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Trio: A Novel
by William Boyd'An elating read' Sunday TimesA producer. A novelist. An actress.It is summer in 1968, the year of the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. There are riots in Paris and the Vietnam War is out of control. While the world is reeling our three characters are involved in making a Swingin' Sixties movie in sunny Brighton. All are leading secret lives. Elfrida is drowning her writer's block in vodka; Talbot, coping with the daily dysfunction of making a film, is hiding something in a secret apartment; and the glamorous Anny is wondering why the CIA is suddenly so interested in her.But the show must go on and, as it does, the trio's private worlds begin to take over their public ones. Pressures build inexorably - someone's going to crack. Or maybe they all will.From one of Britain's best loved writers comes an exhilarating, tender novel that asks the vital questions: what makes life worth living? And what do you do if you find it isn't?_______________________________________________PRAISE FOR WILLIAM BOYD'The ultimate in immersive fiction . . . magnificent' Sunday Times'A finely judged performance: a deft and resonant alchemy of fact and fiction, of literary myth and imagination' Guardian on Love is Blind'William Boyd has probably written more classic books than any of his contemporaries' Daily Telegraph'Simply the best realistic storyteller of his generation' Sebastian Faulks
So This Is Love
by Patricia RobinsSheridan Adams, young, attractive, but saddened by disillusionment, istotally unlike the fat, smiling, middle-aged housekeeper Richard Haydenhas in mind when he advertises in the local paper. A young widower, leftalone with his small son Dick, he badly needs someone to look after hishome.Sherry, though she may not be quite the person he has pictured, suitsthe post admirably. Having found a home for herself and her littledaughter Anne, she is able to forget her troubles for a time.But her tranquillity is short-lived and it is only after manymisunderstandings that Sherry can find true happiness.A compelling classic romance from the inimitable Patricia Robins, firstpublished in 1953 and now available for the first time in eBook.
Heaven in our Hearts
by Patricia Robins'Always love life' was the message Briony Stone's first sweetheart left with her before he was killed in an air crash.It seems strange that the same thought should be voiced by Robert Baker, the young vet whom she has known such a short time, but to whom she is so unaccountably drawn. Briony, now married to the snobbish, unimaginative Charles, realises too late that she has disregarded her lover's advice, running away from life into marriage with a man she likes and respects but doesn't love. What is she to do?
Katherine: The classic historical romance (Coronet Bks.)
by Anya Seton'A great adventure, powerfully told' (Philippa Gregory) A sumptuous tale of passion and danger in the medieval court, Anya Seton's Katherine is an all-time classic.Katherine comes to the court of Edward III at the age of fifteen. The naïve convent-educated orphan of a penniless knight is dazzled by the jousts and the entertainments of court. Nevertheless, Katherine is beautiful, and she turns the head of the King's favourite son, John of Gaunt. But he is married, and she is soon to be betrothed.A few years later their paths cross again and this time their passion for each other cannot be denied or suppressed. Katherine becomes the prince's mistress, and discovers an extraordinary world of power, pleasure and passion.
The End of Eternity
by null Isaac AsimovThe best time-travel story since H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine, by the Grand Master of science fiction, the story of Andrew Harlan, Technician and Eternal. Andrew Harlan’s job is to range through past and present centuries monitoring and even altering Time’s myriad cause-and-effect relationships. As a Technician with the Allwhen Council, he initiates Reality Changes that may affect the lives of as many as fifty billion people – and a million or more of them may be so drastically affected as to be considered new individulas. Above all, therefore, a Technician must be dispassionate. An emotional make-up is a distinct handicap. Then Harlan meets Noÿs and falls victim to a phenomenon older than Time itself – love. Years of self-discipline are cast aside as Harlan uses the awesome techniques of the Eternals to twist Time so that he and Noÿs might survive… together.
The Foolish Heart
by Patricia RobinsMary Bradbourne's aunt brought her up after her parents died. When she was ten, her aunt had a son, Jackie, who was left with a mental handicap as the result of an accident. Unselfish and affectionate, Mary has dedicated her life to caring for him.But then she meets Dr Paul Deal. As her feelings for him intensify, she is faced with a dilemma. How will she be able to care for her cousin when she knows that she must follow her heart?A compelling classic romance from the inimitable Patricia Robins, first published in 1956 and now available for the first time in eBook.
Lady Chatterley's Lover (Arcturus Classics)
by DH Lawrence'I always labour at the same thing, to make the sex relation valid and precious instead of shameful. And thisnovel is the furthest I've gone. To me it is beautiful and tender as the naked self.' - D.H. LawrenceLady Chatterley's Lover explores the intense affair between the sexually frustrated Connie - whose husband, Clifford, is paralysed from the waist down - and Oliver Mellors, the family gamekeeper.First published in 1928, the novel challenged the social and sexual taboos of its time and was immediately banned as obscene. Lawrence's last and most famous work of fiction, it was eventually published in full in 1960 to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the writer's death.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.
Madam, Will You Talk?: The modern classic by the queen of romantic suspense (Rediscovered Classics Ser.)
by Mary StewartThe original queen of the page-turner Mary Stewart leads her readers on a thrilling journey through a dangerous and deadly Provence in this tale perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. 'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'The terrible thirsty heat of the Provençal summer, the noise of the cicadas, the dust of the country buses . . . an excellent tale of mystery' The TimesIt sounds idyllic: a leisurely drive through the sun-drenched landscape of Provence. But Charity's dream holiday turns into a nightmare when she becomes embroiled in a sinister plot to kidnap a young boy. She soon finds herself in a deadly pursuit and must uncover who to trust . . . and who to fall for. Whenever I look back now on the strange and terrifying events of that holiday in Southern France, I remember the minutes I spent gazing at the golden arches of the Roman aqueduct over the Gardon... the last brief lull before the thunder.'A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors.' Harriet Evans'She built the bridge between classic literature and modern popular fiction. She did it first and she did it best.' Herald
The Moneylenders of Shahpur
by Helen ForresterTimeless romance from the best-selling author of Tuppence to Cross the Mersey. With over 3 million copies sold around the world, Helen Forrester’s hard-hitting and gripping fiction continues to move readers.
Wildfire at Midnight: The classic thriller you will not be able to put down (Rediscovered Classics Ser.)
by Mary StewartThe tense, twisty murder mystery which will have you on the edge of your seat, from the original queen of romantic suspense 'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times Following a heart-breaking divorce, Gianetta retreats to the Isle of Skye hoping to find tranquillity in the island's savage beauty. But shortly before her arrival a girl's body is found on the craggy slopes of the looming Blue Mountain, and with the murderer still on the loose, there's nothing to stop him from setting his sights on Gianetta next . . .Praise for Mary Stewart:'There are few to equal Mary Stewart' Daily Telegraph'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'A natural successor to Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte' Guardian'Total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors' Harriet Evans'She set the benchmark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing' Elizabeth BuchanWhat readers have said about Wildfire at Midnight:'Could not put the book down, from start to finish! Absolutely brilliant! A great writer. Thank you Mary Stewart''I've read and re-read it countless times . . . wonderful setting for the plot, evocative and captivating writing, I love this book''If you like a beautiful heroine with pluck, a handsome hero, danger and strong descriptive passages this is a book for you''A fabulous fast paced read . . . Stewart keeps you guessing to the very end with a doozy of a nail-biting finish set amongst the swirling mists, shifting bogs and the rocky crags of the Cuillin'
Thunder on the Right
by Mary StewartFrom the original queen of the page-turner, Mary Stewart, comes a thrilling tale set in a France as beautiful as it is deadly, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. 'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times 'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'There are few to equal Mary Stewart' Daily TelegraphHigh in the rugged Pyrenees lies the Valley of the Storms, where a tiny convent clings to the beautiful but lonely mountainside. Jenny Silver arrives seeking her missing cousin, and is devastated when she learns of Gillian's death following a terrible car accident. But Jenny's suspicions are aroused when she's told the blue flowers ornamenting her cousin's grave were Gillian's favourite. Jenny knows Gillian was colour-blind - and so starts her mission to uncover what really happened to her.The growl and roar of thunder rolled an re-echoed from the mountains and the sword of the lightning stabbed down, and stabbed again, as if searching through the depths of the cringing woods for whatever sheltered there.'A comfortable chair and a Mary Stewart: total heaven. I'd rather read her than most other authors.' Harriet Evans'She built the bridge between classic literature and modern popular fiction. She did it first and she did it best.' Herald''One of the most stupendously successful authors ever' Sunday Express
Where Duty Lies
by Patricia RobinsA compelling classic romance from the inimitable Patricia Robins, first published in 1957 and now available for the first time in eBook.The minute Charlotte sees Meridan Avebury, it causes such strong, passionate feelings that she believes it must be love at first sight. But Meridan is already engaged to Phillipa, who is dangerously ill. And while they don't deny their feelings for each other, Charlotte and Meridan are unwilling to take happiness at Phillipa's expense.
Enlightenment: From the author of the #1 Sunday Times bestseller The Essex Serpent
by Sarah PerryA story of love and astronomy told over the course of twenty years through the lives of two improbable best friends.‘Glorious’ OBSERVER‘Extraordinary’ SARAH HALL‘Resplendent’ i news‘Richly layered’ TELEGRAPH‘Full of unexpected wonders’ LITERARY REVIEW‘Beautifully nuanced’ SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN‘Gorgeous’ GUARDIANThomas Hart and Grace Macauley are fellow worshippers at the Bethesda Baptist chapel in the small Essex town of Aldleigh. Though separated in age by three decades, the pair are kindred spirits – torn between their commitment to religion and their desire for more. But their friendship is threatened by the arrival of love.Thomas falls for James Bower, who runs the local museum. Together they develop an obsession with the vanished nineteenth-century female astronomer Maria Veduva, said to haunt a nearby manor. Inspired by Maria, and the dawning realisation James may not reciprocate his feelings, Thomas finds solace studying the night skies. Could astronomy offer as much wonder as divine or earthly love?Meanwhile Grace meets Nathan, a fellow sixth former who represents a different, wilder kind of life. They are drawn passionately together, but quickly pulled apart, casting Grace into the wider world and far away from Thomas.In time, the mysteries of Aldleigh are revealed, bringing Thomas and Grace back to each other and to a richer understanding of love, of the nature of the world, and the sheer miracle of being alive.‘Like Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries and AS Byatt’s Possession, [Enlightenment] is a baroque, genre-bending novel of ideas, ghosts, and hidden histories.’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Fire Rush: SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023
by Jacqueline CrooksSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2023SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE 2023AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVEL OF THE YEARIt’s time to dance, to love, to be free…‘Mesmerising’ BERNARDINE EVARISTO, author of Girl, Woman, Other‘Fabulous’ MAGGIE O'FARRELL, author of Hamnet‘Beautiful’ CALEB AZUMAH NELSON, author of Open WaterYamaye lives for the weekend, when she can go raving with her friends at The Crypt, an underground club on the outskirts of London. Then everything changes. Yamaye meets Moose, who she falls deeply in love with, and who offers her the chance of freedom and escape.After their relationship is brutally cut short, Yamaye goes on a dramatic journey of transformation that leads her to Jamaica, where past and present collide with explosive consequences.***A SUNDAY TIMES BEST NOVEL AND GUARDIAN BEST FICTION BOOK OF 2023***‘A wonderfully literary, musical and original novel about a culture and era that rarely makes the pages of fiction’ TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT‘Scorching… We follow Yamaye through love, loss and peril, as she chases her dreams and connects with her heritage’ GUARDIAN‘Ambitious, atmospheric… A novel of passion and anger’ SUNDAY TIMES‘A rich and rhythmic story about love and music’ I
Love Must Wait
by Patricia RobinsGina longed to share her life with the man she loved, but Charles told her love must wait. Gina must learn sophistication, devote herself to becoming a suitable wife for a fashionable author. Charles's apparent indifference saddened and frightened Gina, for she was horrified by the new Charles who she couldn't understand. In bewilderment, she turned to Peter for help and by doing so resolved her problems and found the love for which she had waited.
Nine Coaches Waiting: The twisty, unputdownable romantic suspense classic (Rediscovered Classics Ser.)
by Mary StewartA thrilling, twisty tale of a dangerous romance set in the heart of mid-century Savoy, from the original queen of romantic suspense. 'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times Linda Martin understands what is to be lonely: her parents died when she was young, and she was raised in an orphanage. When she is hired as a governess to the orphaned young Philippe, Comte de Valmy, Linda finds a kindred spirit in the lonely little boy. But Philippe is the heir to a vast estate in Savoy, and his dangerously handsome uncle may be willing to kill to ensure that Philippe never inherits it . . . Praise for Mary Stewart:'A wonderful wordsmith' Scotsman'I'd rather read her than most other authors' Harriet Evans'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'She set the benchmark for pace, suspense and romance - with a great dollop of escapism as the icing' Elizabeth BuchanReader reviews of Nine Coaches Waiting:'I was hooked from page one to page-the-end . . . Stewart is a wonderful writer''It had me in it's thrall from start to finish. I am compelled to recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read that keeps you on tenterhooks all the way through''I finished it at 4 in the morning. Talk about unputdownable!''A very good blend of thriller and romance . . . perfect for a lazy day by the pool'
The Rack: The rediscovered ‘powerful love story’ (Sebastian Faulks)
by A. E. EllisTHE REDISCOVERED BRITISH MASTERPIECE'Consider yourself an experiment of the gods in what a man can endure...' Paul Davenant, has arrived at a sanatorium in the Swiss Alps with hopes of a full cure and a normal life. But as the weeks and months pass interminably by, he undergoes endless tests and medical procedures, each more horrific and dehumanizing than the last, all the while facing the possibility that his case may be hopeless. Despite the pain, indignity, and tediousness, Davenant never loses sight of the outrageous, farcical side to his situation, the absurdity of it all. And when he falls in love with a fellow patient, he becomes determined to recover his health. Will he succeed, or will all the tortures he has endured have been for nothing?When The Rack was first published in 1958, the critical acclaim was universal: reviewers compared it with the works of Proust, Mann, and Camus and declared it a masterwork destined to take its place among the great novels of the 20th century. This edition will reclaim its status. PRAISE FOR THE RACK'I distrust anything deemed a cult classic, often a polite term for a book no one enjoys. But this very moving novel set in a TB sanatorium in Switzerland delivers gruelling descriptions of primitive treatments and a powerful love story' Sebastian Faulks'There are certain books we call great for want of a better term, that rise like monuments above the cemeteries of literature: Clarissa Harlowe, Great Expectations, Ulysses. The Rack to my mind is one of this company' Graham Greene'Quite possibly a masterpiece' Irish Times'Book of the year if there ever was one' V. S. Pritchett, New Statesman'A work of sombre power, of soaring comedy' Cyril Connolly, Sunday Times
My Brother Michael (Bull's-eye Ser.)
by Mary StewartThe original queen of the page-turner Mary Stewart leads her readers on a journey of murder and deceit through the dusty roads of mid-century Greece in this tale that fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym are sure to love.'The contemporary thriller at its very best' Guardian'Mary Stewart is magic' New York Times'Nothing ever happens to me...' So begins Camilla Haven's letter home during her quiet holiday in Athens. But when a stranger begs her to drive a car to Delphi, swearing that it is a matter of life and death, Camilla impulsively takes the opportunity she's been offered. Before long she is caught up in a whirlwind of intrigue, deceit and murder as she spins along the dusty Greek roads in a race against time to solve a fourteen-year-old mystery.The longer I waited the less possible it seemed to walk out of the café and leave everything to settle itself without me, and the more insidiously did the other possibility begin to present itself. Dry-mouthed, I pushed it aside, but there it was, a challenge, a gift, a dare from the gods . . . 'One of the best British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'There are few to equal Mary Stewart' Daily Telegraph
Sad Wind from the Sea (Playaway Adult Fiction Ser.)
by Jack HigginsThe very first novel written by Jack Higgins, re-packaged to celebrate 50 years of bestsellerdom.
The Simple Wordsworth: Studies in the Poems 1979-1807 (RLE: Wordsworth and Coleridge)
by John F. DanbyFirst published in 1960, this book studies Wordsworth’s ‘simple’ poems, such as the Lyrical Ballads, as products of a sophisticated and powerfully successful literary genius. The author aims to approach the poems as perhaps Wordsworth expected his first readers to; but as they have never been in fact. The result of this approach is to discover a Wordsworth far different to that which he has previously been presented as — the ‘Sage of Rydal’ at one extreme and a naïve perpetrator of poetical blunders at the other — and, the author argues, a far more exciting one. This book will be of interest to students of literature.
The Simple Wordsworth: Studies in the Poems 1979-1807 (RLE: Wordsworth and Coleridge)
by John F. DanbyFirst published in 1960, this book studies Wordsworth’s ‘simple’ poems, such as the Lyrical Ballads, as products of a sophisticated and powerfully successful literary genius. The author aims to approach the poems as perhaps Wordsworth expected his first readers to; but as they have never been in fact. The result of this approach is to discover a Wordsworth far different to that which he has previously been presented as — the ‘Sage of Rydal’ at one extreme and a naïve perpetrator of poetical blunders at the other — and, the author argues, a far more exciting one. This book will be of interest to students of literature.
Connie's Daughter
by Claire LorrimerMysterious and attractive, Clare is a wartime VAD nurse, and is engaged to Robin Claye, an army officer. On the surface Clare appears to be happy. However, will the scandalous past of her parents continue to haunt her?
Horace Walpole (The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts #9)
by Wilmarth Sheldon LewisAn illuminating biographical study of the eighteenth-century English man of letters and patron of the artsHorace Walpole (1717–1797) was a collector, printer, novelist, arbiter of taste, and renowned writer of letters. In this book, eminent scholar Wilmarth Sheldon Lewis provides an unprecedented look at the life and work of one of England’s greatest men of letters. Lewis sheds light on Walpole’s relationships with his family and friends, his politics, his writings and printmaking activities, and his correspondence. Featuring portraits of Walpole, his relatives, and friends; images of Walpole's sketches and manuscripts; pages from books printed at Walpole’s Strawberry Hill Press; and views and plans of Strawberry Hill, the house, its rooms and furnishings, and its grounds, and accompanied by Lewis’s extensive annotations, this book provides an invaluable history of an extraordinary man.
The Ivy Tree: The beloved love story from the Queen of Romantic Mystery (Coronet Bks.)
by Mary StewartMary Stewart, one of the great British storytellers of the 20th century, transports her readers to rural Northumberland for this tale of romance, ambition, and deceit - a perfect fit for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. 'There are few to equal Mary Stewart' Daily Telegraph'Mary Stewart is magic.' New York TimesWhitescar is a beautiful old house and farm situated in Roman Wall country. It will make a rich inheritance for its heirs, but in order to secure it, they enlist the help of a young woman named Mary who bears remarkable resemblance to missing Whitescar heiress, Annabel Winslow. Their deception will spark a powder-keg of ambition, obsession and long-dead love.The ivy had reached for the tree and only the tree's upper branches managed to thrust the young gold leaves of early summer through the strangling curtain. Eventually the ivy would kill it . . . 'One of the great British storytellers of the 20th century' Independent'The Ivy Tree has the ideal thriller blend of plot, suspense, character drawing and good writing' Daily Express
Scales Of Gold: The House Of Niccolo 4 (House of Niccolo #4)
by Dorothy Dunnett'A glorious panorama of medieval times ... The historical research is impeccable' Sunday Express The year 1464 finds our hero Nicholas in Venice. Plagued by enemies bent on dissolving his assets and smearing his character, he sets sail for Africa, legendary location of the Fountain of Youth and the source of gold in such abundance that men prefer to barter in shells. He will discover the charms of the beautiful Gelis - a woman whose passion for Nicholas is rivalled only by her desire to punish him for his role in her sister's death. Erotic and lush with detail, SCALES OF GOLD embraces the complexity of the Renaissance, where mercantile adventure couples with more personal quests behind the silkeb curtains of the Age of Discovery.