{"title":"Books by Gyles Brandreth","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780241544495","title":"What Goes Up White and Comes Down Yellow?","description":"\u003cb\u003e*A brand-new book of amazing, mind-boggling riddles, from the much-loved Gyles Brandreth, author of \u003ci\u003eWhat's Black and White and Red All Over* \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen first I appear I seem mysterious,\u003cbr\u003eBut when I am explained I am nothing serious.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat am I?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA RIDDLE!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWas that too easy? How about what goes ninety-nine BONK (a centipede with a wooden leg)? Or which famous book was written by Charles Chickens (Great EGGspectations, of course!).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this book you'll find a whole host of amazing riddles. Some will get you head scratching, some will make you laugh, and all are a lot of fun.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlus find out some brilliant riddling facts, and top tips on how to solve the trickiest brain-teasers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWritten by Master of Funny and Collector of Riddles Gyles Brandreth, this is the ultimate, riotous Book of Riddles!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Very funny and often outright silly' \u003ci\u003eGuardian \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eHave You Eaten Grandma \u003c\/i\u003eby Gyles Brandreth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43128946950322,"sku":"9780241544495","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780241544495_b9c37cf8-44be-43e9-a510-1164c0c3675e.jpg?v=1786012844"},{"product_id":"9780198749592","title":"The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the ultimate anthology of theatrical anecdotes, edited by lifelong theatre-lover Gyles Brandreth in the Oxford tradition, and covering every kind of theatrical story and experience from the age of Shakespeare and Marlowe to the age of Stoppard and Mamet, from Richard Burbage to Richard Briers, from Nell Gwynn to Daniel Day-Lewis, from Sarah Bernhardt to Judi Dench.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlayers, playwrights, prompters, producers--they all feature. The Oxford Book of Theatrical Anecdotes provides a comprehensive, revealing, and hugely entertaining portrait of the world of theatre across four hundred years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany of the anecdotes are humorous: all have something pertinent and illuminating to say about an aspect of theatrical life--whether it is the art of playwriting, the craft of covering up missed cues, the drama of the First Night, the nightmare of touring, or the secret ingredients of star quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEdmund Kean, Henry Irving, John Gielgud, Laurence Olivier, Ellen Terry, Edith Evans, Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren--the great 'names' are all here, of course, but there are tales of the unexpected, too--and the unknown. This is a book--presented in five acts, with a suitably anecdotal and personal prologue from Gyles Brandreth--where, once in a while, the understudy takes centre-stage and Gyles Brandreth treats triumph and disaster just the same, including stories from the tattiest touring companies as well as from Broadway, the West End and theatres, large and small, in Australia, India, and across Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43201516208306,"sku":"9780198749592","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":57685756117365,"sku":"9780198749585","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780198749592.jpg?v=1792598931"},{"product_id":"9780241483756","title":"Odd Boy Out","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJoin the beloved star of \u003ci\u003eJust a Minute, QI, Have I Got News For You \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e Celebrity Gogglebox\u003c\/i\u003e, Gyles Brandreth, in his long-waited, moving and hilarious autobiography\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTHE \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eBESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Hilarious, ribald, eye-popping, unforgettable, will make you laugh out loud' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Staggeringly brilliant, funny and touching, I loved it' \u003c\/b\u003eJoanna Lumley\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Warm, witty, charming. A moving and very affectionate family history. An enthusiast for life'\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e'I am what my childhood made me'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut what is that exactly, Gyles?\u003cbr\u003eWho are you? And why?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eOdd Boy Out \u003c\/i\u003eis an extraordinarily revealing account of growing up in an apparently well-to-do but always strapped-for-cash middle-class English family. But it is also far more than that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is about adventures - meeting princes and presidents, visiting Death Row in America, exploring the sex clubs of Copenhagen. It is a story of a boy blessed with wit, what he got up to, and the people he met growing up in the most wonderful city in all the world in those extraordinary years after the Second World War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor \u003ci\u003eOdd Boy Out\u003c\/i\u003e is about more than Gyles and his exploits: it is also a kaleidoscopic portrait of Britain from the 1950s onwards, featuring a cast drawn from politics, the media, swinging London, stage and screen, from Laurence Olivier to Twiggy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBy turns hilarious and moving, and chock full of unforgettable stories, \u003ci\u003eOdd Boy Out\u003c\/i\u003e is the unexpected and candid autobiography of one of the country's most unlikely personalities.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYet at root it is a powerful and passionate exploration of childhood - how our heritage, our parents and our upbringing make us who we are.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A whirlwind of witticisms and of funny tales, both short and tall . . .\u003c\/b\u003e 'I feel I have lived my life in a magic garden where the sun is always shining' he writes, and \u003cb\u003ein \u003ci\u003eOdd Boy Out \u003c\/i\u003ehe offers us yet another glimpse of that bright, shining sun' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eMail on Sunday\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43201660616882,"sku":"9780241483756","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780241483756_70cfc438-0254-47d1-a759-eed45e6f0f78.jpg?v=1786012659"},{"product_id":"9781405944557","title":"Dancing By The Light of The Moon","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover Dancing by the Light of the Moon, a collection of poetry to last you a lifetime - poems that will bring you joy, solace, celebration and love for every occasion\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Gyles has discovered the secret of finding happiness' DAME JUDI DENCH\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIncludes an updated chapter of poems to bring you hope and happiness this year\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e                  A POEM CAN . . .\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    Comfort · Challenge · Be a friend\u003cbr\u003e          Stretch your vocabulary\u003cbr\u003e      Help you sleep · Break the ice\u003cbr\u003e Find you a lover · Be utter nonsense\u003cbr\u003e   Console · Make you laugh - or cry\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e For every moment in your life there is a poem.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eDancing by the Light of the Moon\u003c\/i\u003e we have a remarkable collection of over 250 best-loved poems in the English-speaking world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAllow Gyles Brandreth to be your guide to not only the wonders of poetry - and there are many - but also its practical uses in everyday life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Whether seeking some words to reflect your mood, wanting to celebrate or mark an occasion or simply looking for lines of comfort and joy in difficult times, this collection has everything for readers of poetry both young and old, novices and old hands alike, will love and return to again and again.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Over 400 pages of top-notch poems by everyone from Shakespeare to Simon Armitage' \u003ci\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'A collection of poems that will transform your memory and change your life' Dr Max Pemberton\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43204338221234,"sku":"9781405944557","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781405944557.jpg?v=1786019729"},{"product_id":"9781444769593","title":"Philip","description":"This is the story of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - the longest-serving consort to the longest-reigning sovereign in British history. It is an extraordinary story, told with unique insight and authority by an author who knew the prince for more than forty years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Philip - elusive, complex, controversial, challenging, often humorous, sometimes irascible - is the man Elizabeth II once described as her 'constant strength and guide'. Who was he? What was he really like? What is the truth about those 'gaffes' and the rumours of affairs? This is the final portrait of an unexpected and often much-misunderstood figure. It is also the portrait of a remarkable marriage that endured for more than seventy years.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Philip and Elizabeth were both royal by birth, both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria, but, in temperament and upbringing, they were two very different people. The Queen's childhood was loving and secure, the Duke's was turbulent; his grandfather assassinated, his father arrested, his family exiled, his parents separated when he was only ten. Elizabeth and Philip met as cousins in the 1930s. They married in 1947, aged twenty-one and twenty-six.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Philip: The Final Portrait tells the story of two contrasting lives, assesses the Duke of Edinburgh's character and achievement, and explores the nature of his relationships with his wife, his children and their families - and with the press and public and those at court who were suspicious of him in the early days. This is a powerful, revealing and, ultimately, moving account of a long life and a remarkable royal partnership.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43204435280050,"sku":"9781444769593","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781444769593_229f923e-4512-4ab8-9437-a0632147f83e.jpg?v=1786021093"},{"product_id":"9781785947605","title":"A History of Britain in Just a Minute","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe story of us - without hesitation, repetition or deviation.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoin national treasure and \u003ci\u003eJust a Minute\u003c\/i\u003e regular Gyles Brandreth on a hilariously addictive romp through British history. This isn't just another history book - there's a catch! From Stonehenge and Boudicca to Megxit and Brexit, each topic is written in 60-second installments, without hesitation, repetition, or deviation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eA History of Britain in Just a Minute\u003c\/i\u003e celebrates key moments, people and places from our past: kings and queens, heroes and villains, triumphs and disasters, inventions and events, battles and bonnets, art, science, literature, entertainment, sport, gossip, and more. Some entries are uninterrupted minutes, while others feature challenges for repetition and even, er...hesitation. You'll even find other \u003ci\u003eJust a Minute \u003c\/i\u003epanellists occasionally grabbing the pen to regale us with their witty takes on history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou've never heard the history of Britain told quite like this. You'll enjoy every uproarious minute of it.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43205117444274,"sku":"9781785947605","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785947605_25401825-0705-4f11-9d9e-8546bcb5feac.jpg?v=1786026073"},{"product_id":"9780241582541","title":"Somewhere, a Boy and a Bear","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom Sunday Times bestselling author Gyles Brandreth comes the remarkable life of A.A. Milne and the bear who captured millions of hearts...   ‘Gyles Brandreth has a touching access to the secrets of the human heart’ The Times\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘Whatever subject an author chooses or has chosen for him, he reveals no secret but the secret of himself’ A A MilneWhen Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in print on Christmas Eve 1925, his creator had no idea that this bear, and the fellow inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood, would go on to capture the imaginations of people of all ages all over the world for the next hundred years.   In this new biography Gyles Brandreth tells the remarkable story of A A Milne – and of the ‘bear of very little brain’ who went on to become a global phenomenon.   Drawing on his friendship with Milne’s son, the real Christopher Robin, Gyles Brandreth has produced a revealing and intimate portrait of a prolific author whose legacy came to be defined by his most famous creation, and of the divided Milne family who for many years had a conflicted relationship with the iconic bear.   This is the story of a man, a boy and a bear – but it is also a gripping family drama, and a fascinating exploration of the complicated nature of growing up, and the impossible longing for a return to the enchanted places of childhood.   'A comprehensive portrait of Milne , going all the way back to Alan Alexander's idyllic childhood. An enchanted world of childhood happiness : that's the power of Winnie-the-Pooh , and that's why it will live on for another hundred years' The Times\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":57682787959157,"sku":"9780241582558","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":55897330418037,"sku":"9780241582541","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780241582558_565a34d1-3fe9-44ea-a9fa-a24aee80e30d.jpg?v=1792511671"},{"product_id":"9780099490876","title":"Charles \u0026 Camilla","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the definitive account of one of the most extraordinary stories of our time. Gyles Brandreth, acclaimed biographer of the Queen and Prince Philip, presents a unique portrait of their son, Charles, Prince of Wales, and of the one 'non-negotiable' love of his life, Camilla Shand, now Duchess of Cornwall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat are Charles and Camilla really like? What is their heritage? What has made them the way they are? This is both a revealing portrait of two unusual individuals and a family saga like no other, told with unrivalled authority and insight - and humour - by a best-selling writer who has met all the key characters in the drama: Charles, Camilla, Diana, their children, their families and their friends.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56223013405045,"sku":"9780099490876","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780099490876_f3b6911a-3b1a-4b5f-8589-1e2c2bce1795.jpg?v=1786011387"},{"product_id":"9780241540046","title":"What's Black and White and Red All Over?","description":"\u003cb\u003eLaugh yourself silly in this fantastic collection of jokes and riddles - the perfect gift for Christmas!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWHAT'S BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn embarrassed Penguin\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA sunburnt elephant\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA newspaper! \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDid those jokes make you laugh? Make you groan? Maybe a bit of both? There's a lot more where they came from. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCollected here by jokesmith Gyles Brandreth are some of the best and worst jokes ever (plus a few riddles to keep you on your toes).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom 'Knock, knock' to 'Waiter waiter', with some funny elephants and giraffes thrown in for good measure, there's also a bit of expert joke advice, so you can show others just how funny you can be!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Very funny, and often outright silly' \u003ci\u003eGuardian \u003c\/i\u003eon \u003ci\u003eHave You Eaten Grandma \u003c\/i\u003eby Gyles Brandreth \u003c\/b\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56229445075317,"sku":"9780241540046","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780241540046_8a7f439f-bc5d-4e02-baf9-713b31c88377.jpg?v=1786012747"},{"product_id":"9780719569302","title":"The Candlelight Murders","description":"\u003cp\u003e'As good as Sherlock!!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Just so entertaining to read!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'What joy! What a mystery! What a tale!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs his eyes adjusted to the gloom of the attic, he saw by the light of guttering candles, stretched out on the floor before him, the body of a young man, his throat cut from ear to ear . . . \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLondon, 1889: Famous writer Oscar Wilde is the toast of London town. But when the body of a young man of his acquaintance is found in a dark attic room, surrounded by candles, he knows he can't rest until the killer is behind bars. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppealing to fellow author Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the great Sherlock Holmes, the pair set out to solve the crime.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut unravelling a real-life plot is very different to writing one. Can Wilde and Doyle outsmart the murderer hiding in the shadows, before it's too late? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical mystery to transport you to the grand drawing rooms and back alleys of London. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReaders love \u003ci\u003eThe Candlelight Murders\u003c\/i\u003e: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I devoured this book in mere days and immediately moved on to the second in the series' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Exciting, fast paced, at times humorous and with a dramatic denouement at the finish just like any good murder mystery . . . A great read' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Entertaining, charming and evocative' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This series is just what I needed; immersive, funny, clever, educational, and easy to read in the best of ways' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes and of Oscar Wilde, this is the book for you . . . Wonderful . . . The mystery itself is intriguing and the answer is shocking' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreviously published as \u003ci\u003eOscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56294894731637,"sku":"9780719569302","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780719569302_3e8c49be-70ff-4d57-af77-dbf0c22e7163.jpg?v=1786014907"},{"product_id":"9780719569609","title":"The Ring of Death","description":"\u003cp\u003e'So amazingly good, I could not put it down' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'An inventive and highly enjoyable murder mystery' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWill a game of Murder at a dinner party turn deadly?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLondon 1892: Author Oscar Wilde has assembled friends and acquaintances for one of his Sunday Supper Clubs, among their number is his great friend and creator of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle. Mid-way through the evening, a game is proposed: each guest must write down the name of the person they would most like to kill.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut soon, the fictional victims begin to die one-by-one in mysterious circumstances - in the order their names were drawn during the game.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith growing horror, Wilde and Doyle realise that one of their guests must be the murderer. Trapped in a race against time, they must uncover the killer's identity before they can complete their final move . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA wonderfully witty and addictive cosy historical mystery that presents the reader with an intricate puzzle to solve. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReaders are gripped by \u003ci\u003eThe Ring of Death\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Crackles with wit, tension, mysteries, and is reminiscent (but dare I say better) than the Sherlock Holmes canon' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Oscar Wilde is solving crimes while rubbing elbows with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle . . . What's not to like?' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This book had everything I love in a story: historical detail, cleverness, wonderful conversational by-play . . . BRAVO!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreviously published as \u003ci\u003eOscar Wilde and the Ring of Death\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56294894829941,"sku":"9780719569609","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780719569609_8ada2bd4-f966-4419-9235-ecc66979897c.jpg?v=1786014909"},{"product_id":"9780719520624","title":"Something Sensational to Read in the Train","description":"This is a diary packed with famous names and extraordinary stories.  It is also rich in incidental detail and wonderful observation, providing both a compelling record of five remarkable decades and a revealing, often hilarious and sometimes moving account of Gyles Brandreth's unusual life - as a child living in London in the 'swinging' sixties, as a jumper-wearing TV presenter, as an MP and government whip, and as a royal biographer who has enjoyed unique access to the Queen and her family. Something Sensational to Read on the Train takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride from the era of Dixon of Dock Green to the age of The X Factor, from the end of the farthing to the arrival of the euro, from the Britain of Harold Macmillan and the Notting Hill race riots to the world of Barack Obama and Lewis Hamilton. With a cast list that runs from Richard Nixon and Richard Branson to Gordon Brown and David Cameron - and includes princes, presidents and pop stars, as well as three archbishops and any number of actresses - this is a book for anyone interested in contemporary history, politics and entertainment, royalty, gossip and life itself.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56295301054837,"sku":"9780719520624","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780719520624_5e236d1c-b934-429c-8fed-7e3a13abc593.jpg?v=1786014818"},{"product_id":"9780719569906","title":"The Dead Man's Smile","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Another amazing mystery that kept me turning the pages! . . . Wonderful!'\u003c\/b\u003e Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe City of Light is about to turn dark . . .\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eParis, 1883:\u003c\/b\u003e The writer \u003cb\u003eOscar Wilde\u003c\/b\u003e has come to the French capital to be inspired by fellow writers and artists, soon befriending a troupe of actors as they prepare for their opening night of \u003ci\u003eHamlet\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut when a member of the theatre's crew is found dead, Wilde questions if this is in fact the accident it appears to be.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe begins to realise that dark secrets are waiting in the wings . . . And as the killer takes yet more innocent victims, the clock is ticking to catch them before the final curtain . . .  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical mystery that uncovers the secrets lurking behind the glitz and glamour of Paris in the 1880s. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReaders are gripped by \u003ci\u003eThe Dead Man's Smile\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eExciting and fast paced and full period detail\u003c\/b\u003e this is another great novel' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This series \u003cb\u003econtinues to amaze me\u003c\/b\u003e in the incredible level of biographical and historical detail of the lives and times . . . \u003cb\u003eAn intriguing and satisfying murder mystery'\u003c\/b\u003e  Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eI loved this book\u003c\/b\u003e. If you admire a \u003cb\u003equick wit, a bit of history and a mystery\u003c\/b\u003e, you might really enjoy this one' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eReally fascinating\u003c\/b\u003e! It combines Oscar Wilde with murder mysteries. It combines true facts with fantastic ones, and beautiful places in a wonderful era!' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eGyles Brandreth proves himself again to be an excellent historian and lover of mystery . . .\u003c\/b\u003e With a cast of vibrant stage actors, death after death and a mystery all tied up in the final pages, this makes for an excellent read for general lovers of murder mysteries and literature fans alike' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePreviously published as \u003ci\u003eOscar Wilde and the Dead Man's Smile\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56296891711861,"sku":"9780719569906","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780719569906_feffc0a4-76da-428e-b549-af9e8c30a93c.jpg?v=1786014911"},{"product_id":"9781405945080","title":"Have You Eaten Grandma?","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePedantic about punctuation or scrupulous about spelling? You'll love this hilarious and definitive guide to 21st century language from grammar-guru Gyles Brandreth. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Brilliant, clear, entertaining, very funny and often outright silly. Brandreth excels . . . in all his linguistic joie de vivre'\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy, like, does everyone keep saying 'like'? \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy do apostrophe's keep turning up in the wrong place? \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhy do we get confused when using foreign phrases - and \u003ci\u003evice versa?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIs it 'may be' or 'maybe'? Should it be 'past' or 'passed'? Is it 'referenda' or 'referendums'? \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFFS, what's happening to our language!?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOur language is changing, literacy levels are dwindling and our grasp of grammar is at crisis point, so you wouldn't be alone in thinking WTF! But do not despair, \u003ci\u003eHave You Eaten Grandma? \u003c\/i\u003eis here: Gyles Brandreth's definitive (and hilarious) guide to punctuation, spelling, and good English for the twenty-first century. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWithout hesitation or repetition (and just a touch of deviation) Gyles, the \u003ci\u003eJust A Minute\u003c\/i\u003e regular and self-confessed grammar guru, skewers the linguistic horrors of our time, tells us where we've been going wrong (and why), and reveals his tips and tricks to ensure that, in future, we make fewer (rather than 'less') mistakes. End of.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Is 'End of' alright? Is 'alright' all right? You'll find out right here . . . )\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Best thing ever, laugh-a-lot, spanning everything. Great book, I'm loving this' \u003c\/b\u003eChris Evans, BBC Radio 2\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298645258613,"sku":"9781405945080","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781405945080_bee6f0de-bd5e-45fe-8f2a-0e81c5e67ca6.jpg?v=1786019739"},{"product_id":"9781472152312","title":"Jack the Ripper: Case Closed","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLondon. 1894. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e'I am not a detective, chief constable.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e'No, but you are a poet, a freemason and a man of the world. All useful qualifications for the business in hand.'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e So says Police Chief Macnaghten to Oscar Wilde, in a Chelsea drawing room in the company of Arthur Conan Doyle. The business they are gathered to discuss is none other than the case of Jack the Ripper, the most notorious murderer in England.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And thus the three men set out to solve one of the world's most famous mysteries - the ultimate truth about the identity of Jack the Ripper. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eCase Closed\u003c\/i\u003e is Arthur Conan Doyle's account of the events of 1894, the year of the return of Jack the Ripper. Based on Oscar Wilde's real-life friendship with Conan Doyle and the extraordinary but little-known fact that in 1894 the detective in charge of the Jack the Ripper investigations was Oscar Wilde's neighbour in Tite Street, Chelsea, this is a revelatory and gripping detective story, combining the intrigue of a classic murder mystery with a witty and compelling portrait of one of the greatest characters of the Victorian age.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56301017071989,"sku":"9781472152312","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781472152312_6bd2ff70-3fab-4bd8-a804-d5543850af15.jpg?v=1786020377"},{"product_id":"9781473620292","title":"Word Play","description":"\u003cp\u003e'No matter how eloquently a dog   may bark, he cannot tell you that his parents were poor but honest.'  \u003cbr\u003e   Only words can do that. Words are magic.  Words are fun.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJoin Gyles Brandreth - wit and   word-meister, \u003ci\u003eJust A Minute\u003c\/i\u003e   regular, \u003ci\u003eOne Show\u003c\/i\u003e reporter, denizen   of \u003ci\u003eCountdown\u003c\/i\u003e's Dictionary Corner,   founder of the National Scrabble Championships, patron of The Queen's English Society\u003ci\u003e, QI, Room 101,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eHave I Got   News For You\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ePointless \u003c\/i\u003esurvivor - on an uproarious and unexpected magic carpet ride around the awesome world   of words and wordplay.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePuns,   palindromes, pangrams, M\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003ealaprops,   euphemisms, mnemonics, acronyms, anagrams, alphabeticals, Tweets, verbiage,   verbarrhea - \u003c\/i\u003eif you can name it, you should find it here, along with the   longest, shortest, wittiest, wildest, oldest, latest, oddest, most   interesting and most memorable words in the English language - the richest,   most remarkable language ever known.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56301216006517,"sku":"9781473620292","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781473620292_3736ea97-04f6-48b8-903b-265954ef3994.jpg?v=1786021191"},{"product_id":"9781780726397","title":"The 7 Secrets of Happiness","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eILLUSTRATED EDITION - UPDATED FOR MAXIMUM HAPPINESS!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eTen years on, Gyles Brandreth has learnt yet more about happiness... featuring a new introduction and charming illustrations, this little book attempts to answer a big question: How can we be happy?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Marvellous, brilliant, wonderful, best thing I've ever heard, transformational...'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThat was the response from a total stranger when Gyles Brandreth delivered the Happiness Lecture at Birmingham University. Someone else in the thousand-strong audience tweeted: 'The 7 Secrets of Happiness are amazing. Thank you Gyles Brandreth, wherever you are.'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWell, Gyles Brandreth is here now with those 7 Secrets of Happiness. The secrets are simple rules, easy to remember, but challenging to achieve. Gyles Brandreth found them when he set out on a journey looking for happiness and ended up in the psychiatrist's chair - with Dr Anthony Clare.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e happiness? Who gets to be happy? And how?\u003cbr\u003eThese are the big questions that Gyles Brandreth aims to answer in this little book. Research shows that happy people live up to ten years longer than unhappy people. This is a book that won't simply enhance your life: it will extend it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":57685845377397,"sku":"9781780726403","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781780726403.jpg?v=1792599055"},{"product_id":"9781785946837","title":"Prose \u0026 Cons","description":"\u003cb\u003e'A whirlwind tour of the joys of English, by the master of concision and wit.’ – Susie Dent\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e‘Gyles is very funny – and never lost for words!’ – Dame Judi Dench\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs fans of \u003ci\u003eJust a Minute\u003c\/i\u003e know, the key to the game is knowing your way around the English language: how it works, how it’s evolved, and how words connect, often in surprising ways. When it comes to the English language (and \u003ci\u003eJust a Minute\u003c\/i\u003e), Gyles Brandreth has seen it all – and now he’s ready to put you through your linguistic paces, to become a \u003ci\u003eJust a Minute\u003c\/i\u003e expert yourself.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this wildly entertaining A to Z of verbal acrobatics, Gyles takes you on a whirlwind tour of our mother tongue – from the origins of words and correct grammar and punctuation, to similes, euphemisms and record breaking tongue twisters (try getting your mouth around floccinaucinihilipification!). An idiosyncratic blend of history, word play, anecdote, and hyperbole, all in 60-second instalments, this is Gyles Brandreth at his word-perfect, \u003ci\u003eJust-a-Minute\u003c\/i\u003e best. You’ll never mix your metaphors again...","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305597219189,"sku":"9781785946837","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785946837_998d63eb-91e4-4720-b6d5-6d44853c5a5b.jpg?v=1786026047"},{"product_id":"9781803995540","title":"John Gielgud","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘A sense of delight permeates Gyles Brandreth’s John Gielgud: An Actor’s Life … Brandreth combines neat reportage, deft evocation and lovely tales about a man he knew and relished.’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e – \u003cem\u003eThe Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e‘A delightful memoir which tells you all you need to know and collects all the anecdotes.’\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e – \u003cem\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Gielgud was born in April 1904. When he died in May 2000, he was honoured as ‘the giant of twentieth-century theatre’.\u003c\/strong\u003e In this updated, acclaimed biography, Gyles Brandreth draws from over thirty years of conversations with Gielgud to tell the extraordinary story of a unique actor, film star, director and raconteur.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1921 Gielgud made his first appearance at the Old Vic in London and through the next eight decades he dominated his profession – initially as a classical actor, later in plays by Harold Pinter and Alan Bennett. In his twenties he had appeared in silent movies; more than half a century later, he emerged as a Hollywood star, winning his first Oscar at the age of seventy-eight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith wonderful anecdotes, and contributions from Kenneth Branagh, Alec Guinness, Paul Scofield, Donald Sinden, Judi Dench and Peter Hall, \u003cem\u003eJohn Gielgud: An Actor’s Life\u003c\/em\u003e is a compelling, humorous and moving account of a remarkable man.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307272941941,"sku":"9781803995540","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781803995540_c2618a46-2ed6-4e49-942d-66e8a85fce52.jpg?v=1786027262"},{"product_id":"9781848542495","title":"The Nest of Vipers","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A ripping yarn . . . A wonderful period murder mystery'\u003c\/b\u003e Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'What a whizbang, intelligent fun read! . . . A delight' \u003c\/b\u003eReader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSociety truly can be murder . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e1890: \u003c\/b\u003eFamous author \u003cb\u003eOscar Wilde\u003c\/b\u003e is a guest at a glamorous, high-society party hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Albemarle - even the Prince of Wales has turned up for the festivities.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut the evening ends in tragedy when the Duchess is found murdered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo one apart from the invited guests have entered the house; no one has left. And it is only Wilde and his friend \u003cb\u003eArthur Conan Doyle\u003c\/b\u003e, author of \u003cb\u003eSherlock Holmes\u003c\/b\u003e, who have seen the puncture marks on the Duchess's neck . . .  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDesperate to avoid another scandal, the Prince appeals to the two writers to investigate the crime and protect the reputation of the royal family.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut as they investigate further, the eerie details of the case threaten to pull them into a darker plot than they could have ever imagined . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical mystery that will send tingles up your spine. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReaders are gripped by \u003ci\u003eThe Nest of Vipers\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eA real rollicking read \u003c\/b\u003e. . . Entertaining on so many levels' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eThe fact that I read this book cover to cover in only a couple of sittings, tells you just how much I enjoyed every moment \u003c\/b\u003e. . . It has my highest recommendation' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eAnother cracking Oscar Wilde mystery \u003c\/b\u003e. . . A fast-moving novel and one I found hard to put down. Highly recommended' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This historical mystery is \u003cb\u003ehead and shoulders above most of the competition\u003c\/b\u003e in its field, elegantly written and paced . . . \u003cb\u003eI'm hooked\u003c\/b\u003e' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eVery funny, great yarn\u003c\/b\u003e. Love the historical mystery incorporating' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePreviously published as \u003ci\u003eOscar Wilde and the Nest of Vipers\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307911917941,"sku":"9781848542495","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781848542495_77877968-da5a-4393-be69-46859a16bd0e.jpg?v=1786028991"},{"product_id":"9781848542556","title":"The Murders at Reading Gaol","description":"\u003cp\u003e'Fantastic! Read this within a day, couldn't put it down!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Marvellous . . . with a twist at the end you will never see coming. Highly recommended' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe best place to solve a murder might be from behind bars . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1897: The famous author Oscar Wilde is cruelly imprisoned in Reading Gaol. Unable to write, he fears he will go mad.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut when a warden and the prison chaplain are found murdered, Wilde is suddenly thrown into his most difficult case yet.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll the inmates were confined to their cells when each murder occurred, ruling out all the prime suspects. But Wilde is sure there is a serial killer operating undetected within the gaol . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith limited resources and unable to trust anyone around him, he must uncover the truth before he meets the same untimely end . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical locked-room murder mystery set within the dark world of Victorian prisons. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReaders are gripped by \u003ci\u003eThe Murders at Reading Gaol\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'What a wonderful read!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'This book is grand fun' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Beautifully written and keeps you hooked all the way through' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I can't praise this book enough!!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fascinating story, very historical, captivating. Read this very easily and couldn't put it down' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreviously published as \u003ci\u003eOscar Wilde and the Murders at Reading Gaol\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308345766261,"sku":"9781848542556","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781848542556_152133d0-9d4c-4820-8326-d27a850a7f19.jpg?v=1786028993"},{"product_id":"9781849549158","title":"Breaking the Code","description":"\u003cp\u003eA surprise win for the Conservatives as the voters decisively reject a Labour leader deemed 'not Prime Minister material'? A Tory Party ripped apart by European civil war? A country rebounding from one of the worst recessions in living memory? Check, check, check.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the winners in an election victory nobody had predicted, back in 1992, Gyles Brandreth is no stranger to a poll-confounding, knife-edge Tory majority. Controversially, his gloriously indiscreet diaries revealed for the first time the secret world of the Government Whips' Office and its struggles to control a party riven by in-fighting over Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNow, as history looks set to repeat itself, comes the definitive edition of this widely acclaimed classic, featuring material originally excised for legal reasons, as well as additional diaries taking the story on another ten years. With candid descriptions of the key figures of the era, from the leading players to the ministers who fell from grace - and a bright young hopeful by the name of David Cameron - Breaking the Code paints an extraordinary portrait of Whitehall and Westminster in our time - warts and all.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308463993205,"sku":"9781849549158","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781849549158_858386a5-a571-4bea-9911-55d38d4235a4.jpg?v=1786029231"},{"product_id":"9781848542525","title":"The Vatican Murders","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An exciting period murder mystery'\u003c\/b\u003e Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'If you want a fun mystery to read, I highly recommend it'\u003c\/b\u003e Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Couldn't put it down!!'\u003c\/b\u003e Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoes death await you in The Eternal City?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e1892: Arthur Conan Doyle\u003c\/b\u003e is intrigued when he first begins to receive mysterious packages addressed to his famous fictional detective \u003cb\u003eSherlock Holmes\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut the contents of the parcels are as gruesome and cryptic as any case Holmes himself tackled: a lock of hair, a severed finger wearing a gold ring, and the hand of a dead man.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only clue to who has sent them is the postmark from Rome.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDoyle's friend and fellow author \u003cb\u003eOscar Wilde\u003c\/b\u003e persuades him they must track down the perpetrator and identify the victims.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eArriving in Italy, their investigation leads them to connect the parcels with the disappearance of a young girl and to the glittering Vatican City . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWith danger and death stalking them at every corner, can they unmask the killer before he catches up with them?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA wonderfully witty and gripping cosy historical murder mystery with twists and turns aplenty. Perfect for fans of Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and Richard Osman.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReaders love \u003ci\u003eThe Vatican Murders\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'The plot is constructed wonderfully . . . \u003cb\u003ejumps off the page\u003c\/b\u003e' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eA truly enjoyable read from start to finish\u003c\/b\u003e' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003cb\u003eThis is an excellent mystery series\u003c\/b\u003e starring Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle among others. Great plots with a mix of history and interesting characters. \u003cb\u003eTotally entertaining\u003c\/b\u003e' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Simply delightful' Reader review \u003cb\u003e⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePreviously published as \u003ci\u003eOscar Wilde and the Vatican Murders\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313071305077,"sku":"9781848542525","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781848542525_c28a4790-662f-45f8-9152-d7864ad55ee0.jpg?v=1786028992"},{"product_id":"9781405972888","title":"Elizabeth","description":"\u003cp\u003eTHE NO 1 \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES \u003c\/i\u003eBESTSELLER\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA personal account of the life and character of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, from the writer who knew her family best\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Compelling . . . Fascinating' \u003ci\u003eDAILY MAIL\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'The writer who got closest to the human truth about our long-serving senior royals' \u003ci\u003eTHE TIMES\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e'The book overflows with nuggets of insider knowledge' \u003ci\u003eTELEGRAPH\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ePaints a unique picture of the remarkable woman who reigned for seven decades. Fascinating insights' \u003ci\u003eHELLO!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGyles Brandreth first met the Queen in 1968, when he was twenty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver the next fifty years he met her many times, both at public and at private events. Through his friendship with the Duke of Edinburgh, he was given privileged access to Elizabeth II.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe kept a record of all those encounters, and his conversations with the Queen over the years, his meetings with her family and friends, and his observations of her at close quarters are what make this very personal account of her extraordinary life uniquely fascinating.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom her childhood in the 1920s to the era of Harry and Meghan in the 2020s, from her war years at Windsor Castle to her death at Balmoral, this is both a record of a tumultuous century of royal history and a truly intimate portrait of a remarkable woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePraise for Gyles Brandreth's bestselling royal writing:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Beautifully written book. I have read many other books about Philip but this is the best' \u003ci\u003eDAILY EXPRESS\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Brilliant, totally inspiring . . . It's a joy to read a book that comes from a perspective of fondness' KIRSTIE ALLSOPP, \u003ci\u003eTHE TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'As a sparkling celebration of Prince Philip, the book will be hard to beat'\u003ci\u003e TELEGRAPH\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'So readable and refreshing even after the millions of words that have been written about Prince Philip in the past couple of weeks' \u003ci\u003eTHE TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 'Brilliant . . . There is so much in this book you won't find anywhere else' LORRAINE\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368822387061,"sku":"9781405972888","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781405972888_c39f0bd3-a463-4549-8487-4d72373c642a.jpg?v=1786019598"},{"product_id":"breaking-the-code","title":"Breaking the Code","description":"In the general election of 1997, the Conservative Party was heading for electoral oblivion, the Prime Minister was competent but unable to connect with voters, the Labour leader was dragging his party back to the centre ground and MPs on all sides were embroiled in scandal. Sound familiar? One of the many Conservative MPs who at that time found themselves staring down the barrel of almost-certain defeat, Gyles Brandreth understands what it's like to be part of a government in its death throes. His account of his time in Parliament from 1992 to 1997 also controversially revealed the secret world of the Whips' Office and its struggles to control a party riven by infighting. Now, as history looks set to repeat itself, comes the definitive edition of this widely acclaimed classic. With candid descriptions of the key figures of the era, from the leading players to the ministers who fell from grace - and a bright young hopeful by the name of David Cameron - Breaking the Code paints an extraordinary portrait of Whitehall and Westminster in our time - warts and all.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487755673973,"sku":"9781785908736","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785908736.jpg?v=1786354980"},{"product_id":"the-7-secrets-of-the-hundred-year-life","title":"The 7 Secrets of the Hundred-Year Life","description":null,"brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57695282495861,"sku":"9781804194324","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781804194324.jpg?v=1793032830"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-gyles-brandreth.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}