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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Adventure / thriller > Historical adventure
Join young Horatio Hornblower in the thrilling naval adventure from
the author of The Good Shepherd, now a major-motion picture
starring Tom Hanks 'A joyous creation, a perfection in words. Young
Hornblower is, simply, one of the most complete creations of
character in fiction' Conn Iggulden, The Independent _______ 1793,
the eve of the Napoleonic Wars, and Midshipman Horatio Hornblower
receives his first command . . . As a seventeen-year-old with a
touch of sea sickness, young Horatio Hornblower hardly cuts a dash
in His Majesty's navy. Yet from the moment he is ordered to board a
French merchant ship in the Bay of Biscay and take command of crew
and cargo, he proves his seafaring mettle on the waves. After a
character-forming duel, several deadly chases and some dramatic
captures and escapes, the young Hornblower is soon forged into a
formidable man of the sea. This is the first of eleven books
chronicling the nautical adventures of C. S. Forester's inimitable
hero, Horatio Hornblower. _______ 'Absolutely compelling. One of
the great masters of narrative' San Francisco Chronicle
September 1810. Raids across the Straits of Messina to disrupt
preparations for the French invasion of the island have been
repulsed with heavy casualties. George Warne, a bright young
British officer, suspects treachery back in Messina, and is ordered
to investigate. Warne uncovers a shadowy underworld of spies,
traitors and informers where nothing is quite as it seems and where
danger lurks around every corner. If the long-threatened French
invasion erupts will Sicily's defenders be prepared? Winner of the
SAHR Prize for Military Fiction.
"This is Raymond Chandler for feminists." Sharma Shields, author of
The Cassandra "An expressive and striking story that examines what
one does for family and for oneself." Kirkus Reviews Jane's a very
brave boy. And a very difficult girl. She'll become a remarkable
woman, an icon of her century, but that's a long way off. Not my
fault, she thinks, dropping a bloody crowbar in the irrigation
ditch after Daddy. She steals Momma's Ford and escapes to
Depression-era San Francisco, where she fakes her way into work as
a newspaper copy boy. Everything's looking up. She's climbing the
ladder at the paper, winning validation, skill, and connections
with the artists and thinkers of her day. But then Daddy reappears
on the paper's front page, his arm around a girl who's just been
beaten into a coma one block from Jane's newspaper hit in the head
with a crowbar. Jane's got to find Daddy before he finds her, and
before everyone else finds her out. She's got to protect her
invented identity. This is what she thinks she wants. It's
definitely what her dead brother wants.
In 1415, two noble Kentish families, the Wallers and the Hollands,
were united by the courage of their sons in triumphant battle
against the French at Agincourt. Five hundred years later, their
descendants found themselves fighting shoulder-to-shoulder in
France once again, this time united with the French against a new
enemy in the First World War. Edward Tovey has built on centuries
of history to weave a romantic and moving story of peace and war,
love and courage, set against the backdrop of northern France and
the battlefields of the Somme. Carefully researched and
imaginatively written, The Five Hundred Year War tells the story of
a brave young English officer who is determined to serve his
country on the front line, and the conflict of loyalties he faces
when he falls for a stunningly beautiful French girl.
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Airborne
(Paperback)
Robert Radcliffe
1
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R256
R210
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'Fascinating and convincing' THE TIMES. 17 September 1944: The
Allies have launched the largest airborne offensive in history,
delivering 36,000 troops by parachute and glider to the
Dutch-German Border. In what will become known as the Battle of
Arnhem, half of them will fall as casualties of war. Among their
number is Theo Trickey, a young paratrooper so dreadfully injured
he is not expected to survive. Under the care of Medical Officer
Captain Daniel Garland, Trickey is shipped to Germany as a Prisoner
of War. As Garland slowly nurses him back to health, he discovers
that there's much that is unusual about Trickey, starting with a
chance meeting he had with Erwin Rommel before the War... From the
bestselling author of Under an English Heaven, Airborne is the
first in an unforgettable trilogy that tells the story of a young
soldier, of a new regiment and how, together, they altered the
course of a war.
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Astrolabe
(Hardcover)
Elias Rahimi
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R870
R725
Discovery Miles 7 250
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In the fifth instalment of Robert Fabbri's bestselling series, Vespasian fights a battle on two fronts - ancient evil in Britannia and political intrigue in the heart of Imperial Rome. In the shadow of Stonehenge, an epic battle begins...
Britannia, 45 AD: Vespasian's brother, Sabinus, is captured by druids. The druids want to offer a potent sacrifice to their gods - not just one Roman
Legate, but two. They know that Vespasian will come after his brother and they plan to sacrifice the siblings on mid-summer's day. But to whom will they be making this sacrifice?
What were the gods of this land before the Celts came? Only the druids still hold the secret and it is one of pure malevolence. Vespasian must strive
to save his brother whilst completing the conquest of the south-west of the haunted isle, before he is drawn inexorably back to Rome and the heart of Imperial politics. Claudius' three freedmen remain at the locus of power. As Messalina's time as Empress comes to a bloody end, the three freedmen each back a different mistress.
But which woman will be victorious? And at what price for Vespasian?
A tragic accident . . . or was it? Emperor Domitian has been
awarded (or rather, has demanded) yet another Triumph to celebrate
two so-called victories. Preparations are going smoothly until one
of the men overseeing arrangements for the celebration accidentally
falls to his death from a cliff on the symbolic Capitoline Hill.
But Flavia Albia suspects there's more to the incident than meets
the eye, as there are plenty of people who would have been
delighted to be rid of the overseer. He was an abusive swine who
couldn't organise a booze-up in a winery and was caught up in a
number of scams, including one surrounding the supply of imperial
purple dye and a family of shellfish-boilers. As Flavia finds
herself drawn into a theatrical world of carnival floats,
musicians, incense and sacrificial beasts, can she see to the heart
of the matter and catch those responsible for the unpopular man's
untimely death? ************* Praise for Lindsey Davis and the
Flavia Albia series 'Lindsey Davis has seen off all her competitors
to become the unassailable market leader in the 'crime in Ancient
Rome' genre . . . Davis's squalid, vibrant Rome is as pleasurable
as ever' - Guardian 'Davis's prose is a lively joy, and Flavia's
Rome is sinister and gloriously real' - The Times on Sunday 'For
fans of crime fiction set in the ancient world, this one is not to
be missed' - Booklist 'Davis's books crackle with wit and knowledge
. . . She has the happy knack of making the reader feel entirely
immersed in Rome' - The Times
'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King 'A master storyteller' -
Sunday Times 'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom
others are compared' - The Times 'No one does adventure quite like
Smith' - Daily Mirror BETRAYED BY BLOOD. BOUND BY FATE. Inseparable
since birth, Theo and Connie Courtney are torn apart by the tragic
death of their parents. Theo, wracked with guilt, seeks salvation
in combat, joining the British in the war against the French and
Indian army. On a personal mission he meets the beautiful, innocent
Abigail, with whom he falls madly in love. But when their tryst is
discovered, Theo is left outcast in the wilderness, desperately
fighting for his life. Determined to reclaim his honour, and save
Abigail, Theo does whatever it takes to survive. Connie, believing
herself abandoned by her brother, and abused and brutalised by a
series of corrupt guardians, makes her way to France, where she is
welcomed into high society. Here, she once again finds herself at
the mercy of vicious men, whose appetite for war and glory lead her
to the frontlines of the French battlefield in North America. As
the siblings find their destinies converging once more, they
realise that the vengeance and redemption they both desperately
seek could cost them their lives . . . BOOK 17 IN THE EPIC
HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, FROM INTERNATIONAL
BESTSELLER WILBUR SMITH
Already a great historian, Tracy Borman proves with this thrilling
debut novel that she is also a born storyteller. As she helps to
nurse the dying Queen Elizabeth, Frances Gorges longs for the
fields and ancient woods of her parents' Hampshire estate, where
she has learned to use the flowers and herbs to become a much-loved
healer. Frances is happy to stay in her beloved countryside when
the new King arrives from Scotland, bringing change, fear and
suspicion. His court may be shockingly decadent, but James's
religion is Puritan, intolerant of all the old ways; he has already
put to death many men for treason and women for witchcraft. So when
her ambitious uncle forcibly brings Frances to court, she is
trapped in a claustrophobic world of intrigue and betrayal - and a
ready target for the twisted scheming of Lord Cecil, the King's
first minister. Surrounded by mortal dangers, Frances finds
happiness only with the precocious young Princess Elizabeth, and
Tom Wintour, the one courtier she can trust. Or can she? 'Watch out
Philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, I can see a new contender for the
Queen of Historical Fiction!' Netgalley reviewer 'A fascinating
read, felt very true to time period but with that personal touch .
. . Five stars' Jeannie Zelos book reviews
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Brigantia
(Paperback)
Adrian Goldsworthy; Narrated by Peter Noble
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R319
R262
Discovery Miles 2 620
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From bestselling historian Adrian Goldsworthy, a profoundly authentic,
action-packed adventure set in Roman Britain.
AD 100: BRITANNIA.
THE EDGE OF THE ROMAN WORLD.
Flavius Ferox is the hardbitten centurion charged with keeping the
peace on Britannia's frontier with the barbarian tribes of the north.
Now he's been summoned to Londinium by the governor, but before he sets
out an imperial freedman is found brutally murdered in a latrine at
Vindolanda fort – and Ferox must find the killer.
As he follows the trail, the murder leads him to plots against the
empire and Rome itself, and an old foe gathering mysterious artefacts
in the hope of working a great magic. Bandits, soldiers, and gladiators
alike are trying to kill him, old friends turn traitor, and Ferox is
lured reluctantly to the sinister haunts of the old druids on the isle
of Mona, and the bitter power struggle among the Brigantes, the great
tribe of the north...
'An instant classic of the genre' HARRY SIDEBOTTOM.
'An authentic, enjoyable read' THE TIMES.
Inspired by true events... 'Moving and authentic' Dinah Jefferies
'Vivid, heart-rending and so, so beautiful' Jenny Ashcroft 'A
beautiful, tender and fascinating story' Sinead Moriarty 'Deeply
moving. Be prepared - have handkerchiefs on standby at the end'
Antonia Senior, The Times 'An inspiring novel about the power of
determination, courage and unity' Woman's Own China, 1941. With
Japan's declaration of war on the Allies, Elspeth Kent's future
changes forever. When soldiers take control of the missionary
school where she teaches, comfortable security is replaced by
rationing, uncertainty and fear. Ten-year-old Nancy Plummer has
always felt safe at Chefoo School. Now the enemy, separated
indefinitely from anxious parents, the children must turn to their
teachers - to Miss Keny and her new Girl Guide patrol especially -
for help. But worse is to come when the pupils and teachers are
sent to a distant internment camp. Unimaginable hardship,
impossible choices and danger lie ahead. Inspired by true events,
this is the unforgettable story of the life-changing bonds formed
between a young girl and her teacher, in a remote corner of a
terrible war. Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards for Popular
Fiction Book of the Year USA Today bestseller Published in the USA
and Canada under the title When We Were Young and Brave.
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Eyes of the Rigel
(Hardcover)
Roy Jacobsen; Translated by Don Bartlett, Don Shaw
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R467
R381
Discovery Miles 3 810
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The third novel in a historical trilogy that began with the
International Booker shortlisted The Unseen "Taken together,
Jacobsen has given us an epic of Norway's experience of the first
half of the 20th century that is subtle and moving" David Mills,
Sunday Times "Jacobsen can make almost anything catch the light . .
. One of Norway's greatest writers on the working class" Times
Literary Supplement The journey had taken on its own momentum, it
had become an autonomous, independent entity, she was searching for
love, and was still happily unaware that truth is the first
casualty of peace. The long war is over, and Ingrid Barroy leaves
the island that bears her name to search for the father of her
child. Alexander, the Russian captive who survived the sinking of
prisoner ship the Rigel and found himself in Ingrid's arms, made an
attempt to cross the mountains to Sweden. Ingrid will follow in his
footsteps, carrying her babe in arms, the child's dark eyes the
only proof that she ever knew him. Along the way, Ingrid's will
encounter collaborators, partisans, refugees, deserters, slaves and
sinners, in a country that still bears the scars of defeat and
occupation. And before her journey's end she will be forced to ask
herself how well she knows the man she is risking everything to
find. Translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw
Don Bartlett is the acclaimed translator of books by Karl Ove
Knausgard, Jo Nesbo and Per Petterson. Don Shaw, co-translator, is
a teacher of Danish and author of the standard
Danish-Thai/Thai-Danish dictionaries. With the support of the
Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
PART FOUR OF THE TROY QUARTET Bringing ancient myth to life with
passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the
story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there. Traumatized by
the slaughter that his ingenuity unleashed upon the people of Troy,
Odysseus believes himself unworthy of returning home. Embarking on
an epic journey to the ends of the world and deep into the shadows
of his own heart, Odysseus turns at last for Ithaca, where his wife
and son await, besieged by rivals who believe - and wish - him
dead. 'An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending
mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire' Mary Beard 1 -
A PRINCE OF TROY 2 - THE WAR AT TROY 3 - THE SPOILS OF TROY 4 - THE
RETURN FROM TROY
In 1832 a stranger arrived in Canterbury dressed like a Turkish
sultan and with seemingly limitless wealth. He claimed to be Sir
William Percy Honeywood Courtenay and said that he was the King of
Jerusalem, a Prince of Arabia, the Prince of Abyssinia, and King of
the Gypsies. He entranced many in the city and soon had a sizeable
following among the agricultural labourers who saw in his radical
politics an answer to their poverty. Some five years later after
unsuccessfully standing for parliament and being incarcerated in a
mental asylum `Sir William' led the last armed uprising in England
that left twenty dead and many seriously wounded at what became
known as the Battle of Bossenden. Who was `Sir William' if he was
not who he claimed to be? Who indeed? And why? The Lion of
Canterbury is a haunting narrative written with particular
sensitivity to the language of the period that brings readers into
the heart of the strange story of Sir William Courtenay.
Nuneaton, 1869. When young Saffie's parents fell in love, her
mother was cast out by her well-to-do family. Choosing love over
money, they eloped choosing to raise their daughter on the canals.
For as long as she can remember, Saffie has loved learning and it
is her dream to become a teacher, but what use is an education to a
canal girl? Will Saffie step out of the shadow of the past into the
light of her dreams?
This New York Times bestseller from “one of the great storytellers of our time” (San Francisco Book Review) turns from the glamour of the royal courts to tell the story of an ordinary woman, Alinor, living in a dangerous time for a woman to be different.
On Midsummer’s Eve, Alinor waits in the church graveyard, hoping to encounter the ghost of her missing husband and thus confirm his death. Until she can, she is neither maiden nor wife nor widow, living in a perilous limbo. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run. She shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marshy landscape of the Tidelands, not knowing she is leading a spy and an enemy into her life.
England is in the grip of a bloody civil war that reaches into the most remote parts of the kingdom. Alinor’s suspicious neighbors are watching each other for any sign that someone might be disloyal to the new parliament, and Alinor’s ambition and determination mark her as a woman who doesn’t follow the rules. They have always whispered about the sinister power of Alinor’s beauty, but the secrets they don’t know about her and James are far more damning. This is the time of witch-mania, and if the villagers discover the truth, they could take matters into their own hands.
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Shot to Hell
(Paperback)
William W Johnstone, J. A Johnstone
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R226
R190
Discovery Miles 1 900
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1936. Having returned from Abyssinia, soldier of fortune Cal
Jardine is convinced by his abhorrence of fascism to travel to
Barcelona and help facilitate rival athletic games to the Berlin
Olympics. But now he finds himself in Spain as the first shots of
civil war ring out; and friendship, love, and political conviction
converge to persuade Jardine to stay and once again embroil himself
in foreign war. Discovering that the British athletes attending the
games are keen to enlist for the fight, Jardine agrees to train
them into a professional force. With old army comrade Vince
Castellano and his beautiful interpreter Florencia Gardiola by his
side, Jardine leads the athletes through the street battles of
Barcelona and onto the fighting in the Catalan countryside,
acquiring famous friends and effective allies along the way - as
well as dangerous enemies. Manfred Drecker is a German communist
diehard, who brooks no moral qualms in his deadly determination to
see Spain transformed into a socialist state under the rule of the
Soviet Union. Having witnessed his trickery and torture, Jardine is
already on his guard against Drecker; but when murderous betrayal
blights his previous fortune, Jardine will go to any lengths to
seek suitable revenge ...
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