An informative and accessible new book by Thomas Engqvist, the practical follow up to his previous two authoritative chess books: 300 Most Important Chess Positions and 300 Most Important Tactical Chess Positions.

Filled with 300 engaging chess exercises and complete solutions in the end of the book, this book will allow you to apply and consolidate your newfound knowledge. The book is divided into four key sections:

• 75 exercises practising positional ideas in the opening/middlegame
• 75 exercises covering the endgame
• 75 tactical exercises in the opening/middlegame
• 75 tactical endgames.

The exercises featured in the book are taken from real game positions from various renowned chess players, including Capablanca and Magnus Carlsen. 

Word count: 116,000

A beautiful collection of poems to nourish, inspire and change the women who read them.

This transformative collection of poems by female poets through the ages sing to us across the centuries. These poems span the worlds of desire, love and friendship, of responsibility, hardship and care, of family and friends and lovers. Their words empower us with strength and courage, fill us with verve and spirit, and inspire creativity and imagination.

Contemporary voices of Fiona Benson and Jane Yeh join the evocative imagery of Christina Rossetti, Anna Akhmatova and Emily Dickinson. Even the haunting voices of ancient Sappho, Venmaniputti and Li Qingzhao touch today’s generation. Here are poems written by women, with women’s lives in mind. As Gertrude Stein writes, ‘such a sweet singing’ is in the poetry that comes to us clear and lovely from out of the dark. 

Read these poems aloud. Remember them. Share them. 

Acclaimed Royal Academy artist Jeanette Barnes and Paul Brandford breathe new life into sketching for town and city dwellers everywhere.

Mercurial, inspirational, practical and charming, this guide covers everything from architecture to accidental paintings, cocktails to clouds, smudges to skyscrapers.

With easily digested bite-size entries, it introduces many types of art materials, their uses and a number of insights and exercises to build confidence in a range of approaches to drawing. For the more experienced sketcher, the artists discuss the processes behind drawing and strategies to inject more creativity and open-mindedness about how to take a drawing forward.

With great charm, the book gives a window onto the experiences of Jeanette, who has travelled to many cities worldwide in search of inspiring city subjects and a half-decent cocktail. Full of tips and ideas about working on location and back in the studio, this book is filled with the scribbles, sketches and preparatory drawings that feed into the larger works for which she is known.

As a whole, the book is a multipurpose tool which can be used to unlock the potential of drawing both technically and philosophically so that the reader can be the architect of their own drawing experience rather than the recipient of someone else’s. 

After thirty years of drawing, many of them teaching, the authors still feel an excitement when picking up a pencil or some charcoal. This book gives every reader the chance to share that excitement and bring urban living to life. 

Innovative techniques in painting woodlands from renowned artist Ann Blockley.

Watercolourist Ann Blockley is known for her striking and intriguing paintings of natural landscapes. In this beautiful guide she explores woodlands in a variety of interpretations, from tangled groves and ancient trees to fiery leaves and springtime orchards.

With simple instructions and easy-to-follow demonstrations throughout, the book draws inspiration from forest poetry, birdsong and folklore. There’s practical advice on working outside, experimenting with mixing colours (especially greens), playing with water effects, using salt and granulation, mark-making and spattering with found objects such as leaves and twigs, creating texture with gesso and working with collage. Other techniques include working with oak gall ink and charcoal, and how to incorporate words, text and photo transfer.

The book is illustrated throughout with stunning examples of Blockley’s colourful, expressive work, including a case study of her own woodland garden. Also showcased are works by fellow artists from The Arborealist group, the Royal Institute, and the Pastel Society to inspire you further.

Pushing the boundaries of watercolour and other mixed media, this delightful wander through the woods is the ideal companion for both beginners and the more experienced landscape painter who wishes to take their painting to the next level.

Architecture and design specialist Dominic Bradbury draws back the curtain on the iconic South Bank, providing an unrivalled insight into the buildings that populate one of London’s epicentres of art and entertainment.

Encompassing an art gallery, theatres, festival halls and a cinema, the South Bank is a cultural hub in the heart of London. South Bank: Architecture & Design is a beautifully crafted celebration of its sublime, community-focused architecture. The book opens with an origin story, unravelling the evolution of this riverside enclave since the 1951 Festival of Britain catapulted it onto the scene and exploring the renowned architects and designers that have shaped this space throughout the mid-century and beyond.

Much of the book is devoted to the buildings themselves, all of which are accompanied by Bradbury’s authoritative text and richly illustrated with photography by Rachael Smith. The buildings include:

• Royal Festival Hall

• Hayward Gallery

• Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Purcell Room

• National Film Theatre/BFI

• National Theatre

This sumptuous book is an invaluable purchase for anyone intrigued by our built heritage and cultural spaces.

Nordic Baby Crochet includes easy to follow crochet patterns to create beautiful baby clothes and accessories without the need for arduous assembly. 

Nordic Baby Crochet features 35 patterns for adorable clothing and accessories for babies. With accessible step-by-step guides, the patterns are suitable for experienced crocheters as well as for those just starting with crochet. Here are patterns for cardigans, dresses, bibs, blankets, hats and more. All projects are assembly-free and achieve a modern Scandinavian look with simple patterns and elegant colours of your choosing.

Crochet has a somewhat unfair reputation for being uncomfortable and tight. However, Charlotte Kofoed Westh, with her individual crochet technique, smart choice of patterns and the right yarn ensures that the pieces in this book are snug, elastic and comfortable. This is crochet in a whole new way, a far cry from the rigid designs that many associate with crochet.

SHORTLISTED in The Creative Book Awards 2024.

An introduction to weaving without large looms, with 15 weaving projects and a guide to making your own tools.

In Simple Weave, the world of weaving opens beyond gigantic looms and inaccessible patterns. Kerstin Neumüller demonstrates how you can weave with tools that are easy to make yourself and often small enough to fit in your pocket.

Here lies inspiration for those who have never woven but are eager to try, as well as for experienced weavers interested in working with flexible and portable tools. Practical and beautiful keepsakes to make include Scandi-style bands, bracelets, pencil and laptop cases and a wall hanging. Kerstin also shares her journey from textiles to woodworking, offering instructions for how to make your own pocket-sized weaving tools.

The book is divided into three accessible chapters:

• Techniques and basic weaving theory. 

• 15 achievable weaving projects including bands, a pencil case, coasters and tea towels.

• Making your own tools. This section includes descriptions of how to carve a heddle, make a weave stretcher, carve a backstrap loom and make a frame loom.

Enjoy the mindfulness and rhythm of this traditional craft and create bespoke, contemporary pieces to fit your own style. 

Lessons, motivation and coaching to make you a better chess player.

In an ideal world, any aspiring chess player, at almost any level, would get better with a coach. If that’s not possible, having chess champion coach Thomas Engqvist’s book at your side is the next best thing. 

In his series of lessons, Engqvist guides you through not only the most important elements of chess to master but also the psychology, how to marry knowledge with imagination, and how to stay motivated.

Suitable for older children through to adults, the lessons are drawn from chess games through history, from the 16th century to Magnus Carlsen and latest Alpha Zero computer chess. It features a range of key players, including Steinitz, Lasker, Nimzowistch, Botvinnik (Soviet chess school), and Fischer. With clear and accessible annotations to give clarity, the games highlight the most important lessons to learn and, just as importantly, how to ‘practise’ chess.

International Master Thomas Engqvist has travelled the world teaching and coaching chess to a very high level for decades – and with this book, he can be your coach too.

Over 1000 years of royal history told through 100 fascinating objects.

From the glory of coronation regalia to coins, from imposing statues to stamps, from distinguished medals to monuments, and from beautiful artworks to Edward VIII’s abdication document, each item in this book has a fascinating story to tell. 

Ordered chronologically by monarch, from Alfred the Great to Queen Elizabeth II, this fully illustrated book takes a regal journey through the centuries. Discover the significance of each object – some famous, others more obscure – and how the royal ruler connected to it shaped the course of history in this celebration of the British monarchy.

Featured are William I’s eleventh century survey, more famously known as The Domesday Book; the world’s first ever postage stamp, the Penny Black, with a cameo-style portrait of Queen Victoria; Edward VIII’s abdication document; the written birth announcement of Queen Elizabeth II, placed outside Buckingham Palace as per royal custom; and many more.

A glorious exploration of BMW, one of the greatest car brands of all time, with dynamic photography and lively text that explains why people love them.

Known as ‘the ultimate driving machine’, BMW is one of the world’s most prestigious car brands. Renowned for their smooth handling, precision engineering and sleek looks, BMWs pair driving comfort with powerful engines. Originally formed during the first world war, the company reached new heights of popularity in the 1960s and is still going strong today.

This captivating book outlines all the most iconic BMW models, from their first car, the Dixi of 1927, to today’s high-performance models, including the beautiful 1955 507 roadster, the instantly recognisable 2002 from the 1960s, and the iconic E30 M3, first manufactured in the mid-1980s. Each evocative vintage photograph is accompanied by insightful explanation.

The ideal gift for every car enthusiast, whether they’re a BMW owner or just aspire to be, this beautifully illustrated book conveys perfectly the joys of this classic brand.

An evocative exploration of the iconic Saab brand, with beautiful photography and lively text that shows beyond all doubt why you should want to own one.

Saab is a byword for style, performance quality and safety – the cars have a reputation for reliability and solidity, along with classic Scandinavian design that have made them the go-to car of creatives the world over. Although production ceased in 2011, Saabs are still highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors.

This fascinating book outlines all the classic Saab models from 1949’s pioneering Ursaab prototype to the last cars to drive off the production line in the early 2010s, including their world-beating rally cars of the 1960s and 70s and the best-selling Saab 900, with glorious vintage photographs and insightful explanation from Saab superfan Vaughan Grylls.

The perfect gift for the car nut in your life, whether they’ve owned a Saab or not, this book sums up everything that’s great about this truly classic brand.

A guide to green woodworking, with detailed patterns to create beautiful projects.

Discover hundreds of projects for working with unseasoned wood in this essential book. Ray Tabor, an unparalleled expert in green woodworking guides you through this old, traditional craft.

Whether you are new to the craft and are looking for a simple project like a spoon or a bowl or want something challenging, you will find it here. The 300 patterns for the home and garden range from wattle gates to lemon juicers, from chairs, benches and stools to baskets, whistles and door wedges.

Green woodworking involves the use of freshly felled timber (unseasoned wood), and embraces a number of traditional woodland crafts, including turning and carving. All patterns come with detailed dimensions in both metric and imperial. Each item has annotated black-and-white patterns, a brief description, historical information and details of the materials that should be used. Includes the simplest of woodland designs to more advanced, with something to suit every skill level.

Both a historical record and a sourcebook for those looking to use their green woodworking skills to make traditional items of beauty, this is the perfect book for anyone interested  in whittling, woodland crafts and woodworking.