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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Rosie Harris

A mother will do anything to protect her child... 
 
Karen and Tudor Morgan have moved from a small mining community to the bustle and noise of Cardiff in search of a new life. Tudor longs to be a star entertainer and so Karen gets a job, leaving her husband to look after their young daughter Delia, doing stints at clubs in the evening, whenever he can get them. 
 
Until one day Tudor is arrested for begging and Karen is horrified to learn that he has been busking during the day and taking three-year-old Delia with him to collect the money. When Tudor comes out of prison he gets an honest job but soon he is back to his old ways. And when his life of petty crime quickly turns into something far more sinister, it is all Karen can do to ensure she and her daughter survive ...

Sing for Your Supper

Susannah Bates

Honor and Evie: cousins and best friends, yet so very different. Honor is intelligent, beautiful and popular - good fortune seems to fall into her lap. But for Evie life is harder. 
 
Honor adores Evie for her unconventionality, her honesty and her naughty sense of humour - although others find Evie prickly and impatient. And Evie loves Honor for her calmness, her loyalty and absolute integrity - traits that some might find a little too predictable, even a little dull... 
 
But as Honor and Evie leave girlhood behind, their friendship is tested to its limit. Can they still remain close when their choices and ideals are so very different? Or are these women destined to grow in opposite directions, grow up and grow apart?

Honor And Evie

Another engaging and enthralling saga from much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris. If you like Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin, you will not be disappointed. This is one saga you will not be able to put down! 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING! 
'Great story, kept you wanting to read more' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Brilliant'-- ***** Reader review 
'A real page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************* 
WHEN THE TRUTH LIES BURIED IN THE PAST... 
 
Finding herself pregnant, Julia Winter is forced to leave home rather than bring shame on her family. Reduced to living in the slums of Liverpool, she eventually finds work in a respectable hotel where Eunice Hawkins, the manager's wife, is also expecting. For a while, Julia dares to hope for a better life for herself and 
her unborn child. 
 
But soon tragedy strikes - Julia's baby is stillborn at the same time as Eunice gives birth to a healthy baby girl, Amanda. Although heartbroken at the death of her own baby, Julia helps Eunice look after her child. 
 
However, Paul and Eunice Hawkins hide a secret too terrible to reveal and it is only after their untimely deaths and teenage Amanda's sudden disappearance that Julia finds out the truth. 
 
And just when she might have a chance of happiness at last, she is faced with the hardest decision of all...

A Mother's Love

a gripping and heart-tugging saga set in Liverpool during the aftermath of World War One

Fans of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin will love this vivid and compelling saga, set around Tiger Bay and Cardiff. Much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris has written such an immediate and beautiful novel, you'll feel you are living in the moment with the characters. 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING! 
'Had me gripped from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real page turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put it down until I finished it' -- ***** Reader review 
 
***************************************************************************************************** 
WHEN ALL HOPE IS GONE, ARE DREAMS ENOUGH? 
 
After losing both her parents, sixteen-year-old Merrion Roberts is left to bring up her baby sister. Unable to cope alone, she teams up with Rhonda Rees, a trained milliner, who also has a young baby. They share rooms in notorious Tiger Bay in Cardiff, struggling to make ends meet. In time, though, they are able to open up a little shop and it seems as if life is looking up for both young women. 
 
But fate soon intervenes and they are reduced to living in even greater squalor, barely able to eke out enough money to support themselves let alone their two children. 
 
Meanwhile, Merrion's brother and her childhood sweetheart have both gone to sea and she has almost given up hope of ever seeing them alive again...

The Power of Dreams

a dramatic Welsh saga from from much-loved bestseller Rosie Harris

Glenice Crossland

They loved. They lost. They lived. 
 
In the small Yorkshire town of Cottenly - dominated by the steel works and surrounded by beautiful countryside - Isaac Stanford lives with his wife Emily and their three lovely daughters, known locally as the Stanford lasses. Alice, the eldest, lives only for her work as a secretary and chapel on Sunday. Fair and loving Lizzie is content with her job making umbrellas - until she falls in love with George Crossman and all she desires is to be a wife and mother. And headstrong Ruth, the merry one, is intent upon marrying handsome charmer, Walter Wray, despite warnings from friends and family. 
 
Already emotionally damaged by a traumatic childhood, Alice struggles to lead a normal life. Poor but happy with her ever increasing family, with the onset of war, Lizzie faces the threat of losing all she holds dear. And Ruth soon realises she has made a terrible mistake in her marriage as she becomes trapped in a life of poverty and violence. As the years pass each sister is forced to confront her greatest challenge ...

The Stanford Lasses

Jean Plaidy

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

If you like Philippa Gregory, you will love this dazzlingly vivid historical novel from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy. Two Queens at the mercy of a capricious King... 
 
'Jean Plaidy doesn't just write the history, she makes it come alive' -- RNA 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
 'Very well researched, informative yet easy to read - brilliant' -- ***** Reader review 
'Gripping, captivating, very hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'I was hooked from the first page' -- ***** Reader review 
'An excellent book to curl up with' -- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
*********************************************************************** 
At the decadent French court of King François, the young Anne Boleyn grows into an enigmatic and striking woman, a temptation to many courtiers. But whilst Anne's ambitions are high, she has learned from her sister's unfortunate reputation. Unlike Mary, Anne refuses to become a mistress - even one to a King. 
 
 So when Anne returns to the English court of Henry VIII, it is the King, captivated by this mysterious young lady, who is forced to do the wooing. 
 
Before long Henry is lured away from his stale marriage to Katharine of Aragon. But the new Queen Anne is not loved by the people, and it is only a matter of time before Henry's patience runs out... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in St Thomas's Eve.

Murder Most Royal

(The Tudor saga: book 5): an unmissable story of bewitchment and betrayal from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Delve deep into a superb, fictionalised account of Henry VIII's sixth Queen, the mysterious Katharine Parr, written by multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy. This vibrant and captivating historical page-turner, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, is guaranteed to have you hooked from page one... 
 
'Jean Plaidy doesn't just write the history, she makes it come alive.' -- Julia Moffat, RNA 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'A must read' -- ***** Reader review 
'I could not put this book down once I started reading' -- ***** Reader review 
'A pleasure to read' -- ***** Reader review 
'She makes history come alive' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************************* 
Katharine Parr has unwittingly become the last pawn in King Henry VIII's ambitions for an heir. 
 
Already twice widowed, Katharine finally dares to hope that she might find love with the dashing Thomas Seymour - but Henry has decided he must have a sixth wife and Seymour's intentions to marry Katharine have not gone unnoticed. 
 
Unable to refuse the King of England, Katharine becomes his reluctant bride. 
 
Once again it seems only a matter of time before another wife's fate leads her to the Tower of London. Will fate be kind to her...? 
 
The Tudor saga continues in The Thistle and the Rose.

The Sixth Wife

(The Tudor saga: book 7): The stirring story of Henry VIII's final marriage brought to life by the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

With the expert attention to historical detail, the wonderfully evocative depiction of times past and vivid characterisation that we have come to expect from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy, this is the scandalous and heartbreaking story of Margaret Tudor, the princess whose future was used to end war and unite kings. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' -- Observer 
'Outstanding' Vanity Fair 
'It is hard to better Jean Plaidy ... both elegant and exciting' -- Daily Mirror 
'Jean Plaidy never fails to captivate her audience' -- ***** Reader review 
'I couldn't put this book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A truly great read' -- ***** Reader review 
'A gripping story which flows at quite a pace' -- ***** Reader review 
'She makes the characters come alive and you are drawn into the era she is writing about' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************** 
 
When King Henry VII negotiates peace with Scotland, his daughter's hand in marriage to James IV is the ultimate prize. 
 
A true princess, Margaret Tudor leaves her beloved England and accepts her fate unquestioningly. But to her surprise she falls madly in love with the fearsome Scottish King and, as Queen of Scotland, she is initially happy. 
 
But neither the marriage nor the peace are to last. When James IV is defeated in battle by Margaret's own brother, the widowed Queen is torn between fleeing to her home and staying to protect her son's future as the new King of Scots. 
 
It seems that once again Margaret's destiny is not to be her own... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in Mary, Queen of France.

The Thistle and the Rose

(The Tudor saga: book 8): the compelling story of a princess and queen torn between love and duty from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Jess Foley

If you like Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Katie Flynn, then you will love this breath-taking saga of one of love, passion, betrayal, tragedy and longing by much loved author Jess Foley. This unmissable and unputdownable saga is one you will never forget... 
 
'Compulsive and well-paced' -- Wiltshire Times 
'A gripping saga... What makes this particular novel such compelling reading is its expertly researched background... The author writes with exuberance and style, and the central characters are totally convincing.' -- Northampton Chronicle &amp; Echo 
'A stunning read' -- ***** Reader review 
'Excellent read - I couldn't put in down' -- ***** Reader review 
'This book is really good: it's sad, exciting, tragic - you have it all in this book' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************* 
ONE WOMAN'S STRUGGLE FOR HAPPINESS 
 
Having spent her childhood with a cold, unfeeling stepmother, Lily Clair's life is changed for ever when she is sent as general maid to old friends of her family. When Joel - handsome son of a wealthy entrepreneur - enters her life, their meeting is for Lily, young and vulnerable, a revelation. 
 
 Riding high on the crest of her new-found happiness she is in no way prepared for the violent attack that comes in the night, or for its devastating, life-changing consequences. But she must live with the consequences as, with a shattered heart, she deals with one hand of fate after another. 
 
 In her search for happiness, Lily is a woman who will capture your heart and stay with you forever...

No Wings To Fly

a powerful saga of passion and pain set in the heart of rural England

A POWERFUL SAGA SET IN LIVERPOOL. 
 
She fell in love - he broke her heart 
 
Young Megan Williams has come to Liverpool in search of work and a fresh start. She soon joins her father at Walker's Shipping Company where his co-driver Robert Field takes a great interest in her. But she has fallen deeply in love with dashing Miles Walker and does all she can to discourage Robert. 
 
Then, one fateful day, Megan's world falls apart when her younger sister is killed in a tragic accident. Distraught, Megan is also faced with shocking revelations about Miles, which force her to realise he's not the man she thought he was. 
 
Heartbroken, but determined to get on with her life, Megan starts up her own business, but will she ever love again...?

Megan of Merseyside

Let much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris take you back in time with this beautifully moving and emotional saga of love, life and trauma. Fans of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin will not be disappointed! 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING 
'Once you start reading this you can't put it down' - 5 STARS 
'Brilliant'-- 5 STARS 
'Kept me engrossed from start to finish' -- 5 STARS 
'Delightful' - 5 STARS 
 
********************************************************************************** 
FROM LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO HATRED AND DESPAIR, WILL SHE BE ABLE TO PULL THROUGH? 
 
When pretty seventeen-year-old Sheryl Williams after she marries dashing soldier Alun Powell, life seems to alternate between periods of stunning happiness and times when bad luck and despair almost drown her happiness forever. 
 
When their baby Caitlin is born and Alun, having recently left the army, is unable to find work, they are reduced to living in the slums of Cardiff's Tiger Bay. Their life together becomes one of rows and recriminations and when Alun is involved in a vicious fight and imprisoned, estranged from her own family, a desperate Sheryl is forced to turn to the Powells. They agree to help but Sheryl soon spirals into a life of unhappiness and despair. 
 
Until one fateful day, seven-year-old Caitlin takes off for Cardiff in search of her mother. As night falls and the police continue to look for the young girl, Sheryl fears she will never see her beloved daughter again ...

Sunshine And Showers

a moving and heartfelt Welsh saga of one woman's search for love and happiness

Let much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris take you back in time with this wonderfully evocative, emotional and atmospheric saga of love, life and trauma. Fans of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin will not be disappointed! 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING 
'The story is so gripping, was sorry the story had to end' - 5 STARS 
'Couldn't put it down'-- 5 STARS 
'Enjoyed from start to finish' -- 5 STARS 
'Outstanding' - 5 STARS 
 
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ALONE, PREGNANT, DESTITUTE...MUST SHE FACE RUIN? 
 
When fourteen-year-old Sara Jenkins rescues her baby sister, Myfanwy, from the fire which kills their mother, little does she realise the burden of responsibility she is taking on. 
 
Her father, Ifor, is perceived as strict and moral by everyone in the village. But as Sara struggles to look after Myfanwy and their home, she discovers the depths of cruelty he is capable of. Then Ifor remarries, and Sara's new stepmother is a hard taskmaster who considers everything Sara does inadequate or wicked. 
 
When Sara meets Rhys Edwards, nephew of the owner of the bakery where she works, she falls in love for the first time. Finally, she believes, she has a way to escape. Rhys and Sara plan to make a life together in Cardiff - but when tragedy strikes Sara finds herself alone there, pregnant and destitute ...

Troubled Waters

a dramatic and page-turning Welsh saga from much-loved and bestselling author Rosie Harris

Douglas Reeman

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

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

Historical romance at its very best: fans of Philippa Gregory will love this captivating journey back in time from multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy. 
 
'Jean Plaidy conveys the texture of various patches of the past with such rich complexity' - Guardian 
'These books are page-turners; they offer a wonderful way to learn about history... and their stories will remain with you for ever' -- Daily Express 
'Every bit as exciting and moving today as they were when first written.' -- Woman &amp; Home 
'Such an amazing book! Full of twists and turns, kept me hooked!' -- ***** Reader reviews 
'Another masterpiece from Jean Plaidy about Henry VIII.' -- ***** Reader reviews 
***************************************************************************** 
 
After twelve years of marriage, the once fortuitous union of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon has declined into a loveless stalemate. Their only child, Mary, is disregarded as a suitable heir, and Henry's need for a legitimate son to protect the Tudor throne has turned him into a callous and greatly feared ruler. 
 
 When the young and intriguing Anne Boleyn arrives from the French court, Henry is easily captivated by her dark beauty and bold spirit. 
 
But his desire to possess the wily girl leads to a deadly struggle of power that promises to tear apart the lives of Katharine and Mary, and forever change England's faith... 
 
The Tudor saga continues in Murder Most Royal.

The King's Secret Matter

(The Tudor saga: book 4): power and passion are the forces at play in this mesmerising novel set in the Tudor court from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

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

A GRIPPING AND MOVING SAGA SET IN 1920S MERSEYSIDE. 
 
 
She saved the business, but can she save herself? 
 
After years of neglect by her mother, when her father comes home from sea and sets up as a carrier at the Liverpool Docks, Patsy dreams of being a proper family again. 
 
But when her father is killed in an accident and her mother returns to her errant ways, Patsy must keep the business going with the help of her childhood friend, Billy Grant. 
 
And when Patsy falls passionately in love with fairground showman Bruno Alvarez, who leaves her, pregnant and heartbroken, only loyal Billy stands by her in her troubles. 
 
But when he is badly injured at work Patsy is left friendless and without a home...

Patsy Of Paradise Place

Let much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris sweep you away to Liverpool in this captivating and emotionally charged saga. Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin. 
 
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING 
'Enjoyed this book so much could not put down' -- ***** Reader review 
'A real page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling' -- ***** Reader review 
'Absorbing' -- ***** Reader review 
 
******************************************************************* 
SHE MADE A PROMISE, BUT CAN SHE KEEP IT? 
 
When Lucy Patterson promises her dying mother that she'll leave the comfortable home they've shared with her mother's employer, Stanley Jones, to go and live with her Aunt Flo on the other side of the Mersey, she has no idea of the terrible consequences. 
 
Life with the Flanagans in the slums of Liverpool, and Lucy's new job in a factory, are totally different from the world she has known. Mocked by her cousins and the women she works alongside, and terrified by the brutality of her uncle and the unwelcome attentions of her cousin Frank, Lucy is desperately unhappy. 
 
And then one day, the worst happens and Lucy finds herself homeless, friendless and destitute. It seems there's only one person in the world willing to help her. 
 
But can she break her promise to her mother? 
 
Or should she accept that there's only one place a girl in her situation can go ...?

Turn Of The Tide

an irresistibly moving saga of one girl’s will to survive…

This captivating and compelling Welsh saga from much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris is perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin. With her trademark vivid characterisation and expertly crafted sense of place, you'll feel that you are at the heart of the action... 
 
What readers are saying... 
 
'From start to finish this book had my interest. I found it hard to put it down' - 5 STARS 
'Hard to put down - gripping' - 5 STARS 
'This story was brilliant from beginning to end' - 5 STARS 
'Delightful' - 5 STARS 
'Good reading, a book you can't put down' - 5 STARS 
'Kept me on the edge of my seat' - 5 STARS 
 
************************************************************************** 
JEALOUSY, PASSION AND A SECRET THAT WILL DEVASTATE THEM ALL... 
 
Living in the shadow of their domineering father, Rhianon and Sabrina Webster plan two very different futures. Edwin dotes on his youngest daughter, beautiful, flighty Sabrina, but it is homely, steady Rhianon who holds their little family together. Until one fateful day when Pryce Pritchard, the man Rhianon loves, gets into a fight and all their worlds are thrown into turmoil. Pryce is arrested - and Sabrina disappears... 
 
Months later Rhianon chances upon her sister and is shocked to find her pregnant, living in squalid lodgings in the poorest part of Cardiff. When Davyn is born Sabrina will have nothing to do with him, and kind-hearted Rhianon looks after the little boy, patiently awaiting Pryce's release. 
 
But when Pryce is finally set free, he brings with him secrets that will devastate them all.

At Sixes And Sevens

a dramatic, page-turning Welsh saga from much-loved and bestselling author Rosie Harris

Crippled by polio, young Winnie Molloy has little to look forward to in life. Her father, Trevor, adores her but she is neglected by her feckless mother, Grace. 
 
When war comes Trevor Molloy is called up. He fears for Winnie and persuades Sandy Coulson to wheel her to school each day in a converted pram. Two years older than her, Sandy sticks up for Winnie and promises to be her lifelong friend. 
 
But Grace is drinking very heavily and loses one job after another. To pay the rent on the one squalid room they are now living in she takes Winnie in the pram out begging until she is given a warning by the police. When Trevor is reported 'Missing Presumed Dead' Grace goes on a drinking spree, meets with an accident and dies. 
 
And Winnie is left loveless and alone...

Winnie Of The Waterfront

Thomas Christopher Greene

They were brothers and they knew each other better than they had ever known anybody, and when you are like this you can sit in silence and not speak and it is the most comfortable thing in the world. But fate can fracture even the strongest of friendships. 
 
In the lush green countryside of Vermont, Charlie has built a life for himself. He is happy enough running the small family restaurant and his only regret is the absence of his brother, Owen. Once close, Owen and Charlie have not seen each other for many years - the ties of brotherhood torn apart by their father's legacy - and a trail of postcards is all that is left. 
 
Charlie's is a solitary existence until he hires Claire to assist him in the restaurant and suddenly life feels complete. In Claire, Charlie feels he has found his reason for living. But when Owen returns it seems that the past is destined to threaten both brothers' future...

After The Rain

With all her signature warmth, wonderful characters and unforgettable drama, lose yourself in this heart-rending and moving saga of a young woman's determination to keep the one person she loves best in the world from much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris. Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin. 
 
What readers are saying! 
'I personally cannot fault Rosie Harris' books and I have read plenty of them. Yet another good read' - 5 STARS 
'Couldn't put it down once I started it' -- 5 STARS 
'Delightful' - 5 STARS 
'Good reading, a book you can't put down' - 5 STARS 
'Kept me on the edge of my seat' - 5 STARS 
 
******************************************************************************************************** 
 
ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR, ISN'T IT? 
 
Twins Tanwen and Donna Evans are as different as chalk and cheese. Tanwen is pretty, pert, a bubbly extrovert but very selfish and as slim and sharp as a needle. Donna is plain, placid and shy, although very warm-hearted and as sturdy and useful as a pin. 
 
In 1924, when the girls are fourteen, their mother Gwyneth insists both become apprentices at The Cardiff Drapers, where she once worked. Her dressmaking pays little and the girls' wages will help bring more money in. 
 
Tanwen is in great demand when she becomes the store model, but much to both girls' dismay, Gwyneth insists Donna goes along with her sister when she has a date. Donna ends up playing gooseberry or in the company of a boy she doesn't like - until she meets tall, handsome Dylan Wallis and falls in love. But Tanwen sets her heart on Dylan with disastrous consequences for them all...

Pins And Needles

a compelling and dramatic page-turning Welsh saga from much-loved and bestselling author Rosie Harris.

Katie Flynn

Liverpool, Christmas 1938. Rose McAllister is waiting for her husband, Steve, to come home. He is a seaman, often drunk and violent, but Rose does her best to cope and see that her daughters, Daisy and Petal, suffer as little as possible. Steve, however, realises that war is coming and tries to reform, but on his last night home, he pawns the girls' new dolls to go on a drinking binge. 
 
When war is declared Rose has a good job but agrees the children must be evacuated. Daisy and Petal are happy at first, but circumstances change and they are put in the care of a woman who hates all scousers and taunts them with the destruction of their city. They run away, arriving home on the worst night of the May Blitz. Rose is attending the birth of her friend's baby and goes back to Bernard Terrace to find her home has received a direct hit, and is told that the children were seen entering the house the previous evening. Devastated, she throws herself into the war effort, risking her life before she considers finding out what really happened that fateful night... 
 
A Long and Lonely Road is yet another confirmation of the brilliance and warmth of Katie Flynn's saga novels.

A Long And Lonely Road

Colleen McCullough

Let international bestselling author Colleen McCullough sweep you away with this enthralling, evocative and emotional saga of one woman's quest to come to terms with a new life. If you like Victoria Hislop, Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy, you'll love this! 
 
'Fast-moving and immensely readable... Back to the open spaces, merciless climate and sheer pioneering stance of the magical THE THORN BIRDS, this book is a page turner from start to finish' -- Maeve Binchy 
'A compelling, passionate and gritty saga that was well worth the wait' -- She 
'A powerful saga' -- Mirror 
'Absorbing' -- Sunday Telegraph 
'I could put this book down. I was consumed with it' -- ***** Reader review 
'This book is utterly compelling and quite simply, I loved it. I wanted to finish it, but, didn't want it to end. Beautifully written, descriptive passages. A truly Master author. Thank you' -- ***** Reader review 
'One of the best reads I've had in years' -- ***** Reader review 
'Thoroughly loved this book, I was hooked from the first page!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************** 
Alexander Kinross is remembered in his native Scotland only as a shiftless boilermaker's apprentice. But when he writes from Australia to summon his bride, his relatives realize he is now a man to be reckoned with. 
 
Arriving in Sydney after a difficult voyage, sixteen-year-old Elizabeth Drummond meets her husband-to-be and discovers that he frightens and repels her. 
 
Isolated in Alexander's great house, Elizabeth finds that marriage does not prompt her husband to enlighten her about his past life - nor his present one, in which his mistress, the sensuous, tough, outspoken Ruby Costevan, still plays a part... 
 
Will she be able to forge a happy new life in this new world?

The Touch

a powerful, sweeping family saga from the international bestselling author of The Thorn Birds

Maggie Bennett

From the pen of much loved author Maggie Bennett comes this engrossing and emotional story of prejudice, passion and one woman's struggle to fight for what she wants in life. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Harris, Nancy Revell and Catherine Cookson. 
 
READERS ARE LOVING A CHILD OF HER TIME! 
'It's a lovely story from the start. I was hooked.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Wonderful story'-- ***** Reader review 
'[Maggie Bennett] is a real story teller who makes you want to turn each page' -- ***** Reader review 
'Maggie Bennett is a brilliant writer' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************* 
HAS SHE THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT FOR THE LIFE SHE'S ALWAYS YEARNED FOR? 
 
Phyllis Bird is twenty - five, a teacher, and still living with her parents in a quiet Hampshire village. With so many young men lost in the Great War, her future is without hope until she is offered the position of nursery maid in the London home of acclaimed playwright Harold Berridge. Desperate to break out of her mundane existence, she decides to take it up. 
 
 Befriended by the actress Maud Ling and thrown into the glamorous world of the cinema, Phyllis falls passionately in love with Maud's younger brother Teddy. But Teddy's heart lies elsewhere. 
Things go from bad to worse when tragedy strikes the Berridge household, and a heartbroken Phyllis is forced to leave. 
 
 Six months later, when Phyllis has started to rebuild her life, her world is turned upside down once more when she is invited to a party at Maud Ling's film studios. 
 
For there she falls under the spell of the charming but devious American actor Denver Towers, with disastrous consequences...

A Child Of Her Time

a beautifully moving coming of age saga you won’t be able to put down

From much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris comes this engaging and enthralling saga about relationships - those between families, between friends and between lovers - and the forces that can make or break them. Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin. 
 
What readers are saying! 
'An unmissable read, finished in a day' - 5 STARS 
'Brilliant' - 5 STARS 
'I couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS 
 
**************************************************************** 
WILL SHE FIND THE SECURITY AND AFFECTION SHE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL HER LIFE? 
 
Abbie Martin has grown up in squalor in one of Liverpool's most deprived areas. The youngest of three, she longs to be loved by her mother, but Ellen spends all her time with her eldest son, while Abbie and her brother, Sam, take refuge with their neighbours, Sandra Lewis and Peter Ryan. 
 
Although vibrant and attractive, Abbie pushes people away with her constant need for reassurance. Infatuated with Peter, she longs for the day when he tells her that he loves her. And Sam is courting Sandra. But Peter and Sandra have a secret - one that could destroy the friends' relationship should it become known. 
 
Will Abbie finally find what she most desires, or will she always be looking for love...?

Looking For Love

a dramatic page-turner set in the heart of Liverpool from much-loved and bestselling saga author Rosie Harris

Two penn'orth of sky is all you can see from dirty, cramped Nightingale Court where Emmy lives with her widowed mother. Her main aim in life is to escape and she sees marriage as her best way out. When Peter Wesley, First Officer aboard a cruise ship, proposes, she accepts eagerly. 
 
The Wesleys have a baby, Diana, and all seems set fair for the small family, but Peter is killed and Emmy left penniless. She and Diana are forced to move back to Nightingale Court. Emmy has to take work as a waitress but she becomes ill and when suitors appear, Diana detests them all... 
 
A tale of hardship, heartbreak and hope from a beloved storyteller, Two Penn'orth of Sky is classic Katie Flynn and sure to delight every one of her readers.

Two Penn'orth Of Sky

Let much loved author Jess Foley sweep you away with this beautifully breathtaking saga of one woman's search for love and fulfilment. Fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Katie Flynn will absolutely love this. 
 
'An earthy tale of love, longing and tragedy' -- Swindon Evening Advertiser 
'Dramatic and satisfying' -- Iris Gower 
'Compulsive and well-paced' -- Wiltshire Times 
'This is the most moving story I have read in a very long time' -- ***** Reader review 
'A truly excellent, memorable read' -- ***** Reader review 
'I just couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************ 
BORN INTO POVERTY, RAISED IN RICHES. WHERE DOES SHE BELONG? 
 
When little Blanche is born in a small village in the West Country - the fifth child of an impoverished labourer - the future appears bleak. Then one fateful day Blanche's mother is requested at the 'big house' to nurse Marianne, the motherless daughter of John Savill. The two girls, so different in their hopes, are brought up together caring for each other as sisters. 
 
As she grows over, Blanche is torn between her roots and her desire for a life of wealth and ease. 
 
Her friendship with Marianne remains the one constant in her life but when she meets Marianne's intended husband, tragic consequences await them all.

Saddle The Wind

an unmissable and powerful West Country saga of passion and pain guaranteed to capture your heart

Let much loved author Maggie Bennett sweep you away with this powerful and gripping Southern saga of poverty, pride and passion. If you like Katie Flynn, Dilly Court and Catherine Cookson, you'll love this! 
 
READERS ARE LOVING A CARRIAGE FOR THE MIDWIFE! 
'I found it difficult to put this book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'This book was brilliant. I could not stop reading. A most enthralling read.-- ***** Reader review 
'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review 
'[Maggie Bennett] is a real story teller who makes you want to turn each page' -- ***** Reader review 
'Maggie Bennett is a brilliant writer' -- ***** Reader review 
****************************************************************************** 
CAN SHE ESCAPE THE DARK SHADOWS OF HER CHILDHOOD? 
 
Born into the squalor of the notorious Ash-Pits, young Susan Lucket is determined to raise herself above the poverty of her childhood. Discovering she has a natural talent for nursing, she forges a new life for herself as a midwife - independent and unmarried, she is a woman far ahead of her time. 
 
 When Edward Calthorpe, youngest son of the privileged landowner, offers her marriage, the memory of her terrible childhood returns to haunt her. And when Edward's wayward brother seduces her beloved younger sister Polly - and then betrays her in the most brutal of ways - Susan faces losing everything she has struggled for. 
 
 Can she find the strength to fight for her right to happiness?

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