Steve Race

In May 1940 when British troops were trapped in France by the German army, an incredible armada of little ships sailed the English channel to rescue them.

Acclaimed as the greatest comic actress of her day, Dora Jordan lived a quite different role off-stage as lover to Prince William, third son of George III. The story of how Dora moved between the worlds of the theatre and happy domesticity, of her fights for her family and her career makes a classic story of royal perfidy and female courage.

How Londoners lived through World War 2, evacuation and the Blitz. It builds up a picture of a population under siege, who faced it with dignity, patience and courage.

In this inspired biography, the author brings new insight into the extraordinary life and works of writer H G Wells.

Quentin Bell provides a remarkable collection of pen portraits - of his parents Vanessa and Clive; of his aunt and uncle, Virginia and Leonard Woolf; of Roger Fry, E M Forster, Ottoline Morrell, Maynard Keynes, Lytton Strachey and many more. In writing about them he also tells the story of his own work: his employment as agricultural labourer, his career as artist and teacher of art, critic, writer, and as reluctant spokesman of Bloomsbury.

Portrait of Alice Keppel, mistress of Edward VII and her daughter Violet Trefusis, whose lesbian affair scandalised society.

In this sequence of sketches, the diarist brings to life fourteen friends who, unknowingly, formed his values, framed his views and added relish to his days.

Delightful essays on the unspoiled corners of England experienced by the author.

Fascinating and humorous account of life in a Gloucestershire parish by the Rector of Upper Slaughter, Reverend F E Witts

The life and loves of Violet Gordon Woodhouse, a talented pianist born in 1861 who was admired by royalty and other musicians.

The Lake Poets - Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey - give a romantic view of the Lake District. But for their sisters, wives and daughters the view was very different. Their letters and journals all contribute to an understanding of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey as fallible human beings.

First as friends, then as bitter enemies, John Kennedy and Richard Nixon shared a rivalry that had a dramatic impact on American history.

A collection of favourite poems of John Murray, well-loved and familiar to many.

Robert Runcie's meetings with the author, in his closing months as Archbishop of Canterbury, reveal a candid picture of his relation to church and state.

The author moved to France with his family to study French. Their experiences bring a wealth of humorous incidents and historical information.

A verbatim report on the Laurie Lee Memorial Service with a personal reminiscence of the author by Steve Race.

An interesting account of the life of Lord Berners - composer, novelist, painter and diplomat.

This shortened version of The Life of Doctor Johnson chronicles meetings between the two friends and reports Dr Johnson's thoughts on a variety of subjects.

The life of one of the most acclaimed British jazz musicians, spanning virtually the entire history of jazz.

A child prodigy and piano virtuoso, Liszt was one of the most outrageously gifted and most controversial figures in classical music.

Arguably the greatest English composer, Elgar was a successful and typical member of the Edwardian age, but he was also a deeply private and often unhappy man. The book explores this paradox.

A history of Nelson which examines the influences on him of the various women he met. It features his wife, Lady Hamilton his mistress and his illegitimate daughter Horatia.

A quick A to Z of parish clergymen, from the saintly to the wildly eccentric.

From child prodigy to renowned composer, an account of the life and music of Mozart.

An interesting account of the life and work of the composer Haydn.

For over half a century J.K. Galbraith worked closely with every American President from Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy. A very readable book.

This fascinating biography chronicles the life of the composer of Nessun Dorma, from his musical heritage to the dramas of his own life including his scandalous elopement with Elvira.

In 1936 the author became Country Houses secretary to the newly formed National Trust. Here he tells of the transfer of fourteen houses to the Trust.

There were no truly English modern composers until Vaughan Williams who took his lead from the much neglected area of English folk song.

As a composer, pianist, conductor and the creator of the Aldeburgh Festival, Britten was a distinctive figure in twentieth century music.

A study of Handel, whose compositions varied from oratorio (The Messiah) to no less than 46 operas, not to mention songs and orchestral works.

A beautifully told panorama of literary Regency London which centres around a dinner party given in 1817 by the painter Haydon whose guests included Wordsworth, Keats and Lamb.

A biography of England's first great composer and organist at Westminster Abbey.

A fortune-teller predicted, while the little girl was still an infant, that she would one day be a king's mistress. And so she was, to Louis XV.

Queen Victoria bore Prince Albert 9 children, 5 of them girls. The daughters all married well or disastrously, one - Vicky - being the mother of England's 1914 enemy, the Kaiser. Another even survived the second World War. This is their story.

A biography of Chopin, the nineteenth century composer, pianist and teacher.