European history: medieval period, middle ages Books

Book SynopsisThis is a superb collection of over 200 photographs selected and informatively captioned by David Vodden. Walsall in Living Memory contains pictures from the author''s own and other private sources, many of which have never been published before. Illustrated here are servicemen and civilians, the Anglo-American Friendship Week in February 1945, local industries, Scouting activities, events and familiar landmarks like the power station, the Savoy Cinema and the market. As well as pre-war and wartime images, modern changes are also documented including the rebuilding of Old Square and Digbeth, the development of the Civic Centre, the New Art Gallery, the bus station, Woolworths and the pedestrianisation of Park Street, High Street and Darwall Street. Even the most recent redevelopment of High Street and George Street features here. This is David Vodden''s third book on Walsall and it is sure to bring back happy memories to those who know the town, as well as providing a valuable insght into its part for visitors and new residents alike.

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Book SynopsisRoyal Bargemasters have been serving their monarchs for over 800 years, yet their story has never been told. Always working in close proximity to their sovereigns, they have witnessed and played their part in many of the important events in our country's history. They have been close witnesses to rebellions and coronations, to initial courting and grand royal weddings, and added their colourful presence to the splendour of celebrations and pageants. Painstakingly researched by ex-Royal Bargemaster Robert Crouch and professional researcher Beryl Pendley, this beautifully illustrated book offers a colourful insight into the role of the Bargemasters over the centuries, revealing the part they have played in both the day-to-day lives of the Royal Family and their contribution to great ceremonial occasions from the Plantagenets to our present Queen.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of over 200 old photographs illustrates scenes from the communities of Willenhall and Horseley Fields. These pictures show how relatively unchanged the streets and buildings of Willenhall are. A walk around the town today shows that it is still possible to see many of the features which appear in the oldest photographs in this book. By contrast, the old area of Horseley Fields has all but disappeared. The history of Willenhall or Humpshire' as it is affectionately known, as a world-renowned centre for lockmaking is illustrated and we see people at work, leisure and sport. The book also looks back to the more industrial days of Horseley Fields. Through the medium of photography the book captures the essence of life as it used to be in Willenhall and Horseley Fields and will appeal to both young and old. This is the third book written by the author, in a series which, by the millennium, will cover all the environs of Wolverhampton. Codsall and Claregate and Tettenhall and

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Book SynopsisThe defining moment of the Cold War: 'The beginning of the end of the Soviet empire.' (Richard Nixon)Trade ReviewThis is a vivid, heartbreaking account of the brutal crushing of the first armed insurrection against Soviet occupation. Twelve Days is essential reading for understanding the great risks people will take for freedom -- Kati Marton, author of The Great Escape: Nine HungariansSebestyen's ...will be the classic account of the Uprising * Economist History Book of the Year 2006 *Wielding a vast array of newly released archives and completely new eyewitness testimony, Victor Sebestyen has written a magisterial but also totally gripping and fresh account of the noble, violent and doomed Hungarian revolution: a tale of murder and battles on the streets of Budapest and in the dungeons of the KGB, and of high-level intrigue from the White House to the Kremlin. Above all, it is a story of courage and decency among ordinary Hungarians. The result is a tour de force -- Simon Sebag MontefioreSebestyen's account of the doomed uprising is utterly enthralling and almost unbearable to read -- Simon Shaw * Daily Mail *A small masterpiece that should be read and treasured by all who value mankind's eternal quest for freedom -- Professor Ron Radosh * New York Post *Sebestyen's gripping description of the uprising is impressively researched and even-handed * Observer *Sebestyen's account is elegant and emotive * Daily Telegraph *A gripping and enlightening read ... recommended for anyone wanting to learn more about a tragic and regrettable event in European history * Tribune *Victor Sebestyen is a marvellous guide to the Hungarian revolution: its causes, its unfolding and its aftermath. His nuanced, intelligent account reads in part like a thriller and he captures well the drama of those fateful days...This is a first-class book that should become the standard work on a revolution whose after-effects are still shaping the Europe in which we live today -- Literary Review

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Book SynopsisThe incredible real life story of the world''s first super spy''Full of stimulating detail... vivid glimpses of the world of Elizabethan espionage'' GUARDIAN''Walsingham emerges from these pages as a hero of epic stature'' DAILY TELEGRAPHFrancis Walsingham was the first ''spymaster'' in the modern sense. His methods anticipated those of MI5 and MI6 and even those of the KGB. He maintained a network of spies across Europe, including double-agents at the highest level in Rome and Spain - the sworn enemies of Queen Elizabeth and her Protestant regime. His entrapment of Mary Queen of Scots is a classic intelligence operation that resulted in her execution. As Robert Hutchinson reveals, his cypher expert''s ability to intercept other peoples'' secret messages and his brilliant forged letters made him a fearsome champion of the young Elizabeth. Yet even this Machiavellian schemer eventually fell foul of Elizabeth as her confidence grew Trade ReviewFull of stimulating detail... vivid glimpses of the world of Elizabethan espionage -- Simon Calow * GUARDIAN *Robert Hutchinson's lucid and learned volume gives us a vivid portrait of Walsingham... an excellent book * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *Walsingham emerges from these pages as a hero of epic stature * DAILY TELEGRAPH *An accessible, authoritative account of Francis Walsingham's life and work. Written with a sense of the dramatic... The author is very good at evoking the atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia during Elizabeth's reign and seems to relish describing the methods of torture at Walsingham's disposal and the brutality of the age. It makes Elizabethan statecraft immediate and entertaining * BOOK MAGAZINE *Compelling * LITERARY REVIEW *Impeccably researched... the author has constructed what almost amounts to a thriller in this gripping narrative * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *The story told here is intense and compelling * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *Hutchinson neatly combines his expert knowledge with an impressive narrative suspense and mordant sense of humour... A darkly informative read * WATERSTONES BOOKS QUARTERLY *The strength of this book lies in its combination of brilliant original research with a compelling narrative * HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisHaving fought their way up fifty miles of Hell's Highway and through Nijmegen, XXX Corps was just ten miles from Arnhem and 1st British Airborne Division. The Island is flat land between the Waal at Nijmegen and the Rhine at Arnhem. The situation was increasingly bad with the remainder of II SS Panzer Corps in the area and German counter attacks on Hell's Highway preventing the Allies applying their material superiority. The Guards Armoured and then 43rd Wessex Infantry Division took turns to lead before reaching the Rhine opposite the paratroopers in the Oosterbeek Perimeter.Attempts to cross the Rhine by the Polish Paras and the Dorset Regiment had little success but, meanwhile, the guns of XXX Corps ensured the survival of the Perimeter. After some desperate fighting on the island, 43 Wessex Division evacuated just two thousand members of the elite Airborne Division who had landed eight days earlier.

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

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Book SynopsisThis is the second selection of articles on economic history by Robert-Henri Bautier to be published by Variorum; the first, Sur l'histoire économique de la France médiévale, focused on the infrastructure of economic life within the kingdom of France - the network of land and river routes, and the fairs. The present collection deals first with European trade across the Mediterranean in the 13th-14th centuries, both on an international level and with regard to particular circumstances, for example, those of Amalfi, charting the changing pattern of its commercial relationships through this period. The following articles concentrate on the 'Lombards', Italian bankers and merchants, notably from Sienna and Piacenza. Professor Bautier also looks in detail at their activities in France, both as traders at the fairs of Champagne, and as bankers and money-lenders, and makes an especial study of their role in the expansion of credit during the later Middle Ages. Ceci est la seconde sélection dTable of ContentsContents: Avant-propos; Les grandes problèmes politiques et économiques de la Méditerranée médiévale; L’or et l’argent en Occident de la fin du XIIIe siècle au début du XIVe siècle; Les relations commerciales entre l’Europe et l’Afrique du Nord et l’équilibre économique méditerranéen du XIIIe au XIVe siècle; Les relations économiques des Occidentaux avec les pays d’Orient au Moyen Age: points de vue et documents; La marine d’Amalfi dans le trafic méditerranéen du XIVe siècle; Le sel de Sardaigne et l’activité portuaire de Cagliari: quelques données chiffrées (1349-1413); Marchands siennois et draps d’Outremonts aux foires de Champagne (1294); Les Tolomei de Sienne aux foires de Champagne: d’après un compte-rendu de leurs opérations à la foire de mai de Provins en 1279; Un usurier siennois à Auxerre au début du XIVe siècle; Les Lombards et les problèmes du crédit en France aux XIIIe et XIV siècles; Soudoyers d’Outremont à Plaisance: leur origine géographique et le mécanisme de leurs emprunts (1293-1330); Les marchands et banquiers de Plaisance dans l’économie internationale du XIIe au XVe siècle; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe battle for legal contraception challenged key tenets of Irish identity: Catholicism, large families, traditional gender roles, and sexual puritanism. It is a story of gender, religion, social change, and failing efforts to reaffirm Irish moral exceptionalism.Trade Review'A magisterial survey, rich in archival material and full of surprises while deftly charting the various players and high stakes in the battle to control female fertility. Essential reading for those who want to understand why the 'Irish solution to an Irish problem' prevailed for as long as it did.' Alana Harris, King's College London'Mary Daly's book is substantially more than an extended case history, examining as it does developments which reflected underlying currents and factors of social and political change in what had been, up to the mid-twentieth century, a society and a polity hall-marked by the regressive forces of poverty, emigration and overarching institutional power.' John Hogan, Dublin City University'The Battle to Control Female Fertility in Modern Ireland offers a brilliantly detailed examination of the history of family planning in independent Ireland. Professor Daly rightly casts Ireland's convoluted and often controversial birth control reform process as a long contest between church, state, the medical profession, moral conservatism and individualism.' Diane Urquhart, Queen's University BelfastTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Late marriages and large families: 'the enigma of the modern world'; 2. The pill, the Pope and a changing Ireland; 3. 'A bitter blow: humanae vitae and Irish society, 1968–1973; 4. Contraception, access and opposition, 1973–80; 5. 'Against sin': an Irish family planning bill, 1973–79; 6. The 1983 Pro-Life Amendment; 7. 'Bona-Fide family planning': the 1980s and 1990s; Conclusions.

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Book SynopsisContributions to the forty-ninth volume of Anglo-Saxon England focus on various aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture and history across a period from the sixth to the thirteenth century, from Anglo-Saxon wedding rites in be wifmannes beweddunge to isotopic evidence of elite diets and a reassessment of feorm. Each article is preceded by a short abstract.Table of ContentsList of illustrations; List of abbreviations; 1. Record of the nineteenth conference of the International Society of Anglo-Saxonists at the University of New Mexico, 29 July–2 August 2019 Timothy Graham; 2. Bede, bishops and Bisi of East Anglia: questions of chronology and Episcopal consecration in the Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum Calum Platts; 3. A further fragment of the abridged version of Cassiodorus's Commentary on the Psalms Helen Imhoff; 4. Be wifmannes beweddunge: betrothals and weddings in Anglo-Saxon England Samuel Cardwell; 5. Food and power in early Medieval England: rethinking Feorm Tom Lambert and Sam Leggett; 6. Food and power in early Medieval England: a lack of (isotopic) enrichment Sam Leggett and Tom Lambert; 7. The limits of Bookland John Blair; 8. Slave resistance in early Medieval England Janel M. Fontaine.

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Book SynopsisSince the Venerable Bede wrote his iconic Ecclesiastic History of England in the eighth century, King Penda has been relegated to the role of villain and treated as a barrier to advancement in a battle between new ideas and a new culture. Paul Barrett outlines the background to the Anglo-Saxon takeover in England and explores the broad concepts of the Angles' traditional culture, before delving into the life of Penda (605 655). Penda's life spanned the first half of the seventh century, the era which gave birth to national identities which still form the central components of modern Britain; Wales, Scotland, and England all take shape through this period. Penda's seemingly impossible ascent to prominence starts on the very periphery of power and ends with the dominance of Britain. He is at the centre of Mercia's birth, expansion and rise. Throughout his reign his kingdom becomes a bastion of stability in a period of endemic warfare, climate change challenges, cultural competition, and

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Book SynopsisHow did Britain cease to be global? In Untied Kingdom, Stuart Ward tells the panoramic history of the end of Britain, tracing the ways in which Britishness has been imagined, experienced, disputed and ultimately discarded across the globe since the end of the Second World War. From Indian independence, West Indian immigration and African decolonization to the Suez Crisis and the Falklands War, he uncovers the demise of Britishness as a global civic idea and its impact on communities across the globe. He also shows the consequences of this diminished ''global reach'' in Britain itself, from the Troubles in Northern Ireland to resurgent Englishness and the startling success of separatist political agendas in Scotland and Wales. Untied Kingdom puts the contemporary travails of the Union for the first time in their full global perspective as part of the much larger story of the progressive rollback of Britain''s imaginative frontiers.Trade Review'This new history of the transformation of Britain's place in the world casts the Union's contemporary crisis in a whole new light by uncovering the long-term demise of British allegiances around the world, and forging connections between the end of empire and the break-up of Britain.' The Bookseller'Ward's majestic book is a rare treasure-trove of rich and fascinating material.' Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman'the oddity of being British is wonderfully illustrated in 500 pages of anecdote and argument in this fascinating book.' Andrew Gimson, Conservative Home'This remarkable book … gives a very fine account of the decline and fall of the British empire.' Will Podmore, Morning Star'superbly stimulating' Martin Kettle, The Guardian'This is the work of a master historian.' Jim Davidson, The Weekend Australian'More than most of the other prophets and pronouncers of the 'death of Britain', Ward takes us beyond the narrow confines of the 'British Isles' … on an invigorating worldwide journey into 'global Britishness'. If one is looking for an account of the fate of Greater Britain - the end result of centuries of empire and worldwide British settlement - it would be hard to find one that betters this.' Krishan Kumar, Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsList of Figures; Introduction; Part I. Prologue: 1. Offshore Formations: The Unbearable Bandwidth of Being British; 2. The Limits of Location: Greater Britain; 3. 'British with a Small 'b'': The Impress of Internationalism; Part II. Registers: 4. 'We Mustn't Mention the Empire': The British Name; 5. Homes Away from Home: The Houses of Windsor; 6. Imperial Welcome: The British Subject; 7. The Wind Changes: Human Rights after Smuts; 8. Pride in the Goods: The Moral Economy of the Common Market; 9. Uncommon Law: The Reach of British Justice; Part III. Repercussions: 10. East and West of Suez: Receding Frontiers; 11. Backing Little Britain: Distempers; 12. The Last Refuge: Coming Home to England; 13. 'British We are and British We Stay': Troubles; 14. Stop the World: Celtic Departures; 15. 'Cosmologies of Our Own': After Britain; Conclusion; Acknowledgements; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisEngland''s Second Reformation reassesses the religious upheavals of mid-seventeenth-century England, situating them within the broader history of the Church of England and its earlier Reformations. Rather than seeing the Civil War years as a destructive aberration, Anthony Milton demonstrates how they were integral to (and indeed the climax of) the Church of England''s early history. All religious groups parliamentarian and royalist alike envisaged changes to the pre-war church, and all were forced to adapt their religious ideas and practices in response to the tumultuous events. Similarly, all saw themselves and their preferred reforms as standing in continuity with the Church''s earlier history. By viewing this as a revolutionary ''second Reformation'', which necessarily involved everyone and forced them to reconsider what the established church was and how its past should be understood, Milton presents a compelling case for rethinking England''s religious history.Trade Review'Anthony Milton's magnum opus sets out a powerful reinterpretation of the politics of religion in seventeenth-century England. Instead of seeing Anglican conservatives pitted against Puritan revolutionaries, Milton depicts an era of Second Reformation, a contest between rival Reformers of the Church of England. A magisterial book.' John Coffey, University of Leicester'Remarkable for the breadth of its scholarship and depth of its analysis, the very best thing about Anthony Milton's magnum opus is the clarity of its exegesis and of its reimagining of the mid seventeenth century as a struggle for the re-formation of the Church of England by its engagement with contested pasts and challenging presents. This is intellectual, cultural and religious history of the highest order.' John Morrill, University of Cambridge'Anthony Milton is to be congratulated on this substantial work which reassesses the religious upheavals of England in the mid-seventeenth century.' Martin Cowper, Congregational History Society Magazine'… in this deeply scholarly book, Milton provides a significant re-framing of our own 'origin myths' and places the violent events of the mid-17th century as much, if not more, at the centre of a historical understanding of the nature of the Church of England as those of the mid-16th century ... The case for the scholarly importance of England's Second Reformation is without doubt …' Judith Maltby, Church Times'… This is a nuanced and subtly textured book … it is a deeply rewarding read that will challenge both new students and longtime scholars of the period to reimagine their past approaches.' D. Alan Orr, H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews OnlineTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. An Unresolved Reformation; 2. Situating the Laudian Reformation; 3. Responses to the Laudian Reformation; 4. The Abortive Reformation 1640–42; 5. The End of Episcopalian Reformation; 6. Reformation by Negotiation; 7. The Westminster Reformation and the Parliamentarian Church of England 1642–49; 8. The Royalist Church of England 1642–49; 9. Alternative Reformations 1649–53; 10. The Cromwellian Church; 11. Episcopalian Royalism in the 1650s; 12. Failed Reformations 1659–61; 13. The End of Comprehensive Reformation and the Caroline Settlement.

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Book SynopsisIreland's story is amazingly dramatic and intense - and today the influence of Irish culture can be felt around the globe. This book helps explain why, taking readers on the rollercoaster journey through the highs and lows of Ireland's past including invasions, battles, executions, religious divide, uprisings and emigration.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: The Snakes Leave Ireland 9 Chapter 1: No Man Is an Ireland 11 Chapter 2: The First People Arrive 21 Chapter 3: The Early Irish Kings 35 Chapter 4: Snakes Alive! Christianity Comes to Ireland 45 Part II: The Normans Are Coming! The Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries 63 Chapter 5: The Vikings Arrive First 65 Chapter 6: Irish vs Norman Invaders But Who’s in Charge? 79 Chapter 7: Boy Meets Gael: The Norman-Irish Alliance 93 Part III: The Invading English Kings: The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries 109 Chapter 8: The Scottish-Irish Rebellion and Its Aftermath 111 Chapter 9: From Richard II to Henry IV: More Turmoil in Ireland 127 Chapter 10: Family Feuds I: The Wars of the Roses 139 Part IV: Religious Wars and Family Feuds: The Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries 155 Chapter 11: Popes Versus Archbishops: The Reformation and Ireland 157 Chapter 12: Religious Roundabouts and Irish Rebellion 169 Chapter 13: James I and the Plantations; Charles I and Chaos 185 Chapter 14: Family Feuds II and III: The English Civil War, then William and James 201 Part V: Catholic and Protestant: The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries 217 Chapter 15: Going Irish? Grattan’s Parliament and Wolfe Tone’s Rebellion 219 Chapter 16: Going British: The Act of Union 231 Chapter 17: Three Strikes for Irish Independence: O’Connell, Davis, and Mitchel 247 Chapter 18: The Great Hunger and the Land War 263 Chapter 19: The Fight Over Home Rule 283 Part VI: Divided in Two: Life from the 1880s 299 Chapter 20: Balls and Books in Irish: The Cultural Revival 301 Chapter 21: Fighting Against Britain: The Revolution 315 Chapter 22: One Land, Two Systems: Partition 329 Chapter 23: Troubles Begin Again And Maybe Finish 347 Part VII: The Part of Tens 369 Chapter 24: Ten Top Turning Points 371 Chapter 25: Ten Major Documents 375 Chapter 26: Ten Things the Irish Have Given the World 379 Chapter 27: Ten Great Irish Places to Visit 385 Chapter 28: Ten Irish People Who Should Be Better Known 391 Index 397

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Book SynopsisNew in paperback - The first biography of Alfred the Great's son, the forgotten king who was crucial to uniting England.

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Book SynopsisA compelling journey through Gurkha history written with grace and style it is indeed a wonderful read - Field Marshal Lord Bramall KG GCB OBE MCIt is 1814 and the Bengal Army of the Honourable East India Company is at war with a marauding Nepal. It is here that the British first encounter the martial spirit of an indomitable foe the Gurkha hillman from that mountainous independent land.Impressed by their fighting qualities and with the end of hostilities in sight the Company begins to recruit them into their own ranks. Since then these light-hearted and gallant soldiers have campaigned wherever the British Army has served - from the North-West Frontier of India through two World Wars to the more contemporary battlefields of the Falkland Islands and Afghanistan's Helmand Province, with well over one hundred battle honours to their name and at a cost of many thousands of casualties.Seen through the prism of his own Regiment and service, General Duffell vividly recounts some of the his

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Book SynopsisA balanced overview of this ill-fated venture.

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Book SynopsisLucid study of the struggle between king and nobility in thirteenth-century England.

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Book SynopsisFamily Britain continues David Kynaston's groundbreaking series Tales of a New Jerusalem, telling as never before the story of Britain from VE Day in 1945 to the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR AUSTERITY BRITAIN: 'This wonderful volume is only the first in a series that will take us to 1979 and the election of Margaret Thatcher. When complete, Kynaston's skill in mixing eyewitness accounts and political analysis will surely be one of the greatest and most enduring publishing ventures for generations.' Brian Thompson, Observer 'Even readers who can remember the years Kynaston writes about will find they are continually surprised by the richness and diversity of his material ... mouth-watering' John Carey, Sunday Times 'The book is a marvel ... the level of detail is precise and fascinating' John Campbell, Sunday Telegraph 'A wonderfully illuminating picture of the way we were' Roy Hattersley, The Times

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Book SynopsisExam Board: OCRLevel: A-LevelSubject: HistoryFirst Teaching: September 2015First Exam: Summer 2016Target success in OCR AS/A-level History with this proven formula for effective, structured revision; key content coverage is combined with exam preparation activities and exam-style questions to create a revision guide that students can rely on to review, strengthen and test their knowledge.- Enables students to plan and manage a successful revision programme using the topic-by-topic planner- Consolidates knowledge with clear and focused content coverage, organised into easy-to-revise chunks- Encourages active revision by closely combining historical content with related activities- Helps students build, practise and enhance their exam skills as they progress through activities set at three different levels- Improves exam technique through exam-style questions with sample answers a

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Book SynopsisExam Board: AQALevel: AS/A-levelSubject: HistoryFirst Teaching: September 2015First Exam: June 2016Target success in AQA AS/A-level History with this proven formula for effective, structured revision; key content coverage is combined with exam preparation activities and exam-style questions to create a revision guide that students can rely on to review, strengthen and test their knowledge.- Enables students to plan and manage a successful revision programme using the topic-by-topic planner- Consolidates knowledge with clear and focused content coverage, organised into easy-to-revise chunks- Encourages active revision by closely combining historical content with related activities- Helps students build, practise and enhance their exam skills as they progress through activities set at three different levels- Improves exam technique through exam-style questions with sample answers

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Book SynopsisIn Search of the Greeks offers an engaging introduction to the societies of Classical Greece. Making extensive use of ancient sources and illustrated with some hundred and fifty photographs, drawings, maps and plans, many now for the first time in colour, the book introduces key topics of ancient Greece. The new edition opens with a new chapter that provides an historical overview of the key events, figures and eras, and continues with updated chapters on key topics in Greek history: religion and thought, Athenian democracy, Athenian society, Athenian drama, the Olympic Games and Sparta. Activity boxes and further reading lists throughout each chapter aid students'' understanding of the subject. Appendices provide further information on Greek currency values, Greek musical instruments and the Greek calendar.Review questions throughout this book challenge students to read further and reflect on some of the most important social, political and cultural issues of classical Greece. Trade Review[A] big handsome book, beautifully presented and lavishly illustrated ... Everything is done to facilitate the introduction of the non-specialist to key aspects of the ancient Greek world ... This is surely the most comprehensive introduction to Greek civilisation on the market ... [and] the most attractive. * Classics For All Reviews *Any teacher of Classical Civilisation, or, indeed, Ancient Greek will wish to have a copy of this book to hand for easy reference. I have no doubt that it should be the standard classroom text for some time to come ... There is in this volume, and the accompanying website, more than enough resources for any teacher to choose from. * The Classical Review *In search of the Greeks offers readers a cogent and engaging overview of the ancient Greek world. James Renshaw manages to make complex aspects of Greek society such as religion and class easily accessible, without reducing the richness and endless variety of life in ancient Greece. The book is handsomely produced, with a number of helpful tables and appendices, as well as an excellent range of supporting illustrations that help bring the ancient world to life. Students and general readers alike will learn much about the social, political and cultural life of ancient Greece in this splendid book. -- Jan Haywood is Teaching Fellow in Ancient History at Leicester University, UKThis is probably the most user-friendly textbook-type account of the Ancient Greeks currently on the market. Do not hesitate to join in James Renshaw's open-minded search, in a true spirit of historia, enquiry - the characteristic attitude of the very best of the ancient Greeks themselves. * Paul Cartledge, A.G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, Cambridge University, UK *This book has something for everyone: it will be used with profit by school students and undergraduates. Every page shows the hand of a gifted and experienced teacher. Excellent and plentiful colour pictures, maps and text boxes make the new edition a visual treat for the reader. * John Taylor, University of Manchester, UK, formerly Tonbridge School *Table of ContentsPreface Notes on the Text Introduction 1. A History of Archaic and Classical Greece 2. Greek Religion 3. The Ancient Olympic Games 4. Greek Thought 5. Athenian Society 6. Athenian Democracy 7. Athenian Drama 8. Sparta Appendixes 1. Greek Currency Values 2. The Greek Calendar 3. Greek Musical Instruments Chronology Acknowledgements Sources of Quotations Sources of Illustrations Index

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Book SynopsisHighly-trained and immensely skilled, the SAS are widely regarded as one of the best Special Forces units in the world. Their missions are uniquely diverse:counter-terrorist responses at home and abroad; deep penetration for reconnaissance and guiding air strikes; training and supporting indigenous forces; counter-insurgency in collaboration with U.S. Delta Force, SEAL Team Six, and other foreign Special Forces; mobile operations in support of conventional forces; targeting terrorist leaders and manhunting war criminals, to direct action raids. This book charts the changing organization and operational emphases of the regiment over the past twenty-five years, as well as its individual deployments and operations, including those planned but aborted and joint missions with other British and foreign units. It sheds light on the SAS''s involvement in the Troubles of Northern Ireland, their operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the widespread use of the SAS in counter-terrorisTable of ContentsIntroduction: formation; brief overview of ops from WW II to Falklands War 1982 /The Embassy Effect – worldwide interest since Iranian Embassy counter-terrorist op in 1980 – foreign training ops /Op ‘Banner’ – the SAS in Northern Ireland /Op ‘Granby’ 1990-91 – the SAS in the First Gulf War /The 1990s – the Balkans, and Sierra Leone /Op ‘Veritas’ 2001 – frustrating first ops in Afghanistan /Op ‘Row’ 2003 – Task Force 14 in Iraq /Op ‘Telic’ 2003–2009 – Task Force Black & TF Knight in Iraq - joint ops with US SF /Op ‘Herrick 2006–2014 – Task Force 84 in Afghanistan /Weapons, Equipment & Vehicles /Special Forces Support Group /Commonwealth SAS - Australia & New Zealand

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Book SynopsisBetween the reigns of Augustus and Septimius Severus, the Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire frequently saw brutal fighting, most notably during the conquest of Dacia by Trajan, the suppression of the Great Revolt in Judea and intermittent clashes with Rome''s great rival Parthia. In these wars, Roman soldiers had to fight in a range of different climates and terrains, from the deserts of the Middle East to the islands of the eastern Mediterranean.Using full-color artwork, this book examines the variation of equipment and uniforms both between different military units, and in armies stationed in different regions of the Empire. Using evidence drawn from recent archaeological finds, it paints a vivid portrait of Roman army units in the Eastern provinces in the first two centuries of the Imperial period.Table of ContentsIntroduction - chronology /The Eastern frontiers – distribution of the Roman Army in the Eastern provinces /Legiones – Auxilia – Numeri & Cunei – Vexillationes & Cohortes Equitatae /Arms & Equipment: Dacia – Moesia Superior – Moesia Inferior – Macedonia – Epirus & Achaia – Thracia – Creta & Cyrenaica – Bythinia & Pontus – Asia – Galatia – Lycia & Pamphilia – Cilicia – Cappadocia – Syria – Cyprus – Judaea – Arabia – Egypt – Mesopotamia /Plate Commentaries /Select Bibliography

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Book SynopsisPacked with insights and the practicalities of ancient warfare, Hughes has written a lively and detailed account of Belisarius' remarkable career.

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Book SynopsisGraphic account of the most famous episode in the Battle of the Bulge. Tells the story from German and American viewpoints. Full walking and driving tour of the area over which the battle was fought.

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Book SynopsisThe book contributes to wider understanding of the RAMC and medical services in the First World War

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Book SynopsisAn exuberant history of postwar Rome, as seen through the lenses of its burgeoning filmmakers and paparazzi.Trade ReviewShawn Levy's fascinating book takes you on a postwar tour of Rome at the birth of celebrity during the boomtime of Cinecittà, the studio responsible for the city's glory days reputation as 'Hollywood on the Tiber' ... Levy has achieved a feat in including so much in one volume - he pours a large bottle of chianti into a digestivo glass ... [A] beautifully written walk on the wild side ... [It] oozes nostalgic glamour -- Alex O'Connell * The Times Book of the Week *The energy of 1950s Rome fizzes in this epic biography of the city at the height of its filmic glory and postwar stylishness. The hub of the book is the Cinecitta studio, where stars from Hollywood and Europe worked and played, but it is beyond that complex where Levy paints his most vivid picture. Rome, as he tells it, was a place of power, sex and death - and the birthplace of the paparazzi that now dominate cultural life. His book is a nostalgic trip with an edgy underbelly - much like Rome itself, then -- Jonathan Dean * Sunday Times Stage & Screen Book of the Year *Something extraordinary in cultural terms happened in Italy in the postwar years, as Levy recounts with enthusiasm and colour ... [He] captures much of the excitement of that time and place in a prose style that is teeming with satisfying gossipy details ... This book would be just the thing to pack if you were intending a Hepburn-ish Roman holiday this summer -- Bee Wilson * Guardian *Uproariously readable ... [Levy] tells some terrific, if dreadful, stories about the convergence of noblemen and actresses ... Fans of La Dolce Vita will recognise many scenes from the film in these tales. Levy pulls all the threads of his story together in his discussion of the world-conquering movie. The author of Rat Pack Confidential, he is a master of the group biography, pacing his chapters for maximum suspense and revelation ... The climactic story is a humdinger ... Wickedly readable -- John Walsh * Sunday Times *Shawn Levy's absorbing, well-researched book exalts the intoxicating, beguiling dreaminess of Rome in its celluloid heyday -- Ian Thomson * Times Literary Supplement *Shawn Levy has composed an exuberant portrait of postwar Rome and the filmmakers, movie stars, fashion designers, journalists and paparazzi whose supreme hunger, energy and creativity transformed it into the most stylish city in the world. He brings an infectious and freewheeling enthusiasm to every page as he reintroduces us to the extravagant romanticism of fast cars, reckless hedonism, and beautiful people behind the resurrection of the Eternal City -- Glenn Frankel, author of The Searchers: The Making of an American LegendA fantastically gossip-filled but intelligent history of Italy's postwar film-making industry and the culture it spawned * Sunday Times Summer Reads *[A] zabaglione of a book -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail Book of the Week *A palatable and stimulating engagement with an era that still functions as a powerful marketing tool for Italian exports ... This is an exciting account of a revolution in art and society ... Levy's snapshots of ruthless newshounds and voluble starlets show his flair for scene-setting. He takes us on a joyride through the photoshoots and exposés that gave birth to new, competitive media, and the ideas and freedom generated by democracy ... All roads led to Fellini's masterpiece of decadence, La Dolce Vita. Levy laps up the image that encapsulated an era: the blonde goddess Anita Ekberg lifting her skirts in the ancient well-spring of the Trevi -- Lilian Pizzichini * The Spectator *A sensational read -- John Cooper Clarke * Irish Examiner Books of the Year *An entertaining and exhaustive look at the glamorous world of 'Hollywood on the Tiber'. [Levy]'s a good man for the job as it was he who wrote the much-admired Rat Pack Confidential -- John Meagher * Irish Independent *A brisk, frothy narrative ... informative and fun -- Ben Downing * Wall Street Journal *Although it also covers the rise of Italian fashion and automobiles, the real heart of Dolce Vita Confidential, Shawn Levy's account of post-war Italian culture, is pure celluloid; from the emergence of Hollywood on the Tiber (resulting in films like Roman Holiday and Quo Vadis) to the rise of Italian directors such as Roberto Rosselini, Michelanglo Antonioni and, the book's real hero, Federico Fellini. Levy is enamoured of Italian sixties cinema and the way it reflected and refracted Il Boom years. Fellini's La Dolce Vita was both a response to and an advertisement for the emergence of paparazzi photographers on Via Veneto after all. But the pleasure of the book probably comes in the gossip; here are love affairs between actresses and aristocrats, a tragic murder or two and the inevitable starry feuds -- Teddy Jamieson * The Herald Best Film Books of 2017 *An account of the life-enhancing background from which sprang the masterpieces of Italian cinema in the 1960s -- Duncan Fallowell * The Spectator Books of the Year *Details the fashion and cinema of 1950s Rome - from Pucci to Peck - with love -- Sloan Crosley * Vanity Fair *

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Book SynopsisExam board: AQA; Pearson Edexcel; OCRLevel: AS/A-levelSubject: HistoryFirst teaching: September 2015First exams: Summer 2016 (AS); Summer 2017 (A-level)Put your trust in the textbook series that has given thousands of A-level History students deeper knowledge and better grades for over 30 years.Updated to meet the demands of today's A-level specifications, this new generation of Access to History titles includes accurate exam guidance based on examiners' reports, free online activity worksheets and contextual information that underpins students' understanding of the period.- Develop strong historical knowledge: in-depth analysis of each topic is both authoritative and accessible- Build historical skills and understanding: downloadable activity worksheets can be used independently by students or edited by teachers for classwork and homework- Learn, remember and connect important events and people: an introduction to the period, summary diagrams, timelines and links to additional online resources support lessons, revision and coursework- Achieve exam success: practical advice matched to the requirements of your A-level specification incorporates the lessons learnt from previous exams- Engage with sources, interpretations and the latest historical research: students will evaluate a rich collection of visual and written materials, plus key debates that examine the views of different historians

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Book SynopsisDiscover for the first time the story of the Organisation Todt, a hidden and brutal organisation overseen by Hitler at the heart of the Nazi machine.

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Book SynopsisThe Declaration of Arbroath, 6 April, 1320, is one of the most remarkable documents to have been produced anywhere in medieval Europe. Signed by 51 Scottish nobles, it confirms Scotland’s status as an independent sovereign state with the right to use military action if unjustly attacked. Quoted by many, understood by few, its historical significance has now almost been overtaken by its mythic status. Since 1998, the US Senate has claimed that the American Declaration of Independence is modelled upon ‘the inspirational document’ of Arbroath. This is the first book-length study to examine the origins of the Declaration and the ideas upon which it drew, while tracing the rise of its mythic status in Scotland and exploring its impact upon revolutionary America.Trade Review'Cowan’s bold chronological sweep is to be admired' * Times Literary Supplement *

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling historian tells the story of the landscapes, peoples and culture of early medieval Britain in eight walks, an epic sea voyage and a north-south ride by motorbike. The five centuries between the end of Roman Britain (410) and the death of Alfred the Great (899) have left few voices save a handful of chroniclers, but Britain's 'Dark Ages' can still be explored through their material remnants: buildings, books, metalwork, and, above all, landscapes. Adams explores Britain's lost early medieval past by walking its paths and exploring its imprint on valley, hill and field. From York to Whitby, London to Sutton Hoo and Falmouth to Mallaig, In the Land of Giants offers a beautifully written insight into the lives of peasants, drengs, ceorls, thanes, monks and kings during an enigmatic but richly exciting period of our island's history.Trade ReviewGreat archaeological knowledge, an inquisitive mind and vivid descriptions of the natural and manmade landscape come together in this erudite travelogue * The Lady *A personal travelogue interspersed with historical references, Adams comes alive when he deals with history and topography. Very well illustrated, with helpful maps, best for independent travellers who want to do their own exploring * The Tablet *Offers many pointed lessons – not least that history ought to play a central role in our culture and education... This book reminds us too that we hold a collective title deed to the land itself. It connects us to our past and our present and to ourselves; and we sever this connection at our peril' * Irish Times *Adams strikingly evokes the Dark Ages and reminds readers that the British landscape is dotted with far more of its remains than most would suppose. The combination of history and travel writing is always a difficult hybrid to master, but Adams has done so ably, creating a veritable gazetteer of the Land of Giants for others to follow * Literary Review *Adams has succeeded in creating a bold account concerned with those timeless qualities that bind people together across centuries * BBC History Magazine *A beautifully written archae-travelogue... an engaging and scholarly journey through Britain's landscapes' * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThis is Orwell''s memoir of his experiences during the Spanish Civil War - a groundbreaking work of dissident literature drawn from vivid personal experience. There are occasions where it pays better to fight and be beaten than not to fight at all...Both a memoir of Orwell''s experiences during the Spanish Civil War and a heartfelt tribute to those who died, Homage to Catalonia is an extraordinary first-hand record of his time on the frontline. Written with all of the depth, passion and deep human understanding that defines Orwell''s writing this is a vivid account of the battles that were faced by ordinary working people as they fought for both their lives and their ideologies.Although Orwell was himself near-fatally wounded he finds both bleak and comic notes in his experience which is recorded with such clarity and depth that this short work has become one of his best known.''The finest model of how to write about a foreign conflict, a war or a revolution... Brilliant reportage'' Timothy Garten-Ash ''[Orwell] describes what is happening in Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War in such a way that we are able to see why he's so upset about Soviet power. His argument is not one of category and concept but of irresistible observation'' Timothy Snyder''When he went to Spain, [Orwell] was an unknown. He wasn't Hemingway. He wasn't a well-connected intellectual. He just had this amazing eye for detail. He was an amazing observer, and he could write so powerfully. This book, to me, is just one of the classics of foreign reporting'' Guy Raz

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Book SynopsisIn 1517, a certain Dr Beale, rector of St Mary Spitall in London, had roused the capital's mob by laying the blame for an increase in poverty squarely upon the shoulders of grasping foreigners. God has given England to Englishmen,' he fumed, and as birds would defend their nest, so ought Englishmen to cherish and defend themselves and to hurt and grieve aliens for the common weal.' But migration was not the only factor influencing Tudor attitudes to Europe. War, religion, commerce and dynastic security were all critical in linking England to developments abroad, and in ways that remain strikingly relevant today. What were the forces that shaped the shifting perspectives of Tudor men and women and their rulers towards a continent at the crossroads? And what, in turn, were the responses of sixteenth-century Europeans to their counterparts across the Channel? The Tudors and Europe looks at a time when the very survival of England hung critically in the balance and asks if it has lessons for the present.

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Book SynopsisSeptimius Severus was Rome''s black emperor. Born in the blistering heat of a North African spring in Leptis Magna AD 145, he died in the freezing cold of a northern British winter in York in AD 211. A giant of an emperor, whose career can be counted in superlatives, Severus was in power at the height of Rome''s might. He led the largest army to ever campaign in Britain, comprising 50,000 men, part of a Roman military establishment which peaked at 33 legions under his rule.Born into the richest family, in the richest part of the Roman Empire, Severus monumentalised his rule across the empire. He visited - and often fought in - every region. Where he did, he left a mighty legacy in the built environment, for example in Rome where much of the Forum Romanum and most of the imperial palaces are Severan. In North Africa, his hometown of Leptis Magna is all Severan, as are the Roman cities at the Atlas mountains. In London, the land walls that still define the City''s Square Mile were delineated under his rule. Visitors to the under croft at York Minster can stand where he died. Septimius Severus was one of the greatest warrior emperors, a hard man who almost died in battle several times and whose attitude is reflected in his deathbed advice to two sons: ''Be of one mind with your family, enrich the soldiers, and despise the rest.''

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Book SynopsisIain Dale is an accomplished broadcaster, presenting his own daily radio show on LBC, and several podcasts, including For the Many and Iain Dale All Talk. He is a regular on Question Time, Newsnight, Good Morning Britain, Politics Live and a columnist for the Telegraph. He is the author/editor of more than 40 books, most recently The Presidents and The Prime Ministers. He lives in Tunbridge Wells and Norfolk. He can be found @iaindale on social media.

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Book SynopsisRepresentative examples of swords from 8th-11th century, fully described and illustrated, with general overview. This beautifully illustrated work fills a gap in the literature in English on the swords made and used in northern Europe during the Viking age, between the mid eighth and the mid eleventh centuries. Ewart Oakeshott outlines the significance and diversity of these ancient heirlooms; co-author Ian Peirce, who handled hundreds of swords in his research for this book in museums across northern Europe, selects and describes sixty of the finest representative weapons. Where possible, full-length photographs are included, in addition to illustrations of detail; an illustrated overview of blade types and construction, pattern-welding, inscription and handle forms and their classificationprefaces the catalogue of examples which is the principal part of this work. IAN PEIRCE was a lecturer and museum consultant specialising in early swords; EWART OAKESHOTT was renowned for his pioneer studies on a wide range of medieval swords.Trade ReviewA valuable reference work for the sword enthusiast, and also of use to those with an interest in weaponry or Viking society and warfare. * HISTORYOFWAR.ORG *Fills a vacuum in English language studies. [...] Will appeal to anyone with an interest in early Northern European swords; to Viking scholars, re-enactors, blade smiths and metallurgists. * CLASSIC ARMS AND MILITARIA *An important and welcome book. I cannot imagine that there will be a better book published in English on this subject for a long time. -- PAUL MORTIMER, WITHOWINDEUndoubtedly destined to become a standard reference for blade fanciers and re-enactors. * MEDIEVAL HISTORY *A splendid book which gives a comprehensive overview of [these] swords. I find little to fault in Peirce's work other than that I wish it were three times the length. * RUNA *A book with a clear audience in mind: anyone who wants to study a magnificent set of Viking artefacts. * SPECULUM *An important reference work for scholars as well as for weapons enthusiasts. * SCANDINAVIAN STUDIES *

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Book SynopsisA model of clarity... It provides absolutely essential reference material for the dress historian and archaeologist, for the early textile specialist, and those interested in the tools and equipment used. TOOL AND TRADES HISTORY SOCIETY NEWSLETTER [Linda Woolley, curator of early and medieval textiles and dress, V&A Museum] Among the most evocative items to be discovered by archaeologists are the scraps of silk and wool and other fabrics that signal so eloquently their owner's status and concerns. Such clothing and textile finds have figured prominently in excavations of medieval sites in London in the past two decades; they have included knitting, tapestries, silk hair-nets and elaborately patterned oriental, Islamic and Italian fabrics, which reveal for the first time the wide range of cloths available to medieval Londoners; there are beautifully made buttons, and buttonholes and edgings which display superb craftsmanship and a high level of needlework skills; the way that clothes were cut and sewncan be studied in detail. This highly readable account will be of wide general interest; dress historians and archaeologists will also find a wealth of new insights into the fashions, clothing and textile industries of medieval England and Europe. Contents include: The Excavations, Techniques used in Textile Production, Wool Textiles, Goathair Textiles, Linen Textiles, Silk Textiles, Mixed Cloths, Narrow Wares, Sewing Techniques and Tailoring, Dyes. THE AUTHORS Past and present staff of the Museum of London.

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Book SynopsisA dazzling selection of art, jewellery, clothing and objects that reflects the dynamic court of James VI & I.

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Book SynopsisWINNER YOUNG QUILLS AWARD BEST HISTORICAL FICTION 2021 12-year-old Ada is a laundress of little consequence but the new castle commander Brian de Berclay has his evil eye on her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have secretly fed the young prisoner in the tower. But when the King of England crosses the border with an army of over 3000 strong, Ada, her friend Godfrey and all at Caerlaverock suddenly find themselves under attack, with only 60 men for protection. Soon, rocks and flaming arrows rain from the sky over Castle Caerlaverock - and Ada has a dangerous choice to make.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Russia''s historic opening to the West (1992-2022), where it succeeded and why it has failed, the impact of war and sanctions, and the prospects for Russia''s future.Russia''s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 brought a tragic close to a thirty-year period of history that began with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reopening of Russia to the West after six decades of Soviet isolation. The opening lasted for three tumultuous decades and ended with a new closing, driven by the Ukrainian war, the imposition of Western sanctions, and the Russian responses to them.In Perfect Storm, Russia analyst Thane Gustafson reinterprets the story of Russia''s failed opening to the West, focusing on its economic, technological, and social aspects, and the role they played in its ultimate failure. These parallel events are essential for understanding what happened and what went wrong. Yet they have received much less attention than the military and geopolitical aspects of the current conflict. Gustafson tells the story of the West''s entry into Russia, the arrival of Russians into the West, and the conflicting emotions and responses these aroused on both sides, contributing to the ultimate breakdown of relations and the unprecedented hurricane of Western sanctions. The book concludes with an examination of possible futures under a new generation of leaders.A measured and nuanced account of the evolution of Russia''s economic relations with the world, Perfect Storm illuminates the longer history of Russia''s opening to the West, from its achievements and disappointments to the complexity of the post-invasion sanctions regime and Russia''s responses to them.

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