Amanda Bennett – författare

At seventeen Lori Schiller was the perfect child - the only daughter of an affluent, close-knit family. Six years later she made her first suicide attempt, then wandered the streets of New York City dressed in ragged clothes, tormenting voices crying out in her mind. Lori Schiller had entered the horrifying world of full-blown schizophrenia. She began an ordeal of hospitalizations, halfway houses, relapses, more suicide attempts, and constant, withering despair. But against all odds, she survived. Now in this personal account, she tells how she did it, taking us not only into her own shattered world, but drawing on the words of the doctors who treated her and family members who suffered with her. In this new addition, Lori Schiller recounts the dramatic years following the original publication - a period involving addiction, relapse and ultimately, love and recovery. Moving, harrowing, and ultimately uplifting, THE QUIET ROOM is a classic testimony to the ravages of mental illness and the power of perserverance and courage.

The Man Who Stayed Behind is the remarkable account of Sidney Rittenberg, an American who was sent to China by the U.S. military in the 1940s. A student activist and labor organizer who was fluent in Chinese, Rittenberg became caught up in the turbulence that engulfed China and remained there until the late 1970s. Even with access to China’s highest leaders as an American communist, however, he was twice imprisoned for a total of sixteen years.Both a memoir and a documentary history of the Chinese revolution from 1949 through the Cultural Revolution, The Man Who Stayed Behind provides a human perspective on China’s efforts to build a new society. Critical of both his own mistakes and those of the Communist leadership, Rittenberg nevertheless gives an even-handed account of a country that is now free of internal war for the first time in a hundred years.

Guernsey is the most western of the Channel Islands, with a proud maritime history spanning many centuries. Only 25 square miles, the island nevertheless has a great variety of landscapes, from the rugged cliffs in the south to the low-lying dunes in the north. The ten parishes, each with their own unique community spirit, are home to over 60,000 people. This grows greatly during the summer as visitors come to experience the island's quiet country lanes and the bustling streets of St Peter Port. Historically, Guernsey people have made their mark not just on the sea, but in thriving stone industries, agriculture and horticulture, and in recent years, international banking. Guernsey Through Time explores this fascinating little island through the historical photograph collection of the Priaulx Library, many of which have never been published. Locals and visitors alike will discover a unique insight into how Guernsey has changed over time.

Guernsey is small – only 25 square miles – but it holds a depth of history and intrigue far greater than its size. Early prehistoric beginnings allied to a Norman French heritage and a long period of loyalty to the English Crown have produced a unique culture – a melting pot of religious, political and economic activity. The islanders’ stories can be found everywhere – from the sea-swept coast and rural country lanes, to the bustle of St Peter Port, in buildings, churches and charming quaint, granite houses.Take a journey through this familiar landscape to find what lies beneath – stories of the unusual, the intriguing or the plain odd. From serial duellists to romantic poets; confusing road names to land reclamation; mysterious stones to pagan offerings, Secret Guernsey is filled with unexpected tales of island life and history, and invites you to explore the island for yourself and uncover more unfound treasures through stunning colour photographs.