In Leningrad Symphony, Brian Moynahan sets the composition of Shostakovich's most famous work against the tragic canvas of the siege itself and the years of repression and terror that preceded it. Drawing on extensive primary research in archives as well as personal letters and diaries, he vividly tells the story of the cruelties heaped by the twin monsters of the 20th century, Stalin and Hitler, on a city of exquisite beauty, and of its no less remarkable survival. Weaving Shostakovich's own story and that of many others into the context of the maelstrom of Stalin's purges and the Nazis' brutal invasion of Russia, Leningrad Symphony is a magisterial and moving account of one of the most tragic periods of the twentieth century.

Courland is an entity that no longer exists. With the Gulf of Riga to the north, the Baltic to the west and Lithuania at its southern border, and now part of modern Latvia, the region was occupied by Nazi Germany and returned to Soviet Russia after the war, remaining largely inaccessible until 1991. It is now a nowhere land of wide skies and forests, deserted beaches, ruined castles and ex-KGB prisons. For years Jean-Paul Kauffmann has been irresistibly drawn to this buffer between the Germanic and Slav worlds. His digressive travels at the wheel of a Skoda become an investigation into the whereabouts of a former lover, a search for an excavator of tombs, and a journey in the footsteps of Louis XVIII, for whom Courland was once a place of exile.

AN ENEMY EMERGING FROM THE EAST. The US Secretary of State is abducted while conducting secret negotiations aboard a tanker in the South China Sea. 'Seven days' is her captors' warning. Seven days before she is beheaded, live on the internet. Seven days for Robin Monarch to save her. A TREACHERY TRACING TO THE TOP. The CIA asset and master thief journeys into the underworld of Southeast Asia to locate and extract his target. But as he navigates this shady labyrinth, he unravels a worrying conspiracy: stretching from the red-lit underbelly of Asia to the White House itself.

As ethnic tensions escalate into war, Marija returns in confusion to her native Croatia — call it a mid-life crisis. She soon takes up with a young soldier, but her age does not give her the least power over him. On the other side of the world, her estranged father is gearing up to enter the fray, raising the cash to raise an army. Exiled to Argentina, he has been waiting for this moment since 1945. But war is a young man's game, and even his closest comrades cannot be trusted. If the Old Man is to meet his daughter again it will be in a world altered beyond his understanding, where the only soldiers he commands are in his head.

Great cities have always captured the popular imagination — from the souks of Marrakesh to the bustling streets of Tokyo, each one has a unique allure. Exploring urban locations from every continent, Dream Cities handpicks 50 of the most lively and beautiful cultural centres the planet has to offer. The history and sights of sprawling capitals — New York, London and Beijing — are covered alongside smaller, more relaxed cities — Edinburgh and St George's in Bermuda — in this exquisitely illustrated volume. Ever-expanding urban metropolises, such as chic Paris and hip Istanbul, are depicted through stunning colour photography, insightful narrative and up-to-date tips for visiting. Whether you want to plan an extended trip of a lifetime or be whisked away on a weekend city break, this book will give you all the inspiration you need.

In The Story of Christianity, acclaimed theologian David Bentley Hart provides a sweeping and informative portrait of a faith that has shaped the western world and beyond for over 2,000 years. From the persecutions of the early church to the papal-imperial conflicts of the Middle Ages, from the religious wars of 16th and 17th-century Europe to the challenges of science and secularism in the modern era, and from the ancient Christian communities of Africa and Asia to the 'house churches' of contemporary China, The Story of Christianity triumphantly captures the complexity and diversity of Christian history.

For eight years Flora and Fin had an exciting, intense relationship, but when Flora wanted to settle down and have children, Fin vanished. Three years on, Flora has resigned herself to being single, convinced she's left it too late to find love, though part of her still pines for Fin. Then suddenly he reappears. They pick up where they left off — his betrayal forgotten, or at least forgiven. But has Fin really changed?

Mid Haven, New England, 1894. Emma Appleby's ordered and loving existence comes to an abrupt and painful end with the death of her father. Her brother Laurence has no concern for her welfare and, at her wits' end, Emma plots her escape to the town in England where her father was born. Tow Law Town, North East England, 1904. Emma's arrival in the village offers Mick Castle a lifeline. His days are spent running the Black Diamond pub, but his marriage to Isabel is increasingly troubled and his daughter Connie is running wild. As Emma opens her academy, she sets herself up in competition with the local school, provoking a savage response from the community. But she will not be deterred — even when her past catches up with her and Mick is forced to choose between family and love.

DS Aector McAvoy is a man with a troubled past. His unwavering belief in justice has made him an outsider in the police force he serves. When three seemingly unconnected people are brutally murdered in the weeks before Christmas, the police must work quickly to stop more deaths. It is only McAvoy who can see the connection between the victims. A killer is playing God — and McAvoy must find a way to stop the deadly game.

The Art of War is one of the most successful treatises on warfare and military strategy of all time. Written by ancient Chinese general Sun Tzu in the 6th century BC, it has since been consulted by countless military and political leaders, including Napoleon, Montgomery and Mao Zedong. Divided into thirteen chapters covering all aspects of warfare, Sun Tzu's lessons are as relevant today as they ever were. Flexible strategies, quick thinking on the battlefield, the use of intelligence and understanding the enemy's intentions are all crucial ingredients for success. Whether you wish to get ahead in business, sport or politics, The Art of War will help you to steal a march on your competitors. This handsome edition contains stunning oriental images of warfare throughout.

Lisbeth Salander is a wanted woman. Two Millennium journalists about to expose the truth about sex trafficking in Sweden are murdered, and Salander's prints are on the weapon. Her history of unpredictable and vengeful behaviour makes her an official danger to society — but no-one can find her. Mikael Blomkvist, editor-in-chief of Millennium, does not believe the police. Using all his magazine staff and resources to prove Salander's innocence, Blomkvist also uncovers her terrible past, spent in criminally corrupt institutions. Yet Salander is more avenging angel than helpless victim. She may be an expert at staying out of sight — but she has ways of tracking down her most elusive enemies.

'I Have a Dream' is an anthology of history's most inspiring words and thoughts from history's greatest leaders from all ages and nations. Each of the 370 quotations is accompanied by an extended annotation that tells the story of the speaker or explains the circumstances that gave rise to the quotation. Includes: 'Heroes have the whole earth for their tomb' — Pericles (431 BCE); 'I am confident in the justice of my cause' — Socrates (399 BCE); 'I stand here and can say no more. God help me. Amen' — Martin Luther (1520); 'I have the heart of a king, and a king of England, too' — Queen Elizabeth I (1588); 'Give me liberty or give me death!' — Patrick Henry (1775); 'We hold these truths to be self-evident' — Gen John Nixon (1776); 'This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom' — Abraham Lincoln (1863); 'Non — violence is the first article of my faith' — Mohandas Gandhi (1922); 'Blood, tears, toil and sweat' — Winston Churchill (1940); 'No easy walk to freedom' — Nelson Mandela (1953); 'Ask not what your country can do for you' — John F. Kennedy (1961); 'I have a dream' — Martin Luther King (1963); 'Yes we can!' — Barack Obama (2008).

'Everything changed after Mama found Father lying on top of another woman.' Blessing and her brother Ezikiel adore their larger-than-life father, their glamorous mother and their comfortable life in Lagos. But all that changes when their father leaves them for another woman. Their mother is fired from her job at the Royal Imperial Hotel — only married women can work there — and soon they have to quit their air-conditioned apartment to go and live with their grandparents in a compound in the Niger Delta. Adapting to life with a poor countryside family is a shock beyond measure after their privileged upbringing in Lagos. Told in Blessing's own beguiling voice, Tiny Sunbirds Far Away shows how some families can survive almost anything. At times hilarious, always poignant, occasionally tragic, it is peopled with characters you will never forget.

Winston Churchill attracted far more criticism alive than he has since his death. He was, according to Evelyn Waugh, 'always in the wrong, surrounded by crooks, a terrible father, a radio personality'. Whatever one's view of 'the greatest Briton', and despite the best efforts of an army of writers who have penned portraits of him, Winston Churchill remains splendidly unreduced. In this new biography Ashley Jackson describes the contours of Winston Churchill's remarkable life and political career, and gives a sense of the man behind the dark eyes and bulldog features. From Cabinet outcast to the greatest war leader ever, this is the eternally fascinating story of Winston Churchill's appointment with destiny.

When their country is invaded and their families are taken, eight high school teenagers band together to fight. Seventeen-year-old Ellie and her friends have survived the invasion and hit back at the soldiers who still hold their family and friends captive. But two of their band are captured: Kevin is imprisoned and Corrie is alive, but in a coma. Homer and Ellie are determined to get them back and to continue their campaign against the enemy. They discover that there are other rebels out there, fighting the invaders — but who are they and can they be trusted? As the pressure grows, can Ellie work out her conflicted feelings for the brilliant, arrogant Homer and the strong, gentle Lee? As war rages, and the enemy closes in, Ellie and her friends must once again fight for their lives... but how many of their band will be left? A truly involving story about teenagers facing the incredible challenges of warfare, amid the intensity of first love. Would you sacrifice everything to save your country and your family?

Luciano Hernando Valdez is his Latin American nation's most celebrated novelist and he's suffering from writer's block. So far his latest great work comprises the words 'The scrawny yellow cat crossed the road'. He's tried all his usual tricks to get back on track — he's had a few debates with his trusty colleagues at the university, he's had an affair with the banker's wife, nothing will work. Until he meets Caterina. Beautiful, young and one of his biggest fans, she has idolized him since she was a child and he has inspired her to write. Convinced that falling in love with her, spending every minute he can alongside her, moulding her to his world, will unlock something and enable him to write, he pursues her and soon enough, he falls headlong into her arms. But it's only a matter of time before he murders her.

Ellie and her friends have achieved more than they ever thought possible as an unarmed bunch of amateur teenage fighters. But it's not enough. The war wages on, their families are in captivity and their country is on its knees. Hiding back in Hell, the friends face a big question: what to do next? The gang have another success when they manage to rescue Kevin. He returns to them equipped with a new knowledge of explosives. Suddenly the question of what to do next becomes clear — launch an attack on the major enemy target of Cobblers' Bay. Can Ellie, Homer, Fi, Robin, Lee and Kevin really stage a major military attack on the enemy? And in their attempt to pull it off, what will they have to sacrifice? They have already lost Corrie and Chris; who else will the group have to lose in their desperation to defend their country? The Third Day, The Frost, draws the reader deeper into the struggle of these ordinary teens attempting to survive in extraordinary times. A tense and moving read that will stay with you forever.

Flight Lieutenant Silk, a twice-decorated Lancaster pilot in WW II, rejoins the R.A.F. and qualifies to fly the Vulcan bomber. Piloting a Vulcan is an unforgettable experience: no other aircraft comes close to matching its all-round performance. And as bombers go, it's drop-dead gorgeous. But there's a catch. The Vulcan has only one role: to make a second strike. To act in retaliation for a Russian nuclear attack. Silk knows that knows that if he ever flies his Vulcan in anger, he'll be flying from a smoking wasteland, a Britain obliterated. But in the mad world of Mutually Assured Destruction, the Vulcan is the last — the only — deterrent. Derek Robinson returns with another rip-roaring, gung-ho R.A.F. adventure, one that exposes and confronts the brinkmanship and sabre-rattling of the Cold War Era.

Our society has gone through a weird, unremarked transition: we've gone from regarding the Net as something exotic to something that we take for granted as a utilitarian necessity, like mains electricity or running water. In the process we've been remarkably incurious about its meaning, significance or cultural implications. Most people have no idea how the network works, nor any conception of its architecture; and few can explain why it has been — and continues to be — so uniquely disruptive in social, economic and cultural contexts. In other words, our society has become dependent on a utility that it doesn't really understand. John Naughton has distilled the noisy chatter surrounding the internet's relentless evolution into nine clear-sighted and accessible areas of understanding. In doing so he affords everyone the requisite knowledge to make better use of the technologies and networks around us, and see lucidly into their future implications. Along the way THE KNOWLEDGE covers areas as diverse as the science of complexity, the economics of abundance, the appeal of disruption and the problematic nature of intellectual property. THE KNOWLDEGE gives you all the basic, conceptual equipment you need to understand the Internet phenomenon.

Salander is plotting her revenge — against the man who tried to kill her, and against the government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. But it is not going to be a straightforward campaign. After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in Intensive Care, and is set to face trial for three murders and one attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must not only prove her innocence, but identify and denounce the corrupt politicians that have allowed the vulnerable to become victims of abuse and violence. Once a victim herself, Salander is now ready to fight back.