Penguin Decades bring you the novels that helped shape modern Britain. When they were published some were bestsellers some were considered scandalous & others were simply misunderstood. All represent their time & helped define their generation while today each is considered a landmark work of storytelling. Keith Waterhouses Billy Liar" was published in 1959 & captures brilliantly the claustrophobic atmosphere of a small town. It tells the story of Billy Fisher a Yorkshire teenager unable to stop lying
- especially to his three girlfriends. Trapped by his boring job & working-class parents Billy finds that his only happiness lies in grand plans for his future & fantastical day-dreams of the fictional country Ambrosia."
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Nineteen-year-old Billy Lynn is home from war. Back in Texas he has become a national celebrity. A Fox News crew filmed Billy & the rest of Bravo squad defeating Iraqi insurgents in a ferocious firefight. Now Billy is a decorated soldier & Bravos three minutes of extreme bravery under fire are a You Tube sensation. Seizing on this PR gift The Bush administration has sent the surviving members of Bravo on a nationwide Victory Tour to reassure the homel&. Today during the final hours of the tour they arrive at Texas Stadium guests of honour in a nationally broadcast Thanksgiving Day game. The story follows Billy & his fellow Bravos through a climactic afternoon as they mix with the rich & powerful endure the politics & affections of their fellow citizens aspire to sex & marriage with the famous Cowboys cheerleaders share centre stage with Destinys Child & attempt to close a movie deal. They will learn hard truths about love & death family & friendship duty & honour. Tomorrow they must go back to war. Tender & full of humanity this is a wickedly funny powerfully contemporary novel about a young man the citizens who sent him to war the family he left behind & the era that let it happen. In Billy Lynn Ben Fountain has created a new American hero for our times. ...

Nineteen-year-old Billy Lynn is home from war. Back in Texas he has become a national celebrity. A Fox News crew filmed Billy & the rest of Bravo squad defeating Iraqi insurgents in a ferocious firefight. Now Billy is a decorated soldier & Bravos three minutes of extreme bravery under fire are a You Tube sensation. Seizing on this PR gift The Bush administration has sent the surviving members of Bravo on a nationwide Victory Tour to reassure the homel&. Today during the final hours of the tour they arrive at Texas Stadium guests of honour in a nationally broadcast Thanks giving Day game. The story follows Billy & his fellow Bravos through a climactic afternoon as they mix with the rich & powerful endure the politics & affections of their fellow citizens aspire to sex & marriage with the famous Cowboys cheerleaders share centre stage with Destinys Child & attempt to close a movie deal. They will learn hard truths about love & death family & friendship duty & honour. Tomorrow they must go back to war. Tender & full of humanity this is a wickedly funny powerfully contemporary novel about a young man the citizens who sent him to war the family he left behind & the era that let it happen. In Billy Lynn" Ben Fountain has created a new American hero for our times." ...

Billy Monk worked as a bouncer in the notorious Catacombs club in the dock area of Cape Town South Africa during the 1960s. He originally began taking pictures in the club with the intention of selling the photographs to the customers
- the people he was photographing. His aim was not to make a social statement but his money-making scheme quickly turned into something else as he increasingly captured the raw energy of the club its decadence & tragedy its humanity & joy. As someone who shared the experiences of those club-goers he was trusted by them & was able to convey their world & their experience with great energy & honesty. As David Goldblatt has written These are photographs by an insider of insiders for insiders. If inhibitions were lowered by the seemingly vast quantities of brandy & Coke that were imbibed trust nevertheless is powerfully evident. Not simply in the raucous tweaking of bared breasts or the more guarded but evident togetherness of two bearded men as well as the open flouting of peculiarly South African sanctions such as prohibitions on interracial sex. It is also present in the quiet composure of many of the portraits. People seemed to welcome & even bask in Monks attentions." Monk stopped photographing at the club in 1969. Ten years later his contact sheets & negatives were discovered & in 1982 the work was exhibited at the Market Gallery in Johannesburg. Monk could not make the opening & two weeks later en route to seeing the show he became involved in an argument. A fight broke out Monk was fatally shot in the chest & never saw his exhibition."
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This is the story of the Bellerophon a ship of the line known to her crew as the Billy Ruffian. Under fourteen captains she played a conspicuous part in three of the most famous of all sea battles: the battle of the Glorious First of June (1794) the opening action against Revolutionary France; the battle of the Nile (1798) which halted Napoleons eastern expansion from Cairo; & the battle of Trafalgar (1805) which established British naval supremacy for 100 years & during which her captain was shot dead with a musket ball an hour before Nelson was mortally wounded. But her crowning glory came six weeks after the Battle of Waterloo when the Napoleon trapped in La Rochelle surrendered to the captain of the ship that had dogged his steps for more than twenty years. ...

When Mary Mary finds her little brother Billy seems floating above his bed with his nose tummy & toes touching the ceiling she is astounded. Never before has anyone in Marys family been able to fly
- even though their name is Bird! An engaging tale from everybodys favourite animal author Dick King-Smith.
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Billy was a champion soccer star playing for Chelsea in the 1930s. But that was before war broke out... Billy the Kid is told through the voice of an 80 year old man who looks back on his life as Chelsea's champion striker until the outbreak of war in 1939 & on through his subsequent life. Billy joins Chelsea as a football apprentice rises through the reserves to become a real champion. His passion for football sees him through the war years
- even as a prisoner of war he organises a friendly against the Italians
- but having been injured by a mine he cannot play for Chelsea on his return to Engl&. Billy turns to vagrancy & alcohol & for years he wanders up & down the country. He re-settles in London in a derelict house & is befriended by a family who move him to a shed in their garden. He in turn helps their son with his football who in his turn becomes a Chelsea player. Billy becomes a Chelsea Pensioner & his 80th birthday is celebrated when Chelsea play at home. A novel for both children & adults which deals with some difficult issues. Michael Morpurgo's storytelling is superb & this will be a welcome follow up to the previous Morpurgo/ Foreman collaboration
- Farm Boy.


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Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing & reading together. A red Early Reader is the next step on your reading journey. Billy the kid has so much to do before Gabby Goose's birthday party there's no way he's ready for his afternoon nap. It's up to the rest of the animals in Potter's Barn to tire him out & ensure Gabby's party goes off with a bang! ...

Tum & Figg are competing to make the cake for Gams birthday dinner & keep trying to ruin each others plans. But with time running out can you Tink & Clott finally get them to work together or will you have to make the cake yourselves? ...

Colin the Dragon is missing! Nobody knows where he is which is very odd because Colin is ENORMOUS. Can you help Gam track down his beloved pet & work out what in the Bin is going on? In this interactive adventure there are a host of possible endings encouraging readers to play again & again. Some paths end in disaster others end with you saving the day. The choice is yours! ...