Memoirs Books

Book Synopsis"An inspiring book about love in its purest form."—JANE GOODALL, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of PeaceWith the heartwrenching vulnerability of The Glass Castle and the spiritual journey of H is for Hawk, this stunning debut memoir tells the story of a traumatized young woman's friendship with an injured dolphin whose habitat she fights to save.When Melody Horrill arrived at university she was a troubled and lost young woman, hiding behind a carefully crafted exterior. She had experienced a childhood of emotional and physical trauma mainly at the hands of her violent father that was as damaging as it was brutal.One day Melody volunteered to help her lecturer monitor pods of river dolphins nearby. There for the first time she encountered Jock, a solitary dolphin with a maimed fin, who lived apart from the highly social pods. Melody was to form a bond with Jock that gave her the key to freeing herself from the demons of her own past, and their extraordinary friendship was the start of a long-term mission to try to save the river dolphins.Beautifully written and filled with insight and compassion, Melody's memoir details her life-changing friendship with the river dolphins, and how Jock helped her to heal.Trade Review"Compelling, taught, open and direct ... a highly engaging narrative [which is] very honest and real."—James Aldred, author of Goshawk Summer"I came away from reading this deeply moving book feeling that not only was the author fortunate to encounter dolphins in her life, in the way the animals guided and lifted her towards recovery from her upbringing, but that the dolphins themselves were fortunate to have in Melody Horrill a writer so attuned to their grace and remarkable intelligence and, above all, driven by their plight."—James Macdonald Lockhart, author of Raptor and Wild Air"A beautiful story of deeply shared emotions and unfiltered empathy between two beings—a troubled young woman and Jock, an isolated injured river dolphin who couldn't possibly have anticipated their future strong and unlikely friendship—who met, healed one another, and brightened one another's life."—Marc Bekoff, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence"An exceptionally moving memoir about the potential of animal and human interaction to heal our wounded hearts. While Melody’s story is unique to her, its message of resilience and hope will be deeply inspiring for all. Get a copy for anyone you love!"—Courtney Maum, author of The Year of the Horses"An inspiring book about love in its purest form."—Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace"Like My Octopus Teacher, Melody Horrill's story explores an unforgettable friendship that bridges species and worlds."—Mark Leiren-Young, author of The Killer Whale Who Changed the World

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the intimate and revealing autobiography of the late Margaret Rhodes, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and the niece of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Margaret was born into the Scottish aristocracy, into a now almost vanished world of privilege. Royalty often came to stay and her house was run in the style of Downton Abbey. In the Second World War years she 'lodged' at Buckingham Palace while she worked for MI5. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousin, Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip. Three years later the King and Queen attended her own wedding; Princess Margaret was a bridesmaid. In 1990 she was appointed as a Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen Mother, acting also as her companion, which she describes in touching detail. In the early months of 2002, she spent as much time as possible with her ailing aunt, and was at her bedside when she died at Easter that year. The next morning she went to Queen Elizabeth's bedroom to pray, and in farewell dropped her a final curtsey.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A valuable book and a necessary one. One of the funniest and cleverest voyages on record.' Christopher Hitchens, New Statesman 'The finest writer afloat since Conrad.' Geoffrey Moorhouse, The Guardian 'Unfailingly witty and entertaining.' Salman RushdieCoasting round Britain single-handed in an antique two-masted sailing boat, Jonathan Raban conducts a masterly exploration of England and the English at the time of Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War. He moves seamlessly between awkward memories of childhood as the son of a vicar, a vivid chronicle of the shape-shifting sea and incisive descriptions of the people and communities he encounters. As he faces his terror of racing water, eddies, offshore sandbars and ferries on a collision course, so he navigates the complex and turbulent waters of his own middle age. Coasting is a fearless attempt to discover the meaning of belonging and of his English homeland.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Anne Marie McAleese invited birding expert Dot Blakely on to her radio show, Your Place and Mine, she had no idea that it would mark the beginning of an enduring friendship and a life-changing birding odyssey. For the next two decades, the pair travelled all over Northern Ireland, exploring the wonderful world of birds and the glorious and varied landscapes they inhabit. In Homebirds, Anne Marie and Dot tell the inspiring and often funny story of their adventures. In all weathers, they make their way around parks and loughs, up hills and along coastlines, through villages and towns, meeting a cast of oystercatchers, blackcaps, fulmars, pied wagtails, buzzards, blue tits, herons, brent geese and many more. Illustrated with more than 100 images, Homebirds is packed with information on how to identify birds and attract them to your garden, and includes fascinating facts about the places visited. Above all, Homebirds is a celebration of the wonders of nature on our doorstep and a call for us all to get out and enjoy them.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis50th Anniversary EditionIn this beloved memoir, Seamus Murphy tells the story of his seven-year stone carving apprenticeship in Ireland. His artistic sensitivity matched his fellow craftsmen's reverence for 'the well made thing,' creating a tale of warmth, humour, and profound beauty.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Orient Express hurtles towards the promised land, and Banine is free for the first time in her life. She has fled her ruined homeland and unhappy forced marriage for a dazzling new future in Paris. Now she cuts her hair, wears short skirts, mingles with Russian émigrés, Spanish artists, writers and bohemians in the 1920's beau monde - and even contemplates love. But soon she finds that freedom brings its own complications. As her family's money runs out, she becomes a fashion model to survive. And when a glamorous figure from her past returns, life is thrown further into doubt. Banine has always been swept along by the forces of history. Can she keep up with them now? Told with vivacious wit and a lust for life, this companion to Days in the Caucasus is a bittersweet portrayal of youthful dreams, and the elusive search for happiness.Trade ReviewPraise for Days in the Caucasus'Every so often a voice emerges from the archive so vivid that it seems impossible that it should ever have been forgotten' - Evening Standard'A delightful memoir of an eventful life set against the helter-skelter of the 20th century... Banine herself shines through as an intelligent and independent spirit, longing for her own self-determination' - Financial Times'An enchanting memoir' - Jane Shilling'I started to leaf through the book and was soon engrossed... So vividly and wittily does the author reveal to us an utterly unfamiliar world' - Teffi

Read more less

Book SynopsisI will teach them literature, poetry, culture. I will teach them The Waste Land ! I will be the Best Teacher Who Has Ever Lived!Or so the Secret Teacher thinks. On his first day at an inner-city state school things don't quite go to plan . . . His students are an unruly mob stuffed with behavioural issues, but somehow, the Secret Teacher needs to enthuse them with a love of books. Or at least keep them sitting at their desks until the end of the lesson. And then he's got to deal with marking, OFSTED, educational consultants, spreadsheets, personal statements, school trips, strikes, class, race, love, death, birth, manhood, dry cleaning, the end of literary culture . . .This is a vivid account of the Secret Teacher's first few years in the classroom. Here he celebrates the extraordinary teachers he has worked with, and the kids: bolshie, bright, funny and absolutely electric.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Probably the biggest story in football of the last decade ... Reads like a Cold War thriller.' - Best Football Books of 2019, FourFourTwo ***One anonymous football fan.18.6 million confidential documents. The explosive story of the shady underworld of modern football.In 2016, a whistle-blower known only as 'John' began leaking a treasure trove of top-secret files, revealing the clandestine dealings of clubs, players and agents at the highest levels of international football.From the eye-popping details of player transfers, to loopholes and opaque tax structures that ensure maximum earnings, this is a tale of rapacious greed and dodgy deals. It is also a gripping story of a fan who wanted to free football from corruption, but finds himself on the run.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOn the 2nd of August 1947 a young man gets off a train in a small Swedish town. He has survived the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz, and the harrowing slave camps and transports during the final months of Nazi Germany. Now he has to learn to live with his memories. In this intelligent and deeply moving book, Göran Rosenberg returns to his own childhood in order to tell his father's story. It is also the story of the chasm that soon opens between the world of the child, suffused with the optimism, progress and collective oblivion of post-war Sweden, and the world of the father, haunted by the long shadows of the past.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 FROM THE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING CRITIC AND ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF NEGROLAND 'This is one of the most imaginative - and therefore moving - memoirs I have ever read' - Vivian Gornick, author of Fierce Attachments Margo Jefferson boldly and brilliantly fuses cultural analysis and memoir to probe race, class, family and art. Taking in the jazz and blues icons whom Jefferson idolised as a child in the 1950s, ideas of what the female body could be - as incarnated by trailblazing Black dancers and athletes - Harriet Beecher Stowe's Topsy reimagined in the artworks of Kara Walker, white supremacy in the novels of Willa Cather, and more, this breathtakingly eloquent account is both a critique and a vindication of the constructed self. 'Margo Jefferson's Constructing a Nervous System is as electric as its title suggests. It takes vital risks, tosses away rungs of the ladder as it climbs, and offers an indispensable, rollicking account of the enchantments, pleasures, costs, and complexities of "imagin[ing] and interpret[ing] what had not imagined you' - Maggie Nelson, author of The Argonauts 'If you want to know who we are and where we've been, read Margo Jefferson' - Edmund White, author of A Previous Life 'This is a moving portrait of the life of a brilliant African American woman's mind. Margo Jefferson is so real, her sensibility so literary, her learning such a joy. The gifts of reading her are many' - Darryl Pinckney, author of Sold and GoneTrade ReviewElectric [Jefferson] takes vital risks, tosses away rungs of the ladder as it climbs, and offers an indispensable, rollicking account of the enchantments, pleasures, costs, and complexities of "imagin[ing] and interpret[ing] what had not imagined you -- Maggie Nelson * author of The Argonauts *Margo Jefferson has created a startling and digressive form of auto-analysis... an intimate view of the aesthetic and political landscape of American culture and the secrets, longing, withholding and disavowal necessary to imagine oneself inside it and ward off its damage -- Saidiya Hartman * author of Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments *She knows everything and has felt it all deeply. If you want to know who we are and where we've been, read Margo Jefferson -- Edmund White * author of A Previous Life *Margo Jefferson is one of our most nuanced thinkers on the intersections of race, class, and feminism. Her latest Constructing a Nervous System is especially alive is both spiky and supple; jagged -- Cathy Park Hong * New York Times bestselling author of Minor Feelings *This is one of the most imaginative-and therefore moving-memoirs I have ever read -- Vivian Gornick * author of Fierce Attachments *Jefferson is as precise and sensitive as ever, nonpareil in her scope and ability to synthesize the circus of traditions, arcs, and performances that make up a life -- Most Anticipated Books of 2022 * Vulture *This is a moving portrait of the life of a brilliant African American woman's mind. Margo Jefferson is so real, her sensibility so literary, her learning such a joy. The gifts of reading her are many -- Darryl Pickney * author of Sold and Gone *A tour-de-force of personal narrative -- Keziah Weir * Vanity Fair *Margo Jefferson is the rare memoirist who is always daring the reader to keep up... It is impossible not to be stirred by her odes to fellow black American strivers of excellence * Observer *Constructing a Nervous System compresses memoir and cultural criticism into one slim, explosive volume, and in doing so the Pulitzer Prize-winning author makes both forms new. Hers is a wry, intimate portrayal of a passionate and intellectual woman coming to maturity... Jefferson has that rare ability to make her reader see things anew. -- Margie Orford * Spectator *Part autobiography, part cultural criticism, [Margo Jefferson] reminds us that the rules for how we structure memory, and how we tell our stories, are not immutable. -- Enuma Okoro * Financial Times *Lithe and always surprising... [Jefferson] paints a remarkable portrait of herself as a singular kind of performer * New Statesman *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn artist's obsession with Géricault's monumental painting The Raft of the Medusa, and an intensely personal reckoning that delves deep inside the making of an artwork. Artist Tom de Freston has long had an obsession with Géricault's painting The Raft of the Medusa, and the troubling story behind its creation. The monumental canvas, which hangs in the Louvre, depicts a 19th century tragedy in which 150 people were drowned at sea on a raft lost in a stormy sea, when the ship Medusa was wrecked on shallow ground. When de Freston began making an artwork with Ali, a Syrian writer blinded by a bombing, The Raft's depiction of pain and suffering resonated powerfully with him, as did Géricault's awful life story. It spoke not only to Ali's story but to Tom's family history of trauma and anguish, offering him a passage out of the dark waters in which he found himself. In spellbinding, visceral prose, de Freston opens a window onto the magnetic frisson that runs between a past masterpiece and contemporary artistic endeavours. He asks powerful questions about how we might translate violence, fear and trauma into art, how we try to make sense of seemingly unthinkable acts, and the value in facing and depicting the darkest horrors.Trade ReviewGéricault''s Raft stands as a statement as much as painting, a history lesson, a nightmare, a gigantic perfidy, a visual shorthand for abuse and disaster rendered in exquisite oils... In pulses of literary reference and art history and Gericault''''s own radical life story, de Freston evokes a provocative new voyage for the rotting raft - seen through his own visceral experience of the vast painting, and its uproarious terrors and visions, which hold a mortal but undying resonance for our own times... A stupendous work -- Philip HoareTo read Wreck is to observe a mind as it delves into the pentimenti of the past, moving through complexities of horror, art, solidarity, and trauma. Unforgettable -- Doireann Ní Ghríofa, author of A Ghost in the ThroatNot only an extraordinary exploration of how an artwork is created but a devastating portrayal of what it means to means to struggle, to be human, to find hope. A darting, incredibly ambitious book which brings together the head and the heart. I am still ringing with the experience of reading it -- Daisy Johnson, author of SistersWreck is a stunning piece of writing - powerful, moving, and raw. It is electrifying -- Louise O'NeillI've never read a book like Wreck before. It pulled me in, engulfed me, cast me up, left me beached, left me wrecked. There are sudden vivid plunges into historical dreaming, dazzling close-readings of artworks, profoundly courageous passages of memoir, and as one proceeds through it one learns how to read it: by rhymes, echoes and flashes of lightning -- Robert MacfarlaneA mix of art, identification and memoir... [Wreck] is a strange hybrid, but [de Freston] finds the right tone, and it becomes clear that what [he] is examining is not so much one painting as the relationship between art and suffering * New Statesman *Burns with an intensity that's sometimes disturbing and bewildering and, more often than not, powerfully moving -- Mark Bostridge * Oldie *A beguiling hybrid of memoir, art history and fiction... imaginative... lyrical * TLS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat matters in the end? In the final years of life, which memories stand out? Writing from her retirement home in Highgate, London, as she approaches her 100th year, Diana Athill recalls in sparkling detail the moments in her life which sustain her. With vivid memories of the past mingled with candid, wise and often very funny reflections on the experience of being very old, Alive, Alive Oh! reminds us of the joy and richness to be found at every stage of life.Trade ReviewAthill's signature is precise, crisp phrasing of the kind that has the reader scrabbling for something with which to underline it... Full of life in the shadow of death -- Caroline Criado-Perez * Observer *A gloriously wise and knowing collection of memories... [written] with her usual clarity, frankness and unsentimentality -- Danuta Kean * Independent on Sunday *A vivid sensual apprehension of physical pleasure [...] informs the best writing in this book * Evening Standard *[This book] contains [Athill's] often moving and always engaging reflections on what really matters as you face the final curtain...The sheer candour with which she writes and the overwhelming sense of a life fully lived are both quite marvellous * Bookseller *Astonishingly vital and fiercely intelligent... Athill seems always to be completely honest and without unnecessary sentiment * Kirkus Reviews *Prodigious diarist Diana Athill looks back with her usual mix of spike and spark on a formidable life * Independent *Infused with joie de vivre -- Lucy Scholes * Independent *A series of amusing anecdotes * Irish Mail on Sunday *The remarkable story of her outwardly conventional life * Daily Telegraph *Abundant, earthly and spiritual -- Book of the Week * Guardian *Full of clear fresh air and bright distance -- Open Book, Radio 4There are... many treasures in this heterogeneous cabinet of curiosities * Financial Times *Jam-packed with joie de vivre * Psychologies *[She] bathes us in lush imagery... If I'm making a mountain out of an Athill, it's because the author doesn't merely beckon you in for a sit-down and a cuppa; she springs a back panel to her mind and guides you down the thought paths inside - some dark, others dappled, all converging confidently on the things that truly matter in our lifetimes * Washington Post *Wise, candid and all-round remarkable, Athill reflects on being in her nineties. She touches on her childhood, memories of men, the delights of being in a home and much more. * Woman & Home *Diana Athill reflects with a beautiful frankness on the pleasures and pains of a life very well lived. Splendid, and even more splendid * Sainsbury's Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHumans have always used their hands to create the world around them. But now most of us have gone from being practitioners to theorists, from being producers to consumers. What happens to our society when we are so divorced from the act of making? What happens to us as individuals when we limit the uses to which we put our hands? These are questions that preoccupy Siri Helle when she inherits a cabin of 25 square metres, without electricity, inlet water, or a loo, and decides to build an outhouse herself. Without any previous experience of building anything, she has to learn on the job and what she learns is not just about how to lay a floor and construct walls, but about what she is capable of and about craft and about the satisfactions to be found in making things by hand. Written with humour and insight, Handmade is the inspiring story of someone who tried to do it herself - and did.Trade ReviewThis is a delightful and timely book about resilience and environmental care... This story of ingenuity and determination is an inspirational read for anyone keen to explore how they can live a more self-sufficient life -- Clare Hunter, author of Threads of LifeA paean to the power and purpose of practical skill, celebrating hands-on engagement with the natural world... Handmade champions female strength and skill in the great outdoors and Helle's message, powerfully wrought and lyrically expressed, is that the promise of a different way of living is in our hands -- Esther RutterWhat a delight! Handmade is a highly original invitation to find creativity, intelligence, authenticity and health, all in the palms of our hands -- Lyanda Lynn Haupt, author of RootedCharming -- Simon Usborne * The Sunday Times *Beautifully packaged... Celebrating the importance and impact of making lasting things with your hands, [Handmade is] a delightful read that makes for a perfect present -- Francesca Brown * Stylist’s Best New Books for March 2022 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The Recovering and The Empathy Exams comes the riveting story of rebuilding a life after the end of a marriage - an exploration of motherhood, art and new love.

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for Travel Memoir Book of the Year, Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2020 / Winner - GOLD in Personality of the Year, SILVER in The Extra Mile Award as well as SILVER in Book of the Year all in The Great Outdoor Awards 2019 'This uplifting memoir is testament that in life there are times when there is nothing for it but to scale that mountain' -The Herald Best Summer Reads 2019 In 1997, at the age of 24, Sarah lost her mother to breast cancer. Alone and adrift in the world, she very nearly gave up hope, but she'd made a promise to her mother that she would keep going no matter what. So she turned to the beautiful, dangerous, forbidding mountains of her native Scotland.Trade Review'I loved Just Another Mountain . . . It's a really good read' - Lorraine Kelly; 'Honest, raw and beautifully written, this uplifting memoir is testament that in life there are times when there is nothing for it but to scale that mountain' - The Herald Best Summer Reads 2019; 'An inspiring book for anyone facing challenges. And a heartfelt reminder that only some mountains look like mountains' - Tristan Gooley, author of The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues & Signs and Wild Signs and Star Paths; 'A beautifully written book . . . a powerful message and a thrilling conclusion to a seemingly unachievable goal' - Rosamund Young, author of The Secret Life of Cows; 'A story of love and loss and of the redemptive power of mountains, in particular the incomparable mountains of Scotland' --Stephen Venables, mountaineer and writer; 'An excellent memoir ... vivid and honest ... so much more than just a book about walking and climbing in the mountains. Quite frankly it's heart-breaking at times. Sarah Jane Douglas writes beautifully, her descriptive passages of what she sees and experiences on the mountains are some of the best I've read" - read-warbler.blogspot.com

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Deeply thoughtful and compassionate ... Don't Turn Away is a fine book and is accessible for the seasoned psychiatrist and general reader alike.’ The British Journal of Psychiatry As Featured on BBC Woman's Hour 'Deeply thoughtful and compassionate' Susie Orbach, author of In Therapy 'A book with the power to move and inform . . . [Campling] is an expert in "intelligent kindness".' Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know 'Fantastic new book from Penny Campling - 5 stars' Dr Kate Lovett, former Dean, Royal College of Psychiatrists Over the course of her 40-year career, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Penelope Campling has worked with patients from all walks of life, from survivors of abuse to ICU doctors struggling under the strain of Covid-19. She has seen many positive changes in how we approach mental health – and yet she is increasingly troubled by the state of our health services. Too often those suffering from serious mental illness are being neglected, locked away, even abused. In Don't Turn Away Campling takes us into the therapy room, offering unique insight into how we treat those in distress. She shows us how the progress made in a more optimistic era of psychiatry is fast being eroded; how our struggling healthcare system often fails those who need our support; and how crucial it is in today's uncertain world that we do not turn away. Candid, compassionate and, above all, hopeful, Don't Turn Away is a story of troubled minds and how we try to heal them. '[An] insightful, important book . . . an exhibition of what could be possible and an invitation to act to deliver that vision.' Kathryn Mannix, author of Listen 'A lucid and much-needed articulation of the frustration shared by so many struggling to keep the NHS afloat' Iona Heath, BMJ 'As a GP I wish I could send patients to Penelope Campling; as someone worried about failing mental health services, I wish she were in charge.' Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being 'An important book, moving and honest… stands out in its field of psychotherapist memoirs' Beth Guilding, TLS 'This book oozes compassion and kindness and made me want to be a more understanding doctor.' Kate Milton, British Journal of GP PracticeTrade Review‘Deeply thoughtful and compassionate’ Susie Orbach, author of In Therapy ‘A book with the power to move and inform . . . [Campling] is an expert in “intelligent kindness”.’ Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know 'Fantastic new book from Penny Campling - 5 stars' Dr Kate Lovett, former Dean, Royal College of Psychiatrists [An] insightful, important book . . . an exhibition of what could be possible and an invitation to act to deliver that vision.’ Kathryn Mannix, author of Listen ‘A lucid and much-needed articulation of the frustration shared by so many struggling to keep the NHS afloat’ Iona Heath, BMJ ‘As a GP I wish I could send patients to Penelope Campling; as someone worried about failing mental health services, I wish she were in charge.’ Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being ‘An important book, moving and honest… stands out in its field of psychotherapist memoirs’ Beth Guilding, TLS ‘This book oozes compassion and kindness and made me want to be a more understanding doctor.’ Kate Milton, British Journal of GP Practice

Read more less

Book Synopsis'I have yet to come away from reading [Bering's] work and not feel considerably better informed than I was minutes before' (Forbes)__________________This penetrating analysis aims to demystify a subject that knows no cultural or demographic boundaries.Why do people want to kill themselves? Despite the prevalence of suicide in the developed world, it's a question most of us fail to ask. On hearing news of a suicide we are devastated, but overwhelmingly we feel disbelief.In A Very Human Ending, research psychologist Jesse Bering lifts the lid on this taboo subject, examining the suicidal mindset from the inside out to reveal the subtle tricks the mind can play when we're easy emotional prey. In raising challenging questions Bering tests our contradictory superstitions about the act itself. Combining cutting-edge research with investigative journalism and first-person testimony, Bering also addresses the history of suicide and its evolutionary inheritance to offer a personal, accessible, yet scientifically sound examination of why we are the only species on earth that deliberately ends its own life.Trade ReviewJesse Bering asks the questions no one else dares, he tells truths that others shy away from, and he writes the books that I wish I had written. To me, he is everything a great scientist and communicator should be. Suicide may be an uncomfortable subject yet the escalating numbers of people who take their lives each year means we must make it’s unravelling our priority. I have no doubt this book will have a profound impact on all who read it, and add considerably to our understanding of that self-willed oblivion, whether it lies palpably just beneath our own skin, or the skins of those we love. But perhaps most importantly of all it will help dispel the stigma and shame that so perniciously clings to all suicides. -- Dr Christian JessenA brave and important exploration of a subject we urgently need to demystify. It will change every reader for the better. -- Derren BrownBering's book touches upon some deep questions relevant to all of us. Indeed, it is as much about what makes us uniquely human as it is about suicide. A Very Human Ending transcends its own objectives. It is a fascinating, thoughtful, unflinching meditation on one of the most intriguing and curious aspects of the human condition. -- Dr Frank Tallis, clinical psychologist * Evening Standard *I'm not surprised that a book on suicide would be very personal, but I didn’t expect it to be so damn funny. It's also engaging, thoughtful, and sensitive – although Bering is certainly irreverent, there is a real appreciation of how painful and difficult this topic can be. This is a book for scholars and for a general audience, but it is also entirely suitable for people whose lives have been touched by the suicide of someone they loved. * Paul Bloom, Professor of Psychology at Yale University and author of Against Empathy *I have yet to come away from reading [Bering’s] work and not feel considerably better informed than I was just minutes before * Forbes *

Read more less

Book Synopsis*CATCH THE TV ADAPTATION OF SHRILL ON BBC3 NOW*'Women are told, from birth, that it's our job to be small: physically small, small in our presence, and small in our impact on the world. We're supposed to spend our lives passive, quiet and hungry. I want to obliterate that expectation...'Guardian columnist Lindy West wasn't always loud. It's difficult to believe she was once a nerdy, overweight teen who wanted nothing more than to be invisible. Fortunately for women everywhere, along the road she found her voice - and how she found it! That cripplingly shy girl who refused to make a sound, somehow grew up to be one of the loudest, shrillest, most fearless feminazis on the internet, making a living standing up for what's right instead of what's cool.In Shrill, Lindy recounts how she went from being the butt of people's jokes, to telling her own brand of jokes - ones that carry with them with a serious message and aren't at someone else's expense. She reveals the obstacles and stereotyping she's had to overcome to make herself heard, in a society that doesn't think women (especially fat women and feminists) are or can be funny. She also tackles some of the most burning issues of popular culture today, taking a frank and provocative look at racism, oppression, fat-shaming, twitter-trolling and even rape culture, unpicking the bullshit and calling out unpalatable truths with conviction, intelligence and a large dose of her trademark black humour.'Lindy West is an essential (and hilarious) voice for women. Her talent and bravery have made the Internet a place I actually want to be.' Lena DunhamTrade ReviewA warm, capacious and funny writer * Guardian *This is a feminist, empowering book; I cried the whole way through though it's very funny as well ... It's nice to read something that you know would have changed your life for ever if you'd read it when you were 16 -- Sofie Hagen * Observer *This important, brutally honest book makes for a hilarious read * Buzzfeed *Lindy West is an essential (and hilarious) voice for women. Her talent and bravery have made the Internet a place I actually want to be. * Lena Dunham *it is a powerful and frequently furious declaration of West's right to exist and be heard * i *A call-to-arms for any woman who feels like she can't find her voice * Red *Brilliant and brave * Sunday Independent *The new feminist bible * Stylist *Standout . . . screamingly funny * The Pool *It's very very funny... it was a really enjoyable memoir but very disquieting too. * Nine to Noon, Radio NZ *For the vast number of women who have struggled to accept their bodies as they are, West's memoir will offer numerous fist-pump moments. * New Zealand Listener *If you've ever been labelled with a condescending big-girl euphemism such as "bubbly" or "exuberant" . . . you will laugh your chubby head off at West's book * Weekend West *Shrill is a gutsy, whip-smart and fierce demonstration of the importance and the cost of speaking out * Canberra Times, Sydney Morning Herald, The Saturday Age *Fun and feisty * Fabulous *She reveals the obstacles she has encountered in challenging the status quo. * City Messenger *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNgugi wa Thiong’o’s powerful prison memoir begins half an hour before his release on 12 December 1978. A year earlier, he recalls, armed police arrived at his home and took him to Kenya’s Kamiti Maximum Security Prison. There, Ngugi lives in a block alongside other political prisoners, but he refuses to give in to the humiliation. He decides to write a novel in secret, on toilet paper – it is a book that will become his classic, Devil on the Cross.Wrestling with the Devil is Ngugi’s unforgettable account of the drama and challenges of living under twenty-four-hour surveillance. He captures not only the pain caused by his isolation from his family, but also the spirit of defiance and the imaginative endeavours that allowed him to survive.Trade ReviewOne of the greatest writers of our time -- Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieA tremendous writer... It's hard to doubt the power of the written word when you hear the story of Ngugi wa Thiong’o * Guardian *Ngugi is affording us a glimpse into how a prisoner of conscience, by stubbornly reiterating his convictions, keeps faith with the ideals that those in power want him to betray... This thrilling testament to the human spirit had, for me, a fierce resonance... I could not help feeling that his luminous words were meant for those victims and many others being persecuted across the world, a way of urging humanity to never surrender to the demons of fear and silence -- Ariel Dorfman * New York Times *One of Kenya's greatest storytellers * Financial Times *A visionary writer * Daily Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times BestsellerThis is the inside story of twelve years at the helm of Britain’s greatest theatre.It is a story of lunatic failures and spectacular successes such as The History Boys, War Horse and One Man, Two Guvnors; of opening the doors of the National Theatre to a broader audience than ever before, and changing the public’s perception of what theatre is for. It is about probing Shakespeare from every angle and reinventing the classics. About fostering new talent and directing some of the most celebrated actors of our times. Its cast includes the likes of Alan Bennett, Maggie Smith, Mike Leigh, Daniel Day-Lewis, Michael Gambon and Helen Mirren. Intimate, candid and insightful, Balancing Acts is a passionate exploration of the art and alchemy of making theatre.Trade ReviewA tremendous book about life in the theatre — and theatre, and life. Honest, shrewd and heartfelt. A classic of its kind. -- William BoydWitty, waspish, and extraordinarily wise, it comes as no surprise to discover that Nick Hytner is every bit as good a writer as he is a director. Part fascinating memoir, part brilliant guidebook, Balancing Acts is also a record of how one man challenged and changed the way theatre is perceived in the UK, and with a few brilliant strokes – £10 tickets, live cinema broadcasts, and a dazzlingly inventive and brilliant repertory – created the first great theatre of the twenty-first century. For his description of what went into that quiet revolution, and for many other reasons, this wonderful book is essential reading. -- Sam MendesAs the record of a great theatre dealing fully and richly with the past and finding new ways of holding a glass up to the present, it’s incomparably interesting... This book is immensely readable, full of vivid anecdotes, and rich with an intimate understanding of drama both classic and modern. I loved it, and I’m sure it will do very well. -- Philip PullmanNicholas Hytner gives a riveting account of his time at the National Theatre. “Nothing makes me happier” he writes “than to throw a party and sit on the edge of it.” It was a party, often a triumphant one, but he was at the heart of it. As was someone else: Shakespeare, about whom he writes superbly. Speaking for myself I’ve never had so much fun as working with Nicholas Hytner. This lovely book explains why. -- Alan BennettWitty and entertaining, [Hytner] has an ability to be serious without being portentous, and he’s able to tell a good story … Balancing Acts is both history and illumination … You don’t have to be interested in theatre or even in culture to enjoy this book … But if you do happen to be interested in one of the few organisations in Britain that actually achieves what it’s supposed to … then you’ll be delighted. What’s more, in the account of Hytner’s directing at least six Shakespeare plays … you’ll find yourself given a masterclass. -- Richard Eyre * Evening Standard *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA compelling true story of the reality of undercover police workFor over 20 years, Joe Carter has worked for the police as an undercover cop. Travelling the globe on different passports, fraternising with thieves and international drugs and arms dealers, working alongside dangerous criminals, Carter always knew his life would come crashing down around him at any point. His story is a gripping account of the secret, solitary work of an undercover officer and the many ‘sticky’ situations he found himself in, as well as the moving confession of the difficulty in reconciling his two identities with his family life.This book explores the resilience needed to lead a double life, the thrilling challenge of working with the biggest criminals in Britain, and maintaining a sense of justice through the many adventures he encounters.Trade ReviewThis is the best expose of life as a British Undercover ever written. Joe Carter is a ‘friend of ours’. * Joe Pistone AKA Donnie Brasco, FBI’s most famous UC. *Undercover plays out like the best type of British crime novel and it’s easy to believe that these are made up characters in a make believe plot – not because it doesn’t seem plausible, but because it moves with the speed and excitement of a piece of fiction... I breezed through Undercover in a single day, it was that gripping. * Culture Fly *a fascinating look at the darker side of British policing * Crime Review *He writes candidly * Eastern Daily Press *

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘Policing is like this everywhere but not everywhere is Scilly’Meet Sergeant Colin Taylor, he has been a valuable member of the police force for over 20 years, 5 of which have been spent policing the ‘quiet’ Isles of Scilly, a group of islands off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula. Colin has made it his purpose to keep the streets of Scilly free from drunk anchor thieves, Balance Board riders and other culprits, mostly drunken, intent on breaking the law. This book is the first hand account of how he did it.Coupled with his increasingly popular ‘Isle of Scilly Police Force’ Facebook page, this book charts the day to day trials and tribulations of a small-island police officer, told in a perfectly humorous and affectionate way. This book is a fantastic read and Colin's antics are soon to be the feautre of a major ITV TV series.Trade ReviewThe best tourist guide to the Isles of Scilly one could wish for. Anyone reading this book is sure to want to go there and experience this delightfully eccentric corner of the British Isles. * Daily Express *Enchantingly dotty. * Daily Mail *Set to be [a] big hit. * Guardian *If you love the Isles of Scilly you will love this book. * A Dartmoor and Devon Blog *Told with humour and tenderness. A great read – No.1 in Books Top Ten * Western Morning News *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the 60s, Ronnie and Reggie Kray were Britain’s most notorious gangsters. With violence and intimidation they were the kings of London. They sipped champagne with celebrities and rubbed shoulders with politicians. They were untouchable. Until they weren’t. After an undercover operation, the Kray twins were found guilty of murder and were sentenced to life in prison. They were just 35 years old. But once inside, the twins were determined to make their stay truly historic. The Twins began earning more money inside than they ever did on the streets. They sold branded t-shirts and memorabilia and they allowed books and films to be published about their lives. They didn't stop. Whilst locked up, their mother died as did their brother Charlie, and their associates and friends all fell away. But while Britain changed as a nation, the brothers continued to operate as the gangsters they once were. Their violence ingrained so deep that they couldn’t leave it behind. The Krays: The Prison Years explores the fascinating and largely untold story of the Kray twins following their imprisonment.Trade ReviewThis explosive book has lifted the lid on the Kray twins’ time in prison * The Sun *The remarkable world of these East End gangsters behind bars * Daily Express *Celebrities were drawn to Ronnie and Reggie Kray like moths to a flame * Daily Record *Ronnie and Reggie Kray might have been serving life in prison for murder, but that didn’t stop them living the high life with their celebrity friends * Daily Mirror *Meikle and Blyth have a rich subject and it is an absorbing read * Budapest Times *

Read more less

Vintage Feminism: classic feminist texts in short formWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JESS PHILLIPSSoldier, criminal, militant, hooligan, revolutionary: these labels Emmeline Pankhurst took up and wore proudly in her long struggle for women’s suffrage. This shortened edition of her autobiography tells the inside story of this struggle: the tireless campaigning, the betrayals by men in power, the relentless round of arrests and hunger strikes, the horror of force-feeding. It is a reminder of the controversial means, the indomitable spirit and the sacrifices of life and liberty by which women won their political freedom.ALSO IN THE VINTAGE FEMINIST SHORTS SERIES:The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary WollstonecraftThe Beauty Myth by Naomi WolfA Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe true story behind the ITV series, A Confession 'The gripping allure of long-form podcasts, such as Serial' Observer On the evening of Saturday, 19 March 2011, D.S. Stephen Fulcher receives a life-changing call that thrusts him into a race against the clock to save missing 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan, who was last seen at a nightclub in Swindon. Steve knows from experience that he has a small window of time to find Sian alive, but his hopes are quickly dashed when his investigation leads him to Christopher Halliwell, a cabbie with sick obsessions. Following the investigation as it develops hour-by-hour, Steve’s gripping inside story of the cat-and-mouse situation that ensues shows how he hunted down Halliwell – his number-one suspect – which led him to the discovery of Sian’s body and another victim, Becky Godden-Edwards, who had been missing since 2002. The murders shocked the nation and Halliwell become one of the most hated men in Britain. Since then, he has been linked to several murders and disappearances, and has been called 'sick in the head' by an ex-cellmate for his unrelenting hatred of women.Catching a Serial Killer is a thrilling, devastating and absorbing look at a real-life murder case and potentially one of the UK’s most prolific serial killers.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAS SEEN ON LORRAINE AND FEATURED IN THE TIMES'Stacey Heale ... has such a muscular take on grief, and her ideas around how we live with profound loss are truly original.' Clover StroudWhen Stacey Heale's husband, Greg, was diagnosed with incurable cancer on their daughter's first birthday, everything changed. She quickly realised how little is spoken about what the harder times in our lives really look like, leaving us lost to navigate the unknown alone.Confronted with a new life she was not prepared for, Stacey began to untangle the brutal realities of life and death - and the fundamental differences between our expectations and reality.Now is Not the Time for Flowers is Stacey's unflinchingly beautiful and raw memoir that addresses the big conversations that imminent death dictates, boldly taking the reader on a journey through the full spectrum of our lives and their complexities. Told through vig

Read more less

Book SynopsisDelve into the minds of Ireland's extraordinary personalities as writer and podcaster Róisín Ingle uncovers the stories behind their most treasured spaces.Including a huge array of talent such as Dara Ó Briain, Marian Keyes, Marty Morrissey, Daniel O'Donnell, Ardal O'Hanlon, Orla Kiely and more, each tale blends stunning scenery with personal anecdotes which will entertain and inspire in equal measure.In association with the mental health charity A Lust for Life, thirty influential figures relive fond memories in locations that have brought them solace, laughter and awe, providing a unique view of the relationship we have with special places and people we love.FEATURINGChris de Burgh - Niall Breslin - Deirdre O'Kane - Paul Howard - Anne Enright - Senator Lynn Ruane - Joanne O'Riordan - Dara Ó Briain - Colm Toibin - Marian Keyes - Marty Morrissey - Daniel O'Donnell - Ardal O'Hanlon - Orla Kiely - Professor Luke O'Neill - Maia Dunphy - Michelle Fairley - Tina Kellegher - Róisín Murphy - Liz Nugent - Ifrah Ahmed - Eamonn Coghlan - Senator Eileen Flynn - Neil McManus - Marguerite Penrose - Kevin Sharkey - Martin Beanz Ward - Keavy Lynch - Michelle Fairley

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Powerful, humane and deeply affecting, Lister's wise and truthful writing makes this essential reading for anyone touched, and utterly confused, by grief.' Sali Hughes'The must-read memoir' RedWhat does it mean to become a widow at 35?In her mid-thirties Kat Lister lost her husband to brain cancer. After five years of being a wife and one of being a carer, in love and in and out of hospitals, she became a widow.In the year following his death Kat seeks refuge in stories of grief and widowhood, but struggles to find a language that can make sense of her experience and the physicality of bereavement. Instead, she turns to the elements - fire, water, earth, air - on her quest to come to terms with her grief, to inhabit her body again, and to find out who she is now.The Elements is a story of love, pain, hope and, ultimately, transformation.Trade Review'Powerful, humane and deeply affecting, Lister's wise and truthful writing makes this essential reading for anyone touched, and utterly confused, by grief.' -- Sali Hughes'The must-read memoir. A moving, bruising and meditative memoir and love story ... Beautifully written, The Elements, will strike a chord with anyone who's been touched by grief.' * Red Magazine *'A staggering book. Kat writes with such hypnotic lyricism.' -- Terri White'It is not just one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, exploring grief through the elements of the cosmos, it is the only book I've read that has made me feel less alone. A must read even if it's not your own experience.' -- Poorna Bell'A stunning and immersive examination of grief; of making a new future; the body as a site of "wrongness" and "re-entry" after bereavement ... it veers from melancholy to rage and joy.' -- Sinéad Gleeson'Strikingly honest' -- Sarah Ditum * The Times *'It knocked me for six: the honesty in it, the frankness, the detail, the research, the feeling, and such stunning writing ... it's not just about losing someone. It's about rebuilding.' -- Jude Rogers'The writing will make you stop to catch your breath, it's hopeful in ways you won't expect at all, and the smallest moments will break your heart.' -- Sian Meades-Williams'It is lyrical. It is wise. It is physical in its longing ... Destined to become a classic. The Elements is a gift; not so much a map but a compass, to a landscape we long not to visit but many of us do.' -- Sam BakerBrilliant, beautiful, moving. -- The Anchoress'Such a searingly honest book that will stop you cold with its beauty. Kat's unique voice and perspective on death, love and womanhood really get under your skin. This is a book about grief but it's also about finding a sense of self after a deep loss, and hoping above everything for something wonderful that feels very much like joy.' * Tigers Are Better Looking *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The must-read memoir' - RedWhat does it mean to become a widow at 35?In her mid-thirties Kat Lister lost her husband to brain cancer. After five years of being awife and one of being a carer, in love and in and out of hospitals, she became a widow.In the year following his death Kat seeks refuge in stories of grief and widowhood, butstruggles to find a language that can make sense of her experience and the physicality ofbereavement. Instead, she turns to the elements - fire, water, earth, air - on her quest tocome to terms with her grief, to inhabit her body again, and to find out who she is now.The Elements is a story of love, pain, hope and, ultimately, transformation.Trade Review'Powerful, humane and deeply affecting, Lister's wise and truthful writing makes this essential reading for anyone touched, and utterly confused, by grief.' -- Sali Hughes'The must-read memoir. A moving, bruising and meditative memoir and love story ... Beautifully written, The Elements, will strike a chord with anyone who's been touched by grief.' * Red Magazine *'A staggering book. Kat writes with such hypnotic lyricism.' -- Terri White'It is not just one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, exploring grief through the elements of the cosmos, it is the only book I've read that has made me feel less alone. A must read even if it's not your own experience.' -- Poorna Bell'A stunning and immersive examination of grief; of making a new future; the body as a site of "wrongness" and "re-entry" after bereavement ... it veers from melancholy to rage and joy.' -- Sinéad Gleeson'Strikingly honest' -- Sarah Ditum * The Times *'It knocked me for six: the honesty in it, the frankness, the detail, the research, the feeling, and such stunning writing ... it's not just about losing someone. It's about rebuilding.' -- Jude Rogers'The writing will make you stop to catch your breath, it's hopeful in ways you won't expect at all, and the smallest moments will break your heart.' -- Sian Meades-Williams'It is lyrical. It is wise. It is physical in its longing ... Destined to become a classic. The Elements is a gift; not so much a map but a compass, to a landscape we long not to visit but many of us do.' -- Sam BakerBrilliant, beautiful, moving. -- The Anchoress'Such a searingly honest book that will stop you cold with its beauty. Kat's unique voice and perspective on death, love and womanhood really get under your skin. This is a book about grief but it's also about finding a sense of self after a deep loss, and hoping above everything for something wonderful that feels very much like joy.' * Tigers Are Better Looking *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A moving and absorbing account' Adam Buxton'Scorching ... a brave book' Helen Brown, Telegraph'A wise and vivid memoir of a disintegrating marriage and a study of the role of the spouse in the life of a literary giant' Fiona Sturges, i Paper18TH JANUARY 1990Paul left today at 8am.We had been married just over 22 years. The previous evening we had gone out to eat at a local restaurant, where we drank champagne and reminisced. In a short story which he wrote about that final evening of a marriage, the central characters talk wittily and poignantly about the explorer Sir Richard Burton and the sad, misunderstood wife who burnt his books.The reality was different.'This memoir is based on the diary I kept during 1990, the year that my first marriage came to an end.' After 22 years, spent across four continents, with two children - Louis and Marcel - in 1990 Anne and Paul Theroux decided to separate. For that year, Anne - later a professional relationship therapist herself - kept a diary, noting not only her day-to-day experiences as a busy freelance journalist and broadcaster, but the contrasts in her feelings between despairing grief and hope for a new future.With reflections on truth and fiction, literature and art, and the nature of marriage, alongside commentary on notable political and cultural events, and interviews with prominent writers of the time, including Kingsley Amis and Barbara Cartland, The Year of the End offers a unique insight into the unravelling of a relationship and the attempt to rebuild a life.Trade ReviewA moving and absorbing account of the highs and lows of her relationship, and the challenges of being married to a successful and celebrated writer. -- Adam BuxtonA wise and vivid memoir of a disintegrating marriage and a study of the role of the spouse in the life of a literary giant. -- Fiona Sturges * i Paper *Completely addictive. It made me want to go and hang out in her kitchen! -- Sam BakerA delicate account of a break-up. -- Eva Wiseman * Observer *Dignified and moving. * Rachel Cooke, Guardian *Candid ... mellow, and wise. * Irish Independent *Scorching ... a brave book. -- Helen Brown * Telegraph *Brave, honest, sad, funny, truthful and a striking insight into the reality of the literary life. -- Nicholas Rankin, Writer and BroadcasterIn the portrait of a fractured marriage, and reflections on being married to an artist, the page comes alive. * The Herald *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A thriller-like tale ... [Mazur] is a good story-teller, with a flair for details that brings the criminal and their world to life' Daily Mail'Bob Mazur delivers again ... he artfully takes the reader through the harrowing account of life as an undercover cop embedded in the drug cartels' BRYAN CRANSTON'A book you can't put down, nor will you' JOSEPH PISTONE, aka Donnie BrascoFrom the bestselling author who inspired Bryan Cranston's The Infiltrator.Three years after undercover agent Robert Mazur infiltrated Pablo Escobar's Medellín drug cartel, he re-emerged, a half-million-dollar bounty still on his head, with a new identity for a risky new sting.Deployed to Panama, he worked, travelled, partied and washed millions with Central America's criminal elite. Partnered with a DEA task force agent, Mazur slipped effortlessly into Colombia's notorious Cali drug cartel. But as his underworld reputation skyrocketed, the operation started going dangerously off the rails.Robert Mazur's riveting true story exposes the corruption at the heart of one of the most explosive undercover missions of his career.Refusing to acknowledge the danger, Mazur was obsessed with seeing the mission through to its treacherous end: expose the Cali cartel, find out who betrayed him, and escape with his life. This is his true story.Trade ReviewA thriller-like tale ... [Mazur] is a good story-teller, with a flair for details that brings the criminal and their world to life. * Daily Mail *Bob Mazur delivers again with The Betrayal! As with its predecessor, The Infiltrator, Mazur artfully takes the reader through the harrowing account of life as an undercover cop embedded in the drug cartels. In my career I take on characters in life-or-death situations - but I just can't imagine how Mazur does it for real! Read it and find out. I highly recommend it. -- Bryan Cranston – Star of Breaking Bad. Winner of Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe awards for best actor.The Betrayal details the malicious world of drugs, money laundering and the danger of being a DEA undercover agent infiltrating these organizations. A book you can't put down, nor will you. -- Joseph Pistone aka Donnie Brasco, author of Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the MafiaThe Betrayal is a page-turning thriller about a courageous agent's simultaneous journey through a deadly vise of internal corruption and the ruthless threat of cartel killers. This is the unfortunate reality of the underworld. -- Michael S. Vigil, Former DEA Chief of International Operations and author of DealNo one in law enforcement is more lethally vulnerable to the betrayal of those he/she depends on for support and protection then the deep cover agent; the operative who, unarmed, like a human bait, places himself into isolated situations where the only thing protecting him from an instant death is his acting ability... This book is a must read. -- Michael Levine Author of New York Times bestseller Deep Cover and The Big White LieFATF was created to help governments follow the money and reduce the harm caused by drug traffickers and terrorists. Bob Mazur repeatedly put his life on the line to do just that. This isn't fiction. It's the real deal and scary as hell. -- David Lewis – Executive Secretary of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against money launderingIt is a cliché to say that such books have the pace and tension of a thriller - but in this case the cliché has force ... Mazur shows extraordinary courage, and, along the way, reveals much about the labyrinthine world of high-stakes money-laundering. * Tortoise Media *The Betrayal is a page turner for sure and you won't want to put it down until it is finished ... a "must read" for all. * The Laundry *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE ALL-NEW DIARIES; "Alastair Campbell's diaries have the quality of Pepys ...people will be looking for insights and finding them in 100 years' time." Lord Alex CarlileLaunched to a blaze of critical acclaim, Alastair Campbell's explosive diaries became an instant classic. Now, this eagerly anticipated new volume picks up where its predecessor left off, with Campbell standing down as Tony Blair's director of communications in 2003. Leaving Downing Street, however, isn't as easy as it seems, with Campbell persistently drawn back to the epicentre of power - often to the frustration of his partner, Fiona.As Lord Hutton prepares to publish his report, thus sparking a huge crisis for the BBC, any joy in No. 10 is dwarfed by continuing difficulties in Iraq. Meanwhile, the Blair/Brown relationship is fracturing almost beyond repair, and Campbell is tasked with devising a plan that will enable the two men to fight a united election campaign. At home, Campbell writes frankly of his continuing battles with mental health issues as he attempts to adapt to a new life beyond the confines of Westminster.Lifting the lid on the power battles at the heart of the Labour Party that sowed the seeds of today's turmoil, Outside, Inside is a vivid and compelling insight into modern political history, and a candid reflection on the personal impact of life in the corridors of power.Trade Review"Endlessly fascinating... Alastair Campbell's diaries are a unique historical document, providing testimony from the day things happened, unedited by memory and hindsight." - John Rentoul, The Independent; "Hugely gripping" - Sunday Times; "This is the most fascinating of all the volumes. He is at the centre of everything but with a different perspective" - Steve Richards; "Unputdownable. [A] truly remarkable, fascinating and historic account. Could this be a record of Labour's last ever election win?" - Richard Madeley

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen her beloved small dog died, Bel Mooney was astonished at the depth of her ongoing sorrow. Sharing her loss online and in a newspaper article brought a deluge of responses, spurring Bel to explore these feelings further. Why do humans mourn pets? Can animals themselves grieve - and do they have souls? In Goodbye, Pet & See You in Heaven, Bel sets off on an emotional journey to learn more about pet bereavement. She is astounded by inexplicable 'signs' of her dog's spirit, watches Bonnie's ashes being turned into glass, talks to experts and discusses the mysterious enduring energy of love. She discovers why Ancient Egyptians mummified animals and what different faiths, myths, writers and scientists have to say. She also looks back over her own life and reflects on lessons learned from companion animals - and from wildlife too. As informative as it is deeply moving, Goodbye, Pet is an intensely personal, uplifting look at the love we share with pets, both in life and afterwards. Enriched by heartfelt stories and inspirational words, it is a book to be treasured by anyone who has ever loved an animal.Trade Review"This beautiful book will bring cheer, comfort and inspiration to thousands of animal lovers, just as Bel Mooney's wonderful advice column helps and guides her readers." Jilly Cooper; "'... Anyone who has ever loved and lost an animal will read this with brimming eyes, recognising this strangest and often strongest of bereavements. Bel Mooney's enchanting emotional journey links us all together, and is as wise as it is touching." Joanna Lumley

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne happy day, in the midst of writing to her fiancee, her hand stopped writing unbidden; then it continued by itself, etching the words which would change her life forever: '...but there's no point now, as I am going to be a nun.'That bolt from the blue set events in motion that caused Shirley to lose her mother and sisters, her husband to be, her horses, her parties and life of ease. Within months, Shirley had become Sister Agatha. But her faith in her choice never faltered, despite years of great difficulty when her Convent was close to bankruptcy. Her belief took her to London to knock on Sir Paul Getty's door to secure the money to ensure her community would not lose their home...and getting it. Now eighty-five, she looks back on an incredible life of love, loss and belief. This is at once a deeply poignant tale of doomed romance, and a heart-warming story of taking a leap of faith and finding a meaning in life beyond the wealth and comfort she was born into.Whether a believer or not, Sister Agatha's momentous life will touch and inspire, whilst reminding us that it is perhaps better to accept that not everything in the world is yet explained.

Read more less

Book Synopsis For readers of Damaged and Running with Scissors, a chilling exploration of psychological control that ends with a glorious escape. Maude still remembers the sound of the gate being locked behind her. She was three years old when they moved into the secluded manor and in the coming years, she would only be allowed out a handful of times. Her parents belonged to a fanatical Masonic order. She followed a strict schedule of study, hard labour and endless drills designed to ‘eliminate weakness’, such as holding an electric fence without flinching and sitting in a rat-infested cellar. But despite their chilling psychological control, her parents could not control her inner life. Befriending animals on the lonely estate and characters in the books she read, Maude nurtured in herself the compassion and love her parents forbade.Trade Review'Maude Julien’s memoir The Only Girl in the World details the torrents of abuse she endured as a child, growing up under fanatical Masonic parents. While the stories of her suffering disturb and unsettle, the solace and escapism she finds within reveal that flickers of light can be found in even the darkest of places.' * Culture Trip *‘A living testimony of resilience… An account as gripping as it is inspiring.’ * Elle *'At once fascinating, mystifying and distressing... The story takes on the energy of a thriller, building on the reader's hectic desire for [Julien's] escape.' * New York Times Book Review *'The Only Girl in the World, a bestseller in France, is a portrait of a three-person cult – Maude and her parents.' * Observer *'Proof that love is in our nature regardless of our nurture.' * Vanity Fair *'[N]ever self-pitying… an ultimately uplifting read.' * Sydney Morning Herald *'The author of this harrowing memoir describes a childhood trapped in her family's grand house on the outskirts of a small French town in the nineteen-sixties... Now working as a therapist specializing in cases of psychological manipulation, she tells her story with the unflinching clarity of someone who is no longer ruled by her trauma.' * New Yorker *'This story is never maudlin—it is so absorbing that you have to remind yourself to breathe from time to time…' * Le Point *'The power of The Only Girl in the World lies in its ability to depict without judging—Julien never laments her situation, instead letting the facts speak for themselves.' * Libération *'The year's most harrowing memoir...At times the book, in form, resembles the beginnings of Emma Donoghue's Room, but this text is necessarily more graphic and frightening...My multiple audible gasps while working through The Only Girl in the World were partly a result of its author's ability to so artfully capture the meaning and depth of her survival. You wonder how anyone who went through what she did could come out functioning on the other side...That The Only Girl in the World exists as it does is a most persuasive argument for Julien's remarkable willpower.' * Entertainment Weekly *'A startling testament of survival.' * Kirkus *'Maude Julien developed an amazing resistance to suffering from a very early age, transcending the acts of barbarism inflicted upon her… Books can indeed save lives.' * Le Journal du Dimanche *'Your heart will break out in symphonies. [The Only Girl in the World] is an astonishing story, told in lucid, intelligent prose.' * The Australian *'I was right there with Maude from the very beginning, and the prose was written in such a way that it wasn’t dry or stilted... a fantastic memoir that I recommend highly.' -- The Cosy Dragon'…a testament to her resilience. She also offers a valuable analysis of extreme methods of manipulation and psychological and emotional control.' * BBC 'Ten Books to Read in December' *'Harrowing, heartbreaking, and against-all-odds uplifting [...] Maude Julien's voice is eloquent, composed, understated – the facts of the story are devastating enough.' * Saturday Paper *'At once fascinating, mystifying and distressing.' * Scotland on Sunday *'A deeply moving story of resilience and the power of the human spirit to find beauty and love amid the bleakest circumstances.' * Good Reading *'A tale of seclusion, deprivation, abuse… And yet, there is never any doubt that Maude Julien will transcend what she is going through and become the woman she is today: an admirable person.' * Psychologies *'Maude Julien delivers a staggering testimony, one that remains full of hope.' * Ouest France *'This fascinating memoir never wallows in misery. Verdict: Triumphant.' * Cairns Weekend Post *'The Only Girl in the World delves into the fascinating subject of psychological control, with the author—now a therapist—as her own subject. Maude Julien goes beyond resentment and shows us a path toward hope.' * Livres Hebdo *'This book will leave you stunned. It’s hard to fathom that it’s all true.' * La Voix du Nord * 'Her book offers a ray of hope.' * Metro Belgique *'The Only Girl In The World is…a magnifying study of human trials, obsessions, and abuse, as well as a harrowing look at a child and woman’s strength and beautiful regard to the nature of those around her.' * AV Club *'This is a dark, moving, and thoughtfully rendered story.' * Publishers Weekly *'Maude Julien's extraordinary memoir, The Only Girl in the World, is a harrowing yet achingly beautiful tale of a girl imprisoned by her brutal, fanatic family, but whose yearning for wonder and love ultimately drives her toward the improbable light of the world. This is a story of resilience unlike any I have ever read.' -- Mira Bartók, author of National Book Critics Circle Award Winner The Memory Palace'One of the most original and compelling stories I’ve read. Maude Julien's love of books ignites an insatiable curiosity about the world... A tale of hope and profound courage, Julien’s story illustrates how trusting ourselves and following our hearts can save us from the most oppressive and cruel conditions. Her brave spirit shines as a bright reminder that what lies within us is stronger and more powerful than our circumstances.' -- Ruth Wariner, New York Times bestselling author of The Sound of Gravel'Chilling.' * In Style *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Late Light brings the refreshing perspective of someone who goes from seeing England as a foreign place to someone who deeply studies its secret wonders. An astonishing read.' - Amy Liptrot, The OutrunThis is a book about falling in love with vanishing thingsLate Light is the story of Michael Malay's own journey, an Indonesian Australian making a home for himself in England and finding strange parallels between his life and the lives of the animals he examines. Mixing natural history with memoir, this book explores the mystery of our animal neighbours, in all their richness and variety. It is about the wonder these animals inspired in our ancestors, the hope they inspire in us, and the joy they might still hold for our children.Late Light is about migration, belonging and extinction. Through the close examination of four particular 'unloved' animals - eels, moths, crickets and mussels - Michael Malay tells the story of the economic, political and cultural events that have shaped the modern landscape of Britain.For readers of Robert Macfarlane, Raynor Winn and Helen Macdonald, Late Light is a rich blend of memoir, natural history, nature writing, and a meditation on being and belonging, from a vibrant new voice.'Late Light is a book that glows with warmth in spite of its dark subtext. Malay's prose is gorgeous and astute; he looks with fresh eyes at unpopular species and finds poetry and meaning. His voice is irresistible - Late Light is a powerful new work of nature writing. ' - Sara Baume, Seven Steeples'Late Light is a book of little revelations. It approaches small things with a quiet and tender profundity, and its attentiveness to the quivering of life will leave you aching with world-love.' - Abi Andrews, The Word for Woman is WildernessTrade Review'Late Light brings the refreshing perspective of someone who goes from seeing England as a foreign place to someone who deeply studies its secret wonders. An astonishing read.' -- Amy Liptrot, author of THE OUTRUN'Late Light is a book that glows with warmth in spite of its dark subtext. Malay's prose is gorgeous and astute; he looks with fresh eyes at unpopular species and finds poetry and meaning. His voice is irresistible - Late Light is a powerful new work of nature writing.' -- Sara Baume, author of SEVEN STEEPLESIn underscoring the concept of basic dignity as being the right of all species and illuminating the idea of an expansive, planetary politics, Malay offers a bright, fierce hope for the future. -- Neil Hegarty * Irish Times *'Malay writes prose of gorgeous balance, shifting between the patience of his observations of nature and a controlled examination of the politics and histories that affect landscapes. His voice is fresh, passionate, and beautifully attuned to the layers of enchantment and melancholy that emerge from the living world in today's challenging times.' -- Melanie Challenger, author of ON EXTINCTION'Late Light is a book of little revelations. It approaches small things with a quiet and tender profundity, and its attentiveness to the quivering of life will leave you aching with world-love.' -- Abi Andrews, author of THE WORD FOR WOMAN IS WILDERNESS'Late Light is simply mesmerising. Michael Malay makes the unseen details of our world vibrant and insistent. This is a book that will re-enchant you with the parts of nature we've too-long forgotten - and a writer we urgently need to guide us.' -- Jessica J. Lee, author of TWO TREES MAKE A FOREST'Most nature books claim to make the world feel bigger and more precious, but Late Light really does. It's a tender, marvellous book. Through his journeys to understand the lives of four "unloved" animals, Michael Malay pays a debt of deep respect to the Earth and its interconnectedness. It is also a kind of travel book, making me see the familiar landscapes of the place I call home (England and specifically Bristol) with a sparkling newness. This book has given me new eyes, and I was sad when it ended. Nature writing -- and the world as a whole -- feels fresher.' -- Nick Hunt, author of OUTLANDISH'Beautiful in its clarity of thought and emotion, for some it could be life changing.' -- Jeremy Irons

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf he is to become a man, what sort of man should Thomas Page McBee be?To find out, McBee must confront the suffering he has endured at the hands of men: the abuse he endured as a child from his father, and the violent mugging which almost killed him as an adult. Standing at the brink of the life-changing decision to transition from female to male, McBee seeks to understand these examples of flawed manhood, and reclaim his body on his own terms. Powerful, uplifting and profound, Man Alive is a story about transformation; about freedom, and love, and finding the strength to rebuild ourselves as the people we are meant to be.Trade ReviewThomas Page McBee writes about manhood - in all its danger and damaged allure - more beautifully and with greater nuance than any other writer I know. Man Alive is a brilliant, necessary book -- GARTH GREENWELL, author of What Belongs to YouLiterate and witty . . . Valuable and engaging * * New Statesman * *A sweet, tender hurt of a memoir . . . about forgiveness and self-discovery, but mostly it's about love, so much love. McBee takes us in his capable hands and shows us what it takes to become a man who is gloriously, gloriously alive -- ROXANE GAY, author of Bad FeministReading Man Alive is like sitting with someone uncurling his hands, then holding them out to you, open, so that you can behold all the hard-won strength, insight, agility, and love to be found there -- MAGGIE NELSON, author of The ArgonautsEmpathy is McBee's objective, the most important part of becoming real in one's own eyes . . . we are born human; with hard work, we achieve humanity * * New York Times * *By turns despairing and hopeful, exceptional and relatable. To read it is to witness the birth of a fuller, truer self. I loved this book -- ANN FRIEDMANA vitally important book. McBee's story harnesses the power of self-inquiry, of generosity, of a transformation powerful enough to address even the fallout from child abuse * * Los Angeles Review of Books * *McBee's beautifully written story is engrossing and brave, and rings with triumph * * Buzzfeed * *A brilliant work of art. I bow down to McBee - his humility, his sense of humor, his insightfulness, his structural deftness, his ability to put into words what is often said but rarely, with such visceral clarity and beauty, communicated -- HEIDI JULAVITS, author of The Vanishers and The Uses of EnchantmentA story about patience, forgiveness, kindness and bravery . . . With this book, Thomas Page McBee has done exactly what we should all strive for: to tell our stories in ways that humanize rather than sensationalize -- LAUREN MORELLI, writer, Orange Is the New Black

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn extraordinary account of what it means to stand up for justice, and for yourself, no matter the cost; now with a new epilogue'It is when things feel the most uncertain, and we are at our most tired, frustrated and worn out, that we must dig deep. That's when we need to find it within ourselves not to turn away and hide in our bunkers, but to rise up and be even more vocal . . . If we hide, when we emerge from our hiding places the world might be transformed into a hostile, alien environment in which we have no say at all and where the things we love and value no longer exist.'Trade ReviewUnapologetic, businesslike and impatient to make a difference -- AFUA HIRSCH * * Guardian * *This book is essential for any woman in a male-dominated industry . . . [Miller] is a woman of true grit and courage, of whom we should all - whatever our views on Brexit - be proud * * Sunday Times * *A remarkable story of a remarkable woman, whose courage one can only admire, whatever your politics -- RACHEL JOHNSON * * Mail on Sunday * *Gina Miller is one of the most exciting breakthrough leaders of the last few years. Her unbreakable courage in the face of danger has been an example to us all, but this courage was not developed overnight. Hers is a life of triumph over adversity and fighting for what she believes to be right. The words in these pages will empower and inspire anyone who wants to make a difference. Change happens when individuals speak truth to power and Gina shows us how in Rise -- JUNE SARPONGMiller's story turns out to be an unusual and impressive one * * Observer * *Essential reading * * Stylist * *A story of optimism and courage, which should inspire . . . and also shame those who preached freedom but showed intolerance -- ALAN RUSBRIDGERGina Miller's wisdom and courage has revealed the truth in an historic battle for democracy - reading her life story in Rise makes me admire her more than ever -- VANESSA REDGRAVEGina Miller's book reflects the extraordinary woman she is - strong, resourceful, principled and brilliant - a heroine for our times -- BARONESS HELENA KENNEDY, QCMiller really is an exceptional person * * Independent * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnder the Sea-Wind marks the beginnings of one of the most significant careers in nature writing. In it Rachel Carson celebrates the mystery and beauty of birds and sea creatures in their natural habitat, conjuring the atmosphere of the shore and the open sea and the delicately balanced, fragile struggle for life along the shoreline.Trade ReviewThe timely reissue of a classic maritime trilogy shows that the "poet of the oceans" was far ahead of her time . . . What's striking is that Carson is a keen observer of the interconnectedness of things . . . Her sea series is not only fascinating for those with an interest in the prehistory of Silent Spring. There is much to marvel at in these pages * * Herald * *Rachel Carson was one of the reasons why I became so conscious of the environment and so involved with environmental issues . . . Her picture hangs on my office wall among those of political leaders, presidents and prime ministers. It has been there for years, and it belongs there. Carson has had as much or more an effect on me than any of them, and perhaps all of them together -- AL GOREPraise for the Sea trilogy: This combination of science and scintillating prose provides fascinating insights into the mysteries of the tides . . . a masterpiece of ecological writing * * Guardian * *Rereading her natural histories, what stands out is how beautiful the writing is. Carson combined a scientist's ability to see with a novelist's ability to imagine * * New Yorker * *[Carson] is the poet laureate of the sea, but also of that "web of life", in which everything is connected to everything else * * London Review of Books * *Praise for Silent Spring: Brilliantly written: clear, controlled and authoritative . . . one of the most effective books ever written . . . the impact is, in all senses, stunning * * Guardian * *Much of what Carson wrote to great controversy is now conventional wisdom. To read Silent Spring now is in part to understand how we got to where we are * * Wall Street Journal * *

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver 2,000 years of history seen through the eyes of 50 extraordinary women. Was Jane Austen a fan of her own work? What did Harriet Tubman want to tell Abraham Lincoln? And how did Greta Thunberg respond to her critics? This carefully curated selection of correspondence on politics, literature, art, entertainment, activism and science provides insight into the personal and professional lives of some of history's most influential names. Each entry includes images and transcripts of the letters themselves along with a biography by celebrated historian Lucinda Hawksley exploring the lives and writings of each woman.Letters of Great Women brings together 50 key female voices on the most significant moments in history, and the everyday joys, sorrows and struggles of women's lives.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE #1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: a hilarious and heartfelt new autobiography from the national treasure Sir David Jason'There are British telly icons and then there is Sir David Jason. This book is such gold . . . an absolute delight' ZOE BALL___________________________'During my life and career I have been given all sorts of advice and learned huge amounts from some great and enormously talented people. I've been blessed to play characters such as Derek Trotter, Granville, Pop Larkin and Frost, who have changed my life in all sorts of ways, and taught me lessons that go far beyond the television set. And I've worked a few things out for myself as well, about friendship, ambition, rejection, success, failure, adversity and fortune.With any luck, some of these thoughts and observations will chime with episodes and challenges you have faced, or are facing, in your own life. And if they don't. . . well, hopefully, at the very least you'll get to have a good old laugh at my expense.So lean back, pour yourself a glass, and try not to fall through the bar flap . . .'___________________________'An absolute delight . . . a romp with so much detail. Offers wisdom in difficult times . . . like being invited into his living room' BBC BREAKFAST'It's beautifully written . . . so conversational and chatty . . . it's so lovely and warm' CHRIS MOYLESTrade ReviewThe book is such gold [...] David writes with this wonderful sense of humour and has so many incredible stories [...] The book is an absolute delight -- Zoe BallYour book is lovely, it's beautifully written [...] your style of writing is so conversational and chatty [...] it's so lovely and warm -- Chris MoylesThe former trainee electrician shares heartfelt and hilarious wisdom[...] With his characteristic warmth and wit, Jason shines a wonderful new light on the charactersand shows that fans have come to love him for * Candis *Hilarious and heartfelt new autobiography from the national treasure Sir David Jason * Eastern Daily Press *A man who's been a star for over 50 years -- Alex Jones

Read more less