Books published by Methuen Publishing Ltd

After England's cricketers famously lost to Australia at the Oval in August 1882 a mock obituary notice was published in the "Sporting Times", announcing that 'the body [of English cricket] would be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia'. It was this announcement that brought 'the Ashes' into existence.

One of the funniest writers of his generation, Michael Frayn has been writing humorous newspaper columns since 1959, principally for the "Guardian" and "Observer". This volume brings together 110 of his finest and funniest pieces from over the years.

A story about the bleak and unforgiving nature of insomnia, of restlessness, repressed passion and dislocation. Orlingford is a town where it is hard to differentiate between pleasure and pain: the wonder of a moment is ignored, misconstrued or overridden by the fear of it passing.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, treasure-hunting became a professional occupation. Presenting a story of a national obsession, this work features a history of a peculiarly English phenomenon - of outstanding bravery, of exceptional recklessness, and above all, of dreams of treasure.

New paperback edition of the sniffing, growling, yowling, yelping, eighth helping of John Hegley which contains some of the poet's funniest and most touching poems to date.

An epic tale of love and loyalty, beauty and brutality by China's greatest living writer.

Part political inquiry, part travel journal, part-self exploration, "Seek" is a collection of essays by an award-winning novelist out to explore himself and his life in the company of those who live on the edges of society. His travels take him from hippy conventions to war-torn Liberia

Michael Reed is a man going through the motions, numbed by the death of his wife and child. But when events force him to act as if he cares, he begins to find people who - against all expectation - help him through his private labyrinth.

Born of the sea-nymph Thetis by the mortal King Peleus, hidden as a girl on Skiros until Odysseus discovers him, Achilles becomes the Greek's greatest warrior at Troy. This text retells the legend of Achilles.

This volume gathers together 50 essays by one of the most influential literary, cultural and intellectual voices of our time. Arranged chronologically, these writings take the reader on a whirlwind tour of modern history.

Provincetown, Cape Cod: the last outpost of civilisation, the end of the earth. In the confused aftermath of a failed suicide attempt, Leonard English - pursuing a vague vision of redemption and an even vaguer offer of employment - finds himself in a Cape resort populated by religious zealots and promiscuous transvestites.

During World War II, a small English community are forced to flee when Japanese forces invade Burma. Paterson, the manager of a rice-mill, organises the evacuation and takes with him his Burmese mistress and her young brother. Inevitably, as the journey continues, bitterness, tension and insoluble conflict unfold.

Betrayed by her lover, Bella Ford sets out on a journey to find him and exact her revenge. Instead, her search brings her to the home of the Wainwright family. Slowly, the Wainrights restore Bella's trust and she finds happiness. Then, at the traditional Feast of July, the past comes crashing back into Bella's life, and with it, terrible tragedy.

The founding of the welfare state in the 1940s was one of the crowning achievements of modern British history, or was it? This book advances the argument that however well-meaning its founders, the welfare state has in reality done more harm than good. The thesis of this book is that Britain would have been better off without the welfare state.

Pelham Warner's "How We Recovered the Ashes" is an account of his captaincy of the England side during their tour of Australia of the 22nd Ashes series. This is also a collectors edition re-publication of an out-of-print cricket classic to celebrate the centenary of the first MCC tour.

An evocative childhood memoir by the much-loved illustrator of "Winnie the Pooh" and "The Wind in the Willows". In this autobiography, E.H. Shepard describes a classic Victorian childhood. Recalling this time with charm and humour, Shepard illustrates these scenes in his own distinctive style.

The third volume in Soyinka's series of memoirs, the sequel to "Ake and Isara". In a mixture of fact and fiction - to protect the innocent and nail the guilty and shape an often intolerable reality - it tells of the coming of age of a writer and political activist; and of a nation's betrayal.

Dave Podmore knows cricket and isn't afraid to say his piece. His "Guardian" columns have covered subjects as diverse as match-fixing and umpiring scandals, England's Test performance and 2001's whitewash of the Aussies (at the post-match fancy dress night, that is). This book preserves his wisdom.