Aurum Press: 240 books

The split screen, the indicators poking up like perspex orange fingers, the notoriously rust-prone floors, the pootling exhaust note… just some of the much-loved characteristics of the Morris Minor or Morris 1000. Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis back in 1948, in a sense it was Britain’ s answer...

These days artists like Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin are major celebrities. But Gregor Muir knew them at the start; his unique memoir chronicles the birth of Young British Art. Muir, YBA’ s ‘ embedded journalist’ , happened to be in Shoreditch and Hoxton before Jay Jopling arrived with his White...

Your essential guide to 50 of the best foot races across the globe. From iconic half marathons and obstacle races, to prestigious marathons and brutal mountain contests, 50 Races to Run Before You Die presents these epic challenges in all of their mud, sweat and glory. Including a range...

In the summer of 2011, a mysterious gentleman sidled up to the reception of a London publishing house, deposited a memory stick on the desk then melted away. The stick was a revelation; it contained hundreds of letters, all seemingly written by Prince Charles. Dating back to his boyhood and...

The hardback of this first and authorised biography received very good reviews and immediately reprinted. It tells the story of one of the heroines of post-war British comedy, on radio, film and TV. Hattie Jacques is known as the billowing, imposing Matron in the Carry On films, as the star...

Almost the only indisputable fact about Colonel Tom Parker is that he was the manager of the greatest performer in popular music: Elvis Presley. His real name wasn’t Tom Parker †“ indeed, he wasn’t an American at all, but a Dutch immigrant called Andreas van Kujik. And he certainly wasn’t...

Journey of a Thousand Miles tells the remarkable story of a boy who sacrificed almost everything – family, financial security, childhood and his reputation in China’ s insular classical music world – to fulfil his promise as a classical pianist. Lang Lang was born in Shenyang in north-eastern...

'A definitive tome for both Who fans and newcomers alike’ *****  Q Magazine Pete Townshend was once asked how he prepared himself for The Who’ s violent live performances. His answer? ‘ Pretend you’ re in a war.’ For a band as prone to furious infighting as it was notorious for acts...

When Elisabeth Sladen debuted as journalist Sarah Jane Smith in the 1973 Doctor Who story ‘ The Time Warrior’ she had no idea the character would become one of the most popular in the series’ history. Three years later when she quit the TARDIS, having traversed space and time alongside...

‘ This new American uniform – the baseball cap, t-shirt, shorts and trainers (why not a scooter?) is not about looking good. It’ s about disappearing into a new, unofficial, global army of cultural babies. It says: I eat hamburgers and watch TV and chew gum all day I want everyone to...

**** ‘ Neatly spun… Virtually every page unfolds a story of booze, bad luck or a punch-up … the drama grows madder as the years pass.’ Q In August 1964 The Kinks released their third single.  After a little noticed debut and a  follow-up that had failed to chart at all,  Pye Records ...

‘ After reading this affectionately candid biography, it is hard not to echo Olivier’ s response on hearing of Burton’ s death: “ He was so young, so young” ’ Daily Mail A man of contradictions, Richard Burton’ s life and remarkable career are revealed by a writer who knew him...

Quite simply, Last of the Summer Wine is the longest-running comedy programme in the world. It premiered 37 years ago, in 1973, and, after 31 series it finally came to an end last year – even though all its original protagonists – Compo, Foggy, even Nora Batty – are now dead. Remarkably,...

Dubbed the British Marilyn Monroe' or the British Bridget Bardot', Diana Dors finally proclaimed I'd rather be known as the hurricane in mink'. The actress was best known for her lavish lifestyle; she was a blonde bombshell with a penchant for flashy cars, opulent mansions, glitzy garb and jet-setting...