(Hardback)

This eccentric Victorian book argues a strong case for the universal wearing of a beard - that essential symbol of manly distinction since ancient times.

(Hardback)

Join Jane Peyton, the UK's first Beer Sommelier of the Year, as she distils practical advice from the incredible history of the nation's favourite beverage, spanning the earliest evidence of beer 13,000 years ago, its central role in monasteries and on naval ships, its significance in the discovery of cholera, and its enduring popularity today.

(Hardback)

From the Swiss Alps to New York's hipster cheese bars, journalist Patrick McGuigan has written about cheesemakers, maturers and cheesemongers around the world for The Telegraph, Delicious and The Financial Times. He is partial to a slice of Kirkham's Lancashire. www.patrickmcguigan.com

(Hardback)

Sam Bilton explores our complex relationship with this versatile confection, which is made from the humble beans of the tropical cacao tree.

(Hardback)

In addition to explaining ciders links to champagne and why we are enjoying a renaissance of both cider- and perry-making, Jane provides tasting tips and food pairings to help any aspiring cider drinker. Welcome to Ciderland.

(Hardback)

This book explores the journey that cocktails have made, via China and the Middle East, the Americas and the UK, to arrive at the bespoke menus of todays stylish clubs and bars, complete with descriptions of the myriad ingredients, glassware and paraphernalia that the mixologist has at their disposal.

(Hardback)

This is a short, entertaining and illuminating introduction to the history and culture of coffee, from the humble origins of the bean in northeast Africa over a millennium ago, to what it is today, a global phenomenon that is enjoyed around the world.

(Hardback)

Sejal Sukhadwala probes the complex intersection of tradition and colonialism through the fascinating history of curry, from its association with Ayurveda - one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems to its enduring popularity in contemporary British culture.

(Hardback)

Few if any alcoholic drinks have the dramatic and multi-faceted history of gin. This book explores how a spirit once given a wide berth by the middle and upper classes now attracts such a large proportion of the British public to choose gin as their tipple of choice.

(Hardback)

This book will take you to whisky landmarks all over the world, including the record-breaking Karuizawa distillery in Japan and Kavalan, the distillery that put Taiwanese whisky on the map.

(Hardback)

A companion volume to The Philosophy of . . . Beards and Coffee, this witty history of wine and its cultivation and enjoyment sheds light on the rich traditions of wine from around the world.

(Paperback)

Macphersons only science fiction novel is a bleak and truly prescient novel of future war first published in 1936, just 3 years before the outbreak of conflict in Europe. A carefully drawn tale of survival in the wilderness and the value of our connection with others, Wild Harbour is both beautiful and heart-rending.

(Paperback)

Accompanying the first ever exhibition on the storytelling around Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, this book charts the evolution of a legend that continues to captivate audiences today.

(Paperback)

This richly illustrated new book - which accompanies a landmark British Library exhibition - presents Anglo-Saxon England as the home of a highly sophisticated artistic and political culture, deeply connected with its continental neighbours.

(Hardback)

This stunning new book illustrates over 100 examples of Buddhist art in the Library's collection, relating each manuscript to Theravada tradition and beliefs, and introducing the historical, artistic and religious contexts of their production.

(Paperback)

twelve tales from the golden age of the mummy story

(Hardback)

One of the world's leading writers on propaganda and information projection presents a remarkably detailed history and critique of the workings and development of the COI from its origins in the Second World War through to the era of AIDS and the threat of nuclear war.

(Hardback)

As well as holding some of the world's most prized cultural treasures, the British Library is the repository of the nation's collective memory. In this highly illustrated book Michael Leapman tells the Library's story, highlighting the most significant and beautiful items in its care, as well as some of the lesser known.

(Paperback, 2nd Revised edition)

The Female Detective introduces the first professional female detective in British fiction, Mrs Gladden. She uses similar methods to her male counterparts - enterring scenes of crime incognito, tracking down killers while trying to conceal her own tracks and her identity from others.

(Hardback)

Written by award-winning crime writer and president of the Detection Club, Martin Edwards, this book tracks the history of classic crime fiction and serves as a companion to the British Library's internationally acclaimed series of Crime Classics.

(Hardback)

This new edition of the most influential book about pirates ever written presents twenty action-packed biographies of the likes of Blackbeard and Captain Kidd along with the celebrated female pirates Mary Reed and Anne Bonny. A classic from 1724 brought back to life with extra material from the Library collections.

(Hardback)

(Paperback)

Published to coincide with a British Library exhibition of the same name, this study explores the background and history of this artwork and symbol of Christianity. Sections examine aspects of the Anglo-Saxon world: the heritage of the people who lived and ruled and how and why this book was made.

(Hardback)