British Life

The British Secret Service has been cloaked in secrecy and shrouded in myth since it was created 100 years ago. Our understanding of what it is to be a spy has been largely defined by the fictional worlds of James Bond and John le Carre. MI6 provides a unique and unprecedented insight into this secret world and the reality that lies behind the fiction.

A short story companion to Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley, and Frankenstein 2035 by Kev Freeman. The journal written by Victor Frankenstein recording his final experiments leading to the recipe and creation of life. Experimentation and Findings of the Indulgence of Animal Electricity within the Stature of Man. I begin this journal with the anticipation that these records of my endeavors will sometime provide others with a foundation for further experimentation into the remarkability of the human spirit. Victor Frankenstein, September, 1792. Victor Frankenstein studied...

Foreword: Many accounts of World War 2 portray the political and strategic decisions that shaped the course of history from the perspective of politicians and commanders. There are very few accounts that answer the question that most of us want answered; 'what was it really like for those fighting on the ground in the front line?' In this graphic and detailed account Sapper Clive Kemp, with the help of Chris Stone of the BBC, describes the uncertainty, loneliness, camaraderie, chaos, tragedy, loyalty and humour of war. Clive Kemp signed up at South Hill in 1940, aged just 19, and was ...

When he died in 1820, King George III had presided over the longest reign by a monarch in England’s history and ruled the British Empire during one of its most turbulent and important periods, but he was remembered by the unappealing sobriquets "The Mad King” and ”The King Who Lost America".

At the age of 21, Edith Chaplin married one of the most eligible bachelors of the day, the eldest son of the sixth marquess of Londonderry. Her husband served in the Ulster cabinet and was air minister in the National Government of 1934-5. Edith founded the Women's Legion during the First World War and was also an early campaigner for women's suffrage. She created the renowned Mount Stewart Gardens in County Down that are now owned by the National Trust.

At eighteen, your life is full of of what-ifs and why-nots. You have everything to look forward to – unless you’ve got the plague. From a young Elizabeth Tudor, the orphan facing deadly intrigue at court, to a teenage Richard Burton, the rugby-obsessed son of a Welsh miner, historian Alice Loxton explores Britain’s past through the lives of eighteen figures at this crucial age.

We make countless decisions every day, from the mundane to the life-altering. But what if there was one simple question that could guide you toward a life of greater purpose, meaning, and fulfillment? In "Is It Worth It?: A Simple Question That Can Transform Your Life," you will discover the power of the IIWI question – a profound yet accessible tool that can revolutionize your decision-making and empower you to create a life that truly reflects your values. Through engaging anecdotes, practical exercises, and insightful reflections, this book will guide you on a journey of self-discovery...

Renowned biographer Andrew Morton takes an in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth has had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century. From leading a nation struggling to restore itself after the devastation of the second World War to navigating the divisive political landscape of the present day, Queen Elizabeth has been a reluctant but resolute queen. This is the story of a woman of unflagging self-discipline who will long be remembered as mother and grandmother to Great Britain.

Farewell Yellow Brick Road is a celebration of Elton John's record-breaking, globe-spanning farewell tour—from Allentown to Auckland, from Sydney to San Francisco. Featured concerts include Elton’s dazzling performances at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium in November 2022, the finale of which streamed live on Disney+. Fans will be treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse into every aspect of these spectacular shows, including Elton’s legendary touring wardrobe by Gucci, the set design, official photography, and more.

Learn and improve your English with the BBC. Collected here for the first time are 12 episodes from BBC Learning English's popular 6 Minute English series. Aimed at intermediate level learners of English, each programme examines a different topic which is discussed and explained to help learners increase their knowledge of the English language.

Unlock the secrets to thriving in the dynamic world of the UK workplace with Navigating the UK Workplace. This indispensable eBook serves as your comprehensive guide, unraveling the complexities and nuances of British professional life. Whether you are stepping into a British office for the first time or seeking to enhance your career, this book is your key to understanding and succeeding in the UK’s unique work environment. Dive into the historical evolution and the defining traits of UK work culture, while gaining keen insights into the subtle yet crucial British communication styles. ...

Welcome to the Yellow Feather Ranch! I am so glad you could find your way here! Set against the backdrop of the idyllic countryside of Dixon, England, "The Yellow Feather Ranch" invites you on a journey back to the summer of nineteen-sixty-nine. Mary Reilly, a sixty-one-year-old inheritor of a rundown farm turned holiday horse ranch, is determined to breathe new life into her family's legacy. With the help of her spirited children and grandchildren, Mary embarks on a daring venture to transform the Yellow Feather into a thriving destination. But as the Grand Opening approaches, Mary ...

Charles Dickens is not feeling the Christmas spirit. His newest book is an utter flop, the critics have turned against him, relatives near and far hound him for money. While his wife plans a lavish holiday party for their ever-expanding family and circle of friends, Dickens has visions of the poor house. But when his publishers try to blackmail him into writing a Christmas book to save them all from financial ruin, he refuses. And a serious bout of writer's block sets in.

A collection of short stories, including many photos, of the author's experiences building, buying, enjoying, fixing, showing, racing, and selling classic cars, while being active in his local car culture as a family man. There is an underlying thread, which follows the successful build of a built-from-scratch fake Lotus 7 "Locost", a project which took over six years to be roadworthy. The author infuses some humor into the writing, but maintains an appreciation and respect for American car culture.

Turning her back on her privileged life in Victorian England, Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), fired by her innate curiosity, journeyed the world and became fascinated with all things Arab. Traveling the length and breadth of the Arab region, armed with a love for its language and its people, she not only produced several enormously popular books based on her experiences but became instrumental to the British foreign office. When World War I erupted, and the British needed the loyalty of the Arab leaders, it was Gertrude Bell's work and connections that helped provided the brain for T. E. Lawrence's military brawn.

A captivating portrait of one of history’s most compelling figures—Winston Churchill—told with the usual wit and charm of Leonard Wibberley (author of The Mouse that Roared). Many books have been written about Winston Churchill at his finest hour as Britain’s leader during World War II, but few tell the stories of the his youth—as a rebellious schoolboy, as a daring young soldier who took part in cavalry charges and in hand-to-hand combat in India and Africa, and as a brazen foreign correspondent, covering wars in Sudan, Cuba, India, and South Africa. This entertaining biography ...

Dynamite and Davey: The Explosive Lives of the British Bulldogs is the triumphant but ultimately tragic story of Tom Billington and Davey Boy Smith. Cousins born just a couple of years apart in a small mining town near Wigan, Tom and Davey discovered the art of wrestling as schoolboys. Tom went on to become the Dynamite Kid, arguably the greatest and most pioneering wrestler in history, but his short temper and determination to reach the top of a sport dominated by naturally bigger men would be his undoing.

The tragic fate of the British airship R101—which went down in a spectacular fireball in 1930, killing more people than died in the Hindenburg disaster seven years later—has been largely forgotten. In His Majesty’s Airship, S.C. Gwynne resurrects it in vivid detail, telling the epic story of great ambition gone terribly wrong.

Ruth is a woman who believes in and despairs of the curative power of love. Her daughter, Eleanor, who is addicted to drugs, has just had a baby, Lily. Ruth adjusts herself in ways large and small to give to Eleanor what she thinks she may need—nourishment, distance, affection—but all her gifts fall short. After someone dies of an overdose in Eleanor's apartment, Ruth hands her daughter an envelope of cash and takes Lily home with her, and Lily, as she grows, proves a compensation for all of Ruth's past defeats and disappointment. Love without fear is a new feeling for her.

Commander Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard has just published a new book of poems and has taken a brief respite from publicity on the remote Larksoken headland on the Norfolk coast. A psychotic strangler of young women is at large in Norfolk, and getting nearer to Larksoken with every killing. And when Dalgliesh discovers the murdered body of the Acting Administrative Officer on the beach, he finds himself caught up in one of the most baffling murder cases of his career.