Search results for ""author thames"

One May evening in London, as a result of a chance encounter and a split-second decision, the young climatologist Adam Kindred loses everything - home, job, reputation, passport, credit cards, money - never to get them back. With the police and a hit man in merciless pursuit, Adam has no choice but to go underground, joining the ranks of the disappeared, struggling to understand how his life has unravelled so spectacularly. His journey of discovery will take him along the Thames from Chelsea to the sink estates of the East End. On the way he encounters aristocrats, priests, prostitutes and a policewoman - but will he ever find himself again?

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When the San Angelo drifts into port in the Thames Estuary, telephones begin to ring across the capital and an intricate series of events is set in motion. Beset by dreadful storms in the Bay of Biscay, the ship, along with the 'mixed cargo' it carries, is late. Unaware of the machinations of avaricious importers, wayward captains and unscrupulous traders, Harry Reed and June Harvey are thrust together by a riverside accident, before being swept into the current of a dark plot developing on the dockside. A moody classic set around London’s historic docks published in 1938, Josephine Bell's unique and atmospheric writing shines in a mystery weaving together blackmail, bootleg lingerie and, of course, murder.

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Whether it’s white ladies, old ladies, monks, miners, blacksmiths, beggars, or bears, horses, hounds, priests or poltergeists, unwilling brides or all too willing femmes fatales, Dark Age warriors, Roundhead troopers, or phantom narrowboats, Gloucestershire’s hidden places are seething with spooks. Anthony Nanson and Kirsty Hartsiotis imaginatively bring to life twenty of the creepiest and most engaging ghost stories from all over Gloucestershire – from the Forest, Severn Vale, and Cotswolds, the Upper Thames and Bristol. Enjoy them on the page on a dark and stormy night, or tell them yourself to freak out your friends.

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A stunning new edition with deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader. Kenneth Grahame’s treasured and perennially popular The Wind in the Willows follows the adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger as they spend their time ‘simply messing about in boats’, getting lost in the Wild Wood and getting Toad out of scrapes. The endearing characters, evocatively idyllic setting of the gentle Thames Valley and the message of friendship make this an enduringly heart-warming tale. The FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library.

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CONTAINED in the volume, originally published in 1962, are the histories of fourteen parishes in south-west Middlesex: Shepperton, Staines, Stanwell, Sunbury, and Teddington in Spelthorne hundred; Heston-and-Isleworth and Twickenham in Isleworth hundred; and Cowley, Cranford, West Drayton, Greenford, Hanwell, Harefield, and Harlington in Elthorne hundred. The whole area is now divided between the London Boroughs of Ealing, Hillingdon, Hounslow, and Richmond upon Thames and the District of Spelthorne. Among its extensive modern suburbs are the vestiges of the earlier agricultural villages, and the best known of the surviving large houses are Syon House, Osterley Park, and StrawberryHill. The index covers both Volumes Two and Three.

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Amelia Scarcliffe’s monstrous brood, harbingers of Cthulhu, will soon spawn. Her songs spell insanity, death… and illimitable wealth. And Moriarty will do anything to get his hands on gold, even if it means tearing down the walls between this world and a realm of horrors. Meanwhile, after Sherlock Holmes’s last tangle with the Order of Dagon, horrifying monsters haunt the Thames, and madness stalks the streets of Whitechapel. Gang war between Moriarty’s thugs and the powerful cult can only bring more terror—unless Holmes and Dr. Watson can prevent it. But can they find the cause of the neural psychoses before Watson himself succumbs?

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London is strewn with waterways, but the River Thames twisting through the capital can be seen from a radically different perspective in the futuristic Docklands area to the more sleepy suburbs of Putney, Chiswick and Barnes.Much of Camden's quaint charm would be lost without the Regent's Canal, and further out in the suburbs the Wandle, Lea and Brent rivers are well worth discovering.Walking London's Waterways is an exploration, in 21 carefully researched walks, of London's varied waterways in all their glory. Gilly Cameron-Cooper's engaging text is steeped in historical detail, and is accompanied by clear and detailed route maps and enchanting photographs.

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In this ground-breaking book, a theory of ’distortion’ - of the way in which the processes of human life are subject to interference, diversion and transformation - is developed by way of the art of one of Britain’s greatest twentieth-century painters and that art’s public reception. Devoted to his native village of Cookham-on-Thames, Stanley Spencer painted not only landscapes and portraits with loving detail but also the ’memory-feelings’ which he felt were a ’sacred’ part of his consciousness. Yet Spencer was also a controversial public figure, with some taking the view that his visionary paintings were ugly distortions of human life, even marks of an immoral nature. Examining how Spencer lived his vision, how he painted it and wrote it, and also how his attempts to communicate that vision were received by his contemporaries and have continued to be interpreted since his death, the author posits distortion as key: an intrinsic aspect both of human creation and of human interaction. What we intend to make, to say, to do and have done, often mutates in the process of being expressed or put into effect: we live amid distortion. Love - the affective appreciation of one another - is then a means by which we accommodate distortion and its consequences in our lives. An illustration, through Stanley Spencer’s story, of significant aspects of a human condition, this book will appeal across disciplines, including to art historians and students of Spencer’s work, as well as to scholars of anthropology with interests in creativity, perception and interpretation.

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The Little Book of Oxfordshire is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts (plus some authentically bizarre bits of historic trivia). Combining essential facts with little-known, weird and often hilarious trivia, it is an essential purchase for all lovers of the county. Colourful characters and the general mayhem of Oxford history flow through the pages like the iconic Thames, Isis and Cherwell rivers. Dip in and celebrate!

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The essential guide to the story of London's acclaimed museum - from its origins in the 1980s to its pivotal move in 2016 London's Design Museum is entering an exciting period in its life as it prepares to move to the former Commonwealth Institute in Kensington. The Story of the Design Museum charts the story of the museum's life from its inception as the Boilerhouse Project to twenty-five years of groundbreaking exhibitions at Shad Thames. The book begins with a foreword by the founder of the Design Museum Sir Terence Conran, and concludes with an essay from the museum's architect, John Pawson, accompanied by stunning images of the iconic and newly renovated Commonwealth Institute Building, the museum's new home.

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'A novel displaying all the author's many strengths, from his John le Carré-like ability to portray the intelligence world from top to bottom, to its line up of memorable supporting characters' The Sunday Times'Depicts the desperate world of an agent adrift behind enemy lines as few others can' The Times'Highly enjoyable' Guardian***He had been to the limit. Then they sent him further.Gary - 'Gaz' - Baldwin is a watcher, not a killer. Operating with a special forces unit deep in Syria, he is to sit in a hide, observe a village, report back and leave.But the appalling atrocity he witnesses will change his life forever.Before long, he is living as a handyman on the Orkney islands, far from Syria, far from the army, not far enough from the memories that have all but destroyed him.'Knacker' is one of the last old-school operators at the modern MI6 fortress on the Thames. He presides over the Round Table, a little group who meet in a pub and yearn for simpler, less bureaucratic times.When news reaches Knacker that the Russian officer responsible for the Syrian incident may be in Murmansk, northern Russia, he sets in motion a plan to kill him. It will involve a sleeper cell, a marksman and other resources - all unlikely to be sanctioned by the MI6 top brass, so it must be done off the books.But first, he will need a sure identification. And for that, he needs a watcher...Full of surprise, suspense and betrayal, Beyond Recall is a searching novel of moral complexity and a story of desperate survival.

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Book 3 in the Rivers of London series, from Sunday Times Number One bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch.Peter Grant is learning magic fast. And it's just as well - he's already had run-ins with the deadly supernatural children of the Thames and a terrifying killer in Soho. Progression in the Police Force is less easy. Especially when you work in a department of two. A department that doesn't even officially exist. A department that if you did describe it to most people would get you laughed at. And then there's his love life. The last person he fell for ended up seriously dead. It wasn't his fault, but still. Now something horrible is happening in the labyrinth of tunnels that make up the tube system that honeycombs the ancient foundations of London. And delays on the Northern line is the very least of it. Time to call in the Met's Economic and Specialist Crime Unit 9, aka 'The Folly'. Time to call in PC Peter Grant, Britain's Last Wizard.Praise for the Rivers of London novels:'Ben Aaronovitch has created a wonderful world full of mystery, magic and fantastic characters. I love being there more than the real London'NICK FROST'As brilliant and funny as ever'THE SUN'Charming, witty, exciting'THE INDEPENDENT'An incredibly fast-moving magical joyride for grown-ups'THE TIMESDiscover why this incredible series has sold over two million copies around the world. If you're a fan of Terry Pratchett or Douglas Adams - don't panic - you will love Ben Aaronovitch's imaginative, irreverent and all-round irresistible novels.

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The Capital Ring is a 78-mile (125 km) walking route encircling inner London that links the astonishing number of islands of green space – parks, woodlands, abandoned railway lines, towpaths and nature reserves – which still survive in the very heart of the city. The Ring takes in many of London’s leading attractions – for example, the Thames Barrier, Eltham Palace and Richmond Park – as well as overlooked gems such as Oxleas Meadows, the Parkland Walk and Abbey Mills Pumping Station, and gives a close-up view of the ever-changing Olympic Park. This guide divides the route into 15 sections, each starting and finishing at a public transport point, and is packed with a vast amount of information.

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Commander William Monk: in search of justice, he will not stop until he has found the truth.It is a time of progress, with the Empire's interests expanding and the contentious new Suez Canal nearing completion. Many people stand to gain - and to lose - as the world rapidly changes.When a Thames pleasure boat is blown up with the loss of many lives, an Egyptian man is quickly sentenced to hang for the crime. But William Monk, head of the River Police, discovers the evidence was flawed. As he and his wife Hester investigate further, Monk begins to wonder if the wrong man was convicted. If justice itself has been tainted, exposing the true culprit will be far more dangerous...

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"Ghosts appear in place of whatever a given people will not face" (p. 65) The poems in Gravesend explore ghosts as instances of collective grief and guilt, as cultural constructs evolved to elide or to absorb a given society's actions, as well as, at times, to fill the gaps between such actions and the desires and intentions of its individual citizens. Tracing the changing nature of the ghostly in the western world from antiquity to today, the collection focuses particularly on the ghosts created by the European expansion of the 16th through 20th centuries, using the town of Gravesend, the seaport at the mouth of the Thames through which countless emigrants passed, as an emblem of theambiguous threshold between one life and another, in all the many meanings of that phrase.

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'Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.'Suffering from every malady in the book except housemaid's knee, three men and a dog decide to head for a restful vacation on the Thames. Anticipating peace and leisure, they encounter, in fact, the joys of roughing it, of getting their boat stuck in locks, of being towed by amateurs, of having to eat their own cooking and, of course, of coping with the glorious English weather.

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A gripping retelling of the timeless epic of romance, enchantment and adventure, Peter Ackroyd's The Death of King Arthur recasts Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur in clear, compelling modern English prose, published in Penguin Classics.'In the old wild days of the world there was a King of England known as Uther Pendragon; he was a dragon in wrath as well as in power ...'Born with the help of Merlin's magic, blessed with the sword of Excalibur, Arthur becomes King of a troubled England, beginning a golden age of chivalry at the court of Camelot. But his reign is soon to be torn apart by violence, revenge and tragedy ...Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur made the legend of King Arthur immortal. Now Peter Ackroyd's retelling brings his timeless story of love, heroism and betrayal to new life for our times.Sir Thomas Malory (c.1405-1471) was a knight and estate owner in the mid 15th century, who spent many years in prison for political crimes as well as robbery. He wrote Le Morte d'Arthur, the first great English prose epic, while imprisoned in Newgate. 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). If you enjoyed The Death of King Arthur, you might like Ackroyd's The Canterbury Tales, also available in Penguin Modern Classics.'I admire this version enormously ... This story has to move with both swiftness and dignity, and yoking those two qualities together is not an easy task; but Ackroyd does it with ease'Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials trilogy 'Ackroyd's lightly trimmed and streamlined Le Morte d'Arthur makes it eminently readable' Sunday Times

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'Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache . . . Richly textured and with an appropriately labyrinthine plot, this is a book that explores the monster inside man — and vice versa. Book of the Month' Sunday TimesLondon, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died four years past, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers in her possession, she spends her days dredging up coals, copper and pieces of iron spilled by the river barges – searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.But one day, Nell discovers a body on the shore. It’s not the first corpse she’s encountered, but by far the strangest. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head are the suggestion of horns. Nell’s fellow mudlarks urge her to steal his boots and rifle his pockets, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath – and Nell is forced to make a decision which will change her life forever . . .From the critically acclaimed author of The Toymakers comes an imaginative retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, full of myth and magic and steeped in the grime of Victorian London; perfect for lovers of historical fiction with a mythical twist such as Stone Blind and Circe.Praise for Once A Monster:'Imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic.' - The Times'A wonderful magic trick of a story, full of very human monsters and monstrous humans. Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller. - Stuart Turton, bestselling author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

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‘I would give this more stars if I could. For a debut novel, in this genre, this is simply brilliant, the twists & turns you go through keep you on the edge of your seat, I couldn't put this down!!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow wow wow is all I can say. This book is brilliant . . . such a page turner’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fabulous debut book. Fast paced and addictive. You won't want to put it down until you've finished reading it’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a page turner! Fresh and engaging writing . . . absolutely worth the read’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ * * * There's a serial killer on the loose. When bodies start washing up along the banks of the River Thames, DI Henley fears it is the work of Peter Olivier, the notorious Jigsaw Killer. But it can’t be him; Olivier is already behind bars, and Henley was the one who put him there. The race is on before more bodies are found. She’d hoped she’d never have to see his face again, but Henley knows Olivier might be the best chance they have at stopping the copycat killer. But when Olivier learns of the new murders, helping Henley is the last thing on his mind . . . Will it take a killer to catch the killer? Now all bets are off, and the race is on tocatch the killer before the body count rises. But who will get there first – Henley, or the Jigsaw Killer? * * * Praise for Nadine Matheson 'So tense and dark. It has a real Silence of the Lambs vibe, and Peter Olivier is my new Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant' Lisa Hall, author of Between You and Me 'Matheson’s voice is exciting, urgent… and, now more than ever, vital’ A.J. Finn, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window ‘Buckle up, readers! From the first scene, Nadine Matheson takes us on a heart-pounding roller coaster ride’ Tami Hoag, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Boy ‘If you like your crime on the gruesome side, this will certainly satisfy’ Heat ‘With a wit that complements her dark subject matter, Matheson writes superbly . . . A book to make you think, feel – and jump out of your chair’ Daily Mirror

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Escape London takes locals and tourists beyond the chaos and noise of London to places of retreat within easy reach of the city. It highlights the destinations that have become iconic escapes, the places that offer adventure, culture and culinary delights, as well as historic attractions and chocolate-box villages. Chapters include the following (together with a few examples for each) Culture & HeritageHastings, Arundel, Cookham Gardens & GreenerySissinghurst, Rye, Lewes, Henley-on-Thames Gastronomy & LuxuryMersea Island, Whitstable, Goodwood, Cowarth Park Family FriendlyChislehurst Caves, Margate, Hampton Court, Great Missenden Cool & QuirkyBrighton, Hythe, Southend-on Sea

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Join Pigín on an unexpected trip – all the way to London! Pigín is enjoying a wonderful summer party at the fairies’ place behind Howth Castle when he holds one balloon too many, and up into the air he goes! Luckily, the Green Bird is flying overhead and the captain manages to pull Pigín in the cockpit window. And so his unexpected adventure begins … Pigín enjoys visiting the sights in London: a trip to Buckingham Palace, a ride on the River Thames and even a go around the London Eye. What a wonderful time he has! But when he sees Nanakit waiting for him at Dublin airport he realises there’s no place like home.

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In the debates about the UK’s future relationship with the European Union, all sorts of possible alternatives have been bandied about, from “Singapore on the Thames” to “Canada Plus”, from “Switzerland” to “Ukraine”, from “Norway” to “Australia”. But what do these alternative relationship models really consist of and would they be viable for the UK? Martin Westlake brings together distinguished contributors to examine these various options, real and potential, and to consider whether they would offer a workable solution for the continued relationship between the EU and post-Brexit Britain. These essays offer expert insight into the scale and challenge of the practical issues facing Britain as it seeks to establish a new future with its largest trading partner.

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On a freezing winter's night, a small craft skims the Thames towards London's most exclusive riverside hotel. On board is a lone assassin, his target - Britain's most powerful new politican.In a nation threatened by extremists, billionaire businessman Vernon Rolt's plans for a zero-tolerance crackdown have touched a popular nerve.MI5 operative Tom Buckingham is undercover inside Rolt's organisation, from where he must neutralise the rogue assassins out to kill his boss.All too soon, Tom gets caught up in a far more devastating plot which will change the political landscape of Europe, for ever . . .

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The county of Buckinghamshire holds many delights, from the rolling Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to the meandering routes of the Great Ouse and River Thames, and breathtaking views from the surrounding hills. Buckinghamshire is also blessed with some of the finest gardens in England and there is history and heritage aplenty, from Bletchley Park to the Roald Dahl Museum, as well as many wonderful historic houses that tell fascinating tales of Buckinghamshire's varied past. 50 Gems of Buckinghamshire is overflowing with stunning photographs and interesting facts to draw you closer to the places you already know and love and to tempt you to discover new gems of your own.

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Looking for the best dog walks in Berkshire? Then this is the book for you. Here you'll find 20 brilliant Berkshire walking routes - all hand-picked by expert walkers and tested by even-more-expert dogs. All routes have been compiled specifically to maximise off-lead time for your four-legged friend. These walks will lead you across magnificent Windsor Great Park; along the Thames path in Reading and picturesque Remenham; through ancient water meadows near Cookham; over the open rolling downland of Lambourn, discovering woods in Ufton; splashing in water at Dinton Pastures Country Park; and enjoying the Kennet and Avon canal in Hungerford and Newbury.

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The River Thames, with its docks, wharves and associated industries, has been a source of livelihood for generations of East Enders living in the historic riverside neighbourhoods of the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Stepney, Poplar and adjacent areas. From images of the maritime stores of old nautical Limehouse and the silk-weaving houses in Bethnal Green at the turn of the twentieth century, to views of the prefabs in Poplar after the Second World War, this selection recalls how life was lived in the tightly packed streets of the East End. East End Neighbourhoods draws on both private and public pictorial archives to offer a fascinating glimpse into the past of one of the most individual and facinating quarters of London.

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This collection of 20 short, circular walks in the Chilterns was put together with families in mind. Perfect for younger and older walkers, and those looking for a brief excursion; the shortest route is just over 11/2 miles and all are under 31/2 miles. Explore the woodland, farm fields, canals, rivers and, of course, rolling hills that make the Chilterns one of the most beautiful and varied places to walk. In this book you'll find routes that walk the flat valleys, circumnavigate hilltops and wind along the River Thames, with just a few gentle undulations. All walks include parking options, highlights, easy-to-follow numbered directions and suggestions for refreshment stops along the way.

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A detailed and abundantly-illustrated reference that focuses on the innovative curved score folding for sheet metal techniques to create beautiful, dynamic three-dimensional forms, much like metal origami, in jewellery and metalsmithing. Anastasia Young and Paul Wells, both renowned London-based jewellers, authors and lecturers, have created a practical visual handbook on curved scoring and folding techniques applied to jewellery and metalsmithing for small objects. The book's clear, hands-on approach, with explanatory photographs for each step, makes it an invaluable resource for established jewellers wishing to learn more about new techniques, jewellery students, home crafters and advanced amateurs. Readers will discover a variety of ways to score and fold metal and give it different finishes, shaping flat sheets into to visually stunningly organic forms, including guides on the tools needed for each method. A final section contains useful resources, from a detailed analysis of score depth based on the gauge of the wire used (through diagrams to aid design and planning) to information about where to source materials and facts about metalworking and jewellery in general. AUTHORS: Anastasia Young is a London-based jewellery artist, author and lecturer whose work has been exhibited internationally. Young's eclectic jewellery is often project-based and driven by a combination of ideas and technical investigation; she uses narrative to explore both the design of a piece and its display when not being worn. Examples of her work are held in the permanent collections of the Science Museum, London and Central Saint Martins Museum. Young is a graduate of the Royal College of Art and Central Saint Martins, where she lectures and teaches short courses in jewellery making. Having written three technical jewellery books (Thames & Hudson, A&C Black) which have been translated into seven languages, Young is well known as an educator and through her teaching and writing. In 2017, Anastasia was appointed to the board of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery, and is also the Technical Features Editor of its biannual magazine, Findings. Paul Wells is an award-winning London based silversmith and jeweler, renowned for his use of direct metalworking techniques. Wells' silverware makes innovative use of fold-forming and he has developed a method of creating curved scores which can be used to fold sheet metal in a visually stunning and unique style. His technique has been recognised by Goldsmiths' Crafts and Design Council with two Gold Awards for Technological Innovation. Wells' exploration of this technique has led to the production of intrinsically organic silver forms which almost appear to have grown themselves into existence, creating confounding biomorphic designs that are both functional and decorative. Having taught at several London colleges for two decades, Paul Wells is a respected educator and keen advocate of fold-forming, and has contributed to many books published by Quarto, Thames & Hudson and A&C Black. SELLING POINTS: . An essential, easy-to-understand reference for anyone who wants to perfect his or her metalworking techniques, full of photographs to illustrate every step of the way . The only book on the market that demonstrates the curved scoring technique . Filled with practical resources such as tips, advice on tools, diagrams, and a glossary of commonly-used industry terms . Renowned authors with ample experience both in jewellery making and teaching, thus providing a very instructional and informational text. Anastasia Young's previous books have become a reference in the field of jewellery . A detailed and richly-illustrated reference book on contemporary metalworking and jewellery techniques for home-crafters and serious amateurs, and even professional jewellers 450 illustrations

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An award-winning adventure story set at Tower Bridge. While the crowds are waiting for The Queen to pass under the bridge in her Royal Barge Bella, the Tower Bridge Cat notices a London bus is heading across the opening bridge. She has to act quickly to help Babs the Bus Driver save all the bus passengers, and the day. We watch the bus fly over the opened bridge and enjoy a beautiful firework display over the Thames at the end. The story gets its inspiration from the true story of the number 78 jumping over the opening Tower Bridge in 1952. The Tower Bridge Cat won Best Children's Publication at the ACE Product Awards 2019.

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The volume completes the coverage of the administrative county of Middlesex as it existed until 1965, with histories of the parishes of Acton, Chiswick, Ealing, West Twyford, and Willesden, together forming the outer part of the Kensington division of Ossulstone hundred. The article on Ealing covers Old Brentford, in Ealing parish, and New Brent-ford, a chapelry which formed the southern part of Hartwell parish, in Elthorne hundred. Before their inclusionin Greater London the parishes embraced the municipal boroughs of Acton, Brentford and Chiswick, and Willes-den, and part of the borough of Ealing, with a total population of some 250,000. The area lies between the river Brent and the Thames, stretching from Edgware Road in the north-east to Brentford High Street. Many estates belonged to the bishop of Lon-don or to prebendaries of St. Paul's cathedral. Brentford, owing its prosperity to the Thames, to roadside inns, and to the market gardens of its hinterland, was the largest centre by the 17th century, when good access to the royal palaces and to London drew prominent resi-dents to Chiswick and Ealing. Most of the land was builtover in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Ealing claimed to be the queen of upper-middle class suburbs. Mean-while the decline of Brentford was followed by the growth of industry in much of Acton and W illesden. The modern scene is mainly one of sub-urban housing, intersected by railways and busy roads, including the M4 motorway. Contrasts nonetheless abound, with factories at Park Royal and along the Great West Road, shops and offices in Ealing Broadway and Chiswick High Road, tower-blocks and decayed terraces at Kilburn, the early garden suburb of Bedford Park, the riverside 'villages' of Old Chiswick and Strand-on-the-Green, and the landscaped grounds of GunnersburyPark and Chiswick House.

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An internationally bestselling, award-winning novel peering deep into the passions, losses, and reveries of the wife of eighteenth-century explorer Captain James Cook. After twelve years of marriage to English explorer James Cook, Elizabeth has yet to spend an entire year with her husband. In their house by the Thames, she moves to the rhythms of her life as a society wife, but there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She has the fortitude to manage the house and garden, raise their children, and face unbearable sorrow by herself—in fact, she is sometimes in thrall to her own independence. As she prepares for another homecoming, Elizabeth looks forward to James’s triumphant return and the work she will undertake reading and editing his voluminous journals. But will the private life she’s been leading in his absence distract her from her role in aid of her husband’s grand ambitions? Can James find the compassion to support her as their family faces unimaginable loss, or must she endure life alone as he sails off toward another adventure? An intimate and sharply observed novel, The Homecoming is as revelatory as James Cook’s exploration of distant frontiers and as richly rewarding as Elizabeth’s love for her family. With courage and strength, through recollection and imagination, author Anna Enquist brilliantly narrates Elizabeth’s compelling record of her life, painting a psychological portrait of an independent woman ahead of her time and closely acquainted with history.

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When Peter Caton set out to walk the Essex coast he had no idea of the beauty, wildlife and stories that he would find on the way. He takes the reader up and down the many creeks and estuaries of the longest coastline of any English county, through nature reserves, seaside resorts, unspoilt villages, sailing centres and alongside industry past and present. On the way we read of tales of witchcraft, ghosts, smuggling, bigamy and incest. We learn of the county’s varied history – of battles with Vikings, invading Romans bringing elephants, a fort where the only casualty occurred during a cricket match, burning Zeppelins and Jack the Ripper. The book is illustrated with photographs and maps, and the narrative contains a wealth of information, including many little-known facts and stories. With gentle humour to match the coastline’s gentle beauty, the book makes for easy reading. It tells of the solitude of some of the most remote coastal areas in England and of the huge range of wildlife to be found there. In contrast we read of the docks and industry of the Thames, but find that even here there is beauty for those willing to look. The book highlights how climate change may alter our coast and looks at new methods of coping with rising sea levels. It tells us how tiny settlements grew into large holiday resorts and how other villages have remained as unspoilt and isolated communities. The author’s thought-provoking final reflections consider how the coast has changed over the centuries and what its future may be.

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Chiswick is considered to be one of West London’s most appealing suburbs, renowned for its leafy appearance, riverside pubs and fine houses. Its four original villages – Strand on the Green, Turnham Green, Little Sutton and Old Chiswick – have remained a cohesive body despite the construction of a major road in the 1950s. The area has always been known for its good air, fishing and riverside trades. In the late nineteenth century Thornycroft & Co. shipbuilders launched their vessels and built the first torpedo boat for the Royal Navy. The yard was close to another of the area’s main industries – brewing – and Fuller’s Griffin Brewery is still a major business here operating from its 350-year-old site beside the Thames. In Chiswick in 50 Buildings author Lucy McMurdo presents an engaging and accessible perspective of the area’s rich architectural heritage. Walk around Chiswick’s streets and you will see buildings from the 1500s onwards in every architectural style. Until the mid-nineteenth century it was renowned for its market gardens and parkland as well as its grand Palladian villa, Chiswick House, designed in the early eighteenth century by the 3rd Earl of Burlington. This remains one of Chiswick’s treasures. With the arrival of the railway in the 1860s the area became rapidly urbanised, the population increased and fields made way for housing. Unsurprisingly, many famous people have made Chiswick their home including artists Hogarth and Whistler and poet W. B. Yeats. Illustrated throughout, this book guides you on a fascinating architectural tour of this leafy and attractive London suburb.

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LONDON: a settlement founded by the Romans, occupied by the Saxons, conquered by the Danes and ruled by the Normans. This changeful place became a medieval maze of alleys and courtyards, later to be chequered with grand estates of Georgian splendour. It swelled with industry and became the centre of the largest empire in history. And having risen from the rubble of the Blitz, it is now one of the greatest cities in the world.From the prehistoric occupants of the Thames Valley to the preoccupied commuters of today, Simon Jenkins brings together the key events, individuals and trends in London's history to create a matchless portrait of the capital. He masterfully explains the battles that determined how London was conceived and built - and especially the perennial conflict between money and power.Based in part on his experiences of and involvement in the events that shaped the post-war city, and with his trademark colour and authority, Jenkins shows above all how London has taken shape over more than two thousand years. Fascinating for locals and visitors alike, this is narrative history at its finest, from the most ardent protector of our heritage.'A handsome book ... full of the good judgements one might hope for from such a sensible and readable commentator, and they alone are worth perusing for pleasure and food for thought' Michael Wood, New Statesman on A Short History of England'Any passably cultured inhabitant of the British Isles should ask for, say, three or four copies of this book for Christmas...I can imagine no better companion on a voyage across England' Max Hastings, Daily Telegraph on England's Thousand Best Houses

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The first novel in the sensational Bow Street series from New York Times bestselling historical romance author Lisa Kleypas tells the story of a scandalous beauty with no memory of who she is and the man determined to unravel the secrets of her past . . . 'Lisa Kleypas is the best' Sarah MacLean She couldn't remember who she was . . . A temptingly beautiful woman awakens in a stranger's bed, rescued from the icy waters of the Thames, her memory gone. Told that she is Vivien Rose Duvall, one of London's most scandalous beauties, she finds herself in the protection of enigmatic, charming Grant Morgan. Her life is in his hands. Deep in her heart, she knows he has mistaken her for someone else . . . He was the only man she could trust. As one of London's most eligible and unattainable catches, Grant Morgan is a man who has known every kind of woman. And the one in his arms now seems so innocent, so vulnerable, that he can't help but be enchanted. And as his love for this mysterious beauty grows, he's determined to unravel the secrets of her past and discover the truth - no matter what. 'Kleypas can make you laugh and cry - on the same page' Julia Quinn Bow Street Runners series: Someone to Watch Over Me Lady Sophia's Lover Worth Any Price Praise for Lisa Kleypas: 'Intricately and elegantly crafted, intensely romantic . . . A gratifying series starter from a not-to-be-missed romance author' Kirkus Reviews 'Is it possible to give a book 6 stars? [This] story has all of the forbidden romance, witty banter, and sigh-inducing declarations of love that you deserve' That's Normal 'Kleypas is an amazing writer. In my opinion, she might be the most technically skilled historical romance author out there' Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 'Unforgettable, beautifully etched characters; a flawless sense of pacing; and a perfectly executed plot imbued with an abundance of desire and danger' Booklist 'Witty, often hilarious, and delightfully passionate, this compelling, thrill-laced Victorian romance is another superb series entry' Library Journal, starred review 'Readers are introduced to the unforgettable characters and their original personalities through a delightful storyline peppered with sharp repartee and steamy sensuality' RT Book Reviews (top pick) 'Reading Kleypas' long-awaited return to historical is akin to walking into the arms of an old friend' Heroes and Heartbreakers

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Lying in the heart of England, Oxfordshire is justly famous for its historic university, but the county also boasts many beautiful natural features and a fascinating historic legacy. The landscape ranges from the Chiltern and Cotswold Hills, the Wessex Downs and the Vale of the White Horse to the River Thames and its tributaries. Historic towns and buildings include Oxford, Blenheim Palace, Chipping Norton, Burford and many more. Photographer Andy Prior has captured Oxfordshire’s essence in this collection of stunning images, displaying the county at its best. For those who are proud to live in the county, as well as those visiting, this book is a must. Look through these photographs and you will quickly see why this part of England has such enduring appeal.

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A fascinating tour of London's strangest and most intriguing locations. Ranging from architectural evidence of past incidents and stories of life beneath the city, to anecdotes of magic, mystery and murder, this is a perfect companion for the curious Londoner. It includes: A Museum of Magical Curiosities; The City's Lost Tunnels and Citadels; The Ghost of a "She-Wolf; The Bawdy House Riots; The Story of 'Jack the Stripper'; The Atmospheric Railway; The Thames Ringway Bicycle Race; A Banker Hanged at Newgate; The Crossdressing Highwayman; Bluebottles, Rozzers and Woodentops; The Hidden Statue of a Beaver; The 'Belgravia of Death'; Whitehall's Licensed Brothel; Pin-Makers, Mole-Takers and Rat Catchers; Drinking in 'The Bucket of Blood'; London's Most Haunted House.All of London is here!

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'All his novels are terrific, but this one is my favourite' Sarah WatersPatrick Hamilton's novels were the inspiration for Matthew Bourne's new dance theatre production, The Midnight Bell.Measuring out the wartime days in a small town on the Thames, Miss Roach is not unattractive but no longer quite young. The Rosamund Tea Rooms boarding house, where she lives with half a dozen others, is as grey and lonely as its residents. For Miss Roach, 'slave of her task-master, solitude', a shaft of not altogether welcome light is suddenly beamed upon her, with the appearance of a charismatic and emotional American Lieutenant. With him comes change - tipping the precariously balanced society of the house and presenting Miss Roach herself with a dilemma.

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Pustules and plague corpses in Smithfield. Women disguised in men's clothing. A shark in the Thames. London’s East End has a history soaked in blood. The Great Plague of London can be traced to its streets; Jack the Ripper prowled here, as did the Ratcliffe Highway murderer and the gunmen of the famous Sidney Street siege. Communists, fascists, suffragettes and the Skeleton Army have all fought through the streets of the East End, before it weathered the worst that the Nazi bombers could throw at it during the dark days of the Blitz. Historically viewed as a ‘den of iniquity’, and once teeming with opium dens, bodysnatchers and paupers, this is a story of dreadful odds and of determination, filled with horror, grim British humour and hundreds of incredible years of history.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES ART BOOK OF THE YEAR A Sunday Times Best Paperback of 2022 Christie's Best Art Books of the Year 'Deft and richly detailed ... rescues the artist from John Bull caricature' - Michael Prodger, Sunday Times 'Marvellous ... a vivid and compelling reconstruction of the settings of Hogarth's life and artistic achievements, and of the nature of the man' - Professor Linda Colley, author of The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen 'Full of richness, originality and considered humour, unafraid to shock with thrilling new insight ... terrific' - Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of V&A Stratford & Sky Arts 'The full technicolour panorama of Georgian life laid out in a huge and passionate book' - Lucy Worsley, Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces and author of Courtiers: The Secret History of the Georgian Court On a late spring night in 1732, a boisterous group of friends set out from their local pub. They are beginning a journey, a 'peregrination' that will take them through the gritty streets of Georgian London and along the River Thames as far as the Isle of Sheppey. And among them is an up-and-coming engraver and painter, just beginning to make a name for himself: William Hogarth. Hogarth's vision, to a vast degree, still defines the eighteenth century. In this, the first biography for over twenty years, Jacqueline Riding brings him to vivid life, immersing us in the world he inhabited and from which he drew inspiration. At the same time, she introduces us to an artist who was far bolder and more various than we give him credit for: an ambitious self-made man, a devoted husband, a sensitive portraitist, an unmatched storyteller, philanthropist, technical innovator and author of a seminal work of art theory. Following in his own footsteps from humble beginnings to professional triumph (and occasional disaster), Hogarth illuminates the work and life of a great artist who embraced the highest principles even while charting humanity's lowest vices.

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'Perhaps his greatest work. The great novel of London: dark, wise, unsentimental' William BoydWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY NICK HORNBY John Harmon returns to England after years in exile to claim his inheritance: a great fortune and a beautiful young woman to whom he is betrothed, but has never met. When Harmon's body is pulled out of the Thames, all of London is fascinated by the mystery of the murdered man and his unclaimed riches. Scavengers, social-climbers, lawyers and teachers, a money-lender and a dolls-dressmaker, men and women both honest and villainous, will all become embroiled in this tale of love and obsession, death and rebirth. **One of the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**

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Cousin Rosamund unfolds the final chapters of the saga that began with The Fountain Overflows, Rebecca West's acknowleged masterpiece, and continued with This Real Night.As the glitter of the 1920s gives way to the Depression, Rose and Mary find themselves feted and successful pianists. But their happiness is diminished by their cousin's unfathomable marriage to a man they perceive as grotesque. Lacking her cousin Rosamund's intuitive understanding, Rose looks to the surrogate wisdom of Mr Morpurgo, while quiet days with Aunt Lily and the Darcys at their pub on the Thames offer respite from the tensions of foreign concert tours. With approaching middle age Rose gains in perspective. Yet the most exciting development still awaits her: the discovery of and delight in her own sexuality...

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Ben Aaronovitch’s ‘Rivers of London’ Set For Adaptation By See-Saw, Pure Fiction Television Spring Breakers meets Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels on the banks of the Thames in this new graphic novel from Ben Aaronovitch! An anthology series of stories featuring Police Constable Peter Grant, his partner, Sahra Guleed, and their associates, as they tackle supernatural crime on the streets of London! When two of the less well-behaved River goddesses, Chelsea and Olympia, decide to earn a few quid on the side, Peter and Bev find themselves drawn into a sordid cannabis-smuggling operation, controlled by London's new queenpin of crime - the brutal and beautiful Hoodette!

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'When I saw Drenthe, in deep February snow, I knew I had to write about it,' says Julith Jedamus. Each of her poems is necessary, a passionate dialogue with a subject and a form. She is a poet of extraordinary technical resourcefulness that matches a precision and integrity of vision. Once read we cannot forget her snowflakes, landscapes or the dramas of relationship - familial, romantic, historical - which provide the living pulse of this collection. She is not a religious poet, but in her embodiments a religious instinct finds expression. Her relationship with the Thames, where she is an avid rower, is of a piece with her relationship with the stories of Hans Christian Andersen: her poems include her, and us, in a wider, flowing world.

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'A book of innocence and bawdiness, fury and joy...needs to be read and re-read' The TimesOn the banks of the Thames a baby is found floating. Rescued by the Dog-Woman, a giant strong enough to fling an elephant into the air, their lives together will take them on a dizzying journey through space and time.As past and present collapse and centuries overlap, love, sex, truth, lies and twelve dancing princesses take centre stage. 'Entrancing...fabulous... Its language retains the clear music of poetry' Sunday Telegraph 'Simple prose shows the subtlest of minds behind it, swift, confident and dazzling' Financial Times 'Her stories and characters levitate off the page into dancing life... A bold, bizarre and timely book' Independent

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Alfred Sisley is now recognized as one of the great landscape painters of the nineteenth century, and a leading figure in the Impressionist. English-born, he lived all his life in France, and the 61 colour illustrations in this book include the celebrated snow scenes of the Paris suburbs, his views of the flooded Seine at Port-Marly, and his paintings and colourful regattas on the Thames with Kenneth Clark described as embodying “the perfect moment of Impressionism”. Richard Shone has completely updated his essay, fist published in 1979, in the light if his major 1992 Phaidon monograph on Sisley, selected new colour plates and added extensive commentaries on the illustrations to the work of Alfred Sisley.

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