- Table View
- List View
Crash: The Great Depression and the Fall and Rise of America
by Marc FavreauThe incredible true story of how real people weathered one of the most turbulent periods in American history—the Great Depression—and emerged triumphant. From the sweeping consequences of the stock market crash to the riveting stories of individuals and communities caught up in a real American dystopia, discover how the country we live in today was built in response to a time when people from all walks of life fell victim to poverty, insecurity, and fear. Meet fascinating historical characters like Herbert Hoover, Franklin Delano and Eleanor Roosevelt, Frances Perkins, Dorothea Lange, Walter White, and Mary McLeod Bethune. See what life was like for regular Americans as the country went from the highs of the Roaring Twenties to the lows of the Great Depression, before bouncing back again during World War II. Explore pivotal scenes such as the creation of the New Deal, life in the Dust Bowl, the sit-down strikes in Michigan, the Scottsboro case, and the rise of Father Coughlin. Packed with photographs and firsthand accounts, and written with a keen understanding of the upheaval of the 1930s, Crash shares the incredible story of how America survived—and, ultimately, thrived.
Longshot (Francis Thriller #29)
by Dick FrancisDiscover the classic mystery from Dick Francis, one of the greatest thriller writers of all time'Fast-paced, full of twists and turns, absolutely marvellous!' 5***** Reader Review'Dick Francis never fails to keep you in suspense . . . A cracking story as always' 5***** Reader Review______Life as a writer is colder, hungrier work than John Kendall had bargained for. Not even the survival guides he's written can help him.So when notorious racehorse trainer Tremayne Vickers approaches Kendall to write his biography, it's an offer the impoverished writer can't turn down. Moving into Vickers' country home, Kendall quickly becomes immersed in his host's lifestyle: riding racehorses, making friends, and getting to know the family.But then a local stable girl is found dead - and the party's over. A killer is lurking in the shadows.And Kendall's own survival tips are about to become more useful - and more deadly - than he could ever have imagined . . .Packed with intrigue and hair-raising suspense, Longshot is just one of the many blockbuster thrillers from legendary crime writer Dick Francis.Praise for Dick Francis:'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror'The narrative is brisk and gripping and the background researched with care . . . the entire story is a pleasure to relish' Scotsman'Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph'A regular winner . . . as smooth, swift and lean as ever' Sunday Express'The master of suspense and intrigue' Country Life'Francis writing at his best' Evening Standard'Still the master' Racing Post
Tuesday's Gone: A Frieda Klein Novel (2) (Frieda Klein #2)
by Nicci FrenchFor Frieda Klein the days get longer, the cases darker . . .Psychotherapist Frieda Klein thought she was done with the police. But once more DCI Karlsson is knocking at her door.A man's decomposed body has been found in the flat of Michelle Doyce, a woman trapped in a world of strange mental disorder. The police don't know who it is, how he got there or what happened - and Michelle can't tell them. But Karlsson hopes Frieda can get access to the truths buried beneath her confusion.Painstakingly, Frieda uncovers a possible identity for the corpse: Robert Poole, a jack of all trades and master conman. But the deeper Frieda and Karlsson dig into Poole's past, the more of his victims they encounter - and the more motives they find for murder. Meanwhile, violent ghosts from Frieda's own past are returning to threaten her.Unable to discover quite who is telling the truth and who is lying, they know they are getting closer to a killer. But whoever murdered Poole is determined to stay free - and anyone that gets too close will meet the same fate. A gritty heroine, a gruesome crime and a terrifying hunt for a psychotic killer, Tuesday's Gone is not to be missed by fans of psychological thrillers. Praise for Nicci French:'Nicci French's sophisticated, compassionate and gripping crime novels stand head and shoulders above the competition. No one understands human psychological frailty better. No one writes better about grief, love, fear or emotional damage. Not many books are as insightful as they are addictive; Nicci French's are.' Sophie Hannah'Nicci French knows just how to play on our worst fears' Daily Mail
The City: A spellbinding and captivating epic fantasy that will keep you on the edge of your seat (The\city Ser. #1)
by Stella GrahamPerfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Joe Abercrombie and Robin Hobb, a stunningly imagined and thrilling epic fantasy from bestselling author Stella Gemmell. 'One of the best fantasy novels I've read in a long time - and I read a lot . . . utterly compelling . . . an awesome example of the genre' SF BOOK REVIEWS'An astonishing book . . . Easily the best fantasy novel I've read in the last decade' JAMES BARCLAY 'Vast, immersive and accomplished' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY'Superbly executed . . . I found myself absolutely hooked' THE ELOQUENT PAGE'Grips you from the first page' ***** Reader review'This ticked all the boxes for me' ***** Reader review'Such a great read, she has very much her own style of writing and I loved it' ***** Reader review************************************THEIR HOPES REST ON ONE MAN . . . EVEN THOUGH HE IS BELIEVED TO BE DEAD. The City, ancient and vast, has been waging almost constant war for centuries. At its heart resides the Emperor. Few have ever seen him. Those who have recall a man in his prime and yet he should be very old. Some wonder if he's no longer human; other question whether he ever truly was.A group of rebels have come to a desperate conclusion: the only way to halt the ceaseless slaughter is to end the emperor's unnaturally long life.From the crumbling catacombs beneath the City, where the poor struggle to stay alive, to the blood-soaked fields of battle where so few heroes survive, the rebels emerge. Their hopes rest on one man. A man who was once the Emperor's foremost general, a revered soldier who could lead an uprising and unite the City. A man who was betrayed, imprisoned, tortured and is now believed to be dead . . . The story continues in The Immortal Throne...
Blue Monday: A Frieda Klein Novel (1) (Frieda Klein #1)
by Nicci FrenchFeel chills down your spine with the thrilling first novel in Nicci French's bestselling killer series'Undeniably at the top of British psychological suspense writing' OBSERVER'Utterly gripping . . . I could hardly turn the pages fast enough' 5***** READER REVIEW _______ Monday: five-year-old Matthew Faraday is abducted.His face is splashed across newspaper front pages.His parents and the police are desperate. Can anyone help find their little boy before it is too late? Psychotherapist Frieda Klein just might know something.She has a lead: a previous abduction, from twenty years ago. One that only Frieda, an expert on the minds of disturbed individuals, can uncover. Struggling to make sense of this terrifying investigation, Frieda will face her darkest fears in the hunt for a clever and brutal killer . . ._______'The twists within the last few chapters left me thinking about it for hours after' 5***** READER REVIEW'I was really gripped from start to finish' 5***** READER REVIEW Praise for Nicci French: 'Sophisticated, compassionate, gripping . . . Not many books are as insightful as they are addictive; Nicci French's are' Sophie Hannah 'A brilliantly crafted new crime series' Daily Mirror 'Terrific. The writing is pacy, the jaw-dropping twists are plentiful' Short List 'One of French's hardest-to-put-down novels' Sunday Express 'French is undeniably at the top of British psychological suspense writing, expert in the unguessable twist, supremely skilled at ratcheting up the tension' Observer 'A nerve-jangling and addictive read' Daily Express
Light A Penny Candle: Her classic debut bestseller (Bestseller Collection Ser.)
by Maeve Binchy'Maeve Binchy! I love her stories and have since Light a Penny Candle.' Tom Hanks'Wonderfully warm and involving' Katie Fforde'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' Sunday Times_________________A friendship nothing could destroy.Evacuated from Blitz-battered London, the shy Elizabeth White is sent to stay with the O'Connor family in Kilgarret, Ireland, where she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the lively, boisterous Aisling O'Connor.Neither of them were to know it would become the most important friendship of their lives. Their bond is unshakeable, enduring over turbulent years of change and chaos, joy and sorrow, soaring dreams - and searing betrayals . . .With warmth, wit and great compassion, Maeve Binchy tells a magnificent story of two women, bound together in a friendship that nothing could tear apart - not even the man who threatened to come between them forever._________________'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' Sunday Times'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine'If any author can help you survive lockdown, it's Binchy' Daily Mail'I find myself yearning for the rain-soaked watercolour writing of Maeve Binchy' Guardian Best Comfort Reads
The Count of Monte Cristo: In English Translation
by Alexandre DumasThe epic tale of wrongful imprisonment, adventure and revenge, in its definitive translationThrown in prison for a crime he has not committed, Edmond Dantès is confined to the grim fortress of If. There he learns of a great hoard of treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape, but also to use the treasure to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration. Dumas' epic tale of suffering and retribution, inspired by a real-life case of wrongful imprisonment, was a huge popular success when it was first serialized in the 1840s.Translated with an Introduction by ROBIN BUSS
In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl's Journey to Freedom
by Yeonmi Park'I am most grateful for two things: that I was born in North Korea, and that I escaped from North Korea.'Yeonmi Park was not dreaming of freedom when she escaped from North Korea. She didn't even know what it meant to be free. All she knew was that she was running for her life, that if she and her family stayed behind they would die - from starvation, or disease, or even execution. This book is the story of Park's struggle to survive in the darkest, most repressive country on earth; her harrowing escape through China's underworld of smugglers and human traffickers; and then her escape from China across the Gobi desert to Mongolia, with only the stars to guide her way, and from there to South Korea and at last to freedom; and finally her emergence as a leading human rights activist - all before her 21st birthday.'Clear-eyed and devastating' Observer
Stalingrad: The Fateful Siege: 1942-1943
by Antony BeevorThe international million copy bestseller recounting the epic turning point of the WW2______________In October 1942, an officer wrote 'Stalingrad is no longer a town . . . Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure'.The battle for Stalingrad became the focus of Hitler and Stalin's determination and its citizens endured unimaginable hardship as a result. But the eventual victory of the Red Army, and the failure of Hitler's Operation Barbarossa, was the first defeat of Hitler's territorial ambitions in Europe, and the start of his decline.An extraordinary story of tactical genius, civilian bravery, obsession, carnage and the nature of war itself, Stalingrad will act as a testament to the vital role of the soviet war effort.______________'He reveals the full awfulness and human cost of the conflict with scholarly verve and deep sympathy' Ben Macintyre'A superb re-telling. Beevor combines a soldier's understanding of war's realities with the narrative techniques of a novelist' Orlando Figes, Sunday Telegraph'A brilliantly researched tour de force of military history' Sarah Bradford, The Times
The Shadows in the Street: Discover book 5 in the bestselling Simon Serrailler series (Simon Serrailler #5)
by Susan Hill‘Exhilarating’ IndependentWhen two prostitutes are found brutally strangled to death, Detective Simon Serrailler is called urgently back from his sabbatical.But by the time he reaches the town of Lafferton another girl has vanished. Then the wife of the Dean at the Cathedral goes missing. Has the killer widened their net or is there more than one murderer at large?‘Brilliantly compelling’ Daily MirrorDiscover the fifth edge-of-your seat novel in the bestselling Simon Serrailler series that over ONE MILLION readers have devoured.
The Edge (Francis Thriller #27)
by Dick FrancisDiscover the classic mystery from Dick Francis, one of the greatest thriller writers of all time'A fast-paced book full of twists and surprises, taking us from one side of Canada to the other' 5***** Reader Review'Grips you from the first sentence. Exciting, nerve-tingling: Dick Francis at his best' 5***** Reader Review______Tor Kelsey, an undercover agent for the Jockey Club's security service, is involved in the attempt to rid racing of one of its most notorious villains: Julius Apollo Filmer.The court, however, does not go along with their beliefs. But Tor knows that to let Julius even suspect the service are still on his tail would mean certain death for several witnesses.Meanwhile, several racehorse owners have planned a luxurious train trip across Canada, with race meetings fixed for every major city - and Julius Apollo Filmer and Tor are on the passenger list. It's not long until the beautiful journey through the Rockies gets uglier by the minute as Tor finds himself pushed to dangerous limits to defeat Filmer's wily scheming . . .Packed with intrigue and hair-raising suspense, The Edge is just one of the many blockbuster thrillers from legendary crime writer Dick Francis.Praise for Dick Francis:'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing' Daily Mirror'The narrative is brisk and gripping and the background researched with care . . . the entire story is a pleasure to relish' Scotsman'Dick Francis's fiction has a secret ingredient - his inimitable knack of grabbing the reader's attention on page one and holding it tight until the very end' Sunday Telegraph'A regular winner . . . as smooth, swift and lean as ever' Sunday Express'The master of suspense and intrigue' Country Life'Francis writing at his best' Evening Standard'Still the master' Racing Post
Trouble at the Tangerine
by Gillian McDunnAward-winning author Gillian McDunn pens a delightfully quirky mystery that examines the meaning of home, perfect for fans of The Vanderbeekers series.Simon's family is always on the move. Every few months, they load up their van, “Vincent Van Go,” and set off for a new adventure. According to his dad, you can't live an extraordinary life by staying in one place. But all Simon wants is to settle down, so he's hatched a plan: to make their latest apartment in the Tangerine Pines building his forever home.When a priceless necklace is stolen, clues indicate the thief might actually be another neighbor. Simon worries he'll have to move again if the thief isn't caught. He usually doesn't go looking for trouble, but if retrieving the necklace means establishing home, Simon is willing to risk it. With the help of his neighbor Amaya, pet sitter, plant-waterer, and podcaster extraordinaire, Simon is determined to crack the case and finally put down roots.
Our Way Back to Always
by Nina MorenoTo All the Boys I've Loved Before meets Since You&’ve Been Gone in this effervescent romance about childhood best friends reconnecting, full of sunny days, warm nights, first kisses, and mended hearts. Lou Patterson and Sam Alvarez were inseparable—the best of friends—until the most embarrassing middle school promposal ever. Now, four years later, Lou is an introverted romantic who&’s bearing the weight of her mother&’s expectations. Meanwhile, Sam is the golden boy with plenty of friends who&’s still mourning the death of his father. When Lou finds the bucket list she and Sam wrote together as kids, she&’s disappointed to see that she hasn&’t accomplished a single one of her goals. Go to a party? Nope. Pull the greatest prank of all time? Still no. Learn how to be a really good kisser? Definitely not. Lou sets out to finish the list, and in a stroke of fate, Sam decides to tag along, stirring up old arguments and some very new feelings. But with the bucket list to guide them, Sam and Lou might just be able to find a way toward the future and each other.
Grandmas Are the Greatest
by Ben FaulksA delightful picture book about the special bond between grandmothers and grandchildren, perfect for gifting!Do you have a grandmother who lets you help out in her vegetable garden? Or one who takes you along when she hikes through nature? Or maybe you have a silly grandma who tells you her best jokes? Your grandmother may be an acrobat or an ambulance driver, a master chef or mountaineer, a super spy or just super snuggly. No two grandmas are exactly alike, but what makes every grandma the GREATEST is the one-of-a-kind love they give to their grandchildren.Contemporary: This book showcases a variety of grandparentsPerennial: Celebrates the universal love that grandparents and grandchildren shareAn excellent gift for Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day, birthdays, and holidays.For fans of: sweet picture books with commercial art, kid-friendly approach, and heartwarming message.Also available: Grandpas Are the Greatest
Grandmas Are the Greatest
by Ben FaulksA delightful picture book about the special bond between grandmothers and grandchildren, perfect for gifting!Do you have a grandmother who lets you help out in her vegetable garden? Or one who takes you along when she hikes through nature? Or maybe you have a silly grandma who tells you her best jokes? Your grandmother may be an acrobat or an ambulance driver, a master chef or mountaineer, a super spy or just super snuggly. No two grandmas are exactly alike, but what makes every grandma the GREATEST is the one-of-a-kind love they give to their grandchildren.Contemporary: This book showcases a variety of grandparentsPerennial: Celebrates the universal love that grandparents and grandchildren shareAn excellent gift for Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day, birthdays, and holidays.For fans of: sweet picture books with commercial art, kid-friendly approach, and heartwarming message.Also available: Grandpas Are the Greatest
The Leaving: Improvisation And The Theatre (Bloomsbury Revelations Ser.)
by Tara AltebrandoEleven years ago, six five-year-olds went missing without a trace. After all this time, the people left behind have moved on, or tried to.Until today. Now five of those kids are back. They're sixteen, and they are ... fine. Scarlett comes home and finds a mother she barely recognises, and doesn't really know who she's supposed to be, either. But she remembers Lucas. Lucas remembers Scarlett, too, but they can't recall where they've been or what happened to them. Neither of them remember the sixth victim, Max. He doesn't come back and everyone wants answers. Addictive and unforgettable, The Leaving seethes with rich characters, tense storytelling and high stakes.
The Song from Somewhere Else: An Introduction To New Media (Berg New Media Ser.)
by A.F. HarroldWinner of the Amnesty CILIP Honour for Illustration 2018Shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway MedalLonglisted for the CILIP Carnegie MedalFrank doesn't know how to feel when Nick Underbridge rescues her from bullies one afternoon. No one likes Nick. He's big, he's weird and he smells – or so everyone in Frank's class thinks.And yet, there's something nice about Nick's house. There's strange music playing there, and it feels light and good and makes Frank feel happy for the first time in forever.But there's more to Nick, and to his house, than meets the eye, and soon Frank realises she isn't the only one keeping secrets. Or the only one who needs help …A poignant, darkly comic and deeply moving story about the power of the extraordinary, and finding friendship where you least expect it. Written by the author of the critically acclaimed The Imaginary and illustrated by award-winning illustrator Levi Pinfold, this is perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Neil Gaiman
Witch Switch (Witch Wars)
by Sibéal Pounder_______________'This is a witch story like no other – and it's a blast!' – Bookseller'Brilliantly magical' – Tom Fletcher Book Club_______________The second book in the hilarious Witch Wars series for kids aged 7+, perfect for fans of The Worst Witch.Tiga Whicabim is settling in to the witchy, glitzy world of Ritzy City. Peggy is Top Witch, and Tiga is enjoying life at the Brews' house with Fluffanora. But when Fran the Fabulous Fairy visits Linden House and finds Peggy has gone – leaving behind only a note to say she is 'AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES' and has left the evil Felicity Bat in charge – the girls realise something is very wrong. And then witches all across town start to disappear. Tiga and Fluffanora set out to investigate and discover an old, unsolved Sinkville mystery that might just be the key to it all.
Call It What You Want
by Brigid Kemmerer_______________From the author of the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series comes an emotionally complex, romantic story about two teens struggling to unpick the grey area between right and wrong, perfect for fans of John Green and Jennifer Niven_______________Rob had it all – friends, a near-guaranteed lacrosse scholarship to college and an amazing family – but all that changed when his dad was caught embezzling funds from half the town. Now he's a social pariah. Maegan always does the right thing. But when her sister comes home from college pregnant, she's caught between telling their parents the truth about the father and keeping her sister's trust. When Rob and Maegan are paired together for a project, they form an unexpectedly deep connection. But Rob's plan to fix his father's damage could ruin more than their new friendship …
Dark Blade: Whispers of the Gods Book 1 (Whispers of the Gods #1)
by Steve Feasey'This has everything you want from an epic fantasy adventure – devious Gods, hideous monsters, a portal to another dimension and a hero with an enchanted blade. Great stuff' – Charlie Higson, author of the Young Bond series_________________________A sweeping epic fantasy perfect for fans of the Summoner trilogy by Taran Matharu and Shadow and Bone by Leigh BardugoWHEN GODS FAIL, WHO WILL KEEP THE DARKNESS OUT?Lann knows nothing of his mysterious past, but by his fifteenth birthday he will come face to face with destiny. For Lann must wield the Dreadblade, an ancient sword forged to defeat terrible monsters. Across the mountains a King has been murdered. His daughter, Astrid, is a warrior with no desire to bear the crown. Only she can uncover her father's killer before her brother is framed for the crime.Evil is stirring. Lann and Astrid are the kingdom's last defence. Together, they must face the greatest darkness their world has ever known.
Kitty's Magic 3: Ruby the Runaway Kitten (Kitty's Magic)
by Ella MoonheartKitty is magical! Kitty can turn into a cat! But with this power comes a special role: Kitty is the Guardian of the local Cat Council and must help them find the purrfect solution to their feline problems. Coco is upset when her owner, Evie, brings home Ruby, a playful Bengal kitten. Coco isn't getting nearly as much attention as her new housemate and makes Ruby feel very unwelcome. Now Ruby has run away and Evie is very worried. Can Kitty lead the Cat Council to find the lost kitten?In this third book in an enchanting series for fans of Holly Webb and Daisy Meadows, you can follow Kitty and your favourite feline friends from the first two books, or meet them all here for the very first time!
The Magician King: (Book 2) (Magicians Trilogy Ser. #2)
by Lev GrossmanQuentin and his friends are now the kings and queens of the magical land of Fillory. But he finds himself growing restless.So when a mystery at the heart of the kingdom is uncovered, Quentin and his old friend Julia charter a sailing ship and set off to the wild outer reaches.But their voyage will take them much further than they imagined and leave them with a choice that could have devastating consequences - for Fillory and for magic itself.Praise for The Magicians Trilogy'The best fantasy trilogy of the decade.' Charles Stross'The most entertaining and compelling fantasy I've read in a long time.' The Times'Lev Grossman has conjured a rare creature: a trilogy that simply gets better and better as it goes along... Literary perfection.' Erin Morgenstern'May just be the most subversive, gripping, and enchanting fantasy novel I've read this century.' Cory Doctorow'Dark and dangerous and full of twists. Hogwarts was never like this.' George R. R. Martin'Sad, hilarious, beautiful, and essential to anyone who cares about modern fantasy.' Joe Hill'A darkly cunning story about the power of imagination itself.' The New Yorker'The Magicians ought to be required reading... a terrific, at times almost painfully perceptive novel of the fantastic.' Kelly Link'Brilliantly explores the hidden underbelly of fantasy and easy magic, taking what's simple on the surface and turning it over to show us the complicated writhing mess beneath.' Naomi Novik
The Magicians: (Book 1) (Magicians Trilogy Ser. #1)
by Lev GrossmanQuentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. Obsessed with the fantasy novels he read as a child, he finds the real world just doesn't compare.Then one day it happens: he stumbles unexpectedly into a hidden world and is invited to join a very exclusive college, where he will learn the secrets of magic.But something is still missing.And now Quentin will do anything to find what he's always been looking for.Praise for The Magicians Trilogy'The best fantasy trilogy of the decade.' Charles Stross'The most entertaining and compelling fantasy I've read in a long time.' The Times'Lev Grossman has conjured a rare creature: a trilogy that simply gets better and better as it goes along... Literary perfection.' Erin Morgenstern'May just be the most subversive, gripping, and enchanting fantasy novel I've read this century.' Cory Doctorow'Dark and dangerous and full of twists. Hogwarts was never like this.' George R. R. Martin'Sad, hilarious, beautiful, and essential to anyone who cares about modern fantasy.' Joe Hill'A darkly cunning story about the power of imagination itself.' The New Yorker'The Magicians ought to be required reading... a terrific, at times almost painfully perceptive novel of the fantastic.' Kelly Link'Brilliantly explores the hidden underbelly of fantasy and easy magic, taking what's simple on the surface and turning it over to show us the complicated writhing mess beneath.' Naomi Novik
The Magician's Land: (Book 3) (Magicians Ser. #3)
by Lev GrossmanQuentin has been cast out of Fillory. Alone and adrift, he returns to Brakebills, the school of magic where it all began. But he can't hide from his past.His new path will take him through a world of grey and uncertain magic, from Antarctica to theenchanted Neitherlands.But all roads lead back to Fillory. The magical barriers are failing and the realm faces destruction. To save them, Quentin must unlock the secrets of magic and risk sacrificing everything.Praise for The Magicians Trilogy'The best fantasy trilogy of the decade.' Charles Stross'The most entertaining and compelling fantasy I've read in a long time.' The Times'Lev Grossman has conjured a rare creature: a trilogy that simply gets better and better as it goes along... Literary perfection.' Erin Morgenstern'May just be the most subversive, gripping, and enchanting fantasy novel I've read this century.' Cory Doctorow'Dark and dangerous and full of twists. Hogwarts was never like this.' George R. R. Martin'Sad, hilarious, beautiful, and essential to anyone who cares about modern fantasy.' Joe Hill'A darkly cunning story about the power of imagination itself.' The New Yorker'The Magicians ought to be required reading... a terrific, at times almost painfully perceptive novel of the fantastic.' Kelly Link'Brilliantly explores the hidden underbelly of fantasy and easy magic, taking what's simple on the surface and turning it over to show us the complicated writhing mess beneath.' Naomi Novik
Workers' Tales: Socialist Fairy Tales, Fables, and Allegories from Great Britain (Oddly Modern Fairy Tales #22)
by Michael RosenA collection of political tales—first published in British workers’ magazines—selected and introduced by acclaimed critic and author Michael RosenIn the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals, such as the Clarion, Labour Leader, and Social Democrat. Based on familiar genres—the fairy tale, fable, allegory, parable, and moral tale—and penned by a range of lesser-known and celebrated authors, including Schalom Asch, Charles Allen Clarke, Frederick James Gould, and William Morris, these stories were meant to entertain readers of all ages—and some challenged the conventional values promoted in children’s literature for the middle class. In Workers’ Tales, acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen brings together more than forty of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume.Throughout, the tales in this collection exemplify themes and ideas related to work and the class system, sometimes in wish-fulfilling ways. In “Tom Hickathrift,” a little, poor person gets the better of a gigantic, wealthy one. In “The Man Without a Heart,” a man learns about the value of basic labor after testing out more privileged lives. And in “The Political Economist and the Flowers,” two contrasting gardeners highlight the cold heart of Darwinian competition. Rosen’s informative introduction describes how such tales advocated for contemporary progressive causes and countered the dominant celebration of Britain’s imperial values. The book includes archival illustrations, biographical notes about the writers, and details about the periodicals where the tales first appeared.Provocative and enlightening, Workers’ Tales presents voices of resistance that are more relevant than ever before.