Biography: historical, political and military Books

Book SynopsisWilliam Melville was one of the most influential counter - espionage figures of the twentieth century. This work presents the true story of the real M, William Melville, MI5s founding father and the inspiration for Ian Flemings character in James Bond.Trade ReviewHardback edition published in Autumn 2004 generated a huge amount of publicity: Half-page news story with 3 pictures in INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY; Double-page spread in THE DAILY EXPRESS and THE SUNDAY TIMES (Irish edition); Double-page feature written by author in HISTORY TODAY; 10 full page or double-page features in the British regional press; Book discussed on the MICHAEL PARKINSON RADIO SHOW and BREAKFAST WITH FROST. Received fantastic reviews also from bestselling authors: 'Well-researched, penetrating and engagingly written... an important and enjoyable addition to the growing genre of serious spook-history' ANDREW ROBERTS, author of Hitler and Churchill: Secrets of Leadership; 'A brilliantly researched biography of the real "M" - a far more hands-on character than 007's boss' DAME STELLA RIMINGTON, Former Director-General Of MI5 and author of At Risk. More praise: 'Compelling and authoritative... M was the most elusive and fascinating figure in the British Secret Service' LORD ROBERTSON, former Secretary-General of NATO; 'Provides much new and often colourful material' CHRISTOPHER M. ANDREW, author of The Mitrokin Archive. Widely reviewed and critically acclaimed: 'Ground-breaking' THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH; 'The secret life of the Victorian spymaster for became the original M' THE DAILY EXPRESS; 'One of the great espionage mysteries has finally been solved' THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY. Reviews in the paperback review sections of national daily and Sunday newspapers, weeklies, and history magazines to include The Times, THES, BBC History Magazine and The Sunday Telegraph.

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Book SynopsisAlthough Henry P. Folland never received the public acclaim accorded to the Spitfire and Hurricane''s designers, more than 7,000 examples were built of the seventeen fighters he designed. His first biplane fighter, the Royal Aircraft Factory''s S.E.5/5a, fought in the First World War with the Royal Flying Corps; his last, the 1934 Gloster Gladiator, equipped ten Royal Air Force Fleet Air Arm squadrons during the Second World War. Between the wars Henry Folland was responsible for the designs of fourteen other fighters, with Gladiators being exported to thirteen countries. Here Derek N. James, renowned aviation historian and author of nineteen books, relates the fascinating story of Henry Folland''s days as a Lanchester Motor Co. apprentice and his move to Daimler Motor Co., which was to change his life, before his prolific sixteen years with Gloucestershire (Gloster) Aircraft Co. A major section of the book is devoted to the Gauntlet and Gladiator with special contr

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Book SynopsisJohn Eppler thought himself to be the perfect spy. Born to German parents, he grew up in Egypt, adopted by a wealthy family and was educated in Europe. Fluent in German, English and Arabic, he made the Hadj to Mecca but was more at home in high society or travelling the desert on camelback with his adopted Bedouin tribe. After joining the German Secret Service in 1937, in 1942 he was sent across the desert to Cairo by Field Marshal Rommel. His guide was the explorer and Hungarian aristocrat Laszlo Almasy, a man made famous by the book The English Patient. Eppler's mission was to infiltrate British Army Headquarters and discover the Eighth Army's troop movements and battle plans. In The Rebecca Code, Mark Simmons reveals the story of Operation Condor and its comedy of errors and how it was foiled by Major A.W. Sammy' Sansom of the British Field Security Service. It is a tale of the desert, of the hotbed of intrigue that was 1940s Cairo, and the spy who was to send his reports using a co

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Book SynopsisIn the nineteenth century, Jules Verne imagined a journey round the world. Assisted by Charles Thomas, a Sussex engineer, the millionaire took his Napier car twice around the world, to places that had never seen a powered vehicle. The journeys took them across thirty-nine countries on four continents.

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Book SynopsisThere’s the office: President of the United States. And then there’s the man in the office—prone to temptation and looking to unwind after a long day running the country. Celebrating the decidedly less distinguished side of the nation’s leaders, humor writer Brian Abrams offers a compelling, hilarious, and true American history on the rocks—a Washington-to-Obama, vice-by-vice chronicle of how the presidents like to party. From explicit love letters to slurred speeches to nude swims at Bing Crosby’s house, reputations are ruined and secrets bared. George Washington brokered the end of the? American Revolution over glasses of Madeira. Ulysses S. Grant rarely drew a sober breath when he was leading the North to victory. And it wasn’t all liquor. Some presidents preferred their drugs—Nixon was a pill-popper. And others chased women instead—both ?the professorial Woodrow Wilson (who signed his love letters “

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Book SynopsisThis bestselling guide to the lives, deaths, and final resting places of our most enduring cultural icons has been revised and updated to include celebrities like Betty White, Alex Trebek, and many more.Where Are They Buried? has directed legions of fervent fans and multitudes of the morbidly curious to the graves, monuments, and tombstones of the more than 500 celebrities and antiheroes included in the book. The most comprehensive guide on the subject by far, every entry features an entertaining capsule biography full of little-known facts, a detailed description of the death, and step-by-step directions to the grave, including not only the name of the cemetery but the exact location of the gravesite and how to reach it. The book also provides a handy index of grave locations organized by state, province, and country to make planning a grave-hopping road trip easy and efficient. The 2023 edition adds 8 new entries including Kob

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsChapter 1 explores his early life and political heritage; chapter 2 considers prospects for change - Rebellion in Ireland and Reform in England - as O'Connor stood for election to parliament; Chapter 3 covers his first stint in the House of Commons, his break with O'Connell and his emergence as leader of British radicalism; Chapter 4 looks at his early Chartist career, including his period in prison; Chapter 5 examines his later Chartist career including his second period in the House of Commons. The last Chapter examines his later attempts to unite Irish and British radicals, his death commemoration and legacy.

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Book SynopsisA political biography on the life of Rajani Palme Dutt, one of the leading figures in the Communist Party of Great Britain from the 1920s to the 1960s. The text provides an insight into the mind of a Stalinist, and the twists and turns of communist politics.

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Book Synopsis‘Ali ibn ‘Asakir (1105-1176) was one of the most renowned experts on Hadith and Islamic history in the medieval era. His was a tumultuous time: centuries of Shi‘i rule had not long ended in central Syria, rival warlords sought control of the capital, and Crusaders had captured Jerusalem. Seeking the unification of Syria and Egypt, and the revival of Sunnism in both, Ibn ‘Asakir served successive Muslim rulers, including Nur al-Din and Saladin, and produced propaganda against both the Christian invaders and the Shi‘is. This, together with his influential writings and his advocacy of major texts, helped to lay the foundations for the eventual Sunni domination of the Levant - a domination which continues to this day.Trade Review‘Hyperbole notwithstanding, to understand the Levant’s sense of self and perception of history, one should look no further than Ibn ‘Asakir, whose intellectual efforts rehabilitated the past to canonise a blessed Sunni and Crusader-free Bilad al-Sham. Suleiman Mourad garners his intimate knowledge of the scholar, his numerous and voluminous works, and the contemporary intellectual and political context to expose the significance and extent of the phenomenon of Ibn ‘Asakir through to the end of twentieth century in the Syrian Republic.’ -- Dana Sajdi, Associate Professor of History, Boston CollegeTable of ContentsNotes Acknowledgments 1 The World of Ibn ‘Asakir Damascus in the fifth/eleventh century The Burids Nur al-Din Status of Religious Scholarship Back to Ibn ‘Asakir 2 Life & Career Background Education & Travels First Trip Second Trip Return to Damascus Teaching & Character Writings Death 3 Scholarship & Activism Political unity and Revivification of Sunnism Trustee of Hadith The College of Hadith In Defense of Ash‘arism Tabyin kadhib al-muftari Preaching of Jihad Al-Arba‘un hadith fi al-hathth ‘ala al-jihad Others Books on Jihad? Religious Merits of Towns and Places Fadl ‘Asqalan Ibn ‘Asakir as Theologian and Historian Was Ibn ‘Asakir a Theologian? Was Ibn ‘Asakir a Historian? 4 Ta’rikh Dimashq The Idea The Book Rehabilitation of Past Figures and Islamic Unity Arrangement and Divisions Transmission Manuscripts Impact Modern Editions 5 The ‘Asakir Extended Family Direct Descendants of Ibn ‘Asakir Descendants of Ibn ‘Asakir’s Sister Descendants of Ibn ‘Asakir’s Brother Muhammad Other Members of the ‘Asakir Family The ‘Asakir Family Tree 6 Medieval Legacy Ibn ‘Asakir’s Notable Students Ibn ‘Asakir’s Legacy through his Ta’rikh 7 Modern Legacy, Syrian Nationalism & Islamic Nationalism The Late-Nineteenth- to Early-Twentieth-Century Context The Late-Twentieth-Century Context Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExplores the man behind the legend, revealing his development as a ruler of an empire that was shaken to the core by religious and social revolt. This book presents a tale of war, culture and political intrigue during the reign of the legendary Harun al-Rashid from "The Thousand and One Nights".Trade Review'Most interesting ... full of fascinating detail.' The Bookseller

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Book SynopsisIn this beautifully illustrated sailing classic, which starts with the tragic deaths of the author's sister and father and impending poverty of his mother, it's not hard to imagine the gravely-voiced captain (the author) recalling the era of 'large sailing ships' and why the world stopped being a better place when they were forced off the seaTrade ReviewTV Presenter JULIETTE FOSTER: "Captain George P Boughton's maritime career began in 1881 at the age of 12, and thanks to his grandson, the founder of GB Publishing Org, this intriguing memoir of a life at sea is now available to a new generation of readers. "THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT: "His book is genuine sea salt...warm colours of Mr Shoesmith's pictures accord well with the romantic story [of days before steamships]". THE SPECTATOR: "recalls emotions [on sea-life] that have fleeted from the minds of most"

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Book Review Editors' ChoiceAn innovative account of Abraham Lincoln, constitutional thinker and doer.When Abraham Lincoln assumed the presidency in 1861, the United States' constitutional arrangements were not the ones we know today. It was widely believed that the federal government could not use armed force to prevent a state from seceding. It was also assumed that it had no authority over slavery in states where the institution existed and that basic civil liberties could not be suspended during a rebellion without the consent of Congress. As president, Lincoln broke decisively with all these precedents, deliberately and repeatedly violating the United States' founding principles. To what end? How did Lincoln understand the Constitution and how did he transform it?In The Broken Constitution, Noah Feldman tells the full story of how Lincoln tore up the Constitution in order to save it. Prior to the Civil War, the docume

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Book SynopsisDuring the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Christian Church will take centre stage once again, as the established religion in England. But why does the Church have such prominence in state affairs, and should it keep this privileged position in 21st Century, multi-faith Britain?In 1953, millions across the world watched the first televised coronation of a British monarch. What they witnessed was a deeply religious, medieval Christian ritual. Elizabeth II''s reign was profoundly shaped by her faith, expressed not only in her coronation vows but also in her 70 years as Queen, from her role as supreme governor of the Church of England, to her annual Christmas broadcasts, her encounters with Popes, Islam and the other religions. Like her late husband, Prince Philip, the Queen''s faith was described as her ''strength and stay'' amid the turmoil of a nation becoming increasingly secular at the same time as her subjects became increasingly more vTrade ReviewIt's a delight to walk the faith trail trodden by monarchs past, the monarch present and the monarch to come with the discriminating mind and poised pen of Catherine Pepinster as one's guide. It's real knowledge; impressively transmitted. Her faith is central to the character of The Queen and fundamental to the understanding of her reign yet in our secular time this is not always fully appreciated. Thanks to Defenders of the Faith, it is now. -- Peter Hennessyfascinating, thorough and timely...[Pepinster] shines particularly in the task of sketching the faith of the Queen, about which, as she rightly remarks, the stacks of royal biographies make "barely a mention". * Daily Telegraph (5-star review) *The most valuable part of Defenders of the Faith shows how Queen Elizabeth II has responded to the vastly changed ecumenical and interfaith picture since the Second World War. -- Richard Chartres * Church Times *an authoritative and timely exploration of the British monarchy * Methodist Recorder *It's a delight to walk the faith trail trodden by monarchs past, the monarch present and the monarch to come with the discriminating mind and poised pen of Catherine Pepinster as one's guide. It's real knowledge; impressively transmitted. Her faith is central to the character of The Queen and fundamental to the understanding of her reign yet in our secular time this is not always fully appreciated. Thanks to Defenders of the Faith, it is now. -- Peter Hennessyfascinating, thorough and timely...[Pepinster] shines particularly in the task of sketching the faith of the Queen, about which, as she rightly remarks, the stacks of royal biographies make "barely a mention". * Daily Telegraph (5-star review) *The most valuable part of Defenders of the Faith shows how Queen Elizabeth II has responded to the vastly changed ecumenical and interfaith picture since the Second World War. -- Richard Chartres * Church Times *an authoritative and timely exploration of the British monarchy * Methodist Recorder *

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Book SynopsisW. E. B. Du Bois was one of the most prolific African-American authors, scholars, and leaders of the twentieth century. In this book, Alexanderâs traces the development of Du Bois' thought over time.Trade ReviewThe Library of African-American Biography is to be commended for giving readers an accessible biography of one of the most prolific writers of the 19th and 20th centuries and a constant champion of civil rights. W. E. B. Du Bois deserves this sympathetic telling of his life story, a 95-year life that had many phases, bridging Reconstruction and the March on Washington. Alexander draws on a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including Du Bois’s own voluminous writings, to chronicle his intellectual journey, downplay the oft-reported tensions with Booker T. Washington, give significant attention to Du Bois’s contribution to the founding and development of the NAACP, and describe Du Bois’s indefatigable role as editor of the NAACP magazine, The Crisis, a 20th-century voice in the struggle to improve race relations in the US. The author also recounts Du Bois’s often-strident anti-colonial positions and the challenges he faced in the midst of the anti-communist hysteria of the 1950s. . . .Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. * CHOICE *Alexander's book, at 170 pages, clearly and concisely covers Dub Bois's 95 years and his roles as civil rights leader, journalist, peace activist, historian, sociologist and artist. * Kansas City: The Call *W. E. B. Du Bois: An American Intellectual and Activist by Shawn Leigh Alexander is an impressively informative biography presented in a clear and concise manner, exploring Du Bois' racial strategy, civil rights activity, journalistic career, and his role as an international spokesman, as well as his work as an historian, a sociologist, an artist, a propagandist, and a peace activist. Of special note in this exceptionally well written, organized and presented study is the inclusion of Du Bois' chief critics including Booker T. Washington, Marcus Garvey, Walter White, the Young Turks of the NAACP -- not to mention the federal government's characterization of his ever-radicalizing beliefs, particularly after World War II. A simply outstanding body of deftly crafted scholarship, W. E. B. Du Bois: An American Intellectual and Activist is unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Black American History & Biography collections in general, and W. E. B. Du Bois supplemental studies lists in particular. * Midwest Book Review *Shawn Leigh Alexander’s thoughtful and comprehensive survey of one of the most important literary figures and political writers of the twentieth century will be useful at every level. General readers will find it well written and up-to-date, and advanced professionals will find it a convenient and sophisticated review text. -- Wilson J. Moses, professor of history, The Pennsylvania State UniversityHere is an admirable and accessible synthesis of Du Bois's life and work. This sophisticated and well-crafted book will serve undergraduate classes and graduate seminars, ordinary readers interested in learning of the scope of Du Bois's work, as well as sophisticated researchers plumbing the seemingly endless complexities of Du Boisian thought and practice. -- Ernest Allen Jr., Emeritus Professor of Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts AmherstShawn Leigh Alexander's well-written and concise yet wide-reaching biography of W. E. B. Du Bois will help all students of African American history better understand the nuances of one of the most important black leaders of the twentieth century. -- Pero Gaglo Dagbovie, author of What is African American History?Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: The Early Years Chapter 2: The Study of the Negro Chapter 3: Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and Others: A Challenge of Leadership Chapter 4: Building Movements: The NAACP, Pan-Africanism, Garvey, and a Renaissance Chapter 5: Back to the Wings of Atlanta and the NAACP Redux Chapter 6: Marching towards Peace A Note on Sources Index About the Authors

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Book SynopsisOne of the most controversial figures of the New Deal Era, Harry Hopkins elicited few neutral responses from his contemporaries. Millions admired him and believed the New Deal agencies he headed had rescued them from despair, but many of President Roosevelt's enemies passionately hated him and derisively called him the world's greatest spender or FDR's left-wing Rasputin. Hopkins was a paradoxical man: a trained social worker who enjoyed the company of the swells, attending cocktail parties, and gambling at the track. Once the quintessential New Dealer, during World War II he single-mindedly devoted himself to aiding the allies, downplaying his previous commitment to social reform and rupturing his friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt, among others. He was sickly and underweight, yet a profane and blunt-spoken man, lacking in any outward affectations of charisma. Still, FDR curiously saw Hopkins, who moved into the White House on the very day that Germany invaded France in May 1940, as hiTrade ReviewWith a detailed, practical analysis of one of the most accomplished power brokers in F.D.R.’s New Deal administration, O’ Sullivan, a professor of history and international studies at the University of San Francisco, focuses on Harry Hopkins, the president’s confidant and catalyst for much of the era’s liberal policies providing government relief and public work jobs such as the Civil Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration. Hopkins, a former social worker and an early F.D.R. appointee, believed relief was a citizen’s right in the economic doldrums of the Great Depression, and while operating more than $10 billion in agency budgets he became the 'world’s largest employer, with more than fifteen million people working in various programs he ran.' O’Sullivan shows the significant influence he had with the president, serving as an envoy with Churchill and Stalin during crucial moments during WWII. A key feature of the Hopkins saga is the revelation of his private self: a driven and purposeful personality, he was cool under fire and very calculating in his political choices. O’ Sullivan’s striking portrait captures the life of a resourceful man who did the grunt work for a chief executive whose vision shaped modern American politics. * Publishers Weekly *This volume is an easy read that will be of value to general readers seeking a balanced scholarly introduction to its subject. Among the book's strengths is the inclusion of stories about Hopkins's marriages, parenting, and health. * Historian *To understand the enigmatic mind of Franklin Roosevelt—who wrote no memoirs—the widest and clearest window is through his alter ego, Harry Hopkins. O'Sullivan does that deftly, neatly constructing a full and fascinating image of the man now routinely labeled "assistant president" to FDR. The research is comprehensive, including some largely untapped writings and drafts. This is a valuable and readable addition to the recent upsurge of studies about a president and his indispensable adviser as they fought America's last "good war." -- Warren F. Kimball, Robert Treat Professor of History, Rutgers UniversityMeticulously researched and brilliantly written, Christopher O’Sullivan shows how Iowa-born Harry Hopkins, President Franklin Roosevelt’s closest aide and friend, deftly held together the often fragile three-party coalition of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin that led to victory in World War II. O’Sullivan makes a convincing case that if Roosevelt had lived and if Hopkins had remained in government after the war, relations with Stalin and the Soviet Union would never have deteriorated to the extent they did. -- David L. Roll, author of The Hopkins Touch: Harry Hopkins and the Forging of the Alliance to Defeat HitlerIn a well-written and perceptive account steeped in the Hopkins papers, O'Sullivan skillfully captures a man who served as an indispensable link between the Big Three—Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin. Contesting some recent irresponsible claims, the author shows that Hopkins was never naïve concerning the totalitarian nature of the Soviet regime, but put the defeat of Nazi Germany as his main priority. Anyone seeking to understand World War II diplomacy will find this account most valuable. -- Justus Doenecke, New College of FloridaTable of Contents1. The Social Gospel 2. New Dealer 3. "Lord Root of the Matter" 4. Mission to Moscow, 1941 5. "Assistant President" 6. Catalyst of the Grand Alliance 7. Defeating Fascism 8. The Final Mission to Moscow Conclusion: The Lost Peace

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Book SynopsisSir Charles Dilke was born in 1843 and died in 1911. His career is one of the mysteries and tragedies of nineteenth-century history.In the summer of 1885 he was the youngest man in the outgoing cabinet and Gladstone''s most likely successor as leader of the Liberal Party. But his great expectations were shattered when in July 1885 Donald Crawford, a Liberal candidate, began divorce proceedings against his twenty-two-year-old wife, citing Dilke as co-respondent. There were two hearings, during the second of which Mrs Crawford made the most sensational allegations and in the end Dilke lost. He maintained his innocence to his dying day and despite his public disgrace there were many who believed him.First published in 1958, Dilke is a story with a climax as exciting as it is mysterious and which bears continuing relevance to the private lives of public figures.Table of ContentsIntroduction I A Determined Preparation II A Greater Britain III Member for Chelsea IV An English Republican V The Birmingham Alliance VI The Dust without the Palm VII A Laborious Promotion VIII A Radical amongst the Whigs IX A Dying Government X Mr. Gladstone's Successor XI Mrs. Crawford Intervenes XII An Inconclusive Verdict XIII The Case for Dilke XIV The Case for Mrs. Crawford - and the Verdict XV The New Evidence XVI What was the Truth? XVII The Long Road Back XVIII An Independent Expert XIX A Quiet End Appendix I List of Characters concerned with the case Appendix II List of addresses in the Case References

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Book SynopsisThomas Jonathan Stonewall Jackson was the embodiment of Southern contradictions. He was a slave owner who fought and died, at least in part, to perpetuate slavery, yet he founded an African-American Sunday School and personally taught classes for almost a decade. For all his sternness and rigidity, Jackson was a deeply thoughtful and incredibly intelligent man. But his reputation and mythic status, then and now, was due to more than combat success. In a deeply religious age, he was revered for a piety that was far beyond the norm. How did one man meld his religion with the institution of slavery? How did he reconcile it with the business of killing, at which he so excelled?In SEARCHING FOR STONEWALL JACKSON, historian Ben Cleary examines not only Jackson''s life, but his own, contemplating what it means to be a white Southerner in the 21st century. Now, as statues commemorating the Civil War are toppled and Confederate flags come down, Cleary walks the famous battlefields, f

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Book SynopsisRendezvous at the Russian Tea Rooms provides the first comprehensive account of what was once hailed by a leading American newspaper as the greatest spy story of World War II. This dramatic yet little-known saga, replete with telephone taps, kidnappings, and police surveillance, centres on the furtive escapades of Tyler Kent, a handsome, womanising 28-year-old Ivy League graduate, who doubles as a US Embassy code clerk and Soviet agent. Against the backdrop of London high society during the so-called Phoney War, Kent''s life intersects with the lives of the book''s two other memorably flamboyant protagonists. One of those is Maxwell Knight, an urbane, endearingly eccentric MI5 spyhunter. The other is Anna Wolkoff, a White Russian fashion designer and Nazi spy whose outfits are worn by the Duchess of Windsor and whose parents are friends of the British royal family. Wolkoff belongs to a fascist secret society called the Right Club, which aims to overthrow the British gTrade ReviewResearched with almost breathtaking depth and ingenuity, this is a compelling story of swirling political and personal cross-currents at the time of our gravest national danger.

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Book Synopsis*** WINNER OF THE NATIONAL CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR BIOGRAPHY ****** LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN/JACQUELINE BOGRAD WELD AWARD FOR BIOGRAPHY ***''The Queen is an invaluable work of non-fiction'' - David Grann, Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower MoonThis is the gripping true tale of a villain who changed American history.In the 1970s, Linda Taylor became a fur-wearing, Cadillac-driving symbol of the undeserving poor - the original ''welfare queen''. In the press she was the ultimate template for this insidious stereotype; Ronald Reagan himself cited her criminal behaviour in his presidential campaign, turning public opinion firmly against state benefits and those who used them.But Taylor was demonized for the least of her crimes. She was a con artist, a thief, a kidnapper, maybe even a murderer - and certainly one of the most gifted and deranged criminals of Trade ReviewIn the finest tradition of investigative reporting, Josh Levin exposes how a story that once shaped the nation's conscience was clouded by racism and lies. As he stunningly reveals, the deeper truth, the messy truth, tells us something much larger about who we are. The Queen is an invaluable work of nonfiction * David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon *Another author would have used the 'welfare queen' as a jumping-off point to explore stereotypes, welfare politics and political rhetoric. Levin addresses all that, but his real goal is to put a face to Reagan's bogeywoman, tracking every alias, every scam, every duped husband and every dodged arrest. He presents Linda Taylor not as a parable for anything grand, but as a singular American scoundrel who represented nothing but herself... Part of the fun of Levin's book is burrowing inside his obsessive quest * The New York Times Book Review *Levin's brilliant exploration of the politics of welfare reform teaches an essential lesson. When myths and stereotypes predominate, facts, logic and evidence lose out . . . Levin's story calls upon us to think harder. Gripping. -- Lisbeth B. Schorr * Washington Post *The Queen is a wild, only-in-America story that helped me understand my country better. It's a fascinating portrait of a con artist and a nation . . . and the ways the United States continually relies on oversimplified narratives about race and class to shape public policy, almost always at the expense of brown people and poor people * Attica Locke, author of Black Water Rising *It is impossible to read The Queen without pausing every few pages to marvel at either the brilliance of Josh Levin's research or the sheer wildness of the tale. By pouring years of devotion into piecing together Linda Taylor's bizarre criminal odyssey, Levin has created a work of American history like no other - an enthralling portrait of a nation whose splendid promise has too often been distorted by prejudice and political cynicism * Brendan I. Koerner, author of The Skies Belong to Us *For decades, Linda Taylor has been demagogued by politicians and the press, reduced to a cruel stereotype: the welfare queen shamelessly leeching from government coffers. Through meticulous reporting, Josh Levin's The Queen illuminates in full the story of a life far more complicated, cunning, criminal, tragic and fascinating than the historical stereotype would have ever allowed us to see * Wesley Lowery, author of They Can't Kill Us All *A stunning account ... His powerful work of narrative nonfiction shows how Taylor victimized a slew of vulnerable people, was a victim herself, and was the cause of Black welfare recipients being stereotyped as "welfare cheats." ... Levin does a terrific job of balancing his portrait of a criminal, of the racism of police ... and of the widespread stereotyping of Blacks that grew out of her crimes and a president's distortions. -- Connie Fletcher * Booklist *Levin nimbly explores Taylor's life in a story that becomes more complex the more it's revealed. The tale encompasses an astonishingly prolific criminal career as well as issues of race ... mental illness. amd self-invention, to say nothing of politics and the essentialism that Regan commonly practised ... A top-notch study of an exceedingly odd moment in history. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisPolitical strategist Lance Price reveals the amazing story behind Narendra Modi's 2014 Indian election vistoryTrade ReviewLance Price has written the definitive account of the campaign that got Modi to where he is now. He tells a good story. Extensive interviews with key aides, interesting comparisons with powerful politicians he has worked with, and detailed chats with Modi himself have given Price's book an exciting immediacy. Price gives us a ringside view of Modi's way of working. * The Times of India *This book will help people around the world to understand more about Indian democracy and our campaign. * Narendra Modi *Price brings to the debate is the spin-doctor's perspective . . . He dissects Modi's strategic and tactical decisions, the social media interventions starting as far back as 2010, the advertising campaigns, the media coverage and the role of the three crucial 'ecosystems' that won Modi the election. * Financial Times *The Modi Effect is a highly readable book written in a racy and lucid style. * Financial Express *

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Book SynopsisThis is the first biography to see William Robertson as both a man and a central Enlightenment figure. Drawing extensively on his unpublished correspondence, and foregrounding Robertson's religious outlook, Jeffrey R. Smitten gives us offers a more nuanced interpretation of his motives, intentions, and beliefs than ever before.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the USA Today bestselling self-help memoir from a former Army Ranger, a hero of the 2012 Benghazi siege, and the subject of the book and movie 13 Hours, as he shares life-changing lessons of discipline, motivation, success, and peace.Thousands of people have heard Kris Tanto Paronto speak about his experiences in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. But before he was a security contractor, Tanto was a US Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. In The Ranger Way, Tanto shares stories from his training experiences that played a role in his team''s heroic response in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. Being a Ranger is, by design, not for everyone, but anyone can use the expectations and techniques of Ranger culture to achieve personal victory. Tanto shows you how to define your mission, set goals that are in alignment with your values, and develop a battle plan that will maximize your chances of success. You will learn why you should never quit

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Book SynopsisFirst time in paperback Personal story of Germany’s top special forces man; fast-paced action Ongoing interest in Nazis can be seen from recent Man in the High Castle series – Amazon’s most streamed original series and Bill O’Reilly’s 2015 Hitler’s Last Days Iconic names and events – the rescue of Mussolini, action in the Ardennes, and much more Includes front matter by Dan Raviv, CBS news correspondent, and military historian and former Royal Tank Regiment officer Charles Messenger, author of nearly 40 books

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Book Synopsis'A compelling tragedy, but one which casts valuable new light on the outsized human dimensions of both men ... Agonising but excellent' The Telegraph'In this fascinating account of the turbulent Churchill father-and-son relationship, Josh Ireland shows how central Winston and Randolph were to each other's lives' Andrew RobertsFew fathers and sons can ever have been so close as Winston Churchill and his only son Randolph. Both showed flamboyant impatience, reckless bravery, and generosity of spirit. The glorious and handsome Randolph was a giver and devourer of pleasure, a man who exploded into rooms, trailing whisky tumblers and reciting verbatim whole passages of classic literature. But while Randolph inherited many of his fathers' talents, he also inherited all of his flaws. Randolph was his father only more so: fiercer, louder, more out of control. Hence father and son would be so very close, and so liable to explode at each other.Winston's closest ally during the wilderness years of the 1930s, Randolph would himself become a war hero, serving with the SAS in the desert and Marshal Tito's guerrillas in Yugoslavia, a friend of press barons and American presidents alike, and a journalist with a 'genius for uncovering secrets', able to secure audiences with everyone from Kaiser Wilhelm to General Franco and Guy Burgess.But Randolph's political career never amounted to anything. As much as he idolised Winston and never lost faith in his father during the long, solitary years of Winston's decline, he was never able to escape from the shadow cast by Britain's great hero. In his own eyes, and most woundingly of all his father's, his life was a failure. Winston, ever consumed by his own sense of destiny, allowed his own ambitions to take priority over Randolph's. The world, big as it was, only had space for one Churchill. Instead of the glory he believed was his birthright, Randolph died young, his body rotted by resentment and drink, before he could complete his father's biography.A revealing new perspective on the Churchill myth, this intimate story reveals the lesser-seen Winston Churchill: reading Peter Rabbit books to his children, admonishing Eton schoolmasters and using decanters and wine glasses to re-fight the Battle of Jutland at the table. Amid a cast of personalities who defined an era - PG Wodehouse, Nancy Astor, The Mitfords, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lord Beaverbrook, William Randolph Hearst, Oswald Mosley, Graham Greene, Duff and Diana Cooper, the Kennedys, Charlie Chaplin, and Lloyd George - Churchill & Son is the lost story of a timeless father-son relationship.Trade ReviewNo matter how low Randolph's reputation plummeted, Winston's love remained undimmed and this fine book may now allow the rest of us to appreciate the younger Churchill's merits * The Times *A fascinating, acute and touching portrait of Churchill and Randolph, revealing there's no greater curse than to be the son of a great man -- Simon Sebag MontefioreBeautifully written, revelatory, evocative and hugely timely. A triumph -- Damien LewisIn this fascinating account of the turbulent Churchill father-and-son relationship, Ireland shows how central Winston and Randolph were to each other's lives. Randolph has rarely been approached so sympathetically as in this well-researched and well-written book -- Andrew RobertsThis is a revelatory portrait of an explosive relationship between a great man and his infamous son. With skill and sensitivity, Josh Ireland lays bare the anguish of their dysfunctional love -- Jonathan DimblebyA fascinating study of the family relationship beneath the most dramatic events of the twentieth century. It is the thrilling story of a man trapped between an epic sense of entitlement and the constant awareness of his own failure - Joshua Levine, author of DunkirkAn immersive account of Churchill's tempestuous relationship with his only son, Randolph ... Entertaining and insightful * Publishers Weekly *Ireland draws unforgettable sketches of life in the Churchill circle, much like Erik Larson did in The Splendid and the Vile ... Tragedy as well as triumph in this meticulous, fascinating tale of three generations of Churchills * Kirkus *A compelling tragedy, but one which casts valuable new light on the outsized human dimensions of both men ... Agonising but excellent * The Telegraph *This is an agonising but excellent study of their volatile relationship * The Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis'Provides a wealth of juicy anecdotal material about five centuries of court life' New York Times'Naughty Knickers version of our island story' Daily Mail---------------------------------------------Ladies in Waiting chronicles the lives of famous and infamous ladies who served royalty, casting a fresh, intimate angle on four hundred years of monarchy. For centuries, the most beautiful, able and aristocratic women in England competed for positions at court. Some who came to serve were remarkable for their learning and exemplary virtue, but others were notable for promiscuity and lack of scruple, drawn to court by a lust for money and power. Several ladies-in-waiting became royal mistresses, showing few qualms about betraying the queen consorts they ostensibly served. If bedding the King was not an option open to all, many ladies came to court in hope of finding husbands, only to succumb to constant assaults on their virtue or to find themselves denied permission by their sovereign to marry. Drawing on an enormous variety of sources, Anne Somerset provides an illuminating guide to the character, profligate or pious, of each court. Contained within the stories of the individual women is a consistently entertaining commentary on the manners, morals and shifting mentality of the royal, the rich, and the prominent throughout the centuries, resulting in social history at its most enjoyable and vibrant.Trade ReviewAnne Somerset's gossipy Ladies in Waiting provides a wealth of juicy anecdotal material about five centuries of court life from Henry VIII to Elizabeth II * New York Times *Extraordinarily enjoyable... Colourful and entertaining...A Naughty Knickers version of our island story * Daily Mail *A pleasing account of the upper-class ladies who slaved, suffered and starved in royal service * Sunday Times *An extremely informative and well-documented study that... because it is full of odd episodes and graphic portraits, will make admirable bedside reading * Sunday Telegraph *Lady Anne writes with perception, wit, candour and a confident authority * The Spectator *Well-written, well-researched and well-produced * Books and Bookmen *From four centuries of courtly life and love, Anne Somerset has compiled a sparkling history, lucidly written and of impeccable scholarship * Country Life *This delightful history of the distaff royal household is a perfect English set piece....This author has earned a lifetime post as a Lady of the Pen who can evoke the whisper of ruffled skirts on stone stairs and legendary candlelit faces through mullioned windows * Philadelphia Inquirer *The lives of these long-suffering women, raucously recounted in this immensely enjoyable book, offer an oblique, but very human, perspective on English history. * The Daily Telegraph *A fascinating reprint * The Spectator *'gossipy and entertaining history...full of fascinating details' * Best *

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Book SynopsisA radical reinterpretation of America’s greatest president. Where previous Lincoln biographers describe his temperament as “moderate,” “passive,” or even “conservative,” historian Richard Striner offers a stunningly original perspective that will shed significant new light on one of the most studied figures in American history. Striner shows Lincoln’s audacity as no other book has ever done. By emphasizing the workings of Lincoln’s mind—stressing his cunning, his overall honesty, strategic thinking—even his ability to change his mind—Striner looks anew at many topics and themes important to Lincoln’s story that either revise or add new meaning to the work of previous biographers. His insights into Lincoln’s life, but also into antebellum America, and the military and political history of the Civil War, make this book indispensable for well-read armchair historians, seasoned students of Lincoln, the Civil War, or the American presidency and newcomers alike.Trade ReviewRichard Striner has given us a keen, fresh look at Lincoln’s challenging youth, his unlikely rise to the presidency, and his providential leadership in America’s darkest hour. Summoned to Glory is an original, engaging, insightful view of the great man as a cagey politician and an audacious military and political strategist, enhanced by an enjoyable style and a depth of context often missing from Lincoln biographies. -- James B. Conroy, author of Lincoln’s White House: The People’s House in Wartime, co-winner of the 2017 Lincoln Prize

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Book SynopsisHistorian Jonathan W. White tells the riveting story of Appleton Oaksmith, a swashbuckling sea captain whose life intersected with some of the most important moments, movements, and individuals of the mid-19th century, from the California Gold Rush, filibustering schemes in Nicaragua, Cuban liberation, and the Civil War and Reconstruction. Most importantly, the book depicts the extraordinary lengths the Lincoln Administration went to destroy the illegal trans-Atlantic slave trade. Using Oaksmith’s case as a lens, White takes readers into the murky underworld of New York City, where federal marshals plied the docks in lower Manhattan in search of evidence of slave trading. Once they suspected Oaksmith, federal authorities had him arrested and convicted, but in 1862 he escaped from jail and became a Confederate blockade-runner in Havana. The Lincoln Administration tried to have him kidnapped in violation of international law, but the attempt was foiled. Always claiming innocence, Oaksmith spent the next decade in exile until he received a presidential pardon from U.S. Grant, at which point he moved to North Carolina and became an anti-Klan politician. Through a remarkable, fast-paced story, this book will give readers a new perspective on slavery and shifting political alliances during the turbulent Civil War Era.

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Book SynopsisJoseph R. Biden Sr. never held political office, but that didn't stop him from imparting a lifetime's worth of guidance to his son and our 46th president.Featuring such classic Bidenisms as "I may be Irish, but I'm not stupid," "Don't compare me to the Almighty, compare me to the alternative," and the ever-famous "That's a bunch of malarkey," THINGS JOE BIDEN'S FATHER TOLD HIM is a curious catechism of Biden family wisdom.

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Book SynopsisBarbara Pierce Bush was one of the country's most popular and powerful figures, yet her full story has never been told.THE MATRIARCH tells the riveting tale of a woman who helped define two American presidencies and an entire political era. Written by USA TODAY's Washington Bureau chief Susan Page, this biography is informed by more than one hundred interviews with Bush friends and family members, hours of conversation with Mrs. Bush herself in the final six months of her life and access to her diaries that spanned decades. THE MATRIARCH examines not only her public persona but also less well-known aspects of her remarkable life. As a girl in Rye, New York, Barbara Bush weathered criticism of her weight from her mother, barbs that left lifelong scars. As a young wife, she coped with the death of her three-year-old daughter from leukaemia, a loss that changed her forever. In middle age, she grappled with depression so serious that she contemplated suicide and as first the wife and then the mother of American presidents, she made history as the only woman to see -- and advise -- both her husband and son in the Oval Office. As with many women of her era, Barbara Bush was routinely underestimated, her contributions often neither recognised nor acknowledged but she became an astute and trusted political campaign strategist and a beloved First Lady. She invested herself deeply in expanding literacy programs in America, played a critical role in the end of the Cold War and led the way in demonstrating love and compassion to those with HIV/AIDS. With her cooperation, this book offers Barbara Bush's last words for history - on the evolution of her party, on the role of women, on Donald Trump and on her family's legacy.Barbara Bush's accomplishments, struggles and contributions are many. Now, Susan Page explores them all in THE MATRIARCH, a groundbreaking book certain to cement Barbara Bush as one of the most unique and influential women in American history.

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Book SynopsisIn EVERY DAY IS A GIFT, Tammy Duckworth takes readers through the amazing-and amazingly true-stories from her incomparable life. In November of 2004, an Iraqi RPG blew through the cockpit of Tammy Duckworth's U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The explosion, which destroyed her legs and mangled her right arm, was a turning point in her life. But as Duckworth shows in EVERY DAY IS A GIFT, that moment was just one in a lifetime of extraordinary turns.The biracial daughter of an American father and a Thai-Chinese mother, Duckworth faced discrimination, poverty, and the horrors of war -- all before the age of 16. As a child, she dodged bullets as her family fled war-torn Phnom Penh. As a teenager, she sold roses by the side of the road to save her family from hunger and homelessness in Hawaii. Through these experiences, she developed a fierce resilience that would prove invaluable in the years to come.Duckworth joined the Army, becoming one of a handful of female helicopter pilots at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She served eight months in Iraq before the attack that took her legs and nearly her life. She then spent thirteen months recovering at Walter Reed, learning to walk again on prosthetic legs and planning her return to the cockpit. But Duckworth found a new mission after meeting her state's senators, Barack Obama and Dick Durbin. After winning two terms as a U.S. Representative, she won election to the U.S. Senate in 2016. And she and her husband Bryan fulfilled another dream when she gave birth to two daughters, becoming the first sitting senator to give birth.From childhood to motherhood and beyond, EVERY DAY IS A GIFT is the remarkable story of one of America's most dedicated public servants.

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