John Bowen

Two women. One baby. And a man in the sceptic tank. In their lovely Cotswolds village, Janet and Susan are known simply as ‘the girls’. Partners in love and work, proprietors of a picturesque shop, they lead an enviably peaceful life. But after one moment of surprising passion, the girls’ lives take a deeply unsettling turn. Part-dark comedy, part-crime thriller, part-cosy love story, The Girls will ensure you never look on Middle England quite so quaintly again. ‘Startlingly offbeat’ Gore Vidal‘Absolutely wicked’ Armistead Maupin‘[For] those who feel Barbara Pym-ish on some days and Stephen King-ish on others . . . The Girls charms us as only certain tales ‘of village life’ can’ Washington Post

This delightful colouring book includes spectacular bird illustrations based on the artwork of Audubon and other classic ornithology illustrators, presented in an attractive hardback gift edition with patterened endpapers. Whether you are a bird-lover, an artist, or both, this delightful colouring book is sure to please. It features over 70 classic full-colour ornithology illustrations from the likes of John James Audubon, John T Bowen and John Gerrard Keulemans to use as reference, placed beside black and white line drawings ready for the addition of colour. Included here are bright songbirds and majestic birds of prey, as well as favourites such as the jewel-like kingfisher and the flamboyant flamingo. Their delicate, vivid plumage makes birds ideal subject matter for developing colour technique and rendering those illustrations is guaranteed to provide hours of pleasure. An index of birds is included, helping you identify each bird and find your favourites. • Includes 77 designs • Printed on thick, high-quality paper • Original full-colour illustrations included for easy reference • This hardback edition makes a wonderful gift.