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The Best of the Best American Poetry: 25th Anniversary Edition

by David Lehman

Robert Pinsky, distinguished poet and man of letters, selects the top 100 poems from twenty-five years of The Best American PoetryThis special edition celebrates twenty-five years of the Best American Poetry series, which has become an institution. From its inception in 1988, it has been hotly debated, keenly monitored, ardently advocated (or denounced), and obsessively scrutinized. Each volume consists of seventy-five poems chosen by a major American poet acting as guest editor—from John Ashbery in 1988 to Mark Doty in 2012, with stops along the way for such poets as Charles Simic, A. R. Ammons, Louise Glück, Adrienne Rich, Billy Collins, Heather McHugh, and Kevin Young. Out of the 1,875 poems that have appeared in The Best American Poetry, here are 100 that Robert Pinsky, the distinguished poet and man of letters, has chosen for this milestone edition.

Beyond Human Nature: How Culture and Experience Shape Our Lives

by Jesse J Prinz

In this provocative, revelatory tour de force, Jesse Prinz reveals how the cultures we live in - not biology - determine how we think and feel. He examines all aspects of our behaviour, looking at everything from our intellects and emotions, to love and sex, morality and even madness. This book seeks to go beyond traditional debates of nature and nurture. He is not interested in finding universal laws but, rather, in understanding, explaining and celebrating our differences. Why do people raised in Western countries tend to see the trees before the forest, while people from East Asia see the forest before the trees? Why, in South East Asia, is there a common form of mental illness, unheard of in the West, in which people go into a trancelike state after being startled? Compared to Northerners, why are people in the American South more than twice as likely to kill someone over an argument? And, above all, just how malleable are we?Prinz shows that the vast diversity of our behaviour is not engrained. He picks up where biological explanations leave off. He tells us the human story.

The Big Crowd

by Kevin Baker

Two Irish brothers journey from New York&’s East River to its halls of power in this &“masterwork of historical fiction&” by the author of Dreamland (Parade). Inspired by one of the great, unsolved murders in mob history, this novel tells the sweeping story of Charlie O&’Kane, a poor Irish immigrant who works his way up from beat cop to mayor of New York at the city&’s postwar zenith. Famous, powerful, and married to a fashion model, millions of local citizens look up to him, including his younger brother, Tom—until he is accused of abetting a shocking crime. The charges stem from his days as a crusading Brooklyn DA, when he sent the notorious killers of Murder, Inc., to the chair—only to let a vital witness fall to his death while under police guard. Now out of office, Charlie is hiding from the authorities in a Mexico City hotel. To uncover what really happened, Tom must confront stunning truths about his brother, himself, and the secret workings of the great city he loves. From the Brooklyn waterfront to City Hall, the battlefields of World War II to the glamorous nightclubs of 1940s Manhattan, The Big Crowd is filled with powerbrokers and gangsters, celebrities and socialites, scheming cardinals and battling dockside priests. But ultimately it is an American story of the bonds and betrayals of brotherhood—from &“the lit world&’s sharpest chronicler of New York&’s past&” (Rolling Stone).

Billy Bragg: Still Suitable for Miners

by Andrew Collins

'Love me or hate me. It's a great read’ - Billy Bragg He was a punk. He was a soldier. He was a flag-waver for the Labour Party and the miners. He is Billy Bragg, passionate protest folk singer and tireless promoter of political and humanitarian causes around the world. His life encapsulates so much about his generation: born in the late ’50s, passions forged by punk, politics shaped by Thatcherism, career inspired by engagement, hope provided by the end of the Cold War and ideology galvanised by what he sees as a ‘post-ideological’ twenty-first century. He adapts to survive: serious about compassion and accountability, he likes a laugh too, and has never forgotten where he comes from.Still Suitable for Miners is the official Billy Bragg story, tracing his life, family and career at close range from Barking to the present day. This 20th anniversary edition has been updated to include the rise of Corbyn, the unfolding of Brexit, Billy’s reclamation of skiffle and his overtures into Americana.

Black Heart

by Zak Jane Keir

Blackberry Blue: And Other Fairy Tales

by Jamila Gavin

A stunning collection of mystical fairy tales, Blackberry Blue is packed with picturesque moments that will bewitch readers - BooktrustStep into a magical world of enchanted forests, talking animals and wicked witches . . .These six magical stories will thrill and enchant you. Watch Blackberry Blue rise from the bramble patch; follow Emeka the pathfinder on his mission to save a lost king; join Princess Desire as she gallops across the Milky Way on her jet-black horse.These beautifully written and original stories will delight readers of all ages, and the stunning illustrations by Richard Collingridge will take your breath away.Gavin's six stories are spooky, engaging and refreshing in their originality. Complemented by Richard Collingridge's atmospheric illustrations, this lovely book deserves to become a classic. - Marilyn Brocklehurst, Bookseller

A Blaze of Autumn Sunshine: The Last Diaries

by Tony Benn

In this final volume of diaries, Tony Benn reflects on the compensations and the disadvantages of old age. With the support of a small circle of friends and his extended family, he continues his activities on behalf of social justice, peace and accountability in public life, to a background of political change and the international economic crisis. Following an illness in 2009 the diaries, kept for over sixty years, cease. Published here alongside these last diaries are Tony Benn’s highly personal insights into the challenges of old age and failing health, of widowhood,and of moving out of the family home after sixty years. Finally, we share in Tony Benn's hopes for the future based on his years of experience and his natural optimism.

Bleed Like Me: Scott & Bailey series 2 (Scott & Bailey #2)

by Cath Staincliffe

A family manThe bodies of a man, woman and child are found, lying in pools of blood. The owner of the inn where the bodies are discovered has fled. But he’s not alone – he’s taken his two young sons with him. No one knows what he’s going to do next...A professional frontDC Janet Scott has survived a terrifying attack, and is now having second thoughts about her life and steady marriage – but if she acts on her feelings she risks tearing her family apart. Her best friend DC Rachel Bailey is reeling from a love affair that could have killed her – literally. It’s hard to stay focussed.A united forceGill Murray has enough of her own problems without the team falling apart. She knows they must work together if they are to find the desperate man before he makes his final move. But one question haunts her: what will they have to do to stop him?

Blood of Kings

by Andrew James

Praise for Blood of Kings:'Extremely compelling..... an almost Game of Thrones feel at times. The novel is certainly a page-turner...I look forward to reading a continuation' Ancient Warfare Magazine'This is a brilliantly written and scrupulously researched historical novel that uniquely captures the atmosphere surrounding the rise to power of Darius, the greatest king of Ancient Persia. His story is interwoven with parallel events in Egypt and Greece, making this novel of absorbing interest to anybody with an interest in the ancient world' Dr John Curtis, OBE, FBA, formerly Keeper of the Department of Middle East, the British MuseumIt is 530 BC and Cyrus the Great has carved out the largest Empire the world had ever seen, making Persia the undisputed superpower of the ancient world. But there is treachery afoot, and Cyrus's life is in danger. In a fast paced tale of love, war, betrayal and revenge, Blood of Kings sweeps the reader up on an epic journey from the mud brick cities of Ancient Persia to the burning heart of Pharaoh's Egypt. Packed full of dramatic and authentic battle scenes, it recreates the sweat, blood and fear of ancient warfare, as Persia smashes Egypt's army and brings the reign of the Pharaohs to a violent end. But it is also a book that will delight Herodotus fans, bringing the ancient Greek historian's characters to life like never before, as it follows the doomed 'lost army of Cambyses' into the Libyan Desert, marching towards a fate that would baffle archaeologists for millennia to come. 'You must read Blood of Kings. . . a masterpiece of historical fiction' Dr Bryan Wood, Author'Vivid...original and fascinating' F. Bailey, Scriptwriter for BBC's 'Peak Practice' 'Andrew James has captured the very spirit of the Ancient Achaemenids . . . he literally takes the reader back in time to the Persians of old. I would highly recommend this historical novel . . .' Dr Kaveh Farrokh, Lecturer and Reader of History at the University of British Columbia Continuing Studies Division

Blood on the Streets: A Murderous History of Limerick

by Anthony Galvin

Limerick is known as the Treaty City, commemorating the site where peace was made during one of Ireland’s bloody wars. However, since the 1980s the city’s reputation has been tainted by gang feuds, earning it the infamous nickname ‘Stab City’.In Blood on the Streets, Anthony Galvin explores the many notorious murders that have been perpetrated in the city over the years, including the case of Deborah Hannon, who, along with her father’s lover, Suzanne Reddan, hacked her best friend to death with a Stanley knife. Galvin recounts the murder of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, shot by the IRA during a botched armed robbery, and the story of the last man hanged in Ireland following his conviction of the rape and murder of a nurse on a quiet suburban road.Blood on the Streets also spotlights the city’s hit men, including the only hit man in the country to have been convicted of murder twice, and delves into some of the most notorious of the recent gangland killings.

The Blotting Book

by E F Benson

A VINTAGE MURDER MYSTERYWH Auden, Nancy Mitford and Noel Coward were among his fans... But have you discovered E. F. Benson yet?Morris Assheton is in love and means to be married. But his happiness is spoilt when he discovers that someone has been whispering poisonous rumours about him to the girl’s father. The culprit is Mills, dastardly partner to the Assheton family's trusted lawyer. Morris vows revenge.When Mills’ body is discovered, brutally beaten, the ugly quarrel comes to light and suspicion naturally falls on Morris. His innocence is debated in a tense courtroom, as an eager public and press look on.Murder mystery... Courtroom drama. This is a classic whodunnit from the author of Mapp and Lucia. Crime fiction at its best.

Blue-Water Empire: The British in the Mediterranean since 1800

by Robert Holland

Blue-Water Empire is Robert Holland's magnificent narrative of Britain's military and cultural ties with the Mediterranean Sea, in the style of the epic naval histories of N. A. M. Rodger.Britain has been a major presence in the Mediterranean from the Battle of the Nile to the end of empire, as both a military and a colonising force on the islands and coastlines of the sea. Robert Holland traces the fascinating story of that presence, from its legacies in culture, language and law to the Mediterranean's own influence on Britain. Evoking the conflicts and contrasts between British and local societies caught up in dramatic events, as well as their mutual resilience under pressure, Blue Water Empire charts with vigour, flair and clarity the British experience in the Mediterranean in the age of empire.Reviews:'An important corrective to current historical amnesia ... the definitive account of Anglo-Mediterranean history for years to come' Amanda Foreman, New Statesman'A rich and readable account of the British in the Middle Sea ... As Holland's learned, lucid and enjoyable work makes clear, many British politicians saw the Mediterranean as the pre-eminent global strategic arena, representing the key to victory in Europe and Asia' Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times'This is an important subject, and it has never before been drawn together into a single coherent narrative ... Blue-Water Empire puts the land, not the sea, at the heart of the story' Literary Review'Robert Holland's masterly history of the Mediterranean is a pleasure to read. Blue-Water Empire shows how Britain's mastery of the Middle Sea shaped the modern world, whilst reminding us how profoundly the Mediterranean has influenced the British' Simon Ball (author of The Bitter Sea: The Struggle for Mastery in the Mediterranean, 1935-1949)'Lively and absorbing' Philip Mansel, SpectatorAbout the author:Robert Holland is one of the world's leading historians of the Mediterranean and the author of Britain and the Revolt in Cyprus, 1954-59, and (with Diana Markides) The British and the Hellenes: Struggles for Mastery in the Eastern Mediterranean, 1850-1960. He holds professorial positions at the Centre for Hellenic Studies in King's College London and the Institute of Commonwealth Studies in the same University.

Board Stiff: A Dead-end Job Mystery (The Dead-End Job Mysteries #12)

by Elaine Viets

From Anthony and Agatha Award-winning author Elaine Viets—the thrilling mystery series about one woman trying to make a living... while other people are making a killing.Helen Hawthorne and Phil—her husband and PI partner—are on the case when Jim Sandusky asks them to save his business. Because while “Sunny Jim’s Stand-Up Paddleboard Rental” is garnering a lot of attention, it’s not the kind the beachside business ever hoped to attract.There’s a local restaurateur who wants the land for a parking lot, a competing board rental place aiming to poach customers, and a gang of local politicos who just want Jim gone. And Jim wants Coronado Investigations to find proof of dirty dealings.They don’t have to try very hard, because it’s not too long before a customer of Jim’s dies after an accident. But when Jim insists it was a murder set up to make him look bad, it’s up to Helen and Phil to prove it before Sunny Jim’s is sunk for good.

The Boat Girls: An uplifting wartime saga full of friendship and romance...

by Margaret Mayhew

Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Donna Douglas, a saga full of the romance and drama of World War II from bestselling author Margaret Mayhew.READERS ARE LOVING THE BOAT GIRLS! "I started reading this book last night and I absolutely devoured it, to the point I didn't go to bed until 6am. I could not put it down. It was so unbelievably good." - 5 STARS"Once I started it, [I] couldn't put it down" - 5 STARS"Ended up reading this twice as it was so amazing..."-5 STARS"Excellent story of the 3 girls and the boaters during the war, makes you feel you are there with them. Highly recommend this book." - 5 STARS"Omg this book was everything and more than I expected. My ideal book as I love family saga books. Three girls all from different backgrounds all join forces to work together. Highs and lows of everyday life. Loved, loved, loved it..." - 5 STARS************************************************1943: THREE GIRLS GO THE EXTRA MILE TO DO THEIR BIT FOR THE WAR EFFORT. Frances - her life of seeming privilege has been a lonely one. Brave and strong, stifled by her traditional upbringing, she falls for a most unsuitable man.Prudence - timid and conventional, her horizons have never strayed beyond her job as a bank clerk in Croydon until the war brings her new experiences.Rosalind - a beautiful, flame-haired actress who catches the eye of Frances's stuffy elder brother, the heir to an ancestral mansion.The three become friends when they join the band of women working the canal boats, delivering goods and doing a man's job while the men are away fighting. A tough, unglamorous task - but one which brings them all unexpected rewards.

Bobby on the Beat

by Pamela Rhodes

Pamela Rhodes, one of the first British policewomen, tells her fascinating story in Bobby on the Beat.Back in 1950 Pam became one of the first policewomen in the country. But the force's new female recruits faced a sceptical public in rural Yorkshire and even before they stepped out on the beat there were the prejudices of older male officers to overcome.Yet from the first Pam was thrust into the front line. From runaway bulls to investigating ladies of the night and cases of vice, her innocent eyes were quickly opened. And soon, spending her days on the streets, she came to know the neighbourhood and the extraordinary characters who lived on the right, as well as wrong, side of the law.In the charming Bobby on the Beat, Pamela Rhodes's tales of life as a copper provide a fascinating glimpse of country life now long gone - when seeing a bobby on the beat meant all was well.Pamela Rhodes lives in Scarborough, where she was one of the first WPCs in Britain in the 1960s. Her unique story was picked up when she entered the life-story competition run by Penguin and Saga Magazine, in which she placed as a runner-up. This is her first memoir.

The Bomber Dog

by Megan Rix

The Bomber Dog is a heartwarming story for 9+ readers about a brave puppy who joins the paratroopers during the Second World War and becomes a heroic war dog. Perfect for fans of Michael Morpurgo's War Horse and Lauren St John.GREY is just a puppy when he arrives at the War Dog Training school.NATHAN, his trainer, is a brave young soldier.WOLF is a war dog who's seen it all.Grey and Nathan soon become inseparable. Until the day a parachute jump goes tragically wrong . . .As the Second World War rages, Grey faces his most important mission yet: to find his best friend. With Wolf at his side, he must journey across France and behind enemy lines. His path is fraught with danger. Can he reach Nathan before it's too late?Praise for Megan Rix:'If you love Michael Morpurgo, you will enjoy this' Express 'A moving tale told with warmth, kindliness and lashings of good sense that lovers of Dick King-Smith will especially appreciate' The Times'Every now and then a writer comes along with a unique way of storytelling . . . Meet Megan Rix . . . her novels are deeply moving and will strike a chord with animal lovers.' LoveReadingAbout the author:Megan Rix lives in England with her husband, and their adorable dogs, Traffy and Bella. Also available by Megan Rix:The Great Escape, The Victory Dogs.www.meganrix.com

Bonkers: My Life in Laughs

by Jennifer Saunders

THE HILARIOUS, TOUCHING LIFE STORY OF THE ICONIC COMEDIAN AND NATIONAL TREASURE 'Fabulous? Yes. Funny? Absolutely' Mail on SundayJennifer Saunders' comic creations have brought joy to millions. From Comic Strip to Comic Relief, from Bolly-swilling Edina in Ab Fab to her takes on Madonna or Mamma Mia, her characters are household names. But it's Jennifer herself who has a place in all our hearts. This is her funny, moving and frankly bonkers memoir, filled with laughter, friends and occasional heartache - but never misery. BONKERS is full of riotous adventures: accidentally enrolling on a teacher training course with a young Dawn French, bluffing her way to each BBC series, shooting Lulu, trading wild faxes with Joanna Lumley, touring India with Ruby Wax and Goldie Hawn. Prepare to chuckle, whoop, and go BONKERS.'Beautifully written and frequently hilarious' Guardian'Her account of battling breast cancer is as honest as it is uplifting' Daily Mail'Endearing and hilarious. If only all celebrity biographies were this funny' Telegraph

The Book of Master Mo

by Mo Zi

A key work of ancient Chinese philosophy is brought back to life in Ian Johnston's compelling and definitive translation, new to Penguin Classics. Very little is known about Master Mo, or the school he founded. However, the book containing his philosphical ideas has survived centuries of neglect and is today recognised as a fundamental work of ancient Chinese philosophy. The book contains sections explaining the ten key doctrines of Mohism; lively dialogues between Master Mo and his followers; discussion of ancient warfare; and an extraordinary series of chapters that include the first examples of logic, dialectics and epistemology in Chinese philosophy. The ideas discussed in The Book of Master Mo - ethics, anti-imperalism, and a political hierarchy based on merit - remain as relevant as ever, and the work is vital to understanding ancient Chinese philosophy.Translator Ian Johnston has an MA in Latin, a PhD in Greek and a PhD in Chinese, and was Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Sydney University until his retirement. He has published translations of Galen's medical writings, early Chinese poetry (Singing of Scented Grass and Waiting for the Owl), and early Chinese philosophical works (the Mozi and - with Wang Ping - the Daxue and Zhongyong). In 2011 he was awarded the NSW Premier's Prize and the PEN medallion for translation.Unlike previous translations, this version includes the complete text. It also includes an introduction and explanatory end notes. 'A landmark endeavour' Asia Times'A magnificent and valuable achievement' Journal of Chinese Studies'Eminently readable and at the same time remarkably accurate...Johnston's work will be the standard for a long time' China Review International'Compelling and engaging reading...while at the same time preserving the diction and rhetorical style of the original Chinese' New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies

The Book Of The Eclipse

by David Ovason

As David Ovason shows, eclipse have always marked turning points in history and in the lives of individuals: the foundation of Rome, the crucifixion, the saving of the live of Christopher Columbus, the foundation of Washington DC, the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and even the future fall from grace of President Clinton are among Ovason's many examples. Ovason also shows how stone circles were linked to eclipses and how these events have always been supposed by initiates to create shadow-tunnels into the spiritual world, allowing special possibilities of communication with the spiritual world.

The Book of Word Records: A Look at Some of the Strangest, Shortest, Longest, and Overall Most Remarkable Words in the English Language

by Asher Cantrell

From antidisestablishmentarianism to zo, a unrivaled collection of today's greatest words!Have you ever wondered what the longest word in the dictionary is? Or the origin of your go-to curse word?With The Book of Word Records, you'll uncover hundreds of bizarre, ugly, gross, and otherwise extreme words that have what it takes to break some serious records. From the seven longest speeches ever given to twelve of the most popular passwords used today, each of these entries reveals the history behind the world's most noteworthy expressions and fascinating details on how they stack up against the competition. You'll also learn how to step up your vocabulary with pronunciations, definitions, and sample sentences for each award-winning word.Whether you're a Scrabble champ looking to get a high score or just want to impress those around you, The Book of Word Records is sure to surprise even the most skilled wordsmith with its one-of-a-kind superlative lists.

The Bookstore: A Book Club Recommendation!

by Deborah Meyler

A witty, sharply observed debut novel about a young woman who finds unexpected salvation while working in a quirky used bookstore in Manhattan.Brilliant, idealistic Esme Garland moves to Manhattan armed with a pres­tigious scholarship at Columbia University. When Mitchell van Leuven—a New Yorker with the bluest of blue New York blood—captures her heart with his stunning good looks and a penchant for all things erotic, life seems truly glorious...until a thin blue line signals a wrinkle in Esme’s tidy plan. Before she has a chance to tell Mitchell about her pregnancy, he suddenly declares their sex life is as exciting as a cup of tea, and ends it all. Determined to master everything from Degas to diapers, Esme starts work at a small West Side bookstore, finding solace in George, the laconic owner addicted to spirulina, and Luke, the taciturn, guitar-playing night manager. The oddball customers are a welcome relief from Columbia’s high-pressure halls, but the store is struggling to survive in this city where nothing seems to last. When Mitchell recants his criticism, his passion and promises are hard to resist. But if Esme gives him a second chance, will she, like her beloved book­store, lose more than she can handle? A sharply observed and evocative tale of learning to face reality without giv­ing up on your dreams, The Bookstore is sheer enchantment from start to finish.

The Boy with Two Heads

by Andy Mulligan

How would you feel if you woke up and found another head growing out of your neck? A living, breathing, TALKING head, with a rude, sharp tongue and an evil sense of humour. It knows all your darkest thoughts and it’s not afraid to say what it thinks . . . to ANYBODY. That's what happens to eleven-year-old Richard Westlake, and life becomes very, very complicated.Part thriller, part horror, part comedy – this is one of the most riveting novels about fear and friendship that you will ever read.Andy Mulligan won the 2011 Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, and his international bestseller, Trash, is now a major film – directed by Stephen Daldry and with screenplay by Richard Curtis.

The Bracelet: Erotic Romance

by Fredrica Alleyn

B is for Bondage…When Kristina spots her best-friend wearing a pretty new bracelet, little doesshe know that her new piece of jewellery hides a multitude of erotic secrets.Enticed by her friend’s saucy tales, Kristina finds herselfjoining a very discreet society, and meeting the dark and mysterious Tarquin Rashid who promises to fulfil all her fantasies, if she’ll only submit to his every whim...Fredrica Alleyn also writes as Marina Anderson and is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Haven of Obedience, as well as Cassandra’s Conflict and Cassandra’s Chateau

Bread: The Story of Greggs

by Ian Gregg

When Ian Gregg was just a boy he joined his father at work selling pies from his van to miners’ wives around Newcastle. Now retired, he can look back on a business that began as a husband-and-wife team in the 1930s, and survived a world war and two major recessions to become our favourite bakery, beloved by everyone from children to office workers to soldiers overseas.Ian Gregg led the family firm as it grew, employing generations of families from around Newcastle and then becoming a public company with bakeries in Scotland and across the North, and now with shops on every high street. This is a story of extraordinary success, but it is also a triumphant tale of how doing right by your people makes for great business. Bucking every trend, Greggs have always put their customers, employees and local communities before quick profits for directors and shareholders. Their astounding record of charitable works includes hardship grants, an environment fund, sponsorship of the North East Children’s Cancer run and over £1 million raised annually for Children in Need.Ian Gregg will donate all of his royalties and Greggs plc will donate all its profits from the sale of this book to the Greggs Foundation to help fund more Breakfast Clubs for children.

Brilliant Bread

by James Morton

Winner of the 2014 Guild of Food Writers Award for Cookery Book of the Year.James Morton was surely the people's favourite to win 2012's Great British Bake Off series - with his Fairisle jumpers and eccentric showstoppers, this soft-spoken Scottish medical student won the viewers' hearts if not the trophy.James's real passion is bread-making. He is fascinated by the science of it, the taste of it, the making of it. And in Brilliant Bread he communicates that passion to everyone, demystifying the often daunting process of "proper" bread making. James uses supermarket flour and instant yeast - you can save money by making your own bread. You don't even have to knead! It just takes a bit of patience and a few simple techniques.Using step by step photos, James guides the reader through the how-to of dough making and shaping, with recipes ranging from basic loaves through flatbreads, sourdoughs, sweet doughs, buns, doughnuts, focaccia and pretzels. Inspiring and simple to follow, with James's no-nonsense advice and tips, this book will mean you never buy another sliced white loaf again.

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