The book includes striking photographs of the Queen at different stages of life. From shy princess to World War II mechanic, through to Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith, the Queen was a stoic stalwart to the end. Told with insight and warmth, this is the perfect tribute to our longest-reigning monarch.

‘Utterly endearing’ Dr James Canton

‘A fantastic book for weird walkers and megalith-obsessives alike’ Weird Walk

Journeying across Britain, from West Penwith and Avebury to the Lake District and Orkney, Stone Lands uncovers the magic and rich history of our incredible prehistoric standing stones. It conveys the delight that lies in tracking them down, as well as the solace these ancient places offer in times of darkness.

A few months after discovering that her beloved husband, Stephen, had incurable cancer, Fiona Robertson began to write this book. A long-time megalith enthusiast, she found the ancient stones resonated with her more profoundly than ever as she faced the prospect of losing him. Set upright thousands of years ago, the megaliths are symbols of endurance and survival, standing in contrast to our ephemeral human lives. Infused with folklore, legend and mystery, they enchant the landscape and bring magic to our modern world.

This enthralling memoir is woven delicately around great grief but is ultimately about embracing life, joy and ancient wonder – a luminous reminder of what it means to exist on this earth.

Stone Lands is beautifully illustrated inside with stunning black and white line drawings by the illustrator and printmaker Philip Harris. Find out more about his work: www.philipharrisillustration.com

‘A reminder that the ancient stones can be sources of reassurance and solidity, even in our times of greatest upheaval and loss’ Angeline Morrison

‘A beautifully told story … of a hard industry and the trials and tribulations of the hard folks in it, as well as highlighting their everyday triumphs and disasters with humour and aplomb’ Daily Express

Ashley Mullenger had never planned to become a fisherman. A chance fishing trip – catching mackerel off the Norfolk coast – was the start of an obsession. One that resulted in a transformation from clean-cut office worker to commercial ‘Fisherman of the Year’, and proud working owner of two boats, Fairlass and Saoirse, alongside skipper Nigel.

This is a memoir of that journey, a life swept up in tides and elements, strength of mind and body, of old ways and new struggles. It’s about the bravery of crews, early mornings, weather-beaten characters and those that can sink pints as fast as they can haul pots. These coastal communities and age-old livelihoods are built on trust, courage and skill – but they are also fraying against politics, poverty and climate change. The reality of commercial fishing is rarely seen, but Ashley carries us across the waves and around the UK’s waters in vivid detail to show what is really happening at sea to land the fish on our plates.

My Fishing Life is both a rallying cry and a love letter, rinsed down with salty humour, to an industry often misunderstood. One woman’s unique story of boat, skipper, sea and catch ultimately becomes a transformative view of a world that impacts deeply on us all.

‘Outside of a dog, The Book Lover’s Quiz Book is every bookworm’s best friend — inside of a dog . . . well, if you know the rest, you’re going to love this book’
PETER HANINGTON, author of A Dying Breed, peterhanington.co.uk

‘This is the ultimate literary quiz book and Gary Wigglesworth is the quizmaster to end all quizmasters’
DAVID QUANTICK davidquantick.com

This is a literary quiz book with a difference. Rather than basic sets of questions, The Book Lover’s Quiz Book mirrors the format of Gary’s live quizzes, at the Betsey Trotwood in London and elsewhere. So, there are lots of multiple-choice questions, some amusing answers, clever red herrings, little-known facts about authors and some of the much-loved Say What You See picture round.

Also, there are fixed and variable rounds – fixed ones include ‘Blankety Books’ (one word missing from the title – always with a theme), ‘Literary Links and lists’ (what connects/next in the list etc.) and ‘2 of a Kind’ (name the character and the author that share the same initials). The changeable rounds keep the quizzes fresh and include ‘What the Dickens?’ (real or made-up Dickens names), ‘RomeNo or JuliYess’ (real or made-up Shakespearian insults) and ‘Book Bingo!’ (identify the correct number). There are also more standard rounds such as ‘First Lines’, ‘Working Titles’ and ‘Banned Books’.

The aim of all Gary’s quizzes, and this book, is that people should have fun and be able to guess (if they don’t know) as much as possible.

When Thor Pedersen set out on the adventure of a lifetime, he couldn’t have imagined the people he’d meet and the experiences he’d encounter along the way. But embarking on this epic voyage took him to the brink of his sanity, wiped his funds and tested the relationships he held dear.

Over the years he faced grave danger, from encounters with drunken armed soldiers to life-threatening illness and even traversing the high seas, with wild waves destabilising the cargo ship he’d hitched a ride on. He’d sleep on the street one night and dine in the homes of billionaires the next. He visited countries stricken with war-zones, and once had to take an 11,919 km detour, revisiting seven countries, traversing Baluchistan in Pakistan escorted by armed guards because he was denied a visa while in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Life becomes complicated without the luxury of flying.

Yet after years of challenges and milestones, Thor achieved something no other human ever has. The Impossible Journey is a triumphant memoir as he invites the world to share in this once in a lifetime adventure. He imparts the lessons, stories and unique perspectives on humanity he learned along the way.

Then he waited.

Slowly but surely their responses arrived through his letterbox.

From entrepreneurs and environmentalists, to artists, authors and adventurers, this book gathers a kaleidoscope of perspectives on what it means to be human. With over one hundred enlightening responses, it’s more than just a collection of letters; it’s a roadmap to finding your own path.

With letters from Dame Jane Goodall, Helen Sharman OBE, Bindi Irwin, Dr Astro Teller, Catherine Coleman Flowers, Lizzie Carr, Professor Jean Golding OBE, Professor Ian Frazer AC, Dr Michael Irwin, Professor Anil Seth, Sir Tim Smit KBE, Edward O. Wilson, Dr Mya-Rose Craig, Professor Lord Robert Winston, Bill McKibben, Henry Marsh CBE, Dr Kathryn Mannix, Dame Hilary Mantel, Julian Fellowes, Michael Frayn FRSL, Jodi Picoult, Anthony Horowitz CBE, Tony Wheeler, AO, Pico Iyer, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak FBA, Amol Rajan, Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Simon Calder, Monica Heisey, Donna Ashworth, Gyles Brandreth, Danny Wallace, Rupi Kaur, Susan Pollack MBE, Martine Wright MBE, Simon Weston CBE, Mike Haines MBE, Natalie Queiroz MBE, Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, Chris Moon MBE, Matt Lewis, Brian Clark, John Hoskison, Benedict Allen, Tom Turcich, Ann Daniels, Dame Ellen Macarthur, Mark Beaumont BEM, Ben Smith, Yves Rossy, Jessica Watson, Fatima Whitbread MBE, Chris Eubank, Gail Muller, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Bonita Norris, Alexander Campbell, David Smith MBE, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rachel Portman OBE, Sir Michael Eavis, Sananda Maitreya, Ruth Rogers CBE, Luke Jerram, Stefan Sagmeister, Tommy Cannon, The Connor Brothers, David Hurn, Max Fosh, Jonathan Goodwin, Joan Armatrading CBE, Sir John Major KG CH, President Jimmy Carter, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Bishop Guli, Dr Rowan Williams, Zara Mohammed, Rabbi David Rosen KSG CBE, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, Richard Reed, Claire Williams OBE, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Julie Bentley, Dave Fishwick, Dr Sarah Hughes, Richard Farleigh, Marvin Rees OBE, Jack Kornfield, Oliver Burkeman, Dr Sara Kuburic, Adam Grant, Celeste Headlee, Mark Manson, Beth Kempton, Cory Allen, Professor Peter Adamson, Melissa Sterry, Mark Stevenson, Joshua Fletcher, Gretchen Rubin, Charles Duhigg, Roxie Nafousi, Matt Ridley, and Charles Salvador.

In Rough Patch, Kathy draws us into the world of the kitchen garden to reflect on the lessons she learnt from the soil, along with sharing recipes inspired by the land. Weaving together her own story of recovery with the year she spent growing and cooking her harvests, Kathy realises that the two are tightly bound together and that reconnecting with the earth could restore her hope and renew her life. Along the way there are tales of marauding pigs, transformative insights from planting leeks, recipes for an unchecked courgette glut and the discovery of why a radish seed is worth staying alive for. The result is a candid, hopeful and sometimes funny story about the healing powers of nature; a quiet manifesto for a more connected life.

‘Excellent … a symbol of Ukrainian resistance’ Ada Wordsworth

Shakhtar Donetsk have not played in their home stadium since 2014. Their matchdays now typically have no crowds, air raid sirens interrupt games and thoughts of and fears for family, friends and hometowns frontline troops loom large in the players’ minds ahead of every game. These are extraordinary times – but Shakhtar is an extraordinary club.

Displaced when fighting first began in the Donbas region, and then again when Russia mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this book honours a club – players, coaching staff, management – who choose to play on. In a time of chaos and conflict, they have become emblems of hope and unity. They are winning on the pitch, and winning hearts and minds across the world.

Following the club’s meteoric rise from domestic team to domineering European contenders, Andy Brassell expertly weaves a story of Shakhtar through the ages – their origin story after Ukrainian independence, their evolution and their reinvention. The war forced an exodus of star players and staff and the club has had to find itself once again. With direct testimony and exclusive interviews from those at Shakhtar, this book delivers unparalleled insight to the club’s journey – one that is all too often hidden from view. The result is an ode to Shakhtar Donetsk, shining a light on the beauty and force of their football and their fight to play on.