True stories / true accounts of events Books

Book SynopsisThis book offers an intimate portrait of early twentieth-century Harbin, a city in Manchuria where Russian colonialists, and later refugees from the Revolution, met with Chinese migrants. The deep social and intellectual fissures between the Russian and Chinese worlds were matched by a multitude of small efforts to cross the divide as the city underwent a wide range of social and political changes. Using surviving letters, archival photographs, and rare publications, this book also tells the personal story of a forgotten city resident, Baron Roger Budberg, a physician who, being neither Russian nor Chinese, nevertheless stood at the very centre of the cross-cultural divide in Harbin. The biography of an important city, fleshing out its place in the global history of East-West contacts and twentieth-century diasporas, this book is also the history of an individual life and an original experiment in historical writing. Trade Review"This is a fascinating and well-researched exploration of the Russian [and] Chinese cultural encounter in Harbin, based on the extensive use of sources in both Russian and Chinese." -- Austin Jersild, Old Dominion University * H-Soz-Kult *"Specialists will draw much eclectic material about Harbin from Gamsa and enjoy the author’s often insightful ideas about cross-cultural contact and more." -- David Wolff, Hokkaido University * Slavic Review *"There are many reasons to like this book. The writing is elegant, with frequent memorable turns of phrase. The research in Russian, Chinese, and European-language sources is deep and rich, and Gamsa’s feel for his subject is remarkable. One senses on every page his balanced affection for Harbin and even for Budberg, despite his frankness about their many shared imperfections." -- Willard Sunderland, University of Cincinnati * Journal of Modern History *“The book builds on impressive research, contains stimulating discussions of the relationship between biography and general history, and thus deserves to be read not only as the story of a remarkable man but also, more broadly, as a fascinating attempt to understand the life of an individual in the context of his multicultural environment.” -- Stig Thøgersen, Aarhus University * H-Net Reviews *“Harbin: A Cross-Cultural Biography is a remarkable feat of research across multiple languages and archives, as well as a compellingly original, stylishly written, and surprisingly intimate book.” -- Edward Tyerman, University of California, Berkeley * Twentieth-Century China *"The book is a masterful analysis of the consequences that traumatic shifts in power relations could have for the life of individuals." -- N. Pianciola, Nazarbayev University * Slavonic and East European Review *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction 1. Of Ethnicity and Identity 2. Beginnings 3. Intermediaries and Channels of Communication 4. A Chinese-German Flower 5. Daily Life in a Mixed City 6. Trials and Endings 7. Russians and Chinese under Japanese Rule 8. Kharbintsy and Ha’erbin ren Epilogue: The General and the Particular Notes Glossary of Chinese Terms Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2022A SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE TIMES AND THE GUARDIANThe remarkable untold story of the mercurial cycling prodigy Frank Vandenbroucke, written by William Hill award-winning author Andy McGrath.They called him God. For his grace on a bicycle, for his divine talent, for his heavenly looks. Frank Vandenbroucke had it all, and in the late Nineties he raced with dazzling speed and lived even faster.The Belgian won several of cycling''s most illustrious races, including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Nice and Ghent-Wevelgem. He was a mix of poise and panache who enthralled a generation of cycling fans. Off the bike, he only had one enemy - himself. Vandenbroucke dabbled in nocturnal party sessions mixing sleeping pills and alcohol and regularly fell out with team managers. By 1999 his team had suspended him and this proved to be the start of a long, eventful fall from grace. Depression, a Trade ReviewHow doping killed cycling's 'golden boy'. A shocking, clear-sighted and sympathetic account of a talent destroyed by drugs. -- Melanie Reid * The Times *'With his talent, Frank is the Johan Cruyff of cycling. He could win anything.' * Eddy Merckx *A stunning biography of this troubled individual. 320 pages of brilliance. * Washing Machine Post *Superb. A riveting, warts-an-all dive into a complex, deeply flawed rider and man during professional cycling's lowest ebb. * Cycling Plus *The fact that we know the tragically opaque ending of this story from the start is what lends such a devastating quality to McGrath's careful biography. Soberly told and with a clear affection for its wayward subject, McGrath's account explores the narcotically corrupting power of sport itself. -- Jonathan Liew * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisAn iron-willed mother, an ageing grandmother, a pair of mismatched dogs and 90 mu of less-than-ideal farmland: these are Li Juan’s companions on the steppes of the Gobi Desert.Writing out of a yurt under Xinjiang’s endless horizons, she documents her family’s quest to extract a bounty of sunflowers amid the harsh beauty and barren expanses of China’s northwest frontier. Success must be eked out in the face of life’s unnegotiable realities: sandstorms, locusts and death.While this small tribe is held at the mercy of these headwinds, they discover the cheer and dignity hidden in each other. But will their ceaseless labours deliver blooming fields of green and yellow? Or will their dreams prove as distant as they are fragile?Trade ReviewDistant Sunflower Fields is like Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain ... you unconsciously forget the daily hubbub and sink silently into the embrace of the world her words have brought to being.Xinran | author of The Good Women of China

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Book SynopsisPAPERBACK EDITION INCLUDES AN AFTERWORD WITH NEW INFORMATION ON THE KELLY CASE. A DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR. 'A compelling, authoritative insight into possibly the most controversial death in Britain this century' The Observer. 'Goslett's like Poirot; he asks questions... Spooky and scary' Evening Standard. 'Masterful... This book made me proud of my trade as a journalist' Daily Mail. 'This searing excavation of the mysterious death of Dr David Kelly is investigative journalism at its best. It is brave, relentless, dazzlingly revealing' Peter Oborne. In March 2003 British forces invaded Iraq after Tony Blair said the country could deploy weapons of mass destruction at 45 minutes' notice. A few months later, government scientist Dr David Kelly was unmasked by Blair's officials as the assumed source of a BBC news report challenging this claim. Within days, Dr Kelly was found dead in a wood near his home. Blair immediately convened the controversial Hutton Inquiry, which concluded Dr Kelly committed suicide. Yet key questions remain: could Dr Kelly really have taken his life in the manner declared? And why did Blair's government derail the coroner's inquest into Dr Kelly's death? In this meticulous account, award-winning journalist Miles Goslett shows why we should be sceptical of the official story of what happened in that desperate summer of 2003.Trade ReviewA compelling, authoritative insight into possibly the most controversial death in Britain this century * Observer *Masterful... This book made me proud of my trade as a journalist' * Daily Mail *A notable contribution to contemporary political history * Open Democracy *This searing excavation of the mysterious death of Dr David Kelly is investigative journalism at its best. It is brave, relentless, dazzlingly revealing -- Peter OborneEveryone, from Tony Blair downwards, was insistent that Dr Kelly had committed suicide yet the evidence, which Goslett examines in scrupulous detail in this gripping narrative, suggests otherwise -- Richard IngramsGoslett confines himself to the demand for an inquest, and his fine book eloquently spells out why all of us, including Dr Kelly's family, friends and colleagues, deserve one * The Lobster *Goslett's well-researched book about the death in 2003 of the weapons expert Dr David Kelly raises troubling questions about abuse of process * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *This book takes us back to those weeks when New Labour 'spin' seemed to generate its darkest, most frantic moments... Goslett argues convincingly that potentially important witnesses were not called and inconsistencies in evidence were left unexplored' * Mail on Sunday *Award-winning investigative journalist Miles Goslett draws together the facts in an intriguing and profoundly disturbing narrative that poses many questions that are yet to be answered * Daily Mail. *Drawing heavily on medical expertise, Goslett carefully unpicks the gaps in Hutton's probe. He finds enough contradictions in the inquiry [...] to leave the reader deeply uneasy about how the scientist ended up dead in the woods * Morning Star. *

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Book SynopsisThe second edition of the Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year is updated with a new chapter describing Nick's eventual completion of the Fastnet Race thirty years after his first, ill-fated attempt. The world-famous Fastnet Race takes yachts from the Isle of Wight to the Fastnet Rock off the southwest coast of Ireland and back. The 1979 race began in perfect conditions, but was soon engulfed by the deadliest storm in the history of modern sailing. By the time it passed, the havoc caused was immeasurable, and fifteen sailors had lost their lives. It had been Nick Ward's childhood ambition to sail in the Fastnet Race, and being asked to join the crew of the 30-foot yacht Grimalkin was a dream come true. But then the storm hit. Grimalkin was capsized again and again. With the skipper lost overboard, after hours of struggle three of the crew decided to abandon the boat for the liferaft. Nick and another crewmember, both unconscious, were left on the beleaguered yacht in the middle of Trade Review'Nick has told the story of his amazing survival in his book Left for Dead, which he has re-released to include a new chapter about his epic challenge 30 years later.' * The Irish Sun (July 2010) *'Unsettling but compelling reading. Essential reading for those sailors who can't help thinking "What if?"' * Sailing Today (November 2010) *'This book is a gripping read from start to finish.' * Compass Magazine (2010) *

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Book SynopsisOn the scorching February day in 2009 that became known as Black Saturday, a man lit two fires in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, then sat on the roof of his house to watch the inferno. In the Valley, where the rates of crime were the highest in the state, more than thirty people were known to police as firebugs. But the detectives soon found themselves on the trail of a man they didn’t know. The Arsonist takes readers on the hunt for this man, and inside the strange puzzle of his mind. It is also the story of fire in Australia, and of a community that owed its existence to that very element. The command of fire has defined and sustained us as a species – understanding its abuse will define our future. A powerful real-life thriller written with Hooper’s trademark lyric detail and nuance, The Arsonist is a reminder that in an age of fire, all of Trade Review‘We will all learn something from the devastating events that scorched a community and the way in which her storytelling draws a reaction.’ * The Times *‘As gripping as any work of fiction.’ * Crime Monthly *‘Hooper gives a cool appraisal of a hot issue . . . even-handed and nuanced.’ * The Guardian *‘The book tells the story of the 2009 Black Saturday blazes in Victoria, which rank among Australia’s most deadly bushfires . . . But it is also the story of post-industrial, semi-rural communities and lack of government regulation in the Anthropocene. The Arsonist‘s environmental setting may help readers understand the context for Australia’s current bushfire emergency.’ * Chicago Review of Books *‘Brilliant and moving.’ * Australian Book Review *‘A masterclass in engaging true crime.’ * Herald Sun *‘By turns a fascinating real-life thriller, police procedural, intense sociological study and the long-overdue story of fire in Australia . . . Powerful and nuanced . . . In Hooper's sure hands the grimmest details become exquisite imagery.’ * Sydney Morning Herald *‘Gripping, gritty and unsparing but never gratuitous in its details, this is true crime writing at its best. But Hooper goes beyond the procedurals and the scene setting to examine the greater context of the tragedy.’ * The Saturday Paper *‘Add The Arsonist to Australia’s illustrious literature on bushfires. With skill and sensitivity, Chloe Hooper has managed to find an unexpectedly human face and heart amid the blackest depths of Black Saturday.’ -- Stephen Pyne, author of Fire: A Brief History‘Hooper drops the reader inside the Black Saturday brushfires to terrifying effect, then masterfully shifts from the physical realm to the existential – namely, how and why a particular evil manifests. Visceral and terrifying.’ -- Maureen Callahan, author of American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century‘Demonstrates why literature still matters.’ -- Jeff Sparrow * The Age *

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Book Synopsis**THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER****SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD**Uncovering the mystery of her mother's disappearance as a child: Laura Cumming, prize-winning author and art critic, takes a closer look at her family story.'A modern masterpiece' GuardianAutumn 1929 - a young girl is kidnapped from a beach. Five agonising days go by before she is discovered safe and well in a nearby village. The child remembers nothing of these events and at home, nobody ever speaks of them again.Decades later, Laura Cumming delves into the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance. Examining everything from old family photos to letters, tickets and recipes, she uncovers a series of secrets and lies perpetuated not just by her family but by the whole community and in doing so unlocks a mystery almost a century old.'A moving, many-sided human story of great depth and tenderness, and a revelation of how art enriches life' Sunday TimesShortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-FictionShortlisted for the Rathbones Folio PrizeLonglisted for the RSL Ondaatje PrizeTrade Review*Memoir of the Year* How we see -- and who see and what secrets they choose to share -- is at the heart of this exquisitely composed memoir... A peerless detective story that keeps you guessing to the end * The Sunday Times *On Chapel Sands is much more than a search for truth. It is a moving, many-sided human story of great depth and tenderness, and a revelation of how art enriches life. In short, a masterpiece -- John Carey * Sunday Times *Cumming skilfully withholds key twists in the tale, revealing them at just the right moment. There are surprises, but no shocks. Her prose is too elegant for such gaudiness – composed and restrained but empathetic -- Leaf Arbuthnot * The Times *Brilliant... This book is a love letter to her [Cumming's] mother, whose warmth, articulacy and survival instincts shine though. It's also an intimate portrait of a village community, with its storybook characters (butcher, baker, dairyman, bell-ringer, gravedigger) and their wonderful old-fashioned names -- Blake Morrison * Guardian *By turns beautiful, wistful, and ominous… the reasons behind the kidnap, and the repurcussions, are every bit as complex as any served up by fiction, and, oddly enough, the dénouement -- or succession of dénouements -- is just as satisfying, perhaps more so... a meditation on the way some people disappear, and time erases memory... so familiar as to be universal, and will probably ring bells with all but the sunniest reader (***** Five Stars) -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *

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Book Synopsis'A powerful, inspiring book' ObserverGeorges Salines lost his daughter Lola in the attack on the Bataclan Theatre in Paris on 13th November 2015. Azdyne Amimour lost his son. Both were aged 28. Lola was one of the 90 victims, Amimour's son one of the attackers.   From his meeting with Azdyne Amimour, an unprecedented dialogue emerged. Georges Salines carries the memory of his daughter and many other victims, while Azdyne Amimour seeks to understand how his son was able to commit acts which he condemns without appeal. Driven by mutual curiosity, the two tell their stories and unfold the story of 'their' 13th November.   In the course of this conversation, a deep respect was born between these two fathers whom everything should nevertheless have opposed. Their testimony feeds a peaceful reflection on radicalization, education and mourning.Because if there are words left,Trade Review'A powerful, inspiring book.' -- Agnes Poirier * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisA terrifically engaging and original biography about one of England's greatest novelists, and the glamorous, eccentric, debauched and ultimately tragic family that provided him with the most significant friendships of his life and inspired his masterpiece, Brideshead Revisited'.Evelyn Waugh was already famous when Brideshead Revisited' was published in 1945. Written at the height of the war, the novel was, he admitted, of no immediate propaganda value'. Instead, it was the story of a household, a family and a journey of religious faith an elegy, in many ways, for a vanishing world and a testimony to a family he had fallen in love with a decade earlier.The Lygons of Madresfield were every bit as glamorous, eccentric and compelling as their counterparts in Brideshead Revisited'. In this engrossing biography, Paula Byrne takes an innovative approach to her subject, setting out to capture Waugh through those friendships that mattered most to him. Far from the snobbish misanthropist of popTrade Review'Byrne's gift as a writer is her ability to combine scholarship with turbo-driven narrative power. "Mad World" is vibrant, absorbing, stranger than fiction' Sunday Times 'Paula Byrne has written a highly accomplished book about the family that came to inspire the Flytes of Brideshead … a marvellous book, warm, witty, and enormously readable' Daily Telegraph 'Paula Byrne is the latest to explore the people and the story that inspired the book, and she does so with acuity and panache … a lively introduction to Waugh and to Brideshead' Observer ‘"Mad World" is full of fascinating anecdotes … Paula Byrne has produced a strong and romantic book that is at once a touching story of deep friendships, an astute piece of literary criticism and an important contribution to the canon of Waugh biography" Alexander Waugh, Literary Review '[A] gripping account of Evelyn Waugh's life' Philip Hoare ‘vibrant, absorbing and stranger than fiction’'Byrne's gift as a writer is her ability to combine scholarship with turbo-driven narrative power. "Mad World" is vibrant, absorbing, stranger than fiction' Sunday Times 'Paula Byrne has written a highly accomplished book about the family that came to inspire the Flytes of Brideshead … a marvellous book, warm, witty, and enormously readable' Daily Telegraph 'Paula Byrne is the latest to explore the people and the story that inspired the book, and she does so with acuity and panache … a lively introduction to Waugh and to Brideshead' Observer ‘"Mad World" is full of fascinating anecdotes … Paula Byrne has produced a strong and romantic book that is at once a touching story of deep friendships, an astute piece of literary criticism and an important contribution to the canon of Waugh biography" Alexander Waugh, Literary Review '[A] gripping account of Evelyn Waugh's life' Philip Hoare ‘vibrant, absorbing and stranger than fiction’The Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisGetting Into Guinness is the hilarious true story of record breaking attempts, how record obsession has become a global phenomenon, the weird and wonderful characters that set records and the history of the Guinness Book of World Records.Trade Review'A funny and revealing look at the reference classic of everyone's childhood. I read it straight through in exactly 5 hours and 21 minutes, with hourly rest breaks. While balancing a milk bottle on my head. And riding a unicycle.' Ken Jennings, author of Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs 'Larry Olmsted is a gifted storyteller who captures the heart and soul of the wonderful, wacky world of Guinness records. As a two-time record holder himself, he paints a vivid and hilarious picture of the silliness and absurdity of the global quest for fame. Brimming with unforgettable characters and delicious stories, you'll want to devour this book as fast as record holder Tom Waes can consume an entire pizza…19.91 seconds!' Ben Sherwood, author of The Man Who Ate the 747 'Getting into Guinness is a full-throttle joyride through the bizarre world behind the records. These people are delightfully misguided, and Olmsted is one of them. But his obsession is his greatest advantage as a storyteller: he goes off the deep end and takes us with him.' Michael Roberts, Executive Editor, Outside magazine 'This book records the minute-by-minute physical agony of Olmsted's own feats while setting records of its own-funniest, quirkiest, most interesting and most practical guide to what is arguably the world's best known book, after the Bible. From Olmsted's many astonishing accounts of record seekers there emerges something both touching and profound-the desire of ordinary men and women to escape the humdrum, to show their stuff, to be noticed and remembered.' Tom Powers, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Man Who Kept the Secrets

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Book SynopsisOn a Saturday morning in May 1980, Melanie Bowen, a pretty fifteen year old, ran down the stairs of her parents’ home in Port Talbot, grabbed her leather jacket and crash helmet, yelled a goodbye, and then walked out of the front door into the sunshine for what was to be the last time in her life. Never Say Die is the true story of what followed…

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Book SynopsisThe harrowing true story of a travelling Irish family bonded by love, broken apart by life, and then betrayed by their carers in a cruel convent in Ireland.

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Book SynopsisMillions of people around the world have experienced contact from the other side. In this inspiring and uplifting short story leading expert Jacky Newcomb shares some of the stories she's received about contact and life after death.When a loved one is taken away suddenly, people often tell Jacky of their regrets about not having the opportunity to say goodbye. Yet people all over the world have stories of loved ones who come back to say Hello or Goodbye from heaven.They appear in dreams, visions, meditation and sometimes when we're wide awake. Those who are lucky enough to experience it consider it a gift they will remember for the rest of their lives.Here for the first time Jacky will share these extraordinary stories along with the amazing and bizarre reasons for why our loved ones visit.

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Book SynopsisOur pets are our family. They love us, comfort us and make us laugh – so it’s no wonder that letting them go is so hard. But amazing and inspirational true stories from Jacky Newcomb show that we will be reunited with them again.

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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

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Book SynopsisThe funny, touching and entertaining story of how Jo Hardy, the star of BBC2's Young Vets, gets to grips with animals big and small, friendly and not-at-all-happy, on the road to becoming a fully qualified vet.Stand well clear. Keep your eyes on them. Oh, and make sure you have insurance.'Not the most comforting words of wisdom, but probably the most useful for a trainee vet, Jo would say. From well-equipped surgeries to windswept hills and ramshackle barns, Jo has to be able to diagnose and treat any animal, at any time of the day or night. It's not quite as easy as James Herriot made it seem.Jo's final year of training saw her race from rectal examinations of cows to spine surgery on a Great Dane, and from treating an eventing horse with a heart problem to inserting a contraceptive implant into a monkey.And then there were the owners the tough guy who sobbed when his cat was diagnosed with cancer, the woman who was convinced her dog was embarrassed by its stomach upset, and the farmer who loved his cows as much as anyone loves their pets.Gruelling days of animal treatments and visits combined with long nights of study and revision made Jo's final year of training the most demanding and rewarding year of her life. Her book tells of the highs and lows, the pets that stole her heart, and the lifelong friends that she made with two legs and four.

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Book SynopsisIt’s 1971 and seventeen-year-old Christine is about to give birth to her son. When her family throw her out, Christine has the biggest fight of her life to bring up her son safe on the infamous Canterbury Estate in Bradford, rife with crime, alcohol and drugs, a place where family is everything and nothing.

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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.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.Elaine and Ian had travelled half way round the world to adopt little Anna. She couldn't have been more wanted, loved and cherished. So why was she now in foster care and living with me? It didn't make sense.Until I learned what had happened. Dressed only in nappies and ragged T-shirts the children were incarcerated in their cots. Their large eyes stared out blankly from emaciated faces. Some were obviously disabled, others not, but all were badly undernourished. Flies circled around the broken ceiling fans and buzzed against the grids covering the windows. The only toys were a few balls and a handful of building bricks, but no child played with them. The silence was deafening and unnatural. Not one of the thirty or so infants cried, let alone spoke.

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Book SynopsisThe true story of 2 year-old Anna, abandoned by her natural parents, left alone in a neglected orphanage.

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Book SynopsisIn the tradition of The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air, Rachel Slade's Into the Raging Sea is a nail-biting account of the sinking of the container ship El Faro, the crew of thirty-three who perished onboard, and the destructive forces of globalisation that put the ship in harm's way.On October 1, 2015, Hurricane Joaquin barreled into the Bermuda Triangle and swallowed the container ship El Faro whole, resulting in one of the worst shipping disasters in decades. No one could fathom how a vessel equipped with satellite communications, a sophisticated navigation system, and cutting-edge weather forecasting could suddenly vanish until now.Relying on hundreds of exclusive interviews with family members and maritime experts, as well as the words of the crew members themselves whose conversations were captured by the ship's data recorder journalist Rachel Slade unravels the mystery of the sinking of El Faro. As she recounts the final twenty-four hours onboard, Slade vividly depicts the oTrade Review‘An extraordinary piece of reporting. Slade has accomplished what very few authors ever attempt: to explain the loss of a ship with no survivors. I tore through it like a novel but with the inside knowledge of how insulated the shipping industry is, how well it protects secrets and of the countless nets it deploys to entangle journalists. Slade pushes through the waves, heavy seas, and military court imbroglio in the same way El Faro faced hurricane Joaquin – dead on at Full Speed Ahead’ John Konrad, author of Fire on the Horizon: The Untold Story Of Deepwater Horizon Disaster “The one account I’ve read that solves the riddle of El Faro convincingly and thoroughly. Rachel Slade mashes up The Perfect Storm with a suspenseful, page-turning thriller, cutting through the corporate double-speak to shine a light on how it was that thirty-three men and women sailed into Hurricane Joaquin. Superbly written, this deserves a place on the bookshelf of modern maritime classics. Even those who have followed El Faro closely will find major surprises here’ Robert Frump, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Until the Sea Shall Free Them: Life, Death, and Survival in the Merchant Marine

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Book SynopsisThe Personals reveals how classified ads are not just a few commercial lines of text in print or online they can be a treasure trove of fascinating human stories; stories of love, loss, loneliness, redemption and hope.Some people do Sudoku, others watch Netflix. Brian O'Connell loves the classified ads.In an era of spin doctors and press releases, celebrities and social influencers, the classified ads can open a door into the lives of ordinary people with extraordinary stories.What draws Brian to the classified ads are the intriguing human stories he finds there, the unexpected twists and turns, the personalities, the curious objects and the range of human experience waiting to be discovered.The Personals is a diverse collection of compelling stories about the people and the lives behind the small ads.

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Book Synopsisinspiring stories alongside beautifully illustrated sweet and savoury recipes.' BBC GOOD FOOD[An] inspiring London bakery empowering tales are interspersed with illustrated recipes.' DELICIOUS.Inspirational stories. Irresistible bakes.From the perfect sponge cake to a foolproof focaccia, discover Luminary Bakery in over 70 delicious recipes. A social enterprise founded to support women experiencing disadvantage by teaching them how to bake, it has become a hub of creativity and community.Learn to create their iconic cinnamon buns, perfect pastries or a banoffee birthday cake. From simple bakes to showstoppers, the secrets of each bread, cake or stress-free dessert are accompanied by stories from the Luminary family.Heartwarming, joyful and above all, inspiring, every recipe in this classic collection is a story of Rising Hope.Trade Review‘inspiring stories … alongside beautifully illustrated sweet and savoury recipes.’ BBC GOOD FOOD ‘a mix of truly inspirational stories from the bakery and delicious cakes and bakes’ Bella ‘[An] inspiring London bakery … empowering tales are interspersed with illustrated recipes.’ DELICIOUS. ‘Stunning’ Heat ‘Inspirational’ Waitrose Weekend

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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.

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Book SynopsisI knew dogs could make a difference to the children's lives. I knew it the moment I watched a little boy, exhausted by pain and sickness, stretch out his hand to touch my dog's paw, and thenhe smiled.'Lyndsey Uglow has endured and overcome mental health challenges and much personal pain, including her young son's battle with Leukaemia. Lyndsey knows only too well the emotional rollercoaster experienced by parents supporting their children through critical illness, but she also knows just how much the company of dogs can alleviate just some of their worry and pain.The healing bond with dogs that helped her, she now shares with others in the shape of a dynasty of exceptional Golden Retrievers, including the incredible Leo. Since 2012, Lyndsey has made it possible for therapy dogs to visit more than 10,000 children, many critically ill, bringing smiles of simple joy and a sense of normality to lives ruled by pain, sadness and uncertainty in paediatric intensive care, cancer wards and pal

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Book SynopsisA must-have gift for anyone interested in investigative journalism. The Sunday Times Insight team is famous for its investigative journalism. This book profiles the major stories – often a result of years of work and painstaking investigation – that ripped away the shrouds of secrecy, revealing the inconvenient truth.

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Book SynopsisBex and Laura really have pieced together the parachute we all need to help us land safely after falling into the world of loss and fertility struggles.' Elle Wright, author of A Bump In The RoadA practical and emotional self-help guide for anyone affected by miscarriage and pregnancy loss, from the co-hosts of the successful podcast, The Worst Girl Gang Ever.Following pregnancy loss, it can feel like you've forgotten how to speak and need to learn a new language. You can tell your story to a room full of people but if no-one speaks this new language, they won't understand. They will try but ultimately, they won't fully grasp what you are saying.This is us. This is our new language. It is a language built from pain, and it is a language we need to teach others. Welcome to our gang.We are so, so sorry that you've found yourself here. It's the gang you'd never chose to join but it is also a community chock-a-block full of kind, supportive, warrior women just like you.We are here to tell Trade Review‘Bex and Laura really have pieced together the parachute we all need to help us land safely after falling into the world of loss and fertility struggles. It’s like the kind friend who climbs down into the hole with you through the worst parts, and gives you a leg back up when you’re ready to try again. Thoughtful, helpful, and a little bit sweary… my kind of manual!’ Elle Wright, Feathering the Empty Nest and author of A Bump In The Road ‘Buckingham and Gunn are part of a growing group of women helping to change the place of miscarriage in public consciousness.’ Nell Frizzell, Vogue ‘[Bex and Laura] are here to offer support to others and smash the stigma of baby loss, with their powerful mantra: “We get you. And we’ve got you.”’OK

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Book SynopsisNominated for the 2017 Hillman Prize and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights AwardWith this Dickensian tale from America’s heartland, New York Times writer and columnist Dan Barry tells the harrowing yet uplifting story of the exploitation and abuse of a resilient group of men with intellectual disability, and the heroic efforts of those who helped them to find justice and reclaim their lives.In the tiny Iowa farm town of Atalissa, dozens of men, all with intellectual disability and all from Texas, lived in an old schoolhouse. Before dawn each morning, they were bussed to a nearby processing plant, where they eviscerated turkeys in return for food, lodging, and $65 a month. They lived in near servitude for more than thirty years, enduring increasing neglect, exploitation, and physical and emotional abuse—until state social workers, local journalists, and one tenacious labor lawyer helped these men achieve freedom.Drawing

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Book SynopsisBobby Griffith was an all-American boy ...and he was gay. Faced with an irresolvable conflict-for both his family and his religion taught him that being gay was wrong-Bobby chose to take his own life. Prayers for Bobby, nominated for a 1996 Lambda Literary Award, is the story of the emotional journey that led Bobby to this tragic conclusion. But it is also the story of Bobby''s mother, a fearful churchgoer who first prayed that her son would be healed, then anguished over his suicide, and ultimately transformed herself into a national crusader for gay and lesbian youth. As told through Bobby''s poignant journal entries and his mother''s reminiscences, Prayers for Bobby is at once a moving personal story, a true profile in courage, and a call to arms to parents everywhere.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Can’t recommend this joint enough. It is extremely hard to translate what is happening in our society right now. … Aaron Glantz does a great job moving through the jungle of jargon. But most importantly he implicitly raises a question that has been quietly dogging me for years: What does it mean to tell your children that their success is ultimately a matter of discipline, education, hard work, and citizenship, and then see that those factors have almost no power to explain the (financial) success of the Titans of America. ... An illuminating and discomfiting read.” — Ta-Nehisi Coates (via Instagram) "Essential reading." — New York Review of Books “Glantz skillfully tells a bigger story about American housing that’s tortuous, confounding and ultimately enraging.” — New York Times “With prose that is as plainspoken as it is propulsive, Glantz explains how homeownership propelled the American Dream until 1986 only to fall, one financial scheme at a time, at the hands of billionaire money-grabbers and the failing regulators and gutless politicians who enable them.” — Beth Macy, author of Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America “In case there was ever any doubt that the world of high finance affects American households, Aaron Glantz lays it to rest in this gripping narrative of how the foreclosure machine became a grand mechanism to convert America’s historic wealth building asset—its homes—into a commodity for financiers.” — Sarah Bloom Raskin, former deputy secretary of the US Treasury and former governor of the Federal Reserve Board “An eye-opening account of how a cast of characters from Wall Street to Hollywood enriched themselves at the expense of American families. Glantz weaves together personal stories, historical context, and sharp and insightful analysis of how financiers created predatory products that wreaked devastation on the US economy and… countless families.” — Mehrsa Baradaran, professor of law at the University of California, Irvine School of Law “Glantz, through exemplary journalism, reveals the new corporate landlords’ relationship to Donald Trump and their exploitation of loopholes in public policy, in combination with the endless resources of greedy bankers, to transform the 2008 foreclosure crisis into predatory renting schemes and cash in on widespread housing insecurity.” — Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership “This is a story that needs to be told, and Glantz tells it beautifully. Homewreckers reads like a novel, but it carries an important message: We must never let this happen again.” — Alan S. Blinder, Gordon S. Rentscher Professor of Economics and Public Affairs, Princeton University, former member of the Council of Economic Advisers, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve System “In this remarkable book, Aaron Glantz provides a well-researched, highly readable look at one of the nation’s most underreported stories…a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the Great Recession and the role of the voracious financial interests who would go on to put Donald Trump in the White House.” — Gwenda Blair, author of The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President “A tale of greed and corruption...A solid, useful exploration of a system that ‘needs substantial, systemic change.’” — Kirkus Reviews “[A] cogent, infuriating exposé… lucid prose and impressive research make this an essential account of an under-the-radar housing crisis.” — Publishers Weekly “Glantz does an excellent job explaining the financial complexities of the housing crisis and its fallout. But the real strength of his book comes from the personal stories he weaves in to illustrate his points…the most surprising stories are those of the homewreckers themselves.” — BookPage "A shocking investigation into America's housing crisis. ... A tale of greed and corruption." — Christiane Amanpour "Smart, engrossing... chronicles how a few vulture capitalists scored big paydays on the backs of beleaguered middle-class homeowners, exploiting government largesse to cover their losses - and positioning themselves for top Trump administration jobs." — San Francisco Chronicle

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Janice Dean shares the journeys and lessons she’s learned from everyday heroes taking on long odds. After her acclaimed memoir, Mostly Sunny, Janice Dean figured she was done trying to survive or bring down awful men. Then she found herself taking on Governor Andrew Cuomo on social media and then at rallies. What at first seemed like a futile fight ended with Cuomo’s historic resignation. But it caused Janice to wonder: What fuels someone’s resolve to go up against a powerful opponent? And how can ordinary people make the world a better place?In I Am the Storm, Janice shares the stories of others who stood like David against Goliath, choosing to fight for what was right rather than take the easy path. In the book, she shares stories from ordinary people doing extraordinary things, such as:* a California chef who went up against the government to help restaur

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Book SynopsisContains more than twenty real-life accounts of sea kayaking accidents that offers you potentially life-saving lessons. This book contains selected articles drawn from "Sea Kayaker" magazine. It answers the questions: What did the paddlers do wrong? What did they do right? And, how might the accident have been prevented?Table of ContentsPreface by Christopher CunninghamIntroduction: Kayaking Safety; Index to Safety Sidebars1 Drifting with the Current2 Another Lesson from the School of Hard Knocks3 Of Risk, Knowledge, Choice . . . And Special Vulnerability4 A Tale of Two Rescues5 The Open Coast, or, All Your Eggs in One Kayak6 Risks Compounded7 Sea Caves, Arches, and Narrow Passages8 Long Swims9 Rough Passages10 The Phantom Barge11 Run-in with a Great White12 Double Fatality in Prince William Sound13 Happy Endings14 Surf Zone Accidents15 Saved by a Drysuit16 Vanished17 Ferry Rescue in the San Juans18 Rosario Strait Rescue19 Nightime Accident on Willapa Bay20 Lessons in Judgment21 Ice Fall in Blackstone Bay22 Carried to SafelyIndexAbout the Authors and Contributors

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Book SynopsisIt seemed like any other season on Mount Everest. Ten expeditions from around the world were preparing for their summit push, gathered together to try for mountaineering''s ultimate prize. Twenty-four hours later, eight of those climbers were dead, victims of the most devastating storm ever to hit Everest. On the North face of the mountain, a British expedition found itself in the thick of the drama. Against all odds, film-maker Matt Dickinson and professional climber Alan Hinkes managed to battle through hurricane-force winds to reach the summit. In Death Zone, Matt Dickinson describes the extraordinary event that put the disaster on the front cover of Time and Newsweek. The desperate attempts of teams on the southern side of the mountain, fatal errors that led to the deaths of three Indian climbers on the North Ridge and the moving story of Rob Hall, the New Zealand guide who stayed with his stricken client, and paid with his life. Based on interviews with the suTrade ReviewDickinson's book reads like a thriller, pacy and exciting, [...] a real page turner * The Guardian *A gripping account of filming - and surviving - in the death zone * Mail on Sunday *Takes off like an F-16...After the first chapter I was starving for more and had trouble putting the book down * Wanderlust *

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Book SynopsisKevin Lewis grew up on a council estate in South London. Beaten and starved by his parents, ignored by the social services and bullied at school, he was offered a chance to escape this nightmare world and was put into care. Despite his best efforts to make things work out, his life spiralled out of control. At the age of 17 he became caught up in the criminal underworld of London, where he was known as ''The Kid''. From the violent anger he suffered at the hands of his mother and father, to the continuous torments at school; from the way in which he coped with rejection from people he trusted, to suffering from bulimia and a wish to take his own life, Kevin succeeded in making a better life for himself. This is his story ..

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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.

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Book SynopsisLondon is a safe haven for Indian fugitives like Mallya and Modi. "Escaped" book reveals their lavish lifestyles, legal battles, and evasion tactics. It discusses extradition loopholes, historical cases, and challenges in bringing fugitives back to India.

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Book SynopsisDecorated officer Vishwas Nangre Patil's journey from humble beginnings to becoming an IPS officer, recounting his role in the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the challenges he faced along the way. His story is detailed in the book "Head Held High," offering inspiration to those aspiring to join the Indian civil services.

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Book Synopsis''Ground-breaking. Everyone should read this book'' Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the ScoreWhen it comes to understanding the connection between our mental and physical health, we should be looking at the exceptions, not the rules.Dr Jeff Rediger, a world-leading Harvard psychiatrist, has spent the last fifteen years studying thousands of individuals from around the world, examining the stories behind extraordinary cases of recovery from terminal illness.Observing the common denominators of people who have beaten the odds, Dr Rediger reveals the immense power of our immune system and unlocks the secrets of the mind-body connection. In Cured, he explains the vital role that nutrition plays in boosting our immunity and fighting off disease, and he also outlines how stress, trauma and identity affect our physical health.In analysing the remarkable science of recovery, Dr Rediger reveals the power of our mind to heal our body and shows us the keys to good health.''In an era of incurable chronic diseases causing 60% of all deaths worldwide, this book provides one potential way out'' Dr Mark Hyman, author of The Blood Sugar Solution''Seasoned with the author''s penetrating insights about healing, clearly articulated science and illuminating case histories, Cured opens genuine vistas of transforming illness into health'' Gabor Maté, author of When the Body Says NoTrade ReviewAn amazing piece of work ... Cured is packed with cutting-edge science and powerful, eye-opening real life case studies. Dr Jeff Rediger offers ground-breaking and scientifically-backed evidence of how trauma can have long-lasting effects on our bodies. This is a hopeful tale of how through resilience and meaningful lifestyle adjustments even the most serious of cases can be redeemed. Timely and beautifully written ... Everyone should read this book. * Bessel van der Kolk, author of 'The Body Keeps the Score' *Seasoned with the author's penetrating insights about healing, clearly articulated science and illuminating case histories, Cured opens genuine vistas of transforming illness into health even in the face of diagnoses conventional medical thinking habitually dismisses as hopeless * Gabor Maté, author of international bestseller 'When the Body Says No: Exploring the Cost of Hidden Stress' *Cured is a rare glimpse into the mysteries of human health and disease. Why do some people with incurable disease suddenly heal? In an era of incurable chronic diseases causing 60% of all deaths worldwide, this book provides one potential way out. * Dr Mark Hyman, author of #1 New York Times Bestseller 'The Blood Sugar Solution' *Cured is one of the most important books I've ever read. Dr Rediger presents dozens of case studies of people who defied the odds, many making complete recoveries even after being told to go home and get their affairs in order. In this book, he shows us why they recovered but he also gives us insights into how we, too, can tap into this amazing curative and regenerative power of the human body. This is a deeply inspiring book. I could hardly put it down. * David R Hamilton, PhD, author of 'How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body' *The reversal of chronic illness or remission is now well documented. The mechanism in all cases seems to be restoration of homeostasis and self regulation, along with reduction of chronic inflammation. Dr. Rediger's book is an excellent guide to self healing * Deepak Chopra, author of 'The Seven Spiritual Laws Of Success' *Fascinating bioscience on the phenomenon of spontaneous healing...[Cured] doubles as a pragmatic guide to improving general health...[and the author's] expert analysis drives much of this intriguing volume... Arrestingly written and chockablock with practical, empowering medical information, this thought-provoking and convincing chronicle of disease avoidance and 'remarkable recovery' will give even skeptics something to ponder. * Kirkus Reviews *

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