Publisher: epf
Vanity Fair is an English novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, which follows the lives of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley amid their friends and families during and after the Napoleonic Wars. The story is framed as a puppet play, and the narrator, despite being an authorial voice, is somewhat unreliable.
A Waterstones Travel Book of the Year 2023 A funny, warm and timely meditation on identity and belonging, following the scenic route along the England–Wales border: Britain’s deepest faultline. There is a line on the map: to one side Wales, small, rugged and stubborn; on the other England, crucible of the most expansionist culture the world has ever seen. It is a line that has been dug, debated, defined and defended for twenty centuries. All the Wide Border is a personal journey through the places, amongst the people, and across the divides of the border between England and Wales. Taking in some of our loveliest landscapes, and our darkest secrets, this is a region of immeasurable wonder and interest. It is here that the deepest roots and thorniest paradoxes of Britishness lie. The border between the countries, even as a concept, is ragged, jagged and many-layered. Garlanded author Mike Parker has adored and explored these places his entire life. Born in England but settled in Wales, he finds himself typical of many in being pulled in both directions. His journey is divided into three legs, corresponding with the watersheds of the three great border rivers: the Dee in the north, the Severn in the centre, the Wye in the south. Neither quite England nor Wales, the furzy borderland he uncovers — the March — is another country. Picking apart the many notions and clichés of Englishness, Welshness and indeed Britishness, Mike Parker plays with the very idea of borders: our fascination with them, our need for them, and our response to their power. In his hands, the England–Wales frontier is revealed to be a border within us all, and it is fraying, fast. Mike Parker's All the Wide Border is a compelling exploration of the England-Wales border, blending history and social commentary in a series of insightful essays. This new addition to his collection of travelogues is a top pick for anyone interested in European history and culture. For fans of Mark Wallington (The Day Job), Tom Bullough (Sarn Helen), Gavin Ortlund (Why God Makes Sense in a World That Doesn't), Tim Hannigan (The Granite Kingdom), and Chloe Dalton (Raising Hare). HarperCollins 2023Show book
The bookshelves of European literature are incredible collections that have gathered together centu-ries of very talented authors. From this continent their fame spread and whilst among their number many are now forgotten or neglected their talents endure. Among them is the Czech writer Jan Neruda.Show book
In part two of this previously unreleased six-plus-hour collection of John Lennon's unique wit and wisdom, the iconic Beatle introduces the world to his stirring non-violent philosophy to not only end the then-raging Vietnam war, but also the deeply-rooted violence within ourselves, a timely message especially important today in this world of seemingly endless international terror and conflict.Show book
The inside story of the man who invented Bitcoin and his battle to protect it. In 2008, when the Bitcoin Whitepaper was published online, the technology world changed forever. Hero / Villain: Satoshi: The Man Who Built Bitcoin tells the story of how an awkward Australian security specialist first created something revolutionary under the moniker “Satoshi Nakamoto” and how he spent every moment thereafter either in self-imposed hiding or in court trying to protect his invention. Initially intended to be a force for good that would allow people to transact directly and inexpensively online, it wasn’t long before Bitcoin became something else: a store of value with a cast of powerful investors hell-bent on manipulating it for their own gain. For the first time, the real inside story of Bitcoin is laid bare—a story with greed, power, and betrayal at its heart. With firsthand interviews with the man most likely to be Bitcoin’s inventor and those who have fought with him to ensure Bitcoin fulfills its positive and potentially world-changing purpose, Hero / Villain: Satoshi: The Man Who Built Bitcoin serves as an important book in the context of a world where cryptocurrency is in turmoil.Show book
An author’s walk “from source to sea along the Ouse in Sussex is a meandering, meditative delight” drawing on history, literature, and the river itself (The Guardian, UK). In To The River, author Olivia Laing embarks on a weeklong, midsummer odyssey along the banks of the River Ouse in Sussex, England, from its source near Haywards Heath to the sea, where it empties into the Channel at Newhaven. More than sixty years after Virginia Woolf drowned herself in the River Ouse, Laing still finds inspiration and guidance in the author’s abiding presence. Through cow pastures, woods, and neighborhood streets, Laing’s meandering walk occasions a profound and haunting reflection on histories both personal and cultural, and on landscapes both physical and emotional. Along the way, she explores the roles that rivers play in human lives, tracing their intricate flow through literature, mythology and folklore. Lyrical and stirring, To the River is a passionate investigation into how history resides in a landscape - and how ghosts never quite leave the places they love.“Magical…By turns lyrical, melancholic and exultant, To the River just makes you want to follow Olivia Laing all the way to the sea.”—Daily Telegraph, UKShow book
What if your grand gesture of kindness turned into your most humiliating moment? In An Unpleasant Predicament, Fyodor Dostoevsky delivers a sharp-witted, satirical novella that follows the misadventures of Ivan Ivanovich Pralinsky, an arrogant government official who considers himself a progressive and benevolent leader. In an impulsive decision to demonstrate his goodwill, he crashes the wedding of a low-ranking employee—only to find himself caught in a series of humiliations and comic misfortunes. As Pralinsky’s self-image unravels before an audience that neither respects nor welcomes him, Dostoevsky crafts a biting critique of vanity, bureaucracy, and the delusions of self-importance. What You’ll Discover in This Modern Translation:A Darkly Humorous Social Satire – Experience Dostoevsky’s sharp critique of hypocrisy, pride, and class dynamics.A Masterful Exploration of Human Vanity – Witness how arrogance and self-delusion lead to inevitable downfall.A Fresh, Accessible Translation – This adaptation preserves Dostoevsky’s wit and insight while making the story engaging for modern readers.A Timeless Reflection on Status and Power – Discover how Pralinsky’s predicament mirrors the universal struggles of ego and self-deception. More than just a humorous story, An Unpleasant Predicament is a profound examination of social hierarchy, personal pride, and the fine line between dignity and disgrace. Can a man’s good intentions save him from his own arrogance? Get your copy today and experience one of Dostoevsky’s most entertaining and thought-provoking novellas.Show book
