Biography: historical, political and military Books

Book SynopsisThe inspiring story of five women who set out to explore the furthest reaches of the globe and redefine scholarship At the dawn of the twentieth century, Katherine Routledge, Maria Czaplicka, Winifred Blackman, Beatrice Blackwood and Barbara Freire-Marreco set out to explore the furthest reaches of the globe. Resisting pernicious sexism and misogyny, they were among the first women to study at university and went on to chart now-vanished worlds, seeking new freedoms in in the wastelands of Siberia, the uncharted interior of New Guinea, on Easter Island, and in the villages of the Nile. Yet upon their return to England, they found only loss, madness and regret waiting for them. An extraordinary insight into women's suffrage at the turn of the century and a revelatory study of Britain's colonial legacy, Undreamed Shores is an extraordinary portrait of a pioneering quintet whose struggles helped usher in a brighter dawn.Trade ReviewA deeply poignant account of five women who defied convention to pioneer female scholarship at immense personal cost. If you want to understand why there is so little historical evidence of women's intellectual achievement, read this. A devastating indictment of prejudice and how it held women back -- Madeleine BuntingLarson's close and sensitive attention... gives this book, superbly researched and winningly written, its compassionate authority as well as its storytelling zest -- Boyd Tonkin * The Arts Desk *A vivid and moving history, sensitively told and rigorously researched. -- Sarah MossEngrossing, humbling and immensely enjoyable. These five courageous pioneers not only braved extreme conditions and heart-stopping dangers in remote lands, but also the prejudice and hostility of a male-dominated world. Their extraordinary lives are uplifting and tragic in equal measure, and Larson unfolds their story with her customary blend of scholarly insight and page-turning verve -- Wendy MooreAn absorbing biography of five extraordinary people - the hidden heroines of anthropology - which raises some intriguing questions about their era, and ours -- Jane Robinson, author of Ladies Can't Climb LaddersAbsorbing... With this tender and luminously written work, Larson has convincingly vindicated [the women's] careers * Rana Mitter, Literary Review *Larson's subjects aren't as well-known as they deserve to be... The expansiveness and meticulousness of Larson's research deserves applause * Lucy Scholes, Daily Telegraph *An extraordinarily well-crafted, many-layered and captivating book, in which the author makes the amount of research that underlies its chapters seem effortless -- Felix Haas * World Literature Today *Enthralling... the first generation of professional female anthropologists faced far more prejudice back home than they ever did out in the field -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Undreamed Shores is a compelling group biography... This is a beautifully written and convincing book that is deeply sympathetic to the difficulties encountered by this first generation of British women anthropologists. It reveals much about how their work at the time was compromised by the myriad ways in which they, and the people they studied, depended on the colonial infrastructure * TLS *

Read more less

Book Synopsis"A chilling study of the man who masterminded the Holocaust Heydrich was inhumanely cruel, ruthless, devious, shameless, a sixteen hour a day workaholic who was feared and loathed even by his closest colleagues.' The Daily Telegraph An impressive mix of psychological analysis, biography and historical reporting . . . Dederichs descends into Heydrich's personal abyss and describes it in a captivating and intelligible manner while not rejecting the scientific approach.' - Die Rheinische Adolph Hitler praised Heydrich as 'the man with the iron heart'. He admired Heydrich so much that, despite rumours about Jewish ancestry, he considered him a potential successor. Reinhard Heydrich was undeniably one of the F hrer's most enthusiastic, brutal and ambitious henchmen and one of the key architects of the Third Reich's horrific genocide. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Nazi party and became one of the key architects of the Third Reich's horrific genocide. Indeed, after his 1942 assassination, the murder of more than 2 million people at Belzec, Sobibor and Treblina was code-named 'Action Reinhard'. In this critically-acclaimed biography, which includes interviews with some of his surviving family, Mario Dederichs creates a complete and compelling portrait of Heydrich's life. Dederichs details his short-lived naval career, to his work under the SS chief Himmler, his appointment as Stellvertretender Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia, and his assassination by Czech agents and the terrible reprisals exacted on the town of Lidice. More notoriously, Reinhard Heydrich chaired the 1942 Wannsee Conference which formalised plans for the Final Solution'. Heydrich was man put in charge of the 'Final Solution': the extermination of the jews. Heydrich: The Face of Evil is a brilliant, important portrait of pure evil. In 1922 he joined the Germany Navy at the age of 18, but soon after being cashiered in 1930 after an indiscreet liaison, he became a member of the SS. Here, he rose so rapidly that in 1939 he was entrusted by Hitler with the task of creating the bogus incident on the Polish border, this was to lead to the start of the Second World War. He established his fearsome reputation in the 1930s, as head of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD), the intelligence organisation which neutralised opposition to the Nazi Party by murder and deportation. He organised Kristalnacht and played a leading role in the Holocaust, chairing the 1942 Wannsee Conference which formalised plans for the Final Solution'. In addition, as head of the Einsatzgruppen murder squads in Eastern Europe he was responsible for countless murders.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Glorious... Scurr is one of the most gifted non-fiction writers alive' Simon Schama, Financial TimesA revelatory portrait of Napoleon written for our own time, exploring his love of nature and the gardens that gave his revolutionary life its light and shade.Napoleon's gardens range from his childhood olive groves in Corsica, to Josephine's menageries in Paris, to the walled garden of Hougoumont at the battle of Waterloo, and ultimately to St Helena, where he could sit and scan the sea in his final months.In this innovative biography, Ruth Scurr follows the dramatic trajectory of Napoleon's life through the land he cultivated and that offered him retreat from the manifold frustrations of war and politics. Seen through the eyes of those who knew him in the shade of his gardens, Napoleon emerges a giant figure made human - both as the Emperor hunting for glory and the man in an old straw hat, leaning on his spade.'Immensely satisfying and captivating... Charming and intelligent' Andrew Roberts, TLS'Grippingly original' The Times'A delight to read' Daily Telegraph * A Book of the Year in The Times, Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Sunday Telegraph and History Today *Winner of a Society for Military History Distinguished Book Award 2022Trade ReviewGlorious . . . Scurr has achieved something remarkable: a completely original book on a completely unoriginal subject. But then she is herself a truly remarkable writer, one of the most gifted non-fiction authors alive -- Simon Schama * Financial Times *Ruth Scurr, a politics don at Cambridge University, has ingeniously somehow found an entirely new prism through which to view Napoleon: as a horticulturist . . . an immensely satisfying and captivating book . . . charming and intelligent -- Andrew Roberts * Times Literary Supplement *Ruth Scurr's imaginative take on Napoleon's life serves up fascinating insights into the man's behaviour and motivations, as well as an illuminating account of those around him. The gardening angle is fresh and perfectly developed; to garden is to control and manipulate, an empire builder does the same -- Penelope LivelyAn elegant prose stylist, Scurr is above all a fabulous historian, and a vivid storyteller with a novelist's eye for engaging detail . . . Napoleon emerges not in his warrior guise but in his full humanity . . . History's palimpsest emerges in these pages too, through Scurr's accounts of modern-day places shaped by Napoleon's vision: while his empire is the stuff of history books, his legacy as a landscape genius endures -- Claire Messud * Harper’s Magazine *Napoleon: A Life in Gardens and Shadows is history at its most enjoyable, a discursive ramble along its edges, away from matters of power and into its byways . . . Napoleon is a delight to read and must have been an immense pleasure to research -- Caroline Moorehead * Literary Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPocket The Queen Wisdom is an inspiring collection of Her Majesty’s best loved quotes on life, family, politics, fame and history, and celebrates her immense legacy.Queen Elizabeth II is one of the most important cultural and political icons in modern British history. As the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch, she is known for her poise, wit and class.Some quotes from Queen Elizabeth II:‘Grief is the price we pay for love.’‘The world is not the most pleasant place. Eventually your parents leave you and nobody is going to go out of their way to protect you unconditionally. You need to learn to stand up for yourself and what you believe and sometimes, pardon my language, kick some ass.’‘I cannot lead you into battle. I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else - I can give my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.’‘I have to be seen to be believed’

Read more less

Book Synopsis13 HOURS is the true account of the events of 11 September 2012, when terrorists attacked a US State Compound and a nearby CIA station in Libya, one of the most dangerous corners of the globe. On that fateful day, a team of six American security operators stationed in Benghazi fought to repel mounting enemy forces and escalating firepower, to protect the Americans stationed there, including the US Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. Going beyond the call of duty, the team ignored orders to stand down and instead choked back smoke, fought wave after wave of machine-gun fire and retook the Compound, averting tragedy on a much larger scale – although four Americans would not make it out alive. Recounting the 13 hours of the now infamous attack, this personal account is both blistering and compelling, and sets the story straight about what really happened on the ground, in the streets and on the rooftops.Trade ReviewA crisply written, gripping narrative of the events of the battle in Benghazi that adds considerable detail to the public record of what happened there...[an] authoritative account * The Wall Street Journal *A great number of journalists and government instrumentalities have tilted at Benghazi...All of those efforts look fragmentary when placed side-by-side with 13 HOURS * The Washington Post *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Carefully researched and excellently written . . . a wonderful account of the special relationship between Ireland and the USA.' BERTIE AHERN'Anybody with an interest in Irish-American politics and personalities will want to read The Green and White House.' DICK SPRINGIntimate, complex, long-lasting: the links between Ireland and US presidents extend much further and deeper than JFK. From Andrew Jackson in 1829 to Woodrow Wilson in 1913 and Joe Biden in 2021, Ireland's sway in the White House is hugely significant.Handwritten letters, weatherworn tombstones, shipping records and even an old desk unlock the ancestral secrets of 23 presidents.Spanning the centuries from covered wagons to the American Revolution, the birth of the Irish Republic to JFK's heady glamour, The Green and White House takes in political machinations and the firebrands who pushed for freedom, justice and peace for Ireland.For centuries, Irish emigrants crossed the Atlantic by boat, but an intense diplomatic bromance has seen American commanders-in-chief returning to remote Irish villages via Air Force One and armoured limousines.Incredible stories spring from these presidential visits. High-tech phones are installed in an ancient cemetery while an Aran cardigan is treated like a hostile device. Anti-personnel nets produce a bumper catch of salmon, but a Secret Service gun is lost then found amid a jubilant crowd.Each homecoming - always conducted with a twinkle in the eye - turns local people into international media darlings. But this transatlantic courtship, forged over the unearthed mysteries of sprawling family trees, has secured Ireland an annual invite to the White House - something no other nation can rival.THE GREEN AND WHITE HOUSE takes a wry look at the special relationship one tiny nation shares with the world's greatest superpower.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A delicate, evocative story of strength and survival that turns on one of the most powerful forces in the known universe: a mother's love.' - Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape Artist A powerful, true story of a Holocaust survivor told by her daughter - a tale that reminds us of the resilience of the soul and the ability of the heart to heal.Born in Czechoslovakia, Mira was only 12 years old when World War II broke out and 17 when the Nazis finally caught up with her. Torn apart from her family, she went on to survive four concentration camps, including Auschwitz, and a Death March when she was too weak to walk. She lived when almost everyone she knew did not.At 88, living in Australia, Mira is diagnosed with cancer and her daughter, a journalist, decides to interview her to distract her from her illness. As Mira gives her testimony Rachelle comes to understand how Mira's unique perspective - seeing her experiences through the lens of the goodness of the people who helped her - protected her from the depths of humanity's cruelty, and enabled her to go on to live a full and brilliant life.Rachelle also fits together the jigsaw pieces of her own life as a child of a survivor. She comes to understand that however different their lives have been, she and her mother are uniquely united by a fierce inner strength to live, and a mystery of strange things that always seem to happen around them.A beautiful story of love, loss, wonder and the deepest kind of trust in life, A Brilliant Life questions the role that fate, chance and destiny play. It is a tribute to family, a story of incredible resilience, and a chronicle of the deep connection between a mother and a child which not even death can destroy.Trade ReviewA delicate, evocative story of strength and survival that turns on one of the most powerful forces in the known universe: a mother's love. * Jonathan Freedland, author of The Escape Artist *This is a loving and tender book. It has a great simplicity of heart and openness of spirit ... it models the skill of restoration, of building a new life without the need for retribution. The world is currently in deep trauma. Somewhere the pain must end. Indirectly, this book suggests that such an ending is possible ... Mira's story presents a key to the future of humanity. * Sydney Morning Herald *an affirmation of the miraculous nature of the human mind to make sense of humanity's worst inclinations, not just survive them * Rachel Griffiths *If A Brilliant Life were a painting, it would be hanging in a Palazzo in Italy among the classic chiaroscuro paintings of Caravaggio - a technique from the Renaissance era where the contrast of light and dark brushstrokes tells the whole story with some melancholy shades. Unreich has cleverly painted her mother's story in all its shades of glory and despair; a woman who stepped into the canvas of life and painted her own bright fulfilling future. * Harper's Bazaar *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A stalwart anti-racist and anti-apartheid campaigner.' Doreen (Baroness) Lawrence'From fighting for Nelson Mandela's freedom to exposing his betrayal under Jacob Zuma, a 50 year story of constant campaigning.' Sir Trevor McDonald, broadcasterThe powerful and timely story of Peter Hain's political life fighting South African apartheid and modern-day corruption.Peter Hain has had a dramatic 50-year political career, in Britain and his native South Africa. This is the story of that extraordinary journey, from Pretoria to the House of Lords.Hain vividly describes his anti-apartheid parents' arrest and harassment in the early 1960s, the hanging of a close white family friend, and enforced London exile in 1966. After organising militant anti-Springbok demonstrations he became 'Public Enemy Number One' in the South African media. Narrowly escaping jail for disrupting all-white South African sports tours, he was framed for bank robbery and nearly assassinated by a bomb.He used British parliamentary privilege to expose looting and money laundering in President Jacob Zuma's administration, informed by his government 'deep throat', and likely influenced Zuma's resignation. Hain ends by exhorting South Africa to reincarnate Nelson Mandela's vision and integrity for the future.Praise for A Pretoria Boy:'Peter's gripping story and his passionate activism resonates with me over our common (African) childhood and exile in Britain.' Natasha Kaplinsky, broadcaster'A tour de force over an extraordinary half century of campaigning for justice.' Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister and United Nations Development Chief'Talk about courage and chutzpah - this young 'un helped topple apartheid!' Ronnie Kasrils, former ANC underground chief and MinisterTrade ReviewEngrossing, thrilleresque ... impossible to put down. * Justice Malala, journalist and author *A stalwart anti-racist and anti-apartheid campaigner. -- Doreen (Baroness) LawrenceA tour de force over an extraordinary half century of campaigning for justice. -- Helen Clark, former New Zealand Prime Minister and United Nations Development ChiefPeter's gripping story and his passionate activism resonates with me over our common (African) childhood and exile in Britain -- Natasha Kaplinsky, broadcasterFrom fighting for Nelson Mandela's freedom to exposing his betrayal under Jacob Zuma, a 50 year story of constant campaigning. -- Sir Trevor McDonald, broadcasterTalk about courage and chutzpah - this young 'un helped topple apartheid! -- Ronnie Kasrils, former ANC underground chief and Minister

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor many in Israel and elsewhere, Benjamin Netanyahu is anathema, an embarrassment; yet he continues to dominate Israeli public life. How can we explain his rise, his hold on Israeli politics, and his outsized role on the world's stage? In Bibi, Anshel Pfeffer reveals the formative influence of Netanyahu's father and grandfather, who bequeathed to him a once-marginal brand of Zionism combining Jewish nationalism with religious traditionalism. In the Zionist enterprise, Netanyahu embodies the triumph of the underdogs over the secular liberals who founded the nation. Netanyahu's Israel is a hybrid of ancient phobia and high-tech hope; of tribalism and globalism -- just like the man himself. We cannot understand Israel today without first understanding the man who leads it.Trade Review'Certain to elicit both consternation and praise, Anshel Pfeffer’s book is a fascinating exploration of the complex ideological and familial foundations that continue to shape the thinking and governing of the man who may soon become Israel’s longest serving Prime Minster. This is a book that will lead both Bibi’s friends as well as his foes to see him a new — and infinitely more nuanced — light.' -- Daniel Gordis, author of 'Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn''An unsparing examination of the Israeli prime minister's rise to power. Journalist Pfeffer, Israeli correspondent for the Economist and senior correspondent for Haaretz, makes his literary debut with a biting portrait of Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu . . . a perceptive history of a beleaguered nation and one deeply flawed leader.''Riveting and passionately critical. . . a must-read for everyone who is interested in the undercurrents of today's Israeli society.''Anshel Pfeffer's biography is superbly timed . . . insightful and readable. . . Bibi, obsessed by hostile "left-wing" media, complained pre-emptively that this biography would be a "cartoon." It is not: It fleshes out a superficially familiar and invariably quotable figure with a wealth of background information and analysis that provide necessary and, of course, often highly critical context.''Anyone who seeks to understand [Netanyahu's] mercurial rise and the way it has shaped modern Israel would do well to read this insightful biography by Anshel Pfeffer . . . a sober and erudite profile of a man who has made himself necessary to his country through sheer force of will.'‘This excellent biography . . . is a dark record of the astute helmsman of Israel’s recent history.’‘Riveting and passionately critical. . . a must-read for everyone who is interested in the undercurrents of today’s Israeli society.’‘A detailed, revealing, and shrewd biography that is packed with fascinating insights . . . taking full advantage of the author’s vantage point as a bilingual journalist, alive to the subtleties of both Israeli and diaspora Jewish life, it is for now the definitive portrait of Netanyahu.’ '['Bibi'] is exhaustively researched … Most damning is Pfeffer’s take on Netanyahu’s relations with leaders of authoritarian regimes.' -- The Guardian'Excellent.' ‘An insightful examination of the most dominant figure in recent Israeli political history . . . both timely and much welcomed. . . . The picture Pfeffer paints of both Bibi and the Netanyahu family is a fascinating one, full of contradictions and paradoxes.’'Benjamin Netanyahu has turned out to be much more than the temporary speed bump in Israeli politics his critics once imagined. In this lively and trenchant biography, Anshel Pfeffer explains why and how Bibi came to dominate and embody the changing face of the remarkable and divided nation he still leads.' -- Aaron David Miller, Vice-President and Middle East Program Director at the Woodrow Wilson Center'Anshel Pfeffer has given us an understanding, even compassionate, portrait of Benjamin Netanyahu -- the family, the formative experiences, the logic of his belligerent ideology -- while keeping his distance from Netanyahu’s stances and exposing many of the unpleasant truths that lie beneath the surface Netanyahu works so hard to polish. Essential reading.' -- Bernard Avishai, author of 'The Hebrew Republic''Weaving together stories from Netanyahu's time in America and Israel, and from his family history, military service, and political career, Anshel Pfeffer's fascinating and insightful biography paints a portrait of the indomitable outsider who became Israel's three-time prime minister. This riveting account illuminates the ways in which the man leading Israel today is both a product and a beneficiary of bitter divides that have shaped the nation's politics from its earliest days.' -- Tamara Cofman Wittes, Senior Fellow in Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution

Read more less

Book SynopsisArctic explorer, survival expert and naturalist Freddy Spencer Chapman was trapped behind enemy lines when the Japanese overran Malaya in 1942. His response was to begin a commando campaign of such lethal effectiveness that the Japanese deployed an entire regiment to hunt him down, believing that a 200-strong guerrilla army was responsible for the wholesale destruction of their convoys. He was wounded, and racked by tropical disease. His companions were killed, or captured and then beheaded. Cut off from friendly forces, his only shelter the deep jungle, Chapman held out for three years and five months. Jungle Soldier recounts the thrilling and unforgettable adventures of the North country orphan who survived against all odds to become a legend of guerrilla warfare.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction 'I embarrassed myself by uncontrollable guffaws ... This is a truly wonderful story' A. N. Wilson, Spectator 'A white-knuckle roller-coaster ride of fibs and frauds' Sunday Telegraph 'An utterly mad, and wholly delightful story of chicanery and fantasy' Simon Winchester One day in November 1958, the celebrated historian Hugh Trevor-Roper received a curious letter. It was an appeal for help, written on behalf of a student at Magdalen College, with the unlikely claim that he was being persecuted by the Bishop of Oxford. Curiosity piqued, Trevor-Roper agreed to a meeting. It was to be his first encounter with Robert Parkin Peters: plagiarist, bigamist, fraudulent priest and imposter extraordinaire. The Professor and the Parson traces the strange career of one of Britain's most eccentric criminals. Motivated not by money but by a desire for prestige, Peters' lied, stole and cheated his way to academic positions and religious posts from Cambridge to New York, Singapore and South Africa. Frequently deported, and even more frequently discovered, his trail of destruction included seven marriages (three of which were bigamous), an investigation by the FBI and a disastrous appearance on Mastermind. Based on Trevor-Roper's own detailed 'file on Peters', The Professor and the Parson is a witty and charming account of eccentricity, extraordinary narcissism and a life as wild and unlikely as any in fiction.Trade ReviewA twisty, tricksy biography ... a thorough and thoroughly entertaining reconstruction of the life and lies of Robert Peters. Suspend your disbelief ... The Professor and the Parson would make a fine TV series along the lines of A Very English Scandal. Russell T Davies, if you're reading, this stuff is gold. -- Laura Freeman * The Times *A lively, well-written story of skulduggery -- Rosamund Urwin * Sunday Times *[A] roller-coaster ride of fibs and frauds ... To say of a book that, once you start reading it, you cannot stop, is always a cliché and often an exaggeration. Yet it really was my experience with this one. Various chores were put off and a meal skipped as I kept turning the pages. -- Noel Malcolm * Sunday Telegraph *Sisman's deadpan tone heightens [Peters'] comic effects. Often while reading his book in a public place I embarrassed myself by uncontrollable guffaws ... This is a truly wonderful story. -- A. N. Wilson * Spectator *The Professor and the Parson is a fantastic read and fully deserves to be among everyone's books of the year. It is full of wonderful stories and splendidly comic moments. It is also beautifully written. -- William Whyte * Literary Review *Astonishing ... fascinating, eye-opening * Emerald Street *A tortuous, intriguing and barely believable story, which sheds a fierce but comic spotlight on the ineptitude, gullibility and naivety of countless senior prelates and academics who were taken in by a consummate and unrepentant charlatan ... a dizzy and diverting read -- Rosemary Goring * Herald Scotland *Witty, impressive and captivatingly readable ... incredibly well researched ... a real achievement. It's also great fun. I laughed out loud ... one day this tale will make a fantastic BBC adaptation or even film. Think A Very English Scandal, but with clerical collars. * History Today *I was captivated from start to finish by this utterly mad, and wholly delightful story of chicanery and fantasy, and which involves a man who relentlessly duped our most cherished institutions of godly pursuit and higher learning. Plus I learned how to defrock a priest, always good to have on hand in these troubling times. * Simon Winchester *A delightful, delicious tale from the Hugh Trevor-Roper archive of Oxford skulduggery. Robert Parkin Peters is one of the oddest, most compulsive conmen ever, longing - and spectacularly failing - to achieve prominence in academia and the Church. * Harry Mount *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Danish aristocrat and astronomer Tycho Brahe personified the inventive vitality of Renaissance life in the sixteenth century. Brahe lost his nose in a student duel, wrote Latin poetry and built one of the most astonishing villas of the period, as well as the observatory Uraniborg, while virtually inventing team research and establishing the fundamental rules of empirical science. This illustrated biography presents a new and dynamic view of Tycho's life, reassessing his gradual separation of astrology from astronomy, and his key relationships with Johannes Kepler, his sister, Sophie, and his kinsmen at the court of King Frederick II.Trade Review"This fascinating and rich biography successfully explains the aims of Tycho's startling and ambitious enterprise, to rebuild the sciences of heaven and earth in a new vision of organized inquiry and the accumulation of nature's treasures. With gripping detail and brilliant illustrations, this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the cosmos and culture of early modernity."--Simon Schaffer, Professor of History of Science, University of CambridgeTable of ContentsPreface: Denmark and the Renaissance 1 Birthright Challenged, 1546-70 2 Cloister into Observatory: The New Star, 1570-73 3 Finding a New Life, 1573-6 4 Treasures of the Sea King: Kronborg and Uraniborg, 1576-82 5 Star Castle: Going Down to See Up, 1582-8 6 On the Move, 1588-99 7 The Emperor's Astrologer and His Legacy, 1599-1687 References Further Reading Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of Aelfred the Great, his war against the Vikings and the foundations of modern Britain. In AD 865, a 'great host' of battle-hardened Norse warriors landed on England's eastern coast, overwhelmed East Anglia with terrifying swiftness and laid the North to waste. Ghosting along estuaries and inshore waters, in 871 they penetrated deep into the southern kingdom of Wessex, ruled over by a new and untested king, Ælfred son of Æðelwulf. It seemed as though the End of Days was come. Max Adams tells the story of the heroic efforts of Ælfred, his successors and fellow-kings of Britain, to adapt and survive in the face of an apocalyptic threat; and in so doing, to lay the foundations of the nations of modern Britain in all their regional diversity.Trade ReviewThis engrossing history of the British people between the first Viking raids in 865 and the expulsion of the Vikings from York in 954 is notable for being a more nuanced portrait of that era... Lands other than Wessex come into fascinating new focus' * The Bookseller *An evocative look at a period that continues to grab the popular imagination * History Revealed *This is much more than a book about the Vikings versus King Alfred... [Adams'] great achievement is to cover events throughout the whole of Britain with some excursions into Ireland and Europe as well' * TLS *A beautifully crafted and impeccably compiled book, and one that is certainly a must-read for anyone with even a passing interest in the events and figures that moulded Britain during the reign of the Vikings * All About History *Essential reading for all those interested in late Anglo-Saxon Britain * Historical Novel Society *Adams very usefully drops from the macro-narratives to detailed examples of what all this meant to people at ground level, using the evidence of coins and charters and, especially, archaeology – much of which exposes the written chronicles and histories as propaganda... A great virtue of his book – in following the archaeologists and the geographers, the reconstructors and the genealogists, Adams never forgets to ask what it looked like to the people on the ground' * London Review of Books *Brilliantly combining history and archaeological research with an eye for the terrain [Aelfred's Britain is] a compelling read that is as knowledgeable on warfare in the Middle Ages as it is on civic life in Saxon London and Viking York * The Lady *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of the Renaissance city and palace of Urbino, and the life of the extraordinary man who created it: Federico da Montefeltro. 'Painstakingly researched and yet unfailingly readable' Ross King 'An insight into one of Renaissance Italy's most glamorous courts' Catherine Fletcher 'The perfect tour guide to the past' Literary Review 'A fabulous merging of seductive design with bravura scholarship' Alexandra Harris 'A superior study... Packed with detail' TLS The one-eyed mercenary soldier Federico da Montefeltro, lord of Urbino between 1444 and 1482, was one of the most successful condottiere of the Italian Renaissance: renowned humanist, patron of the artist Piero della Francesca, and creator of one of the most celebrated libraries in Italy outside the Vatican. From 1460 until her early death in 1472 he was married to Battista, of the formidable Sforza family, their partnership apparently blissful. In the fine palace he built overlooking Urbino, Federico assembled a court regarded by many as representing a high point of Renaissance culture. For Baldassare Castiglione, Federico was la luce dell'Italia – 'the light of Italy'. Jane Stevenson's affectionate account of Urbino's flowering and decline casts revelatory light on patronage, politics and humanism in fifteenth-century Italy. As well as recounting the gripping stories of Federico and his Montefeltro and della Rovere successors, Stevenson considers in details Federico's cultural legacy – investigating the palace itself, the splendours of the ducal library, and his other architectural projects in Gubbio and elsewhere.Trade ReviewSumptuous illustrations... Jane Stevenson's loving biography [is] the perfect tour guide to the past' * Literary Review *An insight into one of Renaissance Italy's most glamorous courts. The lords of Urbino are not nearly so well-known as the Medici or Borgias, but their architectural and art patronage, and book-collecting, deserve to be recognised – as do their military skills and bloodthirsty intrigues -- Catherine FletcherIn a narrative matching her book's sumptuous illustrations, Jane Stevenson celebrates Urbino as an essential place of pilgrimage for all lovers of Italian art and literature -- Jonathan KeatesJane Stevenson shows us the man – warts, battle scars, collapsed vertebrae and all – behind the myth of one of the most fascinating characters in Renaissance Italy... Painstakingly researched and yet unfailingly readable' -- Ross KingA fabulous merging of seductive design with bravura scholarship -- Alexandra HarrisA revelatory study of Federico da Montefeltro * Choice Magazine *A fascinating account of the patrons and artists behind the creation of one of Italy's hidden treasures -- Mary HollingsworthStevenson conjures the marvellous, intoxicating, brutal and beautiful world of Renaissance Italy with a lightness of touch and an eye for complexity and contradiction, bringing to life the battered, potent and panegyricised figure of a Christian prince, Renaissance patron and ruthless mercenary * Tablet *A splendid series of illustrations ... A superior study packed with detail * TLS *

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the early twentieth century, professional gamblers were such a scourge in the smoking rooms of trans-Atlantic passenger liners that White Star Line warned its passengers about them. In spring 1912 three professional gamblers travelled from the USA to England for the sole purpose of returning to America on the maiden voyage of Titanic. "Kid" Homer, "Harry" Rolmane and "Boy" Bradley (Harry Homer, Charles Romaine and George Brereton) were grifters with a long history of living on the wrong side of the law, who planned to utilize their skills at the card table to relieve fellow passengers of cash. One swiftly fell under suspicion of being a professional "card mechanic", and was excluded from some poker games, but other games continued apace. This new book, the result of years of research by George Behe, reveals the true identities of these gamblers, their individual backgrounds, the ruses they used, and their ultimate fates after tragedy struck, as well as providing an intriguing insight into a bygone age.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA glimpse behind the scenes of China’s publicity modus operandi courtesy of one of its seasoned officials Embark on an intriguing journey of discovery into how high-level Chinese party and government officials engage with the media. Packed with anecdotes, no detail is too small to escape the author’s notice, from dressing to impress to addressing North Korea’s nuclear aspirations, disputed islands in the South China Sea and UK demonstrations against the Beijing Olympics. This book lifts the veil on the behind-the-scenes dynamics of this hitherto opaque world of high-level PRC press conferences. Join Fu Ying at the National People’s Congresses as she adroitly prepares for and navigates tough questions, addresses sensitive issues, and tactfully and cheerfully counters perceived biases. Travel with her to the UK where, as PRC ambassador, she works to bridge cultural divides and challenge misconceptions about China while simultaneously embracing aspects of UK press culture she can learn from, such as world-class training on how to handle the media.Trade ReviewMadam Fu Ying is a rare specimen in the ranks of Chinese diplomacy. - Lionel Barber, Financial TimesTable of Contents* Contents * Dedication * Preface to the English Edition – Fu Ying * Introduction – Stephen Perry * Foreword * I. The NPC Press Conference 2017 * 1\. Walking into the press conference * Continuous preparation until the last minute * Last-minute preparation * 11:00am, 4 March 2017 * Witnessing the dawn of the Chinese Civil Code * My understanding of the civil code * My transformation from a diplomat to a lawmaker * Smog is a \"must-answer\" question * Some thoughts on environmental protection * 2\. The National Defence Budget, Personal Information Protection and Anti-Corruption * Has China caused any war or chaos in the world? * Should I give the defence budget data early to the journalists? * That question on the 2017 national defence budget * China’s national defence spending * A look at the “China Threat Theory” * Personal information of citizens is protected by law * Simplifying the complex * Responding to economic concerns * Nothing off limits for anti-corruption * Rule of law and system construction * The role of the people’s congresses in anti-corruption and anti-corruption in the people’s congresses * 3\. The Protection of Women and Children and China’s International Role * Brilliant ideal and harsh reality * Witnessing introduction of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law * Pay attention to issues of “left-behind children” * What role will China play in the world? * China and India are not enemies * Befriending foreign journalists * Answering challenging questions * Introducing the NPC system * “Rebuff” was not my intention * II. Stories Behind the Press Conferences * 4\. Working for “the Two Sessions” * Annual preparation period * Starting from the internal information: office symposiums * The media speaks for the people: Symposiums with the media * Messages from the frontline: talking with the ministries and commissions * Tell the Chinese story: Host briefings for foreign media * 5\. \"Forged\" into a News Spokesperson * My first experience with a press conference * It’s not just me — It’s a team * Finding out people\'s questions * Determining our position and perspective * A press conference is the art of “listening” * Practice, practice, and more practice * Appearance is another form of expression * III. Stories Outside the News Conference * 6\. Friendly and Fiery Moments at International Forums * China needs more representation at international forums * My first encounter with the MSC * Who is “controlling” North Korea? * Debate and argument * My experience with the Valdai Discussion Club * Valdai 2016 * Valdai 2017 * Russia’s “Valdai Experience” * 7\. Recalling My Time Spent in the UK * Arriving in the UK * Public opinion shock following the “3·14” unrest in Tibet * “Progressing fantastically yet communicating badly” * Strict teachers * My maiden appearance on BBC Breakfast * The 2008 Beijing Olympic flame arrives in the UK * The rocky torch relay * Ambassador as a torchbearer * My article in The Sunday Telegraph * Face-to-face with veteran journalist Jon Snow * A debate with Lionel Barber * My Pre-G20 London Summit interview * Transferring my London experience to Beijing * Afterword

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Daily Telegraph History Book of the Year 'An astonishing story... brilliantly told' Antony Beevor'Gripping... Will appeal to anyone who relishes Ben Macintyre's tales of wartime espionage and cryptic codes.' Sunday TelegraphSummertime, 1935. On a lake near Berlin, a young man is out sailing when he glimpses a woman reclining in the prow of a passing boat. Their eyes meet - and one of history's greatest conspiracies is born.Harro Schulze-Boysen had already shed blood in the fight against Nazism by the time he and Libertas Haas-Heye began their whirlwind romance. She joined the cause, and soon the two lovers were leading a network of antifascists that stretched across Berlin's bohemian underworld. Harro himself infiltrated German intelligence and began funnelling Nazi battle plans to the Allies, including the details of Hitler's surprise attack on the Soviet Union. But nothing could prepare Harro and Libertas for the betrayals they would suffer in this war of secrets - a struggle in which friend could be indistinguishable from foe. Drawing on unpublished diaries, letters and Gestapo files, Norman Ohler spins an unforgettable tale of love, heroism and sacrifice.Trade ReviewThe Infiltrators is an astonishing story of the anti-Nazi resistance - a story of love, incredible bravery and self-sacrifice, which could end only in death - and it is brilliantly told. -- Antony Beevor, bestselling author of THE SECOND WORLD WARDeeply engaging, enticingly written and extremely affecting... Original and fascinating... This is a remarkable story, powerfully told, of love and courage and of the balance in the relationship between a couple... A timely reminder of what some citizens are willing to do in the face of autocracy and oppression that once again haunts our times. -- Philippe Sands * Spectator *Gripping... Will appeal to anyone who relishes Ben Macintyre's tales of wartime espionage and cryptic codes, underpinned by terrifying risk, desperate courage, and double dealing... Moving at a cracking pace through a succession of snapshot cross-cut chapters, it is ripe for transformation into a film or television series. But great heroism is properly honoured here: Ohler has done his research diligently and he has an enthralling story to tell. * Sunday Telegraph *The Infiltrators describes an idealistic young German couple, Harro Schulze-Boysen and Libertas Haas-Heye who set up an anti-fascist network that burrowed deep into Nazi society and leaked to the Allies. With depressing inevitability, betrayal and merciless punishment intervened - but this is nonetheless an uplifting tale of heroism. * Simon Heffer, 'History Books of the Year', Daily Telegraph *Ohler masterfully establishes his trustworthiness as a narrator, which is crucial as we travel with him back to the 1930s and then on through the war. He weaves a detailed and meticulously researched tale about a pair of young German resisters that reads like a thriller. * New York Times *Lively... Ohler has given vim to the historical narrative, restored humanity and a genuine love story to the communist canonisation of Schulze-Boysen. * The Times *An unforgettable portrait of two young lovers and their circle of friends in the anti-Hitler resistance, The Infiltrators offers a fascinating glimpse of life in Nazi Germany, where the simple self-assertion of youth was a political act, and daily life was a minefield where missteps could have fatal consequences. -- Joseph Kanon, bestselling author of LEAVING BERLINA thrilling and urgent true story. Inside Nazi Germany, as tyranny spreads, a few friends decide to resist, and a secret circle of anti-fascists starts to grow. They are not mythic heroes but instead flawed humans struggling for meaning in a time of terror: writers, artists, a fashion designer, a dentist. With skill and passion, Norman Ohler brings these remarkable men and women back to life. The Infiltrators is a gift of a book - one I feel a little stronger, a little braver, after reading. -- Jason Fagone, bestselling author of THE WOMAN WHO SMASHED CODESOhler creates a taut, absorbing tale of anti-Nazi resistance. Told in the present tense, the narrative conveys a sense of immediacy and encroaching terror... Sharply drawn characters enliven a tragic history. * Kirkus Reviews *The fascinating and tragic tale of a ragtag, idealistic crew of nonconformists hiding in plain sight while secretly working to fight the Nazis from within... This unbelievable yet true story is richly detailed thanks to the participation of descendants of these courageous resistance fighters; with their help, Ohler succeeds in vividly thwarting the Nazis' attempts to erase these heroes from history. * Booklist *This deeply researched and stylishly written account unearths an appealing yet overlooked chapter in WWII history. Espionage enthusiasts will be riveted. * Publishers Weekly *The Infiltrators paints a picture of a marriage of intellectual equals who are driven by a single shared cause: to bring down the Nazis from within. In telling this story the book draws on diaries, letters and Gestapo files, many of which are previously unpublished, bringing much greater detail to an otherwise known but under-reported story... Gripping. * All About History *Remarkable... Vivid and engaging * TLS *Table of Contents0: The Thick of I 1: Adversaries 2: Work and Marriage (1933-39) 3: Resistance and Love (1939-42) 4: The Black Curtain (Fall 1942) 5: Restitutio Memoriae

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscover the fascinating life of a master of 19th century art and design William Morris was a man of extraordinary diversity and application, turning his attention to the mastery of as many skills in one lifetime as most men would achieve in several. He became an artist in oils, stained glass and ceramic tiles, a weaver, decorator, textile designer, calligrapher, type designer, typesetter, bookbinder, printer, novelist, poet and lecturer. One of his most influential concepts embraced the ‘small is beautiful’ ideal: suppose people lived in little communities ... and had few wants; almost no furniture for instance, and no servants, and studied ... what they really wanted. Then, Morris felt, life might begin to take on its proper form. He was unquestionably one of the first conservationists. Certainly, a century later, his ideas and his designs are still valued and enjoyed by people everywhere.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Absorbing . . . testaments such as Janina Bauman's are important and should never be allowed to fade away. The drama of Anne Frank is rightly always before us but the equally vital stories of those who suffered but survived need to be listened to with just as much attention' MARGARET FORSTER'A profound and moving book which everyone ought to read' ALAN SILLITOE, NEW STATESMANJanina Bauman was a year older than Anne Frank when the Second World War began but, unlike The Diary of Anne Frank, this is a story of survival.When Hitler's decree forced her family into the Warsaw Ghetto, Janina, an intelligent, lively girl, suddenly found herself in a cramped flat hiding with other Jewish families. At first even curfews and the casual cruelty meted out by the German occupiers could not dim her passion for books, boys and romance. Then came the raids, and Janina with her sister and mother, had to keep on the move, hiding in the ruins of the ghetto to avoid being one of thousands rounded up every day and deported to the camps. Their escape to the 'Aryan' side was followed by two years in hiding, taking shelter with those willing to help them and living in constant fear of betrayal.Told through her teenage diaries, giving her story a rare immediacy, this is the extraordinary tale of a passionate young woman's courage and survival.Trade ReviewI found it absorbing . . . testaments such as Janina Bauman's are important and should never be allowed to fade away. The drama of Anne Frank is rightly always before us but the equally vital stories of those who suffered but survived need to be listened to with just as much attention * Margaret Foster *A profound and moving book which everyone ought to read -- Alan Sillitoe * New Statesman *A magnificent testimony to the people of the ghetto ... a profound autobiographical meditation * New Society *A deeply moving but surprisingly unselfpitying book, a real pleasure to read * Times Educational Supplement *A writer who has left an indelible mark on the literature of the Holocaust ... her moving testimonies characteristically non-judgmental and free of bitterness -- Lydia Bauman * Guardian *I found it absorbing . . . testaments such as Janina Bauman's are important and should never be allowed to fade away. The drama of Anne Frank is rightly always before us but the equally vital stories of those who suffered but survived need to be listened to with just as much attention * Margaret Forster *A profound and moving book which everyone ought to read * Alan Sillitoe, New Statesman *'A magnificent testimony to the people of the ghetto ... a profound autobiographical meditation * NEW SOCIETY *A deeply moving but surprisingly unselfpitying book, a real pleasure to read * TES *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs soon as men began to write, they made Helen of Troy their subject; for nearly three thousand years she has been both the embodiment of absolute female beauty and a reminder of the terrible power that beauty can wield. Because of her double marriage to the Greek King Menelaus and the Trojan Prince Paris, Helen was held responsible for both the Trojan War and enduring enmity between East and West. For millennia she has been viewed as an exquisite agent of extermination. But who was she?Helen exists in many guises: a matriarch from the Age of Heroes who ruled over one of the most fertile areas of the Mycenaean world; Helen of Sparta, the focus of a cult which conflated Helen the heroine with a pre-Greek fertility goddess; the home-wrecker of the Iliad; the bitch-whore of Greek tragedy; the pin-up of Romantic artists.Focusing on the 'real' Helen - a flesh-and-blood aristocrat from the Greek Bronze Age - acclaimed historian Bettany Hughes reconstructs the context of life for this elusive pre-historic princess and places her alongside the heroes and heroines of myth and history. Through the eyes of a young Mycenaean woman, Hughes examines the physical, historical and cultural traces that Helen has left on locations in Greece, North Africa and Asia Minor. Vivid and compelling, this remarkable book brilliantly unpacks the facts and myths surrounding one of the most enigmatic and notorious figures of all time.Trade ReviewThe book triumphantly reclaims Helen from some of her traducers. Hughes' portrait is as close to a real, living Helen as we are likely to get * Financial Times *This book is a real tour de force. It combines astonishing erudition and knowledge of the early classical world with a wonderful easy fluency of writing -- John Julius NorwichEvoking in sensuous and gorgeous prose the citadels, the palaces and the luxuries of that long-vanished world... A passionate book * Sunday Times *Fantastic... I have never, ever, read anybody write so well about travels in Greece and going to explore archaeological sites -- Professor Edith Hall * Woman's Hour *A genuinely exciting historial narrative * Sunday Telegraph *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Precious historical documents . . . vividly human and often funny . . . these images tell the true story of a presidency that words have failed' Jonathan Jones, Guardian The definitive visual biography of Barack Obama's historic presidency, captured in unprecedented detail by his Chief White House photographer, presented in an oversize, 12"x10" exquisitely produced format, and featuring a foreword from the President himself.Pete Souza was with President Obama during more crucial moments than anyone else and he photographed them all - from the highly classified to the disarmingly candid. Obama: An Intimate Portrait reproduces more than three hundred of Souza's most iconic photographs in exquisite detail, some of which have never been published before. Souza's photographs, with the behind-the-scenes captions and stories that accompany them, document the most consequential hours of the Presidency alongside unguarded moments with the President's family, his encounters with children, interactions with world leaders and cultural figures, and more. These images communicate the pace and power of America's highest office and reveal the spirit of the extraordinary man who became President. The result is a portrait of exceptional intimacy and a stunning record of a landmark era in American history.Trade ReviewPrecious historical documents . . . vividly human and often funny . . . these images tell the true story of a presidency that words have failed. -- Jonathan Jones * Guardian *Capture the vibrancy of the young President and his family * New Yorker *Tickles the synapses, a behind-the-scenes moment of the most delightful and surprising kind . . . In the pressurized atmosphere of the presidential bubble, Souza gets to disappear into the molecules, hoovering moments the rest of us could only dream of seeing. * Washington Post *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of Jim Larkin and the lockout of Dublin workers in 1913 led by William Martin Murphy, told in graphic novel form. On August 26th 1913, the trams of Dublin stopped. The Great Dublin Lockout had begun. Over the next four months, James Larkin would lead the workers of Dublin against William Martin Murphy and the Employers Federation in a conflict that would change the face of Irish industrial relations. Dublin was brought to its knees by the food shortages and the aftermath of Bloody Sunday. As winter approached, Larkin lead his Firey Cross campaign to England, hoping to rally the entire United Kingdom to strike in support of the Irish workers. Trade Reviewwith an evident respect for history, they bring the pages of textbooks to life for the young adult reader -- Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013enlightening -- Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013even-handed in its representation, Paddy Lynch’s understated artwork complements McConville’s engaging and historically accurate material -- Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013a wonderful atmospheric ambiance -- Books Irelandeffective text and graphics have brought the episodes vividly to life -- Books Irelandone to be highly recommended -- Books Irelandthis graphic novel is important -- http://girlslikecomics.comMcConville’s writing is at all times very tight; Big Jim is clearly a work that’s been edited and rewritten and edited some more, but the process stands to the finished product -- http://girlslikecomics.comI had my stepfather read it, to see what he thought. He’s a huge history buff. It was the first graphic novel he’d ever seen, He said – I think it would be a great introduction for young people coming to history for the first time, who want to know what happened and get a taste of the era, but don’t want to have to go diving into some big tome. -- http://girlslikecomics.comaccessible format -- eastwallforall.iebeautifully illustrated -- eastwallforall.iethe children … were fascinated by their [Rory and Paddy’s] presentation -- eastwallforall.ieMcConville’s writing is skilful -- Look LeftLynch’s artwork is extremely effective, as rough and dark as the era it depicts, and interesting use is made of archival photographs cleverly interspersed throughout -- Look Leftquite witty in places -- Look Leftan enjoyable and unique read, as well as being a great introduction to the Lockout in it its centenary year -- Look Leftan immersive, almost thriller-like, storytelling style -- NewsFourenjoyable to read ... a good sense of the time -- thecomiccast.comwould highly recommend people buy it -- thecomiccast.com'the Irish comics industry has never been in better form, something which this offering from Rory McConville and Paddy Lynch only serves to confirm' -- Sunday Business Post'[O’Brien Press graphic novels] appeal as much to children as to older readers' -- Evening Echo'a valuable and refreshing look at an important part of Irish history' -- Evening Echo

Read more less

Book SynopsisBorn in Cloughjordan in Co. Tipperary, MacDonagh was a poet and playwright, an educator and political activist. Appointed to the IRB Military Council he became a member of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic and was a signatory of the 1916 Easter proclamation. During the Rising MacDonagh was commandant of the 2nd Battalion of the Dublin Brigade of the Irish Volunteers and occupied the Jacobs Biscuit factory garrison. Following an inspiring speech at his Court Marshal he was executed on 3 May 1916 at Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin. In this meticulously researched biography Shane Kenna places this remarkable man within the great pantheon of Irish Republican heroes. He provides a riveting reconstruction of the life of a man whose death played such a key part in the shaping of modern Ireland. 'an epic new series of books' - RTE Guide on 16LivesTrade ReviewKenna has a gift for finding the right quotation to make his point -- tintean.orgThis series of sympathetic biographies attempts to show the day-to-day lives of the rebel leaders and the Ireland in which they lived … These two biographies are valuable additions to the historiography of the Rising and revolution, especially in highlight the diverging ambitions, desires and visions of the men who organised it -- Dublin Review of Books

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe riveting story of a true-life female Indiana Jones: an archaeologist who survived the Nazis and then saved Egypt’s ancient temples. In the 1960s, the world’s attention was focused on a nail-biting race against time: fifty countries had contributed nearly a billion dollars to save a dozen ancient Egyptian temples from drowning in the floodwaters of the gigantic new Aswan High Dam. It was a project of unimaginable size and complexity that required the fragile sandstone temples to be dismantled, stone by stone, and rebuilt on higher ground. But the massive press coverage of this unprecedented rescue effort completely overlooked the gutsy French archaeologist who made it all happen. Without the intervention of Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, the temples would now be at the bottom of a gigantic reservoir. Desroches-Noblecourt refused to be cowed by anyone or anything. As a brave member of the French Resistance in World War II, she had survived imprisonment by the Nazis. Now, in her fight to save the temples, she had to face down two of the most daunting leaders of the postwar world: Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser and French president Charles de Gaulle. After a century and a half of Western plunder of Egypt’s ancient monuments, Desroches-Noblecourt helped preserve a crucial part of its cultural heritage, and, just as importantly, made sure it remained in its homeland.Trade Review‘The subject of Lynne Olson’s excellent biography, Empress of the Nile, isn’t, as you might think, Cleopatra, but rather the “daredevil archaeologist” Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, best known for helping save massive ancient temples from destruction. Olson, whose many previous books spotlight unsung heroes and heroines of that war, is here at her best … Empress of the Nile tells her story well, embedding it in the history of modern Egyptian archaeology. Empress of the Nile is a welcome and needed work of both rescue and reclamation.’ * The Washington Post *‘A vivid reminder of a remarkable individual and an intriguing recreation of the strange times in which she lived.’ -- Robin McKie * The Observer *‘Olson tells this forgotten story with pitch and pace, so that it becomes a real nail-biter.’ -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *‘Lynne Olson’s many fans know her gift for storytelling and bringing to life heroes who may not be well known but demand — indeed, rivet — our attention. Who else but Olson could have found Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, a beautiful and brave French resistance fighter who is brazen enough to tell her Gestapo interrogators to stand up when a woman enters the room? Who also happens to be a kind of female Indiana Jones working behind the scenes — alongside Jackie Kennedy! — to save the ancient temples of Egypt? Readers will devour this wonderful book.’ -- Evan Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of First: Sandra Day O’Connor‘An exhilarating, in-depth look at a woman whose courage never faltered, whether facing Nazi interrogators, back-stabbing archaeologist colleagues, or the imminent destruction of the Egyptian monuments and artefacts she held most dear. Olson’s richly detailed biography takes the reader for a magnificent ride in this heart-stopping read.’ -- Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace‘Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt was one of the leading Egyptologists of the 20th century, yet her remarkable achievements have received little attention. Lynne Olson has done her justice with this comprehensive biography.’ -- Toby Wilkinson, New York Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt and Tutankhamun’s Trumpet‘Once again, Lynne Olson introduces us to a modern heroine who defied the odds and achieved historic results. Through sheer grit and an indomitable spirit that neither Nazis nor bureaucrats from Paris to Cairo could tame, Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt rescued the Egyptian Temples of Nubia and other treasures from drowning. With her signature deep research and compassion for quirky characters, Olsen spins an inspiring tale with a sometimes surprising cast, including First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Empress of the Nile is a tonic for our times and a reminder that one unstoppable woman can bend history to her will.’ -- Kati Marton, New York Times bestselling author of The Chancellor‘From facing down Nazis, to fighting to save Egyptian artefacts, to rehabilitating the reputation of Hapshetsut, Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt’s remarkable career reads like something out of fiction — but Lynne Olson’s compelling biography makes clear that every word is pure fact. Empress of the Nile is the best sort of micro history: both an intimate portrait of a groundbreaking woman and a whirlwind tour through the major events and personalities of the twentieth century. To anyone who ever tossed a coin into the waters around the Temple of Dendur — you must read this book.’ -- Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of Band of Sisters‘Lynne Olson has found yet another fascinating, unsung heroine: a French archaeologist with the moxie to take on the Egyptians, the Americans and the French to save historic Egyptian temples.’ -- Meryl Gordon, author of three biographies including Bunny Mellon: the life of an American style legend‘A well-documented and sensitive portrait of a remarkable woman who shared her passion for Egypt and inspired so many others to find their calling, myself included, while at the same time helping to reinvigorate the Louvre.’ -- Henri Loyrette, honorary president and director of the Louvre Museum‘Bestseller Olson follows up Madame Fourcade’s Secret War with another scintillating biography of a woman who spearheaded “the greatest single example of international cultural cooperation the world has ever known, a campaign in the 1950s and ’60s to save Nubian temples and other antiquities from flooding caused by the construction of the Aswan High Dam in Egypt” … Enriched by fascinating digressions into Egyptian history, museum rivalries, the plundering of archaeological sites, the 1956 Suez Crisis, and more, this is a captivating portrait of a pathbreaking woman. Readers will be enthralled.’ -- Publishers Weekly, starred review‘Olson provides a gripping account of an extraordinary life.’ -- Booklist, starred review‘The life of an archaeologist who deserves to be better known … The author provides a fine account of Desroches-Noblecourt’s long, distinguished career. An expert biography of the most prestigious Egyptologist of her time.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘Fast-paced, highly entertaining ... Olson’s narrative gathers steam in the tense days before the Nazis invaded Poland ... The highlight of Olson’s book is her thrilling account of the rescue of the giant statues of Rameses II and the Abu Simbel temples from inundation by the Aswan High Dam ... Meticulous detail.’ -- Joshua Hammer * The New York Times *‘Follows Desroches-Noblecourt every step along the way. And I mean every step. Deeply researched, it contains in its many detours and side trips a certain amount of historical TMI.’ * Air Mail *‘Egyptologists are certainly familiar with her legacy, but since not all of her many books are translated into English, author Lynne Olson has written an engrossing biography that makes Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt's life and work accessible to a broader audience … [Empress of the Nile] at times reads like a suspenseful political thriller.’ -- Laura McCallum * The Canberra Times *Not enough people will have heard of the subject of this fascinating book - the French archaeologist Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt who became one of the world's foremost experts on ancient Egypt. In Empress of the Nile, Lynne Olson details how Desroches - small in stature and a woman to boot - was willing to take on any number of powerful men in her field.’ -- Sally Pryor * The Canberra Times *‘Empress of the Nile is an absorbing portrait of an amazing woman.’ -- Steven Carroll * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘Assured … The book follows a welcome trend to recover pioneering women in the social sciences.’ -- Sara Wheeler * The Daily Telegraph *‘Empress Of The Nile is the very readable story of Christiane’s overlooked role and her incredible life, which also saw her imprisoned by the Nazis and bravely standing up to world leaders, including de Gaulle. Fascinating!’ -- Jeff Popple * Canberra Weekly *‘Olson has carried out painstaking research into this woman, who overcame strong misogyny from male archaeologists at the start of her stellar career, but who was never afraif to stand up for what she believed. The result is a riveting account of her years spent in Egypt and her role in the world’s greatest international cultural cooperation.’ -- Jennifer Somerville * Good Reading Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe extraordinary true story of the unlikely friendship between three women — Mussolini’s daughter, a German spy, and an American socialite — who conspired to assist the Allies. In 1943, Edda Mussolini, daughter of the fascist dictator, gave her father and Hitler an extraordinary ultimatum: release her husband, Italy’s former foreign minister, Galeazzo Ciano, from prison, or risk her leaking her husband’s incendiary diaries to the press. Instead, Hitler and Mussolini vowed to do everything in their power to destroy the diaries — even if it meant killing Edda. They ordered Hilde Beetz, a German spy, to seduce Ciano in prison in order to learn the diaries’ location. But Beetz fell in love with Ciano, and joined forces with Edda to try to save him from execution. When this failed, Edda fled with Hilde’s assistance. Upon learning of Edda’s escape, US intelligence sent in socialite Frances de Chollet to find Edda and get her to hand over the diaries to the Americans. Against all expectations, what developed was a rich and humanising friendship. With all the twists and turns of a spy thriller, this is the story of three women whose lives were drawn together in one of the most unlikely rescues of the Second World War.Trade Review‘Intelligent and compelling, Mazzeo’s probing book delves intriguingly into the “moral thicket” into which a group of strangers found themselves plunged during the long, dark days of World War II. A tantalisingly novelistic history lesson.’ * Kirkus Reviews *‘University of Montreal literature professor Mazzeo unravels a tangled knot of Fascist intrigue and family infighting in this riveting WWII history … Mazzeo efficiently relates these complex events and renders empathetic portraits of the story’s main players. WWII buffs will be enthralled.’ * Publishers Weekly *Praise for Irena’s Children: the extraordinary story of the woman who saved 2,500 children from the Warsaw ghetto: ‘[An] incredible account.’ * New York Times Book Review *Praise for Eliza Hamilton: the extraordinary life and times of the wife of Alexander Hamilton: ‘Drawing from an impressive breadth of sources … this is an expertly told story that’s certain to captivate Hamilton fans and intrigue anyone interested in early US history.’ * Publishers Weekly *Praise for The Secret of Chanel No. 5: the intimate history of the world's most famous perfume: ‘Mazzeo has written an account of the rarest of things — an international olfactory icon — that fairly rushes off the pages. Here is the life of one of the 20th century’s most interesting and deeply complicated women, a fascinating cultural history, and the story of an extraordinary perfume.’ -- Chandler Burr, New York Times scent critic and author of The Perfect Scent‘Reads like a John le Carré novel, too incredible to be true — and yet it is … This little-known but very important WWII story has the pacing of a thriller novel with the research acumen expected from this excellent writer.’ * Booklist *‘Told primarily through the eyes of fictional sisters Yvette and Gabby, the story can be seen as an homage to the women whose brave actions were integral to the underground French resistance … The book has it all: high fashion, spies, romance, loss, healing, mystery, sisterhood, friendship, and strong female protagonists … it is a fast-paced, well-told story that transports the reader to a memorable time in world history.’ * Historical Novel Society *‘A little-known history finally comes to light in Sisters in Resistance.’ * Town and Country *‘A nail-biting account of state crimes and secrets, real world action pitting spy versus spy and diplomat versus diplomat.’ * Library Journal *‘Compelling … a tangled web of deceit, corruption, betrayal, courage, and family intrigue. It reads like a spy thriller, moving at a fast pace, and even though the reader knows the successful outcome, the suspense never lets up.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘Fascinating … It’s a story too good not to tell … Mazzeo handles her formidable quantity of material with copious notes and sources. If ever there was a case for proving how history can be stranger than fiction, this story is it.’ -- Amanda Hopkinson * Jewish Chronicle *‘Sisters in Resistance is a unique real-life story with many twists and turns along the way … what shines through is the courage of the central characters in these extraordinary events in history.’ -- Karen McMillan * NZ Booklovers *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis intricately illustrated and fastidiously researched book unpacks the life of RBG, who herself was larger-than-life. It explores Ruth’s early days growing up in Brooklyn, New York, in her family home; her time at Cornell, where she was first in her class, and Harvard, where she was the first female member of the Havard Law Review; her persistence in fighting for gender equality, and the indelible impact she had on the world. Featuring jaw-dropping illustrations, track Ruth’s rise as one of the US’s most important and celebrated judges, the impact of her legacy for women, her contribution to law and the unparalleled phenomena that is Ruth Bader Ginsberg. This book looks at the life of one of the most inspiring, influential figures in recent history– all in a brilliantly illustrated A to Z format.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Cruise of the Snark is a non-fictitious, represented book by Jack London chronicling his cruising experience across the south Pacific in his ketch the Snark. Going with London on this journey was his better half Charmian and a little group. London showed himself heavenly route and the fundamentals of cruising and of boats throughout this experience and portrays these subtleties to the peruser. During the journey they visited fascinating areas including the Solomon Islands and Hawaii. His first-individual records and photos give knowledge into these remote spots toward the start of the twentieth hundred years.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisGamal Abdel Nasser, architect of Egypt's 1952 Revolution, president of the country from 1956 to 1970, hero to millions across the Arab world since the Suez Crisis, was also a family man, a devoted husband and father who kept his private life largely private. In 1973, three years after his early passing at the age of 52, his wife Tahia wrote a memoir of her beloved husband for her family. The family then waited almost forty years, through the presidencies of Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, both unsympathetic to the memory of Nasser, before publishing Tahia's book in Arabic for the first time in 2011. Now this unique insight into the life of one of the giants of the twentieth century is finally available in English. Accompanied by more than one hundred photographs from the family archive, many never before published, this historic book tells the story of the couple's life together from their marriage in 1944, through the Revolution and Nasser's career on the world stage, revealing an unknown and intimate picture of the man behind the president.Trade ReviewTo comeTable of ContentsForeword by Hoda Gamal Abdel Nasser Prologue: Dearly Departed Early Years To Palestine Return from al-Faluja Continual Meetings with the Officers Prelude to the Revolution The 23 July Revolution The Declaration of the Republic Conspiracies At Home after the Revolution The Nationalization of the Suez Canal Company Life at Manshiyat al-Bakri after the Evacuation Presidential Duties End of the Union The Family Man 1967 The First Heart Attack Summer 1970 The Final Moments Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisNick Thomas-Symonds is the current Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade. Previously a barrister and academic, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2012 and has been the Member of Parliament for Torfaen since 2015. He is the author of Nye: The Political Life of Aneurin Bevan (2014) and Harold Wilson: The Winner (2022).Trade Reviewa thoroughly impressive piece of work - authoritative, reliable and perceptive ... This is rightly billed as a 'political biography' and in the realm of politics it is remarkably sure-footed * Anthony Howard *[a] brisk, well-written and admirably clear-sighted biography * Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times *Very interesting and well researched. The reader gets a real sense of Attlee's life and politics, and the portrait of him is well-rounded and nuanced. This biography will be very useful for students seeking to gain a clear understanding of Attlee and marks a useful addition to the canon of Labour history * Matthew Worley, Lecturer in History, University of Reading *... to paraphrase Churchill, this was unquestionably Labour's finest hour. But how much of this can be attributed to the leadership of Clement Attlee himself? This is the question at the heart of Nick Thomas-Symonds excellent biography. * Guy Lodge, LSE Review of Books *... goes a long way towards explaining the Attlee enigma * Vernon Bogdanor, New Statesman *Table of ContentsForeword by Keir Starmer INTRODUCTION to the New Edition CHAPTER ONE: GROWING UP IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND, 1883 - 1901 CHAPTER TWO: FROM OXFORD TO THE EAST END, 1901 - 1914 CHAPTER THREE: THE FIRST WORLD WAR, 1914-1918 CHAPTER FOUR: THE POLITICAL APPRENTICESHIP, 1918-1922 CHAPTER FIVE: A NEW MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, 1922-24 CHAPTER SIX: OPPOSITION AND INDIAN AFFAIRS, 1924-30 CHAPTER SEVEN: IN GOVERNMENT, 1930-1931 CHAPTER EIGHT: BACK IN OPPOSITION, 1931-35 CHAPTER NINE: LABOUR LEADERSHIP, 1935-39 CHAPTER TEN: FROM OPPOSITION TO GOVERNMENT, 1939 - 1942 CHAPTER ELEVEN: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND DOMINIONS SECRETARY, 1942-43 CHAPTER TWELVE: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL, 1943 - 45 CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE 1945 GENERAL ELECTION CHAPTER FOURTEEN: ATTLEE AS PRIME MINISTER CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE SCALE OF THE CHALLENGE, JULY - NOVEMBER 1945 CHAPTER SIXTEEN: FULFILLING THE PARTY’S AMBITIONS - NATIONAL INSURANCE, NATIONAL HEALTH, AND NATIONALIZATION, 1945 - 1948 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: INDIA CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: BRITAIN AND AMERICA, 1945-1951 CHAPTER NINETEEN: COAL AND CURRENCY: ATTLEE’S LEADERSHIP CRISIS OF 1947 CHAPTER TWENTY: MISSED OPPORTUNITIES? 1948-1949 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: POLITICAL TROUBLES, 1949-51 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: MANAGING THE PARTY, 1951-55 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: THE LAST YEARS, 1955-1967 CONCLUSION

Read more less

Book Synopsis"[The book explores] how lives interconnect, how we are all creatures of our time, how rich and complex life is in this sometimes shy and reticent city. Not for a moment does our interest flag."—Alexander McCall Smith Set in 66 Queen Street, a townhouse in Edinburgh’s New Town, this book tells the story of people and events associated with the house for 210 years from 1790 and whose lives were empowered by the Scottish Enlightenment. From the builder of the White House, the hero of Aboukir Bay, a murderer who inspired Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, to a decadent society hostess, the diverse characters range from heroes to villains and from people of conscience to subjects of tabloid scandal and moral prurience. Edinburgh emerges from its past to become the intellectual, banking and professional capital of an enlightened Scotland. The story reflects how our modern world is shaped but above all it is about its people; some masters of their circumstances and others prisonersTrade Review"[The book explores] how lives interconnect, how we are all creatures of our time, how rich and complex life is in this sometimes shy and reticent city. Not for a moment does our interest flag."—Alexander McCall SmithTable of ContentsContents Foreword Introduction 1—A Letter from the White House 2—The Hero of Aboukir Bay 3—800 Candles 4—A Visit from Dr Simpson 5—Lawyers and Deal-Makers 6—Enter Mr Hyde 7—The Fish Rots from the Head 8—Rescuing the Aristocracy 9—The Governor’s Treasure 10—Beppo, George and Jenny 11—Love Story 12—The Duchess and the Judge 13—A Question of Identity 14—Towards a New Enlightenment Notes Bibliography List of illustrations Acknowledgements Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAgainst the frightening backdrop of World War II, a young Scottish woman took ten children by ship through the waters of the Atlantic from Scotland to South Africa, where she set up a home for them called Bairnshaven. An unusual portrayal of motherhood, nuclear family and love, Marjorie's story comes to life through diary pages, letters, telegrams and photographs. This true story is a fresh take on the role that women played during the war, highlighting the strength and courage shown, and focusing on hope and unconditional kindness.Trade ReviewBook Review – Marjorie's Journey by Ailie Cleghorn In 1940 Britain was at war. Bombs were falling on major cities from Glasgow to Plymouth, coastal defences were in place, and the Atlantic was full of German U-boats. On 29 July Marjorie Anderson Marnoch boarded the Winchester Castle and sailed from Glasgow to Cape Town. With her travelled twelve children, the oldest aged ten, and the youngest just nine months. In South Africa Marjorie set up a home for them all in the small town of Robertson. The home was called Bairnshaven, and the ‘family’ lived there very happily for the duration of the war and beyond it. Now Ailie Cleghorn, Marjorie’s second cousin and a professor emerita at Concordia University in Montreal, has researched her story. Marjorie’s Journey: On A Mission of her Own is an immensely readable and very interesting account of the life of this remarkable woman. Marjorie was born in Ceylon in 1906; her parents George and Harriet had left Aberdeen 18 months earlier when George had taken up a position in the Colonial Service. Sadly Harriet died when Marjorie was just 3 years old; George left her in the care of Harriet’s sister Agnes and her husband John and departed for Canada, where he was to work until 1936. Marjorie grew up with her cousins Sheena (the author’s mother) and Agnes in the Marnoch home in Albyn Place, Aberdeen. The family was fairly affluent (John was a doctor) but Marjorie had a miserable childhood and was treated badly by her aunt. She was sent to boarding school at the age of four, and was happier there. "She was petted and cossetted by the older girls and had a happy life during term time. School was a safe haven….the holidays in the Marnoch home were the most difficult times for her." Ailie Cleghorn feels that Marjorie’s early experiences were what led her to train as a teacher and develop such empathy for other lonely or neglected children. Marjorie wanted to leave the Marnoch home as soon as possible, but was prevented by her aunt from doing so until 1936, when her father retired and returned to live at Parkstone in Dorset, where she joined him. It was at Parkstone that Marjorie, now a trained Montessori educator, set up her first preschool and home for the children of parents working abroad (mainly, like her own, in the colonies.) Three years later World War Two began. Marjorie tried in vain to find a suitable property to move the children to away from the endangered south coast. In 1940 one of the parents, a brigadier general, asked her to take his daughter – and the children of all the other parents who agreed – away from the war. A month later they were on a blacked-out night train travelling from London to Glasgow. Marjorie had decided to sail from Scotland because the docks of her first choice, Southampton, had just been bombed, and there were rumours that those at Liverpool were about to suffer the same fate. Just before the group left Parkstone the air and sea protection of Glasgow harbour was removed. Marjorie decided to go anyway. "…we all stood at the rail on deck for a few moments. Rob next to me was yelling ‘Goodbye, goodbye!’ to the little man from South Africa House…" On the first night of the voyage the Winchester Castle was chased by a submarine, which it finally shook off at 3am. Thereafter the ship had to zig zag all the way to try to avoid the enemy, but three weeks later she docked safely in Cape Town. The family’s new life had begun. "I was struck by how Marjorie’s children truly escaped the horrors of war, to have the horrors replaced by safety, companionship, love and a happy life at Bairnshaven." In 1980 Marjorie wrote a 28 page letter to that nine month old baby, Sandy, then 40 years old himself, in which she told him in detail about the journey to South Africa and their life in Robertson. Twenty years later Ailie Cleghorn came across it in her family’s files, and her curiosity was sparked. She began to investigate. Ailie’s research led her to visit Scotland, England, South Africa, Robertson and Bairnshaven, and she also tried to contact Marjorie’s surviving children, with some of whom she became good friends. The children had many happy memories of their time with Marjorie, of life in the small Afrikaans-speaking town (where they attended the local school and soon became bilingual) with their menagerie of pets, of summers spent outside enjoying picnics by the Breede river or riding ponies, and of holidays at Umhlanga Rocks. In 1947 the nearby town of Worcester received a royal visit from King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and the royal princesses. The children were presented to them, and this chapter of Marjorie’s Journey includes the thank you letter that Sandy wrote to the Queen and a collection of the children’s comments reproduced by Marjorie in her 1980 letter to Sandy; "Angela: please Aunty let’s cut off that bit of Malcolm’s hair and frame it, and say ‘This hair has been stroked by the Queen of England.'" Ailie Cleghorn quotes extensively from fascinating original sources, especially Marjorie’s long letter to Sandy, but also from her conversations with the ‘children’ she managed to track down. She also updates their stories, and again it is so interesting to find out what happened to them after the war, and where they ended up. Some returned to South Africa, the happy memories of their time there drawing them back. Some settled in other parts of Africa, in Canada and in the UK. "The testimonies of so many of them in the following years, even to this day, confirm that she gave them the best possible childhood." Marjorie’s own story is also completed; she returned to the UK in 1951 and soon started Fledglings, a new early years school at Richmond, near London, Ailie Cleghorn visited Marjorie several times after the war so is able to give a first-hand account of her memories. She also met with Marjorie’s fellow teacher Anne Maconochie and quotes from Anne’s spoken and written accounts of life at Fledglings. And it is these personal, intimate moments, together with the many touching photos of Marjorie’s own childhood, and of the Bairnshaven children then and now, that bring this wonderful book to life. As an academic, Ailie speaks of her own initial dilemma as to how to approach telling Marjorie’s story. As part of the same family, she felt she was an outsider looking in but also an insider, both distant and familiar, observer and participant. Whatever her own worries may have been she need not have had them, for her well researched and deeply absorbing book is an excellent testament to the life of a courageous, caring Scottish woman, one for whom kindness and compassion were all. In Ailie’s own words; "With her roots in Scotland, Marjorie deserves a place in that country’s history, adding to the all too few accounts of Scottish women and war." -- Rosemary Kaye * The Edinburgh Reporter *In Ailie's own words; "With her roots in Scotland, Marjorie deserves a place in that country’s history, adding to the all too few accounts of Scottish women and war." -- Rosemary Kaye * The Edinburgh Reporter *Professor David McCrone writes of Marjorie’s Journey that “It is testament to the triumph of the human spirit; that one woman could have achieved so much simply by force of will, in the context of a fairly miserable childhood, and against all the odds” – Scottish Affairs -- David McCrone * The life of Marjorie *Carol Rowan writes for the Journal of the History of Childhood and Youth that, “Cleghorn’s text provides the contemporary reader, student, and scholar insights into the construction of white privilege and at the same time opportunities to reconceptualize notions of ‘family’.” -- Carol Rowan * Marjorie’s Journey: On a mission of her own. *"I marvel at how one, single woman could offer so many children hope, and unconditional kindness. Her physical strength, fortitude, and ability to adjust and surmount challenges are the hallmarks of a true teacher whose passion is her calling." -- Rinelle Evans * University of Pretoria, South Africa *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe dramatic story of a man who stood at the center of British intelligence operations, the ultimate spymaster of World War II: Thomas KendrickTrade Review“A remarkable piece of historical detective work. . . . Now, thanks to this groundbreaking book, the result of years of meticulous research and expert analysis, Kendrick’s role as one of the great spymasters of the twentieth century can be revealed.”—Saul David, Daily Telegraph“Fry . . . has done a remarkable job of reconstructing the life, networks and secrets of a man who spent most of his existence hiding them.”—James Owen, Times (UK)“Fry’s achievement in Spymaster is a considerable one. She tells a remarkable story, exploring both the private and the public life of Thomas Kendrick.”—Ahron Bregman, Jewish Chronicle“Detailed and assiduously researched. . . . A priceless addition to interwar intelligence history.”—Henry Hemming, BBC History Magazine“Fry’s endeavour itself in attempting to write about such an obscure man who lived a highly secretive life deserves credit since such a project is a daring one due to the vigorous research demands and efforts such a project necessitates.”—Bailey Schwab, Intelligence and National Security“Helen’s style of writing and choice of words is refreshing and a delight to read. Her research has been extremely meticulous and has undoubtedly resulted in one of MI6’s most successful intelligence officers.”—Fred Judge, Intelligence Corps historian“Riveting and meticulously researched. Fry explores the darkest recesses of global intelligence services during a most tumultuous and formative period. Raising questions that challenge established truths, Spymaster will intrigue and educate even the most informed minds.“—Charlotte Philby, author of A Double Life“Thomas Kendrick was a game changer, an original thinker and the ultimate spymaster. Thank you, Helen Fry, for bringing him back to life. This is a must read for everyone interested in British intelligence: a history that combines pace, humanity and forensic detail to build a picture of an astonishing career and individual.”—Tessa Dunlop, author of The Bletchley Girls“Rescues from history the untold but important story of the MI6 officer who helped save so many people from the clutches of the Nazis in late 1930s Vienna. A really fascinating read.”—Stephen Dorril, author MI6: Fifty Years of Special Operations“A fascinating account of a very singular life. . . . [T]he remarkable story of a rather obscure intelligence professional who had quite an impact on modern history.”—Nigel West, author of Spy Swap: The Humiliation of Russia’s Intelligence Services“You probably haven’t heard of Thomas Kendrick—and that’s the way he’d have wanted it—but his story deserves to be told. Helen Fry’s book uncovers the amazing hidden story of an espionage pioneer who risked the wrath of the Gestapo to rescue Austrian Jews.”—Robert Hutton, author of Agent Jack: The True Story of MI5’s Secret Nazi Hunter

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Biographic series presents an entirely new way of looking at the lives of the world's greatest thinkers and creatives. It takes the 50 defining facts, dates, thoughts, habits and achievements of each subject, and uses infographics to convey all of them in vivid snapshots. Many people know that Christian Dior (1905-1957) was a French fashion designer, the founder of the world famous fashion house that carries his name. What, perhaps, they don't know is that he once owned a small art gallery selling work by artists including Pablo Picasso; that he employed a young Yves Saint Laurent as his assistant; that he included a garment in each of his shows named after his home town of Granville; and that he had a superstitious belief in the number 8, with the house of Dior being housed over 8 workshops in an 8-storey building in the 8th district of Paris. Biographic: Dior presents a visual catwalk through his life and work, with an array of irresistible facts and figures converted into infographics to reveal the genius behind the garments.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Philippa Langley has done it again.' – THE TIMESA HISTORY HIT BOOK OF THE MONTHHistory re-written: has the 540-year-old mystery been solved?‘The totality of evidence revealed is astonishing. Following the discovery of King Richard III’s grave in a car park in Leicester in 2012, The Missing Princes Project will again rewrite the history books, redrawing what we know about Richard III and Henry VII and pressing the reset button of history.’ - Philippa LangleyIn the summer of 1483, two brothers were seen playing in the grounds of the Tower of London, where they’d been lodged by the King’s Council – their uncle, the future Richard III, its chief member. From there the boys seem to vanish from the historical record, and so one of the greatest and most intriguing mysteries of British history was born. Over the centuries, historians have debated tirelessly about the fate of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York: did they die in the Tower? Did they escape? Were they murdered?After astonishing success in locating and laying to rest Richard III, Philippa Langley turns her forensic focus onto this enduring case, teaming up with criminal investigative experts, historians, archivists and researchers from around the world in her groundbreaking The Missing Princes Project. Following years of extensive research, investigation and formidable dedication, this landmark study has finally reached completion, with stunning conclusions.In The Princes in the Tower: Solving History’s Greatest Cold Case, join Langley as she records the painstaking investigative work undertaken and lays out the evidence to reveal the remarkable untold story. Here she is able, finally, to address any injustice and solve the mystery surrounding the Princes in the Tower once and for all.Compelling in breadth and detail, this book asks its readers to re-examine what they thought they knew about one of our greatest historical mysteries. Perfect for fans of the period and the likes of Dan Jones, Philippa Gregory and Janina Ramirez.Trade Review‘The discoveries in this book shed new light on events surrounding the Princes in the Tower. Rather than favour Tudor propaganda or Victorian revisionism, this asks us to go back to the time and scrutinise evidence with fresh eyes.’ – Dr Janina Ramirez, University of Oxford and No. 1 bestselling author of Femina‘Philippa Langley has earned a reputation for tenacious and meticulous research based on sound principles of piecing together centuries-old records … The remarkable discoveries documented here are only the beginning.’ – Annette Carson, acclaimed historical writer and biographer‘The Princes in the Tower is a gripping and ingenious work of historical detection. Ms. Langley and her team have cast new light into a murky period, and with a methodological brilliance that eludes most academic historians.’ -- WALL STREET JOURNAL'Philippa Langley has done it again.' -- Julia Llewellyn Smith, THE TIMES‘… a phenomenal, untold story.’ -- Amy Irvine, HISTORY HIT‘(The) story is fascinating, and researcher Philippa Langley deserves huge credit for her discoveries.’ --THE SPECTATOR

Read more less

Book SynopsisA graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Karl Marlantes served as a Marine in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten air medals. Matterhorn, his novel about the Vietnam War, took over three decades to complete and was an international bestseller. He and his wife Anne live on a small lake in western Washington state.Trade ReviewA searing account from within the guts of the war itself. * The Times *A novel of astonishing power and insight * OBSERVER *There has never been a more realistic portrait or eloquent tribute to the nobility of men under fire, and never a more damning portrait of a war that ground them cruelly underfoot for no good reason. * MARK BOWDEN *Karl Marlantes has written a staggeringly beautiful book on combat - what it feels like, what the consequences are and above all, what society must do to understand it. In my eyes he has become the preeminent literary voice on war of our generation. He is a natural storyteller and a deeply profound thinker who not only illuminates war for civilians, but also offers a kind of spiritual guidance to veterans themselves. As this generation of warriors comes home, they will be enormously helped by what Marlantes has written - I'm sure he will literally save lives. * Sebastian Junger *What It Is Like to Go to War is a well-crafted and forcefully argued work that contains fresh and important insights into what it's like to be in a war and what it does to the human psyche. * The Washington Post *brutally honest, clear-eyed and necessary. * Financial Times *You may not ever read a better book about war than this... There are some very gruesome things here, and some of the best philosophical thinking I've ever read in a memoir. * Evening Standard *the brave and illuminating work of a courageous and humane man. * The Times *Marlantes examines with lacerating frankness his experiences at the forefront of battle, in Vietnam more than 40 years ago. * Sunday Times *

Read more less

Book SynopsisI want to live, not be a witness of my life. Beautiful. Cultured. Refined. Enviable. Admirable. Adored. Journalist. Philanthropist. Publisher. Jackie Kennedy was many things – amongst them, she was and remains the most iconic First Lady the United States has ever seen. Discreet and seductive, she lived a destiny of fortune, success and mourning. This biographical photobook commemorates her intelligence and her style 30 years after her passing. Learn about the woman captivating enough to win the respect of the powerful and the love of the people. Learn about the Jackie before and after her years as “Queen of America” and be captivated by a story of aspirations, devastations and rebirth. An intense and in-depth portrait of a women who enchanted the world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Where are you from?' was the question hounding Hazel Carby as a girl in post-World War II London. One of the so-called brown babies of the Windrush generation, born to a Jamaican father and Welsh mother, Carby's place in her home, her neighbourhood, and her country of birth was always in doubt. Emerging from this setting, Carby untangles the threads connecting members of her family to each other in a web woven by the British Empire across the Atlantic. We meet Carby's working-class grandmother Beatrice, a seamstress challenged by poverty and disease. In England, she was thrilled by the cosmopolitan fantasies of empire, by cities built with slave-trade profits, and by street peddlers selling fashionable Jamaican delicacies. In Jamaica, we follow the lives of both the 'white Carbys' and the 'black Carbys', as Mary Ivey, a free woman of colour, whose children are fathered by Lilly Carby, a British soldier who arrived in Jamaica in 1789 to be absorbed into the plantation aristocracy. And we discover the hidden stories of Bridget and Nancy, two women owned by Lilly who survived the Middle Passage from Africa to the Caribbean.Moving between the Jamaican plantations, the hills of Devon, the port cities of Bristol, Cardiff, and Kingston, and the working-class estates of South London, Carby's family story is at once an intimate personal history and a sweeping summation of the violent entanglement of two islands. In charting British empire's interweaving of capital and bodies, public language and private feeling, Carby will find herself reckoning with what she can tell, what she can remember, and what she can bear to know.Trade ReviewAn elegant memoir which pivots beautifully around those twin imposters, 'belonging' and 'home'. Richly suffused with a love of people and place, Carby's familiar intellectual rigor never lets us drift off course towards nostalgia. -- Caryl Phillips, author of A View of the Empire at SunsetA heartbreaking and beautiful account of growing-up in the impossible space between mutually exclusive terms-Black and British. The history of empire, slavery and colonialism unfolds in the exquisite and painful details of this unflinching auto-portrait. Carby deftly captures the ways that relations of power are lived, intimately, quietly, destructively, and profoundly. What an achievement. -- Saidiya Hartman, author of Wayward Lives, Beautiful ExperimentsThis beautifully written book raises the bar for political life-writing. Hazel Carby invites readers to follow a reconstructive quest propelled by memory, archive and imagination. It is a journey of discovery that forcefully contextualises the injustice dished out by British governments to the 'Windrush generation' and their rebel offspring. Carby disrupts fixed notions of racial identity that contort our understanding of Britain's colonial and postcolonial history. -- Paul Gilroy, author of Darker Than Blue and The Black AtlanticHazel Carby is a foundational scholar of race, class, and empire as critical lenses for understanding culture. In Imperial Intimacies she shares the way that stories-often difficult to mine and face-are at the core of how her indispensable world view was formed. Imperial Intimacies is an epic, generous book that illuminates black Britain as never before and shows us how a great thinker and educator was formed. It is beautifully told, a treasured look into how a girl came to believe that reading and critical thinking could help mend a broken world and give us tools not only for living in it, but for understanding it. I'll treasure this book forever. * Elizabeth Alexander, author of The Light of the World and American Sublime *Hazel Carby assembles a sprawling account of how imperialism--a web of social relations, labor markets, and trade networks-conditions private feeling. The resulting narrative is something like an affective history of the British Empire. -- Maya Binyam * New Yorker *Carby's book lies somewhere between what is recorded in official archives, what is remembered in family lore, and what is considered an affective draw to intellectual questions. The spiny precision of the historical...allows the reader to feel erudite, but Carby's most captivating writing is when she feels on the page. -- Tiana Reid * Bookforum *Captivating. . . offers interesting perspectives on the personal impact of capitalism and colonialism. -- Bernardine Evaristo * TLS Books of the Year, 2019 *Exceptional...By using examples from her own background, she brilliantly demonstrates that 'the personal' is indeed political. -- LSE Review of Books * Manuela Latchoumaya *At every turn, Carby refuses to tell a tidy or convenient story and instead produces an account of empire that is as expansive as it is heartbreaking. -- Saidiya Hartman * Paris Review *While the minotaur of the British imperial past is very far from dead and buried, Carby's memoir offers a course, a set of clues; it brings us a bit closer to the mouth of the maze. -- Phoebe Braithwaite * Dissent *An arresting, courageous, and urgently needed memoir that doubles as social, cultural, and political history. -- Gaiutra Bahadur * The Nation *The poignancy in this moving and patient memoir-Carby writes with equal eloquence about work on the Great Western Railway, lichen and the neglected materiality of black British life-centres on her dedication to discovering (to paraphrase James Baldwin) from whence she came. -- Paul Mendez * Times Literary Supplement *Imperial Intimacies is part of a well-established and growing body of literature that explores the margins and gaps in the historical record. ... For those interested in imperialism, postcolonialism, black studies, black British history, and archival studies, this is an essential book to consider. -- Gabriella Rodriguez * Ethnic and Third World Literatures *In Imperial Intimacies, Carby delicately balances the critical distance of the scholar with the profound subjectivity of the memoirist. ... By exploring the relations between working class Welsh life and the Jamaican colony, Bristol's industrial center and the transatlantic slave economy, and the racial transgressions in the intimacies between her own parents, Carby's critical project illuminates the histories of the British empire that are embedded in the spaces of our everyday lives. -- Sabrina Alli * Guernica *[Carby] poignantly portrays how her father, a man of great dignity, had believed in the promises and ideals proclaimed by the British. Carby moves the reader through every possible response to the complex patterns of family lineage under empire. -- Madeleine Bunting * Guardian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisNever less than compelling She consistently succeeds in bringing what might otherwise seem dusty and remote to vivid life' Tom Holland, Literary ReviewStarts with an erupting volcano and then gets more exciting Wonderfully rich, witty, insightful and wide-ranging' Sarah BakewellIn a dazzling, lively new literary biography, Daisy Dunn weaves together the lives of two Roman greats: Pliny the Elder, author of Natural History, and his nephew Pliny the Younger, who inherited his uncle's notebooks and intellectual legacy.Breathing vivid life back into the Plinys, Daisy Dunn charts the extraordinary lives of two outstanding minds and their lasting legacy on the world.A fascinating,compelling andexcellent biography' Simon Sebag MontefioreImmensely entertaining and readable Thoroughly recommended'Sunday TimesTrade Review‘A fascinating, compelling and excellent biography of the two great Plinys of Ancient Rome, as well as a celebration of nature, a study of literature and the human soul, and a lens into Roman society itself … This work of both scholarship and entertainment, arranged in Plinyesque seasons rather than strict chronology, is a delight that befits their high standards.’ Simon Sebag Montefiore ‘Starts with an erupting volcano – and then gets more exciting. A wonderfully rich, witty, insightful and wide-ranging portrait of the two Plinys … and their world.’ Sarah Bakewell 'Daisy Dunn’s book is an absolute delight. Meticulously researched and beautifully crafted, it shines a clear beam of light into the private lives of Pliny the Elder and Younger.' Giles Milton ‘Immensely entertaining and readable …. Dunn has given us a delightful new biography … Thoroughly recommended’ Sunday Times ‘Never less than compelling … Without ever veering into historical fiction, she consistently succeeds in bringing what might otherwise seem dusty and remote to vivid life … A portrait of the Roman Empire that gives the reader something of the shiver down the spine that Herculaneum can inspire’ Tom Holland, Literary Review ‘It is a story …retold with vivid flair…Dunn knits [the two Plinys’] lives together well and analyses the influence that they would have later on scholars from the Italian Renaissance to the English Romantic poets’ The Times ‘An enthralling and ambitious book … Dunn has a great eye for a story, and writes wonderfully’ The Daily Telegraph ‘If only Daisy Dunn’s book had been around back when I was an aspiring classicist … Dunn is a good writer, with some of the easy erudition of Mary Beard … Her translations of both Plinys are graceful and precise … Her enthusiasm, together with her eye for the odd, surprising detail, wins you over’ New York Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Book of the YearQueen Of Our Times is the definitive biography of Queen Elizabeth II by one of Britain’s leading royal authorities, Robert Hardman. This commemorative edition includes an epilogue reflecting upon Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, her passing and her funeral.'Sensational' – Kirsty Young, The Platinum Pageant (BBC)With fascinating revelations from those who knew her best and special access to unseen royal papers granted by Elizabeth II herself, author and royal expert Robert Hardman explores the full, astonishing life of our longest reigning monarch in this authoritative yet intimate biography.The book also charts the way in which the Queen raised the future King Charles III as both son and heir.Elizabeth was not born to be queen, being third in line to the throne. Yet from her accession as a young mother of two in 1952 to the age of Covid-19, she proved an astute and quietly determined figure, leading her family and her people through more than seventy years of unprecedented social change. She faced constitutional crises, confronted threats against her life, unified the Commonwealth, saw fifteen British prime ministers come and go, charmed world leaders, and steered her family through a lifetime in the public eye. Her Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in June 2022 and her death mourned months later, both events a reminder of the huge impact she had made.Queen of Our Times is a must-read study of dynastic survival and renewal, spanning abdication, war, romance, danger and tragedy. It is a compelling portrait of a leader whose legacy of steadfast service lives on.Trade ReviewThe essential authoritative biography of the Queen that everyone needs to read - packed with new research, gripping details and telling anecdotes on every page, equally masterful on matters high and low, power and family. -- Simon Sebag MontefioreRobert Hardman has written a truly exceptional biography of an equally exceptional monarch, rich in new material, wit and original thought. With intimate and unrivalled access to those who really know the story. -- Andrew RobertsA compendious new biography . . . closely observed . . . I relished the incidental details * The Times (Book of the Week) *Hardman’s exhaustive and endlessly enthusiastic biography paints a vivid picture of a phenomenal sovereign * The Telegraph *Authoritative . . . scrupulously well researched, thoughtful and sensitive to the sweep of history * Mail on Sunday *Revelatory . . . Queen of Our Times shows why her extraordinary lifetime of service should be celebrated, honoured and cherished -- William Shawcross, The SpectatorThis is a beautifully-crafted, deeply informed and rounded portrait of the gold standard monarch and the age to which she has given her name. Queen of Our Times has depth, feel and insight in abundance -- Peter Hennessy, award-winning historian[A] fascinating and thoughtful biography from one of Britain's leading Royal writers . . . * Good Housekeeping *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Times Book of the Year*Winner of the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography, 2022**Winner of the General Society of Colonial Wars'' Distinguished Book Award, 2021**Winner of the History Reclaimed Book of the Year, 2022**Shortlisted for the Duff Cooper Prize, 2021*Andrew Roberts, one of Britain''s premier historians, overturns the received wisdom on George IIIGeorge III, Britain''s longest-reigning king, has gone down in history as ''the cruellest tyrant of this age'' (Thomas Paine, eighteenth century), ''a sovereign who inflicted more profound and enduring injuries upon this country than any other modern English king'' (W.E.H. Lecky, nineteenth century), ''one of England''s most disastrous kings'' (J.H. Plumb, twentieth century) and as the pompous monarch of the musical Hamilton (twenty-first century).Andrew Roberts''s magnificent new biography takes entirTrade ReviewGeorge, Roberts writes, "more than filled the role of King of Great Britain worthily; he filled it nobly". After reading this mammoth, elegant and splendidly researched biography, no open-minded reader could possibly disagree - not even an American. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *'Andrew Roberts is our most prodigious biographer ... His demolition of the authors of the Declaration's case against George III is elegant and comprehensive. -- Dominic Lawson * Daily Mail *Magisterial ... George III is notorious for two reasons: losing America and going mad. Roberts provides a fresh and spirited account of both occurrences ... Roberts's fundamentally humane approach to his biographical subjects ... treats George III with as much respect and compassion when sick, blind and deaf as when powerful at the promising start of his reign. The result is a lengthy book that remains engaging throughout. -- Ruth Scurr * The Times *powerful ... a very fine book ... This book should be read by every American whose interest in history goes beyond the feel-good. It is challenging, but richly evidenced and scrupulously argued. ... Coming after his powerful studies of Halifax, Salisbury, Napoleon and Churchill, it consolidates Roberts's position as one of the greatest biographers in the English language today. -- Noel Malcolm * Daily Telegraph *If not for such fierce competition (in the form of such works as Salisbury: Victorian Titan, Churchill: Walking with Destiny and Masters & Commanders) one might be able to unequivocally say that George III is the author's masterpiece. This biography teems with detail, ideas and elegance. Roberts is a great writer - and this is one of his greatest achievements. Roberts sets himself a goal, that of challenging or overturning certain misconceptions that we might harbour about his subject. That George III was a tyrant, unintelligent and a victim of porphyria. Suffice to say, Roberts achieves his goal: mission impossible turns into mission accomplished. Roberts convinces through both persuasive prose and hard evidence (as opposed to just supposition). ... magnificent -- Richard Foreman * Aspects of History *George may become Britain's best-understood monarch, thanks to this impressive new biography. It is unashamedly revisionist. ... Roberts's account is masterly, combining a compelling narrative - one has to keep turning the pages even though one knows the outcome - with analysis that is both cogent and incisive. He appears to have read everything that is in the mainstream and much that isn't, including a wide range of archival sources. ... [George III] has had to wait two centuries for rehabilitation, but it has come at last. Roberts has got deep inside George and his world and has found a man of many sterling qualities. ... tremendous -- Tim Blanning * Literary Review *In this magisterial life of George III, Roberts burnishes his stellar reputation as biographer and historian, dismantling many of the myths that have beset the memory of the man who ruled Britain and Ireland for almost sixty years from 1760. Roberts marshals the evidence meticulously and persuasively to show that George was nothing like the capricious, overbearing, intolerable figure of legend ... It is bracing, too, to see that Roberts has lost none of his disdain for the "Whig interpretation of history" - the comfort blanket of those who believe that Britain's story is one of the steady institutional defeat of autocracy by liberal incrementalism. Now at the top of his game, he has not surrendered the irreverent, revisionist tone that has made him one of the most important public intellectuals of our times. -- Matthew d’Ancona * Tortoise *This superb royal biography ... A book so diligently researched cannot fail to be rich in curious detail and amusing turns of phrase. There are plums on almost every page. -- Hamish Robinson * The Oldie *The strength of this generous new biography is that it correctly portrays George III as a dedicated, benevolent ruler , scrupulous in his constitutional role as head of government and head of state. -- John Martin Robinson * Country Life *Andrew Roberts admires George III, and he is right to do so. The historical image of the king as a tyrant and a lunatic is not remotely true in the first case (a contention Roberts provides much evidence to substantiate) and true only for part of his reign in the second. ... A handsome and thorough biography ... but above all, Roberts has written a superlative political history of the period between 1760 and 1809. -- Simon Heffer * New Criterion *he does his scholarly homework. This is a compendious product of intricate investigation. Roberts has read everything ... It is a magnificent achievement. -- Kate Maltby * Spectator *Andrew Roberts makes a strong revisionist case for the generally maligned George III in this engrossing, brilliant biography -- Andrew Adonis * Prospect Magazine *As his outstanding books on Halifax, Salisbury and Churchill also demonstrate, he is a master of the biography. ... Roberts systematically, cogently and helpfully reinterprets his subject's role and reputation. -- Jeremy Black * History Today *In this mammoth and meticulous biography, Andrew Roberts presents a compelling case for the defence of George III. -- Book of the Week * The Week *Such is Roberts's persuasive interpretation, supported by a wide range of sources and argued with keen insight into political realities. ... It must be hoped that Andrew Roberts's important, serious and timely book plays an appropriate role in the rethinking that can now hardly be avoided. -- Jonathan Clark * Times Literary Supplement *magnificent ... In Andrew Roberts, George has found his Boswell, but one with the wit and erudition of a Johnson. Britain's most misunderstood monarch he may have been, but this biographer has entered into this conscientious king's troubled mind with more than customary empathy. -- Daniel Johnson * Spectator USA *Roberts harnesses a truly extraordinary amount of archival information to offer a comprehensive grasp of a rather tragic, thoroughly misunderstood king. -- Lindsay Chervinsky * Financial Times *This outstanding new biography of George III is timely. The first of the Hanoverians to identify as British was mocked, slandered and vilified during his lifetime and is still regularly cited in the American media as the epitome of tyranny. Over the past two centuries historians have dismissed him as incompetent and despotic. Andrew Roberts has no time for such ill-founded nonsense. ... George has found a true champion in Andrew Roberts, who has ridden up gallantly to challenge unfounded prejudice. ... This impressively researched and scholarly account of the King's life and travails is compulsively readable and, in its tragic end, deeply moving. It is full of fascinating detail, insightful vignettes and vivid local colour. -- Adam Zamoyski * The Critic *Andrew Roberts's mighty Life, drawing on masses of unseen papers locked up in Windsor Castle, turns on its head the lazy idea of George III as a tyrant halfwit...every page is entertaining -- Iona McLaren * Daily Telegraph Books of the Year *This hefty book - elegantly written, the fruit of extensive research - is the case for the defence of Britain's "most misunderstood monarch". -- Robbie Millen * The Times Book of the Year *Deeply researched, it ranges with equal authority from his private life to the military history of the American War of Independence; its tenacious fairness towards its subject gives it the sort of polemical edge that one finds in revisionist history at its best. -- Noel Malcolm * TLS Books of the Year *No other writer, except possibly Alan Bennett, has set out to make us love King George more. Or admire him more ... What makes Roberts's massive biographies so distinctively rewarding is that he provides the reader with enough evidence to undermine his own conclusions. -- Ferdinand Mount * London Review of Books *The book which impressed me most, and which I most enjoyed, this year is Andrew Roberts's George III. It is based on such astonishingly wide-ranging and original research that I felt I was reading about the period for the first time. Unknown facts and wonderful anecdotes had me turning the pages with a curiosity I seldom feel when reading about supposedly familiar events. Andrew Roberts is remarkably even-handed, and there is no special pleading on behalf of this genuinely misunderstood and wilfully misrepresented monarch who did his best to be a good constitutional ruler during a very choppy period in British history. -- Adam Zamoyski * Aspects of History Books of the Year *meticulously researched ... an eye-opening portrait of the man and his times * Publishers Weekly *A deep, expansive study not only of George III but also of the political and social complexities of England and the United States during his reign. -- Kathleen McCallister * Library Journal *a deeply textured portrait of George III [and] a capacious, prodigiously researched biography from a top-shelf historian. -- Kirkusan outstanding and surprisingly moving portrait of a misunderstood king, distinguished by refreshing revisionism but also illuminated by deep humanity. -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Spectator World Books of the Year *Roberts is in a rich vein of form at present; after bestselling books on Napoleon and Churchill, yet another masterpiece has tumbled from his pen. -- Dan Jones * The Good Web Guide *Roberts has been justly acclaimed as one of his generation's leading historians ... His new biography seeks to challenge popular myths about the monarch. ... Roberts, employing the same flair for original research and ability to convey historical context and vivid prose that he used in previous books ... thoroughly debunks all the assumptions most people have about the king. -- Jonathan Tobin * Washington Examiner *exhaustively researched and written in accessible, non-jargony prose. Meticulous and forensic, it sometimes reads like a defense counsel's case for his client ... Roberts's defense of George III, though, is the fullest, the clearest, and likely to be the most definitive. -- Robert G. Ingram * National Review *Roberts has painted a masterful portrait of a patriotic, diligent and cultivated monarch. ... This new biography is a treasure-house of detail. ... George III is an engaging, humane and at times beautiful testament to the importance of giving our ancestors a fair hearing. -- Harrison Pitt * European Conservative *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe incredible story of Heinrich Himmler’s physician who saved thousands of lives. With a new introduction by bestselling author Norman Ohler, which addresses Kersten’s flawed legacy. In 1938, before the outbreak of the Second World War, Dr Felix Kersten an avuncular Finnish physician was introduced to Heinrich Himmler, the chief architect of the Holocaust. Seemingly the only person who could cure Himmler of his crippling stomach cramps, Kersten worked on Himmler’s vanity and gratitude Kersten to save the lives of thousands of people, and was celebrated across Europe, culminating in Joseph Kessel’s 1961 bestseller, The Man with Miraculous Hands. And yet, Kersten’s historical legacy is not flawless, and a new introduction by bestselling author Norman Ohler, deals with the historical legacy of Kersten’s more exaggerated claims, and asks directly why a man who had done so much good would risk damaging that reputation. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Woody Harrelson, The Man with Miraculous Hands is an extraordinarily revealing portrayal of the deranged atmosphere in Himmler’s court where paranoia and vicious rivalries reigned. Shedding a new light on the darkest days of the twentieth century, the story of Kersten’s life gives us a new way of viewing the history of the Second World War, one that goes beyond the simple idea of heroes and villains.Trade Review‘For one man to have stemmed that appalling tide to any degree was no mean achievement. His story makes for an engrossing read. And, like all such accounts it forces the reader to ask themselves an uncomfortable question: Perhaps he could have done more – but how much would you have done?’ iNews ‘Jospeh Kessel...published this account of Kersten’s life after he had become Himmler’s medical adviser and confidant. He based it entirely on Kersten’s own account, and the result is as racy as any spy novel. Whatever the historical exactitude of the book, it is a wonderful read, and the portrait of Himmler has the ring of ghastly truth.’ The Oldie ‘At no small risk to his personal safety, Kersten throughout the war years had dominated Himmler to the extent of saving hundreds of thousands of human lives.’ History of War ‘A fantastic book … This edition of the book is a particularly important read, to provide some sense of incredulity to a captivating story.’ Get History

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 1969, an eruption of armed violence traumatized Northern Ireland and transformed a period of street protest over civil rights into decades of paramilitary warfare by republicans and loyalists. In this evocative memoir, Malachi O'Doherty not only recounts his experiences of living through the Troubles, but also recalls a revolution in his lifetime. However, it wasn't the bloody revolution that was shown on TV but rather the slow reshaping of the culture of Northern Ireland - a real revolution that was entirely overshadowed by the conflict.Incorporating interviews with political, professional and paramilitary figures, O'Doherty draws a profile of an era that produced real social change, comparing and contrasting it with today, and asks how frail is the current peace as Brexit approaches, protest is back on the streets and violence is simmering in both republican and loyalist camps.Trade ReviewTimely and hugely absorbing... A beautifully layered and engaging profile of Northern Ireland as it reels into the 21st century. * The Herald *A personal, humane and very readable reflection on the profound changes that have occurred in the North during the half-century since the emergence of conflict in 1969. * TLS *An essential and fascinating memoir which also doubles as an important historical and social reference, shining a light into aspects of life here that sometimes are overshadowed by conflict. * Máiría Cahill, journalist and political activist *A superbly written and thought-provoking book, replete with Malachi O'Doherty's expert observations on how the past can be a catalyst for both change and continuity. * Aaron Edwards, author of UVF: Behind the Mask *Fifty Years On explores changes wrought in Northern Ireland by a half century of political and social ferment, not only the Troubles and their aftermath but also the growing secularisation of society... In this highly readable and up-to-date book, the author proves himself an astute and tireless chronicler of his times. * Linda Anderson, co-editor of Female Lines: New Writing by Women from Northern Ireland *Malachi O'Doherty's fascinating and intimate account of the outbreak of the Troubles is compelling. He skilfully weaves his personal family history through the layers of turmoil engulfing his city. * Yvette Shapiro, journalist, commentator and TV producer *In this widely diverse book, O'Doherty's subject matter includes: the tensions within the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, the split within republicanism, the slide into armed conflict, the IRA, the Loyalists, sexism, abortion, gay rights and Brexit... What does shine is the lucidity and persuasiveness of his arguments. He made me stop and think. I like that. * Richard O’Rawe, biographer and novelist *Fifty Years On is a compellingly personal alternative history of a turbulent half century... This thoughtful personal chronicle of how a society has changed in the adult lifetime of one man is witty, poignant and beautifully written. * Sam McBride, political editor, Belfast News Letter *Table of Contents1: The Sixties and Me 2: Trouble in the Background 3: Remembering Civil Rights 4: Revolution in the Air 5: The Tilt towards War 6: Revolutionary and Moderate 7: The Troubles Tour 8: The Past in the Present 9: Women's Rights Movement 10: Boys Will Be Boys 11: Whose Body Is It Anyway? 12: Fighting for Life 13: Pride 14: A Fair Cop 15: Loyal Rebels 16: Sick Society or Bad Men?

Read more less

Book SynopsisCharles I waged civil wars that cost one in ten Englishmen their lives. But in 1649 parliament was hard put to find a lawyer with the skill and daring to prosecute a King who was above the law: in the end the man they briefed was the radical barrister, John Cooke.Cooke was a plebeian, son of a poor farmer, but he had the courage to bring the King''s trial to its dramatic conclusion: the English republic. Cromwell appointed him as a reforming Chief Justice in Ireland, but in 1660 he was dragged back to the Old Bailey, tried and brutally executed.John Cooke was the bravest of barristers, who risked his own life to make tyranny a crime. He originated the right to silence, the ''cab rank'' rule of advocacy and the duty to act free-of-charge for the poor. He conducted the first trial of a Head of State for waging war on his own people - a forerunner of the prosecutions of Pinochet, Miloševic and Saddam Hussein, and a lasting inspiration to the modern world.Trade ReviewRedeems from obscurity an unsung hero of true greatness... Sheds invigorating light on the course of the English civil war * Spectator *Robertson has come up with that desperately rare thing: a subject worthy of biography who has never before been addressed and, to his huge advantage, in his field. The result is a work of literary advocacy as elegant, impassioned and original as any the author can ever have laid before a court -- Anthony Holden * Observer *Robertson tells a spellbinding story. He combines lucid analysis of the legal issues with acute understanding of the various factions. His prose is crisp and he inserts some comments that only a professional advocate, as opposed to an academic historian, would make -- Christopher Silvester * Daily Telegraph *Fascinating... Illuminating... This is a work of great compassion and, at a time when it seems to be fashionable for politicians to denigrate lawyers, it is an essential read for anyone who believes in the fearless independence of the law -- John Cooper * The Times *[Robertson's] forensic intelligence can penetrate where professional historians have not reached -- Blair Worden * Literary Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exhilarating and uplifting account of the lives of sixteen warriors' from the last three centuries, hand-picked for their bravery or extraordinary military experience by the eminent military historian, author and ex-editor of the Daily Telegraph, Sir Max Hastings.Over the course of forty years of writing about war, Max Hastings has grown fascinated by outstanding deeds of derring-do on the battlefield (land, sea or air) and by their practitioners. He takes as his examples sixteen people from different nationalities in modern history including Napoleon's blessed fool' Baron Marcellin de Marbot (the model for Conan Doyle's Brigadier Gerard); Sir Harry Smith, whose Spanish wife Juana became his military companion on many a campaign in the early 19th-century; Lieutenant John Chard, an unassuming engineer who became the hero of Rorke's Drift in the Zulu wars; and Squadron Leader Guy Gibson, the dam buster' whose heroism in the skies of World War II earned him the nation''s admiration, but few friends.Every army, in order to prevail on the battlefield, needs a certain number of people capable of courage beyond the norm. In this book Max Hastings investigates what this norm might be and how it has changed over the centuries. While celebrating feats of outstanding valour, he also throws a beady eye over the awarding of medals for gallantry and why it is that so often the most successful warriors rarely make the grade as leaders of men.Trade Review‘With this collection, Hastings is back on home territory, where he can bring his unique blend of skills as war reporter, and social as well as military historian to bear…This is one of the best and most diverting of his shorter pieces’ Evening Standard ‘All (of the stories) are corking…opinions are stated firmly and with big bold swings of the pendulum. His virtues are clarity and decisiveness – greatly to be admired when it comes to making clear, for the lay reader, roughly what is going on in the fiendishly complex and bloody engagements he describes.’ Spectator ‘A wonderfully eclectic selection…Hastings has written a marvellous book. Wry perceptive and engaging, it lays bare the curious mix of character traits – good and bad – that a successful warrior requires.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘His brisk prose has the qualities of his warriors: clear, decisive, forceful…“Warriors” will enthral everyone.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Brilliant…Hastings combines his consummate skill as a writer with passages of descriptive brilliance to provide a book for the ordinary citizen…He captures the commitment of the fighting servicemen and women…in language that is powerful yet eminently comprehensible. This is a book to entertain.’ Sunday Times

Read more less