Other books that might interest you

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  A Hundred to One - 100...

  Pat Sheedy

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  Was it worth it? Probably not.
  At the age of twelve, Pat Sheedy placed his first 10p bet and concocted his first scam. This marked the beginning of his descent into a compulsive gambling addiction that would lead to close to one hundred criminal convictions, over a million euro squandered on bets and time served in some of Ireland's most unforgiving prisons. Now, almost four decades later, Pat Sheedy has, against all odds, got his life back on track and taken control of his addiction.
  This is the unvarnished account of the author's relentless pursuit of the elusive 'big win', a pursuit that left a trail of devastation in its wake. Pat's story chronicles his protracted battle with addiction and the extreme lengths he went to in order to fund it. It is also a beacon of hope, demonstrating that recovery is possible, even from the depths of addiction.

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  A Slav Soul - From their pens to...

  Alexander Kuprin

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  Alexander Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza in Russia on 7th September 1870. 
  At 3 his Father died and he and mother moved to Moscow. By 10 he was enrolled at the Second Moscow Military High School and there his interest in literature began. The Alexander Military Academy followed and two years later he was a sub-lieutenant and posted to an Infantry Regiment for a further four years. 
  Despite his duties he was a now a keen writer and published his first short story at this time. His military duties also garnered him experiences for his breakthrough work ‘The Duel’.  Leaving the military he left for Kiev to work for local newspapers.  He continued to publish both stories and novels and by 1901 he was in St Petersburg becoming part of a group that included Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, Maxim Gorky and Leonid Andreyev.  
  In the years that followed further controversial works and acclaim followed.  His comments on the regime meant he was also put under secret police surveillance.   
  As World War I erupted, Kuprin opened a military hospital but was then given command of an infantry company in Finland. He was soon discharged on grounds of ill health.  
  The October Revolution saw him praise Lenin, but he warned that the Bolsheviks threatened Russian culture and might cause further widespread suffering to the peasants.  As Civil War raged he took his family to Helsinki and then on to Paris. 
  Exile saw his talents decline further and his succumbing to alcoholism. He became lonely and withdrawn. The family's poverty increased his malaise.   
  In May 1937, the Kuprin’s returned to Moscow.  He now saw his work published but wrote almost nothing new.  In 1938 his health rapidly deteriorated.  Already suffering from a kidney problems and sclerosis, he had now developed cancer of the oesophagus.  
  Alexander Kuprin died on 25th August 1938.

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  Lydia Litvyak: The Life and...

  Editors Charles River

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  Altogether, the Battle of Stalingrad was the deadliest battle in the history of warfare, and the Soviets’ decisive victory there is considered one of the biggest turning points in the entire war, and certainly in the European theater. Over the next two years, the German gains in Russia were steadily reversed, and the Red Army eventually began pushing west towards Berlin. Fittingly, the importance of Stalingrad was commemorated in several ways, from Churchill presenting Stalin with a “Sword of Stalingrad” to the Russians’ decision not to rebuild parts of the battle scarred city as a reminder of what happened there.  
  Partly out of dire circumstances and partly from a cultural worldview, it was the Soviet Union who first pressed female pilots into direct combat when Hitler invaded Russia. Ahead of Stalingrad, Stalin publicly declared that “women should be given the right to fly and fight for their country.” As a result, more than 800,000 women served in the Soviet military during the war years in hospitals, communication units, as road troops, anti-aircraft gunners, and snipers. 
  Of the Soviet female fighter pilots who fought the Nazis in the skies, led raids against ground targets, and stopped supply transports, the iconic Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak stands out as the most distinguished. The most productive and highly decorated of the Soviet Union’s female pilots, Litvyak was an expert aviator by the age of 14 and trained 45 pilots in the years leading up to the war, while still a teenager. She went on to serve in several of the elite air guard regiments, and she would be credited with numerous victories as the Soviets desperately tried to hold off the German onslaught around Stalingrad. The quirky and defiant Litvyak was described as a “silent modest beauty with a blonde shock of hair and blue eyes.” She “walked with a special gait, causing delight among others,” men in particular, and she tended to look neat at all times.

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  Vivien Leigh - The Complete Life...

  Brilliant Bio

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  Discover the captivating life of Vivien Leigh, the legendary actress best known for her iconic role as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind and her Academy Award-winning performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. This intimate biography explores her extraordinary career on stage and screen, her complex marriage to Laurence Olivier, and her struggles behind the curtain with love, fame, and illness. A portrait of brilliance and fragility, this book reveals the woman behind the star—an unforgettable story of beauty, talent, and resilience that continues to inspire generations.

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  Primus Over the Electric...

  Greg Prato, Primus

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  An oral history of the legendary band Primus, with a star-studded cast of interviewees (Tom Waits, Phish front man Trey Anastasio, etc.)It’s a wild ride that’s vividly captured in Greg Prato’s excellent oral history . . . . —Bass Player Magazine 
   
   “A book about the highly strange San Franciscans Primus has been overdue for years, so Greg Prato’s excellent oral history of the band is welcome—doubly so, given that the key band members, Les Claypool, Larry Lalonde and Tim Alexander, are involved. . . . Great stuff.” —Record Collector MagazineUsually when the “alternative rock revolution” of the early 1990s is discussed, Nirvana’s Nevermind is credited as the recording that led the charge. Yet there were several earlier albums that helped pave the way, including the Pixies’s Doolittle, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’s Mother’s Milk, Jane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking, and especially Primus’s 1991 album Sailing the Seas of Cheese. 
   
   This fascinating and beautifully curated oral history tells the tale of this truly one-of-a-kind band. Compiled from nearly fifty all-original interviews—including Primus members past and present and many more fellow musicians—conducted by journalist/author Greg Prato. This book is sure to appeal to longtime fans of the band, as well as admirers of the musicians interviewed for the book. 
   
   Interviewees include: Tim Alexander, Trey Anastasio (Phish), Matthew Bellamy (Muse), Les Claypool, Stewart Copeland (The Police), Chuck D (Public Enemy), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Larry LaLonde, Geddy Lee (Rush), Mickey Melchiondo (Ween), Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Matt Stone (South Park), Tom Waits, and many more.

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  The Innocents Abroad

  Mark Twain

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  The Innocents Abroad – Mark Twain 
  What happens when sharp American wit collides with the grandeur of Old Europe and the mystique of the Holy Land? Enter the mind of Mark Twain, where curiosity is weaponized and tradition is gently—yet mercilessly—unraveled. 
  In The Innocents Abroad, Twain turns a simple travelogue into a brilliant social commentary. Through the lens of a transatlantic voyage undertaken by a group of American tourists, he scrutinizes the customs, ruins, and revered relics of the Old World. But this is no ordinary journal—it's a masterful blend of satire, observation, and unfiltered insight, where every monument becomes a metaphor, every encounter a mirror of national identity. 
  Join Twain and his fellow “innocents” as they marvel at the ruins of Rome, navigate the romantic chaos of Paris, and confront the solemn air of Jerusalem. Whether mocking the pomp of ancient architecture or capturing the wonder in a fleeting Mediterranean sunset, Twain’s voice oscillates between biting irony and genuine awe. 
  More than a travel memoir, this audiobook is a timeless interrogation of what it means to see the world—and oneself. Twain's critique of blind reverence and his celebration of independent thought feel as contemporary today as they did in the 19th century, resonating with modern listeners who seek both amusement and insight. 
  This immersive audiobook experience is brought to life by high-fidelity AI narration, designed to capture the nuance of Twain’s humor and the clarity of his prose—ensuring an accessible and engaging listen from start to finish. 
  Step aboard this unforgettable journey. Let Twain be your guide through foreign lands and familiar follies. Purchase now and rediscover the art of seeing with irreverence, intelligence, and a twinkle in the eye.

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