A Boy Full of Emptiness

"Leo tells the stories of his life as though he is living them all over again; it is an extraordinary gift. Every scene comes to life: every fragrance, every bad smell, every delicious morsel of food or stinging slap becomes real.”

Pete Townshend, The Who

This book is rich with the story of a boy born in the 1940s and coming of age in Lucca, a walled town in Tuscany still retaining the feeling of a medieval community. His narrative immerses the reader into the life of funny and sensuous adventures in an Italy suspended between Fascism, the war and the economic boom of the sixties. The story ends with the author travelling to England in search of riches and fulfilment.

A Broad View of Educational Perspectives

A Broad View of Educational Perspectives is for teachers and school leaders working in English as a Second Language. It is a comprehensive textbook written by Nicola Walsh, an experienced educator from Yorkshire, England. With a hands-on approach to education and a focus on what truly makes a difference in the lives of children and their families, this book is designed for teachers and school leaders working in English as a Second Language. It covers a wide range of topics, from language acquisition to classroom management, and assessment strategies to cultural considerations. The book is organized in chapters that are easy to read and understand, making it an ideal resource for educators at all levels. It offers a great way to explore and gain an understanding of the latest thinking in the field of English as a Second Language education, by choosing a topic and diving in. It is written in a simple and engaging style, with practical examples and case studies, making it an essential guide for any teacher or school leader working in this field. 

A Career Carol

A Career Carol is an irreverent take on the classic Christmas Carol, graduation commencement speakers, and Generation Z expectations. A wry and insightful take on how to successfully navigate a 30-to-40-year professional career. A Career Carol, bridges analogue and digital eras. What constitutes a successful career may have dramatically changed over the last 50 years, but the deeper journey we make as human beings across different life cycles, is eternal.Drs Schuster & Oxley’s take a different and decidedly modern approach to business and life advice. They set out to share real stories of how to navigate the big crises that most of us will have to navigate at some point. In the process, they give the past an entertaining and relevant future.The world, and business literature in particular, is overdue for Shey Sinope. As we witness his journey from reclusive cynical social critic to tentative member of a flawed, and sometimes unkind society, we are amused, provoked, saddened, but ultimately uplifted.

A Challenger's Song

A sensitive and lovingly told story mixing fact, action, letters, journals, song and oral history.
Pearson writes with a rich clarity and intelligence about his great grandfather, Charlie Collins, the boy who ran away to sea to become head stoker on the celebrated scientific expedition of the HMS Challenger (1872-76). Finding his feet as a blacksmith back in Brighton with wife Mary and family, we learn about the joys, hardships and everyday heroism of their lives within the grand sweep of 19th Century history.
Andrea Watts, writer and creative writing tutor

In 1872, HMS Challenger, powered by sail and steam, left Portsmouth for an epic voyage of ocean exploration. A Challenger’s Song combines a lifetime reimagined with a fresh account of the voyage seen through the eyes of the crew and scientists, drawing on their own letters and accounts.

‘I had read about the voyage of HMS Challenger before, but this combination of imaginative reconstruction and factual information for me shed a new light on life for those on board ... my appreciation of the men and boys whose hard work kept the Challenger going, and made possible the collection of samples which led to a transformation of our understanding of the deep oceans, was increased enormously ... The sea shanty section at the end is a nice bonus!
Angela Colling, Editor, Ocean Challenge.

A Clarinet Almanac

More than 60 years’ experience in playing the clarinet has led to a very personal and idiosyncratic review of the repertoire. From the point of view of being both a player and a programmer the author has endeavoured to find works for unusual combinations involving the clarinet. This book includes a few orchestral solos and several vocal works (both chamber and operatic), but it is focussed on chamber music and includes gems from the repertoire for the standard wind quintet. The clarinet features as a solo instrument, in duos with a surprisingly large variety of instruments and in mixed trios, quartets and so on to larger ensembles. During the course of one year the reader will be exposed to 366 works, probably some unfamiliar, by 245 different composers. The author hopes it will whet the appetites of students, teachers and concert organizers alike.

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie

A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a heartwarming and honest autobiographical book that tells the story of a woman’s life-changing journey alongside her partner, who has come out as transgender and now goes by the name Cassie. Through this compelling and intimate memoir, readers will gain insight into the challenges and triumphs of managing family life, raising children, and navigating a shifting dynamic in a long-term relationship. The author’s candid reflections on their journey together to explore new dimensions of love and intimacy, provide a refreshing perspective on gender and sexuality. From attending LGBT Pride events to exploring nightclubs and meeting supportive people along the way, this book is a tribute to the joys and surprises of life’s unexpected journeys. With humour, compassion, and love, A Couple’s Journey – Finding Cassie is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of gender identity, and the transformative power of human connection.

A Dramatic Inheritance

Get ready for a whirlwind ride as this book takes you on a captivating journey through the tumultuous life of the author’s mother. Beginning with her affair with the author’s father in 1935, the story delves into the complexities of their relationship, including two abortions, familial conflicts, and a marriage that was granted permission by an investigating Magistrate. Tragically, the story takes a sharp turn with the sudden death of the author’s father in a motorbike accident.

As the author’s mother navigates through the aftermath of this tragedy, the book explores her subsequent loves and children, all while weaving in a powerful thread of mental health struggles, including suicides, incest, and numerous deaths over the years. One particularly intriguing aspect of the story is the long romantic liaison between the author’s mother and a Chelmsford Royal Commission doctor, who later confesses to the affair.

The book also offers a unique glimpse into the functioning of a modern family coping with immense stress. With a compelling narrative and a richly detailed account of the author’s family history, this book is sure to keep you hooked until the very end.

A Glimmer of Hope

This is a true account of what I thought was a second chance of love and happiness after a sequence of life altering events. I was ready to begin a new chapter in my life, and that is exactly how it began. Little did I know that my vulnerability was being taken advantage of, for what I thought was a blossoming new relationship quickly turned into a violent and fearful fight for survival after three years.

I have recorded my story in the hope to raise awareness about domestic abuse but to also show any survivors that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Here is my story.

A Glimpse of North Sudan

North Sudan is a largely unknown, thought-to-be-unsafe land. A Glimpse of North Sudan aims to correct that. This book is far more than a travelogue. From diaries and photographs of a safe, non-alcoholic, wonderful holiday, it tells of a short tour of a smiling poor people with an ancient, frequently violent history, pyramids and tombs in royal cemeteries with wonderful paintings and reliefs to behold. It is a largely desert country but where the Blue and White Niles combine to form a majestic life-giving river on its way to the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, there are descriptions of black Sudanese pharaohs of Egypt, the lifestyle of a Bedouin family along with British involvement in ruling the country (a section on the Battle of Omdurman led by Kitchener with a young, ambitious Winston Churchill in the ranks) and of the civil wars since independence in 1956. Finally, it suggests a way out of the cul-de-sac of poverty and deprivation. This book is a must-read for the general-interest reader of a forgotten, though fascinating, land.

A Handbook for New Company Directors

Ever wanted to be a company director? Want to find out exactly what company directors do? This is a handbook for new board directors. It gives a thorough grounding in what a new board director (private, government and not-for-profit) needs to know to become and operate as a functioning, professional company board director. It is also a useful handbook and instruction manual for the experienced director to refer to for those complex and difficult decisions.

A Happé Ending

Every life comes to an end. It's inevitable. But not all deaths have to mean the end, they can also create new beginnings. When Nicola met Pete in her local pub, she never thought they'd be married with two kids within three years and she'd be widowed within ten. This is a true story of life, death, sadness, grief, irony and strength. And ultimately happiness. Life isn't easy and dealing with death is even harder.

A History of London Boroughs Through Beer Goggles (South East Edition)

Discover facts, fiction, trivia and history of some of London’s boroughs that you may not have known before.

All of this done whilst visiting some very interesting pubs and getting some exercise to boot!

Why not read and discover about a reputed spy for Russia, who lived in a quiet suburb unbeknownst to her neighbours for decades after WWII? Or learn about Her Majesty the Queen’s beasts and what they mean? Find out about the Fighting Temeraire and the part it played in the Battle of Trafalgar. And finally, uncover the Great Fires of London, but not the one everyone talks about.

A wealth of factoids which will astound your friends and family and could very well prepare you for some quiz nights!