Elliott & Thompson

One woman. One ship. One astonishing true story. Summer 1856. Nineteen-year-old Mary Ann Patten and her husband, Joshua, are young and ambitious. Both from New England seafaring families, they have already completed their first voyage around the world with Joshua as captain. Their dream of building a home and a family is almost within reach, but the price is one last dangerous transit - a race to deliver supplies to the other side of the country. And there is no alternative but to sail all the way around. Yet as their ship leaves New York, navigating towards the jagged coastline of South America, Joshua falls ill, confined to his bunk and delirious. The treacherous first mate is imprisoned in the brig for insubordination, and with no obvious option for a new captain, Mary Ann steps into the breach. Within days she has put down a mutiny and must now attempt to steer this 216' clipper ship laden with the modern equivalent of $11 million of cargo through Drake's Passage and around Cape Horn - the most treacherous waters in the world. To the Edge of the World is the true story of one woman who, when faced with impossible odds, would do all that was necessary to survive.

If you want to understand what’s happening to the world economy, start right here. It used to take blockades and sieges to ravage a rival’s economy. Now, a single statement posted online by the US government can bring a nation to its knees. Chokepoints is a gripping behind-the-scenes account of one of the most pivotal geopolitical shifts of our time. Drawing on extensive research, personal experience and interviews with key players, Edward Fishman, a former top US State Department official, takes us deep into the back rooms of power around the world. He reveals how sanctions, tariffs and control over modern-day chokepoints – such as the US dollar, advanced microchip technology and critical energy supply chains – have become the primary weapons of twenty-first-century geopolitics. This is the epic story of how America turned economics into a weapon – and how China, Europe and Britain are now doing the same. Urgent and brimming with rare insight, Chokepoints is the definitive guide to the Age of Economic Warfare.

A fascinating exploration of the rich and varied cultural worlds shaped by the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po Three of Europe's greatest rivers share the same geological cradle: one fertile patch of Alpine ice in the jagged heights of central Switzerland. Coursing down through the peaks, the Rhine, the Rhone and the Po gave birth to three different European cultures - German, French and Italian - as they flowed across the continent. From this shared geological cradle, these waterways have shaped the landscape, influenced the pattern of towns and cities, laid the foundation for economies and created an intricate network of transport, trade and agriculture. From the Romanesque buttresses and vines of Provence to the Wagnerian music of the Rhine and the artistic miracles of Lombardy, the heart of Western Europe - its languages, religion, philosophy, science, politics and art - has been nourished by these waters. Setting off in the dramatic mountain landscape where this story begins, acclaimed historian Robert Winder traces the rivers' journeys from their increasingly fragile glacial sources, revealing in shimmering detail their impact on Europe's rich history as they flow towards the sea.

THE PHENOMENAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER - 3 MILLION COPIES SOLD The iconic bestseller Prisoners of Geography, now fully updated with brand new content to reflect the changing global geopolitical landscape since it was first published in 2015 'One of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine.' Evening Standard Prisoners of Geography is the book people need to understand what's happening in the news today, from China's ambitions to the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Bestselling author and geopolitics expert Tim Marshall looks at the past, present and future to offer crucial insights into one of the major factors that determines world history - because if you don't know geography, you'll never have the full picture. This completely revised and updated edition brings the classic text up to date with the events and trends of the past decade, with new material including: the Russia-Ukraine war and Moscow's alliances with authoritarian states the conflicts in the Middle East China's growing military and strategic power, and its stance on Taiwan American global power and pivot to the Pacific Europe's leaning towards more extreme politics, increased defence spending, and the new 'Iron Curtain' Japan's remilitarisation and increasing power great power play in Africa the growth of Indian economic and military strength Read Tim Marshall's geopolitical primers (Prisoners of Geography, The Power of Geography and The Future of Geography) to understand what's happening in our fast-changing world. *Want to test your world knowledge? Challenge friends and family with Prisoners of Geography: The Quiz Book, and discover who is the ultimate armchair explorer! *

OUT APRIL 2025! The iconic bestseller Prisoners of Geography, updated with brand new content to reflect the changing global geopolitical landscape since it was first published 10 years ago. A STANFORDS BOOK OF THE MONTH Just how good is your world knowledge? Challenge friends and family with this interactive quiz book and discover who is the ultimate armchair explorer. 'Like having a light shone on your understanding' - Evening Standard on Prisoners of Geography Do you know your continents from your countries, your landmarks from your latitudes, your mountain ranges from your rivers? Put your geographical and political knowledge to the test and discover your geography IQ with bestselling geopolitical author Tim Marshall. Covering every area of the globe, Prisoners of Geography: The Quiz Book tests your trivia with a variety of questions, puzzles, word games and maps, designed to challenge you whilst expanding your world knowledge. · Based on the #1 Sunday Times and internationally bestselling Prisoners of Geography · Over 300 questions, puzzles and word games to test your geopolitical knowledge · From geopolitics and foreign affairs commentator Tim Marshall, bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography, The Power of Geography, The Future of Geography and more. · For fans of Ordinance Survey Puzzle Book; Murdle; Bletchley Park Brainteasers; and GCHQ Puzzle Book Test your world knowledge with this interactive quiz book (answers below!)): 1. Which river begins in the Himalayas and ends in the Bay of Bengal? 2. Can you find the name of a zone in Europe in the anagram below? CHASE NEAR GEN (hint: 8, 4) 3. How many time zones are there at the North Pole? 1 or 24 4. Is Mars hotter or colder than Earth? 5. Australia is the driest continent on the planet, true or false? ANSWERS: 1. The Ganges 2. Schengen Area 3. 24 4. Colder 5. False, it's Antarctica

Division in society. The spread of misinformation. The rise of extremism. Centrism holds the answers. In an age of complex global challenges, extremism and populism offer a simple but fatally flawed narrative to a public craving a sense of normalcy. There is another way. Centrism has proven itself not only the most effective antidote to their dangerous brand of politics but also as a successful way to lead countries. Far from being an arbitrary middle point between left and right, centrism offers a coherent set of political ideas, principles and approaches - the importance of moderation and pragmatism; the embrace of complexity; the deep commitment to liberal democracy; the belief in equality of opportunity; and the belief that through balancing the tensions that exist in every nation we can make people’s lives better. It is about finding the most productive and effective balance between globalisation and local communities, civil rights and security, religion and democracy, free markets and protecting the weakest in society. Drawing together politicians, thought leaders and social commentators – from Tony Blair to Michael Bloomberg, from Malcolm Turnbull to Kathryn Murdoch - The Centre Must Hold contains a series of essays from those who have led from the centre or made significant contributions to centrist thought and policy-making, including former prime ministers, policy makers, ministers and leading journalists from across the world.

Why might an orangutan care which toothpaste you choose? What does your mobile phone have to do with wind turbines? And can your morning coffee really power a bus? Economics affects every aspect of our lives, from the clothes on our backs to the bread on our tables and the fuel in our cars. And there are huge changes afoot as the global green revolution sweeps across the globe. In this vibrant and eye-opening book, economist and broadcaster Dharshini David follows the course of an average day – from the moment we flick on the light in the morning – to reveal the green changes that are already taking place in every aspect of our world. Exploring industries such as energy, food, fashion, technology, manufacturing and finance, she asks what is happening, how quickly, who is driving it all – and what it means for us. Ranging from crucial issues such as sustainability and corporate greenwashing, to global flashpoints such as industrialisation and trade wars, she shows how even the smallest details in our day are part of a much bigger story about where our world is heading. If you’ve ever wondered what green issues really mean for your day-to-day life, this book is for you.

As the evenings draw in – a time of reckoning, rest and restoration – settle in with this new seasonal collection. Nature Tales for Winter Nights is a treasure trove of tales from across the natural world that puts winter – rural, wild and urban – under the microscope and draws us in close. From the late days of autumn, through deepest cold, and towards the bright hope of Spring, arctic traveller and poet Nancy Campbell brings together a collection of familiar names and dazzling new discoveries. Here are Inuit legends, Beth Chatto’s garden and Tove Jansson’s ‘The Iceberg’; artists’ private letters, Anne Frank’s diary and fireside stories told by indigenous voices. Join the naturalist Linneaus travelling on horseback in Lapland, frost fairs on the Thames and witch-hazel harvesting in Connecticut, experience Alpine adventure, polar bird myths and courtship in the snow in classical Japan and Ancient Rome. A hibernation companion, this book will transport you across time and country, bringing a little magic and wonder to every winter night.

Space: the biggest geopolitical story of the coming century – new from the multi-million-copy international bestselling author of Prisoners of Geography Spy satellites orbiting the Moon. Space metals worth billions. Humans on Mars within our lifetimes. This isn’t science fiction. It’s astropolitics. We’re entering a new space race – and it could revolutionise life on Earth. Space: the new frontier, a wild and lawless place. It is already central to communication, economics, military strategy and international relations on Earth. Now, it is the latest arena for human exploration, exploitation – and, possibly, conquest. We’re heading up and out, and we’re taking our power struggles with us. China, the USA and Russia are leading the way. From physical territory and resources to satellites, weaponry and strategic choke points, geopolitics is as important in the skies above us as it is down below. If you’ve ever wondered if humans are going back to the Moon, who will benefit from exploration or what space wars might look like, the answers are here. With all the insight and wit that have made Tim Marshall the UK’s most popular writer on geopolitics, this gripping book shows how we got here and where we’re going, covering great-power rivalry; technology; commerce; combat in space; and what it means for all of us down here on Earth. This is essential reading on power, politics and the future of humanity.

If trees have memories, respond to stress, and communicate, what can they tell us? And will we listen? A stunning international collaboration that reveals how trees make our world, change our minds and rewild our lives – from root to branch to seed. In this beautifully illustrated collection, artist Katie Holten gifts readers her visual Tree Alphabet and uses it to masterfully translate and illuminate pieces from some of the world’s most exciting writers and artists, activists and ecologists. Holten guides us on a journey from prehistoric cave paintings and creation myths to the death of a 3,500 year-old cypress tree, from Tree Clocks in Mongolia and forest fragments in the Amazon to the language of fossil poetry. In doing so, she unearths a new way of seeing the natural beauty that surrounds us and creates an urgent reminder of what could happen if we allow it to slip away. Printed in deep green ink, The Language of Trees is a celebratory homage filled with prose, poetry and art from over fifty collaborators, including Ursula K. Le Guin, Robert Macfarlane, Zadie Smith, Radiohead, Elizabeth Kolbert, Amitav Ghosh, Richard Powers, Suzanne Simard, Gaia Vince, Tacita Dean, Plato and Robin Wall Kimmerer.

So much of modern-day diplomacy still takes place behind closed doors, away from cameras and prying eyes. So what does this vital role really look like in today’ s world – and what does it take to do it well? From 2009 to 2014, Cathy Ashton was the EU’ s first High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security, effectively Europe's foreign policy supremo responsible for coordinating the EU's response to international crises. Arriving in Brussels as a relative novice to international diplomacy, she faced the challenge of representing the views and values of 28 nations during one of the most turbulent times in living memory. Decades-old certainties were swept away in days. Hope rose and fell, often in a matter of hours. From the frozen conflict of Ukraine to the Serbia-Kosovo deal, there were challenges, failures and moments of success. She encountered dictators and war criminals, and witnessed the aftermath of natural disasters, military action, and political instability. Working with US politicians and counterparts including John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and Bill Burns, she negotiated historic settlements, such as the Iran nuclear deal. An ‘ honest broker’ , she navigated the needs of opposing politicians to chart a path towards collaboration and stability. Now Ashton takes us behind the scenes to show us what worked and what didn’ t, and how it felt to be in ‘ the room where it happened’ . From Serbia to Somalia, Libya to Haiti, she offers essential insight into how modern diplomacy works, examining the tools needed to find our way through the many challenges we face today.

Hidden deep in the Bavarian mountains lies the picturesque village of Oberstdorf - a place where for hundreds of years people lived simple lives while history was made elsewhere. Yet even this remote idyll could not escape the brutal iron grip of the Nazi regime. From the author of the bestselling Travellers in the Third Reich comes A Village in the Third Reich: an extraordinarily intimate portrait of Germany under Hitler, shining a light on the lives of ordinary people. Drawing on personal archives, letters, interviews and memoirs, it lays bare their brutality and love; courage and weakness; action, apathy and grief; hope, pain, joy and despair. Within its pages we encounter people from all walks of life - foresters, priests, farmers and nuns; innkeepers, Nazi officials, veterans and party members; village councillors, mountaineers, socialists, slave labourers, schoolchildren, tourists and aristocrats. We meet the Jews who survived - and those who didn't; the Nazi mayor who tried to shield those persecuted by the regime; and a blind boy whose life was judged 'not worth living'. This is a tale of conflicting loyalties and desires, of shattered dreams - but one in which, ultimately, human resilience triumphs. These are the stories of ordinary lives at the crossroads of history.

Snow. Every language has its own words for the magical, mesmerising flakes that fall from the sky. In this exquisite exploration, writer and Arctic traveller Nancy Campbell digs deep into the meanings of fifty words for snow. In Japanese we encounter yuki-onna - a 'snow woman' who drifts through the frosted land. In Icelandic it is hundslappadrifa - 'snowflakes as big as a dog's paw' - that softly blanket the streets. And in Maori we meet Huka-rere - 'one of the children of rain and wind'. From mountain tops and frozen seas to city parks and desert hills, each of these linguistic snow crystals offers a whole world of myth and story - the perfect winter gift.

'I can't imagine reading a better book this year' Daily Mirror Tim Marshall's global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation's choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn't changed. But the world has. In this revelatory new book, Marshall explores ten regions that are set to shape global politics in a new age of great-power rivalry: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and Space. Find out why Europe's next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks as trouble brews in the Sahel; why the Middle East must look beyond oil and sand to secure its future; why the eastern Mediterranean is one of the most volatile flashpoints of the twenty-first century; and why the Earth's atmosphere is set to become the world's next battleground. Delivered with Marshall's trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity's past, present - and future. 'Another outstanding guide to the modern world. Marshall is a master at explaining what you need to know and why.' Peter Frankopan

'Quite simply, one of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine: reading it is like having a light shone on your understanding' - Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard, on Prisoners of Geography If you want to understand what's happening in the world, look at a map. Tim Marshall's global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation's choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn't changed, but the world has. In this revelatory new book, Marshall takes us into ten regions that are set to shape global politics and power. Find out why the Earth's atmosphere is the world's next battleground; why the fight for the Pacific is just beginning; and why Europe's next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks. In ten chapters covering Australia, The Sahel, Greece, Turkey, the UK, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Space, delivered with Marshall's trademark wit and insight, this is a lucid and gripping exploration of the power of geography to shape humanity's past, present - and future.

We love books. We take them to bed with us. We display them on our bookshelves. We write our names in them. They weigh down our suitcases when we go on holiday. We take them for granted. But there's much more to them than meets the eye. From how books feel and smell, to burned books, banned books and books that create nations, The Secret Life of Books is about everything beyond the words on a page. It's about how books - and readers - have evolved over time. And about how books still have the power to change our lives.