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The Lore of Scotland: A guide to Scottish legends
by Sophia Kingshill Jennifer Beatrice WestwoodScotland's rich past and varied landscape have inspired an extraordinary array of legends and beliefs, and in The Lore of Scotland Jennifer Westwood and Sophia Kingshill bring together many of the finest and most intriguing: stories of heroes and bloody feuds, tales of giants, fairies, and witches, and accounts of local customs and traditions. Their range extends right across the country, from the Borders with their haunting ballads, via Glasgow, site of St Mungo's miracles, to the fateful battlefield of Culloden, and finally to the Shetlands, home of the seal-people. More than simply retelling these stories, The Lore of Scotland explores their origins, showing how and when they arose and investigating what basis - if any - they have in historical fact. In the process, it uncovers the events that inspired Shakespeare's Macbeth, probes the claim that Mary King's Close is the most haunted street in Edinburgh, and examines the surprising truth behind the fame of the MacCrimmons, Skye's unsurpassed bagpipers. Moreover, it reveals how generations of Picts, Vikings, Celtic saints and Presbyterian reformers shaped the myriad tales that still circulate, and, from across the country, it gathers together legends of such renowned figures as Sir William Wallace, St Columba, and the great warrior Fingal. The result is a thrilling journey through Scotland's legendary past and an endlessly fascinating account of the traditions and beliefs that play such an important role in its heritage.
London: A Travel Guide Through Time
by Dr Matthew GreenStep back in time and discover the sights, sounds and smells of London through the ages in this enthralling journey into the capital's rich, teeming and occasionally hazardous past.Let time traveller Dr Matthew Green be your guide to six extraordinary periods in London's history - the ages of Shakespeare, medieval city life, plague, coffee houses, the reign of Victoria and the Blitz.We'll turn back the clock to the time of Shakespeare and visit a savage bull and bear baiting arena on the Bankside. In medieval London, we'll circle the walls as the city lies barricaded under curfew, while spinning further forward in time we'll inhale the 'holy herb' in an early tobacco house, before peering into an open plague pit. In the 18th century, we'll navigate the streets in style with a ride on a sedan chair, and when we land in Victorian London, we'll take a tour of freak-show booths and meet the Elephant Man.You'll meet pornographers and traitors, actors and apothecaries, the mad, bad and dangerous to know, all desperate to show you the thrilling and vibrant history of the world's liveliest city.
Lord Wraxall's Fancy
by Anna Lieff SaxbyAn erotic 18th Century-set romp.The year is 1720 and Lady Celine Fortescue is summoned by her father, Sir James, to join him on St Cecilia, the turbulent tropical island which he governs. But the girl who steps off the boat into the languid, intoxicating heat isn't the same girl who was content to stay at needle work in a dull Surrey mansion. On a moonlit light, perfumed with the scent of night blooming flowers, Celine liaises with Liam O'Brian, one of the ship's officers to whom she became secretly betrothed on the long sea voyage. Their plans are thwarted , however, by her father and at the hands of Lord Odo Wraxall, a debauched rake with a penchant for nubile girls. Celine is thrown into confusion by Wraxall, whose arrogance and cruelty betray his preference for darker pleasures.Exotic and opulent, this story of indulgent luxury is stimulation for the senses and not without a wicked streak of humour.
Life and Otter Miracles: The perfect feel-good book from the #1 bestselling author of Away with the Penguins
by Hazel PriorFrom the bestselling author of Richard & Judy's pick Away with the Penguins comes this 'otterly' delightful, heart-warming and feel-good story about the healing power of nature.'A lovely holiday read . . . Packed full of humanity and otters!' Sally Page, bestselling author of The Keeper of Stories'This book was just amazing. It made me laugh and cry!' *****'There is so much to love and treasure in this story' *****'This book was a delight from start to finish!' *****'Glorious dose of otter cuteness' *****You loved Veronica McCreedy. Now meet Phoebe Featherstone . . ._____Down by the river, Phoebe Featherstone is about to make a life-changing discovery . . .Clever, nosy Phoebe is unable to get out much, but she has a talent for uncovering her neighbours' secrets by examining the parcels delivered by her courier father, Al.When they discover an abandoned baby otter on the riverbank, Phoebe must step out of her comfort zone - and she experiences an unexpected sense of happiness that she has not felt in a very long time. But now, further secrets are coming to light.Phoebe soon realizes that something is amiss at the local otter sanctuary. She will need to overcome her own closely guarded issues and put all her sleuthing skills to good use if she wants to save the otters . . . and in the process, change her life for ever._____Praise for Hazel Prior:'A lovely holiday read . . . Packed full of humanity and otters!' Sally Page'Beautifully written by a born storyteller' Lorraine Kelly'Uplifting, heartwarming and wonderful, an utterly charming story - I loved it!' Faith Hogan'This gorgeous book has everything!' Clare Pooley'Perfect fireside read' Trisha Ashley'A glorious, life-affirming story. I read it in a day' Clare Mackintosh'A story that readers will be sure to fall in love with. Otterly charming!' Freya Sampson'Funny, bittersweet and wholly original' Daily Express
Lord Jim
by Joseph Conrad'A murmur of dismay and horror ran through the crowd at the sight of that familiar token. The old nakhoda stared at it, and suddenly let out one great fierce cry, deep from the chest, a roar of pain and fury, as mighty as the bellow of a wounded bull, bringing great fear into men's hearts, by the magnitude of his anger and his sorrow'Jim, first mate on board the Patna, is a simple and sensitive young man who dreams of becoming a hero. But when the Patna threatens to sink, Jim takes the cowardly way out and jumps clear. His unbearable guilt and shame at having violated the unwritten moral code of the sea lead him to become an exile in a remote Malay state. There he fashions a new identity for himself as the benevolent ruler of an exotic land - until his idyll is interrupted. Rich, moving and delicately crafted, Lord Jim is a compelling meditation on identity, guilt and lost honour.The Penguin English Library - 100 editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century and the very first novels to the beginning of the First World War.
Little Wins: The Huge Power of Thinking Like a Toddler
by Paul Lindley'Read on, and rediscover how to live a fuller and more successful life' SIR RICHARD BRANSON, from the forewordThere are some 400 million people worldwide whose creativity, imagination and determination put the rest of us to shame. They are experts in their field, despite having no experience to speak of. Once, you were one of them too. They are toddlers - and they hold the key to unlocking our creative potential as adults.In Little Wins: The Huge Power of Thinking Like a Toddler, Ella's Kitchen founder Paul Lindley reveals the nine characteristics and behaviours that we can all learn from recalling our toddler selves. From attention-grabbing tactics that would humble most marketing experts to the art of thinking divergently, Lindley shows how much we've lost in getting old - and how we can get it back. Never mind growing up; it's time we grew down.
Lord Jim
by Joseph ConradThis compact novel, completed in 1900, as with so many of the great novels of the time, is at its baseline a book of the sea. An English boy in a simple town has dreams bigger than the outdoors and embarks at an early age into the sailor's life. The waters he travels reward him with the ability to explore the human spirit, while Joseph Conrad launches the story into both an exercise of his technical prowess and a delicately crafted picture of a character who reaches the status of a literary hero.
Lord Brocktree (Redwall #13)
by Brian JacquesThe thirteenth book in the beloved, bestselling Redwall saga - soon to be a major Netflix movie!Salamandastron, under the guardianship of old Lord Stonepaw, is under threat from an enemy of immense and terrifying power. Ungatt Trunn, the wildcat who can make the stars fall from the sky, has attacked with his Blue Hordes and is determined that the fortress should be his. The mountain's defences are weak and it seems that nothing can stand in his way. Nothing, that is, but the badger Lord Brocktree, who is drawn to Salamandastron by an undeniable sense of duty. But if he is to rescue the mountain from Trunn and his verminous hordes, he must gather about him an army capable of defeating them in battle. Together with the irrepressible haremaid, Dotti, and a host of brave creatures, Brocktree journeys to Salamandastron to fulfil his destiny.
Lolly Willowes (Penguin Modern Classics #239)
by Sylvia Townsend Warner'A great shout of life and individuality ... an act of defiance that gladdens the soul' Guardian Lolly Willowes, so gentle and accommodating, has depths no one suspects. When she suddenly announces that she is leaving London and moving, alone, to the depths of the countryside, her overbearing relatives are horrified. But Lolly has a greater, far darker calling than family: witchcraft. 'The book I'll be pressing into people's hands forever . . . It tells the story of a woman who rejects the life that society has fixed for her in favour of freedom ... tips suddenly into extraordinary, lucid wildness' Helen McDonald'Witty, eerie, tender ... her prose, in its simple, abrupt evocations, has something preternatural about it' John Updike
Loose Head: Confessions of an (un)professional rugby player
by Joe MarlerSHORTLISTED FOR THE TELEGRAPH RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEARThe truth about being a rugby player from the horsey's mouth.This book is not just about how a psychiatrist called Humphrey helped me get back on my horse and clippity-clop all the way to the World Cup semi-final in Japan. It's the story of how a fat kid who had to live up to the nickname Psycho grew up to play and party for over a decade with rugby's greatest pros and live weird and wonderful moments both in and out of the scrum. That's why I'm letting you read my diary on my weirdest days. You never know what you're going to get with me. From being locked in a police cell to singing Adele on Jonathan Ross (I'll let you decide which is worse), being kissed by a murderer on the number 51 bus to drug tests where clipboard-wielding men hover inches away from my naked genitalia, melting opponents in rucks, winning tackles, and generally losing blood, sweat and ears in the name of the great sport of rugby. This is how (not) to be a rugby player.
The Little Town of Marrowville (Little Town of Marrowville)
by John Robertson*A hilarious, dark adventure for kids and adults!*'A book aimed at kids that captures youthful humour perfectly. By which we mean it's energetic, weird, and delightfully disgusting - 10/10' Starbust Magazine'The bloodthirsty, heartfelt romp your brutal inner child craves' BlizzardComedyIn a town surrounded by deadly mist, and filled with oddities, two young siblings become orphans.And that's the best thing that's happened to them all day.Howard Howard was a Wrecker (a brute and bully by profession) who was brutal and bullish to his children - Aubrey and Aubrey's Sister. Howard Howard deserved to be turned into mince, and thanks to a mysterious duo called The Grinders, that's exactly what happened to Howard Howard. Hunted by the police and their father's gang of Wreckers, the siblings find some new friends to help keep them safe: a talented burglar named Charlie (who has no bones, but a great moustache) and a sword-wielding assassin named Calo (who has a sword, duh.) In a town already revelling in its own chaos and with new dangers around every corner, Aubrey's Sister and Aubrey stumble into a world of secrets, myths and monsters.
A Loo with a View
by Luke BarclayThe toilet - it's small, functional and using it usually involves staring at a door. But for the water closet connoisseur, there are a handful of places where the loo is an area of outstanding beauty.From such fascinating locations as the summit loo on Mount Sinai and Maharajas' thrones in India to safari loos in Zambia and ultra-modern, multi-functional facilities in Japan, this is a collection of the most uplifting vistas from the latrines of the world.Answering the call of nature will take you from the functional to the sublime with the help of this, the ultimate good loo guide.
The Lonely Londoners (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Sam SelvonBoth devastating and funny, The Lonely Londoners is an unforgettable account of immigrant experience - and one of the great twentieth-century London novelsAt Waterloo Station, hopeful new arrivals from the West Indies step off the boat train, ready to start afresh in 1950s London. There, homesick Moses Aloetta, who has already lived in the city for years, meets Henry 'Sir Galahad' Oliver and shows him the ropes. In this strange, cold and foggy city where the natives can be less than friendly at the sight of a black face, has Galahad met his Waterloo? But the irrepressible newcomer cannot be cast down. He and all the other lonely new Londoners - from shiftless Cap to Tolroy, whose family has descended on him from Jamaica - must try to create a new life for themselves. As pessimistic 'old veteran' Moses watches their attempts, they gradually learn to survive and come to love the heady excitements of London.This Penguin Modern Classics edition includes an introduction by Susheila Nasta.'His Lonely Londoners has acquired a classics status since it appeared in 1956 as the definitive novel about London's West Indians'Financial Times'The unforgettable picaresque ... a vernacular comedy of pathos'Guardian
Loop of Jade
by Sarah Howe*WINNER OF THE T. S. ELIOT PRIZE 2015**WINNER OF THE SUNDAY TIMES / PETERS FRASER + DUNLOP YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2015**SHORTLISTED FOR THE FORWARD PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST COLLECTION 2015*There is a Chinese proverb that says: ‘It is more profitable to raise geese than daughters.’ But geese, like daughters, know the obligation to return home. In her exquisite first collection, Sarah Howe explores a dual heritage, journeying back to Hong Kong in search of her roots.With extraordinary range and power, the poems build into a meditation on hybridity, intermarriage and love – what meaning we find in the world, in art, and in each other. Crossing the bounds of time, race and language, this is an enthralling exploration of self and place, of migration and inheritance, and introduces an unmistakable new voice in British poetry.
Lizzie and Lucky: The Mystery of the Missing Puppies (Lizzie and Lucky #1)
by Megan Rix'A joyous tale celebrating animals, mysteries, family and friendship (both of the two-legged and four-legged variety!)' - BookTrustMeet Lizzie and Lucky: a sparky young detective and her loyal Dalmatian sidekick!Lizzie is desperate for a dog. In order to convince her parents to get one, she has to come up with 101 reasons why she needs one. Lizzie is a master at making lists, so thinking of 101 reasons is going to be easy! Especially as she is deaf and could train one to be her hearing dog. But as Lizzie begins compiling her list, she witnesses an adorable puppy being snatched away and put into a van by a mysterious-looking man. Can Lizzie solve the case - and maybe find herself a loyal friend at the same time...?
The Loom of Time
by KalidasaKalidasa is the major poet and dramatist of classical Sanskrit literature - a many-sided talent of extraordinary scope and exquisite language. His great poem, Meghadutam (The Cloud Messenger), tells of a divine being, punished for failing in his sacred duties with a years' separation from his beloved. A work of subtle emotional nuances, it is a haunting depiction of longing and separation. The play Sakuntala describes the troubled love between a Lady of Nature and King Duhsanta. This beautiful blend of romance and comedy, transports its audience into an enchanted world in which mortals mingle with gods. And Kalidasa's poem Rtusamharam (The Gathering of the Seasons) is an exuberant observation of the sheer variety of the natural world, as it teems with the energies of the great god Siva.
Liveforever (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Andrés CaicedoAndrés Caicedo's novel Liveforever is a wild celebration of youth, hedonism and the transforming power of music.María del Carmen Huerta lives a respectable middle-class life in Colombia. One day she misses class, and discovers she cannot return to her ordinary existence but must pursue her passion for dancing across the city. We follow her from rumbas in car parks to concerts in shantytowns as she gives in to every desire - however dark. Published in 1977, Liveforever was its young author's masterpiece - and final work. Andrés Caicedo took his life the day it was published, but it has been recognized as a landmark in Colombian literature ever since.Andrés Caicedo was born in Cali, Colombia on September 29, 1951. In his short life, he wrote dozens of articles on film, several plays, screenplays, novellas, and countless short stories, with a prominent focus on social discord. He committed suicide at the age of 25.
Looking Up: A Humorous and Unflinching Account of Learning to Live Again With Sudden Disability
by Tim Rushby-SmithTim Rushby-Smith is six foot two and highly active, with a love of high places and the great outdoors. Three years ago, with a booming garden design and landscaping business and his wife five months pregnant with their first child, Tim fell six metres out of a tree and broke his back, confining him to a wheelchair. As he came to terms with his injury, treatment and rehabilitation, Tim faced an entirely new life, in which suddenly many of life's simplest tasks became monumental challenges. This is Tim's very human story of learning to live with disability, from overwhelming feelings of anger and despair, to learning how to face the future head on, and watching his daughter take her first steps. Emotional but never self-pitying, this is his unflinchingly honest account of how he built a new life; as a man, a husband and a father.
Living with ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (Penguin Life Expert Series #6)
by Dr Gerald Coakley Beverly KnopsChronic fatigue conditions are some of the most frustrating, life-altering and stigmatized illnesses, so why are they still so poorly understood?ME/CFS affects roughly 17 million people worldwide. Medicalscience still cannot explain why some people get chronic fatigue syndromes and, distressingly, there are few effective treatments. While many people with ME/CFS are able to live a fairly normal life, a significant minority have symptoms so severe that they are confined to their house, or even their bed, and suicide rates are well above the national average.Living with ME and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, by consultant rheumatologist Dr Gerald Coakley and occupational therapist Beverly Knops, is a much-needed, evidence-based guide for people struggling with ME/CFS - as well as their friends and family - that provides practical information and accessible advice on how to manage and live with this challenging condition, at all stages of severity. It will explore:- The causes and management options for ME/CFS- The impact of the condition on work, education and emotional wellbeing- The importance of a balanced, nutritious diet in managing your symptoms- Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS) and other fatigue-related syndromes- Advice for carers and questions to ask your doctor- Life after ME/CFS This essential, concise book, and its empowering patient stories of hope, will equip readers with the knowledge, strategies and support to navigate and manage this challenging condition.
Looking for the Possible Dance
by A.L. KennedyMary Margaret Hamilton was educated in Scotland. She was born there too. These may not have been the best possible options, but they were the only ones on offer at the time. Although her father did his best, her knowledge of life is perhaps a little incomplete. Margaret knows the best way to look at the moon, how to wake on time and how to breathe fire. Now she must learn how to live. A. L. Kennedy's absorbing, moving and gently political first novel dissects the intricate difficulties of human relationships, from Margaret's passionate attachment to her father and her more problematic involvement with Colin, her lover, to the wider social relations between pupil and teacher, employer and employee, individual and state.
Looking For Love: a dramatic page-turner set in the heart of Liverpool from much-loved and bestselling saga author Rosie Harris
by Rosie HarrisFrom much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris comes this engaging and enthralling saga about relationships - those between families, between friends and between lovers - and the forces that can make or break them. Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin.What readers are saying!'An unmissable read, finished in a day' - 5 STARS'Brilliant' - 5 STARS'I couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS****************************************************************WILL SHE FIND THE SECURITY AND AFFECTION SHE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL HER LIFE?Abbie Martin has grown up in squalor in one of Liverpool's most deprived areas. The youngest of three, she longs to be loved by her mother, but Ellen spends all her time with her eldest son, while Abbie and her brother, Sam, take refuge with their neighbours, Sandra Lewis and Peter Ryan.Although vibrant and attractive, Abbie pushes people away with her constant need for reassurance. Infatuated with Peter, she longs for the day when he tells her that he loves her. And Sam is courting Sandra. But Peter and Sandra have a secret - one that could destroy the friends' relationship should it become known.Will Abbie finally find what she most desires, or will she always be looking for love...?
Lives of the Artists, Lives of the Architects: Conversations With Nineteen Of The World's Greatest Artists, Architects And Sculptors
by Hans Ulrich ObristA unique opportunity to learn about the lives and creativity of the world's leading artistsHans Ulrich Obrist has been conducting ongoing conversations with the world's greatest living artists since he began in Switzerland, aged 19, with Fischli and Weiss. Here he chooses nineteen of the greatest figures and presents their conversations, offering the reader intimacy with the artists and insight into their creative processes. Inspired by the great Vasari, Lives of the Artists explores the meaning of art and artists today, their varying approaches to creating, and a sense of how their thinking evolves over time. Including David Hockney, Gilbert and George, Gerhard Richter, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Marina Abramovic, Louise Bourgeois, Rem Koolhaas, Jeff Koons and Oscar Niemayer, this is a wonderful and unique book for those interested in modern art.Hans Ulrich Obrist is a curator and writer. Since 2006 he has been co-director of the Serpentine Gallery, London. He is the author, with Ai Wei Wei, of Ai Wei Wei Speaks.
Look Twice: An Entertainment
by John FullerJohn Fuller's brilliantly inventive fourth novel is a modern romance which playfully explores the world's need for illusion. On the last train leaving the Duchy of Gomsza, before it is seized by civil turmoil, three illusionists - an artist, journalist and a magician reveal their past failures in love and reasons for leaving. But it is th mysterious fellow traveller Jozef Pyramur who dazzles each man in turn with different versions of reality.
London Journal 1762-1763 (The\yale Editions Of The Private Papers Of James Boswell Ser.)
by James BoswellEdinburgh-born James Boswell, at twenty-two, kept a daily diary of his eventful second stay in London from 1762 to 1763. This journal, not discovered for more than 150 years, is a deft, frank and artful record of adventures ranging from his vividly recounted love affair with a Covent Garden actress to his first amusingly bruising meeting with Samuel Johnson, to whom Boswell would later become both friend and biographer. The London Journal 1762-63 is a witty, incisive and compellingly candid testament to Boswell's prolific talents.
The Look of Love: a wonderfully uplifting, heart-warming and hilarious rom-com from bestselling author Judy Astley
by Judy AstleyThis laugh-out-loud comedy from bestselling author Judy Astley is perfect for readers of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson. Showing that life - and a fulfilling love life - doesn't have to end at 40, this is a marvellously modern rom-com that will have you hooked!'Astley is a great writer, funny and sharp... her prose is a pleasure to read, her dialogue sparkles... a perfect book to race through at the beach' -- Daily Mail'Love, life and reality TV. Great fun' -- Woman & Home'Romantic fiction at its best' -- ***** Reader review'Warm and witty' -- ***** Reader review'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review'Great story line, a lot of fun, kept my interest and didn't disappoint' -- ***** Reader review************************************************************************************************WHEN A MAKEOVER TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE...Bella has given up on men.Her latest boyfriend 'forgot' to tell her about his current wife, so she's single again.Now, her ex-husband has turned up, wanting to sell the family home in which she and their two teenage children are happily living their lives.Then Bella sees a chance to stay in the house and earn some money. She rents it out for a reality TV makeover programme.And it turns out that the house isn't the only thing that will benefit from a change...