In her bestselling first volume of autobiography Testament of Youth Vera Brittain passionately recorded the agonising years of the First World War lamenting the destruction of a generation which for her included those she most dearly loved
- her lover her brother her closest friends. In Testament of Friendship Brittain tells the story of the woman who helped her survive those tragic years
- the writer Winifred Holtby. They met at Somerville College Oxford immediately after the war & their friendship continued through Veras marriage & their separate but parallel writing careers until Winifreds untimely death at the age of thirty-seven. When she died her fame as a writer was about to reach its peak with the publication of her greatest novel South Riding. A moving record of a friendship between two women of courage determination & intelligence & a wonderful portrait of a lifelong love Testament of Friendship now takes its rightful place as a Virago Modern Classic with a new introduction by Mark Bostridge.

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The Testament of Gideon Mack is James Robertson's acclaimed novel exploring faith & belief. For Gideon Mack faithless minister unfaithful husband & troubled soul the existence of God let alone the Devil is no more credible than that of ghosts or fairies. Until the day he falls into a gorge & is rescued by someone who might just be Satan himself. Mack's testament
- a compelling blend of memoir legend history & quite probably madness
- recounts one man's emotional crisis disappearance resurrection & death. It also transports you into an utterly mesmerizing exploration of the very nature of belief. Fascinating extraordinary strange rich". (Sunday Telegraph). " Overwhelmingly compassionate & thought-provoking. Demands another read". (Irvine Welsh Guardian). " Hugely enjoyable very funny deeply refreshing.. .its touch of devilry makes it even more of a joy". (Herald). " Fabulous.. .a work of the highest literary quality". (Scotland on Sunday). " Astonishingly accomplished utterly compelling from start to finish.. .could well be the best novel published anywhere this year". (Big Issue). " James Robertson is a brilliant novelist. It's a long time since I read a novel in which the contemporary notions of faith & belief were so frankly tested". (Ali Smith). James Robertson is the author of the novels The Fanatic Joseph Knight The Testament of Gideon Mack & the Land Lay Still & The Professor of Truth. The Testament of Gideon Mack was longlisted for the 2006 Man Booker Prize picked by Richard & Judy's Book Club & shortlisted for the Saltire Book of the Year award & And the Land Lay Still was the winner of the Saltire Book of the Year Award 2010."

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In a voice that is both tender & filled with rage The Testament of Mary" tells the story of a cataclysmic event which led to an overpowering grief. For Mary her son has been lost to the world & now living in exile & in fear she tries to piece together the memories of the events that led to her sons brutal death. To her he was a vulnerable figure surrounded by men who could not be trusted living in a time of turmoil & change. As her life & her suffering begin to acquire the resonance of myth Mary struggles to break the silence surrounding what she knows to have happened. In her effort to tell the truth in all its gnarled complexity she slowly emerges as a figure of immense moral stature as well as a woman from history rendered now as fully human." ...

This is longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2013. Colm Toibin's The Testament of Mary is the moving story of the Virgin Mary told by a novelist famous for writing brilliantly about the family. From the author of Brooklyn in a voice that is both tender & filled with rage The Testament of Mary tells the story of a cataclysmic event which led to an overpowering grief. For Mary her son has been lost to the world & now living in exile & in fear she tries to piece together the memories of the events that led to her son's brutal death. To her he was a vulnerable figure surrounded by men who could not be trusted living in a time of turmoil & change. As her life & her suffering begin to acquire the resonance of myth Mary struggles to break the silence surrounding what she knows to have happened. In her effort to tell the truth in all its gnarled complexity she slowly emerges as a figure of immense moral stature as well as a woman from history rendered now as fully human. Praise for The Testament of Mary: This is a short book but it is as dense as a diamond. It is as tragic as a Spanish pieta but it is completely heretical... Toibin maintains all the dignity of Mary without subscribing to the myths that have accumulated around her". (Edmund White Irish Times). " Depicting the harrowing losses & evasions that can go on between mothers & sons... Toibin creates a reversed Pieta: he holds the mother in his arms". (Independent). "A beautiful & daring work.. .it takes its power from the surprise of its language its almost shocking characterization". (Mary Gordon New York Times). Colm Toibin was born in Ireland in 1955. He is the author of six novels including The Blackwater Lightship The Master both of which were shortlisted for the Booker Prize & Brooklyn which won the Costa Novel Award & two collections of stories Mothers & Sons & The Empty Family." ...

In 1914 Vera Brittain was eighteen & as war was declared she was preparing to study at Oxford. Four years later her life
- & the
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When the world-famous marine biologist Dr Denman comes to town there is much excitement. For budding scientist Lewis its a dream-come-true as he might be able to work as her assistant. He might also be able to learn more about why his three friends Cleo Rikki & Emma turn into mermaids everytime theyre splashed with water. But as Lewis spends more time at Dr Denmans lab Cleo & her friends begin to worry that they secret could be under threat. Could they end up as lab rats? ...

How do we know whether a particular treatment really works? How reliable is the evidence? & how do we ensure that research into medical treatments best meets the needs of patients? These are just a few of the questions addressed in a lively & informative way in Testing Treatments. Brimming with vivid examples Testing Treatments will inspire both patients & professionals. Building on the success of the first edition Testing Treatments has now been extensively revised & updated. The Second Edition

Includes:: a thought-provoking chapter on screening explaining why early diagnosis is not always better. Other new chapters explore how over-regulation of research can work against the best interests of patients & how robust evidence from research can be drawn together to shape the practice of healthcare in ways that allow treatment decisions to be reached jointly by patients & clinicians. Testing Treatments urges everyone to get involved in improving current research & future treatment & outlines practical steps that patients & doctors can take together.

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The Teutonic Knights were powerful & ferocious advocates of holy war. Their history is suffused with crusading campaigning & struggle. Feared by their enemies but respected by medieval Christendom the knights & their Order maintained a firm hold over the Baltic & northern Germany & established a formidable regime which flourished across Central Europe for 300 years. This major new book surveys the gripping history of the knights & their Order & relates their rise to power; their struggles against Prussian pagans; the series of wars against Poland & Lithuania; the clash with Alexander Nevskys Russia; & the gradual stagnation of the order in the fourteenth century. The book is replete with dramatic episodes
- such as the battle on frozen Lake Peipus in 1242 or the disaster of Tannenberg
- but focuses primarily on the knights struggle to maintain power fend off incursions & raiding bands & to launch crusades against unbelieving foes. & it was the crusade which chiefly characterised & breathed life into this Holy Order. William Urbans narrative charts the rise & fall of the Order & in an accessible & engaging style throws light on a band of knights whose deeds & motives have long been misunderstood.

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The Texan's Contract Marriage There is little billionaire rancher Marek Rangel can't buy & he'll stop at nothing to ensure his late brother's baby is well taken care of. Even if it means marrying rising opera star Camille Avanole a complete stranger. But when she agrees to his demand of a marriage of convenience Marek certainly doesn't plan on falling in love...A Baby Between Friends More than anything Summer Patterson wants a baby. What she doesn't want is a husb&. Thankfully her best friend Ryder Mc Clain makes the perfect sperm donor. Ryder is loyal undeniably sexy & the one man she trusts
- but when he suggests they make a baby naturally Summer can't deny their chemistry!
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Full of in-depth information & gardening tips this resource contains the latest information on organic gardening & native plants as well as regional-specific tips for each type of plant in the garden & creative suggestions for hardscaping. Each chapter in this sourcebook is devoted to one of Texass 12 gardening regions describing each regions climate & soil type & interspersed throughout are money-saving tips & professional landscaping advice on plant selection & garden maintenance. Containing all the information needed to create & maintain a healthy & beautiful Texas garden this handbook is a great reference for any avid gardener. ...