Published diaries, letters and journals Books
Vintage Publishing November 1942: An Intimate History of the Turning
Book Synopsis**A Telegraph Best History Book of 2023* 'An astonishing achievement' ANTONY BEEVORAn intimate history of the most important month of the Second World War as experienced by those who lived through it, completely based on their diaries, letters and memoirs.At the beginning of November 1942, it looked as if the Axis powers could win the war; at the end of that month, it was obviously just a matter of time before they would lose.In between came el-Alamein, Guadalcanal, the French North Africa landings, the Japanese retreat in New Guinea, and the Soviet encirclement of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. In this innovatively kaleidoscopic and riveting historical marvel, Peter Englund reduces these epoch-making events to their basic component: the individual experience.In thirty memorable days we meet characters including a Soviet infantryman at Stalingrad; an Italian truck driver in the North African desert; a partisan in the Belarussian forests; a machine gunner in a British bomber; a twelve-year-old girl in Shanghai; a university student in Paris; a housewife on Long Island; a prisoner in Treblinka; Albert Camus, Vasily Grossman, and Vera Brittain. We also witness the launch of SS James Oglethorpe; the fate of U-604, a German submarine; the building of the first nuclear reactor; and the making of Casablanca.Not since Englund's own The Beauty and the Sorrow has a book given us one of the most dramatic periods of human history in all its immensity and emotional range.'Thought-provoking' SUNDAY TIMES'Thoroughly worth reading' TELEGRAPHTrade ReviewAn astonishing achievement * Antony Beevor *By interweaving the detailed experiences of 39 individuals from all parts of the conflict, Englund presents an extraordinary panorama of this pivotal moment. A haunting narrative imaginatively conceived, brilliantly told * Julia Boyd *Absolutely revelatory. A stunning tour de force. So much in here that is truly fresh and new. Englund chronicles the gripping tale of one month that changed everything in WWII, and it is so beautifully written and timeless. Once read, you'll want to return to this again and again * Damien Lewis *Majestic … This is an extraordinary evocation of a pivotal moment in the 20th century. Englund captures not only the gnawing tension, the moments of terror and the flinty endurance but also the fractal complexity of this global conflict. Resonantly written and utterly gripping, this book will stay with you * Sinclair MacKay *Thought-provoking … Englund’s book … deserves an audience, to increase knowledge not only of this particular war, but also of the stupendous sacrifices and tragedies of all human conflicts * Sunday Times *Succeed[s] in giving a very human (and, inevitably sometimes, inhuman) snapshot of events ... Thoroughly worth reading * Telegraph *Superb ... a stimulating read * New Statesman *The stories of the individual people featured make the global personal in an astonishing way * Alan Parks, Daily Express *Books of the 2023* *Extraordinary ... with a scrupulous and skilful hand [Englund] has created an original panorama of humankind's most destructive war * New York Times *What makes Englund's work original and remarkable is his narrative technique, which could be called 'the mosaic method' ... A coherent and moving portrait of a world at war * BBC History Magazine *This gripping and propulsive account, expertly translated by Graves in lyrical prose, recreates the daily uncertainty of war as experienced by regular people ... It's a monumental work of history * Publishers Weekly *Engrossing … Englund’s approach echoes Homer’s Iliad which tries to understand at once the mayhem of war, the forces that drive it and the feelings its violence leaves behind … Englund’s tour de force casts a long shadow into our present – and its raw voices haunt me still * Wall Street Journal ***PRAISE FOR THE BEAUTY AND THE SORROW**In four decades of studying war, I've never read such a remarkable book * Washington Post *A literary as well as a historical achievement * Guardian *Intense and bighearted. ... The accounts of [these] lives can be terrifying or stirring, but are most fully alive in Englund's accumulation of small moments, stray details * New York Times *
£21.25
Persephone Books Ltd Journal
Book Synopsis
£16.00
FROM YOU TO ME The Present Planner
Book SynopsisThis journal is the perfect place to record what gifts you have given, to whom and when. This planner helps keep track of anniversaries, birthdays and other significant events. With space to list who to buy gifts for and when, as well as their likes and dislikes.
£21.15
FROM YOU TO ME Dear Daughter, from you to me
Book SynopsisA beautiful coloured fabric and gold foil blocked gift journal for your daughter to capture and share her wonderful memories and stories. Designed to make it easy for every daughter to capture her life story and aspirations, each journal includes 60 thoughtful questions to inspire your daughter 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 daughter 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
Great Northern Books Ltd The Diary Of A Yorkshire Vet
Book SynopsisConsisting only of articles taken from his popular column in The Yorkshire Post, Julian Norton's The Diary of a Yorkshire Vet features anecdotes from his veterinary work in North Yorkshire. From hairy pigs near Helmsley to a bullock with an enormous eye at Old Byland, these true stories bring to life the drama and humour in the daily routine of a rural vet. Along the way, Julian deals with llamas near Brimham Rock, greedy sheep in Cold Kirby, eagles, seals, alpacas and Geoffrey Boycott. Written in the delightful manner that he is well-known for in the Channel 5 hit series The Yorkshire Vet, this book is a fun and wonderful read.
£10.79
Chiltern Publishing Sherlock Holmes Gift Pack
Book Synopsis
£22.10
Book Guild Publishing Ltd Frank Exchanges: Letters between Frank Whitbourn,
Book SynopsisBetween 1959 and 2005, David Wood (‘the national children’s dramatist’) corresponded with his mentor, Frank Whitbourn, teacher, writer and theatre practitioner. Frank Exchanges opens with a letter from Whitbourn, praising a young Wood following a performance in one of his plays, and documents an almost fifty-year correspondence before Whitbourn’s death in 2005. Wood sent Whitbourn the first draft of every play he wrote, and Whitbourn commented constructively and often came to see and ‘review’ the plays in production. The letters chronicle Wood’s development as a playwright, director and producer, and Whitbourn’s memories of pre-war theatre-going and meeting Sybil Thorndike, Harcourt Williams and other eminent theatre folk. It is a reflection on the provision, content and status of theatre for young audiences, and ultimately a testimony to the man who Wood considered a friend and mentor.
£11.69
Green Magic Publishing Book of Shadows: Little
Book Synopsis
£6.99
Europa Editions Frantumaglia: A Writer’s Journey
Book SynopsisNamed one ofThe Guardian''s "Best Books of 2016"From the author of My Brilliant FriendThis book invites readers into Elena Ferrante?s workshop. It offers a glimpse into the drawers of her writing desk, those drawers from which emerged her three early standalone novels and the four installments of My Brilliant Friend, known in English as the Neapolitan Quartet. Consisting of over 20 years of letters, essays, reflections, and interviews, it is a unique depiction of an author who embodies a consummate passion for writing. In these pages Ferrante answers many of her readers? questions. She addresses her choice to stand aside and let her books live autonomous lives. She discusses her thoughts and concerns as her novels are being adapted into films. She talks about the challenge of finding concise answers to interview questions. She explains the joys and the struggles of writing, the anguish of composing a story only to discover that that story isn?t good enough. She contemplates her relationship with psychoanalysis, with the cities she has lived in, with motherhood, with feminism, and with her childhood as a storehouse for memories, impressions, and fantasies. The result is a vibrant and intimate self-portrait of a writer at work.
£10.79
Faber & Faber The Letters of T. S. Eliot Volume 2 19231925
Book SynopsisVolume Two covers the early years of his editorship of The Criterion (the periodical that Eliot launched with Lady Rothermere''s backing in 1922), publication of The Hollow Men and the course of Eliot''s thinking about poetry and poetics after The Waste Land. The correspondence charts Eliot''s intellectual journey towards conversion to the Anglican faith in 1927, as well as his transformation from banker to publisher, ending with his appointment as a director of the new publishing house of Faber & Gwyer, in late 1925, and the appearance of Poems 1909-1925, Eliot''s first publication with the house with which he would be associated for the rest of his life. It was partly because of Eliot''s profoundly influential work as cultural commentator and editor that the correspondence is so prolific and so various, and Volume Two of the Letters fully demonstrates the emerging continuities between poet, essayist, editor and letter-writer.
£26.25
Rizzoli International Publications The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady
Book SynopsisA charming addition to Rizzoli’s carefully curated program of bringing classic books back into print. This beautifully packaged facsimile of Edith Holden’s original diary is filled with a naturalist’s masterful paintings and delightful observations chronicling the English countryside throughout 1906. As one of the few true records of the time in print, the handwritten thoughts and paintings contained in The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady transport readers to a more refined, romantic, and simpler time. Capitalizing on the current Downton Abbey–inspired appetite for Edwardian-era ephemera, fashions, and society, this reproduction brings readers back to a time in which propriety, civility, and an appreciation for the natural world reigned. This souvenir of a bygone era serves not only as a calming touchstone, but a reminder that as long as we choose to see it, we are still surrounded by beauty and grace.
£20.66
Faber & Faber Letters of Sylvia Plath Volume I
Book SynopsisAlongside a selection of photographs and Plath's own line-drawings, the editors masterfully contextualise what the pages disclose.This selection of early correspondence marks the key moments of Plath's adolescence, including childhood hobbies and high school boyfriends;
£21.25
The Natural History Museum A Naturalist in the Amazon
Book SynopsisThis book documents Bates' ground-breaking Amazon exploration, with pages from his illustrated notebooks and excerpts from what Charles Darwin called 'the best book of natural history travels ever published'.Trade Review“The best book of Natural History Travels ever published in England,” said Charles Darwin of entomologist Henry Walter Bates’s 1863 'The Naturalist on the River Amazons', an 11-year journal inspired partly by Darwin’s diary of his 1831–36 journey on the HMS Beagle. This enchanting part-facsimile justifies his words." Nature
£13.49
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Cocaine Diaries: A Venezuelan Prison
Book Synopsis‘It won’t happen to me. That’s what I thought when I got on the plane to Venezuela. But it did – I got caught.’Caught smuggling half a million euros’ worth of cocaine, Paul Keany was sexually assaulted by Venezuelan anti-drugs officers before being sentenced to eight years in the notorious Los Teques prison outside Caracas. There he was plunged into a nightmarish world of coke-fuelled killings, gun battles, stabbings, extortion and forced hunger strikes until finally, just over two years into his sentence, he gained early parole and embarked on a daring escape from South America . . .Aided by his extensive prison diaries, Keany reveals the true horror of life inside Los Teques: a shocking underworld behind bars where inmates pay protection money to stay alive, prostitutes do the rounds and vast amounts of cocaine are smuggled in for cell-block bosses to sell on to prisoners for huge profits. The Cocaine Diaries is a remarkable story, told by Keany with honesty, courage and even humour, despite knowing that every day behind bars might have been his last.
£10.79
Oneworld Publications Growing Up Bin Laden: Osama's Wife and Son Take
Book SynopsisAs the western world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama bin Laden has fought to keep his personal life a mystery – loyalty and fear keeping those who know him from speaking out – until now. For the first time, two of Osama’s closest family members, his first wife Najwa and their fourth son Omar, go behind the headlines to reveal the truth about the character and life of a man feared and revered around the globe. In gripping detail, they recount the drama, tensions, and everyday activities of the man they knew as a husband and father. Married at fifteen, Najwa describes the transformation of the quiet, serious young man she fell in love with into an authoritarian husband and stern father, an entrepreneur, and – finally – the leader of a complex international terrorist network. Uprooted from a life of extraordinary luxury and privilege in Saudi Arabia, they suddenly found themselves living life on the run, fleeing from country to country under assumed names and fake passports. Omar describes how he and his siblings were brought up in remote ranches and fortified Afghani mountain camps, handling Kalashnikovs and learning desert survival skills. Their eventual escape from Afghanistan would come just days before the terrible events of 9/11 changed the world forever. With unprecedented access and exclusive family photographs, Jean Sasson, author of the bestselling Princess, presents the story that we were never meant to hear.Trade Review“A compelling look at the intimate family life of a notorious man, as told by his wife and son.” * Booklist *"Despite her neutrality, her story is still an indictment -- showing us a terrorist leader who is embarrassed easily, obsessed with a long-dead father, terrified of women, and who thinks of his children as nothing more than cannon fodder." * New York Post *"Despite her neutrality, her story is still an indictment -- showing us a terrorist leader who is embarrassed easily, obsessed with a long-dead father, terrified of women, and who thinks of his children as nothing more than cannon fodder." * New York Post *“A compelling look at the intimate family life of a notorious man, as told by his wife and son.” * Booklist *”Always interesting and highly readable, this is recommended for the many people who will wish to learn more about this man.” * Library Journal *"The psychological portrait of the world's most wanted man is all the more devastating for being written by two people who apparently once revered him." * Culture (supplement to the Sunday Times) *"The psychological portrait of the world's most wanted man is all the more devastating for being written by two people who apparently once revered him." * Culture (supplement to the Sunday Times) *“Lifts the lid on the secretive life of the world's most wanted man… It is certainly fascinating, if deeply unnerving, to read such vivid first-hand accounts about life within Osama bin Laden's family.” * Daily Mail *“The most intimate portrait yet of the al Qa’eda leader.” * The National *“Fascinating” * The Sunday Times *“The thrill of being a fly on the wall of the bin Laden family.” * Time Magazine *"Their accounts cannot be subject to normal verification. Even so, they have been woven into a fascinating narrative by an American writer, Jean Sasson" * Catholic Herald *"this thoughtful, well-researched book" * The Good Book Guide *”Always interesting and highly readable, this is recommended for the many people who will wish to learn more about this man.” * Library Journal *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co The Book of Emma Reyes
Book SynopsisThe extraordinary, posthumously published memoir in letters of a Colombian artist whose writing was championed by Gabriel García Márquez - 'startling and astringently poetic' The New York TimesTrade ReviewThe moment I finished this memoir I read it again - one simply can't abandon Emma. And I've been speculating ever since about how she made it once she'd escaped her terrible childhood. One is deeply grateful to know as a fact - an almost inconceivable fact - that she triumphed, but longs to know how. No other book I've ever read has left me so deeply involved with its author, and so grateful for that involvement -- DIANA ATHILLOne of the best books about childhood I've ever read . . . Reyes' life has to be read to be believed. Written as a series of letters to a friend, this memoir is similar to SHUGGIE BAIN and ANGELA'S ASHES in its steadfast refusal to sentimentalise, and its commitment to telling the truth * GUARDIAN *Unadulteratedly good, interesting and important. Emma's letters remind me what reading and writing are forA jewel of a book. Emma is a mesmerising storyteller and her letters had me completely gripped from beginning to endAs poetic as it is horrific. The young Emma injects magic into the realism and vice versa - not for nothing is Reyes a compatriot of Márquez . . . an act of freedom both intimate and epic * OBSERVER *What an astonishing book - I read it in a single gulp. Emma Reyes had a childhood of staggering deprivation but her humour and resilience shine through, and suddenly we have a modern classicStartling and astringently poetic . . . It's not hard to see what Márquez admired in [Reyes'] writing . . . she has a similar gift for relating extraordinary moments with a straight face, making them seem even more otherworldly. The most sophisticated aspect of this book is just how meticulously Reyes maintains the perspective of a child throughout . . . moving . . . potent and, against all odds, even lovely * THE NEW YORK TIMES *A mesmerising account full of the most striking details. Reading her words pitches the reader head first into a wondrous, terrifying world * SUNDAY EXPRESS *The memoir, in letters, of the Colombian artist Emma Reyes, takes you from her birth in a Bogota slum to the artistic circles of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. It's totally transporting * THE POOL *An incredible biography by any measure, but the book's most startling element is Reyes's clear-sighted, unsentimental remembrance of her difficult childhood * PARIS REVIEW *Reading the letters collected in this striking memoir, it is hard not to keep returning to the fact that their author was completely illiterate until her late teens...So eloquently does Reyes depict herself as a flawed witness to her own life that what emerges, paradoxically, is the portrait of a brilliantly assured observer and writer. It is Reyes's natural talent, even more than her story, that makes The Book of Emma Reyes remarkable * TLS *Some works of art feel more unlikely, more miraculous than others, and Emma Reyes's remarkable epistolary memoir is one of them. I don't think I've read many books of such power and grace, or that pack such an emotional wallop in so short a space. The very fact that this book exists is extraordinary. Everything about it . . . is astonishing
£10.44
Hirmer Verlag Florine Stettheimer: A Biography
Book SynopsisThis first full biography confirms Florine Stettheimer as one of the 20th century’s most significant, progressive artists whose work remains highly relevant today. Stettheimer was a feminist, multi-media artist who painted several sexually explicit, political, identity-issue-based works and documented New York City’s growth as the centre of cultural life, finance, and entertainment between the World Wars. During her first 40 years in Europe, Florine Stettheimer studied academic painting and was aware of all the earliest modernist styles prior to most American artists. Returning to New York, she and her sisters led an acclaimed Salon for major avant-garde cultural figures including Duchamp, the Stieglitz circle, poets, dancers, writers, etc. During her life she showed her innovative paintings in over 46 of the most important museum exhibits and Salons, wrote poetry, designed unique furniture and gained international fame for her sets and costumes for the avant-garde opera, 4 Saints in 3 Acts.
£21.25
FROM YOU TO ME Dear Brother, from you to me
Book SynopsisA beautiful coloured fabric and gold foil blocked gift journal for your brother to capture and share his wonderful memories and stories. Designed to make it easy for every brother to capture his life story and aspirations, each journal includes 60 thoughtful questions to inspire your brother to enjoy telling his story by describing the past, the present and thinking about the future. With space for accompanying photos and memorabilia alongside his 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 brother on his birthday, at Christmas, or simply to show him you care. The Timeless Collection is available in 9 titles: Mum, Dad, Grandma, Grandad, Daughter, Son, Sister, Brother & Friend.
£18.79
Summersdale Publishers The Anxiety Fix
Book SynopsisQuieten your mind with this guided journal, filled with practical tips and simple strategies for managing feelings of anxietyAnxiety can feel like a huge obstacle to living the life you want - but it doesn''t have to be! Brimming with practical activities and inspiring words, The Anxiety Fix is a gentle and encouraging guide to help you flourish.Working through the prompts and exercises in this journal will help you to understand your worries and take control of your anxiety. The activities in these pages will also help you to: Identify your anxiety triggers Develop your self-belief Learn coping strategies for stressful situations Discover self-care inspiration to nurture your well-beingWhether you have a dream you want to achieve or you''re seeking a calmer state of mind, this book will provide you with the tools to conquer your anxiety, boost your well-being and live a happier, more fulfilling li
£10.44
Faber & Faber Sergey Prokofiev Diaries 19151923 Behind the Mask
Book SynopsisThe second volume of Sergey Prokofiev''s recently uncovered Diaries covers the years 1915 to 1922. It describes in detail the genesis and the problematic path to performance of major works in his canon, and the life-changing experiences of living in war-torn and revolutionary Russia, and deciding to leave for the mythic America he had long dreamed of visiting. The Diaries chart the author''s swings of fortune, the loneliness of the émigré, his encounters with a luminous range of personalities from music, theatre, art and literature, and the search for love and friendship, all cast in the burnished prose of a born master, not just of music, but of words.
£38.00
HarperCollins Publishers Snow Widows The Untold History of Scotts Fatal
Book SynopsisAn elegant, densely textured work, like a tapestry A welcome contribution to polar studies.' Sara Wheeler, Spectator[MacInness] handles the whole thing with masterly skilltakes us to the heart of the hope, love, anguish and grief' The TimesThe men of Captain Scott's Polar Party were heroes of their age, enduring tremendous hardships to further the reputation of the Empire they served by reaching the South Pole. But they were also husbands, fathers, sons and brothers.For the first time, the story of the race for the South Pole is told from the perspective of the women whose lives would be forever changed by it, five women who offer a window into a lost age and a revealing insight into the thoughts and feelings of the five heroes.Kathleen Scott, the fierce young wife of the expedition leader, campaigned relentlessly for Scott's reputation, but did her ambition for glory drive her husband to take unnecessary risks? Oriana Wilson, a true help-mate and partner to the expedition's doctor, wTrade Review‘A captivating, heartrending, emotionally exhausting, beautifully crafted bloody brilliant book’ Ben Tarring ‘I am reading it with fascination. It’s magnificent. [MacInnes has] an almost supernatural ability to conjure up the past.’ Sue Limb: co-author of Captain Oates: Soldier and Explorer 'The story of the five women waiting at home for Captain Scott and his doomed polar party is naturally occluded in tragedy. In this engaging book Katherine MacInnes for the first time presents them – two mothers at the outset, and three wives – as distinct individuals, separated one from the other by class, education, faith and temperament …An elegant, densely textured work, like a tapestry … A welcome contribution to polar studies.’ Sara Wheeler, Spectator ‘[MacInness] handles the whole thing with masterly skill…takes us to the heart of the hope, love, anguish and grief’ Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times ‘A breathless parallel narrative, flipping from the Antarctic horrors to the worried women keeping calm and carrying on … Mesmerising … Movingly done’ Kate Green, Country Life '[MacInnes] relies … deftly on photographs, from which she derives many of her descriptions of precise moments. It is fascinating and impressive to have her prose bring these images to life, as she plausibly recaptures the moments they depict … She show[s] that history in the making is not only experienced but felt, poignantly and painfully.' Stephanie Barczewski, TLS ‘Combining historical research, including access to family archives, with a vivid storytelling style, author Katherine MacInnes presents … the public and private fallout of the tragedy, which reveals much about society at the time. In doing so she presents a fresh and fascinating perspective on a well-worn story, as well as a window onto a lost world.’ This England magazine 'A truly gripping, original and refreshing angle on the history of polar exploration' The Bay magazine ‘Superb’ Bute Museum
£21.25
HarperCollins Publishers Sabines War
Book SynopsisAn astonishing tale of romance, resistance and braveryA sad and beautiful book, shining a light on quiet heroism in dark times.' Lucy Adlington, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmakers of AuschwitzSabine's War is the previously untold story of a remarkable resistance fighter and her incredible story of survival against the odds.When Germany invaded Holland in May 1940, Sabine Zuur joined the resistance movement without a moment's hesitation aged just 22. Helping to hide those avoiding the German authorities, she was soon betrayed and subjected to repeated violent interrogations. Many of her friends were executed but Sabine was instead sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp, via the Amersfoort and Ravensbrück camps. Enduring gruelling conditions and backbreaking forced manual labour, she survived through a combination of guile and good fortune.But it was only after Sabine's death that her daughter Eva discovered an archive of letters detailing her extraordinary life, revTrade Review‘A sad and beautiful book, shining a light on quiet heroism in dark times.’ Lucy Adlington, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmakers of Auschwitz ‘Truly captivating … A compelling read that will appeal to anyone who has an in interest in true WWII stories.’ Doug Gold, internationally bestselling author of The Note Through the Wire ‘'Sabine and I were Dutch prisoners at the same time in the hell of Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. She describes it so well in this book, and we have both lived with the physical and mental scars of these terrible times.' Selma van de Perre, internationally bestselling author of My Name Is Selma ‘Acutely perceptive… Sabine’s War is an important contribution to the work of bearing witness.’ Gwen Strauss, award-winning author of The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany ‘I absolutely loved this amazing story of courage and survival. This book is heartbreaking and heart-warming at the same time and I found it difficult to put it down. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys beautifully written wartime memoirs.’ Lana Kortchik, bestselling author of Daughters of the Resistance ‘This riveting story is thoroughly researched and unsparingly frank about the cost of war.’ Kirkus ‘There is an authenticity and urgency to Sabine’s story that isn't found in other accounts of the time… Readers of memoirs and wartime stories will find this especially engaging.’ Booklist
£9.49
HarperCollins Glimmerings
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£22.42
Penguin Books Ltd Personal Writings Penguin Classics S
Book SynopsisThe writings of a major Christian thinkerOne of the key figures in Christian history, St. Ignatius of Loyola (c. 1491-1556) was a passionate and unique spiritual thinker and visionary. The works gathered here provide a first-hand, personal introduction to this remarkable character: a man who turned away from the Spanish nobility to create the revolutionary Jesuit Order, inspired by the desire to help people follow Christ. His Reminiscences describe his early life, his religious conversion following near-paralysis in battle, and his spiritual and physical ordeals as he struggled to assist those in need, including plague, persecution and imprisonment. The Spiritual Exercises offer guidelines to those seeking the will of God, and the Spiritual Diary shows Ignatius in daily mystical contact with God during a personal struggle. The Letters collected here provide an insight into Ignatius' ceaseless campaign to assist those seeking enlightenment and to direTable of ContentsPrefaceChronologyGlossaryBibliographyReminiscences (Autobiography)Introduction1. Loyola2. To Manresa via Montserrat3. The Pilgrimage to Jerusalem4. Studies and Conflicts in Spain5. Paris6. Interlude at Home7. ItalyEpilogue by Gonçalves da CâmaraThe Spiritual DiaryIntroductionPros and Cons in an election on povertyThe Spiritual Diary:Part IPart IISelect LettersIntroduction1 [1]* Advice to a good woman (Inés Pascual 1524)2 [3] Dealings with brother and nephew (1532)3 [4] Comfort among calamities (Isabel Roser 1532)4 [7] Steps in discernment (Teresa Rejadell 1536)5 [8] Prayer made easy (Teresa Rejadell 1536)6 [10] In praise of The Spiritual Exercises (Fr Miona 1536)7 [11] Blueprint for a religious order (Mgr Carafa 1536)8 [XII, app.] Early years in Italy (1536-37)9 [17] Thanks for support (Mgr Contarini 1538)10 [18] Roman trials and tribulations (1538)11 [52] Benighted obedience (Fr Viola 1542)12 [79] Vocation doubts ofa young man (1544)13 [101] Borgia's early steps (1545)14 [123] Conduct at Trent (1546)15 [149] Refusing episcopal dignities (1546)16 [169] Ideals for newcomers (Coimbra 1547)17 [182] Need for structures of government (Gandia 1547)18 [186] Experience of poverty (Padua 1547)19 [234] En route to the Constitutions (Louvain 1547)20 [243] Defining obedience as an ideal (Coimbra 1548)21 [466] Developments in the spiritual life (Borgia 1548)22 [790] Dealing with a radical crisis (Borgia 1549)23 [XII, app.] On prophecies and revelations (Gandia 1549)24 [XII, app.] Spreading God's word in a German university (1549)25 [958] Placating a parent over a son's vocation (1549)26 [1554] Letter of resignation (1551)27 [1587] Consoling a sister on her brother's death (1551)28 [2652] Refusing a Cardinal's hat (Borgia 1552)29 [3107] Students experiencing poverty (1552)30 [3220] Agreeing to be royal confessors (1553)31 [3304] The final word on obedience (1553)32 [3305] The last call to Francis Xavier (Japan 1553)33 [4184] Criteria in the choice of parish work (1554)34 [5256] Financial worries (1555)35 [5400] Norms for dealing with Superiors (1555)36 [5471] The Society and the Inquisition (1555)37 [XII, app.] Catechizing the sign of the cross38 [6087] Consoling the mother of a student (1556)39 [6454] Norms for food in Louvain (1556)40 [6677] Reacting to obstacles in Zaragoza (1556)The Spiritual ExercisesIntroductionAnnotationsFirst Week:Principle and FoundationParticular Daily ExamenGeneral ExamenFirst-Fourth Exercise: on sinsFifth Exercise: on hellAdditionsSecond Week:The call of the kingFirst Day:First Contemplation: on the IncarnationSecond Contemplation: on the NativityFifth Contemplation: use of the sensesNotesFourth Day:Meditation on Two StandardsMeditation on three classes of personsThree kinds of humilityElectionsPreamblesThree Times, and Two Ways in the Third TimeFor amendment and reform of one's personal lifeThird Week:Rules as regards eatingFourth Week:NotesAdditional Material:Contemplation for attaining loveThree Ways of prayingThe Mysteries of the life of Christ Our LordRules to understand movements in the soul: First Week; Second WeekRules for alms-givingNotes for the understanding of scruplesRules for a true attitude of mind within the ChurchAppendix: Text of Prayers mentioned in The Spiritual ExercisesNotesIndex*Numbers in square brackets are those of the letters in the MHSI edition.
£12.34
Oxford University Press The Flight to Italy
Book Synopsis
£6.99
Oxford University Press Selected Letters
Book SynopsisThis is the largest selection of Stoic philosopher and tragedian Seneca's letters currently available. In them Seneca advises his friend Lucilius on how to do without what is superfluous, whether on the subject of happiness, riches, reputation, or the emotions. We learn too about Seneca's personal and political life in the time of Nero.
£9.49
Oxford University Press Literature and Science in the Nineteenth Century
Book Synopsis''It has been said by its opponents that science divorces itself from literature; but the statement, like so many others, arises from lack of knowledge.'' John Tyndall, 1874Although we are used to thinking of science and the humanities as separate disciplines, in the nineteenth century that division was not recognized. As the scientist John Tyndall pointed out, not only were science and literature both striving to better ''man''s estate'', they shared a common language and cultural heritage. The same subjects occupied the writing of scientists and novelists: the quest for ''origins'', the nature of the relation between society and the individual, and what it meant to be human. This anthology brings together a generous selection of scientific and literary material to explore the exchanges and interactions between them. Fed by a common imagination, scientists and creative writers alike used stories, imagery, style, and structure to convey their meaning, and to produce work of enduring po
£11.39
Penguin Books Ltd The Journal of a Disappointed Man
Book SynopsisThe young naturalist W. N. P. Barbellion described this remarkably candid record of living with multiple sclerosis as ''a study in the nude''. It begins as an ambitious teenager''s notes on the natural world, and then, following his diagnosis at the age of twenty-six, transforms into a deeply moving account of battling the disease. His prose is full of humour and fierce intelligence, and combines a passion for life with clear-sighted reflections on the nature of death. Barbellion selected and edited this manuscript himself in 1917, adding a fictional editor''s note announcing his own demise. This Penguin Classics edition includes ''The Last Diary'', which covers the period between submission of the manuscript and Barbellion''s actual death in 1919.Trade ReviewHis work has permanent value -- Arnold Bennett Letter to Barbellion's widow Among the most moving diaries ever created -- Ronald Blythe Each Returning Day: The Pleasure of Diaries A furious, sometimes ecstatic, volatile little book -- William Atkins Guardian His is the greatest diary a man has written -- Thomas Mallon A Book of One's Own: People and Their Diaries As great in its own right as anything which James Joyce was to write -- James Mildren Western Morning News
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz
Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG READERS AS FRITZ AND KURTDAILY MAIL & SUNDAY EXPRESS BOOKS OF THE YEARThe inspiring true story of a father and son''s fight to stay together and survive the Holocaust, for anyone captivated by The Cut Out Girl and The Tattooist of Auschwitz''A powerful and often uncomfortable true story that deserves to be read and remembered. It beautifully captures the strength of the bond between a father and son'' Heather Morris, author of New York Times no. 1 bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz_______Even in darkness, love brings hope.Gustav and Fritz Kleinmann are father and son in an ordinary Austrian Jewish family when the Nazis come for them.Sent to Buchenwald concentration camp in 1939 they survive three years of murderous brutality.Then Gustav is ordered to Auschwitz. FritzTrade ReviewAn emotionally devastating story of courage - and survival * i *An extraordinary tale * The Times (Best Books of 2019) *The almost unbelievable true story of Fritz Kleinman, who volunteered to follow his father, Gustav, into Auschwitz. It's a terrible and dramatic account of the humiliations and evils suffered by Jews in concentration camps and a moving testimony to the bond between fathers and sons * The Times *The inspiring true story of Gustav and Fritz Kleinmann, an Austrian father and son who managed to survive internments in concentration camps from Buchenwald to Auschwitz. Dronfield draws extensively on Gustav's diary, allowing us inside the incredible bond between father and son that kept them together through harrowing experiences, and, like all the best narrative nonfiction, the story is both immersive and extraordinary. Deeply moving and brimming with humanity. * Guardian *A deeply humane account. This book could not be more timely and deserves the widest possible readership * Daily Express *An absolutely extraordinary story. It is the greatest father and son story I've ever come across in my life * Dan Snow *Extraordinary * Observer *We should all read this shattering book about the Holocaust. An astonishing story of the unbreakable bond between a father and a son. Brilliantly researched and written with searing clarity * Daily Mail *An extraordinary tale of endurance and filial love. It is a miraculous story with many twists and Dronfield tells it well in an energetic and lively style * The Times *A unique story of defiance and hope amid the genocide * Daily Mail *Extraordinary . . . an affecting father-and-son tale * The Times *A defiant record of a horrific experience * Blouin Artinfo *A devastating yet extraordinary account * Eastern Daily Press *Through the horrors, there was one constant that kept them alive; the love between father and son. Gustav's secret diary and meticulous archive research, tell this story for the first time * Sunday Express *Based upon meticulous research, this book tells of the Kleinmann familly and the love and courage of a son for his father * Clare Champion *This book tells their extraordinary tale of surviving five and a half years in Nazi prison camps * The Times, 100 Best Books for Summer *Brilliantly written, vivid, a powerful and often uncomfortable true story that deserves to be read and remembered. It beautifully captures the strength of the bond between a father and son * Heather Morris, author of The New York Times bestselling The Tattooist of Auschwitz *
£10.44
Yale University Press The Maisky Diaries
Book SynopsisTrade Review"[Maisky's] vast diary is a fascinating and invaluable source on wartime relations between Moscow and London. . . . A triumph of meticulous scholarship and enlightened publishing."—David Reynolds, Times Literary Supplement"Its candid depictions of the British political and social scene . . . are a find of historic importance and fascination."—Nicholas Shakespeare, The Daily Telegraph"Maisky’s wonderful diary offers refreshing insights into the turbulent 1930s. . . . Sparkled amid his fascinating observations of momentous developments is some delightful gossip, to which Maisky was addicted. . . . Maisky’s painful reflections on the British character remind one of Samuel Pepys or Dr. Johnson."—Gerard DeGroot, The Times"Maisky was . . . clever, cultured, an exceptionally shrewd observer of Britain during his 11 years as ambassador in London from 1932. . . . Maisky’s diaries make a significant new contribution to the historiography of his time, for which their editor deserves congratulations."—Max Hastings, Sunday Times"Deftly edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky. . . . This is a must-read for aficionados of diplomatic history and especially of interwar British high society."—Stephen Kotkin, The Wall Street Journal"A gripping mixture of scholarship and gossip, filled with uncensored sketches of Churchill, Eden, Chamberlain and Lloyd George."—Nicholas Shakespeare, Daily Telegraph"These diaries throw new light from a fresh angle on the lead-up to 1939 and the subsequent course of the war . . . this is an exceptionally readable, as well as important, story."—John Joliffe, Spectator". . . an extraordinary document left by an extraordinary man."—Andy McSmith, The Independent". . . easily the most important diary of the Second World War period since Fringes of Power, Jack Colville’s records of working for Churchill, were published more than 30 years ago. Like Colville, Maisky had genuine literary talent as well as the ability constantly to be at the right place at the right time . . . All new accounts of the period will have to quote them in future . . . intensely readable, highly revelatory and well edited."—Andrew Roberts, Evening Standard". . . may turn out to be the most important contribution of 21st-century historical scholarship to our understanding of the causes, courses and consequences of the Second World War. . . . It will be read—it will be metaphorically devoured—by anyone remotely interested in understanding the history of humanity’s darkest century."—S.J.D Green, Standpoint"Gorodetsky’s clear and precise commentary reminds us that Stalinist terror discouraged Soviet diplomats from writing too much, especially from keeping a diary, in the 1930s. This makes Maisky’s diaries, on which Gorodetsky has worked for the last 15 years, all the more precious – in fact a unique document."—La Monde diplomatique"This chronicle of his embassy before and during the Second World War abounds in interest. It not only sheds fresh light on Anglo-Soviet relations but also contains fascinating accounts of prominent British figures . . . [Gorodetsky] deserves all credit for a masterly feat of original research and scholarly exposition."— Piers Brendon, Literary Review"With their dramatized accounts of British policies and society in the pre-war world and later, his diaries are a feast . . ."—George Walden, New Statesman"A marvellous find."—Marcus Tanner, The Independent"Anyone interested in this country’s attempts to appease then defeat Nazi Germany now has a treasure trove in the secret diaries of Ivan Maisky, Stalin’s ambassador to London. . . . Maisky was brilliantly effective in forming relationships with leading British politicians, such as Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George, so the diaries are full of unforgettable personal insights into these giants."—Dominic Lawson, Daily MailReceived a special mention as an outstanding contribution for the Pushkin House Russian Book Prize"A fascinating, rich volume, brimming over with insights into two radically different worlds. It only whets the reader's appetite for the full three-volume edition . . . which will surely stand as one of the great achievements of twenty-first century historical scholarship."—Niall Ferguson"Maisky’s diary, impeccably edited by Gabriel Gorodetsky, is not only a work of major historical importance. It also provides an utterly fascinating view of Anglo-Soviet relations and British politics during the critical period of 1932 to 1943."—Antony Beevor"Astonishing! Really remarkable. . . . Perhaps the greatest political diary of the twentieth century."—Paul Kennedy"It is a book that makes us understand the period of appeasement afresh, tells the human story of an un-Bolshevik character teetering on the edge of Stalinist disaster, and reminds us just how important great diplomats have been in dangerous times."—Andrew Marr, New Statesman -- Andrew Marr * New Statesman *"These diaries throw new light from a fresh angle on the lead-up to 1939 and the subsequent course of the war . . . this is an exceptionally readable, as well as important, story."—John Joliffe, Spectator -- John Joliffe * The Spectator *‘Recently discovered diaries by the Soviet ambassador to the UK from 1932 give fascinating insights into Britain before and during the war.’ - The Sunday Times * The Sunday Times *
£14.99
Faber & Faber The Letters of Thom Gunn
Book SynopsisThis selection of correspondence presents, for the first time, the private life and reflections of a maverick figure in the history of British and American poetry.
£32.00
Random House USA Inc California Soul
Book Synopsis
£11.99
The History Press Ltd Boy Soldiers
Book SynopsisShining a light on the largely untold story of elite-schooled child and youth soldiers under the Nazi regime
£17.00
Running Press,U.S. Harry Potter Youre Magical
Book SynopsisLet the Harry, Ron, Hermione, or even Hagrid in your own life know how magical you think they are with this one-of-a-kind DIY gift book.This interactive book invites you to fill in what you love about your best friend, with writing prompts inspired by the relationships shown across the Harry Potter series. Once completed, the book becomes a personalized gift that perfectly expresses your appreciation and records some of your greatest adventures together.This attractive book features full-color photography from the Harry Potter films throughout.
£8.99
Headline Publishing Group Now What
Book SynopsisPolitics: The three vowels and five consonants which control our world.''But what has politics got to do with me?'' I hear you ask. Well, quite a lot really. Whether you like it or not, it affects every single thing in your life from the moment you wake up in the morning until you crawl into bed at night.But some of our political elite make it feel like a club which we have not been invited to join. The privileged few who want to keep it all for the privileged few. I hope this book can explain much, make you laugh out loud and make you realise that together our voices are powerful.Buckle up and come on a political rollercoaster with me - ''an old bird with an iPhone''. This is a book for people who don''t normally think about politics. We have a new government and have bid a loud goodbye to the Tories, but the issues that allowed the last government to mismanage and deceive us for so long lie deep. Amidst a landscape of economi
£18.70
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Wittgensteins Family Letters
Book SynopsisTranslated into English for the first time, the letters collected here bring to life one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century, Ludwig Wittgenstein.In letters written over forty years, we see how his ideas and relationships developed during his time as a prisoner of war, a school teacher, an architect and throughout his years at Cambridge. Always frank and often brutally honest, these letters between Wittgenstein, his brother Paul and his three sisters, Hermine, Margaret and Helene are filled with a familiarity and an intimacy. Now available in paperback with an updated introduction by editor, Brian McGuinness, the letters are accompanied by photographs and allow us to enter the bygone world of an extraordinary family, revealing a side of Wittgenstein we have never seen before.Trade ReviewAnyone interested in the period, the Wittgenstein family, or the lost art of letter writing will find this a delightful read. Summing Up: Essential. * CHOICE *This meticulously edited and superbly translated volume of letters written between 1908 and weeks before Ludwig's death in 1951 swings seamlessly between mundane trivialities and profound insights ... The letters offer incredible insight into Wittgenstein. * Times Higher Education *The letters Wittgenstein exchanged with his siblings and other family members make fascinating reading for the light they shed on his cultural background, particularly the central role that music played in his life. Here, they are presented in a beautiful edition, superbly translated and edited. * Ray Monk, author of Ludwig Wittgenstein: The Duty of Genius *There are not many families of the twentieth century as fascinating as the Wittgensteins. This is a valuable and often moving collection. The letters reveal how tight the bonds between family members were – but they also expose the tensions, that led ultimately to an irreparable split. * David Edmonds, co-author of Wittgenstein’s Poker *This beautifully illustrated and edited translation of Wittgenstein's correspondence with his family will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about his life or in exploring connections between his life and work. The present edition includes a new introduction, family tree, an annotated list of people and places and informative footnotes, all of which will be invaluable to readers. * David G. Stern, Professor of Philosophy, University of Iowa, USA *Wittgenstein fans will want this newly translated, intimate look over 40 odd years into the on-going soap opera that characterized the Wittgenstein family, ranging from personal hurts to life-or-death decisions; ranging from aesthetic, mainly musical, judgments to assessments of the obligations of friendship and family relations. It includes some three dozen newly published letters between Ludwig and his brother Paul. * James C. Klagge, Professor of Philosophy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA and editor of Wittgenstein: Biography and Philosophy (2001) *The publication of this, the first English translation of the correspondence between Ludwig Wittgenstein and family—specifically, with his siblings Hermine, Margarete, Helene, and Paul—is an important event. As Brian McGuinness says in his incisive introduction, “The Wittgenstein’s were a family that might well have figured in one of the nineteenth century sagas they read.” A close but often contentious family, the siblings, especially Ludwig’s elder sister Hermine, wrote long and detailed letters to their famous brother; he responded with unusual candor –and often severity-- and so we learn a great deal about the Wittgenstein way of doing things—which was by no means always Ludwig’s way. The letters of the World War II years are especially interesting. This excellent translation by Peter Winslow, thoroughly annotated and copiously illustrated, is a real page-turner. * Marjorie Perloff, Sadie Dernham Patek Professor of Humanities, Emerita, Stanford University, Author of Wittgenstein’s Ladder *What does the correspondence have to offer beyond specialist interest? One answer, surprisingly, is pleasure. The siblings - 'rather hard and prickly elements', Ludwig calls them - slowly develop their own characteristics in the reader's mind ... The letters also offer a startling insight into what it meant to be a wealthy Viennese family in the early 20th century. * Literary Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Family Tree Cast of Characters Ludwig’s Early Letters 1908 The War Years August 1914–April 1918 Captivity November 1918–September 1919 The Tractatus and the elementary school years October 1920–March 1926 A Viennese intermezzo a letter from late 1928? Cambridge January 1929–February 1938 121 The Anschluss and World War Two March 1938–May 1945 172 Ludwig’s last letters January 1946–April 1951 Index
£20.89
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Hitlers Father
Book SynopsisThe author was inspired to write this book following the discovery of a bundle of previously unseen letters written by Hitler's father, Alois.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd A Surgeon in Napoleons Grande Armee
Book SynopsisPierre-François Percy was Surgeon-in-Chief of Napoleon's Grande Armée. This is the first English translation of Baron Percy's notebooks, containing his interesting, revealing, and informative testimony of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic campaigns in which he played an active role, as the most senior surgeon in the French Army, from 1799-1807.In his journal, Percy writes intimately about his life on campaign. He recounts his experiences across Europe, particularly in Switzerland (Helvetia), Germany, and Poland. The journal shows Percy's delight at seeing his surgeons recognised for their work at Eylau, and his notes express his shock at the brazen corruption of military officials and the indiscriminate pillaging to which the French army frequently resorted. He recounts his audiences with Napoleon, during which his pleas for more resources and a more professional military surgical corps frequently fell on deaf ears. Details that may have seemed trivial to Percy's contemporaries about f
£23.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Nile Campaign 18841885
Book SynopsisRudolph de Lisle RN entered Naval College in 1868 aged 13, and was only 31 when he died, ironically for a naval officer, in the Sudanese desert at the Battle of Abu Klea, 17 January 1885.An inveterate letter writer and talented artist, he consistently documented his eventful naval career as he travelled the world. His letters home were embellished with stunning sketches and watercolours.In August 1884, Rudolph was selected to join the Naval Brigade in the Gordon Relief Expedition led by General Sir Garnet Wolseley. His principal role was to help drag troop boats over the six cataracts that blocked their way up the Nile to Khartoum.Rudolph's letters graphically describe this historic journey. We read of the struggles and ingenuity of the officers and men, the hardships and the daily dangers, and the shambolic, sometimes comic, chaos peculiar to the seemingly impossible task. His sketches, some of which were published in the Illustrated London News, vividly portray the challenges facing
£28.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Captured at Singapore
Book SynopsisTwin sisters - Jill Robertson and Jan Slimming - provide an exhilarating account via their father's secret POW diary.
£21.25
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Book of Secrets
Book SynopsisThe story of a family in modern China with a history of deceit, betrayal and political intrigue, and the communist party''s long shadow over them, from the Cultural Revolution to today.Following the lives of military intelligence officer Jie and his wife Moon, The Book of Secrets weaves recently found material into a narrative that not only illuminates the shadowy world of intelligence in China, but also the emotional tragedies that political extremism inflicted on those working within. Drawing on Jie's own vivid biography of his youth, Xinran pieces together his trajectory as he joins the great hope of the Chinese young the Communist Party and becomes a loyal cadre until the late 1970s when, as a chief in the security forces, he makes a decision that will poison his family against him. This is a totally unique behind-the-scenes account of a family torn apart by the Tiananmen Square massacre and the attempts of Jie to finally open up thTrade ReviewNo one has done more than Xinran to tell the truth about the lives of ordinary people in twentieth-century China. Her Book of Secrets is a tale of horror, redeemed as always by the story-teller’s warmth, grace and narrative grip. * Hilary Spurling, author of Burying the Bones *An extraordinary book of huge historical interest and value, exactly the kind of book that the Western world needs to read, to understand the complexity of the Chinese political worldview since 1949. * Julia Lovell, author of Maoism: A Global History *Xinran's talent is to survey the vast tidal waves of history and focus in on the human lives floating rudderless in their wake. This is a wonderful and compelling read. * Tim Clissold, author of Mr China and Cloud Chamber *Xinran recounts an epic journey through China's recent history with a rare passion and clarity. The tale is seen through the tragic experience of a once powerful family, whose suffering she describes as though it were her own. * Patrick Marnham, author of The Man Who Wasn't Maigret *Table of ContentsForeword – Words on the Night Breeze Snow’s Story Xinran, December 2018 PART ONE: The Tapes 1 A Family Fragmented by the Chaos of War 2 Tsinghua – An Awakening of Love and Faith 3 Questions of Career and Faith PART TWO: Jie’s Letters to his Wife Moon 4 1951–4 – Fantasy and Romance 5 1954–7 – Confusion and Disruption 6 1957–66 – Betrayal and Adversity 7 1976–2009 – Resurrection and Death 8 2010–17 – The Final Messages Afterword – Xinran Acknowledgements Index
£22.50
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Book of Secrets
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Alanbrooke War Diaries 19391945
Book Synopsis''These are almost certainly the last secrets to be unlocked about the British high command in World War II'' DAILY MAIL''Superb'' SPECTATOR''A fascinating daily snapshot of the direction of the greatest war in history by one of the key decision makers'' SUNDAY TIMESAlanbrooke was CIGS - Chief of the Imperial General Staff - for the greater part of the Second World War. He acted as mentor to Montgomery and military adviser to Churchill, with whom he clashed. As chairman of the Chiefs of Staff committee he also led for the British side in the bargaining and the brokering of the Grand Alliance, notably during the great conferences with Roosevelt and Stalin and their retinue at Casablanca, Teheran, Malta and elsewhere. As CIGS Alanbrooke was indispensable to the British and the Allied war effort. The diaries were sanitised by Arthur Bryant for his two books he wrote with Alanbrooke. Unexpurgated, they are explosive.Trade ReviewSuperb * SPECTATOR *These are almost certainly the last secrets to be unlocked about the British high command in World War II * DAILY MAIL *The Alanbrooke diaries chart a deeply troubled journey by a deeply moral man through the confusion and indecision of high command at the most difficult time in world history ... This is a marvellous book, one that finally honours a man who helped save European civilisation * IRISH TIMES *The diaries provide a fascinating daily snapshot of the direction of the greatest war in history by one of the key decision makers * SUNDAY TIMES *This welcome publication of [Alanbrooke's] unexpurgated diaries - earlier versions were censored - should make him more widely known ... an essential tool for students of the war ... It is also to the credit of the editors that we see beyond the fascinatingly personal to the truly historical * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Those who thought the major documents of the war against Hitler had already appeared must think again. For with the publication of the unvarnished text from the diaries of Field Marshal Lord Alanbrooke of Brookeborough, we can all focus more sharply on how high command in a great war works * THE TIMES *
£15.29
Orion Publishing Co A Championship Year
Book SynopsisFrom nowhere to the winner''s podium: the story of Jenson Button''s astonishing domination of the F1 world championship.On 4 December 2008, just a few months before the new season was due to start, the Honda Racing F1 team, which Jenson Button had been driving for since 2006, pulled the plug on their involvement in Formula One. The media at the time reported that it was likely that the factory would be forced to shut, and it was unlikely that Jenson would be able to secure a drive at a top team at this late stage.Yet incredibly, in October 2009, Jenson Button was crowned World Champion, and the new team that had risen from the ashes of the Honda Racing F1 team - Brawn GP - secured the constructors'' championship in their first season, a feat never before achieved. If this were a movie script you wouldn''t believe it possible, so how did it happen?A CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR tells Jenson''s incredible story of the 2009 season, from being written off pre-season Trade ReviewA fascinating account of an extraordinary Grand Prix year * WESTERN MAIL *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co Written in History
Book SynopsisA collection of the greatest letters in history, charting world-shaping events and revealing the unique personalities of some of history's most famous figuresTrade ReviewSpicy, horrifying, passionate, shocking...and very moving. Fascinating! If you loved Ernst Gombrich's A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE WORLD and are in the mood for another global history from a different angle, this collection of historically significant letters through the ages compiled by Simon Sebag Montefiore might well hit the spot...he has distilled a few millennia of world history into 240 extremely un-boring pages * THE TIMES *Entertaining and enlightening . . . Some [letters] are truly revolutionary and visionary . . . Others are very personal . . . but all are fascinating, as are the compiler's comments on each letter, little gems of history in their own right * DAILY MAIL, History Books of the Year *WRITTEN IN HISTORY is a search through the millennia, the result an astonishing array: all human life is here encapsulated, in just a few paragraphs or even just a sentence; all are surprising, and mostly unfamiliar...Everything here is a revelatory marvel, whether a hideous rant from the Marquis de Sade (1783), or the impassioned logic of religious tolerance from Babur to his son Hamayun (1529). Truly the spectrum of human belief and behaviour is revealed in this selection * THE ARTS DESK *What sets this book apart from others about great historical correspondence is the author. The esteemed historian's selections, written in settings as far-flung as Ancient Egypt, Renaissance Italy and Stalin's Russia, go some way to illustrate how adaptable the medium of letter writing can be, and his commentary reveals just why they are still important today * HISTORY REVEALED *Lip-smackingly sexy ... Written in History is a cornucopia of emotion. Not all the letters changed the world for everyone. But they all changed the world for someone. -- Josephine Fenton * IRISH EXAMINER *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Letters of Private Wheeler
Book Synopsis''In a later age he would have become a successful war correspondent ... We have no more human account of the Peninsular War from a participant in all its battles. Vivid images - of people, landscapes, events - flows from his pen ... One of military history''s great originals'' John Keegan, DAILY TELEGRAPHThese letters, in the form of a frank and amusing diary, were written by a private in Wellington''s army who fought throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Private Wheeler''s record covers the Peninsular Campaign, keeping order during the coronation of Louis XVIII (whom he called ''an old bloated poltroon'') and his later posting to Corfu.Most of all, Wheeler''s account of the historic Battle of Waterloo - written before the muskets of battle had cooled - reveals him to be a master of lively anecdote and mischievous characterisation.Trade ReviewThey are simply marvellous. Wheeler was a naïve writer of real power - a natural story-teller, a provider of portraits, someone whose gift was to bring everything he wrote about to life * TES *In a later age he would have become a successful war correspondent ... We have no more human account of the Peninsular War from a participant in all its battles. Vivid images - of people, landscapes, events - flows from his pen ... One of military history's great originals -- John Keegan * DAILY TELEGRAPH *These letters have already become a minor classic ... deftly edited, they are clear and telling in the accounts they give of a soldier's day-to-day life, a mixture of danger, boredom, discomfort and occasional delight * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *
£10.44
Heyday Books Writing Themselves into History: Emily and
Book SynopsisA window into the world of nineteenth-century California, from two women who experienced it firsthand.In the early years of California’s statehood, Emily Brist Ketchum Bancroft (1834–1869) and Matilda Coley Griffing Bancroft (1848–1910) had front-row seats to the unfolding of the Golden State’s history. The first and second wives of historian extraordinaire Hubert Howe Bancroft, these two women were deeply engaged members of society and perceptive chroniclers of their times, and they left behind extensive records of their lives and work. Writing Themselves into History offers a rich immersion in nineteenth-century California, detailing Emily’s and Matilda’s experiences with public life, motherhood, and business against the backdrop of San Francisco’s high society and the state’s growth amidst the tumult of the American Civil War. The book also highlights Matilda’s significant involvement in Hubert Howe’s trailblazing research on the history of the American West—including her work collecting oral histories from women members of the LDS Church—and her evocative descriptions of travels throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.Kim Bancroft’s commentary offers historical context and points up Emily’s and Matilda’s keen insights, and she pays special attention to the two women’s complex and nuanced portraits of gender, race, and class in the nineteenth-century West. This book is a valuable resource for American West and women’s studies scholars, and for anyone with an interest in California’s first decades as a state.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part IEmily Ketchum Bancroft: A Life in LettersChapter 1 Emily, Hubert, and Daughter Kate at HomeChapter 2 Managing a Household in the 1860sChapter 3 Society Around ThemChapter 4 The World of TravelChapter 5 Emily’s Demise Part IIMatilda Coley Griffing Bancroft: A Writer in Her Own RightChapter 6 A Meeting of MindsChapter 7 Becoming a WriterChapter 8 “Lovingly, Mamma”: Matilda as MotherChapter 9 Matilda as TeacherChapter 10 A Craving to Take Dictations: Matilda as Oral HistorianChapter 11 Businesswoman, Dreamer, and SchemerChapter 12 “Most Beloved of Women” Epilogue Climbing the Family Tree: Kate, Lucy, and Their Families AcknowledgementsFamily ChronologyNotesIndexAbout the Author
£18.74
Cybirdy Publishing Limited Letters to you, to her, to no one
Book Synopsis"Hand in hand, two on the grey concrete, him and I. And we, Mum...We had just wanted some vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips. We hadn't wanted anything more out of life, but life surprised us." Sometimes, one's most sincere thoughts and feelings can only be expressed in a letter to their mother. Letters to you, to her, to no one is a moving story about a girl growing up in a Bulgarian orphanage told through intimate letters to her imaginary mother. The letters span years, recording a journey exploring friendship, loss, anorexia, and, most of all, dreams. Recently published in the Bulgarian language, this self-translated version contains genuine art pieces drawn by parentless children who've proudly participated in the project.
£8.54
