Thirty Secret Years

A.G. Denniston's Work in Signals Intelligence, 1914-1944

by Robin Denniston

30 Secret Years reveals how an enterprising Scottish linguist was able to decipher German naval messages in the Admiralty in World War One. Alastair Denniston became head of the British government’s cabinet noir or cipher-breaking bureau in 1919, developed his team of fellow experts between the wars by spying on the Soviets from Whitehall. In 1939 he went on to lead an enlarged body of secret service men and women to Bletchley Park where they solved the vast problems of machine encipherment, enabling Churchill to avoid defeat in 1941 and invade western Europe in June 1944. It is the story of how one man, working in obscurity and total secrecy, influenced the course of world history over 30 years of war and peace, told by his son.

An East End Life

by Derek Martin

As long-suffering EastEnders patriarch Charlie Slater, Derek Martin has become one of British TV's best loved stars. Now in this witty and revealing memoir, Derek tells of his extraordinary journey from growing up in the real East End of London during the Blitz to taking up residency in Albert Square. Derek's journey to Albert Square has proved to be an eventful one. A bone fide East Ender, born within the sound of Bow Bells, Derek grew up during the Blitz in a tight-knit, working-class family. In this candid memoir he describes those tough early days, his stint in the police, life on the wrong side of the law and how he turned his dream of being an actor into a reality. But not before trying his hand as a professional gambler and acting as a runner for the notorious East End gangster Charlie Kray, brother of twins Ronnie and Reggie. Determined to be an actor, Derek began his hugely successful stage and screen career firstly as a stuntman; before landing memorable TV roles in series such as Law and Order, Minder, King and Castle, The Governor and doomed soap Eldorado. In this frank and revealing tale, Derek pulls no punches as he admits past mistakes and describes his remarkable transformation into one of our best loved actors. Meet the man behind the character as he shares with readers his heartbreak over two marriage break ups and his devotion to his twin boys. An East End Life is a truly remarkable story spanning nearly seven decades, packed with tears and laughter that will endear you to this popular star.

On the Beat

My Story

by Graham Cole

Actor Graham Cole pounded the beat in ITV1 police drama The Bill for more than two decades and won plaudits for his carefully crafted portrayal of dependable PC Tony Stamp, the television cop most like the real thing. While on screen Tony Stamp became a Sun Hill stalwart and the sort of old-fashioned policeman you would want on your side, off-screen Graham worked tirelessly with the real police to make sure he's kept up to date with frontline officers. Graham worked in the NHS as a porter before starting his acting career doing summer seasons and working in holiday camps. His television break came as an extra playing monsters in Doctor Who and appearing in episodes of shows such as Only Fools and Horses and Secret Army. Later his skill at stage fighting landed him work as an extra in The Bill and it wasn't long before he was given a full-time job as area car driver and all round good guy Tony Stamp. Now, in a witty and candid memoir, he reveals just what it was like to star in one of television's most enduring series, the key events he's seen during his time on the show and how he really felt about leaving after 25 years. On The Beat is the entertaining autobiography of a likeable star who reveals the inside story behind the scenes of Britain's favourite police drama and the ups and downs of an actor's life.

Cribs For Victory

The Untold Story of Bletchley Park's Secret Room

by Joss Pearson

Cribs For Victory is a posthumous account of the secret code-breaking process in Bletchley Park’s Fusion Room during World War II by Major Neil Webster, one of the key members of the team involved. The Fusion Room was the central unit where decrypted German messages obtained from Hut 6 were compared with the corresponding data extracted by the log readers from the daily radio traffic between enemy stations, thus enabling a complete wartime picture of the enemy order of battle to be constructed. Neil Webster’s liaison role between traffic analysis and cryptography meant he was centrally involved in the search for ‘cribs’ – short pieces of enciphered text where the meaning is either known or can be guessed, allowing the whole cipher to be broken. His book describes this intensive search in detail, the intellectual and technical challenge, the personal stories, the setbacks and the triumphs.

Another Man's Shoes

by Sven Somme

Another Man's Shoes is a gripping first-hand account of a Norwegian scientist's escape from German custody during the Second World War after his arrest for spying. Written just after the war, Sven Somme vividly describes his 200-mile trek across the mountains, pursued by German soldiers, in a bid to reach Sweden and freedom in 1944.

Flushed With Pride

The Story of Thomas Crapper

by Wallace Reyburn

Flushed With Pride celebrates the life and times of Thomas Crapper, the Victorian sanitary ware manufacturer who revolutionised the nation's water closets. This new edition has been updated by Simon Kirby, the Managing Director of the Thomas Crapper Company.

Rockhopper Copper

Life and Police Work On the World's Most Remote Inhabited Island Tristan Da Cunha

by Conrad Glass

Conrad Glass is a policeman with the loneliest beat in the world: he patrols the remote island of Tristan da Cunha in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. No aircraft can land there and few ships pass his way. Much of his work concerns the conservation of some of the rarest species, including the Rockhopper penguin. Rockhopper Copper is the story of the Tristan islanders, told by a direct descendant of the first settler there 200 years ago.

From That Flame

A Novelized Account of the Life, Death, and Legacy of Ahmed Shah Massoud

by MaryAnn T. Beverly

FROM THAT FLAME follows journalist Michelle Garrett as she interviews the legendary Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud – the “Lion of Panjshir” – in Afghanistan’s rugged Hindu Kush Mountains. Without warning, an attack by Taliban and al-Qaeda troops propels Michelle into a wartime adventure with Commander Massoud and his Mujahidin, one in which a friendship between the journalist and Massoud grows, giving her a unique perspective into the man the Wall Street Journal credited as being “the Afghan who ended the Cold War.”

Deeper Blue

The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt

by Robert Earl Hardy

This is the first serious biography of a man widely considered one of Texas'--and America's--greatest songwriters. Like Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, and Hank Williams, Townes Van Zandt was the embodiment of that mythic American figure, the troubled troubadour. A Deeper Blue traces Van Zandt's background as the scion of a prominent Texas family; his troubled early years and his transformation from promising pre-law student to wandering folk singer; his life on the road and the demons that pursued and were pursued by him; the women who loved and inspired him; and the brilliance and enduring beauty of his songs, which are explored in depth. The author draws on eight years' extensive research and interviews with Townes' family and closest friends and colleagues. He looks beyond the legend and paints a colorful portrait of a complex man who embraced the darkness of demons and myth as well as the light of deep compassion and humanity, all "for the sake of the song."

Spirit Mates - The New Time Relationship

by Anni Sennov, Carsten Sennov

Most people have heard of the terms ‘soul mate’ and ‘twin soul’. What most people may not yet know is that the concept of soul mate refers to a consciousness realm that is about to completely disappear from the Earth in order to be replaced by the purer and more powerful spirit energy. This is creating great changes in consciousness on Earth and it also means that we humans finally have the opportunity to join together with our spirit mate. In this book the co-authors and spirit mate couple Anni and Carsten Sennov describe with love and insight the different paths and circumstances that can lead you to your spirit mate.

Sorbonne Confidential

by Laurel Zuckerman

After losing her high tech job in Paris, Alice Wunderland dreams of a new, unemployment-proof career as English teacher and decides to dedicate a year to training for France's prestigious competitive exam; After all, she reasons, how hard can it be for an educated American to pass a test in English? She enrolls at the Sorbonne, but her Arizona English fails to impress. Even Shakespeare's English falls short. Only one English will do: Sorbonne English! Even while learning this new language, Alice vows to investigate: Why devise an English exam that few native speakers can pass ? Could this explain why French schoolchildren rank last for English skills in Europe? Is it true that Frenchness is a question of formatting? If so, can a foreigner even one with French nationality ever become truly French? As riots break out in France among the children of immigrants, Alice cannot help but wonder: could there be any connection between her bewildering experience and theirs? A hilarious, hair-raising insider's look at the esoteric world of French Education. (Harriet Welty Rochefort --author of French Toast).

The Coconut Comes in Due Season

by David Hurd

Once the only man, black or white, to be taken into Somalia by the Shifta and live to tell the tale. Author of Kidnap at Kiunga. Mombasa Malindi Kenya Africa. biography, entrepreneurship, trial and error. Hut, restaurant, sail, fishing. Malindi’s Robinson Crusoe. Lion, hippo, snake, velvet monkeys, wild animals. Indian Ocean, dhow, creek, island. Swahili culture, Giriama tribes. Palm wine, biriani, ugali. Foreword by Aamera Jiwaji.

The Unprincipled

The Unvarnished Truth About Running A Marketing Agency From Start-up To Sell-out

by David Croydon

Building a business from start-up to sell-out. When I started, or at least co-founded, a small sales promotion agency called Marketing Principles in Oxford over 20 years ago, I had no idea about the dramas that would ensue, or the mixture of fun and games and pain and heartache that could be telescoped into 12 short years. I needed to get a lot of this off my chest for cathartic and purely selfish reasons, but in doing so, and in my current role as small business advisor/coach/mentor/NEC, I realised along the way that the lessons learned might be instructive as well as just entertaining, which is where it originally started. The title is taken from the scurrilous in-house ‘newsletter’ our creative department took to compiling a couple of times a year, to debunk any of our employees who… oh, just anyone who worked for us (including me). We begin the journey in 1985. The key protagonists (at the beginning) all have gainful employment at another local agency, and on the face of it should be content with their lot. But then this thing called ambition comes knocking, and a 12-year roller coaster ride begins. A couple of reviewers have described the content as part business handbook, part memoir, part comic novel, which makes it difficult to categorise in publishing terms. Its style and tone of voice is what makes it unique, and it will appeal to small business owner/managers - from start-ups to established businesses - anywhere: they will recognise many of the issues and problems that we confronted along the way. So it's a personal account, but one that will resonate with anyone who has ever run a small business (or aspires to). Here's a video about the business that is the book's subject matter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_heofh0WE

Heart of a Lioness

Sacrifice, Courage and relentless love among the people of Uganda

by Irene Gleeson

Autobiography of Australian missionary to the children of Kitgum, northern Uganda. On 21 July 2013 Mama Irene passed away surrounded by her family in Sydney, Australia. Although there was much sadness with this news, Irene left a wonderful legacy, helping many thousands of children to receive food, education, healthcare, vocational training and spiritual nourishment. To the people of Kitgum, Uganda she was a hero who brought love to war-affected children, hope to the hopeless, and help to those who needed to rebuild their future. This is her story.

Postcards From a Rock and Roll Tour

by Gordy Marshall

Postcards From a Rock & Roll Tour is drummer Gordy Marshall's witty and wry take on life on the road touring with legendary rock band The Moody Blues. Part memoir, part travelogue, it's a candid, unexpected and often hilarious account of just what it's like to travel around the world playing to sell-out audiences, living out of a suitcase and spending days and days on a tour bus. If you thought being in a rock band was all sex, drugs and rock and roll, then think again. Postcards From a Rock & Roll Tour gives a rare insight into the reality of life as a travelling musician. Includes a foreword by the legendary Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues.

Lunch with Charlotte

by Leon Berger (author)

Every Friday for the last 25 years of her life, I had lunch with Charlotte and each week she told me more of her extraordinary story. To all appearances, she was a strong and dignified survivor, with old-world courtesies, a twinkling sense of humor, and a lilting Austrian syntax. Yet deep within, she'd been scarred by a profound personal trauma. Finally, just before she died at the age of 91, she chose to entrust me with this profound secret, and all at once I understood how it had affected her entire adult life. This is a story of friendship and strength, of courage and betrayal. It is an epic tale set against the backdrop of history.

Keep A Knockin’

by Charles Connor

This book is loaded with untold stories about drummer Charles Connor and his road into Rock 'n' Roll history. Playing with legends like Roy “Professor Longhair” Byrd, Smiley Lewis, Guitar Slim, Jack Dupree then Shirley and Lee was just his launch pad before touring everywhere with Little Richard and his band The Upsetters; with whom he created his signature drum intro in “Keep A Knockin.” He would go on even further to work with other music icons such as Lloyd Price, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, the Original Coasters, “Big” Joe Turner, “Champion” Jack Dupree, Larry Williams, Don Covay, “Papa” George Lightfoot, Larry Birdsong, and more. Foreword by Chad Smith, Drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers “Charles is the real thing. He’s lived the life. He was such a badass that by the time he was 15 he had a regular gig with the legendary Professor Longhair. He was smooth enough to get a smooch from none other than Jayne Mansfield on the set of The Girl Can’t Help It. He played with Little Richard, Sam Cooke, and James Brown! And of course he recorded the burning hot two minute and change masterpiece “Keep A Knockin” with Richard, including its fiery train-inspired intro that the great John Bonham copped to jump start Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll

10 Bits of Wisdom From The Shoe Shine Guy

A Transformed Life

by John Early

John Early worked in the corporate world for over 25 years. From the outside looking in, it seemed as though he had it all: the beautiful family, the magnificent home, the nice cars and great vacations, the fabulous income with the big 401K. He had what most would consider the American Dream. This was John’s idea of a dream, and this dream was all about him. Then suddenly, in an instant, like the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus, John had an encounter with God that transformed his life forever. John takes the reader through that transformation and the total impact it had on not only his life, but on the lives of those around him, especially those closest to him–his wife and children. He lays out the 10 key bits of wisdom that were instrumental in reconciling and rebuilding those broken relationships. His road on this journey is paved with: Knowing your purpose, Character, Attitude, Goals, Teamwork and Trust, Respect, Courage, Regrets, Reconciliation, and Grace. This book shows all of us, no matter our circumstances or how dark our days may seem, that God is brighter still. Let God start to transform your life.

Walk, Don't Run

A Rockin’ and Rollin’ Memoir

by Steven Jae Johnson

“An epic story of show-biz dreams.”—Mike Foley “It’s this generation’s American Graffiti — it’s Happy Days slammed into Resurrection Boulevard.”—Rick Marcelli “Johnson’s memory for the adventures we shared breaking into show business is seamless.”—Edward James Olmos “Like a front-row seat to the action when rock ‘n’ roll was still young and exciting!”—Jason Liller Kids, This Is Rock ‘N’ Roll: A Rockin’ and Rollin’ Memoir Made on the 1960s Sunset Strip in Hollywood Here is a story that is glamorous, inspiring, and gritty — a marvelous fusion of the ups, downs, and in-betweens of life and music and passion in 1960s Hollywood, California, the place where dreams are made and chased and, sometimes, die. When Steven “Rusty” Johnson, Eddie Olmos, and Joey Zagarino met in high school in 1962, the sky was the limit and rock ‘n’ roll stardom was a record deal away. These three friends forged a life-long friendship that would take them through triumph and tragedy, victory and defeat, success and failure — all in the pursuit of reaching the rock ‘n’ roll dream. This is not only the story of three dreamers, it is a true tale that shows that success — and life — is about taking it from the top, catching a good groove, and taking it one beat at a time. SOUNDTRACK INCLUDED WITH BOOK AND EBOOK! Walk, Don’t Run: A Rockin’ and Rollin’ Memoir is about passion and dreams — and music. That’s why this incredible book comes complete with an incredible soundtrack! When you get the book, you’ll also get the album that The Pacific Ocean featuring Edward James Olmos singin’ and screamin’ on vocals while Steven “Rusty” Johnson pounds away on the drums. All of it digitally remastered in high-quality mp3 format beautifully tagged and ready to be transferred to you favorite music device. It’s a riveting and exciting album that will take you back to a time when the music was loud, the cars were fast, and dreams were a record deal away. Track List of Album: 16 Tons • Road to Hell • My Shrink • Subterranean Homesick Blues • Track of My Tears • I Can’t Stand It • I Wanna Testify • 99 1⁄2 • Mickey’s Monkey (If you purchased the book or ebook elsewhere, please visit www.WalkDontRunTheBook.com to claim your soundtrack. You’re going to love it!)

Rembrandt

The Painter Thinking

by Ernst van de Wetering

Even during the artist’s lifetime, contemporary art lovers considered Rembrandt van Rijn to be an exceptional artist. In this revelatory sequel to the acclaimed Rembrandt: The Painter at Work, renowned Rembrandt authority Ernst van de Wetering investigates precisely why the artist, from a very early age, was praised by prominent connoisseurs. He argues that Rembrandt, from his very first endeavors in painting, embarked on a journey past all the foundations of the art of painting that, according to (up till now misinterpretated) contemporary written sources, were considered essential in the seventeenth century. Rembrandt never stopped searching for solutions to the pictorial problems that confronted him; this led over time to radical changes in course that can’t simply be attributed to stylistic evolution or natural development. In a quest as rigorous and novel as the artist’s, Van de Wetering reveals how Rembrandt became the best painter the world had ever seen. Gorgeously illustrated throughout, this groundbreaking exploration reconstructs Rembrandt’s closely guarded theories and methods, shedding new light both on the artist’s exceptional accomplishments and on the practice of painting in the Dutch Golden Age.