Bøger udgivet af Bloomsbury UK

The boldly original, dramatic intertwined story of Catherine de' Medici, Elisabeth de Valois and Mary, Queen of Scots - three queens exercising power in a world dominated by men.'Alluring, gripping, real: an astonishing insight into the lives of three queens' ALICE ROBERTS'Takes us into the hearts and minds of three extraordinary women' AMANDA FOREMAN'Conveys the vitality of the past as few books do. An enviable tour de force' SUZANNAH LIPSCOMBSixteenth-century Europe: Renaissance masters paint the ceilings of Florentine churches, kings battle for control of the Continent, and the Reformation forever changes the religious organisation of society. Amidst it all, three young women come of age and into power in an era of empires and revolutions. Catherine de' Medici's story begins in a convent stormed by soldiers intent on seizing the key to power in Florence - Catherine herself, a girl barely 11 years old. It ends with her as the controversial queen mother of France, a woman both revered and reviled. Mary, Queen of Scots' story begins in Scotland and ends in England. A queen turned traitor, from the confines of her English prison she longs for the idyll of her childhood in France.Elisabeth de Valois' story begins in France, where she is born the beloved daughter of a king. It ends tragically in Spain as a cherished queen consort and mother - one who must make the ultimate sacrifice for her kingdom. Catherine, Mary and Elisabeth lived at the French court together for many years before scattering to different kingdoms. These years bound them to one another through blood and marriage, alliance and friendship, love and filial piety; bonds that were tested when the women were forced to part and take on new roles. To rule, they would learn, was to wage a constant war against the deeply entrenched misogyny of their time. A crown could exalt a young woman. Equally, it could destroy her. Drawing on new archival research, Young Queens masterfully weaves the personal stories of these three queens into one, revealing their hopes, dreams, desires and regrets in a time when even the most powerful women lived at the mercy of the state.

*A BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK *'An immensely impressive debut from a major literary talent' JOSEPH O'CONNOR'Lush, lyrical and cleverly-constructed. A beautiful book' LOUISE KENNEDYThe disquieting story of an unidentified man as told by those who crossed paths with him on the last day of his life, Sheila Armstrong's debut novel is haunting, lyrical and darkly suspensefulOn an isolated beach set against a lonely, windswept coastline, a pale figure sits serenely against a sand dune staring out to sea. His hands are folded neatly in his lap, his ankles are crossed and there is a faint smile on his otherwise lifeless face.Months later, after a fruitless investigation, the nameless stranger is buried in an unmarked grave. But the mystery of his life and death lingers on, drawing the nearby villagers into its wake. From strandings to shipwrecks, it is not the first time that strangeness has washed up on their shores.Told through a chorus of voices, Falling Animals follows the crosshatching threads of lives both true and imagined, real and surreal, past and present. Slowly, over great time and distance, the story of one man, alone on a beach, begins to unravel. Elegiac and atmospheric, dark and disquieting, Sheila Armstrong's debut novel marks her arrival as one of the most uniquely gifted writers at work in literary fiction today. Reader Reviews 'Beautifully written and gently catches the reader with its meditative prose and deep humanity''Such a beautiful book''Gorgeous wild setting and achingly recognisable characters'

In showing how the great philosophers of human history lived and thought - and what they thought about - Peter Cave provides an accessible and enjoyable introduction to thinking philosophically and how it can change our everyday lives. With a lightness of touch, he addresses questions such as: Is there anything 'out there' that gives meaning to our lives? Does reality tell us how we ought to live? What indeed is reality and what is appearance - and how can we tell the difference?This book paints vivid portraits of an assortment of inspiring thinkers: from Lao Tzu to Avicenna to Iris Murdoch; from Hannah Arendt to Socrates and Plato to Karl Marx; from Kierkegaard and Nietzsche to Sartre to Samuel Beckett - and let us not forget Lewis Carroll for some thought-provoking fantasies and Ludwig Wittgenstein for the anguishes of a genius. As well as displaying optimists and pessimists, believers and non-believers, the book displays relevance to current affairs, from free speech to abortion to the treatment of animals to our leaders' moral character.In each brief chapter, Cave brings to life these often prescient, always compelling philosophical thinkers, showing how their ways of approaching the world grew out of their own lives and times and how we may make valuable use of their insights today. Now, more than ever, we need to understand how to live, and how to understand the world around us. This is the perfect guide.

An exciting new adventure series for young readers from Carnegie Medal winner Katya Balen, author of October, October and The Light in EverythingClem and her friends Ash and Zara are members of the Thames and Tide Club! Every weekend they go mudlarking by the river, searching for treasures that have washed up on the shore. Clem has found old things, new things and a whole heap of rubbish. But one day, she finds something really special. Something magical that belongs in the river and must be returned to its rightful owner . or else.Before they know it, the Thames and Tide Club are on the weirdest, wildest, underwater-iest adventure they could possibly have imagined on a mission to save Underwater London!

'One of the 20th century's greatest thinkers and prose stylists' New York Times'A novel of the disquieting contours of family, and of the mind, and of life unceasing even in the midst of death by one of the most important, visionary writers of all time' Amina Cain, author of Indelicacy WITH A FOREWORD BY KATE ZAMBRENOThere's nothing to do about boredom, I'm bored, but one day I won't be bored anymore. Soon I'll know that it's not even worth the trouble. We'll have the easy life.Twenty-five-year-old Francine Veyrenattes, confined to the family farm, already feels that life is passing her by. But after Francine lets slip a terrible secret, culminating in the violent deaths of her brother and uncle, her world is shattered. Fleeing the farm for the seaside, Francine finds herself disintegrating. Lying in the sun with her toes in the sand, she restlessly wishes for things to be somehow easier, to have a life worth living. But then the calm and quiet is broken yet again - by another tragedy and a senseless death, in which Francine finds herself implicated. Cast out of paradise, and stranded between her home and the rest of the world, she must confront her rapidly dissolving sense of self if she is to find a way to survive.'It's a masterpiece, and a little known, if not unknown, masterpiece . Any serious reader of this author's work must begin with this novel' YVES BERGER

The Wind Knows My Name is a captivating novel by the renowned author, Isabel Allende. Published by Bloomsbury UK in 2023, this book is a testament to Allende's talent for crafting stories that resonate with readers across generations. The book belongs to the genre of magical realism, a style that Allende has mastered over her prolific career. The Wind Knows My Name takes you on a journey of self-discovery, filled with rich characters and intricate plotlines. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. Don't miss out on this masterpiece from Bloomsbury UK.

'SUPERB' TELEGRAPH'YOU EITHER GOT IT OR YOU DON'T ... WATT ABSOLUTELY HAS' THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH'THE FINAL CHASE SCENE ... IS ONE OF THE BEST I'VE READ' OBSERVER THRILLER OF THE MONTH_______________Only a journalist goes where even the police fear to tread...Casey Benedict, globe-trotting star reporter at London paper The Post, is tenacious, fearless, inventive - and still in recovery after her last major story jeopardised her life, and all of those close to her.Invited to spend the day at the races, she sees a man being hunted across the racecourse. A horrified Casey intervenes to save his life - and in doing so finds herself face to face with her next major investigation. From London to Budapest, from snowy mountain retreats to glitzy Mediterranean coastal resorts, Casey is on a desperate hunt to find the person behind the shadowy organisations responsible and expose them to the public before anyone else's lives are lost._______________READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THE END OF THE GAME:'Her best yet' 'Really has it all, outstanding characters and great suspense' 'Fascinating and exciting'

The Other Mothers, a gripping novel by Katherine Faulkner, is a must-read for all book lovers. This engrossing narrative was published by Bloomsbury UK in 2023 and has since captivated readers worldwide. Faulkner, known for her unique storytelling, takes us on a journey of motherhood but with an unexpected twist. This book, falling under the genre of contemporary fiction, explores the complexities of motherhood from different perspectives, hence the title 'The Other Mothers'. Faulkner's ability to weave together multiple storylines into a cohesive and captivating narrative is truly remarkable. Published by the renowned Bloomsbury UK, this book is a testament to their commitment to bringing quality literature to readers. So, if you're looking for a book that offers a fresh perspective on a familiar theme, The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner is the book for you.

Longlisted for the 2023 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award'I loved every single page!' GILLIAN MCALLISTER, author of WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME 'A thoroughly compulsive ticking-clock thriller' TM LOGAN, author of THE MOTHER I didn't kill her. Trust me. When Amy Blahn died on a London rooftop, Layla Mahoney was there. Layla was holding her. But all she can say when she's arrested is that 'It was Michael. Find Michael and you'll find out everything you need to know.'The problem is, the police can't find him - they aren't even sure he exists.Layla knows she only has forty-eight hours to convince the police that bringing in the man she knows only as 'Michael' will clear her name and reveal a dangerous game affecting not just Amy and Layla, but her husband Russell and countless others.But as the detectives begin to uncover the whole truth about what happened to Amy, Layla will soon have to decide: how much of that truth can she really risk being exposed?'A relentless, absorbing thriller' JANICE HALLETT'The very definition of a compulsive page-turner' CHRIS WHITAKER

'I wanted more' DAVID GILMANOne lie put the nation at risk. Another might save it.Harry Bristow: policeman, father, chauffeur, fraud.In 1988 Harry made one mistake: he took a bribe, letting a man he knew as Igor into Britain - and he's regretted it ever since. So when he recognises Igor many years later as his newly-elected MP, he knows he has to come clean. But the MP recognises him too - and Harry fears what he might do next.Peter Robinson, MP: salesman, politician, bachelor, spy.It was easy to get into Britain in 1988 as an illegal, working deep undercover, but the break-up of the Soviet Union cut Robinson off from his homeland. He's inching closer to Britain's levers of power - but now the one man who knows his secret has reappeared. With no way to contact Moscow, he must act fast to preserve his position and reap its rewards - at any cost.Manon Tyler, CIA analyst, has just boarded a plane to London - with a report on Russian illegals to read.'Intriguing and very cleverly-plotted' ALEX GERLIS'Races along at breakneck speed. Packed with insider information, this is not one to miss' M. W. CRAVENPRAISE FOR STELLA RIMINGTON:'Damn good' Daily Telegraph'A must-read for fans of contemporary spy fiction' Publishers Weekly'This is something rare: the spy novel that prizes authenticity over fabrication, that is true to the character and spirit of intelligence work' Mail on Sunday

Best of Friends, a captivating novel by the acclaimed author Kamila Shamsie, is a must-read for all book lovers. Published by Bloomsbury UK in 2023, this book has already garnered much attention in the literary world. Kamila Shamsie, known for her unique writing style and compelling narratives, has once again managed to craft a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The genre of the book, though hard to pin down to just one, can be best described as a blend of drama, romance, and suspense. Set against the backdrop of contemporary times, Best of Friends explores the complexities of friendship and the inevitable changes it undergoes over time. It's a book that will make you reflect, empathize, and perhaps even shed a tear or two. Don't miss out on this masterpiece from Bloomsbury UK. Experience the magic of Kamila Shamsie's storytelling with Best of Friends.

Longlisted for the 2023 PEN/Jean Stein Book AwardLonglisted for the 2022 Brooklyn Public Library Book PrizeA New Yorker Essential Read of 2022A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2022An NPR Best Book of 2022A Literary Hub Best Reviewed Poetry Collection of 2022_______________'Witty and incisive. [Sharif] masterfully traverses the landscape of exile and all its complicated grief' New York Times_______________The devastating second collection by Solmaz Sharif, author of Look, a National Book Award finalistWith Customs, Solmaz Sharif offers a series of poetic refusals, weighing nuanced questions about what it means to belong to a place. In the face of hard borders these poems seek a reckoning with the structures, in society, in language itself, by which these limits act on us.Sharif examines what it means to exist in the nowhere of the arrivals terminal; to navigate a continual series of checkpoints, officers, searches, and questionings that can become a relentless challenge; a mutating shibboleth. Through the poet's adept balancing of tonal and formal elements, these poems interrogate the 'customs' of the nation-state, of the English language, of the paces these systems put us through. But this work is not enjoined to a hopeless quest. Instead, the propulsive force that informs each line, each white space, and punctuation mark, is a powerfully galvanizing and healing force.Customs reminds us of the generative possibilities of restlessness, of seeking in each poem to refresh what it is a poem can be and do.

'Utterly brilliant. Sensationally swashbuckling. Completely magical' - A.F Steadman, author of Skandar and the Unicorn ThiefFrom the award-winning author of The Storm Keeper's Island, set sail on Catherine Doyle's latest perilous adventure to the magical islands of Darksea Deep in the heart of the Atlantic Ocean, where the full moon rests on the horizon, lies a secret kingdom called Darksea. Ruled by the Pirate King, Captain O'Malley, Darksea's tranquil waters have, of late, been haunted by an invisible and deadly monster - a monster that is eating the once-beautiful islands in gigantic bites. On the other side of the horizon, at his home in Galway, Max Reid and his family are battling a different monster. His big brother Christopher is in hospital and getting sicker - and his parents have begun to talk of miracles. Then one night a loud, bright red parrot taps on Max's bedroom window, carrying an invitation from the pirate king. Captain O'Malley needs a new crew member for a dangerous quest; and the reward is everything Max has been hoping for. But in Darksea, not everyone is as they seem. When Captain O'Malley's secret threatens to upend their mission and destroy Max's chance to help his family, Max realises he's going to have to navigate much more than he bargained for.

From the Desmond Elliot Prize-shortlisted writer of Iron Annie comes a story of found family, second chances and one man's slow descent into a dangerous criminal underworld.Before he was known as The Rat King, the infamous criminal kingpin of Dundalk, he was simply Paul - a clever but aimless man fresh out of university who, after falling in with his capricious girlfriend's crew of squatting anarchists, finds himself homeless and desperate. To get by, Paul strikes a deal with a shady man who offers him a roof over his head and a regular supply of drugs in return for 'birdwatching' - spying on the visitors to one particular house. Robin Redbreast (25, leather jacket, red hair and beard) is a regular to the place, but it's the Night Bird - Blue Gattigan - that turns Paul's stomach. Blue radiates violence and cruelty and, when he targets someone close to Paul, Paul sets out for payback.With the help of a who's who of Dundalk's underworld - a traveller with all the right connections, a genius metalworker with a heart of gold and a maté-drinking, ayahuasca-imbibing ex-NRA solider known locally as the Shaman - Paul hatches a plan that will send a deafening message to Blue. But when Blue strikes back, Paul is forced to ask himself the all-important question: how deep into this world of crime is he truly willing to go?

Prince Fred decides it's time he got married - to a genuine 'proper perfect' princess. His best friend, Prince Zac, warns him that such a bride would be hard to find . . .Enter Princess Ardwenna, who turns up at the palace to ask for shelter from the storm. Prince Fred can't believe she's a real princess - she's not fussy and proud AT ALL. "So I have to be fussy to be a princess?" she says."Well, I can do fussy, no problem. OH YES!" Ardwenna decides to play a trick on Fred - involving one little pea and a whole pile of mattresses!But Prince Fred might not need a princess after all. Perhaps his own handsome prince has been there all along . . .A funny and irresistible retelling of Hans Christian Andersen's classic fable, THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA, which defies the traditional fairy tale convention. With a pitch-perfect rhyming text by bestselling Peter Bently, and gloriously detailed illustrations by award-winning Claire Powell, this is an unmissable treat with a modern twist.

What is a meaningful life? What does it mean to flourish? Antonia Case, the co-founder of New Philosopher and Womankind magazines, quits her corporate job in the city and, with her partner, travels across the world in search of meaning. In a quest to find answers, she turns off the soundtrack of the media, rids herself of technology, and with little more than books as carry-on luggage, she journeys from Buenos Aires to Paris, from Barcelona to Byron Bay, seeking guidance from ancient philosophers and modern-day psychologists on what is a good life, and what is a life worth living. Along the way she discovers why winning the lottery doesn't make you happy, why making is better than having, and how love and belonging are vital to our sense of selves.Packed with insight into life's big questions, Flourish will take you on a riveting journey in search of what matters most.