Jocelyn Brooke`s love affair with wild flowers & home-made fireworks began when he was growing up in Kent. But there was one particular flower, especially rare & beautiful, which became an obsession. Over three decades & through two world wars, in the deserts of Libya & the woodlands of Italy, in the chalk downs of Kent, Sussex & Hampshire, he searched continually for his most beloved & elusive Orchis militaris, the military orchid. Jocelyn Brooke blends memoir, botany & satire to recall this lifelong quest. The Military Orchid is a comic masterpiece & became widely revered: Kingsley Amis described Brooke as `brilliant & exciting`, John Betjeman called him `as subtle as the devil`, & to Anthony Powell he was `one of the most interesting & talented` writers to emerge after the Second World War. First published 1948 by The Bodley Head. ...

Semyon is disturbed. He has woken up in the living room with blood on his shirt, an angry wife & no idea where he was the night before. When this happens several mornings in a row, he realises he needs to investigate. After his friend Volodka follows him one night, they discover he`s meeting a tall, blonde woman & accompanying her to her apartment. In the daytime he doesn`t know this woman or where her apartment is &, odder yet, someone is watching Volodka watching Semyon. Meanwhile, there are some strange goings-on in Kiev
- an unemployed sniffer-dog handler makes a dangerous discovery, a single mother is providing breast milk for an unusual recipient & a vengeful cat is on the loose...
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This title is presented with an introduction by Marina Lewycka. Maggie & Tom Tulliver are both willful, passionate children, & their relationship has always been tempestuous. As they grow up together on the banks of the River Floss, Tom`s self-righteous stubbornness & Maggie`s emotional intensity increasingly brings them into conflict, particularly when Maggie`s beauty sparks some ill-fated attachments. George Eliot`s story of a brother & sister bound together by their errors & affections is told here with tenderness, energy & a profound understanding of human nature. ...

Drawing on George Eliot`s own childhood experiences to craft an unforgettable story of first love, sibling rivalry & regret, ” The Mill on the Floss” is edited with an introduction & notes by A.S. Byatt, author of ” Possession”, in ” Penguin Classics”. Brought up at Dorlcote Mill, Maggie Tulliver worships her brother Tom & is desperate to win the approval of her parents, but her passionate, wayward nature & her fierce intelligence bring her into constant conflict with her family. As she reaches adulthood, the clash between their expectations & her desires is painfully played out as she finds herself torn between her relationships with three very different men: her proud & stubborn brother; hunchbacked Tom Wakem, the son of her family`s worst enemy; & the charismatic but dangerous Stephen Guest. With its poignant portrayal of sibling relationships, ” The Mill on the Floss” is considered George Eliot`s most autobiographical novel; it is also one of her most powerful & moving. In this edition, writer & critic A.S. Byatt, author of ” Possession”, provides full explanatory notes & an introduction relating ” The Mill on the Floss” to George Eliot`s own life & times. Mary Ann Evans (1819-80) began her literary career as a translator, & later editor, of the ” Westminster Review”. In 1857, she published ” Scenes of Clerical Life”, the first of eight novels she would publish under the name of ` George Eliot`, including ” The Mill on the Floss”, ” Middlemarch”, & ” Daniel Deronda”. If you enjoyed ” The Mill on the Floss”, you might like Thomas Hardy`s ” Jude the Obscure”, also available in ” Penguin Classics”. ...

The 12th century minaret of Djam is one of Afghanistan`s most celebrated treasures, a magnificent symbol of the powerful Ghorid Empire that once stretched from Iran to India. The second tallest brick minaret in the world, Djam lies in the heart of central Afghanistan`s wild Ghor Province. Surrounded by 2, 000 metre-high mountains & by the remains of what many believe to have been the lost city of Turquoise Mountain
- one of the greatest cities of the Middle Ages
- Djam is, even today, one of the most inaccessible & remote places in Afghanistan. When Freya Stark travelled there, few people in the world had ever laid eyes on it or managed to reach the desolate valley in which it lies. Her journey from Kabul to Kandahar & Herat was difficult & often dangerous but her account shines with humour & is adorned with beautiful descriptions of the land she journeyed through & the people she encountered. A celebrated portrait of Afghanistan & its history, ” The Minaret of Djam” is a poignant reminder that this was once far more than just a country ravaged by war & the political games of the world`s superpowers.

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Twenty-first century man is still crudely categorised as macho or metrosexual, yet male wellbeing & particularly mental health is demanding attention-much needed for a happy & harmonious society. The Mindful Man embraces a positive approach to holistic growth for men & shares enlightening insights into modern day, masculinity. Engaging author Caspar Walsh explores the beautiful opportunities mindfulness offers for emotional development & spiritual resilience. Through meditative exercises rooted in wild nature & creative writing, Caspar offers a unique understanding of the ways every man can cultivate a naturally joyful & instinctive awareness. Alongside frank anecdotes & a gentle wisdom, he guides the reader towards meaningful connections, consciousness & community. ...

In today`s busy world, finding physical & mental space for peace & calm amidst the competing demands of work, family & friends can be a challenge. Mindfulness is a simple & powerful practice that can help you cut through the noise & reclaim tranquillity, wherever you are. The Mindfulness Journal offers an introduction to mindfulness & easy exercises that can be done whether you are sitting at your desk, squeezed on to a crowded train, or standing in line at the supermarket. Beautifully illustrated, with notes pages to record your thoughts, this journal is your indispensable companion to a more peaceful, stress-free day. ...

Janek Mitter stumbles into his bathroom one morning after a night of heavy drinking, to find his beautiful young wife, Eva, floating dead in the bath. She has been brutally murdered. Yet even during his trial Mitter cannot summon a single memory of attacking Eva, nor a clue as to who could have killed her if he had not. Only once he has been convicted & locked away in an asylum for the criminally insane does he have a snatch of insight
- but is it too late? Drawing a blank after exhaustive interviews, Chief Inspector Van Veeteren remains convinced that something, or someone, in the dead woman`s life has caused these tragic events. But the reasons for her speedy remarriage have died with her. & as he delves even deeper, Van Veeteren realizes that the past never stops haunting the present.
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A hitman. A journalist. A family torn apart. Can he uncover the truth before it`s too late? In the dead of winter, investigative reporter Janne Vuori sets out to uncover the truth about a mining company, whose illegal activities have created an environmental disaster in a small town in Northern Finl&. When the company`s executives begin to die in a string of mysterious accidents, & Janne`s personal life starts to unravel, past meets present in a catastrophic series of events that could cost him his life. A traumatic story of family, a study in corruption, & a shocking reminder that secrets from the past can return to haunt us, with deadly results.. . The Mine is a gripping, beautifully written, terrifying & explosive thriller by the King of Helsinki Noir. ...

” It makes me very happy that I can read this novel written over a hundred years ago as if it were contemporary & be deeply affected by it. It cannot & should not be overlooked. It is one of my favorites.” Haruki Murakami” The Miner ”is the most daringly experimental & least well-known novel of Japanese writer Natsume Soseki. An absurdist tale written in 1908, it was in many ways a precursor to the work of James Joyce & Samuel Beckett. Translated by Jay Rubin, & with an introduction from Haruki Murakami, this is bound to appeal to fans of Japanese literature.” ...