Al Murray is a Perrier Award-winning comic, TV personality and, as 'The Pub Landlord', the author of the bestselling The Pub Landlord's Book of British Common Sense and Think Yourself British. Most recently, he has taken on the leadership of the Free United Kingdom Party (FUKP).

Al Murray

Al Murray's alter ego, The Pub Landlord, is one of the most recognizable and successful comic creations of the past twenty years, and Murray, who has won numerous awards and accolades, continues to fill arenas and theatres around the world. 
 
He is also the author of many successful books including Watching War Films with My Dad and Command, a sharply entertaining analysis of the key allied military leaders in the Second World War. He is well known for co-hosting the hugely popular Second World War history podcast, We Have Ways of Making You Talk with fellow bestselling military author James Holland. 
 
Arnhem: Black Tuesday is his first history book about a single campaign.

Actor and director Al Pacino is a unique and enduring figure in the world of American stage and film. He grew up in New York City’s South Bronx, attended the School of Performing Art, and studied acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio with Charles Laughton and the Actors Studio with mentor Lee Strasberg. 
 
 
He has been nominated for the Academy Award nine times, for movies including The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, and The Irishman, and won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1992 for Scent of a Woman. He has been nominated for the Golden Globe Award nineteen times, and won four, and has been nominated for three Tonys and won two. 
 
 
Pacino has been awarded the Kennedy Center Honor, the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, the National Merit of Arts from President Obama, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures.

Al Pacino

Al Pittampalli

Al Rodin is a writer and illustrator from London. He studied children's book illustration at Cambridge School of Art and received the 2019 Sebastian Walker Prize. Al enjoys working with a wide variety of materials including acrylic, watercolour and collage. His paintings have been exhibited in galleries around Europe and Asia, and he was selected for lllustrators' Exhibition at the Bologna Children's Book Fair in 2019. Little Echo is his first book.

Al Rodin

Al Smith

Alain Gheerbrant

Alain de Botton is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including The School of Life: An Emotional Education, How Proust Can Change Your Life, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The Course of Love. He is the founder of The School of Life (theschooloflife.com).

Alain de Botton

Alaina Urquhart is the science-loving co-host of the chart-topping show Morbid: A True Crime Podcast. As an autopsy technician by trade, she offers a unique perspective from deep inside the morgue. Alaina hails from Boston, where she lives with her wonderful husband, John, their three amazing daughters, and a ghost Puggle named Bailey. She is about 75 percent coffee, and truly believes she and Agent Clarice Starling could be friends. 
 
Before writing her first psychological horror novel, she received degrees in criminal justice, psychology, and biology. When she isn't hosting Morbid, she hosts the Parcast original show Crime Countdown, and a horror movie podcast called Scream!. Her days are usually spent either recording or eviscerating. The way she sees it, when she hangs up her microphone for the day, it's time to let the dead speak.

Alaina Urquhart

Alaine Hood

Alan Alda

Alan Ayckbourn

Born in London in 1939, Alan Ayckbourn is one of  the world's most popular and prolific playwrights. He has written 74  full length plays and more than 20 other revues and plays for children.  He is also an acclaimed director. Alan Ayckbourn was awarded a CBE in  1987. Ten years later to the day, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II  'for services to the theatre.'

Alan Baker

Alan Barker

Alan Beattie

Alan Bennett's television series Talking Heads has become a modern-day classic, as have many of his works for the stage, including Forty Years On, The Lady in the Van, The Madness of George III (together with the Oscar-nominated screenplay The Madness of King George) and an adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. The History Boys won the Evening Standard and Critics' Circle awards for Best Play, The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play and the South Bank Award.

Alan Bennett

Alan Bennett is one of Britain's best-loved and most highly acclaimed writers. He has written widely for radio, television and theatre. His latest play, The History Boys, won several awards, including Evening Standard and Critics' Circle Awards for Best Play and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. It also won six Tony Awards, including Best Play, following an extremely successful transfer to Broadway. In 2006 Bennett was named Author of the Year at the British Book Awards for Untold Stories, his collection of memoirs and diaries.

Alan Bishop

ALAN BOOTH was born in London in 1946 and travelled to Japan in 1970 to study Noh theatre. He stayed, working as a writer and film critic, until his untimely death in 1993.

Alan Booth

Alan Brazil is a Scottish broadcasting legend and former football player, most notably for Ipswich Town, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and internationally for Scotland. He played as a forward before being forced to retire due to a recurring back injury. 
 
After retirement, Alan moved into media presentation, initially on television, before a career in radio where for many years he has presented the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show on TalkSPORT.

Alan Brazil

Alan Bullock

Alan Carr is one of Britain's most successful and treasured comedians. His unique humour and effortless stage presence have earned him a catalogue of awards including Best Chat Show host at the publicly voted for 2015 National Television Awards, winner of the 2013 BAFTA for Best Entertainment Performance and 2013 British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Personality. In previous years he has garnered a clutch of awards, from the 2012 National Television Award for Best Talk Show and the 2012 Loaded LAFTA Award for Best Stand-up to the 2010 TV Choice Awards for Best Entertainment Show. There were also nominations for Best New British Comedy &amp; Best Comedy Entertainment Personality at the 2009 British Comedy Awards. 
 
The success of the first series of his own chat show, 'Alan Carr: Chatty Man', in the summer of 2009, led to Channel 4 commissioning 16 further series' as well as numerous Christmas Specials and New Year Specstaculars. In September 2013, the 100th episode aired with A-list guests Justin Timberlake and Rihanna. Guests from past series include: Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Vin Diesel, Adele, Grace Jones, Naomi Campbell, Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Robin Williams, David Walliams, Mariah Carey, Russell Brand, Samuel L Jackson, Miley Cyrus, Robbie Williams, Bette Midler, Sharon Osbourne, One Direction, Gok Wan and Miranda Hart. 
 
The DVD of Alan's 2007 debut stand-up show, 'Tooth Fairy Live' topped the HMV charts and was a Christmas 2007 top seller. 
 
His best-selling debut autobiography 'Look Who It Is' was published in September 2008 by HarperCollins. 
 
In 2011, Alan travelled the country with his second live tour. 'Spexy Beast Live' was a 33-date arena tour and culminated in the successful DVD of the same name. 
 
Throughout 2015, Alan hit the road once again and performed at over 150 sold-out theatre's across the UK and Ireland with his 'Yap, Yap, Yap!' live show. His third stand up DVD 'Alan Carr - Yap Yap Yap! Live' was released by Universal Pictures (UK) in November 2016. 
 
2016 has also seen Alan go global with international performances of his Yap Yap Yap! live show throughout Scandinavia, Montreal (at the prestigious Just For Laughs Comedy Festival) and can currently be seen on tour this summer in New Zealand and Australia this summer, with two shows at the iconic Sydney Opera House. 
 
Alan also hosts Channel 4's flagship fundraising show 'Stand Up To Cancer' which in 2014 went on to raise an amazing £14 million for Cancer Research. Alan returns once again to host 'Stand Up To Cancer' on Channel 4 this October. 
 
Alanatomy: The Inside Story is Alan's second memoir, and will be published by Penguin in October 2016.

Alan Carr

Alan Clark

Alan Clements

Alan Connor has been the question editor for BBC2's Only Connect and Richard Osman's House of Games. He is the author of books for Pointless and The Traitors and is the puzzle consultant for the BBC1 drama Ludwig. He writes puzzles for various newspapers and has written for Charlie Brooker series and Have I Got News for You. His favourite quiz question is: What word was intentionally omitted from the screenplay of The Godfather?

Alan Connor

Alan Connor is the author of Two Girls, One on Each Knee: The Puzzling, Playful World of the Crossword ("witty, charming, encyclopaedic and highly readable" - Spectator) and The Joy of Quiz ("An absolute delight" - Mail on Sunday). He has made quizzes for various TV shows and newspapers and written comedy including BBC Film's The Rack Pack, A Young Doctor's Notebook (Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe) and Have I Got News For You.

Alan Cowell

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Jean Plaidy

In this historical fiction series, Jean Plaidy traces the private lives and political machinations of the Plantagenet family, from Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine to Edward IV and the Wars of the Roses.

The Heart of the Lion

(The Plantagenets: book III): an engrossing historical drama of politics and passion from the Queen of English historical fiction

If you like Philippa Gregory, you will love this vibrant and captivating historical page-turner from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - the perfect blend of history with romance and drama. 
 
'Full - bloodied, dramatic, exciting' - THE OBSERVER 
'Plaidy, by the skilful blending of superb storytelling and meticulous attention to authenticity of detail and depth of charaterization has become one of the country's most widely read novelists.' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'It is hard to better Jean Plaidy . . . both elegant and exciting' - DAILY MIRROR 
'Just a great book from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
'Plaidy forever!' -- ***** Reader review 
'A wonderful story and a wonderful history by a wonderful writer' -- ***** Reader review 
************************************************************************************************ 
When William X dies, the duchy of Aquitaine is left to his fifteen-year-old daughter, Eleanor. 
 
But such a position for an unmarried woman puts the whole kingdom at risk. 
 
So on his deathbed William makes a will that will ensure his daughter's protection: he promises her hand in marriage to the future King of France. 
 
Eleanor grows into a romantic and beautiful queen, but she has inherited the will of a king, and is determined to rule Aquitaine using her husband's power as King of France. 
 
Her resolve knows no limit and, in the years to follow, she is to become one of history's most scandalous queens...

The Plantagenet Prelude

(The Plantagenets: book I): the compelling portrait of a Queen in the making from the Queen of English historical fiction

Multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy paints an incredibly vivid portrait of one of history's most controversial - and terrifying - monarchs... Readers of Philippa Gregory will not be disappointed. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting.' - Observer 
'Outstanding' - Vanity Fair 
'Compulsive reading' -- ***** Reader review 
'I was gripped and want more!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Found this book hard to put down and didn't want it to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
'Brilliant stuff!!!' -- ***** Reader review 
***************************************************************************** 
The untimely death of Richard the Lionheart left his nephew Arthur and his younger brother John in contest for the throne of England. Reluctantly the barons chose John, and so began years of rule by a ruthless and greedy tyrant. 
 
Yet despite his reputation, John, still manages to seduce the young and beautiful Isabella of Angoulême. But in taking her as his bride he makes an enemy for life. 
 
And in the tempestuous years that follow many men come to believe that the House of Anjou was tainted by the Devil's blood, the loathsome monarch was himself Evil Incarnate, the very Prince of Darkness...

The Prince of Darkness

(The Plantagenets: book IV): a tempestuous period of history expertly brought to life by the Queen of English historical fiction

Power struggles threaten the throne and family harmony in this captivating historical page-turner from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy. Perfect for readers of Philippa Gregory... 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting.' - Observer 
'Outstanding' - Vanity Fair 
'This was excellent - the characters came to life and I couldn't put it down' -- **** Reader review 
'A pleasure to read' -- **** Reader review 
'Powerful stuff' -- **** Reader review 
**************************************************************************************************** 
News of Thomas à Becket's martyrdom has spread throughout Christendom and the blame is laid at the feet of Henry Plantagenet, King of England. 
 
Two years later, with Becket canonised, Henry's position is precarious: punished at the Pope's insistence for his part in Becket's death, he now also has an enemy in his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, after her discovery of his longstanding infidelity with Rosamund Clifford. Eleanor is determined to seek vengeance, so, with King Philip of France, she encourages her sons to conspire, both against their father and each other. 
 
Much embattled, the old eagle Henry struggles to fend off both rebellion and the plots of his aggressively circling offspring...

The Revolt of the Eaglets

(The Plantagenets: book II): one king’s world is threatened – from within – in this gripping novel from the Queen of English historical fiction

Alexander Kent

Antigua 1817 
 
Every harbour and estuary is filled with ghostly ships, the famous and the legendary now redundant in the aftermath of the war. In this uneasy peace, Adam Bolitho is fortunate to be offered the seventy-four gun Athena, and as flag captain to Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Bethune once more follows his destiny to the Caribbean. 
 
But in these haunted waters where Richard Bolitho and his 'band of brothers' once fought a familiar enemy, the quarry is now a renegade foe who flies no colours and offers no quarter, and whose traffic in human life is sanctioned by flawed treaties and men of influence. And here, and when Athena's guns speak, a day of terrible retribution will dawn for the innocent and the damned.

Man Of War

A Richard Bolitho Adventure

June 1815 
 
On the eve of Waterloo, a sense of finality and cautious hope pervade a nation wearied by decades of war. But peace will present its own challenge to Adam Bolitho, captain of His Majesty's Ship Unrivalled, as many of his contemporaries face the prospect of discharge. 
 
The life of a frigate captain is always lonely, but for Adam, mourning the death of his uncle Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho, that solitude acquires a deeper poignancy. He is, more than ever, alone, at the dawning of a new age for the Royal Navy, where the only constants are the sea and those enemies, often masked in the guise of friendship, who conspire to destroy him.

Second To None

Tom Harper

If you love Conn Iggulden, Lindsey Davis and Steven Pressfield, you will love this breathtaking historical adventure, brimming with murder, betrayal, bloodshed and romance, from the pen of prizewinning author Tom Harper. 
 
'Harper's portrayal of Byzantium and the intrigues that threaten its destruction is vivid and convincing.' -- Sunday Times 
'Harper effortlessly draws the reader into an unfamiliar time bringing alive the characters and their motivations' -- Publisher's Weekly 
'A must read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb read. Thoroughly enjoyed it' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real joy to read. Keeps you wanting to read more, griping and exciting right to the end'-- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************* 
 
BETRAYAL AND BLOODSHED. WHO WILL CONQUER? 
 
August, 1098: after countless battles and sieges, the surviving soldiers of the first crusade are at last within reach of their ultimate goal - Jerusalem. But rivalries fester and new enemies are massing against them in the Holy Land. 
 
 Demetrios Askiates, the Emperor's spy, has had enough of the crusade's violence and hypocrisy and longs to return home. But when a routine diplomatic mission leads to a deadly ambush, he realises he has been snared in the vast power struggles which underlie the crusade. The only way out now leads through the Holy City. 
 
 From the plague-bound city of Antioch to the heart of Muslim Egypt, Demetrios must accompany the army of warlords and fanatics to the very gates of Jerusalem. 
 
But what awaits him there is an apocalypse of pillage, bloodshed and slaughter...Who will be the victor? 
 
Siege of Heaven ends the Crusade trilogy. Have you read The Mosaic of Shadows and Knights of the Cross?

Siege of Heaven

(The Crusade Trilogy: III): a powerful, fast-paced and exciting adventure steeped in the atmosphere of the First Crusade

With the epic scenes of action, powerful characterisation and the authentic period detail that we have come to expect from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, this all-action naval adventure is perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. You'll be hooked from page one! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'A real page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Masterful and emotional' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another great story, gripping to the end' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
******************************************************************************************* 
1814: Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho returns to England from several months' rigorous patrolling off the North American coast. War with the United States has not yet ended, but news of Napoleon's defeat and abdication has stunned a navy and a nation bled by years of European conflict. 
 
Victory has been the impossible dream and now, for Bolitho, a vision of the future and a personal peace seems attainable. 
 
However an unsympathetic Admiralty dispatches him to Malta. Is this appointment a compliment or a malicious ploy to keep Bolitho from the woman he loves and the freedom he craves? He cannot know, but the voice of duty speaks more insistently even than the voice of the heart, and in this familiar sea where both glory and tragedy have touched his life, Bolitho must confront the future, the renaissance of a hated tyrant, and the fulfilment of destiny.

Sword Of Honour

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 25)

Anne Rice

'[W]hen I found Rice's work I absolutely loved how she took that genre and (...) made [it] feel so contemporary and relevant' Sarah Pinborough, bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes 
 
'[Rice wrote] in the great tradition of the gothic' Ramsey Campbell, bestselling author of The Hungry Moon 
 
In Israel, in the turbulent first century, a baby is born to a humble Jewish family - but to a great destiny. His is an uneasy childhood, as he begins to come to terms with his extraordinary powers, and the whispered mysteries surrounding his birth. 
 
The tyrannical rule of King Herod has driven the family from the Holy Land to the relative safety of cosmopolitan Alexandria. But on Herod's death, they decide to return home to Israel, to Galilee, a troubled land under Roman occupation, at a time of chaos and turmoil, insurrection and confusion...

Christ The Lord

Out of Egypt

If you like Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, you will love this gripping and swashbuckling maritime tale from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent - guaranteed to keep you hooked! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'Addictive' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rattling good tale...Alexander Kent captures the ethos of Nelson's navy as well as any writer before or since.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
'Could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fantastic book by an outstanding author' -- ***** Reader review 
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1813: with convoys from Canada and the Caribbean falling victim to American privateers, Sir Richard Bolitho returns to Halifax to pursue a war he knows will not be won, but which neither Britain nor the United States can afford to lose. 
 
England's youngest admiral desires only peace. 
 
But peace will not be found in the icy Canadian waters, where a young, angry nation asserts its identity and men who share a common heritage die in close and bloody action. 
 
Nor will there be a peace for those who follow the Cross of St George: for the embittered Adam, mourning his lover and his ship, nor for Rear-Admiral Valentine Keen, who must confront both grief and responsibility. 
 
Nor will there be peace from those enemies who use this struggle between nations as an instrument of personal revenge...

Cross Of St George

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 24)

If you like Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, you will love this all-guns-blazing naval page-turner from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent - guaranteed to have you hooked from page one! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Shipwreck, survival ... a spirited battle ... a splendid yarn' -- The Times 
'Gripping to the end' -- ***** Reader review 
'Difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
'Exceptionally well written' -- ***** Reader review 
'What a story!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************************************************** 
 
1804: England stands alone against France and the fleets of Spain, expecting an invasion any day. Entrusted with an urgent mission for the King, Vice-Admiral Richard Bolitho hoists his flag above the veteran seventy-four-gun ship Hyperion and sets sail with a new squadron for the Caribbean. 
 
Plagued by the knowledge that both his troubled marriage and the eye injured in his last battle with Contre-Amiral Jobert are worsening, Bolitho is eager to leave England less than three months after his return home. But even his beloved old ship Hyperion, hastily restored from an ignominious existence as a hulk, is full of tormenting memories and lost faces. 
 
 Having navigated several battles along the way, he is roused in Antigua from his darkness of soul by the rediscovery of a passion which defies convention and every risk to his reputation. 
 
His future is full of uncertainty as he sails east to Gibraltar, for a rendezvous that all who follow his flag will remember...

Honour This Day

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 19): lose yourself in this rip-roaring naval yarn from the master storyteller of the sea

December 1815 
 
Adam Bolitho's orders are unequivocal. As captain of His Majesty's frigate Unrivalled of forty-six guns, he is required to 'repair in the first instance to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and reasonably assist the senior officer of the patrolling squadron. But all efforts of the British anti-slavery patrols to curb a flourishing trade in human life are hampered by unsuitable ships, by the indifference of a government more concerned with old enemies made distrustful allies, and by the continuing belligerence of the Dey of Algiers, which threatens to ignite a full-scale war. 
 
For Adam, also, there is no peace. Lost in grief and loneliness, his uncle's death still unavenged, he is uncertain of all but his identity as a man of war. The sea is his element, the ship his only home, and a reckless, perhaps doomed attack on an impregnable stronghold his only hope of settling the bitterest of debts.

Relentless Pursuit

The master storyteller of the sea, multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, has penned another gripping, swashbuckling and emotionally charged naval adventure full of vividly depicted military action - perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Shipwreck, survival ... a spirited battle ... a splendid yarn'' -- The Times 
'Another great story, gripping to the end'-- ***** Reader review 
'Once you start it's hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Kept me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great read from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************************************** 
1806: The frigate carrying Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho drops anchor off the shores of southern Africa. It is only four months since the resounding victory over the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar, and the death of England's greatest naval hero. 
 
Bolitho's instructions are to assist in hastening the campaign in Africa, where an expeditionary force is attempting to recapture Cape Town from the Dutch. Outside Europe few have yet heard of the battle of Trafalgar, and Bolitho's news is met with both optimism and disappointment as he reminds the senior officers that, despite the victory, Napolean's defeat is by no means assured. 
 
The men who follow Bolitho's flag into battle are to discover, not for the first time, that death is the only victor.

The Only Victor

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 20)

Glenice Crossland

They loved. They lost. They lived. 
 
In the small Yorkshire town of Cottenly - dominated by the steel works and surrounded by beautiful countryside - Isaac Stanford lives with his wife Emily and their three lovely daughters, known locally as the Stanford lasses. Alice, the eldest, lives only for her work as a secretary and chapel on Sunday. Fair and loving Lizzie is content with her job making umbrellas - until she falls in love with George Crossman and all she desires is to be a wife and mother. And headstrong Ruth, the merry one, is intent upon marrying handsome charmer, Walter Wray, despite warnings from friends and family. 
 
Already emotionally damaged by a traumatic childhood, Alice struggles to lead a normal life. Poor but happy with her ever increasing family, with the onset of war, Lizzie faces the threat of losing all she holds dear. And Ruth soon realises she has made a terrible mistake in her marriage as she becomes trapped in a life of poverty and violence. As the years pass each sister is forced to confront her greatest challenge ...

The Stanford Lasses

Blending history with romance and drama, Jean Plaidy explores the Tudor dynasty and the political intrigue throughout their reign.

If you like Philippa Gregory, you will love this dazzlingly vivid historical novel from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy. Two Queens at the mercy of a capricious King... 
 
'Jean Plaidy doesn't just write the history, she makes it come alive' -- RNA 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
 'Very well researched, informative yet easy to read - brilliant' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping, captivating, very hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'I was hooked from the first page' -- ***** Reader review 
'An excellent book to curl up with' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************** 
At the decadent French court of King François, the young Anne Boleyn grows into an enigmatic and striking woman, a temptation to many courtiers. But whilst Anne's ambitions are high, she has learned from her sister's unfortunate reputation. Unlike Mary, Anne refuses to become a mistress - even one to a King. 
 
 So when Anne returns to the English court of Henry VIII, it is the King, captivated by this mysterious young lady, who is forced to do the wooing. 
 
Before long Henry is lured away from his stale marriage to Katharine of Aragon. But the new Queen Anne is not loved by the people, and it is only a matter of time before Henry's patience runs out... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in St Thomas's Eve.

Murder Most Royal

(The Tudor saga: book 5): an unmissable story of bewitchment and betrayal from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Step back in time with multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy as she expertly paints a picture of Tudor England and its capricious and fickle King and court. This captivating and compelling historical novel is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy brings home the tyranny of Tudor government' -- Times Literary Supplement 
'Jean Plaidy's graceful study of Sir Thomas More and his family makes a novel that the reader can sink into and enjoy... sketched vividly and sympathetically. A rewarding book' -- Scotsman 
'These books are page-turners; they offer a wonderful way to learn about history... and their stories will remain with you for ever' -- Daily Express 
'A moving, beautiful inspiration of a book' -- ***** Reader review 
'Jean Plaidy has a talent for bringing historical figures to life' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great read!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************** 
 Henry VII once warned his son, the future King of England, not to trust Thomas More; years later that same son made More his confidante and advisor. But the allegiance is dangerously one-sided. A family man, lawyer and writer, More's ambitions are humble, whilst Henry's are endless. 
 
 As More's career at court rises so too does his religious fervour, much to the concern of his eldest daughter, Margaret More. Meg, as she is fondly called, is torn between her heretic husband and the secrets her father has confided in her, and already fears that one day her father will make the ultimate sacrifice for his faith. 
 
The Tudor saga continues in The Sixth Wife.

Saint Thomas's Eve

(The Tudor saga: book 6): a story of ambition, commitment and conviction from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Delve deep into a superb, fictionalised account of Henry VIII's sixth Queen, the mysterious Katharine Parr, written by multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy. This vibrant and captivating historical page-turner, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, is guaranteed to have you hooked from page one... 
 
'Jean Plaidy doesn't just write the history, she makes it come alive.' -- Julia Moffat, RNA 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'A must read' -- ***** Reader review 
'I could not put this book down once I started reading' -- ***** Reader review 
'A pleasure to read' -- ***** Reader review 
'She makes history come alive' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************************* 
Katharine Parr has unwittingly become the last pawn in King Henry VIII's ambitions for an heir. 
 
Already twice widowed, Katharine finally dares to hope that she might find love with the dashing Thomas Seymour - but Henry has decided he must have a sixth wife and Seymour's intentions to marry Katharine have not gone unnoticed. 
 
Unable to refuse the King of England, Katharine becomes his reluctant bride. 
 
Once again it seems only a matter of time before another wife's fate leads her to the Tower of London. Will fate be kind to her...? 
 
The Tudor saga continues in The Thistle and the Rose.

The Sixth Wife

(The Tudor saga: book 7): The stirring story of Henry VIII's final marriage brought to life by the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

With the expert attention to historical detail, the wonderfully evocative depiction of times past and vivid characterisation that we have come to expect from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy, this is the scandalous and heartbreaking story of Margaret Tudor, the princess whose future was used to end war and unite kings. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' -- Observer 
'Outstanding' Vanity Fair 
'It is hard to better Jean Plaidy ... both elegant and exciting' -- Daily Mirror 
'Jean Plaidy never fails to captivate her audience' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put this book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A truly great read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A gripping story which flows at quite a pace' -- ***** Reader review 
'She makes the characters come alive and you are drawn into the era she is writing about' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************** 
 
When King Henry VII negotiates peace with Scotland, his daughter's hand in marriage to James IV is the ultimate prize. 
 
A true princess, Margaret Tudor leaves her beloved England and accepts her fate unquestioningly. But to her surprise she falls madly in love with the fearsome Scottish King and, as Queen of Scotland, she is initially happy. 
 
But neither the marriage nor the peace are to last. When James IV is defeated in battle by Margaret's own brother, the widowed Queen is torn between fleeing to her home and staying to protect her son's future as the new King of Scots. 
 
It seems that once again Margaret's destiny is not to be her own... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in Mary, Queen of France.

The Thistle and the Rose

(The Tudor saga: book 8): the compelling story of a princess and queen torn between love and duty from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Jess Foley

If you like Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Katie Flynn, then you will love this breath-taking saga of one of love, passion, betrayal, tragedy and longing by much loved author Jess Foley. This unmissable and unputdownable saga is one you will never forget... 
 
'Compulsive and well-paced' -- Wiltshire Times 
'A gripping saga... What makes this particular novel such compelling reading is its expertly researched background... The author writes with exuberance and style, and the central characters are totally convincing.' -- Northampton Chronicle &amp; Echo 
'A stunning read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Excellent read - I couldn't put in down' -- ***** Reader review 
'This book is really good: it's sad, exciting, tragic - you have it all in this book' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************* 
ONE WOMAN'S STRUGGLE FOR HAPPINESS 
 
Having spent her childhood with a cold, unfeeling stepmother, Lily Clair's life is changed for ever when she is sent as general maid to old friends of her family. When Joel - handsome son of a wealthy entrepreneur - enters her life, their meeting is for Lily, young and vulnerable, a revelation. 
 
 Riding high on the crest of her new-found happiness she is in no way prepared for the violent attack that comes in the night, or for its devastating, life-changing consequences. But she must live with the consequences as, with a shattered heart, she deals with one hand of fate after another. 
 
 In her search for happiness, Lily is a woman who will capture your heart and stay with you forever...

No Wings To Fly

a powerful saga of passion and pain set in the heart of rural England

Leslie Thomas

Summer 1940. The evacuation of Dunkirk proves that the British can rise to a challenge, even against seemingly insurmountable odds. But now the soldiers walk the streets of Dover, even wandering through Woolworths store, and take weary turns on the town's skating rink. 
 
Life, despite the threat of invasion and the reality of bombing, must go on and people must take comfort where they find it. Toby Hendry, a fighter pilot, is awaiting orders when he meets Giselle, a young Frenchwoman who took the chance to flee occupied France with the English troops. Their love affair feels like a summer idyll, but can it withstand the forces of war? 
 
Meanwhile, reserve naval commander Paul Instow has been called up to fight in a war for which he feels too old. Distracting him from his worries is Molly, a young Dover prostitute. Their relationship is tender and happy, but is this a love born from desperation or could it be something more permanent? 
 
And then there are Harold, Spots and Boot, three boys desperate to fight the German invaders, armed only with catapults and a stolen Bren gun... 
 
In Dover Beach Thomas chronicles the lives and loves of ordinary people in besiged Britain during these tense, but curiously elated days.

Dover Beach

This series follows the life of Catherine de Medicirides beginning with her childhood, her subsequent political marriage to Henry, Duke of Orleans, and concluding with her drive to end the conflict between Catholic Spain and Protestant England.

Sullen-eyed and broken-hearted, fourteen-year-old Catherine de' Medici arrives in Marseilles to marry Henry of Orleans, second son of the King of France. On the promise of a dowry fit for a king, Catherine has left her true love in Italy, forced into trading her future for a stake in the French crown. 
 
Amid the glittering fêtes and banquets of the most immoral court in sixteenth-century Europe, the reluctant bride becomes a passionate but unwanted wife. Humiliated and unloved, Catherine spies on Henry and his lover, the infamous Diane de Poitiers. And, tortured by what she sees, Catherine becomes dangerously occupied by a ruthless ambition destined to make her the most despised woman in France: the dream that one day the French crown will be worn be a Medici heir...

Madame Serpent

(Medici Trilogy)

The ageing Catherine de' Medici has arranged the marriage of her beautiful Catholic daughter Margot to the uncouth Huguenot King Henry of Navarre. Margot, still desperately in love with Henry de Guise, refuses to utter her vows. But even Catherine is unable to anticipate the carnage that this unholy union is to bring about ... 
 
In the midst of an August heatwave, tensions run high: the marriage hasn't brough peace between Catholics and Huguenots. Realising her weakening power over her sickly son, King Charles, Catherine persuades him of a plot against his life. Mad with fear, Charles agrees to a massacre that will rid France of its 'pestilential Huguenots for ever'. And so the carnival of butchery begins, marking years of terror and upheaval that will end in the demise of kings, and finally expose Catherine's lifetime of depraved scheming...

Queen Jezebel

When Catherine de' Medici was forced to marry Henry of Orleans, her's was not the only heart broken. Jeanne of Navarre once dreamed of marrying this same prince, but like Catherine, she must comply with King Francis's political needs. And so both Catherine and Jeanne's lives are set on unwanted paths, destined to cross in affairs of state, love and faith, driving them to become deadly political rivals. 
 
Years later Jeanne is happily married to the dashing but politically inept Antoine de Bourbon, whilst the widowed Catherine continues to be loved by few and feared by many - including her children. But Catherine is now the powerful mother of kings, who will do anything to see her beloved second son, Henry, rule France. As civil war ravages the country and Jeanne fights for the Huguenot cause, Catherine advances along her unholy road, making enemies at every turn...

The Italian Woman

This superb and stirring naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent is an absolute must for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. You'll feel like you are there on the quarterdeck! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'As a former naval officer, Alexander Kent knows what it is like to be at sea' -- The Times 
'A first-class book' -- ***** Reader review 
'Impossible to put down. Alexander Kent as his finest!' -- ***** Reader review 
'One of Alexander Kent's best.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rip roaring, well-constructed seafaring tale.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A compelling read from start to finish...' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************************** 
 
1793: Gibraltar - the gathering might of revolutionary France prepares to engulf Europe in another bloody war. As in the past, Britain will stand or fall by the fighting power of her fleet. For Richard Bolitho, the renewal of hostilities means a fresh command and the chance of action after long months of inactivity. 
 
 However, his mission to support Lord Hood in the monarchist-inspired occupation of Toulon has gone awry. Bolitho and the crew of the Hyperion are trapped by the French near a dry Mediterranean island. 
 
They will need all their mettle and might to force their way through... 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Enemy in Sight.

Form Line of Battle

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 11): more blockbuster naval action from the master storyteller of the sea

Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed with this incredible naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. With its authentic depiction of life at sea in battle, and its tightly crafted plot and characters, you'll fall for it hook, line and sinker! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'His dashing character Richard Bolitho is one of the best things to happen to the sea yarn since Hornblower' -- Daily Express 
'The storytelling has an easy mastery, how well Kent knows the psychology of naval men' -- Sunday Telegraph 
'Thrilling and a delight to read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping and accurate' -- ***** Reader review 
'A truly brilliant bit of work' -- ***** Reader review 
'Kept me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Hard to put them down when you start' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************************************** 
1798: Richard Bolitho prepares to re-enter the Mediterranean. There are rumours of a massive French armada and of the latest type of artillery - and Bolitho's orders are to seek out the enemy and to discover the intentions of his growing force. 
 
Bolitho is well aware that there are others within his ships who are no less dangerous than the enemy - and during the weeks and months in which the squadron faces the hazards of the weather and French broadsides alike, Bolitho knows that far more than his own future is at stake. 
 
A fleet, even a nation, could depend on his decisions and, when he places his squadron between the Nile and the power of France, he must accept the price of the challenge. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in The Inshore Squadron

Signal Close Action

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 14): a fast-paced, all-action adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

If you love adventure, tight plotting, excellent characterization and vivid writing, set your course for this compelling and captivating naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed. Do not miss out! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Fans of the Hornblower stories have a treat in THE FLAG CAPTAIN...The book is full of action - and character.' -- Sunday Mirror 
'Engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
'An emotional tour de force' -- ***** Reader review 
'Typical Alexander Kent " Bolitho " novel - every book in the series has kept me enthralled. I struggle to put them down until the end' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb with unexpected twists and turns, fascinating plot lines and gripping descriptions of naval battles' -- ***** Reader review 
************************************************************************** 
 
1797: Richard Bolitho brings the 100-gun Euryalus home to Falmouth to be flagship of the hastily formed squadron which has been chosen to make the first British re-entry to the Mediterranean for nearly a year. As flag captain, Bolitho is made to contend with the unyielding attitudes of his new admiral, as well as the devious requirements of the squadron's civilian advisor. 
 
England is still stunned by the naval mutiny at Spithead, in which Bolitho's admiral was personally involved, and as the squadron sets sail, the air is already alive with rumour of an even greater uprising in the ships at the Nore. 
 
Only when the squadron is drawn to a bloody embrace with the enemy does the admiral see the strength in Bolitho's trust and care for his men - but by then it is almost too late for any of them. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Signal, Close Action!

The Flag Captain

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 13): a rip-roaring, rollicking adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

Set off for another rip-roaring, all-action naval adventure courtesy of multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. You'll be able to smell the whiff of the gunpowder and hear the scream of the cannon balls as our hero fights another battle against the enemies of England. Guaranteed to have you engrossed from page one, fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'His dashing character Richard Bolitho is one of the best things to happen to the sea yarn since Hornblower' -- Daily Express 
'The storytelling has an easy mastery, how well Kent knows the psychology of naval men' -- Sunday Telegraph 
'Just as well I am an insomniac as it is almost impossible to put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another stirring yarn from the grand master of naval fiction' -- ***** Reader review 
'Awesome' -- ***** Reader review 
'Exciting and dramatic' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************** 
1800: Richard Bolitho - freshly appointed as rear-admiral - assumes command of his own squadron but, as the cruel demands of war spread from Europe to the Baltic, he soon realizes that his battle experience has ill-prepared him for the intricate manoeuvring of power politics. 
 
Under his flag the Inshore Squadron has to ride out bitter hardship of blockade duty and swift, deadly encounters with the enemy. An old hatred steps from the past to pose a personal threat to Bolitho, but at the gates of Copenhagen, where his flag flies amidst the fury of battle, he must put all private hopes and fears behind him if he is to lead his men to victory... 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in A Tradition of Victory.

The Inshore Squadron

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 15): another exciting and enthralling adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

Peter Smalley

1786: Captain William Rennie is on the beach and on half pay when he's given a prime commission: HMS Expedient is a 36 gun frigate; she is to be sent to the South Seas on a scientific expedition. 
For Lieutenant James Hayter, in Dorsetshire, whose career had barely begun when the peace came, his own commission in Expedient out of the blue is equally surprising and exciting. 
 
But for these two sea officers there is something odd and disturbing about the nature of their task. They sense that they are not being told the whole truth about the forthcoming expedition, and the shady, powerful figure of Sir Robert Greer is always at their backs. Is someone trying to sabotage their mission? Why is their progress dogged by a mysterious man of war? And what are the secret orders locked in Rennie's cabin which may only be opened once they round the Cape of Good Horn? 
 
The answers lies on a beautiful uncharted island, in the remotest corner of the Pacific immensity, to which the storm-battered Expedient limps for desperately needed repairs. Soon the dangers of the voyage will pale in comparison with what they discover there, across the limpid waters of the lagoon...

HMS Expedient

Candace Robb

Fans of Ellis Peters, S J Parris, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell will love this enthralling and engrossing medieval mystery from much-loved author Candace Robb. Bringing the sights and sounds of thirteenth-century Scotland to life, this will have you hooked from page one! 
 
'This is history as it should be told!' -- Good Book Guide 
'Candace Robb Brings history to life' -- Aberdeen Press &amp; Journal 
'A superb historical novel from a most interesting and unknown period' -- ***** Reader review 
'History and mystery at their best' -- Northern Echo 
 
***************************************************************************** 
1297: Passionate, brave and fiercely loyal, Margaret Kerr - a young woman estranged from her husband - is determined to play her part in saving Scotland from the hammer of Edward Longshanks - King of England and would-be King of the Scots. And so she travels to Stirling to discover why the informer upon whom the Scottish rebels depend has become unreliable. 
 
 It is an important and difficult mission, for he who holds Stirling Castle holds Scotland, and with fresh English recruits marching forth, a bloody battle for the castle is imminent. 
 
As the Scots prepare to cast off the English yoke once and for all, Margaret soon realises she can trust no one, not even her closest friends. Is she prepared to give her life for her country?

A Cruel Courtship

(The Margaret Kerr Trilogy: III): a compelling medieval Scottish mystery from much-loved author Candace Robb

Douglas Reeman

From the pen of multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman, this is the fourth novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family. Set in World War Two, Dust on the Sea is a rip-roaring, rollicking read and perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' -- The Times 
'A compelling read' -- ***** Reader review 
'The only downside of this book is I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Keeps you enthralled throughout' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fun and gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
'Magnificent' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*************************************************************************************** 
 
1943: Captain Mike Blackwood, Royal Marine Commando, is a survivor. Young, toughened and tried in the hellish crucible of Burma, he labours, sometimes faltering, beneath the weight of tradition, the glorious heritage of his family, and the burden of his own self-doubt. 
 
For Blackwood, the horizon is not the lip of the trench seen by men of the Corps in the previous war, but the ramp of a landing craft smashing down into the sea, and the fire of the enemy on a Sicilian beach. Here, tradition is not enough, and Mike Blackwood must find within himself qualities of leadership which will inspire those Royal Marines who are once again the first to land, and among the first to die.

Dust on the Sea

an all-action, edge-of-your-seat naval adventure from the master storyteller of the sea

Don’t Disturb the…

Dr Bloom

Dragon Frontier

Dragonborn

Dragoneye

Dragonlance Destinies

Dread Pirate Fleur

Dream Master

Drenai Novels

DropZone

Duggee's Little Library

Dungeon Crawler Carl Series

Duty Calls

A gripping three-part series based on real historical events. Three Roman legions massacred. Three Imperial Eagles lost. One man vies for revenge.

Eagles of Rome

For thirty years, the O’Donnels have ruled the East End, but there’s a price to pay for this power, and it’s usually in blood.

Eastend Trilogy

Easterleigh Hall

Eat Around Italy

Eat Around Spain

Eat Right For Blood Type

Ebb and Flo

Ed Reardon's Week

Elemental Emergence

Elfies Spellbook

Eliot Biographies

Emma Trilogy

Emma and James

Empire of Salt

In the Swedish town of Engelsfors, a mysterious forcedraws seven teenagers together. They are the Chosen Ones, and they have been chosen to drive back the demons that threaten to overwhelm the world

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