True stories of discovery Books

Book Synopsis*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*A GUARDIAN AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARAn astonishing book' James O'BrienA gripping, devastating read' Sunday TimesThe inside story of the UK's response to the pandemic from the Insight investigations unit at The Sunday TimesFailures of State recounts the extraordinary political decisions taken at the heart of Boris Johnson's government during the global pandemic.Fully updated and corroborated by hundreds of sources, this is the insider's account of how the government sleepwalked into disaster and tried to cover up its role in the tragedy. Thrillingly told, it exposes one of the most scandalous failures of political leadership in British history.A damning indictment' Alan Johnson, ObserverA devastating piece of journalism' Andrew MarrThis is a scandal' Piers MorganTrade Review‘An astonishing book that you absolutely have to buy … the nearest we’ll get to an inquiry.’ James O’Brien ‘Failures of State is a Christmas-at-Argos sized catalogue of the government’s errors, page after page filled with its mistakes, misjudgments and even its possibly actionable crimes.’ Jonathan Freedland, Guardian ‘This book is superb. Painful but necessary reading.’ Rachel Clarke ‘A masterpiece. This is one of the most important books of our time.’ Owen Jones ‘A brilliantly presented indictment of the UK’s fumbling attempt to meet the Covid challenge.’ Kazuo Ishiguro, Guardian ‘Failures of State is a gripping, devastating read. It’s a piece of first-class investigative journalism… this is a work of history. It’s witness. It’s also a kind of catharsis.’ Christina Patterson, Sunday Times ‘Incredibly reported and wildly damning … It is impossible to read Failures of State, the frequently jaw-dropping book by Sunday Times journalists Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott, and not conclude that the British people deserved far, far better from the government’ Marina Hyde, Guardian ‘A frightening and detailed account of the failures of the last 12 months. Some of the revelations are sickening and shocking.’ Armando Iannucci, satirist and writer ‘A damning indictment’ Alan Johnson, Observer ‘Superb journalism … a truly remarkable book.’ Professor Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health ‘Buy it and read it so you’re never tempted to forget’ John Crace, Guardian journalist ‘A devastating new account of Year Covid exposes the Prime Minister’s utter failure to meet the nation’s greatest health crisis for a century.’ Paul Routledge, Daily Mirror ‘I cannot recommend this book enough’ David Schneider, comedian and writer

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Book SynopsisI went for a walk around the garden. A great tit warbled above a patch of coltsfoot. I felt a thousand discoveries awaited''Notes from a Summer Cottage by Nina Burton is a beautifully written nature memoir about the time spent renovating a cottage in the Swedish countryside, and all the species that she encountered her during her stay.Did you know that there are more ants altogether than the number of seconds that have passed since the Big Bang? And that in relation to their size, their anthill cities can be larger than London and New York? Or, that a bird's migratory instinct is so strong that an injured stork once escaped captivity and was found six weeks later having walked 150 kilometres, following the migratory path of his flock on foot? What begins with a renovation of a an old summer cottage swiftly turns into an exploration of nature, life and philosophy, in which Nina Burton reveals the inner lives and hitherto unknown habits of the animals with which she shares.Within the wal

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Book SynopsisThe true, eye-opening account of how the NHS has been failed and what we can do to save it.The NHS is an institution. But it's also a political football, kicked back and forth between politicians for the past 75 years. It's a burden to some and a potent vote-winner for others. It's a construct, framed in the media. It's a set of ideas and a logo. It's a workplace for many and the birthplace of almost all of us. It's become a valued part of our society, it is extraordinarily special and it's being destroyed.' The NHS is at crisis point. In the 75 years since it was founded on the dream of making healthcare accessible to everyone, its principles have been chipped away at and disregarded by successive political leaders. The result: an underfunded, understaffed, exhausted workforce, a decimation of patient services and the infiltration of privatisation within our public healthcare system. We are now in danger of losing what we have come to depend upon: the NHS is collapsing and a two-tierTrade Review‘Brilliant. Everyone who cares about the NHS should read this brilliant book’ – Peter Stefanovic ‘If you’re a campaigner for the NHS, this new book, Critical, is a must-read. And if you’re not a campaigner for the NHS, this new book, Critical, is a must-read. Be informed; be angry; fight.’ – Dominic Minghella ‘A fantastic read for anyone interested in what’s happening to our NHS’ – Jemma Forte ‘Recommended reading. Angry but not shouty, terrifically researched and written’ – Russ Jones ‘An incredibly important book about the demise of our NHS and what we must do to reverse the damage that’s being done to it. A sobering and important read. I can highly recommend it’ – Kit Yates ‘Exceptional … a must read’ – Grace Blakeley ‘Critical is a superb, concise, yet informative and passionate piece of work. It neatly outlines just why politicians and successive governments have vandalised and decimated our NHS. However, more importantly, it shows the reader that there is another way – and that there is also something still left to fight for.’ Canary ‘Julia Grace Patterson has written a book reminding us just why we need a well-funded, state-run NHS of the sort neither major political party in the UK now supports. She's right.’ Richard Murphy

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARDMussolini was not only ruthless: he was subtle and manipulative. Black-shirted thugs did his dirty work for him: arson, murder, destruction of homes and offices, bribes and intimidation. His opponents including editors, union representatives, lawyers and judges were beaten into submission. But the tide turned in 1924 when his assassins went too far, horror spread across Italy, and antifascist resistance was born. Among those whose disgust hardened into bold and uncompromising resistance was a family from Florence: Amelia, Carlo and Nello Rosselli. Caroline Moorehead draws readers into the lives of this remarkable family their loves, their loyalties, their laughter and their ultimate sacrifice.Trade ReviewA gripping tale of intrigue… I was enormously moved * Observer *Expertly alternating vivid domestic detail with lucid exposition of the gradual evolution of totalitarianism… It feels like the book she was born to write -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * Guardian *The creepy description by the author of the naivety of the good and the seductive powers of the bad touches a nerve. A Bold and Dangerous Family is a haunting reminder of the fragility of liberty and the dangers of complaisance -- Leanda De Lisle * The Times *Moorehead’s book, written with sensitivity, erudition and balance, is a fine tribute to the Rosselli family * Financial Times *Much has been written about life under fascist rule… But the study of a nation can never be as emotionally compelling as the study of a family… Expertly alternating vivid domestic detail with lucid exposition of the gradual evolution of totalitarianism, Caroline Moorehead allows her readers not only to know, but also to feel, how it was to endure fascist oppression… A prolific author who has always combined seriousness of purpose with a warm, human touch, she is drawn to good-hearted troublemakers… A Bold and Dangerous Family is animated by the evident admiration and affection she feels for her subjects. It feels like the book she was born to write -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisWe are an astonishing species. Over the past millennium of plagues and exploration, revolution and scientific discovery, woman's rights and technological advances, human society has changed beyond recognition.Sweeping through the last thousand years of human development, Human Race is a treasure chest of the lunar leaps and lightbulb moments that, for better or worse, have sent humanity swerving down a path that no one could ever have predicted.But which of the last ten centuries saw the greatest changes in human history?History's greatest tour guide, Ian Mortimer, knows what answer he would give. But what's yours?Trade ReviewMortimer is an entertaining guide on this superb time-travel journey of human innovations -- Julia Richardson * Daily Mail *An ambitious study of the last millennium * Evening Standard *An excellent romp through the past millennium of British (and particularly English) history… Highly entertaining, well written and packed with lively characters and surprising facts. -- Ian Morris * BBC History Magazine *I loved this book... It will enable you to understand your past, your place in it and that of your ancestors as never before. A modern classic -- FIVE STARS, James Delingpole * Mail on Sunday *Provocative and enjoyable... Almost every page of this engaging book sets your mind racing -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis'The Admiral was quite certain that they were near land ... He promised to give a silk doublet to the first sailor who should report it'No gamble in history has been more momentous than the landfall of Columbus's ship the Santa Maria in the Americas in 1492 - an event that paved the way for the conquest of a 'New World'. The accounts collected here provide a vivid narrative of his voyages throughout the Caribbean and finally to the mainland of Central America, although he still believed he had reached Asia. Columbus himself is revealed as a fascinating and contradictory figure, fluctuating from awed enthusiasm to paranoia and eccentric geographical speculation. Prey to petty quarrels with his officers, his pious desire to bring Christian civilization to 'savages' matched by his rapacity for gold, Columbus was nonetheless an explorer and seaman of staggering vision and achievement.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literTable of ContentsIntroductionFIRST VOYAGE: 1492–3General and Natural History of the Indies by Captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo, Bk. II, Chaps. 2–4Digest of Columbus's Log-Book on his First Voyage Made by Bartolome de las CasasThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 27–42Letter of Columbus to Various Persons Describing the Results of His First Voyage and Written on the Return JourneySECOND VOYAGE: 1493–6The Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chap. 43The Letter Written by Dr Chanca to the City of SevilleThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 51–64THIRD VOYAGE: 1498–1500The Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chap. 65Narrative of the Third Voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Indies, in which He Discovered the Mainland, Dispatched to the Sovereigns from the Island of HispaniolaThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 73–80 and 82–6Letter Sent by the Admiral of the Indies to the Governess of Don Juan of Castile in the year 1500, in which He Was Brought from the Indies a PrisonerThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 86 (cont.)–87FOURTH VOYAGE: 1502–4Letter Written by Christopher Columbus, Viceroy and Admiral of the Indies, to the Most Christian and Mighty King and Queen of Spain, Our SovereignsAccount by Diego Mendez of Certain Incidents on Christopher Columbus's Last VoyageThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chap. 108LIST OF MAPSThe Four VoyagesThe First VoyageThe Second Voyage (First Map)The Second Voyage (Second Map)The Third VoyageThe Fourth Voyage

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Book SynopsisA sparkling new translation of one of the greatest travel books ever written: Marco Polo''s seminal account of his journeys in the east, in a collectible clothbound edition. Marco Polo was the most famous traveller of his time. His voyages began in 1271 with a visit to China, after which he served the Kublai Khan on numerous diplomatic missions. On his return to the West he was made a prisoner of war and met Rustichello of Pisa, with whom he collaborated on this book. His account of his travels offers a fascinating glimpse of what he encountered abroad: unfamiliar religions, customs and societies; the spices and silks of the East; the precious gems, exotic vegetation and wild beasts of faraway lands. Evoking a remote and long-vanished world with colour and immediacy, Marco''s book revolutionized western ideas about the then unknown East and is still one of the greatest travel accounts of all time.For this edition - the first completely new English translation of the Travels in over fifty years - Nigel Cliff has gone back to the original manuscript sources to produce a fresh, authoritative new version. The volume also contains invaluable editorial materials, including an introduction describing the world as it stood on the eve of Polo''s departure, and examining the fantastical notions the West had developed of the East.Marco Polo was born in 1254, joining his father on a journey to China in 1271. He spent the next twenty years travelling in the service of Kublai Khan. There is evidence that Marco travelled extensively in the Mongol Empire and it is fairly certain he visited India. He wrote his famous Travels whilst a prisoner in Genoa.Nigel Cliff was previously a theatre and film critic for The Times and a regular writer for The Economist, among other publications, and now writes historical nonfiction books. His first book, The Shakespeare Riots, was published in 2007 and shortlisted for the Washington-based National Award for Arts Writing. His second book, The Last Crusade: Vasco da Gama and the Birth of the Modern World appeared in 2011 and was shortlisted for the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize.Trade ReviewFew books can truly be said to have changed the world; for all its naysayers, Marco Polo's Travels is one of them -- Nigel Cliff

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Book SynopsisThe Interesting Narrative is a first-hand account of the horrors of slavery, published on the eve of the British abolition debate in 1789. The most important African autobiography of the 18th century, it recounts Equiano's adventures on land and sea. This edition's introduction surveys recent debates about Equiano's birthplace and identity.Trade ReviewThe appetite for Equiano and his memoir shows no signs of abating, as this new edition shows. * James Walvin, The Times *The book adds to the body of knowledge about a great man, Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Students now have a wider chose of resources as they study his complex but interesting life. * Arthur Torrington, The Equiano Society *This book will change our assumptions about slavery and affect, and also change our sense of what works can be connected to this vast enterprise. It makes for what is sometimes surprising reading, but it also makes so much sense that the century will never again look quite the same as it did before this book. * George E. Haggerty, SEL Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 *This edition of Equiano's The Interesting Narrative, paired with Carey's introduction and explanatory materials, provides a text that is meaningful across educational levels and backgrounds. It should help to ensure that Equiano's text, with its relevance to multiple disciplines and areas of inquiry, does not again disappear from our awareness. * International Journal of African Historical Studies *

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION'One of the mysteries I've long been fascinated by, and I am so grateful that Ravi Somaiya has cracked it open so brilliantly' David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower MoonA PLANE CRASH IN THE JUNGLE. A LEGENDARY STATESMAN DEAD. A TRAGIC ACCIDENT... OR THE ULTIMATE CONSPIRACY?For nearly sixty years, the circumstances surrounding the death of renowned diplomat Dag Hammarskjoeld have remained one of the Cold War's most tightly guarded secrets. Now, with exclusive evidence, investigative journalist Ravi Somaiya finally uncovers the truth. In 1961 the Congo was in crisis, fragmented and at war with itself. The streets of Leopoldville, the capital, were crawling with CIA operatives, MI6 agents and Soviet infiltrators. Belgian colonialists, Rhodesian white supremacists and corporate mercenaries massed in the south of the country. The chaos conspired to make it one of the most dangerous places on earth. UN Secretary General Dag Ha

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Book Synopsis''A roaring tale ... remains as vivid and exciting today as it was on publication in 1697'' GuardianThe pirate and adventurer William Dampier circumnavigated the globe three times, and took notes wherever he went. This is his frank, vivid account of his buccaneering sea voyages around the world, from the Caribbean to the Pacific and East Indies. Filled with accounts of raids, escapes, wrecks and storms, it also contains precise observations of people, places, animals and food (including the first English accounts of guacamole, mango chutney and chopsticks). A bestseller on publication, this unique record of the colonial age influenced Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver''s Travels and consequently the whole of English literature.Edited with an Introduction by Nicholas Thomas

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Book Synopsis''Thrilling, inspiring and informative page-turner.'' Walter Isaacson, author of The Code BreakerYou know what went wrong.This is the untold story of what went right.Few were ready when a mysterious respiratory illness emerged in Wuhan, China, in January 2020. Politicians, government officials, business leaders and public-health professionals were unprepared for the most devastating pandemic in a century. Many of the world''s biggest drug and vaccine makers were slow to react or couldn''t muster an effective response.It was up to a small group of unlikely and untested scientists and executives to save civilization. A French businessman dismissed by many as a fabulist. A Turkish immigrant with little virus experience. A quirky Midwesterner obsessed with insect cells. A Boston scientist employing questionable techniques. A British scientist resented by his peers. Far from the limelight, each had spent years developing innovatTrade ReviewThe race to develop a COVID vaccine is one of the most exciting dramas in medical history, and A Shot to Save the World is a thrilling account based on great reporting and access to all of the teams. An inspiring and informative page-turner. * Walter Isaacson, author of The Code Breaker *An appropriately breathless account of the business and scientific rivalries between researchers and companies behind the successful coronavirus vaccines. Zuckerman shows how a global catastrophe transformed the fortunes of tiny, visionary ventures, and huge pharmaceutical enterprises, as they raced to stem the pandemic's spread. -- Andrew Hill * Financial Times *Zuckerman conveys decades of complex scientific research in a gripping fashion. His focus on the slow burn of discovery makes for a fascinating angle and offers plenty of inspiration. The result is tough to put down. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary tale of Oskar Schindler, the Aryan who saved hundreds of Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland, is now legendary, but as Tom Keneally reveals in this absorbing memoir, luck and the dogged persistence of one of ''Schindler''s Jews'' were vital in bringing it to the world''s attention through his Booker Prize-winning novel, SCHINDLER''S ARK and the subsequent film, SCHINDLER''S LIST.Entertaining, inspiring and filled with anecdotes about the many people involved, from the survivors Keneally interviewed to Steven Spielberg and Liam Neeson, Searching for Schindler gives a revealing insight into a writer''s mind and the creation of a modern classic. It also traces what happened in the decades after the war to Schindler, his wife, and the people they rescued - including Leopold Pfefferberg, who made it his mission to repay his priceless debt to Schindler. Above all, it sheds renewed light on a fascinatingly flawed man, and an instance of exceptional humanity amid the Trade ReviewHad I read SEARCHING FOR SCHINDLER before making the film, I may have made it an hour longer. I owe you so much. The world owes you more. * Steven Spielberg *Keneally is incapable of writing a dull book. This memoir, listed as his 38th publication, is no exception * Andrew Riemer, Sydney Morning Herald *a fascinating absorbing book, replete with anecdote and a quality of writing that continues to mark Keneally out as one of our finest living authors * Herald *

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Book SynopsisFirst published as magazine articles in 1907, Bat Masterson''s illustrated collection of mini-biographies reveals fascinating details about legendary gunslingers Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Luke Short, Bill Tilghman, Ben Thompson, and others. These colorful tales of history and adventure paint a vivid portrait of the Old West, a world of sharpshooters, cattle rustlers, and Dodge City justice.

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Book SynopsisNearly forty thrilling, first-hand accounts by men and women who are the modern heirs of the great explorers of previous ages.Trade Review'Breathtaking' - Adventure Travel MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction: An Alliance with Adventure Polar: Ran Fiennes; Liv Arnesen; Borge Ousland; Pen Hadow; Mikael Strandberg Desert: Michael Asher; Jon Muir; John Hare; Arita Baaijens; Robert Twigger; Bruno Baumann Rainforest: Ghillean Prance; Sydney Possuelo; J. Michael Fay; Wade Davis; Meg Lowman; Martin Holland Mountain: Stephen Venables; Chris Bonington; Rebecca Stephens; Haraldur Sigurdsson; Karen Darke Ocean: Tim Severin; Henk de Velde; Jeff Macinnis; Jon Turk; Jason Lewis River: John Blashford-Snell; Robin Hanbury-Tenison; Lorenzo and Mirella Ricciardi; Wong How Man; Michel Peissel Under Sea, Under Land: George Bass; Andy Eavis; Jean-Francois Pernette Lost Worlds: Mark Norell; Tahir Shah; Franck Goddio; Johan Reinhard

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewDelightfully horrifying. * Popular Science *A delightful romp through a myriad of entertaining, arcane and obscure medical anecdotes. Fascinating and entertaining... a curious window into a vitalistic era of medical practice. -- Adrian Woolfson * Wall Street Journal *A witty account of bizarre medical tales from history. Read it, weep and be very grateful for modern medicine. * Daily Express *Blending fascinating history with cutting wit, surgical historian Thomas Morris mines the medical journals and explores some of the strangest cases that have perplexed doctors across the world. * Big Issue *A Ripley-esque collection of 'compellingly disgusting, hilarious, or downright bizarre' medical oddities... accompanied by the author's witty and often humorous, colloquial commentary. * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisSpring 1958: a mysterious individual believed to be high up in the Polish secret service began passing Soviet secrets to the West. His name was Michal Goleniewski and he remains one of the most important, yet least known and most misunderstood spies of the Cold War. Even his death is shrouded in mystery and he has been written out of the history of Cold War espionage - until now. Tim Tate draws on a wealth of previously-unpublished primary source documents to tell the dramatic true story of the best spy the west ever lost - of how Goleniewski exposed hundreds of KGB agents operating undercover in the West; from George Blake and the ''Portland Spy Ring'', to a senior Swedish Air Force and NATO officer and a traitor inside the Israeli government. The information he produced devastated intelligence services on both sides of the Iron Curtain.Bringing together love and loyalty, courage and treachery, betrayal, greed and, ultimately, insanity, Trade ReviewThe larger than life story of one of the West's most productive Cold War counter-intelligence agents - a man who to the CIA's embarrassment turned out also to be a bigamist and a romancer who claimed publicly to be the last descendent of the Russian Czar and heir to his fortune. A made for Hollywood page turner, it's a fascinating read and highly recommended. -- SIR DAVID OMAND, author of How Spies Think: Ten Lessons in IntelligenceTotally gripping . . . a masterpiece. Tate lifts the lid on one of the most important and complex spies of the Cold War, who passed secrets to the West and finally unmasked traitor George Blake. -- HELEN FRY, author of MI9: A History of the Secret Service for Escape and Evasion in World War TwoA brilliant and gripping exploration of one of the last great espionage enigmas of the twentieth century. Unputdownable. -- TREVOR BARNES, author of Dead DoublesA wonderful and at times mind-boggling account of a bizarre and almost forgotten spy - right up to the time when he's living undercover in Queens, New York and claiming to be the last of the Romanoffs. -- SIMON KUPER, author of The Happy TraitorA highly readable and thoroughly researched account of one of the Cold War's most intriguing and tragic spy stories. -- OWEN MATTHEWS, author of An Impeccable Spy

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Book Synopsis''A practical and positive guide to using tech to change women''s lives for the better'' -Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible Women: exposing data bias in a world designed for men''A powerful and inspiring call to action from one of Britain''s brightest minds''- Yomi Adegoke, award-winning journalist, author of Slay in Your Lane etc.Why are women so under-represented in the tech world?Why does this matter?What can we do about it? A book that asks essential questions and provides long-overdue practical solutions. Perfect for readers of Invisible Women.Why do so many of us - particularly women - feel the tech world is beyond reach? Women are woefully under-represented in tech - they represent roughly a mere quarter of the UK STEM workforce. This means an ever-increasing series of big decisions are made by a small number of people, mainly men.So what are the chalTrade ReviewAn exceptional person. * Guardian *An energetic presence with no-nonsense impact. * Telegraph *A powerful and inspiring call to action from one of Britain's brightest minds - She's In Ctrl asks all the right questions about women in tech and Imafidon sets about providing practical, long overdue solutions. -- Yomi Adegoke, award-winning journalist, author of Slay in Your Lane etc.A practical and positive guide to using tech to change women's lives for the better -- Caroline Criado Perez, author of Invisible Women: exposing data bias in a world designed for menAnne-Marie is one of the UK's brilliant minds and has been at the forefront of tackling the STEM gender gap by demystifying the subject and making it accessible and fun for all, regardless of gender or background. Her's is a voice to be listened to. -- June Sarpong, author of The Power of Women: why gender equality works for everyone

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Book SynopsisIn 1845 Captain Sir John Franklin led a large, well equipped expedition to complete the conquest of the Canadian Arctic, to find the fabled North West Passage connecting the North Atlantic to the North Pacific. Yet Franklin, his ships and his men were fated never to return. The cause of their loss remains a mystery. In Franklin, Andrew Lambert presents a gripping account of the worst catastrophe in the history of British exploration, and the dark tales of cannibalism that surround the fate of those involved.Shocked by the disappearance of all 129 officers and men, and sickened by reports of cannibalism, the Victorians re-created Franklin as the brave Christian hero who laid down his life, and those of his men. Later generations have been more sceptical about Franklin and his supposed selfless devotion to duty. But does either view really explain why this outstanding scientific navigator found his ships trapped in pack ice seventy miles from magnetic north?In 2

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Book Synopsis''You almost feel you are taking that trek with the party as Robert Macklin cites the obstacles - torrential river crossings, dense bush, the Snowy Mountains and more. Macklin covers Hume''s public and private life, emphasising his affinity with the country and rapport with the Indigenous people, as well as providing a portrait of the evolving colony.'' SYDNEY MORNING HERALDThe stirring untold story of a true Australian hero who opened up the nation.While English-born soldiers, sailors and surveyors have claimed pride of place among the explorers of the young New South Wales colony, the real pathfinder was a genuine native-born Australian. Hamilton Hume, a man with a profound understanding of the Aboriginal people and an almost mystical relationship with the Australian bush, led settlers from the cramped surrounds of Sydney Town to the vast fertile country that would provide the wealth to found and sustain a new nation.Robert Macklin, author of the criTrade ReviewTo Come * Canberra Times *This is an enjoyable, enlightening account that should be read by every thinking adult. * MC Reviews *For those who enjoy reading about Australian history, and the making of a nation, I highly recommend Hamilton Hume as an enjoyable and fascinating read. * The Reviewers blog *Our long history of putting a difficult problem out of our sight. * Crickey.com.au *You almost feel you are taking that trek with the party as Robert Macklin cites the obstacles - torrential river crossings, dense bush, the Snowy Mountains and more * Sydney Morning Herald, Newcastle Herald, Burnie Advocate, Western Advocate, Northern Daily Leader, North West Star, Ballarat Courier, Daily Advertiser, Bendigo Advertiser, Launceston Examiner *https://startsat60.com/stories/entertain/books/is-hamilton-hume-australias-greatest-explorer * Starts at 60 *a fine biography, a fitting tribute * Golden Plains Miner *Review * Redland City Bulletin *This book, which is anything but a dry history, brings the first 80 years of this settlement alive * Good Reading *Review * Dubbo Photo News *

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Book SynopsisIn the early hours of 15 April 1912, the Cunard steamship Carpathia receives a distress call from the new White Star liner Titanic. Captain Arthur Rostron immediately turns Carpathia northwest and sails full speed through the dark night, into waters laden with icebergs, on a rescue mission that will become legendary.Almost a century later, Carpathia''s wreck has finally been located. She''s over 500 feet down and only a few divers in the world can attain these depths. Among them is Englishman Ric Waring''s team. In this captivating and intensively researched story, we follow the dual narratives of Rostron and the daring rescue of the Titanic survivors by Carpathia, and of Waring''s team and their dangerous determination to reach the wreck. Rich in history and drama, the true story of Carpathia from her launching to the sensational events of 1912, World War I and beyond is a compelling narrative that moves at the page-turning pace of the very best fiction.Trade ReviewLudowyke's book is captivating and well-researched. * QWeekend *Ludowyke's book is captivating and well-researched. * QWeekend *This book, written and meticulously researched by the Sunshine Coast academic, will be enjoyed by a much wider audience. The reason is Ludowyke's charming way of breathing life into the scenes she writes about and the characters who form the focus of her narrative. * BW Magazine *This book, written and meticulously researched by the Sunshine Coast academic, will be enjoyed by a much wider audience. The reason is Ludowyke's charming way of breathing life into the scenes she writes about and the characters who form the focus of her narrative. * BW Magazine *Review TO COME * WHO Magazine *Review TO COME * QWeekend *This marvellous book recounts the many stories of this forgotten hero of the Titanic disaster. * The Daily Telegraph *a compelling narrative that moves at the page-turning pace of the very best fiction * Mildura Midweek *The dramatic and fascinating story * Law Society Journal *Beyond all the heroism and drama, this is ultimately a parable about a modest vessel which outclasses a superliner when it really counts. * Spectrum *

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Book SynopsisThe book features an appendix including the original Hebrew/Aramaic texts for the reader's reference.Trade ReviewThis book offers the best set of literary readings of Talmudic materials in English, and the best English introduction to the issues such readings entail, that this reviewer has seen. Choice This book goes well beyond the explanation of difficult Talmudic stories. It presents, indeed, an entirely innovative theory. Rubenstein's argument is not only important, but also, I think, persuasive. This book should not be allowed to go unnoticed: in a well-trodden field like Talmudic studies one rarely gets the feeling that a major breakthrough has been achieved. -- Sacha Stern Journal of Jewish Studies Rubenstein has produced a fascinating volume... Anyone who reads this book will find important new insights. -- Gary G. Porton Shofar This is a mature work, in which the author invested much labor and thought. The thoroughness, methodical diversity, and scholarly discretion can serve as a model of the demanding standards that are to be expected from serious research into rabbinic literature. -- Eliezer Segal Journal of the American Academy of Religion It analyzes several notable rabbinic stories in a fresh and detailed manner. -- Carol Bakhos Journal of Biblical Literature A distinctive and nuanced analysis of six narratives from the Babylonian Talmud... I would recommend this excellent book to Rubenstein's intended audience as well as anyone who is interested in the literary analysis of religious narratives... Rubenstein's analyses are careful and thorough, and he argues his points well. In addition, Talmudic Stories opens up a host of new challenges. -- Jonathan Schofer Hebrew Studies This work establishes Rubenstein as the leading scholar of narrative in the Babylonian Talmud. -- Marc Bregman Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsContents: Introduction *Torah, Shame, and "The Oven of Akhnai" (Bava Mesia 59a-59b) * Elisha ben Abuya: Torah and the Sinful Sage (Hagiga 15a-15b) * Torah and the Mundane Life: The Education of R. Shimon bar Yohai (Shabbat 33b-34a) * Rabbinic Authority and the Destruction of Jerusalem (Gittin 55b-56b) * Torah, Lineage, and the Academic Hierarchy (Horayot 13b-14a) * Torah, Gentiles, and Eschatology (Avoda Zara 2a-3b) * Conclusion

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Book SynopsisJournalist Susan Casey joins a strange band of surfer-scientists on a remote island off the California coast for some close encounters with the jaws of the world's most mysterious and fearsome predators in the New York Times bestseller, The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Obsession and Survival Among America's Great White Sharks. Susan Casey was in her living room when she first saw the great white sharks of the Farallon Islands, their dark fins swirling around a small motorboat in a documentary. These sharks were the alphas among alphas, some longer than twenty feet, and there were too many to count; even more incredible, this congregation was taking place just twenty-seven miles off the coast of San Francisco.In a matter of months, Casey was being hoisted out of the early-winter swells on a crane, up a cliff face to the barren surface of Southeast Farallon Island-dubbed by sailors in the 1850s the devil''s teeth. There she joined Scot Anderson

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Book SynopsisThe seven chapters in this second of two volumes contain biographies of Irish women who were at the cutting edge of the aeronautical revolution that swept these islands in the early twentieth century. Their stories are told against the backdrop of Irish economic, social and political life. Some enjoyed a lavish and aristocratic lifestyle, while for others it was a struggle.Adelaide Pollock married into the wealthy Belfast Cleaver family. In 1929 she bought her own open-cockpit aircraft and undertook a return journey to India. This was followed by a transcontinental flight from New York to California.Galway born Shamrock Trench earned the distinction of becoming the first woman to earn an Aviator''s Certificate in the newly established Irish Free State.Cathleen Bryan hailed from County Wexford and operated a flying school and commercial aviation business in north County Dublin. She gave aeronautical experience to many and thus brought aviation to hundreds of Iris

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Book SynopsisDiscover why Britain''s remaining marginally wild equine herda are facing extinction in their semi-natural habitats, and how we might protect them.Explore informally, during rendezvous with expects, inspiring facets of a landscape partially shaped by the ancestors of Britain''s modern-day native houyhnhnms.

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Book SynopsisThe Ship Beneath the Ice is the extraordinary story of how the world’s most famous shipwreck was found, told by the search's Director of Exploration.Trade ReviewAs thrilling as any tale from the heroic age of exploration . . . Bound’s account is a triumph. The storytelling is piano-wire taut, the writing saturated with polar moodiness * Sunday Times *Bound has a natural flair for storytelling and his narrative cracks along with the pace of a well-crafted thriller . . . Captivating and engrossing -- Mail on SundayThe story of Shackleton’s Endurance is one of the most extraordinary in the history of exploration. This is more than just an astonishing sequel. It is a tale just as powerful, and one which redefines the meaning of impossible -- Sir Michael PalinGloriously written . . . Written with the verve of a thriller, Bound's narrative deftly weaves together his voyages and Shackleton's . . . Bound is blessed with a poet's ear for richly evocative language -- Times Literary SupplementThe juxtaposition of the original Shackleton expedition with the quest to find the wreck of the Endurance is utterly compelling -- Professor Alice Roberts, Sunday Times bestseller author of Ancestors and TV PresenterUtterly spellbinding and a rollercoaster of a story. This gripping tale of international collaboration at its best oozes the steely resolve of a modern explorer and is a massive accolade to all involved in bringing the Endurance back into our lives -- Pippa Wordie, granddaughter of James Wordie, the geologist and chief scientist on the EnduranceAn enthralling tale of an extraordinary venture which brings Shackleton’s epic story bang up to the present day -- Camilla Nichol, Chief Executive, UK Antarctic Heritage TrustBound's passion . . . for the most unexplored geography on Earth is evident on every page. His writing blends the required scientific explanations with what touches on poetry . . . Captivating * Daily Mail *Mensun Bound tells [his] story with passion and flair . . . Evocative * Washington Post *An acclaimed book -- ObserverRemarkable . . . Bound’s account has a bittersweet intensity -- The Australian

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Book SynopsisThe Cato Street Conspiracy was the most sensational of all plots aimed at the British state since the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This book tells this dramatic but neglected story with cinematic vividness, episodic range, and a tragic denouement that undermines our romantic fantasies about Regency England.Trade Review'In his gripping new book, Vic Gatrell rescues the Cato Street conspirators from “the enormous condescension of posterity”, and reconstructs in enthralling detail the world of low taverns, debtors' prisons and radical extremism from which they came. This is a brilliantly written masterpiece that triumphantly succeeds in restoring humanity and dignity to its subjects.' Richard J. Evans, author of The Pursuit of Power: Europe, 1815–1914'Conspiracy on Cato Street explores in gripping detail the plot of February 1820 to assassinate the whole cabinet and start a revolution the year after the Peterloo massacre. Gatrell sympathises as much as possible with the desperation the doomed plotters felt that drove them to such a decision. The plot was the most murderous for over two centuries - since the gunpowder plot - and here finds its perfect historian.' Andrew Roberts, Books of the Year, BBC History Magazine'A finely researched account' Best 50 Books of 2022, Daily Telegraph'Enriched by Gatrell's observation that “the inequalities and deprivations that moved the conspirators, and the privileged interests and powers that contained them, still operate,” this is a fine-grained study of political extremism in action.' Publishers Weekly'Gatrell's intense study of the men's lives - and what brought them to believe that violently overthrowing the government could solve their problems - is forensic and vivid in its detail.' Stephen Bates, BBC History Magazine'This is micro-history at its richest and its most penetrating. More than giving us a social history in a few lives, Gatrell has told us a human story with the depth of a novel.' D. H. Robinson, The Critic'an engrossing study.' Kathryn Hughes, Sunday Times'a panoramic and thrilling study of an overlooked part of British history.' Catherine Ostler, Daily Telegraph'Gatrell asks all the right questions of his subject, and his answers are sound and illuminating.' David Keymer, Library Journal [starred review]'Terrific … the richest account of the Cato Street conspiracy ever written.' Marcus Nevitt, The Spectator'Gatrell writes passionately as a radical historian championing the underdog and castigating inequality.' William Anthony Hay, The Wall Street Journal'… (a) gripping account.' History Today'There is no better guide to metropolitan high and low life than Gatrell … [In] an enthralling classic of London history, [he] eschews what he sees as the stifling pieties of labour history in favour of individual character and lived detail, professing a Dickensian empathy for the 'muddled attitudes, slogans and resentments' of ordinary Londoners … Cato Street is underdog history at its purest.' Robert Poole, Times Literary Supplement'Vic Gatrell tells this sorry story with zest and sympathy … Conspiracy on Cato Street follows the trail of his Hanging Tree (1994), City of Laughter (2006) and The First Bohemians (2013) in its capturing of Regency London in all its gaiety, violence, sexual sprawl and, above all, searing poverty. His trigger finger trembles with passion as he takes aim at the romantic curricles-and-crinolines view of the period … Gatrell says at the beginning of his salutary and often startling account that 'a book of this kind cannot help speaking to the present.' Ferdinand Mount, London Review of Books'Vic Gatrell is that rarest of people; an academic historian steeped in the archives who can write the most beautiful prose. Conspiracy on Cato Street brings his trademark erudition and style to bear … [in this] wonderful book.' Jason McElligott, Irish TimesTable of ContentsPart I. The simple tale: 1. The Cato Street conspiracy: what happened; 2. Arrests and reactions; Part II. Taking its measure: 3. Interpreting the conspiracy; 4. What they were up against; 5. What they believed; 6. Fantasy, myth, and song; 7. Rebellion's habitats; Part III. Thistlewood: his story: 8. A terrorist in the making: 1774-1816; 9. The Spa Fields insurrection: 1816-17; 10. Thistlewood unhinged: 1818-19; 11. Peterloo in London: 1819-20; 12. Edwards the spy: 1819-20; Part IV. Ordinary Britons: 13. Conspirators and others; 14. Wives, marriages, children; 15. Men of colour: Wedderburn and Davidson; Part V. Executions: 16. Trials and verdicts; 17. May Day at Newgate; 18. Epilogue: Géricault goes to Cato Street; Historiographical note; The trial reports.

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Book SynopsisThe Cato Street Conspiracy was the most sensational of all plots aimed at the British state since the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This book tells this dramatic but neglected story with cinematic vividness, episodic range, and a tragic denouement that undermines our romantic fantasies about Regency England.Trade Review'In his gripping new book, Vic Gatrell rescues the Cato Street conspirators from “the enormous condescension of posterity”, and reconstructs in enthralling detail the world of low taverns, debtors' prisons and radical extremism from which they came. This is a brilliantly written masterpiece that triumphantly succeeds in restoring humanity and dignity to its subjects.' Richard J. Evans, author of The Pursuit of Power: Europe, 1815–1914'Conspiracy on Cato Street explores in gripping detail the plot of February 1820 to assassinate the whole cabinet and start a revolution the year after the Peterloo massacre. Gatrell sympathises as much as possible with the desperation the doomed plotters felt that drove them to such a decision. The plot was the most murderous for over two centuries - since the gunpowder plot - and here finds its perfect historian.' Andrew Roberts, Books of the Year, BBC History Magazine'A finely researched account' Best 50 Books of 2022, Daily Telegraph'Enriched by Gatrell's observation that “the inequalities and deprivations that moved the conspirators, and the privileged interests and powers that contained them, still operate,” this is a fine-grained study of political extremism in action.' Publishers Weekly'Gatrell's intense study of the men's lives - and what brought them to believe that violently overthrowing the government could solve their problems - is forensic and vivid in its detail.' Stephen Bates, BBC History Magazine'This is micro-history at its richest and its most penetrating. More than giving us a social history in a few lives, Gatrell has told us a human story with the depth of a novel.' D. H. Robinson, The Critic'an engrossing study.' Kathryn Hughes, Sunday Times'a panoramic and thrilling study of an overlooked part of British history.' Catherine Ostler, Daily Telegraph'Gatrell asks all the right questions of his subject, and his answers are sound and illuminating.' David Keymer, Library Journal [starred review]'Terrific … the richest account of the Cato Street conspiracy ever written.' Marcus Nevitt, The Spectator'Gatrell writes passionately as a radical historian championing the underdog and castigating inequality.' William Anthony Hay, The Wall Street Journal'… (a) gripping account.' History Today'There is no better guide to metropolitan high and low life than Gatrell … [In] an enthralling classic of London history, [he] eschews what he sees as the stifling pieties of labour history in favour of individual character and lived detail, professing a Dickensian empathy for the 'muddled attitudes, slogans and resentments' of ordinary Londoners … Cato Street is underdog history at its purest.' Robert Poole, Times Literary Supplement'Vic Gatrell tells this sorry story with zest and sympathy … Conspiracy on Cato Street follows the trail of his Hanging Tree (1994), City of Laughter (2006) and The First Bohemians (2013) in its capturing of Regency London in all its gaiety, violence, sexual sprawl and, above all, searing poverty. His trigger finger trembles with passion as he takes aim at the romantic curricles-and-crinolines view of the period … Gatrell says at the beginning of his salutary and often startling account that 'a book of this kind cannot help speaking to the present.' Ferdinand Mount, London Review of Books'Vic Gatrell is that rarest of people; an academic historian steeped in the archives who can write the most beautiful prose. Conspiracy on Cato Street brings his trademark erudition and style to bear … [in this] wonderful book.' Jason McElligott, Irish TimesTable of ContentsPart I. The simple tale: 1. The Cato Street conspiracy: what happened; 2. Arrests and reactions; Part II. Taking its measure: 3. Interpreting the conspiracy; 4. What they were up against; 5. What they believed; 6. Fantasy, myth, and song; 7. Rebellion's habitats; Part III. Thistlewood: his story: 8. A terrorist in the making: 1774-1816; 9. The Spa Fields insurrection: 1816-17; 10. Thistlewood unhinged: 1818-19; 11. Peterloo in London: 1819-20; 12. Edwards the spy: 1819-20; Part IV. Ordinary Britons: 13. Conspirators and others; 14. Wives, marriages, children; 15. Men of colour: Wedderburn and Davidson; Part V. Executions: 16. Trials and verdicts; 17. May Day at Newgate; 18. Epilogue: Géricault goes to Cato Street; Historiographical note; The trial reports.

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Book SynopsisThe recent discovery and filming of Frankin's HMS 'Terror' has brought the tragic story of the expedition into the international spotlight. The only man who knows the true narrative is Ernest Coleman.

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Book SynopsisNew in paperback - The recent discovery and filming of Franklin's HMS 'Terror' has brought the tragic story of the expedition into the international spotlight. The only man who knows the true narrative is Ernest Coleman.Trade Review‘An extraordinary story of determination… highly recommended’ -- Sea Breezes

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Book SynopsisUtilizing forensic evidence that was ignored by the police, and documents that have never before been released to the public, Alan Strachan has produced the horrific account of a man who was wrongfully executed for rape and murder -- even though it is quite possible that there was neither a rape nor a murder.

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Book Synopsis A true-life scientific adventure story, this thrilling book takes the reader deep into South African caves to discover fossil remains that compel a monumental reframing of the human family tree.In the summer of 2022, Lee Berger lost 50 pounds in order to wriggle though impossibly small openings in the Rising Star cave complex in South Africa—spaces where his team has been unearthing the remains of Homo naledi, a proto-human likely to have coexisted with Homo sapiens some 250,000 years ago. The lead researcher on the site, still Berger had never made his way into the dark, cramped, dangerous underground spaces where many of the naledi fossils had been found. Now he was ready to do so. Once inside the cave, Berger made shocking new discoveries that expand our understanding of this early hominid—discoveries that stand to alter our fundamental understanding of what makes us human. So what does it all mean?Join B

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsChronological List of Firsts Thematic List of Firsts Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Medical Firsts 1. First Medical School Still in Existence, 1088 2. First Successful Cesarean Operation, 1337 3. First Hospital in North America, 1524 4. First Documented Condom Use, 1562 5. First Wheelchair, 1595 6. First American Dentist, 1630 7. First Microbiologist, 1674 8. First Clinical Trial, 1747 9. First Female Doctor with a Full Medical Degree, 1754 10. First Publicly Funded American Psychiatric Hospital, 1773 11. First Vaccine, 1796 12. First Successful Human-to-Human Blood Transfusion, 1829 13. First University-Trained African American Doctor, 1837 14. First Hypodermic Needle, 1844 15. First Use of Anesthesia in Surgery, 1846 16. First International Health Organization, 1851 17. First Epidemiological Study, 1854 18. First Use of Antiseptic Spray, 1865 19. First Successful Brain Tumor Operation, 1879 20. First Baby Incubator, 1880 21. First Steps toward Universal Health Care, 1883 22. First Cancer Immunotherapy Treatment, 1891 23. First Successful Open Heart Surgery, 1893 24. First Breast Augmentation Surgery, 1893 25. First Medical X-ray, 1895 26. First Electric Hearing Aid, 1898 27. First Recognized Human Virus, 1900 28. First American Food and Drug Purity Laws, 1906 29. First Human Laparoscopy, 1910 30. First Vitamin Identified, 1912 31. First Country to Legalize Abortion, 1920 32. First Physical Therapy Organization, 1921 33. First Isolation and Purification of Insulin, 1922 34. First Antibiotic, 1928 35. First Gender Affirmation Surgery, 1930 36. First Successful Joint Replacement, 1940 37. First City with Fluoridated Water, 1945 38. First Woman to Win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 1947 39. First FDA-Approved Chemotherapy Drug, 1949 40. First Drug to Treat Depression, 1952 41. First Automated Blood Counter, 1953 42. First Successful Human Organ Transplant, 1954 43. First Patient Treated with Ongoing Hemodialysis, 1960 44. First Oral Contraceptive, 1960 45. First Successful Human Xenotransplant, 1963 46. First Disease Cured Using Stem Cells, 1963 47. First Diagnostic Computed Tomography Scan, 1971 48. First Monoclonal Antibodies, 1975 49. First Sequencing of a DNA-Based Genome, 1977 50. First Magnetic Resonance Imaging of a Human, 1977 51. First Baby Born through In Vitro Fertilization, 1978 52. First Human Disease Eradicated Globally, 1980 53. First Robotic Surgery, 1985 54. First FDA-Approved Drug to Treat HIV/AIDS, 1987 55. First Laser Vision Corrective Surgery, 1988 56. First Mammal Cloned from an Adult Cell, 1996 57. First FDA-Approved Botanical Drug, 2006 58. First Country to Legalize Euthanasia, 2011 59. First 3D-Printed Prosthesis, 2012 60. Firsts of the Future Index

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Book SynopsisNOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING JULIETTE BINOCHE AND ANTONIO BANDERASTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA NEW YORK TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR LA TIMES BOOK PRIZE FINALIST''Riveting ...The best book I''ve read all year.'' Ann Patchett''An astonishing tale of survival'' Spectator THE STORY THAT GRIPPED THE GLOBEAugust 2010: the San Jose mine in Chile collapses trapping 33 men half a mile underground for 69 days. Faced with the possibility of starvation and even death, the miners make a pact: if they survive, they will only share their story collectively, as ''the 33''.1 billion people watch the international rescue mission. Somehow, all 33 men make it out alive, in one of the most daring and dramatic rescue efforts even seen.Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist Héctor Tobar is the man they choose to tell their story.'' An eloquent testamenTrade Review. . . an eloquent testament to the human spirit. * The Times *Riveting . . . The best book I've read all year. * Ann Patchett *Riveting... Tobar vividly narrates the miners' lives post-rescue as they come to terms with their life-changing experience and the media frenzy surrounding it. Rich in local color, this is a sensitive, suspenseful rendering of a legendary story. * Publishers Weekly, Most Anticipated Books of 2014 *..fascinating... (The ) narrative cracks along at a suitably breathless pace * Irish Mail *Héctor Tobar takes us so far down into the story and lives of the Chilean miners that his reconstruction of a workplace disaster becomes a riveting meditation on universal human themes.Deep Down Dark is an extraordinary piece of work. * George Packer *In this masterful dissection of the 2010's dramatic sixty-nine day ordeal by thirty-three trapped Chilean miners, Héctor Tobar weaves a suspenseful narrative that moves back and forth between the waking nightmares of the buried men, and those of their families on the earth's surface. In Deep Down Dark, Héctor Tobar takes us deftly to the very cliff-edge of human survival. * Jon Lee Anderson *It's almost hard to believe that Héctor Tobar wasn't himself one of the trapped Chilean miners, so vivid, immediate, terrifying, emotional, and convincing is his Homeric narration of this extraordinary incident. Deep Down Dark is a literary masterpiece of narrative journalism, surgical in its reconstruction, novelistic in its explorations of human personality and nuance. In a manner that feels spiritual, Tobar puts himself at the service of his story, and his fidelity to and unquenchable curiosity about every fact and detail generates unforgettable wonderment and awe. * Francisco Goldman *A gripping narrative, taut to the point of explosion . . . An electrifying, empathetic work of journalism that makes a four-year-old story feel fresh. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisWoman. Wife. Smuggler. Spy . . .TV SERIES IN DEVELOPMENT STARRING ELIZABETH DEBICKI (TENET, THE CROWN) AS NANCY WAKEA thrilling and heart-wrenching novel inspired by the astonishing real life story of Nancy Wake. Perfect for fans of Suzanne Goldring''s MY NAME IS EVA, Kate Quinn''s THE ALICE NETWORK and Imogen Kealey''s LIBERATION, soon to be a blockbuster movie. ''Lawhon breathes new life into Nancy Wake''s extraordinary story. Rich and thoroughly researched, an exciting, well-written account of wartime valour and the protagonist''s qualities shine through'' The Times''This is the next book I won''t be able to stop talking about...so, so good!'' 5 stars (Goodreads reviewer)''Readers will be transfixed by this story of a woman who should be a household name'' Library Journal''A gripping thrille

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Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive study of the life and work of Andrew Fernando Holmes, famous for his work on congenital heart disease.Trade Review"As the best history books do, this one carries bracing reminders on every page of just how much the world has changed." -- Ian McGillis * McGill Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Alumni & Friends *"Vaudry’s mastery of the historiography of medicine, science, and religion of the late-18th and mid-19th centuries results in a lucid, all-embracing, and satisfying assessment of Holmes’s life and varied lasting contributions." -- J. T. H. Connor, Memorial University * American Review of Canadian Studies *“This book offers a useful addition to our understanding of the early years of Canadian medicine and medical schools, one which avoids the too-often triumphalist approaches that lionize great men and treat the success of McGill (and other subsequent institutions) as somehow inevitable.” -- David Wright, McGill University * Bulletin of the History of Medicine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: The Anniversary 1. From Cadiz to Lower Canada: Holmes’s Atlantic World 2. “Well and Sufficiently Taught” 3. The Origins of McGill Medicine 4. Family and Religious Life 5. “The Wonders of Creation” 6. McGill and the Politics of Medicine 7. The Practice of Medicine Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIt is widely believed that people living in the Middle Ages seldom traveled. But, as Medieval Travel and Travelers reveals, many medieval people and not only Marco Polo were on the move for a variety of different reasons. Assuming no previous knowledge of medieval civilizations, this volume allows readers to experience the excitement of men and women who ventured into new lands. By addressing cross-cultural interaction, religion, and travel literature, the collection sheds light on how travel shaped the way we perceive the world, while also connecting history to the contemporary era of globalization. Including a mix of complete sources, excerpts, and images, Medieval Travel and Travelers provides readers with opportunities for further reflection on what medieval people expected to find in foreign locales, while sparking curiosity about undiscovered spaces and cultures.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: Mapping Out Journeys 1. Maps a. T-O World Map b. Osma Beatus World Map c. Sawley (or Henry of Mainz) World Map d. Al-Idrisi World Map e. Carte pisane 2. Woodcuts of Cities (Parens [Poreč ], Corfu, Modon [Methoni]) 3. Woodcuts of People a. “Exotic” People (Saracens [Muslims], Jews, Greeks, Syrians, Ethiopians, Turks) b. Monsters 4. Cosmas Indikopleustes, The Christian Topography of Cosmas 5. Einsiedeln Itinerary 6. Einhard, The Translation and Miracles of Marcellinus and Peter 7. Paris Conversations 8. Richer of St-Rémi, Histories 9. Jordanus of Severac, Mirabilia descripta 10. Book of the Knowledge of All Kingdoms, Lands, and Lordships That Are in the World Chapter Two: Religious Journeys 11. Travel Prayers in the Gregorian Sacramentary 12. The Vision of Adamnán 13. Life of Anskar 14. The Western European Monk Bernard’s Journey to Jerusalem 15. Al-Tabari, The Prophet Ascends to the Seventh Heaven 16. The Seafarer 17. The Russian Primary Chronicle 18. Life of Saint Christopher 19. Benedict the Pole, Narrative 20. Pascal de Vitoria, Letter 21. The Book of Margery Kempe Chapter Three: Business Journeys 22. Ibn Khurraddadhbih, Book of Routes and Realms 23. The Reports of Ohthere and Wulfstan 24. Letters from Jewish Merchants in the Cairo Geniza 25. Marco Polo, Travels 26. Francesco Balducci Pegolotti, Merchant Handbook 27. Afanasy Nikitin, Voyage beyond Three Seas Chapter Four: Diplomatic Journeys 28. Ibn Fadlan, Mission to the Volga 29. Liudprand of Cremona, Retribution and Embassy 30. Rabban Sauma, Travelogue 31. Ghiyyath al-Din Naqqash, A Persian Embassy to China 32. Abd-al-Razzaq Samarqandi, Narrative of the Journey Chapter Five: Journeys of Discovery and Adventure 33. Saga of the Greenlanders 34. Nasir-i Khusraw, Book of Travels 35. Benjamin of Tudela, Itinerary 36. Ibn Jubayr, Travels 37. Ibn Battuta, Rihla 38. Petrarch, Ascent of Mt. Ventoux 39. Pero Tafur, Voyages and Adventures 40. Jörg von Ehingen, Diary Sources Index of Topics

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Book SynopsisDrawing on medieval sources from western Europe, the Byzantine Empire, and the Muslim world, this book will fascinate anyone interested in the history of travel and aspects of cultural interaction with the other.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Chapter One: Mapping Out Journeys 1. Maps a. T-O World Map b. Osma Beatus World Map c. Sawley (or Henry of Mainz) World Map d. Al-Idrisi World Map e. Carte pisane 2. Woodcuts of Cities (Parens [Poreč ], Corfu, Modon [Methoni]) 3. Woodcuts of People a. “Exotic” People (Saracens [Muslims], Jews, Greeks, Syrians, Ethiopians, Turks) b. Monsters 4. Cosmas Indikopleustes, The Christian Topography of Cosmas 5. Einsiedeln Itinerary 6. Einhard, The Translation and Miracles of Marcellinus and Peter 7. Paris Conversations 8. Richer of St-Rémi, Histories 9. Jordanus of Severac, Mirabilia descripta 10. Book of the Knowledge of All Kingdoms, Lands, and Lordships That Are in the World Chapter Two: Religious Journeys 11. Travel Prayers in the Gregorian Sacramentary 12. The Vision of Adamnán 13. Life of Anskar 14. The Western European Monk Bernard’s Journey to Jerusalem 15. Al-Tabari, The Prophet Ascends to the Seventh Heaven 16. The Seafarer 17. The Russian Primary Chronicle 18. Life of Saint Christopher 19. Benedict the Pole, Narrative 20. Pascal de Vitoria, Letter 21. The Book of Margery Kempe Chapter Three: Business Journeys 22. Ibn Khurraddadhbih, Book of Routes and Realms 23. The Reports of Ohthere and Wulfstan 24. Letters from Jewish Merchants in the Cairo Geniza 25. Marco Polo, Travels 26. Francesco Balducci Pegolotti, Merchant Handbook 27. Afanasy Nikitin, Voyage beyond Three Seas Chapter Four: Diplomatic Journeys 28. Ibn Fadlan, Mission to the Volga 29. Liudprand of Cremona, Retribution and Embassy 30. Rabban Sauma, Travelogue 31. Ghiyyath al-Din Naqqash, A Persian Embassy to China 32. Abd-al-Razzaq Samarqandi, Narrative of the Journey Chapter Five: Journeys of Discovery and Adventure 33. Saga of the Greenlanders 34. Nasir-i Khusraw, Book of Travels 35. Benjamin of Tudela, Itinerary 36. Ibn Jubayr, Travels 37. Ibn Battuta, Rihla 38. Petrarch, Ascent of Mt. Ventoux 39. Pero Tafur, Voyages and Adventures 40. Jörg von Ehingen, Diary Sources Index of Topics

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Book SynopsisThe true story of the Washington, DC, snipers, by the cop who took them down

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Book Synopsis RHS Staff Pick of the Year 2021 Spectator Gardening Book of the year 2021 'A refreshingly insightful history of plant introductions.' - Roy Lancaster Travel the world with extraordinary tales of the botanical discoveries that have shaped empires, built (and destroyed) economies, revolutionised medicine and advanced our understanding of science.Circling the globe from Australia's Botany Bay to the Tibetan plateau, from the deserts of Southern Africa to the jungles of Brazil, this book presents an incredible cast of characters - dedicated researchers and reckless adventurers, physicians, lovers and thieves. Meet dauntless Scots explorer David Douglas and visionary Prussian thinker Alexander von Humboldt, the 'Green Samurai' Mikinori Ogisu and the intrepid 17th century entomologist Maria Sibylla Merian - the first woman known to have made a living from science.Beautifully illustrated with over 100 botanical artworks from the archives of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, this absorbing book tells the stories of how plants have travelled across the world - from the missions of the Pharaohs right up to 21st century seed-banks and the many new and endangered species being named every year.***THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW is a world-famous research organisation and a major international visitor attraction. It harnesses the power of its science, the rich diversity of its gardens and collections to unearth why plants and fungi matter to everyone. Its aspiration is to end the extinction crisis and help create a world where nature and biodiversity are protected, valued and managed sustainably.Trade Review'A well-conceived book that acts as a thought-provoking introduction to a pertinent topic and a timely reminder of our dependency on plants.' - Rory Dusoir, gardener and writer (Gardens Illustrated)'The prose sparkles . . . [Edwards] combines intellectual rigour with a lively style.' * The Spectator *

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Book SynopsisIn 1898, an elderly widow, Anna Maria Druce, came to the British court with an astonishing request. She stood among the overflowing pews of St. Pauls Cathedral claiming that the merchant T. C. Druce, her late father-in-law, had in truth been a secret identity for none other than the deceased and enormously wealthy 5th Duke of Portland. Maintaining her composure amid growing agitation from the clutch of lawyers, journalists, and curious onlookers crowded into the church, Mrs. Druce claimed that Druce had been the duke's alter ego and that the duke had, in 1864, faked the death of his middle-class doppelgänger when he grew tired of the ruse. Mrs. Druce wanted the tomb unlocked and her father-in-law's coffin exhumed, adamant that it would lie empty, proving the falsehood and leaving her son to inherit the vast Portland estate. From that fateful afternoon, the lurid details of the Druce-Portland case spilled forth, seizing the attention of the British public for over a decade. As the Victoria era gave way to the Edwardian, the rise of sensationalist media blurred every fact into fiction, and family secrets and fluid identities pushed class anxieties to new heights. The 5th Duke of Portland had long been the victim of suspicion and scandalous rumors; an odd man with a fervent penchant for privacy, he lived his days in precisely coordinated isolation in the dilapidated Welbeck Abbey estate. He constructed elaborate underground passageways from one end of his home to the other and communicated with his household staff through letters. T.C. Druce was a similarly mysterious figure and had always remained startlingly evasive about his origins; on his arrival in London he claimed to have "sprung from the clouds." Drawing from revelations hidden within the Druce family tomb in the chilly confines of Highgate Cemetery, Piu Marie Eatwell recounts one of the most drawn-out sagas of the era in penetrating, gripping detail. From each thwarted investigation and wicked attempt to conceal evidence to the parade of peculiar figures announcing themselves as the rightful heir, Eatwell paints a portentous portrait of England at the dawn of the Edwardian age. Few tales—be they by Charles Dickens or Wilkie Collins, The Importance of Being Earnest or The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde—could surpass the bizarre and deliciously dark twists and turns of the Druce-Portland affair. A mesmerizing tour through the tangled hierarchies of Edwardian England, The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse illuminates the lies, deceit, and hypocrisy practiced by "genteel" society at the time—and their inevitably sordid consequences.Trade Review"A juicy narrative history packed with revelations about unsavory goings-on among the upper classes in late Victorian England." -- Kate Tuttle - Boston Globe"As the best books in this genre do, Eatwell's narrative expands to give us a broad view of the cultural and social circumstances existing in England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries…Her book is also a reminder that no matter what stories have captured popular tastes right now…nothing quite takes your breath away like a Novemberish tale that turns out to be real." -- Nick Owchar - Los Angeles Review of Books"A superb unraveling of a sensational mystery—and an absolutely gripping read." -- David King, best-selling author of Death in the City of Light"A lively account of the light shone on the lies, deceit and hypocrisy of Victorian society." -- Times (London)"A riveting true crime from yesteryear." -- Better Homes & Gardens"Fusing an excellent historical eye with an engaging narrative…Eatwell's history is equal parts bizarre and literary, presenting the emphasis without bias so that, until the very end, it’s unclear who’s telling the truth. This true crime story would be perfect fodder if Law & Order ever decides to launch a 19th-century spinoff." -- BUST"It’s Downton Abbey meets The Addams Family in Piu Marie Eatwell’s The Dead Duke, His Secret Wife, and the Missing Corpse, a delightfully offbeat history of a bizarre Edwardian legal case that became tabloid fodder and kept the British public spellbound for a decade…. Eatwell’s marvelous book reads like a Wilkie Collins gothic novel, but at times truth is stranger than fiction." -- Wilda Williams - Library Journal (Editor's Fall Picks)"Madness, guilt, eccentricity, subterfuge—Piu Marie Eatwell's study of the Druce case has it all: the eccentric dukes, liaisons below stairs, extraordinary claims in courts of chancery, exhumations, high-Victorian catacombs, famous detectives. Like all good whodunits, the story of the Duke of Portland and his fortune makes compelling reading." -- M. J. Trow, author of the Inspector Lestrade detective series"An eccentric duke, a mysterious claimant to the title, a long legal battle to open a grave in pursuit of a huge fortune—it's a thoroughly engrossing story, in the best traditions of Mr. Whicher." -- Nicholas Best, author of Five Days That Shocked the World

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Book SynopsisAt the close of the Victorian era, as now, privacy was power. The extraordinarily wealthy 5th Duke of Portland had a mania for it, hiding in his carriage and building tunnels between buildings to avoid being seen. In 1897, an elderly widow asked the court to exhume the grave of her late father-in-law, T. C. Druce, under the suspicion that he’d led a double life as the 5th Duke. The eccentric duke, Anna Maria contended, had faked his death as Druce, and her son should inherit the Portland millions. Revealing a dark underbelly of Victorian society, Piu Marie Eatwell evokes an era when the rise of sensationalist media blurred every fact into fiction and when family secrets and fluid identities pushed class anxieties to new heights.Trade Review"A riveting true crime from yesteryear." -- Better Homes & Gardens"Too good a book to spoil." -- Daily Beast"A reminder that no matter what stories have captured popular tastes right now…nothing quite takes your breath away like a Novemberish tale that turns out to be real." -- Nick Owchar - Los Angeles Review of Books"A juicy narrative history packed with revelations about unsavory goings-on among the upper classes in late Victorian England." -- Kate Tuttle - Boston Globe"A superb unraveling of a sensational mystery—and an absolutely gripping read." -- David King, best-selling author of Death in the City of Light"A lively account of the light shone on the lies, deceit and hypocrisy of Victorian society." -- Times (London)

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Book SynopsisWho were the pioneers in science education, and what motivated them to do what they did?" This book is the second volume of an attempt to capture and record some of the answers to these questions—either from the pioneers themselves or from those persons who worked most closely with them. As with the first volume, we have attempted to include as many pioneers as possible, but we know that there are still many that are not included in this or the previous volume. As we have posed questions, rummaged through files and oft?neglected books, and probed the memories of many individuals, we have come to realize our list of true pioneers is ever growing.As we consider our list of pioneers, we know that there are names on the list that most of us readily recognize. We also fully realize that there are names of whom few of us have heard—yet who were significant in their roles as mentors or idea development and teaching. We continue to be impressed with our science education “family tree” ever branching out to more individuals and connections. The stories in this volume continue to demonstrate how vital this network was in supporting the individual pioneers during their journey in difficult times and continues to be for those of us today in our own enterprise.

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Book SynopsisWho were the pioneers in science education, and what motivated them to do what they did?" This book is the second volume of an attempt to capture and record some of the answers to these questions—either from the pioneers themselves or from those persons who worked most closely with them. As with the first volume, we have attempted to include as many pioneers as possible, but we know that there are still many that are not included in this or the previous volume. As we have posed questions, rummaged through files and oft?neglected books, and probed the memories of many individuals, we have come to realize our list of true pioneers is ever growing.As we consider our list of pioneers, we know that there are names on the list that most of us readily recognize. We also fully realize that there are names of whom few of us have heard—yet who were significant in their roles as mentors or idea development and teaching. We continue to be impressed with our science education “family tree” ever branching out to more individuals and connections. The stories in this volume continue to demonstrate how vital this network was in supporting the individual pioneers during their journey in difficult times and continues to be for those of us today in our own enterprise.

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Book SynopsisA remarkable debut novel telling the story of Angus MacKay's (1812-1859) turbulent life. MacKay of Raasay is a legendary figure in the history of Scottish music, with his work still celebrated 160 years after his death. The sensational tale of the man himself, however, has been neglected until now. From humble beginnings on the Isle of Raasay, MacKay reflects on his rise through nineteenth-century society, gaining nationwide renown and becoming the first piper to the Sovereign. Yet, despite his fame and musical accomplishments, something is amiss. Why is MacKay writing his journal from the notorious Bedlam hospital? And why has he been dismissed from Her Majesty's service? MacDonald has written a debut for all fans of historical fiction.Trade ReviewPraise for I Piped, That She Might Dance: "Revealing, sensitively written and eminently readable. It is an imagined autobiography of Angus MacKay, piper to Queen Victoria, but it is well-informed and thoroughly researched and convincing. Besides piping, it provides insights into the social life of the time, from croft to palace, as well as into the treatment of mental illness. Iain MacDonald is to be warmly congratulated."--John Purser, author of Scotland's Music; "A sympathetic view of a driven and complex man ... Above all, a tale told with verve, flair, a fine eye for detail, and a sensitive depiction of the ultimate tragedy of the central character."-- James Beaton, former librarian at the National Piping Centre; "I loved this book ... It empathetically captures the triumphs and tribulations of MacKay's life --from Raasay croft, via Balmoral and Buckingham Palace, and ultimately to the asylum. It is true to the facts, deeply researched and easy to read. Victorian life is described with pathos, humour and colour. MacKay might have written this himself." -- Jack Taylor, former president of the Piobaireachd Society;"MacDonald has fleshed out the narrative of arguably the most interesting man in piping history, and certainly the most influential piper to date."--Nick Hudson, pipesdrums;"Here we have a work of fiction, but based on true facts. The author himself says that the reader may struggle to work out 'where fact ends and fiction begins', but when you come to think about it, grace-notes and embellishments are so much a part of the piper's world that it seems almost appropriate that MacKay's story should be presented in this way. It's an enjoyable and evocative read, and the author's affection for both his subject and the Highlands is indisputable. Unlike a book of straight fiction, this one comes with an admirable bibliography of primary and secondary sources, and a useful Gaelic glossary for the odd phrases peppered through the text."--Karen McAulay, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland;"This book sheds new light on a well known, poorly understood, piper of national and international significance. Iain Macdonald presents a sympathetic, almost intuitive, account of Mackay, Piper to the Sovereign, recreating a voice silenced by mental illness. The reader moves from Mackay's early days in Raasay, through the deterioration of his reason, to his final hours in Dumfriesshire. Macdonald adeptly combines primary source materials, including patient records, with sections of dialogue and description to create an engaging, illuminating account of interest to anyone fascinated by piping culture or, more generally, nineteenth century Scottish cultural interactions. It well researched, beautifully imagined, and empathetic."--Valentina Bold, editor of Robert Burns' Merry Muses of Caledonia

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