'Rough Crossings' is the astonishing story of the struggle to freedom by thousands of African-American slaves who fled the plantations to fight behind British lines in the American War of Independence. With gripping, powerfully vivid story-telling, Simon Schama follows the escaped blacks into the fires of the war, and into freezing, inhospitable Nova Scotia where many who had served the Crown were betrayed in their promises to receive land at the war's end. Their fate became entwined with British abolitionists: inspirational figures such as Granville Sharp, the flute-playing father-figure of slave freedom, and John Clarkson, the 'Moses' of this great exodus, who accompanied the blacks on their final rough crossing to Africa, wher they hoped that freedom would...

Starring: Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock. A Study In Scarlet - Based on the very first Sherlock Holmes story, this is a real spine-tingler involving a string of victims found dead with the word Rache - German for "revenge" - scrawled in blood above their lifeless bodies. Holmes (Peter Cushing) must track down a relentless killer whilst fending off interference from Inspectors Lestrade and Gregson, who are, in Holmes words, "as jealous as a pair of professional beauties".

His investigation takes him from Baker Street, through the dark dangerous streets of London to the atmospheric world of the Victorian music hall. A gripping story with a wonderful twist. Boscombe Valley Mystery - A young man is found over the dying body of his father, an aggressive, odious bully who has been brutally beaten...

Starring: Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock The Great Detective (played by Peter Cushing) travels to Dartmoor to unravel murder, the mystery of a savage, spectral hound, and an evil that has haunted the Baskerville family for centuries. The first dramatisation to be shot at the actual location of the novel, this ranks amongst the most faithful adaptations of one of literature's greatest gothic thrillers. The Hound of the Baskervilles is the BBC series' sole two-part adventure.

Starring: Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock. The Sign of Four: One of the most exotic tales in the Sherlock Holmes collection, this story features lost treasure, a murderous pigmy, a beautiful, wronged woman with whom Watson falls in love, a mad and mysterious pair of twins and a thrilling, deadly chase along the Thames. These elements have made the mystery a real favourite amongst Holmes aficionados and this episode stands as a faithful but fast-paced adaptation of a much-loved novel.

The Blue Carbuncle: This represents one of the series' most engaging and unashamedly enjoyable stories concerning a mystery memorably described by Holmes as '... one of those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have 4 million human beings all jostling each other within the space of a...

Sophie has a busy few months in which she starts having riding lessons, celebrates her seventh birthday and forms a binding business attachment! Complete & Unabridged

The third novel in the phenomenally successful Tracy Beaker series, read by Dani Harmer, star of the acclaimed TV series. Tracy Beaker is back . .

. and shes just desperate for a role in her school play.Theyre performing A Christmas Carol and for one extremely worrying moment,the irrepressible Tracy thinks she might not even get to play one of the unnamed street urchins. But then she is cast in the main role.

Can she manage to act grumpy, difficult and sulky enough to play Ebeneezer Scrooge? Well, she does have a bit of help on that front from Justine Pain-In-The-Bum Littlewood. . .

As Tracy prepares for her big moment, Cam is the one helping her learn her lines. But all Tracy really wants to know is if her film-star mum will make it back from Hollywood in time to watch her in her...

The search for a career can seem daunting - the choice may seem difficult, or opportunities available may fall short of ideal. Starting Out provides up-to-date information and insight on everything from salaries to sex discrimination: Starting out: Information gathering and choice. Know yourself: Being clear about aspirations, priorities and interests.

Who would I like to be? Different careers and what they involve. Scanning the environment: Market trends, The value of networking, mentoring and life-long learning. Your chosen career and you: Personal skills and qualities.

Completing the jigsaw: Pulling information together.

With his astounding victory at the Sydney Olympics, Steve Redgrave has won a record-breaking five Olympic medals and nine world championships for his spectacular rowing achievements, and is consequently regarded with awe, by rivals, crew-mates, and top sportsmen alike. At 38, Steve is now ending an unprecedented career spanning 23 years of competition, jubilation, and immense hard work. The autobiography that marks the end of this career discusses Redgrave's partnerships with Matthew Pinsent and first partner Andy Holmes, with whom he had a tense relationship.

He will talk about the difficulty of maintaining a balanced family life when work is always a priority, and his attitude to his honeymoon was concern at its disruption to his training schedule. Redgrave also describes about the...

The ideal Japanese course for absolute beginners, designed for adults learning at home or in a class. Talk Japanese provides you with a clear, simple and successful way of learning Japanese. Featuring introductions, ordering and talking about food and drink, finding your way around, buying things, finding somewhere to stay and getting around, it gives you the best possible grounding in the basics of Japanese.

Whether you're learning for work, for a first qualification or just for fun, Talk Japanese is the simplest way to start speaking the language in no time! Free classroom activities to download are available here This book is designed to be used in conjunction with the tapes. A book and audio cassette pack is also available.

The ideal Japanese course for absolute beginners - designed for adults learning at home or in a class. Talk Japanese provides you with a clear, simple and successful way of learning Japanese. Featuring introductions, ordering and talking about food and drink, finding your way around, buying things, finding somewhere to stay and getting around, it gives you the best possible grounding in the basics of Japanese.

Whether you're learning for work, for a first qualification or just for fun, Talk Japanese is the simplest way to start speaking the language in no time! We strongly recommend that you purchase this book with the accompanying CDs or cassettes.