The Memory Palace

The Memory Palace

Author: Edward Hollis

Publisher: Catapult

Published: 2015-07-28

Total Pages: 363

ISBN-13: 1619025620

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A brilliant, ambitious follow–up to The Secret Lives of Buildings, in which Hollis turns his focus from the great architectural constructions of the past to the now–vanished chambers they once contained. The rooms we live in are always more than just four walls. As we decorate these spaces and fill them with objects and friends, they shape our lives and become the backdrop to our sense of self. one day, the structures will be gone, but even then, traces of the stories and the memories they contained will persist. In this dazzling work of imaginative reconstruction, edward Hollis takes us to the sites of great abodes now lost to history and piecing together the fragments that remain, re–creates their vanished chambers. From Rome's palatine to the old palace of Westminster and the petit Trianon at Versailles, from the sets of MGM studios in Hollywood to the pavilions of the Crystal palace and the author's own grandmother's sitting room, The Memory Palace is a glittering treasure trove of luminous forgotten places and the alluring people who lived in them.


The Forgotten Palace

The Forgotten Palace

Author: Alexandra Walsh

Publisher: Boldwood Books Ltd

Published: 2023-04-12

Total Pages: 356

ISBN-13: 1804159395

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

'Scintillating, skilful and spellbinding, beautifully written and researched' Bestselling author of The Witch's Tree, Elena Collins In an underground labyrinth a lost soul wanders, waiting for revenge, waiting for love... London 1900 Alice Webster has made the worst decision of her life. When her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour she jumps at the opportunity to get away from the glare of scandal. Heading off to see the world as the century turns, Alice begins to believe her broken heart can be healed, and a chance encounter on a train bound for Paris changes everything. When their journey takes them to a Cretan house thick with history, and the world-famous dig at Knossos, stories from the past begin to echo through Alice’s life. London Present Day Eloise De’Ath is meant to be a grieving widow. But if people knew the truth about her late husband, they’d understand why she can’t even pretend. Needing to escape, Eloise heads to Crete and the house her father-in-law Quinn left her, and slowly Quinn’s home begins to reveal its mysteries. In his office Eloise discovers his life’s work: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Fascinated by the diaries of a young woman from the dig, Eloise is drawn into Alice’s tale of lost love and her growing obsession with Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth. Three women divided by time but connected by the long-hidden secrets of the past. As their stories join in a golden thread, a terrible injustice might finally be undone... This unforgettable timeslip novel is perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Elena Collins and Diana Gabaldon. Praise for Alexandra Walsh: 'Alexandra Walsh weaves a perfectly crafted dual timeline tale that will enthral and delight the reader from the first words until the very last sparkling moment.' Elena Collins 'I absolutely loved this beautifully written and characterful novel which intrigued me as it moves seamlessly between 1900 and the present with a throwback to Theseus and The Minotaur of ancient Crete.’ Carol McGrath 'Alexandra Walsh is a master storyteller and does historical time hops so well. The mystery, the intrigue and beautiful storytelling is ever present in The Forgotten Palace, as it is in all Alex’s novels. The plot, mixed with the Greek mythology, and characters make her latest fiction another masterpiece and one that stays with you a long time after you turn the last page.’ Michelle Rawlins What readers are saying about Alexandra Walsh: 'As much as I wanted (needed) to know what the links between the past and present were, I also didn't want this book to end, as I became so captivated and drawn to the characters. A great read that feeds the soul. I'm so looking forward to the author's next book .' 'I enjoyed this book so much that I read it in one lengthy sitting of eight hours. It contains everything I love in a book, interesting believable characters , mystery and a story that grabs you from the very first page.' 'A host of characters populate this wonderful timeshift novel, all necessary and beautifully woven together in this compelling multi-generational family tale. I couldn't put it down - it kept me awake way beyond lights out time until I finally finished reading it.' 'Very cleverly written, how someone can come up with a story as complex as this one I think is nothing short of amazing. I love the way both Victorian and modern day is nicely tied up. This has to be the best timeshift story I have ever read. High recommendation from me.'


The Forgotten Palace

The Forgotten Palace

Author: Luke Aylen

Publisher: Lion Fiction

Published: 2019-03-22

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 1782642803

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

'Luke Aylen is a brilliant storyteller.' - Patrick Regan OBE, CEO and founder of Kintsugi Hope Deep in the heart of Presadia's Great Forest lie many secrets, including the ancient ruins of a once-magnificent palace. A chance encounter with a bedraggled stranger and the discovery of broken shards of a magical mirror lead Antimony, an unusually tall dwarf, on a journey of discovery. Amazingly, he soon finds himself in charge of a growing community, which is determined to bring restoration to the palace. Can Antimony juggle the responsibilities and disagreements that have suddenly been thrust upon him, while also confronting shocking truths about his own complicated past? This unexpected adventure brings the oversized dwarf face to face with a mysterious elf known as the Usurper, a violent opponent of the exiled king. Antimony and his unlikely group must overcome tremendous odds if they are to restore what was broken and bring peace back to Presadia. Will they succeed, and will the king ever return to his rightful place? Revisit the magical world of Presidia, which is full of elves, dwarves and dragons in this exciting sequel to The Mirror and the Mountain.


Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters

Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters

Author: Shannon Hale

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2015-02-24

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1619634864

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A New York Times Bestseller In this third book in New York Times bestselling, Newbery Honor-winning author Shannon Hale's Princess Academy series, Miri goes from student . . . to teacher! Miri has spent a year at the king's palace, learning all about being a proper princess. But instead of returning to her beloved Mount Eskel, Miri is ordered to journey to a distant swamp and start a princess academy for three sisters, cousins of the royal family. Unfortunately, Astrid, Felissa, and Sus are more interested in hunting and fishing than becoming princesses. As Miri spends more time with the sisters, she realizes the king and queen's interest in them hides a long-buried secret. She must rely on her own strength and intelligence to unravel the mystery, protect the girls, complete her assignment, and finally make her way home. Don't miss any of these other books from New York Times bestselling author Shannon Hale: The Princess Academy trilogy Princess Academy Princess Academy: Palace of Stone Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters The Books of Bayern The Goose Girl Enna Burning River Secrets Forest Born Book of a Thousand Days Dangerous Graphic Novels with Dean Hale Illustrated by Nathan Hale Rapunzel's Revenge Calamity Jack Illustrated by Victoria Ying Diana: Princess of the Amazons Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Real Friends Best Friends The Princess in Black series For Adults Austenland Midnight in Austenland The Actor and the Housewife


The Last Palace

The Last Palace

Author: Norman Eisen

Publisher: Crown

Published: 2019-09-03

Total Pages: 434

ISBN-13: 0451495799

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A sweeping yet intimate narrative about the last hundred years of turbulent European history, as seen through one of Mitteleuropa’s greatest houses—and the lives of its occupants When Norman Eisen moved into the US ambassador’s residence in Prague, returning to the land his mother had fled after the Holocaust, he was startled to discover swastikas hidden beneath the furniture in his new home. These symbols of Nazi Germany were remnants of the residence’s forgotten history, and evidence that we never live far from the past. From that discovery unspooled the twisting, captivating tale of four of the remarkable people who had called this palace home. Their story is Europe’s, and The Last Palace chronicles the upheavals that transformed the continent over the past century. There was the optimistic Jewish financial baron, Otto Petschek, who built the palace after World War I as a statement of his faith in democracy, only to have that faith shattered; Rudolf Toussaint, the cultured, compromised German general who occupied the palace during World War II, ultimately putting his life at risk to save the house and Prague itself from destruction; Laurence Steinhardt, the first postwar US ambassador whose quixotic struggle to keep the palace out of Communist hands was paired with his pitched efforts to rescue the country from Soviet domination; and Shirley Temple Black, an eyewitness to the crushing of the 1968 Prague Spring by Soviet tanks, who determined to return to Prague and help end totalitarianism—and did just that as US ambassador in 1989. Weaving in the life of Eisen’s own mother to demonstrate how those without power and privilege moved through history, The Last Palace tells the dramatic and surprisingly cyclical tale of the triumph of liberal democracy.


The Forgotten Seamstress

The Forgotten Seamstress

Author: Liz Trenow

Publisher: HarperCollins UK

Published: 2013-12-05

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 0007480857

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A stunning book set in the Edwardian era about a seamstress working at Buckingham Palace. Full of drama, betrayal and compelling historical detail, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Tracy Rees.


Palace of Tears

Palace of Tears

Author: Julian Leatherdale

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Published: 2015-05-27

Total Pages: 559

ISBN-13: 1925267466

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The dazzling story of family, passion, secrets and vengeance, woven through the hardships of both World Wars, and revealing the intriguing history of the Palace, the opulent Blue Mountains hotel famed for its luxury and mysterious owner. Angie loved Mr Fox's magnificent, absurd hotel. In fact, it was her one true great love. But today Angie was so cross, so fed up with everybody and everything, she would probably cheer if a wave of fire swept over the cliff and engulfed the Palace and all its guests. A sweltering summer's day, January 1914: the charismatic and ruthless Adam Fox throws a lavish birthday party for his son and heir at his elegant clifftop hotel in the Blue Mountains. Everyone is invited except Angie, the girl from the cottage next door. The day will end in tragedy, a punishment for a family's secrets and lies. In 2013, Fox's granddaughter Lisa, seeks the truth about the past. Who is this Angie her mother speaks of: 'the girl who broke all our hearts'? Why do locals call Fox's hotel the 'palace of tears'? Behind the grandeur and glamour of its famous guests and glittering parties, Lisa discovers a hidden history of passion and revenge, loyalty and love. A grand piano burns in the night, a seance promises death or forgiveness, a fire rages in a snowstorm, a painter's final masterpiece inspires betrayal, a child is given away. With twist upon twist, this lush, strange mystery withholds its shocking truth to the very end. http://www.julianleatherdale.com/


Late for Tea at the Deer Palace

Late for Tea at the Deer Palace

Author: Tamara Chalabi

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: 2011-01-18

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 0061240397

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

For Tamara Chalabi, Iraq is more than a country of war and controversy; it is a place of poignant memory. For much of the twentieth century, the Chalabis were among the most influential families in Iraq. In the 1920s they were at the forefront of their country's awakening to modernity, and they played an integral part in the establishment of its monarchy. As courtiers, politicians, businessmen, rebels, merchants, and scholars, the Chalabis enjoyed vast privilege until the end of the 1950s, when they were forced to flee to the land of exile, myth, and imagination, where their beloved homeland took on the quality of a phantom country. In between came rebellions, foreign interventions, and the transformative development of oil wealth. But in 2003, after a lifetime of exile, Tamara arrived in Baghdad just ten days after the city's fall, in the company of her father, Ahmad Chalabi, a leading opposition figure against the Saddam regime. Late for Tea at the Deer Palace chronicles a daughter's return to a homeland she'd known only through stories and her own imagination. As she investigates four generations of her family's history, Tamara offers a rich portrait of Middle Eastern family life and a provocative look at a lost Iraq. The story is populated by an array of unforgettable characters, among them Tamara's great-grandfather Abdul Hussein Chalabi, who as a member of the Ottoman parliament witnessed the end of the empire in Baghdad and the birth of the modern Iraqi state at the hands of the British; her grandfather Abdul Hadi Chalabi, who became one of the wealthiest men in Iraq and had strong ties with the British during World War II; and her grandmother Bibi, a grande dame who presided over Iraq's social and political life during Baghdad's 1920s and '30s heyday as the Paris of the Middle East. At once intimate and magisterial, Late for Tea at the Deer Palace vividly captures the rich, overlooked history of a country that has been uprooted by war and a family that has persevered by never forgetting its dreams or its past.


The Forgotten Palaces of Calcutta

The Forgotten Palaces of Calcutta

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9788189738785

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Forgotten Palaces of Calcutta discovers the old areas of the city, where heritage houses and history fill every crowded lane and secret courtyard. Languishing in another time and place, at the end of narrow lanes and behind untidy shop-fronts, Calcutta's rich heritage waits to be discovered. The great houses of Bengal's merchant princes have been largely forgotten and rarely photographed. Many of the interiors have remained the same for over 200 years. While much has been written and photographed on the British colonial architecture and lifestyle, very little has been