Published diaries, letters and journals Books
Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd. Essential Vivekananda
Book Synopsis
£18.74
Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd Letter to My Partner: Words of Love and
Book Synopsis
£11.69
Pan Macmillan A Prison Diary Volume III: Heaven
Book SynopsisThe final volume of Jeffrey Archer’s prison diaries, A Prison Diary Volume III: Heaven, covers the period of his transfer from Wayland to his eventual release on parole in July 2003. It includes a shocking account of the traumatic time he spent in the notorious Lincoln jail and the events that led to his incarceration there – it also throws light on a system that is close to breaking point.Told with humour, compassion and honesty, it closes with a thought-provoking manifesto that should be applauded by the Establishment and prison population alike.Day 115Saturday 10th November 20016.38amIt’s all an act. I am hopelessly unhappy, dejected and broken. I smile when I am at my lowest, I laugh when I see no humour, I help others when I need help myself. I am alone. If I were to show any sign, even for a moment, of what I’m going through, I would have to read the details in some tabloid the following day. Everything I do is only a phone call away from a friendly journalist with an open cheque book. I don’t know where I have found the strength to maintain this facade and never break down in anyone’s presence.Trade ReviewThe finest thing that Jeffrey Archer has ever written * Independent on Sunday *Compelling reportage . . . Jeffrey Archer raises these diaries to the standards of a prison Pepys by being such an assiduous recorder of fellow inmates’ secrets -- Jonathan Aitken * Mail on Sunday *Surprisingly effective . . . A devastating critique written simply and directly * The Sunday Times *
£10.44
Faber & Faber The Letters of Seamus Heaney
Book SynopsisA marvellous book, lovingly edited, beautifully produced. . . and brimming with literary insights, much laughter, a sprinkle of gossip and the poet's insuppressible joie de vivre, even in adversity. Buy it, read it, and keep it to hand on to your children.' John Banville, GuardianAn epistolary cornucopia. . . contains an abundance of insight and illumination, literary gossip and appraisal, playfulness and cogency, all bound up with a steadfast attention to the feelings and expectations of each correspondent.' Patricia Craig, TLS Books of the YearEvery now and again I need to get down here, to get into the Diogenes tub, as it were, or the Colmcille beehive hut, or the Mossbawn scullery. At any rate, a hedge surrounds me, the blackbird calls, the soul settles for an hour or two . . .For all his public eminence, Seamus Heaney seems never to have lost the compelling need to write personal letters. In this ample but discriminating selection from fifty years of his correspondence, we are given access as never before to the life and poetic development of a literary titan from his early days in Belfast, through his controversial decision to settle in the Republic, to the gradual broadening of horizons that culminated in the award of a Nobel Prize and the years of international acclaim that kept him heroically busy until his death.Editor Christopher Reid draws from both public and private archives to reveal this story in the poet's own words. Generous, funny, exuberant, confiding, irreverent, empathetic and deeply thoughtful, the letters encompass decades-long relationships with friends and colleagues, as well as showing an unstinted responsiveness to passing acquaintances. Moreover, Heaney's joyous mastery of language is as evident here as it is in any of his writing for a literary readership.Listening to Heaney's voice, we find ourselves in the same room as a man whose presence, when he lived, enriched the world immeasurably, and whose legacy continues to deepen our sense of what truly matters.
£32.00
And Other Stories Traces of Enayat
Book SynopsisCairo, 1963: Enayat al-Zayyat's suicide becomes a byword for talent tragically cut down, even as Love and Silence, her only novel, languishes unpublished. Four years after al-Zayyat's death, the novel will be brought out, adapted for film and radio, praised, and then, cursorily, forgotten. For the next three decades it's as if al-Zayyat never existed. Yet when poet Iman Mersal stumbles across Love and Silence in the nineties, she is immediately hooked. Who was Enayat? Did the thought of her novel's rejection really lead to her suicide? Where did this startling voice come from? And why did Love and Silence disappear from literary history? To answer these questions, Mersal traces Enayat's life, interviews family members and friends, reconstructs the afterlife of Enayat in the media, and tracks down the flats, schools, archaeological institutes, and sanatoriums among which Enayat divided her days. Touching on everything from dubious antidepressants to domestic abuse and divorce law, from rubbish-strewn squats in the City of the Dead to the glamour of golden-age Egyptian cinema, this wide-ranging, unclassifiable masterpiece gives us a remarkable portrait of a woman artist striving to live on her own terms. Blending research with imagination, and adding a great deal of empathy, the award-winning Egyptian poet Iman Mersal has created an unclassifiable masterpiece.Trade Review'A brooding, atmospheric read charged with a singular magical beauty. Iman Mersal conjures up the zeitgeist of artistic Cairo after the July revolution and reveals a merciless and inflexible world behind the genteel, cultivated image.' Leila Aboulela ---- 'With the deft sensibilities of an archaeologist, the narrator of Traces of Enayat sifts through layers of history and heritage, traversing the shifting geographies of cities and memories in search of the writer Enayat Al Zayyat, the mystery at the center of this transporting book. The reader is drawn in the wake of Iman Mersal's inspired, circuitous, and relentless journey, heeding the call of the "weeping heard on the other side of a wall."' Fowzia Karimi ---- Praise for Iman Mersal ---- 'Undeceived, ironic, daring, Mersal's poems are animated by a singular sensibility. They deal candidly with real life - migration, dying parents, emotional entanglements - and discover general truths among the fine particulars.' Nick Laird ---- 'Long recognized throughout the Arab world and in Europe, Mersal is one of the strongest confessional (or postconfessional) poets we now have, in any language: her poems are fueled by a mordant wit, sensual vibrancy, and feminist brio.' Maureen N. McLane ---- 'Mersal's poems are many things - sensuous, cerebral, intimate, angry and disorientating. They provide food for thought and elicit laughter in the dark . . . [The Threshold is] a perfect entry point for readers new to her work.' Malcolm Forbes, The National
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd Hindoo Holiday
Book SynopsisA highly entertaining and moving journal chronicling J. R. Ackerley''s time in IndiaIn the 1920s, the young J. R. Ackerley spent several months in India as the Private Secretary to the Maharajah of Chhokrapur. Knowing almost nothing of India, he discovers Hindu culture, festivals and language, and reveals the fascinating attitudes of the Palace staff on women, marriage. the caste system and death. At the heart of Hindoo Holiday is the wonderfully unpredictable figure of his Highness the Maharajah Sahib who, ultimately, just wants ''someone to love him''.
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Letters To Sartre
Book SynopsisIn 1983 de Beauvoir published Sartre''s letters, maintaining that her own to him had been lost. They were found by de Beauvoir''s adopted daughter, and published to a storm of controversy in France. Tracing the emotional and triangular complications of her life with Sartre, the letters reveal her not only as manipulative and dependent but Simonealso as vulnerable, passionate, jealous and committed.Trade ReviewThere is more than a whiff of Les Liaisons Dangereuses about these pages * Spectator *This is a vivid piece of unexpurgated social history, and an opportunity to hear a vigorous and innovative thinker...speaking in her abrasive, touching, breathtakingly candid private voice * Sunday Times *
£13.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Letters of the Younger Pliny
Book SynopsisProviding a series of fascinating views of Imperial Rome, The Letters of the Younger Pliny also offer one of the fullest self-portraits to survive from classical times. This Penguin Classics edition is translated with an introduction by Betty Radice.A prominent lawyer and administrator, Pliny was also a prolific letter-writer, who numbered among his correspondents such eminent figures as Tacitus, Suetonius and the Emperor Trajan, as well as a wide circle of friends and family. His lively and very personal letters address an astonishing range of topics, from a deeply moving account of his uncle''s death in the eruption that engulfed Pompeii, to observations on the early Christians - ''a desperate sort of cult carried to extravagant lengths'' - from descriptions of everyday life in Rome, with its scandals and court cases, to Pliny''s life in the country.Betty Radice''s definitive edition was the forst complete modern translation of Pliny''s letters. In her intro
£11.69
Penguin Books Ltd OneWay Street and Other Writings
Book SynopsisWalter Benjamin - philosopher, essayist, literary and cultural theorist - was one of the most original writers and thinkers of the twentieth century. This new selection brings together Benjamin''s major works, including ''One-Way Street'', his dreamlike, aphoristic observations of urban life in Weimar Germany; ''Unpacking My Library'', a delightful meditation on book-collecting; the confessional ''Hashish in Marseille''; and ''The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction'', his seminal essay on how technology changes the way we appreciate art. Also including writings on subjects ranging from Proust to Kafka, violence to surrealism, this is the essential volume on one of the most prescient critical voices of the modern age. Contains: ''Unpacking My Library''; ''One-Way Street''; ''The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction''; ''Brief History of Photography''; ''Hashish in Marseille''; ''On the Critique of Violence''; ''The Job of the Translator''; ''Surrealism''; ''Franz Kafka'' and ''Picturing Proust''.
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd Love Nina Despatches from Family Life
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS POPULAR NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2014 A laugh-out-loud true story of the trials and tribulations of being a live-in nanny in 1980s London and inspired a major TV series starring Helena Bonham Carter.*****In 1982 Nina Stibbe, a 20-year-old from Leicester, moved to London to work as a nanny for a very particular family. It was a perfect match: Nina had no idea how to cook, look after children or who the weirdos were who called round. And the family, busy discussing such arcane subjects as how to swear in German or the merits (or otherwise) of turkey mince, were delighted by her lack of skills. Love, Nina is the collection of letters she wrote home gloriously describing her ''domestic'' life, the unpredictable houseguests and the cat everyone loved to hate.***** ''I adored this book and could quote from it forever'' Nick Hornby ''Funny and sharp: nTrade ReviewI adored this book, and could quote from it forever. It's real, odd, life-affirming, sharp, loving, and contains more than one reference to Arsenal FC -- Nick Hornby * The Believer *Last year, we had Roger Mortimer's splendidly bufferish Dear Lupin: Letters to a Wayward Son. Love, Nina - funny, quirky, vivid and touching - is every bit its equal * Daily Mail (Book of the Week) *I loved this book. What a beady eye she has for domestic life, and how deliciously fresh and funny she is - a real discovery. -- Deborah Moggach, author of 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'Breezy, sophisticated, hilarious, rude and aching with sweetness: Love, Nina might be the most charming book I've ever read -- Maria Semple, author of 'Where’d You Go, Bernadette'Funny, warm, life-affirming and accutely well-observed, Love, Nina is a gift that will keep on giving . . . A hoot * Metro *The snippets of dialogue and vingettes evoke the characters and atmosphere brilliantly . . . Funny, sharp * Evening Standard *Even if Adrian Mole wrote about the Primrose Hill set, it wouldn't be as funny and absorbing as Love, Nina * Psychologies *Like a 1980s Mary Poppins with a sense of humour * Stylist *The funniest new writer to arrive in years -- Andrew O'HaganAdrian Mole meets Mary Poppins mashed up in literary north London . . . Enormous fun * Bookseller *
£10.44
Pen & Sword Books Ltd A German General on the Eastern Front
Book SynopsisFirst-hand account of Operation Barbarossa by a German general.
£999.99
John Murray Press The Elsie Drake Letters aged 104
£10.44
John Murray Press You Are A Global Citizen
Book SynopsisWho are you? Why are you, you? What kind of person do you want to be?You Are A Global Citizen challenges us to take a deeper look at our role as global citizens, from the armchair traveller to the frequent flyer and everyone in between, providing a springboard for us to understand the world and other cultures by first understanding ourselves. This uniquely accessible guided journal ignites your inner curiosity and encourages self-discovery through thought-provoking questions about the cultures you have experienced—including your own—all while helping you become a more inquisitive, aware, observant, and engaged world citizen. Whether you've never left home, are studying at university, looking to live and
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group Three Dads Walking
Book Synopsis''Truly heroic'' Daniel Craig''A completely brilliant thing, to benefit so many'' Nicole Kidman''Powerful and deeply moving'' Andy Burnham''An epic journey . . . will touch the hearts of people everywhere'' Lou Macari''An amazing and inspirational story'' Michael Ball*Foreword from Dan Walker*''We were (and are) three ordinary dads who found ourselves in a desperate place we never expected to be, engulfed by pain and suffering beyond imagining, but who chose to push back, to not allow it to overwhelm us, to build something positive from the shattered pieces of our lives. We wanted to do something ... and this is what it became: Three Dads Walking.''These three dads would rather have never met. Strangers bound by grief, they joined together to save lives and became a national inspiration - one step at a time. This is their incredible journey. In memory of their young daughters - Sophie, Beth and Emily - who t
£18.70
Little, Brown Book Group Three Dads Walking
Book Synopsis3 dads, 3 daughters, 300 miles of hope - the life-affirming story of three dads who each lost a daughter to suicide, following their journey across Britain and finding hope along the way.
£9.49
John Murray Press Dear Mr Murray
Book SynopsisThe publishing house of John Murray was founded in Fleet Street in 1768 and remained a family firm over seven generations. Published to coincide with this ''remarkable achievement'' and in the anniversary year, Dear Mr Murray is a collection of some of the best letters from the hundreds of thousands held in the John Murray Archive. They reveal not only the story of some of the most interesting and influential books in history but also the remarkable friendships - as well as occasional animosities - between author and publisher, as well as readers, editors, printers and illustrators.Despite the incredible number of letters that were retained by the Murray family, some failed to arrive, others were delayed and some barely survived, but longevity added to the reputation and fame of John Murray and a correspondent in Canada who addressed his letter merely to ''John Murray, The World-wide famous Book & Publishing House, London, England'' as early as 1932 couTrade ReviewAttractively arranged, given ample context, and a diverting read * Sunday Telegraph *An entertaining picture of the day-to-day dealings between author and publisher over 250 years * Times Literary Supplement *Few if any names in publishing are as revered as John Murray . . . This book, compiled to celebrate the company's 250th anniversary is just a small sampling of that treasure trove . . . Whether angry, apologetic, wheedling or rude, the fondness and regard in which the Murrays were held by their correspondents shines through * Herald *Writers writing about books has always made for compelling reading. Writers writing about their own books in private correspondence to their publisher tends to produce a particular kind of letter. There is passion, conviction, fluency, doubt, deference, sometimes frustration and anger, maybe even gratitude. The letters in Dear Mr Murray . . . show these qualities and more . . . this collection brings [Murray's] salad days inexorably to life * Scottish Review of Books *As well as allowing us glimpses behind the public faces of some exalted authors, McClay has paid tribute here to a remarkable line whose shared name became synonymous with a sense of responsibility to their company, their authors and literature itself * Nation *
£10.44
Carcazan Publishing Dear Sondos
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.49
Unbound Rhubarb Rhubarb: A correspondence between a
Book Synopsis‘Giggles, gardens and good grub – I love these girls and I love this book’ Davina McCallRhubarb Rhubarb collects the witty, wide-ranging correspondence between Leiths-trained cook Mary Jane Paterson and award-winning gardener Jo Thompson. Two good friends who found themselves in a perfect world of cupcakes and centrepieces, they decided to demystify their own skills for one another: the results are sometimes self-deprecating, often funny, and always enlightening.Jo would find herself one day panicking about what to cook for Easter lunch: a couple of emails with Mary Jane and the fear subsided, and sure enough, a delicious meal appeared on the table. Meanwhile, Jo helped Mary Jane combat her irrational fear of planting bulbs by showing how straightforward the process can be.The book is full of sane, practical advice for the general reader: it provides uncomplicated, seasonal recipes that people can make in the midst of their busy lives, just as the gardening tips are interesting, quick and helpful for beginners. Mary Jane shares secrets and knowledge gathered over a lifetime of providing fabulous food for friends and family, while Jo’s expertise in beautiful planting enables the reader to have a go at simple schemes with delightful results.
£21.25
O'Brien Press Ltd To School Through the Fields
Book Synopsis'A delightful evocation of Irishness and of the author's deep-rooted love of the very fields of home' Publishers Weekly Alice Taylor’s classic account of growing up in the Irish countryside, the biggest selling book ever published in Ireland, beautifully reproduced with photographs from Alice's life. If ever a voice has captured the colors, the rhythms, the rich, bittersweet emotions of a time gone by, it is Alice Taylor's. Her tales of childhood in rural Ireland hark back to a timeless past, to a world now lost, but ever and fondly remembered. The colorful characters and joyous moments she offers have made To School Through the Fields an Irish phenomenon, and have made Alice herself the most beloved author in all of the Emerald Isle. A must-have for fans of Alice Taylor.Trade ReviewA delightful evocation of Irishness and of the author’s deep-rooted love of “the very fields of home” … with its rituals and local characters * Publishers Weekly *One of the most richly evocative and moving portraits of childhood ever written. * Boston Globe *Ireland’s Laurie Lee … a chronicler of fading village life and rural rituals * The Observer *
£11.39
Lucent Dreaming For a friend
Book SynopsisFriendships are perhaps the most fundamental and fulfilling connections we can have as humans. This anthology showcases stories and poems that capture the unique beauty of friendship, in all its multitudes, in its highs and lows, in its most perfect moments and in its most enduring. Friendship is a gift, and this anthology, a gift to friends. -- Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru
£10.80
Pan Macmillan Twas The Nightshift Before Christmas: Festive
Book SynopsisThe number one Sunday Times bestseller, Adam Kay's festive hospital diaries, Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas, is the perfect stocking filler from the author of multi-million-copy bestseller This is Going to Hurt – now a major BBC TV series. Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat . . . but 1.4 million NHS staff are heading off to work. In this perfect present for anyone who has ever set foot in a hospital, Adam Kay delves back into his diaries for a hilarious, horrifying and sometimes heartbreaking peek behind the blue curtain at Christmastime.This is a love letter to all those who spend their festive season on the front line, removing babies and baubles from the various places they get stuck, at the most wonderful time of the year.‘The perfect surgical stocking-filler’ – The TimesTrade ReviewSunday Times humour book of the year * Sunday Times *The perfect surgical stocking filler. Jokes galore. This little book will no doubt cheer up the many readers who find it under their tree * The Times *Very, very funny -- Graham NortonBeyond hilarious . . . A small-but-perfectly formed follow-up to This is Going to Hurt, this Christmas-themed delight continues to capture the dark humour and dedicated work of NHS professionals everywhere * Stylist *A funny, poignant snapshot of humanity * Radio Times *Will have you crying with laughter * Good Housekeeping *Contains Kay’s unique alchemy of medical insight and cynical wit * Daily Mirror *Hilarious and heartbreaking * Irish Times *The funniest book of 2019 * The Mail *Kay's fans will be delighted to discover that it is entirely as revolting, funny and moving as the first * i-news *Matchless stories . . . funny, disgusting and moving * Guardian *
£7.99
Oxford University Press Jane Austens Letters
Book SynopsisJane Austen''s letters afford a unique insight into the daily life of the novelist: intimate and gossipy, observant and informative, they bring alive her family and friends, her surroundings and contemporary events with a freshness unparalleled in biography. Above all we recognize the unmistakable voice of the author of Pride and Prejudice, witty and amusing as she describes the social life of town and country, thoughtful and constructive when writing about the business of literary composition. R. W. Chapman''s ground-breaking edition of the collected Letters first appeared in 1932, and a second edition followed twenty years later. A third edition, edited by Deidre Le Faye in 1997, added new material, re-ordered the letters into their correct chronological sequence, and provided discreet and full annotation to each letter, including its provenance, and information on the watermarks, postmarks, and other physical details of the manuscripts. This fourth edition incorporates the findings of new scholarship to enrich our understanding of Austen and give us the fullest and most revealing view yet of her life and family. There is a new preface, the biographical and topographical indexes have been amended and updated, a new subject index has been created, and the contents of the notes added to the general index.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Review from previous edition Deidre Le Faye's new edition is necessary and very welcome; no one was better qualified, no one could have done it so well. * Independent on Sunday *We waited a long time for the new edition. It was well worth the wait. * Jane Austen Society of North America *for those who are starting to get the novels confused with the films, here is a chance to enjoy their beloved Jane at her most direct ... a generous and comprehensive book * Max Davidson, The Daily Telegraph *Most will enjoy reading Austen unbuttoned, in an unfussy and intelligently edited volume. * Sam Leith, The Observer *Le Faye re-orders the letters chronologically and provides useful background information. She also includes previously unpublished material. * The Express *Wiht little else to fill that ordinary life, Jane had plenty of time to write letters. They were witty, intimate and gossipy and brought alive her contemporaries and their surroundings. More than 160 are collected here, annotated and placed in chronological order. * Oxford Times *it is possible to appreciate Le Faye's edition for what it offers to readers both casual and academic. Most importantly, this is a highly readable text. ... Carefully detailed notes, biographical and topographical indexes, and bibliographical information about primary and secondary sources all contribute to the reader's sense that Le Faye's professional thoroughness has indeed made accessible 'the daily business' of Austen's world. * RES New Series, vol.XLVIII, No.190, 1997 *These are the letters of our greatest novelist ... they give glances and hints at her life from the age of 20 to her death at 41, the years in which she wrote her six imperishable books * Claire Tomalin, Independent on Sunday *[a] landmark collection ... Le Faye's work combines a meticulous compilation of data about the physical attributes and indexes that allow us to read over Austen's shoulder as she shares everyday news and frank opinions with family and friends. * Newsletter of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Volume 28: Issue Number 2 *For someone fairly new to Austen studies, who knows the novels and even the minor works but who is yet to immerse themselves in these tender, touching, entertaining products of their author's mind, there could be no better gift. * The Newsletter of the Jane Austen Society, no. 38 *Table of ContentsACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; PREFACE TO FOURTH EDITION; LIST OF LETTERS; JANE AUSTEN'S LETTERS; ABBREVIATIONS AND CITATIONS; NOTES; GENERAL NOTES ON THE LETTERS; BIBLIOGRAPHY; BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX; TOPOGRAPHICAL INDEX; SUBJECT INDEX; GENERAL INDEX
£22.49
HarperCollins Publishers Letters From Everest
Book SynopsisA unique collection of unpublished letters from the climbing legend George Mallory to his family, revealing his innermost thoughts about people, places and mountains.On the 8th of June, 1924, George Mallory and Sandy Irvine were seen through a telescope on the upper slopes of Mount Everest. They were never seen alive again. In 1999, Mallory's body was found below the ridge where he was last seen. In the 100 years since his disappearance, many words have been written about Mallory, but very little has ever been published of his own thoughts.Letters from Everest is an eye opening set of personal letters from Mallory to his family, collected and published for the first time by his great-nephew. In the letters, Mallory is completely open about his life, his climbing and especially the three Everest Expeditions he was a part of 1921, 1922 and the last in 1924. His writing is full of extraordinary insights most of which have never been published in any form. They are a unique collection a
£17.09
Penguin Books Ltd The Yage Letters
Book SynopsisWilliam Burroughs closed his classic debut novel, Junky, by saying he had determined to search out a drug he called ''Yage'' which he believed transmitted telepathic powers, a drug that could be ''the final fix''. In The Yage Letters - a mix of travel writing, satire, psychedelia and epistolary novel - he journeys through South America, writing to his friend Allen Ginsberg about his experiments with the strange drug, using it to travel through time and space, to derange his senses - the perfect drug for the author of the wild decentred books that followed. Years later, Ginsberg writes back as he follows in Burroughs'' footsteps, and the drug worse and more profound than he had imagined.
£13.49
Oneworld Publications The Amazing Story of the Man Who Cycled from
Book Synopsis WINNER OF THE MARCO POLO OUTSTANDING GENERAL TRAVEL THEMED BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE 2018 EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS The story begins in a public square in New Delhi. On a cold December evening a young European woman of noble descent appears before an Indian street artist known locally as PK and asks him to paint her portrait – it is an encounter that will change their lives irrevocably. PK was not born in the city. He grew up in a small remote village on the edge of the jungle in East India, and his childhood as an untouchable was one of crushing hardship. He was forced to sit outside the classroom during school, would watch classmates wash themselves if they came into contact with him, and had stones thrown at him when he approached the village temple. According to the priests, PK dirtied everything that was pure and holy. But had PK not been an untouchable, his life would have turned out very differently. This is the remarkable true story of how love and courage led PK to overcome extreme poverty, caste prejudice and adversity – as well as a 7,000-mile, adventure-filled journey across continents and cultures – to be with the woman he loved.Trade Review'A feel-good story that’s so feel-good it makes other feel-good stories feel bad.' * New York Times Book Review *'A wonderful love story.' * National Geographic’s Best Books of 2017 *'A beautiful, epic tale of love and perseverance.' * Booklist *‘Charming…epic…a journey repeatedly facilitated by the kindness of strangers, but also fraught with danger and pitfalls…[a] 7,000-mile journey across continents, lasting almost five months – all in the name of love.’ * Daily Mail *'Often filled with sumptuous prose.' * Publishers Weekly *‘[This] is one of those genuinely illuminating stories that come along once in a while. At heart an against-all-odds love story, this wonderful book does so much to explain why Indian society is the way it is. The story of PK, growing up an 'untouchable' at a time when such labels should have been abolished, is touching, harrowing and ultimately enlightening. The writing is humorous and tender, the cast of characters joyous, and best of all – it's all true.’ * Vaseem Khan, author of The Baby Ganesh Detective Agency Series *‘A must-read because you won’t find any other love story that is so beautiful, touching, and – above all – true’ * Grazia *'This is a story of human connection that spans continents, class, and race.' * Library Journal *
£9.49
Pan Macmillan A Prison Diary Volume I: Hell
Book SynopsisHell is the haunting first volume in Jeffrey Archer’s The Prison Diaries, the author’s daily record of the time he spent there.‘The sun is shining through the bars of my window on what must be a glorious summer day. I’ve been incarcerated in a cell five paces by three for twelve and a half hours, and will not be let out again until midday; eighteen and a half hours of solitary confinement. There is a child of seventeen in the cell below me who has been charged with shoplifting – his first offence, not even convicted – and he is being locked up for eighteen and a half hours, unable to speak to anyone. This is Great Britain in the twenty-first century, not Turkey, not Nigeria, not Kosovo, but Britain.’On Thursday 19 July 2001, after a perjury trial lasting seven weeks, Jeffrey Archer was sentenced to four years in jail. He was to spend the first twenty-two days and fourteen hours in HMP Belmarsh, a double A-Category high-security prison in South London, which houses some of Britain’s most violent criminals. This volume recounts his experience while there.Trade ReviewA haunting and compelling insight into prison life * Daily Mail *Surprisingly effective . . . A devastating critique written simply and directly * The Sunday Times *The finest thing that he has ever written * Independent on Sunday *
£10.44
Profile Books Ltd The Diaries of Nella Last: Writing in War and
Book Synopsis'I can never understand how the scribbles of such an ordinary person ... can possibly have value.' So wrote Nella Last in her diary on 2 September 1949. More than sixty years on, tens of thousands of people have read and enjoyed three volumes of her vivid and moving diaries, written during the Second World War and its aftermath as part of the Mass Observation project - and the basis for BAFTA-winning drama Housewife 49 starring Victoria Wood. The Diaries of Nella Last, brings together into a single volume the best of Nella's prolific outpourings, including a great deal of new, unpublished material from the war years. Capturing the everyday trials and horrors of wartime Britain and the nation's transition into peacetime and beyond, Nella's touching and often humorous narrative provides an invaluable historical portrait of what daily life was like for ordinary people in the 1940s and 1950s. Outwardly Nella's life was commonplace; but behind this mask were a penetrating mind and a lively pen. As David Kynaston said on Radio 4, she 'will come to be seen as one of the major twentieth century English diarists.'Trade ReviewA fantastic story -- Victoria WoodMy gut feeling is that Nella will come to be seen as one of the major twentieth-century English diarists. -- David Kynaston, author of 'Austerity Britain'Whatever her mood, Nella Last has the quality shared by all great diarists: of making her readers feel that however vast the differences between her life and ours, they are easily outweighed by the shared experiences of love and loss, disappointment and hope, that she describes with such artless humanity. * Daily Mail *I relished it ... her personality is so powerful. -- Margaret ForsterAn excellent correlative to the mantra "everyone has a novel in them". Some people are natural diarists and Nella is one of the best . . . She also used literary language in an entirely naturalistic way. -- Lesley McDowell * Sunday Herald *An epic journal . . . What brings her diaries to life is their unpretentious freshness and honesty. -- Michael Kerrigan * Scotsman *
£13.49
Bonnier Books Ltd Dear Oliver: An unexpected friendship with Oliver
Book Synopsis'A must-read for all the people who loved Oliver Sacks's books. The ending made me cry' -- Temple Grandin"Dear Dr. Sacks . . . You asked me if I could imagine what the world would look like when viewed with two eyes. I told you that I thought I could . . . But, I was wrong."When Susan Barry first wrote to Oliver Sacks, she never expected a response, let alone the deep friendship that blossomed over ten years of letters.Sue, herself a neuroscientist, wrote to share an extraordinary development in her own medical history. Born with problems with her vision, Sue had been told she would never acquire the ability to see in 3D - and yet she did, a development at odds with decades of research. Within days, Oliver replied, "Your letter fills me with amazement and admiration."Sharing an interest in visual perception and a deep love of science, Sue and Oliver began writing back and forth, delving deeper into the mysteries of sight and marvelling at the adaptive capacity of the human body.But in a painful twist of fate, as Sue's vision improved, Oliver's declined, and his characteristic typed letters shifted to handwritten ones. Sue later recognised this to be an early sign of the cancer that ultimately ended his extraordinary life.A funny, fascinating, and intimate glimpse of the great Oliver Sacks, Dear Oliver is also a love letter to scientific inquiry, and a testimony to the power of friendship at any time in life.Trade Review'A must-read for all the people who loved Oliver Sacks's books. The ending made me cry' -- Temple Grandin'A charming book ... [Sacks' and Barry's] mutual wonder at the physical wonders of the universe is infectious. Their witty, affectionate puns made me laugh ... very moving' * The Telegraph *
£15.29
The History Press Ltd Wetland Diaries
Book Synopsis''Ajay's passion for conservation and his encyclopaedic knowledge of Wicken Fen ooze out of every single page'' - Iolo WilliamsTucked away in the flat lands of rural East Anglia lies Wicken Fen, so loved for its big skies and tiny creatures, boasting over 9,000 recorded species. For 125 years, this wildlife sanctuary has been cared for by the National Trust. A dedicated team look after this precious wetland of international importance, working with herds of free-roaming horses and cattle and weathering the elements to cope creatively with the dramas of a life outdoors at the cutting edge of conservation.Wetland Diaries is a seasonal account of ranger life on Wicken Fen, saving a once widespread landscape and revealing the spectrum of emotions experienced in the process. Ajay shares the spirit and atmosphere of the Fens, offering an insight into the privileges and pressures of managing semi-wild animals in one
£16.19
Profile Books Ltd Are We Having Fun Yet?
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2022 Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction 'Utterly, utterly perfect and brilliant - I think it is, simply, a new classic, and the book every woman will be able to trust to make her happy when she picks it up' - Caitlin Moran 'Utterly wonderful ... full of love. Enormously uplifting, funny and witty and wry' - Marian Keyes 'A glorious, outrageously funny retelling of E.M. Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady. At once, a celebration of the joy of family life and a cry of anguish at the utter hell of it. Laugh out loud, compulsive reading' - Nina Stibbe Meet Liz: all she wants is some peace and quiet so she can read a book with her cat Henry, love of her life, by her side. But trampling all over this dream is a group of wild things also known as Liz's family. Namely: Richard - a man, a husband, no serious rival to Henry. Thomas - their sensitive seven year old son, for whom life is a bed of pain already. Evie - five year old acrobat, gangster, anarchist, daughter. And as if her family's demands (Where are the door keys? Are we made of plastic? Do 'ghost poos' really count?) weren't enough, Liz must also contend with the madness of parents, friends, bosses, and at least one hovering nemesis. Are We Having Fun Yet? is a year with one woman as she faces all the storms of modern life (babysitters, death, threadworms) on her epic quest for that holy grail: a moment to herself.Trade ReviewUtterly wonderful ... full of love. Enormously uplifting, funny and witty and wry -- Marian KeyesI read everything by Lucy Mangan, she is one of the funniest writers in Britain. -- Jenny ColganUtterly, utterly perfect and brilliant - I think it is, simply, a new classic, and the book every woman will be able to trust to make her happy when she picks it up. Lucy Mangan is a fucking genius. SO MUCH WISDOM IN IT. SO MUCH ANGER. SO MUCH LOVE. SO MUCH LOL. It's just exquisite -- Caitlin MoranCompelling, connecting humour from start to finish ... motherhood made funny -- Helen LedererWarm, witty and invigorated by righteous anger -- Amber Pearson * Mail on Sunday *A comic update on EM Delafield's Diary Of A Provincial Lady that will hit home with anyone who hates the verb "to multitask" -- 'Books to make people laugh' * Stylist *Family life under the microscope - scalpel sharp and gloriously real. Pure Mangan: witty and wickedly funny -- Jenny EclairLucy Mangan nails the absurd pitfalls of modern life/marriage/small children so completely and honestly, but with a lightness of touch that means the overall effect is calming and nourishing and feels like having a really good chat with a kind and loving friend. And so funny! I was shaking the bed with my laughter. -- Cathy RentzenbrinkA glorious, outrageously funny retelling of E.M. Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady. At once a celebration of the joy of family life and a cry of anguish at the utter hell of it. Laugh out loud, compulsive reading. -- Nina StibbeI was crying with laughter reading so much of it ... full of pure simmering rage -- Emma Barnett * BBC Woman's Hour *This romp through the chaos of family life will have you wincing and rejoicing in equal measure -- Susie Mesure * iPaper *
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd The Bolivian Diary
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewVivid and compelling * Economist *Guevara was a figure of epic proportions. These diaries, stark and moving, will be his most enduring monument * Observer *
£9.49
Vintage Publishing Through the Window
Book SynopsisJulian Barnes is the author of thirteen novels, including The Sense of an Ending, which won the 2011 Man Booker Prize for Fiction, and Sunday Times bestsellers The Noise of Time and The Only Story. He has also written three books of short stories, four collections of essays and three books of non-fiction, including the Sunday Times number one bestseller Levels of Life and Nothing To Be Frightened Of, which won the 2021 Yasnaya Polyana Prize in Russia. In 2017 he was awarded the Légion d'honneur.Trade ReviewSo elegant is Barnes’ prose that it’s easy to overlook his comic talents...this is Barnes cementing his reputation as a lively, curious reader as well as one of Britain’s best living writers. -- Tom Cox * Sunday Times, Books of the Year *Engaging, eloquent, entertaining and erudite... There is a capacious generosity throughout this book, and I would defy anyone not to leave without feeling both better informed and better disposed... It is rare indeed for a collection of occasional pieces such as this to inspire feelings of profound thankfulness. -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *A truly wonderful collection. * Sunday Times *The book relies on stylish intelligence and cool calm to accomplish its mastery… This is a coquettish book. Barnes flatters readers into feeling that they may be as shrewd, discriminating and attractive as he is. -- Richard Davenport-Hines * Spectator *A devastatingly brilliant critic. -- Olivia Laing * Prospect *
£11.69
Little, Brown & Company The Book of Myself New edition
Book SynopsisAn updated edition of the perfect do-it-yourself memoir that helps you record and preserve the experiences and knowledge of a lifetime for years to come.Divided into Early, Middle, and Later Years, this keepsake volume contains 201 questions that guide you through the process of keeping memories on subjects such as family and friends, learning and education, work and responsibilities, and the world around you. Created by a grandson and grandfather, The Book of Myself is the perfect way for you, or someone close to you, to remember the turning points and everyday recollections of a lifetime and share them with future generations.The new edition has been updated with reordered questions to start with more objective, easy-to-answer prompts, then move to reflective queries, followed by deeper interpretive questions. It also includes aunts, uncles, and those who did not have children.
£15.29
Faber & Faber Here and Now
Book SynopsisHere and Now is a collection of letters between Paul Auster and Nobel laureate J. M. Coetzee, two of the greatest writers of our time.'Uniquely insightful.' Independent'Extraordinary.' Times Literary SupplementAlthough Paul Auster and J. M. Coetzee had been reading each other's books for years, the two writers did not meet until February 2008. Not long after, Auster received a letter from Coetzee, suggesting they begin exchanging letters on a regular basis and, 'God willing, strike sparks off each other'.Here and Now is the result of that proposal: an epistolary dialogue between two great writers who became great friends. Over three years their letters touched on nearly every subject, from sports to fatherhood, literature to film, philosophy to politics, from the financial crisis to art, eroticism, marriage, friendship, and love.
£17.09
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Letters from the Burma Front
£18.70
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Cicero pro Caelio A Selection
Book SynopsisThis is the OCR-endorsed edition covering the Latin AS and A-Level (Group 1) prescription of Cicero''s pro Caelio, 5158, 6168, and the A-Level (Group 2) prescription of 3350, giving full Latin text, commentary and vocabulary, with a detailed introduction that also covers the prescribed material to be read in English for A Level. Pro Caelio is one of Cicero's finest and funniest speeches. In 56 BC, he defended Marcus Caelius Rufus who was being prosecuted on charges of violence, including the attempted poisoning of Roman noblewoman Clodia with whom Caelius previously had an affair. Cicero's primary tactic was to blacken the character and reliability of Clodia, whom he depicts as the woman scorned, prosecuting Caelius out of revenge. Drawing on characters well known from Roman comedy, Cicero casts Caelius as the decent young man victimized by the aggressive courtesan, thereby shaming Clodia and glossing over the more awkward charges levelled at his client.Supporting resourcTrade ReviewExtremely helpful in clarifying less obvious grammatical quirks and ... also picks out relevant rhetorical techniques and gives relevant explanations for ideas, terms and events ... a very helpful book. * Journal of Classics Teaching *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Text Commentary Notes Vocabulary
£16.14
Cornerstone High Performance: The Daily Journal: 365 Ways to
Book Synopsis'Jake Humphrey has a wealth of wisdom to share' Vex King, author of Good Vibes, Good Life__High performance is not an outcome. It's a journey.This guided journal will help you uncover the secrets of high performance, every day of the year.Drawing on exclusive interviews with the world's leading athletes, leaders and entrepreneurs, its 365 hands-on exercises and nuggets of wisdom will help you unlock your potential. It's a process with three elements:- Inspire. Uplifting quotes from the planet's highest-achieving people- Think. Thought-provoking prompts that invite you to reflect on your day, your work and your life- Do. Practical exercises that will help you identify your strengths and hone your skillsThe resulting book will help you achieve success on your terms - whether that's becoming a better professional, a better parent or simply a better person.High performance is already within you. This book will help you find it.__Drawing on exclusive new conversations with... Grace Beverley Rangan Chatterjee Lee Child Pippa Grange Mandy Hickson Steph Houghton Russell Kane Vex King Steve Morgan Lando Norris Adam Peaty Mary Portas Nims Purjah Mel Robbins Joe Wicks and many more...
£13.49
The New York Review of Books, Inc Pages From The Goncourt Journals
Book SynopsisNo evocation of Parisian life in the second half of the nineteenth century can match that found in the journals of the brothers GoncourtThe journal of the brothers Edmond and Jules de Goncourt is one of the masterpieces of nineteenth-century French literature, a work that in its richness of color, variety, and seemingly casual perfection bears comparison with the great paintings of their friends and contemporaries the Impressionists.Born nearly ten years apart into a French aristocratic family, the two brothers formed an extraordinarily productive and enduring literary partnership, collaborating on novels, criticism, and plays that pioneered the new aesthetic of naturalism. But the brothers’ talents found their most memorable outlet in their journal, which is at once a chronicle of an era, an intimate glimpse into their lives, and the purest expression of a nascent modern sensibility preoccupied with sex and art, celebrity and self-exposure. The Goncourts visit slums, brothels, balls, department stores, and imperial receptions; they argue over art and politics and trade merciless gossip with and about Hugo, Baudelaire, Degas, Flaubert, Zola, Rodin, and many others. And in 1871, Edmond maintains a vigil as his brother dies a slow and agonizing death from syphilis, recording every detail in the journal that he would continue to maintain alone for another two decades.
£16.19
Vintage Publishing Dancing Ledge: Journals vol. 1
Book Synopsis'What started as a book on the frustration of funding led to the writing of an autobiography at forty... I had so little to do in the daylight hours, I stayed up late unbuttoning Levis in back rooms.'In 1984 at the age of 40, the polymath film-maker Derek Jarman began to write his journals. In the first of these diaries, Dancing Ledge, we see his origins as a young artist, written with Jarman's distinctive immediacy, curiosity, and candour. Behind-the-scenes of his first controversial films and stage designs, at glamorous launch parties with friends like David Hockney, Ossie Clarke and Patrick Proktor, to the trials of securing funding, Dancing Ledge is a coming-of-age memoir for all fledgling artists.Dancing Ledge also chronicles a unique time in British history, capturing gay nightlife from the end of the war to the beginning of the AIDS epidemic.Trade ReviewJarman's light illuminates the wilderness as brightly as ever * New Statesman *Jarman [is] the sort of troublemaking visionary who one day may be compared with Blake * Time Out *
£9.99
Everyman Performing Flea
Book SynopsisIn this series of letters to William Townend, a fellow-writer and friend since their schooldays at Dulwich College, Wodehouse discusses in some detail his literary outlook, writing methods and constant hunt for new plots. Characteristically modest and lightly humorous in tone, the letters are nevertheless revealing of a dedicated, practical and scrupulous craftsman whose most brilliant inspirations were grounded in decades of unremitting hard work.The letters are introduced and annotated by the editor, who provided Wodehouse with the idea for one of his most famous characters, Ukridge.
£10.99
Whittles Publishing The Futile Pursuit of Power: Why Mussolini
Book SynopsisItalian history is not widely read but the period under Mussolini's shadow is both interesting and relevant to understanding the wheeling and dealings of the 1930s and into WWII. Through sheer nepotism Galeazzo Ciano married Mussolini's daughter and became Italy's Foreign Secretary, the youngest in Europe and at first scorned at home and abroad. There are many salacious stories of their open marriage and promiscuity, but the focus is Ciano's political life as a man regarded as second only to Mussolini. Through his diary and diplomatic papers, access is gained to the European diplomatic squabbles of the 1930s. The study of Ciano provides insights into Hitler and his leading henchmen, especially Ribbentrop and Goering, as well as the Spanish dictator Franco. Most importantly the figure of Mussolini is exposed in both his professional and somewhat dubious private life. The book explores the question of the Italian Fascist attitudes towards the Jewish population, the Vatican, and the monarchy. The Nazis at first courted him but soon realised he saw them for what they were, and he proved incapable of containing either his criticisms or the growing threat against him. Ciano finally turned against Mussolini only to find after his master's downfall that he had left himself encircled by personal enemies. His flight to Germany initiated his descent into personal chaos, leading to his trial and execution in Italy seemingly supported by his father-in-law. Perhaps the strangest twist in the personal story is the way his wife Edda turned to support him after years of an open and promiscuous marriage. There was considerable German and international interest in his diaries and diplomatic papers because of their revealing insights. He has been described as egotistical and arrogant, clever, perceptive, corrupt and a man with potential. Many despised him, but historically he was an interesting personality who above all left historians with some incisive observations of the critical years of 1935 to 1942.
£18.04
FROM YOU TO ME Food For Friends
Book SynopsisThe Food For Friends journal will ensure you are well equipped to host unforgettable gatherings. It features convenient sections to assist in planning for dinner parties or any occasions where you'll be cooking for guests.
£21.15
Quercus Publishing Africa, My Passion
Book SynopsisIn an exquisite personal pilgrimage, Corinne Hofmann delves into the slums of Nairobi to uncover the heart-warming and heart-breaking stories of unforgettable people and places, then treks 500 miles across the Namibian desert to discover the lives of the nomadic Himba people. Joined by her half-Kenyan daughter, Napirai, they travel to Nairobi together for the first time to discover Napirai s roots and finally meet her father and half-siblings. Africa, My Passion is a poignant, touching and exciting story about one woman's love affair with a unique man, which led to a lifelong obsession with Africa. Moving, vividly recounted, eye-opening and, above all, filled with passionate hope and unparalleled detail, this is an extraordinary sequel to a bestselling series of memoirs.
£14.24
Bluemoose Books Ltd GHOST SIGNS: Shortlisted for Best Non-fiction,
Book SynopsisWhen Covid struck in early 2020, librarian Stu Hennigan volunteered to deliver food parcels to vulnerable people in Leeds who were self-isolating and had no other access to food during the savage days of the first lockdown; but when word got out that the council were giving away food, people on low incomes struggling to feed themselves and their families were quick to accept the offer of help and it became immediately apparent that the pandemic was not the whole story. Ghost Signs is Stu's account of the scandalous deprivation he encountered during that time, and shows up close how a decade of Austerity has ravaged our most vulnerable communities and left local authorities financially unable to cope with a crisis of this magnitude. It's also a day-to-day diary of the earliest months of the pandemic which holds up a mirror to the trauma inflicted by lockdown on the national psyche while the Prime Minister and his government partied in Downing Street in flagrant breach of their own draconian rules.Trade ReviewGhost Signs is a damning indictment of Conservative austerity and the government's contemptuous response to the pandemic. New Statesman
£10.80
Meze Publishing 14 Nights: Learning about homelessness the hard
Book Synopsis14 Nights is a timely and essential conversation about how we understand homelessness in the UK. Compiled by The Archer Project – a charity based in Sheffield who have been providing support for the homeless community for over 30 years – the book is based on a blog documenting the CEO’s two-week sleepout to raise awareness of the challenges surrounding rough sleeping. It also features reflections shared by those with lived experience of homelessness, offering a vital insight to help us translate statistics into the stories of individuals with desires and difficulties not so very far from our own. Every copy of this book will support the charity’s essential work and also aims to change our perception of homelessness, helping those most in need to rebuild their lives.
£13.50
Fingerprint! Publishing The Diary of a Young Girl
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£7.60
HarperCollins Publishers The DivingBell and the Butterfly. Film TieIn
Book SynopsisLocked-in syndrome: paralysed from head to toe, the patient, his mind intact, is imprisoned inside his own body, unable to speak or move. In my case, blinking my left eyelid is my only means of communication.'In December 1995, Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French Elle' and the father of two young children, suffered a massive stroke and found himself paralysed and speechless, but entirely conscious, trapped by what doctors call locked-in syndrome'. Using his only functioning muscle his left eyelid he began dictating this remarkable story, painstakingly spelling it out letter by letter.His book offers a haunting, harrowing look inside the cruel prison of locked-in syndrome, but it is also a triumph of the human spirit. The acclaimed 2007 film adaptation, directed by Julian Schnabel, won Best Director at Cannes and was nominated for the Palme d'Or.Trade Review‘The most remarkable memoir of our time.’ Cynthia Ozick ‘Read this book and fall back in love with life.’ Edmund White ‘A staggering piece of work. It represents an almost inconceivable act of generosity, the gift of the mind and the spirit for which writing was designed.’ A. L. Kennedy ‘One of the great books of the century.’ Financial Times ‘Everyone in the country should own at least one copy.’ Guardian ‘We listen, because what he has to say goes to the core of what it means to be human.’ Robert McCrum, Observer ‘The most extraordinary book of the year.’ Daily Telegraph 'Life-enhancing and devastating in equal measure – everyone should read it.' Gloss magazine
£999.99
FROM YOU TO ME Dear Sister, from you to me
Book SynopsisA beautiful coloured fabric and gold foil blocked gift journal for your sister to capture and share her wonderful memories and stories. Designed to make it easy for every sister to capture her life story and aspirations, each journal includes 60 thoughtful questions to inspire your sister to enjoy telling her story by describing the past, the present and thinking about the future. With space for accompanying photos and memorabilia alongside her handwritten memories these classic, yet contemporary books, are covered in soft fabric making these tactile editions truly timeless keepsakes. Finished with gold foil and gold ribbons they make fabulous gifts for any sister on her birthday, at Christmas, or simply to show her you care. The Timeless Collection is available in 9 titles: Mum, Dad, Grandma, Grandad, Daughter, Son, Sister, Brother & Friend.
£18.79
