European history: medieval period, middle ages Books

Book SynopsisThe reign of Mary Tudor has been remembered as an era of sterile repression, when a reactionary monarch launched a doomed attempt to reimpose Catholicism on an unwilling nation. This title argues that Mary's regime was neither inept nor backward looking.Trade Review"'Fires of Faith is a dazzling exercise in historical reappraisal, after which the reign of Mary Tudor will never look quite the same again.' Peter Marshall, Times Literary Supplement 'In this powerful, punchy book he argues that the Marian restoration of English Catholicism was much more than the rather low-profile and sometimes timid attempt to return to the past which even the recent revisionists have portrayed. No, says Duffy (and I must now agree), it was a full-blooded attempt to introduce into England the 'new' Catholicism of the fledgling Counter-Reformation... Once again, Eamon Duffy has changed the landscape of English Reformation history.' J.J. Scarisbridge, The Weekly Standard"

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Book SynopsisSebald''s On the Natural History of Destruction explores German writers'' silence about a moment of mass destructionIn the last years of World War II, a million tons of bombs were dropped by the Allies on one hundred and thirty-one German towns and cities. Six hundred thousand civilians died, and three and a half million homes were destroyed. When it has cast such a very dark shadow over his life and work, Sebald asks, how have so many writers allowed themselves to write it out of their experience and avoid articulating the horror? W.G. Sebald''s On the Natural History of Destruction sparked a wide-ranging debate in the German press.''Sebald makes exquisite art out of vile history'' Boyd Tonkin, Independent''One of the most important writers of our time'' A.S. Byatt, New Statesman ''Demands to be read for its grand emotional power ... it absorbs and horrifies and illuminates'' Scotsman''Brilliant and disturbing'' Antony Beevor, The TimesW . G. Sebald was born in Wertach im Allgäu, Germany, in 1944 and died in December 2001. He studied German language and literature in Freiburg, Switzerland and Manchester. In 1996 he took up a position as an assistant lecturer at the University of Manchester and settled permanently in England in 1970. He was Professor of European Literature at the University of East Anglia and is the author of The Emigrants, The Rings of Saturn, Vertigo, Austerlitz, After Nature, On the Natural History of Destruction, Campo Santo, Unrecounted, For Years Now and A Place in the Country. His selected poetry is published in a volume called Across the Land and the Water.

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Book SynopsisFrom best-selling author of Tail-End Charlie and Tornado Down comes this powerful and deeply moving account of Bomber Command's 1944 Nuremberg Raid the RAF's bloodiest night of the Second World WarMore men from Royal Air Force Bomber Command died on one single night of the Second World War than the total RAF aircrew losses during the whole of the four-month-long Battle of Britain.This is the story of the air raid intended to be the climax of Sir Arthur Bomber' Harris's relentless campaign to defeat Nazi Germany. The target was Nuremberg: 795 aircraft set out, nearly 700 men did not return. In The Red Line', we meet the young aircrew who flew on the night of 30 March 1944. John Nichol has interviewed the few surviving veterans, British and German, in the air and on the ground, to record the voices of a diminishing generation.While the airmen of Bomber Command were among the greatest heroes of the conflict, their contribution and sacrifice has been sidelined in the face of post-war critTrade Review‘A truly epic tale of courage and sacrifice – an intensely moving epitaph to the men of Bomber Command’ ANDY McNAB ‘Full of poignant episodes … A fitting tribute to the raw courage of these young men’ Daily Express

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.The better part of valour is discretion.'King Henry IV's son, Prince Harry is quick-witted yet idle and irresponsible and lives a roguish existence keeping dubious company. However, when the kingdom is threatened, Prince Harry shows his true worth and heroism and begins a journey of transformation from layabout to noble leader.

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Book SynopsisAndrew Roberts''s Masters and Commanders: The Military Geniuses who led the West to Victory in WWII tells the story of how four great leaders fought each other over how best to fight Hitler. During the Second World War the master strategy of the West was shaped by four titanic figures: Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt, and their respective military commanders - General Sir Alan Brooke and General George C. Marshall. Each man was tough-willed and strong minded. And each was certain he knew best how to achieve victory. Drawing on previously unpublished material, including for the first time verbatim reports of Churchill''s War Cabinet meetings, Andrew Roberts''s acclaimed history recreates with vivid immediacy the fiery debates and political maneuverings, the rebuffs and the charm, the explosive rows and dramatic reconciliations, as the masters and commanders of the Western Alliance fought each other over the best way to fight Adolf Hitler. Trade Review'This is an important book which ! sees Mr Roberts lay claim to the title of Britain's finest contemporary military historian' Economist 'A masterpiece of robust historical analysis, steeped in scholarship and alive to every nuance of personality' Daily Express 'His interpretation of British/US strategic relations is unlikely to be superseded' - Vernon Bogdanor, Financial Times

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Book SynopsisThe complete and definitive history of how Roman generals carved out the greatest and longest-lasting empire the world has ever seen.The Roman army was one of the most effective fighting forces in history. The legions and their commanders carved out an empire which eventually included the greater part of the known world. This was thanks largely to the generals who led the Roman army to victory after victory, and whose strategic and tactical decisions shaped the course of several centuries of warfare.This book, by the author of THE PUNIC WARS, concentrates on those Roman generals who displayed exceptional gifts of leadership and who won the greatest victories. With 26 chapters covering the entire span of the Roman Empire, it is a complete history of Roman warfare.

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Book Synopsis'A compelling and illuminating account of a great drama in the history of our times which showed once again that ordinary men and women really can change the world' Jonathan Dimbleby, MAIL ON SUNDAYTrade ReviewThis pacy and vivid survey of the remarkably swift collapse of the Soviet empire is a considerable achievement. * DAILY TELEGRAPH *the heart dances with joy that politics can be so thrilling * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A truly excellent read about one of the best years in European history * CATHOLIC HERALD *

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Book SynopsisThe four beautiful, cultured and clever daughters of the Count and Countess of Provence made illustrious marriages and lived at the epicentre of political power and intrigue in 13th-century Europe.Marguerite accompanied her husband, King Louis IX of France, on his disastrous first crusade to the Holy Land, where straight from childbirth she ransomed him from the Mamluks. And with her sister Eleanor, queen of England, Marguerite engineered a sturdy peace between France and England. Ambitious Eleanor walked a narrow line while she struggled to build her own power base without alienating her cowardly husband, Henry III. Beatrice''s coronation as queen of Sicily was the culmination of her long, hard-fought campaign to earn respect from her world-famous, mightily accomplished older siblings. Sanchia wed one of the richest men in Europe, but her reign as queen of Germany, brought her only misery. From Goldstone''s rich, beautifully woven tapestry, medieval Europe sTrade ReviewThis highly readable book is set against the bloody and turbulent backdrop of medieval Europe...a fascinating account * CATHOLIC HERALD *A gripping narrative -- the author is particularly good on the theatricality of the age * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *

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Book Synopsis'A fascinating exploration of human greed and self-delusion and also a tribute to our ageless search for beauty' DEBORAH MOGGACH.Trade Review[Dash] has the storyteller's knack of making his readers feel present in the sweaty, smoke-filled taverns of Haalem ... a shining tribute to this extraordinary flower * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *A marvellous parable of greed, skulduggery, opulence, extravagance and retribution -- Simon SinghA fascinating exploration of human greed and self-delusion and also a tribute to our ageless search for beauty -- Deborah MoggachDetailed and highly readable * DAILY TELEGRAPH *An enthusiastic historian's view of the subject with lots of colourful detail -- Jan Morris, Books of the Year * INDEPENDENT *I can't remember the last time I read a plant book or a gardening book that was such a page-turner. The story is a gift, of course - but the grip lies in the telling ... Such is the artistry of the writing that you will mop it all up, sponge like, and absorb it as you pursue the twists and turns of the story * HORTUS *A fine chapter of social history - enticing, splendidly written and informative * KIRKUS *Gripping ... a happy weight of detail * GUARDIAN *The fast-paced text brings to life the excitement caused in Europe by the introduction of this exotic flower from the East * BBC GARDENERS' WORLD *

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Book SynopsisThe Great Famine, an Gorta Mór in Irish, was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. Often referred to as the Irish Potato Famine, particularly outside Ireland, as around forty percent of the population were reliant on this crop. Over a million people died and over a million more emigrated, often in appalling circumstances. This book explains what happened before and during the Famine, with an account of the consequences of this epic tragedy.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Combines excellent scholarship with brilliant storytelling, relishing the detail of blood-splattered drama equal to any episodes of Game of Thrones."—Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * The Week *

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Book SynopsisWhen the Union Jack was hauled down over the Atlantic naval ports of Cobh, Berehaven and Lough Swilly in 1939, the Irish were jubilant. But in London, Churchhill brooded on the ''incomprehensible'' act of surrendering three of the Royal Navy''s finest ports when Europe was about to go to war.Eighteen months later, Churchill was talking of military action against Ireland. He demanded the return of the ports and the Irish made ready to defend their country against British as well as German invasion.In Northern Ireland, a Unionist Government vainly tried to introduce conscription. Along the west coast British submarines prowled the seas searching for German U-boats sheltering in the bays; British agents toured the villages of Donegal in search of fifth columnists while their German counterparts tried to make contact with the IRA.This is a fasinating study of Ireland during the Second World War.Anybody interested in Irish affairs will have to get Fisk''s book

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Book SynopsisThis book provides an exploration of how and why Scottish Highlanders, Punjabi Sikhs and Nepalese Gurkhas became linked as the British Empire's fiercest, most manly soldiers in nineteenth century discourses of martial races.' -- .Trade ReviewAn excellent book, lucid and fluent throughout. An impressive contribution to the history of military thought and an original addition to imperial studies -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1. The transformation of the British and Indian Armies in the Rebellion of 18572. ‘Side by side in generous rivalry’: Highlanders, Sikhs and Gurkhas in the Rebellion3. A ‘question on which the safety of the Empire depends’: the European threat, recruiting, and the development of martial race ideology after 18704. ‘A power which a man should try to manage for himself’: military influence and martial race discourse in British popular culture5. Martial races: the Inter-imperial uses of a racially gendered language6. Representation versus experience: life as a martial race soldierConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisBembo (1470–1547), a Venetian nobleman, later a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, was the most celebrated Latin stylist of his day and was widely admired for his writings in Italian. Named official historian of Venice in 1529, Bembo began to compose in Latin his continuation of the city’s history in 12 books, covering the years from 1487–1513.

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Book SynopsisThe German Panther is one of the most famous, and greatest, tanks of World War II. Often considered the most elegant tank design of the war, it embodied a balance of firepower, armor protection, and mobility unmatched by any other tank of the period. This new study by German armor expert Thomas Anderson draws upon original German archival material to tell the story of the birth of the Panther in response to the Soviet tanks encountered in 1941. He then analyzes its success on the battlefield and the many modifications and variants that also came into play. Illustrated throughout with rare photographs and drawings, many of which have never been published in English before, this is a unique history of one of the most famous tanks of World War II.

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Book SynopsisThis illustrated study details the organization, battle orders, combat history, uniforms, and insignia of the World War II units recruited by Nazi Germany from ethnic minorities in the USSR.Between 194145, the Germans recruited around 175,000 men from a number of minorities in the USSR, distinguishing between Turkomans (predominantly Muslims) and Caucasians (predominantly Orthodox Christians). Of these, many formed rear-area auxiliary units, but at least 55,000 were combat troops. The first recruits formed two battalions in the 444th Security Division raised as early as November 1941; during 194243 seven legions were formed, each of several battalions, eventually totaling some 53 battalions (equivalent to about 6 full divisions). However, with one exception (162nd Turkoman Division), they were not deployed as whole formations; after training in Poland, individual battalions were posted to fill out German regiments in the front lines, at first in Army Group South but lTable of ContentsIntroduction German Intelligence in the Caucasus The Eastern Legions: Overview Uniforms & Insignia: Overview The Eastern Legions: Profiles Campaign Deployments Crimean Tatar Forces Kalmyk Forces Select Bibliography Charts Index

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Book SynopsisSince emerging as a settlement in the seventh century, Dubrovnik held a significant position beyond what could have been expected of this tiny city-state. This is a comprehensive history of Dubrovnik's progress over centuries of European development, encompassing arts, architecture, social and economic changes and the traumas of war and politics.Trade Review*'Detailed, scholarly and eminently readable, Dubrovnik is a triumph of book production. This is a splendid volume.' Literary Review 'There are few introductions to the city's past available to general readers ... Harris's splendid study meets this need admirably.' TLS 'Learned, fluently written and lavishly illustrated.' The Sunday Telegraph 'A fascinating and scholarly account.' The Daily Telegraph 'A triumph to set beside those of the great journalists.' Michael Foot, Tribune 'Harris offers up an intense look at a curious world. Truly fascinating.' Good Book Guide 'Unravelling the complex history of Dubrovnik takes skills of a high order, and Robin Harris has these.' Professor Norman Stone 'Splendid ... the book about Dubrovnik we have all been waiting for.' Dr Noel Malcolm, author of Bosnia: A Short History and Kosovo: A Short History 'Robin Harris has written a splendid and discerning history of Croatia's Adriatic pearl.' Professor Ivo Banac, Yale UniversityTable of ContentsILLUSTRATIONS 1. Bull of Pope Benedict VIII in favour of Archbishop Vitalis, the oldest original document in the Dubrovnik archives and the first confirmation of the Ragusan archbishopric (1022) 2. Trade agreement between Dubrovnik and Pisa (1169) 3. Charter in favour of Dubrovnik granted by Ban Kulin of Bosnia (1189) 4. Charter in favour of Dubrovnik's autonomy granted by King Louis I of Hungary (1358) 5. Charter in favour of Dubrovnik granted by the Bosnian King Tvrtko I (1367) 6. Privilege granted by the Council of Basel for Dubrovnik to trade with the Muslim Levant (1433) 7. Ferman addressed to Dubrovnik by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II seeking the Republic's cooperation against his fugitive brother Dem (1482) 8. An Example of Dubrovnik's Code, employed in secret diplomatic transactions (1679) 9. Illuminated opening page of the register of the Confraternity of St. Anthony (Antunini) (about 1445, possibly by Lovro Dobricevic) 10 and 11. Illuminated opening pages of the register of the Confraternity of St. Lazarus (Lazarini) (1531, possibly by Pietro di Giovanni) 12.Charter in favour of Dubrovnik granted by the Sultan of Morocco (1780) 13. The Rector's Palace 14. Atrium of the Rector's Palace 15. The Sponza Palace (or Dogana) 16. Atrium of the Sponza Palace 17. The Cathedral 18. The Dubrovnik Franciscans' Cloister 19. Depiction of Dubrovnik inserted into the Liber Viridis (Laws of Dubrovnik 1358-1460: the picture itself is later) 20. Petar Sorkocevic's Villa on Lapad 21. Paolo Veneziano's painted crucifix (1340s) 22. Matko Juncic: Blessed Virgin with Saints (1452) 23. Lovro Dobricevic: The Baptism of Christ (1448) 24. Mihajlo Hamzic: The Baptism of Christ (1508) 25. Detail of Lovro Dobricevic's Virgin and Child (1465) 26. Detail of Lovro Dobricevic's Virgin and Child, St. Anthony of Padua (1465) 27. Detail of Lovro Dobricevic's Virgin and Child, St. Julian the Hospitaller (1465) 28. Vicko Lovrin: St. Michael and other Saints (1509) 29. Detail of Nikola BoA idarevic's Blessed Virgin with Saints, St. Blaise and St. Paul (early sixteenth century) 30. Detail of Nikola BoA idarevic's Sacra Conversazione, St. Julian the Hospitaller and St. James (1513) 31. Nikola BoA idarevic: The Annunciation (1513) 32. Detail of Nikola BoA idarevic's Sacra Conversazione (1517) 33. Nikola BoA idarevic: Blessed Virgin with Saints (1517) 34. Detail of Nikola BoA idarevic's Blessed Virgin with Saints, St. Martin and the beggar (1517) 35. Detail of Mihajlo Hamzic (and Pietro di Giovanni): St. Nicholas and other Saints, showing St. John the Baptist, St. Stephen and St. Nicholas (1512) 36. Detail of Frano Matijin's Virgin and Child (1534) 37. Votive painting of Ragusan ketch (1779) 38. Votive Painting of Ragusan brigantine (nineteenth century) 39. Detail of Nikola BoA idarevic's Annunciation (1513): the donor Marko Kolendic's ship at anchor in Lopud harbour 40. The Coat of Arms of the Ragusan Republic 41.The Minceta Tower 42. The Principal Fortifications of Dubrovnik 43. Detail of Statue of St. Blaise, showing Dubrovnik (probably mid-fifteenth century) 44. Depiction of Dubrovnik in Konrad von Grunemberg's account of his pilgrimage (1486) 45. Detail of Nikola BoA idarevic's Blessed Virgin with Saints, showing Dubrovnik (early sixteenth century) 46. Painting of Dubrovnik by Giovanni Batista Fabri (1736), showing the city and its suburbs as they were before the Great Earthquake of 1667 47. Engraving depicting the Great Earthquake of 1667 48. Reliquary of (the head of) St. Blaise (XI-XII century) 49. Statue of St. Blaise (probably mid-fifteenth century) 50. Lorenzo Vitelleschi's depiction of Veliki Ston (1827) 51. Ruined Zvekovica, in Konavle (February 1992) 52. Burning house in Dubrovnik's Aeiroka ulica (6 December 1991) Sources Dubrovnik State Archive - plates 1-12, 19, 40 Dominican Friary, Dubrovnik - plates 21, 23, 29-32, 35, 39, 45 Church of St. Blaise, Dubrovnik - plates 43, 49 Lopud Parish Museum - plate 22 Dubrovnik City Museum - plates 24, 46 Church of Our Lady at Dance, Dubrovnik - plates 25-27, 33-34 Franciscan Church, Cavtat - plate 28 Church of St. Stephen at Sustjepan, Dubrovnik - plate 36 Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Dubrovnik - plates 37-38 Dubrovnik Cathedral Treasury - plate 48 Plate 52, photograph taken by the late Miro Kerner, is reproduced by kind permission of his family

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Book SynopsisFor many years the first battle of St Albans was regarded as a ‘short scuffle in the street’. A.W. Boardman, the author of Towton 1461: The Anatomy of a Battle, proves this was not the case. Indeed, the battle was unique and a significant event in England’s medieval history.The street fighting was widespread, the town was pillaged in the aftermath, Henry VI was almost killed, and the battle’s political consequences proved so problematic for both sides that parliament used official propaganda to conceal the truth.St Albans was, along with other lesser-known battles of the early 1450s, the genesis of the Wars of the Roses, and it is probably the best-documented encounter of the period. The battle heralded the beginning of an intense blood feud that fuelled the civil wars between York and Lancaster for many generations. But what really happened in the streets of St Albans on 22 May 1455? What prompted Richard Duke of York and the Neville family to rebel against Henry VI? And who were the instigators of the conflict that caused the execution and deaths of a substantial portion of England’s nobility by the end of the fifteenth century?This book answers these questions and discusses the theories about St Albans following a detailed and multi-disciplined approach. A.W. Boardman reveals the anatomy of a battle hidden beneath the streets and alleyways of this modern city and explains the wider issues of the Wars of the Roses in northern England. Illustrated throughout with contemporary images, modern photographs and specially drawn battle maps, this new and fully updated edition is a thorough examination of the sources, the terrain and the military significance of the first battle of St Albans: a battle where the streets ran red with blood.

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Book SynopsisA lively and illuminating biography of England's founding mother'.

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Book SynopsisInternationally renowned samurai expert Dr. Stephen Turnbull delves into a pivotal era of Japanese history in this highly illustrated account of the Gempei War, a conflict that defined the age and the ethos of the samurai. Never before had there been a large-scale clash between two rival samurai families, the Taira and the Minamoto, and never again would the result of a war in Japan be quite so dramatic. Fought to gain control over the emperor, it would end with imperial power being totally eclipsed in favor of the military might of the samurai class and the establishment of the position of shogun--Japan''s military dictator. Turnbull examines the events of the five-year-long conflict, revealing the changes that the war inflicted on Japanese culture and how it establishmened many samurai traditions.Table of ContentsIntroduction/Chronology/Opposing commanders/Opposing armies/Opposing plans/The campaign/Aftermath/The battlefield today/Further reading/Index

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Book SynopsisThe full story of the most terrible siege in history when over a million people perished, illustrated by pictures recently released from Russian archives.Leningrad (now reverted to its pre-1914 name of St Petersburg) was surrounded by German forces in 1941 and cut off from the rest of Russia. It was besieged for nearly three years, the great city''s population suffering terribly in the bitter cold of the Russian winter. Over a million men, women and children died of starvation and hypothermia, but the city fought on and never surrendered.In 1943 the Russian army broke through to link up with the garrison and end the longest, bloodiest siege of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisA major new history of the most infamous battle of the First World War, as described by the men who fought it.

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Book SynopsisAs Wartime' did for the 1940s, this book will grasp the broad spectrum of events in the 1930s in the words of contemporary witnesses drawn from metropolitan and provincial letters and diaries, newspapers, periodicals, books and the range of rich material available in the British Library.J.B. Priestley famously described the ''three Englands'' he saw in the 1930s: Old England, nineteenth-century England and the new, post-war England. Thirties Britain was, indeed, a land of contrasts, at once a nation rendered hopeless by the Depression, unemployment and international tensions, yet also a place of complacent suburban home-owners with a baby Austin in every garage.Now Juliet Gardiner, acclaimed author of the award-winning Wartime, provides a fresh perspective on that restless, uncertain, ambitious decade, bringing the complex experience of thirties Britain alive through newspapers, magazines, memoirs, letters and diaries.Gardiner captures the essence of a people part-mesmerised by ''moderTrade Review‘The cinematic clarity of Gardiner’s descriptions of accidents and ceremonies tells more about the decade than a page of statistics.…or the depth of its research, the quality of the writing and the sheer richness and vibrancy of the material, this is a quite outstanding work of social history’ Telegraph ‘It is comfortably the definitive account of a decade that has been much maligned’ Daily Telegraph ‘A definitive, vividly detailed book on a complex decade, which is a joy to read’ History Today

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Book SynopsisThis is a book about the Irish Question, or more specifically about Irish Questions. The term has become something of a catch-all, a convenient way to encompass numerous issues and developments which pertain to the political, social, and economic history of modern Ireland.The Irish Question has of course changed: one of the main aims of this book is to explore the complicated and shifting nature of the Irish Question and to assess what it has meant to various political minds and agendas. No other issue brought down as many nineteenth-century governments and no comparable twentieth-century dilemma has matched its ability to frustrate the attempts of British cabinets to find a solution; this inability to find a lasting answer to the Irish Question is especially striking when seen in the context of the massive shifts in British foreign policy brought about by two world wars, decolonization, and the cold war. Senia Paseta charts the changing nature of the Irish Question over the last 200 years, within an international political and social historical context. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Irish Question in Context ; 1. The Act of Union ; 2. The Catholic Question ; 3. The Land Question ; 4. The National Question ; 5. The New Nationalism ; 6. The Irish Revolution ; 7. The National Questions ; 8. New Acts of Union

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Book SynopsisThis Tsarist and Communist Russia 1855-1964 Revision Guide is part of the bestselling Oxford AQA History for A Level series. Written to match the new AQA specification, this series helps you deepen your historical knowledge and develop vital analytical and evaluation skills. This revision guide offers the clearly structured revision approach of Recap, Apply, and Review to prepare you for exam success. Step-by-step exam practice strategies for all AQA question types are provided (including Extract Analysis and essays linked to Key Questions), as well as well-researched, targeted guidance based on what we now know from the new AQA examiner''s reports on Tsarist Russia. Our original author team is back, offering expert advice, AS and A Level exam-style questions and Examiner Tips. Contents checklists help monitor revision progress; example student answers and suggested activity answers help you review your own work. This guide is perfect for use alongside the Student Books or as a stand-a

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Book SynopsisIn this revised and all-colour edition of her indispensable guide to the ancient Games, Judith Swaddling traces their mythological and religious origins, and describes the events, the sacred ceremony and the celebrations that were an essential part of the Olympic festival.

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Book SynopsisRobert the Bruce had himself crowned King of Scots at Scone on a frozen March morning in 1306. After years of struggle, Scotland had been reduced to a vassal state by Edward I of England and its people lived in poverty. On the day he seized the crown Bruce renewed the fight for Scotland's freedom, and let forth a battle cry that would echo through the centuries. Using contemporary accounts, Ronald McNair Scott tells the story of Scotland's legendary leader, and one of Europe's most remarkable medieval kings. It is a story with episodes as romantic as those of King Arthur, but also one which belongs in the annals of Scottish History, and has shaped a nation.Trade ReviewThe definitive biography of this heroic figure * * Mail on Sunday * *A thundering good narrative . . . splendidly told * * Sunday Telegraph * *A splendid read . . . Bruce has found his right chronicler * * Daily Telegraph * *

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Book SynopsisFew kings deserve more than David I the reputation as maker' of his kingdom. Although overshadowed in popular memory by his descendant, the later saviour' of Scotland, Robert Bruce, it was David who laid the foundations of the medieval Scottish monarchy and set in train the changes that created the kingdom that vied with England for mastery of the British Isles. In a reign spanning nearly three decades, David moved his kingdom from the periphery towards the heart of European civilisation.

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of Flodden in 1513 was the largest battle ever to take place between England and Scotland. James IV himself led an army of 30,000 men over the border into England, ostensibly in revenge for the murder of a Scotsman, but in reality to assist their ally the French by diverting the forces of Henry VIII. Yet the Scots were hampered by old-fashioned weapons and tactics, whereas the English deployed more accurate artillery and their vaunted longbowmen. When King James IV was killed while leading a charge, and many of their officers died, the Scots were left in disarray and the English victory was decisive. As the first new history of the battle in a decade, this authoritative and eye-opening account marks the 500th anniversary and brings our knowledge of the conflict up to date. Expert knowledge and detailed maps look at the key events, the 1135 campaign and the minor battles of Millfield and Norham, and a full profile of the respective forces and deployments, and convey the battle's course concisely and clearly. A key read for those interested in military history or the period in general.

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Book SynopsisChedworth is one of the few Roman villas in Britain whose remains are open to the public, and this book seeks to explain what these remains mean. The fourth century in Britain was a ‘golden age’ and at the time the Cotswolds were the richest area of Roman Britain.

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Book SynopsisHow the people of a typical English village lived and died in the worst epidemic in history.The Black Death remains the greatest disaster to befall humanity, killing about half the population of the planet in the 14th century. John Hatcher recreates everyday medieval life in a parish in Suffolk, from which an exceptional number of documents survive. This enables us to view events through the eyes of its residents, revealing in unique detail what it was like to live and die in these terrifying times. With scrupulous attention to historical accuracy, John Hatcher describes what the parishioners experienced, what they knew and what they believed. His narrative is peopled with characters developed from the villagers named in the actual town records and a series of dramatic scenes portray how contemporaries must have experienced the momentous events.Trade Reviewa gripping read -- part historical inquiry, part novel * INDEPENDENT *This totally absorbing book presents the best account ever written about the worst event to have ever befallen the British Isles -- Simon WinchesterThe author is praised as a masterly social historian and the book as colourful as an episode of Midsomer Murders * FINANCIAL TIMES *Conveys with great effectiveness the intensity of medieval English devotions and their deep preoccupation with the business of dying. Reading this book I was reminded time and again of the Tibetan Book of the Dead -- Will Self * EVENING STANDARD *John Hatcher, a distinguished economic historian, sets out to attempt something new: the describe the plague in terms of one of these hard-hit communities... more than most of the purely historical accounts have given us * LITERARY REVIEW *the sense of creeping doom, panic and rampant superstition is conveyed with a novelist's skill * GUARDIAN *A compelling tale of ordinary people faced with a horror beyond imagining * SUNDAY BUSINESS POST *

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Book SynopsisA magnificent new study of the political crisis that produced the overthrow of King Charles I, and came to engulf all three Stuart kingdoms - England, Scotland, and Ireland - in war during the 1640s.Trade ReviewThere have been many books on the English Civil War but this magesterial first of two volumes looks set to become one of the most important. * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Monumental in size and scope * HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER *

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Book SynopsisStephen''s reign was one of the darkest periods of English history. He had promised Henry I that he would support the king''s daughter, Matilda, as the rightful heir to the English throne, but when Henry dies in December 1135 he broke his promise and quickly made himself king. Like many of the nobles, he was unwilling to yield the crown to a woman. Civil wars and the battle for the English Crown dominated his reign, and this fascinating book examines the conflict between Stephen and his cousin. The campaigns, battles and sieges of England''s first civil war are explored, including the two major battles at the Standard adn Lincoln, which show that Stephen always held more ground than his opponents and was mostly on the offensive. The two sides finally reached a compromise, after 14 years, with the Treaty of Wallingford - Stephen would rule unopposed until his death but the throne would then pass to Henry of Anjou, Matilda''s son. Full of colourful characters, this is a fascinating story

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Book SynopsisThe definitive story of the Dresden bombingTrade Review'In narrative power and persuasion, he has paralleled in Dresden what Antony Beevor achieved in Stalingrad' Independent on Sunday 'A well-written, scholarly account' Guardian 'Well-researched and unpretentious ... fascinating ... Taylor skilfully interweaves various personal accounts of the impact of the raids' Michael Burleigh, Guardian 'Impressive ... Taylor weaves a chilling narrative from eyewitness accounts and painstaking documentary research, particularly with German sources. He explains the conceptual and strategic background with admirable clarity. His account of the air operation itself is quite superb' The Times

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Book SynopsisThe Wars of Scotland is the story of the pivotal period in Scottish history between 1214 and 1371. The century and a half between the death of King William the Lion and the accession of the Stewarts witnessed major changes in the internal character of the kingdom and its place in the wider European world. The opening decades of this era seemed to be dominated by the continued development of a defined Scottish realm but the crisis which engulfed the kings and their people meant that issues of war and allegiance would make fourteenth-century Scotland a very different place. This book is the first detailed discussion of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries as a single period of both developing and fragmenting political hierarchies and communities. The Wars of Scotland provides a political narrative which places events in their immediate context as well as highlighting special issues and groups in thematic chapters. It also introduces a new discussion of the stability and unity of Scotland as a realmTrade ReviewThe fruit of recent scholarship is gathered into a fresh, readable, informative, and balanced account. The original Edinburgh History of Scotland was the standard Scottish historical narrative for nearly two generations; if this volume is typical, its replacement will fulfill that role for at least as long ! Highly recommended. Choice This is a superb book which should be widely read. History: The Journal of the Historical Association Michael Brown has done an admirable job ! this is a highly readable survey that provides an excellent introduction to the period. Scotia The fruit of recent scholarship is gathered into a fresh, readable, informative, and balanced account. The original Edinburgh History of Scotland was the standard Scottish historical narrative for nearly two generations; if this volume is typical, its replacement will fulfill that role for at least as long ! Highly recommended. This is a superb book which should be widely read. Michael Brown has done an admirable job ! this is a highly readable survey that provides an excellent introduction to the period.Table of ContentsList of Maps and Tables; List of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part One: The Scottish Realm (1214-1286); Chapter 1 King and Kingdom; Chapter 2 Alexander II; Chapter 3 Alexander III; Chapter 4 The Sea Kings; Chapter 5 Lords and Communities: Political Society in the Thirteenth Century; Chapter 6 Church and Realm; Chapter 7 Scotland and the Anglo-French World; Part Two: War and the Reshaping of Scotland (1286-1371); Chapter 8 The Crisis of Kingship (1286-96); Chapter 9 The Scottish Wars (1297-1314); Chapter 10 Robert I; Chapter 11 The War of the Three Kings (1332-1357); Chapter 12 Lordship of the Isles; Chapter 13 Europe and the Scottish Wars; Chapter 14 Allegiance and Identity; Chapter 15 The Legacy of War: Scotland in the Thirteen-sixties; Conclusion A United Kingdom?; Table of Events; Guide to Further Reading; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisA captivating exploration of the role in which Queen Victoria exerted most international power and influence: her role as matchmaking grandmother. In the late nineteenth century, Queen Victoria had over thirty surviving grandchildren. To maintain power in Europe, she hoped to manoeuvre them into dynastic marriages with royalty across the world. Yet her grandchildren often had plans of their own, fuelled by strong wills and romantic hearts. Her matchmaking plans were further complicated by tumultuous international upheavals; revolution was in the air and after her death, her most carefully laid plans fell to ruin. Queen Victoria's Matchmaking travels through the glittering palaces of Russia and Europe, weaving in scandals, political machinations and family tensions, to enthralling effect. It is at once an intimate portrait of the royal family and an examination of the conflict caused by the power, love and duty that shaped the marriages that Queen Victoria arranged. At tTrade ReviewWonderfully compelling and packed with new material - a gripping story beautifully told -- Jane RidleyCadbury is an adroit storyteller. Her lively, colourfully written book, Queen Victoria’s Matchmaking, recounts the courtships and marriages of a handful of the Queen’s grandchildren … a panoramic family saga, its players by turns pragmatic and romantic, wilful, dutiful, misguided and, occasionally, tragic … Cadbury writes with verve -- Matthew Dennison * Daily Telegraph *[An] absorbing book ... The fall of the Romanovs occupies the superb last pages of Cadbury’s book ... Dynastic mergers, we may deduce from Deborah Cadbury’s account, offer no defence against the whims of history. This catastrophe-laced slice of royal history offers a ripping read -- Miranda Seymour * Observer *Engrossing … Cadbury engagingly presents [Queen Victoria] as a mesmerising Mrs Bennet, summoning her children and then her grandchildren to Balmoral ... The stories of [Queen Victoria’s] descendants are mesmerising and often stranger than fiction … From the pen of a writer of skill and style, this surprising narrative leaves you wanting more -- Paula Byrne * The Times *A skilfully woven account -- Stephan Halliday * Times Higher Education Supplement *Cadbury’s account of Victoria’s attempts to bend her unruly grandchildren to her matrimonial will is the stuff of melodrama … covered with verve and insight by Deborah Cadbury in her new history -- Daisy Goodwin * Sunday Times *An entertaining, well-written and well-conceived book … perceptive and revealing in the light it throws on the mind and attitudes of Victoria. Cadbury has consulted sources in numerous archives, including the Royal Archives at Windsor, and has chosen her quotations with skill * Literary Review *In this enjoyable story for fans of royal machinations, Cadbury ably shows not just the successes, but also the damage inflicted by Victoria's single-mindedness. An instructive European history * Kirkus *Impeccably researched, and written with all the brio and understanding of a major historical novel, Princes at War takes us intimately and even shockingly into the human dynamics of a barely functional family at the time of our greatest peril -- Praise for 'Princes at War', David Kynaston, author of 'Austerity Britain'One of the most riveting tales of the nonfiction season, rendered with novelistic drama but deliberate detachment. The inner tensions of the palace during wartime and the inner tensions of a remarkable family make for one of the best, and ultimately most uplifting, stories of the war years -- Praise for 'Princes at War' * Boston Globe *A moving and deeply researched account ... Her story is gripping, illuminating and generous in its recognition of the central, dramatic role of the monarchy in Britain's finest years -- Praise for 'Princes at War', William ShawcrossDeborah Cadbury combines the family drama against the backdrop of the war with terrific narrative verve -- Praise for 'Princes at War', Daisy Goodwin * The Times *Fascinating, fresh insights into a story of four brothers -- Praise for 'Princes at War', Stephen Halliday * Times Higher Education Supplement *

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Book SynopsisA fast-paced and thrilling history of London at the time of King Charles II, from the acclaimed co-author of The King's Revenge and The King's Bed.Trade ReviewPraise for The King's Revenge: Jordan and Walsh provide a thoroughly entertaining account of these extraordinary events . . . a vivid and consuming piece of historical narrative - Sunday TimesPraise for The King's Revenge: A fast-paced, lively work - BBC History MagazinePraise for The King's Revenge: In this beautifully detailed and seamlessly written book Jordan and Walsh shine a new light on Charles II . . . their energetic and masterful account makes for a Restoration romp worth reading - Sunday ExpressPraise for The King's Revenge: This is a terrific read - Spectator

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Co-Winner of the 2018 Allan Sharlin Memorial Award, Social Science History Association""Finalist for the 2017 Hayek Prize, The Manhattan Institute""Honorable Mention for the 2017 PROSE Award in European and World History, Association of American Publishers""One of MIT Technology Review’s Best Books of 2016""Fascinating.... [Mokyr] reminds us that the skirmishing of philosophers and their ideas, the preoccupation of popular historians, is in many ways a sideshow—that the revolution that gave Europe dominance was, above all, scientific, and that the scientific revolution was, above all, an artisanal revolution."---Adam Gopnik, New Yorker"A fine book. . . . One of our country's great economic historians has helped us better understand the greatest transformation in human welfare our planet has ever seen."---Richard Vedder, Wall Street Journal"Wide-ranging and erudite. . . . Mokyr offers a useful corrective to excessively deterministic and materialistic treatments of economic history, emphasizing ideas—the West, he argues, had a uniquely positive view about subjugating nature to human control—and individual agency in shaping broad socioeconomic shifts." * Publishers Weekly *"Ultimately, without the impetus of science, economic growth would have fizzled out after 1815. A Culture of Growth is certainly making me rethink."---Brad DeLong, Nature"A Culture of Growth is a brilliant book. You should buy it and even read it. It’s long, but consistently interesting, even witty."---Deirdre McCloskey, Prospect"In pointing to growth-boosting factors that go beyond either the state or the market, Mokyr's book is very welcome."---Victoria Bateman, Times Higher Education"Mokyr . . . dives into the mystery of how the world went from being poor to being so rich in just a few centuries. . . . Drawing on centuries of philosophy and scientific advancements, Mokyr argues that there's a reason the Industrial Revolution occurred in Europe and not, for example, in China, which had in previous centuries shown signs of more scientific advancement: Europe developed a unique culture of competitive scientific and intellectual advancement that was unprecedented and not at all predestined."---Ana Swanson, WashingtonPost.com's Wonkblog"The sheer elegance of Mr. Mokyr's theory . . . has much to commend it. And it is refreshing that an economist is taking seriously the idea that ideas and culture make a difference to economic growth." * The Economist *"Mokyr has written a book to read slowly and chew over thoroughly. . . . He is a wonderfully well-read lucid and continuously interesting guide to a vast literature and invariably thought provoking."---Alan Ryan, Literary Review"Someone needed to write a book like this, and there could have been no better author to do so than Mokyr."---Peer Vries, Foreign Affairs"Economic historian Joel Mokyr has written a capstone work on the dynamics of the industrial revolution."---Arnold Kling, Econlib"It is not often that a book leaves me gasping in admiration for the breadth and depth of an author's reading and knowledge, but this one did."---Ted Nield, Geoscientist Online"This book is the latest example of Mokyr's ability to explicate complex issues, illustrating his big-picture thesis with a myriad of fascinating details. He writes with clarity--enjoyable for the general reader as well as for the specialist in economic history. A Culture of Growth is a must-read for anyone interested in how Western society got where it is today and what this implies for the spread of technology in the global economy of the future." * Finance & Development *"A Culture of Growth is a book of immense importance for us Indians especially when we are getting comfortable, forever playing victim to the depredations of British imperialism instead of wholeheartedly focusing on beating the West at its game as the Chinese are doing. . . . Well worth tackling."---Uday Balakrishnan, Hindu Business Line"A Culture of Growth is an insightful quest into the economic history of the last five centuries. Mokyr’s historical laboratory is early modern Europe, when a small mass of highly skilled artisans, entrepreneurs, financiers and merchants laid the roots of what was to become the Industrial Revolution." * Progressive Post *"One has to admire the depth of knowledge and the subtlety of Mokyr’s argument. . . . For serious students of the Enlightenment itself, Mokyr’s magnum opus will be required reading for a long time to come."---Nicholas Crafts, History Today"A fresh historical treatment."---Darcy Allen, IPA Review"This is a tour d'horizon of an exciting new area of inquiry, which offers important insights into the future of our civilization and the evolution of an increasingly technical world. Mokyr's book is so rich and stimulating that no brief review can do it justice. So, dear reader, read the book!"---Wolfgang Kasper, Policy"The book represents recognition that culture has finally arrived as an important and legitimate concept in discussions of economic growth. In this endeavor, the book is an important landmark. . . . Students and scholars working in the field will benefit from the intelligent and rich discussion provided in A Culture of Growth."---Mark Koyama, Independent Review"What stands out from Mokyr’s approach is the highly contingent character of the Enlightenment and Industrial Revolution. They happened because a lot ofdifferent things happened to fall into place; small deviations in the course of events could have given us an entirely different world of technological and economic power."---Diane Coyle, Financial Times"After reading this book, chances are that you won’t look at the economic, social, and political world in quite the same way as before."---Pierre Lemieux, Regulation"An important body of work. It contains ideas, propositions, historical facts, biographies of influential scholars, writersand scientists, and it is a confirmation of the author's expertise of a broad range of topics in the economics of culture and comparative economic history of an emerging Europe and China."---Dr Meltem Ince-Yenilmez, Rest Journal

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Book SynopsisBefore Winston Churchill made history, he made news. To a great extent, the news made him too. If it was his own efforts that made him a hero, it was the media that made him a celebrity - and it has been considerably responsible for perpetuating his memory and shaping his reputation in the years since his death. Churchill first made his name via writing and journalism in the years before 1900, the money he earned helping to support his political career (at a time when MPs did not get salaries). Journalistic activities were also important to him later, as he struggled in the interwar years to find the wherewithal to run and maintain Chartwell, his country house in Kent. Moreover, not only was journalism an important aspect of Churchill''s political persona, but he himself was a news-obsessive throughout his life. The story of Churchill and the news is, on one level, a tale of tight deadlines, off-the-record briefings and smoke-filled newsrooms, of wartime summits that were turned into stage-managed global media events, and of often tense interactions with journalists and powerful press proprietors, such as Lords Northcliffe, Rothermere, and Beaverbrook. Uncovering the symbiotic relationship between Churchill''s political life and his media life, and the ways in which these were connected to his personal life, Richard Toye asks if there was a ''public Churchill'' whose image was at odds with the behind-the-scenes reality, or whether, in fact, his private and public selves became seamlessly blended as he adjusted to living in the constant glare of the media spotlight.On a wider level, this is also the story of a rapidly evolving media and news culture in the first half of the twentieth century, and of what the contemporary reporting of Churchill''s life (including by himself) can tell us about the development of this culture, over a period spanning from the Victorian era through to the space age.Trade ReviewA fascinating reflection on our current time. * , Suffolk and Norfolk Life *Winston Churchill - A Life in the News is also the story of a rapidly evolving media and news culture in the first half of the twentieth century, and of what the contemporary reporting of Churchill's life (including by himself) can tell us about the development of this culture, over a period spanning from the Victorian era through to the space age. * Cosmopolis *Review from previous edition [An] original study ... Toye is surely correct in seeing the journalism as central to the career of a man whose life was dominated by the news he did much to create. * A.W. Purdue, Times Higher Education *Winston Churchill: A Life in the News sheds a fresh light on one of the best-studied statesmen, exploring the "symbiotic relationship" between Churchill's political life, journalistic career, and media persona. * Stefan Goebel, Journal of British Studies *In Churchill: A Life in the News we encounter both the bombastic and the deeply insecure sides to Churchill's complex personality. The book stands not only as a testament to the effects of the media on personal leadership styles, but it forces us to reflect on how the changing media environment affects the way we are governed. It is a timely reminder of the excesses and limitations of the press in the modern political age. * Professor Jo Fox, Institute of Historical Research *Richard Toye once again brilliantly illuminates a critical side of Winston Churchill's complex life. This original, important, and highly-readable book is teeming with shrewd judgements and fresh insights. It is essential reading for anyone interested in Churchill's political career or modern news culture. * Christopher M. Bell, author of Churchill and the Dardanelles and Churchill and Sea Power *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: A Pushing Age 2: Stage Thunder 3: Any Home News? 4: Hell with the Lid Off 5: Born to Trouble 6: 'Worse than the Nazis' 7: 'The War is not Fought to Amuse the Newspapers' 8: Whose Finger? Conclusion

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Book Synopsis''Fascinating, full of original material and shrewd insights ... a masterful historian of air power'' Leo McKinstry, Literary ReviewThe RAF was the world''s first air force. This is the story of its founding in 1918, as a response to the new terror of aerial warfare, the struggles to keep it alive amid controversy and opposition, its crucial role in the Second World War and its unique place in Britain''s history.''Brilliantly lucid'' Noel Malcolm, Daily Telegraph''Richard Overy is to be congratulated on creating a concise exposition of the formation of the RAF ... this is a book that makes you think'' Peter Hart, BBC History Magazine''A skilful pocket history of the founding of the Royal Air Force in 1918 ... a fine introduction'' Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisLondon''s streets have always worn a variety of influences, reflecting the diverse crowds who live and work on them. Take a walk down any number of historic streets and an abundance of tales exist in the bricks and mortar, waiting to be told. The Hidden Lives of London''s Streets takes the reader on a journey through Soho, Piccadilly, Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Kensington, Fitzrovia and Clerkenwell. A street map is provided for each area, marking out the streets and buildings in which the various activities - some forgotten, others well-remembered - took place.Stories include those of courtesans such as the notorious Lola Montez and Theresa de Cornelys, who gave lavish balls at their home in Soho Square which were little more than orgies, during which a man playing the violin while on roller skates crashed through her plate glass window; Casanova and his quarrel with Marianne Charpillon after he taught a parrot to say she was a ''whore''; clubs - great (

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Book SynopsisIn the bestselling tradition of The Swerve and A Distant Mirror, THE VERGE tells the story of a period that marked a decisive turning point for both European and world history. Here, author Patrick Wyman examines two complementary and contradictory sides of the same historical coin: the world-altering implications of the developments of printed mass media, extreme taxation, exploitative globalization, humanistic learning, gunpowder warfare, and mass religious conflict in the long term, and their intensely disruptive consequences in the short-term.As told through the lives of ten real people -- from famous figures like Christopher Columbus and wealthy banker Jakob Fugger to a ruthless small-time merchant and a one-armed mercenary captain -- THE VERGE illustrates how their lives, and the times in which they lived, set the stage for an unprecedented globalized future.Over an intense forty-year period, the seeds for the so-called "Great Divergence" between Western Europe and the rest of the globe would be planted. From Columbus's voyage across the Atlantic to Martin Luther's sparking the Protestant Reformation, the foundations of our own, recognizably modern world came into being.For the past 500 years, historians, economists, and the policy-oriented have argued which of these individual developments best explains the West's rise from backwater periphery to global dominance. As THE VERGE presents it, however, the answer is far more nuanced.

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Book SynopsisThe international bestselling story of one British soldier's brave choice to exchange places with a Jewish prisoner in Auschwitz.Trade ReviewThis is a most important book, and a timely reminder of the dangers that face any society once intolerance and racism take hold. * Sir Martin Gilbert *This memoir is an important contribution to a terrible chapter in history. * Daily Express *Denis is a hero in time of terror, a man of limitless moral and physical courage. * Henry Kamm, New York Times correspondent and Pulitzer Prize winner *'This is the most amazing Holocaust memoir it's been my good fortune to read...this is a beautiful, uplifting book about a real ben adom, a mensch, who saw evil and, instead of averting his eyes, did what he could to help the victims'. * Washington Jewish Week *an excellent memoir of survival. * Publishers Weekly *A unique war story from a brave man. * Kirkus *This is the incredible story of British soldier Denis Avey who broke into Auschwitz to uncover the horrors that were concealed there by the Nazis...This is a brutal account of what he experienced. There are some who doubt his story but don't let that ruin this extraordinary book. * Press Association *THE MAN WHO BROKE INTO AUSCHWITZ will take your breath away. * La revista de Ana Rosa (Spain) *What starts as an act of reportage then becomes a moving and ultimately triumphant story of survival. * Belfast Telegraph *'Exceptional'. * Morgenpost (Germany) *An astonishing heroic tale of a steady character. * Jüdische Zeitung (Germany) *'An admirable story'. * Periodista digital (Spain) *'A remarkable story'. * De Telegraaf (Holland) *A 'strange, brave and bracing story'. * Canberra Times *

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Book SynopsisAn Athenian general of the fifth century B.C. chronicles the disastrous 27-year conflict between Athens and Sparta. Thucydides traces the conflict's roots and provides detailed, knowledgeable analyses of battles and the political atmosphere.

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Book SynopsisThis collection of translated primary sources for Ottoman history shows how the major institutions of Ottoman government developed, and how they functioned in practice. Each text benefits from a brief contextualising introduction, annotations and a glossary explaining technical terminology and problems of interpretation.

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