Paul Wreyford – författare

Charles Dickens described Chelmsford as the ‘dullest’ place on earth and added that there was not a lot to see here. He was wrong. This book does not focus on what you already know about Chelmsford, but what you don’t. See the county town of Essex in a new light. Did you know Chelmsford was once close to staging the British Grand Prix, or that two churches fell down in the same year? Meet the jailer who ended up the wrong side of the bars, or marvel at Skeleton Man. You can even relive the day a bull went ‘shopping’ in the high street. Shocking, mysterious, curious and bizarre, Chelmsford has a rich history waiting to be explored.

There is nothing ‘little’ about the history of Cornwall! However, this small volume condenses that fascinating, rich history into a collection of stories and facts that will make you marvel at the events the county has witnessed. Discover Henry VIII’s plan to protect the county from invasion from Catholic Europe, the important development of tin mining on the north coast and the rise of seaside resorts all around the county. Take a journey through Cornwall’s historic struggles and celebrations or jump in to the era of your choice to discover the who, what and why of Cornish history.

Essex has certainly had its fair share of bad guys during its history. From highwaymen to smugglers, thieves to murderers, it can boast some of the country’s most notorious figures. The legendary Dick Turpin was Essex born and bred, wreaking havoc in Epping Forest. At the other end of the county, in Manningtree, the ruthless Matthew Hopkins scoured the area in search of ‘witches’ — putting to death anyone who had as much as a wart on the end of their nose. Visitors to the region have also left their mark through their acts of villainy. Even royalty — including Richard II and Henry VIII — have carried out dastardly deeds within the county’s borders, from murder to adultery. Drawing on a wide variety of historical sources, Essex Villains is a veritable who's who of the county's most notorious villains.

‘Curious’ is perhaps not the first word you would use to label Essex. But ‘curiouser and curiouser’ it becomes when you dig below the surface. Forget the popular image of Essex boy and girl. Come and meet larger-than-life characters, including the one-time fattest man in England, whose waist was wider than the height of an average man. And talking of big, discover the origin of children's favourite Humpty Dumpty. Did you know that explorer David Livingstone, who trekked across Africa, got lost in Essex; that Essex villain Dick Turpin was only identified because a relative refused to pay the cost of a ‘stamp’, or that St George saw off his dragon here? Shocking, creepy and bizarre tales abound if you dig a little deeper. And if you literally look below the surface in Essex - 100ft underground to be precise - you’ll discover one of the most incredible Government ‘secrets’ of all time.

Who would you invite for dinner if you could choose anyone who has ever lived?A teenager, with his father acting as cook, entertains some of the most famous people in history at their suburban semi in modern-day Britain. But he finds he soon has more on his plate than spaghetti Bolognese.Will he be able to satisfy HENRY VIII's huge appetite; beat the fiery NAPOLEON in a game of Risk; prevent Dad from playing the fool in front of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE; resist the charms of a conniving CLEOPATRA; help the lost CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS get back on track; embrace WINSTON CHURCHILL's battle plans; convince the pious OLIVER CROMWELL that they are not celebrating Christmas; assist the conscientious FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE in saving Dad's life; paint a pretty picture of the hideous-looking ELIZABETH I?When Henry VIII came to Dinner interweaves historical facts with modern imagination, revealing new but true pictures of major historical figures.