British Life

As has happened with many of history's greatest writers, Jane Austen (1775-1817) did not earn the credit she was due until well after her death. Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, have earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature over the last 150 years. Austen's romantic fiction was an interesting genre. Her writing was laden with realism and scathing critiques of both society and the role women played in society.

As we begin The Whole Wide World, the fifth novel in the Rian and Mouse series, Captain Alois Bumper has officially become the commodore of his own line, The Blue Water Packet and Navigation Co., after he buys a second ship as a running mate to Cleo. This causes what Tom and Bumper call “happy problems,” as their first course of action is to spruce up the new vessel and then fill any remaining crew berths in the ships. Mouse has been promoted to First Mate aboard the new packet, business is good at The Two Barrels, and Sofus and his new ‘Da’ have settled in together quite famously. ...

George Orwell, the son of a British civil servant, spent his life promoting social justice and equality, while fighting against totalitarianism and elitism. His two best-known novels 1984 and Animal Farm depict the ultimate horror of a totalitarian government. Orwell wrote with passion about what he believed. Eighty years after their publication, his novels are as relevant as ever. Citizens are spied on by CCTV cameras. Smartphones track people’s movements and activities.

The making of a serial killer! 6 friends, 2 die! Who, when, where, why? Find out in the sixth instalment of The Adulterer Series. (This book can also be read as a standalone). Three married couples and their children go on holiday together and meet regularly for social gatherings. At first their lives seem idyllic, but beneath the surface, all is not what it seems. Within a year, two of the adults will be dead! ... and a serial killer will be created! Praise for Sam Anthony: If Stephen King were to write a psychological thriller romance, this would be it. ★★★★★ Not my usual read ...

Frances Andrews is sick of her husband Martin’s addiction to pornography, and has lost her trust in him. Martin views porn as a harmless pastime, but when Frances threatens to leave, he is distraught and begs her to go with him for marriage guidance therapy. Counsellor Rhona suggests they take a holiday in the first instance, and start talking to one another again. Frances just wants out of the marriage, but finally agrees to go on a cruise…as long as they have separate cabins. Told from both Frances and Martin’s perspectives, Mind Games shines a light on the effect that an addiction ...

The Skripal Files is a remarkable and definitive account of Sergei Skripal’s story, which lays bare the new spy war between Russia and the West. Mark Urban, the diplomatic and defense editor for the BBC, met with Skripal in the months before his poisoning, learning about his career in Russian military intelligence, how he became a British agent, his imprisonment in Russia, and the events that led to his release. Skripal’s first-hand accounts and experiences reveal the high stakes of a new spy game that harks back to the chilliest days of the Cold War.

In 1605, Guy Fawkes was one of over a dozen conspirators in the famous Gunpowder Plot, an attempt to assassinate England's King James I. When the plot was discovered on the 5th of November, Fawkes and other conspirators were quickly convicted and executed, and the King asked his subjects to remember the 5th November as "the joyful day of deliverance".

London-based Detective Chief Inspector Gerald Croft investigates a heinous case of rape, murder, and mutilation, but the obvious suspect turns out to have an alibi he cannot disprove. Soon, it is evident a serial killer is prowling the streets. Can DCI Croft identify and capture the psychopath, or will his next victim be terrifyingly close to home? "An excellent thriller from a very talented author.” John Nicholl, best-selling author of Killing Evil and The Boyfriend. "“Sensational and Spine-Chilling.” Readers’ Favorite “A gripping tale that will hold your heart in a vise." ...

At thirty-three, nurse Heather is desperately waiting for her romantic life to begin. Then she meets handsome, strong Anthony and is sure she’s found the one. Brushing any doubts aside, she projects all her hopes for true love onto him. Meanwhile, at a yoga retreat in Spain, happy-go-lucky Joe can’t believe his luck when he meets vivacious, witty Amy. She’s the sharpest, most beautiful woman he has ever dated, and the fact that she’s interested in him feels like a dream come true.

For many, she was simply the last of King Henry VIII’s many wives, but Catherine Parr was much more than that. She had a unique and incredible history all of her own. Catherine was a dynamic figure who survived more than her fair share of hardship. Even before she married Henry, she found herself caught up in the drama of England’s Reformation, and at one point, she was even held hostage in her own home by religious radicals.

Such is our task, and such lies before us all: Liberty or death. In the summer of 1775, fleeing from a death sentence, Octavian and his tutor, Dr. Trefusis, escape through rising tides and pouring rain to find shelter in British-occupied Boston. Sundered from all he knows Octavian hopes to find safe harbor. But in the midst of war, no place is safe. The city of Boston itself is under siege. What follows is a tale of skirmish and flame, flight and fury, and battle on sea and land.

"A Family Torn" by H. Wilhelm Starkweather is psychological fiction, an historical fiction novel set in early 19th-century England, capturing the essence of rural life and the intricate dynamics within a family. Are you captivated by classic English literature that delves into the heart of rural life? If so, then this book is for you. You see, immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of 19th-century England doesn’t have to be daunting. Even if you’ve struggled with dense historical novels before. The truth is, it’s much more engaging and evocative than you think. Renowned author ...

BEFORE I DIE: A Pact What would you do differently if you knew that in one year you were going die? This is the dilemma best friends Renata, Saffron and Charlotte face, after making a pact to end the discontent in their lives. Ending the pain is simple: after their proposed last year on Earth they plan to take a plunge off Deadman’s Cliff. Their reasoning is even simpler: if a person hasn’t sorted her life out by age thirty out chances are she never would. Renata, Saffron and Charlotte were simply over days that spun around like a broken record. They could choose to spend the next fifty...

A newborn set of twins, a new apartment, and the ensuing chaos are keeping Ben and Kirsty on their toes, but their challenges don't stop there. Kirsty is an exhausted new mother, and Ben isn't faring much better. On top of that, their communication skills could be better compared to a comedy of errors or a Greek tragedy. The last thing Kirsty needs is for their zany extended family to bring their own issues into the mix, but the problems just keep on coming. It’s just as well that love will always find a way.

Margaret, Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993) was an international celebrity in her youth. But in 1963, the year of the Profumo Affair, the 11th Duke of Argyll shocked the country when he alleged that his adulterous wife had slept with over 80 men behind his back. The duke won a divorce, and Margaret was abandoned by most of her friends. Lyndsy Spence tells a tragic story of the life and downfall of this fascinatingly complex woman, and shows how she fell victim to a cruel husband, harsh social mores, and an unforgiving class.

“Irreverent and provocative: very Spike Milligan.” Laurence Cooper, George Valentine’s Retirement Plan. “You’ll find yourself laughing out loud at the outrageous antics of British royals and sheep-shearing Kiwis: Jim Newport, The Vampire of Siam Series. The Queen of England is definitely not amused. Her daughter, Princess Divine, the sole heir to the English throne, wants to marry a guileless All Black rugby player and farmer from beautiful Proud (New Zealand). Fearing a royal scandal, the scheming Queen Liliana and maniacal King Filip plot to marry Divine off to an English ...

In The Bench, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, touchingly captures the evolving and expanding relationship between father and son and reminds us of the many ways that love can take shape and be expressed in a modern family. Evoking a deep sense of warmth, connection, and compassion, The Bench gives listeners a window into shared and enduring moments between a diverse group of fathers and sons - moments of peace and reflection, trust and belief, discovery and learning, and lasting comfort.

Spying and treachery are as much a part of warfare as weapons and death. This has always been the case since the earliest battles and is not likely to change in the future. And yet, even within this irregular system, there are certain rules, especially in past eras such as the American Revolution. First, while spying on behalf of one's country is perfectly respectable, betraying one's nation is treason. Second, honorable men do not involve those too innocent to understand the consequences of their actions in their schemes.

“A gripping and thought-provoking dark fantasy where good is pitted against the demonic, and the result is anything but certain. Most highly recommended." Readers’ Favorite A fast-paced supernatural thriller of life, death, deceit, and danger. Claire Sylvester is vulnerable. Saved from her terrifying near-hell experience, she’s now without the love of her soul mate Raphael, and the wise counsel of the beautiful angel Gabriella. The ebb and flow of good versus evil takes a shocking new twist as Claire has a chance to make a difference. But the stakes are high - on Earth and in the ...

Winston Churchill is generally considered one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, revered for his opposition to appeasement, his defiance in the face of German bombing of England, his political prowess, and his memorable speeches. He became the savior of his country, as prime minister during the most perilous period in British history, World War II, and is now perhaps even more beloved in America than in England. This revelatory book takes on Churchill in his entirety, separating the man from the myth that he so carefully cultivated.