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Benny: The Life And Times Of A Fighting Legend
by John Burrowes'Before Benny, nobody from the Gorbals became World Champion of anything...'Benny Lynch was Scotland's first World Boxing Champion and the most talked-about British sportsman of his generation. In fact, many consider him to be the finest fighter the country has ever produced.Benny is the amazing account of how Lynch battled his way above and beyond the 'fifty-shilling men' of his home town of Glasgow to become the champion of Scotland, Britain, Europe and the world, earning a reputation as one of the greatest pugilists of all time. But this absorbing biography also details how his career sadly came to a premature halt because of Lynch's alcoholism, which destroyed his health and led to him being abandoned by his countless followers. It took his tragic death at the age of only 33 to restore the fallen idol to legendary status again.The gritty reality of the daily grind of life in the Depression-era Gorbals is captured vividly in this remarkable story of the rise and tragic fall of a fighting legend.
The Benn Diaries: 1940-1990
by Tony BennThe Benn Diaries, embracing the years 1940-1990, are already established as a uniquely authoritative, fascinating and readable record of political life. The selected highlights that form this single-volume edition include the most notable events, arguments and personal reflections throughout Benn's long and remarkable career as a leading politician.The narrative starts with Benn as a schoolboy and takes the reader through his youthful wartime experiences as a trainee pilot, his nervous excitement as a new MP during Clement Atlee's premiership and the tribulations of Labour in the 1950s, when the Conservatives were in firm control. It ends with the Tories again in power, but on the eve of Margaret Thatcher's fall, while Tony Benn is on a mission to Baghdad before the impending Gulf War.Over the span of fifty years, the public and private turmoil in British and world politics is recorded as Benn himself moves from wartime service to become the baby of the House, Cabinet Minister, and finally the Commons' most senior Labour Member.
The Benn Diaries: The Definitive Collection
by Tony BennTony Benn was one of the twentieth century's most charismatic politicians. The Benn Diaries, kept for almost seventy years, are a uniquely authoritative, fascinating and readable record of the political life of our times. This single-volume edition is the selected highlights of the complete diaries from Tony's schooldays in the 1940s until he ceased keeping a record of his day-to-day thoughts in 2009. The narrative starts with Tony as a schoolboy and takes the reader through his experience as a trainee pilot during the war, his tentative first days as a backbencher in Atlee's post-war government, through his battle to remain in the Commons after the death of his father. From cabinet posts and leadership battles, through election highs ands lows to becoming a retired widower. Tony Benn was a consistently radical voice campaigning for the causes he was passionate about. This volume is the definitive legacy of the best political diarist of our times.
Benjamin Britten (Penguin Specials)
by Igor Toronyi-LalicBenjamin Britten was one of the most important and unusual figures in twentieth-century music. This is the perfect introduction to his many wonderful works and his fascinating, controversial life.Benjamin Britten single-handedly transformed the reputation of British classical music. The enormous popular appeal of his great works, such as Peter Grimes (1945) and the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (1946), make him the most successful opera composer of any born in the twentieth century. But his success was not without controversy and pain: he was accused of fleeing Britain to avoid military service, he was widely known to be sexually obsessed with boys and he suffered an astonishing array of illnesses. This short book combines a colourful overview of his life with pithy descriptions of all of his major musical works, providing an intimate portrait of this highly unusual man and a persuasive account of his influences, reputation and importance.Each chapter tackles a key episode and theme in his life, from his first compositions at the age of 5, his early friendship and collaboration with W H Auden and the beginnings of his life-long relationship with the tenor Peter Pears, through to his great musical successes and the establishment of the influential, if tempestuous, Aldeburgh Festival, as well as his failures, such as his coronation opera Gloriana (known as 'Boriana') and being satirised by Dudley Moore in Beyond the Fringe - and ending with frank discussions of his naïve politics, his troubling sexuality and his glorious musical legacy.Published to coincide with his 100th anniversary of his birth, this is the perfect introduction to a towering figure of British culture.Igor Toronyi-Lalic is a critic and curator. He writes regularly on music for, among others, The Times and Sunday Telegraph. He is a founder of theartsdesk.com, the author of What's That Thing? (2012), a report on public art, and co-director of the London Contemporary Music Festival.
Beneath the Ice
by Patrick WoodheadThe brand new gripping thriller from the author of The Secret Chamber.Two kilometres beneath the frozen ice caps of Antarctica lies a lake, unfrozen and perfectly preserved for twenty million years. Luca Matthews has been tasked by MI6 officer Kieran Bates to lead a team of scientists to the site to discover what secrets lie trapped below.But Bates has a secret of his own, and his actions are not going unnoticed. When mining investigator ‘Bear’ Makuru cannot reach Luca, she starts to dig into Bates’ past – uncovering a plot more sinister than she could ever have imagined. Bear needs to warn Luca – and fast. But there is an even greater threat tracking Luca across the frozen landscape: a killer who has been waiting through the long, dark months for a single chance to strike.Luca has only eight days to work out who he can trust. Antarctica is shutting down for the winter and if he doesn’t get out now, he never will.
The Bend For Home
by Dermot HealyA funny, direct, lively and moving account of growing up in small-town Ireland. Healy lovingly coaxes his childhood into being until, one day, his elderly mother hands him the coded diary he kept as a teenage tearaway and the uncut past burst in like a blast of raw air.
Ben
by Kerry Needham‘It’s amazing how some people can light up a room just by stepping into it. Ben was twenty-one months old and full of smiles. He spread happiness simply by being there.’In 1991 Kerry and her son Ben followed Kerry’s parents to live on the Greek island of Kos. On 24 July, she was at work when her mum Christine arrived crying uncontrollably. Ben had been playing outside, and then disappeared. Someone had taken Ben.In her heartbreaking memoir, Kerry describes the agony of being initially suspected by the police, which meant the closure of airport and ferry terminals were delayed, the early sightings that raised their hopes and the hoaxes which dashed them completely. And the unbearable pain of knowing her baby boy was alone somewhere without his mum.Back in the UK, the long years of waiting and hoping have been difficult on the whole family. Kerry has raised her daughter, Leighanna, while following up more than 300 leads.In 2011 they had a breakthrough when South Yorkshire Police agreed to work with the Greek authorities to reopen the case. The chance that Ben will read about himself and come home becomes more real every day.All of Kerry's royalties from the sale of this book will go toward the Help Find Ben campaign.
Bellocq's Women
by Peter EverettIn 1912, in Storyville, the notorious red-light district of New Orleans, a photographer named E. J. Bellocq took a series of photographs of the women who worked in the brothels. Rediscovered in the 1950s, Bellocq's photographs have become famous, but the man himself remains a mystery.In Bellocq's Women, Peter Everett performs as remarkable a feat of fictional reconstruction as he did in Matisse's War and The Voyages of Alfred Wallis. All we have of Bellocq are his photographs and a few fragmentary memories; in this extraordinary novel Everett not only brings the photographer to life - and with him his strange, tortured relationship with his mother and two young girls, one his landlady's daughter, the other a child whore - but also his world - the opium dens and bar rooms of New Orleans and the whore houses with their surreal combination of violence and homeliness.
Bellies and Bullseyes: The Outrageous True Story of Darts
by Sid WaddellBellies and Bullseyes is simply the greatest account there will ever be about the sport of darts - as told by one of its most legendary characters - Sid Waddell. It mixes Sid's own personal journey from the coalfields of the North East with the entire history of the sport. What is revealed is a hilarious yet epic Darts Babylon, covering every significant event and every character to walk the oche from Eric 'The Crafty Cockney' Bristow to Phil 'The Power' Taylor.In words as ripe as his commentaries, Sid brings an authentic whiff of fags, hard drink, hot tungsten and moist polyester to the whole cabaret. Sid has been friend and confidante to most of darts' stars over the years as well as being instrumental in the game's progress himself. Nobody is equipped to tell the story quite like he is. From the early days of hustling in bars and the 1960s money-race pub competitions that spawned the likes of John Lowe and Leighton Rees, to ITV's brilliantly daft The Indoor League and the glory days of BBC's coverage; from the bling of Bobby George and the belly of Jocky Wilson to the awesome professionalism of Phil Taylor; from smoky Northern working men's clubs to the Houses of Parliament; this is the complete, incredible story of darts.
Belle Submission
by Yolanda CelbridgeDomineering Trina Guelph is intrigued at her new corporate mission - to run the quaint Louisiana island of New Arras, a female academy with a code of flagellant eighteenth-century French discipline, to train submissive, sultry southern belles. She suffers serial misunderstandings as she is imprisoned as a spy, then the subject of court intrigues and battles for domination, waged with the lash and the tawse. Throughout her ordeal, Trina quivers under strict discipline until she accepts her true nature, as a submissive belle. As long as Trina is aorund, the men of the South are sure to rise again and again.
Bella's Blade
by Georgia AngelisIt's 1666 and the coffee houses of London are thriving. Neither plague nor fire can quell the lusty hearts of the fops and rakes who frequent these hostelries of ill-repute. Into such a world walks Bella Flowers - a lion-hearted young woman with an eye for handsome highwaymen and a taste for finery.Her good looks soon catch the attention of royalty, blackguards and a particularly dashing captain of a clipper ship. She journeys to the port of Bristol and sets sail for the Caribbean, but her voyage soon runs into trouble in the form of French pirates whose taste for sensual gluttony knows no civilised bounds. Will Bella be able to escape their rugged clutches? Will she even want to?
Bella Younger's Deliciously Stella
by Bella YoungerDeliciously Stella is the world's latest Instafoodie to take the chia seed-eating yoga-pant-wearing health world by storm. Here she tells all on how to get that elusive glow without breaking sweat and shares the#cleaneating life hacks she swears by to achieve a#strongnotskinny look and a #blessed outlook on life.Deliciously Stella is not your average superfoodie; she would rather turn her pictures upside down than brave a headstand and she thinks that Fruit Pastilles are one of your five-a-day. She's not a chef or a nutritionist, but in this day and age who needs to be? Anything can be a recipe if you put the right filter on it.Her first book is packed full of recipes, words of inspiration and yoga poses to help you #gettheglowin the time it takes you to massage your kale. This book will leave you feeling energised, happy and ready to hashtag your way back to health.
Bella: a deliciously upbeat and laugh-out-loud romance 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 upbeat and hilarious rom-com. Fans of Jojo Moyes, Marian Keyes, Dolly Alderton and Jane Fallon will love this perfect cocktail of love, passion, intrigue and suspense...'Jilly is about bringing joy into your life: daft, silly, boozy joy ... There is no one else like Cooper' -- Guardian'The Jane Austen of our time' - HARPERS & QUEEN'Unputdownable' -- Marian Keyes'The funniest and sharpest writer there is' -- Jenny Colgan'Flawlessly entertaining' -- Helen Fielding'Pure entertainment and a thoroughly enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review'An absolute must!' -- ***** Reader review'Love it this book so much!' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************There was no doubt Bella Parkinson was a success: the most promising actress in London, bright, sexy - and hopelessly scatterbrained - she was taking the town by storm.Rupert Henriques, dashingly handsome and wealthy enough to buy her every theatre in London if she wanted it, couldn't wait to marry her . . .But Bella had a secret in her past - and the one man who knew it was about to come into her life again. Worse, Rupert's sinister cousin Lazlo, for some reason of his own, was trying to prevent her marriage.Before she knew where she was, Bella found herself in real danger . . .
The Bell House: a sweeping novel of power and compassion from bestselling author Ruth Hamilton
by Ruth HamiltonThis heart-wrenching, moving and emotional saga full of twists and turns and highlighting the importance of love and understanding by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is a must - read for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox."I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"This book kept me enthralled to the very last page" -- ***** Reader review"A riveting read. Couldn't put it down." -- ***** Reader review"As always an impeccable story by Ruth, sadness, happiness and in between hilarious wit. A must read book which you will be loathe to put down." -- ***** Reader review"A truly superb book" -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************************WILL ONE FRIENDSHIP CHANGE THINGS FOREVER?Despite her strict 1950s Catholic upbringing, Madeleine Horrocks, doesn't understand why religion seems to force people apart. But her friend Amy has been brought up to believe that mixing with other religions results in eternal damnation, and when Maddy becomes friendly with George, a local, good-looking Jewish boy, Amy fears the worst. But as they grow up she, too, becomes friends with George, as well as with other young teenagers who meet secretly at the Bell House, an ancient place of burial.When a body is found in the nearby reservoir they all become threatened by tragedy and danger.Meanwhile, Father Sheahan, the whisky-soaked priest from the local church, has discovered that his secret past is catching up with him.Bigotry, lust and hatred have been so much a part of this community that it takes the combined forces of young and old - and particularly George's formidable grandmother Yuspeh - to bring everyone together and move forward positively.
The Bell Family
by Noel StreatfeildIf you love Noel Streatfeild’s Ballet Shoes, you’ll adore The Bell Family.'Well, little people, what's the news?’Meet the big, happy Bell family who live in the vicarage at St Marks.Father is a reverend; Mother is as kind as kind can be. Then there's all the children – practical Paul, dancing Jane, mischievous Ginnie, and finally the baby of the family, Angus, whose ambition is to own a private zoo (he has already begun with his six boxes of caterpillars). And not forgetting Esau, a surefire competitor for the most beautiful dog in Britain.Follow their eventful lives from tense auditions to birthday treats; from troubled times to hilarious escapades. The perfect Christmas gift for ballet-loving children.Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can find out which one of the Bell children you most resemble!
Belinda Bares Up
by Yolanda CelbridgeBritain, 1947. Schoolteacher Belinda Beaucui enters a twilight world of spivs, stolen nylons and flagellant parties and soon learns that post-war England is anything but austere. Teaching sultry girls in British Somaliland, meanwhile, requires rule by the cane. But when Belinda's prince enslaves her, she finds it is really her that craves a master's rod.
Believe. Build. Become.: How to Supercharge Your Career
by Debbie Wosskow Anna Jones***UPDATED WITH A NEW CHAPTER POST-PANDEMIC***Want to be your own boss? Or want to be THE boss? Start here.Believe. Build. Become. is a hands-on manual designed to help any woman develop the skills and mindset she needs to become a successful leader. Based on the AllBright Academy courses created by entrepreneur Debbie Wosskow (OBE, Founder of Love Home Swap) and leading businesswoman Anna Jones (former CEO of Hearst), Believe. Build. Become. offers a chapter-by-chapter system for readers to work through, focusing on the skills and confidence required to master the mindset of leadership. Debbie and Anna also reveal their own journeys to success - the gritty reality, the lessons learned and how they really got to the top. This is an inspirational, practical and accessible guide to becoming the boss you want to be.
Believe: Boxing, Olympics and my life outside the ring
by Nicola AdamsTHE STORY BEHIND THE WOMAN WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF BOXING FOREVER, OBE NICOLA ADAMSAt London 2012, Nicola Adams made history when she became the first woman ever to win an Olympic Gold medal for boxing. In Rio 2016, with the nation cheering her on, she did it all over again. Years of relentless training, fundraising and determination have seen Nicola battle through injury, prejudice and defeat to become one of Britain best-loved athletes and an inspiration to all those who are chasing after a seemingly impossible dream. From a leisure centre in Leeds to the Olympic Stadium in Rio, Nicola with her famous smile has become an LGBTQ+ icon and the poster girl for women in sport. This is her story of grit, talent and the real person behind the smile.Nicola partnered Katya Jones in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing first same-sex couple. ____________________WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT NICOLA:'One book every woman or girl should read' Reader Review'Fascinating to see how Nicola and her family had to fight to get women's boxing recognised' Reader Review'Nicola tells this story from the heart, very honest, very open' Reader Review'The positivity, strength, determination of Nicola is uplifting. I really appreciated how she fought for women's rights to do boxing' Reader Review
Bel-ami
by Guy MaupassantYoung, attractive and very ambitious, George Duroy, known to his friends as Bel-Ami, is offered a job as a journalist on La Vie francaise and soon makes a great success of his new career. But he also comes face to face with the realities of the corrupt society in which he lives - the sleazy colleagues, the manipulative mistresses and wily financiers - and swiftly learns to become an arch-seducer, blackmailer and social climber in a world where love is only a means to an end. Written when Maupassant was at the height of his powers, Bel-Ami is a novel of great frankness and cynicism, but it is also infused with the sheer joy of life - depicting the scenes and characters of Paris in the belle epoque with wit, sensitivity and humanity.
Being Sam Frears: A Life Less Ordinary (Penguin Specials)
by Mary MountThis is Sam Frears' story.This is also the story of an actor, a rock-climber and a man born with an extremely rare genetic disorder only affecting Ashkenazi Jews. Sam was supposed to live to the age of 5. In February, he celebrated his 40th birthday.Challenged by blindness and a body under great stress, Sam Frears is trying to live an ordinary life under extraordinary circumstances His struggles and triumphs offer an illuminating look at the differences - and similarities - that make us human. For those who enjoyed My Left Foot and Stuart: A Life Backwards, this Penguin Special offers a fresh look at what it's like to be Sam.
Being Human: The Road
by Simon GuerrierAnnie has learned quite a bit about her new friend Gemma: she's from Bristol, she used to work in a pharmacy, and she's never forgiven herself for the suicide of her teenage son. She also died ten years ago and doesn't know why she's come back through that door.Perhaps it has something to do with the new road they're building through the rundown part of town. The plans are sparking protests, and Annie knows those derelict houses hold a secret in Gemma's past. Will stopping the demolition help Gemma be at peace again? Annie, George and Mitchell get involved in the road protest, but they're more concerned by mysterious deaths at the hospital. Deaths that have also attracted the attention of the new Hospital Administrator...Featuring Mitchell, George and Annie, as played by Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Lenora Crichlow in the hit series created by Toby Whithouse for BBC Television
Being Human: Chasers
by Mark MichalowskiGeorge's friend, Kaz, arrives at the flat with a staggering request: she and her partner Gail want to have a child, and they'd like George to be the father. George is warming to the idea - he's always wanted kids, and he can be as involved in the baby's life as he wishes - but he is wary: what if his condition is genetic?Mitchell and Annie don't approve of the new plan, but Mitchell is wrestling with a difficult decision of his own. A patient at the hospital, Leo, is surprisingly good company for a pasty older bloke who believes the 1980s were a golden age. But he seems a little too interested in Mitchell's history - and he has a surprising request of his own in store for his new friend...Featuring Mitchell, George and Annie, as played by Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Lenora Crichlow in the hit series created by Toby Whithouse for BBC Television
Being Human: Bad Blood
by James GossOne of Annie's oldest friends has come looking for her - and what's more amazing is that she's found her. Denise is the ultimate party girl, and she's determined to bring Annie out of her shell. Mitchell is delighted, but George really thinks the last thing they need to do is to go out and meet new people.Annie and Denise throw themselves into organising a Bingo night at the local sports hall - after all, it's for charity, and what's not to love about having a good time? But why is Denise back in town? Why have Bristol's vampires suddenly started hanging around wherever they go? And why does George get the feeling that Bingo night is going to go horribly, horribly wrong?Featuring Mitchell, George and Annie, as played by Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey and Lenora Chichlow in the hit series created by Toby Whithouse for BBC Television
Being Happy (Penguin Great Ideas)
by Epicurus'It is impossible to live the pleasant life without also living sensibly, nobly and justly'The ancient Greek philosopher and teacher Epicurus argued that pleasure - not sensual hedonism, but the absence of pain or fear - is the highest goal of life. His hugely influential lessons on happiness are a call to appreciate the joy of being alive.One of twenty new books in the bestselling Penguin Great Ideas series. This new selection showcases a diverse list of thinkers who have helped shape our world today, from anarchists to stoics, feminists to prophets, satirists to Zen Buddhists.
Being Confident: Tips and Techniques to Help You Unlock Your Potential
by Judi JamesWould you like the confidence to achieve your goals and go for whatever you want?The good news is that anyone can learn how to be more confident and assertive. All it takes is some simple techniques and a change of attitude.Body language expert and motivational speaker Judi James reveals the secrets to transforming your confidence. Learn how to:- master the art of small talk- be assertive in the workplace- make a great impression on a first date- impress others with your public speaking or performing- be ready to crack any social sceneThis is an empowering guide that will give you the confidence to impress in any social situation.