Search results for ""Author Richard"

**FROM THE AUTHOR OF INSIDE THE WAVE, THE COSTA BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017** Leningrad, September 1941. Hitler orders the German forces to surround the city at the start of the most dangerous, desperate winter in its history. For two pairs of lovers - Anna and Andrei, Anna's novelist father and banned actress Marina - the siege becomes a battle for survival. They will soon discover what it is like to be so hungry you boil shoe leather to make soup, so cold you burn furniture and books. But this is not just a struggle to exist, it is also a fight to keep the spark of hope alive...A brilliantly imagined novel of war and the wounds it inflicts on ordinary people's lives, and a profoundly moving celebration of love, life and survival. 'Remarkable, affecting...there are few more interesting stories than this; and few writers who could have told it better' Rachel Cusk, Daily Telegraph 'Literary writing of the highest order set against a background if suffering so intimately reconstructed it is hard to believe that Dunmore was not there' Richard Overy, Sunday Telegraph 'Utterly convincing. A deeply moving account of two love stories in terrible circumstances. The story of their struggle to survive appears simple, as all great literature should. . . a world-class novel' Antony Beevor, The Times Novelist and poet Helen Dunmore has achieved great critical acclaim since publishing her first adult novel, the McKitterick Prize winning, Zennor in Darkness. Her novels, Counting the Stars, Your Blue-Eyed Boy, With Your Crooked Heart, Burning Bright, House of Orphans, Mourning Ruby, A Spell of Winter, and Talking to the Dead, and her collection of short stories Love of Fat Men are all published by Penguin. This edition includes the first chapter of Betrayal, the sequel to The Siege.

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Richard Preston was one of James VI & I's most enduring favourites, rising from page boy to Captain of the Guard at the Scottish Court. After the Court's migration to England in 1603, Dingwall outlasted both of James' great favourites, the Earl of Somerset and the Duke of Buckingham but unlike them, he has been unfairly written out of history. This biography reconstructs Dingwall's colourful and highly ambitious life which ranged from teaching Henry, Prince of Wales, how to wield a sword, making, spending and losing vast amounts of money, gathering armies for foreign invasions to befriending visiting scholars. He was also equally at home being elevated onto a stage in the boughs of a rising tree, dressed in a suit of green leaves before dancing before the Court and capable of bringing a Whitehall tournament to a halt by arriving as Hannibal on top of a trundling, mock elephant. Sadly for him, as for the Early Stuarts, it did not end well.

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Friedlander’s social landscape is a who’s who of postwar American photography In the 1960s and '70s, Lee Friedlander (born 1934) developed his signature approach to documenting the American “social landscape”: deadpan, structurally complex black-and-white photographs of seemingly anything, anybody or anyplace that passed in front of his lens. But as he was making his name as a documentary photographer capturing the look and feel of modern American life, he was also photographing his closest friends, a practice he has continued throughout his long career. A slipcased set of six paperback books, The Mind and the Hand presents the photographer’s intimate portraits of six of his best friends taken over the past five decades. The subjects, each presented in their own separate volume, comprise a veritable who's who of one of America's most fertile periods in photography: Richard Benson, William Christenberry, William Eggleston, Walker Evans, John Szarkowski and Garry Winogrand. Each volume begins with a relevant quote from its subject.

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A RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICKWINNER STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS 2020SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL PRIZE 2019'Such an addictive and likeable book...One of this year's best memoirs' The Telegraph'It's the resistance to the obvious narratives that makes Rough Magic so appealing: the book undermines lazy women-in-the-wilderness tropes at every turn.' Sarah Moss, Guardian'Think Educated meets Wild' Entertainment Weekly'Rough Magic is transporting, beguiling and terrifically entertaining' Daily MailThe Mongol Derby is the world's toughest horse race. A feat of endurance across the vast Mongolian plains once traversed by the people of Genghis Khan, competitors ride 25 horses across a distance of 1000km. Many riders don't make it to the finish line.In 2013 Lara Prior-Palmer - nineteen, underprepared but seeking the great unknown - decided to enter the race. Driven by her own restlessness, stubbornness, and a lifelong love of horses, she raced for seven days through extreme heat and terrifying storms, catching a few hours of sleep where she could at the homes of nomadic families. Battling bouts of illness and dehydration, exhaustion and bruising falls, she found she had nothing to lose, and tore through the field with her motley crew of horses. In one of the Derby's most unexpected results, she became the youngest-ever champion and the first woman to win the race.A tale of adventure, fortitude and poetry, Rough Magic is the extraordinary story of one young woman's encounter with oblivion, and herself.

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THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'It is hard to imagine a more timely novel. A fascinating exploration of all sides of a particularly knotty, politicized issue.' Jodi Picoult'A knock-out twist' Gillian McAllister'Will have book clubs across the country in hot debate! Brilliant.' Clare Mackintosh****Two best friendsElizabeth and Bryony are polar opposites but their unexpected friendship has always worked. They're the best of friends, and godmothers to each other's daughters - because they both trust that the safety of their children is their top priority.One little secretLittle do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child's birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic than either of them could ever have imagined.Every parent's worst nightmare . . . ****'Compelling and nuanced. A hugely impressive page-turner' Ashley Audrain'Really beautifully written, compassionately told and incredibly thought provoking. A truly immersive telling of both sides of a story' Susan Lewis'Insightful, compassionate and nuanced. The Herd is so good.' Louise O'Neill'A genuine rollercoaster that asks big moral questions with beautifully drawn characters.' Sharon Horgan, co-creator of CATASTROPHEHere's what readers are saying about The Herd:'A timely and dramatic novel showing both sides of an ongoing debate. Loved this read!' *****'Such a genuine tale with such high stakes emotion and sensitivity' *****'A fantastic, thought-provoking and gripping book which would make a cracking book club read' *****'A complex, layered, wholly character-driven look at a complicated and controversial subject' *****

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_______________________________On the eve of her ninth birthday, Rose Edelstein bites into her mother's homemade lemon-chocolate cake and discovers she has a magical gift: she can taste her mother's emotions in the slice. All at once her cheerful, can-do mother tastes of despair and desperation. Suddenly, and for the rest of her life, food becomes perilous. Anything can be revealed at any meal.Rose's gift forces her to confront the truth behind her family's emotions - her mother's sadness, her father's detachment and her brother's clash with the world. But as Rose grows up, she learns that there are some secrets even her taste buds cannot discern.The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake is about the pain of loving those whom you know too much about, and the secrets that exist within every family. At once profound, funny, wise and sad, this is a novel to savour._______________________________Now available to preorder: Aimee Bender's new novel, The Butterfly Lampshade

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OVER FOUR MILLION COPIES SOLDThe New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller - a heart-rending story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who face a life-changing moral dilemma'Unforgettable' GUARDIAN____________________A boat washes up on the shore of a remote lighthouse keeper's island. It holds a dead man - and a crying baby. The only two islanders, Tom and his wife Izzy, are about to make a devastating decision.They break the rules and follow their hearts. What happens next will break yours.____________________'Irresistible . . . a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page' OPRAH MAGAZINE'A moving tale . . . prepare to weep' NEW YORK TIMES'A love story that is both persuasive and tender' SUNDAY TIMESWHAT READERS ARE SAYING:***** 'A beautiful, poignant story, very well told'***** 'By far, one of the best books I've ever read'***** 'A stunning and enjoyable read, one you won't forget'Now a major motion picture starring Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender and Rachel Weisz

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Richard Garwin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama Called a "true genius" by Enrico Fermi, Richard Garwin has influenced modern life in far-reaching ways, yet he is hardly known outside the physics community. This is the first biography of one of America's great minds--a top physicist, a brilliant technological innovator, and a trusted advisor of presidents for sixty years. Among his many contributions to modern technology are innovations we now take for granted: air-traffic control systems, touch screens, color monitors, laser printers, GPS satellite navigation, and many other facets of everyday contemporary life. But certainly his most important work has been on behalf of nuclear disarmament. As a key member of the Los Alamos team that developed the hydrogen bomb (he created the final design), Garwin subsequently devoted much of his career to ensuring that nuclear weapons never again be used. He has spent hundreds of hours testifying before Congress, serving on government advisory committees, and doing work that is still classified, all the while working for IBM as a researcher. A genuine polymath, his ideas extend from propulsion systems for interplanetary flight to preventing flu epidemics. Never shy about offering his opinions, even to rigid government bureaucracies unwilling to change, Garwin continues to show leaders how to do the smart thing. The world is a more interesting and safer place because of his many accomplishments.

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English schoolchildren are taught that Sir Richard Arkwright invented the water-frame and was the father of the Industrial Revolution and the factory system.' That is simply not true. The water-powered spinning frame and the modern factory system' were pioneered in Italy over 300 years before Richard Arkwright was born. This book tells the story of how the Industrial Revolution in textile manufacture really began. Not in England with Richard Arkwright and the English cotton industry, but in Italy, with Italian Renaissance engineers and the Italian silk industry. Proof lies in the achievements of medieval Italian engineering, English archives and English legal case records. Italy was the leading technological power in Europe from the 13th to the 17th centuries. The Italian Renaissance and the devastation caused by the Black Death (1347-49) brought forth a wealth of technological innovation and invention and the Italians automated much of the production of silk fabrics, using water as their power source, because there were no longer enough people left alive to carry out the work. English organzine was inferior to Italian organzine. In the first recorded case of industrial espionage a young Derby engineer resolved to steal Italian silk manufacturing secrets. Water powered silk throwing machinery, reconstructed by John Lombe from his stolen plans and drawings, provided the blueprint for water powered cotton spinning machinery (water frame), and Cromford Mill, (built 1771), was modelled on Derby Silk Mill (built 1719). This book marks the 300th anniversary of John Lombe's premature death. Part of the mystery surrounding his actions is why has the truth been concealed for so long and why has the Italian connection remained unacknowledged? It is time to place this episode of history in a proper context, to set the record straight, and to fully acknowledge the part played by Italy in the English Industrial Revolution.

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Let the master storyteller of the sea, multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, transport you to the heart of the action in this no-holds-barred naval adventure. You'll feel like you're on the deck with Bolitho! 'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times'Shipwreck, survival ... a spirited battle ... a splendid yarn'' -- The Times'A great read from beginning to the end' -- ***** Reader review'Keeps you hooked - I was not able to stop reading until the dramatic finale!!!' -- ***** Reader review'Edge of your seat reading, most enjoyable' -- ***** Reader review'Difficult to put down. Superb' -- ***** Reader review'Another masterpiece from Alexander Kent' -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************************************1808: As Napoleon holds Portugal and threatens his old ally Spain, Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho is dispatched once more to the Cape of Good Hope to establish a permanent naval force there.Setting aside his bitter memories and the anguish of a friendship betrayed, Bolitho takes passage in the ill-fated Golden Plover. With him sail others commanded by duty and lured by danger - and those who wish only to escape.But when shipwreck and disaster overtake the Golden Plover off the desolate coast of Africa, neither the innocent nor the damned are spared. Beyond the tortured hell of the reef, Bolitho's battle begins - to summon the survivors' last reserves of courage and of hope.

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The Republic of Letters emerged during the seventeenth century as a concept to describe the interaction between scholars across Europe and beyond. While the concept was an imaginary one, it was firmly grounded in a reality of close circles of interaction between intellectuals, which had always existed but which was now endowed with a renewed sense of collaboration and participation within this community without barriers of statehood or creed. These fifteen essays explore differing aspects of collaboration and interdisciplinarity in the context of the radical change in mindset that the emergence of the Republic of Letters had fostered. Essays deal with French and English theatre, travel writing, the identity of the woman writer, the nature and function of gossip, scholarly interaction, and political and theological ideologies. The concluding essay provides a synthesis of the nature of seventeenth-century scholarship. The volume offers new insights into the mechanisms and workings of the Republic of Letters and charters the transition of scholarly pursuit being classified, even by some scholars themselves, as a solitary and sometimes pedantic pursuit to the notion of a network of ideas and interchange. This self-identification with a transnational league which knew no limits of geography, resources, gender or class marks a radical transition in the history of ideas and was to have far-reaching consequences, solidly preparing the way for the Enlightenment.

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Conflict between England and France was a fact of life for centuries, but few realize that its origins date from the time of the Vikings, when a Norse chieftain named Rollo established himself and his progeny in Normandy. In this compelling and entertaining history, Mary McAuliffe takes the reader back to those dark and turbulent times when Rollo’s descendants, the dukes of Normandy, asserted their dominance over the weak French monarchy—a dominance that became especially threatening after Duke William conquered England in 1066, giving him a royal crown. Despite this crown, William the Conqueror and his royal successors remained dukes of Normandy, with feudal obligations to their overlord, the king of France. This naturally fostered an ongoing hostility between the French and English crowns that, as McAuliffe convincingly shows, became ever more explosive as the strength and territorial holdings of the English monarchs grew. Conflict erupted regularly over the years, and Eleanor of Aquitaine’s desertion of one camp for the other only added fuel to the long-simmering feud. McAuliffe takes the reader back to this dramatic era, providing the fascinating background and context for this “clash of crowns.” She offers colorful insights into Richard Lionheart and Eleanor of Aquitaine as well as lesser-known French and English monarchs, especially Philip II of France. Philip proved a determined opponent of Richard Lionheart, and their cutthroat rivalry not only created fatal divisions within the Third Crusade but also culminated in an incendiary faceoff at Richard’s newly built Château-Gaillard, the seemingly impregnable gateway to empire. The outcome would shape the course of English and French history throughout the centuries that followed.

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This superb and stirring naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent is an absolute must for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. You'll feel like you are there on the quarterdeck!'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times'As a former naval officer, Alexander Kent knows what it is like to be at sea' -- The Times'A first-class book' -- ***** Reader review'Impossible to put down. Alexander Kent as his finest!' -- ***** Reader review'One of Alexander Kent's best.' -- ***** Reader review'A rip roaring, well-constructed seafaring tale.' -- ***** Reader review'A compelling read from start to finish...' -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************1793: Gibraltar - the gathering might of revolutionary France prepares to engulf Europe in another bloody war. As in the past, Britain will stand or fall by the fighting power of her fleet. For Richard Bolitho, the renewal of hostilities means a fresh command and the chance of action after long months of inactivity.However, his mission to support Lord Hood in the monarchist-inspired occupation of Toulon has gone awry. Bolitho and the crew of the Hyperion are trapped by the French near a dry Mediterranean island.They will need all their mettle and might to force their way through...Bolitho's adventures continue in Enemy in Sight.

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In September of 1859, the entire Earth was engulfed in a gigantic cloud of seething gas, and a blood-red aurora erupted across the planet from the poles to the tropics. Around the world, telegraph systems crashed, machines burst into flames, and electric shocks rendered operators unconscious. Compasses and other sensitive instruments reeled as if struck by a massive magnetic fist. For the first time, people began to suspect that the Earth was not isolated from the rest of the universe. However, nobody knew what could have released such strange forces upon the Earth--nobody, that is, except the amateur English astronomer Richard Carrington. In this riveting account, Stuart Clark tells for the first time the full story behind Carrington's observations of a mysterious explosion on the surface of the Sun and how his brilliant insight--that the Sun's magnetism directly influences the Earth--helped to usher in the modern era of astronomy. Clark vividly brings to life the scientists who roundly rejected the significance of Carrington's discovery of solar flares, as well as those who took up his struggle to prove the notion that the Earth could be touched by influences from space. Clark also reveals new details about the sordid scandal that destroyed Carrington's reputation and led him from the highest echelons of science to the very lowest reaches of love, villainy, and revenge. The Sun Kings transports us back to Victorian England, into the very heart of the great nineteenth-century scientific controversy about the Sun's hidden influence over our planet.

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Impressionism and Post-Impressionism at the Dallas Museum of Art offers a series of intimate case studies in the history of 19th-century European art. Inspired by a series of public lectures given at the Dallas Museum of Art between 2009 and 2013, the volume comprises twelve beautifully illustrated essays from leading academics and museum specialists. Opening with a new reading of one of Gustave Courbet’s great hunting scenes, The Fox in the Snow, and ending with an exploration of a group of interior scenes by Edouard Vuillard, each essay stands alone as a richly contextualized reading of a single work or group of works by one artist. The authors approach their subjects from a range of methodological perspectives, but all pay close attention to the experience of making and viewing works of art. Distributed for the Dallas Museum of Art

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PRE-ORDER EVERYTHING YOU HAVE, THE THRILLING NEW PAGE-TURNER BY KATE RUBY, COMING AUGUST 2024.A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 'I couldn’t bear it to end' LOUISE CANDLISH 'A gripping page-turner' LAURA MARSHALL 'Chilling . . . Fast-paced and twisting' SARAH VAUGHAN 'Deliciously twisted' JP DELANEYYou think she wants to help. You're wrong. Lily Appleby will do anything to protect the people she loves. She’s made ruthless choices to make sure their secrets stay buried, and she’s not going to stop now. When her party-animal daughter, Rachel, spins out of control, Lily hires a renowned therapist and healer to help her. Amber is the skilled and intuitive confidante that Rachel desperately needs. But as Rachel falls increasingly under Amber’s spell, she begins to turn against her parents, and Lily grows suspicious. Does Amber really have Rachel’s best interests at heart or is there something darker going on? Only one thing is clear: Rachel is being lied to. Never quite knowing who to believe, her search for the truth will reveal her picture-perfect family as anything but flawless.Loosely based on a true story, this is perfect for fans of Sabine Durrant, Teresa Driscoll and Kate Riordan - a gripping read to be devoured in one sitting, bursting with tension, layered characters and relationships which are never as simple as they first seem . . . 'A parable for our times: accomplished, eloquent and quite terrifying' DAILY MAIL 'Dark and addictive' HEAT 'Chilling in its depiction of manipulation and the impact of childhood trauma; fast-paced and twisting' SARAH VAUGHAN 'A brilliantly constructed tale of rivalry, manipulation and revenge' LOUISE CANDLISH 'Subtle, sly and suspenseful' JP DELANEY ‘What a deliciously dark domestic horror this is, as it picks away at the damage family members do to each other in the name of love . . . Such a clever, nuanced story of revenge, self-destruction, and everyday cruelty’ RUSS THOMAS ‘Superbly dark and glittering with menace, Tell Me Your Lies is not only an absolute gift of a thriller, but a sharp, unflinching take on the long-term consequences of buried trauma and shame’ CAZ FREAR ‘I absolutely loved it. Raced through to the end, totally invested in all the characters, and fascinated by Amber' AMANDA REYNOLDS ‘Expertly paced and beautifully written - but above all a damn juicy read’ CELIA WALDEN

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THE BREATHTAKINGLY TWISTY 2022 RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK _______________________________________I'd do anything for my friends - even murder...Georgie, Lissa and Bronwyn have been best friends since they met on their college swimming team. Now Lissa is dead - drowned off the coast of the remote island where her second husband owns a luxury resort. But could a star open-water swimmer really have drowned? Or is something more sinister going on? Brought together for Lissa's memorial, Georgie, Bron, Lissa's grieving husband and their friends find themselves questioning the circumstances around Lissa's death - and each other. As the weather turns ominous, trapping the guests on the island, it slowly dawns on them that Lissa's death was only the beginning. Nobody knows who they can trust. Or if they'll make it off the island alive..._______________________________________Five-Star Reader Reviews:'You can almost smell the coconut sun lotion''Sinister, sneaky and full of devious, dirty secrets''A fantastic thriller that kept me guessing''Top notch escapism'

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***A RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB book 2023***'Nora-Ephron-style wit...comforting, so funny, moving... one of my favourite books ever' MARIAN KEYES'Newman writes loss and laughter in equally brilliant amounts.' BONNIE GARMUS'Dazzling, heart-wrenching, snorty-hilarious... An utter joy to read' RACHEL JOYCE'An absolute masterpiece in characterisation... utterly beautiful.' JOANNA CANNON_______Who knows you better than your best friend? Who knows your secrets, your fears, your desires, your strange imperfect self? Edi and Ash have been best friends for over forty years. Since childhood they have seen each other through life's milestones: stealing vodka from their parents, the Madonna phase, REM concerts, unexpected wakes, marriages, infertility, children. As Ash notes, 'Edi's memory is like the back-up hard drive for mine.' So when Edi is diagnosed with cancer, Ash's world reshapes around the rhythms of Edi's care, from making watermelon ice cubes to music therapy; from snack smuggling to impromptu excursions into the frozen winter night. Because life is about squeezing the joy out of every moment, about building a powerhouse of memories, about learning when to hold on, and when to let go.For fans of Nora Ephron and Sorrow & Bliss, We All Want Impossible Things is a deeply moving, jubilant celebration of life and friendship at its imperfect, radiant, and irreverent best.***COMING SOON: SANDWICH, the new novel from CATHERINE NEWMAN***_____'You'll stay up late devouring every word' KATHERINE HEINY'One of the best novels on friendship I've ever read' AJ PEARCE'I absolutely adored this...what a beautiful, emotional novel' JILL MANSELL'Shot through with whip-smart humour and boundless compassion. It's one of the best debuts I've read in a long time.' HANNAH BECKERMAN

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'I will be thinking about Penny, Josephine and Archie for a while yet!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A fun and entertaining story that made me laugh out loud!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Highly recommend!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐_____________________________________________________________A charming, uplifting and cosy mystery about two national treasures hiding official secrets and double lives - perfect for fans of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB.Revenge is a dish best served old...Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain's most treasured World War II veterans. Now in their nineties, Josephine and Penny are in demand, popping up at commemorative events all over the country. Despite their age, they're in great form-sprightly and sparky, and always in search of their next "excitement." This time it's a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d'honneur, accompanied by their devoted great-nephew, Archie.Keen historian Archie believes his great aunts had minor roles in the Women's Royal Navy and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, but that's only half the story. There's a reason sweet Auntie Penny can dispatch a would-be mugger with a brolly. This trip to Paris is not what it seems either. Scandal and crime have quietly trailed the sisters since the war. Now armed with new information about an old adversary, these much decorated (but admittedly ancient) veterans intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull off one last heist before the curtain comes down on their illustrious careers.Penny and Josephine will return for more adventures in Jinx, coming in Spring 2025._____________________________________________________________ 'Funny, thrilling and brilliantly researched.' SJ Bennett'It's P.G. Wodehouse meets Dear Mrs Bird and it's utterly wonderful.' Annie Lyons 'Utterly charming and engrossing' Jenny Colgan 'A glorious, rip-roaring adventure, so funny and charming, yet laced with unexpected moments of real tenderness and reflection' Lucy Dillon'The literary equivalent to a perfect Martini, The Excitements is sharp, delicious, instantly mood-lifting and utterly intoxicating.' Kate Eberlen'Not all heroes wear capes, some wear M&S cardigans! A triumph!' Mike Gayle'A sublime mix of comedy, drama and adventure' Jill Mansell'Just pure joy from start to finish.' Alexandra Potter'I couldn't get enough of the wonderful Williamsons. More please!' Holly Hepburn

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'I will be thinking about Penny, Josephine and Archie for a while yet!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A fun and entertaining story that made me laugh out loud!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Highly recommend!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐_____________________________________________________________A charming, uplifting and cosy mystery about two national treasures hiding official secrets and double lives - perfect for fans of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB.Revenge is a dish best served old...Meet the Williamson sisters, Britain's most treasured World War II veterans. Now in their nineties, Josephine and Penny are in demand, popping up at commemorative events all over the country. Despite their age, they're in great form-sprightly and sparky, and always in search of their next "excitement." This time it's a trip to Paris to receive the Légion d'honneur, accompanied by their devoted great-nephew, Archie.Keen historian Archie believes his great aunts had minor roles in the Women's Royal Navy and the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, but that's only half the story. There's a reason sweet Auntie Penny can dispatch a would-be mugger with a brolly. This trip to Paris is not what it seems either. Scandal and crime have quietly trailed the sisters since the war. Now armed with new information about an old adversary, these much decorated (but admittedly ancient) veterans intend to settle scores, avenge lost friends, and pull off one last heist before the curtain comes down on their illustrious careers.Penny and Josephine will return for more adventures in Jinx, coming in Spring 2025._____________________________________________________________ 'Funny, thrilling and brilliantly researched.' SJ Bennett'It's P.G. Wodehouse meets Dear Mrs Bird and it's utterly wonderful.' Annie Lyons 'Utterly charming and engrossing' Jenny Colgan 'A glorious, rip-roaring adventure, so funny and charming, yet laced with unexpected moments of real tenderness and reflection' Lucy Dillon'The literary equivalent to a perfect Martini, The Excitements is sharp, delicious, instantly mood-lifting and utterly intoxicating.' Kate Eberlen'Not all heroes wear capes, some wear M&S cardigans! A triumph!' Mike Gayle'A sublime mix of comedy, drama and adventure' Jill Mansell'Just pure joy from start to finish.' Alexandra Potter'I couldn't get enough of the wonderful Williamsons. More please!' Holly Hepburn

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*SHARPE'S COMMAND, the brand new novel in the global bestselling series, is available to pre-order now*Cape Trafalgar, October 1805Heading home on a merchant ship from India, Ensign Richard Sharpe finds himself on a far more dangerous journey than he could have anticipated, for war brews at sea. The formidable French navy have destroyed the British blockade and face an outnumbered but formidable foe: Admiral Nelson.Sharpe's meeting aboard the Calliope with the beautiful Lady Grace Hale turns quickly to obsession, but he finds unexpected enemies and deep treachery amongst his fellow passengers. And as they approach Cape Trafalgar and the enemy fleet comes into view, ready to fight in one of the most glorious but deadly clashes of the war is Sharpe . . .A master storyteller' DAILY TELEGRAPH

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More than seventy years ago, American forces exploded the first atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing great physical and human destruction. The young scientists at Los Alamos who developed the bombs, which were nicknamed Little Boy and Fat Man, were introduced to the basic principles and goals of the project in March 1943, at a crash course in new weapons technology. The lecturer was physicist Robert Serber, J. Robert Oppenheimer’s protégé, and the scientists learned that their job was to design and build the world’s first atomic bombs. Notes on Serber’s lectures were gathered into a mimeographed document titled TheLos Alamos Primer, which was supplied to all incoming scientific staff. The Primer remained classified for decades after the war. Published for the first time in 1992, the Primer offers contemporary readers a better understanding of the origins of nuclear weapons. Serber’s preface vividly conveys the mingled excitement, uncertainty, and intensity felt by the Manhattan Project scientists. This edition includes an updated introduction by Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Richard Rhodes. A seminal publication on a turning point in human history, The Los Alamos Primer reveals just how much was known and how terrifyingly much was unknown midway through the Manhattan Project. No other seminar anywhere has had greater historical consequences.

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The brand-new novel from the winner of the Richard and Judy Search for a Bestseller competition.'A CRACKING READ' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY'THIS ATMOSPHERIC WARTIME MYSTERY IS PERFECT FOR FANS OF FOYLE'S WAR' CANDISJune 1944, Romsey, England.Josephine 'Jo' Fox is at an impasse since the unwelcome return of her wayward husband Richard. So, when he disappears again, she is neither concerned nor surprised - until a burning car is discovered with a body inside. And there are signs that Richard is somehow involved.Jo is determined to find both her husband and answers, yet with her friend Bram Nash in hospital suffering an infection of his old war wound, she must do so alone. When information comes to light that implicates Bram too, Jo finds herself on a dangerous path to the truth.But what will be left for her when all is revealed?PRAISE FOR THE JOSEPHINE FOX SERIES:' Terrific ... captures brilliantly the atmosphere of wartime Britain' ANN CLEEVES' Feisty, determined and brave - I loved Josephine Fox' JUDY FINNIGAN'A complete delight ... sings with authenticity' CAZ FREAR

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This is a very different book from the traditional speed-merchant genre. Richard Noble has had the ambition all his adult life to see Britain excel in engineering on the world stage and throw off the country's dismal culture of safety first and risk aversion. His achievements in the highly insecure world of record-breaking emphatically demonstrate his commitment to his cause: he brought the Land Speed Record back to Britain in 1983 when he drove his Thrust 2 car to 633mph and 14 years later he led the ThrustSSC team to achieve the first supersonic record at 763mph with Andy Green driving. In his book Take Risk! he tells the extraordinary stories of his 11 projects in record-breaking and aviation that all saw people and companies go out of their way to join him in his exciting endeavours - and take risk.

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An utterly addictive and unputdownable thriller that will mesmerize and entrance ... and tug at your heart strings. Bestselling author Sharon Bolton has conjured up a read that is perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Cara Hunter and Karin Slaughter.'A dark and haunting thriller. It creeps under your skin and doesn't let you go' -- PAULA HAWKINS, author of The Girl on the Train'Bolton's haunting storylines, vivid characters, and just plain great writing put her in the top tier of psychological thriller writers' - LINWOOD BARCLAY'Claws at your heart. An ever-creeping sense of dread rises from every page' -- Daily Mail'Absolutely brilliant' -- ***** Reader review'A must-read book!' -- ***** Reader review'Held me start to finish and very hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review'Thoroughly absorbing' -- ***** Reader review'MIND BLOWING' -- ***** Reader review************************************************************************************WE WERE INSEPARABLE. UNTIL THE DAY SHE KILLED MY SONS...What's the worst thing your best friend could do to you?Admittedly, it wasn't murder. A moment's carelessness, a tragic accident - and your two children are dead.Living in a small island community, you can't escape the woman who destroyed your life. Each chance encounter is an agonizing reminder of what you've lost - your family, your future, your sanity.How long before revenge becomes irresistible?With no reason to go on living, why shouldn't you turn your darkest thoughts into deeds?So now, what's the worst thing you can do to your best friend?

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With more than two hundred editions, Gilbert White's The Natural History of Selborne is one of the most published books in the English language. In this Whitbread Prize-winning biography, Richard Mabey - whom the Times has called “Britain's foremost nature writer” - looks at the life from which the celebrated work grew.

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When the pioneering naturalist Gilbert White (1720-93) wrote The Natural History of Selborne (1789), he created one of the greatest and most influential natural history works of all time, his detailed observations about birds and animals providing the cornerstones of modern ecology. In this award-winning biography, Richard Mabey tells the wonderful story of the clergyman - England's first ecologist - whose inspirational naturalist's handbook has become an English classic.

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In these two closely linked works - a travel book and a biography of its author - we witness a moving encounter between two of the most daring and original minds of the late eighteenth century: A Short Residence in Sweden is the record of Wollstonecraft's last journey in search of happiness, into the remote and beautiful backwoods of Scandinavia. The quest for a lost treasure ship, the pain of a wrecked love affair, memories of the French Revolution, and the longing for some Golden Age, all shape this vivid narrative, which Richard Holmes argues is one of the neglected masterpieces of early English Romanticism.Memoirs is Godwin's own account of Wollstonecraft's life, written with passionate intensity a few weeks after her tragic death. Casting aside literary convention, Godwin creates an intimate portrait of his wife, startling in its candour and psychological truth. Received with outrage by friends and critics alike, and virtually suppressed for a century, it can now be recognized as one of the landmarks in the development of modern biography.

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The sequel to Bernice L. McFadden's incredible classic debut and the Richard and Judy 2021 Book Club pick, SugarIn This Bitter Earth, Sugar Lacey is on her way out of Bigelow, Arkansas, where she'd come to break with the past. With her worn leopard-print suitcase and her head held high, she walks past the prying eyes of its small-minded, cruel-hearted townsfolk, praying for the strength to keep going. She doesn't stop until she arrives at her childhood home in Short Junction. Here she learns the truth about her parentage: a terrible tale of unrequited love, of one man's enduring hatred, and of the black magic that has cursed generations of Lacey women. A powerfully realised novel that brings back the unforgettable characters from Sugar, McFadden's bestselling debut, This Bitter Earth is a testament to the ultimate triumph of the human spirit.Reader reviews for Sugar'Such an enjoyable read... beautifully written, raw and impactful''Riveting, heart-breaking''Very powerful, poignant''Beautifully written... brutal and moving... a must read book''Well-written with rich characters and many twists and turns''So descriptive yet easy to read, and it made me fall in love with all the characters'

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Someone took Daisy Mason . . .Someone you know.--------'The last twist was a genuine stroke of genius' John Marrs'A mazey, gripping read' Ian Rankin'Compulsive' Emma Kavanagh Last night, eight-year-old Daisy Mason disappeared from a family party. No one in the quiet suburban street saw anything - or at least that's what they're saying. DI Adam Fawley is trying to keep an open mind. But he knows the nine times out of ten, it's someone the victim knew. That means someone is lying... And that Daisy's time is running out.The first twisty, up-all-night thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling Cara Hunter. For fans of Shari Lapena, Claire Douglas and Lisa Jewell.--------Authors can't get enough of Close to Home'One of the best crime thrillers I have ever read' Kathryn Croft, The Lying Wife 'Cancel everything. You're not going anywhere until you finish' Emily Koch, Keep Him Close'Classy, agile, fresh, unpredictable and utterly compelling' Nicci French, The Unheard 'Cara Hunter is the new queen of the cliffhanger' John Marrs, What Lies Between 'A real gripper of a read' Peter James, Left You Dead 'Clever and wonderfully complex!' Jane Corry, The Lies We Tell 'I finished Close to Home in one sitting!' Nuala Ellwood, The Perfect LifeAnd readers are loving this series, too'All hail the new queen of all things crime' Penny, Netgalley 'Mind-bending brilliance' Kath, Netgalley 'Packed full of twists' Gary, Netgalley 'Definitely for fans of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter and the like' Fiona, Netgalley 'Captivating: full of mystery, tension, moral dilemma . . . outstanding' Peter, Netgalley 'This series just gets better and better' Tina, Netgalley

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Agatha Christie meets The Mitford Murders in this deliciously dark golden age mystery of wartime family secrets and lies in small town England.**DON'T MISS THE LASTEST JOSEPHINE FOX MYSTERY, A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS. OUT NOW!**April 1941, Romsey, England.Josephine 'Jo' Fox hasn't set foot in Romsey in over twenty years. As an illegitimate child, her family - headed by her controlling grandfather - found her an embarrassment. Now, she wants to return to what was once her home and uncover the secret of her parentage. Who was her father and why would her mother never talk about him?Jo arrives the day after the Luftwaffe have bombed the town. The local pub has been completely destroyed and rescue teams are searching for the remains of the seven people known to have been in the pub at the time the bomb hit. They are shocked, however, to uncover eight bodies instead. The eighth, unidentified, body is that of a teenage girl, who no one in the town claims to know. Who is she, how did she get there, but most importantly - who killed her?Teaming up with local coroner and old friend, Bram Nash, Jo sets out to establish the identity of the girl and solve the riddle of her death. In doing so, she also uncovers her own personal mystery.Everyone has secrets - some are just more deadly than others . . .

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