Biography: adventurers and explorers Books
The History Press Ltd The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody
Book SynopsisJust what was so great about Peter, Catherine, Frederick and Alexander? What did Cleopatra see to admire in the fat man with a beard, Mark Anthony? Why do people suffer from Montezuma''s revenge? This light-hearted romp through history sets off with the conundrum of the two Egyptians, carrying on to explore the Strange Bedfellows of Attila the Hun, Charlemagne and Lady Godiva, ending up in Merrie and the roamings of Christopher Columbus, et al. It is a journey through the annals of history with the heroes and villains of the past as your fellow travellers: Lucretia Borgia, Lady Godiva, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and George III. Will Cuppy''s profiles of the good and the great make you realise that the truth of history is far stranger than the fiction!
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co Rasputin The Last Word
Book SynopsisSensational new biography - using the discovery of long lost contemporary documents - of the Russian peasant mystic whose malign influence helped lead to the downfall of the Romanovs.An unprecedented insight into the most enigmatic of men thanks to the use of previously unavailable sources and interviews.
£15.29
Transworld Publishers Ltd Genghis Khan
Book SynopsisJohn Man is a historian and traveller with special interests in Mongolia and the history of written communication. His GOBI: TRACKING THE DESERT was the first book on the subject since the 1920s. He is also the author of THE ATLAS OF THE YEAR 1000, a portrait of the world at the turn of the millennium, ALPHA BETA, on the roots of the alphabet, and THE GUTENBERG REVOLUTION, an examination of the origins and impact of printing.His most recent book is GENGHIS KHAN. He lives in London.Trade ReviewAbsorbing and beautifully written...he [Man] conjures up an ancient people in an alien landscape in such a way as to make them live...a thrilling account * GUARDIAN *First-rate...lively and argued with elan...a fine introduction to the subject, as well as a rattling good read * INDEPENDENT *A fine, well-written and well-researched book * MAIL ON SUNDAY *An eloquent account, not only of a fascinating historical figure and his people, but of the resonance of history itself * WBQ magazine *Enthralling and colourful * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *
£13.49
Little, Brown Book Group Becoming A Man
Book SynopsisHe grew up in a small town in New England in the 1950''s, watching lassie, going to church, getting straight A''s at school, a scholar destined for success. But he already had a secret, and his public life with family and friends was already a constant round of ventriloquism as he played the joker and pretended to be the same as everyone else. For Paul Monette was gay.BECOMING A MAN is about growing up gay, and about the tyranny and self denial of the closet - one man''s struggle, for half his life, to come out. From the white-bread 1950''s through the rebellious 1960''s to the self-creating 1970''s and beyond, it forms a passionately honest and unsparing account of the tortures of living a lie, a naked protrait of one man''s fight for freedom in a time of ignorance and bigotry.Trade ReviewA profound tale, wrenching as it is life-affirming, poetic as it is uncompromisingly real. * VILLAGE VOICE *A daring and heartbreaking memoir. * BOSTON GLOBE *Affirmative and ultimately celebratory. * NEW YORK TIMES *Everyone can learn about courage and self-discovery from BECOMING A MAN. * SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE *Searingly honest and lyrically beautiful...an unforgettable account of growing up gay in America. * Esquire *
£11.39
Vertebrate Publishing Ltd Freedom Climbers
Book SynopsisFreedom Climbers is the multi award-winning book by Bernadette McDonald, now available in the UK and Ireland thanks to Vertebrate Publishing. Freedom Climbers tells the story of the extraordinary Polish adventurers who emerged from under the blanket of oppression following the Second World War to become the world's leading Himalayan climbers. Although they lived in a war-ravaged landscape, with seemingly no hope of creating a meaningful life, these curious, motivated and skilled mountaineers built their own free-market economy under the very noses of their Communist bosses and climbed their way to liberation. At a time when Polish citizens were locked behind the Iron Curtain, these intrepid explorers found a way to travel the world in search of extreme adventure - to Alaska, South America and Europe, but mostly to the highest and most inspiring mountains of the world. To this end, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nepal became their second homes as they evolved into the toughest Himalayan climbers the world has ever known. In her most engaging book to date, renowned and award-winning author Bernadette McDonald weaves a passionate and literary tale of adventure, politics, suffering, death and - ultimately - inspiration.Trade ReviewOne of the most important mountaineering books to be written for many years. – Boardman Tasker Prize for Mountain LiteratureClimbers everywhere have much to l learn from this bold, tragic, ultimately magnificent story. – Grand Prize Winner, Banff Mountain Book FestivalA brilliantly crafted tale of mountain and political adventure that reveals a golden era in Himalayan climbing that was as glorious as it was tragic. – Sir Chris BoningtonThis important volume documents a defining chapter of Himalayan climbing history. – Reinhold MessnerPainstakingly researched and well crafted, this remarkable book acknowledges the significance of Polish mountaineers during the golden age of Himalayan exploration. Fascinating. – Andy Cave, author of Learning to BreatheMcDonald deserves special praise for bringing to light the stories of these remarkable men and women, and doing so in a manner that does honour to their memory. – Wade Davis, author of Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory and the Conquest of EverestA gripping read, bound to become a classic of mountain literature. – Maria Coffey, author of Explorers of the InfiniteTakes the reader from deep within Communist-controlled Poland and into the lonely, dramatic landscapes of the world's most formidable mountain ranges. – Jim Curran, author of High Achiever: The Life and Climbs of Chris BoningtonFreedom Climbers is a very enlightening and captivating look at the Polish climbing superstars. – Ed Viesturs, author of No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks
£12.34
Vintage Publishing Wild Mary The Life Of Mary Wesley
Book SynopsisMary Wesley published her first novel at seventy and went on to write a further nine bestsellers, including the legendary The Camomile Lawn, in a style best described as arsenic without the old lace. Many of her stories were inspired by her experiences during the Blitz, and by her marriages: the first to an aristocrat, a brief and conventional affair, and the second to a penniless writer she adored.A remarkable book about a remarkable woman, Patrick Marnham''s brilliantly researched and wonderfully impartial book disentangles truth from rumour, highlighting the links between Wesley''s real life and her fiction.Trade ReviewMuch of the fascination of Marnham's well-researched and admirably impartial book is that it reveals just how autobiographical Wesley's fiction was -- Miranda Seymour * Sunday Times *[A] fast-paced riveting biography -- Valerie Grove * The Times *A striking portrait not only of an amazing, if strange, woman but of an entire social class -- Rachel Cooke * Evening Standard *Unpicks the complicated web of deceits and half-truths that surrounded much of her life with wit, patience and skill, providing just the sort of compelling read that Wesley did in her novel * Independent *This biography is pure pleasure, a riveting, hilarious tragicomedy of manners... Marnham has disentangled truth from rumour, clarified the many connections between Wild Mary's rackety life and Mary Wesley's fiction, and produced a generous, unsentimental and intelligent portrait of a woman's life and times * Spectator *
£11.69
Eland Publishing Ltd Three Came Home
Book SynopsisWhen the Japanese take Borneo in 1942, Agnes Keith is captured and imprisoned with her two-year-old son. Fed on minimal rations, forced to work through recurrent bouts of malaria and fighting with rats for scraps of food, Agnes Keith's spirit never completely dies. Keeping notes on scraps of paper which she hides in her son's home-made toys or buries in tins, she records a mother's pain at watching her child go hungry and her poignant pride in his development within these strange confines. She also describes her captors in all their complexity. Colonel Suga, the camp commander, is an intelligent, highly educated man, at times her adversary, at others a strange ally in a distorted world.Trade Review"one of the most remarkable books you will ever read" John Carey, Sunday Times
£13.49
Yale University Press Why I Became an X Troop Commando
Book Synopsis
£10.44
John Wiley & Sons Inc Wyatt Earp
Book Synopsis"Quite impressive. I doubt if there has been or will be a more deeply researched and convincing account. " --Evan Connell, author Son of the Morning Star: Custer and the Little Bighorn "The book to end all Earp books--the most complete, and most meticulously researched.Trade Review"Forget what you saw at the movies-this biography of the legend of the Old West shows that the facts are more interesting than the legend."--The New York Times Book Review "The most thoughtful, well-researched, and comprehensive account that has been written about the development and career of an Old-West lawman."--The Tombstone Tumbleweed "The book to end all Earp books--the most complete, and most meticulously researched."--Jack Burrows, author of John Ringo: The Gunfighter Who Never Was "Quite impressive. I doubt if there has been or will be a more deeply researched and convincing account."--Evan Connell, author of The Sun of the Morning StarTable of ContentsCowtown Justice. A New Town, A New Badge. Murder and Madness. A March to Destiny. "I Think We Can Hang Them." Tombstone in Terror. Vendetta. Law versus Order. A Fight for Honor. The Last Frontiers. Long May His Story Be Told. Notes and Sources. Bibliography. Index.
£17.00
Little, Brown Book Group Two Lives
Book SynopsisTWO LIVES tells the remarkable story of Seth''s great uncle and aunt. His great uncle Shanti left India for medical school in Berlin in the 1930s and lodged with a German Jewish family. In the household was a daughter, Henny, who urged her mother ''not to take the blackie''. But a friendship developed and each managed to leave Germany and found their way to Britain as the Nazis rose to power. Shanti joined the army and lost his right arm at the battle of Monte Cassino, while Henny (whose family were to die in the camps) made a life for herself in her adopted country. After the war they married and lived the emigre life in north London where Shanti, despite the loss of his arm, became a much-loved dentist. During his own adolescence in England, Vikram Seth lived with Shanti and Henny and came to know and love them deeply. His is the third life in this story of TWO LIVES. This is also a book about history, encompassing as it does many of the most significant themes and events in the 20thTrade ReviewThis is an accomplished and profoundly moving work * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Written as an act of love and duty it is a testament to his modesty and familial affection. * SUNDAT TIMES *A fascinating and honest read. * TRIBUNE *Seth is a thorough biographer, but his considerable narrative skill is as evident here as it is in his fiction... One of the beauties of TWO LIVES is that it transcends its subject matter, becoming a celebration of endurance, a recognition of all lives pun * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *
£13.49
Penguin Random House Group World War II Memoirs The European Theater LOA 385
Book Synopsis
£34.39
John Murray Press Wolfram
Book SynopsisThe Aïchele family were decent, cultured, peace-loving Germans trying their hardest not to get swept up in the madness of Hitler''s Third Reich. But by the time war came, for civilians on all sides, there was nowhere left to hide.The conflict took Wolfram, the family''s gentle, 18-year-old son, to the Russian Front and the Normandy beaches. It also engulfed the town of his childhood, obliterating its inhabitants in a devastating firestorm.Wolfram is a powerful story of human survival. It is testimony to the fact that even in the darkest times there remains a spark of humanity that can never be totally extinguished.Trade Review'As an Englishman writing about a German destiny for a non-German public, Milton avoids the pitfalls. Instead he renders a service to his father-in-law's generation by reminding readers about the sheer physical, mental and spiritual effect it took to stay true to oneself in a vicious regime.' * The Times *'idiosyncratic and utterly fascinating' * Mail on Sunday *'a truly remarkable story . . . a tour de force.' * Miranda Seymour *'a compelling account of 20th-century darkness.' * Sun Herald *'Giles Milton is one of our most engaging writers of non-fiction. In Wolfram, he writes with deceptive simplicity, matching his effortless style with a fascinating subject to create a page-turning and thought-provoking book.' * Victoria Hislop *'a remarkable narrative of [Wolfram] Aichele's life during the Nazi regime, written by his son-in-law Giles Milton.' * Irish Times *Engrossing . . . Milton's book celebrates the heroism of individuals who put lives before ideologies * Independent *'as a portrait of how these civilised individuals were able to survive, this is invaluable.' * Daily Express *'Besides being moving and readable, Milton's social history provides a sympathetic counterbalance to the idea that all wartime Germans were "Hitler's willing executioners".' * Mail on Sunday *'a delight to read.' * www.thebookbag.co.uk *'Milton's book is no apology for the Third Reich - rather it is the very human, horrifying story of an ordinary German boy and his family of free-thinking artists, none of whom supported Hitler's politics and all of whom suffered great hardships.' * Saga *'Giles Milton looks deeper into family history with Wolfram, the story of his father-in-law's childhood under the Third Reich.' * Hobart Mercury *'Milton's writing, too, is first-rate. Engaging, poignant and vivid, he wrings just the right amount of pathos from his story, and shifts seamlessly between the varying "voices" of his narrative. . . . a very valid and interesting book' * BBC History Magazine *'idiosyncratic and utterly fascinating' * Mail on Sunday *'. . . the story of the Aichele family reveals an undercurrent of passive resistance that existed among ordinary Germans. . . . In considering what Germans went through during the war, Milton's book shows that our understanding should not be so clear cut. . . . Milton's close analysis of the experiences of Germans demonstrates that they too could be victims of the war.' * Spectator *'Nazi Germany becomes three-dimensional in Giles Milton's touching study of a boy from a decent family which practised its own form of passive resistance.' * Sunday Telegraph *'affectionate account' * Times Literary Supplement *'a valuable record of what it was like to be sucked into war, and a vivid evocation of the fear and bewilderment of living in the Third Reich.' * The Guardian *
£10.44
Oxford University Press The Islandman
Book SynopsisTomas O''Crohan was born on the Great Blasket Island in 1865 and died there in 1937, a great master of his native Irish. He shared to the full the perilous life of a primitive community, yet possessed a shrewd and humorous detachment that enabled him to observe and describe the world. His book is a valuable description of a new vanished way of life; his sole purpose in writing it was in his own words, ''to set down the character of the people about me so that some record of us might live after us, for the like of us will never be again''. The Blasket Islands are three miles off Irelands Dingle Peninsula. Until their evacuation just after the Second World War, the lives of the 150 or so Blasket Islanders had remained unchanged for centuries. A rich oral tradition of story-telling, poetry, and folktales kept alive the legends and history of the islands, and has made their literature famous throughout the world. The 7 Blasket Island books published by OUP contain memoirs and reminiscences from within this literary tradition, evoking a way of life which has now vanished.Trade ReviewPart of a unique and remarkable Irish literary archive ... compelling. * Neil Johnston, Belfast Telegraph, 24/6/00 *
£999.99
John Murray Press My Roots
Book Synopsis''Gardens are complex and messy and, as in life, there are few easy fixes.'' ''Planting trees is deeply satisfying and good for the soul, especially on a winter''s day. What else can a human do that leans so far into the future.''Monty Don, the face of British gardening, has written a weekly Observer column on his garden for the past ten years. Over time the columns have been a practical guide, a poetic record of the garden''s changing seasons, and also a personal account of how the garden has kept his feet firmly planted on the ground through bad times and good. This is a collection of fifty of Monty''s best columns, that will delight his readers and gardeners everywhere. ''Growing vegetables, herbs and fruit should be done in the same spirit as choosing your music or clothes: with a mix of precision and adventure.''''One swallow may not make a summer but it damn sure made my day.'' Trade ReviewPraise for THE JEWEL GARDEN:Truly inspiring ... told with compelling honesty * Mail on Sunday on THE JEWEL GARDEN *Overwhelmingly honest, passionate, inspiring, with prose to die for. Like everything else Don does, this purports to be about gardens and gardening but is actually a meditation on family and love * Julie Myerson, Books of the Year, Independent *
£10.44
Random House USA Inc A Distant Mirror
Book Synopsis
£17.99
Hodder & Stoughton Daughters of Shame
Book SynopsisIn her new top ten bestseller Jasvinder Sanghera tells the harrowing and moving stories of women trapped in forced marriages.Trade ReviewSanghera tells each terrible story, in an honest, compassionate way - making this book a must-read for all. * Sun *a gripping account...heartfelt and brave * Now *Gripping, and anger-fuelling . . . this is an important book, written with calm, steady intelligence * India Knight Sunday Times *In her simple, straightforward prose, Sanghera tells one heartbreaking story after another . . . DAUGHTERS OF SHAME is as gripping and moving as any work of fiction, yet surprisingly uplifting. A must read. * She *To say you will read it with your heart in your mouth is an understatement . . . plain-speaking, fearless book * Metro *'She tells her story with the pace and vivid turn of phrase of a true writer . . . SHAME is an inspiring book, not least because of its honesty.' * The Sunday Times on SHAME *Genuinely moving and uplifting. * Lorraine Kelly on SHAME *One of the most powerful things I have read. * David Cameron on SHAME *'A vivid, honest and deeply moving narrative of despair, courage and hope.' * Lord Lester speaking in Parliamentary debate on SHAME *'Unbeaten and eloquent' * Evening Standard on SHAME *'A success story to inspire anyone . . . recounted deftly and without apology.' * Time Magazine on SHAME *'Heart-wrenching' * Daily Mail on SHAME *'It will open your eyes to the horrors that are real for some women.' * Sydney Daily Telegraph on SHAME *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Darling Days A New York City Childhood
Book SynopsisI WAS BORN, SEPTEMBER 1985, IN THE VORTEX OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE OF NEW YORK: THERE WERE FEW RULES OF LIFE AND ZERO CONTRAINTS ON BEHAVIOUR. IF YOU WERE NOT ECCENTRIC, YOU WERE WEIRD.It was a tenement building at the centre of the drug-addled, punk-edged, permanent riot that was iO''s corner of the Lower East Side of New York City in the ''80s and 90''s. There iO grew up - or rather scrabbled up - under the broken wing of a fiercely protective, yet wildly negligent mother.Rhonna was a showgirl, actress, dancer, poet. A widow by police murder, she was also an addict. She doted and obsessed over iO, yet lacked an understanding that a child needs food and sleep and safety.Unfolding in animated, crystalline prose, an emotionally raw, devastatingly powerful memoir of one young person''s extraordinary coming of age - a tale of gender and identity, freedom and addiction, rebellion and survival in the 1980s and 1990s, when punk poverty, heroin and art collided
£12.34
The Lilliput Press Ltd Swift Blaze of Fire
Book SynopsisThis book explores the complex life of Robert Bob Hilliard, a renowned International Brigadista and maverick figure in Irish history, as his granddaughter, Lin Rose Clark, uncovers his legacy of love, war, and personal contradictions while seeking to understand the impact of his choices on their family.
£16.14
Thames & Hudson Ltd Chronicle of the Roman Emperors The ReignbyReign
Book SynopsisFocusing on the succession of the rulers of imperial Rome, this title guides readers to each reign and its main events. This title features biographical portraits of the 56 principal emperors from Augustus to Constantine.Trade Review'Expertly unpicks the tangled imperial lineage … Scarre provides lively detail' - Independent' A valuable volume providing a nice blend of information and entertainment ' - Teaching History'Marvellous' - New Scientist
£16.99
HarperCollins Publishers Harold Wilson
Book SynopsisReissued with a new foreword to mark the centenary of Harold Wilson's birth, Ben Pimlott''s classic biography combines scholarship and observation to illuminate the life and career of one of Britain''s most controversial post-war statesmen.Harold Wilson is one of the most enigmatic personalities of recent British history. He held office as Prime Minister for longer than any other Labour leader, and longer than any other premier in peacetime apart from Mrs Thatcher. His success at winning General Elections four in all has so far not been matched. His grasp of economic policy was better than that of any other Prime Minister, and he enjoyed a high reputation among foreign leaders. Yet, in retrospect, he seems a master tactician rather than a strategist and he is regarded today with more curiosity than respect, when he is not treated with contempt.Trade Review‘One of the great political biographies of the century’ A.N. Wilson, Evening Standard ‘Admirable and engrossing … Professor Pimlott’s picture of life at Number 10 and the strife within is vivid and unforgettable’ Daily Telegraph ‘A masterly piece of political writing’ New Statesman ‘The narrative gallops along, sweeping the reader with it in a rush of excitement. A mass of complex detail is marshalled with the art that conceals art’ Times Literary Supplement ‘Fascinating … Pimlott the X-ray has produced a work of formidable penetration’ Observer ‘His narrative is quite outstanding – clear, thoughtful and gripping … Some biographies enter the political discourse at once, thanks to their innate qualities and lucky timing. There are so many echoes of the Wilson years in the politics of today that this happy fate must surely belong to Pimlott’s book’ Andrew Marr, Independent
£17.09
The History Press Ltd Exploring Rolts Landscapes
Book SynopsisL.T.C. Rolt is still a towering figure in the fields of inland waterways, preserved railways and post-war conservation. A bridge and a locomotive have been named after him, and there is a Rolt Prize, Rolt Fellows and an annual Rolt Lecture. He played a crucial role in the revival of Britain''s inland waterways and pioneered the first preserved narrow-gauge railway. In this fascinating series of linked essays, Joseph Boughey explains aspects of Rolt's earlier life and work, and sets his writing and practice in a broader context, considering such themes as the landscapes Rolt knew; the nature of travel and country' writing; the 1930s/40s organicist movement; English canals and navigable rivers from the 1930s to the 50s, including practical campaigning; the background to early railway preservation; and the nature of craft, craftspeople and preservation.
£18.70
Scotland Street Press 10 Scotland Street
Book SynopsisThis is a triumph. A love letter to the ghosts of Edinburgh. I feel its hand upon my shoulder. Sara SheridanAs a writer of fiction, I found myself itching to lift some of these characters from the page into the fertile fields of my own imagination. Val McDermidAnyone who loves Edinburgh and is fascinated by its private histories will be entranced by this book. The ScotsmanAbout the book10 Scotland Street the story of an Edinburgh home and its cast of booksellers, silk merchants, sailors, preachers, politicians, cholera and coincidence and its widespread connections over two centuries across the globe.
£14.24
HarperCollins Publishers Mandela
Book SynopsisWidely considered to be the most important biography of Nelson Mandela, Antony Sampson's remarkable book has been updated with an afterword by acclaimed South African journalist, John Battersby.Long after his presidency of South Africa, Nelson Mandela remained an inspirational figure to millions both in his homeland and far beyond. He has been, without doubt, one of the most important figures in global history. His death, on 5 December 2013 at the age of 95, resonated around the world.Mandela's opposition to apartheid and his 27 year incarceration at the hands of South Africa's all-white regime are familiar to most. In this utterly compelling book, eminent biographer Anthony Sampson draws on a fifty year-long relationship to reveal the man who rocked a continent and changed its future.With unprecedented access to the former South African president the letters he wrote in prison, his unpublished jail autobiography, extensive conversations, and interviews with hundreds of colleagues, Trade Review‘A magisterial, detailed and invaluable account of one of this century’s greatest figures … it is hard to believe that a better biography will ever be written.’ Justin Cartwright, Sunday Telegraph ‘Warmly to be welcomed, not least because it is more substantial and revealing than Mandela’s bestselling autobiography…a great leap forward in our understanding of a man who is both enigmatic and private…Anthony Sampson has carried out his difficult commission with skill and sensitivity’ Independent ‘This will be the last word on Mandela for years to come…it will be hard to improve upon this crowning conclusion to Sampson’s long career as a loving and expert chronicler of South Africa’ Evening Standard ‘Measured, detailed without a moment of tedium, incisive in its perceptions and at times, profoundly moving’ Observer
£17.09
HarperCollins Publishers Coleridge Darker Reflections
Book SynopsisTimely reissue of the second volume of Holmes's classic biographies of one of the greatest Romantic poets.Richard Holmes's biography of Coleridge transforms our view of the poet of Kubla Khan' forever. Holmes's Coleridge leaps out of these pages as the brilliant, animated and endlessly provoking poet of genius that he was.This second volume covers the last 30 years of Coleridge's career (1804-1834) during which he travelled restlessly through the Mediterranean, returned to his old haunts in the Lake District and the West Country, and finally settled in Highgate. It was a period of domestic and professional turmoil. His marriage broke up, his opium addiction increased, he quarrelled with Wordsworth, his own son Hartley Coleridge (a gifted poet himself) became an alcoholic. And after a desperate time of transition, Coleridge re-emerged on the literary scene as a new kind of philosophical and meditative author.Trade Review’One of the greatest biographies of the century. Pure joy to read, it is a shimmering portrait of the mature artist veering between brilliance and despair’ Financial Times ’This – and I can’t remember ever thinking this before so strongly – is a biography to grow old with’ Independent
£16.19
Yale University Press Abraham
Book Synopsis
£16.14
The History Press Ltd Agincourt 1415 The Archers Story
Book SynopsisThe battle of Agincourt still rings down through the centuries as a quite incredible victory by the outnumbered, happy few of England, enfeebled by disease and exhaustion, against the might of French chivalry. For many commentators then and now, it was the English archers who won the day for Henry V. This history re-tells the story of the battle and Henry V's Normandy campaign from the perspective of the reputed commander of the English archers, Sir Thomas Erpingham.Sir Thomas, an experienced warrior from Norfolk with military experience dating back 40 years, is known for his brief but pivotal appearances in Shakespeare's Henry V, where he is correctly portrayed as an elderly, white-haired veteran. At 57 he was one of the oldest there and a close personal confidant of the King. But what was his background? How did he command his archers to such a place in history? And what role did the longbow and battlefield tactics play in the final analysis of victory?Copiously illu
£13.49
Casemate Publishers Valhalla Boys
Book SynopsisIn 2004, most areas of Al Anbar province in Iraq exploded into widescale insurgencies and attacks on US and allied forces. In both Fallujah and throughout Al Anbar province, elements of the 1st Marine Division engaged in a wide range of operations, ranging from control of border crossings in Western Iraq, to infantrycentered urban combat in Ramadi, the provincial capital. Unique to many of these actions was the use of the Marine Corps' Light Armored Vehicle, the LAV 25. These vehicles screened large areas of desert, searched for hidden IEDs along highways, and provided extra firepower for infantry units in combat. Using LAVs, the 1st LAR Battalion, with attached infantry company Echo 2/7, patrolled large stretches of the borders with Syria and Jordan as well as highways used for commerce and smuggling. In addition to providing camp security and raid elements for the 1st LAR Battalion, Echo Company also dispatched two infantry platoons to supervise border crossings with Jordan. During
£27.96
Orion Publishing Co Thomas Cromwell
Book SynopsisThe rise and fall of Henry''s notorious minister - the most corrupt Chancellor in English history''Gripping... Hutchinson tells his story with infectious relish and vividly evokes the politics and personalities of this extraordinary decade'' LITERARY REVIEW''Hutchinson tells the horrible story admirably and compellingly, acknowledging Cromwell''s rare abilities, while making no excuses for his character'' OBSERVERThe son of a brewer, Cromwell rose from obscurity to become Earl of Essex, Vice-Regent and High Chamberlain of England, Keep of the Privy Seal and Chancellor of the Exchequer. He maneuvered his way to the top by intrigue, bribery and sheer force of personality in a court dominated by the malevolent King Henry.Cromwell pursued the interests of the king with single-minded energy and little subtlety. Tasked with engineering the judicial murder of Anne Boleyn when she had worn out her welcome in the royal chamber, he tortured her servants and relations, then organised a ''show trial'' of Stalinist efficiency. He orchestrated the ''greatest act of privatisation in English history'': the seizure of the monasteries. Their enormous wealth was used to cement the loyalty of the English nobility, and to enrich the crown. Cromwell made himself a fortune too, soliciting colossal bribes and binding the noble families to him with easy loans. He came home from court literally weighed down with gold.Trade ReviewHutchinson tells the horrible story admirably and compellingly, acknowledging Cromwell's rare abilities, while making no excuses for his character * OBSERVER *Absolutely compelling narrative and, though I never thought I'd say this of a book on Thomas Cromwell, one that is impossible to put down. He is one of the few authors who keep you up till 3am. * BOOKSELLER *Gripping... Hutchinson tells his story with infectious relish and vividly evokes the politics and personalities of this extraordinary decade * LITERARY REVIEW *A rollicking good read * THE HERALD *Vigorous, pacey and focused... an effective portrait of "Henry VIII's most notorious minister" * BBC HISTORY *Anyone who sees history as boring should be given Robert Hutchinson's book post haste. Without sacrificing facts and research, he has the ability to construct and absolutely compelling narrative and, though I never thought I'd say this of a book on Thomas Cromwell, one that is impossible to put down. He is one of the few authors who keep you up till 3am. -- Sue Baker * THE BOOKSELLER *
£11.69
Transworld Publishers Ltd Your Life Train For It
Book SynopsisBear Grylls is fitter, stronger and readier than ever to take on the challenges of the wild, thanks to a revolutionary new fitness program. And at the heart of Bear''s personal training regime are fast-paced, dynamic workouts that can be done anywhere by anyone - men and women, young and old - in just 30 minutes or less!Select your workout: choose from Kettlebell Resistance training, Bodyweight workouts or Primal Power stretch sessions. Try one of Bear''s epic Hero workouts for his ultimate challenge of all three disciplines combined ...Learn the moves: select your express workout based on the time you have available - be it 3 minutes or 30 - and then, as Bear says, ''It''s time to get BG fit!''Train hard but eat natural: follow Bear''s simple and straightforward advice on fuelling your body for maximum success and sustained health benefits.Train more effic
£15.29
Ohio University Press Patrice Lumumba
Book SynopsisPatrice Lumumba was a leader of the independence struggle in what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the country’s first democratically elected prime minister. After a meteoric rise in the colonial civil service and the African political elite, he became a major figure in the decolonization movement of the 1950s.Trade Review“Lumumba…was a pivotal player in the history of African nationalism, in the same league as Mandela in terms of his influence. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja provides an excellent short introduction to Lumumba’s life and historical significance.”“The contribution [Nzongola-Ntalaja makes] to the literature of Patrice Lumumba, and the Congo, is ironically not concentrating on Lumumba’s iconic Cold War death but instead placing his life and words into the proper cultural, economic, and historical context of Congolese history. …I would highly recommend [Patrice Lumumba] for students in African or Congolese politics. …[It challenges] us not to dwell on his death but breathe life into his words, because the questions Patrice Lumumba raised about self-determination then are still relevant for all of us today.” * African Studies Quarterly *
£12.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Founder Fighter Saxon Queen
Book SynopsisA lively and illuminating biography of England's founding mother'.
£13.49
Oxford University Press Alexander the Great
Book SynopsisAlexander the Great became king of Macedon in 336 BC, when he was only 20 years old, and died at the age of 32, twelve years later. During his reign he conquered the Achaemenid Persian Empire, the largest empire that had ever existed, leading his army from Greece to Pakistan, and from the Libyan desert to the steppes of Central Asia. His meteoric career, as leader of an alliance of Greek cities, Pharaoh of Egypt, and King of Persia, had a profound effect on the world he moved through. Even in his lifetime his achievements became legendary and in the centuries that following his story was told and retold throughout Europe and the East. Greek became the language of power in the Eastern Mediterranean and much of the Near East, as powerful Macedonian dynasts carved up Alexander''s empire into kingdoms of their own, underlaying the flourishing Hellenistic civilization that emerged after his death. But what do we really know about Alexander? In this Very Short Introduction, Hugh Bowden goes behind the usual historical accounts of Alexander''s life and career. Instead, he focuses on the evidence from Alexander''s own time -- letters from officials in Afghanistan, Babylonian diaries, records from Egyptian temples -- to try and understand how Alexander appeared to those who encountered him. In doing so he also demonstrates the profound influence the legends of his life have had on our historical understanding and the controversy they continue to generate worldwide.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 ReviewBowden covers all the highlights of Alexander's career * Steve Craggs, Northern Echo *It's an interesting read for those who do know something of Alexander, as well as for initiates * Adrian Spooner, Classics for All *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Before Alexander ; 2. Prince: Alexander in the Macedonian Court ; 3. Warrior: Alexander's army ; 4. Commander Alexander and the Greeks ; 5. Pharaoh: Alexander and Egypt ; 6. King of the world: Alexander and Persia ; 7. Traveller: Alexander in Afghanistan and Pakistan ; 8. Doomed to die: Alexander in Babylon ; 9. After Alexander ; References ; Further reading ; Index
£9.49
Cambridge University Press Wilhelm II
Book SynopsisThis final volume in John Röhl's acclaimed biography of Wilhelm II explores the Kaiser's role in the international crises leading up to the outbreak of war in 1914. It also charts his experience of exile in Holland and his frustrated hopes that the Nazis would restore him to the throne.Trade Review'A masterpiece and one of the greatest political biographies of our times.' Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Times'The single most important recent contribution to the debate on the causes of the First World War.' BBC History Magazine'One of the outstanding biographies of the past twenty years.' Philip Mansel, The Spectator'A powerful and impressive thesis.' Jonathan Sperber, The Times Literary Supplement'Devastating.' Norman Stone, Literary Review'Magisterial is the only word that adequately describes Röhl's final installment of his authoritative biography of Kaiser Wilhelm II. This massive tome examines in a most engaging way the personal role the Kaiser played in facilitating the major political and diplomatic crises leading to the Great War … Highly recommended.' M. A. Mengerink, Choice'Reviewers of Röhl's work will find it difficult to avoid echoing each other: adjectives such as 'monumental' and 'definitive' are well-nigh inescapable in the face of this enormous achievement … Future researchers with an interest in any aspect of the Kaiser's life or his role in the government of Imperial Germany will find Röhl an indispensable guide to the documentary record.' Andrew G. Bonnell, European History Quarterly'This book is the final instalment of John Röhl's exhaustive and magisterial three-volume biography of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Like the two preceding parts, this volume is meticulously researched, full of new insights, beautifully written and, notwithstanding its great length and substantial weight, difficult to put down. Taken either on its own or as the culmination of a trilogy, it is a monumental achievement…This is an outstanding work. So much new research and scholarship has gone into completing it that it is difficult to imagine what other new documents might be out there waiting to be unearthed that would materially add to what Röhl has written. Equally, with this volume and its two predecessors in the public domain it is hard to see why anyone else would attempt a new study of Wilhelm II. While no work of history ever has the final word, surely this is as close to definitive as a biography can get.' Matthew S. Seligmann, The English Historical Review'Scholars of the period owe a great debt to Röhl. Whether, in the final analysis, one agrees with his reading of Wilhelm, Röhl has redirected attention to the importance of human agency in history. In tandem, he has also liberated his subject both from being a caricature, a cardboard cutout knave, and from the less-than-benign neglect of those with structuralist predilections.' T. G. Otte, The Journal of Modern HistoryTable of Contents1. Death and transfiguration; 2. The Kaiser and England during the Boer War; 3. 'I am the balance of power in Europe': Wilhelm between Britain, Russia and France; 4. The Boxer Rebellion and the Baghdad Railway; 5. The shabby compromise: Wilhelm II and Bülow's Chancellorship; 6. Wilhelm II and the Germans, 1900–1904; 7. 'We two make history and destiny is in our hands!' Kaiser and Tsar on the eve of the Russo-Japanese War; 8. The Anglo-German antagonism: the Kaiser, the King and public opinion; 9. The Kaiser and America; 10. Uncle and nephew: Edward VII and the 'encirclement' of Germany; 11. East Asia in flames: the Russo-Japanese War and its consequences; 12. Operational plans for a war in Western Europe; 13. 'Paris must get one in the eye from us one day!' The Kaiser and the First Morocco Crisis; 14. 'A turning point in the history of Europe', or the fiasco of Björkö; 15. Balance of power or hegemony? The Anglo-German conflict and the quarrel with King Edward; 16. Humiliation in Algeciras; 17. 'Encirclement': caught in the web of the Entente; 18. Germany's 'Dreadnought Leap': the Kaiser and 'his' navy; 19. The zenith of personal monarchy: the Kaiser and the government on the eve of the great crisis; 20. 'Kings are only human, after all': scandals at the Hohenzollern court; 21. Prince Eulenburg's downfall: the campaign against the Liebenberg 'Camarilla'; 22. The Kaiser's visit to Windsor and Highcliffe, November-December 1907; 23. The hot summer of 1908: on the verge of war with Britain; 24. 'Our Kaiser and his People!' The crisis of Wilhelm's personal monarchy; 25. Nemesis: Wilhelm II and the Daily Telegraph affair; 26. Upheaval in the Balkans: Kaiser Wilhelm and the Bosnian Annexation Crisis of 1908–09; 27. The 'pantomime': from Bülow to Bethmann Hollweg; 28. Wilhelm and the direction of foreign policy under Bethmann Hollweg; 29. The king is dead, or new hopes of an agreement with England; 30. Agadir: the leap of the Panther; 31. 'The enemy identified': the acceleration of the naval race and the growing menace of war; 32. 'Already leader of the United States of Europe'? The Kaiser and the debacle of the Haldane Mission; 33. November 1912: the strategic switch from West to East; 34. Deterrence: the unresolved problem of Britain's neutrality; 35. 'Berlin has warned us off again': the 'postponed racial war against Slavdom'; 36. Kaiser and Reich: Wilhelm's Personal Monarchy on the eve of war; 37. 'With head held high and hand on hilt!' Preparations for war 1913–14; 38. Summer 1914: the decision for war; 39. The Kaiser's last Norwegian cruise; 40. Confusion in Potsdam: the fear of Britain's involvement; 41. Into the abyss: the outbreak of war; 42. The Supreme War Lord in the First World War; 43. The Kaiser's war aims; 44. Downfall: the collapse of the Hohenzollern monarchy; 45. The unicorn in winter: a new life in exile; 46. 'Blood must flow, much blood': the Kaiser and the 'swinish' Weimar Republic; 47. Monarch by the grace of Hitler? Wilhelm II and the Third Reich.
£52.24
Yale University Press Moshe Dayan
Book SynopsisA vivid portrait of one of the most powerful leaders in Israel's first decades of statehoodTrade Review"This well-written and absorbing book offers an authoritative account of the life of Moshe Dayan and places him in the context of larger events. Doing justice to the complex and intriguing persona of Dayan, Bar-On writes for a wide audience, both general readers and students of Israel and the Middle East. I read it with great interest and profit."—Itamar Rabinovich, former Israeli ambassador to the United States and author of Waging Peace: Israel and the Arabs, 1948–2003 -- Itamar Rabinovich"[A] revealing and engrossing account of the life of an often admirable but frustratingly enigmatic man."—Jay Freeman, Booklist -- Jay Freeman * Booklist *"Mordechai Bar-On, Dayan’s bureau chief during the mid-1950s as the latter was Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff, brings a welcome addition to the canon of Dayan, weaving first-person observations as he amends the historical record."—Neil Rubin, Baltimore Jewish Times -- Neil Rubin * Baltimore Jewish Times *"This brief, incisive, elegantly written book is full of up-close and personal glimpses of and insights into the many pivotal roles Dayan played in his nation’s military and political affairs."—Martin Rubin, Washington Times * Washington Times *"Refreshing. . . Bridging the gaps of a complex personality is the great achievement of this brief but highly thoughtful book."—Jason Warshof, Jerusalem Report * Jerusalem Report *"Briefly and elegantly conveys the life of a man who played an important role in Israeli history."—The Historian * The Historian *
£18.99
HarperCollins Publishers William Wilberforce The Life of the Great
Book SynopsisWilliam Hague has written the life of William Wilberforce who was both a staunch conservative and a tireless campaigner against the slave trade.Hague shows how Wilberforce, after his agonising conversion to evangelical Christianity, was able to lead a powerful tide of opinion, as MP for Hull, against the slave trade, a process which was to take up to half a century to be fully realised. Indeed, he succeeded in rallying to his cause the support in the Commons Debates of some the finest orators in Parliament, having become one of the most respected speakers of those times.Hague examines twenty three crucial years in British political life during which Wilberforce met characters as varied as Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Tsar Alexander of Russia, and the one year old future Queen Victoria who used to play at his feet. He was friend and confidant of Pitt, Spencer Perceval and George Canning. He saw these figures raised up or destroyed in twenty three years of war and revolution.Hague preTrade Review'The author has produced a splendid read for which he deserves the utmost credit. He tells Wilberforce's story with such enthusiasm and narrative skill that, in this bicentennial year, his book seems assured of bestsellerdom. I put it down liking Hague as much as I was moved by his tale, one of the most remarkable in British political history.' Sunday Times 'An authoritative account of a remarkable life.' Sunday Times 'A fine, informative tribute.' Observer 'A superb biography.' Daily Express 'An enthusiastic and balanced portrayal of an appealing figure.' Sunday Telegraph 'Gripping…absorbing…the definitive biography.' Daily Mail 'Informed by a nuanced sense of what was and was not politically possible at that moment…lucid and convincing…gripping.' Daily Telegraph ‘William Hague has assumed from Roy Jenkins the mantle of Britain's foremost politician-biographer. This magnificent biography of William Wilberforce succeeds his good debut life of William Pitt…his achievement goes far beyond an attractive prose style and meticulously accurate historical re-recreation. The insights drawn from a wide parliamentary and political experience bring to life the genius of the great anti-slave trade campaigner in a wholly new and vivid way.’ Evening Standard
£15.29
Penguin Books Ltd Amazing Tales for Making Men out of Boys
Book SynopsisDiscover inspiring stories of heroism, adventure, endurance and survival from throughout history. Captain Robert Falcon Scott didn''t start out life as a hero. In fact, as a boy he was considered small, frail and shy. So what was it that turned this ordinary man into a legend? Through his gripping account of how this modest naval officer became Scott of the Antarctic, Neil Oliver vividly relates the awe-inspiring tales of brave men that inspired Britain''s greatest hero, including Nelson, Sir John Moore, and the Demons of Camerone. And alongside these epic stories of courage, fortitude and sacrifice, Oliver recounts how the spirit of Scott lives on - from Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 13 mission, to the SAS and the Battle of Mirbat. Young and old alike will enjoy reading these brave stories of men who understood - as Scott always did - that it was more important to die a hero than live a coward''s life.________ ''A joy from sta
£11.69
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Dance Of The Dissident Daughter
Book SynopsisA masterpiece of women’s wisdom.—Christiane Northrup, M.D. The journey to capture her feminine soul and live authentically . . . makes a fascinating, well-researched and well-written story.—Publishers WeeklyIn celebration of the twentieth anniversary of its publication, a newly reissued edition of the bestselling author’s classic work of feminine spiritual discovery, with a new introduction by the author.I was amazed to find that I had no idea how to unfold my spiritual life in a feminine way. I was surprised, and, in fact, a little terrified, when I found myself in the middle of a feminist spiritual reawakening.—Sue Monk KiddFor years, Sue Monk Kidd was a conventionally religious woman. Then, in the late 1980s, she experienced an unexpected awakening, and began a journey toward a feminine spirituality. With the exceptional storytelling skills that have helped make her name,
£16.19
John Wiley & Sons Inc The Last Great Frenchman
Book SynopsisCritical acclaim for The Last Great Frenchman This is a splendid popular biography . . . recounted with verveand anecdotal warmth, along with fresh appraisals of de Gaulle''scareer as soldier, politician, and head of state. --PublishersWeekly. Highly readable. . . . It is to Williams'' credit that he is ableto get so close to such a prickly personality. --San FranciscoChronicle Charles Williams has matched a great subject by something near toa great book. --Daily Telegraph (London) Marvelous vignettes. . . . Williams tells his story with pace andskill. --Martin GilbertTable of ContentsPartial table of contents: CHILD. A Parisian Boy from Lille. The Steps of St Ignatius. SOLDIER. The Army of the Republic. A War to End Wars. Polish Interlude. Petain's Chicken. A Toe in Political Waters. The Cut of the Sickle. Is He a New Napoleon? EXILE. Laying the Corner Stone. Afric's Sunny Fountains. Who is Fighting Whom? The Eagle and the Bear Join the Party. Resistance on All Fronts. Mediterranean Storms. The Darlan Deal. From Anfa to Algiers. Waiting for Overlord. HERO. A Parisian Summer. Government Must Govern. POLITICIAN. With Peace Comes Politics. The Gamble that Failed. PHILOSOPHER. A Certain Idea of France. On Public and Private Life. HEAD OF STATE. The New Agenda. Baiting Uncle Sam. The Ides of May. Epilogue: Return to Colombey. Notes. Select Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.
£17.84
Gotracee Publishing LLC Heal Your Soul History
Book SynopsisIs Re-incarnation ruining your life? Your past lives could be affecting the current one. This, national award-winning book, will change how you look at your life and the lives of others from now on. Gain power over the negative forces that hold you back.
£15.29
The History Press Ltd Alastair Sim
Book SynopsisAlastair Sim was an enigmatic character both on and off the screen. His idiosyncratic style of acting in films such as The Belles of St Trinian''s endeared him to a cinema-going audience desperate to escape the day-to-day dreariness of an invasive, bureaucratic post-war Britain. In private, he was a curiously contradictory character, prejudiced and yet tolerant, thoughtful but sometimes inconsiderate. To examine the life of this extraordinary man, this biography contains original contributions from around thirty actors and actresses, including Sir Ian McKellen and Ronnie Corbett.It is supported by extensive research, including interviews with the playwright Christopher Fry, the television producer John Howard Davies and actors who appeared on stage with Alastair as far back as the 1940s. This book also explores Alastair''s life outside of films, including his marriage to Naomi Sim (whom he first met when she was twelve), his career as an elocution teacher, his extensive work on stage (including his theatrical endeavours with James Bridie), his championship of youth and his stalwart refusal to sign autographs.Alastair Sim offers a rare and fascinating insight into the life of one of Britain''s most respected and best-loved actors.
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group The Horses in My Life
Book SynopsisMonty Roberts is known as ''the man who listens to horses'' because of his amazing ability to understand and communicate with his equine partners. He has written this book to celebrate the horses throughout his life that have had a special significance: from his first mount, Ginger, through the champion show horses and sprinters, to those he is working with tirelessly today. THE HORSES IN MY LIFE gives a unique insight into his non-aggressive methods and how his relationship with each horse developed. It is an inspirational collection of vignettes that reveals his love and respect for these noble animals. We are invited not only to get to know the individual horses but to share the immense joy that Monty found with them.Trade ReviewThis is a decidedly superior offering for christmas stockings * The South Wales Argus *This is an excellent read which is thought provoking, entertaining and moving. * Aberdeen Press and Journal *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Three Weeks With My Brother
Book SynopsisThe story of two brothers deeply bound by love and tragedy and an extraordinary chronicle of a life-affirming tripIn January 2003 Nicholas Sparks and his brother Micah set off on a three-week trip around the world.An adventure by any measure, this trip was especially meaningful as it marked another milestone in the life journey of two brothers who, by their early thirties, were the only surviving members of their family. As Nicholas and Micah travel the globe, from the Taj Mahal to Machu Picchu, the story of their family slowly unfolds. Just before Nicholas'' marriage he and Micah lost their mother in a horseriding accident; a week short of Nicholas'' triumphant debut as a novelist with THE NOTEBOOK, the brothers lost their father to a car crash, and just a few short years later they were forced to say goodbye to their sister who died of brain cancer at the young age of 36. Against the backdrop of the main wonders of the world the brothers come together to heTrade ReviewAn interesting and thoughtful book, with the sadness of Sparks' past dealt with modesty and compassion... an emotional read * Publishers Weekly *
£10.44
McFarland & Co Inc Fred Reinfeld
Book Synopsis Fred Reinfeld--his name used to be known to almost every chess player in the United States. Not so well known are his accomplishments. One of the strongest players of his time, he ranked just below Reuben Fine and Samuel Reshevsky (against whom he had a plus score). He was the accomplished author of some of the best chess books of the 1930s and 1940s, and a respected numismatist, recognized as a pioneer in the field. He was an editor or major contributor to almost every major chess magazine through the 1940s--Chess Review, Chess Correspondent and Chess Life. This first book on Renfield covers his remarkable contributions to the chess world, with many of his ideas and writings quoted in their original context and with many of his famous annotations preserved for the modern reader.
£46.89
Yale University Press Beowulf
Book SynopsisA widely celebrated translator's vivid, accessible, and elegantly concise rendering of an ancient English masterpieceBeowulftells the story of a Scandinavian hero who defeats three evil creaturesa huge, cannibalistic ogre named Grendel, Grendel's monstrous mother, and a dragonand then dies, mortally wounded during his last encounter. If the definition of a superhero is someone who uses his special powers to fight evil, thenBeowulfis our first English superhero story, and arguably our best. It is also a deeply pious poem, so bold in its reverence for a virtuous pagan past that it teeters on the edge of heresy. From beginning to end, we feel we are in the hands of a master storyteller. Stephen Mitchell's marvelously clear and vivid rendering re-creates the robust masculine music of the original. It both hews closely to the meaning of the Old English and captures its wild energy and vitality, not just as a deep work of literature but also as a rousing entertainment that can still stir our feelings and rivet our attention today, after more than a thousand years. This new translationspare, sinuous, vigorous in its narration, and translucent in its poetrymakes a masterpiece accessible to everyone. Trade Review“Mitchell aims to find for Beowulf a ‘contemporary language that seems natural and alive’, and he does this well… His rendering of Beowulf has much to offer —narrative momentum, clarity, a sense of the poem’s heroic verve, and a contemporary slant.”—Susan Irvine, Times Literary Supplement“A most readable, energetic, and colorful translation of this savage epic. . . . An amazing achievement.”—Billy Collins“Stephen Mitchell’s new translation of Beowulf is elegantly wrought, highly accurate, and fully annotated. It is a compact and remarkably readable version.”—Eric Weiskott, Boston College“Stephen Mitchell comes as close to fulfilling the translator’s task as anyone at work today. He admirably balances two imperatives: to maintain fidelity to the text while rendering it available to the English we speak today. Mitchell’s reader-friendly version of Beowulf honors the narrative and will extend the readership for this foundational work of English literature.”—David Lehman“Mitchell’s version is eloquent and conveys a true sense of the original. In addition, his notes are a great enhancement.”—Harold Bloom
£12.99
Ohio University Press Julius Nyerere
Book SynopsisWith vision, hard-nosed judgment, and biting humor, Julius Nyerere confronted the challenges of nation building in modern Africa. Constructing Tanzania out of a controversial Cold War union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, Nyerere emerged as one of independent Africa’s most influential leaders.Trade Review“Bjerk succeeds in debating the legacy of Nyerere through six short chapters. The book recognises the highs and lows of Nyerere’s illustrious political careers and balances this in a manner befitting a great African statesman … This book offers that opportunity to understand Tanzania’s political culture and history through the life and times of Mwalimu Nyerere.” * Africa at LSE *“A highly welcome and urgently needed addition to the historical literature on African politicians.…Due to its readability, brevity, and appealing portrayal of the complexities of politicking, the book is well suited for classroom use, but it is also of interest to those already familiar with Tanzanian history.…The book can be wholeheartedly recommended to students of political biographies, postcolonial politics, decolonization, and African contemporary history, and anybody interested in socialist thought and experiments across the globe.” * H-Net *“Bjerk’s embrace of contradiction and complexity allows him to address [an] amorphous question of legacy, and he draws deeply on the full range of existing scholarship about Tanzania.” * Global Africana Review *
£12.99
The History Press Ltd Alan Turing Decoded
Book SynopsisThe return of the high successful biography of a modern legend by Alan Turing's nephewTrade ReviewA cracking read. -- Nick SmithFor anyone seeking a more nuanced picture of the human side of Turing . . . this book makes a useful and sometimes poignant contribution. -- Clare MulleyDeserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in the history of BP and in the development of the computer. -- David Hamer[Dermot Turing] has done a fabulous job of translating the complexities of mathematics and the early computer science to the lay person. -- Walter Myer
£14.39
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Hottentot Venus
Book SynopsisThe acclaimed biography of Sarah Baartman, once a slave and later a showgirlA significant and timely book Holmes has produced a laceratingly powerful story' Frances Wilson, Literary Review''Impeccable ... In telling her extraordinary story, Holmes''s fascinating book illuminates the forces which dominated her age, and resound in our own'' Sunday TelegraphIn 1810 the slave turned showgirl Sarah Baartman, London's most famous curiosity, became its legal cause célèbre. Famed for her exquisite physique in particular her shapely bottom she was stared at, stripped, pinched, painted, worshipped and ridiculed. This talented, tragic young South African woman became a symbol of exploitation, colonialism and defiance.In this scintillating and vividly written book Rachel Holmes traces the full arc of Baartman's extraordinary life for the first time.Trade ReviewHolmes' biography of this unhappy woman is gripping and meticulously researched * Spectator *Impeccable ... In telling her extraordinary story, Holmes's fascinating book illuminates the forces which dominated her age, and resound in our own * Sunday Telegraph *A significant and timely book ... Holmes has produced a laceratingly powerful story * Literary Review *Musters as much factual information as possible, telling her tale with care and respect * Independent *
£10.44
Yale University Press Bugsy Siegel
Book SynopsisThe story of the notorious Jewish gangster who ascended from impoverished beginnings to the glittering Las Vegas stripTrade Review"Fast-paced and absorbing. . . . With a keen eye for the amusing, and humanizing detail, [Shnayerson] enlivens the traditional rise-and-fall narrative."—Jenna Weissman Joselit, New York Times Book Review "[A] brisk-reading chronicle of Siegel’s life and crimes."—Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal“A pacey and thoughtful biography...part of Yale University Press's excellent Jewish Lives series”—The Economist“This latest, punchiest and most compact biography of Siegel arrives in the Yale ‘Jewish Lives’ series...Shnayerson’s brief life of Bugsy is a fun, absorbing read that helps make sense of an emotionally complex gangster. And it’s just long enough to fill one of those transatlantic flights many of us are waiting to take again."—Scott Bradfield, The Spectator “This is an excellent biography for those more interested in the shape of Siegel's life and career rather than the lurid details, and it is admirably cautious on the mythology.”—Strong Words“Shnayerson does a remarkable job of humanizing a man he admits to being "a vicious killer”....He even poses reasonable objections to the common belief that Siegel was a sociopath."—Michael Saler, Times Literary Supplement“An amazing job. I learned a lot. A great book about real gangsters when gangsters were real.”—Nicholas Pileggi, author of Wiseguy“Insightful, well-written, and carefully researched, this is the best and most complete biography of the notorious gangster Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel in print.”—Robert Rockaway, author of But He Was Good to His Mother: The Lives and Crimes of Jewish Gangsters“A wonderful exploration of the dark side of the American dream via Bugsy Siegel, the personification of the dark side and the dream. Just as stylish as Bugsy himself. A fabulous book.”—Rich Cohen, author of Tough Jews: Fathers, Sons, and Gangster Dreams
£17.09
