- Table View
- List View
Imogen: the deliciously funny and upbeat novel from the inimitable multimillion-copy bestselling Jilly Cooper
by Jilly Cooper OBEFall in love with Jilly Cooper, one of Britain's most popular authors, in this delightfully light-hearted page-turner of a rom-com. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton and Jane Fallon will simply adore this hilarious read, full of unforgettable characters and pure laugh-out-loud moments...'Joyful and mischievous' -- Jojo Moyes'Fun, sexy and unputdownable' -- Marian Keyes'A delight from start to finish' -- Daily Mail'Escape into an alternative universe in which all is right with the world' -- Guardian'Delightful' -- ***** Reader review'This is in my top 5 reads of all time' -- ***** Reader review'Once you start reading find it hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review'Absolutely brilliant, a book not to be put down until THE END!!' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************As a librarian, Imogen read a lot of books, but none of them covered what she was to experience on the Riviera.Her holiday with tennis ace, Nicky, and the whole glamorous coterie surrounding Nicky, was a revelation - and so, ultimately, was she. A wild Yorkshire rose among the thorny model girls, Cable and Yvonne, with a rare asset that they'd mislaid years ago...But the path of a jet-set virgin in that lovely, wicked world was a hard one.Imogen began to wonder if virtue really was its own reward...
A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides
by James Boswell Samuel JohnsonBook by Samuel Johnson, published in 1775. The Journey was the result of a three-month trip to Scotland that Johnson took with James Boswell in 1773. It contains Johnson's descriptions of the customs, religion, education, trade, and agriculture of a society that was new to him. The account in Boswell's diary, published after Johnson's death as The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides, with Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1785), offers an intimate personal record of Johnson's behavior and conversation during the trip.
Kim
by Rudyard KiplingKipling's epic rendition of the imperial experience in India is also his greatest long work. Two men - Kim, a boy growing into early manhood, and the lama, an old ascetic priest - are fired by a quest. Kim is white, although born in India. While he wants to play the Great Game of imperialism, he is also spiritually bound to the lama and he tries to reconcile these opposing strands. A celebration of their friendship in an often hostile environment, Kim captures the opulence of India's exotic landscape, overlaid by the uneasy presence of the British Raj.Contains an introduction by Harish Trivedi placing the novel in its literary and social context. Also includes notes, chronology, further reading, a General Preface by the series editor Jan Montefiore and Edward Said's famous introduction from the previous Penguin Classics edition as an appendix.
James I: The Phoenix King (Penguin Monarchs)
by Thomas CogswellJames's reign marked one of the very rare major breaks in England's monarchy. Already James VI of Scotland and a highly experienced ruler who had established his authority over the Scottish Kirk, he marched south on Elizabeth I's death to become James I of England and Ireland, uniting the British Isles for the first time and founding the Stuart dynasty which would, with several lurches, reign for over a century. Indeed his descendant still occupies the throne. A complex, curious man and great survivor, James drastically changed court life in London and presided over such major projects as the Authorized Version of the Bible and the establishment of English settlements in Virginia, Massachusetts, Gujarat and the Caribbean. Although he failed to unite England and Scotland, he insisted that ambassadors acknowledge him as King of Great Britain and that vessels from both countries display a version of the current Union Flag. He was often accused of being too informal and insufficiently regal - but when his son, Charles I, decided to redress these criticisms in his own reign he was destroyed. How much of the roots of this disaster were to be found in James's reign is one of the many problems dramatized in Thomas Cogswell's brilliant and highly entertaining new book.
Journey's End (Penguin Modern Classics)
by R. C. SherriffSet in the First World War, Journey's End concerns a group of British officers on the front line and opens in a dugout in the trenches in France. Raleigh, a new eighteen-year-old officer fresh out of English public school, joins the besieged company of his friend and cricketing hero Stanhope, and finds him dramatically changed ...Laurence Olivier starred as Stanhope in the first performance of Journey's End in 1928; the play was an instant stage success and remains a remarkable anti-war classic.
Impatience of the Heart (Penguin Modern Classics)
by Stefan ZweigThe great Austrian writer Stefan Zweig was a master anatomist of the deceitful heart, and Impatience of the Heart, the only novel he published during his lifetime, uncovers the seed of selfishness within even the finest of feelings.Hofmiller, an Austro-Hungarian cavalry officer stationed at the edge of the empire, is invited to a party at the home of a rich local landowner, a world away from the dreary routine of the barracks. The surroundings are glamorous, wine flows freely, and the exhilarated young Hofmiller asks his host's lovely daughter for a dance, only to discover that sickness has left her painfully crippled. It is a minor blunder that will destroy his life, as pity and guilt gradually implicate him in a well-meaning but tragically wrongheaded plot to restore the unhappy invalid to health.
James II: The Last Catholic King (Penguin Monarchs)
by David Womersley'James was a king tragically trapped by principle. Yet was it wise to attempt to change the national religion?'The short reign of James II is generally seen as one of the most catastrophic in British history, ending in his exile after he unsuccessfully tried to convert England to Catholicism, a crisis that would haunt the monarchy for generations. Ultimately, David Womersley's biography shows, James was a man whose blindness to subtlety and political reality brought about his ruinous downfall.
King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (Puffin Classics)
by Roger Lancelyn GreenKing Arthur is one of the greatest legends of all time. From the magical moment when Arthur releases the sword in the stone to the quest for the Holy Grail and the final tragedy of the Last Battle, Roger Lancelyn Green brings the enchanting world of King Arthur stunningly to life.One of the greatest legends of all time, with an inspiring introduction by David Almond, award-winning author of Clay, Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and The Fire-Eaters.
An Imperial Possession: Britain in the Roman Empire, 54 BC - AD 409 (Penguin History of Britain)
by David MattinglyPart of the Penguin History of Britain series, An Imperial Possession is the first major narrative history of Roman Britain for a generation. David Mattingly draws on a wealth of new findings and knowledge to cut through the myths and misunderstandings that so commonly surround our beliefs about this period. From the rebellious chiefs and druids who led native British resistance, to the experiences of the Roman military leaders in this remote, dangerous outpost of Europe, this book explores the reality of life in occupied Britain within the context of the shifting fortunes of the Roman Empire.
Journeys From The Centre Of The Earth
by Dr Iain StewartMan with hammer, rucksack and GSOH offers gritty adventure holidays. Looking for sun, sea, sand and - science. Scheduled to tie in with a major new BBC series, Hot Rocks explores the Mediterranean - the cradle of western civilisation - and discovers alongside its tranquil, sun-lapped shores, one of the most volatile places on an ever-changing earth. The Mediterranean we know today has been forged in a violent crucible of clashing continents, rising mountains, restless seas and a turbulent climate. Millions of Britons are drawn to the Mediterranean every year and whether they go for the beautiful scenery and relaxing beaches or the culture and architecture or food, none of it would be there were it not for geology. Forward-thinking geologist and television presenter Dr Iain Stewart, uncovers the hidden Mediterranean and brings a fresh and dramatic eye to geology to show just why it is that geology should be restored to its rightful place as the grandfather of sciences. From earthquakes and volcanoes to Roman architecture and cuisine, Iain discovers just how geology has shaped our lives and how we can expect it to affect us in years to come.
King Arthur's Last Battle
by Thomas MaloryHe was born to be King. But he would die for his people ...From the moment he draws the sword Excalibur from a magic stone, King Arthur is hailed as the saviour of England. With his loyal band of brothers, the Knights of the Round Table, he reigns over a golden age of chivalry and enchantment.But dark forces are stirring in the land. Sir Launcelot's fatal attraction to Arthur's beautiful wife Guenever threatens to divide the realm. And when the scheming Mordred tries to usurp the King, one last epic battle must be fought on English soil ...
James Toseland: The Autobiography
by James Toseland Ted MacauleyAt 23, James Toseland was the youngest ever winner of the World Superbike Championship and with more racing experience than riders twice his age, has overtaken previous champions Carl Fogarty and Neil Hodgson to become the next biking superstar. Toseland's success has been driven by a lifetime of tragedy. Using racing as a release, he became afearless daredevil and had moved his way up through the ranks of BritishSuperbikes by the time he was sixteen. But there was even more turmoil to come - a career of dramatic crashes and a collision in Monza, Italy which left James seriously injured and his Honda team-mate dead. This is a story of genius, tragedy and James' overwhelming will to succeed.
The Joyous Science
by Friedrich Nietzsche'God is dead ... but given the ways of men, perhaps for millennia to come there will be caves in which his shadow will be shown'Friedrich Nietzsche described The Joyous Science as a book of 'exuberance, restlessness, contrariety and April showers'. A deeply personal and affirmative work, it straddles his middle and late periods and contains some of the most important ideas he would ever express in writing. Moving from a critique of conventional morality, the arts and modernity to an exhilarating doctrine of self-emancipation, this playful combination of aphorisms, poetry and prose is a treasure trove of philosophical insights, brought to new life in R. Kevin Hill's clear, graceful translation. Translated and edited with an introduction and notes by R. Kevin Hill
Imperial Spain 1469-1716
by J. H ElliottThe story of Spain's rise to greatness from its humble beginnings as one of the poorest and most marginal of European countries is a remarkable and dramatic one. With the marriage of Ferdinand & Isabella, the final expulsion of the Moslems and the discovery of America, Spain took on a seemingly unstoppable dynamism that made it into the world's first global power. This amazing success however created many powerful enemies and Elliott's famous book charts the dramatic fall of Habsburg Spain with the same elan as it charts the rise.
Jamie Dornan: Shades of Desire
by Alice MontgomeryThe first, intimate biography of Jamie Dornan as he takes on one of the most iconic characters in fiction - Christian Grey.Jamie Dornan is about to become the hottest sex symbol on the planet after landing the leading role in the Fifty Shades of Grey movies. But he remains almost as enigmatic as Mr Grey himself.Jamie Dornan: Shades of Desire will reveal everything fans want to know about the mysterious Mr Dornan, from his tragic childhood to his career as a Calvin Klein model, dating Keira Knightley to finding love with his wife Amelia Warner. How does his part as a BDSM-loving billionaire sit alongside his real life role as a family man and father to a young daughter? And how will he cope with fame as the Fifty Shades of Grey films launch him into superstardom?This biography will be the first to show what Jamie Dornan is really like behind closed doors.
King Harald's Saga
by Snorri SturlusonThis compelling Icelandic history describes the life of King Harald Hardradi, from his battles across Europe and Russia to his final assault on England in 1066, less than three weeks before the invasion of William the Conqueror. It was a battle that led to his death and marked the end of an era in which Europe had been dominated by the threat of Scandinavian forces. Despite England's triumph, it also played a crucial part in fatally weakening the English army immediately prior to the Norman Conquest, changing the course of history. Taken from the Heimskringla - Snorri Sturluson's complete account of Norway from prehistoric times to 1177 - this is a brilliantly human depiction of the turbulent life and savage death of the last great Norse warrior-king.
The Joys of Excess
by Samuel PepysAs well as being the most celebrated diarist of all time, Samuel Pepys was also a hearty drinker, eater and connoisseur of epicurean delights, who indulged in every pleasure seventeenth-century London had to offer. Whether he is feasting on barrels of oysters, braces of carps, larks' tongues and copious amounts of wine, merrymaking in taverns until the early hours, attending formal dinners with lords and ladies or entertaining guests at home with his young wife, these irresistible selections from Pepys's diaries provide a frank, high-spirited and vivid picture of the joys of over-indulgence - and the side-effects afterwards.
King John
by William ShakespeareUnder the rule of King John, England is forced into war when the French challenge the legitimacy of John's claim to the throne and determine to install his nephew Arthur in his place. But political principles, hypocritically flaunted, are soon forgotten, as the French and English kings form an alliance based on cynical self-interest. And as the desire to cling to power dominates England's paranoid and weak-willed king, his country is threatened with disaster.
Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism (Penguin Great Ideas)
by Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin created this hugely significant Marxist text to explain fully the inevitable flaws and destructive power of Capitalism: that it would lead unavoidably to imperialism, monopolies and colonialism. He prophesied that those third world countries used merely as capitalist labour would have no choice but to join the Communist revolution in Russia. GREAT IDEAS. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
Jamie Vardy: From Nowhere, My Story
by Jamie VardyThe Sunday Times Bestseller and Number 1 Sport Book of 2016'A tale that's truly inspirational' The SunAn ordinary lad from Sheffield, Jamie Vardy has become known as an against-the-odds footballing hero the world over. Yet a few years ago, things couldn’t have been any more different. Rejected as a teenager by his boyhood club, Jamie thought his chance was gone. But from playing pub football and earning £30 a week at Stocksbridge Park Steels, while still working in a factory, his off-the-cuff performances saw him rise.Jamie had a wild and turbulent youth, but football became his saving grace and, once he filled his boots with goals at FC Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town, he moved to Leicester City. After the miracle of surviving relegation, the team of unlikely outsiders bonded together to achieve the unthinkable: Jamie set the record as the first player to score in 11 consecutive Premier League matches and Leicester beat odds of 5000-1 to become champions.Jamie has now been nominated for the Ballon d’Or, firmly establishing himself as one of England’s leading goal scoring footballers. Not forgetting his roots, however, he has set up the V9 Academy in a bid to find the next big talent from non-league football. Defying all expectations, this is the story of the boy from nowhere who reached the top in his own unflinching, honest words.
Juche - How to Live Well the North Korean Way
by B.J. Lovegood'Game changing. Juche is to shape the cultural zeitgeist just as The Little Book of Hygge did.' Fern Brady'A book to bring shame upon our depraved morals and our wilted-spinach governments.' Ivo GrahamHow did North Korea become the top-rated destination on Tripadvisor? The answer is Juche ...'In this earth-quaking lifestyle manifesto, I, Comrade Hyun-gi, will share with you the blueprint to a healthier, happier way of life. Juche will teach you westerners how sleeping under your desk yields a better work/life balance; why food rationing promotes a greater generosity of spirit; how sealed borders prevent the agony of long-distance relationships and why pensions prevent people from living in the moment. So come, dear Comrade, and step free from the landmines and tripwires of capitalism and march with me towards the socialist dawn that awaits us all.''As dry as it is daft - I loved it.' Jordan Brookes
Jamie's 30-Minute Meals
by Jamie OliverWhip up delicious three-course meals in no time at all with the bestselling Jamie's 30-Minute MealsJamie Oliver will teach you how to make good food super-fast in his game-changing guide to coordinating an entire meal without any fuss._________With 50 exciting, seasonal meal ideas, Jamie's 30 Minute Meals provides the essential collection of dishes for putting on the ultimate three-course meal without taking up your time.Not only that, Jamie also includes refreshing, light lunch recipes that you can put together in no time at all.These mouth-watering dishes include . . .- Melt-in-the-mouth SPRING LAMB and CHIANTI GRAVY- Mushroom risotto with spinach salad - Tender DUCK SALAD- Moreish LEMON and RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE- Creamy RICE PUDDING and STEWED FRUITJamie offers a tasty dish for every occasion, with recipes written to help you make the most of every single minute in the kitchen.With the help of Jamie Oliver and Jamie's 30-Minute Meals, you'll be amazed by what you're able to achieve.In Jamie's extensive collection of internationally loved and trusted cookbooks, this is the one about multitasking to cook whole meals, fast._________'There is only one Jamie Oliver. Great to watch. Great to cook' Delia Smith
Jude the Obscure
by Thomas Hardy'One of the most compassionate of all writers...you feel a kind of agony of helpless tenderness in the writer for all troubled souls’ The Times Jude Fawley is a young man who longs to better himself and go to Christminster University. However, poverty forces him into a job as a stonemason and an unhappy marriage. When his wife leaves him Jude moves to Christminster determined to follow his dream. There he meets and falls for his free-spirited cousin, Sue Bridehead. They refuse to marry, much to the disapproval of the community around them. In this heartbreaking story Hardy shows the devastating effects of social prejudice and oppression. The novel caused outrage when it was published in 1895 and, as a result, was the last novel Hardy ever wrote. See also: The Return of the Native
King Lear
by William Shakespeare'The most perfect specimen of the dramatic art existing in the world' Percy Bysshe ShelleyShakespeare's bleak and brutal tragedy begins when an ageing king, seeking a successor, rejects the young daughter who loves him and misplaces his trust in her malevolent sisters. In return they strip him of his power and condemn him to a wretched wasteland of horror and insanity. Set in a pitiless universe, King Lear is a towering, elemental masterpiece of fierce poetry and vast imaginative scope.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by George HunterIntroduction by Kiernan Ryan
The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays
by Oscar WildeA selection of Oscar Wilde's best and most important plays - sharp, relevant and brilliant to this day. Who would have thought a comedy of manners written more than a hundred years ago would still be so apt and so funny? Oscar Wilde was a genius of play-writing, and his deftness, wit and sharp eye for social satire keep audiences in thrall to this day. Alongside Earnest, discover a biblical tragedy retold, Lady Windemere and her infamous fan and Wilde's take on an ideal husband, in this selection of Wilde's most important plays. ‘[The Importance of Being Earnest] has a strong claim to being the most perfect comedy in the English language’ Daily Telegraph