Other books that might interest you

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  (the) Woman

  Jean Upton

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  M is a writer. M is a mother. M is a woman.
  The triumph of M's hit play is hijacked by motherhood. She is burnt out, angry, lonely, craving intimacy but disengaged, and terrified of the future.
  She wants to tell her story, her way. But everyone keeps giving her their opinions on who she is, who she ought to be, and how she's fucking everything up.
  Fiercely funny and brutally honest, Jane Upton's play (the) Woman shatters the glossy veneer of motherhood, exposing its raw, messy truth and what happens when a woman dares to question the definition of (her)self. It was shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting, and first performed by New Perspectives on tour of the UK in 2025.

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  And So This is Christmas - 51...

  Brian Bilston

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  It’s that time of year again . . .With his signature wit, Brian Bilston returns with And So This is Christmas, fifty-one poems in celebration of the festive season: from bizarre family traditions to the office Christmas party; from voting day for turkeys to the impossible art of gift-giving.So hang your stockings, grab your mistletoe and curl up with this heart-warming collection of Christmas crackers.

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  Verse

  Alexander Herron

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  Vaulted recordings, & monologues.

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  Phantasmorgia - The writer of...

  Lewis Carroll

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  Lewis Carroll was born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson on the 27th January 1832 at Daresbury, Cheshire, the eldest boy and the third child.  Another eight followed.   
   
  When Dodgson was 11, his cleric father moved his family to Croft-on-Tees in the North Riding of Yorkshire.  Although his father was active and highly conservative his son was ambivalent with those values and with the Church as a whole. 
   
  In his early years Dodgson was educated at home and by age 7 he was reading the likes of ‘The Pilgrim's Progress’.  He also spoke with a stammer which he called his ‘hesitation’. 
   
  At 12 he was dispatched to Richmond Grammar School in North Yorkshire and then on to Rugby.  He sailed through the curriculum.  He was accepted at Christ Church, Oxford but two days after arriving he was summoned home: his mother had died of ‘inflammation of the brain’ at only 47. 
   
  Dodgson was exceptionally gifted and, when not distracted, achievement came easily to him.  He remained at Christ Church studying and teaching in various capacities until his death. 
   
  In March 1856, he published the romantic poem ‘Solitude’ as by ‘Lewis Carroll’.  
   
  That same year he took up the new art of photography.  He soon excelled and became a well-known gentleman-photographer, and even toyed with the idea of making a living out of it.  When he ceased photography in 1880, he had his own studio and had created around 3,000 images. 
   
  He enjoyed moderate success with his early poems and short stories but had an array of other interests in the pre-Raphaelite circle, Psychical Research and even ordained in the Church of England in 1861.  
   
  In July 1862 he told a young Alice Liddell the story that would become his first and greatest success.  Alice begged him to write it down, and eventually he did and later presented her with a handwritten and illustrated ‘Alice's Adventures Under Ground’.  The publisher Macmillan agreed to publish it as ‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll.  
   
  It was a huge and sensational life-changing success.  Royalties quickly accumulated as did fan mail.  
   
  In 1871, the darker themed sequel ‘Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There’ was published.  A half decade later came ‘The Hunting of the Snark’, a fantastical nonsense poem, as nine tradesmen and a beaver set off to find the snark.  It was another enormous success. 
   
  He also loved to invent such delights as a writing tablet ‘the nyctograph’ that allowed note-taking in the dark as well as many word games, such as the precursor to ‘Scrabble’, and alternative systems of parliamentary voting.  Within the discipline of mathematics, he worked in geometry, linear and matrix algebra, mathematical logic, recreational mathematics and wrote nearly a dozen books on the subject.   
   
  Lewis Carroll died of pneumonia following influenza on 14th January 1898 in Guildford, Surrey.  He was 65.  
   
  01 - Phantasmagoria by Lewis Carroll - An Introduction 
  02 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 1. The Trystyng by Lewis Carroll 
  03 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 2. Hys Fyve Rules by Lewis Carroll 
  04 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 3. Scarmoges by Lewis Carroll 
  05 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 4. Hys Nouryture by Lewis Carroll 
  06 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 5. Byckerment by Lewis Carroll 
  07 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 6. Dyscomfyture by Lewis Carroll 
  08 - Phantasmagoria -  Canto 7. Sad Souvenaunce by Lewis Carroll

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  Macbeth | Simple Shakespeare...

  Jeanette Vigon

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  In an era where the timeless narratives of Shakespeare might seem daunting, Jeanette Vigon extends a welcoming hand through her adaptation of "Macbeth" in the Simple Shakespeare series. Her modern retelling breathes vitality into the dark and ambitious journey of Macbeth, making the complex story of power, guilt, and fate accessible and engaging for today's readers. Vigon captures the original play's intensity and moral conflicts, while translating it into a language that resonates with the contemporary audience. 
  Ideal for newcomers to Shakespeare as well as devoted fans seeking a fresh take, this rendition of "Macbeth" explores the intricate relationships and psychological depths of its characters against a backdrop that feels strikingly relevant. Vigon skillfully unravels the themes of ambition, moral corruption, and the psychological turmoil of its protagonist, ensuring the story's enduring themes reach a new generation with undiminished impact. 
  This adaptation is a must-have for anyone eager to explore the dramatic landscape of one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, without the hurdle of early modern English. It serves as a perfect resource for students encountering Shakespeare for the first time and educators in search of engaging literature for their curriculum. Jeanette Vigon’s "Macbeth" offers a captivating and insightful read that successfully narrows the centuries-old gap between the audience and Shakespeare’s work. 
  Rediscover "Macbeth" in this engaging retelling, where medieval Scotland's fog-laden highlands are painted with dialogues that speak to our current era. Delve into the storied tale of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches, reimagined through Vigon’s adept storytelling. Dive into a narrative where each line draws you closer to the unraveling destiny of characters who have never seemed more alive or relatable.

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  Before We Grow Old - The love...

  Clare Swatman

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  'Before We Grow Old had me from the first page, and crying buckets by the last!' Katy Regan  
  When seven-year-old Fran first met Will they knew instantly that they were made for each other. For eleven years they were inseparable, but then, at the age of eighteen, Will just upped and disappeared.Twenty-five years later Will is back.Is fate trying to give them a second chance?Still nursing the heart break from all those years ago, Fran is reluctant to give Will the time of day. The price Will must pay is to tell the truth – the truth about why he left, the truth about why he’s back…And Fran has her own secrets to hide. The time has come to decide what Fran and Will really want from life – before it’s too late.Unashamedly romantic, Before We Grow Old is a book full of love, laughter and tears, and you’ll be rooting for Fran and Will from the moment you meet them. Let Clare Swatman whisk you away for the love story of the year. Perfect for fans of Sophie Cousens and Isabelle Broom.Praise for Clare Swatman: 
  'Before We Grow Old is an unashamedly big, life-affirming, tear-jerking love story. Beautifully told, characters Fran and Will had me from the first page, and crying buckets by the last ! Just gorgeous.' Katy Regan 
  'Heart-breaking and life-affirming in equal measures, Before We Grow Old is the tender story of a chance meeting between former childhood sweethearts Fran and Will, and is packed with secrets and revelations. Through her beautiful writing, Clare Swatman delivers a powerful lesson in learning to love with your whole heart and accepting the same, no matter what life throws at you.' Sarah Bennett 
  'Before We Grow Old took me on an intense emotional journey, and I cried at the end (and I rarely cry when I'm reading!) The portrayal of the mother and son bond - with its peaks and troughs of intensity and frustration - felt incredibly real, and the dialogue in particular was brilliantly done.' Victoria Scott  
  'A beautifully written tale of enduring love' - Rowan Coleman  
  'Irresistible . . . A delightfully bittersweet story that will appeal to fans of One Day' - Sunday Mirror 'Wonderful' - Sun

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