Books by Melanie King

Informative but light-hearted social and cultural history of our obsession with drinking and bathing in spa waters. Beautifully illustrated with paintings, engravings, maps, caricatures, posters, advertisements, ephemera and modern photos from 1597 to present day, this book presents everything you need to know about 'taking the waters'.

From the tale of the goatherd whose animals became frisky on coffee berries to a duchess with a goblet of poisoned chocolate, this book, illustrated with eighteenth-century satirical cartoons and early advertisements, tells the extraordinary story of our favourite hot drinks.

Drawing on the words of many of the spies themselves, 'Secrets in a Dead Fish' is a fascinating compendium of clever and original ruses that casts new light into the murky world of espionage during the First World War.