|
Books > Fiction > True stories > General
'Clear, dispassionate and selfless' Spectator 'Exhaustive in her
research, tenacious in spotting errors, indignant in denouncing
lies.' Guardian 'A compelling account of an extraordinary political
scandal, written from inside the Stonehouse family'. Martin Bell
The authoritative account of the infamous runaway MP, by his
daughter. On 20 November 1974, British Labour MP and Privy
Counsellor John Stonehouse faked his death in Miami and, using a
forged identity, entered Australia hoping to escape his old life
and start anew. One month later his identity was uncovered and he
was cautioned; the start of years of legal proceedings. In a tale
that involves spies from the communist Czechoslovak secret service,
a three-way love affair and the Old Bailey, John's daughter
examines previously unseen evidence, telling the dramatic true
story for the first time, disputing allegations and upturning
common misconceptions which are still in circulation. The story was
never far from the front pages of the press in the mid-70s, and yet
so much of the truth is still unknown. A close look at the
political dynamics of the time; paced like a thriller, it's time
for the world to know the real John Stonehouse. 'No book before
this has delved into this fascinating political scandal in so much
detail and with empathy.' Reaction
The Care Factor tells the story of one incredible nurse – one among many – who chose to meet an unprecedented global health crisis on the frontline.
Simone Sheridan has one of the most sought-after skills today. As a nurse, her skill is to care. When Covid-19 began to spread across the world in 2020, Sim volunteered to retrain to work in Melbourne’s intensive care units. And as she prepared to go back to ICU and case numbers began climbing, Sim started talking to her friend Ailsa. Through the exhaustion, the confusion, the many tears and the surprising moments of hilarity, Sim kept talking. And Ailsa started writing.
In The Care Factor, Ailsa walks behind Sim as she faces the realities of the coronavirus. The result is a deeply human account of what the pandemic has really meant, not just for Sim and her fellow health professionals, but also for their patients, their families and friends, and the many who faced life in lockdown. This is a celebration of nursing, of friendship, and of the layers of connection and care that allow us to keep going when it feels impossible.
Killing at its Very Extreme takes the reader to the heart of Dublin
from October 1917 to November 1920, effectively the first phase of
Dublin's War of Independence. It details pivotal aspects at the
outset, then the ramping up of the intelligence war, the upsurge in
raids and assassinations. Vividly depicting mass hunger-strikes,
general strikes, prison escapes, and ruthless executions by the
full-time IRA 'Squad', amid curfews and the functioning of an
audacious alternative government. Intensity builds as the reader is
embedded into Commandant Dick McKee's Dublin Brigade to witness
relentless actions and ambushes. The authors' unprecedented access
lays bare many myths about key players from both sides. The tempo
escalates with deployment of the notorious Black and Tans and
Auxiliaries, as well as a host of cunning political and propaganda
ploys. Desperate plights and horrific reprisals are portrayed, the
effects of mass sectarian pogroms and killings. Tthe sacking of
Balbriggan, the killing of Sean Treacy, the death of Terence
MacSwiney, and the capture and execution of teenager Kevin Barry.
As in the authors' previous works the pulsating tension, elation,
fear, desperation, hunger, the mercy and the enmity leap from the
pages. The harrowing circumstances suffered by those whose
sacrifices laid the bedrock for modern Ireland, and whose own words
form the book's primary sources, are recounted in unflinching
detail.
The world as seen from a bike 'Understated, comic and
melancholic... It'll inspire you to get back on your bike.' Martin
Love, The Guardian 'One of the most entertaining sports books I
have ever read' Joe Short, The Daily Express In this award-winning
collection of cycling tales, Wilfried de Jong uncovers the true
soul of cycling - why we do it, why we watch it, why we hate it,
why we love it - stripped bare. With his distinctly comic and
melancholic charm Wilfried ponders life, love and death on his
trusted bike, chasing the essence of our existence against the
backdrop of major cycling events or while roaming alone in nature.
Whether he is describing being ejected from Paris-Roubaix, a
terminal incident with a bird while out riding, or explaining why
he is standing stark naked on Belgian cobbles with a tyre in his
hand, Wilfried unlocks a sport that involves so much pain,
punishment, and a high probability of failure, but that will always
liberate and inspire us.
'I stood up. A miracle had happened. I could walk. It was as if I
was born again.' With a heart full of prayer, Marion Carroll
journeyed to Knock in the west of Ireland. For 17 years, Multiple
Sclerosis had ravaged her body so utterly that this reluctant
pilgrim travelled on a stretcher. Then, at the Mass, an
unimaginable miracle. Marion rose, pain-free, to walk, talk and see
once more. Thanks to this wondrous blessing, Marion has transformed
- in her 'own small way' - the lives of countless others. Her
ministries share her rock-like faith and devotion to God. They
testify to the power of ordinary people to listen, to care, to
inspire. Nearly 30 years later, the Catholic Church officially
recognised Marion's cure as a proclaimed miracle. Here, with
warmth, grace, humility - and down-to-earth Irish humour - she
tells of her life 'before' and 'after'. Marion's powerful,
uplifting story is unique. It shines a light on love, hope and a
remarkable relationship with God. 'In a world filled with bad news
Marion Carroll's story gives hope and inspiration to us all.'
BISHOP CHRISTY JONES 'The Church formally acknowledges that Marion
s healing does not exist of any medical explanation.' ARCHBISHOP
MICHAEL NEARY 'Marion is a chosen instrument of God and Our Lady to
communicate at home and abroad.' MONSIGNOR JOSEPH QUINN
Chaos. Frustration. Compassion. Desperation. Hope. These are the
five words that author Wendy Welch says best summarize the state of
foster care in the coalfields of Appalachia. Her assessment is
based on interviews with more than sixty social workers, parents,
and children who have gone through "the system." The riveting
stories in Fall or Fly tell what foster care is like, from the
inside out. In depictions of foster care and adoption, stories tend
to cluster at the dark or light ends of the spectrum, rather than
telling the day-to-day successes and failures of families working
to create themselves. Who raises other people's children? Why?
What's money got to do with it when the love on offer feels so
real? And how does the particular setting of Appalachia-itself so
frequently oversimplified or stereotyped-influence the way these
questions play out? In Fall or Fly, Welch invites people bound by a
code of silence to open up and to share their experiences. Less
inspiration than a call to caring awareness, this pioneering work
of storytelling journalism explores how love, compassion, money,
and fear intermingle in what can only be described as a marketplace
for our nation's greatest asset.
|
You may like...
The Camp Whore
Francois Smith
Paperback
(2)
R350
R301
Discovery Miles 3 010
India Travels
Darren Stevens
Paperback
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
Skye
Kate Ripley
Paperback
R202
Discovery Miles 2 020
|