Order the 2020 Booker Prize Winner Here...
Shuggie Bain : Winner of the Booker Prize 2020
£14.99
£11.99
Free delivery to Isle of Man addresses on orders over £20 using code MANXSHIP at checkout. by Douglas Stuart Winner of the Booker Prize 2020 Format: Hardback 448 pages Publisher: Pan Macmillan Published:6 Aug 2020 Weight:676g Dimensions:162 x 240 x 41 (mm) Shortlisted for the National Book Award for Fiction 2020 The Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2020 'Douglas Stuart has written a first novel of rare and lasting beauty.' - Observer It is 1981. Glasgow is dying and good families must grift to survive. Agnes Bain has always expected more from life. She dreams of greater things: a house with its own front door and a life bought and paid for outright (like her perfect, but false, teeth). But Agnes is abandoned by her philandering husband, and soon she and her three children find themselves trapped in a decimated mining town. As she descends deeper into drink, the children try their best to save her, yet one by one they must abandon her to save themselves. It is her son Shuggie who holds out hope the longest. Shuggie is different. Fastidious and fussy, he shares his mother's sense of snobbish propriety. The miners' children pick on him and adults condemn him as no' right. But Shuggie believes that if he tries his hardest, he can be normal like the other boys and help his mother escape this hopeless place. Douglas Stuart's Shuggie Bain lays bare the ruthlessness of poverty, the limits of love, and the hollowness of pride. A counterpart to the privileged Thatcher-era London of Alan Hollinghurst's The Line of Beauty, it also recalls the work of Edouard Louis, Frank McCourt, and Hanya Yanagihara, a blistering debut by a brilliant writer with a powerful and important story to tell. 'We were bowled over by this first novel, which creates an amazingly intimate, compassionate, gripping portrait of addiction, courage and love.' - The judges of the Booker Prize |
Ordering books online?Our website is mainly for Isle of Man related books, most of which are published locally or you can order any book from us by:
Phone : 01624 833376 (Port Erin) 01624 813374 (Ramsey) Email : mail@bridge-bookshop.com Use the CONTACT US form This above methods are the best way of ordering, no shipping fees if you collect from one of our bookshops or free delivery to any Isle of Man address for orders over £20. You would also gain loyalty stamps (10 stamps = a £10 loyalty voucher for you). If you can't make it to one of our shops in Port Erin or Ramsey and wish to support your local independent bookshop in an ethical way you can shop at: bookshop.org/bridgebookshop (loyalty stamps do not apply) - click below. See our curated lists for November's New Books, Books about books and bookshops, Baby's First Bookshelf and Christmas Picks, 
Search Bookshop.org here... |
Due to be published November 2020 – available to pre-order
Craig Goffin is a licensed drone pilot and photographer living and working in the Isle of Man. His stunning, colourful images will take you on a journey through our beautiful land. Lush green meadows, forests and glens, where trees look like fireworks when viewed from above, and the blue waters of Man highlight the versatility of drone photography. See our spectacular ancient landscapes, modern townscapes and the rugged azure coastline. The Isle of Man really is a sparkling gem in the Irish Sea.
Photography by
Craig Goffin, Isle of Man by Drone
Compiled by
Miles Cowsill & Sara Donaldson
Format
Softback, 18.9cm x 24.6cm
Pages
128
Publication Date
November 2020
Publisher
Lily Publications
by Matthew Richardson
Format:Paperback / softback 160 pages, 30 illustrations and maps
Publisher : Pen & Sword Books Ltd
Published : 1 Jul 2020
Weight:410g
Dimensions:156 x 232 x 21 (mm)
The reader will perhaps be surprised to learn that the tiny Isle of Man, midway between the coasts of Lancashire and Northern Ireland, is one of the richest historic landscapes in Europe. Packed into its 225 square miles are dramatic stories of Bronze Age conflict, Viking warriors, Medieval kings, smugglers, maritime and railway history, wartime airfields and even a pirate radio station. Add to that the Island's unique motorsport heritage (on two, three and four wheels), and you have a combination unrivalled anywhere in the British Isles.
Whatever your passion, or whichever historical period appeals to you, the Isle of Man will have something fascinating to offer. Packed with illustrations, and using first-hand accounts to enhance the narrative, this book takes the reader on a chronological journey through the island's history, before offering a series of guided tours which pick up the highlights of each district. From Bronze Age hill forts, to Medieval castles.
From heritage railways, to historic quaysides. From award-winning museums, to country mansions, the Isle of Man has it all. Let this book be your guide to historic Britain's best-kept secret, as you explore a place untouched by the hectic pace of 21st century life, where heritage is, quite literally, to be found around every corner.
Author(s) John Hendy, Miles Cowsill
Format : Hardback, 22cm x 22cm
Pages : 144
Publication Date :September 2020 (PRE-ORDER NOW)
The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is the oldest continually operating passenger shipping company in the world, having began operations in 1830. Today the company carry’s some 600,000 passengers annually, 170,000 cars and is the Island’s lifeline for freight. This book is an update on the history of the Isle of Man Steam Packet since our 175th Anniversary publication. The title includes a history of the company year by year, including the takeover over of the operation by the Isle of Man Government in 2019. The book includes a wealth of new photography since the last edition in 2005.
Due to be published Summer 2020.
Author(s) : Alan Cooper
Format Softback, 21cm x 14.8cm
Pages : 168
Publication Date : July 2020
Publisher : Lily Publications
This book is for those who want to experience the great wealth of countryside and coastal walks but with the added benefit of visiting interesting and historic churches and chapels, some dating back over hundreds or thousands of years. The 22 walks described here with detailed maps will take you through the many different landscapes of the Island – valleys, glens, open moorland, idyllic rural landscapes, craggy cliffs and sandy beaches. It includes walks exploring the heritage of our principal towns. The walks vary from 2 to 11 miles and are easily accessible by car or bus. If you are looking to explore the Isle of Man and see some wonderful and unique churches and chapels that tell stories about its history and social development this book is for you.
Due to be published July 2020 – available to pre-order
Author : Andrew Scarffe
Format : Softback, 29.7cm x 21cm
Pages : 160
Publication Date
Late June 2020
Publisher : Isle of Man Transport
The Snaefell Mountain Railway was the first mountain railway in the British Isles.
Opened in August 1895, it was built in only eight months by pioneering Victorian engineers at a time when electric traction was in its infancy.
Today, the Victorian tramcars still climb to Snaefell’s summit, 2036 feet above sea level, where the mountain scenery and views are unrivalled.
This book tells the story of the Snaefell Mountain Railway and also of the mountain itself. It recalls the history of the railway, from the first attempts to build a steam railway to the summit through to the present day. The rich social history of the mountain, mining, folklore and wildlife is described.
It is illustrated throughout with colour and black and white photographs, many of which have not previously been published.
Due to be published 19th June 2020 – available to pre-order.
Published September 2020
Paperback chap book. 40 pages. Poetry
by Simon Maddrell
In the 19th century, the great Manx poet, T.E. Brown, brilliantly portrayed an island population in the throes of contradiction and change.
Simon Maddrell has built on that tradition.
Deeply personal, often painful, his poems evoke a vivid landscape in which old words and traditional lore are reassembled in new and challenging forms.
The effect of this multi-layered work is both beautiful and disconcerting.
Annie Kissack, Fifth Manx Bard.
In Throat Bone Maddrell asks us to consider the way memory, home, history and empire confer to shape our understanding of one another. Poems which at times stretch and contort to subtly lead us back into the way of the personal through anecdote, imagery and acute revelations. Maddrell has created a poetry that is primarily aware of itself. It appears comfortable in its want to excavate the more remote aspects of place, linking to the body and beyond.
Anthony Anaxagorou
Publisher, Out-Spoken Press & Author, After the Formalities.
From a "turf-cooked pot of spuds and herring" to shearwaters burrowing ashore, these are earthy poems, in touch with the flora and fauna of the Isle of Man. But Throat Bone does more than evoke a place. Maddrell's lines, "thick as liquorice", work hard to do justice to the Isle's accreted histories, some – like its queer history – violently suppressed and others buried by time. It takes great skill and patience to weigh such research against the flight of the lyric. The result is poems full of "old battle burns", but tender and hopeful nonetheless.
Will Harris, Author of RENDANG.
Available now.Published by Loaghtan Books
Paperback 128 pages
210 mm x 210 mm
When holidaymakers discovered the Isle of Man, Port Erin became a favourite place to visit. Hotels were built and life started to revolve around the needs of its visitors. The old photographs in this book are drawn from the postcards such visitors sent home.
Now the town is reinventing itself again. Gone are most of the Victorian hotels, with their ballrooms, live entertainment and seaside competitions. Bathing machines have been turned into garden sheds and donkeys no longer trot along the sand. This book reminds us of the dramatic changes which have taken place in this seaside town.
by Sara Goodwins
Paperback 32 pages
Published by Loaghtan Books
The Isle of Man is noted for is its collection of stone crosses carved out of local slate and
decorated with swirling designs and fantastic beasts. Christian symbols, they also carry the sagas and language of pagan Viking invaders.
For centuries the crosses stood majestically in the landscape braving the weather and changing
fashions. Often they were the most striking man-made features in the Manx countryside.
Today most of the ancient crosses have been given sheltered accommodation in their old age.
Yet, for something so famous quite a lot is still tantalisingly obscure. Who raised the crosses and
why? How were they carved? Where did the stone come from? What do they mean? And do other countries have similar memorials?
This book explores and explains the stories behind these enigmas of the Manx landscape.
Published Oct 2019 by Rushen Heritage Trust, pre-order now
Paperback, 24cm x 17cm
Pages : 264
The fascinating history of Port St Mary and its people.
HOW A SMALL SEASIDE VILLAGE PARTNERED WITH THE SEA
If you live by the sea you get to know it as a partner, adapting to its moods, from calm, sunny days to furious stormy nights. Throughout its history, the people of Port St Mary ƒ?? known locally as Purt Le Moirrey ƒ?? have lived by and with the sea. It has provided them with a living, from fishing to shipbuilding to tourism. Without the sea, the village would not exist. The sea in question is the Irish Sea, in which the Isle of Man sits at the centre ƒ?? from Port St Mary, you can look across to England and Wales, and from its neighbouring twin, Port Erin, you can see the Mountains of Mourne in Northern Ireland.
This book, written by a team of ten volunteer authors who love Port St Mary, traces its fascinating history from 1829, when it depended entirely on fishing and farming, to 1979, the Millennium Year when the Isle of Man celebrated one thousand years of continuing independent government, the oldest in the world.
This is the story of a port and its people, from school teachers to shopkeepers, from boarding house owners to WWII German internees, from nurses to those who travelled the world by sea. It begins at a time when few people owned land and transport was primitive; moves on to the great days of herring fishing, with a 100+ strong fleet, the harbours bustling with fisher folk, gutter girls, kipper curers and ship builders; and through to the development of tourism and its glory days spanning the 1920s to the 1960s.
Itƒ??s a story which has universal significance, demonstrating how independent-minded people in a small place lived with the sea, made a living from it, and rode its changing moods.
This book is published by Rushen Heritage Trust, a not-for-profit charity, with all proceeds going towards the work of the Trust.
By Gemma Hjerth, illustrated by Kim Gee
In this Isle of Man ABC:
learn how creative you can be!
Hunt around Our Island, the Isle of Man.
Customise your treasure map - yes, you can!
Chose how to colour the Manx cat's face.
Add patterns to the biker in the TT race.
Record your memories of a smoky train ride.
Write 'Hello Little People' on the note that's inside.
Practise your letters, play Hunt the Wren,
match the Manx words with their pictures and then...
Make your own alphabet book, at the end.
Add a rainbow of colours, then read to a friend!
Manx culture, heritage, wildlife too.
A keep sake to treasure - and the artist is YOU!
Paperback
Gift Wrap available in Blue or Red with Manx patterns - see options
Manx ABC Poster available for ¶œ3.50 - see options
An informative, interactive and wonderfully illustrated celebration of Our Island.
It will appeal to young children, early readers and Isle of Man enthusiasts from near and far away.
You can even listen to the Manx translations in the book at www.isleofmanabc.com
Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a colourful, digital illustration of an Isle of Man icon, a rhyming couplet and a Manx translation and pronunciation.
The book also features:
ƒ?½ A full page of Manx Gaelic translations and pronunciations, provided by Culture Vannin (with sound files of these to listen to at www.isleofmanabc.com)
ƒ?½ Four Manx Songs (the Manx National Anthem, The Laxey Wheel Song, Ramsey Town and Hunt the Wren)
ƒ?½ Two pages of interesting facts about the Isle of Man
ƒ?½ A little wren to hunt for
ƒ?½ Lots of Three Legs of Man to count!
Author : Dermot O'Toole
Softback, 21cm x 21cm
Pages 192
Publisher : Lily Publications
There is no more a place that is so hostile to mariners than the south-east coast of the Isle of Man, where the pitiful wind howls and the tide runs at six miles per hour. Many a sorrowful story is told of vessels tossed by the wild waves upon the cruel, sharp-edged rocks of Langness. Here at the Islandƒ??s southernmost point the cruel sea has taken countless men to a watery graves.
This book is mixed with bravery and with sorrow; the publication covers many of the main ship disasters of this wild coast, the construction of Langness lighthouse and the various lighthouses built on the Calf of Mann and the new Chicken Rock lighthouse. It is a story also of how a vigorously hard-fought twenty-year campaign by the inhabitants of Castletown, its High Bailiff and agent for the Shipwrecked Marinersƒ?? Society, led to improved lighting on the Isle of Manƒ??s most dangerous shore.
From Culture Vannin, Published Sept 2019
Ghosts, Bugganes & Fairy Pigs¶ÿis one of the most important books of Manx folklore ever published.
It offers one of the richest sources of traditional tales from the Isle of Man, including fairies, bugganes, ghosts, giants, witches and so much more.Collected over a hundred years ago by Karl Roeder, it is reprinted here for the first time since 1904 and now includes exciting additional material.Stories include the origins of Hunt the Wren, the murdered witch of Slieu Whallian, and perhaps the Isle of Manƒ??s oldest UFO sightingƒ?ÝThe book is one of the richest sources of traditional tales from the Isle of Man, much of which was gathered from Edward Faragher ƒ?? ƒ??Ned Beg Hom Ruyƒ?? ƒ?? the legendary poet of Cregneash.As well as folklore, it contains fascinating pieces on history, language, literature and other things of Manx interest, as well as some more theoretical discussions of Manx matters unmatched then or since.All of it has been faithfully transcribed and introduced by Stephen Miller, whose knowledge of the material is second to none.Anyone interested in the Isle of Man will find this book enormously fascinating and endlessly rewarding.
by Isle of Man based author, J C Williams
See also Frank n Stan 2, 3 and 4!
Frank's had better days
The doctor gave him the news he didn't want and Frank's discovered the worst kept secret in Liverpool; that his wife's fitness instructor is providing her services that extend beyond the gym.
With time a dwindling commodity, Frank decides it's time to do something he wants to do. With a little encouragement from his oldest friend, Stan, the first destination for his "bucket-list" is the Isle of Man TT Races.
They were content to just spectate, but fate had other ideas.
By Mervin Russell Stokes MBE
Edited by Miles Cowsill
Second edition
Hardback, 22.5cm x 25cm
Pages : 120
Publication Date : November 2019
Publisher : Lily Publications
And other misadventures of the former theatre manager ƒ?? 2nd edition
Due to popular demand, this book is being republished and updated, originally published in 2006. The book is not a blow-by-blow account of the extraordinary restoration of the Gaiety Theatre and Opera House in Douglas, nor is it intended to be. The words are a ƒ??tripƒ?? through the often hilarious memories and misfortunes of Mervin Russell Stokes, the man who has spent much of his working life serving the Gaiety and whose dedication in reincarnating this magnificent Frank Matcham playhouse became an all-consuming passion.
This book is a must-have for all theatre lovers.
Due to be published November 2019 ƒ?? available to pre-order.
Compiled byEmma Ames, Miles Cowsill, Sara Donaldson
Photography by Simon Park
Hardback, 24cm x 17cm
Pages 272
Publication Date :November 2019
Publisher Lily Publications
Following on from the hugely popular first edition, this new¶ÿIsland Kitchen¶ÿbrings you more mouth-watering recipes from the Islandƒ??s finest establishments. Using the Isle of Manƒ??s world-famous ingredients, you can enjoy creating restaurant-quality meals and pick up tips from the Islandƒ??s talented chefs along the way. New recipes from large restaurants, small intimate cafes, bars and breweries allow you to create the quality meals served in your favourite Isle of Man eateries, all in the comfort of your own home.
Only a few left!
Free delivery on orders over £20 to Isle of Man addresses using code MANXSHIP. Ensure country is set to ISLE OF MAN
Illustrated by:Gareth Lucas
100 piece Jigsaw and 24 page book full colour throughout
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
A brilliantly colourful 100-piece jigsaw showing a busy night time scene, plus a 24-page picture puzzle book presented together in a sturdy box. The jigsaw measures 59 x 40 cm and both the jigsaw and book are illustrated by Gareth Lucas. Can you find a leopard who's lost her spots, an owl reading a bedtime story, a bat wearing socks and lots more?
Only a few left!
Free deliver to Isle of Man addresses for orders over £20 using code MANXSHIP at checkout
Illustrated by:Gareth Lucas
100 piece Jigsaw and 24 page book full colour throughout
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
A fabulous jigsaw teeming with colourful fish and a 24-page picture puzzle book, presented together in a beautiful sturdy box. The jigsaw has 100 chunky pieces and measures 59 x 40cm, and the picture puzzle book is packed with things to spot and talk about. Can you spot a pirate's hat, the captain's spoon, a message in a bottle and lots more?
Only a few left!
Free delivery on orders over £20to Isle of Man addresses using code MANXSHIP. Ensure country is set to ISLE OF MAN
Illustrated by: Federica Iossa
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd
Published:5 Sep 2019
Dimensions:213 x 310 x 47 (mm)
Discover the wonders of our Solar System with this fold-out book and 200-piece jigsaw. The sturdy box contains a jigsaw showing the planets, their moons and the spacecraft that have been sent to explore them, plus an 8 page double-sided fold-out illustration of our solar system packed with fascinating facts and links to websites to find out more.
Sold out
Free delivery for Isle of Man addresses for orders over £20, use code MANXSHIP at checkout
A beautiful 30-piece jigsaw and Cinderella picture book, both illustrated by Lorena Alvarez. Presented in a sturdy, attractive box, the book and puzzle set makes a lovely gift and a delightful way for children to enjoy this much-loved story. The large jigsaw pieces are suitable for little hands and the completed puzzle measures 58 x 35cm.
Only a few left!
Free delivery to Isle of Man addresses. Use code MANXSHIP at checkout.
This complete art studio set with easel takes you on an artful journey. Whether you enjoy drawing and sketching, painting with watercolours, with acrylics, using oil pastels or mixing all these techniques together, you can create beautiful artworks. This set is perfect for artists who want to build on their variety of art supplies or for new users who are interested in different techniques.
CONTENTS INCLUDED
12 x Acrylic 12ml Tubes (assorted colours)
12 x Watercolour Half Pans (assorted colours)
25 x Oil Pastels (assorted colours)
6 x Colouring Pencils (assorted colours)
6 x Drawing Pencils (assorted grades)
9 x Acrylic Brushes (various shapes)
1 x Watercolour Brush
28 x Drawing Sheets
6 x Mixed Media Sheets
1 x White Eraser
1 x Gum Eraser
1 x Pencil Sharpener
1 x Stretched Canvas 10 x 8" (25 x 20cm)
1 x Aluminium Easel
1 x Plastic Palette Knife
1 x Plastic Mixing Palette
1 x Pencil Pouch
1 x Carrying Case
1 x Colour Mixing Guide
Only a few left!
Free delivery to Isle of Man addresses. Use code MANXSHIP at checkout.
A great introduction kit for aspiring artists; everything you need to begin painting with acrylics.
Highly pigmented, strong, vibrant, water-soluble colours.
H23 x W34.5 x D5.7 cm
Presented in a smart wooden box, this set is the ideal gift to inspire and develop a budding artist's skills. Set Contains: 12 Tubes of Acrylic Paint, 1 Mixing Palette, 1 Brush, 1 Plastic Painting Knife, 5 Sheets of Acrylic Paper and a Project Guide.
Only a few left!
Free delivery to Isle of Man addresses. Use code MANXSHIP at checkout.
H23 x W34.5 x D5.7 cm
Makes a great gift for any budding artist in a lovely wooden presentation box.
Offering a great introduction for aspiring artists, this Derwent Watercolour Paint Set contains everything you need to begin watercolour painting. Create vibrant transparent washes of colour with easy to use water-soluble paints.
Presented in a smart wooden box, this set is the ideal gift to inspire and develop a budding artist's skills. Set Contains: 12 Tubes of Water-Soluble Paint, 1 Mixing Palette, 4 Brushes, 5 Sheets of Watercolour Paper and a Project Guide.
Only a few left!
Free delivery to IOM addresses, enter code MANXSHIP at checkout - make sure you set country as ISLE OF MAN
This Royal Langnickel set has everything you need for acrylic painting. Ideal for the beginner, student or experienced artist and makes a great gift for kids and adults. The aluminium case it comes in has clear windows on both sides so you can easily see what is in the case and transport your materials wherever you go.
This package contains :
Only a few left!
Free delivery to IOM addresses, enter code MANXSHIP at checkout - make sure you set country as ISLE OF MAN
This Royal Langnickel set has everything you need for watercolour painting. Ideal for the beginner, student or experienced artist and makes a great gift for kids and adults. The aluminium case it comes in has clear windows on both sides so you can easily see what is in the case and transport your materials wherever you go.
This package contains :
Free delivery to IOM addresses, enter code MANXSHIP at checkout - make sure you set country as ISLE OF MAN
This Royal Langnickel set has everything you need for painting and drawing. Ideal for the beginner, student or experienced artist and makes a great gift for kids and adults. The aluminium case it comes in has clear windows on both sides so you can easily see what is in the case and transport your materials wherever you go.
This package contains :
Free delivery to IOM addresses, enter code MANXSHIP at checkout - make sure you set country as ISLE OF MAN
This Royal Langnickel set has everything you need for sketching and drawing. Ideal for the beginner, student or experienced artist and makes a great gift for kids and adults. The aluminium case it comes in has clear windows on both sides so you can easily see what is in the case and transport your materials wherever you go.
This package contains :
