Aurum – serie

The definitive biography of The Clash – now fully revised and expanded for the band’s 50th anniversary.  First published to universal acclaim and widely regarded as the essential account of The Clash, Passion Is a Fashion returns in a major new edition to mark fifty years since the band detonated onto the London scene in 1976.   Drawing on Pat Gilbert’s unrivalled access as a former MOJO editor, this book reveals the untold story of a group whose ferocity and creative ambition shaped modern music.  This landmark biography includes: Exclusive interviews with The Clash – Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon – plus managers, road crew, producers and other insiders.  A vivid, behind‑the‑scenes chronicle of the band’s meteoric rise. The cultural and political forces that shaped The Clash and defined their uncompromising vision. Fresh insights and newly added material from surviving members of the band and other major figures close to them, appearing for the first time in this new edition. Packed with the energy of punk’s golden age, Passion Is a Fashion takes you inside the real story of The Clash – capturing not only their brilliance but also the chaos and heartbreak that forged their enduring legend.   This is the indispensable Clash book, now more essential than ever.

‘ A fine biography… Rogers has done a wonderful job’ Daily TelegraphJ. L. Carr was the most English of Englishmen: headmaster of a Northamptonshire school, cricket enthusiast and campaigner for the conservation of country churches. But he was also the author of half a dozen utterly unique novels, including his masterpiece, A Month in the Country, and a publisher of some of the most eccentric – and smallest – books ever printed.Byron Roger’ s acclaimed biography reveals an elusive, quixotic and civic-minded individual with an unswerving sympathy for the underdog, who led his schoolchildren through the streets to hymn the beauty of the cherry trees and paved his garden path with the printing plates for his hand-drawn maps, and whose fiction is quite remarkably autobiographical. Much more than the life of a thoroughly decent man, The Last Englishman is a comic and touching anatomy of the best kind of Englishness.‘ Conveying the significance of the author of Carr’ s Dictionary of Extraordinary Cricketers to anyone unfamiliar with his books, or what may now fairly be called his myth, was always going to be difficult. Somehow, Roger’ s has managed it’ D. J. Taylor, Sunday Times‘ A great success, and more life-affirming than F. R. Leavis’ s entire output’ Independent on Sunday

This fascinating millitary history tells the intriguing tale of the bitter and attritional Winter War between the USSR and Finland in the midst of World War II.On 30 November 1939, Soviet bombers unloaded their bombs on Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Stalin's ultimatum, demanding the cession of huge tracts of territory as a buffer zone against Nazi Germany, had been rejected by the Finnish government, and now a small Baltic republic was at war with the giant Soviet military machine.But this forgotten war, fought under brutal, sub-arctic conditions, often with great heroism on both sides, proved one of the most astonishing in military history. Using guerrilla fighters on skis, even reindeer to haul supplies on sleds, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, and with unfathomable endurance and the charismatic leadership of one of the 20th century's true military geniuses, Finland not only kept at bay but won an epic, if short-lived, victory over the hapless Russian conscripts.Its surreal engagements included the legendary "Sausage Battle", when starving Soviet troops who had over-run a Finnish encampment couldn't resist the cauldrons of hot sausage soup left behind by their opponents - and were ambushed as they stopped to sup.Although by sheer attritional weight of numbers Stalin eventually prevailed over the Finns, their pointed resistance enabled their country to remain free, even as other countries fell one by one.This book gives a telling insight into the military history of Russia, as once again Russian troops march on foreign soil, and a nation at Russia's borders fights to retain its independence.

A monumental oral biography filled with raucous joy, aching loss and terrible poignancy, Elvis & the Memphis Mafia is the first book to capture the King – the man and the phenomenon – in his full complexity. Through revealing interviews with three of Elvis’ s closest friends, who were also his protectors and rescuers, Nash achieves the first true mapping of Elvis’ s psyche. Billy Smith – Elvis’ s first cousin and the person he reputedly loved most after his own mother – Marty Lacker – best man at his wedding and foreman of the ‘ Memphis Mafia’ , the King’ s handpicked group of gatekeepers and confidants – and Lamar Fike – the touring crew member who accompanied him into the Army – were with Elvis from his teens to his final days and provide unique access to the greatest of all rock and roll legends. The revelations cut through every aspect of Elvis’ s life, from the childhood seeds of his drug dependency, through his fear for his mother’ s life and his plan to change his identity, to his bizarre self-mutilation. No one who reads this symphonic blending of three proud, ribald, sad and ultimately wistful voices can fail to be profoundly moved.

Over 50 years since the release of their first studio album, Pink Floyd’s extraordinary style of music and aesthetic continues to amaze and inspire listeners of all generations. In this superbly comprehensive and engrossing history of the group, Mark Blake tells how this group of Cambridge school friends went on the conquer the world with iconic albums like Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here, and put on some of the most spectacular shows of all time. Drawing on over a hundred original interviews, Pigs Might Fly follows Pink Floyd from the early psychedelic nights at UFO in the mid-sixties through to the acrimonious schism that ended the band by the nineties. Now with a revised chapter to bring the story up to date and published to coincide with The V&A exhibition in 2017, Pigs Might Fly has been acclaimed as the definitive book on Pink Floyd.

Body Learning has been a steady bestseller since it was first published in 1981. This edition confirms its status as the classic work on the Alexander Technique.  The Alexander Technique is now recognized the world over as the most revolutionary and far-reaching method ever developed for maintaining the coordination and efficiency of the human body. It is not only a means of putting us in touch with our bodies, but also a way of deepening our perceptions and general well-being. Its effects on all aspects of living and learning are profound.  Body Learning provides a simple, clear answer to the question: "What is The Alexander Technique and how can it help me?" Michael J. Gelb provides inspiration and guidance to newcomers to the technique and conveys a full understanding of the complex mental and physical dynamics involved.  “The approach to learning and the techniques outlined in Body Learning transformed my life. Read and practice, and Michael Gelb’s profound message will transform yours.” Tony Buzan, author of The Mind Map Book  Michael J. Gelb qualified as a teacher of the Alexander Technique in 1978. Shortly thereafter he began applying the Alexander work to help corporate clients cultivate mindfulness, improve public speaking skills, and develop executive presence.  He continues this work as part of his Executive Leadership Coaching practice. He is also the author of 16 other books including including the international bestseller How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Everyday.

A tale of man and machine battling against breath-taking terrain for the ultimate prize, this is the story of the Alpe d'Huez. Known as the Tour de France’s ‘Hollywood climb', veteran cycling journalist Peter Cossins reveals the triumphs, passion and despair behind the great exploits on this Alpe and discloses the untold details that have led to the mountain becoming as important to the Tour as the race is to resort at its summit.The Alpe d’Huez has played a starring role in cycling’s history since its first encounter with the sport back in 1952 when the legendary Fausto Coppi triumphed on the summit. Re-introduced to the Tour in 1976, Alpe d’Huez has risen to mythical status, thanks initially to a string of victories by riders from Holland, whose exploits attracted tens of thousands of their compatriots to the climb - which has become known as ‘Dutch mountain’. A snaking 13.8-kilometre ascent rising up through 21 numbered hairpins at an average gradient of 7.8%, Alpe d’Huez is the climb on which every great rider wants to win.Many of the sport’s most famous and now even infamous names have won on the Alpe, including Bernard Hinault, Joop Zoetemelk, Lucho Herrera, Marco Pantani and Lance Armstrong. As well as days of brilliance, there have been controversies such as the high-speed and drug-fuelled duels of the EPO years in the 1990s and into the new millennium.

'Fabulous and entertaining guide to the craziness that is the contemporary art world.' 'An incredibly rich, insightful piece of non-fiction that addresses the vast majority of questions you would ask yourself as a contemporary art enthusiast.' Understand the curious economics of contemporary art. Why would a smart New York investment banker pay twelve million dollars for the decaying, stuffed carcass of a shark? By what alchemy does Jackson Pollock’ s drip painting No.5 1948 sell for $140 million? This book sheds light on the modern art world and the marketing strategies that power the market to produce such astronomical prices; the money, lust and self-aggrandizement. Drawing on interviews with past and present executives of auction houses and art dealerships, artists and the buyers who move the market, Don Thompson launches us on a journey of discovery through the peculiar world of modern art to reveal the source of Charles Saatchi’s Midas touch, how far a gallery like White Cube has contributed to Damien Hirst becoming one of the highest-earning artists in the world, and much, much more . . .

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERFrom Erin French, owner and chef of the critically acclaimed The Lost Kitchen, comes a life-affirming memoir about survival, renewal and the pleasure of bringing joy to people through food.Erin French grew up barefoot on a farm, fell in love with food as a teenager working the line at her dad’s diner and found her calling as a professional chef at her tiny restaurant The Lost Kitchen, tucked into a 19th-century mill—now a world-renowned dining destination.In Finding Freedom in the Lost Kitchen, Erin tells her story of multiple rock-bottoms, from medical student to pregnant teen, of survival as a jobless single mother, of pills that promised release but delivered addiction, of a man who seemed to offer salvation but ripped away her very sense of self. And of her son who became her guiding light as she slowly rebuilt her personal and culinary life around the solace she found in food—as a source of comfort, a sense of place, as a way of creating community and making something of herself, despite seemingly impossible odds.Set against the backdrop of rural Maine and its lushly intense, bountiful seasons, Erin French’s rollercoaster memoir reveals struggles that have taken every ounce of her strength to overcome, and the passion and courage behind the fairytale success of The Lost Kitchen.

As depicted in Ron Howard's hit film THIRTEEN LIVES, this is the THRILLING account of the dramatic Thai cave rescue which saved the lives of thirteen people, FROM THE DIVER WHO LED THE RESCUE.‘A profound and thrilling read.’ COLIN FARRELL ‘Riveting...a powerful story written by a hero who lived it.’ RON HOWARD, Oscar-winning director of Apollo 13 In this first-hand account, John Volanthen reveals how he pushed the limits of human endurance in the life-or-death mission to rescue the Thai youth soccer team trapped in the flooded cave.The world held its breath in 2018 when the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach went missing deep underground in the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand. They had been stranded by sudden, continuous monsoon rains while exploring the caves after practice.  With torrential rain pouring down and the waters still on the rise, an army of rescue teams and equipment was deployed, including Thai Navy SEALs, a US Air Force special tactics squadron, police sniffer dogs, drones and robots. But it was British cave diver John Volanthen and his partner, Rick Stanton, who were first to reach the stranded team and who played a key role in their ultimate rescue.  As John’s light flickered from one boy to another, he called out, ‘How many of you?’ ‘Thirteen,’a boy answered.  After 10 days trapped in desperate darkness, the boys and their coach were all alive.   Each chapter of Thirteen Lessons that Saved Thirteen Lives tells one part of the edge-of-your-seat mission from Tham Luang but also imparts a life lesson, gleaned from John’s previous rescues and record-breaking cave dives, that can be applied to everyday obstacles and challenges.In this story of breathtaking courage and nerves of steel, John reveals how responding positively to the statement, ‘But I can’t…’ by stating, ‘I can,’ led to one of the most incredible rescues of all time.He hopes that his story will inspire the superhero in you. Meanwhile, he is always on standby for the next rescue.

**Hear Hannah Bourne-Talyor and Jeremy Clarkson talk about birds in the latest series of Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Prime**Read the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to reshape her identity when all normality has fallen away.When lifelong bird-lover Hannah Bourne-Taylor moved with her husband to Ghana seven years ago she couldn’t have anticipated how her life would be forever changed by her unexpected encounters with nature and the subsequent bonds she formed.Plucked from the comfort and predictability of her life before, Hannah struggled to establish herself in her new environment, striving to belong in the rural grasslands far away from home.In this challenging situation, she was forced to turn inwards and interrogate her own sense of identity, however in the animal life around her, and in two wild birds in particular, Hannah found a source of solace and a way to reconnect with the world in which she was living.Fledgling is a portrayal of adaptability, resilience and self-discovery in the face of isolation and change, fuelled by the quiet power of nature and the unexpected bonds with animals she encounters.Hannah encourages us to reconsider the conventional boundaries of the relationships people have with animals through her inspiring and very beautiful glimpse ofwhat is possible when we allow ourselves to connect to the natural world. Full of determination and compassion, Fledgling is apowerful meditation on our instinctive connection to nature. It shows that even the tiniest of birds can teach us what is important in life and how to embrace every day.

A DAILY MAIL BEST HEALTH BOOK 2025  ‘A beautifully written book full of life lessons by an inspiring human being.’ – Christian Lewis.  'A stirring story of one man's attempts through cold swimming to stand up to Parkinson’s Disease, an illness that also has its teeth in me. And as he plunged into each freezing loch and burr, I was right there with him.' – Sir Ranulph Fiennes Discover one man’s journey to cold water swimming, and the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity.   When Rich Waters was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s and soon after learned his young daughter faced a devastating neurological condition, his world narrowed overnight. Searching for something that could steady him, he found himself drawn to the raw landscape and icy pools of the Isle of Skye, where cold water offered a rare kind of quiet.   What began as a desperate attempt to cope grew into a vital source of meaning. Each plunge helped Rich feel present again, opening a connection to the natural world that softened fear and brought him moments of clarity. The water didn’t erase the challenges he faced, but it gave him a place where his mind could settle and his spirit could rise.  With the guidance of Matt Rhodes, the ‘Viking of Skye’, Rich discovered a rhythm that helped him navigate the uncertainty of illness. Swimming with the Viking of Skye follows his journey through these wild places and the steadying effect they had on his life.  This memoir captures the story of a man learning to live within a changed reality, a father devoted to his daughter and the quiet power of nature to help us endure what once felt impossible – offering us a vital reminder that strength and hope can still be found, even in the hardest moments.

'One of the most important books on policing and power. A must read.' – Vikram Dodd, The Guardian'A hard-hitting view of Britain's most controversial police force' – Martin Brunt'A riveting insider’s account of modern UK policing.' - Jonathan Bowman-Perks'It should be compulsory reading for all Police Officers and Staff.' – Reader reviewThis is the official autobiography of Neil Basu, the man at the heart of modern British policing. Turmoil offers an urgent, insider account of power, racism and reform - and the realities of life in public service.In Turmoil, Neil Basu, the first person of colour to serve as Assistant Commissioner in the Met, offers an unflinching look at the structural racism embedded in the UK’s justice system. From the aftermath of Stephen Lawrence’s murder to the London riots, Basu was there for the defining moments of modern policing, and now he’s telling the truth from the inside. With clarity, courage and compassion, Basu holds a mirror up to British policing, examining how racism, political interference and systemic injustice have shaped the force from within. This is a powerful contribution to Britain’s ongoing conversation on race, power and the state. Turmoil is essential reading for anyone interested in the realities of institutional racism and social justice in the UK, offering a vital new perspective on how we can move towards true accountability. Together, these insights form a compelling case for change, and act as a timely reminder that the work belongs to all of us.

'Sometimes gruesome, frequently fascinating, and on occasions very funny indeed.' – Mail on Sunday '...a medical and historical delight.' – Dr Hilary Jones ‘A fabulous read. Written in a very engaging style, if your favourite medical object isn’t in the top twelve, you’re sure to find it in the very extensive timeline.’ – Dr Phil Hammond 'An absorbing and hugely informative book.' – Dr Gill Sutherland -- Discover the fascinating history of medicine, from its primitive beginnings to the life-saving technologies of today. Award-winning author Dr Carol Cooper takes you on a journey through the 12 objects that have come to define medicine through the ages. From the barbaric and bizarre to the inventive and impressive, this captivating read is peppered with fascinating anecdotes. In this unique history, you will discover how ill health has been with us for as long as humans have existed, as has the drive to treat and understand it. Over the centuries, the ways in which doctors have engaged with sickness have changed drastically, and so too have the tools at their disposal. As these tools have morphed and evolved, our knowledge of health and disease has expanded. Medical theories have slowly advanced, allowing people to live longer and healthier lives. The 12 ground-breaking tools explored in this collection include: The Trephine The Bone Saw The Mask The Microscope The Stethoscope The Ether Inhaler The Hypodermic Syringe The Obstetric Forceps The X-ray Machine The ECT Machine The Hip Prosthesis The Heart-Lung Machine The history of these medical tools is truly astounding, revealing the full extent of human ingenuity, curiosity, and compassion. This is a book for anyone interested in medical history or seeking a fresh and dynamic take on their specialist subject. With her immense knowledge and engaging writing style, Dr Cooper delivers a history that is not for the faint of heart.

‘An amazing book.’ – Dan Lepard  ‘The rich and fascinating story of bread.’ – Lily Vanilli  ‘A brilliant, timely and important book full of compassion.’ – Olia Hercules  ‘A fascinating exploration of our universal love of bread. David traces the past, present and future of bread through his personal lens as a third generation baker.’ – Edd Kimber  Discover the story behind the world’s most essential food in Breaking Bread.   Third generation baker, food writer and presenter David Wright examines the universal questions about bread and baking. Is bread good or bad? And what does its future hold?  Bread is more than a staple; it is a mirror of our story, our health, our very being. Every civilisation has a form of bread, and how we create, make and bake it, how we sell it and buy it, our food security, our access to it, affects everything. Breaking Bread provides a unique look into these themes, including: The craft and science behind creating, making and baking bread. Bread’s journey through history, from ancient rituals to modern revolutions. The health debate: why bread divides opinion and what science reveals. Industrial vs artisan baking: economics, ethics and the fight for quality. The politics and power of bread in shaping societies and conflicts. How bread connects to religion, identity and cultural traditions. Expert insights from leading bakers, food writers, farmers and campaigners. A vision for the future: can bread survive and thrive in a changing world? Featuring interviews with Olia Hercules, Dan Lepard, Felicity Spector, Brad Leone and many more, as well as with pioneers of regenerative farming, Breaking Bread is both a heartfelt memoir and a thought-provoking manifesto. Wright’s journey –  from the closure of his family bakery to rediscovering the soul of bread – invites you to rethink what’s on your plate.  For food lovers, home bakers and anyone curious about the story behind their daily loaf, this book offers a passionate call to protect one of humanity’s oldest and most vital foods.

Happy Valley was the name given to the Wanjohi Valley in the Kenya Highlands, where a small community of affluent, hedonistic white expatriates settled between the wars. While Kenya's early colonial days have been immortalised by farming pioneers like Lord Delamere and Karen Blixen, and the pioneering aviator Beryl Markham, Happy Valley became infamous under the influence of troubled socialite, Lady Idina Sackville, whose life was told in Frances Osborne's bestselling The Bolter. The era culminated with the notorious murder of the Earl of Erroll in 1941, the investigation of which laid bare the Happy Valley set's decadence and irresponsibility, chronicled in another bestseller, James Fox's White Mischief. But what is left now?In a remarkable and indefatigable archaeological quest, Juliet Barnes, who has lived in Kenya all her life and whose grandparents knew some of the Happy Valley characters, has set out to explore Happy Valley to find the former homes and haunts of this extraordinary and transient set of people. With the help of a remarkable African guide and further assisted by the memories of elderly former settlers, she finds the remains of grand residences tucked away beneath the mountains and speaks to local elders who share first-hand memories of these bygone times. Nowadays these old homes, she discovers, have become tumbledown dwellings for many African families, school buildings, or their ruins have almost disappeared without trace - a revelation of the state of modern Africa that makes the gilded era of the Happy Valley set even more fantastic.A book to set alongside such singular evocations of Africa's strange colonial history as The Africa House, The Ghosts of Happy Valley is a mesmerising blend of travel narrative, social history and personal quest.

2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the first bout in the epic battle between Nigel Benn, Michael Watson and Chris Eubank to contest the WBO Middleweight Championship that would keep us entertained for five manic, magnificent and ultimately tragic years, marking the start of an epic saga in British Boxing. The fight took place a month after the Hillsborough disaster and was screened live on TV, in a slot now dominated by talent contests. It was a time when kids could stay up late to watch 12 rounds of madness. It was also the last Golden Era of British Boxing. While for us these greats of British boxing provided entertainment away from the hooliganism of football, for them it was much more personal. Rivalries exist in every sport, but their loathing was real and in the ring it nearly became deadly. But this is what the swaggering early-90's Britain tuned in for. These three fighters were Britain's alpha-ego. They made the country proud. No Middle Ground takes us back to the years when these boxers pounded the heavy bags and tells their story as well as that of Britain's love affair with the sport, and how these fight came to define them and us. In tracing the boxers' journeys to centre-stage Sanjeev Shetty reveals the story of the dark side of Thatcher's nation - the blood, the sweat, the dangerous hatred that fuelled these men, and the ultimate price they would pay for their moment in the sun.

UPDATED EDITION Roger Federer’s incredible 2017 comeback – which saw him winning Grand Slams in his mid-thirties and reaching new heights most had thought impossible – has confirmed his place in the history books as the greatest male tennis player of all time.In this innovative graphic biography, Federer’s tennis is explored like never before: stunning graphics illustrate his serving patterns and superb footwork, detail the spin and speed of his shots, as well as showcase his astonishing records – no man has won more majors, or spent more weeks as the world number one.Drawing on Mark Hodgkinson’s conversations with the Swiss and exclusive interviews with those closest to him, this is the ultimate celebration of the genius of Roger Federer.

**A WANDERLUST BEST TRAVEL BOOK 2026**'A fascinating detective story told with humour and joy that unravels the threads of history and legend to reveal the strange stories of Britain's hill figures.'– Fiona Roberston, author of Stone LandsA journey through Britain’s chalklands, uncovering the stories, symbolism and shifting meanings of the mysterious figures carved into our hills. Across southern England and beyond, the land bears the marks of centuries – white horses, giants, crosses, badges, even a lost panda – cut into the chalk and exposed to the sky. In The Tattooed Hills, writer Jon Woolcott travels to these remarkable sites, exploring their history and the deep cultural roots that link landscape to identity. Part travelogue, part cultural history, Woolcott examines how these figures – sometimes ancient, sometimes surprisingly recent – reflect our collective imagination, and how their interpretations have changed over time. Once emblems of pride or remembrance, they have become mirrors of our shifting values and contradictions. From Iron Age hillforts to modern regimental carvings, The Tattooed Hills brings together archaeology, folklore, art, literature and music to reveal the evolving story of Britain’s chalk landscapes and the people who shaped them.Beautifully written and steeped in a sense of place, Woolcott visits many of England's Chalk figures, delving into their mysteries, including The Westbury White Horse, the Long Man of Wilmington, The Cerne Abbas Giant and the Uffington White Horse.A captivating exploration of landscape, culture and belonging, The Tattooed Hills reveals how the chalk beneath our feet connects us to our past and continues to shape who we are today. 'Woolcott is the most splendid company on this intoxicating, immaculately researched tour of chalky weirdness.' – Charles Foster'An alluring blend of travel writing, cultural history, archaeology, folklore, literature and more.'- The Bookseller'Witty, evocative and profoundly human.'– John Grindrod'If I say the book is right up there with John Higgs' Watling Street and Rob Cowen's The North Road, then you'll know what to expect and just how highly I rate what Jon has pulled off here.' – John Mitchinson

**A WANDERLUST BEST TRAVEL BOOK 2026**'A fascinating detective story told with humour and joy that unravels the threads of history and legend to reveal the strange stories of Britain's hill figures.'– Fiona Roberston, author of Stone LandsA journey through Britain’s chalklands, uncovering the stories, symbolism and shifting meanings of the mysterious figures carved into our hills. Across southern England and beyond, the land bears the marks of centuries – white horses, giants, crosses, badges, even a lost panda – cut into the chalk and exposed to the sky. In The Tattooed Hills, writer Jon Woolcott travels to these remarkable sites, exploring their history and the deep cultural roots that link landscape to identity. Part travelogue, part cultural history, Woolcott examines how these figures – sometimes ancient, sometimes surprisingly recent – reflect our collective imagination, and how their interpretations have changed over time. Once emblems of pride or remembrance, they have become mirrors of our shifting values and contradictions. From Iron Age hillforts to modern regimental carvings, The Tattooed Hills brings together archaeology, folklore, art, literature and music to reveal the evolving story of Britain’s chalk landscapes and the people who shaped them.Beautifully written and steeped in a sense of place, Woolcott visits many of England's Chalk figures, delving into their mysteries, including The Westbury White Horse, the Long Man of Wilmington, The Cerne Abbas Giant and the Uffington White Horse.A captivating exploration of landscape, culture and belonging, The Tattooed Hills reveals how the chalk beneath our feet connects us to our past and continues to shape who we are today. 'Woolcott is the most splendid company on this intoxicating, immaculately researched tour of chalky weirdness.' – Charles Foster'An alluring blend of travel writing, cultural history, archaeology, folklore, literature and more.'- The Bookseller'Witty, evocative and profoundly human.'– John Grindrod'If I say the book is right up there with John Higgs' Watling Street and Rob Cowen's The North Road, then you'll know what to expect and just how highly I rate what Jon has pulled off here.' – John Mitchinson

Book clubs and toffee apples. Hedgehogs and hangovers. Croquet, ferret racing… and everything in between.The Best of Notes on... gathers the funniest, sharpest and most wonderfully random pieces from The Spectator’s beloved miscellany column. For more than a decade, these short, sharp essays have uncovered the intrigue in the everyday and the delight in digression. Witty, unpredictable and frequently laugh-out-loud funny, they celebrate life’s odd corners and overlooked pleasures. Expect the unexpected: sharp wit, sideways observations, and the occasional guilty laugh at things you thought only you found ridiculous.With contributions from a dazzling line-up including Tom Holland, Prue Leith, Jon Day, Julie Bindel, Rod Liddle, Laura Freeman, Tanya Gold, Freddy Gray, Simon Barnes, Mary Killen, Ben Fogle, Ysenda Maxtone Graham, Robert Tombs, Mary Wellesley, Julie Burchill — and plenty more besides.The Spectator Best of Notes on... is the perfect pick-me-up for anyone who delights in life’s oddities. Whether you're buying for a curious friend, a witty relative, or just indulging your own love of the unexpected, this collection is guaranteed to entertain.

‘This deeply personal book is a delight for those who already value our feathered friends and is a perfect introduction for those who are new to birding.’ – Caroline Quentin   ‘A fresh, funny and deeply personal take on why birds matter, from an important new voice in nature writing.’ – Dr Stephen Moss  Birdwatching is for everyone. Discover how simple, everyday encounters with birds can help you bond with the natural world.   Whether it’s a brief encounter with a friendly robin or a curious wood pigeon perched on your windowsill, everyone has a bird story. Join nature and wildlife enthusiast Charlie Bingham as she travels the length and breadth of the UK, searching for oystercatchers on rooftops and peregrines on cathedral spires. Simply look up and become part of the awe-inspiring world that exists above us.   Broken into twelve chapters, each covering a different bird and a different lesson, discover: How engaging with nature doesn’t require expertise, special equipment or remote settings. Practical advice and accessible ways to notice and interpret the birds around you. How birdwatching helped Charlie navigate grief, mental health, ADHD, financial strain and other major life challenges.  Blending Charlie’s beautiful nature writing and personal anecdotes with relatable life lessons, this is the perfect book for all birdwatchers, or anyone who struggles to find motivation to get through the daily grind.   Both a memoir and a practical guide to slowing down and noticing what’s around you, The Life‑Affirming Magic of Birds reveals how even the smallest encounters with nature can offer a renewed sense of connection. ----------------------------------------------------------------------'Moving, informative, funning, evocative. Charlie's book will take you on a wonderful journey through the world of birds and the stories of those that live alongside them. Through her stories, you will be inspired to embark on your own journey and make a deeper connection with the natural world around you. An utter delight from start to finish.' – Miranda Krestovnikoff‘A beautifully written book that connects us to beauty and curiosity. It will fill your mind and make your heart sing like a nightingale.' – Robin Ince‘It reads as the instructions for a nature prescription, something the world needs more of.’ – Nick Baker

‘Every F1 fan knows the magic Ferrari brings to the sport of F1. The passion of the tifosi is one-of-a-kind.’ Daniel Ricciardo  ‘A lively, compelling Ferrari book from a Ferrari expert; you won't be able to put it down.' Guenther Steiner  Why has Ferrari struggled so much in recent years and what will it take to win again? Forza Ferrari is the definitive inside story of Formula 1’s most iconic team. With unrivalled access to the paddock and Ferrari’s inner circle, FIA-accredited journalist and leading ESPN voice, Nate Saunders, reveals the drama, politics and personalities behind the Scuderia and delves into the shifts within F1 from Ferrari's dominance in the mid-2000s to their current challenges. Inside this book, you’ll discover: The rise, fall and rebirth of Ferrari, from Enzo’s era to Luca di Montezemolo’s ‘Dream Team’ and Michael Schumacher’s five-title streak. A behind-the-scenes look into Spygate, Crashgate and the strategic blunders that cost championships. Exclusive insights from F1 power players including Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Guenther Steiner and Stefano Domenicali. Why Ferrari faltered in the hybrid era and how leadership changes aimed to restore dominance. The future of Formula 1 including Hamilton’s blockbuster move to Maranello and what it means for Ferrari’s comeback. With a foreword by former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo, Forza Ferrari blends gripping storytelling with expert analysis to answer the question every fan is asking: When will Ferrari win again?

The hardback of this first and authorised biography received very good reviews and immediately reprinted. It tells the story of one of the heroines of post-war British comedy, on radio, film and TV.Hattie Jacques is known as the billowing, imposing Matron in the Carry On films, as the star of such BBC radio classics as ITMA, Educating Archie and Hancock’ s Half Hour, and as the fictional sister of Eric Sykes in his long-running TV sitcom.But the formidable, frumpy galleon-in-full-sail screen persona could not have been more at odds with the real-life woman, as this biography reveals for the first time. She had a tempestuous wartime affair with an American officer, and then a strange marriage to the actor John le Mesurier (Corporal Wilson in Dad’ s Army) whose dissatisfactions she circumnavigated by moving her lover, a flashy Cockney car dealer, into the matrimonial home. But as well as being warm and sexy and generous she was also, owing to her lifelong struggle with her weight, needy and melancholic, and rueful that her size persistently typecast her and excluded her from many roles.This biography has been written with full co-operation from Hattie’ s son, and show business friends like Barbara Windsor, Clive Dunn, Galton and Simpson and Ian Carmichael.

NEW PAPERBACK EDITION‘ Salmon’ s vivid use of recollections and dramatic quotes brings alive an unjustly forgotten conflict’ Time OutWith even World War II now just on the edges of living memory, and with British forces now engaged in a lengthy, brutal and attritional old-fashioned war in Afghanistan, historical attention is starting to turn to the Korean War of the early 1950s. And remarkably, the most notorious and celebrated battle in that conflict, from a British point of view, has never previously been written about at length. Andrew Salmon’ s book, which has garnered excellent reviews and sold out two hardback printings already, has filled that gap. This is the story of the Battle of the Imjin River, when the British 29th Infantry Brigade, and above all the “ Glorious Glosters” of the Gloster Regiment, fought an epic last stand against the largest communist offensive of the war. It lasted three days, of bitter hand-to-hand combat. By the end of it one battalion of the Glosters – some 750 men – had been reduced to just 50 survivors. Andrew Salmon’ s definitive history, which gained excellent reviews in hardback and sold very steadily, is very much in the Antony Beevor mould: accessible, pacy, narrative, and painting a moving and exciting picture through the extensive use of eyewitness accounts of veterans, of whom he has tracked down and interviewed dozens. Andrew Salmon is a Seoul-based journalist who writes for The Times, The Washington Times, and Forbes magazine. He first became fascinated by the battle in 2001 when he met British veterans returning to the Imjin River to mark the 50th anniversary.

‘ An extraordinary history… The range of voices breathing new life into past events is vast’ **** Mojo ‘ The Morrissey and Marr recollections are particularly revealing’ The WordThe Buzzcocks. Joy Division. The Fall. The Smiths. The Stone Roses. The Happy Mondays. Oasis. Manchester has proved to be an endlessly rich seam of pop-music talent over the last 30 years. Highly opinionated and usually controversial, stars such as Mark E. Smith, Morrissey, Ian Brown and the Gallagher brothers have always had plenty to say for themselves. Here, in John Robb’ s new compilation, Manchester’ s gobbiest musicians tell the story of the city’ s thriving music scene in their own words.When the Buzzcocks put on the Sex Pistols at Lester Free Hall in 1976, they kickstarted a musical revolution and a fervent punk scene exploded. In 1979 the legendary Tony Wilson founded Factory Records, the home of Joy Division/New Order and later the Happy Mondays. The Hacienda, the Factory nightclub, became notorious in the late 1980s as a centre of the influential Madchester scene, led by the Mondays and the Stone Roses, with a unique style and sound of its own. Then, from the ashes of Madchester rose ü ber-lads Oasis, the kings of Britpop and the biggest UK band of the 1990s.John Robb is a leading music journalist and the author of the bestselling biography of the Stone Roses. His other books include Punk: An Oral History, The Charlatans … We Are Rock and The Nineties: What the F**k Was That All About? He lives in Manchester.

Margaret Rutherford was without a doubt one of Britain’ s best-loved comic actresses. But behind the kindly, serene front Rutherford presented to the world lay a life of trauma and repeated nervous breakdown – the legacy of the legacy of family tragedy that saw her father murder her grandfather during a bout of mental illness and her depressive mother later kill herself.Andy Merriman’ s acclaimed biography intrigued and shocked readers with these revelations when it was published in hardback. Now out in paperback, it is also a portrait of one of our most individual actresses. Rutherford appeared in such thoroughly English classics as Blithe Spirit, The importance of Being Earnest, Passport to Pimlico and I’ m All Right, Jack! But above all she was Miss Marple, in four films – and entirely created for the screen the role of Agatha Christie’ s elderly and fearless private detective that subsequent actresses like Joan Hickson and Geraldine McEwan have continued. Rutherford first played Miss Marple at the age of 70, and insisted on wearing her own clothes to feel right in the part.Above all, this was a vulnerable woman whom no-one failed to like and respect, notable again and again for quiet acts of kindness, whose life story has great appeal to everyone who appreciates both classic English comedy and simple human decency.

Quite simply, Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running comedy programme in the world. It premiered 37 years ago, in 1973, and, after 31 series it finally came to an end last year – even though all its original protagonists – Compo, Foggy, even Nora Batty – are now dead.Remarkably, for a series of such longevity and international appeal, it is all about elderly people, has little action or plot, and is set and filmed in and around the small Yorkshire town of Holmfirth.Now, Andrew Vine, the deputy editor of Yorkshire’ s daily newspaper, has written the definitive history of this television phenomenon. It covers the show’ s inauspicious beginnings, with low ratings, its endless reinvention as participants like Bill Owen, Michael Bates, Brian Wilde and Kathy Staff retired or died, the appearance of a string of guest stars from John Cleese and Norman Wisdom to Thora Hird and Russ Abbott (both of whom soon found themselves fixtures in the cast), and the ingenious plot contrivances as the protagonists became too old and frail to attempt any of the slapstick stunts with runaway prams – indeed any outdoor action.Holmfirth is now a year-round tourist attraction, and endless repeats and new DVD box sets will ensure a readership for this book for years to come.

Fred Trueman was so much more than a cricketing legend. ‘ The greatest living Yorkshireman’ according to Prime Minister Harold Wilson, he couldn’ t help excelling at everything he did, whether it was as a hostile fast bowler for Yorkshire and England, and the first man to take 300 Test wickets in a career, or as a fearlessly outspoken radio summariser for Test Match Special. He was famous for regularly spluttering that, ‘ I don’ t know what’ s going off out there,’ as well as for the amount of swearing he managed to incorporate into everyday speech. Beloved of cricket crowds, who filled grounds to witness his belligerent way of playing the game, and nothing but trouble to the cricket authorities, ‘ Fiery Fred’ was the epitome of a full-blooded Englishman.But as Chris Waters reveals in this first full biography, behind the charismatic, exuberant mask lay a far less self-assured man – terrified even that his new dog wouldn’ t like him – and whose bucolic version of his upbringing bore no relation to the gritty and impoverished South Yorkshire mining community where he actually grew up. Drawing on dozens of new interviews with his Yorkshire colleagues, family and friends, this life of Fred Trueman will surprise and even shock, but also confirm the status of an English folk hero.