Biography: historical, political and military Books

Book SynopsisForged in the Dustbowl of the 1930s, in an America crippled by the Great World Recession, this humble man found solace in song, and soon those songs became the voice of the People – men and women who had seen their lives deracinated and destroyed by the vicissitudes of global economic forces beyond their control.Trade ReviewHolds within its pages a tremendous sense of time and place… Hayes has set out on an ambitious path and creates a vivid and unforgiving picture. * Design Week *An inventive and expansive biography worthy of its subject. * Big Issue *A step up [for Hayes] in ambition and execution… An inventive and expansive biography worthy of its subject. -- Doug Johnstone * Big Issue *In a handsome square format, with open spreads as wide as the land itself, Hayes captures the man and the times in his lyrical writing and brush artwork. * Independent *This is a passionate picture of Guthrie and his times. -- James Smart * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisJoin Sarah Woods on a mouth-watering celebration of British and South Asian fusion recipes, featuring the Desi communities who created them''Fascinating exploration and celebration of the food that migrants from the Indian sub-continent have brought to the UK. Each chapter shines a spotlight on a region and gives voice to first-, second- and third-generation diaspora. There are dozens of wonderful recipes, each with its own story of origin and adaptation'' BBC GOOD FOOD''These recipes are guaranteed to satisfy your tastebuds'' STYLIST''I''ve longed for a book like this. A fascinating read with glorious recipes'' DIANA HENRY''What a book'' NIHAL ARTHANAYAKE, BBC Radio 5 Live''An evocative visual feast that speaks to your very heart. The mouth-watering recipes leap off the page and I am left wanting to bookmark nearly every dish'' LARA LEE, author of Coconut and Sambal''BeTrade ReviewI've longed for a book like this. A map that locates and explores the culinary heritage of the diaspora of the Indian subcontinent in Britain, how its been maintained and how it's evolving to absorb other influences. A fascinating read with glorious recipes * Diana Henry *Fascinating exploration and celebration of the food that migrants from the Indian sub-continent have brought to the UK. Each chapter shines a spotlight on a region and gives voice to first-, second- and third-generation diaspora. There are dozens of wonderful recipes, each with its own story of origin and adaptation * BBC Good Food *Desi Kitchen is an evocative visual feast that speaks to your very heart. The mouth-watering recipes leap off the page and I am left wanting to bookmark nearly every dish * Lara Lee, author of Coconut and Sambal *A mesmerising cookbook filled with gorgeous recipes from Desi kitchens all over modern Britain * Atul Kochhar *The picture Sarah paints is of a dynamic food culture that is both influenced by its surroundings and, in turn, influences them * Waitrose Weekend 'Book of the Week' *An ode to the unique twists on South Asian cuisine * India Weekly *Included in 'Best New Cookbooks' * Delicious *A rare and privileged glimpse into desi kitchens from all over modern Britain * Asian Express *Effortless storytelling * Asian *Fascinating exploration and celebration of the food that migrants from the Indian sub-continent have brought to the UK. Each chapter shines a spotlight on a region and gives voice to first-, second- and third-generation diaspora. There are dozens of wonderful recipes, each with its own story of origin and adaptation * BBC Good Food *'Beautiful book, great recipes, really well written and original' * Prue Leith *'What a book' * Nihal Arthanayake, BBC Radio 5 Live *'These recipes are guaranteed to satisfy your tastebuds' * Stylist *

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Book Synopsis*20th anniversary edition featuring a new afterword*Glamour. Duty. Tragedy: The Woman Behind the Princess. Sarah Bradford delivers an authoritative and explosive study of the greatest icon of the twentieth century: Diana.After more than a decade interviewing those closest to the Princess and her select circle, Sarah Bradford exposes the real Diana: the blighted childhood, the old-fashioned courtship which saw her capture the Prince of Wales, the damage caused by the spectre of Camilla Parker Bowles, through to the collapse of the royal marriage and Diana''s final and complicated year as single woman. Diana paints an honest portrait of a woman riddled with contradictions and whose vulnerability and unique empathy with the suffering made her one of the most extraordinary figures of the modern age.Trade ReviewThe definitive biography. In this authoritative account, Bradford paints a revealing, accurate portrait of a complex woman flawed and adored in equal measure. * Daily Telegraph *Readers will find themselves gripped by this gloriously gossipy account. Bradford is even-handed and unafraid. -- Jeremy Lewis * Sunday Times Books of the Year *Diana is Sarah Bradford's excellent and authoritative new biography of the most extraordinary woman in recent history ... Sarah Bradford has set a high standard for the others to follow -- Virginia Blackburn * Daily Express *You feel from this book that you know the woman as she probably was, and that is because, perhaps for the first time, a grown-up has written about her -- Adam Nicolson * Evening Standard *Bradford has a real grasp of history and the ability to make it spark into new life * Sunday Telegraph *A woman of intelligence and taste ... Bradford is an excellent writer who has produced a balanced and well-researched biography. -- Philip Hensher * Spectator *A very sad story. Bradford tells it eloquently, but it's her admirable detachment that leaves one pitying all, not one, of the characters involved. -- Antonia Fraser * Guardian Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisThis is a biography of Peter the Great. It tells his life story in 12 chapters, including two final chapters on his legacy and posthumous reputation, with the aim of providing a vivid sense of the dynamics of his life and reign.Trade Review"In her splendid new biography, Lindsey Hughes deconstructs these mythic images and brings us closer to the true face of the Tsar." Orlando Figes, Sunday Telegraph; "This book will likely become a standard for scholars and students who want a short but comprehensive account of Peter the Great." Publishers Weekly"

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of Maimonides, the medieval philosopher, physician, and religious thinker, author of The Guide of the Perplexed, from one of the world’s foremost bibliophilesTrade Review“If you want to watch a formidable writer and scholar with the world’s literature at his fingertips, creatively taking on medieval Judaism’s greatest mind, you will have a lot of fun.”—Carlos Fraenkel, Literary Review“In our confusing time, when rationality is fighting for its deserved place, Alberto Manguel’s brilliant book offers a historical and analytical premise for searching for the deserved place in the spiritual confrontation with the sacred.”—Norman Manea, author of The Fifth Impossibility: Essays on Exile and Language

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“The definitive treatment of Alexander as a figure of myth. . . . Whether it is Hellenistic notions of utopia, or cities of death in the Arabian Nights, or the origins of the manticore in Indian fable, the extraordinary range of Alexander’s afterlife has enabled Stoneman to write a veritable book of wonders.”—Tom Holland, Daily Telegraph“In this fascinating book, Stoneman explores the various legendary aspects of the general. Stoneman suggests that Alexander embodies the aspirations of Everyman.”—The Independent“Stoneman, here solidifying his reputation as the foremost authority on the legend of Alexander, presents us with nothing less than a legendary parallel life of Alexander. . . .A boon for anyone studying Alexander myth or historiography. Much has been written over the last decades on Alexander-as-legend. . . but nowhere have the many strands of the legendary Alexander been woven together so fully. . . .It would be a great shame if any course on Alexander were to be taught without reference to at least some of its insights.”—Sulochana R. Asirvatham, Journal of Historical Biography“Richard Stoneman gave 20 well-spent years to the writing of this masterly book. In it he separates the truths about Alexander from the many myths that have surrounded him.”—Sunday Telegraph“Anyone who undertakes the task of evaluating a body of materials as composite as the Alexander Romance must possess—in addition to a thorough knowledge of the history and historiography of Alexander—a working knowledge of several languages and the history of scholarship on a very complex problem. These are skills that Richard Stoneman possesses in abundance.”—Eugene Borza, Classical OutlookShort-listed for the 2009 Runciman Award, administered by the Anglo-Hellenic League and sponsored by the National Bank of GreeceSelected by Choice magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title of 2008“This is a magisterial book, of quite extraordinary breadth and depth. Stoneman is supremely well qualified to write the definitive work on the Nachleben of Alexander in tradition, legend, and myth.”—John Cherry, Brown University“Alexander the Great enjoyed one of the most spectacularly glorious of human lives. His afterlife, as Richard Stoneman’s masterly new survey amply documents, was every bit as spectacular and glory-bringing. Look on his fame, ye mighty, and despair! Or rather, read this literally marvelous book by one of the world’s leading authorities on the multifarious Alexander-legend. Hero or villain: there is an Alexander here for every conceivable taste.”—Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University“The legend of Alexander the Great extends from Iceland to China, and is reincarnated in Jewish and Christian versions, in Islam and the religions of India. Richard Stoneman traces the many re-tellings, both in literature and in art, situating each in its historical context. His book is a pleasure to read: full of remarkable episodes and insights, immensely learned, clearly and elegantly narrated. If you want to know how the story of Alexander evolved over two millennia and penetrated most of the world’s cultures, this is the book to read.”—David Konstan, Brown University“In this impressive volume the many varicoloured threads of the legend of Sultan Iskander are skilfully woven into a fascinating fabric. Stoneman has successfully faced an awesome challenge in marshalling a huge body of diverse and complex material into an ordered whole, subtly highlighting the factors which have given Alexander’s legend such an enduring and widespread appeal and the ways in which it has been adapted to very different cultures.”—Stephanie West, Oxford University“Richard Stoneman retells in a fascinating way the life of Alexander the Great not from the historical records but from the fictional texts of the Alexander Romance and other legendary sources. The result is an extremely rich and well-documented survey of the various traditions which, at the same time, is also a most enjoyable reading. This highly recommendable book is a masterpiece and will be the new point of reference for all future studies in this field.”—Heinz Hofmann, University of Tuebingen

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Book Synopsis The astonishing untold story of the WWII airmen who risked it all in the deadly race to become the greatest American fighter pilot. In 1942, America''s deadliest fighter pilot, or ace of aces -- the legendary Eddie Rickenbacker -- offered a bottle of bourbon to the first U.S. fighter pilot to break his record of twenty-six enemy planes shot down. Seizing on the challenge to motivate his men, General George Kenney promoted what they would come to call the race of aces as a way of boosting the spirits of his war-weary command. What developed was a wild three-year sprint for fame and glory, and the chance to be called America''s greatest fighter pilot. The story has never been told until now. Based on new research and full of revelations, John Bruning''s brilliant, original book tells the story of how five American pilots contended for personal glory in the Pacific while leading Kenney''s resurgent air force against the most formidable enemy America ever faced. The pilots -- Richard Bong, Tommy McGuire, Neel Kearby, Charles MacDonald and Gerald Johnson -- riveted the nation as they contended for Rickenbacker''s crown. As their scores mounted, they transformed themselves from farm boys and aspiring dentists into artists of the modern dogfight. But as the race reached its climax, some of the pilots began to see how the spotlight warped their sense of duty. They emerged as leaders, beloved by their men as they chose selfless devotion over national accolades. Teeming with action all across the vast Pacific theater, Race of Aces is a fascinating exploration of the boundary between honorable duty, personal glory, and the complex landscape of the human heart. Brings you into the cockpit of the lethal, fast-paced world of fighter pilots . . . Fascinating. -- Sara Vladic Extraordinary . . . a must-read. -- US Navy Captain Dan Pedersen A heart-pounding narrative of the courage, sacrifice, and tragedy of America''s elite fighter pilots. -- James M. Scott Vivid and gripping . . . Confirms Bruning''s status as the premier war historian of the air. -- Saul David

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Book SynopsisA thrilling study of the key elements of great - and fair - leadership, illuminated by real stories from historyTrade ReviewBodanis' book is more than a business book, it is a primer for anyone fed up with the meanness of much of society, and looking for inspiration to do better - and fix things for others * Financial Times *Bodanis is a superb storyteller ... [he] is clearly one of the good guys and this book is a cheering, timely, inspirational reminder, as we witness a new dawn in the American presidency, that they - we - can succeed, without losing our souls -- Christina Patterson * Sunday Times *This is a delightful book about a vitally important subject - and David Bodanis is an enthralling storyteller. Prepare to be taken on a surprising, wide-ranging and ultimately inspiring journey to explore what makes us human - and how decency and kindness can prevail even in dark times. You won't be able to forget this book; and you won't want to -- Tim HarfordThe core message can be found in the subtitle: 'The power of decency in a world turned mean' ... It is a wise lesson * Economist *[Fairness] is one of those senses which drives our feelings much more than our thoughts ... I cannot think of a topic more in need of the kind of intelligent study which David Bodanis unfailingly provides -- Rory SutherlandFascinating -- Roger Trapp * Forbes *

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Book SynopsisAn outstanding new edition of Plutarch, the inventor of biography, focused on five lives that remade the Roman world.

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating backstories of four women painted by John Singer Sargent come alive in this seductive, multi-layered biography.Trade Review"Ingenious." -- Frances Wilson - Times Literary Supplement"Straight from the pages of a novel by Edith Wharton or Henry James." -- The Times"[Lucey pieces together] lost stories, and the stormy brew of scandal and repression that affected these women—and Sargent himself." -- Elle"As rich as [Sargent’s] portraits are, the textural evidence in which Ms. Lucey ensnares them is finer still." -- The Wall Street Journal"It [Sargent's Women] tells of an era long gone yet still fascinating." -- Choice"[These women] were smart, passionate, willful, adventurous and striking-looking.… Lucey’s prose is invitingly conversational and quick-flowing." -- The Washington Post"... these four well-researched mini-biographies are vibrant and never less than engaging." -- The Herald

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Book SynopsisThe first biography of Alaric to appear in English tells the history of the fourth-and fifth-century Roman Empire through the life of the Goth who attacked it.Trade Review"Today, as Douglas Boin of Saint Louis University points out in his superb book, the word "Gothic" has become synonymous with all that is "dark, gloomy and macabre". History, it is often said, is written by the winners—but that is only if they can write. If they can't, then history is written by the losers, crossly." -- The Economist"...a finely crafted account of how Alaric became the embodiment of Rome's self-defeating fear of the world outside its frontiers." -- Philip Parker - Literary Review"Few records survive of the Visigoth culprit Alaric (well, if you will destroy a literate culture...) but the historian Douglas Boin knows enough to clear up some misapprehensions. Alaric the Goth… is a Latin-speaker who longs for nothing so much as to be Roman… One snub too many, and he and his mob show the Eternal City to be fleeting. The book… understands what drives personal success far better than modern treatises on management and self-help… An “Outsider’s History” is how Boin describes his book about Alaric. History is seldom anyone else’s." -- Janan Ganesh - Financial Times"A new history argues the Goths who sacked Rome have been much traduced." -- Patrick Kidd - The Times"He [Douglas Boin] eloquently protests against the stereotypical depictions of Goths…" -- Catherine Conybeare - Times Literary Supplement"History may mostly be written by the victors, but the destruction of Rome by the far less literate Goths in 410AD is an exception. This colourful portrait of the city and empire in the fifth century tells their side of the story. Rich Romans lived in splendour while Goths endured slavery. Alaric, their leader, served in the Roman army— before turning on the oppressors." -- The Best Books of the Year 2020: History - The Economist"Boin published his book before the attack on the US Capitol, but his reading of the ancient past through the lens of contemporary trauma offers a fitting epitaph to a regime that did not fall but petered out – and a reminder that even a failed sack can be given meaning." -- Josephine Quinn - London Review of Books"The most engaging parts of Alaric the Goth, and by far the greater portion of its contents, diverge from Alaric’s story to give a sweeping view of Roman life near the fall of the empire. It’s here, especially in matters of Christian-pagan tension, that Mr. Boin excels." -- James Romm - The Wall Street Journal"Boin paints a richly detailed portrait of the world in which Alaric maneuvered, defined by the thrashings of an empire in turmoil… A cogent, readable text that vividly conveys the fears and confusion that surrounded the issue of immigrants’ rights in a period of declining Roman power." -- Wendy Smith - The Boston Globe"This brilliant book... starts the story of the sack of Rome not from inside the walls of the eternal city, but outside, with Alaric the Goth. It’s a great trick, superbly executed. Some books tilt the world so that you will never quite see it in the same way again, and this is definitely one." -- Catherine Nixey, Summer Reads 2020 - History Extra

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Book Synopsis''A tale of survival.'' Daily Mail''Survival against the odds ... [an] amazing story.'' The SunIn 1939 Annie Jarman and her six young daughters were evacuated from their south London home and sent to the Sussex countryside to wait out the war. Refusing to be parted, they faced the unknown together, never imagining just how much their lives would change. From the trials and tribulations of leaving London, the destructive horror of the Blitz and terrible family tragedy to dances, romances and the triumph of making a new life in the country, The Sisters of Battle Road is the compelling true story of six ordinary girls in extraordinary wartime circumstances. Today, the six young girls – Mary, Joan, Sheila, Kathleen, Patricia and Ann – are six remarkable women who have lived to tell their tale of sisterhood and its unbreakable bonds in the shadow of World War Two.Trade ReviewThis is a tale of survival - of six girls who faced bombs and prejudice alike, but who rolled up their sleeves and looked after each other. Nobody could accuse the lively Sisters of Battle Road of keeping calm. But by heck, they carried on. * Daily Mail *Survival against the odds... [an] amazing story. * The Sun *An extraordinary story. * The Guardian *This story hits hard with nostalgia for a vanished world where pennies counted, housewifery was taught at school and every one pulled together, untied by a common enemy. * Sussex Life *

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Book Synopsis* Important study of women and power in medieval England. * Sets biographical study of two early English queens in social and political context. * Draws on latest research in womena s and feminist history as anthropology. * Provides insights into structure of medieval rule. .Trade ReviewThere is much learning, originality and, indeed, entertainment in Pauline Stafford's Queen Emma and Queen Edith...This book develops a most interesting subject with learning and insight which illuminate the period as a whole." (English Historical Review) "It provides fascinating insights into medieval family structures, the manipulation of saints' cults, the nature of royal estates and patronage, to name but a few of its themes. Anyone who wants to understand the power structures of the early Middle Ages will want to read it." (History) "The stories of Queen Emma and Queen Edith are satisfyingly rich in the telling in Pauline Stafford's latest book, Queen Emma and Queen Edith. The sources which provide these riches are varied and Stafford's use of them masterly." (Parergon) "Readable and learned, it is an admirable illustration of the way in which gender studies may be used to enrich understanding of the whole history of a period." (Times Higher Education Supplement) "It will become an indispensable tool on undergraduate courses dealing with gender, power and politics in the middle ages ... It also represents a clear, elegantly written and meticulously documented contribution to the study of the eleventh (and tenth) century in England." (Gender and History) "(Stafford) has used her two queens to suggest a great deal, not only about queens and court politics in eleventh-century England but also about the society and politics of a whole period of west European history." (Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford: The Brown Book)Table of ContentsList of Figures. Preface. Acknowledgements. Part I: The Stories. . Prologue. 1. Emma and Edith in the Narratives of the Eleventh Century. 2. Emma's and Edith's Narratives. Part II: The Structures. . 3. The Faces of the Queen. 4. Family: Structures and Ideals. 5. Household, Land and Patronage. 6. Queen and Queenship. 7. The Fluctuating Power of the Queen: Witnessing and Identities. Part III: The Lives. . 8. Emma. 9. Edith. Appendix I The Lands and Revenues of Edith in Domesday Book. Appendix II Emma's and Edith's Household Followers. Appendix III Genealogical Tables. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisFrom Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe to Ruth Ellis: the stories of the strong, spirited and controversial women who created the enduring image of the Blonde Bombshell

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Book SynopsisThe complete guide to the inspiration that is Agatha Christie.

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Book SynopsisTuring's involvement in the world's first computer and his life in Manchester

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Book SynopsisThe women who wielded the real power behind the throne in Renaissance Italy, from a bestselling historian.This book is one of drama on a grand scale, a Renaissance epic, as Christendom emerged from the shadows of the calamitous 14th century. The sweeping tale involves inspired and corrupt monarchs, the finest thinkers, the most brilliant artists and the greatest beauties in Christendom. Here are the stories of its most remarkable women, who are all joined by birth, marriage and friendship and who ruled for a time in place of their men-folk: Lucrezia Turnabuoni (Queen Mother of Florence, the power behind the Medici throne), Clarice Orsini (Roman princess, feudal wife), Beatrice d''Este (Golden Girl of the Renaissance), Caterina Sforza (Lioness of the Romagna), Isabella d''Este (the Acquisitive Marchesa), Giulia Farnese (''la bella'', the family asset), Isabella d''Aragona (the Weeping Duchess) and Lucrezia Borgia (the Virtuous Fury). The men play a secondary roTrade ReviewThis group of well-born, fastidiously educated women played a crucial role in the complicated politics of Renaissance Italy, where a collection of city states and competing warlords struggled to maintain their independence from the papacy at home and the French and Spanish abroad ... a torrent of poisoned daggers, ruthless politics and sexual intrigue -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *[Frieda] portrays eight princesses in vibrant colours, while deftly sketching the political background . . . these princesses were capable of immense political courage -- Christopher Silvester * Daily Express *Full of bright, brash women, quite a lot of killing . . . and some really serious statement jewellery -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *Detailed, dramatic and colourful * The Lady *This is a fresh and enlightening look at the dynastic confl icts of the fi fteeth century via the key female fi gures involved * BBC History Magazine *...it's a very welcome contribution to Renaissance studies, as well as a thorough and well-paced read. -- Lesley McDowell * GLASGOW SUNDAY HERALD *

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment Tim Collins''s speech to his men in Iraq was made public, this soldier and thinker became a hero and an inspiration to world leaders and infantrymen alike. To a public suspicious about the motives for war, he offered some explanation for it and inspired a mood of optimism and humanity that has since been sadly lost. And yet, only two months later Collins was pilloried by two national newspapers and accused of war crimes. But this is only part of his story. From taking command of 1 Royal Irish in the aftermath of the Sierra Leone hostage crisis to combating the Loyalist murder gangs in East Tyrone, Rules of Engagement is a powerful memoir that offers a frank and compelling insight into the realities of warfare and a life lived on the frontline.Trade Review'He is a thinking soldier with a gift for words and tells his story well' John Keegan, SPECTATOR; 'This absorbing tale, by turns dramatic, thoughtful and humorous, is a lesson in the humanity behind a country at war' SUN; 'The book is a fascinating, detailed account of what he and his men went through in the invasion and delivers a hard-hitting message of where the Coalition has gone wrong since the invasion' Sydney SUN HERALD; 'His memoir is incendiary' Glasgow HERALD; 'Painfully compelling' Allan Mallinson, THE TIMES * Various *

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Book SynopsisA poet''s memoir of his mother that flows backwards through time, through a tumultuous period of European history - a tender and yet unsparing autobiographical journey.**A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK**A truly remarkable book . . . fiercely compelling EDMUND DE WAAL*WINNER OF THE JAMES TAIT BLACK MEMORIAL PRIZE* *SHORTLISTED FOR THE JEWISH WINGATE PRIZE*I''ve read no memoir that moved me more MIRANDA SEYMOURThe writing is always scrupulous . . . [a] compelling memoir BLAKE MORRISONBeautifully written and utterly compelling Sunday TimesAn original, probingly thoughtful memoir EVA HOFFMANNIn July 1975, Magda Szirtes died in the ambulance on the way to hospital after she had tried to take her own life. She was fifty-one years old. The Photographer at Sixteen spools into the past, through her exile in England, her flight with her husband Trade ReviewIn this extraordinary, hybrid book - part memoir, part history, part poetic journey - Szirtes re-makes the life of his mother, tracing her childhood in Europe's darkest period to her life in Britain after the Hungarian uprising. He brilliantly captures how sometimes it's those closest to us who remain the most mysterious. -- Patrick McGuinness, author of OTHER PEOPLE'S COUNTRIES: A JOURNEY INTO MEMORYA truly remarkable book about identity, image and memory. It is fiercely compelling. -- Edmund de Waal, author of THE HARE WITH THE AMBER EYESUnforgettably sad . . . Szirtes has made [his mother's] monument. It is a courageous and remarkable achievement. I've read no memoir that moved me more. -- Miranda Seymour * Financial Times *The writing is always scrupulous . . . Knowledge is partly invention, Szirtes says, memory is mostly invention, and 'the trick is to invent the truth.' It may be a trick but it's one he pulls off brilliantly in this compelling memoir. -- Blake Morrison * Guardian *Exceptional . . . There is much more to this scrupulously written memoir than I have been able to convey. There are photographs throughout the text, but those in the final pages are heartbreaking. -- Paul Bailey * Literary Review *A book full of warmth, grief, curiosity, wisdom, staggering anecdotes and a coming to terms with the vicissitudes of 20th-century history . . . [a] highly original telling of the author's mother's life and the heartrending events through which she lived. -- Charlie Connelly * New European *Szirtes uses his poet's eye to build images and details that bring his mother superbly to life . . . [this] is a beautifully written and utterly compelling narrative. -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times *In this quest to understand the enigma of his mother 's life and death, George Szirtes travels back from personal memory to deeper history, as he reconstructs his family's tragedy-darkened past . . . An original, probingly thoughtful memoir whose restraint only increases its poignancy and impact -- Eva Hoffman, author of LOST IN TRANSLATION: A LIFE IN A NEW LANGUAGE[An] exquisitely told memoir . . . By telling the story of his mother's life backwards Szirtes has performed a sort of conjuring trick . . . Not simply a memoir but a hybrid of history and biography interspersed with photographs, poems and several standout moments -- Anne Sebba * Spectator *As isolated snapshots build into a family portrait, and a historical fresco, we grasp the wider picture . . . beautiful, devastating -- Boyd Tonkin * Arts Desk *Like a film in reverse, this narrative structure not only reclaims a time of innocence and hope but also functions as a form of healing, an undoing of her pain. -- Fiona Capp * Sydney Morning Herald *Magda Szirtes is intense, untameable, tantalising and compelling. George Szirtes is tender and astute in trying to understand her, percipient in analysing the enduring fragments of her life -- letters, tape-recordings, photographs, memories -- yet ever-aware of how little it is possible to know. The result is engrossing and profoundly moving. -- Keiron Pim, author of JUMPIN' JACK FLASHHe works, frame by frame, through a sequence of ever-older photographs, employing her own chosen medium to interrogate the mystery of her existence, and the fallibility of memory -- Ariane Banks * Tablet *Exceptional . . . An act of love. -- Paul Bailey * Literary Review. *

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Book SynopsisValor is the magnificent story of a genuine American hero who survived the fall of the Philippines and brutal captivity under the Japanese, from New York Times bestselling author Dan Hampton.Lieutenant William Frederick Bill Harris was 25 years old when captured by Japanese forces during the Battle of Corregidor in May 1942. This son of a decorated Marine general escaped from hell on earth by swimming eight hours through a shark-infested bay; but his harrowing ordeal had just begun.Shipwrecked on the southern coast of the Philippines, he was sheltered by a Filipino aristocrat, engaged in guerilla fighting, and eventually set off through hostile waters to China. After 29 days of misadventures and violent storms, Harris and his crew limped into a friendly fishing village in the southern Philippines. Evading and fighting for months, he embarked on another agonizing voyage to Australia, but was betrayed by treacherous islanders and handed over to the

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Book SynopsisThe first full-length biography in English of Aspar, the eastern Roman general and statesman, this book explores his central role in the history and politics of the fragmenting Roman Empire in the fifth century. It also considers what his life and career may suggest as to the differing fates of the eastern and western parts of the empire. Taking a chronological approach, Bleeker guides us through what is known of Aspar's life and his changing influence in the eastern Roman army and court. Born and raised in Constantinople, Aspar primarily viewed and presented himself as a Roman general, consul, and senator. Yet he also stood outside the Roman mainstream in two important waysas a member of the empire's barbarian military leadership and as a devout Arian Christian. Early chapters treat his formative military experiences with the Persians, a Roman usurper in Italy, the Vandals in Africa, and the Huns of Attila, while later chapters focus on Aspar's political role in resolving the two imTrade ReviewIn this engaging and insightful study, the figure of Aspar finally receives the detailed, extended treatment he warrants. His career serves as an invaluable lens through which to view the fascinating and tumultuous political and military history of the fifth-century Roman Empire. -- Doug Lee, Emeritus Professor of Ancient History, University of Nottingham, UKTable of ContentsPreface Map List of Illustrations Genealogies (Theodosius I, Aspar, Leo I) I. Why Does Aspar Matter? II. “Barbarians” and “Heretics” III. Aspar’s Antecedents IV. Ardaburius the Elder & Aspar: Wars in Persia and Italy (421-25) V. Aspar in Africa: The War With the Vandals (431-435) VI. Aspar and Attila: The Wars With the Huns (440-450) VII. Aspar and the Choice of Marcian (450-457) VIII. Aspar and the Choice of Leo (457) IX. Aspar’s Struggle with Leo Begins (457-465) X. The Rise of Zeno (465 – 467) XI. Leo’s African Gamble (467-468) XII. Aspar’s Apogee (469-471) XIII. Aftermath (471-491) XIV. Conclusions Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn 1801, at the age of just 20 years old, Ranjit Singh became the Maharaja of the Punjab Empire and subsequently became one of the greatest figures in the history of India. He was a fiercely brave leader, capturing the city of Lahore before becoming Maharaja and overcoming a variety of challenges during his 40-year rule, such as harsh terrain, an ethnically and religiously diverse population and strong aggressors including the British and the Afghans. Despite such challenges, Ranjit Singh was able to unite Punjab's various factions yet rule a nation that was strictly secular: the Maharaja was benevolent to his subjects no matter their ethnicity or religion and sought to promote interfaith unity through policies of equality and non-discrimination. Aside from building his own nation, Ranjit built solid strategic relations with his most challenging aggressor- the British. Through stamina and political will, he managed to establish a formal treaty between the two and secured from 1809 BrTable of ContentsIntroduction PART I: THE RISE TO POWER Chapter 1 The Punjab and Sikhism Chapter 2 The Misls Chapter 3 Ranjit's Childhood Chapter 4 Ruling as a Teenager Chapter 5 Consolidation in Lahore Chapter 6 Reaching out beyond Lahore Chapter 7 Ranjit’s Early Civil and Military Infrastructure Chapter 8 More on Ranjit and His Close Family Chapter 9 Enter the British Chapter 10 Almost War, then a Treaty Chapter 11 First Conquests in the Second Decade Chapter 12 Setback and Victory in Kashmir Chapter 13 Events at the Court PART II: HIGH-POINT Chapter 14 At the Midpoint (i): the Civil State Chapter 15 At the Midpoint (ii): Trade, Industry and the Army Chapter 16 Ranjit’s Secularism Chapter 17 Tales of the Hero Chapter 18 The Third Decade Opens with a Bang Chapter 19 Syed Ahmed, a Fanatical Interloper Chapter 20 Anti-climax after a Grand Summit of Equals Chapter 21 The Nobles Chapter 22 Steadfast against British Provocation Chapter 23 Caught up in the Great Game Chapter 24 Fateful Conclusion with the British Chapter 25 The End of a Great Life PART III: COLLAPSE AND SURVIVAL Chapter 26 Vicious Aftermath Chapter 27 Bloody Finale Chapter 28 Conclusion Postscript Maharaja Dalip Singh Appendices: Themes highlighting the life and times of Ranjit Singh Appendix 1 Education under Ranjit Singh Appendix 2 The Darbar Appendix 3 The variety and tolerance of Punjabi religions Appendix 4 Urban developments. Appendix 5 The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama Appendix 6 Ranjit Singh’s own words

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Book SynopsisThe fascinating true story of one of the most recognisable names in British folklore - Richard 'Dick' Whittington.

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Book SynopsisFirst modern biography of Rome's eponymous founder.

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Book SynopsisA biography focussed history of the working-class men and women who brought fresh ideas to Victorian British society.

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed biography of one of the great military leaders of WW2 and the penultimate Viceroy of India.

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Book SynopsisNew title exploring the life of Henry V through the places he lived and visited.

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Book SynopsisField Marshal Lord Wolseley was aneminent Victorian, one of a handful of latenineteenth-century military men whosereputation transcends his age. He servedthe British empire in Burma, India, China,the Crimea, Canada, Asante, Egypt, SouthAfrica and the Sudan. He excelled as aregimental soldier, staff officer, armycommander and reformer and eventuallycommander-in-chief. Yet there has beenno substantial work on Wolseley for ageneration and a reassessment based upon afresh look at the man and his achievementsis long overdue. That is why StephenManning's perceptive military biography,which sets Wolseley firmly in the context ofhis period and seeks to strip away the legendthat developed during his lifetime, is sotimely and important.Each of Wolseley's campaigns is examinedin vivid detail and there are graphicdescriptions of the major battles in which hetook part, either as an officer or a general.His performance as a commander, from hisgreat success during the expedition againstthe Asante to

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Book Synopsis''Propulsive . . . Deeply reported and novelistic. I flew through it'' Ed Caesar''Jaw dropping even for North Korea . . . A terrific piece of up-close reportage that reads like a spy thriller but is all too real'' Anna FifieldHOW DID A COLLEGE KID BECOME A GLOBAL FUGITIVE?In the early 2000s, Adrian Hong was a soft-spoken Yale undergraduate looking for his place in the world. After reading a harrowing account of life inside North Korea, he realised he had found a cause to which he could devote his life.Hong journeyed to China, outwitting Chinese security services as he helped ferry asylum-seeking North Korean escapees to safety. Meanwhile, Hong''s secret organization, Cheollima Civil Defense (later renamed Free Joseon), began tracking the North Korean government''s activities, and its volatile ruler, Kim Jong-un.Free Joseon targeted North Korean diplomats who might be persuaded to defect, while drawing up plans for a goTrade ReviewA propulsive investigation into the wild adventures of a man determined to bring down the North Korean regime . . . Deeply reported and novelistic. I flew through it -- Ed Caesar, author of THE MOTH AND THE MOUNTAINOne of the most harrowing and inspiring stories I've ever read. This book left me in tears. Hope tells this inconceivable and heart-wrenching story with compassion, humanity, and integrity -- Yeonmi Park, bestselling author of IN ORDER TO LIVEThe engrossing inside story of two recent events that are jaw-dropping even for North Korea, and the obsessive man behind them . . . A terrific piece of up-close reportage that reads like a spy thriller but is all too real -- Anna Fifield, author of THE GREAT SUCCESSORMesmerising -- 5 star review, Sunday TelegraphA mystery story about an elusive human rights activist - and it reminds us all of the essential evil weirdness of the North Korean regime. Adrian Hong has disappeared, a fugitive from the FBI - but I'd wager that someday we will hear from this quixotic young man again -- Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE OUTLIERThrilling, edifying, funny, and profound. Reading this book, I couldn't help but feel uplifted to learn that, even in our disaffected age, there are people who are willing to give their life to a cause, whatever the personal cost -- Kit Chellel, co-author of DEAD IN THE WATEROnly Bradley Hope could take us so deep into this world of diplomats, dictators, and would-be spies and achieve a book that is both utterly gripping and darkly funny. Not since Bill Browder's Red Notice have I gone on such an exhilarating trip into the geopolitical underbelly -- Zeke Faux, investigative reporter, Bloomberg News and BusinessweekA fast-paced, true-life thriller pitting a merciless North Korean state against a band of high-tech, courageous activists . . . thoroughly engaging . . . a page-turner of a spy-vs.-spy tale -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)A riveting saga of one man's unlikely crusade to free North Korea . . . This is the stuff great political thrillers are made of -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)An expertly crafted thriller that makes you turn the page. What makes it all the more remarkable is that it's all true. Bradley Hope is a first-rate reporter and writer, and he has found a subject worthy of his skills in Adrian Hong, a Korean American idealist who set out, improbably enough, to topple the North Korean regime -- Max Boot, author of THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

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Book Synopsis''DESERVES TO JOIN REACH FOR THE SKY AND THE LAST ENEMY AS ONE OF THE GREAT RAF BOOKS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR'' - ANDREW ROBERTSAs I write, I can clearly recall the stinging heat of aburning Blenheim, smells, tastes, expressions, sounds of voices and, most ofall, fear gripping deep in me.Flying Officer Alastair Panton was just twenty-three when his squadron deployed across the Channel in the defence of France. They were desparate days.Pushed back to the beaches as the German blitzkrieg rolled through the Low Countries and into France, by June 4th 1940 the evacuation ofthe Allies from Dunkirk was complete. A little over two weeks later France surrendered.Flying vital, dangerous, low-level missions throughout the campaign in support of the troops on the ground, Panton''s beloved but unarmed Bristol Blenheim was easy meat for the marauding Messerschmitts. At the height of fighting he was losing two of his small squadron''s crewTrade ReviewThis totally gripping account of the air war of May and June 1940 was written by one of the bravest of "The Few". Its short pages encompass all the timeless themes of war: comradeship, sacrifice, patriotism, fear, and sheer, raw courage. Panton's engaging and immediate prose style recalls the Battle of France in all its pity and tragedy, with his Mark IV Blenheim bomber as much a character in the story as any of his comrades. This deserves to join Reach for the Sky and The Last Enemy as one the great RAF books of the Second World War. -- ANDREW ROBERTSThis is a wonderfully vivid account of those forgotten heroes of 1940. It deserves to become one of the great aerial memoirs of the Second World War. It's an absolutely brilliant book -- JAMES HOLLANDThis is a gem of a memoir. An RAF pilot of rare tenacity and courage, Alistair Panton writes vividly but artlessly and with no hint of bravado about the grimly chaotic weeks of Dunkirk when he and his crew brushed with death in the sky most every day. His front-line story - humane, modest, and compassionate - inspires admiration to the point of awe -- JONATHAN DIMBLEBYA hidden gem of a diary on a little known episode of the Second World War. It speaks to everyone with its drama, pathos, humour and above all, compassion. It should be read by every history student -- PAUL BEAVER, author of SPITFIRE PEOPLESimply wonderful. One of the best accounts of WWII that I have ever read -- JOHN NICHOLThe soldiers on the Dunkirk beaches who jeered the RAF for not making their presence felt in the skies above them would have cheered if they had read this stirring vivid account of the torment suffered by one of Britain's most heroic pilots during the battle for France in May to June 1940. -- HUGH SEBAG-MONTEFIOREIt is the best account of the chaos and confusion of war outside the pages of Evelyn Waugh -- BORIS JOHNSONOne can't help feeling awe and reverence. There are enough adventures here for a lifetime, let alone six weeks -- LOUIS DE BERNIERESAn amazing story of bravery and courage in the air and on the ground -- GENERAL THE LORD DANNATTThis story grips you by the lapels and sometimes by the throat, and all who love tales of war will devour every page -- MATTHEW PARRISExtraordinary ... The clarity of this book is as surprising as its humanity ... both great drama and poignant social commentary ... His story deserves to be told * THE TIMES *What comes over is the extraordinary life of these airmen, who were living in care-free comfort one moment and dying horrible deaths only a few minutes later * SHROPSHIRE STAR *

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Book SynopsisFor three decades one of the most secretive units in the British military has been a mystery force known as X Platoon.Officially there was no X Platoon. The forty men in its elite number were specially selected from across the Armed Forces, at which point they simply ceased to exist. X Platoon had no budget, no weaponry, no vehicles and no kit - apart from what its men could beg, borrow or steal from other military units.For the first time a highly decorated veteran of this specialised force - otherwise known as the Pathfinders - reveals its unique story. Steve Heaney became one of the youngest ever to pass Selection, the gruelling trial of elite forces, and was at the cutting edge of X Platoon operations - serving on anti-narcotics operations in the Central American jungles, on missions hunting war criminals in the Balkans, and being sent to spy on and wage war against the Russians.The first non-officer in the unit''s history to be award the Military Cross, Trade ReviewThis fast-paced book is difficult to put down. * Military History Monthly *

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Book SynopsisHow was FDR's image constructedby himself and othersas such a powerful icon in American memory?In polls of historians and political scientists, Franklin Delano Roosevelt consistently ranks among the top three American presidents. Roosevelt enjoyed an enormous political and cultural reach, one that stretched past his presidency and across the world. A grand narrative of Roosevelt's crucial role in the twentieth century persists: the notion that American ideology, embodied by FDR, overcame the Depression and won World War II, while fascism, communism, and imperialismand their ignoble figureheadsfought one another to death in Europe. This grand narrative is flawed and problematic, legitimizing the United States's cultural, diplomatic, and military role in the world order, but it has meant that FDR continues to loom large in American culture. In FDR in American Memory, Sara Polak analyzes Roosevelt's construction as a cultural icon in American memory from two perspectives. First, she exaTable of ContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction. Roosevelt and the Making of an IconChapter 1. "I am a juggler": FDR's Public Image–Making 00Chapter 2. The Collective Rhetorical Production of FDR, 1932–1945Chapter 3. Negotiating FDR RemembranceChapter 4. The New Deal Depoliticized in Cultural MemoryChapter 5. FDR's Disability in Cultural MemoryChapter 6. Understanding FDR as a Cultural IconConclusion. A Rooseveltian Century?NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisA story of chivalry and vanity, loyalty and betrayal. The most brilliant servant of the royal Stuarts was betrayed by them.Trade Review‘Redraws the great general in a readable, lively narrative’ -- Leanda De Lisle‘A splendid new biography of this most charismatic and romantic figure’ -- James Stourton'There is a lot of documentary evidence for this period, there are many names to learn, and a lot of political and military action. That the author has managed to convey all this in such a readable way is a triumph. Highly recommended.' -- Reads, Writes, Reviews'Dominic Pearce deftly clarifies the religious nd historical background for the general reader.' -- The Tablet, August 2023

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Book SynopsisA suspense filled tale of murder on the American frontier—shedding new light on a family of serial killers in Kansas, whose horrifying crimes gripped the attention of a nation still reeling from war. 'A carefully researched and horribly compelling examination of unimaginable evil intruding upon everyday life' The Observer In 1873 the people of Labette County, Kansas made a grisly discovery. Buried by a trailside cabin beneath an orchard of young apple trees were the remains of countless bodies. Below the cabin itself was a cellar stained with blood. The Benders, the family of four who once resided on the property were nowhere to be found. The discovery sent the local community and national newspapers into a frenzy that continued for decades, sparking an epic manhunt for the Benders.   The idea that a family of seemingly respectable homesteaders—one among the thousands relocating farther west i

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Book SynopsisFINALIST FOR THE 2019 NATIONAL BOOK AWARDCHOSEN BY BARACK OBAMA AS ONE OF HIS FAVOURITE BOOKS OF 2019 LONGLISTED FOR THE 2020 ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCEA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''An informed, moving and kaleidoscopic portrait... Treuer''s powerful book suggests the need for soul-searching about the meanings of American history and the stories we tell ourselves about this nation''s past'' New York Times Book Review, front pageThe received idea of Native American history has been that American Indian history essentially ended with the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee. Not only did one hundred fifty Sioux die at the hands of the U.S. Cavalry, the sense was, but Native civilization did as well. Growing up Ojibwe on a reservation in Minnesota, training as an anthropologist, and researching Native life past and present for his nonfiction and novels, David Treuer has uncovered a different narrativTrade ReviewIf you enjoyed There There by Tommy Orange, read The Heartbeat of Wounded KneeTreuer's forthcoming counternarrative blends memoir - a retelling of his own family and tribe's experiences - and in-depth, detailed reporting on 125 years of native history. * Washington Post *A sweeping history of Native American life from the Wounded Knee massacre to the present-disputing the commonly held belief that the infamous 1890 massacre destroyed the Native American population and spirit. Treuer, whose mother is an Ojibwe Indian and who grew up on the reservation before leaving to attend Princeton, presents a more nuanced and hopeful vision of the past and future of Native Americans * Vanity Fair *The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee is the essential, intimate story of a resilient people in a transformative era. * The Rumpus *David Treuer offers an examination of Native American history. His book follows Dee Brown's 1970 work Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and explores more recent Native history. He uses his background as an anthropologist as well as his own experience growing up Obijwe on a reservation in Minnesota. * Bustle *Treuer chronicles the long histories of Native North America, showing the transformation and endurance of many nations. All American history collections will benefit from this important work by an important native scholar. * Library Journal (starred) *[Treuer's] scholarly reportage of these 125 years of Native history...comes to vivid life for every reader. * Booklist (starred) *Treuer ... is a wonderful novelist, and if anybody can tell this story in the way it needs to be told and retold, until the end of time, he can * LitHub *Treuer provides a sweeping account of how the trope of the vanishing Indian has distorted our current understanding of Native peoples. Instead of seeing Wounded Knee as the final chapter, he recovers the importance of World War II, urban migration, casinos, and the computer age in reshaping the modern Native American experience. The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee is written with conviction and illuminates the past in a deeply compelling way. * Nancy Isenberg, author of White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America *An ambitious, gripping, and elegantly written synthesis that is much more than the sum of its excellent parts - which include a rich array of Native lives, Treuer's own family and tribe among them - The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee brings a recognition of indigenous vitality and futurity to a century of modern Indian history. * Philip J. Deloria, Professor of History, Harvard University *Almost 130 years on from that massacre in the snow of South Dakota, Treuer finds that the Indian heart is still beating, and its people are finding ways to be not just in America, but of America. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe Profumo Affair was the political scandal of the twentieth century. The Tory War Minister, John Profumo, had been sleeping with the teenage Christine Keeler, while at the same time she had been sleeping with a Russian spy. The ensuing investigation revealed a secret world where titled men and prostitutes mixed, of orgies and S&M parties. The revelations rocked the British establishment to its core and lead to the resignation of the Prime Minister Harold Macmillan. And seemingly at the centre of it all was one man, Dr Stephen Ward.Stephen Ward was many things to many people. He was a successful osteopath to an establishment list of clients. He was a part-time artist who had drawn portraits of members of the Royal Family. To some he was a ''provider of popsies to rich people''; a man who knews lots of pretty girls of flexible morals. And finally, when the scandal came crashing down on the government, he was a scapegoat, put on trial and, ultimately, hounded to his de

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Book SynopsisBormann joined the Nazi Party in 1927 and quickly rose through its ranks. In July 1933 he became the Chief of Cabinet in the Office of the Deputy Fuhrer.

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Book SynopsisSPIES... FAMILIES... SECRETS - perfect for anyone who enjoyed A SPY AMONG FRIENDSOriginally published as LOOKING FOR MR NOBODYA fascinating true story of one man''s connection to the Cambridge Spy Ring and his daughter''s search for the truth.''A book which deserves nothing but praise'' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH''What makes [this book] memorable is Rees''s moving account of her own attempt to come to terms with her father''s "secret" ... her poignant memoir gives a rare insight into the experiences of families whose fathers joined the ranks of "Stalin''s Englishmen"'' SUNDAY TIMESSince Goronwy Rees''s death, his daughter Jenny has had to cope with the frequently made allegation that her father was another of the spies recruited at Cambridge in the 1930s. He never disguised his friendship with Guy Burgess who, with Donald Maclean, had defected to Moscow in 1951, and in 1979 Rees helped Andrew Boyle unmask Anthony Blunt, the Fourth Man. So, was Rees himself actually a spy? The opening of KGB files has acted as a spur to Jenny Rees in her quest to exorcise the past. The result is full of unexpected revelation, made all the more moving as she discovers for the first time the secret life of her father.Previously published as LOOKING FOR MR NOBODYTrade ReviewA book which deserves nothing but praise * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *What makes [this book] memorable is Rees's moving account of her own attempt to come to terms with her father's "secret" ... her poignant memoir gives a rare insight into the experiences of families whose fathers joined the ranks of "Stalin's Englishmen" ... Jenny Rees now probably understands her father better than he did himself * SUNDAY TIMES *A touching, unsentimental book worth reading * SPECTATOR *Resolute but tender * TLS *A sensitive voyage of discovery * DAILY TELEGRAPH *

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Book SynopsisThe Grimaldis of Monaco tells the remarkable history of the world's oldest reigning dynasty. Against all odds, they have proved themselves masterful survivors, still in possession of their lands and titles despite the upheavals of the French Revolution and the First and Second World Wars.

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Book Synopsis'Alive with human detail and acute political judgement, this book marks the arrival of a formidably gifted historian.' – Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets and The TemplarsIt was around half-past eight in the morning, with summer rainclouds weighing heavy in the sky, that Simon de Montfort decided to die. It was 4 August 1265 and he was about to face the royal army in the final battle of a quarrel that had raged between them for years. Outnumbered, outmanoeuvred and certain to lose, Simon chose to fight, knowing that he could not possibly win the day. The Song of Simon de Montfort is the story of this extraordinary man: heir to a great warrior, devoted husband and father, fearless crusader knight and charismatic leader. It is the story of a man whose passion for good governance was so fierce that, in 1258, frustrated by the King’s refusal to take the advice of his nobles and the increasing injustice meted out to his subjects, he marched on Henry III’s hall at Westminster and seized the reins of power. Montfort established a council to rule in the King’s name, overturning the social order in a way that would not be seen again until the rule of Oliver Cromwell in the seventeenth century. Having defeated the King at the Battle of Lewes in 1264, Montfort and his revolutionary council ruled England for some fifteen months, until the enmity between the two sides exploded on that August day in 1265. When the fighting was over, Montfort and a host of his followers had been cut down on the battlefield, in an outpouring of noble blood that marked the end of chivalry in England as it had existed since the Norman Conquest. Drawing on an abundance of sources that allow us to trace Montfort’s actions and personality in a depth not possible for earlier periods in medieval history, Sophie Thérèse Ambler tells his story with a clarity that reveals all of the excitement, chaos and human tragedy of England’s first revolution.Trade ReviewOne of the finest medieval biographies of recent years. -- Gareth Russell * The Times *This is an astonishingly assured debut by an extremely talented young historian. Exhaustively researched and beautifully written, it traces the remarkable life of a military and political giant of the medieval period who has never been more convincingly portrayed -- Saul David * Daily Telegraph *It’s hard to get into the heads of people who lived 800 years ago. This book goes further than you might think possible, by a clever use of letters, legal documents and chronicles; at times, we really can hear this man speak . . . This is a remarkable book: beautifully presented (with good maps and illustrations), finely written and based on a deep, scholarly knowledge of the sources. It’s rare to find a story and a storyteller so well matched. -- Noel Malcolm * Sunday Telegraph *Sophie Therese Ambler’s engaging new biography will enthral and horrify in equal measure … The Song of Simon de Montfort is a well-researched, elegantly written and lively portrait of a problematic figure. Sunday Times * Sunday Times *Amid the valley of dry bones, Ambler breathes life into sources that might otherwise seem arid or dull. Her narrative is expertly paced. Whenever the story threatens to sag or falter, she skips over the drier deserts of fact, moving us from the routine to the remarkable . . . From Evesham to the killing fields of the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses, Simon de Montfort's chief legacy was slaughter and woe. This is, therefore, a song more of lament than of triumph. It is a song that Sophie Therese Ambler sings supremely well. -- Nicholas Vincent * Literary Review *Riveting . . . a vivid psychological portrait of the charismatic knight through small but enlightening details of character . . . The Song of Simon de Montfort is an engaging foray from a talented historian into one of the most important but least understood eras in English history. -- Emma J. Wells * TLS *A dramatic story, told here with clarity and insight * History Revealed *Sophie Thérèse Ambler is a dazzlingly talented historian and in her debut biography offers a bold and brilliantly written reassessment of one of (British) history’s most misunderstood figures – the reformer, rebel and scourge of the Plantagenets, Simon de Montfort. Alive with human detail and acute political judgement, this book marks the arrival of a formidably gifted historian. -- Dan JonesGripping, detailed, and ingenious, The Song of Simon de Montfort is a compelling and thrilling story of England's very first revolution. With her beautiful prose, Sophie Ambler successfully crosses the gap between narrative and academic history and brings Simon de Montfort vividly to life -- Dr Estelle Paranque, author of Elizabeth I of England Through Valois EyesFor such a pivotal figure in English history, Simon de Montfort’s remarkable story is one that has been sadly neglected by mainstream history books. Ambler’s riveting volume redresses the balance brilliantly, recounting the electrifying build-up to the nation’s first revolutionary movement and the emergence of a nascent Parliament with page-turning skill. -- Dan Jones * Waterstones Top History Books of 2019 *Table of ContentsSection - i: List of Illustrations Section - ii: Maps Section - iii: Epigraph Section - iv: Prologue Introduction - v: Introduction Section - vi: A Note on Money Chapter - 1: A Way of Living, and a Way of Dying Chapter - 2: A New Kingdom Chapter - 3: Love Chapter - 4: Holy War Chapter - 5: An Exemplar of Defeat Chapter - 6: Ruler of Gascony Chapter - 7: A New Enemy Chapter - 8: The Seizure of Power Chapter - 9: The Reform of the Kingdom Chapter - 10: Rule by Conscience Chapter - 11: Betrayal Chapter - 12: Revolution Chapter - 13: Triumph Chapter - 14: Disaster Chapter - 15: Evesham Section - vii: Epilogue Section - viii: Notes Index - ix: Index

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Whitbread Biography of the Year.William Gladstone was, with Tennyson, Newman, Dickens, Carlyle, and Darwin, one of the stars of nineteenth-century British life. He spent sixty-three of his eighty-nine years in the House of Commons and was prime minister four times, a unique accomplishment. From his critical role in the formation of the Liberal Party to his preoccupation with the cause of Irish Home Rule, he was a commanding politician and statesman nonpareil. But Gladstone the man was much more: a classical scholar, a wide-ranging author, a vociferous participant in all the great theological debates of the day, a voracious reader, and an avid walker who chopped down trees for recreation. He was also a man obsessed with the idea of his own sinfulness, prone to self-flagellation and persistent in the practice of accosting prostitutes on the street and attempting to persuade them of the errors of their ways.Gladstone, by historian and eminent politician Roy Jenkins, is a full and deep portrait of a complicated man, offering a sweeping picture of a tumultuous century in British history, and is also a brilliant example of the biographer's art.Trade ReviewA splendid biography, which deals justly and fairly with all the controversies of Gladstone’s life … It is a notable achievement and will not be easily superseded. * The Times *Roy Jenkins has written many good books. This is his best. It is beyond praise. -- Vernon Bogdanor * Evening Standard *Inspired by affection for his tremendous subject, the author has scaled the heights with panache … [Jenkins’s] evident delight in the man and his story carry the reader along as though on the crest of a wave. -- Claire Tomalin * Independent on Sunday *Jenkins is a master of irony … This helps to make the book enormous fun to read, while it is also enlightening in any number of ways. -- John Grigg * Sunday Telegraph *Deliciously spiced with mordant wit, Gladstone can be read for sheer pleasure. But it is the wisdom as well as the wit that ensures this biography will live on. * Guardian *This biography matches one of Gladstone’s own towering performances. * Sunday Times *The combination of author and subject makes Roy Jenkins’s Gladstone irrestistible … His biography is all you need to know about Gladstone including the things you never dared ask. * Independent *Roy Jenkins has written the definitive biography of William Ewart Gladstone, the 'Grand Old Man' of Victorian politics. Jenkins is a consummate biographer … Gladstone is his chef-d’oeuvre. * Daily Express *As befits the heroic grandeur of its subject, this is an admirable proportioned and beautifully written book, by turns enthralling, moving and (sometimes) very funny . . . It is the best single volume biography of a Victorian statesman since Robert Blake's like of Disraeli. What higher praise can there be? -- David Cannadine * Observer *

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Book SynopsisOne of the preeminent Black scholars of his era traces the life and bold aspirations of a man who devoted his life to opposing slavery at any cost. W.E.B. Du Bois examines John Brown as a man as well as a motive force behind the abolitionist sympathies that helped lead to the Civil War. He traces Brown’s sympathy for slaves to an incident in his youth when he was warmly received by a family that treated their slave with casual brutality. At the time it was written, John Brown was widely considered a fanatic at best, a lunatic at worst, but here he is seen clearly as a man driven by his Christianity and his personal morals to oppose what he clearly perceived as a tremendous wrong in society, and to do so regardless of whatever toll it might take upon him. The author examines Brown’s impact on the minds of those who understood that the abolitionist cause was supported primarily by Blacks, on the lives of Blacks who discovered a white man willing to fight and die for their freedom, and by the masses who found that slavery was not only an actionable moral issue, but one of deadly urgency. Originally published in 1909, on the 50th anniversary of Brown’s execution, this is W.E.B. Du Bois’s only work of biography. Although less known than the author’s The Souls of Black Folk or Black Reconstruction in America, John Brown remains a classic distinguished by its author’s deep understanding and eloquence. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of John Brown is both modern and readable.

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Book SynopsisIn the summer of 2022, the little-known leader of a small union became a ‘working-class hero’. Facing down media pundits who thought they could walk all over him, he offered a robust critique of the government and provided workers with an authentic voice. At a time when the Labour Party was unable to articulate a credible alternative to the Tories, Mick Lynch spoke for the working class. Where did Lynch come from? How did he develop the skills and traits that make him such an effective spokesperson and leader? This book, the first biography of Lynch, explores his family and social background and his rise to the top of the RMT union, which culminated in election as General Secretary in 2021. Considering his persona and politics, this book asks what quality singles out Lynch as a working-class hero compared to other union leaders and, more broadly, what leadership means for working people and for the left.If we want better leaders at every level, the case of Mick Lynch holds the key.Trade Review‘Few union general secretaries master the news media, but Mick Lynch succeeded in withstanding – and exploiting – hostile questioning from television interviewers. Gregor Gall’s insightful account breaks new ground in showing how Lynch built up his public profile, having bypassed – and even thrived on – the union bashing of the tabloid press.’Nicholas Jones, former BBC industrial correspondent and author of Strikes and the Media'This is a compelling account of a charismatic union leader who emerged in summer 2022 as an articulate public spokesperson with a sharp sense of humour and a vision of social justice for workers that propelled him to national prominence.'John Kelly, Emeritus Professor of Industrial Relations, Birkbeck'Mapping Mick Lynch's personal and political trajectory, this book is a serious and engaging attempt to dig deeper into the new forms of radical leadership that have been evolving within the labour movement.'Professor Miguel Martinez Lucio, Work and Equalities Institute, The University of Manchester 'During the "hot summer" of 2022, Mick Lynch became the face and voice of mass protest against cuts to earnings, condition and services. Lynch's direct, wry voice spoke to us all, and for us all. This brilliant biography tells us how Lynch became a working-class hero, seemingly from nowhere.'Alan McKinlay, author of Jimmy Reid: A Clyde-Built Man'A fascinating study of the relationship between trade union struggles and the struggle for socialism.'Will Podmore, Morning Star'Packed with fascinating insight'Patrick Maguire, The Times'Has insights for those of us who see rank and file organisation at the base of the unions as the key to success.'Charlie Kimber, Socialist Worker 'Workers on the rail and beyond need to evaluate the strike wave. Gall’s book will be a useful aid for that.'Workers' Liberty 'Lessons of what methods work to create power over the bosses, what sort of leadership is effective in using those methods and others will need to be drawn out of the experience of this struggle, as part of the rearming of the working class as a whole. For trade unionists and socialists, this book is a useful contribution to that process.'Connor Rosoman, International Socialist Alternative -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Approaching Lynch: the framework2 What is a ‘working-class hero’? 3 Sparks fly! Boyhood and blacklisted but back again 4 Working for the union5 Becoming General Secretary6 A ‘working-class hero’ is made7 Power and participation8 Social democracy and socialism: reform and revolutionConclusionIndex

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Book SynopsisA household name throughout India, B. R. Ambedkar is one of the country’s most important figures, second only to Mahatma Gandhi. He played a major role in drafting the constitution for a newly independent India and led the fight against caste-based discrimination.Ambedkar was born into a Dalit caste (the so-called ‘untouchables’), but his academic brilliance saw him study at Columbia University and London School of Economics. As a politician, he fought to overturn centuries of discrimination and promoted liberal constitutionalism in a traditionally illiberal society. He did more than anyone to articulate a cogent and enduring case for the principles of democracy in a country emerging from imperial rule.This book is also a reminder of how far the practice of politics has strayed from the high standards Ambedkar set – of intellectual distinction, policy positions animated by serious scholarship, the infusion of moral values and the upholding of democracy for the many, not just the privileged few.Trade Review'During his lifetime, as well as after his death, Ambedkar remains a controversial figure, highly admired, almost deified by some, and attacked by others. A judiciously balanced view of him has been eluding Indians, partly because the cause for which he fought continues to do so. Shashi Tharoor’s book marks a welcome departure. Well researched, beautifully written, and skilfully argued, it traces the development of Ambedkar’s thought and explains why he remains a powerful presence in India’s political and cultural life. I strongly recommend it and hope it will generate a much needed public debate on the man and his legacy.'Professor Lord Bhikhu Parekh'Shashi Tharoor's B.R. Ambedkar is no ordinary biography. It is the first major book to evaluate not only Ambedkar's life, but also to delve deeply into his enduring legacy -- to follow Ambedkar not only through his own times, but to place him firmly into our own. That already is a remarkable achievement. The fact that this is done by one statesman looking at another makes it all the more remarkable.'Aakash Singh Rathore, author of Becoming Babasaheb: The Life and Times of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar -- .Table of ContentsPrefacePart I: Life1 Laying the foundations 2 Mounting the podium 3 Scaling the peaks4 View from the mountaintop 5 Triumph and disillusion Part II: Legacy6 A life well-lived Bibliography Index

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