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  John Paul Jones and Oliver...

  Editors Charles River

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  Plenty of unusual characters came to the colonies to participate in the war, with many sporting dubious titles such as the Baron de Kalb, but perhaps none arrived in a more unique way than John Paul Jones, a Scottish sailor who had plenty of experience with British ships before a controversial row on one ship compelled him to flee to the colonies in 1775. As it turned out, he was arriving in Virginia just in time for more fighting, this time against the British. 
  	Despite his lofty sobriquet, Jones constantly found himself frustrated by people and events beyond his control during the Revolution, and it would take years before the aggressive commander could take the fight to the British. Through a murky system involving French ships, and an even murkier chain of events, Jones engaged the British in battle around the British Isles, and his aggression became the stuff of legend. While the British accused him of being a pirate, he was feted by the Americans and French during the war before joining the Russian navy after the war.  
  	Americans had few things to celebrate during the War of 1812, and fighting on the frontier against the British and their native allies didn’t go any better than the conflict did in other theaters, but one of the only major victories the Americans won came at the Battle of Lake Erie in September 1813. That action made Oliver Hazard Perry, a veteran of the Barbary Wars and commander of the USS Lawrence, a legend whose name has endured for over 200 years. Perry was so instrumental in the victory that British historian C.S. Forester noted “it was as fortunate for the Americans that the Lawrence still possessed a boat that would float, as it was that Perry was not hit." As one of the biggest naval battles of the war, the results meant that America maintained control of Lake Erie, and for his part, Perry would forever be remembered as the “Hero of Lake Erie.”

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  The Little Girl Who Could Not Cry

  Lidia Maksymowicz, Paolo Luigi...

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  The No. 1 international bestseller, with a foreword written by His Holiness Pope Francis, who made headlines in 2021 when he kissed Lidia's Auschwitz identification tattoo.The unforgettable, moving true story of the little girl who survived Auschwitz's 'Angel of Death', Dr Mengele. Lidia was just three years old when she arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau with her mother, a member of the partisan resistance from Belarus. The bewildered little girl was picked out by Dr Josef Mengele for his sadistic experiments and sent to the infamous children’s block, where every day was a fight for survival. In eighteen months of hell she came close to death more than once.Her mother, who risked her life to visit Lidia, gave her strength. But when the camp was liberated, her mother was gone, presumed dead. Lidia, by now deeply traumatised, was adopted by a Polish woman. But then, in 1962, she discovered that her birth parents were still alive in the USSR, and Lidia was faced with an agonising choice . . .Lidia’s extraordinary story has touched hearts around the world, and she has made it her mission to bear witness to the Holocaust so that the truth may never be forgotten. This is a powerful and ultimately hopeful account by a remarkable woman who refuses to hate those who hurt her. She says, ‘Hate only brings more hate. Love, on the other hand, has the power to redeem.’'Unforgettable' - Daily MailThe Little Girl Who Could Not Cry is also published in paperback as A Little Girl in Auschwitz.

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  The Ballet of Swallows

  Mozhgan Mahmoodian

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  Against the backdrop of 1979 post-revolution Iran, seven-year-old Mozhgan Mahmoodian struggles to understand the right and wrong in her world. At home, the kitchen wall is the only thing separating her father's two lives - one with her maman, and the other with his second wife. In her dogmatic school, disillusionment threatens to take away Mozhgan's claim to her one superpower: her brain. 
  Determined to create her own path, she decides the best way forward is by doing the opposite of what the adults around her do. But can a young girl reinvent her life with nothing but her own will and judgment? 
  The Ballet of Swallows is a coming of age memoir about how we define our own story and defy the one that's given to us. Navigating grief, depression, and familial trauma, Mozhgan Mahmoodian invites us into the intimate and harrowing world of her childhood.

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  The Lady of Pleasure

  James Shirley

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  The Lady of Pleasure by James Shirley is a captivating Jacobean comedy that delves into the complexities of love, desire, and social ambition in early 17th-century England. First performed in the 1630s, the play explores the consequences of vanity, manipulation, and the pursuit of pleasure, offering sharp social commentary alongside witty dialogue and intricate plotting.
  
  At the heart of the play is a young woman whose obsession with beauty, status, and romantic conquest drives a web of misunderstandings, schemes, and rivalries. Shirley skillfully balances humor with moral insight, showing how the pursuit of superficial pleasures can lead to both personal folly and social disruption. The interactions among the characters reveal the tensions between genuine affection and self-interest, as well as the broader societal pressures faced by women and men in a highly structured world.
  
  The Lady of Pleasure is remarkable for its elegant verse, lively characterization, and sophisticated theatrical construction. Shirley's work captures the wit, charm, and ethical questions of the Jacobean stage, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. For lovers of early modern drama, classical English theatre, and comedies that combine romance with social critique, Shirley's play remains a timeless exploration of human desire and the follies it can provoke.

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  Ion - Inspiration and Art –...

  Plato, Tim Zengerink

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  What if the artist wasn’t a master of his craft—but a mouthpiece for something divine? 
  In Ion, Plato explores the nature of poetic inspiration in a lively exchange between Socrates and the rhapsode Ion. Ion claims mastery over Homer’s verses, but Socrates questions whether such talent comes from knowledge or from divine possession. 
  This modern translation brings Plato’s insight into the modern era, opening a timeless discussion about where creativity truly comes from—and what that means for artists, performers, and thinkers alike. 
  What you'll discover inside: 
  •	The Origins of Artistic Inspiration – Explore Plato’s view of creativity as divine madness 
  •	Socrates’ Challenge to Poetic Pride – Ion’s mastery is questioned by reason itself 
  •	Art, Prophecy, and the Irrational – Connect poetry to prophecy and the mysteries of the human mind 
  •	A Modern, Engaging Translation – Clear and accessible, with Plato’s irony and brilliance intact 
  Whether you’re a poet, philosopher, or curious mind, Ion will challenge how you understand genius—and where it comes from.

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  Messi

  Luca Caioli

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  Prolific, cool-headed and unerringly consistent, Lionel Messi is one of the most revered footballers in history. But did you know that his transfer to Barcelona was first agreed on a paper napkin? Or that an x-ray of his hand was to thank for identifying his growth hormone deficiency? And do you know why he refused to collect his first ever Champions League winner's medal? 
   
  Find out all this and more in Luca Caioli's classic portrait of a footballing icon, featuring exclusive interviews with those who know him best and even Messi himself.

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