Memoirs Books

Book Synopsis''Stands in the absolute first rank of books about the resistance in World War II. If you wish to read about a man more courageous and honourable than Jan Karski, I would have no idea who to recommend'' Alan Furst It is 1939. Jan Karski, a brilliant young Polish student, enjoys a life of parties and pleasure. Then war breaks out and his familiar world is destroyed. Now he must live under a new identity, in the resistance. And, in a secret mission that could change the course of the war, he must risk his own life to try and save those of millions. ''Insistently asks the question: What would you do? Would you fight, or acquiesce, or collaborate? ... Karski was deeply patriotic and ludicrously brave ... an astonishing testament of survival'' Ben Macintyre ''Karski''s adventures are worthy of the wildest spy thriller'' Daily Telegraph ''This eye-witness testimony is imbued with a passion that subsequent memoirs can rarely match'' Financial Times ''Deeply moving'' Daily Mail ''Reads like the screenplay to an incredibly exciting war movie - but it is all true'' Andrew RobertsTrade ReviewJan Karski's Story of a Secret State stands in the absolute first rank of books about the resistance in World War II. If you wish to read about a man more courageous and honorable than Jan Karski I would have no idea who to recommend. Yes, it's that good. -- Alan FurstIt deserves its status as a Penguin Classic, not only because it is a great historic document, but also because it's a cracking good read: Karski's adventures are worthy of the wildest spy thriller -- Nigel Jones * Telegraph *His account of his missions is an electrifying tale of false identities, near captures, spies and secret film capsules ... in human terms, Karski's account is invaluable -- Frank Trentmann * Daily Express *Story of a Secret State is now viewed as a classic insider's account of the Resistance in occupied Europe...After all the harrowing descriptions of Holocaust horrors there have been over the years from survivors of Auschwitz, Belsen, and Ravensbruck, Karski's vivid account of what he saw back in 1942 is still deeply moving. We feel his shock and incredulity that this could really be happening in 20th century 'civilised' Europe. -- Tony Rennell * Daily Mail *The bravery of the man who risked all to tell the world about the Holocaust is truly staggering ... an extraordinary testament to Man's inhumanity to Man, and the even more remarkable courage required to resist it -- Ben McIntyre * The Times *Karski's exploration of the moral fog in which he and his colleagues operated ... made me recall thrillers like Man Hunt and Hangmen Also Die ... two episodes resemble scenes tantalisingly directed by Hitchcock ... Karski's account of the systematic brutality of the Nazi regime is literally chilling -- Peter Conrad * The Observer *Reads like the screenplay to an incredibly exciting war movie - but it is all true -- Andrew RobertsSeared with an urgency that pitches the reader into the heart of the horror -- Ben Felsenburg * Metro *His story deserves not just revival but reflection ... Karski's electrifying words still speak only too eloquently for themselves -- Marek Kohn * Independent *

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Book SynopsisYou''ve seen him become a Liverpool legend, watched as he and Jude Bellingham lead England through the world cup - now get to know the real Jordan Henderson, both on off the pitch . . .''A brilliantly told story with a uniquely vivid sense of what it is like on the pitch in matches of extreme importance . . . The perfect book for all football fans'' DAILY MAIL ''SPORTS BOOKS OF THE YEAR''__________Captain. Father. Leader. Fearless ambassador. World-class midfielder.J As a top-flight footballer, Jordan Henderson knows success.From taking the reins from Steven Gerrard as Liverpool captain,to lifting the Champions League trophy and winning the Premier League,his years as a leader have been more eventful than entire careers.But there''s more to the story than what we see on the pitch.In this unflinching autobiography, Jordan takes us from his footballingroots in Sunderland to the heat of the dressing rooTrade ReviewA brilliantly told story with a uniquely vivid sense of what it is like on the pitch in matches of extreme importance . . . The perfect book for all football fans, not just Liverpool supporters * Daily Mail, 'SPORTS BOOKS OF THE YEAR' *

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Book SynopsisOne woman''s heart-breaking, life-affirming memoir of loss, survival, bearing witness and a legacy of love''Landbridge has forever altered what I know, how I love, and what I hope'' Madeleine Thien, author of Do Not Say We Have Nothing ''A masterpiece to console and guide generations to come'' Alice Pung, author of Unpolished GemBorn in, and named after, Thailand''s Khao-I-Dang refugee camp, Y-Dang Troeung was - aged one - the last of 60,000 Cambodian refugees admitted to Canada, fleeing her homeland in the aftermath of Pol Pot''s brutal Khmer Rouge regime. In Canada, Y-Dang became a literal poster child for the benevolence of the Canadian refugee project - and, implicitly, the unknowable horrors of the place she had escaped.In Landbridge, a family and personal memoir of astonishing power, Y-Dang grapples with a life lived in the shadow of pre-constructed narratives. She considers the transactional relationship between a host country and its refugees; she delves into the contradictions between ethnic, regional and national identities; and she writes to her young son Kai with the promise that this family legacy is passed down with love at its core.Written in fragmentary chapters, each with the vivid light of a single candle in a pitch-black room, Landbridge is a courageous piece of life writing, the story of a family, and a bold, ground-breaking intervention in the way trauma and migration are told. Trade ReviewY-Dang Troeung's presence feels so alive in these pages, where wonder and sorrow, motherhood and history trace one another across time, and unspool the shape of our present. Landbridge has forever altered what I know, how I love, and what I hope -- Madeleine Thien, author * Do Not Say We Have Nothing *Landbridge is the most courageous act of love from an academic who has pared back all the pretensions of academia, a writer who understands the true gift of voice and interrogates who gets to 'gift' it, a book that illuminates with laser-bright insight the duty of the 'survivor.' Y-Dang's wisdom, stoicism and brilliance survive in this masterpiece to console and guide generations to come -- Alice Pung, author * Unpolished Gem *Landbridge is the most unforgettable book I've read in years, a work of astounding humanity and honesty in the face of unimaginable grief. It is no small undertaking, to wrestle with the generational toll of genocide, migration, upended pasts and unreachable futures, yet this is what Y-Dang Troeung does. In their totality, the fragments that make up this memoir are a vital, visceral reminder that, across all manner of tragedy and violence and even time, we are bound to one another by love. For all the pain it charts and of which its author manages to make meaning, Landbridge is, above all else, a love story, one that will be remembered -- Omar El Akkad, Giller-prize winning author * This Strange Paradise *Landbridge is among the most profound and heartbreaking accounts to emerge from the Cambodian diaspora. Y-Dang Troeung weaves a complex narrative that speaks to the unceasing traumas of war and dislocation. Each of the fragments rendered here shimmers like a small jewel, at once spare and prismatic. Equal parts memoir, history and love letter, the collection as a whole is nothing less than a tapestry of life itself, made more beautiful and precious because it is wrought from the salvaged pieces of all that is broken. A rare and stunning achievement that deserves its place in the literary canon -- Vaddey Ratner, author * In the Shadow of the Banyan *Heartbreaking, courageous and exceptional - after finishing Landbridge you will want to call everyone you know to tell them to please start reading. You will tell them it is a matter of urgency. This rare book by Y-Dang Troeung is unforgettable -- Linn Ullman, author * Unquiet *Y-Dang Troeung is a great ancestor to whom we owe our reverence. Her gift to us is the art of reclamation that renders infinite futures possible. Troeung's legacy is a refugee lifeworld - powerful in its creation, fearless in its scholarship, and eternal in its love. Landbridge is a torch that we must pass on to every generation. The story of her life is an extraordinary fire in my heart -- Monica Sok, author * A Nail the Evening Hangs On *

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Book SynopsisGerald Durrell's beloved account of his childhood in Corfu, now in Penguin Modern Classics for the first time''Durrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities'' - Sunday Telegraph My collection of animals swelled to a point where even Mother occasionally grew alarmed'The island of Corfu, where the Durrell family live in agreeable chaos, is paradise for aspiring naturalist Gerald. His battalion of creatures has grown to include eleven puppies, a toad named Dierdre and an unwelcome infestation of scorpions. Yet the human visitors to their sun-drenched villa are even more curious, whether it is an innocent pair of American painters ripe for practical jokes, or a supercilious Count who barely survives an outing on Gerald's home-made boat, the Bootle-bumtrinket. The third volume in the Corfu Trilogy brings this glorious tale of halcyon days to a close.

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Book Synopsis''For many years I had wanted to start a zoo . . . any reasonable person smitten with an ambition of this sort would have secured the zoo first and obtained the animals afterwards. but throughout my life I have rarely if ever achieved what I wanted by tackling it in a logical fashion.''A Zoo in My Luggage is Gerald Durrell''s account of his attempt to set up his own zoo, after years spent gathering animals for other zoos. Journeying to Cameroon, he and his wife collected numerous mammals, birds and reptiles, including Cholmondely the chimpanzee and Bug-eye the bush-baby.But their problems really began when they attempted to return with their exotic menagerie. Not only had they to get them safely home to Britain but they also had to find somewhere able and - most of all - willing to house them.Told with wit and a zest for all things furry and feathered, Gerald Durrell''s A Zoo in My Luggage is a brilliant account of how a pioneer of wildlife preservation came to found a new type of zoo.Trade ReviewA renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time -- Sir David AttenboroughDurrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWalking Home - Clare Balding''s unmissable new book of Great British AdventuresClare Balding is on a mission to discover Britain and Ireland. She''s conquered over 1,500 miles of footpaths, from the Pennine Way to the South-west Coast Path.As well as blisters and a twisted ankle, she''s walked with extraordinary people - botanists, barefooted ramblers, whisky-drinking widowers...In Walking Home she shares these stories and tells of more (mis)adventures with her family and her wayward Tibetan terrier Archie. Along the way there are beguiling diversions and life-changing rambles.Finally, Clare embarks on the most important journey of all - the long walk home.Clare Balding''s first book, My Animals and Other Family, was a runaway number one bestseller and won Autobiography of the Year at the 2012 Specsavers National Book Awards. Clare broadcasts on TV and radio for the BBC, Channel 4 and BT Sport. In 2013 she received an OBE for services to broadcasting and journalism. She lives in West London with her partner Alice, their Terrier Archie and a cat who couldn''t give a damn called Itty.Praise for My Animals and Other Family:''You''ll laugh, you''ll cry, you''ll want a horse'' Caitlin Moran''Moving, funny, and larger than life'' Michael Morpurgo''Simply fabulous'' Jilly Cooper''Stonking anecdotes ... sharply charming'' Guardian''Magical, enchanting, riotously eccentric'' Daily MailTrade ReviewBrilliant, magical, unmissable * Daily Mail *Who needs politicians agonising about national and regional identities? Clare Balding has effortlessly encapsulated all we love best about Britain * Telegraph *Clare Balding would be the ideal surrogate sister or auntie. The joy of this book is Balding's sheer rapture for life, movement and never shutting up about it * The Times *Balding has won over the literary world with her two volumes of autobiography * Evening Standard *Even the most reluctant of walkers will be tempted to don wellies after reading Clare's wonderful descriptions... effortless charm * Express *

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the Year''Riveting, clear-sighted and exceptionally articulate... Her literary and psychoanalytic fluency gives the book an impact that feels arrestingly honest... Heartbreaking'' Daily Telegraph ''An unsparing account of a family destroyed by drugs. Unique and haunting'' Sunday Times''What gives this book its astonishing power is not the guilt, but the intelligence and literary skill'' Guardian''I write, knowing that writing at all may be seen as a betrayal of family; a shaming, exploitative act. Anyone reading this who thinks so, please know that I thought it before you''For years Sigrid Rausing watched helplessly as her brother Hans and his wife Eva succumbed to drug addiction. It afflicted a terrible toll on their family, culminating in Eva''s tragic early death. As this death led to inquest and media circus, the world looked on in horror, bTrade ReviewFierce, lyrical, and lucid memoir -- Siri HustvedtA profoundly articulate and harrowing memoir of a family grappling with addiction... I was impressed and moved -- A. M. HomesA short, intense and moving memoir... a poignant and at times harrowing account that testifies to the resilience of the human spirit * Tatler *Powerful and spare... her elisions and prevarications have a striking effect * The Observer *Such a unique and haunting story to tell * The Sunday Times *What gives this book its astonishing power is not the guilt, but the intelligence and literary skill. Beautifully structured... Rausing sets the scene with painterly delicacy and then steps back to analyse the implications of what she has revealed * The Guardian *A deeply felt memorial to a lost brother...a finely written memoir * Literary Review *Riveting, clear-sighted and exceptionally articulate...heartbreaking...her literary and psychoanalytic fluency gives the book an impact that feels arrestingly honest * Daily Telegraph *Touched by its bravery, sincerity and the frequent beauty of the writing * The Times *In this slim, stoic memoir... Rausing thoughtfully, painstakingly, works a deep groove into the stubborn surface of certain bedevilling questions: "How do you write about addiction?"... I nodded and sometimes cried. I wanted to invite the author over for tea * The Millions *Publisher's description. A courageous and clear-sighted memoir about addiction and its terrible repercussions within a family. In 2012, Hans Rausing, heir to the vast Tetrapak fortune, was pulled over by the police while driving erratically across Wandsworth Bridge. What those police officers eventually found would shock the world... * Penguin *

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''I''ve been wondering who might fill the intellectual void after James Baldwin died. Clearly it is Ta-Nehisi Coates'' Toni Morrison''Searing. One of the foremost essayists on race in the West... [He] is responsible for some of the most important writing about what it is to be black in America today'' Nikesh Shukla, editor of The Good ImmigrantAn essential account of modern America, from Obama to Trump, from black lives matter to white supremacists rising - by the bestselling author of Between the World and MeObama''s presidency was a watershed moment in American history. From 2008-2016, the leader of the free world was a black man. In those eight years, Obama transformed the conversation around race, gender, class and wealth - inspiring hope but also attracting criticism and breeding discontent.In this unflinching book, Ta-Nehisi Coates takes stock of Obama''s eight years Trade ReviewI've been wondering who might fill the intellectual void that plagued me after James Baldwin died. Clearly it is Ta-Nehisi Coates -- Toni Morrison on 'Between the World and Me'America's latest literary wunderkind... A prodigious talent * The Sunday Times *We are witnessing greatness. The man and his writing will be studied and revered for generations * Minneapolis Star Tribune *[Coates is] the pre-eminent black public intellectual of his generation * The New York Times *We Were Eight Years in Power is an essential text to understand America today * W Magazine *Ta-Nehisi Coates is probably the only magazine writer in the world whose articles are heralded with the same fervor as the release of the latest Beyonce album * Financial Times *A wake up call... More compelling than almost any other public voice about the state we're in. He eloquently conflates the personal, political and existential, while telling it like it is * Observer *Coates eloquently unfurls blunt truths... To have such a voice, in such a moment, is a ray of light * USA Today *Coates succeeds twice over, in justifying not only his account of one election, but the importance of his entire body of work * New Statesman *Brilliant and troubling... Required reading * Vogue *Coates' always sharp commentary is particularly insightful as each day brings a new upset to the cultural and political landscape laid during the term of the nation's first black president. [A] crucial voice in the public discussion of race and equality, and readers will be eager for his take on where we stand now and why * Booklist *It's this timeless timeliness--reminiscent of the work of George Orwell and James Baldwin--that makes Coates worth reading again and again * Publishers Weekly *Fiercely passionate, intelligent and clear-eyed * Newsday *Across his oeuvre, Coates' prose style and literary prowess are hip-hop sharpened: he believes in the art of dexterous reference, potent, lyrical critique and political storytelling * Baltimore Sun *Coates's probing essays about race, politics, and history became necessary ballast for this nation's gravity-defying moment... Essential * The Boston Globe *Biting cultural and political analysis from the award-winning journalist . . . His conclusions are disquieting, his writing passionate, his tenor often angry.... Emotionally charged, deftly crafted, and urgently relevant essays" * Kirkus *Powerfully charged * GQ *[R]aw and hard to read. You'll never forget his point of view, nor should you * Glamour *Thus, We Were Eight Years in Power serves as a clarion call for vigilance about the possible erosion of African-American advances presumed sacrosanct. Consider these riveting, well-reasoned ruminations of the most-prodigious black visionary around a must-read indeed * The Mississippi Link *

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Book SynopsisTerry Waite explores the widely different forms of solitary existence from different people he's met.Trade Review"This is a thoughtful and sensitive book from a man who endured the fear and loneliness of captivity. Now, years later, Terry Waite explores solitude in its many forms."Stella Rimington DBE, former Director General of MI5;"No one is better qualified to write about solitude than Terry Waite, who spent nearly five years of his life in solitary confinement. His exploration of solitude - he calls it a saunter - takes him from his personal ordeal to the Australian outback, to the home of a former British double agent in Moscow, and beyond. His book will be of great value to those who have suffered from too much company or too little, or are interested in the phenomenon of being alone, which is not at all the same as being lonely. Terry Waite's saunter through solitude is wide ranging, original, well written and (best of all) companionable."- Martin Bell OBE, UNICEF ambassador and former war reporter;"This is a wonderfully perceptive and engaging book. Terry Waite takes the reader deep into other worlds, both geographical and psychological, from which they will emerge enlightened and spiritually enriched."- Ranulph Fiennes OBE, explorer, writer and poetTable of ContentsPrelude Part One: Places of Solitude 1 Mount Isa 2 Constantine 3 Rabbit Flat 4 Riveren 5 Humbert River Station 6 Solitude/Salt Lake City 7 Chicago 8 The Cederbergs Interlude: Songs of Solitude Part Two: Deceptive Solitude 9 Shallow cover 10 Deep cover 11 The double life of George Blake Part Three: Inescapable Solitude 12 Svetlana, daughter of Stalin 13 Myra Hindley 14 Prisoner of war 15 A Necessary end Postlude

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Book SynopsisA humorous but life-affirming story set in the manic world of the busy teacher’s life in which it’s not just the pupils who misbehave. A memoir, in the form of a diary, by ‘the Victoria Wood of the classroom’.Trade ReviewThe Victoria Wood of the classroom! * Adrian Plass *A fascinating, highly entertaining, vital insight into a teacher’s life. Funny but heart-felt - Fran’s riveting account of life in front of the class shows us a glimpse of the humanity and heart that goes into such a familiar but misunderstood role. A thoroughly recommended memoir. * Paul Kerensa, author and stand-up comedian *This day by day account by Fran Hill manages to be both enlightening and entertaining. In a world where demands seem to arrive from every quarter, many will identify with Fran’s struggles to keep her teaching career, her marriage and her spiritual life on track. There are surprises along the way and amidst the knockabout humour, some telling spiritual lessons we can all draw from. -- Russ Bravo * Inspire Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom Ukraine’s leading writer-activist comes an intimate account of resistance and survival in the earliest months of the Russian-Ukrainian warTrade Review“[A] personal record of the first four months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, recounting the shelling and killing but also resistance in Kharkiv.”—New York Times Book Review“Offers an important window into those first days of war, and highlights the extent to which local volunteer movements stepped in when the state was unable to cope.”—The Telegraph, “Best Ukraine Books of 2023”“Costigan-Humes and Wheeler endearingly capture Zhadan’s wit and colloquial tone. . . . Language may not overrun mercenaries or shoot down missiles, but it can—when wielded by writers like Zhadan and so many of his compatriots—help defeat prejudice, ignorance, and skepticism, with words as well as arms bringing Ukraine one day closer to victory.”—Cory Oldweiler, Boston Globe“Zhadan’s Sky Above Kharkiv should be valued for preserving an important personal testimony from one of the most pivotal battles during Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine.”—Kate Tsurkan, Kyiv Independent“Instead of high politics, this book is about endurance. . . . Every day since the Russian invasion [Zhadan] has posted informative, descriptive articles and poems on Facebook.”—Allan Massie, The ScotsmanFinalist for the Witold Pilecki International Book Award, special prize category, sponsored by The Pilecki Institute“This powerful book from Ukraine’s iconic poet-activist is at once a moving testament to the spirit of a nation that will not back down, an indictment of a bloody and unnecessary war, and a call on the rest of us to defend the principles of freedom and democracy wherever they are threatened.”—Anne Applebaum“In this, his ‘diary for everyone,’ poet Serhiy Zhadan turns his Facebook posts into urgent wartime communiques in a language that digs through debris, sweeps up broken glass and records the valor of a city organizing to defend itself. His daily missives call for supplies, offer advice, issue warnings and preserve for posterity a record of ‘the chimerical, tenuous nature of danger and vulnerability.’ It isn’t meant to be poetry but poetry is everywhere within it. This is language with its breath held, language that, as the poet hoped, ‘stands up to silence and death.’ As Zhadan says of Ukrainian poetry, Sky Above Kharkiv ‘stitches up the body of history, holds everything together, doesn’t let us forget a single thing.’”—Carolyn Forché“The indefatigable Serhiy Zhadan is writing against death. His love-letter-in-posts to the people of Kharkiv will live far longer than Putin’s regime—as well as—let us all desperately hope—his example that real toughness does not emerge in coldness and cruelty, but in solidarity and kindness.”—Marci Shore“This is a sobering eyewitness account of the Russian aggression that turned the peaceful skies over Ukraine into clouds of fear and death. But more than that, it is a story of Ukrainian defiance and resistance, recorded in real time in the online posts of one of the country’s leading intellectual and cultural figures, who refused to abandon his city during the most dramatic months of the war. Sky Above Kharkiv conveys the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainians—revealing why they did not surrender, and why they will win.”—Serhii Plokhy, author of The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History

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Book SynopsisWhen everything we''ve been clinging to falls apart, how do we know what to keep and what to let go of? I Guess I Haven''t Learned That Yet, now a New York Times bestseller, is a clear-eyed look at where we go from here--and how we can transform our lives along the way.Just after her fortieth birthday, author Shauna Niequist found herself in a season of chaos, change, and loss unlike anything she''d ever faced. She discovered that many of the beliefs and practices that she usually turned to were no longer serving her.After trying--and failing--to pull herself back up using the same old strategies and systems, she realized she required new ones: courage, curiosity, and compassion. She discovered the way through was more about questions than answers, more about forgiveness than force, more about tenderness than trying hard.In I Guess I Haven''t Learned That Yet, Niequist chronicles her journey--from her life-changing move from the Midwest to Manhattan to the power of unlearning what is no longer helpful and accepting the unknowns that come with midlife, heartbreak, and chronic pain.With her characteristic candor and grace, Niequist writes about her experience learning how to: Discover new ways of living when the old ways stop working Embrace the challenges and delights of releasing our expectations for how we thought our lives would look Trust God''s goodness in a deeper, more profound way Follow Niequist as she endeavors to understand grief, to reshape her faith, and to practice courage when it feels impossible.Praise for I Guess I Haven''t Learned That Yet:Gentle. Loving. This tender book asks us to listen to our pain, lean into our discomfort, and trust that we can be lifted back on our feet by God and each other.--Kate C. Bowler, New York Times bestselling author of No Cure for Being HumanThis book is a masterpiece. It is a journey and an invitation and a joy and a heartbreak and all the things you need to read to be reminded that hope can still be found.--Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

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Book SynopsisMargaret Powell was born in 1907 in Hove. Aged fifteen, she went into service as a kitchen maid, eventually progressing to the position of cook. In 1968 the first volume of her memoirs, Below Stairs, was published to instant success. She died in 1984.

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Book SynopsisPolicing rural Yorkshire is a far cry from Mike''s old job hunting down drug gangs and knife crime in Central London. Settled back in his native Yorkshire, the former Metropolitan Policeman finds that life as a rural beat bobby is no picnic. After a crazed swordsman threatens to take his head off, he finds himself confronting a knife-wielding couple bent on carving each other up. When a stag night turns ugly he ends up with the groom, the best man and the bride-to-be all banged up in the cells - and the wedding just hours away. With record-breaking floods and politicians to escort, will Mike find time woo the woman of his dreams?Trade ReviewPannett, the James Herriot of policing, tiptoes his way through domestic issues, stag nights, and sword-wielding madmen bent on decapitation and tells his tales with warmth and humour. * Daily Express *Move over James Herriot and Gervase Phinn - there is a new name on the North Yorkshire literary block. * York Press *

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Book SynopsisMost famous for The Wilder Shores of Love, her book about four women travellers, Lesley Blanch was a scholarly romantic and a bold writer. Her lifelong passion was for Russia, the Balkans and the Middle East. At heart a nomad, she spent the greater part of her life travelling the remote areas her books record so vividly.Edited by her goddaughter Georgia de Chamberet, who was working with her in her centenary year, this book collects together the story of Blanch''s marriage, previously published only in French; a selection of her journalism which brings to life the artistic melting pot that was London between the wars; and a selection of her most evocative travel pieces.Illustrated with photos alongside a selection of line drawings by Lesley BlanchTrade ReviewSumptuous and captivating Independent A medly ... of irresistible charm Literary Review On the Wilder Shores of Love brings [Lesley Blanch's] personality vividly to life Spectator Readers can enjoy Blanch's precise use of words, astonishing range of reference, and ability to get under the skin ... Blanch's account of her marriage is a politely lethal masterpiece Times Literary Supplement This volume, edited with affection and grace by de Chamberet, is a deliciously readable monument to a writer who combined a steely resilience and capacity for hard work with an elegant frivolity and a voracious appetite for love, beauty and adventure -- Jane Shilling Daily Telegraph This anthology is a delicious, readable monument to Lesley Blanch Telegraph 'Deliciously readable' Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisA Scottish MP celebrates making period products freely available. A father admits embarrassment at buying pads for his daughter. A Jewish grandmother describes getting her first period in front of Nazi soldiers. A trans woman, a trans man and a non-binary person share their stories. And a marathon runner makes crimson waves.From the first red flag to the last goodbye, from Indigenous rites to medical frontiers, from miscarriages to menopause, from pain to pride, from ''free bleeding'' in public to bleeding behind bars - the underwear, the oversight, period poverty and protests - Our Red Book takes us to every corner of the globe and every voice yet unheard.Featuring contributions from Gloria Steinem, Judy Blume, Madame Gandhi, and Florence Given, Our Red Book is a collection of oral histories, written and visual testimonies from extraordinary people around the world, gathered especially by the New York Times bestselling editor of My Little RedTrade Review'Nalebuff interjects frequently with commentary and anecdotes, artfully linking stories together . . . Bold and candid, these missives go a long way in breaking through what one contributor calls "the taboo of bleeding"' * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *A vibrant collection of stories evoking joy, dread, loss, and celebration that will resonate with many -- Rebekah Kati * Library Journal *Eye-opening, provocative, and emotionally resonant...The factors that shroud menstruation in secrecy, and give rise to shame and embarrassment, are deconstructed, making Our Red Book instructive as a primer for young people. What's more, trans narratives and narratives from non-western writers enhance and expand readers' understanding of the ways periods are treated and experienced. This diversity is part of what makes Our Red Book so important. It goes beyond horror stories to envision a freer, more accepting society * Progressive *

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Book SynopsisRadio 4 Book of the Week''A beautiful insight into a nation beyond war headlines'' Independent''A captivating family memoir spanning four generations... Belim blends the personal and the historical to tell a moving, century-long tale of fear, hardship and resilience'' The i''Wild swans for Ukraine... an enthralling, multilayered family story, told across four generations. Rich and magnificent. A marvel'' BooksellerIn 2014, while the Russian state was annexing Crimea, Victoria Belim came across her great-grandfather''s diary, one page scored deep with the single line: ''Brother Nikodim, vanished in the 1930s fighting for a free Ukraine.'' She had never heard of this uncle and no one - especially her grandmother - seemed willing to tell her about him. Victoria became obsessed with recovering his story. In the end, her winding search took her back to the place she had always known it would - to the Rooster House, an elegant mansion in the Ukrainian city of Poltava with two voluptuous red roosters flanking the door, and dark truths contained in its basement.

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Book SynopsisA touching memoir of reconciling two parallels tracks of the author's life during the nine years he worked as Joan Didion's assistant-one the disintegration of his home life, and the other the world of Didion's transformative friendship and mentorship offered.

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Book SynopsisThis house has been a regular presence in my life for as long as I can remember. My heart has sunk a little every time I walk in . . .Samantha Clark enjoyed a busy career as an artist before returning home to Glasgow to take care of the house that her parents had left behind. Moving from room to room, sifting through the clutter of belongings, reflecting on her mother''s long, sedated years of mental illness and her father''s retreat to the world of amateur radio and model planes, Samantha began to contemplate her inheritance.A need for creativity and a desire for solitude had sprung up from a childhood shaped by anxiety and confusion. Weaving in the works and lives of others, including celebrated painter Agnes Martin and scientist of dark matter Vera Rubin, The Clearing is a powerful account of what we must do with the things we cannot know.''Samantha Clark writes on the subtle edge of words and thought. She renders the world wTrade ReviewSamantha Clark writes on the subtle edge of words and thought. She renders the world within and the world of ideas with electric sensitivity and acute intelligence -- Jay GriffithsAs an artist, Clark is adept at dealing with metaphors and symbolism, and her forays into science and metaphysics feel like natural, unforced extensions of her grief and guilt, clarifying rather than obfuscating the path she has found through this turbulent phase of her life. Readers who have been through similar experiences will find much in this sensitive and articulate memoir which they can identify with and draw solace from * Herald *Samantha Clark's lyrically written memoir is a sensitive and haunting account of what it is like to grow up with a mentally ill parent, and how it affected her family and own life. It is a powerful meditation about fractured relationships, human vulnerability and resilience, loneliness and death . . . this unflinching memoir should appeal to those coming to terms with their own grief or mental illness * The Lady *Clark's perceptive memoir takes as its focal point "the gap left when something is gone", and the "clearing" of the title refers in large part to the process of visiting, again and again, her parents' home in Glasgow after their deaths, deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. At face value, this appears to be a memoir about grief, but it is not quite that. Rather, it is a reflection on art, life and the beauty to be found in things we can never fully understand -- Niamh Donnelly * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis''Extraordinarily brave and tender... a book that sings with love and hope'' Dr Rachel Clarke''Profoundly moving'' The Times ''Extraordinary'' Anita Rani, Woman''s Hour''Full of strength and hope'' Kate Mosse''Tender, heart-breaking and astonishingly eloquent'' Evening Standard''The most beautiful thing I have ever read'' Tom Bradby''If I were to look closely at the jagged edges of my fragmented heart, I''m sure I''d see that some spaces now shine with gold. And that is what he left for me.''On the 17th November 2019, Grey Atticus Fox was born, nine weeks early, to Georgie and Mike in a Kent Hospital. Heart-wrenching, cathartic, life-affirming, this is her account of the twenty-one days they had together, and its aftermath - the search to make sense of unimaginable loss. It bears witness to both the confusion and the clarity that accompany great pain, and stands as a tesTrade ReviewHeart-breaking, beautiful, important, full of integrity, powerful and honest, inspiring and full of the wonder of women and love... In bits but also full of admiration... Georgie is a wonderful writer, clear and honest, but never sentimental, and she lets all the other people going through this terrible time with her shine as well... Full of strength and hope, and I've no doubt will both help many and also give comfort to other mothers & fathers who have lost a child * Kate Mosse *This quietly devastating account of birth, pain and loss is gripping. As I read, I was lost in the quiet, tense atmosphere of Grey's story. Georgina Lucas portrays the world of the NICU in minute, often poetic detail, finding warmth and humour when life seems bleakest. It is an unflinching and beautiful book, ending on a note of light and love in a way that should inspire us all. * Sophie Kinsella *An extraordinary read... This tender, exquisite memoir explores devastating loss and grief, yes, but most of all it is a book about the surpassing, redemptive power of love... I cannot stop thinking about it * Lucy Foley *I finished reading this yesterday in a welter of emotions and not a few tears. I think that this is an amazing story, delicately but powerfully told. Georgina's observations of people, places and events ring so true - they are so often searingly accurate and also so wonderfully compassionate. Despite what could be an inexorably sad story I'm interested that the words I wrote down as I read it are all positive: optimism / hope / strength / power / love. It is my firm belief that immortality is being remembered by those who loved us and Greyman undoubtedly will continue to be remembered and celebrated. * Dr Richard Shepherd *Wow. That has been a heart-wrenching few hours' reading - difficult to read with streaming eyes! It's an incredibly sad but in some ways, also a truly beautiful story. It is heart-breaking in the sense of loss and tragedy, but also uplifting in the way the love sings from each page. Really quite extraordinary. * John Nichol *Georgie Lucas writes superbly with her spare, and unsentimental prose * Miriam Stoppard *This is the most beautiful thing I have ever read; a heart-breaking account of a tragic death that is also a profound, lyrical, sometimes funny and ultimately joyful meditation on the meaning of life. The book of the year, perhaps the decade. * Tom Bradby *Beautifully written, searingly honest and profoundly uplifting, this is a book to remind us what is most important in life; a book for anyone who has suffered a loss, or ever will... In short, it is a book for everyone * Katherine Webb *I just finished Georgie's book, and am completely shattered by the searing grief and pain which she was able to convey to me, the reader. Beautifully written, it was hard enough to relive with you all the days leading up to Grey's death, then the gorgeously cathartic family funeral lulls one into feeling somewhat healed. Only to be completely shattered by the almost unbearable piercing pain and grief of their loss, so well expressed that I am totally in awe of the way that you and Mindy and all the family went through this pain together, and found beauty and profound gifts to take away. Well done Georgie, I think it will bring solace and help to anyone going through this and give them a primer on how to be present and honest with themselves and those who love them. Because this honesty becomes a gift. * Dr Rita Lynn *Extraordinary... earth-shattering... so full of love -- Anita Rani * Woman’s Hour *Profoundly moving * The Times *[A] heart-wrenching and hopeful book... about the redeeming power of love... A meditation on the meaning of life * Sunday Post *[If Not For You] might be one of the most beautiful and inspiring things you'll read... Tender, heart-breaking and astonishingly eloquent, its pages flow with love, hope and sometimes even laughter * Evening Standard Magazine *In this brave, unflinching book Lucas looks back with love and hope at the 21 days of life granted to her baby son, who was born nine weeks premature * The i *Harrowing... If anyone is going through this trauma in the current socially distanced hospitals, this book will be in lieu of all those hugs... A message from one mother to another, reminding them they are not alone * Mail on Sunday *It is heartbreaking and beautiful * Sophie Ellis Bextor *[Lucas's] valuable story is important not just for its own sake; it could help us to speak more, and better, about an unfathomable experience that too many parents endure * TLS *The warmest, most beautiful book on love you'll read this year... by turns funny, observant, deeply moving, and always immensely readable... an absolute must-read, whatever your experience of loss... an extraordinary gift of a book by a truly brilliant writer * Kat Brown *I was moved to tears and transported to a place no one ever wants to imagine, but it also reminded me about what really matters, it is a book filled with so much more than sadness, it wrapped me in warmth and so much love * Izzy Judd *An amazing story of human kindness... I've got huge admiration for Georgie for writing the book that no one would ever want to write, for having the courage to tell a difficult story and the talent to tell it beautifully * Marina Fogle *I read this extraordinary book in a day and although a hugely emotional story, it is told with such love and humility that somehow it manages to create a feeling of hope amongst the heartbreak... If Not For You is a reminder to appreciate the love we can find through experiences we never imagined would be part of our story * Pippa Vosper *The most beautiful book I've read this year... Heart-wrenching, hopeful, brave and profound... Georgie's words made me cry and laugh out loud at moments * Hannah Barrett *Incredibly moving and impeccably written... The prose is understated and unsentimental, and all the more powerful for it... It made me weep and yet somehow left me uplifted... Above all, it made me think about what it truly means to be a parent and to love unselfishly * Jennie Agg *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''With conversations on Maternal Mental Health on the rise, and more women speaking up about the way they feel, Anna Mathur''s insight as a psychotherapist AND mother make her someone you feel you can trust. She offers little nuggets of gold while reminding us to point some of our kindness and love inwards.'' Giovanna Fletcher, bestselling author of Happy Mum, Happy Baby ''Anna is breath of fresh air - relatable, funny and wise'' Sarah Turner, bestselling author of The Unmumsy MumBaby-proof the house; panic-proof the mum.Do you overthink what you said to the mum in the supermarket queue? Is your internal dialogue more critical than kind? Perhaps you wake to check your baby is breathing, or the sight of a rash sends you down an internet search rabbit hole. Whatever your level of anxiety, however much it impacts your life, this book is for you.Anxiety is making motherhood a lesTrade ReviewAnna is breath of fresh air in the parenting space. Her words stick with me and I often find myself drawing on them at a later date. She is relatable, funny and wise - her voice is always one I feel I can trust, noting her experiences as both a psychotherapist and mother. * Sarah Turner aka The Unmumsy Mum *With conversations on Maternal Mental Health on the rise, and more women speaking up about the way they feel, Anna Mathur's insight as a psychotherapist AND mother make her someone you can trust. She offers little nuggets of gold while reminding us to point some of our kindness and love inwards. * Giovanna Fletcher, bestselling author of Happy Mum, Happy Baby *

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Book SynopsisAn inspiring, rags-to-riches guide to achieving success in life and business by the founder of Myprotein.How did a working-class 23-year-old, who left school with almost no qualifications, launch a business with just a 500 overdraft and turn it into more than 350 million? In Bootstrap Your Life, Oliver Cookson shares how he was able to build Europe''s number one online brand using nothing more than his own limited resources and the right mindset. Self-sufficient and self-taught, Oliver always had an eye for opportunities and pursued them obsessively. His breakthrough came when he combined his passion for health and fitness with his skills as a web developer. By embracing a disruptive, agile approach to business, offering unparalleled choice, and identifying trends ahead of the competition, Oliver was able to grow Myprotein rapidly into a top international, award-winning brand.In Bootstrap Your Life, Oliver doesn''t just share his journey

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Book SynopsisMagical highs and messy lows - motherhood is a rollercoaster of emotions, but it can be The Making of You.From the constant chatter of well-intentioned advice to the chaos of navigating how best to care for your little one, becoming a mother is exhausting.For Binky Felstead, Made in Chelsea star and co-founder of parenting advice app Bloss, becoming a mother marked the start of her journey towards feeling greater purpose and gratitude, but it wasn''t an easy ride. Binky went from co-parenting and losing friendships, to struggling with miscarriage and navigating blended families causing her to feel full of the anxieties every new mother faces.In The Making of You, Binky - together with 30 experts - shares her experience along with the mindful tips and advice that helped grow her confidence and feel empowered to be the best version of herself for her and her children. Inside you''ll find personal anecdotes with calming

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Book SynopsisHow do you get the best out of people? What does it take to make a team thrive?Few people know the answers better than Emma Hayes. As the coach of Chelsea FC Women, she has led the club to 14 major trophies. She is a widely celebrated figure in sports media and has been named TV pundit of the year by both Broadcast Magazine and the Sports Journalists Association. In 2021 she was named Best Football Coach by FIFA, in 2016 she was named MBE in the Queen's 90th birthday honours list, and in 2022 was awarded an OBE for her services to football. In her first ever book, written in collaboration with internationally best-selling author Michael Calvin, Emma shares her experience of managing a high-performance football team to draw out life lessons and techniques that anyone can use to their advantage. It's also a fascinating look into the world of women's football told by a woman at the centre of it, with frank, entertaining anecdotes from on and off the field.

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Book SynopsisFinalist for a Lambda Literary Award and a San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the YearTrade Review"I’m so glad you wrote this book." -- Terry Gross - NPR's Fresh Air"Compassionate, cleareyed." -- Alexandra Styron - New York Times Book Review"More than the story of just one person; [Fairyland] also open[s] a window on an entire society." -- Leigh Newman - O, The Oprah Magazine"I love the book Fairyland; it’s a sweet and unique love story of a girl and her dad." -- Sofia Coppola"Doubles as a portrait of a city and a community at a crucial point in history…funny, strange, and sweet." -- The New Yorker"Alysia beautifully remembers the innocence of the age between the disappearance of the Beats and the onset of AIDS." -- San Francisco Chronicle"Generous, precise, and deeply moving, Fairyland is a love story that not only brings a new generational perspective to a history we’re in danger of forgetting, but irrevocably shifts the way we think about family itself." -- Alison Bechdel, author of Are You My Mother?"Gorgeous…As a chronicle of the moment when the San Francisco of Armistad Maupin became the city of Harvey Milk, when gay and experimental poetry flourished in California, Fairyland is vivid and indelible. As the portrait of a conspiracy of love between a father and a daughter, it is heartrending, a brilliant addition to the literature of American memoir." -- Honor Moore, Author of Our Revolution"A beautiful, haunting book that instructs, even as it breaks our hearts." -- Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion: A Memoir"Clear-eyed and heartrending, Fairyland captures a singular time and place in American history. It also captures something much more important: what it means to be truly loved—and to love truly. A beautiful book." -- Andrew McCarthy, author of The Longest Way Home"As she depicts the dynamics of a unique, occasionally fraught, gay parent–straight child relationship, Abbott offers unforgettable glimpses into a community that has since left an indelible mark on both the literary and social histories of one of America’s most colorful cities. A sympathetic and deeply moving story." -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisA delightful and beguiling look at life on a small Paris street.Trade Review"...she [Sciolino] is a dedicated reporter, determined to uncover something new, and her pleasure in observing the little life of her surroundings is infectious." -- The Spectator"...you will enjoy her sumptuous eye for detail... Sciolino has captured the bouquet of her dream street, and even the most cynical reader will find moments of beguilement." -- The Best Books of 2016 - The Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe brilliance of a master historian shines through this personal account of a lifetime's work.

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Book SynopsisRaymond Blanc knows more about food than pretty much anyone else. His cooking has been described as ''an extraordinary process of creativity, passion, subtlety, indeed genius''. His life and career to date have been utterly dedicated to the search for culinary perfection. Raymond is entirely self-taught and over the years has been developing and refining his philosophy of food and eating. Such is his reputation that his restaurant, Le Manoir, was awarded two Michelin stars even before it opened in 1984, and it remains one of our premier destination restaurants. He has taught many of Britain''s most successful chefs, including Marco Pierre White and Heston Blumenthal. Now, for the first time Raymond is going to share the fruits of all that hard work and experimentation, and reveal the secrets of his gastronomy. Woven around stories from his years at the sharp end of the food business are his thoughts about where food is going and a passionate appeal for sustainTrade ReviewOnly a few great chefs are produced every century. Raymond Blanc is one of those great chefs * Marco Pierre White *A rattling good story * BBC Good Food Magazine *A delicious offering from Britain's nicest chef -- Alex Renton * The Times *Very well-seasoned... Absolutely mouth-watering -- Libby Purves, Radio 4Raymond Blanc is a compulsive lover of what is really best * Antonio Carluccio *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Nala''s World and Arthur, this is an uplifting and unforgettable true story about how the love of a good dog can save your life.Rob Kugler adopted his chocolate Lab Bella as a puppy - a bundle of fun and love to keep his girlfriend company as he headed off to war. But when Rob''s brother died and his relationship fell apart, it was Bella who was there to help heal the wounds, and make Rob''s life worth living again. So when Rob was told Bella had cancer - first in her leg, which had to be amputated, and then in her lungs - he was devastated.With only months of Bella''s life left, he knew just what he had to do for his furry best friend. Determined to show her the same unconditional love she had always shown him, Rob decided to give Bella the farewell adventure of her doggy dreams. Criss-crossing the USA from coast to coast, making many new friends along the way, Bella taught Rob never to give up and to live each day as thoTrade ReviewFor fans of Marley and Me. * Best *Engaging and sometimes heart-rending ... a certain tear-jerker for dog lovers. Love, devotion and slobbery kisses abound in this heartwarming story of a man and his treasured chocolate Lab. * Kirkus *Give me a good pet story and I'm hooked... [This] is about the encounters man and dog had with strangers who became friends along the way - teaching the reader a wealth about the value of making human connections. * Forbes *A beautiful memoir. * Psychologies *A beautiful, beautiful book. * Jenna Bush Hager *

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Book Synopsis**SHORTLISTED FOR THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE**'A splendid book.' Literary Review'A modern masterpiece.' New York Journal of BooksFinding the Raga is Amit Chaudhuri's revelatory exploration of North Indian classical music: an ancient, evolving tradition whose principles and practises will alter the reader's notion of what music might - and can - be. Through essay, memoir and cultural study, Chaudhuri dwells on the music's most distinctive and mysterious characteristics, resulting in a gift of a book for musicians and music lovers, and for any creative mind in search of diverse and transforming inspiration. 'Supple, intricate and uncompromising, full of delicate observation and insight.' -Geoff Dyer'[A] compelling meditation on Indian and Western art-making.' The New Yorker

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Book SynopsisRichly observed, this witty and yet deeply moving tale of Charlotte Hobson''s year travelling around Russia takes us to the heart of a country that we are continually interested in, yet can struggle to understand. As the TLS put it, Hobson writes with ''such a beguiling directness that it is hard not to feel intimate with her and her characters. Few books evoke so much of Russian life, with so little effort.''''Each chapter is a bonne bouche, possessing its own particular flavour, from sweet to acrid-bitter. Hobson''s characters are often wonderfully quixotic and so is the spirit she finds everywhere at this crux in Russia''s history. She drinks with derelicts, hangs out with gypsies, and watches investigators go about the grim business of exhuming purge victims, and giving them the Christian burial they have been denied for seventy years. Her style is deft: she manages to render the scenes through which she passes with needle-sharp precision.'' Financial Times

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Book SynopsisAccompanied throughout by the author's evocative hand-drawn illustrations, Deeper Into the Wood is a lyrical and inspiring story; a potent reminder of nature's delicate balance and our responsibility toward its preservation.Trade Review‘A wonderfully personal evocation of the joys, hard work and meaning of creating a wood for wildlife, written with sensitivity and care. A delightful read’ Stephen Moss, author of The Robin: A Biography‘A rare treat of a book that warms as it informs and leads us deep into the character of one small pocket of England. Ruth Pavey writes with wit, passion and precious little sentimentality' Tristan Gooley, author of The Secret World of Weather‘Wonderful... how love for a small woodland and respect for its local history can enhance wildlife and enrich the human spirit’ Nick Davies, author of Cuckoo: Cheating by Nature‘Ruth Pavey spins a delicate web between the many branches of her little Somerset wood. Her closely observed changes of wildlife and the changing seasons, echo a growing awareness and concern for life on Earth itself. The author’s growth and metamorphosis into an amateur naturalist who has learnt to read the language of trees is profoundly inspirational’ Gabriel Hemery, author of The New Sylva‘Inquisitive and generous. Pavey shares the love of her wood, past and present, through a fascinating weave of its natural and cultural histories. This book is as companionable as it is interesting' Patrick Baker, author of The Unremembered Places

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Book SynopsisTHE LIFE-CHANGING INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER FROM INSPIRATIONAL AUTHOR ALBERT ESPINOSAWhat is the yellow world?It is a way of seeing life differently.It is a world the colour of the sun; a world that makes you happy.It has no rules.It is in the pages of this book...Albert Espinosa has won several battles with death, which is why his stories are so full of life. He is powerful because he never gives up. His greatest hope is that after you have read this book, you will go off in search of your yellow world.''Wonderful'' Independent, Books of the Year''A spiritual classic'' Sunday Times''A word-of-mouth sensation'' Guardian''Full of self-deprecating humour'' The Times''Extraordinary'' Observer''The book everyone''s talking about'' Mail on Sunday''You make me smile'' Elle Macpherson

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Book Synopsis''A reminder that every childhood is different, and some are jaw-droppingly, mind-bendingly, heart-wrenchingly different.'' - Morris Gleitzman, Australian Children''s LaureateDeng Adut was six years old when war came to his village in South Sudan. Taken from his mother, he was conscripted into the Sudanese People''s Liberation Army. He was taught to use an AK-47 and sent into battle. Shot in the back, plagued by illness and the relentless brutality of war, Deng''s future was bleak. A child soldier must kill or be killed. But, after five years, he was rescued by his brother John and, miraculously, they became the third Sudanese family resettled in Australia. Songs of a War Boy is the inspirational memoir of a young man who has overcome unthinkable adversity to become a lawyer, refugee advocate and NSW Australian of the Year. It is also an important reminder of the power of compassion.Content warning: Parts of this book contain cTrade ReviewIt is an important reminder of the power of compassion and the benefit to us all when we open our doors and our hearts to fleeing war, persecution and trauma. * VIC [PRINT] Sunraysua Life *

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Book SynopsisDo you remember Pathé News? Taking the train to the seaside? The purple stains of iodine on the knees of boys in short trousers? Knitted bathing costumes? Then the chances are you were born in or around 1950. To the young people of today, the 1950s seem like another age. But for those born around then, this era of childhood feels like yesterday. This delightful collection of photographic memories will appeal to all who grew up in this post-war decade; they include pictures of children enjoying life out on the streets and bombsites, at home and at school, on holiday and at events. These wonderful period pictures and descriptive captions will bring back this decade of childhood, and jog memories about all aspects of life as it was in post-war Britain. Paul Feeney is the author of several bestselling nostalgia books including A 1950s Childhood and A 1960s Childhood (The History Press). He has also written the bestselling From Ration Book to Ebook (The History Pr

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Book SynopsisA STUNNING VISUAL WALK BACK THROUGH TIME TO A 1950S CHILDHOODDo you remember Pathé News? Taking the train to the seaside? The purple stains of iodine on the knees of boys in short trousers? Knitted bathing costumes? Then chances are you were born in or around 1950. To the young people of today, the 1950s seems like another age. But for those born around then, this era of childhood seems like yesterday.From waking up to ice on the inside of the windows to bathing in a tin bath by the fire and spoonfuls of cod liver oil, home life was very different to today. Capturing all aspects of a 1950s childhood home life, games and hobbies, holidays, music and fashion, and more bestselling author Paul Feeney spins his memories and delightful illustrations into a compendium that will jog priceless memories for all who grew up in post-war Britain.Trade Review'If you did grow up in the 1950s then you will find this ... absolutely impossible to put down.' -- This England Magazine 'It's like opening up a paper bag of penny chews or sherbet lemons. It's so evocative.' -- Jeni Barnett on The Jeni Barnett Show, LBC Radio 'So evocative I could smell the Christmas tree again.' -- Amazon customer

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Book SynopsisIt''s 2:47am when Dr Nick Trout, a British vet working in Boston, USA, is abruptly woken and called in to the Angell Memorial Animal Hospital to see if he can save the life of Sage, a ten year-old German Shephard with a critical stomach condition. The case is severe, the outlook bleak, and Dr Trout is her only chance. So begins an intimate and exhilarating journey into a typical day in a far from typical job.TELL ME WHERE IT HURTS takes the reader to the heart of the trials and tribulations of life as a veterinary surgeon, a life filled with heartbreak, triumph, anxiety, and of course, cuddly pets and their variously crazy, desperate, and demanding owners. The day''s events come alive with Trout''s breezy and companionable narration, and while he illustrates many of the issues pertinent to 21st century pet medicine, at its heart, the book reminds us that while the technology may have moved on from James Herriot''s day, the essential characters, humour, and humanity reTrade ReviewHeartfelt and candid * Irish News *

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Book Synopsis ''A must-read'' Daily Mail ''Hello. My name is Bill and I''m a bad beekeeper. A really bad beekeeper. So begins the charming and often hilarious account of how Bill Turnbull - the much-loved and much-missed TV presenter - stumbled into the world of beekeeping (sometimes literally). Despite many setbacks - including being stung (twice) on his first day of training - beekeeping somehow taught Bill a great deal about himself, and the world around him. The Bad Beekeeper''s Club also highlights the very real threats to Britain''s bee population. One in every three tablespoons of food derives directly from the pollinating process of the humble bumble bee. But hives are collapsing at an accelerating rate with significant environmental consequences. Fascinating and extremely funny, The Bad Beekeeper''s Club is a universally appealing story about a very singular passion. Trade ReviewHis description of the pleasure bees bring is captivating and told in such an engaging manner. This is truly charming. * News of the World *An entertaining beekeeping memoir * The Times *a must-read for honey lovers' Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable true story of the bestselling author of The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul, and the real women she met in Afghanistan''Composed of heartbreak, hope, poignancy and candour'' LA TIMESIn a little beauty school in the war zone of Kabul, a community of women comes together, all with stories to tell.DEBBIE, the American hairdresser who co-founds the training salon. As the burqas are removed in class, curls are coiffed and make-up is applied, Debbie''s students share with her their stories - and their hearts.MINA, forcibly married to a man in repayment of a family debt and threatened with having her child taken away.ROSHANNA, a tearful young bride terrified her in-laws will discover she''s not a virgin.And NAHIDA, the prize pupil who bears the scars of her Taliban husband''s approval.In the Kabul BeTrade ReviewKabul Beauty School transcends the feel-good genre largely because of the author's superior storytelling gifts and wicked sense of humor * New York Times *Bighearted and entertaining, Kabul Beauty School has a conversational style, but Rodriguez never shies away from the misery and oppression she encounters in the poor, rigidly patriarchal country * Entertainment Weekly *Composed of heartbreak, hope, poignancy and candour * LA Times *Colourful, suspenseful, funny... This witty and insightful memoir will be perfect for women's reading groups * Publishers Weekly *A very gutsy, real-life adventure story for women . . . This lively memoir is full of darkly funny moments - a customer who had never seen a blow dryer thinks it's a gun and runs screaming from the salon chair - and the humor leavens the horror stories about life in this war-torn land * People *[Rodriguez's] descriptions are endearingly frank (even about her own social gaffes), and her attempts to help those in need are inspirational and engaging * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisThere was once born a very little pony. Being quite so little, he was rejected by his herd, and the future looked bleak. A few fields over, a young girl was coming to terms with the fact that she would never be able to ride again. Unknowingly, they were about to change each other''s lives . . .The pony was Little Alf, a Shetland pony with dwarfism, and the girl, Hannah, who rescued him aged sixteen. From charity work and building a business together, they became constant companions, though there have been a few casualties along the way - mainly garden ornaments and the neighbours'' vegetables.Little Alf is the story of their life together - the adventures and the mischievous behaviour of the most adorable little pony.Trade ReviewA wonderfully heart-warming and inspirational story -- Linda ChapmanAlf the Shetland pony had been rejected by his herd and Hannah had been given the devastating news she would never ride again. When the two meet it's love at first sight. As the unlikely pair get to know each other, their affection deepens in this sweet story about hope and friendship * The Sun *

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Book SynopsisHank Haney received a call from Tiger Woods in which the golf champion asked Haney to be his coach. It was a call that would change both men's lives. Tiger - only 28 at the time - was by then already an icon, judged by the sporting press as not only one of the best golfers ever, but possibly the best athlete ever. This title tells his story.Trade ReviewAn alarming look at an athlete whose public glories masked a day-to-day existence of profound superficiality * Golfweek *I learned more about Tiger in The Big Miss than I have in eleven years of covering him on the PGA Tour -- Damon Hack, Senior Writer * Sports Illustrated *Insightful ... dissects what makes Tiger, Tiger * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisGuardian ''literary highlights of 2020''Sunday Times ''books to watch out for in 2020''New Statesman ''books to read in 2020''Evening Standard ''thirteen titles to look for in 2020''As divisive as he is beguiling, as misunderstood as he is scrutinised, Boris Johnson is a singular figure. Many of us think we know his story well. His ruthless ambition was evident from his insistence, as a three-year-old, that he would one day be ''world king''. Eton and Oxford prepared him well for a frantic career straddling the dog-eat-dog worlds of journalism and politics. His transformation from bumbling stooge on Have I Got New for You to a triumphant Mayor of London was overshadowed only by his colourful personal life, brimming with affairs, scandals and transgressions. His ascent to Number 10 in the wake of the acrimonious, era-defining Brexit referendum would prove to be only the first act in an epic drama that saw hiTrade ReviewEXPLOSIVE... Contains a string of startling revelations about Mr Johnson's public and personal life, and goes farther than any previous biography towards solving the enigma of his true personality... The political book of 2020. * Daily Mail *Staggering... Tom Bower [is] the master of the unauthorised biography * Tatler *A colourful and often catty read... full of zingers... Bower insists Boris Johnson should not be underestimated * The Telegraph *Tom Bower made his name as a writer of acid-pen biographies and his latest is no exception ... It's all there: the affairs, the lies, the broken promises, the unpaid debts. * Jonathan Freedland, The Guardian BOOK OF THE WEEK *Another brilliant book by the master biographer * Piers Morgan *

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