Prime Ministers delves into the premiership's 300 year history and unearths a host of fascinating, intriguing and little-known facts about some of the best-known characters in British history, lifting the lid on the top job. Find out about the Prime Minister who only lasted 100 days, another who served for 21 years, or how Downing Street came to be the Premier's residence. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. "The Amazing and Extraordinary Facts series" presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

Thanks to his diary - Samuel Pepys is one of the most interesting characters in history. His life encompassed happenings of huge historical and human impact - including the execution of Charles I and the Great Fire of London."Voices from the World of Samuel Pepys" captures the spirit of Restoration London, as it grew to become a major centre of international commerce and culture. It provides accounts on all aspects of contemporary life, from the arts and entertainment to politics and religion.Pepys' diary, which he kept almost daily from 1659-1669, is the central resource, but it also includes 'voices' from all levels of society, taken from a wide variety of contemporaneous sources.

This is a fascinating collection of stories exploring the less well-trodden byways of Britain's long history of conflicts. From the Romans vs Britons to the war on terror, "Amazing & Extraordinary Facts: the British at War" uncovers the heroic, tragic and often peculiar facts behind some of the best-known battles in British history. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it is the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure.

Contemporary creative writers reflect on the past, present and future of the novel
In 2012-2013, a year-long conversation between writers took place at 17 literary festivals around the world, from Jaipur to Krasnoyarsk, and from Melbourne to Berlin. Distinguished novelists such as Irvine Welsh, Ahdaf Soueif and Ali Smith shared their thoughts on various aspects of contemporary literature the challenges it faces and the directions it is taking. This book is in part an anthology of the best of those accounts and also an overview of the lively wide-ranging global debate that the authors' views engendered among the many writers who took part. It adds up to an arresting and thought-provoking picture of the state of world literature today.
Key Features
A powerful statement of the significance of literature in the modern world, and a call-to-arms for those who believe that fine writing is endangered
Contributors include well-known contemporary novelists such as: China Mieville, Ahdaf Soueif, Kapka Kassabova, Irvine Welsh, Ali Smith and Kirsty Gunn
Provides an international perspective on the issues facing writers and writing in general, and the present-day novel in particular
A new and valuable resource for academics and students, and a fascinating primer for a wider readership for those who want to know how fiction functions & who like to get an insight into the thought processes of creative artists