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THE TIMES, THE FINANCIAL TIMES AND ECONOMIST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2016'Twice I missed my stop on the Tube reading this book... this is a jewel among histories' David Aaronovitch, The Times'The suberb, funny, fascinating story of Lenin's trans-European rail journey to power and how it shook the world' - Simon Sebag Montefiore, Evening Standard Books of the Year A gripping account of how, in the depths of the First World War, Russia's greatest revolutionary was taken in a 'sealed train' across Europe and changed the history of the worldBy 1917 the European war seemed to be endless. Both sides in the fighting looked to new weapons, tactics and ideas to break a stalemate that was itself destroying Europe. In the German government a small group of men had a brilliant idea: why not sow further confusion in an increasingly chaotic Russia by arranging for Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, the most notorious of revolutionary extremists, currently safely bottled up in neutral Switzerland, to go home?Catherine Merridale's Lenin on the Train recreates Lenin's extraordinary journey from harmless exile in Zurich, across a Germany falling to pieces from the war's deprivations, and northwards to the edge of Lapland to his eventual ecstatic reception by the revolutionary crowds at Petrograd's Finland Station.With great skill and insight Merridale weaves the story of the train and its uniquely strange group of passengers with a gripping account of the now half-forgotten liberal Russian revolution and shows how these events intersected. She brilliantly uses a huge range of contemporary eyewitnesses, observing Lenin as he travelled back to a country he had not seen for many years. Many thought he was a mere 'useful idiot', others thought he would rapidly be imprisoned or killed, others that Lenin had in practice few followers and even less influence. They would all prove to be quite wrong.

Edward I (1272-1307) is one of the most commanding of all English rulers. He fought in southwest France, in Wales, In Scotland and in northern France, he ruled with ruthlessness and confidence, undoing the chaotic failure of his father, Henry III's reign. He reshaped England's legal system and came close to bringing the whole island of Great Britain under his rule. He promoted the idea of himself as the new King Arthur, his Round Table still hanging in Winchester Castle to this day. His greatest monuments are the extraordinary castles--Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Harlech and Conwy--built to ensure his rule of Wales and some of the largest of all medieval buildings.Andy King's brilliant short biography brings to life a strange, complex man whose triumphs raise all kinds of questions about the nature of kingship - how could someone who established so many key elements in England's unique legal and parliamentary system also have been such a harsh, militarily brutal warrior?

ECONOMIST AND SPECTATOR BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2016'An extraordinary book ... exceptionally fascinating, always readable and penetratingly intelligent' David Abulafia'As rich, funny and teemingly peopled as Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time ... Dinshaw writes with wit and elegance, and the most elegiac passages of Outlandish Knight evoke a lost society London and way of life' Ben Judah, Financial Times'This dazzling young writer is a mine of fascinating, memorable and totally useless information... I have been riveted by this book from start to finish, and leave the reader with one word of advice. Watch Minoo Dinshaw. He will go far' John Julius Norwich, Sunday TelegraphThe biography of one of the greatest British historians - but also of a uniquely strange and various manIn his enormously long life, Steven Runciman managed not just to be a great historian of the Crusades and Byzantium, but Grand Orator of the Orthodox Church, a member of the Order of Whirling Dervishes, Greek Astronomer Royal and Laird of Eigg. His friendships, curiosities and intrigues entangled him in a huge array of different artistic movements, civil wars, Cold War betrayals and, above all, the rediscovery of the history of the Eastern Mediterranean. He was as happy living in a remote part of the Inner Hebrides as in the heart of Istanbul. He was obsessed with historical truth, but also with tarot, second sight, ghosts and the uncanny.Outlandish Knight is a dazzling debut by a writer who has prodigious gifts, but who also has had the ability to spot one of the great biographical subjects. This is an extremely funny book about a man who attracted the strangest experiences, but also a very serious one. It is about the rigours of a life spent in the distant past, but also about the turbulent world of the twentieth century, where so much that Runciman studied and cherished would be destroyed.

Henry III was a medieval king whose long reign continues to have a profound impact on us today. He was on the throne for 56 years and during this time England was transformed from being the private play-thing of a French speaking dynasty into a medieval state in which the king answered for his actions to an English parliament, which emerged during Henry's lifetime. Despite Henry's central importance for the birth of parliament and the development of a state recognisably modern in many of its institutions, it is Henry's most vociferous opponent, Simon de Montfort, who is in many ways more famous than the monarch himself. Henry is principally known today as the driving force behind the building of Westminster Abbey, but he deserves to be better understood for many reasons - as Stephen Church's sparkling account makes clear.Part of the Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England's rulers in a highly collectible format

'He seems to have laboured under an almost child-like misapprehension about the size of his world. Had greatness not been thrust upon him, he might have lived a life of great harmlessness.'The reign of Edward II was a succession of disasters. Unkingly, inept in war, and in thrall to favourites, he preferred digging ditches and rowing boats to the tedium of government. His infatuation with a young Gascon nobleman, Piers Gaveston, alienated even the most natural supporters of the crown. Hoping to lay the ghost of his soldierly father, Edward I, he invaded Scotland and suffered catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Bannockburn. After twenty ruinous years, betrayed and abandoned by most of his nobles and by his wife and her lover, Edward was imprisoned in Berkeley Castle and murdered - the first English king since the Norman Conquest to be deposed.

The revelatory autobiography of a rugby colossus: Paul O'Connell. WINNER OF THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS RUGBY BOOK OF THE YEARThere has never been a rugby player quite like Paul O'Connell. He is synonymous with passion, heart and determination; but he is also the thinking man's rugby player, a legendary student of the game. As the heartbeat of Munster, British and Irish Lions captain in 2009, and captain of the first Ireland team to defend a Six Nations championship, O'Connell has emerged as perhaps the most beloved of the golden generation of Irish rugby players. In an autobiography as intense as its author, he tells the story of his remarkable career.'The years of O'Connell and O'Driscoll were as close to a golden age as ever Ireland will get and O'Connell's book tells you how it all happened ... It should be mandatory for every Irish squad member to read O'Connell's book to better understand what it takes to make a team' David Walsh, Sunday Times'O'Connell has emptied the tank here. ... What has come out ... is a psychological profile that is almost shocking at times in what it reveals about the bloody single-mindedness of the competitive gene' Hilary A. White, Irish Independent'The intense physicality of his rugby upbringing is an abiding theme ... along with humour, the craic and an extensive knowledge of how teams work' Paul Hayward, Daily Telegraph'I found The Battle entrancing' Stephen Jones, Sunday Times'Excellent ... [an] eye-opening account of the never-ending battles he fought' Rugby World'Revelatory ... Unflinchingly charts his personal evolution ... He is not at all easy on himself' Keith Duggan, Irish Times

Sid, Peggy and Amy adore the two gerbils, Bubble and Squeak, but their mother detests them. A major family battle results, and it's clear life is never going to be quite the same again. But after a near fatal encounter between Bubble and Ginger the cat, Mrs Sparrow begins to see that life with a pair of gerbils might not be so bad after all.

Windharp: Niall MacMonagle's essential anthology of the last century of Irish poetryThe Easter Rising of 1916 was a foundational moment of the independent Irish state; but while that insurrection continues to divide opinion, there is no disagreement as to the majesty of Yeats's 'Easter 1916', or about the excellence of the Irish poetic tradition over the past century. Windharp is an anthology that follows the twists and turns of Irish history, culture and society through the work of its remarkable standing army of poets. Edited by Niall MacMonagle, Ireland's most trusted poetry commentator,Windharp is an accessible and inspiring journey through a century of Irish life.'A landmark book' Clive James, TLS Books of the Year'Glorious' Irish Examiner'Beautifully produced ... an appealing and appetite-whetting introduction to a century's poetry' Irish Times'Beautifully judged ... poised perfectly between the canon and the tradition, with a generous inclusiveness' Eavan Boland, Irish Times'A perfect selection. One of the best anthologies of Irish poetry ever produced.' Donal Ryan

Cake: the utterly distinctive memoirs of Shane Curran.In an age when sportsmen have perfected the art of saying nothing and suppressing any trace of personality, Shane 'Cake' Curran is a beacon of light: passionate, outspoken, utterly himself. As a rare two-code goalkeeper - for Roscommon in Gaelic football and for Athlone Town in soccer - he made his own rules, soloing mesmerisingly out of goal, inventing a new style of kicking tee, and famously poaching a penalty kick a teammate had lined up in the 1989 Connacht minor final. Brave, honest and hilarious, Cake tells the story of an Irish sportsman who has lived the dream in his own utterly distinctive way.'He was gangbusters' Chris O'Dowd'A terrific book' Paul Kimmage'Richly entertaining' Irish Times'A natural storyteller' Sunday Times

Ireland in its own words: a dazzling compendiumOver the past hundred years, Ireland has undergone profound political, social and cultural changes. But one thing that has not changed is the Irish genius for observation and storytelling, invective and self-scrutiny. Ireland: The Autobiography draws upon this genius to create a portrait of a century of Irish life through the words of the people who lived it.Broadcaster and historian John Bowman has mined archives, diaries and memoirs to create a remarkably varied and delightfully readable mosaic of voices and perspectives. Ireland: The Autobiography is a brilliantly selected, wide-ranging and engrossing take on the last century of Irish life. It gives us a portrait of Ireland unlike anything we've read before.'Absorbing and illuminating ... John Bowman has selected a range of accounts of Irish life that do justice to what happened, what it felt like, and the personal and societal experiences alongside the "e;official"e; version.' Diarmaid Ferriter, Irish Times'A treasure' Irish Examiner'A whistle-stop tour of the seismic, seminal and explosive events which shaped the nation as we know it' Irish Independent'Entertaining and informative' Sunday Business Post'A remarkably varied and delightfully readable mosaic of voices and perspectives' Women's Way'A thoughtful and eclectic collection' Irish Mail on Sunday

Lose weight & feel healthier with the help of The 5:2 Fast Diet Cookbook!__________The 5:2 diet has become the food programme of choice for losing weight. Everybody swears by it - because it really works!This cookbook holds the key to learning what to eat on these low-calorie fasting days. Inside, you'll find recipes and tips for getting the most satisfaction and fullness. With 150 nutritious recipes, with no more than 300 calories per serving, you'll have a wide variety of choices for these two crucial days.With delicious dishes such as Cinnamon-Swirl Pancakes for breakfast, Fast-astic French Onion Soup for lunch and Slow-Cooking Provence Chicken for dinner, which are all easy to make and packed with flavour, you won't even realise you're dieting.The 5:2 Fast Diet Cookbook even has a special 'dessert' section in the back that will give you low-calorie rewards to look forward to on non-fasting days!Samantha Logan experimented with fast dieting when she couldn't lose her stubborn baby weight even several years after her second child was born. The fasting recipes she developed in this collection helped her to lose an amazing 30 pounds.

The second in Stewart Binns' acclaimed Great War Series, The Darkness and the Thunder is a sweeping story of war following five families through the terrifying conditions of the Western Front, the slaughter of Gallipoli and the heartbreak of those left at home. 'The book on the conflict remembered 100 years on' Jon Wise, Sunday Sport-1915- The Western Front is a wasteland of barbed wire, shell craters and mud-filled trenches. Winston Churchill, searching for a solution to the stalemate, commits the Allies to a disastrous Gallipoli campaign. As men on both sides die in droves, miners and mill-workers work tirelessly for the war effort while families confront the broken bodies of returning soldiers. Nurses, soldiers, politicians, factory-workers and children - all are torn apart by war, and for husbands and sons, mothers and wives, the old way of life is vanishing.*** Praise for Stewart Binns:'Anyone with even a vague interest in Britain and the Great War should read The Shadow of War' Celia Sandys, granddaughter of Winston Churchill 'Stewart Binns has produced a real page-turner, a truly stunning adventure story' Alastair Campbell 'A fascinating mix of fact, legend and fiction . . . this is storytelling at its best' Daily Mail 'Unique, entertaining and eye-opening' Robin Carter, Parmenion Books 'A tour de force of writing brilliance' Books Monthly 'Unarguably heart-warming... will leave any reader with a sense of British pride' Goodreads 'Truly a book that educates while entertaining, a talent of this best-selling author' Historical Novel Review

Following in the tradition of Clive Cussler and Dan Brown comes Atlantis: Revelation, a rip-roaring adventure thriller by Marcus Blake, which takes us on a hunt for the legendary lost city.1945, a German submarine makes an astonishing discovery. Within hours the crew are dead, the final entry of the captain's log the only evidence of their find. It seems they have stumbled upon a remarkable and ancient secret.2012, a young man is found, washed up on the shore of Cuba. He has no idea who he is, or where he is from. But soon he will find himself at the centre of a deadly game between two civilizations. Meanwhile, a classified governmental agency launches a top-secret manhunt. Their target: the young man. And so begins a clash of worlds. This is Atlantis Rising.A stunning action adventure thriller revealing the secrets of Atlantis - this is The Bourne Identity meets The Da Vinci Code.Marcus Blake is the pen name of a critically acclaimed best-selling novelist. He lives in the UK.

WARNING: This book will blow your mind.Matthew Santoro is a fact-filled YouTube sensation. His weekly videos on amazing and little-known facts are eagerly anticipated by his followers around the world. Now comes his first ever book packed full of trivia, laughs and things that will blow your mind. From shin-kicking competitions and beer pong-playing robots, to enormous fire-balls shooting through space, Santoro brings together the world's most amazing facts in mind-boggling top-ten lists and myth-busting revelations.Did you know that it's illegal to die in the Houses of Parliament? Or that under extreme pressure peanut butter can be turned into diamonds?If you like to learn new things and laugh a little while you're at it, you won't believe what you'll discover in Mind = Blown.Matthew Santoro is a YouTube star whose videos have been viewed more than 500 million times. He is best known for his top-ten lists of strange and surprising facts, and his popular series '50 Things to Blow Your Mind.' A former accountant, he won the 2015 Hubub #AcademySocial award, as well as the fan vote for the 2015 Shorty Awards 'YouTube Star of the Year.' He lives in Toronto, Canada.www.youtube.com/MatthewSantoro

'This selection is a ceaseless delight ... there is a treat on almost every page' Daily TelegraphGeorge Orwell wrote, in his words, from 'a desire to see things as they are'. This new collection of his journalism and other writings, including articles, essays, broadcasts, poems, book and film reviews from across his career, shows his unmatched genius for observing the world. Whether discussing Polish immigration or Scottish independence, railing against racism, defending the English language or holding an imaginary conversation with Jonathan Swift, these pieces reveal a clear-eyed, entertaining and eternally relevant chronicler of his age.Edited with an introduction by Peter Davison'Orwell's luminous gift was for seeing things, for noticing what others missed, took for granted or simply found uninteresting, for discovering meaning and wonder in the familiarity of the everyday... Nothing escaped or seemed beneath his notice, which was what made him such a good reporter... Seeing Things As They Are is intended to be a collection first and foremost of his journalism, with preference given to lesser-known pieces and reviews as well as some of the poems he wrote. It is full of interest and curiosities' Jason Cowley, Financial Times'Peter Davison gives us a feast of [Orwell's] shorter writings, showing how from such hesitant beginnings he evolved into the writer of enduring importance we know, committed to decency, equality and political honesty, who could nevertheless wax lyrical over the first signs of spring or an imaginary English pub' Gordon Bowker, Independent

DREW FERRAN, THE RIGHTFUL KING OF WESTLAND, IS TRAPPED.Enslaved by the Goatlord Kesslar, young werewolf Drew finds himself on the volcanic isle of Scoria, forced to fight in the arena for the Lizardlords. With the help of an unlikely ally, he must find a way to break free - but who has ever managed to escape?Meanwhile, Hector the Wereboar flees the forces of the Catlords. Now on board the pirate ship Maelstrom, the enemy's net is closing in. Haunted by the spirits of the dead, Hector is soon left wondering who the true enemy is . . .Book three in the Wereworld fantasy-adventure series from Curtis Jobling, the award-winning designer of Bob the Builder. Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf was shortlisted for the 2011 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.Perfect for fans of Christopher Paolini's Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance books.

WAR HAS GRIPPED THE SEVEN REALMS . . . Young Werewolf Drew Ferran, rightful king of Westland, has rushed to the aid of the besieged Staglords, whose mountain stronghold is surrounded by the forces of the Werelion Prince Lucas. And deep in the haunted Dyrewood forest, the Wereladies Gretchen and Whitley seek sanctuary within the city of Brackenholme. No opposing force has ever breached the palisade walls, but danger could be closer than they think . . .As Lyssia's greatest war rumbles towards a thunderous climax, the lines between friend and foe are blurred. What if the enemy is one of their own?** Book four in the Wereworld fantasy-adventure series from Curtis Jobling, the award-winning designer of Bob the Builder. ** Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf was shortlisted for the 2011 Waterstone's Children's Book Prize.** Perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings and Christopher Paolini's Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance books.

IN AFRICA ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE. Teenage martial arts expert Connor Reeves is tasked with protecting a foreign ambassador's family on safari. Considered the perfect assignment, the holiday turns to hell when their convoy is ambushed by gunmen. Fleeing through the bush, Connor and his assigned family become the prey in a shoot-to-kill hunt across the African plains. As they fight for their survival, Connor realizes the gunmen are the least of their problems. For no amount of bodyguard training can prepare him for the wilds of Africa and one prowling hungry leopard...

Bodyguard: Ransom is a bullet-proof thriller by Chris Bradford, bestselling author of the Young Samurai books. it's Lee Child for younger readers - Cherub meets Jason Bourne, a surefire winner for fans of Robert Muchamore and Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider books. Connor Reeves is a bodyguard, trained in surveillance, anti-ambush technique, hostage survival and unarmed combat. He's already proven himself saving the American President's daughter from terrorists in Bodyguard: Hostage. Now he is on board the mega-yacht of a media mogul. His job: to protect the twin daughters of this wealthy man. His challenge: pirates storm the yacht and Connor is in very stormy waters . . .

China, 1930s. Julian Bell, son of the Bloomsbury set's Vanessa, is newly arrived in Peking. In search of fresh experiences, he encounters the beautiful, intelligent and deeply erotic Lin Cheng. Though Lin is wife to a university professor, their passionate assignations blossom into an affair. Schooled in the ancient Taoist arts of love, Lin instructs Julian in the ways of the East. But if society won't tolerate this union between Occidental and Oriental can their love possibly survive?Based on a true story this is a tragic tale of romance, betrayal and sexual desire set against a backdrop of conflict and war.

'YOU'RE THE LAST OF THE WEREWOLVES SON. DON'T FIGHT IT . . . CONQUER IT.'When the air is clear, sixteen year-old Drew Ferran can pick up the scent of a predator.When the moon breaks through the clouds, a terrifying fever grips him.And when a vicious beast invades his home, his gums begin to tear, his fingers become claws, and Drew transforms . . .Forced to flee the family he loves, Drew seeks refuge in the most godforsaken parts of Lyssia. But when he is captured by Lord Bergan's men, Drew must prove he is not the enemy.Can Drew battle the werecreatures determined to destroy him - and master the animal within?

Nixon: I'd rather use a nuclear bomb. Have you got that ready? Kissinger: Now that, I think, would just be, uh, too much, uh - Nixon: A nuclear bomb, does that bother you? [Kissinger response virtually inaudible]Nixon: I just want you to think big, Henry, for Christ's sake!A Vietnam War Reader, edited by Michael Hunt, is a unique collection of shocking lived experiences, directly from the mouths and the pens of those soldiers, politicians and citizens who lived through the days of the Vietnam War and its bloody aftermath. Including testimony from both American and Vietnamese sources, the Reader contains such diverse documents as Ho Chi Minh's report to the Communist Party, a secret memo from the CIA on the Vietcong and a 1966 letter from a junior officer to his family, describing his growing doubts about the war. Transcripts show the casual conversations and public press conferences that would lead to millions of deaths, revealing the terrible dilemmas faced by those in power, and on the ground. Pham Van Dong: If the United States dares to start a limited war, we will fight it, and will win it. Mao Zedong: Yes, you can win it.

Contains: The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, Mr Standfast, The Three Hostages and The Island of Sheep

Deep in the heart of Rio, a new gang has emerged in the favelas. A gang with a sinister reputation, heavy-duty weaponry and a seemingly limitless drug supply. Recruited by the shady organization Trojan Industries, teenage tearaway Luiz Alves must gain initiation, infiltrate the gang and find out who's backing them.But with guns on every street corner and the threat of exposure - and brutal death - hanging over his head, Luiz's mission of discovery isn't his biggest problem.Staying alive is.

Green: Enter without explosives or firing unless enemy targets are identified.Amber: Enter firing. No explosive entry.Red: Explosive entry using a grenade or charge. Enter firing at will.What happened in Helmand's Sangin Valley in the spring of 2007 was nothing short of extraordinary. After the last gasp defence of the platoon houses by the Paras that preceded them in theatre, the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment arrived in Afghanistan charged with taking the battle to the enemy. Despite brutal, debilitating conditions, the tour that followed became a bloody lesson in how to conduct offensive infantry warfare. Over a six-month tour of duty, the 'Vikings' battlegroup unleashed hell in heavy, relentless fighting that saw teenage soldiers battle toe to toe against hardcore Al Qaeda and Taliban warriors at unprecedented levels of ferocity.The stories that emerged from the Sangin Valley, defined by bravery, comradeship, endurance and, above all, aggression, are remarkable So much so that Sandhurst manuals were re-written to incorporate the lessons of the campaign. But the fight was far from one-sided. May 2007 saw the Anglians suffer the highest number of British military casualties in any single month since the end of World War II. And those that did return home came back changed by the intensity of the experience.In Attack State Red, Colonel Richard Kemp, a former Commanding Office of 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, and Chris Hughes, the Daily Mirror Security Correspondent, tell the story of the Royal Anglian's deployment for the first time. Combining the strategic insight of 3 Para with the adrenaline charge of Sniper One, they have produced the most dynamic, substantial and visceral account of the war in Afghanistan that's ever been written.

Suzi: "e;Ambulance service, what's the problem?"e; Caller: "e;Help! My baby's not breathing!"e; When you dial 999 for an ambulance, Suzi's could be the voice you hear on the other end of the phone. Working in one of the country's busiest control rooms, it is her job to stay on the phone until the ambulance arrives, and to give instructions that could save your life. From taking the first calls after the terrorist attacks on 7th July 2005, to delivering a baby over the phone, whether helping the child whose mum has attempted suicide, or dealing with the many regular callers - serial hoaxer The Banana Man, Sally the young alcoholic and Mad Brenda, each with their own surprising stories to tell - Suzi has heard it all. Nee Naw will take you on a whirlwind tour of life in the emergency lane, introducing you to some unforgettable characters. Suzi Brent will make you laugh, she'll make you cry, but never again will you dial 999 for a broken finger... Suzi: "e;Ambulance service, what's the problem?"e; Caller: "e;I've eaten too much, and now I feel really sick. Can you die from eating too much?"e;

Fountainhead of democracy, engine of the Industrial Revolution, epicentre of the globe's greatest empire and the first-ditch stand against an expansionist Germany in two world wars: England's history is among the most fascinating and influential the world has ever known.This volume presents that history in unique form: first-hand, through the words of those who saw it and those who made it. All the great events of the last 2,000 years are here: the Norman Conquest, Magna Carta, the Peasants' Revolt, Henry VIII's break with Rome, the Great Fire of London, Nelson at Trafalgar, two world wars. Alongside these are the less obvious happenings which together capture the nation's social history, such as the Black Death of 1349 or life as a chimney sweep in 1817. And of couse there are the things that have shaped the nature of 'Englishness', like theatregoing in Elizabethan London, fox hunting in 1898, Oates's self-sacrifice at the South Pole, the Beatles and the 1966 World Cup.Presented chronologically and a joy to read whether cover-to-cover or dipped into as a treasury of sources, England: The Autobiography offers an intimate, vivid and revealing portrait of England and the English - and the unique place of both in world history.

Name: Anna Christie Age: Very, very early thirties Marital status: Living with boyfriendSex: It's been a while. Maybe six weeks? Career: Crafting sparkling features for magazine Casual Chic such as 'Man Boobs: Why No Marriage is Safe' Current dilemma: What to do when your much loved boyfriend of ten years gets down on one knee and pops the question you've been secretly dreading? Options: Stick - say yes, jump on the marriage bandwagon, accept that babies are now standard issue and always wonder if the grass is greener ...OR Twist - walk away, move onto your best friend's sofa, pine for your ex but perk up once sexy and seemingly perfect Harry comes breezing into your life... Hilarious, romantic and painfully honest, Stick or Twist proves that sometimes the most unlikely man turns out to be the One.

Now in a revised edition with extra material and a new introduction for 2014.'In a year which will see the Scots vote on independence, this book is a timely reminder of their country's fascinating past' Independent'History caught on the hoof and the wing by those who were actually there - a brilliant selection' Andrew MarrA vivid, wide-ranging and engrossing account of Scotland's history, composed of eye-witness accounts by those who experienced it first-hand. Contributors range from Tacitus, Mary Queen of Scots and Oliver Cromwell to Adam Smith, David Livingstone and Billy Connolly.These include key historic moments - ranging from Bannockburn and Flodden to the SNP parliamentary victory in 2007 - along with a vast array of wonderfully readable insights into the everyday life of Scotland through the millennia. This is living, accesible history told by crofters, criminals, servants, house-wives, poets, journalists, nurses, politicians, novelists, prisoners, comedians, sportsmen and many more.'An unqualified triumph, superb, a real page-turner . . . what a stirring, dramatic, poignant story it has been' Alexander McCall Smith, Spectator'Fascinating and very valuable. Goring gives us vivid snapshots of Scottish life and history from Neolithic times . . . should find a place in every Scottish home' Allan Massie, ScotsmanRosemary Goring took a degree in Economics and Social History at St Andrews University. She started her career in publishing in the role of in-house editor for Chambers Biographical Dictionary and has since edited and written for many reference books, among them the Larousse Dictionaries of Writers and Literary Characters. She was Literary Editor of Scotland on Sunday for several years before becoming Literary Editor of the Herald.

1793: the thunder of cannon fire echoes across the English Channel, chilling the stoutest hearts . . .The opening skirmishes of the French Revolutionary War send ageing frigate HMS Themis into waters swarming with enemy ships of the line. Instructed to survey the French coastline, she's soon in the thick of the action: cutlasses slash and bayonets skewer, cannons splinter decks and sever limbs. Onto the smoky deck strides young Lieutenant Charles Hayden. With an English father and a French mother, the Admiralty are reluctant to give Hayden his first command. Instead, he is to act as a bulwark between the Themis's tyrannical Captain Hart and a mutinous crew. Steering a course between the cowardly captain and the treacherous crew, English common sense and French pride, Hayden must first master his wits before challenging the might of the French naval war machine.