Search results for ""allen unwin""

'It seemed like a good idea...at the time.' - the lament of many a morning afterRum, beer, scotch, wine, beer and more beer. For nearly 250 years Australian history has been punctuated with stories of booze and boozing. From Cook's voyages and the First Fleet to the Rum Rebellion, the mutiny of the 99th Regiment, the soldiers' riot of 1916, six o'clock closing and beyond, we've been a nation that likes a drink.With the eye of the master storyteller that he is, Jim Haynes has collected the best yarns, verses, stories and anecdotes of our boozy history. He uncovers the good and the bad of our national character and its relationship with grog. He celebrates the social gift of alcohol and riotous moments of mateship and camaraderie, but he also offers salutary tales of its consequences - the hangovers, the suffering, the recriminations and the grave occasions subverted by drink.Amusing, wry, tragic and surprising, Best Australian Drinking Stories asks you to grab a glass of your favourite beverage, get comfy and enjoy this fascinating collection of stories about Australia's love affair with booze.

Read more less

One wet autumn evening in 1848, fifteen-year-old Mary Ann Gill stole out of a bedroom window in her father's Sydney hotel and took a coach to a local racecourse. There she was to elope with James Butler Kinchela, wayward son of the former Attorney-General. Her enraged father pursued them on horseback and fired two pistols at his daughter's suitor, narrowly avoiding killing him. What followed was Australia's most scandalous abduction trial of the era, as well as an extraordinary story of adventure and misadventure, both in Australia and abroad. Through humiliation, heartache, bankruptcy and betrayal, Mary Ann hung on to James' promise to marry her. This is a compelling biography of a currency lass born when convicts were still working the streets of Sydney. Starting with just a newspaper clipping, historian Kiera Lindsey has uncovered the world of her feisty great, great, great aunt, who lived and loved during a period of dramatic social and political change. 'A wonderfully vivid and pacey tale of passion, scandal and big ideas.' - Michael Cathcart, presenter of ABC Radio National's Books & Arts 'This is a ripper read and a great way of dealing with our history.' - Chris Wallace-Crabbe

Read more less

'The godfather of Australian crime fiction.'Will one man's loss be Hardy's gain?'I'd read about it in the papers, heard the radio reports and seen the TV coverage and then forgotten about it, the way you do with news stories.'A missing girl, drugs, yachts, the sex trade and a cold trail that leads from Sydney to Norfolk Island, Byron Bay and Coolangatta.The police suspect the father, Gerard Fonteyn OA, a wealthy businessman. But he's hired Cliff to find her, given him unlimited expenses and posted a $250,000 reward for information.Finally there's a break - an unconfirmed sighting of Juliana Fonteyn, alive and well. But as usual, nothing is straightforward. Various other players are in the game - and Cliff doesn't know the rules, or even what the game might be. He's determined to find out, and as the bodies mount up the danger to himself and to Juliana increases.

Read more less

'Warning: this ain't no recipe book! But Jess's real, raw and often roaringly funny tales will nourish your soul. You'll devour it! And ask for seconds!' - Sarah Harris'J-Ro's exuberance for this wonderful, sometimes messy and at times chaotic journey through life jumps joyfully out of each page. She's honest. She's disorganised. And she's got a heart of gold. Viva la Crap Housewife!' - Samantha Armytage Why not cut the crap, take the pressure off, and admit to the moments, days, weeks and months when the wheels fall off? In this fabulously funny, down-to-earth book, Diary of a Crap Housewife, Jessica Rowe writes honestly about her talent (or lack thereof) for cooking, about what's really important when it comes to mothering and family, and about her many and varied views, musings and commonsense advice on other crap housewife matters. As an added bonus, there are thirteen crap housewife recipes included, from Jessica's old favourite, spag bol, to a fresh and tasty Waldorf salad, and all so simple you can't go wrong. Being a crap housewife is a badge Jessica wears with pride, and it's a title she invites other women to embrace. The idea of crap lies in the real-life messes, hiccups, disasters and bad meals that many of us dish up and deal with every day. This mum is tired of the photos of perfectly packed school lunches, posts about gourmet family dinners eaten together at the table, and tales of neat, tidy and obedient children with smoothly brushed hair. It's time to reset the bar. Make expectations realistic. Strive to be kind, loving, smart and funny. Perfection is not required.'Jess Rowe may be a crap housewife but she is a great writer and an even better friend. And she's right: I can be a bit of a smart arse.' - Joe Hildebrand'This woman has enriched my life. And if you read this book your life will be enriched with honesty and love too!' - Denise Drysdale

Read more less

A beautiful illustrated hardcover collection of original Australian mystery stories by popular writers and devoted Sherlockians, including Kerry Greenwood, Meg Keneally, Samuel Wagan Watson, Lucy Sussex, Kaaron Warren and many more. It's 1890. Holmes' fame has spread even to the colonies and he and his stalwart chronicler Watson are swept up in an array of mysteries 'down under'. They find themselves summoned from location to location, dealing with the exciting and unique mysteries of this strange island continent.

Read more less

The world knows Bon Scott as the wild rocker, the frontman for AC/DC who tragically died of alcohol poisoning on the eve of the band's rise to superstardom.That's the legend, now meet the man.Live Wire gives us the Bon Scott we never knew. In this deeply personal and revealing portrait we learn what it was like to be his friend, live and tour with him, and be part of the close-knit world from which one of biggest bands of all time emerged. With Bon there was always sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, but Live Wire also demonstrates the humour, intelligence and warmth of the man. From his early days with The Valentines, living in rundown apartments in inner Melbourne, to the legendary early years of AC/DC, this is the story of Bon, told by three of the people who knew him best.John D'Arcy was Bon's roadie and mate. Gabby D'Arcy, Darce's wife, was a close friend of Bon's. And Mary Renshaw was - as AC/DC's former bass player Mark Evans called her - Bon's soulmate and companion.As Bon said, it's a long way to the top. And Mary, Darce and Gabby were with him every step of the way. They lived with him, they loved him, and this is how they remember him.

Read more less

Vanessa Partridge, cello-playing good girl, spends every summer holiday at Shearwater. This year, her brother is bringing his best mate, Darith - the object of many, many fantasies Van will never say aloud. Or will she? This summer feels different...and so does Van. But her first taste of independence comes with a bitter tang of regret, and when her sense of self is shattered, Van wrestles with ideas of consent and desire, and what it means to want and be wanted. Can someone with sensible plaits and a soft spot for Plato also have secret, lustful fantasies? And if she does, is there anything wrong with that? The Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge is a heartbreaking and joyful coming-of-age novel about sex, love, family and finding your voice.'A wonderfully original voice and an irresistible protagonist who captures the complex, hilarious and messy inner life of girls. Witty, funny and heartbreaking - I wished I could lean into the pages and give Vanessa a hug.' - Melissa Keil

Read more less

You probably have a tin of shoe polish tucked under the laundry sink bearing the little bird logo that has been in homes around the globe for over a century. Founded in Melbourne by William Ramsay in 1906, Kiwi is one of the most iconic and enduring international brands ever to have come out of Australia.One of Australia's best-loved journalists, Keith Dunstan tells the remarkable story of the Ramsay family and how they created and nurtured the Kiwi brand. Always quick to seize a marketing opportunity, the Ramsays sent Kiwi to England with the Anzacs in World War I, putting a brilliant shine on belts, bridles and leggings as well as boots. Soon there was a Kiwi factory in London, and in time Kiwi ran 24 factories worldwide, selling more than 250 million cans of shoe polish annually.In his inimitable warm and chatty style, Dunstan follows the fortunes of the Ramsay family as they built the Kiwi brand over the decades: business decisions good and bad, grand houses, the latest cars, constant travel, and their marriages, quarrels and friendships. He also tracks the clever advertising strategies that kept Kiwi in the public mind, including the notorious sign that caused traffic accidents in Richmond in the 1960s.Richly illustrated in full colour, Kiwi is the fascinating inside story of one of Australia's great families, as well as one of its great brands.'I have not previously read a business story or family history that is so pithy and observant, and written with such a mix of fun and seriousness.' Geoffrey Blainey

Read more less

A huge majority of people at the end of their lives want to die at home, but only a small number manage to do this. This vital book asks why. Many of us have experienced an elderly loved one coming to the end of their life in a hospital - over-treated, infantilised and, worst of all, facing a death without dignity. Families are being herded into making decisions that are not to the benefit of the patient. Professor Ken Hillman has worked in intensive care since its inception. But he is appalled by the way the ICU has become a place where the frail, soon-to-die and dying are given unnecessary operations and life-prolonging treatments without their wishes being taken into account.A Good Life to the End will embolden and equip us to ask about the options that doctors in hospital should offer us but mostly don't. It lets us know that there are other, gentler options for patients and their loved ones that can be much more sympathetic to the final wishes of most people facing the end of their lives. An invaluable support for the elderly as well as their families, and a rallying cry for anyone who's had to witness the unnecessary suffering of a loved one, A Good Life to the End will spark debate, challenge the status quo and change lives.

Read more less

'If you love writers such as Jodi Picoult, Nicole may just be your cup of tea.' The Hoopla'I am here because they suspect me of something. I am here because I am a suspect. I know that, she knows that. Everyone knows that.' Anna'It wasn't my fault. None of this is my fault!' CaroCaro and Anna are best friends...they were best friends. Over a decade, Caro and Anna have bonded while raising their daughters, two little girls the same age but living two very different lives. The women have supported each other as they have shared the joys and trials of motherhood, but now everything has changed.There's been a terrible car accident, an unimaginable tragedy that leaves both families devastated. Over two days, as Caro and Anna each detail their own versions of events, they are forced to reveal hidden truths and closely guarded secrets.The complicated lives of wives and mothers are laid bare as both women come to realise that even best friends don't tell each other everything. And when hearts are broken, even best friends need someone to blame.A hard-hitting, provocative and gripping read from the queen of white-knuckle suspense and searing family drama.

Read more less

Cliff Hardy always finds it hard to turn down a job, but in the case of Paula Wilberforce he should have followed his instincts. Against his better judgement, he becomes involved in a wealthy family's disputes, where old rivalries and hatreds come to the surface and murder is the result.His gun is stolen, and when he finds himself wanted in relation to a shooting, Hardy must find the murderer before he strikes again.

Read more less

Cliff Hardy goes to Leichhardt gym proprietor Wesley Scott for a 'fitness assessment' and is soon trying to get his son Clinton - known as The Black Prince - back on the rails. A sports star in the making and destined for the top, Clinton is obsessed with tracking down the dealer who sold his girlfriend the steroids that led to her death. Hardy has to find Clinton before he ends up on a murder charge - the trail leads him up to North Queensland and into the shadowy world of illegal boxing.

Read more less

Private investigator Cliff Hardy is nothing if not versatile, and this collection of his cases sees him mixing with the good, the bad and the quirky. He tracks delinquent arsonists, hired killers and missing girlfriends, protects eye surgeons and radio announcers, solves old crimes and helps old underworld mates.

Read more less

When Nancy Knudsen and her architect husband Ted Nobbs decide to escape their high-pressure corporate lives and follow a dream of sailing around the world together, little do they guess where their journey will lead them. Nancy and Ted cross all the great oceans of the world and visit dozens of countries. Their adventures are sometimes hilarious, sometimes life-threatening, and lead to the beginning of many life-long friendships. As well as recounting the comedy of their cockpit disputes and the sheer breathtaking beauty of their five-year adventure, Shooting Stars and Flying Fish shows how the couple's experiences both humble them and irrevocably change their attitudes, ethics and outlook on life, with neither returning to the corporate world on their return to Australia. This book is a beautifully written, inspirational memoir that shows the rewards of taking a risk to follow one's dreams.

Read more less

'I felt always that the crumbling paper must hold something that was more like speaking flesh and blood that somewhere amid these shreds I would learn something of this family lost to silence; something about a house that was quickly abandoned and a family divided, and then all gates shut on the past.'A young Australian man arrives in riot-ravaged Paris, armed with an old manuscript written in French and an obsessive desire to piece together the fragments of a mystery that has haunted him since childhood. His journey takes him back and forth in time, over the ruins of desert and city, and through the veils and mirages of history and memory.From the blood-soaked streets of the 1870 siege of Paris, to the tear-gas and chaos of its student riots of 1968; from the desolate, windswept Australian desert to the appalling dank prisons of 19th Century New Caledonia, Deception tells an epic story of a search for truth, spanning continents and generations.Michael Meehan is the acclaimed, award-winning author of The Salt of Broken Tears and Stormy Weather. Deception, his long-awaited third novel, is a triumph of storytelling, imagery and language, a powerful, haunting work from a writer with 'an imagination of another order' (The Australian).'. complex, intellectually rich and often intriguing' - ABR'. told in opulent prose, sentences and paragraphs that build to irresistible crescendos . lusciously complex.' - Canberra Times'. quietly accomplished, intricately evoking a shifting cycle of disparate settings and times, while keeping its steady focus on the family mysteries at its core.' - Weekend Australian

Read more less

Talking to girls an exciting part of a boy's life - well, exciting and potentially agonising.This book gives a realistic picture of the challenges and choices that face boys today when they're talking to girls. Written by a highly experienced counsellor and educator, it provides a clear and informative guide to help boys through obstacles like shyness and awkwardness.Featuring 'uncut' individual comments from boys, this book links their ideas about their ability to develop girls as friends and looks at what is needed to further a friendship into a relationship. It's all about talking, listening and asking the kinds of questions that lead to healthy friendships and relationships. It's not rocket science!

Read more less

'Turned on by something unusual? Interview subjects required for ultra-confidential research into fetishes. Call Sandra.'Straight girl Stephanie Clifford-Smith was fascinated by fetishes. 'What happens the first time someone with a sexual fetish shares it with their lover? Say you had a kink, something you knew was really unusual. Would you risk your lover running screaming from the room by asking if they'll let you lick their eyeballs or would you find some oblique way of bringing it up, perhaps when they were struggling with a stray lash? Or would you just go behind their back and find a willing partner on the internet?' Were sexual fetishes widespread throughout the community, or are they only the domain of a kinky minority? And how has kinkdom changed over time?So Stephanie assumes an identity, puts an ad in the local paper, and sets off to find out for herself. She infiltrates the scene, goes to bondage parties and watches grown men suck dummies as they have their nappies changed. She thought nothing could shock her. She was wrong. The results of her investigation are mind-boggling, hilarious, sometimes creepy and always absolutely fascinating.

Read more less

The funny and tender story of Maisie, who lives with her parents in the Gone Bonkers Discount Palace, and her invisible friend Lucy.

Read more less

Australia's best-loved animal is recognised around the world, but not much is widely known of its fascinating history and unique ecology.

Read more less

Got a job interview next week? Congratulations!Interviews are the deal-breaker that can win or lose you the job, so now's the time to brush up on those interview skills. Have you prepared answers for all the tricky questions that interviewers can throw at you, like Why would you like to work here?', What are your weaknesses?', or those thorny scenario questions where you have to think on your feet?Interview Skills that Win the Job will give you the confidence you need to stay calm and in control to impress even the most hardened of interviewers. No more long-winded answers, debilitating nerves or being stumped by difficult questions here are all the tips you need for interview success.More than a guide to answering questions, Interview Skills that Win the Job covers everything you need to know, from what to do when faced with a panel of interviewers, to selecting an appropriate outfit and ensuring your body language gives the right message. Don't let this potentially nerve-wracking experience undo your chances; do your homework before the interview, and win the job of your dreams.

Read more less

'The book of the year. THE book on dogs. And people.' Andrew Dickens, Newstalk ZBMike White began walking his SPCA-rescue huntaway, Cooper, at Wellington's dog parks ten years ago, and since then has become part of a remarkable community of people and their pets.Written with wit, wisdom and heartbreaking poignancy, How to Walk a Dog is a story anyone who has ever owned or loved a dog will relate to. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will learn some of the secrets of living with a dog.Illustrated with drawings from acclaimed cartoonist Sharon Murdoch.

Read more less

An essential guide to parenting today's teens.In this fast-changing world how do we, as parents and caregivers, keep on the same page as our teens? The challenges and experiences they face can seem a million miles away from our own adolescence. It can feel overwhelming and hard to keep the communication channels open. At the same time, it's vital that we have the tools to talk openly and confidently with our teens.The Kids Will Be All Right provides up-to-date, evidence-based information, insights, conversation starters and resources to help you navigate and untangle hot topics such as friendships and frenemies; bullying; cyber safety; drinking, vaping and risk-taking behaviour; self-esteem and body image; sexuality; consent and safe relationships; and pornography.Co-written by Robyn - a nurse and educator who provides education programmes throughout schools and communities in New Zealand on health and wellbeing, including body image, cyber safety, sexuality, puberty and respectful relationships - and her daughter Molly, who weaves her perspective throughout, The Kids Will Be All Right is an insightful, accessible and empathetic guide that empowers parents and caregivers to relate to and communicate effectively with their teen.

Read more less

It was winter. Lauren Keenan was separated from her husband, lonely, and miserable. Then came the night of Twenty-Seven Rejections of Doom: she asked twenty-seven people to hang out one Friday night, and every single person said no.Lauren realised her life wasn't working for her and that she needed to change it. It was time to try something new. Fifty-two new things, in fact. She made a resolution: she'd try 52 new things in 52 weeks.From zip lining to entering a stand-up comedy night; swimming with sharks to detoxing from social media; giving up alcohol for six months to going to a music festival alone; Lauren put herself out there with surprising results.Her year of new experiences was a game changer. It repaired her relationship with her husband, she regained confidence in herself, and she realised how satisfying it can be to push yourself to your limits and to do things on your own.The 52 Week Project combines Lauren's insights and humour with current psychological research, as she brings readers along during her year of making the most out of life.

Read more less

Bad sleep sucks. Sleep deficiency defies our biology and sabotages our days. Yet more than a third of us struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep at night.We can shake off the odd sleepless night, but when sleep difficulties persist, things start to unravel. Sleep debt takes its toll on our mood, energy, and productivity. It affects our behaviour around food and exercise as well as eroding our immunity, even our mental and physical health. As our best efforts to help ourselves fail, or perpetuate the problem, we can feel disillusioned, disempowered and frustratingly stuck.You're not alone, and there is a way through. This six-week, step-by-step guide will help you sleep easy.Bernice Tuffery, fed up after years of compromised sleep, made it her mission to learn how to sleep well again. She'd tried early nights, warm baths, a bit of yoga and meditation, but nothing worked. Even natural supplements, over-the-counter sleep aids, melatonin, and at times sleeping pills, failed to deliver a sustainable solution. As a qualitative market researcher, she was determined to know how to sleep naturally again.She discovered a proven, natural, and very learnable way to improve chronic sleep difficulties. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for insomnia (CBTi) is recognised internationally by sleep experts as the gold-standard treatment for insomnia. But with a lack of awareness, a severe shortage of experts offering it and virtually no public funding for treatment in New Zealand and Australia, it's hard and expensive to access.From her discussions with sleep professionals, extensive research and her lived-experience of restoring her own sleep, Bernice shares her knowledge with humour and heart. Confident that CBTi can be self-taught, she offers this practical and inspiring insiders' guide to getting a good night's sleep.

Read more less

Women, Equality, Power is a celebration of an outstanding leader who continues to strive and work for change, and it's a rallying call for other women leaders, whether they are in positions of political, economic or social power.Helen Clark has been a political leader for more than 40 years, since first running in local elections in the 1970s. She entered New Zealand parliament as a 31-year-old in 1981, led the Labour Party to victory in 1999 and was Prime Minister of New Zealand for nine years. She then took on a critical international role as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in New York. One of her key focuses throughout this time has been the empowerment of women, and she has paved the way for other women to step up and lead. With a foreword by the Rt Hon. Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, this is a timely and important book.'If more issues of importance to women are to rise to the top of political, legislative and budget priorities, more women must sit at the top tables . . . Women must be drivers of development - not just passive beneficiaries of plans designed by others.' HELEN CLARK ONZ'Helen Clark often said, and continues to say, that having women in leadership positions not only sends a powerful message to other women but also changes societies' perceptions of gender roles and encourages girls to believe that no door is closed to them.' JACINDA ARDERN, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND

Read more less

The funny, insightful and moving account of what happens to a close, loving middle-class family when the father is unexpectedly thrown in jail.After fourteen years of marriage, Mel Jacob's life looked as perfect as the roses perched above her white picket fence. The nice house in the suburbs, two great kids, a good husband. Until...Her life took an unexpected detour when her seemingly saintly husband was jailed for two years. In Sickness, in Health . . . and in Jail follows Mel's funny, moving and insightful journey as she navigates single parenthood, prison visitations and nosy neighbours.Mel's revealing account is the story of the family left behind. It chronicles the grief, the stigma and the conversational minefields of her husband's whereabouts, as well as the logistical problems of making a baby sibling for her two children, and why it's not appropriate to tell people that Daddy's in jail.In Sickness, in Health . . . and in Jail is a funny and touching account of grief and love and forgiveness.

Read more less

It is London, 1880, and Lucas Jarmyn struggles to make sense of the death of his beloved youngest daughter; his wife, Aurora, seeks solace in rigid social routines; and his eighteen-year-old daughter Dinah looks for fulfilment in unusual places. Only the housekeeper, the estimable Mrs Logan, seems able to carry on. A train accident in a provincial town on the railway Lucas owns claims the life of a young child and, amid the public outcry, a father journeys to London demanding justice. As he arrives in the city on a frozen January morning he finds a family with a terrible secret tearing their lives apart.

Read more less

Art Green shares his action plan so you can get healthier, fitter, stronger and get the most out of life. Art studied Sport Science at Otago University and then managed a gym giving both nutrition and exercise advice. He tried out several different ways of eating before settling on paleo as the ideal nutrition. He now runs Clean Paleo with two friends, selling paleo products. In Eat Clean, Live Lean Art explains that the paleo diet is essentially about eating fresh, unprocessed food. He shares his daily nutrition plan with 35 great recipes plus the key exercises that anyone can do to keep strong and fit. This book will change your life!

Read more less

'The Crossing is as profound as it is moving - a tapestry of adventure, love and, of course, camels.' Tim Cope, author of On the Trail of Genghis KhanIn 2020, at the age of thirty-one, Sophie Matterson set out to walk her five camels from Shark Bay in Western Australia to Byron Bay on the east coast. At a time when most of her friends were getting engaged or starting families, Sophie longed for adventure, independence and purpose. She broke up with her long-term boyfriend, packed all her belongings into saddlebags and trained her wild camels to follow her lead.Her thirteen-month solo crossing was the ultimate test of resilience and self-sufficiency - with each state in various forms of lockdowns, Sophie would often walk for weeks without seeing another soul. She crossed harsh, remote deserts, navigated treacherously beautiful salt lakes, and visited country towns and isolated cattle stations. Along the way she survived life-and-death situations, fell in love in the middle of the Outback, and slowly began to trust herself and her own abilities.With echoes of Cheryl Strayed's Wild, The Crossing is an empowering memoir about giving up a conventional life in the pursuit of something more.

Read more less

'A racy, classy political thriller ...'- Jennifer ByrneIn 2005, Marin Katich, living in Croatia under an alias, is being watched. Before the year is out, he has been assaulted, arrested, charged with serious war crimes and locked up in Scheveningen Prison in The Hague, waiting for his case to come before the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.In Sydney, Anna Rosen, a freelance journalist, is emailed photos of a man she knows to be dead - gunned down in a brutal ambush in Bosnia over a decade ago. A man she'd once loved but who had betrayed her. Is it possible that the photos really are of Marin Katich? And if so, what the hell had happened in 1992?From Croatia to The Hague to Bosnia and Herzegovina to Sydney, Anna and Marin's intertwined history fuels her determination to tear apart, piece by piece, his secrets, while continuing to keep her own.In a dangerous pursuit of justice and revenge, navigating the murky world of national and international secret agencies and those who would still be warlords, Anna fights for what she believes in and for those she loves.Tony Jones, one of Australia's most admired journalists, blurs the lines between fiction and political reality, creating a page-turning, intriguing and gripping thriller.'A political thriller in the Robert Harris mould.' - Jennifer Byrne on The Twentieth Man'Extremely readable, fascinating and very cleverly done.' - AustralianCrimeFiction.org on The Twentieth Man

Read more less

Keith Banks was a member of the Queensland Police Force when not everyone with a badge could be trusted. Raw and confronting, Gun to the Head reveals what it was really like to be a tactical police officer in the violent and corrupt eighties, exposing a world of law enforcement that few have lived.

Read more less

Remi Victoire is the golden child among all the theatre orphans; he dreams of a life on a Paris stage. But when this future is stolen from him, Remi and his faithful friend Pascal turn their backs on Paris forever.With Saskia, a runaway orphan girl, Remi and Pascal form a performing troupe, travelling through the fairytale lands that are home to the Brothers Grimm, before finding a safe haven in Venice.As Napoleon's vast Empire crumbles, the French storytellers discover that Paris itself is now at risk of invasion and they fear for the loved ones they have left behind.From picturesque villages to Italian theatres and on to the battlefields outside of Paris, this is a beautifully told story about the bonds of love and friendship, the importance of stories, and finding a place to belong.

Read more less

Wondering what to watch next? Discover a new movie or a new director among David Stratton's personal favourites!These are the movies Australia's best-loved film critic, David Stratton, has watched again and again. There are dramas, comedies, thrillers, musicals, westerns and arthouse classics from a century of filmmaking. From Casablanca to The Big Sleep, On the Waterfront to Lorenzo's Oil, and Jaws to Animal Kingdom, here are hundreds of hours of great entertainment.Each movie is reviewed, with details and behind-the-scenes stories that will enhance your experience of movies you have seen before. David has met many of the directors and actors, and he includes anecdotes and memories you won't find anywhere else.Keep David Stratton's My Favourite Movies on your coffee table, and you'll find yourself dipping into it time and time again.

Read more less

Alongside the SAS, Harry's other lifetime love is cricket. An improvised game of cricket was often the circuit-breaker Harry and his team needed after the tension of operations. He began a tradition of organising matches wherever he was sent, whether it was in the mountains of East Timor with a fugitive rebel leader, or on the dusty streets of Baghdad, or in exposed Forward Operating Bases in the hills of Afghanistan. Soldiers, locals and even visiting politicians played in these spontaneous yet often bridge-building games.As part of the tradition, Harry also started to take a cricket bat with him on operational tours, eleven of them in total. They'd often go outside the wire with him and end up signed by those he met or fought alongside. These eleven bats form the basis for Harry's extraordinary memoir. It's a book about combat, and what it takes to serve in one of the world's most elite formations. It's a book about the toll that war takes on soldiers and their loved ones. And it's a book about the healing power of cricket, and how a game can break down borders in even the most desperate of circumstances.

Read more less

In 2007 Carl Williams was convicted of three murders and sentenced to 35 years' jail. Yet his role in the Melbourne Gangland Wars went far beyond a handful of killings, however brutal, and had made him one of the most infamous names in Australian criminal history. The unlikely gang boss with a baby face and friendly grin had played a leading role in the savage long-running conflict that saw more than 30 gang-related murders on the streets of Melbourne.Williams began serving his sentence in a high-security unit at Victoria's Barwon Prison. In October 2008 he was given access to a personal computer. Confined to a tiny cell for most of the day, and having limited contact with the outside world, the computer was a godsend. As soon as he received it, Carl began a daily correspondence with his friends and family, covering his life in jail, his thoughts and hopes for the future, and his views and opinions on everyone from barristers and judges to fellow criminals and deadly rivals. Just a year and a half later, Williams was bashed to death by a trusted friend and fellow prisoner.Using his letters, Life Sentence paints a vivid picture of Carl's last eighteen months. His writing is surprising, often manipulative, frequently self-serving, and always a fascinating and revealing insight into the mind of one of Australia's most notorious criminals.'For years, others have spoken for Carl. In these letters, Carl tells his own story for the first time. It's like meeting the man behind the myth.' - Adam Shand

Read more less

In the summer of 2008 Kimberley Motley quit her job as a public defender in Milwaukee to join a program that helped train lawyers in war-torn Afghanistan. She was thirty-two at the time, a mother of three who had never travelled outside the United States. Through sheer force of personality, ingenuity and perseverance, Kimberley became the first foreign lawyer to practise in Afghanistan and her work swiftly morphed into a mission - to bring 'justness' to the defenceless and voiceless. She has established herself as an expert on its fledgling criminal justice system, able to pivot between the country's complex legislation and its religious laws in defence of her clients. Her radical approach has seen her successfully represent both Afghans and Westerners, overturning sentences for men and women who've been subject to often appalling miscarriages of justice. Inspiring and fascinating in equal measure, Lawless tells the story of a remarkable woman operating in one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

Read more less

On May 1st 2016 Elle Halliwell, an Australian fashion editor, was diagnosed with leukaemia. Two weeks later just as she was telling friends and family about the grim diagnosis she found out she was 4 weeks pregnant with her first child. She was faced with an impossible choice: either terminate her unborn baby and begin the treatment that gave her the best chance of survival, or continue with the pregnancy and delay effective intervention for her cancer, a course that could lead to her death.Elle chose her baby over herself, a mother's choice. Her memoir details her illness, her pregnancy, and against all the odds, the ultimate triumph of giving birth to her son in December 2016. Almost a year later she is still on the road to recovery but has discovered a new passion for nutrition and healthy living. Her journey remains hard but the trials of the last year and a half have made her more determined than ever to live well and regain her health for the sake of her family and her son. A Mother's Choice is compelling, moving and inspiring.

Read more less

A master of the novel, short story and memoir, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Everybody's Foolnow gives us his very first collection of personal essays, thoughts on writing, reading and living.In these nine essays, Richard Russo provides insight into his life as a writer, teacher, friend and reader. From a commencement speech to the story of how an oddly placed toilet made him reevaluate the purpose of humour in art and life, to a comprehensive analysis of Mark Twain's value, to his harrowing journey accompanying a dear friend as she pursued gender-reassignment surgery, The Destiny Thief reflects the broad interests and experiences of one of America's most beloved authors. Warm, funny, wise and poignant, the essays included here traverse Russo's writing life, expanding our understanding of who he is and how his singular, incredibly generous mind works. An utter joy to read, they give deep insight into the creative process from the perspective of one of our greatest writers.

Read more less

Shortlisted for the 2019 Historical Writers' Association's HWA Debut Crown awardOne of Stylist's must-read books of 2018'Original and charming, joyous and funny.' Tessa Hadley '...[this] debut novel sweeps us away to the world of Ursula Flight, wannabe actress and playwright in 17th-century Britain. Ursula is a spirited and funny protagonist.' Sarah Shaffi, Stylist'ON THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1664, A GREAT LIGHT BLOOMED IN THE DARK SKY...'Born on the night of a bad-luck comet, Ursula Flight has a difficult destiny written in the stars. Growing up with her family in the country, she is educated by a forward-thinking father who enables her to discover a love of reading, writing and astrology. Ursula dreams of becoming a famous playwright, but is devastated to learn she must instead fulfil her family's expectations and marry. Trapped and lost, Ursula plots her escape - but her freedom will come at a price. As Ursula's dangerous desires play out, both on and off the stage, she's flung into a giddy world of actors, aristocrats and artistic endeavours which will change her life irrevocably.A gutsy coming-of-age story about a spirited young woman struggling to lead a creative life, this uplifting tale vividly evokes the glittering world of Restoration-era theatre. For anyone who has ever tried to succeed against the odds, The Illumination of Ursula Flight is an inspiring journey of love and loss, heartbreak and all-consuming passion. This is a debut pulsating with life for readers of Jessie Burton, Sarah Waters and Sarah Perry.

Read more less

Bestselling novelist Tatiana de Rosnay pays homage to Daphne du Maurier, the writer who influenced her deeply, in this startling and immersive new biography. A portrait of one writer by another, Manderley Forever meticulously recounts a life as mysterious and dramatic as the work it produced, and highlights du Maurier's consuming passion for Cornwall.De Rosnay seamlessly recreates Daphne's childhood, rebellious teens and early years as a writer before exploring the complexities of her marriage and, finally, her cantankerous old age. With a rhythm and intimacy to its prose characteristic of all de Rosnay's works, Manderley Forever is a vividly compelling portrait and celebration of an intriguing, hugely popular and (in her time) critically underrated writer.

Read more less

Australia was born with its eyes wide open. Although politicians spoke publicly of loyalty to Britain and the empire, in secret they immediately set about protecting Australia's interests from the Germans, the Japanese - and from Britain itself.As an experienced intelligence officer, John Fahey knows how the security services disguise their activities within government files. He has combed the archives to compile the first account of Australia's intelligence operations in the years from Federation to World War II. He tells the stories of dedicated patriots who undertook dangerous operations to protect their new nation, despite a lack of training and support. He shows how the early adoption of advanced radio technology by Australia contributed to the war effort in Europe. He also exposes the bureaucratic mismanagement in World War II that cost many lives, and the leaks that compromised Australia's standing with its wartime allies so badly that Australia was nearly expelled from the Anglo-Saxon intelligence network.Australia's First Spies shows Australia always has been a far savvier operator in international affairs than much of the historical record suggests, and it offers a glimpse into the secret history of the nation.

Read more less

Hello! magazine's April 2018 'book of the week'Set across two decades in London and Ireland, Her Mother's Daughter sees the lives of a troubled and emotionally abusive mother and her innocent ten-year-old daughter change forever after one summer holiday.1980: Josephine flees her home in Ireland, hoping never to return. She starts a new, exciting life in London, but as much as she tries, she can't quite leave the trauma of her childhood behind.Seventeen years and two children later, Josephine gets a call from her sister to tell her that their mother is dying and wants to see her - a summons she can't refuse.1997: Ten-year-old Clare is counting down to the summer holidays, when she is going to meet her grandparents in Ireland for the first time. She hopes this trip will put an end to her mum's dark moods - and drinking.But family secrets can't stay buried forever and following revelations in Ireland, everything starts to unravel. Have Josephine and her daughter passed the point of no return?What readers are saying about Her Mother's Daughter:'Beautifully written; it really draws you in and keeps you engrossed all the way through. I actually read it in one sitting because I just got so absorbed in it. It's a heartbreaking novel but it does leave you with a real feeling of hope. I definitely recommend this book!' Rather Too Fond of Books'An impressive debut... a book that will make you stop and think...and that can only be a good thing.' Writing.ie 'A novel which reflects on a wider, more universal exploration of mental health, the role of a mother, parenting and formative experiences.' Bibliomaniac'A deft evocation of the damage caused by family... Disturbing yet engaging read.' NeverImitate'It engaged me as a reader so much so, I read into the early hours to find out how Josephine and Claire faired, if their frail and damaged relationship could be healed... This book is a perfect example of the powerful influence literature can have on the reader.' BOOKSAREMYCWTCHESBOOKSAREMYCWTCH'A gripping and moving read which dealt with some harrowing themes as it tells the story of a family coming to terms with the impact of long hidden secrets.' The Owl on the Bookshelf'This story has a raw, heartfelt quality that I found very arresting... There's insight, subtlety and compassion in the handling of mental illness... A compelling read.' Charity Norman, five-star review'WOW, I felt every emotion possible reading this story. I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down until I finished it.' Audrey, five-star review'A poignant and well-observed tale of how the consequences of tragic and traumatic events can unravel over a lifetime, and throughout the generations of a family.' Cat T, five-star review'An emotionally honest portrayal of how trauma can be passed down through generations.' Felicity Hughes, five-star review'An extremely poignant tale, told from the two perspectives of mother and daughter... It was wonderfully uplifting to hear the thoughts of a child and also, at times, desperately heart breaking.' Melanie Lewis, five-star review

Read more less