Biography: historical, political and military Books

Book SynopsisIn 1919, Nancy Astor became the first woman to take a seat in parliament.She was not what had been expected. Far from a virago who had suffered for the cause of female suffrage, she was already near the centre of the ruling society that had for so long resisted the political upheavals of the early twentieth century, having married into the family of one of the richest men in the world. She was not even British. She would prove to be a trailblazer and beacon for the generations of women who would follow her into Parliament.This new biography charts Nancy Astor's incredible story, from penury in the American South, to a lifestyle of the most immense riches, from the luxury of Edwardian England, through the 'Jazz Age', and on towards the Second World War: a world of great country estates, lavish town houses and the most sumptuous entertainments, peopled by the most famous and powerful names of the age. But hers was not only the life of power, glamour and easy charm: it was also defined by principles and bravery, by war and sacrifice, by love and bitter disputes. With glorious, page-turning brio, Adrian Fort has brought to life this restless, controversial American dynamo, an unforgettable woman who left a deep and lasting imprint on the political life of our nation.Trade ReviewFort casts fresh light on a remarkable woman, whose toughness and independence of opinion allowed this outsider to chart a new course for women. * Good Book Guide *The spirited story of the indomitable girl from America who married a millionaire and fought fiercely to become Britain’s first female MP * Sunday Times *Fort’s well researched biography is excellent -- Janet Christie * Scotsman *Adrian Fort does justice to her energetic, forceful and outspoken personality -- Christopher Silvester * Daily Express *A masterful and compassionate book, every bit as multi-facet as the extraordinary woman * Country Life *

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Book SynopsisMarco Polo set off on his travels from Venice as a young man in 1271, and returned home in 1295 after spending 24 years away, 17 of them in China. He isone of the few early adventurers whose name nearly everyone knows. His book was one of the best-loved works of the Middle Ages, and has remained popular ever since. At a time when China is again assuming global importance, his account of China under the Mongol emperor Khubilai Khan - the dazzlingly splendid capital in Beijing, the great southern metropolis of Hangzhou - is a classic reminder of the antiquity of Chinese power and civilization.Marco Polo also portrays countries and cities all along the trade route from the Mediterranean to Mongolia. He reminds us that Iraq's present suffering is not unique by relating the story of the attack on Baghdad by Mongol forces in 1258. He conveys the daunting prospect of the deserts of central Asia and the distant charms of Yunnan. And he reminds us of the huge merchant ships dominating China's trade with foreign countries, ships that far outstripped their European counterparts. He even writes about Japan, the first European to do so. His book was often thought of as a book of marvels, but one of its striking features to a contemporary reader is its clarity, realism and tolerance. As this new edition shows, he sometimes exaggerates, but his reputation for making things up is quite unfair, as Colin Thubron makes clear in his introduction. The original manuscript of Marco Polo's book is lost, and in the many later versions names and other details have become so garbled that it has been said that his itineraries are impossible to follow. This new Everyman edition shows this need not be so. It explains clearly all the references in the book, and shows in detail with new maps the routes described from Venice to Beijing, from Beijing to Burma, and from Beijing to south-east China. It also provides an up-to-date history of the book and the controversies surrounding it.

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Book Synopsis'Fascinating... A vivid account' - Philippa Gregory, The TimesIn the mid-seventeenth century, England was divided by Civil War, but inside the home domestic life continued as it always had done. Lady Ann Fanshawe's 'receipt book' was a treasured and entirely feminine response to the upheavals of war, which left few doctors to be found. And so Ann's morocco-bound book full of scraps of ink-stained paper contained everything from lifesaving remedies to recipes for hot chocolate.Using Ann's receipt book and the memoirs she wrote for her surviving son, Lucy Moore follows her through this turbulent time as she leaves home, marries, bears - and buries - children and seeks to hold her family together. Lady Fanshawe's Receipt Book brilliantly illuminates the life and times of an English woman's Civil War.Trade ReviewFascinating... A vivid account. -- Philippa Gregory * The Times *Moore's prose is witty. Her book is full of arresting detail and thoughtful comment. -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * Sunday Times *An enchanting, idiosyncratic Tardis of a book, peppered with good humour * Daily Telegraph *A lively, affecting account of one family's fortunes in a world turned upside down. * Spectator *Charming and original. * Literary Review *With enormous skill, and in matchless prose, Lucy Moore brings back to life one of those Royalist women whose husbands suffered terribly for the King, while they were left at home to get on with the trying business of being wives, mothers, and heads of household in an age beset with turbulence, and fear. * Charles Spencer, author of KILLERS OF THE KING *Ann Fanshawe was an extraordinary woman living in extraordinary times. This wonderful book has at its heart her experiences as daughter, wife and mother during the Civil War, and is as dramatic and touching a story as anything in fiction. Her attempts to hold her family together in such turbulent times are brilliantly chronicled by Lucy Moore, who has written an unfailingly sympathetic account of the human cost of conflict, and the everyday resilience and bravery of those caught up in it. * Janice Hadlow, author of THE STRANGEST FAMILY *An erudite, beautifully written and completely original contribution to the history of the civil war. Lucy Moore is a most worthy biographer of one of the most fascinating women of the 17th century. * Katie Hickman, author of DAUGHTERS OF BRITANNIA *Vividly brings to life an ordinary woman living in extraordinary times. Rich in fascinating detail, it sets Lady Fanshawe's story of love and loss, family and friendships, against one of the most turbulent periods of our history. Highly recommended. * Tracy Borman, author of THE PRIVATE LIVES OF THE TUDORS *

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Book SynopsisTake a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. In the tenth century, Japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Sei Shonagon—a young courtesan of the Heian period—kept a diary, which provides a highly personal account of the intrigues, dalliances, quirks, and habits of Japan's late tenth-century elite. She was a contemporary and acquaintance of the well-known courtesan Murasaki Shikibu, author of the Japanese masterpiece The Tale of Genji. A perfect companion to that work, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon brings an added dimension to Murasaki's timeless and seminal novel and further illuminates Japanese court life in all its ritualistic glory. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, Arthur Waley perfectly conveys Sei Shonagon's girlish temperament and quirky personality. In a place and time where poetry was as important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, Sei Shonagon's private writings offer a charming, intimate glimpse into a world of innocence and pale beauty. A new introduction by respected Japanese literary scholar Dennis Washburn provides historical insight into Japanese culture, Sei Shonagon's world, and Waley's translation.Trade Review"His [Waley's] is the most appealing version for the general reader." --Michael Dirda, Pulitzer-prize winning columnist"In a small diary, a young courtesan of the Heian period gives her account of the Japanese courts of the day, providing perspective on a unique time in Japanese history. A contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji, Sei Shonagon's commentary brings an added dimension to that timeless and seminal work." --Svetlana's Reads and Views blog

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Book Synopsis''First there was Fire and Fury, then there was Siege, now there is Landslide. The third is the best of the three'' Guardian ''Cruel, unforgiving, muckracking, scandalous . . . Michael Wolff concludes his Trump trilogy - with the best book'' Telegraph ''Wolff is the shrewdest chronicler of Trump'' Sunday TimesPolitics has given us some shocking and confounding moments but none have come close to the careening final days of Donald Trump''s presidency: the surreal stage management of his re-election campaign, his audacious election challenge, the harrowing mayhem of the storming of the Capitol and the buffoonery of the second impeachment trial. But what was really going on in the inner sanctum of the White House during these calamitous events? What did the president and his dwindling cadre of loyalists actually believe? And what were they planning?Drawing on an exclusive and wide range of soTrade ReviewMichael Wolff's third Trump book is his best - and most alarming ... Fire and Fury infuriated a president and fuelled a publishing boom. Its latest sequel is required reading for anyone who fears for American democracy. * Guardian *If Donald Trump seems like a distant, bad dream, Michael Wolff's pacily readable account of his last months as president warns that we shouldn't write him off yet. This is the US journalist's third book on the Trump administration - after Fire and Fury and Siege - and it uncovers new depths of dysfunction there. * Evening Standard *Smart, vivid and intrepid * New York Times *Wolff's previous books on this president - Fire and Fury and Siege - titillated us with inside tales from a dysfunctional White House; terrified us a bit with gut-wrenching episodes of Diet Pepsi-fuelled craziness. They were warm-up acts. Low energy in comparison. Now we get the real deal. Landslide cuts deeper than any previous book about this president, indeed about any president. * The Times *[Wolff] provides a seamless, cinematic narrative of unfolding events in the White House, as if he was quietly sitting in the corner, unnoticed, taking notes, with some preternatural insight into the innermost thoughts of all the protagonists .... Cruel, unforgiving, muckraking, scandalous. I couldn't stop reading it. * Telegraph *In Landslide, Michael Wolff, the shrewdest and most colourful chronicler of the Trump years, focuses on 'the big lie', how Trump's conviction that November's election was stolen from him led him down the path towards insurrection and infamy. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisWilliam Wallace has always been one of the great heroes of Scottish history. By no means prepared by birth, education or training for leadership, Wallace nevertheless rose to prominence during the Wars of Independence, leading forces which broke the sequence of English victories and inspiring his countrymen in the process. While others yielded and collaborated, Wallace set an example of constancy and perseverence and became the Guardian of Scotland. Even his terrible death in London in 1305 can be seen as a victory as it provided inspiration for the continuance of the struggle against English domination. Despite Wallace's almost mythical status, modern-day perceptions of him are not always based on objective analysis of the historical facts. In this revised and expanded edition of his best-selling biography, Andrew Fisher investigates the man and his times to create a more authentic picture of Wallace than has ever been available previously. Trade Review'a tremendously popular account of one of Scotland's genuine heroes' * Scottish Life *'the first well-researched and reliable biography of Wallace . . . lively and interesting' * History Teaching Review *'the smartest, most savvy account of Wallace' -- Mel Gibson

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Book SynopsisEnter a world of ancient secrets, old money, new ambitions and the discovery of priceless treasure in this revelatory new biography.Between November 1922 and spring 1923, a door to the ancient Egyptian world was opened. The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun would be the most astonishing archaeological find of the century, revealing not only the boy pharaoh's preserved remains, but thousands of finely crafted objects, from the iconic gold mask and coffins to a dagger made from meteorite, chalices, beautiful furniture and even 3000-year-old food and wine. The world's understanding of Ancient Egyptian civilisation was immeasurably enhanced, and the quantity and richness of the objects in the tomb is still being studied today. Two men were ultimately responsible for the discovery: Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter. It was Lord Carnarvon who held the concession to excavate and whose passion and ability to finance the project allowed the eventual discovery to take place.The Earl and the PhTrade Review Early praise for the The Earl and the Pharaoh ‘The story of their quest for the tomb of an obscure pharaoh is familiar but still exciting, and the countess tells it well, conjuring up the fights, the frustrations, the times when Carnarvon came close to cutting his losses and giving up, and the moment in November 1922 when Carter held his candle up to a hole in the wall of Tutankhamun’s tomb and in answer to Carnarvon’s question, “Can you see anything?” answered, “Yes, wonderful things”… Carnarvon’s life makes a good story, with plenty of Downton-esque period details’ Daily Telegraph Praise for the Countess of Carnarvon’s previous works 'Bright, breezy and unpretentious'Guardian ‘If you can’t wait for the new season of Downton Abbey … this one’s for you … A revealing portrait of the changing times’New York Post ‘[A] fascinating insight into how the seriously rich once lived’Newsweek Daily Beast ‘Lady Carnarvon's narrative is a vivid time-stamp of a tempestuous period in history, aptly incorporating its political situation and social structure, to satisfy history buffs’Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“This…perfectly timed [book]...will be for many readers like the welcome, delicious equivalent of a large pitcher of iced water during a long, smoggy summer heat wave…[it] should not be approached as a eulogy for a fallen statesman…[but]...better read...as a blueprint for the future.” — Vital Speeches “Rich background information on policy and historical context introduces each chapter and frames each speech, which reveal Kennedy’s appeal to Democrats and Republicans, minorities and the middle class.” — Library Journal “Remarkable...a book worth getting and reading as well as passing down from one generation to another.” — Family Choice Award

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Book SynopsisAn updated edition of Ben Pimlott's classic biography of the Queen: There is no better biography of Elizabeth II.' PETER HENNESSY, Independent on SundayA magisterial biography and the only one that seriously deals with her constitutional and political role'' Tim Shipman, Sunday TimesThe royal family have been through a tumultuous decade, but with the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton, Prince Philip's 90th birthday and the forthcoming Diamond Jubilee celebrations, there is renewed interest and appreciation of our monarchy. The Queen is an in-depth look at the woman at the centre of it all and is the only biography to take Elizabeth II seriously as the subject of historical biography, or to examine the influences that formed her and the ideas she represents.Ben Pimlott (described by Andrew Marr in the Independent as the best writer of political biography now writing') treats the Head of State to the rigorous and objective scrutiny he applied to major political personalities, usTrade Review‘This biography by Ben Pimlott is generally considered the best political life of Elizabeth II’ GARETH RUSSELL, Times ‘A strikingly impressive achievement. Professor Pimlott has shown what wit, scholarship and a wide-ranging historical imagination can do with a subject that must initially have seemed unpromising. There will not be a better royal biography for many years.’ PHILIP ZIEGLER, Daily Telegraph ‘This is an important and stimulating book which even literary republicans can read with pleasure.’ ANTONIA FRASER, Guardian ‘Pimlott brings wit and gravitas to the topic.’ ANDREW ROBERTS, Sunday Telegraph ‘No serious royal watcher who values accuracy and the perspective of history can afford to be without it.’ Sunday Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Book SynopsisFrom the outspoken former governor, presidential candidate and chair of the Trump transition, a no-holds-barred account of Christie's rise to power in a world of bare-knuckle politics, his fifteen-year friendship with Donald Trump and his frank insights and experiences with the president and his inner circle.

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Book SynopsisJonathan Raban was the author of over a dozen books, both fiction and non-fiction, including Passage to Juneau, Bad Land, Hunting Mister Heartbreak, Coasting, Old Glory, Arabia, Soft City, Waxwings and Surveillance.Over the span of six decades, he won the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Royal Society of Literature's Heinemann Award, the Thomas Cook Award, the PEN West Creative Nonfiction Award, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers' Award, and the Governor's Award of the State of Washington. His work appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, Harpers, The New York Review of Books, Outside, Atlantic Monthly, New Republic, The London Review of Books, and other magazines.In 1990 Raban, a British citizen, moved from London to Seattle, where he lived with his daughter until his death in 2023.Trade Review[Jonathan Raban] is a master, as he has shown in his legendary travel writing, of summoning place and people with vivid economy . . . Father and Son is an exquisite, sometimes lunatic tension between powerful emotions and carnage on one side, and on the other, the conventional codes of what must remain unsaid. This . . . is a gorgeous achievement.” -- Ian McEwanBlessed with a lyrical, flowing style . . . Raban was noted for his pitch-perfect ear for dialogue and flights of the imagination, but also for evocative powers and sardonic humour. He is frequently melancholic and meditative, but his distinct writing is characterised by precision and clarity. * Irish Times *Father and Son is a fine achievement, a wide-ranging and compelling account with the author's hallmarks of intelligence, erudition, humour and honesty * Times Literary Supplement *Any book, [Raban] thought, should roam as freely as it likes and this final volume is an illustration of that . . . and that’s what makes his memoir so lively, even when it stares death in the face. -- Blake Morrison * Guardian *Everything that’s matchless about Raban’s work — his hyperacute eye for detail, his powers of synthesis, his mordant sense of humor, his vast reservoirs of knowledge and his love of travel — is there. * Los Angeles Times *Father and Son is a deeply moving career capstone . . . Raban's finest and most moving book . . . It is poignant and crushing . . . I wept. * The Washington Post *Reading his father's wartime letters changed how Jonathan Raban understood their relationship. A stroke changed how he understood himself . . . As full of eloquence as it is free of sentimentality, [this] memoir is a parting gift from a figure of insight and fierce independence... the pages turn quickly because the lines are so raw. * The Wall Street Journal *[Jonathan Raban] was the kind of writer we don't have in quantity . . . It's our luck that he left this lively and bittersweet memoir behind . . . We find ourselves inside the mind of an outraged, indefatigable commentator on life . . . Every writing day, he asked himself two questions: 'What have I lost?' and 'Am I fooling myself?' . . . [The] result of his labors makes the responses clear: a) very little, and b) no.Blessed with a lyrical flowing style, Jonathan Raban . . . was noted for his pitch-perfect ear for dialogue and flights of the imagination, but also for evocative powers and sardonic humour. . . A quixotic and nomadic seafaring writer, Raban was fascinated by the lives of the people he met . . . [In] his posthumous memoir . . . his thought-provoking approach, with trademark whimsy, illustrates his watchful eye. * The Irish Times *Raban’s posthumously published final work follows an English father and son whose lives take diverging paths . . . The war chapters, which excerpt correspondence between Raban’s parents, are compelling, but it is Raban’s reckoning with his own frailty that carries the emotional weight of the book. * The New Yorker *Jonathan Raban, who died earlier this year, left this memoir almost complete. It tells two stories, artfully braided . . . [and] with Raban’s interpolations, the Anzio pages [about his father] read like a military thriller....He was a master of close observation and wry self-deprecation, and had a cameraman’s ability to switch to a wide-angle lens in a heartbeat. * The Spectator *The late travel writer and novelist’s study of his dad . . . offers a beautifully written portrait rather than judgment. * The Observer *[Raban's] keen observational eye, wry sense of humor, and brilliant ability to prise apart the nonsense and find the tiny seed of truth at the heart of any situation were unique among his peers. -- Paul Constant * Seattle Times *

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Book SynopsisIndia''s lost emperor Ashoka Maurya has a special place in history. In his quest to govern India by moral force alone he turned Buddhism from a minor sect into a world religion, and set up a new yardstick for government. But Ashoka''s bold experiment ended in tragedy and he was forgotten for almost two thousand years.In this beautifully written, multi-layered journey Charles Allen describes how fragments of the Ashokan story were gradually discovered, pieced together by a variety of British Orientalists: antiquarians, archaeologists and epigraphists. In doing so, they did much to recover India''s ancient history itself. The Lost Emperor tells the story of the man who was arguably the greatest ruler India has ever known.

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Book SynopsisCloset Queens is a fascinating study of gay men in twentieth century British politics, from Lord Rosebery and Lord Beauchamp in Edwardian times to Michael Portillo and Peter Mandelson in our own era. As all homosexual activity was illegal until 1967, and exposure meant ruin and disgrace, such men were obliged either to repress their sexual feelings or else lead double lives, indulging their tastes secretly while respectably married with children.The need to cover up their sexuality, while causing problems and disappointments, often sharpened their skills as politicians - they were masters of secrecy and subterfuge, and knew how to take calculated risks. An entertaining and insightful account of some extraordinary personalities, Closet Queens opens doors into a hidden world.Trade ReviewMichael Bloch's publishers did well to get Matthew Parris to give his imprimatur to this book. It could easily have been a sleazy parade of salacious innuendo, but Bloch is a scrupulous historian who wrote an excellent biography of Jeremy Thorpe and has now looked at around 50 more politicians of the last century who led similarly double lives. This is a serious historical subject . . . Bloch shows that there was a far more extensive network of covert homosexuality than has hitherto been recognised, and there is no longer any need for reticence in admitting it -- John Campbell * Independent *The tales of secret love affairs and repressed emotions of some of Britain's past and (slightly) present MPs are told with an absorbing and gossipy literary tone, shining a light on some fascinating characters . . . The cunning required to avoid being caught . . . seems to have played a significant role in the successful careers outlined in Closet Queens . . . The book gives a fascinating insight into the political times in which these men operated, and also outlines the staggering battle gay people have had to wage in order to gain acceptance and equality . . . As well as a high calibre work of modern political history, it serves as a timely reminder of the difficulties endured by gay people in the all-too-recent past -- Charlotte Henry * Independent on Sunday *A hugely entertaining book . . . In my experience, homosexuals have a gift for seeing homosexuality everywhere, yet after reading Michael Bloch's survey I am retrospectively more persuaded . . . Bloch juggles the skills of lock-picker, outrageous gossip and historian. The result is unflaggingly absorbing -- Nicholas Shakespeare * Daily Telegraph *Bloch is the ideal author of this survey of closeted politicians, having published an excellent biography of Jeremy Thorpe, a gay man destroyed by his risk-taking . . . It would be easy for this sort of study to be sensationalist, but Bloch . . . makes it clear when he is reporting rumour and doesn't whip up scandal from thin air -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *Michael Bloch has written an entertaining account of the sex lives of some of Britain's most prominent and colourful politicians. What is surprising is that there were rather more secretly gay MPs than anyone imagined -- Chris Mullin * Observer *There is plenty of fun here, as Michael Bloch writes very entertainingly, and with a sharp sense of humour -- Chris Bryant * New Statesman *Great fun * Independent *A delight. Entertaining and full of good anecdotes -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAt the turn of the nineteenth century, Napoléon and his beloved Joséphine inhabit the Tuileries Palace. During the years they have been married it has been a time of extraordinary turmoil and triumph; a time of hope and disappointment in their desire for a child. Support for the First Consul has never been more ecstatic in the streets and in the Republic, but the machinations of the old regime mean the lives of Bonaparte and all those around him are in constant danger. And never more so than when Bonaparte becomes Emperor and Joséphine his Empress.Trade Review'As sumptuous as any historical epic, as lip-quivering as any great romance, Gulland's serial fictionalisation of the life of Napoleon's Josephine is truly engrossing' The Scotsman'As sumptuous as any historical epic, as lip-quivering as any great romance, Gulland's serial fictionalisation of the life of Napoleon's Josephine is truly engrossing' The Scotsman'Sandra Gulland tackles the story at a terrific lick and has clearly done an impressive amount of research' Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisThe enthralling story of Henry Hill's life as a gangster and notorious participation in the Witness Protection Programme, made into the hugely acclaimed Martin Scorsese filmTrade Review‘Absolutely engrossing' * New York Times *‘The best book ever written on organised crime' * Cosmopolitan *‘A riveting account of organised crime as a way of life ... extraordinary' * Publishers Weekly *‘This book chronicles Hill's criminal successes ... smuggling, hijacking, union racketeering, credit card fraud, robbery, bribery, drug dealing, prison, marriage, and assorted girlfriends ... faithfully portrayed' * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe first book to examine the truth behind the legend of the Krays, written by bestselling Kray family biographer Jacky Hyams

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Book SynopsisThe story of Alan Turing, the persecuted genius who helped break the Enigma code and create the modern computer.To solve one of the great mathematical problems of his day, Alan Turing proposed an imaginary programmable calculating machine. But the idea of actually producing a ''thinking machine'' did not crystallise until he and his brilliant Bletchley Park colleagues built devices to crack the Nazis'' Enigma code, thus ensuring the Allied victory in the Second World War. In so doing, Turing became a champion of artificial intelligence, formulating the famous (and still unbeaten) Turing test that challenges our ideas of human consciousness.But Turing''s work was cut short when, as an openly gay man in a time when homosexuality was illegal in Britain, he was apprehended by the authorities and sentenced to a ''treatment'' that amounted to chemical castration. Ultimately, it lead to his suicide, and it wasn''t until 2013, after many years of campaigning, that he Trade ReviewA sympathetic account of Turing's ultimately tragic life * Observer *Leavitt proovides fascinating insights into cryptography...he conveys both the ingenuity of Turing's creations and the complexity of the man * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Escape... escape... escape... by God!'' was his constant exhortation. Never mind hunger pains, discomfort, or any other agony. Let escape become your passion, your one and only obsession until you finally reach home.''Shot down over Berlin in 1941, Richard Pape''s saga of captivity is a story of courage unmatched in the annals of escape. Four escapes took him across the breadth of German-occupied Europe; to Poland and Czechoslovakia; to Austria and Hungary. Aggressive and impetuous, his adventures sweep the reader along on a torrent of excitement.Trade Review'It's an extraordinary story of British pluck but also very moving. Pape survived torture by the Gestapo but many of those who helped him weren't so lucky' * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisVICTORIA CROSS HEROES tells the stories of over 150 individuals whose bravery has earned them the Victoria Cross, Britain''s most prestigious medal for courage in action. The book is introduced by Michael Ashcroft, who owns over ten per cent of all VCs ever awarded. He explains the history of the medal and the story of his fascination with it. The main text of the book tells the stories of both those recipients whose medals are in his collection and those whose stories featured in the television series. Each chapter covers a different conflict, from the Crimean War to Iraq.

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Book SynopsisSebastian Payne is the director of the think tank Onward and the former Whitehall Editor for the Financial Times. He is the author of the acclaimed Broken Heartlands, which was The Times' Political Book of the Year. Sebastian presented the Payne's Politics podcast, which was shortlisted for News Podcast of the Year' at the National Press Awards. The Fall of Boris Johnson is his second book and was a winner at the Parliamentary Book Awards.Trade ReviewAn entertaining and illuminating fly on the wall romp through Boris Johnson's final nine months, where the fly, Seb Payne, must frequently have thought he was on hallucinogens. It's more fun than a Downing Street party and contains a suitcase full of news. -- Tim ShipmanA timely reminder of the fine art of defenestration written by one of Fleet Street’s most trusted insiders. Delicious detail, break-neck pace and a curiosity which is both urgent yet empathetic. We are lucky to have Sebastian Payne. One of the finest of his generation. -- Emily MaitlisA genuinely page turning, gripping account of some of the most extraordinary days in modern British history. Very well sourced, this is a book historians will be turning to for a long time to come. The fall of emperors often seems a more interesting theme than their rise; Seb Payne triumphantly confirms it. -- Andrew MarrBrilliant, a devastating piece of contemporary history and I’d recommend anyone with a remote interest in politics reads it. However bad you thought the Boris Johnson denouement was, Payne shows that it was much worse. -- Fraser NelsonAny Tory MP tempted by a Johnson comeback should be prescribed this book by their GP -- The Times, A Political Book of the YearPayne writes with great skill . . . borders on the best of Tom Sharpe . . . revelatory * The Daily Telegraph *I urge you to read -- Nick CohenRevealing stories . . . delicious detail * The Times *Seasoned Westminster commentator Payne brilliantly, breathlessly and low-blow by low-blow captures the car crash at Downing Street -- Daily Mail, A Book of the YearHas all the pace, intrigue, complexity and dirt worthy of the finest Netflix drama * Metro *Payne tells the inside story, charting the crescendo of scandals that led to the resignation of a prime minister * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisAn innovative and insightful exploration of the passionate early life of Socrates and the influences that led him to become the first and greatest of philosophersSocrates: the philosopher whose questioning gave birth to the ideas of Western thought, and whose execution marked the end of the Athenian Golden Age. Yet despite his pre-eminence among the great thinkers of history, little of his life story is known. What we know tends to begin in his middle age and end with his trial and death. Our conception of Socrates has relied upon Plato and Xenophon men who met him when he was in his fifties and a well-known figure in war-torn Athens. There is mystery at the heart of Socrates' story: what turned the young Socrates into a philosopher? What drove him to pursue with such persistence, at the cost of social acceptance and ultimately of his life, a whole new way of thinking about the meaning of existence? In this revisionist biography, Armand D'Angour draws on neglected sources to eTrade ReviewSympathetic and irreverent … A demythologised Socrates is revealed, not so much debunked as rendered newly human … All this is done in prose of easy elegance and authority … Socrates is one of the very few philosophers whose thoughts on love are worth reading * Daily Telegraph *In this brilliant study, Armand D’Angour refocuses the works of Socrates the Philosopher by looking afresh at the life of Socrates the Man. In doing so, he provides new insights not just into Socrates but into ancient Greek thinking as a whole -- Peter Frankopan, author of 'The Silk Roads'Write the name Aspasia on your hearts! History, as told by men, has often erased the role of women. Our new champion Armand D’Angour has pieced together the evidence – that a woman of great intellectual powers helped lay the foundations of Western philosophy. This is a delicious and exhilarating piece of serious scholarship -- Helena KennedyD’Angour sets about his task with admirable imagination, even a touch of literary flair ... Highly readable -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *A terrific read * Literary Review *A fascinating and revelatory book. A penetrating combination of tremendous scholarship, imagination and sympathetic understanding -- William BoydA learned, agile and slickly written book … [D’Angour] offers an erudite guide to the intellectual culture of the time … [I] couldn’t help admiring his grasp of the material and his ability to communicate it compactly -- Tim Whitmarsh * Guardian *Who was Socrates? D’Angour guesses that the majority of people who know something about him will answer that Socrates was ‘a thinker, wise man, or philosopher of ancient Greece.’ If your answer was along these lines, then you need to pick up this book … Not only clearly well-researched, but it is also enjoyable to read * All About History *A book that succeeds brilliantly in achieving something that I had always assumed was impossible: providing a historically grounded portrait of the man Socrates may actually have been. Not merely eye-opening, it is thrilling and moving -- Tom HollandArmand D’Angour’s new readings of Plato’s dialogues bring a new Athenian world to life … Plausible and beautifully written -- Josephine QuinnWho was Socrates? Surprising insights abound in Armand D’Angour’s new, even radical, biography of the brilliantly eccentric, earthy, and brave provocateur-philosopher. Socrates in Love is deeply thoughtful and delightfully written -- Adrienne Mayor, author of 'Gods and Robots: Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology'The most nourishing book I have read this year * praise for The Greeks and the New, Spectator: Book of the Year Selection *A fantastic, engaging book … Not to be missed * praise for The Greeks and the New, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *The book is well-written and fun to read—it has itself some of the gleam and glamour of the new, and I expect that its readers will give it kleos * praise for The Greeks and the New, Classical Journal Online *Engaging and aptly original study * praise for The Greeks and the New, Times Literary Supplement *A learned, agile and slickly written book … D’Angour offers an erudite guide to the intellectual culture of the time … I couldn’t help admiring his grasp of the material and his ability to communicate it compactly -- Tim Whitmarsh * Guardian *

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

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Book SynopsisAn informative and visually appealing quiz book covering all aspects of Churchill''s extraordinary life.Do you think you know everything there is to know about Churchill? Have you seen every film and read every book ever produced about this great British statesman? Then delve into The Churchill Quiz Book to find 800 fascinating questions on every aspect of his heroic, colourful and controversial life!With multiple-choice questions, anagrams, truth or fiction sections to baffle and intrigue, picture quizzes from the Imperial War Museums'' archive, and much more, you will find there is still something new to learn about the compelling icon who led Great Britain to ultimate victory in World War II.Trade ReviewIt really is a nice gift for anyone interested in our wartime PM. * The Armourer *Table of ContentsIntroduction Acknowledgments How to Use This Book Questions 1. Beginnings 2. Passion and Politics 3. Politics, Empire and the Road to War 4. War and Wilderness 5. Alone and at War 6. Darkest Hours 7. Adversity and Striking Back 8. Liberating Europe 9. Victory and Defeat 10. Post-war and Legacy Answers Further Reading About the Author Imperial War Museums

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Book Synopsis''ENORMOUS FUN'' GUARDIAN''SO ENTERTAINING'' THE TIMES''GOSSIPY, LIGHT AND FUN'' TLSQueen Bees looks at the lives of six remarkable women who made careers out of being society hostesses, including Lady Astor, who went on to become the first female MP, and Mrs Greville, who cultivated relationships with Edward VII, as well as Lady Londonderry, Lady Cunard, Laura Corrigan and Lady Colefax. Written with wit, verve and heart, Queen Bees is the story of a form of societal revolution, and the extraordinary women who helped it happen.In the aftermath of the First World War, the previously strict hierarchies of the British class system were weakened. For a number of ambitious, spirited women, this was the chance they needed to slip through the cracks and take their place at the top of society as the great hostesses of the time. In an age when the place of women was uncertain, becoming a hostess wasTrade ReviewSo entertaining - and there's lots of insider fun to be had... Excels at anecdotes and punchlines... The strength of Queen Bees is its wealth of detail and its author's nose for a human story... This book dances in and out of its subject to the sound of plate-smashing, cut-glass gossip, ukeleles, Beecham's orchestras, jazz bands, Nazi anthems and bombs. "I've been to a marvellous party," wrote Noël Coward. Thanks to Queen Bees, we can feel as though we were there too. * The Times *The book, like their parties, is often "enormous fun" * Guardian *Delightful... Crammed with fascinating anecdotes * Independent *If guest lists and gossip columns, invitations and address books, seating plans and social mountaineering tick your box, this is the book for you. * The Times *Rich in anecdote... a fascinating account... Group biography is a difficult trick to pull off, but Evans is deft with her interweaving of narrative and history... * The Sunday Times *This is a whirl of a book, gossipy, light and fun * Times Literary Supplement *Evans's pacy account of these intrepid social lion-hunters sparkles with famous names * Mail on Sunday *Gloriously gossipy... A snapshot of a bygone age from Gosford Park-style big country house parties to dancing until dawn in Park Lane mansions long demolished. * Red Magazine *The individual characters of these unusual women are well delineated and all played significant roles in their time... An entertaining "spectacle of celebrity, talent, and burning ambition". * Sunday Express *An irresistible and witty account * Woman & Home *A compelling portrait of six inspiring women * The Lady *Wonderfully readable * Country Life *An exciting read, Evans has painted a compelling portrait of six inspiring women. * The Mitford Society *Evans makes a good case for her hostesses' importance as purveyors of soft power: the artistic, cultural and political reach of their address books, she argues had a profound impact on modern British society. All were marvellously quotable, as spiteful as they were ambitious, mistresses of the apparently throwaway remark designed to draw blood, but their success was due as much to their status and fortunes as to their brilliance. One of the pleasures of books like these is that you close them with a feeling of overwhelming gratitude for your own mundane life * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisNEW EDITION - FEATURING UPDATED INTRODUCTION AND NEW CHAPTERS The giant characters of history - from Mozart to Michelangelo, Shakespeare to Einstein, Henry VIII to Hitler, Catherine the Great to Margaret Thatcher, Jesus Christ to Genghis Khan - lived lives of astonishing drama and adventure, debauchery and slaughter, but they also formed our world and will shape our future. In this eclectic and surprising collection of short and entertaining life stories, Simon Sebag Montefiore introduces his choice of kings, empresses, sultans and conquerors, as well as prophets, explorers, artists, actresses, courtesans and psychopaths. From the ancient times, via crusades and world wars, up to the 21st century, this accessible history introduces readers to the titans who changed the world: the characters we should all know, and the stories we should never forget.Trade ReviewSimon Sebag Montefiore is a master storyteller * EVENING STANDARD *Sparkling biographical essays ... A tour of the good, the bad and the ugly * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Entertaining and informative. Full of offbeat, fascinating detail * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Comprehensive, chilling and highly compelling. A first-class chronologically arranged catalogue that enagages as it teaches * DAILY EXPRESS *Compulsive reading ... We do not shudder at the depths to which men and women throughout history have sunk, but experience a piquant relish ... a book that reminds us how thin the veneer of civilisation is * THE TIMES *A survey of great historical figures favours villainy over goodness ... A compilation of short biographical profiles ... catering to our appalled fascination with evil. Monsters outnumber heroes. Stalin, the subject of Montefiore's superb two-volume biography, is the prototype for many of the maniacal autocrats whose rages and rampages are described here. A strutting parade of psychopathic dictators, warlords, malevolent dwarves ... Montefiore finds room for a few gods, one or two secular saints, American founding fathers, Lincoln and Churchill, and a smattering artists and scientists, but their achievements hardly manage to maintain the pretence of civilisation. What excites Montefiore is villainy ... and he does this with wicked verve * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisThis is the only fully illustrated military life of the Emperor Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus (253-268). Considered the most blatantly military man of all of the soldier emperors of the third century, Gallienus is the emperor in Harry Sidebottom's bestselling Warrior of Rome novels. Gallienus faced more simultaneous usurpations and foreign invasions than any other emperor, but somehow he managed to survive. Dr. Ilkka Syvanne explains how this was possible. It was largely thanks to the untiring efforts of Gallienus that the Roman Empire survived for another 1,200 years. Gallienus was a notorious libertarian, womanizer, and cross-dresser, but he was also a fearless warrior, duellist and general all at the same time. This monograph explains why he was loved by the soldiers,yet so intensely hated by some officers that they killed him in a conspiracy. The year 2018 is the 1,800th anniversary of Gallienus' date of birth and the 1,750th anniversary of his date of death. The Reign of Gallienus celebrates the life and times of this great man.

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Book SynopsisErnest Marples revolutionised three UK government departments. At Transport (1959-1964) he appointed Dr Beeching chairman of British Railways and commissioned him to produce his infamous report, inaugurated motorways and introduced significant regulations for motorists. At Housing (1951-1954) he delivered 300,000 new houses annually and as Postmaster General (1957-1959), he reformed Post Office accounting systems and launched postcodes and Subscriber Trunk Dialling. This first biography of Marples uses newly-available archives to examine public and private transport policy, the growing power of the pro-road lobby and the identification of personal freedom with driving. Railway sentimentalism was no match for these. Marples was lucky not to be implicated in the Profumo Affair which rocked the Conservative Party but his political career was over soon afterwards. Questionable business practices caused his 1975 flight to Monaco hotly pursued by the Inland Revenue. Beeching, unhappy under a Labour government, returned to private industry although he later chaired a Royal Commission. Labour, despite promises, proved little friendlier to the railways but a more positive approach to loss-making passenger services eventually emerged under Barbara Castle. This book should appeal to those interested in Britain's railways and in mid-Twentieth Century British politics.

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Book Synopsis75th Anniversary Special Edition The largest ever explosion in Britain was colossal - and it was accidental. On 27 November 1944 almost 4 kilotons of bombs rocked the heart of England - three times greater than fell on London during the worst night of the Blitz. Although the seismic waves were felt as far away as Casablanca the catastrophe was hushed up as an official secret. Spy and sabateur stories abounded locally but elsewhere the largest crater in Europe remains unknown: a war grave like none other. Told for the first time by the people who lived through the event and its aftermath this is an important and unique chronicle of the world’s greatest accidental explosion. “There was a blinding flash and it looked like a great mountain in front of you. The stuff stood so high - pieces as big as railway engines were going up in the sky. We just stood and watched. It was unbelievable.”

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Book Synopsis'A forensic, riveting account of a wondrous and principled advocate' Philippe Sands'Well-written, deeply researched and wholly gripping' The Spectator'Meticulously researched' The Times'Kentridge is one of many lawyers to whom I will forever be in debt, and whose everyday fights against injustice should inspire us all' David LammySydney Kentridge carved out a reputation as South Africa's most prominent anti-apartheid advocate - his story is entwined with the country's emergence from racial injustice and oppression. He is the only advocate to have acted for three winners of the Nobel Peace Prize - Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Chief Albert Lutuli. Already world-famous for his landmark cases including the Treason Trial of Nelson Mandela and the other leading members of the ANC, the inquiry into the Sharpeville massacre, and the inquest into the death of Steve Biko, he then became England's premier advocate.Through the great set-pieces of the legal struggle against apartheid - cases which made the headlines not just in South Africa, but across the world - this biography is a portrait of enduring moral stature.Trade ReviewWell-written, deeply researched and wholly gripping -- The SpectatorMeticulously researched -- The TimesKentridge is not only one of the finest advocates of all time, he is also one of the finest men -- Lady HaleThe barrister's barrister . . . a moral stature that no amount of moral forensic technique can impersonate -- Lord Jonathan SumptionOne of the greatest lawyers of our times - a legal titan -- Lady Helena KennedyA good read . . . well-researched. It can be recommended as a short introduction to the horrific nature of the ancien régime and the risks run and suffering borne by its opponents, as they emerge through the prism of the South African legal system -- Daily TelegraphIn all of [Grant's] chapters, the role of fearless hugely skilled advocacy in creating a belief that the rule of law matters is luminously documented . . . Grant's description of Kentridge's cross-examination of State witnesses who were cynically employed to convict opponents of the apartheid regime should be compulsory reading -- The Daily MaverickIn November [2022], [Sydney] Kentridge will mark his 100th birthday, and Grant's in-depth research sets the scene for a celebration of a remarkable legal tactician -- Farmer's WeeklyThomas Grant KC has performed a real service by enabling us to get a vivid sense of some of Kentridge's most important cases . . . This is a powerful, but easy, read -- New Law JournalA forensic, riveting account of a wondrous and principled advocate -- Philippe Sands

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Book SynopsisA window into the world of nineteenth-century California, from two women who experienced it firsthand.In the early years of California’s statehood, Emily Brist Ketchum Bancroft (1834–1869) and Matilda Coley Griffing Bancroft (1848–1910) had front-row seats to the unfolding of the Golden State’s history. The first and second wives of historian extraordinaire Hubert Howe Bancroft, these two women were deeply engaged members of society and perceptive chroniclers of their times, and they left behind extensive records of their lives and work. Writing Themselves into History offers a rich immersion in nineteenth-century California, detailing Emily’s and Matilda’s experiences with public life, motherhood, and business against the backdrop of San Francisco’s high society and the state’s growth amidst the tumult of the American Civil War. The book also highlights Matilda’s significant involvement in Hubert Howe’s trailblazing research on the history of the American West—including her work collecting oral histories from women members of the LDS Church—and her evocative descriptions of travels throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.Kim Bancroft’s commentary offers historical context and points up Emily’s and Matilda’s keen insights, and she pays special attention to the two women’s complex and nuanced portraits of gender, race, and class in the nineteenth-century West. This book is a valuable resource for American West and women’s studies scholars, and for anyone with an interest in California’s first decades as a state.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part IEmily Ketchum Bancroft: A Life in LettersChapter 1 Emily, Hubert, and Daughter Kate at HomeChapter 2 Managing a Household in the 1860sChapter 3 Society Around ThemChapter 4 The World of TravelChapter 5 Emily’s Demise Part IIMatilda Coley Griffing Bancroft: A Writer in Her Own RightChapter 6 A Meeting of MindsChapter 7 Becoming a WriterChapter 8 “Lovingly, Mamma”: Matilda as MotherChapter 9 Matilda as TeacherChapter 10 A Craving to Take Dictations: Matilda as Oral HistorianChapter 11 Businesswoman, Dreamer, and SchemerChapter 12 “Most Beloved of Women” Epilogue Climbing the Family Tree: Kate, Lucy, and Their Families AcknowledgementsFamily ChronologyNotesIndexAbout the Author

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Book Synopsis"...Ray Davis was a hardened combat veteran. This was brought home to me one day while visiting a remote Army firebase in the jungle south of Khe Sanh. As the two of us strode along the jungle pathway, Davis suddenly stopped and peered intently into the thick green foliage. I suspected danger, brought my rifle up, and slipped off the safety. After a few moments, the general turned and casually remarked, “Dick, this reminds me of a command post I had on Guadalcanal.” I mumbled, “Yes, sir,” and surreptitiously fingered the safety to the “on” position. “Christ,” I thought in awe, “I was only two years old at the time of Guadalcanal. This is the old man’s third war!” — Dick Camp, introduction to book"A well-crafted biography of an important Marine commander. It illustrates well through Davis' career the Marine Corps of the mid-Twentieth century." – Paul Westermeyer, HistorianA native of Georgia, Raymond Davis joined the Marine Corps after university and would go on to serve in three wars and be decorated for gallantry several times including the Medal of Honor for his actions at Chosin where his leadership saved countless American lives. He retired as a four-star general after 33 years in the corps.Dick Camp, Marine veteran and historian, weaves memoirs, first-hand accounts, and his own personal memories of General Davis in this first biography of this archetypal "Old Breed" Marine.Trade Review...a balanced and thoroughly researched study of Davis’s role in three wars that justifies the hero characterization in the book’s title. * Marine Corps History 07/12/2022 *...a good book told by a competent author; it’s well researched and written. If you’re a Jarhead, it’s a must read. * The VVA Veteran 22/03/2021 *...explains unknown details of how [The Korean War] was fought and the brutal sub-zero cold the participants endured. * Military History Online *Table of ContentsForeword Part One: Formative Years, 1915-1941 Chapter 1: A Youngster from Georgia Chapter 2: Second Lieutenant Raymond G. Davis Chapter 3: The Old Breed: Special Weapons Battalion Part Two: World War II, 1941 – 1945 Central Pacific: Guadalcanal Chapter 1: “War” Chapter 2: Operation Watchtower Chapter 3: Landing and Defense Chapter 4: Cactus Air Force Chapter 5: Japanese Ground and Air Counterattack Southwest Pacific: Cape Gloucester - Peleliu Chapter 1: The Green Inferno Chapter 2: A Steamy Pest-Hole Peleliu Chapter 1: Breakwater of the Pacific Chapter 2: Death at the High Water Line Chapter 3: A Ferocious and Wily Foe Chapter 4: Bloody Nose Ridge Chapter 5: Pope’s Hill Chapter 6: Shot to Pieces Chapter 7: Homeward Bound 1st Provisional Brigade: Guam Chapter 1: “Pretty Good Plumber” Part Three: Korea (Land of the Morning Calm) Chapter 1: North Korea Strikes Chapter 2: Send in the Marines Chapter 3: Chinese Volunteers Chapter 4: Out on a Limb Chapter 5: Toktong Ridge Runners Chapter: 6: “Retreat Hell” Chapter: 7: The Great Pohang Guerrilla Hunt Chapter: 8: “Above and Beyond Chapter: 9: Peacetime Part Four: Vietnam Chapter 1: Provisional Corps Vietnam (PCV) Chapter 2: Taking Command, 3rd Marine Division Chapter 3: Assault from the Sky Chapter 4: Swing Force Chapter 5: Pacification: Winning Hearts and Minds Part Five: Post Vietnam Chapter 1: Post of the Corps: Marine Corps Development and Education Command Chapter 2: Retirement Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisESSENTIAL ANTIRACIST READING “We can no longer see ourselves as minor spectators or weary watchers of history a­fter finishing this astonishing work of nonfiction.” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy   Connor Towne O’Neill’s journey onto the battlefield of white supremacy began with a visit to Selma, Alabama, in 2015. There he had a chance encounter with a group of people preparing to erect a statue to celebrate the memory of Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of the most notorious Confederate generals, a man whom Union general William Tecumseh Sherman referred to as “that devil.” After that day in Selma, O’Neill, a white Northerner transplanted to the South, decided to dig deeply into the history of Forrest and other monuments to him throughout the South, which, like Confederate monuments across America, have become flashpoints in the fight against racism.   Forrest was not just a brutal general, O’Neill learned; he was a slave trader and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. O’Neill encountered citizens who still hold Forrest in cult-like awe, desperate to preserve what they call their “heritage,” and he also talked to others fighting to tear the monuments down. In doing so he discovered a direct line from Forrest’s ugly history straight to the heart of the battles raging today all across America. The fight over Forrest reveals a larger battle, one meant to sustain white supremacy—a system that props up all white people, not just those defending the monuments. With clear-eyed passion and honest introspection, O’Neill takes readers on a journey to understand the many ways in which the Civil War, begun in 1860, has never ended.   A brilliant and provocative blend of history, reportage, and personal essay, Down Along with That Devil’s Bones presents an important and eye-opening account of how we got from Appomattox to Charlottesville, and of our vital need to confront our past in order to transcend it and move toward a more just society.  

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Book Synopsis“We can no longer see ourselves as minor spectators or weary watchers of history a­fter finishing this astonishing work of nonfiction.” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy Connor Towne O’Neill’s journey onto the battlefield of white supremacy began with a visit to Selma, Alabama, in 2015. There he had a chance encounter with a group of people preparing to erect a statue to celebrate the memory of Nathan Bedford Forrest, one of the most notorious Confederate generals, a man whom Union general William Tecumseh Sherman referred to as “that devil.” After that day in Selma, O’Neill, a white Northerner transplanted to the South, decided to dig deeply into the history of Forrest and other monuments to him throughout the South, which, like Confederate monuments across America, have become flashpoints in the fight against racism. Forrest was not just a brutal general, O’Neill learned; he was a slave trader and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. O’Neill encountered citizens who still hold Forrest in cult-like awe, desperate to preserve what they call their “heritage,” and he also talked to others fighting to tear the monuments down. In doing so he discovered a direct line from Forrest’s ugly history straight to the heart of the battles raging today all across America. The fight over Forrest reveals a larger battle, one meant to sustain white supremacy—a system that props up all white people, not just those defending the monuments. With clear-eyed passion and honest introspection, O’Neill takes readers on a journey to understand the many ways in which the Civil War, begun in 1860, has never ended. A brilliant and provocative blend of history, reportage, and personal essay, Down Along with That Devil’s Bones presents an important and eye-opening account of how we got from Appomattox to Charlottesville, and of our vital need to confront our past in order to transcend it and move toward a more just society.Trade ReviewA Library Journal Best Social Science Book of 2020 An Atlanta Journal-Constitution Best Southern Book of 2020 “The truth is that we Southerners have always needed dedicated, self-reflective young folks from the North guided by genius and radical love to help us exorcise the worst parts of our region. Connor Towne O’Neill walks in that radical love tradition in Down Along with That Devil’s Bones, but he does something more here. He decimates the argument for our need of Confederate statues while chronicling what their existence grants him bodily and morally.” —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy “A personal examination of one of the great divides in our country today . . . Essential reading for how we got from Appomattox to Charlottesville—and where we might go next.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review “O’Neill’s first book is a dazzling reminder that American racism is robust and virulent. He writes with a fluency of American culture that portends well for his books to come.” —New York Journal of Books “A well-researched history and a call for reformation in America.” —BookPage “An eloquent and provocative examination of the links between protests over Confederate monuments in the South and the resurgence of white supremacy . . . O’Neill writes with grace and genuine curiosity . . . This inquiry into the legacy of American slavery is equally distressing and illuminating.” —Publishers Weekly “Timely, engaging.” —Booklist “In examining the battles over monuments to Nathan Bedford Forrest, Connor O’Neill deepens his own understanding of the denial, the hatred, the horror, that still infests white people in this country, who do not want to lose their magical image of themselves as the noble race who tamed a continent and lifted up savages out of their barbarity. Unable to face the full horror of what we did in these centuries of brutality against other races, we hide in the idea of the lost cause, the idealization of what we call a way of life, and idolize figures like Forrest, a man who made his fortune in the sale of human beings, and who carved himself into history through his wholehearted embrace of the southern war effort that, by his own words, had the glorification of slavery as its purpose. It is a vital piece of the puzzle, this history, reported in clarity and rich in insight. Would that clarity and insight could lift this curse from our nation at last.” —Jim Grimsley, author of How I Shed My Skin

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Book SynopsisOn a cold December day in 1840 Parisians turned out in force to watch as the body of Napoleon was solemnly carried on a riverboat from Courbevoie on its final journey to the Invalides. In this book Alan Forrest tells the remarkable story of how the son of a Corsican attorney became the most powerful man in Europe: a man whose charisma and legacy have endured since his lonely death on the Island of St Helena. Forrest cuts away the many layers of myth that have grown up around Napoleon, a man who mixed history and legend promiscuously. Drawing on original research and his own distinguished background in French history, Forrest undercuts the 'Great Man' theory of history to demonstrate that Napoleon was as much a product of his times as he was their creator.Trade Review'A book of supreme confidence and reflection' Daily Express. * Daily Express *'a concise yet revealing insight into his psyche' France magazine. * France magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction. Paris, 1840. Corsican Beginnings. Son of the Revolution. Bonaparte in Italy. Lure of the Orient. First Consul. From Consulate to Empire. Quest for Glory. A Vision of Civil Society. The Reinvention of Monarchy. From the Peninsula to Leipzig. The Hundred Days. Years of Exile. Life after Death. Notes. Bibliography. Acknowledgements. Index.

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Book SynopsisFrom the moment of her birth to her death on the scaffold, Mary Stuart spent her life embroiled in power struggles that shook the foundations of Renaissance Europe. Revered by some as the rightful Queen of England, reviled by others as a murderous adultress, her long and fascinating rivalry with her cousin Elizabeth I led ultimately to her downfall. This classic biography, by one of the most popular writers of the twentieth century, breathes life into the character of one of history's most remarkable women, and turns her tale into a story of passion and plotting as gripping as any novel.Trade Review“Zweig's readability made him one of the most popular writers of the early twentieth century all over the world, with translations into thirty languages. His lives of Mary Stuart and Marie Antoinette were international bestsellers.” —The Economist Intelligent Life “Zweig's accumulated historical and cultural studies, whether in essay or monograph form, remain a body of achievement almost too impressive to take in... Books on Marie-Antoinette, Mary Stuart, and Magellan were international best sellers.”—Cultural Amnesia “Stefan Zweig cherished the everyday imperfections and frustrated aspirations of the men and women he analyzed with such affection and understanding.” —Times Literary Supplement “Zweig is the most adult of writers; civilized, urbane, but never jaded or cynical; a realist who none the less believed in the possibility—the necessity—of empathy.” —The Independent

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Book SynopsisFor fifteen years, after his first visit to the country in1876, Nietzsche was repeatedly and irresistibly drawn back to Italy's climate and lifestyle. It was there that he composed his most famous works, including Thus Spake Zarathustra and Ecce Homo. This classic biography follows the troubled philosopher from Rome, to Florence, via Venice, Sorrento, Genoa, Sicily and finally to the tragic denouement in Turin, the city in which Nietzsche found a final measure of contentment before his irretrievable collapse. Endlessly fascinating and highly readable, Nietzsche in Italy will enthral anyone interested in Nietzsche's relationship with the country that enriched his soul more than any other.Trade Review“The essay-form allows Pourtalès a type of rhetorical flourish you wouldn’t expect in a traditional biography [as he] describes Nietzsche’s increasingly iconoclastic thought process, expressed throughout the 1880s in such explosive books as “Thus Spoke Zarathustra,” “Beyond Good and Evil” and “On the Genealogy of Morality.” --Wall Street Journal

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