Humphrey Carpenter Livres

A biography of Benjamin Britten which presents a panorama of British musical life since the 1920s.

The only authorized biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, written by someone who met him, featuring a redesigned cover that aligns with the paperback editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and Unfinished Tales.

Summarizes Auden's ambiguity: 'Here, as so often in his life, Auden adopted a dogmatic attitude which did not reflect the full range of his opinions, and which he sometimes flatly contradicted.'

A comprehensive collection of letters spanning the adult life (1914-1973) of one of the world’s most famous storytellers.

When Class Three and Mr Majeika go to the circus, it's definitely not as fun as they imagined. Everyone's a bit old, creaky and rubbish really! So when Mr Majeika casts a small spell to help the performers with their circus show, Billy Balance, the slack rope walker, kidnaps Mr Majeika so that Mr Majeika can magically help him.

A biography of CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien and the group of writers to come out of Oxford during the Second World War.

This text examines the British satire explosion of the early 1960s - from Private Eye and Beyond the Fringe to That Was the Week That Was - and its lasting influence on comedy.

A captivating account of a renowned publishing house and its intriguing behind-the-scenes stories.

The sudden arrival of a new music teacher throws St Barty's School into confusion. Mysterious smells start coming from the staffroom and creepy- crawlies appear out of nowhere. The new arrival is, of course, Wilhelmina Worlock, a wicked witch with some nasty tricks. It's up to Mr Majeika to try to outwit her.

Kingsley Amis, John Osborne, John Braine, Colin Wilson, John Wain - five names instantly redolent of the 1950s and the Angry Young Men phenomenon.