After his victory at the Presidential elections in May 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy quickly became both deeply controversial and intriguing. It was clear from the start that his rule was to be the most autocratic since Charles de Gaulle's; Prime Minister, government and parliament found themselves eclipsed by the ever-present, hyperactive President who sought to take many decisions on his own and to implement changes in numerous different domains, but with no obvious overall plan. His sweeping reform programme was inspired by a perceived need for rupture with the past, and bringing former Socialists into government seemed to confirm his insistence on the validity of some left-leaning points of reference as well as those on the right. To many, Sarkozy was both dangerous and unfathomable, like Napoleon. In this short book the author argues that the Sarkozy phenomenon is best explained by principal reference to the notion of Bonapartism, which of course has a long history in French politics. Bonapartism is an exceptional form of political rule which results from an unstable situation and where an authoritarian leader steps in and appeals to the electorate in populist fashion with promises of modernization and progress. But Sarkozy's authoritarian, populist rule is also influenced by the extreme right as well as by more conventional centre-right politics in which Sarkozy worked for many years. Yet Sarkozy is less out of step with trends in other liberal democratic states than it might seem; in other highly industrialized countries also a long-term decline of interest in politics has combined with the emergence of highly personalized, media-driven political leadership. The book is written in a clear, accessible way which assumes little prior acquaintance with French politics or history. Those with little knowledge of French politics will find it rewarding, as will as readers with greater familiarity with the field.

Democracy is killing the West. That is the stunning conclusion of this book that tears apart the consensus underpinning modern political assumptions.Democracy is held to solve one of the oldest puzzles of human social life: how do we ensure that our rulers have a legitimate mandate and rule in the interests of the whole community? We are supposedly now guided by institutions whose democratic mandate ensures that they will govern in a benign manner in the interests of all.Democracy & the Fall of the West challenges that assumption by drawing on an alternative theory about the nature of modern democracy and its impact on Western society. It argues that the secret of the West's success is not Democracy, but Liberalism.Craig Smith and Tom Miers demonstrate that, since the introduction of democracy, the power of the state has re-grown at the expense of the liberty of the individual. Far from underpinning our freedoms, Democracy is in fact undermining them. It has unshackled the coercive power of the state, and will result in the inevitable decline of the West as we know it.

Le-am zis ?i la vecinii ??tia, la americansky: ?Pune?i, m?, ni?te cuiburi de ro?ii, un r?nd-dou? de praz, ceva, ni?te cartofi, c? ?ine?i ditamai curtea goal?, de cre?te iarba de poman? ?i mai ?i strica?i apa pe ea aiurea!“. Noooo, ziceau ei, c? florile s?nt frumoase, c? aici nu s?ntem la ferm?, c? de ce nu m? duc eu ?napoi ?n Rom?nia dac? mi-e a?a dor de munca c?mpului ?i alte prostii din astea. ?i ?n definitiv pot s? m? reclame c?t vor pentru c? am b?tut pari pe hotarul dintre mine ?i ei ?i am ?ngr?dit cu s?rm?, dar am f?cut-o doar ca s?-mi ap?r proprietatea, ?i recoltele, ?i neamul. P?i, n-ai cu cine, dom’le, ni?te urbani, d?-i dracu’!

The Bard meets the Backstreet Boys in Pop Sonnets, a collection of 100 classic pop songs reimagined as Shakespearean sonnets. All of your favorite artists are represented in these pages--from Bon Jovi and Green Day to Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, and beyond. Already a smash sensation on the Internet--the Tumblr page has 50,000+ followers--Pop Sonnets has been featured by the A.V. Club, BuzzFeed, and Vanity Fair, among many others. More than half of these pop sonnets are exclusive to this collection and have never been published in any form.

Controversial and brilliant, Report on Probability A is a claustrophobic and terrifying novel that examines the politics of surveillance and ownership. The Brian Aldiss collection includes over 50 books and spans the author’s entire career, from his debut in 1955 to his more recent work. Mr and Mrs Mary live a normal life in every way, except one. All day, every day, they are being watched by three men. Once employed by the Marys, the men now spend their time observing the couple’s every move. But Mrs Mary has her gun, and she’s been watching too.

να σγχρονο βιβλο, κοινωνικοπολιτικο και φιλοσοφικο περιεχομνου, που πινει λε τι κοινωνικοπολιτικ εκφνσει μια σγχρονη κοινωνα. Πω ταν, πω εναι και πω θα πρεπε να εναι η ανθρπινη κοινωνα; Τι σημανουν οι κοινωνικοπολιτικο ροι: Κοινωνα, κυβρνηση, πολτη, βουλευτ, δημοκρατα κτλ. Πω λειτουργον και πω θα πρεπε να λειτουργον; Υπρχει διαφθορ και διολσθηση και ποια εναι αυτ; Υπρχει πραγματικ ελευθερα; Ο πολτη λειτουργε αληθιν; Που βαδζουμε και τι ελπζουμε με τα σημεριν κοινωνικοπολιτικ συστματα; Αυτ και λλα πολλ αναφρονται στο παρν βιβλο, αναλοντα με σειρ και αναφροντα περιληπτικ ολκληρη την πορεα του ανθρπου, αν κοινωνικοπολιτικ κφανση, απ την κοινωνικοποησ του μχρι σμερα. Μσα στο βιβλο αυτ σγουρα ο αναγνστη θα βρει αρκετ σκψει δικ του. Η φιλοδοξα εναι να ενισχυθον και να ενεργοποιηθον. λλε πλι μπορε να εναι μερικ ολικ διαφοροποιημνε. Αυτ θα προκαλσουν συγκρσει, προβληματισμο σκψει και επαναπροσδιορισμ των παγιομνων σκψεν του. Πντω λε, ακολουθντα διαφορετικ δια-δρομ, θα τενουν στον προβληματισμ και στην αναζτηση μια ιδανικτερη κοινωνα. Σγουρα θα συναντσει ο αναγνστη πρα πολλ που συμβανουν στη σγχρονη διεθν κοινωνα και λλα που συνβαιναν παλιτερα. Σε λα αυτ καλεται ο αναγνστη να προβληματιστε και να δσει απαντσει, επιλγοντα το ορθτερο κατ’ αυτν. Σε μια εποχ λοιπν πολιτικ αδιαφορα, ισοπδωση, ωχαδερφισμο, απολιτικ συμπεριφορ απ τη συντριπτικ πλειοψηφα των πολιτν και πολιτικ αλαζονεα απ του ‘πολιτικο’, το βιβλο τοτο φιλοδοξε να οδηγσειστην - σο το δυνατν περισστερο - πολιτικοποιημνη συμπεριφορ του πολτη. Λσει υπρχουν! Αρκε για μα και μνο φορ να βροντοφωνξουμε: Ναι! Εγ θα σσω την ανθρωπτητα! Φανεται ουτοπικ αλλ καθλου δεν εναι. λλωστε, καμι φορ, χρειζεται να ψξουμε και μσα στην ουτοπα, σπου να βρομε ναν αληθιν αξιλογο στχο στη ζω μα. Αρκε να μην ξεχαστομε εκε βεβαω. Το παρν σγγραμμα λοιπν δε φιλοδοξε να δσει συνταγ, λσει και απαντσει. Φιλοδοξε να προβληματσει και να προκαλσει αντιδρσει. Δεν πιστεει στην αυθεντα, ρα, δε θα βρετε αφορισμο, καννε δογματικ αρχ. Οι ποιοι αφορισμο μεγλων πνευματικν προσωπικοττων που υπρχουν στο βιβλο, απ την αρχαιτητα μχρι σμερα, σκοπ χουν μνο το προβληματισμ και την υπενθμιση τη συνεχο αναζτηση. Ο σκοπ του βιβλου δεν εναι ββαια να αναπτξει να πλρε πολιτικ σστημα. Ορισμνω, παρουσιζονται διφορε προσωπικ ιδε, προσαρμζονται κποιε λλε στο δη υπρχον πολιτικ σστημα και αναδεικνονται κποιε κατευθνσει και ορματα. Αλλ μχρι εκε. Καθ θα προχωρει, ο αναγνστη θα συναντσει μια συνεχ αναμχλευση και ενσχυση αυτν που ο διο χει βαθι μσα στι σκψει του. Κατ’ ουσα, το βιβλο αυτ θλει να ‘ωθσει’, να ‘ενισχσει’, να ‘αναμοχλεσει’ και να ‘υπενθυμσει’ κθε τι που βρσκεται μσα στον αναγνστη, στε να προβληματιστε, να αυτοστοχαστε και να αντιδρσει αντστοιχα που απαιτεται. Στχο, να υπρξει - στο βαθμ που μπορε - κποια ανατραξη των στσιμων υδτων που προκαλον την δυσοσμα τη σημεριν ανθρπινη κοινωνα. λοι αναγνωρζουν τι κτι πρπει να γνει. Αυτ η στασιμτητα, ο ωχαδερφισμ, ο εφησυχασμ και η αδιαφορα δηλητηριζουν καθημεριν τη ζω μα και δε μα βοηθνε στην πε-ραιτρω εξανθρωποποησ μα. Απεναντα, διολισθανουμε αργ αλλ σταθερ προ την απανθρωποποησ μα με τον γνωστ τρπο του ‘μιθριδατισμο’. φθασε η ρα να αντιδρσουμε, να πολιτικοποιηθομε και να διεκδικσουμε την ανθρπινη κοινωνα που πραγματικ μα αξζει; ρθε η ρα να απαιτσουμε τα δικαιματ μα, μσα σε κλμα σεβασμο, αυτοσεβασμο και αλληλοσεβασμο; Οι πρξει μα θα το δεξουν!

Οι ?Μν?με? Σκοτειν? Αναδυ?μενε?? ε?ναι ?να μυθιστ?ρημα επιστημονικ?? φαντασ?α? με “new age” στοιχε?α. Ο Δημ?τρη? Σολ?γγα? ε?ναι ?να? επιστ?μονα?, που πραγματοποιε? ?να μυστικ? πε?ραμα στι? εγκαταστ?σει? τη? φαρμακευτικ?? εταιρ?α?, στην οπο?α εργ?ζεται, στη Θεσσαλον?κη. Πρ?κειται για το πρ?γραμμα τη? ?Τηλεμν?μη??, τη? χειρουργικ?? μεταφορ?? αναμν?σεων απ? ?ναν ζωνταν? οργανισμ? σε ?λλον. Ταυτ?χρονα μ?α σατανιστικ? α?ρεση ετοιμ?ζεται να τελ?σει και π?λι την αν?ερη ανθρωποθυσ?α τη?. Το Πορφυρ? Τ?γμα εφαρμ?ζει εδ? και αι?νε? τι? σκοτειν?? πρακτικ?? του σε ολ?κληρη την Ευρ?πη με ?δρα τη Ρουμαν?α, και αποτ?λεσε τον πυρ?να για τη δημιουργ?α του μ?θου των βρικολ?κων. Το πρωτοπαλ?καρο τη? α?ρεση? ο Σολοβ?ιδ (η λ?ξη δι?βολο? διαβασμ?νη αν?ποδα), με ενεργ? δρ?ση επικ?νδυνων αποστολ?ν στι? βαλκανικ?? και ρωσικ?? χ?ρε?, λαμβ?νει την εντολ? απαγωγ?? τη? κ?ρη? του Δημ?τρη Σολ?γγα για την τ?λεση τη? β?βηλη? θυσ?α? προ? τιμ? του Εξ?ριστου ?ρχοντ? του? στον Π?ρα Κ?σμο. Ο Σολοβ?ιδ απαγ?γει τη μικρ? Μαρ?α και την αιχμαλωτ?ζει σε κρυψ?να του Τ?γματο?. Εξαιτ?α? των β?αιων ενστ?κτων του ?ρχεται σε σ?ρραξη με μ?α συμμορ?α Αλβαν?ν εμπ?ρων ναρκωτικ?ν, με αποτ?λεσμα να μεταφερθε? βαρι? τραυματισμ?νο? στη μον?δα εντατικ?? θεραπε?α?. Ο Σκωτσ?ζο? Ρ?μπερτ Ρ?υ Μακμ?νιστερ, χρ?νιο? αλκοολικ?? και καταθλιπτικ??, ε?ναι αν?τερο? αξιωματικ??, αναλυτ?? εγκλημ?των τη? Ευροπ?λ, που καταδι?κει διεθν?? την αν?σια α?ρεση. Ενημερ?νει τον Δημ?τρη Σολ?γγα ?τι, μ?λι? περ?σουν οι τρει? εννια?μεροι κ?κλοι, στου? οπο?ου? το αν?λικο θ?μα θα υποστε? ψυχολογικ?, σωματικ? και πνευματικ? β?α, αντ?στοιχα σε κ?θε κ?κλο, θα επ?λθουν ο βιασμ?? και η μετ?πειτα θυσ?α του κοριτσιο? στη β?ση μ?α? αν?ποδη? υπ?γεια? πυραμ?δα?. Την ?δια στιγμ? στο Λονδ?νο η Μ?ντυ Χ?ντσον, παλι? συμφοιτ?τρια και φ?λη του Δημ?τρη Σολ?γγα, αναταρ?ζεται απ? ?ναν εφι?λτη, στον οπο?ο ο φ?λο? τη? πν?γεται μ?σα σε ?να πολτοποιημ?νο υγρ? απ? ανθρ?πινου? εγκεφ?λου? στον π?το εν?? πηγαδιο?. Η Μ?ντυ Χ?ντσον δ?ο χρονι? πριν, ?ταν σκοτ?θηκε η ερωμ?νη τη?, η Γκ?ιλ, σε αυτοκινητιστικ? ατ?χημα, αποπειρ?θηκε να αυτοκτον?σει. Μετ? την επιθαν?τια εμπειρ?α τη? ταξ?δεψε στο Θιβ?τ, ασχολ?θηκε με τι? εσωτερικ?? πνευματικ?? αναζητ?σει? και επαναπροσδι?ρισε τον εαυτ? τη?. Απ?κτησε ν?ο σκοπ? στη ζω?: Να ακολουθε? τα σημ?δια, τα οπο?α τη? στ?λνει το Ρε?μα των Πραγμ?των και να βοηθ?ει ?σου? ?χουν αν?γκη. Διαισθητικ? ?χει την πλ?ρη επ?γνωση ?τι πρ?πει να σ?σει τον φ?λο τη?. Ο Δημ?τρη? Σολ?γγα? εξαναγκ?ζεται να εφαρμ?σει το πε?ραμα τη? ?Τηλεμν?μη?? και να μεταφ?ρει τι? μν?με? του απαγωγ?α τη? κ?ρη? του στον ?διο του τον εγκ?φαλο. Εν? αγων?ζεται για τη διατ?ρηση τη? ?δια? του τη? προσωπικ?τητα?, θα βρεθε? στη μ?ση τη? συμπλοκ?? του Πορφυρο? Τ?γματο? με τη συμμορ?α των Αλβαν?ν εμπ?ρων ναρκωτικ?ν. Στην περιπ?τει? του θα ?ρθει αντιμ?τωπο? με βαθι?? συμπαντικ?? αλ?θειε?, ?πω?: η συγχρονικ?τητα, η διασ?νδεση ?λων των ?μβιων πλασμ?των, η αιων?βια μ?χη του καλο? και του κακο?, η ?παρξη εν?? αν?τερου και εν?? κατ?τερου εαυτο? σε κ?θε ?νθρωπο αλλ? και στον ?διο τον συμπαντικ? οργανισμ?, η προφητικ?τητα των ονε?ρων, η επ?δραση του διαλογισμο? και τη? νοερ?? απεικ?νιση? στον ανθρ?πινο εγκ?φαλο. Τι θα γ?νει στο Δημ?τρη Σολ?γγα, ?ταν η εσωτερικ? του φων?, με την οπο?α κ?θε ?νθρωπο? ταυτ?ζει το Εγ? του αρχ?ζει να μεταλλ?σσεται απ? τι? αναμν?σει? του μνημοδ?τη του; Μ?πω? συμβα?νει κ?τι αν?λογο σε ?λου? μα?; Ποιοι στα αλ?θεια ε?μαστε;

Telemachy through Space and Time is a spatiotemporal fantasy fiction with new age characteristics, which refers to dreamlike journeys with a strange connection to reality. The lead character, a bourgeois, Telemachus Andronicus is overweight and works as a clerk in a bank. He learns that he has cancer and has six months left to live. He feels alienated and finds a way out in the complex world of dreams. He is experiencing incarnations in prehistoric (antediluvian) times, in ancient Greece, the fall of Constaninople, siege of Messologgi, the French Revolution, the Second World War two and he travels in other dimensions as well. Common thread of his travelling is on one hand a dark swamp which is an animate evil entity and on the other hand a black dressed man with unearthly mystic powers, who’s been persecuting him ever since. Soon the reality and subconscious are beginning to mingle in his sleep, putting his mental stability to the test. The only person who seems to believe in him is a strange, enigmatic and beautiful woman, who knows more than she lets out. In each of his incarnations he encounters different experiences which although seemingly unrelated, they become the key to unlock the ultimate truth at the end.

Η Τηλεμ?χεια στο Χωροχρ?νο αποτελε? ?να μυθιστ?ρημα φαντασ?α?, που αφορ? σε ονειρικ? ταξ?δια μ?σα στο χρ?νο και την περ?εργη σ?νδεσ? του? με την πραγματικ?τητα. Ο κεντρικ?? χαρακτ?ρα? Τηλ?μαχο? Ανδρ?νικο? ε?ναι ?να? μικροαστ?? 33 ετ?ν, υπ?ρβαρο?, που δουλε?ει ω? τραπεζικ?? υπ?λληλο?. Μ?λι? πληροφορε?ται ?τι π?σχει απ? καρκ?νο και ?χει μ?νο ?ξι μ?νε? ζω??, αποξεν?νεται και βρ?σκει δι?ξοδο στον περ?πλοκο μηχανισμ? των ονε?ρων. Βι?νει ονειρικ?? μετενσαρκ?σει? σε προκατακλυσμια?ε? εποχ??, στην αρχα?α Ελλ?δα, την ?λωση τη? Κωνσταντινο?πολη?, την πολιορκ?α του Μεσολογγ?ου, τη γαλλικ? επαν?σταση, το δε?τερο παγκ?σμιο π?λεμο, ακ?μα και σε ?λλε? διαστ?σει?. Κοιν?? ?ξονα? των περιπλαν?σε?ν του ε?ναι ?να? σκοτειν?? β?λτο?, που μοι?ζει να αποτελε? μια κακ?βουλη ?μψυχη οντ?τητα, και ?να? μαυροντυμ?νο? ?ντρα? με εξωγ?ινε? μυστικιστικ?? δυν?μει?, που τον καταδι?κει στο π?ρασμα των αι?νων. Σ?ντομα η πραγματικ?τητα αρχ?ζει να συγχ?εται με τι? περιηγ?σει? τη? συνε?δησ?? του κατ? τη δι?ρκεια του ?πνου, β?ζοντα? σε δοκιμασ?α τη διατ?ρηση των λογικ?ν του. Το μοναδικ? πρ?σωπο που φα?νεται να τον πιστε?ει ε?ναι μια ?γνωστη, μυστηρι?δη?, ?μορφη γυνα?κα, η οπο?α γνωρ?ζει πολ? περισσ?τερα απ? ?σο δε?χνει. Σε κ?θε του μετεμψ?χωση αποκτ? εντελ?? διαφορετικ?? εμπειρ?ε?, που μοι?ζουν πλ?ρω? ασ?νδετε? μεταξ? του?, αλλ? ?λε? μαζ? αποτελο?ν το κλειδ?, που στο τ?λο? θα ξεκλειδ?σει τη μεγ?λη αλ?θεια.

Ο ?ρη?, ?να? ταξιδι?τη? τη? ζω?? που αεν?ω? παρατηρε? τα τεκταιν?μενα γ?ρω του, αδυνατε? να κατανο?σει και να αποδεχτε? τι? αντιθ?σει? του κ?σμου γ?ρω του. Βρ?σκεται ολο?να και πιο βαθι? εγκλωβισμ?νο? σε σκ?ψει? βασανιστικ??. Μια σαγηνευτικ? παρουσ?α εξουσι?ζει το μυαλ? του. Στην πορε?α συναντ? την ?ννα που προσπαθε? να εξιχνι?σει το μυστ?ριο τη? Δυτικ?? Πτ?ρυγα? του Νοσοκομε?ου στο οπο?ο εργ?ζεται. Ο δρ?μο? τη? την φ?ρνει σε επαφ? με ?να μυστηρι?δη ?νδρα καθ?? και στην παν?μορφη Γυ?λινη Πολιτε?α. Θα καταφ?ρει ?ραγε η ?ννα να λ?σει το μυστ?ριο και θα μπορ?σει ο ?ρη? να βρει την ?ξοδο του σκοτεινο? του διαδρ?μου; Ο αναγν?στη? μπα?νει στο μυαλ? των ηρ?ων και ζει ?ντονα ?λα τα συναισθ?ματα και τι? σκ?ψει? του? μ?χρι την κ?θαρσ? του?.

A contemporary book of social-political and philosophical content which depicts all the social-political occurances of the modern society. What was it like and what should the human society be like? What do the social political terms: Society, State, Citizen, Member Of Parliament, Democracy etc mean? How do they function and how should they? Is there corruption and degrading and in what form? Does real freedom exist? Does the citizen really function? Where are we heading to and what do we expect with the contemporary social political systems? Such issues and a lot more are mentioned in the present book, analyzing according to order and mentioning concisely the whole process of man’s evolution with regard to his social political involvement since his socialization. In this book, the reader will definitely find his own thoughts. The books ambition is to en-force and activate them. Some others, however, may be partially or completely differentiated. Those will provoke comparison, contemplating and redetermining old solidified beliefs. However, all of them, following various routes will tend to questioning and the pursuit of a more ideal society. The reader will definitely recognize a lot of practices which occur in the contemporary international society and others which used to exist in the past. The reader is asked to question themselves and find answers, choosing the most appropriate to his mind. In an age of political indifference, levelling, selfishness, apolitical behaviour on the part of the smashing majority of the citizens and political arrogance on the part of the supposed politicians, this book aspires to lead to the citizen’s politicized behaviour to the greatest extent. Solutions do exist! All it takes is that we for once shout with all our might: "Yes! I shall save humanity!". It may sound utopian but it is not at all. Indeed, we sometimes do need to search even in the realms of utopia until we find a truly considerable aim in our life. Provided we do not get captured there. The present writing does not aspire to offer formulas, solutions and answers. It aims to tempt and provoke reactions. It does not believe in authenticity so you will not find aphorism, regulations or dogmatic principles. Any quote of intellectual people since ancestry, wishes to cause questioning and become a reminder of perpetual pursuit. The aim of this book is definitely not to develop a complete political system. In some cases, some personal views are presented, some others are adjusted to the already existing political system and some directions or even “visions” appear. But that’s just it. As the book moves on, the reader will experience constant stirring and enforcement of those which they already have in their reflections. In essence, this book means to push, to empower, to stir and remind everything that already exists within the reader so that they question themselves, meditate and react in accordance with what is demanded. The aim is - to the extent that it can happen - to agitate the stagnant water which causes the stench of the contemporary human society. Everybody recognises that this stagnation this attitude to downplay crucial issues, the reliance, and the indifference poison our everyday life and do not help us in our further humanization. On the contrary, we are sliding downwards, slowly but steadily to our dehumanization in the familiar way of mithridatism. Is it about time we reacted, became politically active and asserted the human society we truly deserve? Is it the right time to demand our rights in an atmosphere of respect, self-respect and inter-respect? Our actions shall prove it!

Ο ?ρωτα? ε?ναι αποκλειστικ?τητα, τ?φλωση, μαγε?α, μαν?α. Κλε?νει ?λο τον κ?σμο ?ξω. Δεν μπορε? να εισχωρ?σει καν?να? και τ?ποτα... Συγχωρε? ο ?ρωτα?; Ο Μ?ριο πρ?πει να μ?θει αν ?ργησε. Θα βρεθε? στη Θεσσαλον?κη του 1916. Τ?ποτα δεν ε?ναι ?πω? φα?νεται. Διαπιστ?νει πω? βαδ?ζει σε ?ναν λαβ?ρινθο απ? ψ?ματα, πολιτικ?? ?ντριγκε? και ανεξιχν?αστε? δολοφον?ε?. Πρ?πει να δει αυτ? που δεν βλ?πει αν θ?λει να φτ?σει στην ?ξοδο. Κ?τι που δεν ε?ναι στη θ?ση του. Κ?τι που θα ?πρεπε να ε?ναι... Στου? κ?κλου? του ?ρωτα, του θαν?του και του χρ?ματο?, ποιο? ε?ναι ο τ?ταρτο? κ?κλο? που εφ?πτεται των τρι?ν;

A lyrical and profoundly moving story of love, loss and civil war, set in Sri Lanka, London and Venice. When author Theo Samarajeeva returns to his native Sri Lanka after his wife’s death, he hopes to escape his gnawing loss amid the lush landscape of his increasingly war-torn country. But as he sinks into life in this beautiful, tortured land, he also finds himself slipping into friendship with an artistic young girl, Nulani, whose family is caught up in the growing turmoil. Soon friendship blossoms into love. Under the threat of civil war, their affair offers a glimmer of hope to a country on the brink of destruction… But all too soon, the violence which has cast an ominous shadow over their love story explodes, tearing them apart. Betrayed, imprisoned and tortured, Theo is gradually stripped of everything he once held dear – his writing, his humanity and, eventually, his love. Broken by the belief her lover is dead, Nulani flees Sri Lanka to a cold and lonely life of exile. As the years pass and the country descends into a morass of violence and hatred, the tragedy of Theo and Nulani's failed love spreads like a poison among friends sickened by the face of civil war, and the lovers must struggle to recover some of what they have lost and to resurrect, from the wreckage of their lives, a fragile belief in the possibility of redemption. Beautifully written, by turns heartbreaking and uplifting, `Mosquito’ is a first novel of remarkable and compelling power.

Duelling, derring-do, and dastardly deeds are all in a day’s work for Liberty Lane, a new heroine for fans of Georgette Heyer and Sarah Waters’s Victorian novels. The Augustus theatre likes to put on a good show. But when a public spat erupts between two dancers on the London stage, it comes to a dramatic conclusion that definitely wasn’t part of the *: one dead, the other arrested for murder. As far as the jury’s concerned, it’s an open-and-shut case, but Liberty Lane believes otherwise. Soon she’s leading her own investigation, in a desperate race against the hangman’s noose. And while the criminal underworld may be no place for a lady, there’s no place for a criminal to hide once Liberty’s on the case…

Matthew Hawkwood, ex-soldier turned Bow Street Runner, goes undercover to hunt down smugglers and traitors at the height of the Napoleonic Wars in this thrilling follow-up to Ratcatcher. For a French prisoner of war, there is only one fate worse than the gallows: the hulks. Former man-o'-wars, now converted to prison ships, their fearsome reputation guarantees a sentence served in the most dreadful conditions. Few survive. Escape, it's said, is impossible. Yet reports persist of a sinister smuggling operation within this brutal world – and the Royal Navy is worried enough to send two of its officers to investigate. But when they disappear without trace, the Navy turns in desperation to Bow Street for help. It's time to send in a man as dangerous as the prey. It's time to send in Hawkwood…

Duelling, derring-do, and dastardly deeds are all in a day’s work for Liberty Lane: the plucky heroine for fans of Georgette Heyer and Sarah Waters’s Victorian novels. London. Summer 1839. And the temperature is rising as Liberty Lane takes on her strangest case yet. Deranged aristocrat Lord Brinkburn is nearing death and his elder son, Stephen, is expecting to inherit the title. But Lady Brinkburn's sudden announcement that Stephen is illegitimate throws the family into turmoil. Tensions reach boiling point between the two brothers, one of whom stands to gain everything, and they come to blows in public - much to the amusement of London Society. Liberty is engaged privately to get to the truth of the matter, but a macabre murder raises the stakes considerably…added to which she finds her own judgement being undermined by the beguiling Lady Brinkburn. She is only too aware that time is running out - one of the brothers may be next, but which will it be…?

Against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. Can Atticus, and the fledgling Roman navy, staffed with inexperienced sailors and unwilling legionaries, outwit and outfight his opponents. SHIP OF ROME, full of magnificent sea-battles, packed with strong characters, torn between two powerful empires, is the first book in a new series, MASTERS OF THE SEA, by a brilliant new author.

Rebellion is brewing in Napoleonic Paris, in the new action-packed novel from the author of the bestselling Ratcatcher October 1812: Britain and France are still at war. France is engaged on two battle fronts - Spain and Russia - and her civilians are growing weary of the fight. Rebellion is brewing. Since Napoleon Bonaparte appointed himself as First Consul, there have been several attempts to either kill or overthrow him. All have failed, so far… Meanwhile in London, Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood has been seconded to the foreign arm of the Secret Service. There, he meets the urbane Henry Brooke, who tells him he’s to join a colleague in Paris on a special mission. Brooke's agent has come up with a daring plan and he needs Hawkwood's help to put it into action. If the plan is successful it could lead to a negotiated peace treaty between France and the allies. Failure would mean prison, torture and a meeting with the guillotine…

The dead hand of a long-defeated Nazi Third Reich reaches out to Portugal, London and Marrakech in Deighton’s second novel, featuring the same anonymous narrator and milieu of The IPCRESS File, but finds Dawlish now head of the secret British Intelligence unit, WOOC(P). The Ipcress File was a debut sensation. Here in the second Secret File, Horse under Water, skin-diving, drug trafficking and blackmail all feature in a curious story in which the dead hand of a long-defeated Hitler-Germany reaches out to Portugal, London and Marrakech, and to all the neo-Nazis of today's Europe. The detail is frightening but unfaultable; the story as up to date as ever it was. The un-named hero of The Ipcress File the same: insolent, fallible, capricious - in other words, human. But he must draw on all his abilities, good and bad, when plunged into a story of murder, betrayal and greed every bit as murky as the waters off the coast of Portugal, where the answers lie buried.

A stunning historical novel, 'The Book of Fires' is the unforgettable story of Agnes Trussel – and love, fireworks and redemption. Brought up in rural Sussex, seventeen-year-old Agnes Trussel is carrying an unwanted child. Taking advantage of the death of her elderly neighbour, Agnes steals her savings and runs away to London. On her way she encounters the intriguing Lettice Talbot who promises that she will help Agnes upon their arrival. But Agnes soon becomes lost in the dark, labyrinthine city. She ends up at the household of John Blacklock, laconic firework-maker, becoming his first female assistant. The months pass and it becomes increasingly difficult for Agnes to conceal her secret. Soon she meets Cornelius Soul, seller of gunpowder, and hatches a plan which could save her from ruin. Yet why does John Blacklock so vehemently disapprove of Mr Soul? And what exactly is he keeping from her? Could the housekeeper, Mrs Blight, with her thirst for accounts of hangings, suspect her crime or condition? Historical fiction at its very best, ‘The Book of Fires’ is utterly intriguing, completely compelling and impossible to put down.

The second in the rip-roaring adventure series of ‘Treasure Island’ prequels for fans of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Once comrades-in-arms, now sworn enemies, Joseph Flint and Long John Silver have a score to settle. Marooned on a remote Caribbean island with his loyal crew and a fortune in buried treasure, Silver awaits the return of the man who left him there. In order to defeat Silver and claim the island back as his, Flint will need to raise an army – no easy feat for the man most wanted by the Royal Navy. But with disease running rampant on the Island and the net closing on Flint, time is running out for both men. But who will survive – and who will get the gold?