A whirlwind journey exploring the Gloucester streets that inspired the characters of Scrooge and Long John Silver, the countryside that gave us Gustav Holst's finest work and the locations where the jet engine, the vacuum cleaner and instant custard were invented.
A collection of twenty-two essays about the people and events that have largely been neglected by historians but are part of Kent's rich tapestry featuring the eccentric, bizarre and outrageous people who have lived and passed through the garden of England. This book concentrates on the strange tales surrounding these extraordinary people.
A gripping and important memoir by a Finnish woman who migrated to Stalin's Soviet Russia in the 1930s and escaped in 1941
The first book to explore how the legendary role of James Bond was cast, featuring interviews with the men that almost played him
An uncompromising account of the exorbitant greed and systemic corruption that typifies the cultish world of cryptocurrency.
The story of one man's escape from Stalin's genocide to heroism in the skies
Vivien Leigh was one of the greatest film and theatrical stars of the '30s, '40s and '50s. Her Oscar-winning performances in Gone with the Wind and A Streetcar Named Desire have cemented her status as an icon of classic Hollywood. From 1940 to 1960, Leigh was married to Sir Laurence Olivier, and together they were considered the royal couple of British theatre. Indeed, their romance and acting partnerships captured the imagination of the public around the world. Behind the scenes, however, Leigh's personal life was marred by manic depression which remained undiagnosed until 1953. Largely misunderstood and subjected to barbaric mistreatment at the hands of her doctors, she would also suffer the heartbreak of Olivier's infidelity. Contributing to her image as a tragic heroine, she would die at the age of 53. Unlike previous biographies, Where Madness Lies begins in 1953, when Leigh suffered a nervous breakdown and was institutionalised. The tragic story unfolds as she tries to rebuild her life, salvage her career and save her marriage. Featuring a wealth of unpublished material, including private correspondence, bestselling author Lyndsy Spence reveals how Leigh fell victim to the draconian medical practices of the day and suffered due to her circumstances. It's a timely look at just how far we've come since the early days of mental health treatment.
Exploring Tom Rolt's many landscapes, and legacy, through a series of linked essays
The next instalment of the Norwich City quiz book that will test your knowledge of the Canaries to its limit!
A stunning photography, lifestyle and travel guide for the Netherland's capital by acclaimed Instagrammer Siobhan Ferguson
A guide to London's distinctive Blue Plaques which commemorate remarkable men and women who have lived in the capital. Its biographical portraits, listed in alphabetical order, provide imformative and sometimes irreverent anecdotes about many of the famous and some not-so-famous lives.
A comprehensive and concise history from the earliest times to the present day
Legendary British comic actor John Inman broke down many boundaries by playing the camp Mr Humphries in BBC's long-running sitcom Are You Being Served? The show ran for 13 years, had a spin-off movie and regularly attracted 22 million viewers in the UK. Inman's character, whose innuendos were adored by viewers, invariably got the biggest laughs - and this at a time when being homosexual was largely frowned upon. At one point, there was a protest from the Campaign for Homosexual Equality that Inman's effeminate portrayal of the character was not helping their cause - but Inman disagreed, feeling it was more beneficial to make the nation laugh and break down barriers his way. In 1976, he was voted the BBC Personality of the Year and TV Times' Funniest Man on TV. Away from television, he soon became one of the most in-demand pantomime actors, making a small fortune over several decades. Though he yearned for a career in the theatre, he initially took jobs at a gentleman's outfitters and specialised in window dressing for a London department store. He eventually joined an acting group in Crewe to earn his Equity Card, and soon began working in theatre as he followed his true vocation. After a few television roles, he was offered the part of Mr Humphries in the 1972 pilot of Are You Being Served? It was inspired casting, and Inman's impeccable comic timing and delivery would make him a household name. He was the only cast member to retain his part in the Australian version of the series and he became a cult gay icon in the USA, where he was considered the biggest UK export since Benny Hill. He returned to the role in the spin-off Grace & Favour, which ran for two series in 1992 and 1993. Though he would regularly appear on television and the stage after the series ended, it was as Mr Humphries that he was best loved and why he was regarded as a national treasure. Inman was secretive about his sexuality until he married his long-term partner Ron Lynch in a civil ceremony in London in 2005. He died two years later following a long battle with hepatitis. Are You Being Served? is regularly repeated, and Inman's catchphrase 'I'm free!' is perhaps one of the most famous on British television. Author David Clayton reveals the full story of a man who was adored by millions and who broke down barriers by just being himself.
This culinary romp through 50 dishes that shaped human history will tickle the tastebuds of every food lover
The vivid and candid autobiography of Louis Hagen, alongside his bestselling Arnhem Lift
As the last veterans of the Second World War pass on, more people than ever are researching their stories and seeing what their family did during the Second World War, whether it was just four years peeling potatoes or landing on the D-Day beaches. This comprehensive and easy to use book will set you on the right road.
This biography describes Captain Scott's short life and the explorations which he and his team made.
Filled with all the usual joys and anxieties of childhood, and a self-possessed determination to behave in a practical and helpful way, it is a world in which the people and events figuring in what we call "history" are fairly mysterious to her.
The history of Bracknell from the first inhabitants until 1949, when it was designated a New Town
Welsh-language edition of the beautifully illustrated collection of folk tales from Wales
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