C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 5

One of the pleasures of being a bookseller is matching the perfect book to the customer and we think we have a selection here that will suit everyone: books that will charm, amaze, enlighten or amuse this festive season. In fact, we challenge you not to fi nd the perfect gift. There are stunning new novels by William Boyd and Pat Barker plus a republished gem from Patrick O’Brian. We have biographies that shed light on Churchill’s shocking fi nances, the house that held the Sitwells together and two thrilling stories of life and fi ction merging: John le Carré and Frederick Forsyth. In History, Max Hastings’ latest is as good a book as has ever been written about the Second World War and Mary Beard adds human detail to Roman History in her tremendous new work. Elsewhere there are wonderful new titles from Bill Bryson, Nigel Slater and Richard Mabey, revealing biographies from Catherine Lampert and Michael Peppiatt and, for those with an embarrassingly bare coffee table, some beautiful art and gardening titles. Christmas is always a special time for children and we have stories of magic, misadventure, and mayhem. The Queen loses her handbag, the Eiffel Tower goes travelling and Asterix has another adventure with the unfortunate Romans. We also have a selection of ‘Charming’ books, which we hope will delight you: an unusual edition of Pride and Prejudice, a unique guide to London and a set of very curious maps. Finally, if you still haven’t found inspiration; why not buy a Hatchards subscription and let us do the hard work for you? These are only a fraction of the books we stock so please visit the shop or come to our Christmas Customer Evening on 26th November, when we shall also announce the winner of Our Favourite Novel of the Past 200 Years. May we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

T H E H E A R T G O E S L A S T Margaret AtwoodPositron offers everyone a house and a stable job. As one might expect from Margaret Atwood, this paradise world has a sinister side and everyone is required to spend alternate months in a prison cell. At first it seems worth it. The resulting tale is humorous and horrific in equal measure. £18.99 Hardback

T H E B L U E G U I T A RJohn BanvilleOliver Orme has hidden himself away in his childhood home, from where he tells the story of a year of his life. He is an artist, whose muse has deserted him, and also a thief, whose crimes have caught up with him, particularly the theft of Polly, his friend’s wife. £14.99 Hardback

N O O N D A YPat BarkerThe final part of the great trilogy sees Elinor caught in the London Blitz. Old loves and obsessions are intensified and she must make an almost impossible choice. A masterly climax to the series, this can also be read as a stand-alone novel.£18.99 Hardback

N O W I S T H E T I M EMelvyn BraggIn 1381 England was far from stable: the plague had returned, the boy king had no money and the poll tax was causing unrest. This is the story of the Peasants’ Revolt, a tale both epic and intimate, the struggle between the powerful and the apparently powerless. £18.99 Hardback

F I C T I O N

S W E E T C A R E S S William Boyd Amory Clay is a photographer. Berlin in the twenties and New York in the thirties lead her to France in the Second World War where she becomes one of the first women war photographers. The main narrative is skilfully interwoven with extracts from her diary when Amory is in her seventies, living in a remote cottage in Scotland. Throughout her life friends, lovers, husbands and children come and go as she searches for something which always seems just out of reach. £18.99 Hardback

‘Boyd is as good as ever at capturing time and place, and at blurring the line between fact and fiction.’ James Walton, The Daily Telegraph

M O R E F R O M W I L L I A M B O Y D . . . . .

A Good Man In AfricaAs a representative of Her Britannic Majesty in tropical Kinjanja, Morgan Leafy has avoided worldly success so far; getting involved in wholesale bribery is hardly likely to help. (Whitbread First Novel Prize1981, Somerset Maugham Award 1982)

£8.99 Paperback

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N U M B E R 1 1Jonathan CoeSubtitled Tales that Witness Madness, this satirical novel is set in twenty-first century Britain. The friendship between Rachel and Alison is the central thread of the story, with cameo roles from the super-rich, a conniving tabloid columnist and a bizarre new breed of detective.£ 16.99 Hardback

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W A R R I O R S O F T H E S T O R M Bernard CornwellThe peace in the kingdoms is an illusion; Uhtred, the warrior ruler of Chester, can see the Northmen and Irish advancing. Family loyalties cannot necessarily be relied upon and, as ever, he must choose between personal ambition and political commitment. £20 Hardback

N U M E R O Z E R OUmberto Eco, translated by Richard DixonMussolini and his mistress were killed by partisans in 1945. Or were they? Nearly fifty years later, a journalist in need of a scoop becomes convinced that it was a hoax and part of a Fascist plan. Murder and Mafia plots force Colonna, our unlikely hero, to admit that the journalist may have a point. £16.99 Hardback

W H E R E M Y H E A R T U S E D T O B E A T Sebastian Faulks Robert Hendricks, an English doctor, has seen the best and the worst the twentieth century has to offer. Staying on an island off the coast of France, he is forced to confront the events of his life. His host, and antagonist, Alexander Pereira, is running out of time, but he still seems to know more about his guest than Hendricks does himself. £20 Hardback

F I C T I O NT H E S T O R Y O F T H E L O S T C H I L D Elena FerranteThis is the fourth of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels, and concludes the story of the brilliant, bookish Elena and the fiery Lila. Against the backdrop of a Naples that is as seductive as it is perilous, this is the story of a lifelong friendship. It can be read on its own, although we can guarantee that you will then want to read the others.£11.99 Paperback

P U R I T Y Jonathan FranzenPip knows her real name is Purity and that she is saddled with huge student debts, but little else. Not why her mother lives as a recluse, who her father is, or whether she’ll ever have a normal life. Meeting Andreas Wolf, founder of the Sunlight Project in South America, ensures that the last, at least, is unlikely to happen. £20 Hardback

C A R E E R O F E V I L Robert GalbraithA mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, containing a severed leg. Cormoran Strike is alarmed, if not particularly surprised. There are four people from his past who could be responsible; as time runs out, he becomes convinced that the police are focusing on the wrong one. £20 Hardback

R O G U E L A W Y E RJohn GrishamSebastian Rudd takes the cases no one else will touch. He believes everyone is entitled to a fair trial, even if that involves antagonising people on both sides of the law. The case of Arch Swanger is different though; it threatens everything Sebastian holds dear.£20 Hardback

D I C T A T O R Robert HarrisOnce Cicero held all the power. Now Caesar is in control and Cicero’s life is in ruins. His comeback requires wit, skill and courage, all of which he has, but his enemies have cunning and ambition and are determined to thwart his plans. The last part of Robert Harris’ great Roman trilogy.£20 Hardback

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T R I G G E R M O R T I S Anthony HorowitzIt’s 1957 and Bond has just survived his showdown with Goldfinger. SMERSH and a sinister Korean millionaire are threatening the West and James gets involved in a deadly race at the Nürburgring and a thrilling train ride, while Pussy Galore and the aptly named Jeopardy Lane are here to support him. This is Fleming’s Bond, back at his very best. £18.99 Hardback

T H E G I R L I N T H E S P I D E R ’ S W E B David Lagercrantz, translated by George GouldingMikael Blomkvist is contacted by a Swedish scientist who wants Millennium to publish his terrifying story. He believes his life is in danger but, more interesting to Mikael is his connection to a certain superhacker, Lisbeth Salander. This is a worthy successor to Stieg Larsson’s trilogy. £19.99 Hardback

T H E W O M A N W H O W A L K E D I N S U N S H I N E Alexander McCall SmithMma Ramotswe has been persuaded to take a holiday but she cannot resist following the cases taken on by her partner, albeit from a distance. Sitting about doing nothing was never Precious’ strong point!£17.99 Hardback

F I C T I O N

B E A S T S R O Y A L: T W E L V E T A L E S O F A D V E N T U R EPatrick O’BrianFirst published in 1934, this was Patrick O’Brian’s second book. Man-eating tiger-sharks lurk in the indigo waters of the South Seas and an African python plots against a wily old crocodile. Also here, is the short story which later became the acclaimed novel Hussein. Patrick O’Brian’s animal adventures are every bit as good as his nautical ones.£12.99 Hardback

‘There are two types of people in the world: Patrick O’Brian fans, and people who haven’t read him yet.’

Lucy Eyre, The Guardian

‘First there was the sky, high, pure and of a darker blue than he had ever seen. And then there was the sea, a lighter immensely luminous blue that reflected blue into the air, the shadows and the sails.’

Patrick O’Brian, The Thirteen-Gun Salute

Master and CommanderThis is the first of Patrick O’Brian’s twenty Aubrey-Maturin novels, set during the Napoleonic wars and based around the friendship of two very different men, a bluff, violin-playing naval captain and a surgeon, who is also a secret agent and a naturalist. There is not only action and adventure, but also a wealth of fascinating historical detail of life on board a man-of-war. Read this and be swept into the most wonderful naval series. £8.99 Paperback

M O R E F R O M P A T R I C K O ’ B R I A N . . . . .

C H I L D R E N O F T H E M A S T E R Andrew MarrIt is 2018 and the Labour party has unexpectedly won the general election, but it has a narrow majority and an unpopular leader. Who will take over, a working-class Scot or a high-flying Londoner? £18.99 Hardback

F I C T I O N

S L A D E H O U S EDavid MitchellSlade Alley is easy to miss, as is the small, black, iron door. Inside there is a sunlit garden which doesn’t make sense; one which charms, until you realise it is impossible to leave. Published at Hallowe’en, this is the perfect book to read on a dark and stormy night.£12.99 Hardback

A R C A D I ATim PearsThree interlocking worlds, four people looking for answers and a scientist intent on proving that time does not exist. In the basement of an Oxford professor’s house there is a sun-drenched land of storytellers, prophesies and ritual, but is it real? And what will happen if Rosie decides to stay there? £18.99 Hardback

E V E N D O G S I N T H E W I L D Ian RankinA senior lawyer has been murdered and Big Ger Cafferty (Rebus’ long-term nemesis) has received a threatening note and a bullet through his window. It’s almost a relief for Rebus when DI Siobhan Clarke pulls him out of retirement to help her find the killer. £19.99 Hardback

F I C T I O N

D A R K C O R N E R SRuth RendellSadly the ‘Queen of Crime’ died in 2015 but she had already completed this, her sixty-ninth novel. A box of sleeping pills causes an untimely death and at once we are swept into Ruth Rendell’s dark world of mistaken identity, kidnap and blackmail. £18.99 Hardback

T H E M O U N T A I N S H A D O W Gregory David RobertsAfter twelve years we have a sequel to Shantaram. Lin returns to Bombay from a smuggling trip to find the city changed. His old contacts are gone and a new and violent mafia leadership holds power. He would leave the city, but Karla and a fatal promise hold him there.£20 Hardback

T W O Y E A R S E I G H T M O N T H S A N D T W E N T Y - E I G H T N I G H T S Salman Rushdie Strangenesses begin after a storm in New York City; a gardener who finds himself floating and a baby who identifies corruption are just two of the intriguing characters descended from the whimsical and capricious jinn. The line between worlds is breached and for one thousand and one nights chaos reigns in this satirical and spellbinding tale. £18.99 Hardback

A L I T T L E L I F E Hanya Yanagihara Four graduates move to New York linked by friendship and ambition: a kind actor, a quick-witted painter, a frustrated architect and the brilliant and enigmatic, but scarred, Jude, who holds them all together. £16.99 Hardback

B I O G R A P H Y

T H E L A D Y I N T H E V A N: T H E C O M P L E T E E D I T I O NAlan BennettIn 1974 Miss Shepherd ‘temporarily’ parked her van in Alan Bennett’s London driveway and proceeded to live there for fifteen years. This edition contains an introduction with diary entries by Alan Bennett, the screenplay, the original memoir and beautiful illustrations by David Gentleman £14.99 Hardback

S T A L I N ’ S E N G L I S H M A N: T H E L I V E S O F G U Y B U R G E S S Andrew Lownie An engaging and charming companion or a ruthless manipulator, a drunk or a genius, Guy Burgess was a man of many lives. This is the first full biography of the Cambridge spy and is based on over a hundred interviews with those who knew Guy Burgess personally.£25 Hardback

J O H N L E C A R R É: T H E B I O G R A P H YAdam SismanAfter a bleak childhood, John le Carré was recruited by both MI5 and MI6 before turning to espionage novels, many of which contain episodes from his life. This is the true story of that life, based on access to the novelist and his private archive, and interviews with those closest to him.£25 Hardback

T H E O U T S I D E R: M Y L I F E I N I N T R I G U EFrederick ForsythTrained first as a pilot and then as a journalist, Frederick Forsyth has written thirteen action-packed thrillers. His autobiography is every bit as exciting as his novels; disagreements with an arms dealer, the Stasi and the IRA are just the beginning. And then there is a certain attractive Czech secret police agent. £20 Hardback

B I O G R A P H Y

N O M O R E C H A M P A G N E: C H U R C H I L L A N D H I S M O N E Y David LoughChurchill lived in an extravagant world and spent recklessly. His was a life of perks and expenses but cigars, champagne and Chartwell all depleted his funds. Most of the time Churchill lived on a cliff-edge, only his charm and diplomacy keeping him from ruin. David Lough has unearthed a fascinating side to one of our greatest prime ministers. £25 Hardback

‘Churchill emerges as extravagant in every way, especially in his addiction to risk’ Piers Brendan

B O O K S B Y W I N S T O N C H U R C H I L L . . . . .

The Second World WarSix volumes of brilliant narrative and analysis, of which Churchill said, ‘this is not a history; this is my case’. £25 each Hardback, £22 each PaperbackFirst and early editions of this series are usually also available.

My Early LifeThe story of the first twenty-five years of Churchill’s life sees him struggling with Latin grammar, charging the Dervishes at Omdurman and preparing a speech for a Conservative fête.£12.99 Paperback

B I O G R A P H Y

F R O S T: T H A T W A S T H E L I F E T H A T W A ST H E A U T H O R I S E D B I O G R A P H YNeil HegartySir David Frost’s list of interviewees is staggering: prime ministers, presidents and countless film stars, musicians, authors and rulers. During the sixties he became the most successful television host in the world. It was said that he didn’t just report the news, he made it. £25 Hardback

P O U R M E: A L I F EA.A. GillAt the beginning of A.A. Gill’s memoir he is in a dormitory with six strangers. He is an alcoholic, dying in a last-chance saloon. This is a story of lost time and self-discovery that is harsh and unflinching yet uplifting.£20 Hardback

K I D G L O V E S: A V O Y A G E R O U N D M Y F A T H E RAdam Mars-JonesWhen his widowed, brilliant father drifted into vagueness, if not dementia, Adam Mars-Jones looked after him. The London flat where they lived is the backdrop for this marvellous book which is the story of Adam’s life as much as his father’s. £16.99 Hardback

L I V I N G O N P A P E R: L E T T E R S F R O M I R I S M U R D O C H 1 9 3 4 - 1 9 9 5Edited by Avril Horner and Anne RoweHere, for the first time, is Iris Murdoch’s life in her own words, from her school days to her last years. Philosophical issues and comments about her novels are interspersed with sharp humour, irreverence and fascinating details of her private life, the last of which has always been the subject of much speculation. £25 Hardback

B I O G R A P H Y

G O I N G U P: T O C A M B R I D G E A N D B E Y O N D – A W R I T E R ’ S M E M O I RFrederic RaphaelMany of the extraordinary events of Frederic Raphael’s life have been absorbed into his novels and screenplays. Going Up tells the indiscreet and moving true story of that life. £25 Hardback

R E N I S H A W H A L L: T H E S T O R Y O F T H E S I T W E L L SDesmond SewardRenishaw Hall has been the seat of the Sitwell family since 1625 and the history of the house mirrors that of the family; both have risen, and fallen, to spectacular levels. The house we now know was largely the creation of Sir George Sitwell, a man sadly overshadowed by his extraordinary children Osbert, Edith and Sacheverell.£25 Hardback

M A G G I E S M I T H: A B I O G R A P H YMichael CoveneyThere are many variations of Dame Maggie Smith, from a star of West End tragedy to Professor McGonagall and the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Through all this she remains a private and enigmatic figure. This biography draws on personal archives, interviews and conversations and gives an insight into the real Maggie Smith. £20 Hardback

M A R G A R E T T H A T C H E R: T H E A U T H O R I Z E D B I O G R A P H Y, V O L U M E T W O: E V E R Y T H I N G S H E W A N T SCharles MooreIn 1983 Margaret Thatcher won the largest increase in a government’s Parliamentary majority in British electoral history. She then proceeded to change the course of Britain’s, and the world’s, history. Charles Moore has had unprecedented access to private and government papers; reading his book is like eavesdropping on state affairs. £30 Hardback

H I S T O R Y A R D E N N E S 1 9 4 4: H I T L E R ’ S L A S T GA M B L EAntony BeevorHitler launched his ‘last gamble’ in the snow-covered forests and gorges of the Ardennes. The Red Army was approaching from the east and Germany was desperate. However, as Antony Beevor shows, the Ardennes was the battle which finally broke the Wehrmacht. £25 Hardback

F R E D E R I C K T H E G R E A T: K I N G O F P R U S S I ATim Blanning Frederick the Great was talented and ruthless, a patron of the arts and a brilliant military commander. He dominated the eighteenth century and was equally at home on the battlefield or in the music room. Tim Blanning’s biography finally allows us to understand the man behind all this. £30 Hardback

C O N Q U E R O R S: H O W P O R T U G A L S E I Z E D T H E I N D I A N O C E A N A N D F O R G E D T H E F I R S T G L O B A L E M P I R E Roger CrowleyThe history of Portuguese exploration is now almost forgotten, but these were the men who understood the Atlantic winds, beat the Spanish to the spice kingdoms of the East and then set about creating the first long-range maritime empire. For thirty years they almost ruled the seas. This is history at its very best, an epic tale of navigation, trade, technology, espionage and shipwreck. £20 Hardback

T H E B A T T L E O F T H E A T L A N T I C: H O W T H E A L L I E S W O N T H E W A R Jonathan DimblebyThe Battle of the Atlantic is sometimes overlooked, but it was crucial to the Allied victory. Through contemporary diaries and letters, from the leaders and from sailors on all sides, Jonathan Dimbleby creates a thrilling narrative and gives this campaign its due significance. £25 Hardback

H I S T O R Y

S P Q R: A H I S T O R Y O F A N C I E N T R O M E Mary BeardSenatus PopulesQue Romanus: the Senate and the people of Rome. Mary Beard explores not just Rome’s rise to power, but also what the Romans thought about themselves and their empire. Their views on slavery, democracy, migration and running water all cast a new light on Roman life.£25 Hardback

Confronting the ClassicsAs far as Mary Beard is concerned, the study of the ancient Greeks and Romans is a ‘work in progress’; there are questions to be answered and much to be debated. Here she confronts those debates: why did the Romans free so many slaves? How far was Asterix’s Gaulish village ‘Romanised’? What does any of this say about us? £9.99 Paperback

M O R E F R O M M A R Y B E A R D . . . . .

‘With such a champion as Beard to debunk and popularise, the future of the study of classics is assured.’ Philip Womack, The Daily Telegraph

H I S T O R Y

K I S S I N G E R: 1 9 2 3 - 1 9 6 8 T H E I D E A L I S T Niall FergusonKissinger has been revered and reviled more than any other American statesman: an ‘indispensable man’ or an amoral Machiavellian, according to your stance. Niall Ferguson has drawn on hitherto closed private papers and documents from more than a hundred archives around the world to give us a true picture. Volume I of two. £35 Hardback

T H E H O U S E B Y T H E L A K E: A S T O R Y O F G E R M A N Y Thomas HardingA simple wooden house is at the heart of this book. Metres away from the Berlin Wall, it was home to a farmer, a Jewish family, a Nazi composer, a widow and a Stasi informant. In 2013 Thomas Harding decided to save the house; this is the astonishing story he unearthed. £20 Hardback

T H E S E C R E T W A R: S P I E S , C O D E S A N D G U E R R I L L A S 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5 Max HastingsMax Hastings examines the espionage and intelligence machines on all sides and gives us a truly global picture of the secret side of the Second World War. This is a book about some of its most fascinating characters and the clandestine work they did.£30 Hardback

H O W T H E F R E N C H T H I N K: A N A F F E C T I O N A T E P O R T R A I T O F A N I N T E L L E C T U A L P E O P L E Sudhir HazareesinghThe French: orderly and yet anarchic, charming and yet exasperating, serious and yet pleasure-loving, above all though, intellectual. This unique look at France shows how the nation’s identity is influenced, indeed created, by its intellectual tradition. With sources ranging from Descartes to Asterix this delightful book will appeal to all lovers of France and French culture. £20 Hardback

H I S T O R Y

D Y N A S T Y: T H E R I S E A N D F A L L O F T H E H O U S E O F C A E S A R Tom HollandThe civil wars of Rome were so terrible that the people were glad to welcome the rule of an autocrat who would give them peace. Dynasty traces the astonishing tale of Rome's first imperial family: Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Agrippina and Nero; a brilliant yet unsettling family that transformed Rome. £25 Hardback

E L I Z A B E T H I I: T H E S T E A D F A S T Douglas Hurd, preface by HRH Prince William, Duke of CambridgeThe Penguin Monarchs series will cover every ruler from Athelstan to Elizabeth II in forty-five slender volumes, each one written by an expert of the period. As both Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, historian Douglas Hurd is uniquely placed to write this biography of our steadfast and much-loved monarch. £10.99 Hardback

R E A L M D I V I D E D: A Y E A R I N T H E L I F E O F P L A N T A G E N E T E N G L A N DDan Jones 1215, the year King John placed his seal on the ‘Magna Carta’. Groundbreaking though the charter was, it had little immediate impact as England descended into civil war. Dan Jones’ vivid account of the political struggles also shows how the ordinary people lived: where they dwelt, what they wore and what they ate. £20 Hardback

T O H E L L A N D B A C K: E U R O P E 1 9 1 4 - 1 9 4 9Ian KershawIn 1914 Europe plunged into war. Four years later peace may have been declared but the descent into hell continued. Millions were killed, tortured, terrorised and imprisoned, largely, Ian Kershaw argues, due to German aggression, which reached its peak under Hitler. This is a shocking, yet enlightening view of the twentieth century. Volume I of two. £30 Hardback

H I S T O R Y

A U G U S T I N E: C O N V E R S I O N S & C O N F E S S I O N SRobin Lane FoxAugustine is the person from the ancient world about whom we know the most, thanks to his Confessions. But do we really know him? Robin Lane Fox’s brilliant biography compares him with two contemporaries, a pagan and a Christian, and reaches some subtly surprising conclusions. £30 Hardback

T H E O T T O M A N E N D G A M E: W A R, R E V O L U T I O N A N D T H E M A K I N G O F T H E M O D E R N M I D D L E E A S T, 1 9 0 8 - 1 9 2 3 Sean McMeekin From the invasion of Ottoman Tripoli in 1911 onwards, the Empire was under constant threat. In 1918 it seemed to have finally collapsed but, unexpectedly, Modern Turkey arose from the ruins. This is the first time the entire epic has been woven together into a single volume. £30 Hardback

P R I S O N E R S O F G E O G R A P H Y: T E N M A P S T H A T T E L L Y O U E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U N E E D T O K N O W A B O U T G L O B A L P O L I T I C STim MarshallWorld events may appear to be controlled by people, ideas and movements, but everything is ultimately constrained by geography: mountains, rivers, seas and concrete.The ten chapters cover all the major powers and explain the influence their geography has on world history. £16.99 Hardback

E L E G Y: T H E F I R S T D A Y O N T H E S O M M E Andrew RobertsThis was the first of over 140 days of slaughter that resulted in over a quarter of a million deaths. Andrew Roberts evokes the pity and horror of this day in the words of casualties, survivors and the bereaved.£20 Hardback

H I S T O R Y

‘A book of dazzling range, ambition and achievement’ William Dalrymple

T H E S I L K R O A D S: A N E W H I S T O R Y O F T H E W O R L D Peter FrankopanFor years the Silk Roads, linking Eastern Europe, Central Asia, China and India, were the routes along which trade, ideas, religion and death spread. They were at the heart of civilisation. Today they are rising to prominence again and, in this new look at world history, Peter Frankopan explains why. £30 Hardback

The First Crusade: The Call from the East This is a strikingly original picture of the expedition that captured Jerusalem from Muslim hands in the eleventh century. It is a truly fresh interpretation of a very old story.£9.99 Paperback

M O R E F R O M P E T E R F R A N K O P A N . . . . .

‘A dazzling book, perfectly combining deep scholarship and easy readability.’

John Julius Norwich

H I S T O R Y

T H E G R E A T B R I T I S H D R E A M F A C T O R Y: T H E S T R A N G E H I S T O R Y O F O U R N A T I O N A L I M A G I N A T I O N Dominic SandbrookThe British Empire may not still dominate the world, but British popular culture is unrivalled: Agatha Christie, James Bond, Doctor Who and the Beatles. This book looks at our modern triumphs and considers their extraordinary worldwide influence. £25 Hardback

T H E F A C E O F B R I T A I N: T H E N A T I O N T H R O U G H I T S P O R T R A I T S Simon SchamaThis is the history of Britain, told in over one hundred and fifty portraits, pictures of our greatest leaders, writers and artists and also of the everyday people of Britain. Simon Schama has combined his two great passions, British history and art history and created a beautiful and absorbing book. £30 Hardback

C A M E R O N A T 1 0: T H E I N S I D E S T O R Y 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 5Anthony Seldon and Peter SnowdonThis is the inside story of the Cameron premiership, based on over 300 interviews with senior figures, including the Prime Minister himself. Cameron at 10 is the most intimate account of a serving Prime Minister that has ever been published. £20 Hardback

T H E E N D O F T H E C O L D W A R 1 9 8 5 - 1 9 9 1Robert ServiceAt the time, it seemed as if the Cold War would last for ever. Then, seemingly suddenly, the Berlin Wall was dismantled, perestroika spread and the Soviet Union was dissolved. Robert Service’s gripping new investigation shows exactly how these changes came about and which statesmen were responsible for the extraordinary events. £25 Hardback

H I S T O R Y C U R S E D K I N G S: T H E H U N D R E D Y E A R S W A R I V Jonathan SumptionThis is the story of the destruction of France, largely brought about by the madness, greed and violence of its rulers. Into the void left by this collapse strode Henry V, victor of Agincourt and conqueror of much of northern France. Jonathan Sumption’s authoritative history of the Hundred Years War continues, as compelling as ever.£40 Hardback

T H E L O N D O N C O U N T Y C O U N C I L B O M B D A M A G E M A P S 1 9 3 9 - 1 9 4 5Laurence WardThe full horror that the bombs of the Second World War inflicted on London is shown clearly in these maps; 110 hand-coloured 1:2500 Ordnance Survey maps which show a city that no longer exists. Laurence Ward’s introduction sets the maps in historical context with accompanying archival photography and tables of often grim statistics. £48 HardbackT H E L O S T T U D O R P R I N C E S S: A L I F E O F M A R G A R E T D O U G L A S, C O U N T E S S O F L E N N O XAlison WeirDaughter of Margaret, erstwhile Queen of Scots and niece of Henry VIII, Margaret Douglas’ life was pulled between two crowns. Instrumental in securing the Stuart succession to the throne, she created scandals, was imprisoned in the Tower and saw her husband and son murdered. This is her story. £20 Hardback

P A C I F I C: T H E O C E A N O F T H E F U T U R ESimon WinchesterThe Pacific Ocean is a world of tsunamis, Magellan, Robert Louis Stevenson, Paul Gaugin and the largest explosion of an American atomic bomb. Simon Winchester travels round the ocean and reveals its astonishing past, a present made uncertain by China and North Korea and a hugely important future. £25 Hardback

L I T E R A T U R E & P O E T R Y

T H E P O E M S O F T . S . E L I O T V O L U M E I: C O L L E C T E D A N D U N C O L L E C T E D P O E M S

V O L U M E I I: P R A C T I C A L C A T S A N D O T H E R V E R S E S Edited by Christopher Ricks and Jim McCue

This is the definitive edition of T.S. Eliot’s verse. Errors and omissions have been corrected and background information for each poem has been included. £40 each Hardback

T H E C O L L E C T E D P O E M S A N D D R A W I N G S O F S T E V I E S M I T HEdited by Will MayPoems that range from comedy to tragedy and line drawings that are by turns beguiling and unsettling are collected together here. 500 works, spanning a thirty-five year career, have been compiled by renowned scholar Will May, who has recorded their various versions and provenance.£35 Hardback

CHARLOTTE BRONTË: A LIFE Claire HarmanCharlotte Brontë’s life contained all the drama and tragedy of the great Gothic novels it inspired: a brutal boarding school, the sickness and death of her siblings and a passionate yet unrequited love. This definitive biography coincides with the two hundredth anniversary of Charlotte’s birth.£25 Hardback

T E D H U G H E S: T H E U N A U T H O R I S E D L I F EJonathan BateAs well as poetry, Ted Hughes wrote letters, journals and stories for children and has left huge archives of notes and unpublished works. Jonathan Bate has unearthed a wealth of new material from these archives and has written a book that honours Hughes’ poetry and explains his life.£30 Hardback

L I T E R A T U R E & P O E T R Y

W E A T H E R L A N D: W R I T E R S A N D A R T I S T S U N D E R E N G L I S H S K I E SAlexandra HarrisOur concern with the weather may be the butt of many jokes, but it seems it has also influenced our writers and artists. Shelley wanted to become a cloud, Ruskin wanted to bottle one and Turner painted them. Anglo-Saxons wrote about the cold, the Romantics about rain and the Middle Ages brought the warmth of spring into literature. This is a history of culture to curl up with on a winter’s night or enjoy sitting in a sunny deck-chair. £24.95 Hardback

‘I wanted to lie on the grass and watch the sky with Chaucer, with Milton, with Turner.’

Alexandra Harris

‘A dazzling journey through the weather-worlds of English culture and history’

Robert Macfarlane

M O R E F R O M A L E X A N D R A H A R R I S . . . . .

Romantic Moderns: English Writers, Artists and the Imagination from Virginia Woolf to John PiperDuring the 1930s and 1940s there was a modern English renaissance, with writers and artists exploring what it meant to be alive at that moment and in England. Alexandra Harris’ engaging and enlightening book shows how important that renaissance was. (Winner of the Guardian First Book Award 2010 and Somerset Maugham Award 2011)£19.95 Hardback, £16.95 Paperback

O U R F A V O U R I T E N O V E L S

As we approach our 220th anniversary we decided to choose our favourite novels of the past 200 years, asking you to pick a winner. Compiling the list fuelled much heated debate amongst our booksellers. These were not necessarily the greatest books, or the most important; they were our favourites. Our customers voted in their droves;

favourites were selected but there was one stand out winner.

T H E W I N N E R

The Warden is not just a marvellous evocation of nineteenth-century Church life; it is a dramatic and potentially tragic tale of duty, loyalty and morality. There are characters

who are deeply flawed and others who are almost saint-like, but all are utterly compelling. It has the added joy of being very funny. The great Hatchards public has

indeed picked the most charming of all novels.

T H E W A R D E N A N T H O N Y T R O L L O P E

‘Utterly compelling’

‘A true masterpiece’

O F T H E P A S T 2 0 0 Y E A R S

O R I G I N A L S I N P.D. James

£8.99 Paperback

T H E R A D E T Z K Y M A R C H Joseph Roth

£9.99 Paperback

G O O D B Y E T O B E R L I N

Christopher Isherwood

£8.99 Paperback

A Q U E S T I O N O F U P B R I N G I N G

Anthony Powell

£10.00 Paperback

T H E P R I M E O F M I S S J E A N B R O D I E

Muriel Spark

£7.99 Paperback

T H E S H O RT L I S T

Here are the runners-up, books that everyone loved, but not quite enough to make them a winner….

L I T E R A T U R E, P O E T R Y & M U S I C

1 6 0 6: W I L L I A M S H A K E S P E A R E A N D T H E Y E A R O F L E A R James ShapiroThis was one of Shakespeare’s most inspired times, the year of King Lear, Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. It was a bad one for England: plague, opposition to the union with Scotland and unrest after the Gunpowder Plot. James Shapiro shows us how Shakespeare’s plays responded to national events. £30 Hardback

T H E R E A L T R A V I A T A: T H E S O N G O F M A R I E D U P L E S S I S René WeisThe rags-to-riches story of Marie Duplessis inspired both Verdi’s La Traviata and Dumas’ La Dame aux Camélias. Raised in provincial Normandy, Marie became queen of the Paris courtesans, with the government and royal family falling under her spell. Largely forgotten until now, her life was one of the most extraordinary of the nineteenth century. £25 Hardback

O S I N G U N T O T H E L O R D: A H I S T O R Y O F E N G L I S H C H U R C H M U S I CAndrew GantChoral Evensong is the longest running radio series and church music remains popular even though fewer of us go to church. Andrew Gant looks at the reasons for its popularity, tracing English church music from its Anglo-Saxon origins to the present day.£20 Hardback

G R I E F I S T H E T H I N G W I T H F E A T H E R SMax PorterA woman dies suddenly, leaving behind two young boys and their father, a Ted Hughes scholar, in a house which is ‘a physical encyclopedia of no-longer hers’. At this crucial moment, Crow arrives and announces that he will stay until he is no longer needed. In a mixture of poetry, fable, compassion and humour, the family starts to heal. £10 Hardback

G I F T S

B O O K J A C K E T S T O P O S T Everyone has favourite book jackets: stripey green Penguins, old Elizabeth David’s stylish Faber poets or the turquoise Pelicans, which made one look rather learned. Each box has a hundred postcards of different book jackets: to send or keep, according to your inclination. £14.99 each

Cookery Postcards from Penguin

Postcards from Penguin

Postcards from Pelican

100 Faber Postcards

P E N SEverything looks better written with a fountain pen, even your shopping list. We now have a range of wonderful pens in a splendid old-fashioned cabinet; come and try one. We also have perfect propelling pencils and, dare we say it, rather nice ball-point pens. £25 to £300

N O T E B O O K S F O R A L L O C C A S I O N SHaving bought your fountain pen (see above) you will need somewhere to write. We stock notebooks for travellers, cooks, birdwatchers or gardeners, in fact everyone. £3.99 upwards

A R T

F R A N K A U E R B A C H:S P E A K I N G A N D P A I N T I N GCatherine LampertIn 1939 the eight-year-old Frank Auerbach was sent to England to escape the Nazis. He has remained here ever since. In 1978 Catherine Lampert became one of his sitters and this has given her a unique insight to the artist, his working methods and philosophy. The book is largely told in the artist’s own words as Catherine reflects on his life and career.£19.95 Hardback

F R A N C I S B A C O N I N Y O U R B L O O D Michael PeppiattIn 1963 the then student Michael Peppiatt approached Francis Bacon for an interview. The two became friends and Michael Peppiatt saw all aspects of the artist’s life over the next thirty years. This is an intimate and deliberately indiscreet account ranging from Bacon’s meetings with East End thugs to the Duke of Devonshire, to his views on art. It is a Bacon that will surprise you. £25 Hardback

F L E E T I N G G E S T U R E S A N D O B S E S S I O N SManolo BlahnikDrawing inspiration from architecture, art, film and literature, Manolo Blahnik has been designing exquisite shoes for over forty years. This sumptuous book features more than two hundred and fifty of his designs and with essays by fashion writers, curators and colleagues it also gives a personal look at the man behind the shoes. £90 Clothbound and in a slip case

O N B E I N G A N A R T I S TMichael Craig-Martin Not only a highly distinctive artist, Michael Craig-Martin is also an inspirational teacher, nurturing talents such as Damien Hirst and Sarah Lucas. This book is part memoir, part instructional guide and consists of short pieces which are a mixture of personal philosophy, anecdote, self-examination and advice. The book itself is exquisitely produced; an object worthy of the artist. £22.50 Hardback

A R T

T H E W H I T E R O A D: A P I L G R I M A G E O F S O R T SEdmund de WaalThe White Road takes us on a journey which tells the story of that most treasured of clays, porcelain. The journey spans a thousand years and travels from China to Versailles, Dresden, Cornwall and beyond. Through the people and landscapes who made porcelain, Edmund de Waal enriches his, and our, understanding of this precious material, white gold.£20 Hardback

‘This is an intimate book. De Waal is intimate with the very stuff that he has transformed so beautifully into pots; intimate with its history; intimate with the characters who make up its story.’ A.N. Wilson, The Financial Times

The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden InheritanceThis is the story of a collection of 264 Japanese netsuke and the family that owned them over a period of a hundred and forty turbulent years.(Costa Biography Prize 2010 and the Royal Society of Literature’s Ondaatje Prize 2011)£25 Hardback, £9.99 Paperback

The Pot Book Three hundred different ceramic vessels are collected here to tell the history of pots. Pots for ritual, eating, drinking or decoration: each tells a particular story.£29.95 Hardback, £24.95 Paperback

M O R E F R O M E D M U N D D E W A A L . . . . .

A R C H I T E C T U R E & G A R D E N I N G

L A N D M A R K: A H I S T O R Y O F B R I T A I N I N 5 0 B U I L D I N G S Anna Keay & Caroline StanfordThis is a history of Britain since 1250 told through fifty buildings, crucially, fifty buildings that will surprise you. The Landmark Trust rescues properties that would otherwise vanish and here we see towers, temples and follies, an Elizabethan hospital and a pineapple. Be charmed and enlightened about Britain’s history, its architecture and the amazing range of places where you can stay. £25 Hardback

P A R A D I S E A N D P L E N T Y: A R O T H S C H I L D F A M I L Y G A R D E NMary KeenThe Rothschild’s garden at Eyethrope is perfect, practical, and private. It is a productive garden beyond most gardener’s dreams. The garden and techniques used are described here, accompanied by stunning photographs and fold-outs showing different seasons. £50 Hardback

O X F O R D C O L L E G E G A R D E N STim RichardsonThe gardens of Oxford’s colleges are surprisingly varied, from the ancient mound at New College to the twentieth-century rock garden at St John’s. Elegant prose and stunning photographs open up these gardens for us, even allowing glimpses of the private fellows’ and masters’ gardens. £40 Hardback

P A I N T I N G T H E M O D E R N G A R D E N: M O N E T T O M A T I S S EWilliam H. Robinson, Clare A.P. Willsdon, Ann Dumas, Monty Don, James Priest and Heather LemonedesIn January 2016 an exhibition on gardens in art opens at the Royal Academy. Gardens have frequently been depicted in art, but it was not until the Impressionists and later movements that they were portrayed from life. This catalogue traces the influence gardens have had on modern art and also how artists such as Monet and Caillebotte have informed our gardens. £48 Hardback

G A R D E N I N G

G R E A T G A R D E N S O F L O N D O NVictoria Summerley Photographs by Marianne Majerus and Hugo Rittson Thomas London is a particularly verdant city, with gardens on rooftops, within palaces, behind walls, even floating on the River Thames itself. This is an informative and captivating portrait of the greatest of these gardens, most of which are private and rarely opened to the public.£30 Hardback

‘Wherever there is space to put a pot, Londoners will try to grow a garden.’ Victoria Summerley

Secret Gardens of the CotswoldsPhotographs by Hugo Rittson Thomas

Both the author and photographer live in this attractive corner of England and they have produced a very personal view of twenty of its best gardens. £20 Hardback

M O R E F R O M V I C T O R I A S U M M E R L E Y . . . . .

‘This enchanting book depicts paradise found’ Sarah Feeley, The English Garden

C O O K E R Y

3 0 I N G R E D I E N T SSally ClarkeTo mark the thirtieth birthday of her Notting Hill restaurant, Sally Clarke has chosen a selection of recipes for each of her favourite thirty ingredients. The simple philosophy of cooking with the freshest and best produce is at the heart of the restaurant and this book. £25 Hardback

S I M P L Y N I G E L L A: F E E L G O O D F O O DNigella LawsonWhatever the occasion, the making and eating of food should be pleasurable. Quick and calm suppers, stress-free catering for a crowd or energy-giving breakfasts, these recipes are the perfect antidote to busy lives, food to soothe and uplift. Dishes which are uncomplicated, relaxed and yet deeply satisfying. £26 Hardback

N O P I: T H E C O O K B O O K Yotam Ottolenghi and Ramael ScullyUnlike Yotam Ottolenghi’s previous books, this is a restaurant cookbook, with recipes that will challenge and delight readers. NOPI head chef Ramael Scully brings a distinctive Asian twist to the recipes. £28 Hardback

S P U N T I N O: C O M F O R T F O O D ( N E W Y O R K S T Y L E )Russell NormanSpuntino is the Italian word for ‘snack’ and here there are both edible and visual snacks. Part recipe book and part guide to New York, it includes brunch, sliders, pizzette and cocktails as well as walks through the city’s gastronomic centres. £25 Hardback

C O O K E R Y

T H E K I T C H E N D I A R I E S I I I: A Y E A R O F G O O D E A T I N GNigel SlaterReaders of Nigel Slater will need no more information than that this is the latest instalment of his recipe diaries. If he is new to you, trust us that he is the most inspiring, comforting and readable writer to have in your kitchen. Accompany him as he explores the pleasure of eating well throughout the year. £30 Hardback

‘Sometimes with Slater, you’ll be reading about some amazing dish he’s making and you’ll imagine the kitchen, and the people sitting in the garden, through the French windows, and you’ll feel like you’re almost tasting the food. And then you realise it’s something simple, like bacon and avocado salad.’

William Leith, The Guardian

Kitchen Diaries I & I I: A Year in the Kitchen & A Year of Simple CookingThis is the food that Nigel Slater eats at home, based on the notebooks he has kept of scribbled shopping lists, early drafts of recipes and finished meals.£30 each Hardback

M O R E F R O M N I G E L S L A T E R . . . . .

Toast: The Story of a Boy’s HungerThis remarkable memoir of Nigel Slater’s childhood vividly recreates daily life in 1960s suburban England: his mother’s surprisingly good rice pudding, his father’s bold foray into spaghetti and his dreaded Boxing Day stew, or culinary delights such as Arctic Roll and Grilled Grapefruit.£8.99 Paperback

D R I N K S

G I N A N D T O N I C: T H E C O M P L E T E G U I D E F O R T H E P E R F E C T M I XFrédéric Du Bois & Isabel BoonsThis surprisingly compact book contains 400 gins and 50 tonics (not, we are afraid, literally). As well as recommendations for the best gin bars, there are recipes to go with gin, a history of the drink and hints on how to mix the perfect cocktail. Never again will you simply ask for a ‘G&T’. £22.50 Hardback

G O O D D R I N K S Ambrose HeathFrom Allahabad Tankard to Velvet Blush and Cherry Bounce to Whortleberry Wine there is a drink here for every occasion, ‘to the advancement of the brewer and the wine merchant and to the confusion of all dull dogs’. Ambrose Heath’s cornucopia of cocktails, cups and punches was first published in 1939 and is now reissued with Edwards Bawden’s original cover and frontispiece. £12.99 Hardback

S P I R I T O F P L A C E: W H I S K Y D I S T I L L E R I E S O F S C O T L A N D Charles MacLeanTreating Scotland as eight distinct regions, Charles MacLean describes the ‘cultural terroir’ of the country’s fifty greatest distilleries: the ingredients, methods and traditions that make each one unique. Specially commissioned photographs make this a sumptuous book perfect for anyone visiting the distilleries or the armchair drinker with a dram to hand.£25 Hardback

T H E O X F O R D C O M P A N I O N T O W I N EEdited by Jancis Robinson and Julia HardingFirst published in 1994, Jancis Robinson’s companion has won every major wine book award. Meticulously researched facts are combined with refreshing opinion and wit. There are almost 4,000 entries, written by over 180 contributors from the world of wine. £40 Hardback

S C I E N C E & N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y

B R I E F C A N D L E I N T H E D A R K: M Y L I F E I N S C I E N C ERichard DawkinsIn this second part of his autobiography (following An Appetite for Wonder) Richard Dawkins entertainingly describes teaching at Oxford, fieldwork on the Panama Canal and international conferences with eccentric experts. In 2006 The God Delusion earned him the title of the world’s most outspoken and controversial atheist, his opinions here are no less stimulating. £20 Hardback

T H E I N V E N T I O N O F S C I E N C E: A N E W H I S T O R Y O F T H E S C I E N T I F I C R E V O L U T I O NDavid WoottonWhen Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492 the word ‘discover’ didn’t exist. David Wootton argues that this concept of discovery led the world to look forward, rather than back, and made the invention of science possible. This book is revolutionary in its approach, meticulously researched and is gripping and surprising in equal measure. £30 Hardback

T H E I N V E N T I O N O F N A T U R E: T H E A D V E N T U R E S O F A L E X A N D E R V O N H U M B O L D T, T H E L O S T H E R O O F S C I E N C EAndrea Wulf Alexander von Humboldt has more things named after him than anyone else: a mountain range, a penguin, a giant squid and even a sea on the moon. He was a true adventurer; Napoleon was jealous of him and Darwin inspired by him. Andrea Wulf takes us on his fantastic voyages and, in so doing, shows us why his life and ideas remain so important today.£25 Hardback

T H E C A B A R E T O F P L A N T S: B O T A N Y A N D T H E I M A G I N A T I O NRichard MabeyPlants have had significance for us since the creation myths and pagan cults. Richard Mabey looks at plant species which have challenged our imaginations and upturned our ideas about history, science, beauty and belief: Newton’s apple, the African ‘vegetable elephant’ and the mystical Amazonian moonflower are here in all their glory. £20 Hardback

5 0 Y E A R S O F T H E W I L D L I F E P H O T O G R A P H E R O F T H E Y E A R: H O W W I L D L I F E P H O T O G R A P H Y B E C A M E A R TRosamund Kidman CoxThese are the best wildlife photographs of the past fifty years, from the first hand-held cameras, through the colour film revolution of the sixties, to the increasingly sophisticated pictures that are taken today. Admire the portraits, underwater photography and breathtaking aerial shots. £25 Hardback

N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y

L A B R A D O R: T H E S T O R Y O F T H E W O R L D ’ S F A V O U R I T E D O G Ben FogleFriendly, enthusiastic and loyal, it is hard not to love a lab. Ben Fogle tells the social history of these dogs, from their fishing origins in Newfoundland through their varied careers as guide dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs and, of course, family pets. It is easy to see why they have captured our hearts. £20 Hardback

T H E G O S H A W KT.H. White‘When I first saw him he was a round thing like a clothes basket covered with sacking. But he was tumultuous and frightening.’ This is T.H. White’s first sight of the goshawk he decided to train. Unbeknown to him at the time, goshawks are notoriously difficult to train. The author’s loneliness, the bird’s wildness and the haunting beauty of the countryside combine to make this an exceptionally moving story, now republished in this lovely new edition. £12.99 Hardback V I R G I N I A W O O L F ’ S E N G L I S H H O U R SPeter TolhurstThrough the areas of England that she loved, this book follows Virginia Woolf’s footsteps as she roamed in search of peace and inspiration: childhood holidays in Cornwall, the dramatic skies of the Fens and the Yorkshire moors where the wind ‘buffets me, and caresses me, like a stern but affectionate parent’. This book is both an uncommon view of Virginia and a guide to England through her eyes. It is illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. £20 Hardback

N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y

T H E C O M P A N Y O F T R E E S: A Y E A R I N A L I F E T I M E ’ S Q U E S T Thomas PakenhamThe arboretum at Tullynally is Thomas Pakenham’s personal creation. This fascinating book is structured as a diary for a year and takes us on a tour of the arboretum and further afield, to eastern Patagonia to see the giant monkey puzzle trees and to Tibet’s Tsangpo Gorge and beyond in search of seeds. This is an enthralling book describing the creation of a garden and Thomas Pakenham’s hopes and fears for trees worldwide. ‘It was the ancient trees in the parkland that from the beginning grabbed my imagination and excited my senses.’ £30 Hardback

‘Trees are, as this book points out, “the biggest living things in these islands, taller than most buildings, older than many ancient monuments” …. the planting Pakenhams have done them proud in person and in print.’

Hilary Spurling, The Guardian

Meetings with Remarkable TreesThomas Pakenham himself describes his book far better than we could hope to do; ‘It’s a personal selection of monumental trees. I chose, whimsically enough, sixty individual trees in Britain and Ireland and portrayed them with pen and camera. Many were very large and some were very ancient. What they all shared was a photogenic face or figure, and a strong personality.’ £30 Hardback

M O R E F R O M T H O M A S P A K E N H A M . . . . .

A M A Z I N G G R A C E: T H E M A N W H O W A S W. G. Richard TomlinsonThe humble son of a provincial doctor, W.G. forced his way into MCC. Crowds flocked to watch him play but, unknown to most, there was a darker side to the cricketer. Disparaged as a simpleton, he pushed himself harder and harder. As this book shows W.G. was a self-made, self-destructive genius, at odds with both himself and the world. £25 Hardback

S P O R T

W I N N E R: M Y R A C I N G L I F EA.P. McCoyThe racing world was shocked when Tony ‘A.P.’ McCoy announced his retirement; he seemed to be at the peak of his powers. However, A.P. has always done things his way and in this remarkably honest memoir he explains how he rose from his humble beginnings in Moneyglass, County Antrim and why he decided to retire. £20 Hardback

S T A Y I N G O N T R A C K: T H E A U T O B I O G R A P H YNigel Mansell Twenty years after he retired from Formula One Nigel Mansell looks back on his extraordinary career driving against Lauda, Senna, Prost and Schumacher. The risks were huge and he describes what it was like to take part in these races and what motivated him to get to the top. Nigel Mansell is still closely involved in F1 and his memoir takes us behind the scenes up to the present day.£20 Hardback

S T I R L I N G M O S S: M Y R A C I N G L I F ESir Stirling Moss with Simon TaylorOver 300 photographs and an insightful and often amusing commentary make this a very personal story. As ‘Mr Motor Racing’ Stirling Moss competed in almost a hundred different cars from 1948 to the sudden end of his racing career at Goodwood fourteen years later. The book is published to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of his famous win in the 1955 Mille Miglia road race and has a foreword by Lewis Hamilton.£50 Hardback

T R A V E L

T H E R O A D T O L I T T L E D R I B B L I N G: M O R E N O T E S F R O M A S M A L L I S L A N D Bill BrysonTwenty years ago Bill Bryson went on a trip round Britain that resulted in one of the most delightful books ever written about this country. Since then he has settled in Britain and officially (and hilariously as related in this book) become a British Citizen. He sets off again, travelling the Bryson Line (roughly Bognor Regis to Cape Wrath with a few diversions) to visit new places and paint an updated, but equally charming, picture of the land he has adopted.£20 Hardback

‘The dinner options featured . . . .Mrs Tilly’s Scottish Tablet, which sounded to me not at all like food but more like something you would put in a tub of warm water and immerse sore feet in.’

Bill Bryson

Notes From A Small IslandIn 1995, before returning to live in in the States for a time, Bill Bryson took a trip round Britain to discover precisely what it was he loved so much about the country, things such as Marmite, places called Titsey and Shellow Bowells or Gardeners’ Question Time. £8.99 Paperback

M O R E F R O M B I L L B R Y S O N . . . . .

‘He can be as gloriously silly as ever’

Damian Whitworth, The Times

C H I L D R E N ‘ S B O O K S

T H E Q U E E N ’ S H A N D B A G Steve AntonyThe Queen is about to embark on a tour of Great Britain when a sneaky swan swoops past and steals her handbag. The Queen sets off in hot pursuit, on a motor cycle to Stonehenge, by parachute to Snowdonia and on horseback to Edinburgh. Finally, she is reunited with her bag, at the finishing line of the London Marathon. (2+)£11.99 Hardback

L O V E I S M Y F A V O U R I T E T H I N G: A P L U M D O G S T O R YEmma Chichester ClarkPlum is a ‘whoosell’; think whippet, Jack Russell and poodle all mixed up. She has lots of favourite things: sticks, her bed, her bear, but most of all she loves being loved. Unfortunately trouble loves Plum and she isn’t always good. Will everyone still love her? (3+)£11.99 Hardback

O N C E U P O N A N O R T H E R N N I G H TJean E. Pendziwol and Isabelle ArsenaultAs a young child sleeps one tiny snowflake falls, and then another, and another. Soon the magic of the night outside takes hold: animals awaken, snow swirls, stars twinkle and winds whisper in this enchanting tale of magic and wildlife. (3+)£11.99 Hardback

T H E B E A R W H O W E N T B O O !David Walliams and Tony RossIn the snowy lands at the top of the world there lives a cheeky little polar bear. ‘Boo!’ is his favourite word……but one day he goes too far. (3+)£12.99 Hardback

C H I L D R E N ‘ S B O O K S

P A R I S U P , U P A N D A W A YHélène Druvert

The Eiffel Tower is bored so it decides to cut loose and fly over Paris. Amazingly delicate and intricate black and white lasercuts show its delightful journey over the French capital. (5+)£14.95 Hardback

M I S T E R C L E G H O R N ’ S S E A LJudith KerrWhen Albert Cleghorn rescued an abandoned seal pup he didn’t stop to consider the complications of having Charlie the seal in a flat. A curiously chaotic adventure ensues as they search for a suitable home for Charlie. What makes the story even more endearing is that it is based on a true story about Judith Kerr’s father. (6+)£12.99 Hardback £25 Collector’s slip cased edition with print

T H E A D V E N T U R E S O F M I S S P E T I T F O U RAnne MichaelsMiss Petitfour has sixteen cats and travels by tablecloth: paisley for a visit to the shops, starched white for sunny days or transparent plastic if it is raining. Here are five captivating stories of gentle adventure, delicious treats and occasional peril. (6+)£10.99 Hardback

C L A U D E: L I G H T S ! C A M E R A ! A C T I O N !Alex T. SmithClaude discovers a film set just beyond the fence. When he and Sir Bobblysock are asked to stand in for two injured actors they jump at the chance. Canine movie stardom awaits! (6+)£8.99 Hardback

C H I L D R E N ‘ S B O O K S

T H E S E R I A L G A R D E N: T H E C O M P L E T E A R M I T A G E F A M I L Y S T O R I E S Joan AikenWhen Mrs Armitage finds a ‘wishing-stone’ on her honeymoon she wishes for two children and a special day for things to happen, ‘say Mondays. But not always Mondays, and not only Mondays, because that would get a bit dull’. The unusual things include hatching griffins in the airing cupboard, Latin lessons with a ghost and an enchanted garden locked in a cereal packet. (8+)£8.99 Paperback

T H E D O L D R U M S: A B A D L Y P L A N N E D A D V E N T U R ENicholas GannonArcher lives in a house full of oddities including a talking badger and a blindfolded flamingo. He longs to follow his grandparents and have a grand adventure, but since his mother won’t even let him leave the house, this will be hard. Finally, he and his friends Oliver and Adéläide come up with a good plan (well, a not-bad plan), and they set off. (8+)£12.99 Hardback

G R A N D P A ’ S G R E A T E S C A P EDavid WalliamsGrandpa may confuse supermarket trolleys with Lancaster bombers, serve sardines with rice pudding or spam à la custard, and forget his grandson Jack’s name, but he was an RAF Spitfire pilot and tells wonderful stories. Problems arise and adventures begin when he starts to believe his stories are real. (8+) £12.99 Hardback

A S T E R I X A N D T H E M I S S I N G S C R O L LJean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad, translated by Anthea Bell.A Christmas treat - the thirty-sixth Asterix adventure. Caesar has written his memoirs, soon to be published by Libellus Blockbustus, but what will he say about a certain Gaulish village? (8-80) £10.99 Hardback

C H I L D R E N ‘ S B O O K S

‘The Wolf Wilder has everything: it’s a truly compelling read, it’s beautifully written; it’s totally original and yet has the familiar feel of an established classic.’

Jacqueline Wilson

T H E W O L F W I L D E RKatherine RundellFedora is training to be a wolf wilder, someone who trains wolves to survive in the wild. She and her mother seem safe in their snowy woodland home but, threatened by the Russian Army, Feo has to go on the run: to save her way of life, herself and her wolves. (10+) £12.99 Hardback

RooftoppersSophie is found floating at sea in a cello case, supposedly orphaned on her first birthday. She, however, is convinced that her mother is alive and Sophie and her eccentric guardian embark on a quest to find her, together with the rooftoppers, homeless urchins who tightrope walk above Victorian Paris.

£6.99 Paperback

M O R E F R O M K A T H E R I N E R U N D E L L . . . . .

‘The work of a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination.’

Philip Pullman

C H I L D R E N ‘ S B O O K S

H A R R Y P O T T E R A N D T H E P H I L O S O P H E R ' S S T O N E: I L L U S T R A T E D E D I T I O N J.K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim KayThere have been many editions of the Harry Potter books, but none as splendid as this. Jim Kay’s dazzling illustrations have breathed new life into Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and the Sorting Hat. This edition contains the full text and colour illustrations throughout. (10+)£30 Hardback

A N E A G L E I N T H E S N O WMichael MorpurgoIt is 1940 and Barney’s home has been destroyed by a bomb. He is travelling to the country when his train is forced to shelter in a tunnel to avoid the German planes. In the darkness a stranger begins to tell an extraordinary tale, the true story of Billy Byron, the most decorated soldier of the First World War and the pivotal choice he had to make. (10+) £12.99 Hardback

H I S T O R I U M ( W E L C O M E T O T H E M U S E U M ) Curated by Richard Wilkinson and Jo Nelson This is our non-fiction choice of the year, the companion to last year’s Animalium. Hidden within the book’s giant pages is a museum, displaying all the wonders of the Ancient Civilisations. Countries and cultures around the world are pictured in breathtaking detail. (10+)£20 Hardback £50 Collector’s slip cased edition with 10 prints by Richard Wilkinson

A L I F E I N P I C T U R E S Michael ForemanAs a child, growing up in wartime Suffolk, Michael Foreman used to draw on the paper that lined the biscuit tins sold in his mother’s shop. He tells his story through diary extracts, original sketches and, of course, the many award-wining books he has written and illustrated. (Adult)£20 Hardback

C H I L D R E N ‘ S B O O K S

‘It is a picture book for young and old, beautifully printed and bound in cloth, a celebration of the physical book.’ Coralie Bickford-Smith

T H E F O X A N D T H E S T A R Coralie Bickford-Smith‘Once there was a Fox who lived in a deep, dense forest.’ Every night the orange Fox would venture out from his lair and travel through the forest, his path lit by his friend, Star. One day, everything changed and Star did not appear. Will Fox find his friend again? This is not only a lovely children’s picture book, it is also a wonderful work of design. The patterns of the forest are a delight in themselves and as Fox’s mood changes so, too, do the colours; he is literally plunged into a swirling world of black and grey leaves. One could read it as a simple story or spend hours admiring the intricacies on every page. (5+)£14.99 Cloth bound and stitched with fox-coloured orange thread.

This is Coralie Bickford-Smith’s first book, but she has designed many of Penguin’s most stylish series including the F. Scott Fitzgerald collection, the Penguin Cloth Bound Classics and the Great Food series.

C H A R M I N G

A G U I N E A P I G P R I D E A N D P R E J U D I C EJane Austen, Alex Goodwin, Tess GammellThis winsome abridgement of Jane Austen’s novel is told in pictures with small furry guinea pigs in the starring roles. With soft grey fur and whiskers Mr Darcy has never looked so dashing. £7.99 Hardback

T E S T I N G T I M E S Peter BrookesLittle in the world of politics escapes the eagle eyes and deft pen of Peter Brookes. This latest collection of his cartoons shows us the events of 2015 in a delightfully irreverent manner. £18.99 Hardback

W O R D P L A Y: A C O R N U C O P I A O F P U N S , A N A G R A M S & O T H E R C U R I O S I T I E S O F T H E E N G L I S H L A N G U A G EGyles Brandreth‘The Oxford English Dictionary lists some 500,000 English words.... Mandarin Chinese may have a vocabulary to rival that of English, but no other language comes near it’. These are words we should savour and enjoy. In this entertaining, eloquent and edifying book, Gyles Brandreth leads us into the world of these words: their histories, meaning and quirks. It is endlessly absorbing.£14.99 Hardback

P R I V A T E E Y E A N N U A L 2 0 1 5 Edited by Ian HislopIan Hislop has edited Private Eye since 1986, keeping a quirky and satirical hold on the UK’s best-selling news and current affairs magazine. The annual is the best from the best: cartoons, jokes and spoofs. £9.99 Hardback

C H A R M I N G

H A S T H E W O R L D G O N E C O M P L E T E L Y M A D ? U N P U B L I S H E D L E T T E R S T O T H E D A I L Y T E L E G R A P HEdited by Iain HollingsheadFor every quirky, furious or entertaining letter published in The Daily Telegraph there are many more that languish on the cutting room floor. Too whimsical, too mad or too risqué for a serious newspaper, they are collected here in all their glory.£9.99 Hardback

C H R I S T M A S C R A C K E RJohn Julius Norwich Instead of a card at Christmas John Julius Norwich sends his friends a collection of the literary odds and ends that have caught his attention during the previous year. Bound into a pamphlet these quirky and humorous pieces are a seasonal delight and are available to buy after he has sent copies to his friends. Paperback, price to be confirmed(Please note that this title is not available until 1st December.)

J A M E S S H E R W O O D ’ S D I S C R I M I N A T I N G G U I D E T O L O N D O N : A N U N A B A S H E D C O M P A N I O N T O T H E V E R Y F I N E S T E X P E R I E N C E S I N T H E W O R L D ’ S M O S T C O S M O P O L I T A N C I T Y James B. Sherwood‘Hatchards … always seems to have the book one wants or the suggestion of something better.’ We aren’t biased but this guide clearly contains the finest London has to offer. You will need no other companion to the city.£16.95 Hardback

V A R G I C ’ S M I S C E L L A N Y O F C U R I O U S M A P S: T H E A T L A S O F E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U N E V E R K N E W Y O U N E E D E D T O K N O W Martin VargicMartin Vargic is a seventeen-year-old artist from Slovakia who draws extraordinary maps of the world which are shocking, humorous and bizarre. Stereotypes, internet-users and tractor drivers are all here, in magnificent and fascinating detail.£25 Hardback

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