Despite being history's largest Empire at the start of the 20th century, the British Empire today is a shadow of its former self, with just 14 nations remaining under British sovereignty. What happened in those intervening years to cause the break-up of this once mighty realm? In the following three programmes we examine the factors that led to the British Empire dissolving. From the impact of the two World Wars to Gandhi's role in securing India's independence in 1947 & the damaging Suez Crisis, rarely seen footage from the Movietone archives provides a unique insight into The Fall of the British Empire. ...

In a hidden cave in the mountains of Lebanon, a man brings what has been forbidden for thousands of years out of the darkness

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Venice, 1407. The city is at the height of its powers. In theory, Duke Marco commands, but Marco is a simpleton so his aunt & uncle rule in his stead. They seem all powerful, yet live in fear of assassins better than their own. On the night their world changes, Marco's young cousin prays in the family chapel for deliverance from a forced marriage. It is her misfortune to be alone when Mamluk pirates break in to abduct her
- an act that will ultimately trigger war. Elsewhere Atilo, the Duke's chief assassin, cuts a man's throat. Hearing a noise, he turns back to find a boy drinking from the victim's wound. The speed with which the angel-faced boy dodges his dagger & scales a wall stuns Atilo. He knows then he must hunt him. Not to kill him, but because he's finally found what he thought was impossible
- someone fit to be his apprentice. Award-winning author Jon Courtenay Grimwood is a master storyteller. Here, he blends history, politics & dark fantasy in a compelling vision of an alternative Venice.

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ARE YOU READY TO SAVE A LIFE? WHY HER? Becca Palmer has just lost her job as assistant to Simon Jones MP – the highly-regarded Policing Minister, tipped as a future Prime Minister. But Becca claims that Simon was more than her boss, that she is in love with him. WHY HERE? When a heartbroken Becca leaves the Home Office, she heads to Westminster Bridge, intending to take her own life. Which is where hostage negotiator Alex Lewis meets her for the first time. It is his job to try to talk her back from the edge. In the negotiation that follows, Becca suggests that she may know something about the Policing Minister that she shouldn’t. Something that could prompt a serious fall from grace were it to come out. But can Alex save Becca – & get to the bottom of an alleged conspiracy that goes deep inside the highest levels of government – before it’s too late? Product Information: • ISBN: 9781398708860 • Author: John Sutherland • Publisher: Orion Publishing • Format: Paperback • Pages... ...

Aaronï ½s senior year has been anything but typical. Half angel half human, he has been charged to reunite the fallen with heaven. But the leader of the Dark Powers is determined to destroy Aaron ï ½ & all hope of angelic reconciliation. Struggling to harness the incredible force within him, Aaron trains for the ultimate battle. With the dark powers gaining in strength, their clash may come sooner than he expects. & everyone whoï ½s ever mattered to Aaron is now in grave danger. Aaron must protect the girl he loves & rescue the only family he has ever known. Because if he canï ½t save them from the dark powers, how can he hope to save the fallen. ...

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A student has gone missing in Edinburgh. Shes not just any student, though, but the daughter of well-to-do

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If you love the danger & sword-fighting of MERLIN, you'll like this! In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son & install him as a puppet prince Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point
- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. As Sage's journey continues, layer upon layer of treachery & deceit unfold, until finally a truth is revealed that proves more dangerous than all of the lies put together.
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Does for the music industry what The Devil Wears Prada did for fashion. Does for the music industry what The Devil Wears Prada did for fashion. By day, Zoe Kidd lives a tedious existence, following orders & trying to appease her parents. By night, she's the raucous lead singer of all-girl rock b&, Dirty Money. For six years, Dirty Money has toured the London scene, playing pubs, clubs, shopping centres & the odd public toilet. They're gifted, they're beautiful & they're determined to make it to the top. So when the American hit-maker Louis Castle appears at one of their gigs with talk of record deals & stadium tours, it seems as though their dreams are finally beginning to come true. But fame turns out to be more elusive & divisive than any of the girls could imagine! The Fame Factor is a fast-moving story of friendship, resilience & revelation, exposing the darker side to an industry obsessed with the limelight. ...

OMG, queen of mean Madison Parker in a brand new series. It's claws out in the fight to become Hollywood's brightest star... Madison Parker made a name for herself as best frenemy of nice-girl-next-door-turned-reality-celeb Jane Roberts in L. A. Candy. Now she's ready for her turn in the spotlight & she'll stop at nothing to get it. But with backstabbing friends & family, relentless paparazzi, & tabloid scandals she can't control, Madison is going to have her work cut out for her. Plus, there's a new nice girl in town
- Carmen Price, the daughter of Hollywood royalty
- who's a lot more experienced than Jane was at playing the fame game... Filled with characters both familiar & new, Lauren Conrad's new series about life in front of the camera dishes Hollywood gossip & drama at every turn.

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Within Lancashire, 1612, Fleetwood Shuttleworth is only 17 years old but married & pregnant for the fourth time...

However,

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