Michael O'Mara

The entertaining and accessible guide to the life and work of Shakespeare, celebrating over 400 years of his legacy.Known the world over and translated into innumerable languages, Shakespeare’s plays are as eloquent and as relevant today as they were more than 400 years ago. His works have been a permanent feature on school curricula for years, but with thirty-eight plays, over 150 sonnets and numerous other poems, there’s such a wealth of material it’s no wonder we sometimes forget the finer details.To Be or Not To Be is a fresh, new look at the Bard's work, showing how and why it remains such an integral part of popular culture and the English language. This is the ultimate guide to Shakespeare, covering everything from his characters, the essential plots and the famous lines to illuminating information on history’s most influential and renowned playwright.

Featuring a host of quotations displaying Austen’s sharp — and often wicked — social observation and satirical wit, this funny and wise book will strike a chord with fans of the author as well as readers new to her writing.In Celebration of Jane Austen, on the 250th anniversary of her birth. Lauded for her eloquence, observation and wry humour, Jane Austen was a novelist who was highly regarded and greatly celebrated in her own time. However, her appeal is as great as ever, and her insights remain as fresh and relevant today as when they were first published.Beautifully packaged and published to tie in with the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen‘s birth, this delightful and absorbing collection of thematic extracts from her beloved novels, such as Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion, as well as her letters, compiles the author’s sharpest, most profound and most amusing observations on human nature, money, marriage, life and society, and more. The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen is a charming tribute to a writer whose work will resonate for centuries to come.

Whether you paid much attention to the mathematics you were taught at school or not, the inescapable truth is that one day, an equation could just save your life.The real world is full of equations and a lot of our everyday decisions are calculated — we just don’t always realize it. And that’s ok — you unthinkingly use differentiation when you’re crossing the road between traffic and you will pretty much always make it to the other side safely. But what if you were plummeting to your death in a plane with no engine and you needed to know what size parachute to make from your cabinmate’s sari in order to jump and survive? Or you were in charge of pinpointing the origins of an important message from outer space? These entirely plausible real-life situations clearly require a little more thought. From how to work out the best guard configuration to protect a world-famous painting in the Louvre to saving the planet from total blackout during an energy crisis, Chris Waring demonstrates the mind-bending and humanity-saving beauty of equations.

Celebrate the phenomenal career of record-breaking superstar Ariana Grande.Ariana Grande has been hailed as one of the most influential celebrities on the internet, a pop icon, and one of the most prominent vocalists of her generation.Fully revised and updated, this revelatory and entertaining biography, published to tie in with the release of the upcoming film Wicked, tells Ariana’s incredible story. From her childhood in Florida and her teenage years on Broadway and Nickelodeon, to her chart-topping pop career and inspiring and uncompromising activism, this brand new edition is an all-access pass to fascinating details about Ariana.Written in an upbeat and accessible style, this in-depth biography explores every aspect of Ariana’s life and career to date, from her evolution as a triple-threat entertainer, the stories behind her record-smashing albums, her high-profile personal relationships, and her upcoming role as Glinda the Good in the film Wicked. It also includes a full-colour photographic plate section of Ariana performing and posing.A must-read for all her fans, this is the most complete portrait yet of one of the greatest singers of all time.

Is it true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? You might not think of yourself as ‘old’, but the truth is it’s no fun feeling left behind by the modern world. Take comfort: you are not alone, as this hilarious book affirms.From chatbots to the metaverse, cold callers to charity chuggers, there seem to be so many more confusing terms and frustrations now. You can’t buy a straight coffee anymore; and buying ‘a ticket’ for anything involves a degree in computer science and a QR code (whatever that is) — it’s no wonder we yearn for simpler times.So, lay down your laptop, kiss your mouse adieu and enjoy the funnier side of life with this hilarious — but at times horribly accurate — book, which brings together a whole host of anecdotes, quotes, quips and true stories about the vagaries of life in the modern world.

The Daily Mash, a British comedy institution since 2008, rips the p*ss out of everyone no matter what class they are, mistakenly believe they are or wrongly aspire to be. If you’re British, this book is for you.In Britain, everyone knows their place. And, to ensure they never leave their allotted slot in the class hierarchy, they abhor both those who imagine themselves better than them above and those they’re effortlessly superior to below. But are the upper classes venal fops who think only of titles and money? Are the middle classes as petty and pathetically status-obsessed as they appear? Are the working classes all white van drivers consumed by Ginsters pasties and Ralph Lauren polo shirts? The answers to all three questions, obviously, is ‘yes’. However, being British, we’re able to laugh at our own foibles and more importantly to laugh at all those other pr*cks.Whether you’re a member of Britain’s monarchy, aristocracy and political class, whether you’re a Mail-reading xenophobe terrified of immigrants or a Guardian-reading liberal terrified of Arts Councils cuts, or whether you have a proper job and support a lower-league football team, this is for you.

An entertaining and charming collection of stories, poems and quotes, in celebration of cats.For eons, cats and humans have enjoyed a special bond. With their aloof yet undeniably adorable personalities, they have long been the object of fascination and inspiration. This beautiful little book celebrates the quirks and mysteries of our favourite furry friends and how they have endured as our most beloved pet.Featuring feline facts and entertaining tales, alongside an array of quotations and poems to entertain and delight in equal measure, this collection is packed full of purrls of wisdom, perfect for any cat lover. Featuring charming illustrations throughout, Quotes and Tales is an essential companion for cat parents everywhere.

Paranormal expert Theresa Cheung shares 101 of the most mysterious and spooky true stories of hauntings from around the world together with the latest afterlife science and research, providing fascinating insight into our never-ending love affair with ghosts.Belief in ghosts is surprisingly common worldwide. Mysterious glowing orbs, unexplained chills, things that literally go bump in the night: signs of paranormal activity have reportedly surged during the pandemic. As have specialist investigators, organised ghost hunts, eerie podcasts, TV shows and reports of everyday hauntings. Sharing the details of some well-known and particularly mysterious hauntings together with some less-well-known tales and personal stories from her readers and listeners, Theresa explores these ghostly encounters through four categories of hauntings: residual, poltergeist, inhuman and intelligent. With an introduction to modern parapsychology, a look at the latest science that digs deeper into our never-ending love affair with ghosts, psychic-themed self-help advice and ghost hunting tips, Haunted World is a timely and entertaining journey through the thrilling world of afterlife research.

Explore the fascinating world of Greek and Roman history in this new entry in the bestselling Bite-Sized Chunks series.Perhaps more than any other period in history, the era of classical antiquity shaped the Western world as we know it today. From the pioneering schools of Greek philosophy to the far-reaching influence of the Roman Empire, so much of what we consider fundamental to our contemporary civilization can trace its roots back to Mediterranean Europe during this time.Divided into eight chapters, each covering an aspect of the classical world — the gods, heroes and monsters, rulers and government, war, art, philosophy, literature and science — this is the perfect primer for any reader looking for an introduction to one of the most captivating periods in history.With dozens of easy-to-digest entries on the most important people, events, art and mythology of the era, accompanied by maps and illustrations, The Classical World in Bite-Sized Chunks gives you everything you need to know about Greek and Roman history in one compelling and compact package.

Ever find yourself struggling to remember simple facts and rules? Is the ever increasing pace of life and glut of information challenging your memory? I Before E (Except After C) is full of memory aids to help you out. From well known rhymes such as the popular 'Thirty days hath September, April, June and November', memorable sayings including 'Spring forward, fall back', and mnemonics such as 'Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain', to a selection of more modern methods of boosting one's failing memory. I Before E is the definitive guide to help you to unjumble your mind and improve your ability to recall names, dates, facts, figures and events, and contains all the mnemonics you'll ever need to know.

Anything Goes, John's first book, gave you the story so far. I Am What I Am reveals more about the man behind the television sensation, focusing on John's unique approach to life and love. The book is filled with juicy titbits from behind the scenes of Doctor Who and Torchwood, along with heart-warming family anecdotes and personal revelations, plus John's perspective on fame and how it has affected him. Also containing exclusive details about John's forthcoming role in Desperate Housewives, I Am What I Am gives unprecedented access to the multi-talented man himself — an unmissable treat for any fan.

Roy Hudd's career began in the 1950s and since then he has worked with most of the major stars of the last forty years. Born in Croydon in 1936, his early life was turbulent. His father left home and his mother committed suicide during the war, leaving his formidable, but adored grandmother, to raise him, and it was she who gave him the title for this book. His big television break came with Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life with David Frost, John Bird and John Fortune and he also had a brief stint in the popular TV soap Coronation Street. His radio career includes the hugely popular The News Huddlines, which he starred in and ran for twenty-six years. With over thirty pantomimes under his belt, as well as many memorable Variety and West End performances, perhaps most notably as Fagin in Cameron Mackintosh's first production of Oliver!, A Fart in a Colander brings together some wonderful stories from his life, and sparkles with the fun and laughter Roy has brought to millions of people throughout his career.

One of the most exciting 'chase thrillers' ever published, and a huge influence not only on spy fiction, but on Hollywood as well, The 39 Steps is a book which has captured the imagination of audiences for decades. It was written by acclaimed Scottish author John Buchan, who inspired the writing of other great British novelists, including Graham Greene, Ian Fleming and John le Carré. The 39 Steps remains his most famous work. It is the first of five novels featuring Richard Hannay, an all-action hero with a steely determination and an extraordinary knack for getting himself out of sticky situations. The novel charts the electrifying story of an ordinary man caught up in a sinister international plot.

There are so many small things you can do to make a big difference in your career, and this book unlocks the tools to make that happen. In today's current economic climate, it is important to stay ahead of the competition, remaining employable, adept and confident in business. Buy Me! is a book that helps you do just that. Clearly and accessibly written by two business professionals, the book guides readers through ten easy steps to maximizing themselves and their success. Contains advice on how to: appear more confident; network and forge relationships; overcome obstacles in the workplace; take control; move outside your comfort zone; achieve job satisfaction, and much more. Whatever your career goals, in Buy Me! you will find the resources you need to sell yourself successfully every time.

For the mum who embraces motherhood and all that it entails, The Mums' Book is a humorous handbook on the ups and downs of being a mother. Featuring:recipes for the perfect fairy cakes tips on how to throw the best children's parties examples of the best games to play on long journeysadvice on the best ways to pamper oneselfPlus other invaluable, and bizarre, pearls of wisdom handed down from generation to generation. The Mums' Book is also a celebration of motherhood, a miscellany of hilarious anecdotes and survival techniques from the world's best mums. No mother should be without this informative and amusing guide!

With the recent scrapping of GCSEs fresh in everyone's minds, The O Level Book is the perfect book to settle that age-old argument between the generations: were the exams of yesteryear really harder than anything children have to face today in the age of calculators and spell checkers? Are contemporary kids less intelligent than previous generations? Here is the chance to find out as the whole family pit their wits against one another in the ultimate generation game, contrasting the schooling of yesteryear with modern educational practices. Testing you on a range of old-school topics: English Language; General Science; Geography and History; Household Cookery; Mathematics.A wonderfully nostalgic yet testing anthology, The O Level Book encourages you to dust off your slide rules and get your thinking caps on to see who will come out on top in your family!

«The Most Evil Secret Societies in History» examines fifteen of the most notorious organisations the world has ever seen. These are; The Illuminati, an ancient association dedicated to establishing a 'New World Order'; Argentum Astrum, a black magic order formed by Aleister Crowley in 1907; The Thule Society, an Aryan brotherhood behind the Nazis; Muti Magic, practitioners of ritual murder; Ku Klux Klan, an American white supremacist cadre; The Tongs, violent Chinese society linked to organised crime; Solar Temple, international suicide sect uncovered in the 1990s; The Hashishim, a murderous Muslem sect at the time of the Crusades; The Mau Mau, a ruthless tribal society in pre-Independence Kenya; Aum Shinrikyo — Japanese terrorist survivalists; Odessa, a Nazi organisation perpetuating the vendetta against the Jews; SPK, an anarchist terrorist group active in the 1960s and 70s; The Thugees, Indian devotees of Kali, the Goddess of Death; Camorra, a clandestine Italian network with Mafia links; and The Hell Fire Club, 18th Century English aristocrats dabbling in sex and politics.

Pull up a seat and take a pit stop with this amusing toilet book. The Loo Companion is a hilarious and entertaining addition to any bathroom, guaranteed to expand your mind and make you laugh whenever nature calls. This book contains pages of trivia, news stories, historic references, quotes, anecdotes, statistics, sudoku, jokes, quizzes, puzzles, and more … all written in bitesized chunks, perfect for the reader to dip into — however long they're otherwise 'engaged'. Filled with humorous facts about toilet-related activity, as well as a compendium of some more generic humour, there is something for everyone. So whenever you're going to see a man about a dog, this book will guarantee you'll never be bored and keep you glued to your seat.

Calling all men — have you started buying your jeans for comfort rather than style? Do you prefer to watch the football in your favourite armchair rather than at the pub? Have you recently found yourself enjoying Gardeners' Question time or thinking about joining the National Trust? STOP! It's official. You are turning into your dad. This hilarious book is packed full of stories, advice, amusing quotes and more, designed to help men of all ages spot those unthinkable, yet inevitable signs that you are, in fact, becoming like your dad. An ideal book for those men who are old before their time, and those who are just getting on a bit, it will either have them embracing their inner dad or running in the opposite direction.

Over the past year we have seen the humble, inquisitive meerkat take over the world, and in Where's the Meerkat? that is literally the case. A family of meerkats are making a round-the-world trip, visiting some of the world's most famous and popular places and your task is to spot them in the crowd. Each page is intricately illustrated in full colour with a checklist of items and people to spot along with the meerkats.