Consuelo Vanderbilt was young, beautiful and the heir to a vast family fortune. She was also deeply in love with an American suitor when her mother chose instead for her to fulfil her social ambitions and marry an English Duke. Leaving her life in America, she came to England as the Duchess of Marlborough in 1895 and took up residence in her new home - Blenheim Palace. The 9th Duchess gives unique first-hand insight into life at the very pinnacle of English society in the Edwardian era. An unsnobbish, but often amused observer of the intricate hierarchy both upstairs and downstairs at Blenheim Palace, she is also a revealing witness to the glittering balls, huge weekend parties and major state occasions she attended or hosted. Here are her encounters with every important figure of the day - from Queen Victoria, Edward V11 and Queen Alexandra to Tsar Nicholas, Prince Metternich and the young Winston Churchill. Causing a scandal by separating from the Duke after 11 years, Consuelo began her new life as philanthropist, public speaker and campaigner for women's suffrage. Her literary soirees would include H G Wells, JM Barrie and George Bernard Shaw. In 1921 she remarried aviator Jacques Balsan moving with him to a chateau in the South of France. This intimate, richly enjoyable memoir is a wonderfully revealing portrait of a golden age.

"When pirate wreck tour guide Anne Norris finds evidence of an undiscovered shipwreck, she seeks the help of museum director Carter Hale to uncover the truth and treasure that could save her business. But can she trust him with her secrets and her heart?"--

Set amid the natural beauty of the Caribbean island of Antigua, this creative novel details Te'Kare's struggles with her own weaknesses and the question of what she wants in life. Despite numerous lessons, Te' has a difficult time learning to balance her dreams with the truth of the adage that all that glitters is not gold. Her naivete leaves her susceptible to the wiles of a cunning and malicious scheme that threatens her very future as well as that of her longtime boyfriend, D'mitri Stanford.

We are Dragon Girls -- hear us roar! Azmina, Willa, and Naomi are thrilled to learn they're Glitter Dragon Girls. Summoned to the Magic Forest by its magnificent ruler, the Tree Queen, the girls quickly find out their dragon-selves have unbelievable abilities. They can soar above the treetops, breathe glitter-y bursts of fire, and roar loud enough to shake the ground. With this newfound magic comes a big responsibility, however. As Dragon Girls, they are sworn protectors of the forest and must help keep it safe from the troublesome Shadow Sprites, who are determined to take the forest's magic for their own. Read all the books in the Glitter Dragon arc! #1: Azmina the Gold Glitter Dragon #2: Willa the Silver Glitter Dragon #3: Naomi the Rainbow Glitter Dragon

The life story of the American heiress and Duchess of Marlborough, whose experiences inspired the character of Downtown Abby's Lady Grantham, describes her arranged marriage, her observations of the intricate hierarchy of her home in Blenheim Palace, and her encounters with famous historical figures.

Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. Glitter reveals the complexity of an object often dismissed as frivolous. Nicole Seymour describes how glitter's consumption and status have shifted across centuries-from ancient cosmetic to queer activist tool, environmental pollutant to biodegradable accessory-along with its composition, which has variously included insects, glass, rocks, salt, sugar, plastic, and cellulose. Through a variety of examples, from glitterbombing to glitter beer, Seymour shows how this substance reflects the entanglements of consumerism, emotion, environmentalism, and gender/sexual identity. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic.

The Land Under: Seeing the Forest Through the Trees is a charming middle-grade adventure story about a boys journey to an underground kingdom of talking animals. Unhappy because of his parents financial difficulties, thirteen-year-old Frank finds himself summoned to the Land Under, a place that parallels our world but is only for animals. Fallen trees linked to forests aboveground are damming up the mighty waterfall, Naveah, which powers the rivers that keep the three kingdoms of the underground civilization separated. If Frank doesnt find a way to unblock the waterfall, the northern forest kingdom will be overrun by savage animals from the jungle and safari kingdoms. Its a race against time, the elements, and the balance of nature for an average boy with an extraordinary mission. Like a fairy tale in its intuitive simplicity, The Land Under grows before your eyes into a completely detailed world that feels so ordinary and real that it almost doesnt seem to be fantasy.

A young man’s search for adventure, the birth of a new nation, and a war that would change southern Africa forever… The year is 1890, and the sun never sets on the British Empire. James Carregan is eager to find fortune and excitement, far away from his protective father’s influence. Setting off for Cape Town, he joins a pioneer column advancing its way into disputed territory in the kingdom of Mashonaland. But little does he know, what he finds there will change his life evermore… Despite the pioneers’ agreement with the mercurial Matabele King Lobengula, their journey north is fraught with treachery and danger. Although the king has promised them safe travel, each day brings the possibility of a brutal attack by the tribal indunas. But when the column finally settles, conflict erupts. A savage war ensues. And as the corpses of friends and enemies alike litter the ground, James must decide if this new life he has built for himself is worth the price he has paid… Morgandale is the first book in an epic historical adventure that sweeps readers away on a journey into British colonial Africa.