Search results for ""author roy"
Boydell & Brewer Ltd Scotland, England and France after the Loss of Normandy, 1204-1296: `Auld Amitie'
An examination of the complex network of relationships and identity between England, Scotland and France in the thirteenth century. Following King John's loss of Normandy to King Philip Augustus in 1204, the familial ties that bound the Anglo-French nobility across the Channel spreading into Scotland gradually dissipated. Scotland's pivotal relationship with England and France transformed as Scottish families began to redefine their identity within a native Scottish and English context apart from their French roots. This book argues that the loss of Normandy ushered in a deep andprofound shift in the political and cultural mentality of the Anglo-Scottish nobility. By the end of the thirteenth century, the number of Scottish families who still held land in France or made French marriages was slashed by two thirds. Cross-Channel relations were maintained mainly through the extended kin of the Scottish royal family, while the crown of Scotland focused more on promoting relations with England. Ironically, it was precisely this disintegration of kin-based, personal relations between the nobility of these three polities that made it necessary for a formal bond (The Treaty of Paris) to be forged between France and Scotland in 1295, referred to as an "Auld Amitie". M.A. Pollock gained her PhD from the University of St Andrews. She has since taught at St Andrews, the University of Edinburgh, Trinity College, Dublin, and University College Dublin.
£80.00
Boydell & Brewer Ltd The Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, 1275-1504: III: Edward II. 1307-1327
A major contribution to the history of Parliament, to medieval English history, and to the study of the English constitution. ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW The rolls of parliament were the official records of the meetings of the English parliament from the reign of Edward I (1272-1307) until the reign of Henry VII (1485-1509), after which they were superseded by the journals of thelords, and, somewhat later, the commons. This volume contains the records of the parliaments held during the reign of Edward II, between October 1307 and November 1325. The parliament of January 1327, which was called in the nameof Edward II, was instead treated as the first parliament of the reign of Edward III. It covers a very eventful reign, which was marked by political conflict, strong personal enmities and civil war, wars with Scotland and France,and the unprecedented deposition of the king in 1327 - all events reflected, directly or indirectly, within the Rolls. An Introduction to each of the Parliaments during this period discusses the political context in which itwas held; the purpose for which it was summoned; who was summoned; and analyzes the proceedings of the parliament both as recorded in the Parliament Rolls (several of which have not previously been published) and in other sources, such as royal records and chronicles. Seymour Phillips is Professor of History, University College Dublin.
£110.00
Boydell & Brewer Ltd Medievalism in Nineteenth-Century Belgium: The 1848 Monument to Godfrey of Bouillon
This study of the monument of Godfrey of Bouillon offers new insights to the political uses of public monuments devoted to figures from the past, modern uses and appropriations of the Middle Ages, and the role of historical culture in the creation of national identity. On 15 August 1848, a bronze equestrian statue of the crusading hero Godfrey of Bouillon (d.1100) was unveiled in the Place Royale in Brussels, Belgium's capital. Conceived and largely funded by the national government, its creation was a major element in a programme of political and cultural consolidation put into place after the Belgian Revolution (1830-1831) and the consequent establishment of the nation's independence. From the outset, the monument was designed to transmit ideas about history and nationhood, and functioned as a focal point in discussions of politics, language, religion and identity. This book sheds new light on a range of dynamics in nineteenth-century Belgium, using the statue as a prism; it investigates responses to it both home and abroad, and traces broader national interest in the commemoration of Godfrey, adopted as a national hero despite being born almost 800 years before the emergence of the state. Above all, it reveals that Belgian politics and culture in this period were profoundly shaped by a sustained interest in the Middle Ages, and by efforts to shape a historical narrative that traced Belgian nationhood back to that era, and beyond.
£80.00
Boydell & Brewer Ltd Lascars and Indian Ocean Seafaring, 1780-1860: Shipboard Life, Unrest and Mutiny
Cases of mutiny and other forms of protest are used to reveal full and interesting details of lascar shipboard life. Shortlisted for the Royal Historical Society's 2016 Gladstone Prize. Lascars were seamen from the Indian subcontinent and other areas of the Indian Ocean region who were employed aboard European ships from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. They experienced difficult working conditions and came from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, which created considerable scope for friction between them and their Europeanofficers. This book, based on extensive original research, examines the role of lascars employed aboard country ships, East Indiamen and other British sailing vessels. The focus is on protest in its various forms, from mild unrest to violent acts of mutiny in which lascar crews murdered officers, seized ships and then sought refuge with local rulers. It is only through descriptions of such events - found in logbooks, seafaring diaries and the East India Company's judicial records - that many aspects of lascar life at sea become visible and lascar voices can be heard. Through the study of mutiny and other forms of protest, the book provides a detailed insight into shipboard conditions amongst lascars employed during this period. Aaron Jaffer completed his doctorate in history at the University of Warwick.
£75.00
Edinburgh University Press Islamic Chinoiserie: The Art of Mongol Iran
This beautifully illustrated history of Safavid Isfahan (1501 1722) explores the architectural and urban forms and networks of socio-cultural action that reflected a distinctly early-modern and Perso-Shi'i practice of kingship. An immense building campaign, initiated in 1590-91, transformed Isfahan from a provincial, medieval, and largely Sunni city into an urban-centered representation of the first Imami Shi'i empire in the history of Islam. The historical process of Shi'ification of Safavid Iran and the deployment of the arts in situating the shifts in the politico-religious agenda of the imperial household informs Sussan Babaie's study of palatial architecture and urban environments of Isfahan and the earlier capitals of Tabriz and Qazvin. Babaie argues that since the Safavid claim presumed the inheritance both of the charisma of the Shi'i Imams and of the aura of royal splendor integral to ancient Persian notions of kingship, a ceremonial regime was gradually devised in which access and proximity to the shah assumed the contours of an institutionalized form of feasting. Talar-palaces, a new typology in Islamic palatial designs, and the urban-spatial articulation of access and proximity are the architectural anchors of this argument. Cast in the comparative light of urban spaces and palace complexes elsewhere and earlier in the Timurid, Ottoman, and Mughal realms as well as in the early modern European capitals Safavid Isfahan emerges as the epitome of a new architectural-urban paradigm in the early modern age.
£40.00
Atlantic Books The Heresy of Dr Dee
THE SECOND INSTALMENT IN THE JOHN DEE PAPERSThe acclaimed second instalment of The John Dee Papers. Tudor intrigue, murder and the dark arts - brooding superstition leaves John Dee isolated in the land of his father...'Chills, thrills and satisfies. A fabulous read.' - Huffington PostAt the end of the sunless summer of 1560, black rumour shrouds the death of the one woman who stands between Lord Robert Dudley and marriage to the young Queen Elizabeth. Did Dudley's wife, Amy, die from an accidental fall in a deserted house, or was it murder? Even Dr John Dee, astrologer royal, adviser on the Hidden and one of Dudley's oldest friends, is uncertain. Then a rash promise to the Queen sends him to his family's old home on the Welsh Border in pursuit of the Wigmore Shewstone, a crystal credited with supernatural properties. With John Dee goes Robert Dudley, considered the most hated man in England. They travel with a London judge sent to try a sinister Welsh brigand with a legacy dating back to the Battle of Brynglas. After the battle, many of the English bodies were, according to legend, obscenely mutilated. Now, on the same haunted hill, another dead man has been found, similarly slashed. Devious politics, small-town corruption, twisted religion and a brooding superstition leave John Dee isolated in the land of his father. The previous book in the bestselling The John Dee Papers is The Bones of Avalon.
£10.99
Taylor & Francis Inc The Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War, Volume II, 1942-1943: The Fleet Air Arm in Transition - the Mediterranean, Battle of the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean
Readers of this book will gain a clear appreciation of the growing importance of the aircraft carrier during World War Two and proposals thereafter for the future composition of Royal Navy's surface fleet together with the nature of the Fleet Air Arm's expansion programmes. This second book of three focuses on the Fleet Air Arm during the middle years of the Second World War. It covers the transitional period moving from a small number of carriers to a naval air arm with modern aircraft types capable of operating a number of Fleet Carriers in the Pacific Ocean following Japan's entry into the War in December 1941. The struggle in the Mediterranean continued and reached its peak with the efforts to relieve the siege of Malta in the summer of 1942 and the subsequent landings in North Africa and Italy. The increasing role played by the Fleet Air Arm aircraft operating from Escort Carriers and Merchant Aircraft Carriers in the Battle of the Atlantic during 1943 is also apparent. The aim of these volumes is to present an insight into the major planning and policy issues of concern to the Admiralty and extensive coverage of naval air operations. Difficulties of operating aircraft at sea, the nature of air combat and the complexities involved in expanding an organisation such as the Fleet Air Arm under wartime conditions are discussed.
£130.00
Phaidon Press Ltd Chardin
Jean Siméon Chardin (1699–1779) was arguably the most talented French painter of the eighteenth century, best known for his original still lifes. Composed of simple, everyday objects, these works glow with warmth and magic, from the dull iron of the kitchen pans, to the glaze of the green earthenware jug or the shining copper of the cauldron. There is no superfluous detail or search for decorative effect; the beauty of his paintings lies in their minimalism. His contemporary, the philosopher Diderot, looking at The Olive Jar exclaimed: ‘All you have to do is take these biscuits and eat them … pick up the glass of wine and drink it … O Chardin! It’s not white, red or black pigment that you crush on your palette: it’s the very substance of the objects.’Chardin received early recognition for his work, becoming an Associate of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture and full Academician in 1728 at the age of almost 29. Following the success of his early still lifes and inspired by Dutch seventeenth-century artists, whose work was very much in vogue in Paris at the time, Chardin went on to paint some exquisite genre scenes and portraits, remarkable for their realism and honesty as well as for their skilful technique. His works had a tremendous influence on subsequent artists, inspiring painters as diverse as Manet and Cézanne.
£7.60
Pennsylvania State University Press Habsburg Madrid: Architecture and the Spanish Monarchy
With its selection as the court of the Spanish Habsburgs, Madrid became the de facto capital of a global empire, a place from which momentous decisions were made whose implications were felt in all corners of a vast domain. By the seventeenth century, however, political theory produced in the Monarquía Hispánica dealt primarily with the concept of decline. In this book, Jesús Escobar argues that the buildings of Madrid tell a different story about the final years of the Habsburg dynasty.Madrid took on a grander public face over the course of the seventeenth century, creating a “court space” for residents and visitors alike. Drawing from the representation of the city’s architecture in prints, books, and paintings, as well as re-created plans standing in for lost documents, Escobar demonstrates how, through shared forms and building materials, the architecture of Madrid embodied the monarchy and promoted its chief political ideals of justice and good government. Habsburg Madrid explores palaces, public plazas, a town hall, a courthouse, and a prison, narrating the lived experience of architecture in a city where a wide roster of protagonists, from architects and builders to royal patrons, court bureaucrats, and private citizens, helped shape a modern capital.Richly illustrated, highly original, and written by a leading scholar in the field, this volume disrupts the traditional narrative about seventeenth-century Spanish decadencia. It will be welcomed by specialists in Habsburg Spain and by historians of art, architecture, culture, economics, and politics.
£93.56
McGill-Queen's University Press Looking After Miss Alexander: Care, Mental Capacity, and the Court of Protection in Mid-Twentieth-Century England
In July 1939, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, fifty-nine-year-old Beatrice Alexander was found incapable of managing her own property and affairs. Although Alexander and those living with her insisted that she was perfectly well, the official solicitor took control of her home and money, evicted her “friends,” and hired a live-in companion to watch over her. Alexander remained legally incapable for the next thirty years. In the mid-twentieth century, Alexander was one of about thirty thousand people in England and Wales who were, at any time, legally “incapable” and under the auspices of what is now the Court of Protection. Focusing on the period between the 1920s and the 1960s, Looking After Miss Alexander explains the workings of the court, using Alexander’s unusual case to consider the complexities of this aspect of mental health law. Drawing on Court of Protection archives – some of which were made publicly available for the first time in 2019 – and micro-historical methods, Janet Weston also highlights the role of chance, subjectivity, and uncertainty in shaping how events unfolded then, and the stories we tell about those events today.An engaging and accessible history of mental capacity law, Looking After Miss Alexander examines ideas of citizenship and welfare, gender and vulnerability, care and control, and the role of the state. It also offers reflections on historical research and writing itself.
£97.20
HarperCollins Publishers The People’s Princess
Step behind the palace doors in this gripping historical novel that is a must read for fans of The Crown and Princess Diana! Buckingham Palace, 1981 Her engagement to Prince Charles is a dream come true for Lady Diana Spencer but marrying the heir to the throne is not all that it seems. Alone and bored in the palace, she resents the stuffy courtiers who are intent on instructing her about her new role as Princess of Wales… But when she discovers a diary written in the 1800s by Princess Charlotte of Wales, a young woman born into a gilded cage so like herself, Diana is drawn into the story of Charlotte’s reckless love affairs and fraught relationship with her father, the Prince Regent. As she reads the diary, Diana can see many parallels with her own life and future as Princess of Wales. The story allows a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life in the palace, the tensions in Diana’s relationship with the royal family during the engagement, and the wedding itself. Praise for Flora Harding: ‘If you’re a fan of The Crown, you’ll love this’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Fascinating…a beautiful love story’ Woman ‘Magnificent. It carries so much depth and warmness, and closeness to the characters that you do not want to part from them…a page-turner’ Best Historical Fiction Reviews
£8.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Born to Drum: The Truth About the World's Greatest Drummers--from John Bonham and Keith Moon to Sheila E. and Dave Grohl
"An engaging journey into the wild and wonderful world of drumming."-CLEM BURKE, Blondie To have a great band you need a great drummer. For the first time, Tony Barrell shines a long-overdue spotlight on these musicians, offering an exciting look into their world, their art, and their personalities. In Born to Drum, he interviews some of the most famous, revered, and influential drummers of our time-including Chad Smith, Ginger Baker, Clem Burke, Sheila E., Phil Collins, Nick Mason, Patty Schemel, Butch Vig, and Omar Hakim-who share astonishing truths about their work and lives. He investigates the stories of late, great drummers such as Keith Moon and John Bonham, analyzes many of the greatest drum tracks ever recorded, and introduces us to the world's fastest and loudest drummers, as well as the first musician to pilot a "flying drum kit" onstage. Filled with fascinating insights into the trade and little-known details about the greats, Born to Drum elevates drummers and their achievements to their rightful place in music lore and pop culture. "As Born to Drum proves, there's a lot more to be told about drums and drumming than the Rolls-Royce in the swimming pool and the pyro beneath the bass drum."-NICK MASON, Pink Floyd "Everyone should read this book-especially if you're not a drummer. A great insight into a great sport."-Joey Kramer, Aerosmith
£10.99
McGill-Queen's University Press Looking After Miss Alexander: Care, Mental Capacity, and the Court of Protection in Mid-Twentieth-Century England
In July 1939, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, fifty-nine-year-old Beatrice Alexander was found incapable of managing her own property and affairs. Although Alexander and those living with her insisted that she was perfectly well, the official solicitor took control of her home and money, evicted her “friends,” and hired a live-in companion to watch over her. Alexander remained legally incapable for the next thirty years. In the mid-twentieth century, Alexander was one of about thirty thousand people in England and Wales who were, at any time, legally “incapable” and under the auspices of what is now the Court of Protection. Focusing on the period between the 1920s and the 1960s, Looking After Miss Alexander explains the workings of the court, using Alexander’s unusual case to consider the complexities of this aspect of mental health law. Drawing on Court of Protection archives – some of which were made publicly available for the first time in 2019 – and micro-historical methods, Janet Weston also highlights the role of chance, subjectivity, and uncertainty in shaping how events unfolded then, and the stories we tell about those events today.An engaging and accessible history of mental capacity law, Looking After Miss Alexander examines ideas of citizenship and welfare, gender and vulnerability, care and control, and the role of the state. It also offers reflections on historical research and writing itself.
£31.00
Biblioasis London Free Press: From the Vault, Vol 2: A Photo-History of London
The much-anticipated follow-up to From the Vault, Volume 1 draws on local archives to bring historic London, Ontario, to life. Welcome to 1950 in London, Ontario. The post-war boom is in full swing, fueled by jobs, babies, and the modern consumer. New buildings dot the landscape, marking the advent of suburbia and rise of the shopping mall. When the 401 cuts through town, London finds itself on the cultural map, bringing famous acts to town. Taken by the spirit of protest, Londoners hit the streets to make their voices heard. The Forest City is electric with change. From the Vault, Volume II: 1950 to 1975 explores what were among the most important and exciting years of London’s history. From the opening of Wellington Square Mall to a Royal Visit, the demolition of Hotel London to anti-Vietnam protests, the book illustrates the era by featuring over 1,250 iconic images from the archives of the London Free Press, held at Western Archives. As London’s paper of record for 170 years, the London Free Press remains the region’s greatest source of historical photography and eyewitness testimony. Like its predecessor, the best-selling From the Vault, this book sets a new standard for Canadian excellence in regional history. Documenting landmark events, timeless memories, and unforgettable characters, it's a must-have for lovers of history.
£24.29
Hodder & Stoughton Soft Lad: Coming-of-age Stories
Coming-of-age stories from much loved radio royalty, DJ and TV personality Nick Grimshaw - now with a new chapter.'Hilarious and quintessentially Nick. Unapologetically himself always, and that's what I love the most' Dua Lipa'Very funny, very sweet and full of charm -- a bit like the man himself' Graham NortonFrom partying with pop stars and chatting breeze on the radio, to drinking too much, to not drinking at all, to growing up, coming out, general nonsense, the journey from self-loathing to self-care and making dreams come true. These are Grimmy's brilliant, nostalgic coming-of-age tales, covering life's pivotal moments, the loves, the losses, and the fun had with the family and friends that made him. Heart-breaking and heartening in equal measure, Nick will have you laughing out loud, feeling all the emotions and (potentially) having a good cry.'A snapshot of his formative moments that feel relatable, emotional and downright unfiltered . . . like a good long chat with a mate you have always adored' Glamour'One of those fearlessly honest books that manages to be moving and thought-provoking and funny at the same time. A bit like him really' Emily Dean, The Times'Personal and beautifully written . . . I can't recommend it enough' Tom Allen, Virgin Radio
£10.99
Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press Mint Condition: How Baseball Cards Became an American Obsession
When award-winning journalist Dave Jamieson rediscovered his childhood baseball card collection he figured that now was the time to cash in on his "investments." But when he tried the card shops, they were nearly all gone, closed forever. eBay was no help, either. Baseball cards were selling for next to nothing. What had happened? In Mint Condition, the first comprehensive history of this American icon, Jamieson finds the answers and much more. In the years after the Civil War, tobacco companies started slipping baseball cards into cigarette packs as collector's items, launching a massive advertising war. Before long, the cards were wagging the cigarettes. In the 1930s, baseball cards helped gum and candy makers survive the Great Depression, and kept children in touch with the game. After World War II, Topps Chewing Gum Inc. built itself into an American icon, hooking a generation of baby boomers on bubble gum and baseball cards. In the 1960s, royalties from cards helped to transform the players' union into one of the country's most powerful, dramatically altering the business of the game. And in the '80s and '90s, cards went through a spectacular bubble, becoming a billion-dollar-a-year industry before all but disappearing. Brimming with colorful characters, this is a rollicking, century-spanning, and extremely entertaining history.
£12.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I
Charles Spencer tells the shocking stories and fascinating fates of the men who signed Charles I’s death warrant in this Sunday Times bestseller 'Seamless, pacy and riveting ... exceptional' ALISON WEIR 'The virtues of a thriller and of scholarship are potently combined' TOM HOLLAND 'Outstanding: a thrilling tale of retribution and bloody sacrifice' JESSIE CHILDS __________________ January, 1649. After seven years of fighting in the bloodiest war in Britain’s history, Parliament faced a problem: what to do with a defeated king, a king who refused to surrender? Parliamentarians resolved to do the unthinkable, to disregard the Divine Right of Kings and hold Charles I to account for the appalling suffering and slaughter endured by his people. On an icy winter’s day on a scaffold outside Whitehall, the King of England was executed. When the dead king’s son, Charles II, was restored to the throne, he set about enacting a deadly wave of retribution against all those – the lawyers, the judges, the officers on the scaffold – responsible for his father’s death. Bestselling historian Charles Spencer explores this violent clash of ideals through the individuals whose fates were determined by that one, momentous decision. A powerful tale of revenge from the dark heart of royal history and a fascinating insight into the dangers of political and religious allegiance in Stuart England, these are the shocking stories of the men who dared to kill a king.
£14.99
The History Press Ltd Never Shaken, Never Stirred: The Story of Ann Fleming and Laura, Duchess of Marlborough
Glamorous, fun and packed with scandalous anecdotes and exclusive interviews, Never Shaken, Never Stirred tells the story of two extraordinary sisters, Ann and Laura Charteris, who made marrying well an art form.While Laura eventually became the Duchess of Marlborough, Ann’s third and final husband was the journalist Ian Fleming, who she inspired to start writing the spy franchise he would become famous for. Along the way there were marriages, and affairs, with some of the biggest names of the twentieth century. The sisters’ collective husbands included a duke, four peers, Jacqueline Kennedy's former brother-in-law and the alleged illegitimate son of Queen Elizabeth’s uncle. There were also passionate flings with a Labour leader, a press baron and a cluster of film and literary stars.History would come to define Ann and Laura by the men they married, but their marriages are only part of the story. From royals to writers, film stars to politicians, aristocrats to academics, the Charteris sisters knew everybody that mattered, their countless friendships allowing them a privileged ringside seat during many momentous historical moments of the last century. Blazing a glamorous trail with their beauty, charm, riotous behaviour and energetic love affairs, the aristocratic Charteris sisters alternately delighted and scandalised British society, and their lives continue to do so to this day.
£20.69
Vintage Publishing Seeing Things as They Are: Selected Journalism and Other Writings
An enlightening anthology of George Orwell's journalism and non-fiction writing, showing his genius across a wide variety of genres. Selected by leading expert Peter Davison.Famous for his novels and essays, Orwell remains one of our very best journalists and commentators. Confronting social, political and moral dilemmas head-on, he was fearless in his writing: a champion of free speech, a defender against social injustice and a sharp-eyed chronicler of the age. But his work is also timeless, as pieces on immigration, Scottish independence and a Royal Commission on the Press attest. Seeing Things As They Are, compiled by renowned Orwell scholar Peter Davison, brings together in one volume many of Orwell’s articles and essays for journals and newspapers, his broadcasts for the BBC, and his book, theatre and film reviews. Little escaped Orwell’s attention: he writes about the Spanish Civil War, public schools and poltergeists, and reviews books from Brave New World to Mein Kampf. Almost half of his popular ‘As I Please’ weekly columns, written while literary editor of the Tribune during the 1940s, are collected here, ranging over topics as diverse as the purchase of rose bushes from Woolworth’s to the Warsaw Uprising. Whether political, poetic, polemic or personal, this is surprising, witty and intelligent writing to delight in. A mix of well-known and intriguing, less familiar pieces, this engaging collection illuminates our understanding of Orwell’s work as a whole.
£22.50
Vintage Publishing Lancelot 'Capability' Brown: The Omnipotent Magician, 1716-1783
Lancelot Brown changed the face of eighteenth-century England, designing country estates and mansions, moving hills and making flowing lakes and serpentine rivers, a magical world of green. This English landscape style spread across Europe and the world. At home, it proved so pleasing that Brown's influence spread into the lowland landscape at large, and into landscape painting. He stands behind our vision, and fantasy, of rural England. In this vivid, lively biography, based on detailed research, Jane Brown paints an unforgettable picture of the man, his work, his happy domestic life, and his crowded world. She follows the life of the jovial yet elusive Mr Brown, from his childhood and apprenticeship in rural Northumberland, through his formative years at Stowe, the most famous garden of the day. His innovative ideas, and his affable and generous nature, led to a meteoric rise to a Royal Appointment in 1764 and his clients and friends ranged from statesmen like the elder Pitt to artists and actors like David Garrick. Riding constantly across England, Brown never ceased working until he collapsed and died in February 1783 after visiting one of his oldest clients. He was a practical man but also a visionary, always willing to try something new. As this beautifully illustrated biography shows, Brown filled England with enchantment - follies, cascades, lakes, bridges, ornaments, monuments, meadows and woods - creating views that still delight us today.
£20.00
Quercus Publishing Lost and Never Found: the twisty third book in the DI Wilkins Mysteries
'Ryan and Ray go from strength to strength, and this, their third outing, is the best yet. Simon Mason has created crime fiction's most entertaining double act in decades' Mick HerronOxford, city of rich and poor, where the homeless camp out in the shadows of the gorgeous buildings and monuments. A city of lost things - and buried crimes. At three o'clock in the morning, Emergency Services receives a call. 'This is Zara Fanshawe. Always lost and never found.' An hour later, the wayward celebrity's Rolls Royce Phantom is found abandoned in dingy Becket Street. The paparazzi go wild. For some reason, news of Zara's disappearance prompts homeless woman Lena Wójcik to search the camps, nervously, for the bad-tempered vagrant known as 'Waitrose', a familiar sight in Oxford pushing his trolley of possessions. But he's nowhere to be found either. Who will lead the investigation and cope with the media frenzy? Suave, prize-winning, Oxford-educated DI Ray Wilkins is passed over in favour of his partner, gobby, trailer-park educated DI Ryan Wilkins (no relation). You wouldn't think Ray would be happy. He isn't. You wouldn't think Ryan would be any good at national press presentations. He isn't. And when legendary cop Chester Lynch takes a shine to Ray - and takes against Ryan - things are only going to get even messier.
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Battle of the Atlantic
The Battle of the Atlantic - a name coined by Churchill - was the unremitting assault that went on throughout the war on Allied merchant ships that were the lifeline of Great Britain and, from 1941, Russia by aircraft, surface ships but, above all, by the U-boat. Captain Macintyre, who was a distinguished participant in the battle, tells the story with precision and clarity. He describes the measures employed to defeat the amazingly successful 'wolf-pack' tactics of the U-boats, the convoy system and individual convoys, the contribution of the Royal Canadian Navy, the technological advances in radar and asdic, depth charges and aerial support, and does not shirk from describing how desperately close at times was the outcome. Not only does he analyze the strategic issues, above all the importance of the convoy system and of continuous air-cover, he also describes the battle from the viewpoint of the participants themselves. The long drawn-out duel between escort and U-boat is made vivid by quotation from the log-books of some of the ablest escort-commanders and from the combat-reports of the German U-boat ' aces '. Complementing these eye-witness accounts, nearly 50 unfamiliar photographs, drawn from German as well as British sources, make the courage and endurance of all those who fought in the Atlantic the more immediate.
£12.99
Hodder & Stoughton Alan Ball: The Man in White Boots: The biography of the youngest 1966 World Cup Hero
It is a special footballer who wins the World Cup as a 21-year-old and ends a two-decade career as one of the most revered players in the history of four clubs. Former England captain Alan Ball was such a man: prodigy at Blackpool, youngest hero of 1966, Championship winner at Everton, British-record signing for the second time at Arsenal and veteran schemer for Southampton - not to mention footwear trend-setter. And all after being told he was too small to succeed in the game.Yet his years as a flat-cap wearing manager consisted mostly of relegation and promotion battles, some successful and some not, and plenty of frustration as he fought to produce winners in his own image and emulate the feats of his playing days. His life already touched tragically by the car crash that killed his father and the loss of his beloved wife Lesley to cancer, Ball died, aged only 61, after suffering a heart attack during a garden blaze.A decade on from his death, and drawing on interviews with family, friends and colleagues including Jimmy Armfield, Sir Geoff Hurst, George Cohen, Gordon Banks, Joe Royle, Mick Channon, Lawrie McMenemy, Francis Lee, George Graham, Frank McLintock, Matthew Le Tissier and many more, Alan Ball: The Man in White Boots is the definitive study of one of English football's most enduring figures.
£14.99
Orion Publishing Co The Road to London Bridge: How I went from a life of violence to stopping the terror attack Fishmongers’ Hall
'Steve Gallant's exceptional act of courage on London Bridge speaks of both heroism and redemption' - Jon Snow, former anchor of Channel 4 NewsThis is a story of physical bravery, moral courage, and the power of redemption from the man who led the charge in stopping the terrorist attack at Fishmongers' Hall in November 2019. From cell fires to violent feuds and gang battles on prison wings, after being sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, what Steve witnessed at HMP Frankland made him change his life forever. After losing everything, he vowed to never use violence again. In November 2019, Steve's redemptive journey led him to a Learning Together event at Fishmongers' Hall, hosted by his mentor, Jack Merritt, and attended by Saskia Jones. It was here, on his first day out of prison on day release, that Steve was forced to break his vow as he bravely confronted and fought armed-terrorist Usman Khan on London Bridge. Armed just with a narwhal tusk, Steve wrestled and held Khan to the ground while he waited for the police to arrive.In October 2020 Steve was granted a royal prerogative of mercy in recognition of his actions at London Bridge. In August 2021 he was released from prison and in March 2023 he was awarded a Queen's Gallantry Medal, the final civilian gallantry awards approved by the late Queen.This is Steve Gallant's powerful and inspiring story of redemption told in full for the first time.
£8.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Churchill's Arctic Convoys: Strength Triumphs Over Adversity
The threat of Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's surprise invasion of Russia in June 1941, succeeding prompted Churchill to decide to send vital military supplies to Britain's new ally. The early sailings to Northern Russia via the Arctic Ocean between August 1941 and February 1942 were largely unopposed. But this changed dramatically during the course of 1942 when German naval and air operations inflicted heavy losses on both merchantmen and their escorts. Problems were exacerbated by the need to divert Royal Navy warships to support the North African landing. Strained Anglo-Soviet relations coupled with mounting losses and atrocious weather and sea conditions led to the near termination of the programme in early 1943. Again, competing operational priorities, namely the invasion of Sicily and preparations for D-Day, affected the convoy schedules. In the event, despite often crippling losses of lives, ships and supplies, the convoys continued until shortly before VE-Day. This thoroughly researched and comprehensive account examines both the political, maritime and logistic aspects of the Arctic convoy campaign. Controversially it reveals that the losses of merchant vessels were significantly greater than hitherto understood. While Churchill may not have described the convoys as the worst journey in the world', for the brave men who undertook he mission often at the cost of their lives, it most definitely was.
£22.50
Oxford University Press Scientific Testimony: Its roles in science and society
Scientific Testimony concerns the roles of scientific testimony in science and society. The book develops a positive alternative to a tradition famously expressed by the slogan of the Royal Society Nullius in verba ("Take nobody's word for it"). This book argues that intra-scientific testimony--i.e., testimony between collaborating scientists--is not in conflict with the spirit of science or an add-on to scientific practice. On the contrary, intra-scientific testimony is a vital part of science. This is illustrated by articulating epistemic norms of intra-scientific testimony and arguing that they are vital to scientific methodology on a par with other scientific norms governing scientific observation and data analysis. The book also provides an account of public scientific testimony--i.e., scientific testimony to the lay population. This is done by integrating philosophical resources with empirical research on the science of science communication. For example, various misconceptions about science and folk epistemological biases are diagnosed as factors that contribute to science skepticism. This diagnosis provides the basis for developing novel norms for science communication that are sensitive to the psychological and social obstacles to laypersons' uptake of it. Finally, the volume discusses how public scientific testimony is best embedded in society and argues that it is critical for societies that pursue the ideals of deliberative democracy. Scientific Testimony draws on philosophy of science, social epistemology, and empirical research to provide a wide-ranging account of the roles of scientific testimony within scientific practice and within the wider society.
£72.48
John Murray Press Jo Cox: More in common
'Jo Cox's selfless service to others made the world a better place' Barack Obama, 44th President of the United StatesTHE NUMBER 1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'A desperately tender account ... part love story, part grief memoir ... resolutely uplifting' Decca Aitkenhead, Guardian | 'Brave, inspiring, and full of love.' Daily Express | 'A chance to get to know the woman behind the headlines - a tiny ball of energy with a heart as big as a lion, a person who wanted to make a difference' Lorraine Kelly, SunJo Cox's murder in June 2016 shocked the world. In the aftermath of her tragic death her husband Brendan Cox urged us to remember Jo's life and what she stood for and not the manner of her death. In this inspiring and impassioned portrait of Jo - as daughter, mother, wife, sister, MP and campaigner - we see how much she gave and much more she had to give. The values she embraced of togetherness, inclusion and compassion are needed now more than ever. A touching and very human portrait of an extraordinary woman, whose legacy has already inspired others. This summer over 100,000 events were part of The Great Get Together in honour of Jo. 'We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.'All Brendan Cox's royalties will go to the Jo Cox Foundation.'Jo would have no regrets about her life, she lived every day of it to the full.'
£9.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC HMS Victory Pocket Manual 1805: Admiral Nelson's Flagship At Trafalgar
A history of life on board HMS Victory, the world's most famous warship. This addition to the best-selling Conway pocket-book range explores Admiral Nelson’s fully preserved flagship HMS Victory, the most tangible symbol of the Royal Navy’s greatest battle off Cape Trafalgar on October 21st 1805. Peter Goodwin, the leading historian of the sailing man-of-war, explains the workings of the only surviving ‘line of battle’ ship of the Napoleonic Wars. And, as Victory was engaged in battle for only two per cent of her active service, the book also provides a glimpse into life and work at sea during the other ninety-eight per cent of the time. Drawing from a selection of contemporary documents and records, Goodwin explains the day-to-day running of a three-decker Georgian warship: victualling, organisation, discipline, domestic arrangements and medical care. He answers questions such as: ‘What types of wood were used in building Victory?’; ‘What was her longest voyage?’; ‘How many shots were fired from her guns at Trafalgar?’; ‘How many boats did Victory carry?’; ‘What was prize money?’; ‘What was grog?’; ‘When did her career as a fighting ship end?’, and ‘How many people visit Victory each year?’ Illustrated with black and white diagrams of the ship and maps, this is a full history of the world's most famous warship in a highly accessible pocket-book format.
£9.99
Quadrille Publishing Ltd Big Green Egg Feasts: Innovative Recipes to Cook for Friends and Family
"Cooking on the Big Green Egg is an all-round experience... I view it as an oven that just happens to live in the garden that can do all the things a conventional oven does, plus much more. There’s nothing else quite like it." – Tom KerridgeThe Big Green Egg has been a phenomenon in the world of outdoor cooking, with a devoted following and high-end reputation. This is not just a brilliant BBQ, this is the most versatile and exciting bit of cooking kit there is. Not only can you cook on the griddle, oven roast, smoke, bake, or leave to 'low and slow', but you can treat it like a konro, mangal, forno, parilla, comal, tandoor or hāngi and create a plethora of international dishes of restaurant quality. Master Fish Tacos for friends and family, rustle up a Chicken Balti for a cosy night in, present Bistecca Fiorentina for a Tuscan feast, or serve up a Couscous Royale for a balmy summer evening. And with the expert guidance of award-winning food writer Tim Hayward, you’ll be making exceptional dishes all year round. The EGG and this cookbook will encourage you to never look at cooking the same way again. The EGG can be the linchpin of a memorable outdoor event, giving you the confidence to cook beyond your normal repertoire and create an occasion – whether it’s a special dinner for two or a celebration for many.
£27.00
Grub Street Publishing Buccaneer Boys: True Tales from Those Who Flew the Last 'All-British Bomber'
Twenty-four aircrew who flew the iconic aircraft with the Fleet Air Arm, the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force (SAAF) relate their experiences and affection for the Blackburn Buccaneer. Arranged in chronological order, the book traces the history of the aircraft and the tasks it fulfilled. In addition to describing events and activities, it provides an insight into the lifestyle of a Buccaneer squadron and the fun and enjoyment of being a `Buccaneer Boy' in addition to being part of a highly professional and dedicated force. This lavishly illustrated book concludes with accounts of the aircraft's final days in RAF service and some reflections on its impact on maritime and overland air power.
£12.99
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Pocket Matchsafes: Reflections of Life & Art, 1840-1920
Are you interested in matchsafes, breweriana, orientalia, fraternal orders, black memorabilia, Native Americans, royalty and politicians, risquŠ themes, sports, advertising, heraldry, gambling, and late-nineteenth and early twentieth century art forms? One medium that has captured all the above is matchsafes, presented here as a microcosm of life and art from 1840 to 1920. Nearly 2,000 matchsafes have been captured in exquisite detail in 398 color photographs by Gordon Deas. Each is described with details of its pertinent artist, patentee, manufacturer, materials, construction, and value, all complementing the brief and conversational general text. This definitive book is organized according to these interests to provide hours of enjoyment and a source you will return to again and again.
£28.79
University of California Press The Ancient Egyptian Book of Two Ways
This title is one of the earliest known guides to the beyond, offering a spiritual map intended to help the deceased navigate the afterlife. Inscribed on the bottoms of noble coffins, the text's intricate zigzagging routes symbolize the paths one must take to overcome various trials and reach a favorable afterlife. Throughout the Book of Two Ways, gods, demons, and gatekeepers populate the routes, with specific spells required to move past each obstacle. Unlike earlier Pyramid Texts exclusive to royalty, this guide represents a shift toward greater accessibility, symbolizing a democratization of the afterlife in Egyptian culture. By including spells and mythological guidance, the Book of Two Ways reflects the complex syncretism of Egyptian beliefs, combining regional deities and narratives into a cohesive, albeit challenging, spiritual map. As part of a larger corpus of mortuary literature, the Book of Two Ways complements texts like the Coffin Texts and, later, the Book of the Dead
£30.60
Oxford University Press Inc A Time for All Things: The Life of Michael E. DeBakey
He has been called the greatest surgeon of the 20th century. The son of Lebanese immigrants, Michael DeBakey rose from humble beginnings in a backwater Louisiana town to dominate the landscape of modern medicine. His contributions to our understanding and treatment of cardiovascular disease, in particular, were innumerable and epoch-making. DeBakey led a life of high drama, from the streets of Jazz Age New Orleans and the operating theaters of pre-war Europe, to the battlefields of World War II and the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina. An advisor to Presidents, a health care statesman, and a physician to royalty and commoner alike, he helped build Houston's Texas Medical Center into a jewel of the medical world. Yet DeBakey's own family paid a tremendous cost for his commitment to his fellow man. Buoyed by unique access to primary resources, A Time for All Things: The Life of Michael E. DeBakey is the first to tell the remarkable story of a driven genius who led a scientific and therapeutic revolution in all its dramatic depth.
£66.12
Edinburgh University Press The Duke of Lennox, 1574-1624: A Jacobean Courtier's Life
This is the first biography of Ludovic Stuart, Duke of Lennox, who served in the court of King James VI of Scotland from 1583 until his unexpected death in 1624. Lennox arrived in Scotland in November 1583, a 9-year-old boy from France and a cousin of the king. For the next 40 years he served James faithfully and skilfully, becoming the quintessential courtier, James's confidant, adviser and friend. Shrewd politician, ambitious and sometimes ruthless, but also beloved by the royal family, Lennox carefully negotiated political and diplomatic minefields. He also participated in the arts as patron and performer, sponsoring his own acting company, attending drama performances and performing in several court masques. Providing a portrait of this most important courtier, this book covers the politics and cultural life of the Stuart court in Scotland and England. It shows that it is essential to know about Lennox and his unparalleled importance in order to fully understand the reign of King James.
£90.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Operation Title
Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to Tirpitz as The Beast,' and on 25th January 1942 he wrote, The destruction or even the crippling of this ship is the greatest event at this present time. No other target is comparable to it.' With these words the seeds were sown for Operation TITLE, an Allied mission to sink Tirpitz. Harvesting began on 19th October 1942 when the fishing boat, Arthur, sailed from Scalloway with a crew of four Norwegians, a six-man team of Royal Navy divers and two chariots' in a brave attempt to tame the Beast.' Arduous training of men, fine tuning of the experimental chariots,' and the determination of those who undertook this mission all combined in a contest comparable with the biblical tale of David and Goliath. In this case Goliath, in the form of Tirpitz, survived with, sadly, the death of one Able Seaman, Robert Paul Evans RN. This book is a tribute to him and to all those who, undertaking similar dangerous deeds of valour, shared the same fate.
£20.00
Vintage Publishing The Bookseller of Florence: Vespasiano da Bisticci and the Manuscripts that Illuminated the Renaissance
'A marvel of storytelling and a masterclass in the history of the book' WALL STREET JOURNALThe Renaissance in Florence conjures images of beautiful frescoes and elegant buildings - the dazzling handiwork of the city's artists and architects. But equally important were geniuses of another kind: Florence's manuscript hunters, scribes, scholars and booksellers. At a time where all books were made by hand, these people helped imagine a new and enlightened world. At the heart of this activity was a remarkable bookseller: Vespasiano da Bisticci. His books were works of art in their own right, copied by talented scribes and illuminated by the finest miniaturists. With a client list that included popes and royalty, Vespasiano became the 'king of the world's booksellers'. But by 1480 a new invention had appeared: the printed book, and Europe's most prolific merchant of knowledge faced a formidable new challenge.'A spectacular life of the book trade's Renaissance man' JOHN CAREY, SUNDAY TIMES
£12.99
House of Anansi Press Ltd ,Canada JUMP at Home Grade 5: Worksheets for the JUMP Math Program
John Mighton’s revolutionary JUMP at Home: Grade 5 workbook, now available as a PDF for the first time for at-home learning.“John Mighton’s JUMP program has demonstrated powerfully that, with the right instruction, no one need be left behind in math.” — New York TimesJohn Mighton's innovative JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies) Math program is changing the way math is taught. With these workbooks, parents and caregivers can bring the JUMP program home to keep children learning.The key to the enormous success of the program is a step-by-step teaching method that isolates and describes concepts so clearly that children can not only understand them, but also build up great confidence in themselves and their ability.This workbook includes an introduction that clearly explains the thinking behind the program and follows the carefully designed worksheets used by JUMP tutors and classroom teachers.Royalties from the sales of the JUMP workbooks are donated to the JUMP organization.
£15.42
Zubaan Vikram and the Vampire
King Vikram has a devil of a dilemma! In order to gain power and wealth beyond his wildest dreams, he must deliver a corpse to the sorcerer Shaitanish. The only problem with this simple task is that this particular corpse is home to Betal-an impish storyteller of a vampire with tricks up his sleeve. Betal gives the King a series of riddles to solve as he rides along on the King's back. If King Vikram solves the riddle, but forgets to speak his answer aloud, the vampire will continue to haunt him-spoiling his plans for innumerable riches! Nobody is quite as foolish as King Vikram and Betal runs circles around the poor man, quickly turning him into a royal punchline. Stories like this one of Vikram and Betal date back over a thousand years and in Vikram and the Vampire, Natasha Sharma brings the classic story to life in a hilarious and modern retelling. Children from eight to eighty will enjoy the tale of a dimwitted king and the tongue-twisting, punning vampire who is destined to outsmart him.
£10.46
Nick Hern Books Girls Like That
An urgent and explosive play that explores of the pressures on young people today in the wake of advancing technology. When a naked photograph of Scarlett goes viral, she becomes the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons. But while rumours run wild and everyone forms an opinion, Scarlett just stays silent... With roles for up to twenty-four young female actors (though it can also be performed by a smaller cast), the play is perfect for any schools, youth theatres or drama groups looking to tackle a contemporary subject in a theatrically exciting way. Specially commissioned by Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth and West Yorkshire Playhouse, Evan Placey's play Girls Like That was developed through work with young people from the three theatres and first performed by their youth theatre companies in 2013. It was revived at the Unicorn Theatre, London, in November 2014. Girls Like That was named Best Play for Young Audiences at the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards 2015.
£10.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Scapa Flow
A strategically important natural harbor in the Orkney Islands, Scapa Flow served as Britain''s main fleet anchorage during World Wars I and II. It held Jellicoe''s Grand Fleet from 1914-18, and it was from here that it sailed out to do battle with the Germans at Jutland in 1916. In 1914 the British began building a comprehensive defensive network by fortifying the entrances to Scapa Flow and then extending these defenses to cover most of Orkney. These static defenses were augmented with boom nets, naval patrols and minefields, creating the largest fortified naval base in the world.With the outbreak of the Second World War, Scapa Flow again proved ideally situated to counter the German naval threat and served as the base for Britain''s Home Fleet. Despite constant attacks from aircraft and U-boats, one of which managed to sink the British battleship Royal Oak, the defenses of Scapa Flow were again augmented and improved. By 1940, Orkney had become an island fortress, the lar
£14.99
The History Press Ltd The Wicklow War Dead: A History of the Casualties of the First World War
The Wicklow War Dead, a comprehensive list of those from County Wicklow who died during the two world wars, is the second in this series, following the success of The Tipperary War Dead. After tireless research, Tom and Seamus Burnell put together a record of 840 soldiers, officers, sailors, airmen and nursing sisters, who listed their next of kin as being from Wicklow. The list also incorporates the airmen, soldiers and sailors buried in Wicklow during the two wars. The men honoured in Wicklow War Dead died during the First World War or following it, while in the service of the British Army, the Australian Army, the New Zealand Army, the American Army, the Indian Army, the Canadian Army, the South African Army, the Royal Navy or the British Mercantile Marine. Such a list, combined with intricate data and never-before-seen correspondence and photographs, is an essential addition to any local historian or military enthusiast's bookshelf.
£18.00
The History Press Ltd Parnell: A Novel
Dublin, March 1874. Charles Stewart Parnell, only twenty-six years old, speaks in public for the first time as a candidate for Ireland’s Home Rule Party. Hesitant and nervous, he stumbles through his speech to the sound of booing and leaves the platform humiliated. He vows that in future he will find his voice – and make it heard. Within three years of this speech, Parnell made the House of Commons unworkable; within six years he had destroyed the landlords in Ireland; and within a decade he controlled the House of Commons and put English Prime Ministers in and out of government at will. Parnell: A Novel charts the life of this most enigmatic and remarkable of men, as seen through the eyes of his loyal secretary James Harrison. From the Houses of Parliament to the blighted villages of the West of Ireland, from the courtrooms of the Royal Courts of Justice to the cells of Kilmainham Gaol, this is the story of how the character of one man could alter the fate of two nations.
£14.99
Bonnier Books Ltd The Book of Fred: Funny anecdotes and hilarious insights from the much-loved TV presenter and cricketer
This is not a book of life lessons. But Freddie Flintoff has had a moment to reflect and he's noticed that throughout his four decades, although there's been little method in the madness, there has been the occasional common thread.The Book of Fred is filled with anecdotes, observations and the odd opinion all told with Fred's trademark humour and no-nonsense style. Fred's approach to life draws on the sublime (his series winning performance in the 2005 Ashes) and the ridiculous (singing Elvis Presley's 'Suspicious Minds' in front of a live audience), from highs (making the transition to top TV presenter) to occasional lows (accidentally upsetting the lovely Bruce Forsyth), from the profane (discussing Shane Warne's barnet with Hollywood royalty) to the profound (why 'having a go' leads to self-respect).Throughout, Fred shares his code for success, happiness and a life fully lived - and gives his readers a laugh, some joy, and (the occasional) pause for thought along the way.
£10.99
Pitch Publishing Ltd Foot Soldiers
Victorian England in the 1870s and the early years of the FA Cup. Pitches are little better than mud baths. Crossbars and referees' whistles don't exist, while the players all charge around in a rough-and-tumble manner more suited to rugby. But one side dares to be different. Combining silky skills with military muscle, they pass the ball in a spectacular new style of play. And they have a team spirit like no other. They are a 'band of brothers' who fight for Queen and Country - and for each other. They are the Royal Engineers from Chatham in Kent and Foot Soldiers is their extraordinary story. Among their ranks are 'Renny', one of the game's first superstars, and 'The Major', the mastermind behind their astonishing rise. In a four-year quest to land football's greatest prize both men must confront a disastrous fire, monstrous bad luck, the elements at their fiercest and the shocking death of one of the team's favourite players on FA Cup Final day itself.
£12.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Assyria
The first comprehensive account of the rise and fall of what historians consider to be the world's very first empire: Assyria''A work of remarkable synthesis. The range of its sources is truly extraordinary . . . Frahm punctures a fair share of myths too'' Pratinav Anil, The TimesAt its height in 660 BCE, the kingdom of Assyria stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. It was the first empire the world had ever seen. Here, historian Eckart Frahm tells the epic story of Assyria and its formative role in global history. Assyria's wide-ranging conquests have long been known from the Hebrew Bible and later Greek accounts. But nearly two centuries of research now permit a rich picture of the Assyrians and their empire beyond the battlefield: their vast libraries and monumental sculptures, their elaborate trade and information networks, and the crucial role played by royal women.Although Assyria was crushed by rising powers in the late seventh century BCE
£14.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Stealing Snow
Seventeen-year-old Snow lives within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she doesn't belong there, but she has no memory of life outside, except for the strangest dreams. And then a mysterious, handsome man, an orderly in the hospital, opens a door – and Snow knows that she has to leave … She finds herself in icy Algid, her true home, with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai. As secret after secret is revealed, Snow discovers that she is on the run from a royal lineage she's destined to inherit, a father more powerful and ruthless than she could have imagined, and choices of the heart that could change everything. Heroine or villain, queen or broken girl, frozen heart or true love, Snow must choose her fate … A wonderfully icy fantastical romance, with a strong heroine choosing her own destiny, Danielle Paige’s irresistibly page-turning Snow Queen is like Maleficent and Frozen all grown up.
£8.93
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Bones
In 2014 local historian Catherine Corless made a discovery of baby bones and skeletons in the grounds of a mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. Built on the grounds of an old workhouse that operated between 1921 and 1961 the discovery threw up questions about the goings-on across this and similar institutions across Ireland. Tanika Gupta's powerful drama is loosely based on these recent and historical events, drawing inspiration from Corless' discovery. Told through the eyes of Grace and her grandchildren, Bones is a play about loss, punishment of unmarried mothers and the legacy of the demonisation of women by Church and State, where the human and reproductive rights of women are undermined. Bones premiered at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2019. Bones is published in Methuen Drama's Plays For Young People Age 16+ series which offers suitable plays for young performers at schools, youth groups and youth theatres that have each had premiere productions by young performers in the UK.
£14.80
St. Martin's Publishing Group The Debutantes
Jessica Goodman meets The Agathas in this taut, twisty YA thriller set in the glittering world of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where secrets--and bodies--never stay buried.For the New Orleans elite, the Les Masques Ball is sure to be the social event of the season-if they can avoid another dead Queen. When debutante Margot Landry was found dead the morning after her reign at last year's ball, it was a tragedy, but not a shocking one. Margot was a wild child with a self-destructive streak, nothing like this year's Queen, Lily LeBlanc. With a perfectly poised debutante on the throne, everything is going according to plan...until the ball is hijacked by a mysterious figure in a Jester costume. That night, Lily sends a text to three of the Maids on her royal court-her best friend, Vivian; her boyfriend's sister, Piper; and April, her former frenemy-asking them all to meet the next morning. But Lily never shows up.On the surface, these three debutantes don't h
£11.99