LONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN A SUNDAY TIMES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Timely ... a long and engrossing survey of the library' FT 'A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched' Richard Ovenden, author of Burning the Books Famed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over centuries, destroyed in a single day, ornamented with gold leaf and frescoes or filled with bean bags and children's drawings - the history of the library is rich, varied and stuffed full of incident. In this, the first major history of its kind, Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen explore the contested and dramatic history of the library, from the famous collections of the ancient world to the embattled public resources we cherish today. Along the way, they introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world's great collections, trace the rise and fall of fashions and tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanours committed in pursuit of rare and valuable manuscripts.

A cantankerously funny view of books and the people who love them. It does take all kinds and through the misanthropic eyes of a very grumpy bookseller, we see them all--from the "Person Who Doesn't Know What They Want (But Thinks It Might Have a Blue Cover)" to the "Parents Secretly After Free Childcare." From behind the counter, Shaun Bythell catalogs the customers who roam his shop in Wigtown, Scotland. There's the Expert (divided into subspecies from the Bore to the Helpful Person), the Young Family (ranging from the Exhausted to the Aspirational), Occultists (from Conspiracy Theorist to Craft Woman). Then there's the Loiterer (including the Erotica Browser and the Self-Published Author), the Bearded Pensioner (including the Lyrca Clad), and the The Not-So-Silent Traveller (the Whistler, Sniffer, Hummer, Farter, and Tutter). Two bonus sections include Staff and, finally, Perfect Customer--all add up to one of the funniest book about books you'll ever find. Shaun Bythell (author of Confessions of a Bookseller) and his mordantly unique observational eye make this perfect for anyone who loves books and bookshops. "Bythell is having fun and it's infectious."--Scotsman "Virtuosic venting ... misanthropy with bursts of sweetness." Guardian "All the ingredients for a gentle human comedy are here, as soothing as a bag of boiled sweets and just as tempting to dip into."--Literary Review "Any reader finding this book in their stocking on Christmas morning should feel lucky...contains plenty to amuse--an excellent diversion"--Bookmunch

Kris Jones is just fourteen when her mother suffers a stroke and slips into a coma from which she never fully recovers. A few years later, Kris's mom dies. The burden then falls on the shoulders of Kris's older sister to take care of the family, but the effort does not succeed. The family breaks apart, and amid the turmoil Kris must cope with attending a dangerous high school, longing to return to her Catholic school and the safety it provided. When Kris's grandma dies as well, Kris has no choice but to move in with her father. Though her instincts warn against the move, she has no idea that she's about to become a victim of child molestation. She soon finds herself in a foster home, and her father finds himself in prison. Despite battles with alcohol, drugs, and the legal system, Kris finds the will to keep chasing her dreams. She works and struggles, showing true courage when she comes out of the closet and starts living as openly gay. Today, she is free.

Cigarette Cards and How To Collect Them By I.O. Evans 200 pages Contents include: Introduction - The beginnings of the cards - Trade cards - Types of card - Production and distribution - The subject matter of the cards - Imperial and foreign issues - Rare cards and curiosities -Making a collection - Storage and classification - The cigarette card trade - The uses of card collecting - A suggested classification of cigarette cards Originally published in 1937. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

..". [Annie Hwang's] poetry sings for every aching soul....talks about every loving heart....Speaks of the unflinching reality of life....Cries for the dreams that we all are craving for....." -Munia Khan

The play ""Blackberry Molasses"" is an inspirational story about a young African American woman, Desera Harrison, who finds her voice through her writing. She struggles to find peace in her turbulent life. She begins building a life for herself in Atlanta, where she lives with her mother and fourteen- year-old twin sisters, Ebony and Traci. She's also just reconnected with her alcoholic father, which has introduced a whole new level of uncertainty for the family.

This is a remarkable play. The main character Desera Harrison decides to leave her past behind and peruse her dreams, to become a freelance writer for one of the largest newspaper publications in New York. Despite the many disappointments and heartaches that Desera and her family have endured they find strength through love, hope, and faith. This play explores themes of family, loyalty, and perseverance in the face of adversity and is written to encourage and inspire readers to pursue their dreams.

From the beginning of ""Blackberry Molasses"" to the Epilogue one will see the significance of strength and perseverance illustrated through Maple and Blackberry Trees. Desera finds strength and perseverance through her writing.

In this study, Vevian Zaki places the Arabic versions of the Pauline Epistles in their historical context, exploring when, where, and how they were produced, transmitted, understood, and adapted among Eastern Christian communities across the centuries. She also considers the transmission and use of these texts among Muslim polemicists, as well as European missionaries and scholars. Underpinning the study is a close investigation of the manuscripts and a critical examination of their variant readings. The work concludes with a case study: an edition and translation of the Epistle to the Philippians from manuscripts London, BL, Or. 8612 and Vatican, BAV, Ar. 13; a comparison of the translation strategies employed in these two versions; and an investigation of the possible relations between them.