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'Reading this felt like being at home - I didn't realise how much I masked. What an incredible book that I know will be re-read many times over.' - Dr Camilla Pang, author of Explaining Humans'Unmasking Autism is at once a most deeply personal and scholarly account of the damage caused by autistic (and all) people leading masked lives, and how unmasking is essential to creating a self-determined, authentic life... This is a remarkable work that will stand at the forefront of the neurodiversity movement' - Dr Barry M. Prizant, author of Uniquely Human Have you, a friend or family member been living with undiagnosed autism?For every visibly Autistic person you meet, there are countless 'masked' people who pass as neurotypical. They don't fit the stereotypical mould of Autism and are often forced by necessity to mask who they are, spending their entire lives trying to hide their Autistic traits. In particular, there is evidence that Autism remains significantly undiagnosed in women, people of colour, trans and gender non-conforming people, many of whom are only now starting to recognise those traits later in life.Blending cutting-edge research, personal insights and practical exercises for self-expression, Dr Devon Price examines the phenomenon of 'masking', making a passionate argument for radical authenticity and non-conformity. A powerful call for change, Unmasking Autism gifts its readers with the tools to uncover their true selves and build a new society - one where everyone can thrive on their own terms.

I never look good in skirts. I can't ask for a raise or my boss will think I'm greedy. I'm getting too old to find a partner. I'm a bad mom and my kids can tell. I'll never be good enough.Women absorb a lifetime of sexist social messaging that says our worth is determined by our looks, accomplishments, and what everyone (but ourselves) thinks of us. Take Back Your Brain exposes how the patriarchy hijacks our minds and wrecks our confidence-and shows how to break free once and for all.For a long time, Kara Loewentheil wasn't sure why she, like so many ambitious women, still wrestled with insecurity and low self-esteem, despite two Ivy League degrees, a successful law career, and a thriving social life. After breaking down under her desk one day, she decided enough was enough. Kara learned the power of thought work, became a Master Certified Life Coach, rewired her brain to overcome sexist social messages, and began to coach other women to do the same.Now in Take Back Your Brain, she shows you how to undo the socialisation you never asked for, starting with reprogramming your core beliefs from patriarchy's corrosive influence. Weaving cognitive psychology and feminist theory with practical thought work exercises, this book teaches you to:· Identify the conscious and unconscious biases that infiltrate your self-talk· Replace self-critical thoughts with new· Self-affirming beliefs· Embrace your emotions without fear of being seen as "too much"· Create new, empowered thought patterns around how you relate to your body, finances, and relationships· Stop relying on others for validation and start building self-confidence from withinBy changing your thoughts, you can transform your emotions, actions, the direction of your life, and ultimately the world. Because when women unleash their true power, they awaken new possibilities for all of us.

After her father suddenly leaves, turning the family upside down, Ji-won is forced to pick up the pieces and keep her grieving mother from falling apart. When her mother tells her that eating fish eyes will bring good luck and hints that it may help her father return home, Ji-won tries one and immediately begins dreaming about eating eyes. Human eyes. Instead of Ji-won's parents reuniting, however, her mother starts dating George, a Caucasian man with an obvious Asian fetish. Tormented by her dreams, Ji-won becomes obsessed with his beautiful blue eyes and begins noticing blue eyes all around her. No longer able to control her urges, she finds opportunities to feed her hunger, growing more and more reckless each day. And, as her obsession grows, so does her selfishness: the things that once seemed important to her no longer do, and Ji-won, who has always been hopelessly devoted to her family, decides that she must do the one thing that will end her cravings once and for all. A brilliantly inventive, subversive novel about a young woman unravelling from feeling for too long - because of race, because of misogyny - completely unseen, THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART is also a story of an immigrant family falling apart and trying to find their way back to each other.

With unparalleled behind-the-scenes insights, Arsene Who? dives into Arsène Wenger's revolutionary management at Arsenal FC, which changed the face of English football.Featuring 150 contributions from those who were involved in the Wenger revolution, this book includes contributions from key players Ian Wright, Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars, Nigel Winterburn, David Platt, Wenger's assistant Pat Rice, physios Gary and Colin Lewin, and even the kit man, Vic Ackers.Exposing personal relationships, conflicts and a Copernican Revolution in football philosophy, this is the astounding story of Arsenal's 97/98 double-winning team, and how Wenger changed the club for good.

Walking past a homeless person; buying a top made in a sweatshop that you'll wear a handful of times; reading the news and feeling - yet again - powerlessness to the point of apathy. Today, it's basically impossible not to carry shame about the state of the world and our place in it. Though we try and make good choices and live by our values, it can feel like we're not doing it right. When the political is so personal, and the personal so political, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sense that we're not doing enough - maybe, even, that we're not enough.In Unlearning Shame, social psychologist and author of Unmasking Autism Dr Devon Price explains why holding individuals responsible for systemic issues can be so personally devastating, and teaches us how to unlearn shame that doesn't serve us. By outlining small, daily ways to feel empowered and examining how real, structural change can and does happen, Devon gifts us with the tools to overcome self-blame, be truly compassionate to ourselves and others, and feel hopeful again.

***'Reads like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' -James Risen, The Intercept'A compelling account of the ongoing search for the Fourth Man... a gripping and mind-bending read' - Dr. Mark Stout, The Daily Beast For the first time ever, New York Times bestselling author and former CIA operative Robert Baer tells the explosive story of how insiders believe a KGB mole rose to the highest ranks of the CIA.In the aftermath of the Cold War, US intelligence caught three high-profile Russian spies. However, these arrests left major questions unanswered, and rumours have long swirled of another mole, often referred to as the Fourth Man. Three pioneering female veterans of counterintelligence were tasked with unearthing him. With steadfast determination and expertise, they came to a shocking conclusion, one which had, and continues to harbour, dramatic consequences for American security.In this gripping insider account, Baer tells a thrilling story of Russian espionage and American intelligence. With profound implications for the rise of Vladimir Putin and international relations with Russia, The Fourth Man is a real-life spy thriller with echoes of John Le Carré.

Winner of the Guild of Food Writers Food and Travel Award 2017'This is a book to delight food lovers, travel hounds and history buffs alike.' The Telegraph'As an armchair traveler, I was led by Caroline Eden's firsthand account of journeys to the Uzbek city of Samarkand and other exotic destinations, then lured into the kitchen by Eleanor Ford's fine recipes' New York Times'A particularly expansive and ambitious example of the genre. Imagine a Lonely Planet guide to Uzbekistan and beyond, with a hundred recipes.' LA Times'I am LOVING it! So interesting to see so many familiar but also lesser known recipes! Beautiful pictures too! Love the styling! Love it!' Sabrina GhayourOver hundreds of years, various ethnic groups have passed through Samarkand, sharing and influencing each other's cuisine and leaving their culinary stamp. This book is a love letter to Central Asia and the Caucasus, containing personal travel essays and recipes little known in the West that have been expertly adapted for the home cook. An array of delicious dishes will introduce the region and its different ethnic groups - Uzbek, Tajik, Russian, Turkish, Korean, Caucasian and Jewish - along with a detailed introduction on the Silk Road and a useful store cupboard of essential ingredients. Chapters are divided into Shared Table, Soups, Roast Meats & Kebabs, Warming Dishes, Pilavs & Plovs, Accompaniments, Breads & Doughs, Drinks and Desserts. 100 recipes are showcased, including Apricot & Red Lentil Soup, Chapli Kebabs with Tomato Relish, Rosh Hashanah Palov with Barberries, Pomegranate and Quince, Curd Pancakes with Red Berry Compote and the all-important breads of the region. And with evocative travel features like On the Road to Samarkand, A Banquet on the Caspian Sea and Shopping for Spices under Solomon's Throne, you will be charmed and enticed by this region and its cuisine, which has remained relatively untouched in centuries.

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'He is delight and joy personified' - MARIAN KEYES'Set to become BBC's next David Attenborough' - DAILY MAIL'Brings a little bit of joy to us all' - GUARDIANHamza Yassin often spends hours on end in the great British countryside. With his trusted dog at his side, he loves nothing more than discovering the immense natural world on his doorstep.Now, for the first time, Hamza is travelling across the British isles to embark on his own wild journey, to learn more about our wildlife. Join Hamza as he uncovers fascinating facts about our best-loved species - from the roe deer to the welsh lambs. Through interviews with the experts and charming personal stories, Hamza encourages each one of us to step outside and make our own journey into nature. The natural world is waiting to be discovered and there is so much to learn from the creatures at home to our shores.Hamza's book seeks to entertain and educate readers by tracking the wildlife that has gone through significant change in the modern world - making it a must-read for those wanting to discover more about the biodiversity at home to the UK. Each chapter explores a different habitat - from the Scottish highlands to the coastlines of Pembrokeshire. Hamza's conversational tone guides the reader through the stories of some of our best-loved species - uncovering things we never realised about the UK's wildlife.Through the many lessons from Britain's wildlife, Hamza offers a hopeful path for the future where we can exist harmoniously with the natural world.

WHAT IS YOUR ONE TRUE WISH?The INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING Japanese phenomenon translated into 20 languagesSatomi is torn between her career in Tokyo and her relationship with her country-loving boyfriend, who plans to propose on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, Koyuki, Satomi's lowly intern, has been playing the role of the good girl, pretending to love her stepfather ever since her real father passed away last Christmas.Satomi's sister-in-law, Junko, who lives in a small town with her husband and their toddler, Ayu, has a strained relationship with her abusive father who she hasn't seen since university. Her brother also left home after a particularly big fight. When their father becomes ill, both siblings return home - and discover something they never knew about him.What are they truly wishing for? In THE FULL MOON COFFEE SHOP: ONE TRUE WISH the characters confront their past and present struggles while trying to find happiness and contentment in their lives.

An A-Z compendium of everything you need to know about coffee. Coffee is more popular than ever before - and more complex. The Coffee Dictionary is the coffee drinker's guide to the dizzying array of terms and techniques, equipment and varieties that go into creating the perfect cup. Covering anything from country of origin, variety of bean and growing and harvesting techniques to roasting methods, brewing equipment, tasting notes, and - of course - the many different coffee-based drinks. With more than 175 entries on everything from sourcing, growing and harvesting, to roasting, grinding and brewing, champion barista and coffee expert Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood explains the key factors that impact the taste of your drink.

The Just Sleep Podcast presents . . . Bedtime Stories to Help You SleepThis is a thoughtfully curated anthology of classic stories. The collection is designed to help readers unwind and drift off to sleep. Based on the popular selections from the Just Sleep podcast, one of the top Mental Health podcasts in the UK, readers will enjoy stories from famous authors like Edith Nesbit, Arthur Conan Doyle and Jane Austen to more obscure works from Maude Radford and more. Ideal for lovers of classic literature and anyone in need of a restful night, this anthology fits perfectly into your bedtime routine.The story behind the podcast:A little over three years ago, during the pandemic, Taesha's husband was struggling to fall asleep. The stress of the previous year was taking its toll. At bedtime, he would scroll through videos on his tablet and try to fall asleep to history programmes or documentaries. One night, Taesha joked that maybe she should read him a bedtime story. He laughed, but then the next day she started to research bedtime story podcasts and whether she could offer something unique to the market. A few months later, we launched Just Sleep - Bedtime Stories for Adults. Every week, we release two episodes of classic literature to listeners that struggle to sleep or just want to unwind at the end of the day. To date, the show has received over 17 million downloads with most listeners being from the US, UK and Canada. The show is one of the most listened to podcasts in the UK according to Apple podcasts and is one of the top Mental Health podcasts in the country.

'Katie Yee is a storyteller extraordinare' DELIA EPHRONMaggie, or A Man and a Woman walk into a Bar is the profound and brilliantly clever debut from Katie Yee, in which an Asian-American woman is diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time she finds out that her husband is having an affair with a white woman.Spinning tragedy into comedy, the narrator names the tumour after her husband's lover and starts talking to it.

Proof of Gu opens with a death of a lover. Finding her partner Gu's lifeless body, Dam is filled with the emptiness that accompanies grief. But as she speaks to Gu, who lies dead on the street, she reaffirms the love that has been extinguished.Dam's monologues explore their past, interspersed with passages from Gu's perspective. Together, their accounts build a picture of their lives. Despite the hardships that knock them off track, we see the lovers' destiny they shared, two dots meeting along their orbits on the curve of life.And all the while in the present, Dam eats, slowly consuming the dead body - this act of eating, a ritual to preserve their past whole, and a metaphysical proof of undying love.This romance horror novella questioning the meaning of life and death through the loss and mourning of a lost love.Proof of Gu spent over 30 weeks in the country's Fiction Bestseller list and has hit a quarter of a million copies since publication - a rare milestone for a literary title in Korea - with readers falling for its depiction of destiny, tragedy and love.

Karen Dobres never expected to for football - let alone help revolutionise it. In Bitch Invasion, Karen shares her hilarious and heartfelt journey from someone who 'always zoned out when bloody football was on the telly' to becoming a Director at Lewes FC - the first football club in the world to pay its women and men players equally.In 1994, Karen could barely sit through a match at Wembley. Fast forward to 2023, and she's leading multi-million-pound deals for the women's team of her local club. How does a trained counsellor and former catwalk model end up navigating the male-dominated world of football? And how did she turn her 'imposter syndrome' into a tool for change?With bisexual pirates, vegan snacks, and even a designated breastfeeding area, Lewes FC is no ordinary football club. It's a pioneering force for equity, inclusion, and innovation. Through Karen's witty, self-deprecating storytelling, Bitch Invasion gives readers an insider's view of the quirky yet revolutionary culture at Lewes FC. From organising Suffragette flash mobs to introducing Prosecco on tap at the stadium, Karen brings to life her experiences at this fan-owned, debt-free, gender-equal club where everyone - from local supporters to Hollywood stars - helps shape the future of the game.From 2017, when women's football was still fighting for recognition, to the present day, Bitch Invasion is the story of how one woman helped lead the charge for gender equality, challenging football's entrenched hegemony, not just for one club, but across the UK.

Live your best, unashamedly unmasked Autistic life with this invaluable resource featuring tools for navigating friendships, family, work, love, and life, from the author of Unmasking Autism.***So you've discovered what 'masking' is, how you're doing it, and the potential of embracing your neurodiversity. Now what?Most masked Autistics have spent a lifetime being told how to perform neurotypically: how to behave, how to carry themselves, what to feel, and how to live. With his previous book, Unmasking Autism, Dr. Devon Price has given them the space and confidence to unmask and embrace their neurodiversity. But no matter where you are in the unmasking process, there is still work to be done. Because Autistic people often fear change, struggle to process unfamiliar situations, and have trauma histories that have conditioned them to avoid conflict, they don't always know how to transform their inner revelations into outer realities. They need more than internal healing - they need practical tools to translate acceptance into assertiveness and interpersonal effectiveness.In this book, Devon Price helps you advocate for your needs and invent new ways of living, loving and being that work for you, using five key skills:* Acceptance of change, loss, and uncertainty* Engagement in productive conflict, discussion, and disagreement* Transgression of unfair rules, demands, and social expectations* Tolerance of distress, disagreement, or being disliked* Creation of new accommodations, relationship structures, and new ways of livingWith powerful insights and transformative resources, Unmasking for Life is a practical guide to living a fully realised Autistic life.

'Levison Wood is a great adventurer and a wonderful storyteller.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes'Britain's best-loved adventurer... he looks like a man who will stare danger in the face and soak up a lot of pain without complaint.' The TimesLevison Wood has spent a lifetime exploring wild places and witnessing environmental challenges and conservation efforts around the world. Now, he's delving into the incredible world of forests. In this global investigation, The Great Tree Story explores the profound influence forests have had on our planet and civilisation. Each chapter digs into a different aspect of this relationship, from the evolutionary history of trees and their cultural significance in ancient civilisations, to the impacts of agriculture, colonisation, and the industrial revolution on forest ecosystems. The book highlights the wisdom of indigenous communities in forest stewardship, examines the environmental movement's efforts to protect forests, and analyses the causes and consequences of deforestation and environmental degradation.Forests are integral components of the global ecosystem. They serve as complex habitats for flora and fauna, supporting a delicate web of interdependence that we have only scratched the surface of understanding. Every organism, from the towering trees to the smallest insects, plays a crucial role in maintaining the biodiversity that sustains our planet. The intricate relationships woven within forests are not to be underestimated, for they are the threads that hold our world together.In this compelling weaving of fascinating anecdotes and in-depth research, Wood contemplates the future of forests, emphasising the importance of collective action and individual responsibility in preserving these vital ecosystems.

Before you step into the jungle, there are a few things you need to know...Join scientist Dr Rosa Vasquez Espinoza as she uncovers one of the most unexplored regions on the planet. Growing up amid the landscape of Peru and the rainforest of the Amazon, Rosa's childhood was marked by the teachings of her grandmother. There, she was introduced to the world of traditional medicine and the rich biodiversity of the 'natural pharmacy' right outside her window. After training as a scientist, Rosa returned to the Amazon rainforest to explore its rich landscapes, and the waters teeming with life. As a leading biologist in her field, Rosa continues to explore the region through a unique blend of scientific inquiry and ancient insight from indigenous communities.In this debut, Rosa uncovers hidden insights of the Amazon through fascinating stories from her expeditions in the jungle. Each chapter opens with a natural remedy from her pharmacopeia - situating the reader in a specific region of the Amazon. Through her personal and engaging narrative, Rosa recounts stories from her and her team's journeys, and the many lessons they have learnt along the way. From the boiling river to the stingless bee, Rosa also shares fascinating discoveries of the unknown wonders of the Amazon - some of which will stretch beyond the realm of science to uncover the spirits of the rainforest.In this book, Rosa celebrates the richness of Amazonian culture, the wonders of biodiversity, and the enduring spiritual connections between humanity and the natural world.

When Krystal Evans was 14, the house that she shared with her mother and little sister burned down. Krystal narrowly escaped by breaking a window and jumping out head-first; suffering burns, smoke inhalation, PTSD - and the unimaginable tragedy of losing her six year-old sister. But horrific as events were, the account of what led the family to that fatal night, and how they coped with its aftermath, is a richer and more complex story. Writing with skill and candour to find light in the darkest of places, this is Krystal Evans' story of growing up poor in America, living with a mentally ill mother, and having a wolf for a pet (really). From the indignities of being rejected from 'burn camp' for being 'too attractive', to putting up with a succession of her mom's increasingly dangerous and shady friends and partners, Krystal and Katie's childhoods were marked by adult chaos, inappropriate behaviour, and never knowing what the next day would bring.The Hottest Girl At Burn Camp is Krystal's story of how she grew from the ashes of disaster into the confident, funny, and (reasonably) well-hinged adult, mother and comedian that she is today.At the same time, funny, tragic and inspiring, it is the story of a family dangerously close to the edge, and of a girl struggling to make her way into adulthood, once the smoke clears.

As a woman, if you lived in Scotland in the 1500s, there was a very good chance that you, or someone you knew, would be tried as a witch. Witch hunts ripped through the country for over 150 years, with at least 4,000 accused, and with many women's fates sealed by a grizzly execution of strangulation, followed by burning.Inspired to correct this historic injustice, campaigners and writers Claire Mitchell, KC, and Zoe Venditozzi, have delved deeply into just why the trials exploded in Scotland to such a degree. In order to understand why it happened, they have broken down the entire horrifying process, step-by-step, from identification of individuals, to their accusation, 'pricking', torture, confessions, execution and beyond. With characteristically sharp wit and a sense of outrage, they attempt to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, revealing the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such extraordinary lengths to silence women, and how this legally sanctioned victimisation proliferated in Scotland and around the world. With testimony from a small army of experts, pen portraits of the women accused, trial transcripts, witness accounts and the documents that set the legal grounds for the hunts, How to Kill A Witch builds to form a rich patchwork of tragic stories, helping us comprehend the underlying reasons for this terrible injustice, and raises the serious question - could it ever happen again?

BOWIE IS STILL OUT THERE...Following open heart surgery, poet and writer Peter Carpenter was given one instruction - 'Walk, if you want to stay on this planet'. And so when his hero and inspiration David Bowie died in 2016, he knew what he had to do. The man who was to so many a companion and guide had left no shrine, no focal point of understanding. To reconnect with Bowie, he would take a walk into the past, to the streets, towns and places where David Jones became something more.Walking to recover, to stay alive, Peter realised he was also recovering his lost hero. Leaving behind Heddon Street and Brixton, well-known Bowie shrines, he moved out through South London edgelands and suburbia to remoter Bowie haunts: Croydon, Aylesbury, Pett Level, Southend-on-Sea. Finding the windows Bowie had stared out from in Clareville Grove; the streets in Beckenham where he'd scurried by. He sifted through debris on a patch of waste ground in Tunbridge Wells where Bowie's parents first met. He turned the handle and entered Shirley Parish Hall to find the same stage where a young Davy Jones and the Kon-Rads set up to play back in 1962; and travelled to Berlin, to emerge from the S-Bahn to gape at the ruined portico of the Anhalter Bahnhof and asked 'What is this?' In Bowieland, Carpenter's peripatetic trampings seem to echo Bowie's own wandering creative spirit, the walks often uncovering hidden layers, and making fresh connections to key Bowie stories, uncovering and influences conscious and subconscious. Through walking, an understanding is reached of where Bowie sits in the culture, his place among the poets, painters, artists and musicians who came before him, who inhabited the same spaces and in doing so passed on their wisdom to Bowie. Through Carpenter's travels these suburban lands became a new, very real place, that anyone can visit if they take the time... Welcome to 'Bowieland'

A prominent US gerontologist's practical, science-based guide to aging wellGrowing old in today's society is daunting. The core message of this book is that losing your quality of life as you age is not inevitable. You can live a great life all the way to the end by leveraging what "older you" does better. By the end of this book, your fear of aging will be replaced with confidence that you will know how to age into the best version of yourself.A Short Guide to Your Long Life is the practical guide readers have been looking for. A rich body of evidence confirms that a number of strengths peaks with age: judgment, empathy, patience, and appreciation. Older you will have better problem-solving skills, more resilience, and a deeper and more robust spiritual life. When you harness these strengths, growing older becomes an era of expansion rather than contraction. In a society that can you make you feel invisible, staying vital requires you to stay visible to yourself so that you uncover the strengths and fullness of your life.

Noa Simon is a thirty-six-year-old filmmaker who knows what she wants when she sees it. When she meets Teddy Rosenfeld, an antagonistic, older CEO, she goes for the jugular. An electrifying encounter in a bathroom stall after their first meeting only serves to whet Noa's appetite, and despite Teddy's subsequent rejections, Noa is empowered by the challenge-and by her own insatiability. She takes a job at his office and folds herself into his life, where they are just as often at each other's throats as in each other's beds. Their ravenous, volatile romance unearths difficult secrets from both of their pasts, and ultimately forces Noa to reckon with whether she wants to be with Teddy or give herself the permission to become someone more like him.Rosenfeld is a compulsive, erotic page-turner that refuses to shy away from the thorniest questions of how taboos around power, agency, and control play out between men and women in our most painful and pleasurable moments. With precision and visceral, voyeuristic detail, Maya Kessler has written a tale of sexual initiation and abandon that titillates and interrogates in equal measure.

What if you had the chance to remain at your exact age for the next thirty years? What if you could extend your life potentially forever? Would you have a new lease on life, literally, and do the things you never thought you'd have time to do? Would you be more or less ambitious because you knew time was on your side?Would 'growing old together' with the person you love still mean something?It's 2023 and the NHS is on the verge of being privatized. As a result, Yareta, a drug that could hold the key to immortality, is poised to enter the global market. The wonder drug's charismatic creator, Frank Walker (73 years old going on 43), believes it has the potential to be a silver bullet for humanity and the world over. By extending one's life by thirty years and possibly longer, Yareta would give every individual the chance to unlock their true potential and, as a social good, ease national health services around the world by delaying the onset of old age. It would even give us the chance to tackle the climate crisis-right?With its global sensibility and intersecting cast of unforgettable characters, WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER is poses compelling questions about what it means to live a good, fulfilled life, even as it offers scathing critiques of the socioeconomic disparity plaguing our global healthcare systems. With a masterful voice and worldbuilding, this is novel is both contemporary and timeless in its universal concerns, full of nuance and zeitgeisty, chewy ideas.

A gripping family saga and a portrait of a world in turmoilThe Princesses of Hesse were Queen Victoria's grandchildren. After the death of their mother, Queen Victoria's favourite daughter Alice, the Queen stepped in, taking an almost manic interest in the motherless girl's marriage prospects. Very little went according to plan. Fortunately, Queen Victoria did not live to see her direst fears for the girls spouses being realised. She died in January 1901, just before her beloved Hesse granddaughters became caught up in the maelstrom of early 20th century Europe. The youngest sister, Alix, married Tsar Nicholas II of Russia; she was assassinated, along with the rest of her family, in a cellar in Ekaterinburg. The second, Ella, married the Russian Grand Duke Serge. After he was assassinated, she became a nun, only to be assassinated by the Bolsheviks twenty-four hours after Alix in 1918. The third, Irene, married the Kaiser's brother, Prince Henry, and was entangled in the 1918 German uprisings. The eldest sister, Princess Victoria, married Prince Louis Battenberg, and became the mother of Lord Louis Mountbatten and grandmother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.Their lives were all dramatic, but this book - the first full-length biography of the Princesses of Hesse - also shows how they interacted as sisters, forever jostling for status and relaying the politics and intrigues that surrounded them. Drawing on hundreds of previously unseen letters from the sisters as well as from their grandmother Queen Victoria, The Princesses of Hesse takes us on a sweeping journey across the tumultuous landscape of the turn of the century - from the dramas of the Russian Court to the Russian Revolution, and through both World Wars in which they often found themselves on opposing sides.Both intimate and epic in scope, Frances Welch's biography sheds new light on the four sisters' lives, illuminating a remarkable period of history in the process.