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‘The best bike rider that ever lived’ – Chris Boardman CBEThe first in-depth biography of the modern era’s greatest cyclist, written by William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award-winning journalist.AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOWTadej Pogacar is not like any other professional cyclist. The Slovenian is a sporting phenomenon. He won almost everything there is to win in bike racing, has done so with breathtaking audacity and style – and all by the age of 26.This comprehensive biography follows his meteoric rise to the top, recounts his greatest race wins and rivalries, and reveals the character, motivation and skills that have led to his domination of elite cycling. Experienced cycling journalist Andy McGrath has documented the versatile superstar’s development from his victory in the Tour de l’Avenir in 2018 to his Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Il Lombardia and Tour of Flanders successes and his historic 2024 season, when he won cycling’s prestigious triple crown of the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the World Championship road race. His victories include four Tours de France (2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025).McGrath explores how this diminutive child from a small, mountainous nation of Slovenia first took up the sport, his emerging talent as a teenager and the role played by his UAE Team Emirates-XRG coaches and management. He also gets the inside story from those close to him, trusted teammates and fierce adversaries. It is not only what Pogacar has won, but the manner in which he wins that also makes him so unique and popular. McGrath gets to the very heart of the cycling phenomenon that is ‘Pogi’ – and the fascinating young man behind the runaway success story.

This book tells the true story of a young girl growing up during the Kosovo war and its immediate aftermath following Kosovo’s liberation by NATO troops in 1999. Through her embodied experiences, the book exposes the tangible and everyday acts and events of the war, providing brutal insight into the impact of war and the politics of subjugation. At the outset of the book (in 1998), Vjosa’s view of the world, as a young child, is organized in clear dichotomies: the good Albanians and the evil Serbs; the brutal Serbian military shelling Albanian civilians and the angelic NATO airplanes bombing Serbian military sites. This Manichean worldview starts to unravel after Vjosa and her family are chased away from their home by the Serbian military and moved to the suburbs. There, surrounded by mostly poor and uneducated fellow Albanians, she gradually discovers the layers of her family’s socio-economic privileges. Though unequipped with the language to verbalize it, she is tormented by the idea that her family’s comparatively higher socio-economic status is the reason why they are spared by the Serbian military. When the war ends in 1999, and the NATO tanks fill the narrow streets of her hometown as Serbian military tanks leave, Vjosa believes she received her own ‘happily ever after’. She celebrates her thirteenth birthday happily wearing a US military uniform, holding an unbearably heavy unloaded gun as she becomes the favorite interpreter of the American NATO troops. She spends several months after the war occasionally translating between angry Albanians who now seek revenge against Serbs and NATO troops who insist on not picking sides; showcasing the impossibility of (re)building Kosovo with “both-sides-ism” becoming the modus operandi of the international intervening structures.

Bestselling historian Frank McDonough tackles the subject in the same way as his brilliantly reviewed and bestselling titles in this series. The penultimate title in the Hitler''s Germany series, the book marks the end of the Second World War, and the end of the Nazi regime, offering the reader a sweeping narrative tackling the major characters, significant events of this horrific period of Nazi doctrine formed in their early years of the 1920s, that would evolve into full-blown genocide of a race of people by the end of World War Two.The Hitler Years: Holocaust 1933–1945 describes in detail the development of early persecution formulated by Adolf Hitler from as far back as the early 1920s, placing in context what was to come once the Nazi Party gained power in 1933; the Nuremberg Laws to constrain the German-Jewish population. It covers the country’s slow slide into a pre-war policy of intimidation that would culminate in the murderous attacks on ‘Kristallnacht’ (the ‘Night of Broken Glass’). As Europe marched into another global conflict in 1939, tens of thousands of German Jews had fled the country only to be swept up as Hitler’s armies conquered all Western Europe. With the invasion of the Soviet Union, the secret meeting in early 1942 (the Wannsee Conference) would utilise the war in the east to plan in intricate detail the annihilation of the Jewish population on the continent – known to all now as the ‘Final Solution’.The fully illustrated book draws together and engages with the latest scholarly research, makes extensive use of primary research, presenting a vivid and shocking narrative. A tragic and deadly period in German and European history is brought to life by one of the country’s premier scholars.

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOWTHE POIGNANT STORY OF HOW A GROUP OF ELITE PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS WENT TO WAR1914. Britain is slowly becoming football-obsessed: players are becoming household names, attendance is increasing and George V attends the FA Cup Final in May. Then the war breaks out.In this fascinating work, equal parts footballing and military history, Christopher Evans explores how, once the war began, footballers were put under immense pressure to sign up, resulting in the formation of Football Battalions in England and Scotland. He tells the story of World War I, particularly what happened in the trenches of Northern France, through the eyes of leading footballers of the day. Some would return to leave their mark on the game; some would fade into obscurity; and some would never make it back.Among them are Vivian Woodward, an Olympic gold medallist and football''s first superstar; Frank Buckley, who would emerge from the war a hero and go on to redefine the role of a football manager; and Walter Tull, Tottenham and Northampton hero, who faced racism both on the football field and battlefield before becoming the first Black man to win a commission and command a unit in the British Army.Deeply researched and drawing on archival material, this is a captivating exploration of this remarkable army battalion.

Margaret Tudor, the elder sister of her more famous brother Henry VIII, is the single most important Tudor figure of this era that historians have consistently overlooked. Married at thirteen to the charismatic James IV of Scotland, a man more than twice her age, she would learn the skills of statecraft that would enable her to survive his early death, and to construct a powerful position in her adopted country of Scotland as she dealt with domestic issues as well as navigating international relations with England and France.Often reviled for her hasty remarriage (and therefore the loss of the regency) the book shows that Margaret was damned if she did remarry and damned if she didn’t. Her two subsequent marriages were both disastrous personally, but she never gave up. Her son attained the throne in his own right in 1528, largely through his mother’s determination.Margaret’s story is also one of fierce sibling rivalry with her younger brother, Henry VIII, a series of matrimonial mishaps, and fighting off an unearned reputation as an over-sexed whinger fixated by clothes and jewels, Margaret was a complex (not always likeable) woman who had the true Tudor attributes of self-expression and a flair for the dramatic. She knew that you had to look like a queen.Drawing on Margaret’s extensive correspondence (more of her letters survive than of all the other Tudor queens put together), and contemporary poems and literature, Linda Porter fashions a compelling story of a misunderstood and underestimated Tudor monarch, whose determination to fight for the rights of her son, James V, is at the core of her dramatic life and indeed laid the groundwork for a future British state.

The story of the Luftwaffe fighter arm’s desperate defence of the Third Reich from the growing Allied bomber offensive in World War II.The Reichsverteidigung (Defence of the Reich) was a do or die campaign that saw the very best fighter pilots in the Luftwaffe attempt to defend German skies from increasingly large formations of RAF and USAAF medium and heavy bombers. Flying both piston-engined and, eventually, the first jet-engined fighters to see operational service, the Jagdflieger employed a wide range of weapons and tactics in an effort to blunt the Allied air offensive across Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe. Defenders of the Reich focusses on the story of the pilot, his aircraft, his weaponry, his draining, dangerous missions and Luftwaffe tactics against the USAAF and the RAF bombers from the summer of 1942 through to VE Day. They fought until they were all but obliterated as USAAF and RAF fighters decimated their ranks in the air and targeted their airfields in devastating strafing attacks.leading Luftwaffe historian Robert Forsyth uses German and Allied archival documents coupled with interviews with former Jagdwaffe pilots, to tell the history of this last-ditch aerial campaign from the perspective of the Luftwaffe.

The fascinating history of St Stephen''s Chapel in the Palace of Westminster, a building at the heart of British life for over 700 years. Begun in 1292, the royal chapel of St Stephen was the crowning glory of the old palace of Westminster – a place of worship for kings and a showcase of the finest architecture, ritual and music the Plantagenets could muster. But in 1548, as the Protestant Reformation reached its height, St Stephen''s was given a new purpose as the House of Commons. Burned out in the great palace fire of 1834, the Commons chamber was then recreated on a remarkably similar medieval design, perpetuating a way of doing politics that is recognisable to this day.St Stephen''s has been part of many lives over the centuries, from the medieval masons who worked through the Black Death to complete the chapel, to the generations of MPs who locked horns in the Commons chamber. Threading together religion, politics, art, architecture and narrative history, John Cooper tells the story of the lost chapel, an iconic building that reflects the national transition from medieval divine-right monarchy to modern parliamentary democracy.

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW''Wayne Barton’s knowledge on Manchester United is unparalleled'' - The MirrorThis compelling and moving story of Manchester United’s rejuvenation after the Munich Air Crash revisits an era that is fundamental to the club’s place in the modern game. The 1958 Munich Air Crash that ripped the heart from one of Britain’s greatest ever teams. In this book, Wayne Barton, author of 20 Manchester United titles, has produced a forensic account of how those post-tragedy years forged the character of one of the world’s biggest clubs. Barton focuses on the five years immediately after the tragedy, how the shattered ambitions of the club were revived and rejuvenated by recovering manager Matt Busby and his assistant Murphy. The engrossing story is told through in-depth research and exclusive interviews with many players from the era. They include Harry Gregg, Jackie Blanchflower, Bill Foulkes and Albert Scanlon, who all survived the crash; Albert Quixall, David Herd, Pat Crerand, Wilf McGuinness and others who became stars of the rebuilt team; and supporters and back room staff who witnessed an extraordinary period at the club.The scars of that fateful night will never fade, but in its aftermath a spirit of resolve, a belief in homegrown players and a never-say-die attitude developed and became essential elements of Manchester United’s DNA.

A definitive new biography of General Franco that offers a new insight into his lasting legacy in Spain.From a scrawny, overlooked military graduate to the youngest general in Europe, Francisco Franco was known for his ambition, talent and calculated risk-taking. Yet his reputation remains a topic of fierce debate. Did he destroy Spain and stifle its democracy or rescue the nation from left-wing tumult? In this compelling biography, Giles Tremlett unravels the complex life and legacy of the enigmatic dictator who shaped twentieth-century Spanish history.This book will delve into the complexities of Franco''s character, exploring his volatile relationship with a domineering father, his traumatic experiences fighting in Morocco and the formation of his authoritarian ideology. The narrative follows Franco''s ruthless leadership during the Civil War, his alignment with Hitler and Mussolini and the subsequent Cold War era that brought him international rehabilitation. Tremlett interrogates Franco''s transformation of Spain through a lens that challenges the conventional view of him as a bumbling leader. Instead, he argues that Franco was a deliberate and pragmatic dictator who wielded terror to maintain an iron grip on power, and whose lasting (and most surprising) contribution was the period of peace that allowed Spain to challenge the absolutist spirit he embodied. Nuanced and comprehensive, El Generalísimo offers a fresh perspective that reveals the intricate interplay of ambition and fearlessness of Francisco Franco; and examines his enduring legacy that continues to shape Spain''s political and cultural landscape.PRAISE FOR GILES TREMLETT:''Tremlett''s work will bring many who think we know Spain to confront what we have hesitated to acknowledge even to ourselves'' Matthew Parris''Tremlett writes with humour, modesty and a great affection for his subject'' Daily Telegraph''Tremlett is a fascinating socio-cultural guide'' Guardian

1592. Cybil Harding, daughter of a secret alchemist, was born under cursed stars. Destined to bring disaster to those around her, Cybil is trapped in a grand house with a mother paralysed by grief and a father willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of magic.Miriam Richter is a creature born of shadow. Forged by the dark arts, she is doomed to exist for eternity and destined to be alone – consuming the souls of mortals for sustenance.Everything changes when Miriam meets Cybil, whose soul shines with a light so bright, she must claim it for herself. Miriam offers a bargain: she will grant Cybil reincarnation and the chance to change her stars in exchange for her soul.Thus begins a dance across centuries as Miriam seeks Cybil in every lifetime to claim her prize. But Cybil isn’t inclined to play by the rules. As the two women circle each other, drawn together inescapably as light and dark, the bond forged between them grows stronger. In their battle for dominance, only one of them can win… but perhaps they can’t survive without each other.Natasha Siegel''s fantasy debut is full of transporting historical detail, with thrilling twists and an abiding, thought-provoking romance that feels at once epic and deeply personal. Ambitious, gothic, and magical, As Many Souls as Stars is about the lengths we go to protect ourselves, our legacy, and those we love.

A detailed re-examination of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Day of Infamy that saw the USA enter World War II.In this the first comprehensive treatment of Pearl Harbor since the early 1990s. respected Pacific War naval historian Mark E. Stille traces the road to war and the Japanese attack itself. He examines the role of the man behind the operation, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the plan. The American preparations for an attack are also carefully reviewed. The heart of the book is a comprehensive narrative of Pearl Harbor along with an appreciation of its results placed in proper perspective.In common with many of the major campaigns of the Pacific War, many myths surround the Battle of Pearl Harbor, and, amongst others, Mark explores and dismantle the myth of Yamamoto as a military genius, as well as the myth that the attack was brilliantly planned. Long regarded as brilliant strike, Mark argues in Pearl Harbor that the attack was instead a tactical disappointment, an operational failure and a strategic disaster.

''A masterpiece of nostalgia, magic and warm-hearted storytelling... [It] will keep 4+ year olds enchanted for hours'' School Reading ListCosta and Carnegie winning author and artist’s timeless, enchanting picture book, about shopping with the fairies in Silverbell Street.In Silverbell Street the shops are always open, if you believe in fairies. You can buy a cloak of invisibility or magic lamp, an umbrella that will transport you to the stars, eat flying fairy cakes at the Foxglove Restaurant, or join the fairies as they try on sparkly new dancing shoes and ball gowns and much much more. Familiar giants, fairies and witches will encourage children to find characters hidden in the illustrations.A beloved picture book, updated and modernised for a new generation.

Join the Woodland Explorers Club to solve mysteries and protect the animals and trees of Willow Wish Wood. Six magical stories for 6+ inspiring learning through nature.Since breaking her arm in a cycling accident, Fujiko misses playing her violin and something strange is going on with the sounds she hears. Instead of tweeting birds and rustling leaves, she keeps hearing tyre screeches and sirens. When the Woodland Explorers find a fox living in the woods, Fujiko discovers they have a special connection. Friends, fireworks, foxes and an autumn festival all play a part in Fujiko’s story as she recovers from her accident and music returns to her life. Includes exciting Super Woodland Facts on animal camouflage, foxes and hibernation. Join the Explorers on their next adventure Trix''s Tree House publishing in May 2026!

The thrilling new historical adventure in the Master of War series. Sir Thomas Blackstone must travel into enemy lands with a price on his head as he seeks to secure alliances and gold for the Plantagenets'' war with France.1368. Amidst the Hundred Years'' War, alliances must be brokered. The Duke of Clarence, second son of King Edward III, journeys from Paris to marry the daughter of the powerful Lord of Milan. Little does he know that he is heading into a trap.Luckily the Duke is preceded on the road to Milan by Sir Thomas Blackstone, Master of War, on an urgent mission of his own. Blackstone must get his hands on the gold the Prince of Wales needs to wage successful war in France. But there is a price on Blackstone''s head, and assassins willing to risk everything to claim it before he even gets to Milan. He must outwit a succession of ever deadlier enemies, and the Master of War has other foes to conquer: the ambitions of his son Henry, who has inherited his father''s knack of getting into scrapes. Scrapes that could end in a hangman''s noose...Reviews for David Gilman''Page-turning and gritty'' Daily Mail''Heart-pounding action'' The Times''Gripping'' Wilbur Smith''Vivid and inventive'' Sunday TimesIf you''re a fan of historical fiction you''ll be a fan of David Gilman'' Weekend Sport''Gilman is a master author'' Army Rumour Service''Marvellous. The Hundred Years War brought alive'' For Winter Nights

A thrilling new adventure story inspired by Irish folklore from Sophie Kirtley, author of The Wild Way Home. Perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson''s The House with Chicken Legs, Amy Wilson''s A Girl Called Owl and Aisha Bushby''s A Pocketful of Stars.Pip lives with Mum in their isolated cottage on the wetlands. Pip struggles to feel like he fits in at school. But at home, amongst nature, he truly feels he can be himself.Just like every winter, Pip is waiting for the swanfall – when the flock of majestic Arctic swans return from Siberia on their annual migration. He knows every swan by their unique markings, and he loves to help Mum record the flock as they soar, shining through the sky, to their home. But this December, Pip’s favourite three swans haven’t appeared. Instead, Pip notices strange footprints in the snow, whispers on the wind and the sense that someone is watching him.Something mysterious is afoot, and the adventure to discover the truth leads Pip to follow clues to an ancient curse that he had always believed was simply a fairytale …

The Cruel Prince meets Powerless in this dark academia romantasy that will tattoo itself onto your heart.In the cursed Kingdom of Aragoa, the punishment for magic is death.Even the students at Vandenberghe Academy aren''t spared. When Viola Sinclair''s deadly shadow magic is discovered, the queen gives her assassin a new assignment and a new cursed tattoo: a seven-thorned rose on his arm for the seven days he has to hunt Viola down and kill her. If he doesn''t, he will be the one to die.The assassin is Roze Roquelart - entitled prince, arrogant fellow student, and the one person Viola hates more than anyone. Roze should revel in the chance to end her life, but he desperately needs something from Viola and her magic. And he’s willing to spare her life - and fake their engagement - to get it. Forced to work together, Viola and Roze must contend with deadly threats, dangerous secrets, and an impossible attraction. Will they give in to their deepest desires, even if it means destroying Aragoa - and risking both their lives?HER WORST ENEMY. HIS ONLY CHANCE.Be swept away by the sizzling, irresistible enemies-to-lovers romantasy with magic more destructive than your darkest nightmares.