Cet auteur puise dans une richesse d'expériences diverses – de commis plâtrier et animateur de colonie de vacances à vendeur de glaces et propriétaire de pub – apportant ainsi une perspective unique à ses écrits. Sa production prolifique, dépassant la cinquantaine de livres publiés, explore souvent la non-fiction narrative et l'histoire populaire, intégrant habilement des éléments d'une carrière variée. Au-delà des récits factuels, ses entreprises littéraires s'étendent aux romans, thrillers, scénarios et même au théâtre musical. Cette diversité d'expériences lui permet de créer des récits captivants qui résonnent auprès des lecteurs, affichant une voix distinctive dans la littérature contemporaine.
"More tales of the highest inn in Britain, deep in the Yorkshire Dales. Joining the cast of local characters are a theatrical pig, a spiky punk barmaid, two Australian handymen and a Walter Mitty-esque chef. The naive young couple who ran the decrepit inn in the late 1970s return as its new owners. Stumbling from one crisis to another, they somehow make the inn famous ... when the double-glazing company film a TV commercial there"--Publisher's description.
The True Story of $100 Million in Lost Russian Gold -and One Man's Lifelong Quest to Recover It Keith Jessop and Neil Hanson "Outstanding, inspiring, and beautifully told. No true tale of the sea makes better reading."-Clive Cussler Here is the true tale of a small-time salvage diver, the crushing depths of the sea, and the richest prize ever found-$100 million in pure gold. Follow salvage diver Keith Jessop as he battles nature, governments, traitors, salvage monopolies, and, of course, lawyers to claim the grand prize of wrecks-the HMS Edinburgh. Filled with ten tons of Russian gold, the ship had been sought by many, but never found. Through unyielding determination, extraordinary physical prowess, and keen intelligence, Keith Jessop risks all to reach his final destination, and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
July, 1918. Surrounded by steel palisades and barbed-wire fences, Holzminden was the most heavily guarded POW camp in the world. Patrolled by ferocious dogs and armed guards with orders to shoot to kill, it was a brutal punishment camp, housing 700 prisoners of all nationalities. To escape would take boundless ingenuity and nerves of steel.Many tried. Prisoners used sardine-tin openers to pick locks, forged documents, sent messages using milk as an invisible ink, and created fake uniforms and elaborate disguises - one even impersonated the notorious camp commandant. Every attempt failed, leading only to ever-tighter defences.But on the night of 23 July 1918, twenty-nine undaunted Allied prisoners achieved the impossible. They had spent nine months using knives and spoons to move tonnes of earth, clay and stone, digging a tunnel over 150 feet long through the foundations of the barracks and under the walls and barbed-wire fences, to the farmland beyond.This is the fascinating story of how they did it - and of the many who had failed before them. Neil Hanson provides a rare insight into the minds of these prisoners of war, revealing their resourcefulness, courage and persistence - and inexhaustible good humour.
A world away from the killing fields of France was a battle that could have changed the face of history. Over the course of 1917, German bombers threatened to engulf London in firestorms - a portent of the London Blitz and the Battle of Britain over twenty years later. They were determined to bring London to its knees.The First Blitz took place over eight nights in 1917, but it was the second wave of attacks in the summer of 1918, following the development of the 'Elektron' incendiary bomb, that came within an ace of obliterating London. The margin between the survival of the world's greatest capital city and its total destruction came down to less than one hour.The events and decisions taken in the course of those fateful days were as important as anything that happened on the Western Front. With breathtaking insight, compelling drama and supreme narrative clarity, Neil Hanson tells the story of the air war that could have altered the course of the conflict, and with it the history of the twentieth century itself . . .
If the story that struck the Grand Banks off Newfoundland in October 1991 was The Perfect Storm, the fire that destroyed London in September 1666 was The Perfect Fire. A fire needs only three things: a spark to ignite it, and the fuel and oxygen to feed it. In 1666, a ten-month drought had turned London into a tinderbox. The older parts of the city were almost entirely composed of wood-frame buildings and shanties. The riverside wharves were stack with wood, coal, oil, tallow, hemp, pitch, brandy, and almost very other combustible material known to seventeenth century man. On 2 September 1666, London ignited. Over the next five days the gale blew without interruption and the resulting firestorm destroyed the whole city. THE DREADFUL JUDGEMENT tells the true, human story of the Great Fire of London through the eyes of the individuals caught up in it. It is a historical story combining modern knowledge of the physics of fire, forensics and arson investigation with the moving eye-witness accounts to produce a searing depiction of the terrible reality of the Great Fire of London and its impact on those who lived through it.
Offers a tale of a young couple who in the late 1970s, on impulse, became the new landlords of the most remote, bleak and lonely pub - The Tan Hill Inn - located in the desolate landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.
This companion guide enhances the experience of "Pilgrim wheels" and "Pilgrim spokes," offering valuable insights and additional context. It serves as a resource for readers seeking to deepen their understanding of the themes and concepts presented in the main texts. With detailed explanations and supplementary information, the guide enriches the journey through the narratives, making it an essential tool for fans and newcomers alike.
At 57, Neil Hanson embarked on a 3400-mile bicycle journey across America, uncovering the beauty of the country through its winding backroads. His narrative goes beyond a simple travelogue, weaving humor, insight, and poignant moments into a compelling story. The adventure is not only about the physical journey but also about self-discovery and inspiration, making it a captivating read for anyone seeking a heartfelt exploration of life on two wheels.
A definitive history of car racing in the Isle of Man. This book has been meticulously writtenand tells the story of the Isle of Mans car races 1904 to 1953. the pioneering Gordon Bennett trials of 1904 and 1905, racing continued with the other TT for cars between 1905 and 1922, the Round the Houses races in Douglas and Onchan in the thirties and the seven post-war British Empire Trophy Races.