Italian pianist and composer Francesco Lotoro has been on a lifelong quest to find this remarkable music. He has painstakingly salvaged and performed symphonies, operas and songs written by the incarcerated musicians, many of whom died in the camps. He has travelled the globe to meet with families and survivors whose harrowing testimonies bear witness to the most devastating experiences in twentieth-century history.

Movingly piecing together the human stories of those who wrote and performed whilst imprisoned, this compelling book takes readers on a journey into their extraordinary lives and music, shining a light on a unique beauty that somehow prevailed against all odds.

'Utterly fascinating . . . Strassmann is the perfect guide to this world: an author as much fascinated by the science and research as she is motivated by the sheer joy and wonder of the birds themselves' – James Macdonald Lockhart, author of Raptor

In The Social Lives of Birds, evolutionary biologist Joan Strassmann examines what it means for birds of a feather to flock together. Some birds sleep together. Some join the foraging groups of other species. Some are only social during the breeding season, forming nesting colonies in trees, cliffs, and sandbanks. Some are altruistic, helping to rear young that are not their own. Some males perform mating dances together.

Strassmann explains how flocks provide safety in numbers, roosts offer warmth and shelter, and colonies allow for protected breeding. But group behavior is not without its costs-including increased competition, infidelities, tick infestations, and more. Strassmann exposes the conflicts birds face and the many ways in which they resolve these conflicts.

With stories of birds from around the world-from broad-winged hawks that migrate south together in the fall, tree swallows that roost together in the thousands, and tropical anis that nest in communes-The Social Lives of Birds explores the different kinds of bird groups and what to look for when watching them. Above all, it reveals that solitary life, it seems, is not for the birds.

'Delightful and informative' – Lee Dugatkin, author of How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)

WHILE THE MILITARY LEADERS OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE WATCH FROM THE SIDELINES, BRITANNIA'S WARLORD CARATACUS FIGHTS TO UNITE THE WARRING TRIBES.

AD 43, Britannia. A barbarian land . . .

Caratacus is warlord of his tribe. Only King Cunobelinus holds more power. The island's clans are constantly at war. Caratacus has relentlessly driven new alliances, but those are ready to crumble at any provocation. A situation King Verica, an implacable enemy, is keen to exploit, with the support of ever-ambitious Rome. And Rome has a spy in Cunobelinus's inner circle.

The elders believe their island is impregnable. Caratacus is powerful enough to ignore their mockery, as he calls on thousands of men to enlist, and prepare to defend their homeland. But even Caratacus cannot be certain that an army of warriors and ragtag bands of farmers can be turned into a disciplined fighting force that can defy the mighty military machine poised to invade.

Caratacus and his men are preparing for the most deadly battle of their lives. The future of their world is at stake.

Readers are gripped by the books of Simon Scarrow and T. J. Andrews:

'A riveting read from start to finish. Cannot wait for the next instalment' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The characters in this book are brilliantly created, full of depth and lively description' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Thundering good adventure . . . I regretted having to put it down to go to bed' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So began the letter penned by Roger Butler and sent to several British newspaper editors – some of whom were so shocked they thought it was a hoax – in June 1960. Writing such a letter seven years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality was a radical and dangerous move. It was a risk that set a major milestone in the fight for gay rights – one that has been almost entirely forgotten.

This is the story of the first man to come out voluntarily, using his own name, to the entire British public, a decade before activists started petitioning gay people everywhere to 'come out proud'. Taking us through a criminalised underworld of gay pubs, parties and activist meetings, The Light of Day charts how Roger helped bring about the legalisation of homosexuality, but soon found himself marginalised from the movement he kickstarted after losing his sight in his early 30s.

Enter Christopher – a student asked to visit and read to an old, blind man at the beginning of a new century. As their intergenerational friendship bloomed, Roger came to trust Christopher with his most precious possession: memoirs of his revolutionary past, locked away in his home. After Roger's death, Christopher opened a series of unsent letters, left in a pink folder, addressed to him. They contained Roger's final wish, for Christopher finally to bring his remarkable, hidden story into the light of day.

'Remarkable . . . a splendidly sprawling part biography, part autobiography, part history and part social commentary . . . the result, a true account, benefits greatly from a lightness, a candour untethered to any agenda or argument' – Times Literary Supplement

'Faithfully and beautifully told' – Mail on Sunday

'An insightful and engaging reflection on the appeal of the ancient' – The Times

'I'm a card-carrying admirer of Peter Ross' – Robert Macfarlane

The prehistoric sites of Britain and Ireland are places of wonder and wondering. Who made these structures? What did they mean to them? And what do they mean to us now?

Author of the bestseller Steeple Chasing and prize-winning A Tomb With A View, Peter Ross journeys from midwinter at Stonehenge to midsummer at Sycamore Gap. Along the way he encounters bog bodies in Dublin, a wooden goddess in Edinburgh and a chalk giant in Dorset. He asks what it is like to live within the great stone circle at Avebury, what rituals occurred in an Anglesey tomb and what draws volunteers to care for the Uffington White Horse.

These objects and structures speak of the long human story. They offer the comfort of recognition and the pleasure of mystery. There is something about ancient places that fills a hollow in our souls.

Upon A White Horse is a celebration of landscape and people – and all that is beautiful, strange and old.

'Ross scores highly on his intuitive interpretations of places and his non-judgemental observations of human nature; he is empathetic, but can stand back' – Country Life

'Ross is a wonderfully evocative writer, deftly capturing a sense of place and history, while bringing a deep humanity to his subject' – Guardian

Elly Parker had everything.
Perfect husband. Perfect apartment. Perfect friends and the perfect job.
As an internet celebrity – famed for her random acts of kindness – everyone knew it.
So when a betrayal causes her to lose it all, millions of people are watching.

But even at her lowest, Elly will always help someone in need.
Which makes her the perfect target for a sadistic game.
Because as she soon learns, you can never trust a stranger – and a seemingly random encounter plunges her into a nightmare worse than she ever imagined.

The only person she can turn to is conman turned trial lawyer Eddie Flynn, who must take on a case where nothing is what it seems. With the most cruelly ingenious mind manipulating events from the shadows, everyone is in danger – including Eddie and his family.

'Twists and turns galore. Not to be missed.' DAILY MAIL
'Steve Cavanagh is known for his twisty, baroque plotting, but seems to have surpassed himself here…ingenious' SUNDAY TIMES, BEST THRILLERS OF 2025
'This crime thriller is fast and relentless and the plot throws some real shockers. Fill your lungs before you start – you're in for a breathless ride' THE SUN
'Cavanagh writes some of the best legal thrillers in the business with killers plots….sleep-stealingly brilliant' DAILY MIRROR

The award-winning, Sunday Times Top Five bestseller returns with a brand new thriller featuring the unforgettable Eddie Flynn.

Praise for Steve Cavanagh:

'Unputdownable' ALEX MICHAELIDES
'Will keep you guessing until the very end' IAN RANKIN
'The ultimate treat for crime fiction fans' JANICE HALLETT
'Books this ingenious don't come along very often' MICHAEL CONNELLY
'An absolute humdinger of a thriller – fiendishly clever and totally compelling' TM LOGAN
'Gripping' THE SUN
'If you read the first eight pages you'll be hooked' THE TIMES
'The real magic is in Steve Cavanagh's hypnotic storytelling power' SUNDAY EXPRESS
'Cavanagh is a genius… page-turning stuff' EVENING STANDARD
'A masterclass in misdirection' THE GUARDIAN

The 79th edition of the Playfair Cricket Annual is packed with all the information you need to follow the cricket season in 2026, as well as a review of events during the previous twelve months.

Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and India will all be touring England this coming summer, and here you’ll find comprehensive Test match and limited-overs records and career records to help you follow the action.

County cricket is covered in unrivalled depth, with biographies of all players registered to the counties at the start of the season, full coverage of last summer’s events and a fixture list for all major domestic matches in 2026.

There are also sections on women’s cricket, the IPL and The Hundred.

For any cricket fan, the season is never complete without a copy of Playfair to guide you through it all.

‘I’ve been a public speaker for 16 years and even I learned a lot from How To Speak So Others Listen. This book will help you find your voice and then teach you how to use it. I highly recommend it to anyone’ Sofie Hagen

‘Cuts through and clarifies exactly what you need to know to deliver a talk that makes a difference’ Roman Krznaric , TED speaker and author of The Good Ancestor

Maryam Pasha has worked with hundreds of high profile speakers, including philanthropists, Nobel-prize-winning academics and business leaders, as a storytelling coach and curator for TEDxLondon. In this book, she shows how anyone can learn to become a better public speaker by harnessing the power of storytelling.

Human connection starts with stories and being able to tell them. Being compelling, clear and impactful when you speak is a skill everyone needs to develop, to stay relevant and effect change in the workplace, your community and beyond. It’s something that many activists and people engaged in social change already know well: you can have all the data and facts in the world, but it’s stories that move the needle. Stories have the power to build empathy, help to shift mindsets and open up new possibilities.

How To Speak So Others Listen provides a practical toolkit for anyone and everyone who wants to get better at public speaking, whatever that looks like for you. This book will also help you to believe that what you have to say is worth saying, and show you how to find the power of your own unique voice, to bring about positive change in your own life and the world around you.

‘Expert, compassionate and often hilarious guidance on how to find your own voice, whoever you are’ David Lan

‘Maryam Pasha turns everything you think you know about communication on its head . . . a practical and masterful guide to effective communication.’ Julia Shaw

‘How To Speak So Others Listen is a must read for anyone wanting to learn how to communicate with humanity and joy. I love her advice and empathetic approach on how to share personal stories with the world.’ Jamie Windust