Awareness of the woman’s central place in society is crucial to understanding the culture of North America’s first nations. This book celebrates the role and influence of women—as life-bearers and nurturers of family, the earth and spiritual life—whose contributions are vital to tribal survival. By honoring the strength, creativity and unique perspective of Native American women, this book reflects the unity underlying diverse lifeways. Diana Steer is a writer and researcher on Native American affairs.

Hundreds of years after their extinction in these isles, beavers are back. These skilled engineers of the natural world have been introduced at several sites across the UK, with new trials planned. Even as they become established, they are having a dramatic effect on our wild landscapes. Here, leading nature writer Jim Crumley reveals the lifestyle of these intriguing creatures and considers the ecological and economic impact of the beaver reintroductions. Employing his trademark beautiful prose and empathy for life in the wild, Crumley considers the future for Britain’s beavers and makes the case for giving them their freedom despite their controversial status.

Everyone’s on antidepressants, suffering from Post Romantic Stress Disorder – especially Daphne, who’s just been severely chucked by lily-livered Donnie. Being unhappy is embarrassing, and therefore intolerable, so everyone’s secretly on the happy pills. After a lot of soup, a soupcon of unseemly relationships, a few deaths and an abundance of life-affirming triumphs, ‘pro-joy’ is mooted by Pierce as the way to go. But is it really?

Glasgow 1915. Set against the background of rent strikes, anti-war sentiment and a revolution brewing in Russia, a young Jewish woman from the Gorbals discovers a taste for protest, female solidarity, and the empowerment of women made possible by birth control. Her political sensibilities are fired up even further by a personal trauma, while a new love affair presents difficult choices.

Illustrated regional guidebook to North American lighthouses, with identifying information on 1100 lighthouses, locator maps, glossary, and index.

A mother struggles to bond with her newborn baby; a student obsesses about flies spreading their killer germs; an old man is at the mercy of his care home nurse; a middleaged mum mourning her son’s death is seeing ghosts. People can look ‘normal’, but often they’re not.

Inspired by the author’s experiences as a nurse over the last thirty years, and written with compassion and warmth, this thought-provoking short story collection explores just what makes us tick – and what happens when the mind falters and breaks down. Obsession, dementia, post-natal depression, psychosis and even murder all feature in this Tales of the Unexpected for the 21st century.

Torpedoed by a German U-boat, adrift on the open ocean, gravely weakened and slowly dying of thirst – the odds of making shore are lengthening with each gruelling hour. Deliverance from the decaying lifeboat will take something more remarkable than sheer endurance. And after survival at sea, yet more anguish lies in wait. Based on a true incident in 1942. WINNER 2011 People’s Book Prize

“Strong feeling, uncompromising frankness” – Marina Warner. Mariana is risking her marriage for a deliciously dangerous affair whilst researching the legend of ‘The Four Marys’ – which tells of a lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots being executed for killing her own child. Mariana’s love is real, but is history repeating itself? Originally published as part of The Four Marys, a quartet of edgy contemporary novellas drawing on Celtic history and folklore.

Mongol [mong-gohl], noun, 1. a member of a pastoral people now living chiefly in Mongolia. 2. (offensive) a person affected with Down’s Syndrome. Uuganaa is a Mongol living in Britain, far from the world she grew up in: as a nomadic herder she lived in a yurt, eating marmot meat, distilling vodka from goat’s yoghurt and learning about Comrade Lenin. When her new-born son Billy is diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, she finds herself facing bigotry and taboo as well as heartbreak. In this powerful memoir, Uuganaa skilfully interweaves the extraordinary story of her own childhood in Mongolia with the sadly short life of Billy, who becomes a symbol of union and disunion, cultures and complexity, stigma and superstition – and inspires Uuganaa to challenge prejudice. Mongol is the touching story of one woman’s transformation from outsider to fearless champion of love, respect and tolerance. It’s a moving tribute by a remarkable woman to her beloved baby son, testifying to his lasting impact on a sometimes imperfect world.

What did I know about life, a wee heifer like me, a twenty-two-year-old no-mates stay-at-home from the rump end of Cumbernauld? What did I even know about sex, never mind drugs, or violence, or murder? Alison, a naive Scottish girl, moves to Barcelona and meets Chloe, a foxy American heiress. Chloe, as well as introducing Alison to a multitude of sins, teaches her new friend about the sweet taste of revenge. They soon embark on a sex-and-drugs romp through the gothic streets of Barcelona, while composing vengeful postcards home. Dear Lisa and Lauren, Enjoying sangria on La Rambla. Don’t know if you’d like it here. The hot weather would be a nightmare for your athlete’s foot and intimate itching – think of the thigh chafing! Nasty. Hasta la vista, Alison xxx But Alison quickly realises that there is a high price to pay for their decadent lifestyle as she finds herself caught up in a world of cruelty, deceit and murder –