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The Odyssey: 1 (Macmillan Collector's Library #83)
by HomerHomer's great epic, The Odyssey, is perhaps Western literature's first adventure story, and certainly remains one of its finest. It describes King Odysseus of Ithaca's epic, ten-year quest to return home after the Trojan War. He encounters giants, sorceresses, sea-monsters and sirens, while his wife Penelope is forced to resist the suitors who besiege her on Ithaca. Both an enchanting fairy tale and a gripping drama, The Odyssey is immensely influential, not least for its rich complexity and the magnetism of its hero. This Macmillan Collector's Library edition uses a translation by T. E. Lawrence, now remembered as 'Lawrence of Arabia' and the author of Seven Pillars of Wisdom. First published in 1932, his translation took four years to complete and has been continuously in print ever since. It is recognized as the first translation to be both faithful to the original text and written in accessible language. This edition also features an afterword by Ben Shaw.Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.
A Tale of Two Cities: Literary Touchstone Classic (Macmillan Collector's Library #49)
by Charles DickensA Tale of Two Cities, a story of revolution, revenge and sacrifice, is one of Charles Dickens' most exciting novels. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, it tells the story of a family threatened by the terrible events of the past. Dr Manette, wrongly imprisoned in the Bastille for eighteen years, is finally released and reunited with his daughter Lucie who, despite her French ancestry, has been brought up in London. Lucie falls in love with Charles Darnay, who has abandoned both wealth and title in France because of his political convictions. When revolution breaks out in Paris, Darnay returns to the city to help an old family servant, but is soon arrested because of the crimes committed by his relations. Lucie, aided by young lawyer, Sydney Carton, follows him across the Channel, thus putting all their lives in danger.With an afterword by Sam Gilpin.Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.
Watching the Wheels: My Autobiography
by Damon HillThe Sunday Times #1 Bestseller, shortlisted for the Cross Sports Book AwardIn 1996, Damon Hill was crowned Formula One World Champion. For the first time ever he tells the story of his journey through the last golden era of the sport when he took on the greats including Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher and emerged victorious as World Champion in 1996, stepping out of the shadow of his legendary father Graham Hill.Away from the grid, Watching the Wheels: The Autobiography is an astonishingly candid account of what it was like to grow up as the son of one of the country's most famous racing drivers. It also tells the unflinching story of dealing with the grief and chaos that followed his father's tragically early death in an aircraft accident in 1975, when Damon was fifteen years old. Formula One drivers have always been aware of their mortality, and the rush that comes with the danger of racing was as intoxicating for Hill as it had been for his father's generation, until he came face-to-face with catastrophe when his team-mate, Ayrton Senna, was killed in 1994. The swirling emotions that Hill was faced with in light of the death of Senna was a defining moment for his generation of drivers and for the first time ever Hill talks candidly about the impact that Senna had on his life, even as he watched his own son step into motor racing.Courageously honest, and hugely rewarding, Watching the Wheels is a return to the last golden era of F1 racing, whose image still burns ferociously for those who love the sport for what it reveals about human skill in the face or near certain death.
The Lie Tree Special Edition: Costa Book of the Year 2015
by Frances HardingeWinner of the Costa Book of the Year 2015, The Lie Tree is a dark and powerful novel from universally acclaimed author, Frances Hardinge. It was not enough. All knowledge- any knowledge - called to Faith, and there was a delicious, poisonous pleasure in stealing it unseen.Faith has a thirst for science and secrets that the rigid confines of her class cannot supress. And so it is that she discovers her disgraced father's journals, filled with the scribbled notes and theories of a man driven close to madness. Tales of a strange tree which, when told a lie, will uncover a truth: the greater the lie, the greater the truth revealed to the liar. Faith's search for the tree leads her into great danger - for where lies seduce, truths shatter . . .'Brilliant, dark, thrilling, utterly original' Patrick Ness'The Lie Tree is a wonder. I can't think of anyone who would not love this story' Matt Haig'I loved this book so much' Lucy Mangan'Complex and intelligent: a lustrous, delicious romp.' Philip Womack, The Telegraph
The Beatles' Shadow: Stuart Sutcliffe & His Lonely Hearts Club
by Pauline SutcliffeStuart Sutcliffe is the most famous contender for the crown of 'fifth Beatle'. One of the founding members, a close friend of Lennon, he left the band after their Hamburg sojourn in order to pursue his promising career as an artist, dying shortly thereafter of a brain haemorrhage. For years his sister Pauline has tried to protect his memory against the Beatles' need to sanitise their early history and now she is ready to tell the real story. In so doing she sheds new light on their formative period - the rivalry with McCartney, how George Harrison tried to keep the peace, the truth about Stuart's intense relationship with Lennon and why Lennon was haunted by guilt over her brother's death. And she describes what it was like for those like herself and Cynthia Lennon who have had no choice but to live with the Beatles all their lives. 'Gripping . . . the story of Stuart Sutcliffe. . . holds the key to the birth of pop's greatest group' Daily Mail 'An odd, fascinating book' MOJO
The King's Assassin: The Fatal Affair of George Villiers and James I
by Benjamin WoolleyThe rise of George Villiers from minor gentry to royal power seemed to defy gravity. Becoming gentleman of the royal bedchamber in 1615, the young gallant enraptured James, Britain’s first Stuart king, royal adoration reaching such an intensity that the king declared he wanted the courtier to become his ‘wife’. For a decade, Villiers was at the king’s side – at court, on state occasions and in bed, right up to James’s death in March 1625. Almost immediately, Villiers’ many enemies accused him of poisoning the king. A parliamentary investigation was launched, and scurrilous pamphlets and ballads circulated London’s streets. But the charges came to nothing, and were relegated to a historical footnote. Now, new historical scholarship suggests that a deadly combination of hubris and vulnerability did indeed drive Villiers to kill the man who made him. It may have been by accident – the application of a quack remedy while the king was weakened by a malarial attack. But there is compelling evidence that Villiers, overcome by ambition and frustrated by James’s passive approach to government, poisoned him. In The King’s Assassin, acclaimed author Benjamin Wooley examines this remarkable, even tragic story. Combining vivid characterization and a strong narrative with historical scholarship and forensic investigation, Woolley tells the story of King James’s death, and of the captivating figure at its centre. What emerges is a compelling portrait of a royal favourite whose charisma overwhelmed those around him and, ultimately, himself.
Wonderland: How Play Made the Modern World
by Steven Johnson'The book is a house of wonders' The New York Times'Steven Johnson is the Darwin of technology' Walter Issacson, author of Steve JobsWhat connects Paleolithic bone flutes to the invention of computer software? Or the Murex sea snail to the death of the great American city? How does the bag of crisps you hold in your hand help tell the story of humanity itself? In Wonderland, his brilliant work on the history of innovation, international bestseller Steven Johnson argues that the pursuit of novelty and wonder has always been a powerful driver of world-shaping technological change. He finds that throughout history, the cutting edge of innovation lies wherever people are working the hardest to keep themselves and others amused. Johnson's storytelling is just as delightful as the inventions he describes, full of surprising stops along the journey from simple concepts to complex modern systems. He introduces us to the colourful innovators of leisure: the explorers, proprietors, showmen, and artists who changed the trajectory of history with their luxurious wares, exotic meals, taverns, gambling tables, and magic shows.Johnson compellingly argues that observers of technological and social trends should be looking for clues in novel amusements. You'll find the future wherever people are having the most fun.
Amy's Wartime Christmas
by Pam WeaverA story perfect for the fireside, Amy's Wartime Christmas is a compelling read, exclusive to eBook from Pam Weaver, author of Love Walked Right In.When Amy Hobbs steps off the train in Worthing, 1943, she's determined to make a difference to the seaside town. The only policewoman at the local station, she's going to have to do her very best amongst old-fashioned superiors who think a woman's work should be making the tea, not arrests. After enduring four hard years of war on the homefront, Christmas can't come soon enough for the townsfolk. While families save up what little they have for the festive season, Amy begins to suspect there is a secret ring of black marketeers in Worthing and is determined to uncover them, even if it means putting herself in danger.Meanwhile, a local woman fears she is being stalked - a man is watching and waiting by her house at night. Who is he, what does he want, and can Amy Hobs step in just in time? It won't be easy to pull together the Christmas everyone deserves, but Amy isn't one to give up without a fight...
History in a Hurry: Middle Ages (History in a Hurry #1)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Middle Ages.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Roundheads & Cavaliers (History in a Hurry #2)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the English Civil War.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Ancient China (History in a Hurry #3)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Ancient China.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Stone Age (History in a Hurry #4)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Stone Age.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Tudors (History in a Hurry #5)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Tudors.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: French Revolution (History in a Hurry #6)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the French Revolution.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Industrial Revolution (History in a Hurry #7)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Industrial Revolution.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Aztecs (History in a Hurry #8)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Aztecs.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Dark Ages (History in a Hurry #9)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Dark Ages.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Vikings (History in a Hurry #10)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Vikings.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Victorians (History in a Hurry #11)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Victorians.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Romans (History in a Hurry #12)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Romans.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Stuarts (History in a Hurry #13)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Stuarts.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Wild West (History in a Hurry #14)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about the Wild West.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Ancient Greece (History in a Hurry #15)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about Ancient Greece.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: Ancient Egypt (History in a Hurry #16)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about Ancient Egypt.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)
History in a Hurry: The Future (History in a Hurry #17)
by John FarmanJohn Farman, the genius (for want of a better word) responsible for the best-selling A VERY BLOODY HISTORY OF BRITAIN (WITHOUT THE BORING BITS), now tackles all the great periods of history - in less than 10,000 words.History in a Hurry is so short that there just isn't room for any boring bits!All you need to know (and a little bit less*) about The Future.(*Quite a lot less, actually. Ed.)