Search results for ""author alan johnson""

Harold Wilson was one of the most successful politicians of the twentieth century. Prime Minister from 1964-70, and again from 1974-76, he won four elections as well as a referendum on UK membership of the European Community. The achievements of the Wilson Era from legalising homosexuality to protecting ethnic minorities, from women's rights to the Open University radically improved ordinary people's lives for the better. In Harold Wilson, former Labour cabinet minister and bestselling author Alan Johnson presents a portrait of a truly twentieth-century man, whose white heat' speech proclaimed a scientific and technological revolution and who was as much a part of the sixties as the Beatles and the Profumo scandal.

Read more less

In July 1969, while the Rolling Stones played a free concert in Hyde Park, Alan Johnson and his young family left West London to start a new life. The Britwell Estate in Slough, apparently notorious among the locals, in fact came as a blessed relief after the tensions of Notting Hill, and the local community welcomed them with open arms.Alan had become a postman the previous year, and in order to support his growing family took on every bit of overtime he could, often working twelve-hour shifts six days a week. It was hard work, but not without its compensations – the crafty fag snatched in a country lane, the farmer’s wife offering a hearty breakfast and even the mysterious lady on Glebe Road who appeared daily, topless, at her window as the postman passed by…Please, Mister Postman paints a vivid picture of England in the 1970s, where no celebration was complete without a Party Seven of Watney’s Red Barrel, smoking was the norm rather than the exception, and Sunday lunchtime was about beer, bingo and cribbage. But as Alan’s life appears to be settling down and his career in the Union of Postal Workers begins to take off, his close-knit family is struck once again by tragedy…Moving, hilarious and unforgettable, Please, Mister Postman is another astonishing book from the award-winning author of This Boy.

Read more less

A woman hiding a deadly secret. And the man who went in search of adventure, but found himself in danger ...'The Girl on the Train with a dash of Russian poisoning and a classic femme fatale' Sunday Telegragh'A fast-moving plot ... expertly told.' Alastair Campbell'A cracking crime thriller.' The Sun'Really gripping, so many twists and turns' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'I couldn't put this book down.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'Action from start to finish' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEWGary Nelson has a routine for the commute to his rather dull job in the city. Each day, he watches as a woman on the train applies her make up in a ritual he now knows by heart. He's never dared to strike up a conversation . . . but maybe one day. Then one evening, on the late train to Gipsy Hill, the woman invites him to take the empty seat beside her. Fiddling with her mascara, she holds up her mirror and Gary reads the words 'HELP ME' scrawled in sticky black letters on the glass. From that moment, Gary's life is turned on its head. He finds himself on the run from the Russian mafia, the FSB and even the Metropolitan Police - all because of what this mysterious young woman may have witnessed. In the race to find out the truth, Gary discovers that there is a lot more to her than meets the eye . . .Readers love Alan Johnson and The Late Train to Gipsy HIll'A fast-moving plot ... expertly told. The fact it comes from the pen of a former Home Secretary makes the rich security detail all the more powerful' Alastair Campbell'Espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous female on a train with a deadly secret' Fiona Phillips'Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating . . . impressive' Observer'Johnson writes wonderfully' Telegraph'This boy can write . . .' The Spectator

Read more less

''A cracking crime thriller'' The SunTHERE''S BLOOD ON THE WATER. NO ONE IS SAFE...1999. A young Detective Constable Louise Mangan crosses the Thames one misty morning in pursuit of a killer. She finds a tranquil community on a leafy island close to Hampton Court Palace, but soon realises that all is not as it seems. There is something evil at play in this quiet suburb, and this junior detective''s questions seem only to scratch the surface.Twenty years later, a horrific fire brings Detective Chief Superintendent Mangan back to that same island. Soon, she discovers that murder was just a drop in these dark waters.The river runs deep, and the tide is rising at last. Will the truth rise with it?Praise for Alan Johnson''s novels:''A punchy thriller'' Irish Independent''A fast-paced who-done-what'' SAGA Magazine''Featuring espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous f

Read more less

From being transported by the sound of 'True Love' by Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly on the radio, as a small child living in condemned housing in ungentrified West London in the late 1950s, to going out to work as a postman humming 'Watching the Detectives' by Elvis Costello in 1977, Alan Johnson's life has always had a musical soundtrack. In fact music hasn't just accompanied his life, it's been an integral part of it.In the bestselling and award-winning tradition of This Boy, In My Life vividly transports us to a world that is no longer with us - a world of Dansettes and jukeboxes, of heartfelt love songs and heart-broken ballads, of smoky coffee shops and dingy dance halls. From Bob Dylan to David Bowie, from Lonnie Donnegan to Bruce Springsteen, all of Alan's favourites are here. As are, of course, his beloved Beatles, whom he has worshipped with undying admiration since 1963.But this isn't just a book about music. In My Life adds a fourth dimension to the story of Alan Johnson the man.

Read more less

Winner of the Parliamentary Book Award, best memoir by a Parliamentarian, 2016From the condemned slums of Southam Street in West London to the corridors of power in Westminster, Alan Johnson’s multi-award-winning autobiography charts an extraordinary journey, almost unimaginable in today’s Britain. This third volume tells of Alan’s early political skirmishes as a trades union leader, where his negotiating skills and charismatic style soon came to the notice of Tony Blair and other senior members of the Labour Party.As a result, Alan was chosen to stand in the constituency of Hull West and Hessle, and entered Parliament as an MP after the landslide election victory for Labour in May 1997. But this is no self-aggrandizing memoir of Westminster politicking and skulduggery. Supporting the struggle of his constituents, the Hull trawlermen and their families, for justice comes more naturally to Alan than do the byzantine complexities of Parliamentary procedure. But of course he does succeed there, and rises through various ministerial positions to the office of Home Secretary in 2009.In The Long and Winding Road, Alan’s characteristic honesty and authenticity shine through every word. His book takes you into a world which is at once familiar and strange: this is politics as you’ve never seen it before…

Read more less

'The best memoir by a politician you will ever read' Philip Collins, The TimesSchool on the Kings Road, Chelsea in the Swinging 60s, the rock-and-roll years, the race riots; this boy has seen it all. ________Alan Johnson's childhoodwas not so much difficult as unusual, particularly for a man who was destined to become Home Secretary. Not in respect of the poverty, which was shared with many of those living in Britain's post-war slums, but in its transition from being part of a two-parent family to having a single mother and then to no parents at all...This is essentially the story of two incredible women: Alan's mother, Lily, who battled against poor health, poverty, domestic violence and loneliness to try to ensure a better life for her children; and his sister, Linda, who had to assume an enormous amount of responsibility at a very young age and who fought to keep the family together and out of care when she herself was still only a child.This Boy is one man's story, but it is also the story of England and the West London slums which are hard to imagine in the capital today. No matter how harsh the details, Alan Johnson writes with a spirit of generous acceptance, of humour and openness which makes his book anything but a grim catalogue of miseries.________PRAISE FOR THIS BOY: 'Moving and unforgettable' Sunday Times'Poignant' Telegraph'Eloquent' Guardian'Wonderful' Spectator'Tribute to two strong women' Daily Mail

Read more less

A woman hiding a deadly secret. And the man who went in search of adventure, but found himself in danger ...'The Girl on the Train with a dash of Russian poisoning and a classic femme fatale' Sunday Telegragh'A fast-moving plot ... expertly told.' Alastair Campbell'A cracking crime thriller.' The Sun'Really gripping, so many twists and turns' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'I couldn't put this book down.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'Action from start to finish' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEWGary Nelson has a routine for the commute to his rather dull job in the city. Each day, he watches as a woman on the train applies her make up in a ritual he now knows by heart. He's never dared to strike up a conversation . . . but maybe one day. Then one evening, on the late train to Gipsy Hill, the woman invites him to take the empty seat beside her. Fiddling with her mascara, she holds up her mirror and Gary reads the words 'HELP ME' scrawled in sticky black letters on the glass. From that moment, Gary's life is turned on its head. He finds himself on the run from the Russian mafia, the FSB and even the Metropolitan Police - all because of what this mysterious young woman may have witnessed. In the race to find out the truth, Gary discovers that there is a lot more to her than meets the eye . . .Readers love Alan Johnson and The Late Train to Gipsy HIll'A fast-moving plot ... expertly told. The fact it comes from the pen of a former Home Secretary makes the rich security detail all the more powerful' Alastair Campbell'Espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous female on a train with a deadly secret' Fiona Phillips'Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating . . . impressive' Observer'Johnson writes wonderfully' Telegraph'This boy can write . . .' The Spectator

Read more less

A woman hiding a deadly secret. And the man who went in search of adventure, but found himself in danger ...'The Girl on the Train with a dash of Russian poisoning and a classic femme fatale' Sunday Telegragh'A fast-moving plot ... expertly told.' Alastair Campbell'A cracking crime thriller.' The Sun'Really gripping, so many twists and turns' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'I couldn't put this book down.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'Action from start to finish' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEWGary Nelson has a routine for the commute to his rather dull job in the city. Each day, he watches as a woman on the train applies her make up in a ritual he now knows by heart. He's never dared to strike up a conversation . . . but maybe one day.Then one evening, on the late train to Gipsy Hill, the woman invites him to take the empty seat beside her. Fiddling with her mascara, she holds up her mirror and Gary reads the words 'HELP ME' scrawled in sticky black letters on the glass.From that moment, Gary's life is turned on its head. He finds himself on the run from the Russian mafia, the FSB and even the Metropolitan Police - all because of what this mysterious young woman may have witnessed. In the race to find out the truth, Gary discovers that there is a lot more to her than meets the eye . . .Readers love Alan Johnson and The Late Train to Gipsy HIll'A fast-moving plot ... expertly told. The fact it comes from the pen of a former Home Secretary makes the rich security detail all the more powerful' Alastair Campbell'Espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous female on a train with a deadly secret' Fiona Phillips'Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating . . . impressive' Observer'Johnson writes wonderfully' Telegraph'This boy can write . . .' The Spectator

Read more less

'Richard Osman, here's a bullet with your name on it' TimesA government minister has vanished into thin air.The local police in the isolated island of Crete have no leads, save for a mobile phone discarded on a cliff edge.Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan of the Met Police is sent to assist in the investigation but soon discovers that there is more to this case than the local police realise. Lady Bellingham is less than forthcoming, and the family nanny has a secret she will do anything to keep hidden.With a scandal brewing back in London, can Louise find the missing minister before his reputation is destroyed for good, or will she discover something much more sinister at play?More praise for Alan Johnson's novels:'A punchy thriller' Irish Independent'More layers than a filo pastry' The Sun'A fast-paced who-done-what' SAGA Magazine'Featuring espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous female on a train with a deadly secret, the tantalising plot has set Alan up for dominance of the bestseller charts for years to come' Fiona Phillips'Is there no limit to his talents? . . . I absolutely loved Alan's new thriller, it's brilliant.' Hunter Davies'Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating . . . impressive' Observer'Johnson writes wonderfully' Telegraph'This boy can write . . .' The Spectator

Read more less

Introduced by Alan Johnson. ‘All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others.’ Mr Jones of Manor Farm is so lazy and drunken that one day he forgets to feed his livestock. The ensuing rebellion under the leadership of the pigs Napoleon and Snowball leads to the animals taking over the farm. Vowing to eliminate the terrible inequities of the farmyard, the renamed Animal Farm is organised to benefit all who walk on four legs. But as time passes, the ideals of the rebellion are corrupted, then forgotten. And something new and unexpected emerges . . . First published in 1945, Animal Farm – the history of a revolution that went wrong – is George Orwell’s brilliant satire on the corrupting influence of power.

Read more less

'A fast-paced who-done-what' SAGA MagazineA government minister has vanished into thin air. The local police in the isolated island of Crete have no leads, save for a mobile phone discarded on a cliff edge. Assistant Commissioner Louise Mangan of the Met Police is sent to assist in the investigation but soon discovers that there is more to this case than the local police realise. Lady Bellingham is less than forthcoming, and the family nanny has a secret she will do anything to keep hidden. With a scandal brewing back in London, can Louise find the missing minister before his reputation is destroyed for good, or will she discover something much more sinister at play?More praise for Alan Johnson's novels:'A punchy thriller' Irish Independent'More layers than a filo pastry' The Sun'A fast-paced who-done-what' SAGA Magazine'Featuring espionage, the Russian Mafia and a gorgeous female on a train with a deadly secret, the tantalising plot has set Alan up for dominance of the bestseller charts for years to come' Fiona Phillips'Is there no limit to his talents? . . . I absolutely loved Alan's new thriller, it's brilliant.' Hunter Davies'Johnson's writing style is easy, relaxed, self-deprecating . . . impressive' Observer'Johnson writes wonderfully' Telegraph'This boy can write . . .' The Spectator

Read more less

A selection of George Orwell's prescient, clear-eyed and stimulating writing on the subjects of truth and lies. With an introduction by Alan Johnson.'Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two equals four. If that is granted, all else follows.'This selection of George Orwell’s writing, from both his novels and non-fiction, gathers together his thoughts on the subject of truth. It ranges from discussion of personal honesty and morality, to freedom of speech and political propaganda. Orwell’s unique clarity of thought and illuminating scepticism provide the perfect defence against our post-truth world of fake news and confusion. 'The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.'Includes an introduction by Alan Johnson and passages from Burmese Days, The Road to Wigan Pier, Coming Up for Air, The Lion and the Unicorn, Animal Farm, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Orwell’s letters, war-time diary, criticism and essays including ‘Fascism and Democracy’, ‘Culture and Democracy’, ‘Looking Back on the Spanish War’, ‘As I Please’, ‘Notes on Nationalism’, ‘The Prevention of Literature’, ‘Politics and the English Language’ and ‘Why I Write’.

Read more less

Notting Hill has inspired a large number of books and has often made national news – though not always for the right reasons. It has forever been an area of contrast between rich and poor, and has undergone almost constant change since it was developed from farmland in the mid-nineteenth century to today’s urban landscape. Roger Rogowski’s book records the memories of people who lived in working-class Notting Hill in their own words, before the substantial changes of the 1960s, including the mass demolition of slums, the construction of the Westway, the growth of the Notting Hill Carnival and the area’s enthusiastic embrace of the swinging sixties. The Other Side of Notting Hill delves into everyday urban, working-class life as it was, which in many respects is almost unrecognisable today, and how people began to be affected by the changes taking place around them.

Read more less

In this updated edition of the definitive pinstripe how-to, acclaimed veteran striper Alan Johnson shows you how to get started, further your mastery of the form, and create solid designs. Even before the heyday of Von Dutch and Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, the ultimate way to personalize your car or motorcycle was to lay some wicked lines on top of the paintwork. Done with a steady hand and an eye for style, pinstripes speak volumes. In How to Pinstripe, Alan shows you everything you need to know about tools and materials, getting started, practicing and mastering the form, and understanding how a good design comes together. Following a primer on the history and evolution of pinstriping, How to Pinstripe launches into a step-by-step guide to the pinstriping process. While stressing the importance of finding your own style and having fun with the hobby, Johnson covers: Choosing paint and brushes that suit your style and abilities Preparing surfaces The basics of color theory Experimenting with symmetrical and asymmetrical designs Striping freehand Using grids and patterns Unique considerations for antique and collector cars, hot rods and customs, and motorcycles And now, updated material includes primers on the pinstripe-associated gearhead art forms of lettering and gold leaf, making How to Pinstripe a comprehensive resource. For more advanced pinstripers, there’s also tried-and-true advice on apprenticing and working car shows. Illustrated with color photography throughout, How to Pinstripe is the perfect source for beginners and veterans alike.

Read more less