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Queen Elizabeth II: A Celebration of Her Life and Reign in Pictures (BBC Books)
An official BBC book that celebrates the life of Queen Elizabeth II through photographs, some rarely seen, drawn largely from archives of the BBC.
The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II has been at the centre of British life for almost a century. She’s led a very public life, seen by millions through photographs, film and television, from the time of her birth in 1926 to the final years of her reign. The embodiment of Britain, she has been a constant, knowledgeable presence in our politics and culture since she came to the throne in 1952.
This book celebrates the life of Queen Elizabeth II through photographs and still images, drawn largely from the archives of the BBC, an organisation that received its royal charter only one year after she was born. From her earliest days and first moments of public life, to her Platinum Jubilee and the weddings of her children and grandchildren, this is a lavish tribute to the most public of monarchs, an iconic figure in the hearts and minds of millions throughout the world.
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Queen Elizabeth II: A Glorious 70 Years
Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne for a glorious 70 years. This book pays tribute to this long serving monarch charting her journey, in words and pictures, from the 25 year old young woman who ascended to the throne in 1953 to the much loved elder stateswoman of today. This celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II offers the definitive illustrated story of her public and private life spanning the 20th and 21st centuries. Featuring the incredible tradition, history, glamour, and culture of Her Majesty, this book also follows the international tours, state functions, royal weddings, and jubilees, and showcases the glorious royal photography of some of the most well known Royal photographers and archives.Read more
£13.90£20.00Queen Elizabeth II: A Glorious 70 Years
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Queen Elizabeth II: The Life, Times, and Glorious 70 Year Reign of England’s Iconic Platinum Monarch (1926-2022) – Her Fight for the Palace, House of Windsor, and Royal Papers…
Do you want to know everything there is to know about Queen Elizabeth II?
Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022, at the age of ninety-six. She was the longest reigning British monarch in history and her death leaves a gaping hole in the British royal family. The queen’s death sent the nation into mourning. The queen will be remembered for her long reign, her dedication to her country, and her love for her family.
This book tells the story of one of the most iconic and fascinating women in history. Elizabeth II has been a part of the British monarchy for over 70 years and her reign has seen some incredible changes. Read all about her life, times, and glorious reign in this comprehensive book.
In 1926, a young woman named Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born to King George V and Queen Mary of England. She was the third child and second daughter of the royal couple, and she would go on to inherit the throne after her father’s death in 1936. Elizabeth would reign as Queen of England for 70 years, becoming one of the longest-serving monarchs in English history.
She would also come to be one of the most beloved. Even early in her reign, Elizabeth proved herself to be a strong and capable leader, helping to guide the country through World War II. After the war ended, she set about rebuilding England’s shattered economy and creating a new social welfare system. She also worked to strengthen the monarchy’s ties to the people, visiting all corners of her country and earning the affectionate nickname “the People’s Queen.”
Throughout her long reign, Elizabeth has faced many challenges – including divorces, scandals, and even an attempted assassination. But she has always remained dignified and steadfast, earning the respect and admiration of her subjects. In 2002, Elizabeth became the longest-reigning British monarch in history, leaving a lasting legacy as one of England’s most iconic monarchs.
Read everything there is to know about the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Grab your book today!
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Queen Elizabeth II’s Guide to Life
A timely celebration of the many attributes our Queen brings to the nation – fortitude, stoicism, diplomacy, family values, sense of fun and style among them.
Queen Elizabeth II – Britain’s longest-serving monarch, Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Head of the Commonwealth – has reigned over us for a record-breaking sixty-seven years. Now in her ninety-fourth year, this timely celebration sheds new light on the myriad attributes and personal qualities she brings to the nation.
From fortitude in the face of adversity to standing as the nation’s ambassador all over the world, no one could doubt the work ethic that powers this remarkable woman, even into her nineties. Equally, her love of family – from her rock of over sixty years’ marriage, Prince Philip, to her great grandchildren – shines through. But what are the secrets of her success? How does she still approach her day-to-day with such vitality and aplomb, even when culture and society are changing rapidly all around her?
The Queen on fame: When an MP commented that it must be a strain meeting so many strangers all the time, the Queen smiled, ‘It is not as difficult as it might seem. You see, I don’t have to introduce myself. They all seem to know who I am.’
The Queen on fashion: In the late sixties when Mary Quant and the mini skirt came to epitomize all that was fashionable, Princess Anne suggested her mother might also consider shortening her hemline. The Queen was adamant, ‘I am not a film star.’
The Queen on family: As Great Britain’s most famous great grandmother, it is no surprise that the Queen values family life. ‘Marriage gains from the web of family relationships between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, cousins, aunts and uncles.’
In this book Karen Dolby unpicks the key elements that make the Queen so special to – and so loved by – the nation and presents a guide to how you too could put into practice some of Her Majesty’s traits to help overcome adversity, find inner strength and present yourself as wonderfully considered and calm, even when all about you seems in chaos.
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£4.20£9.50Queen Elizabeth II’s Guide to Life
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Queen of Our Times: The Life of Elizabeth II
A Sunday Times Book of the Year
Queen Of Our Times is the definitive biography of Queen Elizabeth II by one of Britain’s leading royal authorities, Robert Hardman. This commemorative edition includes an epilogue reflecting upon Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, her passing and her funeral.
‘Sensational’ – Kirsty Young, The Platinum Pageant (BBC)
With fascinating revelations from those who knew her best and special access to unseen royal papers granted by Elizabeth II herself, author and royal expert Robert Hardman explores the full, astonishing life of our longest reigning monarch in this authoritative yet intimate biography.
The book also charts the way in which the Queen raised the future King Charles III as both son and heir.
Elizabeth was not born to be queen, being third in line to the throne. Yet from her accession as a young mother of two in 1952 to the age of Covid-19, she proved an astute and quietly determined figure, leading her family and her people through more than seventy years of unprecedented social change. She faced constitutional crises, confronted threats against her life, unified the Commonwealth, saw fifteen British prime ministers come and go, charmed world leaders, and steered her family through a lifetime in the public eye. Her Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in June 2022 and her death mourned months later, both events a reminder of the huge impact she had made.
Queen of Our Times is a must-read study of dynastic survival and renewal, spanning abdication, war, romance, danger and tragedy. It is a compelling portrait of a leader whose legacy of steadfast service lives on.
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Quiet Genius: Bob Paisley, British football’s greatest manager SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017
The full story of the man who brought unprecedented – and since unmatched – success to Liverpool FC
Bob Paisley was the quiet man in the flat cap who swept all domestic and European opposition aside and produced arguably the greatest club team that Britain has ever known. The man whose Liverpool team won trophies at a rate-per-season that dwarfs Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements at Manchester United and who remains the only Briton to lead a team to three European Cups.
From Wembley to Rome, Manchester to Madrid, Paisley’s team was the one no one could touch. Working in a city which was on its knees, in deep post-industrial decline, still tainted by the 1981 Toxteth riots and in a state of open warfare with Margaret Thatcher, he delivered a golden era – never re-attained since – which made the city of Liverpool synonymous with success and won them supporters the world over. Yet, thirty years since Paisley died, the life and times of this shrewd, intelligent, visionary, modest football man have still never been fully explored and explained.
Based on in-depth interviews with Paisley’s family and many of the players whom he led to an extraordinary haul of honours between 1974 and 1983, Quiet Genius is the first biography to examine in depth the secrets of Paisley’s success. It inspects his man-management strategies, his extraordinary eye for a good player, his uncanny ability to diagnose injuries in his own players and the opposition, and the wicked sense of humour which endeared him to so many. It explores the North-East mining community roots which he cherished, and considers his visionary outlook on the way the game would develop.
Quiet Genius is the story of how one modest man accomplished more than any other football manager, found his attributes largely unrecorded and undervalued and, in keeping with the gentler ways of his generation, did not seem to mind. It reveals an individual who seemed out of keeping with the brash, celebrity sport football was becoming, and who succeeded on his own terms. Three decades on from his death, it is a football story that demands to be told.
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Rafa: My Story
The Sunday Times bestselling autobiography from the greatest tennis player of his generation
‘A winner’ Independent
‘A terrific sporting memoir, full of memorable anecdotes’ New Statesman
‘As exciting as Rafa himself’ Woman’s Own
No tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He’s a rarity in today’s sporting arena – a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. With a remarkable 16 grand slam victories under his belt, and with friend and rival Roger Federer’s record haul of 20 in his sights, Nadal is an extraordinary competitor whose ferocity on court is made even more remarkable by his grace off it.
This book takes us to the heart of Nadal’s childhood, his growth as a player, and his incredible career. It includes memorable highs and lows, from victory in the 2008 Wimbledon final – a match that John McEnroe called the ‘greatest game of tennis ever played’ – to the injury problems that have frequently threatened his dominance of the sport, to becoming the youngest player of the open era to complete a career Grand Slam in 2010.
It transports us from Nadal’s lifelong home on the island of Majorca to the locker room of Centre Court as he describes in detail the pressures of competing in the greatest tournament in the world. It offers a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes this intensely private person – who has never before talked about his home life – tick. And it provides us with a story that is personal, revealing and every bit as exciting as Nadal himself.
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£0.90Rafa: My Story
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Raging Bull: My Autobiography
From a pint and a pie to ice baths and deep tissue massages … from Cornish Colts to World Cup final captain … from qualified cattle inseminator to owner of a sports fashion label … Phil Vickery, aka “Raging Bull”, has pretty such seen and done it all in life and in rugby, straddling the amateur and professional eras like a bovine colossus.
Raging Bull is the iconic tight-head prop’s own incredible story, the tale of a true legend of rugby union; a tough, no-nonsense player who is as fearless and uncompromising on the pitch as he is a great raconteur off it.
His career spans amateurism and professionalism, starting in the Cornish countryside and travelling to two World Cup finals and two Lions tours.
Vickery is a hugely passionate player. He sports a tattoo which announces ‘I’ll fight you to the death’, and has overcome serious injuries (including eight operations) in a career of stunning highs and devastating lows. He plays his sport in the best traditions of rugby and he is a story teller par excellence.
Raging Bull will transport readers to the England front row in Six Nations clashes at Twickenham, to the changing rooms on British Lions tours, and to the bars of many an amateur rugby club. It will remind fans what rugby is really all about – the fun and camaraderie, and the passion and commitment, as the former herdsman turned England and Lions star takes you to the heart and soul of the sport he loves.
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Rambling Man: My Life on the Road
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING HILARIOUS NEW BOOK FROM THE NATION’S FAVOURITE COMEDIAN, BILLY CONNOLLY
Being a Rambling Man was what I always wanted to be, to live the way I damn well pleased. I’ve met the weirdest and most wonderful people who walk the Earth, seen the most bizarre and the most fantastic sights – and I’ve rarely come across something I couldn’t get a laugh at. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad trip. Well, apart from in the 1970s, but that’s a whole other story . . .
When Billy set out from Glasgow as a young man he never looked back. He played his banjo on boats and trains, under trees, and on top of famous monuments. He danced naked in snow, wind and fire. He slept in bus stations, under bridges and on strangers’ floors. He travelled by foot, bike, ship, plane, sleigh – even piggy-backed – to get to his next destination.
Billy has wandered to every corner of the earth and believes that being a Rambling Man is about more than just travelling – it’s a state of mind. Rambling Men and Women are free spirits who live on their wits, are interested in people and endlessly curious about the world. They love to play music, make art or tell stories along the way but, above all, they have a longing in their heart for the open road.
In his joyful new book, Billy explores this philosophy and how it has shaped him, and he shares hilarious new stories from his lifetime on the road. From riding his trike down America’s famous Route 66, building an igloo on an iceberg in the Arctic, playing elephant polo (badly) in Nepal and crashing his motorbike (more than once), to eating witchetty grubs in Australia, being serenaded by a penguin in New Zealand, and swapping secrets in a traditional Sweat Lodge ritual in Canada, Rambling Man is a truly global adventure with the greatest possible travel companion.
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£11.40£23.80Rambling Man: My Life on the Road
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Red Devils: The Trailblazers of the Paras in World War Two
‘Riveting . . . Full of daring action, standout characters and cutting edge operations, this is unputdownable’ Damien Lewis
‘Gripping and authoritative. Family men, circus performers, solicitors, communists, and reactionaries all fought together and shed blood for their country – a true and moving story of war’ Andy McNab
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Their German enemies called them the ‘Red Devils’. Montgomery described them as ‘men apart – every man an Emperor’. The cards they received on qualifying began: ‘You are the elite of the British army’.
The Parachute Regiment.
In this gripping, authorized account, bestselling historian Mark Urban tells the story of the wartime creation and development of Britain’s elite airborne infantry – who ranged from circus performers to solicitors, policemen to gravediggers, Christians and Jews to communists.
Through the fates of six men – including recently widowed Geoffrey Pine-Coffin, who had to leave his little boy at home to head to the front, and Mike Lewis, whose photographs became iconic images of war – Urban vividly shows what it took to succeed in this new regiment. All six men would shed blood for their country in daring actions at D-Day, Arnhem and across the Second World War; two would not survive, and one would face disgrace.
Based on deep archival research, British and German sources and new material from the men’s families, and giving overdue recognition to the North African campaign, Urban’s unvarnished history is a compelling and moving depiction of the highs and lows of battle.
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Religion and the Rise of Sport in England
Tells the story of the changing relationship between sport and religion from 1800 to the present dayBoth religion and sport stir deep emotions, shape identities, and inspire powerful loyalties. They have sometimes been in competition for people’s resources of time and money, but can also be mutually supportive.
We live in a world where sport seems to be everywhere. Not only is there saturation media coverage but governments extol the benefits of sport for nation and individual, and in 2019 the Church of England appointed a Bishop for Sport. The religious world has not always looked so kindly on sport. In the early nineteenth century, Evangelical Christians led campaigns to ban sports deemed cruel, brutal or disorderly. But from the 1850s Christian and other religious leaders turned from attacking ‘bad’ sports to promoting ‘good’ ones. The pace of change accelerated in the 1960s, as commercialization of sport intensified and Sunday sport became established, while the world of religion was transformed by increasing secularization, a resurgent Evangelicalism, and the growth of a multi-faith society.
This is the first book to tell this story, and while its principal focus is on Christianity, there is additional coverage of Judaism and Islam, as there is of those – from Victorian sporting gentry to present-day football fans and marathon runners – for whom sport is itself a religion.
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Remarkable Women of the Second World War: A Collection of Untold Stories
They were told to hold the fort. They did far more than that.
When the Second World War broke out, the task of keeping society afloat fell on the shoulders of the women left behind. Women the world over stepped into boots they’d never worn before – becoming engineers, labourers and intelligence experts. Their houses were razed to the ground, they fled their enemy-occupied countries and they picked up guns to defend their homes, but their stories are rarely told.
Remarkable Women of the Second World War is a collection of twelve of these stories, all carefully gathered and retold by Victoria Panton Bacon. These are the stories of Galina Russian navigator who flew on the front line for the Red Army alongside the feared Night Witches; Ena, an ATA engineer who didn’t think much of the Spitfires and Hurricanes she worked on; and Lee, a Jewish girl who fled Frankfurt and arrived in Coventry on a Kindertransport train. These women weren’t remarkable because of high rank or status, but because of their grit, resilience and determination. These are the tales of ordinary women who did extraordinary things.
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Rice (Ultimate Football Heroes – The No.1 football series): Collect Them All!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold!When Declan Rice was released by Chelsea’s youth academy at the age of 14, he was devastated. But he wasn’t going to let that get in the way of his Premier League dreams. He worked harder than ever, and by the time he was 20, he was the captain and star of top-flight West Ham. Discover how the two-footed, high energy, combative midfielder established himself as an irreplaceable member of the England national team and Arsenal’s new record signing.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
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Rise: The Brand New Autobiography
‘Siya’s rise from humble beginnings to lifting that World Cup trophy is the stuff of fairytales.’ MARCUS RASHFORD
‘Siya Kolisi is a warrior on the field and an inspiration off it. This book is an extraordinary reminder of what can be achieved with inner belief and an indefatigable spirit.’ JAY SHETTY
‘Siya’s story is well documented, and I am so impressed by the way he conducts himself. As the captain of his team and as a statesman he is measured and thoughtful. He is a leader in every way. An inspiration to a dynamic South African nation.’ EDDIE JONES
‘Few people embody the tenacity of what the New South Africa stands for, like Siya does. His story mirrors the nations’; in its trials and tribulations and also in it’s triumph against all odds. This is a real life heroes journey.’ TREVOR NOAH
‘There is no doubt Siya has made a significant impact on World rugby, especially within South African rugby. [He] is passionate about changing people’s lives for the better and uses his position and status to do that.’ MARO ITOJE
‘Brilliant’ THE TIMES
‘Moving’ THE GUARDIAN
His truth. His story. In his words.
There have been many comments made and books written about Siya Kolisi, captain of the Springboks, and the first black man to lead his country in over 128 years of South African rugby.
But now, for the very first time, Siya Kolisi shares his story in an extraordinarily intimate memoir, charting his journey from being born into the impoverished Zwide township, to leading his proud nation to an astonishing victory at the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
However, Rise is not simply a chronology of matches played and games won; it is an exploration of a man’s race and his faith, a masterclass in attaining a positive mindset, and an inspirational reminder that it is possible to defy the odds, no matter how they are stacked against you.
In 2020, partly in response to the pandemic, Siya and his wife, Rachel, launched The Kolisi Foundation, providing personal protective equipment to healthcare workers and delivering food parcels throughout South Africa.
The title Rise is inspired by Siya’s mother – Phakama – which translates to the book’s name, as well as a celebration of his Xhosa heritage.Read more
£7.90£10.40Rise: The Brand New Autobiography
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Rivals in the Ring: 15 Greatest Boxing Rivalries of All Time (Greatest Sporting Rivalries)
In no sport can individual rivalries be so intense as in boxing. There is something almost primeval about standing in the ring together, with the ultimate aim of either knocking out or stopping their opponent, often with a crowd baying for blood.Unraveling the True Drama: Some of the boxing rivalries have spilled over outside the ring. While there can be an element of circus attached to professional boxing, there was no element of pantomime when it came to Jack Britton’s dislike towards Ted Lewis, for example, or the real hurt that some of the taunts of Muhammad Ali caused Joe Frazier.
The Dark Side of Glory: It should never be forgotten that boxing can also be a profoundly dangerous sport. Benny Paret lost his life in the ring after one fight, whilst two bit-players in the Chris Eubanks – Nigel Benn story were left with life-changing injuries.
And that is without mentioning the later impact on individual health of a career spent being hit for a living. Ali, Frazier, Floyd Patterson, and Ingemar Johansson would all fall victim to forms of dementia in their old age.
The Changing Face of Boxing: With advancements in medical science, today’s fighters are better protected, ensuring they would not engage in the frequency of battles like Sam Langford and Harry Wills did. As boxing evolves, so too does the understanding of its effects on the human body.
The Noble and the Controversial: It may be the Sport of Kings – and increasingly of Queens – but that does not always make it noble and true. This boxing book on the history of boxing over the last 120 years delves into the noble moments of the sport alongside the darker aspects that challenge its integrity.
Ultimately, any compendium of boxing rivalries is left with the difficult choice of what to include and what to leave out; those that follow in this boxing book for men can be regarded as an exemplar of many more.
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Roar: A Celebration of Great Sporting Women
From the tennis court to the boxing ring, the athletics track to the football pitch, the visibility of women in sport has been gathering pace. Women’s competitions are increasingly popular.
In Roar Sam takes a deep dive into the experiences of some of sport’s most high-profile female athletes – some have overcome heartbreaking adversity to reach the top of their game; others have succeeded in the face of prejudice. Like Sam, all have been propelled by sheer grit and determination to succeed. Many now campaign for women’s equality and acceptance in sport, knowing the confidence it can bring young girls and the message that they can achieve anything.
Featuring a series of candid interviews from some of sport’s most successful women, Sam lifts the lid on what it takes to reach those heights: from coping with puberty to foregoing teenage fun to pursue a dream; from the punishing physical training schedule to the mental power needed to win or bounce back from defeat; and coping with the pressure of the media spotlight. And, what it feels like in that magical moment when you step up to the podium knowing every sacrifice has been worth it.
Roar is a celebration of the bold and fearless – the women empowering future generations to follow in their footsteps – but it is also an inspiring look at how sport can change lives and challenge society.
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£17.30£19.00Roar: A Celebration of Great Sporting Women
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ROB BURROW BIOGRAPHY: The Ups and Downs of An English Former Rugby League Player.
Robert Geoffrey Burrow is a former professional rugby league player for the England national team.He played for England and Great Britain for 16 years, making over 400 games with Leeds Rhinos in the Super League between 2001 and 2017.
Burrow, who stood at just 5 feet, 5 inches (165 centimetres) and weighed less than 11 kg (70 kilogrammes; 150 pounds), held the title of “the smallest player in Super League” for many years.
Despite this, he was among the most successful players in the history of the tournament, having won eight Super League titles, two Challenge Cups, being selected to the Super League Dream Team three times, and taking home the Harry Sunderland Trophy on two separate occasions.
On December 19 2019, Burrow announced his diagnosis with motor neurone disease (MND).
For his contributions to the Rugby League and the MND community, he was appointed on December 30, 2020, as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List.
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Robertson (Ultimate Football Heroes – The No.1 football series): Collect Them All!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold!This is the story of Andy Robertson, flying full-back for Liverpool Football Club and captain of the Scotland national team. Follow his incredible journey from being on the brink of starting a university degree before breaking into the first-team of Queens Park, to going on to become a Premier League and Champions League winner with Liverpool. Discover how Robertson’s high energy pressing, progressive passing and darting overlaps created Klopp’s perfect system to help guarantee Liverpool domestic and European success.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
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Roger Federer: The Definitive Biography
Roger Federer is not only one of the greatest tennis players ever to pick up a racket – if not the greatest – but he is one of the global icons of our time. Characterised by a mixture of passion and calmness, a fierce competitor with a regal bearing, he is both an athlete and an ambassador, a street fighter and a statesman. But who is he really? And what are the experiences and influences that have shaped him into the world figure he is today?
This acclaimed biography, first published in 2006 and now fully updated in its ninth edition, traces Federer’s life and career, from his first tentative swings with a racket to legendary status. The vastly experienced writer, broadcaster and tennis historian Chris Bowers talked exclusively to many of the people who helped shape the young Roger Federer, and together with his own experiences following Federer’s career from his junior title at Wimbledon at age sixteen to his twentieth major title nineteen years later, he presents an affectionate and analytical portrait of one of the great names of modern-day sport. His book has enough information to satisfy the most voracious Federer fan, and enough talking points to keep an argument going until the small hours.
In its portrait of Roger Federer – the man, the player, the icon – this masterly biography brings the player’s story up to date, while also examining his place in tennis and sporting history.Read more
£6.60£9.50Roger Federer: The Definitive Biography
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Ronaldo (Ultimate Football Heroes – the No. 1 football series): Collect them all!
The Number 1 football series – over 1 million copies sold. Now includes the incredible return to Manchester United as an Old Trafford legend! ‘As he walked up to take his spot-kick, Cristiano knew that Real would win the trophy if he scored. He had the chance to be the hero yet again.’ Cristiano Ronaldo overcame poverty and childhood illness to become one of the best football players ever. Escaping the hot streets of Madeira, Ronaldo first proved himself as a wonder-kid at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, before becoming a legend for Real Madrid and Portugal. This is the story of how the gifted boy became a man, a team-player and a legend.Read more
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Rough Seas: The Life Of A Deep-Sea Trawlerman
A trawlerman’s life was hard, often up against bad weather, rough seas and black frosts, although on calm days it was a pleasure to be at sea. In this eventful memoir, deep-sea trawlerman James Greene relates his life at sea, from his childhood when his father would take him out in some of the worst gales and hurricanes imaginable (and he loved every minute of it!), to his early careers as a deckhand learner, obtaining his skipper’s ticket, and the many experiences – both disastrous and otherwise – to occur throughout his time at sea. During his career he was involved in ship collisions and fires, arrested for poaching, fired upon by Icelandic gunboats, in countless storms and even swept overboard in icy conditions off the Russian coast. The British trawling industry is now a by-gone age and people are beginning to forget the adventures and hardships that characterised this profession. This book seeks to keep the memories of a once great industry alive.Read more
£11.70£14.20Rough Seas: The Life Of A Deep-Sea Trawlerman
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Royal Engineer: A Sapper’s Memoir
As compelling as it is a delight to read, Royal Engineer is a military memoir that is truly a breath of fresh air and a ‘must’ read for anyone who has an interest in either the military or modern history, and for those who quite simply enjoy a good read. Fascinating, honest, gripping, hard-hitting and never shying away from the truth, the author’s passion for chronicling his and others’ past events and experiences becomes abundantly clear from the very beginning. The unique style of writing and the way in which detailed narratives are brilliantly incorporated make Royal Engineer a powerful and moving memoir. Emotions, opinions, positives, and negatives are freely shared with the reader to ensure that there is no sugar-coating on subjects and matters that are of a sensitive and topical nature in today’s world. Be prepared for a reading experience like no other because Royal Engineer is filled with comprehensive and engaging narratives that will have the reader mesmerised from the very first page, and it is also a remarkable piece of writing because of the honest approach and evocative language the author adopts throughout.Read more
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Royal Family Operations Manual: The history, dominions, protocol, residences, households, pomp and circumstance of the British Royals
This book, written by royal expert and correspondent Robert Jobson offers a complete examination of the British Royal Family, looking behind the scenes at the current heirs of a kingdom that has been ruled nearly uninterruptedly by a monarch since 774AD. Chapters include explanations of the Windsor bloodline, the family tree and personalities, their royal residences, palaces and country retreats, military connections, charity work, and annual engagements. * Examines the royal finances, including personal incomes, state salaries and charitable activities * Details the births, marriages and deaths of the past 70 years, as well as state ceremonies, jubilees and other royal celebrations * Includes fascinating behind the scenes details on annual events, domestic rituals, personalities, pets and family gatherings * Illustrated throughout, and including Intimate, candid photographs of how the institution of the Royal Family functionsRead more
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Royal Inbreeding and Other Maladies: A History of Royal Intermarriage and its Consequences
When we think of kings and queens, we conjure up illusions of a magnificent kingdom where His and Her Majesties live in the lap of luxury and want for nothing. While this may be true, life wasn’t always as perfect. With the history of royal families comes a long and twisted history of genetics and family intermarriage that is often swept aside. In Ms Cummings’ latest book, she takes us through the complicated spider’s web of royal marriages. She tells us of the atrocities of the Ptolemy Dynasty as they continued to marry brothers and sisters to fend off political outsiders. She tells us about the centuries of intermarriage in European’s most prominent royal family, along with the devastating results that came with it. We will learn of the devastation of mental illness that befell reigning monarchs of The Hundred Years War and plagued George III of England, Juana of Castile and the Wittlebach Empire. She will also tell us of the desperation that fell upon the Russian Royal Family as their only heir to the throne grew ill with haemophilia. She will also go into depth about the notorious Hapsburgs, the decades of physical and mental ailments that tormented them, and how their empire ended with the most inbred royal in history, Charles II of Spain. After hearing the heartwrenching stories of these great monarchs, you’ll find that you can’t help but sympathize with them as you read about how genetics was the ultimate game-changer in most families.Read more
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Royal Witches: From Joan of Navarre to Elizabeth Woodville
‘An important and timely book.’ – Philippa Gregory
Joan of Navarre was the richest woman in the land, at a time when war-torn England was penniless.Eleanor Cobham was the wife of a weak king’s uncle – and her husband was about to fall from grace.
Jacquetta Woodville was a personal enemy of Warwick the Kingmaker, who was about to take his revenge.
Elizabeth Woodville was the widowed mother of a child king, fighting Richard III for her children’s lives.
In Royal Witches, Gemma Hollman explores the lives of these four unique women, looking at how rumours of witchcraft brought them to their knees in a time when superstition and suspicion was rife.
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£11.60£12.30 -
Rugby: Talking A Good Game: The Perfect Gift for Rugby Fans
Ian Robertson joined the BBC during the golden age of radio broadcasting and was given a crash course in the art of sports commentary from some of the greatest names ever to sit behind a microphone: Cliff Morgan and Peter Bromley, Bryon Butler and John Arlott. Almost half a century after being introduced to the rugby airwaves by his inspiring mentor Bill McLaren, the former Scotland fly-half looks back on the most eventful of careers, during which he covered nine British and Irish Lions tours and eight World Cups, including the 2003 tournament that saw England life the Webb Ellis Trophy and “Robbo” pick up awards for his spine-tingling description of Jonny Wilkinson’s decisive drop goal.
He reflects on his playing days, his role in guiding Cambridge University to a long spell of Varsity Match supremacy and his relationships with some of the union code’s most celebrated figures, including Sir Clive Woodward and Jonah Lomu. He also writes vividly and hilariously of his experiences as a horse racing enthusiast, his meetings with some of the world’s legendary golfers and his dealings with a stellar cast of sporting outsiders, from Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor to Nelson Mandela. It is a hugely entertaining story that begins in a bygone rugby age, yet has much to say about the game in the here and now.
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£2.80 -
Running with the Firm: My Double Life as an Undercover Hooligan
‘Of course I’m a f**king hooligan, you pr**k. I am a hooligan…there I’ve said it…I’m a hooligan. And, do you know why? Because that’s my f**king job.’
In 1995, a film called I.D., about an ambitious young copper who was sent undercover to track down the ‘generals’ of a football hooligan gang, achieved cult status for its sheer brutality and unsettling insight into the dark and often bloody side of the so-called beautiful game.
The film was so shocking it was hard to believe the mindless events that took place could ever happen in the real world. Well, believe it now…
Almost twenty years on, the man behind the film has explosively revealed that the script was largely a true story. That man, James Bannon, was the ambitious undercover cop. The football club was Millwall F.C. and the gang that he infiltrated was The Bushwackers, among the most brutal and fearless in English football.
In Running with the Firm, Bannon shares his intense and dangerous journey into the underworld of football hooliganism where sickening levels of violence prevail over anything else. He introduces you to the hardest thugs from football’s most notorious gangs, tells all about the secret and almost comical police operations that were meant to bring them down, and, how once you’re on the inside, getting out from the mob proves to be the biggest mission of all.
A disturbing but compelling read, this is the book that proves fact really is stranger than fiction.
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£10.40£12.30 -
Safe & Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair
#1 New York Times Bestseller
Don’t panic-Mercury Stardust, AKA The Trans Handy Ma’am is here to help!
For too many people, the simple act of contacting a plumber or repair person can feel like a game of chance. As a transwoman and a professional maintenance technician, Mercury Stardust has discovered (the hard way) that we live in a world with much to fear. If you’ve ever felt panicked about opening your home to strangers in order to fix a maintenance issue, this book is for you.
Renting a home can be a complex process-from finding a safe and affordable space, to hiring help for moving and out, and of course, managing any repairs that come up during your stay.
You deserve to feel empowered to take matters into your own hands-and it’s not as hard as you might think. In this book, Mercury will show you how to tackle the projects that need improvement in your home-from how to properly fix a clog in your bathroom sink and safely hang things on your walls to patching small and medium drywall holes.
Safe and Sound includes:
– Guidance for over 50 simple home maintenance projects, such as replacing your showerhead and troubleshooting a faulty garbage disposal.
– Chapters covering basic and handy repairs for your plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and safety needs.
– Advice tailored to renters to minimize permanent changes.
– Helpful illustrations and QR code links to videos to help you on your journeyRead more
£19.00£23.70Safe & Sound: A Renter-Friendly Guide to Home Repair
£19.00£23.70 -
Saint And Sinner: The Autobiography of a Rugby League Legend
Nobody has ever been able to ignore Alex Murphy. In a glittering rugby league career stretching over forty years – from schoolboy days playing with St Helens, to international success for Great Britain, and years of glory as player, coach and manager of a host of high-profile clubs including Wigan and Warrington – fame and controversy have always been present: Murphy’s row with Wigan chairman and one-time friend Maurice Lindsay, when he was accused of trying to strangle him with his own telephone cord; the time Syd Hines head-butted him at Wembley, believing Murphy had taken a dive to get him sent off; his two tours, including the 1958 ‘Battle of Brisbane’, and how he ‘spat the dummy’, costing himself a third tour. . . All this, and a further fund of tales from the tough world of rugby league, is given Murphy’s unique treatment in this uncompromising autobiography. SAINT AND SINNER is the tale of how a liittle man reached the summit of his sport, and helped other little men along the way. The cocky kid – youngest ever to tour with Great Britain, who could have chosen professional football as a career ‘if it hadn’t been too soft’ – is known to millions today as Murph the Mouth: after-dinner speaker, TV commentator, outspoken newspaper columnist and now holder of the OBE, whose love for rugby league has never dwindled.Read more
£12.30 -
Saka (Ultimate Football Heroes – The No.1 football series): Collect them all!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold!Bukayo Saka has the world at his feet. Since breaking through the ranks at Arsenal, the young forward has gone from strength to strength, helping his team lift the FA cup for a record 14th time. His versatile style of play means he can help his team all over the pitch. Discover how the boy born in Ealing, went on to represent England at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final, achieved his dream of representing his country at such a young age and overcame adversity to become the ultimate football hero.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to superstar professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
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£5.70£6.60 -
Salah (Ultimate Football Heroes) – Collect Them All!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold!Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s superstar forward, and he is on a mission to become the best player in the world. This exciting book follows his adventures across the world – from the heat of Egypt to the magic of Rome, the roar of Anfield stadium and – finally – his big chance in a Champions League Final.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
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£5.70£6.60 -
Scandals of the Royal Palaces: An Intimate Memoir of Royals Behaving Badly
George Orwell once said that the British love a really good murder. He might have added that the only thing the British love more than a good murder is a really good scandal, and best of all are the sexual and political scandals that take place behind the gilded doors of Britain’s royal palaces. From Edward II’s intimate relationship with Piers Gaveston to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s dramatic exit from the royal family, the royal residences have seen it all.
This glorious romp of a book contains new information on well-known and not-so-well-known scandals, including those that have only recently been revealed through the release of previously secret official papers. Exploring surviving palaces such as Kensington as well as long-vanished residences including Whitehall, Scandals of the Royal Palaces is the first in-depth look at the bad behaviour of not just the royals themselves but also palace officials, courtiers, household servants and hangers-on.
Delving into the bitter hatreds that generations of King Georges nursed for their eldest sons, Queen Victoria’s opium-fuelled rages and Edward VII’s near-miss perjury conviction, royal expert Tom Quinn reveals that scandal and the royal family have always been bedfellows. And if the behaviour of today’s royals is anything to go by, the glittering palaces will continue to house intriguing, embarrassing and outrageous scandals for centuries to come.
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£13.50£19.00 -
Scientific Advertising: 21 advertising, headline and copywriting techniques
Understand and use the concepts of successful advertising
Whether you are considering a career in advertising or trying to find the best way to market your product, start with Hopkins and then move onto the rest.
In this powerful book he explains the process to get (and measure) results from your advertising.
Claude Hopkins wrote ‘Scientific Advertising’ in 1923, but his insight into consumer behaviour still holds. The aim was to explain the rules of advertising and what makes consumers buy, so that advertising returns would become a certainty and not a guess. Learn how to use his techniques to write adverts which sell with certainty.
Hopkins clearly shows how to write copy, provides methods for testing it and shows how evidence based advertising gets results in a measurable and cost effective way.
A must read if you are in business, sales or advertising. Hopkins shows what makes us buy and how you can make it happen.
This edition also includes examples of adverts produced by Claude Hopkins through his career.
Nobody should be allowed to have anything to do with advertising until he has read this book seven times. It changed the course of my life. David Ogilvy
Within this book Hopkins shows a variety of tested techniques which he had used through his successful career in advertising, including:
- How advertising laws are established – What the professionals in advertising already know and how we can use this knowledge to develop better ads.
- Just salesmanship – What is advertising and how is it best used?
- Offer service – The best ways to offer service to increase sales.
- Mail order advertising – What it teaches us and how we can apply it to our own adverts.
- Headlines -A lot of headlines get a poor response in email marketing, websites and adverts. Learn how to increase your response rate.
- Psychology – Use Hopkins experience to direct people to buy and use your product.
- Being specific – Are you being specific enough in your advertising? Hopkins shows that by using specific facts you can increase sales and out perform your competitors.
- Tell your full story – How telling your story is important and why some advertisers make the mistake of missing out on this.
- Art in advertising – Should we use bespoke artwork or tried and tested visuals?
- Things too costly – What strategies are too costly to attempt in advertising.
- Information – How to give the consumer the best information to help them buy.
- Strategy – Rules for directing a campaign.
- Use of samples – How getting samples into peoples hands can increase sales.
- Getting distribution – Hopkins lays out how to get national distribution by starting small.
- Test campaigns – How to test different campaigns on the same audience.
- Leaning on dealers – Ways to get dealers to help your campaign
- Individuality – Set yourself apart from competitors and what your tone should be.
- Negative advertising – Will it help your sales?
- Letter writing – Hopkins shows how to write a sales letter.
- A name that helps – How does a product name impact sales?
- Good business – See how good business impacts on consumer behaviour.
Excerpts from the book
The only purpose of advertising is to make sales. It is profitable or unprofitable according to its actual sales.
I never ask people to buy. The ads all offer service, perhaps a free sample. They sound altruistic. But they get a reading and action. No selfish appeal can do that.
I set down these findings solely for the purpose of aiding others to start far up the heights I scaled.
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£3.70 -
Scrum Queens: The Story of Women’s Rugby (Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Sports Book Awards 2023)
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023**
The first ever book telling the story of women’s rugby, from its origins to today.
‘Donnelly has created a masterpiece’ – Sara Orchard, BBC
‘A vitally important book, bringing to life the rich history of women’s rugby’ – Maggie Alphonsi, Former England Player
‘A much-needed treasure trove of women’s rugby history – insightful, informative and inspiring’ – Sarah Mockford, Rugby World Editor
Comprehensively researched and detailed, Scrum Queens charts the fascinating journey of women’s rugby as well as celebrating the success and heroics of the sport’s top players and teams, from widespread social disapproval to the modern era of Olympic recognition and professionalism.
The book includes:
- All of the major moments in the history of the women’s game from widespread societal disapproval to groundbreaking games during the war, the first World Cup in 1991 and the first appearance at the 2016 Olympics.
- Stories of the pioneers who fought to get the game played in its earliest days, like New Zealand’s Nita Webbe and France’s Henry Fléchon, and the modern-day drivers like England’s Carol Isherwood.
- Specific team successes in the sport such as New Zealand’s dominance, their long-time rivalry with England and the emergence of teams such as Ireland and Fiji.
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£12.90£18.00 -
Sea Room: An Island Life
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be given your own remote islands? Thirty years ago it happened to Adam Nicolson.
Aged 21, Nicolson inherited the Shiants, three lonely Hebridean islands set in a dangerous sea off the Isle of Lewis. With only a stone bothy for accommodation and half a million puffins for company, he found himself in charge of one of the most beautiful places on earth.
The story of the Shiants is a story of birds and boats, hermits and fishermen, witchcraft and catastrophe, and Nicolson expertly weaves these elements into his own tale of seclusion on the Shiants to create a stirring celebration of island life.
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£8.70£9.50Sea Room: An Island Life
£8.70£9.50 -
Secret Knowledge (New and Expanded Edition): Rediscovering the Lost Techniques of the Old Masters
Join one of the most influential artists of our time as he investigates the painting techniques of the Old Masters. Hockney’s extensive research led him to conclude that artists such as Caravaggio, Velázquez, da Vinci, and other hyperrealists actually used optics and lenses to create their masterpieces.In this passionate yet pithy book, Hockney takes readers on a journey of discovery as he builds a case that mirrors and lenses were used by the great masters to create their highly detailed and realistic paintings and drawings. Hundreds of the best-known and best-loved paintings are reproduced alongside his straightforward analysis. Hockney also includes his own photographs and drawings to illustrate techniques used to capture such accurate likenesses. Extracts from historical and modern documents and correspondence with experts from around the world further illuminate this thought-provoking book that will forever change how the world looks at art.
Secret Knowledge will open your eyes to how we perceive the world and how we choose to represent it.
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£28.50£34.10 -
Secretly Yours: A Novel: 1 (Vine Mess, 1)
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From Tessa Bailey—#1 New York Times bestselling author, TikTok favorite, and “the Michelangelo of dirty talk” (Entertainment Weekly)—comes a spicy small town rom-com about a grumpy professor and the bubbly neighbor he clashes with at every turn…
Hallie Welch fell hard for Julian Vos at fourteen, after they almost kissed in the dark vineyards of his family’s winery. Now the prodigal hottie has returned to Napa Valley, and when Hallie is hired to revamp the gardens on the Vos estate, she wonders if she’ll finally get that smooch. But the starchy professor isn’t the teenager she remembers and their polar opposite personalities clash spectacularly.
One wine-fueled girls’ night later, Hallie can’t shake the sense that she did something reckless—and then she remembers the drunken secret admirer letter she left for Julian. Oh shit.
On sabbatical from his ivy league job, Julian plans to write a novel. But having Hallie gardening right outside his window is the ultimate distraction. She’s eccentric, chronically late, often literally covered in dirt—and so unbelievably beautiful, he can’t focus on anything else. Until he finds an anonymous letter sent by a woman from his past.
Even as Julian wonders about this admirer, he’s sucked further into Hallie’s orbit. Like the flowers she plants all over town, Hallie is a burst of color in Julian’s grayscale life. For a man who irons his socks and runs on tight schedules, her sunny chaotic energy makes zero sense. But there’s something so familiar about her… and her very presence is turning his world upside down.
“Tessa Bailey is the queen of rom-coms. Long may she reign!” — Julie Murphy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Merry Little Meet Cute
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£8.70£9.50Secretly Yours: A Novel: 1 (Vine Mess, 1)
£8.70£9.50 -
Shadowplay: The gripping international bestseller from the author of Star of the Sea
Discover the enthralling Richard & Judy Book Club pick from international bestseller Joseph O’Connor.
‘The best novel that I’ve read in the last twenty years… It’s fantastic’ RICHARD MADELEY
‘Breathtaking… A hugely entertaining book about the grand scope of friendship and love’ Sadie Jones, Guardian
__________London, 1878. Three extraordinary people begin their life together – and the idea for Dracula is born.
Fresh from life in Dublin, Bram Stoker – now manager of the Lyceum Theatre – is wrestling with dark demons in a new city, in a new marriage, and with his own literary aspirations. As he walks the streets at night, streets haunted by the Ripper and the gossip which swirls around his friend Oscar Wilde, he finds new inspiration. Soon, the eerie tale of Dracula begins to emerge.
But Henry Irving, volcanic leading man and impresario, is determined that nothing will get in the way of Bram’s dedication to the Lyceum. And both men are growing ever more enchanted by the beauty and boldness of Ellen Terry, the most celebrated actress of her generation.
__________Shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award 2019
Winner of the Irish Book Awards Novel of the Year‘A colourful tale of secret love and public performance…in a romantic, lost London’ The Times
‘Hugely entertaining and atmospheric’ DEBORAH MOGGACH
‘Extraordinary’ SEBASTIAN BARRY
‘A novel I’d recommend to anyone: a rollicking and moving story’ James Naughtie, Radio Times
‘Fabulous… A truly great book you simply cannot put down’ JUDY FINNIGAN
‘Rich, sad, funny, and a beautiful read. You’ll LOVE it’ RICHARD MADELEY
‘Ingenious…hugely impressive and utterly haunting’ Sunday Mirror
*JOSEPH O’CONNOR’S STUNNING NEW NOVEL, MY FATHER’S HOUSE, IS AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW*
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£4.30£8.50 -
Silva (Ultimate Football Heroes – the No. 1 football series): Collect Them All!
The No.1 football series – over 1 million copies sold!David Silva is Manchester City’s greatest ever midfielder. As he played his way from the Spanish coast to the top of the Premier League, his silky skills earned him the nickname ‘El Mago’ – the magician. This is the exciting story of how the boy from Valencia used his midfield magic to launch Manchester City to dominating the Premier League winner, and drove Spain forward to become World and European Champions.
Ultimate Football Heroes is a series of biographies telling the life-stories of the biggest and best footballers in the world and their incredible journeys from childhood fan to super-star professional player. Written in fast-paced, action-packed style these books are perfect for all the family to collect and share.
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£6.00£6.60
