James Murphy

A poem seems a fragile thing. Change a word and it is broken. But poems outlive empires and survive the devastation of conquests. Celebrated author John Carey here presents a uniquely valuable anthology of verse based on a simple principle: select the one-hundred greatest poets from across the centuries, and then choose their finest poems.

Ranging from Homer and Sappho to Donne and Milton, Plath and Angelou, this is a delightful and accessible introduction to the very best that poetry can offer. Familiar favourites are nestled alongside marvellous new discoveries-all woven together with Carey's expert commentary. Particular attention is given to the works of female poets, like Christina Rossetti and Charlotte Mew.

This is a personal guide to the poetry that shines brightest through the ages. Within its pages, readers will find treasured poems that remain with you for life.

Christmas is such a paradoxical season, on one hand, it’s a time of family gatherings and the giving of presents. Yet it is a time of increased curiosity into the strange and weird stories that literally haunt us. In writing this book, I decided to explore and evaluate some of the incredible ghost stories that litter the archives of libraries of Britain and the United States. Out of the hundreds of anecdotes and references that I uncovered I have brought to you a collection of Christmas ghost stories from as close as the original sources as possible. Many of the stories have never seen print since the original experiences.

Welcome to The Accidental Countryside. This is the fascinating and remarkably empowering story of our influence upon the landscape and wildlife of these crowded islands, and of how wildlife has co-opted its most unlikely corners - even when we least expected it. From the seabirds sheltering in the prehistoric stone structures of Shetland to the peat diggings in Somerset teeming with life, and from the rare insects hidden in Belfast's docklands to the falcons that make London's Shard their home, Stephen Moss reveals the unexpected oases which foster the crucial links in the chain that bind the natural world together.

Refreshed, renewed, reloaded!

Step back to an awesomely ancient time with the Awesome Egyptians, as featured on BBC Bitesize.

Discover . . .

• which king had the worst blackheads
• why some kings had to wear false beards
• and why the peasants were revolting.

Occupied Berlin, 1945, American Sector. When the body of a beautiful young woman is dicovered trapped under a subway station, the victim is mistaken for an American and a local investigation becomes a matter for the US Military police. When the bodies of other young women are discovered it becomes clear that this is no isolated act of violence.

At the heart of French gastronomy lies the famed black truffle of the Périgord. But France's truffles are being adulterated with cheaper ones from China, and it seems that Chinese organised crime is behind the fraud. When a vicious murder and illegal immigration are added to the mix, Bruno, Chief of Police, has his work cut out to keep St Denis from tearing itself apart.  Book 3 of series.

FBI agents pay a visit to a communist man and his wife in their New York apartment, and, after a trial that divides the country, the couple are sent to the electric chair for treason. Later, in 1967, their son Daniel struggles to understand the tragedy of their lives. But while he is tormented by his past, Daniel is also haunted, like millions of others, by the need to come to terms with a country destroying itself in the Vietnam War.

Why is it that we read? Is it to pass time? To learn something new? To escape into another reality? 
For Will Schwalbe, reading is a way to entertain himself but also to make sense of the world, to become a better person, and to find the answers to the big (and small) questions about how to live his life. In this delightful celebration of reading, Schwalbe invites us along on his quest for books that speak to the specific challenges of living in our modern world, with all its noise and distractions.
In each chapter, he discusses a particular book-what brought him to it (or vice versa), the people in his life he associates with it, and how it became a part of his understanding of himself in the world. These books span centuries and genres (from classic works of adult and children's literature to contemporary thrillers and even a cookbook), and each one relates to the questions and concerns we all share. Throughout, Schwalbe focuses on the way certain books can help us honour those we've loved and lost, and also figure out how to live each day more fully.
Rich with stories and recommendations, Books for Living is a treasure for everyone who loves books and loves to hear the answer to the question: "What are you reading?"

A brilliantly funny wish-fulfilment story with a huge heart, from the author of one of 2021's most loved children's debuts, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.

Archie Crumb is having a tough time. Picked-on at school, picked last for any team; his home has been sad and quiet since Dad left and his luck feels like its run out.

But things start looking up when Archie bumps his head and literally sees stars: his favourite famous football player standing in front of him, granting him nine wishes.

This is INCREDIBLE! Unlimited ice cream, a whole day of eating pizza and playing on the X-Box, revenge on the bullies, becoming the star player in a televised football tournament: finally, all his dreams can come true! Will Archie wish his way to happiness? Or will he realise that magic wishes may be wonderful, but only he has the true power to change his life?

• Perfect for fans of Lisa Thompson, David Baddiel and Jacqueline Wilson
• Helen Rutter's debut novel The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh was chosen as a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month
• Funny, moving, inventive, uplifting children's fiction at its finest.

Having freed the city of Athens from the rule of Knossos, Theseus has returned home to find his father dead and himself the new king. But his adventures have only just begun: he still must confront the Amazons, capture their queen, Hippolyta, and face the tragic results of Phaedra's jealous rage.

Remshi is the oldest vampire in existence. He is searching for the werewolf named Talulla, whom he believes is the reincarnation of his long lost - and only - love. But he is not the only one seeking Talulla. Hunted by the Militi Christi, a religious order hell-bent on wiping out werewolves and vampires alike, Remshi and Talulla must join forces to protect their families, fulfil an ancient prophecy and save both of their lives. Book three in the series.

The body of a murdered woman is discovered in the crumbling city of Beszel. Such a crime is par for the course for Inspector Tyador Borlú, who is the premier talent of the Extreme Crime Squad – until his investigations uncover evidence that bizarre and terrifying forces are at work. He must undertake a journey across borders both physical and psychical, to the city which is both a complement and rival to his own, that of Ul Qoma.

The poems in Country Music are observant and curious, finding everywhere they look detail worthy of notice. From the intimately personal, the choices that lead us towards, or away from, old friends, lovers, family members and their lost and vanishing stories, to the collective humanity's 'bad choices piling up like debts' Burns is everywhere concerned with consequence and responsibility. In its evocations of doubt and responsibility, music and memory, Country Music is a debut of immense power from one of British poetry's most accomplished new voices.

Richard Maddison, a clerk in the City of London, struggles on a few shillings a week. He meets Hetty Turney, daughter of a prosperous city merchant and falls in love, but he is not the kind of man her father wants her to marry. Will he ever be able to win her hand?

With his son's return, Superintendent Lannes and his wife can, at last, have some joy amid the grim reality of Vichy France. But when the body of an elderly man without identity papers is found it seems a series of unexplained murders have started again.

On Fitzroy Foster's fourteenth birthday on September 11, 1981, he receives an unexpected and unwelcome gift: when his father snaps his picture with a Polaroid, another person's image appears in the photo. Fitzroy and his childhood sweetheart, Cam, set out on a decade-long journey in search of this stranger's identity - and to reinstate his own - across seas and continents, into the far past and the evil and good that glint in the eyes of the elusive visitor.

On a family holiday in Cornwall in 1978, Richard and his brother Nicholas are in the sea, jumping the waves. Suddenly and inexplicably Nicholas is out of his depth and then, shockingly, so is Richard. Only one of the brothers returns to the shore. Years later, haunted by grief, Richard sets out to piece together the story. What really happened that day? And why did the family never speak of it again?

The banks of the river Didder in the summertime appear idyllic: the sun is shining, the trout rising. But when the body of a local landowner is discovered, the peace of the countryside is shattered. It soon becomes apparent that quite a few local people disliked the deceased.

Inspector Mallett is brought in from Scotland Yard to find the killer; and, though quick to disentangle the complex relationships linking suspects and victim, Mallett must master the subtleties of fly-fishing in order to uncover the incriminating evidence he seeks. 

Jack Stannard has spent his whole life at sea, enduring savage beatings from his father and the furious aggression of whip-cracking storms. But a more cruel and dangerous foe is on the horizon.

When Henry VIII dissolves the monasteries and wages war against France and Scotland simultaneously, Jack must take up his family destiny at the head of the Dunwich fleet.

But enemy blades may be the least of his problems. Aging ships, treacherous rivals and ghosts from the past all threaten to interfere with the war effort. The only man he can trust is Thomas Ryman, a former warrior turned monk.

As the English fleet descends on Edinburgh, the dangerous game of politics and war reaches a shattering climax aboard the pride of Henry's navy - the Mary Rose.

The Artful Dodger is back! London's most skilled and charismatic thief is back to ply his trade on the capital's streets once more. From the rooftops to the sewers, Dodger leads us on a witty and thrilling adventure through Dickensian London.

In this powerful, evocative collection of poems, John O'Donohue explores themes of love and loss, beginnings and endings. Inspired by the ancient wisdom of the Celtic tradition and the rugged, majestic landscape of his birth, the west of Ireland, he creates a unique vision of a place and time, and the echo of a memory that will never fade.

Colin Burrows, recently sent to prison for burglary, knows that his four year sentence means that he will miss the birth of his first child. His cell-mate Barry hatches a plan to get Colin out of jail for the birth. It's a plan so crazy that either it will fail and get both men in deeper trouble, or it might just work. Quick Reads.

Wake up. Friday. Clara Hart hits my car. Go to class. Anthony rates the girls. House party. Anthony goes upstairs

with Clara. Drink. Clara dies. Wake up. Friday again. Clara Hart hits my car.

Why can't I break this loop?

A flicker in the fabric of time gives Spence a second chance. And a third. How many times will he watch the same girl die?

Forensic expert Enzo Macleod takes a wager to solve seven notorious French murders, armed with modern technology and a total disregard for the justice system. Deep in the catacombs below Paris, he unearths dark clues, and as he draws closer to the killer, discovers that he is to be the next victim.  Book 1 of series

Boys United: the first book in the Football Academy series by Tom Palmer

Jake loves football and dreams of becoming a professional footballer. He's worried about his height though - what if he's too small for football? But on the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores - he's made it! Jake can't wait to pull on his shirt and join the team. But someone at the club wants to make his life difficult. Can Jake face up to the bullies and become man of the match again?

Stay on the ball this season with the first four stories following the boys in United's under-twelves.

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.

Ben is at his happiest playing for United and is getting top marks from the coach. But every day at school is a trial for Ben, as he struggles to hide a huge secret from his teachers and classmates.

Ben's secret is starting to affect his game - can he swallow his pride and ask for help before he sidelines himself - for good?

Striking Out: the second book in the Football Academy series by Tom Palmer

Yunis can't believe that he's United leading scorer. It should be the happiest time of his life, but his father wants him to give up football and work hard at school. Can Yunis convince his dad that he can do both, or will he have to hang up his boots forever?

Stay on the ball this season with all the action from Football Academy.

As well as being a huge football fan, Tom Palmer has an international reputation in reader development. He is a coordinator of the Reading Partners consortium, works with The Reading Agency, Booktrust and the National Literacy Trust, and has been the official writer for the Premier League Reading Stars scheme for five years. He is the author of the Football Detective series, also for Puffin Books. Tom lives in West Yorkshire with his wife and daughter.

United's under-twelves are in Poland for a tournament. Goal-keeper Tomasz is very excited to be playing in his home country, but team captain Ryan thinks Poland are rubbish - in fact, he thinks everything Polish is rubbish. Ryan's behaviour causes trouble both on and off the pitch. Can Ryan and Tomasz tackle their differences - or will Ryan's bullying foul United's chance of success?

Discover all the foul facts about the 'Great' War with history's most horrible headlines: Frightful First World War edition. 

The master of making history fun, Terry Deary gives us all the facts on the First World War including what the 'Fat King' did with food scraps and dead horses, how sniffing your own pee could save your life in a gas attack and why a pair of old socks gave away top German secrets. It's all in Horrible Histories: Frightful First World War.

• fully illustrated throughout and packed with toe-curling stories- with all the horribly hilarious bits included
• with a fresh take on the classic Horrible Histories style, perfect for fans old and new
• the perfect series for anyone looking for a fun and informative read 
• Horrible Histories has been entertaining children and families for generations with books, TV, stage show, magazines, games and 2019's brilliantly funny Horrible Histories: the Movie - Rotten Romans.

Get your history right here and collect the whole horrible lot. 

Read all about it!

Jeanette Winterson’s version of Shakespeare's 'The Winter’s Tale' vibrates with echoes of the original but tells a contemporary story where Time itself is a player in a game of high stakes that will either end in tragedy or forgiveness. It shows us that however far we have been separated, whatever is lost shall be found. X rated, contains offensive language.

Phil Davies has a flourishing bar in the heart of Soho and in six months he will be marrying Ashley, the man he adores. In short - he's living every gay man's dream. There's just one problem: Phil has been married before, to a woman. In fact, technically Phil and Hazel are still married. And what Phil doesn't know yet is that Hazel has a seventeen-year-old son. But that's all about to change..

The stabbed body of a well-dressed man is found slumped on a swing in a children's playground in the heart of Detective Inspector Bill Slider's patch. From the seedy pubs of Shepherd's Bush through the brothels of Notting Hill to the mansions of Holland Park, Slider and his team unearth the victims' sordid lifestyle of debts, drugs and dodgy deals. It soon becomes clear that their prime suspect is a crime baron who will stop at nothing to keep his identity hidden. However, Slider is not only up against a resourceful villain, but is also fighting to stop the case being taken off his hand. He's so busy he hasn't a spare moment. But when the case is all over, he'll finally have the time to hear what his on-off girlfriend has been trying to tell him... Book 9 of series.

A collection of poems and lyrics from the song writing talent of Bob Dylan

A collection of poems and lyrics from the song writing talent of Bruce Springsteen.

A collection of poems and lyrics from the song writing talent of Leonard Cohen

Your parents have split. Your best friend's a nerd. Your brother hates your guts. And all you get for your 16th birthday is a bowl of microwaved ice cream. How do you cope? And who do you turn to when you suddenly sprout a tiny pair of perfect blue butterfly wings? His hidden wings are beautiful but dangerous. The school bullies call him Fairy Boy, but this is far from a fairy tale...