In 1882, Moncure Daniel Conway presented a summary of the events leading to the founding of the Victoria & Albert Museum, together with a discussion of its artifacts and cultural role. The book also contains a detailed summary of the state of decorative art and architecture in Great Britain. In the final part of the book, Conway presented a positive critique of Bedford Park in west London.

An abolitionist, supporter of woman’s suffrage and 'freethinker', Conway was present in the most contentious political, religious, intellectual and cultural debates in both the Unites States of America and Europe (London & Paris).

The book contains 72 illustrations, including: objects from the Victoria & Albert Museum; the ground plan of the original museum; examples of decorative art and architecture; plus exterior and interior views of Bedford Park.

24th August 1941 – Hull, England

15-year-old James Nicholson Meeks boarded his first ship; the SS Peterton, bound for Buenos Aires.

Two months short of 16, it was his first voyage as a Merchant Navy Apprentice.

He was joined on board by an even younger recruit, 15-year-old Edward Briggs Hyde from Cullercoats, and 18-year-old Jack Morley from Hull.

Less than four weeks later, SS Peterton was sunk by three torpedoes fired by German U-boat U-109, commanded by U-boat Ace Heinrich Bleichrodt.

The surviving crew members found themselves in two lifeboats drifting in the Atlantic, hundreds of miles off the west coast of Africa.

With their Captain seized by the U-boat, the fate of the crew lay in the hands of senior men; like 2nd Officer George Howes from Hull and Chief Engineer Thomas Gorman from North Shields.

The struggle for survival had only just begun and would test each and everyone to the limit.

This incredible story is based on interviews and testimonies from the survivors and is now documented here for the very first time.

John "Mario" Cunningham has written an autobiography about his amazing life which includes sensational details of his escape from prison, his criminal career and being reunited with his brother after 67 years. The title of the book says it all. The Geordie Godfather and the Boy from Barnardo's is former gangster John "Mario" Cunningham's tell-all life story.

In this book John "Mario" Cunningham reveals secrets about his abusive childhood in a children's home and about his work as a full-time villain masterminding a string of post office robberies and bank raids across Tyneside and the UK.

The book reveals all about his life of crime as well as heartwarming personal moments such as the day he met his brother for the first time in almost seven decades.

The title refers to John, The Geordie Godfather, and his brother Harry, the boy from Barnardo's, who had a happy childhood in a care home and led a very different life to his criminal sibling.

The book begins with the ex-convict explaining why he believes he turned to crime after witnessing violence and abuse at a children's home in County Durham, and how it affected the rest of his life.

John had been taken into care at the age of four months after police found him living in squalid surroundings.

He said: "I have no fear and some people say I have no heart, or at least, if I did have a heart it would be made of stone".