Biography & True Accounts
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Ewen and Cat’s Wee Book of Aye or Naw?: 500 quiz questions to test your knowledge on EVERYTHING!
500 quiz questions to test your knowledge on EVERYTHING! Packed full of hilarious behind-the-scenes moments and puzzling brain busters from their award-winning radio show Ewen and Cat at Breakfast. It’s bound to bemuse and amuse in equal measure!Are these statements true? Aye or Naw?
Usain Bolt would beat a cat over 100m.
A jiffy is a real unit of time.
Volkswagen sell more sausages than cars.
All will be revealed.Will Ewen and Cat’s Wee Book of Aye or Naw? change your life? NAW.
But will it make you instantly more interesting to other humans? OH AYE!!Read more
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The Insanity of Advertising: Memoirs of a Mad Man
If you have anything to do with advertising or are interested in it, this is a must book to read. There is no other book on the subject so revealing and relevant, not to mention engaging. Veteran ad man Fred Goldberg, gives us an unforgettable glimpse into the chaos, drama, and outright wackiness that fuels one of the most loved and hated industries. While Goldberg shares plenty of behind-the-scenes dirt on what it was like to craft ad campaigns for some of the most well known corporate titans, he also doesn’t spare the mad men who worked alongside him. Outsize personalities, some prone to jaw-dropping displays of ego and antics that are truly hard to believe, but true. There’s a week spent with John Wayne shooting commercials, commercials he didn’t want to be shooting; the untold story behind Steve Jobs and the infamous introductory Apple “1984” Macintosh commercial; what it was like working with Michael Dell as Dell Computers mushroomed from $100M to $30+B; along with insights and anecdotes recounted from dealing with advertising legends like Jay Chiat, Guy Day, Lee Clow and Ed Ney; entrepreneurs like Larry Ellison, Les Crane, Ben Rosen, Don Kingsborough and Joseph E. Levine. Insanity of Advertising: Memoirs of a Mad Man is the real story of mad men in a very mad environment.Read more
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The Long Walk: An Anthology by EOD & Search Veterans, 2023
“They call it the long walk. It’s like I’m in a bubble. Like the world went away and it’s just me… focussed… concentrating. You get used to it – it becomes normal.”Men and women who have worked in bomb disposal tell their stories, as they saw them, as they lived them.
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An Englishman at War: The Wartime Diaries of Stanley Christopherson DSO MC & Bar 1939-1945
‘An astonishing record…There is no other wartime diary that can match the scope of these diaries’ James Holland
‘An outstanding contribution to the literature of the Second World War’Professor Gary Sheffield
From the outbreak of war in September 1939 to the smouldering ruins of Berlin in 1945, via Tobruk, El Alamein, D-Day and the crossing of the Rhine, An Englishman at War is a unique first-person account of the Second World War.
Stanley Christopherson’s regiment, the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, went to war as amateurs and ended up one of the most experienced, highly trained and most valued armoured units in the British Army.A junior officer at the beginning of the war, Christopherson became the commanding officer of the regiment soon after the D-Day landings. What he and his regiment witnessed presents a unique overview of one of the most cataclysmic events in world history and gives an extraordinary insight, through tragedy and triumph, into what it felt like to be part of the push for victory.
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Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors. The Sunday Times no 1 bestseller
THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER‘Explosive’ The Sun
‘Accounts from insiders who have never spoken before’ The Times
‘Bombshell’ The MirrorThe British Royal Family believed that the dizzy success of the Sussex wedding, watched and celebrated around the world, was the beginning of a new era for the Windsors. Yet, within one tumultuous year, the dream became a nightmare. In the aftermath of the infamous Megxit split and the Oprah Winfrey interview, the Royal Family’s fate seems persistently threatened.
As Meghan and Harry’s much-trailed Netflix documentary finally airs, the public remains puzzled. Meghan’s success has alternatively won praise, bewildered and outraged. Confused by the Sussexes’ slick publicity, few understand the real Meghan Markle. What lies ahead for Meghan? And what has happened to the family she married into? Can the Windsors restore their reputation?
With extensive research, expert sourcing and interviews from insiders who have never spoken before, Tom Bower, Britain’s leading investigative biographer, unpicks the tangled web of courtroom drama, courtier politics and thwarted childhood dreams to uncover an astonishing story of love, betrayal, secrets and revenge.
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DUTY
Growing up in the 1970s on a tough council estate in North East England, career options were limited. As a young lad, I needed focus. Three days after my 17th birthday, the Royal Marines offered me that.
After serving in the Falklands and Northern Ireland, my career took another path, which eventually led me to almost three decades serving as a firefighter.My driving force for many roles in my life has been that of duty. Throughout life’s challenges, commiserations and celebrations, I began to appreciate just how fragile life can be – and learnt the importance of physical health, a positive mindset, and unbreakable resilience.
My story, my life, my duty.
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£4.70DUTY
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The Sea-paddler’s Tale
Set in 1970, “The Sea-paddlers Tale” tells the true story of how, against all the odds and the accepted norms of the canoeing establishment, a young man gave up his job, built an Eskimo kayak and set out to fulfil a personal dream of making the first kayak circumnavigation of mainland Britain.Despite high level boat-handling skills, his early plans exposed a naivety concerning the numerous difficulties that required him to treat every day as an exercise in practical problem solving. Life-threatening battles with the sea were sometimes dwarfed by those on land in finding somewhere to sleep and eat on a minimalist budget.
There were moments of humour bordering the absurd, but more memorably, of extreme adventure and high drama, not least being robbed; spending a night astride a buoy and watching his kayak drift off on the tide. Time and again, when all seemed hopeless, he found people that were prepared to help him so that he was able to continue.
Anyone who has a taste for adventure, laced with grit, determination and resilience will find this a compulsive read.
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£2.80The Sea-paddler’s Tale
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David Bowie FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About Rock’s Finest Actor
David Bowie was one of the world’s most famous rock stars. But, as David Bowie FAQ shows, he was also far more than that. After spending the latter part of the 1960s searching for the best medium through which to express his artistic aspirations—and trying out several performing arts in the process—he experienced fleeting but significant success in music with the top-ten UK hit “Space Oddity,” released at the time of the successful Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.
Subsequently he achieved true international fame in the early 1970s through playing the role of the androgynous alien rock-star Ziggy Stardust. From here he went on to a career that spanned five decades, exploring numerous artistic disciplines, challenging societal mores and conventions, and building a platform of constant change and reinvention. Whereas most rock stars would find a winning formula and rigidly stick to it to avoid alienating their fans, David Bowie made stylistic variation his cornerstone—an entirely new and model for rock stardom.
But David Bowie was more than a rock star. Reflecting an approach to art that knew no boundaries, he also made his mark in movie acting, legitimate stage acting, and more. There was a unifying factor in all of the roles he played, regardless of medium, because even from childhood he’d felt himself to be an outsider, alienated and estranged. Bowie’s fans quickly recognized this quality in him, and it created a bond that went far beyond the usual star-fan relationship. Through David Bowie, fans found themselves able to accept their sense of difference as a positive thing rather than a negative one. David Bowie didn’t simply entertain people—he empowered them.
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Diana Dors
Diana Dors, born Diana Mary Fluck on 23rd October 1931, at Haven Nursing Home, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, UK was a feature film and television actress, TV personality and singer. Dors first became famous as a blonde bombshell in the style of Marilyn Monroe, promoted by her first husband, Dennis Hamilton, mainly via sex movie-comedies and risqué modelling.Read more
£16.90Diana Dors
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Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad: A Family Memoir of Miraculous Survival
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
‘Epic, moving and important’ ROBERT HARRIS
‘A modern classic’ OBSERVER
‘An unforgettable epic of a book’DAILY MAIL
From longstanding political columnist and commentator Daniel Finkelstein, a powerful memoir exploring both his mother and his father’s devastating experiences of persecution, resistance and survival during the Second World War.
Daniel’s mother Mirjam Wiener was the youngest of three daughters born in Germany to Alfred and Margarete Wiener. Alfred, a decorated hero from the Great War, is now widely acknowledged to have been the first person to recognise the existential danger Hitler posed to the Jews and began, in 1933, to catalogue in detail Nazi crimes. After moving his family to Amsterdam, he relocated his library to London and was preparing to bring over his wife and children when Germany invaded the Netherlands. Before long, the family was rounded up, robbed and sent to starve in Bergen-Belsen.
Daniel’s father Ludwik was born in Lwów, the only child of a prosperous Jewish family. In 1939, after Hitler and Stalin carved up Poland, Ludwik’s father was arrested and sentenced to hard labour in the Gulag. Meanwhile, deported to Siberia and working as a slave labourer on a collective farm, Ludwik survived the freezing winters in a tiny house he built from cow dung.
Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad is a deeply moving, personal and at times horrifying memoir about Finkelstein’s parents’ experiences at the hands of the two genocidal dictators of the twentieth century. It is a story of persecution; survival; and the consequences of totalitarianism told with the almost unimaginable bravery of two ordinary families shining through.
‘Danny Finkelstein has written an elegant, moving account of the history of one family, and in doing so shines light on the history of the 20th century. If you want to understand Hitler and Stalin, read this book about people whose lives were upended by both of them’ ANNE APPLEBAUM, author of Gulag: A History, winner of the Pulitzer Prize
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Alive Today: How Speaking Out Saved My Life and Helped Me Navigate My Mental Health Journey
In Alive Today: How Speaking Out Saved My Life and Helped Me Navigate My Mental Health Journey, author Naushad Qayyum takes readers on a deeply intimate journey through the profound challenges of grief, loss, and mental health struggles while emphasising the transformative power of open dialogue.
The book unfolds with the surreal and tragic events of the author’s wedding day, marked by the sudden collapse and death of his father. As the story evolves, readers witness the author’s emotional rollercoaster, navigating the aftermath of loss, divorce, and a contemplation of suicide, which ultimately leads to a diagnosis of complex PTSD. Through candid reflections, the book sheds light on the societal expectations placed on men, challenging stereotypes and advocating for the importance of mental health conversations.
At its heart, Alive Today is a poignant exploration of resilience, recovery, and the author’s determination to break the silence surrounding men’s mental health. Each chapter delves into different facets of the author’s journey, from the transformative impact of a father’s guidance to the depths of despair and eventual path to healing. The book is not only a personal account, but also a call to action, as the author takes proactive steps to address the lack of mental health support for men, particularly within the Arab and South Asian communities. A follow-up book that examines even more deeply this important topic is currently being planned and will appear in 2024.
With a focus on nature, routine, and holistic well-being, Alive Today offers insights into the ongoing process of recovery and the author’s commitment to raising awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. Alive Today is much more than a memoir; it is a heartfelt invitation for readers to confront their own struggles, seek help, and foster a community of understanding and empathy.
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Seeking Safety: A journey of moving forward
Sometimes you need to look back to move forward.
Join Ieva on her journey back through her tumultuous childhood into early adulthood, beginning in Latvia and traversing Scotland, Dubai, Lanzarote, the UK, and Italy. While her story is one of poverty, neglect, abuse, and unexpected tragedy, Ieva refuses to be defeated.
Arson, explosions, death threats, boarding school, foster care, drugs, narcissists— she endures them all, while searching for solace and the safety she never found in her parents. Instead, she finds resilience, crawling her way from one hardship to the next until eventually she learns to dance.
This inspiring true story will show you the power of the human spirit, as we all strive toward lives filled with love and self-discovery.
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A Royal Navy Cold War Buccaneer Pilot: Flying the Famous Maritime Strike Aircraft
This is a vivid and powerful story of life on board the last of our great Second World War-era aircraft carriers, modernized to serve beyond their time. It is a story of the Cold War which conveys the trials and tribulations of flying one of the best-loved military aircraft in history.Steve Kershaw joined the Royal Navy in 1963. He began flying training in 1968 and progressed to the Blackburn Buccaneer – a world-class naval strike jet that was designed to fly very fast at ultra-low altitudes. In 1970, Steve joined 800 Naval Air Squadron, which embarked on HMS Eagle on its epic final cruise.
The voyage to the Far East was far from trouble-free – an aircraft crashed into the sea, there was a devastating explosion on board the carrier, and then two sailors were arrested for murder in Auckland. New year 1972 saw HMS Eagle decommissioned and 800 NAS disbanded.
Steve was transferred to 845 Naval Air Squadron, on which he flew Wessex helicopters. Embarked on HMS Hermes, the squadron supported Royal Marines Commandos during their deployment to the mountains of Norway under NATO plans for a European war. During this time, helicopters were strangely sabotaged on board and one of them crashed into a fjord at night.
By 1974, HMS Ark Royal was the last remaining Royal Navy fixed-wing aircraft carrier to which Steve returned to fly Buccaneers on 809 Squadron. It was in this period that he participated in a NATO exercise in Norway and a Mediterranean cruise.
On return, the squadron prepared for a bombing competition between the RAF and Royal Navy Buccaneers. As part of this, Steve flew a low-level sortie off the Lincolnshire coast. The light was fading, and he was struggling to see the target ahead. He failed to see they were losing height. The aircraft hit the sea. Steve and his observer, David, were ejected into the water.
In this book, Steve’s story is revealed by his son, Simon, through the words of his father, drawn from a mass of letters sent by him, and the recollections of those who served alongside him.
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The Murderer and the Taoiseach: Death, Politics and GUBU – Revisiting the Notorious Malcolm Macarthur Case
A Murderer. A Leader. The Scandal of an Era.
‘Reads like a thriller but is sadly all too true … a brilliant account of shocking crimes and the dramatic political crisis they caused’ David McCullagh
The summer of 1982 was long-seared into the Irish public imagination for more than just its record high temperatures. That July, an aristocrat named Malcolm Macarthur went on a brutal killing spree, taking the lives of two innocent young people – Bridie Gargan and Dónal Dunne – in a doomed plan to remedy his financial woes.
A massive manhunt was launched and, in a sensational turn of events, Macarthur was captured in the home of the State’s top law officer, Attorney General Patrick Connolly.
The scandal attracted worldwide headlines and resulted in untold damage to Taoiseach Charles Haughey. The words he used to describe the dark events – grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented – coined the era-defining phrase GUBU.
Here, award-winning political journalist and GUBU podcast-maker Harry McGee retraces the happenings of that long hot summer and beyond. From the cat-and-mouse game to track down an unpredictable killer to Macarthur’s extraordinary capture, he considers both the life and psyche of a murderer, and that of the leading political figure of the time – a man similarly driven by greed, status and a sense of himself as existing above the law.
Including previously unknown aspects of the trial and interaction with Malcolm Macarthur himself, The Murderer and the Taoiseach is a compulsive journey through tragedy and scandal.
‘Brisk, illuminating, crackling with detail’ Tony Connelly
‘An incredible and compelling story’ Matt Cooper
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My Effin’ Life
“As someone who has spent his life telling made-up stories that are obliged to sound somewhat plausible, I am deeply envious of Geddy Lee. And it’s not only the improbable, absurd, wondrous and at times heartbreaking true story that life has gifted him that envy, but also the warmth, care, artfulness, hard-earned wisdom and—always—the gently skewed humor with which he tells it. He’s one of my musical heroes, for reasons that are there on record, but with this book everyone can see why for so long he has also been one of my heroes as a man.”—Michael Chabon
The long-awaited memoir, generously illustrated with never-before-seen photos, from the iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rush bassist, and bestselling author of Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass.
Geddy Lee is one of rock and roll’s most respected bassists. For nearly five decades, his playing and work as co-writer, vocalist and keyboardist has been an essential part of the success story of Canadian progressive rock trio Rush. Here for the first time is his account of life inside and outside the band.
Long before Rush accumulated more consecutive gold and platinum records than any rock band after the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, before the seven Grammy nominations or the countless electrifying live performances across the globe, Geddy Lee was Gershon Eliezer Weinrib, after his grandfather was murdered in the Holocaust.
As he recounts the transformation, Lee looks back on his family, in particular his loving parents and their horrific experiences as teenagers during World War II.
He talks candidly about his childhood and the pursuit of music that led him to drop out of high school.
He tracks the history of Rush which, after early struggles, exploded into one of the most beloved bands of all time.
He shares intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart—deeply mourning Peart’s recent passing—and reveals his obsessions in music and beyond.
This rich brew of honesty, humor, and loss makes for a uniquely poignant memoir.
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£17.10My Effin’ Life
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Poor: Grit, courage, and the life-changing value of self-belief
The No. 1 Bestseller
‘One of the best [books] I have read about the complexities of poverty . . . one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet’ Guardian
As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O’Sullivan making anything of her life. When she became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless, what followed were five years of barely coping.
This is the extraordinary story – moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling – of how Katriona turned her life around. How the seeds of self-belief planted by teachers in childhood stayed with her. How she found mentors whose encouragement revitalised those seeds in adulthood, leading her to become an award-winning academic whose work challenges barriers to education.
Poor is not only Katriona’s story, but is also her impassioned argument for the importance of looking out for our kids’ futures. Of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities.
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‘Full of insight into a live lived right up against the boundaries placed on it by poverty … so important … we’d highly recommend’ – Fi Glover, Times Radio
‘I read poor in one sitting … I found it so complelling. An amazing story … moving, uplifting, brave, heroic’ – Nuala McGovern, Woman’s Hour, BBC
‘Moving, funny, brave and original – just like the author … absolutely incredible’ – Roísín Ingle, Irish Times Women’s Podcast
‘One of the most important books I have ever read … a beautiful telling of determination despite the odds’ – Lynn Ruane, Irish Times
‘Fearless, funny and searingly honest’ – Adil Ray OBE
‘Raw and remarkable’ – Irish Independent
‘A book of empowerment and hope’ – Patricia Scanlan
‘An important contribution to our understanding of poverty and its impact’ – Sinéad Gibney, Business Post
‘An incredible read’ – Business Post
‘Phenomenal’ – Louise O’Neill
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Wicked Beyond Belief: The True Crime Story Behind the Hit New TV Show
Now a major TV series
‘A masterpiece that reads like a thriller’ Time Out
A gripping and probing account of the biggest criminal manhunt in British history.
It is over 40 years since Peter Sutcliffe was convicted of murdering 13 women and attacking 7 more. Still, he remains a killer of almost mythical proportions; his surviving victims, and their families, forever attached to his infamy.
Michael Bilton’s acclaimed account is a powerful indictment of the calamitous investigation that logged over 2 million man-hours of police work – the biggest criminal manhunt in British history. With exclusive access to the detectives involved, the pathologist’s archives and declassified documents, this account reads like the most gripping of thrillers.
Note that it has not been possible to include the same picture content that appeared in the original print version.
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The Tourist: What happens on tour stays on tour … until now!
What Goes on Tour, Stays on Tour…Until Now!
As a cricketer, broadcaster and celebrity jungle-dweller, Phil Tufnell has travelled the world far and wide. From the great cricket tours of Australia and South Africa to his equally memorable jaunts to Benidorm and Blackpool, Phil has spent much of his life living out of a suitcase, meeting a host of colourful and memorable characters along the way.
The Tourist takes you out on the road, into the dressing room and behind the scenes of the commentary box to reveal just what really happens on Tour. Did Phil once push a baby grand piano down the stairs of a plush hotel? Did he accidentally eat a rat? Was he blamed for England being bowled out for 46 against the West Indies without even being in the team?
There’s only one way to find out…
It’s time to take a hilarious trip across the world with one of our most treasured sports personalities.
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I’m no Shakespeare: Walking the South West Coast Path
The unlikely but perfectly true story of how a nosey menopausal linguist threw away her pills, pulled on a backpack, and accidentally wrote a best seller.“It’s beautiful. Touching, honest, heartfelt and zigzags effortlessly from poignancy, reflection to humour in a sentence.”
“Really lively writing … brilliant stuff … love the characters coming to life and your wry sense of humour!”
For 630 miles she walked, with her life on her back, her heart on her sleeve, and a wickedly sharpened pencil behind her ear.
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Kammy: The Funny and Moving Autobiography by the Broadcasting Legend
Foreword by Ben Shephard
‘Everyone loves Kammy . . . Full of humour and endless blunders’ – The Times
‘What a man, what a life, what a story, and what a great read’ – Paddy McGuinnessPresenter, commentator, (sometimes masked) singer, footballer, manager and campaigner, Kammy has done it all. His irrepressible enthusiasm – and a couple of legendary gaffes on Sky Sports – have seen him become broadcasting royalty.
Now Kammy reveals all in this funny and moving autobiography. What happens when you double cross José Mourinho? What it’s like to play with Vinnie Jones? Who comes off better: Kammy or a rampaging gorilla? How did Kammy end up releasing his own top-ten record? What’s the real story behind his infamous line, ‘I don’t know, Jeff!’?
But despite the crazy tales, it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Kammy had a tough upbringing, faced racism during his playing career and has, in recent years, dealt with a rare brain condition – apraxia – that has affected his speech and seen him say goodbye to Sky Sports. Relating his battle against the condition, Kammy shows how he’s met every challenge with courage, determination and his infectious smile.
Packed with hilarious stories and featuring a cast of famous names, from Elton John to Channing Tatum, this is a book about friendship, courage and why it’s always important to have a good laugh.
‘A talented (and daft) lad from the Boro who has entertained the nation for decades, on and off the pitch. So get the tissues ready – this book will make you laugh and cry in equal measure’ – Steph McGovern
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Hurry up Nurse: Memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s
The nursing profession called to her from a young age. But to make it in this business, she’ll have to grow up fast.Leicester, 1977. Dawn Brookes was excited to trade in her job for a career. While her family worried the hard-partying girl was too immature to take it seriously, the teen eagerly launched into her training as a nurse. But nothing prepared her for the stressful chaos of working in high-stakes hospital wards.
As sickness, death, and struggle became part of her daily routine, the inexperienced woman labored to keep it all together. And each day turned into a challenge to push forward with the relentless admissions of those in need of care.
In this raw and frequently hilarious account of nursing in the 1970s, Dawn Brookes gives a brilliant insight into a beautiful and poignant world. And from changing bedpans to taking orders from razor-sharp sisters who dominated her work, she pulls back the curtain on the sweetest and ugliest sides of this often overlooked role.
Hurry Up Nurse is a touching and humorous memoir. If you like honest accounts, zany situations, and seemingly insurmountable odds, then you’ll love Dawn Brookes’s compassionate memoir.
Revised second edition.
Buy Hurry Up Nurse to don the scrubs today!
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Mr Keynes’ Dance: The compelling historical novel about a remarkable marriage and an intellectual journey
The sequel to the much-praised Mr Keynes’ Revolution.The story of one man’s intellectual journey, and of a very remarkable marriage.
1926. Maynard Keynes has long been a thorn in the side of the British Establishment: an irritant to the Treasury, the Bank of England and his fellow academics alike. Rejected for his radical ideas, he has made an unlikely marriage to a Russian ballerina, her eccentricity charming him almost as much as it infuriates his highbrow Bloomsbury friends. But as the world around them changes, Maynard and Lydia cannot stay cocooned in their private refuge for long.
While Maynard frets about the ever-growing dole queues, and plans his route to power by way of the magnetic Lloyd George, Lydia is tormented by the thought of her family in Leningrad. Exiled by the Russian Revolution, she has found fame and fortune as the star dancer of Diaghilev’s celebrated Ballets Russes. Yet however demanding the role of stage celebrity, it is less challenging than that of the supposedly respectable and fortunate Mrs Keynes: the scrutiny of a crowded theatre less intense than from those convinced her marriage is heading for disaster.
In truth for Lydia and Maynard, marriage was always a gamble, and their life a dance where nobody is quite sure of the steps.
Then comes the Wall Street Crash, followed by a depression the likes of which the world has never seen. A society barely recovered from the Great War seems dangerously close to collapse. In the turmoil of the 1930s, the intellectual Maynard finds that answers must be sought in the most unlikely places.
The story of the man who invented modern economics.
In tumultuous times, it is not enough to hope for calmer waters.
Set during some of the most momentous years of the twentieth century, this novel explores the lives of two figures at the heart of those economic and cultural upheavals: John Maynard Keynes, considered by many as the most important economist of all time, and one of Time Magazine’s most significant people of the twentieth century, and the celebrated and eccentric Russian ballerina, Lydia Lopokova. Beginning in the “roaring twenties”, with ever-growing unemployment queues and a General Strike that pitches the whole labouring class against the governing elite, their journey takes them from the heart of the Bohemian Bloomsbury Group in Sussex, to Leningrad in Soviet Russia, to New York in the grip of the Great Depression, to the quiet colleges courts of Cambridge. The supporting cast ranges from a Welsh kitchen maid to pioneering socialist Beatrice Webb, fascist leader Oswald Mosley, politician Winston Churchill and writer Virginia Woolf.
A sequel to Mr Keynes’ Revolution, which was much praised for the depth of its research, and the way it deftly interwove economic ideas and history into a story of personal relationships and romance, Mr Keynes’ Dance is another intellectually daring and page-turning historical novel, which continues the tumultuous and surprising story of Maynard and Lydia.
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SAS: Sea King Down
The thrilling, edge-of-your-seat true story of one soldier’s Special Forces operations in the Falklands War
‘BRILLIANT. A ROLLERCOASTER OF BLISTERING ACTION, SURVIVAL AND BEHIND-THE-LINES DARING’ DAMIEN LEWIS
________THE BIGGEST SINGLE LOSS OF LIFE FOR THE SAS SINCE WORLD WAR TWO . . .
1982, the British task force sails to liberate the Falkland Islands. Aboard: SAS D Squadron, determined to make their mark.
No one more so than Mark ‘Splash’ Aston.
But they have barely seen action when their Sea King helicopter crashes in freezing South Atlantic waters, killing 22 of Mark’s comrades.
The last out of the sinking wreck, he suffers a broken neck. But defying medical evacuation orders, Mark sneaks off ship, re-joins his SAS comrades to land on a mountain near Port Stanley – to defend it against days of attacks by Argentine special forces . . .
SAS Sea King Down is a pulse-pounding account of D-Squadron’s tragic loss and subsequent heroic stand in one of the most hostile places on Earth.
A story told by a man who barely survived to tell it.
________‘A gripping untold story of heroism, hardship and sacrifice within the SAS’ BEAR GRYLLS
‘Gripping, fast moving and completely authentic. A brilliant piece of work. Better than Bravo Two Zero’ – Mike Rose, former Commanding Officer of the SAS
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£5.70SAS: Sea King Down
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Not in the Best of Health: The forthright and entertaining memoirs of an NHS paediatrician
The NHS is facing the greatest crisis since its inception in 1948. One of the UK’s most beloved institutions has been brought to its knees through underfunding, bad management and political meddling. Morale has slumped so low in 2022 that more than half of advertised consultant physician posts in England and Wales are unfilled. Nurses are leaving the profession in droves, and those who remain have voted for a nationwide strike. Piling on the misery, reports by Donna Ockenden and General Sir Gordon Messenger expose alarming flaws in healthcare.How did it come to this? Not in the Best of Health describes a medical career stretching from that of a fledgling student, to that of a worn out and disillusioned senior consultant paediatrician. In Charles Godden’s sharply observed memoir, stories of sick children and those who treated them are described with candour, humour and insight gained over three decades working in hospitals stretching from Papua New Guinea to the UK.
If you want to know why the NHS is failing, and what might be done to save this most treasured institution, read this book.
EARLY REVIEWS
‘Not in the Best of Health will entertain and shock. This is an outstanding medical narrative from Godden who records a life in paediatrics and pulls no punches documenting his experiences of clinical medicine and the frustrations of NHS administration. His integrity and experience shine throughout with equal amounts of humour and poignancy.
His clinical scenarios are elegantly described such that lay readers will completely understand. This book should be read by anyone with even a passing interest in medical literature or with aspirations to work with children in the medical sphere.’ – Professor Neil Wilson MB BS DCH FRCPCH FSCAI‘Spanning three decades of reorganisation, over-management, declining consultant autonomy and sleepless nights this inimitable memoir shines a sharp light on our parlous NHS. Patient focussed and moving, funny but serious,
it is a must read.’ – Professor of primary care (general practice) Anthony Harnden‘WARNING! This is an honest reflection written with great humour and enviable humility of a career in medicine. Toe curling in places, totally relatable, and an essential read for those in, around, or interested in healthcare.’ – Dr Craig Marshall, Intensive Care Medicine Registrar
‘Whilst maintaining his effortless wit, Charles presents an honest account into the occasional highs and tragic lows of an NHS paediatrician. I really enjoyed the read and it certainly highlights the struggles I have ahead of me!’ – Robbie Hill, a first year medical student
‘I rarely read medical books for recreation – too much of a busman’s holiday. However, perhaps because we both qualified in 1983 and are both paediatricians, I found many of Charles Godden’s recollections from the front line resonated with me. His views are sometimes provocative and some readers may differ with his forthright opinions but many of the personal tragedies and uplifting successes ring very true.’ – Professor Sir Terence Stephenson, DM, FRCPCH, FRCP, Past chair of GMC and past president Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
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Robert My Father: A Personal Biography of Robert Morley
‘If Robert had a mission, it was to emphasise that life was meant to be fun; he was one of the few men I knew who strode through life instead of circumnavigating it. He died without ever growing old.’ Michael Parkinson
‘Comic genius’ was the uncontested verdict of the International Herald Tribune. But Robert Morley was bigger even than that. While he is remembered for landmark performances such as the first portrayal of Oscar Wilde on stage and screen, and for many more as the epitome of the crusty but lovable English gentleman, Robert Morley is equally remembered for perhaps his finest role: playing himself. Through books, plays and countless radio and television performances, Robert Morley spread his own unique brand of irresistible humour and joie de vivre, generally resembling, to quote one memorable description, ‘an indignant elephant’. In this wonderfully entertaining account of a remarkable life, Sheridan Morley reveals the true Robert Morley – actor, playwright, bon viveur, and, not least, father.
‘Warm yet unsentimental … a first-rate portrait of a true original and star’ Evening Standard
‘Affectionate and moving, packed with anecdotes. Above all it is fun’ Sunday Express
‘Charming and affectionate … What his son’s biography sets out to do, and succeeds in admirably, is to celebrate the joyful pleasure that old-fashioned performers took in their art’ Times Literary Supplement
‘Hugely entertaining, and bulges with very good stories’ Mail on Sunday
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A Funny Life: The Sunday Times Bestseller
The Sunday Times top 10 bestseller.
Laugh along with Michael McIntyre as he lifts the curtain on his life in his revealing autobiography.
Michael’s first book ended with his big break at the 2006 Royal Variety Performance. Waking up the next morning in the tiny rented flat he shared with his wife Kitty and their one-year-old son, he was beyond excited about the new glamorous world of show business. Unfortunately, he was also clueless . . .
In A Funny Life, Michael honestly and hilariously shares the highs and the lows of his rise to the top and desperate attempts to stay there. It’s all here, from his disastrous panel show appearances to his hit TV shows, from mistakenly thinking he’d be a good chat show host and talent judge, to finding fame and fortune beyond his wildest dreams and becoming the biggest-selling comedian in the world. Along the way he opens his man drawer, narrowly avoids disaster when his trousers fall down in front of three policemen and learns the hard way why he should always listen to his wife.
Michael has had a silly life, a stressful life, sometimes a moving and touching life, but always A Funny Life.
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Listen: A powerful new book about life, death, relationships, mental health and how to talk about what matters – from the Sunday Times bestselling author … to Find the Words…
‘Powerful, humane and wise’ JULIA SAMUEL
‘Everyone should read it’ NIGELLA LAWSON
‘Beautiful … This is a book for everyone. You feel held by it’ PHILIPPA PERRY
Most of us have a conversation we’re avoiding.
From the bestselling author of With the End in Mind, this is a book about the conversations that matter and how to have them better – more honestly, more confidently and without regret.
A child coming out to their parent. A family losing someone to terminal illness. A friend noticing the first signs of someone’s dementia. A careers advisor and a teenager with radically different perspectives.
There are moments when we must talk, listen and be there for one another. Why do we so often come away from those times feeling like we could have done more, or should have been braver in the face of discomfort? Why do we skirt the conversations that might matter most?
By bringing together stories with a lifetime’s experience working in medicine and the newest psychology, Mannix offers lessons for how we can better speak our mind and help when others need to.
Kathryn Mannix’s ‘With the End in Mind’ was a Sunday Times bestseller the weeks ending 6 January 2018, 13 January 2018 and 3 February 2018.
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Agatha Christie: The Sunday Times Bestseller
‘A smart and highly entertaining portrait of a literary powerhouse’
– THE TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR‘A riveting portrait’
– GUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEAR***
‘Worsley’s sparkling biography brings a fresh eye to Christie’s life and work, firmly busting the myth that she, or her novels, were cosy.’ Daily Mail‘Every Christie fan should read this’ – The Times
‘Shows the Queen of Crime in a new light.’ – Daily Telegraph
‘Worsley’s book excels in bringing a broader historical perspective to Christie’s life and work, and her enthusiasm is infectious.’ – Observer
‘Nobody in the world was more inadequate to act the heroine than I was.’
Why did Agatha Christie spend her career pretending that she was ‘just’ an ordinary housewife, when clearly she wasn’t? As Lucy Worsley says, ‘She was thrillingly, scintillatingly modern’. She went surfing in Hawaii, she loved fast cars, and she was intrigued by the new science of psychology, which helped her through devastating mental illness.
So why – despite all the evidence to the contrary – did Agatha present herself as a retiring Edwardian lady of leisure?
She was born in 1890 into a world which had its own rules about what women could and couldn’t do. Lucy Worsley’s biography is not just of an internationally renowned bestselling writer. It’s also the story of a person who, despite the obstacles of class and gender, became an astonishingly successful working woman.With access to personal letters and papers that have rarely been seen, Lucy Worsley’s biography is both authoritative and entertaining and makes us realise what an extraordinary pioneer Agatha Christie was – truly a woman who wrote the twentieth century.
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Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER
This Christmas let Dame Judi Dench take you behind the scenes as she shares her life with, and love of Shakespeare.
‘A MAGICAL LOVE LETTER TO SHAKESPEARE’ Sir Kenneth Branagh
‘Companionable and compelling – it genuinely feels like you’re sitting at her kitchen table with her. If you love Judi Dench or Shakespeare (and most of us do), look no further’ Guardian
‘It swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief’ Daily Mail
‘Gloriously entertaining’ ObserverTaking a curtain call with a live snake in her wig…
Cavorting naked through the countryside painted green…
Acting opposite a child with a pumpkin on his head…
These are just a few of the things Dame Judi Dench has done in the name of Shakespeare.
For the very first time, Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra.
Here she reveals her behind the scenes secrets; inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour and striking honesty.
Witty, provocative and inspiring, this is ultimately Judi’s love letter to Shakespeare, or rather, The Man Who Pays The Rent.‘An utterly delightful book… Shakespeare from a great actor’s perspective – that repeatedly strikes to the heart of the matter with a sharp instinctive intelligence that puts fancy-pants literary critics to shame’ Telegraph
‘A wonderful ode to the bard’ I
‘The book is pure enchantment. It swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief, so forget traditional Shakespearean criticism and analysis. Sack the Eng. Lit. professors. As never before, this book brings the subject to wild, authentic life.’ Daily Mail‘Riveting, revealing and witty’ Gazette and Herald
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Seventy Times Seven: A True Story of Murder and Mercy
A masterful, revelatory work of literary non-fiction about a teenage girl’s shocking crime — and its extraordinary aftermath.
‘An absorbing work of social history and a story about the mystery and miracle of forgiveness…it deserves to be read with attention.’ Hilary Mantel,Booker Prize–winning author of the Wolf Hall trilogy
On a spring afternoon in 1985 in Gary, Indiana, a fifteen-year-old black girl kills a white elderly bible teacher in a violent home invasion. In a city with a history of racial tension the press swoops in.
When Paula is sentenced to death, no one decries the impending execution of a tenth grader. But the tide begins to shift when the victim’s grandson Bill forgives the girl, against the wishes of his family, and campaigns to spare her life. This tragedy in a midwestern steel town soon reverberates across the United States and around the world — reaching as far away as the Vatican — as newspapers cover the story on their front pages and millions sign petitions in support of Paula.
As Paula waits on death row, her fate sparks a debate that not only animates legal circles but raises vital questions about the value of human life. This story asks us to consider the nature of justice, and what radical acts of empathy we might be capable of.
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Tumult in the Clouds: Original Edition (Penguin World War II Collection)
The classic memoir by one of America’s greatest fighting aces: James Goodson
Anglo-American James Goodson’s war began on Sept 3rd 1939, when the SS Athenia was torpedoed and sank off the Hebrides. Surviving the sinking and distinguishing himself rescuing survivors, Goodson immediately signed on with the RAF. He was an American, but he wanted to fight.
Goodson flew Spitfires for the RAF before later joining his countrymen with the Fourth Fighter Group to get behind the controls of Thunderbolts and Mustangs where he became known as ‘King of the Strafers’.
Chock full of breathtaking descriptions of aerial dogfights as well as the stories of others of the heroic ‘few’, Tumult in the Clouds is the ultimate story of War in the air, told by the one of the Second World War’s outstanding fighter pilots.
Praise for Tumult in the Clouds:
‘A classic . . . Tumult in the Clouds will continue to be read for many many years to come. It is an inspiring book’ Len Deighton
‘An utterly compelling and intensely personal account of war in all its horror and excitement. A thrilling adventure story and an enthralling, compassionate witness to incredible heroism. I was gripped’ John Nichol
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Behind the Sequins: My Life
Leave it all on the floor…
Queen of Latin Ballroom, Shirley Ballas has a spectacular dance career spanning over 40 years – she has Cha-Cha’d her way across the world’s dance floors to become a multi-award-winning ballroom champion and one of the most renowned dancers in the world. In 1996, Shirley retired from competitive dancing to become a highly-acclaimed coach and now holds the enviable position of Head Judge on BBC One’s prime time show Strictly Come Dancing.
In Behind the Sequins, she leads us through her dramatic and determined life, from growing up in a rough estate on the Wirral and leaving home at 14 years old, to conquering the high-octane world of ballroom and coping with betrayal, bullying, two broken marriages and a personal tragedy that left Shirley and her family devastated.
Speaking from the heart, Shirley leaves her dancing shoes at the door to tell you the story of a fiery, strong-willed grafter who could make the brat pack blush.
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Once Upon A Tyne: The hilarious and heart-warming Sunday Times bestseller
Complete with Christmassy gold cover, this is the perfect uplifting gift for Ant and Dec fans. (P.S. it’s a little known fact that you can give gifts to yourself, too. Go on, treat yourself!)
Told through the lens of every TV show Ant and Dec have made, this is the riotously funny journey of two ordinary lads from Newcastle who have gone on to achieve extraordinary things.
From their modest beginnings in Byker Grove through to their “unique” time as pop stars and an award-laden TV career, Ant and Dec are surely the most loveable double act on our small screens. With more laugh out loud moments than you can count, ONCE UPON A TYNE includes behind-the-scenes stories about their first scriptwriter (an unknown comedian called David Walliams), Saturday night fun and games with countless Hollywood A-listers, and celebrities they torture – sorry, work with – every year in the jungle.
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Disney’s British Gentleman: The Life and Career of David Tomlinson
‘A wonderful account of a life filled with far more ups and downs than its subject’s languid demeanour ever suggested.’
Miles Jupp.
Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you’d recognise David Tomlinson’s face – genial and continually perplexed, he was Mr Banks in Mary Poppins, Professor Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug. To many, he’s the epitome of post-war British comedy.
But at times his life was more tragedy than comedy. A distinguished RAF pilot in the Second World War, his first marriage was to end in horrific tragedy and his next romance ended with his lover marrying the founder of the American Nazi Party. He did find love and security in his second marriage, but drama still played its part in his life – from the uncovering of an earthshattering family secret to the fight for an autism diagnosis for his son, up against the titans of the British medical establishment.
Tomlinson may have died over twenty years ago, but his star continues to shine. In Disney’s British Gentleman, Nathan Morley reveals the remarkable story of one of Disney’s most beloved icons for the very first time.
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One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up: A Memoir of Growing Up and Getting On
The Sunday Times bestseller
***
‘[A] compelling story of overcoming adversity… Unexpectedly fascinating… amazingly inspiriting…’ — The Observer
‘…the vitality of the book lies in its directness and conversational candour… An engaging memoir’ — The Sunday Times
‘Extraordinary’ — Evening Standard
‘Funny, honest and at times heart-breaking – a terrific read.’ — Lorraine Kelly
‘For a politician to have such an extraordinary story to tell is rare. For that politician to be able to tell it with such eloquence and benevolence is rarer still. This book is a triumph.’ — Alan Johnson
‘This riveting tale of social aspiration leads us from the East End to Westminster in detailed honesty.’ — Ian McKellen
‘A moving and inspiring hymn to the ups and downs of life – to love, to adversity and above all courage.’ —Michael Cashman
‘Compulsive reading: Wes’s story is inspiring, surprising and full of compassion.’ — Jess Phillips
‘A remarkable and enchanting book.’ — The House
‘One of the most extraordinary memoirs that I have read.’ — Lewis Goodall, The News Agents
‘Searingly honest… a really inspirational book.’ — Iain Dale
Wes Streeting might have ended up in prison rather than in parliament. His maternal grandfather Bill, an unsuccessful armed robber, spent time behind bars, as did his grandmother, who was also a political campaigner.
Brought up on a Stepney council estate, the young Streeting saw his teenage parents struggle to provide for him. In One Boy, Two Bills & A Fry Up he brings to life the poverty, humiliation and incredible struggle for them choosing whether to feed the meter and heat the flat, put carpet on the floor, or food on the table.
Wes Streeting knows it was the help and inspiration he received from the great characters that surrounded him, especially his paternal grandfather (also called Bill), that ultimately set him on the way to Cambridge and then Parliament. He knew he could draw on the strengths in childhood to eventually come out, and to go on and face his now successful struggle with kidney cancer.
This honest, uplifting, affectionate memoir is a tribute to the love and support which set him on his way out of poverty, and informs everything about Wes Streeting’s mission now in politics.
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One Life: The True Story of Sir Nicholas Winton
The book that inspired major motion picture ONE LIFE, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins and Helena Bonham Carter.
‘Remarkable’ – Guardian
Sir Nicholas Winton rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia at the brink of World War II. Most never saw their parents again; nearly all left behind were murdered. This is his story.
In 1938, 29-year-old ‘Nicky’ cancelled a ski holiday and instead spent nine months masterminding a seemingly impossible plan to rescue hundreds of Jewish children and find them homes in the UK. Over 6,000 people are alive today because of his efforts.
What motivated an ordinary man to do something so extraordinary? This book, written by his daughter, Barbara, explores the 106-year life of an incredible humanitarian, a man whose legacy only came to public light decades later.
His life story is a clarion call to choose action over apathy in the face of injustice, and a reminder that every one of us can change the world.
‘If something is not impossible, then there must be a way to do it.’
‘Those of us who came on a Kindertransport from Prague and owe our lives to Nicky will be so grateful to Barbara for writing something so special’ – Lord Alf Dubs, ex-Labour minister and ‘rescued child’
[This book was first published in 2014 as If It’s Not Impossible… The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton]
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Shark Infested Waters: Tales Of An Actors’ Agent
Michael Whitehall contrasts the glamorous image of theatrical life with the mundane realities of the business, while passing on some startling trade secrets along the way.
A laconic raconteur of refreshingly unstar-struck theatrical anecdotes, Whitehall deftly sketches the social comedy of his eccentric background: growing up in suburban London in the 1950s, his schooldays at Ampleforth and his subsequent adventures as a prep schoolmaster – worthy of Evelyn Waugh himself – before becoming an actors’ agent.
Shark-Infested Waters is a charming, funny and piquant view of a world that continues to fascinate.
Praise for Shark Infested Waters:
“The funniest show-business memoir I’ve read since David Niven’s The Moon’s a Balloon.” – Nigel Havers
“One of the year’s funniest memoirs.” – Daily Express
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Crusade in Europe: A Personal Account of World War II
A classic of World War II literature, an incredibly revealing work that provides a near comprehensive account of the war and brings to life the legendary general and eventual president of the United States. • “Gives the reader true insight into the most difficult part of a commander’s life.” —The New York TimesFive-star General Dwight D. Eisenhower was arguably the single most important military figure of World War II. Crusade in Europe tells the complete story of the war as he planned and executed it. Through Eisenhower’s eyes the enormous scope and drama of the war–strategy, battles, moments of great decision–become fully illuminated in all their fateful glory. Penned before his Presidency, this account is deeply human and helped propel him to the highest office. His personal record of the tense first hours after he had issued the order to attack leaves no doubt of his travails and reveals how this great leader handled the ultimate pressure. For historians, his memoir of this world historic period has become an indispensable record of the war and timeless classic.
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Band-Aid for a Broken Leg: Being a doctor with no borders (and other ways to stay single)
Damien Brown thinks he’s ready when he arrives for his first posting with Medecins Sans Frontieres in Africa. But the town he’s sent to is an isolated outpost of mud huts, surrounded by landmines; the hospital, for which he’s to be the only doctor, is filled with malnourished children and conditions he’s never seen; and the health workers – Angolan war veterans twice his age who speak no English – walk out on him following an altercation on his first shift.
In the months that follow, Damien confronts these challenges all the while dealing with the social absurdities of living with only three other volunteers for company. The medical calamities pile up – leopard attacks, landmine explosions, performing surgery using tools cleaned on the fire – but as Damien’s friendships with the local people evolve, his passion for the work grows.
Written with great warmth and empathy, Band-Aid for a Broken Leg is a compassionate, deeply honest and often humorous account of life on the medical frontline in Angola, Mozambique and South Sudan. It is also a moving testimony to the work done by medical humanitarian groups and the remarkable, often eccentric people who work for them.Read more
£4.79
