Mark Alexandrovich Landau (1888-1957) was a Russian emigrant and wrote many historical novels.

1809 - The might of the French armies have gathered in nearby Spain to attack the beleaguered Portuguese. As an ally, the British government is drawn into increasing its small peninsular force in order to protect the Portuguese. Short of willing recruits, the government advertise for gentlemen volunteers to serve under its over all commander, the Duke of Wellington. The peninsular is a hard battle ground. James Ross, penniless, after the family fortunes were lost, now has to earn a living. The 'Lady Nelson' carries him to the far shores of the Portuguese coast where his adventures are just beginning...

Set against a backdrop of the year 1066 a mysterious rock re-emerges after an absence of hundreds of years. On this occasion the Keeper, for that is what the custodian of the rock is called, is visited in a dream during the night the star with the hairy tail shows itself in the sky and is tasked with finding an ancient stone tablet, hidden by a monk three centuries earlier. Bedwyth, the monk, could not find it in himself to reveal the contents of the tablet to the world, fearing it would destroy all that people believed in, but nor could he destroy it, knowing that to do so would be destroying the word of God. Now, three hundred years after his death, a parchment comes to light written by Bedwyth telling of the tablet and divulging clues to its whereabouts but not its contents. The Keeper teams up with her cousins and a stranger named Jehoshua to solve the mystery, but is the stranger all that he seems or is he holding something back? Something which if it was revealed would cause as much disturbance as the secrets of the stone. Others however want the rock the Keeper wears, some believing it will assist in their quest to conquer England whilst some want to use its power to seek the ancient tablet, believing that were it not to be revealed it would go against the will of God. Others are doing all in their power to have the rock destroyed in order to keep its secrets safe and thus the tablet of stone. The Keeper finds herself fleeing for her life as the rival factions try to wrest the secret of the stone from her. But she has the same dilemma as the monk, Bedwyth. If the tablet is found should she disclose its contents or would the world's population be better kept in ignorance? Events however take a different path as the Keeper and her companions become embroiled in the events and battles of the year as first they charge north with King Harold's army to fight off the Viking invasion before returning south to face William, Duke of Normandy. The story calls into question many of the beliefs we grew up with, whilst encompassing the legends, the fables and the facts surrounding what is possibly the most famous date in English history. It is a tale of battles and intrigue, of love, and of grief, of mystery and mayhem but most of all it tells of one year in history as seen through the eyes of someone who experienced it and lived to tell the tale.

William McLean is stationed in Malta during the second World War and immediately falls in love with the beauty, history and incredible bravery of the people and their island. His love affair with Malta continues through the mysterious Carmel - a woman with deep secrets. Meanwhile, in England, Ivy Lawton is nursing the wounds of her lost love, Rafel - the handsome member of one of Malta's most important families. As the years pass, both William and Ivy will realise the deep-seated ties between them and the people they love. 'The Sleeping Lady' is a tale of love lost and found, lies in the name of the social order and the cruelties of war. Each page will keep you transfixed as the intricate web of lies and deception is unravelled over the years of war and peace.

THE COMPELLING NEW NOVEL FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF TIDELANDS. Number One bestselling author Philippa Gregory's new historical novel tracks the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice and New England. Midsummer Eve, 1670. A turbulent time to seek the truth . . . A wealthy man waits outside a poor London warehouse to meet with Alinor, the woman he failed twenty-one years before. He has everything to offer: money, land, status. He believes she has the only thing he cannot buy: his son and heir. Meanwhile in New England, Alinor's brother Ned cannot find justice in the New World, as the King's revenge stretches across the Atlantic and turns the pioneers against each other and against the American Indians. Then, a beautiful widow, Livia, arrives from Venice. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and has come with the news that Alinor's son Rob has drowned in the dark tides of the lagoon. But is this true or could this woman be an imposter . . . ? From London to New England and Venice, the dark tides always rise, and with them come secrets and enemies . . . 'A gripping read spanning London, Venice and New England, all beautifully observed by Gregory' Woman & Home Praise for Tidelands, the first in the Fairmile series: 'A gripping and intelligent portrait of a woman fighting to survive in a hostile world' The Times 'The first in a planned series . . . The author crafts her material with effortless ease. Her grasp of social mores is brilliant, the love story rings true and the research is, as ever, of the highest calibre' Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail 'Vivid and beguiling - Philippa Gregory at her best' Woman & Home 'A compelling novel that shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women' Daily Mirror 'The novel's power lies in Gregory's evocative portrayal of the tidelands and the everyday lives of those who are bound to them' Sunday Express 'Philippa Gregory returns with an English Civil War novel that excels in everything she does best. Historical events are written with breathless immediacy, keeping the reader enthralled even if they know the outcome' Alys Key, The i 'If this novel is the first sign of what's to come then readers are in for a treat' Emma Lee-Potter, Daily Express

Filled with Jeffrey Archer’s trademark twists and turns, Hidden in Plain Sight is the gripping second instalment in the life of William Warwick.

Newly promoted, Detective Sergeant William Warwick has been reassigned to the drugs squad. His first case: to investigate a notorious south London drug lord known as the Viper.

But as William and his team close the net around a criminal network unlike any they have ever encountered, he is also faced with an old enemy: Miles Faulkner.

It will take all of William’s cunning to devise a means to bring both men to justice – a trap neither will expect. One that is hidden in plain sight . . .

Though it can be read on its own, Hidden in Plain Sight is the second volume of Jeffrey Archer's William Warwick series, following Nothing Ventured. The story continues with Turn a Blind Eye.

Intriguing mysteries and fast-paced action combine with humour and emotion. In the Roman year 897 (AD 145) rebellion, treason and dissent were rife on the empire's most northerly frontier. A second wall, beyond Hadrian's, meant to promote peace inevitably only adds fuel to the fire. Charged by the governor with rooting out the traitors investigator Felix is in daily danger as they hold life cheaply, forcing him to live alongside crime, warfare, love, lust, sacrifice and treason - in a heady mix!

Keep your friends close... And your enemies closer? In order to find a legendary treasure map, mercenary Louve of Mei Solis must infiltrate his enemy's fortress in the guise of a servant. There, Louve meets beautiful maiden Biedeluue, a fellow servant with her own hidden agenda: to save her sister from the malevolent Lord's clutches! Their high-stakes missions might be at odds with one another, but their attraction cannot be denied even in this most dangerous of situations...

A BBC TWO BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE WINNER OF THE MAN ASIAN LITERARY PRIZE AND THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE Teoh Yun Ling was seventeen years old when she first heard about Aritomo and the garden. But a war would come to Malaya, and a decade pass before she would travel to see him. A man of extraordinary skill and reputation, Aritomo was once the gardener for the Emperor of Japan, and now Yun Ling needs him. She needs him to help her build a memorial to her beloved sister, killed at the hands of the Japanese. She wants to learn everything Aritomo can teach her, and do her sister proud, but to do so she must also begin a journey into her own past, a past inextricably linked with the secrets of her troubled country. A story of art, war, love and memory, The Garden of Evening Mists captures a dark moment in history with richness, power and incredible beauty.

Agter elke man wat gehelp het om die geskiedenis te vorm, staan die helde wat dit vir altyd verander het. Soos net Francine Rivers dit kan doen, vertel sy die verhale van vyf sulke geloofsmanne wat getrou na God se stem geluister het in die skadu van die leiers wat Hy uitverkies het:

• Aäron wat ons Ewige Hoëpriester simboliseer.
• Kaleb wie se toewyding mense gedring het om hulle geloof in dade om te sit.
• Jonatan wie se nederigheid gelei het tot ’n vriendskap met die man wat in sy plek sou koning word.
• Amos wat ten spyte van heftige teenkanting die Israeliete gewaarsku het oor die naderende oorlog wat hulle sou vernietig.
• Silas wat die apostels se woorde op skrif gestel het sodat dit vir die geslagte behoue kon bly.

Deur Francine se meesterlike vertelvermoë en aangrypende karaktersketse sal lesers elkeen van hierdie manne op ’n besondere wyse leer ken.

Wealthy businessman John Gardner counts his wife, the widowed Countess Napier, as his finest possession. Beautiful, refined and a devoted mother, the Countess has the one thing that all his money cannot buy -- a place in Society. When she dies still grieving for her first husband, the volatile Mr Gardener decides that his stepdaughter, Lady Selina, should become his passport into the titled classes. Eager to fit into a world that values birthright over cash, he decides to marry her off to the highest bidder. But he hasn't bargained for his vivacious stepdaughter's willful defiance. Determined to marry only for love, Selina flees the harsh discipline of Gardener Manor and takes her chances on the open road. Rescued from peril by the Marquis of Castleton, a serious and thoughtful man committed to doing his best for the people of his estate, Selina finds in him an unlikely ally. Equally appalled at plans for his own arranged marriage, the pair join forces against those intent on pushing them up the aisle. Pitched into an exciting adventure that sees them chased across Europe, Selina and the Marquis soon discover that despite their age difference they are both romantics searching for true love. But will they find it, or will their sense of duty see them both married to the wrong person? Trickery, deception and a tangled web of emotions will see their good intentions pushed to the limits, before the final explosive showdown where the Marquis finally proves himself a man of shrewd wit -- and passion.

Money may not be able to buy you love but without it an Earldom is an empty title as black sheep of the family, Michael Belmont, could discover to his cost. Heir to a huge country estate, filled with antiques and the finest furniture, Michael's gambling debts and dissolute lifestyle result in a desperate quarrel with his father, who threatens to disinherit him. When his father dies suddenly, Michael has sunk so low that he does not even have enough money for his fare home. With his allowance gambled and his fine clothes pawned Michael is a man in despair. But all that changes when he meets the beautiful Lady Verna, who is seeking a chauffeur to drive her car home to England. Not knowing that her willing volunteer is actually an Earl, they strike up an unlikely friendship and before the journey ends he has fallen under her spell. Captivated by her independent spirit and positive outlook Michael knows that their love will reform him, and suddenly there is brilliant new hope in his life. All he has to do is win the trust of her father, wealthy Lord Challoner, and convince him of his suitability as a husband -- but the shadow of the late Earl's threat looms large. With so much uncertainly the only thing they can be sure of is their love. As Michael tries to turn his life around and win the hand of the woman he adores can Lady Verna convince her father that love is enough to live on? Meanwhile Michael's cunning younger brother, Anthony, has his eye on the estate. Their father's favourite, he may not carry the title but he is determined to take everything else from his brother including the bride.

Jacob Hochstetler is a peace-loving Amish settler on the Pennsylvania frontier when Native American warriors, goaded on by the hostilities of the French and Indian War, attack his family one September night in 1757. Taken captive by the warriors and grieving for the family members just killed, Jacob finds his beliefs about love and nonresistance severely tested.

Jacob endures a hard winter as a prisoner in an Indian longhouse. Meanwhile, some members of his congregation the first Amish settlement in America move away for fear of further attacks.

Based on actual events, Jacob's Choice describes how one man's commitment to pacifism leads to a season of captivity, a complicated romance, an unrelenting search for missing family members, and an astounding act of forgiveness and reconciliation.

The first book in a brand new sweeping historical series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author 'A warm and engrossing tale of passion and courage. I loved it' Rachel Hore, bestselling author of A Beautiful Spy France, 1944. Deep in the river valley of the Dordogne, in an old stone cottage on the edge of a beautiful village, three sisters long for the end of the war. Helene, the eldest, is trying her hardest to steer her family to safety, even as the Nazi occupation becomes more threatening. Elise, the rebel, is determined to help the Resistance, whatever the cost. And Florence, the dreamer, just yearns for a world where France is free. Then, one dark night, the Allies come knocking for help. And Helene knows that she cannot sit on the sidelines any longer. But secrets from their own mysterious past threaten to unravel everything they hold most dear... The first in an epic new series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestseller, Daughters of War is a stunning tale of sisters, secrets and bravery in the darkness of war-torn France... 'A wonderfully evocative and sensual writer' Santa Montefiore, bestselling author of Here and Now 'Love, grief, abandonment, betrayal and secrets ... I adored it' Liz Nugent, bestselling author of Our Little Cruelties 'A rich tapestry of courage, passion and family secrets beneath the dark shadows of war' Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author of The Bird in the Bamboo Cage 'A glorious page-turner ... a novel to disappear into' Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Secret Wife

In 1796 the promising young poet, Samuel Taylor Coleridge came with his attractive wife Sara to live at nether Stowey in West Somerset, drawn by the beauty of the Quantock Hills and by his new friendship with Tom Poole, who owned a tannery business in Castle Street. Little did Tom realise then how closely he was to become involved, during the years 1796 to 1804, with Coleridge's brilliant, colourful and ultimately tragic life - with his fiercely democratic literary friends who descended on Stowey from time to time and shocked the locals: with his eccentric style of living, with his stormy marriage and hopeless love affair and with his agonised struggle to write great poetry. Overshadowing all, Tom had to watch Coleridge's gradual descent into the abyss of opium addiction

From the Consecration of the Shepherd of Bethlehem to the Rebellion of Prince Absalom. Being an Illustration of the Splendor, Power, and Dominion of the Reign of the Shepherd, Poet, Warrior, King, and Prophet, Ancestor and Type of Jesus; In a Series of Letters Addressed by an Assyrian Ambassador, Resident at the Court of Saul and David, to His Lord and King on the Throne of Nineveh; Wherein the Glory of Assyria, As Well As the Magnificence of Judea, Is Presented to the Reader as by an Eye-Witness.

Athelstan King is a secret agent for the British Raj. This novel describes his adventures among the (mostly Muslim) tribes of the north with the mystical woman adventurer Yasmini and the Turkish mullah Muhammed Anim.

Rich and epic Historical Fiction set against the backdrop of the Great Famine. Perfect for fans of Winston Graham and Ken Follett. Boston in the 1850s is the hub of the universe: gateway to America's temples of commerce and learning; liberal, sophisticated - the very best place in all of the New World for a woman to be. After being ripped from her homeland of Ireland, thrust into the harsh and unforgiving landscape of Australia, it is here that Ellen O'Malley hopes to find the stability of a new life and a new love; Lavelle, the man who adores her. But Ellen, desperate to shake off the Old World, is driven by her own demons to put everything at risk. And Boston, on the brink of Civil War, seems only to mirror her own conflict, to sound the knell of her own battle for survival. A powerful and compelling tale of lives and loves dislocated, The Element of Fire captures emotions as timeless as life itself.

Rich and epic Historical Fiction set against the backdrop of the Great Famine and the Irish Diaspora. Perfect for fans of Winston Graham and Ken Follett. Set against the backdrop of the New World, this powerful novel follows the story of Ellen O'Malley. Torn from Ireland during the Great Famine, Ellen's odyssey has taken her from the harsh landscape of Australia to the killing fields of the American Civil War and poignantly explores forgiveness, longing and the changing role of women set free by war. Together with her natural daughter Mary and adopted daughter Louisa, Ellen helps tend the wounds of the soldiers who have fallen in battle. Surrounded by death and destruction, she little realizes that her estranged son, Patrick, and Lavelle, the husband she desperately seeks, are on opposing sides of the terrible conflict. Meanwhile, Lavelle and Ellen's former lover, Stephen Joyce, likewise seek her out - and each other - with tragic repercussions. Ellen's story is a tale of great loves, impossible choices and the triumph of the human spirit against all odds.

From the author of the bestselling "The Dangerous Book for Boys"
"Sweeping us into a realm of tyrants and slaves, of dark intrigues and seething passions, Conn Iggulden brings us a magnificent novel of ancient Rome--and of the early years of a man who would become the most powerful ruler on earth. "
In a city of grandeur and decadence, beauty and bloodshed, two boys, best friends, dream of glory in service of the mightiest empire the world has ever known. One is the son of a senator. The other is a bastard child. As young Gaius and Marcus grow to manhood, they are trained in the art of combat--under the tutelage of one of Rome's most fearsome gladiators. For Marcus, a bloody campaign in Greece will become a young soldier's proving ground. For Gaius, the equally deadly infighting of the Roman Senate will be the battlefield where he hones his courage and skill. And for both, the love of an extraordinary slave girl will be an honor each will covet but only one will win. But as Rome is thrust into the grip of bitter conflict, as every Roman prepares to take sides in the coming battle, Gaius and Marcus's friendship will be put to the ultimate test....