Alison Maloney – författare

The official, full-color, illustrated, behind-the-scenes companion to the lavish hit ITV and PBS television series Mr. Selfridge that vividly brings into focus the remarkable man and his time.Set at the crossroads between the old and the new—when the Victorian and Edwardian eras gave way to the modern age—Mr. Selfridge illuminates the passions, drama, tensions, and promise of the early twentieth century, embodied in one charming, dynamic, self-made man: department store tycoon Harry Gordon Selfridge.Mr. Selfridge follows a colorful cast of characters whose lives and fortunes are entangled with the founder of the magnificent department store that bears his name: Selfridge''s. American retail visionary Harry Selfridge moves to London in 1906 with his family to establish the most ambitious department store the world had ever seen. While his dreams inspire many, they also challenge the staid conventions of British society.A saga bursting with love affairs, class divisions, cultural clashes, ambition, betrayals, and secrets, Mr. Selfridge is set in an era when women reveled in a new sense of freedom and modernity. A charming, dynamic, brilliant, and forceful man who enjoys and respects women, Harry opens the doors of his opulent department story on London''s famed Oxford Street to indulge, empower and celebrate them, changing the way the British—and the world—shopped forever.Including a foreword by series producer Andrew Davies, this official illustrated companion to the series—the biggest ITV-produced drama of all time—takes fans on a journey through the world of the series, Selfridge''s, and the larger-than-life entrepreneur, husband, lover, and family man behind it. Rich with historical detail, The World of Mr. Selfridge examines the real man and the fictional character based on him, his relationship with his family, his genius for retail, and his flagship store, including its departments and changing fashions in the early twentieth century.Complete with hundreds of gorgeous photographs, The World of Mr. Selfridge takes a closer look at the cast and their characters over the first two seasons, and looks ahead to series three, which begins in 1919—when Harry''s life really begins to unravel.

Pope Gelasius, who canonized St George in 494, described him as one of those 'whose names are rightly reverenced among us, but whose actions are known only to God.' The story of England's Patron Saint is so encased in myth and legend that the truth of his remarkable life is unknown to the great majority of us.In many ways the attitude of the English, reflects the many contradictions in the story of St George and the growth of his legend worldwide. A Christian martyr, murdered by a Roman emperor in Palestine, he is a legendary dragon-slayer who saved a virgin princess from sacrifice - but not before insisting her entire town converts to Christianity. Yet he is also the model for mythical Islamic hero Al Khidr. He is the Patron Saint of England but never set foot on English soil and the legend of his knightly deeds came from the imagination of a bishop in Italy. In recent years, through national pride more than religious fervour, the popularity of St George's Day has risen sharply, with more parades, parties and pub get-togethers than we saw in the latter half of the twentieth century.

Bright Young Things is a thoroughly entertaining non-fiction account of 'the real Downton Abbey', which brings to life the historical backdrop of the series in an informative, fun and engaging book. As one viewer told The New York Times: 'I'm just enjoying the show so much, I thought I needed to get a book about it. And I was watching [the historical scenes] and thinking, I don't know enough about this. So maybe I can learn something in the process.'So step into a time of hot jazz and even hotter all-night dance halls, as Alison Maloney shares the gossip about life in the Roaring Twenties. Read all about it: high society’s scandalous exploits, fresh new fashions, the Charleston dance craze, costume parties, talking movies and, of course, the feisty flapper. With chapters such as Makin' Whoopee, Cocktail Hour and Upstairs, Downstairs, Bright Young Things takes a sweeping look at the changing society of the Jazz Age, as life below stairs vanished forever, loose morals ran riot, and new inventions made it seem anything was possible. Peppered with first-person accounts that convey the spirit of the era in the words of those who lived it, Bright Young Things is a scintillating celebration of a truly iconic decade.

For No. 1 Mums everywhere, this is the perfect celebration of motherhood, filled with inventive ideas and clever tips and bubbling with joyful things. From chicken soup to Sunday roasts, bubble bath to balloons, No. 1 Mum pays tribute to the top 100 objects every mother will recognise, in a fun and handy book that promises to amuse and inspire in equal measure. Along the way, Alison offers great ideas to complement the objects – top-ten ideas for travel games to play, a birthday cake recipe that will wow your child’s friends, the perfect solution to the thorny school play costume dilemma – in an entertaining and rewarding celebration of motherhood.

With love affairs, class issues, glamour, great story-telling and social history, Mr Selfridgeis the biggest budget ITV-produced drama of all time. Beginning in 1909, Mr Selfridge follows a colourful cast of characters whose lives and fortunes are entangled with the founder of the magnificent department store. An American retail visionary, Harry Selfridge moved to London in 1906 with his family to build and open the most ambitious department store the world had ever seen. The drama is set at a time when women were revelling in a new sense of freedom and modernity. Harry wanted to indulge, empower and celebrate these women and so opened the doors of his opulent department store on London''s famous Oxford Street, changing the way the British shopped forever. This lavishly illustrated book is the official companion to the series. Written with a foreword by series producer Andrew Davies, the book takes fans on a journey through the world of Harry Gordon Selfridge. Rich with historical detail it explores the man himself, his relationship with his family as well as the store, its departments and changing fashions in the early twentieth century. Complete with hundreds of high quality photographs it takes a closer look at the cast and their characters before looking ahead to series three which will pick up in 1919, the point at which Harry''s life really begins to unravel.

Along with the fine art of queuing and proper tea, talking about the weather is the essence of Britishness. We’re all a little bit obsessed by it. Will it snow this Christmas? Was this year really the warmest on record? And where on earth did ‘raining cats and dogs’ come from? According to recent research, 94% of British people admit to having discussed the weather in the past six hours, while 38% say they have in the past 60 minutes. And Now, The Weather... is an almanac, a miscellany, and a celebration of our most famous obsession. Including beautiful illustrations, maps and line drawings, And Now, The Weather... is a perfect gift for the cloudspotter in your life.Features include:- The Lore of Weather – myths, legends and old wives tales about the weather.- Lost in Translation – Colloquial names for weather around the country, from Custard Winds to Mizzle. - Extreme Weather – Bizarre events in the history of British Weather including red rain and a downpour of frogs and fish.- Plus tables showing record breaking sunshine, wind speed, rainfall, heat etc.

Magic moments and memories from the world capital of dance Ask a Strictly star at the start of their journey what their goal is and the chances are they'll say 'Getting to Blackpool.' The iconic Tower Ballroom has been a Mecca to the ballroom dancing world since 1894, and Strictly's annual trip to the bright lights is a highlight of the series for contestants and viewers alike.Strictly Blackpool takes fans on a trip down memory lane, celebrating the most memorable routines from specials of the past and the dancers' own Blackpool experiences, as well as a behind the scenes glimpse of how the BBC's flagship show is transported to the seaside town every year for the magical ballroom special. There is a fascinating look at the Tower Ballroom's amazing history and secrets - from the circus in the basement to the elephants that lived in the building and bathed on the beach - as well as special photos from the Tower's archives.Bringing together the exciting history of the Ballroom and the magic of the annual Blackpool special, this beautifully-packaged book is a true celebration of Blackpool's dance heritage, and a must-buy for any Strictly fan!

For the last 70 years, the guests of Woman’s Hour have been entertaining listeners with their compelling combination of wit, warmth, insight and humour. Woman’s Hour has interviewed many of the biggest female names from entertainment, politics, the arts and beyond.Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women is a collection of quotes and extracts from 70 years of the Woman’s Hour archive, featuring some of the most memorable guests to appear on the programme, from Doris Lessing to Nora Ephron, Hilary Clinton to J.K. Rowling, and Bette Davis to Meryl Streep. Charting the social and political revolution that has taken place in women’s lives over the past 70 years, as well as the perennial aspects of female life, such as love, family, relationships, the workplace, sex, ageing, and food, this delightful book shares fascinating insights and sage advice from the wise and wonderful women that have graced the Woman’s Hour airwaves over the decades.

For the last 70 years, the guests of Woman’s Hour have been entertaining listeners with their compelling combination of wit, warmth, insight and humour. Woman’s Hour has interviewed many of the biggest female names from entertainment, politics, the arts and beyond.Words from Wise, Witty and Wonderful Women is a collection of quotes and extracts from 70 years of the Woman’s Hour archive, featuring some of the most memorable guests to appear on the programme, from Doris Lessing to Nora Ephron, Hilary Clinton to J.K. Rowling, and Bette Davis to Meryl Streep. Charting the social and political revolution that has taken place in women’s lives over the past 70 years, as well as the perennial aspects of female life, such as love, family, relationships, the workplace, sex, ageing, and food, this delightful book shares fascinating insights and sage advice from the wise and wonderful women that have graced the Woman’s Hour airwaves over the decades.

Magic moments and memories from the world capital of dance Ask a Strictly star at the start of their journey what their goal is and the chances are they'll say 'Getting to Blackpool.' The iconic Tower Ballroom has been a Mecca to the ballroom dancing world since 1894, and Strictly's annual trip to the bright lights is a highlight of the series for contestants and viewers alike.Strictly Blackpool takes fans on a trip down memory lane, celebrating the most memorable routines from specials of the past and the dancers' own Blackpool experiences, as well as a behind the scenes glimpse of how the BBC's flagship show is transported to the seaside town every year for the magical ballroom special. There is a fascinating look at the Tower Ballroom's amazing history and secrets - from the circus in the basement to the elephants that lived in the building and bathed on the beach - as well as special photos from the Tower's archives.Bringing together the exciting history of the Ballroom and the magic of the annual Blackpool special, this beautifully-packaged book is a true celebration of Blackpool's dance heritage, and a must-buy for any Strictly fan!

From the moment Colin Firth took on the role of Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, emerging from the lake in 'that scene', he was set on a path from sex symbol to national treasure and Hollywood star. With roles ranging from Hugh Grant's love rival in Bridget Jones to an Oscar-nominated turn as a gay university professor in A Single Man, Firth's skills as a versatile actor have known no bounds. Yet, it was his recent portrayal of George VI in the 2011 film The King's Speech that has elevated him to Hollywood royalty, bagging him numerous awards, including the much coveted Oscar for Best Actor. However, it is not only his assumed roles, but the man himself who has captured the hearts of audiences the world over. This first ever biography also reveals: his early life in Nigeria; the secrets of his escape to Canada with actress Meg Tilly, the birth of their first son and his heartbreak as the relationship floundered; the passionate affair with Pride and Prejudice co-star Jennifer Ehle; and his whirlwind romance with his Italian wife, Livia. Fascinating, revelatory and suffused with Firth's own dry wit, this is a must-read book on the man of the moment.

For the mum who embraces motherhood and all that it entails, The Mums' Book is a humorous handbook on the ups and downs of being a mother. Featuring:recipes for the perfect fairy cakes tips on how to throw the best children's parties examples of the best games to play on long journeysadvice on the best ways to pamper oneselfPlus other invaluable, and bizarre, pearls of wisdom handed down from generation to generation. The Mums' Book is also a celebration of motherhood, a miscellany of hilarious anecdotes and survival techniques from the world's best mums. No mother should be without this informative and amusing guide!

In Life Below Stairs, bestselling author Alison Maloney goes behind the scenes to reveal a detailed picture of what really went on 'downstairs', describing the true-life trials and tribulations of Edwardian servants in a gripping non-fiction account. Thoroughly researched and reliably informed, it also contains first-hand stories from the staff of the time. A must-read for anyone interested in the lifestyle and conduct of a bygone era.

Dust off your dancing shoes, Strictly is back!Featuring exclusive interviews with all the celebrities, judges, presenters and professional dancers, as well as behind-the-scenes features to give you a glimpse into the glitz and glamour, the 2027 Annual is your perfect partner for all things Strictly. Meet the show's two shiny new hosts, hear from last year's winner Karen Carney,and revel in some of Strictly's best hair and makeup looks. It's that time of year again, so Keep Dancing!

Dust off your dancing shoes, Strictly is back!Featuring exclusive interviews with the celebs, judges, presenters and pro dancers, fun quizzes to test your ballroom knowledge and behind-the-scenes features to give you a glimpse into the glitz and glamour, this is your perfect partner for all things Strictly. Get the scoop on what goes on backstage with the It Takes Two presenters, hear from last year's winner and try your hand at the Strictly quiz and wordsearch.