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Crossing the Bridges
At the turn of the twentieth century, Central and Eastern Europe was a configuration of nations dominated by three empires: Austrian, German and Russian, whose borders promised to be set in concrete. The Austrian Empire was a multi-ethnic entity of countries that had been absorbed over time. Among these were Polish lands annexed by Austria in the eighteenth century, which became the Austrian province of Galicia, where Zofia Neuhoff was born in 1905 into an upper-middle-class family. Victorian manners reigned supreme, young ladies were coached to gracefully alight from the carriage and ‘culture’ was a magic word, socially distinguishing people who possessed it from those who did not. That haute bourgeoisie morphed into the central-European intelligentsia.
Zofia’s childhood was upended by five years of WWI which she spent in the picturesque environs of Innsbruck. By 1918, the three imperishable empires disintegrated and several sovereign states emerged from the ruins. After the Neuhoffs returned to independent Poland, Zofia’s life continued on an even keel with a happy marriage and a law degree unusual for a woman in the 1930s. In September 1939, Poland was invaded by both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. Overnight, Zofia’s existence was shattered. Alone, with an 18-month-old toddler, in the midst of mass arrests and deportations of civilian population, how could she cope with this new harsh reality for which her sheltered life had not prepared her?
£23.99 -
Crossroads in Time Philby and Angleton A Story of Treachery
A never-before-told account of the infamous relationship between the notorious British spy and Soviet agent Harold “Kim” Philby and the CIA’s Associate Director of Operations for Counter Intelligence, James Jesus Angleton. Readers will be drawn into the plot and story line of this historical thriller and real-life spy story. It’s an exciting and fast-paced retelling that promises to shine a light on this major moment in the Cold War. Readers are invited to draw their own conclusions about the events revealed in this book.
£15.99 -
Cuban, Immigrant, and Londoner
What does a certificate of naturalistion mean to an immigrant in Brexit-plagued modern Britain? How do we navigate the various identity markers we acquire through life? Which ones stand out? Which ones blend in and get forgotten? And why? How does language affect the process of adaptation to a new country? Should writing from an “English as an Additional Language (EAL)” perspective be seen through the prism of aesthetics (writing per se) or identity politics? What is masculinity in the 21st century? How big is the Afro-Cuban scene in London nowadays? Is it time the Cuban government acknowledged Virgilio Piñera’s contribution to the island’s literary canon and apologised for the way it treated the writer? What is the linguistic future of the next Latin American generation?
Throughout almost a hundred pages, I will attempt to answer these and other questions. However, if you finish the book and are left with more interrogative sentences than statements, I will feel just as satisfied. My job as a writer has been done.
£13.99 -
Dan, The Lollipop Man
Meet Dan, the Lollipop Man. He gets up at 6.00 o’clock every morning! What does he do that means he must wake up so early? Very important work, of course. School children and their Mums and Dads depend on him. They even put their lives in his hands! Every day, in all weathers, Dan helps the children to cross the busy road safely, on their way to school. He never lets them down. Dan is always cheerful. He never complains.
Dan talks to everyone. He swings round lampposts. Even the littlest humans who have just learned to walk, smile, and say, “Good Morning, Lollipop Man!” to Dan. He loves everyone and everyone loves him, especially children. And Dogs, lots of dogs.
Meet his friends, the twins, Old Mrs Clover, a cat on a lead! Meet Marvellous Mums and Dynamic Dads with their pushchairs, as Dan guides them through the traffic. Join Dan the Lollipop Man on his daily quest to get Mona and Charlie, and all the other children he loves, safely to school each day.
£13.99 -
Dara
Dara is a story of a legendary boy, which dates back to early 1940s. He is born in a poor family, in a remote village of Vaidan Di Kotli, situated at Indo-Pak border. His life is full of struggle and adventures. He is a fortunate child born in an unfortunate family.
During Indo-Pak partition in 1947, people migrate in large volumes from either sides of the border. Dara’s family settles in a village called Khilchian, 30kms from Amritsar. A school master sees a sparkle in Dara’s eyes and convinces his step-mother to put him in a school, but he finds true friends amidst the immortal elements of nature and animals. Later, the school master encourages him to join the Army.
Dara meets a caring friend in a recruitment camp. After joining his regiment, he discovers a band of brothers…a family beyond blood.
Once, while crossing a graveyard, he gets trapped in a vicious circle. It’s a rendezvous with death. While he is away, his sister, Beero, is forcibly married. Dara sinks in a deep anguish.
Dara falls in love with a beautiful damsel and is submerged into an ocean of romance.
£11.99 -
Darling Untold
Lovely Jan,
With her radio, knee-high socks, and curls.
In some ways she was different to other lovely girls.
She had two wonky eyes that made things hard to see.
If you held up two fingers, Jan most likely saw three!
But Jan didn’t mind,
Not one little bit,
It made her ears better at listening to trumpets...
£15.99 -
Dead Plague
Warning: do not read this book if you are of a sensitive disposition!
Within this book lies a collection of short stories each different from the other but all connect with aspects of horror, suspense and survival, set within a post-apocalyptic world, where the dead have risen from an unknown viral outbreak, that abidingly seek the flesh of the remaining survivors.
The remaining humans attempt to find some semblance of a life on a reformed earth created by the dead. Each story depicts how the dead have reshaped the lives of the survivors and illustrates how they struggle to conform to the change while trying to hold onto some sanity and attempt to continue with life while pondering how long that life will be.
£10.99 -
Dealing with a Head injury at Nine Years Old
After suffering a severe head injury at nine years old, Henry has embraced the difficulties of his condition. In this book, he depicts what it was like growing up between the ages of thirteen and twenty-five with a small learning disability. His quirky and bold writing style makes the reader engage their critical thinking, as they wonder whether he will win out in the end.
Unlike most memoir writers, Henry chooses not to end his story; he wonders if he will ever need an ending. Brain damage is a tricky topic and Henry certainly isn’t easy on himself. After reading his first-person account of waking up from a coma, the reader may wonder how he has been able to accomplish so much. In the end, and in the light of his parents’ support, Henry will never know how much his head Injury has really affected his life.£10.99 -
Death by Dementia
You have two extremely active individuals, mid-60s, looking to many more years of future travel, boating, loyal companionship and retirement. How things can change! Not feeling well in one instance, forgetting what one did with the car keys in the other.
A routine unconcerned visit to the GP, subsequent referral to a specialist and in 48 hours your life is in turmoil.
“You have dementia Mrs Mclean, it’s in the early stages and in your case the CT scans have identified Alzheimer’s. No, there is presently no cure.”
We then roll the dice once more. “You have a carcinoid tumour Mr Mclean. Its metastatic and barely noticeable. However, we have made an appointment for you to see a leading professor of oncology who may put you on trial for a new form of tumour suppressant.”
It’s the two words that everyone fears dementia and cancer.
This, therefore, is a deadly personal journey dealing with the many and varied implications of dementia. In this instance it meant caring for my best friend, confidant, advisor, lover and wife of 50 years, whilst fighting my own diagnosis.
Misdiagnosed, undiagnosed, misunderstood and often denied, this killer with no conscience, now mainstream, leaves but an empty shell as a memory.
If you know anyone with dementia, have been diagnosed in the early stages of dementia or if you are caring for a person with dementia, then you should definitely read this story of love, loyalty, passion and patience. A tale of never-ending belief in the future.
£11.99 -
Dede and the Squirrel
Squirrel adored eating nuts and loved the bird feeders in the garden, full of seeds and peanuts. Dédé loved the bird feeders too but wanted them kept only for the birds. Who would win the battle? Squirrel with his agility and determination, or Dédé with his increasingly desperate measures to stop that squirrel in his tracks?
£14.99 -
Delany's Progress
Delany left the army after becoming seriously injured whilst on active duty in foreign parts. He was repatriated to England and when he was fully recovered, and because of his admiration for the positive actions of a police officer friend, he joined the Constabulary.
His new employers soon became aware that he would make an excellent officer and that he was particularly adept at deep undercover work.
This book covers some of his, at times death defying, adventures.
£12.99 -
Deli
While living in Turkey, I was struck by the large number of dogs roaming the streets, each tagged to indicate vaccinations provided by local authorities. These resilient animals relied on the compassion of locals for food and water, revealing a society polarized between love and disdain for these creatures.
We later became involved with a group of devoted volunteers who journeyed to the hills surrounding Baghdad every Sunday. There, we offered sustenance and shelter to hundreds of abandoned dogs. Astonishingly, these animals – though hardened by life’s adversities – longed for nothing more than a touch of affection. Some were shy, yet many were endlessly loving and never aggressive.
Inspired by true events, this book weaves a heartfelt, fictional tale around Deli, an especially loving dog who lived near my home in Turkey. The story is a touching testament to the enduring spirit and boundless affection of these often-overlooked animals. Discover the real-life magic and emotional depth found in the everyday lives of Turkey’s street dogs, especially our dear Deli.
£15.99