Biography and Autobiography

On April 13th, 2004 Gloria Hunnifords 41 year old daughter, Caron Keating, died after a secret seven year battle with cancer. The world that had changed with Caron's diagnosis, now shattered. Life had been cruelly interrupted, a black hole opened in Glorias heart, she was consumed with the unimaginable grief that the loss of a child brings and she was alone. Or so she felt. Within days of Caron's death letters started to arrive. People who had lost their children felt compelled to write. Strangers understood what she was going through often more than the family and friends standing next to her. There were many, many dark days but the letters kept coming and somehow she managed to do the impossible. Wake up everyday, get out of bed, breath. The black hole is still there, sometimes as big as ever, but she has found a way to live with it, around it. This is the story of how Gloria and her family survived Carons death, but it is not only her story. It is written for those who held her while she raged. It is written for all those people who helped her through that first terrible year by writing, but mostly it is written for the many thousands who didnt.Grief is lonely, but as this book shows, you are not alone. Death affects us all at some point. Gloria will never again be the carefree woman she once was, the loss of a loved one is always with you, but so are the living This is how she found her way back to them.

ISBN: 9780340953969

At the height of Hollywood's Golden Age, Tony Curtis starred in "Houdini" and "Spartacus", made comedy history with Jack Lemmon in the unforgettable "Some Like It Hot", was friends with Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and James Dean, and romanced screen sirens such as Marilyn Monroe, Janet Leigh and Natalie Wood. He lived a life he could only dream of growing up in the Bronx. Born Bernard Schwarz to immigrant parents, this is Tony Curtis' story of his hard-knock childhood, his wild days as a Hollywood playboy, his destructive drug addiction and his life now as an artist in his eighties. Sparing no name, no detail and no ego, Tony Curtis talks intimately about the people he has known during his long, illustrious career, his co-stars, the studio owners, his wives, his lovers and his friends. This book will be the true record of his life, told with humour, grace and honesty.

ISBN: 9781905264346

The wry, honest and often hilarious chronicles of a very brave and clever TV presenter, Arctic Explorer and general drawer of the Short Straw. Moving quickly on from the devastating crash that nearly killed him he ranges widely over his life and times: a visit to Glastonbury with James May reminds of him of his early years of playing in a band and how and why he never quite made it as a rock star; the stunts and other perils that come his way like the TopGear North Pole race (why is it Richard who is out in the howling elements in a dog sled whilst the others are in the heated cab of an all-terrain vehicle?), Africa where he falls in love with and repatriates a stray car, and the US (once to be chased by Rednecks in middle America, the other in pursuit of his mad hero Evel Knievel); his passion for cars, what he owns and why and although he loves his wife why it is a toss-up whether he says hello to the wife or the cars first. Balancing home and family with a crazy, peripatetic working life (or not, sometimes), the hamster is well and truly back on the wheel.

ISBN: 9780297855200

Jamie Carragher is one of the most charismatic footballers of his generation. Adored by the fans, he was recently voted the most popular player in the entire Liverpool squad. Yet the young Carra came to Liverpool as an Everton fan, from an Everton family and with Everton friends. Packed with great anecdotes, controversial opinions and large helpings of his trademark humour, this is his story...Born in January 1978 in Bootle, Merseyside, Carragher signed professional terms with Liverpool in 1996, having served a successful apprenticeship, won the FA Youth Cup and played for England Under-21s. He scored a goal in his first full league game for the senior team - pretty good for a defender and very unusual for him - and his versatility was to ensure a permanent place in the starting line up before long and he is now vice-captain. In fact he is so integral to the Liverpool squad, the Kop chants 'we all dream of a team of Carraghers' to the tune of 'Yellow Submarine'. Raw, funny and down-to-earth, his book is an antidote to the anodyne sports autobiography. It takes you behind the scenes of all of Liverpool and England's greatest triumphs and disasters in the company of a player who never fails to be intelligent, controversial or just downright hilarious.

ISBN: 9780593061022

Churchill (1874-1965) was one of the 20th century's most charismatic and controversial figures. He escaped from capture as a prisoner of war in the Boer War, was a Nobel Prize-winning author and twice prime minister. He is best remembered as the astute and powerful orator who inspired a battered Britain to victory and led the post-war, shattered nation to recovery. Richard Langworth, co-chairman and editor of "The Churchill Centre", has spent over 20 years researching Churchill's written and spoken words.In "Churchill by Himself", which is fully authorised by the Churchill Estate, Langworth has edited and annotated this library to make the definitive collection of Churchill's words, thematically arranged. He also highlights the myriad quotations commonly mis-attributed to Churchill. From his meetings with world leaders such as Roosevelt, de Gaulle and Stalin, his verbal engagements with Hitler and the Third Reich, to his wit and oratory on the floor of the Commons, every facet of Churchill's life and times is explored with his own pragmatic intelligence, sharp humour and legendary wisdom.

ISBN: 9780091918521

In his brand new assessment of Winston Churchill's political career, Nigel Knight challenges the sentimental image of the great wartime leader and argues that Churchill's impact on Great Britain was, in fact, consistently disastrous. The author backs up his arguments with rigorous academic research to provide a fresh insight into Churchill's entire career.This book covers Churchill's time as pre-war Chancellor and his contradictory economic policies. It also looks at his time as Prime Minister and his wartime blunders, as well as the post-war period when he failed to rectify his past errors. It features 16 pages of fascinating archive photographs.

ISBN: 9780715328552

Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career that has spanned nearly three decades, encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters. Loved for her irreverent humor, Dawn has achieved massive mainstream success while continuing to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes. Here she describes the journey that would eventually establish her as a perhaps unlikely, but nevertheless genuine, national treasure. Dawn began her career as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, marking a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls On Top, which teamed Dawn with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman and firmly established women in British comedy.As part of the wildly successful and much loved duo French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repertoire of brilliantly observed characters, parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Madonna and Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn's more recent role in the Vicar of Dibley showcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial and topical issue and make it mainstream - and very funny. From her early years as an RAF child and her flat-sharing antics with Jennifer Saunders, to her outspoken views on sizism and her marriage to Lenny Henry, "Dear Fatty" will chronicle the extraordinary, hilarious rise of a complex, dynamic and unstoppable woman.

ISBN: 9781846053443

OCTOBER 2008

Martin Clunes is happy to admit that with Mary, it was love at first sight; her soft, brown eyes, her perfect figure and that unstoppable wagging tail. As cocker spaniels go, she was perfect. It is a love that has taken them through puppy classes to the local dog show, a move to the country and even visits from a dog psychologist, and has often caused Martin to wonder: Where the hell did you come from? To find a satisfying answer to that question, Martin embarked on a worldwide quest to look into the history of dogs, and link the pampered pets of today with their wild ancestors painted dogs in Tanzania, dingoes in Australia and wolves in Yellowstone National Park, USA. He also explores how humans have shaped the dog breeds of today, visiting the Beverly Hills Mutt Club and meeting working dogs in several countries police dogs, hunting hounds and sled dogs. Accompanied by his stunning photography, Martins account of his discoveries, told with his trademark warmth and humour, is compelling and full of surprises. One thing is certain: at the end of this fascinating journey, Martin will never look at his own dogs in the same way again.

ISBN: 9780340977040

'Dry Store Room No. 1' is an intimate biography of the Natural History Museum, celebrating the eccentric personalities who have peopled it and capturing the wonders of scientific endeavour, academic rigour and imagination. Behind the public facade of any great museum there lies a secret domain: one of unseen galleries, locked doors, priceless specimens and hidden lives.Through the stories of the numerous eccentric individuals whose long careers have left their mark on the study of evolutionary science, Richard Fortey, former senior paleaontologist at London's Natural History Museum, celebrates the pioneering work of the Museum from its inception to the present day. He delves into the feuds, affairs, scandals and skulduggery that have punctuated its long history, and formed a backdrop to extraordinary scientific endeavour from Darwin to the present day.He explores the staying power and adaptability of the Museum as it responds to changes wrought by advances in technology and molecular biology -- 'spare' bones from an extinct giant bird suddenly become cutting-edge science with the new knowledge that DNA can be extracted from them, and ancient fish are tested with the latest equipment that is able to measure rises in pollution. 'Dry Store Room No.1' is a fascinating and affectionate account of a hidden world of untold treasures, where every fragment tells a story about time past, by a scientist who combines rigorous professional learning with a gift for prose that sparkles with wit and literary sensibility.

ISBN: 9780007209897

AN EAGLE IN THE AIRING CUPBOARD picks up where Rex Harpers first book, AN OTTER ON THE AGA, left off. It follows the fortunes of the Cornish RSPCA centre through one of its most testing twelve months. Once more it is a mixture of funny, touching and sometimes moving animal stories. And once more it features a cast of unforgettable characters, like Alfie and Blue, two hideously mistreated greyhounds that are rehabilitated at the farm, as well as the return of old favourites from Rex's first book, including his loyal dog Moss. Throughout, Rex evokes the sights, smells, sounds and spirit of the Cornish countryside in all its timeless beauty. He also encounters sickening cases of animal cruelty committed by humans unfit to care for any living thing. Funny, warm and evocative, it is a book that is, once more, set to melt and occasionally break the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.

ISBN: 9780755318025

Richard Attenborough and Diana Hawkins have been friends and colleagues for nearly 50 years. They have now teamed up to write this frank and funny account of their unlikely partnership and his extraordinary life. Attenborough is the octogenarian celebrity peer, happily married since 1945, describing a lifetime of ceaseless activity as film star, director, producer, company chairman and indefatigable campaigner. Hawkins, 70, a twice divorced author and single parent who lived for a time on benefits, went on to become Attenborough's publicist, business partner and, ultimately, his co-producer. He is staunch Labour, she is a committed Conservative.His glass is always half full, hers obstinately half empty. Together, laughing and squabbling, they have traveled the world, meeting people and making films. Among the eclectic cast of characters who appear in this two-handed memoir are Steve McQueen, Mother Teresa, Charlie Chaplin, Robert Mugabe, Edward G Robinson, Shirley MacLaine, Ronald Reagan, David Lean, Margaret Thatcher, John Mills, Steven Spielberg, Noel Coward, Tommy Lawton, Indira Gandhi, George Brown and Nelson Mandela.

ISBN: 9780091797089

For years now, Fern Britton has been widely loved as the presenter of "Ready Steady Cook", and, more recently, co-presenter of "This Morning with Philip Schofield". Never one to shy away from a good laugh or cry on national TV, she has none-the-less never talked about herself to the public, preferring to keep her private life private. Her warmth and humour, empathy and compassion, have made her feel like a best friend to millions on a daily basis, but no one knows the woman behind the sparkling smile. Now, for the first time, she is going to tell her story. And it is one that will strike a chord with women everywhere. Life as a child was not always easy, and she faced private and public challenges with her personal life, appearance and her career as she climbed the ladder to fame. Now a full-time working mum, with a very happy marriage to her second husband Phil Vickery, she is at the top of her game, and ready to tell it like it is. So put your feet up and get ready for a great read.

ISBN: 9780718154615

NOVEMBER 2008

Getting Into Guinness is the hilarious true story of record breaking attempts, how record obsession has become a global phenomenon, the weird and wonderful characters that set records and the history of the Guinness Book of World Records. Meet Larry Olmsted, a freelance travel and sports writer, always on the hunt for new and intriguing stories. In Spring 2003, somewhere over the North Atlantic, Larry stumbled on an article about the worldwide popularity of Guinness. Inspired by what he read and in a bid to impress his editor, he took the drastic decision to set a record of his own and become part of the book's history like so many had before him. This leads Larry to break the record for the greatest distance travelled between two rounds of golf played on the same day and 2 years later to play poker continuously for 72 hours After his own hilarious record attempts, Larry sets out to discover more about the vast and colourful history of the Guinness Book of World Records and this leads him to his fellow record setters. He learns about their widely varied motives for record-mania.Meet Ashrita, Record Breaker for God, who has been breaking records for 30 years and has set or broken 177 Guinness World Records in his lifetime. And Jackie 'The Texas Snakeman' Bibby, who became one of the book's all time icons by sharing a bathtub with poisonous rattlesnakes and dangling them from his mouth and who literally puts his life on the line every time he breaks one of his rattlesnake records.

ISBN: 9780007261291

OCTOBER 2008

In 1956, Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire youngest of the six Mitford sisters invited the writer and war hero Patrick Leigh Fermor to visit Lismore Castle, in Ireland. This halcyon stay sparked off a deep friendship and a lifelong exchange of highly entertaining letters. There can rarely have been such contrasting styles: Debo, unashamed philistine and self-professed illiterate, darts from subject to subject, dashing off letters but hitting the nail on the head again and again without even looking, while Paddy, polyglot, widely-read prose virtuoso, replies in his characteristic fluent, polished manner. Prose notwithstanding, they have much in common: enjoyment of life, youthful high spirits, generosity and lack of malice. There are glimpses of Kennedys inauguration, weekends at Sandringham, filming with Erroll Flynn and, above all, of life at Chatsworth, which Debo spent much of her life restoring, and of Kardamyli, the home that Paddy built in his belovedGreece.

ISBN: 9780719568589

Ever since her days as a reporter on the front line in Iraq, Kate Adie has earned her reputation as one of the most intrepid women of her day. Throughout her career she has regularly reported from the world's most dangerous war zones -- often placing her own life at serious risk. It has given her a curiosity about the people who are attracted to danger. Why when so many are fearful of anything beyond their daily routine, are others drawn towards situations, or professions which put them in regular peril of their lives? It has proved a fascinating quest that has taken her to the four corners of the globe in pursuit of an answer. She has met those who choose a career in danger, like stuntpeople, landmine exploders, and even a 'snake man' who -- aged 96 - has been bitten countless times by poisonous snakes to find venom for vaccines. She has questioned those whose actions put them in danger, like Sir Richard Leakey whose determination to speak out in Kenya nearly cost him his life, as well as criminals and prostitutes who risk all for money.And of course there are those who -- through no choice of their own -- have been put in danger, such as Saddam Hussein's food taster -- not his career of choice.

ISBN: 9780340933213

Afghanistan, October 2006: British soldiers are engaged in the most intense, sustained fighting they'd faced since the hell of the Korean War. Against a fierce, experienced and frighteningly motivated enemy, their lives too often depended on the success of danger - close, pin-point attacks pressed home from the air. But what most people back home didn't know was that, during that violent winter, those attacks were being flown by the Royal Navy. When 800 Naval Air Squadron - callsign 'Recoil' - arrived in theatre, their Boss, Commander Adrian Orchard, knew there could be no slip ups. Day and night, the Fleet Air Arm crews were on constant alert, ready to scramble their heavily armed Harrier jets at a moment's notice in support of men on the ground.The call wasn't slow in coming. Just fifteen minutes after getting airborne for the first time, Orchard and his wingmen were in the thick of it, called in after an Apache helicopter gunship was forced back by heavy fire. The first book written by a serving British fast jet pilot since the 1991 Gulf War, "Joint Force Harrier" offers an unprecedented, heart-stopping insight into the realities of modern air warfare. The complexity and sophistication of the equipment may have moved on since the epic air battles of WWII, but it's clear that the courage, skill and character of the men engaged in this brutal struggle for a country's survival has not.

ISBN: 9780718153991

'Well now, prove it, Sheila. As John would say, "Put your money where your mouth is." Be a depressed widow boring the arse off everyone, or get on with life. Your choice.'In The Two of Us Sheila Hancock relived her life with John Thaw - years packed with love and family, work and houses, delight and despair. And then she looked ahead. What next? Gardening, grannying and grumbling, while they all had their pleasures, weren't going to fill the aching void that John had left. 'Live adventurously', a piece of Quaker advice, was hovering in her mind. So, putting her and John's much-loved house in France on the market - too many memories - she embarked, instead, on a series of journeys. She tried holidaying alone, contending with invisibility and budget flights. She tried travelling in a group, but the questions she wanted to ask were never the ones the guide wanted to answer. She tried relaxing - harder than you might think. Finally, heading out of her comfort zone, she found her travels and new discoveries led her back to her past: to consider her generation - the last to experience the Second World War - and the kind of person it made her.Just Me is a book about moving on, but it is also about looking back, and looking anew. Sheila, whether facing down burglars and easyJet staff (cross her at your peril) or making friends with waiters and taxi drivers, whether unearthing secrets in Budapest, getting arrested in Thailand, exulting in the art of Venice or mingling with the Mafia in Milan, is never less than stimulating company. Honest - because if you can't say what you think at seventy-five, when can you? - insightful and wonderfully down-to-earth, she is a woman seizing the future with wit, gusto and curiosity - on her own.

ISBN: 9780747588825

Julie Walters has been described as the nation's most popular actress and comedienne. She has been delighting us on screen and on stage for over 25 years and we have taken her to our hearts. Now she tells us her own story, in her own words. She was born in fifties Birmingham, daughter of an austere Irish Catholic mother. She was sent to school in a convent and from a young age always wanted to be an actress but to appease her mother she first went into nursing. This didn't last for long though and she soon went to join the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. West End success followed, and she quickly replicated her success on film, earning an Academy Award nomination for her role opposite Michael Caine in Educating Rita. Julie's collaborations with her close friend Victoria Wood have given us, among others, the unforgettable character 'Mrs Overall' in Acorn Antiques and Petula in 'dinnerladies', and she's recently charmed a new generation of fans playing Mrs Weasley in the Harry Potter films and alongside Meryl Streep in 'Mamma Mia!', as well as co-starring with Helen Mirren in Calendar Girls. The winner of countless awards, Julie has continued to be in some of Britain's best TV drama and was awarded a CBE for her services to the theatre. A natural writer with an instinctive sense of timing, Julie's memoirs are warm, moving, painfully felt, fiercely intelligent - and totally entertaining.

ISBN: 9780297852063

No one knows eight-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater better than Kelly himself. In this revealing and heartfelt illustrated tribute, written with surfing veteran Phil Jarratt, the world's best surfer riffs on a life filled with big wins, big money, and big loves. Interviews with friends and fellow surfers unearth juicy anecdotes, and hundreds of photographs-some never before published-capture the greatest victories and the quietest moments in equal measure. This beautifully produced book marks the first time Slater's story has been told in full colour, and reflects the latest twists and turns in an incredible and unconventional life.

ISBN: 9780811862226

NOVEMBER 2008

Julie Walters has been described as the nation's most popular actress and comedienne. She has been delighting us on screen and on stage for over 25 years and we have taken her to our hearts. Now she tells us her own story, in her own words. She was born in fifties Birmingham, daughter of an austere Irish Catholic mother. She was sent to school in a convent and from a young age always wanted to be an actress but to appease her mother she first went into nursing. This didn't last for long though and she soon went to join the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool. West End success followed, and she quickly replicated her success on film, earning an Academy Award nomination for her role opposite Michael Caine in Educating Rita. Julie's collaborations with her close friend Victoria Wood have given us, among others, the unforgettable character 'Mrs Overall' in Acorn Antiques and Petula in 'dinnerladies', and she's recently charmed a new generation of fans playing Mrs Weasley in the Harry Potter films and alongside Meryl Streep in 'Mamma Mia!', as well as co-starring with Helen Mirren in Calendar Girls. The winner of countless awards, Julie has continued to be in some of Britain's best TV drama and was awarded a CBE for her services to the theatre. A natural writer with an instinctive sense of timing, Julie's memoirs are warm, moving, painfully felt, fiercely intelligent - and totally entertaining.

ISBN: 9780297852063

National treasure Lorraine Kelly has beengreat company for years: a sunny, vivacious and loveable presence in your home. Now it's possible to get to know her even better as, for the first time, she opens up about her eventful life and tells her story in her own words. From her working-class childhood growing up in one of the toughest areas of Glasgow, to her early career in journalism during which she covered heartbreaking tragedies such as Dunblane and Lockerbie, and her gradual emergence as the undisputed Queen of Morning TV, Lorraine reveals a life like no other with characteristic warmth and charm. Entertaining, funny anda little bit mischievous, her anecdotes are garnered from a lifetime of meeting, greeting and interrogating the famous and infamous. Full of gossip, glamour andLorraines inimitable good sense,LORRAINE: BETWEEN YOU AND ME"is a book to settle on the sofa with.

ISBN: 9780755317844

AUGUST 2008

Judy Huxtable, a beautiful Swinging Sixties model and actress, met and fell in love with Peter Cook in 1967. They were together during the memorable hit shows 'Behind the Fridge' and 'Derek and Clive', divorcing in 1989. Being intimate with Peter meant that Judy was inevitably close to Peter's comic partner, Dudley Moore, and they all formed an extraordinary bond. She was in a unique position to observe the special relationship that Peter and Dud shared, and the rivalry that existed between them. In LOVING PETER, Judy gives a perceptive and poignant account of the Peter Cook that only she knew. She writes with a mix of humour, insight and sadness about one of the funniest, most enigmatic and troubled men on the planet. She describes what he was like as a husband, performer, friend, father and man and gives an inside view of what really made him tick; why he seemed to want to destroy those he loved the most; how he succumbed to the destructive forces of drink and drugs; and how he and Dudley really got on.

ISBN: 9780749909666

SEPTEMBER 2008

Although Sir Edwin Lutyens is commonly celebrated for his large houses for wealthy clients, much of his work was designed in connection with the First World War and remains relatively unknown and unpublished. Lutyens was the Chief Architect for the then Imperial War Graves Commission and his work, comprising war memorials, war cemeteries on the Western Front and individual graves and memorials, was largely instrumental in setting the standards for the British and Commonwealth war cemeteries that are admired by all those who visit them. In addition to the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the nation's largest war memorial - the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme at Thiepval, Lutyens created a further fifty-five memorials in Britain and abroad. The beautiful war memorial at Sapldin has never appeared in any book on the architect's work and the cemeteries at Monchy and Croisilles in Frances barely make it into the pages of battlefield guides, let alone into books about architecture. Gerald Gliddon and Timothy John Skelton of the Lutyens Trust describe the variety of these moving works, explaining the stories behind them.

ISBN: 9780711228788

OCTOBER 2008

For the last six years of his life, Roger Deakin kept notebooks in which he wrote his daily thoughts, impressions, feelings and observations. Discursive, personal and often impassioned, they reveal the way he saw the world, whether it be observing the teeming ecosystem that was Walnut Tree Farm, thinking about the wider environment, walking in his fields, on Mellis Common or on his travels at home, or contemplating his past and his present life. "Notes from Walnut Tree Farm" collects the very best of these writings, capturing Roger's extraordinary, restless curiosity about the natural and human worlds, his love of literature and music, his knack for making unusual and apposite connections, and of course his distinct and subversive charm and humour. Together they cohere to present a passionate, engaged and - in spite of the worst pressures of contemporary life - optimistic view of our changing world.

ISBN: 9780241144206

OCTOBER 2008

Sir Bobby Charlton is widely acknowledged as the greatest player ever to wear an England shirt. He won a record number of caps and scored a record number of goals. Here, in the second volume of his bestselling autobiography, Sir Bobby talks in detail about his phenomenal career with England. During the 22 years he played for his country, he was involved in some of the greatest England games of all time, the 9-3 thrashing of Scotland, the 1962 and 1970 World Cup games against the Brazilians, the classic 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany and, of course, the triumph of the 1966 World Cup. Here, for the very first time, Sir Bobby talks openly about his international career and his views on the game. From breaking into the squad at 21, to the highs of '66 and the lows of '70, his story encompasses drama, passion, goals, controversies, classic matches, world-class players, and moments of footballing genius. A truly inspirational story from a true football legend.

ISBN: 9780755316212

Sir Cliff Richard OBE is the biggest-selling artist of all time, selling over 250 million records around the world since he burst onto the music scene in 1958. But how has he kept his appeal all these years? In a world fuelled by drink, sex and drugs, he is perennially attractive without any of those things that keep other singers' profiles high. Now, working with the highly acclaimed biographer and journalist, Penny Junor, Cliff is going to talk freely and frankly about what it is like to be Cliff. Inspirational, hugely talented, a much-loved household name, his story is extraordinary. Packed with hitherto unseen pictures and untold stories, fascinating memorabilia and a host of unique visual memories, it is a book to read and treasure for the next fifty years.

ISBN: 9780755315888

SEPTEMBER 2008

Fascinating and extraordinary, thrilling and poignant, My Judy Garland Life will speak to anyone who has ever nursed an obsession or held a candle to a star. Judy Garland has been an important figure in Susie Boyt's life since she was three years old, comforting, inspiring and at times disturbing her. In this unique book, Boyt travels deep into the underworld of hero worship, reviewing through the prism of Judy our understanding of rescue, addiction, love, grief and fame. What does it mean to adore someone you don't know? What is the proper husbandry of a twenty-first century obsession? Boyt's journey takes in a duetting breakfast with Mickey Rooney, a Munchkin luncheon, tea with the largest collector of Garlandia, an illicit late-night spree at the Minnesota Judy Garland Museum and a breathless, semi-sacred encounter with Miss Liza Minnelli . .

ISBN: 9781844084111

OCTOBER 2008

Whose first records were produced by George Martin, and who had two singles banned by the BBC? Who earned rare reviews on Broadway for his dancing? Who rode on the back seat of the Goodies’ trandem? Who has been called ‘Britain’s best-known birdwatcher’? Who had his first clinical depression in his 60th year, and has only just discovered why? Who has written an autobiography that is as witty, candid and unconventional as the man himself? The answer to all of the above is Bill Oddie

ISBN: 9780340951927

From prize-winning journalist to chat show king on a show voted one of the top ten British TV programmes of all time, Michael Parkinson's starry career spans over four decades. Now an international celebrity himself, the man from a humble but colourful Yorkshire mining family who can tease out the secrets of even the most reticent star guest, at last reveals his own story, with the easy manner and insight that has kept his audiences fascinated. His distinguished career has involved working on highly acclaimed current affairs and film programmes. His wide interests and expertise include jazz, film, football and cricket. Witty, humorous and blessed with exceptional intellectual clarity, Michael Parkinson's memoir is a joy to read.

ISBN: 9780340961667

Obsession, persecution and passion: the hedgehog may be small, but it attracts strong feelings. And Hugh Warwick is not immune. Traveling through fields in Devon and up to the islands of Scotland, visiting hedgehog hospitals across Britain and the International Hedgehog Olympics in the USA, traveling across China on the trial of the rare hedgehog species hughi, seen only twelve times in a 100 years, Hugh sets out to answer our questions about hedgehogs, from the practical to the sublime.Considering hedgehogs and birds, featuring Brian May and Ted Hughes, explaining what hedgehogs do when they're not in our gardens and why it is that we like them, this is the funny, eccentric and moving story of one man's quest to understand our deep-rooted affection for these universally known, little-understood animals. Hedgehogs are often our first encounter with the animal world, yet their numbers are now declining rapidly, down 20 per cent in the last ten years (as Hugh knows from his involvement in HogWatch). From tips on how to make your garden more hedgehog friendly, to explaining how hedgehogs can save the world, Hugh's journey finally leads him to understand that our passion for hedgehogs is indelibly linked to our sense of our countryside, our childhood, and ourselves.

ISBN: 9781846140655

Alistair Cooke was the greatest of all twentieth century reporters of life in America to the rest of the world. Published to celebrate the centenary of his birth, this book presents the cream of his writings on the events that shaped modern American history, from the end of the Second World War through to the assassination of John Kennedy and of Bobby Kennedy (Cooke was actually present), the moon landings and the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Almost all the material is previously unpublished in book form - transcripts of his legendary Letters from America, long-forgotten reports in the Guardian (whose correspondent in New York he was for 25 years) and other freshly discovered writings. The book is illustrated throughout in full colour with iconic photographs of the events Cooke is describing.

ISBN: 9781846140471

Ronan O'Gara is quite simply one of the greatest sportsmen Ireland has ever produced. A brilliant kicker both from the hand and at penalty goals, a sublime orchestrator of play from the out-half position he has made his own, and a cool head in the pressure-cooker of club and international rugby, the list of the Cork man's achievements goes on and on. He was the leading points scorer in Irish rugby history, and one of the top ten in the world. He was the leading points scorer in the history of the Heineken Cup. He was the first ever points and try scorer at the home of Gaelic sports, Croke Park. In his candid, illuminating autobiography, O'Gara tells the story of those many on-field successes, including the glorious year of 2006, when his tactical prowess and will to win first helped guide Ireland to the Triple Crown in the Six Nations championship, then Munster to a memorable Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.O'Gara kicked a perfect five out of five in the 23-19 win that glorious May day, as Munster lifted the coveted trophy for the first time, sparking wild celebrations heard all the way back in Limerick and Cork. Two years later, he was no less instrumental as Munster won the cup for a second time, beating Toulouse. Yet in any sporting career there are setbacks as well, and O'Gara does not shy away from addressing the darker days, most notably at the 2007 World Cup. He tells the inside story of Ireland's disappointments in France, and responds to the allegations about his personal life that made front-page news that autumn. "Ronan O'Gara: My Autobiography" is the story of an Irish rugby hero, of a life lived to the full, and of a passionate and proud representative of the people of Cork and Ireland.

ISBN: 9781848270084

Carol Thatcher has one of the most famous surnames in the world. But whatever anyone might feel about her august mother, SHE is one of the best-loved people in the country. Official. When she won ITV's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here..!" it was positive proof that she touched the nation's hearts. Her unique mixture of bravery, honesty and humour won the day - and the show. Carol is a true original, a national treasure, with a magnificent turn of phrase and a unique story to tell. In this memoir, she tells us about what it was like to grow up as The Milk Snatcher's daughter, to be the sister of the more (in)famous Mark, and to live a life that she describes as a 'swim-on part in the goldfish bowl'. As a schoolgirl, student, journalist and now TV personality and indefatigable world traveller, she lives life to the full. Hers is a rivetingly funny and revealing memoir, and as she hurtles from one incident and accident to another, you will relive your affection for her all over again.

ISBN: 9780755317066

With David, Urs, Sebastien and Carlos, pop guru Simon Cowell created a whole new genre; bringing a sense of opera to the world of popular music.Launchedin the UK in late2004,they have since conquered the hearts offans and the charts of nations all around the world; selling18 million albums worldwide and scoring an incredible 36 number-one records. 2007 sees them embarking on a second world tour, taking them to every continent, and millions of dedicated followers.IL DIVO:OUR MUSIC, OUR JOURNEY, OUR WORDSfeatures exclusive and intimate interviews with each member, as well as stunning unseen photographs. It is a book no fan will want to be without.

ISBN: 9780755316588

SEPTEMBER 2008

Jonny Wilkinson's impact on global sport has been extraordinary. Yet Jonny has faced a battle all his life to achieve success and, crucially, happiness. A crippling fear of failure, the targets he set himself and a string of injuries have caused Jonny to question his attitude to life.
In this startling new book, writing with Steve Black, Jonny opens up for the very first time, revealing his darkest moments and explaining in a practical way the steps and techniques he has taken to ensure success in all aspects of his life. He still wants to be the best, but he now enjoys the journey. With never-before-told stories from his life and rugby career and punctuated with questionnaires sent to a wide range of well-known sports people, this book will act as a powerful inspiration for anyone wanting to bring to the field of play - be it business, personal or sport - the very best they have to offer.

ISBN: 9780755318438

Talking Myself Home" is a portrait of an unregarded place. And a love story between Lt Cdr J. McMillan, a Scottish sailor and Olive Wood, a young lass in Yorkshire. The unregarded place is Darfield, near Barnsley, a place mentioned (briefly) in the Domesday book and now trying to reinvent itself after the wholesale closure of the mining industry. The life story is that of John and Olives son, the Bard of Barnsley, from Low Valley Junior School and Wath Grammar School to Oscar the Frog (Barnsleys first folk-rock band) and Jaws (Barnsleys First folk-poetry duo) and beyond. A life lived with words at its core. In some ways its a tiny life; a few ripples in a pond far from the centre of things, a few lines written in celebration and commemoration of places and times that deserve better. In another way its a shout of hope, that we can find the centre anywhere and celebrate it.

ISBN: 9781848540453

Raymond Blanc knows more about food and cooking than pretty much anyone else. His cooking has been described as 'an extraordinary process of creativity, passion, subtlety, indeed genius'. His life and career to date have been utterly dedicated to the search for culinary perfection. Raymond is entirely self-taught and over the years has been developing and refining his philosophy of food and eating. Such is his reputation that his restaurant near Oxford, Le Manoir, was awarded two Michelin stars even before it opened in 1984. He has taught many of Britain's most successful chefs, including Marco Pierre White and Heston Blumenthal.He has maintained extraordinary levels of excellence at Le Manoir for over two decades and it remains one of our premier destination restaurants. Now, for the first time Raymond is going to share the fruits of all that hard work and experimentation, and reveal the secrets of his gastronomy. Woven around stories from his years at the sharp end of the food business are his thoughts about where food is going and a passionate appeal for sustainable cuisine. This is an essential reading for anyone with an interest in food and cooking, this is the definitive book by a culinary genius.

OCTOBER 2008

ISBN: 9780593060360

When we reach our forties, something changes. Suddenly nothing - hair, skin, body shape - looks quite the way it used to. And it's a myth to think that by using Botox, working out religiously and wearing skinny jeans you're going to fool people into thinking you're thirty. Nothing can stop the ageing process. But that doesn't mean that you have to start wearing a twin set, cutting your hair and donning sensible shoes. You can find a new kind of beauty and a new way of being confident - why shouldn't forty, fifty or sixty be as beautiful as twenty or thirty in a different way? Twiggy is as beautiful in her fifties as she was in her twenties, and has maintained her style and fabulousness without the aid of any plastic surgery. Women everywhere look at her as a role model and think 'Maybe I can look like that'. And now, with this practical guide containing hundreds of tips, you can...

ISBN: 9780718154042

Irreverent, tangental, witty and outrageous, Jonathan Ross is our best-known television personality for good reason and his take on growing up, and the world around him, is laugh-out-loud funny. With stories that range from discovering B-movies to fashion, from diets to childhood sweetshops, favourite presents and from sex to pets (and back to sex) he explores everyday life with all his customary energy, lasciviousness, self-deprecatory humour and random meandering, revealing that in short trousers he was as irrepressibly exuberent as he is now in those suits...

ISBN: 9780593060827