True stories of survival of abuse and injustice Books

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Book SynopsisA powerful look at authoritarian India through the experiences of political prisonersTrade Review'A telling account of repression and resistance in the new India.' -- Jean Drèze, Indian economist'Those who want to understand the nature of today’s political regime in India need to read this book. Focusing on the situation of dozens of political prisoners whose words had never been reproduced so extensively so far, it shows how the Modi government is criminalising dissent. The demise of the rule of law is precipitated by the instrumentalization of the security apparatus and the making of a 'parallel regime of truth'.' -- Christophe Jaffrelot, Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology, King's College London'An important testament to the dystopian state of the nation through powerful documentation of the incarceration of dissent in contemporary India.' -- Alpa Shah, author of 'Nightmarch: Among India’s Revolutionary Guerrillas''A brave and necessary record of how behind tall prison walls, some of India’s finest hearts and minds are locked away by a state fearful of their dreams. A book of aching, terrible beauty, bearing witness to the stubborn endurance of idealism, of courage and humanity shining through soul-numbing injustice' -- Harsh Mander, writer, human rights and peace worker, teacherTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. A Season of Arrests 2. Wages of Impunity: Cracking Down on Dissent 3. The Lies Factory 4. A Community in Resistance 5. Small things 6. Voices of Indian Political Prisoners 7. Name the Names Epilogue: When the State Enters Your Home

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Book SynopsisThe Hachette Essentials series comprises a collection of titles that are regarded as modern classics. A carefully and lovingly curated selection of distinctive, ground-breaking fiction and non-fiction titles published since 1950. Timeless. Relevant. Passionate. Unified as a series - distinctive as books. A good book is great. A great book is essential.In the shadow of Auschwitz, a flamboyant German industrialist grew into a living legend to the Jews of Cracow. He was a womaniser, a heavy-drinker and a bon viveur, but to them he became a saviour. This is the extraordinary story of Oskar Schindler, who risked his life to protect Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland and who was transformed by the war into a man with a mission, a compassionate angel of mercy.Thomas Keneally's novel first brought the story of Oskar Schindler to international attention in 1982, when it won the Booker Prize. It was made by Steven Spielberg into the Oscar-winning film Schindler's List in 1993, the year Schindler and his wife were named Righteous Among the Nations.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary achievement -- Graham Greene, author of BRIGHTON ROCKBrilliantly detailed, moving, powerful and gripping * The Times *Thomas Keneally has done marvellous justice to a marvellous story * Sunday Times *This remarkable book has the immediacy and the almost unbearable detail of a thousand eye witnesses who forgot nothing * New York Times Book Review *Keneally is a superb storyteller. With Schindler's Ark he has given us his best book yet, a magnificent novel which held me from the first page to the last -- Alan Sillitoe, author of SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNINGAn extraordinary tale . . .no summary can adequately convey the stratagems and reverses and sudden twists of fortune . . . A notable achievement * New York Review of Books *A magnificent book, powerful, harrowing and beautifully written * Sunday Express *A fine and moving story * Evening Standard *Fascinating, expertly told and impossible to put down * Bookseller *Magnificent . . . Beautifully written * Mail on Sunday *A masterful account of the growth of the human soul * Los Angeles Times *An astounding story . . . in this case the truth is far more powerful than anything the imagination could invent * Newsweek *

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Book Synopsis“I've told you before, and I will tell you again, if you are unable to read the Holy Book you will be punished.” The teacher’s face was a mask of anger. “Understand?”Trade Review‘Told with searing honesty, heartfelt emotion and bucket loads of wit. [Alex] has risked death threats to tell this tale. It was worth the risk.’The Sun ‘This book will challenge how you think and cause you to question your moral values.’Steve McLaughlin, author of ‘Squaddie’ ‘A true story of courage and inspiration’Jasvinder Sanghera, author of ‘Shame’ and founder of Karma Nirvana

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Book Synopsis''I think this is one of the best books I have read by Maggie Hartley'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader reviewTHE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER and perfect for fans of Cathy Glass, a new powerful true story from Maggie Hartley, foster carer for over 20 years.''Mummy! Where did you go? Please come back, Mummy.''When police are called to a local supermarket late one evening, they find an angry shopkeeper and a silent young woman. It''s the third time 24-year-old Zoe has been caught stealing in the past few days. Eyes filled with panic, Zoe has been hiding bread, milk, Calpol and nappies under her coat. As police officers break down the door of Zoe''s flat they find seven-year-old Coco and two-year-old Lola, home alone, huddled on the floor in a freezing cold bedroom, crying out for their mummy.When Social Services are called in, the girls are taken into care and are soon tucked up safel

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Book SynopsisTHE SHOCKING TRUE STORY BEHIND THE HIT TV DRAMA THREE GIRLS When detective Maggie Oliver first discovered that children as young as 10 were being groomed, abused and trafficked for sex by gangs of men in the Rochdale area, she felt like a lonely voice calling for people to act. Banging on closed doors, it seemed that nobody was able or willing to help her save these vulnerable girls, but she couldn't just sit back while countless lives were being destroyed forever in plain sight. Instead, she launched a one-woman campaign to bring down these sickening gangs. This is the heart-breaking and shocking story of how the actions of one determined detective secured convictions in what is now one of the most notorious grooming cases in the UK. Along the way Maggie discovered countless examples of how the authorities were letting down our most vulnerable children. She blew the whistle, losing her job and at times her mind at times, in a bid to stop others from experiencing the same. This is the first ever account from a police insider on the endemic problem of child sexual exploitation across the nation and how these cases are handled by the authorities put in place to protect us. It tells the story of a woman brave enough to speak out and a group of girls who found the strength to fight for justice after having their lives completely shattered by their abusers; together they show in shocking detail why this must never happen again.

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Book SynopsisThe story that became a global sensation, now sold for film, of Sophie, the amazing Australian cattle dog who fell off a yacht, was feared lost, yet swam six miles through shark-infested waters to a remote Whitsunday island where she survived for five months before being miraculously reunited with her amazed owners.Trade Review'It was amazing how this dog swam to a remote island and survived to be reunited with her family. All dog lovers should read this book.' * Temple Grandin, author of Animals in Translation and Animals Make Us Human *'Inspiring and heart-warming, Sophie tells many stories: of family and friendship, of survival and loyalty and, most of all, of the exclusive bond between man and his best friend.' * Bendigo Advertiser *'This is a story about survival, loyalty, family and what makes a dog tick.' * Hobart Mercury *'A tender, delightful story of how a cosseted pup turned into a hardy, intrepid - and very lucky - "supercanine", this book will endear itself to dog and adventure lovers everywhere.' * Publishers Weekly *'This story of canine loyalty and the power of human-animal relationships is as charming as its blue-furred heroine. A treat for dog lovers.' * Kirkus Reviews *'It's an amazing story. What a pity dogs can't talk. I am sure Sophie's own tale of her survival, courage and strength would be amazing.' * The Launceston Examiner *'Sophie's incredible story of survival is remarkable.' * Sunday Tasmanian *'Interwoven with images and filled with colourful details about her survival, Sophie's heart-warming, inspirational story is beautifully told in Emma Pearse's book.' * Dog's Life *

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Book SynopsisThe author’s collection of these rare written accounts and interviews sheds new light on the tragic way the lives of so many were impacted by the loss of the largest passenger liner in the world.

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Book SynopsisThe must-read memoir about the dazzling days and dark nights of a Chelsea childhood . . .''Brilliant and moving'' The Times''Dazzling'' Evening Standard''Beautifully written'' Marian Keyes''Unflinchingly honest Sunday Times''Superbly written'' Guardian''A triumph'' i_______Her father was a hairdresser to the rich and famous - he was also their drug dealer.Her mother was an alcoholic fashion model. Her days and nights were non-stop parties - she spent them taking care of her little sister and putting out naked flames.And when her sister dies aged nine, Gavanndra is left alone with her grief. Growing up in the dazzling days and dark nights of her parents'' social lives, surviving means fitting into their dysfunctional world, while stopping the family from falling apart . . ._________''A redemptive tale of an emotionalTrade ReviewUnflinchingly honestly. A beautiful book . . . everyone should read it * The Sunday Times *There are scenes that will reduce you to tears, but there's also humour, forgiveness and uplifting optimism [...] by the end of this dazzling debut you just want to give her a huge cheer for coming through * Evening Standard *Wise and moving . . . this memoir is an acknowledgment that love demands a price * Guardian *By turns painful and joyful, this beautiful book has plenty of poignant lessons to teach us about grief and love * Cosmopolitan *Gavanndra writes beautifully, her words are unsentimental but very lyrical [...] I loved this book and my tears fell into the bath as I read it -- Clover Stroud * author of The Sunday Times Bestselling memoir My Wild and Sleepless Nights *A devastating, heart-breaking and magnificent meditation on the function of memory. It will stay with me forever, so beautifully written * Daisy Buchanan, author of The Sisterhood *A completely unforgettable and unique family memoir. A total cliché but I honestly couldn't put it down * Hadley Freeman *A real tear-jerker * i *'Beautifully-written, calm-but-utterly-compelling life-story of trauma and healing... the author seems lovely and I want to be her pal!' * Marian Keyes *At a time when so many families are losing loved ones, and are denied even the scant comfort funerals provide, there is no more poignant moment for this book to appear -- Emily Hill * The Spectator *This is one of the best books I've read about grief - and the catastrophic consequences of addiction. Exquisitely written. Profoundly moving -- Robert PestonGavanndra Hodge's moving memoir recounts the consequences of an early life framed by beauty, glamour and tragedy * The Observer *A heartbreaking and compelling memoir * Red *Looks at the power of love and loss in shaping one's life. Moving and beautifully written * Grazia *The must-read of the summer * The Times *So brilliantly written . . . ultimately joyful and uplifting * Daily Mirror *Brave and beautifully written * Elle *There are books - and then there are books that you'll never forget reading. A quite extraordinary memoir -- Becky Barrow * News Editor of The Sunday Times *I read it in one sitting without pause. It is an astonishing book. I haven't stopped thinking about it -- Charlotte Edwardes * columnist for Sunday Times Style Magazine *A wonderful and transformative memoir about the impact of loss and the power of love; and one that illustrates how it is never too late to tackle suppressed grief -- Julia Samuel * author of the Sunday Times Bestseller This Too Shall Pass *I read this in one sitting, tears splashing onto its pages. A beautiful book about grief, losing a sibling, trauma, drugs, parenting & memory in the most exquisite way. Please everyone read it -- Emma Gannon * podcaster, author of Olive and founder of The Hyphen Book Club *This book is genuinely extraordinary -- Eleanor WoodLife affirming [...] an enrapturing journey through darkness, destructive behaviour and an urgency for light and happiness now * Magic Radio Book Club, May's Book of the Month *A powerful memoir -- Laura Whitmore * BBC Radio 5 *Timely and highly original * Evening Standard *Brilliant and moving * The Times *The Consequences of Love is undoubtedly one of this year's most hotly-anticipated books, and with good reason * The Sunday Salon podcast with Alice-Azania Jarvis *Brilliantly written and heartbreaking but also joyful and uplifting * Psychologies *Extraordinary . . . profoundly moving * Sunday Mirror *A brave, lyrical, painful tale of bereavement, addiction, and the building of a new life -- Joanna Briscoe * Evening Standard *Superbly written. Beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking. Courageous, inspired, bleakly comic, extreme candour * Guardian *Searing * Daily Mail *Hodge's beautiful memoir is both a devastating, grief-fuelled account of her sister's death and a redemptive tale of an emotional reckoning * i *It's a vivid and oddly entertaining memoir, a hand plunged into the dark hole of grief . . . uncovers surprising treasures - most importantly, strength, resilience and love * Mail on Sunday *Searing. A masterful writer with a gift for storytelling. Her prose is rich with detail, combining a sharp sense of place with escalating drama. A triumph * i *The most moving, most exquisitely written book about addiction, grief, loss and coming to terms with trauma even decades on. One that you will be thinking about, and remember long after finishing * Quintessentially *One of the most beautiful memoirs I've ever read. This story will say with you long after you put the book down * Emma Gannon *I just turned the last page (reluctantly!). A bold, often brutal exploration of memory, grief and love. Full of hope and heart. I can't recommend it enough * Terri White, author of Coming Undone *A brave, brilliant book that is both beautiful and important. Read it then buy it for all your friends * Hello! *Gavanndra's memoir The Consequences of Love is absolutely beautiful. It's compelling, heartbreaking, sweet, honest, fascination. I recommend it HIGHLY. I absolutely LOVED it. * Marian Keyes *This stunning exploration of grief is so well written and profoundly moving * Good Housekeeping *An elegant study of grief and memory * Guardian *Hodge pours heartbreak and love into the pages of a book that never pretends to know the answers, and is all the better for it * Sunday Times *An elegant study of grief and memory * Guardian Weekly *An eye-opening snapshot of the fashion world in '90s London * Vogue UK *

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Book SynopsisThe harrowing true story of the young boy who captured the heart of the nation when he testified in court, to find justice against those responsible for his brother's death.

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Book SynopsisGalveston, Texas, 8 September 1900. It’s another fine day in the Gulf according to Isaac Cline, chief observer of the new US Weather Bureau, but one day later, 6-10,000 people were dead, wiped out by the biggest storm the coast of America had ever witnessed.Trade ReviewGripping, informative and imaginative’New Statesman ‘Roof slates became spinning blades… a timely and chillingly detailed reminder of what nature can do.’Mail on Sunday ‘Mixing individual narratives of the townsfolk and a history of the Weather Bureau with terrific descriptions the evolving storm, Larson cooks up an awesome tale.‘Daily Telegraph ‘Dickensian… A scholarly and factual book that reads like fiction.’Independent

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of Scott's Northern Party and their incredible survival of an Antarctic winterTrade ReviewA cracking story * Mail on Sunday *This book relives their fears and squalid surroundings from day to day. Even as you lie in the sun on holiday, you will be chilled, gripped and amazed by the human resilience displayed in such awesome conditions * Daily Mail *Authoritative and insightful . . . [an] enjoyable, vivid study of the English in extremis * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisSet against the backdrop of the Great Depression, the story of a Texas man who, in 1931, set out to walk backwards around the world.

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Book SynopsisBorn in 1955, Richard Phillips is a graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He became captain of the MV Maersk Alabama in 2009 and is still a serving officer in the United States' merchant marine. His account of the seizure of the Maersk Alabama and his experiences as a hostage of Somali pirates - A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea - was first published in the USA in 2010. He and his wife have two children and live on a farm in Vermont.Trade ReviewI share the country's admiration for the bravery of Captain Phillips and his selfless concern for his crew. His courage is a model for all Americans. * BARACK OBAMA, President of the USA *For once, the good guys won. * BOOKLIST *This riveting account spares none of the detail and paints fascinating portraits of the desperate young pirates. The film, starring Tom Hanks, opens this month and if it is half as tense as the book, it'll be unmissable. * DAILY MAIL *We think this is shaping up to be something really quite special * DEN OF GEEK *

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Book SynopsisRevealing how the key fuel of the global era affects the communities where petroleum is extracted, this beautifully written ethnography describes how the Cofán people are surviving at the center of the Ecuadorian oil industry.Trade ReviewCepek's account of the Cofàn people's experiences, their lives literally rooted in some of Amazonia's most contentious and contaminated oil fields, is an extraordinary new testament…an essential addition to our collective library. * American Ethnologist *The book makes for a fascinating read and is refreshing in its writing style . . . it raises important questions of autonomy and self-determination of a people and speaks to critical debates raging at present within the academia. * Conservation and Society *For scholars and students interested in questions of oil, the environment, and indigeneity—or simply curious about what counts as great ethnography and how it might be done—the book is a must-read. * Environment and Society *This book will help lay audiences and introductory students learn about the hydrocarbon industry's impacts on the Ecuadorian Amazon from a heavily Cofán perspective. Scholars of Indigenous Amazonia will appreciate the ethnographic detail regarding the lives of Cofán people and communities. * Journal of Latin American Geography *Cepek's book records the experience of the Cofan People in Ecuador's Aguarico River region for over 25 years, before they knew what this black sticky stuff was, and puts hard fact to the decades long legal battle between Chevron (Texaco) and the locals. It's quite a compelling informative and an unbiased read. * Intentional Paradigms *[P]owerful, moving, and accessible…This book is highly recommended for students learning about indigenous peoples and resource extraction, the ethics of energy, and contemporary life in the Amazon, and should be at the top of everyone's list of ethnographies written for a broader, public audience. * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute *Profoundly nuanced and empathetic…Cepek produces one of the more realistic accounts of the effects of oil on everyday life in a community on the frontlines of oil extraction. * Anthropological Quarterly *Life in Oil is an extraordinarily insightful ethnography that stakes out new ground in understanding indigenous life in Amazonia and survival beyond all odds. * HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory *[Life in Oil] is a compelling complication of popular anthropological and environmental narratives about the Amazon. It is without doubt a direct refutation of any claim that petroleum operations in Ecuador have caused no harm to the Cofán…This book needs to be read widely, especially outside of anthropology, and outside the classroom...This book pushes open a clearing, and makes a place where outsiders can stop to consider what is happening in the Ecuadorian Amazon. * Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology *Based on my own research in the region, Cepek’s work is extremely credible. It is rare to have a view of local culture that is so respectful of the importance of individual agency, and so understanding of the diversity of perspectives and practices within an indigenous society. Only with this understanding is it possible to understand ongoing change as the product of adaptive choices...[Life in Oil] is a highly readable book that can be recommended for classroom use. * Bulletin of Latin American Research *Table of Contents A Note on the Photographs A Note on Corporate Actors List of Important Individuals Chapter 1. Black Water Chapter 2. Dureno Chapter 3. The Death of Yori’ye Chapter 4. The Cocama Arrive Chapter 5. Damaged World Chapter 6. Prohibition and Protest Chapter 7. The Possibility of Coexistence Chapter 8. Life in Oil Acknowledgments Notes Glossary Works Cited Index

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Book Synopsis'I admire David hugely. He is a true adventurer and this book shows the breadth and depth of his achievements. No Such Thing As Failure is an astonishing book, depicting an awe-inspiring life.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes

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Book SynopsisRejected by her mother and excluded by her school, Flip is a little girl desperate to be loved.Am I ugly, Mummy?' are the first words that little Phillipa says to Mike and Casey as she stomps into their lives on a hot August afternoon. She has a Barbie doll in one hand and a pink vanity case in the other and the bemused Watsons can only stare in amazement at this tiny eight year old girl who is being guided into the room by her social worker.Phillipa, known as Flip has Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and life with her single mother has come to an abrupt end after a fire burned the house down. When Casey meets Flip, the child seems remarkably unfazed by what has happened and the thing that seems to worry her is that Casey might find her ugly.Casey has come across children with FAS in her previous job in a high school behaviour unit, but is now realising that fostering Flip is going to be full of challenges which will test her and Mike's skills to the limit.

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Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH DR ANTHONY FAUCI, DAME SALLY DAVIES AND DR JIM DOWNFor every doctor there is that one patient, whose story touches them in a way they didn't expect, changing their entire outlook on life. This inspiring and deeply moving book is the story of those patients.Every weekend, in Holland's most popular newspaper, de Volkskrant, renowned science-journalist Ellen de Visser asks a different medical professional to tell her about that one patient'; the patient who changed everything for them.Every day, in every country, thousands of patients share their stories with their doctors: stories they may never have told anyone else; stories that are heartbreaking, sometimes funny, and just occasionally unforgettable. To be able to do their job to the best of their abilities, medical experts use their professional empathy': they sympathize with their patients but try to keep themselves at a distance. But there is always that one patient who, for Trade Review‘Take the time to read this book. It’s worth it!’ Professor Stephen Westaby, author of Fragile Lives ‘I loved this book. It brings anonymous 'health care professionals' to life, showing their real thoughts, emotions and reactions to the people they see. I hope showing the lifelong impact our patients can have on us helps people to be assured that we who serve them are deeply touched by their stories, appreciate their confidence in us and value their trust. If we occasionally struggle to rise to their expectations it's not because we are indifferent or unkind, but because we, too, are human’ Kathryn Mannix, author of With the End in Mind

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Book Synopsis''Poetically written, absorbing, harrowing'' The Times''The raw and emotional account of an optician whose family fishing trip suddenly placed him amid the human tragedy of hundreds of drowning migrants is a story that needed to be told'' Fiona Wilson, The Times''An important book ... I cried all the way through'' Tracy ChevalierFrom an award-winning BBC journalist, this moving book turns the testimony of an accidental hero into a timeless story about human fellowship and the awakening of courage and conscience.''I can hardly begin to describe to you what I saw as our boat approached the source of that terrible noise. I hardly want to. You won''t understand because you weren''t there. You can''t understand. You see, I thought I''d heard seagulls screeching. Seagulls fighting over a lucky catch. Birds. Just birds.''Emma-Jane Kirby has reported extensively on the reality of mass migration today. In The Optician of Lampedusa she brings to life the moving testimony of an ordinary man whose late summer boat trip off a Sicilian island unexpectedly turns into a tragic rescue mission.

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Book SynopsisA House in the Sky is the dramatic and redemptive memoir of Amanda Lindhout, a woman whose curiosity led her to the world''s most beautiful and remote places, its most imperiled and perilous countries, and then into fifteen months of harrowing captivity-an exquisitely written story of courage, resilience, and grace.As a child, Amanda Lindhout escaped a violent household by paging through issues of National Geographic and imagining herself in its exotic locales. At the age of nineteen, working as a cocktail waitress, she began saving her tips so she could travel the globe. Aspiring to understand the world and live a significant life, she backpacked through Latin America, Laos, Bangladesh, and India, and emboldened by each adventure, went on to Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan. In war-ridden Afghanistan and Iraq she carved out a fledgling career as a television reporter. And then, in August 2008, she traveled to Somalia-the most dangerous place on earth. On he

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Book SynopsisA bold graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis''s bestselling I Survived the Battle of D-Day, 1944 with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Brian Churilla.A battle that changes the course of the war...Paul Colbert's French village has been under Nazi control for years. His Jewish best friend has disappeared. Food is scarce. And there doesn't seem to be anything Paul can do to make things better.Then Paul finds an American paratrooper stuck in a tree. When Paul helps the soldier, he discovers a secret resistance movementand he learns the Allies have a plan to crush the Nazis. But first, the resistance needs Paul's help.This is Paul's chance to make a difference. Soon he finds himself in the midst of the largest invasion in history. Can he do his part to turn horror into hope?Lauren Tarshis''s New York Times bestselling I Survived series comes to vivid life in graphic novel editions. Perfect for reader

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary true story that inspired an acclaimed film starring Steve Coogan and Judi Dench, Philomena, by Martin Sixsmith, is a gripping tale of heartache, hypocrisy and ultimately, redemption. It follows the lives of Philomena Lee, who, after falling pregnant in 1952, was treated as a fallen woman by Irish Catholic society, and her son, torn from her by the Church and swept across the Atlantic as one among many forced adoptions.Philomena, shamed and coerced into signing a document promising never to attempt to see her son again, wages a secret, decades-long battle to reconnect with her lost, beloved son. Unbeknownst to her, her son has been renamed Michael Hess, and grew up to become a high-powered lawyer in the homophobic climate of the Reagan and Bush administrations. But he was a gay man in a homophobic party where he had to conceal not only his sexuality but, eventually, the fact that he had AIDS. With little time left, he returned to Irelan

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Book SynopsisA riveting, real-life equivalent of The Kite Runner-an astonishingly powerful and profoundly moving story of a young couple willing to risk everything for love that puts a human face on the ongoing debate about women''s rights in the Muslim world.She is his Juliet and he is her Romeo, and her family has threatened to kill them both...This is the heartrending account of Zakia and Mohammad Ali, a couple from opposing Islamic sects, who defying their society''s norms have left behind everything they know and are quite literally risking their lives for their love.She is a Sunni, he is a Shia, but as friends from childhood Zakia and Mohammad Ali could never have predicted that their love would anger their families so much that they would be forced to leave their homes finding refuge in the harsh terrain of the Afghani mountains. Without money or passports they rely on the kindness of strangers to house them for a couple of days at a time as they remaTrade ReviewWith keen and nuanced insight, Nordland details the tortuous road that Zakia and Ali travelled...Nordland became the pair's chronicler and, later, their unofficial protector when, straining the limits of his professional involvement with them, he began to help the pair financially. Meticulously reported and written, Nordland's book is an exceptionally well-delineated glimpse into the marriage practices of a closed patriarchal society and the suffering it has caused women. The author thoughtfully considers the extent to which the West, acting from the outside, can effect social reform in Muslim fundamentalist cultures. A provocative, well-told story of love at all costs and an incisive examination of the continued violation of women's rights in Afghanistan. * Kirkus *In Nordland's telling, the pair emerge as fully rounded characters even while serving as symbols of Afghan culture's stifling restraints. From the couple's initial elopement to their unexpected elevation to media prominence ... Nordland's storytelling remains gripping, with more than a hint of Shakespearean drama. The couple's survival, in the face of familial and societal condemnation, provides a happy if incomplete resolution... less uplifting is Nordland's reporting on the overall situation for women in Afghanistan, a country that Massouda Jalal, former Afghan minister for women's affairs, calls "the worst place in the world to be a woman. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed poet and dissident Irina Ratushinskaya, In The Beginning looks back at life before her imprisonment in a labour camp, to her formative years in Odessa.

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Book SynopsisOne of the most compelling international dramas of the 20th century and an unforgettable saga of survival, technological innovation, and breathtaking human physical achievement-all set against the backdrop of a world headed toward war.Trade Review[Ellsworth] recasts the era as a great Himalayan race ... [and] it works brilliantly ... his account of the 1953 ascent of Everest ... feels unusually fresh * Sunday Times *Like if Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air met Lauren Hillenbrand's Unbroken, it's an inviting and engrossing read * Sports Illustrated *The dramatic saga of the race between nations to climb the planet's highest mountains...In vivid, novelistic prose, the author describes the significant expeditions and delivers engaging portraits of climbers from many different countries and their invaluable Sherpas * Kirkus *Gripping * Sunday Times *An exceptional account of trailblazing mountaineers who persevered during a turbulent time in history * Booklist *Plenty of rollicking stories * The Times *A vibrant glimpse into a period of wild adventure * BBC History *

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Book Synopsis'A rare, highly detailed insider account of a "family" designed to be shut off from the world. And of Morgan, a ferocious young girl who railed hard against it.' Sunday Times'This is an unflinching and courageous memoir, exposing one of the world's most infamous cults. It's an inspiring, if at times upsetting, read.' Daily ExpressMy name is Faith Morgan and I was born into the infamous Children of God cult, or 'The Family' as it came to be known. At age 19 I managed to escape and entered a world in which I had to learn how to live again. Rebel is my story.My teenage diary helps piece the story of my travels in Costa Rica, India, Greece, Mexico, and London together. Of the communes, the 'missions', the friendships and the relationships. And of course, my enduring faith: in Jesus, in the Prophet (cult leader David Berg), and in the inevitability of the coming end times, which I fully believed would arrive.But beyond the brainwashing and mistreatment is the extraordinary story of my family and the adventures of my early life which help me understand what happened and why, so it doesn't happen to others. The spirit of that defiant girl who escaped is still in there somewhere, and through telling my story I wish to look into the eyes of 'evil', with its many faces so I can send it on its way.

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Book Synopsis'Powerful' Financial Times'More twists and turns than a Hollywood spy thriller' Spectator'A story we all need to hear' New Statesman'Gripping... Araujo's accretion of detail has a powerful effect' New York Times'Excellent' Kirkus ReviewsDeep in the heart of the Amazon, an entire region has lived under the control of one notorious land baron: Josélio de Barros. Josélio cut a grisly path to success: having arrived in the jungle with a shady past, he quickly made a name for himself as an invincible thug who grabbed massive tracts of public land, burned down the jungle and executed or enslaved anyone trying to stop him.Enter Dezinho, the leader of a small but robust farm workers' union fighting against land grabs, ecological destruction, and blatant human rights abuses. When Dezinho was killed in a shocking assassination, the local community held its breath. Would Josélio, whom everyone knew had ordered the hit, finally be brought to account? Or would authorities look the other way, as they had hundreds of times before?Dezinho's widow, Dona Joelma, was not about to let that happen. After his murder, she stepped into the spotlight, orchestrating a huge push to bring national media attention to the injustices in the Amazon.Set against the backdrop of Bolsonaro's devastating cuts to environmental protections, Brazil's rapidly changing place in the geopolitical spectrum, and the Amazon's crucial role in climate change, Masters of the Lost Land is both a gripping epic into one of the last wild places on Earth and an urgent illustration of how people are fighting for - and winning - justice for their futures and the environment.Trade ReviewGripping... Araujo's accretion of detail has a powerful effect * New York Times *Heriberto Araújo tells a story you likely haven't heard before... this book is uniquely informative about one of the most important social conflicts of our time * Prospect *A compelling and forensically researched piece of investigative reporting... [with] more twists and turns than a Hollywood spy thriller. * Spectator *Such narrative diligence feels like a necessary corrective to a reality mired in crime and cover-up... this book tells a story we all need to hear. * New Statesman *A meticulously researched, vivid and complex picture of the violence and corruption at the heart of the Amazon * Geographical *[A] deeply researched report from the front lines of the battle for the Amazon. * Publishers Weekly *An arresting examination of the history of extreme deforestation and violence in the Brazilian Amazon... Excellent * Kirkus Reviews *A gripping true crime mystery that transports readers into the heart of the Amazon to witness the human toll of its destruction and the incredible will of its people to fight for the future of this unique place - and the planet. Masterfully reported and engagingly written, this is a must-read. * Greg Grandin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The End of the Myth *This is journalism at its absolute best, made even more impressive when one considers the obstacles, obfuscation and threats so often encountered there when trying to ferret out the truth... an essential book. * Joe Jackson, author of The Thief at the End of the World: Rubber, Power, and the Seeds of Empire *With a journalist's insight and a scholar's scrutiny, Heriberto Araujo tells the timeless story of dominance, displacement, murder and social injustice that drive large-scale environmental destruction * Roman Dial, author of The Adventurer’s Son *A tour de force... Araújo's masterful reporting from the frontlines in the war for the world's most important tropical biome should be required reading for policy makers, and for anyone who cares about the fight for social and environmental justice for Amazonia's forest peoples. * Jeremy M. Campbell, author of Conjuring Property: Speculation and Environmental Futures in the Brazilian Amazon *Heriberto Araújo, drawing on his years of research, has written an essential journalistic account of the murder, mayhem and mind-boggling corruption surrounding the assault on the Amazon. * Dr. Gary Sick, Columbia University, Board Member of Human Rights Watch *Heriberto Araujo does a significant service to Amazonia by providing a look into the social hell that accompanies the destruction of the Amazon rainforest... No one can read this account without coming to the conclusion that we must prevent such events from continuing. * Philip M. Fearnside, National Institute for Research in the Amazon *Highly readable * The Economist on China's Silent Army *Fascinating and vivid * Spectator on China's Silent Army *Truly impressive * Financial Times on China's Silent Army *Table of Contents1: The Escape 2: The Criminal Syndicate 3: Terror on the Nut Road 4: The Chainsaw Murder 5: The Boomtown 6: Early Challenges 7: Crickets and Cattle 8: No Longer Meek 9: Hunting Souza 10: Nowhere to Hide 11: Nothing Shining in Eldorado 12: Death and Salvation 13: An Unusual Case 14: The Evidence Man 15: A Cause Larger Than Death 16: The Law of the Gun 17: Land or We Burn the Jungle 18: Amazonian Justice 19: Sink or Swim 20: The Widow Must Fall 21: "Load the Trucks" 22: She Is Out 23: The Trial 24: A Certain Sense of Justice 25: Epilogue

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Book SynopsisA true story of resilience, survival and achievement, and a heartbreaking tale of a father's complicity in his own family's disintegration.In Yorkshire in the 1950s, Suz Evasdaughter, aged just 5, is moved to a children's home with her brothers. Confused, little Suz begins to blame herself for her mother's death. Her father eventually brings them back, but instead of finding a safe haven to rebuild their family, Suz finds herself plunged into a life of misery at the mercy of an uncaring and brutal stepmother.Unwanted tells the story of Suz's struggle to escape from her broken home and leave her fractured past behind her. But lurking in the shadows is a dark family secret...

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Book SynopsisA stunning and poignant account of an extraordinary teacher's determination from the author of the #1 Sunday Times bestsellers The Tiger's Child and One Child.Trade Review"Torey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can't give many people. She isn't valuable, she's incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden." – Boston Globe "A testament to the powers of caring and commitment." Publishers Weekly. "An amazing story."Washington Post. “A skilful storyteller… Torey Hayden writes vividly about the challenges and frustrations of working with disturbed children.” Washington Post Book World

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Book SynopsisJohn Peel first brought Judy's moving childhood story to light on ‘Home Truths’. Abducted by her psychotic spiritualist father and kept like a dog in the backyard, she went on to suffer at the brutal hands of nuns in a Manchester orphanage, before living wild on the streets. An incredible, heart-wrenching story of a child who refused to give up.Trade Review‘If Judy’s story doesn’t become a book, DVD, video I’ll be amazed.’ John Peel

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Book Synopsis‘Punished’ is the inspiring true story of an unusual little girl, Vanessa, whose childhood was devastated by torture and abuse at the hands of her sadistic mother. Vanessa was nearly destroyed until she discovered a secret that ultimately saved her life.

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Book SynopsisA harrowing memoir of life with manic depression. All In My Head reveals the terrible reality of the condition and it’s devastating impact on the life of a young woman.

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Book SynopsisThe sequel to Daddy’s Little Earner tells Maria’s story as she tries to rebuild her life.Trade ReviewPraise for Daddy’s Little Earner: ‘A heartbreaking true story’ South Wales Argus

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Book SynopsisThe author of the bestselling Please Daddy No reveals more harrowing experiences of his neglected childhood.Trade ReviewPraise for ‘Please, Daddy, No’: ‘Truly moving.’ Fern Britten, This Morning

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Book SynopsisDavid had everything. No-one knew the London businessman was born into a world beyond poverty, the son of a rapist father and disturbed mother. Abandoned as a baby, he spent most of his childhood in care and suffered appalling sexual abuse. But no-one knew. But a call from the abuser's wife, 30 years on, proved he was living in a house of cards.

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Book Synopsis‘Gripping … so powerfully emotional that at times I had to put it down to wipe my eyes’Mail on Sunday ‘How do you say thank you to someone for giving you their heart? It is the greatest gift a person can ever give.’Trade Review‘Gripping … so powerfully emotional that at times I had to put it down to wipe my eyes’Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisFollowing the recent death of Charles Manson – the leader of the sinister 60s cult – Dianne Lake reveals the true story of life with Manson and his ‘family’, who became notorious for a series of shocking murders during the summer of 1969.

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Book Synopsis''Compulsively readable'' Times Literary Supplement''An outstanding work'' Philippa Gregory''A powerful narrative told with frankness and sensitivity'' Helen Fry, historian and author of Women In Intelligence''A woman, a dog and a walnut tree, the more they are beaten, the better they'll be.''So went the proverb quoted by a prominent MP in the Houses of Parliament in 1853. His words intended ironically in a debate about a rise in attacks on women summed up the prevailing attitude of the day, in which violence against women was waved away as a part and parcel of modern living a chilling seam of misogyny that had polluted both parliament and the law. But were things about to change?In this vivid and essential work of historical non-fiction, Kate Morgan explores the legal campaigns, test cases and individual injustices of the Victorian and Edwardian eras which fundamentally re-shaped the status of women under British law. These are seen through the untold stories of women whose cases

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