Book SynopsisIn 2008, Tom Lubbock was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and told he had only one or two years to live. In this remarkable record of those years, lived out in three-month intervals between scans, he examines the question of how to live with death in sight. As the tumour progressed, Tom engaged intensely and imaginatively with work, art, friends, and his wife and their young son, while trying to remain focused on the fact of his impending death. His tumour was located in the area of the brain associated with language, and he describes losing control over the spoken and written word and the resources he drew on to keep communicating; a struggle which brought him ever closer to the mysteries of the origin of speech. As the Independent's chief art critic, he was renowned for the clarity and unconventionality of his writing, and the same fierce intelligence permeates this extraordinary memoir. This is a book written by a man wholly engaged with life even as it ends.

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Book SynopsisAs an interiors photographer, Penny Wincer found that walking through a stranger’s home, listening to them explaining the history of the space, and the meaning of precious objects, was one of most joyful aspects of her work. And in Home Matters Penny does exactly that, taking us through the houses of 13 artists, designers and writers, inspiring us to reflect on how we want our own homes to feel. Through beautiful photographs, interviews and Penny’s own reflections on the homes that she has lived in over the years, Home Matters brings together multiple perspectives, all centred on how we create homes to meet our needs. Looking at an eclectic range of spaces that are not often included in these conversations, each chapter of Home Matters considers a different aspect of what goes into creating a home, inviting the reader to reflect on their own memories, needs and constraints. This book is for those who want to think deeply a

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Book SynopsisThis graphic first-hand account of one pilot's part in the Battle of Britain was written in 1941.

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Book SynopsisBorn Emma Watkins, the Duchess of Rutland is the daughter of a farmer from Knighton, Powys. She worked as an estate agent, marketing properties in Worcester, and later as an interior designer. Today, the Duchess runs the commercial activities of Belvoir Castle, including shooting parties, weddings and a range of furniture. She has presented on various television programmes, including ITV's Castles, Keeps and Country Homes, appeared in an episode of Alan Titchmarsh on Capability Brown, and has produced a book about Belvoir Castle. The Accidental Duchess is her fourth book.The Duchess has a podcast titled Duchess, where she interviews chatelaines of castles and stately homes throughout the United Kingdom. Her interviewees include Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill of Blenheim Palace and Lady Mansfield of Scone Palace.Watkins married David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland, in 1992. The pair have five children.

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Book Synopsis*A gripping and powerful memoir reminiscent of Notes on a Scandal, An Education and My Dark Vanessa* 'Engaging and engrossing, frank and frankly troubling, Seventeen is a book not easily forgotten' - Karen Joy Fowler'​I can’t remember the last time, if ever, a memoir affected me as deeply as Seventeen' - John Boyne'A powerful tale of lost youth' - Guardian'Disturbing, powerful and important' - The Times It’s 1992. Like every other seventeen-year-old boy, Joe has one eye on his studies, the other on his social life – smoking, Britpop, girls. He’s looking ahead to a gap year full of travel and adventure before university when his teacher – attractive, mid-thirties – takes an interest in him. It seems like a fantasy come true.   For hisTrade Review'Engaging and engrossing, frank and frankly troubling, Seventeen is a book not easily forgotten.' -- Karen Joy Fowler'A fascinating and important dissection of coercion and abuse from deep within it, Joe Gibson’s story is so compelling and shocking that to read it is to have it seared on to you. I felt like I was there. As gripping a memoir as you’ll find’ -- David Whitehouse'An outstanding memoir' -- Lucy Nichol'Seventeen is a remarkable book, Joe Gibson brings to life a shocking true story that's as compelling as it is urgent. In sharp, evocative prose, he places the reader at the heart of his teenage experience, showing the enduring after-effects of coercive control. An essential insight into the all too often hidden male experience of abuse' -- Ali Millar'An amazingly courageous book' -- Lily Dunn'A vivid and moving story, grippingly told. But, more to the point, Gibson's account of how attraction and obsession became exploitation and cover-up is a must-read for anyone involved in the care of adolescents.' -- Alex Renton'It’s both nostalgic and prescient, looking back at the past while unpacking how much of the present is dictated by the legacy of deceit that at the end of the author’s adolescence.' * Vice *'A powerful tale of lost youth' * Guardian *'A gripping tale of forbidden love and irresistible desire' * The Sun *'I can't recall when, if ever, I've been so affected by a memoir ... A magnificent and, at times, terrifying book' -- John Boyne'Disturbing, powerful and important' * The Times *'A coming of age memoir with a difference' * i *‘…by writing such a brave and honest book, he has given hope to anyone who has suffered any level of abuse. The scar tissue will always be there, and some days it’s a little more sensitive to the touch, but Gibson shows us that survivors can find a path towards peace. I can’t remember the last time, if ever, a memoir affected me as deeply as Seventeen’ * Irish Times *'Riveting' * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisAn irresistibly moving, funny and urgent memoir about the reality of caring for your parents, when you can barely care for yourself.‘Hilarious, bitter, poignant and profound, this is the human condition laid brilliantly bare, like an existential soap opera – only with more laughs.‘ - Philip Hoare, author of LeviathanIt was the kind of phone call we all dread. Your elderly father has been admitted to hospital. He’s not well and he needs your help. Your mum is about to be left at home alone. She needs you too. The answer? Drop everything. Go. Help. The reality? Not so straightforward. Suddenly, you’re a kid again, stranded in the overheated house you grew up in. They need you 24/7, that much is obvious. And you want to help, of course you do. But soon your life starts to unravel almost as quickly as their health.In between bouts of washing, feeding, cooking and fighting there are days that test you, days where everything goes wrong and days where everyone, miraculously rises to the occasion. And in between all of that, you learn how to care. But this time with feeling.Irresistibly funny, unflinching and deeply moving, this is a love letter to family and friends, to carers and to anyone who has ever packed a small bag intent on staying for just a few days. This is a true story of what it really means to be a carer, and of the ties that bind even tighter when you least expect it. This is The Reluctant Carer.Trade ReviewIt's the wisest, funniest, bravest and most essential life story I've read. I bloody love this book. -- Frank Cottrell-BoyceBrave, unflinching and funny . . . This is a troubling but important read; an honest, warts and all glimpse into the reality of unpaid caring. It left me full of respect for those who care and seething that the system isn’t giving them the support and encouragement they so obviously need. -- Jan Carson * The Irish Times *An astonishing and crucial memoir exploring the outer limits of familial love. The Reluctant Carer recounts a personal nightmare any of us could face with humour, heart and total honesty, asking vital questions of elderly care, where we’re at now, and where, one day, we will all be. How it’s as funny as it is moving is beyond me. I loved this book -- David Whitehouse, author of About A SonSimultaneously delightfully funny and profoundly sad, the RC's book is a tonic that should be prescribed on the NHS for carers everywhere. * TLS *Incredible. One of those rare books that should be dispensed on prescription to every household - captures the full glossary of emotion that goes with this role. -- Lucy Easthope, author of When the Dust SettlesI absolutely loved this book. Moving and real, as well as splutter-your-tea funny, it's a clear-eyed, intimate description of what old age is really like, and what it's like trying to care for the old. It knocked me sideways. -- Miranda SawyerAs funny as it is moving and poetic, The Reluctant Carer marries the forensic honesty of Karl Ove Knausgaard with the dry wit of Alan Bennett, and is every bit as good as that sounds. -- Will Storr, author of The Science of StorytellingThis is the funniest, most touching book I've read in years; it will, quite frankly, break your heart. -- Philip Hoare, author of Leviathan

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Book Synopsis''A true crime history that reads like a thriller ... a foggy, lamp-lit descent into the chilling cases that established the Yard''s reputation. A macabre and fascinating page-turner.'' John Douglas, co-author of MindhunterFrom the victims of a teenage murderess to dismembered corpses in train station luggage racks, London is home to some of the most macabre and gruesome murders in history. And for more than 200 years, Scotland Yard has built its name and reputation pursuing death merchants, psychopaths and serial killers.From its inception in 1829 up to the eve of World War II, Scotland Yard: A Bloody History tells the full story of how the Yard developed and advanced modern crime-fighting techniques one infamous case at a time.Following detectives in pursuits across the sea, midnight hunts through Whitechapel and a grand manor death that inspired many a murder mystery, this enthralling book shows how the Yard helped pioneer bloodstain a

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Book SynopsisDo you remember the time we used to do New York in three hours?Even twenty years after its final flight, Concorde remains the pinnacle of aviation design. The aircraft is still unmatched, which has led to a vast swathe of material being written about the aeroplane itself. However, relatively little has been said about the people who designed it.Concorde, A Designer’s Life is an autobiography peppered with anecdotes from the team, humorous life stories and several ‘technibits’, all covering the design period of Concorde. Ted Talbot, who began his career at BAC as an aerodynamicist and later became chief design engineer, has combined the technical narrative with personal and family reminiscences to remind the reader that engineers have lives too.The path to Mach 2 was bumpy, with threats of cancellation and opposition from the Americans and the Russians, but this generally indicated to the Concorde team that they were on the right path! This informative, witty and thoroughly enjoyable peek into an unusual life is a valuable addition to any bookshelf.

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Book SynopsisRose Boyt was born in London and as a child lived on a cargo ship trading in the Baltic and beyond. She emigrated to the Caribbean with her mother and siblings, but the family was repatriated. She left home when she was fifteen and in the seventies began to take photographs and had a Saturday job at the punk shop Seditionaries. In the eighties, she worked as a DJ and on the door of the Café De Paris. She is the author of three novels.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of the international bestseller Sweetbitter, a memoir of survival, starting over, and love in all its complicated guises. Even after achieving her dream of selling her debut novel, Stephanie Danler feels adrift in New York. Struggling in the throes of a doomed relationship and haunted by her tumultuous childhood, something nameless compels her to return home to Southern California. In a cottage in Laurel Canyon, as a new life begins to shape itself, she finally succumbs to memories of the past that have proved impossible to escape. A father who swung in and out of her life erratically, charming and mercurial and prone to addiction. A mother now disabled by years of alcoholism and an aneurysm, who cannot remember the abuse she inflicted. The looming, desolate mountains of Colorado, and a teenage freedom that nearly killed her. And above all, the painful love and forgiveness for those who failed her over and over again.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Ben and Rebecca’s collection of shorts is incredibly original, bizarre, and funny. Each one is distinct and yet reflects their collective genius as writers who are daring and ahead of the curve.” — Will Ferrell “Voices of their generation. Except for Greta Thunberg. And Malala. Amanda Gorman . . . you know what, I take it back.” — Jimmy Fallon

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Book SynopsisFrom an award-winning author comes a tale of a notorious double-murder, for readers of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, or Emmanuel Carrère's The Adversary. In 1982 Malcolm Macarthur, the wealthy heir to a small estate, found himself suddenly without money. The solution, he decided, was to rob a bank. To do this, he would need a gun and a car. In the process of procuring them, he killed two people, and the circumstances of his eventual arrest in the apartment of Ireland's Attorney General nearly brought down the government. The case remains one of the most shocking in Ireland's history. Mark O'Connell has long been haunted by the story of this brutal double murder. But in recent years this haunting has become mutual. When O'Connell sets out to unravel the mysteries still surrounding these horrific and inexplicable crimes, he tracks down Macarthur himself, now an elderly man living out his days in Dublin and reluctant to talk. As the two men circle one another, O'Connell is pushed into a confrontation with his own narrative: what does it mean to write about a murderer?Trade ReviewIn the gallery of criminals who have fascinated writers, the elegant Malcolm Macarthur is one of the most enigmatic. And in the pantheon of writers fascinated by criminals, Mark O'Connell proves himself among the most brilliant. It is one of the boundaries that cut humanity in two: those who have killed someone, those who have not. O'Connell roams around this boundary, in this grey area, from which he has brought a fascinating narrative -- Emmanuel Carrère, author of The AdversaryLike all great books, A Thread of Violence is the document of a great writer's obsession. Mark O'Connell draws the reader into a deeply engrossing story, and at the same time into a complex investigation of human brutality and of narrative writing itself. This is a superb and unforgettable book -- Sally RooneyA masterful, haunting book by an author at the height of his powers. Mark O'Connell asks us how much we can ever understand about the darkness that resides in other people, and in ourselves -- Ed CaesarA ridiculously good book. The prose is apparently knowing and smooth; the subject is anything but. Malcolm Macarthur, an infamous, ageing double murderer, exists on every page, in almost every sentence, and yet recedes continually out of reach. The effect on the reader is like being in the eye of hurricane - terrifyingly calm - the moral vortex at the heart of breathtaking violence. It's like watching dangerous dance, a folie a deux, between a deeply skilled and humane writer and a murderer with a high regard for his own etiquette. You want to chuck it across the room and then run after it and then carry on reading, as gripped as you were before -- Sam Knight, author of The Premonitions BureauStays with you for weeks. The eerie, tenuous relationship between journalist and killer lives in the legacy of Janet Malcolm and Truman Capote -- Caitlin DoughtyI read it at one sitting, so gripping was the account of Mark's conversations with a man who cannot call himself a murderer and yet killed two people utterly senselessly. The sensitivity of the work and the attention to language made this book one of the best of its kind and an example to others of how to do it -- Dr Gwen Adshead, Consultant forensic psychiatrist and psychotherapist, and author of The Devil You KnowA Thread of Violence is nourished by a powerful moral intelligence and an enormous curiosity. Mark O'Connell circles the inner life of the murderer Malcolm Macarthur with subtlety and forensic care... Complex and disturbing as well as intriguing and compelling -- Colm ToíbínIn A Thread of Violence Mark O'Connell has investigated, with immense skill and insight, the mind of a double murderer, and in the process has shown the essential mysteriousness of such a mind-perhaps of any mind. The result is a beautifully wrought narrative that is at once frightening and thrilling. A masterly work -- John Banville[A] masterpiece -- Christopher Eccleston

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Book SynopsisIn this inspiring memoir, undefeated five-time world champion boxer Andre Ward--aka Son of God--shares the gripping narrative of his unforgettable career, his rock-solid faith, and why boxing was never the biggest fight of his life.Andre Ward was the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion of the world when he walked away from the ring and did not look back. Now that he has taken off his gloves for the final time, the Olympic gold medalist is ready to share the heartbreaking and uplifting stories of his formative years and unprecedented boxing career. Motivational, faith-building, and utterly compelling, this memoir offers an inspiring story of overcoming a broken childhood behind-the-scenes drama from Andre''s epic championship bouts, complicated relationships with managers and promoters, and shocking decision to retire at the top of his game insight into breaking destructive generational bonds, forgiving those who have h

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Book Synopsis'A hilarious and morose invocation of a lost world. Anyone who has ever been movie-mad will relish this irrepressibly digressive, surprise-filled, exquisitely written memoir (sort of). I certainly did.' Phillip Lopate Todd McEwen grew up in Southern California, so his head was hopelessly messed with by the movies. As the son of relatively normal people, he had no in with Hollywood, a mere thirteen miles away, try as he might. This is a kid who loved the movies so much, he got up at 4.30 in the morning to watch Laurel and Hardy. A kid who made his father project 8mm cartoons onto the family's dining room curtains so they could be slowly parted, just like at a real cinema. A guy who based his philosophy of life on Captain Nemo, and has watched Chinatown over sixty times. So far. Trade Review 'A quirky, chewy gallimaufry containing a small jewel, a little masterpiece of a chapter, 'Cary Grant’s Suit,' which lends the book not only its title but also its fundamental claim to your attention . . . If I were compiling a new Oxford Book of Essays, I’d include 'Cary Grant’s Suit' alongside Samuel Johnson, William Hazlitt and Joan Didion. It’s digressive, surprising, delightful.' -- Ian Sansom * Telegraph *'A hilarious and morose invocation of a lost world. Anyone who has ever been movie-mad will relish this irrepressibly digressive, surprise-filled, exquisitely written memoir (sort of). I certainly did.' -- Phillip Lopate

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Book Synopsis[F]or anyone who has ever sat in a city office dreaming of owning a smallholding one day and living off the land, this book will inspire them to take the plunge. Rated 5 stars by The Telegraph I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement. What Lynn and Sandra have achieved on their croft in Scotland is a miracle of rebirth on land Isabella Tree, author of Wilding The inspiring story of two courageous women who took the leap and embraced a whole new way of life. Kate Humble, author of Home Cooked As seen on the BBC’s This Farming Life Our Wild Farming Life is what happens when you follow your dreams of living on the land; a story of how two people became farmers – and how they learned to make a living from it, their way. Lynn and Sandra left their friends, family and jobs in England to travel north to Scotland to find a small piece of land they could call their own. They had no money, no plan and no experience in farming. They had in mind keeping a few chickens, a kitchen garden and renting out some camping space, but instead, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft – 150 acres of wild Scottish Highlands filled with opportunity and beauty, shrouded by the Cairngorms mountains. This is the inspirational true story of Lynbreck Croft – a regenerative Scottish croft rooted in local food and community – and the dreams of two women in search of a new, wilder existence. In Our Wild Farming Life, Lynn and Sandra recount their experiences as they rebuild their new home and work out what kind of farmers they want to be. They learn how to work with Highland cattle, become part of the crofting community and begin to truly understand how they can farm in harmony with nature to produce wonderful food for themselves and the people around them. Through efforts like these, Lynn and Sandra have been able to combine regenerative farming practices with old crofting traditions to keep their own personal values intact.Trade Review‘I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement. What Lynn and Sandra have achieved on their croft in Scotland is a miracle of rebirth on land that most would have considered beyond hope. Their success is testament to the wisdom of working with nature rather than battling against it and their pragmatism, honesty and openness to new and old ideas shines through on every page. I hope it inspires legions of new farmers.’—Isabella Tree, author of Wilding‘A ripping good account of the guts, luck and perseverance it takes to create a productive and healthy farm or croft that jumps the rails of our conventional industrial agriculture.’—Nick Offerman‘Full of refreshing honesty and a burning passion to reconnect food, communities and nature, what Lynn and Sandra have achieved is nothing short of incredible. These two are the real deal; humble pioneers during a critical time working selflessly to empower others. Lynbreck Croft is the embodiment of how humans should approach food production, and this book serves as an invaluable resource for anybody who has an interest in a regenerative future.’—Huw Richards, author of The Vegetable Grower’s Handbook‘The inspiring story of two courageous women who took the leap and embraced a whole new way of life. Lynn and Sandra, I salute you!’—Kate Humble, broadcaster and author of Home Cooked‘This is a story that needed to be told. I defy anyone to be in the presence of Lynn and Sandra for ten minutes and not come away inspired and with a smile. Arriving in the Highlands with a dream and very little else apart from determination, enthusiasm, passion, warmth and humility, they were not afraid to learn from mistakes and to seek help and advice. ‘The Highlands can be a welcoming place, but you have to earn it. Folk here won’t beat a path to your door unless you leave it wide open. And they did it. Neighbours embraced their dream and wanted to make it happen. To be a part of it. The gift of a cow. The gift of fuel. The gift of thousands of years of experience, knowledge and a love for the land.’—Euan McIlwraith, BBC TV and Radio presenter‘Many of us dream of going “back” to the land. Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer have made it happen. In this inspirational, honest and quietly revelatory book they show how farming is not a lifestyle fantasy but a way of living, working and eating that is in partnership – with the land, the community, animals and each other. This is not a step back but the key to all our futures.’—Patrick Barkham, author of Wild Child "Their work on the croft is a true community endeavor....Our Wild Farming Life is a warm yet realistic chronicle of the world of the small-time farmer, sharing a vision of how we humans can feed ourselves sustainably and ethically while living in harmony with the natural world."—Booklist

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Book SynopsisConsidered a classic in aviation circles, this re-issue is sure to provoke a positive reaction. With access to new images, this edition will provide an expanded pictorial account of Crosley's famed endeavours. Sure to appeal to aviation and naval enthusiasts.

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