The age of steam engines brought with it the ever-present possibilities of horrendous explosions. It was no surprise, then, that around the middle of the 19th century, the steam gauge made its appearance and soon was found wherever a steam engine was used. Steam gauges were used everywhere, in great numbers and varieties. Some were strictly utilitarian in appearance; others were beautiful decorated. They were manufactured to perform multitudes of tasks, and one of the most interesting face...

This is a new guide to reading the Confessions, Augustine's most important work, and what is widely known as the first Western Christian autobiography ever written. The Confessions consists of thirteen books, in which Augustine outlines his sinful youth and his conversion to Christianity. Barry David guides the reader swiftly through these complex texts, explaining the historical context, as well as the various philosophical concepts; and considers its spiritual, ecclesia...

When they visit their Uncle Vince, little do Bridget and her younger brother Robert know that today will be a day like no other as they join him in hair-raising escapades, travelling across infinite space and thousands of years, accompanied by Leonardo, their uncle's Irish wolfhound, the coolest dog in the universe! During this adventure of a lifetime, they soon discover how dangerous life can be in other centuries, and when they become separated from their time machine, the time traveller...

Weston and Turner, novice private detectives, are plunged into a nightmare world of murder when they are hired by a young millionairess to solve the triple murder of her family, a crime the police failed to solve more than eleven years ago. As they delve deeper into the case, they soon discover a hired assassin is always one step ahead of them and someone will do anything to stop them learning the terrible truth behind the crime, even if it means bumping off their witnesses. Not only does ...

Everyone likes to hang out with Freddie Weston. Charming and affable, he knows all the right people. If the showbiz types need the red carpet treatment in any of London’s West End clubs, Freddie’s the man to see – he supplies bouncers for most of the London clubs.An ex-mercenary, Freddie’s tried to keep his nose clean, but he’s still reeling from an attack on his family, perpetrated 40 years ago by an evil East End villain. When he receives proof about what really happened all thos...

Tales from Soho, eleven entertaining stories from London's famous square mile. Known as a red-light district, with a reputation for sleaze and crime, Soho is also a diverse district, a bohemian area which has been an adult playground for hundreds of years. In these stories you will meet countless motley characters over many decades. In 'The Poet in Soho' a famous Welsh writer goes on a Soho pub odyssey; and in 'The Spieler' a young actor risks a reckoning when he works in an illegal gambli...

Who can you trust when you can't trust family?Three months after her wedding day, Carol no longer trusts the man she married. Tony, a self-proclaimed entrepreneur, works as a travel agent out of a single shop, yet somehow has the means to live extravagantly: The new BMW, high-end restaurants, designer clothes - only the best for him. Whenever Carol reflects on their relationship, she realises she knows nothing of Tony's past, and there seems to be a darkness in him that scares her. Yet, ap...

Do you know why the ancient Greeks refused to eat beans? How many rowers were required for the largest Greek warships? What is the meaning behind the story of Narcissus? And how many Sophoclean tragedies have survived in complete form to this day?All these questions and more are answered in this fascinating easy-to-read guide to ancient Greece. Whether you are studying the subject and need access to the important information fast, or you are simply interested in a most fascinating period o...

Why has life suddenly become so complicated for affable Freddie Weston? He supplies bouncers to London clubs and always puts his family first. But his daughter’s involvement with a rock guitarist ignites an anger in him that could endanger the family home, and his life becomes ever more complicated as he seeks retribution, not only for his daughter but for a father who was killed by an East End gangster more than 40 years ago. Determined to get the truth, Freddie dives deep into London’s d...

A drunken old farmer is murdered and Swansea police detective Harry Lambert is unable to discover a motive for what looks like the work of a professional killer. But before long the hunter becomes the hunted as an ex-SAS soldier escapes to remote, rural west Wales, pursued by DI Lambert. The trail is strewn with all manner of intriguing debris: terrorism; Celtic mysticism; and tortured relationships. Each man struggling to shrug off the complexities of the past. Each man having to surrende...

First broadcast in 1968, Please Sir! is generally considered to hold a firm place in the distinguished ranks of the greatest British sitcoms. David Barry - known to millions as mummy's boy Frankie Abbott - was a fan favourite, appearing in all three series as well as both the 1971 feature film and spin-off TV show The Fenn Street Gang. In this entertaining and expertly-written memoir, David tells the whole story, from his own audition all the way through to what the gang are doing today. A...

Do you love cinema and want to know more about its history? Are you a film fan looking for an informative yet light-hearted review of the last one hundred and thirty years of the silver screen? If so, you've found what you're looking for! In this book, TV and movie star David Barry takes us on a journey through the history of cinema, from the silent movies at the time of the birth of the industry all the way up to today's CGI-fuelled blockbusters. The author guides us through this huge sub...