A dazzling, feminist fairytale from the bestselling author of The Miniaturist & The Muse. An essential gift, this inspirational story about family, sisterhood, imagination & bravery is a modern classic to be handed down from mother to daughter for generations `A fierce fairytale for the rebel girl` KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE`A complete revelation` THANDIE NEWTON`A magical modern retelling of an old fairytale.. . Exquisite` JACQUELINE WILSON` Wild, wise, generous, ferocious` KATHERINE RUNDELLFor her twelve daughters, Queen Laurelia`s death in a motor car accident is a disaster beyond losing a mother. Their father, King Alberto, cannot bear the idea of the princesses ever being in danger & decides his daughters must be kept safe at all costs. Those costs include their lessons, their possessions &, most importantly, their freedom. But the eldest, Princess Frida, will not bend to his will without a fight & she still has one possession her father can`t take: the power of her imagination. & so, with little but wits & ingenuity to rely on, Frida & her sisters begin their fight to be allowed to live. ...

` The sure-footedness of a pro, an amazing debut` Jeffrey Archer Absorbing & richly observed, THE RESTLESS SEA is a masterful story of the turbulent years of the Second World War. Three lives collide in a way that only the war makes possible... Jack, a child of the Blitz, has fled the law to become a seaman in the Merchant Navy. The frozen world of the Russian Arctic convoys may be harsh, but it opens his eyes to a new life. While on leave in the Navy`s secret Scottish harbour, Jack meets Olivia, the cossetted daughter of an officer family. Free to roam, Olivia relishes the new freedom granted by war. But her family
- & especially the well-connected Charlie, now a fast-rising pilot
- don`t welcome these changes. Least of all the arrival of Jack, the boy who casts doubt on each of their futures. The war inflicts danger & social upheaval like never before. But the most unlikely friendships are forged in times when people live like they don`t want tomorrow to come...

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Restoring a fibreglass yacht is not something for the faint-hearted, even if you don`t intend to do all the work yourself (you still need to understand the processes to be gone through). But the satisfaction of the job well done, not to mention the possible cost savings on buying a new yacht, are immense. Nevertheless, it is not something that should be undertaken lightly & without careful consideration. That is where this book comes in, as Enric Rosello takes you through his restoration of a 30-year-old 40-foot yacht. Broken down into 46 chapters, Enric details the stages of his restoration in chronological order. For each he starts with an overview of the task & the thinking behind the approach he took. Just these introductory pieces alone are ideal for someone contemplating a restoration (of all or part of a boat) to read before making the final decision as to whether to go ahead. For those who decide to take on the challenge, each overview is followed by an in-depth step-by-step account of what they did, accompanied by numerous informative photo sequences (with over 800 colour photos in total). The material in this book would be invaluable both to boat owners who are considering a complete overhaul & to those who have one or two smaller jobs to do. All possible subjects are covered, including dealing with osmosis, the interiors, deck, rigging, electrics & electronics, plumbing, engine, galley, heads & much more. The author is very honest about the amount of work & commitment required & also offers advice about when to call in the professionals & when to consider doing the work yourself. Anyone contemplating a complete or partial restoration is advised to read this book beforeh&, so you know what is ahead, & to follow its guidance if you to decide to proceed. ...

In 476 AD the last of Rome`s emperors was deposed by a barbarian general, the son of one of Attila the Hun`s henchmen, & the imperial vestments were despatched to Constantinople. The curtain fell on the Roman Empire in Western Europe, its territories divided between successor kingdoms constructed around barbarian military manpower. But if the Roman Empire was dead, the dream of restoring it refused to die. In many parts of the old Empire, real Romans still lived, holding on to their lands, the values of their civilisation, its institutions; the barbarians were ready to reignite the imperial flame & to enjoy the benefits of Roman civilization, the three greatest contenders being Theoderic, Justinian & Charlemagne. But, ultimately, they would fail & it was not until the reinvention of the papacy in the eleventh century that Europe`s barbarians found the means to generate a new Roman Empire, an empire which has lasted a thousand years. ...

In 476 AD the last of Rome`s emperors was deposed by a barbarian general, the son of one of Attila the Hun`s henchmen, & the imperial vestments were despatched to Constantinople. The curtain fell on the Roman Empire in Western Europe, its territories divided between successor kingdoms constructed around barbarian military manpower. But if the Roman Empire was dead, the dream of restoring it refused to die. In many parts of the old Empire, real Romans still lived, holding on to their lands, the values of their civilisation, its institutions; the barbarians were ready to reignite the imperial flame & to enjoy the benefits of Roman civilization, the three greatest contenders being Theoderic, Justinian & Charlemagne. But, ultimately, they would fail & it was not until the reinvention of the papacy in the eleventh century that Europe`s barbarians found the means to generate a new Roman Empire, an empire which has lasted a thousand years. ...

This landmark book--the first environmental history of China--is based on a wealth of literary, political aesthetic, scientific, & religious sources that reveal the views of the Chinese people toward their environment & landscape. ” Masterly & engaging.... Essential for those who want to understand the long sweep of Chinese history, & it will enhance the perspective of those who think they already understand it. A scholarly tour de force.”--J. R. Mc Neill, ” Wilson Quarterly (Note to DMB: check print review--also in Science?)” ” Elvin combines an illuminating account of the 4, 000 year-long collision of humans & nature with delightful tidbits about everything under the Chinese sun.... A magisterial work.”--Nicholas D. Kristof, ” Scientific American” ...

Published to mark the final retreat of Western troops from Afghanistan, this book asks just how the might of NATO, with 48 countries & 140, 000 troops on the ground, not managed to defeat a group of religious students & farmers? How did it go so wrong? ` The Retreat` tells how the West turned success into defeat in the longest war fought by the United States in its history & by Britain since the Hundred Years War. It is the story of well-intentioned men & women going into a place they did not understand at all. & how, what had once been the right thing to do had become a conflict that everyone wanted to exit. It has been a fiasco which has left Afghanistan still one of the poorest & most dangerous nations on earth. The leading journalist on the region with unparalleled access to all key decision makers, Christina Lamb is the best-selling author of ` The Africa House` & `I Am Malala`, co-authored with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. This revelatory & personal account is her final analysis of the realities of Afghanistan, told unlike anyone before. ...

There is one serial killer who has shaped & defined police profiler Tony Hill`s life. One serial killer whose evil surpasses all others. One serial killer who has the power to chill him to the bone: Jacko Vance. & now Jacko is back in Tony`s life. Even more twisted & cunning than ever before, he is focused on wreaking revenge on Tony
- & DCI Carol Jordan
- for the years he has spent in prison. Tony doesn`t know when Jacko will strike, or where. All he knows is that Jacko will cause him to feel fear like he has never known before
- & devastate his life in ways he cannot imagine...


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Beneath the majestic towers of the Alhambra, Granada`s cobbled streets resonate with music & secrets. Sonia Cameron knows nothing of the city`s shocking past; she is here to dance. But in a quiet cafe, a chance conversation & an intriguing collection of old photographs draw her into the extraordinary tale of Spain`s devastating civil war. Seventy years earlier, the cafe is home to the close-knit Ramirez family. In 1936, an army coup led by Franco shatters the country`s fragile peace, & in the heart of Granada the family witnesses the worst atrocities of conflict. Divided by politics & tragedy, everyone must take a side, fighting a personal battle as Spain rips itself apart. ...