SEPTEMBER PUBLISHING – serie

'A fascinating book... well researched, packed with stories and bursting with lovely descriptions of the natural world. There's plenty in it to inspire women of every age' Christina Patterson, Sunday TimesWhat is Hagitude? It means being at ease with the unique power women embody in the second half of their life. It means having a strong sense of who we are and what we have to offer the world. And a firm belief in our place in the ever-shifting web of life. For the woman who wishes to flourish without chasing eternal youth comes Hagitude.International bestselling author Sharon Blackie (If Women Rose Rooted) interweaves myth, psychology, landscape and ecofeminism, reclaiming the mid years as an alchemical moment - from which to shift into your chosen, authentic and fulfilling future - and the elder years as a path to dynamic influence.'Hagitude is already becoming a beloved cult classic, as a myth-infused manifesto for the possibilities for life from middle age onwards' Katherine May, author of Wintering

'Engaging and inspiring, Sharon Blackie's beautiful book will empower people to find wonder in everyday life' Clover Stroud The enchanted life has nothing to do with fantasy or escapism or magical thinking: it is founded on a vivid sense of belongingness to a rich and many-layered world. It is creative, intuitive, imaginative. It thrives on work that has heart and meaning. It loves wild things, but returns to an enchanted home and garden. It respects the instinctive knowledge and playfulness of children, and relishes story, poetry and art.Taking the inspiration and wisdom that can be derived from myth, fairy tales and folk culture, this book offers a set of practical and grounded tools for enchanting our lives and the places we live in, giving us a greater sense of meaning and of belonging to the world.An inspiring, beautifully written call to re-engage with the world - giving us the tools for profound and whole-hearted participation in the adventure of life.

THE FIRST NOVEL BY THE AUTHOR OF THE WORD-OF-MOUTH BESTSELLER IF WOMEN ROSE ROOTED'You and me against the world, you used to sing. In the days before it became you and me against each other.'Cat Munro - who has never taken a day off in her working life - quits her corporate job and starts flying lessons in a small plane over the Arizona desert, confronting her fear not only of death, but of life. Her mother, Laura, moves back to the Scottish village where she spent the first years of her marriage to Cat's abusive father. Though they are apart, the past connects mother and daughter, haunts them, binds them.From the excoriating heat of the Arizona desert to the misty flow of a Highland sea-loch, Sharon Blackie's soaring first novel presents us with the transformative power of landscape, and of storytelling, in women's lives. Above all, The Long Delirious Burning Blue is a story of courage, endurance and redemption.'It is that rarity, a first novel that smacks of not merely confidence, but authority... powerful, filmic, and achieving the kind of symmetry that novels often aspire to, but rarely reach' Scotsman

'Stephen’s collection of glorious images is one of the most reliably edifying and entertaining things in my day' Mark Haddon, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the NighttimeStephen Ellcock's international following avidly await his carefully curated and sequenced albums of little known and public domain imagery on social media. Taking his title from the first ever encyclopedia in the English language All Good Things (Omne Bonum), Ellcock's compendium of art and photography inspired by both the natural world and human endeavour provide comfort in these solace-seeking times.All Good Things evokes the medieval tradition of exquisite, illuminated books: beginning with the universal and travelling through the realms of sky, sea, earth, science and humanity before ending amongst the angels and monsters that have so preoccupied artists over the centuries. Using found artwork from archives, libraries and little-known collections of art, illustration, photography and textiles, this is a glorious adventure; one that can be appreciated on many levels.

Museum expert Rachel Morris had been ignoring the boxes under her bed for decades. When she finally opened them, an entire bohemian family history was laid bare. The experience was revelatory - searching for her absent father in the archives of the Tate; understanding the loss and longings of the grandmother who raised her - and transported her back to the museums that had enriched her lonely childhood.By teasing out the stories of those early museum makers, and the unsung daughters and wives behind them, and seeing the same passions and mistakes reflected in her own family, Morris digs deep into the human instinct for collection and curation.'Rachel Morris is one of the smartest storytellers I have ever met... a wonderful and beguiling book' James Rebanks, author of The Shepherd's Life

'The perfect new baby gift, even for parents doing it a second and third time around’ Alice Vincent, author of Hark'Will bring comfort and courage to all its readers' Nell Frizzell, author of Holding the BabyMotherhood feels as though you have woken up in Oz and everything’s in Technicolor. But also, you’ve been crushed by a house.Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett began writing The Republic of Parenthood in the final weeks of her pregnancy. The plan was to document, in real time, what it means to be a parent in Britain today. But when her son was born five weeks early, she found herself catapulted into parenthood: a world of crushing love, and fear, and hope.Drawn from Cosslett’s agenda-setting Guardian column, alongside new essays and beautiful illustrations by Pia Bramley, The Republic of Parenthood is a fearless account of the first years of this new life. From Rachel Cusk to Anne Enright, many seminal writers have tackled the subject but, as a new generation become parents, Cosslett uses razor-sharp honesty and great humour to explore the unique challenges they face. The Republic of Parenthood wrestles with the entire joyful, overwhelming, messy experience, whether writing about the impact of Britain’s catastrophically expensive childcare system, or the quest for the pair of socks that can withstand a persistent toddler's best efforts. At its heart is the understanding that something so entirely personal is also political; a paean to love and pain, and one that will resonate with weary parents everywhere.

'Jennifer Lane casts a kind a contrary nature spell over her readers, full of glitter and acorns, fire and firecrests' Derek Niemann, GuardianAfter Jennifer Lane reached breaking point in her fast-paced office life and suffered stress-related illness, she set out to rediscover the solace and purpose that witchcraft had given her as a teenager. In her year long journey, Jennifer explored ancient festivals and rituals, and visited fellow pagans and wild landscapes, in search of wisdom and peace.The Wheel explores the draw of witchcraft and our vulnerability to toxic working environments, including digital demands, and is intended for those who are sick at heart of noise, anger and disconnection. Full of wise words, crackling rituals and natural beauty, this is a quest to discover how to live fully connected to the natural world while firmly in the twenty-first century.

'One of the most unforgettable books I have read in the last few years... What a writer! What a thinker! What a woman!' Fiammetta Rocco'Lyrical, compassionate, and deeply original, it has stayed with me, and is the novel I have most enjoyed this year' Sathnam Sanghera, author of EmpirelandThe Dragonfly Sea follows the unforgettable Ayaana's journey to adulthood after her small-island childhood is interrupted. Targeted first by religious fundamentalists and second by Chinese emissaries, Ayaana is sent on a container ship to study in China, where she is forced to grow up fast.With its epic scope and lush lyricism, Owuor evokes a fascinating kind of beauty in this dangerous, chaotic world and its ever-shifting oceans and trade. A transcendent story of love and adventure, and of the inexorable need for shelter in a dangerous world.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARDS TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023In 2015, as the Syrian War raged and the refugee crisis reached its peak, Rebecca Lowe set off on her bicycle across the Middle East. Driven by a desire to learn more about this troubled region and its relationship with the West, Lowe's 11,000-kilometre journey took her through Europe to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, the Gulf and finally to Iran.It was an odyssey through landscapes and history that captured her heart, but also a deeply challenging cycle across mountains, deserts and repressive police states that nearly defeated her. Plagued by punctures and battling temperatures ranging from -6 to 48C, Lowe was rescued frequently by farmers and refugees, villagers and urbanites alike, and relied almost entirely on the kindness and hospitality of locals to complete this living portrait of the modern Middle East.This is her evocative, deeply researched and often very funny account of her travels ― and the people, politics and culture she encountered.'Terrifically compelling... bursting with humour, adventure and insight into the rich landscapes and history of the Middle East. Lowe recounts the beauty, kindnesses and complexities of the lands she travels through with an illuminating insight. A wonderful new travel writer' Sir Ranulph Fiennes

FROM OSCAR-WINNING DIRECTOR AND SCREENWRITER OF WOMEN TALKING'Fascinating, harrowing, courageous, and deeply felt... speaks to all who have encountered dark waters and have had to navigate them' MARGARET ATWOODSarah Polley's work as an actor, screenwriter and director is celebrated for its honesty, complexity and deep humanity. She brings all those qualities, along with her exquisite storytelling skills, to these six essays. Each one captures a piece of Polley's life as she remembers it, while at the same time examining the fallibility of memory and the embodied reactions of children and women adapting and surviving. The guiding light is the possibility of experiencing the past anew, as the person she is now but was not then.In this extraordinary book, Polley explores what it is to live in one's body, in a constant state of becoming, learning and changing. As she was advised after a catastrophic head injury - if we relinquish our protective crouch and run towards the danger, then life can be reset, reshaped and lived afresh.

The modern world has pushed many of us to our breaking point. Our bodies and minds are burnt out, and we can feel anxious, inadequate and lonely. This is because we were meant for a very different life - one that connects us with swaying trees, wild creatures and the rush of the elements across our skin. We are meant to feel the power and peace of being at one with nature.In The Witch's Survival Guide, Jennifer Lane shows you how to take back control of your life and tap into the deep magick that resides in the plants, trees and ancient places of this world. Among the many spells and rituals, you will learn to:Make an energy protection spell with a simple appleUse candle magic to draw self-love into your lifeSoothe anxiety and create balance with the powers of waterLet it all go under a full moon.Through guided spell work, Jennifer shows us how to harness the natural forces of the four elements - Earth, Air, Fire and Water - so that we can finally restore and enrich our souls.

THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER: an uplifting story of cross-generational living and friendship.Twenty-one-year-old nursing student Teun Toebes (both broke and curious) decided to move into a nursing home and experience the daily life of elderly residents, not as a nurse or a carer - but as a housemate. The experience was to change his life, as well as the lives of his new friends. He initiated Friday drinks, trips out and camping evenings, and reintroduced pleasure in the small things in life: a laugh, a dance, a cup of good coffee, a chance to sit in the sun. As he became embedded in the community, however, Teun became more and more distressingly aware of how society and the care system diminishes the elderly and particularly people living with dementia - and he resolved to do something about it.A number 1 bestseller in the Netherlands, The Housemates is Teun Toebes' story of his years of being a housemate, the friends who changed him and a heartfelt cry for change in how we care for the elderly.

'Truly inspiring for anyone out there who has had a fair share of messy relationships and wants to find a soulmate on their own terms' Ruby Dhal, author of Dear SelfAre you tired of the online dating void? Are you open to physical intimacy but also exploring your own spiritual journey? Despite Rosalind Moody's manifesting, meditating, and tarot card readings, she kept meeting the same men. That is, until she finally learned the lessons the Universe was trying to show her and really began to feel the love.The Spark charts Rosalind's physical and spiritual adventures, offering love-summoning rituals, energy work for self-esteem, moon guidance, tarot card pulls and journaling practices to readers along the way. This book is for anyone who has lost themselves while looking for love and needs help finding their way back.'A fast-paced, magickal guide to shedding the narcissists and learning to glow in a world that tries to dim our light' Jennifer Lane, author of The Wheel

SHORTLISTED FOR THE ARCHITECTURAL BOOK AWARDSA photographic exploration of brutalist and post-war modernist architecture in Wales with an introduction by John Grindrod. Simon Phipps surveys the scale, ambition and diversity of post-war building in Wales. From the new town of Cwmbran, the immense Trostre Steelworks, the iconic George Street Bridge of Newport to smaller municipal projects such as Theatr Ardudwy in Harlech and libraries and schools across the land, this is an inspiring look at an era of architectural ambition and change. Where preserved, or sometimes simply forgotten, these buildings belong within the rugged landscapes and industrial townscapes as bold testaments of Welsh creativity and post-war renewal.'A much-needed extensive document of the abundance and richness of an often unfeted and unseen architecture, integral to the hope and social vision that characterised the golden age of Britain's post-war modernism' Mark Durden, Professor of Photography, University of South Wales

When Lan's granddaughter posts a furious message about online harm and hypocrisy that goes viral, her words trigger an internet pile-on to silence her.She and her family are forced to make a choice: retreat from the toxic mess that's wrecking our world or take a stand and fight for a better future. Only this most unlikely group of change makers, with its intergenerational mix of ancient wisdom and hi-tech savviness, has the vision to derail the capitalist status quo and make a lasting change to the system.Grand in scope and rich in courageous characters, here is a dream of a better future: a world that has learnt from the past, that we’d be proud to leave to our children.Dream deeply. Rise up strong. Change is coming...

'This eye-opening and frequently jaw-dropping history of the phenomenon… opens up a set of fascinating peepholes on to a now vanished world' SpectatorCartomania was a photographic phenomenon that seized the public imagination at the beginning of the 1860s. Small portraits, dubbed cartes de visite, were avidly exchanged with friends and family, quickly earning a reputation as 'the paper currency of social intercourse'. Compiled into albums and prominently displayed in the home to peruse, assess and discuss, this first explosion of commercial portraiture proved a wildly popular craze, particularly once celebrities embraced the new format.Paul Frecker's lavishly illustrated book brings fresh insight into the careers of the enterprising men and women who established studios and into the lives of those who passed before their cameras. With unparalleled depth of research and evocative prose, he vividly brings to life the photographers and many of their subjects. From reigning queens and visiting sultans to grieving mothers and nefarious criminals, all life lies within. Whether dressed in their best or in fancy dress, cartomania's devotees and their often extraordinary stories are laid bare in this fascinating view of mid-Victorian society.

'A compelling way of looking at the world' TLS WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ATMOSPHERE? Some travellers are driven by the need to scale a natural wonder, to see a city's sights or a place of history. Others, like Alice Maddicott, travel in search of a particular scene, feeling or atmosphere, often inspired by music, literature and art. Taking us deep into our emotional and creative responses to place, this extraordinary book explores the author's own relentless travelling. From the heat of Sicily to the mountains of Japan, this is a uniquely lyrical approach to psycho-geography.As Maddicott explores this relationship with landscape that is the very essence of human creativity, she transports readers to seventeenth-century salons of Paris and the crumbling balconies of modern Tbilisi, in the company of writers and artists such as Italo Calvino, LM Montgomery, PJ Harvey and Ana Mendieta.Tender Maps is a beautifully evocative book of travel, culture and imagination.