Search results for ""penguin books""

The Outsider is an enduring classic of existential writing by Albert Camus'Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know'Meursault is different. He will not lie. He will not pretend. He is true to himself.So when his mother dies and he is unmoved, he refuses to do the proper thing and grieve. Returning to Algiers after the funeral, he carries on life as usual until he becomes involved in a violent murder.In court, it is clear that Meursault's guilt or innocence will not be determined by what he did or did not do. He is on trial for being different - an outsider.'The story of a beach murder, one of the century's classic novels. Blood and sand' J.G. Ballard'A compelling, dreamlike fable' GuardianAlbert Camus was born in Algeria in 1913. He studied philosophy in Algiers and then worked in Paris as a journalist. He was one of the intellectual leaders of the Resistance movement and, after the War, established his international reputation as a writer. His books include The Plague, The Just and The Fall, and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. Camus was killed in a road accident in 1960.

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'Lucid and assured' The New Yorker, Best Books of 2023'For fans of Celeste Ng and Ann Patchett, this quietly beautiful book will break, then mend, your heart' Amazon, The Best Books of 2023WINNER OF THE 2023 BARNES & NOBLE DISCOVER PRIZEWINNER OF THE 2024 ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION***One family’s deepest pain. Another family’s darkest secret.On a hot day in 1960s Maine, six-year-old Joe watches his little sister Ruthie, sitting on her favourite rock at the edge of the blueberry fields, while their family, Mi’kmaq people from Nova Scotia, pick fruit. That afternoon, Ruthie vanishes without a trace. As the last person to see her, Joe will be forever haunted by grief, guilt, and the agony of imagining how his life could have been.In an affluent suburb nearby, Norma is growing up as the only child of unhappy parents. She is smart, precocious, and bursting with questions she isn’t allowed to ask – questions about her missing baby photos; questions about her dark skin; questions about the strange, vivid dreams of campfires and warm embraces that return night after night. Norma senses there are things her parents aren’t telling her, but it will take decades to unravel the secrets they have kept buried since she was a little girl.The Berry Pickers is an exquisitely moving story of unrelenting hope, unwavering love, and the power of family – even in the face of grief and betrayal.'Marvellous ... Amanda Peters is going to be the next big thing ... The Berry Pickers is a triumph' Katherena Vermette, author of The Strangers

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'One of Japan's most venerated writers' David MitchellIn this unnerving fable from one of Japan's greatest novelists, a recluse known as 'Mole' retreats to a vast underground bunker, only to find that strange guests, booby traps and a giant toilet may prove even greater obstacles than nuclear disaster.'As is true of Poe and Kafka, Abe creates an unexpected impulsion. One continues reading, on and on' New Yorker'Abe's depiction of the deadly game of survival is hilarious but at the same time leaves us with a chilling sense of apprehension about the brave new world that awaits us' Los Angeles TimesTranslated by Juliet Winters Carpenter

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AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER PHENOMENON . . .'Full of magic and intrigue . . . the perfect escape for fans of fantasies that straddle the edge of our world and transport readers to dazzling, deceptive, and unexpected places' STEPHANIE GARBER--ARE YOU READY TO ENROL INTO THE HOUSE OF MARIONNE?Quell Marionne has lived her entire life on the run, all in order to hide the deadlymagic that flows through her veins.She was born cursed with Toushana - a perilous dark magic.And the sentence for having it? Death . . .When her secret is discovered by a merciless assassin, Quell fears time is running out.There is only one place that can save her: The House of Marionne. Run by her estranged grandmother, the school trains their students to enter The Order, a society of magical elites. Quell knows this may be the key to burying her forbidden magic forever.But if her Toushana is discovered, she will be killed.Soon Quell realises that hiding who you are is even harder, especially when she meets the handsome, brooding Jordon.And it isn't long before she's forced to choose between her true nature and everyone she's grown to love.Brimming with ballgowns and betrayal, magic and mystery, decadence and darkness, House of Marionne is perfect for readers who crave morally grey characters, irresistible romance and dark academia.

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From acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips, a meditation on what we must give up to feel more alive.To give up or not to give up?The question can feel inescapable but the answer is never simple.Giving up our supposed vices is one thing; giving up on life itself is quite another. One form of self-sacrifice feels positive, something to admire and aspire to, while the other is profoundly unsettling, if not actively undesirable.There are always, it turns out, both good and bad sacrifices, but it is not always clear beforehand which is which. We give something up because we believe we can no longer go on as we are. In this sense, giving up is a critical moment - an attempt to make a different future.In On Giving Up, acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips illuminates both the gaps and the connections between the many ways of giving up, and helps us to address the central question: what must we give up in order to feel more alive?'One of the finest prose stylists in the language, an Emerson of our time' John Banville'The best living essayist writing in English' John Gray

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Joseph Conrad''s haunting Modernist masterpiece, now in the beautifully designed Penguin Clothbound Classics seriesHeart of Darkness has been considered for most of this century as a literary classic, and also a powerful indictment of the evils of imperialism. It reflects the savage repressions carried out in the Congo by the Belgians in one of the largest acts of genocide committed up to that time. Conrad''s narrator encounters at the end of the story a man named Kurtz, dying, insane, and guilty of unspeakable atrocities. What he sees on his journey, and his eventual encounter with Kurtz, horrify and perplex him, and call into question the very bases of civilization and human nature.

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Want to know what your cat is really thinking and doing?In Kitty Language, animal illustrator Lili Chin explains everything you need to read your cat's body language. With sections dedicated to their ears, whiskers, tail and more, you'll gain deeper knowledge into many feline behaviours, including sniffing, scratching, play-hunting, chattering and tail flipping. And you'll learn the answers to questions such as: does my cat want to be petted, or do they need space? Are they feeling confident, frightened, relaxed or frustrated? What do they need to feel safe, secure, stimulated and happy?Backed by scientific research, endorsed by animal behaviourists and vets, and packed with playful illustrations, Kitty Language is bursting with information for cat lovers.

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'This is a history shaken by intimacy - a brave and rigorously humane book' Seán HewittHow far would you go for the missing?When Clair Wills was in her twenties, she discovered she had a cousin she had never met. Born in a Mother and Baby Home in 1950s Ireland, Mary grew up in an institution not far from the farm where Clair spent happy childhood summers. Yet she was never told of her existence.How could a whole family - a whole country - abandon unmarried mothers and their children, erasing them from history?To discover the missing pieces of her family's story, Clair searched across archives and nations, in a journey that would take her from the 1890s to the 1980s, from West Cork to rural Suffolk and Massachusetts, from absent fathers to the grief of a lost child.There are some experiences that do not want to be remembered. What began as an effort to piece together the facts became an act of decoding the most unreliable of evidence - stories, secrets, silences. The result is a moving, exquisitely told story of the secrets families keep, and the violence carried out in their name.

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The mind-blowing murder mystery debut with magical passengers, epic adventure, and a twist you can’t guess.If Agatha Christie wrote fantasy, this would be it!----------"Agatha Christie with glitter magic.' I’m totally here for it. I hoovered up White’s chunky novel in a day. Both funny and flirty as it deals with issues of class, snobbery and sexuality amongst all the magic and murder. The result is hugely entertaining' Herald-----------For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor's ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess's Mountain.Aboard are the twelve heirs of the provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing.All except one: Ganymedes Piscero – class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment.When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people and without a Blessing to protect him , Ganymedes's odds of survival are slim.But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their secret blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?Or will the empire as he knows it fall forever?----------------------------Praise for Voyage of the Damned:'Frances White has crafted a brilliantly clever tale full of heart-warming characters, riveting twists and a gloriously conceived world. A poignant, quirky and utterly delightful read. I felt EVERYTHING while reading Voyage of the Damned' Bea Fitzgerald, bestselling author of Girl, Goddess, Queen'Burned through this in about two days. Absolutely bloody brilliant! Voyage of the Damned is clever and comedic, while also heartfelt and harrowing. I hope readers will come to enjoy Dee's escapades as much as I did' - Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters'An enchanting, bloody delight. Full of magic, laugh-out-loud humor, and so much murder' - Gabi Burton, author of Sing Me To Sleep----------------------------Readers can't stop raving about this book and its chaotic protagonist, Dee . . .Dee Fan Club Testimonials:‘He’d spit in the face of authority and unapologetically flirt with anything that moves’ Reader review‘Ganymedes Piscero, AKA Dee, is my favorite sort of disaster child’ Reader review'He's chubby, anxious, imperfect and 100% relatable—the kind of hero the world could use more of.' Reader review'I would protect him with my life.' Reader review'Ganymedes is an absolute riot. He's hilarious, chaotic, and a total queer underdog that you can't help but root for.' Reader review

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'The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect' Daily TelegraphLos Angeles, the late 1940's. A serial killer stalks the foggy streets at night ...Dix Steele, a former fighter pilot, moved to L.A. after the war, looking for a new life. But the city is gripped by fear of a murderer in its midst. Dix, however, is not scared. And when he bumps into his old friend Brub, now a detective on the trail of the culprit, he is excited to follow the police's progress. A dark and terrible truth is revealed, in a noir novel like no other.

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'The new crime and espionage series from Penguin Classics makes for a mouth-watering prospect' Daily TelegraphA con-man is swindling the poor folk of Harlem out of their life savings - and now all hell's broken loose.The 'Reverend' Deke O'Malley has just made $87,000 by duping his followers, only for white gunmen to hijack the rally and escape with the cash hidden inside a bale of cotton. Now ace detectives Grave Digger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson must get the good people of Harlem their money back by any means necessary, in a raucous, breakneck adventure involving double-crosses, exotic dancers, a racist colonel and a whole pile of bodies...

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DISCOVER THE LATEST DIRK PITT ADVENTURE. From the shadow of war comes an enduring historical mystery - and a present-day plot of destruction . . .France, May 1940. As the German army blitzes Europe and Parisians flee their city, the chief curator of the Musee de l'Armee is ordered to take a mysterious piece of cargo out of the country. But when he learns his intended ship has been sunk, the fate of his cargo must rest on a decrepit steamer, sailing out under German fire. . .Decades later, a diving expedition in the English Channel leads Director Dirk Pitt to a cache of uncut diamonds on a shipwreck. No sooner than they are discovered, the diamonds are stolen!Pitt and the NUMA agency now find they must face a murderous cabal with far more destructive plans than mere theft. Vital water treatment facilities around the globe are being targeted - placing the world's population in grave peril.From the shadow of the Eiffel Tower to the islands of the Caribbean, only Dirk Pitt and his children, Summer and Dirk Jr., can locate the treasure that will save the world from catastrophe.Praise for Clive Cussler:-'The Adventure King' Sunday Express'Cussler is hard to beat' Daily Mail'Just about the best in the business' New York Post

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'A joyous multiplicity of writings incorporating collective manifestos, poetry, fiction, and autobiography... endlessly fascinating' Catherine Taylor, Financial Times'A tour de force of feminist thinking, spanning seven centuries and multiple continents' Jennifer Thomson, Review 31'The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing rounds up the voices of women from across history to discuss the meaning and practice of feminism. This is a book that every person should read: the multiplicity of voices from various times and spaces allows women of the past alongside women of the present to be noisy about why feminism matters. It is a collective masterpiece' Helen Carr, BBC History, Books of the Year'Bulging with brilliant and exciting writing. Its vast sweep takes us from the 15th century, when Christine de Pizan, a court writer in medieval France, imagined a City of Ladies where women would be safe from harassment, through to the present day, with work by Maggie Nelson, Eileen Myles, Rachel Cusk, Deborah Levy and Lola Olufemi' Rachel Cooke, ObserverEdited with an Introduction by Hannah Dawson

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Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-SmithCelebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Today, George Orwell is perhaps most famous for his iconic novels - Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm - but in his own time it was his remarkable nonfiction writing which drew most attention. Kind-hearted, intelligent, often funny, occasionally indignant, always insightful: his essays are some of the best ever written. Among others, this selection includes 'Shooting an Elephant', 'Such, Such Were the Joys' and 'Some Thoughts on the Common Toad'.

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The definitive account of one of the biggest medical disasters in history – and the lengths that big pharma, the NHS and governments worldwide took to cover it up'The Poison Line is the gripping tale of a terrible scandal' Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape Artist‘A devastating piece of reportage. Books are routinely described as extraordinary, but this one really is’ John Preston, author of Fall________________Factor VIII was billed as a medical miracle when it was put on the market in the late 1960s: a revolutionary treatment that meant people with haemophilia could live full, ordinary lives.But as the treatment was rolled out, haemophiliacs began to contract hepatitis and AIDS in terrifying numbers. Rumours circulated in the press; a climate of fear took hold. How safe was Factor VIII?Even as medical bodies and pharmaceutical companies tried to discredit whistleblowers and diminish the evidence, it became clear that the ‘miracle’ treatment was infected. Factor VIII was killing the very people it promised to protect. And government embarked on a cover-up on an industrial scale.Award-winning investigative journalist Cara McGoogan follows the survivors-turned-campaigners, the small-town lawyers and the fearless journalists to uncover what really happened in the infected blood scandal.________________‘This is a vital account of the infected blood scandal and subsequent cover-up . . . The truth must be told’ Andy Burnham'Cara McGoogan's work serves as a beacon for those of us dedicated to uncovering facts in the service of justice and human rights’ Eliot Higgins, author of We Are Bellingcat'Cara McGoogan is an indefatigable detective and a born storyteller' Steve Coll, author of Ghost Wars'The definitive account of one of modern medicine's most chilling scandals' Gerald Posner, author of PharmaBASED ON THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING BED OF LIES PODCASTA Financial Times and Prospect 2023 Book of the Year

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Sharpen your mind prove your puzzling genius with the official Lingo puzzle book - perfect for anyone who's obsessed with word games!Are you a whizz with words?Passionate about solving puzzles?Do you love playing along with Lingo on TV?If your answer is yes to any of the above, then the official Lingo Puzzle Book is just for you. Perfect for the whole family, you can play the nation's favourite word game anywhere, anytime.· Over 500 exciting, brain-bending puzzles· 4, 5 and 6 letter games to challenge your skill· Bonus words and timed games to test your true Lingo geniusSo, what are you waiting for? Get to know your Lingo and be as good as your word.

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Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Over the course of six years, Maria Rilke wrote a series of letters to a young officer cadet, advising him on writing, love, suffering and the nature of advice itself; these profound and lyrical letters have since become hugely influential for writers and artists of all kinds. This volume also contains the 'Letter from a Young Worker', a striking polemic against Christianity written too in letter form.

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Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith. Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Drifters in search of work, George and his childlike friend Lennie have nothing in the world except the clothes on their back - and a dream that one day they will have some land of their own. Eventually they find work on a ranch in California's Salinas Valley, but their hopes are dashed as Lennie becomes a victim of his own strength. Tackling universal themes of friendship and shared vision, and giving a voice to America's lonely and dispossessed, Of Mice and Men remains Steinbeck's most popular work, achieving success as a novel, Broadway play and three acclaimed films.'Such a perfect book' - Nick Hornby

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Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith. Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Katherine Mansfield's perceptive and resonant writing helped to define the modern short story, observing apparently trivial incidents to create quietly devastating revelations of inner lives. Graceful, delicate and burning with emotion, Mansfield's stories were integral in shaping the Modernist movement and redefined a genre. This collection contains some of Mansfield's most celebrated stories, including 'Bliss', 'The Garden Party' and 'The Daughters of the Late Colonel'.'The only writing I have ever been jealous of.' - Virginia Woolf

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THE MOUTH-WATERING FIRST BOOK FROM CUPCAKE JEMMA'S ICONIC LONDON BAKERY, CRUMBS & DOILIESCupcake Jemma has been teaching the world to bake through her hugely successful YouTube channel for almost a decade. In their first ever book, Jemma and her team unlock the secrets to creating wonderfully imaginative cakes, bakes, cookies and traybakes at home.Packed with over 90 recipes covering cupcakes, layer cakes, cookies, traybakes, brownies and bars, this cookbook includes decadent Crumbs & Doilies classics as well as mouth-watering, exclusive new recipes, including . . .·· Mighty Ferrero Rocher Cake· Caramel Cornflake Brownie· Lemon Meringue Pie Bar· End-of-the-World Chocolate Cake· Cookie Dough Brownies· Pretzel Cookie Sarnies· Bonfire Bars· S'mores CakeBrimming with tips and tricks that will ensure your cakes look every bit as good as Jemma's, the book also features specially created QR codes linking you to videos for key techniques. And for the icing on the cake, you'll find recipes for brilliant basics, from buttercreams and ganaches to pie crumbs, fruit goos and caramels.With a stunning photograph for every recipe, delicious bakes to suit any occasion and helpful guidance from the best bakers in the business, Crumbs & Doilies is a must-have for any aspiring home baker.

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Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Dorothy Parker was the most talked-about woman of the decadent 1920s, notorious as a hard-drinking bad girl with a talent for endlessly quotable one-liners. In the stories collected here, she brilliantly captures the spirit of the decadent Jazz Age in New York, exposing both the dazzle and the darkness. This selection includes among others 'The Standard of Living', 'Mr Durant' and her masterpiece, 'Big Blonde'.'She has fascinated generations with her wit, flair and talent' The New York Review of Books

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‘Nobody who comes away from reading The Bill Gates Problem will look at him in the same way’ - The TimesYou know him as the founder of Microsoft; the philanthropic, kind-hearted billionaire who has donated endless funds to good causes around the world. But there's another side to Bill Gates.We might like to think of the Gates Foundation as an innocent charity giving away money, collaborating with stakeholders, and listening to the desires of the populations it hopes to help, but is that how it works in practice?Combining rich storytelling and ground-breaking reporting, The Bill Gates Problem offers readers a provocative and timely counter-narrative about one of the world's most widely recognized individuals - a true global celebrity with international reach. But more than that, this book speaks to a vital political question around economic inequality and the erosion of democratic institutions - why should the super-rich be able to transform their wealth into political power, and just how far can they go?

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THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLERA CAPTIVATING TALE THAT CHARTS THE CONTROVERSIAL LIFE AND RISE TO POWER OF SEMIRAMIS, THE ONLY FEMALE RULER OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE A stirring, addictive and intoxicating tale. . . Casati's Babylonia has cemented her as one of the most skilled and exciting writers of historical fiction' BEA FITZGERALD, author of GIRL, GODDESS, QUEEN''An astounding achievement, one of the most vivid, powerful works of historical fiction I have ever read. . . I was utterly swept up in the world of this novel'' ELODIE HARPER, author of THE WOLF DEN----There are whispers of her fame, in the land long since turned to dust. The Queen who rose from nothing and changed everything . . .Ancient Assyria, 9th century BC.An orphan is raised on the outskirts of a brutal empire. Heir to a tragic prophecy, Semiramis dreams of wielding power and escaping her destiny.

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Sometimes you need to clash to make an impact.Bianca Bridge is like an eyeshadow palette. She's a vibrant kaleidoscope of big personality and even bigger dreams, with a tendency towards messiness and fallout. Case in point: ruining her career prospects and hopes of becoming a writer by having an affair with a married government minister.Fiercely confident and uncompromising, her tyrannical new boss Obadiah Cortland - makeup artist and legend in Trinidad's beauty scene - is like a statement red lipstick. 'The God of Good Looks' is a facade he has perfected over years of slipping through the island's rigid class barriers, and he knows as well as Bianca that the tiniest smudge can ruin your image.When Bianca's ex threatens both their futures, this clashing combination must find a way to work together to save everything they care about. But might they actually bring out the best in each other?Sparkling, big-hearted and life-affirming, The God of Good Looks is a story about prejudice and pride, the masks we wear and who we can become if we dare to take them off.-----'Phenomenal! A book worthy of a standing ovation. I will never forget how this novel made me feel' LIZZIE DAMILOLA BLACKBURN, author of Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband?'A dazzling delight ... I didn't want it to end!' COCO MELLORS, author of Cleopatra and Frankenstein'A glittering will-they, won't-they Bridget Jones re-boot' NIKKI MAY, author of Wahala

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'I love Tifo' Ian Wright 'Tifo are great' Alan Shearer'Tifo have changed the game when it comes to football analysis' Elis JamesRULE #1: DON'T WATCH THE BALLYes, football is about stars, goals and glory. But it's also about the intense calculations and movements being made by the twenty-one other players on the pitch. It's about the ticking clock, and the bellowing fans, and their impact on player psychology. It's about the coach, the club owner, and the director of football, who are watching, scouting and scheming from the side-lines. It's about money and data, about geopolitics and architecture, and even about climate change.Football is the most popular sport in the world, and Tifo Football is one of the world's most popular football channels. In this short, illustrated guide, its creators share fifty-two simple 'rules' for understanding and enjoying the beautiful game-both on and off the pitch.Covering the key concepts, tactics and philosophies that are shaping the sport today, How to Watch Football reveals surprising new perspectives on familiar elements of gameplay, while highlighting lesser-known aspects of the industry and its history.Whether you're a casual fan or a football obsessive, the fifty-two golden rules in this pocket-size guide will deepen your delight in the world's favourite sport.

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An award-winning collection from one of America's most beloved twentieth-century poets'The love readers feel for Lucille Clifton - both the woman and her poetry - is constant and deeply felt' Toni MorrisonLucille Clifton was one of the most distinguished American poets of the twentieth century. This award-winning collection of her poems showcases the simplicity and song-like grace with which she addressed the whole of human experience: birth, death, children, dreams, spirituality, womanhood, illness, sexuality and racial injustice.'Physically small poems with enormous and profound inner worlds' Elizabeth Alexander, New Yorker'Clifton's earliest poems could have been written yesterday, and her later works could have been written decades ago' Reginald Dwayne Betts, The New York Times'A poetry so pared down that its spaces take on substance, become a shaping presence as much as the words themselves' Peggy Rosenthal

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Bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence Daniel Goleman and co-author Cary Cherniss reveal practical methods for applying the principles of EI to enter an optimal state of high performance, offering a roadmap to being at your best, every day.There are moments when we achieve peak performance: an athlete plays a perfect game; a business has a quarter with once-in-a-lifetime profits. But these moments are often fleeting, and for every amazing day, we may have a hundred ordinary and even unsatisfying ones. Fulfillment doesn’t come from isolated peak experiences, or elusive ‘flow’ states, but rather from many consistent good days. So how do we sustain performance, while avoiding burnout and maintaining balance? In Optimal, Daniel Goleman and Cary Cherniss reveal how emotional intelligence can help us have a great day, any day. They explain how to set a realistic, attainable goal of feeling satisfied that you’ve had a productive day — to consistently work at your ‘optimal’ level. Based on research of how hundreds of people build the inner architecture of having a good day, they sketch what an optimal state feels like, and show how emotional intelligence holds the key to our best performance.Optimal is the culmination of decades of scientific discoveries bearing on emotional intelligence. Enhanced emotional intelligence pays off in improved engagement, productivity and more satisfying days. In this book, you’ll find the keys to competence in emotional intelligence, and practical methods for applying this skill set more readily. It will equip you to become a highly effective leader and enable you to build an organizational culture that empowers workers to sustain high performance.

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'Elissa Epel is the authority on stress and its machinations' Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times-bestselling author of The Whole-Brain Child________________________TURN STRESS INTO STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE IN JUST SEVEN DAYSOur lives have become increasingly stressful. Whether it's our to-do lists, deadlines, difficult conversations or crises small or large, our waking hours are filled with constant stressors. We can't eliminate stress - it will always be woven into our lives and part of everything from parenting and careers, to reaching big life dreams. However, this book will help you to 'stress better' and become more resilient. World-renowned psychologist, Dr Elissa Epel, distils her years of research into a practical seven-day plan to transform our relationship with stress in just seven days. The secret to tackling stress is not to avoid it but to experience it differently. She offers simple, actionable, science-based techniques that offer immediate relief, such as how to:· Expect the unexpected and learn to be flexible· Control what you can and put down the rest· Meet challenges with excitement· Harness your stress response for resilience, better health, and longevity· Gain perspective and let nature shrink stress· Find deep rest and regenerative energy· Discover and capture what brings you joyUltimately, stress is inevitable, but it doesn't have to wear us down. The Seven-Day Stress Prescription will equip you with a healthier mindset and the resources you need to turn stress into strength and a tool that helps us to grow.

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'Thoughtful, vastly knowledgeable, and genuinely brilliant' Dr. Matthew Walker, New York Times-bestselling author of Why We Sleep________________________We need sleep to survive. It's as essential as food, water, and oxygen. Without it, our bodies begin to shut down. So why is something that should be natural, instinctual, and automatic so difficult?Renowned sleep scientist, Dr Aric Prather, studies sleep for a living and the first - and most important - thing he'll tell you about it is that we're all unintentionally getting in the way of our own sleep. In this book, he shares his most powerful and sought-after solutions for achieving good quality, restorative sleep in just seven days, providing transformative antidotes for sleep like:· Stabilising your sleep cycle · Living your days so you can turn off at night · Overcoming the afternoon slump without sabotaging sleep tonight· Neutralising nighttime worry and rumination · Making time to wind down· Conditioning yourself to associate 'bed' with 'sleep'· Getting to sleep and staying asleep by building sleep pressureUsing simple, yet deeply effective techniques and tools, this book will help your body to lie back and let sleep work its magic. If you feel like you've tried everything with no success, The Seven-Day Sleep Prescription is for you - an accessible antidote for easing your body back into one of its most critical cycles: sleep.

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Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Karen Blixen, author of the acclaimed memoir Out of Africa, was also a master of the short story form: her tales offer luminous meditations on rebirth and redemption, on the mystery and unexpectedness of human behaviour. Alongside 'Babette's Feast', this selection also includes 'Sorrow-Acre', often thought to be one of her finest stories.'Tales as delicate as Venetian glass', The New York Times

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Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Set in a frozen world that is gradually being devastated by ever-encroaching ice, Anna Kavan's masterwork follows one man's pursuit of a mysterious silver-haired girl to the ends of the earth; to the end of everything.'Few contemporary novelists could match the intensity of her vision' J.G. Ballard

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'Every page made me wish I was a potter' Nigel SlaterFlorian Gadsby has devoted his life to pottery, refining his technique towards the point of perfection - and as his skill has grown, so has his social media following, which today numbers in the millions. Based at a studio in North London, he releases three new collections per year, characterized by simple forms and sharp edges, which sell out in a matter of minutes.In By My Hands, Florian tells the story of his artistic awakening, his education in England, Ireland and Japan, and of the sheer discipline which has led him to become the cultural sensation he is today. Arguing for the value in dedicating yourself to a craft, Florian weaves anecdotes about particular pots and processes into the narrative of his life, exploring what he has learnt from specific pieces he was taught to throw during his apprenticeships and how they have informed his philosophy and approach to his work.By My Hands is an ode to the beauty of small things, such as a simple hand-thrown mug or bowl, which can brighten life's daily rituals and make them more meaningful - as well as an inspiring testament to the power of perseverance.

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Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Few writers have expressed loneliness, the need for human understanding and the search for love with such power and poetic sensibility as the American writer Carson McCullers. The Ballad of the Sad Café is her masterpiece: an unruly, bittersweet novella concerning the most unlikely of love triangles.'The greatest prose writer that the South produced ... She has examined the heart of man with an understanding that no other writer can hope to surpass' - Tennessee Williams

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Embark on a journey to living your most fulfilling, authentic life with the help of life coach Fiona Buckland__________You are not in the waiting room of life. This is it. You sense you have more potential, more to give to your life, more of you - but the way forward isn't clear.You're not alone. This is a practical guide to fulfilling your potential and living authentically - to finding your own path in life, based not upon fleeting happiness, but on fulfilment and meaning.Life coach Fiona Buckland expertly guides you through twelve key steps, using reflections, activities and insights from her coaching casebook and her own personal experience to keep you going on this journey.You'll discover how to . . .· Separate From Your Old Scripts· Build Your Compass· Make Peace With Inner Critics & Saboteurs· Find Allies· Replenish your Energy· Make Better Decisions· Nurture your Ideas· Raise Your Resilience· Tell Your StoryIt takes inner work to make outer change. What you'll learn from this book will transform your life in ways you might not yet be able to imagine.__________

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THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED FOLLOW-UP TO INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER HOW DEMOCRACIES DIE – essential reading ahead of the 2024 US election‘Just like their previous work, this book is concise, readable, and convincing’ Anne Applebaum, author of Twilight of Democracy-------------------------------------How has democracy become so threatened – and what can we do to save it?With the clarity and brilliance that made their first book, How Democracies Die, a global bestseller, leading Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt offer a coherent new framework for understanding the dangerous times we live in. They draw on a wealth of examples – from the Capitol riots, to Edwardian Britain, from 1930s France to present-day Thailand – to explain why political parties turn against democracy, and how to see when this will happen.In this razor-sharp analysis, Levitsky and Ziblatt offer in particular an urgent warning about right-wing efforts to undermine the very foundations of the American political system. Multiracial democracy is something few societies have ever achieved – but even the prospect of this change can spark an authoritarian backlash whose dangerous effects will resonate long into the future. Donald Trump’s astonishing lead in the run-up to the Republican nomination, even after his indictment and imprisonment on charges of election interference, is evidence of that.With its attention on factors from election losses to demographic change and voting rights, its urgent call for a reform of our politics to balance the need for majority rule with the need for minority protections, and a citizens’ movement to put enough pressure on lawmakers to act before it’s too late, Tyranny of the Minority is a must-read for everyone keen to see more vibrant democracy – and to understand where future threats may come from.-------------------------------------‘Provocative and readable’ David Runciman on How Democracies Die'A useful primer on the importance of norms, institutional restraints and civic participation in maintaining a democracy' Barack Obama on How Democracies Die

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The most nostalgic and reflective of Evelyn Waugh's novels, Brideshead Revisited looks back to the golden age before the Second World War. It tells the story of Charles Ryder's infatuation with the Marchmains and the rapidly-disappearing world of privilege they inhabit. Enchanted first by Sebastian at Oxford, then by his doomed Catholic family, in particular his remote sister, Julia, Charles comes finally to recognize only his spiritual and social distance from them.

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Evelyn Waugh's masterful depiction of World War II, now in a beautiful hardback edition with a new Introduction by Martin StannardWaugh's own unhappy experience of being a soldier is superbly re-enacted in this story of Guy Crouchback, a Catholic and a gentleman, commissioned into the Royal Corps of Halberdiers during the war years 1939-45. High comedy - in the company of Brigadier Ritchie-Hook or the denizens of Bellamy's Club - is only part of the shambles of Crouchback's war. When action comes in Crete and in Yugoslavia, he discovers not heroism, but humanity. Sword of Honour combines three volumes: Officers and Gentlemen, Men at Arms and Unconditional Surrender, which were originally published separately. Extensively revised by Waugh, they were published as the one-volume Sword of Honour in 1965, in the form in which Waugh himself wished them to be read.'Marvellous ... one of the masterpieces of the century'John Banville, Irish Times

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Evelyn Waugh's hilarious debut novel, now in a beautiful hardback edition with a new Introduction by Barbara CookeSent down from Oxford in outrageous circumstances, Paul Pennyfeather is oddly unsurprised to find himself qualifying for the position of schoolmaster at Llanabba Castle. His colleagues are an assortment of misfits, rascals and fools, including Prendy (plagued by doubts) and Captain Grimes, who is always in the soup (or just plain drunk). Then Sports Day arrives, and with it the delectable Margot Beste-Chetwynde, floating on a scented breeze. As the farce unfolds and the young run riot, no one is safe, least of all Paul.'His first, most perfect novel ... ruthlessly comic' John Mortimer, Guardian

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Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith. Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.Recently widowed, the unscrupulous and beautiful Lady Susan Vernon is determined to scheme her way through high society in the hope of a profitable new match - all while trying to marry off her unfortunate daughter. Told through a series of letters, Jane Austen's magnificent first novella is as subversive as it is charming.'The wit of Jane Austen has for partner the perfection of her taste' - Virginia Woolf

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Discover what you really want from work - and how to get there - with this empowering, practical guide from expert career coach Rachel SchofieldAS SEEN IN GOOD HOUSEKEEPINGONE OF THE TELEGRAPH'S BEST SELF-HELP BOOKS OF 2023'A doable plan to make changes that'll stick. This is the only book you need to take the leap' STYLISTAre you dreaming of a new career? Or do you just want more out of your job? Either way, The Career Change Guide ensures that work works for you . . .__________This empowering, practical guide takes the confusion, fear and indecision out of career change.Whether making small adjustments or life-changing moves, it provides simple, achievable steps to turn your dreams into reality.The Career Change Guide will help you investigate your skills as well as discover your drives, interests and inspirations. It will take you on a structured five step journey. . .· Preparing · Reflecting · Imagining & Designing · Taking Action · Keeping Going ·. . . to lead you to the job of your dreams.You'll learn to . . .- Be clear about who you are and the work and life you want- Devise and explore career ideas- Tackle self-doubt and build confidence- Design an action plan for changeThe Career Change Guide is your first step to a better career and a happier life.So enough procrastination. . . are we doing this, or aren't we?

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It may be darker outside, but we can still enjoy the benefits of nature - let Joe Sugg show you how in this essential guide to fixing your relationship with the online world by bringing nature insideFor so long, we've all been drowning in an endless stream of online content.NOW is the time to fix that - repair our relationship with tech, learn to check into nature, and improve our mental wellbeing.As one of the UK's first and biggest YouTube stars, Joe Sugg knows this struggle all too well.And now he has the solution: we need to bring nature inside.In GROW, he will guide you through creative and practical ways to digitally detox wherever you live, without throwing away your tech, featuring . . .· Simple ways to reduce your screen time· A beginner's guide to gardening - inside and out· Wildflowers and insects to look out for in nature· The benefits of houseplants - and how not to kill them· Personal stories from Joe's own journey· Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations Grow immerses us in a truly restorative journey that shows ways to balance our time online with the outdoors, and grow happier, healthier and calmer by doing so.

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'James is a titan of twentieth-century politics and culture' Sunday Times'The Black Jacobins is not only a groundbreaking historical work; it is a masterpiece in storytelling and analysis' Gary YoungeThe iconic study of the Haitian revolution, by one of the most important historians of the twentieth centuryC. L. R. James's pioneering account of the 1791 San Domingo slave revolt and the creation of the republic of Haiti changed the way colonial history was written. By putting the experiences of the slave rebels, led by Toussaint L'Ouverture, centre stage, James made them agents of their own story. His work, written as part of the fight to end colonialism in Africa, helped inspire radical liberation movements worldwide, from Black Power to Castro's revolution in the Caribbean.With an Introduction by Christienna Fryar

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'A rollicking ride . . . What a life' SUNDAY TIMESEssential reading for anyone who secretly just wants the naughty bits . . .Susannah Constantine is famous as the noughties style guru on What Not To Wear, but this is the least interesting thing about her.Hers is a life filled to the brim with 70s glitz, 80s glamour and above all else an enlightening 50 years of f**k-ups, crisis and chaos.There's dating cricket royalty not to mention real life royalty, as well as lavatory dramas with Princess Margaret. Add in weekends at Balmoral witnessing Thatcher and the Queen battle for power, plus time for falling in love, Strictly dancing debuts and a spot of wild swimming. Juicy, hilarious, sometimes heart-breaking, and crammed with moments where life goes completely wrong, Ready for Absolutely Nothing is full of absolutely everything.'Wonderfully written, very funny, but more than anything completely genuine' LADY ANNE GLENCONNER, author of Lady in Waiting'A trooper with a filthy sense of humour' THE TIMES'A treasure trove of untold stories . . . riveting' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING'Sparkling' DAILY MAIL

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'One of the most powerful books of the year' Daily Mail'Nobody can make the serious funny and the funny serious quite like Ruby.' - Alastair CampbellDear Reader,Checking into a mental clinic wasn't exactly on my radar in 2022. Writing about it wasn't either. But here we are.I spent a lifetime trying to create a 'front' to give everyone the illusion that all is well. It wasn't, and it isn't. Now I look back and I think, 'what the f*ck was that all about?'I began the book trying to find meaning by going on various, life-changing journeys, I ended up in a mental clinic; obviously things didn't work out the way I expected. This is the story of what happened after the mental car crash . . . From then on, the journey had to turn inward. It turns out I wasn't looking for meaning, I was looking for home.I'm not a fiction writer. I can't fake it. I could say I rode into the sunset, but life isn't like that unless you're a cowboy. Truth is I'm not as well as I thought I was.These days, trying to stay sane in a completely chaotic world makes life incredibly difficult. For those readers who are deep in the darkness of mental illness, I hope my book makes you feel less alone.Take care, love,Ruby x---------------------------------------------------------------------'If you buy only one book this year, make it this one.' - Joanna Lumley'A true tour de force. We're all a little messed up in our own ways, but we should all strive to be as fabulously fearless as Ruby.' - Fearne CottonAs seen on Channel 5 CastawaySunday Times Bestseller, May 2021

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'It's often said that books are compulsory reading, but this book really is compulsory. You cannot understand slavery, or British Empire, without it' Sathnam Sanghera Arguing that the slave trade was at the heart of Britain's economic progress, Eric Williams's landmark 1944 study revealed the connections between capitalism and racism, and has influenced generations of historians ever since.Williams traces the rise and fall of the Atlantic slave trade through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to show how it laid the foundations of the Industrial Revolution, and how racism arose as a means of rationalising an economic decision. Most significantly, he showed how slavery was only abolished when it ceased to become financially viable, exploding the myth of emancipation as a mark of Britain's moral progress.'Its thesis is a starting point for a new generation of scholarship' New Yorker

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THE ICONIC BESTSELLING NOVEL, WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE, AND NOW AMAZON TV SERIES STARRING TONI COLLETTE AND AULI?I CRAVALHO 'She throws her head back and pushes her chest forward and lets go a huge blast right into the centre of his body. The rivulets and streams of red scarring run across his chest and up around his throat. She'd put her hand on his heart and stopped him dead.'Suddenly - tomorrow or the day after - girls find that with a flick of their fingers, they can inflict agonizing pain and even death. With this single twist, the four lives at the heart of Naomi Alderman's extraordinary, visceral novel are utterly transformed, and we look at the world in an entirely new light.What if the power to hurt were in women's hands?'Electrifying' Margaret Atwood'A big, brash, page-turning, thought-provoking thriller' Guardian

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The classic account of a lost boy's emotional breakthrough, from a renowed child psychotherapist'I welcome this book with all my heart' D. W. WinnicottWhen renowned psychotherapist Virginia Axline first encountered Dibs at his New York School, he was a little boy lost to the world. He would not talk. He would not play. He sat alone, defying every attempt at interaction. Axline was the last resort. This is her seminal account of how, through weekly play therapy sessions over the course of one year, Dibs's extraordinary character, and the reason for his silent withdrawal, were gradually revealed. Dibs in Search of Self is a classic of child therapy, and a moving story of transformation.'A very empowering and kind book' Tanya Byron'It should be the law that you have to read this book' Adjoa Andoh, BBC Radio 4

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Learn how to reframe your thoughts and live your best life with this accessible guide from clinical psychologist Dr Michaela Dunbar, founder of @myeasytherapy_________Are fear and anxious thoughts holding you back from living the bold and exciting life you want?Everyone experiences self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure and burnout. But not all of us know how to deal with it.In her years spent helping ambitious women overcome self-doubt, Dr Michaela Dunbar has identified seven key ways high-functioning anxiety can manifest in our lives, from people-pleasing to imposter syndrome.In this hopeful, accessible, and genuinely useful book, Dr Michaela offers practical solutions and strategies to help you with . . .· Coping with anxiety and overthinking· Dealing with imposter syndrome· Setting and maintaining boundaries· Breaking down the fear of failureFilled with invaluable tools, reflection exercises and case studies, You've Got This shows us how to transform our anxious thoughts and emotions into positive actions.Above all, it will teach you how to overcome self-doubt and free yourself from the traps of overthinking to confidently step into a life you love.

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