WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ADAM THIRLWELL. Sensational dramatic packed with rich excitement & filled with the sweep & violence of human passions Les Miserables is one of the greatest adventure stories ever told. It is a novel peopled by colourful characters from the nineteenth-century Parisian underworld; the street children the prostitutes & the criminals. In telling the story of escaped convict Jean Valjean & his efforts to reform his ways & care for the little orphan girl he rescues from a life of cruelty Victor Hugo drew attention to the plight of the poor & oppressed. Les Miserables is a masterful detective story a comic & tragic story of romance & revolution & ultimately a tale of redemption & hope. ...

Now a major musical film from Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King's Speech") starring Hugh Jackman Russell Crowe & Anne Hathaway & also featuring Amanda Seyfreid Helena Bonham-Carter & Sacha Baron-Cohen Victor Hugo's " Les Miserables" is one of the great works of western literature. Victor Hugo's tale of injustice heroism & love follows the fortunes of Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) an escaped convict determined to put his criminal past behind him. But his attempts to become a respected member of the community are constantly put under threat: by his own conscience when owing to a case of mistaken identity another man is arrested in his place; & by the relentless investigations of the dogged Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe). It is not simply for himself that Valjean must stay free however for he has sworn to protect the baby daughter of Fantine (Anne Hathaway) driven to prostitution by poverty. Victor Hugo (1802-85) wrote volumes of criticism Romantic costume dramas satirical verse & political journalism but is best remembered for his novels especially " Notre-Dame de Paris" (1831) also known as " The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" & " Les Miserables" (1862) which was adapted into one of the most successful musicals of all time. " All human life is here". (Cameron Mackintosh producer of the musical " Les Miserables"). " One of the half-dozen greatest novels of the world". (Upton Sinclair). "A great writer
- inventive witty sly innovatory". (A. S. Byatt author of " Possession")."
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It is 150 years since Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables" was first published. However for the last 25 or so the poignant saga of Jean Valjean a villain to some but a saviour to others set in France during the early years of the nineteenth century has become one of the world's most popular musicals & is about to become one of the must-see movies of 2013. In " Les Miserables: The Official Archives" the reader can find out how the musical came to life
- the trials & tribulations of turning it from the initial concept into a thrilling musical extravaganza
- & how the new film version starring Hugh Jackman & Russell Crowe & directed by the Oscar-winning Tom Hooper (" The King's Speech") has emerged from the show that has been seen by over 55 million people worldwide. To bring this fascinating story to life the book also contains at least 15 facsimiles that highlight key moments in the creation of " Les Miserables" both on stage & on the screen."

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Misery Chastain was dead. Paul Sheldon had just killed her
- with relief with joy. Misery had made him rich; she was the heroine
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In the dead of winter a young man is found hanging from a tree on a remote shore of Lake Superior known as Misery Bay. Theres no evidence of foul play. Nothing to suggest its anything other than a tragic teenage suicide. Devastated & unbelieving the boys father just has one question: why? Finding the answer is not a job ex-cop Alex Mc Knight relishes but loss is something he understands only too well. When he starts to question the local cops about the suicide Alexs instincts instantly tell him something is very very wrong. & that hes unwittingly opening a door into a nightmare world of madness murder & twisted revenge... ...

From ASBOs to superheroes... Misfits follows five teenagers on community service who get caught in a freak storm & develop superpowers. Hard-as-nails Kelly can suddenly hear peoples thoughts shamed sporting star Curtis discovers he has the ability to turn back time when he regrets something party girl Alisa can send people into a sexual frenzy when they touch her skin Rudy can split into two people & painfully shy Simon can make himself invisible when he feels hes being ignored. These arent your conventional superheroes with capes & tights. Our misfits have ankle tags & criminal records & soon discover what a nightmare life can be when youre lumbered with a super power you dont want... Full-colour & brimming with never-seen-before photos & too-rude-for-TV cartoons & illustrations this book will provide you with everything you ever wanted to know about MISFITS but were too afraid youd get headbutted to ask. ...

An intimate portrait of its stars Marilyn Monroe Clark Gable & Montgomery Clift
- three of the most charismatic actors of all time.
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FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE LOST ART OF KEEPING SECRETS. Country girl Tara is whisked off to 60s London to become a star; there she is dressed she is shown off at Chelsea parties photographed by the best. She meets songwriters singers designers & records her song. & she falls in love
- with two men. Behind the buzz & excitement of her success the bitterness between her elder sister Lucy & her friend Matilda haunts Tara. Their past friendship is broken & among the secrets & the strangeness of both their marriages the past keeps on reappearing. Praise for THE LOST ART OF KEEPING SECRETS: So good we could hardly speak Observer. A delight of Nancy Mitford-esque trials & tribulations Vogue.
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Emma Applebys arrival in the County Durham village of Tow Law is sudden & mysterious provoking deep suspicion in the locals. & because she has a child with her seemingly out of marriage they want nothing to do with her
- except for pub landlord Mick Castle. When Emma opens an academy & sets herself up in competition with the local school she provokes a savage response from the community. But she will not be deterred
- even when her past catches up with her & Mick is forced to choose between family & love.

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Mr & Mrs Brick are builders just like their mothers & fathers & grandmothers & grandfathers. But their new baby doesnt seem to be following in their footsteps. Instead of building things up she keeps knocking things down! Based on the classic Happy Families card game this highly entertaining series is ideal for reading & sharing at home or at school. It is guided by the Education Adviser Brian Thompson & written by the award-winning author Allan Ahlberg. The best thing to happen to beginner readers since Dr Seuss
- Childrens Rights Workshop.
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