Books published by publisher Icon Books Ltd

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MESSI AND NEYMARStrength, speed and dedication: Cristiano Ronaldo is known throughout theworld as a colossus of the modern game.But did you know that he underwent laser heart surgery aged just fifteen to enable him to continue playing the game he loved?Or that Nacional, his first professional club, donatedtwenty balls and two sets of kits to his youth team in order to sign him?Or how he came to be known as abelhinha –‘littlebee’ –a name he would later pass on to his Yorkshire Terrier?Find out all this and more in Luca Caioli’s biography of theglobal superstar, featuring exclusive insights from those who know him best andeven the man himself.Includes all the action from the 2017/18season and the 2018 World Cup

'Adam Plowright's excellent book captures the strangeness of Macron’s life' Evening Standard THE FIRST BIOGRAPHY OF EMMANUEL MACRON IN ENGLISH From total unknown to one of Europe's most powerful men in just a few years, at 39, France's youngest leader since Napoleon is intent on conquering the world stage. But what lies beneath the façade of this youthful, ultra-confident and calculating president? How did someone from small-town France assemble -- in just 12 months -- the network, team and finances to win the presidency? Now elected, can he make the French feel better about themselves? Can he rally Europe around him and turn the tide of right-wing nationalism sweeping the continent? Critically, what will his presidency mean for Britain? Featuring never-before printed interviews with key members of Macron’s team, his friends, mentors and political detractors, acclaimed Paris-based journalist Adam Plowright asks: can the shine on this brilliant new president last? And for how long?

When it comes to big science, very few things are conclusively known. From Quantum Mechanics to Natural Selection, what we have instead are theories - ideas explain why things happen the way they do. We don't know for certain these are correct - no one ever saw the Big Bang - but with them we can paint beautiful, breathtaking pictures of everything from human behaviour to what the future may hold. Profiling the key scientists behind each theory, "30-Second Theories" presents each entry in a unique, eye-catching full-colour design, with thought-provoking extras and stylish illustrations. It is essential for anyone keen on expanding their mind with science's most thrilling ideas.

Abducted by slave traders from her home in Ruthenia – modern-day Ukraine – around 1515, Roxelana was brought to Istanbul and trained in the palace harem as a concubine for Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, ruler of the Ottoman Empire and one of the world’s most powerful men.Suleyman became besotted with Roxelana and foreswore all other concubines, freeing and marrying her. The bold and canny Roxelana became a shrewd diplomat and philanthropist, helping Suleyman keep pace with a changing world in which women – Isabella of Hungary, Catherine de Medici – were increasingly close to power.Until now Roxelana has been seen by historians as a seductress who brought ruin to the empire, but in Empress of the East, acclaimed historian Leslie Peirce reveals with panache the compelling story of an elusive woman who transformed the Ottoman harem into an institution of imperial rule.

When the forces that give our planet life exceed our ability to withstand them, they become disasters. Together they have shaped our cities and architecture, elevated leaders and toppled governments, influenced the way we think, feel, fight, unite and pray. The history of natural disasters is a history of ourselves. The Big Ones investigates some of the most impactful natural disasters, and how their reverberations are still felt today. From a volcanic eruption in Pompeii challenging and reinforcing prevailing views of religion, through the California floods of 1862 and the limitations of memory, to what Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 tsunami can tell us about governance and globalisation. With temperatures rising around the world, natural disasters are striking with ever greater frequency. More than just history or science, The Big Ones is a call to action. Natural hazards are inevitable; human catastrophes are not. With this energising and richly-researched book, Jones offers a look at our past, readying us to face down the Big Ones in our future.

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RONALDO AND NEYMAR.Prolific, cool-headed and unerringly consistent, Lionel Messi is one of the most revered footballers in history.But did you know that his transfer to Barcelona was first agreed on a paper napkin?Or that an x-ray of his hand was to thank for identifying his growth hormone deficiency?And do you know why he refused to collect his first ever Champions League winner’s medal?Find out all this and more in Luca Caioli’s classic portrait of a footballing icon, featuring exclusive interviews with those who know him best and even Messi himself.

Greenland: a remote, mysterious, ice-covered rock with a population of just 56,000, has evolved from one of earth’s last physical frontiers to its largest scientific laboratory. Locked within that vast ‘white desert’ are some of our planet’s most profound secrets. As the Arctic climate warms, and Greenland’s ice melts at an accelerating rate, the island is evolving into an economic and climatological hub, on which the future of the world turns.Journalist and historian Jon Gertner reconstructs in vivid, thrilling detail the heroic efforts of the scientists and explorers who have visited Greenland over the past 150 years – on skis, sleds, and now with planes and satellites, utilising every tool available to uncover the pressing secrets revealed by the ice before, thanks to climate change, it’s too late. This is a story of epic adventures, populated by a colourful cast of scientists racing to get a handle on what will become of Greenland’s ice and, ultimately, the world.

The youngest player to score in the World Cup final since Pelé, for the tournament-winning team, in his brief career to date Kylian Mbappé is breaking records at a rate matched by only the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and is fast becoming one of the biggest names in football.But did you know that even at three years old, he would sit listening to the manager's talk before an AS Bondy match?Or where his signature crossed-arm goal celebration came from and where he first performed it?Or how he got his dressing room nickname 'Thirty-seven'?Find out about all this and more in Luca Caioli and Cyril Collot's tirelessly researched biography of the game's latest superstar, featruing exclusive interviews with those who know him best.Includes 2018 World Cup success.

'Adam Plowright's excellent book captures the strangeness of Macron’s life' Evening StandardTHE FIRST BIOGRAPHY OF EMMANUEL MACRON IN ENGLISHFrom total unknown to one of Europe's most powerful men in just a few years, at 39, France's youngest leader since Napoleon is intent on conquering the world stage. But what lies beneath the façade of this youthful, ultra-confident and calculating president? How did someone from small-town France assemble -- in just 12 months -- the network, team and finances to win the presidency? Now elected, can he make the French feel better about themselves? Can he rally Europe around him and turn the tide of right-wing nationalism sweeping the continent? Critically, what will his presidency mean for Britain?Featuring never-before printed interviews with key members of Macron’s team, his friends, mentors and political detractors, acclaimed Paris-based journalist Adam Plowright asks: can the shine on this brilliant new president last? And for how long?

Quick, incisive and versatile, Antoine Griezmann is the ultimate modern forward. Arriving in 2014 to join an Atlético Madrid side persistently challenging for the biggest trophies in Spanish and European football, he quickly established himself as the team’s key player and main goal threat.A Super Cup win over city rivals Real Madrid was just the start but an inspired tilt at the Champions League the following season ended in heartbreak – as did a Euro 2016 campaign in which his performances for France saw him named player of the tournament.In this first biography of the Atléti and France star, Madrid-based journalist Luca Caioli examines the story behind Griezmann’s rise to the top. Features exclusive interviews.