Chiselbury publishing jun 2026 (3 Ergebnisse)

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - In the space of two years, London endured two catastrophes that changed the city forever. In 1665, the Great Plague swept through the capital, leaving tens of thousands dead and filling the streets with fear as the grim cry of 'Bring out your dead!' echoed from house to house. Barely had the city begun to recover when, in September 1666, disaster struck again. A small fire in Pudding Lane grew into an inferno that raged for four days, destroying much of London and leaving its people homeless amid the ruins. In this vivid account, James Leasor brings these dramatic events to life through the words of those who witnessed them. Drawing on the diaries of Samuel Pepys, the writings of Daniel Defoe and many other contemporary sources, he recreates a city gripped by disease, panic, courage and resilience. Rich in human detail and historical insight, The Plague and the Fire is the compelling story of how London survived its darkest days and emerged transformed.…

Taschenbuch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Before Percy Herbert became a familiar presence on screen, he survived one of the most brutal episodes of the Second World War.Captured during the fall of Singapore in 1942, Herbert endured captivity as a prisoner of war, living through starvation, violence and the aftermath of the Alexandra Hospital massacre. These experiences would mark him for life - and later give his performances a depth and authority few actors could match.After the war, Herbert returned to Britain struggling to rebuild. His life changed when he was discovered byDame Sybil Thorndike, who recognised an extraordinary presence shaped by lived experience rather than training alone. What followed was a prolific acting career spanning more than ninety films, includingThe Bridge on the River Kwai,Tunes of Glory,The Cockleshell Heroes,Mutiny on the Bounty,The Wild GeeseandThe Sea Wolves.This autobiography traces the journey from POW camps to film sets, revealing how trauma, discipline and survival shaped an actor whose screen work carried the weight of real experience. Herbert writes with clarity, restraint and devastating honesty about war - and about the strange, redemptive power of performance.The manuscript's impact was immediate. After reading an early draft,Richard Burtonwrote:'I read your book in two sittings, one before and one after dinner last night. The book had so appalled me that I wasn't good company at dinner and nobody could make me smile and certainly not laugh. Jimmy Edwards' jokes left me ice-cold. The book - somehow or other - must be published.'Sir Roger Moorewas equally moved, writing that'the last sixty pages had me in tears.'A remarkable memoir of survival and transformation, this is not only the story of a prisoner of war, but the making of a great screen actor-one forged by history, and unforgettable because of it.…

Buch. Zustand: Neu. Neuware - Before Percy Herbert became a familiar presence on screen, he survived one of the most brutal episodes of the Second World War.Captured during the fall of Singapore in 1942, Herbert endured captivity as a prisoner of war, living through starvation, violence and the aftermath of the Alexandra Hospital massacre. These experiences would mark him for life - and later give his performances a depth and authority few actors could match.After the war, Herbert returned to Britain struggling to rebuild. His life changed when he was discovered by Dame Sybil Thorndike, who recognised an extraordinary presence shaped by lived experience rather than training alone. What followed was a prolific acting career spanning more than ninety films, including The Bridge on the River Kwai, Tunes of Glory, The Cockleshell Heroes, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Wild Geese and The Sea Wolves.This autobiography traces the journey from POW camps to film sets, revealing how trauma, discipline and survival shaped an actor whose screen work carried the weight of real experience. Herbert writes with clarity, restraint and devastating honesty about war - and about the strange, redemptive power of performance.The manuscript's impact was immediate. After reading an early draft, Richard Burton wrote: 'I read your book in two sittings, one before and one after dinner last night. The book had so appalled me that I wasn't good company at dinner and nobody could make me smile and certainly not laugh. Jimmy Edwards' jokes left me ice-cold. The book - somehow or other - must be published.'Sir Roger Moore was equally moved, writing that 'the last sixty pages had me in tears.' A remarkable memoir of survival and transformation, this is not only the story of a prisoner of war, but the making of a great screen actor-one forged by history, and unforgettable because of it.…