Author:Anthony Lambert
The world of the railways weaves a spell over many people. In this engaging book railway expert Anthony Lambert presents some of the best stories. From the early days come tales of financial skulduggery and worries that sparks from locomotives might ignite sheep's fleeces. But as the railway transformed the modern world, attitudes changed, and railways were opened to great rejoicing and even religious blessing. The perennial appeal of the steam locomotive generated a pride amongst railwaymen and a fascination among the public. The romantic aspects of the railway were soon celebrated - and not just the unexpected engagement that came from a snowbound train in the Highlands or the sexual shenanigans of the Orient Express. Here are stories of railway travel, from the palatial carriages of tsars and maharajahs to the open trucks of the 'lower orders', mishaps and faux pas, and tales of how ticket inspectors used to have to hold on to the outside of carriages while clipping tickets.
From tales of lonely stations and signal-boxes in Scotland, to the unlucky engineer eaten by a lion in a carriage in Kenya, Lambert casts his net across railways worldwide to gather the most entertaining material. There are stories here that would enliven even a cheerless commute on the 18.01, and remind you that our railways really were - and occasionally still are - full of derring-do, romance and character.
A book you can't do without... full of fascinating gems.
—— Dr Pete Waterman OBECompelling.
—— Sunday TimesThe grandest, richest and strangest of Dostoevsky's four "big" novels
—— Richard T. Kelly , TelegraphGreat fun… He reveals how drug barons run their illegal multi-billion dollar global businesses in much the same way as Fortune 500 chief executives.
—— Sunday TimesSuperb. One of the most original and smart takes I have read on the drugs world.
—— Moisés Naím, author of 'Illicit'This is a clearly written and unassumingly clever book.
—— The Independent[An] exhilarating trip into the heart of the illegal narcotics industry. One of the most exciting business books of the last few years.
—— Management TodayA daring work of investigative journalism and a well-reasoned argument for smarter drug policies.
—— Kirkus ReviewsThis is a clearly written and unassumingly clever book
—— Oliver Poole , The IndependentAn economics manual for the Breaking Bad generation…a fascinating account
—— Fiona Wilson , The TimesGreat fun…He reveals how drug barons run their illegal multi-billion dollar global businesses in much the same way as Fortune 500 chief executives.
—— John Arlidge , The Sunday TimesOne of the pithiest and most persuasive arguments for drug law reform I have ever read
—— Misha Glenny , New York TimesWith a sharp eye for the absurd in the ordinary, Barrett's stories impart gritty and touching realisations about life as it really is. Edgy, sharp and utterly original, Homesickness is an utterly compelling collection and Barrett is meticulous
—— Elaine FeeneyColin Barrett is a young man in the town of the short story, but it's fair to say he has the run of the place
—— Jon McGregorHomesickness is another finely crafted collection... Crisply told, fond of an eye-catching flourish... the stories draw energy from the rhythms of west of Ireland small talk, added to Barrett's eye for striking detail...The scenarios are richly layered, with punchy payoffs.
—— Anthony Cummins , ObserverStrange and haunting fiction. You could open Homesickness at any page and find sentences of vim and elegance, ringing dialogue...and similes to savour.
—— Max Liu , iHomesickness presents us with a set of characters forever losing things: other people's dogs, girlfriends, the will to live. But in the course of these stories they find things, too: courage; a crumpled sort of wisdom; the will to live. Between the comedy, and the pure thrill of the language, there's a lot of sorrow and mental illness here, but the afterglow of the stories, which settle and stay with you, is one of moving regard for the flaws and wants we battle, flee, and bargain with every day of our lives
—— Chris PowerVivid, punchy... Barrett delineates with verve the ways his characters struggle.
—— Melanie White , Literary ReviewWorth the wait... few do it as well as Colin Barrett.
—— Tom Gatti , New StatesmanBarrett's... brilliant second collection confirms him as one of the very best short-story writers in the business.
—— New Statesman, *The Best Books of 2022 so far*Barrett's stories are, without exception, beautifully written, full of arresting imagery.
—— Booklist (starred review)Bittersweet and chiseled...From gritty realism to oddball noir, this assured collection demonstrates the talent of a distinctive writer.
—— Publishers WeeklyRichly descriptive...This sharply observant collection resists pigeonholing its recalcitrant characters.
—— Kirkus ReviewA masterwork-by turns hilarious and heart-breaking, these stories shimmer. No story writer at work today thrills me more than Colin Barrett, whose characters feel immediately so familiar and true in their capacity to maim and love. What fierce, tender stories. Totally unforgettable.
—— Brandon TaylorFunny, devastating, slow-burning, these understated tales of misfits and misadventures in smalltown Ireland are written with a casual grace.
—— Guardian, *Summer Reads of 2022*Superb.
—— White Review, *Books of the Year*Eight stories ... written with vim and elegance and more than deliver on the promise of Barrett's acclaimed 2014 debut, Young Skins.
—— iNews, *Books of the Year*Pretty impressive.
—— The SunSensitive, often witty and sometimes melancholic reflections.
—— EconomiaUnveil[s] the inventive mind behind his regular-guy façade.
—— Daily TelegraphPerfect for book lovers and cinephiles alike.
—— ElleA pretty damn good writer.
—— OK! MagazineFull of Hanks' winning charm.
—— Mr HydeHanks’ measured storytelling makes the collection an addictive read.
—— Hindustan TimesStartlingly good… A spellbinding easygoing read, it is hard to find any fault, other than that Hanks is annoyingly talented and yet still somehow remains impossible to dislike.
—— Irish NewsStartlingly good … each of these 17 stories leap out from the page in their authenticity and whimsicality … A spellbindingly easygoing read, it is hard to find fault.
—— Press AssociationA wonderful collection.
—— CandisWarm, gently funny and mostly engaging.
—— RedBehind the collection is a warmth and humanity.
—— Sunday SportUnexpectedly brilliant.
—— Love It!A spellbindingly easygoing read, it is hard to find fault.
—— The UniverseRich range of subject matter and emotions.
—— Harrods Magazine