Biography: adventurers and explorers Books

Book Synopsis''I would choose this account over and above the rest. It is a fabulous book: full of perceptive insight that conveys all the tragedy, triumph, humour and intense drama of Churchill''s time as wartime leader; and it is incredibly moving as a result'' James Holland, Literary ReviewIn this vivid biography, #1 bestselling historian Max Hastings tells the story of how Churchill led a nation through its darkest hour.A moving, dramatic narrative of crisis and fortitude, Hastings offers one of the finest biographies of one of Britain's finest men.When Churchill took power as Prime Minister in 1940, it was with the unprecedented support of the nation. People rallied behind their new commander in extraordinary fashion, but thereafter, as Hastings argues, there came a deep divide.Churchill was a hero, a dogged worker dedicated to steering the country through the war. He expected more from the British people than they were perhaps able to deliver.Taking us on an intimate, stirring journey throughTrade Review'One of the best books ever written about Churchill … Hastings's efficient, soldierly prose marches along at a brisk pace and carries the reader with it. He has drawn on copious original sources and consulted experts familiar with them, enabling him to cast fresh light on familiar episodes … a magnificent performance.' Sunday Times 'The book's portrait of Churchill is scrupulously fair and often deeply moving … in fact Hastings excels with all his character portraits, especially with Roosevelt and Stalin. Hastings is truly a master of strategy and high command.' Antony Beevor, Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisThe true story of the White Queen and more, this is a thrilling history of the extraordinary noblewomen who lived through the Wars of the Roses.The events of the Wars of the Roses are usually described in terms of the men involved: Richard Duke of York, Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III and Henry VII. But these years were also packed with women's drama and in the tales of conflicted maternity and monstrous births alive with female energy.In this completely original book, Sarah Gristwood sheds light on a neglected dimension of English history: the impact of Tudor women on the Wars of the Roses. She examines, among others, Cecily Neville, who was deprived of being queen when her husband died at the Battle of Wakefield; Elizabeth Woodville, the commoner who married Edward IV in secret; Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, whose love and ambition for her son knew no bounds.Until now, the lives of these women have remained little known to the general public. Sarah Gristwood tells their Trade Review‘For viewers who plan to settle in with ‘The White Queen’, one recent work of history will guide them through the distaff maze of the Wars of the Roses: ‘Blood Sisters’ by Sarah Gristwood’ Boyd Tonkin, Independent ‘In this gem of a book, she effortlessly weaves the dramatic, often tragic, lives of seven royal women…If you treat yourself to one history book this Christmas, make it this one. It’s the book that I wish I had written’ Alison Weir, Books of the Year, BBC History Magazine ‘Entertaining and vividly drawn … A different way of looking at this complex period and Gristwood weaves the story with considerable skill … highly readable’ Literary Review ‘Gristwood successfully evokes the lives of all these women, and in doing so brings a new and welcome perspective on the Wars of the Roses… [a] very agreeable narrative’ Dan Jones, Sunday Times ‘Gristwood’s sensitive approach marks out Blood Sisters as much more than the narrative of an age. It is an exploration of what it was to be a medieval queen… A compelling portrait of this bloody age, complete with the heartbreak and triumphs that went with it… Like a delicately woven tapestry, threads of evidence have to be gathered and pulled together with care. Gristwood does an excellent job of examining in sensory detail the impact of ermines, cloths of gold, Spanish leather and purple velvet’ Spectator

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Book SynopsisBrilliant, clear, and humane' Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, LoveMiraculous and hopeful' Emma Straub, author of All Adults HereQuietly profound belongs on the shelf next to Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild' New York TimesRiverman: An American Odyssey uncovers the story of an extraordinary man and his puzzling disappearance, and paints a picture of the singular spirit of America's riverbank towns.The peace of mind I found, largely alone, on that white-water mecca convinced me that life was capable of exquisite pleasure and undefined meaning deep in the face of failure. The experience itself is the reward.' Dick ConantOn his forty-third birthday, Dick Conant, a golden boy who never quite grew up as those around him expected, stepped into a homemade boat to embark on a journey despite a gathering snowstorm. Among his possessions was a Gideon Bible and biographies of Einstein and Bismark. It was the beginning of an all-consuming odyssey by an unconventional man into the watery arteriTrade Review‘This is a beautifully told and near-mythical tale of one man’s quest to find peace through communion with nature, and through perpetual motion. My heart was deeply stirred by Riverman, and by Ben McGrath’s brilliant, clear, and humane storytelling. This one will stay with me for a long time’ Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love ‘Riverman is as miraculous and hopeful as its protagonist, the Zelig of America’s waterways, Dick Conant. It’s a great book for people like me, who read Into the Wild but have shed our self-destructive wanderlust and settled into middle age. This book will make you want to buy a canoe and spend less time on Instagram’ Emma Straub, bestselling author of All Adults Here ‘McGrath’s reconstruction of Dick Conant’s tangled career and yearning soul is so meticulous, so obsessive, that Conant comes to life on the page as vividly as any character in American literature. Conant wanted his story told. Here it is, in all its pathos and sheer unlikeliness. You will never see rivers and the towns on their banks the same way after reading Riverman. Ditto, I predict, for expansive, raggedy strangers’ William Finnegan, bestselling author of Pulitzer Prize winner Barbarian Days ‘This quietly profound book belongs on the shelf next to Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild’ New York Times ‘Superb … McGrath captures his subject with warmth and humour’ Wall Street Journal ‘Captivating … A paean to eccentricity and endurance and a study of a life that changed the chronicler’s own perceptions … A memorable and intoxicating exploration of what we make of those who reinvent themselves’ Kirkus, starred review

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times BestsellerTHE BOOK EVERY VOTER MUST READ' Mail on SundayMeticulous and highly readable Funny and devastating' Daily TelegraphThe most compelling in-depth study so far' GuardianThe unmissable exposé of Jeremy Corbyn from the UK's most prolific investigative biographer.Since his surprise election as leader of the Labour Party in 2015, Jeremy Corbyn has survived coup attempts and accusations of incompetence that would have felled most politicians, including grave charges of anti-Semitism, bullying and dividing his own party. Now, as the UK government rips itself apart over Brexit, he stands at the brink of power.Through rigorous research and interviews with those closest to Corbyn including his two ex-wives Tom Bower reveals the truths that Jeremy Corbyn has worked to conceal from public scrutiny, as well as tracking the inner workings of the leadership years, including his approach to policy, brand of socialism, and relationships with other MPs.The must-read for everyTrade Review ’The book every voter must read’ Mail on Sunday ‘Funny and devastating, it stands as an indictment of both the Labour Party and a political system that allows an individual such as Jeremy Corbyn to come within shouting distance of the levers of power in this country.’ Daily Telegraph ‘The most compelling in-depth study so far of a man whose head is unusually difficult to get inside.’ The Guardian ‘An unexpectedly funny account of the Labour leader’s life … the author reveals a side of Corby’s personality that is not at all well known or even acknowledged in today’s Labour Party: his love of the limelight. The book describes, in hilarious detail, Corbyn’s determination to be part of the story of the election of Britain’s first three black MPs … Entertaining and impressive research … Bower’s meticulous and highly readable account must be absorbed from start to finish. Funny and devastating, it stands as an indictment of both the Labour Party and a political system that allows an individual such as Jeremy Corbyn to come within shouting distance of the levers of power.’ Daily Telegraph ‘One of the most depressing books I’ve ever read. It is a forensically detailed portrait of a man with no inner life, a monomaniac suffused with an overwhelming sense of his own righteousness … Probably the most shocking fact in this biography is that so many of his former intimates believe he has never read a book … Nobody who reads this book can be in any doubt that if he became prime minister, he would comfortably be the most indolent, least articulate and least intelligent holder of the office in history’ Dominic Sandbrook, The Times

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Book SynopsisAn elegant, densely textured work, like a tapestry A welcome contribution to polar studies.' Sara Wheeler, Spectator[MacInness] handles the whole thing with masterly skilltakes us to the heart of the hope, love, anguish and grief' The TimesThe men of Captain Scott's Polar Party were heroes of their age, enduring tremendous hardships to further the reputation of the Empire they served by reaching the South Pole. But they were also husbands, fathers, sons and brothers.For the first time, the story of the race for the South Pole is told from the perspective of the women whose lives would be forever changed by it, five women who offer a window into a lost age and a revealing insight into the thoughts and feelings of the five heroes.Kathleen Scott, the fierce young wife of the expedition leader, campaigned relentlessly for Scott's reputation, but did her ambition for glory drive her husband to take unnecessary risks? Oriana Wilson, a true help-mate and partner to the expedition's doctor, wTrade Review‘A captivating, heartrending, emotionally exhausting, beautifully crafted bloody brilliant book’ Ben Tarring ‘I am reading it with fascination. It’s magnificent. [MacInnes has] an almost supernatural ability to conjure up the past.’ Sue Limb: co-author of Captain Oates: Soldier and Explorer 'The story of the five women waiting at home for Captain Scott and his doomed polar party is naturally occluded in tragedy. In this engaging book Katherine MacInnes for the first time presents them – two mothers at the outset, and three wives – as distinct individuals, separated one from the other by class, education, faith and temperament …An elegant, densely textured work, like a tapestry … A welcome contribution to polar studies.’ Sara Wheeler, Spectator ‘[MacInness] handles the whole thing with masterly skill…takes us to the heart of the hope, love, anguish and grief’ Ysenda Maxtone Graham, The Times ‘A breathless parallel narrative, flipping from the Antarctic horrors to the worried women keeping calm and carrying on … Mesmerising … Movingly done’ Kate Green, Country Life '[MacInnes] relies … deftly on photographs, from which she derives many of her descriptions of precise moments. It is fascinating and impressive to have her prose bring these images to life, as she plausibly recaptures the moments they depict … She show[s] that history in the making is not only experienced but felt, poignantly and painfully.' Stephanie Barczewski, TLS ‘Combining historical research, including access to family archives, with a vivid storytelling style, author Katherine MacInnes presents … the public and private fallout of the tragedy, which reveals much about society at the time. In doing so she presents a fresh and fascinating perspective on a well-worn story, as well as a window onto a lost world.’ This England magazine 'A truly gripping, original and refreshing angle on the history of polar exploration' The Bay magazine ‘Superb’ Bute Museum

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Book SynopsisA TELEGRAPH BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2023A highly imaginative and thought-provoking way of exploring the personality of a man who, like him or loathe him, left an indelible mark on our age' ADAM ZAMOYSKIWinston Churchill followed his own star. He yearned to be great', to gain historical immortality. And he did so through deeds and words: his actions as a soldier and politician, gilded by his writings as a journalist and historian. But Churchill's path to greatness was also defined by the leaders he encountered along the way friends and foes, at home and abroad. Men of power such as Hitler and Mussolini, Roosevelt and Stalin, David Lloyd George, Neville Chamberlain and Charles de Gaulle. And the haunting presence of the adored father who had seen nothing of merit in his troublesome son. In these men Churchill discerned greatness, or its absence, in ways that influenced his own career.This book includes some whom Churchill would not have deemed great', but who in our own day offer alternaTrade Review A TELEGRAPH BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2023 ‘This book, by a Cambridge academic who has studied his subject over a lifetime perhaps more closely and shrewdly than any other writer, is not a collection of Churchill’s biggest clangers. Instead, it is almost a second volume that Churchill himself never wrote, of his 1937 Great Contemporaries…always shrewd and sometimes brilliant…It includes wonderful anecdotes, some unfamiliar. Even the stories that we know bear retelling’ The Times, Max Hastings ‘A brilliant new portrait of the man who is, for many, still the Greatest Briton … wonderfully illuminating’ Daily Mail ‘A highly imaginative and thought-provoking way of exploring the personality of a man who, like him or loathe him, left an indelible mark on our age’ Adam Zamoyski ‘Winston Churchill was unique—but that does not mean that he was alone. David Reynolds’ insightful work illuminates much about those towering figures who shaped not only the politics of the first half of the twentieth century, but also helped form the man who was, in the end, the greatest of them all’ Eliot A. Cohen, author of The Hollow Crown 'Erudite. Authoritative. Compellingly written, and with pace and verve. Reynolds reveals much that is new in a gripping narrative history of the Great Man, one that will have you turning the pages into the early hours. It certainly did me. Like all good books, I shall return to this again and again’ Damien Lewis ‘Who inspired Churchill as he rose to the pinnacle of power? And how did he himself seek to mold how history would view him? No one is better placed to address these deceptively simple questions than David Reynolds, and he succeeds splendidly in this magnificent book’ Fredrik Logevall, author of JFK

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Book SynopsisAn astonishing tale of romance, resistance and braveryA sad and beautiful book, shining a light on quiet heroism in dark times.' Lucy Adlington, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmakers of AuschwitzSabine's War is the previously untold story of a remarkable resistance fighter and her incredible story of survival against the odds.When Germany invaded Holland in May 1940, Sabine Zuur joined the resistance movement without a moment's hesitation aged just 22. Helping to hide those avoiding the German authorities, she was soon betrayed and subjected to repeated violent interrogations. Many of her friends were executed but Sabine was instead sent to the Mauthausen concentration camp, via the Amersfoort and Ravensbrück camps. Enduring gruelling conditions and backbreaking forced manual labour, she survived through a combination of guile and good fortune.But it was only after Sabine's death that her daughter Eva discovered an archive of letters detailing her extraordinary life, revTrade Review‘A sad and beautiful book, shining a light on quiet heroism in dark times.’ Lucy Adlington, New York Times bestselling author of The Dressmakers of Auschwitz ‘Truly captivating … A compelling read that will appeal to anyone who has an in interest in true WWII stories.’ Doug Gold, internationally bestselling author of The Note Through the Wire ‘'Sabine and I were Dutch prisoners at the same time in the hell of Ravensbruck Concentration Camp. She describes it so well in this book, and we have both lived with the physical and mental scars of these terrible times.' Selma van de Perre, internationally bestselling author of My Name Is Selma ‘Acutely perceptive… Sabine’s War is an important contribution to the work of bearing witness.’ Gwen Strauss, award-winning author of The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany ‘I absolutely loved this amazing story of courage and survival. This book is heartbreaking and heart-warming at the same time and I found it difficult to put it down. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys beautifully written wartime memoirs.’ Lana Kortchik, bestselling author of Daughters of the Resistance ‘This riveting story is thoroughly researched and unsparingly frank about the cost of war.’ Kirkus ‘There is an authenticity and urgency to Sabine’s story that isn't found in other accounts of the time… Readers of memoirs and wartime stories will find this especially engaging.’ Booklist

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A revelation, a powerhouse, a thing of beauty, and—OK, I’ll say it—a knockout. Joe Frazier is one of the most compelling figures ever to step in a boxing ring, and Mark Kram, Jr. has written a biography worthy in every way of the champ’s greatness.” — Jonathan Eig, bestselling author of Ali: A Life “Mark Kram, Jr. much, much more than splendidly gets to the strange anomaly that was Smokin’ Joe: you’d have thought the guy didn’t get no respect. Only he did. Lots...His life is a story worth reading.” — Richard Ford “Mark Kram, Jr.’s sympathetic and thoroughly researched Smokin’ Joe is a worthy introduction to an under-appreciated American athlete.” — Joyce Carol Oates “An exquisite biography that depicts Frazier as he really was: not just fearless and ferocious but soulful, compassionate, loyal, impulsive, capable of powerful hatred and even more powerful love. You can feel the gospel truth of Smokin’ Joe deep in your bones.” — John Schulian, winner of the PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing “Mark Kram Jr.’s landmark book about Joe Frazier...at last remedies a grave wrong, lifting the indomitable Frazier out of the crypt of creeping obscurity and into the exalted place he deserves in America’s annals...[A] sublime exploration.” — Michael Leahy, aof the Casey Award-winning The Last Innocents: The Collision of the Turbulent Sixties and the Los Angeles Dodgers “Bookish fans of the sweet science will flock to this biography.” — Kirkus Reviews “A comprehensive knockout of a biography...[A] beautiful book.” — Wall Street Journal "Kram...writes with the intensity that Frazier fought with...Unlike his subject, Kram knows when to take a step back and reflect, revealing a Frazier far removed from the enduring portrayal of him as 'an angry and unforgiving man so incapable of letting go of the hatred he harbored for Ali.'" — The National Book Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“At a time when the meaning of America is up for grabs, Cody Keenan's new book chronicles ten days that tested us and ultimately showed us at our best. It’s a captivating story about what’s worth fighting for, an antidote to cynicism that will make you believe again.” — President Barack Obama, via Twitter “Grace is a beautifully written, gripping tale of a monumental week in the life of America. As a political memoir, it is a masterpiece, rendering the White House’s characters—including President Barack Obama—in deeply human terms, with unforgettable behind-the-scenes accounts of how history was made. But in Grace, Cody Keenan does something even deeper by opening up the chilling rise of white supremacism, delving into the horrific costs of racial injustice in America, and showing how—with courage, decency, and a rich, expansive form of patriotism—our better angels can prevail.” — Samantha Power, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Problem from Hell and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations "Grace is an exuberant love letter to public service and a beautifully written record of how a President and his speechwriter faced down the darkest demons of American identity to offer a better, truer story of who we can be. At a time when cynicism and apathy endanger democracy, Cody Keenan lets us all experience how it felt to be in the room and reminds us of the things that are worth fighting for.” — Ben Rhodes, author of The World As It Is ““Cody Keenan's Grace, like the speeches he wrote with President Obama, is a compelling force. People of faith will know the ‘grace’ of which Cody and Obama speak; political and history buffs will appreciate the look inside these tragic, triumphant moments; and all Americans will be moved to tears of sorrow and joy through Cody’s retelling. Grace is what’s needed in our country right now, and Keenan's Grace is likewise a needed, essential read.” — Joshua DuBois, spiritual advisor to President Obama and author of The President’s Devotional “Cody Keenan has the heart of a novelist, the agile mind of an historian, and the acuity of someone who knows politics inside out. This remarkable book speaks in epic ways to the beauty and turmoil of the intimate moments that shape our lives. This is a hero’s journey, told with humility, insight and of course, grace.” — Colum McCann, National Book Award–winning author of Let the Great World Spin “At a time when cynicism permeates every ounce of our news and our politics, reading this hopeful, inspiring, gorgeous book is as refreshing as skinny dipping in a mountain lake. Grace is an invigorating reminder of the power each of us have to change the things for the better. Read this book! And then buy another one for your friend who thinks nothing matters and the world is doomed.” — Kal Penn, author of the national bestseller You Can’t Be Serious “An absorbing book debut with an insider’s view of the pressured, often ‘fucking terrifying’ workings within the White House…a moving portrait of a presidency and its top speechwriter.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A compelling memoir….[Keenan] offers a candid slice of life in a West Wing characterized by camaraderie, integrity, and hard work.” — Library Journal (starred review) “Uncommonly frank…a rarity in presidential histories these days: an argument for public service.” — Chicago Tribune “Powerful...a fascinating backstage pass…no matter your political persuasion, Grace is a generous, lively and worthwhile read." — BookPage “Students of politics will gain an insider’s perspective in presidential power and leadership in time of crisis.” — Booklist “Grace is a refreshing departure from the flood of scandalous ‘literary’ flotsam that typically washes up in the wake of the transfer of power. . . Like the president he served, Keenan tells his story with conviction, compassion—and amazing grace.” — Washington Monthly “[Grace is] less a standard Washington memoir with a scorecard of political wins and losses and more a reflection on the painful process of forging change. It’s a meditation on the craft of speech writing itself, and its place in a presidency that, more than most, was rooted in the power of rhetoric.” — CNN’s Meanwhile in America “There are plenty of romanticized depictions of the presidency on film, TV and written form. And then there is Cody Keenan’s new book, Grace. . . The heart of the book puts political realism to literature — a showcase about how the goal of a White House is often to fend off bad things, claw for incremental progress and, above all else, fight off cynicism.” — Politico “A much-needed literary remedy…a story that is gripping, nail-biting, and steeped in the best and worst of humanity.” — 48 Hills

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Book SynopsisA surprising and ambitious investigation of language and the varied ways women resist the paradoxes of patriarchy both on and off the page.?New York TimesCombining the soul-baring confessional of Brain on Fire and the addictive storytelling of The Queen?s Gambit, a renowned puzzle creator?s compulsively readable memoir and history of the crossword puzzle as an unexpected site of women?s work and feminist protest.The indisputable ?queen of crosswords,? Anna Shechtman published her first New York Times puzzle at age nineteen, and later, helped to spearhead the The New Yorker?s popular crossword section. Working with a medium often criticized as exclusionary, elitist, and out-of-touch, Anna is one of very few women in the field of puzzle making, where she strives to make the everyday diversion more diverse.In this fascinating work?part memoir, part cultural analysis?she excavates the hidden history of the crossword and the overlooked women who have been central to its creation and evolution, from the ?Crossword Craze? of the 1920s to the role of digital technology today. As she tells the story of her own experience in the CrossWorld, she analyzes the roles assigned to women in American culture, the boxes they?ve been allowed to fill, and the ways that they?ve used puzzles to negotiate the constraints and play of desire under patriarchy.The result is an unforgettable and engrossing work of art, a loving and revealing homage to one of our most treasured, entertaining, and ultimately political pastimes.

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Book Synopsis________________________For decades, John Humphrys has been at the beating heart of the BBC''s news division.From the 9 O''Clock News desk to his marathon 32-year stint on the Today Programme, Humphrys has had a remarkable career as a journalist, steering the coverage of stories and issues that have defined multiple generations of British life. If the country has a pulse, John Humphrys is the man whose finger is firmly on it.In Devil''s Advocate, Humphrys draws on his immense experience to detail the huge, sweeping changes that have overtaken Britain during his career. From the thorny geopolitical questions of the UK''s relationship with Europe and America to the subtler ways our national social and moral values have changed, Humphrys sees a deep unease at the heart of a divided union, and identifies what truly links us all: consumer populism.As our lives and media become increasingly commercialised, the fabric of daily life begins toTrade ReviewOne of the most brilliant journalists in the country * Daily Mail *Peerless reporting ... sharp and instructive ... wonderfully acidic about people when he thinks they deserve it * Observer *A national institution * Sunday Times *Playing devil's advocate is the function he performs better than anyone else anywhere ... an excellent and amusing read * New Statesman *Written from the battlefield ... Humphrys has written an important book * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisAlthough very little is known for certain about Pontius Pilate, the man who crucified Christ, this has not stopped writers in every age from imagining his life. This is also the story of the man Pilate might have been; Ann Wroe shows how, in his struggles with fate and free will, Pilate's story has also become the story of ourselves.Trade ReviewThe touch of a master novelist... Few have ever explored so imaginatively, or with such passionate attention to detail' * Sunday Telegraph *Because so little is known, it is possible to speculate endlessly. If one's mind is a brilliant engine of speculation like Wroe's, then one is dazzlingly equipped to do so. Her book is excellent and discloses an intense imaginative sympathy, a lyricism, and a fine-tuned psychological perception * Daily Express *Wroe is a creative, even a beautiful writer... It is a wonderfully enjoyable, rich, generous book -- A.N.Wilson * Daily Mail *Extraordinary and compelling -- Victoria Glendinning * Daily Telegraph *She manages always to keep Pilate living and breathing in the text, and occasionally kicking and screaming * Independent on Sunday *

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Book Synopsisonly after childhood ended was he aware of the price the adults had paid for life in this most romantic of settings.Navigating family tensions and the trials of growing up, Will describes the close-knit community of North Yorkshire and his family's place within it: the shepherd probing the head-high snowdrifts for his flock;Trade ReviewA love letter to a family defined by a desire to make beauty and a gift for telling stories. The Wolf Pit has more quietly desperate heroism than any book I’ve ever read. -- Brian Morton * Sunday Herald *Persuasive, atmospheric writing. A love letter to a past world * Sunday Times *Bittersweet * The Times *The book takes on an existential desire to understand who we really are * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThe sensational second volume of Charles Moore''s bestselling authorized biography of the Iron LadyIn June 1983 Margaret Thatcher won the biggest increase in a government''s Parliamentary majority in British electoral history. Over the next four years, as Charles Moore relates in this central volume of his uniquely authoritative biography, Britain''s first woman prime minister changed the course of her country''s history and that of the world, often by sheer force of will.The book reveals as never before how she faced down the Miners'' Strike, transformed relations with Europe, privatized the commanding heights of British industry and continued the reinvigoration of the British economy. It describes her role on the world stage with dramatic immediacy, identifying Mikhail Gorbachev as ''a man to do business with'' before he became leader of the Soviet Union, and then persistently pushing him and Ronald Reagan, her great ideological soulmate, to order world affaTrade ReviewOne of the great biographical achievements of our times. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *This is a magnificent piece of work, and when he has completed it with the third volume, Moore will have done the justice she deserves to a great Prime Minister. -- William Waldegrave * Evening Standard *Moore's project is a study of detailed depth, and fine and transparent judgements, which rises to the largeness of a figure and a time that were of world significance. -- John Lloyd * FT *An awesomely thorough and authoritative portrait ... the definitive explanation of the strange person who most shaped modern Britain. -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThese nine biographies illuminate the careers, personalities and military campaigns of some of Rome''s greatest statesmen, whose lives span the earliest days of the Republic to the establishment of the Empire. Selected from Plutarch''s Roman Lives, they include prominent figures who achieved fame for their pivotal roles in Roman history, such as soldierly Marcellus, eloquent Cato and cautious Fabius. Here too are vivid portraits of ambitious, hot-tempered Coriolanus; objective, principled Brutus and open-hearted Mark Anthony, who would later be brought to life by Shakespeare. In recounting the lives of these great leaders, Plutarch also explores the problems of statecraft and power and illustrates the Roman people''s genius for political compromise, which led to their mastery of the ancient world.Table of ContentsMakers of RomeIntroduction1. Coriolanus2. Fabius Maximus3. Macellus4. Cato the Elder5. Tiberius Gracchus6. Gaius Gracchus7. Sertorius8. Brutus9. Mark AntonyAppendixMaps

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Book SynopsisThis compelling Icelandic history describes the life of King Harald Hardradi, from his battles across Europe and Russia to his final assault on England in 1066, less than three weeks before the invasion of William the Conqueror. It was a battle that led to his death and marked the end of an era in which Europe had been dominated by the threat of Scandinavian forces. Despite England's triumph, it also played a crucial part in fatally weakening the English army immediately prior to the Norman Conquest, changing the course of history. Taken from the Heimskringla—Snorri Sturluson's complete account of Norway from prehistoric times to 1177—this is a brilliantly human depiction of the turbulent life and savage death of the last great Norse warrior-king.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works thr

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Book Synopsis'The Admiral was quite certain that they were near land ... He promised to give a silk doublet to the first sailor who should report it'No gamble in history has been more momentous than the landfall of Columbus's ship the Santa Maria in the Americas in 1492 - an event that paved the way for the conquest of a 'New World'. The accounts collected here provide a vivid narrative of his voyages throughout the Caribbean and finally to the mainland of Central America, although he still believed he had reached Asia. Columbus himself is revealed as a fascinating and contradictory figure, fluctuating from awed enthusiasm to paranoia and eccentric geographical speculation. Prey to petty quarrels with his officers, his pious desire to bring Christian civilization to 'savages' matched by his rapacity for gold, Columbus was nonetheless an explorer and seaman of staggering vision and achievement.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literTable of ContentsIntroductionFIRST VOYAGE: 1492–3General and Natural History of the Indies by Captain Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo, Bk. II, Chaps. 2–4Digest of Columbus's Log-Book on his First Voyage Made by Bartolome de las CasasThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 27–42Letter of Columbus to Various Persons Describing the Results of His First Voyage and Written on the Return JourneySECOND VOYAGE: 1493–6The Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chap. 43The Letter Written by Dr Chanca to the City of SevilleThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 51–64THIRD VOYAGE: 1498–1500The Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chap. 65Narrative of the Third Voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Indies, in which He Discovered the Mainland, Dispatched to the Sovereigns from the Island of HispaniolaThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 73–80 and 82–6Letter Sent by the Admiral of the Indies to the Governess of Don Juan of Castile in the year 1500, in which He Was Brought from the Indies a PrisonerThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chaps. 86 (cont.)–87FOURTH VOYAGE: 1502–4Letter Written by Christopher Columbus, Viceroy and Admiral of the Indies, to the Most Christian and Mighty King and Queen of Spain, Our SovereignsAccount by Diego Mendez of Certain Incidents on Christopher Columbus's Last VoyageThe Life of the Admiral by his Son, Hernando Colon, Chap. 108LIST OF MAPSThe Four VoyagesThe First VoyageThe Second Voyage (First Map)The Second Voyage (Second Map)The Third VoyageThe Fourth Voyage

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Book SynopsisFriedrich Engels is one of the most attractive and contradictory figures of the nineteenth century. Born to a prosperous mercantile family in west Germany, he spent his career working in the Manchester cotton industry, riding to the Cheshire hounds, and enjoying the comfortable, middle-class life of a Victorian gentleman. Yet Engels was also the co-founder of international communism - the philosophy which in the 20th century came to control one third of the human race. He was the co-author of The Communist Manifesto, a ruthless party tactician, and the man who sacrificed his best years so Karl Marx could write Das Kapital. Tristram Hunt relishes the diversity and exuberance of Engels''s era: how one of the great bon viveurs of Victorian Britain reconciled his raucous personal life with this uncompromising political philosophy.Trade ReviewBeautifully written and consistently engaging * Independent *An excellent book ... Hunt has a mastery of 19th-century British culture and European political thought -- Robert Service * Sunday Times *Thoughtful and engaging * Telegraph Review *

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Book SynopsisTrade Reviewoutstanding ... Otte's colossal, learned and measured book presents a powerful case for the defence ... It is true that Grey failed to avert war, but probably nobody could have succeeded. As Otte's excellent book shows, he did his best. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *No biography of Grey has ever been so thorough and scholarly as this -- Simon Heffer * Sunday Telegraph *If you read just one book of history this Christmas, it should be T.G. Otte's re-evaluation in Statesman of Europe: A Life of Sir Edward Grey. This beautifully written biography of one of the most humane, perceptive and intelligent diplomats is a wistful reminder of what Britain might have been like if Lloyd George had not destroyed the Liberal party. -- Jonathan Sumption * Spectator Books of the Year *a magisterial account that is unlikely to be bettered -- Martin Pugh * Times Literary Supplement *T.G. Otte's Statesman of Europe: A Life of Sir Edward Grey is magnificent - its depth of analysis formidable and its humanity moving. -- Allan Mallinson * Spectator Books of the Year *a very well written and comprehensive ... This scholarly, readable and objective book will be the standard biography of Sir Edward Grey for decades to come. It triumphantly gives him his proper desserts as an eminent Edwardian gentleman who did his best to save his country from what he knew would be a catastrophic war -- Andrew Roberts * The Critic *In Statesman of Europe T.G. Otte brings Grey to the fore, presenting his life as "a useful prism through which the disruptions that produced modern Britain are thrown into sharper relief." Along the way, he takes up questions of crisis management and great-power rivalry that are still pressing today ... Otte, a leading British historian of diplomacy, emphasizes the complexity of Grey's personality along with the complexity of the problems he tried to manage ... . Otte, a deft chronicler and shrewd analyst, makes a strong case for Edward Grey as a great statesman-not least in his pursuit of what we would today call multilateralism -- William Anthony Hay * Wall Street Journal *In Statesman of Europe - the first full biography for half a century - T. G. Otte offers a sensitive and elegant portrait of our longest-serving foreign secretary (11 years on the trot): a politician whose principled pragmatism and sense of civic duty strike an appealing, if elegiac, note in 2020. -- David Reynolds * New Statesman Books of the Year *Thomas Otte, in this compendious and elegant biography, paints a portrait of a deeply moral, patient and conscientious figure who did not love the world of high politics, but felt it his duty to pursue a role in public life and did so for 48 years. ... Otte's is a rich and rounded portrait of Grey, whom he restore[s] to his place as a humane and dutiful Liberal politician of the old school -- Paul Lay * The Times *This book is a reading for our times. It is a stalwart defence of politics as the careful, sensitive and pragmatic management of constant change, and of political history as an education in these truths ... it makes a significant mark. -- Jonathan Parry * London Review of Books *an outstanding biography, beautifully written, richly documented and persuasively argued ... Otte has given us a superb biography of this important figure. Statesman of Europe is sub-titled A Life of Sir Edward Grey. For the foreseeable future it is likely to be the life of Sir Edward Grey. -- David Dutton * Journal of Liberal History *Otte has already made a name for himself with a series of books and publications on British foreign policy, and this biography, Statesman of Europe (2020), can be regarded as the provisional crown on his work. -- Beatrice de Graaf * NRC Handelsblad *Edward Grey belonged to an era when British foreign policy carried global consequences. Most importantly, in July 1914 he led international efforts to forestall war. In T.G.Otte, Grey has found a historian whose fluency, scholarship and empathy match his subject's principled and pragmatic diplomacy. Otte unravels Grey's enigmas - his marriage, his preference for rural life over politics and above all his thinking on war and peace. In Statesman of Europe, now much the fullest and most authoritative account of Grey's life, he has brought to the man the poise and balance that Grey sought for his country. -- Sir Hew Strachen

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of Alexander Hamilton, the New York Times bestselling biography that inspired the musical, comes a gripping portrait of the first president of the United States.Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Biography“Truly magnificent . . . [a] well-researched, well-written and absolutely definitive biography” —Andrew Roberts, The Wall Street Journal“Until recently, I’d never believed that there could be such a thing as a truly gripping biography of George Washington . . . Well, I was wrong. I can’t recommend it highly enough—as history, as epic, and, not least, as entertainment.” —Hendrik Hertzberg, The New YorkerCelebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation and the first president of the United States. With a breadth and depth matched by no othTrade Review“Truly magnificent . . . [a] well-researched, well-written and absolutely definitive biography” —Andrew Roberts, The Wall Street Journal“Superb . . . the best, most comprehensive, and most balanced single-volume biography of Washington ever written. [Chernow’s] understanding of human nature is extraordinary and that is what makes his biography so powerful.” —Gordon S. Wood, The New York Review of Books“Chernow displays a breadth of knowledge about Washington that is nothing short of phenomenal… never before has Washington been rendered so tangibly in such a smart, tenaciously researched volume as Chernow's opus . . . a riveting read . . .” —Douglas Brinkley, The Los Angeles Times“Until recently, I’d never believed that there could be such a thing as a truly gripping biography of George Washington . . . Well, I was wrong. Ron Chernow’s huge (900 pages) Washington: A Life, which I’ve just finished, does all that and more. I can’t recommend it highly enough—as history, as epic, and, not least, as entertainment. It’s as luxuriantly pleasurable as one of those great big sprawling, sweeping Victorian novels.” —Hendrik Hertzberg, The New Yorker“[Ron Chernow] has done justice to the solid flesh, the human frailty and the dental miseries of his subject—and also to his immense historical importance . . . This is a magnificently fair, full-scale biography.” —The Economist

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Book SynopsisThe Founding Fathers is a concise, accessible overview of the brilliant, flawed, and quarrelsome group of lawyers, politicians, merchants, military men, and clergy known as the Founding Fathers--who got as close to the ideal of the Platonic philosopher-kings as American or world history has ever seen. R. B. Bernstein reveals Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, and the other founders not as shining demigods but as imperfect human beings--people much like us--who nevertheless achieved political greatness. They emerge here as men who sought to transcend their intellectual world even as they were bound by its limits, men who strove to lead the new nation even as they had to defer to the great body of the people and learn with them the possibilities and limitations of politics. Bernstein deftly traces the dynamic forces that molded these men and their contemporaries as British colonists in North America and as intellectual citizens of the Atlantic civilization''s Age of Enlightenment. He analyzes the American Revolution, the framing and adoption of state and federal constitutions, and the key concepts and problems that both shaped and circumscribed the founders'' achievements as the United States sought its place in the world. Finally, he charts the shifting reputations of the founders and examines the specific ways that interpreters of the Constitution have used the Founding Fathers. A masterly blend of old and new scholarship, brimming with apt description and insightful analysis, this book offers a digestible account of how the Founding Fathers were formed, what they did, and how generations of Americans have viewed them.Table of ContentsPreface ; 1 Words, Images, Meanings ; 2 Contexts: The History That Made the Founding Fathers ; 3 Achievements and Challenges: The History the Founding Fathers Made ; 4 Legacies: What History Has Made of the Founding Fathers ; Epilogue: The Founding Fathers, History, and Us ; Chronology ; Appendix ; References ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisGandhi (1869-1948) was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts. During his time as a lawyer in South Africa he developed his strategy of non-violence: the idea of opposing unjust laws by non-violent protest, which he made the basis of his successful struggle against British rule in India.In this Very Short Introduction to Gandhi''s life and thought, Bhikhu Parekh outlines both Gandhi''s major philosophical insights and the limitations of his thought. He looks at Gandhi''s cosmocentric anthropology, his spiritual view of politics, his unique form of liberal communitarianism, and his theories of oppression, non-violent action, and active citizenship. He also considers how the success of Gandhi''s principles was limited by his lack of coherent theories of evil, and of state and power, and how his hostility to modern civilization impeded his appreciation of its complexity.Gandhi''s life and thought has had an enormous impact both within and outside India, and he continues to be widely revered, as one of the greatest moral and political leaders of the twentieth century.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ; 1. Life and Work ; 2. Religious thought ; 3. Human Nature ; 4. Satyagraha ; 5. The Critique of Modernity ; 6. The Vision of a Non-Violent Society ; 7. Critical Appreciation ; Glossary ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisFrom one of the country''s most distinguished journalists, a revisionist and riveting look at the American politician whom history has judged a loser, yet who played a key part in the greatest social movement of the 20th century.During one sweltering week in July 1948, the Democratic Party gathered in Philadelphia for its national convention. The most pressing and controversial issue facing the delegates was not whom to nominate for president -the incumbent, Harry Truman, was the presumptive candidate -but whether the Democrats would finally embrace the cause of civil rights and embed it in their official platform. Even under Franklin Roosevelt, the party had dodged the issue in order to keep a bloc of Southern segregationiststhe so-called Dixiecratsin the New Deal coalition.On the convention''s final day, Hubert Humphrey, just 37 and the relatively obscure mayor of the midsized city of Minneapolis, ascended the podium. Defying Truman''s own desire to occupy the middle ground, HumphreyTrade ReviewA strong step in rehabilitating Humphrey's image as a practical politician and civil rights activist. * Kirkus Reviews *At the 1948 Democratic Convention, Hubert Humphrey implored the Party and nation to make civil rights the cause of the 20th century. Samuel Freedman's insightful book provides a critical account of not only Humphrey's path to that moment but also of the Minneapolis leaders and activists who fought for justice in Minnesota and who shaped the man who would become one of our nation's greatest champions for equality. Freedman's book reminds us that while so much progress has been made, all of us must continue to walk 'towards that bright sunshine of human rights.' * Senator Amy Klobuchar *Sam Freedman's work consistently elevates the craft of writing and Into the Bright Sunshine is no exception. His characteristically graceful prose and meticulous research illuminate not only Hubert Humphrey's life but the promise and peril of his political moment. The result is an adroit chronicle of a giant obscured by the passage of time and a key entry in the history of American liberalism and the roots of its current predicament. * Jelani Cobb *Into The Bright Sunshine accomplishes that rare triumph of being two books at once: Freedman has crafted both a definitive biography of Hubert Humphrey so vivid that we can almost hear H.H's heart thump on the page, as well as a rigorous investigation into the moral, spiritual and political forces that have shaped the best of liberalism in America. * Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Amity and Prosperity *In a lively, eloquent, deeply human way, Samuel Freedman brings his lifelong passion for social justice to a key turning point in our still-unfinished battle for true equality. Even people like me who disagreed with Hubert Humphrey over Vietnam will come away from this book with a deepened respect for the man who dragged his reluctant party to take a stand for civil rights. * Adam Hochschild *Samuel Freedman, one of the great chroniclers of modern America, provides us with a fascinating history of racial liberalism in Cold War America, unpacking the origin story of Hubert Humphrey's pathbreaking speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention. Capturing a pivotal moment in the history of civil rights politics, Freedman's book is a significant contribution to the literature on American politics. * Julian Zelizer, author of The Fierce Urgency of Now *Freedman enlarges the reader's understanding of Humphrey while also offering vivid, rich, and unsettling details about politics, society, racism, and antisemitism in mid-twentieth-century America...An illuminating look at an important yet overlooked facet of American history. * John Rowen, Booklist *Compelling...Freedman offers an intimate and fine-grained depiction of Humphrey's early life and fledgling political career, as well as a revealing portrait of Minneapolis, a city of both gut-wrenching racism and creative civil rights initiatives. * Aram Goudsouzian, The Washington Post *Table of ContentsPrologue: Destiny's Crosshairs (1977) Chapter One: Beyond the Meridian (1922-1931) Chapter Two: Horse-high, Hog-tight, Bull-strong (1931-1936) Chapter Three: A Path Lit by Women (1933-1939) Chapter Four: The Silken Curtain and the Silver Shirt (1934-1939) Chapter Five: The Jim Crow Car (1939-1940) Chapter Six: Voice and Vessel (1941-1945) Chapter Seven: An Inventory of the Soul (1945-1947) Chapter Eight: The City of Brotherly Strife (Spring and Summer 1948) Chapter Nine: "A Drowning Man Wants to be Saved" (Fall 1948) Epilogue: Unfinished Business (1965-2020)

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Book SynopsisThis Very Short Introduction provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte''s character and career, situating him firmly in historical context.David Bell emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become absolute master of Europe''s most powerful country. In his early forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell emphasizes the importance of the French Revolution in understanding Napoleon''s career. The revolution made possible the unprecedented concentration of political authority that Napoleon accrued, and his success in mobilizing human and material resources. Without the political changes brought about by the revolution, Napoleon could not have fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held onto power. Though his virtual dictatorship betrayed the ideals of liberty and equality, his life and career were revolutionary.Table of ContentsList of illustrationsIntroduction1. The Corsican, 1769-17962. The General, 1796-17993. The First Consul, 1799-18044. The Emperor, 1804-18125. Downfall, 1812-1815Epilogue: 1815-2015ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisBiography is one of the most popular, best-selling, and widely-read of literary genres. But why do certain people and historical events arouse so much interest? How can biographies be compared with history and works of fiction? Does a biography need to be true? Is it acceptable to omit or conceal things? Does the biographer need to personally know the subject? Must a biographer be subjective? In this Very Short Introduction Hermione Lee considers the cultural and historical background of different types of biographies, looking at the factors that affect biographers and whether there are different strategies, ethics, and principles required for writing about one person compared to another. She also considers contemporary biographical publications and considers what kind of ''lives'' are the most popular and in demand. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewIt would be hard to think of anyone better to provide a crisp contribution to OUP's Very Short Introductions. * Kathryn Hughes, The Guardian *A sophisticated overview for the general reader. * Andrew Lycett, Literary Review *Enjoyable book on the subject. * Henry Power, TLS *Table of Contents1. The Biography Channel ; 2. Exemplary Lives ; 3. Warts and All ; 4. National Biography ; 5. Fallen Idols ; 6. Against Biography ; 7. Public Roles ; 8. Telling the Story

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Book SynopsisIn this coloful, absorbing tale of Nelson''s life on and off the high seas, Hibbert illuminates the admiral''s personality, his personal and political friendships, his relationship with Sir William Hamilton, and his passionate love affair with Hamilton''s wife, the beautiful Lady Emma, daughter of a blacksmith and once a London prostitute. Whether quarreling with royalty, wooing beautiful women around the world, or winning history''s most famous sea battles, Hibbert''s irascible Nelson is a character for all times.Table of Contents* Burnham Thorpe * Chatham, the Arctic and the West Indies * The Mosquito Shore * The North American Station * France and the Leeward Islands * The Island of Nevis * Norfolk * The Mediterranean * The Palazzo Sessa * Corsica * Cape St Vincent * Cadiz and Tenerife * Bath, London and Toulon * Ab Qr * Naples * Naples * Palazzo Reale * Palermo * The Bay of Naples * The Colli Palace * Germany * London and Fonthill * The Channel * The Kattegat * Copenhagen * The Thames Valley and Boulogne * Merton Place * The West Country * Surrey * The Victory * Return to Merton * Portsmouth * The Atlantic Approaches * Trafalgar * Mourning * St Pauls * The Fate of Characters Whose End Is Not Recorded in the Text

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Book SynopsisThis collection brings together nearly all of the writings of Queen Elizabeth I from childhood letters to the prayers of her later years. The anthology reveals a leading intellect of the English Renaissance and an intimate portrait of the brilliant Virgin Queen.Trade Review"This collection shines a light onto the character and experience of one of the most interesting of monarchs.... [W]e are likely never to get a closer or clearer look at her. An intriguing and intense portrait of a woman who figures so importantly in the birth of our modern world." - Publishers Weekly; "An admirable scholarly edition of the queen's literary output.... This anthology will excite scholars of Elizabethan history, but there is something here for all of us who revel in the English language." - John Cooper, Washington Times; "Substantial, scholarly, but accessible.... An invaluable work of reference." - Patrick Collinson, London Review of Books; "In a single extraordinary volume... Marcus and her coeditors have collected the Virgin Queen's letters, speeches, poems and prayers.... [A]n impressive, heavily footnoted volume." - Library Journal; "This excellent anthology of [Elizabeth's] speeches, poems, prayers and letters demonstrates her virtuosity and affords the reader a penetrating insight into her 'wiles and understandings." - Anne Somerset, New Statesman; "Here then is the only trustworthy collection of the various genres of Elizabeth's writings.... [A] fine edition which will be indispensable to all those interested in Elizabeth I and her reign." - Susan Doran, History "In the torrent of words about her, the queen's own words have been hard to find....[This] volume is a major scholarly achievement that makes Elizabeth's mind much more accessible than before....[A] verltable feast of material in different genres." - David Norbrook, The New Republic

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Book SynopsisA new translation of a great historical epic, recounting the turbulent life and times of Chinggis Khan'Bear the sword andHew asunder high and haughty necksSlash apart all strong and self-willed shoulders'Born poor into a world of dangers and hardships, Chinggis (or Genghis) Khan would grow up to unify Mongolia and conquer a vast empire stretching from modern-day Beijing to Baghdad. The Secret History of the Mongols, written after Chinggis's death in the thirteenth century, is a great historical saga recounting not only his turbulent life and times, but that of his loved ones, ancestors and heirs. This remarkable new translation of the earliest surviving work written in Mongolian gives insight into a world of warlords, kinship, horses, yurts, shamans and vast landscapes, where bloody battles and violent family conflicts are impelled by Heaven's destiny. Translated with an introduction by Christopher P. AtwoodTrade ReviewThe Secret History of the Mongols describes in vivid detail the life and times of Chinggis Khan, not as an enemy, but as the Mongols saw themselves … This translation is a monumental event, a publishing landmark … Christopher Atwood has given the reader a translation for contemporary times. It is like a caravanserai, providing the materials needed for both scholar and general reader, organized for one's private trek through the empire. -- Diane Wolff, author of The Silk Road SeriesThis is an important book… a contemporaneous record of one of the most astonishing and significant events in history… Atwood’s text is a masterpiece of erudition and skill… a vital resource for anyone interested in the biggest bang of the last millennium. -- John Man * Literary Review *I was thrilled that Penguin Classics published a new translation of The Secret History of the Mongols by Christopher P Atwood. It’s a spectacular text and a wonderful edition that I will be wrapping several copies of. -- Peter Frankopan * The Guardian Books of the Year *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction1. The Influence of the Secret History and its Preservation 2. The World of the Secret History 3. Date and Authorship 4. Title, Genre, Composition 5. Mongolian Terms and their Translation Note on Spellings and Pronunciation Note on Chapter, Sub-chapter and Section Divisions Figures Maps THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE MONGOLS1: The Origin of Chinggis Khan 2: The Youth of Chinggis Khan 3: The Early Battles of Chinggis Khan 4: Chinggis Khan and Ong Khan 5: Completing the Unification of Mongolia 6: The New Regime 7: The Foreign Conquests 8: The Reign of Ökodei KhannColophon Afterword: The Transmission and Translation ofthe Secret History Appendix A: Alternative Mouse Year Theories and the Question of the Secret History’s Unity Appendix B: Socio-political Organization of the Pre-Chinggisid Mongols Appendix C: The New Aristocracy under Chinggis Khan Appendix D: Chronologies of the Foreign Conquests Bibliography Notes Glossary of Names

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, ALSO AVAILABLE FOR YOUNG READERS AS FRITZ AND KURTDAILY MAIL & SUNDAY EXPRESS BOOKS OF THE YEARThe inspiring true story of a father and son''s fight to stay together and survive the Holocaust, for anyone captivated by The Cut Out Girl and The Tattooist of Auschwitz''A powerful and often uncomfortable true story that deserves to be read and remembered. It beautifully captures the strength of the bond between a father and son'' Heather Morris, author of New York Times no. 1 bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz_______Even in darkness, love brings hope.Gustav and Fritz Kleinmann are father and son in an ordinary Austrian Jewish family when the Nazis come for them.Sent to Buchenwald concentration camp in 1939 they survive three years of murderous brutality.Then Gustav is ordered to Auschwitz. FritzTrade ReviewAn emotionally devastating story of courage - and survival * i *An extraordinary tale * The Times (Best Books of 2019) *The almost unbelievable true story of Fritz Kleinman, who volunteered to follow his father, Gustav, into Auschwitz. It's a terrible and dramatic account of the humiliations and evils suffered by Jews in concentration camps and a moving testimony to the bond between fathers and sons * The Times *The inspiring true story of Gustav and Fritz Kleinmann, an Austrian father and son who managed to survive internments in concentration camps from Buchenwald to Auschwitz. Dronfield draws extensively on Gustav's diary, allowing us inside the incredible bond between father and son that kept them together through harrowing experiences, and, like all the best narrative nonfiction, the story is both immersive and extraordinary. Deeply moving and brimming with humanity. * Guardian *A deeply humane account. This book could not be more timely and deserves the widest possible readership * Daily Express *An absolutely extraordinary story. It is the greatest father and son story I've ever come across in my life * Dan Snow *Extraordinary * Observer *We should all read this shattering book about the Holocaust. An astonishing story of the unbreakable bond between a father and a son. Brilliantly researched and written with searing clarity * Daily Mail *An extraordinary tale of endurance and filial love. It is a miraculous story with many twists and Dronfield tells it well in an energetic and lively style * The Times *A unique story of defiance and hope amid the genocide * Daily Mail *Extraordinary . . . an affecting father-and-son tale * The Times *A defiant record of a horrific experience * Blouin Artinfo *A devastating yet extraordinary account * Eastern Daily Press *Through the horrors, there was one constant that kept them alive; the love between father and son. Gustav's secret diary and meticulous archive research, tell this story for the first time * Sunday Express *Based upon meticulous research, this book tells of the Kleinmann familly and the love and courage of a son for his father * Clare Champion *This book tells their extraordinary tale of surviving five and a half years in Nazi prison camps * The Times, 100 Best Books for Summer *Brilliantly written, vivid, a powerful and often uncomfortable true story that deserves to be read and remembered. It beautifully captures the strength of the bond between a father and son * Heather Morris, author of The New York Times bestselling The Tattooist of Auschwitz *

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Book Synopsis**Formerly published as The Lost Boys**''Remarkable. A powerful, engrossing story of a journey into the heart of darkness and final escape from it'' Sunday TimesIn September, 1944, the SS march into a remote Italian castle, arrest a mother and seize her two sons, aged just two and three. If Hitler has his way she will never see them again. For Fey Pirzio-Biroli is the daughter of Ulrich von Hassell, executed days before after the failed assassination of the Fuhrer. Mercilessly cast into the Nazi death machine, Fey must cling to the hope that one day she will escape and rescue her lost children . . .''Riveting, important, reads like a terrifying thriller'' Daily Telegraph''Heartbreaking. It started with a plot to kill Hitler. It ended in one of the most astonishing and moving stories of the war'' Daily Mail''Extraordinary. A rich, deep, gripping read'' Guardian''AsTrade ReviewTo say that Catherine Bailey makes history come alive is such a cliché and yet it's so true, she is absolutely one of my favourite writers * Kate Atkinson *Bailey has an extraordinary talent for bringing history to life and The Lost Boys is as thrilling as any novel * Daily Mail *Extraordinary. A rich and deep portrait. . . a gripping read * Guardian *Riveting, important, reads like a terrifying thriller. So harrowing there were moments I had to put the book down. Bailey has an extraordinary ability to penetrate right to the heart of a family and uncover painful stories * Daily Telegraph *Bailey has a knack for bringing characters to life . . . Fascinating * Times *A brilliant analysis of senseless cruelty, and an inspiring account of how hope can still triumph over all odds * Julian Fellowes *

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Book SynopsisThe life of trailblazing physicist Mildred Dresselhaus, who expanded our understanding of the physical world.As a girl in New York City in the 1940s, Mildred “Millie” Dresselhaus was taught that there were only three career options open to women: secretary, nurse, or teacher. But sneaking into museums, purchasing three-cent copies of National Geographic, and devouring books on the history of science ignited in Dresselhaus (1930–2017) a passion for inquiry. In Carbon Queen, science writer Maia Weinstock describes how, with curiosity and drive, Dresselhaus defied expectations and forged a career as a pioneering scientist and engineer. Dresselhaus made highly influential discoveries about the properties of carbon and other materials and helped reshape our world in countless ways—from electronics to aviation to medicine to energy. She was also a trailblazer for women in STEM and a beloved educator, mentor, and colleague. Her

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking theoretical physicist traces his career, reflecting on the successes and failures, triumphs and insecurities of a life cut short by cancer.The groundbreaking theoretical physicist Joseph Polchinski explained the genesis of his memoir this way: “Having only two bodies of knowledge, myself and physics, I decided to write an autobiography about my development as a theoretical physicist.” In this posthumously published account of his life and work, Polchinski (1954–2018) describes successes and failures, triumphs and insecurities, and the sheer persistence that led to his greatest discoveries. Writing engagingly and accessibly, with the wry humor for which he was known, Polchinski gives theoretical physics a very human face. Polchinski, famous for his contributions to string theory, may have changed the course of modern theoretical physics, but he was a late bloomer—doing most of his important work after the age of forty.

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Book SynopsisThis title paints a portrait of Henry I, son of William the Conqueror. The author vividly describes Henry's life and reign in a time of fundamental change in the Anglo-Norman world.Trade Review"The product of a lifetime's research, a monument to its author's scholarship and teaching alike, this book gives us a Henry I to relish as well as to reconsider... thorough and readable." T.N. Bisson, English Historical Review "A deeply learned, readable, and witty biography, which provides a new assessment of an important reign... a marvelous book." Marjorie Chibnall, Albion "A magisterial biography." Publishers Weekly "A work of outstanding scholarship." Fred A. Cazel, History: Reviews of New Books "A valuable volume, destined to be the standard biography." Expository Times

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Book SynopsisA compelling biography of Sheikh Abdullah, the charismatic, combative, and controversial Kashmiri politician

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Book SynopsisBestselling account of the life of a real Horatio HornblowerThe life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, later 10th Earl of Dundonald, was more extraordinary than that of Nelson, more far fetched than that of Hornblower or Patrick O''Brien''s Jack Aubrey. Born the son of an eccentric and indigent Scottish peer, he entered the Royal Navy in 1793. In a series of outstanding and heroic actions, often against seemingly overwhelming odds, he made his name fighting Napoleon''s navy as one of the most dashing and daring frigate captains of his day, before embarking on a career as a mercenary admiral.

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Book Synopsis''One of the best half-dozen personal accounts of the Normandy campaign'' - Richard HolmesStuart Hills embarked his Sherman DD tank on to an LCT at 6.45 a.m., Sunday 4 June 1944. He was 20 years old, unblooded, fresh from a public-school background and Officer Cadet training. He was going to war. Two days later, his tank sunk, he and his crew landed from a rubber dinghy with just the clothes they stood in. After that, the struggles through the Normandy bocage in a replacement tank (of the non-swimming variety), engaging the enemy in a constant round of close encounters, led to a swift mastering of the art of tank warfare and remarkable survival in the midst of carnage and destruction. His story of that journey through hell to victory makes for compulsive reading.

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Book SynopsisThe recently discovered journal of William Ray of the Seventh Wisconsin is the most important primary source ever of soldier life in one of the war''s most famous fighting organizations. No other collection of letters or diaries comes close to it.Two days before his regiment left Wisconsin in 1861, the twenty-three-year-old blacksmith began, as he described it, to keep account of his life in what became the Iron Brigade of the West. Ray''s journal encompasses all aspects of the enlisted man''s life-the battles, the hardships, the comradeship. And Ray saw most of the war from the front rank. He was wounded at Second Bull Run, again at Gettysburg, and yet a third time in the hell of the Wilderness. He penned something in his journal almost every day-occasionally just a few lines, at other times thousands of words. Ray''s candid assessments of officers and strategy, his vivid descriptions of marches and the fighting, and his evocative tales of foraging and daily army life fill a large gap

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Book SynopsisFrom an award-winning former law enforcement park ranger and investigator, this female-driven true crime adventure follows the author's quest to find missing hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail by pairing up with an eclectic group of unlikely allies.

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