Biography

An intimate, funny and frank account of the moments behind the music, of the truth behind the headlines and of the fascinatingly (read more)

An intimate, funny and frank account of the moments behind the music, of the truth behind the headlines and of the fascinatingly complicated man behind the imperious entertainer, Reveal is Robbie Williams as you've never seen him before. More than twelve years ago, Robbie Williams and Chris Heath published a ground-breaking memoir, Feel, about Robert P. Williams' rise to fame; a book that was met with worldwide acclaim, from critics and fans alike.

Since that time, Robbie has released six solo albums, reunited with his old band Take That and, in the wake of his twelfth UK number-one album, has returned to the stage with a sold-out run at Wembley Stadium. In Reveal, bestselling author Chris Heath has been working closely with Robbie for many years to create a personal and raw account of fame, fortune, family and music; a vivid and detailed story of the real highs and lows as Robbie has found his way forward, that is unprecedented in its intimacy and honesty. Long-awaited by millions, Reveal is the uncensored and compelling portrait of the man as you've never seen him before. (hide)

The definitive biography and assessment of the wily and formidable prince who unexpectedly became monarch-the most infamous king (read more)

The definitive biography and assessment of the wily and formidable prince who unexpectedly became monarch-the most infamous king in British history The reign of Richard III, the last Yorkist king and the final monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty, marked a turning point in British history. But despite his lasting legacy, Richard only ruled as king for the final two years of his life. While much attention has been given to his short reign, Michael Hicks explores the whole of Richard's fascinating life and traces the unfolding of his character and career from his early years as the son of a duke to his violent death at the battle of Bosworth. (hide)

Whilst Richard I is one of medieval England's most famous kings he is also the most controversial. He has variously been considered (read more)

Whilst Richard I is one of medieval England's most famous kings he is also the most controversial. He has variously been considered a great warrior but a poor king, a man driven by the quest for fame and glory but also lacking in self-discipline and prone to throwing away the short-term advantages that his military successes brought him. In this reassessment W.

B. Bartlett looks at his deeds and achievements in a new light. The result is a compelling new portrait of `the Lionheart' which shows that the king is every bit as remarkable as his medieval contemporaries found him to be. (hide)

When Geoff Thomas struggled to play a friendly game of tennis while on holiday in Mallorca in May 2003, he thought little of it. (read more)

When Geoff Thomas struggled to play a friendly game of tennis while on holiday in Mallorca in May 2003, he thought little of it. Recently retired as a footballer, he believed it was a sign of ageing and perhaps a pulled muscle.

But when the pain wouldn't go away, his wife Julie persuaded him to go to a doctor. He was diagnosed as having leukaemia. Riding Through The Storm focuses on his journey round the Tour de France in the summer of 2005, riding the 2,240-mile course in the 21 days it takes Lance Armstrong and all the top cyclists, despite never having cycled much before. (hide)

Roger Daltrey is the voice of a generation. That generation was the first to rebel, to step out of the shadows of the Second World (read more)

Roger Daltrey is the voice of a generation. That generation was the first to rebel, to step out of the shadows of the Second World War... to invent the concept of the teenager.

This is the story from his birth at the height of the Blitz, through tempestuous school days to his expulsion, age 15, for various crimes and misdemeanours within a strict school system. Thanks to Mr Kibblewhite, his authoritarian headmaster, it could all have ended there. The life of a factory worker beckoned.

But then came rock and roll. He made his first guitar from factory off-cuts. He formed a band. (hide)

Ronnie Wood is one of the foremost rock guitarists in the world, but his artistic talents extend beyond music. Throughout his stellar (read more)

Ronnie Wood is one of the foremost rock guitarists in the world, but his artistic talents extend beyond music. Throughout his stellar musical career from The Birds to the Faces and the Rolling Stones, Ronnie has never lost his passion for painting, drawing and sculpture. Exuding the same irrepressible energy as Ronnie himself, Ronnie Wood: Artist is the first ever comprehensive collection of his paintings and other artworks, created to mark the occasion of his seventieth birthday.

The bright, bold volume brings together the fruits of a lifetime in the arts, brimming with six decades of memorable and diverse work, from his art college portfolio (he studied alongside Pete Townshend) to the intimate work of his personal life today. Inside, a generous selection of his Stones work, including rare watercolours of Mick, Keith and Charlie backstage, meets acrylics of contemporaries Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck and Keith Moon. Portraits of formative jazz innovators Count Basie, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday sit alongside blues heroes Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Big Bill Broonzy. (hide)

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston burst to fame when he became the first man ever to complete a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of (read more)

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston burst to fame when he became the first man ever to complete a single-handed, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. Now, 50 years on from that famous voyage, he reveals the true, extraordinary story of his life. After leaving school, he immediately joined the Royal Naval Reserve before serving in the merchant navy and travelling the world.

During that time, he spied for the British government in the Gulf, worked in the South African dockyards, and built his boat Suhaili in Bombay, before sailing home to England. In June 1968, he set sail in Suhaili in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, and Running Free vividly brings to life that remarkable voyage, where he was the only person to finish the race, completing his journey on 22 April 1969 and thus entering the record books. (hide)

Like many little boys, Michael Emmett idolised his father. Growing up, he knew he wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps and join (read more)

Like many little boys, Michael Emmett idolised his father. Growing up, he knew he wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps and join the family business. At just 16 years old, Michael did just that - and entered the glamourous, dangerous world of organised crime.

Under the tutelage of his career criminal father - a contemporary of the infamous Kray twins - Michael's criminal activities funded a reckless lifestyle marked by drugs, sex and violence. But the high couldn't last forever. In 1993, Michael and his father were arrested in a dramatic confrontation with the police during a GBP13 million smuggling operation. (hide)

Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year Award'Extraordinary' Daily Telegraph'Breathtaking' Guardian Skybound (read more)

Shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Memoir of the Year Award'Extraordinary' Daily Telegraph'Breathtaking' Guardian Skybound by Rebecca Loncraine is a book for anyone who has looked up and longed to take flight. The day she flew in a glider for the first time, Rebecca Loncraine fell in love. Months of gruelling treatment for cancer meant she had lost touch with the world around her, but in that engineless plane, soaring 3,000 feet over the landscape of her childhood, with only the rising thermals to take her higher and the birds to lead the way, she felt ready to face life again. (hide)

The year is 1927, and in America, Britain and Russia, three young girls share a dream: to fly. But it won't be easy... Against the (read more)

The year is 1927, and in America, Britain and Russia, three young girls share a dream: to fly. But it won't be easy... Against the odds, Hazel, Marlene and Lilya follow their hearts, enrolling in pilot courses (sometimes in secret) and eventually flying for their countries in World War II.

Follow the adventures of these young women as they battle not only enemies in theskies but sexism and inequality in their own teams. Risking their lives countless times in feats of incredible bravery, the female air pilots of the Second World War are honoured in this beautiful book, illustrated in Sally Deng's raw, dynamic style. (hide)