New Books

In a social work career spanning 40 years, Julia Ross has seen it all and at every level, witnessing, and sometimes being at the centre, of key events and policy changes. Call the Social recounts that journey and the real-life stories and people she has met along the way that make social work such a rich, complex and unique profession. 

Call the Social is at once a timely reminder of the need for reform and also testimony to the transformational power of social work – one that changes both the people it supports and those who practise it. Written with a novelist’s flair, Call the Social is not your average book about social work. Often moving, always reflective, humane and insightful, it will appeal to both the seasoned practitioner and those who are new to the profession.

192 page book is available for pre-order. 

ISBN: 0907633234

Available from the Online Store:

Kindle as well as Ebook versions

£6.99

‘I hope the book will tell readers something about the Second World War—and perhaps all wars—that is not to be found in other accounts of military life. I hope, too, that it might throw a little light on the nature of human courage and its lack, and the terrible uses to which the young are put when the last argument of kings pursues its loud and murderous course.’ From  the author’s Preface. First published by Robson Books and launched at the Imperial War Museum some thirty years ago amidst considerable controversy, and long out of print, this ‘classic war memoir’ (TLS) is now republished to tie in with Vernon Scannell’s centenary. Widely considered to be one of the finest poets of the  Second War, in this powerful prose book Scannell adopted a novelist’s technique to skilfully recount a story that is both gripping and true, harrowing at times but also with touches of humour that balance the horrors he witnessed and which ultimately led him to desert ‘in a forward area in North Africa’ where he was serving with the Gordon Highlanders. Picked up by the military police, and court martialed, Scannell was sent to one of the harshest penal institutions, a military prison in Alexandria. Released on a suspended sentence he subsequently took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy and was later wounded, ending up in a military hospital near Warrington, where he experienced a romantic interlude of both lyric and comic poignancy. This true story, which often reads like a thriller, is exciting, horrifying at times, and moving, and records an important aspect of war about which little has been previously written and rarely something of the power and originality of Argument of Kings. It is, to quote The Guardian, ‘the voice of the ranks’. The reissue is an important literary event, and coincides with the publication by Smokestack Books of Final Performance: The Collected Later Poems of Vernon Scannell. Scannell published over 170 poems in his final fourteen years. His incisiveness, humanity and dry wit, allied with a formidable mastery of poetic technique, never deserted him. Scannell was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 1960 and granted a Civil List pension in recognition of his services to literature in 1981. Professor John Carey will chair a Vernon Scannell centenary event at the Oxford Literary Festival on Friday April 1.

Available from the Online Store: 

Kindle as well as Ebook versions £6.99.

This book is the essential guide to the toppings you can put on your toast to make it even tastier. It also provides many splendid crumbs about the history of toast including a picture of an ancient Egyptian holding a piece of toast.The contributors who have shared their love of toast include Dame Maureen Lipman, Joanna Lumley, Jane Asher and Jeremy Robson.Heidi Nathan has been eating toast for many years. She works for the charity Spread a Smile who are receiving a share of the royalties.  The book is fun, appetising and practical. It shows how you make toppings – and you don’t have to be a Master Chef wannabee to achieve top toasts with top toppings – sweet and savoury. Every kitchen should have it.

£13.99

Available from the Online Store:

Ebook version

£8.99

We are also publishing a funny but wise report on online dating.

Everybody’s Doing It by Abigail Collins, a brilliant stand up performer whose heroine describes her adventures in search of true love – and finds herself saddled with a date with bad breath, another one whose whopper gets stuck in his zip – and her mum who is also on the internet looking for adult adventures. Love not in a cold climate but in today’s climate.   

Available from the Online Store:  

Kindle as well as Epub versions £6.99

Flaming June is known as the Mona Lisa of the Southern Hemisphere. Priceless today, this masterpiece by Frederic Leighton was a much-admired work in the late 19th century, as it is now. The model was Dorothy Dene who became the most famous model in Britain, a Victorian stunner. Songs were written about her, her photographs hung in shop windows and tobacco companies used her image to promote their cigarettes. She even inspired a Barbie like doll. Dorothy also acted rather successfully. Reviewers spoke of her “magnificent performances” and her “dramatic force and fire”.This is an entertaining and important book. 

£16.99

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£8.99

We also have more serious offerings including a history of Britain’s famous asylum for the criminally insane written by its ex medical director.

For 17 years Harvey Gordon was a psychiatrist at the hospital and became is director of medical services. He spent eight years researching the history of the hospital, how it treated its patients and the strange, sometimes terrifying, men and women who were admitted there.

Gordon has written a revealing and accessible book that will be essential for psychiatrists, health professionals, criminologists, historians, and readers interested in those subjects.

Price: Hardback special offer £20

Available from the Online Store:

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£9.99

Flora Chapman is in her fifties when her husband dies in a bizarre ballooning accident. Seizing upon her new found freedom, she decides to finish the history of their village that Edward had begun. A reference to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife who he rejected for being ugly – he called a Flanders mare - captures her imagination as she begins to delve deeper into the life of this neglected figure.

Meanwhile, in the Louvre, Holbein’s portrait of Anne of Cleves senses the tug of a connection and she begins to tell the story of the injustices she suffered and just how she survived her marriage.

‘There’s so much to be treasured in this book ... you want to read whole paragraphs aloud to anyone who’ll listen. And you don’t want it to end.’– The Independent‘

A brilliantly funny, warm, intelligent read.’ – The Times

‘In a delightful interweaving of two histories, Mavis Cheek produces an in depth study of love, life and self-preservation with understanding and humour.’ – Historical Novel Society

‘If you want to know the truth about Anne of Cleves, read this book.’ – Alison Weir, historian and novelist

£12.99

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£6.99

The 17th century writer La Rochefoucauld, who wrote some of the sharpest maxims ever about love, would have been intrigued by Aunt Margaret because she defies the conventions. After she waves goodbye to the niece she has brought up, Aunt Margaret gets an unexpected legacy. She decides to kick up her heels and have some fun and places an advert – ‘Woman, 39, seeks lover for one year – April to April, no expectations.’ It disturbs old friends and lovers who think it’ll end in tears. Aunt Margaret also has to cope with their jealousies.

In the end does she, as expected, have expectations?

Funny, and sharp about love – and the nature of kisses.

In 1988, Mavis Cheek’s novel Pause Between Acts won the  She/John Menzies First Novel Prize. Since then she has published fifteen novels.

Mavis Cheek has served on both PEN, Writers in Prison and The Society of  Authors committees and was for three years a judge of the McKitterick Prize for Fiction.

REVIEWS:

‘Cheek debates the merits of love with gusto, deploying a wit which often has the slice of a scalpel.’ A funny, insightful, touching book’ – The Times

‘A devilishly funny social satirist ... it is impossible not to be enthralled’ – Daily Mail

‘A very agreeable confection, light in texture but laced with morsels of richness’ – Sunday Times

£12.99

Available from the Online Store:

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£6.99

After her husband leaves for an Irish siren, Joan decides living alone will do – and not just for a while. Men are too much trouble. Love is too much trouble. A warm soak listening to Sibelius will do.

A woman living alone is too much trouble, however, Joan’s parents decide. Singlehood is not normal. Their daughter fakes up a lesbian relationship which causes outrage. She fends off a colleague from work. She fends off her ex-husband who seems to think one can un-divorce, if the ex-husband doesn’t want to be ex any more.

Then Joan meets Finbar Flynn, actor, star and gorgeous. She sets out to do something she has never done before as a well-bred woman – seduce a man.

A book of insights and a fine comedy of romantic expectations. Pause Between Acts won the She/John Menzies First Novel award. Since then she has published fifteen novels.

Mavis Cheek has served on both PEN, Writers in Prison and The Society of Authors committees and was for three years a judge of the McKitterick Prize for Fiction.

REVIEWS:

‘So breezy and accomplished’ – Publishers Weekly

‘A light and likeable romantic comedy from England; perfect for readers who want literate, elegant fluff that won’t insult their intelligence’ – Kirkus Reviews

‘A very agreeable confection, light in texture but laced with morsels

£12.99

Available from the Online Store:

Kindle as well as Ebook versions

£6.99

Three Mavis Cheek books for a discounted price.

£18.00

Available from the Online Store:

Kindle as well as Ebook versions

£15.00 for all three

Borges  wrote a famous book about imaginary Beings. Astonishingly no one has written of imaginary meetings between historical icons. If Queen  Victoria had met Coco Chanel what would they have said? This book  imagines a number of meetings between some iconic characters; so in its  pages John F. Kennedy takes Grace Kelly to dinner, P.G. Wodehouse and  Samuel Beckett discuss cricket – both were passionate about the game – Casanova discusses seduction with Marilyn Monroe – both gave every  impression of being passionate but really they were passionately needy. Mrs Thatcher meets Trotsky. He was killed with an ice pick. She was destroyed too. 

And  Winston Churchill meets Leonardo Da Vinci who finds it remarkable that it took 400 years for human beings to learn to fly since he had given  them pretty good designs, 

A book that takes you into the if only's as never before.

£5.99

Richard Asher was one of the most famous general physicians of his day. In these essays he examines the dangers of too much bed rest, the politics of medicine and Munchausen’s disease.

Originally two very good books and a few other articles, this book contains a lot of Richard Asher's dry wit and good sense. The articles have been re-edited and "medical" words explained (sotto voce) for those non-medical readers for whom, also, this book was republished. The medical world lost a wonderful polymath and wise teacher when Dr Asher resigned and should have been ashamed of itself! I think that every medical student or junior doctor (and many a senior) should read this, they will find it just as relevant now as it was 50 and more years ago!

£12.99

Available from the Online Store:

Kindle as well as Ebook versions

£5.99

As his son I am proud that Pa’s Diary of a Nobody has been well received since it was first published in 1892.

“The funniest book in the world” – Evelyn Waugh

And more recent critics have been as fulsome:

“There's a universality about Pooter that touches everybody ... fits into the tradition of absurd humour that the British do well, which started with Jonathan Swift and runs through Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear to Monty Python” – Jasper Fforde, Time Out

“The funniest book about a certain type of Englishness ... there is a whole line of these comic characters like Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army, or Basil Fawlty” – Hugh Bonneville, The Times

In his father’s The Diary of a Nobody, Lupin is pictured often as lazy, inclined to drink too much and a failure as he cannot “get a berth” – which meant a proper steady job. “I loved Pa and my wonderful Ma but I felt, before I died, that I should give my side of the story,” Lupin Pooter explained. His side of the story reveals how he discovered psychology, which explained why his father was desperate for his son to be ultra respectable. The trivial – Lupin wearing the wrong kind of clothes – and the serious – Lupin often storming out in a rage – both disturbed his father. “I knew he loved me but like many English men he did not find it easy to express his feelings,” Lupin said. 

Lupin also admits his romantic and not so romantic adventures, including his fiancée worrying intimacies will mess her hair and his visits to Madame Romanova's Palace of Russian Beauties, where all the girls came from Poplar.

This is a touching and funny addition to one of the classics of English humour. 

£10.99

Lynford who worked in top banks for years explains how banks work – and how customers (that is you and me) can make them work for you.It is a revealing and entertaining account of what goes on behind the scenes, what makes bank managers (if you are lucky enough to speak to something other than a telephone tick boxer) and how to apply for loans. Amusing and authoritative.

£9.99