Up and Down Stairs - History of the Country House Servant

Country houses were reliant on an intricate hierarchy of servants, each of whom provided an essential skill. Up and Down Stairs brings to life this hierarchy, showing how large numbers of people lived together under strict segregation and how sometimes this segregation was broken, as with the famous marriage of a squire to his dairymaid at Uppark.

Kitchen

When Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen was first published in Japan in 1988, "Banana-mania" seized the country. Kitchen won two of Japan's most prestigious literary prizes, climbed its way to the top of the best-seller list, then remained there for over a year and sold millions of copies. With the appearance of the critically acclaimed Tugumi (1989) and NP (1991), the J...moreWhen Banana Yoshimoto's Kitchen was first published in Japan in 1988, "Banana-mania" seized the country. 

This critical study looks at the first four decades of Charles Tomlinson’s poetic career, and is the only published full-scale, exclusive treatment of his poetry. Tomlinson is a major British poet whose work has received more recognition in North America and continental Europe than it has in his own country, where still, in some quarters, its character is misunderstood and therefore misjudged.

A History of Scotland

Scotland's history has been badly served over the years. Defined by its relationship to England, Scotland's popular history is full of near-mythical figures and tragic events, her past littered with defeat, failure and thwarted ambition. The martyrdom of William Wallace, the tragedy of Mary Queen of Scots and the forlorn cause of Bonnie Prince Charlie all give the impression of 'poor' Scotland; a victim of misfortune, leading to the country's inevitable submission to the Auld Enemy. After the Union in 1707, Scotland's increasing reliance on England culminated in a crisis of confidence and identity that tortures the country to this day. 

Wine Country Mystery 04 - The Riesling Retribution

Ellen Crosby returns with the fourth book in her rich mystery series set amidst the vines of Virginia wine country.
When a tornado rips through Montgomery Estate Vineyard, it not only destroys some of Lucie Montgomery’s newest grapevines, it also unearths an old grave. After the dead man is identified as a former business associate of Lucie’s father, it seems everyone in Lucie’s hometown has already decided Leland Montgomery is a murderer. As the evidence piles up against him, Lucie sets out to prove her father’s innocence.