Books published by Vintage Publishing

'The kind of history deserving of a cinematic blockbuster' Julia Lovell, Literary Review'[A] gripping and meticulously researched account of an epic effort to transport delicate scrolls, paintings and carvings thousands of miles under the threat of bombing and invasion' Rana Mitter, Times Literary Supplement'Brilliant and thrilling... A tale of daring and adventure... A desperate race against time' Paul French, South China Morning Post_____The gripping true story of the intrepid curators who saved China's finest art from the ravages of the Sino-Japanese War and World War II.Spring 1933. The silent courtyards and palaces of Peking's Forbidden City are tense with fear and expectation. Japan's aircraft drone overhead; its troops and tanks are only hours away. All-out war between China and Japan is coming, and the curators of the Forbidden City are faced with an impossible question: how will they protect the vast imperial art collections in their charge?The magnificent collections contain a million pieces of art - objects that carry China's deepest and most ancient memories. Among them are irreplaceable artefacts: exquisite paintings on silk, vanishingly rare Ming porcelain and the extraordinary Stone Drums of Qin, which are adorned with 2,500-year-old inscriptions of crucial cultural significance.For sixteen terrifying years, under the quiet leadership of museum director Ma Heng, the curators would go on to transport the imperial art collections thousands of miles across China - up rivers of white water, across mountain ranges and through burning cities. In their search for safety the curators and their fragile, invaluable cargo journeyed through the maelstrom of violence, chaos and starvation that was China's Second World War.Told for the first time in English and playing out across a vast historical canvas, this is the exhilarating story of a small group of men and women who, when faced with war's onslaught on civilisation, chose to resist.'Fascinating... Brookes marries a reporter's grasp of detail with a novelist's narrative flair to bring clarity and readability to a complicated period of China's troubled history' Mail on Sunday

A terrible drought hits the population of a small mountain village and they flee to better climes. Incapable of marching for days, one old man and his blind dog stay behind, keeping watch over his single ear of corn.

Born a princess of the Royal Household of Balmer, Jaya Singh is torn between the traditions of her upbringing and the ideals of the Mahatma. Grounded in details of ancient royal tradition and Hindu ritual, this story is set against the complex political realities involved in the passing of the Raj and the birth of two nations, India and Pakistan.

Michael Randall flees to the wild seas around the Shetlands to escape an impossible dilemma. There he finds a North Sea oil rig and the unlikely possibility of a new life. But one stormy night this glimmer of hope for the future, and Randall's life itself, is thrown into jeopardy.

As the Germans advance into Poland in 1939, Elisha Pomeranz, a Jewish mathematician and watchmaker, escapes into the wintry forest, leaving behind his beautiful, intelligent wife, Stefa.

Now she finds herself with the dilemma of two competing urges: wanting to know what's in the suitcase, and wanting not to know. So begins this captivating exploration of history, memory and geography, as Frances Stonor Saunders unpicks her father's and his family's past.

A GUARDIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR | 'A JOY OF A BOOK' (SUNDAY TIMES) FROM THE 1.5 MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF 'THE ROASTING TIN SERIES': 75 SIMPLE, FRESH AND DELICIOUS RECIPES. INCLUDES: OVER 20 ONE-TIN/ONE-PAN RECIPES AND OVER 20 *30 MINS MAX* RECIPES. 'A must-have' Rachel Roddy | 'A practical and inspiring delight' Niki Segnit | 'An instant classic' Felicity Cloake | 'Clever, speedy, manageable' India Knight | 'Rukmini's best book yet' Stuart HeritageDiscover simple and speedy recipes that work for every day such as:Crisp-Topped Marinated Sea Bass With Green Chilli, Lime & Coriander - Roasted Cauliflower with yoghurt and mustard - All-in-one Aubergine, Tomato & Nigella Seed Curry - Chilli, Coconut & Lime Salmon with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes - Green Pea, Onion & Cauliflower Pulao Rice - Bengali Popcorn Shrimp - Mini-Naan Pizzas with Lime & Coriander Paneer - Cheddar, Cumin & Nigella Seed Cheese StrawsFrom quick snacks and weeknight dinners to simple desserts, Rukmini Iyer has created a collection of South Indian and Bengali-inspired recipes with a modern twist. Keeping with her ethos of 'minimum effort, maximum flavour', these dishes are vibrant, achievable and moreish.'Effortless innovative cooking and banging flavours' Alice Slater | 'Everything is full of flavour and easy' Angela Hui | 'Full of realistic, delicious recipes' Bethany Rutter