Search results for ""Author Thames"

`Other works may excel this in depth of thought and knowledge of human nature: other books may rival it in originality and size; but, for hopeless and incurable vivacity, nothing yet discovered can surpass it.' (Jerome, Preface to Three Men in a Boat). Three Men in a Boat describes a comic expedition by middle-class Victorians up the Thames to Oxford. It provides brilliant snap-shots of London's playground in the late 1880s, where the fashionable steam-launches of river swells encounter the hired skiffs of city clerks. The medley of social vignettes, farcical incidents, descriptions of river fashions, and reflections on the Thames's history, is interspersed with humorous anecdotes told by a natural raconteur. Three Men on the Bummel records a similar escapade, a break from the claustrophobia of suburban life some ten years later; their cycling tour in the Black Forest, at the height of the new bicycling craze, affords Jerome the opportunity for a light-hearted scrutiny of German social customs at a time of increasing general interest in a country that he loved. This account of middle-aged Englishmen abroad is spiced with typical Jeromian humour. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Buckinghamshire offers the gently rolling Chiltern Hills, the meandering River Thames and impressive historic houses. This A5 calendar for 2025 shows some of the best of the county. Includes postal envelope.

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‘An extraordinary history’ PETER ACKROYD, The Times‘A lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated’ HERMIONE HOBHOUSE‘Halliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated’ RUTH RENDELLIn the sweltering summer of 1858, sewage generated by over two million Londoners was pouring into the Thames, producing a stink so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons.The Times called the crisis ‘The Great Stink’. Parliament had to act – drastic measures were required to clean the Thames and to improve London’s primitive system of sanitation. The great engineer entrusted with this enormous task was Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who rose to the challenge and built the system of intercepting sewers, pumping stations and treatment works that serves London to this day. In the process, he cleansed the Thames and helped banish cholera.The Great Stink of London offers a vivid insight into Bazalgette’s achievements and the era in which he worked and lived, including his heroic battles with politicians and bureaucrats that would transform the face and health of the world’s then largest city.

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‘Superb … radically new and beautiful’ Observer ‘Magical and evocative’ Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock ‘Heartachingly poignant’ Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong ‘An ancient tapestry of legend brilliantly rewoven’ Francis Spufford, author of Light Perpetual The new novel from the Costa-Award winning author of In The Days of Rain. AD 500. An island in the Thames. Isla has a secret: she has learned her father’s sophisticated sword-making skills at a time when even entering a forge is forbidden to women. Her sister, Blue, has a secret, too: at low tide on the night of each new moon, she visits the bones of the mud woman, drowned by the elders of her tribe who wanted to make a lesson of someone who wouldn’t hold her tongue. When the local Seax overlord discovers Isla's secret there is nowhere for the sisters to hide, except across the water to the walled ghost city, Londinium. Here Blue and Isla find sanctuary in an underworld community of squatters, emigrants, travellers and looters, led by the mysterious Crowther, living in an abandoned brothel and bathhouse. But trouble pursues them even into the haunted city. Dark Earth takes us back to the very founding of Britain to explore the experience of women trying to find kin in a world ruled by blood ties, feuds and men in quest of a nation. ‘Superb … radically new and beautiful’ Observer ‘Thrilling’ Alice Albinia, author of Cwen ‘Pulses with the energy of a brave new world, a world as beautiful as it is dangerous, where a belief in myth and magic can save your life’ Katherine J. Chen, author of Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc

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Kent’s military heritage is well known because of popular tourist attractions such as Dover Castle or Chatham Dockyard, but there are also many lesser-known sites dotted around the county, each with their own story to tell. Most of the sites included here date from the Second World War but there are also many military installations from other eras, from the eerie remains of the towers in the Thames Estuary to the magnificence of Fort Burgoyne. Kent: Britain’s Frontline County examines the fascinating ways in which Kent has protected and defended Britain over the centuries. Local author and historian Clive Holden has carefully documented each of these secret gems and photographed them in full colour, giving the reader a wonderful insight into a lesser-known aspect of Kent’s proud heritage.

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Interweaving elements of fantasy and history, this novel chronicles the adventures of Jordan, who lives with his mother by the Thames during the reign of Charles II, as he follows his dreams to the end of the world, and beyond.

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Six children were taken. Only five came home. Twenty years later, we find out why. First in a new thriller series set in the Thames estuary.

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The book looks at London's maritime history from the establishment of Roman Londinium to the present day. It discusses many different aspects of life on the Thames and its connecting waterways and canals. There was a time when the River Thames was the main highway for the city, when watermen plied their trade carrying passengers and goods in a wide variety of craft, ranging from rowing boats to sailing barges. The Thames was also, for many centuries, a major ship building centre, and the story includes the construction of some iconic vessels from Henry VIII's flagship Henri Grace a Dieu to Isambard Brunel's great steamship the SS Great Eastern. London was also until recently the country's most important port. In the days of sail, the Port of London was crowded with vessels and it was not until the nineteenth century that major enclosed docks were built, a process that continued into the early years of the twentieth century. The early nineteenth century also saw London connected to the rest of England through a network of canals. Other topics covered include the lifeboat service, river fire fighting forces and the river police. The result is a colourful pageant that highlights the vital role that London's waterways played in the life of the capital.

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WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE FEATURED ON BBC’S BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB Penelope Fitzgerald’s Booker Prize-winning novel of loneliness and connecting is set among the houseboat community of the Thames, with an introduction from Alan Hollinghurst. On Battersea Reach, a mixed bag of the temporarily lost and the patently eccentric live on houseboats, rising and falling with the tide of the Thames. There is good-natured Maurice, by occupation a male prostitute, by chance a receiver of stolen goods. And Richard, an ex-navy man whose boat, much like its owner, dominates the Reach. Then there is Nenna, an abandoned wife and mother of two young girls running wild on the muddy foreshore, whose domestic predicament, as it deepens, will draw this disparate community together.

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England, 1716. The only certainty in a thief’s life… is death.Christopher Templeton is a lawyer whose conscience troubles him. He knows many of the secrets of The Fellowship, the shadowy group profiting from the civil unrest in the nation, and has intimated to the Company of Rogues that he is willing to share them.The problem is, he has vanished. Jonas Flynt – thief, gambler, killer – still recovering from a duel with death upon the frozen Thames, is tasked with finding him.The trail takes him from the dark slums of London to a quiet village in the north of England, where all is not as it seems. But while he hunts for the missing man, someone else may be stalking him… someone with murder in their heart.The new gripping historical mystery from the author of An Honourable Thief, longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023. Perfect for fans of Abir Mukherjee, Craig Russell and S.G. MacLean.

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Great Railway Journeys: London to Oxford and London to Cambridge is the fourth in Roger Mason’s Great Railway Journeys series. It is a fascinating record of things that can be seen from trains running from London to the two great university cities. The London to Oxford line includes Brunel’s wonderful bridge over the Thames at Maidenhead and the Didcot Railway Centre, which is a living museum of the Great Western Railway. Included here is the story of how the author of a world famous book left the manuscript in a café at Reading Station. He had not kept a copy so he went home and wrote it again. The London to Cambridge line includes Mountfitchet Castle, a fabulous copy of the one that stood on the site shortly after the reign of William the Conqueror. There is also the Eleanor Cross at Waltham Cross, erected by Edward I in the 1290s as a tribute to his late wife, Eleanor of Castile.

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Beatrice Palmentier is 36, an award-winning director and discontent. She is about to embark on a new documentary featuring reknowned restaurateur Jospeh Troumeg, when the discovery of a skull on the Thames riverbank throws her off course.

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‘An extraordinary history’ PETER ACKROYD, The Times‘A lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated’ HERMIONE HOBHOUSE‘Halliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated’ RUTH RENDELLIn the sweltering summer of 1858, sewage generated by over two million Londoners was pouring into the Thames, producing a stink so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons.The Times called the crisis ‘The Great Stink’. Parliament had to act – drastic measures were required to clean the Thames and to improve London’s primitive system of sanitation. The great engineer entrusted with this enormous task was Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who rose to the challenge and built the system of intercepting sewers, pumping stations and treatment works that serves London to this day. In the process, he cleansed the Thames and helped banish cholera.The Great Stink of London offers a vivid insight into Bazalgette’s achievements and the era in which he worked and lived, including his heroic battles with politicians and bureaucrats that would transform the face and health of the world’s then largest city.

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Applying the winning formula of London's Best Pubs to focus on riverside watering holes, London's Riverside Pubs shows the best that the capital has to offer along the Thames and the Grand Union Canal.Extending from Walton-on-Thames to Thamesmead, the book features 100 pubs, giving a variety of venues for the perfect afternoon by the river. Divided by area and accompanied by photography showcasing both exteriors and interiors, the pubs described here will appeal to a broad range of visitors, both tourists and London residents alike.Each entry features an overview of the cask ales on offer, together with informative historical and architectural snapshots and details on the character of each pub.This title is suitable for visitors to London who are looking for great riverside locations, as well as London residents who are looking for a break from their usual pub choices.

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Buckinghamshire offers the gently rolling Chiltern Hills, the meandering River Thames and stunning historic houses. This A4 calendar for 2025 is full of images showing some of the best of Buckinghamshire's landmarks. This calendar is free of plastic packaging and includes a postal envelope.

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Simon Templar is the Saint—daring, dazzling, and just a little disreputable. On the side of the law, but standing outside it, he dispenses his own brand of justice one criminal at a time.When the Saint and Patricia Holm stumble upon a government test of a weapon of mass destruction, they realize they've seen something that must be kept away from the wrong hands. But the Saint's nemesis Rayt Marius is already nearby….There is only one way to stop Marius from using the weapon to start a war—kidnapping the scientist who built it. The plot comes to a climax on the banks of the River Thames, and not everyone will survive.Leslie Charteris was born in Singapore and moved to England in 1919. He left Cambridge University early when his first novel was accepted for publication. He wrote novels about the Saint throughout his life, becoming one of the 20th century's most prolific and popular authors.

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England, 1716. The only certainty in a thief's life is death.Christopher Templeton is a lawyer whose conscience troubles him. He knows many of the secrets of The Fellowship, the shadowy group profiting from the civil unrest in the nation, and has intimated to the Company of Rogues that he is willing to share them.The problem is, he has vanished. Jonas Flynt thief, gambler, killer still recovering from a duel with death upon the frozen Thames, is tasked with finding him.The trail takes him from the dark slums of London to a quiet village in the north of England, where all is not as it seems. But while he hunts for the missing man, someone else may be stalking him someone with murder in their heart.The new gripping historical mystery from the author of An Honourable Thief, longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize 2023. Perfect for fans of Abir Mukherjee, Craig Russell and S.G. MacLean.

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One of the BBC's '100 Novels That Shaped Our World''The great poet of the city. He was created by London' Peter AckroydOur Mutual Friend centres on an inheritance - Old Harmon's profitable dust heaps - and its legatees: young John Harmon, presumed drowned when a body is pulled out of the Thames, and kindly dustman Mr Boffin, to whom the fortune defaults. With brilliant satire, Dickens portrays a dark, macabre London, inhabited by such disparate characters as Gaffer Hexam, scavenging the river for corpses; enchanting, mercenary Bella Wilfer; the social-climbing Veneerings; and the unscrupulous street-trader Silas Wegg. Dickens's last completed novel is richly symbolic in its vision of death and renewal in a city dominated by the fetid Thames, and of the corrupting power of money.Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Adrian Poole

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30th July, 1763. Two striking figures part the heaving crowd at London Bridge. Peddlers cease their haggling, ferrymen grow quiet, beggars stop and stare. Even the stink of the Thames seems to fade in the presence of Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell - history's most famous friends. Boswell, as charismatic and meticulously coiffed as Johnson is bullish and badly dressed, is eager to advance himself in literary society. Today he is to accompany the great Dr Johnson on an excursion up the Thames - and he is determined that nothing will go wrong. But another Boswell is watching from the shadows, insanely jealous of his elder brother's meteoric rise through London's coffeehouses and whorehouses, tenements and theatres, soirees and salons. He has two golden pistols in his pocket, a ferryboat at his disposal... and murder in his heart.

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There are thousands of road bridges all over Britain with many being found around the coastline. In a first, transport historian Mark Chatterton takes the reader on a journey along the coast of Great Britain, detailing 100 different road bridges. Starting with the Queen Elizabeth Bridge on the River Thames going in a clockwise direction, the author examines the history, construction details and architecture of these road bridges, including those at river estuaries as well as those connecting islands to the mainland. These include well-known examples such as the Humber, Severn and Forth road bridges, as well as some of the more obscure structures such as the Bridge of Tongue and the Whitby Swing Bridge. Illustrated with over a hundred colour photographs, this book is a fascinating guide to Britain's coastal bridges.

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The South Bank has become one of London's most popular cultural destinations. Now a recognised brand, the South Bank is situated on the Thames Bank path which links Richmond in the west with the Thames Barrier (and beyond) to the east. This new book concentrates on the most visited section, the stretch between Vauxhall Bridge and Tower Bridge. Contained within this single 3-mile route is an abundance of historically and architecturally significant buildings which create a fascinating history of the area, from the postmodernist ‘secret’ headquarters of MI6 at Vauxhall, past the tomb of William Bligh, a stone’s throw from St Thomas’s Hospital, to the modern attractions of the London Eye and Sea Life Aquarium (housed in the former LCC/GLC building). There is also the grand railway termini of Waterloo and London Bridge, alongside churches, the Royal Festival Hall (the only local survivor from the 1951 Festival of Britain), industrial heritage sites at Oxo Tower, Hay's and Gabriel’s wharves and Tate Modern plus contemporary steel and glass with the Shard and City Hall. Alongside these landmark buildings, the authors also include many ‘out of the way’ buildings and quirky ‘Did you know’ facts, benefiting from original research by Rachel Kolsky through her work as a London Blue Badge Guide, accompanied by Louis Berk’s professional-standard photography. London’s South Bank in 50 Buildings explores the history of this fascinating stretch of the city through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place in this part of London over the years. The book will appeal to all those who live in or have an interest in the country's capital.

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From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named 'the outstanding children's non-fiction author of the 20th century' by Books For Keeps _______________ Ideal for readers aged 7+ In a tunnel under the Thames, an urchin named Jenny and the young Queen Victoria dream of a wonderful new idea – underground trains! Twenty years later, the dream is finally becoming a reality. However, the construction of the Underground is tearing London apart and destroying the home of Jenny and her family. When Jenny comes face-to-face with the Queen again – will she tell her about the human cost of the ‘dream’? Terry Deary's Victorian Tales explore the fascinating world of the Victorians, including many of the incredible achievements and breakthroughs that took place, through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period. _______________ ‘Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers' interest in all things historical’ - Books For Keeps

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New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry's eighteenth enthralling Christmas novella. When Celia Hooper discovers that her dear friend Clementine is to marry widower Seth Marlowe - a man with a sinister past - she calls upon her husband, Detective John Hooper of the Thames River Police, to help her find out what really happened to Seth's first wife several years ago. Rumour has it that she killed herself and Seth's daughter ran away to live on the streets but no one seems to know the truth.Then Seth accuses Celia of sending him blackmail letters and it quickly becomes clear that she is not the only one trying to stop him from marrying Clementine. With Christmas fast approaching, lines are blurred, relationships are tested and the past won't stay buried for ever . . . A Christmas Resolution is an enthralling festive mystery set in Victorian London from the pen of the New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry.

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In 1939, young English naval signalman Geoffrey Holder-Jones began his career by surviving a German mine attack in the Thames estuary. World War II took him as naval officer to Iceland, the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, and the United States. Commissioned as a naval officer and given command of his own ship, Jones then patrolled the waters off Canada and Newfoundland before returning to Britain in 1944. This true story, written on the basis of personal conversations and a scrapbook entrusted to the author 60 years after the war, illuminates one of the great achievements of the war the beating of the German U-boat blockade of the American coast by squadrons of Allied ships that were little more than motley collections of armed trawlers and whalers. With a sense of humor and decency that sustained him through the ordeals of convoy duty in the Arctic Ocean, Signalman Jones has related his story to Tim Parker with vivid observations and an eye for the absurd.

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DARK TIDE RISING is the 24th compelling mystery in the William Monk series, from the master of Victorian crime, New York Times bestselling author Anne Perry. 'Anne Perry's Victorian mysteries are marvels of plot construction...truly remarkable' New York Times.When Kate Exeter is kidnapped on the shore of the Thames, Commander William Monk is enlisted by her desperate husband to save her. Kate's captors are demanding a ransom for her safe return and Monk and his most trusted men must arrange a secret handover in the dark slums of Jacob's Island. But on the night someone betrays them and a brutal skirmish breaks out, leaving death and destruction in its wake . . .Who is to blame for what went wrong? Monk senses tensions mount and no one knows who to trust. Then a whistle blower claims that the ransom money was embezzled funds that incriminate Kate's husband, and the case takes on a whole new meaning...

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Peter Jones is an experienced teacher of A level Film and Media Studies. Most recently he has been Curriculum Manager for these subjects at West Thames College. Prior to becoming a teacher he worked for many years in the film and television industries.

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A beautifully illustrated history of royal animals in Britain from 1066 to the present day, with a foreword by Sir Michael Morpurgo.Why do the three lions on the British crest look so much like leopards? When did the first elephant set foot on British soil? Was there really a polar bear who fished in the river Thames?The perfect sumptuous gift for animal lovers, this book has elegant foil detailing, gold corgi endpapers and stunning hand-painted illustrations on every page from renowned artist Emily Sutton, the illustrator of Everyone Sang and the Castle Mice series.Royal Animals is full of astounding facts and amazing true animal stories. Delve in to discover royal giraffes, elephants, spaniels, parrots, ravens, pelicans and, of course, Queen Elizabeth II's corgis.This fascinating exploration of 1000 years of royal animals is written by Nestlé Smarties Book Prize-winner Julia Golding, the author of The Queen's Wa

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From the Number One bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes. Delve into a gaslit London, where Jack the Ripper is making headlines, but another, much more dangerous, madman is on the loose. When a rotting torso is discovered in the vault of New Scotland Yard, it doesn't take Dr Thomas Bond, Police Surgeon, long to realise that there is a second killer at work in the city where, only a few days before, Jack the Ripper brutally murdered two women in one night. This is the hand of a colder killer, one who lacks Jack's emotion. As more headless and limbless torsos find their way into the Thames Dr Bond becomes obsessed with finding the killer. As his investigations lead him into an unholy alliance, he starts to wonderIs it a man who has brought mayhem to the streets of London, or a monster?'A compulsively readable story that starts as a conventional murder mystery and morphs, by degrees, into a horrifying supernatural thriller' Guardian.

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TOM MILNE was aleading British filmCritic,contributing toSight& Sound, the Monthly Film Bulletin, The Observer, The Financial Times and The Times during his career. During the 1960s he worked at the British Film Institute asAssociate Editor of Sight& Sound and Editor of the Monthly Film Bulletin.In addition to his study of Mamoulian, published in the BFI/Thames& HudsonCinema One series,Milne published a number of monographson Film Directors Joseph Losey (1967) - also in the Cinema One series - and ashort study on the Danish Director Carl Theodor Dreyer (1971) and edited and translated an anthology of interviews and writings on Jean-Luc Godard (1972).Tom Milne had a lifelong interest in the translation and subtitling of French films for television screenings and was the Founding Editor of the Time Out Film Guide, first published in 1989. Introduction by GEOFF ANDREW - Head of the Film Programme at BFI Southbank, UK, and was previously Film Editor of Time Out London.He is the author of

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From Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory, The Burial Plot is an unstoppable thriller about murder, manipulation, and a young woman trying to wrestle power from the hands of a dangerous man. But he’s always one step ahead . . . London, 1839. Where the cemeteries are full and there is money to be made in death, Bonnie and Crawford lead a life of trickery, surviving off ill-gotten coin and nefarious schemes. Until one hot evening, their luck runs out. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie’s feet and now she needs to disappear.Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames, still deep in mourning for its late mistress. As Bonnie comes to understand this family – the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums grand enough for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself from the mysteriou

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A one-off collection of twelve Shakespearean-themed murder mysteries set in Elizabethan London, featuring Master Hardy Drew, Constable of the Bankside Watch, from the acclaimed author of the 7th century Irish Sister Fidelma mysteries.It is the early 1600s and the City of London sees Queen Elizabeth living out her dying days as Scottish King James waits in the wings to take to the throne.Meanwhile, in Southwark, along the south bank of the River Thames, Master Hardy Drew, Constable of the Bankside Watch, maintains law and order amongst the cut-throats and smugglers, in the taverns and brothels, as well as with the gentlefolk, who flock across the river to enjoy the latest plays by Shakespeare and Jonson.In twelve enthralling murder mysteries, brought together in this captivating collection of short stories, Master Hardy Drew confronts mystery and murder most foul and learns that deaths come cheaply on the Bankside Watch . . .Acclaim for P

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Who hasn't explored and enjoyed their surrounding area in recent years and come to appreciate what is on our respective doorsteps? Philip's have created this new series for walkers, cyclists and local explorers at a scale that provides greener options to uncover all the nature and hidden gems in your local area.Includes all the streets in ABINGDON-ON-THAMES, BANBURY, BICESTER, DIDCOT, HENLEY-ON-THAMES, KIDLINGTON, OXFORD, THAME, WITNEY, Adderbury, Benson, Burford, Carterton, Caversham, Chalgrove, Charlbury, Chinnor, Chipping Norton, Cholsey, Cowley, Cumnor, Eynsham, Faringdon, Goring, Grove, Headington, Highworth, Kennington, Lechlade-on-Thames, Middleton Cheney, Pangbourne, Sonning Common, Stokenchurch, Wallingford, Wantage, Wargrave, Watlington, Wheatley, Woodstock, Wootton.The detailed scale allows explorers, walkers and cyclists to avoid main roads and select pathways, bridleways and lanes for optimum enjoyment. Whether it's meandering through the local parks or historic houses, exploring neighbourhood nature spots or the local town, we have the clear mapping and information you need.If you do have to travel to reach areas you'd like to explore, all A and B roads are clearly shown on our Route Planner and we include a large-scale city plan of Oxford. Exceptional detail allows the user to pinpoint exactly where they need to go and the best route to follow.· The only atlas with every road, street and lane in the county named, along with the best pedestrian routes, long-distance cycle routes.· Highlighting lanes, alleyways, footpaths and bridleways, camping and caravan sites, golf courses, parks, gardens and many, many other places of interest· Contains all the usual one-way streets, barriers, car parks, railway and bus stations, hospitals, colleges and schools, police and fire stations, places of worship, post offices, shopping and leisure centres

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Capture the magic of winters past with this stunning gift for all the family by bestselling author Emma Carroll, and award-winning illustrator, Sam Usher.'A magical adventure to melt the frostiest of hearts' Ben Miller. It’s Christmastime, and searching for magic, Maya finds herself transported back two hundred years to the banks of the frozen river Thames. A boy called Eddie shows Maya the bustle of the glittering frost fair, filled with music, sweet stalls and thrilling rides. Is this all a dream, or can Maya bring a piece of the beautiful frost fair home with her after all . . . ? A winter story of freedom and family, from the award-winning Emma Carroll, with stunning full colour illustrations by Sam Usher, A Night at the Frost Fair is a classic to treasure on the family bookshelf this Christmas and for years to come.

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Travels with Boogie is the story of two city slickers - one an unattractive but streetwise mongrel from Stockwell, the other the long-suffering author - and how they came to terms with England's countryside and waterways.First they had to survive against all odds as they embarked on a heroic journey up hill and down dale, with rucksacks full of Kennomeat, along Britain's longest coastal footpath - from Somerset to Devon, from Cornwall to Dorset. And they did it. Then, undaunted, they took on the treacherous waters of the Thames. Not exactly as Mark had planned, however: this time his companion was to be the delectable Jennifer - but she was held up at the office, and when Boogie was dropped off at the kennels the other dogs complained.Travels with Boogie is a witty and fascinating account of a mismatched couple and of the people they meet and places they visit.

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The life of Scottish watercolourist William Alister Macdonald (1861-1956) contained more mystery and intrigue than a novel by the authors he knew as friends. Mid-life in the early 1900s he painted widely across Britain, Europe and North Africa. Aged sixty, abandoning his wife and son in London, he settled in Tahiti, where he befriended authors Charles Nordhoff, James Norman Hall and Zane Grey. Critical acclaim of his work peaked in 1935 with the discovery of over 120 watercolours capturing London streets and lost panoramas from the Thames, its river life and trade at the turn of the last century, now part of the Wakefield Collection at London's Guildhall. Yet in Tahiti his reputation has endured with appreciation of his timeless, exquisite landscapes and studies of paradise. This first fully illustrated biography of Macdonald's life provides a long-overdue opportunity for his European and Polynesian work to be reappraised and his story told.

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Making a major part of England's literary heritage accessible to a new audience, Peter Ackroyd's The Canterbury Tales: A Retelling renders Geoffrey Chaucer's timeless tales in lucid, compelling modern English prose, with illustrations by Nick Bantock in Penguin Classics.On a pilgrimage to Canterbury, a group of travellers agree to a storytelling competition. As they make their way on the road, they drink, laugh, flirt, argue and try to outdo each other with their tales. From the exuberant Wife of Bath's Arthurian legend to the Miller's worldly, ribald farce, these tales can be taken as a mirror of fourteenth-century London. Incorporating every style of medieval narrative - bawdy anecdote, allegorical fable and courtly romance - the tales encompass a blend of universal human themes, retold here for our times by bestselling author Peter Ackroyd.The edition also includes an introduction by Ackroyd, detailing some of the historical background to Chaucer and the Tales, and why he has been inspired to translate them for a new generation of readers.Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1343-1400) was an English author, poet, philosopher, courtier and diplomat, best known as the author of The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer is credited as being the first author to demonstrate the artistic legitimacy of the vernacular English language. The first poet to have been buried in the Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey, his other works include The House of Fame, Troilus and Criseyde and The Book of the Duchess.Peter Ackroyd (b. 1949) is an award-winning writer and historian. Formerly literary editor of The Spectator and chief book reviewer for the The Times, he is the author of novels such as Hawksmoor (1985) and The House of Doctor Dee (1993), as well as non-fiction including Dickens: Public Life and Private Passion (2002), London: The Biography (2000), and Thames: Sacred River (2007). 'Ackroyd's retelling is compulsive, bold and rare ... as fresh as new paint'Observer'The only version to read'Time Out

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The debut collection of poetry by Gboyega Odubanjo.On 21 September 2001, the torso of a black boy was discovered in the River Thames, near Tower Bridge in central London, clothed only in an orange pair of girls' shorts. Given the name Adam by police officers, the unidentified boy was between four and eight years old. What comes next cannot without a story of water and offering. The sun shines and we gather because the river allows it. Na from clap dem dey enter dance. We enter with, and as, Adam.' Gboyega OdubanjoHaunted by the discovery of the remains of a young Black boy in the River Thames in London, 2001, Gboyega Odubanjo's Adam builds from the Genesis myth and from Yoruba culture to examine with an unflinching eye the disappearance of a child and its implication for all Black lives, and for the society in which we live.

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'Held me completely in its thrall until the very last line’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN, bestselling author of Pandora ‘A well-researched and thoroughly convincing page-turner’ LAURA SHEPPERSON, bestselling author of The Heroines A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH June, 1878. The body of a boy is pulled from the depths of the River Thames, suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin. Four months earlier. Harriet is a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall. Fleeing the drudgery of an unwanted engagement in the small village where she grew up, Harriet is entranced by the grand country hall; she is entranced too by her glamorous mistress Clara Gethin, whose unearthly singing voice floats through the house. But Clara, though captivating, is erratic. The master of the house is a much-lauded politician, but he is strangely absent. And some of their beautiful belongings seem to tell terrible stories. Unable to ignore her growing unease, Harriet sets out to discover their secrets. When she uncovers a shocking truth, a chain of events is set in motion that could cost Harriet everything, even her freedom…

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This book takes readers on a journey along some of the UK's most important rivers, including the Thames, Severn, Avon and others. Readers can find out about the plants and animals that live there, the towns and cities the river passes through, and why it is important for the local economy and environment.

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Scandal, murder and treason… Athelstan and Cranston are back with a bang.Winter, 1379. French privateers are attacking the southern coast and threaten London itself, the very heart of the nation.The situation becomes dire when an English flotilla of warships, with the colossal God’s Bright Light among them, drops anchor in the Thames; during the first night, the entire watch of the ship disappears without a trace.The series of murderous and strange incidents leads to Sir John and Brother Athelstan being summoned to resolve the mysteries on board the ill-omened warship. Their investigations uncover some shocking truths – and they find themselves in the thick of a bloody battle on the Thames.A gripping and suspenseful historical mystery with plenty of action, perfect for fans of Michael Jecks, S. G. MacLean and Susanna Gregory.

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In 1997 Matthew Welton received an Eric Gregory award for his poetry, the next day he threw his only copies of the prize winning poems into the Thames, he took the train back to Manchester and started writing again. This book includes everything he has written since.

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AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH PICK FOR LITERATURE AND FICTION 'The Day Tripper is absolutely astonishing, from first page to last. Warm, clever, hopeful, and superbly written. James Goodhand is a brilliant storyteller at the top of his game. I adored it.' - Stuart Turton, bestselling author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn HardcastleIt's 1995, and Alex Dean has it all: a place at Cambridge University next year, the love of an amazing woman named Holly and all the time in the world ahead of him. That is until a brutal encounter with a ghost from his past sees him beaten, battered and almost drowning in the Thames.He wakes the next day to find he's in a messy, derelict room he's never seen before, in grimy clothes he doesn't recognise. A glimpse in the mirror tells him he's older-much older-his features ravaged by time and poor decisions. It's 2010-fifteen years since the fight.After fin

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Chiswick grew from a village on a bend of the River Thames to a fashionable retreat from London in the eighteenth century, then a suburb of London in the nineteenth century. The Palladian villa Chiswick House, with its landscaped gardens, was created by Lord Burlington in 1720 and artists and writers were drawn to the area, which also later became home to the Royal Horticultural Society and the first Garden Suburb at Bedford Park. Industries later associated with Chiswick included Thorneycroft marine builders and Fuller's famous brewery. During the Second World War the first V-2 rocket to hit London fell on Staveley Road in Chiswick.In AZ of Chiswick author Andy Bull reveals the history behind Chiswick, its streets and buildings, industries and the people connected with the area. Alongside the famous historical connections included are some unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well-known. Readers will discover tales of glamorous residents of Chiswick H

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'He thought his happiness was complete when, as he meandered aimlessly along, suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river.' One of the most popular children's books of all time, the dreamy world of the riverbank and Toad, Ratty, Mole and Badger is woven into the childhood of many who have been entranced by Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. The Pitkin Guide brings these enchanting characters to life and explores their relationship with their author. The tragedy of his mother’s early death at their Scottish home and his father’s inability to come to terms with the loss of his wife propelled Kenneth Grahame and his siblings into another world – one that was to influence and inform one of the greatest children’s stories of all time. We look at Grahame’s life in London, the English countryside that inspired his writing, and the legacy he has left behind for future generations to enjoy. Includes illustrations by E.H Shephard, and map of the River Thames.

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Arranged geographically by continent, GREAT CIVILISATIONS introduces 20 exceptional cultures and moments in human history. Find out how modern humans left Africa and when they settled in each continent. Learn about the origins of farming and how it led to the formation of wealthy cities and large empires. Discover amazing civilisations from around the world, from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks, to the earliest African and Australian cultures. AGES: 8 plus AUTHOR: David Owen worked as an editor in children's reference publishing for many years before becoming a freelance author and editor. Giulia Lombardo is a freelance illustrator based in Florence, Italy. She has illustrated non-fiction books on a range of subjects. Dr John Haywood is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Great Britain and the author of many books including The New Atlas of World History (Thames & Hudson) and The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilisations. SELLING POINTS: . Provides an introduction to 20 ancient civilisations . Packed with information on food, trade, warriors, goddesses, festivals & much more . An eye-catching mix of large scenes showing how people lived and smaller illustrations with details of daily life . Ideal for home & school libraries

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The Best Fishing Stories Ever Told celebrates the art of hunting fish at many angles. This ancient tradition is practiced all over the world. Tales of baiting, angling, and the watery outdoors are recounted by great writers such as Rudyard Kipling, Guy de Maupassant, and Lord Byron. In scenic rivers, lakes, and seas, praise the trout, snap up that salmon, angle, aim, and sing the fisherman’s song! This superbly presented collection of fishing stories will set the reader sailing on the Loch or along the Thames and tracking down sharks or carp in many exciting waterways. You will find memories, essays, true stories, and fishing accounts more or less exaggerated or imagined. Their authors and their editor, Nick Lyons, all share a communicable passion for a great day out fishing—a passion only surpassed by the love of telling the tale with or without the catch to show! With work by more than one hundred of the world’s most eminent authors and fishermen, including: John McPhee Howell Raines Ted Leeson Jimmy Carter Lefty Kreh Dave Barry Norman Maclean Rudyard Kipling And many more!

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In the 1930s, hundreds of barges sailed the crowded waters of the Thames estuary carrying up to 100 tons of every sort of cargo - wheat and barley, coal, gun powder, cement and gravel. These remarkable craft were worked by a crew of two - skipper and mate. Here, the shipmate tells his story.

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London, or Londinium, was founded by the Romans in about AD 50 and soon became the most important city in Britannia. Straddling the River Thames, it was a hive of activity, as it is today. In this accessible and readable book, Roman expert and archaeologist Dr Andrew Tibbs uncovers the hidden history of Roman Londinium and provides a lively and authoritative guide to archaeological remains and excavations, the key museums as well as the hidden sites now concealed by modern London. The book includes a fascinating overview of the development and importance of Roman London, including its foundations, history and trading importance and also the story of what happened to Londinium after the Romans departed. The author reveals the engaging details of daily life in and around Roman London and also provides a timeline for Londinium in the context of Roman Britain and beyond. Including maps and full-colour illustrations, this is a concise and indispensable guide to Roman London.

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