Tim Jeal is the author of acclaimed biographies. His memoir was shortlisted for a prestigious autobiography prize. He is also a novelist and a former winner of a significant literary award.
The narrative follows George, a temporary gentleman who enjoys a comfortable life with Ruth, an older woman he has taken from a wealthy peer. However, his idyllic existence is challenged by the strained dynamics with Ruth's two sons, creating tension and conflict in their household. The story explores themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of family relationships against the backdrop of social class differences.
With access to previously closed Stanley family archives, Jeal reveals the extent to which Stanley's career and life have been misunderstood and undervalued. Rejected by both parents and consigned to a Welsh workhouse, he emigrated to America as a penniless eighteen-year-old. Jeal re-creates Stanley's rise to success, his friendships and romantic relationships, and his life-changing decision to assume an American identity. Stanley's epic but unfairly forgotten African journeys are described, establishing the explorer as the greatest to set foot on the continent.--From publisher.
Written over a seven-year period to Charles V of Spain, Hernan Cortes' letters provide a narrative account of the conquest of Mexico from the founding of the coastal town of Veracruz until Cortes's journey to Honduras in 1525.
The story explores Harry's obsessive love for Dinah, who left him a decade ago to marry his friend. Despite the passage of time, Harry clings to an idealized version of Dinah that no longer aligns with who she has become. Driven by his fixation and a desire for closure, he embarks on a quest to reclaim her, highlighting themes of love, longing, and the struggle to confront the past.
The story follows Paul Carnforth, a young and affluent man who seeks to create a pop star as a testament to his own genius and a critique of society. His ambitious project aims to challenge his wife's skepticism about pop culture. However, as the pop star he crafts begins to gain independence and popularity, it poses unforeseen challenges, leading to a struggle for control between creator and creation. The narrative explores themes of ambition, creativity, and the complexities of fame.
The story revolves around Derek Cushing, an unassuming archivist in his thirties, who grapples with personal insecurities and fears of infidelity in his marriage to Diana. As he delves into his research on European expansion in East Africa, he also confronts his roles as a son and father, particularly in relation to his father Gilbert and son Giles. The narrative explores themes of identity, trust, and the complexities of familial relationships against the backdrop of Derek's academic pursuits.
Set against the backdrop of Cornwall, the story follows Leo, an only child, who invites his friend Justin for a summer filled with adventure. Their curiosity leads them to explore a mysterious 'spy ship', resulting in a thrilling encounter that not only impacts the boys but also significantly changes the life of Leo's mother, Andrea, as she meets Lieutenant Commander Mike Harrington. The narrative intertwines themes of friendship, adventure, and unexpected connections.
DIV An extensively revised edition of Tim Jeal's classic biography published to mark the bicentenary of the great explorer /div
Henry Morton Stanley was a cruel imperialist - a bad man of Africa. Or so we think: but as Tim Jeal brilliantly shows, the reality of Stanley's life is yet more extraordinary. With new documentary evidence, Jeal explores the very nature of exploration and reappraises a reputation, in a way that is both moving and truly majestic.