The actual founding of Madrid occurred during the rule of Muhammad I, Emir of Córdoba, who ruled 852-886, and together with the fortifications around Toledo controlled one of the most important metropolis, Al Andalus, the Muslim-controlled area of the Iberian Peninsula. When the Caliphate dissolved at the beginning of the 11th century, Madrid was almost entirely obliterated. Now there only remains a 400ft long and 8ft wide section of defensive wall from the 9th century which was discovered in 1950. The volume devotes itself in detail to the capital and reveals a suspense-packed relationship to the Prado, one of the world's most important museums. For the first time not only is its excellent collection of paintings examined, but also the phenomenon as a whole and its complex relationship to Madrid and its history. This superbly illustrated Ullmann publication, with text in both German and English in parallel, looks at the origins of the city, the Castilian small town Madrid 1085-1561, the residence of the Habsburgs 1561-1700, the spectacular Prado Art Museum, the Bourbons 1700-1808, the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía and the royal castles around Madrid. Extraordinary artworks like executions, Picasso's Woman in Blue, patinated bronze sculptures, details of famous paintings like Goya's The Execution on Principe Pio Hill with a detail of the dead man in a pool of blood, marbles and treasures and tapestries. See Cuatro Torres Business Area with its four modern high rise blocks on the Castellana, the main entrance to the Retiro Park, Madrid's 'green lung', gardens and fountains, the royal palace, the Plaza Mayor, the Plaza de España, the Caixaforum Art Centre with its vertical garden of greenery and the gift from Egypt of a temple from Aswan, here are the main streets like the Gran Via with the spectacular architecture of the Cine Callao in an Art Deco style. Enjoy the major buildings and monuments and opera houses and theatres, gilded churches, organ galleries and spectacular altars, newspaper articles. The text is jammed with hundreds of colour photographs and reproductions of paintings, artworks and collectables. 382 very large pages. Colour.
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A limited edition printed exclusively for Fortnum & Mason in 2013, this beautifully designed rather special book of reminiscences of a life in food is printed on glossy white pages with achingly beautiful close up colour photography of delicious food. Crab and Caramelised Fennel Tart, a good old Quiche Lorraine, Tarte au Citron, an Apricot Tatin, a Treacle Tart, Smoked Salmon, Artichoke, Sour Cream and Chive Tart, Lemon Curd or Jam Tarts, this truly is a celebration of 'The Art of The Tart' which was published in 2000 and became an international bestseller. Smart Tart is less of a sequel and more of a companion defining in 14 autobiographical sketches Tamasin as she takes us back to early memories of baking at home, the matchless taste of the Bakewell tart made by her grandparents' cook Rhoda, her father's elaborate Christmas rituals, and the pleasures of tea at Fortnum & Mason with her grandmother and her brother the famous actor Daniel Day-Lewis. She writes at length of the beauty and restorative power of County Mayo in the west of Ireland where she has spent every summer since childhood, and the important role food plays in the social revolution of the 1960s. The chapter headings alone set your lips drooling - Bakewell Tart, Tea at Fortnum's Fountain, Christmas, The Things I Love and the Things I Hate About Food, Treacle Tart, Slowly Cooked, Childhood Tarts, Figs, Famine, The Best Restaurant and more. There are tips on pastries for Walnut Tart, Baked Ricotta, Lemon and Vanilla Tart, Antipasti Tarts to serve with drinks, as a starter, a lunch or supper dish with a buttery-crisp puff pastry decked with the best fresh ricotta, prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, olives, herbs, tomatoes, they are breathtakingly easy and quick to assemble as a hot tart and make in batches of 15 depending on numbers. Beautifully observed anecdotes about friendship, family, love, politics and science as warm and delicious as the food that inspires them. 'Elizabeth David, Delia and Nigella all rolled into one' - The Scotsman. 206pp, colour photos.

During the Blitz, the very familiar sinuous shape of the Thames under moonlight directed waves of bombers to valuable targets like warehouses, industries, power stations, offices, docks and the associated housing. From 1940 to 1945, the German Airforce (the Luftwaffe) inflicted 101 daylight and 253 night-time air raids on London causing more than 80,000 fatalities or serious injuries and extensive devastation. In all that mayhem caused by high explosives, incendiaries, parachute mines, rockets and fire storms, the city was also faced with the very real possibility of major flooding whenever bombing seriously breached the river wall and its defences. This superbly researched and illustrated book describes the vital role and unsung achievements of the London County Council Emergency Repair Team, ably led by Chief Engineer Thomas Peirson Frank. Three rapid response units were formed and in the event undertook repairs to over 100 breaches of the flood defences. We also learn of the fate of London's docks and bridges, and of the ships, boats and barges lost in the estuary and tideway and the fieldwork of the Thames Discovery Programme, the community-based archaeological team working on the foreshore. The book catalogues incidents dealt with by each of the four regional T-F depots, located on the Isle of Dogs, in Southwark, Battersea and Greenwich, the work of the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) later the National Fire Service. Some 80 years on the book pays tribute to the non-combatants who kept the major port running and saved London. 208pp, very well illustrated with hundreds of archive and modern images.

The linguistics and philosophy professor from MIT is an elder statesman of a resurgence left. From meditations on human nature to strategic advice for the Trump era, Chomsky remains the thinker who shaped a generation and is a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. The book begins with his razor-sharp analysis of neoliberalism, imperialism, the EU, the role of religion in politics, and class polarisation. He looks at the flawed nature of US democracy, fascism, showmanship and hypocrisy and with Robert Pollin discusses political barriers to free education and a new green deal. Chomsky focusses on the Trump presidency and lays out the long history of US foreign policy as well as topics such as healthcare, global warming and education, that Trump's economic 'boom' is a sham, that moral depravity defines US politics and that Trump was willing to dismantle democracy to hold on to power, protecting profits amid protests and pandemic, and that COVID-19 has exposed the US under Trump as a 'failed state'. Finally he looks at various alternatives - anarchism, communism and socialism in this excellent collection of interviews that highlights Chomsky's encyclopaedic knowledge of the key issues of our day. A Penguin paperback special, 352pp.

A reporter with no fear. Jaded Edinburgh journalist Neil Bannerman arrives in Brussels intent on digging up dirt, yet it is danger he discovers when two British men are found murdered. One victim is a journalist, the other a Cabinet Minister, the double-assassination witnessed by the former's autistic daughter. The child recalls every detail about her father's killer, except for one. The man with no face. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Bannerman is compelled to follow his instincts. He is now fighting to expose a murderous conspiracy, protect a helpless child, and unmask a remorseless killer. 406pp, paperback.

Brilliantly simple slow cooker recipes to produce vibrant, comforting and budget-friendly vegan meals with little to no effort. The 70 delicious recipes for breakfasts, mains and sweet treats teach simple guidelines for successful slow cooking - less is more and liquid reduction, layering flavours like toasting spices, marinating vegetables or sautéing onions and garlic, keeping greens fresh by adding at the last minute and resisting the urge to open the lid because each time you do take a peep, that will add 15 minutes to the cooking time. Make a delicious Salted Maple Granola, Fancy Baked Beans, Kimchi Noodle Soup, Corn Chowder, Minestrone with hot vegan bouillon stock, Tear and Share Marinara Bread, Thai Green Curry, Miso Aubergine Noodles, Beetroot and Sweet Potato Gratin with the vegetable slices arranged in concentric circles to create a swirling two-tone effect, Vegan Bolognese, Carrot Dahl, a festive Nut Roast, Slow-Cooked Jacket Potatoes, Pulled Jack Fruit Burgers and in sweet treats a Syrup Sponge, Rhubarb, Apple and Ginger Crumble, Pineapple Upside Down Cake and other favourites and ending with a delicious Salted Caramel Sauce. Revolutionise your meal planning and eat well following these easy instructions, tricks and tips. 128 page large softback, colour photos.

Full of wit and period charm, first published in 1954, the author names her chapters after different types of solitary cooks. There is the Old Lady who cooks white fish to share with her pets; the Career Woman who feels she has deserved a roast chicken now and then; and the Happy Potterer who loves to experiment with unusual flavours such as Lamb Chop with Olives. Whether it's the problem of storing ingredients for one without them going to waste (The Batchelor) or the dilemma of keeping equipment to a minimum (The Bed-Sitter), the mood of the book is old fashioned and modern at the same time. Other than a surprising recipe for rabbit with aubergine, there is no trace of French or Italian cooking. Le Riche writes of semolina puddings and liver and bacon, of mutton broth and ways to jazz up a tin of fruit. Most of the characters have no fridge, so this is real old-school cooking. The Schoolboy Moocher and the Student make toffee and cakes over a ring heater and the Lonely Mother cooks snacks with toast, is intrigued by delicatessen varieties and cheese, revives leftovers by imagination and revives herself with stews and soups, then soliloquises on voluntary starvation and writes herself a menu. Brimming with entertaining anecdotes, top tips and evocative menus - Tipsy Cake anyone? Here are Pikelets and Pancakes, Egg Rum Froth, Spaghetti and Cheese, Roast Beef, Lamb or Veal, browning off the Pot Roast, Roast Vegetables, Creamed Spinach and the discovery of how pleasant sliced apple, orange, banana and gooseberries are in a salad with chopped onion and lettuce heart. A charming guide to the unexpected pleasures of dining solo. 137pp in facsimile reprint.

In the summer of 2019, Ben Stokes was batting in the Third Test against Australia at Headingley. England had lost the first match, drawn the second, and were about to lose this one too, and with it in any chance of winning back the Ashes. The penultimate wicket had fallen with England still 73 runs short of their target of 359, which was more than the entire team had made in the first innings when they'd been skittled for 67. With Stokes was Jack Leach, a left-arm spinner from Somerset playing his seventh Test, who'd become a cult hero at Lord's earlier in the summer when he'd gone in against Ireland as nightwatchman and made 92. They were an odd couple." Chronicling the evolution of cricket since its earliest days, and highlighting transcendent memories as well as tragedies, the author lifts the seemingly impregnable veil from the Laws, batting strokes, types of bowling, and the sometimes absurd names given to where fielders stand, allowing anyone a pathway into enjoying the sport, and an introductory immersion into its long history. Is divided into three parts - Bat, Ball and Field. Their harmony produces cricket's unique environment; the centuries-long conflict provides its innovation, adaptability, and vast psychological hinterland. These sections unite to map out in a completely original way the story of cricket that began as a country pursuit and which is now followed by billions across the world. Find out which laws of cricket remain unchanged since Elizabeth I ruled, what a reverse sweep is and what a googly is! As summer approaches, we can now understand this wonderful game and enjoy watching it more. 272 pages, many diagrams, including a cross-section of a cricket ball, links and lines in diagrams and touching on many of the heroes like W.G. Grace, plus a note on women's cricket. With map.

From foxes and ravens attacking new-born lambs to weasels eating game-bird chicks, predators compete with us, putting them directly into the firing line. Buzzards, crows, badgers, seals, kites - Britain and Ireland's predators are impressive and diverse, and they capture our collective imagination, but some people may even consider them our enemies. Farming, fishing, sport and leisure industries want to see numbers of predators reduced, and conservation organisations also worry that predators are threatening some endangered species. So what do we do? Mary Colwell travels across the UK and Ireland to encounter the predators face to face and watches their lives in the wild and discovers how they fit into the landscape. She talks to the scientists studying them and the wildlife lovers who want to protect them and also meets the people who want to control them to protect their livelihoods or sporting interests. Hers is a thoughtful and reasoned analysis of the debates surrounding the human story of living with predators, already soaked in blood and passion. She touches on religion and the philosophy of predation, children's literature, Christianity and the necessity of killing to eat which has become a sign of humanity's sinfulness. 312pp, rather lovely illustrations.

'I was saying things in songs that female singers didn't really say back then. I wasn't submissive or begging him to come back, I was kicking his ass, kicking him out, kicking my own ass too. My Blondie character was an inflatable doll with a dark, provocative, aggressive side. I was playing it up, yet I was very serious.' Brave, beautiful and born to be punk, Debbie Harry is a musician, actor, activist and the iconic face of New York City cool. As the front-woman of Blondie, she and the band forged a new sound that brought together the worlds of rock, punk, disco, reggae and hip-hop to create some of the most beloved pop songs of all time. As a muse, she collaborated with some of the boldest artists of the past four decades. In a mix of visceral, soulful storytelling and stunning visuals that include never-before-seen photographs, bespoke illustrations and fan art installations, the book upends the standard music memoir. With all the grit, grime and glory recounted in intimate detail, the book recreates the downtown scene of 1970s New York City, where Blondie played alongside the Ramones, Television, Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and David Bowie. Following her path from glorious commercial success to heroin addiction, the near death of partner Chris Stein, a heart-wrenching bankruptcy, and Blondie's break-up as a band, to Debbie Harry's multifaceted acting career in more than 30 films, a stunning solo career and a triumphant return of her band, and her tireless advocacy for the environment and LGBTQ rights, here is a cinematic story of a woman who made her own path. Her interest in bees and small anecdotes such as her trip to the cigar shop show small insights into her personality in this chatty and friendly book. 360pp, paperback, packed with illustrations including colour plates and images of this extraordinarily beautiful woman.