F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is one of the most enduring novels of the twentieth century for two almost contradictory reasons.
While being a precise and graphic depiction of the society which Fitzgerald himself relished and named ‘the Jazz Age’, its leading character is a person of ambiguity and uncertainty. It is reasonable to suppose that Fitzgerald meant this to be both a parable of the American Dream as well as a selfless love story.
From the novel we know something of Gatsby’s past: his humble origins, his early experiences as Jimmy Gatz, that he was decorated in the Great War and also that he went to Trinity College, Oxford. These truths emerge despite the fantasies and fictions he also adopts.
The time at Trinity College in Oxford would have been crucial for Jay Gatsby between his war time in France, his devotion to Daisy Fay, and his amassing of a huge fortune to secure her love.
Gatsby at Trinity tells the story of his days in Oxford.
It has been carefully researched from both historical archives and contemporary records, with all the evidences of Fitzgerald’s own novel fully taken into account.
Ian Flintoff was a Modern Languages Scholar at Trinity College, Oxford, before becoming a professional actor, writer and director, and is a long-standing devotee of the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Readers' comments...
"The substance and nuance of your book continues to amaze me. Thanks so much for the scholarly effort you put into it. I'm sure it's bound to be a classic."
"It's obviously been a tremendous labour of love for you, and displays loads of ingenuity and wit, for example your solution to the photographic mystery of the multitude of spires glimpsed through the chapel archway."
The human race has all but destroyed itself and those who remain know that they must avoid repeating the mistakes of their ancestors. Life is a struggle but just when it seems as though all may be lost, the horses intervene. Through the bonds that develop between humans and their horses, people learn what the horses know, ensuring the advancement of humanity. And the horses wait for the person who will be able to help them in return ...
Lynn Mann is a writer with a long-standing involvement with horses. During her school years, she spent as much time riding and being with horses as she could. She took a break from horses to study for her biology degree and then on leaving university, realised her dream of having her own horse for the first time. She worked on show-jumping, racing and dressage yards before starting a business as a saddle consultant and riding instructor, which involved working both in the UK and abroad.
Other books in the series by Lynn Mann... Book 1: The Horses Rejoice
Reader Reviews...
Horse Magazine
This book was inspired by a special horse called Pie, a rescue adopted by author Lynn. It has a futuristic setting, where the world has all but destroyed itself. The heroine is Amarilla, whose family want her to develop a useful 'Skill' which will set her in good stead for the future. However, the youngster has other ideas and longs to be one of the 'Horse-Bonded' - someone that is spiritually drawn to a special equine. The bonded then dedicate their life to each other. But will Amarilla find a horse to have a special connection with? This is an enchanting story of preparing for an unknown future and developing a bond with a horse. Plus, 20 percent of royalties will be donated to The Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, which rescued and rehabilitated Pie before Lynn rehomed her.
Paul Salmon - Fantastic book
Absolutely loved this book, a real eye opener and page turner, kept me engaged and hooked until the end. Highly recommended read ******
Susan Wilkinson - A novel for the horse lover and the sci-fi enthusiast
In Amarilla we find our new heroine with much to offer. Hopefully a sequel will follow.
I found the book quite inspirational and heartwarming and was a page turner. The relationship between the horses and the characters was something that the horse enthusiast would recognise.
MJ - Brilliant
This was a great read, very creative and thought provoking.
It was a clear and well thought through story and opened my eyes to a different way of thinking about how important the bond between humans and horses is and can be. A book aimed at adults and children. I will be looking out for the sequel and can't wait!
Bridget Jones - Surprised
I would have said that apart from the equine theme this would not have been to my taste at all but I found it totally engrossing and strangely plausible. I could relate to many of the characters and horses and although I wanted to reach the conclusion of the story I was left wanting more. I look forward to more from this author.
Beki - Amazing. Please read this book
Wow! Amazing. Please read this book. I so hope there will be a sequel?
Amazon Customer - Wonderful story
This fictional story is written in a very creative and beautifully imaginative manner. We know many parts hit on the truth.
It is thought provoking and funny and some parts brought me to tears. Whether we have a horse, or just know they are magnificent and graceful beings the story lifts up our vibration and I am looking forward to reading Lynn's next novel.
A Risk Assessment Guide to Murdering Your Financial Advisor
Small time investor Daryl Anderson is bored by his humdrum job and his uneventful suburban life.
Seeking change, he gets conned by a financial shark. Broke and homeless, his marriage and family destroyed, he decides to take the law into his own hands and to execute the man who has destroyed his life.
He travels to the Bahamas where he cuts the man's throat beside a luxury pool. Caught red-handed, Daryl seems destined to spend the rest of his life in prison but instead he is overwhelmed by a wave of public sympathy.
His trial at the Old Bailey becomes a media sensation and contributions pour in.
The world wants him freed but the law says he must pay.
Deira MacMahon is recruited from GCHQ to the European Bureau of Investigation because she possesses a rare genetic mutation which enables her to undergo a process known as PHotonic Algorithm-Sequestered Engram transmission (PHASEing) without physical or mental damage. She is only six months out of the Bureau Academy and still getting used to being ‘transmitted’ to trouble spots around the world, when she and her supervisor are ordered on a mission to Mars – and must undertake the journey as the first human subjects of a new interplanetary PHASEing technology.
The interplanetary PHASE affects Deira and her supervisor in very different ways and when the mission suddenly shifts to Titan, the sixth moon of Saturn, Deira must continue on alone.
While on Titan, Deira meets Sol Smith, a man with no past whose few remaining memories are at odds with reality and who seems vaguely familiar - although they have never met. Together, Deira and Sol, uncover a plot of enormous proportions – a plot that takes in the foundations of sub-quantal physics itself, and which must be thwarted if the human race is to survive.
Sci-fi's not normally my cup of tea but a friend gave me this book as a present so I felt obliged to read it. I couldn't put it down! It's not just sci-fi it is also a mixture of mystery and thriller and I really enjoyed it. I thought Sol was a great character and I can't wait for the next in the series.
Judith Meredith
I was given this title by a family member, it is not the type of book I normally read. Decided to try it and I had trouble putting it down. A murder mystery on the planet's it is well written and an enjoyable easy read.
Daniel Piper
The plot moves along at a good pace with twists here and there. Read it in a couple days, had trouble putting it down.
London is caught in a perpetual blizzard – and not a single piece of snow-removal equipment can be found. The Mayor has sold it all to balance the budgets. To cover his tracks he calls upon a legendary snow-remover from Norway and Operation Snow Removal can begin.
But the snow just keeps falling. London is gradually disappearing. Will flat-mates Bjørn, Wolfgang and the Dane survive? Will anyone? If this really is the next ice age.
The Way The Hen Kicks is a story about gravity and awareness. About mothers and sons; love, ambition and corruption. About what it means to want to preserve something for future generations.
Lars Guthorm Kavli holds a Masters degree in Creative Writing from UEA (2011). He also holds degrees from Goldsmiths, LSE and the University of Southern California, and has worked as a media entrepreneur and consultant. He comes from Norway and lives in Berlin.
A foreboding tale of a snow-covered London in despair, enlivened by encouraging characters and events.
Amazon Reader Reviews...
Imminent apocalypse sharpens our vision of the everyday
This end-of-the-world story is disturbing but also often heartening. The reader experiences both an urgency to know what happens next and, contrastingly, an invitation to slow down time and reflect with the writer on many private moments of being – for example what it feels like to be sitting in a pair of wet trousers, what it feels like to be desperately tired, what despair feels like.
The book’s strength is these close up, fine grained descriptions of each character’s state of mind, or rather state of body and mind. Often the writer is managing to capture every day moments and the observations which we all make but which are so familiar and ordinary they rarely find their way into literature.
For Londoners, or perhaps those who visit the city, the book will have a special meaning – it’s certainly depressing to follow the disintegration of the urban landscape which we generally assume will go on giving. However the depression is not overwhelming and it feels as though it is in the service of a valuable wake up call – there is perhaps an old fashioned moral tale embedded in this very contemporary novel.
Loved this.
It has really big, complex characters: a bumbling posh Mayor, an alcoholic Norwegian snow specialist, a migrant worker who may have discovered the meaning of life. They're all trying to deal with the snow storm that's covered London. It's very clever (the story seems to be told by a computer from the future), but it's very funny (there are loads of drunken misadventures) and at points it's deeply moving (lots of Oedipal longing and existential contemplation). It's really rare to find something so easy to read, but so full of ideas and beauty. It's very, very good.
Very engaging and original style
The author has an impressive ability to draw very detailed pictures of the state of minds and situations facing the characters making the reader feel psychological and physical motions they go through with particular acuteness. Most of the story being set in London adds an extra dimension of engagement for those who know the city. Captivating and thought provoking!It's very, very good.
This is great stuff. Refreshing too
Every detail is a macrocosm with the immediacy of a haiku. Beneath the funny exterior, there is a painful existential crisis in every snowflake. You feel like you're headed for a car crash after inhaling slo-mo. I actually hesitated each time I picked it up - worried for how it disintegrates - but it was too compulsive. Highly recommended. Weird how I find myself envying their apocalypse..
Gripping
Haven't been this gripped by a novel for a long time
It is twenty years since Deira and Sol MacMahon were instrumental in foiling the three-fold plot to destroy Earth by the aggressive aliens known as the Cthon. Twenty years, during which time their son, Josh, has grown to become an agent himself, and their daughter, Juliette, has entered a sub-quantal physics research lab.
Now the Cthon are back, with an attack so devastating that it will test the agents to breaking point.
The Eich can see no way out of the current nightmare and, in desperation, send Josh on a mission to the Cthon home world. Meanwhile Deira and Sol work frantically with the authorities on Earth to try to combat this most potent threat.
It’s a race against time. A race to safeguard Earth and evacuate the thirty-five thousand inhabitants of Mars Base before disaster strikes. A race that will raise questions about the Eich, the Cthon and the nature of sub-quantal space. A race that will force Deira MacMahon to confront her worst nightmare…
Many children have a very hard life in India. They sort through rubbish heaps, work in factories and beg on the streets.
This is a story, the first of three, that tells of the lives of Rupa and her little sister Amrita. It tells of the hardships they endure, the adventures they have and the many people they meet.
Lonely rich girl Aisha lives in the big house. Rupa and Aisha become friends and defeat the horrible Mr. Biswas. Danva, the dog, saves Amrita and becomes her best friend. Shanti and Hamid appear at the end of the book ready to continue the ‘Slum Kids’ story in Book 2.
The ‘Spirit of Ganesh’ is a mixture of fun, drama, sadness and love, all watched over by the benevolent smile of the Elephant God.
After teaching small children, for many years, I retired and now have six grandchildren and two step-great grandchildren.
My early retirement was spent backpacking around India. On returning to England I had many photos but no intention of writing a children’s story.
However, Shanti, who we met at a bus station, kept emerging in my memories of the street children in India. Because of this, I became obsessed with the thought that I had to write a story about four of the children, who lived and smiled in the face of horrendous misfortune.
The spirit of Garnesh is the first of a trilogy. The other two being A Dance for Rupa and Shanti.
I wanted a child with a physical handicap to be central to a story. Shanti and his special friend Ashiq are real children and as such were a special inspiration to me.
What are we all looking for? The illusion of a South Pacific paradise? Love, happiness, understanding – distraction from the fact that we are getting older, reliving forgotten dreams … Who knows?
What provokes Ruth to go off the rails after 25 years
of apparent family harmony? Can she keep her affair
secret? Can her husband, Tom, deal with her taking
some time out from their marriage?
When he seeks solace from a female friend,
can the couple overcome the marriage crisis that ensues?
Reinhard studied English Literature, Linguistics and Politics and taught at the universities of Bristol, Palmerston North (NZ), Middlesex and Cambridge before joining the Foreign & Commonwealth Office where he spent the latter half of his career.
Reinhard writes full-time now. He also writes short stories and poetry and has now embarked on his second novel. He continues to live in Cambridge.
Reader Reviews...
Caroline Gilfillan - Poet and Creative Writing tutor at the Open University
This is an unusual, subtle book. I strongly recommend it.
Taking Time Out is a compelling novel that takes a long, hard look at a couple whose marriage is in crisis. Ruth and Tom have been married for twenty-five years, and have it all: good jobs, a comfortable lifestyle, and two healthy children almost fledged from the nest. But there are seismic shifts beneath the shiny surface. Sharp, clever Ruth misses the passion that was present in their early years. Tom, working for a government department on matters he can't discuss with Ruth, longs for a more creative element to his life and embarks on a novel. But just before they're due to return to the South Pacific island paradise where they spent their honeymoon, Ruth vanishes. What will Tom do without her acerbic presence? Suzanne, a friend and editor, is everything Ruth is not, and Tom is tempted by her warm, sensual presence. The reader knows that Ruth plans to return, but will her marriage to Tom survive? The book slowly unravels the answers to these and other questions, in fresh, vivid prose that draws the reader into the lives of these characters.
New Book - Coming soon
My Parents’ Darkroom -
Developing the Past
When his mother moves into a care home, Jonas, an expatriate German history teacher, inherits an old cigar box containing relics from his childhood. However, on closer inspection, it also contains more sinister items. Will the page torn out of his mother’s 1944 diary and his father’s undeveloped negatives and his old cine film of 1938 reveal any clues about his parents’ role in the Nazi party? And where is the rest of the diary? Who has hidden it all these years and why? Jonas finds himself at the start of a journey which will lead him to discover some unsettling secrets. Should he have opened Pandora’s box?
When you have produced the final draft of your book, it is always advisable to have the text read and checked by a professional editor or proof reader.
You may have friends that are willing and competent to do this and we can advise you on the type of editing that is required.
We can offer four levels of editing as well as proof-reading.
You choose which, if any, are appropriate in your case: 1. Edit of sample pages and short report (£30)
We will edit a few pages to highlight editorial issues so that you can look for similar problems throughout the book.
This will reduce the amount of further copy-editing required when the book is finished. 2. Broad structural editing and criticism (£5 per thousand words)
A structural review is particularly relevant for works of fiction.
The structural reviewer will address the following main areas and produce a short report for the author ” Read More 3. Copy editing (£10 per thousand words)
A copy-editor takes a close look at your text, line by line, with an eye to grammatical errors, repetition, inconsistency and lack of clarity. The copy editor will make changes to the text, with suggestions for rewriting, grammar, and punctuation. When you receive the edited version, you have the final choice about accepting of rejecting the individual changes. 4. Proof Reading (£8 per thousand words)
Proof reading is a line-by-line check that the book is ready for publication. Proof readers will make small corrections for punctuation, grammar and spelling but they will not make significant changes to the text.
A proof reader will identify any significant issues and add comments to the text so that you can make those corrections yourself. 5. Consistency Scan
If you decide your book doesn’t need a full proof reading, we offer an electronic scan to search for common errors and inconsistencies. This looks at issues such as inconsistent spelling and inconsistencies of hyphenation and capitalisation.
We can also identify inconsistencies in the spelling of proper names. 6. Cover text
The quality of the text on the cover is very important as it indicates the quality of the writing in the book.
The title, sub-title and back-cover blurb are all important elements and we can work with you to make sure that these are correct and effective.
Copy Edit
Copy-editors get the raw material into shape for publication i.e they edit the copy.
When they have finished, the designer can lay out or typeset the book and produce a proof.
It is quite normal for the author to make additional changes after a book has been copy-edited.
Working through the material, the copy-editor may identify errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, style and usage, but also very long sentences and overuse of italic, bold, capitals and exclamation marks.
They should correct or query doubtful facts, weak arguments, plot holes and gaps in numbering.
In fiction, they should also check that characters haven’t changed their name or hair colour, look for sudden changes from first to third person among other things.
The Copy-editor is not a proof reader and should not be expected to find all of the errors in the text particularly if the text is badly written to start with.
This is the job of the proof reader.
The final proof should be checked by a proof reader or an experienced reader friend before going to print.
It is almost inevitable (and acceptable) to miss a few errors which can be corrected in a later edition.
Proof Reading
Proof reading is a line-by-line check that the book is ready for publication.
Proof readers will make small corrections for punctuation, grammar and spelling but they will not make significant changes to the text.
A proof reader will identify any significant issues and add comments to the text so that you can make those corrections yourself.
If you have decided to complete this stage of the process yourself, we will send a detailed check-list to help you.
We ask you to try and ensure that the book is completely ready before we start the layout.
Once the layout has started, we expect that you might want to to make a small number of amendments but
if there are a significant number, we may need to charge for the extra time it takes to change the layout
so best to discuss this with us first.
Structural Review
In fiction, the main areas that a structural editor will address are:
Plot: Does the plot make sense? Is it believable? Is it satisfying or does it leave the reader frustrated? Themes: Are the themes effectively handled? Are there so many that the book lacks focus? Do they interfere with the plot or complement it?
Characterisation: Are your characters well developed and believable? Are they cast in a role that fits their personality? Do they sometimes behave out of character? Point of view/voice: Is the voice consistent or is it sometimes confused? Is the voice authentic? Are you using too many or too few POVs? Pace: Does the plot move forward at an appropriate pace? Should you cut that preface? Should the action happen sooner or should the tension build more slowly? Dialogue: Do your characters sound real when they speak? Is your dialogue cluttered with adverbs and beats? Do you use clunky dialogue to move the plot forward? Flow: Is the narrative interrupted by dead-ends and tangents? Is there so much back story that the main plot is dwarfed? Are there missing plot points that would give the narrative greater integrity?
In non-fiction, the principle is the same, but the specific issues are slightly different:
Thesis: Is your thesis relevant? Is it clearly defined or is it lost among marginal issues? Exposition: Are your arguments clear and cogent? Are they well researched and properly supported? Do they have a clear relationship with your thesis? Content: Are all the necessary topics sufficiently dealt with? Are the chapters weighted correctly? Is there superfluous content? Organisation: Is the information organised logically? Are tables and illustrations used appropriately? How many levels of subheads do you need and how should they be arranged? Tone: Is the tone appropriate for the audience? Do you need to eliminate jargon? Is the text accessible? Pace: Are there passages that are bogged down in detail? Do you spend too long on detail irrelevant to the main thesis? Are there areas that need further exposition lest they be skipped over?
Cover Text
The quality of the text on the cover is very important as it indicates the quality of the writing in the book.
The title, sub-title and back-cover blurb are all important elements and we work with you to make sure that these are as effective as possible.
Consistency check
If you decide your book doesn’t need a full proof reading, we can run an electronic scan to search for common errors and inconsistencies.
This looks at issues such as inconsistent spelling, hyphenation and capitalisation.
It also checks for consistent formatting of numbers and dates as well as undefined abbreviations.
Full Script Edit
The script that you deliver to us will probably constitute what the industry would classify as the ‘Initial Rough Draft’, i.e. a full screenplay written without any other professional input or advice, and probably without a great deal of rewriting. We work through your draft, line by line, scene by scene, and come back to you with a comprehensive set of notes from which you can then work towards the official ‘1st Draft’. Some of our notes will be broad and general, dealing with such areas as the overall shape and structure, pacing, plot and character development; others will be far more specific, with corrections, clarifications and suggested cuts etc. It is of course entirely up to you whether or not to take these suggestions on board, and to what extent.
Subsequent Script Edit
It is very normal and generally beneficial for the script-editing process to go through at least a couple of cycles
i.e. the rewritten draft to be worked through once again by an experienced script practitioner – though this would be entirely at the discretion and behest of the writer.
Ongoing Support
We aim to make your self-publishing venture an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Publishing is a complex business and we treat every book as a separate project.
We explain all of the stages at the outset and we manage the project schedule for you. This will include all of the expert services you have requested for editorial, design, printing, distribution and collection of royalties, keeping in close contact with you throughout the process.
You will be allocated a project-sheet on the YouCaxton website so that you can monitor progress and ensure that all stages are properly completed.
If you would like to see an example of a Project-Sheet…
go to My project on the menu and enter…
Username: Sample
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