English Biography

Scotland's beloved storyteller, George MacDonald, 19th-century Scottish novelist and poet, was reintroduced to 20th century Christians by C. S. Lewis, whose reading of MacDonald's Phantastes triggered his own spiritual awakening and conversion. Other renowned writers have voiced similar acknowledgements. G. K. Chesterton said of MacDonald, "If we test the matter of originality of attitude, George MacDonald was one of the three or four greatest men of the 19th century."

In his probing and revelatory biography of one of the great prose stylists of the 20th century, acclaimed biographer Michael Shelden breaks new ground in the evocation of George Orwell’s personal life and in our understanding of his art. Based on original interviews, previously undiscovered letters and documents, and astute literary detective work, Orwell is the major biography of one of the great yet elusive literary figures of our time. Shelden reveals the author of 1984 as a lively, engaging literary personality.

In an intimate portrait penned by the close friend Terry chose to write his memoir, Seriously Silly is the story of one our greatest comedy legends. Taking in his major successes as well as his personal battles, it is the whole story, from his start as a war baby in the picturesque coastal town of Colwyn Bay, to meeting his lifelong friend Michael Palin at Oxford and the journey that took him on a convoluted pathway through revue sketches, anarchic children's shows, Monty Python, TV presenting and beyond.

Neil Innes was an English musician and comedian. He rose to prominence as the creative genius behind Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and went on to collaborate with Monty Python and co-created the Beatles parody band the Rutles. Yvonne met Neil in the 1960s and the couple married in 1966. They had three sons and were together for over fifty years until Neil's death in 2019.

Drawing inspiration from the greatest business titans and entrepreneurs of the 19th and 20th centuries, this eye-opening book dives into the humble origins and incredible achievements of Ford, Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller, unveiling the tried-and-tested lessons that helped them become some of the richest men in the world. Artfully blending detailed facts and engaging prose with profound insights into these four business titans and their philanthropy, this collection offers you an enlightening look into the entrepreneurs of old America.

America in the 1920s was a place of drama, tension and hedonism. It glittered and seduced: jazz, flappers, the birth of Hollywood, and a glamorous gangster- led crime scene flourishing under prohibition. But it was also punctuated by momentous events such as the political show trials and the huge Ku Klux Klan march. But it also produced a splendid array of writers, musicians and film stars, from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Bessie Smith and Charlie Chaplin.

Everyone knows who Christopher Columbus is, and everyone knows what he discovered and what he is famous for. Who, really, is this man, so shrouded in mystery? Columbus would tell you he was inspired by God to make his voyages, and it takes a brave soul indeed to sail out into the ocean blue where no one has gone before. In this audiobook, you'll find out all about this most remarkable of men. You will uncover why he thought it so important to never give up on his dream.

Discover the lives and legacies of some of history’s most famous conquerors. History has no shortage of great kings and military leaders, but few rose to the power and prominence of the men in this biography bundle. Their legacies are far-reaching, forming entire empires and drastically altering the path of human civilization. Now, this biography examines the lives of three of the world’s most famous conquerors.

Step into the shoes of luminaries such as Phil Knight, the visionary behind Nike; Jeff Bezos, the trailblazer who revolutionized e-commerce with Amazon; Elon Musk, the indomitable force behind Tesla; Bernie Marcus, the mastermind who shaped Home Depot; Warren Buffett, the revered investment guru; Charlie Munger, the sage of finance; Kirk Kirkorian, the real estate tycoon; Richard Branson, the bold entrepreneur, and countless others. Each billionaire's unique journey is analyzed and dissected to uncover the underlying principles that catapulted them to astronomical heights of success.

We're all living in the Taylor Swift Era. Since her 2006 debut album, she’s sold more than 200 million records, sold out countless arenas, and become one of the most influential artists of her generation. Her Eras Tour is on track to gross more than $1 billion by the time it concludes in December 2024, and her most recent studio album hit No. 1 in more than 25 countries. In this revealing and entertaining biography, author and music journalist Caroline Sullivan charts Taylor’s journey.

Thoughts Out of Season is a collection of paramount importance consisting of four notable essays written between 1873 and 1876.

Roger Federer is not only one of the greatest tennis players ever to pick up a racket—if not the greatest—but he is one of the global icons of our time. Characterized by a mixture of passion and calmness, a fierce competitor with a regal bearing, he is both an athlete and an ambassador, a street fighter and a statesman.

In this mini biography you are brought along on a journey through Tom Waits studio albums, from his debut in the 1970s up to the present day. The author describes each albums’ characteristics, with a few chosen songs as examples, and follows Waits’ development as a musician and artist in an entertaining way. Critiques of the times are also given some space. This is a perfect introduction to this artist’s unique musical expression and exciting career.

With silence increasingly becoming a stranger to us, one man set out to become its intimate: Pablo d'Ors, a Catholic priest whose life was changed by Zen meditation. With disarming honesty and directness, as well as a striking clarity of language, d'Ors shares his struggles as a beginning meditator: the tedium, restlessness, and distraction. But, persevering, the author discovers not only a deep peace and understanding of his true nature, but also that silence, rather than being a retreat from life, offers us an intense engagement with life just as it is.

As if recovering from a raucous dream of the 1960s, Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek arrived on 1970s American radio with a sound that echoed disenchanted hearts of young people everywhere. The three American boys had named their band after a country they'd watched and dreamt of from their London childhood Air Force base homes. What was this country? This new band? Celebrating the band's 50th anniversary, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell share stories of growing up, growing together, and growing older.

Charles Dickens was a literary giant, second only to Shakespeare in the ranks of England's greatest writers. This extensive biographical collection looks at the man, his novels and his legacy to provide an all-round portrait of the much-loved author.

The Virginia Woolf Complete Collection brings together all of her most iconic works, including all 9 of her published novels, a selection of her best short stories, as well as some of her most influential non-fiction writing. From the enduring importance of her ideas of female independence in A Room of One's Own to the modern masterpieces of Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse, alongside many more of her novels, criticism, and essays, this collection takes you across the broad breadth of Woolf's ever-inventive and timeless writings.

In this engaging and deeply informed audiobook, Stephen Knight looks at the different manifestations of Robin Hood at different times and places in a mythic biography with a thematic structure. The best way to get at the essence of the Robin Hood myth, Knight believes, is in terms not of chronological and generic progression but of the purposes served by heroes.

Mary Stuart, Queen Elizabeth I of England's adversary and Queen of Scots: Life and work in a short biography! Everything you need to know, brief and concise. Infotainment, education and entertainment at its best!

There are many versions of Queen Elizabeth I of England; the beautiful young Tudor Queen courted by all the princes of Europe; a fearless virgin warrior in white velvet, rousing her troops on the battlefield; an irascible old woman in a powdered wig, surrounded by fawning young men. A formidable woman, Elizabeth I ruled alone at a time when Europe was a hotbed of conflict, dominated by empire-seeking Kings with opposing religious beliefs.