Biography & non-fiction prose

Opening with the reign of King Alfred, during which the foundations of the nation were laid, this book introduces the monarchs who have ruled through personal and political strife, triumph, war and peacetime. This is the story of modern civilisation.

Thomas Edward Lawrence first set foot on the hot sands of Arabia in 1909. By 1918 there was a £20,000 price on his head. His journey to this point has long been legend. From his first postings as archaeologist, liaison and map officer, to fighting alongside guerrilla forces during the Arab Revolt...

Christophe Lebold unveils Leonard Cohen's enigmatic journey exploring love, faith and existentialism. Through meticulous research and personal encounters, Lebold transcends biography, delving into Cohen's mission to illuminate life's shadows. This book captivates and inspires, inviting readers in...

A gripping, insightful and moving memoir from Marvin Rees, the first mayor of Black African heritage to lead a European city.

Lesley Pearse didn't publish her first novel until she was 48. Now she has sold over ten million books around the world and is a constant presence on the bestseller chart. A writer of heart-stopping stories, Lesley's books are filled with heroines struggling to make it in a difficult world. Yet t...

The power of BBC journalist and presenter Ashley John-Baptiste's book lies not only in sharing the harshness of his experience, but also in showcasing his extraordinary resilience in the darkest of times. 'Looked After' tells the story of the UK's care provision from the inside in a visceral way ...

The incredibly elaborate but all-true story of the psychopathic international fraudster, Alexandre Despallières who charmed his victims to death. Despallières died of COVID in 2022, just before he was due to stand trial for Peter Ikin's murder. In 'Love until Death', Chris Hutchins - who knew t...

Even as a young child in Lahore, Komail was made to feel different. Boys don't pirouette off of the dining table. Boys don't burst into songs from 'The Little Mermaid' unprovoked. Boys don't play together like that. It's dangerous. Starved of a crucial part of himself, he ate. And ate. Before lon...

As well as her celebrated career as a novelist, Hilary Mantel long contributed to newspapers and journals, unspooling stories from her own life and illuminating the world as she found it. This strand of her writing was an integral part of how she thought of herself. 'A Memoir of My Former Self' c...

Can women have it all? What does it mean to be a woman and a mother in the modern age? In this passionate, funny and fierce polemic, Paloma Faith delves deep into the issues that face women today, from puberty and sexual awakenings, to battling through the expectations of patriarchy and the Super...