Penguin Random House Group

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Book SynopsisLadybird Readers is an ELT graded reader series for children aged 3-11 learning English as a foreign or second language. The series includes traditional tales, favourite characters, modern stories and non-fiction. Written by experts, it uses proven methods to help children learn English and grasp key grammar and vocabulary points. Perfect for learning English in school or at home Develops reading, writing, speaking, listening and critical thinking skills Features much-loved characters and authors such as Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig, Roald Dahl and Eric Carle Eight levels follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR) Language activities in every book provide preparation for the Cambridge English Pre-A1 to A2 (YLE) tests Features free online resources including audio

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Book SynopsisAssassin''s Creed: The Secret Crusade is the thrilling novelisation by Oliver Bowden based on the game series.Niccolò Polo, father of Marco, will finally reveal the story he has kept secret all his life - the story of Altaïr, one of the brotherhood''s most extraordinary Assassins. Altaïr embarks on a formidable mission - one that takes him throughout the Holy Land and shows him the true meaning of the Assassin''s Creed. To demonstrate his commitment, Altaïr must defeat nine deadly enemies, including Templar leader, Robert de Sable. Altaïr''s life story is told here for the first time: a journey that will change the course of history; his ongoing battle with the Templar conspiracy; a family life that is as tragic as it is shocking; and the ultimate betrayal of an old friend.Assassin''s Creed: The Secret Crusade is based on the phenomenally successful gaming series. Oliver Bowden is the pen-name of an acclaimed novelist.

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Book SynopsisChuck Palahniuk is the bestselling author of fifteen fictional works, including Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, Survivor, Choke, Lullaby, Diary, Haunted, Rant, Pygmy, Tell-All, Damned, Doomed, Beautiful You, and most recently Make Something Up. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.Trade ReviewA comedy of horrors, a pantomimic romp through America's obsession with secrets and confessions * Arena *Maybe our generation has found its Don DeLillo * Bret Easton Ellis *Immensely entertaining...an extremly funny account of an outsider stuck inside America * Independent on Sunday *Survivor comes bowling forth out of the same dark corner of the mind as Fight Club... Like its predecessor, it is a terminal novel, a novel that applies the firing-squad principle to extort tortured eloquence from its doomed narrator * Esquire *Brilliant satire and savagely funny, Survivor offers much to admire. Palahniuk displays a swiftian gift for satire, as well as a knack for crafting mesmerizing sentences that loom with stark, prickly prose and repetitive rhythms * San Francisco Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisNevil Shute was a power and a pioneer in the world of flying long before he began to write the stories that made him a bestselling novelist. This autobiography charts Shute's path from childhood to his career as a gifted aeronautical engineer working at the forefront of the technological experimentation of the 1920s and 30s.Trade ReviewShute was a brilliant storyteller and terrific example for any writer * Daily Express *Most of my adult life, perhaps all the worthwhile part of it, has been spent messing about with airplanes -- Nevil ShuteAny book by Nevil Shute is a delight * Punch *

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Book Synopsis''There were two kinds of landscape characteristic of the inner planets of the Sun: the purposeful and the desolate.''The planet Quinta is pocked with ugly mounds and covered by a spiderweb-like network draped from spindly poles. It is a kingdom of phantoms and of a beauty afflicted by madness. The Earth spaceship Hermes arrives on Quinta with the best of intentions towards the humans'' ''brothers in intelligence''. But something on the planet has gone terribly wrong...

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Book SynopsisA magical tale of finding your voice and becoming yourself.Stanley loves his octopus toy, and dreams of the magical way its skin changes colour; how it hides itself when something scary comes along. In fact, sometimes Stanley wants to be like his octopus and disappear.But Stanley learns how to share his feelings in more than words, and to face difficulties through the power of self-expression and creativity.A lyrical and emotional story about overcoming bullies and being proud to be seen by the creators of The Boy Who Dreamed Dragons.

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Book Synopsis'Stunning... Weir has brought those five queens to life like never before. I just raced through it - it has all the drama and suspense of a novel' Tracy BormanCrusading queens, queens in rebellion against their king, queen seductresses, learned queens, queens in battle - the Plantagenet queens broke through medieval constraints to exercise power and influence, for good and sometimes for ill. Beginning with the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine whose marriage to Henry II sows the seeds for some of the most destructive family conflicts in history and ending with Eleanor of Castile, the grasping but beloved wife of Edward I, Alison Weir's ground-breaking history of the queens of medieval England provides an enthralling new perspective on a dramatic period of high romance and sometimes low politics, with determined women at its heart.Trade ReviewStunning... [Weir has] brought those five queens to life like never before. I just raced through it - it has all the drama and suspense of a novel. -- Tracy Borman[A] historian who has achieved popularity without sacrificing scholarly precision... She writes with the dramatic intensity of a novelist. -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *The book that I most anticipated this year was Alison Weir's Queens of the Crusades... Told with all of Weir's characteristic verve and exceptional eye for detail, this book should find its way into every history lover's Christmas stocking. -- Tracy Borman * BBC History Magazine *Books of the Year 2020* *As in previous books, the exceedingly knowledgeable author's prodigious research is impressive. Another treat for Weir fans. * Kirkus Reviews *This meticulous group biography of the first five Plantagenet queens of England brushes away long-standing legends. Weir skillfully documents the political, religious, and cultural issues of medieval England and France. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'Will hold you captive until the brilliant ending' Shari Lapena, author of Someone We Know **THE UNMISSABLE THRILLER FROM THE QUEEN OF THE MODERN-DAY MURDER MYSTERY** Snow is falling in the exclusive alpine ski resort of Saint Antoine, as the shareholders and directors of Snoop, the hottest new music app, gather for a make or break corporate retreat to decide the future of the company. At stake is a billion-dollar dot com buyout that could make them all millionaires, or leave some of them out in the cold. The clock is ticking on the offer, and with the group irrevocably split, tensions are running high. When an avalanche cuts the chalet off from help, and one board member goes missing in the snow, the group is forced to ask - would someone resort to murder, to get what they want? _________________________ PRAISE FOR RUTH WARE'S ADDICTIVE THRILLERS: 'Atmospheric and eerie with Agatha Christie vibes' Prima 'Ruth Ware just gets better and better' Lisa Jewell, author of The People Upstairs 'A dark tale by one of the best thriller writers around' Independent'The sense of dread deepens as the snow falls in Ruth Ware's tensely plotted and deliciously cast alpine thriller' Louise Candlish, bestselling author of Our House 'A real spine-chiller that confirms Ruth Ware as the true heir to Christie's crown' Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said, She Said _________________________ READERS LOVE ONE BY ONE: 'I devoured this in a day...eerie and creepy' ***** 'Terrifying and captivating' ***** 'Had me on the edge of my seat' ***** 'Utterly brilliant' ***** 'Clever, chilling, addictive...a must-read!' ***** 'Strong Agatha Christie vibes' *****Trade ReviewA real spine-chiller that confirms Ruth Ware as the true heir to Christie's crown. Ingenious plotting sees the body count rise and multiple suspects eliminated until we're left with breathless game of cat-and-mouse. * Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said *The sense of dread deepens as the snow falls in Ruth Ware's tensely plotted and deliciously cast alpine thriller. * Louise Candlish, author of Our House *A chilling, edge-of-your-seat thriller. Agatha Christie would have been up all night reading this one! * Shari Lapena, author of The Couple Next Door *Chilling, claustrophobic and clever. This is Ruth Ware's best yet. * Jo Jakeman *What a read, oh my goodness, so fast paced, action packed, twisty-turny, modern, clever, scary and ingenious! * Lisa Jewell, author of The People Upstairs *

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Book SynopsisPaul Mendelson is best known as the Financial Times bridge correspondent - he writes a weekly column - and as a leading author on bridge and poker. He is the author of six books on bridge and three on poker. He runs classes, lectures and workshops on bridge and is known to many of the world's finest players. His students have gone on to win many competitions, and he has coached top players of higher standard than himself.

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Book Synopsis'The Stone Roses have become folk heroes, frozen in time. John Squire.Names that will forever be remembered for creating their defining album The Stone Roses and a unique but inimitable baggy style.Their phenomenal story was first documented by the man who was with them every step of the way: John Robb.Trade ReviewBrother John Robb knows. He was there! * Ian Brown *I've read this book three times now and finally it has a happy ending * Noel Gallagher *An essential read * ShortList *A must for Roses fans and musos alike * The Big Issue *An exciting, substantial and hyperbolic study of THE most important pre-Oasis Britrock outfit * Vox *

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Book SynopsisTwenty-one years have passed since the defeat of the Empire at the Battle of Endor and the deaths of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. But now the New Republic faces new threats to its peace and prosperity: a charismatic firebrand is inciting war between two planets...reports of rogue Jedi Knights practising vigilante law are sowing seeds of mistrust and fear...and beyond the Outer Rim, a mysterious alien race is mounting an invasion. Against chaos from within and an enemy unlike any other without, can the heroes who overthrew the Empire triumph again?

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Book Synopsis''A fresh and funny book that wears its learning lightly'' IndependentDiscover the era of William Shakespeare and Elizabeth I through the sharp, informative and hilarious eyes of Ian Mortimer. We think of Queen Elizabeth I''s reign (1558-1603) as a golden age. But what was it actually like to live in Elizabethan England? If you could travel to the past and walk the streets of London in the 1590s, where would you stay? What would you eat? What would you wear? Would you really have a sense of it being a glorious age? And if so, how would that glory sit alongside the vagrants, diseases, violence, sexism and famine of the time? In this book Ian Mortimer reveals a country in which life expectancy is in the early thirties, people still starve to death and Catholics are persecuted for their faith. Yet it produces some of the finest writing in the English language, some of the most magnificent architecture, and sees Elizabeth''s subjects settle iTrade ReviewIan Mortimer manages to inform and delight in equal measure. * The Bookseller *As Mortimer puts it, "sometimes the past will inspire you, sometimes it will make you weep". What it won't do, thanks to this enthralling book, is leave you unmoved * Mail on Sunday *With Shakespeare on hand to give us extra insight into how Elizabethans saw themselves (and what they - often to our eyes inexplicably - found funny), and a society playing out its growing sense of self-awareness as it tiptoes to a modern age, the stage is set for a fresh and funny book that wears its learning lightly * Independent *Mortimer brings the same depth and flair to the age of Shakespeare and the Virgin Queen. From dental hygiene to table manners, the findings fascinate - even if we don't wish that we were there * Independent i *Mortimer's book has something for everyone... His curiosity is boundless and his profound scholarship is leavened by a sense of fun * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisThe highly anticipated coming-of-age story for the world''s greatest super hero: BATMAN by the # 1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu.Returning home from his lavish eighteenth birthday party, Bruce Wayne stops a criminal''s getaway - disobeying the police and crashing his car during the chase. Sentenced to community service in Gotham City''s Arkham Asylum, he encounters some of the the city''s most dangerous and mentally disturbed criminals. Among these, Bruce meets the intriguing Madeleine who has ties to the Nightwalker gang that is terrorizing Gotham City.She''s a mystery Bruce has to unravel but can he trust her? The Nightwalkers target the rich, and Bruce''s name is next on their list.

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Book SynopsisCould you and your friends change the world? This book will inspire you with 15 true stories of groups of amazing humans who''ve changed the world.Discover the astonishing things humans can achieve: from the campaign for women''s votes, to the efforts to heal the ozone layer. Or travel back to the start of democracy in Ancient Greece, and into space to see the incredible teamwork on the international space station. Above all, uncover just some of the MANY ways we can work together to change our world - all brought to life with astonishing story-telling and illustration.

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Book Synopsis___________________NOW A BBC RADIO 4 EXTRA DRAMATISATION STARRING ANNA MAXWELL MARTIN AND PRASANNA PUWANARAJAH___________________BOOK ONE OF THE RAJ QUARTETIndia 1942: everything is in flux. World War II has shown that the British are not invincible and the self-rule lobby is gaining many supporters. Against this background, Daphne Manners, a young English girl, is brutally raped in the Bibighat Gardens. The racism, brutality and hatred launched upon the head of her young Indian lover echo the dreadful violence perpetrated on Daphne and reveal the desperate state of Anglo-Indian relations.The rift that will eventually prise India - the jewel in the Imperial Crown - from colonial rule is beginning to gape wide.___________________''A major work, a glittering combination of brilliant craftsmanship, psychological perception and objective reporting... Rarely have the sounds and smells and total atmosphere been so evocatively suTrade ReviewA major work, a glittering combination of brilliant craftsmanship, psychological perception and objective reporting... Rarely have the sounds and smells and total atmosphere been so evocatively suggested * New York Times *Absorbing and brilliant... A triumph * Evening Standard *One of the most important landmarks of post-war fiction... A mighty literary experience * The Times *Quite simply, monumental * Washington Post *

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Book SynopsisThis gripping and pacy historical mystery is perfect for fans of S. J. Parris, Donna Leon, Steven Saylor and C. J. Sansom. With its wry humour, expert characterisation, vivid descriptions and incredible sense of adventure, you''ll be hooked from page one...''Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun'' - The Times''The whole thing is splendid. It has everything: mystery, pace, wit, fascinating scholarship ... she brings Imperial Rome to life'' - Ellis Peters''Another excellent Falco book that is difficult to put down'' - ***** Reader review''Astounding'' - ***** Reader review''A fabulous read'' - ***** Reader review''Full marks and happily recommended'' - ***** Reader review******************************************************************DROWNING IN MYSTERY, DYING ON STAGEThe spirit of adventure calls Marcus Didius Falco on a neTrade ReviewA wonderful series of detective novels * The Good Book Guide *Several cheers for Lindsey Davis... Great fun * The Times *Splendid . . . mystery, pace and wit

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Book SynopsisLisa Jewell is the No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including The Family Upstairs, Then She Was Gone and her latest novel, None of This is True. Her novels have sold over 10 million copies in the UK and internationally, and her work has been translated into over thirty languages. She lives in London with her husband, two daughters, an amazing Romanian rescue dog called Daisy, and Ivy the mad orange kitten.Trade Review"A gripping examination of all the difficulties a modern couple can face ... Well written and compelling" Daily Mail "I can't get enough of Lisa Jewell's books - they're so moreish!" -- Camilla Kerslake News of the World "Poignant and heart-wrenching, it's a wonderful insight into what can happen when the fairytale finally ends" The Sun "Pretty damn good ... Jewell stands out, providing insightful character studies ... and she is so readable - you can fall into After the Party as you would a particularly soft settee" Time Out, Paperback Pick, 4 stars "Lisa's heartfelt writing and raw, honest storytelling makes for an emotional, funny and heartbreaking journey ... but there is a glimmer of hope. Can Jem and Ralph find their way back to happiness? 5 stars" heat

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Book SynopsisWhen the Emperor and his notorious apprentice, Darth Vader, find themselves stranded in the middle of insurgent action on an inhospitable planet, they must rely on each other, the Force, and their own ruthlessness to prevail.It appears things are as you suspected, Lord Vader. We are indeed hunted.Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, is just a memory. Darth Vader, newly anointed Sith Lord, is ascendant. The Emperor's chosen apprentice has swiftly proven his loyalty to the dark side. Still, the history of the Sith Order is one of duplicity, betrayal, and acolytes violently usurping their Mastersand the truest measure of Vader's allegiance has yet to be taken. Until now.On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as spice, an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the e

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Book SynopsisFROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SILK ROADS ''Filled with Byzantine intrigue, in every sense this book is important, compellingly revisionist and impressive in its scholarly use of totally fresh sources'' Simon Sebag Montefiore In 1096, an expedition of extraordinary scale and ambition set off from Western Europe on a mass pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Three years later, after a journey which saw acute hardship, the most severe dangers and thousands of casualties, the knights of the First Crusade found themselves storming the fortifications and capturing the Holy City. Against all the odds, the expedition had returned Jerusalem to Christian hands. In ''the most significant contribution to rethinking the origins and course of the First Crusade for a generation'' (Mark Whittow, TLS), Frankopan paints a strikingly original picture of this infamous confrontation between Christianity and Islam. Focusing on ConstantTrade ReviewFrankopan has written a remarkable book that makes as strong case as the incomplete and episodic evidence permits * Literary Review *Scholarly and yet accessible, and unashamedly partisan, The First Crusade, as any vibrant history should, is bound to set a lot of feathers flying * Daily Telegraph *A dazzling book, perfectly combining deep scholarship and easy readability. The most important addition to Crusading literature since RuncimanA nuanced and often counterintuitive story of power politics, international diplomacy and war and, ultimately that very rare thing - a truly fresh interpretation of an old story * Time Out *Frankopan's qualities as a historian and writer are of a high order * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisGladys Maude Winifred Mitchell or The Great Gladys' as Philip Larkin called her was born in 1901, in Cowley in Oxfordshire. She graduated in history from University College London and in 1921 began her long career as a teacher. Her hobbies included architecture and writing poetry. She studied the works of Sigmund Freud and her interest in witchcraft was encouraged by her friend, the detective novelist Helen Simpson. Her first novel, Speedy Death, was published in 1929 and introduced readers to Beatrice Adela Lestrange Bradley, the detective heroine of a further sixty six crime novels. She wrote at least one novel a year throughout her career and was an early member of the Detection Club, alongside Agatha Christie, G.K Chesterton and Dorothy Sayers.In 1961 she retired from teaching and, from her home in Dorset, continued to write, receiving the Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger in 1976. Gladys Mitchell died in 1983.Trade ReviewShe is one of the Big Three women detective writers * Observer *Begins like a parody of a country house murder. But you soon see that the author means the jokes, and also develops both a tricky mystery and a quite solid argument about crime and its disruption of society. Then she brings it all to a head in a very remarkable conclusion. From the start, Mitchell was outstanding. * Glasgow Herald *A crime writer who, in her day, ranked with Christie and Sayers * Daily Mail *Extremely well constructed story of murder and detection...Mrs Bradley is the prize piece * Daily News *Gladys Mitchell can always be relied upon for a packed and meaty novel, and an intelligent one at that * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisLily''s grandmother tells her all about the mysterious whales out in the bay, and Lily longs to hear their magical song. Gary Blythe''s richly evocative artwork creates an incredibly atmospheric world for a timeless tale of wildlife and wonder.This stunning, award-winning picture book has been refreshed and redesigned in a new edition, making it perfect for a new generation to share and fall in love with.Trade ReviewA book of haunting images . . . a wistful, elusive fable * Independent *

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Book SynopsisThe exquisitely-researched standalone prequel series to Dorothy Dunnett''s revered Lymond Chronicles, following the ancestors of Francis Crawford of Lymond in Continental Europe.Niccolo Rising is Book One in The House of Niccolo series.----------------------------- ''It began with sea, and September sunlight, and three young men lying stripped to their doublets in the Duke of Burgundy''s bath . . .''Meet Caes - Nicholas vander Poele - an eighteen-year-old orphan and dyer apprentice''s working for the widow Marian de Charetty in Bruges. After fetching up in jail for accidentally sinking a lighter and breaking the leg of a nobleman, his young life seems over before it is even begun.However, fate and the fifteenth century have great expectations for Nicholas and he soon finds himself leading the Charetty company into adventures and intrigues both mercantile and military, even as enemies plot their downfall.Through cunning, bravery, wit and an unexpected wisdom, Nicholas begins to lay the foundations for the House of Niccolo . . .''As brilliant and interesting as Lymond. A generous feast'' Daily Telegraph''A series that will give us our fill of high Renaissance adventure and espionage'' GuardianTrade ReviewPraise for Dorothy Dunnett -- - * - *A storyteller who could teach Scheherazade a thing or two about pace, suspense and imaginative invention -- - * New York Times *Marvellous, breathtaking -- - * The Times *A masterpiece of historical fiction -- - * Washington Post *One of the greatest tale-spinners since Dumas -- - * Cleveland Plain Dealer *Lashings of excitement, colour and subtlety -- - * The Times *Vivid, engaging, densely plotted - are almost certainly destined to be counted among the classics of popular fiction -- - * New York Times *

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Book Synopsis''The Penguin History of Europe series ... is one of contemporary publishing''s great projects'' New StatesmanThe world known as the ''Dark Ages'', often seen as a time of barbarism, was in fact the crucible in which modern Europe would be created.Chris Wickham''s acclaimed history shows how this period, encompassing peoples such as Goths, Franks, Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, was central to the development of our history and culture. From the collapse of the Roman Empire to the establishment of new European states, and from Ireland to Constantinople, the Baltic to the Mediterranean, this landmark work makes sense of a time of invasion and turbulence, but also of continuity, creativity and achievement.Trade ReviewA work of tremendous authority and breadth. With this book, as with Charlemagne's empire, one feels that an extraordinary range of things have been brought together -- Noel Malcolm * Sunday Telegraph *Intensely rewarding -- Jonathan Sumption * Spectator *Almost every page is full of arresting details and insights ... and a sharp eye for a revealing anecdote, illuminating even the murkiest corners of the so-called Dark Ages -- Dominic Sandbrook * Daily Telegraph *The Penguin History of Europe series ... is one of contemporary publishing's great projects * New Statesman *With five volumes now out, the Penguin History of Europe series ... is shaping up to be the best general account available, superseding all previous ones * Economist *

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Book SynopsisPlease Mrs Butler, this boy Derek DrewKeeps copying my work, Miss. What shall I do?Discover this hilarious collection of poetry by award-winning Allan Ahlberg, perfect for primary school children.Packed with playful poems about reading tests, never-ending school projects and playground quarrels, this collection has delighted generations of children and adults alike. Voted the most important children''s poetry book of the 20th century in a Books for Keeps poll, Please Mrs Butler belongs in every child''s bedroom.''Hilarious and poignant school verses about primary school life. A real winner'' - The Guardian''Clever, funny and nostalgic, the collection is a delight'' - Sunday TimesDiscover more school stories from Alan Ahlberg:Starting SchoolHeard It In The PlaygroundTrade ReviewHilarious and poignant verses about primary school life. A real winner * Guardian *Clever, funny and nostalgic, the collection is a delight * Sunday Times *The most important 20th-century children's poetry book * Books for Keeps poll *

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Book SynopsisThe Rape of the Lock and Other Major Writings is a collection of Alexander Pope''s greatest works, edited with an introduction by Leo Damrosch in Penguin Classics.Alexander Pope was the greatest English poet of his age, whose acerbic insights into human nature have entered the language, and whose verse still astonishes with its energy and inventiveness centuries after his death. This new selection of Pope''s work follows the path of his poetic genius over his lifetime. It contains early poems including the masterly mock-epic ''The Rape of the Lock'', which satirizes a notorious society scandal through glorious heroic couplets, the brilliantly aphoristic ''An Essay on Criticism'' and excerpts from his translation of the Iliad. Later poems represented include Pope''s ironic adaptations of Horace''s Epistles, Satires and Odes, and the remarkable ''Dunciad'', a stinging attack on his literary rivals and the mediocrity of Grub Street hacks. Here too are selected prose works and letters from Pope to his contemporaries such as John Gay and Jonathan Swift.This edition contains a wide-ranging introduction that elucidates Pope''s life, poetic art and contemporary contexts, as well as separate introductions to each piece, a chronology, further reading, a biography and extensive notes. Alexander Pope (1688-1744) was born in London in 1688, the son of a well-to-do Roman Catholic cloth merchant. In 1709 he launched his career with a set of four pastorals, followed by An Essay on Criticism, Windsor Forest and the mock-epic Rape of the Lock, which cemented his reputation as the greatest poet of the age. Later works included the Dunciad, Epistles to Several Persons and the ambitious Essay on Man.If you enjoyed The Rape of the Lock, you might like Jonathan Swift''s Gulliver''s Travels, also available in Penguin Classics.

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Book SynopsisTwenty-three poems that transformed English poetry Wordsworth and Coleridge composed this powerful selection of poetry during their youthful and intimate friendship. Reproducing the first edition of 1798, this edition of Lyrical Ballads allows modern readers to recapture the book’s original impact. In these poems—including Wordsworth’s “Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey” and Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere”—the two poets exercised new energies and opened up new themes.

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Book SynopsisAfter the death of old Dr Grantly, a bitter struggle begins over who will succeed him as Bishop of Barchester. And when the decision is finally made to appoint the evangelical Dr Proudie, rather than the son of the old bishop, Archdeacon Grantly, resentment and suspicion threaten to cause deep divisions within the diocese.

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Book SynopsisSmith''s THE WEALTH OF NATIONS was the first comprehensive treatment of political economy. Originally delivered in the form of lectures at Glasgow, the book''s publication in 1776 co-incided with America''s Declaration of Independence. These volumes include Smith''s assessment of the mercantile system, his advocacy of the freedom of commerce and industry, and his famous prophecy that America will be one of the foremost nations of the world.

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Book SynopsisTolstoy's powerful semiautobiographical stories based on his time spent in the Russian army, part of our series of fresh new Tolstoy translations In 1851, at the age of twenty-two, Tolstoy joined the Russian army. The four years he spent as a soldier were among the most significant in his life and inspired the tales collected here. In The Cossacks, Tolstoy tells the story of Olenin, a cultured Russian whose experiences among the Cossack warriors of Central Asia leave him searching for a more authentic life. The Sevastopol Sketches bring into stark relief the realities of military life during the Crimean War. And Hadji Murat paints a portrait of a great leader torn apart by divided loyalties. In writing about individuals and societies in conflict, Tolstoy has penned some of the most brilliant stories about the nature of war.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700Table of ContentsThe Cossacks and Other StoriesChronologyIntroductionA Note on the TextsMapsThe CossacksSevastopol StoriesSevastopol in DecemberSevastopol in MaySevastopol in August 1855Hadji MuratNotesGlossary

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Book SynopsisThe beginning of the twentieth century saw human civilization at its most enlightened, well-educated, globalized and wealthy. What turned it into a bloodbath?Niall Ferguson re-tells the story of history''s most savage century as a continual war that raged for 100 years. From the plains of Poland to the killing fields of Cambodia, he reveals how economic boom-and-bust, decaying empires and, above all, poisonous ideas of race led men to treat each other as aliens. It was an age of hatred that ended with the twilight, not the triumph, of the West. And, he shows, it could happen all over again.''A heartbreaking, serious and thoughtful survey of human evil that is utterly fascinating and dramatic'' Simon Sebag Montefiore, The New York Times''Unputdownable, controversial, compelling'' Independent on Sunday''The grenade lobbed into the cosy tea party of received wisdom'' Max Hastings''A big, bold and brilliantly belligerentTrade ReviewA heartbreaking, serious and thoughtful survey of human evil that is utterly fascinating and dramatic -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * The New York Times *Unputdownable, controversial, compelling * Independent on Sunday *The grenade lobbed into the cosy tea party of received wisdom -- Max HastingsA big, bold and brilliantly belligerent book * Sunday Telegraph *History at its most controversial ... no one can afford to overlook it -- Allan MallinsonHums with energy, quotable insights and pithy summaries * Observer *Gripping -- Tristram Hunt

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Book Synopsis''A joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory'' Sue Townsend, Sunday Times_____________________________________All Points North is part-memoir and part-excursion. Charting the rugged and uneven terrain of a writer''s formative years - from tax problems to probation to American tours, football to family to running away to Iceland - Simon Armitage explores growing up and being Northern. It''s about humour, language, writing, film, houses, homes, time wasters, one loose tyre, you, me and all points in-between._____________________________________''Laugh-out-loud funny'' Independent''A delight'' Jonathan Raban, Times Literary Supplement ''A perfect holiday dipper'' Scotsman''An Alan Bennett-style diary'' Daily Telegraph Trade ReviewA joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory -- Sue Townsend * Sunday Times *I was irresistibly reminded of Alan Bennett - there is the same wry humour, wonderfully telling selection of detail or remark . . . a fine balance of humour and poignancy * The Times *The salty prose of an original poetic voice -- Melvyn Bragg * Observer *A thoughtful, witty combination of travel writing, autobiography and Alan Bennett-style diary -- John-Paul Flintoff * Daily Telegraph *Laugh-out-loud funny . . . has all the resonant precision of a poet's ear and eye * Independent *An original and talented writer . . . highly entertaining and there are flashes of wit and moments of tenderness and brilliantly accurate observation -- Vernon Scannell * Sunday Telegraph *The best book I have read in a long time on what he insists is the true North of England -- Geoffrey Moorhouse * Daily Telegraph *I was irresistibly reminded of Alan Bennett - there is the same wry humour, wonderfully telling selection of detail or remark... a fine balance of humour and poignancy * The Times *The salty prose of an original poetic voice -- Melvyn Bragg * Observer *Laugh-out-loud funny... has all the resonant precision of a poet's ear and eye * Independent *A delight - high-spirited, light-footed, very funny and wickedly observamt -- Jonathan Raban * The Times Literary Supplement *A joy. Celebrates the real world and revels in its mad glory -- Sue Townsend * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''Brilliant, unforgettable ... a masterpiece'' New StatesmanWest Germany in the 1960s is a simmering cauldron of radical protests. Amid the turmoil Leo Harting, a Second Secretary in the British Embassy, has gone missing - along with more than forty Confidential embassy files. Alan Turner of the Foreign Office must travel to Bonn to recover them. As he gets closer to the truth of Harting''s disappearance, he will discover that the face of Cold War Europe - and the attentions of the British Ministry itself - are far uglier that he could possibly have imagined. Le Carré''s searing Cold War novel creates a world where the lines between right and wrong, good and evil, are horribly blurred.''Exciting, compulsively readable and brilliantly plotted'' The New York TimesWith an Introduction by Hari KunzruTrade ReviewExciting, compulsively readable and brilliantly plotted * The New York Times *Brilliant, unforgettable ... a masterpiece * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisI fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once.Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel''s story is about to be completely rewritten.Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars brilliantly explores the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.Praise for The Fault in Our Stars: Sunday Times (Culture) ''A touching, often fiercely funny novel''The Sun on Sunday (Fabulous Magazine) ''So good I think it should be compulsory reading for everyone!''Daily Express ''John Green brilliantly captures the voices of a young generation while instilling it with the wisdom of a life that has lived too much yet will never live enough''The Metro - 2013 Best Fiction ''The love affair of two terminally ill teenagers could be mawkish. In fact, it''s funny, clever, irreverent and life-affirming.''Grazia ''So good!''Good Housekeeping ''As funny as it is heartbreaking... we defy you not to fall in love with its main characters, Hazel and Augustus.''The Tablet ''A humourous and poignant love story... It''s terrifically funny... as well as a moving exploration of loss and grief. And no, it''s so much not just for teenage cancer sufferers... it''s for everyone.''Bliss ''If you need inspiration when it comes to making the most of a moment, this one is for you''Mizz ''Insightful, bold, irreverent and raw, if this doesn''t make you cry, it''ll definitely make you think, laugh and maybe even fall in love yourself!''Trade ReviewElectric . . . Filled with staccato bursts of humor and tragedy -- Jodi PicoultA novel of life and death and the people caught in between, The Fault in Our Stars is John Green at his best. You laugh, you cry, and then you come back for more -- Markus Zusak, author of The Book ThiefDamn near genius . . . Simply devastating . . . Fearless in the face of powerful, uncomplicated, unironized emotion * TIME *Funny . . . Poignant . . . Luminous * Entertainment Weekly *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Oscar''s Book Prize 2019 This witty, resonant picture book is a manual for anyone''s life, young or old. Sunday Times Children''s Book of the WeekYou don''t have to ROAR to be heard...Meet Leonard - a lion like no other. Leonard''s best friend is Marianne, a duck. But lions chomp ducks, don''t they? What will the pair do when their way of life is threatened?From the New York Times-bestselling author of Max the Brave comes a powerful story celebrating daydreamers, individuality and the quiet courage to be yourself.Positive role models showing boys how to be a whole person are few and far between these days. This marvelous book triumphs in that essential job. KirkusChildren will feel empowered after reading such a deliberate story of unyielding strength and self-awareness. Thoughtful and provocative words to live by. School Library JournalgeTrade ReviewThis witty, resonant picture book is a manual for anyone's life, young or old. * Sunday Times Children's Book of the Week *Positive role models showing boys how to be a whole person are few and far between these days. This marvellous book triumphs in that essential job. * Kirkus *Leonard is a lion like no other: he loves poetry and daydreaming and his best friend is a duck. But how will the pair react when their way of life is threatened and the other lions insist Leonard should be fierce? Framed by a glowing palette of burnt yellows and oranges, and infused with humour and warmth, this thought-provoking fable celebrates courage, individuality and the power of words. * The Bookseller *The story's confiding, narrative voice draws readers in close, while bold, scrabbly ink lines by British author-illustrator Vere (the Max picture books) add life and giggles to Leonard and Marianne's friendship. Vere's fable makes a watertight-and charming-case for ignoring the pressures of conformity. * Publishers Weekly *Ed Vere just keeps getting better and better! How To Be a Lion features the very sweetest Lion, Leonard: a dreamer rather than a chomper, and, most importantly, a great friend. Just because you're a lion doesn't mean that you have to roar, and, in fact, the world would probably be a better place with less roaring, and more time spent on Leonard's thinking hill. Vere's language is beautifully warm and reassuring, whilst retaining a lovely originality, and is gently reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh. A perfect book for all thinking lions (and all clever ducks, too). * BookTrust *This is a book that challenges children's assumptions and demonstrates that situations look different from different perspectives. It champions staying true to oneself and sticking to one's principles and by one's friends regardless of what others think. The book also beautifully highlights the power and beauty of the written and spoken word... Children will feel empowered after reading such a deliberate story of unyielding strength and self-awareness. Thoughtful and provocative words to live by. * School Library Journal *How to be a Lion is beautiful - this should come as no surprise as Ed Vere is always a phenomenal artist, but his words can stand on their own and they form a beautiful meditation on the power of being different, ignoring the herd (in this case the pride) and being true to your beliefs, yourself and your friends; and in knowing that tough decisions do not have to be faced alone...It is usually extremely hard to find a picture book of the year but for me, I think, it may be How to be a Lion! * Teen Librarian *

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Book SynopsisNobody knows how long it has been since the Tripods came. Nobody remembers life on Earth before they enslaved it. Humans live in scattered farms and villages, kept quiet and obedient by the mind-controlling Caps implanted when they reach their teens. Will Parker''s time is fast approaching - but a chance encounter with a madman convinces him that it may still be possible to resist the alien masters. So begins an epic tale of survival and defiance - and Will''s journey to the White Mountains.

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Book SynopsisThe Penguin English Library Edition of The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells''People screamed. People sprang off the pavement ... The Invisible Man is coming! The Invisible Man!''With his face swaddled in bandages, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses and his hands covered even indoors, Griffin - the new guest at The Coach and Horses - is at first assumed to be a shy accident-victim. But the true reason for his disguise is far more chilling: he has developed a process that has made him invisible, and is locked in a struggle to discover the antidote. Forced from the village, and driven to murder, he seeks the aid of an old friend, Kemp. The horror of his fate has affected his mind, however - and when Kemp refuse to help, he resolves to wreak his revenge.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.

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Book Synopsis''Compelling, remorseless, brilliant'' John Gray A first ink drawing showed a hanged man swinging from a gallows on which perched an enormous crow. And there were at least twenty other etchings and pen or pencil sketches that had the same leitmotif of hanging.On the edge of a forest: a man hanging from every branch.A church steeple: beneath the weathercock, a human body dangling from each arm of the cross. . . Below another sketch were written four lines from François Villon''s Ballade of the Hanged Men.On a trip to Brussels, Maigret unwittingly causes a man''s suicide, but his own remorse is overshadowed by the discovery of the sordid events that drove the desperate man to shoot himself.This novel has been published in previous translations as Maigret and the Hundred Gibbets and The Crime of Inspector Maigret.''One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century'' GuardianTrade ReviewPraise for Georges Simenon:“One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century . . . Simenon was unequaled at making us look inside, though the ability was masked by his brilliance at absorbing us obsessively in his stories.” —The Guardian “These Maigret books are as timeless as Paris itself.” —The Washington Post “Maigret ranks with Holmes and Poirot in the pantheon of fictional detective immortals.” —People “I love reading Simenon. He makes me think of Chekhov.” —William Faulkner “The greatest of all, the most genuine novelist we have had in literature.” —André Gide “A supreme writer . . . Unforgettable vividness.” —The Independent (London) “Superb . . . The most addictive of writers . . . A unique teller of tales.” —The Observer (London) “Compelling, remorseless, brilliant.” —John Gray “A truly wonderful writer . . . Marvelously readable—lucid, simple, absolutely in tune with the world he creates.” —Muriel Spark “A novelist who entered his fictional world as if he were a part of it.”lle —Peter Ackroyd “Extraordinary masterpieces of the twentieth century.” —John Banville"Gem-hard soul-probes . . . not just the world's bestselling detective series, but an imperishable literary legend . . . he exposes secrets and crimes not by forensic wizardry, but by the melded powers of therapist, philosopher and confessor" ― Times (London)"Strangely comforting . . . so many lovely bistros from the Paris of mid-20th C. The corpses are incidental, it's the food that counts." ― Margaret Atwood"One of the greatest writers of the 20th century . . . no other writer can set up a scene as sharply and with such economy as Simenon does . . . the conjuring of a world, a place, a time, a set of characters - above all, an atmosphere." ― Financial Times"Gripping . . . richly rewarding . . . You'll quickly find yourself obsessing about his life as you tackle each mystery in turn."-- Stig Abell ― The Sunday Times (London)

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Book Synopsis''At one and the same time the greatest of all works of English patriotism and a searing critique of warfare'' Jonathan BateYoung King Henry wages war on France. Tainted by his family''s past crimes and with enemies among his own men, he must face the difficult responsibilities of kingship, unite his country and rouse his ''band of brothers'' to battle at Agincourt. An heroic coming-of-age story and a work of stirring patriotic oratory, Henry V also has darker undercurrents that ultimately question the price of military victory.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by A. R. Humphreys with an Introduction by Ann Kaegi

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Book Synopsis''Tonight he noticed how the women''s eyesPassed from him to the strong men that were whole.''The true horror of the trenches is brought to life in this selection of poetry from the front line.Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin''s 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.Wilfred Owen (1893-1918). Owen is available in Penguin Classics in Three Poets of the First World War: Ivor Gurney, Isaac Rosenberg, Wilfred Owen.

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Book SynopsisWells's genre-defining novel of time travelWhen a Victorian scientist propels himself into the year a.d. 802,701, he is initially delighted to find that suffering has been replaced by beauty, contentment, and peace. Entranced at first by the Eloi, an elfin species descended from man, he soon realizes that these beautiful people are simply remnants of a once-great culture—now weak and childishly afraid of the dark. They have every reason to be afraid: in deep tunnels beneath their paradise lurks another race descended from humanity—the sinister Morlocks. And when the scientist’s time machine vanishes, it becomes clear he must search these tunnels if he is ever to return to his own era.This edition includes a newly established text, a full biographical essay on Wells, a list of further reading, and detailed notes. Marina Warner’s introduction considers Wells’s development of the “scientific romance” and places the noveTrade Review“[Wells] contrives to give over humanity into the clutches of the Impossible and yet manages to keep it down (or up) to its humanity, to its flesh, blood, sorrow, folly.” —Joseph Conrad

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Book SynopsisJules Verne''s wild and riotous fantasy Journey to the Centre of the Earth delves into the hidden mysteries of a vast, uncharted subterranean world. This Penguin Classics edition is translated from the French by Frank Wynne with an introduction by Jane Smiley and notes by Peter Cogman.Jules Verne''s pioneering science fiction classic tells the story of the distinguished but eccentric Professor Lidenbrock, who finds a scrap of parchment in an old manuscript. A cipher written in runes, it tells of an entrance to another world - a world hidden beneath our own, illuminated by an electrified gas and populated by strange, prehistoric beings. So with his nephew reluctantly in tow, the Professor follows this cryptic clue down into a dormant volcano in Iceland, and the further they descend, the more extraordinary the discoveries and creatures that they encounter, the greater the dangers, and the more ancient the living past that surrounds them.This new translation by Frank Wynne is accompanied by an introduction on the science of Verne''s work and its influences. This edition also includes notes, a chronology and suggested further reading.Jules Verne (1828-1905), the ''father of Science Fiction'' was born in Nantes, developing from early childhood a romantic fascination for the ships and the sea. In 1848 he moved to Paris, ostensibly to become a lawyer, though his true ambition was to become a writer. His first book, Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863) was an immediate popular success, followed a year later by Journey to the Centre of the Earth; among the most popular of the fifty-four books published during his life are From the Earth to the Moon (1865), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870) and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873).If you enjoyed Journey to the Centre of the Earth you might like H.G. Wells'' The Time Machine, also available in Penguin Classics.Trade Review“The reason Verne is still read by millions today is simply that he was one of the best storytellers who ever lived.”—Arthur C. Clarke

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Book SynopsisThe decline of the West is something that has long been prophesied. Symptoms of decline are all around us today: slowing growth, crushing debts, ageing populations. But what exactly is amiss with Western civilization? The answer, Niall Ferguson argues, is that the institutions that were once the four pillars of Western society - representative government, the free market, the rule of law and civil society - are degenerating. The Great Degeneration is a powerful indictment of an era of negligence and complacency. To stop us frittering away the institutional inheritance of centuries, Ferguson warns, will take heroic leadership and radical reform. ''A refreshing perspective on the economic decline of advanced countries and the origins of the crisis'' Samuel Brittan, Financial Times ''He writes with splendid panache and a seemingly effortless, debonair wit'' The Times ''One of the most incisive writers of history, poliTrade ReviewBrilliantly written, full of wit and virtuosity, stuffed with memorable lines and gorgeous bits of information. A great read * The Times (on Civilization) *A dazzling history of Western ideas ... epic * Economist *This is sharp. It feels urgent. Ferguson... twists his knife with great literary brio -- Andrew Marr (on Civilization)A masterpiece ... fascinating facts burst like fireworks on every page * Sunday Times *Brings history alive for the reader with a dazzling knowledge ... peerless * Independent on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisFresh, original, heartbreaking Reni Eddo-LodgeDevastating, hilarious, unlike anything I have ever read. Destined to be a classic Pandora Sykes''A must-read ... as mesmerising as it is poignant'' Stylist, SPRING MUST-READ BOOKS TO FEEL EMPOWERED''This utterly distinctive memoir, written almost out loud in Nottinghamshire vernacular, hauls you into the world Lees grew up in... it''s shocking, funny, heart-rending and totally brilliant'' The Bookseller, EDITOR''S CHOICE MAY 2021''What It Feels Like for a Girl says it like it is'' Evening Standard, BEST NEW BOOKS IN 2021Thirteen-year-old Byron needs to get away, and doesn''t care how. Sick of being beaten up by lads for talkin'' like a poof after school. Sick of dad - the weightlifting, womanising Gaz - and Mam, who pissed off to Turkey like Shirley Valentine. Sick of all the people in Hucknall who shuffle about like the living dead, going on about kTrade ReviewFresh, original, heartbreaking and optimistic. The subtlety of time passing reminds me of Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie's writing. -- Reni Eddo LodgeParis Lees is the voice of a generation -- Paul FlynnBrilliant, brutal and bitingly funny, Lees is going to rip your heart out and show you the ugly truth about kids Britain would rather pretend don't exist. There's never been a book like this -- Matthew ToddDevastating one page, hilarious the next, What It Feels Like for a A Girl is unlike anything I have ever read. Utterly unique and imbued with hope - it is destined to be a classic. -- Pandora SykesAn important debut -- Édouard LouisA sensational, gut-wrenching read: raw, moving, and ultimately life-affirming -- Owen JonesOften hilarious, sometimes moving, consistently engrossing, always authentic and ultimately uplifting. Reminiscent of Trainspotting and Irvine Welsh. A tour-de-force -- Matt CainA must-read ... as mesmerising as it is poignant * Stylist, SPRING MUST-READ BOOKS TO FEEL EMPOWERED *This utterly distinctive memoir, written almost out loud in Nottinghamshire vernacular, hauls you into the world Lees grew up in... it's shocking, funny, heart-rending and totally brilliant * The Bookseller, EDITOR’S CHOICE MAY 2021 *What It Feels Like for a Girl says it like it is * Evening Standard, BEST NEW BOOKS IN 2021 *A groundbreaking, peerless journey into trauma and the impossibility of fighting for the self -- Sleaford ModsParis Lees has created a totally complete world in the way that something like Trainspotting or Skins or It's A Sin did... made a universe, populated it with people that you absolutely care about, dialect that you're completely absorbed by, then smashed your heart to smithereens -- Alexandra HemingsleyNothing is off-limits in this unputdownable memoir ... her wit and expert storytelling soften some heartbreaking experiences * British Vogue *Heartbreaking, hilarious and impossible to put down: Paris Lees' What It Feels Like For a Girl is genuinely singular. It's raw, viscerally real and Byron is a character who will stay with you long after you've finished -- Yomi AdegokePowerful and authentic, a memoir with the depth and writerly virtuosity of a fine novel. -- Katherine O'DonnellA truly fresh, exciting take on the genre of memoir * Cosmopolitan *Raw, heartbreaking, and scorchingly funny, What It Feels Like For A Girl is a boldly-written and truly transformative account of an extraordinary life story. Please do yourself a favour and read it -- Otegha UwagbaLees has lived an extraordinary life, and it makes for extraordinary writing -- Rebecca Nicholson * Guardian *A ketamine-laced coming of age memoir... recalls being in a nightclub where you can still smoke and euphoric music blares non-stop ... a dark comedy from a little-heard perspective. Even when there's blood dripping on the page as a result of bullying, Lees manages to make it read like a sketch ... very powerful -- Kadish Morris * The Observer *Heartbreaking and hilarious * Dazed Magazine *Smart and exuberant... By excavating her painful past in her memoir, [Lees] has crafted a vivid story of trauma, rebellion and astonishing resilience -- Fiona Sturges * The Guardian *Fast and funny and furious... the writing is so alive and warm that you don't feel remotely miserable while reading it, even while your heart is pounding for her -- Sophie Heawood * Grazia *It is so vivid, and the use of dialect so clever, that it feels as if you are living her life with her. -- David WalliamsWritten in a chatty, instantly endearing vernacular, What It Feels Like For A Girl is a crank-it-up-to-11 account of the British trans experience. * Refinery29 *Written entirely in Midlands dialect, with each chapter named after a Noughties hit, Paris Lees's novelised account of her Nottingham childhood will make you shake with laughter and weep with heartbreak in the space of a few pages. * British Vogue Summer Reads *Set to be one of this summer's must-reads, Paris Lees' debut book is a coming-of-age memoir about her early life in the East Midlands. Written in Nottingham dialect, it's a story of growing up in a small town, with deliciously evocative tales of Noughties nights out. * Evening Standard *Energetic, dark and hilarious. Paris Lees, with her loud and proud sense of self, is set to explode.. if you read one book this summer, make it What It Feels Like for a Girl... radically cool, explosive and riotous ... long may Lees' voice shine neon bright -- Shivani Kochnar * The Daily Mail *Like Alan Sillitoe on acid... it's got to be a film. I've never read anything like it. -- Vicky McClureRaw and original * Elle Magazine *Extraordinary, riotous, furiously unique, moving and funny, What It Feels Like for a Girl is a deeply important book as well as being a fantastic read -- Elizabeth DayClever, gripping, messy, sad. I loved it. -- Travis AlabanzaSadness and joy also go hand-in-hand in What It Feels Like for a Girl, an exuberant account of Paris Lees's tearaway teenage years in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, where "the streets are paved wi' dog shit". Her gender nonconformity is just one aspect of an adolescence that also features bullying, violence, prostitution, robbery and a spell in a young offenders' institute. Yet despite the many traumas, Lees finds joy and kinship in the underground club scene and a group of drag queens who cocoon her in love and laughter. -- Fiona Sturges * The Guardian, Best Books of 2021 *Bold and compulsively readable... She writes with humour about heartbreakingly harrowing moments while simultaneously capturing the dazzling joy of Nottingham nightlife and the importance of finding those who accept you for who you truly are -- Emma Hanson * Harper's Bazaar, memoirs and autobiographies to be inspired by *

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