Satirical fiction and parodies

Book SynopsisAll animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.George Orwell's fable of revolutionary farm animals - the steadfast horses Boxer and Clover, the opportunistic pigs Snowball and Napoleon, and the deafening choir of sheep - who overthrow their elitist human master only to find themselves subject to a new authority, is one of the most famous warnings ever written. Rejected by such eminent publishing figures as Victor Gollancz, Jonathan Cape and T.S. Eliot due to its daringly open criticism of Stalin, Animal Farm was published to great acclaim by Martin Secker and Warburg on 17 August 1945. One reviewer wrote 'In a hundred years' time perhaps Animal Farm ... may simply be a fairy story: today it is a fairy story with a good deal of point.' Seventy-five years since its first publication, Orwell's immortal satire remains an unparalleled masterpiece and more relevant than ever.The Authoritative Text. With an introduction by Christopher Hitchens.*The jacket of this stunning hardback edition features period artwork by Elizabeth Friedlander, one of Europe's pre-eminent 20th-century graphic designers. Look out for complementary editions of Orwell's essential works Nineteen Eighty-Four and Down and Out in Paris and London.*

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Book SynopsisSometimes we must look to the past to survive the future.Q wants a simpler and safer life. His work as a quantum cryptographer for the government has led him to believe a crisis is imminent for civilisation and he's looking for somewhere to ride out what's ahead.He buys a ruined farmhouse in Cornwall and begins to build his own self-sufficient haven. Over the course of this quest he meets the eccentric characters who already live on the moors nearby - including the park ranger in charge of the reintroduced lynxes and aurochs that roam the area; a holy man waiting for the second coming on top of a nearby hill; an Arthurian knight on horseback and the amorous ghost of an Edwardian woman who haunts the farmhouse.As life in the cities gets more complicated, and our systems of electronic control begin to fall apart, Q flourishes in the wild Cornish countryside. His new way of life brings him back in tune with his teenage children, his ex-wife, and his own sense of who he is. He also grows close to Eva, energetic and enchanting, who is committed to her own quest for love and meaning.In this entertaining and heart-warming novel Louis de Bernières makes us reconsider what is really precious in our short and precarious lives.‘Marked by de Bernieres’ customary light touch and wry humour...This quirky novel is timely... a feelgood story about friendship and love – vintage de Bernieres.’ Daily MirrorTrade ReviewBeguiling...Set in a jollier dystopia than the norm, it tells the tale of “Q”, a cryptographer who takes refuge from the madding crowd in Cornwall * Observer *Marked by de Bernieres’ customary light touch and wry humour...This quirky novel is timely... a feelgood story about friendship and love – vintage de Bernieres. * Daily Mirror *A knockabout satire with twists aplenty * Mail on Sunday *A wonder worthy of Wyndham...wry, wise * Daily Mail *Heaps of old-fashioned adventure * The Times *

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Book SynopsisBoth cutting and laugh-out-loud, this is Sir Terry Pratchett at his best, shining a light upon the real world through a pageturning adventure across the streets of Ankh-Morpork''This book has so much more than most. Excellent read, absolutely worth your time'' Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind''Funny in a clever, scholarly, satire sort of way, with an occasional bad pun or lowbrow shot to keep you on your toes . . . If you, like me, have been living in a hole and ignoring Pratchett, then this is a good one with which to start'' Brandon Sanderson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Stormlight Archive''Be a MAN in the City Watch! The City Watch needs MEN!''But what it''s got includes Corporal Carrot (technically a dwarf), Lance-constable Cuddy (really a dwarf), Lance-constable Detritus (a troll), Lance-constable Angua (a woman... most of the time) and Corpor

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Book SynopsisJane Austen's wickedly satirical final novel, and the inspiration for a major motion picture starring Dakota Johnson, Henry Golding and Richard E. Grant.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful hardbacks make perfect gifts for book lovers, or wonderful additions to your own collection. Gorgeously illustrated by the celebrated Hugh Thomson, this edition also includes an afterword by author and critic Henry Hitchings.Persuasion follows the story of Anne Elliott who, as a teenager, was engaged to a seemingly ideal man, Frederick Wentworth. But after being persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that he is too poor to be a suitable match, Anne ends their engagement. When they are reacquainted eight years later, their circumstances are transformed: Frederick is returning triumphantly from the Napoleonic War, while Anne's fortunes are floundering. Will their past regrets prevent them from finding future happiness?Trade ReviewPersuasion seems to be the Jane Austen novel that has most touched our readers’ hearts -- Sam Jordison * Guardian *Persuasion is Austen’s most mature and melancholic novel, a frost-tipped exploration of the meaning of love and a quietly savage critique of Regency England’s obsessions with money and class -- Claire Allfree * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisDenham Dobie has been brought up in Andorra by her father, a retired clergyman. On his death, she is snatched from this reclusive life and thrown into the social whirl of London by her sophisticated relatives. Denham, however, provides a candid response to the niceties of ''civilised'' behaviour. CREWE TRAIN is one of Macaulay''s wittiest satires. The reactions of Denham to the manners and modes of the highbrow circle in which she finds herself provide a devastating - and very funny - social commentary as well as a moving story.This bitingly funny, elegantly written comedy of manners is as absorbing and entertaining today as on the book''s first publication in 1967.Trade ReviewRose Macaulay is ripe for rediscovery * The Times *One of her very wittiest books * Observer *A pleasure and a triumph -- Eric LinklaterRose Macaulay, who is probably the cleverest of our novelists, has given us yet another of her glittering novels * Country Life *One of the few authors of whom it may be said she adorns our century -- Elizabeth Bowen

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Book Synopsis''One of the world''s funniest novelists''SUNDAY TIMES ''Scabrous and unrelentingly hilarious . . . the Trump era is truly Carl Hiaasen''s moment''WASHINGTON POSTFrom the highly acclaimed author of Bad Monkey and Razor Girl comes this hilarious new novel of social and political intrigue, set against the glittering backdrop of Florida''s gold coast. It''s the height of the Palm Beach charity ball season: for every good cause, there''s a reason for the local luminaries to eat (minimally), drink (maximally), and be seen. But when prominent high-society dowager Kiki Pew suddenly vanishes during a swanky gala, and is later found dead, panic and chaos erupt.Kiki was an ardent fan of the Winter White House resident just down the road, and a founding member of the POTUSSIES, a group of women dedicated to supporting their President - who immediately declares that Kiki was the victim of rampagingTrade ReviewCarl Hiaasen remains the undefeated, unscored-upon conscience of Florida, maybe the conscience of the whole country. I laughed and laughed and laughed while I read Squeeze Me - until I remembered, hey, I live in Palm Beach! * James Patterson *Scintillating, driven and very, very funny. Sheer comic genius * Metro *Hiaasen is wondrously fertile in devising fizzing plots and zany characters, but also as a comic prose stylist he can give Wodehouse and Waugh a run for their money * The Sunday Times *Creating laughter in a tough world may be Hiaasen's hallmark * Independent *If you could use some wild escapism right now, Hiaasen is your guy. In its themes and its wild imagination, Squeeze Me offers some familiar pleasures, akin to a Greatest Hits collection. Anyone who's read him will know what a prime recommendation that is * New York Times *By the evidence of the scabrous and unrelentingly hilarious Squeeze Me, the Trump era is truly Carl Hiaasen's moment * Washington Post *Rampagingly funny satire * Kirkus *Splendid satire [...] One of his best * Crime Club *Will have you crying with laughter * Best *

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Book SynopsisSet on the eve of the Sino-Japanese war, Fortress Besieged recounts the exuberant misadventures of the hapless hero Fang Hung-chien, who after aimlessly studying in Europe at his family''s expense returns to Shanghai armed with a bogus degree from a fake university. On the liner back, Fang''s life becomes deeply entangled with those of two Chinese beauties - while when he does finally make it home, he obtains a teaching post at a newly established university, encounters effete pseudo-intellectuals, and falls into a marriage of disastrous proportions. A glorious tale of love, marriage, war, calamity, disillusionment and hope, this is one of the greatest Chinese novels: combining Eastern philosophy, Western traditions, adventure, tragicomedy and satire to create a unique feast of delights.

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Book Synopsis''A novel written with passion and moral outrage'' Sunday Times''Sympathetic, thought-provoking and often deeply moving'' Daily Telegraph''You can''t put this down'' Independent Rich or poor, five people, seemingly very different, find their lives in the capital connected in undreamed-of ways. Job, the illegal mini-cab driver whose wife in Zimbabwe no longer answers his letters; Ian, the idealistic supply teacher in exile from South Africa; Katie from New York, jilted and miserable as a dogsbody at a political magazine, and fifteen-year-old Anna, trafficked into sexual slavery. Polly Noble, an overworked human rights lawyer, knows better than most how easy it is to fall through the cracks into the abyss. Yet when her au pair, Iryna, disappears, Polly''s own needs and beliefs drag her family into a world of danger, deceit and terror.Riveting, humane, engaging, Hearts and Minds is a novel that is Trade ReviewA novel written with passion and moral outrage. It is a vivid portrait of a city that is at once familiar and disconcertingly strange * The Times *A novel written with passion and moral outrage. It is a vivid portrait of a city that is at once familiar and disconcertingly strange * The Times *Skilfully mixes skilled reportage (once a journalist, always a journalist) with a filmic sensibility...You can't put this novel down, even if babies are yelling and the pots are boiling over * Independent *Skilfully mixes skilled reportage (once a journalist, always a journalist) with a filmic sensibility...You can't put this novel down, even if babies are yelling and the pots are boiling over * Independent *Craig's excellence lies in her ability to underpin everything with hope and the promise of redemption...She has written a sympathetic, thought-provoking and often deeply moving account of the strange, shifting beast that is our capital * Telegraph *Craig's excellence lies in her ability to underpin everything with hope and the promise of redemption...She has written a sympathetic, thought-provoking and often deeply moving account of the strange, shifting beast that is our capital * Telegraph *She is a humane writer as well a waspish one and it is the plight of London's migrant workers and sink-school pupils with which she is primarily concerned here, and her passion and care are affecting * Observer *She is a humane writer as well a waspish one and it is the plight of London's migrant workers and sink-school pupils with which she is primarily concerned here, and her passion and care are affecting * Observer *Acutely observed, purposeful, dynamic...Perfectly conjures the capital's beautiful, broken carousel * Times Literary Supplement *Acutely observed, purposeful, dynamic...Perfectly conjures the capital's beautiful, broken carousel * Times Literary Supplement *A large kindness overarches the novel * Guardian *A large kindness overarches the novel * Guardian *Very special...ambitious, compelling and utterly gripping * Maggie O'Farrell *Very special...ambitious, compelling and utterly gripping * Maggie O'Farrell *** 'This is a novel written with passion and moral outrage. It is a vivid portrait of a city that is at once familiar and disconcertingly strange * THE TIMES Joan Smith *** 'Rich, Dickensian * SUNDAY TIMES Penny Perrick *** 'She is a humane writer as well a waspish one and it is the plight of London's migrant workers and sink-school pupils with which she is primarily concerned here, and her passion and care are affecting * OBSERVER Lisa O’Kelly *** 'There is much in HEARTS AND MINDS to praise . . . The book displays the author's relentless compassion. A large kindness overarches the novel * GUARDIAN Stevie Davies *

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Book SynopsisA visionary, a craftsman, a comedian ... He can do anything with a piece of prose, and it is a humbling experience to see him go to work on what has passed up till now as ''modern fiction''. He''s so modern he''s in a different time-space continuum from the rest of us. Goddamn him'' ZADIE SMITHA recognised master of form and a brilliant recorder of human behaviour, David Foster Wallace has been hailed as ''the most significant writer of his generation'' (TLS). Each new book confirms and extends his genius, and this new short story collection is no exception. In the stories that make up OBLIVION, David Foster Wallace conjoins the rawest, most naked humanity with the infinite convolutions of self-consciousness - a combination that is dazzlingly, uniquely his.''Wallace''s talent is such that you can''t help wondering: how good can he get?'' TIME OUTTrade ReviewA visionary, a craftsman, a comedian ... He's so modern he's in a different time-space continuum from the rest of us. Goddamn him * Zadie Smith *The heir apparent to Thomas Pynchon * Douglas Kennedy, THE TIMES *David Foster Wallace comes with a high reputation to live up to, and in these superbly written stories, he does ... there is a strong element of jokiness in these tales, but it is a deadpan, cumulative humour, not satire of the stand aloof, easily mocking variety ... Here he has shown once again that his is a major and entirely distinct talent * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *With the exception of Don DeLillo, no writer better depicts the crushing effect of the information age on the soul. His strangely dignified characters fight desperately to maintain sovereignty over their inner lives against the onslaught of high technolo * Stephen Amidon, SUNDAY TIMES *

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Book SynopsisLying on a riverbank on a lazy summer’s afternoon – 23rd June 2016, to be precise – Alice spots a flustered-looking white rabbit called Dave calling for a referendum. Following him down a rabbit-hole, she emerges into a strange new land, where up is down, black is white, experts are fools and fools are experts...She meets such characters as the Corbynpillar, who sits on a toadstool smoking his hookah and being no help to anyone; Humpty Trumpty, perched on a wall he wants the Mexicans to pay for; the Cheshire Twat, who likes to disappear leaving only his grin, a pint, and the smell of scotch eggs remaining; and the terrifying Queen of Heartlessness, who’ll take off your head if you dare question her plan for Brexit. Will Alice ever be able to find anyone who speaks sense?

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Book SynopsisFour women, four ways to revenge… A Monaco insider reveals what life is like in the world's richest and most secretive enclave, where revenge is best served with a glass of champagne. Wedged between Southern France and the Mediterranean Sea, the miniature principality of Monaco is a place for aspiration, for comic extremes and for outrageous personalities. Where a businesswoman gets her favourite Chanel suit flown in by private jet. Where Hôtel de Paris serves breakfast to a drunken socialite in a prison cell. Where two Gucci-clad women are behind a string of burglaries. Against a backdrop of cocktails on superyachts, looking fabulous and feeling empty, this tongue-in-cheek tale revolves around four relatable women who meet by chance in Monte Carlo. After sharing their tales of betrayal, they set up a book club as a cover while they settle each other’s scores. But revenge, like life, doesn’t always go to plan… The book cover has been designed by one of the UK’s leading illustrators, Patrick Knowles. Knowles is best known for his cover designs for Julian Fellowes and Anthony Horowitz, as well as for Prince William and Kate’s wedding calligraphy.

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Book Synopsis'Satire at its best' ELEANOR CATTON'Outrageous, comic, disturbingly timely' THE GUARDIANBold, darkly funny and brilliantly bizarre, She’s a Killer is the story of what happens when a stubborn slacker is forced to confront a very weird world.Thirty-something Alice has an IQ of 159 (almost a genius) and lives at home with her mother, with whom she communicates only by Morse code. Meanwhile, the climate is in crisis. Wealthy immigrants are flocking to New Zealand for shelter, stealing land, driving up food prices and taking over. When Alice meets attractive wealthugee Pablo, she thinks she has found a way out of her dull existence. But then in walks his teenage daughter, Erika, an actual genius with impeccable eye makeup, and Alice finds herself drawn into action of the most radical – and dangerous – kind. Just what is a slacker to do?Trade Review'A wild ride . . . made me think about similarities between NZ and Ireland as we face climate change, housing crises and the righteous anger of the young' Sarah Moss, Best Books of 2023, Irish Times'Savagely funny . . . An outrageous, comic, disturbingly timely novel' The Guardian'Funny, thought-provoking, bold and unusual . . . McDougall’s humour, pointed social observations and shocking plot twists combine with moving insights on self-knowledge, family and friendship' The Independent'Satirical thrills' New Scientist, Best New Science Fiction Books of October ‘Darkly funny, scarily prescient’ Red Magazine, 10 Best Books of October'Alarmingly prescient . . . tightly-written . . . [She's a Killer] comes into its own as the pace of the action increases, and makes for a propelling finale' The Telegraph'Savagely witty and oddly moving, this is a dark and timely satire to savour' Editor's Choice, The Bookseller'Kirsten McDougall’s brisk speculative novel takes a clifi premise and moulds it into a bizarre and bracing thought experiment, twisting the psychology of disempowerment into fast-paced action' Sydney Morning Herald'Smart, assured, and extremely funny, She's A Killer is a marvellously eccentric book that both skews and skewers the anxieties of our age . . . This is satire at its best' Eleanor Catton, Booker Prize Winner, author of Birnam Wood'A fabulously dark pleasure, delivered in prose of singing tautness' Luke Jennings, author of Killing Eve'McDougall’s dystopian future is no distant vision: it’s disturbingly familiar, urgently relevant. Narrator Alice is a brilliant creation – complex, prickly, often hilarious – and I was utterly in her thrall as she swept me along to the book’s astonishing finale. Unputdownable' Catherine Chidgey, author of Remote Sympathy 'Darkly funny, utterly terrifying . . . A powerful, pre-apocalyptic book that’s an inspired scream at our fingers-in-ears approach to the climate crisis. I couldn’t stop thinking about it’ Fran Littlewood, author of Amazing Grace Adams ‘Deeply weird, compulsively readable, and a relevant allegory of a very possible future. I loved it’ Julie Mae Cohen, author of Bad Men'Original, unputdownable, darkly funny . . . I don't think I'll ever forget it' Becky Hunter, author of One Moment 'Pitch black, wildly compelling, enormous fun' Heather Parry, author of Orpheus Builds a Girl'A gem . . . there is a surprise on every page, as Alice’s behavior is never routine, and Simp is a wild card. Not quite a misanthrope, not quite a sociopath, Alice is compelling, hilarious, and dangerous all at once' Booklist (Starred Review)'Quirky, utterly original, and also very funny' Meath Chronicle‘A thumping good story’ New Zealand Herald‘Damn funny . . . a dextrous and talented writer who has really hit her stride’ STUFF Magazine'Brilliant' Greg Fleming, NZ Listener‘Lively, engaging and often hilarious . . . McDougall has created a world that slips easily between the entirely recognisable and the slightly strange’ Academy of New Zealand Literature‘Equipped with an exhilaratingly badly-behaved protagonist, She’s a Killer builds from a slice of very strange life into a thriller by way of a succession of stunning comic set pieces. You’ll laugh – a lot. And then you’ll cry and be really surprised about it since you were laughing so much’ Elizabeth Knox, author of The Absolute Book‘The novel’s sense of humour – it’s full of sharp one-liners and witty writing – doesn’t detract from the seriousness of the subject underpinning the narrative, making She’s a Killer a great read for those who like a bit of edge to their literary fiction’ Books & Publishing

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Book SynopsisP. G. Wodehouse (1881-1975) is widely regarded as the greatest comic writer of the 20th century. Wodehouse wrote more than 70 novels and 200 short stories, creating numerous much-loved characters - the inimitable Jeeves and Wooster, Lord Emsworth and his beloved Empress of Blandings, Mr Mulliner, Ukridge, and Psmith. His humorous articles were published in more than 80 magazines, including Punch, over six decades. He was also a highly successful music lyricist, once with over five musicals running on Broadway simultaneously. P.G. Wodehouse was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for 'an outstanding and lasting contribution to the happiness of the world'.Trade ReviewThe gold standard of English wit … There is not, and never will be, anything to touch him -- Christopher HitchensIt's dangerous to use the word genius to describe a writer, but I'll risk it with him -- John HumphrysMr Wodehouse’s idyllic world can never stale. He will continue to release future generations from captivity that may be more irksome than our own. He has made a world for us to live in and delight in -- Evelyn Waugh

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Book Synopsis''A work of near heroic vitality and cunning'' Sunday TelegraphAt sixty-four Mickey Sabbath is still defiantly antagonistic and exceedingly libidinous; sex is an obsession and a principle, an instrument of perpetual misrule in his daily existence. But after the death of his long-time mistress - an erotic free spirit whose great taste for the impermissible matches his own - Sabbath embarks on a turbulent journey into his past. Bereft and grieving, tormented by the ghosts of those who loved and hated him, he contrives a succession of farcical disasters that take him to the brink of madness and extinction...Winner of the National Book Award for FictionTrade ReviewA post-war American masterpiece * Daily Telegraph *This is a wickedly splendid book -- Frank KermodeIn time this will be seen as Roth's best novel * Guardian *For me, the book of the year - maybe the decade - is Sabbath's Theater...funny...moving, imaginative, deep... A masterpiece * Times Literary Supplement *Sabbath explodes some mad genie out of his bottle... Sabbath's Theater has more firestorming prose than any other novel I have read this year * Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe seventy-fifth anniversary edition, with a new introduction by Anthony Quinn.''I recommend Hamilton at every opportunity, because he was such a wonderful writer and yet is rather under-read today. All his novels are terrific'' Sarah Waters''If you were looking to fly from Dickens to Martin Amis with just one overnight stop, then Hamilton is your man'' Nick HornbyPatrick Hamilton''s novels were the inspiration for Matthew Bourne''s new dance theatre production, The Midnight Bell.London, 1939, and in the grimy publands of Earls Court, George Harvey Bone is pursuing a helpless infatuation. Netta is cool, contemptuous and hopelessly desirable to George. George is adrift in a drunken hell, except in his ''dead'' moments, when something goes click in his head and he realises, without a doubt, that he must kill her. In the darkly comic Hangover Square Patrick Hamilton brilliantly evokes a seedy, fog-bound world of saloon bars, lodging houses and boozing philosophers, immortalising the slang and conversational tone of a whole generation and capturing the premonitions of doom that pervaded London life in the months before the war.Trade ReviewIt captures the dynamics between the characters in a brilliantly observed way. It's captivating -- Konnie Huq

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Book Synopsis'Perfect if you loved THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB' - reader review'An entertaining romp and a fascinating insight into the weird and wonderful ways of the British aristocracy' S.J. Bennett, author of The Windsor KnotIt's the 1930s and a mysterious illness is spreading over Scotland. But the noble and ancient family of Inverkillen, residents of Loch Down Abbey, are much more concerned with dwindling toilet roll supplies and who will look after the children now that Nanny has regretfully (and most inconveniently) departed this life.Then Lord Inverkillen, Earl and head of the family, is found dead in mysterious circumstances. The inspector declares it an accident but Mrs MacBain, the head housekeeper, isn't so convinced. As no one is allowed in or out because of the illness, the residents of the house - both upstairs and downstairs - are the only suspects. With the Earl's own family too busy doing what can only be described as nothing, she decides to do some digging - in between chores, of course - and in doing so uncovers a whole host of long-hidden secrets, lies and betrayals that will alter the dynamics of the household for ever.Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club, LOCH DOWN ABBEY is a playful, humorous mystery that will keep you glued to the page!READERS LOVE LOCH DOWN ABBEY!'Beautifully written . . . this is a joyous read that will stay with me for a long time' - 5 STARS'The ending took me completely by surprise but in the best way' - 5 STARS'If you want to escape for a while, this is definitely a good book for that' - 5 STARSTthis very funny and unputdownable novel is a sure winner from start to finish! To be enjoyed without moderation.' - 5 STARS'It's amazing what secrets are hidden . . . Excellent :)' - 5 STARS

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Book Synopsis'They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.'Everybody knows there's no such thing as a female wizard. So when the wizard Drum Billet accidentally passes on his staff of power to an eighth daughter of an eighth son, a girl called Eskarina (Esk, for short), the misogynistic world of wizardry wants nothing to do with her.Thankfully Granny Weatherwax, the Discworld's most famous witch, has plenty of experience ignoring the status quo. With Granny's help, Esk sneaks her way into the magical Unseen University and befriends apprentice wizard Simon.But power is unpredictable, and these bright young students soon find themselves in a whole new dimension of trouble. Let the battle of the sexes begin . . .'If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you?' Guardian'Pratchett uses his other world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own' The TimesEqual Rites is the first book in the Witches series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.Trade ReviewThe Discworld novels have always been among the most serious of comedies, the most relevant and real of fantasies * Independent *Funny, delightfully inventive, and refuses to lie down in its genre * Observer *Warm, silly, compulsively readable, fantastically inventive, surprisingly serious exploration in story form of just about any aspect of our world * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisAs ideological ferment grips Russia, a small group of revolutionaries, led by Pyotr Verkhovensky and inspired by Nikolai Stavrogin, plan to spread destruction and anarchy throughout the country. Morally bankrupt, they are prepared to use whatever means necessary to achieve their goal, including murder and incitement to suicide. But when they are forced to test the limits of their doctrine and kill one of their own to secure the secrecy of their mission, the ragtag group breaks up in mutual recrimination.Devils is at once a compelling political statement and a study of atheism and its calamitous effect on a country that is teetering on the edge of an abyss. Seen as Dostoevsky's most powerful indictment of man's propensity to violence, this darkly humorous work, shot through with grotesque comedy, is presented here in Roger Cockrell's masterful new translation.Trade Review"It is a merciless expose of certain aspects of the Russian revolutionary movements of the mid-19th century, and of the various kinds of revolutionary and terrorist psychology." - Dr Rowan Williams

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Book SynopsisOft-copied but never bettered, Jane Austen's Emma is a remarkable comedy of manners. Now a major motion picture starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Miranda Hart and Bill Nighy.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful hardbacks make perfect gifts for book lovers, or wonderful additions to your own collection. Gorgeously illustrated by the celebrated Hugh Thomson, this Macmillan Collector's Library edition also includes an afterword by David Pinching.Set in the fictional village of Highbury, Austen follows the charming but insensitive Emma Woodhouse as she sets out on an ill-fated career in match-making. Adopting the pretty but dreary Harriet Smith as her subject, Emma creates misunderstandings and chaos as she attempts to find Harriet a suitor – until she begins to realize it isn't the lives of others she must try to transform, but her own.Trade ReviewIt's provincial, opaque, sparkling and wonderfully optimistic while being at the same time tinged with intimations of sorrow and mortality. -- Robert McCrum, ‘The 100 best novels' * The Guardian *Emma’s brilliance—its enduring status as a masterpiece of fiction—is that it puts us in the position of the less-clever-than-she-thinks-she-is heroine -- Devoney Looser * Literary Hub *Emma seems to know more about our hearts that we ever do, no matter how old or experienced we may think we are. -- Luke McGrath * HuffPost *

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Book SynopsisIn Thomas More's hugely influential Utopia, a traveller recounts his discovery of an island nation in which the inhabitants enjoy unprecedented social cohesion and justice. The book imagines a community in which laws, personal relations and professional ambition are based on reason, in contrast with the tradition-bound superstitions of Europe, which were, in More's eyes, impediments to equality and peaceful coexistence.One of the indicators of the profound cultural and political influence of More's masterpiece is today's common use of the word "Utopia" - a term he invented. This extraordinary treatise on the values of rationality and reason - here presented in a sparkling new translation by Roger Clarke and accompanied by copious notes and additional texts - questions what a philosopher can do to enact change in society, and how idealized visions can inform political practice.Trade Review"Astonishingly radical stuff." - Terry Eagleton

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Book SynopsisWhen Anna is kissed by a mysterious stranger at a NYE masquerade ball, a dance of seduction begins.''So original and refreshing.'' Hilary Mantel''Brilliantly seductive ... A witty, sexy, sophisticated treat.'' Sarah Waters''Superb ... Sheer artistic insolence.'' Iris Murdoch''A great novel ... A swirling, sumptuous, sensual feast.'' GuardianLondon, New Year''s Eve. Snow falls on a Georgian mansion, vibrating with the festivities of a masquerade ball within. Middle-aged divorcee Anna stands alone - until the clock chimes midnight and a mysterious figure kisses her on the mouth. Thus begins a dance of seduction charged by clandestine romances swirling around them, whipping the ball into an frenzy of operatic proportions - until the night climaxes, revealing unease beneath the glitter ... A scandalous sensation in 1964, Brigid Brophy''s The Snow Ball is ripe to seduce a new generation o

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Book Synopsis''Witty, satirical and deftly malicious'' Anthony BurgessDescribed by the New York Times upon her death as ''one of Britain''s best-known novelists'', delve into the sparkling and satirical world of Pamela Hansford Johnson with this wickedly funny tragicomedy about a destitute English author living in Bruges. ''A maliciously witty account of literary skulduggery and loft pretensions.'' TLS ******************Daniel Skipton is a literary genius - at least, that''s what he''ll tell you. A tortured artist living in Bruges on money donated by others (a distant relative, the daughter of his landlady, his exasperated, long-suffering publishers), he dreams of the time his talent will once again be truly appreciated and spends days working on his masterpiece. Between charitable bequests, he preys on tourists, accepting hospitality and tricking them into parting with their money; and when an Italian arisTrade ReviewVery funny - IndependentRemarkable - GuardianWitty, satirical and deftly maliciousA maliciously witty account of literary skulduggery and lofty pretensions - TLSA remarkable craftswomanMiss Johnson is one of the most accomplished of the English women writers - KirkusHansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm BradburyA writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive

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Book Synopsis'It's a long time since I have enjoyed a novel so much. Fresh, witty and smart it also has a heart.' KATE ATKINSON 'Sizzles with uproarious fun, from its snout to the sting in its tale.' INDEPENDENT'The perfect tonic for testing times.' GUARDIANWe all know politics is absurd. But could a Republican be brought down by a stuffed aardvark? Republican congressman Alexander Paine Wilson is determined that nothing will stop him in his campaign for re-election. Not the fact that he is a bachelor, not the fact that his main adversary Nancy Beavers - married, with children - is rising in the polls. Nothing. That is, until one hot day in August, he receives a large parcel via FedEx. Inside is a gigantic taxidermied aardvark. This aardvark has a surprising history - from the Victorian naturalist who discovered it to the taxidermist who deemed it his finest creation. But for Wilson, the entrance of the aardvark sets off a chain of events that threaten to ruin his entire career. Constantly surprising, brilliantly comic and piquantly provocative, Enter the Aardvark is a tale for our times, a biting satire with a tender underbelly. ____________________________________________'Sometimes, a paragraph near the start of a novel is so perfect and funny that you read it over and over, laugh every time, and know you're in for a treat...I'm loving this. Completely insane but utterly hilarious'. JOHN BOYNE'Spry, slim, clever...the inventiveness is impressive and the story has heart' THE SUNDAY TIMES'What begins as a topical takedown of the American political system deepens into a hugely enjoyable romp through history.' OBSERVER'Fresh, astute and mouthwateringly sharp, this is a rare thing; a political satire that tugs on the heartstrings in unconventional ways.' IRISH TIMES'Sharp, inventive and very funny, it's an entertainingly bizarre political satire.' TATLER'Part 21st-century political satire, part unexpectedly affecting 19th-century love story...It's every bit as strange as it sounds, and yet somehow it works' DAILY MAIL'Old, dead creature brings down flash, vain senator... Out in front as the most fizzing and amusing novel of the year.' STRONG WORDS magazine'A blisteringly innovative and outrageous novel.' NY OBSERVER'Weird, wonderful, and very much of the moment, Enter the Aardvark is a landmark political novel of the Trump era...With heart and humor, Anthony expertly skewers our current political climate.' ESQUIRE'Inventive and darkly funny...as Anthony connects characters from today with those from 19th-century England, she offers an original and unsettling lens through which to view male power as it has evolved over time.' TIME'Enter Jessica Anthony. With her highly inventive, ever attentive, and morally serious (as all great comedy must be) Enter the Aardvark, she estranges all over again our deplorable political moment, and thereby helps make it bearable.' JOSHUA FERRIS'Mischievously zoological and darkly satirical - a brilliant novel' JOHN IRONMONGER, author of NOT FORGETTING THE WHALE'A feverish, rollicking beast of a book. Totally assured, completely unpredictable, Jessica Anthony has created a true original.' SIMON WROE, author of CHOP CHOP and HERE COMES TROUBLETrade ReviewIf you are anything like me, you will end up loving the actual aardvark...and relish the world of taxidermy that Anthony brings to life. Enter the Aardvark sizzles with uproarious fun, from its snout to the sting in its tale. * INDEPENDENT *[An] ingenious political satire…The perfect tonic for testing times…deliciously astute, fresh and terminally funny. * GUARDIAN *Spry, slim, clever...the inventiveness is impressive and the story has heart. * THE SUNDAY TIMES *What begins as a topical takedown of the American political system deepens into a hugely enjoyable romp through history...Madcap and satirical without ever being flippant, Anthony’s novel is totally unrealistic yet completely truthful. * OBSERVER *Fresh, astute and mouthwateringly sharp, this is a rare thing; a political satire that tugs on the heartstrings in unconventional ways. * IRISH TIMES *‘Part 21st-century political satire, part unexpectedly affecting 19th-century love story…It’s every bit as strange as it sounds, and yet somehow it works: there’s a pleasing symmetry to the parallel plots, and Anthony’s writing is evocative enough to snare the imagination.' * DAILY MAIL *'Old, dead creature brings down flash, vain senator... Out in front as the most fizzing and amusing novel of the year.' * STRONG WORDS magazine *‘Jessica Anthony’s Enter the Aardvark was exactly the smart, funny and poignant pick-me-up that I needed…Anthony entwines her two narrative threads with seamless precision...Riotously entertaining’ * i-news *Sharp, inventive and very funny, it’s an entertainingly bizarre political satire. * TATLER *‘A joyfully weird, compulsive political satire' * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Inventive and darkly funny...as Anthony connects characters from today with those from 19th-century England, she offers an original and unsettling lens through which to view male power as it has evolved over time. * TIME *‘Weird, wonderful, and very much of the moment, Enter the Aardvark is a landmark political novel of the Trump era.’ * ESQUIRE.COM Best Books of 2020 *The scope of Anthony’s imagination can sometimes beggar belief. What a mind she has. As the narrative twists between the past and the present, it seems like anything could happen at any time….a hilariously poisonous evisceration of the cowardly, disingenuous politicians running rampant through Trump’s Washington. * CULTUREFLY *‘Sometimes, a paragraph near the start of a novel is so perfect and funny that you read it over and over, laugh every time, and know you’re in for a treat…I'm loving it. Completely insane but utterly hilarious’ * JOHN BOYNE *‘A curious, surprising and moving story about two men who— to put it one way — become involved with an aardvark and thereby condemn themselves to death.’ * THE CRITIC *

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Book Synopsis'YOU CANNOT INTERFERE WITH FATE. WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE WHO SHOULD LIVE AND WHO SHOULD DIE?'Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.Death is the Grim Reaper of the Discworld, a black-robed skeleton with a scythe who ushers souls into the next world. He is also fond of cats and endlessly baffled by humanity. Soon Death is yearning to experience what humanity really has to offer, but to do that, he'll need to hire some help.It's an offer Mort can't refuse. As Death's apprentice he'll have free board, use of the company horse - and being dead isn't compulsory. It's a dream job - until Mort falls in love with Death's daughter, Ysabell, and discovers that your boss can be a killer on your love life . . .'Incredibly funny, compulsively readable' The Times'Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy' Sunday TimesMort is the first book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.Trade ReviewPratchett is a comic genius * Daily Express *Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy... Pratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own * The Sunday Times *He is screamingly funny. He is wise. He has style * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisNothing has happened. Not yet, anyway. This is how all things begin.Welcome to Apex City, formerly Bangalore, where everything is decided by the mathematically perfect Bell Curve.With the right image, values and opinions, you can ascend to the glittering heights of the Twenty Percent – the Virtual elite – and have the world at your feet. Otherwise you risk falling to the precarious Ten Percent, and deportation to the ranks of the Analogs, with no access to electricity, running water or even humanity.The system has no flaws. Until the elusive “Ten Percent Thief” steals a single jacaranda seed from the Virtual city and plants a revolution in the barren soil of the Analog world.Previously published in South Asia only as Analog/Virtual, The Ten Percent Thief is a striking debut by a ferocious new talent.Trade Review“In the best tradition of dystopian fiction, Analog/Virtual explores issues about class, society, power structures and values. Lavanya Lakshminarayan has skilfully crafted a series of interwoven stories about a frighteningly plausible near future scenario, rooted in the extrapolation of today’s worship of technology and productivity. Spanning multiple points of view, writing styles and character voices, this masterful work of science fiction weaves its individual stories into a complex and engaging whole.” – S.B. Divya, Nebula Award finalist and author of Runtime“Lavanya Lakshminarayan’s debut drops us headfirst into a future Bangalore where a corporation rules the world and humanity seeks security and fulfilment in a thought-policed virtuality. I loved the razor-sharp writing and vivid detailing of her unfolding of the human situations and dilemmas of the Analog–Virtual divide in society. This is fiction playing for the highest stakes – and winning.” – Chandrahas Choudhury, author of Clouds“Productivity is power. The monster under your bed corrects your social opinions. And if you slip too far you might just end up living in the real world… by turns horror, cyberpunk, and biting social satire, Analog/Virtual is a high velocity anthem sung through the shape of things to come.” – Yudhanjaya Wijeratne, Nebula Award finalist and author of The Inhuman Race“Lakshminarayan is a favourite... The Ten Percent Thief is an ambitious novel.” -- The Washington Post“If you ever wondered how Huxley’s Brave New World would look when social media metrics take charge, Lakshminarayan’s Ten Percent Thief gets all the likes and thumbs up for showing us a world no sane person would want to live in. It’s deeply disturbing, but you can’t look away.” -- Wayne Santos“An astonishing, kaleidoscopic journey through the fractured landscape of a future India where cyber-power has created a new system of oppression, this beautifully written novel of imaginative literature serves both as a warning and a source of resurgent hope. Grim, unrelenting, polyphonic and exhilarating.” -- Vandana Singh“The Ten Percent Thief delivers hope, wonder, bleakness, humour and wisdom in equal measure, with unforgettable characters telling a multifaceted story of a future revolution. A complex, dazzling debut.” -- Samit Basu“Immersive and skillfully wrought; a fascinating kaleidoscope of near-future dystopian fiction” -- Stark Holborn“Lakshminarayan’s nuanced dystopian future will leave readers questioning their own relationship with technology and social media as they follow the cookie crumb trail of conformity and dissent through multiple character perspectives. The result is as satisfying as it is clever.” -- Publishers Weekly“A series of taut, Dickian cyberpunk vignettes, always introducing fascinating new protagonists to its intertwining cast of dozens; at its best when lampooning the contemporary worlds of social media, e-sports, app-obsession and the hyper-gamification of everything from art to economic standing. A sparkling debut.” -- Aubrey Wood, author of Bang Bang Bodhisattva“Playful and crushing in equal measure.” -- FanFiAddict“A new masterpiece” -- SciFiNow“Lakshminarayan uses her novel to flawlessly confront constructed binaries built into the very fabric of contemporary society” -- The Fantasy Hive“The Ten Percent Thief is bold and creative, and Lakshminarayan expertly packages a warning that will only get more relevant with time” -- STARBURST Magazine“There are wonders and gizmos within Apex City, but these are stories about people’s lives. This is, punk-like, a collection of rebellions against, and reconsiderations of, the status quo. One of my favourite books of recent years.” -- Jared Shurin, Raptor Velocity“Impressive” -- SFX“Stunning and thought-provoking” -- The British Fantasy Society“Smart, vivid, engaging” -- The Guardian“Lavanya Lakshminarayan breathes new life into dystopia” -- The Washington Post“Deeply thought-provoking and timely” - Grimdark Magazine“The Ten Percent Thief is really terrific; I loved it.” – Dave Hutchinson

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Book SynopsisDavid Lodge (CBE)'s novels include Changing Places, Small World and Nice Work (shortlisted for the Booker) and, most recently, A Man of Parts. He has also written plays and screenplays, and several books of literary criticism. His works have been translated into more than thirty languages. He is Emeritus Professor of English Literature at Birmingham, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and is a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.Trade ReviewLodge's wit... like that of Wodehouse, froths around and out of characters.. hugely enjoyable * Spectator *Clever enough to confirm him as one of the leading comic writers of his generation * Guardian *All funny, clever and beautifully paced * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB FIRST NOVEL AWARD'Divine . . . the smart, sexy read you need' Evening Standard'Startlingly impressive' Daily Mail'An electric new novel' GuardianExiled from his university position for an inexcusable blunder, art historian Don Lamb flees to London, a city alive with sex and creativity. There, over the course of a long, hot summer, as he is immersed in the anarchic art and gay scenes of the mid-90s, Don sees his carefully curated life irrevocably changed. But his epiphany is also a reckoning, as his unexamined past is revealed to him in a devastating new light.Intense and atmospheric, Tiepolo Blue traces Don's turbulent awakening, and his desperate flight from art into life.'Wildly enjoyable . . . A novel that combines formal elegance with gripping storytelling' Financial Times'Dizzying and exciting and unsettling, and beautifully told' Reverend Richard Coles, Daily MailTrade ReviewThis divine debut from art critic and academic James Cahill is the smart, sexy read you need in 2022. Expect to see it on prize lists as well as Instagram feeds. The novel's protagonist is Professor Don Lamb, a precocious but prematurely stuffy art historian and Cambridge don, who likes measuring the skies in the paintings of Venetian master Tiepolo. Lamb takes preternatural offence when a Tracey Emin-esque bed sculpture is installed outside his college lodgings, and departs to London in a sulk for a new museum gig. There awaits a new kind of awakening - and it's not just because the YBAs are taking off. Not only an addictive pageturner, Cahill's book taps into the tensions and suspicions between generations that feels incredibly relevant for our testy times. * Evening Standard *Bringing together the Italian masters and the Young British Artists, this is a debut that looks at art, power, academia, and the potential of the urban setting at the end of the 20th century. * Dazed.com *The story of Tiepolo Blue and its people have invaded my dreams...something in the way Cahill puts the reader in Don Lamb's shoes does (or has done in my case) extraordinary things. I blushed and howled warnings and wanted to slap, cajole, hug, disown, disavow and walk away from him. His life will look so squalid and pathetic from the outside, but Cahill takes us inside and we somehow respect and love him. This is the best novel I have read for ages. It is so beautifully written, not a false note in any sentence. Cahill's presentation of the agonising clash of aesthetics, of culture, of generations... it's just masterly. Don's disintegration is painful to read, but it all grips you like a thriller. My heart was constantly in my throat as I read... There is so much to enjoy, to contemplate, to wonder at, and to be lost in. -- Stephen FryThe spirit of E.M. Forster is alive and well in James Cahill. The same palpating of damaged moral tissue, the same psychological canniness, the same gently invoked erudition, the same exactitude and eloquence - except Cahill is able to explore forbidden themes that Forster feared to touch on except posthumously -- Edmund WhiteThis is a novel full of suspense and surprise. It made me laugh and brought back memories of a time in my own life. I missed the characters as soon as I'd finished. -- Sarah LucasI travelled on the exquisite vessel of James Cahill's prose, unable to disembark. The journey is sensual, treacherous and elegiac. The final landing, breath-taking. -- Maggi HamblingWow. It is magnificent. Simply magnificent...Tiepolo Blue really has blown me away: the gorgeous phrase-making; the sure-footed pacing; the (re-)immersion in a world I know, or knew, in a way that is both hard-edged with historical detail and almost hallucinatory...The last debut novel I read that had this much talent buzzing around inside it was Alan Hollinghurst's The Swimming-Pool Library. -- Robert Douglas - FairhurstImagine if Hollinghurst and Murdoch collaborated on a witty update of Death in Venice and you'll see the appeal of James Cahill's assured debut. -- Patrick GaleJames Cahill's first novel, drawn from close observation, tells a gripping tale of the worlds of traditional academia and art history pitted against those of contemporary art, each failing horribly to understand the other. As a result all becomes infused with satirical comedy and ghastly tragedy. -- Norman Rosenthal * Curator of the ‘Sensation’ exhibition in 1997; former Exhibitions Secretary at the Royal Academy *An absorbing coming-of-age story. * The Art Newspaper *The standout [recent novel about art] is James Cahill's Tiepolo Blue...Interrogating beauty and meaning in art, Tiepolo Blue rewards rereading. Pointing to masked, tricksy identities, clues glitter gem-like amid hallucinatory prose...a stylish tale of love and long-game revenge. * Royal Academy Magazine *The worlds of art, academia and queerness collide in James Cahill's debut book. * i-D *[An] arresting debut novel . . . a masterly attention to (especially visual) detail and an irresistibly propulsive, almost swaggering style . . . Cahill is by no means a polemical author, and the novel is all the better for it. Any authorial commentary is barely detectable above the crowd of vivid characters with which Cahill has populated his novel, for Tiepolo Blue is, at its heart, an astute character study. * Literary Review *Evocative and accurate... meticulous and atmospheric... delicious unease and pervasive threat give this assured first novel great singularity and a kind of gothic edge... an electric new novel written by an author skilled in the evocation of vertiginous, heightened emotion' * Michael Donkor, Guardian *One of the standout debut novels is James Cahill's Tiepolo Blue, a coming-of-age tale set in London in the 1990s that deftly explores what it is like to suffer a very public fall from grace * Independent *What starts off as a campus novel soon shades into something weirder and much more mesmerizing... The plot is propulsive, though the crafted ambience of unease simultaneously destabilizes the reader at every turn. The prose is fluid and precise but the tone equivocal, bathos merging into pathos, tragedy into farce and back again... It's a measure of Cahill's sleight of hand that he manages to inject his plot with such page-turning momentum. -- Lucasta Miller * TLS *Art, academia and abject self-denial combine in this startlingly impressive, 1990s-set debut...A heavily perfumed, sexually tender, psychologically acute novel... as full of light and colour as Tiepolo's incandescent skies. * Daily Mail *[A] simmering debut novel * Esquire.com *With touches of Alan Hollinghurst, the musings of the book's protagonist on the radical power of art to act as a catalyst for personal change make it an exhilarating, erudite read. * Vogue.com *A novel that combines formal elegance with gripping storytelling...wildly enjoyable...The combination of arty milieu and sexual stirrings may evoke Alan Hollinghurst, but Iris Murdoch is a more obvious point of comparison...Snobbish and incompetent, Don may be difficult to like, but his painful awakening is delicately rendered. * Financial Times *I love the punctured idealism, contained savagery and ever-lurking farce of campus novels, and there are some delicious new additions to the genre - perfect antidotes for the cold. James Cahill's Tiepolo Blue tells the tale of a fusty ferociously fusty art historian whose academic career is upended by a ferociously unbeautiful sculpture. * TLS *[An] old-fashioned ambitious novel about the wonders of art and the depths of the human heart, full of people and ideas * The Times *I just devoured Tiepolo Blue, I could not put it down. The longing, the beauty, the detail, the complexity, the art, the intellect and the emotion . . . What a triumph! -- Paul KindersleyAlready a compelling psychosexual story about beauty, desire and art, Tiepolo Blue is all the more interesting because it hits notes of such strangeness -- Lucy Scholes, Fiction Books of the Year * Prospect *Tiepolo Blue is about a buttoned-up art historian in Cambridge in 1994 who messes up and gets a job managing a London gallery just as the Young British Artists enter their glory. One of them initiates his unbuttoning which is dizzying and exciting and unsettling, and beautifully told -- Rev Richard Coles, Big writers on their best reads of 2022 * Daily Mail *Most giddying are the passages that evoke the slow-mo slide of Don's professional collapse . . . I shivered with awful delight -- Alex Diggins * Critic *

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Book SynopsisIn 2002, an amateur Jane Austen scholar, while staying at a Hertfordshire estate, stumbled upon a hidden cache of manuscript pages and made an extraordinary literary discovery - lost scenes from Jane Austen's novels that reveal an altogether different dimension to her oeuvre.Pride and Prejudice's Bingley sisters appear as Sapphic seductresses; Mansfield Park's incest subtext becomes manifest; and Darcy gets more than his shirt wet. This incisive parody of academic study is sure to astonish and delight mischievous Austenites.Trade ReviewArielle Eckstut brings her ready imagination to conjuring the sex scenes that Austen was not able to provide; she can write as if this were homage rather than desecration. * * The Guardian * *Make of Pride and Promiscuity what you will, but it's so impudently indulgent, so wantonly imaginative, only a killjoy could dismiss it with a sniff. * * Erotic Review * *Eckstut, I mean of course, Austen, has not gone over the top. . . she has stayed faithful to both tone and characters. Reader, it works. * * Time Out * *A parody to delight Austen aficionados * * The Scotsman * *A wickedly funny collection that satirises the Austen oeuvre yet also manages to play implicit homage by echoing her incomparable style with astonishing fidelity.

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Book SynopsisOne of BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World.Virginia Woolf’s wildly imaginative, comic novel was inspired by the life of her lover, Vita Sackville West. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition features original illustrations and with an introduction by the academic and novelist, Professor Susan Sellers.Orlando is a young Elizabethan nobleman whose wealth and status afford him an extravagant lifestyle. Appointed ambassador in Constantinople, he wakes one morning to find he is a woman. Unperturbed by such a dramatic transformation, and losing none of his flamboyance and ambition, the newly female Orlando charges through life and English history so that by the end of this extraordinary biography she is a modern, 1920s woman.

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Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021‘Outrageous satire . . . extremely funny, weirdly touching’ – Guardian‘A work of genius’ – Scotsman‘Close-to-the-knuckle farce with a big beating heart’ – Daily MailThis is the story of an unusual family. Though they are nothing like yours, you will recognize them. They are the last Cannibal-Americans. And they have a problem.When their mother dies, twelve children gather to dispose of the body in the traditional manner . . . by eating it. But can they follow the ancient rituals of consumption? Is their unique cultural heritage worth preserving if it's this gross? And what about dietary requirements - one of them is vegan. Surely it can't be this hard to do the right thing?Mother for Dinner is a dark comedy about modern life and its many difficulties.Trade ReviewBad taste has a purpose in this outrageous satire . . . grotesque, extremely funny, weirdly touching and acute * Guardian *Daring, provocative and controversial . . . the outrageous nature of the comedy is done perfectly . . . This is a work of genius * Scotsman *I loved [it] . . . I devoured it in one sitting . . . I recommend you dig in * The Times *Laugh-out-loud funny . . Underlying the dark humour, it is, dare I say, a tender tale * Financial Times *A terrifically funny book . . . Close-to-the-knuckle farce with a big beating heart * Daily Mail *A grotesque family comedy . . . Written in fast-moving, deadpan prose * New Stateman *[A] laugh-out-loud, gravely serious satire * Economist, The Best Books of 2021 *Auslander is an enfant even more terrible than Philip Roth . . . it provides plenty of dark laughs and inspired comic riffs * TLS *A virtuoso humorist, and a brave one * New York Times Book Review *You’re unlikely to read anything funnier this year * Big Issue *Auslander’s greatest strength is the zip and ping of his dialogue . . . uproariously funny * Literary Review *Brilliantly written, often hilarious but also deeply thoughtful * Jewish Chronicle *Consistently funny, consistently wise and consistently disturbing in ways that probably only Shalom Auslander could arrange. It is a rare and agile narrative . . . Perhaps not a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, but then again, it could be just the thing -- A. L. Kennedy, Costa Prize-winning author of DayPortnoy-era Roth couldn't hold a candle to Shalom Auslander * Entertainment Weekly *Blends tragedy, comedy and satire in the mold of Samuel Beckett and Franz Kafka. * The Wall Street Journal *Auslander turns his taboo-shattering satiric gaze to cannibalism in this outrageous, salty take on contemporary culture . . . more effective is the riotous dissection of cultural formation and a community's hunger for meaning * Publishers Weekly *A book that’s funny enough not just to make you nod to show you got the joke, but to make you laugh and laugh * The Critic *Dead funny and dead serious. A deliciously appalling satire on the hazards of tribalism, religion and tradition – and eating your relatives -- Rhidian Brook, author of The Killing of Butterfly JoeIrreverent and written with Auslander's incomparable humor, Mother for Dinner is an exploration of legacy, assimilation, the things we owe our families, and the things we owe ourselves * The Jewish Book World *

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Book SynopsisChester Royde, an American millionaire, travels to Scotland with his new bride Carrie and sister Myrtle, to find out more about Carrie''s Scottish ancestry. Their new ''relatives'' turn out to be a little more authentically Scottish than they bargained for. Ben Nevis, Laird of Glenbogle Castle, is fiercely protective of his lands and the Macdonald clan spirit, but being cash-strapped he''s not above attempts to marry heiress Myrtle to one of his many brawny sons. But then a group of hikers stumble onto his moor and spoil a day''s hunting, sparking all-out war between gentry and commoners.Trade ReviewRollicking comedy * Observer *A riotous piece of virtuosity...divinely funny -- Elizabeth Bowen * Tatler *

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Book SynopsisA special edition of Jane Austen’s elegant novel of family, society and manners with illustrations by Hugh Thomson and bonus material by Jane Austen expert Sophie Reynolds.

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Book Synopsis'There's a kind of magic in masks. Masks conceal one face, but they reveal another. The one that only comes out in darkness . . .'The Opera House in Ankh-Morpork is home to music, theatrics and a harmless masked Ghost who lurks behind the scenes. But now a set of mysterious backstage murders may just stop the show.Agnes Nitt has left her rural home of Lancre in the hopes of launching a successful singing career in the big city. The only problem is, she doesn't quite look the part. And there are two witches who would much rather she return home to join their coven.Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg have travelled to Ankh-Morpork to convince Agnes that life as a witch is much better than one on the stage. Only now they're caught up in a murder mystery featuring masks and maniacal laughter.And the show MUST go on . . .'A master storyteller' A. S. Byatt'Funny, delightfully inventive, and refuses to lie down in its genre' ObserverMaskerade is the fifth book in the Witches series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order.Trade ReviewIncredibly funny ... compulsively readable * The Times *Cracking dialogue, compelling illogic and unchained whimsy ... Pratchett has a subject and a style that is very much his own * Sunday Times *If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you? * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'The universe is, instant by instant, recreated anew . . . The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.'Time is a resource. Everyone knows it must be managed. You can let it move fast or slowly, but what you mustn't do is allow it to stop.On the Discworld, the History Monks have the important job of ensuring that tomorrow always comes. But the construction of the world's first truly accurate clock starts a race against, well . . . time.Monk Lu-Tze, his apprentice Lobsang Ludd and Death's granddaughter Susan must stop the clockmaker before he completes his task. Because a truly accurate clock will stop time completely.And then, there really will be no tomorrow . . .'This is the best Pratchett I've read' Sunday TelegraphThief of Time is the fifth book in the Death series, but you can read the Discworld novels in any order. Trade ReviewTerry Pratchett is one of the great inventors of secondary - or imaginative or alternative - worlds. He is not derivative. He is too strong . . . He has the real energy of the primary storyteller. * The Times *In a better world he would be acclaimed as a great writer rather than a merely successful one . . . This is the best Pratchett I've read * Sunday Telegraph *Reads with all the polished fluency and sure-footed pacing that have become Pratchett's hallmarks over the years. * The Times On Saturday *

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Book SynopsisAfter being saved from a suicide attempt by the appearance of a literary editor, the journalist and failed novelist Sergei Maxudov has a book suddenly accepted for stage adaptation at a prestigious venue and finds himself propelled into Moscow's theatrical world. In a cut-throat environment tainted by Soviet politics, censorship and egomania - epitomized by the arrogant and tyrannical director Ivan Vasilyevich - mayhem gradually gives way to absurdity. Unpublished in Bulgakov's own lifetime, Black Snow is peppered with darkly comic set pieces and draws on its author's own bitter experience as a playwright with the Moscow Arts Theatre, showcasing his inimitable gift for shrewd observation and razor-sharp satire.Trade ReviewCockrell's light touch often lifts the text on to a playful plane. * Russia Beyond the Headlines * High quality, attractively produced and moderately priced. * East-West Review *

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Book SynopsisWhile enjoying a six weeks' stay in fashionable Bath, the young and callow Catherine Morland is introduced to the delights of high society. Thanks to a new literary diet of the sensational and the macabre, Catherine travels to Northanger Abbey fully expecting to become embroiled in a Gothic adventure of intrigue and suspense - and, once there, soon begins to form the most gruesome and improbable theories about the exploits of its occupants. An early work, but published posthumously, Northanger Abbey is a parody of the Gothic genre typified by the novels of Ann Radcliffe, as well as a witty comedy of manners in the style of Jane Austen's later novels and, ultimately, an enchanting love story.Trade ReviewAs a creative realist, giving to her characters the very body and pressure of actual life, no writer, living or dead, has surpassed her. -- John Cowper Powys

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Book SynopsisTwo sisters of opposing temperament but who share the pangs of tragic love provide the subjects for Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful hardbacks make perfect gifts for book lovers, or wonderful additions to your own collection. Gorgeously illustrated by the celebrated Hugh Thomson, this edition also includes an afterword by author and critic Henry Hitchings.Elinor, practical and conventional, the epitome of sense, desires a man who is promised to another woman. Marianne, emotional and sentimental, the epitome of sensibility, loses her heart to a scoundrel who jilts her. A powerful drama of family life and growing up, Sense and Sensibility is at once a subtle comedy of manners and a striking critique of early nineteenth-century society.Trade ReviewAusten's genius lies in her style and elegance of mind -- Amanda Craig * Independent *Austen's oeuvre is inviolable – it can never be unwritten -- Francesca Segal * The Guardian *

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Book Synopsis'When Tom Holt's on form, the world seems a much cheerier place' - SFX'Frantically wacky and wilfully confusing ... gratifyingly clever and very amusing' - MAIL ON SUNDAYOnce upon a time (or last Thursday, as it's known in this matrix) everything was fine: Humpty Dumpty sat on his wall, Jack and Jill went about their lawful business, the Big Bad Wolf did what big bad wolves do, and the wicked queen plotted murder most foul.But the humans hacked, cried havoc, shut down the wicked queen's system (mirrors 3.1) and corrupted her database - and suddenly everything was not fine at all. But at least we know that they'll all live happily ever after. Don't we?Computers and fairy tales collide to hilarious effect in the latest sparkling cocktail of mayhem, wit and wonder from the master of comic fantasy.Books by Tom Holt: Walled Orchard Series Goatsong The Walled Orchard J.W. Wells & Co. Series The Portable Door In Your Dreams Earth, Air, Fire and Custard You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps The Better Mousetrap May Contain Traces of Magic Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages YouSpace Series Doughnut When It's A Jar The Outsorcerer's Apprentice The Good, the Bad and the Smug Novels Expecting Someone Taller Who's Afraid of Beowulf Flying Dutch Ye Gods! Overtime Here Comes the Sun Grailblazers Faust Among Equals Odds and Gods Djinn Rummy My Hero Paint your Dragon Open Sesame Wish you Were Here Alexander at World's End Only Human Snow White and the Seven Samurai Olympiad Valhalla Nothing But Blue Skies Falling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild SideTrade ReviewUniquely twisted ... cracking gags * Rob Grant, THE GUARDIAN *Frantically wacky and wilfully confusing ... gratifyingly clever and very amusing * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Frothy, fast and funny * SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY *Dazzling * TIME OUT *

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Book SynopsisComplete and unabridged.One of BBC's 100 Novels That Shaped Our World.Dickens exposes the corrupting power of money in his last complete novel, Our Mutual Friend, with its expansive cast of characters and interweaving plots.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition has an afterword by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley and original illustrations by Marcus Stone.John Harmon made his fortune collecting ‘dust’. On his death his estranged son is due to inherit his wealth on the condition that he marry Bella Wilfer, a young woman who he has never even met. But when his son is presumed dead, John’s riches pass to his servants Mr. and Mrs. Boffin and they in turn take Bella into their own home. They hire a secretive young man, John Rokesmith, to be Mr. Boffin’s secretary – but what is this man’s real identity and what is his interest in Bella?Trade ReviewI find it irresistible: the autumn evening closing in, the crazy little boat afloat on the filthy Thames, the strong young woman plying the oars and a ragged, grizzled man, her father, busying himself with something towed in the water behind them. You are some way into the narrative before it dawns on you that it is a drowned body. -- Shirley Hughes * Independent *Dickens's last completed novel is a marvel of play-acting and posturing, of taking on roles through delusion, calculation and ambition -- Philip Hensher * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA major TV series starring Olivia Cooke, Simon Russell Beale and Micheal Palin.Brilliant anti-heroine Becky Sharp will do anything to climb to society’s loftiest heights and couldn’t be more different from her rich, sweet-natured schoolmate, Amelia Sedley. Their parallel lives are marked by love, lust, marriage, fortune and loss, in all their different guises, as they navigate the corrupt circus of upper-class Regency England. Hailed as a literary masterpiece upon first publication, William Makepeace Thackeray’s Vanity Fair has never waned in popularity and remains a highly entertaining satire of early nineteenth-century high society. This gorgeous edition includes an afterword by the prizewinning author and critic, Henry Hitchings. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector’s Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector’s Library are books to love and treasure.

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Book SynopsisDuring a season of unprecedented success, Gary becomes increasingly fixated on the threat of nuclear war. Both frightened and fascinated by the prospect, he listens to his team-mates discussing match tactics in much the same terms as generals might contemplate global conflict. But as the terminologies of football and nuclear war – the language of end zones – become interchanged, the polysemous nature of words emerges, and DeLillo forces us to see beyond the sterile reality of substitution.This clever and playful novel is a timeless and topical study of human beings' obsession with conflict and confrontation.Part of the Picador Collection, a series showcasing the best of modern literature.Trade ReviewAmerica's greatest living writer. * Observer *Nobody, it seems, could write better than this. No one could have a clearer vision of the micro-circuitry of post-modern life. * Evening Standard *Powerfully funny, oblique, testy, and playful, tearing along in dazzling cinematic spurts . . . A masterful novel. * Washington Post *

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Book Synopsis''Are you there, Satan? It''s me, Madison''Meet Madison, whip-tongued daughter of a narcissistic film star and a billionaire, abandoned at a Swiss boarding school over Christmas while her parents are off adopting more orphans. Madison dies of a marijuana overdose and awakes to find herself in Hell, sharing her cell with a motley crew of young sinners that''s almost too good to be true. Welcome to the afterlife as only Palahniuk could imagine it - he makes eternal torment, well, simply divine.Trade ReviewThe Lovely Bones meets The Shawshank Redemption via Judy Blume. Expect to be appalled * Vogue *True to Palahniuk form, Damned is gross in parts, scandalous in others and funny throughout * Time Out *Gleefully riffing on Judy Blume's 1970 coming-of-age classic Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, Palahniuk's dead heroine must traverse the infernal landscape in search of Satan - and of her true self - as she tries to discover exactly how she died * Financial Times *Vintage chuck - as dark as it gets * Dazed *The vistas of his underworld are engrossing * Metro *

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR NETFLIX SERIESA dissection of greed-obsessed America a decade after The Bonfire of the Vanities and on the cusp of the millennium, from the master chronicler of American culture Tom WolfeCharlie Croker, once a fabled college football star, is now a late-middle-aged Atlanta real estate entrepreneur-turned conglomerate king. His expansionist ambitions and outsize ego have at last hit up against reality. Charlie has a 28,000 acre quail shooting plantation, a young and demanding second wife and a half-empty downtown tower with a staggering load of debt. Wolfe shows us contemporary America with all the verve, wit, and insight that have made him our most admired novelist.Enthralling enough even to satisfy The Bonfire of the Vanities devotees...humane and redemptive' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewA hugely enjoyable and impressive read, 800-odd pages of splendid plot, terrific characterization and astounding detail... Dickens would have approved -- Harry Ritchie * The Times Books of the Year *Enthralling enough even to satisfy The Bonfire of the Vanities devotees...humane and redemptive -- Ruth Rendell * Sunday Times Books of the Year *Fiercely and instantly addictive...this book will be a good friend to you -- Martin Amis * Guardian *Powerful... Beautiful... As funny as anything Wolfe has ever written; at the same time it is also deeply, strangely affecting * New York Times Book Review *A masterpiece...the difference between seeing the world in slices and seeing it in full -- Andrew Ferguson * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe Satyricon is one of the most outrageous and strikingly modern works to have survived from the ancient world. Most likely written by an advisor of Nero, it recounts the adventures of Encolpius and his companions as they travel around Italy, encountering courtesans, priestesses, con men, brothel-keepers, pompous professors and, above all, Trimalchio, the nouveau riche millionaire whose debauched feasting and pretentious vulgarity make him one of the great comic characters in literature. Estimated to date from 63 - 65 AD, and only surviving in fragments, The Satyricon nevertheless offers an unmatched satirical portrait of the age of Nero, in all its excesses and chaos.Trade Review"This version by a translator who understands the high art of low humor is conspicuously funny." —Time"William Arrowsmith's translation of The Satyricon meets the two fundamental requirements of the translator's art: perfect fidelity to the original and a vitality of style that tempts the reader to believe that the English version is not a translation.… A classic of literature." —Allen Tate"Arrowsmith's brilliant translation … at one stroke renders every other version obsolete." —London Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisEndlessly digressive, boundlessly imaginative and unmatched in its absurd and timeless witLaurence Sterne's great masterpiece of bawdy humour and rich satire defies any attempt to categorize it, with a rich metafictional narrative that might classify it as the first 'postmodern' novel. Part novel, part digression, its gloriously disordered narrative interweaves the birth and life of the unfortunate 'hero' Tristram Shandy, the eccentric philosophy of his father Walter, the amours and military obsessions of Uncle Toby, and a host of other characters, including Dr Slop, Corporal Trim and the parson Yorick. A joyful celebration of the endless possibilities of the art of fiction, Tristram Shandy is also a wry demonstration of its limitations. The text and notes of this volume are based on the acclaimed Florida Edition, with a critical introduction by Melvyn New and Christopher Ricks's introductory essay from the first Penguin Classics edition. For more than sev

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Book Synopsis''L-d! said my mother, what is all this story about? - A COCK and a BULL, said Yorick - And one of the best of its kind, I ever heard''One of the greatest novels ever written, now in a wonderful new clothbound edition Laurence Sterne''s great masterpiece of bawdy humour and rich satire defies any attempt to categorize it, with a rich metafictional narrative that might classify it as the first ''postmodern'' novel. Part novel, part digression, its gloriously disordered narrative interweaves the birth and life of the unfortunate ''hero'' Tristram Shandy, the eccentric philosophy of his father Walter, the amours and military obsessions of Uncle Toby, and a host of other characters, including Dr Slop, Corporal Trim and the parson Yorick. A joyful celebration of the endless possibilities of the art of fiction, Tristram Shandy is also a wry demonstration of its limitations.The text and notes of this volume are based on the acclaimed Florida E

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Book SynopsisToo little or too much company can be stressful. By discovering all about Mindfulness, you can get away from it all by hiding out in the comfort of your own head . . .''Valentine became a Buddhist because he was interested in dharma.Dharma is a word for cosmic law and order.Valentine is sad. He thought dharma was a type of curry.''__________''Alison has been staring at this beautiful tree for five hours.She was meant to be in the office. Tomorrow she will be fired.In this way, mindfulness will have solved her work-related stress.''__________This delightful book is the latest in the series of Ladybird books which have been specially planned to help grown-ups with the world about them. The large clear script, the careful choice of words, the frequent repetition and the thoughtful matching of text with pictures all enable grown-ups to think they have taught themselves to cope. Featuring original Ladybird artwork alongside brilliantly funny, brand new text. ''Hilarious'' StylistExplore other essential life companions in the Ladybird Books of The Shed, The Meeting, The New You, and more.

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Book Synopsis'The funniest, most poignant novel of the year' - VogueFor fans of Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang, Disorientation is an uproarious and big-hearted satire – alive with sharp edges, immense warmth, and a cast of unforgettable characters – that asks: who gets to tell our stories? Ingrid Yang is desperate to finish her PhD dissertation on the much-lauded poet Xiao-Wen Chou and never read about ‘Chinese-y’ things again, when she accidentally stumbles upon a strange note in the Chou archives that she thinks may be her ticket out of academic hell.But Ingrid has no idea that the note will lead to an explosive secret, upending her entire life and the lives of those around her. Her clumsy exploits to discover the truth set off a rollercoaster of mishaps and misadventures, from campus protests and over-the-counter drug hallucinations, to book burnings and a movement that stinks of Yellow Peril propaganda. In the aftermath, she’ll have to question everything, from her relationship with her fiancé to the kind of person she dares to be.'The funniest novel I’ve read all year' - Aravind Adiga, author of The White Tiger'Fearless' - Observer'Elaine Hsieh Chou's pen is a scalpel' - Raven Leilani, author of LusterTrade ReviewThe funniest, most poignant novel of the year * Vogue *Funny, fearless . . . acutely inspects the power of the white gaze, academic imperialism, peer rivalry and self-hate * Observer *A rollicking, whip-smart ride through the hallowed halls of academia * Harpers Bazaar *Witty, knowing and funny . . . If Donna Tartt set the bar for the noirish campus novel, Elaine Hsieh Chou is setting a new bar for sharp, sideways takes on academia * Evening Standard *Chou’s pen is a scalpel. Disorientation addresses the private absurdities the soul must endure to get free, from tokenism, the quiet exploitation of well-meaning institutions, and the bondage that is self-imposed. Chou does it with wit and verve, and no one is spared. -- Raven Leilani, author of LusterThe funniest novel I’ve read all year . . . Uproarious . . . packed full of sly truths about race, love, and life in general—all of which you’re going to miss, because you’ll be laughing so hard * Aravind Adiga *Funny and insightful, with plenty to say about art, identity, Orientalism and the politics of academia . . . entertaining, rising to a delightful climax * New York Times Book Review *An irreverent campus satire that skewers white sclerotic academia, creepy Asian fetishists and twee boba tea liberalism . . . Helmed by a memorable screwball protagonist, the novel is both a joyous and sharply-drawn caper -- Cathy Park HongAs the best comedy does, Disorientation manages to highlight uncomfortable truths, capture grey areas and hard lines, and resist sliding into easy binaries of heroes and villains * Vanity Fair *Disorientation does what great comedies and satires are supposed to do: make you laugh while forcing you to ponder the uncomfortable implications of every punchline * Washington Post *Captivating, irresistible, and intensely readable, and what we ultimately come to literature to find . . . a unique, propelling story * Chicago Review of Books *A deeply smart, satirical novel that takes a critical look at racism in academia * Buzzfeed *A multivalent pleasure, a deeply original debut novel that reinvents the campus novel satire as an Asian American literary studies whodunnit . . . Wickedly funny and knowing, Chou’s dagger wit is sure-eyed -- Alexander Chee, author of How to Write an Autobiographical NovelA searing literary satire of campus politics * Entertainment Weekly *A fresh, hilarious and thoughtful satire that'll make you think about cultural identity in a whole new way * Good Housekeeping *Searing satire . . . Chou details her protagonist’s struggles with dry humour and wit * Time *So many stifle-a-strangled-laugh lines . . . A send-up of the polite, cardigan-draped white supremacy of liberal arts colleges * Glamour *

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