Madman's Island tells of six terrible months spent on a small island of the Howick Group with only a madman for company. In the struggle to keep alive, Idriess had desperate adventures and suffered the terrors of complete loneliness. Humour, grim realism and strange beauty mingle in this romantic tale, told with glowing vitality.Note this is the non-fiction version first published in 1938, not to be confused with the original 1927 fictionalised version.

    Set in an elite European bank in the 1930s, Stead’s epic spans the interwar years of a money-hungry Paris. Jules Bertillon, the distrustful and unpredictable bank director, sees every national disaster—including war—as an opportunity for riches. Adored by his clients for his ability to rake in staggering profits, Bertillon leaves no opening wasted—even if it means dealing with unsavory speculators or ruthless gamblers while his clients suffer the consequences. A stunning page-turner, House of All Nations is as significant and resonant today as it was upon its publication in 1938.