Search results for ""author anna""

‘Candid and complex ­– and ultimately quite hopeful’ Claire Lombardo‘Beautiful and deeply moving’ J. Courtney Sullivan‘A story of abiding hope’ Mary Beth Keane   When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centred their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.   Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie g

Read more less

Islam as a cultural, intellectual, and religious venture appears in the popular imagination as a monolithic entity.

Read more less

This book presents a nostalgic look at baby and children's wear from the Victorian Era to the first half of the 20th century. It chronicles the changes in children's fashions over the decades and centuries, from the popularity of tartans and plaids in the 1880s, to Knickerbocker suits and box pleated tunics, introduced by the Victorians, to the ever popular and enduring sailor suit. Over 300 stunning, full color photographs showcase the many wonderful and unusual examples of vintage and antique children's clothing, along with detailed descriptions and pricing. From exquisite christening gowns made of cotton and silk, with beautiful embroidery and lace trimmings, to the poignancy of a baby's mourning outfit, this book is delightful and informative in its photography and historic content. It is a must have for anyone interested in the field of fashion and vintage clothing, as well as antiques and collectibles.

Read more less

Live greener and find magic in the world around you with this comprehensive sourcebook to living the hearth witch way. Featuring homemade recipes, instructions for making everything from wine to soaps, and a variety of potions and spells, The Hearth Witch's Compendium helps you incorporate spiritual practice into everyday life. The contemporary hearth witch inherits the mantle of the village wise woman; she is part shaman, part seer, part herbalist, part spiritual healer, and entirely witch. Anna Franklin guides you through each project, from growing your own herbs and making remedies for simple ailments to creating natural household products and mixing oils. By following the hearth witch life, you'll save money, reduce waste and exposure to potentially toxic chemicals, and have a lot of fun along the way.

Read more less

For Nicholas Hawthorne, the Catholic heir to Measham Hall in Derbyshire, subterfuge is part of everyday life. But there are deeper and darker secrets even than his family’s outlawed religion: why is his father, Sir William, so reclusive? What became of his mother, and his aunt Alethea? And who fatally betrayed his cousin Matthew? Nicholas is determined to find out, but as England slides towards invasion by the Protestant forces of Prince William of Orange, he becomes entangled in conspiracies within King James’s court – and soon learns that both truth and love come at a high price.

Read more less

A leading astronomer takes readers behind the scenes of the thrilling science of stellar archaeologyAstronomers study the oldest observable stars in the universe in much the same way archaeologists study ancient artifacts on Earth. Anna Frebel takes readers into the far-flung depths of space and time to provide a gripping firsthand account of the cutting-edge science of stellar archaeology. Weaving the latest findings in astronomy with her own compelling insights as one of the world's leading researchers in the field, she explains how sections of the night sky are "excavated" in the hunt for these extremely rare, 13-billion-year-old relic stars and how this astonishing quest is revealing tantalizing new details about the origins and evolution of the cosmos. Along the way, Frebel recounts her own stories of discovery, offering an insider's perspective on this exciting frontier of science.

Read more less

WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZEWINNER OF THE DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD'Utterly compelling' Irish Times'Original, funny, disarmingly oblique' CLAIRE KILROY'A triumph.' GuardianIn an unnamed city, where to be interesting is dangerous, an eighteen-year-old woman has attracted the unwanted and unavoidable attention of a powerful and frightening older man, 'Milkman'. In this community, where suggestions quickly become fact, where gossip and hearsay can lead to terrible consequences, what can she do to stop a rumour once it has started? Milkman is persistent, the word is spreading, and she is no longer in control . . .SHORTLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION

Read more less

A spectacular global survey of the new buildings merging architecture and nature to transform our cities for a sustainable future. Concrete horizons, urban sprawl, high-density living: never have our cities and their buildings been in greater need of greening. Yet what’s required is more than an occasional vertical garden or living roof. Featuring seventy projects from around the world – some built, some ongoing, some from the future – Garden City looks at the increasingly inventive ways in which architects and designers are incorporating nature into the built environment, transforming the city for the benefit of all. From office buildings that incorporate urban farms and exchange the CO2 produced by humans for food and oxygen produced by plants, to lightweight systems for growing gardens on vertical surfaces; from ‘tree houses’ the size of city blocks to civic buildings that are ‘plugged into’ existing water-management systems – there are rich and often unexpected ideas for every inquiring designer. The future of our urban architecture is biologically alert, naturally self-sustaining and alive. Garden City is this future’s first manifesto.

Read more less

‘You will fall for Noah and Lucy . . . this is one of those stories that will capture your attention and not let it go’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I couldn’t get enough of this story’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was hooked from page one. Following Noah and Lucy's life over twenty years broke my heart, made me laugh and eventually had me swooning’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ * * * A gorgeous, high-concept romcom about finding love and daring to take a chance. After all, it’s all about timing. . . 29th February 2000. Lucy’s never met another leapling until she encounters Noah also spending his once-in-four-years birthday on a disappointing day trip to Calais. There’s a spark that Lucy is sure Noah must feel too, and their friends insist they have amazing chemistry, but they’re both with other people. It can never be more than platonic and that’s OK. Over the next twenty years, they’re at each other’s side through all of life’s big moments – weddings, babies, new jobs, family illness – but Lucy can never shake the feeling that they were meant to meet. . . If Lucy is to find a love that’s rarer than a leap year, she’s going to have to take a leap of faith. Perfect if you love ❤️Friends to lovers ❤️Right person, wrong time ❤️Second chance romance * * *

Read more less

THE SUNDAY TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 WINNER OF THE POL ROGER DUFF COOPER PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION SHORTLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE Eleven years when Britain had no king. In 1649 Britain was engulfed by revolution. On a raw January afternoon, the Stuart king, Charles I, was executed for treason. Within weeks the English monarchy had been abolished and the ‘useless and dangerous’ House of Lords discarded. The people, it was announced, were now the sovereign force in the land. What this meant, and where it would lead, no one knew. The Restless Republic is the story of the extraordinary decade that followed. It takes as its guides the people who lived through those years. Among them is Anna Trapnel, the daughter of a Deptford shipwright whose visions transfixed the nation. John Bradshaw, the Cheshire lawyer who found himself trying the King. Marchamont Nedham, the irrepressible newspaper man and puppet master of propaganda. Gerrard Winstanley, who strove for a Utopia of common ownership where no one went hungry. William Petty, the precocious scientist whose mapping of Ireland prefaced the dispossession of tens of thousands. And the indomitable Countess of Derby who defended to the last the final Royalist stronghold on the Isle of Man. The Restless Republic ranges from London to Leith, Cornwall to Connacht, from the corridors of power to the common fields and hillsides. Gathering her cast of trembling visionaries and banished royalists, dextrous mandarins and bewildered bystanders, Anna Keay brings to vivid life the most extraordinary and experimental decade in Britain’s history. It is the story of how these tempestuous years set the British Isles on a new course, and of what happened when a conservative people tried revolution.

Read more less

Get your child off to a great start in English These new practice test materials for Cambridge English: Starters (also known as Young Learners English: Starters) support young learners and include comprehensive guidance for both teachers and parents. By working through the practice tests, children will feel ready for what they need to do on the day of the test, and will also have fun whilst they are learning. The book includes: 3 full practice tests with a colourful and clear design to motivate and encourage young learners, and prepare them for what they will see in the real test Audio available online with recordings by young native English speakers The Teacher’s Guide and a Parent’s Guide are available online, and are full of information and support for anyone preparing their child for their first Cambridge English test. For Teachers and Parents (available online)• A full guide to each part of the test• Ideas for exam preparation activities• Model answer recordings for the Speaking paper – recorded by young native English speakers so that learners hear examples of correct English again and again• Cambridge English vocabulary list with the key words learners need to know• Audio scripts for the Listening and Speaking sections• Answer key

Read more less

The thrilling sequel to GODBLIND, the biggest fantasy debut of 2017. The Wolves lie dead beside Rilpor’s soldiers, slaughtered at the hands of the Mireces and their fanatical army. The veil that once kept the Red Gods at bay has been left in tatters as the Dark Lady’s plans for the world come to fruition. Where the gods walk, blood is spilled on the earth. All that stands between the Mireces army and complete control of the Kingdom of Rilpor are the walls of its capital, Rilporin, and those besieged inside. But hope might yet bloom in the unlikeliest of places: in the heart of a former slave, in the mind of a soldier with the eyes of a fox, and in the hands of a general destined to be king.

Read more less

'Spaghetti in aspic, anyone? Revel in astonishing dishes from yesteryear: Stuffed Cocktail Grapes, Savoury Sausage Salad, a spunky Shrimp-Salmon Mould and so much more. Anna Pallai was brought up on 1970s stalwarts of stuffed peppers, meatloaf and platters of slightly greying hardboiled eggs. When she rediscovered her mother's grease-stained 70s cookbooks, she knew she needed to share them with the world, and so the hit Twitter account @70s_Party was born.Harking back to a simpler pre-Instagram, pre-clean-eating era, when the only concern for your dinner party was whether your aspic would set in time, this is a joyful celebration of food that can give you gout just by looking at it. Covering all the essentials, from starters through to desserts, dinner party etiquette (just how does one start to eat a swan fashioned from a hardboiled egg?) and the dreaded 'foreign' food, there's no potato-fashioned-as-a-stone left unturned.

Read more less

"New from the best-selling Wild Guides, discover the hidden side of these popular islands, from deserted beaches and emerald coves to mountain viewpoints, caves and ancient ruins. Filled with spectacular photography and engaging travel writing, this book will appeal to family in search of the good life, as well adventure travellers. > Discover the best local food culture, with the best fresh, local food, > Scan the ocean from bronze age cave dwellings high in the cliffs > Hike down ravines to deserted beaches with clear turquoise waters > Find smugglers' sea caves accessed by secret doorways > Watch the sunset with fresh fish by the best chiringuito beach bars > Sleep in hammocks among ancient forests > Stay in medieval farmhouses among olive groves

Read more less

The death of a young Pakistani bride in Glasgow gets Rosie Gilmour's antennae twitching. She is sure this tragic accident was anything but - but she is not prepared for where her investigation will take her...Rosie has her hands full navigating the sensitivities of this case - the girl's grieving family and the tensions between the white and Pakistani communities in the city - when she is contacted by two prostitutes in serious trouble. One of their clients has died on the job, and they've gone on the run - with his briefcase. The briefcase contains dozens of rough diamonds, and now some thoroughly brutal people are on their trail.On the surface this has nothing to do with the death of the young girl. But Rosie has spent years looking beneath Glasgow's surface into its murky depths, and if anyone can discover the connection between one girl's forced marriage and a ring of diamond smugglers, it's her.'Chilling and compelling' Kimberley Chambers

Read more less

Penny has big dreams for her wedding day. She wants an unforgettable celebration, perfect down to the last detail, and has been saving for ages to make her dream a reality. When Mark finally pops the question, it's the best moment of her life. Until Penny checks her wedding fund and is horrified to discover that something has gone terribly wrong. There's far less money there than she'd thought... and it's all her fault. She can't tell Mark the truth about what she's done, he knows nothing about how much time she spends gambling online. Her only choice is to seek help for her addiction and get married on a drastically smaller budget. Working under the pretense of surprising Mark with her plans on their big day, operation 'Don't Tell the Groom' rolls into action, with surprising, hilarious and often moving results.

Read more less

Anna Politkovskaya turns her steely gaze on President Putin and his early regime in this explosive book.From Putin's tyrannical grip on ordinary citizens to rampant corruption in highest ranks of the government, as well as Mafia dealings, scandals in the provinces and the decline of the intelligentsia, Politkovskaya offers a scathing condemnation of the President and his rule, revealing a shocking state of affairs: soldiers dying from malnutrition, parents requiring to bribes to recover their dead sons' bodies and conscripts are being hired out as slaves.Politkovskaya was an internationally admired, fearless and award-winning journalist who was assassinated in 2006. More relevant and important than ever in today's political landscape, Putin's Russia is both a gripping portrayal of a country in crisis and the testament of an extraordinary reporter.'A searing portrait of a country in disarray and of the man at its helm, from the bravest of journalists' New York Times'Anna Politkovskaya is a heroic journalist' Guardian'We will continue to learn from her for years' Salman Rushdie

Read more less

Will she marry below her station?Beatrice Dencey is constantly reminded by her aunt, the Dowager, that she must marry appropriately. And so must the Dowager’s beloved granddaughter, Eleanor Graceover. Charged with finding Eleanor a suitable husband, Beatrice is sent to London with a list of pre-approved gentlemen.Once there, she quickly rules out every man on the list. All except the handsome and charming Justin Serle, who stirs a deep desire in Beatrice.Meanwhile, Eleanor has her own ideas about who she wants to marry. Both she and Beatrice have a big decision to make – marry for duty and live a life full of regret, or marry for love and risk angering the formidable Dowager.A captivating historical saga perfect for fans of Mary Mackie, Dilly Court and Judy Summers.

Read more less

A new life awaits…Martha and Penelope Merridene desperately need a fresh start. Their father gone, they are left penniless, and the only way forward is to accept an unusual job offer in the distant town of Tapton. Jonas Wright, the mill owner there, requires a teacher for his daughters and some promising mill workers.The sisters aren’t settled long before their lives are flipped upside down. Caught up in a riot, Penelope meets a disgruntled worker, Daniel Porter, whose family have been brought to starvation by a rival mill owner. And against her better judgement, Martha finds herself drawn to Ben Seaton, the father of one of her students.In the midst of the chaos, some romance might be just the respite the two sisters need – but the course of true love never did run smooth.This gorgeous, emotional family saga is perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Libby Ashworth, and Glenda Young.

Read more less

She is determined to live the life she wants…Cassandra Trent does not like being told what to do. So when she is forced to leave behind her beloved Bardsley and join her aunt in London, she is furious. She wants nothing to do with polite society and useless noblemen.But Cassandra finds some comfort in the friendship she forms with her kind and gentle cousin, Susannah Berrinden. Despite being destined to marry Simeon Giffard, a charming and – more importantly – wealthy young man, Susannah has other ideas…And it seems Simeon does too. He has eyes only for Cassandra – but winning her over might prove to be a near impossible task.A heartwarming historical saga perfect for fans of Elisabeth McNeill, Rosie Goodwin and Gloria Cook.

Read more less

When Megan and Ben meet the attraction is instantaneous. The only problem? Ben is bound for Australia in just a week’s time!Determined not to let what they’ve just found go, Ben suggests they get married so that she can go with him. Megan is shocked but doesn’t want to lose him, so she agrees.Virtual strangers the two embark on an unforgettable journey, determined to make a success of their hasty marriage…An adventurous contemporary romance perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy

Read more less

Longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award 2020 'A novelist for our times' Anna Funder, author of Stasiland In this brilliant novel of fear and sacrifice, trauma and survival, four characters' lives intertwine across time and place. Australian soldier Toohey returns from Baghdad in 2003 with shrapnel in his neck, crippled by PTSD. A decade earlier, aspiring pianist Nasim falls from favour with Saddam Hussein and his psychopathic son Uday, triggering a perilous search for safety. In Melbourne as the millennium turns, Robbie, faced with her father's dementia and family silences that may never be addressed, begins to test boundaries. And in the present day, Gerry seeks to escape his father Toohey's tyranny and heal the wounds inflicted by it. Crossing the frontiers of war, protest and cultural reconciliation, Act of Grace is a meditation on inheritance: the damage that one generation bestows upon the next, and the potential for transformation. It is a searing, powerful and utterly original work by an exceptional Australian writer.

Read more less

BOOK ONE IN THE SHIRES MYSTERIES - A TWISTY NEW WHODUNNIT. When Sam Dee moves to the beautiful Wiltshire village of Bishops Well, he expects a quiet life of country walks and pub lunches. OK, so his new neighbour, Maggie Kaye, is a little peculiar, but she's very nice - and his old pal Richard Ruta lives just down the road.But when Richard throws one of his famous parties, things take a sinister turn. Sam, Maggie and the rest of the guests are dumbfounded when Richard falls down dead. A horrible tragedy - or a cunningly planned murder? With a village full of suspects - and plenty of dark secrets - just who exactly would want to bump off their host? Is there a connection to another mysterious death, nearly twenty years before? Armed with her local knowledge, Maggie - with Sam's reluctant but indispensable help - is soon on the case. But when the body count starts to rise, will sleepy Bishops Well ever be the same again?A GRIPPING NEW COSY CRIME MYSTERY, FOR FANS OF BETTY ROWLANDS, FAITH MARTIN AND JOY ELLIS.What readers are saying about Anna Legat:'Brilliant. I didn't want to put it down!''It's a rare author who can keep me guessing until the end - and the ending was a shocker''Plenty of twists and turns''A brilliantly complex spaghetti of unrelated sub-plots to challenge any armchair sleuth''I thoroughly enjoyed this book, reading it cover to cover in a weekend''I shall look out for more from Ms Legat'

Read more less

One hundred years ago, French troops fired tear gas grenades into German trenches. Designed to force people out from behind barricades and trenches, tear gas causes burning of the eyes and skin, tearing, and gagging. Chemical weapons are now banned from war zones. But today, tear gas has become the most commonly used form of "less-lethal" police force. In 2011, the year that protests exploded from the Arab Spring to Occupy Wall Street, tear gas sales tripled. Most tear gas is produced in the United States, and many images of protestors in Tahrir Square showed tear gas canisters with "Made in USA" printed on them, while Britain continues to sell tear gas to countries on its own human-rights blacklist.An engrossing century-spanning narrative, Tear Gas is the first history of this weapon, and takes us from military labs and chemical weapons expos to union assemblies and protest camps, drawing on declassified reports and witness testimonies to show how policing with poison came to be.

Read more less

Rosie Gilmour is hot on the trail of a ring of baby-sellers and people-traffickers. The problem is, her main suspect is a dead man. Or is he?A money-laundering accountant disappears in Romania. The hitman hired to disappear him is found dead in a Glasgow flat. And the owner of the flat, the accountant's widow, claims she knows nothing about it.Crime reporter Rosie Gilmour isn't convinced by Helen Lewis's innocent facade - she is convinced Helen was the one who ordered the hit on her husband, and she's going to prove it. But when she discovers that Helen's husband worked for a ring of gangsters selling babies from Romanian orphanages, her focus shifts. Now she has two sets of criminals to bring to justice - she'd better pray they don't catch up with her first.'Plenty of action, chills and thrills [with a] quite enchanting finale' Crime Review

Read more less

A beautiful model's death uncovers an ugly conspiracy stretching all the way to Westminster in Rosie Gilmour's darkest case to date.When Scots supermodel Bella Mason plunges to her death from the roof of a glitzy Madrid hotel, everyone assumes it was suicide. Except that one person saw exactly what happened to Bella that night, and she definitely didn't jump. But Millie Chambers has no one she can tell - an alcoholic and now sectioned by her bullying politician husband, who would believe her? And that's not all Millie knows. Being close to the heart of Westminster power can lead to discovering some awful secrets...Back in Glasgow, Rosie's research into Bella's life leads to her brother. Dan is now a homeless heroin addict, but what he reveals about Bella's early life is electrifying: organised sexual abuse in care homes across Glasgow. Bella had tracked him down so that they could tell the world their story. And now she's dead.As Rosie's drive to expose the truth leads her closer to Millie and the shameful secrets she has kept for so many years, it becomes clear that what she's about to discover could prove fatal: a web of sexual abuse linking powerful figures across the nation, and the rot at the very heart of the British Establishment...'Provocative, shocking and utterly harrowing . . . grips like a vice' Daily Record

Read more less

A sadistic killer with a grudge against Rosie Gilmour is on the loose in Glasgow. Thomas Boag escaped from his first court appearance facing charges on a brutal murder. He's suspected in the disappearances of two other people. Now he's out for revenge.Rosie tries to distract herself with a new story: refugees trafficked into Glasgow and used as modern-day slaves - or worse. But this investigation soon leads her into dangerous territory as it takes her up against some of Glasgow's nastiest characters, and all the while, somewhere out there, Boag is laying his trap...'Another searingly-paced and all-too-believable look at the darker side of life from a quite brilliant writer' Crime Review

Read more less

'Hormone balance is within reach, and this is the definitive guide for reaching that goal.'-David Perlmutter, MD, author of Grain BrainPrepare to thrive.As women approach menopause, many start to experience the physical and emotional indignities of hormonal fluctuation: metabolic stall and weight gain, hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia, memory loss or brain fog, irritability, low libido, and painful sex. Too often, doctors tell us that these discomforts are to be expected and that we will have to wait them out during "the change". But Dr Anna Cabeca's research and experience with thousands of her patients show that there is a fast-acting and non-pharmaceutical way to dramatically and permanently alleviate these symptoms.The Hormone Fix introduces Dr Cabeca's unique Keto-Green protocol, a plan that pairs the hallmarks of ketogenic (low-carb/high fat) eating with diet and lifestyle changes that bring the body's cellular pH to a healthy alkaline level. The proven result: balanced cortisol and reduced output of insulin, the hormones most responsible for belly fat and weight gain, plus an increase in oxytocin, the "love and happiness" hormone. Whether you are perimenopausal, menopausal, or postmenopausal, The Hormone Fix offers an easy-to-follow program, including- A 10-day quick-start detox diet to jump-start weight loss and reduce symptoms immediately- Daily meal plans and weekly shopping lists to take the guesswork out of a month's worth of Keto-Green eating- 65 delicious and easy-to-make recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, smoothies, and soups- Detailed information on vitamin and mineral supplementation that optimizes hormone balance and gut health- Simple self-assessments and recommended optional lab testing for a better understanding of your hormonal status- Tested and trusted stress-reduction and oxytocin-amplifying advice and techniquesWith The Hormone Fix you can expect to trim down, tap into new and unexpected energy levels, enhance intimacy, and completely revitalize your life! Ready for your fix?

Read more less

Bram Deagan dreams of bringing his family from Ireland to join him in Australia, where he now runs a successful trading business. But when a typhus epidemic strikes Ireland, it leaves the Deagan family decimated. And, with other family members scattered round the world, it is left to Maura Deagan to look after her orphaned nieces and nephew. Forced to abandon her own ambitions, and unsure whether she is ready to become a mother to three young children, Maura makes a drastic decision: to join Bram in far-away Australia.They set sail on the SS Delta, anxious for their futures. It is only when a storm throws Maura and fellow passenger Hugh Beaufort together that she realises this journey may also give her a chance to pursue a dream she set aside long ago: to have a family of her own. That is, until someone from Hugh's past threatens to jeopardise everything . . .****************What readers are saying about THE TRADER'S DREAM'Anna Jacobs is the best storyteller bar none!' - 5 stars'A wonderful book . . . Very engaging and engrossing' - 5 stars'Another must-read' - 5 stars'Yet again couldn't put this book down' - 5 stars'Excellent read from start to finish, couldn't put it down' - 5 stars

Read more less

'I adore this book! ... An Experiment in Leisure shows us the burning, intense, messy beauty of youth and what it means to be alive' Maxine Peake 'Can I get a refund?' I asked the bus driver. 'You taking the piss, love?' It's the eve of Brexit, and Grace is supposed to have what she wants. She's swapped West Yorkshire for north London, her accent carefully edited. Her friends drink beer out of artful tins. She makes flat whites for people with berets. She's found a psychoanalyst. But this fantasy of metropolitan cool is turning out to be more costly than she thought and Grace faces complicated crises of identity, class, sexuality and geography. Can she remember how to love? Can she find a way home? 'A dizzying yet powerful read' Claire-Louise Bennett, author of Checkout 19

Read more less

The importance of personal storytelling in contemporary culture and politics In an age where our experiences are processed and filtered through a wide variety of mediums, both digital and physical, how do we tell our own story? How do we “get a life,” make sense of who we are and the way we live, and communicate that to others? Stories of the Self takes the literary study of autobiography and opens it up to a broad and fascinating range of material practices beyond the book, investigating the manifold ways people are documenting themselves in contemporary culture. Anna Poletti explores Andy Warhol’s Time Capsules, a collection of six hundred cardboard boxes filled with text objects from the artist’s everyday life; the mid-aughts crowdsourced digital archive PostSecret; queer zine culture and its practices of remixing and collaging; and the bureaucratic processes surrounding surveillance dossiers. Stories of the Self argues that while there is a strong emphasis on the importance of personal storytelling in contemporary culture and politics, mediation is just as important in establishing the credibility and legibility of life writing. Poletti argues that the very media used for writing our lives intrinsically shapes how we are seen to matter.

Read more less

In this entertaining and accessible exploration of love, Oxford anthropologist Dr Anna Machin dives into the science behind the myriad types of love that exist in the world, including romantic love, parental love, friendships, love for pets, football teams, religious love and even love for our smartphones. Through original research brought to life by interviews and case studies, and encompassing such fascinating areas as polyamorous relationships, parasocial (love for a celebrity) and sacred loves, this book argues that it is time to stop putting romantic love on a pedestal. By exploring the science that illuminates the benefits of all our different close relationships, Dr Anna Machin encourages us to reconsider the importance of love in our own lives, to interrogate our own experiences, and to reconnect with the heart of what it really means to be human.

Read more less

'I adored this novel' Pandora Sykes'Incredibly moving' Charlie Gilmour'I read it in two evenings' Clover Stroud'Brilliant' Sarah MossIt begins with a miracle: a baby born too small and too early, but defiantly alive. This is Joe.Then, two years later, Emily, arrives. From the beginning, the siblings' lives are entwined.Snake back through time. In a patch of nettle-infested wilderness, find Edward, seventeen-years-old, and falling in love with another boy.In comes somebody else, Eleanor, with whom Edward starts a family. They find themselves grandparents to Joe and Emily.When Joe is diagnosed with cancer, the family are left waiting for a miracle.From one of our finest new authors, this is a profoundly beautiful novel about the unexpectedness of life and the miracle of love.

Read more less

Germany 1939, and Christa Sommer boards the Kindertransport, unsure that she'll ever see her beloved mother and father again.Once in England she is taken in by elderly Mrs Pelling, who grows to love Christa as the daughter she never had. But in 1945 Mrs Pelling dies. While her will cannot be found, her money-grabbing niece appears out of the blue to claim her inheritance and turfs Christa out, with only a suitcase to her name. The prejudice against Germans still runs high in England, and Christa is unable to secure a job or a place to stay...Luck comes her way when a lady she saves from being mugged turns out to be Mayne Esher's friend Daniel's mother. Taking pity on Christa, they take her to Rivenshaw where they plan to start a new life as part of the Esher building firm.There Christa is welcomed with open arms and she soon develops a love for the place, the people and, Daniel... But Esherwood is not the trouble-free sanctuary she first thinks. Determined to do their bit for soldiers returning from the war they have agreed to allow the council to build prefabs on some of Esherwood's garden. But an empire-building town planner seems set on taking all of Mayne's land for the war effort... Mayne has also discovered a secret door at the back of the old Nissen hut, with a complicated locking mechanism that has local locksmiths dumbfounded.Just what is hidden behind the door to warrant such high security?

Read more less

Hilariously funny and excruciatingly relatable - NAILING IT is perfect for fans of THE UNMUMSY MUM, Louise Pentland and Gill Sims.---------------Faking it.Breaking it.Hating it.Loving it...This is motherhood. Emily is raising two tiny feminists, building her freelance career and navigating life as a newly single mum - and feels like she's failing horribly.Tania just wants her other half to do his fair share - as long as it's done her way. But being right isn't nearly as much as fun as being in it together...Helen has almost got family life sorted: a routine that suits them all, most days. Until her own mum turns up and turns calm into chaos.Sometimes being a mum is the hardest job in the world. So can these three friends fake it till they make it?---------------Reader reviews for Anna Jefferson's first book, WINGING IT:'A frank and funny look at motherhood' *****'I didn't want to put this down!' *****'From page one she had me hooked' *****'Loved, loved, loved this book' *****'It has been a long time since I laughed (and cried!) so much at a book' *****

Read more less

The story of Swindon-born film star Diana Dors is one of fame, glamour and intrigue. From the moment she came into the world, her life was full of drama. Her acting career began in the shadow of the Second World War, entering the film world as a vulnerable young teenager and negotiating the difficult British studio system of the 1940s and 50s. Yet she battled against the odds to become one of the most iconic British actors of the 20th century. This book follows her remarkable story, from childhood in suburban Swindon, to acting success as a teenager and finding fame as the the English Marilyn Monroe'. Many remember her as an outspoken and sometimes controversial figure, grabbing headlines for her personal life as often as her film roles. For Diana, image seemed to be everything, but there was more to her than the blonde bombshell' reputation suggested. A talented actor, she worked on numerous film and television projects, building a fascinating career that spanned decades. Set against the backdrop of the changing social landscape of twentieth century Britain, this book charts the ups and downs of her diverse acting career and her tumultuous private life, to build a fascinating picture of a truly unique British screen icon.

Read more less

Maggie Paige and her brother and sister are orphaned and left to fend for themselves. When starvation threatens, Maggie goes out to solicit men. She cannot go through with it, but the outing is destined to have surprising consequences.

Read more less

An unexpected inheritance is most people's dream, but not for Paula. Having put bad times behind her, she is now happy and secure in Western Australia with her own business. This is a complete contrast to her rootless childhood, and she has little interest in the minor stately home in the English countryside of which she is apparently now the owner. Persuaded to visit the property in Wiltshire, Paula travels to England, but she has to confront complications both romantic and financial that will test the old adage that home is where the heart is.

Read more less

In the quiet of the Wiltshire countryside, Maggie Hatherall, full of life despite her advancing years, is worried about what she is going to do with her two-hundred-year-old home. Newcomer Lucia Grey has escaped a bad marriage but her ex is reluctant to let her go. For architect Corin Drayton, an unexpected inheritance is the start of a complicated family wrangle but it does mean he stumbles upon Larch Tree Lane, hidden among the rolling hills. From the cottages and farms to the local shop, pub and old manor house, residents' lives are set to intertwine, relationships bloom and both romance and heartache lie ahead.

Read more less

Childless Maeve Corrigan, though rich and successful, is dying of cancer. She wants to leave her business empire to one of the offspring of her two estranged brothers, Des and Leo. But which young relative should she choose? Des has four children and he is overstretched financially. Leo is the unambitious owner of a hardware store in a remote Australian town and has two children. As the younger generation begin to gather around Maeve, old secrets are revealed, new allegiances made, and there are surprises for every member of the family. The Corrigan legacy is not what it first appears.

Read more less

Rosalind's husband forces her to move from Australia to England because of his job with a multi-national company. But he's called away to deal with a crisis in Hong Kong and she's left to settle into a new country on her own. One by one, her three grown-up children need help with major life problems and there's only her to help them, because as usual, Paul puts his job first. Then she finds out that her husband's been unfaithful for years, and it's the final blow to their marriage, especially as she's met another man she finds attractive and kind. Her confidence grows as she wins acclaim as an embroidery artist and then she comes into an inheritance. Will her loyalty keep her with her husband, as it has before, or will Paul get more than he'd bargained for with the new, independent Rosalind?

Read more less

1901, Wiltshire. Young Kathleen Keller is being forced into marriage with a man she despises by her cruel father. In an act of desperation, she runs away in a bid for a safer life, although one she might not have otherwise have chosen. But when tragedy strikes, Kathleen is left vulnerable and one man threatens the fragile peace she has made for herself. Meanwhile, Nathan Perry works for his father's accountancy firm but yearns for something more satisfying. He is brought in to help with the purchase of Honeyfield House, intended as a safe house for women in trouble by a charitable benefactor, and there encounters Kathleen. Their lives are set to intertwine and neither will be the same again.

Read more less

A devastating accident is only the start of Emily Mattison's troubles... When Emily Mattison falls victim to a near-fatal accident shortly after receiving an unexpected inheritance from a distant cousin, her ruthless nephew George seizes the opportunity to take control of his aunt's assets. It's only when Emily reaches The Drover's Hope, the former pub on the edge of the Lancashire moors bequeathed to her by her late cousin Penelope that she begins to feel safe. She also discovers that love can be found in the most unexpected places. But it's not so easy to escape the clutches of someone as determined as George...

Read more less

Anna Funder, winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize and author of Stasiland, offers a thrilling tale and powerful love story that tells the heroic and tragic true story of the German resistance in World War II in All That I Am.When Hitler comes to power in 1933, a tight-knit group of friends and lovers become hunted outlaws overnight. United in their resistance to the madness and tyranny of Nazism, they must flee the country. Dora, passionate and fearless, her lover, the great playwright Ernst Toller, her younger cousin Ruth and Ruth's husband Hans find refuge in London. Here they take breath-taking risks in order to continue their work in secret. But England is not the safe-haven they think it to be, and a single, chilling act of betrayal will tear them apart...'The strengths of Funder's writing are emotional and imaginative. In what she has to say about love, loss and betrayal there is profound truth' The Times'An often pacy and exciting read ... Funder captures perfectly the sense of her characters' deprived and dangerous lives' Daily Mail'A superb novel that transcends its setting. This book is a wonder. Do, please, read it' SpectatorAnna Funder is the author of the international bestseller Stasiland, which won the 2004 Samuel Johnson Prize and was published in 20 countries and translated into 16 languages. She is the recipient of numerous awards, and a former DAAD and Rockefeller Foundation Fellow. Anna Funder grew up in Melbourne and Paris and lives in Sydney with her husband and family.

Read more less