Search results for ""author leo"
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Britain's War Against the Slave Trade: The Operations of the Royal Navy s West Africa Squadron, 1807 1867
Long before recorded history, men, women and children had been seized by conquering tribes and nations to be employed or traded as slaves. Greeks, Romans, Vikings and Arabs were among the earliest of many peoples involved in the slave trade, and across Africa the buying and selling of slaves was widespread. There was, at the time, nothing unusual in Britain's somewhat belated entry into the slave trade, transporting natives from Africa's west coast to the plantations of the New World. What was unusual was Britain's decision, in 1807, to ban the slave trade throughout the British Empire. Britain later persuaded other countries to follow suit, but this did not stop this lucrative business. So the Royal Navy went to war against the slavers, in due course establishing the West Africa Squadron which was based at Freetown in Sierra Leone. This force grew throughout the nineteenth century until a sixth of the Royal Navy's ships and marines was employed in the battle against the slave trade. Between 1808 and 1860, the West Africa Squadron captured 1,600 slave ships and freed 150,000 Africans. The slavers tried every tactic to evade the Royal Navy enforcers. Over the years that followed more than 1,500 naval personnel died of disease or were killed in action, in what was difficult and dangerous, and at times saddening, work. In Britain's War Against the Slave Trade, naval historian Anthony Sullivan reveals the story behind this little-known campaign by Britain to end the slave trade. Whereas Britain is usually, and justifiably, condemned for its earlier involvement in the slave trade, the truth is that in time the Royal Navy undertook a major and expensive operation to end what was, and is, an evil business.
£15.96
The University of Chicago Press The Indies of the Setting Sun: How Early Modern Spain Mapped the Far East as the Transpacific West
Padrón reveals the evolution of Spain’s imagining of the New World as a space in continuity with Asia. Narratives of Europe’s westward expansion often tell of how the Americas came to be known as a distinct landmass, separate from Asia and uniquely positioned as new ground ripe for transatlantic colonialism. But this geographic vision of the Americas was not shared by all Europeans. While some imperialists imagined North and Central America as undiscovered land, the Spanish pushed to define the New World as part of a larger and eminently flexible geography that they called las Indias, and that by right, belonged to the Crown of Castile and León. Las Indias included all of the New World as well as East and Southeast Asia, although Spain’s understanding of the relationship between the two areas changed as the realities of the Pacific Rim came into sharper focus. At first, the Spanish insisted that North and Central America were an extension of the continent of Asia. Eventually, they came to understand East and Southeast Asia as a transpacific extension of their empire in America called las Indias del poniente, or the Indies of the Setting Sun.The Indies of the Setting Sun charts the Spanish vision of a transpacific imperial expanse, beginning with Balboa’s discovery of the South Sea and ending almost a hundred years later with Spain’s final push for control of the Pacific. Padrón traces a series of attempts—both cartographic and discursive—to map the space from Mexico to Malacca, revealing the geopolitical imaginations at play in the quest for control of the New World and Asia.
£28.00
University College Dublin Press James Joyce Remembered Edition 2022
In 1968, Conn Curran summed up his life-long companionship with Joyce, including the 1904 photograph he took of his friend in his family's back garden. With this re-issue of Curran's book, another group of University College Dubliners takes a new look at his work, delving into the Curran-Laird collection at the James Joyce Library. Side by side with Joyce, Curran, arts critic, and Helen Laird Curran, his activist partner, come into clearer view; writer-critic adventurers Padraic and Mary Maguire Colum return again; savant Paul Leon, in Paris, takes his place too. The literary, cultural, and political context widens: the Irish wars, erupting again in 1922 as Ulysses begins circulating; the Paris-Dublin rescue operation of this group's papers at Joyce's death, suspended - and accomplished - in this time of violence. The 2022 collective edition offers an uncommon picture of this inventive and committed cohort, their work, and their worlds. With essays by Hugh Campbell, Diarmaid Ferriter, Anne Fogarty, Margaret Kelleher and Helen Solterer. The UCD Curran-Laird collection presented by Eugene Roche and Evelyn Flanagan. This is a full colour, highly illustrated book with special edition design features throughout.
£25.00
Orion Publishing Co Eighty Days White: The fifth and stunning conclusion to the pulse-racing romantic series for summer reading
I always dreamed of one day falling in love, of knowing what it felt like to love someone so unconditionally. For better or worse.Ever since her days as a student in Brighton, Lily always knew there was something missing in her life - a path yet to be taken and deep desires waiting to be explored. Though she finds release in her love of music, Lily longs to rebel against the staid direction her life is going in and to discover what it is she truly wants.When Lily moves to London her best friend - the seductive, audacious Liana - introduces her to an exciting new world of passion and adventure. Soon Lily meets Leonard, a man she feels an instant connection with; Dagur, the gorgeous drummer of a world-renowned rock band; celebrated photographer Grayson and his enigmatic partner, She.Despite living life to the full and embracing each new experience, Lily knows she is yet to find what it is she's been missing. Will Lily finally be able to accept the woman she really is? And has the thing she's been searching for been right in front of her all along?The seductive new novel in Vina Jackson's red-hot EIGHTY DAYS series is a tantalising tale of love, longing and self-discovery.
£9.99
Museum of Fine Arts,Boston Strong Women in Renaissance Italy
The lives, works and imagery of women artists, patrons and icons in Renaissance Italy The story of the Renaissance in Italy is often told through the work of great male artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello and Leonardo. But what about the female half of the population? By exploring works made by, for, or about women, this book aims to reconsider a period of creative ingenuity and artistic excellence from their often-overlooked perspective. Drawing on the rich collection of paintings, ceramics, textiles, illustrated books and prints at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, this publication focuses on images of feminine power, both sacred and secular, telling the stories of saints such as Mary Magdalen as examples of strength and ascetic devotion, Biblical heroines such as Judith as civic and domestic role models, and the mythical sorceress Medea as the ideal of a heroic nude. Women also asserted their presence as artists, artisans and patrons: Sofonisba Anguissola, Lavinia Fontana, Artemisia Gentileschi, Vittoria Colonna, Isabella d’Este and Eleonora Gonzaga are just some of the strong women who shaped the life and art of the Italian Renaissance.
£36.00
Kuperard Mongolia - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
"Mongolia is landlocked between its neighbors China and Russia in the heart of Asia. For centuries after the disintegration of Genghis Khan's empire it was ruled by one or the other, but in 1990 the Mongols embraced democracy. Now, after two centuries of Manchu stagnation and seventy years of Soviet communism, they are rebuilding their national heritage. Rarely in the news but making progress toward a market economy, this resource-rich but infrastructure-poor country is a land of pioneers, and its greatest asset is the Mongol people, who are friendly, cooperative, ambitious, and well educated. English is now the first foreign language and the country's leaders are forging new partnerships with international investors. Travelers from across the world are drawn to the oland of blue skyo by its picturesque mountains and lakes, flower-carpeted steppes and stony deserts, home to the snow leopard, the wild horse and camel, and the Gobi bear. The broad pasturelands, with herds of grazing livestock, and the traditional lifestyle of the nomads contrast with the busy streets of the capital Ulan Bator, a bustling metropolis of over one million people, modern hotels, apartments, and shops, i
£9.99
University of Minnesota Press Avant-Garde Museology: e-flux classics
The museum of contemporary art might be the most advanced recording device ever invented. It is a place for the storage of historical grievances and the memory of forgotten artistic experiments, social projects, or errant futures. But in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Russia, this recording device was undertaken by artists and thinkers as a site for experimentation. Arseny Zhilyaev’s Avant-Garde Museology presents essays documenting the wildly encompassing progressivism of this period by figures such as Nikolai Fedorov, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Kazimir Malevich, Alexander Bogdanov, and others—many which are translated from the Russian for the first time. Here the urgent question is: How might the contents of the museum be reanimated so as to transcend even the social and physical limits imposed on humankind? Contributors: David Arkin; Vladimir Bekhterev; Alexander Bogdanov; Osip Brik; Vasiliy Chekrygin; Leonid Chetyrkin; Nikolai Druzhinin; Nikolai Fedorov; Pavel Florensky; R. N. Frumkina; M. S. Ilkovskiy; V. I. Karmilov; V. Karpov; Valentin Kholtsov; P. N. Khrapov; Yuriy Kogan; Natalya Kovalenskaya; Nadezhda Krupskaya; S. P. Lebedyansky; A. F. Levitsky; Vera Leykina (Leykina-Svirskaya); Ivan Luppol; Kazimir Malevich; Andrey Platonov; Nikolay Punin; Aleksandr Rodchenko; Yuriy Samarin; I. F. Sheremet; Andrey Shestakov; Natan Shneerson; Ivan Skulenko; M. Vorobiev; N. Vorontsovsky; Boris Zavadovsky; I. M. Zykov.
£26.99
Pan Macmillan Mozart in Italy: Coming of Age in the Land of Opera
'I couldn’t put it down' - Joanne Lumley At thirteen years old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a child prodigy who had captured the hearts of northern Europe, but his father Leopold was now determined to conquer Italy. Together, they made three visits there the last when Mozart was seventeen, all vividly recounted here by acclaimed conductor Jane Glover.Father and son travelled from the theatres and concert salons of Milan to the church-filled streets of Rome to Naples, poorer and more dangerous than the prosperous north, and to Venice, the carnivalesque birthplace of public opera. All the while Mozart was absorbing Italian culture, language, style and art, and honed his craft. He met the challenge of writing Italian opera for Italian singers and audiences and provoked a variety of responses, from triumph and admiration to intrigue and hostility: in a way, these Italian years can be seen as a microcosm of his whole life.Evocative, beautifully written and with a profound understanding of eighteenth-century classical music, Mozart in Italy reveals how what he experienced during these Italian journeys changed Mozart – and his music – for ever.
£22.50
Headline Publishing Group The House of Four (Inspector Ikmen Mystery 19): A gripping crime thriller set in Istanbul
THE HOUSE OF FOUR is the brand new Istanbul crime thriller featuring Inspector Ikmen, 'the Morse of Istanbul' (Daily Telegraph) from Barbara Nadel. Perfect for fans of Donna Leon.Everyone in the Istanbul neighbourhood of Moda knows the Devil's House. A crumbling Ottoman mansion, and once the home of a princess, it is a place associated with ill fortune. The princess's four children, now in old age, still live in separate apartments on different floors and are rumoured never to speak to each other. Then one of them is found dead, stabbed through the heart, and it is discovered that the other three siblings have met an identical fate. There is no sign of forced entry or burglary, and all evidence must be gained from letters and diaries, but as Inspector Ikmen digs into their past it becomes clear they have been harbouring a secret...Meanwhile a young couple are arrested for a series of seemingly random killings on the streets of Istanbul. They claim to have been squatting in the Devil's House. But this fiendish mystery is far from over and it will take Inspector Ikmen to the darkest and most devilish depths of this ancient city.
£9.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Business
'A poisoned bonbon, a bitter fairy tale' IndependentKate Telman is a senior executive officer in The Business, a powerful and massively discreet transglobal organisation. Financially transparent, internally democratic and disavowing conventional familial inheritance, the character of The Business seems, even to Kate, to be vague to the point of invisibility. It possesses, allegedly, a book of Leonardo cartoons, several sets of Crown Jewels and wants to buy its own State in order to acquire a seat at the United Nations.Kate's job is to keep abreast of current technological developments and her global reach encompasses Silicon Valley, a ranch in Nebraska, the firm's secretive Swiss headquarters, and a remote Himalayan principality. In the course of her journey Kate must peel away layers of emotional insulation and the assumptions of a lifetime. She must learn to keep her world at arm's length. To take control, she has to do The Business.Praise for Iain Banks:'The most imaginative novelist of his generation' The Times'His verve and talent will always be recognised, and his work will always find and enthral new readers' Ken MacLeod, Guardian'His work was mordant, surreal, and fiercely intelligent' Neil Gaiman'An exceptional wordsmith' Scotsman
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd White Tears
'A stunning, audacious new thriller... It will shock you, horrify you, unsettle you, and that's exactly the point. As brave as it is brutal, it lets nothing and nobody off the hook' NPR'A book that everyone should be reading right now' TIME New Yorkers Carter and Seth chop up old music to make it new again, ripping off black culture to line white pockets. They are young, hungry and talented. But one day they stumble on an old blues song - an undiscovered gem just waiting to be found - and land themselves in a heap of trouble.Seeking answers, Seth travels deep into the heart of the old South, accompanied by Carter's bewitching sister Leonie. But this is America, where ghosts lie uneasy in shallow graves and tugging one loose thread can unravel a bloody history of injustice. And the closer Seth gets to the haunting truth, the more he feels pursued . . .White Tears is a nail-biting ride through the terrifying spectre of America's past. It's about black lives and white privilege and the music that runs through the country's veins like blood.
£9.99
Princeton University Press The Antarctic Dive Guide: Fully Revised and Updated Third Edition
The Antarctic Dive Guide is the first and only dive guide to the seventh continent, until recently the exclusive realm of scientific and military divers. Today, however, the icy waters of Antarctica have become the extreme destination for recreational divers wishing to explore beyond the conventional and observe the strange marine life that abounds below the surface. This book is packed with information about the history of diving in Antarctica and its wildlife, and features stunning underwater photography. The Antarctic Dive Guide covers 31 key dive sites on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia and includes maps and detailed guidance on how best to explore each site. Essential information is also provided on how to choose and prepare for travel to this remote region, and diving techniques for subzero waters. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone considering diving in Antarctica, and an exciting read for anyone interested in this little-explored underwater world. This fully revised and updated third edition: * Covers 4 new dive sites* Features revised and updated information for the other 27 sites covered* Includes new sections on the Sea Leopard Project and natural product chemistry from Antarctic marine organisms
£22.50
Thames & Hudson Ltd The Wyvern Collection: Medieval and Renaissance Enamels and Other Works of Art
Works of art in enamel are among the most attractive, colourful and revealing objects of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Enamel was employed to embellish a broad array of objects, including reliquary caskets, crosses, book-covers, croziers, censers and pyxes for the church and a wide range of tableware for the secular market. The Wyvern Collection comprises many pieces of prime importance from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries. Among the highlights in this volume are two extremely rare Romanesque enamels of c. 1160-70 from the Meuse Valley: the celebrated reliquary triptych probably originally belonging to the Bishop of Liège, and a beautiful phylactery (a reliquary designed to be suspended) with scenes from the story of the True Cross, said to have come from the famous abbey of Lobbes. Limoges enamels of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries are particularly well represented, the 65 pieces making up what is undoubtedly now the finest and most comprehensive collection in private hands. The later painted enamels of Limoges, from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, include remarkable examples of the work of the principal enamellers, most notably Pierre Reymond, and the spectacular horn of St Hubert, dated 1538 and signed by Léonard Limosin, which once belonged to Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill. The catalogue additionally includes other outstanding works of art such as an important Anglo-Carolingian chrismatory of the ninth century, a small group of enigmatic twelfth-century drinking-cups and sumptuous examples of German late medieval goldsmiths' work. Stained and painted glass roundels, Italian Renaissance ceramics, luxurious textiles and tapestries, and German and Italian armour are also catalogued. An appendix presents several important pieces, recently acquired, which supplement those published in the first two volumes. With more than 250 objects, all specially photographed, this is more than a handbook to an especially rich part of one of the greatest private collections. It is a detailed and authoritative guide to medieval and Renaissance enamels and other works of art, a stimulus to further research and a feast for the eyes.With 400 illustrations in colour
£58.50
Encounter Books,USA The Noise of Typewriters: Remembering Journalism
W.H. Auden famously wrote: “Poetry makes nothing happen.” Journalism is a different matter. In a brilliant study that is, in part, a memoir of his 40 years as an essayist and critic at TIME magazine, Lance Morrow returns to the Age of Typewriters and to the 20th century’s extraordinary cast of characters—statesmen and dictators, saints and heroes, liars and monsters, and the reporters, editors, and publishers who interpreted their deeds. He shows how journalism has touched the history of the last 100 years, has shaped it, distorted it, and often proved decisive in its outcomes.Lord Beaverbrook called journalism “the black art.” Morrow considers the case of Walter Duranty, the New York Times’ Moscow correspondent who published a Pulitzer Prize-winning series praising Stalin just at the moment when Stalin imposed mass starvation upon the people of Ukraine and the North Caucasus in order to enforce the collectivization of Soviet agriculture. Millions died.John Hersey’s Hiroshima, on the other hand, has been all but sanctified—called the 20th century’s greatest piece of journalism. Was it? Morrow examines the complex moral politics of Hersey’s reporting, which the New Yorker first published in 1946.The Noise of Typewriters is, among other things, an intensely personal study of an age that has all but vanished. Morrow is the son of two journalists who got their start covering Roosevelt and Truman. When Morrow and Carl Bernstein were young, they worked together as dictation typists at the Washington Star (a newspaper now extinct). Bernstein had dedicated Chasing History, his memoir of those days, to Morrow. It was Morrow’s friend and editor Walter Isaacson—biographer of Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs—who taught Morrow how to use a computer when the machines were first introduced at TIME.Here are striking profiles of Henry Luce, TIME’s founder, and of Dorothy Thompson, Claud Cockburn, Edgar Snow, Joseph and Stewart Alsop, Joan Didion, Norman Mailer, Otto Friedrich, Michael Herr, and other notable figures in a golden age of print journalism that ended with the coming of television, computers, and social media. The Noise of Typewriters is the vivid portrait of an era.
£19.99
Headline Publishing Group Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time
NOMINATED FOR THE JAZZ JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2021 WINNER OF THE PRESTO JAZZ BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020An articulate, scrupulously researched account based on first-hand information, this book presents Brubeck's contribution to music with the critical insight that it deserves - ***** BBC Music Magazine This is the writing about jazz that we've been waiting for - Mike WestbrookThe sheer descriptive verve, page after page, made me want to listen to every single musical example cited. A major achievement - Stephen Hough'Definitive . . . remarkable. Clark writes intelligently and joyously.' - MojoIn 2003, music journalist Philip Clark was granted unparalleled access to jazz legend Dave Brubeck. Over the course of ten days, he shadowed the Dave Brubeck Quartet during their extended British tour, recording an epic interview with the bandleader. Brubeck opened up as never before, disclosing his unique approach to jazz; the heady days of his 'classic' quartet in the 1950s-60s; hanging out with Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, and Miles Davis; and the many controversies that had dogged his 66-year-long career.Alongside beloved figures like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra, Brubeck's music has achieved name recognition beyond jazz. But finding a convincing fit for Brubeck's legacy, one that reconciles his mass popularity with his advanced musical technique, has proved largely elusive. In Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time, Clark provides us with a thoughtful, thorough, and long-overdue biography of an extraordinary man whose influence continues to inform and inspire musicians today.Structured around Clark's extended interview and intensive new research, this book tells one of the last untold stories of jazz, unearthing the secret history of 'Take Five' and many hitherto unknown aspects of Brubeck's early career - and about his creative relationship with his star saxophonist Paul Desmond. Woven throughout are cameo appearances from a host of unlikely figures from Sting, Ray Manzarek of The Doors, and Keith Emerson, to John Cage, Leonard Bernstein, Harry Partch, and Edgard Varèse. Each chapter explores a different theme or aspect of Brubeck's life and music, illuminating the core of his artistry and genius.
£12.99
Watkins Media Limited The Voynich Manuscript: The Complete Edition of the World' Most Mysterious and Esoteric Codex
A UNIQUE INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD'S most mysterious manuscript. Since its creation in the first half of the 15th century, the Voynich Manuscript has fascinated and obsessed students of the esoteric, of magic and of alchemy, yet to date no one has managed to crack its code. It truly is one of a kind: the only book in existence that has been written in its particular language and alphabet - a language that no one can read. This magnificent edition presents stunning full-colour reproductions of every page of the Voynich Manuscript, along with helpful diagrams that show exactly how the folios are bound into this complex codex. Two introductory essays invite readers to interpret for themselves the clues found in the manuscript's strange and beautiful illustrations of plants, star constellations, enigmatic bathing women and cosmological diagrams. Dr Rafal T Prinke and Dr Rene Zandbergen also draw on the manuscript collections of eastern Europe, not normally accessible to English-speaking scholars, to offer the fullest explanation so far of the Voynich's incredible journey through history, while Dr Stephen Skinner explores the parallels to the Voynich Manuscript in the cryptography of Leonardo da Vinci and the Enochian angel language of John Dee.
£25.19
University of Iowa Press Art Essays: A Collection
Art Essays is a passionate collection of the best essays on the visual arts written by contemporary novelists. This vibrant and diverse selection includes essays by award-winning writers such as Zadie Smith, Chris Kraus, Teju Cole, Orhan Pamuk, and Jhumpa Lahiri. From the art of Sonia Delaunay and Joan Mitchell to contemporary photography, from the docks of Malaysia to Leonora Carrington’s home in Mexico City, and from reflections on modern Black British paintings to meditations on the female gaze, these essays bring together blazing insights to the visual world, with personal, intimate reflections. With an introduction by literary critic and editor Alexandra Kingston-Reese, Art Essays is an enthralling vision of a new wave of literary essays shaping contemporary culture. Contributors: Chloe Aridjis, Tash Aw, Claire-Louise Bennett, Teju Cole, Geoff Dyer, Sheila Heti, Katie Kitamura, Chris Kraus, Jhumpa Lahiri, Ben Lerner, Orhan Pamuk, Ali Smith, Zadie Smith, Heidi Sopinka, Hanya Yanagihara
£25.34
Greenleaf Book Group LLC A Rock and a Hard Place: An American Geologist's Adventures in Africa
Deadly Snakes. Heatstroke. Scorpions. These are just a few of the obstacles that George Zelt encounters as a graduate student in apartheid-era South Africa. In A Rock and a Hard Place, readers will follow George as he explores this contradictory, beautiful country during a time of growth and oppression. With tales of finding refuge in a desert sandstorm, being stalked by a leopard, and narrowly escaping a herd of rampaging Cape buffalo, George's story will leave readers breathless--their hearts racing, with the imagined grit of sand in their teeth! Nature is not the only obstacle George encounters. When he makes a discovery that may disprove an established geologic theory, his graduate advisor (and developer of said theory) does everything in his power to prevent George from going public. George has to fight not only against nature but also the politics of university life, all while navigating the complexities of South African culture. Who would have thought studying rocks could be so thrilling?
£21.50
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Humanitarian Intervention
A singular development in the post-Cold War era is the use of military force to protect human beings. From Rwanda to Kosovo, Sierra Leone to East Timor, and Libya to Côte d�Ivoire, soldiers have rescued civilians in some of the world's most notorious war zones. But what about Syria? Why have we observed the Syrian slaughter and done nothing? Is humanitarian intervention in crisis? Is the so-called responsibility to protect dead or alive? In this fully revised and expanded third edition of his highly accessible and popular text, Thomas Weiss explores these compelling questions. Drawing on a wide range of case studies and providing a persuasive overview of the theory and practice of humanitarian intervention in the modern world, he examines its political, ethical, legal, strategic, economic, and operational dimensions to highlight key debates and controversies. Neither celebratory nor complacent, his analysis is an engaging exploration of the current quandaries and future challenges for robust international humanitarian action in the twenty-first century.
£15.99
Zuleika The Stalker's Tale: A Novel
The Stalker’s Tale follows three storylines (two set in fashionable, contemporary London, a third in 1930’s bohemian Fitzrovia & 1940’s post-occupation Paris), representing three lives, simultaneously estranged, yet entwined in a decades long tale of Stalking. Successful modern day portrait painter, Bianca Johnson, is forced to warily defend herself against relentless stalker, wealthy entrepreneur, Hesketh James (since married, with a disabled nine year old son), with whom she had a brief affair twenty-five years earlier. Bianca is determined, meanwhile, to boldly claim the freedom to live an unorthodox, secretive life with her frequently absent Italian film director husband, Leonardo Vescarro, while at the same time conducting a clandestine affair with her very first love, the London publisher, Stephen Marchant, to whom she was once engaged to be married. The novel’s numerous complex dramas are set against her fraught, sorrowful relationship with her estranged mother, the beautiful, turbulent Anya, whose wartime affair with the Parisian aristocrat, Charles de Courcelles, had led to the breakdown of her marriage to Bianca’s father, the water-colourist painter, William Johnson, who made his reputation in the 1930’s, followed by his war years in the Middle East. These three storylines plait together evenly throughout the novel, creating suspense, as Hesketh’s increasingly desperate and erratic behaviour finally culminates in an incoherent explosion of violence.
£14.99
Dundurn Group Ltd Good as Gone: My Life with Irving Layton
After falling in love with and marrying a man two lifetimes older than her, Irving Layton’s last wife shares the story of her life with the acclaimed poet.While a student at Dalhousie University, Anna Pottier attended a poetry reading featuring Irving Layton. Walking out of the auditorium that night, she knew two things: she wanted more than ever to be a writer, and she wanted to be with Layton.At the age of twenty-three she became Layton’s fifth and final wife; she was forty-eight years his junior. She shared the entirety of his world and was intimately involved in the writing and publication of such books as The Gucci Bag, Fortunate Exile, and Waiting for the Messiah. She accompanied Layton on his last major overseas reading tour, broke bread with Pierre Trudeau and Leonard Cohen, met other luminaries, and watched Layton write his very last poem.But slowly, Layton was changing. In 1992, a doctor put names to these changes: Parkinson’s disease and early-stage Alzheimer’s. Life carried on, but once-easy things grew more difficult, and then the day came in 1995, after nearly fourteen years, when Pottier had nothing left to give.Good as Gone is a startling, at times searing, account of one of the most unusual love stories of the twentieth century.
£18.99
teNeues Publishing UK Ltd Beusker: Look into my Eyes
Look into my Eyes is a coffee-table book to dream about, marvel at, and sink into. The right read for animal lovers and lovers of aesthetic fine art photography. As one of the most important nature photographers of our time, Lars Beusker quite rightly received the title "Nature Photographer of the Year 2022 (first place)". He photographs wild animals in their natural environment at close range and almost always manages to make eye contact. Like a human portrait, Lars uses short focal lengths for which he approaches his models up to two metres. He consciously seeks the animal's attention and sensitively captures this intense moment with the camera. The viewer feels as if he can look directly into the animal's soul. The fascinating intimacy that the artist creates with giraffes, buffalo, and zebras is palpable. Beusker's photographs of wild elephants and big cats such as leopards, panthers and lions are also legendary. Animals that you would never get so close to as a human being under normal circumstances. The fascinating black-and-white photographs are bursting with detail. Every hair, every wrinkle and every muscle of the wild beauties is visible and in some pictures you have the feeling that the animal will jump out of the book at you in the next moment. Text in English and German.
£54.00
teNeues Publishing UK Ltd Zoo Portraits
While a fantastic cause, can the task of protecting animal rights and habitats also be fun? The answer for Spanish photographer Yago Partal is “yes!” as he joyfully embraces important environmental activism with his form of inventive entertainment. His aim is to increase our awareness of animals who need protection — from the Amur leopard to the plains zebra — with his Zoo Portraits project, which launched in 2013. The project presents animals in anthropomorphised form, wearing clothing and accessories that echo the animal’s temperament and preferred habitat. It is not Partal’s intention to create distance or make light of the animals, but rather to make people think and nudge them to get involved in protecting animals via pictures, education, and awareness. Mission accomplished: Yago Partal’s wonderful animal portraits have found a huge audience, with media like CBS and the Daily Mail reporting enthusiastically on the phenomenon. Beautiful, functional products including iPhone cases and even clothes hangers are available for purchase under the Zoo Portraits label. Ten percent of all proceeds are donated to animal welfare organisations. The book has the same objective: to make people smile as well as inform them. In addition to the unique pictures, there is information on each animal’s habitat, size, and population as well as interesting and surprising facts. Presented in a clear and attractive format, this book is equally exciting for children and adults.
£12.50
National Gallery Company Ltd One Hundred Great Paintings
The National Gallery in London houses one of the richest collections of Western European paintings in the world, ranging from the 13th to the 20th century. In this beautiful book, one hundred of the greatest works from the collection, each by a different artist, are presented in chronological order, and accompanied by a lively, informative text and full-page color reproductions. From the earliest—a remnant of an Italian altarpiece dating from around 1265—to the most recent—Paul Cézanne’s great Bathers, of about 1894–1905—each painting has been carefully chosen for the unique significance it holds; whether representing a particular artist, place or time, or simply for its beauty and the pleasure it provides to the viewer. The painters featured here include some of the most famous names in European art—Duccio, Giotto, Dürer, Holbein, van Eyck, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt, El Greco, Velázquez, Zurbarán, Goya, Caravaggio, Claude, Poussin, Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Constable, Turner, Courbet, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Rousseau, and Van Gogh—and some of the most iconic paintings in the world—The Wilton Diptych, The Arnolfini Portrait, The Ambassadors, and Sunflowers. These selected highlights introduce some of the most inspiring paintings ever made. The reader can dip in to explore individual paintings, or read from cover to cover for a full survey.Published by the National Gallery Company/Distributed by Yale University Press
£24.99
Cicerone Press Cycling the Camino de Santiago: The Way of St James - Camino Frances
The Camino de Santiago de Compostela (Camino Francés or Way of St James) is among the world's most famous pilgrimages: Christian pilgrims have travelled to the shrine of St James in Santiago, northern Spain, since the ninth century. This guide provides all the information you need to successfully cycle the Camino. The Camino Francés is the most popular variant of the Camino, linking St Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French-Spanish border with Santiago via Pamplona, Burgos and León. The guide presents the journey in 18 stages. Two versions of the route are described, the first (770km) based closely on the walkers' route and suitable for hybrid or mountain bikes; the second (798km) a 'road route' for road and touring cycles. It can be cycled in around 10-14 days and is very well provisioned. Clear route description and mapping are accompanied by notes on local points of interest, as well as background information on Spanish history and the history of the Camino. The practicalities are also thoroughly covered, including travel to and from the route, accommodation, facilities, kit and how to qualify for and obtain your Compostela (pilgrims' certificate). Whether you're seeking a spiritual journey, a physical challenge or just a holiday, the Camino promises an unforgettable experience - from the beautiful landscapes, historic towns and rich culture of northern Spain to the famed camaraderie with other wayfarers. Blending information with inspiration, this guide is an ideal companion to cycling this UNESCO-listed route.
£14.95
Running Press,U.S. The Writer's Block: 786 Ideas To Jump-start Your Imagination
Anxious to write that Great American Novel but don't know where to begin? Help is on the way with our Writer's Block! This guide to beating writer's block comes packaged in the shape of an actual block: 3" x 3" x 3", with 672 pages and more than 200 photographs throughout. Next time you're stuck, just flip open The Writer's Block to any page to find an idea or exercise that will jump-start your imagination. Many of these assignments come straight from the creative writing classes of celebrated novelists like Ethan Canin, Richard Price, Toni Morrison, and Kurt Vonnegut: Joyce Carol Oates explains how she uses running to destroy writer's block. Elmore Leonard describes how he often finds ideas just by reading the newspaper. E. Annie Proulx discusses finding inspiration at garage sales. Isabel Allende tells why she always begins a new novel on January 8th. John Irving explains why he prefers to write the last sentence first. Fresh, fun, and irreverent, The Writer's Block also features advice from contemporary editors and literary agents, lessons from the awful novels of Joan Collins and Robert James Waller, a filmography of movies concerning writer's block (e.g., The Shining, Barton Fink), and countless other surprises. With this chunky little book at your side, you may never experience writer's block again!
£11.06
The University of Chicago Press Black Patriots and Loyalists: Fighting for Emancipation in the War for Independence
We commonly think of the American Revolution as simply the war for independence from British colonial rule. But, of course, that independence actually applied to only a portion of the American population - African Americans would still be bound in slavery for nearly another century. Alan Gilbert asks us to rethink what we know about the Revolutionary War, to realize that while white Americans were fighting for their freedom, many black Americans were joining the British imperial forces to gain theirs. Further, a movement led by sailors - both black and white - pushed strongly for emancipation on the American side. There were actually two wars being waged at once: a political revolution for independence from Britain and a social revolution for emancipation and equality. Gilbert presents persuasive evidence that slavery could have been abolished during the Revolution itself if either side had fully pursued the military advantage of freeing slaves and pressing them into combat, and his extensive research also reveals that free blacks on both sides played a crucial and under appreciated role in the actual fighting. Black Patriots and Loyalists contends that the struggle for emancipation was not only basic to the Revolution itself, but was a rousing force that would inspire freedom movements like the abolition societies of the North and the black loyalist pilgrimages for freedom in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone.
£16.75
HarperCollins Publishers The Revenant
THE BESTSELLING BOOK THAT INSPIRED THE AWARD-WINNING MOVIE Winner of 3 OSCARS including BEST DIRECTOR and BEST ACTOR Winner of 5 BAFTAS including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Film Winner of the 2016 Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor – Drama, and Best Director The novel that inspired the epic new movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. Hugh Glass isn’t afraid to die. He’s done it once already. Rocky Mountains, 1823 The trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life. Hugh Glass is one of the most respected men in the company, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker.But when a scouting mission puts Glass face-to-face with a grizzly bear, he is viciously mauled and not expected to survive. Two men from the company are ordered to remain with him until his inevitable death. But, fearing an imminent attack, they abandon Glass, stripping him of his prized rifle and hatchet. As Glass watches the men flee, he is driven to survive by one all-consuming desire: revenge. With shocking grit and determination, he sets out on a three-thousand-mile journey across the harsh American frontier, to seek revenge on the men who betrayed him. The Revenant is a remarkable tale of obsession and the lengths that one man will go to for retribution.
£8.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Prince Eugene of Savoy: A Genius for War Against Louis XIV and the Ottoman Empire
Prince Eugene of Savoy-Carignan (1663-1736), French born of an Italian mother, was destined for the church, but fled France as a young man and chose the life of a soldier. He entered the service of the Habsburg Emperor Leopold I in 1683 and rose rapidly to become one of the greatest military commanders of the age, playing a leading role in the wars against both the Ottoman Turks and the French. James Falkner, in this the first full biography of Eugene to be published in English for forty years, reconstructs his military campaigns in compelling detail and describes his career as a politician and statesman. Eugene first showed his military genius during the siege of Vienna in 1683 where the Ottoman Turkish threat to western Europe was thrown back, and he commanded the Imperial army at the resounding victory over the Ottomans at Zenta in 1697. Most famously for English readers, he joined John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough in the victory over the French at Blenheim in 1704 and served alongside Marlborough at the subsequent victories at Oudenarde and Malplaquet. His later triumph, again over the Ottomans, at the capture of Belgrade in 1717, sealed his reputation as a great captain. A lifelong bachelor although fond of women, Eugene was both a typical hard-bitten soldier and an accomplished diplomat, as well as a great patron of the arts. His summer palace, The Belvedere in Vienna, stands today as a fine monument to this extraordinary man.
£22.50
Headline Publishing Group Dazzling: A bewitching tale of magic steeped in Nigerian mythology
'I am truly dazzled' TRACY CHEVALIER'A rich tapestry of African mythology and magic' CHERIE JONES'Bursting with magic, bright and visceral' JENNIFER SAINT'One of the brightest stars in the literary world' KIRSTY LOGAN'A feast of shimmering, beautiful prose' CHIKA UNIGWESoon you will become the thing all other beasts fear.Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure's daddy died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a spirit who promises to bring her father back - but she has to do something for him first. Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back that can't be scratched. An itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, to defend her people by becoming a leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honour this was before he vanished, but it's one she couldn't want less. But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their fathers' decisions, Ozoemena's fellow students at her new boarding school start to vanish. Treasure and Ozoemena will face terrible choices as each must ask herself: in a world that always says 'no' to women, what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs?'Erudite, original and beautifully written' CHRISTIE WATSON'Unexpected, explosive and deeply satisfying' MELISSA FU'A masterful storm' DOREEN CUNNINGHAM'Uncanny and affecting in equal measure' T. L. HUCHU'One hell of a book' MEG CLOTHIER
£18.99
John Murray Press The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass: Adrian Plass and the Church Weekend
Adrian has been trying to keep a low profile at church but his son Gerald is now an Anglican vicar and the two churches are getting together for a joint weekend away. Now Adrian's been volunteered to run it...From the confusion of arrival when Anne is allocated to the top bunk with a schizophrenic recovery group, and Adrian is in a low-ceilinged 'pod' at the top of the tower, to the hugs and tears of departure, this is typical Plass, humorous and heartwarming in equal measure. Adrian has a simple conversation about birdlife that ends with him being accused of harassment, Leonard Thynn and his wife turn up just in time to leave again after falling out with the SatNav lady, and Gerald's wit just keeps getting the better of him.There are as many questions as answers, of course. Will poor Sally, the unwilling nomad of the community, ever find a proper bed to sleep in? What exactly is it about Adrian's twinkle that Minnie Stamp 'lovey-doves' so very much? And how do you cope when your daughter-in-law shares a secret you simply cannot, must not tell? Once again, Adrian Plass gets us laughing just long enough for the truth to slip in by the back door, and for all the mishaps, this new instalment of the Sacred Diary series once again shows just how good God is at caring for this mixed bag of people we call the church.
£10.99
Princeton University Press In Pursuit of Zeta-3: The World's Most Mysterious Unsolved Math Problem
An engrossing look at the history and importance of a centuries-old but still unanswered math problemFor centuries, mathematicians the world over have tried, and failed, to solve the zeta-3 problem. Math genius Leonhard Euler attempted it in the 1700s and came up short. The straightforward puzzle considers if there exists a simple symbolic formula for the following: 1+(1/2)^3+(1/3)^3+(1/4)^3+. . . . But why is this issue—the sum of the reciprocals of the positive integers cubed—so important? With In Pursuit of Zeta-3, popular math writer Paul Nahin investigates the history and significance of this mathematical conundrum.Drawing on detailed examples, historical anecdotes, and even occasionally poetry, Nahin sheds light on the richness of the nature of zeta-3. He shows its intimate connections to the Riemann hypothesis, another mathematical mystery that has stumped mathematicians for nearly two centuries. He looks at its links with Euler’s achievements and explores the modern research area of Euler sums, where zeta-3 occurs frequently. An exact solution to the zeta-3 question wouldn’t simply satisfy pure mathematical interest: it would have critical ramifications for applications in physics and engineering, such as quantum electrodynamics. Challenge problems with detailed solutions and MATLAB code are included at the end of each of the book’s sections.Detailing the trials and tribulations of mathematicians who have approached one of the field’s great unsolved riddles, In Pursuit of Zeta-3 will tantalize curious math enthusiasts everywhere.
£17.99
Oxford University Press Inc The Jewish Reformation: Bible Translation and Middle-Class German Judaism as Spiritual Enterprise
In the late eighteenth century, German Jews began entering the middle class with remarkable speed. That upward mobility, it has often been said, coincided with Jews' increasing alienation from religion and Jewish nationhood. In fact, Michah Gottlieb argues, this period was one of intense engagement with Jewish texts and traditions. One expression of this was the remarkable turn to Bible translation. In the century and a half beginning with Moses Mendelssohn's pioneering translation and the final one by Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig, German Jews produced sixteen different translations of at least the Pentateuch. Exploring Bible translations by Mendelssohn, Leopold Zunz, and Samson Raphael Hirsch, Michah Gottlieb argues that each translator sought a "reformation" of Judaism along bourgeois lines, which involved aligning Judaism with a Protestant concept of religion. Buber and Rosenzweig famously critiqued bourgeois German Judaism as a craven attempt to establish social respectability to facilitate Jews' entry into the middle class through a vapid, domesticated Judaism. But Mendelssohn, Zunz, and Hirsch saw in bourgeois values the best means to serve God and the authentic actualization of Jewish tradition. Through their learned, creative Bible translations, these scholars presented competing visions of middle-class Judaism that affirmed Jewish nationhood while lighting the path to a purposeful, emotionally-rich spiritual life grounded in ethical responsibility.
£28.68
Cornerstone No Ordinary Joe
IT WAS past three o'clock in the morning when Joe Calzaghe experienced the sweetest validation of his professional life. Victory over Jeff Lacy, a 28-year-old American compared to a young Mike Tyson because of his power and "take-no-prisoners attitude", left no one in doubt about the world super middleweight champion's talent. For years, Calzaghe's virtuosity remained a legend of the Welsh valleys. His defeat in 1997 of Chris Eubank brought him to prominence, winning for him the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) super middleweight title. But despite a record number of defences of the belt, his career lacked a defining contest. A long line of challengers and ex-titleholders were disposed of but the biggest names in American boxing avoided the ultimate showdown he craved. Hand injuries further obscured the true level of his aptitude for an art he began to learn from his father, Enzo, at the age of eight when - inspired by Sugar Ray Leonard - a rolled-up carpet in the family home in Newbridge became a makeshift heavy bag.This is the story of Calzaghe's extraordinary life, from his humble beginnings in his hometown of Newbridge, to his ascent to personal greatness, becoming the first super middleweight boxer to win the prized belt awarded by The Ring, the bible of boxing, in the division's near 20-year history. One of Britain's foremost sporting champions, a warrior and working-class hero, this is the story of the triumphs and trials that made Calzaghe a legend.
£12.99
ACC Art Books A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored
"A jewel of Baroque architecture, the Castelluccio Palace is the spotlight of a beautiful book retracing its history, its long restoration and its precious ornaments. These photographs reflect the Sicilian Golden Age." —Fanny Guenon des Mesnards, AD France "This monograph is an invitation to visit the Palazzo Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio."—Italian Vogue "A Palace in Sicily: A Masterpiece Restored doesn’t just pull back the curtain on the finished palace, it details the four-year-long process through an elaborate array of photos..." —Architectural Digest, and Yahoo With its sun-drenched sands and Mediterranean waters, Sicily has been a favoured destination of travellers for centuries. History is alive on this island, from ancient accounts of the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans; to the journals of wealthy young European men embarking on the Grand Tour. This book captures the sun-steeped aesthetic of the island, while detailing the restoration of one of its finest attractions: the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palace. Marquis de Castelluccio was one of the last "servals" or “leopards” of Sicily – wealthy aristocrats who flooded the island with luxury. Following his death, his home fell to ruin. A half-century later, Jean-Louis Remilleux fell in love with this dilapidated 18th-century palace and made it his mission to restore it. Unveiled for the first time in this beautifully illustrated book, the Di Lorenzo del Castelluccio palazzo is one of the finest testaments to Sicilian architecture and art. Today, lush green palm trees welcome you to the palace’s imposing front façade. Frescoes, arabesques, masks, imitation marble, ceilings and wainscoting have all restored to their former glory, over decades of elaborate work. This book charts the restoration process and celebrates the astonishing end results. It contains an album’s worth of photographs that capture the beauty of this palace beneath the Mediterranean sun.
£36.00
Page Street Publishing Co. Caketopia: Your Guide to Decorating Buttercream Cakes with Flair
How to Decorate the Most Stylish Cakes in the World Don't just bake a cake; bake a cake that will make heads turn and jaws drop! In this incredible collection of tutorials, cake queen and Instagram star Sheri Wilson shows you how to re-create her signature, out-of this-world cake designs at home with confidence. Sheri's cakes are truly works of art, and these 30 tutorials cover everything from electric neon designs, to punky midnight black decor, to cakes adorned with exotic gems and painted in delicate florals. And with each decorating project broken down step by step, along with photographs for a helpful visual guide, you'll follow along with ease and get showstopping results time and time again. Use vibrant buttercreams to paint an elegant stained-glass scene in the La Vie en Rose cake. Pipe cute, fruity designs in the hot pink Strawberry Patch cake-complete with yummy strawberry filling and cake layers! Sheri's famous Midnight Black Buttercream comes together with genius sprinkle art to create the edgy Sprinkle Sugar Skull cake. Use stencils to form the animal print on the rainbow Neon Leopard Print cake, and fun chocolate molds to build the rocky, gold-tinted Rose Quartz Geode cake, filled with delectable Pistachio Buttercream! Sheri shares all her best tips and tricks to help you master key techniques, like how to get the perfect consistency of buttercream, create a professional smooth finish and nail the ganache drip. She also reveals her tested-and-perfected recipes for moist cakes, fluffy frostings and all sorts of delicious fillings, so you have everything you need right at your fingertips. With Sheri's unstoppable imagination and keen eye for detail, Caketopia will be your all-in-one resource for decorating glamorous cakes for years to come.
£16.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Gordon Bennett and the First Yacht Race Across the Atlantic
The 1866 transatlantic yacht race was a match that saw three yachts battle their way across the Atlantic in the dead of winter in pursuit of a $90,000 prize. Six men died in the brutal and close-fought contest, and the event changed the perception of yachting from a slightly effete gentlemen’s pursuit into something altogether more rugged and adventurous. The race also symbolized the beginning of America’s ‘gilded age’, with its associated obscene wealth and largesse (the $90,000 prize put up by the three contestants is about $15 million in today’s money), as well as the thawing of relations between the US and UK. The narrative focuses on the victorious yacht Henrietta and her owner James Gordon Bennett. Bennett was the son of the multimillionaire proprietor of the New York Herald, and a notorious playboy. His infamous stunts included driving his carriage through the streets of New York naked, tipping a railway porter $30,000, and turning up at his own engagement party blind drunk and mistaking the fire for a urinal, which led to the coining of the phrase ‘Gordon Bennett!’. However, Bennett was also a serious yachtsman and had served with distinction during the civil war aboard Henrietta, and he was the only owner to be aboard his own boat during the race. Other characters include Bennett’s captain Samuel Samuels (legendary clipper skipper, ex-convict and occasional vaudeville actor), financier Leonard Jerome, aboard Henrietta as race invigilator (he also happened to be grandfather to Winston Churchill) and Stephen Fisk, a journalist so desperate to cover the race that he evaded a summons to appear as a witness in court and instead smuggled himself aboard Henrietta in a crate of champagne. Using the framework of the race to discuss the various historical themes, there’s ample drama, and the diverse and eccentric range of characters ensure that this is a book laced with plenty of human interest, scandal and adventure.
£10.99
New York University Press Runaway Genres: The Global Afterlives of Slavery
Winner, 2021 René Wellek Prize, given by the American Comparative Literature Association Winner, 2021 Barbara Perkins and George Perkins Award, given by the International Society for the Study of Narrative Honorable Mention, 2020 James Russell Lowell Prize, given by the Modern Language Association Argues that the slave narrative is a new world literary genre In Runaway Genres, Yogita Goyal tracks the emergence of slavery as the defining template through which current forms of human rights abuses are understood. The post-black satire of Paul Beatty and Mat Johnson, modern slave narratives from Sudan to Sierra Leone, and the new Afropolitan diaspora of writers like Teju Cole and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie all are woven into Goyal’s argument for the slave narrative as a new world literary genre, exploring the full complexity of this new ethical globalism. From the humanitarian spectacles of Kony 2012 and #BringBackOurGirls through gothic literature, Runaway Genres unravels, for instance, how and why the African child soldier has now appeared as the afterlife of the Atlantic slave. Goyal argues that in order to fathom forms of freedom and bondage today—from unlawful detention to sex trafficking to the refugee crisis to genocide—we must turn to contemporary literature, which reveals how the literary forms used to tell these stories derive from the antebellum genre of the slave narrative. Exploring the ethics and aesthetics of globalism, the book presents alternative conceptions of human rights, showing that the revival and proliferation of slave narratives offers not just an occasion to revisit the Atlantic past, but also for re-narrating the global present. In reassessing these legacies and their ongoing relation to race and the human, Runaway Genres creates a new map with which to navigate contemporary black diaspora literature.
£72.00
Headline Publishing Group Vine Street: SUNDAY TIMES Best Crime Books of the Year pick
***BEST CRIME BOOKS OF THE YEAR - THE TIMES/SUNDAY TIMES******CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH - THE TIMES***'Brings the obsessional dread of James Ellroy to 1940s London.' IAN RANKIN'Extraordinary...a career-defining performance.' THE SUNDAY TIMES'This is crime writing of the highest quality' DAILY MAILSOHO, 1935.SERGEANT LEON GEATS' PATCH.A snarling, skull-cracking misanthrope, Geats marshals the grimy rabble according to his own elastic moral code.The narrow alleys are brimming with jazz bars, bookies, blackshirts, ponces and tarts so when a body is found above the Windmill Club, detectives are content to dismiss the case as just another young woman who topped herself early.But Geats - a good man prepared to be a bad one if it keeps the worst of them at bay - knows the dark seams of the city.Working with his former partner, mercenary Flying Squad sergeant Mark Cassar, Geats obsessively dedicates himself to finding a warped killer - a decision that will reverberate for a lifetime and transform both men in ways they could never expect.'Savage, beautiful, mesmeric...a very special book.' CHRIS WHITAKER'A stirringly ambitious novel that pairs the scope of James Ellroy's LA CONFIDENTIAL with the psychological depth of Graham Greene's BRIGHTON ROCK. Extraordinary.' A. J. FINN'A tour de force. A brilliant marriage of tension and rich detail.' HARRIET TYCE'Nolan is set to become Britain's Michael Connelly' DAILY MAIL'An epic, brutal, blockbuster of a crime novel. It's the best film noir you've never seen complete with a love story that might just rip your heart out.' TREVOR WOOD'An enthralling tale that takes you into the seamy heart of Soho's past. Written in Nolan's visceral, muscular prose, it is a joy to read.' LESLEY KARA'A rich, ambitious, masterpiece of a crime novel' OLIVIA KIERNAN'Poetic and tragic...but also vibrant, with a great depth of world and character' JAMES DELARGY
£12.99
Watkins Media Limited The Kabbalah – Sacred Texts: The Essential Texts from the Zohar
The Zohar, or Book of Splendour, is the foundation text of the Kabbalah, the famous theosophical teaching central to Jewish mysticism. This marvellous book, attributed to a 2nd-century rabbi, Schimeon Ben Yochai, was at first kept secret and only brought to wider notice by the 13th-century Spanish rabbi Moses de León. Kabbalah is the principal source of Jewish mysticism and has inspired centuries of mystical experience, influenced initially by personal encounters with God, such as those of Ezekiel and Moses in the Hebrew Bible. Its influence has penetrated Christian esotericism, and today Jews and non-Jews alike derive spiritual meaning from the Kabbalah. This fine and authoritative translation of essential passages in the Zohar is by Samuel Liddel MacGregor Mathers, a key figure in the Order of the Golden Dawn. The foreword is by the renowned Kabbalah scholar Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi. The Sacred Text series offers essential selections from the major writings of the world's spiritual traditions in reliable and accessible translations – editions to treasure and inspire.
£11.55
Hachette Children's Group A Question of History: Did Romans really eat flamingos? And other questions about the Romans
Discover the weird and wacky history of the Romans!Who was the maddest Roman emperor? Why didn't the Romans use toilet paper? And just how dangerous was a Roman tortoise? A Question of History: Ancient Rome answers all these questions and much more.With an engaging question and answer format, this series draws young readers into the fascinating, sometimes gruesome, world of famous peoples and civilisations through history. Each spread opens with a simple question, opening up an exploration of an aspect of the life of a people or civilisation and busting some popular myths along the way!The lively design is supported by annotated photos and cartoons, making history fun and accessible for readers aged 8+.Titles in the series: What happened the pharaoh's brain? And other questions about the Ancient EgyptiansDid the kings of Benin really keep pet leopards? And other questions about the kingdom of BeninDid the Celts really use hair gel? And other questions about the Stone Age, Iron Age and Bronze AgeWhy did the ancient Greeks use elephants in battle? And other questions about the ancient GreeksWhy did the Maya stick needles in their tongues? And other questions about the MayaDid the Romans really eat flamingos? And other questions about the RomansWhy did the Shang write on turtles? And other questions about the Shang Dynasty Did the Vikings really wear horns on their helmets? And other questions about the Vikings
£8.99
John Wiley & Sons Inc Digital Transformation: Building Intelligent Enterprises
Building Intelligent Enterprises by leveraging the emerging and next-generation technologies to accelerate the adoption of digital transformation The speed of innovation and emerging IT technologies are changing at a very fast pace and enterprises are eager to join the digital revolution so they can stand above the competition and succeed as the enterprise of tomorrow. This book is an attempt to make the enterprise intelligent by providing the path to digital transformation and the adoption of new IT methods, tools and technologies. This book has been organized to cover the following topics: Digital Transformation, Design Thinking, Agile, DevOps, Robotic Process Automation, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Drones, Augmented and Virtual Reality, 3D Printing, Big Data, Analytics, Cloud Computing, APIs, and SAP Leonardo. No prior knowledge of any technical coding or language is necessary to understand the content of this book. End-to-end storyline to accelerate the enterprise’s digital transformation journey How an enterprise can stay relevant, compete, and perform in the digital economy How to leverage these technologies to build intelligent enterprises Understand and apply the emerging technologies across key business processes Industry-specific Use Cases for all technologies as a reference point to build the business case for implementation The book is very well suited towards the C-Suite executives, both IT and business leaders, directors and managers, project managers, solution architects, and all professionals who have an interest and desire to keep up-to-date with the latest technological trends, looking for a career change, want to help enterprise adapt and onboard the digital roadmap, or have an agenda to digitize key processes within the enterprise to make it intelligent.
£27.89
Murdoch Books The Dessert Game: Simple tricks, skill-builders and showstoppers to up your game
'Reynold's lifelong passion and imagination is the DNA in all of his food and this cookbook brings that passion into your kitchen. It has something for everyone.' Gordon Ramsay 'Reynold is one of those rare sparks that ignites in such a way as to capture the hearts and minds of so many in an entirely new and fresh light. His relentless pursuit of perfection and his unapologetic obsession with pastry has already yielded spectacular creations. One can only imagine what happens next ...' Melissa Leong Got a sweet tooth or someone to impress? Level up your dessert game with tried-and-tested recipes from modern-day MasterChef legend Reynold Poernomo.Perfect your butter cake, curd tart or creme caramel with Level 1. These are all the crowd pleasers and perfectly simple desserts for beginners or aficionados, each with a 'Reynold twist', like pavlova flavour pairings or a honey glaze for your cheesecake.Kick it up a notch with Level 2, for swoon-worthy jar desserts, the perfect oozy lava cake or the ultimate praline tart. Step by step, Reynold shows how each element is made so you can dream up your own combinations and increase your confidence.Are you an adventure cook? Or want to blow everyone's minds? Level 3 is an access-all-areas pass to the signature dishes and secret recipes for white noise, onyx, magic mushrooms and more - these creations need to be seen (and tasted) to be believed.Including choose-your-own-flavour-adventure flowcharts, endless tips on substitutions and the inside skinny on kitchen tools and specialty ingredients, The Dessert Game is everything you need for sweet, sweet victory at your place.
£18.99
Dorling Kindersley Ltd DK Eyewitness Top 10 Milan and the Lakes
Italy's 'second city' oozes culture and style - Milan has exquisite architecture, world-class museums, chic boutiques, bustling markets and trendy night spots - and all of this within striking distance of the tranquility of the Italian lakes. Your DK Eyewitness Top 10 travel guide ensures you'll find your way around Milan and the Lakes with absolute ease.Our newly updated Top 10 travel guide breaks down the best of Milan and the Lakes into helpful lists of ten - from our own selected highlights to the best museums, places to eat, shops and festivals.You'll discover:- Nine easy-to-follow itineraries, perfect for a day-trip, a weekend, or a week- Detailed Top 10 lists of Milan's must-sees, including detailed descriptions of Leonardo's Last Supper, Milan's Duomo, Pinacoteca di Brera, Castello Sforzesco, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Sant'Ambrogio, Navigli, Isole Borromee, Bergamo and Mantua- Milan and the Lakes' most interesting areas, with the best places for shopping, dining, and sightseeing- Inspiration for different things to enjoy during your trip - including children's attractions, things to do for free and and hidden gems off the beaten track- A laminated pull-out map of Milan and the Lakes, plus eight colour area maps- Streetsmart advice: get ready, get around, and stay safe- A lightweight format perfect for your pocket or bag when you're on the moveDK Eyewitness Top 10s are the UK's favourite pocket guides and have been helping travellers to make the most of their breaks since 2002. Looking for more on Milan's culture, history and attractions? Try our DK Eyewitness Italy.
£9.04
Taschen GmbH Greatest of All Time. A Tribute to Muhammad Ali
Greatest of All Time: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali is not just a book; it is a testament to the extraordinary life of one of the world’s most famous athletes. GOAT delves into the intricate layers of Ali’s existence, tracing Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.’s journey from his humble beginnings navigating segregation and financial hardship in Louisville, Kentucky, to his evolution into the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali. Essays by those closest to him reveal stories behind monumental fights like those with Sonny Liston, the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman, and Thrilla in Manila against Joe Frazier. The book also explores Ali’s signature fighting style, which, when paired with his rapper-style wit, positioned him as a charismatic figure inside and outside the ring.Beyond boxing, GOAT weaves together Ali’s historic moments with his resilience against discrimination and his determination to confront racial inequities. His triumph at the 1960 Rome Olympics was marred by hostility, underscoring the racial tensions he faced; Ali boldly challenged these prevailing biases. The boxer’s embrace of Islam became a cornerstone of his moral standards, guiding his principles against racism, inequality, and undue violence, with the latter informing his staunch opposition to the Vietnam War. Interspersed between these accounts are thousands of historical documents and images of Ali, including the boxer’s documentarian-turned-confidant Howard Bingham’s intimate snapshots, Neil Leifer and Flip Schulke’s iconic pictures, and Hank Kaplan’s archival contributions. Stills from Leon Gast's film ‘When We Were Kings’, which told the story of Ali’s pivotal 1974 fight, are also included in the volume.GOAT is a heartfelt homage to a boxing legend, exploring Muhammad Ali’s indomitable spirit and celebrating his enduring impact on civil rights, sports, and culture.
£100.00
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Isata Kanneh-Mason, Piano Inspiration, Book 1: ABRSM Grades 4-6
This special collection of intermediate piano repertoire has been lovingly curated by internationally renowned pianist, Isata Kanneh-Mason. Inspired by her musical journey from childhood prodigy to accomplished performer, and drawing on her championship of female composers and composers of colour, Isata has handpicked a wonderfully diverse melange of music for players to explore. Alongside well-known classical masterpieces, Isata presents stunning pieces by Florence Price, Amy Beach and Eleanor Alberga, as well as a beautifully evocative new work by Natalie Klouda and her very own Waltz. Carefully edited and fingered, Piano Inspiration 1 is ideal both for recreational playing and those seeking own-choice repertoire for ABRSM Performance Grades (Grades 4-6). -15 pieces for intermediate players, each holding special significance to Isata -A wonderful array of styles, composers and traditions that span four centuries of piano music -Original works by Isata Kanneh-Mason and Natalie Klouda, specially composed for this collection -Ideal for own-choice repertoire selection in ABRSM Performance Grades (Grades 4-6) Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason is in great demand in the UK and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. She offers eclectic and interesting repertoire and has performed at many of the world's finest concert venues, including the Royal Albert Hall for her BBC Proms solo debut in 2023. As a Decca recording artist, she entered the UK classical charts at No. 1 with her 2019 album Romance, and has since released Summertime, featuring twentieth-century American repertoire; Muse, a duo album with her brother Sheku; and Childhood Tales, which showcases music inspired by a nostalgia for youth. Isata is recipient of the coveted Leonard Bernstein Award and the Opus Klassik Award for best young artist.
£14.82
Little, Brown Book Group Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon
To have been alive during the last sixty years is to have lived with the music of Paul Simon. The boy from Queens scored his first hit record in 1957, just months after Elvis Presley ignited the rock era. As the songwriting half of Simon & Garfunkel, his work helped define the youth movement of the '60s. On his own in the '70s, Simon made radio-dominating hits. He kicked off the '80s by reuniting with Garfunkel to perform for half a million New Yorkers in Central Park. Five years later, Simon's album "Graceland" sold millions and spurred an international political controversy. And it doesn't stop there.The grandchild of Jewish immigrants from Hungary, the nearly 75-year-old singer-songwriter has not only sold more than 100 million records, won 15 Grammy awards and been installed into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame twice, but has also animated the meaning and flexibility of personal and cultural identity in a rapidly shrinking world.Simon has also lived one of the most vibrant lives of modern times; a story replete with tales of Carrie Fisher, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, Shelley Duvall, Nelson Mandela, the Grateful Dead, drugs, depression, marriage, divorce, and more. A life story with the scope and power of an epic novel, Carlin's Homeward Bound is the first major biography of one of the most influential popular artists in American history.
£12.99
Zaffre The Angels Weep: The Ballantyne Series 3
BOOK 3 IN THE BALLANTYNE SERIES, BY INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily MirrorTWO FAMILIES. TWO COUNTRIES. ONE CONFLICT. Like his father Zouga, Ralph Ballantyne dreams of making his fortune from the rich lands of Africa. But the tribes that they - and men like them - previously exploited are rising up, and will no longer submit quietly to the greed and mindless destruction of these Colonial trespassers. A hundred years later, the last Ballantyne, Craig Mellow, lives in the newly named Zimbabwe. The battle for Africa still rages, and for Craig there is a terrible price to pay for the actions of his ancestors . . .A sweeping epic that explores over a century of Africa's history under colonialist rule from the late nineteenth century, The Angels Weep is a moving and exciting novel that was an instant bestseller on publication (1982).The third book in the epic Ballantyne Series.Book 4 in the Ballantyne series and the stunning conclusion to the story of the Ballantynes, The Leopard Hunts in Darkness, is available now.
£10.99