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Byron and the Kindness of Strangers
In 1938, at the tender age of eighteen months, Byron Stratford Davis, the author of this memoir, first set foot on British soil. Remarkably, from that moment, his memories crystallized with exceptional clarity, etching themselves permanently in his mind.
His mother, with a German lover back in Hamburg, may or may not have come to England as a German spy. The decision of her true intent is left to the reader’s judgment. Raised in Scotland, his mother was far from the endearing or conventional figure one might wish for. By the age of eighteen months, Byron had already developed a deep mistrust of her, and by two, he had resolved to distance himself from her entirely. Hard to believe? That’s for you to judge! This tale unfolds in a modern Dickensian fashion, revealing its truths along the way.
More than just a World War II story, this narrative is unique in its exploration of friendship and the profound impact of the City of Brighton. It’s not only a recounting of survival and self-discovery but also a love story and a heartfelt tribute to the city and its remarkable inhabitants who played a pivotal role in shaping and rescuing him.
£9.99 -
No Greater Love
In 1914 the world was plunged into the greatest slaughter of humanity in history. Of the 60,000,000 soldiers who answered the call of King, Kaiser, God and country, 14% or 6,000 per day, died!
These were not just big numbers; they were real people. This book tries to capture some of the people who were caught up in this tragedy, and tells their story, often in their own words.
Here is revealed the heroism and tragedy of all who went ‘over the top’ between 1914 and 1918.
British, German or American, no matter which side of the conflict the individual was involved, the heroism, bravery and sacrifice was the same.
£8.99 -
Midnight Train From Georgia
Midnight Train from Georgia chronicles the incredible rise of Gladys Knight and the Pips from their origins singing in a small Atlanta church to their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. When two families’ destinies intertwine at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, they discover the extraordinary musical talents of their children. Young cousins William Guest, Eleanor Guest, Gladys Knight, Brenda Knight, and Bubba Knight unite their heavenly vocals to form The Pips gospel choir.
We follow William Guest from his formative years in Atlanta, where his love of music is kindled by evenings listening to his family perform rhythmic gospel songs on their porch. The Pips’ journey takes them from these humble back-porch jam sessions to struggle and sacrifice on the road to stardom. With faith, fortitude and William’s grandmother’s lessons to guide them, the group overcomes adversity through the transcendent power of their music.
Midnight Train from Georgia is an inspiring tale about the bonds of family, church and music. It’s a story of poverty to fortune, innocence to experience, and childhood friendship growing into Hall of Fame synergy. Their sweet harmonies touched millions over decades, but it all started with kids finding their voices in a small Georgia choir.
£9.99 -
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.
£9.99 -
Evolve: The Journey of a New Me
In the depths of societal expectations and the struggles of migration, Ellie unveils a profound narrative of resilience. From a challenging first marriage in Iran to the hurdles of cultural acclimatisation in Australia, her story navigates love, loss, and self-discovery with unwavering courage. Through her experiences, Ellie invites readers to embark on their own transformative journeys.
eVoLvE is a transformative non-fiction work that intertwines memoir with a universal guide to self-empowerment. Crafted by Dr Ellie Nik, this narrative traces a courageous journey through the intricacies of fighting societal norms, transcending cultural boundaries, moving continents, and discovering one’s true potential. With profound insights and heartfelt storytelling, this book serves as a beacon of inspiration for those seeking to break free from the confines of expectation and embrace the limitless possibilities of personal evolution.
£9.99 -
Mum’s Secret Diaries
A strong and moving memoir which offers a captivating and extremely rare insight into the life of an ordinary girl growing up in a British working class family in the 1950s.
Mary’s secret diaries discovered by her children, chronicle her early personal life experiences, successes, challenges and hardships in an amusing and delightfully innocent way. Mary’s first diary begins in 1952 when she is an impressionable fourteen-year-old, living in Berkshire, England and continues to 1956 when she turns eighteen. Through her eyes and subsequent diary entries, she recounts the fascinating dramas of a lively, sensitive young woman navigating her way through family life, finishing grammar school, entering the workplace at fifteen, all intertwined with juggling romantic interests and aspirational dreams.
Witness her day-to-day trials, happiness, and emotional struggles in a world of boys and married men, as she juggles a string of admirers, her sister’s favouritism and independence leading to a shock elopement, being forbidden to sing with a band, taking her first holiday abroad with friends where she reveals all the details of what went on, along with many other of life’s firsts.
Will she ever find ‘The One,’ or manage to resist buying those beautiful high heels?
The charm and honesty in which Mary regales her private life and the pickles she gets herself into, is so engaging and powerful that you can’t help but be drawn into her remarkable and totally relatable world, which additionally enlightens the reader of a bygone era of innocence, simplicity, and glamour.
£24.99 -
The Mallee Boy
This autobiography tells of a pioneer family settling and farming south eastern Australia with lots of interesting, heartwarming and funny stories. Edward Dickinson's grandfather, Francis, came from an old English farming family. In 1873, with the colonies offering new opportunities, he sailed to Australia on the Agamannon landing in St.Kilda, Victoria where he purchased 40 acres of prime land and developed a lucrative pig and dairy farm which helped feed the fast growing city of Melbourne. Edward's father was born there, but eventually left with his own growing family enticed by government promises of good cheap farmland opening up in north west Victoria. The intrepid couple travelled 340 miles in a covered wagon with 5 young girls to find it hot, dry and sandy.
In 1917 they had Ed, who grew up fast and strong in the area known as the Mallee. He loved country life but while still in his teens was city bound where he learned a trade, learned to box, found a wife, joined a war and always tried to demonstrate the qualities learned in his youth but nearly always missed the country. His observations and descriptive expression make for an entertaining and informative read set in a time and place seldom seen from this perspective.
£15.99 -
Endeavour to be a Cornish Fisherman
In his first book, An Unlikely Cornish Fisherman: The Early Years, Michael related his memories of having his first rowing and sailing boat ‘Hilda’, on his 10th birthday and of the period of his youthful years up to the summer of 1963.
Endeavour to be a Cornish Fisherman is a sequel in which Michael relates his story from 1963 through the following years until 1972. His is a unique story, in which he shares his transition from a successful Guided Weapons Draughtsman employed by the Admiralty to become a member of his father’s crew on the 35ft Looe fishing vessel ‘Endeavour.’ (FY 369).
Michael describes his inner fears and his fight to prove to his family/ peers that being a 7th Generation fisherman was in his genes. His story takes the reader through the death throes and the final demise of the once vibrant Cornish Pilchard Industry in Looe. This story includes the personalities and elderly crew members with whom Michael came into contact. Interspersed with many comical moments are graphic descriptions of some dangerous encounters that befell the ‘Endeavour’, which all fishermen face in their everyday job.
£8.99 -
No I'm Not A Pilot
The Royal Air Force is one of the most technologically advanced armed forces in the world, with a reputation for fighting well above its size and weight. To most people the first thought they have about the RAF is about pilots and aircrew – quite right too. But for every one of the pilots to take off and deliver a mission successfully there will be a team on the ground making that happen, actually around twenty people for each pilot (which makes the aircrew a vital, but relatively small percentage of the entire force). The daring exploits of our aviators are deservedly well documented, but what about the hundreds of people on the ground that never fly in combat missions and yet enable every single mission to actually happen?
This book is a very personal and sometimes emotional journey giving an insight into life in the RAF from the late 1970s to the end of the century, for just one of the support trades – Trade Group No 1: the aircraft armourer. After all, as the founder of the RAF – Lord Trenchard is reputed to have said “without armament, there is no Air Force”. What the armourers say (tongue firmly in cheek) is that without armament, the RAF would be a glorified flying club!
£18.99 -
Reflections on a Bathroom Mirror
The mirror has no preferences. Whoever peers into that pool of light sees a faithful image, albeit laterally inverted. The young boy had looked into the bathroom mirror perhaps a thousand times with casual confidence, but today, the reflection felt surprising and strangely alien. It had to mean something. Thus began a quest that spanned his entire life, filled with many kinds of adventures, both external and internal. His journey crossed continents and led him to explore the deepest places of the mind and heart. It required keen observation and demanded ultimate honesty. Sometimes he stumbled; other times, he rejoiced. Ultimately, his goal was to answer that age-old question: who am I and where do I fit into the scheme of things? This question is everyone’s question, and it suggests that by polishing our own mirrors, we might discover something wholly renewed.
£9.99 -
Surviving the Asylum
In this raw and poignant memoir, Michael recounts his harrowing journey through the psychiatric system and his struggle to find purpose after losing custody of his beloved autistic grandson.
After a suicide attempt lands him in a geriatric psychiatric ward for the third time in recent years, Michael finds himself cut off from the outside world and the grandson he raised for three decades. Facing abuse and isolation, he contemplates ending it all.
But a lifeline appears in the form of his vocal coach and support worker, who encourage him to channel his pain into art. As Michael discovers new passions in singing, painting, and poetry, he forges an unexpected friendship with a fellow patient that reignites his will to live.
This powerful story of resilience and reinvention shows how creativity and human connection can offer hope even in the darkest of times. Michael’s journey reminds us that it’s never too late to find a new voice and a reason to keep singing.
£22.99 -
Military Wife
Military Wife is a powerful, honest and true autobiography of an incredibly strong, independent and family-orientated woman.
The catalogue of emotions of love, loss and endurance of adulthood embrace relatable situations, some familiar and some alien.
Her brutal honesty and humour captures you in the web of family values whilst fighting her own war in her internal family.
A fantastic read from an original perspective, Elise Spencer-Hughes has opened up the door to what life is really like on the other side of the battleground. Be embraced by a mother, sister, friend and an ex-army wife that fought for her own self-worth.
£10.99