True stories / true accounts of events Books

Book SynopsisFather Carlos Martins fights the devil daily. Demon possession is his speciality. Freedom is his goal. The Exorcist Files is about how the devil gets in - and how to get him out again.One of the most in-demand exorcists in the Roman Catholic Church, Father Carlos Martins has been called to the most disturbing and vicious cases of possession worldwide. He has witnessed levitation, paranormal violence, foaming at the mouth - everything you''ve seen from the most terrifying horror movies, but in real life.His book, The Exorcist Files, tells ten of his most compelling tales of possession, from the fire-fighter whose pact with the devil aged eight gave him supernatural strength in exchange for possession, who sprouted fangs during his encounter with the priest, to the witch who lures unsuspecting lonely men to become her exhausted sex-slaves. And uniquely, it reveals the prayers, rituals and secret techniques Martins

Read more less

Book SynopsisA quirky collection of stories from London's stranger side, featuring a tiny prison cell in Trafalgar Square, a train disguised as a ship, and a church that's completely the wrong way round. London’s Strangest Tales takes a walk on London’s weirder side with an absorbing collection of curious tales from one of the world’s greatest cities. This fascinating book is packed with amazing things you didn’t know about Britain’s capital, like the fact that it’s still forbidden to run, carry an umbrella or whistle in the Burlington Arcade, and the fat lamppost at the corner of Trafalgar Square that is secretly a tiny prison cell. And did you know that the entrance to Buckingham Palace you see from the Mall is actually the back door and not the front? The stories within these pages are bizarre, fascinating, hilarious and, most importantly, true. Revised, redesigned and updated for a new generation of London-lovers, this book is a brilliant alternative guide to the city, whether you’re a visitor, a daily commuter or one of its 8 million inhabitants. Word count: 45,000

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Undercover, you're never just acting; you're only ever a different version of yourself.'Neil Woods spent fourteen years (1993-2007) infiltrating drug gangs as an undercover policeman, befriending and gaining the trust of some of the most violent, unpredictable criminals in Britain. But Neil was never your stereotypical gung-ho, tough-guy copper. This is the story of how a thoughtful, idealistic character learned to use his empathetic nature to master some of the roughest, most dangerous work in law enforcement. There was no training, no manual and no plan for when things went wrong; he was just dropped at a corner and told to make connections. But, inevitably, having swords thrust against his jugular, witnessing beatings, stabbings, and gangsters burning suspected rats with acid took its toll.Drawing on Neil’s experiences, with the insight that can only come from having fought on the front lines, GOOD COP, BAD WAR is at once a narrative-driven true crime read and a fascinating story of a character under pressure.Trade ReviewThis is the best book ever written about the British war on drugs. -- Johann HariGripping exposé of the disastrous reality of the drug war -- Decca Aitkenhead * Guardian *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Frank Tallis brings a lifetime''s clinical experience and wise reflection to a condition that, by its own strange routes, leads us into the very heart of love itself. This is a brilliant, compelling book'' Ian McEwanLove is a great leveller. Everyone wants love, everyone falls in love, everyone loses love, and everyone knows something of love''s madness. But the experience of obsessive love is no trivial matter. In the course of his career psychologist Dr Frank Tallis has treated many unusual patients, whose stories have lessons for all of us.A barristers'' clerk becomes convinced that her dentist has fallen in love with her and they are destined to be together for eternity; a widow is visited by the ghost of her dead husband; an academic is besotted with his own reflection; a beautiful woman searches jealously for a rival who isn''t there; and a night porter is possessed by a lascivious demon. These are just some of the people whom we meet in an extraordinTrade ReviewCompelling

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2017 PEN Ackerley PrizeThe thing to remember about this story is that every word is true. If I never told it to a soul, and this book did not exist, it would not cease to be true. I don't mind at all if you forget this.The important thing is that I don't.'On a hot still morning on a beautiful beach in Jamaica, Decca Aitkenhead's life changed for ever.Her four-year-old boy was paddling peacefully at the water's edge when a wave pulled him out to sea. Her partner, Tony, swam out and saved their son's life then drowned before her eyes.When Decca and Tony first met a decade earlier, they became the most improbable couple in London. She was an award-winning Guardian journalist, famous for interviewing leading politicians. He was a dreadlocked criminal with a history of drug-dealing and violence. No one thought the romance would last, but it did. Until the tide swept Tony away, plunging Decca into the dark chasm of random tragedy.Exploring race and redemption, privilege Trade Review‘If I read a sadder, truer, wiser chapter in a book this year I will count myself fortunate … Aitkenhead’s loss was our gain’ The Times ‘An exemplary memoir … However magnificent and powerful the book, you know it pales in comparison with the loss’ Sunday Times ‘This book is impossible to forget … It reminds one that grief is about transformation, the loss of old moorings, a new permission to put the heart first- a sea change’ Observer ‘Astonishing…. Aitkenhead has produced a work of art’ Evening Standard ‘An extraordinary memoir, a beautifully written account of life, love and what is left of both after tragedy …Utterly heart-breaking but it’s also a brave and honest account of grief and its aftermath that will stay with you long after you finish the last page’ Daily Express ‘Finely observed, emotionally truthful and beautifully written, her memoir is testament to the extraordinary power of love that doesn’t vanish when life of the beloved ends, but endures as long as memory itself’ Mail on Sunday ‘A story of absolute heartbreak, but also a story of unbelievable courage’ Davina McCall ‘An entrancing love story; a horrifying death story; a book about class, family, growing up, taking risks and learning how to be strong. Read it once, and it will be inside your head forever’ Andrew Marr ‘If you buy just one book this year, make it this one. I have never read anything like it and wished it would never end’ Jennifer Saunders ‘A brave book about emotional truth. It brought a tear to my eye, and will be deeply empowering for those who read it’ Tanya Byron ‘Anyone who has loved, lost or grieved – that's all of us – should read it.’ Alastair Campbell ‘A remarkable story of sudden tragedy and grief, of love and resilience’ Arianna Huffington ‘Beautiful’ Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisPreviously published as Becky, this is the heartbreaking story behind the murder of 16-year-old Bristol schoolgirl Becky Watts, a crime that shocked the nation and tore a family in two.A vulnerable and shy girl, Becky Watts was brutally murdered and dismembered by her own step-brother on 19 February 2015. As her father Darren discovered the horrific details of what happened to his darling girl, his world fell apart.Writing about the darkest hours, Darren uncovers what Becky's relationship with her step-brother Nathan, a child he had raised as his own son, was really like. He recalls the devastation of discovering the truth about the depravity with which Becky was torn from him in the safety of her own home. And he recounts the torment of the legal battle to see his step-son sentenced to life behind bars.Both heartfelt and haunting, searingly honest and unflinching, this is the ultimate story of a family tragedy.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLet Me Go is the powerful new memoir from foster carer and Sunday Times bestselling author Casey Watson.Harley is a troubled 13-year-old girl who wants to end her own life and there's only one woman who can find out why.When Harley is sectioned after attempting suicide, she ends up in Casey's care under a 28-day care order. But before Casey can even get her back to the safety of her home, Harley hurls herself out of the moving car.Harley has a family a widowed mother and older sister Milly. But Milly has left home and her mum, who has addiction issues, feels unable to cope.Despite the dysfunctional family, Casey suspects there is more to Harley's distress and after weeks of gentle coaching, a sudden breakthrough sheds light on the disturbing truth Milly and her mum are not the only people in Harley's life. There is a man, a very dangerous man indeed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEd Husain''s The Islamist is the shocking inside story of British Islamic fundamentalism, told by a former radical. ''When I was sixteen I became an Islamic fundamentalist. Five years later, after much emotional turmoil, I rejected fundamentalist teachings and returned to normal life and my family. As I recovered my faith and mind, I tried to put my experiences behind me, but as the events of 7/7 unfolded it became clear to me that Islamist groups pose a threat to this country that we - Muslims and non-Muslims alike - do not yet understand.'' ''Why are young British Muslims becoming extremists? What are the risks of another home-grown terrorist attack on British soil? By describing my experiences inside these groups and the reasons I joined them, I hope to explain the appeal of extremist thought, how fanatics penetrate Muslim communities and the truth behind their agenda of subverting the West and moderate Islam. Writing candidly about life after extremism, I illustrate the depth of the problem that now grips Muslim hearts and minds and lay bare what politicians and Muslim ''community leaders'' do not want you to know.'' ''A complete eye-opener''  The Times ''Captivating, and terrifyingly honest''  Observer ''Persuasive and stimulating''  Martin Amis ''Read this articulate and impassioned book''  Simon Jenkins, Sunday Times Ed Husain was an Islamist radical for five years in his late teens and early twenties. Having rejected extremism he travelled widely in the Middle East and worked for the British Council in Syria and Saudi Arabia. Husain received wide and various acclaim for The Islamist, which was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for political writing and the PEN/Ackerley Prize for literary autobiography, amongst others.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe shocking true story of the infected blood scandal: the worst treatment disaster in NHS history, which saw people infected with HIV by a revolutionary medical treatment and a cover-up from governments and the multi-billion-dollar plasma industry.''The Poison Line is the gripping tale of a terrible scandal'' Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape ArtistBooks are routinely described as extraordinary, but this one really is' John Preston, author of Fall________________Factor VIII was billed as a medical miracle when it was put on the market in the late 1960s: a revolutionary treatment that meant people with haemophilia no longer feared a bleed might prove fatal. But as the treatment was rolled out, haemophiliacs began to contract hepatitis and AIDS in terrifying numbers. Even as medical bodies and pharmaceutical companies tried to discredit whistleblowers and diminish the evidence, it becam

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew and updated, the paperback edition of the bestselling true story of the murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, told with heart-rending honesty by Holly's father Kevin.Trade ReviewA brutally honest account of what happens when innocence meets evil. Kevin Wells' book is about a father's love, a family's loss and a nation's horror. If you want to know the true story of Soham then read it. * Sarah Oliver, Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Something strange occurs to guests as soon as they check in. Even if in real life they are perfectly well-mannered, decent people with proper balanced relationships, as soon as they spin through the revolving hotel doors the normal rules of behaviour no longer seem to apply.''All of the following is true.Only the names have been changed to protect the guilty. All the anecdotes, the stories, the characters, the situations, the highs, the lows, the scams, the drugs, the misery, the love, the death and the insanity are exactly as was told by Anonymous - someone who has spent his whole career working in hotels at the heart of London''s luxury hotel industry. However, for legal reasons, the stories now take place in a fictitious hotel known as Hotel Babylon. More than a decade is compressed into a day. Everything else is as it should be. The rich spend money, the hotel makes money and the chambermaids still fight the bellboys over a two-pound coin.It''s just another twenty-fourTrade ReviewInformative, disgusting and utterly fascinating * Closer *Reading Hotel Babylon is like mainlining Popbitch * Metro *A 5-Star read. Imogen Edwards-Jones takes readers on a brilliant romp that's just as luxurious as the presidential suite and definitely a whole lot funnier -- Candace BushnellMakes shock revelation after shock revelation * Daily Mail *Fascinating * Daily Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this acclaimed memoir from the award-winning author of Fragrant Harbour and Capital, John Lanchester pieces together his family''s past and uncovers their extraordinary secrets - from his grandparents'' life in colonial Rhodesia to his mother''s time as a nun - with clear-eyed compassion. A true story of family intrigues, of secrets and lies, as they unfold across three generations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Jenny and Robert fall in love in the late 1960s they decide to build a new future together, away from the city. They escape to an isolated sheep farm nestled on a mountainside. It has no running water but it is beautiful and rugged. Their young sons can roam wild. As their flock struggles, money runs low and rain drives in horizontally across the fields, inside the ancient house their marriage begins to unravel. Wilful and romantic, Jenny refuses to abandon her farm. She will bring her boys up single-handedly on the mountain. Together they embark on a perilous adventure. Running for the Hills is astonishing family memoir - Horatio Clare vividly recreates his mother''s extraordinary way of life and his own bewitching childhood in a magical story of love and struggle.Trade Review'The young family has to face the hardships that small farmers and smallholders endure everywhere' * The Times *'A tender, eloquent book about love, the power of the land and the price to paid for living out one's dreams' * Sarah Dunant *'A joy ... heartening, raw, tender.' * John Carey, Sunday Times *'Touching, funny and extremely well-written' * Telegraph *Enchanting ... magical ... so beautifully written that you almost hold your breath' * Daily Mail *'A major talent' * Marie Clare *'Beautifully written ... crammed with precious details ... It should be required reading' * Guardian *'It is the prose equivalent of a collection of poems by Ted Hughes - or Wordsworth' * Sunday Times *'The classic Great Escape . . . strikingly told' * Matthew Bell, TLS *'An assured and compelling first book ... A moving exploration of the slow triumph of adversity over optimism' * Rose Tremain, The Sunday Telegraph *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2018 NED KELLY AWARD, DANGER PRIZE AND WAVERLEY LIBRARY NIBSYDNEY, 1923: a suitcase washed up on a harbourside beach reveals its grisly contents - and from there, an extraordinary story unfolds.Trade ReviewBretherton's unflinching fact-finding is what makes this book throb. * Australian Women's Weekly *Bretherton's unflinching fact-finding is what makes this book throb. * Australian Women's Weekly *A pacy tale recommended for history lovers. * Law Society Journal *A pacy tale recommended for history lovers. * Law Society Journal *Paralleling the escalating love of crime fiction is an intense interest in real life crime, and The suitcase baby falls into this realm, a non fiction book telling a story of a horrible crime, but at the same time showing the background that led to this murder and others like it. * ReadPlus *Tanya Bretherton tells the moving story of an explosive and unforgettable mystery. * Woman's Day *It is a chilling story that made headlines and is recounted in simple, often moving writing. * Sunday Canberra Times *One of the most fascinating crime books I've read. * wellthy *While poignantly detailing the terrible lack of support for single mothers and their babies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this book provides a balanced account. * Weekend Australian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisShining a light on the largely untold story of elite-schooled child and youth soldiers under the Nazi regime

Read more less

Book SynopsisDrug transporters. Money launderers. Killers. Street drug vendors. Weapons traffickers. Kidnappers. Extortionists.VICE journalist Deborah Bonello reports from the trenches in this first-ever in-depth exploration of the hidden power women wield in Latin American drug cartels You’ve heard of Pablo Escobar, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, and Rafael Caro Quintero. Their names conjure ghoulish images of bloody streets, white powder, bundles of weed, and a particular flavor of machismo unique to ruthless druglords. But what of the drugladies, las narcas? For the first time, investigative reporter Deborah Bonello takes you behind the curtain to introduce the women at the helm of organized crime south of the US-Mexico border. These women are the powerhouses behind violent cartels; masterminds of extortion rackets; right-hand ladies to El Chapo’s cocaine flow to the US; and matriarchs of major drug trafficking families. In these pages, you will

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Charming' – The Sunday Times‘Delicious’ – Daily Mail'Wonderful' – Stephen Fry‘Delightful’ – Delia Smith'Brilliant' – Claudia Winkleman'Joyous' – Caitlin Moran'Entertaining' - Observer'Funny' - Ken Follett 'Glorious' - Daily Express'Touching' - Robert Peston Appetite is a memoir with a twist: each chapter is a recipe that tells a story. Ed Balls was just three weeks old when he tried his first meal in 1967: pureed roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. From that moment on he was hooked on food.Taught to cook by his mother, Ed's now passing her wisdom on to hisTrade Review'It is a book that shouldn’t really work, and yet does, quite charmingly so. […] What I really like about this book (apart from an intriguing recipe for pulled pork) is that it isn’t yet another weighty ideological tome or political diary, it is an honest account of what it feels like to run a home and raise your children while pursuing a high-profile career, written from the perspective of a man. There is guilt, there is worry, but there is a lot of love. Whether it’s the book of his favourite recipes he gives to each of his children on their 18th birthday or the time he spends teaching his father to make a cheese soufflé, he demonstrates that food is a way of showing he cares.' * The Sunday Times *‘Ed is tremendous and I love his cake. This is a brilliant book.’ -- Claudia Winkleman‘A big, joyous hug of a book – like drinking a pint of the best word-custard. Every reader will immediately put “Have a chatty lunch with Ed Balls” on their bucket list. It’s so lovely to be able to point at an author and exclaim, “This is clearly just a very lovely man.”' -- Caitlin Moran‘Just wonderful. This is food writing as it should be: a triumphant mix of childhood memories, family feasts, political machinations and always good food.’ -- Stephen Fry‘To be a really good cook you have to be passionate about really good food. Ed is such a person and in this delightfully different book the passion shines through.’ -- Delia Smith'A memoir like no other' * Daily Mail *‘Whatever your political persuasion, this is a delicious treat of a book. Balls is immensely likeable – and so is his cooking. Recipes such as his mum’s lasagne, and apple and blackberry crumble aren’t fancy or fiddly but they’re a glorious celebration of family food at its finest.’ * Daily Express *‘An entertaining memoir … The British political food book is not a crowded field, but it’s fertile ground. Balls knows his onions.’ * The Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisUsing real-life stories, Forgiveness explores the messy, complex and gripping subject of forgiveness.  'Cantacuzino's gift for empathy shines through her conversations... She tackles her complex [message] with clear prose and an open heart... This nuance feels like a cool breeze in a heatwave. If there is a message here, it's to listen more, think more and preach less'Sunday Times  ‘This is an utterly memorable book – beautifully written, fascinating in its insights, and extraordinarily moving. We all need to forgive, and this book, through its recounting of the stories of people who have something really significant to forgive, will be an inspiration to help us reach a state of forgiveness. This is a book that will stay with the reader for a very long time’Alexander McCall SmithI forgive you.  Trade Review‘There have been few more appropriate and vital moments for this fascinating book to emerge than now as we bear witness to so many acts requiring forgiveness – the complexity of the practice of forgiveness, its meanings, its measure as a force for change are all here – and most of all, its power to prevent the repetition of the worst in our human behaviour and the possibility of finding freedom from hatred’ -- Emma Thompson'Cantacuzino's gift for empathy shines... A clear message, she suggests, is not possible without dangerous oversimplification. She tackles her complex one with clear prose and an open heart... This nuance feels like a cool breeze in a heatwave. If there is a message here, it's to listen more, think more and preach less' * Sunday Times *Tender, valuable, and often beautiful, Forgiveness shows how we can get tangled up in hate, and how we might cut ourselves free. -- Gavin Francis‘This is an utterly memorable book – beautifully written, fascinating in its insights, and extraordinarily moving. We all need to forgive, and this book, through its recounting of the stories of people who have something really significant to forgive, will be an inspiration to help us reach a state of forgiveness. This is a book that will stay with the reader for a very long time’ -- Alexander McCall Smith‘A wise and generous investigation of one of life’s most difficult but necessary experiences’ -- Richard Holloway‘This important book will speak to anyone who has ever suffered harm, or caused harm to others; which is all of us. The work is unflinching in its honesty and emphasis on forgiveness as a process that cannot be imposed; but it is also immensely hopeful as it invites us to see the possibilities of forgiveness as a human stance that offers hope and freedom from hatred. Anyone with a serious interest in human cruelty and suffering should read this book; it will stretch your mind’ -- Gwen Adshead, author of The Devil You Know‘This reassuring and uplifting book testifies to the truth of forgiveness . . . Both provocative and full of hope’ -- Jon Snow‘A profoundly moving and important book’ -- Professor Anthony Costello‘It is absolutely remarkable how Marina Cantacuzino navigates the vast and complex terrain of forgiveness with such sensitivity, honesty and insight. By skilfully drawing together the threads of personal stories with their infinite nuance and seeming contradictions, she enables and inspires her readers to explore the option of forgiveness within their own lives. I cannot think of a more relevant subject for these challenging times in which humanity’s needs for hope, love and renewal seem stronger than ever’ -- Angela Findlay, author of In My Grandfather’s Shadow‘This is a book of compelling stories, beautifully told, illustrating the myriad aspects of forgiveness. What it is not is a self-help “how to forgive” manual. Rather it is something more subtle, gentle and ultimately more inspiring. It invites each of us to delve deep and investigate the contours of forgiveness in our own minds. The result is a revelatory read – one that might even be life-changing’ -- Rachel Kelly, mental health advocate and author of Sunday Times bestseller Black Rainbow‘This book is so profoundly for the current moment that I encourage you to read it without delay. What is forgiveness? Impossible yet necessary; difficult yet obvious; painful yet alive with promise. Compelling, convincing and compassionate, this book will make you to examine your relationship with yourself, with others, and with the world. A work as beautiful as it is important’ -- Tessa McWatt, author of Shame on Me‘This book is a beautiful tour de force about a very hard subject — an important read for everyone who has wrestled with forgiving, being forgiven, or both’ -- Sally Kohn, activist and author of The Opposite Of Hate: A Field Guide To Repairing Our Humanity‘What marks Marina Cantacuzino’s book on forgiveness is that it is an enquiry rather than a persuasion. With journalistic skill, she observes, questions and considers stories; offering insights, but never prescribing. She amplifies stories we never want to hear, but desperately need to hear, offering wisdom from a human tradition that is as embodied as it is enduring: how to survive what we think is unsurvivable. I’ve followed her work for years, and this brilliant book is a remarkable exploration of her decades-long fascination with Forgiveness, its complications and its gifts’ -- Pádraig Ó Tuama‘Not only is this book exceptional for its human interest and accessibility, it is full of profound insights into the complexity of forgiveness and its wide range of meanings, problems and benefits. Every page exudes the empathy-filled curiosity that has characterized Marina’s exploration of forgiveness over the last two decades. Few will be able to read it without catching some of the empathy or sharing the curiosity, and no one will read it without becoming a little wiser and more humane’ -- The Reverend Dr Stephen Cherry, Dean, King’s College, Cambridge‘A book of true beauty. A powerful reminder of how forgiveness can transform lives and restore hope. Important, moving and profoundly humane’ -- Francesca Martinez'Profound, spellbinding and deeply moving. Essential reading for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of what it is to be human. Cantacuzino is a consummate storyteller weaving gold from the stories of those who’ve taken the courageous messy journey to the freedom that forgiveness ultimately yields. Inspiring, compelling and superbly written, I couldn't put it down’ -- Jennifer Nadel, author, broadcaster, campaigner and co-founder Compassion in Politics‘Marina Cantacuzino is a passionate advocate of the value of forgiveness. In this highly readable book she explores how individuals achieve forgiveness and how it can break the cycle of hate, revenge and retaliation, and how it can transform the lives of both the perpetrator and the victim or their loved ones.’ -- Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Cambridge University and author of Zero Degrees of Empathy‘Forgiveness is a profoundly thought-provoking and beautifully written book. Cantacuzino leads us through stories of pain and stories of forgiveness with such a light footstep and so much nuanced reflection. She is never dogmatic; never moralises, never tells us what ought to be done, but creates a work in which we examine our own stance and feelings about the role of forgiveness in life. A wonderful, heart-breaking, elevating read’ -- Bea Setton, author of Berlin

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen sixteen-year-old Jess arrives on foster carer Maggie Hartley''s doorstep with her newborn son Jimmy, she has nowhere else to go. Arriving straight from the hospital having just given birth, Jess is like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Scared, alone, and practically a child herself, she is overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for a newborn without the support of a loving family or her beloved boyfriend. With social services threatening to take baby Jimmy into care, Jess knows that Maggie is her only chance of keeping her son.Maggie can see that Jess loves her boyfriend and wants to be a good mother to her son. Can Maggie help Jess learn to become a mum? Will the family ever be allowed to live together?A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.''Didn''t want it to end'' 5* Amazon reader review

Read more less

Book SynopsisFROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Thrown Away Child is a memoir covering Louise Allen’s abusive childhood in a foster home, how she survived - using her love of art as a sanctuary - and how she hopes to right old wrongs now by fostering children herself and campaigning for the improvement of foster care services. It is a compelling and inspirational story. This book gives a voice to the many children who grew up unhappily in care. 

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a story of belonging and not belonging, of not knowing if you exist and making sure that you do. This story is for ancestors and descendants, for the people without roles or representation who find themselves placed in a random mixed-up race. This is a story about time travel and tigers, of mountains and moons, and what happens when you sew a thread that was split in two.   Reliving defining memories from early childhood in the 1990s to the present day, Laila Woozeer engages with the divisive patterns of racism and prejudice and their cumulative effect on a single life. Using the healing stream of connection – with personal and family history, friends, nature and imagination – and the act of creation, Laila illustrates the way a self was forged. Between past lives and personhood, and from colonialism to creativity, this is a vivid, lyrical account of identity, endurance, courage, growth and artistry. In Not Quite White you are invited to follTrade Review'A pulsing exploration of the self, this book hands you the privilege to observe Laila find meaning, and it oozes with vulnerability, hope, beauty and story. When I’m older I want to write like Laila' -- Gina Martin'Charts the pain and confusion of growing up while grappling with a complicated, mixed ethnic identity.. a memoir that many mixed-race people will easily relate to' * Dazed *'A lyrical odyssey of self-discovery, told with folkloric flair. In charting her journey across Welsh mountains and Mauritian seas, Laila Woozeer offers a map that can guide us all, regardless of our origins, to unearth the treasure that lies within. A must-read for anyone in search of themselves' -- Jassa Ahluwalia, author and creator of #BothNotHalf'Anyone who wants to learn how our racial identity impacts not only our experience of the world but also how we understand ourselves should pick up this book. Gorgeously written, too' -- Natasha Devon'A moving piece of literature.. an eloquent portrayal of self-discovery and building your identity in a society that is eager to dismantle your existence at every turn' * Wales Art Review *An insight into what it's like growing up mixed race' * My London *'One of the most relatable books I’ve read on the mixed experience' * Mixed Messages *'This book is a gem. I genuinely couldn’t stop turning the pages. Laila is an essential voice in todays important issues of race, identity and belonging' -- Kai Samra'Heartbreaking, vivid, lyrical, and very smart… I was so grateful to Laila giving us the understanding of this quite complex topic' * Book Reccos *'This book is a treat, asking timely questions about race, who we are and how we define ourselves, but through such exquisite prose you get utterly pulled in' -- Rosie Holt'Delves into what it’s like growing up mixed race in the UK' * Mashable *'Woozeer creates an environment in the reader’s mind that allows us to learn more about ourselves… the is the real gift to readers' * Brown Girl Bookshelf *'The most nuanced and moving account of mixed race identity I’ve read' * htmljones *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner East Anglian Book of the Year 2022In Iron Man, Lynne Bryan writes movingly and candidly about disability, the vulnerability of the body and mind, and the frailty and strength of our corporeality. She writes insightfully and thought-provokingly about the ways in which women’s access to head space and the physical and economic space for creativity can be restricted or blocked – sometimes by the people they love best and who love them best; and, of course, sometimes by themselves.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'The unexpected comic masterpiece of the year' Daily MailIn 1967, retired army major and self-made millionaire Paddy Roy Bates inaugurated himself ruler of the Principality of Sealand on a World War II Maunsell Sea Fort near Felixstowe - and began the peculiar story of the world's most stubborn micronation. Having fought off attacks from UK government officials and armed mercenaries for half a century - and thwarted an attempted coup that saw the Prince Regent taken hostage - the self-proclaimed independent nation still stands. It has its own constitution, national flag and anthem, currency, and passports - and offers the esteemed titles of 'Lord' or 'Lady' to its loyal patrons. Incorporating original interviews with surviving members of the principality's royal family, and many rare, vintage photographs, Dylan Taylor-Lehman recounts the outrageous attempt to build a sovereign kingdom by a family of rogue, larger-than-life adventurers on an isolated platform in the freezing waters of the North Sea.Trade ReviewThe unexpected comic masterpiece of the year -- Daily Mail

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a true story about two non-identical twin brothers who were adopted soon as they were born due to unfortunate circumstances. They were taken up by two different families who happened to be in the vicinity of about ten miles from each other - none of the two families knew each other. Everything was running smoothly until circumstances led one of the boys to search for his biological parents and his other brother. How successful was he? Was it like looking for a pin in a haystack in the wide world? It was many years, according to the foster parents, since he had been adopted - there had been a lot of tear jerking moments.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fascinating compendium of reported alien sightings, encounters and abductions, such as the mysterious Belgian UFO wave, the unusual Lubbock lights, and the infamous Roswell incidentWhat did Kenneth Arnold see flying above Mount Rainier? What were the Phoenix Lights?What really happened at the Battle of Los Angeles?Humans have always looked to the skies and pondered what was up there. Throughout the centuries, science has provided us with many answers, but there are some mysteries that remain unexplained. In our modern world, many of us find ourselves asking the eternal conundrum, Are we alone in this universe?This intriguing anthology examines incidents that were so puzzling they led witnesses to draw one inevitable conclusion: that aliens really do exist. Inside you will discover some of the most mysterious reports of UFO sightings, close encounters and alien abductions from across the globe. The real-life accounts within are compelling, bizarre and at times spine-chilling, each leaving you with a sense of wonder and a thirst to uncover the truth about life beyond our world.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED, WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK of the YEAR, 2020. When Ian Ridley's wife, the trailblazing sports reporter Vikki Orvice, died of cancer at the age of 56, he found himself plunged deep into a sadness that he expected and a world of madness that he did not. In an attempt to make sense of it all and seek some solace from the brutality of his grief and anxiety, he embarks on a summer of watching county cricket. Reliving bitter-sweet memories in places he and Vikki had visited together, he is alternately unnerved and consoled by the ebbs and flows of his mourning. But gradually, against a backdrop of the County Championship's peace and solitude - with the sun on his back and tea, cake and crossword at his side - he finds a way to survive the rhythms and cadences of his grief. The Breath of Sadness is an unflinching account of how we carry on when we are left behind, and a poignant, tender and candid exploration of love and loss.Trade Review"Ian Ridley's beautifully crafted memoir shows there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and yet grieve we must. A moving insight." JULIA SAMUEL, author of Sunday Times bestsellers Grief Works and This Too Shall Pass. "A fine meditation on life, love, death and grief forged during a gentle summer of county cricket." MICHAEL ATHERTON, former England cricket captain. "If there's ever been a more honest, intimate, visceral, unflinching account of grief than this, well, I'd be very surprised." CHARLIE CONNELLY, THE NEW EUROPEAN. "A heart-rending read. What Ridley has written in his wonderful book is a love letter to the game." JIM WHITE, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH. "I have been immeasurably moved by it." VANESSA FELTZ, BBC RADIO 2. "A love song. Like all the best such tunes it is a sad one, yet also, in the end, life-enhancing." ALEX MASSIE, THE SPECTATOR. "Beautifully produced. A book that will bring comfort to many in that same sad but often inevitable place. Humanity is at hand." JOHN HOTTEN, WISDEN CRICKET MONTHLY." Candid and ultimately life-affirming. One of those rare books that takes you on a journey you didn't want to have to take but feel privileged to be on." STEPHEN KELMAN, BOOKER PRIZE SHORTLISTED AUTHOR. "A wistful rumination on love and loss. Ridley balances fond recollection with candid admissions." SHOMIT DUTTA, THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT. "Ridley's quiet reflection in the solitude of county grounds is a backdrop to an extremely candid and brave - harrowingly so, at times - study of his own grieving process." MATT DICKINSON, THE TIMES. "A beautiful memoir. The Breath of Sadness is about music, food, books, hotels, holidays, films, flowers, cards, messages and presents. The things you remember; the things you find put away in drawers, the things that break your bloody heart." PAUL EDWARDS, THE CRICKETER. "Ridley writes with feeling on mourning a loved one in a book that finds companionship with two similar ones written by the surviving spouse: A Grief Observed by C S Lewis and the more recent The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion." SURESH MENON, THE HINDU

Read more less

Book SynopsisUpdated and expanded edition of the fullest ever collective investigation into Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel Murders.This volume collects not just all the key factual evidence but also 20 different arguments as to the identity of Jack the Ripper, such as that advanced by Patricia Cornwell. Contributions are from the world's leading Ripperologists, including William Beadle, Melvyn Fairclough, Martin Fido, Shirley Harrison, James Tully and Colin Wilson. The identity of Jack the Ripper has plagued professional historians, criminologists, writers and amateur enthusiasts. The many suspects include Montague John Druitt, Walter Sickert, Aaron Kosminski, Michael Ostrog, William Henry Bury, Dr Tumblety and James Maybrick. The only certainty is that Ripperologist have not found an invididual on whom they can all agree. The essays are supported by a detailed chronology, extensive bibliography and filmography.Trade ReviewCloses the book on Jack as comprehensively as possible * Crime Time *

Read more less

Book SynopsisKate Steele has just left her last destination - the beautiful Hawaiian islands. She is a young Canadian woman, who is traveling with a group of missionaries into the former Soviet Union, to work in an orphanage.She is completely fascinated by Russia, a country that has always seemed so isolated from the rest of the world. Towards the end of their stay, she falls head over heels in love with Max, a good-looking Russian man.The couple reunite in Moscow one year later to the day they had said goodbye.The young couple enjoy a whirlwind romance, culminating in Max''s proposal. With a bright future ahead the couple could not be happier.However, as time moves on she begins to see Max evolve into a different person, questioning their life together.In the dramatic conclusion, Katie holds steady, Max falters, as their final destiny comes to lightThis book has been inspired by a true story.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMark Purdey's life changed one day in 1984 when a Ministry of Agriculture inspector told him he must administer a toxic organophosphate pesticide to his dairy herd. Passionately committed to organic farming and convinced of the harmful effects of chemicals in the environment, he refused to comply. 'It was as if my whole life became focused', he explained later. Before they had a chance to prosecute, Purdey took the Ministry to court and won his case. These experiences led him to challenge the orthodox line on the origins of Mad Cow Disease and its human counterpart variant CJD. Could the insecticide used in the official programme have precipitated the spread of the disease?Purdey's quest to discover the truth was hampered at every turn by government bureaucracies and self-serving scientific cliques who sought to smear and marginalize him. Dogged by dirty tricks and forced to work alone as something of a scientific sleuth, he struggled to reveal hidden interests and dangerous secrets. His supporters included many members of the public, as well as Prince Charles and the poet Ted Hughes. The latter wrote to him expressing 'a million congratulations'.Increasingly sceptical of the official narrative, Purdey was certain that toxic environmental factors would provide answers, and so embarked on a self-funded worldwide odyssey to investigate. "Animal Pharm" follows him on these eco-detective trails to locations as diverse as Iceland, Sardinia, Colorado and Australia. Purdey uncovers contamination from industry, munitions, pesticides, nuclear experiments and natural geology, linking these with the emergence of a range of neurodegenerative diseases. His research is at once compelling and disturbing, helping to create a paradigm shift in our understanding of the relationship of pollutants to disease and health.Trade Review'Next to weapons of mass destruction, BSE or Mad Cow Disease was the Blair government's biggest scare. Mark Purdey's inves 5{, required reading.'- John Pilger'If Purdey is right, he deserves a Nobel Prize for medicine. Instead he has been shot at, his phone lines have been cut and his house has been burnt down. The Ministry of Agriculture, which for 50 years has enjoyed a dangerously close relationship with the agrochemical industry, has repeatedly sought to discredit him.' - George Monbiot

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn epic journey from New Zealand to Spain, celebrating the enduring romance of travel by train.The journey of The Antipodean Express takes in 89 days of travel, on 33 trains, through 19 countries. It begins in New Zealand''s North Island, weaves past the volcanoes of Java, through East Asia and on into Europe. From hilarious miscommunications in China to cultural immersion at the Bolshoi Ballet, there are stop-offs with half a world's worth of impressions, people, history, food, music and culture. Hill also describes most of the great trains of the Eurasian hemisphere, from New Zealand's Northern Explorer to the Eurostar, and everything in between.The culmination is a day spent in the obscure Spanish village of Alaejos, locating the exact antipode of the author's living room. The perfect end to a vast adventure.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPresents the story of The Byerley Turk, one of the original thoroughbred horses from which racing stock descend. This book describes the story of the horse and his owner, Captain Byerley.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author of Caledonian Road and Mayflies In The Secret Life: Three True Stories, Andrew O'Hagan issues three bulletins from the porous border between cyberspace and the real world'.Ghosting' introduces us to the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, whose autobiography the author agrees to ghostwrite, with unforgettable consequences.The Invention of Ronald Pinn' finds O'Hagan using the identity of a deceased young man to construct an entirely new one online, leading him on a journey into the deep web's darkest realms.The Satoshi Affair' chronicles the strange case of Craig Wright, the Australian web developer who may or may not be the mysterious inventor of Bitcoin, and who may or may not be willing, or even able, to reveal the truth.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERChasing Daylight is the honest, touching, and ultimately inspirational memoir of former KPMG CEO Eugene O'Kelly, completed in the three and a half months between his diagnosis with brain cancer and his death in September 2005. Itâs haunting yet extraordinarily hopeful voice reminds us to embrace the fragile, fleeting moments of our lives: the brief time we have with our family, our friends, and even ourselves. Glimpse the strategies Gene embraced to accept and live the final stages of his life with vibrancy and calm - and what his preparations for death taught him about life.This paperback edition features a new foreword by his wife, Corinne O'Kelly and a readers' group guide and questions âœA moving memoirâ The TimesâœChallenging and thought-provokingâ The Financial Timesâœ[A] well-written and moving book.â The Economist.com"Voicing universal truths not often found in business or how-to tracts...[O'Kelly] madTable of ContentsA Gift The Bottom Line The Business of Dying Is Hard The Best Death Possible The Good Good-bye Transition .Chasing Daylight By Corinne O’Kelly Afterword By Corinne O’Kelly . A Reader’s GuideQuestions for Discussion A Conversation with Corinne O’Kelly

Read more less

Book SynopsisMeet the girl from MI5 who had the gravy browning licked from her legs by Dylan Thomas; the barman who was appointed the keeper of Winston Churchill's private bottle of whisky; the East End Communist who marched with his comrades into the air-raid shelter of the Savoy; the throneless prince born in a suite at Claridge's declared...

Read more less

Book Synopsis More extraordinary but true stories from London’s history. In this fascinating follow-up to his bestselling London’s Strangest Tales, Tom Quinn makes a further foray into the weirder side of the capital, bringing us a splendiforous collection of bizarre-but-true stories that explore a thousand years of London’s history. Discover the ghosts that stalk West End theatres, the mysterious mummy who lives in a City church cupboard, and secret tunnels under the Thames. Find out why there’s a TARDIS at Earl’s Court, why frogs once rained from the skies, and why the mulberry tree in the gardens at Buckingham Palace isn’t quite what it was supposed to be. A dip-in-and-outable treasure trove of London lore, London’s Truly Strangest Tales is both an ideal gift for dyed-in-the-wool Londoners who want to find out more about the great city they live in, and the perfect souvenir for people just passing through. Word count: 58,000

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver the years, authors, artists and amblers aplenty have felt the pull of the Thames, and now travel writer Tom Chesshyre is following in their footsteps.He's walking the length of the river from the Cotswolds to the North Sea - a winding journey of over two hundred miles. Join him for an illuminating stroll past meadows, churches and palaces, country estates and council estates, factories and dockyards. Setting forth in the summer of Brexit, and meeting a host of interesting characters along the way, Chesshyre explores the living present and remarkable past of England's longest and most iconic river.Trade ReviewAn enjoyable refuge from everyday life * Clive Aslet, The Times *I found myself quickly falling into step beside Tom Chesshyre, charmed by his amiable meanderings, pointed observations and meetings with strangers along the way... but most of all Chesshyre champions the joys of a good walk through fascinating surroundings - with beer and blisters at the end of the day * BBC Countryfile Magazine - Fergus Collins *Readers should perhaps prepare themselves for a whole new wave of Whither England? type books in the months and years ahead, and Chesshyre's is a not unwelcome early attempt to answer that seemingly urgent question. * Ian Sansom, Times Literary Supplement *'Beautifully written and exquisite in observation, Tom Chesshyre's latest book, From Source to Sea is a fitting tribute to the mighty Thames that flows like a golden thread through the history of Britain. * Harry Bucknall, author of Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim *Chesshyre cuts an engaging figure... He has a true journalist's instinct for conversational encounters - Kurdistani picnickers in the river meadows upstream of London, pub thugs in the badlands of the lower Thames, other Thames Path pilgrims he rubs up against along the way. He also demonstrates a nose for a juicy tale, from a pre-Raphaelite ménage-àtrois at Kelmscott Manor to the discreet nookie column in the Marlow Free Press. Chesshyre's journey is rich in history and thick with characters, fables and happenstance - a highly readable and entertaining saunter along England's iconic river. * Christopher Somerville, author of Britain’s Best Walks *Chesshyre's book stands out from other accounts of walking the Thames Path in its contemporary (post-Brexit, pre-Trump) immediacy. A portrait of England and the English in our time, it is peppered with fascinating historical and literary markers. It's also a usefully opinionated guide to watering-holes and B&Bs from the sleepy Cotswold villages to the dystopian edgelands of the estuary. * Christina Hardyment, author of Writing the Thame *Journalist Tom Chesshyre has produced a readable, richly entertaining and highly informative book in From Source to Sea * Chris Gray, The Oxford Times *The result is this enjoyable travelogue, guiding the reader through the delightful towns and cities strung like pearls along the river, the 'liquid history' of the Thames from the Romans to the Profumo Affair and the beloved works of art and literature inspired by life on its banks, most famously Alice in Wonderland, Three Men in a Boat and The Wind in the Willows... a welcome addition to the Thames cannon. * Richard Tarrant, The Lady *Beautifully written and exquisite in observation, Tom Chesshyre's latest book, From Source to Sea is a fitting tribute to the mighty Thames that flows like a golden thread through the history of Britain. * Harry Bucknall, author of Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe moving true story of an ordinary Welsh woman who dreamed of breeding a race horse, and Dream Alliance, who defied the odds to become a champion and brought a community together.Janet Vokes was working behind the bar in her local working men’s club in the small Welsh mining community of Cefn Fforest when she fixed upon the idea of breeding a racehorse. She'd always loved animals, having dabbled in showing whippets and racing pigeons, and her husband Brian used to be a rag and bone man with a horse of his own. Why shouldn't a working-class horse take on the high flyers in the rarified world of racing? She bought a mare for £350, paired her up with a pedigree stallion and helped to create a syndicate of twenty-three friends from the village – each paying £10 a week – to raise the resulting foal, Dream Alliance. He may have grown up on an allotment but Dream Alliance had star quality, beating all the odds to become a winner at a number of world-class racetracks. Then a terrible injury to his leg threatened not just his career but his life. Refusing to have him put down, the syndicate paid for experimental surgery and Dream Alliance went on to not only make a full recovery but win the Welsh Grand National.Funny and charming, Dream Horse by Janet Vokes is the extraordinary story of a woman who defied the snobbery of the racing world to breed a champion, and a remarkable horse who brought a community together.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Through Her Eyes Australian women correspondents tell their own stories from the frontline – covering the breaking news, the issues and the events that are changing the world. They tell of Russian tanks and Ukrainian mothers fleeing with their children, vicious Afghan warlords, anti-government rebels in Central Africa, terrorist attacks in the United States, and the chaos faced by ordinary people caught up in disasters and political upheaval. While a woman strapping on a reporters’ flak jacket is now a common sight, there was a time when they were locked out of the big stories because of their gender. Unlike their male counterparts, they needed single-minded determination to score a plum assignment or win a posting to a foreign bureau. Through Her Eyes tells of the exhilaration that comes with a big story but also the dangers, the risks, the struggle and the big issues women still face, from vicious media trolling to threats of sexual violence. Through Her Eyes includes well-known women correspondents for major media organisations inside and outside Australia including the ABC, BBC, SBS, CNN, The Associated Press of America, UPI, Reuters, The Times of London, Al Jazeera, China Global Television Network, The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and the Australian Financial Review.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis[F]or anyone who has ever sat in a city office dreaming of owning a smallholding one day and living off the land, this book will inspire them to take the plunge. Rated 5 stars by The Telegraph I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement. What Lynn and Sandra have achieved on their croft in Scotland is a miracle of rebirth on land Isabella Tree, author of Wilding The inspiring story of two courageous women who took the leap and embraced a whole new way of life. Kate Humble, author of Home Cooked As seen on the BBC’s This Farming Life Our Wild Farming Life is what happens when you follow your dreams of living on the land; a story of how two people became farmers – and how they learned to make a living from it, their way. Lynn and Sandra left their friends, family and jobs in England to travel north to Scotland to find a small piece of land they could call their own. They had no money, no plan and no experience in farming. They had in mind keeping a few chickens, a kitchen garden and renting out some camping space, but instead, they fell in love with Lynbreck Croft – 150 acres of wild Scottish Highlands filled with opportunity and beauty, shrouded by the Cairngorms mountains. This is the inspirational true story of Lynbreck Croft – a regenerative Scottish croft rooted in local food and community – and the dreams of two women in search of a new, wilder existence. In Our Wild Farming Life, Lynn and Sandra recount their experiences as they rebuild their new home and work out what kind of farmers they want to be. They learn how to work with Highland cattle, become part of the crofting community and begin to truly understand how they can farm in harmony with nature to produce wonderful food for themselves and the people around them. Through efforts like these, Lynn and Sandra have been able to combine regenerative farming practices with old crofting traditions to keep their own personal values intact.Trade Review‘I raced through this beautiful story with mounting awe and excitement. What Lynn and Sandra have achieved on their croft in Scotland is a miracle of rebirth on land that most would have considered beyond hope. Their success is testament to the wisdom of working with nature rather than battling against it and their pragmatism, honesty and openness to new and old ideas shines through on every page. I hope it inspires legions of new farmers.’—Isabella Tree, author of Wilding‘A ripping good account of the guts, luck and perseverance it takes to create a productive and healthy farm or croft that jumps the rails of our conventional industrial agriculture.’—Nick Offerman‘Full of refreshing honesty and a burning passion to reconnect food, communities and nature, what Lynn and Sandra have achieved is nothing short of incredible. These two are the real deal; humble pioneers during a critical time working selflessly to empower others. Lynbreck Croft is the embodiment of how humans should approach food production, and this book serves as an invaluable resource for anybody who has an interest in a regenerative future.’—Huw Richards, author of The Vegetable Grower’s Handbook‘The inspiring story of two courageous women who took the leap and embraced a whole new way of life. Lynn and Sandra, I salute you!’—Kate Humble, broadcaster and author of Home Cooked‘This is a story that needed to be told. I defy anyone to be in the presence of Lynn and Sandra for ten minutes and not come away inspired and with a smile. Arriving in the Highlands with a dream and very little else apart from determination, enthusiasm, passion, warmth and humility, they were not afraid to learn from mistakes and to seek help and advice. ‘The Highlands can be a welcoming place, but you have to earn it. Folk here won’t beat a path to your door unless you leave it wide open. And they did it. Neighbours embraced their dream and wanted to make it happen. To be a part of it. The gift of a cow. The gift of fuel. The gift of thousands of years of experience, knowledge and a love for the land.’—Euan McIlwraith, BBC TV and Radio presenter‘Many of us dream of going “back” to the land. Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer have made it happen. In this inspirational, honest and quietly revelatory book they show how farming is not a lifestyle fantasy but a way of living, working and eating that is in partnership – with the land, the community, animals and each other. This is not a step back but the key to all our futures.’—Patrick Barkham, author of Wild Child "Their work on the croft is a true community endeavor....Our Wild Farming Life is a warm yet realistic chronicle of the world of the small-time farmer, sharing a vision of how we humans can feed ourselves sustainably and ethically while living in harmony with the natural world."—Booklist

Read more less

Book SynopsisPaul Fischer is a film producer and writer. Born in Saudi Arabia and raised in France, he studied Social Sciences at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris and Film at the University of Southern California and the New York Film Academy. He has worked as an independent film producer in London for the past seven years; his first feature, the documentary Radioman, won the Grand Jury Prize at the DOC NYC festival. A Kim Jong-Il Production is his first book.Trade ReviewAddictive, profoundly weird * Spectator *Extraordinary, gripping * Financial Times *Stranger than fiction * Independent *An absolutely brilliant page-turner * Daily Mail *Captivatingly tells perhaps the most extraordinary tale from the world's most bizarre country. That a North Korean dictator should kidnap two South Korean movie stars and force them to make films he hoped would rival Hollywood seems the stuff of fantasy . . . Flabbergasting -- Paul French, author of international bestseller 'Midnight in Peking'A true story of desperate movie stars, daring escapes, and the paranoid leader who brought it all together. Equal parts history, thriller, and farce . . . will keep you engrossed until the very end -- Matt Baglio, co-author of 'New York Times' bestseller Argo

Read more less

Book SynopsisGraham Robb was born in Manchester in 1958 and is a former Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. He has published widely on French literature and history. His 2007 book The Discovery of France won both the Duff Cooper and Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prizes. For Parisians the City of Paris awarded him the Grande Médaille de la Ville de Paris. He lives on the English-Scottish border.Trade ReviewQuirky, amused and très British. -- Julian Barnes, author of The Sense of an Ending'A collection of true stories, culled from Robb's insatiable historical reading and lit by his imagination . . . So richly pleasurable that you feel it might emit a warm glow if you left it in a dark room. -- John Carey, Book of the Week * Sunday Times *This book is the sort of triumph that we have no right to expect to come from anyone in the steady way that Robb's masterly books come from him. -- Philip Hensher * Daily Telegraph *As Parisian and as bracing as a freshly mixed Pernod and water. * New York Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWinner of the Untapped Award 2018.Fringe First and Total Theatre Award-winning Breach (Tank, The Beanfield) restage the 1612 trial of Agostino Tassi for the rape of baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi.Based on surviving court transcripts, this new play dramatises the seven-month trial that gripped Renaissance Rome, and asks how much has changed in the last four centuries.It''s True, It''s True, It''s True blends myth, history and contemporary commentary to tell the the story of how a woman took revenge through her art to become one of the most successful painters of her generation.

Read more less