UK MAINLAND ORDERS RECEIVED BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 13TH 2013 WILL BE DESPATCHED IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS 33 WORDS


73566 MISS HARGREAVES by Frank Baker


When, on the spur of a moment, Norman Huntley and his friend Henry invent an 83 year old woman called Miss Hargreaves, they are inspired to post a letter to her new fictional friend. It was only meant to be a silly and harmless game, until she arrives on their doorstep! She is, to Norman’s utter disbelief, exactly as he had imagined her - eccentric


and endlessly astounding. He had not imagined however how much havoc an imaginary octogenarian could wreak on his sleepy Buckinghamshire town. How will Norman begin to explain to his family, friends and girlfriend where Miss Hargreaves came from when he hasn’t the faintest clue himself? And will his once ordinary and peaceful life ever be the same, and does he want it to be? Frank Baker was a musician, actor and novelist and the author of 15 novels. He died in 1983. This is a welcome reprint of 317pp in paperback of the 1940 original publication. $14 NOW £6


73567 MRS AMES by E. F. Benson


Reigning over a social merry-go- round of dinners and parties, Mrs Ames is the undisputed queen bee of Riseborough. That is until vivacious new villager Mrs Evans catches the eye of both Mrs Ames’s son and her husband. Not content with captivating the men in her life, that ‘wonderful creature’ Mrs Evans becomes not


just a rival to Mrs Ames’s marriage, but a rival to her village throne. When the whole of Riseborough is invited to Mrs Evans’s masked costume party, action must be taken. As the date looms, the irrepressible Mrs Ames resolves to seize the chance to win back her position and thus her man. E. F. Benson was the Archbishop of Canterbury and lived 1883-96 and is famous for his Mapp and Lucia series. 301pp in paperback facsimile of the 1912 original. $15 NOW £6


73561 LOVE’S SHADOW by Ada Leverson


Oscar Wilde called this author the ‘wittiest woman in the world’, and this is her first novel. It is the story of Edith and Bruce Ottley who live in a very new, very small, very white flat in Knightsbridge. On the surface they are like every other respectable couple in Edwardian England, and that is precisely


why Edith is beginning to feel a little bored. Excitement comes in the form of the dazzling and glamorous Hyacinth Verney, who doesn’t understand why Edith is married to one of the greatest bores in society. But then Hyacinth doesn’t really understand any of the courtships, jealousies and love affairs of their coterie, why the dashing Cecil Reeve insists on being so elusive, why her loyal friend Anne is so stubbornly content with being a spinster, and why she just can’t seem to take her mind off love. A classic comedy of manners exploring the world of married life, its mysteries and absurdities. First published in 1908 and here in 225 page paperback reprint. $14 NOW £6


73558 A KID FOR TWO FARTHINGS


by Wolf Mankowitz In the embattled working-class community of the 1950s East End London, there are plenty of people in need of good fortune. So when six year old Joe finds a unicorn, which most adults seem to think is a goat, at the market, he brings him home to grant some wishes. Mr Kandinsky, Joe’s downstairs


neighbour, wants a steam press for his shop. His assistant Shmule, a wrestler, just needs to buy ring for his girl, and what Joe and his mother wish for more than anything is to join Joe’s father in Africa. Maybe, just maybe, Joe’s unicorn can sprinkle enough star dust and luck on all his friends for their humble dreams to come true. By the famous writer on the Dr No and Casino Royale films, 128 page paperback reprint in fairly large print of the 1953 original. $14 NOW £6


73543 THE BRONTES


WENT TO WOOLWORTHS by Rachel Ferguson Meet the Carne sisters - Deirdre, Katrine and young Sheil - growing up together in 1930s London. The eldest Deirdre is a journalist, Katrine a fledgling actress and Sheil is still with her governess. Together they live a life unchecked by their mother in their bohemian town house.


Irrepressibly imaginative, the sisters cannot resist making up stories - from their talking nursery toys, Ironface the Doll and Dion Saffyn the pierrot, to the fulsomely imagined friendship with real high-court Judge Toddington, whom, since Mrs Carne’s jury duty, they have affectionately called Toddy. But when Deirdre meets Toddy’s real life wife at a charity bazaar, the sisters are forced to confront the subject of their imaginings, and possibly the end of their childhood innocence. First published in 1931 to widespread acclaim, here is 188 page paperback reprint. $14 NOW £6


72847 COMPLETE GUIDE TO GRAMMAR by Rosalind


Fergusson and Martin Manser Written by two of Britain’s leading lexicographers, the book deals with each area of grammar in a concise and readable manner, providing relevant examples. Each topic is explained in a self-contained two page section highlighting commonly made mistakes within each area. There is a full glossary of


grammatical terms and an index for easy use. Whenever you encounter in a book a grammatical word or phrase you do not understand, it is hoped you will find it in this list. From abstract noun and active voice, adjectival noun to present participle and prepositional verb, rhetorical question to uncountable noun, verbless clause to zero plural, find a page reference, quick description and word class instantly at your fingertips. Covers standard English, regional dialect, international varieties, speech and writing and more. 249pp in paperback.


£7.99 NOW £4 73511 THE STORY OF


ENGLISH by Joseph Piercy The English language is a hotchpotch, starting with the Celtic Ogham alphabet, followed by an injection of Latin. The Anglo-Saxon invasions created the language we know as Old English, which initially used a runic alphabet before adopting the Latin characters we know today. This was the age of great literary masterpieces, from


Beowulf to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. In the next millennium the Norman Conquest gradually transformed the English language by amalgamating it with French vocabulary, found in the great High Gothic literary works such as Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and Wycliffe’s Bible translation. The Great Vowel Shift of the 15th century was part of the stabilisation of the language which in Shakespeare’s time exploded with expressive power largely derived from its hybrid origins. William Tyndale was executed for translating the Bible into English, but his translation survived and was incorporated into the Authorised Version still used today. Tyndale originated expressions which are constantly used nowadays, such as “twinkling of an eye”, “powers that be” and “signs of the times”. Another great innovator was Milton in Paradise Lost, and in the following century Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary at last standardised spellings and meanings. The author brings the story into the present with Estuary and Digital English. 192pp, bibliography. £9.99 NOW £5


73646 ENGLISH: The Origins, History & Development of the Language


by Katharine Watson Firstly we are introduced to the 12 language families of the world, and the subdivisions of the Indo- European group, one of which is English. We learn about the Ancient languages being spoken in the civilisations that existed world-wide


during the British pre-Celtic period, linguistically of which we know nothing. Knowledge begins with the first Celts who arrived during the Bronze Age, and some of their language lives on in Welsh, Cornish and Breton. The Romans brought Latin and when the legions withdrew in 410 waves of invaders from Jutland (the Jutes), western Germany (Saxons) and southern Denmark (Angles) this was further added to, creating what we call Old English, or Anglo-Saxon. Viking raids began in 793 and continued up to 1050, when England was under Danish rule. The words they added to the language were those for everyday things such as food and English became a stable and much-written language. The invasion of the ruthless French-speaking Normans saw English become the language of serfs but, following the loss of Normandy, the descendants of the invaders decided to become “English” and began to take more of an interest in the native language. Little by little English re- established itself. English is continually evolving, with the Empire importing words from across the world. Many literary examples, glossary of Anglo-Saxon words and more. 56 pages, 23 x 17cm. ONLY £4


73539 AMBROSE BIERCE’S


WRITE IT RIGHT by Jan Freeman


The Celebrated Cynic’s Language Peeves Deciphered, Appraised, and Annotated for 21st Century Readers. In 1909, Ambrose Bierce published several hundred of his pet peeves in a book called: Write It Right: A Little Blacklist of Literary Faults. To mark the 100th anniversary of its publication, an


editor and life-long usage geek has investigated where Bierce’s rules and taboos originated, how they have weathered the century since the blacklist and what lies ahead. In a hundred years, will our language quibbles seem as odd to future generations as Bierce’s do to us today? From the evidence offered here, it looks like a very good bet. His list includes some distinctions that are familiar: the ‘which or that’ rule, ‘less versus fewer’ ‘lie and lay’ - which the Americans use differently from us, anyway. But some of the phrases to which he violently objects may sound a little strange to our ears. To use ‘dirt’ instead of ‘earth’ he complains is a ‘most disagreeable Americanism’ and we should say ‘a coating of paint, not a coat’. ‘To demean’ does not at all mean ‘belittle’ but ‘to comport oneself’ and, when we talk of


‘jeopardizing our chances’ what we really need to use is ‘jeopardy our chances!’ As for ‘donating money to charity’ that is just absolutely pretentious. Presumably, we should ‘give’ money. Readers may be interested to know that Bierce once defined a cynic as ‘a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be’ - enough said! 229 pages. £20 NOW £8


73551 FARNSWORTH’S CLASSICAL ENGLISH RHETORIC


by Ward Farnsworth In an indispensable reference tool, as well as a rewarding source of instruction and pleasure that will appeal to all lovers of the English language everywhere, the author - with impeccable clarity and in unprecedented detail - organises, illustrates and analyses the most


valuable rhetorical devices that can be used to persuade, influence or otherwise affect an audience. Rhetoric, in this sense, is among the most ancient of academic disciplines, and we all use it every day - either expertly or otherwise. The book amounts to a tutorial on eloquence using, as examples, masters of the language such as Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine who could turn unassuming words into phrases that were convincing, effective and memorably beautiful. Here are the secrets of their talent - practical ways of applying, to the composition of a single sentence or a complete paragraph, old and powerful principles such as repetition and variety, suspense and relief, concealment and surprise, the creation of expectations and then the satisfaction or frustration of them. Soon you too will be producing phrases that linger for ever in the minds of your captive audiences. Sheer alchemy! 253 pages. £24.95 NOW £10


71955 THE INDIE AUTHOR GUIDE: Self- Publishing Strategies Anyone Can Use by April Hamilton


!


Acting as your own publisher can be daunting. This is why so many authors choose e-books as their first venture into self-publishing. Promoting your book need not be costly. Here you will find everything you need to know to: explore your self-publishing options, promote your work, format your book for POD (Print On Demand), publish through a POD print service provider, make the transition from indie to mainstream publishing and much, much more. 293 paperback pages illustrated in b/w with worksheets and an HTML Primer to help you build your own website. £19.99 NOW £4.50


72812 CROSSWORDS: MENSA


by Philip Carter and Ken Russell


Solutions are given at the back for those who are driving themselves crazy! The puzzles in this MENSA, the High IQ Society, collection will stretch your verbal comprehension skills and your general knowledge to the limit. Disturbed teas offer comfort (4). It is hard for the


unconverted to grasp why such cryptic messages exercise a hold over so many people. Get hooked with us. 224 page paperback with one puzzle per page. Please note contents same as 72813. £5.99 NOW £2.50


72922 QUOTABLE DICKENS by Max Maurice


‘When I was left in this way, I used to sit, think, think, thinking, till I felt as lonesome as a kitten in a wash- house copper with the lid on...’ - Sketches by Boz. Thoughts on human nature, filthy lucre, darker musings, philosophical thoughts and wicked wit: ‘Mr Chadband is a large yellow man with a fat smile and a


general appearance of having a good deal of train oil in his system.’ - Bleak House. Here is an old curiosity shop of a book that will delight all readers. Pocket sized 160pp.


£5.99 NOW £2.50 72516 BITEBACK DICTIONARY OF


HUMOROUS POLITICAL QUOTATIONS by Fred Metcalf


Bankers to bin Laden, bumper stickers to Biden, Churchill’s gravitas and a liberal dose of sex, drugs and Frank Zappa, Metcalf has produced a hearty panoply of memorable political rhetoric to cover any occasion. Churchill said ‘We are all worms, but I do believe that I am a glow-worm.’ ‘The House of Lords is a model of how to care for the elderly’ - Frank Field, Labour MP 1981. ‘The House of Lords is like a glass of champagne that has stood for five days.’ - Clement Attlee. From agriculture, aid, America and Americanisms, the army, communism, Marxism, revolution, sport to Woodrow Wilson. 342pp in paperback. £9.99 NOW £3.50


73201 IMMORTAL LAST WORDS: History’s Most Memorable Dying Remarks, Deathbed Declarations and Final Farewells by Terry Breverton


The dying words of great statesmen, poets, scientists, novelists and warriors are often cited to capture the spirit of the times or inspire great works and deeds. The 370 entries in this book represent a wide variety of people. Arranged in chronological order, each dying remark is accompanied by succinct contextual info about the person concerned, and a brief explanation of the circumstances that gave rise to the quotation. Our favourites are: ‘Dear me, I believe I am becoming a god’. ‘They couldn’t hit an elephant at that distance’, and ‘I told you I was ill’. 383 pages, photos. £9.99 NOW £4


73208 WORDS OF WISDOM: Philosophy’s Most Important Quotations and Their Meanings


by Gareth Southwell


You will find in this compelling compilation not just the stories behind the likes of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes and Wittgenstein, but also scientists, theologians, psychologists, anthropologists and writers of all sorts. Find out who said what, and in which circumstances, so that you can then ponder on it and wonder whether it was a fair statement. 368 pages, photos. £9.99 NOW £4


70646 WICKED WIT OF WINSTON CHURCHILL


by Dominique Enright Churchill's most famous speeches and sayings have passed into history and everyday language, but many of his aphorisms, puns, bons mots and jokes are not public property. Anyone who describes General de Gaulle as looking 'like a female llama who has just been surprised in her bath' is all right by


us, and his definition of golf takes the biscuit: '... a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill designed for the purpose'. Hundreds of his most humorous and wickedest quips. 160 pages, illus. £9.99 NOW £4


72698 90 DAYS TO YOUR NOVEL by Sarah Domet


If you can commit to the schedule and techniques in the book and invest two or three hours a day for 12 weeks, an outline will appear, characters will take shape, a plot will emerge and scenes will come together to form a story worth reading. Instructions distil the elements of the novel from crafting your outline to developing intriguing characters, motivating insights about writing and a schedule to keep you in the writing zone, focussed and creative. 282pp in large paperback. £16.99 NOW £4


Greetings


from Bibliophile! A selection of die cut greetings cards, blank for your own message.


73590 GINGER CAT BLANK DIE CUT GREETINGS CARD


With large white envelope, the lovely big fluffy ginger cat has been cut out from a square greeting card into his actual body shape and inside the card is blank for your own message. Bargain price. ONLY £1.50


73586 SUIT OF ARMOUR BLANK DIE CUT GREETINGS CARD


With large white envelope, the Italian suit of armour design is an actual cut out of a rather splendid knight in shining armour complete with leather boots, gauntlet and helmet. This shaped card is blank inside for your own message. ONLY £1.50


73588 BUNCH OF DAFFODILS BLANK DIE CUT GREETINGS CARD


With large white envelope, the blank note card for any message is actually in the shape of a bunch of daffodils, large at the top with huge bow and long green stems and blank for your own message. ONLY £1.50


73587 ASPIRIN MIGRAINE STRENGTH


BLANK DIE CUT GREETINGS CARD Presumably to be used for get well messages and for people feeling a little under the weather, this huge aspirin bottle has been cut out from the greetings card to the actual shape and is blank for your own message. It says Paper House Aspirin Pain Reliever Migraine Strength 250 Tablets on the design and is blank inside. With large white envelope. $2.95 NOW £1.50


73589 MODEL STEAM TRAIN 901 BLANK DIE CUT GREETINGS CARD


With large white envelope, the greetings card is a cut out of an old fashioned model steam train engine, glossy and clean, and with the number 901 in gold. Blank for your own message. Bargain price. ONLY £1.50


73591 SPAD XIII BI-PLANE BLANK DIE CUT GREETINGS CARD by Smithsonian Institution


With a large white envelope, the greeting card itself is blank inside but is an actual cut out shape of an American Smith IV bi-plane SPAD XIII, blank inside for your own messages, probably to a gentleman with this design. ONLY £1.50


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