British Culture

The Art of Being British is your hilariously insightful guide to mastering the quirks, customs, and glorious contradictions of British life. Whether you’re moving to England, visiting the UK, or marrying a Brit, this laugh-out-loud book is the perfect crash course in understanding what makes Britain so wonderfully peculiar.

The loss of America was a stunning and unexpected defeat for the powerful British Empire. Common wisdom has held that incompetent military commanders and political leaders in Britain must have been to blame, but were they? This intriguing audiobook makes a different argument. Weaving together the personal stories of ten prominent men historian Andrew O'Shaughnessy dispels the incompetence myth and uncovers the real reasons that rebellious colonials were able to achieve victory.

Five Foreigners. Two Brits. And One Island Of Delightfully Bonkers Traditions. Joana and Brian thought showing off England to their foreign guests would be easy: rolling hills, a few sheep, maybe a castle. Instead, they’re herding five wide-eyed travellers straight into the wonderfully eccentric world of British life. How do you explain a country where people apologise to lampposts, pull faces through horse collars, and race in mud dressed as maids? Where bathroom light switches hide in hallways, compliments spark panic, and adults parade with flaming barrels on their heads? And that’s ...

Few figures in modern British music have navigated as many transformations—or inspired as many generations—as Paul Weller. From his beginnings in Woking in the late 1950s to his rise as leader of The Jam during the punk explosion of 1977, Weller has been more than a songwriter. He has been a cultural compass. His lyrics have documented working-class life, Thatcher-era disillusionment, and the enduring search for authenticity. His guitar attack carried the velocity of punk, yet his aesthetic drew on the sharp codes of mod style, setting him apart from contemporaries. This biography ...

The man known as Cheradenine Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances' foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks and military action. The woman known as Diziet Sma had plucked him from obscurity and pushed him towards his present eminence...

As complex, turbulent and spectacular as the gas giant on which it is set, this novel from Iain M. Banks is space opera on a truly epic scale. “An enormously enjoyable book, full of wonderful aliens, a sense of wonder and subtle political commentary on current events.” –Publishers...

UPDATED: Travel writer, photographer and sea kayak guide Mike Laanela set off on a solo kayak trip down the remote west coast of Vancouver Island. Along the way he discovered a region rich in history, culture and adventure. Join him on his journey of discovery along this fascinating coast.

The History of Australia: From Indigenous Origins to a Modern Nation Australia is called the “land down under,” but how much do you really know about its past? Did you know that modern Australia started as a British prison colony? Or that for tens of thousands of years before that, Indigenous peoples lived there, building rich cultures and traditions? This book takes you through Australia’s history, from its first inhabitants to the arrival of European settlers to its fight for independence to its current role in world events. Learn about the convicts who built early settlements, the ...

Intriguing events happen in the bayou when Hollywood comes to town. Lauren’s gap year is supposed to be about making extra money and figuring out what to do with the next phase of her life. Realistically, it’s a break between taking care of her alcoholic brother and certified insane mother. She deserves to have some fun, and to find trouble. However, trouble follows Lauren, with its wicked sense of humor, and thought it would be fun to gift her two love interests, who happen to be rivals. Her first gift is Latin heartthrob Jackson Cruz. Along with his notorious reputation, he is a cocky...

What if you could live again and again, until you got it right? On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon...

“A delightful and fascinating book filled with insight and wit, which will make you think twice and cheer up.” — Steven Pinker In a bold and provocative interpretation of economic history, Matt Ridley, the New York Times-bestselling author of Genome and The Red Queen, makes the case for...

When Peter Mayle and his wife traded England's long, gray winters and damp summers for life in southern France, they entered an enchanting, wonderful, sometimes bewildering world. Now, share their adventures, pleasures, and frustrations: the joys and occasional hazards of wining and dining in...

*** New Star Trek Nation audiobook now available *** Reviews: A Visual and Conversational Journey: Star Trek Nation 5.0 out of 5 stars "From the moment I began reading "Star Trek Nation: An Englishman’s View of America," I knew I was in for a treat. As a visual learner, the plethora of graphics, illustrations, and photographs included in the book was not just a delightful surprise but a significant enhancement to my reading experience. The fact that Lyndon Smith, the author himself, crafted these visuals added an incredibly personal and authentic touch that resonated deeply with me. ...

The New York Times bestseller and International Phenomenon One of the Top Ten Books of 2015, Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times. "It's bloody marvelous." - Helen Macdonald, New York Times bestselling author of H IS FOR HAWK "Captivating... A book about continuity and roots and a sense of...

When you can’t hear…death comes silently. Scotland Yard detective Valerie Crowther is assigned to investigate the murder of a student at a university for the Deaf in London, England. The murder investigation coincides with a deadly flu virus outbreak, resulting in the university being quarantined from the outside world. When more Deaf students are murdered, it becomes clear there is a serial killer operating within the sealed-off university. A chilling cat-and-mouse game evolves as the unknown killer targets Valerie and the virus claims more lives. A stunning, claustrophobic, “...

A Century of Immigration: African Survival and Success Guide in Britain by Yemi Adesina is both a history and a handbook — a vital resource for African families navigating life in the United Kingdom. Drawing on over 100 years of migration history — from the Irish and Jewish arrivals, to the Windrush generation, to today’s African professionals and students — this book uncovers how each community faced hostility, exclusion, and prejudice, yet carved out belonging and left a lasting mark on Britain. It places the African journey in that wider story, showing how challenges of racism, ...

Queering the Ton: The Hidden Rules of Queer Survival in Polite Society A Revelatory Look at Gender and Sexuality in Georgian and Victorian Britain Hidden desires. Scandalous affairs. The secret lives of the elite. In the glittering salons and shadowed corridors of Georgian and Victorian Britain, a hidden world of queer love and longing quietly defied the rigid rules of polite society. Queering the Ton pulls back the velvet curtain to reveal the untold stories of those who loved in secret—and sometimes, in defiance. From the flamboyant fashion of Regency dandies to the intimate letters ...

Uncover the allure and depth of the Caribbean paradise known as Jamaica with the riveting eBook, Unearthing Jamaica. This immersive literary journey lifts Jamaica's vibrant history, values, and lifestyle, offering readers an unparalleled insider's perspective. From the deep-rooted origins of the Arawaks, this narrative unfolds the majestic, often tumultuous saga of this fascinating nation. Relive Columbus's arrival, the Spanish Occupation, and heady tales of golden age piracy. Delve deeper to experience the birth, growth, and impact of Reggae, the voice of the island. Indulge in an ...

“Warm-hearted, clear-minded, and unexpectedly spellbinding, Meet Me at the Museum is a novel to savor.” — Annie Barrows, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society In Denmark, Professor Anders Larsen, an urbane man of facts, has lost his...

Britain's empire has gone. Our manufacturing base is a shadow of its former self; the Royal Navy has been reduced to a skeleton. In military, diplomatic and economic terms, we no longer matter as we once did. And yet there is still one area in which we can legitimately claim superpower status: our popular culture.