Joseph Piercy – författare

From European favourites such as Mastichato Chios, which saved 2,000 Greeks from a bloody massacre at the hands of vengeful Turks, to legendary drinks such as Amarula, invented by African elephants; from classic cocktail ingredients like Midori, the bright green Japanese melon drink launched at the wrap party for Saturday Night Fever at Studio 54, to student stalwart Jägermeister, dreamt up by a confidant of Herman Göring and hugely popular among senior Nazis, Slippery Tipples tells the stories behind the word’s most extraordinary drinks.Alongside a country-by-country guide to murky and mysterious booze and dozens of cocktail recipes is a series of easy to follow recipes for making your own liqueurs and spirits. If you would like to concoct your own fruit brandies or make a drop of traditional full-strength Pimms then this is the book for you.

What links Fidel Castro, pirates from the Caribbean and George Washington? Rum. A Rum Tale: Spirit of the New World is a look at the history of one of the Caribbean’s most famous and favourite drinks. From its start as a by-product of a mysterious plant called ‘sugar cane’ to twentieth-century bootlegging, smuggling and prohibition, rum’s heritage is as rich as its flavour – so pour yourself a drink and turn the page.

Everything you need to know about the 25 essential rules of English grammar.English grammar is often said to be over-complicated and difficult to get to grips with but the truth is that, while there are certain rules that should be obeyed, the language evolves and develops over time – and quite rightly so. In this useful book, Joseph Piercy outlines the 25 rules that should be adhered to in written and spoken English, defining the rules themselves and then decoding them for the layman so that he or she understands each rule and how it has been used and developed over time. Here the author highlights the most common misuses – or plain errors – in the language, such as apostrophes, 'who' and 'whom', and avoiding split infinitives and double negatives, while also setting the reader on to the right path to speaking and writing in good, plain English.

A Word a Day contains 365 carefully selected words that will enhance and expand your vocabulary, along with their meanings, origins and sample usage and fascinating word-related facts and trivia.It is estimated that on average an English-speaking adult has acquired a functioning vocabulary of 25,000 words by the time they reach middle age. That sounds like a lot – and more than enough for the daily purposes of communicating with each other in speech and writing. However, it is hard to feel quite so sanguine about our word power when considering those 25,000 words account for less than fifteen per cent of the total words in current usage in the English language. Furthermore, new words are created all the time and, as the word pool flourishes, can we afford to allow our vocabulary to stagnate?Logophile Joseph Piercy has the answer: a simple challenge to learn A Word a Day from this user-friendly onomasticon (that’s a word list designed for a specific purpose – in case you were wondering …). Each of the 365 words have been carefully selected for their elegance and pertinence in everyday situations and every entry contains a clear and concise outline of meaning, origin and sample usage in context, alongside fascinating word related facts and trivia. A Word a Day is a treasure trove of fascination and fun for all language lovers – delve in and enhance your vocabulary.

Life Lessons from Literature is a must for all bibliophiles, providing a concise and highly accessible bucket list of must-read books that teaches us so many fundamental truths and broadens our minds.‘I read a book one day and my whole life was changed’ ... So confesses the narrator of Orhan Pamuk’s novel The New Life. But what can we learn from reading books? Life Lessons from Literature poses this broad question by examining the works of some of the greatest writers in history.In it, we can draw wisdom from Charles Dickens’ views on poverty and wealth; seek comfort from ideas about love from Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters. Yet books are about much more than just romance and money. Through careful examination of over one hundred classic works of world literature, life lessons are also drawn from themes such as conflict and oppression, identity and psychology, showing how literature enriches and informs our understanding of ourselves and the wider world around us.From Brazil to Japan, the Americas to Africa; from Victor Hugo to Mark Twain and Chinua Achebe to Haruki Murakami, you will find literature from around the world in this gem of a book, in which the plots may differ but the themes and the lessons they have to teach us are entirely universal.

Learn how to thrive in the modern world by unlocking the ancient art of Stoicism. This practical and accessible guide will show you how to cultivate wisdom and cope with life’s everyday challenges. The Little Book of Stoic Wisdom is a classical primer for anyone wanting to understand true Stoicism. Although we’re living in drastically different times to the ancients, many of the lessons of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius still stand today. The millennia-old mindset will show you how to learn the Stoic art of mindful acceptance, foster calmness and reach your full potential. Featuring a breakdown of the central pillars of Stoic philosophy alongside practical everyday examples, this essential book will help you sharpen your focus, build your self-discipline and banish negative thinking. A Stoic life well lived is one that has been adopted by some of the most successful business leaders, from Steve Jobs to Bill Gates, as well high-performing sportspeople such as Rory McIlroy, and historic figures such as George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson, among others. The Little Book of Stoic Wisdom will show you what it truly means to live Stoically and reach your goals.

Learn how to thrive in the modern world by unlocking the ancient art of Stoicism. This practical and accessible guide will show you how to cultivate wisdom and cope with life’s everyday challenges. The Little Book of Stoic Wisdom is a classical primer for anyone wanting to understand true Stoicism. Although we’re living in drastically different times to the ancients, many of the lessons of Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius still stand today. The millennia-old mindset will show you how to learn the Stoic art of mindful acceptance, foster calmness and reach your full potential. Featuring a breakdown of the central pillars of Stoic philosophy alongside practical everyday examples, this essential book will help you sharpen your focus, build your self-discipline and banish negative thinking. A Stoic life well lived is one that has been adopted by some of the most successful business leaders, from Steve Jobs to Bill Gates, as well high-performing sportspeople such as Rory McIlroy, and historic figures such as George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson, among others. The Little Book of Stoic Wisdom will show you what it truly means to live Stoically and reach your goals.

A collection of life-affirming books to guide you through. Settle down with 100 Books to Live By and learn which book prescriptions can be dispensed to lift your spirits, whatever you may need.Sometimes, only a good book will help. In life’s biggest moments and challenges, turning to a book can often help us to navigate our way through. Whether you need a dose of resilience, a course of comfort or a prescription of purpose, this gem of a book offers guidance on everything from love and heartbreak to grief and loss, to friendship and family, and more.These are 100 life-affirming reads and remedies for anyone searching for love, meaning, belonging, purpose and hope in their everyday lives. Featuring well-known favourites alongside undiscovered gems and modern classics, the literary prescriptions will see you through unsteady waters, whatever they may be. With authors ranging from Haruki Murakami to Sally Rooney, Toni Morrison to Franz Kafka, 100 Books to Live By is the perfect collection of remedies, featuring books from all over the world. Each prescription also features a number of 'Alternative Remedies', so the book includes as many diverse literary prescriptions as possible. With books to address all manner of ailment, this is the ultimate celebration of reading that can be referenced and treasured for years to come.Also available:100 Poems to Live By (9781789298345)100 Speeches to Live By (9781789298635)

A collection of life-affirming poems to guide you through. Settle down with 100 Poems to Live By and learn which verses can be dispensed to lift your spirits.A brilliant new anthology of 100 poems designed to lift your mood and help you to overcome stress, specific worries and general anxiety. Features well-known favourites alongside undiscovered gems and modern classics. Each poem is introduced, explaining how it can help a certain ‘ailment’ and offering the poem as a helpful prescription. Offering a wide range of verses that will be of great benefit to those in need of a pick-me-up for the soul.100 Poems to Live By brings together some of the best works from poets spanning centuries, including William Wordsworth, Charlotte Brontë, Emily Dickinson, Dylan Thomas, Seamus Heaney, Sylvia Plath and Benjamin Zephaniah. Compiled by Joseph Piercy, these specially selected lines will bring comfort, banish melancholy, provide hope and give courage.These are 100 life-affirming remedies for anyone searching for love, meaning, belonging, purpose and fulfilment in their everyday lives. The poetic prescriptions will see you through whatever comes your way in life, and can be referenced, shared and treasured for many years to come.Also available:100 Books to Live By (9781789298208)100 Speeches to Live By (9781789298635)

A charming anthology celebrating cats as seen through the eyes of some of the world’s greatest poets.From pampered Victorian pets and mystical moon-gazers to mischievous kittens and aloof companions, this cat poetry anthology gathers 80 poems that capture feline behaviour with all its elegance, pride, grace and inscrutability.Spanning centuries of poetry, from Renaissance rhymes and Romantic meditations to English Victorian nonsense verse and moody American modernism, the poems in this feline-themed gift book reveals that while human history may change, cats do not. They sleep, they judge, they disappear precisely when needed most – and they inspire remarkable devotion in the people who live with them. This is the perfect literary gift for cat owners and cat lovers alike, with something for everyone, from modern cat poems to classic animal poems and cats in history.Perfect for reading aloud (whether your cat is listening or not), this beautifully illustrated gift book is a celebration of literature, companionship and the enduring truth cats have always known: they are superior to us.

A fascinating collection of revelations, quirky characters and other amazing pieces of trivia from the world of Shakespeare's. From the stories behind his well-known plays and poems, through the actors and theatres that have entertained his works, to his legacy in popular culture and beyond, the history of his life and times is revealed. "The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series" presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

In this absorbing collection of stories and trivia, readers will find answers to amazing aspects of Churchill's life, career and legacy. From his courageous leadership during WWII, through intriguing insights into his powerful speeches, sharp wit and tumultuous career, as well as his accomplishments in personal life. The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

The Battle of Britain was the decisive air campaign fought over Southern England in the summer and autumn of 1940. From July until October 1940 Fighter Command aircrews from over 16 nations fought and died repelling the Luftwaffe. Discover tales of courage, bravery and a host of fascinating, and little-known facts about the combatants, leaders and strategies of both sides. Find out about propaganda employed by both sides to try and influence the battle, the Dowding system relaying information to the pilots in their fighters and the classic 1969 film starring Sir Laurence Oliver. The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.