Search results for ""john blake publishing""

'Gripping and shocking' - Tim Shipman, author of All Out War'An extraordinary development' - The Times'An impressively detailed account of a remarkable alliance' - Jeremy Bowen, The New StatesmanThe Times best political books of 2022Despite being one of the world's most powerful intelligence networks, the Five Eyes has been steeped in secrecy since its formation in 1956. The international intelligence collaboration between Britain, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, has shaped global events since its inception - and continues to do so to this day.Over eight decades, the alliance's agencies, including the CIA, FBI, MI5, MI6, GCHQ, and ASIO, have swapped secrets and tradecraft, and pooled resources. From Nazi hunters and World War II codebreakers, to spymasters and political leaders embroiled in the recent security crisis around Russia and Ukraine, they have shared a common purpose and common enemy, in spite of a mutual mistrust.In this revised and updated edition, Richard Kerbaj expertly weaves together stories of this extraordinary alliance and the unlikely cast of characters who have played a crucial role in its history. Impeccably researched and including interviews with world leaders and intelligence officials, The Secret History of the Five Eyes is a major contribution to the literature of international intelligence. ____________________________'This thought-provoking and informative book suggests that the era of globetrotting lone agents such as James Bond is long gone.' - Sydney Morning Herald'The stories Kerbaj tells reveal ... a story of failure - of missing warnings that could have prevented atrocities, of misusing intelligence to start a war' - Observer 'Scintillating ... full of scoops ... by focusing on the human relationships which are the beating heart of the Five Eyes, Kerbaj has made a singular contribution to the intelligence discourse. It's a service to democracy.' - The Australian'Kerbaj ... has chronicled the history of the Fives Eyes spy network. His list of interviewees speaks for itself - several former heads of MI5, MI6, GCHQ, the CIA, four former British and Australian prime ministers, and myriad other current and former spooks. But this account is unencumbered by any sense of an agreed or official narrative (the usual price for this level of journalistic access).' - Gabriel Pogrund, Whitehall Editor, The Sunday Times'Sensational' - Nigel Nelson, Political Editor, The Mirror'An impressively detailed account of a remarkable alliance' - Jeremy Bowen, The New Statesman'Examines decades of intelligence sharing' - The Telegraph'Reopen[s] the debate' - The Times'Explosive' - The World News

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'However much you thought you knew about The Stones before you read it, afterwards you'll know more. It's glittering' - Simon Napier-Bell'Special [...] it's brilliant' Johnnie WalkerFrom Sunday Times bestselling author Lesley-Ann JonesOn 12 July 1962, the Rollin' Stones performed their first-ever gig at London's Marquee jazz club. Down the line, a 'g' was added, a spark was lit and their destiny was sealed. No going back.These five white British kids set out to play the music of black America. They honed a style that bled bluesy undertones into dark insinuations of women, sex and drugs. Denounced as 'corruptors of youth' and 'messengers of the devil', they created some of the most thrilling music ever recorded. Now, their sound and attitude seem louder and more influential than ever. Elvis is dead and the Beatles are over, but Jagger and Richards bestride the world. The Stones may be gathering moss, but on they roll. Yet how did the ultimate anti-establishment misfits become the global brand we know today? Who were the casualties, and what are the forgotten legacies? Can the artist ever be truly divisible from the art? Lesley-Ann Jones's new history tracks this contradictory, disturbing, granitic and unstoppable band through hope, glory and exile, into the juggernaut years and beyond into rock's ongoing reckoning . . . where the Stones seem more at odds than ever with the values and heritage against which they have always rebelled. Good, bad and often ugly, here are the Rolling Stones as never before.

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With a foreword by Carl Fogarty'A worthy and fitting tribute to the King of the Roads' - Irish News Joey Dunlop's story is one of towering triumphs and desperate tragedies in almost equal measure. Born poor - dirt poor - with no running water, no electricity, he was the definition of the everyman hero, in what must be considered one of the world's most extreme sports - motorcycle road racing. He remains the most loved and most successful road racer of all time. Joey Dunlop won the hearts and minds of millions during his thirty-one-year career, culminating in the year 2000 at the Isle of Man TT when, grey-haired and bespectacled, he cemented his reputation as the greatest TT rider in history by regaining the F1 crown for the first time in twelve years. But in road racing, tragedy is never very far away. Joey lost his life in an accident in July of 2000. It was just weeks after his final TT victory. More than 60,000 people attended Joey's funeral. Over twenty years on, the sport has never truly recovered. Every motorcycling lover knows the legend of Joey Dunlop but now, for the first time, they can get to know the man himself. This definitive new biography is by turns hilarious, triumphant and tragic; it is Dunlop's story as it has never been told before - by those who were part of it.

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From No.1 bestselling author Toni Maguire comes a new true story of abuse and survival.'Whatever you do, don't go back to him, not this time. If not for your sake, then for your children's.'Ava Thomas knew leaving was the right decision. Trapped and manipulated in her relationship, and after yet another violent beating whilst she was pregnant, Ava was helped to a women's refuge with her children.Listening to the stories of other women there, Ava began thinking back to where it all started to go wrong. Brought up by a mother who never loved her, Ava sought that missing care and warmth elsewhere. Running away to her father's home as a teenager, she thought she might finally be safe. But after being abused by her own brother, she was thrown out onto the streets. Ava searched for the love she had been desperately missing her whole life, and ended up in a relationship controlled by domestic violence.Lifted by the strength of the other women around her, Ava found a new home, a fresh start and never looked back - with her loving children by her side.*In aid of the NSPCC: for each paperback book sold, Bonnier Books UK shall donate 2.5% of its net receipts to the NSPCC (registered charity numbers 216401 and SC037717).*

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!Hailing from a poor family, Vini Jr saw football very much as a hobby rather than a career opportunity. But there was no denying that the young boy from São Gonçalo had bags of talent. Moving quickly through the ranks at Flamengo, he immediately caught the eye of the most successful European football club ever and soon joined Real Madrid. Discover how this winger honed his superior close control dribbling ability, added trickery, flair and flamboyance to his playing style and scored the winning goal in a UEFA Champions League final at only 21 years of age!Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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Epic limited edition Ultimate Football Heroes Book with bonus activities!In this epic special edition book, live the journeys of six ultimate football heroes as they begin their journey to World Cup glory. Discover how superstar players Sadio Mané, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kevin de Bruyne and Declan Rice all stepped up for their national sides and helped secure qualification for their national teams to the Qatar World Cup. They're all set for one more surge towards the ultimate footballing prize!This World Cup Special book will ALSO feature a load of FIFA World Cup related fun facts, quizzes and activities to help you catch that World Cup fever!Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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He was one of the world's true superstars, and the silver screen's most beloved James Bond. Sir Sean Connery - a proud Scotsman born in 1930 to a working-class family - died at home in the Bahamas on 31 October 2020. He left behind him a legacy to rival any actor. Connery bestrode Hollywood like a Colossus. He commanded some of the highest fees in the industry and was lauded by critics and the public alike. In July 2000, his unique contribution to the world of film was recognised when he was accorded a knighthood. John Parker traces the astonishing rise to stardom of a tough street kid from Edinburgh. The part of 007 became a monster that threatened to kill Connery as an actor; he escaped to establish himself as one of the world's most magnetic and commanding character actors, winning an Oscar for his role in iconic crime drama The Untouchables. The author has drawn on reminiscences of famous friends and colleagues, including Honor Blackman, Robert Hardy and Eric Sykes, to create an authoritative and entertaining portrait of a talented, complex actor - and, above all else, a magnificent man.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!How much do you know about one of the greatest football tournaments of all time - the Euros? Prove your super fan status with this ultimate quiz book that will test even the most dedicated football fan to the limit. With questions ranging from famous players and matches of days gone by to the tournament as it is now, there is bound to be something to challenge all the family.

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A Sunday Times Book of the Year'Rahaman has, at last, written the definitive biography on his late brother, which tells the real Ali story' - Mike Tyson'The real life of the Great One' - George ForemanMore words have been written about Muhammad Ali than almost anyone else. He was, without doubt, the world's most-loved sportsman. At the height of his celebrity he was the most famous person in the world. And yet, until now, the one voice missing belonged to the man who knew him best - his only sibling, and best friend, Rahaman Ali.No one was closer to Ali than Rahaman. Born Cassius and Rudolph Arnett Clay, the two brothers grew up together, lived together, trained together, travelled together, and fought together in the street and in the ring.A constant fixture in his sibling's company, Rahaman saw Ali at both his best and his worst: the relentless prankster and the jealous older brother, the outspoken advocate, the husband and father. In My Brother, Muhammad Ali, he is able to offer a surprising insider's perspective on the well-known stories, as well as never-before-told tales, painting a rich portrait of a proud, relentlessly polarizing, yet often vulnerable man. In this extraordinary, poignant memoir, Rahaman tells a much bigger and more personal story than in any other book on the great man - that of two brothers, almost inseparable from birth to death. It is the final and most important perspective on one of the most iconic figures of the last century.

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The year was 1935: the twilight of the English aristocracy. It was a time of wealth and glamour; of lavish balls and evening gowns; of tiaras and a coronation. As personal maid to Lady Coventry, Hilda Newman had a unique insight into the leisured life of one of Britain's most noble families. In her fascinating memoir of life upstairs and down, Hilda takes us back to this period between the wars; a gilded era which would soon be dramatically changed by the Second World War. Transplanted from a tiny house with no bath or hot water to an eighteenth-century Neo-Palladian mansion, Hilda's life changed beyond recognition. But in a time when the very foundations of British society were being shaken to their core, the luxurious life of the country nobility couldn't last. The Second World War brought more turbulence with it, and Croome Court, where Hilda had lived and worked, became a haven for the Dutch Royal Family fleeing Nazi occupation, whilst also home to a top-secret RAF base. The lavish banquets and decadent parties had become a thing of the past. Hilda's story takes us back to a bygone era, showing us what life was really like in England's classic country manors of old - and uncovers the real lives of the people who occupied them, from wealthy lord to lowly servant.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!David Silva is Manchester City's greatest ever midfielder. As he played his way from the Spanish coast to the top of the Premier League, his silky skills earned him the nickname 'El Mago' - the magician. This is the exciting story of how the boy from Valencia used his midfield magic to launch Manchester City to dominating the Premier League winner, and drove Spain forward to become World and European Champions. Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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PRINCE HARRY, AUTHOR OF SPARE, IN HIS OWN WORDS - INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE ACCESS AND INTERVIEWSOnce a reckless rebel, now a respected role model, Prince Harry is one of the world's most popular royals and all set to haul the British royal family into the twenty-first century. How has he done it?Harry: Conversations with the Prince takes a three-dimensional look at what Harry is really like, both on and off royal duty. It delves into his troubled childhood and rebellious teenage years, as well as exploring the defining moments that have enabled him to face his demons and use his own experiences to help others.Distinguished journalist and royal biographer Angela Levin accompanied Prince Harry on many of his engagements and had exclusive access to him at Kensington Palace. She found a complex man who has inherited his late mother's extraordinary charisma and determination to 'make a difference.'In this updated insightful and engaging biography, Levin examines the first year of Harry's marriage to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the pivotal moments the couple face following the birth of their son, and their shared vision as they forge their own path on the world stage.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!Mohamed Salah is Liverpool's superstar forward, and he is on a mission to become the best player in the world. This exciting book follows his adventures across the world - from the heat of Egypt to the magic of Rome, the roar of Anfield stadium and - finally - his big chance in a Champions League Final.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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Meet Kelly Smith - Ultimate Football Hero.By the time Kelly Smith was nine years old, she was already so good she was running rings around the boys at her local club and scoring goals for fun. But angry parents complained she was making their sons look silly, and Kelly had to move to a girls' team. From that day, she knew she had to be twice as skillful and brave as any boy to succeed in the game she loved. Smith is the story of how the girl from Watford refused to be held back, and became an Arsenal superstar and the England women's national team's top scorer.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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A bestseller in both the UK and the USA on its first publication, this book was the first fully authorised life of world's greatest living footballer. With exclusive access to Pelé, award-winning sports writer Harry Harris charts his meteoric rise from humble beginnings in Brazil to his first international at the age of sixteen. Superb athleticism, speed of thought and execution, and astonishing ball control helped him become the only player to have appeared in three World Cup-winning sides, and to have scored more than 1,200 goals in his senior career, a feat that is now unlikely ever to be equalled, let alone surpassed.Pelé remains the best footballer of all time, despite the extraordinary exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and legends such as Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff. Now revised and updated to bring the story completely up to date, this is a tribute to a world-class sporting hero, a great sportsman and, to this day, an inspiration to millions.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!Romelu Lukaku is the boy from Belgium who went from having big dreams to playing for Manchester United. After a £90 million transfer, he spearheads their attack, but Romelu had to leave a trail of goals in the Premier League to earn a move to the world's biggest club. This is the amazing story of his journey to become a football hero.Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold! 'And then came the moment Gareth had been waiting for. He'd imagined it so many times. The President of Real Madrid held up the famous white shirt with his name on the back.' Gareth Bale: The Boy Who Became a Galactico tracks the Welsh wizard's impressive rise from talented schoolboy to Real Madrid star. This is the inspiring story of how Bale beat the odds and became the most expensive player in football history. Have you read them all?

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Rooney tells the action-packed story of one boy's journey from the streets of Croxteth to one of the biggest stages in world football. This heartwarming book tracks Rooney's fairytale rise from child superstar to Everton hero to Manchester United legend.

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After in-depth research of the circumstances of that fateful night, investigative writer and former journalist Noel Botham finally reveals what he alleges to be the truth - Princess Diana fell victim to a ruthlessly executed assassination. Twenty years later, the tragedy still shapes Britain as we know it today. How could the Establishment betray the trust of a whole nation? How was the killing executed? Was there really another car in the tunnel at the time of the crash? Reporting from the innermost sanctums of British intelligence and royalty, Botham reveals shocking answers to what he claims is one of the UK's most successfully kept secrets. As Botham affirms, The Murder of Princess Diana firmly lays to rest the outdated theory that Diana's death was a mere accident, and finally gives the people of Britain the explanation they deserve.

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A victim of violent abuse at the hands of his stepfather, Lenny spent much of his teenage life in borstal as he began to follow a life of crime. However, it was his ability as a fighter that was to turn his life around. Lenny McLean inspired fear in many, but respect from all, as he became a bare-knuckle fighting legend. His fame became even greater in later life, appearing in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels just as his autobiography was reaching the top of the bestsellers chart. Lenny's untimely death from cancer in 1998 marked the beginning of the end of the old Cockney way of life and interest in his story has only increased since his passing, inspiring documentaries as well as a feature film, My Name is Lenny. In these unedited conversations between Lenny and his 'book man' Peter Gerrard, featuring many anecdotes that did not appear in The Guv'nor, we get to see the man behind the public image. As he looks back on his life, these transcripts reveal Lenny's humour and charm as well as the volatility that made him one of the most notorious figures ever to emerge from the East End.

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A victim of violent abuse at the hands of his stepfather, Lenny spent much of his teenage life in borstal as he began to follow a life of crime. However, it was his ability as a fighter that was to turn his life around. Lenny McLean inspired fear in many, but respect from all, as he became a bare-knuckle fighting legend. His fame became even greater in later life, appearing in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels just as his autobiography was reaching the top of the bestsellers chart. Lenny's untimely death from cancer in 1998 marked the beginning of the end of the old Cockney way of life and interest in his story has only increased since his passing, inspiring documentaries as well as a feature film, My Name is Lenny. In these unedited conversations between Lenny and his 'book man' Peter Gerrard, featuring many anecdotes that did not appear in The Guv'nor, we get to see the man behind the public image. As he looks back on his life, these transcripts reveal Lenny's humour and charm as well as the volatility that made him one of the most notorious figures ever to emerge from the East End.

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Jennifer Lawrence is the reigning queen of lots of things: Hollywood, the awkward award-ceremony-stumble, and hundreds of priceless Buzzfeed pages - to name a few. She announced herself to the world at a young age in The Burning Plain and Winter's Bone, gripping dramas set in America's deprived heartland. Ironic, then, that such a gifted character actress become a household name through two of the biggest fantasy roles in the business: the deadly shapeshifting assassin Mystique from Marvel's X-Men series and the gutsy, warlike heroine of Suzanne Collin's bestselling Hunger Games trilogy, Katniss Everdeen - the Girl on Fire. As Katniss and Mystique, she owns the screen, oozing grace, attitude and menace, re-defining the roles of women in action films as more than ragdolls to be saved by muscle-bound men; this girl doesn't need saving by anyone. But Jennifer couldn't be more different off-screen. Always ready with a smile or a quip about embarrassing everyday struggles, she is loved by millions for being a genuinely relatable personality in an industry of preening posers. And make no mistake: she has had every reason to lose her sunny disposition.She struggled early on in her career with a hurtful 'fat actress' label in spite of her healthy body type, and suffered public heartbreak with the likes of Coldplay's Chris Martin. In 2014, she was to suffer the ultimate indignity of having private photos leaked onto the internet for all to see. A lesser girl might have become spiteful, but Jennifer has always emerged with her head held high. This is the first biography of an Academy Award winner, a star of our screens for years to come and a role model for girls and young women everywhere. In every sense, this really is the story of a Girl on Fire.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold! 'At the edge of the penalty area, Alexis hit the ball straight into the top corner. The shot was so powerful that the goalkeeper hardly even saw it.' Sanchez tells the story of the Arsenal superstar's incredible journey from the streets of Tocopilla to become a national hero and one of the best players in the world. With his pace, skill and eye for a goal, Alexis is now one of the Premier League's biggest stars. The story is every bit as exciting as the player. Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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They did so in the midst of the 1984 miners' strike - the most bitter and divisive dispute for more than half a century, and in one of the most turbulent periods in modern British history. In the 1980s Margaret Thatcher's hardcore social and fiscal policies devastated Britain's traditional industries, and at the same time, AIDS began to claim lives across the nation. At the very height of this perfect storm, as the government and police battled 'the enemy within' in communities across the land and newspapers whipped up fear of the gay 'perverts' who were supposedly responsible for inflicting this lethal new pestilence upon the entire population, two groups who ostensibly had nothing in common - miners and homosexuals - unexpectedly made a stand together and forged a lasting friendship. It was an alliance which helped keep an entire valley clothed and fed during the darkest months of the strike. And it led directly to a long-overdue acceptance by trades unions and the Labour Party that homosexual equality was a cause to be championed. Pride tells the inspiring true story of how two very different communities - each struggling to overcome its own bitter internal arguments and long established fault lines, as well as facing the power of a hostile government and press - found common cause against overwhelming odds. And how this one simple but unlikely act of friendship would, in time, help change life in Britain - forever.

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John Holmes was a schoolboy when World War II broke out in 1939, but even then he knew his destiny lay in the skies. 'Boys from these parts don't join the RAF', he was told on more than one occasion. But they were wrong. After many months undergoing selection and training he eventually made it into the air crew of 196 Squadron. It was there he embarked on a love affair with the Stirling Bomber, and it was there that he met up with his crew - his brothers in arms. With in-depth research, Steve Holmes' inspirational, harrowing and at times humorous book charts the wartime exploits of his father, John 'Sherlock' Holmes, and his flight crew. Through many hours of research and contact with living relatives of 'Sherlock's Squadron' Steve has pulled together a unique and personal insight into the most brutal and devastating armed conflict in history. Verified and independently confirmed by the MOD, War Office Bomber Command and preserved navigator's records and pilots' log books of the time, this is a comprehensive and compelling account of World War II from the eyes of a group of young RAF men from distant corners of the globe.

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Roger Federer is not only one of the greatest tennis players ever to pick up a racket - if not the greatest - but he is one of the global icons of our time. Characterised by a mixture of passion and calmness, a fierce competitor with a regal bearing, he is both an athlete and an ambassador, a street fighter and a statesman. But who is he really? And what are the experiences and influences that have shaped him into the world figure he is today?This acclaimed biography, first published in 2006 and now fully updated in its ninth edition, traces Federer's life and career, from his first tentative swings with a racket to legendary status. The vastly experienced writer, broadcaster and tennis historian Chris Bowers talked exclusively to many of the people who helped shape the young Roger Federer, and together with his own experiences following Federer's career from his junior title at Wimbledon at age sixteen to his twentieth major title nineteen years later, he presents an affectionate and analytical portrait of one of the great names of modern-day sport. His book has enough information to satisfy the most voracious Federer fan, and enough talking points to keep an argument going until the small hours.In its portrait of Roger Federer - the man, the player, the icon - this masterly biography brings the player's story up to date, while also examining his place in tennis and sporting history.

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Born in 1989, Bale first attracted the attention of Southampton FC at the age of just nine. At secondary school, he was such a prodigious talent that his PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to impose special restrictions on him to make it fair for the other pupils. After completing his GCSE exams, Bale became the second-youngest player ever to sign for Southampton on 17 April 2006. The Premier League soon came calling and in 2007 Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur. His career at White Hart Lane didn't get off to the best start, but in late 2009 he seized his chance to secure a regular place in the first team and had since proved to be a top-class footballer with a stunning hat-trick in Tottenham's Europa League tie against Inter Milan at the San Siro and a man-of-the-match performance in the return leg. Bale has unsurprisingly also made several appearances for Wales, and his talent has been compared to that of the legendary Ryan Giggs. He's fast, he's strong, he's an excellent an he scores goals. This is the fascinating biography of Totteham's latest superstar player.

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This much is true: Hitler was obsessed with his young niece, Geli Raubal. On 19th September, 1931, two years before he came to power, Geli was found dead of a gunshot wound in Hitler's apartment in an exclusive area of Munich. Her death was ruled a suicide, but the suspicion of murder remained long after she had been laid to rest. In 1971, Annie Pohlmann, a young American student, arrives in Germany to interview retired detective Fritz Stecher, who headed the original investigation. She gets more than she bargained for when Stecher reveals the whole story of a case that not only nearly kills him, but almost changed the course of history.

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These hardened killers opened up to her in a way that they would never do to psychiatrists, prosecutors and other authority figures...revealing terrifying chapters of their lives that might otherwise have stayed hidden forever. In this chilling book, you will meet Wayne Adam Ford, who walked into a California police station in 1998 with a severed woman's breat in his pocket; Bobby Joe Long, who assaulted and murdered at least ten women; Gary Ray Bowles, killer of six; truck driver Keith Hunter Jespersen, who travelled from state leaving a trail of bodies in his wake; and Robin Gecht, one of the members of the terrifying Ripper Crew. Redstall has spoken about her experiences on programmes like The Montel Williams Show, in documentaries and in the national press. In this, her first book, she shares every detail and insight, bringing the reader up close and very personal with some of the most dangerous and disturbed serial killers that the world has ever seen.

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Gareth Bale is the new man-to-watch of the footballing world. Success both nationally and internationally have ensured his place amongst the footballing greats.Bale began his professional football career at Tottenham Hotspurs and soon became one of their most valued players. During his last season with the Club, Bale won PFA Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year. Joining Real Madrid for a record breaking transfer fee in 2013 broadened his horizons and his already loyal following multiplied. The Spanish press named him as `The Canon’ as he secured Real Madrid’s recent win in the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League. Bale`s recent success as a member of the Welsh international team has added yet again to his popularity as a professional footballer. Wales reached the semifinal of the UEFA European Championship for the first time in the country’s history, attracting the attention of the world as it took on some of the great footballing nations.Written by acclaimed sports biographer Frank Worrall, this book will relate Bale’s journey through his football career so far; from humble beginnings to becoming a sporting hero. Worrall is the author of numerous best-selling sports biographies, including Jamie Vardy, Luis Suarez and Lewis Hamilton.

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Most etiquette guides will tell you the proper way to eat asparagus, how to exit a sports car without showing your knickers and the correct way to address an Archbishop - but they fail abysmally when it comes to offering advice on any number of awkward social situations. Containing guidance and tips for dealing with over 60 such scenarios, How to Chat Someone Up at a Funeral is completely objective and non-judgemental. How (and why) you might find yourself in any of these circumstances is immaterial; the book is concerned with presenting the best way to conduct yourself so you leave the situation with your dignity (and sometimes your life) intact. Modern dilemmas covered include: inadvertently farting in the presence of the Queen; disarming an axe-wielding maniac; challenging a co-worker to a duel; disposing of a dead body; assuming someone's pregnant when they're not.

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Cats are, without question, our favourite pets. Over the thousands of years that they have been domestic pets, a very real understanding has evolved between them and their human counterparts. Written by the country's leading veterinary journalist and cat expert, this book is a comprehensive guide to forging a more meaningful bond with your pet, to make life happier for both of you. The book explains how cats function as cats - what they like, what they dislike, how they behave - and uses that knowledge to help you build a real relationship with your pet on a day-to-day basis. When problems occur, you will learn why they exist and what you can do to solve them. By finding out more about your cat, you will appreciate it even more, not only for its natural behaviour and abilities, but for the fact that it can share its life with us in such a smooth and rewarding manner.

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This is the autobiography of Carlton Leach, a man to be reckoned with. He has earned himself respect throughout the deadly underworld he occupies. Make a friend of Carlton and you have an ally for life; cross him at your peril. For 20 years he has ranked among the toughest of Britain's brawn brigade. He was a key member of the dreaded Essex Boys gang which ran riot in the eighties and the nineties, sparking a savage drugs war which saw three of his pals wiped out in the 1995 Range Rover massacre. Even now, he knows that a bullet still has his name on it as a result of that simmering feud. Carlton was minder to boxer Nigel Benn throughout his glory years in the ring and tells of the blood, sweat and tears of their special relationship. He also tells how he saved four of his firm from being tortured to death and their wives and daughters raped in front of them after a #10 million heroin consignment went missing.

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Throughout his time as a murder squad detective, Trevor Marriott has seen first-hand the wanton slayings and butcheries that have been committed by both men and women who have warped, depraved and sadistic minds. In this fascinating and chilling book, he examines the world's most notorious serial killers and the despicable crimes they committed. From William McDonald, the 'Sydney Mutilator', to 'Dusseldorf Vampire' Peter Kurten, Steve Wright, the 'Suffolk Strangler', and the USA's satanic Ripper Crew, these are the horrifying true stories of serial murder from across the globe.

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Roy Snell has been in what he calls 'Close Protection' for over 16 years, guarding international royalty and celebrities including Madonna, George Michael, Tom Jones and Frank Sinatra. A former SAS sniper and heavyweight boxing champion, Roy is Britain's ultimate bodyguard. Roy was trained at the Regency College in Herefordshire, where the royal protection squad is drilled. A 'Category A' bodyguard - a level that takes two years of training to reach - Roy is qualified to look after top level celebrity clients, for film stars to footballers, singers to royalty. Roy is also a skilled marksman trained in the use of the 9mm Bereta sub-machine gun and the 38 Snubnose - the standard issue weapon for the FBI.

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Carl Merritt comes from a world where no rules apply, where violence has always simmered close to the surface. Still in his teens, he became trapped in a world of illegal fighting. The men who owned Carl built him into an awesome opponent, and plunged him into a world of appalling violence, crime, and retribution. Armed with firsts, elbows, feet, teeth, and forehead, Carl would target his opponents inside the cage, from which there was no escape. Only the strongest survived. Some of Carl's opponents were even slaughtered by their own supporters, as so much money had been gambled and lost on them. London, Paris, Dublin, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Las Vegas--Carl lost track of the number of times he was smuggled into a deserted underground car park or an empty warehouse, in a strange land. Carl's most recent fight nearly proved fatal to both fighters, and once and for all he has left the bloody metal arena behind. Now he wants to break the cage's strict code of silence to reveal how it has become the most deadly sport in the world.

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Bullied at school, and growing up dreaming of revenge, Mark 'Chopper' Read determined to be the toughest in any company. He became a crime commando who terrorised drug dealers, pimps, thieves and armed robbers on the streets and in jail - but boasts never to have hurt an innocent member of the public. Streetfighter, gunman and underworld executioner, he has been earmarked for death a dozen times, but has lived to tell the tale. This is his story.

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This is not just another diet book. This is a way of life. Forget the high-protein and the faddy single-food diets. Here is a simple eating plan that will become a way of life, helping dieters to lose weight and feel healthier at the same time. The GL (Glycaemic Load) Diet is the next step on from the GI Diet. Unlike the GI Diet, however, it is not complicated and full of tables and calculations. It also takes into consideration portion size, helping to establish how much you can really eat of a particular food without gaining weight. Written by acclaimed nutritionist and dietician Nigel Denby, this revolutionary book is ideal for all those who want to stop yo-yo dieting and lose weight permanently while still enjoying their food.

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Mark Ward enjoyed all the trappings of success as one of the most popular and highly-rated right wingers in football. 'Wardy' proved an overnight sensation at Oldham and continued to be a star at West Han, Man City and Everton before inspiring Birmingham City to Wembley glory. But when his career on the pitch ended, his life swiftly unravelled. After failed business ventures and the collapse of his marriage to his childhood sweetheart he ended up unemployed - and desperate. Ward put his name to a rental agreement on a house near Liverpool that was used by others to stash drugs. When the police raided they found a drugs factory. He pleaded guilty to dealing and was sent to Liverpool's notorious Walton Prison. His life would never be the same. During the years he spent inside he has been able to reflect on an extraordianry playing career and an equally eventful life off the picth. He recounts in heart-wrenching detail his highs and lows and tells it like it is with honesty that epitomised his playing career.

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The autobiography of Cass Pennant is packed with amazing stories of a life lived on the edge of the law. In this thrilling book, he tells of how he saved World Boxing Champion Frank Bruno from a potentially vicious attack; how he was shot three times in the chest and still kept on fighting, and how he was alleged to be the leader of the notorious West Ham 'InterCity Firm'.This is the astonishing account of a boy abandoned by his mother and brought up by adoptive parents (who were white) - a boy who triumphed against all the odds.A bestseller on its publication, Cass is also a major film directed by Jon S. Baird, starring Nonso Anozie in the title role, and Oscar-winner Daniel Kaluuya as Young Cass.

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Which Christmas film do you love the most? Which Christmas film do you hate the most? What even counts as a Christmas film? Argue out all these questions and more before you even open the ultimate Christmas Day family game book. Because from Love Actually to Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life and beyond, every family has its favourites. But how much can we really remember about those films we watch every single year? Packed full of tricky, fun and entertaining quiz questions, Quiz Actually will test you and your loved ones this Christmas on the movies we love to watch every year. Get ready to find out who really knows their Christmas crackers from their Christmas turkeys, and their Miracle on 34th Street from their Nightmare On Elm Street. It's time to separate the Die Hards from the try-hards with the ultimate festive family film trivia book. Over 750 questions and featured films include:Love, ActuallyHome AloneIt's a Wonderful LifeElfThe GrinchThe Nightmare Before ChristmasScroogedBridget Jones's DiaryHarry PotterThe HolidayDie Hard (yes)and many, many more!

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DISCOVER THE TRUTH BEHIND THE HEADLINES, THE REVELATORY ROYAL BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEARFrom the Sunday Times bestselling author and Royal correspondent, Robert Jobson - with his extensive connections within the royal household - this revelatory new biography tells the full story of how Catherine, the Princess of Wales, became the woman she is today.Kate Middleton's life's story seems like a modern-day fairy-tale.An attractive, clever, and ambitious girl from unexceptional beginnings meets and falls in love with a wealthy prince destined to be King when they are both university undergraduates. Now, with the British monarchy in transition, Catherine is Princess of Wales and is set to become Queen.Since her wedding on 29 April 2011, Catherine has endeared herself to the people of the UK, the Commonwealth and worldwide on her extensive travels, with her infectious smile, sense of style and down-to-earth nature. Her s

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'The man with all the answers in Albert Jack' Daily Express'Square meal' 'Load of old codswallop' 'Egg on your face' 'In the limelight'. . .The English language is littered with everyday expressions like these, but have you ever stopped to wonder what they really mean and where they come from? Red Herrings and White Elephants delves deep into the fabric of English phraseology and in doing so explores the wide-ranging factors and fascinating linguistic history which continues to inform the way we speak to this day.So whether you want to impress whilst hobnobbing with clever folk, lick your pub quiz knowledge into shape, or simply add a feather to your linguistic cap, you'll soon be full of incredible facts that leave you feeling as bright as a button.

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The No.1 football series - over 1 million copies sold!Born and raised in Sheffield, Vardy brightens football matches with his versatility, precision and energy. His 2012 move to Leicester City allowed the striker to prove his thrilling goalscoring and hard-working personality, where he helped the team to win the Championship. Follow the exciting journey of this award-winning striker from Stocksbridge Park Steels to winning the Premier League in 2016 and shining on the international stage. Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.

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A natural subject for the UK's bestselling true-crime author: a study of people who randomly kill large numbers of others (spree killers), or who set out to do so in specific places or situations (mass killers). Because of the ease of obtaining firearms in the USA, many of these, inevitably, are American, but there have been other recent examples in New Zealand and Norway, while three major mass shootings took place in the UK at Hungerford in 1987 (17 dead, including the killer), Dunblane in 1996 (18, including the killer), and in Cumbria in 2010 (13, including the killer).As such killings become more frequent, it is easy to blame them on the ready availability of firearms and weak or non-existent background checks, even though many countries, including the UK, have extremely robust firearms legislation. What is more difficult to establish, however, is the motivation behind such killings: some are occasioned by grievance, real or imagined, while others have their origins in a sense of failure or feelings of inadequacy. Other killers, however, seem to be driven by a desire for power over their fellow humans, often coupled with an overriding contempt for the lives of others. In search of answers to the questions raised, Christopher Berry-Dee offers case studies in some of the most infamous mass killings of the past fifty years, from school massacres to workplace killings, hate crimes to familicides. In doing so he demonstrates, chillingly, that such murders are almost impossible to predict, and therefore almost impossible to prevent.

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Professor Dick Hobbs is a leading commentator on the culture of crime and criminality. East End born and bred, he is a fascinating dichotomy of the criminal and the intellectual world, allowing him a unique insight into a subject that holds fascination for so many. When he was growing up, the East End was rocking with dock strikes, thievery and the kind of family values practiced by the Krays the Tibbs and a few dozen other outlaw clans. Violence was everywhere Crime was an unavoidable fact of life. However, his real education in Plaistow taught him that the real essence of illegal capitalism is to be found amongst the poor bloody infantry of the crime world; the jump up merchants, lorry highjackers, warehouse thieves, and middle-market drug dealers. These are the people with whom he has spent most of his professional life, and along with more exalted villains such as Mad Frankie Frazer and Charlie Richardson, these are the characters who will feature in the book, weaving the stories of these fearsome gangsters with the history and evolution of the UK underworld.

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