Search results for ""crown""
Unicorn Publishing Group James the Third
In 1936, the Duke of York unexpectedly became King George VI, and his ten-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth, became heir presumptive. However, she was never heir apparent, because a male sibling would automatically assume her place in the line of succession. So what would have happened upon the late arrival of a baby brother for the grown-up Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret? After King George VI’s death in 1952, the United Kingdom’s next sovereign would have been a very young boy, and one in need of a regent. James the Third tells that boy’s story. How does his reign unfold? He is clever, resourceful and unconventional − but can he alter the course of history, given the limited role of a constitutional monarch? Does he find true love, or must he accept second best? And, with the births of his heirs, what does the House of Windsor look like now? Set against rapidly changing times, there is a parallel tale of two working class sisters from the East End of London. As fans of the royal family, they are closer to the crown than they could ever imagine. Seamlessly blending the twists and turns of fiction with historical fact, this book is sure to please anyone who enjoys a glimpse of life behind palace walls.
£7.99
Biteback Publishing The King Who Had To Go: Edward VIII, Mrs. Simpson and the Hidden Politics of the Abdication Crisis
How does the machinery of government respond when a King steps out of line? The relationship between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson created a constitutional crisis that has fascinated the public for decades. Unwilling to accept the idea of the twice-married American as future Queen of England, the government was determined to pressure the King into giving up Mrs Simpson and, when that failed, into giving up his crown. The King's phone lines were tapped by his own government, dubious police reports poisoned Mrs Simpson's reputation, and threats to sabotage her divorce were deployed to edge the King towards abdication. The hopeless attempts of the King's allies, particularly Winston Churchill, to keep him on the throne were dismissed as sinister conspiracy, whilst the King wrecked his own chances with wildly unrealistic goals and ill-thought-out schemes that served only to frame him as erratic and unreliable as a monarch. As each side was overwhelmed by desperation and distrust, Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin fought to steer events to a smooth conclusion. In this fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the royal abdication crisis of 1936, Adrian Phillips reveals the previously untold story of the hidden political machinations and insidious battles in Westminster and Whitehall that settled the fate of the King and Mrs Simpson.
£12.99
University of Wales Press The Welsh Gentry, 1536-1640: Images of Status, Honour and Authority
This stimulating and comprehensive study of the period between the establishment of the new Tudor administrative framework and the outbreak of the Civil War offers a well-grounded and fascinating survey of the attitudes, opinions and responses of the gentry to the political and religious circumstances in which they lived. The book discusses the ways in which the gentry, thrust into positions of prominence in the context of the Tudor state, interpreted that status and authority they enjoyed and the power entrusted to them. It surveys the influence which the concept of the ‘island empire’ had on attitudes to public roles and duties, and traces the extent to which loyalties to the Crown and to kindred groupings affected the image projected by the gentry in their political, religious and domestic roles. The book is given an added dimension by a consideration of gentry attitudes in Wales in the context of the humanist ideas current in Europe. This is a mature study based on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, material from which has been successfully integrated into the text. It offers an insight into the perceptions and assumptions of an élite culture at a crucial time in that culture’s development.
£19.99
Gritstone Publishing Peak District Pubs: A Pint-Sized Social History
The Peak District's pub heritage is as rich and tasty as the beer that foams from the pumps, and via its inns, taverns and hotels we can trace centuries of social history in one of the most beautiful parts of Britain. This is the story of the packhorse men and lead miners, shepherds and navvies, and the evolution of the traditional Peak District pub from humble alehouse to the present day. We learn about haunted pubs, themed pubs, estate pubs and temperance pubs, as well as one or two pubs which are not what they seem at all. There's an explanation of pub names and signs, revealing loyalties to crown, church and squire; an introduction to a few pub heroes and villains, rituals and merry-making; plus a slightly baffled look at some odd pub pastimes involving toes, chickens and a hole in a wall. Along the way we raise a glass to some of the many local pubs that have been consigned to the great brewery wagon in the sky, and see how others are adapting to the challenges of today - from changing social patterns and lifestyles through to a global pandemic - with small-scale brewing and pub shops, micropubs and community ownership.
£12.09
GMC Publications Eco Craft Book
Crafting is so much fun but did you know that it can sometimes create excess waste that is not good for our planet? For this imaginative collection of projects, most of what you need is already in your recycling box, but for other supplies there is a handy guide on what gets a planet-friendly thumbs up and what to avoid. Throughout the book, you'll find facts, tips and handy hints on how to be a crafty eco-warrior. There are also special information sections dotted throughout covering tips and ideas for climate activism and an overview of the main climate issues we face. Projects include: bear plant pots, shirt scrunchies, beeswax lunch bags, DIY paint and egg carton crown. AUTHORS: Laura Minter and Tia Williams are two creative mums based in Sussex, UK. They started Little Button Diaries, their award-winning crafting and baking blog in 2013 to show that having children doesn't mean you have to stop doing the things you love. Laura and Tia also write craft tutorials for craft superstore Hobbycraft and they have written many books for GMC Publications, including The Superhero Craft Book, The Dinosaur Craft Book, The Mermaid Craft Book, The Horrible Craft Book and The Big Book of Dressing Up. 400 photographs
£11.69
Little, Brown & Company In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the Future of the GOP
With Trump's four years in the White House now in the rearview, an unprecedented period in American political history is concluded. The transition, however, has set off a mad scramble for control of a Republican Party that for so long has reflected the domineering image of one man-and might even still in the years ahead. Who emerges from the warring factions and familial rivalries that proliferated and quietly festered during Trump's presidency could determine the fate of the GOP for a generation, and the first hint of what's to come begins with the 2024 campaign to crown the first Republican nominee, and national party leader, of the post-Trump era.With Trump's exit, a singular era in American political history has ended-and the Republican Party, whose identity had for so long been centered around one man, will be forced to redefine itself for the future.Featuring profiles of everyone from Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, and Nikki Haley to Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and those in the Trump family, IN TRUMP'S SHADOW tells the story of a GOP under-and after-the forty-fifth president, and all of those jousting for influence over the party's direction in the wake of Donald Trump.
£25.00
Hodder & Stoughton All The Queen's Corgis: Corgis, dorgis and gundogs: The story of Elizabeth II and her most faithful companions
'It is actually a serious book, but it had me laughing out loud several times on the Tube. All mothers should receive one for Christmas.' Marcus Berkmann, SpectatorEveryone who loves The Crown on Netflix will enjoy this celebration of Queen Elizabeth II and her beloved canine friends.The Queen has had corgis by her side ever since she was seven years old and persuaded her father to buy one for the family. She also has several dorgis (a cross resulting from an accidental liaison between one of the Queen's corgis and Princess Margaret's dachshund) and is a passionate breeder of gundogs.The dogs are the Queen's constant companions, travelling with her by air, road and rail, from one royal residence to another. She walks and feeds them herself, chooses names for them, and at the end of their days, buries them with personalised plaques to commemorate each individual. Penny Junor reveals the scraps and scrapes that the dogs have been involved in - the hierarchy amongst them, the corgis' feisty attitude to footmen and guests, gardeners and innocent passersby. This fascinating and affectionate look at the Queen and her most faithful companions is a book for dog lovers everywhere about what really makes our much-loved and longest reigning monarch truly light up.
£15.29
Amberley Publishing Edward II the Man: A Doomed Inheritance
Edward II is one of the most controversial kings of English history. On numerous occasions he brought England to the brink of civil war. Author Stephen Spinks argues that Edward and the later murdered Piers Gaveston were lovers, not merely ‘brothers-in-arms’. Influenced by successive royal favourites and with a desire for personal vengeance, his rule became highly polarised and unstable. His own wife took a lover and invaded his kingdom resulting in his forced abdication; the first in British history. Edward’s prevailing legacy remains the warning that all kings can fall from power. And yet … war, debt and baronial oppression before 1307 ensured that Edward II inherited a toxic legacy that any successor would have found almost impossible to wrestle with. Stephen Spinks explores that legacy using contemporary and later sources. By focusing on Edward’s early years as much as on his reign, and exploring the conflicting influences of those around him, Stephen shows the human side of this tale against a backdrop of political intrigues and betrayals. He peels back the layers to reveal the man who wore the crown. Edward’s belief in his unchallengable right to rule, increasingly at odds with those at his court, and his undeniable thirst for revenge, creates a fourteenth-century tragedy on a grand scale.
£9.99
Amberley Publishing Eleanor of Castile: The Shadow Queen
Eleanor of Castile, the remarkable woman behind England’s greatest medieval king, Edward I, has been effectively airbrushed from history; yet she had one of the most fascinating lives of any of England’s queens. Her childhood was spent in the centre of the Spanish reconquest and was dominated by her military hero of a father (St Ferdinand) and her prodigiously clever brother (King Alfonso X the Learned). Married at the age of twelve and a mother at thirteen, she gave birth to at least sixteen children, most of whom died young. She was a prisoner for a year amid a civil war in which her husband’s life was in acute danger. Devoted to Edward, she accompanied him everywhere. All in all, she was to live for extended periods in five different countries. Eleanor was a highly dynamic, forceful personality who acted as part of Edward’s innermost circle of advisers, and successfully accumulated a vast property empire for the English Crown. In cultural terms her influence in architecture and design – and even gardening – can be discerned to this day, while her idealised image still speaks to us from Edward’s beautiful memorials to her, the Eleanor crosses. This book reveals her untold story.
£14.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Matchlocks to Flintlocks: Warfare in Europe and Beyond, 1500-1700
In the early modern world three dominant cultures of war were shaped by a synergy of their internal and external interactions. One was Latin Christian western Europe. Another was Ottoman Islam. The third, no less vital for so often being overlooked, was eastcentral Europe: Poland/Lithuania, Livonia, Russia, the freebooting Cossacks, a volatile mix of variations on a general Christian theme. William Urbans fascinating narrative is an integrated account of early modern war at the sharp end: of campaigns and battles, soldiers and generals. Temporally it extends from the French invasion of Italy in 1494 to Austrias Balkan victories culminating in the 1718 Treaty of Peterwardein. Geographically it covers ground from the Low Countries to the depths of the Ukraine. That narrative in turn focuses Urbans major analytical points: the replacement of crowd armies by professionals, and the professionals integration into crown armies: government-supervised, bureaucratised institutions. The key to this process was the mercenary. Originally recruited because the obligations of feudal levies were too limited, mercenary forces evolved operationally into skilled users of an increasingly complex gunpowder technology in ever more complex tactical situations. By the end of the seventeenth century, soldiers were identifying with the states and the rulers they served.
£14.99
Amberley Publishing The Making of England: From Rome to Reformation
The Making of England places the history of early England firmly within the European sphere of influence. It draws upon the latest multi-disciplinary research and debates from science, archaeology, literature and documentary evidence, with an eye on contemporary concerns and perceptions of English history. Toby Purser demonstrates the impact of the continuous continental interaction across the period c. 410 to 1534 in the shaping of England, from the early pan-Germanic to the Scandinavian, Norman-French, Angevin and Gascon. Crucially, there was no inevitability in the emergence of a single, unified state in the Anglo-Saxon period and after 1066 the English state was bound to continental possessions by trade or war. Baronial rebellion, not popular demand, led to the devolution of powers from the Crown via Magna Carta and parliament, but this was not part of a manifest destiny ‒ of ‘exceptional’ English freedom. Literacy and learning was exclusively Christian, to the detriment of pagan cultures and achievements, and thus the first historians wrote only from a singular perspective, that of the Christian supremacy. English culture was subsumed into the new Norman hegemony, along with attempts to rewrite or obliterate Welsh, Scottish and Irish history. This book will make you think again about what it means to be English.
£20.69
Cornerstone Kilo Class: a compelling and captivatingly tense action thriller – real edge-of-your-seat stuff!
From the pen of international bestseller and multi-million copy selling author Patrick Robinson comes a terrifyingly engrossing and mesmerising action thriller. If you like Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler and Frederick Forsyth, you will love this!'Fast, sharply-focussed, engine-driven action.' - Express'Robinson is one of the crown princes of the beach-read thriller' - Stephen Coonts'A must read for any fan of this genre' -- ***** Reader review'Great, exciting on the edge reading'-- ***** Reader review'Simply brilliant'-- ***** Reader review'Compulsive reading from start to finish'-- ***** Reader review***************************************************************SILENT. UNDETECTABLE. READY TO LAUNCH.The Russian-built Kilo-Class submarine is the only true enemy of the American Carrier Battle Groups -- and it is up for sale.Having ordered ten, China primes its first three, ready to take control of the Taiwan Strait.Desperate to safeguard its ally on China's doorstep and stop the arrival of the Kilo-Class subs, America launches itself into a secret war, led by the President's National Security Advisor, Admiral Arnold Morgan.A battle over peace, power and money ensues, played out in the icy depths of the world's oceans and the hinterland of Russia's rivers and lakes.It soon becomes clear that there can only be one victor ...
£9.99
Transworld Publishers Ltd Coming Up for Air: A remarkable true story richly reimagined
THREE EXTRAORDINARY LIVES INTERTWINE ACROSS OCEANS AND TIME'Bold in its weaving of three ingeniously linked storylines and rich in sensuous detail and vivid characterisation. I can't wait for her next.' PATRICK GALE'A stunning, stirring story told with exceptional skill and rare beauty' TERRI WHITE 'Glittering. A triumph.' RACHEL JOYCE **LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA GOLD CROWN 2020**On the banks of the River Seine in 1899, a young woman takes her final breath before plunging into the icy water. Although she does not know it, her decision will set in motion an astonishing chain of events. It will lead to 1950s Norway, where a grieving toy-maker is on the cusp of a transformative invention, all the way to present-day Canada where a journalist, battling a terrible disease, risks everything for one last chance to live. Taking inspiration from a remarkable true story, Coming Up for Air is a bold, richly imagined novel about the transcendent power of storytelling and the immeasurable impact of every human life.MORE PRAISE FOR COMING UP FOR AIR:'Extraordinary.' FRANCIS SPUFFORD'Vivid, evocative, moving. I loved it' CLAIRE FULLER'Spellbinding and beautifully written.' CARYS BRAY'Dazzling . . . I savoured every word of its beautiful prose' PRIMA
£8.99
Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd Klimt, Schiele, Moser, Kokoschka: Vienna 1900
Vienna, 1900: the heart of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire and a city populated with people from across the Imperial territories - stretching from central Europe to the Crown lands that reached far into South-eastern Europe. This was a dynamic capital brimming with economic and cultural prosperity; a centre that was fertile ground for the revolutionary artistic practices that emerged at the end of the 19th century and the backdrop to this fascinating new study.Gustav Klimt's election as the first President of the Secession Artists' Association in 1897 formalised the rejection of conservatism and heralded a celebration of the innovative and the modern. Alongside Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka have been championed as the key protagonists in the painting revolution that re-defined the traditional genres of portrait, landscape and allegory. However, this ignores the significant contribution made by Koloman Moser whose painting is considered alongside that of Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka for the first time in this book.Highlighting a decisive moment in the birth of modernity and offering previously unpublished insight into the relationship of Klimt, Schiele, Moser and Kokoschka from 1890 to 1918, this book, with its wealth of stunning images, makes an invaluable contribution to Secessionist scholarship and as such is essential reading for anyone wishing to seek a fresh perspective on a fascinating period in the history of art.
£49.99
Sourcebooks, Inc Kingsbane
Book two in the New York Times bestselling series called "Beautiful, brutal, heart-stopping, and epic" (Laini Taylor)! Two queens, separated by thousands of years, connected by secrets and lies, must continue their fight amid deadly plots and unthinkable betrayals that will test their strength-and their hearts.Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien-but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist.Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity's long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption-fear of becoming another Rielle-keeps Eliana's power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted-by embracing her mother's power, or rejecting it forever.Praise for Furyborn:A BuzzFeed Most Anticipated Title of Spring 2018A Goodreads Most Anticipated Title of Spring 2018A Bustle Most Anticipated Title of Spring 2018"A must-read." -Refinery29"A series to watch." -Paste magazine"Visionary." -Bustle magazine"One of the biggest new YA fantasies." -Entertainment Weekly"Empowering." -BuzzFeed
£9.99
The History Press Ltd Lady Katherine Grey: A Dynastic Tragedy
'I have always abhorred to draw in question the title of the crown, so many disputes have been already touching it in the mouths of men . . . so long as I live, I shall be queen of England; when I am dead, they shall succeed that has most right.’ – ELIZABETH IWhen Elizabeth I died in 1603, James VI of Scotland – son of the executed Mary, Queen of Scots – succeeded her as king of England. According to the last will and testament of Henry VIII, however, there was another candidate with ‘most right’ to succeed Elizabeth: Edward Seymour, son of Lady Katherine Grey.During the early years of Elizabeth’s reign, Katherine – sister of the ill-fated Jane – was regarded by many at court as heir presumptive. However, Katherine incurred Elizabeth’s lasting displeasure when she secretly married Edward Seymour, earl of Hertford, and bore him two sons. The couple were first imprisoned in the Tower of London, then later separately placed under house arrest, never to see one another again. A commission declared their marriage unlawful and their sons illegitimate. Heartbroken, Katherine died at the age of 27.Katherine was not simply a tragic figure, but a leading candidate to succeed Elizabeth and thus a figure of national and international significance. In Lady Katherine Grey, her dynastic importance is brought to the forefront.
£18.00
Little, Brown Book Group The Bloody Tower
Daisy discovers fresh blood in a tower infamous through history for dark deeds...Now the mother of two-month-old twins, Daisy decides to resume her journalistic career by writing a piece for a new magazine on the Tower of London. On her visit she's not only given a tour of the Crown Jewels, she's also introduced to the Raven Master and the Yeoman Warders - and most importantly, she's been invited to attend the Ceremony of the Keys ritual, which involves spending the night in the haunted Bloody Tower.Having survived the night, Daisy can't wait to get away the next morning and in her eagerness to leave, trips over the body of a yeoman warder. Daisy instantly realises that this is murder most foul on account of the halberd sticking out of his back. And with her husband assigned to investigate the case, Daisy one again finds herself enmeshed in a case of an unexplained murder at the Tower...Praise for the Daisy Dalrymple series:'Cunning... appropriate historical detail and witty dialogue are the finishing touches on this engaging 1920s period piece.' Publishers Weekly'As always, Dunn evokes the life and times of 1920s England while providing a plot that is a cut above the average British cosy. This will delight readers who love country-house mysteries.' Booklist'For fans of Dorothy L. Sayers' novels' Library Journal
£9.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Awakened Mage: Kingmaker, Kingbreaker: Book 2
'A writer who seems to set the rule for the genre' - Waterstones Books Quarterly'Miller is clearly a very talented writer: her characterisation is a masterclass in nuance and sensitivity, and she has a visceral way with action' - SFXPrince Gar now has the magic for weatherworking and is able to keep his enemies at bay, while Asher has become the most powerful Olken in the history of Lur. Peace and prosperity seem assured for the two of them. But Morg, the evil sorcerer mage, remains trapped inside a shattered body. He knows his time is running out and that desperate measures are called for.Unwittingly, Gar and Asher become caught up in a dangerous deception which threatens to tear apart the kingdom and destroy the fragile balance between Olken and Doranen.And no one, not even Dathne and her secret Circle, is prepared for the consequences when the Innocent Mage is revealed at last . . .Following The Innocent Mage, this is the second and concluding volume in the bestselling Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series - a wildly fast-paced fantasy brimming with action and adventure.Books by Karen Miller:Kingmaker, Kingbreaker SeriesThe Innocent MageThe Awakened MageA Blight of MagesGodspeakerEmpress of MijakThe Riven KingdomThe Hammer of GodFisherman's ChildrenThe Prodigal MageThe Reluctant MageTarnished CrownThe Falcon ThronePrince of Glass
£10.99
Emerald Publishing Limited Research in Economic History
In this 37th volume of Research in Economic History, editors Christopher Hanes and Susan Wolcott assemble a group of lead experts to showcase new historical data, analyses of historical questions, and an investigation of historians’ networks. The volume covers a wide range of ideas, beginning with an examination of the sharp decline in school attendance among white children in the Southern US after the Civil War, followed by a study on the fiscal administration of an experimental parliamentary subsidy on English knight’s fees and income from 1431. A third paper assembles new county-level, household-level, and individual-level data, including new complete-count IPUMS microdata databases of the 1830-1880 censuses, to evaluate different theories for the nineteenth-century American fertility decline. The volume then pivots to deal with the development of banking in the Crown of Aragon from the end of the 13th century through the establishment of money changers. Finally, the volume summarizes in detail the content of Pieter Stadnitski’s revolutionary 1787 report An Explanatory Message Concerning the Funds, analyzing its arguments with the context of Dutch archival materials including deeds, newspaper reports, and letters, as well as congressional records from American sources. This new volume presents fascinating new areas of enquiry and analysis for all scholars in the field of economic history, including economists, historians and demographers.
£78.99
Vintage Publishing Six Minutes in May: How Churchill Unexpectedly Became Prime Minister
A fascinating and dramatic investigation into the events that led to Winston Churchill becoming Prime Minister against the odds.‘A gripping story of Churchill’s unlikely rise to power’ Observer London, May 1940. Britain is under threat of invasion and Neville Chamberlain’s government is about to fall. It is hard for us to imagine the Second World War without Winston Churchill taking the helm, but in Six Minutes in May Nicholas Shakespeare shows how easily events could have gone in a different direction. It took just six minutes for MPs to cast the votes that brought down Chamberlain. Shakespeare moves from Britain’s disastrous battle in Norway, for which many blamed Churchill, on to the dramatic developments in Westminster that led to Churchill becoming Prime Minister. Uncovering fascinating new research and delving into the key players’ backgrounds, Shakespeare gives us a new perspective on this critical moment in our history.‘Totally captivating. It will stand as the best account of those extraordinary few days for very many years’ Andrew Roberts ‘Superbly written… Shakespeare has a novelist’s flair for depicting the characters and motives of men’ The Times ‘Utterly wonderful… It reads like a thriller’ Peter Frankopan SHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA NON-FICTION CROWN 2018*** Selected as a 2017 Book of the Year in the Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Observer and The Economist ***
£12.99
The Mercier Press Ltd Cork Burning
‘A tale of arson, loot and murder’ was how one source described the events that would befall Cork city on the night of 11–12 December 1920. In a scene of almost unprecedented destruction, members of the British forces bent on revenge for the ambushes at Kilmichael and Dillon’s Cross set fire to both the commercial and the civic heart of the city. One side of Patrick Street and the area surrounding it were razed to the ground, while City Hall and the neighbouring Carnegie Library were gutted as Auxiliaries and Black and Tans shot at Cork’s firemen and cut their hoses in an effort to ensure maximum damage. Then, to add insult to injury, as the smoke cleared the British government tried to blame Cork’s own citizens for the devastation. Using eyewitness accounts and contemporary sources, and illustrated with exceptional images from the period, Cork Burning tells the story of the events before, during and after that infamous night. It covers such topics as Cork City before December 1920, the Black and Tans, Auxiliaries and K Company, Republican Cork, a timeline of events before the burning of Cork City, early fires and arson by crown forces in Cork, the Kilmichael Ambush, the Dillon’s Cross Ambush, premises destroyed, official investigations into the causes, compensation and rebuilding.
£16.99
Vintage Publishing Henrietta Maria: Conspirator, Warrior, and Phoenix Queen – the true story of Charles I’s wife
A myth-busting biography of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, which retells the dramatic story of the civil war from her perspectiveA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZEHenrietta Maria, Charles I's queen, is the most reviled consort in British history. Condemned as the 'Popish brat of France' and a 'notorious whore', she remains in popular memory the woman who turned the king Catholic - so causing a civil war - and a cruel and bigoted mother.Leanda de Lisle unpicks these myths to reveal a very different queen. We meet a new bride who enjoyed annoying her uptight husband, who was a passionate advocate for the female voice in public affairs and who, when civil war came, proved crucial to Charles's campaign. The image of the Restoration queen as an irrelevant crone is replaced with Henrietta Maria as an influential 'phoenix queen'. It is time to look again at this despised queen and judge if she is not in fact one of our most remarkable.'Brilliantly written, mesmerising, superb scholarship and totally immersive... A total game changer' KATE WILLIAMS, author of Rival Queens'This is revisionist history at its absolute best' ANDREW ROBERTS author of Churchill'Beautifully written and endlessly fascinating' ALEXANDER LARMAN author of The Crown in Crisis'Popular history of the finest kind' RONALD HUTTON author of The Witch
£12.99
Amberley Publishing Edinburgh's Literary Heritage and How it Changed the World
Edinburgh has a literary tradition like no other. In 2004, the capital became the first ever UNESCO City of Literature and its book festival is the largest public celebration of the written word on the planet. But that is merely scratching the surface. For centuries, work written, set and published in the city, or directly influenced by Edinburgh, has changed the face of the world. A Treatise of Human Nature by David Hume, The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith, The Encyclopaedia Britannica, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Peter Pan, Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter are just a few of the many books and stories that owe their inspiration to Edinburgh or were created in the city and to these could be added the city’s influential literary journals or the other incredible achievements of its authors. Walter Scott, for instance, found the lost Scottish crown jewels, invented the historical romance, helped create tartan and turned the highlands into a tourist destination. He is also credited with uniting the highlands and lowlands and kick-starting the American Civil War. Edinburgh's Literary Heritage seeks to redress that. Covering authors, books, journals, ideas, festivals, attractions and landmarks, it tells the fascinating history of Edinburgh’s astonishing literary legacy, as well as being a guide to the locations where that legacy can still be found.
£15.99
Headline Publishing Group The King Of Thieves (Last Templar Mysteries 26): A journey to medieval Paris amounts to danger
On a diplomatic mission in France, Sir Baldwin and Simon encounter more than they bargained for... Baldwin and Simon uncover a deadly assassination plot in The King of Thieves, a gripping mystery in Michael Jecks' hugely popular medieval crime series. Perfect for fans of Paul Doherty and Susanna Gregory. 'Complicated, well-populated, written with cross-cutting gusto, and accompanied by scholarly extras' - Ellery Queen Magazine1325: Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his friend Simon Puttock are in France guarding King Edward's son on his perilous journey to meet the French king, Charles IV. But they are unaware that King Edward's wife Isabella is disaffected and plotting her revenge...What first appears a simple diplomatic mission is fast becoming lethally dangerous. Meanwhile, two murders in Paris are causing alarm. Is there a connection between the killings and the shadowy 'King' of thieves? Simon and Baldwin know the future of the English crown is at risk. And in order to protect it they must put their own lives in jeopardy. What readers are saying about The King of Thieves: 'Fast pace, intricate plot, well-drawn characters and good period feel make this a must for all fans of this genre''I cannot praise Michael Jecks' writing highly enough, his books always keep me guessing right to the end''Fantastic read - five stars'
£9.99
Penguin Random House Children's UK The Wee Free Men: A Tiffany Aching Novel
Discover master story-teller Terry Pratchett’s incredible Discworld in this first book in the Tiffany Aching series . . .Tiffany Aching wants to be a witch when she grows up . . .A proper one, with a pointy hat. And flying, Tiffany has always dreamed of flying (though it's cold up there, and you have to wear really thick pants, two layers).And as the twentieth granddaughter of her Granny Aching: shepherdess extraordinaire, and protector of the land, Tiffany knows the most important thing a real witch can do is protect others with their magic. So, when the monsters of Fairyland kidnap her brother, Tiffany decides it’s up to her to defend her home, even if she’s only armed with a frying pan and her common sense.Luckily she has some very unusual help: the local Nac Mac Feegle – a.k.a the Wee Free Men – a clan of fierce, sheep-stealing, sword-wielding, six-inch-high blue men. Together they must face headless horsemen, ferocious grimhounds, terrifying dreams come true and ultimately the sinister Queen of the Elves herself . . .This edition includes a special introduction from Rhianna Pratchett.'If you've never read a Discworld novel, what's the matter with you?' Guardian'Quite, quite brilliant' StarburstDISCOVER THE FULL TIFFANY ACHING SERIES, THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO DISCWORLD:The Wee Free MenA Hat Full of Sky Wintersmith I Shall Wear Midnight The Shepherd’s Crown
£9.04
Transworld Publishers Ltd The Book Of Echoes: An astonishing debut. 'Impassioned. Lyrical and affecting' GUARDIAN
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHOR'S CLUB FIRST NOVEL AWARD, THE RSL CHRISTOPHER BLAND PRIZE and THE HWA DEBUT CROWN AWARD'A new classic' SARA COLLINS, author of THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON'Impassioned. Lyrical and affecting' GUARDIAN_____________Brixton 1981. Sixteen-year-old Michael is already on the wrong side of the law. In in his community, where job opportunities are low and drug-running is high, this is nothing new. But when Michael falls for Ngozi, a vibrant young immigrant from the Nigerian village of Obowi, their startling connection runs far deeper than they realise.Narrated by the spirit of an African woman who lost her life on a slave ship two centuries earlier, her powerful story reveals how Michael and Ngozi's struggle for happiness began many lifetimes ago.Through haunting, lyrical words, one unforgettable message resonates: love, hope and unity will heal us all._____________'A searing, rhapsodic novel. Filled with beauty, devastation and the power of ancestral connections that ripple through the ages' IRENOSEN OKOJIE, author of NUDIBRANCH'A gorgeous book' ALEX WHEATLE, author of BRIXTON ROCK_____________Readers love THE BOOK OF ECHOES:'A powerful and honest debut which is going to stay with me for a long time' *****'You can feel Amaka's passion rising off the page' *****'BRILLIANT, thoughtful and masterfully crafted' *****'Oh my goodness, the book itself is even more beautiful and haunting than the cover' *****
£8.99
Mica Publishing The Cuillin and other Skye Mountains: The Cuillin Ridge & 100 select routes for mountain climbers & hillwalkers
This is the ultimate guide to Skye's mountains, offering comprehensive coverage of all the island's peaks. Skye is a paradise for mountain climbers and hillwalkers. This guidebook selects more than 100 varied mountain routes from all over the island, ranging from some of the most challenging in Britain, to pleasant ascents of grassy summits. The jewel in the island's crown is The Cuillin and a summer traverse of the Cuillin Ridge, the 30 or so peaks and tops that form the Cuillin crest, is a major challenge to any mountain climber. This guidebook utilises 50 annotated topo-diagrams to describe the Cuillin Ridge in greater detail than ever before, with sections on Planning, Tactics and Equipment. However, the Cuillin Ridge is just one of more than 100 routes described in this guide. Most mountain climbers and hillwalkers visiting Skye are climbing one of the 12 Munros, 9 Munro Tops, 2 Corbetts, 9 Grahams and 35 sub-2000ft Marilyns on the island. This guidebook describes routes on all of these peaks and many other classics such as the Clach Glas Traverse, Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr nan Gillean, the Dubhs Ridge on Sgurr Dubh Beag and Dun Cana on the Isle of Raasay.
£26.00
Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated The War of Two Queens: A Blood and Ash Novel
From the desperation of golden crowns… Casteel Da’Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could’ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable. And born of mortal flesh… Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life’s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way—because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace. A great primal power rises… Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear—to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be—what she fears the most. As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.
£24.29
Fonthill Media Ltd Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou and the Wars of the Roses: From Contemporary Chronicles, Letters and Records
Henry VI (1422-61), a man 'more given to God and devout prayer than handling worldly and temporal things', was the third, and least successful, Lancastrian king of England; his wife Margaret of Anjou, 'a great and strong laboured woman', became a formidable political force in her own right; and the Wars of the Roses, so dramatically portrayed by William Shakespeare as bloody dynastic struggles fought for the possession of the crown, brought the usurpation of Edward IV (1461-83), the humiliation and exile of Margaret of Anjou, and the murder of her husband in the Tower of London. Combining a framework of interpretation and a rich selection of passages from contemporary and near-contemporary sources, this compilation enables readers to appreciate just why the rule of Henry VI resulted in the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses, what these internecine conflicts were like, and how they culminated in the end of the House of Lancaster.Keith Dockray was formerly Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Early Modern History at the University of Huddersfield.This volume, following in the footsteps of his Edward IV: From Contemporary Chronicles, Letters and Records (2015) and Richard III: From Contemporary Chronicles, Letters and Records (2013) completes a trilogy of source readers covering English kings, politics and war circa 1450 to 1485
£16.99
Getty Trust Publications Miracles and Machines: A Sixteenth-Century Automaton and Its Legend
This volume tells the singular story of an uncanny object at the cusp of art and science: a 450-year-old automaton known as “the monk.” The walking, gesticulating figure of a friar, in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, is among the earliest extant ancestors of the self-propelled robot. According to lore from the court of Philip II of Spain, the monk represents a portrait of Diego de Alcalá, a humble Franciscan lay brother whose holy corpse was said to be agent to the miraculous cure of Spain’s crown prince as he lay dying in 1562. In tracking the origins of the monk and its legend, the authors visited archives, libraries, and museums across the United States and Europe, probing the paradox of a mechanical object performing an apparently spiritual act. They identified seven kindred automata from the same period, which, they argue, form a paradigmatic class of walking “prime movers,” unprecedented in their combination of visual and functional realism. While most of the literature on automata focuses on the Enlightenment, this enthralling narrative journeys back to the late Renaissance, when clockwork machinery was entirely new, foretelling the evolution of artificial life to come.
£40.00
John Wiley & Sons Inc Tutankhamun's Armies: Battle and Conquest During Ancient Egypt's Late Eighteenth Dynasty
The force that forged an empire. The furious thunder of thousands of hooves, the clatter and sheen of bronze armor sparkling in the desert sun, the crunch of wooden wheels racing across a rock-strewn battlefield-and leading this terrifying chariot charge, the gallant Pharaoh, the ribbons of his blue war crown streaming behind him as he launches yet another arrow into the panicking mass of his soon-to-be-routed enemies. While scenes like the one depicted above did occur in ancient Egypt, they represent only one small aspect of the vast, complex, and sophisticated military machine that secured, defended, and expanded the borders of the empire during the late Eighteenth Dynasty. In Tutankhamun's Armies, you'll discover the harsh reality behind the imperial splendor of the New Kingdom and gain a new appreciation for the formidable Egyptian army-from pharaoh to foot soldier. You'll follow "the heretic king" Akhenaten, his son Tutankhamun, and their three Amana-Period successors as they employ double-edge diplomacy and military might to defeat competing powers, quell internal insurrections, and keep reluctant subject states in line. This vivid and absorbing chronicle will forever change the way you think about the glories and riches of ancient Egypt.
£23.40
Little, Brown Book Group The World Of Robert Jordan's The Wheel Of Time
The essential companion to the No. 1 internationally bestselling the Wheel of Time, one of the most influential and popular fantasy epics ever publishedNOW A MAJOR TV SERIES ON AMAZON PRIMEWith never-before-told legends and fascinating histories of its peoples and lands, this engrossing book, written by Robert Jordan himself in collaboration with Teresa Patterson, takes you on an unforgettable journey through the extraordinary world of the Wheel of Time.The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. 'EPIC IN EVERY SENSE' Sunday Times'WITH THE WHEEL OF TIME, JORDAN HAS COME TO DOMINATE THE WORLD THAT TOLKIEN BEGAN TO REVEAL' New York Times'[THE] AMBITIOUS WHEEL OF TIME SERIES HELPED REDEFINE THE GENRE' George R. R. Martin'A FANTASY PHENOMENON' SFXThe Wheel of Time series:The Eye of the World The Great HuntThe Dragon Reborn The Shadow Rising The Fires of Heaven Lord of Chaos A Crown of Swords The Path of DaggersWinter's HeartCrossroads of Twilight Knife of Dreams The Gathering Storm Towers of Midnight A Memory of LightNew Spring (prequel)
£10.99
Troubador Publishing Now You’re In Trouble, Here Comes My Solicitor!: Memoirs of a West Country Lawyer
Steven D Coles worked as a solicitor in the West Country for thirty-nine years where he undertook civil and criminal litigation in crown, magistrates and county courts throughout the region. Now You’re In Trouble, Here Comes My Solicitor is an appreciation of the wonderful and varied eccentricities of human behaviour that the author experienced. In this memoir, the author tells of the times when he encountered a Landlord who tried to evict his sitting tenants by impersonating a werewolf in his tenant’s garden in the dead of night; a compulsive rustler of piglets stealing from farmers within his own community; an amiable young petty thief committed, Robin Hood like, to the redistribution of his ill-gotten gains amongst those he considered most deserving. All of these characters and others are depicted in the book. Similar eccentricities were also to be found on the judicial and magisterial benches of the 1980’s when every market town seemed to have its own court and the dispensers of justice often appeared more suited to the age of Dickens than to the late twentieth century. Now You’re In Trouble, Here Comes My Solicitor is written with a light and humorous touch whilst at the same time ensuring legal accuracy and authenticity.
£9.99
John Murray Press In a Land Far from Home: A John Murray Journey
WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY TARAN KHAN, author of Shadow CityTRANSLATED FROM BENGALI BY NAZES AFROZAn intrepid traveller and true cosmopolitan, legendary Bengali writer Syed Mujtaba Ali spent a year and a half teaching in Kabul from 1927 to 1929. Curious to explore Afghan society, Mujtaba Ali had access to a cross-section of Kabul's population, and in In a Land Far from Home he chronicles his experiences with a keen eye and a wicked sense of humour.Mujtaba Ali's travels coincided with a critical point in Afghanistan's history: when the reformist King Amanullah tried to steer his country towards modernity by encouraging education for girls and giving them the choice of removing the burqa. Branded a 'kafir', Amanullah was overthrown by the bandit leader Bacha-e-Saqao. With striking parallels to twenty-first century events in the region, In a Land Far From Home is the only first-hand account of this tumultuous period by a non-Afghan.Providing a unique perspective, Mujtaba Ali's fascinating account is brought to life by contact with a colourful cast of characters at all levels of society -- from the garrulous Pathan Dost Muhammed and the gentle Russian giant Bolshov, to his servant, Abdur Rahman and his partner in tennis, the Crown Prince Enayatullah.
£12.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Robert the Bruce: Scotland's True Braveheart
Robert the Bruce is a detailed account of the life and times of the Scottish hero and monarch. It covers his life from childhood to death, looking at the political, social and military life of Scotland before, during and after the time of Robert the Bruce. The book looks at the relationship between The Bruce and people like Edward I and Edward II of England, William Wallace and the other contenders for the Scottish crown. The main thrust of the book is a chronological account of how The Bruce clawed his way to power, his struggles and battles and his eventual victory which gave Scotland independence and freedom from an acquisitive and warlike neighbour. It looks in detail at the murder of John Comyn, of which The Bruce stood accused, and the political ramifications of the killing. Robert the Bruce was no saint. He was a ruthless, cunning warrior, a man of his times, dedicated to what he saw as his mission in life. Flawed he may have been but he was also a great King, a worthy warrior and a man who deserves to emerge from the shadow of William Wallace - a position to which he has been relegated ever since the film Braveheart.
£20.00
Transworld Publishers Ltd Princess: Stepping Out Of The Shadows
In the international bestseller, Princess: The True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia, Princess Al-Sa’ud and the acclaimed author Jean Sasson began a remarkable series of books. Now, more than twenty-five years later, this compelling journey continues as we follow the fortunes and the dazzling life of the Princess, her friends and her family.But, of course, there is a less glamorous, much darker side to this engaging series, and in Stepping Out of the Shadows Jean and the Princess focus their attention on how, despite positive news on civil rights reforms, Saudi women still suffer physical and psychological abuse and have little legal protection due to the archaic guardianship laws of the land. So, although this is a kingdom on the threshold of revolutionary change – change spearheaded by the young Saudi Crown Prince who is keen to modernize his country – any thoughts of equal rights and the chance to lead an independent life remain little more than dreams for most Saudi women. Whilst the Princess acknowledges and welcomes the reforms that are on the horizon, through stories of joy and sorrow, we see how she is determined to continue to fight for equal rights for women in this, her beloved kingdom.
£9.04
Archaeopress Le verre de Sabra al-Mansuriya - Kairouan, Tunisie - milieu Xe-milieu XIe siècle: Production et consommation: vaisselle - contenants - vitrages
Islamic glass and its craftsmanship in the Medieval period are known almost exclusively from Middle Eastern literature. The study of the structures of the workshop and the very rich glass assemblage from Sabra al-Mansuriya (Kairouan), the Fatimid capital founded in 947/948 and destroyed in 1057, proves that Ifriqiya followed the technological evolutions of glass craftsmanship. An examination of the furnaces and the various artefacts discovered highlights the double vocation of a palatial factory: to produce glass and glazed ceramics. From this particular workshop, installed in the wing of a palace, we found everyday glassware as well as more luxurious types, some with very specific forms, others reproducing models known throughout the Islamic world. These productions are local and imported – distinguished through morphological and chemical analyzes – and form the basis of a first typology of glass used in Ifriqiya from the 10th to 11th century. Architectural glass, partly made on site, is also abundant. The crown-glass of different colours, used whole or in small fragments, adorned the openwork panel walls with various carvings. The windows and their glass offered a rich polychrome and a complex decorative syntax, reflecting significant technical mastery and the desire to display economic and political power.
£48.00
Ad Lib Publishers Ltd Dirty Briefs: The hilarious struggles and shocking tales of a bare-knuckle criminal barrister
As a child I was always advised to run away from the police rather than seek their assistance and it was with some irony, not to mention family disappointment, that in years to come I would become a lawyer. I have been working in the field of crime for 20 years. From my roots as a local lad from the sticks, I fought all the way to the bottom to become a criminal barrister and, in so doing, faced challenges that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Throughout my career I have amassed a corpus of tales which will offend, surprise and hopefully amuse in equal measure. This book is unapologetically rude and irreverent as it recounts my tumultuous journey through a busy London criminal law firm, mental health practice, police stations, magistrates’ courts and the crown courts. It also visits the Court of Appeal and Old Bailey whilst stopping to doff its cap to some of the most notorious and terrifying Judges of the land and does so without any affectation of superiority. At times I question my moral judgement, the status of my own mental health and tackle the commonly asked question: ‘How do you represent somebody you know is guilty?’
£9.99
Batsford Ltd Midsomer Murders Location Guide: Discover the villages, pubs and churches behind the hit TV series
A visitor’s guide to Midsomer, pinpointing the most popular real-world locations used for filming the series. ‘Midsomer Murders’ was an immediate success from its very first episode ‘The Killing at Badger's Drift’, aired in 1997. With this guide, fans of the show can pinpoint the most popular locations used for filming the series, including familiar pubs, churches, villages and countryside that are open for visits. The guide features: ·Famous pubs such as The Lions at Bledlow, which has been five different pubs in its Midsomer lifetime, and The Crown in Sydenham, which can claim at least three. ·Villages clustered around the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border – Turville, Hambleden, Fingest, Haddenham and Long Crendon, all favourite backdrops in the show. ·Grand country houses including the Mapledurham Estate, Chenies Manor House and Dorney Court, all open to the public. ·Ancient churches to admire, quite often the scene of grisly goings on in the vestry. ·Short profiles on the two DCI Barnabys, John Nettles and Neil Dudegon, along with the five Detective Sergeants and Sykes the dog. With all episodes available on BritBox, fans of the show can watch old episodes with the Midsomer Murders Location Guide in hand and spot exactly where Inspector Barnaby brings the sometimes unlikely villains to book.
£7.28
Drawn and Quarterly Palookaville: #22
Palookaville 22 is an all-new collection of work from It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken's Seth. This instalment of Seth's critically acclaimed one-man anthology features an autobiographical comic about Seth's childhood, part four of his long-running Clyde Fans se--rial, a photo essay about a barbershop he designed, and a comic strip about the art of barbering. Nothing Lasts revisits Seth's childhood in 1960s Ontario, with a special focus on the salvation that he found in library books and drug-store comics. Drawn in the sketchbook style Seth popularized in his books Wimbledon Green and The Great Northern Brotherhood of Canadian Cartoonists, "Nothing Lasts" offers a glimpse at the agonies of adolescence for a shy, often alienated, small-town teen. The Clyde Fans chapter included here shows the conclusion of brothers Abe and Simon Matchcard's first lengthy conversation, and Abe's pensive, self-questioning mood as he drives back to Dominion to meet up with his old flame, Alice. Rounding out the collection is a photo essay on Seth's wife's barbershop, The Crown Barber--shop, and a short story in comics form about barbering. Palookaville 22 displays the range of Seth's cartooning and design career, and is a thing of beauty from cover to cover.
£17.09
Amberley Publishing Edward IV: Glorious Son of York
Few English monarchs had to fight harder for the right to rule than King Edward IV – Shakespeare’s glorious son of York. Cast in the Plantagenet mould, over six feet tall, he was a naturally charismatic leader. Edward had the knack of seizing the initiative and winning battles and is free from the unflattering characterisations that plagued his brother, Richard III, having been portrayed as a good-looking and formidable military tactician. Described sometimes as reckless and profligate, all sources remark on his personal bravery. In the eleven years between 1460 and 1471 he fought five major battles in the Wars of the Roses. Three of them – Towton, Barnet and Tewkesbury – rank among the most decisive of the medieval period. This book covers Edward’s family background, the Yorkist takeover and the drift to war. It charts the tensions created by the controversial Woodville marriage and Edward’s deposition by the Earl of Warwick and subsequent exile. The return of the king brought with it more battles and Edward’s decisive campaigns against Warwick and Margaret of Anjou. Finally, Edward’s sudden death heralded the demise of the House of York and the eventual triumph of the Tudors. This is the history of Edward IV’s struggle to gain –and regain – the crown during a period of sustained dynastic turmoil.
£10.92
Everyman Chess Kramnik: Move by Move
Vladimir Kramnik is a giant of the chess world. He firmly secured his legendary status when he won the World Championship in 2000 by defeating the previously dominant Garry Kasparov - the only player ever to do so in a match. Kramnik held on to his crown for seven years, and today he remains one of the World's elite players. In this book, former American Open Champion Cyrus Lakdawala invites you to join him in a study of his favourite Kramnik games. Lakdawala examines Kramnik's renowned skills in attack and defence, exploiting imbalances, dynamic elements, accumulating advantages and endgame play, and shows how we can all improve by learning from Kramnik's masterpieces. Move by Move provides an ideal platform to study chess. By continually challenging the reader to answer probing questions throughout the book, the Move by Move format greatly encourages the learning and practising of vital skills just as much as the traditional assimilation of knowledge. Carefully selected questions and answers are designed to keep you actively involved and allow you to monitor your progress as you learn. This is an excellent way to improve your chess skills and knowledge. *Learn from the games of a chess legend *Important ideas absorbed by continued practice *Utilizes an ideal approach to chess study
£19.99
Biteback Publishing Theresa May: The Enigmatic Prime Minister
Twenty days after Britain's dramatic vote to leave the European Union, with the government still reeling from the political aftershock, a new Prime Minister captured Downing Street. Few were more surprised by this unexpected turn of events than Theresa May herself. David Cameron's sudden resignation unleashed a leadership contest like no other - and saw the showier rivals for his crown fall one by one with dizzying speed. So how did the daughter of an Oxfordshire vicar rise to the top job with such ease? In this fascinating biography, Rosa Prince explores the self-styled unflashy politician whose commitment to public service was instilled in her from childhood. More than a decade after she warned stunned Conservatives of their 'nasty' image, May has become the champion of Middle England and, for the time being, united her riven party. Theresa May: The Enigmatic Politician maps the rise of Britain's second female premier, a woman who had to fight against the odds to become an MP, who remained overlooked and undervalued during much of her time in Parliament, yet who went on to become a formidable Home Secretary and, now, the leader of her country as it faces its greatest challenge since the Second World War.
£10.99
Little, Brown Book Group There Before the Chaos: The Farian War, Book 1
An epic space opera trilogy featuring the gunrunner empress Hail Bristol, who must navigate alien politics and deadly plots to prevent an interspecies war.The battle for the throne is over. The war for the galaxy is just beginning. Hail Bristol, infamous galactic gunrunner and former runaway princess, never expected to inherit the throne of Indrana. But after avenging the murder of her family and cleansing the Empire of usurpers in a bloody civil war, the former outlaw must fulfill her duties to her people. Hail retires her gun and throws herself into the rebuilding of her Empire. Her hard-won peace is short-lived. When Indrana's closest ally asks Hail to intervene in an interstellar military crisis, she embarks on the highest stakes diplomatic mission the Empire has ever faced. Caught between two alien civilizations at each other's throats, she must uncover each side's true intentions before all of humanity becomes collateral damage in a full-blown galactic war.There Before the Chaos begins a fresh, pulse-pounding space opera series from an exciting new voice in science fiction. For more from K. B. Wagers, check out: The Indranan War trilogy Behind the Throne, After the Crown, Beyond the Empire
£9.04
Coffee House Press The Abyss of Human Illusion
Edited by his son Christopher Sorrentino, this is Gilbert Sorrentino’s final novel, completed just before his death in 2006. As Christopher writes, “Among his last words to me, when I visited him in the hospital the night before he died, were, `I’m sick of this bullshit.’” And it’s no wonder. Sorrentino spent his whole career fighting the bullshit that had crept into American writing. Along the way he gathered some enemies (his obituary in the New York Times quoted at length from a ancient critical attack), but he is still a hero to many writers and readers. As the San Francisco Chronicle says, ““Of the elder generation of postmodernists, only Thomas Pynchon and Sorrentino remain truly dangerous.” And as Bookforum assserts, “One of [Brooklyn]’s most intriguing and authentic homegrown talents, Sorrentino’s Bay Ridge deserves to be appreciated alongside Malamud’s Crown Heights, Arthur Miller’s Coney Island, Henry Miller’s and Betty Smith’s Williamsburg, Hamill’s and Auster’s Park Slope, and Lethem’s Boerum Hill.” In this novel, Sorrentino again proves that there is no place like the Brooklyn of his imagination—a city lost in time between the Depression era and some fraudulent bohemia of the present. Familiar, caustically funny, and cathartic, all his usual characters are here, too, including some we’ve met in previous books—aging artists, miserable couples, crackerjack salesmen, drunken soldiers, tyrannical white-collar supervisors, and avariciously stupid book reviewers.
£10.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Firefall
Firefall is the omnibus edition of the novels Blindsight and Echopraxia. February 13, 2082, First Contact. Sixty-two thousand objects of unknown origin plunge into Earth's atmosphere – a perfect grid of falling stars screaming across the radio spectrum as they burn. Not even ashes reach the ground. Three hundred and sixty degrees of global surveillance: something just took a snapshot. And then... nothing. But from deep space, whispers. Something out there talks – but not to us. Two ships, Theseus and the Crown of Thorns, are launched to discover the origin of Earth's visitation, one bound for the outer dark of the Kuiper Belt, the other for the heart of the Solar System. Their crews can barely be called human, what they will face certainly can't. 'A tour de force, redefining the First Contact story for good' Charles Stross. 'If you only read one science fiction novel this year, make it this one!... It puts the whole of the rest of the genre in the shade... It deserves to walk away with the Clarke, the Hugo, the Nebula, the BSFA, and pretty much any other genre award for which it's eligible. It's off the scale... F**king awesome!' Richard Morgan. 'State-of-the-art science fiction: smart, dark and it grabs you by the throat from page one' Neal Ascher.
£9.99
Simon & Schuster Zara's Rules Paperback Collection (Boxed Set): Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun; Zara's Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure; Zara's Rules for Living Your Best Life
From the beloved author of Amina’s Voice come the first three books in the humor-filled Zara’s Rules middle grade series starring a young Muslim girl with an endless list of hobbies and lots of big ideas for getting the most out of every situation—now together in a collectible paperback boxed set. Meet Zara Saleem, the queen of the neighborhood. Zara’s in charge of it all: she organizes the games, picks the teams, and makes sure everyone has a good time…and they always do. When a new family moves in across the street, suddenly Zara’?s reign is threatened by Naomi, who has big ideas of her own about how the neighborhood kids can have fun. To get everyone to notice her again, Zara decides she’s going to break a Guinness World Record—if her little brother Zayd doesn’t mess things up. But when she finds herself increasingly alone in her record-breaking quest, Zara starts to wonder if sharing the crown and making a new friend might end up being the best rule of all. Zara’s mishaps continue when her fundraising project for a new bike goes awry and her spring break isn’t shaping up to be what she hoped. This delightful paperback boxed set includes: Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun Zara’s Rules for Finding Hidden Treasure Zara’s Rules for Living Your Best Life
£15.29
Kodansha America, Inc SHAMAN KING Omnibus 2 (Vol. 4-6)
The action manga bestseller returns, in 600-page editions featuring a remastered translation and new cover art by creator Hiroyuki Takei! Dive into the classic Shonen Jump adventure whose world of mystical spirits and bewitching battles inspired the classic anime. This volume corresponds to Vol. 4-6 of the original release, featuring updated translation and lettering, back in print more than 20 years after its initial release! In a world where shamans communicate with the dead and call forth the power of legendary spirits to defeat their enemies in both body and soul, Yoh is a teenager with the ultimate ambition: to become the Shaman King, the one and only shaman who may commune with the Great Spirit and help remake the world for the better. But the road to this pinnacle of spiritual power runs through the Shaman Fight, a gauntlet of battles with rival mediums who call forth dizzying powers from the world of the dead in their own bids for the crown. At Yoh's side is Anna, his coach, fiancée, and a powerful medium in her own right. Sure, it'd be nice if Yoh had a little more time to train and mature...but the Shaman Fight is only held once every 500 years, so he's going to have to grow up quick!
£17.99