Victoria Whitworth began swimming in the cold waters of Orkney as a means of temporary escape from a failing marriage, a stifling religious environment and a series of health problems. Over four years, her encounters with the sea and all its weathers, the friendships she made, the wild creatures she encountered, combined to transform her life. This book is a love letter, to the beach where she swims regularly and its microcosmic world, to the ever-changing...

In the early 1980s when punks and Rastas were on the streets protesting about unemployment, homelessness and the National Front, Benjamin?s poetry could be heard at demonstrations, outside police stations and on the dance floor. His mission was to take poetry everywhere, and to popularise it by reaching people who didn?t read books. His poetry was political, musical, radical and relevant.� By the early 1990s, Benjamin had performed on every continent...

'I invite the reader to travel the road alongside these men, many of whom are destined to be buried in some foreign field, others to survive and endeavour to forget, and others to live a life of mental torture as they try to adjust after the storms of battle have receded into the history books' - Victor Gregg, veteran of the Rifle Brigade and 10th Parachute Regiment. Victor Gregg takes us behind the scenes of this unforgiving terrain, to the sangars...

'I invite the reader to travel the road alongside these men, many of whom are destined to be buried in some foreign field, others to survive and endeavour to forget, and others to live a life of mental torture as they try to adjust after the storms of battle have receded into the history books.' -Victor Gregg, veteran of the Rifle Brigade and 10th Parachute Regiment. This is the story of how Victor Gregg switched from being a rifleman to a birdman....

Rising to the Surface traces Lenny Henry's career through the 80s and 90s. The 16-year-old who won a talent competition, now has to navigate his way through the seas of professional comedy, learning his craft through sheer graft and hard work. We follow Lenny through a period of great creativity - prize-winning tv programs, summer seasons across Britain, the starring role in a Hollywood film, and stand-up gigs in New York. But with each rise there...

'I invite the reader to travel the road alongside these men, many of whom are destined to be buried in some foreign field, others to survive and endeavour to forget, and others to live a life of mental torture as they try to adjust after the storms of battle have receded into the history books.' -Victor Gregg, veteran of the Rifle Brigade and 10th Parachute Regiment. Victor Gregg, after an absence of eight months of service, is offered a promotion...

Fans of funny and inspiring books like Maya Van Wagenen?s Popular and Caroline Paul?s Gutsy Girl will love hearing about Andrea ?Andy? Gonzales and Sophie Houser?s journey from average teens to powerhouses. Through the success of their video game, Andy and Sophie got unprecedented access to some of the biggest start-ups and tech companies, and now they?re sharing what they?ve seen. Their video game and their commitment to inspiring young women have...

Born a free man in New York State in 1808, Solomon Northup was kidnapped in Washington, D.C., in 1841. He spent the next 12 years as a slave on a Louisiana cotton plantation, and during this time he was frequently abused and often afraid for his life. This is his detailed description of slave life and plantation society.

Funny, moving and truthful ... Quite Claudia Winkleman?s warmth, humour, no-holds-barred attitude and smoky eye have made her the favourite broadcaster of millions and a much-loved household name. In this, her first ever book, Claudia invites us all into her world. She shares her observations on topics such as the importance of melted cheese, why black coats are vital, how it?s never okay to have sex with someone who has an opinion on your date outfit,...

Mudlark (/'mAdla;k/) noun A person who scavenges for usable debris in the mud of a river or harbour Lara Maiklem has scoured the banks of the Thames for over fifteen years, in pursuit of the objects that the river unearths: from Neolithic flints to Roman hair pins, medieval buckles to Tudor buttons, Georgian clay pipes to Victorian toys. These objects tell her about London and its lost ways of life. Moving from the river's tidal origins in the west...