Aeschylus

Aesop lived in the early sixth century BC on the island of Samos, which lies off the coast of modern Turkey. He originally came from Thrace which was a separate country in those days, though it now forms part of Greece and Bulgaria. Very little is known about his life except that he worked as a slave on Samos for a master called Iadmon, and that he became a very famous storyteller. He was so famous that almost any fable which could have been told by him became attributed to him.

Aesop

Afsaneh Knight

Afsaneh Moqadam

Afua Hirsch is a writer, filmmaker, and journalist. She is the author of Brit(ish), the Sunday Times bestseller that explores Britishness, identity and belonging, for which she was awarded the Royal Society of Literature Jerwood Prize for Non-Fiction. She co-presented Enslaved, a 6-part series about the transatlantic slave trade with Samuel L Jackson. She is the presenter of the Audible podcast series We Need To Talk About the British Empire, and Africa Rising, an ongoing flagship series about art and culture for the BBC, through her production company Born in Me Productions. She is a longtime columnist for the Guardian and is a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California.

Afua Hirsch

AGAPI STASSINOPOULOS is an author, blogger and international speaker who inspires audiences around the world. She has spoken at many corporations and conferences, such as Nike Women, Starbucks,Time Inc., Virgin, Johnson &amp; Johnson and the American Heart Foundation. She was born in Athens and trained in London at RADA before gaining a Master’s in psychology at the University of Santa Monica. She has collaborated with her sister, Arianna Huffington, to develop talks and seminars, and has worked with the Oprah Winfrey network. She is currently hosting a new podcast series in collaboration with The Huffington Post, entitled ‘Sundays with Agapi’, which includes guided meditations and interviews with prominent guests. She lives in Los Angeles.

Agapi Stassinopoulos

Agatha Christie

Aggie MacKenzie

Aghnia Mardiyah is a London-based Illustrator and Character Designer with a passion for children's books and animation. She is drawn to fun, bright and vibrant colours. When she isn't disappearing under piles of work, she loves to travel! Exploring foreign places, exciting new sights and sensations is what inspires her the most!

Aghnia Mardiyah

Agnes Callard is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago. Her primary areas of specialization are ancient philosophy and ethics. She has written for The New York Times, New Yorker, Atlantic, Harper’s, Boston Review, and penned a monthly column for the Point. From 2019 to 2020, she held a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for the research that contributes to this book.

Agnes Callard

Agnes Jekyll

Agnes Bertha Marshall (24 August 1855-29 July 1905) was an English culinary entrepreneur who became a leading cookery writer, dubbed the 'Queen of Ices'. Her 1888 cookery book included a recipe for 'cornets with cream', possibly the earliest publication of the edible ice cream cone. Marshall was born in Walthamstow. She wrote four books: Ices Plain and Fancy: The Book of Ices (1885), Mrs A B Marshall's Book of Cookery (1888), Mrs A B Marshall's Larger Cookery Book of Extra Recipes (1891) and Fancy Ices (1894).

Agnes Marshall

Agnes Prus

Agri Ismaïl is a Kurdish author based in Sweden who has worked as a corporate lawyer in London, Dubai, and Iraqi Kurdistan. His work has been published in The White Review, The Rumpus, Litro, 3:AM Magazine, and Asymptote amongst other places. His piece 'Haunted Home' won the 2016 Stack award for best non-fiction for The Outpost, runner-up in the Lifted Brow &amp; RMIT non/fictionLab Prize for Experimental Non-Fiction, and he was longlisted for the 2017/2018 Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize. Hyper is his first novel.

Agri Ismaïl

Aharon Appelfeld authored more than 45 acclaimed works of fiction and nonfiction and received many international awards including the MLA Commonwealth Award, the Independent Foreign Fiction prize, the prix Médicis étranger, the Israel prize, and the Nelly Sachs prize. Born in Czernowitz, Bukovina (now part of Ukraine) in 1932, he survived the Holocaust and passed away in Israel in 2018.

Aharon Appelfeld

Ahmadou Kourouma

Ahmed Alnaouq is a Palestinian journalist and human rights activist based in London. He is the co-founder and director of We Are Not Numbers and a journalist with Palestine Deep Dive. Ahmed holds a degree in English Literature from Al-Azhar university in Gaza, and an MA in International Journalism from Leeds University, where he was a Chevening Scholar. 
 
Pam Bailey is a social-justice activist and journalist based in Washington DC. She lived and worked in the Gaza Strip following the 2008/9 Israeli assault, and co-founded We Are Not Numbers. Today, in addition to her ongoing dedication to the Palestinian cause, she dedicates herself to two nonprofits that advocate for people detained in American prisons -- including one she co-founded in 2020, called More Than Our Crimes.

Ahmed Alnaouq

Ahmed Errachidi

Ahmed Rashid

Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar

Ahron Bregman is the author of four books about Israel and the Arabs: The Fifty Years War (with Jihan el Tahri), Israel's Wars, A History of Israel and Elusive Peace. He teaches at the Department of War Studies, King's College London.

Ahron Bregman

Ai Qing is regarded as one of the finest modern Chinese poets, whose free verse was influential in the development of new poetry in China.

Ai Qing

Ai Weiwei

Aidan Chambers was born in County Durham in 1934. After national service in the Royal Navy he became a teacher and then, for seven years, a monk. His young adult novels have been widely acclaimed, with POSTCARDS FROM NO-MAN'S LAND winning the prestigious Carnegie Medal and the US Michael L Printz Award. With his wife Nancy he ran Signal magazine and he has served as the president of the School Library Association. His devoted services to children's literature were recognised by his receipt of the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002.

Aidan Chambers

Aidan Higgins was born in 1927. Langrishe Go Down, his first novel, won the James Tait Black memorial Prize and the Irish Academy of Letters Award, and was later filmed for television with a screenplay by Harold Pinter. His second novel, Balcony of Europe, was shortlisted for the 1972 Booker Prize. The novel Lions of the Grunewald appeared in 1993 and a collection of shorter fiction, Flotsam and jetsam, in 1996. Donkey's Years and Dog Days were the first two volumes of the Higgins Bestiary which concludes with this volume.

Aidan Higgins

Aidan Mathews

Aidan Potts

Aidan Smith

Aidan Storey

Aidan Trimble is the Chief Instructor to the Federation of Shotokan Karate and a former British, European and World Karate Champion, winning the world title in Tokyo - the home of Karate. Aidan has trained with some of the world's leading teachers of 'traditional' and 'sport' karate and is now an award-winning instructor and teacher who is in demand throughout the world. He can be contacted via www.fsk-karate.com.

Aidan Trimble

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Patrick Robinson

Let international bestseller and multi-million copy selling author Patrick Robinson take you on a fast-moving adventure: international espionage, nuclear warfare, terrifying battle scenes and heartstopping man-to-man combat...it has it all! Fans of Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler and Frederick Forsyth will not be disappointed... 
 
'A stunner that irresistibly hurtles the reader to its exciting climax' -- Clive Cussler 
'Gripping... a sure hit' -- Publishers Weekly 
'Mind-blowing' -- The Daily Mirror 
'Great book, great author, always edge of the seat stuff' -- ***** Reader review 
'Brilliant. Compulsive reading.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Grabbed me from the start and I was sorry when I reached the end' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************************** 
ONE UNDERCOVER MISSION THAT COULD HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES 
 
Tensions between Siberia and Moscow have been running high for a while, but the sudden disappearance of leading top-tier Siberian politicians and oil executives sparks open outrage and brings relations to boiling point. 
 
Terrified that Siberia will deprive Russia of its most important oil source, Moscow turns to a new supplier in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands. In an undercover mission, they persuade Argentina to invade the islands again and strike a bargain: in return for oil rights, Moscow's hunter-killer submarine, Viper 157, will take out the British aircraft carrier arriving to recapture the islands, leaving Argentina free to claim the 'Malvinas'. 
 
The United States are furious at this act of international piracy - and the fact that their largest oil giant owns the very same oil rights. Under the stern eye of Admiral Morgan, the navy SEALs bring in the legendary Commander Rick Hunter. Their mission: to hammer Argentina's military and free the Falklands. 
 
For the fabled Hunter, the assignment has struck close to home. His brother-in-law and an SAS special forces team are trapped on East Falkland... 
 
It's an international crisis, and there can only be one victor...

Ghost Force

an unputdownable action thriller that will set your pulse racing!

Douglas Reeman

Readers of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith will love this stirring tale of naval warfare, bravery and courage from multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman. With battle scenes so vivid and immediate, you'll feel in the midst of the action! 
 
'A stirring tale of the Atlantic war...one can almost smell the sea and the burning oil as Hitler's U-boats wreak havoc' -- Sunday Express 
'Vivid naval action at its most authentic' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' --The Times 
'Douglas Reeman at his best' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another first-class book from this author' -- ***** Reader review 
'Could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'An excellent read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
'Typical Douglas Reeman. MARVELLOUS' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************** 
The Western Ocean. 1942: from the bridge of HMS Gladiator, Lieutenant-Commander David Howard's orders were chillingly clear. There could be no mercy. 
 
To the men who fought to protect the vital, threatened Merchant Navy convoys in the Western Approaches, the Battle of the Atlantic was a full-scale war; a relentless, savage war against an ever-present enemy and a violent sea - in an arena known only to its embittered survivors as the killing ground. 
 
HMS Gladiator was part of that war. An ordinary, hard-worked destroyer and her company of men. Fighting for survival in a war with no rules...

Killing Ground

a no-holds-barred tale of naval warfare from Douglas Reeman, the all-time bestselling master of storyteller of the sea

There will be days when you wonder at and question some of the risks you had to take, the sacrifices you were forced to offer in the face of death.' 
 
Kiel Harbour, 1945 - the war in Europe is at an end. But for Lieutenant Vere Marriott and the men of MGB 801, moored amid a nightmare of devastation, it is an uneasy, unsettled peace. 
 
New assignments ashore and afloat mean fresh tensions and conflicting emotions. For some, glory now takes second place to profit. For others, revenge at last sems within their grasp. 
 
No one is shooting at Marriott now. But dangers come thick and fast - from confrontation with the Russians to his feelings for Fraulein Geghim. There is more to victory than survival ...

The White Guns

Craig Russell

From the pen of prizewinning and bestselling author Craig Russell, comes this exquisitely plotted, intelligent and blindingly original crime thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. If you like Stuart MacBride, James Oswald and Ian Rankin, you won't be disappointed. 
 
'A blood-curdlingly clever plot...thoughtful and imaginative' - THE TIMES 
'A gorgeous, grisly serial-killer tale' - EXPRESS 
'I read this book in one sitting, sat on the edge of my seat and tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Addictive' -- ***** Reader review 
'An absolutely gripping read!' -- ***** Reader review 
'I really couldn't put this down and was disappointed every time I had to stop reading.' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************** 
FAIRY TALES DON'T ALWAYS END WELL... 
 
A Hamburg beach: a girl's body lies, posed, on the pale sand, a message concealed in her hand. 'I have been underground, and now it is time for me to return home...' 
 
Jan Fabel, of the Hamburg murder squad, struggles to interpret the twisted imagery of a dark and brutal mind. Four days later, a man and a woman are found deep in woodland, their throats slashed, the names 'Hansel' and 'Gretel', rolled tight and pressed into their hands. 
 
As it becomes clear that each new crime is a grisly reference to folk stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, the hunt is on for a serial killer who is exploring our darkest, most fundamental fears. 
 
A predator who kills and then disappears into the shadows. A monster we all learned to fear in childhood.

Brother Grimm

(Jan Fabel: book 2): a grisly, gruesome and gripping crime thriller you won’t be able to put down. THIS IS NO FAIRY TALE.

Tom Harper

If you love Conn Iggulden, Lindsey Davis and Steven Pressfield, you will love this breathtaking historical adventure, brimming with murder, betrayal, bloodshed and romance, from the pen of prizewinning author Tom Harper. 
 
'Harper's portrayal of Byzantium and the intrigues that threaten its destruction is vivid and convincing.' -- Sunday Times 
'Harper effortlessly draws the reader into an unfamiliar time bringing alive the characters and their motivations' -- Publisher's Weekly 
'A must read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb read. Thoroughly enjoyed it' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real joy to read. Keeps you wanting to read more, griping and exciting right to the end'-- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************* 
 
BETRAYAL AND BLOODSHED. WHO WILL CONQUER? 
 
August, 1098: after countless battles and sieges, the surviving soldiers of the first crusade are at last within reach of their ultimate goal - Jerusalem. But rivalries fester and new enemies are massing against them in the Holy Land. 
 
 Demetrios Askiates, the Emperor's spy, has had enough of the crusade's violence and hypocrisy and longs to return home. But when a routine diplomatic mission leads to a deadly ambush, he realises he has been snared in the vast power struggles which underlie the crusade. The only way out now leads through the Holy City. 
 
 From the plague-bound city of Antioch to the heart of Muslim Egypt, Demetrios must accompany the army of warlords and fanatics to the very gates of Jerusalem. 
 
But what awaits him there is an apocalypse of pillage, bloodshed and slaughter...Who will be the victor? 
 
Siege of Heaven ends the Crusade trilogy. Have you read The Mosaic of Shadows and Knights of the Cross?

Siege of Heaven

(The Crusade Trilogy: III): a powerful, fast-paced and exciting adventure steeped in the atmosphere of the First Crusade

Alexander Kent

If you like Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, you will love this gripping and swashbuckling maritime tale from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent - guaranteed to keep you hooked! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'Addictive' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rattling good tale...Alexander Kent captures the ethos of Nelson's navy as well as any writer before or since.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
'Could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fantastic book by an outstanding author' -- ***** Reader review 
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1813: with convoys from Canada and the Caribbean falling victim to American privateers, Sir Richard Bolitho returns to Halifax to pursue a war he knows will not be won, but which neither Britain nor the United States can afford to lose. 
 
England's youngest admiral desires only peace. 
 
But peace will not be found in the icy Canadian waters, where a young, angry nation asserts its identity and men who share a common heritage die in close and bloody action. 
 
Nor will there be a peace for those who follow the Cross of St George: for the embittered Adam, mourning his lover and his ship, nor for Rear-Admiral Valentine Keen, who must confront both grief and responsibility. 
 
Nor will there be peace from those enemies who use this struggle between nations as an instrument of personal revenge...

Cross Of St George

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 24):  an all-action naval adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

If you like Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, you will love this all-guns-blazing naval page-turner from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent - guaranteed to have you hooked from page one! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Shipwreck, survival ... a spirited battle ... a splendid yarn' -- The Times 
'Gripping to the end' -- ***** Reader review 
'Difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
'Exceptionally well written' -- ***** Reader review 
'What a story!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************************************************** 
 
1804: England stands alone against France and the fleets of Spain, expecting an invasion any day. Entrusted with an urgent mission for the King, Vice-Admiral Richard Bolitho hoists his flag above the veteran seventy-four-gun ship Hyperion and sets sail with a new squadron for the Caribbean. 
 
Plagued by the knowledge that both his troubled marriage and the eye injured in his last battle with Contre-Amiral Jobert are worsening, Bolitho is eager to leave England less than three months after his return home. But even his beloved old ship Hyperion, hastily restored from an ignominious existence as a hulk, is full of tormenting memories and lost faces. 
 
 Having navigated several battles along the way, he is roused in Antigua from his darkness of soul by the rediscovery of a passion which defies convention and every risk to his reputation. 
 
His future is full of uncertainty as he sails east to Gibraltar, for a rendezvous that all who follow his flag will remember...

Honour This Day

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 19): lose yourself in this rip-roaring naval yarn from the master storyteller of the sea

December 1815 
 
Adam Bolitho's orders are unequivocal. As captain of His Majesty's frigate Unrivalled of forty-six guns, he is required to 'repair in the first instance to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and reasonably assist the senior officer of the patrolling squadron. But all efforts of the British anti-slavery patrols to curb a flourishing trade in human life are hampered by unsuitable ships, by the indifference of a government more concerned with old enemies made distrustful allies, and by the continuing belligerence of the Dey of Algiers, which threatens to ignite a full-scale war. 
 
For Adam, also, there is no peace. Lost in grief and loneliness, his uncle's death still unavenged, he is uncertain of all but his identity as a man of war. The sea is his element, the ship his only home, and a reckless, perhaps doomed attack on an impregnable stronghold his only hope of settling the bitterest of debts.

Relentless Pursuit

The master storyteller of the sea, multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, has penned another gripping, swashbuckling and emotionally charged naval adventure full of vividly depicted military action - perfect for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Shipwreck, survival ... a spirited battle ... a splendid yarn'' -- The Times 
'Another great story, gripping to the end'-- ***** Reader review 
'Once you start it's hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Kept me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great read from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************************************** 
1806: The frigate carrying Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Bolitho drops anchor off the shores of southern Africa. It is only four months since the resounding victory over the combined Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar, and the death of England's greatest naval hero. 
 
Bolitho's instructions are to assist in hastening the campaign in Africa, where an expeditionary force is attempting to recapture Cape Town from the Dutch. Outside Europe few have yet heard of the battle of Trafalgar, and Bolitho's news is met with both optimism and disappointment as he reminds the senior officers that, despite the victory, Napolean's defeat is by no means assured. 
 
The men who follow Bolitho's flag into battle are to discover, not for the first time, that death is the only victor.

The Only Victor

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 20)

Karen Traviss

As civil war continues to break out in the Galactic Alliance, terrorism begins to drive the Alliance towards ever more repressive laws. Families find themselves divided, and old friendships are torn apart. But the bitterest enemy can be your own flesh and blood - and your foe can turn out to be your only ally. Old enemies Han Solo and Boba Fett are drawn together as they both learn some harsh truths about their own kin, while Luke and Mara Skywalker fear for their only son, Ben, when his Jedi Master, Jacen Solo, makes a dangerous choice that shocks both families and the galaxy at large.

Star Wars: Legacy of the Force II - Bloodlines

Leslie Thomas

Summer 1940. The evacuation of Dunkirk proves that the British can rise to a challenge, even against seemingly insurmountable odds. But now the soldiers walk the streets of Dover, even wandering through Woolworths store, and take weary turns on the town's skating rink. 
 
Life, despite the threat of invasion and the reality of bombing, must go on and people must take comfort where they find it. Toby Hendry, a fighter pilot, is awaiting orders when he meets Giselle, a young Frenchwoman who took the chance to flee occupied France with the English troops. Their love affair feels like a summer idyll, but can it withstand the forces of war? 
 
Meanwhile, reserve naval commander Paul Instow has been called up to fight in a war for which he feels too old. Distracting him from his worries is Molly, a young Dover prostitute. Their relationship is tender and happy, but is this a love born from desperation or could it be something more permanent? 
 
And then there are Harold, Spots and Boot, three boys desperate to fight the German invaders, armed only with catapults and a stolen Bren gun... 
 
In Dover Beach Thomas chronicles the lives and loves of ordinary people in besiged Britain during these tense, but curiously elated days.

Dover Beach

This superb and stirring naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent is an absolute must for fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester. You'll feel like you are there on the quarterdeck! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'As a former naval officer, Alexander Kent knows what it is like to be at sea' -- The Times 
'A first-class book' -- ***** Reader review 
'Impossible to put down. Alexander Kent as his finest!' -- ***** Reader review 
'One of Alexander Kent's best.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rip roaring, well-constructed seafaring tale.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A compelling read from start to finish...' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************************** 
 
1793: Gibraltar - the gathering might of revolutionary France prepares to engulf Europe in another bloody war. As in the past, Britain will stand or fall by the fighting power of her fleet. For Richard Bolitho, the renewal of hostilities means a fresh command and the chance of action after long months of inactivity. 
 
 However, his mission to support Lord Hood in the monarchist-inspired occupation of Toulon has gone awry. Bolitho and the crew of the Hyperion are trapped by the French near a dry Mediterranean island. 
 
They will need all their mettle and might to force their way through... 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Enemy in Sight.

Form Line of Battle

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 11): more blockbuster naval action from the master storyteller of the sea

Fans of Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler and Frederick Forsyth will love this horribly compelling and devastatingly engrossing political action thriller from international bestseller and multi-million copy selling author Patrick Robinson. An edge-of-your-seat terror ride that drives the reader relentlessly to its stunning dénouement... 
 
'Britain's answer to Tom Clancy' -- Bookseller 
'An absolutely marvellous thriller writer' -- Jack Higgins 
'Mind-blowing' -- The Daily Mirror 
'Fast, sharply-focused, engine-driven action' -- Express 
'These books are kicking and screaming to be made into films. I'm now on my seventh and still going strong!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Simply brilliant' -- ***** Reader review 
'Authentic, exciting and political dynamite...One of the best naval fiction novels I have ever read' -- ***** Reader review 
'An all-round great read that will keep you turning pages into the early hours' -- ***** Reader review 
***************************************************************************************** 
ONE COMMODITY HAS THE POWER TO CAUSE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION... 
 
Saudi Arabia is on the brink of revolution. While the Royal Family is ransacking the dwindling coffers, the country seethes with unrest. Vowing to end the destructive rule, Crown Prince Mohammed sets in motion a top-secret operation to destroy the Saudi oil industry. 
 
In search of an ally with a naval power willing to help in return for a share of the oil wealth, he turns to France. Her lethal Hunter Killer submarines can inflict devastating damage to the country's massive oil installations and help shift the power structure of the world's oil giant. 
 
On the other side of the globe, as the ferocious battle for the desert kingdom begins and the world's oil markets plunge into chaos, Admiral Morgan, former Security Advisor to the President, and Lt. Commander Ramshawe are 
summoned to the White House. Here, they discover the masterminds behind the evil plot: a mysterious French Colonel they call 'The Hunter', and none other than Morgan's arch enemy, HAMAS General Ravi Rashood. 
 
Let battle commence...

Hunter Killer

the master of the action thriller is back with a compelling and unputdownable story

Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed with this incredible naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. With its authentic depiction of life at sea in battle, and its tightly crafted plot and characters, you'll fall for it hook, line and sinker! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'His dashing character Richard Bolitho is one of the best things to happen to the sea yarn since Hornblower' -- Daily Express 
'The storytelling has an easy mastery, how well Kent knows the psychology of naval men' -- Sunday Telegraph 
'Thrilling and a delight to read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping and accurate' -- ***** Reader review 
'A truly brilliant bit of work' -- ***** Reader review 
'Kept me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Hard to put them down when you start' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************************************************** 
1798: Richard Bolitho prepares to re-enter the Mediterranean. There are rumours of a massive French armada and of the latest type of artillery - and Bolitho's orders are to seek out the enemy and to discover the intentions of his growing force. 
 
Bolitho is well aware that there are others within his ships who are no less dangerous than the enemy - and during the weeks and months in which the squadron faces the hazards of the weather and French broadsides alike, Bolitho knows that far more than his own future is at stake. 
 
A fleet, even a nation, could depend on his decisions and, when he places his squadron between the Nile and the power of France, he must accept the price of the challenge. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in The Inshore Squadron

Signal Close Action

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 14): a fast-paced, all-action adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

If you love adventure, tight plotting, excellent characterization and vivid writing, set your course for this compelling and captivating naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed. Do not miss out! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Fans of the Hornblower stories have a treat in THE FLAG CAPTAIN...The book is full of action - and character.' -- Sunday Mirror 
'Engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
'An emotional tour de force' -- ***** Reader review 
'Typical Alexander Kent " Bolitho " novel - every book in the series has kept me enthralled. I struggle to put them down until the end' -- ***** Reader review 
'Superb with unexpected twists and turns, fascinating plot lines and gripping descriptions of naval battles' -- ***** Reader review 
************************************************************************** 
 
1797: Richard Bolitho brings the 100-gun Euryalus home to Falmouth to be flagship of the hastily formed squadron which has been chosen to make the first British re-entry to the Mediterranean for nearly a year. As flag captain, Bolitho is made to contend with the unyielding attitudes of his new admiral, as well as the devious requirements of the squadron's civilian advisor. 
 
England is still stunned by the naval mutiny at Spithead, in which Bolitho's admiral was personally involved, and as the squadron sets sail, the air is already alive with rumour of an even greater uprising in the ships at the Nore. 
 
Only when the squadron is drawn to a bloody embrace with the enemy does the admiral see the strength in Bolitho's trust and care for his men - but by then it is almost too late for any of them. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Signal, Close Action!

The Flag Captain

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 13): a rip-roaring, rollicking adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

Set off for another rip-roaring, all-action naval adventure courtesy of multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. You'll be able to smell the whiff of the gunpowder and hear the scream of the cannon balls as our hero fights another battle against the enemies of England. Guaranteed to have you engrossed from page one, fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'His dashing character Richard Bolitho is one of the best things to happen to the sea yarn since Hornblower' -- Daily Express 
'The storytelling has an easy mastery, how well Kent knows the psychology of naval men' -- Sunday Telegraph 
'Just as well I am an insomniac as it is almost impossible to put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another stirring yarn from the grand master of naval fiction' -- ***** Reader review 
'Awesome' -- ***** Reader review 
'Exciting and dramatic' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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1800: Richard Bolitho - freshly appointed as rear-admiral - assumes command of his own squadron but, as the cruel demands of war spread from Europe to the Baltic, he soon realizes that his battle experience has ill-prepared him for the intricate manoeuvring of power politics. 
 
Under his flag the Inshore Squadron has to ride out bitter hardship of blockade duty and swift, deadly encounters with the enemy. An old hatred steps from the past to pose a personal threat to Bolitho, but at the gates of Copenhagen, where his flag flies amidst the fury of battle, he must put all private hopes and fears behind him if he is to lead his men to victory... 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in A Tradition of Victory.

The Inshore Squadron

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 15): another exciting and enthralling adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

From the pen of multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman, this is the fourth novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family. Set in World War Two, Dust on the Sea is a rip-roaring, rollicking read and perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' -- The Times 
'A compelling read' -- ***** Reader review 
'The only downside of this book is I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Keeps you enthralled throughout' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fun and gripping' -- ***** Reader review 
'Magnificent' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*************************************************************************************** 
 
1943: Captain Mike Blackwood, Royal Marine Commando, is a survivor. Young, toughened and tried in the hellish crucible of Burma, he labours, sometimes faltering, beneath the weight of tradition, the glorious heritage of his family, and the burden of his own self-doubt. 
 
For Blackwood, the horizon is not the lip of the trench seen by men of the Corps in the previous war, but the ramp of a landing craft smashing down into the sea, and the fire of the enemy on a Sicilian beach. Here, tradition is not enough, and Mike Blackwood must find within himself qualities of leadership which will inspire those Royal Marines who are once again the first to land, and among the first to die.

Dust on the Sea

an all-action, edge-of-your-seat naval adventure from the master storyteller of the sea

Jean Plaidy

Blending history with romance and drama, Jean Plaidy explores the Tudor dynasty and the political intrigue throughout their reign.

A beautifully evocative and enthralling historical novel from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'Splendidly written and wonderfully descriptive' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put it down once I had started reading it' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************** 
The young Spanish widow, Katharine of Aragon, has become the pawn between two powerful monarchies. After less than a year as the wife of the frail Prince Arthur, the question of whether the marriage was ever consummated will decide both her fate and England's. 
 
But whilst England and Spain dispute her dowry, her unexpected escape from poverty waits in the wings: Henry, Arthur's younger, more handsome brother - the future King of England. 
 
He alone has the power to restore her position, but at what sacrifice? 
 
The Tudor Saga continues in The Secret of the Pomegranate.

Katharine, The Virgin Widow

(The Tudor Saga: book 2): a captivating and emotional novel bringing the Tudors to life from the Queen of English historical fiction

The gripping culmination of multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman's Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family. Unputdownable and guaranteed to have you hooked, this is perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' --The Times 
'Another romping good yarn by my favourite author' -- ***** Reader review 
'Hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another gripping read from the master of naval fiction' -- ***** Reader review 
'Magnificent!' -- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************************************************************* 
1970: Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Blackwood appears to have been murdered in Cyprus. Disillusioned and grieving for his distinguished father, Lieutenant Ross Blackwood believes there is no future for him in the Corps. The Royal Marines have been reduced in strength, and their role in a modern world, after so splendid a tradition, diminished to policing and paperwork. 
 
But Ross remains a Blackwood and a Royal Marine, and the loyalty and dedication of a Blackwood to the Corps sustain him from vicious guerilla warfare in Malaysia through the moral and political minefields of Northern Ireland, where one man's terrorist is another's patriot, to the South Atlantic, and a conflict as bloody as it is unpredictable. 
 
And he learns, as every Blackwood has before him, that jungle or moor, insurrection or invasion, mere courage is not enough. Survival and victory balance on the knife edge of destiny...

Knife Edge

an epic and enthralling naval adventure from the master storyteller of the sea

Perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Lindsey Davis, Steven Pressfield, this breathtaking and captivating novel brings the Crusades to life in all their triumphant and tragic glory. 
 
'Gripping from the first page, the reader is swept up in this colourful and convincing portrayal of an Emperor and his realm under siege.' - Ink 
'Superb read. Thoroughly enjoyed it' -- ***** Reader review 
'Highly enjoyable read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Brilliant.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Holds your interest from [the first] to the last page' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************** 
AN ASSASSIN IS ON THE LOOSE...AND AN EMPIRE STANDS IN PERIL 
 
Byzantium, 1096: When a mysterious assassin fires his arrow at the Emperor, he has more than a man in his sights; as the keystone of a crumbling empire, if he falls, then the mightiest power in Christendom will be torn apart. Aware of the stakes, the Emperor hires Demetrios Askiates, the unveiler of mysteries, to catch the would-be-killer. 
 
But Demetrios is entering an unknown and mysterious world and must edge his way through a glittering maze of treachery and deceit before time runs out. Nor are all enemies within the city walls. With the Turks rampant across Asia, the Emperor has sent to the west for mercenaries to reinforce his position. 
 
When a great army, tens of thousands strong, appears before the gates, he gets more than he bargained for. The first crusaders have arrived, intent on making their fortunes in war, and they have no allegiance to an empire they eye with jealousy and suspicion. 
 
As the armies of east and west confront each other, and the assassin creeps ever closer to his prey, Demetrios must untangle the golden web of intrigue which surrounds the Emperor before the city - and the empire - are drowned in blood.

Knights Of The Cross

the extraordinary story of the First Crusade  - gripping from the first page

This engrossing and edge-of-your-seat saga from multi-million copy bestselling author Douglas Reeman is perfect for fans of Clive Cussler, Bernard Cornwell and Wilbur Smith. The third novel in the Blackwood saga, spanning 150 years in the history of a great seafaring family, this captivating naval adventure at its very best! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'Mr Reeman writes with great knowledge about the sea and those who sail on it' --The Times 
'Another romping good yarn by my favourite author' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Magnificent!' -- ***** Reader review 
'I was engrossed from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
'Had me hooked' -- ***** Reader review 
****************************************************************************** 
1914-1918: for three generations, members of the Blackwood family have served the Royal Marines with distinction. With the outbreak of World War I, at last comes Jonathan Blackwood's turn to carry the family name into battle. 
 
But as the young marines embark for the Dardanelles, and a new kind of warfare, it dawns on them that the days of scarlet coats and an unchanging tradition of honour and glory have gone forever. First in Gallipoli, and two years later at Flanders, comes their horrifying initiation into a wholesale slaughter for which no training could ever have prepared them. 
 
Caught up in the savagery of a conflict beyond any officer's control, Blackwood's future rests on the 'horizon' - the dark lip of the trench which was the last fateful sight for so many.

The Horizon

A deliciously atmospheric, moving and evocative historical novel from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'Easy to read and hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A compulsive, enjoyable and interesting read' -- ***** Reader review 
'If you like history, and/or historical fiction, Jean Plaidy is the one for you. She has a knack for pulling you right into the story straight away' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************** 
The young King Henry VIII spends his time basking in the pageants and games of his glittering court - all the while, his doting queen's health and fortunes fade. Henry's affection for his older wife soon strays, and the neglected Katherine decides to use her power as Queen to dangerous foreign advantage. 
 
Overseas battles play on Henry's volatile temper, and his defeat in France has changed the good-natured boy Katherine loved into an infamously callous ruler. 
 
With no legitimate heir yet born, Katherine once again begins to fear for her future... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in The King's Secret Matter.

The Shadow of the Pomegranate

(The Tudor Saga: book 3): the unmissable story of Katherine of Aragon’s failing marriage, beautifully brought to life by the Queen of English historical fiction.

If you like Philippa Gregory, you will love this vibrant and captivating historical page-turner from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy - the perfect blend of history with romance and drama. 
 
'Full - bloodied, dramatic, exciting' - THE OBSERVER 
'Plaidy, by the skilful blending of superb storytelling and meticulous attention to authenticity of detail and depth of characterization has become one of the country's most widely read novelists.' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'It is hard to better Jean Plaidy . . . both elegant and exciting' - DAILY MIRROR 
'Excellent. Jean Plaidy really knows how to bring history to life.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great, exciting. Couldn't put down' -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************************** 
 
In the aftermath of the bloody Wars of the Roses, Henry Tudor has seized the English crown, finally uniting the warring Houses of York and Lancaster through his marriage to Elizabeth of York. 
 
But whilst Henry VII rules wisely and justly, he is haunted by Elizabeth's missing brothers; the infamous two Princes, their fate in the Tower forever a shrouded secret. 
Then tragedy strikes at the heart of Henry's family, and it is against his own son that the king must fight for a bride and his throne... 
 
The Tudor Saga continues in Katharine, the Virgin Widow.

Uneasy Lies the Head

(The Tudor Saga: book 1): a wonderfully evocative and beautifully atmospheric novel bringing the Tudors to life from the Queen of English historical fiction

Multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, brings us another adrenalin-fuelled maritime page-turner full of swashbuckling action and derring-do. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed! 
 
'The battle scenes are described so vividly that Alexander Kent must surely have been there himself in a previous incarnation' -- The Nautical Magazine 
'As ever, Kent evokes the blood and smoke of battle in crimson-vivid prose' -- Mail on Sunday 
'A tale of angry passion, envy and adventure' -- Bookseller 
'Great story, great characters, plenty of action' -- ***** Reader review 
'As usual, the master writer has done it again' -- ***** Reader review 
'Could not put the book down once started'-- ***** Reader review 
'Wonderful' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************************************* 
1784: at a time when most of the fleet is laid up, His Majesty's frigate Undine weighs anchor at Spithead to begin a voyage to India and far beyond. As her new captain, Richard Bolitho is glad to go, despite the nature of his orders and the immensity of the voyage - for he is leaving an England still suffering from the aftermath of war. 
 
But he is to learn that signatures on proud documents do not necessarily make a lasting peace, and finds himself involved in a conflict as ruthless as the one which had given him his first command during the war with France. 
 
In an uneasy peace, the expansion of trade and colonial development in little-known areas of the East Indies soon push aside the pretence and bring the guns' fury into the open. 
 
There is no set line of battle or declared cause to rally Undine's small company, but the dangers and the endless demands have to be faced by the man who commands the only King's ship available. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Passage to Mutiny.

Command A King's Ship

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 8): an enthralling and exciting Bolitho adventure from the master storyteller of the sea.  You’ll want to dive right in!

Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will love this engrossing and enthralling naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. You'll be gripped from page one! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' -- Sunday Times 
'As a former naval officer, Alexander Kent knows what it is like to be at sea' -- The Times 
'Impossible to put down!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Plenty of action and intrigue to keep you wanting to read just one more chapter' -- ***** Reader review 
'As ever, the author keeps you totally involved. A true page turner.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A jolly good read and difficult to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review 
************************************************************************************** 
1794: as the year draws to a close Richard Bolitho, commanding the old Hyperion, leaves Plymouth to join a squadron blockading the rising power of Revolutionary France. After six months of repairs his ship is ready to fight again, but her company is mostly raw and untrained. 
 
Unfortunately, Bolitho finds himself under a commodore who is no match for the French admiral, Lequiller, whose powerful squadron uses guile and ruthless determination to elude him and vanish into the Atlantic. Hyperion gives chase, the desperate voyage taking them from the Bay of Biscay's squall to the heat of the Caribbean - and for each mile sailed and every battle fought, Bolitho finds himself being forced into the ever more demanding role of strategist and squadron commander. 
 
Is he up to the challenge? 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in The Flag Captain.

Enemy In Sight

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 12): an all-action, all-guns-blazing adventure on the high seas from the master storyteller of the sea

Readers of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will love this sensational swashbuckling naval adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent. 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - Sunday Times 
'Shipwreck, survival...a spirited battle, a splendid yarn' - The Times 
'A fantastic book - did not want to put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Well written, nautically and historically excellent' -- ***** Reader review 
'A fast moving, captivating, page turner - not recommended if you want to go to sleep right away' -- ***** Reader review 
'A rollicking maritime yarn' -- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************************************************* 
1789: NEW SOUTH WALES. Into Sydney, capital of Britain's infant colony, sails the frigate Tempest. She is one of His Majesty's ships employed in policing the new southern trade routes. Her captain is Richard Bolitho, who hopes to be ordered home to England. 
 
Instead he is despatched on a mission to the islands of the Great South Sea, where he must face hazards of fickle winds, pirates and native islanders. 
 
But he is menaced by deeper fears: the men of the Bounty have mutinied in these same waters and from distant Europe comes news of a revolution in France... 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in With All Despatch.

Passage To Mutiny

another stirring page-turner featuring Richard Bolitho from the master storyteller of the sea

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 9): another stirring page-turner featuring Richard Bolitho from the master storyteller of the sea.

Multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, brings us another rip-roaring and riveting maritime page-turner. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed! 
 
'Mr Kent is Forester's direct heir, and is rapidly showing himself an equal in the genre.' -- Sunday Times 
'C. S. Forester never wrote a more exciting novel than Alexander Kent.' -- New York Times Book Review 
'A splendid yarn' -- The Times 
'A tale of angry passion, envy and adventure' -- Bookseller 
'Boy, is this good stuff! Can hardly wait to pick up the next book' -- ***** Reader review 
'The author knows how to keep the reader enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Hard to stop reading' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put it down from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
********************************************************************** 
1778: a seminal year for the young Richard Bolitho... The American War of Independence changes to an all-out struggle for freedom from British rule - and Bolitho takes command of the Sparrow, a small, fast and well-armed sloop of war. 
 
 As the pace of war increases, the Sparrow is called from one crisis to another - and when the great fleets of Britain and France convene on the Chesapeake, Bolitho has to throw aside the early dreams of his first command to find maturity in a sea battle that might decide the fate of a whole continent. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in To Glory We Steer.

Sloop Of War

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 6): a swashbuckling naval tale of derring – do and all-action adventure from the master storyteller of the sea

Multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, brings us another all-action Bolitho adventure. If you're a fan of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester, then this is the book for you! 
 
'Alexander Kent is certainly as good as Forester was in action, and in the wheeling movement of sails.' -- Sunday Times 
'A salty testament to the mystique and the brutality of the square-rigger.' -- New York Times Book Review 
'Alexander Kent...is, above all, a superb story-teller.' -- Manchester Evening News 
'This is a classic story of triumph over adversity and I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading it' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'It's action from start to finish with twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and wanting more' -- ***** Reader review 
'A brilliant, exciting read'-- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************ 
 
1782: British Captain Richard Bolitho is ordered to take the frigate Phalarope to the Caribbean, where the hard-pressed royal squadrons are fighting for their lives against the combined fleets of France and Spain and the upstart American privateers. It should have been a proud moment for so young and junior a captain - but the Phalarope has already been driven to near mutiny and she is regarded with shame and suspicion. 
 
 But Bolitho is no ordinary man and his efforts to give the ship back her pride mark him apart from his contemporaries. As the little frigate sails under the blazing sun and battles enemies within and without, Bolitho spares neither himself nor his men - and in the final great battle of the Saintes, the chance comes to prove what both he and the Phalarope can achieve. 
 
Bolitho's adventures continue in Command a King's Ship.

To Glory We Steer

(The Richard Bolitho adventures: 7): more exciting action on the open waves from the master storyteller of the sea

Geoffrey Archer

__________________________ 
The repercussions of a brutal murder echo across the years in this gripping novel from legendary thriller writer Geoffrey Archer. 
 
Tom Sedley's idyllic summer vacation in a leafy post war suburb of north London came to an abrupt and shocking end on the 14th September, 1948 when his sister was brutally murdered in woodland near his house. 
 
A tramp was arrested for the crime, but Tom's childhood ended that day – and his lifelong search for the truth began. 
 
Marcus Warwick was Tom's neighbour and best friend, but the murder changed their relationship forever. Both were sent to the Korean War two years later, Marcus as an officer and Tom as a humble radio man. When they met in the chaos of war, both knew a gulf of distrust and class had opened between them – and Tom had never shaken the suspicion that Marcus had had something to do with the murder. 
 
Only years later, when Tom stumbles across his sister's secret diary, do the events of 1948 begin to make sense – and allow him to seek final justice for her murder.

Dark Angel

Another gripping maritime adventure from multi-million copy seller Alexander Kent, furthering the adventures of much loved Richard Bolitho. Fans of Patrick O'Brian and C. S. Forester will not be disappointed! 
 
'One of our foremost writers of naval fiction' - THE SUNDAY TIMES 
'Shipwreck, survival...a spirited battle...a splendid yarn' - THE TIMES 
'A great read that I couldn't put down. Have to say - better than Hornblower, Lewrie etc' -- ***** Reader review 
'Once you start it's hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Kept me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review 
'Great read from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************* 
1777: the revolution in America has erupted into a full-scale war. 
 
The navy's main task is to prevent military supplies from reaching Washington's armies and to destroy the fast-growing fleet of French and American privateers. 
 
As a junior officer Bolitho is often bewildered by swiftly changing events, but in a ship of the line, under a hard and determined captain, he has little opportunity for uncertainty. At a time of shortages and sudden death even a lieutenant can find himself faced with tasks and decisions more suitably given to officers of greater experience. 
 
As the Trojan goes about her affairs the threat to Bolitho and his companions makes itself felt from New York to the Caribbean.

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