Biography: historical, political and military Books

Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * “Do we need still another Watergate book? The answer turns out to be yes—this one.” —The Washington Post * “Dazzling.” —The New York Times Book Review From the New York Times bestselling author of The Only Plane in the Sky, comes the first definitive narrative history of Watergate—“the best and fullest account of the crisis, one unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)—exploring the full scope of the scandal through the politicians, investigators, journalists, and informants who made it the most influential political event of the modern era.In the early hours of June 17, 1972, a security guard named Frank Wills enters six words into the log book of the Watergate office complex that will change the course of history: 1:47 AM Found tape on doors; call police. The subsequent arrests of five men seeking to bug and burgle the Democratic National Committee offices—three of them Cuban exiles, two of them former intelligence operatives—quickly unravels a web of scandal that ultimately ends a presidency and forever alters views of moral authority and leadership. Watergate, as the event is called, becomes a shorthand for corruption, deceit, and unanswered questions. Now, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Garrett M. Graff explores the full scope of this unprecedented moment from start to finish, in the first comprehensive, single-volume account in decades. The story begins in 1971, with the publication of thousands of military and government documents known as the Pentagon Papers, which reveal dishonesty about the decades-long American presence in Vietnam and spark public outrage. Furious that the leak might expose his administration’s own duplicity during a crucial reelection season, President Richard M. Nixon gathers his closest advisors and gives them implicit instructions: Win by any means necessary. Within a few months, an unsteady line of political dominoes are positioned, from the creation of a series of covert operations code-named GEMSTONE to campaign-trail dirty tricks, possible hostage situations, and questionable fundraising efforts—much of it caught on the White House’s own taping system. One by one they fall, until the thwarted June burglary attracts the attention of intrepid journalists, congressional investigators, and embattled intelligence officers, one of whom will spend decades concealing his identity behind the alias “Deep Throat.” As each faction slowly begins to uncover the truth, a conspiracy deeper and more corrupt than anyone thought possible emerges, and the nation is thrown into a state of crisis as its government—and its leader—unravels. Using newly public documents, transcripts, and revelations, Graff recounts every twist with remarkable detail and page-turning drama, bringing readers into the backrooms of Washington, chaotic daily newsrooms, crowded Senate hearings, and even the Oval Office itself during one of the darkest chapters in American history. Grippingly told and meticulously researched, Watergate is the defining account of the moment that has haunted our nation’s past—and still holds the power to shape its present and future.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR WATERGATE: A NEW HISTORY “Do we need still another Watergate book? The answer turns out to be yes — this one: Garrett M. Graff’s Watergate: A New History. It is a remarkably rich narrative with compelling characters, who range from criminal and flawed to tragic and heroic. As someone who played a small role in the drama while I was editing many of The Washington Post’s Watergate stories, I found that Graff convincingly populates and re-creates an extraordinary time in the history of the country and this city. ... fast-paced ... filled with apt sketches of its many characters, major and minor, from all the president’s men, and some of their spouses, to journalists, investigators, lawyers and members of Congress. It vividly re-creates all the key events, from Nixon’s overreaction to the revelation of the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War in June 1971 to his resignation in August 1974.... engaging, informative and thought-provoking, more than earning its place on bookshelves alongside the old histories.” —Len Downie, Jr., The Washington Post “Dazzling. . . A lively writer, Graff explores the dramatic scope of the Watergate saga through its participants — politicians, investigators, journalists, whistle-blowers and, at center stage, Nixon himself.” —Douglas Brinkley, The New York Times Book Review “Award-winning author Graff aims to give readers the full scope of Watergate — a much bigger, more bizarre story than even remembered — telling the full story from start to finish in this ambitious book.” —New York Post “A definitive, exhaustive account of the scandal. . . a fascinating, horrifying examination of the Nixon presidency up close—enough to scare the record straight.” —AirMail “A meticulously researched, expansive history of the Watergate scandal from start to finish, from the release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 to the reverberations that echo through present day.” —Barbara VanDenburgh, USA TODAY “A brisk, riveting, compulsively readable, comprehensive, up-to-date narrative of the entire tangled affair, and it's hard to imagine it better told. . . . Now the best and fullest account of the Watergate crisis, one unlikely to be surpassed anytime soon.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Monumental. . . effortlessly clarifies the strands of one of the most complex episodes in modern history. . . A masterful, epic look at a story that is still barely believable.” —The Daily Mail “This meticulously researched and documented book should now become the definitive source for those who wish to dive into the cesspool of deceit, intrigue and criminal behavior that were associated with the seemingly innocuous break-in and the cover-up. ... [Graff] makes a valiant attempt to connect all the disparate threads from the confusing tapestry of multiple investigations, muffled tapes and self-serving memoirs available. His organization of the book makes the 700-plus pages flow seamlessly as the investigators reach their inevitable conclusions. In summary, this book should be required reading for any citizen with the faintest interest in how the sausage-factory of Washington politics functions and how our country has managed to arrive at today’s dysfunctional impasse.” —J. Kemper Campbell, Lincoln Journal-Star “Lively, wide-ranging, detailed.” —Erica J. Smith, The Virginian Pilot “Garrett Graff aptly calls Watergate a 'Gordian knot of scandal.' This comprehensive, searching, yet elegant book untangles it more completely than any attempt so far. I learned a lot!” —Rick Perlstein, bestselling author of Nixonland and Reaganland “Watergate is one of the great tragic double-edged swords of modern American history: its crimes were swiftly exposed, the criminals punished, the rule of law restored––and it profoundly, permanently undermined American citizens' trust in their government. Garrett Graff's fresh chronicle of that inflection point is lucid, enlightening and indispensable.” —Kurt Andersen, author of Evil Geniuses and writer-host of Nixon at War “I thought I knew all the Watergate stories. I was wrong. Graff did a herculean job going through so much existing Watergate material to pull together a compelling new story and make it all fresh again. Think you know the entire story from beginning to end? Not until you’ve read this.” —Howard Mortman, C-SPAN communications director and author of When Rabbis Bless Congress “Expertly researched and assembled, this is a valuable introduction to one of history’s greatest political scandals. . . . Graff skillfully interweaves the perspectives of journalists and law enforcement officials investigating the Watergate break-in with the Nixon team’s attempts to “use the organs of government to cover up their own rogue operation,” and incisively analyzes how the congressional inquiry into the scandal resulted in Democrats and Republicans coming together to uphold the Constitution and limit the powers of the president.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisIsaac Newton is generally regarded as one of the greatest scientists in history, yet the spectrum of his interests was much broader than that of a contemporary scientist. He was deeply involved in alchemical, religious and biblical studies, and in the later part of his life he played a prominent role in British politics, economics and the promotion of scientific research. Newton's pivotal work Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica, which sets out his laws of universal gravitation and motion, is regarded as one of the most important works in the history of science. Niccolo Guicciardini's enlightening biography offers an accessible introduction to Newton's celebrated work in mathematics, optics and astronomy and to how Newton viewed these scientific fields in relation to his quest for the deepest secrets of the universe, matter theory and religion. Guicciardini sets Newton the natural philosopher in the troubled context of the religious and political debates that took place during Newton's life, which spanned from the years of the Civil War to the Restoration, the Glorious Revolution and the Hanoverian succession. Taking into account the latest Newtonian scholarship, this fast-paced biography will appeal to all those with an interest in this iconic figure and the great scientific revolution of the early modern period.Trade Review"In this elegant and perceptive biography, one of the leading scholars of Isaac Newton's career provides a clear and often startling summary of the life of one of the greatest early modern scholars and philosophers of nature. With considerable intellectual balance and literary vigour, this book explores the full range of Newton's achievements, both in the mathematics and natural philosophy which laid the foundations of his cosmology and mechanics, and his strenuously reasoned and absorbing analysis of scripture and prophecy, alchemy and apocalypse. Guicciardini is especially keen to put Newton back into the world where he labored and flourished, a milieu he shows was very different from that of current sciences or of modern religious thought to which Newton's enterprise nevertheless made the most decisive contributions. The book offers a fascinating introduction to the aims and achievements of a towering figure of European intellectual culture."--Simon Schaffer, University of Cambridge "This pithy, nuanced biography of Isaac Newton examines the whole man, as a scientist born into the tumultuous seventeenth century and as an icon (and puzzle) through time."--Barbara Kiser "Nature "

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Book SynopsisWithout Churchill's inspiring leadership Britain could not have survived its darkest hour and repelled the Nazi menace. Without his wife Clementine, however, he might never have become Prime Minister. By his own admission, the Second World War would have been 'impossible without her'. Clementine was Winston's emotional rock and his most trusted confidante; not only was she involved in some of the most crucial decisions of war, but she exerted an influence over her husband and the Government that would appear scandalous to modern eyes. Yet her ability to charm Britain's allies and her humanitarian efforts on the Home Front earned her deep respect, both behind closed doors in Whitehall and among the population at large. That Clementine should become Britain's 'First Lady' was by no means pre-ordained. Born into impecunious aristocracy, her childhood was far from gilded. Her mother was a serial adulteress and gambler, who spent many years uprooting her children to escape the clutches of their erstwhile father, and by the time Clementine entered polite society she had become the target of cruel snobbery and rumours about her parentage. In Winston, however, she discovered a partner as emotionally insecure as herself, and in his career she found her mission. Her dedication to his cause may have had tragic consequences for their children, but theirs was a marriage that changed the course of history. Now, acclaimed biographer Sonia Purnell explores the peculiar dynamics of this fascinating union. From the personal and political upheavals of the Great War, through the Churchills' 'wilderness years' in the 1930s, to Clementine's desperate efforts to preserve her husband's health during the struggle against Hitler, Sonia presents the inspiring but often ignored story of one of the most important women in modern history.Trade Review"Engrossing... Clementine Churchill became her husband's essential confidante and adviser, vetting his speeches, smoothing over his faux pas, dealing with his constituents... Purnell's book is the first formal biography of a woman who has heretofore been relegated to the sidelines." The New York Times "Purnell has delivered an astute, pacey account of a woman who hardly ever emerged from the shadows. It is a sharp analysis of what it meant to be a politician's wife... [and] shows how much we can learn about Winston Churchill from his wife and marriage." The Wall Street Journal 'Both scrupulous and fair-minded, Sonia Purnell has done her subject proud in this eye-opening and engrossing account of the strong-willed and ambitious woman without whom - so Purnell argues with authority - Winston Churchill's political career would have been a washout. It is clear from this admirable account that Churchill would never have risen to greatness without Clementine.' -- Miranda Seymour Daily Telegraph 'It seems remarkable that no one has given this remarkable woman proper biographical treatment before. One of the great political partnerships ... sensitively explored by Sonia Purnell.' -- Daisy Goodwin The Times 'Eye opening biography. First Lady is a bold biography of a bold woman; at last Purnell has put Clementine Churchill at the centre of her own extraordinary story, rather than in the shadow of her husband's.' -- Frances Wilson Mail on Sunday 'Sonia Purnell has written a highly readable, well researched, and insightful biography. This is an immensely enjoyable and deeply researched account.' -- Anne Sebba 'Compellingly readable... the heroic saga of a warrior queen who wanted power but only got it by playing subtle diplomatic games as her husband's eminence grise during two world wars.' -- Michele Roberts Independent 'Well researched and fluently written. Eminently readable.' -- Dominic Sandbrook Sunday Times 'An intriguing study of a character both deeply flawed and, in her way, magnificent.' -- Jane Shilling Evening Standard 'From the influence she wielded to the secrets she kept, a new book looks at the extraordinary role of Winston Churchill's wife Clementine who proved that behind every great man is a great woman. Giving Winston confidence and conviction was a key element of her support. The safety and security that Clementine provided - as an emotional blanket and political sounding board - was vital in allowing Churchill to be the dominant politician of his age. Churchill's chief of staff, General Pug Ismay said later: "Without her... the history of Winston Churchill and of the world would have been a very different story."' -- Dan Townend Daily Express 'Outstanding.' Yorkshire Post 'Purnell is an exhaustive researcher and eloquent storyteller. This biography is partly a history of domesticity, and this is its great strength. Winston clearly loved his wife. More to the point, he needed her. Purnell shows convincingly how much 'great men' rely on the everyday emotional labour of the women closest to them. Purnell wants to say much more than this, however: she wants Clementine to be recognised as a 'great woman'. More interesting, though, is what this look at Britain's 'first lady' tells us about the role of leaders' wives in the UK compared to in the US.' BBC History Magazine 'A unique take on Mrs Churchill's time as Britain's 'First Lady'.' Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine "This exemplary biography illustrates how Clementine's intelligence, hard work, and perseverance in often difficult circumstances made her every bit a match for her remarkable, intimidating husband, and a fascinating figure in her own right." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

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Book SynopsisIn the predawn hours of March 4, 2002, just below the 10,469-foot peak of a mountain in eastern Afghanistan, a fierce battle raged. Outnumbered by Al Qaeda fighters, Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman and a handful of Navy SEALs struggled to take the summit in a desperate bid to find a lost teammate. Chapman, leading the charge, was gravely wounded in the initial assault. Believing he was dead, his SEAL leader ordered a retreat. Chapman regained consciousness alone, with the enemy closing in on three sides.John Chapman's subsequent display of incredible valor -- first saving the lives of his SEAL teammates and then, knowing he was mortally wounded, single-handedly engaging two dozen hardened fighters to save the lives of an incoming rescue squad -- posthumously earned him the Medal of Honor. Chapman is the first airman in nearly fifty years to be given the distinction reserved for America's greatest heroes.Alone at Dawn is also a behind-the-scenes look at the Air Force Combat Controllers: the world's deadliest and most versatile special operations force, whose members must not only exceed the qualifications of Navy SEAL and Army Delta Force teams but also act with sharp decisiveness and deft precision -- even in the face of life-threatening danger.Drawing from firsthand accounts, classified documents, dramatic video footage, and extensive interviews with leaders and survivors of the operation, Alone at Dawn is the story of an extraordinary man's brave last stand and the brotherhood that forged him.

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Book SynopsisPreviously published as The Shorter Pepys, Samuel Pepys'' The Diary of Samuel Pepys: A Selection is a collection of scintillating first-hand accounts of Restoration England, from the most tumultuous events to the simplest domestic pleasures, selected and edited by Robert Latham.The 1660s represent a turning point in English history, and for the main events - the Restoration, the Dutch War, the Great Plague, the Fire of London - Pepys provides a definitive eyewitness account. As well as recording public and historical events, Pepys paints a vivid picture of his personal life, from his socializing and amorous entanglements, to his theatre-going and his work at the Navy Board. Unequalled for its frankness, high spirits and sharp observations, the diary is both a literary masterpiece and a marvellous portrait of seventeenth-century life.Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) achieved fame as a naval administrator and a friend and colleague of the powerful and learned. Fo

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Book SynopsisThis biography of African explorer Richard Dorsey Mohun, written by one of his descendants, reveals how American greed and state power helped shape the new imperial order in Africa. Richard Dorsey Mohun spent his career circulating among the eastern United States, the cities and courts of Europe, and the African continent, as he served the US State Department at some points and King Leopold of Belgium at others. A freelance imperialist, he implemented the schemes of American investors and the Congo Free State alike. Without men like him, Africa's history might have unfolded very differently. How did an ordinary son of a Washington bookseller become the agent of American corporate greed and European imperial ambition? Why did he choose to act in ways that ranged from thoughtless and amoral to criminal and unforgivable? With unblinking clarity and precision, historian Arwen P. Mohun interrogates the life and actions of her great-grandfather in American Imperialist. She seeks not to Trade Review“Mohun further pulls back the veil on American collusion with King Leopold in his brutal rule over the Congo Free State. More specifically, she exposes the ways in which men like her great-grandfather participated in the violent subjugation of African peoples and the seizure of African lands to enrich the coffers of the Belgian monarch. In telling her ancestor’s story, taking the reader from the shores of Zanzibar to Boma, Mohun reveals how Dorsey’s time in Africa embodied the ‘remarkable influence of American money and expertise’ in imperial ventures during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.” * Jeannette Eileen Jones, author of '"In Search of Brightest Africa: Reimagining the Dark Continent in American Culture, 1884–1936" *“When a historian begins to untangle family myths, very interesting things emerge. Remembered as an ‘African explorer,’ the man who was simply called ‘Dorsey’ was representative, a stereotype brought to life. But Mohun’s deft and delicate recovery of a family ancestor reveals a more complicated person, at once desperate and anxious and confident, his past precarious and his future uncertain. Herein lies the all-too-human story of how one ordinary person, buffeted by the winds of change, seeks refuge in the service of the American empire and becomes its most perfect avatar.” * Matthew Guterl, author of 'Skinfolk: A Memoir' *“American Imperialist is an engrossing and well-researched book that effectively draws on manuscripts, government archival sources, and contemporary print media. Richard Dorsey Mohun, the subject of the book and the author’s great grandfather, is a fascinating and little-known figure whose career instructively points to the ways that a bureaucrat’s work can be deeply entangled in the project of US imperialism.” * Ira Dworkin, author of 'Congo Love Song: African American Culture and the Crisis of the Colonial State' *Table of Contents List of Illustrations Prologue 1: African Connections 2: Africa in Mind 3: The Journey Up-Country 4: Arab Encounters 5: The Messy Business of Hero Making 6: A Hero’s Welcome 7: The Consular Life 8: Infrastructures of Empire 9: Facts on the Ground 10: The Truth about the Congo 11: Manifest Destiny After Africa and Conclusion Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations Notes Index

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Book SynopsisPhilip, who ruled from 1419 to 1467, was one of the most powerful and influential rulers of the fifteenth century. Forced into an alliance with the English, he soon found that he held the balance of power between England and France - reflected in the final crucial phase of the Hundred Years War.Under Philip the Good, grandson of the founder of the duchy's power, Burgundy reached its apogee. Professor Vaughan portrays not only Philip the Good himself, perhaps the most attractive personality among the four great dukes, butthe workings of the court and of one of the most efficent - if not necessarily the most popular - administrations in fifteenth-century Europe. The complex diplomatic history of Philip the Good's long ducal reign (1419-1467) occupies much of the book, in particular Burgundy's relations with England and France. The central theme is Philip the Good's policy of territorial and personal aggrandisement, which culminated in his negotiations with the Holy Roman Emperor for a crown. And due attention is given to the great flowering of artistic life in Burgundy which made Philip's court at Dijon an important cultural centre in the period immediately preceding the Renaissance. All this is based on the close study of the considerable surviving archives of Philip's civil service, and on the chronicles and letters of the period. Philip the Good provides a definitive study of the life and times of the rulerwhose position and achievements made him the greatest magnate in Europe during what has been called "the Burgundian century".Trade ReviewThis reissue of Vaughan's seminal series is welcome indeed. Nothing of this scale has been written before or since...on the Burgundian state.... Erudite but highly readable.... An attractive and timely repackaging of an unrivalled classic of Burgundian studies. * MEDIUM AEVUM *

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Book SynopsisAn extremely revealing account of army life under Napoleon.

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Book SynopsisThe first biography of this great and tragic poet that takes advantage of a wealth of new material, this is an unusually balanced, comprehensive and definitive life of Sylvia Plath.'Surely the final, the definitive, biography of Sylvia Plath' Ali Smith *WINNER OF THE SLIGHTLY FOXED PRIZE 2021* *A BOOK OF THE YEAR IN THE DAILY TELEGRAPH AND THE TIMES* *FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE IN BIOGRAPHY 2021*Drawing on a wealth of new material, Heather Clark brings to life the great and tragic poet, Sylvia Plath. Refusing to read Plath's work as if her every act was a harbinger of her fate, Clark evokes a culture in transition in the mid-twentieth century as she thoroughly explores Sylvia's world. We see Plath's early relationships and determination not to become a conventional woman and wife; we witness her Cambridge years and thunderclap meeting with Ted Hughes; and, through clear-eyed portraits of the demonised players in the arena of her suicide, we gain a deeper understanding of her final days.Featuring illuminating readings of Plath's poems, Red Comet brings us closer than ever to the spirited woman and visionary artist who blazed a trail that still lights the way for women the world over.'A first-class biography . . . Each chapter reads with the ease of a novel . . . I couldn't put it down' The TimesTrade ReviewA first-class biography... Red Comet is a mighty achievement. Clark is compassionate, clear-eyed, sceptical. Each chapter reads with the ease of a novel... I couldn't put it down. -- Laura Freeman * The Times *Rescuing Sylvia Plath from the cult of her fans...[Red Comet,] a terrific, even-handed biography of Plath frees the poet from the narrow view of her as 'a mind on course for suicide'... Heather Clark's meticulous research, sweeping up every scrap, deftly integrates drafts, unpublished pieces, stories and critiques of poems...to make this extraordinary story more moving than ever. -- Lyndall Gordon * Daily Telegraph *At last, there is Red Comet, a major biography that recognises Sylvia Plath...and recovers her from cliché. It is a superbly researched, fluent and assured book...and Heather Clark writes with a rare empathy and understanding of her subject... Not one sentence seems extraneous... Red Comet reveals Plath as she ought to be seen. -- Ann Kennedy Smith * Times Literary Supplement *Clark's defining project, both a joyful affirmation for Plath fanatics and a legitimization of her legacy... Clark masterfully analyses the poetry with intelligent incorporation of the biography... In this mammoth biography of a short, troubled life, the deepest impression is of [Plath's] resilience and dogged energy. -- Jessica Ferri * Los Angeles Times *Finally, the biography that Sylvia Plath deserves, one that takes her seriously as both a poet and a person. Combining rigorous research with in-depth literary analysis and immersive style, Heather Clark's magisterial book not only traces Plath's influences and inspirations, but also chronicles her often-tumultuous relationships with respect and empathy. A spectacular achievement. -- Ruth Franklin, author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life

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Book SynopsisFew in history can match the revolutionary career of the Marquis de Lafayette. Over fifty incredible years at the heart of the Age of Revolution, he fought courageously on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a soldier, statesman, idealist, philanthropist, and abolitionist.As a teenager, Lafayette ran away from France to join the American Revolution. Returning home a national hero, he helped launch the French Revolution, eventually spending five years locked in dungeon prisons. After his release, Lafayette sparred with Napoleon, joined an underground conspiracy to overthrow King Louis XVIII, and became an international symbol of liberty. Finally, as a revered elder statesman, he was instrumental in the overthrow of the Bourbon Dynasty in the Revolution of 1830.From enthusiastic youth to world-weary old age, from the pinnacle of glory to the depths of despair, Lafayette never stopped fighting for the rights of all mankind. His remarkable life is the story of where we come from, and an inspiration to defend the ideals he held dear.

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Book SynopsisPresident Trump's former White House Press Secretary and Communications Director analyzes our current political moment through the lens of politics and culture, arguing that President Trump has put the country back on the right track and that he needs to be elected again in 2020.When it was announced that Sean Spicer would be the newest guest on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, he was promptly attacked by countless liberal media institutions. Apparently, they'd rather see him crawl under a rock forever than have a little fun on television (while raising money for charity). And that was only a small example. All over the country, liberals are attacking conservatives with the kind of fervor once reserved for hardened criminals. It's a zero sum game -- either you're with them one hundred percent, or you're the enemy. Whether you're in politics, media, academia, or entertainment, it's the same story.As one of the few people who's played a small part in all of those worlds, Sean Spicer has a unique perspective on the methods used by the left to shut down conservative voices. He's been parodied on SNL, ripped apart on the nightly news, and protested on college campuses, all for doing his job. Outside of the left's bubble, however, he's been able to transition from politics to entertainment very well, and he's got huge numbers of supporters.In Leading America, he writes about all the ways President Trump has fought back against the Left, and examines all the ways conservatives can take a stand to uphold their rights and values.

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Book SynopsisA highly-readable, myth-busting history of the Whitman Massacre—a pivotal event in the history of the American West—that includes the often-missing Native American point of view. In 1836, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, devout missionaries from upstate New York, established a Presbyterian mission on Cayuse Indian land near what is now the fashionable wine capital of Walla Walla, Washington. Eleven years later, a group of Cayuses killed the Whitmans and eleven others in what became known as the Whitman Massacre. The attack led to a war of retaliation against the Cayuse; the extension of federal control over the present-day states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming; and martyrdom for the Whitmans. Today, however, the Whitmans are more likely to be demonized as colonizers than revered as heroes. “[Tate] tells the Cayuse’s side of the story with empathy and clarity . . . a meticulously researched book.” —The Seattle TimesTrade ReviewWashington State Book Award Finalist“Unsettled Ground is both the gripping adventure story of a cross-continental journey and a cultural exploration of the collision of two very different ways of life. . . . Told with depth and insight, Tate’s account is a prism that allows us to see the multiple dimensions of a classic frontier conflict.”—Peter Stark, author of Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson’s Lost Pacific Empire“I consider Unsettled Ground one of the most important Northwest history books ever written.”—John Hughes, Chief Historian, Washington Secretary of State “Even well-read aficionados of Western history will be surprised and perhaps dismayed by Tate’s comprehensive and masterfully layered narrative.”—Shannon Applegate, author of Skookum: An Oregon Pioneer Family’s History and Lore and Living Among Headstones: Life in a Country Cemetery “In this overdue era of righting unbalanced histories, Cassandra Tate reexamines a deadly tragedy from the nineteenth-century American West. Unsettled Ground is a riveting blend of intricate research, fresh cultural perspective, and first-rate storytelling.”—Dave Boling, author of Guernica and The Lost History of Stars“....by turns moving, evenhanded and lyrical in its evocation of time and place.”—Seattle Times"In this moment when we as a nation grapple with systemic racism and injustice, Unsettled Ground is a timely book."—Pacific Northwest Quarterly"A highly readable, myth-busting, fact-based story. [A] tale for all who love the West, its history and its truths."—The Inlander"Balanced and deeply researched."—Crosscut

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Book SynopsisA New York Times Notable Book of 2014Smuggled out of Europe after the collapse of Germany, Eichmann managed to live a peaceful and active exile in Argentina for years before his capture by the Mossad. Though once widely known by nicknames such as 'Manager of the Holocaust', he was able to portray himself, from the defendant's box in Jerusalem in 1960, as an overworked bureaucrat following orders – no more, he said, than 'just a small cog in Adolf Hitler's extermination machine'.How was this carefully crafted obfuscation possible? How did a principal architect of the Final Solution manage to disappear? How had he occupied himself in hiding?Drawing upon an astounding trove of newly discovered documentation, Stangneth gives us a chilling portrait not of a reclusive, taciturn war criminal on the run, but of a highly skilled social manipulator with an inexhaustible ability to reinvent himself, an unrepentant murderer eager for acolytes to discuss past glories and vigorously planning future goals.Trade ReviewEichmann before Jerusalem is history at its best. Meticulously researched, compellingly argued, engagingly written. Bettina Stangneth confronts Hannah Arendt’s notion of the 'banality of evil' with important new evidence and nuanced insight, permitting a fresh and informed reassessment of this riven debate. Arendt would surely have applauded the Stangneth challenge -- Timothy W. RybackStangneth has mined an extraordinary trove of new documentary material… Meticulous, scholarly and highly readable... A tour de force of historical revision -- Ben Macintyre * The Times *Thanks to this brilliant book, exhaustively researched and convincingly argued, the veil has at last been lifted [on Eichmann's role in the Holocaust] -- Saul David * The Daily Telegraph *Absorbing... Bettina Stangneth's disturbing account of Adolf Eichmann's years in exile reveals the full extent of his cynicism, inhumanity and moral self-deception -- Richard J Evans * Guardian *Eichmann Before Jerusalem is both an unintimidated challenge to Hannah Arendt’s glib notion of Eichmann’s insignificance and a clear analysis of the origins and enduring uses of Holocaust Denial * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisLenny McLean - an infamous name, but forever a legend. He is arguably one of the most notorious and feared prize-fighters this country has ever produced. Not only was he a mountain of a man and a true fighter, feared on the streets of gangland London and outside the clubs whose doors he manned in the heart of the capital, he was also an old-school East Ender, who took pride in operating on a gentleman's code despite the often-dangerous world he lived in. His life was cut all-too-short, just as it was taking a new, previously unimaginable direction after his role in Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels but he remains loved by those who knew him. The Guv'nor Revealed uncovers parts of Lenny McLean's life not previously explored, with shared memories from his close friends, family and various other acquaintances who crossed his path one way or another during his lifetime. Lenny McLean was one of a kind; infamous for his brute strength but also loved for his protective heart. Collated from years of interviews, Lee Wortley and Anthony Thomas bring you an array of thrilling, and often touching and amusing, testimonies from those closest to him and a new insight into the life of The Guv'nor.

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Book Synopsis"Nelson: A Dream of Glory" is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched account ever written of Horatio Nelson's rise to international fame. Giving us the private as well as the public man, it combines ground-breaking scholarship with a brilliantly vivid and compelling style.Trade ReviewA masterpiece... The flagship of the fleet, it leaves all others trailing in its wake -- Neil Hanson * Sunday Times *A magnificently-researched and thoughtful work which locates Nelson in a global context -- Linda ColleyThis work is massively authoritative -- Max Hastings * Sunday Telegraph *One can say with confidence that this momumental tome is the finest yet written on England's great naval hero. Sugden's brilliant book is chock-full of fascinating details. And if the second volume turns out as well as this, his life of Nelson will be one of the historical masterpieces of our time -- Frank McLynn * Daily Express *A massive, first-rate battleship of a book -- Colin White * Observer *

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Book SynopsisChosen as a Book of the Year in the Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail'A masterpiece' Frederick Forsyth 'Beautifully written... unlikely to be surpassed' Simon Heffer'Superb' Daily Mail, Book of the Week'Terrific' ObserverThroughout history there have been many long-running rivalries between party leaders, but there has never been a connection like that between Clement Attlee and Winston Churchill, who were leaders of their respective parties for a total of thirty-five years. Brought together in the epoch-making circumstances of the Second World War, they forged a partnership that transcended party lines, before going on to face each other in two of Britain's most important and influential general elections. Based on extensive research and archival material, Attlee and Churchill provides a host of new insights into their remarkable relationship. From the bizarre coincidence that they shared a governess, to their explosive wartime clashes over domestic policy and reconstruction; and from Britain's post-war nuclear weapons programme, which Attlee kept hidden from Churchill and his own Labour Party, to the private correspondence between the two men in later life, which demonstrates their friendliness despite all the political antagonism, Leo McKinstry tells the intertwined story of these two political titans as never before. In a gripping narrative McKinstry not only provides a fresh perspective on two of the most compelling leaders of the mid-twentieth century but also brilliantly brings to life this vibrant, traumatic and inspiring era of modern British history.Trade ReviewSuperb... A timely parable about the necessity for cooperation, concession and compromise in politics. * Daily Mail, 'Book of the Week' *This book stands out in the sea of Churchilliana with its highly original portrait of Winston's close wartime partnership with the Labour leader. * Daily Telegraph, '50 Best Books of 2019' *Dual biographies are a tricky endeavour. McKinstry rises to the challenge brilliantly. His account is elegantly structured, his prose is lucid, he explains complex events with clarity, his anecdotes are telling and often funny, his judgments are assured and he brings to gripping life the characters of the leading men and the rest of the cast. -- Andrew Rawnsley * Observer *Excellent... McKinstry shows how the two men's contrasting talents and personalities combined at their nation's time of greatest need. * Daily Mail, Books of the Year *In this superb dual biography Leo McKinstry brilliantly describes both men, what they did and how they reacted to each other... Most of us know quite a lot about Churchill. Attlee, calm, soft-spoken, an MC-winner in World War I, self-effacing, remains for many a forgotten man. Until now... A masterpiece. * Frederick Forsyth *Until now, arguably the most significant political relationship of the twentieth century has awaited its definitive study. Leo McKinstry, through exhaustive research and detailed analysis, has provided an intensely scholarly and beautifully written account of it that is unlikely to be surpassed. * Simon Heffer, author of The Age of Decadence *Leo McKinstry's fine book on the relationship between Churchill and the Labour leader Clement Attlee is a subtle and nuanced work full of illuminating insights.... First-class * Literary Review *Attlee and Churchill really does get to the heart of a complicated but fascinating relationship. * Scotsman *Leo McKinstry's biographical pairing of Attlee and Churchill serves to hymn a vanished golden age of bipartisan collaboration and respectful rivalry. * New Statesman *Leo McKinstry is a first-class historian who has produced a scholarly and very well-written account of the fascinating relationship between arguably the two most significant premiers of the twentieth century. His recognition of the mutual respect - indeed admiration - that lay at its core is highly insightful. Never in our world of fractious, contempt-driven politics has a book like this been needed more. * Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny *A masterful account of the collaboration, rivalry and conflict between two remarkably different leaders who shaped Britain's fate in the second half of the twentieth century. * Tom Bower, author of Dangerous Hero *A superb account of two utterly different men whose lives entwined to preserve freedom. * Joshua Levine, author of Dunkirk *By turns fascinating and illuminating, this is a gripping exploration of the intertwined lives of these two great men - so fundamentally different and yet as McKinstry demonstrates, perhaps in some ways not quite so far apart as all that... In the course of following Attlee and Churchill's parallel progressions from youth to maturity, from bloodied battlefields to the corridors of Number 10, McKinstry affords us beguiling new angles and new insights - with vivid, powerful stories, admirable balance and flashes of terrific humour. * Sinclair McKay, author of The Secret Life of Bletchley Park *From start to finish, an enthralling and original story of two great statesmen from an age when political giants still walked the earth. * Emeritus Professor Tim Blanning, University of Cambridge *I can count on the fingers of one hand history books which are both superbly researched and sublimely written - I have just discovered another. * Emeritus Professor David Wilson, Birmingham City University *In this highly readable and well-researched volume, McKinstry reveals the length, complexity and nuance of the relationship between these two great figures. * Allen Packwood, Director of the Churchill Archives Centre *A delight to read... This is an entrancing book. Yet it is also a melancholy one. Comparing these titans, both devoted to the service of country and nation, with the pygmies of today is to be constantly reminded of our national decline. -- Allan Massie * Catholic Herald *Studying each of these men goes a long way towards enlightening us, and some preconceptions are neatly pricked along the way... McKinstry offers much to inform and intrigue. -- Sonia Purnell * The Oldie *Table of Contents1: Contenders 1: Blenheim and Putney 2: Lancashire and Stepney 3: Sidney Street 4: Gallipoli 5: Plugstreet and Kut 6: Limehouse and Dundee 7: Treasury 8: India 9: Germany 10: Fort Belvedere 11: Munich 12: Admiralty 2: Comrades 13: Norway 14: Dunkirk 15: Empire and Commonwealth 16: Atlantic 17: Washington and Singapore 18: Russia and Egypt 19: Downing Street 20: Conference and Cabinet 21: Normandy and Italy 22: Britannia 3: Competitors 23: Campaign 24: Potsdam and Palace 25: Fulton and Zurich 26: New Jerusalem 27: Woodford and Walthamstow 28: Europe and Korea 29: Abadan 30: Summit 31: Commons 32: St Paul's and Temple

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Book SynopsisBringing to life one of the most complex characters in European history Stefan Zweig based his biography of Marie Antoinette, who became the Queen of France at the age of fifteen, on the correspondence between her and her mother, and her great love the Count Axel von Fersen. Zweig analyzes the chemistry of a woman's soul from her intimate pleasures to her public suffering as a Queen under the weight of misfortune and history. Zweig describes Marie Antoinette in the King's bedroom, in the enchanted and extravagant world of the Trianon, and with her children. And in his account of 'The Revolution', he describes her resolve during the failed escape to varennes, her imprisonment in the Conciergerie and her final tragic destiny under the guillotine. Zweig's account has been the definitive biography of Marie Antoinette since its publication, inspiring Antonia Fraser and the recent film adaptation. Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was born in Vienna, into a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator, then as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and was an international bestseller with a string of hugely popular novellas including Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok and Fear. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he moved to London, where he wrote his only novel Beware of Pity. He later moved on to Bath, taking British citizenship after the outbreak of the Second World War. With the fall of France in 1940 Zweig left Britain for New York, before settling in Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press.Trade ReviewCertainly no one can arise unmoved from the reading of this powerful work The New Republic Excellent biography The New York Times Stefan Zweig's remarkable study of Marie Antoinette; A full-bodied biography which bids fair to be the definitive life of that tragic queen The New York Times The most influential biography of Marie Antoinette The Guardian

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Book SynopsisA Calendar of Scottish Saints with the aid of Michael Barrett is a charming exploration of Scotland's rich spiritual history, skillfully weaving collectively the tapestry of saints' lives with historic context. Barrett's book serves as a masterful guide, intricately connecting the nation-states of records and biography. Through meticulous studies and eloquent storytelling, he brings to existence the testimonies of Scottish saints, embedding them inside the broader socio-cultural panorama. The book, taken into consideration certainly one of Barrett's masterpieces, displays his brilliance in making records on hand and engaging. Each saint's biography is presented with a mix of creativity and ardour, permitting readers to connect emotionally with these ancient figures. Barrett's writing transcends the bounds of mere historic documentation; it turns into a conduit for knowledge the shared human revel in. With a stylish but approachable writing style, Michael Barrett invitations readers to immerse themselves within the fascinating lives of Scottish saints. The calendar format adds a temporal size, offering a dependent and rhythmic journey thru time. Whether one seeks spiritual insight, historical know-how, or actually an exciting examine, A Calendar of Scottish Saints stands as a testomony to Barrett's literary prowess, ensuring that readers of all backgrounds can appreciate and take pleasure in the superb stories woven into the material of Scotland's spiritual history.

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Book SynopsisFour writers. Four dictators. One world, changed out of all recognition. ENGINEERS OF HUMAN SOULS is an intimate and shocking shadow history of creative vanity in a time that turned writers - once the faithful servants of authority - into figures of political consequence. Maurice Barrès, who first wielded the politics of identity. Gabriele D'Annunzio, whose poetry became a blueprint for fascism. Maxim Gorky, dramatist of the working class and Stalin's cheerleader. The Maoist Ding Ling, whose stories exculpated the regime that kept her imprisoned. All four nursed extravagant visions of the future, and believed they were vital to its realisation. Each was lured to the centre of political action. Each established a dangerous and damaging relationship with a notorious dictator. And when writers and rulers find a use for each other, the consequences can be shattering for us all. These stories - of courage and compromise, vanity and malevolence - speak urgently to the uncontrollable power of words.Trade ReviewAn utterly thrilling and intellectually revelatory book. At a time when everything seems to be in freefall, and we are all trying to make sense of who we should be in a time of crisis, this is a stunningly wise book. If you read it, you'll learn about some of the deepest questions human beings can ask - and get closer to the answers -- Johann HariA compelling new book by Simon Ings about the corrupting effect of power on literary talent -- Thomas W. Hodgkinson * Spectator *Ings gives his readers a concise round-up of the intellectual ground in which the twentieth-century dictatorships took root. He has a talent for succinct statements so well turned that they immediately ring true ... His openings are arrestingly quirky. He cleverly leaves out the boring bits to offer the reader a staccato sequence of telling vignettes. His tone - by turns breezy and bitterly sardonic - is engaging ... Rather than plod through the welter of historical facts, he skips lightly from resonant incident to ringing quotation. His put-downs are trenchant, his asides witty, his exposition of political theory is clear and concise ... his book is enlightening and surprisingly entertaining -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisAngus Roxburgh is one of Britain's most distinguished foreign correspondents. An author and renowned journalist, he was the Sunday Times Moscow Correspondent in the mid-1980s and the BBC's Moscow correspondent during the Yeltsin years. He is the author of The Second Russian Revolution and Pravda: Inside the Soviet Press Machine.Trade Review[I]t is valuable as a first-hand source for information about the people and events of the Putin era. * International Journal of Russian Studies *Table of ContentsAbout the Author Introduction 1. The Secret Policeman's Ball 1 2. Courting the West 3. The Battle for Economic Reform 4. The Darker Side 5. New Europe, Old Europe 6. Putin Mark II 7. Enemies Everywhere 8. A New Cold War 9. Media, Missiles, Medvedev 10. The Descent into War 11. Resetting Relations with the West 12. The Strongman and His Friends 13. Tandemology 14. Putin Mark III 15. A New Russia 16. President for Life? Notes Index

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Book SynopsisWhen the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979, the forces of resistance were disparate and divided mujahideen groups, as interested in fighting each other and competing for Western arms as opposing the Russians. The exception was Ahmed Shah Massoud, the military strategist and political operator who solidified the resistance and undermined the Russian occupation by leading its members to a series of defensive victories. Sandy Gall was embedded with Massoud during Soviet offences and reported on the war in Afghanistan for a number of years. He has now written an illuminating biography of this charismatic guerrilla commander, which contains excerpts from the surviving volumes of Massoud's diaries. Massoud's prolific diary-keeping was little known during his lifetime, and his entries detail crucial moments in his life and throw fascinating light on his struggles, both in the resistance and in his personal life. Born into an ostensibly liberalising Afghanistan in the 1960s, Massoud ardently opposed communism and Mohammed Daoud, Afghanistan's puppet leader. He quickly rose to prominence and distinguished himself by coordinating the defence of the Panjshir Valley against repeated Soviet offensives. As the occupation wore on, Massoud became the resistance's unifying force. Massoud's assassination in 2001 presaged the attack on the Twin Towers just two days later and it is widely believed to have been ordered by Osama bin Laden. Forever the underdog in a life dominated by conflict, Massoud's attempts to build political consensus in Afghanistan were ultimately frustrated. Despite that, he is recognised today as a national hero.Trade Review"A new book drawing on... years of reporting from Afghanistan and Massoud's personal diaries."-- "Diplomat" "Ahmad Shah Massoud was one of the greatest military commanders of the 20th century and was instrumental in forcing the Soviets to retreat from Afghanistan in 1989. Yet, he is now barely known in the West. That will surely change as a result of Gall's authoritative, beautifully written and deeply reported biography of Massoud."--Peter Bergen, author of The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden "Gall's knowledge of the jihad is encyclopaedic. He was the first well-known journalist to make the dangerous journey into occupied Afghanistan and bring the human cost of this terrible war to our TV screens. To produce such a book at the age of 93 deserves admiration. . . .A strength of Gall's book is its detailed discussion of Pakistan's malign interference in Afghanistan, where the Taliban are their proxy force."--Matthew Leeming "Spectator" "I can think of no one better than the legendary foreign correspondent Sandy Gall to tell the compelling story of Ahmad Shah Massoud's extraordinary life and death. . . . Gall weaves analysis, first-hand reporting and primary sources into a brilliant and important book."--Jeremy Bowen "The unputdownable story of an authentic Afghan hero by one of the greatest chroniclers of modern Afghanistan's travails, and occasional triumphs."--Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles, former British Ambassador to Afghanistan, and British Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan "This book is essential reading for those who want an insider's understanding of the Afghan civil war."-- "Literary Review" "This is a remarkable book, both a coruscating memoir by Gall and a revealing insight into a guerrilla leader--one whose reputation ranks with the icons of revolutionary insurgency and whose thinking is here revealed in his own words."--Hew Strachan "When conceived several years ago, the book was planned as the largely admiring record of one of the great might-have-beens of history, and also-obliquely-as the last testament of the gallant Sandy Gall himself, who will be 94 in October. It remains both of those things, but the events of the past fortnight also give an urgency to the story."--Charles Moore "Telegraph" "With the West's own military venture in Afghanistan now unravelling, Gall's book serves two timely purposes. One is to retell Massoud's legendary campaign against the Soviets, which saw him dubbed 'the Afghan who won the Cold War'. The other, though, is to ask whether more Western support for him in the 1990s could have led to a better Afghanistan."--Colin Freeman "Telegraph" "Afghan Napoleon: The Life of Ahmad Shah Massoud by British journalist Sandy Gall, dedicated to Afghanistan's illustrious statesman, is a remarkable undertaking that delves into the multifaceted intricacies of a nation devastated by war and ruined by its adverse geography."-- "Eurasia Review" "Afghan Napoleon offers an overdue portrait of one of the most remarkable figures of the twentieth century. Napoleon tried to conquer the world; Massoud by contrast fought the world-scale Soviet empire to a stand still on behalf of his people from a tiny valley in Afghanistan. In this book we see, not just the daily nuts and bolts of his military genius but catch glimpses of the social graces and the warmth that made this man so beloved among his followers."--Tamim Ansary, author of The Invention of Yesterday: A 50,000-Year History of Human Culture, Conflict, and Connection

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Book Synopsis'Gripping' Wall Street Journal________________________At first, gunner Clarence Smoyer and his fellow crewmen in the legendary 3rd Armored Division - 'Spearhead' - thought their tanks were invincible. Then they met the German Panther, with a gun so murderous it could shoot through one Sherman and into the next. Soon a pattern emerged: the lead tank always gets hit. After seeing his friends cut down breaching the West Wall and holding the line in the Battle of the Bulge, Clarence and his crew are given a weapon with the power to avenge their fallen brothers: the Pershing, a state-of-the-art 'super tank', one of twenty in the European theatre. But with it comes a harrowing new responsibility: now they will spearhead every attack and, in doing so, will lead the US Army into its largest urban battle of the war, the fight for Cologne, the 'Fortress City' of Germany...'Spearhead shimmers in eclipsing moments of valor, luck and compassion.' Washington TimesTrade ReviewMakos drops the reader back into the Pershing's turret and dials up a battle scene to rival the peak moments of Fury. . . Brilliant . . . Gripping * Wall Street Journal *A detailed, gripping account . . . the remarkable story of two tank crewmen, from opposite sides of the conflict, who endure the grisly nature of tank warfare. * USA Today *Spearhead shimmers in eclipsing moments of valor, luck and compassion. A gripping read. * Washington Times *A compelling, exciting adventure of a hard-driving American force. * Kirkus Reviews *This moving story of bravery and comradeship is an important contribution to WWII history that will inform and fascinate both the general reader and the military historian. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *The engrossing book is a war story and a mystery. * CNN.com *Table of Contents0: Introduction 1: The Gentle Giant 2: Baptism 3: "Bubi" 4: The Fields 5: The Foray 6: Beyond the Wall 7: Respite 8: The Fourth Tank 9: Hope 10: Something Bigger 11: America's Tiger 12: Two Miles 13: Hunting 14: The Fire Department of the West 15: Going First 16: Victory or Siberia 17: The Monster 18: The Conquerors 19: The Breakout 20: The American Blitz 21: The Fatherless 22: Family 23: Come Out and Fight 24: The Giant 25: Getting Home 26: The Last Battle

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Book Synopsis'An amazing read! I galloped through it' Lady Antonia Fraser'Lawrence has done an excellent job of recreating this eccentric gardening guru's life' The Times'My pick for gardening book of the year is this page-turning life story of Ellen Willmott' The Sunday Times'Sandra Lawrence tells her story with brio and affection' Daily Mail'Simply brilliant and a joy to read' The English GardenEllen Ann Willmott was a remarkable woman whose achievements in horticulture, botany, landscape architecture, photography and more, should have made her one of the most well-known trailblazers of her age. Yet, both posthumously and within her lifetime, she instead became known as a bitter, cantankerous and eccentric miser, and her reputation has been forever stained by the image of her maliciously seeding other people's gardens with thorns.The beginnings of this prickly myth can be traced back to her conspicuous absence at what should have been the pinnacle of her career: the Royal Horticultural Society's inaugural Victoria Medal of Honour Award ceremony, at which she was due to be one of only two female recipients. Universally interpreted as the rudest of snubs, nobody has ever stopped to question why Ellen wasn't there, or if she was really as difficult and mean as she has been portrayed ever since. Author, Sandra Lawrence, has been granted unparalleled access to her archives, and with it has uncovered the secrets behind this thorniness. This is a book with it all: gossip, sisters, rivalry, squandered inheritance, forbidden love, bad marriages and, at the heart of it all, trailblazing talent.Trade ReviewAn amazing read! I galloped through * Lady Antonia Fraser *Excellent * The Times *'Simply brilliant and a joy to read' -- Clare Foggett * The English Garden *

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Book Synopsis THE CAPTIVATING TRUE STORY OF THE MAN WHO INSPIRED WOLF HALL, MASTERFULLY TOLD: NOW REVISED WITH A NEW CHAPTER Readers LOVE Thomas Cromwell:''Very well written and engaging; I found it hard to put it down . . . Great book and one I will read again.'' ????? ''This is one of the most fascinating biographies I''ve read.'' ????? ''There have been many biographies of Cromwell, but Tracy Borman''s book must rank among the very best.'' ????? ------------Known widely as Henry VIII''s ''right-hand man'', Cromwell has captured imaginations throughout the centuries: but who was he really? In this major new biography, leading historian Tracy Borman examines the life, loves and legacy of the man who changed the shape of England forever.Born a lowly tavern keeper''s son, Cromwell rose swiftly through the ranks to become Henry VIII''s right hand man, and one of the most powerful figures in Tudor history. The architect of England''s break with the Roman Catholic Church and the dissolution of the monasteries, he oversaw seismic changes in England''s history. Influential in securing Henry''s controversial divorce from Catherine of Aragon, many believe he was also the ruthless force behind Anne Boleyn''s downfall and subsequent execution.Although for years he has been reviled as a Machiavellian schemer who stopped at nothing in his quest for power, Thomas Cromwell was also a loving husband, father and guardian, a witty and generous host, and a loyal and devoted servant. With fresh research and new insights into Cromwell''s family life, his household and his close relationships, Tracy Borman tells the true story of Henry VIII''s most faithful servant. -----------Critical acclaim for Thomas Cromwell:''Dr Tracy Borman has crafted an exceptional and compelling biography about one of the Tudor age''s most complex and controversial figures. With expert insights based on a wealth of research, and riveting detail, she has brought Thomas Cromwell to life as never before.'' ? Alison Weir''This deeply researched and grippingly written biography brings Cromwell to life and exposes the Henrician court in all its brutal, glittering splendour.'' -- Kate Williams ? Independent''Tracy Borman tells us succinctly in 400 pages what we need to know about the man who rose to be the king''s highest adviser ... a very good book.'' ? The Times''Tracy Borman''s study makes clear his achievements, both admirable and despicable ... Borman has read an impressively wide range of modern historical literature on Cromwell.'' ? Guardian''Borman''s is a highly readable account, and will add to the debate surrounding this ultimately elusive character.'' ? Financial Times''Elegant ... her prose, as ever, glides beautifully along.'' ? Sunday Times''An engaging biography.'' ? Evening StandardTrade ReviewDr Tracy Borman has crafted an exceptional and compelling biography about one of the Tudor age's most complex and controversial figures. With expert insights based on a wealth of research, and riveting detail, she has brought Thomas Cromwell to life as never before. * Alison Weir *This deeply researched and grippingly written biography brings Cromwell to life and exposes the Henrician court in all its brutal, glittering splendour. -- Kate Williams * Independent *Tracy Borman tells us succinctly in 400 pages what we need to know about the man who rose to be the king's highest adviser ... a very good book. * The Times *Tracy Borman's study makes clear his achievements, both admirable and despicable ... Borman has read an impressively wide range of modern historical literature on Cromwell. * Guardian *Borman's is a highly readable account, and will add to the debate surrounding this ultimately elusive character. * Financial Times *Elegant...her prose, as ever, glides beautifully along. * Sunday Times *An engaging biography. * Evening Standard *Borman writes admirably; her prose trips along merrily and is full of intriguing titbits. * New Statesman *An excellent and readable biography. * The Tribune *A real and vital portrait, deftly drawn. * Mail on Sunday *Borman combines a mastery of historical detail with past-pace and an accessible style. She doesn't forget that she is dealing with human beings, with their fallibilities and petty motivations, and rather than see him as a man for whom things got out of control, as Mantel does, views him instead as a master of control. * Independent on Sunday *An intelligent, sympathetic and well-researched biography. * Wall Street Journal *

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed for its vivid, poignant, and honest recreation of sixteen brutal months of nearly continuous battle in the deadly Hindu Kesh, Outlaw Platoon is a Band of Brothers or We Were Soldiers Once and Young for the early 21st century—a riveting, action-packed, highly emotional true story of enormous sacrifice and bravery.At twenty-four years of age, U.S. Army Ranger Sean Parnell was named commander of a forty-man elite infantry platoon, the 10th Mountain Division—a unit that came to be known as the Outlaws. Tasked with rooting out Pakistan-based insurgents from a valley in the Hindu Kush, Parnell assumed they would be facing a ragtag bunch of civilians until, in May 2006, a routine patrol turned into a brutal ambush. Through sixteen months of combat, the platoon became Parnell''s family. The cost of battle was high for these men. Not all of them made it home, but for those who did, it was the love and faith they found in one another that ultimately kept them alive.A magnificent account of heroes, renegades, infidels, and brothers, Outlaw Platoon stands with Sebastian Junger’s War as one of the most important books to yet emerge from the heat, smoke, and fire of America’s War in Afghanistan.Trade Review"The range of emotions that Sean Parnell summons in Outlaw Platoon [is] stunning. A nuanced, compelling memoir ... Parnell shows he's a gifted, brave storyteller." -- Pittsburgh Tribune "Outlaw Platoon put me back on the battlefield again. It's a heartfelt story that shows how very different people can be thrown together in combat and find a way to make it work. Parnell and the soldiers who fought beside him are all courageous heroes-real bad asses." -- Chris Kyle, author of American Sniper "Two of the most intense tales of courage under fire I own are Black Hawk Down and Lone Survivor. I now have a third, Outlaw Platoon. It's an absolutely gripping, edge-of-your-seat ride." -- Brad Thor, author of Full Black "Outlaw Platoon is an utterly gripping account of what our soldiers endure on the front lines-the frustrations, the fear, the loneliness... Here, in these pages, are the on-the-ground realities of a war we so rarely witness on news broadcasts" -- Tim O'Brien, author of The Things They Carried "Outlaw Platoon is an exceptional look into the mind of a platoon leader in Afghanistan; Captain Parnell shares his experiences of leadership, loss, and aggressive military tactics. You can really feel the bonds forged between these brothers in arms as the battle plays out" -- Marcus Luttrell, author of Lone Survivor "At times, I forgot I was reading about a war as I was drawn up in the drama the same way you [are] when reading Krakauer's Into Thin Air ... This is a book of probing honesty, wrenching drama and courage." -- Doug Stanton, author of Horse Soldiers "[A] soulful story of men at war ... Outlaw Platoon shows us that the love and brotherhood forged in the fires of combat are the most formidable quaities a unit can possess." -- Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire "Outlaw Platoon is expertly told by a man who braved the heat of battle time and time again. An epic story as exacting as it is suspenseful, it reveals the bravery and dedication of our armed service men and women around the world." -- Clive Cussler "This book is more than just a rip-roaring combat narrative: it is a profoundly moving exploration into the nature and evolution of the warrior bond forged in desperate, against-all-odds battles. A significant book, not to be missed." -- Jack Coughlin, author of Shooter: The Autobiography of the Top-Ranked Marine Sniper "Outlaw Platoon is the real deal. It's a terrific tale of combat leadership that deserves to be studied by all small-unit leaders. The narrative goes beyond the battlefield to depict the maddening nature of the war and the grit of those who selflessly protect us." -- Bing West, author of No True Glory "Sean Parnell reaches past the band-of-brothers theme to a place of brutal self-awareness ... [he] never flinches from a fight, nor the hard questions of a messy war." -- Kevin Sites, author of In the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty Wars

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Book SynopsisWilliam Cecil, Lord Burghley (1520-1598) was Elizabeth I's closest adviser. This revealing biography shows, the driving force behind the Queen's reign for four decades. It helps us redefine our understanding of the Elizabethan period.Trade Review"'An excellent biography... Alford writes with clarity and pace... and offers a wonderfully rich description of Lord Burghley's material world: the maps and plans decorating his walls, the mutton and quails and calves' feet that streamed out of his kitchens, and the busts of the Emperor Charles V and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent that watched over the courtyard of Burghley House.' (J. P. D. Cooper, Times Literary Supplement) 'Alford has the biographer's natural sympathy for his subject and so does the reader of this engaging book.' (Robert C. Braddock, Renaissance Quarterly) 'Written by a master of the source material who has a feel for the nature of the Tudor Court and writes with balance and sympathy.' (Diarmaid MacCulloch, University of Oxford)"

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Book SynopsisTHE STORY OF ANDERS BREIVIK AND THE INSPIRATION FOR THE NETFLIX FILM 22 JULY, FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE BOOKSELLER OF KABULOn 22 July 2011 Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 of his fellow Norwegians in a terrorist atrocity that shocked the world. One of Us is the definitive account of the massacres and the subsequent trial. But more than that, it is the compelling story of Anders Breivik and a select group of his victims. As we follow the path to their inevitable collision, it becomes clear just what was lost in that one day.SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA NON-FICTION DAGGER 2015A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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Book SynopsisWinner of THE HW FISHER BEST FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZESPECTATOR, SUNDAY TIMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH, TLS, FINANCIAL TIMES, GUARDIAN, DAILY MAIL and SUNDAY TELEGRAPH BOOKS OF THE YEAR''Imagine Wolf Hall rewritten by John le Carré ... gripping ... a rare achievement'' Tom Holland, GuardianIt is 1501. Henry VII has won the throne of England through luck, guile and ruthlessness. But for many he remains a usurper. Now, his elder son is to marry, in a wedding upon which the fate of the country, and the entire Tudor dynasty, will hang ...''A masterpiece. Rich, resonant and utterly compelling'' Helen Castor, Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year''Gripping ... brilliant ... The enigmatic Henry is brought thrillingly to life as one of the most unlikely but tenacious kings ever to wear the English crown'' Dan Jones, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year''Thrilling and sinister'' Simon Sebag Montefiore, Daily Trade ReviewA brilliant debut ... this impressive book will certainly become the definitive study of our strangest, most mysterious, king -- Desmond Seward * BBC History Magazine *Stunning ... effortlessly vivid prose ... a revelation. [Penn's] focus is on the last, fear-filled decade of [Henry VII's] reign, but his sinuously coiling chapters seamlessly unfold the past as well as the present of his protagonists ... [He] has pulled off a rare feat: a brilliant and haunting evocation of the Tudor world, with irresistible echoes of the age of fear in which we now live -- Helen Castor * Telegraph *[A] brilliant mash-up of gothic horror and political biography ... a tour de force: both scholarly and a pleasure to read, covering the breadth of the European political scene, while providing the details that allow us to feel intimately the terror at home * Spectator *Remarkable ... Penn brilliantly recreates the sterile atmosphere suffocating Henry's England. His eye for time, circumstance and the telling anecdote is keen. Winter King offers us the fullest, deepest, most compelling insight into the warped psychology of the Tudor dynasty's founder to have appeared since Bacon wrote * Financial Times *[Thomas Penn] is a superb teller of a tale, a reveller in dodgy deeds, a keen observer of the febrile, dissimulating characters of court and embassy, and a splendid limner of the great jousts and entertainments of the age ... with a sharp eye for detail and adroit use of a gifted historical imagination, ... he lets us hear the creak of oars and the scratch of pens, as well as the tubercular king fighting for every breath ... Vigorous and thoroughly enjoyable * Economist *I feel like I've been waiting to read this book a long time ... a fluent and compelling account ... The level of detail is fascinating and beautifully judged ... I think that, for the first time, a writer has made me feel what contemporaries felt as Henry VII's reign drew to an end; the relief, the hope, the sudden buoyancy -- Hilary Mantel, author of 'Wolf Hall'Succeeds brilliantly ... [a] finely drawn portrait ... Penn's deft turn of phrase superbly re-creates the drama and personalities of the court -- Tracy Borman * Sunday Times *An exceptionally stylish literary debut. Henry VII may be the most unlikely person ever to have occupied the throne of England, and his biographers have rarely conveyed just what a weird man he was. Thomas Penn does this triumphantly, and in the process manages to place his subject in a vividly realised landscape. His book should be the first port of call for anyone trying to understand England's most flagrant usurper since William the Conqueror -- Diarmaid MacCullochA definitive and accessible account of the reign of Henry VII that will alter our view not just of Henry, but of the country he dominated and corrupted, and of the dynasty he founded ... [Penn's] point is to show that this is not the "merrie England" of the Tudor myth, but a country forced under the rule of a new king, spied on and policed for any sign of disloyalty, and tyrannised by the use of ancient half-forgotten fines and taxes -- Philippa Gregory * Observer *[Penn] achieves the remarkable feat of making the reign of Henry VII seem more interesting than that of his son. Winter King is well titled: the fingers of the first Tudor king, in Penn's account of his final years, are icy to the touch, and probe into every nook and cranny of the kingdom ... gripping and unexpected -- Tom Holland * Guardian *Penn's scholarly and engrossing life of Henry VII ... gives a complex and exact sense of how power worked in early modern England -- Sam Leith * Spectator (Books of the Year 2012) *

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Book Synopsis‘The greatest biography of our era … Essential reading for those who want to comprehend power and politics’ The TimesRobert A. Caro’s legendary, multi-award-winning biography of US President Lyndon Johnson is a uniquely riveting and revelatory account of power, political genius and the shaping of twentieth-century America.This first instalment tells of the rise to national power of a desperately poor young man from the Texas Hill Country, revealing in extraordinary detail the genesis of the almost superhuman drive, energy and ambition that set LBJ apart. It charts his boyhood through the years of the Depression to his debut as a Congressman, his heartbreaking defeat in his first race for the Senate and his attainment, nonetheless, at the age of thirty-one of the power for which he hungered.Trade ReviewThe greatest biography of our era … Essential reading for those who want to comprehend power and politics * The Times *A book of radiant excellence … at the summit of American historical writing … Proof that we live in a great age of biography * Washington Post *A superb and unique biography … Meticulous in research, grand in scale, this is a major work that will remain a tower of its kind -- Barbara TuchmanTruly sensational and enthralling … totally original * Financial Times *By every measure – depth of research, brilliance of conception, the seamless flow of the prose – The Path to Power is a masterpiece of biography * Newsday *Powerful and stirring. A monumental political saga … it is an overwhelming experience to read The Path to Power * New York Times *Not only a historical but a literary event. An epic biography … a sweeping, richly detailed portrait … an awesome achievement * Newsweek *

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Book SynopsisIn this new study of personal relationships within the British (including Canadian) Command in 21st Army Group during the campaign in North-West Europe in 1944-1945, Malcolm Pill considers the scope and depth of these relationships, ranging from those of the Secretary of State for War to the Corps Commanders. Montgomery is central. His great success in the management of his own multinational team is contrasted with the hostility created and lack of success achieved with those outside his team. Pill explores the importance of his great skill with the written word. The relevance of these personal relationships to the success of Britain’s last major campaign as a great power is assessed as are the post-war consequences for those involved.

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Book Synopsis‘ This story will appeal to those who still believe that an Englishman’ s home is his castle, and to those who have a soft spot for indomitable old women’ Daily Telegraph The hardback edition of this book, published in 2009 under the title A Lifetime in the Building, saw its extraordinary story featured not only in the Daily Mail but also Hello magazine – and quickly sold out two printings. Now it is re-launched in paperback under a new title to highlight its appeal as the tale of an extraordinary, maverick woman and her even more remarkable achievement. May Savidge lived in a half-timbered house in Hertfordshire. When the council served her with a compulsory purchase notice to make way for a roundabout, May decided she had to move – but so did the house. So she had the whole thing dismantled and shipped to the North Norfolk coast… and then spent the rest of her life rebuilding it, single-handed. Her fame spread around the world. Antiques Roadshow broadcast, unprecedentedly, two features about her house. Now her niece, Christine Adams, who inherited May’ s house and completed it – at the cost of her own marriage - tells her aunt’ s life story from the voluminous diaries and letters she left behind. Christine Adams now runs a Bed and Breakfast in May Savidge’ s old house in Norfolk. Michael McMahon is also the co-author of My Friend the Enemy (978 1 84513 316 0).Trade Review'A heartbreaking tale of love lost, stoical determination and a poignant secret.'‘A story of stoicism, heartbreak, suffering and great loss, but in which the indomitable Miss Savidge's determination not to lose her most beloved possession shines brightly and her note-to-self to 'Write funny story of furniture in attic' is fulfilled.’'A heartbreaking tale of love lost, stoical determination and a poignant secret.' ‘ A story of stoicism, heartbreak, suffering and great loss, but in which the indomitable Miss Savidge's determination not to lose her most beloved possession shines brightly and her note-to-self to 'Write funny story of furniture in attic' is fulfilled.’

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2017 SHORTLISTED FOR THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE 2017'A magnificent study of one of history's most compelling and divisive figures' Richard J. EvansWhen Martin Luther nailed a sheet of paper to the church door of a small university town in 1517, he set off a process that changed the Western world for ever.Within a few years Luther’s ideas had spread like wildfire. His attempts to reform Christianity by returning it to its biblical roots split the Western Church, divided Europe and polarised people’s beliefs, leading to religious persecution, social unrest and war; and in the long run his ideas would help break the grip of religion on every sphere of life.Yet Luther was a deeply flawed human being: a fervent believer tormented by spiritual doubts; a prolific writer whose translation of the Bible would shape the German language yet whose attacks on his opponents were vicious and foul-mouthed; a married ex-monk who liberated human sexuality from the stigma of sin but who insisted that women should know their place; a religious fundamentalist, Jew-hater and political reactionary who called ‘for the private and public murder of the peasants’ who had risen against their lords in response to his teaching. And perhaps surprisingly, the man who helped create in the modern world was not modern himself: for him the devil was not a figure of speech but a real, physical presence.As an acclaimed historian, Lyndal Roper explains how Luther’s impact can only be understood against the background of the times. As a brilliant biographer, she gives us the flesh-and-blood figure. She reveals the often contradictory psychological forces that drove Luther forward and the dynamics they unleashed, which turned a small act of protest into a battle against the power of the Church.A New Statesman, Spectator, History Today, Guardian and Sunday Times Book of the YearTrade ReviewThis is a smart, accessible, authoritative biography of one of the most dynamic figures in European history. Lyndal Roper writes with clarity and discernment, so that nothing stands between the reader and her grimly fascinating subject; she earths the reformer, situating him psychically as well as geographically in a Germany she describes as vividly as if we lived there: mining towns as well as lecture halls, courts as well as cathedrals. She creates a context for a man who arouses both admiration and horror in the modern reader. Here he stands: never more vocal, more controversial, more compelling -- Hilary MantelA fine achievement, deeply researched and fluently written, and it brings its difficult and cantankerous subject to life as no other biography has... A magnificent study of one of history’s most compelling and divisive figures -- Richard J. EvansImpeccable scholarship and painstaking fair-mindedness characterize his deeply illuminating biography. Roper has mined the correspondence, and Luther’s charisma and complexity shine through the letters -- Andrew Pettegree * New York Times *Lyndal Roper's new book is a compelling and provocative attempt to restore some flesh and blood to this static icon...the work of one of the most imaginative and pioneering historians of our generation -- Alexandrda Walsham * Guardian *Lyndal Roper provides a fine scholarly narrative of Luther’s extraordinary life...She paints the picture of a “difficult hero”, with full attention to both light and shadow. A compellingly readable and richly documented study -- Rowan WilliamsExcellent and wholly absorbing biography… Roper’s biography, distinguished by the excellence of its writing and research, is the beginning of wisdom in all things Reformation, anti-Roman and, alas, proto-Hitlerite. -- Ian Thomson * Guardian *[Martin Luther is] exemplary history: imaginative yet empirical, rounded and profound. -- Malcolm Gaskill * Financial Times *Roper’s immaculate scholarship…gives a complex account of his inner life, without ever straying beyond what the evidence will allow. -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian, Book of the Year *[It] deploys its considerable learning with the lightest of touches: a seductive, shimmering and significant retelling of a man whose rise to power was…as unlikely as it was extraordinary -- Thomas Penn * Guardian, Book of the Year *An impressive and fascinating read. -- David Crane * Spectator, Book of the Year *A superb evocation of Luther’s Germany… Roper captures so well his coarseness and cruelty. -- A.N. Wilson * New Statesman, Book of the Year *[A] magnificent book. * New Statesman *A revelation of psychological insight and breathtaking historical detail… Extensive and engaging biography… Very strong on the economic background and how it translates into spiritual questions… This book brings clarity to how complicate, strange, ennobling and disgusting the period was. -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *Roper…has an extraordinary talent for making complex theological issues not just clear but entertaining. -- Gerrard DeGroot * The Times *Beautifully written… Among the most interesting, provocative and original biographies of Luther to appear in recent years… This unfailingly inventive and compelling account is a welcome gust of fresh air… Anyone seriously interested in one of the most influential figures of the last half-millennium will need to make time to read this one. -- Peter Marshall * Literary Review *[It is] fresh and captivating… A closely focused and compellingly intimate study of Luther’s perceptions. -- Alexandra Shephard * History Today, Book of the Year *[A] rewarding biography… Roper brings him alive as a very human figure. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times, Book of the Year *This is the book about Luther we’ve missed among all the holy books and the case studies: the whole engrossing story of a soul and a mind and the man who broke the old world and its old ways for ever. Lyndal Roper brings alive the struggle for ideas, adds a subtle sense of how human beings work, and distils a lifetime of scholarship to conjure Luther’s own world with its princes, demons, scandals and sheer brave defiance of a whole old order -- Michael Pye, author of The Edge of the WorldCompelling and above all deeply honest biography. -- David Crane * Spectator *This book will continue to bring the reformer and his theology to life for generations to come. -- Bridget Heal * History Today, Book of the Year *[An] excellent study. -- Jonathan Wright * BBC History Magazine ****** -- Christopher Howse * Sunday Telegraph *Roper’s Luther is an angry man: a renegade and a rebel… [She] paints a vivid picture of the political and economic context in Mansfeld, where Luther grew up, and of the situation of Wittenberg and its political governance. There are important findings here, particularly relating to Luther’s early life -- Charlotte Methuen * The Times Literary Supplement *Roper writes with the virtuosity of an unsurpassed archival researcher, the grace of an elegant stylist, and the compassion of a seasoned student of human nature. Her nuanced and insightful portrait brilliantly evokes the inner and outer worlds of the man Luther. The book is a complete triumph. -- Joel F. Harrington, author of The Faithful ExecutionerMagnificent and surely definitive – a work of immense scholarship, acute psychological insight and gloriously fluent prose. Lyndal Roper has got under the skin of her subject and the result is thrilling. -- Jessie Childs, author of Henry VIII’s Last Victim and God’s TraitorsRoper’s scholarly strengths plus 10 years of careful research have yielded a richly contextualised biography of a man whose influence has been and remains enormous, for good or ill or both. -- Brad Gregory * Tablet *This is a helpful and insightful examination of Luther’s attitudes and relationships… Highly recommended. -- Martin Wellings * Methodist Recorder *Roper portrays a deeply flawed but fascinating human being to rival any of the major personalities of Tudor England. -- Caroline Sanderson * Bookseller *I heartily commend Martin Luther… It is simply the best English-language biography of Luther I’ve read and I’d be amazed if its combination of rigorous scholarship and approachable tone is bettered. -- Francis Philips * Catholic Herald, Book of the Year *[A] superb new biography… A challenging and deeply stimulating study of a major historical figure. -- Elaine Fulton * History Today *

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Book SynopsisThe Assassination of Lumumba unravels the appalling mass of lies, hypocrisy and betrayals that have surrounded accounts of the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba-the first prime minister of the Republic of Congo and a pioneer of African unity-since it perpetration. Making use of a huge array of official sources as well as personal testimony from many of those in the Congo at the time, Ludo De Witte reveals a network of complicity ranging from the Belgian government to the CIA. Patrice Lumumba's personal strength and his quest for African unity emerges in stark contrast with one of the murkiest episodes in twentieth-century politics.Trade ReviewDe Witte has assembled a staggering amount of detail to support his allegations of direct government participation in Lumumba's murder. * Washington Post Book World *De Witte has performed an important service in establishing the facts of Lumumba's last days and Belgium's responsibility for what happened. * New York Review of Books *De Witte writes without stylish frills or narrative tricks, but this is a vivid and utterly compelling account of a nation strangled at birth by the West. -- Ronan Bennett * Los Angeles Times *De Witte's book, politically passionate as it is, is an unignorable effort to bring the West face to face with its culpability in this entire sad and sanguinary tale. -- Richard Bernstein * New York Times *One Belgian author has triumphed over decades of official obfuscation: Belgium did collude in Patrice Lumumba's assassination ... It raises questions about Western policy in Africa that will reverberate for decades to come. -- Michela Wrong * Financial Times *One should never underestimate the ruthlessness of British gentlemen cradling endangered shares. -- Neal Ascherson * London Review of Books *Thoroughly researched, passionately written, deeply disturbing. * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Whilst the battle for control over the resources of the Congo (now DR Congo) continues today this important book restores Congolese history and saves it from the official version peddled by those directly implicated in the affair. * New Internationalist *

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Book Synopsis''The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth'' Evening Standard A woman in a man''s world, Queen Elizabeth I was to become England''s most successful ruler. Confident in her destiny, intensely intelligent, passionately sexual yet (she said) a virgin, Elizabeth''s reign was characterised by a self-assurance unusual for the time. Finding her way through the labyrinthine plots that surrounded the court, she had to live by her wits, surrounded by betrayal and suspicion, not knowing who to trust with her desire to be queen, or her desire to be a lover.David Starkey''s portrait of the first female ruler of England is an enlightening account. Filled with lucid and clear scenes with fascinating insight throughout, Elizabeth is a truly masterful retelling of the life of a legendary monarch.''What a page turner!'' Time Out''Fresh and lively... Vividly told'' Sunday TimesTrade ReviewFresh and lively... Vividly told... He sets before us not only the woman behind the throne but the girl behind the woman * Sunday Times *The best account in English of the early years of Elizabeth... One of the most zestful pieces of narrative history written...a racy read and first-rate history * Evening Standard *What a page turner! A white knuckle ride through history...inspired research, from the clues embedded in the portraits to court ceremonial to the often circumlocutory letters * Time Out *I found myself compelled by David Starkey's vivid recreation of the hazardous uncertainty of Elizabeth's early life, her successive exclusions from the centre of power, the studiedly ambiguous answers she offered her interrogators, her inevitable implications in conspiracies and narrow escapes from execution * Times Literary Supplement *Combines a relaxed and unfussy style with a thorough knowledge of the period and a sharp eye for detail. Elizabeth's life makes for a compelling story and Starkey tells it well * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisChristopher Clark''s Kaiser Wilhelm II: A Life in Power is a short, fascinating and accessible biography of one of the 20th century''s most important figures.King of Prussia, German Emperor, war leader and defeated exile, Kaiser Wilhelm II was one of the most important - and most controversial - figures in the history of twentieth-century Europe. But how much power did he really have?Christopher Clark, winner of the Wolfson prize for his history of Prussia, Iron Kingdom, follows Kaiser Wilhelm''s political career from his youth at the Hohenzollern court through the turbulent decades of the Wilhelmine era into global war and the collapse of Germany in 1918, to his last days. He asks: what was his true role in the events that led to the outbreak of the First World War? What was the nature and extent of his control? What were his political goals and his success in achieving them? How did he project authority and exercise influence? And how did his people really view him?Through original research, Clark presents a fresh new interpretation of this contentious figure, focusing on how his thirty-year reign from 1888 to 1918 affected Germany, and the rest of Europe, for years to come. ''Clark''s fresh and enlightening history brings the Kaiser''s life into critical and illuminating review''  German History Christopher Clark is a lecturer in Modern European History at St Catharine''s College, University of Cambridge. His book Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia 1600 to 1947 was the winner of the Wolfson Prize for History.Trade ReviewClark's fresh and enlightening history ... brings the Kaiser's life into critical and illuminating review * German History *

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperbackEdward I (1272-1307) is one of the most commanding of all English rulers. He fought in southwest France, in Wales, In Scotland and in northern France, he ruled with ruthlessness and confidence, undoing the chaotic failure of his father, Henry III''s reign. He reshaped England''s legal system and came close to bringing the whole island of Great Britain under his rule. He promoted the idea of himself as the new King Arthur, his Round Table still hanging in Winchester Castle to this day. His greatest monuments are the extraordinary castles - Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Harlech and Conwy - built to ensure his rule of Wales and some of the largest of all medieval buildings.Andy King''s brilliant short biography brings to life a strange, complex man whose triumphs raise all kinds of questions about the nature of kingship - how could someone who established so many key elements in England''s unique legal and parliamentary system also have been such a harsh, militarily brutal warrior?

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Book Synopsis A remarkable account of Kurt Gödel, weaving together creative genius, mental illness, political corruption, and idealism in the face of the turmoil of war and upheaval. At age 24, a brilliant Austrian-born mathematician published a mathematical result that shook the world. Nearly a hundred years after Kurt Gödel''s famous 1931 paper On Formally Undecidable Propositions appeared, his proof that every mathematical system must contain propositions that are true - yet never provable within that system - continues to pose profound questions for mathematics, philosophy, computer science, and artificial intelligence. His close friend Albert Einstein, with whom he would walk home every day from Princeton''s famous Institute for Advanced Study, called him the greatest logician since Aristotle. He was also a man who felt profoundly out of place in his time, rejecting the entire current of 20th century philosophical thought in his belief that mathematical truths existed independent of theTrade ReviewBudiansky opens up the history of a time where great progress was achieved in foundations of mathematics against the backdrop of the Second World War. This is an easily accessible account for those who did not have the chance to meet Kurt Gödel in person...For the generations that possibly enjoy the t-shirt version of Gödel's work, I would hope that the variety of his work would spark more diversified Gödel merchandise * Annika Kanckos, Metascience *It would be easy to fall into the trap of repeating somewhat exaggerated anecdotes and to ridicule the leading character of this biography. Therefore, it is a pleasure to read a book on the life of Gödel that does all but that. The book offers a serious and unapologetic account of Gödel's life ... The new take on the topics is refreshing and brings the past to life through a coherent narrative. * Annika Kanckos, Metascience *Selected as a 2021 Book of the Year in the Times Literary Supplementwonderfully engrossing * Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker *Budiansky, for all his tremendous efforts and exhaustive interrogations of Gödel's times and places, acquaintances and offices, can only leave us, at the end, with an immeasurably enriched version of Gödel the wise child. It's an undeniably distracting and reductive picture. But - and this is the trouble - it's not wrong. * Simon Ings, Spectator *Journey to the Edge of Reason covers [Gödel's life and work] engagingly and clearly, which is quite a feat given the difficulty of the material. The author... also manages successfully to convey Gödel's naivety, eccentricity and paranoia as well as his genius. * Nick Spencer, Financial Times *In this excellent new biography, Stephen Budiansky introduces the reader to Gödel's stunning achievements in logic, illuminates his devastating mental illness and considers how the two might be related. * Cheryl Misak, Times Literary Supplement *An engaging read, both on a personal and professional level. * David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer *One of the great geniuses of the 20th century, barely known outside the academy today, receives a much-needed expert biographical treatment ... An outstanding biography of a man of incomprehensible brilliance. * Kirkus reviews *Journey to the Edge of Reason is an intimate and haunting portrait of one of the most elusive gods on Princeton's Mt. Olympus. A triumph of research and a wonderful read. * Sylvia Nasar, author of A Beautiful Mind *Kurt Gödel's mathematical results on incompleteness and undecidable propositions leave it up to us, as individuals, to choose whether to mourn these limits to the power of formal systems, or celebrate his proof that even the most rigid numerical bureaucracy contains the tools by which higher truth will always be able to effect an escape. Stephen Budianksy's Journey to the Edge of Reason expertly and humanely frames these results between Gödel's childhood under the dark shadow of the Austrian and Nazi bureaucracies, his escape to America, his descent into physical and mental illness, and his achievement of a reconciliation between spiritual faith and scientific proof. * George Dyson, author of Analogia and Turing's Cathedral *A painstakingly researched and lucidly presented biography—a close-up of one of the most influential and enigmatic thinkers of the twentieth century—full of vivid detail and sharp historical insight. * Karl Sigmund, professor of mathematics, University of Vienna, and author of Exact Thinking in Demented Times *A brilliant biography of one of the most original thinkers of all time, Journey to the Edge of Reason is as deep and precise as the genius it describes. In a paradox befitting Gödel himself, it takes a tale of logic and its limits and finds, at its heart, something strangely soulful and sympathetic. * Steven Strogatz, professor of mathematics, Cornell University, and author ofInfinite Powers *Prepare yourself for a great adventure and fascinating book that can be picked up at ease and read at pace..Budiansky provides a gripping and interesting dialogue fitting the great story of this fascinating figure...an excellent book. * Kenny Green, Mathematics Today *

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Book SynopsisIn Cook''s relatively short and adventurous life (1728-79) he voyaged to the eastern and western seaboards of North America, the North and South Pacific and the Arctic and Antarctic bringing about a new comprehension of the world''s geography and its people''s. He was the linking figure between the grey specualtion of the early eighteenth century and the industrial age of the first half of the nineteenth century.Richard Hough''s biograpahy is full of new insights and interpretations of one of the world''s greatest mariners.Trade ReviewHighly readable * Terry Waite, The Sunday Times *Richard Hough's biography is as fascinating as it is felicitous in style and entertaining in content * Field Marshal Lord Carver, The Sunday Telegraph *Hough tells the story with skill to give a convincing smell of the sea * Flora Fraser, The Times *Captain James Cook does handsome justice to the navigator * Ian Thomson, The Independent *

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Book SynopsisMargaret Thatcher is one of the most iconic politicians of the twentieth century. With the possible exception of Winston Churchill, no other Prime Minister has had such an impact on modern British history. Like it or not, her radical social and economic policies have made Britain the country it is today. Without Margaret Thatcher there could have been no New Labour, no Tony Blair and no David Cameron.Now Robin Harris, for many years Thatcher''s speechwriter, trusted adviser and the draftsman of two volumes of her autobiography, has written the defining book about this indomitable woman. He tells her extraordinary life story, from humble beginnings above her father''s grocer''s shop in Grantham, her early days as one of the first women in Westminster who became known as ''Thatcher milk-snatcher'' during her days in the Ministry for Education and then as Prime Minister. We follow her through the ''Winter of Discontent'', the tribulations of the miners'' strike and the FalklandTrade ReviewThe political biography of the decade * Daily Mail *No-holds-barred, well-written... contains the most authoritative account of her life after leaving office... a dramatic account. -- Philip Webster * The Times *[a] lively and accessible insider's account -- Peter Clarke * Financial Times *After all the eulogies, it is refreshing to read about an odd, driven, believable person – rather than some abstract national saviour or demon... Harris is like a long-faithful courtier freed by a monarch's death to speak the truth about them. -- Andy Beckett * Guardian *Remarkable... A vivid and concise study in adversity, triumph and treachery. -- Daniel Johnson * Standpoint *Readable and well-informed... detailed and fascinating -- Philip Ziegler * Spectator *A pacy and entertaining book... well-sourced and packed with anecdotes. A first rate potted history. -- Patrick O'Flynn * Express *Irresistible reading ... the brilliance of Harris's gift for narrative has not deserted him. -- Ferdinand Mount * Times Literary Supplement *Excellent -- Andrew Gimson * Conservative Home *Insightful and very readable. Its strength lies in its personal approach. -- Jack Carrigan * Catholic Herald *

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Darkest Hour and Dunkirk, discover the story of Walter H. Thompson, the man who saved Winston Churchill''s life more than once.Walter H. Thompson was Churchill''s bodyguard from 1921 until 1945, brought back from retirement at the outbreak of war.Tom Hickman''s authorised biography draws heavily on extracts from a manuscript recently discovered by his great-niece, in which Thompson gives a unique insider''s account of a number of occasions on which Churchill''s life was put seriously at risk and his intervention was needed.After the war, Thompson married one of Churchill''s secretaries, and her recollections, as well as those of surviving family members, are interwoven to tell the revelatory inside story of life beside the Greatest Briton.Trade Reviewwell-written and engaging... a worthy edition to the Churchillian canon * BBC History magazine *'fresh anecdotes abound in these fascinating pages' * Glasgow Evening Times *'a groundbreaking new book' * Yorkshire Post *

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Book SynopsisFullest biography of Gaius Marius in English for over 20 years.

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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 plansTrade 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 SynopsisNATIONAL BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDIn this groundbreaking biography, T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, the combative man and American icon who, through his genius and force of will, did more than perhaps any other individual to create modern capitalism. Meticulously researched and elegantly written, The First Tycoon describes an improbable life, from Vanderbilt’s humble birth during the presidency of George Washington to his death as one of the richest men in American history. In between we see how the Commodore helped to launch the transportation revolution, propel the Gold Rush, reshape Manhattan, and invent the modern corporation. Epic in its scope and success, the life of Vanderbilt is also the story of the rise of America itself.

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