The post-war urban jungle of the Glasgow tenements was the setting for Molly Weir's childhood. From sharing a pull-out bed in her mother's tiny kitchen to running in terror from the fever van, it was an upbringing that was cemented in hardship. Hunger, cold & sickness was an everyday reality & complaining was not an option. ...

Sometimes all a woman needs is a great pair of shoes -- sometimes chocolate is the swiftest route to happiness. In this beautifully produced collection of drawings specifically for women, Edward Monkton brings together some of his best-known musings in his own quirky & inimitable style. It's the perfect gift for mothers & for women of all ages. ...

Oscar winning foreign drama inspired by the real stories of those struggling to overcome the oppressive forces of a corrupt & ineffective political system in postwar Rome. Giuseppe (Rinaldo Smordoni) & Pasquale (Franco Interlenghi) work on the street, where they shine the shoes of American troops. They dream of a better life, seeking solace in a horse that they ride to escape their harsh reality. When the boys are implicated in a petty crime, they are punished by the society that has robbed them of their innocence, resulting in tragic consequences. ...

Presents an epic saga of one Pilot-Major John Blackthorne, & his integration into the struggles & strife of feudal Japan. Starting with his shipwreck on this most alien of shores, this novel charts Blackthorne's rise from the status of reviled foreigner up to the hights of trusted advisor & eventually, Samurai. ...

Sonny Chiba & Toshiro Mifune star in director Kinji Fukasaku's samurai drama. The year is 1624 & the death of Shogunate General Hidetada has resulted in a conflict between his two sons over who should inherit his position. Various samurai warriors soon join the conflict, taking up sides against each other; meanwhile, behind the scenes, mysterious forces seek to use these events to weaken the Shogunate & return power to the Emperor. ...

Shoji Hamada was one of the key figures behind the development of studio pottery in the 20th century. Awarded the Order of Culture by his native Japan, his influence was also felt in both England & the USA. This book profiles the work of the artist & the legacy he left. ...