Walt Whitman's iconic collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, has earned a reputation as a sacred American text. Whitman himself made such comparisons, going so far as to use biblical verse as a model f
For nearly twenty years David Dawson was Lucian Freud's assistant, companion and model. Freud was famously private. He carefully avoided distraction. With few exceptions, he only wanted those he knew
With his trusty adjunct, Detective Sergeant Ratzi, away for Christmas, there’s no holiday for Detective Inspector LeBrock of Scotland Yard as he embarks on an investigation into the disappearance of h
In its earliest days, the American-led war in Afghanistan appeared to be a triumph - a ‘good war’ in comparison to the debacle in Iraq. It has since turned into one of the longest and most expensive w
A frank and fearless new collection from the winner of the T. S. Eliot Prize Mark Doty’s poetry has long been celebrated for its risk and candour, an ability to find transcendent beauty even in the mu
Here are nine men. Each of them is at a different stage in life, each of them is away from home, and each of them is striving - in the suburbs of Prague, in an over-developed Alpine village, beside a
Divided into seven sections: there are things to see and do; best behaviour; unlikely creatures; poisonous possibilities; look who's here; all together now; and a few surprises. Each section opens wit
Mr Hoppy, a retired bachelor, harbours a secret passion for the attractive widow Mrs Silver. Unfortunately she lavishes all her affection on another - Alfie, her pet tortoise. Mr Hoppy's plot to defea
The four Walker children are dismayed when they discover that the friend's yacht they have been staying on is drifting out to sea in a thick fog, and their friend is still on shore
The enormous crocodile wants to eat a nice juicy child for lunch today and decides to leave the river to find one. This title was Roald Dahl's first ever collaboration with Quentin Blake.
Dog loves books! Dog loves books about dinosaurs and Dog loves books about aliens: in fact Dog loves all books! Dog has his very own bookshop, although he doesn't have many customers. But that's all r
Why do they call him Black Jake? Is it because of his hair?' Titty asked.'Because of his heart' said Peter Duck.The Swallows and Amazons, as well as Captain Flint and the ancient able seaman Peter Duc
The Grand High Witch of all the World has gathered together the witches of England for an annual conference at the Hotel Magnificent in Bournemouth. Their agenda is the elimination of all the children
Matilda Wormwood is an extraordinary child with thoroughly ordinary and rather unpleasant parents, who are contemptuous of their daughter's prodigious talents. But underestimating Matilda proves to be
Hare, Hippopotamus and Elephant live together, but not happily, for Hippopotamus and Elephant are forever teasing poor Hare. One day, Hare decides to teach his friends a lesson, and so the great tug o
This is the second of the 10 bestselling children's books of 1991. It features little Billy who lives with his mother in a small cottage. She warns him never to go into the Forest of Sin, but one day
George's grandma is a grizzly, grumpy old woman with pale brown teeth and a small puckered up mouth like a dog's bottom. When he can't stand her any longer, George decides to cure her nastiness for go
Mr Hoppy, a retired bachelor, harbours a secret passion for his neighbour, the lovely Mrs Silver. Unfortunately, she lavishes all her affection on another, Alfie, her pet tortoise. Mr Hoppy’s wildly i