In this poignant memoir, Charles Spencer recounts the trauma of being sent away from home at age eight to attend boarding school.A Very Private School offers a clear-eyed, first-hand account of a culture of cruelty at the school Charles Spencer attended in his youth and provides important insights into an antiquated boarding system. Drawing on the memories of many of his schoolboy contemporaries, as well as his own letters and diaries from the time, he reflects on the hopelessness and abandonment he felt at aged eight, viscerally describing the intense pain of homesickness and the appalling inescapability of it all. Exploring the long-lasting impact of his experiences, Spencer presents a candid reckoning with his past and a reclamation of his childhood.
'As gripping as any thriller. History doesn't get any better than this' BILL
BRYSON 'A brilliant read ... Game of Thrones but in the real world' ANTHONY
HOROWITZ
How did the most wanted man in the country outwit the greatest manhunt in British history? In January 1649, King Charles I was beheaded in London outside his palace of Whitehall and Britain became a republic. When his eldest son, Charles, returned in 1651 to fight for his throne, he was crushed by the might of Cromwell's armies at the battle of Worcester. With 3,000 of his supporters lying dead and 10,000 taken prisoner, it seemed as if his dreams of power had been dashed. Surely it was a foregone conclusion that he would now be caught and follow his father to the block? At six foot two inches tall, the prince towered over his contemporaries and with dark skin inherited from his French-Italian mother, he stood out in a crowd. How would he fare on the run with Cromwell's soldiers on his tail and a vast price on his head? The next six weeks would form the most memorable and dramatic of Charles' life. Pursued relentlessly, Charles ran using disguise, deception and relying on grit, fortitude and good luck. He suffered grievously through weeks when his cause seemed hopeless. He hid in an oak tree - an event so fabled that over 400 English pubs are named Royal Oak in commemoration. Less well-known events include his witnessing a village in wild celebrations at the erroneous news of his killing; the ordeal of a medical student wrongly imprisoned because of his similarity in looks; he disguised himself as a servant and as one half of an eloping couple. Once restored to the throne as Charles II, he told the tale of his escapades to Samuel Pepys, who transcribed it all. In this gripping, action-packed, true adventure story, based on extensive archive material, Charles Spencer, bestselling author of Killers of the King, uses Pepys's account and many others to retell this epic adventure.
Will Benson, a former showbiz writer turned soft-porn publisher, enjoys a seemingly idyllic life with his wife, Kim. However, his marriage has its complexities, leading him to seek companionship outside of it. During one of these escapades, he encounters a troubling situation involving another patron, thrusting him into an unexpected role as a reluctant private investigator. This blend of humor and intrigue highlights the challenges of his personal life while navigating the seedy underbelly of London.
Will Benson, a former showbiz writer turned soft-porn publisher, enjoys a seemingly perfect life with his wife Kim. However, his marriage has its complexities, leading him to visit a 'tart with a heart' in Pimlico. During one such visit, he encounters a situation that compels him to step into the role of an unwitting private investigator. This unexpected turn reveals the challenges and intrigues of his new life, blending humor and mystery as he navigates the murky waters of desire and deception.
Life on Theatre World offers both pleasures and challenges for Will Benson, primarily revolving around his attraction to Kim, the chief sub-editor. He faces the aftermath of wild Tuesday nights, difficult coworkers like the abrasive receptionist Martha and the obnoxious star reporter Colin, and the burden of critiquing pretentious avant-garde performances in unappealing venues. Adding to the chaos are ominous death threats that complicate his already tumultuous existence in the world of theatre journalism.
On August 18, 1648, with no relief from the siege in sight, the royalist garrison holding Colchester Castle surrendered and Oliver Cromwell's army firmly ended the rule of Charles I of England. To send a clear message to the fallen monarch, the rebels executed four of the senior officers captured at the castle. Yet still, the king refused to accept he had lost the war. As France and other allies mobilized in support of Charles, a tribunal was hastily gathered and a death sentence was passed. On January 30, 1649, the King of England was executed. This is the account of the fifty-nine regicides, the men who signed Charles I's death warrant
