Search results for ""crown""
HarperCollins Publishers Crowbone (The Oathsworn Series, Book 5)
The long awaited return to Robert Low’s Oathsworn series Island of Mann, 979AD. A monk lies dying with a sworn secret he must pass onto Crowbone, the true heir to Norway’s throne, before he breathes his last. The monk’s words will decide the fate of a kingdom. But once the secret is revealed, Crowbone’s long-time enemy, Gunnhild, the Witch Mother of Kings, threatens his path to the crown and will stop at nothing to prevent him from attaining his royal destiny. Crowbone and his men must survive an unforgiving journey and face their sworn rival. It is a quest that will test the very bonds that tie the Oathsworn together.
£9.99
O'Brien Press Ltd The Sackville Street Caper: Molly Malone and Bram Stoker
Dublin, 1858 BRAM STOKER: boy seeking adventure (and things to write about) MOLLY MALONE: part-time fishmonger and full-time sneak thief! When Bram runs away from boarding school and meets streetwise Molly, he finds all the excitement he’s ever wanted. Together they explore the city, with its Sackville Street Spooks, hoodlums and heroes – and let’s not forget the very creepy Count Vladimir Grof-Constantin de Lugosi. As Bram looks for inspiration for the famous book he has yet to write – DRACULA – our two heroes stumble upon a dastardly plot to steal … the Irish Crown Jewels! Let the game of cat and mouse begin
£9.91
Orion Publishing Co Richard III: Brother, Protector, King
'Fresh, gripping and vivid' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Majestically narrated' Dan Jones 'A portrait that chills you to the bone' Leanda de Lisle, The TimesA dedicated brother and loyal stalwart to the Yorkist dynasty for most of his early life, Richard's personality was forged in the tribulation of exile and the brutality of combat. An ambitious nobleman and successful general with a loyal following, he could claim to have achieved every ambition in life except one: the crown.By stripping back the legends that surround England's most controversial king and returning to original manuscript evidence, Chris Skidmore's compelling biography reveals Richard III as contemporaries saw him.
£12.99
Ordnance Survey New Forest National Park: 2017
The New Forest is the jewel of Hampshire's crown. Relatively unchanged for centuries, it continues to provide wonderful opportunities for the walker to experience both its unique woodland and rare wildlife. The New Forest is a working, living landscape consisting of peaceful lawns and wild heather moorland, all of which set it apart as a place for the peaceful enjoyment of nature. Its proximity to the commuter belt of the south east means that it is ideally placed for weekend walks, while it continues to attract visitors from much further afield, who come to stay and explore the area for a week or two.
£8.42
Little, Brown Book Group A Brief History of Britain 1485-1660: The Tudor and Stuart Dynasties
Praise for the author::'For anyone researching the subject, this is the book you've been waiting for.'Washington PostFrom the death of Richard III on Bosworth Field in 1485 to the execution of Charles I after the Civil Wars of 1642-48, England was transformed by two dynasties.First, the Tudors, who had won the crown on the battlefield, changed both the nature of kingship and the nation itself. England became Protestant and began to establish itself as a trading power; facing down seemingly impossible odds, it defeated its enemies on land and sea. But after a century, Elizabeth I died with no heir and the crown was passed to the Stuarts, who sought to remould the kingdom in their own image.Leading authority on the history of the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Ronald Hutton brilliantly recreates the political landscape of this early modern period and shows how the modern nation was forged in these febrile, transformative years. Combining skilful pen portraits of the leading figures of the day with descriptions of its culture, economics and vivid accounts of everyday life, Hutton provides telling insights into this critical period on Britain's national history.This the second book in the landmark four-volume Brief History of Britain which brings together leading historians to tell Britain's story, from the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the present day. Combining the latest research with accessible and entertaining story-telling, the series is the ideal introduction for students and general readers.
£10.99
Vintage Publishing The Devonshires: The Story of a Family and a Nation
William Cavendish, the father of the first Earl, dissolved monasteries for Henry VIII. Bess, his second wife, was gaoler-companion to Mary Queen of Scots during her long imprisonment in England. Arbella Stuart, their granddaughter, was a heartbeat away from the throne of England and their grandson, the Lord General of the North, fought to save the crown for Charles I.With the help of previously unpublished material from the Chatsworth archives, The Devonshires reveals how the dynasty made and lost fortunes, fought and fornicated, built great houses, patronised the arts and pioneered the railways, made great scientific discoveries, and, in the end, came to terms with changing times.
£16.99
Orion Publishing Co Skulls: Portraits of the Dead and the Stories They Tell
It is said that the skull is the only human body part that is as powerful dead as it was when living. Skulls takes the reader on an eerie journey through history seen through the hollow eye sockets of this crown jewel of the human skeleton. The book is made up of a series of short illustrated stories laced with fascinating facts, historical and medical references and compelling anecdotes. The testimonials of thirty-plus skull collectors reveal what is known of – or speculated about – the often gruesome history of the skulls, as well as how they were acquired and what makes them so highly prized.
£18.00
Emons Verlag GmbH 111 Places in Canterbury That You Shouldn't Miss
111 Places in Canterbury That You Shouldn't Miss captures Kent life as it should be - relaxed, carefree and brimming with the ancient and the modern. Take your pick of regal treats which include ancient churches, lengthy piers and in-your-face graffiti. Seaside haunts and a village city display a county at the forefront of Europe that remains unmistakably English. Relics from Christianity's pioneers join modern art and literature in a cultural tangle that thrives to this day. Crazy golf, watery stories and wine to rival the continent's are all to be explored in this sun-soaked corner of the world. Kings, queens and archbishops vie for the local crown but jewels are all scattered around this region.
£13.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Yorktown 1781: The World Turned Upside Down
This account of the Yorktown campaign of the American Revolution presents six full-colour battle scenes detailing the critical points in the battle. By 1781 Britain's struggle to contain rebels in her American colonies had reached an inglorious stalemate. Her strategy had been to isolate General Washington's army in the middle states between Canada and the South, which she hoped to secure with aid of the Royal Navy. However, after defeat at Saratoga and with the northern army holed up in New York, King George's forces now saw this plan backfire. Yorktown would be a model example to the British Crown of the impossible odds she now faced in holding onto her colonies.
£15.99
Hay House Inc Fairy Tarot Cards: A 78-Card Deck and Guidebook
The fairies are nature angels who assist us all with earthly concerns, including increasing our self-confidence in our ability to make a positive difference in this world. The 78 gorgeous cards in this deck are geared toward helping you 'wear your invisible crown' and fulfil your life's purpose. Radleigh Valentine calls Fairy Tarot Cards the 'self-esteem deck', because the words and images are imbued with this intention. Inside, you'll meet Fairy Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses, set against the backdrop of iconic city of Glastonbury. The wisdom of the fairies, inscribed on each card and explained in the accompanying guidebook, will help you put your life on the fast track of Divine magic!
£21.59
Penguin Random House Children's UK Doctor Who: Rebellion on Treasure Island
*Alien pirates, and sea-faring friends abound in this incredible Treasure Island and Doctor Who crossover.*'Who was that?' asked Clara. 'And what are pieces of eight?'The Doctor smiled. 'Robert Louis Stevenson. I did tell you.'Summoned to 1700s Plymouth, the Doctor and Clara must investigate a mysterious thievery from the Crown of King George.Their travels take them to a remote island - but as the secrets of the theft are unearthed, the Doctor discovers something far more sinister. The spectre of a terrible intellect is afoot.Thankfully, the Doctor and Clara won't be alone. A pirate called Long John Silver, a runaway called Janey Hawkins, and professor called River Song, are all along for the ride.
£9.28
HarperCollins Publishers The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe
Platinum Jubilee edition ‘Full of gems … Angela Kelly is a jewel in the crown’Daily Telegraph ‘Entertaining and beautifully illustrated’The Sunday Times ‘For real intel, [The Crown] can’t come close to The Other Side of the Coin by Angela Kelly’The New York Times ‘When Angela Kelly and The Queen are together, laughter echoes through the corridors of Buckingham Palace.’ Angela worked with The Queen and walked the corridors of the Royal Household for twenty-eight years, initially as Her Majesty’s Senior Dresser and then latterly as Her Majesty’s Personal Advisor, Curator, Wardrobe and In-house Designer. As the first person in history to hold this title, she shared a uniquely close working relationship with The Queen. Her Majesty personally gave Angela her blessing to share their extraordinary bond with the world. Whether it was preparing for a formal occasion or brightening Her Majesty’s day with a playful joke, Angela’s priority was to serve and support. Sharing never-before-seen photographs – many from Angela’s own private collection – and charming anecdotes of their time spent together, this revealing book provides memorable insights into what it was like to work closely with The Queen, to curate her wardrobe and to discover a true and lasting connection along the way. Revised and updated to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, this special edition of The Other Side of the Coin contains chapters covering the Royal Household’s isolation during the pandemic, Angela’s own devotion to service to keep the monarch safe, and the light and laughter that was shared behind closed doors, even in the darkest moments.
£22.50
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Cecils: The Dynasty and Legacy of Lord Burghley
The Cecils: The Dynasty and Legacy of Lord Burghley looks at the lives of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Elizabeth I's Chief Minister and Secretary of State and that of his son, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Lord Burghley served three Tudor Monarchs in an unparalleled rise to power during the reign of Elizabeth I and his political influence on state matters, his remarkable close bond to the queen, and the self-sacrifice in his service to the state and crown, are closely examined in this unprecedented work. The life and career of William's youngest son Robert, Earl of Salisbury, who also became Elizabeth's Chief Minister as heir to his father's political mantle, will also be discussed. Robert served his queen equally to, if not more ruthlessly than his father. His powerful position remained intact during the transition of the crown from the House of Tudor to the House of Stuart upon Elizabeth's death in 1603. Robert's loyalties and his relationship with his father remain a topic of discussion and debate. This book will also explore the transition of power from one Cecil to another, and how both men created a powerful dynasty and legacy that continues to fascinate readers today. The book is based on a close examination of William and Robert Cecil's correspondence, personal papers, state papers, legal documents, and memoranda. By closely examining these sources, the author has gained a clearer insight into the lives and careers of the Cecil's, the true powerhouse behind the throne.
£22.50
Schiffer Publishing Ltd British Art Deco Ceramics
Dynamic and beautiful Art Deco ceramics blazing with eye-catching, bold--even confrontational--hand-painted designs on innovative vessel forms, produced by some of the most influential potteries in Britain during the 1920s and 1930s, are featured here in over 400 color photographs. Spectacular dinnerwares, vases, jugs, face masks, coffee and tea sets by Clarice Cliff, Susie Cooper, Beswick, Crown Devon, Myott, Royal Doulton, Shelley, and others appear in abundance. A thorough text provides brief histories of the makers, explanations of the origins and development of the Art Deco style, and valuable tips for today's enthusiastic collectors. Values for the wares displayed are given. This reference will be enjoyed by both art and ceramics enthusiasts the world over.
£49.49
Pocket Mountains Ltd Cambridgeshire: 40 Town & Country Walks
With its hallowed streets, glorious colleges and peaceful riverside walks along the Cam, Cambridge is the jewel in the crown of Cambridgeshire and a richly rewarding city to tour on foot. This is a big county, however, and it is well worth exploring the countryside beyond the glittering city. This guide takes you through the rich heritage of the county's market towns and pretty thatched-roofed villages, along old hilltop tracks and into ancient woodlands, full of interest and beauty. Cambridgeshire is also the lowest and flattest place in England and the straight roads, endless network of dykes and isoloted windmills of the fenlands have a stange minimalist magnetism which is hard to resist.
£8.03
Canongate Books Robert The Bruce: King Of Scots
Robert the Bruce had himself crowned King of Scots at Scone on a frozen March morning in 1306. After years of struggle, Scotland had been reduced to a vassal state by Edward I of England and its people lived in poverty. On the day he seized the crown Bruce renewed the fight for Scotland's freedom, and let forth a battle cry that would echo through the centuries. Using contemporary accounts, Ronald McNair Scott tells the story of Scotland's legendary leader, and one of Europe's most remarkable medieval kings. It is a story with episodes as romantic as those of King Arthur, but also one which belongs in the annals of Scottish History, and has shaped a nation.
£10.99
Canongate Books The Red Queen
The princess is taking her over, bodily and mentally. Dr Babs Halliwell is no longer herself.A young girl is plucked from obscurity to marry the Crown Prince of Korea. In her diaries, she chronicles the intrigues of courtly life and her own extraordinary existence.Two hundred years later, the Red Queen's ghost haunts Dr Babs Halliwell, an Oxford academic obsessed with her memoirs and possessed by the many parallels with her own complicated past. But why and how does she keep the Red Queen's story alive?The inimitable Margaret Drabble offers a rich and atmospheric historical novel, where the dead wander among the living and ask what it means to be remembered.
£9.99
Quercus Publishing The Second Empress
1810. Palais des Tuileries, France. As a princess of the Holy Roman Empire, Marie-Louise Habsburg knows the importance of family loyalty. So when her father asks her to save his crown by marrying a foreign stranger twice her age she has no choice but to obey. But when she arrives in Paris, is becomes clear that Marie-Louise will have to fight for a place in her new husband's affections. Between a scorned first wife determined to hold on to her title and a fiendishly devious sister-in-law, will the young princess ever be able to win her rightful place at court? Meet Marie-Louise Bonaparte, youngest wife of Napoleon the Great and France's unwilling Second Empress.
£9.99
Walker Books Ltd The Tower of London A ThreeDimensional Expanding Pocket Guide
Remember your visit to the Tower of London for ever with this fascinating expanding pocket guide.Bring to life one of the most famous landmarks in Britain with this fascinating three-dimensional expanding pocket guide. Unfolding to a length of 1.5 metres, the guide features twelve three-dimensional panels on key sites including the White Tower, the Crown Jewels, Tower Green, the Chapel Royal, the ravens, Traitors'' Gate, the Yeoman Warders, torture, the Line of Kings, the Bloody Tower and the Royal Menagerie. Published in association with Historic Royal Palaces, this is the perfect souvenir or gift for anyone wishing to remember a trip to the Tower of London or learn more about it.
£5.80
Little, Brown Book Group Plain Tales From The Raj: Images of British India in the 20th Century
The Raj was, for two hundred years, the jewel in the British imperial crown. Although founded on military expansionism and undoubted exploitation, it developed over the centuries into what has been called 'benign autocracy' - the government of many by few, with the active collaboration of most Indians in recognition of a desire for the advancement of their country.Charles Allen's classic oral history of the period that marked the end of British rule was first published a generation ago. Now reissued as the imperial century closes, this brilliantly insightful and bestselling collection of reminiscences illustrates the unique experience of British India: the sadness and luxury for some; the joy and deprivation for others.
£10.99
Vintage Publishing Ivanhoe
**One of the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**Read this timeless tale of medieval romance and adventure.It is the dark days of King Richard the Lion Heart’'s reign, when the beloved king is fighting in far-off lands, leaving his corrupt brother John in charge of his kingdom. Tensions between Saxon and Norman lords erupt in bouts of bloodshed or foul play; good men are banished, forced to turn outlaw and serve the true king in secrecy and disguise. In this dangerous world, the brave Wilfred of Ivanhoe must grapple with the claims of family, crown, truth and justice if he is ever to win the hand of his true love, the beautiful Lady Rowena.
£9.04
Biblioasis Track & Trace
The poems in Zachariah Wells' second collection range from childhood to dimly foreseen events in the future; they idle on all three of Canada's coasts, travel the open road, take walks in the city and pause on the banks of country streams and ponds. Using an eclectic array of techniques and forms, from haiku to a crown of sonnets, in a voice that is personal but never private, Wells sketches a fragmentary biography of a life in progress, a study of post-industrial nomadic restlessness in a rootless age. Both elegiac and celebratory, "Track & Trace" considers how we live, how we shape our lives, and how we are eroded and drifted by time and circumstance.
£9.89
Thinkers Publishing DragonMasters Volume 1
DragonMasters volume 1 charts the history of the most exciting and dangerous opening known to chess - the Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense. Unlike almost all other books on the Dragon, the focus is not purely on theoretical development. Instead, the author has combined the most historically important games, the famous players who chose to fight either side (sometimes both sides!) of the opening, and the most unexpected and interesting stories featuring the Dragon. World Champions, contenders of the crown, code-breakers, revolutionaries in every sense of the world - all feature in this remarkable and entirely unique look into the history of an opening variation. as the ancient may say: Here be Dragons!
£32.39
Northern Eye Books Pub and Fell Walks Lake District Top 10: Perfect pairs: fine fells and cracking Lake District pubs
This attractive and cleverly structured guide gives walkers ten circular walks combining a superb country pub and nearby fell in the Lake District National Park - in a popular pocketable format. With clear information, an overview and introduction for each walk, numbered directions, large scale Ordnance Survey maps, superb eye-grabbing panoramic photographs, and interpretation of points of interest along the way, these guides set a new standard in clarity and ease-of-use. Featured walks include: The Old Crown + High Pike; The Pheasant + Sale Fell; The Kirkstile Inn + Melbreak; Swinside Inn + Causey Pike; Traveller's Rest + Helvellyn; White Lion + Place Fell; The Britannia + Lingmoor Fell, Riverside Bar + Grange Pike; The Woolpack + Harter Fell; Wasdale Head Hotel + Scafell Pikes.
£8.03
Northern Eye Books Pub Walks: Walks to the Finest Pubs in the Yorkshire Dales
One of six books in the Yorkshire Dales: Top 10 Walks series. This attractive and cleverly structured guide gives walkers ten of the finest pub walks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in a popular pocketable format. With clear information, an overview and introduction for each walk, expertly written numbered directions, Ordnance Survey maps, superb, eye-grabbing panoramic photographs, and interpretation of points of interest along the way, these guides set a new standard in clarity and ease-of-use. Featured walks include: the White Lion Inn, Cray; Rose & Crown Inn, Bainbridge; Buck Hotel, Reeth; New Inn, Clapham; George & Dragon, Dent; Craven Arms, Appletreewick; Falcon Inn, Littondale; Bolton Arms, Redmire; Buck Inn, Malham; Red Lion, Langthwaite.
£8.03
Abbeville Press Inc.,U.S. Queens: Women Who Ruled, from Ancient Egypt to Buckingham Palace
This tiny yet majestic volume introduces us to some 250 queens who ruled in their own right - who were crowned as the sovereigns of their countries or, in some cases, decided to crown themselves. It begins with queens of the ancient world and ends with those ruling today, encompassing along the way both household names, like Elizabeth I and Catherine the Great, and those who deserve to be better known, like Margaret I of Denmark and Ranavalona I of Madagascar. Each queen is represented by her portrait - painted, carved, engraved, or photographed - and an interesting fact about her reign. This Tiny Folio will be the perfect gift for the powerful women in your life.
£9.99
J-Novel Club Tearmoon Empire: Volume 9
Crown Prince Sion is prophesied to be fatally poisoned by his younger brother, Echard. Donning a precious keepsake dress made by her mother, ex-selfish-princess Mia throws open the doors to the ballroom, prepared to confront this swirling conspiracy. After considerable (by Mia standards) thought, she devises a brilliant (again, by Mia standards) scheme. Time to keep Sion dancing so he doesn’t have a chance to drink anything! Unsurprisingly, her plan falls flat almost immediately, as the myriad of players in this game of power won’t just sit idly by... Up against Sion’s burden of justice, Echard’s inferiority complex, and Sunkland’s complicated political background, can Mia lead everyone toward a better, brighter future?
£11.99
WW Norton & Co The Overstory: A Novel
The Overstory, winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, is a sweeping, impassioned work of activism and resistance that is also a stunning evocation of—and paean to—the natural world. From the roots to the crown and back to the seeds, Richard Powers’s twelfth novel unfolds in concentric rings of interlocking fables that range from antebellum New York to the late twentieth-century Timber Wars of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. There is a world alongside ours—vast, slow, interconnected, resourceful, magnificently inventive, and almost invisible to us. This is the story of a handful of people who learn how to see that world and who are drawn up into its unfolding catastrophe.
£10.53
Alfred A. Knopf Shadow Horse
Horses + mystery + rescuing abused animals = a triple crown of perpetually popular preteen genres!Thirteen-year-old Jasmine is found guilty of assaulting Hugh Robicheaux, the owner of the horse farm where she works. But she''s still determined to prove that Robicheaux killed Whirlwind, the mare she loved. Jas is sure that Shadow Horse, a scrawny brown gelding she rescues at a horse auction, is the key to the mystery—but just how is Shadow Horse connected to Whirlwind?Deftly written by a teacher and equestrian who has authored more than sixty books, this heartwarming and inspiring Edgar Award nominee will have special appeal for mystery fans as well as young horse lovers.
£7.78
Quercus Publishing The Last Queen Of India
1857, India. At nineteen years old, Sita is the shining star of Queen Lakshmi of India's imperial guard, having pledged herself to a life of celibacy in the name of protecting the young ruler. When Sita agrees to train Lakshmi in the art of military combat, a close friendship develops between the two women. But trouble soon threatens - Lakshmi's court is dangerously divided and rumours are rife that the country is at risk. Meanwhile, in London, advisors to Queen Victoria are looking to extend the power of the Commonwealth, and India is coveted as the next jewel in the imperial crown. In the ensuing battle, will the bond between Lakshmi and Sita be broken for ever?
£9.99
Rowman & Littlefield Clash of Crowns: William the Conqueror, Richard Lionheart, and Eleanor of Aquitaine—A Story of Bloodshed, Betrayal, and Revenge
Conflict between England and France was a fact of life for centuries, but few realize that its origins date from the time of the Vikings, when a Norse chieftain named Rollo established himself and his progeny in Normandy. In this compelling and entertaining history, Mary McAuliffe takes the reader back to those dark and turbulent times when Rollo’s descendants, the dukes of Normandy, asserted their dominance over the weak French monarchy—a dominance that became especially threatening after Duke William conquered England in 1066, giving him a royal crown. Despite this crown, William the Conqueror and his royal successors remained dukes of Normandy, with feudal obligations to their overlord, the king of France. This naturally fostered an ongoing hostility between the French and English crowns that, as McAuliffe convincingly shows, became ever more explosive as the strength and territorial holdings of the English monarchs grew. Conflict erupted regularly over the years, and Eleanor of Aquitaine’s desertion of one camp for the other only added fuel to the long-simmering feud. McAuliffe takes the reader back to this dramatic era, providing the fascinating background and context for this “clash of crowns.” She offers colorful insights into Richard Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine as well as lesser-known French and English monarchs, especially Philip II of France. Philip proved a determined opponent of Richard Lionheart, and their cutthroat rivalry not only created fatal divisions within the Third Crusade but also culminated in an incendiary faceoff at Richard’s newly built Château-Gaillard, the seemingly impregnable gateway to empire. The outcome would shape the course of English and French history throughout the centuries that followed.
£14.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Battle for the Island Kingdom: England's Destiny 1000–1066
A rich history of the years leading up to 1066 when Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans vied for the English crown. A tale of loyalty, treason and military might. In a saga reminiscent of Game of Thrones and The Last Kingdom, Battle for the Island Kingdom reveals the life-and-death struggle for power which changed the course of history. The six decades leading up to 1066 were defined by bloody wars and intrigues, in which three peoples vied for supremacy over the island kingdom. In this epic retelling, Don Hollway (The Last Viking) recounts the clashes of Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans, their warlords and their conniving queens. It begins with the Viking Cnut the Great, forging three nations into his North Sea Empire while his Saxon wife Aelfgifu rules in his stead and schemes for England’s throne. Her archenemy is Emma of Normandy, widow of Saxon king Aethelred, claiming Cnut’s realm in exchange for her hand in marriage. Their sons become rivals, pawns in their mothers’ wars until they can secure their own destinies. And always in the shadows is Godwin of Wessex, playing all sides to become the power behind the throne until his son Harold emerges as king of all of England. But Harold’s brother Tostig turns traitor, abandons the Anglo-Saxons and joins the army of the last great Viking, Harald Hardrada, where together they meet their fate at the battle of Stamford Bridge. And all this time watching from across the water is William, the Bastard, fighting to secure his own Norman dukedom, but with an eye on the English crown.
£18.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd William IV: The Last Hanoverian King of Britain
Born in 1765, third son of King George III and Queen Charlotte, Prince William, Duke of Clarence, initially had little expectation of succeeding to the British throne. A brief career in the navy, followed by several years of semi-obscurity and a liaison with the actress Dorothea Jordan that gave them a family of ten children, came to an end with the royal race for the crown', requiring him and several of his other similarly unmarried brothers to find wives and ensure the royal succession after the unexpected death of their only legitimate niece Charlotte, daughter of the Prince Regent. William's wife, Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, failed to produce any children who survived infancy, but despite their great difference in ages she succeeded in taming his previously uncouth manners. By the time he ascended the throne in 1830, the formerly outspoken prince had proved himself fitted to be a conscientious and astute if occasionally eccentric sovereign who successfully weathered the storms engendered by the passage of the Great Reform Bill. Between them, King William and Queen Adelaide helped to restore the popularity of a somewhat tarnished crown and lay the foundations for a modern monarchy under the auspices of their niece who succeeded them as Queen Victoria. This book portrays the life and character of Good King Billy', one of Britain's most endearing sovereigns. An affable character of straightforward honesty and common sense, an occasionally tactless, blundering character with an instinctive dislike of pomp and ceremony but with the common touch, he was arguably the most human, down-to-earth of the Hanoverians.
£22.50
University of Regina Press Firewater
A passionate call to action, Firewater examines alcohol—its history, the myths surrounding it, and its devastating impact on Indigenous people. Drawing on his years of experience as a Crown Prosecutor in Treaty 6 territory, Harold Johnson challenges readers to change the story we tell ourselves about the drink that goes by many names—booze, hooch, spirits, sauce, and the evocative 'firewater.' Confronting the harmful stereotype of the 'lazy, drunken Indian,' and rejecting medical, social, and psychological explanations of the roots of alcoholism, Johnson cries out for solutions, not diagnoses, and shows how alcohol continues to kill so many. Provocative, irreverent, and keenly aware of the power of stories, Firewater calls for people to make decisions about their communities and their lives on their own terms.
£13.99
Nick Hern Books Dara
An intense domestic drama of global consequence – for India then and for our world now. 1659. Mughal India. The imperial court, a place of opulence and excess; music, drugs, eunuchs and harems. Two brothers, whose mother's death inspired the Taj Mahal, are heirs to this Muslim empire. Now they fight ferociously for succession. Dara, the crown prince, has the love of the people – and of his emperor father – but younger brother Aurangzeb holds a different vision for India's future. Islam inspires poetry in Dara, puritanical rigour in Aurangzeb. Can Jahanara, their beloved sister, assuage Aurangzeb's resolve to seize the Peacock Throne and purge the empire? Originally performed by Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, Tanya Ronder's adaptation of Shahid Nadeem's play Dara premiered at the National Theatre, London, in 2015.
£9.99
Atlantic Books Railways and The Raj: How the Age of Steam Transformed India
India was the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, an Empire that needed a rail network to facilitate its exploitation and reflect its ambition. But, by building India's railways, Britain radically changed the nation and unwittingly planted the seed of independence. As Indians were made to travel in poor conditions and were barred from the better paid railway jobs a stirring of resentment and nationalist sentiment grew.The Indian Railways network remains one of the largest in the world, serving over 25 million passengers each day. In this expertly told history, Christian Wolmar reveals the full story, from the railway's beginnings to the present day, and examines the chequered role this institution has played in Indian history and the creation of today's modern state.
£12.99
Atlantic Books Return to Fourwinds
***Shortlisted Author For Historical Writers' Association's Debut Crown For Best First Historical Novel***What will it cost to hide your deepest secrets from those you love most? At Fourwinds they gather: Alice and Ralph, Patricia and Peter, to celebrate the marriage of their children. But the bride is nowhere to be seen. What could have caused Sarah to vanish? As both families search for the answer, the past floods through the corridors of the old house. What secret has Ralph been keeping from his wife? What is it about Alice's wartime encounter with Peter that has haunted her ever since? Return to Fourwinds is a sweeping, lyrical story of the things we choose to tell and the secrets that we keep.
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers The Christmas Competition (The Christmas Carrolls, Book 2)
‘A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge’s heart melt’ Dame Jacqueline Wilson on The Christmas Carrolls Funny festive middle grade about the world's most Christmassy family from the founder of Authorfy, perfect for 8+ fans of Matt Haig, Ben Miller, Sibeal Pounder’s Tinsel, and the Nativity! films The Christmas-crazy Carrolls are back – and this time, they have an ice-skating baby penguin! There’s a new family in town determined to steal the Carrolls’ tinselly crown. Can Holly and her family win the Christmas Chronicle’s competition for the Most Festive Family? Or will they discover that there is more to life than perfect Christmas decorations, a personal toboggan run, and more pressies than you can shake a candy cane at?
£7.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Television Genre Book
In this new edition of The Television Genre Book, leading international scholars have come together to offer an accessible and comprehensive update to the debates, issues and concerns of the field. As television continues to evolve rapidly, this new edition reflects the ways in which TV has transformed in recent years, particularly with the emergence of online streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and Amazon Prime. It also includes a new chapter on sports TV, and expanded coverage of horror, political thrillers, Nordic noir, historical documentary and docu-drama. With analyses of popular shows like Stranger Things, Killing Eve, The Crown, Chernobyl, Black Mirror, Fleabag, Breaking Bad and RuPaul’s Drag Race, this book offers a comprehensive understanding of television genre for scholars and students alike.
£31.99
Baker Publishing Group Esther – Royal Beauty
When an ambitious tyrant threatens genocide against the Jews, an inexperienced young queen must take a stand for her people. When Xerxes, king of Persia, issues a call for beautiful young women, Hadassah, a Jewish orphan living in Susa, is forcibly taken to the palace of the pagan ruler. After months of preparation, the girl known to the Persians as Esther wins the king's heart and a queen's crown. But because her situation is uncertain, she keeps her ethnic identity a secret until she learns that an evil and ambitious man has won the king's permission to exterminate all Jews--young and old, powerful and helpless. Purposely violating an ancient Persian law, she risks her life in order to save her people...and bind her husband's heart.
£11.99
Little, Brown Book Group To Catch An Heiress: by the bestselling author of Bridgerton
When Caroline Trent is kidnapped by Blake Ravenscroft, she doesn't even try to elude this dangerously handsome agent of the crown. After all, she's been running from unwanted marriage proposals. Yes, Blake believes she's a notorious spy named Carlotta De Leon, but for six weeks until her twenty-first birthday, when she'll gain control of her fortune, hiding out in the titillating company of a mysterious captor is awfully convenient - and maybe just a little romantic, too.Blake Ravenscroft's mission is to bring 'Carlotta' to justice, not to fall in love. His heart has been hardened by years of intrigue, but this little temptress proves oddly disarming and thoroughly kissable. And suddenly the unthinkable becomes possible - and this mismatched couple might be destined for love.
£9.99
Amberley Publishing Battle for Hong Kong, December 1941
On the same day as the Pearl Harbor attack, forces of the Japanese Empire attacked the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong without warning. Philip Cracknell provides a research-driven narrative about the battle for Hong Kong in 1941, which commenced on 8 December and lasted for three weeks until the surrender on Christmas Day 1941. Hong Kong had become a strategic liability; an isolated outpost. It would be sacrificed ‒ but not without a fight. The main priorities for the British in Asia were Malaya and Singapore. The Crown Colony was gallantly defended but it was a battle against overwhelming odds. Crucially, as a resident of Hong Kong for thirty years, the author knows every inch of the ground. He challenges some assumptions, for example the whereabouts of ‘A’ Coy, Winnipeg Grenadiers, on 19 December, when the company was destroyed during a fighting retreat. What exactly happened during the battle, and where were the actions fought? One can still see so much evidence, in the form of pillboxes, gun batteries and weapons pits. The defending troops were mainly British, Canadian, Indian and Hong Kong Chinese. The Japanese had superiority in numbers of men, guns, and equipment, and complete air supremacy. The defenders suffered a casualty rate of over 30 per cent and many more died during the brutal incarceration that followed the surrender ‒ a grim pointer to the hell of the Asia-Pacific War that followed. Churchill always knew that Hong Kong would fall, but wanted to cause the invaders maximum delay and maximum cost. As he acknowledged after the war, the defenders had won ‘lasting honour’. The battle for Hong Kong is a story that deserves to be better known.
£10.99
Dialogue Burning Down The Haus: Punk Rock, Revolution and the Fall of the Berlin Wall
LONGLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA NON-FICTION CROWN 'A moving, powerful and highly innovative sidelight on the fall of Communism in East Germany through punk style and music. This is a complete original' HWA Non-Fiction Crown Judges 'A thrilling and essential social history that details the rebellious youth movement that helped change the world' Rolling Stone'A riveting and inspiring history of punk's hard-fought struggle in East Germany' New York Times'Wildly entertaining' VogueTHE SECRET HISTORY OF PUNKS IN EAST GERMANYIt began with a handful of East Berlin teens who heard the Sex Pistols on a British military radio broadcast to troops in West Berlin, and it ended with the collapse of the East German dictatorship. Punk rock was a life-changing discovery: in an authoritarian state where the future was preordained, punk, with its rejection of society and DIY approach to building a new one, planted the seeds for revolution.As these kids began to form bands, they also became more visible, and security forces - including the dreaded secret police, the Stasi - targeted them. They were spied on by friends and family; they were expelled from schools and fired from jobs; they were beaten by police and imprisoned. But instead of conforming, the punks fought back, playing an indispensable role in the underground movement that helped bring down the Berlin Wall.Rollicking, cinematic and thrillingly topical, this secret history brings to life the young men and women who successfully fought authoritarianism three chords at a time. Burning Down the Haus is a fiery testament to the irrepressible spirit of revolution.'Original and inspiring . . . an important work of Cold War cultural history' Wall Street Journal
£10.99
Zaffre Murder Most Royal: The royally brilliant murder mystery from the author of THE WINDSOR KNOT
THE ROYALLY BRILLIANT THIRD BOOK IN THE HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES MYSTERY SERIES.____________________December 2016 - A severed hand is found washed up on a beach next to the Queen's estate at Sandringham.Elizabeth has become quite accustomed to solving even the most complex of murders. And though she quickly identifies the 70-year-old victim, Edward St Cyr, from his signet ring, the search for his killer is not so straightforward.St Cyr led an unconventional, often controversial life, making many enemies along the way in the quiet, rural world of North Norfolk, where everyone knows each other's business.But when a second man is found dead, and a prominent local woman is nearly killed in a hit-and-run, the mystery takes an even darker turn.With the winter break coming to an end, the Queen and her trusted assistant Rozie must race to discover how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Or the next victim may be found even closer to home.Agatha Christie meets The Crown in MURDER MOST ROYAL, the much-anticipated third book in the 'Her Majesty The Queen Investigates' mystery series by SJ Bennett - for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, Agatha Christie and M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin.______________________PRAISE FOR THE 'HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN INVESTIGATES' SERIES:'A witty whodunit starring our very own HM The Queen as an amateur sleuth' - GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'A pitch-perfect murder mystery' - Ruth Ware'Written with wit and brio' - Daily Express'Miss Marple with a crown' - Daily Mirror'Absolute perfection!' - Isabelle Broom'Delightfully charming' - Adele Parks'Pure confection' - New York Times'Warm & witty' - Woman&Home'A delightful read' - BBC Radio 2'I loved it' - Joanne Harris'A total joy' - Nina Stibbe'Charming' - Guardian'What a hoot!' - Saga
£9.99
Cornerstone Pigs Have Wings: (Blandings Castle)
A Blandings novelCan the Empress of Blandings win the Fat Pigs class at the Shropshire Show for the third year running? Galahad Threepwood, Beach the butler and others have put their shirt on this, and for Lord Emsworth it will be paradise on earth. But a substantial obstacle lurks in the way: Queen of Matchingham, the new sow of Sir Gregory Parsloe Bart. Galahad knows this pretender to the crown must be pignapped. But can the Empress in turn avoid a similar fate?In this classic Blandings novel, pigs rise above their bulk to vanish and reappear in the most unlikely places, while young lovers are crossed and recrossed in every room in Blandings Castle.
£9.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Twelve Apostles
Ireland, 1919: When Sinn Féin proclaims Dáil Éireann the parliament of the independent Irish republic, London declares the new assembly to be illegal, and a vicious guerilla war breaks out between republican and crown forces. Michael Collins, intelligence chief of the Irish Republican Army, creates an elite squad whose role is to assassinate British agents and undercover police. The so-called 'Twelve Apostles' will create violent mayhem, culminating in the events of 'Bloody Sunday' in November 1920. Bestselling historian Tim Pat Coogan not only tells the story of Collins' squad, he also examines the remarkable intelligence network of which it formed a part, and which helped to bring the British government to the negotiating table.
£8.99
British Museum Press The Holy Thorn Reliquary
Made in gold and enamel and decorated with precious stones, the Holy Thorn Reliquary depicts the salvation of mankind through the sacrifice of Christ. It was commissioned around 1400–10 by Jean duc de Berry, a member of the French royal family, to house a single thorn from the relic of Christ’s Crown of Thorns. Having left the duke’s possession, it was recorded in Vienna from around 1544 until the 1860s, eventually being acquired by a member of the wealthy Rothschild family, with its true identity remaining undiscovered until the twentieth century. This book explores the meaning and history of this fascinating object, and tells the tale of its remarkable survival and eventual passage to the British Museum.
£6.84
HarperCollins Publishers Gangsta Granny
Another hilarious and moving novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children’s author in the country. A story of prejudice and acceptance, funny lists and silly words, this new book has all the hallmarks of David’s previous bestsellers. Our hero Ben is bored beyond belief after he is made to stay at his grandma’s house. She’s the boringest grandma ever: all she wants to do is to play Scrabble, and eat cabbage soup. But there are two things Ben doesn’t know about his grandma. 1) She was once an international jewel thief. 2) All her life, she has been plotting to steal the Crown Jewels, and now she needs Ben’s help…
£7.99