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Penguin Publishing Desk Copies: Your Guide to Securing Review Copies
Introduction:
Are you an author dreaming of seeing your book on bestseller lists? Securing desk copies from Penguin Random House, one of the world's largest publishing houses, can significantly boost your chances. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of obtaining Penguin publishing desk copies, from understanding the intricacies of the system to crafting compelling requests that increase your success rate. We'll unravel the mystery surrounding desk copy acquisition, offering actionable strategies and insider tips to help you navigate this often-challenging aspect of book promotion. Forget generic approaches; this post delivers a strategic, effective roadmap for securing the desk copies you need to launch your book successfully.
Understanding the Landscape: What are Penguin Publishing Desk Copies?
Penguin Random House, a behemoth in the publishing world, doesn't offer desk copies casually. These aren't free books sent out willy-nilly. Desk copies are review copies specifically provided to key influencers – book reviewers, bloggers, journalists, and librarians – to generate buzz and advance sales. Securing a desk copy isn't a guarantee of a positive review, but it significantly increases your chances of getting your book noticed by influential voices in the literary world.
Why are Penguin Publishing Desk Copies Important?
The impact of securing a Penguin desk copy extends far beyond a single review. Positive reviews from credible sources can:
Boost Sales: Credible reviews drive sales directly by convincing potential readers of your book's quality.
Increase Visibility: Reviews often appear on prominent websites and publications, expanding your reach beyond your immediate network.
Enhance Credibility: A positive review from a respected source lends your book legitimacy and authority.
Improve Amazon Ranking: Reviews on Amazon and other platforms directly impact search rankings and visibility.
Open Doors to Future Opportunities: A successful campaign can lead to more opportunities with Penguin and other publishers.
Strategies for Securing Penguin Publishing Desk Copies:
1. Identify the Right Contacts: Don't send a generic email to a general inquiries address. Research specific editors, publicists, or marketing teams within Penguin Random House that handle books in your genre. LinkedIn is a powerful tool for this research.
2. Craft a Personalized Pitch: Generic emails are easily ignored. Tailor your request to the individual you're contacting. Mention specific books they've worked on that are similar to yours and explain why you believe your book would resonate with their readership. Highlight what makes your book unique and compelling.
3. Demonstrate Your Platform: Publishers want to see you're actively promoting your book. Showcase your website, social media presence, email list size, and any previous media mentions. This demonstrates your commitment and potential to generate buzz.
4. Offer Something in Return: Consider offering an advance review copy or an interview opportunity in exchange for consideration. This demonstrates reciprocity and shows you value their time.
5. Follow Up (Strategically): A polite follow-up email a week or two after your initial contact is acceptable. However, avoid bombarding the recipient with multiple emails.
6. Leverage Your Network: Tap into your existing network of contacts. Do you know any authors, bloggers, or journalists who have a relationship with Penguin? Networking can open unexpected doors.
7. Understand the Timing: Submit your request well in advance of your publication date, allowing ample time for review and consideration.
8. Accept Rejection Gracefully: Not every request will be successful. Accept rejection professionally and maintain a positive relationship with the publisher. You may have better luck with future projects.
Beyond the Initial Request:
Securing a desk copy is only the first step. Maintain open communication with the reviewer, answer any questions they may have, and encourage them to share their honest opinion. Remember, a genuine and insightful review is far more valuable than a forced positive one.
Sample Book Proposal Outline:
Book Title: "The Ultimate Guide to Securing Penguin Publishing Desk Copies"
Outline:
Introduction: The importance of desk copies and an overview of the book's contents.
Chapter 1: Understanding the Penguin Publishing Landscape: A deep dive into Penguin's publishing process and its approach to desk copies.
Chapter 2: Identifying Key Contacts and Crafting Compelling Pitches: Detailed strategies for finding the right people and writing effective email requests.
Chapter 3: Showcasing Your Platform and Building Credibility: Techniques for demonstrating your author platform and proving your book's potential.
Chapter 4: Leveraging Networking and Building Relationships: Strategies for networking effectively and forming valuable connections within the publishing industry.
Chapter 5: Following Up and Handling Rejection: Best practices for follow-up communication and navigating rejections gracefully.
Chapter 6: Post-Desk Copy Strategies: Maximizing the impact of your reviews and leveraging the momentum generated.
Conclusion: A recap of key strategies and a call to action.
Appendix: Templates for effective email pitches and follow-up messages.
Detailed Explanation of Each Point in the Outline:
(Each chapter would require a substantial expansion to reach the 1500-word count. The following provides a brief glimpse into the depth of each chapter):
Chapter 1: This chapter would delve into Penguin Random House's different imprints and their specific focus, helping authors target their requests effectively. It would explore the internal processes and decision-making factors involved in selecting books for desk copy distribution.
Chapter 2: This would provide detailed templates and examples of compelling email pitches, showing how to personalize them for specific editors and publicists. It would analyze successful pitches and highlight common mistakes to avoid.
Chapter 3: This would detail how to build a strong author platform, focusing on aspects like website optimization, social media engagement, email list building, and press kit creation.
Chapter 4: This would provide actionable advice on networking strategies, both online and offline, including attending industry events, joining relevant online communities, and leveraging personal connections.
Chapter 5: This chapter would emphasize the importance of professional communication, both in initial contact and follow-up emails. It would offer advice on how to handle rejection gracefully and maintain positive relationships.
Chapter 6: This would provide post-review strategies, such as promoting positive reviews on social media, leveraging reviews in marketing materials, and using reviews to secure future opportunities.
Chapter 7: This would provide examples of various types of publishers and the processes of getting desk copies from different publishers.
FAQs:
1. How long does it typically take to get a response after submitting a desk copy request? Responses can vary, but a week or two is a reasonable timeframe.
2. What if I don't hear back from Penguin? A polite follow-up email is acceptable, but avoid excessive contact.
3. Can I request desk copies for multiple books simultaneously? It's generally better to focus on one book at a time.
4. What kind of information should I include in my desk copy request? Include your book's synopsis, target audience, and your author platform.
5. What if I don't have a large social media following? Focus on other aspects of your platform, such as your email list or website traffic.
6. Are there different processes for different Penguin imprints? Yes, each imprint may have slightly different procedures.
7. What is the best time of year to request desk copies? Several months before your publication date.
8. Is it crucial to offer something in return? Not always, but it can increase your chances.
9. How many desk copies should I request? One is usually sufficient for the initial request.
Related Articles:
1. Boosting Book Sales Through Influencer Marketing: Strategies for leveraging influencers to promote your book.
2. Building a Successful Author Platform: A comprehensive guide to building your online presence.
3. Crafting a Compelling Book Synopsis: Tips for writing a synopsis that grabs attention.
4. The Power of Book Reviews: Understanding the impact of reviews on book sales and visibility.
5. Networking for Authors: How to connect with other authors, publishers, and industry professionals.
6. Publicity and Media Kit for Authors: Creating a press kit that helps you get media coverage.
7. Understanding Book Publishing Contracts: Important things to know about publishing agreements.
8. Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: Weighing the pros and cons of each approach.
9. Amazon Author Central Optimization: Tips for maximizing your visibility on Amazon.
| penguin publishing desk copies: Professional Construction Supervisor Carolinas AGC Foundation, 2010-12-01 |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Be Free Where You Are Thich Nhat Hanh, 2008-09-24 This compendium of the core teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, based on a talk given at a prison, shows how mindfulness practice can cultivate freedom no matter where you are. So many of us, inmates and outsiders alike, are in prisons of our own making.... The miracle of mindfulness can free us all Shepherds town Chronicle.... |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Mini Modern Classics PENGUIN CLASSICS, 2011-02 A set of 50 fascinating, disturbing, moving or funny short books published in an appealing new format to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Penguin Modern Classics |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Undisruptable Ian Whitworth, 2021-06-16 Ian Whitworth built national companies from nothing. Coronavirus hammered some of them flat. Yet he’s fine with that. Because when the chaos is swirling and shit is getting real, there’s opportunity. Now is the time to put yourself in control – where no boss or virus can take you down. So many talented people want to give it a shot, yet they’re held back by the big business myths. But success is simpler than your crusty CEO wants you to think. Ian built his businesses on simple rules, Year 6 maths, basic decency and no jargon. It generated profits that made the bank people say: ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before.’ Ian’s advice is so readable that many of his readers have no interest in commerce, they just like his dry humour and guidance on living a better life. He takes you step-by-step through the whole entrepreneur experience, from the day you open the doors through to when you pay others to run the place for you. There are 60 short and often surprising chapters in the trademark style of his popular 'Motivation for Sceptics' blog, from ‘Your Success Goals Are Built on Lies’ to ‘Business Whack-A-Mole Skills’ and ‘Remote Work Sucks Unless You're Old’. Whether you’re running your own business, leading someone else’s or freelancing, Undisruptable is the only handbook you need. And one you’ll actually enjoy reading to the end. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Matrix Lauren Groff, Dorință mascată de putere sau devotament sincer față de aproape? Aceasta e doar una dintre întrebările pe care le pune în lumină romanul lui Groff. Marie, o bastardă la curtea regală franceză, e trimisă la vârsta de șaptesprezece ani să se ocupe în Anglia de o mănăstire aflată în paragină. Odată devenită stareță, Marie (viitoarea poetă faimoasă pentru laiurile sale) o reconstruiește din temelii: dintr-un loc stăpânit de foamete și boală, abația ajunge să le ofere siguranță și prosperitate măicuțelor. Un scut în fața oricăror adversități, mănăstirea devine un spațiu aproape utopic, stârnind vâlvă și stupoare. Inspirată de viziunile pe care le are cu fecioara Maria, stareța își cultivă însă nestingherită propriile ambiții, căutând, totodată, un sens măreț în existența ei și a surorilor sale. Eroina cu inteligență ascuțită și spirit întreprinzător, meditația asupra credinței religioase, asupra sacralității și senzualității fac din captivantul roman al lui Lauren Groff o lectură de actualitate. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Bedford Anthology of American Literature, Volume One Susan Belasco, Linck Johnson, 2007-08-01 Prepared by recognized scholars and devoted teachers, The Bedford Anthology of American Literature brings the canon of American literature down to a manageable size. Half the length of other leading anthologies, and offered at a much lower price, the anthology reflects years of firsthand experience in the classroom and extensive research on what instructors are actually teaching in the survey course today. Prepared expressly for students and informed by the new understandings of and approaches to American literature that have emerged during the last 30 years, the anthology is lavishly illustrated and features several pedagogical innovations that help students engage with the literature. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2015-07-14 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • NAMED ONE OF TIME’S TEN BEST NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE DECADE • PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST • NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF OPRAH’S “BOOKS THAT HELP ME THROUGH” • NOW AN HBO ORIGINAL SPECIAL EVENT Hailed by Toni Morrison as “required reading,” a bold and personal literary exploration of America’s racial history by “the most important essayist in a generation and a writer who changed the national political conversation about race” (Rolling Stone) NAMED ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL BOOKS OF THE DECADE BY CNN • NAMED ONE OF PASTE’S BEST MEMOIRS OF THE DECADE • NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • O: The Oprah Magazine • The Washington Post • People • Entertainment Weekly • Vogue • Los Angeles Times • San Francisco Chronicle • Chicago Tribune • New York • Newsday • Library Journal • Publishers Weekly In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation’s history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of “race,” a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and men—bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden? Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s attempt to answer these questions in a letter to his adolescent son. Coates shares with his son—and readers—the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of revelatory experiences, from Howard University to Civil War battlefields, from the South Side of Chicago to Paris, from his childhood home to the living rooms of mothers whose children’s lives were taken as American plunder. Beautifully woven from personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally charged reportage, Between the World and Me clearly illuminates the past, bracingly confronts our present, and offers a transcendent vision for a way forward. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Black Book Middleton A. Harris, Ernest Smith, Morris Levitt, Roger Furman, 2019-12-03 A new edition of the classic New York Times bestseller edited by Toni Morrison, offering an encyclopedic look at the black experience in America from 1619 through the 1940s with the original cover restored. “I am so pleased the book is alive again. I still think there is no other work that tells and visualizes a story of such misery with seriousness, humor, grace and triumph.”—Toni Morrison Seventeenth-century sketches of Africans as they appeared to marauding European traders. Nineteenth-century slave auction notices. Twentieth-century sheet music for work songs and freedom chants. Photographs of war heroes, regal in uniform. Antebellum reward posters for capturing runaway slaves. An 1856 article titled “A Visit to the Slave Mother Who Killed Her Child.” In 1974, Middleton A. Harris and Toni Morrison led a team of gifted, passionate collectors in compiling these images and nearly five hundred others into one sensational narrative of the black experience in America—The Black Book. Now in a newly restored hardcover edition, The Black Book remains a breathtaking testament to the legendary wisdom, strength, and perseverance of black men and women intent on freedom. Prominent collectors Morris Levitt, Roger Furman, and Ernest Smith joined Harris and Morrison (then a Random House editor, ultimately a two-time Pulitzer Prize–winning Nobel Laureate) to spend months studying, laughing at, and crying over these materials—transcripts from fugitive slaves’ trials and proclamations by Frederick Douglass and celebrated abolitionists, as well as chilling images of cross burnings and lynchings, patents registered by black inventors throughout the early twentieth century, and vibrant posters from “Black Hollywood” films of the 1930s and 1940s. Indeed, it was an article she found while researching this project that provided the inspiration for Morrison’s masterpiece, Beloved. A labor of love and a vital link to the richness and diversity of African American history and culture, The Black Book honors the past, reminding us where our nation has been, and gives flight to our hopes for what is yet to come. Beautifully and faithfully presented and featuring a foreword and original poem by Toni Morrison, The Black Book remains a timeless landmark work. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: American Crisis Andrew Cuomo, 2020-10-13 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Governor Andrew Cuomo tells the riveting story of how he took charge in the fight against COVID-19 as New York became the epicenter of the pandemic, offering hard-won lessons in leadership and his vision for the path forward. “An impressive road map to dealing with a crisis as serious as any we have faced.”—The Washington Post When COVID-19 besieged the United States, New York State emerged as the global “ground zero” for a deadly contagion that threatened the lives and livelihoods of millions. Quickly, Governor Andrew Cuomo provided the leadership to address the threat, becoming the standard-bearer of the organized response the country desperately needed. With infection rates spiking and more people dying every day, the systems and functions necessary to combat the pandemic in New York—and America—did not exist. So Cuomo undertook the impossible. He unified people to rise to the challenge and was relentless in his pursuit of scientific facts and data. He quelled fear while implementing an extraordinary plan for flattening the curve of infection. He and his team worked day and night to protect the people of New York, despite roadblocks presented by a president incapable of leadership and addicted to transactional politics. Taking readers beyond the candid daily briefings that became must-see TV across the globe, and providing a dramatic, day-by-day account of the catastrophe as it unfolded, American Crisis presents the intimate and inspiring thoughts of a leader at an unprecedented historical moment. In his own voice, Andrew Cuomo chronicles the ingenuity and sacrifice required of so many to fight the pandemic, sharing the decision-making that shaped his policy as well as his frank accounting and assessment of his interactions with the federal government, the White House, and other state and local political and health officials. Real leadership, he shows, requires clear communication, compassion for others, and a commitment to truth-telling—no matter how frightening the facts may be. Including a game plan for what we as individuals—and as a nation—need to do to protect ourselves against this disaster and those to come, American Crisis is a remarkable portrait of selfless leadership and a gritty story of difficult choices that points the way to a safer future for all of us. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Penguin Stephen Martin, 2009-11-15 From the Penguin Books logo to The March of the Penguins, a certain tuxedo-adorned member of the animal kingdom has long captured our hearts and imaginations. Stephen Martin regales us here with the cultural and natural history of the penguin, revealing many fascinating and little-known facts about this beloved bird. Over twenty species of penguins can be found in the Galápagos Islands and New Zealand as well as in Antarctica, and they range from the Little Bee Penguin at two pounds to the imposing Emperor Penguin, which can weigh in at over seventy-five pounds. Martin details the biological facts and natural history of each species, including their evolution, habitats, diet, and behavior, but he also explores the role of penguins in popular culture and thought—from children’s literature such as Mr. Popper’s Penguins, to Batman’s nemesis, the Penguin, to films and television shows including Happy Feet and Pingu. In addition, over one hundred images of penguins enrich Martin’s engaging text. A captivating natural and cultural history, Penguin will be an essential addition to the bookshelves of penguin fans everywhere. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: In the Eye of the Wild Nastassja Martin, 2021-11-16 After enduring a vicious bear attack in the Russian Far East's Kamchatka Peninsula, a French anthropologist undergoes a physical and spiritual transformation that forces her to confront the tenuous distinction between animal and human. In the Eye of the Wild begins with an account of the French anthropologist Nastassja Martin’s near fatal run-in with a Kamchatka bear in the mountains of Siberia. Martin’s professional interest is animism; she addresses philosophical questions about the relation of humankind to nature, and in her work she seeks to partake as fully as she can in the lives of the indigenous peoples she studies. Her violent encounter with the bear, however, brings her face-to-face with something entirely beyond her ken—the untamed, the nonhuman, the animal, the wild. In the course of that encounter something in the balance of her world shifts. A change takes place that she must somehow reckon with. Left severely mutilated, dazed with pain, Martin undergoes multiple operations in a provincial Russian hospital, while also being grilled by the secret police. Back in France, she finds herself back on the operating table, a source of new trauma. She realizes that the only thing for her to do is to return to Kamchatka. She must discover what it means to have become, as the Even people call it, medka, a person who is half human, half bear. In the Eye of the Wild is a fascinating, mind-altering book about terror, pain, endurance, and self-transformation, comparable in its intensity of perception and originality of style to J. A. Baker’s classic The Peregrine. Here Nastassja Martin takes us to the farthest limits of human being. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Five Days at Memorial Sheri Fink, 2013-09-10 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The award-winning book that inspired an Apple Original series from Apple TV+ • A landmark investigation of patient deaths at a New Orleans hospital ravaged by Hurricane Katrina—and the suspenseful portrayal of the quest for truth and justice—from a Pulitzer Prize–winning physician and reporter “An amazing tale, as inexorable as a Greek tragedy and as gripping as a whodunit.”—Dallas Morning News After Hurricane Katrina struck and power failed, amid rising floodwaters and heat, exhausted staff at Memorial Medical Center designated certain patients last for rescue. Months later, a doctor and two nurses were arrested and accused of injecting some of those patients with life-ending drugs. Five Days at Memorial, the culmination of six years of reporting by Pulitzer Prize winner Sheri Fink, unspools the mystery, bringing us inside a hospital fighting for its life and into the most charged questions in health care: which patients should be prioritized, and can health care professionals ever be excused for hastening death? Transforming our understanding of human nature in crisis, Five Days at Memorial exposes the hidden dilemmas of end-of-life care and reveals how ill-prepared we are for large-scale disasters—and how we can do better. ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, Entertainment Weekly, Christian Science Monitor, Kansas City Star WINNER: National Book Critics Circle Award, J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize, PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Ridenhour Book Prize, American Medical Writers Association Medical Book Award, National Association of Science Writers Science in Society Award |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Color Index XL Jim Krause, 2017-10-03 This updated, expanded, and oversized inspirational resource presents 1,100 color palettes, with light, bright, dark, and muted varieties for each one, making it the most expansive palette selection tool available. Color Index XL provides aspiring designers, artists, and creative individuals working with color with an indispensable, one-stop method for reviewing and selecting current, up-to-date color palettes for their creative projects. Designer and lecturer Jim Krause's classic resource is back with a new approach that presents each group of palettes in an oversized form for easy visual review, and bleeding to the edge of the page (edge indexing) for quick access. By providing variations for each palette, Krause ensures that creatives can find the best color selection for each project's needs. This book serves as the perfect resource for teachers, students, and professionals of all kinds in the art and design space who want to stay up-to-date on the ever-evolving trends in color. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Looking for Alaska John Green, 2008-08-14 The award-winning, genre-defining debut from John Green, the #1 bestselling author of The Anthropocene Reviewed and The Fault in Our Stars Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award • A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist • A New York Times Bestseller • A USA Today Bestseller • NPR’s Top Ten Best-Ever Teen Novels • TIME magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time • A PBS Great American Read Selection • Millions of copies sold! First drink. First prank. First friend. First love. Last words. Miles Halter is fascinated by famous last words—and tired of his safe life at home. He leaves for boarding school to seek what the dying poet François Rabelais called the “Great Perhaps.” Much awaits Miles at Culver Creek, including Alaska Young, who will pull Miles into her labyrinth and catapult him into the Great Perhaps. Looking for Alaska brilliantly chronicles the indelible impact one life can have on another. A modern classic, this stunning debut marked #1 bestselling author John Green’s arrival as a groundbreaking new voice in contemporary fiction. Newly updated edition includes a brand-new Readers' Guide featuring a Q&A with author John Green |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Deep Learning Ian Goodfellow, Yoshua Bengio, Aaron Courville, 2016-11-10 An introduction to a broad range of topics in deep learning, covering mathematical and conceptual background, deep learning techniques used in industry, and research perspectives. “Written by three experts in the field, Deep Learning is the only comprehensive book on the subject.” —Elon Musk, cochair of OpenAI; cofounder and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX Deep learning is a form of machine learning that enables computers to learn from experience and understand the world in terms of a hierarchy of concepts. Because the computer gathers knowledge from experience, there is no need for a human computer operator to formally specify all the knowledge that the computer needs. The hierarchy of concepts allows the computer to learn complicated concepts by building them out of simpler ones; a graph of these hierarchies would be many layers deep. This book introduces a broad range of topics in deep learning. The text offers mathematical and conceptual background, covering relevant concepts in linear algebra, probability theory and information theory, numerical computation, and machine learning. It describes deep learning techniques used by practitioners in industry, including deep feedforward networks, regularization, optimization algorithms, convolutional networks, sequence modeling, and practical methodology; and it surveys such applications as natural language processing, speech recognition, computer vision, online recommendation systems, bioinformatics, and videogames. Finally, the book offers research perspectives, covering such theoretical topics as linear factor models, autoencoders, representation learning, structured probabilistic models, Monte Carlo methods, the partition function, approximate inference, and deep generative models. Deep Learning can be used by undergraduate or graduate students planning careers in either industry or research, and by software engineers who want to begin using deep learning in their products or platforms. A website offers supplementary material for both readers and instructors. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Scanning the Century Peter Forbes, 1999 1900-1914 - 1914-1918 - The Russian revolution 1917-1921 - The Jazz age: 1921-1929 - The thirties - Fascism v. Communism 1933-1939 - World War LL 1939-1945 - The Holocaust 1933-1945 - The atomic bomb - The fifties - Communism 1945-1989 - Decolonization 1947- - Rural life - The cold war: 1945-1989 - The sixties - Civil rights 1930s -1968 - Vietnam 1964-1973 - The Middle East 1948- - Politics - The seventies - Ireland - The environment - Travel - Work - Home - Love & sex - Children and family - The individual - Oppression and exile - Crime, vice and low life - The eighties and nineties - The media - The arts - Sport and leisure - Science and technology - The collapse of communism and its consequences 1989- - Existence - Sci-fi and space - 2000-; Newsreel (C. Day Lewis). |
| penguin publishing desk copies: World History Philip Parker, 2017-10-03 Take a trip through the defining moments of our global story and see the thinkers, leaders, ideas, and inventions that have shaped the world. Presented in a beautiful slipcase, World History is an essential guide for anyone who loves history or wants to broaden their knowledge. This accessible book covers over 350 of the world's most important turning points, from our earliest human ancestors of prehistory to political events of the modern world. Follow detailed maps showing the continuous movement of humans across the Earth, and examine fascinating paintings illustrating the events and individuals that took them there. Beautiful photography throughout the book will carry you back in time to see the people and places of the stories - along with stunning artifacts from every historical period. From magnificent buildings like the Colosseum to magnificent words like I have a dream!, this guide brings history's most significant events to life for every reader to discover and enjoy. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Library Stuart Kells, 2017-08-28 ‘Almost like poetry, a rich ode to all things books and everything we love about them. The enjoyment and engagement is so palpable you can almost taste it and Kells proves to be the perfect guide through the subject matter and history.’ AU Review Libraries are filled with magic. From the Bodleian, the Folger and the Smithsonian to the fabled libraries of Middle-earth, Umberto Eco’s mediaeval library labyrinth and libraries dreamed up by John Donne, Jorge Luis Borges and Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Stuart Kells explores the bookish places, real and fictitious, that continue to capture our imaginations. The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders is a fascinating and engaging exploration of libraries as places of beauty and wonder. It’s a celebration of books as objects and an account of the deeply personal nature of these hallowed spaces by one of Australia’s leading bibliophiles. Stuart Kells is an author and book-trade historian. His 2015 book, Penguin and the Lane Brothers, won the Ashurst Business Literature Prize. An authority on rare books, he has written and published on many aspects of print culture and the book world. Stuart lives in Melbourne with his family. He is writing a book about Shakespeare’s library. ‘Libraries are filled with magic. From the Bodleian, the Folger and the Smithsonian to the fabled libraries of middle earth, Umberto Eco's mediaeval library labyrinth and libraries dreamed up by John Donne, Jorge Luis Borges and Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Stuart Kells explores the bookish places, real and fictitious, that continue to capture our imaginations. The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders is a fascinating and engaging exploration of libraries as places of beauty and wonder. It's a celebration of books as objects and an account of the deeply personal nature of these hallowed spaces by one of Australia's leading bibliophiles.’ Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2018, Judges' comments ‘If you think you know what a library is, this marvellously idiosyncratic book will make you think again. After visiting hundreds of libraries around the world and in the realm of imagination, bibliophile and rare-book collector Stuart Kells has compiled an enchanting compendium of well-told tales and musings both on the physical and metaphysical dimensions of these multi-storied places.’ Age ‘On a vivid tour of the world’s great libraries, both real and imagined, Kells is a magnificent guide to the abundant treasures he sets out.’ Mathilda Imlah, Australian Book Review, 2017 Publisher Picks ‘The Library charts the transition between formats such as papyrus scrolls, parchment codices, moveable type and ebooks. There are many whimsical detours along the way, and Kells even devotes a chapter to fantasy libraries...Kells translates his stunning depth of research into breezy digestibility.’ Big Issue ‘The Library is a treasure trove and reaching the last page simply prompts an impassioned cry for more of the same.’ Otago Daily Times ‘Rich with gossipy tales of the inspired, crazy, brilliant and terrible people who have founded or encountered libraries through history...Kells’s reflections are wonderfully romantic, wryly funny...There’s no doubt we can all learn a lot from the magnificently obsessive and eloquent Kells.’ Australian ‘With The Library, Stuart Kells has written a deft and involving book that manages to balance the erudite with the accessible...There is, in any given chapter, a dozen odd details or compelling stories a reader can only hope to memorise, with an eye towards future use (perfectly timed and skilfully deployed, naturally).’ Monthly ‘There is so much to learn and enjoy in this book, with the impressive amount of research never weighing down the accessible writing...Kells makes an elegant plea for the future library—one that will resonate with most book lovers.’ Good Reading ‘A sprightly cabinet of bookish curiosities.’ Jane Sullivan, Sydney Morning Herald ‘Kells proves a generous guide, taking us on a whirlwind tour through several thousand years of book history.’ Australian Book Review ‘The Library abounds in fascinating tales of lost codices and found manuscripts, and the sometimes unscrupulous schemes by which people have conspired to obtain or amass valuable volumes.’ New York Times |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Let Me Lie Clare Mackintosh, 2018-03-13 The stunning new novel from Clare Mackintosh, the international bestselling author of I Let You Go and I See You. The police say it was suicide. Anna says it was murder. They're both wrong. Last year, Tom and Caroline Johnson chose to end their lives, one seemingly unable to live without the other. Their daughter, Anna, is struggling to come to terms with her parents' deaths, unwilling to accept the verdict of suicide. Now with a baby herself, Anna feels her mother's absence keenly and is determined to find out what really happened to her parents. But as she digs up the past, someone is trying to stop her. Sometimes it's safer to let things lie.... |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Art of Fire Daniel Hume, 2017-11-02 Fire can fascinate, inspire, capture the imagination and bring families and communities together. It has the ability to amaze, energise and touch something deep inside all of us. For thousands of years, at every corner of the globe, humans have been huddling around fires: from the basic and primitive essentials of light, heat, energy and cooking, through to modern living, fire plays a central role in all of our lives. The ability to accurately and quickly light a fire is one of the most important skills anyone setting off on a wilderness adventure could possess, yet very little has been written about it. Through his narrative Hume also meditates on the wider topics surrounding fire and how it shapes the world around us. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Popper Penguin Rescue Eliot Schrefer, 2020-10-13 From two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer comes an original penguin-tastic adventure inspired by the beloved classic Mr. Popper's Penguins. It's been years and years since the Popper family lived in Stillwater, but the town is still riding high on its former penguin residents. Across the river, in Hillport, residents try to re-create the magic with penguin carnival rides and penguin petting zoos, pretending they're the Popper originals. As the years have gone by, fewer and fewer people have come, and the small attractions shuttered. Nina and Joe Popper have just moved to Hillport with their mother. There's a lot to do: unpacking, scrubbing the floors, investigating the basement -- wait, what's this? Two penguin eggs are tucked snugly near the furnace! It's up to Nina and Joe to find their newly hatched penguin chicks a home. Setting off on the adventure of a lifetime, they endure perilous storms, a long journey to the Arctic, and of course, penguins. Lots and lots of Popper penguins! |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Drawdown Paul Hawken, 2017-04-18 • New York Times bestseller • The 100 most substantive solutions to reverse global warming, based on meticulous research by leading scientists and policymakers around the world “At this point in time, the Drawdown book is exactly what is needed; a credible, conservative solution-by-solution narrative that we can do it. Reading it is an effective inoculation against the widespread perception of doom that humanity cannot and will not solve the climate crisis. Reported by-effects include increased determination and a sense of grounded hope.” —Per Espen Stoknes, Author, What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming “There’s been no real way for ordinary people to get an understanding of what they can do and what impact it can have. There remains no single, comprehensive, reliable compendium of carbon-reduction solutions across sectors. At least until now. . . . The public is hungry for this kind of practical wisdom.” —David Roberts, Vox “This is the ideal environmental sciences textbook—only it is too interesting and inspiring to be called a textbook.” —Peter Kareiva, Director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA In the face of widespread fear and apathy, an international coalition of researchers, professionals, and scientists have come together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change. One hundred techniques and practices are described here—some are well known; some you may have never heard of. They range from clean energy to educating girls in lower-income countries to land use practices that pull carbon out of the air. The solutions exist, are economically viable, and communities throughout the world are currently enacting them with skill and determination. If deployed collectively on a global scale over the next thirty years, they represent a credible path forward, not just to slow the earth’s warming but to reach drawdown, that point in time when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere peak and begin to decline. These measures promise cascading benefits to human health, security, prosperity, and well-being—giving us every reason to see this planetary crisis as an opportunity to create a just and livable world. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Penguins Tui De Roy, Mark Jones, Julie Cornthwaite, 2022-04-19 An acclaimed photographic guide to these marvelous and enigmatic birds—now in a new, updated edition Penguins are perhaps the most beloved birds. On land, their behavior appears so humorous and expressive that we can be excused for attributing to them moods and foibles similar to our own. Few realize how complex and mysterious their private lives truly are, as most of their existence takes place far from our prying eyes, hidden beneath the ocean waves. Now in a new, updated edition, this stunningly illustrated book provides a unique look at these extraordinary creatures and the cutting-edge science that is helping us to better understand them. Featuring more than 400 breathtaking photos, this is the ultimate guide to all 18 species of penguins, including those with retiring personalities or nocturnal habits that tend to be overlooked and rarely photographed. This revised second edition features updated scientific information and some spectacular new photographs. Penguins is the most ambitious book to date by Tui De Roy, Mark Jones, and Julie Cornthwaite. Their travels, spanning more than two decades, have seen them crisscross the southern hemisphere to virtually everywhere that penguins are found, from the sun-baked lava shores of the Galápagos to some of the remotest subantarctic islands, as well as all around the Antarctic continent, where Emperor penguins breed on the deep-frozen sea. A book that no bird enthusiast or armchair naturalist should do without, Penguins includes discussions of penguin conservation, informative species profiles, fascinating penguin facts, and tips on where to see penguins in the wild. Covers all 18 species of the world’s penguinsFeatures more than 400 stunning photosExplores the latest science on penguins and their conservationIncludes informative species profiles and fascinating penguin facts |
| penguin publishing desk copies: This Was a Man Jeffrey Archer, 2016-11-08 The seventh and final volume in Jeffrey Archer’s New York Times bestselling Clifton Chronicles series, This Was a Man, brings the epic saga of the Clifton family’s love, loss, and ambition to a dazzling conclusion. Harry Clifton’s story began in 1920, as a dock worker in England, and now he is set to write his magnum opus. As he reflects on his days, the lives of his family continue to unfold, unravel, and intertwine in ways no one could have imagined . . . Harry’s wife Emma, who just completed her time at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, receives a surprise call from Margaret Thatcher. Meanwhile, Giles Barrington discovers a shocking truth about his wife, Karin. Sebastian Clifton becomes chairman of Farthings Kaufman bank, but only after Hakim Bishara’s abrupt resignation. Sebastian’s daughter Jessica is expelled from school, but her aunt Grace comes to the rescue. And Lady Virginia, who is set to flee the country to avoid her creditors, finds an opportunity to clear her debts after the Duchess of Hertford dies—and a way to finally trump the Cliftons and Barringtons. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Penguin Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases Peter Mark Roget, 1985 |
| penguin publishing desk copies: I'm Only in It for the Parking Lost Voice Guy aka Lee Ridley, 2021-03-11 STAR OF BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT! SOON APPEARING BGT: THE CHAMPIONS! 'A truly eye-opening book from a fantastic comedian.' ADAM KAY 'Comedy genius... The funniest book I've read in years.' - DAVID WALLIAMS What's the worst thing about being disabled? Is it the shameless staring? Is it that people assume you're a bit thick because you can't speak? Or is it that your friends always take you to theme parks just so they can jump the queues? In fact, it's the stupid questions that really rile Lee Ridley, aka Lost Voice Guy. And over the years he's been inundated with them, from people who have failed to engage their brains before opening their mouths. Which is where I'm Only In It for the Parking comes in - think of it as a disabled FAQ, with funny (sometimes painfully funny) stories from Lee's not-so-ordinary life. If you think you know what it's like to be disabled, prepare to have your perceptions skewed by the much-loved Britain's Got Talent winner, the brilliant stand-up who struggles to stand up, the Geordie without the accent. And before you ask ... no, he really can't speak at all. But he definitely has something to say. 'Hilarious.' The Sun. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Personal Finance Desk Reference Ken Little, 2007-04-03 One-stop shopping for all things financial. Personal finances are becoming more and more complex, and this is the only comprehensive reference book on this sprawling subject. Beginning with the basics of financial planning (budgeting, interest, banking, insurance, and debt), this helpful guide goes on to cover everything people need to know about handling just about every aspect of their financial world, including investing, taxes, retirement, estate planning, and more. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: GUCCI: The Making Of Frida Giannini, 2011-11-01 An unprecedented publication showcasing Gucci as never before, including thought-provoking essays, commentaries, and authoritative anecdotes along with previously unpublished contemporary and archival photographs. Published in conjunction with the opening of the new Gucci Museum in Florence, Gucci is the ultimate celebration of the world-renowned fashion house. Told through a loose grouping of words, concepts, shapes, and moods, the book tells its story through new conceptual forms and the free links between images, symbols, and objects. Edited by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini, with essays and inserts by contributors including Katie Grand, Peter Arnell, Rula Jebreal, Christopher Breward and Stefano Micelli, Gucci: The Making Of is a dynamic record of a much-coveted brand that will be a must this season for anyone with a love of fashion and an interest in contemporary culture. This comprehensive volume showcases the genius of the fashion house through an exclusive lens with inside looks into the inspirations behind the design. This gorgeous book designed by Arnell offers an in-depth look into Gucci’s origins, identity, influence, and innovation, including fabrication methods and appropriation of signature materials, past and present, and its influence among high society and Hollywood. The book is a heartfelt and personalized tribute to the heritage and influence of this iconic, multifaceted brand. In recognition of its ongoing partnership with UNICEF and the release of this luxury edition, Gucci will make a donation of US $250,000 to support UNICEF's Schools for Africa initiative. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Heroes Stephen Fry, 2019 Few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heart-stirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils, or outwitted scheming vengeful gods, quite as stylishly and triumphantly as Greek heroes. In this companion to his bestselling Mythos, Stephen Fry brilliantly retells these dramatic, funny, tragic and timeless tales. Join Jason aboard the Argo as he quests for the Golden Fleece. See Atalanta - who was raised by bears - outrun any man before being tricked with golden apples. Witness wily Oedipus solve the riddle of the Sphinx and discover how Bellerophon captures the winged horse Pegasus to help him slay the monster Chimera. Heroes is the story of what we mortals are truly capable of - at our worst and our very best. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Shakespeare’s Library Stuart Kells, 2018-08-20 Millions of words of scholarship have been expended on the world’s most famous author and his work. And yet a critical part of the puzzle, Shakespeare’s library, is a mystery. For four centuries people have searched for it: in mansions, palaces and libraries; in riverbeds, sheep pens and partridge coops; and in the corridors of the mind. Yet no trace of the bard’s manuscripts, books or letters has ever been found. The search for Shakespeare’s library is much more than a treasure hunt. The library’s fate has profound implications for literature, for national and cultural identity, and for the global Shakespeare industry. It bears upon fundamental principles of art, identity, history, meaning and truth. Unfolding the search like the mystery story that it is, acclaimed author Stuart Kells follows the trail of the hunters, taking us through different conceptions of the library and of the man himself. Entertaining and enlightening, Shakespeare’s Library is a captivating exploration of one of literature’s most enduring enigmas. Stuart Kells is an author and book-trade historian. His 2015 book Penguin and the Lane Brothers won the Ashurst Business Literature Prize. An authority on rare books, he has written and published on many aspects of print culture and the book world. Stuart lives in Melbourne with his family. 'Stuart Kells presents a fascinating and persuasive new paradigm that challenges our preconceptions about the Bard’s literary talent.’ Age ‘A delight to read, a wonderful piece of erudition and dazzling detective work.’ David Astle, Evenings on ABC Radio Melbourne ‘An excellent and incredibly fascinating read.’ 3RRR Backstory 'A fascinating examination of a persistent literary mystery.’ Publishers Weekly ‘Kells’s reflections are wonderfully romantic, wryly funny...There’s no doubt we can all learn a lot from the magnificently obsessive and eloquent Kells.’ Australian on The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders ‘Kells is a magnificent guide to the abundant treasures he sets out.’ Mathilda Imlah, Australian Book Review on The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders ‘If you think you know what a library is, this marvellously idiosyncratic book will make you think again. After visiting hundreds of libraries around the world and in the realm of the imagination, bibliophile and rare-book collector Stuart Kells has compiled an enchanting compendium of well-told tales and musings both on the physical and metaphysical dimensions of these multi-storied places.’ Age on The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Penguin Book of Facts David Crystal, 2008 The bestselling Penguin Book of Facts is the most comprehensive and authoritativegeneral factbook available - brought right up to date for this new edition. International in scope and easy to use, it is a goldmine of the latest facts and figureson all major areas of knowledge - from science and technology to sport and culture, to religion and mythology. Amazing valuefor money for anyone who needs to check facts at work or at home, this is the ultimate one-stop resource. Ideal for crossword, quizand trivia addicts, students and browsers Provides a thematic contentslist and over 100 pages of index to help you quickly track down the information you need Includes contributions from over 250experts Illustrated throughout with mapsanddiagrams This is an updated edition of The New Penguin Factfinder. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Penguin Dictionary of Quotations John Michael Cohen, Mark J. Cohen, 1962 |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Where the Crawdads Sing Deluxe Edition Delia Owens, 2019-10-22 A beautiful, deluxe edition of the #1 New York Times bestseller—with over 15 million copies sold—that will make the perfect holiday gift or treat for yourself. A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick A Business Insider Defining Book of the Decade “I can't even express how much I love this book! I didn't want this story to end!”—Reese Witherspoon At once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder, Where the Crawdads Sing has touched the hearts of millions of readers around the world, and this beautiful deluxe edition features: • new, personal note from the author • updated linen jacket with foil • foil-stamped case with cloth spine • four-color endpapers • premium interior stock • four-color map and newly colored interior illustrations For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life—until the unthinkable happens. Through Kya's story, Owens reminds us that we are forever shaped by the children we once were, and that we are all subject to the beautiful and violent secrets that nature keeps. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Reading Penguin George Donaldson, William Wootten, 2013-07-26 Founded by Allen Lane in 1935, Penguin Books soon became the most read publisher in the United Kingdom and was synonymous with the British paperback. Making high quality reading cheaply available to millions, Penguin helped democratise reading. In so doing, Penguin played an important part in the cultural and intellectual life of the English speaking world. For this book, which has its origins in the successful international conference held at Bristol University in 2010 to mark 75 years of Penguin Books, recognised scholars from different fields examine various aspects of Penguin’s significance and achievement. David Cannadine and Simon Eliot offer wide historical perspectives of Penguin’s place and impact. Other scholars, including Alistair McCleery, Kimberley Reynolds, Andrew Sanders, Claire Squires, Susie Harries, Andrew Nash, Tom Boll and William John Lyons examine more particularised subjects. These range from the breaking of the Lady Chatterley ban to the visions of the future contained in Puffin Books; from Penguin Classics to the scholarly and commercial interests in publishers’ anniversaries; from the art and architectural histories of Nikolaus Pevsner to the art and design of Penguin covers; and from the translation of poetry to the transcription of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Together the essays depict much of what it was that made Penguin the most important British publishing house of the twentieth century. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Muscular Music Terrance Hayes, 2006 A reissuing of Muscular Music, the debut poetry collection by Terrance Hayes. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Penguin Book of Hell Scott G. Bruce, 2018-09-04 From the Bible through Dante and up to Treblinka and Guantánamo Bay, here is a rich source for nightmares. --The New York Times Book Review Three thousand years of visions of Hell, from the ancient Near East to modern America A Penguin Classic From the Hebrew Bible's shadowy realm of Sheol to twenty-first-century visions of Hell on earth, The Penguin Book of Hell takes us through three thousand years of eternal damnation. Along the way, you'll take a ferry ride with Aeneas to Hades, across the river Acheron; meet the Devil as imagined by a twelfth-century Irish monk--a monster with a thousand giant hands; wander the nine circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno, in which gluttons, liars, heretics, murderers, and hypocrites are made to endure crime-appropriate torture; and witness the debates that raged in Victorian England when new scientific advances cast doubt on the idea of an eternal hereafter. Drawing upon religious poetry, epics, theological treatises, stories of miracles, and accounts of saints' lives, this fascinating volume of hellscapes illuminates how Hell has long haunted us, in both life and death. For more than seventy-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 2,000 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Archipelago Huw Lewis-jones, 2019-10-01 Celebrate the three-hundredth anniversary of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe with this vibrant atlas in which an international gathering of illustrators conjure imaginary islands and castaway dreams. What is it about islands that is so alluring, and why do so many people find these self-contained worlds irresistible? Utopia and Atlantis were islands, and islands have captured the imaginations of writers and artists for centuries. In 1719, Daniel Defoe published his tale of a castaway on a desert island, Robinson Crusoe, one of the first great novels in the history of English literature and an instant bestseller. Defoe’s tale combined the real and the imagined into a compelling creative landscape, establishing a whole literary genre and unleashing the power of islands in storytelling. To celebrate the tercentenary of the publication of Robinson Crusoe, Archipelago presents a truly international range of leading illustrators who imagine they too have washed up on their own remote island. In specially created maps, they visualize what their island looks like, what it’s called, and what can be found on its mythical shores. In a panoply of astonishingly creative responses, we are invited to explore a curious and fabulous archipelago of islands of invention that will beguile illustrators, cartographers, and dreamers alike. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: The Testaments Margaret Atwood, 2019-09-10 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE • A modern masterpiece that reminds us of the power of truth in the face of evil” (People)—and can be read on its own or as a sequel to Margaret Atwood’s classic, The Handmaid’s Tale. “Atwood’s powers are on full display” (Los Angeles Times) in this deeply compelling Booker Prize-winning novel, now updated with additional content that explores the historical sources, ideas, and material that inspired Atwood. More than fifteen years after the events of The Handmaid's Tale, the theocratic regime of the Republic of Gilead maintains its grip on power, but there are signs it is beginning to rot from within. At this crucial moment, the lives of three radically different women converge, with potentially explosive results. Two have grown up as part of the first generation to come of age in the new order. The testimonies of these two young women are joined by a third: Aunt Lydia. Her complex past and uncertain future unfold in surprising and pivotal ways. With The Testaments, Margaret Atwood opens up the innermost workings of Gilead, as each woman is forced to come to terms with who she is, and how far she will go for what she believes. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Mr. Penguin and the Lost Treasure Alex T. Smith, 2019-04-02 Dashing detective Mr. Penguin and his Adventuring gang are in for a wild ride when they're hired to find a treasure before bandits do! From Alex T. Smith's delightfully illustrated, mystery-detective series. When Bouddica Bones from the Museum of Extraordinary Objects calls for help in locating prized valuables, Mr. Penguin and his kung fu spider sidekick, Colin, swing into action. Following a map and clues, Mr. Penguin stumbles onto secret staircases, alligators, and falling toilets. Things really take a turn for the worse when Mr. Penguin learns the real crooks are closer to snatching the loot than he thought! Can Mr. Penguin foil this perilous plot and get home in time for a fish finger sandwich? Alex T. Smith's Mr. Penguin is a page-turning, illustrated middle grade series that is sure to thrill young readers looking for a good adventure and major laughs. Two color illustrations throughout. |
| penguin publishing desk copies: Landscape with Traveler Barry Gifford, 2013-10-01 Landscape with Traveler: The Pillow Book of Francis Reeves is Barry Gifford’s first full-length novel. In print for the first time in fifteen years, Landscape with Traveler is written as the protagonist's diary—inspired by the first century Japanese writer Sei Shōnagon’s pillow book—and structured as three acclaimed short novels bound into one volume. The book recounts the deep friendship between a middle-aged gay man and a young straight man through vignette-like entries, all the while tracing a history of the US from the 1930s through 1970s. Laying bare the themes that have marked his lifelong career: a winsome, beat-inspired frenzy of love, a generation-defining crossroads in American history—the novel tells an honest story of a male homosexual life. |
