Brian Aldiss

We were very sad to hear about the death of Brian Aldiss at the age of 92 this past weekend. One of the greatest science-fiction writers of his generation, ‘one of the most exhilarating aspects of reading Aldiss is the diversity of his imagination’ writes Christopher Priest in The Guardian. Like Philip Roth, Aldiss is credited with introducing a frank discussion of sexuality into the culture with The Hand-Reared Boy, a book every bit as transgressive and funny as Portnoy’s Complaint.

The Hand-Reared Boy is a landmark novel of our time. It was the first British novel to explore, frankly and with a gleeful honesty, the sexual awakening of a teenage boy. It was regarded as so outrageous that thirteen publishers initially refused to publish it. The Hand-Reared Boy no longer shocks, instead it stands as the classic novel of teenage self-discovery and the realisation of a young boy of love, and the fact that other people are more than sexual objects.

The Hand-Reared Boy  is the exciting opening to the Horatio Stubbs trilogy and provoked shock (Rachel Cooke writing in The Observer that it was “So filthy, I read it with the door of my office closed, as if afraid of being caught.”) as well as wide literary claim when it was longlisted for the 1970 Lost Booker Prize. A great book that holds up astoundingly well, it is an excellent entry point into this great writers work.

Brian Aldiss was a bestselling writer since the 1950’s, and was best known for his science fiction. He won every major science fiction award (as well as influencing the work of Stanley Kubrick), three Hugo Awards (1962, 1973, 1987) and two British Science Fiction Association Awards (1972 and 1982). In addition, he also published poetry and autobiography. He will be greatly missed.

Find The Hand-Reared Boy here: http://bit.ly/2xnIF9r

Archery Anatomy

Archery Anatomy by Ray Axford looks for the first time at archery techniques from the point of view of the interrelationship between the anatomy of the human body and the anatomy of the bow. By highlighting the primary power sources involved in the performance of the sport it enables coaches and archers alike to understand and perfect their skills in ways that use the natural movements of archer and bow in co-ordination.

Reprinted eight times, Archery Anatomy is the key book for the budding archer. Previous books have emphasised, quite rightly, the importance of the right mental approach to the sport – concentration, determination, motivation and visualisation. However, mental powers on their own are not enough to guarantee a good performance. Archery is a natural psychophysical motor skill that depends on efficient use of bones, joints, muscles and tendons. Archery Anatomy combines clear, accurate drawings and diagrams with explanatory text to provide a primer on the subject that is accessible even to those with no technological bias.

The book is not tied to any specific national or international rules; it can be used by archers throughout the world to gain an understanding of the bio-mechanics of the sport. Originating from the author’s awareness that the basic problems of most archers stemmed from their ignorance of these aspects, it should make an invaluable contribution to the overall improvement of performance standards.

Ray Axford took up archery in 1975 and qualified as a County Coach in 1982. He has coached throughout the South of the UK and has also lectured widely on human anatomy and biomechanics. He has provided illustrations for the National Coaching Manual and has written and illustrated articles for archery magazines.

“This is a book which everyone involved with the coaching or instruction of archery should possess, including those at the receiving end… The subject-matter and its presentation are such that they will still be valid for half a century hence, and probably for much longer.”

‘The British Archer’

Find Archery Anatomy here: http://souvenirpress.co.uk/product/archery-anatomy/

Nagasaki Publicity Round-Up

On August 9th, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

It killed a third of the population instantly, and the survivors, or hibakusha, would be affected by the life-altering medical conditions caused by the radiation for the rest of their lives. They were also marked with the stigma of their exposure to radiation, and fears of the consequences for their children.

Nagasaki follows the previously unknown stories of five survivors and their families, from 1945 to the present day. It captures the full range of pain, fear, bravery and compassion unleashed by the destruction of a city.

Nagasaki was published in paperback last week and has already garnered some excellent review coverage. Here’s what people are saying about the book:

 

 “In-depth interviews with five particular survivors who were all within the radius of the bomb’s impact on that fatal morning. Their graphic descriptions of the aftermath of the nuclear explosion read like something straight out of hell: staggering heat, spontaneous fires, tornado-force winds, scenes of utter ruin.”

‘Catholic Herald’

 

“Southard interviews Taniguchi and 12 others. On top of this, the book draws on the testimonies of those who rushed to help survivors in the aftermath, the people who tried to help Nagasaki rebuild and then manage the effect for years afterwards. It makes for devastating reading.”

‘Camden New Journal’

Find Nagasaki here: http://bit.ly/1ON1Iip

Uniquely Human

We are very excited to announce that Dr Barry Prizant has won the Dr. Temple Grandin Award for Outstanding Literary Work of the Year for Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism at the Autism Society 2017 Awards.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is now among the most commonly diagnosed developmental disabilities, affecting 1% of the population. Uniquely Human is based on 40 years of practical experience with schools, hospitals, families and academic study.

Dr Prizant’s revolutionary approach is to understand autism as a different way of being human. By understanding autistic behaviours as responses based on that individual’s experiences he seeks to enhance the child’s abilities, teach skills and build coping strategies for a better quality of life.

With a wealth of inspiring stories and practical advice Uniquely Human conveys a deep respect for the qualities in people with autism that make them special. Offering a compassionate and insightful perspective, this groundbreaking perspective that could be life-changing and uplifting.

This is essential reading for any parent, teacher or therapist of a person with autism. An internationally acclaimed expert who views autism not as a disability but as a unique way of being human.

Find Uniquely Human here: http://bit.ly/2f4PaG9

Nagasaki

On August 9th, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki.

It killed a third of the population instantly, and the survivors, or hibakusha, would be affected by the life-altering medical conditions caused by the radiation for the rest of their lives. They were also marked with the stigma of their exposure to radiation, and fears of the consequences for their children.

To mark the 72nd anniversary of Nagasaki, we are publishing Susan Southard’s excellent account of the event and its aftermath. Nagasaki follows the previously unknown stories of five survivors and their families, from 1945 to the present day. It captures the full range of pain, fear, bravery and compassion unleashed by the destruction of a city.

Susan Southard has interviewed the hibakusha over many years and her intimate portraits of their lives show the consequences of nuclear war. Nagasaki tells the neglected story of life after nuclear war and will help shape public debate over one of the most controversial wartime acts in history.

“Susan Southard’s remarkable book… This is indeed a topical but enduringly relevant testament and one that should be read as widely as possible.”
Jeremy Corbyn

 

“Our time to understand the survivors’ experience of nuclear war is running out. Only they can tell us what it was like and their lives are coming to an end.”
New York Times

 

“Does for Nagasaki what John Hersey did for Hiroshima… Takes us beneath the mushroom cloud with harrowing, damning, eloquent intimacy.”
John W. Dower, Pulitzer-winning author of Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of WWII

Published today, find Nagasaki here: http://bit.ly/1ON1Iip

The FitMama Method

We’re very excited to announce as part of #BookLoversDay 10 limited edition copies of The FitMama Method by Marie Behenna. Available at only £15 you can get your copy with a personalised inscription from the author herself by contacting souvenirpress@souvenirpress.co.uk or Direct Message @SouvenirPress on Twitter.

The FitMama™ Method: Your Complete Guide to Confidence and Fitness for Birth has been devised by Marie Behenna based on her own experience of pregnancy and birth, and her work as a personal trainer. It encompasses not only exercise but also advice on diet, nutrition, posture, recovery and general well-being.

Marie Behenna has been preparing pregnant women for birth, both physically and mentally, for over twenty years, and by following her unique programme of gentle exercises, you’ll find that you gain confidence and knowledge as your pregnancy progresses. The FitMama™ Method will guide you through the physiological changes of pregnancy, the choices you can make during labour and delivery, and how to ensure a full and swift recovery. You won’t need complicated equipment and you can perform the exercises in the privacy of your own home.

The FitMama™ Method includes advice to the expectant dad and many ‘what you should know’ tips from previous FitMama™ programme participants.

Here are some of the reviews of the book:

“A brilliant, no-nonsense resource for women looking for advice on staying active throughout their pregnancies.”                                                                                                   ‘Bodyfit’

 

“Aims to help pregnant women and new mums look after their bodies… Easy to read and reassuring… An excellent way to be informed.”   –      Parents in Touch

 

“This useful book provides pregnant women with the tools to understand their bodies, exercises for how to keep fit during pregnancy and outlines how being fit and active during pregnancy can aid a better delivery experience.” – ‘The Green Parent’

 

Telling Tales in Greek

We are very excited to publish Telling Tales in Greek by Lorna Robinson next month. A sequel to the acclaimed textbooks from the Iris Project Telling Tales in Latin and Distant Lands, Telling Tales in Greek is narrated by the chatty and wily Greek hero Odysseus, who introduces readers to some of the best-loved stories from Greek mythology.

‘I loved Greek myths and stories from a very young age, thanks largely to the Usborne Greek Myths and Legends, which my parents bought for me and my brother. I remember that it contained the most striking images and tales of strange creatures and vengeful gods. There was something unearthly and powerful about them, something that drew me in, and made me want to stay in that world to explore further.  A ghostly Cerberus, a huge minotaur with twisting horns, the faces of gods and heroes, all these looked out at me from those pages and lured me inside.’ – Lorna Robinson

Discover the tale of the Trojan War, and Odysseus’s long journey home: from the golden apple that sparked all the trouble, the great duel between Hector and Achilles as well as all the adventures, and weird and wonderful creatures, that Odysseus met along the way.

Along the way, readers pick up Ancient Greece’s alphabet and grammar, while exploring how Greek myths still speak to us today. Soham De’s illustrations bring the stories alive for a wide range of learners.

Telling Tales in Greek contain the vocabulary and grammar needed for the OCR Entry Level Greek qualification, making this book the ideal first introduction to Greek.

Here’s what people had to say about Telling Tales in Latin:

“Really inviting and engaging, with clear explanations and beautiful and fun illustrations by Soham De…an inviting, absorbing, and embracing learning experience…It’s a beautiful beginners’ book, the like of which most of us never had in the past, and I look forward to its success and the love that its students will have for it in years to come.” ‘The Classics Library’

 

“This would be an excellent choice of text to teach children aged 9 and upwards the rudiments of Latin, and as the book has all the vocabulary needed for the OCR exam, it is a very versatile text indeed.” ‘The Garden Window’ blog

 

Find Telling Tales in Greek here: http://bit.ly/2u4v2e1

Telling Tales in Latin: http://bit.ly/2obTyY6

Distant Lands: http://bit.ly/2vbCiYq

 

 

 

 

 

 

International Beer Day!

Happy International Beer Day! Did you know Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids while consuming a healthy amount of beer or that beer contains a high level of silicon which increases the calcium deposits and minerals for healthy bone tissue? Beer is good for you. What better reason to go out and grab a beer on this great day?

Another way to celebrate is with Down Beer Street by Mika Rissanen & Juha Tahvanainen, a history of the world seen through a pint glass. Discover the decisive role beer has had in the course of history, how it is central to many European cultures and customs, inspired art and, even, brought armies together in a ceasefire in the midst of world war. The history of beer stretches back as far as humans have engaged in agriculture, it has been a basic food as long as bread.

Beer is thought to even predate bread as a basic foodstuff, and the history of beer stretches from mankind discovering agriculture all the way up to craft beers. Archaeologists have found Stone Age vessels that were used for fermenting beer from grain, and it is found in cultures as diverse as Mesopotamia, Egypt under the pharaohs and Greece. Down Beer Street outlines the entire history of beer in 24 chapters.

Christianity (especially the role of Irish monks) made beer respectable and commercial brewing began in monasteries in the Middle Ages. Down Beer Street explores beer’s influence in 24 key historical moments, from Martin Luther’s Reformation (and his favourite beer) and Peter the Great’s modernisation of Russia to the rise of the Nazis and Heineken’s role in football history.

Includes potted histories of some of the world’s most famous beers, from Guinness to Carlsberg, Whitbread Bitter, Spitfire Kentish Ale, to Peroni Nastro Azzurro and, even, Ur-Bock Dunkel (once Martin Luther’s favourite beer).

A celebration of the quirky, and influential, Down Beer Street will appeal to anyone who has watched ‘QI’; in a series of short, entertaining chapters the authors provide a pint-sized history of the world.

Find Down Beer Street here: http://bit.ly/2pkLyns 

Amanda Waring and The Heart of Care

Did you catch The Victoria Derbyshire show this morning? Our very own Amanda Waring discussed the care homes shortfall on the programme. Care is a major issue in our society and Amanda’s words will enlighten and touch all who want to know more. You can find the programme here: http://bbc.in/2u3K4EL (the relevant section starts at 09:15)

The Heart of Care by Amanda Waring encourages all carers to look into themselves and question their attitudes, prejudices and behaviour. Combining anecdote, reminiscence, practical advice and role-model exercises that really work, Amanda Waring gently motivates and educates us all to be better carers. Acknowledging that the path can be hard, she includes tips and advice to keep carers engaged and motivated when the going gets tough. Essential reading for all who care for an elderly person, whether stranger or loved one, The Heart of Care promotes respect for the dignity and intrinsic worth of others, regardless of age or disability.

Don’t just listen to us, here’s what others thought of The Heart of Care:

“A timely reminder of the notion and importance of care in its most fundamental and basic terms, that of dignity, trust and compassion… Amanda Waring’s heartfelt enthusiasm… is certainly inspiring.” – ‘Journal of Community Care’

 

“A practical, supportive little book that would be of use to anyone caring for older people… its common-sense approach is refreshing.” – ‘Nursing Standard’

 

“Ways that could transform how we deliver care… promote better elder and end-of-life care.” – ‘The Lady’

 

“The author communicates her care and commitment in simple language… She communicates her message with clarity and passion… Her book will be helpful and stimulating in any care home.” – ‘Caring Times’

Information about Amanda Waring’s second book The Carers Bible will be announced soon so watch this space!