It is 1943 & Captain Mike Blackwood Royal Marine Commando is a survivor. Young toughened & tried in the hellish crucible of Burma he labours sometimes faltering beneath the weight of tradition the glorious heritage of his family & the burden of his own self-doubt. For Blackwood the horizon is not the lip of the trench seen by men of the Corps in the previous war but the ramp of a landing craft smashing down into the sea & the fire of the enemy on a Sicilian beach. Here tradition is not enough & Mike Blackwood must find within himself qualities of leadership which will inspire those Royal Marines who are once again the first to land & among the first to die. This is the fourth novel in the Blackwood saga spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family & the tradition in which they served. ...

April knows she was abandoned in a rubbish bin as a newborn baby fourteen years ago. Now she's happily settled with her foster mother Marion
- but there's a part of April that's desperate to know where she really came from & who she really is. If only she could remember her real mother
- or even find her.. . An engrossing engaging & highly moving novel from the acclaimed bestseller Jacqueline Wilson.

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Our foremost military historian offers us a compelling & at times terrifying account of what it means to be a contemporary soldier. In this remarkable book Richard Holmes draws on the testimonies of the 700 soldiers of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment to capture in vivid detail the average soldiers day-to-day experience of war. Embroiled in a conflict often too dangerous for reporters to cover these soldiers -- most of them young many without any previous experience of warfare -- have kept ongoing records of the drudgery anxiety & horror involved in fighting a violent & increasingly unpopular war against a ruthless & resourceful enemy. All have risked their lives & many have died. Others have been recognised & awarded for their courage resourcefulness & gallantry -- Private Johnson Beharry recently became the first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross in twenty-three years. With these intimate & revealing glimpses of life in the modern army Richard Holmes paints a sweeping portrait of a new generation of soldiers -- grunts gallants & heroes -- & the sacrifices their decision to fight for their country entails. ...

Dutch is spoken by 23 million people mainly in the Netherlands & Belgium & is an official EU language. For English speakers written Dutch can be fairly straightforward to pick up although the pronunciation can be more of a challenge. This simple guidebook & audio CD covers Dutch grammar pronunciation & everyday phrases making this vibrant language more accessible to English speakers
- whether youre just visiting or planning to stay on a long-term basis. Dutch For Dummies is the essential guide for everyone from students & holidaymakers to those wanting to speak Dutch for business purposes. From numbers & vocabulary to greetings popular expressions & proper etiquette this clear easy-to-follow guide will have you speaking Dutch like a native in no time. Dutch For Dummies
Includes::* Audio CD to assist learning* Introductory grammar & vocabulary* Meeting & getting to know people* Dining out shopping leisure time & the workplace* Dealing with emergencies* Tips on how to pick up Dutch quickly

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Learn to speak Dutch fast with this practical & entertaining course for beginners Learn to speak Dutch in three short months with Hugo's world-renowned book & CD pack The Hugo in 3 Months CD Language Course: Dutch". Practise regularly using the three 70-minute CDs & accompanying book & you'll learn to understand & speak Dutch faster than you thought possible. This title lets you pick up essential grammar & build vocabulary through word lists key Dutch phrases & model sentences. It helps you develop conversation skills through exercises based on real-life scenarios so whether you are conversing with a tulip seller or asking directions to the Van Gogh museum you will feel confident in understanding & speaking the language. " Hugo in 3 Months CD Language Course: Dutch" is fun accurate & great value for your money
- learning Dutch has never been so easy!"
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Duty Calls: Battle of Britain throws you deep into the heart
- & horror
- of Britain's darkest & finest hour. Pilot officer

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The Dark Age of Britain from the middle of the 4th century to the end of the 8th was a time of violence & warfare when charismatic warlords such as the fabled King Arthur could gather together armies & carve out their own kingdoms. With this new set of wargames rules players can take on the role of these warlords & command their own armies on the tabletop. Written by the author of the popular Glutter of Ravens rules set Dux Bellorum" is an element-based system where each base of figures represents 50 fighting men. Each player has a specific number of points with which to construct his force & can choose a Late Roman Romano-British Welsh Saxon Pictish Irish or Sea Raider army amongst others. The game is then played out following a set of simple fast-paced rules. A completely self-contained gaming system " Dux Bellorum" is perfect for gamers who are looking for a way into fighting Dark Age battles without investing a lot of time or money in larger rulesets." ...

For countless millennia no man or beast has ever succeeded in breaching the stone gateway into Girdlegard. Until now.. . Abandoned as a child Tungdil the blacksmith is the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. But when he is sent out into the world to deliver a message & reacquaint himself with his people the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety but the life of every man woman & child in Girdlegard depends upon his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised he is a true dwarf. & no one has ever questioned the courage of the Dwarves. ...

The Dwarves of Death" is a hilarious black comedy by Jonathan Coe. William has a lot on his mind. Firstly theres The Alaska Factory the band he plays in. Theyre no good & they make his songs sound about as groovy as an unimpressed record. In fact theyre so bad hes seriously thinking of leaving to join a group called The Unfortunates. Secondly theres Madeline his high-maintenance girlfriend whose idea of a night of passion is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical followed by a doorstep peck on the cheek. Maybe theyre not soulmates after all? Lastly theres the bizarre murder hes just witnessed. The guiding force behind The Unfortunates lies bludgeoned to death at his feet & unfortunately for William there arent too many other suspects standing nearby..." Its about being young poor confused & in love. Its also very funny.. .sharp lucid & witty". (" Guardian"). " Notable for its fresh contemporary flavour & its bristling intellectual energy. Coe has huge powers of observation & enormous literary panache". (" Sunday Times"). Jonathan Coes novels are filled with biting political satire moving & astute observations of life & hilarious set pieces that have made him one of the most popular writers of his generation. His other titles " The Accidental Woman" " The Closed Circle" " The Terrible Privacy of Maxwell Sim" " The House of Sleep" (winner of the 1998 Prix Medicis Etranger) "A Touch of Love" & " The Rain Before it Falls" are all available in Penguin paperback." ...

When fifteen-year-old Cissie Brodie loses her parents to cholera she is forced out of the family cottage & left to raise her nine siblings alone. Although desperately poor the strong-willed Cissie determines to build a new home for the Brodies. It is only a rough stone shelter but to Cissie & her family it is enough to keep them from the workhouse. They have friends but charity cannot always spare them the harsh reality of their struggle & the bitterness of those who wish them harm. But can love when it arrives teach Cissie not to fear the world beyond the dwelling place? Set in the 1830's The Dwelling Place" is the powerful tale of a tenacious family's battle to overcome the odds." ...