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Life of St Columba
by Adomnan of IonaFounding father of the famous monastery on the island of Iona, a site of pilgrimage ever since his death in 597, St Columba was born into one of the ruling families in Ireland at a time of immense expansion for the Irish Church. This account of his life, written by Adomnán - the ninth abbot of Iona, and a distant relative of St Columba - describes his travels from Ireland to Scotland and his mission in the cause of Celtic Christianity there. Written 100 years after St Columba's death, it draws on written and oral traditions to depict a wise abbot among his monks, who like Christ was capable of turning water into wine, controlling sea-storms and raising the dead. An engaging account of one of the central figures in the 'Age of Saints', this is a major work of early Irish and Scottish history.
A Love Like Ours: an engrossing and captivating saga set in Cardiff from much-loved and bestselling author Rosie Harris
by Rosie HarrisWith all her signature warmth, wonderful characters and unforgettable drama, lose yourself in this moving saga of one girl's battle to stay true to her word in the face of adversity from much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris. Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin.What readers are saying!'I was captivated by this book and could not put it down' - 5 STARS'A wonderful read' - 5 STARS'One of those books you cannot put down' - 5 STARS'Excellent story telling!' - 5 STARS'Very hard to put down' - 5 STARS*********************************************************************************THEY SHARE A SECRET, BUT NO ONE MUST EVER KNOW...When seventeen-year-old Ruth Davies' father is invalided out of the Great War, the whole family has little choice but to move to the infamous Tiger Bay area of Cardiff. Not only faced with a life of adversity, Ruth and her mother Caitlin also share a secret, one that must remain hidden at all costs...Life is tough. Ruth and Caitlin's wages are barely enough to put food on the table, let alone pay the rent. And an increasingly neglected young Glynis runs wild... When Caitlin contracts tuberculosis and dies they have no option but to move into an even more squalid neighbourhood. But Ruth is still determined to keep their secret, at all costs.That is, until their father dies unexpectedly and an ever more desperate Ruth and Glynis find themselves living hand-to-mouth.WILL SHE STAY TRUE TO HER PROMISE WHEN NEEDS MUST?
Knights Of The Cross: the extraordinary story of the First Crusade - gripping from the first page
by Tom HarperPerfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Lindsey Davis, Steven Pressfield, this breathtaking and captivating novel brings the Crusades to life in all their triumphant and tragic glory.'Gripping from the first page, the reader is swept up in this colourful and convincing portrayal of an Emperor and his realm under siege.' - Ink'Superb read. Thoroughly enjoyed it' -- ***** Reader review'Highly enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review'Brilliant.' -- ***** Reader review'Holds your interest from [the first] to the last page' -- ***** Reader review********************************************************************AN ASSASSIN IS ON THE LOOSE...AND AN EMPIRE STANDS IN PERILByzantium, 1096: When a mysterious assassin fires his arrow at the Emperor, he has more than a man in his sights; as the keystone of a crumbling empire, if he falls, then the mightiest power in Christendom will be torn apart. Aware of the stakes, the Emperor hires Demetrios Askiates, the unveiler of mysteries, to catch the would-be-killer.But Demetrios is entering an unknown and mysterious world and must edge his way through a glittering maze of treachery and deceit before time runs out. Nor are all enemies within the city walls. With the Turks rampant across Asia, the Emperor has sent to the west for mercenaries to reinforce his position.When a great army, tens of thousands strong, appears before the gates, he gets more than he bargained for. The first crusaders have arrived, intent on making their fortunes in war, and they have no allegiance to an empire they eye with jealousy and suspicion.As the armies of east and west confront each other, and the assassin creeps ever closer to his prey, Demetrios must untangle the golden web of intrigue which surrounds the Emperor before the city - and the empire - are drowned in blood.
Ladybird Classics: The Railway Children
by E. NesbitThis Ladybird Classic is an abridged retelling of the classic story of The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit, making it perfect for introducing the story to younger children, or for newly confident readers to tackle alone.Beautiful new illustrations throughout bring the magic of this classic story to a new generation of children.
Love Letters: Vita and Virginia
by Vita Sackville-West Virginia WoolfDelve into a legendary literary love affair'I am reduced to a thing that wants Virginia. I composed a beautiful letter to you in the sleepless nightmare hours of the night, and it has all gone. I just miss you...'At a dinner party in 1922, Virginia Woolf met the renowned author, aristocrat - and sapphist - Vita Sackville-West. Virginia wrote in her diary that she didn't think much of Vita's conversation, but she did think very highly of her legs. It was to be the start of almost twenty years of flirtation, friendship, and literary collaboration. Their correspondence ended only with Virginia's death in 1941.Intimate and playful, these selected letters and diary entries allow us to hear these women's constantly changing feelings for each other in their own words. Eavesdrop on the affair that inspired Virginia to write her most fantastical novel, Orlando, and discover a relationship that - even a hundred years later - feels radical and relatable.WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION FROM ALISON BECHDEL, AUTHOR OF FUN HOME AND CREATOR OF THE BECHDEL TEST.
In A Rare Time Of Rain
by Milner PlaceDescribed in the Telegraph as 'Huddersfield's Melville', Milner Place has spent much of his life sailing the seven seas as a skipper of a trading boat, while also writing beautifully crafted poetry. His two pamphlet collections. The CONFUSION OF ANGELS and WHERE SMOKE IS, has sold out and been reprinted, and this (at the age of sixty) is his first full length collection, Simon Armitage's first acquisition for the Chatto Poetry list. Place's poems have an international or universal quality, influenced by Neruda and Rilke rather than Auden: they are lyrical and wise, rather than quotidian and clever. Some of the poems are sea-going yarns, others are set in South America and read like Gabriel Garcia Marquez in verse. There are also a handful of characters portraits, and a wonderful long poem, 'Lum Street', based on a row of terraced houses, its tenants and their relationships to each other. IN A RARE TIME OF RAIN is a powerful and assured first collection, and brings an unusual new voice into British Poetry.
Just So Stories
by Rudyard Kipling'Hear and attend and listen; for this befell and behappened and became and was'Have you ever enquired why the elephant has such an enormously elongated nose? Are you confused by a cat's contrary nature? Have you ruminated on the wrinkles of a rhinocerous? Or speculated on a leopard's spots? Rudyard Kipling wondered about all these things too, and in this marvellous collection of stories he imagines how the animals became 'just so'.Includes exclusive material: In the Backstory you can find out why Just So Stories is one of Philip Pullman’s favourite books and discover wacky facts about wild animals!Vintage Children’s Classics is a twenty-first century classics list aimed at 8-12 year olds and the adults in their lives. Discover timeless favourites from The Jungle Book and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland to modern classics such as The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
The Life of Samuel Johnson
by James BoswellIn Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson, one of the towering figures of English literature is revealed with unparalleled immediacy and originality. While Johnson’s Dictionary remains a monument of scholarship, and his essays and criticism command continuing respect, we owe our knowledge of the man himself to this biography. Through a series of wonderfully detailed anecdotes, Johnson emerges as a sociable figure with a huge appetite for life, crossing swords with other great eighteenth-century luminaries, from Garrick and Goldsmith to Burney and Burke – even his long-suffering friend and disciple James Boswell. Yet Johnson had a vulnerable, even tragic, side and anxieties and obsessions haunted his private hours. Boswell’s sensitivity and insight into every facet of his subject’s character ultimately make this biography as moving as it is entertaining.Based on the 1799 edition, Christopher Hibbert’s abridgement preserves the integrity of the original, while his fascinating introduction sets Boswell’s view of Samuel Johnson against that of others of the time.
Just Sayin': My Life In Words
by Malorie BlackmanThe long-awaited autobiography of one of the world's greatest children's writers, and an empowering and inspiring account of a life in books.Malorie Blackman OBE is one of Britain's best loved and most widely-read writers. For over thirty years, her books have helped to shape British culture, and inspired generations of younger readers and writers. The Noughts and Crosses series, started in 2000, sparked a new and necessary conversation about race and identity in the UK, and are already undisputed classics of twenty-first-century children's literature.She is also a writer whose own life has been shaped by books, from her childhood in south London, the daughter of parents who moved to Britain from Barbados as part of the Windrush Generation, and who experienced a childhood that was both wonderful and marred by the everyday racism and bigotry of the era. She was told she could not apply to study her first love, literature, at university, in spite of her academic potential, but found a way to books and to a life in writing against a number of obstacles.This book is an account of that journey, from a childhood surrounded by words, to the 83 rejection letters she received in response to sending out her first project, to the children's laureateship. It explores the books who have made her who she is, and the background to some the most beloved and powerful children's stories of today. It is an illuminating, inspiring and empowering account of the power of words to change lives, and the extraordinary life story of one of the world's greatest writers.
Knight's Fee
by Rosemary SutcliffRandall is an unloved and unwanted orphan kennel boy at Arundel Castle. And then, one fateful day, he upsets the new Lord's mettlesome horse.Against the violent and turbulent backdrop of Norman England, Sutcliff tells the moving story of a young boy who is wagered and won in a game of chess between a lord and a minstrel . . .
Ladybird Classics: Peter Pan
by J. M. BarrieThis beautiful Ladybird Classic ebook edition of Peter Pan by Sir J. M. Barrie is a perfect first illustrated introduction to the classic Neverland story for younger readers.It has been sensitively abridged and retold to make it suitable for sharing with young children from 5+, whilst retaining all the key parts of the story including Peter's ongoing feud with Captain Hook, his adventures with Wendy, John and Michael as well as the friendship between the Lost Boys. Detailed full-colour illustrations throughout also help to bring this classic tale to life. Other exciting titles in the Ladybird Classics series include Alice in Wonderland, Black Beauty, Gulliver's Travels, The Secret Garden, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and Treasure Island.
The Life of Rylan
by Rylan Clark-Neal*The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller*Well hark at you, stumbling upon my autobiography. Bet you wouldn't have put money on that three years ago, eh?! Please don't stress yourself out too much, though, it's actually socially acceptable nowadays that you're interested. Firstly I'd like to emphasise that I have WRITTEN THIS BOOK MYSELF, so be assured you're getting the TOOTH, the WHOLE TOOTH and NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH! (Which was my original choice of title, but babe, we're so over that.) This book documents my story, year by year, from my humble beginnings growing up in the East End of London, becoming one of the nation's most talked-about people overnight to finally moving up the spectrum from guilty pleasure, and getting nearer to national treasure.It will make you laugh, cry, and most importantly you'll discover who I really am. If it doesn't do any of those things you're not legally entitled to a refund - just clearing that up ;-).I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it. This book has been like therapy, and LORD was I in need. Enjoy!
Love Lessons
by Jacqueline WilsonFourteen-year-old Prue and her sister Grace have been educated at home by their controlling, super-strict father all their lives. Forced to wear Mum's odd hand-made garments and forbidden from reading teenage magazines, they know they're very different to 'normal' girls - but when Dad has a stroke and ends up in hospital, unable to move or speak, Prue suddenly discovers what it's like to have a little freedom. Sent to a real school for the first time, Prue struggles to fit in. The only person she can talk to is her kindly, young - and handsome - art teacher, Rax. They quickly bond, and Prue feels more and more drawn to him. As her feelings grow stronger, she begins to realise that he might feel the same way about her. But nothing could ever happen between them - could it?
In Pursuit of the Truth: My life cracking the Met’s most notorious cases (subject of the ITV series, Stephen)
by Clive DriscollThe true story behind the ITV series, StephenFormer Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll is most famous for being the man who finally secured convictions for the murder of Stephen Lawrence, a case previously mired by claims of institutional racism and corruption. For Clive, it was the pinnacle of a 35-year career with the world's most famous police force, the Metropolitan Police Service.Clive's prodigious rise through the ranks of the Met saw him front some of the most high-profile units at Scotland Yard. He was put in charge of their policy for sexual offences, domestic violence, child protection and the paedophile unit before heading up the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force tackling their backlist of cold cases. From action-packed moments chasing down criminals to more tender occasions, like gaining the trust of a murder victim's family, to making crucial legal history, and unearthing huge national scandals, In Pursuit of the Truth is the definitive account of modern day policing, its successes and failings included, seen through the eyes of a man who has dedicated his life to making a difference. This is a book that every part of society can learn from.
Joe Dolan: The Official Biography
by Ronan CaseyGrowing up in poor circumstances in the midlands town of Mullingar might seem an unlikely start for a musical superstar, but that's exactly the journey Joe Dolan travelled in his amazing life. Not only that, Joe never forgot his roots and loved Mullingar to the day he died.From losing his father at a tragically young age, to his bold decision while still a teenager to throw in a good job and pursue his dream of playing music for a living, to early stardom with The Drifters and conquering the USSR, to his later re-emergence for a new generation of fans as the iconic Man in the White Suit - the amazing, mad, bad and funny stories behind the legendary career will be told for the first time.It is a colourful, life-affirming, revealing and hugely entertaining biography that is a fitting tribute to such a beloved performer.
Kneelers: The Unsung Folk Art of England and Wales
by Elizabeth BinghamA charming and witty history of the quirky - but surprisingly widespread - craft of embroidering kneeler cushions. The perfect gift book this Christmas, for those who love kneelers and those who don't!'A lovely look at a not-quite-vanishing craft that lies, literally, below our knees ... Inventive and interesting' The Oldie, 'Best Reads for All Ages This Christmas''A treasure of a collection' Amber Butchart, of BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee'I think I may already have discovered the best non fiction book of 2023' Reverend Richard Coles, author of A Murder Before EvensongKneelers is a celebration of the most widely practised - but often overlooked - folk art in England and Wales over the past ninety years: the design and craft of church kneelers. Featuring charming stories and enchanting designs from churches across the country, the book traces the history of kneelers; from their spectacular beginnings at Winchester in the 1930s to their booming popularity after Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and the present-day congregations who are keeping the tradition alive.In their range and diversity, the kneelers collected here form a fascinating social record of the concerns and interests that occupied their makers - including local fauna and flora, cricket, dragons, post-war tributes and the thrills of high-speed travel.Filled to the brim with beautiful full-colour images, Kneelers displays the quirky artistry and widely varied (and often surprising) motifs which have characterised church kneelers in the twentieth century. It rejoices in the personal stories of some of the people who have practised and advanced the art form, and is a wonderful commemoration of what happens when communities come together to celebrate their history and their environment.'A glorious and delightful salute' Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread'This book is a Godsend!' Alan Titchmarsh, author of The Gardener's Almanac
The Love Knot: an intriguing, romantic bestseller about the Victorian politics of love and marriage from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamThree friends make their mark on the world in this captivating and moving saga. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries.'Perfectly evokes the atmosphere of a bygone era...An entertaining Victorian romance' -- WOMAN'S OWN'I was surprised by this book. I'm not a romantic... but this did leave a little warm glow in my heart by the end.' - ***** Reader Review'A very enjoyable read, I loved the ending' - ***** Reader Review'I laughed and cried at this tale, could visualise the characters, scenery and the story' - ***** Reader Review'Great book, grabs you on the first page' - ***** Reader Review*****************************************************************************************************THREE GREAT FRIENDS. THREE VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES...Following the death of her mother, Leonie Lynch is brought up in London's Eastgate Street by foster parents, her living expenses provided for by her young mother's friend, Lady Angela Bentick.When she turns eighteen, her godmother, the redoubtable Mrs Dodd, turns to Lady Angela to ask that she takes her on as a nurse at her nursing home and it is upon starting work that Leonie meets our two other heroines - Mercy Cordel and Dorinda Montgomery.Mercy grew up at the family home, Cordel Court in Somerset, and shortly after her seventeenth birthday, was brought up to London by her stepmother for the London Season. Dorinda Montgomery, on the other hand, has hardly ridden up and down Rotten Row more than a half a dozen times before she has captured the heart of every masher around town. Within days she is a famous member of the demi-monde, with her own house and carriage in St John's Wood.Meanwhile, Mercy Cordel is hard put to find a dancing partner. That she eventually finds a husband in the hard-bitten, hard-riding John Brancaster is a source of happy amazement to her.Society seems to reward Dorinda Montgomery more than it does the virtuous girl pushed into marriage with a suitably older husband. Certainly this is how it seems to Leonie Lynch, the only one of the three who has quite made up her mind to dedicate herself to something other than marriage...
Jock Stein: The Celtic Years
by David Potter Tom Campbell'I am proud to say that I knew Jock Stein as a football manager, as a colleague and as a friend . . . he was the greatest manager in British football . . . men like Jock will live forever in the memory' - Sir Alex FergusonDuring his long reign at Celtic, Jock Stein was a legendary figure in the world of football. He led a youthful Celtic side to a memorable European Cup triumph in Lisbon in 1967 and was in charge of the home-grown Celtic teams which won nine Scottish league championships in a row as well as numerous domestic trophies.Tom Campbell and David Potter have produced an affectionate and in-depth portrait of Stein but are not afraid to delve below the surface of the legend to examine the manager's mistakes and failings as well as his triumphs and strengths. Calling upon such expert witnesses as Bobby Murdoch, Ronnie Simpson and Charlie Gallagher, and on a host of other important figures in the game, this book presents a detailed and fully rounded picture of a man who, at the height of his powers at Celtic Park, revolutionised the game of football in Scotland.
Just One More Question: Stories from a Life in Neurology
by Niall TubridyThe No 1 Bestseller'Compelling ... colourful, thoughtful' Sunday Independent'Tubridy's compassionate, no-nonsense approach makes him a comforting guide through the landscape of neurological medicine' Irish Times__________As a medical student Niall Tubridy fell in love with neurology. Figuring out how the brain and nervous system signal problems was a form of high stakes detective work and answers could be life-changing.Just One More Question is the story of Niall Tubridy's career in neurology. He shares the stories of encounters that are, by turn, poignant, dramatic and funny, such as...- The chef who goes for his usual morning walk, and loses his memory for the next six hours- The painter who believes her left hand is her guardian angel- The eager young lover whose head 'explodes' every time he orgasmsUsing simple and illuminating language Tubridy also explains well-known conditions like multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease and Parkinson's and and brings us into the examining room as he accompanies patients with these diagnoses on their challenging path.In addition, he reflects candidly on the reasons he, a doctor's son, went into medicine, how he has been tested, and what he has learned about people - and about himself - along the way.Revealing, gripping and moving, Just One More Question will make you think in a new way about the human brain - and about what it's like to be a doctor.__________'Fascinating ... teems with interesting characters' Sunday Business Post '[Oliver] Sacks hoped that his neurological tales ... could bring us closer to where the psychic and the physical meet ... Tubridy's concerns are less rarefied. He wants us to understand the human toll that illness takes' Sunday Times'It's a most readable book. There's no jargon in it' Seán O'Rourke, RTÉ'[My brother] has written a book which has to be one of the most extraordinary books written in Irish medical history! I would say that, wouldn't I? But it is great. It's really good, really accessible, a super read. We're all very proud of him' Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ 'Fascinating' Liz Nugent'Very interesting and very entertaining' Pat Kenny'Niall's sense of wonder at the human brain is enormously clear even with almost three decades of work in the field under his belt' RTÉ Lifestyle'Will make you think in a whole new way about the human brain' Ireland AM'A book that will fascinate you with the patients' tales but leave you at the end pondering the notion of what life really is' Journal.ie'Simple and illuminating' Irish News'Written in a very accessible way for non-medical people, like myself' Dave Fanning, RTÉ
Ladybird Classics: Oliver Twist
by Charles DickensThis Ladybird Classic ebook is an abridged retelling of the classic story of Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, making it perfect for introducing the story to younger children, or for newly confident readers to tackle alone.Beautiful new illustrations throughout and a gorgeous larger format with ribbon marker bring the excitement of this classic story to a new generation of children.
A Life of Picasso Volume II: 1907 1917: The Painter of Modern Life (Life of Picasso #2)
by John RichardsonJohn Richardson draws on the same combination of lively writing, critical astuteness, exhaustive research, and personal experience which made a bestseller out of the first volume and vividly recreates the artist's life and work during the crucial decade of 1907-17 - a period during which Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque invented Cubism and to that extent engendered modernism. Richardson has had unique access to untapped sources and unpublished material. By harnessing biography to art history, he has managed to crack the code of cubism more successfully than any of his predecessors. And by bringing a fresh light to bear on the artist's often too sensationalised private life, he has succeeded in coming up with a totally new view of this paradoxical man of his paradoxical work. Never before has Picasso's prodigious technique, his incisive vision and not least his sardonic humour been analysed with such clarity.
In A Province
by Sir Laurens Van Der PostLast year the rain went away. It became very dry; there was no water and the sun killed the crops of my father. Leaving the kraal and misty Valley of a Thousand Hills, Kenon has come to Port Benjamin in search of work. In Johan he finds a master and a friend. For a time it seems their unorthodix friendship can break down the barrier between black and white. But storm clouds are gathering and the forces of love and politics will explode into tradedy.
Just One More Day: A Memoir
by Susan LewisIn 1960s Bristol, a family is overshadowed by tragedyWhile Susan, a typically feisty seven-year-old, is busy being brave, her mother, Eddress, is struggling for courage. Though bound by an indestructible love, their journey through a world that is darkening with tragedy is fraught with the kind of misunderstandings that bring as much laughter as pain, and as many dreams as nightmares. How does a child cope when faced with a wall of adult secrets? What does a mother do when her biggest fear starts to become a reality? Because it's the Sixties, and because it's shameful to own up to feelings, Eddress tries to deny the truth, while Susan creates a world that will never allow her mother to leave. Set in a world where a fridge is a luxury, cars have starting handles, and where bingo and coupons bring in the little extras, Just One More Day is a deeply moving true-life account, told by mother and daughter, of how the spectre of death moved into their family, and how hard they tried to pretend it wasn't there.
Knee Deep in Life: Wife, Mother, Realist… and why we’re already enough
by Laura BelbinSUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'I just howled. Bloomin' love you' Giovanna Fletcher'You're hilarious. Thank you for making me laugh every day' Mrs Hinch When does Mary Effing Poppins arrive? Laura Belbin survived hitting her thirties (oh, to be wrinkle-free again), anxiety (just), motherhood (two adorable little shits) and the new body that went with it (a left tit that sags slightly more than the right, anyone?). In Knee Deep in Life she gives a fearless and filthy account of her transformation from no-responsibilities woman to being in demand 24/7, the heartaches and humiliations, and most importantly, her (definitely-pushed-to-the-limits-but-totally-indestructible) marriage to Steve, the man who helped her to hold it together when post-natal depression kicked in.Full of heart and wit - not to mention swearing that would make a sailor blush - this is the beast of a book Laura intends on riding into the hands of those people who doubt themselves every single day: the ones who have struggled to accept the way they look; the mums-to-be about to find themselves taking their first step towards parenthood; and the women bossing it like badasses every single day but never getting the credit they deserve. You are more than enough.
The Love Key: How to Unlock Your Psychic Powers to Find True Love
by Joanna ScottRead your date's mind and unlock the secret to true love . . .The Love Key is the first book to combine psychic love advice with dating know-how, in a friendly, funny and accessible way that has mass market appeal. It shows you how to use your psychic intuition to date the right people and find true love.Joanna Scott, psychic counsellor on Sky's Psychic and Soul channel, teaches you to:* Discover your psychic abilities and master your romantic psychic skills* Mind-read your dates and discover exactly how they feel about you* Use your sixth sense to break negative patterns* Identify Mr Wrong before he breaks your heart, and attract a loving partner who is perfect for you