-
American Stories
Embark on a captivating journey through the eyes of a foreign student as he navigates the rapidly evolving cultural landscape of the United States in the 1960s. These deeply personal memoirs offer a unique perspective on a nation in the midst of a profound transformation, as experienced by someone who finds himself immersed in a world vastly different from his own.From the bustling streets of Long Island, New York, to the hallowed halls of Princeton, the free-spirited atmosphere of Berkeley, the expansive plains of Texas, and the rugged beauty of New Mexico, the author’s academic pursuits take him on a cross-country adventure. As he diligently studies and works, he finds himself swept up in the powerful currents of the anti-war movement, the rise of black power, and the exhilarating spirit of Woodstock.Far from being a mere observer, the author is an active participant in the unfolding cultural revolution, sharing his own hopes, joys, despairs, and moments of alienation. Through his interactions with the people he encounters, even in the face of adversity, he discovers uplifting experiences that shape his personal growth and understanding of the world around him.
£3.50 -
Marathon des Sables – A Type 1 Diabetes Adventure
After being entranced by the exotic allure of life in the Middle East during a five-year stint in Saudi Arabia, an irresistible opportunity for an extreme adventure in the Moroccan Sahara presents itself. Coupled with the unexpected eruption of a volcano in Iceland, the stage is set for a non-stop, exhilarating journey from beginning to end. What was meant to be a leisurely plane ride back to the tranquil Lake District in England transforms into an unforgettable cross-country odyssey through the captivating landscapes of Morocco and Spain. From planes to trains and overnight ferries, this tale of adventure is so extraordinary, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was fiction.
£3.50 -
From Istanbul to Haifa
This book is based on the true story of five siblings who played pivotal roles in the most significant political and historical events that unfolded in the Levant region between the years 1890 and 1948 CE. These events were instrumental in the emergence of entire nations in the Middle East, the collapse of others, and continue to be the primary influence on everything we have experienced and are living today.Within the pages of this book, we traverse a diverse geographical and historical landscape encompassing the Levant, Egypt, Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, and Iran. We witness the Arabs’ attempts to realize their dream of building an independent unified Arab state, The alleged efforts by the superpowers of that age to undermine and thwart their aspirations were akin to conspiracies against their dreams, and the establishment of the Zionist entity in Palestine. The reader is taken through historical events starting from the Balkan Wars and the fall of the Ottoman Empire to the establishment of the Arab state, the correspondences of Hussein McMahon, the role of Lawrence of Arabia, the Sykes-Picot Agreement, and the onset of French and British mandates, culminating in the founding of the Zionist entity.It is worth noting that the information presented in this book is documented from the memoirs left by the five siblings, testimonies from many who lived through those times, and various historical sources. The information is presented in a captivating and dramatic narrative, bringing the characters to life in vivid detail, allowing you to experience history as if you are living it in all its intricacies.
£3.50 -
The Tramcar will Return
Electric tramways formed the backbone of most towns and cities in the first half of the twentieth century. But when they got in the way of cars, they had to go. People loved their trams, they took them to school, to work, to go shopping, to the cinema and to football matches. When the last Glasgow tram ran in 1962, a quarter of a million Glaswegians braved the pouring rain to say goodbye. Thirty years later, trams were re-invented to help combat congestion and environmental impacts of the car. Both eras are covered in this book by an engineer who witnessed the demise of the tram and its revival, playing a major role in getting trams onto the streets of Manchester in 1992. Now trams are running again in London, Edinburgh and cities in between. This is a personal story about the last tramways in Britain and the new generation of light rail systems, a term invented to avoid any confusion with old double deckers clanking down the middle of the road. It is interlaced with stories of tramways in the UK, Europe and beyond, gained when working as an international light rail consultant.
£3.50 -
Josephine Butler’s Great Crusade
JOIN THE CRUSADE!Josephine Butler… one of the world’s most influential social reformers… but chances are, you’ve never heard of her.Welcome to Victorian Britain. Meet Josey, a Northumbrian lass, blissfully married to George, a brilliant teacher. When a shocking tragedy shatters their family life, she transforms herself into a tireless champion of women’s rights.The crusade takes her into every corner of Britain and exposes a harrowing underworld in the great capitals of Europe too. What is the crusade’s aim, and what gruesome trials and tribulations must Josephine endure in its pursuit?Discover Josephine’s opponents and allies, why she never gives up, and how her legacy continues more than a century later to shape today’s world.This new dramatisation of her amazing true story is not for the squeamish or faint-hearted.
£3.50 -
Archaeology at Two Australian Universities 1971 to 2023
This book is about the author’s time as an academic archaeologist attached to the University of New England, Armidale NSW, and the Australian National University, Canberra ACT, Australia. It continues the autobiographical account in Prelude, published in 2011 and From Cambridge to Lake Chad published in 2019. It discusses his experiences as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Professor and Emeritus Professor. This memoir also considers the role of many other people with whom he was associated.Covering the period of 1971 to 2023, it charts the development of the field of archaeology in the Australian context.
£3.50 -
Visible Gold
The South Africa of the early nineties and especially the mining industry was known for its deep-seated racism. But for people working in the depths of those mines, there was a strong bond of respect and care. The truth of this is evident in the interactions described in this book. Told by a man who toiled alongside both heroes and victims in the shadows below, these pages reveal what newspapers never could. Here are the unforgiving realities of rockfalls and explosions, but also the gentle heroism of those who helped each other survive. Any man might save or comfort another if disaster struck. Away from the apartheid sun, skin colour matters less than a colleague’s hands hauling you to safety.South Africa is a land of unforgiving landscapes and merciless predators but is full of forgiving and gentle people who will prove to be its salvation. Nowhere shows this stark contrast more than the gold mines – at once negligent and nurturing, lethal and life-giving. These true stories deserve remembering, for they reveal hope and redemption glow in the darkest of places.
£3.50 -
The Special Lady
This book takes you on Elizabeth’s transformative journey, showcasing how she embraced and overcame life’s challenges.Elizabeth’s resilience shines through as she faces various obstacles, demonstrating her ability to bounce back from setbacks.By fostering a growth mindset, she learns to perceive challenges as opportunities for personal development and growth.The book emphasizes the significance of self-care and making healthy lifestyle choices, which can enhance overall well-being and minimize the risk of encountering life’s hurdles.Embarking on a path of self-growth allows individuals to discover a greater sense of purpose and meaning in life.
£3.50 -
Goodbye Mr Krupps
A vivid and entertaining account of one man’s extraordinary life, guided by a love of steam trains and an unerring vision to be an engine driver in the days when steam ruled the rails. See through the eyes of a small boy the first stirrings of this enduring passion as, in rapt fascination, he watches trains on the Hull & Barnsley main line in the 1940s, and witness the bucolic beauty of rural life, allied with the poverty and shear hard graft of farm work during the war years, when it seems his dream will be crushed by the daily grind and drudgery.Share the author’s exuberance as, having hazarded all, he succeeds in joining the London & North Eastern Railway as a lad porter, before being introduced to the hallowed world of the Locomotive Department, progressing through the ranks to finally fulfil his dream. On this journey share his exhilaration as he thunders down the main line on a locomotive pushed to its limits, spewing fire and brimstone; and witness a host of steam train escapades, adventures, and mishaps, from the farcical to tragic.Finally, travel with him to exotic Tanganyika/Tanzania in the 1960s where, during 12 years with East African Railways, he experiences the challenges of epic journeys through the heart of the sun-baked bush, breakdowns, derailments, flooded tracks, and violent mutiny, as well as the joy of driving the mighty and exemplary 30 Class, ending with the pinnacle of his career: that of becoming Locomotive Inspector.
£3.50 -
My Truth Might Not Be Yours
‘Anoscetia’ – The anxiety of not knowing ‘the real you’ (John Koenig). McCabe never really knew her ‘real Anna’, going in search of this when she decided to go on the journey enclosed within these covers. A tale so common, yet so unfortunately rarely shared, McCabe details her life to share with those who might walk in similar (or not) shoes to her. McCabe’s poignant yet unfussy account of abuse at the hands of her guardians deals with this ‘taboo’ subject in ways that will open the eyes of those who have never experienced it yet, allow those who have, to find their own voice.What will McCabe reveal? The taboo must be broken.
£3.50 -
Diary of a Wartime Unmarried Mother
This diary gives a remarkably vivid description of the life of Doreen Bates, a professional young woman, who went against the social norms of her time to intentionally have twins fathered by an older married, but childless, colleague in the Inland Revenue, where they both worked as Income Tax Inspectors. At the time the twins were born Doreen did not know if their father could, or would, form part of the family. In the event, he was able to make frequent visits and helped practically, emotionally and financially with the childrens’ upbringing.The diary commences a few months after the twins were born. Doreen lived with them and a live-in nanny in South London where they experienced relentless days and nights of enemy bombing. In 1944 the twins and their nanny were evacuated to the incomparably safer and beautiful rural setting of a Wiltshire village where Doreen joined them for every weekend.In contrast to the chaos and fear that accompanied the wartime conditions, Doreen’s emotional life is much less turbulent than in the previous volume of her diary. This reflects the profound satisfaction she felt as a result of achieving her dream of having children. She was a remarkably enlightened parent. Her recording of their lives in this diary is detailed, intimate, and often humorous. Historical happenings are mentioned, but form only the incidental backdrop to her domestic and professional life.“Brimming with soul, passion, candour and wit, the diaries of Doreen Bates are an extraordinary read, giving a vivid insight into the life of a woman unvanquished by her time, a woman who leaps from the page so strikingly that you feel your pulse beating in time with hers. Edited in an act of great love and generosity by her children, they should take their place as one of the essential diaries of the twentieth century for the window they offer into another world, another heart.”– Lucy Caldwell
£3.50 -
Chocolate Crackle Saturdays
The eighties were a totally rad time when denim was acceptable on both top and bottom. Hair gel wasn’t for neatness, but gravity defying style. Neon pink and blue were coupled together like vanilla ice cream and Ice Magic. The beige station wagon was the only vehicle for road trips and dingy motels were well rated. Eight-bit video games were new and thrilling, while movies were big and brave. McDonald's was part of the weekly diet and Pizza Hut reigned supreme. We loved it all, especially on Saturdays when chocolate crackles fuelled every Nintendo session and BMX adventure.Join JP Pelosi as he fires up the DeLorean to whiz us back to the nexus of contemporary pop culture - the 1980s. Madonna, Pac-Man, Knight Rider, Chicken McNuggets, the video store and the Sony Walkman. It's all here, brought back to life in this nostalgic memoir about childhood joys, family life and the thrill of a perfect Saturday afternoon riding skateboards and trading football cards.So, slip on your shutter shades, gang, pull up a Garfield-themed beanbag and let's relive the greatest decade ever!
£3.50
Discover