Search results for ""Author A."

And so for anyone who didn't really know what it means to not be able to breathe, REALLY breathe, for generations, now you know. And those who already do, you'll be nodding yep yep, that is exactly how it is . . .Intimately set within the walls of a family home, this book is an incredible artefact of the historic year we have all lived through. We travel from the depths of despair but not without hope; the mundane details contained within four walls becomes our sanctuary. This is a gift in commemoration of a time and place, of a world wide pandemic, of loss and of the murder of George Floyd. It is a reminder of how, in uncertain times, we can cling to the simple things for respite, for hope. A reminder of how comforting books and artworks are in times of extreme stress.

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Ammianus Marcellinus composed a history of the Roman empire from 96 AD to 378 AD, focusing on the mid-fourth century during which he served in the army. His experience as a soldier during this period provides crucial realia of warfare, while his knowledge of literature, especially the genre of historiography, enabled him to imbue his narrative with literary flair. This book explores the tension between Ammianus’ roles as soldier and author, examining how his military experience affected his history, and conversely how his knowledge of literature affected his descriptions of the Roman army.

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“All aspiring authors know the value of a great literary agent, but few know how to get one. Lucinda Halpern has written the definitive guide to attracting an agent and laying the groundwork for a book well worth publishing.”— Adam Grant, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential, and host of the TED podcast Re:ThinkingA step-by-step guide from a New York literary agent that will show you how to create a winning concept, craft an irresistible pitch, and land your dream book deal.In this practical, immediately actionable guide, Lucinda Halpern, who has represented New York Times bestsellers and brokered numerous deals with major publishers for over a decade, divulges what agents look for in authors and the shortcuts they use to get book deals but have never revealed—until now.Lucinda has personally helped hundreds of writers and entrepreneurs launch timeless, best-selling books. But the path to literary success begins with knowing the answers to questions like: How do I make my book idea marketable to agents and publishers? What essential ingredients should my book pitch possess? What common pitfalls and errors should I avoid? How do I find a reputable agent who shares my vision? What can I do if I'm getting rejected by agents and publishers? With her unique 6-step method, Lucinda provides the tools and concrete strategies to: Write a query letter that gets an agent's attention Build an effective marketing platform Create a timeless bestseller Packed with interviews from best-selling authors, leading book editors from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Hachette, and more, Get Signed is the indispensable roadmap you need right now to get noticed and become a published author.

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A lush, sweeping queer historical romance from the bestselling author of Boyfriend Material - perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Evie Dunmore, and Lisa Kleypas!When Viola Carroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.Praise for Alexis Hall'Absurdly funny and swoonily romantic, with a sharp edge of wit and observation that keeps the story bounding along' - KJ Charles, author of A Charm of Magpies series'Every once in a while you read a book that you want to SCREAM FROM ROOFTOPS about. I'm screaming, people!'- Sonali Dev, USA Today bestselling author, on Boyfriend Material'Everyone needs to read this. Brilliance on every single page. Hilarious, witty, tender, and stunning. I love this book'- Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners, on Boyfriend Material'Hall is a dizzyingly talented writer, one likely to spur envy in anyone who's ever picked up a pen' - Entertainment Weekly'Simply the best writer I've come across in years' - Laura Kinsale, New York Times bestselling author'The writing is witty, and [the] chemistry is irresistible, but it's Hall's insights about trust and self-worth that set the story apart. This is a triumph' - Publishers Weekly on Boyfriend Material'It is a beautiful piece of work which also wins at being inclusive and very unique to other Regency stories' Coffee, Cups & Books on A Lady for a Duke

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One of Ireland's greatest contemporary writers turns her attention to one of the country's greatest novelists: James Joyce - in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the iconic classic ULYSSES.'As skilful, stylish and pacy as one would expect from so adept a novelist' Sunday Telegraph'A delight from start to finish . . . achieves the near impossibility of giving a thoroughly fresh view of Joyce' Sunday Times'Accessible and passionate, it is a book which should bring Joyce in all his glory and agony to a new and very wide audience' Irish Independent Edna O'Brien depicts James Joyce as a man hammered by Church, State and family, yet from such adversities he wrote works 'to bestir the hearts of men and angels'. The journey begins with Joyce the arrogant youth, his lofty courtship of Nora Barnacle, their hectic sexuality, children, wanderings, debt and profligacy, and Joyce's obsession with the city of Dublin, which he would re-render through his words. Nor does Edna O'Brien spare us the anger and isolation of Joyce's later years, when he felt that the world had turned its back on him, and she asks how could it be otherwise for a man who knew that conflict is the source of all creation.

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The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller and one of Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2022.From Hanya Yanagihara, author of the modern classic A Little Life, To Paradise is a bold, brilliant novel spanning three centuries and three different versions of the American experiment, about lovers, family, loss and the elusive promise of utopia.'Three stories far apart in space and time but each unique in their power to summon the joy and complexity of love, the pain of loss . . . It’s rare that you get the opportunity to review a masterpiece, but To Paradise, definitively, is one.' – The Observer'Awe-inspiring . . . The characters are so well drawn and the plot so well paced, I couldn’t put it down.' – Daily TelegraphIn an alternate version of 1893 America, New York is part of the Free States, where people may live and love whomever they please (or so it seems). The fragile young scion of a distinguished family resists betrothal to a worthy suitor, drawn to a charming music teacher of no means. In a 1993 Manhattan besieged by the AIDS epidemic, a young Hawaiian man lives with his much older, wealthier partner, hiding his troubled childhood and the fate of his father. And in 2093, in a world riven by plagues and governed by totalitarian rule, a powerful scientist’s damaged granddaughter tries to navigate life without him – and solve the mystery of her husband’s disappearances.These three sections are joined in an enthralling and ingenious symphony, as recurring notes and themes deepen and enrich one another: A townhouse in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village; illness, and treatments that come at a terrible cost; wealth and squalor; the weak and the strong; race; the definition of family, and of nationhood; the dangerous righteousness of the powerful, and of revolutionaries; the longing to find a place in an earthly paradise, and the gradual realization that it can’t exist. What unites not just the characters, but these Americas, are their reckonings with the qualities that make us human: Fear. Love. Shame. Need. Loneliness.To Paradise is a fin-de-siecle novel of marvellous literary effect, but above all it is a work of emotional genius. The power of this novel is driven by Yanagihara’s understanding of the aching desire to protect those we love – partners, lovers, children, friends, family and even our fellow citizens – and the pain that ensues when we cannot.'This magisterial follow-up to A Little Life offers three books in one . . . Yanagihara weighs up damage and privilege - social, emotional, political, colonial in a gripping, immersive ride through alternative Americas.' – The Guardian 'Best Reads For Summer'

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The gripping novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone and The Family Upstairs._____________Lydia, Robyn and Dean don't know each other - yet.They live very different lives but each of them, independently, has always felt that something is missing.What they don't know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down.It is a letter containing a secret - one that will bind them together, and show them what love and family and friendship really mean..._____________Reader's can't get enough of The Making Of Us . . .***** 'Really gripping. Couldn't put it down.'***** 'Truly a great read for just about everyone.'***** 'Lisa Jewell is becoming one of my favourites. This is the third book of hers that I absolutely loved.'***** 'I loved the characters and the way the author unravel their stories.'***** 'I loved this book from the beginning.'

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'A moving novel with unforgettable characters' - Closer 'A brilliant read' - BellaSometimes you have to fall apart to become whole again... Kate is a successful interior designer with two wonderful kids. Kate is also a recent widow, a grieving daughter and worrying about how to pay the bills. Her life might look perfect from the outside, but making things look better than they are is just how Kate copes. Her mother, Jean, worries about her - but she has her own problems. A mystery from the past has come back to haunt her, and she decides now is the time to put the pieces together. When romance makes an appearance in both their lives, can mother and daughter lay the past to rest - and begin again?'A great piece of storytelling - it swept me away' Sue Moorcroft on A Gift in December

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A fallen regime. A missing child. A chance at freedom. Ten years ago, Sonya was the face of an oppressive regime. Then it was toppled by rebels and she was thrown into prison - where she has been locked up ever since. When an old enemy comes to her with a deal, it seems too good to be true: find a missing girl who was stolen from her parents, and earn her freedom. But as Sonya hunts for the child, she is forced to dig deeper into the past - and her family's dark secrets - than she ever bargained for . . .Praise for Veronica Roth 'Poster Girl cements Veronica Roth's status as a superstar' Gregg Hurwitz, #1 International bestselling author of the Orphan X series'Veronica Roth's latest outing will draw you into its broken world, and make you think more deeply of our own' Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten'Roth weaves a tale of redemption and regret that kept me riveted and guessing until the last page' Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of Wool and Across the Sand'Veronica Roth is the cure for all those humdrum 'one true saviour' narratives' Charlie Jane Anders, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, on CHOSEN ONES'Roth has pulled off a virtuoso performance' Blake Crouch, bestselling author of DARK MATTER and RECURSION on CHOSEN ONES'Roth somehow manages to make universe-building look easy' Charles Yu, bestselling author of INTERIOR CHINATOWN on CHOSEN ONES

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***Pre-order David Nicholls' new novel YOU ARE HERE now - Coming April 2024***A COMIC MASTERPIECE BY BELOVED BESTSELLER DAVID NICHOLLSA scintillating comedy of ambition, celebrity, jealousy and love'Irresistible' DAILY MAIL 'Wonderfully chaotic' THE TIMES 'Delightful' OBSERVER 'Brilliant' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'Funniest book of the year' MARIE CLAIRE For Josh Harper, being in show-business means everything he ever wanted: money, fame, a beautiful wife and a lead role on the London stage. For Stephen C. McQueen, it means being stuck with an unfortunate name, a hopeless agent and a job as understudy to Josh Harper, the 12th Sexiest Man in the World. When Stephen falls in love with Josh's clever, funny wife, Nora, things get even more difficult. But might there yet be a way for Stephen to get his big break?ONE OF BRITAIN'S MOST ACCLAIMED WRITERS'One of the most astute chroniclers of England as it is now'FINANCIAL TIMES'An uncanny ability to make us laugh out loud, but also care passionately about his characters'DAILY TELEGRAPH'Nicholls writes with such tender precision about love'THE TIMES'No one else writes novels that are both relatable and revelatory in the way he does'EVENING STANDARD'Genuinely brilliant'NEW STATESMAN

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The SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER from the author of STILL LIFE'Thronging with incident and wonder' Guardian'Beautifully true . . . superb' The Times'Captivating' Observer'Beguiling . . . You can't get the voice out of your head' Daily MailThis is a book about a brother and sister.It's a book about childhood and growing up, friendships and families, triumph and tragedy and everything in between.More than anything, it's a book about love in all its forms.

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A fallen regime. A missing child. A chance at freedom.By the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, Poster Girl is a haunting adult dystopian mystery that explores the expanding role of surveillance on society - an inescapable reality that we welcome all too easily.WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT. Sonya Kantor knows this slogan - she lived by it for most of her life. For decades, everyone in the Seattle-Portland megalopolis lived under it, as well as constant surveillance in the form of the Insight, an ocular implant that tracked every word and every action, rewarding or punishing by a rigid moral code set forth by the Delegation.Then there was a revolution. The Delegation fell. Its most valuable members were locked in the Aperture, a prison on the outskirts of the city. And everyone else, now free from the Insight's monitoring, went on with their lives. Sonya, former poster girl for the Delegation, has been imprisoned for ten years when an old enemy comes to her with a deal: find a missing girl who was stolen from her parents by the old regime, and earn her freedom. The path Sonya takes to find the child will lead her through an unfamiliar, crooked post-Delegation world where she finds herself digging deeper into the past - and her family's dark secrets - than she ever wanted to.Praise for Veronica Roth 'Poster Girl cements Veronica Roth's status as a superstar' Gregg Hurwitz, #1 International bestselling author of the Orphan X series'Veronica Roth's latest outing will draw you into its broken world, and make you think more deeply of our own' Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten'Roth weaves a tale of redemption and regret that kept me riveted and guessing until the last page' Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of Wool and Across the Sand'Veronica Roth is the cure for all those humdrum 'one true saviour' narratives' Charlie Jane Anders, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, on CHOSEN ONES'Roth has pulled off a virtuoso performance' Blake Crouch, bestselling author of DARK MATTER and RECURSION on CHOSEN ONES'Roth somehow manages to make universe-building look easy' Charles Yu, bestselling author of INTERIOR CHINATOWN on CHOSEN ONES

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Discover the Sunday Times bestselling collection from the TikTok sensation and author of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous'One of the most important poets of his generation'ANDREW MCMILLAN, author of Physical'Powerful'DUA LIPA'Redefines our idea of what an elegy can do it, what it is for'ILYA KAMINSKY, author of Deaf RepublicIn this deeply intimate second poetry collection, Ocean Vuong searches for life among the aftershocks of his mother's death, embodying the paradox of sitting within grief while being determined to survive beyond it. Vivid, brave and propulsive, Vuong's poems contend with personal loss, the meaning of family, and the value of joy in a perennially fractured American spirit.The author of the critically acclaimed poetry collection Night Sky with Exit Wounds, winner of the 2016 Whiting Award, the 2017 T. S. Eliot Prize and a 2019 MacArthur fellow, Vuong writes directly to our humanity without losing sight of the current moment. Bold and prescient, and a testament to tenderness in the face of violence, Time is a Mother is a return and a forging-forth all at once.

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IF THE GOVERNMENT IS AGAINST YOU, WHO CAN YOU TRUST?'Gripping' CHARLES CUMMING 'Tight, pacy and strong on atmosphere' MICHAEL PALIN 'Completely unputdownable' SEB EMINA'Hugely accomplished' IRISH INDEPENDENTVeteran BBC reporter William Carver is in Cairo, bang in the middle of the Arab Spring. 'The only story in the world' according to his editor. But it isn't. There's another story, more significant and potentially more dangerous, and if no one else is willing to tell it, then Carver will - whatever the consequences.A Single Source tells two stories, which over a few tumultuous months come together to prove inextricably linked. There are the dramatic, world-changing events as protests spread across North Africa and the Middle East, led by a new generation of tech-savvy youngsters challenging the corrupt old order. And then there are two Eritrean brothers, desperate enough to risk everything to make their way across the continent to a better life in Europe. The world is watching, but its attention span is increasingly short. Carver knows the story is a complex one and, in the age of Facebook, Twitter and rolling news, difficult stories are getting harder to tell. If everyone is a reporter, then who do you believe? 'Draws you in from the first line and keeps you guessing until, literally, the very last' ALLAN LITTLE 'Thrilling' DAME ANN LESLIE 'The real deal' KIRSTY WARK 'Compulsive and terrifying in equal measure' KATE HAMER 'Gut-wrenching' EDWARD STOURTON'A fast-moving tale of shifting loyalties and betrayal' CRIME REVIEW'Written with skill and humanity' SHOTS MAG

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A fallen regime. A missing child. A chance at freedom.By the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, Poster Girl is a haunting adult dystopian mystery that explores the expanding role of surveillance on society - an inescapable reality that we welcome all too easily.WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT. Sonya Kantor knows this slogan - she lived by it for most of her life. For decades, everyone in the Seattle-Portland megalopolis lived under it, as well as constant surveillance in the form of the Insight, an ocular implant that tracked every word and every action, rewarding or punishing by a rigid moral code set forth by the Delegation.Then there was a revolution. The Delegation fell. Its most valuable members were locked in the Aperture, a prison on the outskirts of the city. And everyone else, now free from the Insight's monitoring, went on with their lives. Sonya, former poster girl for the Delegation, has been imprisoned for ten years when an old enemy comes to her with a deal: find a missing girl who was stolen from her parents by the old regime, and earn her freedom. The path Sonya takes to find the child will lead her through an unfamiliar, crooked post-Delegation world where she finds herself digging deeper into the past - and her family's dark secrets - than she ever wanted to.Praise for Veronica Roth 'Poster Girl cements Veronica Roth's status as a superstar' Gregg Hurwitz, #1 International bestselling author of the Orphan X series'Veronica Roth's latest outing will draw you into its broken world, and make you think more deeply of our own' Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Forgotten'Roth weaves a tale of redemption and regret that kept me riveted and guessing until the last page' Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of Wool and Across the Sand'Veronica Roth is the cure for all those humdrum 'one true saviour' narratives' Charlie Jane Anders, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of THE CITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, on CHOSEN ONES'Roth has pulled off a virtuoso performance' Blake Crouch, bestselling author of DARK MATTER and RECURSION on CHOSEN ONES'Roth somehow manages to make universe-building look easy' Charles Yu, bestselling author of INTERIOR CHINATOWN on CHOSEN ONES

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Book Two in the sparkling Lyndon Sisters duet, by the globally bestselling author of the Bridgerton series

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Ever had a bad day? Try having one on the moon...'Fascinating' Tim Peake, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ask an Astronaut______________________WELCOME TO ARTEMIS. The first city on the moon.Population 2,000. Mostly tourists.Some criminals.Jazz Bashara is one of the criminals. She lives in a poor area of Artemis and subsidises her work as a porter with smuggling contraband onto the moon. But it's not enough.So when she's offered the chance to make a lot of money she jumps at it. But though planning a crime in 1/6th gravity may be more fun, it's also a lot more dangerous.When you live on the moon, of course you have a dark side...______________________Andy Weir's new stunning science-based thriller PROJECT HAIL MARY is available now.______________________What everyone's saying about the follow-up to The Martian: 'A smart, fun, fast-paced adventure that you won't be able to put down' Ernest Cline, bestselling author of Ready Player One'What a page turner!' Milda on Goodreads, 5 stars'Fast paced, high octane and highly entertaining' Chrys on Netgalley, 5 stars'Artemis does for the moon what The Martian did for Mars' Guardian'A first rate thriller, this had me hooked from beginning to end' Robert on Netgalley, 5 stars'An absolute must read' Lauren on Goodreads, 5 stars'A clever and action-fuelled story' Culturefly'For those who loved The Martian, you won't be disappointed' Liz on Netgalley, 5 stars

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When Gabrielle Newman throws her cheating husband out, Stu cares more about the money than the break-up, getting more than his fair share from their house sale. An unexpected bequest offers Gabrielle a new start and she tries to leave the past behind, heading north with Des Monahan, the private investigator sent to find her. Meanwhile, Stu has got entangled with organized crime in Eastern Europe and is desperate to pay his gambling debts. Gabrielle needs Des's help to protect herself and her inheritance. She's very attracted to Des - but dare she trust any man again? Then Stu tracks down his ex-wife and Gabrielle discovers just what the man she once loved is capable of, as her life is threatened. Can she and Des find a way to stop Stu and his ruthless new friends?

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1916: Bella is working as a Voluntary Aid driving ambulances in England when she gets engaged to Philip, on leave from fighting in France. His family strongly disapprove of her but the two of them are happy together. Georgie, Philip's sister, is in trouble having broken her engagement and fled from her bullying family. Who can she turn to for help when she needs it most? When the worst happens, Bella must manage on her own, though there are shocks and dangers she did not foresee ahead. Thankfully, Philip's best friend Tez, injured in France, steps in to offer assistance. Can he also help Bella build a new life?

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As this dynamic biography reveals, the writer Ernest William Hornung (1866 - 1921) became a household name in the 1890s. Scion of a wealthy Yorkshire family, he was short-sighted and slight and suffered from severe asthma. Returning home in high spirits from medical treatment in Australia in 1886, he was devastated to find that the family fortunes had collapsed. Already aware that he had a brilliant knack with words, Hornung managed to support himself by his pen alone, contributing short stories to children’s magazines, newspapers, and monthly periodicals. His first published novel proved a sensational best-seller.Peter Rowland’s superb literary biography traces Hornung’s rise to fame and fortune, as the writer deftly turned his hand to comedy, romance, and drama. In the process, the book untangles the intricate literary network of Victorian London and Hornung’s relationships with some of its leading figures, including his brother-in-law Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s, and their collaborative ventures.

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From the author of STILL LIFE, TIN MAN and WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT.'Will stand the test of time' Irish Examiner'Beautiful prose that ebbs and flows' Independent'A Year of Marvellous Ways is like Dylan Thomas given a sexy rewrite by Angela Carter'Patrick GaleThis is a story about Marvellous Ways, an eighty-nine-year-old woman who lives alone in a remote Cornish creek, spending her days sitting by the river, peering through a telescope. And it's about Francis Drake, a young soldier who washes up in her creek, shattered by war and broken-hearted. It's about the magic in everyday life and the lure of the sea, the healing powers of storytelling and sloe gin, love and death, and how we carry on when grief comes snapping at our heels.

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A carefully rendered portrait of a brilliant but troubled daughter of the Old South who struggled against the conventions of gender, class, family, and ultimately of sanity, yet survived to define a creative life of her own Sara Mayfield was born into Alabama’s governing elite in 1905 and grew up in a social circle that included Zelda Sayre, Sara Haardt, and Tallulah and Eugenia Bankhead. After winning a Goucher College short story contest judged by H. L. Mencken, Mayfield became friends with Mencken and his circle, then visited with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and hobnobbed with the literati while traveling in Europe after a failed marriage. Returning to Alabama during the Depression, she briefly managed the family landholdings before departing for New York City where she became involved in the theater. Inventing a plastic compound while working on theatrical sets, she applied for a patent and set her sights on a livelihood as an inventor and businesswoman. With the advent of World War II, Mayfield returned to her family home in Tuscaloosa where she expanded her experiments, freelanced as a journalist, and doggedly pursued a bizarre series of military and intelligence schemes, prompting temporary hospitalization. In 1945, she mingled with a host of cultural figures, including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth, and even a young John F. Kennedy, while reporting on the creation of the United Nations from Mexico and California. Back in Tuscaloosa after the war, however, she struggled to find her way with both work and family, becoming increasingly paranoid about perceived conspiracies arrayed against her. Finally, her mother and brother committed her to Bryce Hospital for the Insane, where she remained for the next seventeen years. Throughout her life, Mayfield kept journals, wrote fiction, and produced thousands of letters while nursing the ambition that had driven her since childhood: to write and publish books. During her confinement, Mayfield assiduously recorded her experiences and her determined efforts—sometimes delusional, always savvy—to overturn her diagnosis and return to the world as a sane, independent adult. At 59, she was released from Bryce and later obtained a decree of “having been restored to sanity,” enabling her to manage her own financial affairs and to live how and where she pleased. She went on to publish noteworthy literary biographies of the Menckens and the Fitzgeralds plus a novel based on the life of Mona Lisa, finally achieving her quest to become the author of books and her own life. In Odyssey of a Wandering Mind, noted writer Jennifer Horne draws on years of research and an intimate understanding of the vast archive Sara Mayfield left behind to sensitively render Mayfield’s struggle to move through the world as the person she was—and her ultimate success in surviving to define the terms of her story.

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The first complete biography of a little-known but fascinating figure in the history of espionage and the American Revolution A man of as many names as motives, Edward Bancroft is a singular figure in the history of Revolutionary America. Born in Massachusetts in 1745, Bancroft moved to England as a young man in the 1760s and began building a respectable résumé as both a scientist and a man of letters. In recognition of his works in natural history, Bancroft was unanimously elected to the Royal Society, and while working to secure French aid for the American Revolution, he became a close associate of such luminaries as Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane, and John Adams. Though lauded in his time as a staunch American patriot, when the British diplomatic archives were opened in the late nineteenth century, it was revealed that Bancroft led a secret life as a British agent acting against French and American interests.In this book, the first complete biography of Bancroft, historian Thomas J. Schaeper reveals the full extent of the agent's deception during the crucial years of the American Revolution. Operating under aliases, working in ciphers, and leaving coded messages in the trees of Paris's Tuileries Gardens, Bancroft filtered information from unsuspecting figures including Franklin and Deane back to his contacts in Britain, navigating a complicated web of political allegiances. Through Schaeper's keen analysis of Bancroft's correspondence and diplomatic records, this biography reveals whether Bancroft should ultimately be considered a traitor to America or a patriot to Britain.

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For the first time ever, a special enhanced edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J. R. R. Tolkien himself and with the complete text printed in two colours. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon… Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit was published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black & white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five colour plates. Tolkien’s own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions of The Hobbit for more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkien’s creative process, and many additional sketches, coloured drawings and maps – although exhibited and published elsewhere – have never appeared within the pages of The Hobbit. In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkien’s enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure ‘there and back again’.

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The fur is about to fly between a cheerful cat sitter and a grumpy hockey nerd in this hilarious and charming rom-com by the New York Times bestselling author of Meet Cute.Kitty Hart has become internet famous as the Kitty Whisperer for her expertise on all things feline, and as a result, her cat-sitting business is booming. But lately, she has a terrible feeling that maybe her life isn't quite going where it's supposed to - especially after falling face-first into her newest client. Not exactly the best first impression.Fortunately, Miles Thorn is just as bad at first impressions. Strike one: he doesn't like cats, especially Prince Francis, the haughty and mischievous Sphynx his mom left in his care. Strike two: tackling Kitty to the floor in a misguided attempt to save the pet he continually calls 'the gremlin'.As awkwardness slides into attraction and things start to turn purr-sonal, will these two complete opposites ever be able to find their furry-tail ending?

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'Alluringly gritty' TIME 'An extraordinary thriller' Lee Child #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns with the second thrilling instalment in her Gunnie Rose series . . .When Lizbeth Rose is hired onto a new crew to transport a crate into Dixie, she sees it as an easy protection gig. Dixie, the self-exiled southeast territory of the former United States, might be just about the last place she wants to visit, but the job itself is straightforward . . . until their cargo is stolen and her journey turns into a massacre.Up against a wall in Dixie, Lizbeth has to go undercover with an old friend to retrieve the crate. Forces across three territories will be racing her, for what the crate contains is something powerful enough to spark a rebellion, if she can get it back in time . . .Internationally bestselling Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse mysteries and Midnight, Texas trilogy) is at her best here, building a compelling world of this alternate history of the United States, where magic is an acknowledged but despised power.

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This book draws on the assumption of certain essential continuities between Romanticism and realism, both in the way realist authors imagine their relation to reality and in the way they stage their own authorial images, examining the role of the sympathetic imagination.

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'Funny, sweet and relatable, this is a real gem of a read' HeatSome old love letters. A lonely teenager. A new beginning . . .Asta Fung is sixteen and sulky. Her parents have moved the whole family to take over the Yau Sum takeaway in another town so Grandpa Charlie can be closer to the big hospital. She's had to give up her dog, her friends, her familiar teenage life. All too soon, she has to give up Grandpa Charlie too. What was the point?When the builder's son, Josh, hands her a bundle of love letters he found under the floorboards, Asta realises they were hidden there by Grandpa Charlie as a young man. Desperate to keep the memory of her grandfather alive, she determines to track down the mysterious Ela Hennessy who wrote them, but as the new girl in town, Asta will have to do it on her own.Or so she thinks . . .FROM THE AUTHOR OF HAPPY FAMILIES: WINNER OF THE RICHARD & JUDY 'SEARCH FOR A BESTSELLER'PRAISE FOR HAPPY FAMILIES:'A rare find' Richard Madeley'Fabulously witty and warm' Milly Johnson'You'll want to devour this in seconds' Heat'A take-away success of a novel' My Weekly'Funny, sparky and heart-warming' Sun'Heartening and down-to-earth' Culturefly

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'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine_____________________________________________TROUBLE IS BREWING FOR THIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDSGenerous-hearted Benny Hogan and the elfin Eve Malone have been best friends for years, growing up in sleepy Knockglen. Their one thought is to get to Dublin, to university and to freedom...On their first day at University College, the inseparable pair are thrown together with fellow students: beautiful but selfish Nan Mahon and the handsome Jack Foley. But trouble is brewing for Benny and Eve's new circle of friends and, before long, they find passion, tragedy - and the independence they yearned for._____________________________________________'I absolutely adore Circle of Friends - my 'fave Maeve' - and I have returned to read it time and time again' LORRAINE KELLY'If any author can help you survive lockdown, it's Binchy... Sheer bliss from every page' VAL HENNESSEY, IRISH DAILY MAIL'I find myself yearning for the rain-soaked watercolour writing of Maeve Binchy [...] Circle of Friends is a good place to start' JENNY COLGAN, GUARDIAN Best Comfort Reads'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' SUNDAY TIMES'Full of warmth and pure delight' WOMAN & HOME'A beloved classic . . . This nostalgic, coming-of-age tale is always worth another read' IMAGE READS, 5 Brilliant Novels to Devour Again

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The highly anticipated, unforgettable new story from the internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning author of WONDER.'Thrillingly told . . . Palacio is a fantastic writer' The Times'Perfection . . . A beautiful, funny, heart-twisting wonder of a book . . . A brilliant story of love and courage' Wall Street JournalWhen Silas Bird wakes in the dead of night, he watches powerlessly as three strangers take his father away. Silas is left shaken, scared and alone, except for the presence of his companion, Mittenwool . . . who happens to be a ghost.But then a mysterious pony shows up at his door, and Silas knows what he has to do.So begins a perilous journey to find his father - a journey that will connect him with his past, his future, and the unknowable world around him.PONY is a breathtaking and powerful read, perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo and Hannah Gold and destined to become a future classic.

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The Rivered Earth contains four libretti written by Vikram Seth to be set to music by Alec Roth - together with an account of the pleasures and pains of working with a composer.Entitled 'Songs in Time of War', 'Shared Ground', 'The Traveller' and 'Seven Elements', they take us all over the world - from Chinese and Indian poetry to the beauty and quietness of the Salisbury house where the poet George Herbert lived and died.Spanning centuries of creativity and humanity, these poems pulse with life, energy and inspired brilliance.They are accompanied by four pieces of calligraphy by the author.

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From the author of The Wicked Cometh comes a dark, page-turning tale of passion and romance in the darkest of places. . .'Carlin can tell a good story' Observer'A book of great beauty and lyricism' On MagazineAfter the death of his mother, young Alwin of Whittaker leaves the only home he has ever known to seek answers about his unknown father through a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.On the journey, Alwin falls in with a band of violent and marauding soldiers and is witness to their terrible crimes. When Alwin later joins up with a group of pilgrims, he must hide his identity . . . but he is not the only one with secrets to keep. Rosamund, a young woman travelling the same path, has much to conceal too.The journey to discovering who he really is will lead Alwin into great danger and great passion. These are dark times, and through them, Alwin must shine a light.Will the revelations to come destroy everything that came before?'Effortlessly transports the reader to fourteenth-century rural Derbyshire and the plight of young Alwin. With the deft touch of a master storyteller, Laura Carlin recreates the dangerous world Alwin must navigate as they flee the comforts of home for an entirely new life' Sophie Ward, author of Love and other Thought ExperimentsREADERS' PRAISE FOR REQUIEM FOR A KNAVE:'Hugely engaging''A gem of an historical novel with beautiful atmospheric writing''I loved Laura's first book and this is another fun, dark historical novel full of twists and turns. Atmospheric and passionate''Laura Carlin charmed and bewitched me with her Victorian era debut The Wicked Cometh and here again I am willingly sucked into the dark medieval world of pilgrims, lords and villains''Beautifully written with strongly portrayed characters, A very good read''The author gives us fully rounded, engaging characters, a compelling story and beautiful, lyrical prose. I loved this even more than The Wicked Cometh''A lyrical and engaging novel, with beautiful writing and a gripping storyline'

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'All the stuff in the papers was lies. We were never The Ice Cream Girls'Serena and Poppy were teenagers when they were branded as the Ice Cream Girls. When they were accused of murder, one of them was sent to prison while the other was set free.Now, 20 years later, one of them is doing all she can to clear her name and the other is frantically trying to keep her secrets. Which Ice Cream Girl is desperate enough to kill to get what she wants?A gripping, emotional thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author Dorothy Koomson

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For the first time ever, a beautiful slipcased edition of the enchanting prelude to The Lord of the Rings, illustrated throughout with over 50 sketches, drawings, paintings and maps by J.R.R. Tolkien himself, with the complete text printed in two colours and with many bonus features unique to this edition. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who enjoys a comfortable, unambitious life, rarely travelling further than the pantry of his hobbit-hole in Bag End. But his contentment is disturbed when the wizard, Gandalf, and a company of thirteen dwarves arrive on his doorstep one day to whisk him away on an unexpected journey ‘there and back again’. They have a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon… Written for J.R.R. Tolkien’s own children, The Hobbit was published on 21 September 1937. With a beautiful cover design, a handful of black & white drawings and two maps by the author himself, the book became an instant success and was reprinted shortly afterwards with five colour plates. Tolkien’s own selection of finished paintings and drawings have become inseparable from his text, adorning editions of The Hobbit for more than 85 years. But the published art has afforded only a glimpse of Tolkien’s creative process, and many additional sketches, coloured drawings and maps – although exhibited and published elsewhere – have never appeared within the pages of The Hobbit. In this unique enhanced edition of Tolkien’s enchanting classic tale, the full panoply of his art is reproduced for the first time, presenting more than 50 illustrations to accompany Bilbo Baggins on his adventure ‘there and back again’. Unique to this edition are two poster-size, fold-out maps revealing all the detail of Thror’s Map and Wilderland, an illustrated 88-page booklet, and a printed art card reproducing Tolkien’s original dustjacket painting. It is additionally quarterbound in green leather, with raised ribs on the spine, stamped in three foils on black cloth boards, and housed in a custom-built clothbound slipcase. The pages are edged in gold and include a ribbon marker.

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THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR MAYA ANGELOU DISCOVER THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF MAYA ANGELOU WITH A HIGHLY PERSONAL AND DETAILED ACCOUNT OF HER CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS The Life of the Author: Maya Angelou delivers an engaging and thorough retelling of the life and work of the celebrated and accomplished writer, director, and essayist. The book offers readers an engrossing retelling of Maya Angelou's entire life, from her time as a child in the segregated town of Stamps, Arkansas, to her death in 2014 in Winston-Salem. Written with an emphasis on accessibility, the author avoids critical theory and focuses on Maya Angelou's growth as a person and writer as well as the ways in which her life influenced her work. This new biography tells the story of a young black woman who overcomes poverty and endemic structural and personal obstacles to lead an accomplished life. Readers will also enjoy: A thorough retelling of the time Maya Angelou spent in Africa and how it shaped her views and work An exploration of the screenplays written by Maya Angelou Discussions of Maya Angelou's early life as a dancer, singer, and writer Accounts of Maya Angelou's writing and production of television shows A fulsome treatment of Maya Angelou's work, including her poems, autobiographies, films, music, and theatre Perfect for undergraduate students in Contemporary Literature courses as well as general readers who love Maya Angelou and her work, The Life of the Author: Maya Angelou will also earn a place in the libraries of biography and literature enthusiasts who seek to improve their understanding of the life and story of Maya Angelou with a highly personal and accessible new book.

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From the author of The Wicked Cometh comes a dark, page-turning tale of passion and romance in the darkest of places. . . 'Carlin can tell a good story' Observer 'A book of great beauty and lyricism' On MagazineAfter the death of his mother, young Alwin of Whittaker leaves the only home he has ever known to seek answers about his unknown father through a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. On the journey, Alwin falls in with a band of violent and marauding soldiers and is witness to their terrible crimes. When Alwin later joins up with a group of pilgrims, he must hide his identity . . . but he is not the only one with secrets to keep. Rosamund, a young woman travelling the same path, has much to conceal too. The journey to discovering who he really is will lead Alwin into great danger and great passion. These are dark times, and through them, Alwin must shine a light. Will the revelations to come destroy everything that came before?'Effortlessly transports the reader to fourteenth-century rural Derbyshire and the plight of young Alwin. With the deft touch of a master storyteller, Laura Carlin recreates the dangerous world Alwin must navigate as they flee the comforts of home for an entirely new life' Sophie Ward, author of Love and other Thought ExperimentsREADERS' PRAISE FOR REQUIEM FOR A KNAVE:'Hugely engaging''A gem of an historical novel with beautiful atmospheric writing''I loved Laura's first book and this is another fun, dark historical novel full of twists and turns. Atmospheric and passionate''Laura Carlin charmed and bewitched me with her Victorian era debut The Wicked Cometh and here again I am willingly sucked into the dark medieval world of pilgrims, lords and villains''Beautifully written with strongly portrayed characters, A very good read''The author gives us fully rounded, engaging characters, a compelling story and beautiful, lyrical prose. I loved this even more than The Wicked Cometh''A lyrical and engaging novel, with beautiful writing and a gripping storyline'

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Egypt, 1908. George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, used to the grand opulence of the Cunard cruise line, are at first disappointed with the Marmora, a small, unimpressive ship owned by the P&O shipping line. Employed by P&O to be the ship's detectives, Dillman and Masefield expect to encounter the usual assortment of petty thieves and confidence tricksters. But this cruise is certain to be unique as the Duke and Duchess of Fife and their children are aboard and the detectives will provide security for the royals. And when a dead body turns up, the voyage proves to be one to remember. Keeping the demise of the poor victim a secret on such a small ship is tough enough but suspects abound, meaning Dillman and Masefield have their work cut out for them. Previously published under the name Conrad Allen, the Ocean Liner series casts off for a new generation of readers.

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Bombay, 1909. Genevieve Masefield and George Dillman make a living as detectives aboard the early twentieth century's most extravagant ocean liners. From the members of first class in all their finery, to the card cheats and pickpockets plying their trade, they've experienced more than their share of humanity. For their latest voyage, the Salsette boasts a pair of travellers who feign ignorance of each other but there is clearly no love lost between them. Then there's an elderly man whose powers of deduction may be based on more earthly techniques than the mystical energy he claims to possess. And there's a young woman and her mother who find their way into the middle of every bit of trouble aboard. The lives of this group of travellers are set to intersect in ways none of them could have foreseen on dry land - including in a murder. Previously published under the name Conrad Allen, the Ocean Liner series casts off for a new generation of readers.

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Southampton, 1910. When the Oceanic sets sail its ultimate destination is New York. But it must make one very important stop first: at Cherbourg, to pick up internationally renowned financier and art collector J. P. Morgan, fresh from a continental buying spree. George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, the ship's detectives, are nervous about the presence of such an important passenger, not to mention his valuable cargo. After all, it is rare for a transatlantic voyage to pass without incident for the two sleuths. The everyday difficulties of managing passengers including a charming rake intent on causing mischief and a controversial painter travelling with his bohemian wife and his alluring French model, are brought to a pitch when a major art theft takes place and a throat is cut. Dillman and Masefield must draw upon all their experience to find the killer before it is too late. Previously published under the name Conrad Allen, the Ocean Liner series is making waves with a new generation of readers.

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The complete omnibus of the ten-part novella serialisation AERA: The Return of the Ancient Gods, from the internationally bestselling author of The Dwarves. The gods are back, the world is in uproar - and only one man has the strength to seek the truth.I've never believed in any kind of god.But that's a problem when they start manifesting.It was a problem for everyone else too, especially those whose gods did not appear. We are divided, a fractured globe, because you'd start to question everything you'd believed, wouldn't you?Or would you fight?Because I don't think these really are the gods we've worshipped. Zeus, The Mórrígan, Thor - they can go to hell. We're in the middle of an invasion, and I'm the only one who believes in that reality.My name is Malleus Bourreau. I'm an atheist and an investigator - and I will find the answers.

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