"I never missed my childhood home / until the tide stopped rolling in and / ochre sand no longer crunched between my toes ..." A little girl grows up to the sounds of the seaside in bustling Cleethorpes. There are family outings through the Lincolnshire Wolds in a tiny Austin 7, and ferry rides across the Humber. Family runs like a comforting thread throughout this 'little gem of a book', and lifelong friendships are forged in unexpected places ... A gentle and heartfelt memoir about the timeless call of the sea

During the ten years she lived at the edge of Putney Common Jilly Cooper walked daily on this expanse of green. For most of the time she lived there she kept a diary, noting the effects of the changing seasons and writing about her encounters with dogs and humans. The book is a distillation of those diaries: an affectionate and enthralling portrait - warts and all - of life on Putney Common. Never has Jilly Cooper written more lyrically about flowers, trees, birds and the natural world; more tellingly about the sorrows - as well as the joys - of caring for dogs and children; or more outrageously about the gossip, illicit romances and jealousies of life in a small community.

The exquisite antebellum mansions of the Garden District. Giant oaks stretching across boulevards and back in time to before the Civil War. The decadence of Bourbon Street. The vibrant sounds of jazz, blues, and Cajun music coming from every doorway or right from the street. Lacy iron balconies that wrap around the historic buildings of the French Quarter. A leisurely meal under a canopy of wisteria.
In vibrant watercolors and detailed sketches, artist Diana Gessler captures the unique charm that makes New Orleans alluring: Mardi Gras, the Cabildo, Jackson Square, the Court of the Two Sisters, St. Louis Cemetery, the Jazz Festival, the River Road Plantations, the Cajun country, sumptuous Creole cuisine, and Audubon's Aquarium of the Americas. In fascinating detail--on everything from the making of Mardi Gras, Napolean's death mask, the city's inspired architectural and garden designs, and favorite author hangouts to famous New Orleanians and Aunt Sally's Creole pralines--Very New Orleans celebrates the city, the Cajun country, the people, and our history

Plymouth is steeped in history, from the prehistoric remains discovered at Cattedown, the Bronze Age trading settlement at Mount Batten and the Roman burial grounds at Stonehouse to the Pilgrim Fathers' departure from the Mayflower Steps, the hard-fought battles of the Civil War and the Blitz during the Second World War. In A-Z of Plymouth local author Derek Tait takes the reader on a tour through the history of this Devon city. Here are the stories behind its notable streets and buildings, and the dark secrets of its hidden lanes and alleyways. The author highlights aspects of Plymouth's colourful maritime heritage and introduces us to some of its famous sons and daughters. With strong associations to Nancy Astor, Sir Francis Drake, William Bligh, Lawrence of Arabia, Admiral Hardy and Charles Darwin, as well as tales of slavers, pirates, suffragettes, mutineers and executions, the city is rich in stories of discoveries, triumphs and disasters, all adding to its compelling history. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will be of interest to visitors, residents and all those with links to this port city.

Keswick is one of the most popular towns in Cumbria, beloved by local residents and the thousands of holidaymakers who visit the Lake District every year. Many are attracted by the spectacular surrounding scenery and the rich history of the area. Those who visit can appreciate why this part of Britain was such a source of inspiration to poets, authors and artists. The first recorded mention of Keswick was in 1276 when Edward I granted a charter for the local market, which is still held in the town today. During the sixteenth century, copper mining brought wealth to the area. Later it was graphite, and then the railways brought the tourists flocking here. In this book, local authors Beth and Steve Pipe seek out the fascinating hidden aspects of Keswick's rich and intriguing heritage. Stories of local people, places and events weave a fascinating tale that spans the centuries. Discover the history and stories behind the Keswick Brewing Company, the town's Literary and Scientific Society and the incredible Alhambra Cinema, which has been in continuous operation for more than a century. Learn more about Keswick's graphite mining industry - a trade that gave the phrases 'black market' and 'a wad of cash' to the English language - and the town's superb pencil museum. For visitors and residents alike, Secret Keswick will reveal more fascinating stories and the lesser-known gems to be found within this delightful Cumbrian town.

The seaside holiday and the seaside resort are two of England's greatest exports to the world. Since the early 18th century, when some of the wealthiest people first sought improved health by bathing in saltwater, the lure of the sea has been a fundamental part of the British way of life, and millions of people still head to the coast each year. Margate has an important place in the story of seaside holidays. It vies with Scarborough, Whitby and Brighton for the title of England's first seaside resort, and it was the first to offer sea-water baths to visitors. Margate can also claim other firsts, including the first Georgian square built at a seaside resort (Cecil Square), the first substantial seaside development outside the footprint of an historic coastal town, the site of the world's first sea-bathing hospital, and, as a result of its location along the Thames from London, the first popular resort frequented by middle- and lower-middle-class holidaymakers. It is unlikely that Margate will ever attract the vast numbers of visitors that flocked there in the 19th and early 20th centuries. However, with growing concerns about the environmental effects of air travel and a continuing awareness of the threat of excessive exposure to the sun, the English seaside holiday may enjoy some form of revival. If Margate finds ways to renew itself while retaining its historic identity, it may once again become a vibrant destination for holidays, as well as being an attractive place for people to live and work.

Do you know where the 'twice-richest mountain in Ireland' is? Or what mysterious creature is said to lurk in the waters of Glenade Lake? Or why you should never cheer on a fairy footballer? Discover the answers to these and more in this collection of tales from across the county. Leitrim is the place where, legend has it, Cormac Riabhac, The Irish 'Samson', performed his amazing feats of strength; where Fionn Mac Cumhaill, great warrior of the Fianna, is said to lie buried; and where the wrongful execution of Jack Bircall led to a miraculous cure. It is also said to be the home of a plethora of strange and magical creatures and stories abound of encounters fairies, mermen, enchanted cows and even supernatural salmon. These stories, beautifully illustrated by Tracey Jean Yappa, bring to life the county's varied landscape, from its lofty mountains to its bogs and loughs, and along the mighty Shannon River, whose twisting path was said to have been carved out by the antics of the giant serpent, the 'Great Ollpheist'.

Anthony Poulton-Smith takes the reader on a fascinating A-Z tour of the haunted hotspots of Worcestershire. Contained within the pages of this book are strange tales of spectral sightings, active poltergeists, and restless spirits appearing in streets, inns, churches, estates, public buildings, and private homes across the area. They include tales from Worcester, Bewdley, Droitwich, Bromsgrove, Tenbury Wells, and Stourport-on-Severn. This new collection of stories, a product of both historical accounts and numerous interviews conducted with local witnesses, is sure to appeal to all those intrigued by Worcestershire's haunted heritage.

The gritty, true blue story of two remarkable cops and an equally extraordinary nurse who provided the spirit and smarts that transformed Fear City into the safest big city in America. NEW YORK'S FINEST is the story of a city's transformation through the tireless efforts of Detective Steven McDonald, Nurse Justiniano, Jack Maple, and a host of hero cops-including the great niece of Jazz Age great Josephine Baker-the finest of The Finest. The son and grandson of cops, Officer McDonald was shot and paralyzed from the neck down while on patrol in 1986. The doctors said that if he did survive, he would be better off dead. It was then he came under the care of one Nurse Nina Justiniano. Where the teenage gunman was produced by the worst of Harlem's social ills, she personified its many graces, rescuing Steven from despair and urging him to transcend hate and bitterness. McDonald was then promoted to detective at the urging of NYPD Deputy Commissioner Jack Maple, a postal worker's son who sported a bow tie, Homburg hat, and two-tone shoes as he implemented transformative crime-fighting strategies to deter violent subway robberies. Coming up in the force, Maple had been routinely mocked for imagining the impossible: that Times Square would one day be a destination for families and tourists. Now, resentments and tensions are mounting in the same neighborhoods that most benefited from the careful consideration of officers like McDonald and Maple. But as NEW YORK'S FINEST illustrates, their legacies, and those of people like Nurse Justiniano, may well rescue New York City from its present state of unrest and struggle in the wake of protests and the pandemic.

"Just pick up a copy and set off. You'll be amazed at what you've missed." - Sir Michael Palin MARCH, 2020: A columnist watches as London locks down, facing a conundrum as his weekly deadline for his newspaper diary approaches. With the city shutting up shop and column inches to fill, journalist Dan Carrier takes to the deserted streets of Central London to uncover the forgotten stories the heart of the UK capital holds. Untold London is a consideration and celebration of a city whose famous landmarks and thoroughfares are often taken for granted. Setting out to find lingering evidence of days gone by, Dan reveals unexpected delights, triumphs and tragedies alongside plenty of skulduggery and scandal in the greatest city in the world.

The exploits of a hapless cat for whom nine lives are not nearly enough In the long history of mankind's relationship with felines, one cat stands head and shoulders below the rest. Highly inflammable, the glass-jawed Birmingham lurches from one catastrophe to the next. Through encounters with washing machine spin cycles to his lovelorn pursuit of the aggressively uninterested Sammy, Chris Pascoe's hilarious book paints an intimate portrait of the author's calamitous relationship with a cat wholly unsuited to being feline. Persistently molested by an irate sparrow, physically incapable of negotiating the intricacies of the cat-flap and with a near-fatal appreciation of the effects of gravity, Brum nevertheless remains steadfast in his subconscious pursuit of oblivion. Worryingly, these stories are true. Will nine lives be enough?

Birmingham's Got Talent! Well, there can't be any question about that - a shopping centre that has always rivalled almost anywhere in existence, a manufacturing industry with a worldwide reputation andtheatres and cinemas in abundance.In this collection we have tried to show that, after the terribleevents of the forties, our city was busy replenishing and starting to flourish again - shops, factories and places of entertainment and, of course, the people. In the fifties shops played an enormous part in our lives as very few people had refrigerators and daily trips were a necessity. Politically the Conservatives held their ground from 1951 until 1964 when Labour came into its own. Musically the Beatles dominated the sixties and television finally burst into colour. So, there you are, in this, our 33rd Birmingham book, there are more wonderful items to enjoy. All proving, once and for all, that Birmingham has ALWAYS had talent!

A revealing collection of images of the Black Country. A wealth of stunning images showing what life was really like for residents from the 1950s onwards. Covers a wide area within living memory and shows not only the human aspect of the Black Country, but also how the landscape has changed beyond all recognition. The images in this book, taken by professional photographer Graham Gough, capture the reality of life in the Black Country since the 1950s. Among the subjects covered by his stunning photographs are gritty poverty, poor housing, and social unrest, while the lighter side of life is not forgotten through scenes of the region at play. From historic events to riots and extreme weather and from changing streetscapes to royal visits and celebrity snaps, all Black Country life is here.

Winchester is world famous as the ancient capital of England. Much of the medieval heritage of the city survives today, as revealed in the pages of this book, together with more recent scenes, in a series of pictures carefully selected to illustrate the development of Winchester and how it has changed through the centuries. Each picture has been meticulously researched, using an unprecedented range of sources, to provide a wealth of information and new insights into the city's past. The book concentrates on the period since the 18th century, when the city was at its lowest ebb and much of it was lying derelict. Winchester's population at some 4,000 was still well below the estimate of 11,000 in 1300 and in continuing decline after 60% mortality during the Black Death of 1348. It did not exceed 10,000 again until between 1841 and 1851, when a burgeoning population grew dramatically, and the walled area filled up once again. All who know the ancient city will enjoy this very readable and splendidly illustrated account of its past; while those with an interest in local history will welcome its examination of the city's evolution over the past 250 years, together with the invaluable photographic archive it makes available and explains. The book is as entertaining as it is informative.

Christchurch is surrounded by large wide marshes at the confluence of the Stour and the Avon. This strategic position gave Christchurch its former name Tweoxneam ... 'the town between the rivers'. Its harbour was sheltered by nearby Hengistbury Head, a defensible site in more turbulent days, as well as an excellent look-out point. Its skyline is dominated by the Priory, which was famous in the Middle Ages for its relics and attracted many pilgrims. After the Reformation and, a century later, the Civil War, Christchurch fell into decline and became a small fishing town.

Author and historian David Paul brings us a selection of strange and mythical tales from across Yorkshire, from the Wolds, Dales and Moors to its lesser-known rural landscape, from the coast to its towns, villages and cities, including a whole range of places, events and people that are seldom mentioned in standard histories or guides. Interesting remains, strange happenings, hoaxes, witchcraft and incredible legends are all featured in Illustrated Tales of Yorkshire. Included is an unusual mix of the curious, the quaint and the mysterious, where even those who know this northern county well will find something new and surprising.

Charles Henry Cooper charted over half a millennium of life at Cambridge in the five volumes of the Annals of Cambridge. Cooper practised as a solicitor in Cambridge, and was also town clerk from 1849 until his death in 1866. He was a keen historian and devoted a great deal of time to archival research, particularly into local history. Drawing on extensive public and private records, including petitions, town treasurers' accounts, restoration records, death certificates, legal articles and letters to ruling royalty, Cooper compiled a comprehensive chronological history of Cambridge, documenting the 'city of scholars' through its tumultuous political and religious growing pains. It was published in the face of considerable opposition from the university authorities, but was eventually acclaimed as an authoritative account. This fourth volume, published in 1852, runs from the Glorious Revolution of 1688 to 1849.

The town of Richmond grew around the Tudor royal palace by the River Thames. Much of the land was used by the royals for hunting, first in the Old Deer Park and then in Richmond Park, but in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the area became a fashionable place of residence close to London, particularly around Richmond Hill. The Hill has also been home to rock and roll royalty including Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Pete Townshend. The town expanded into a municipal borough in 1890 and is now part of London, a thriving shopping and cultural centre for the area. This book explores the lesser-known episodes and characters in the history of Richmond through the years, from its royal beginnings, the establishment of a tapestry works at Mortlake, the connection with the River Thames through boatbuilding and the ferry before Richmond Bridge was built, home of the artistic and other famous people including three leading explorers, to the secret nineteenth-century plot to destroy Kew Gardens and the story behind the establishment of the Poppy Factory in 1922. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Richmond upon Thames will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this corner of south-west London.