Nostalgia: general Books

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Book SynopsisJAM BUTTIES AND A PAN OF SCOUSE is a gritty yet heart-warming memoir set against the backdrop of Liverpool''s tightknit working-class docklands community. The story covers Maggie Clarke''s upbringing in the tenements close to the docks, the River Mersey and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal: an area notorious for having the worst slums in Britain, yet the closest community as well.At the tender age of 11, Maggie Clarke finds herself the matriarch of the family when her Irish mother runs off with another man. Leaving school at 14 to work at a local factory putting sticks into lollies, she is determined to make a better life for herself and her family - before starting her own family with her childhood sweetheart, who she marries at 19 after ''falling in the family way''. She has one night of married life with her husband before he is sent to India with the Navy and is devastated when she never hears from him again, presuming him a casualty of the war that is raging at home and abTrade ReviewThis gritty memoir... is both an inspiration and an eye-opener. -- Pam Norfolk * LANCASHIRE EVENING POST *This is the fascinating memoir of 95-year-old Maggie Clarke... and it's an at time heart-wrenching tale of family trauma, hardship and happiness grabbed in stolen moments. It's also an insightful chronicle of an ever-changing city. * CHOICE MAGAZINE *

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Book Synopsis ***Out now: David Nicholls''s new novel YOU ARE HERE*** A NOSTALGIC LOOK AT FIRST LOVE FROM BELOVED BESTSELLER DAVID NICHOLLS A tragicomedy about the rocky path to adulthood and that one summer that changes your life forever ''A beautiful paean to young love'' OBSERVER ''Fizzing'' GUARDIAN ''A glorious escape to the sunlit uplands of the 1990s'' FINANCIAL TIMES ''Exquisite'' DAILY TELEGRAPH ''The sense of nostalgia is visceral and intense, almost time-bending'' SUNDAY TIMES It''s summer 1997, school is over and Charlie Lewis''s life is in shambles. His family is breaking up, his father is falling apart and the long, empty holidays stretch ahead towards an uncertain future. And then, quite by chance, Charlie meets Fran Fisher and it''s as if a new world has opened before him. But can it last?Trade ReviewVery funny and heart wrenchingly tender * Grazia *A beautiful paean to young love . . . Here he proves that he can still pull off that most rare and coveted of literary feats: a popular novel of serious merit, a bestseller that will also endure -- Alex Preston * Observer *This is Nicholls' talent - what really sets this story apart is the dialogue: funny, telling, laughter-inducing, he's hard to beat * Stylist *He's such a genius. His novels are relatable and recognisable, but also surprising, breath-taking and life-enhancing -- Nina Stibbe, author of LOVE, NINAA classic coming of age novel with universal truths teased out with remarkable perception * Irish Times *Affirms once again Nicholls' talent for unearthing the special in the ordinary * Metro *Full of the joy and pain of first love, fans who fell for bestseller One Day, ten years ago, won't be disappointed * Sunday Mirror *A big-hearted book with wonderful set-pieces . . . beautifully funny and touching . . . his books always seem as fresh as they are wise and funny * Literary Review *I don't think anyone writing right now captures youth and adolescence better; I'm not sure anyone even gets close -- Jenny Colgan, author of THE LITTLE SHOP OF HAPPY-EVER-AFTERSuch a beautiful book. Captures perfectly a moment in time we've all experienced -- Graham NortonWritten with great comic panache and generosity of spirit, it is Nicholls' most mature and compelling novel so far * i paper *Nicholls' literary talents are impressive . . . the sense of nostalgia is visceral and intense, almost time-bending * Sunday Times *It's just perfect in every way -- Jill Mansell, author of SHOULD I TELL YOU?Funny, engaging and moving, another triumph from the brilliant David Nicholls -- John Boyne, author of THE HEART'S INVISIBLE FURIESA compassionate, intelligent look at the raw pain and loneliness of a teenage boy, the everyday miracle of first love and the perennial power of Shakespeare's language * Spectator *Fizzing . . . a funny, affectionate exploration of first love * Guardian *Astutely observed, and almost painfully nostalgic, Sweet Sorrow reads like a true story -- Clare Mackintosh, author of THE LAST PARTYIt's everything a story should be. Beautiful and clear and heartfelt, and it will do what all brilliant stories do: it will find the very pinpoint of who you are and it will stay there -- Joanna Cannon, author of WILL YOU READ THIS, PLEASE?A master of the bittersweet coming-of-age novel * Herald *Pitch perfect . . . Exquisite . . . Terrific . . . Very funny . . . Though Sweet Sorrow is certainly pulse-quickening enough to absorb readers through this summer's airport delays and rained-off beach days, it's no escapist fantasy. The tale of Charlie and Fran will linger long beyond your tan * Daily Telegraph *Nicholls perfectly captures the dizzying highs and lows of first love * Daily Express *Adrian Mole meets The Swish Of The Curtain in this lovely coming-of-age romcom about acting and the class divide * Daily Mail *Full of wisdom, poignancy and laughs * Mail on Sunday *Interesting, moving, hilarious and sad at the same time * Scotsman *A funny, relatable coming-of-age story * Sun *A superbly written, beautifully observed account of teenage life, love, family dysfunction and friendship, which builds to a stunningly poignant ending * Heat *No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory in the way he does -- Alex Peake-Tomkinson * Evening Standard *A delicious, pensive summer read * Press Association *Piercingly observant, gloriously funny and achingly sad, this is David Nicholls' best book yet * Daily Mirror *Sweet Sorrow manages to be interesting, moving, hilarious and sad at the same time. I know when my heartstrings are being pulled, but tugged they assuredly were * Scotland on Sunday *A glorious escape to the sunlit uplands of the 1990s, where a teenager first finds love * Financial Times *Funny and nostalgic tale of first love * Sydney Morning Herald *If ever there was an author perfect to take with you on holiday (so to speak), it's David Nicholls * Stella *I'm not sure there has ever been a better book to read while by the sea. The nostalgia, the humour, the deep understanding of adolescent love and indeed the sorrow. It's such a brilliant book * i News *A witty and tender evocation of young love -- Robert Webb * Guardian *A devastatingly honest exploration of first love, razor-sharp reflections on friendship - oh, and some snort out loud funny moments -- George Aligiah * Guardian *David Nicholls is that rarest of literary creatures: a genuinely brilliant, genuinely popular novelist. His latest, Sweet Sorrow, is more than just poignant and warm and funny. There are piercing apercus and writing that's both precise and poetic, lyrical and tough -- Stuart Maconie, Best Books of the Year * New Statesman *Eloquent . . . dazzles with wit and shrewd self-reflection * People *A tale of first love that hits all the right notes . . . [it] just might be the sweetest book to brighten your late summer * Washington Post *Delectable . . . Nicholls treats you to a satisfying glimpse into the future, where characters make a curtain call as adults . . . Bombshells abound * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisA fascinating pictorial history of Scottish lighthouses.

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Book SynopsisIn What Can I Bring?, veteran food and cookbook writer and guest extraordinaire Casey Elsass takes the stress out of the partygoer’s eternal dilemma with 75 recipes that will make you the talk of the party—for the right reasons. In a room full of bags of chips, be the most desired dip with Golden Ratio Guac or Seven Onion Dip. Put down the $12 bottle of pinot grigio and pick up a tray of Jell-O Cocktail Shots. Discover a world of standout brunch dishes, such as Cream-Soaked Cinnamon Rolls or Bagel Panzanella. When you’re on dessert duty, choose from Buttermilk Brownies, Apple + Chinese Five-Spice Pie, Very Creamy Ice Cream, or death-by-chocolate Bruce Bogtrotter Cake. And when the host instructs you to bring yourself, come prepared with giftable treats like Seasoned Oyster Crackers or Homemade Hot Fudge. With plenty of options and adaptations for special diets and allergies, including vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free recipes, and detailed instructions for packing and serving for minimal stress on-site, this book is your road map for crowd-pleasing party fare. The only thing you’ll be taking home is the title of MVP—Most Valuable Partygoer.   

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 - SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEARSports Report is as much a 75-year history of sport as a BBC radio institution and Pat Murphy pays handsome tribute to a programme that is still followed affectionately by millions.For nearly 75 years, one BBC programme has been a constant factor in chronicling the way sport is covered, in all its many facets. It has been a window on the sporting world all over the globe packed tightly into every Saturday evening for the bulk of the year. First broadcast in 1948, Sports Report is the longest-running radio sporting programme in the world and one of the BBC's hardy perennials. Pat Murphy has been a reporter on the programme since 1981 and here he sifts comprehensively through the experiences of his contemporaries and those who made their mark on Sports Report in earlier decades.He hears from commentators, reporters, producers, presenters and the production tTrade ReviewThe living history of a huge part of all our lives - and there's no one in the world better to tell it than Pat Murphy -- Lee Child, bestselling authorOpens the doors to one of the great radio institutions and makes you realise how much effort and love goes into making it so special -- Dan WalkerPat’s reporting has always been engaging, expressive and arresting. Delighted his Sports Report book is just the same -- Mark PougatchThat opening tune always quickens the pulse. Out of the Blue, into the drama of the sporting day. Insight, interviews, inspirational -- Henry WinterIt was the opening theme tune that sucked you in – it’s synonymous with British sport and a staple diet of listening and watching sport on a Saturday afternoon. -- Joe Root, England CricketerFull of superb anecdotes, brilliantly told, marvellous characters. -- Jim RosenthalIf you have that sporting gene within you, it’s a book that soundtracks your life ... Every stage of that sporting cycle, that familiar tune, those familiar voices, coming at you through each beautifully researched page ... An absolute joy to read -- John InverdaleThis marvellous book will delight anyone who has ever shrieked or howled in response to something they heard on Sports Report, and that, surely, must be everybody. -- Mark Steel, comedianSports Report has run longer than Les Miserables and The Lion King put together. Patrick Murphy is the show’s perfect leading performer to tell its story from opening night in 1948 through the turbulent, exciting three-quarters of a century that followed, both on the fields of play and in the studio. -- Sir Tim RiceAn emotional, revealing opus to mark 75 years of the show. -- Henry Winter * The Times *A definitive history * Daily Mirror *A labour of love -- Adrian Chiles * BBC 5 Live *A lovingly curated, profoundly researched book about the history of the show. * The Telegraph *Pat Murphy does it proud... he skilfully weaves tales of the programme’s beginnings, the challenges it has faced over the years and the big stories that have been covered. * Late Tackle *It brings home the enormously long cast list of distinguished people who have reported or worked on the programme… Sports Report is a great institution and Pat’s book does justice to it. -- Lord King, former Governor of the Bank of England and Aston Villa supporterAn absolute joy of a book. A better Christmas present I cannot possible fathom -- Graeme SwannOf great interest to anyone wanting to gain an insight into how programmes are produced… a worthy addition to the books published recently commemorating the 100th anniversary of the BBC * Practical Wireless *Beautifully written. It brought back great memories of all my old friends at the best time of my life. -- Des LynamTable of ContentsPreface The Weekly Miracle The Beginnings Angus and Eamonn – The Odd Couple The Signature Tune Memorable Programmes 1948–1988 The Front of House In the Studio Moments to Savour At the Sharp End There were Some Laughs as Well Reading the Classifieds Gender on the Agenda – At Last! Memorable Programmes 1989-2021 Troughs Among the Peaks In Praise of Sports Report The Last Word Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisUnseen photographs of Grimsby.

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Book SynopsisFrom Henri Fabre's first successful take off from water and landing near Marseilles, to the introduction of a hull rather than floats by American Glenn Curtiss, to the world-wide development of huge, ocean-crossing flying boats on both sides of the Atlantic - the passenger flying boat era continues to fascinate aviation enthusiasts and historians alike. Wartime necessity for paved runways to support long-range, high flying land-planes and the faster movement of airmail, overcame in peacetime the unique ability enjoyed by such craft to economically utilise the natural waterways of the world, thus depriving passengers of the ability to enjoy the panorama unfolding below in luxurious accommodation and ease. A sadly missed epoch of flight: though related in clear and vivid detail by Leslie Dawson in his account of a pre-war Imperial Airways flight from Southampton to South Africa. This extended pictorial edition of the author's previous book Fabulous Flying Boats, A History Of The World's Passenger Flying Boats provides a fast-moving journey from the first pioneers to the very last use of such craft in regions still reliant on waterborne communication with the outside world. From the Americas and the United Kingdom, to France, Germany and Italy, and on to Australia and New Zealand. Supported by world-wide private, public and corporate images, the work boasts a comprehensive and well-researched Appendix.

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Book SynopsisA laugh-out-loud, poignant and uplifting ode to the simple pleasure and small joys in life. Perfect for fans of Gail Honeyman, Rosanna Ley and Ruth Hogan."A lovely feel-good story" -Lisa, NetGalley reviewer"I adored this book... a wonderful discovery!" -Breves litteraires blogHow do you find where you're going, if you've forgotten where you're from...WHAT READERS THINK"A wonderful read" -Abby, NetGalley reviewer"An ode to the simple pleasure and small joys in life." -Breves litteraires blog"A real treat!" -RTBF"A book full of light, sunshine and joy." -Lapresse.ca"The writing is soft, luminous, and full of hope." -Blogger"A delightful novel that celebrates the reading experience." -Tele 7 JoursGiacomo is stuck in a funk he can't shake - and a translation he can't finish. When he's summoned home to Sardinia, to say a final goodbye to his dying grandmother, he's offered the perfect opportunity to escape. On the noisy, sun-drenched island, Giacomo reconnects with long-lost friends and overbearing relatives, relives the childhood he once couldn't wait to leave behind, and rediscovers new joie-de-vivre within him. Never mind that he's making no progress on his translation. . . When the time comes to leave once more, Giacomo wonders: has he fallen back in love with his home-island? Or has he been hiding from something which he needs the courage to return and confront? But most importantly - is his grandma really as ill as she's claiming to be?Trade ReviewI adored this book... a wonderful discovery! -- Pauline * Breves litteraires blog *An ode to the simple pleasure and small joys in life. -- Pauline * Breves litteraires blog *A real treat! * RTBF *A book full of light, sunshine and joy. * Lapresse.ca *The writing is soft, luminous, and full of hope. * Book blog *"A delightful novel that celebrates the reading experience." * Tele 7 Jours *

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Book SynopsisA spellbinding story of love and betrayal for fans of Santa Montefiore, Fiona Valpy's The Beekeeper's Promise and Dinah Jefferies. Perfect for book clubs! ***Shortlisted for the Filigranes Prize******RATED 5 STARS BY REAL READERS***"I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!" -5* Amazon review"A story full of mysteries and romance, set against the sumptuous backdrop of Casablanca." -5* Amazon review"An exceptional debut" -Les Livres d'Eve blog "A novel full of warmth, emotions and exoticism." -Le PopulaireTall, brilliant and ambitious, eighteen-year-old sailor Guillaume has the world at his feet when he steps onto the shores of Casablanca in April 1940. But his dreams of travelling the world are cut short when he dies in a warship explosion in the harbour of Casablanca.Sixty-five years later in 2005, as Loubna fights to open a cinema in the bustling harbourside city, the young woman discovers the mystery of the sailor from Casablanca . . . and a suitcase full of her grandfather Guillaume's love letters. But could it be that the boy everyone has supposed dead for over half a century is still alive?And if so - did he run away with one of his countless girlfriends all these years ago?As Loubna searches for answers, she finds herself swept up in an epic story of love, passion, intrigue and betrayal, set in the enchantingly glamorous heart of Golden Age Casablanca.

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Book SynopsisIn this comprehensive history of Erdenheim Farm, On the Waters of the Wissahickon separates the facts from the multitude of fictions, revealing the complex and intriguing history behind this important agricultural center along the Wissahickon Creek in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Featuring more than one hundred historical and contemporary illustrations and maps, Eric Plaag's engaging and thorough history of the property chronicles its storied past as well as the inherent value in preserving its future.One of the last intact agricultural parcels in Whitemarsh and Springfield Townships, Erdenheim Farm was at the center of the thoroughbred horseracing world from the 1860s until the late twentieth century. Its illustrious owners have included Aristides Welch, Norman W. Kittson, Robert N. Carson, George D. Widener, Jr., and Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr., through whom Erdenheim accumulated a rich and fascinating historical pedigree and worldwide attention over the past two centuries. The property is also the subject of extensive lore, including the longstanding rumor that Sirhan Sirhan worked at the farm shortly before his assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, as well as legends that the farm's guests may have included the Marquis de Lafayette and as many as eight U.S. presidents.Once the home of the Lenni Lenape tribe, who in turn sold the property to William Penn during the seventeenth century, the land that would eventually become Erdenheim Farm passed to German immigrant Johann Georg Hocker and several neighboring farmers by 1763. While the farm's name is often attributed to Hocker (Erdenheim loosely translating as ""earthly home"" in German), and Hocker built the farmhouse most closely associated with this name for much of the nineteenth century, the farm's name probably originates with Dr. James A. McCrea. Under McCrea's ownership during the 1850s, Erdenheim began building a reputation as a highly regarded livestock farm. Its owner from the 1860s until the 1880s, Aristides Welch, brought national attention to Erdenheim through his purchase of major horseracing champions such as Flora Temple and Leamington, transforming the farm into a significant breeding and training operation that produced dozens of national racing champions over the next several decades.Under its next two owners, Norman W. Kittson and Robert N. Carson, Erdenheim's reputation declined even as its boundaries dramatically expanded, but, during the twentieth century, owner George D. Widener, Jr., revived Erdenheim's significance as a world-class thoroughbred operation and livestock showplace. Upon Widener's death, his nephew Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr., became Erdenheim's primary caretaker and began the painstaking process of preserving Erdenheim even as encroaching suburban sprawl threatened its survival. Through a landmark agreement with the Natural Lands Trust, Dixon permanently protected the oldest parts of Erdenheim. Following Dixon's death in 2006, the Whitemarsh Foundation and nearly a dozen individuals and organizations, including Peter and Bonnie McCausland, worked together to complete a massive land-conservation deal to preserve permanently the majority of Erdenheim's approximately 450 acres as one of the last remaining open spaces in Montgomery County and a unique example of the Philadelphia region's agricultural past.

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Book SynopsisRelive the best of Classic Coronation Street in this dementia-friendly 'Cognitive Book'. In collaboration with Alzheimer's Society and ITV Studios, there's a contribution to the charity. Activities to encourage social interaction. Includes free audio download. Supporters' guide helps carers / loved ones enjoy it too.

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Book SynopsisMasterCheffinalist Sarah Rankin has a passion for Scottish produce and flavours and for feeding people. Being a food lover encompasses not just a passion for the ingredients themselves, but also for the seasons and weather which nurture them, and the people who tend, harvest and prepare them. Taking those ingredients and creating something delicious for those you love is the highest compliment you can pay any vegetable, beast, fish or fowl.InKith, Sarah shares stories on her family favourites, the inspirationfor her recipes, and why food is the greatest way to show your love.Kithis a collection of practical and inviting seasonal dishes, mixing the traditional and the contemporary, and celebrating the extraordinary versatility of Scotland's larder in a hundred recipes: from Grouse with beetroot and cherry, to Arbroath smokie souffle, Squash ravioli with sage butter, and Lemon posset with caramelised white chocolate and oat crumble. It also includes a section of drinks and canapes.The ch

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Book Synopsis'Beautifully written, intelligent and gripping' Daily Mail. From the Richard and Judy bestselling author of The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets. Every ending is a new beginning . . .No one expected Marnie Fitzpatrick to be expelled from school . . . but the aftermath will haunt her forever. No one imagined she'd fall for the boy from the wrong side of town . . . until the day she saw him dancing alone.No one could know she had the one thing he needed to capture his dreams . . . the courage to chase them. From the author of the Richard and Judy classic The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets comes a story about how sometimes the cruelest beginnings can lead to the most unexpected of endings.Trade ReviewI so enjoyed this emotional, engaging, vivid and different coming-of-age story . . . The thought-provoking narrative twists between Marnie's and Julie's points of view, and is beautifully written, intelligent and gripping * Daily Mail *A beautiful tale of first loves, secret passions and, er, maths * Heat *It seems there is a ready audience for novels set in the relatively recent past, with characters' quaint attitudes and period detail of clothes and music forming a large part of attraction - nostalgia-lit? This fine example of the genre offers intelligent, undemanding entertainment, which is sometimes all you need on a hot summer's day * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisDoes absence really make the heart grow fonder?Can beggars be choosers?Is it always better late than never?Proverbs are short, well-known, pithy sayings that offer advice or words of encouragement and are used in everyday English without much thought ever being given to their meanings, or indeed, usefulness. In An Apple A Day Caroline Taggart explores the truth behind our favourite proverbs, their history and whether they offer any genuine help to the recipient. Did you know that The Old Testament has an entire book devoted to proverbs? Or that 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is a proverb from falconry that dates back to the Middle Ages? Many proverbs are still in use today, including the very famous 'slow and steady wins the race', which derives from one of the many fables of Aesop. Lighthearted but authoritative, An Apple A Day proves that proverbs are as useful today as they ever were.Trade ReviewExploring well-known proverbs, their origins, meanings and relevance to life today, this is a fun and fascinating book to dip into, written by an author with a neat sense of humour * Choice Magazine *Explores the origins of common proverbs and sayings, examining whether they really do hold true * Daily Mirror *Witty, wise and authoritative, An Apple A Day proves that proverbs are as useful today as they ever were * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisA brand new collection of inspiring recipes from the bestselling Middle Eastern chef - each carefully designed to be as easy as possible.The hotly anticipated new collection from Sunday Times bestselling author Sabrina Ghayour, every recipe in Persiana Easy balances irresistible Middle Eastern flavours with accessible cooking. From midweek meals and traybakes to pastries and sweet treats, this collection features easy recipes to delight your family and friends, time and again. Praise for Sabrina Ghayour:''Sabrina Ghayour''s Middle-Eastern plus food is all flavour, no fuss - and makes me very, very happy'' - Nigella Lawson''I don''t think she could write a dull recipe if she tried. Every one an elegantly spiced delight.'' - Tom Parker Bowles''The golden girl of Persian cookery'' - Observer''Chef Sabrina Ghayour''s new recipes deliver maximum flavour with the greatest of ease - perfect for busy lives'' - Sainsbury''s MagazineCONTENTS INCLUDE:Dips, Snacks and Light Bites: Sweet Potato, Basil and Feta Dip; Crispy Za''atar Salt and Pepper Prawns; Popcorn HalloumiBread and Pastry: Turkish Pide Bread; Easy Bake Bagels(ish); Fig, Goat Cheese, Thyme and Honey RollsSalads: Smoked Aubergine Salad with Pickled Chillies and Feta; Duck and Pomegranate Salad with Honey Pomegranate Sauce; Broad Bean, Pea, Orange and Goats Cheese SaladMidweek Meals: Lamb Kofta Patties with Yogurt and Burnt Orange; Butterflied Orange Paprika Butter Chicken; Shish KebabComfort Food: Turkish Lentil Soup; Couscous Royale with Spiced Lamb Shanks; Orange Spiced Pork with Charred Spring Onions and PineappleRoasts and Traybakes: Spiced Saffron Chicken Kebabs; Tray-baked Harissa Lamb Chops; Baked Meatballs with Tomato, Harissa and FetaVegetables and Side Dishes: Hot and Sour Green Beans; Mashed Chickpeas with Spice Oil; Stuffed Baby Peppers with Date Couscous and FetaSweet Treats: Citrus and Spice Almond Tart; Bokaj; Apple Borek

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Book Synopsis‘This War is a Food War…’ In 1941 Lord Woolton, Minister for Food, was determined that the Garden Front would save England: ‘Dig for Victory’ was the slogan, digging for dinner the reality. With food imports dwindling the number of allotments grew, millions opted to ‘Spend an Hour with a Hoe’ instead of an hour in a queue, and the upper classes turned lawns, tennis courts and stately gardens over to agriculture. The national diet was transformed, with swedes grown in the place of oranges and hapless children sucking on carrot lollies; evacuees grew their own meals and bomb sites sprouted allotments. Vegetables ruled the airwaves with Mr Middleton’s ‘In Your Garden’ whilst Home Guard potatoes became the favourites of the Kitchen Front. This is a fully illustrated look at the time when gardening saved Britain.Table of ContentsIntroduction: ‘This is a Food War’ / Getting Dug In / All Hands to the Fork / Getting the Message Out / Gold From Your Backyard / ‘What About the Flowers?’ / The Country-House Garden at War / Dig for Peace, Dig for Plenty / Epilogue / Further Reading / Index

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Book SynopsisGreat Western Railway Stars, Castles and Kings examines the history and workings of these legendary classes of passenger steam locomotives, the first of which, the North Star, was built in 1906. Richly illustrated with over 200 photographs, the book includes illustrated explanations of how Great Western Railway steam engines work; details of the engines' work on named expresses and in ordinary service; overview of the survivors, heritage organizations and their futures; technical specifications and timelines of each class and finally, GWR and British Rail Motive Power Depot codes and train head codes.

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Book SynopsisThey think it’s all over…it is now, with this comprehensive guide to football shirts through the years. From the obscure to the ubiquitous, The Football Shirts Book is packed with over 150 original and super rare shirts from the greatest game on earth. Covering everything from the iconic to the unusual, even the most hard-core fans will find out something new about the kit of their favourite team.Including full-colour photography, as well as interviews with football shirt design teams, musicians, and fashion designers, this guide offers a full exploration of the brands, design, and sponsorship history behind the world’s best-loved football shirts. It is a must-have for those crazy about football shirts, as well as those whose interest is piqued by history, design, and pop-culture.

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Book SynopsisStanding in Line is a humorous memoir, based on a variety of experiences in The Queue, one of sport's most fascinating traditions. Told through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy becoming a 39-year-old man, it is a love letter both to Wimbledon and to the wonder of British summertime. Watching the Championships is a national pastime, and this book is full of the ups and downs out on court, as well as the memorable pop-cultural moments off it. It is set against the desperate wait for a British Gentlemen's champion, viewed against the global reality show Wimbledon has become - transcending sport and class, yet still embracing tradition. Illustrated with drawings from renowned artist and author Zebedee Helm, the book observes both the changing world around us and the behaviour of the half-million fans who cram themselves into this leafy corner of London for two weeks every year. Standing in Line is a joyful, gently nostalgic read for anyone who has found themselves gazing for hours on end at coverage of Wimbledon.

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Book SynopsisIn this revealing memoir of childhood, the author shows not only what affected his family, but also reveals a large slice of social history concerning the lives of all ordinary working-class people struggling to live in the slums of the East End of London in those pre-Welfare State days. He writes with sympathy, and sometimes anger, of the overcrowded houses with families of anything up to eight children, as his own had, living in just two or three rooms with outside W.C. and water tap; of the reliance on charity and the soup kitchen for food; of trying to eke out what little income they had by buying stale bread and cracked eggs or other cheap food from the many itinerant street sellers.Yet this is also a chronicle of what was a turbulent time in British history, and especially in the East End, with its then still large Jewish and Irish populations. So here too is an eyewitness account of the Depression, and of the provocative marches by Sir Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists through the area, culminating in the Battle of Cable Street that saw the marchers turned back by the efforts of Jewish, Irish, communist and socialist protestors. Above all, however, Norman Jacobs writes with affection of the area and its extraordinary mix of peoples, as well as the now-vanished aspects of everyday life, such as the music hall, the two-valve radio, and the first Cup Final to be played at Wembley.

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Book SynopsisThe memoir of a trainee nurse at one of the world's most famous children's hospitals.

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Book SynopsisPacked full of the age-old wisdom and expertise of generations of gardeners, who used their down-to-earth and practical experience to create beautiful, productive and useful gardens without spending a fortune.Behind every beautiful garden is the skill and experience of the gardener who tends it. How do you know which plants will thrive in your patch, given the bewildering array on offer? How do you know what soil and location they will like? And what do you do about all those pests just waiting to tuck in, not to mention the fungal diseases that suddenly turn your rose leaves from glossy green to blotchy yellow and coat other leaves with a powdery white dust? Just how do you tackle these gardening challenges, while being eco friendly at the same time? This is where Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners comes in. Packed within its pages is all the age-old wisdom of generations of gardeners, people who knew a thing or two about plants. They lived before the days of chemical pesticides and concocted kitchen-cupboard remedies to treat pests and diseases. They gardened organically – although they wouldn’t have called it that – because there was no other choice on offer. With a wealth of savvy and cost-effective tips and advice, intriguing facts, snippets of history and quotes, Old Wives’ Lore for Gardeners is not only a fascinating read but also an invaluable guide to the gardening practices of old, which are as relevant today as they have ever been.

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Book SynopsisBy the time he was six years old, Stephen Matthews had been bombarded by the Luftwaffe and deported from occupied Guernsey, along with his family, to a prison camp in the heart of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. He had seen men die in front of him and walked with Jews straight off the cattle-trucks from Bergen-Belsen. He had nearly drowned, menaced by Alsatian guard dogs, been beaten by a member of the SS, stranded in a minefield and had his hand broken by a German guard for attempting to feed Russian prisoners.The family kept going through over three of imprisonment, held together by their will to survival and their love for each other. But the island home they eventually returned to had been scarred and stricken by Nazi occupation.The Day the Nazis Came Here is an utterly unique memoir, depicting the world of Nazi prison camps through the eyes of a child - a world in which the real dangers often seemed trivial and every day was a new adventure. Above all, it pays tribute to the preciousness of hope, and shows that human kindness may flower in the unlikeliest of places.

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Book Synopsis'The pride in who we are is not part of our past, it defines our present and our future' - The QueenFrom Big Ben to James Bond, from the Battle of Hastings to the Beatles, from William Shakespeare to the Royal Family, our tiny island nation has a famed and varied history. But we are special as a country not just because of those who have gone down in history, but for those who haven't.In Great British Spirit, we celebrate the incredible British national character, our sense of community and the superhuman efforts of ordinary people across the United Kingdom, providing the perfect antidote to the turbulent times we live in. This book will champion our nation and its incredible people, while remembering other incredible struggles we have overcome as a nation in the last century.Great British Spirit will remind us all why being British is something not just to be proud of, but to celebrate.

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Book SynopsisThe saga of how the north of Scotland secured its own commercial radio station at this time in history is unique. Radio station licences were strictly controlled by the Home Office and the standards for output were set deliberately high. Here we have a group of community activists who didn’t have experience or a penny to their name. They raised funds for photocopying their application by holding plant sales and in the process scared off the more serious local investors who didn’t think they’d pull it off. But they did. The rest of the book looks at what they did with it, the story told largely in anecdotes from those who were there. With a bunch of largely untested on-air talent, and relying on a great deal of volunteer labour, they ended up with some of the best listening figures in the country. It’s a remarkable tale backed up by dozens of photographs that will evoke the 80s and 90s. The book explains why truly local radio was so important to the communities of the north of Scotland at that time when the economy was fragile and unemployment savagely high in some places. Presenters share what it was like to become a household name and reminisce about the music and the lighter side of radio life and how it change the lives of so many. If you love radio this book is for you.

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Book SynopsisAt the peak of Britain''s first generation tramways, it was possible to travel by tram all the way from Pier Head at Liverpool to the Pennines in Rochdale. Amongst the chain of tramways that formed these links were the services that operated in Bolton, St Helens, Wigan and the company lines controlled by South Lancashire Tramways.

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Book SynopsisIn the second volume in the Lost Tramways series to feature Ireland, the history of the trams that served Dublin and its environs are recalled.

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Book SynopsisThe lines, circles, ticks, hooks, dots and dashes of Pitman shorthand used by some postcard writers during the early twentieth century are obscure to most people. Could the mysterious messages contain scandalous gossip, tales of adventure or declarations of undying love?Fifty Mysterious Postcards presents fascinating examples from the ‘Golden Age’ of the postcard, each with a message written in the dying art of Pitman shorthand. The rules of Pitman have changed since the postcards were written and posted over 100 years ago, but careful transcription has unlocked their meaning to bring stories of penfriends, sweethearts, holidays and the First World War to life once more.Trade Review“The format mostly features spreads with the postcards – beauty scenes, landmarks, cute animals – with the original name and address written longhand and the message in shorthand.” * Best of British magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe 1950s saw a major shift in the lifestyles of many in Britain. Employment levels rose to new heights, white consumer goods appeared in shop windows for the first time, television replaced the radio in many homes, rock ‘n’ roll was born, the National Health Service provided free healthcare to the nation, families went on holiday, and the new Queen was crowned — bringing in a glorious new Elizabethan age.Including interviews with former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock and footballers Bobby Charlton, Wilf McGuinness and Terry Venables, Recollections of the 1950s will appeal to all who grew up in this post-war decade. With chapters on schooldays, television and radio, trips to the seaside, music and fashion, these wonderful stories are sure to jog the memories of all who remember this exciting era.

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