Search results for ""Author A.N. Wilson""

From the Great Fire of 1666 to the Blitz of the Second World War, from the building of the Tower of London to the building of Canary Wharf, London has always been much more than just a capital city. This anthology, edited by A. N. Wilson, reflects not merely a sense of place but also the teeming eclecticism and vitality of a town which prompted Samuel Johnson to declare: 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.''A delight. A. N. Wilson understands that London is not loved by its inhabitants for what it is, but for its vivid existence in their imagination.' Jenny Diski, Independent on Sunday'A likeable, diverse, idiosyncratic and immensely enjoyable anthology.' Literary Review'A perfectly splendid anthology. All London, even the bits not quite fit to be seen, are contained in this delightful collection. If you are tired of London, this book could easily help you change your mind.' Dirk Bogarde, Daily Telegraph

Read more less

'An unlikely hero has a master storyteller to tell his tale. The King and the Christmas Tree is a poignant Christmas treat.' Lucy Worsley, historian, broadcaster and authorEvery December, a huge Christmas tree arrives in Trafalgar Square. Bedecked in lights, it is a shimmering, festive beacon in the heart of London. But even more enchanting than the twinkling decorations and scented pine is the story behind the tree; a story of loyalty, friendship and resistance.On a cold evening in 1940, German warships made their way towards Oslo. It seemed inevitable that Norway, like so many other European nations, would soon submit to the Nazi regime. But the country's indomitable King Haakon VII refused to surrender. Making his escape through his country towards the safe haven of Britain, King Haakon became an icon of hope for his people. And so, over seventy years later, the tree in Trafalgar Square remains as an enduring gift of thanks from Norway to the people of Britain.In The King and the Christmas Tree historian A. N. Wilson artfully weaves together this tale of courage and friendship between nations. Richly illustrated and beautifully told, it is a delightful Christmas cracker for everyone, young and old alike.

Read more less

A celebration of the life of Queen Elizabeth II, showing us that the Queen's qualities of duty, self-sacrifice and love of country were present in her from an early age.'The moments in life of "knowing". On Bognor Beach, with Grandpa England, she had "known" that he, and Papa, and she, would carry something on, something given, something bigger than themselves.'Lilibet: a carefree child, a lover of horses and dogs, devoted to her family. And the girl who would be Queen.A.N. Wilson, one of England's most beloved writers, imagines the Queen reflecting on her early life. We watch as she discovers, at the tender age of ten, that she is heir to the throne. We witness her meet the dashing Prince Phillip of Greece, who she loved steadfastly from the age of fifteen, and see their friendship blossom into passionate love. Above all, we learn of her astonishing sense of vocation and public duty, which grew during the dark years of WWII and her father's subsequent years of ill health.Honouring the life of Her Majesty the Queen and her illustrious reign, Lilibet: The Girl Who Would be Queen is by turns funny, tender and heartfelt.'Superb... captures our Queen better than any biography' - Sunday Telegraph'It's packed with detail and conversations that bring to life all those who have been most important to her.' - Daily Mail

Read more less

What is a Mark of the Beast waistcoat? Why did John Milton hate bishops? How does a Monsignor tear his postage stamps? And what does a congregation do when the Vicar announces that he is God?These and a hundred similar questions are answered by this anthology, which ranges from fragments of church history to reflections on architecture, from scenes of parochial life to serious theology, from saints like George Herbert to eccentrics like the Vicar of Stiffkey.

Read more less

People, not abstract ideas, make history, and nowhere is this more revealed than in A. N. Wilson's superb portrait of the Victorians, in which hundreds of different lives have been pieced together to tell a story - one which is still unfinished in our own day. The 'global village' is a Victorian village and many of the ideas we take for granted, for good or ill, originated with these extraordinary, self-confident people. What really animated their spirit, and how did they remake the world in their view? In an entertaining and often dramatic narrative, A. N. Wilson shows us remarkable people in the very act of creating the Victorian age.

Read more less

Julian of Norwich, the famous fourteenth-century anchoress, was seriously ill and preparing for death when she received a series of 16 visions of the passion of Christ. As a result of these visions, she dedicated the rest of her life to solitary prayer, and wrote down the content of the visions, which became the first book in English known to have been written by a woman. The first vision includes her famous meditation on the hazelnut, which for her becomes an image of God’s love because God made it, loves it and keeps it. ‘The most original and revolutionary reading of Christ’s gospel since that of St Paul.’ (A. N. Wilson, from the Introduction)

Read more less

There have been queer tales told of that shield, and maybe there are queerer yet to be told. It has been stamped for good or evil on this church, and on this town, for centuries, and every tavern loafer will talk to you about the 'nebuly coat'... A young architect is sent to the remote Dorset town of Cullerne to supervise restoration work on its ancient abbey church. He is soon caught up in local life and the haunting rumours that surround the claim to the title of Lord Blandamer, whose escutcheon is the nebuly coat of the title.

Read more less

Encouraging the reading of the Bible as literature rather than doctrine, the four central gospels are presented here in the beauty of the Authorised King James Version, with four fresh, modern introductions.The revelatory essays, by A.N. Wilson, Nick Cave, Richard Holloway and Blake Morrison, were commissioned for the groundbreaking Pocket Canons series. They offer piercing, moving and highlypersonal responses to the most influential story of the last two thousand years: the life of Jesus Christ.Including:A.N. Wilson on The Gospel According to MatthewNick Cave on The Gospel According to MarkRichard Holloway on The Gospel According to LukeBlake Morrison on The Gospel According to Johnand the Authorised King James Version of all four Gospels

Read more less