Paul Bailey Knihy

All great cities inspire literature, but none has so consistently ignited the literary imagination like London. Writers, poets, historians, and artists have chronicled the capital's evolution from its humble origins to its status as a vibrant metropolis. This anthology captures the city's allure for both visitors and residents, spanning from the Middle Ages to the present day with wit, humor, and pathos. Among the contributors are those whose depictions have cemented London in the popular consciousness: Charles Dickens's fog-laden streets, Ben Jonson's satirical takes on low-life, and William Wordsworth's rapture over Westminster Bridge. Equally compelling are vivid portrayals of the down-and-out and the aristocracy, as well as the city's museums, theatres, galleries, and parks—all rendered in unforgettable verse and prose. Notable accounts include Daniel Defoe's reflections on the Plague year and the daily records of the Great Fire by John Evelyn and Samuel Pepys, alongside eye-witness accounts of coronations and funerals that convey an unmatched immediacy. The experiences of foreign visitors, the thrills and challenges of London buses and the Underground, and the sprawling suburbs contribute to a dazzling panorama. This anthology serves as both an introduction and a tribute to the fascinating city of London.

Bídníci IV. ( Selanka v ulici Plymetově a epopeje v ulici sv. Diviše). Tento román zachycuje život francouzského lidu v 1. třetině 19. století. Ústřední postavou je Jean Valjean. Je to bývalý galejník, který se na galeje dostal za krádež chleba. Když se mu podařilo uprchnout, okradl starého kněze, který mu nabídl nocleh. Když ho ale chytli četníci, kněz jim řekl, že stříbrné příbory Jeanu Valjeanovi dal darem, přidal mu ještě stříbrné svícny a tím ho zachránil od galejí. Tím Jeana ovlivnil a ten se poté stal dobrodincem a ochráncem těch nejbídnějších. Jeho protihráčem je policejní prefekt Javert, který ho pronásleduje. Zastává názor, že galejník zůstane galejníkem, a považuje dopadení Valjeana za své životní poslání. Ženskými hrdinkami románu jsou Fantine, mladá žena, kterou bída dohnala k prostituci a její dcera Cosette, které se ujal Jean Valjean a vychovává ji. Román vyznívá jako obžaloba tehdejší společnosti a mravů.

The story of the English woman who became a madam running a brothel which achieved national press coverage when it was revealed she was accepting "Luncheon Vouchers" as payment. The story of Cynthia's life is remarkable. She emerges as a tough but lovable, highly principled in her own way, with a very real concern for the ordinary loneliness and difficulties faced by some ageing men, whose not always ordinary desires she went to great trouble to satisfy.

Reissue to follow up publication of Paul Bailey's new novel Kitty and Virgil. Two of his previous novels 'Peter Smart's Confessions' and 'Gabriel's Lament', were shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

Too often, it seems that science and spirituality are irreconcilable—but by linking the apparently unrelated fields of quantum physics, holistic health, cosmology, theology, neuroscience, evolutionary theory, and consciousness studies, Paul Bailey proves that each is a facet of a greater, unified reality, and that science and spirituality are two sides of the same coin. Only when we make this link will the true nature of the universe be revealed to us. What Bailey has to say will inspire mind-shifts and alter our perception of the universe. The book's revolutionary insights emerged from a whimsically phrased, but ultimately serious question that scientists tried to answer: if an elephant were sucked into a black hole, where would its matter go? They ultimately realized that each person's vision of the elephant's fate shifted depending on his or her particular viewing position. And that's what Bailey allows us to do: see reality from a different perspective. With this knowledge, we finally understand our place in the universe and gain new insights into some of the most challenging questions facing the world today.

Shortlisted for the 1986 Booker Prize, Gabriel’s Lament has received huge critical acclaim. Fourth Estate will re-publish in the wake of Bailey’s new novel, Kitty and Virgil.

Novelist Paul Bailey's selection of prose and poetry chosen to reflect the magic of 1st love - and the trials that often follow. 1st Love is a unique collection of extracts from letters, diaries, poetry and fiction, from ancient times to present day. Heathcliff's love for Cathy in Wuthering Heights, Romeo's for Juliet: Keat's longing letters to Fanny Brawne; Captain Wentworth's appeal to Anne Elliot in Jane Austen's Persuasion. Poets, Saints, Wives and Mistresses, Husbands and suitors- here are lovers galore.

An autobiographical memoir, set for the most part in London in the 1940s and 50s, by the author of "At the Jerusalem", "Trespasses" and "An English Madam: The Life and Work of Cynthia Payne". It is composed of fifty scenes or fragments of memory which describe Bailey's parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances.

Reminiscing, 70 year old Andrew remembers his uncle - a lyric tenor who ended up in operetta - who rescued him from a likely death in fascist Romania. Stories of Rudolf's career and eccentric household are intertwined with the unfolding of secrets that have shadowed Andrew's otherwise happy life