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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
The Mill on the Floss
by George EliotDiscover George Eliot’s powerful tragedy about the struggle between head and heart.**As Heard on BBC Radio 4** Maggie and Tom Tulliver are both wilful, passionate children, and their relationship has always been tempestuous. As they grow up together on the banks of the River Floss, Tom's self-righteous stubbornness and Maggie's emotional intensity increasingly brings them into conflict, particularly when Maggie's beauty sparks some ill-fated attachments. George Eliot's story of a brother and sister bound together by their errors and affections is told with tenderness, energy and a profound understanding of human nature. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MARINA LEWYCKA 'George Eliot is the greatest British novelist of any age' Daily Mail
Return of the Native
by Thomas Hardy'Tremendous...utterly absorbing' Independent Proud, passionate Eustacia Vye marries Clym Yeobright in the hope that he will help her escape her cramped rural existence. But when their relationship falters and her old lover Damon Wildeve reappears with an unexpected inheritance, Eustacia is faced with a series of decisions upon which multiple lives depend. In a world where misunderstandings can be fatal, Hardy’s atmospheric tragedy moves inevitably towards a disastrous climax on the brooding wilds of Egdon Heath. 'Hardy's novels hold a Shakespearean power of creating a unique world' John Bayley See also: Jude the Obscure
Silas Marner
by George EliotA heartwarming and poignant tale of a lonely man brought back to life and faith. Silas Marner lives a friendless and isolated existence near the country village of Raveloe, hoarding his gold. One night his fortune is stolen and Silas loses everything he holds dear. But then the golden-haired child Eppie appears in his home, and Silas begins to reform bonds of faith and human connectedness that he once renounced forever. 'A great novel of unquenchable optimism and boundless humanity' Guardian
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Tom Sawyer Fiction, Action And Adventure
by Mark TwainThe classic boy-hero of American literature. Impish, daring young Tom Sawyer is the bane of the old, the hero of the young. There were some in his dusty old Missippi town who believed he would be President, if he escaped a hanging. For wherever there is mischief or adventure, Tom is at the heart of it. During one hot summer, Tom witnesses a murder, runs away to be a pirate, attends his own funeral, rescues an innocent man from the gallows, searches for treasure in a haunted house, foils a devilish plot and discovers a box of gold. But can he escape his nemesis, the villainous Injun Joe? 'In this book Twain anticipates every modern American novel, from Salinger to Pynchon' Guardian
The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Stories
by Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe was a writer of uncommon talent; in The Murders in the Rue Morgue he created the genre of detective fiction while his genius for finding the strangeness lurking within us all has been an influence on everyone from Freud to Hollywood. This complete collection of all his short stories and novellas contains well-known tales 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart' alongside hidden gems that both unsettle and enthrall the reader.
The Good Soldier
by Ford Madox FordA brilliant and heart-rending evocation of destructive passion.When John Dowell and his wife befriend Edward and Leonora Ashburnham they appear to be the perfect couple. He is a distinguished soldier and she is beautiful and intelligent. However, what lies beneath the surface of their marriage is far more sinister and their influence leads John into a tragic drama that threatens to destroy everything he cares about. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ZOE HELLER
The Rape of the Lock
by Alexander PopeWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY SOPHIE GEEA hideous crime is committed at a fashionable London society gathering. The victim is the beautiful, innocent Belinda, her attacker is the dastardly Baron, and his weapon of choice is a pair of scissors...Pope's mock-epic is the sharp and witty tale of the most famous bad hair day in the history of literature.
Slim to Win: Diet and Cookbook
by Rosemary ConleyBE A WEIGHT LOSS WINNERLove your food but want to lose your excess weight? That's easy with the help of this combined diet and cookbook, created to accompany the ITV series Slim to Win with Rosemary Conley.Diet and fitness expert Rosemary Conley shows you how to shed your unwanted pounds quickly but safely. You could lose half a stone in just two weeks on her Fat Attack Fortnight Diet.Or maybe you just want to find tasty new ways of sticking to a healthy eating plan? Well, with these Slim to Win recipes you won't be stuck for ideas you'll be spoilt for choice!Learn how to prepare your favourite foods the low-fat, low-Gi way and discover delicious new recipes that all the family can enjoy. Whether you fancy pasta or paella, a stir-fry or sweet and sour dish, or are looking for a decadent-sounding dessert to round off a meal, you'll find a great-tasting solution to suit.
Lovejoy on Football: One Man's Passion for The Most Important Subject in the World
by Tim LovejoyTim Lovejoy loves football. Along with Helen Chamberlain he presented Soccer AM for more than a decade to become as much a part of a football fan's weekend as phone-ins, back-page EXCLUSIVES and the vidiprinter. But why does Tim love football? Is it actually the most important subject in the world? And did he really once support Watford as a kid?Lovejoy on Football gets down to the nitty gritty of the really important stuff in football, such as:Why he, Tim, is technically a rubbish football fan; Women's true place in football;How 'Save Chip' became the biggest football cause in the country;Why it's a bad idea to hammer Razor Ruddock; And why footballers are in fact underpaid.Packed with amusing anecdotes, bustling with great football stories and full of strong opinions, Lovejoy on Football is the must-have football book of 2007.
The Perfect Interview: All you need to get it right the first time
by Max EggertPerfect Interview is an invaluable guide for anyone who's applying for jobs. Written by a leading HR professional with years of experience in the field, it explains how interviews are constructed, gives practical advice about how to show yourself in your best light, and provides real-life examples to help you practise at home. Whether you're a graduate looking to take the first step on the career ladder, or you're planning an all-important job change, Perfect Interview will help you stand out from the competition.The Perfect series is a range of practical guides that give clear and straightforward advice on everything from getting your first job to choosing your baby's name. Written by experienced authors offering tried-and-tested tips, each book contains all you need to get it right first time.
Classified: The Secret History of the Personal Column
by H G Cocks'Lonely Young Officer, up to his neck in Flanders mud, would like to correspond with young lady (age 18-20), cheery and good looking.' 1916'Discreet, attractive couple 21 and 25 wish to meet couples and singles 21-35 for exciting and fun-loving adult relationships. Open-minded but not way out. No prejudices. Full length photo, address, and detailed letter assures same.' 1969From the 'sporty' girls and 'artistic' boys of the Edwardian era to the 'lonely' soldiers of the Great War, the marriage bureaux of the fifties, and on to the internet dating sites of today, Classified tells the story of those who used personal ads to search for love, friendship, marriage and adventure.
The Pocket Enquire Within: A guide to the niceties and necessities of Victorian domestic life
by George ArmstrongWhat is the correct way to carve a partridge?How should leeches be applied?How can egg whites be used to repair broken china?First published in 1856, Enquire Within rapidly became the indispensable guide to Victorian domestic life. Packed with words of wisdom and pithy advice, it covered everything from entertaining and etiquette to household management, and took in considered discussion of such arcane matters as how singing might prevent consumption, and which ointments will remove freckles, not to mention why chess should on no account ever be played at a ball.This new, charmingly illustrated pocket-sized edition contains a selection of hints and tips that not only provide a fascinating insight into the day-to-day life of Victorian Britain, but also, in places, reveal timeless wisdom that we would do well to heed today.
Perfect Confidence
by Jan FergusonPerfect Confidence is the ideal companion for anyone who wants to boost their self-esteem. Covering everything from communicating clearly to handling conflict, it explains exactly why confidence matters and equips you with the skills you need to become more assertive. Whether you need to get ahead in the workplace or learn how to balance the demands of friends and family, Perfect Confidence has all you need to meet challenges head on.The Perfect series is a range of practical guides that give clear and straightforward advice on everything from getting your first job to choosing your baby's name. Written by experienced authors offering tried-and-tested tips, each book contains all you need to get it right first time.
Perfect Memory Training
by Dr Fiona McPhersonPerfect Memory Training is essential reading for anyone who wants to strengthen their powers of recall. Written by Dr Fiona McPherson, a psychologist with years of experience in the field, it explains how memories are created and stored, sets out a range of techniques to help you improve these processes, and provides exercises to help you track your progress. Whether you want to get better at remembering names, faces, lists or pieces of general knowledge, Perfect Memory Training has everything you need to boost your mental ability.The Perfect series is a range of practical guides that give clear and straightforward advice on everything from getting your first job to choosing your baby's name. Written by experienced authors offering tried-and-tested tips, each book contains all you need to get it right first time.
Perfect Persuasion
by Richard StoreyPerfect Persuasion is essential reading for anyone who wants to improve their powers of influence. Written by Richard Storey, an expert with years of experience in the field, it explains how to identify other people's motivations, gives practical advice about dealing with resistance calmly and effectively, and takes you through every skill you need to win people over to your point of view. Whether you need to influence colleagues at work or would like to make some changes in your personal life, Perfect Persuasion has everything you need to make sure you get your point across effectively.The Perfect series is a range of practical guides that give clear and straightforward advice on everything from getting your first job to choosing your baby's name. Written by experienced authors offering tried-and-tested tips each book contains all you need to get it right first time.
Grandma's Remedies: A Guide to Traditional Cures and Treatments from Mustard Poultices to Rosehip Syrup
by Cherry ChappellLong before modern medicines became so widely available, families treated everyday illnesses with home-made remedies. Reused and refined year after year, they were handed down through the generations then lovingly copied into personal 'receipt' books. Grandma's Remedies brings together a beguiling collection of them, gathered from dusty medicine chests found in attics, recalled from childhoods long past, or discovered in family archives and libraries. Many of them are surprisingly effective. Did you know, for example, that drinking two cups of strong black coffee will alleviate an asthma attack? Or that chewing toasted fennel seeds will help combat indigestion? Or that rosehip syrup is a terrific source of vitamin C? But Grandma's Remedies is more than a guide to these traditional treatments, it also paints a vivid portrait of the world of our grandparents and great-grandparents. It shows how inventive and resourceful they were with the materials near to hand, how they made the most of everything in the store-cupboard, from bread through to vinegar, and how it was the women of the household who, despite being barred from the medical profession, were relied on to safeguard family health. In these days of antibiotics and painkillers, it's easy to forget how people survived when all they had to rely on was a garden, a larder and a healthy dose of common sense.
The Great European Rip-off: How the Corrupt, Wasteful EU is Taking Control of Our Lives
by Dr David Craig Matthew ElliottIn this EU referendum year, it's time for people across Europe to look at what really goes on in Brussels in our name. It has been estimated that the EU costs us around £1,000 billion a year - an incredible £2000 for every man, woman and child in Europe. So what do we get for our money? Politicians and administrators selflessly working to bring us efficient government? Well-targeted regulations that promote economic prosperity? A safe and free society? A well-protected environment? Help for people in poorer countries? Or is our money being squandered by a self-serving euro-elite of unaccountable politicians and incompetent bureaucrats, or else devoured in a feeding frenzy of fraud and corruption where a few lucky insiders become unimaginably rich at our expense? And is the tsunami of regulation pouring out of Brussels in reality strangling industry, destroying jobs, restricting personal freedom, desecrating the environment and further impoverishing the developing world?Using their extensive network of insider sources, David Craig and Matthew Elliott smash through the secrecy and disinformation that are the Brussels hallmark to reveal what our European rulers are really getting up to. The result is a horrifying story of bureaucracy, hypocrisy and kleptocracy - and how we are all suffering as a result.
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.
Brideshead Abbreviated: The Digested Read of the Twentieth Century
by John CraceJohn Crace's 'Digested Read' column in the Guardian has rightly acquired a cult following. Each week fans avidly devour his latest razor-sharp literary assassination, while authors turn tremblingly to the appropriate page of the review section, fearful that it may be their turn to be mercilessly sent up.Now he turns his critical eye on the classics of the last century, offering bite-sized pastiches of everything from Mrs Dalloway to Trainspotting via Lolita and The Great Gatsby. Those who have never quite got around to reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man will be delighted to find its essence distilled into a handful of paragraphs. Those who have never really enjoyed Lord of the Flies will be pleased to find it hilariously parodied in an easily swallowable 982 words. And those who find all such works a little highbrow will be relieved to discover, between the covers of this book, John Crace's take on the likes of Ian Fleming, P. G. Wodehouse and the Highway Code.Witty and sharp, this is essential reading both for those who genuinely love literature and for those who merely want to appear ridiculously well read.
Senna Versus Prost
by Malcolm FolleyIn the late eighties and early nineties, Formula One was at its most explosive, with thrilling races, charismatic drivers, nail-biting climaxes - and the most deadly rivalry ever witnessed in sport. Two of Formula One's most honoured champions and iconic figures drove together for McLaren for two seasons, and their acrimonious and hostile relationship extended even after one of them had left the team. ALAIN PROST, France's only F1 world champion, the intelligent, smooth driver with the epithet 'Le Professeur'. AYRTON SENNA, the mercurial kid from a privileged background in Sao Paolo who would become the most intense and ruthless racing driver the world has ever seen. It was a story that would have a tragic ending. As the great rivals raced to victory, their relationship deteriorated badly, beginning with the breaking of a gentleman's agreement, and public spats followed, culminating in Prost accusing Senna of deliberately trying to ride him off the circuit, and fearful that the Brazilian would get someone killed with his daring overtaking feats. And the final, sad act of this drama happened at the San Marino Grand prix at Imola in May 1994, when Senna was killed. Featuring a rare interview with Prost, and insight from Martin Brundle, Damon Hill, Sir Frank Williams, Bernie Ecclestone, Derek Warrick, Johnny Herbert, Gerhard Berger, plus McLaren insiders and other F1 figures, Malcolm Folley provides us with a breath-taking account of one of the all-time classic sporting rivalries.
How to Talk Like a Local: A National Phrasebook from the author of Word Perfect
by Susie Dent'Susie Dent is a national treasure' RICHARD OSMAN'Susie Dent is a one-off. She breathes life and fun into words and language' PAM AYRES__________________________________________Would you be bewildered if someone described you as radgy?Do you know how to recognise a tittamatorter?And would you understand if someone called you a culchie?How to Talk Like a Local gathers together hundreds of words from all over the country and digs down to uncover their origins. From dardledumdue, which means daydreamer in East Anglia, through forkin robbins, the Yorkshire term for earwigs, to clemt, a Lancashire word that means hungry, it investigates an astonishingly rich variety of regional expressions, and provides a fascinating insight into the history of the English language.If you're intrigued by colourful words and phrases, if you're interested in how English is really spoken, or if you simply want to find out a bit more about the development of our language, How to Talk Like a Local is irresistible - and enlightening - reading.__________________________________________________'Nobody on earth knows more about the English language than Susie Dent and nobody writes about it more entertainingly' GYLES BRANDRETH'It's an interesting and, at times, hilarious read. One for word-lovers' THE SUN
Forgotten Fruits: The stories behind Britain's traditional fruit and vegetables
by Christopher StocksIn Forgotten Fruits, Christopher Stocks tells the fascinating - often rather bizarre - stories behind Britain's rich heritage of fruit and vegetables. Take Newton Wonder apples, for instance, first discovered around 1870 allegedly growing in the thatch of a Derbyshire pub. Or the humble gooseberry which, among other things, helped Charles Darwin to arrive at his theory of evolution. Not to mention the ubiquitous tomato, introduced to Britain from South America in the sixteenth century but regarded as highly poisonous for hearly 200 years.This is a wonderful piece of social and natural history that will appeal to every gardener and food aficionado.
Valentine
by The Estate of Rebecca FarnworthWill a shocking secret cause a rising star to fall?Valentine Fleming dreams of making it as an actress but after years of failed auditions and bit parts her hopes are fading fast - so too is her self-esteem. She is staring into the abyss and a large jar of peanut butter. Her love life is faring no better, with too much time wasted with an ex who has bad news written all over him. So when she gets a call from her agent telling her she has a part in a play with a sexy leading man, she's over the moon. She's not packing her bags for the Hollywood hills just yet but could this be her lucky break? But just as it seems that her luck might be set to change she learns a shocking secret and Valentine's world is turned upside down...Rebecca Farnworth's first novel is an enchanting page turner with a heroine who you just can't help warming to, however many mistakes she makes....
Holding Court
by Chris GorringeWimbledon is a paradox. While outwardly appearing the quintessential English lawn tennis club, as much a part of being British as strawberries and cream or picnics in the park, it is in fact the largest annual outside broadcast operation in the world and a multi-million pound commercial enterprise. Remarkably, an enterprise that generates its profit in just two weeks of the year. It is also something we do rather well. Which other tennis tournament in the world can describe itself as simply, "The Championships"?Chris Gorringe is the man who, for twenty-six years, made it all happen. The former chief executive, fondly referred to as "Clockwork Gorringe," has dealt with everything from the 1973 players' boycott, the McEnroe tantrums, and Middle Sunday, to the demands for equal prize money and the Olympic bid. He has witnessed some of the greatest names in the sport producing some of their most dazzling performances - from Navratilova to the Williams sisters, from Borg to Federer - while assisting with the requirements of and demands on today's high-profile professional tennis players. During his tenure, revenue increased from £58,000 in his first year, to £27m in his last. In Holding Court, he charts the unique journey of one of the country's most venerable establishments, where decisions are still made through a committee system dating back to 1868, into the modern era. For anyone who has ever been captivated by McEnroe v Borg, soaked up the atmosphere in Aorangi Park, or been intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes at SW19, Holding Court is a must-read. Wimbledon is a national institution. When play starts on the first Monday, millions of followers tune in. This book is for them.