Showing results by publisher "John Blake" in All Categories

By the time he was six years old, Stephen Matthews had been bombarded by the Luftwaffe and deported from occupied Guernsey along with his family to a prison camp in the heart of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. He had seen men die in front of him and walked with Jews straight off the cattle-trucks from Bergen-Belsen. He had nearly drowned, been menaced by Alsatian guard dogs, beaten by a member of the SS, stranded in a minefield and had his hand broken by a German guard for attempting to feed Russian prisoners.

We are all too familiar with the stories of Jews who were tortured and killed in concentration camps throughout the Third Reich. But less is known about the persecution of Polish prisoners housed in Majdanek, a concentration and extermination camp on the outskirts of the city of Lublin in south-eastern Poland. The Counterfeit Countess tells this story through the lens of the efforts of one remarkable woman, herself a Jew, who passed as Polish aristocracy, became a lead official in a Polish relief organisation and an officer in the underground resistance movement known as the Polish Home Army.

A near-constant fixture in his sibling's company, Rahaman saw Ali at both his best and his worst: the relentless prankster and the jealous older brother, the outspoken advocate, the husband and father. In My Brother, Muhammad Ali, he is able to offer a surprising insider's perspective on the well-known stories as well as never-before-told tales, painting a rich and intimate portrait of a proud, relentlessly polarising yet often vulnerable man.

For almost 30 years, Lynne McGranger has been entertaining, enthralling and bringing smiles to TV viewers all around the world. A veteran of Home and Away, a popular soap opera syndicated to more than 80 countries, Lynne was recently acknowledged as a 'TV actor legend' when she became the longest-serving female cast member of any Australian TV show. Her beloved character, Irene Roberts, has been a font of wisdom, good humour and unforgettable lines for decades. But Lynne's story goes far beyond Summer Bay.

A solitary child who only really found solace in nature, Tess Eagle Swan ran away from home aged 16 and, by her late 20s, had already survived violence and drug addiction. In the following decade, life spiralled further out of control, as substance abuse filled the hole meaningful relationships should have occupied. Something had to change. Tess had always loved animals, so when she saw a post on Facebook about the plight of two dogs in Romania, she was moved to take action, helping find homes for both. It was the first step on the road that led her to Kratu.

Fingers on Buzzers is an interactive, kaleidoscopic, bonanza celebration and history of the British quiz from Lucy Porter and Jenny Ryan, the presenters of the podcast Fingers on Buzzers. For quiz fans everywhere, Fingers on Buzzers is a nostalgic celebration of our great British obsession - from the early days of TV quiz shows to our more recent love of the pub quiz - incorporating a huge host of pop quizzes for the whole family to enjoy.

Adolf Hitler was one of six children born to his mother, and one of eight born to his father from two of his three marriages. When Hitler killed himself in April 1945, all his siblings were still living and some had children of their own. So, what happened to them? Revised and updated, this is a fascinating study of a little-known side of Hitler's history, as well as a riveting account of how David Gardner traced and contacted the survivors of a bloodline that most of the world probably hoped had become extinct.

We're living in some incredibly dark and strange times, but whatever coronavirus throws at us, it's failed to dent the great British spirit. Every day, we're heartened by incredible stories of rare and wonderful people going above and beyond - and some sadly losing their lives in the process. With celebrities turning their hands to educating our children with daily sports and music lessons and weekly community doorstep celebrations for our incredible NHS and service industries who are stalwartly keeping us fed and nurtured, our get-up-and-go attitude is in full swing!

The Real Death in Paradise is cosy crime...in the sun, recounting the idyllic two years ex-DCI Richard Preston spent as one of the twelve young police officers sent to the tropical paradise and infamous tax-haven of the Cayman Islands. But when faced with the reality of life in the Caribbean - including foiling a turtle egg kidnap, a rum smuggling ring and corrupt police officers - Richard soon found out that the truth was far more interesting than he ever could have imagined.

More information coming soon.

It is 1965, and Swinging London is coming into its prime years. The streets are alive with mods and rockers, playboys and good-time girls, all revelling in the blossoming artistic, creative and cultural energies of the decade. Amid the colour and chaos is a boy sporting drainpipe jeans, an immaculately tailored sports coat and a half-inch wide tie. A devoted fan of The Who, he looks the part in his pristine mod gear. As the lead singer of the Lower Third, his talent is shaping itself into something truly special. His name is Davie Jones.

Two Owls at Eton - a classic British tale of eccentricity, education and owls. Witty, poignant and nostalgic, this best-selling memoir continues to find new fans and delight young and old alike. Now available for the first time in audiobook. When Jonathan Franklin takes two baby tawny owls back to Eton, he has no idea how chaotic the following months will be. The birds show no respect for Etonian routine and tradition. They trash his room and rule his daily life and are known throughout the school as 'Dum' and 'Dee'.

Tuesday, 8th May 1945: Victory in Europe Day. A day of joyous celebration, as the end of a conflict which had engulfed the world came within touching distance. Millions of people celebrated in the streets throughout Britain. Yet not all was right in the world. Struggles remained ahead - war still raged on between the Allies and Japan. Agreements and treaties were yet to be forged. Lives continued to be lost around the world.

However gifted a particular forensic scientist or police officer might be, crimes are solved by teams, not individuals. In this unique and fascinating book, world-renowned forensic scientist Dr Angela Gallop and highly acclaimed former Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of CID for West Yorkshire Police Chris Gregg provide intriguing insights into some of the many cases they have helped to solve as well as looking at other high-profile cases where their individual skills could have saved time - and lives.

Fixed breaks new ground as Moses Swaibu becomes the first player ever to write openly about how he helped to fix games, revealing exactly what happens on the pitch when a match is being manipulated. He also exposes how the criminal gangs operate, how young professional players are targeted and groomed and the threats of violence that are used to keep them in check. Offering a fascinating insight into the ugly side of the beautiful game, it's a sporting autobiography like none ever written before.

A show that deconstructs world-class deal makers, digging deep to uncover the philosophies, tools, and tactics entrepreneurs can use to put together the biggest deals of their careers.