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Crossing Continents: A History of Standard Chartered Bank
by Duncan Campbell-SmithFor almost a hundred years from the 1860s, the City of London's overseas banks financed the global trade that lay at the core of the British Empire. Foremost among them from the beginning were two start-up ventures: the Standard Bank of South Africa, which soon developed a powerful domestic franchise at the Cape, and the Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China. This book traces their stories in the nineteenth century, their glory days before 1914 - and their remarkable survival in the face of global wars and the collapse of world trade in the first half of the twentieth century.The unravelling of the Empire after 1945 eventually forced Britain's overseas banks to confront a different future. The Standard and the Chartered, alarmed at the expansion of American banking, determined in 1969 on a merger as a way of sustaining the best of the City's overseas traditions. But from the start, Standard Chartered had to grapple with the fading fortunes of its own inherited franchise - badly dented in both Asia and Africa - and with radical changes in the nature of banking. Its British managers, steeped in the past, proved ill-suited to the challenge. By the late 1980s, efforts to expand in Europe and the USA had brought the merged Group to the brink of collapse.Yet it survived - and then pulled off a dramatic recovery. Standard Chartered realigned itself, just in time, with the phenomenal growth of Asia's 'emerging markets', many of them in countries where the Chartered had flourished a century earlier. In the process, the Group was transformed. Trebling its workforce, it brushed aside the global financial crisis of 2008 and by 2012 could look back on a decade of astonishing growth. Recent times have added an eventful postscript to a long and absorbing history.Crossing Continents recounts Standard Chartered's story with a wealth of detail from one of the richest archives available to any commercial bank. The book also affords a rare and compelling perspective on the evolution of international trade and finance, showing how Britain's commercial influence has actually worked in practice around the world over one hundred and fifty years.
The Country of the Blind and other Selected Stories
by H. G. WellsHerbert George Wells was perhaps best known as the author of such classic works of science fiction as The Time Machine and War of the Worlds. But it was in his short stories, written when he was a young man embarking on a literary career, that he first explored the enormous potential of the scientific discoveries of the day. He described his stories as "a miscellany of inventions," yet his enthusiasm for science was tempered by an awareness of its horrifying destructive powers and the threat it could pose to the human race. A consummate storyteller, he made fantastic creatures and machines entirely believable; and, by placing ordinary men and women in extraordinary situations, he explored, with humor, what it means to be alive in a century of rapid scientific progress.
Crossing the Boundary
by Kevin PietersenDescribed by the media as 'the David Beckham of cricket', Kevin has become the poster boy for English cricket. But he is also in possession of a prodigious talent - fearless, bold and with unflappable nerves. His unique batting style has produced hundreds of runs and many outstanding innings, culminating in his extraordinary triumph at the 2005 Ashes. Yet with the highs, come the lows, and he gives his version of events during the 2006/07 Ashes when England were defeated by Australia.Crossing the Boundary recounts Kevin's remarkable journey so far - from growing up in his native South Africa and the opposition he faced from the national cricket board; his move to England and burgeoning career at Hampshire to winning a place on the England team. It provides a rare insight into the mind of an international cricketer, on and off the pitch. Reflecting his youthful charisma and his bullish confidence, this is a sporting memoir like no other.Full of personal anecdotes and insight from numerous sporting legends such as Shane Warne, Ian Botham, and Nasser Hussain, this is the riveting story of one of the most significant cricketers of our time.
The Country of the Pointed Firs and Other Stories: And Other Stories
by Sarah Orne JewettThe Country of Pointed Firs, Sarah Orne Jewett's masterpiece, established her among the consummate stylists of nineteenth-century American fiction. Composed in a series of beautiful web-like sketches, the novel is narrated by a young woman writer who leaves the city to work one summer in the Maine seaport of Dunnet Landing, and stays with the herbalist Mrs Almira Todd. She writes a New England idyll rooted in friendship, particularly female friendship, weaving stories and conversations, imagery of sea, sky and earth, the tang of salt air and aromatic herbs into an organic 'fiction of community' in which themes and form are exquisitely matched. To quote Willa Cather: 'The 'Pointed Fir' sketches are living things caught in the open, with light and freedom and air spaces about them. They melt into the land and the life of the land until they are not stories at all, but life itself'. This edition, introduced by Alison Easton, also includes ten of Sarah Orne Jewett's short stories, among them 'The Queen's Twin', 'The Foreigner' and 'William's Wedding' set in Dunnet Landing.
Country Pleasures
by Primula BondJanie and Sally escape to the English countryside hoping to get some sun and relaxation.They soon become the focus of attention for the local farmers, who are well built, down-to-earth and very different from the boys they have been dating in town.When Sally's ex-lover rents out a country house nearby, and Janie's childhood playmate Jack buys the farm next door, the girls are spoilt for choice as to whom they will leash their charms. But will everyone get what they want?From the best-selling author of The Silver Chain, part of the Unbreakable trilogy.
Crossing the Line: Losing Your Mind as an Undercover Cop
by Christian PlowmanAs he rose through the ranks of various departments of the Metropolitan Police, Christian Plowman dreamt of being an undercover cop. When he finally achieved his ambition, becoming one an elite group of officers, the reality of covert work turned his life into a nightmare.To catch criminals, Christian bought and sold drugs with taxpayers’ money, been beaten up, arrested at gunpoint and barricaded in a pub by a gang of marauding gypsies – all in a day’s work. At one stage, he was running almost a dozen mobile phones to keep track of his different identities and had so many aliases that he nearly forgot who he was. He put his life on the line for the job but was to find that being the ‘best of the best’ wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. The pressure became so intense that he even contemplated suicide.Crossing the Line is a visceral, gripping account of what it really takes to be an undercover cop. It exposes how the Met conducts its business behind the scenes and reveals the harsh realities of modern covert police work.
Crossing the River: The History of London's Thames River Bridges from Richmond to the Tower
by Brian CooksonSome of the most beautiful views of London are those from the many bridges which span the River Thames. Millions of people cross over the Thames every day but most are too concerned with reaching their destination to notice the structures they use, let alone consider their history or the risks taken in building them. Triumphs of architecture and engineering, London's bridges have inspired artists as diverse as Dickens and Monet. From the elegant Richmond Bridge to the Gothic, quintessentially British Tower Bridge, they have formed the backdrop to battles, rebellions, pageantry and mysteries for two millennia. Crossing the River tells these stories, including the assassination of a dissident with a poisoned umbrella on Waterloo Bridge; the apparent suicide of 'God's banker', an Italian financier with links to the Vatican, the Masons and the Mafia; and the Marchioness tragedy and its controversial aftermath. Featuring illustrations and photographs old and new, this book will undoubtedly increase the reader's knowledge and appreciation of the bridges and the people who built them, and thereby enhance the pleasure of seeing them, whether at leisure or stuck in a traffic jam.
Country Pursuits: : (Churchminster: book 1): a raunchy, rip-roaring and unashamedly romantic romp that you’ll absolutely love (Churchminister #1)
by Jo CarnegieFans of Jilly Cooper will devour this racy, pacy and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy from much loved author, Jo Carnegie.'Sexy, scandalous and all firmly tongue in cheek' - Heat'Carnegie gives Jilly Cooper a run for her money' - Glamour'A right corker!' - Closer'If you want pure escapism, this book is for you' -- ***** Reader review'Funny and sexy and romantic and had everything a good chick lit should have!' -- ***** Reader review'I was bereft when I finished it. Jilly Cooper watch out, Jo Carnegie is on your heels.' -- ***** Reader review'This book made me laugh out loud, cry and everything in between, definitely recommend it!! BUY IT NOW!!!' -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE...The gorgeous women of Churchminster know exactly what they want - a constant flow of champagne and the love of a good man.But faced with the likes of beer-guzzling farmer Angus, foul-tempered Lord Fraser and suave banker Sebastian (devoted only to himself), their attentions are increasingly drawn to more attractive possibilities . . .Meanwhile, when a part of their beloved village comes under threat from a villainous property developer and his bulldozer, the community is united by a different kind of passion and important questions occupy their minds:Can they raise enough money to save Churchminster? And can a person actually die from too much extra-marital sex?The Churchminster adventures continue in Naked Truths...
Crowe's Requiem
by Mike McCormackCROWE'S REQUIEM tells the story of John Crowe, a young man born into a village without any apparent history or contact with the outside world. Coming under the tutelage of his mad, beloved grandfather, Crowe is introduced to an existence he feels compelled to understand but is doomed forever to find elusive and mystifying. Breaking free of the old man's spell - drifting through the city hoping to complete his education - he embarks on a sudden, erotic affair with Marian, a young woman with a broken claim to divinity. Unable to see himself except through a prison of fictions, Crowe's life begins to escape him. Love story and gothic fairy tale, teeming with ghosts, sorcerors and vagrants, CROWE'S REQUIEM is in eerie and treacherous meditation on the nature of storytelling by one of Ireland's finest new writers.
Countryfile: My Life on the Land
by Adam HensonIn 2001, Adam Henson was chosen from 3,500 applicants to become a presenter on Countryfile. Adam's agricultural knowledge and open manner soon made him a popular figure and when the programme moved to its current Sunday evening slot in 2009, he began to present a weekly report from his own farm in the Cotswolds.There, the ups and downs of the farming calendar, as told in Adam's straight-talking fashion, soon became one of the most popular parts of the programme as viewers watched him endure the stress of TB testing and his sadness at losing valuable cattle as well as the highs of spring lambing. This is the first book by Adam Henson, and it is an enthralling, first-person account of the drama, emotion and sheer hard work that is life on Adam's Farm.
The Crowstarver (A Puffin Book)
by Dick King-SmithA beautiful story for older readers written almost twenty years ago in which bestselling author Dick King-Smith creates a fascinating picture of rural life at the time of the Second World War. Discovered as a foundling in a lambing pen, Spider Sparrow grows up surrounded by animals. From sheep and horses to wild otters and foxes, Spider loves them all, even the crows he must scare away from the newly sown wheat. Crowstarving was the idea job for Spider - he was on his own, yet never alone for all around him were animals of one sort or another. Amazingly, every animal who meets Spider implicitly trusts the young boy. This magical rapport is Spider's unique gift, but nothing else in his tough life is so easy.
A Countryside For All: The Future of Rural Britain
by Michael SissonsThe rural fuse has been lit. The countryside is tinder-dry. Post offices and banks, shops and schools are closing. Farmers are going out of business. Houses are becoming unaffordable as prices soar ad poverty grows. Pollution and over-exploitation are destroying landscapes. Many rural communities are on the verge of collapse. Some fear the foot- and - mouth crisis will prove to be the last straw. This book offers disturbing evidence of the background to the crisis.A Countryside For All is a rallying cry for action, pointing ways towards a presciption for the future. This volume tackles many of the issues in a variety of new and original ways. Possibly the most controversial and radical call is for the creation of a Department for the Countryside, with a Secretary of State for the Countryside- who would be responsible for setting a coherent set of policies to reverse the decline of rural Britain.This timely book outlines the main problems facing the countryside, and starts to bring together a balanced range of proposals. Thought-provoking, filled with common sense, often controversial but always fascinating, it points the way forward for the countryside, and for town and country as a whole.
Cruel Enchantment
by Janine AshblessCruel Enchantment is a stunning collection of unique and breathtakingly beautiful erotic fairy tales. Winged demonesses, otherworldly lovers and a dragon with an enormous sexual appetite collide with spoilt princesses, spell-weavers and wicked ancestors in Janine Ashbless's fantastic tales of lust and magic. Seductive, dazzling and strange, with each story a journey into the marvellous realms of a fertile imagination, Cruel Enchantment is an erotic delight of a collection.
County Cup (County Cup #7)
by Rob ChildsSix months of competition have led up to this moment - the moment when two captains lead out their teams for the biggest match of all in the season: the County Cup Final. Who will lift the trophy?
Cruel Shadow
by Aishling MorganPeter Williams is a sales supremo who lives for the road. Infatuated by the inviting bottom on the cover of an erotic novel, Peter is determined to enjoy a spell with its owner, the lustruos Linnet, and her friends. Peter prides himself on driving a hard bargain, but with Linnet in his car, things get harder than he bargained for. Fry-ups, flagellation, hot tarmac and hotter sex follow as Linnet and her friends take Peter along a series of sexual byways that weren't even on his roadmap before.Part of the Nick Mordaunt series: fantastic fetish erotica featuring occultist Nick Mordaunt. Titles in this series include Natural Desire, Strange Design and Satan's Slut.
County Cup (County Cup #1)
by Rob ChildsEvery year, in the county of Medland, school football teams compete for the most prestigious trophy in the area - the County Cup. Round-robin tournaments determine the winners of the four Quarter Shields - in the North, the East, the South and the West and the winners then clash in the semi-finals and then the Finals. The first four books in this series detail the teams in each quarter, battling it out to win a place in the semi-finals. The winning teams - and characters - can then be followed through the series in subsequent titles.
Cruel Triumph
by William DoughtyAlice is Steve's demon dominatrix, and red-hot lover and friend. After a few years of trust, commitment and fantastic sex, the couple are invited to a very special party at the sumptuous home of the successful, dominant and very perverted Kurt. Alice's interest is piqued, and Steve learns the hard way that he does not know the extremes of Alice's sexuality quite as well as he thinks he does. Just how far does Alice's newfound taste for submission extend beyond the realms of SM fantasy into reality? And will Steve lose Alice to the assertive Kurt, or will he find the strength in himself to give Alice what she really wants?
County Cup (County Cup #5)
by Rob ChildsThe Quarter Champions of the South and the East are about to clash in the two-legged semi-finals of the County Cup - the trophy every player wants to lift! Who will win through to the Final? Join the Cup trail and follow all the drama and excitement - both on and off the pitch.
Cruickshank’s London: A Portrait of a City in 13 Walks
by Dan Cruickshank'The perfect guide to the hidden history of London's streets.' BBC History MagazineIn Cruickshank's London, Britain's favourite architectural historian describes thirteen walks through one of the greatest cities on earth. From the mysterious Anglo-Saxon origins of Hampstead Heath, via Christopher Wren's magisterial City churches, to the industrial bustle of Victorian Bermondsey, each walk explores a crucial moment in our history - and reveals how it helped forge the modern city. Along the way, Cruickshank peppers the book with vivid photographs, sketches and maps, so you can immediately follow in his footsteps.Every street in London contains a story. This book invites you to hear them.___'An inspiringly illustrated guide to walks across London . . . It proves how much we can miss if we don't pay close attention to our surroundings.' Country Life'All power to Cruickshank and his intrepid and knowledgeable kind. We need them.' Times Literary Supplement
County Cup (County Cup #2)
by Rob ChildsEvery year, in the county of Medland, school football teams compete for the most prestigious trophy in the area - the County Cup. Round-robin tournaments determine the winners of the four Quarter Shields - in the North, the East, the South and the West and the winners then clash in the semi-finals and then the Finals. The first four books in this series detail the teams in each quarter, battling it out to win a place in the semi-finals. The winning teams - and characters - can then be followed through the series in subsequent titles.
The Cruise of the Talking Fish
by W E BowmanHaving brought the highest mountain in the world to its knees, Binder, leader of the expedition to conquer Rum Doodle, soon sets off on a new adventure, aboard the raft Talking Fish. With only two cats, one frog, one oyster and five fellow-adventurers as crew, he is determined to master the challenges of the deep.
County Cup (County Cup #3)
by Rob ChildsEvery year, in the county of Medland, school football teams compete for the most prestigious trophy in the area - the County Cup. Round-robin tournaments determine the winners of the four Quarter Shields - in the North, the East, the South and the West and the winners then clash in the semi-finals and then the Finals. The first four books in this series detail the teams in each quarter, battling it out to win a place in the semi-finals. The winning teams - and characters - can then be followed through the series in subsequent titles
County Cup (County Cup #4)
by Rob ChildsEvery year, in the county of Medland, school football teams compete for the most prestigious trophy in the area - the County Cup. Round-robin tournaments determine the winners of the four Quarter Shields - in the North, the East, the South and the West and the winners then clash in the semi-finals and then the Finals. The first four books in this series detail the teams in each quarter, battling it out to win a place in the semi-finals. The winning teams - and characters - can then be followed through the series in subsequent titles
Crumbs & Doilies: Over 90 mouth-watering bakes to create at home from YouTube sensation Cupcake Jemma
by Cupcake JemmaTHE MOUTH-WATERING FIRST BOOK FROM CUPCAKE JEMMA'S ICONIC LONDON BAKERY, CRUMBS & DOILIESCupcake Jemma has been teaching the world to bake through her hugely successful YouTube channel for almost a decade. In their first ever book, Jemma and her team unlock the secrets to creating wonderfully imaginative cakes, bakes, cookies and traybakes at home.Packed with over 90 recipes covering cupcakes, layer cakes, cookies, traybakes, brownies and bars, this cookbook includes decadent Crumbs & Doilies classics as well as mouth-watering, exclusive new recipes, including . . .·· Mighty Ferrero Rocher Cake· Caramel Cornflake Brownie· Lemon Meringue Pie Bar· End-of-the-World Chocolate Cake· Cookie Dough Brownies· Pretzel Cookie Sarnies· Bonfire Bars· S'mores CakeBrimming with tips and tricks that will ensure your cakes look every bit as good as Jemma's, the book also features specially created QR codes linking you to videos for key techniques. And for the icing on the cake, you'll find recipes for brilliant basics, from buttercreams and ganaches to pie crumbs, fruit goos and caramels.With a stunning photograph for every recipe, delicious bakes to suit any occasion and helpful guidance from the best bakers in the business, Crumbs & Doilies is a must-have for any aspiring home baker.
County Cup (County Cup #6)
by Rob ChildsThe Quarter Champions of the North and the West are about to clash in the two-legged, semi-finals of the County Cup - the trophy every player wants to lift! Who will win through to the Final? Join the Cup trail and follow all the drama and excitement - both on and off the pitch.