The county of Lincolnshire will forever be known as 'Bomber County' because of the many RAF Bomber Command bases dotted about its flat landscape. It is undoubtedly one of England's premier counties when it comes to military aviation. This rich history dates back to the days of the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps when rudimentary airfields were constructed during the First World War, through the RAF's night bombing offensive of the Second World War and on to the nuclear V-Force of the Cold War era. The 'bomber' tag relates only part of the county's aviation history. During the RAF's long association with Lincolnshire, there has also been a strong training element, which continues to this day; a front-line contribution to air defence of the UK; and a reputation as 'NATO Central' thanks to the comings and goings of various Europe-based squadrons at RAF Waddington during air combat training. For this new edition, most of the photographs are new. Maps of the bases' locations are included, as is a comprehensive Station-by-Station appendix featuring all the units based at over 150 airfields during nearly 90 years of aviation history.
The diverse tales selected for this volume display the astonishing virtuosity of Rudyard Kipling's early writings. A Nobel prize-winner, Kipling was phenomenally productive and imaginative, displaying a literary mastery of idioms, technology and technical terms, exotic locations, and social range. He gained immense popularity, becoming (as these stories indicate) the knowledgeable spokesman for a wide public. Later, although Kipling's right-wing views increasingly incurred hostility, his creativity remained formidable. In this rich collection, we encounter bold realism, poignant nostalgia, dark comedy, the vividly horrific, the exuberantly fanciful and the disturbingly uncanny.
Teggs is no ordinary dinosaur - he is an Astrosaur! Captain of the amazing spaceship DSS Sauropod, he goes on dangerous missions and fights evil - along with his faithful crew, Gipsy, Ark and Iggy! Disaster has struck Squawk Major, the pterosaur planet. Its people have all forgotten how to fly...all accept a sinister stranger named Grandum who now plans to rule the world. Can Teggs and the team stop him and put things right - before its too late?! This fantastic set contains two CDs of the story that are read by Stephen Tompkinson with music and sound effects.
The exciting story of Wilson Gets a Wash bursts of the page in this traintastic 3D storybook. Mucky Wilson likes being muddy and tries to hide when his friends Koko and Brewster go to the chug wash. Will they be able to catch the cheeky chugger for his soapy wash? 3D glasses make the art pop as you read through the fun story. 3D stickers complete activities.
Safely store important records and declutter your home. Is your home-office desk buried under paper? Are your file cabinets overstuffed? Organise Your Life provides both the know-how and software to easily store and manage all your personal records electronically. Within this book you'll find simple step-by-step instructions for scanning and archiving all your family's papers and photographs, accompanied with a CD database, which is super-easy to install and navigate. Every imaginable kind of record is accommodated.
Baby Frankie is born into an unusual family. Her mother is desperate to find someone to take care of her child and she doesn't have much time. Noel doesn't seem to be the most promising of fathers but despite everything, he could well be Frankie's best hope. As for Lisa, she is prepared to give up everything for the man she loves; surely he's going to love her back? And Moira is having none of it. She knows what's right, and has the power to change the course of Frankie's life... but Moira is hiding secrets of her own. MINDING FRANKIE is a story about unconventional families, relationships which aren't quite what they seem, and the child at the heart of everyone's lives...This book has 425 pages and is 19.8 x 12.9 x 3 cms
Do you have a home full of objects you don't quite know what to do with - From Trash to Treasure explains how to make neglected possessions more useful and enjoyable to you - or more desirable to someone else, who may happily pay good money for them. Perfect for ebay sellers!
Anthony Doerr's brilliant new collection of stories is about memory: the source of meaning and coherence in our lives, and the fragile thread that connects us to ourselves and to others. Now includes 'The Deep', which was awarded the 2011 Sunday Times Short Story Award. In the luminous title story, a young boy in South Africa comes to possess an old woman's secret, a piece of the past with the power to redeem a life. In 'The River Nemunas', a teenaged orphan moves from Kansas to Lithuania, and discovers a world in which myth becomes real. And in 'Afterworld, ' a woman who escaped the Holocaust is haunted by visions of her childhood friends in Germany, yet finds solace in the tender ministrations of her grandson. The stories in Memory Wall show us how we figure the world, and show Anthony Doerr to be a master of the form.
Ive left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you dont, put the book back on the shelf, please. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.
With authoritative text supported by hundreds of fascinating photographs and maps, Atlas of Military History takes the reader on an extraordinary journey from prehistoric conflicts employing rudimentary stone weapons to today's hi-tech 'War on Terror' with its dependence on elite forces, drones and computer-guided missiles. It tells the remarkable stories of the great leaders - both men and women - who rallied vast armies into battle, whether it be Queen Boudicca inciting the Britons to rise up against Roman repression, or Alexander the Great conquering neighbouring lands to extend his formidable empire.
Little Wombat is so excited! He's found a fun new friend to play with who walks strangely, has a funny little face and, most amazingly of all, can swim like a fish in the water! But when platypus tries teaching Little Wombat to swim, Rabbit and Koala begin to wonder if wombats should, after all, stick to dry land! Ages 2+.
I'd come from a long ways off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else." So writes Bob Dylan in Chronicles: Volume One, his remarkable book exploring critical junctures in his life and career. Through Dylan's eyes and open mind, we see Greenwich Village, circa 1961, when he first arrives in Manhattan. Dylan's New York is a magical city of possibilities -- smoky, nightlong parties; literary awakenings; transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With the book's side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times. By turns revealing, poetical, passionate and witty, Chronicles: Volume One is a mesmerizing window on Bob Dylan's thoughts and influences. Dylan's voice is distinctively American: generous of spirit, engaged, fanciful and rhythmic. Utilizing his unparalleled gifts of storytelling and the exquisite expressiveness that are the hallmarks of his music, Bob Dylan turns Chronicles: Volume One into a poignant reflection on life, and the people and places that helped shape the man and the art.
This is Josephine Emily, but everyone just calls her Josie. This is Zac who is a show off. He says his dog, Buster can do the best tricks ever. But with her little sisters help, will Josies big idea teach Zac a lesson? Includes Sparkly pictures inside.
In a silent valley in southern France stands an isolated stone farmhouse, the Mas Lunel. Its owner is Aramon Lunel, an alcoholic haunted by his violent past. His sister, Audrun, alone in her bungalow within sight of the Mas Lunel, dreams of exacting retribution for the unspoken betrayals that have blighted her life. Into this closed world comes Anthony Verey, a wealthy but disillusioned antiques dealer from London seeking to remake his life in France. From the moment he arrives at the Mas Lunel, a frightening and unstoppable series of consequences is set in motion.
Growing up in a small seaside town, Marcie Brooks dreams of owning a Mary Quant mini-skirt, the Beatles, and escape. Instead she's stuck in a dead-end job selling candy floss to tourists and with a crazy family. Her grandmother sees ghosts, her step-mother is unable to control her growing family and Marcie's father is usually in and out of prison or away 'working' for East End gangsters. Despite it all, Marcie adores her father, but Tony's light fingers and hard man reputation mean most people give the Brooks family a wide birth. Sometimes Marcie even wishes she had a respectable dad like her friend Rita; well-groomed, wealthy by local standards and surprisingly attentive to a teenage girl. But when she discovers Tony may have had something to do with her real mother's death, Marcie finds her friend's father is more than just a shoulder to cry on.
Details: In October 2009 Ellen MacArthur, one of the greatest sportswomen in the world, announced her retirement from competitive sailing. Many were in disbelief. How could the woman who had fought so hard to set so many records give up racing? But Ellen had found an even tougher challenge than sailing solo round the globe. Now Ellen is ready to write about her incredible last ten years, including the trip which changed her life. She speaks honestly about the trials of fame after coming second in the Vendee Globe in 2001; about her frustrations in missing the record for the West-East transatlantic crossing by just 75 minutes in 2004; the dramatic capsize and dismasting she experienced prior to her record attempt, and then the ultimate triumph of her spectacular, record-breaking, non-stop solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2004-5, sharing every painful and exciting moment of her 71 days alone at sea. And of course she tells of the fateful trip to South Georgia in 2005 which caused her to decide to leave competitive sailing behind for ever and focus all her ambition and energy towards a new and much bigger race... Ellen's searingly honest story is a story of triumph over incredible adversity and will inspire others to follow in this remarkable woman's wake. Ideal for: Fans and followers of Ellen MacArthur and anyone with an interest is sailing. This hardback book has 399 ages and measures: 24 x 16 x 3.8cm
Edward M. Kennedy is widely regarded as one of the great Senators in the nation's history. He is also the patriarch of America's most heralded family. In this landmark autobiography, five years in the making, Senator Kennedy speaks with unprecedented candour about his extraordinary life. He writes movingly of his brothers and their influence on him; his marriage to the woman who changed his life, Victoria Reggie Kennedy; his role in the major events of our time (from the civil rights movement to the election of Barack Obama); and how his recent diagnosis of a malignant brain tumour has given even greater urgency to his long crusade for improved health care for all Americans. Written with warmth, wit, and grace, True Compass is Edward M. Kennedy's inspiring legacy to readers and to history.
Eddie and his family have just moved into their new home at 12 St Olave's Avenue. But what they don't know, is that their house is already inhabited by three furry monsters - Fiend, Haggis and Norman! They live in the basement and are the naughtiest, stinkiest, craziest friends Eddie could wish for! But how long can he keep them a secret from his parents and sister?
Did you know that champagne saucers were modelled on the perfect breast of Madame de Pompadour? That Hugh Hefner paid ?85, 000 for the tomb adjoining that of Playboys first cover girl, Marilyn Monroe? That 17 people were crushed to death when Eva Perons coffin was processed through the streets of Buenos Aires? Or that Condoleezza Rice is a concert level pianist and accomplished ice-skater? With contributions from a range of celebrities including Cherie Booth, Fern Britton, Tara Palmer-Tompkinson and Immodesty Blaize, giving you the chance to find out who their heroines are, this book is packed full of pieces and facts about hundreds of Bold, Bad and Beautiful women from every walk of life, in history, from the pages of great literature, and alive today. Heroines is illustrated by Matthew Rice and contains a foreword from Dame Judi Dench.
Learn how humanity has viewed dreams through the centuries, & what their significance is today. Understand & appreciate the significance of dreams by unlocking their secret symbolism. Enjoy the rich & vivid images that reflect the complexity of our dream worlds, Begin a voyage of discovery as you learn what particular importance your dreams have to you.
Something terrible has happened. Eleven-year-old Aubrey is on her own. 'It was fun at first, playing house. Nothing to think about but TV and cheese. A perfect world.' She's determined to hide away and take care of herself, because facing the truth is too much to bear. 'I couldn't let anyone know that I was alone. I was staying right here.' But with the love of her grandmother and the letters she writes, can Aubrey begin to see that even though she's lost everything - all is not lost?
In my world the word hero is way over-used. In the real world, it s the absolute minimum requirement for PC David Rathband. ALAN SHEARER David Rathband was a hero in the North East where he lived and was on the path to becoming a national treasure. His death in February this year was an incomparable tragedy, particularly in light of his achievements in both seemingly putting his life back together in the wake of terrible injury and in his determination to help others in a similar situation. His relentless public work with and for the Blue Lamp Foundation, the charity he set up to help servicemen injured in the line of duty, and the courageous rebuilding of his life drew public admiration. A complex and charismatic man, the many hundreds of people who turned up to his memorial service at Newcastle cathedral are a testament to the depth of affection and respect in which he was held, particularly in the North East. Updated with new material by Tony Horne, his friend and co-writer, Tango 190 is Rathband s own, very personal account of his wounding by gunman Raoul Moat in the summer of 2010, the incident which originally brought him to public notice. David was blinded when Moat shot him in the face at point blank range, twenty-four hours after shooting his ex-partner and killing her lover in Gateshead. The shootings sparked the largest police manhunt in British history and ended with a stand-off between Moat and armed police, and the death of the former night club doorman. This book is David s personal account of the attack and the events surrounding it, including his attendance at the trials of Moat s henchmen and his concerns at Northumbria police s alleged mishandling of the situation on the night of the attack. The story becomes even more poignant in the light of PC Rathband s death and his ultimate failure to recover mentally from what had happened to him, despite his heroic efforts.
Two years after the day that her son, Matthew, was kidnapped in broad daylight in Central Park, Alexandra Moreland still finds herself torn between hope and despair. As no trace of Matthew was ever found, she has never been able to give him up for dead. But now, on what would have been Matthew's fifth birthday, photos surface that seem to show Alexandra kidnapping her own child. Then, as her bank accounts are suddenly drained, and her reputation as a successful architect comes under immense pressure, Alexandra begins to suspect that someone is using her credit cards to steal her identity. But who would want to ruin her so completely? Hounded by the press, under investigation by the police, attacked by both her angry ex-husband and a vindictive business rival, Alexandra, sustained only by her belief that Matthew is still alive, sets out to discover who is behind this cruel hoax. Little does she realize that with every step she takes toward the truth, she is putting herself -and those she loves most - in mortal danger
Terrorism the deliberate use of fear as a political tool is mostly regarded as a modern horror, implemented by bombs, hijackings and assassinations. But the roots of terrorism stretch far back to the Middle Ages, when the forefathers of the modern world s most uncompromising Islamist terrorists, such as al-Qaeda, laid down their murderous creed. According to tales brought back to Europe by Marco Polo, the Grand Master of the Assassins fed his followers with hashish before they were indulged with the sexual favours of young houris. The Assassin was then told he had experienced the heavenly garden of Paradise and would spend all eternity there, provided he lived and died in the service of the sect. In God s Assassins, the authors reinterpret the history and mythology of the Assassins, to create a thought-provoking collision between past and present which includes: The bloody narrative of the Crusades, when East met West in holy war. The history of assassination in furtherance of religious or political ends, and the myth and reality of drugs as a mnemonic to murder. The concept of brainwashing and the belief in creating sleeper assassins. The recreation of Hasan-i-Sabbah as a phantom subversive by cult writer William S. Burroughs. The Assassin s creed of modern-day Islamists, with their belief in martyrdom through murder contrasted with the progressive thinking of the Ismailis, the true descendants of Hasan and his Nizari sect. This vibrant living history is compelling reading for everyone intrigued by the crises of our age. Dispelling the idea of political and religious assassinations as a peculiarly modern phenomenon, God s Assassins also explores the chilling implications of Hasan-i-Sabbah s legendary dark maxim: Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.
We know him as Renaissance genius: inventor, scientist, artist. Visionary painter of the Mona Lisa, the smiling, enigmatic Gioconda. They knew him as Leonardo from Vinci, Leonardo the Florentine: heretic, butcher, lunatic. It is dawn in the barn. On a wooden plinth lies a terrifying creature, part lizard, part dog, part cockerel, pieced together from several slaughtered animals. Sitting in front of it, a boy draws an image of a monster. His first thought: men need saving from each other. His second: men need saving from themselves. A solitary child, Leonardo's only intimate is Lisa Gherardini, the girl who spies on him in his workshop. Spurned by his tutor, he is sent by his despairing father to Florence as an apprentice. Under the guiding hand of Verrocchio, the master sculptor, he begins to make his name. But success requires sacrifice; Florence demands a level of conformity impossible for him. Forced to leave, Leonardo places himself at the service of the charismatic, power-thirsty Duke of Milan. His journey leads him back to Lisa and the portrait he has waited so long to paint, the culmination of his life's work. From the glittering court of the Medici to the mortuaries of Milan and the battlefields of the Po valley, Lucille Turner's powerful debut novel vividly imagines Leonardo's lonely struggle to convince others of his vision of the world.
Everton Kohter is a young man on death row, but Luke Harding has been tipped off that he is innocent. Luke wants to reopen the case, the The Authorities want him to investigate suspected pairing committee fraud instead. Against the ticking clock, Luke and Malc chase all leads - including a freak electrical storm and a plane crash. Can they uncover the truth behind the forensic traces?
Harry and Jamie know that their new home is cursed by an evil gnome. And the gnome has a whole army of nasty creatures he's using to frighten them off. This time, the gnome has sent a pile of sinister swooping bats to kidnap their friend Milly. EEK! Can Jamie and Harry rescue Milly from the beastly bats? It's their toughest battle yet.
After teaching and raising her family for most of her life, Agnes Scofield realizes she is truly weary of her routine. But how, at 51, to establish a separate identity? Her newfound freedom may not sit so well with the rest of the Scofields, who operate strictly within the confines of polite Midwestern values. They'd be polite to Hitler if need be. But underneath the facade, private triumphs and tragedies - including struggles with alcoholism and illicit affairs - simmer, and Agnes finds herself becoming even more entangled in the family web. BEING POLITE TO HITLER is a richly wrought portrait of a woman coming into her own in the middle of her life and a family that experiences passions, joys, and grief against the backdrop of the post-WWII era.
It's the mid 1950s and Helen's husband Jack returns from National Service. Happy to be reunited, they resume their life together. Their friends, Lily, pregnant and married to Jack's brother Martin, Katie, pregnant and married to Helen's father John, and Judy, engaged to policeman Sam, form part of their everyday life. Then Helen is utterly shattered when Jack tells her that a brief fling with a sergeant's widow has left the woman pregnant. Helen can't have children so handling her friends' pregnancies has been difficult enough; this is more than she can bear. She starts divorce proceedings but their fierce love for each other cannot be extinguished. Finally she has to make a decision which requires courage but could be the answer to their differences.
After her parents are killed in a road accident, Delia Yebarras life is turned upside-down. At fifteen, she leaves the rural Mexican village where she grew up to embark on a new life in America. Arriving at her wealthy Aunt Isabellas huge estate in Palm Springs, California, should be a dream come true for a simple country girl like Delia - so why does it feel like a nightmare? Her aunt refuses to acknowledge Delias heritage, relegating her to the servants quarters with a lecherous language tutor who is intent on exploiting the beautiful young foreigner. Her cousin Edward is kind, but cousin Sophia is cruel, manipulative and resentful of Delias sultry Latin looks. And just when Delia tries to embrace the life of an all-American girl, a heartbreaking chain of events sends her spiralling back to a Mexico she hardly recognises.. .
This is the first Blandings novel, In whuch P.G. Wodehouse intorduces us to the delightfully dotty Lord Emsworth, his bone-headed younger son, the Hon. Freddie Threepwood, his log-suffering secretary, the Efficient Baxter, and Beach the Blandings butler. As Wodehouse wrote, 'without at least one imposter on the premises, Blandings Castle is never itself'. In Something Fresh there are two, each with an eye on a valuable Egytian amulet which Lord Emsworth has acquired without quite realizing how it came into his pocket. But of course things get a lot more complicated than this...
Daisy and her mermaid fairy friends spend their days making delicious doughnuts, but soon they have so many, there's no room to move! All seems lost, but when Daisy spies some pirates in peril, her quick thinking leads to exciting adventures and unexpected friendships!
Harlan's very first young adult project will link in with the storylines in his up-and-coming adult thrillers as Myron Bolitar discovers that his mysterious tearaway younger brother, Brad, has a son - now teenaged. When our series hero's father, Brad, dies in a mysterious accident in South America, Myron is his closest, albeit estranged, relative left and is assigned to be his legal guardian. Will uncle and nephew be able to live with one another? And will our hero be able to resist getting involved in solving a mystery disappearance at his new high school?
In this powerful evocation of working-class South London in the 1950s, drama and heartbreak wreak havoc in the life of young Daisy Bacon, guardian of her Cousin Lizzie. When her mother Judith is run over and killed outside their house, Daisy retreats into a world of silence. Blaming herself for the accident, the girl is unable to utter a word. The happy family home becomes a prison, with her stepmother Vera as the cruel jailer. It is cousin Lizzie, who will always remain a child, who brings sunshine back to Daisy's life. However, only when Henry Bacon discovers his new wife's shocking secret does Daisy herself find true happiness, and in a way that she could never have anticipated.
If the scrawl of red pen and a note from teacher to 'see me after class' are familiar memories from your school days, then you are not alone. In "School Fail", readers will find a fantastic selection of the side-splitting bloopers, mistakes and misunderstandings that kids have boldly come out with in their school work: from the innocent mispronunciations of younger children, to the facetious, inventive, or just downright stupid remarks of older students who should know better. Ridiculously funny and endlessly entertaining, School Fail celebrates the unique - and usually entirely unintentional - humour of students everywhere, guaranteed to have readers of any age howling in disbelief.
Details: Vast and brilliant white P&Os flagship the SS Canberra was a final salute to a bygone era of opulence even as she embarked on her maiden voyage, For a decade she carried passengers between Britain and Australia, a 90-day voyage of pampering and decadence. But in March 1982, Britain went to war to defend the Falkland Islands and the SS Canberra found herself, surreally, requisitioned as a troop ship to carry the Marines and Paratroops into battle. Ideal For: Great read for anyone interested in history and The Falklands War. Against all odds she surived, playing a vital role as a hospital ship, At the end of the war she arrived back in Southampton to a heroes welcome, where she became fondly known as the Great White Whale. This is the extraordinary and, as yet, untold story of how the crew of a luxury ocean liner: waiters, cooks, nurses and cleaners, found themselves suddenly thrust onto the front line. A Very Strange Way to Go to War is a candid and captivating story, drawing from first hand accounts and previously unpublished archives, of the heroic courage of ordinary British men and women in the face of great adversity, at the outpost of empire.
This is the story of one single day in the Battle of Britain. Sunday 18 August 1940 saw the Luftwaffe launch three major air assaults on Britain and the events of that day changed the destiny of the war. Alfred Price gives a compelling minute-by-minute account of that hardest day as experienced by those involved - RAF and Luftwaffe aircrew, behind-the-scenes planners and strategists, and members of the public above whose towns and villages the battle was waged. The author's exhaustive research was indeed timely because many of those he interviewed during the 1970's are no longer alive.
Winston Churchill's History of the English-Speaking Peoples ended in 1900. Andrew Roberts, Wolfson History prizewinner has been inspired by Churchill's example to write the story of the 20th century. Churchill wrote: 'Every nation or group of nations has its own tale to tell. Knowledge of the trials and struggles is necessary to all who would comprehend the problems, perils, challenges, and opportunities which confront us today It is in the hope that contemplation of the trials and tribulations of our forefathers may not only fortify the English-speaking peoples of today, but also play some small part in uniting the whole world, that I present this account.' As the greatest of all the trials and tribulations of the English-speaking peoples took place in the twentieth century, Roberts' book covers the four world-historical struggles in which the English-speaking peoples have been engaged - the wars against German Nationalism, Axis Fascism, Soviet Communism and now the War against Terror. But just as Churchill did in his four volumes, Roberts also deals with the cultural, social and political history of the English global diaspora.
Secrets, rivalry, glamour - it's time for the party of the year... Delilah has lived out her tempestuous marriage to hell-raiser Raf in the glare of the media spotlight. Now planning a milestone birthday, she has more on her mind than invitations. Raf has been offered a part in a movie he can't refuse. But will he succumb to the temptations he's struggled to resist for the last ten years? Delilah's three daughters are building careers of their own, only too aware that the press are waiting for them to slip up. For the Rafferty girls might look like angels, but they are only human. It's the perfect recipe for a party like no other...
Whether you want to get 'back to basics', throw away the ready-meals and cook some good old grub, or you are simply interested in learning about the old tried-and-tested methods used in the good old days "The Cooks' Book" has the wisdom and advice of the trained chef at your disposal. This beautiful retro-look book is a treasure trove of information that will bring out the best in everyone in the kitchen. It includes: advice on food hygiene, handling and preparation; techniques and tricks to help your bread rise, and your pies taste just like Grandma made them; old, new - and some surprising - uses for store cupboard staples; tips and tricks for successful jams, preserves and pickles; storage and reheating advice at your fingertips; and, stories, anecdotes, quips and"es from food writers, gourmands and chefs. For anyone with culinary aspirations, this is the perfect gift for Christmas 2008.
'It's good that I've found this secret place. I can come here and make plans. My main plan for the future is my dream house. It's very tall and thin. A tower really. There'll be a lift to whiz me up to the top. No one can get to me up there. It's totally safe.' In real life, Jake is never safe. He lives in constant fear of his mother's violent boyfriend. But in his imaginary tower he can dream up his own father - the stranger who gave him a cuddle and a fluffy duck the day he was born and went away for ever. Jake doesn't believe dreams ever come true. But sometimes they do - in strange and surprising ways.
Discover Sir Ranulph Twistelton-Wykham-Fiennes's personal expedition to trace his extraordinary family through history. From Charlemagne - himself a direct ancestor of the author - to the count who very nearly persuaded William the Conqueror to retreat at Hastings, many members of this unique clan have lived close to the nerve centre of the ruler of their day. They number in their ranks a murderer, a wife poisoner, a poacher, England's greatest female traveller of the 17th century, and an extortionist Lord High Treasurer, teen cousins who eloped, a noble lord hanged for manslaughter, another hanged for adultery with the King's wife, and many who, as admirals or major-generals, won famous battles. The Fiennes behind Cromwell provided the castle in which the Parliamentarians made their first secret moves, the same building in which twenty-one successive generations of the family have lived for 600 unbroken years... And that is just a taster. Ranulph Fiennes tells the story of his unconventional, exceptional family, and reveals the ingredients for the man described by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's greatest living explorer.
At the height of his television fame on The Man From UNCLE, Robert Vaughn was one of Hollywoods most eligible bachelors, with countless adoring female fans. His affairs with famous celebrities, including Natalie Wood, made front-page news. But Vaughn is not just a handsome face, ? he is a talented stage, television and film actor with strong political convictions and literary interests. In this fascinating biography Vaughn recounts his memories of a golden era in Hollywood and the highs and lows of life as a successful actor, from hot dates with starlets, to having an FBI file because of his anti-Vietnam stance, to being caught up in the Russian invasion of Prague in 1968 while filming. Vaughn befriended such luminaries as Bobby Kennedy, met Presidents at parties, and had many adventures with stars such as Jack Nicholson, Elvis Presley, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Charlton Heston, Oliver Reed, Steve McQueen and Elizabeth Taylor. Most recently, Vaughn has been working on his TV series, Hustle, airing in January 2009. This is his revealing and captivating story Robert Vaughn is an Emmy-winning actor who has portrayed five US Presidents and currently stars in Hustle on BBC 1. He has appeared in many films, including The Magnificent Seven, Bullitt and The Towering Inferno, and several classic TV series, including The Protectors and The Man From UNCLE.
The Rough Guide to Mens Health takes a quirky and informative look at the health and well-being of men ? and no, its not just a ?turn your head and cough? book of disease and diagnosis, but rather a complete guide on how to look and feel great. Avoiding both flabby waffle and well-being Puritanism, it features down-to-earth health advice whether you are in the kitchen, the bedroom, the gym, out on the town or simply looking in the mirror. Find out how to improve performance with life coach strategies; how to identify the causes of health problems with key features on the back and gut; the best investments to consider in the fight for fitness; and those myths about health that can be safely ignored. Written by mens health and fitness expert Lloyd Bradley, who along with his panel of experts provides the ultimate mens health lowdown on how to make the most of your life with the body you have. And because we know how important it is these days, there is a huge section on looks and how to improve them! The Rough Guide to Mens Health provides you with everything you need to know to ensure your lifestyle isn?t at war with your health.
This is the story of seven little mice. They are septuplets, which is like twins only there are seven. Now winter has come, and the seven little mice are excited about going ice fishing. But on the big day they only catch one fish - hardly enough to feed seven little mice and their mom. Can the Ice-Fishing Princess (also known as Mother) do any better? This charming take of family fun on a winter day will inspire young and old alike to go fishing through a hole int he ice. And how about the fine fish lunch top top it off?
When Sam, Jackie and Anna successfully campaign to save their children's school lollipop lady, they are asked by a TV reporter if they fancy standing in the general election. It is, of course, a crazy idea: Sam's youngest son has an incurable disease, Jackie is desperate for another child and her mum is struggling with Alzheimers, Anna's teenagers - and marriage - are in danger of going off the rails. But sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the best. And just think what they could do if they got to run the country...
A riveting, heart-rending tale of betrayal and revenge. Erica and Simon Dunmore have been happily married for fifteen years. The only thing that casts a shadow over Rica's happiness is her failure to have a baby and Simon realises he would do anything to provide her with the child she so desperately craves. Then unexpectedly he brings home a beautiful baby boy whose mother has given him up for adoption and Rica cannot believe her luck - they can be a proper family at last. Little does she realise the horror that lies ahead when her husband and son go missing.
The Knights Templar are one of the most secretive and powerful religious orders in history: for over two centuries they were the elite fighting force of the Crusades. Highly trained, and adhering to a strict chivalric code, their success on the battlefield brought them both wealth and political influence. But it is the legends and secrecy surrounding the order and its Grand Masters that continue to fascinate historians and general readers alike. Secrets of the Knights Templar examines each of these mysteries in turn to reveal the truth about the Knights' secret practices, rituals and codes, as well as the continued influence of the Templars today. From the true location of the Holy Grail to the Templars' involvement in the Battle of Bannockburn, and from the sudden downfall of the order to modern-day claims of descent - S. J. Hodge uncovers the hidden links behind the stories and separates historical fact from fiction.
Yorkshire, 1904. On Netherwood Common, Russian ?migr? Anna Rabinovich shows her dear friend Eve Williams a house: a Victorian villa, solidly built from local stone. This is Ravenscliffe, and it's the house Anna wants them to live in. It's their house, she says. It was meant to be. As Anna transforms Ravenscliffe, an attraction grows between her and union man Amos. But when Eve's long-lost brother Silas turns up in the closely-knit mining community of Netherwood, cracks begin to appear in even the strongest friendships. Meanwhile, at Netherwood Hall, cherished traditions are being undermined by the whims of the feckless heir to the title, Tobias Hoyland, and his American bride Thea Stirling. Below stairs, the loyal servants strive to preserve the noble family's dignity and reputation. But both inside the great house and in the world beyond, values and loyalties are rapidly changing.
During the darkest days of the Second World War, the Allies listened intently to the messages of the enemy. Every whisper built a picture of the threat to come - weapons that were terrifying in their murderous capabilities. Target London is the dramatic tale of the inception of the German V-weapons, the Allies' epic race to discover the truth about them and the rockets' effects on the streets of London. Investigative historian Christy Campbell brilliantly interweaves the many strands of this gripping episode. At the heart of this tale is London - the target of Nazi Germany's plan to crush British morale.
What if the thing you most longed for was resting on a two week wait? After a health scare, Brighton-based Lou learns that her time to have a baby is running out. She can?t imagine a future without children, but her partner doesn?t seem to feel the same way. Meanwhile, up in Yorkshire, Cath is longing to start a family with her husband, Rich. No one would be happier to have a child than Rich, but Cath is infertile. Could these two women help each other out?
Sunset lives a life of luxury with her beautiful ex-model mum, her world-famous ex-rocker dad and two little celeb siblings. But life on the red carpet is no compensation for rowing parents, constant nagging, intensive media scrutiny and no real friends. Destiny, on the other hand, is an only child living on a rundown estate with a sickly but devoted mum who constantly tells her that she's really the daughter of a famous former rock star. When the two girls meet in unlikely circumstances, they are surprised to find in each other something they've been missing all their lives.
WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES is the surprisingly funny, dramatic and often poignant story of Britain s most distinguished newsreader. An Iranian Fatwa hanging over him, shot through both legs during the Nigerian Civil War, Sissons has some fascinating stories to tell. He has sparked debate and controversy not least thanks to a media maelstrom over his choice of tie while announcing the death of the Queen Mother. Now retired from broadcasting, he can finally lift the lid on his thoughts about the state of the British media, global affairs and what he really thinks of the BBC.
Never tell the whole truth, nobody wants to hear it. As the widow of an infamous racing car champion, Abby O'Hurley shunned publicity. Now a single mum, struggling to keep her family and farm afloat, Abby has invited charming, disarming and ruthlessly cynical biographer Dylan Crosby to tell her story. Abby's doing it for the sake of her sons, but she needs to keep Dylan from uncovering her darkest secrets. She'll tell him just enough to close that chapter of her life, even if Dylan wants more than she's willing to give...New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts brings you the remarkable O 'Hurley Family.
The mysterious world of elite combat units blown wide open... Find out how elite teams prepare for Close Quarter Battle. Discover how they launch assaults against pirate boats. Learn the secrets to directing air attack against a key intelligence target. Read how units manage to enter hostile territory undetected, and carry out long-ranges reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines. In his new book, former SAS hero Chris Ryan delves into the secretive world of elite warfare, revealing the nuts and bolts of some of the toughest, sharpest and most legendary fighting units in existence around the world today. Drawing on his experience as a soldier in the Regiment for a decade, as well as his recent unique access to some of the world's hardest and most sophisticated special police units for his TV show Elite World Cops, Chris Ryan explores the secrets of the trade. From the HALO insertion technique to mounting ambushes and escape-and-evasion tips, Chris Ryan's Fight to Win is the ultimate guide to elite forces training and operations.
'I was born and broken in Birkenhead. I was unwanted, beaten, sold, swapped, photographed, filmed, left for dead, corrupted, blamed, betrayed and ignored. But I was also born with a fire inside me. I call it my Phoenix Fire. I am no victim - that word only describes what happened to me. Nor am I a survivor because that implies I am over it. I am a Phoenix - a work in progress. This is my story.' Shy wasn't meant to survive her childhood. Her mother beat her so severely that Shy was deaf by her first day in school. She would have boiling water poured over her in punishment for wetting the bed. And virtually every day, from the age of four, Shy was raped by her stepfather, Stan. When she was ten she was attacked so viciously by the gang of dockworkers Stan had sold her to that she was left for dead in a field, her skull fractured. Six years ago her testimony secured the imprisonment of Stan and his associates for a catalogue of crimes against children. But it was only after a journey fraught with horror - stealing to survive on the streets of London, prison and a suicide bid. Today, Shy is the internationally admired chief advocate for Phoenix Survivors, the campaigning group she founded with Sara Payne to fight for justice for victims of child sexual abuse. They have worked tirelessly with politicians, social services, the legal system and the media for justice for victims of child sex abuse. BROKEN is the most hard-hitting memoir of overcoming abuse you will ever read. It is both a challenge and an inspiration.
Katie and her fairy friends join in a treasure hunt. The first prize is a ruby - one of the birthstones they need. But while everyone's searching they lose Bluebell - how will they find her and the prize in time? "Sparkling, fresh and fun - these fairies are great!" Linda Chapman, author of MY SECRET UNICORN
Life's been hard for Marcie Brooks, but when she marries Michael Jones things start to look up. Not only has he given her daughter, Joanna, his name but they now also have a son. The family's finances are on the up too, with Michael opening his first nightclub. However, when he refuses to do business with Paddy Rafferty, an Irish gangster, Michael soon finds himself on the wrong side of the law. He claims he's being framed for murder and Marcie wants to believe him but she has worries of her own. With her husband in prison, everyone seems to think she needs to sell the club and concentrate on raising her family. But a little voice seems to be telling Marcie she needs to fight for her children's future...And if that means standing up to intimidation, then so be it.
Something's lying patiently in wait, until the time is right... Thirteen years have passed since Yul fought for his life at the quarry, and Stonewylde has flourished in a new, golden age. But now the shadows are gathering. Wild and disobedient, Leveret is the bad girl who disappears at night time and would rather roam the woods than sit in school. Only Clip recognises the girl's magical sensitivity and believes she may be the one to lead Stonewylde out of the approaching darkness. The shadows thicken as Yul and Sylvie find that something-- or someone-- is tearing their beautiful relationship apart. As Stonewylde starts to disintegrate, a sinister alliance is forming but they have no idea what evil they're really up against...
7 April 1926: on the steps of the Capitol in Rome, surrounded by chanting Fascists, The Honourable Violet Gibson raises her old revolver and fires at the Italian head of state, the darling of Europe's ruling class. The bullet narrowly misses the dictator's bald head, hitting him in the nose. Of all his would-be assassins, she came closest to changing the course of history. What brought her to this moment? She was the daughter of an Anglo-Irish lord, had once consorted with royalty and the peerage. Yet terrible unhappiness lurked beneath that glittering surface. She was a serious-minded young woman in an age when girls were meant to marry well and think little. Her spiritual quest took her to a kind of left-wing Catholicism, sympathy for Irish nationalism and a passionate love for Italy. When Mussolini's thugs took it into the moral cesspit of Fascism, she felt she had to act. She paid for it for the rest of her life, confined to a lunatic asylum, like other difficult women of her class. Frances Stonor Saunders' moving and compulsively readable book rescues this gentle, driven woman from a silent void and restores her dignity and purpose.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Orphaned by the age of two, he was brought up by foster-parents. Following his expulsion from both the University of Virginia and West Point, he led a precarious existence as an editor, critic and writer. In 1844 his poem 'The Raven' caused a sensation, but after his wife's death in 1847 he drank heavily and died mysteriously in Baltimore. The best of Edgar Allan Poe's poems in a beautiful new gift edition
Jason and his sister have just moved to Malibu - to a town full of beautiful rich kids whose lives revolve around money, fashion, cars and parties. But these teens hide a dark and dangerous secret. Jason takes his sister to a New Age fair - and they visit a psychic. Jason is given a warning of great danger - and sure enough, he is soon after attacked by a mysterious assailant. When he wakes up in hospital he discovers that he's been shot with a crossbow. Who would use such a weapon - possibly some kind of vampire hunter? Could Sienna be the one who's really in danger? Jason's new-found happiness with Sienna is under threat when her parents find out. They don't believe a human-vampire relationship can work and forbid Sienna from seeing Jason. Jason's vampire aunt Bianca has a suggestion that might solve the problem - for ever Jason has to make a decision that could change his life completely. There are exciting new possibilities right at his fingertips, but what hidden dangers lurk beneath the glamorous surface?
Life is so unfair, and it sends many things to try Professor Dr Moritz-Maria von Igelfeld, author of Portuguese Irregular Verbs and pillar of the Institute of Romance Philology in the proud Bavarian city of Regensburg. There is the undeserved rise of his rival (and owner of a one-legged dachshund), Detlev Amadeus Unterholzer; the interminable ramblings of the librarian, Herr Huber; and the condescension of his colleagues with regard to his unmarried state. But when his friend Ophelia Prinzel takes it upon herself to match-make, and duly produces a cheerful heiress with her own Schloss, it appears that the professor's true worth is about to be recognised. Maddening, idiotic and hugely entertaining, von Igelfeld is an inspired comic creation.
Carli Carroll (13), lives in Colorado on the family-run guest ranch. She excels as a gymnast, but Carli's parents give all their time to ranch business. She has to find her own coach to take her forward to the big time - Olympic glory. But before she can excel, her parents intervene. They need her to help out more on the ranch. Something's got to give - but will it be Carli's dream that's sacrificed?These sports stories for girls feature attractive, feisty heroines with a talent for sport. Each novel features a popular sport with girl-appeal. Lively, fast-paced plots show each heroine coping with problems that have the potential to affect her sporting success and happiness, but hard work and talent win through in the end.
London's buildings may be famous, and its history may be lengthy and illustrious, but it's London's people who have given, and continue to give, the city its exuberant and exhilarating profile. London of the Olympic and Jubilee summer displayed Londoners on a world stage, but this is a city which has always lived on the energy and skills of its people, drawn to the capital from all over the country and the world. Boris Johnson shares with us his pleasure at London's vitality and unique character, and selects the people who in his view have contributed so much to the spirit of London -- some very famous figures, some more obscure. He includes everyone from the Romans to one of the author's predecessors as mayor, Dick Whittington; from John Wilkes (a strong upholder of the freedom of the press) to J.W. Turner; from Chaucer to Gandhi, and through to modern times.
From the earliest civilizations to the twenty-first century, this is a global journey through human history, tieing-in with a major BBC television series. Andrew Marr, author of two best-selling histories of Great Britain now turns his attention to the world as a whole. "A Short History of the World" takes readers from the Mayans to Mongolia, from the kingdom of Benin to the court of the Jagiellonian kings of Poland. Traditional histories of this kind have tended to be Euro-centric, telling mankind's story through tales of Greece and Rome and the crowned heads of Europe's oldest monarchies. Here, Marr widens the lens, concentrating as much, if not more on the Americas, Africa and Asia. Instead of focusing on one episode of history taking place in one place, he draws surprising parallels and makes fascinating connections, focusing on a key incident or episode to tell a larger story: for instance, the liberation of the serfs in Russia, which took place at the same time as the American Civil War, which resulted in the abolition of slavery in the US. But he begins the account with an episode in the life of Tolstoy, who racked up huge gambling debts and had to sell land and slaves as a result. Fresh and exciting, this is popular history at its very best.
'You don't analyse such sunlit perfection, you just bask in its warmth and splendour.' Stephen Fry The Empress of Blandings, prize-winning pig and all-consuming passion of Clarence, Ninth Earl of Emsworth, has disappeared. Blandings Castle is in uproar and there are suspects a-plenty - from Galahad Threepwood (who is writing memoirs so scandalous they will rock the aristocracy to its foundations) to the Efficient Baxter, chilling former secretary to Lord Emsworth. Even Beach the Butler seems deeply embroiled. And what of Sir Gregory Parsloe-Parsloe, Clarence's arch-rival, and his passion for prize-winning pigs? With the castle full of deceptions and impostors, will Galahad's memoirs ever see the light of day? And will the Empress be returned...?
A spell-binding tale of time travel and true love that will appeal to fans of THE TIME TRAVELLERs WIFE and THE CONFESSIONS OF MAX TIVOLI. Would you give up the love of your life, on the advice of a stranger? When our hero meets Q, one Monday morning at a cinema in New York City, he has met the love of his life. Their romance quickly blossoms: in the rowboats of Central Park, on the miniature golf course of Lower Manhattan, under a pear tree in Qs inner-city Eden. Nothing, it seems, can disturb the lovers or prevent their approaching wedding. Until one day a man claiming to be our heros future self tells him he must leave Q? ?Imagine The Time Traveller's Wife rewritten by Woody Allen and you'll have some idea of Q's quirky appeal? Patrick Gale
Little Panda and his mother spend their days and nights together, exploring the snowy mountain tops, splashing in icy streams and crunching tasty bamboo. But as spring moves to summer Little Panda is growing up fast, and it's time for him to go out and explore on his own.
If Daddy were a meal, thinks Little Bear, he would be a big bowl of spaghetti - twisty, twirly and very, very messy! But what would Daddy be if he were a sound, a toy or a joke...? This warm and wonderfully imaginative board book celebrates the relationship between father and child - and is the perfect stimulus for exploring love with someone special in your life.
Douglas Haig's popular image as an unimaginative butcher is unenviable and unmerited. In fact, he masterminded a British-led victory over a continental opponent on a scale that has never been matched before or since. Contrary to myth, Haig was not a cavalry-obsessed, blinkered conservative, as satirised in "Oh! What a Lovely War" and "Blackadder Goes Forth". Fascinated by technology, he pressed for the use of tanks, enthusiastically embraced air power, and encouraged the use of new techniques involving artillery and machine-guns. Above all, he presided over a change in infantry tactics from almost total reliance on the rifle towards all-arms, multi-weapons techniques that formed the basis of British army tactics until the 1970s. Prior re-evaluations of Haig's achievements have largely been limited to monographs and specialist writings. Walter Reid has written the first biography of Haig that takes into account modern military scholarship, giving a more rounded picture of the private man than has previously been available. What emerges is a picture of a comprehensible human being, not necessarily particularly likeable, but honourably ambitious, able and intelligent, and the man more than any other responsible for delivering victory in 1918.
The National Gallery started life in 1824 when the British government purchased the collection of 38 pictures from the estate of banker John Julius Angerstein. Originally the pictures were displayed in Angerstein's former home in Pall Mall. It was only in 1838 that the collection moved to its current site in Trafalgar Square. The building and collection have continued to expand ever since; today, the National Gallery houses one of the world's greatest collections of western European paintings. This book brings together the stories behind the founding and growth of the National Gallery: the generous benefactors, the architectural controversies, the acquisitions, the dedicated staff and the visiting public. Richly illustrated, with archive photography, it provides insights into the history of the people and events that have helped shape this much-loved national institution.
Worlds collide, relationships fragment and the dark underbelly of the American dream is exposed. A transsexual prostitute accidentally propositions his own father; a senator's serial infidelities leave him in hot water; two young lovers spend Christmas together high on different drugs. McInerney's characters struggle together in a shifting world where old certainties dissolve and nobody can be sure of where they stand. "How it Ended" is a powerful, funny and moving collection by one of the great storytellers of our time. "Metropolitan, middle-class young people grow up to learn that their triumphs will be hollow and their relationships false. McInerney flourishes amid the desolation: a kind of breezy, upbeat tone informs these dry, sardonic meditations on worldliness" - Esquire".
At his funeral the bells of the church were rung open rather than half-muffled, as is usual for the dead. Kate Lockhart has come along with corporate leaders, ministers and intelligence chiefs to a beautiful town in the Welsh Marches to mourn her soul mate, David Eyam, the brightest government servant of his generation. All that remains of Eyam are the burnt fragments of a man killed far from home in a horrific explosion. Eyam has left a devastating legacy which certain people at the funeral are desperate to suppress - but Kate Lockhart is equal to Eyam's legacy. She becomes the focus of the state's paranoiac power and leads the local resistance to it, directed from beyond the grave by Eyam. And the state is no match for the genius of the dead...
Details: Castles of South Wales is the eleventh title in the Inside Out series, and is an informative and accessible tour of the castles and castle ruins of the southern half of the country. Ideal for: Perfect for the tourist market, this concise guide looks briefly at the history, or stories, of these castles and significant historical events that are linked to the castles of Wales. This paperback book has 40 pages and measures: 24 x 16.8 x 0.3cm.
A terrifying new standalone psycholgical thriller from the bestselling author of ?Retribution? and ?The Cutting Room? Special Agent Bobby Dees knows what grief feels like. He understands the pain of losing a child. And he'll do whatever he can to prevent it from happening again. The phone call that comes on a Sunday morning will take him away from his insular world of grief and sleepless nights ? and into a far darker place. A young girl, Elaine Emerson, has gone missing and only Dees has a chance of finding her. It seems that Elaine was last seen waiting to meet her boyfriend - a mysterious figure she met secretly online who goes by the name of El Capitan, and whose reality is as cruel and chilling as the worst thing Dees can imagine...
The new novel from Patrick Gale, author of Richard & Judy-bestseller ?Notes from an Exhibition?, returning readers to his beloved Cornish coastline. ?Do you need me to pray for you now for a specific reason?? ?I?m going to die.? ?We?re all going to die. Does dying frighten you?? ?I mean I?m going to kill myself.? When 20-year-old Lenny Barnes, paralysed in a rugby accident, commits suicide in the presence of Barnaby Johnson, the much-loved priest of a West Cornwall parish, the tragedy's reverberations open up the fault-lines between Barnaby and his nearest and dearest ? the gulfs of unspoken sadness that separate them all. Across this web of relations scuttles Barnaby's repellent nemesis ? a man as wicked as his prey is virtuous. Returning us to the rugged Cornish landscape of ?Notes from an Exhibition?, Patrick Gale lays bare the lives and the thoughts of a whole community and asks us: what does it mean to be good?
Bruce Springsteen is one of the most important and controversial rock stars of our times: this is the story of the man - a complex, poetic loner whose albums went on to sell 18 million copies - and the band that gave his inner vision a punch and a swagger. Clinton Heylin has written the most factually accurate, informative book on Springsteen to date. As in Heylin's definitive Bob Dylan title Revolution in the Air, E Street Shuffle will focus on Bruce Springsteen and his work: the songs he's written, the way they were recorded, how they sounded live. Heylin also has unparalleled access to the people around Springsteen: current and former members of the E Street Band; CBS A&R personnel; Springsteen's 'New Dylan' contemporaries, as well as fellow Asbury Park musicians and scenesters, and rock critics.
It was a moment of mad impulse when John Humphrys decided to buy a semi-derelict cottage and a building site on a plot of land overlooking the Aegean. A few minutes? gazing out over the most glorious bay he had ever seen was all it took to persuade him. After all, his son Christopher ? a professional musician fluent in Greek ? was already raising his family there so he would help build the beautiful villa that John dreamed of. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. John was to spend much of the next four years regretting his moment of madness. Some of it had its comic side. He learned to cope with the escaped peacock that took over his lemon grove and even a colony of rats that took over the cottage. Some of the humans proved trickier: the old man demanding payment for olive trees in the middle of Johns own land; the unfriendly neighbour who tried to barricade him in and the friendly neighbour who dragged his lovely old fishing boat onto the beach and set fire to it after a row with his wife. And, of course, the builders. If you have ever struggled with builders, read this and be grateful. John learned a lot about Greece in a short time. He grew to love and lament the country and its people, but was never for a moment bored by them. And Christopher learned a bit more about John. Their shared experience revived keen memories for him of growing up with a father for whom patience was never the strongest virtue.
One night Laura finds a broken star on the pavement. She takes the star home and as it glows warmly in her hand she knows that she has found a very special friend. Complete with CD, with the original music and sound effects. Story with page turn pings encourages learner readers to join in. CD 15 minute run time.
David Niven appeared in films for over 50 years of his life, from swashbucklers such as The Prisoner of Zenda and The Guns of Navarone to the Pink Panther series. Despite his on-screen persona, Niven wasn?t always the perfect gentleman. He was insecure both privately and professionally and used people to get ahead. But he did, he said, ?at least try to be a decent man. ? He knew he often failed, although it isn?t easy to find people who ever had a bad word to say about him. In this fascinating biography of the star, Munn looks at the funny stories and the sad underlying truth, from his outrageous days with Errol Flynn and their irrevocable split ??You always know where you are with Flynn. He always lets you down? ? and numerous affairs with stars and prostitutes, to an attempted suicide, his horrific experiences in war-torn France and the breakdown and blame of his second marriage. This compelling text includes interviews with his second wife, Hjordis, John Huston, Rex Harrison, Laurence Olivier, Loretta Young (they discussed marriage once), Nivens long-time friend Michael Trubshawe, Peter Ustinov, Ava Gardner and many more. Funny, poignant and told with the compassion of one who knew him, this is a fascinating portrayal of a legend that really gets behind the screen and autobiographical persona.
Francis Walsingham was the first spymaster in the modern sense. His methods anticipated those of MI5 and MI6 and even those of the KGB. He maintained a network of spies across Europe, including double-agents at the highest level in Rome and Spain - the sworn enemies of Queen Elizabeth and her Protestant regime. His entrapment of Mary Queen of Scots is a classic intelligence operation that resulted in her execution. As Robert Hutchinson reveals, his cypher experts ability to intercept other peoples secret messages and his brilliant forged letters made him a fearsome champion of the young Elizabeth. Yet even this machiavellian schemer eventually fell foul of Elizabeth as her confidence grew (and judgement faded). The rise and fall of Sir Francis Walsingham is a Tudor epic, vividly narrated by a historian with unique access to the surviving documentary evidence.
Ben and Sophie are excited about going skating on the frozen lake. But little sister Bella isn't sure. She's worried about falling over. She's worried about not keeping up. She's worried about being laughed at. Will Bella ever be brave enough to try skating?
From the massacre of the Roman general Varus and his legions to present-day conflict in Afghanistan, Saul David's graphic accounts of the most spectacular cock-ups in military history have a great deal to say not just about the psychology of incompetence, but also the reasons even the most well-oiled war machines inflict disaster upon themselves.
A monumental and extraordinarily beautiful guide to the Earth's natural wonders 5 years in the making, covering over 5, 000 species, The Natural History Book is one-of-a-kind; the only book to offer a complete survey of the Earth's natural history. Each geological and biological grouping is introduced and explained in an engaging and highly informative way, making it the perfect addition to every family bookshelf, as well as an ideal gift for every nature lover. Packed with thousands of stunning, specially commissioned photographs, and written by a worldwide team of natural history experts. From granites to grape vines, from microbes to mammals, The Natural History Book is a true visual dictionary of every kingdom of life
The invention of photography in the first half of the 19th century gave people a completely different way of recording what was happening around them and soon professional and amateur photographers were turning their lenses onto every subject imaginable - monarchs and politicians, soldiers at war, industry and transport, farming and rural life, national celebrations, ordinary people at home and at work, entertainers and actors, fashion, sport, school and much else. Their work has given us a unique view of our nation's heritage. This volume looks at the major events, people and stories of the 1860s through photographs that reveal the essence of those times. Oozing self-confidence, Britain went from strength to strength as it exported its people, goods and games around the world. This was a decade of self-help, as the members of an upwardly mobile society strove to better themselves. But in one respect mid-Victorians were as vulnerable as ever. Despite progress in medical care and hygiene, they were all - from paupers to royalty - susceptible to fatal diseases. When Prince Albert died of typhoid fever, Queen Victoria plunged into implacable grief. Relive these times in the dramatic and moving pictures presented in this book.
In a time where school were regularly beaten, Nancy left school at the age of twelve, to work for a local farmer in the hope of becoming a cook, she was forced to stand in the rain when she made a mistake, abused and physically beaten and eventually been a victim of rape. During the 50's Nancy was a cook and continued to work as one to escape from the her sad past and make a life of her own. 19.7cm x 12.9cm x 1.7cm, Pages 247.
Imagine you live in a small Kenyan village, where the sun rises over tall trees filled with doves. When the rooster crows, it's time to wake up and after greeting Mama 'Hodi', you step into her hut for some porridge. Your task today is to watch over grandfather's cows. But while they are grazing you slip away, just for a second, to see who else is awake. First you meet Bashir, who gives you a hot pancake, then a black monkey chasing through the tree tops. You say hello to the village chief and eat a sweet bug. But wait, where are grandfather's cows? They're gone! Running as fast as you can you rush back to the hill and find grandfather on the path, with his beloved cows! With beautiful illustrations, this delightful story is the perfect introduction for little ones to life in a Kenyan village.
The son of a brewer, Cromwell rose from obscurity to become Earl of Essex, Vice-Regent and High Chamberlain of England, Keep of the Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He manoeuvred his way to the top by intrigue, bribery and sheer force of personality in a court dominated by the malevolent King Henry. Cromwell pursued the interests of the king with single-minded energy and little subtlety. Tasked with engineering the judicial murder of Anne Boleyn when she had worn out her welcome in the royal chamber, he tortured her servants and relations, then organised a show trial of Stalinist efficiency. He orchestrated the greatest act of privatisation in English history: the seizure of the monasteries. Their enormous wealth was used to cement the loyalty of the English nobility, and to enrich the crown. Cromwell made himself a fortune too, soliciting colossal bribes and binding the noble families to him with easy loans. He came home from court literally weighed down with gold.
A wonderful, warm novel from a major new American voice. In The Art of Fielding, we see young men who know that their four years on the baseball diamond at Westish College are all that remain of their sporting careers. Only their preternaturally gifted fielder, Henry Skrimshander, seems to have the chance to keep his dream - and theirs, vicariously - alive, until a routine throw goes disastrously off course, and the fates of five people are upended. After his throw threatens to ruin his roommate Owen's future, Henry's fight against self-doubt threatens to ruin his; while Mike Schwartz, the team captain and Henry's best friend, realizes he has guided Henry's career at the expense of his own. Keeping a keen eye on them all, college president Guert Affenlight, a longtime bachelor, falls unexpectedly and dangerously in love, much to the surprise of his daughter, Pella, who has returned to Westish after escaping an ill-fated marriage, determined to start a new life. Written with boundless intelligence and filled with the tenderness of youth, The Art of Fielding is an expansive, warm-hearted novel about ambition and its limits, about family and friendship and love, and about commitment - to oneself and to others.
Disfigured by the blow of an abusive husband, the widow Mary McAllister has spent almost sixty years secluded in a white marble mansion overlooking the town of Mill River, Vermont. Her links to the outside world are few: the mail, an elderly priest, and a bedroom window with a view of the town below. Most longtime residents of Mill River consider the marble house and its occupant peculiar, and few of them have ever seen Mary. But three newcomers - a police officer and his daughter and a new schoolteacher - are curious about the reclusive old woman. Only the town priest truly knows the Mill River recluse, and the secret she keeps... a secret that, once revealed, will change the town, and the lives of its residents, forever.
King-makers - Conspirators - Criminals - Nobles - Seducers The Howard family - the Dukes of Norfolk - were the wealthiest and most powerful aristocrats in Tudor England, regarding themselves as the true power behind the throne. They were certainly extraordinarily influential, with two Howard women marrying Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn and the fifteen-year-old Catherine Howard. But in the treacherous world of the Tudor court no faction could afford to rest on its laurels. The Howards consolidated their power with an awesome web of schemes and conspiracies but even they could not always hold their enemies at bay. This was a family whose history is marked by treason, beheadings and incarceration - a dynasty whose pride and ambition secured only their downfall.
Did you know that: It's against the law to check into a hotel in London under assumed names for the purpose of lovemaking? Under a statute of Edwards II all whales washed up on the shore belong to the monarch? Under a Tudor law Welshmen are not allowed into the city of Chester after dark? In THE STRANGE LAWS OF OLD ENGLAND, Nigel Cawthorne unearths an extraordinary collection of the most bizarre and arcane laws that have been enacted over the centuries. Some of the laws, incredibly, are still in force. It is still illegal to enter the Houses of Parliament in a suit of armour... This elegant and amusing book is perfect for everyone fascinated by the eccentric history of these islands.
Do you know your Botafago from your Volta Cross? Ever wondered how the Foxtrot got its name? Why is the Quick Step so quick? Which is easier, the standard Ballroom dances or the Latin ones? If you don't know the answer to most of these questions but fancy yourself as something of an armchair aficionado when it comes to Ballroom dancing, this book is for you. It will lead you into the wonderful world of Ballroom and teach you everything you need to know, without, if necessary, you even having to reach for your dancing shoes. As you'll soon discover, B is for Ballroom does exactly what the title suggests. Set out in an A to Z format it's the ultimate companion for anyone interested in Ballroom - whether you're nine years old or ninety. It will teach you everything you need to know about this most beloved form of dance without you even having to take a class, break a leg or be dragged across the floor.
Royal Artillery officer Francis Foljambe's personal diary of his experience on the Western Front forms the basis of this unique account of upper-class English family life in the Great War. Other family letters and diaries that have languished in an attic since the Great War, unseen and unknown, are also included. The war in Europe was not the whole story and what was happening at home was of equal importance. There are letters from the women of the family showing many of their hopes and fears and their bravery in the face of terrible events to come.