Biographies

Letters written during a short residence in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark (1796) is both an arresting travel book and a personal memoir. In it Wollstonecraft describes the sublime landscape and the events and people she encounters. This edition includes reviews, additional letters, and documents on the background to the journey.

This extraordinary analysis into the mind of a notorious killer set the standard in true crime writing and is disturbing but essential reading - now repackaged as a Great Read

Douglas Haig is the single most controversial general in British history. In 1918, after the armies he commanded had played such an important part in helping to win the First World War, he was feted as the saviour of his country. On his death in 1928 he was mourned as a national hero. But within ten years his reputation was in ruins. It has never fully recovered. His name has become a byword for military incompetence, a callous and brutal donkey who led the lions of the British Army to their deaths in the trenches. Haig has been mercilessly lampooned by TV shows such as Blackadder and even recent academic studies depict him as a serial blunderer who learned nothing from his mistakes. In this fascinating biography, Professor Gary Sheffield reassesses Haigs reputation, and demonstrates the crucial role he played in leading British forces to victory in the First World War. Using extensive research into primary sources, many of which have been ignored or misinterpreted by other historians, he shows how Haigs experiences on the Western Front made him a highly effective commander. He also assesses his critical role in preparing the army for war and transforming the shambolic amateur force of the Somme in 1916 to the victorious army of 1918. As well as covering his stormy relations with politicians like Churchill and Lloyd George, he reveals important details about Haigs character and personal life, and his key role in post-war Britain, using the influence he wielded as a leader of ex-servicemen to help secure the peace. This is no whitewash, however: Haigs mistakes did have bloody consequences, and when he deserves criticism, the book does not spare him.

Best known for his academy award-winning role as Dith Pran in "e;The Killing Fields"e;, for Haing Ngor his greatest performance was not in Hollywood but in the rice paddies and labour camps of war-torn Cambodia. Here, in his memoir of life under the Khmer Rouge, is a searing account of a country's descent into hell. His was a world of war slaves and execution squads, of senseless brutality and mind-numbing torture; where families ceased to be and only a very special love could soar above the squalor, starvation and disease. An eyewitness account of the real killing fields by an extraordinary survivor, this book is a reminder of the horrors of war - and a testament to the enduring human spirit.

No Future Without Forgiveness is a quintessentially humane account of an extraordinary life. Desmond Tutu describes his childhood and coming of age in the apartheid era in South Africa. He examines his reactions on being able to vote for the first time at the age of 62 - and on Nelson Mandela's election, also his feelings on being Archbishop of Cape Town and his award of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. No Future Without Forgiveness is also his fascinating experience as head of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The latter was a pioneering international experiment to expose many of the worst atrocities committed under apartheid, and to rehabilitate the dignity of its victims. Tutu draws important parallels between the Commissioners' approach to the situation in South Africa with other areas of conflict such as Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Rwanda and the Balkans.

The sixteenth-century German friar whose public conflict with the medieval Roman Church triggered the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther was neither an unblemished saint nor a single-minded religious zealot according to this provocative new biography by Scott Hendrix. The author presents Luther as a man of his time: a highly educated scholar and teacher and a gifted yet flawed human being driven by an optimistic yet ultimately unrealized vision of "e;true religion."e; This bold, insightful account of the life of Martin Luther provides a new perspective on one of the most important religious figures in history, focusing on Luther's entire life, his personal relationships and political motivations, rather than on his theology alone. Relying on the latest research and quoting extensively from Luther's correspondence, Hendrix paints a richly detailed portrait of an extraordinary man who, while devout and courageous, had a dark side as well. No recent biography in English explores as fully the life and work of Martin Luther long before and far beyond the controversial posting of his 95 Theses in 1517, an event that will soon be celebrated as the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

With an introduction by Steve MartinTwo pages into the script and an ache has developed in my gonads - I am both laughing out loud and agonized by the fact that the Withnail part is such a corker that not in a billion bank holidays will they ever seriously consider me. When, in the summer of 1986, Richard E. Grant was cast as the lead in Withnail and I, his whole world shifted and he was set firmly on the path to international stardom. With Nails is his outrageous, irreverent and brutally funny account of that time and the years afterwards, of his self-doubt and anxiety on the route to Hollywood, and of all the extraordinary, mad, brilliant people in the film business. From drinking himself incoherent so he could film Withnail and I to a night spent in Paris's red light district with a world-famous couple, to working with Hollywood's biggest actors and directors, Richard E. Grant - always eloquent, always honest - has documented, in his own inimitable style, what it is to become a film star. A rare classic, there is no book quite like it.

Cheaply printed and stapled by hand, the six issues of Adam J. Kurtz's HOME BREW zine tell the story of a young artist trying to find their voice (and then get it out of their head). Though the the work collected in this series wasn't always good, it became a foundation for a body of hopeful, vulnerable, and humorous work.Reproduced in its entirety for the first time, this collection includes a new introduction from the author, and a foreword from artist/educator Kate Bingaman-Burt.

The World of Bob Dylan aims at a wide audience looking to gain a deeper familiarity with the art and legacy of one of the world's most influential artists. Carefully integrated essays offer a lively and accessible look at topics that include song writing, civil rights, literature, law, and more.

This biography and military history of Islamic resistance to the French occupation of Algeria lends valuable insight into current US/Muslim relations.

Dennis Nilsen was one of Britain's most notorious serial killers, jailed for life in 1983 after the murders of 12 men and the attempted murders of many more.Seven years after his conviction, Nilsen began to write his autobiography, and over a period of 18 years he typed 6,000 pages of introspection, reflection, comment and explanation.History of a Drowning Boy - taken exclusively from these astonishing writings - uncovers, for the first time, the motives behind the murders, and delivers a clear understanding of how such horrific events could have happened, tracing the origins back to early childhood.In another first, it provides an insight into his 35 years inside the maximum-security prison system, including his everyday life on the wings; his interactions with the authorities and other notorious prisoners; and his artistic endeavours of music, writing and drama. It also reveals the truth behind many of the myths surrounding Dennis Nilsen, as reported in the media.Nilsen was determined to have his memoir published but to his frustration, the Home Office blocked publication during his lifetime. He died in 2018 entrusting the manuscript to his closest friend and it is now being published with the latter's permission.Any autobiography presents the writer's story from just one perspective: his own, and as such this record should be treated with some caution. An excellent foreword by criminologist Dr Mark Pettigrew offers some context to Nilsen's words, and this important work provides an extraordinary journey through the life of a remarkable and inadequate man.

A compulsive collection of the world's most entertaining, inspiring and powerful letters with sex at their heart, curated by the founder of the global phenomenon lettersofnote.com

A compulsive collection of the world's most entertaining, inspiring and powerful letters with grief at their heart, curated by the founder of the global phenomenon lettersofnote.com

A compulsive collection of the world's most entertaining, inspiring and powerful letters with dogs at their heart, curated by the founder of the global phenomenon lettersofnote.com

Have fun at the farm with this new collection of minis from Kerry Lord and her Edward's Menagerie animals. This is one of the new gift series from TOFT (Kerry's yarn company), which contains four books, each with 25 crochet patterns on a different theme: Ocean, Wild, Farm and Pets.

Explores the introduction and development of law enforcement in the early days of the Wild West of the United States.

Talented actor. Charismatic celebrity. Woman magnet. A free thinker and an independent soul. That's the shorthand when it comes to the worldwide perception of Keanu Reeves. But there's more to the real Keanu than pop culture talking points and, in Keanu Reeves' Excellent Adventure: An Unauthorized Biography by New York Times bestselling author Marc Shapiro, the star of Speed, John Wick, Point Break and countless big and small films proves to be a lot more contrary and anti-establishment than most Hollywood cookie cutter celebrities.Equal parts biography and character study, Keanu Reeves' Excellent Adventure: An Unauthorized Biography is an ink blot/rat in a maze journey as the actor deals with his life and times in straightforward, often philosophical and spiritual manner. He can be shy, self -effacing, an introvert and somebody who has been a pain in the side of the Hollywood establishment. He's also found time to be an all around good guy as he deals with life's ups and downs. But at the end of the day, Keanu Reeves is nothing less than human.He's dealt with the deaths of those he's loved the most. He makes no bones about the fact that he comes from a dysfunctional upbringing. He's walked away from big-budget studio films in favor of doing Hamlet for peanuts. And, early on, he didn't think twice about starring in the overtly gay-themed way out of the mainstream theater production Wolfboy. He's readily admits to having done drugs and has had his run ins with the law. And along the way his risen to that rarified air of international star.

"At a moment when democratic traditions are under assault, this book could hardly be more timely. The story of Myles Horton and Highlander reminds us that the late twentieth-century movements for social justice were often movements of democratic aspirations, committed to developing the untapped potential of the oppressed."--Charles M. Payne, author of I've Got the Light of Freedom: The Organizing Tradition and the Mississippi Freedom Struggle "As a former staff member of Highlander, I had the privilege of learning from and with Myles Horton over two decades. This well-researched book captures the Highlander Center's unique approach to using popular education to deepen democracy and strengthen struggles for social justice--a story that is both instructive and inspirational for our times."--John Gaventa, author of Power and Powerlessness: Quiescence and Rebellion in an Appalachian Valley "In this absorbing biography, Stephen Preskill transports us to another era. Miles Horton, a great humanitarian who lived and worked in a strikingly relevant time and place in America, spent his earliest days among the poorest people of the South. Told through his monumental contributions to our labor and civil rights movements, the story unfolds in colorful detail. As we now face an uncertain tomorrow, it is more important than ever to explore the troubled waters of the past to guide our future, and with this book, Preskill provides a useful sextant to help us navigate."--Mick Caouette, filmmaker "This book is important. It should have a wide readership among educators from multiple settings, social activists, organizers, and leaders."--Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished Scholar, Antioch University

The story of the notorious Jewish gangster who ascended from impoverished beginnings to the glittering Las Vegas strip

GOD said to write the book day after day, and week after week. I screamed “I can't write the book because there is so much pain and sorrow.” I realized that I would have to write the book in order to have peace so I sat down and wrote the book with GOD'S help. This is a story of a girl who grew up with abuse and fear in a family of twelve. With adversity and obstacles throughout her life she never gave up on herself. You will cry and you will laugh and you will have hope.

'Charming and addictively accessible' STEVEN PINKER'Original, authoritative and beautiful' BRIAN COX'The most wonderful adventure' ROBIN INCEA brilliantly illustrated journey through the wonders and mysteries of the human brain - from a renowned husband-and-wife team of cognitive neuroscientists. Professors and husband-and-wife team Uta and Chris Frith have pioneered major studies of brain disorders throughout their nearly fifty-year career. In Two Heads, their distinguished careers serve as a prism through which they share the compelling story of the birth of neuroscience and their paradigm-shifting discoveries across areas as wide-ranging as autism and schizophrenia research, and new frontiers of social cognition including diversity, prejudice, confidence, collaboration and empathy. Working with their son Alex Frith and artist Daniel Locke, they examine the way that neuroscientific research is now focused on the fact we are a social species, whose brains have evolved to work cooperatively. What happens when people gather in groups? How do people behave when they're in pairs - either pitted against each other or working together? Is it better to surround yourself with people who are similar to yourself, or different? And, are two heads really better than one? Highly original and ingeniously illustrated, Two Heads provides an expansive understanding of how our brains work, and how they work together.

David 'Bumble' Lloyd looks back at the great characters in the cricketing world who have inspired, entertained and amused him

Unabridged. 97 original photographs and maps. An epic account of one of the most extraordinary feats of physical and mental endurance in a battle for survival in the most extreme natural conditions. Shackleton's 800 mile voyage with a crew of five in a 22.5-foot open boat through the hurricane-force winds and gargantuan waves of the Furious Fifties is the greatest small-boat journey ever recorded. This was but one of the trials endured by the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in this gripping account.Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO OBE, was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. His first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Scott's 1901-04 Expedition: he was sent home early on health grounds. Determined to make amends for this perceived personal failure, he returned in 1907 as leader of the Nimrod Expedition. In January 1909, he and three companions reached a record Farthest South latitude at 88°23'S, a mere 97 geographical miles (from the South Pole, by far the closest approach up to that time. Shackleton was knighted by Edward VII on his return home.This edition:covers Shackleton's final, and most dramatic Antarctic expeditionis complete and undbridgedis presented crisp well-spaced modern font which will be a pleasure to read.

Historical in scope, this collection chronicles 15 of the world's most infamous "extreme killers"--those with the largest number of confirmed kills. The subjects range from 15th-century French child killer Gilles de Rais, purportedly the model for "Bluebeard," to Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole, who inspired the film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, to Samuel Little, America's most prolific serial killer, to Mikhail Popkov, dubbed "The Werewolf" by Russian media for having slain more than 70 women.