The First New Zealand Himalayan Expedition, in 1951, was initiated by Earle Riddiford, who with Ed Cotter and Pasang Dawa Lama made the first ascent of Mukut Parbat, their target peak in the Garhwal Himalaya. Accompanying them on that expedition, though not to that summit, were two other New Zealand climbers, Edmund Hillary and George Lowe. Hearing of the success on Mukut Parbat, the New Zealand Alpine Club suggested to the Alpine Club in London that acclimatised New Zealanders would be a valuable asset on the forthcoming 1951 British Reconnaissance of Mt Everest, to be led by Eric Shipton. This resulted in an invitation for two New Zealanders to join the party: thrilling news the four climbers received while they were ensconced in the hill-country village of Ranikhet. A day and a half of bitter dispute rent the party asunder. Which two should go to Everest? In this enthralling narrative, journalist Lyn McKinnon tells the stories of Earle Riddiford and Ed Cotter, two extraordinary New Zealanders whose climbing achievements were forever eclipsed by the exploits of others. She draws on private papers as well as published work, and extensively interviews Cotter himself, and the families of both men, as well as many other contemporary climbers, to set the record straight.

Bind: paperback

Pages: 320

Dimensions: 170 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 21-10-2016

‘New China Eyewitness’ is the fascinating account of the 1956 visit to the People’s Republic of China by a group of prominent New Zealanders – including Roger Duff, James Bertram, Evelyn Page, Angus Ross and Ormond Wilson – and of how Canterbury Museum came to acquire the largest collection of Chinese art in New Zealand. At the centre of the book is the eloquent diary kept by Canterbury Museum director Dr Roger Duff, detailing his efforts to bring to Christchurch the collection of antiquities gifted to the museum by long-time China resident, New Zealander Rewi Alley. Through Alley’s contacts with premier Zhou Enlai and Duff’s diplomatic skills they obtained the sanction of the Chinese government to circumvent its own export ban on antiquities and permit the gifting of seven crates of treasures to Christchurch. These objects were the basis for the museum’s Hall of Oriental Arts and their arrival led to a collections policy dedicated to Chinese art. Beautifully written and illustrated, ‘New China Eyewitness’ offers a rare glimpse of foreigners’ views of China during a period of rapid social, political and cultural change, and at a time of unusual political and cultural tolerance.

Bind: hardback

Pages: 176

Dimensions: 173 x 240 mm

Publication Date: 07-12-2017

New Zealand Highlights is a composition of photographic images designed to convey to others the magnificence of this part of the world. It is a landscape book, mostly displaying naturally occurring landscapes and features throughout New Zealand. This book of highlights will serve as a photographic record of many locations visited while in New Zealand and for those who have not had the good fortune to visit New Zealand yet, this book might inspire them to do so.

Pages: 80

Everyone has demons. Few people admit to them, let alone conquer them. Because one person succumbed to his, a handsome young farmer, Scott Guy, was cut down in the prime of life in the driveway of his Feilding home on July 8, 2010. The tragedy held New Zealand spell bound - particularly the arrest and murder trial of Scott’s brother-in-law, Ewen MacDonald; the exposure of intimate details of the Guy family’s lives; and the dignity with which its patriarch, Bryan, conducted himself throughout.
Scott Guy is Bryan and Jo Guy’s story. It reveals much more than came out at the murder trial; it gives a uniquely intimate view of how the murder affected them, their family and friends. It discloses previously unknown details of what went on behind the scenes. It reveals how the Guys overcame their own personal demons, how they mined inner strength to cope with the stress, grief, fear and the heartbreak of not only the violent death of a cherished son, but of a series of personal catastrophes which followed.
They share their unique story in the hope of helping others struggling with the vagaries of life. This, they believe, may give meaning to the apparent senselessness of all that has happened within their family.

NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER.

SCOTT GUY: His Parents' Story of Love, Betrayal, Murder and Courage, reaches number 1 in the Nielsen Weekly Bestsellers List* and selling out fast.

Readers comments include: ''WOW, WOW, and bloody WOW. What a read, given and shared by truly incredible people'' - Brian Walker.

''I've finished reading "Scott Guy" and am pretty blown away by it. I would recommend any of your customers grab a copy with both hands. Their choice to not focus on bitterness, their courage and how they work hard everyday to deal with multiple losses is an inspiration. Amazing!'' - Lynette Lander.

''A Heartfelt book'' - Sunday Herald.

''Tony Farrington reveals another side of the story...details never revealed before'' - Weekend Herald.

*(NZ Non-Fiction for Adults week ending 26th Oct)

Bind: paperback

Pages: 200

Publication Date: 14-10-2013

It is 1963. South Africa is in crisis and the white state is under siege. On 19 August the dreaded Security Police swoop on Griggs bookstore in downtown Durban and arrest Eleanor, the daughter of the manageress. They threaten to 'break her or hang her' if she does not lead them to her lover, 'Red' Ronnie Kasrils, who is wanted on suspicion of involvement in recent acts of sabotage, including the toppling of electricity pylons and explosions at a Security Police office in Durban. Though she comes under intense pressure during interrogation, Eleanor has her own secret to conceal. She has been acting as a clandestine agent for the underground ANC and must protect her handlers and Ronnie at all costs. Astutely, she convinces the police that she is on the verge of a nervous breakdown and, still a prisoner, is sent off to a mental hospital in Pietermaritzburg for assessment. It is here that she plots her escape ...This remarkable story of a young woman's courage and daring at a time of increasing repression in apartheid South Africa is told here for the first time with great verve and elan by Eleanor's husband, Ronnie Kasrils, who eventually became South Africa's Minister of Intelligence Services in 2004. He is the author of a bestselling autobiography, Armed and Dangerous.

Pages: 192

Dimensions: 150 x 210 x 15 mm

Publication Date: 11-11-2010

Leonard Cohen, one of the most admired performers of the last half century, has had a stranger-than-fiction, roller-coaster ride of a life. Now, for the first time, he tells his story in his own words, via more than 50 interviews conducted worldwide between 1966 and 2012. In Leonard Cohen on Leonard Cohen-- which includes a foreword by singer Suzanne Vega and eight pages of rarely seen photos--the artist talks about "Bird on the Wire," "Hallelujah," and his other classic songs. He candidly discusses his famous romances, his years in a Zen monastery, his ill-fated collaboration with producer Phil Spector, his long battle with depression, and much more. You'll find interviews that first appeared in the New York Times and Rolling Stone , but also material that has not previously been printed in English. A few have not been available until now in any format, including many illuminating reminiscences that contributors supplied specifically for this definitive anthology.

Pages: 604

Publication Date: 01-04-2014

A "L.A. Times" Non-Fiction Hardcover Best Seller "Hendrix on Hendrix" includes the most important interviews from the peak of Jimi Hendrix's career, 1966 to 1970, carefully selected by one of the world's leading Jimi Hendrix historians.In this book Hendrix recalls for reporters his heartbreaking childhood and his grueling nights on the Chitlin' Circuit. He jokes with the judge and the jury on the witness stand, telling them that the incense in his bag was for hiding bad kitchen odors. He explains to an American TV audience that his concept of "Electric Church Music" is intended to wash their souls and give them a new direction. And in his final interview, just days before his death, he discloses that he wants to be remembered as not just another guitar player.In addition to interviews from major mainstream publications, "Hendrix on Hendrix "includes new transcriptions from European papers, the African-American press, and counterculture newspapers; radio and television interviews; and previously unpublished court transcripts--including one of the drug bust that nearly sent him to prison.Though many respected books have been written about Hendrix, none have completely focused on his own words. This book is as close to a Hendrix autobiography as we will ever see.

Dimensions: 157.48 x 228.6 mm

Publication Date: 01-10-2012

A spiritual as well as a factual autobiography, this is a self-portrait of Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a 20th-century icon and controversial victim of the U.S. justice system turned spokesperson for the wrongfully convicted. Exploring Carter's personal philosophy - born of the unimaginable duress of wrongful imprisonment and conceived through his defiance of the brutal institution of prison and a decade of solitary confinement - this work offers hope for those who have none and serves as a call to action for those who abhor injustice. Exposing the inherent flaws in the legal and penal systems, this autobiography also serves as a prison survival manual - be it a brick-and-mortar cell or the metaphorical prison of childhood abuse, racism, and despair.

Pages: 320

Dimensions: 155 x 230 x 30 mm

Publication Date: 01-01-2011

As an essential primer of immediately useful and utterly relevant guidance, this guide can help anyone become a better cook - without a single recipe. This book's 217 notes deliver indispensable culinary truths, the highest standards of conduct, and timeless gems of cooking wisdom that have been taught and passed down by top chefs for generations. The notes provide explanatory commentary, helpful examples, and insights from Alice Waters, Daniel Boulud, Georges Auguste Escoffier, Leonardo da Vinci, and many others. They also include life lessons - about how to bring delight, how to recognise quality, and how to see beauty in simplicity. For the beginner wanting to improve, the seasoned expert looking to review the highest culinary standards, or the food lover seeking a fascinating glimpse into the pursuit of Epicurean excellence, Notes on Cooking" provides a unique and invaluable apprenticeship."

Pages: 143

Dimensions: 125 x 190 x 21 mm

Publication Date: 01-05-2009

Designed for women of all ages traveling for business, pleasure, or family, this indispensable travel handbook offers encouragement, lighthearted anecdotes, and numerous travel-tested tips. Drawing upon 20 years of travel experience, the guide includes a wealth of information—including how to budget and save money, pack the necessities, and apply for passports and visas—as well as a full list of website resources and advice on the latest travel technology. This travel resource is the ultimate manual for any female traveler embarking on a journey by herself.

Publication Date: 15-05-2009