European history: medieval period, middle ages Books

Book SynopsisContent should appeal to both military aviation enthusiasts as well as those with an interest in recent British military history.

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Book SynopsisThis is by no means a work of chauvinistic self-congratulations; it is rather a distinguished historian's assessment of the last great invasion scare the British Isles have endured since the Martello towers were built in 1805.

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Book SynopsisAll aviation and World War II buffs will want this book. Library Journal

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Book SynopsisImagine you were transported back in time to Tudor England and had to start a new life there,without smartphones, internet or social media. When transport means walking or, if you'relucky, horseback, how will you know where you are or where to go? Where will you liveand where will you work? What will you eat and what shall you wear? And who can you turnto if you fall ill or are mugged in the street, or God forbid if you upset the king? In a periodwhen execution by beheading was the fate of thousands how can you keep your head inTudor England?All these questions and many more are answered in this new guidebook for time-travellers:How to Survive in Tudor England. A handy self-help guide with tips and suggestions to makeyour visit to the 16th century much more fun, this lively and engaging book will help thereader deal with the new experiences they may encounter and the problems that might occur.Enjoy interviews with the celebrities of the day, and learn some new words to set the moodfor

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Book SynopsisFamously bloody and anarchic period of Roman historyAuthors clear narrative untangles the twists and turns of shifting alliances and analyses the military events. Very well-established author with a strong following

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Book SynopsisContinuing his exploration of the alternative paths that British history might so easily have taken, Timothy Venning turns his attention to the Hundred Years War between England and France. Could the English have won in the long term, or, conversely, have been decisively defeated sooner? Among the many scenarios discussed are what would have happened if the Black Prince had not died prematurely of the Black Death, leaving the 10-year-old Richard to inherit Edward IIIs crown. What would have been the consequences if France''s Scottish allies had been victorious at Neville''s Cross in 1346, while most English forces were occupied in France? What if Henry V had recovered from the dysentery that killed him at 35, giving time for his son Henry VI to inherit the combined crowns of France and England as a mature (and half-French) man rather than an infant controlled by others? And what if Joan of Arc had not emerged to galvanize French resistance at Orleans? While necessarily speculative, all

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Book SynopsisAssesses the contribution of those Emperors whose military leadership determined the survival of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire for a thousand years after the fall of Rome. Concise biographies full of human interest: heroism, tragedy, brutality and an epic struggle for survival.

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Book SynopsisOne of Britain's most enigmatic legendary figures is brought to life in this new account. Cerdic was a Dark Age warrior who founded the kingdom which became England, but the circumstances of his reign amid the collapse of the Western Roman Empire have been shrouded in mystery. Until now. Paul Harper tells of how Cerdic emerged from the ashes of Rome and rose to power with a warband known as the Gewisse, who offered protection to civilians from barbarians roaming the land and then fought for territory with Anglo- Saxon and Romano-British kingdoms. While other domains were conquered, the Gewisse survived and evolved into Wessex (West Saxons). During an unprecedented climate disaster, which blocked out normal sunlight for 18 months and led eventually to a plague pandemic which killed millions, Cerdic carved out a new realm that would shape Britain up to the present day. How various myths and folklore, including the King Arthur Legend, are connected to Cerdic is explored at length. The

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Book SynopsisCavaliers and Roundheads are figures who appear in hundreds of English ghost stories. In this innovative account, Charles Esdaile argues that such tales are in reality folk memories of an episode of English history that was second only to the Black Death in terms of individual and collective suffering alike, and, further, that they reveal important truths about the way in which the conflict was represented: it is no surprise, then, to find that spectral Cavaliers are often romantic figures and revenant Roundheads grim ones full of menace. Yet, the book is no mere catalogue. On the contrary, rather than being discussed in a vacuum, the tales of haunting are rather set within a detailed regional history of the conflicts of 1642-1651 of a sort that has never yet been attempted, but is, for all that, badly needed.

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Book SynopsisThis book explains the social and economic factors which enabled the UK to fund the coalitions that Napoleon faced.

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Book SynopsisIn early October 1795, Napoleon Bonaparte led the governing Directory's army against the rioting royalists in Paris (who were rebelling to restore the monarchy), crushing their campaign and beginning his rise to supremacy and greatness. Napoleon is one of the eight sovereigns discussed in _The Soldier Kings of France_, who brought glory, power and territorial expansion to France, while altering the course of European history. The work begins in the ninth century with King Charles II's seizure of the French crown and concludes in the nineteenth century with Napoleon's rise and fall. In the book, the reign of Philip II and his participation in the Third Crusade to the Holy Land is the second monarch reviewed, followed by Louis XI, who ended the Hundred Year War with the English and Louis XII's rule is next, which fought to expand French territorial holdings into the Lombardy region of Italy. The fifth king surveyed is Francis I and his enlargement of French lands into Italy, while the si

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Book SynopsisUncovers the full story of the social unrest that was seen throughout Britain at the times of the Napoleonic Wars.

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Book SynopsisA revisionist history showing a gradual build-up of opposition and a drift to conflict which few expected or wanted. And this was despite growing Stuart absolutism, threats to Parliament and the accepted civil order and religious controversy. It is forensic study, full of fascinating and even unexpected details, principal actors come to life and readers will feel involved in an existential crisis of the British state(s).The study of the three Kingdoms covers the major themes of religious dispute with Laud, Wentworth and Strafford - towering figures - church reform, ''godly''religions and explosion of ''news'' and pamphlets, the King and Lords and Commons, the Queen''s, often suspect influence, King Charles'' absolutism and rigidity, and iconic events like the Grand Remonstance, arrest of the Five Members, Charles'' departure from London and the raising of the Royal Standard for war.

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Book SynopsisThis is one of the great adventure stories of the Great War and Col. Strutt deserves to be better known.

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Book SynopsisLife in Post-War Britain: Toils and Efforts Ahead tells what it was like to live in Britain as the nation battled to recover while still facing many hardships, including food rationing that, ironically, was to become more severe than that in wartime.

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Book SynopsisExplores the conflict zone of the borderland of South Yorkshire that existed between the kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. An accessible read that will interest anyone who wants to know more about South Yorkshire in this pivotal era.

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Book SynopsisIn the introduction the authors explore just why Winston Churchill authorised a super-raid' upon German-held territory. Examines why the French port of Dieppe was selected as the target.

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Book SynopsisThroughout the tenth century, England, as it would be recognised today, formed. No longer many Saxon kingdoms, but rather, just England. Yet, this development masks much in the century in which the Viking raiders were seemingly driven from England's shores by Alfred, his children and grandchildren, only to return during the reign of his great, great-grandson, the much-maligned Æthelred II.Not one but two kings would be murdered, others would die at a young age, and a child would be named king on four occasions. Two kings would never marry, and a third would be forcefully divorced from his wife. Yet, the development towards England' did not stop. At no point did it truly fracture back into its constituent parts. Who then ensured this stability? To whom did the witan turn when kings died, and children were raised to the kingship?The royal woman of the House of Wessex came into prominence during the century, perhaps the most well-known being Æthelflæd, daughter of King Alfred. Perhaps the

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Book SynopsisFresh perspective of Henry VIII, focusing on the turbulence of his reign.

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Book SynopsisMagnificent concluding part to this ambitious series, covering from the usurpation of Phocas to the death of Heraclius.

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Book SynopsisGives a clear narrative for 18 selected battles and sieges from the Classical Greek period.

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Book SynopsisThis book describes the background to and the development of the Nazi Party Rallies held at Nuremberg each September from 1933 to 1939. These Reichsparteitage (National Party Days) were vast and meticulously staged managed extravaganzas in which ritual and ceremony played an important part.The Rallies had two key objectives. The first was to focus public attention on the successes of the Nazi Party and connect with the public conscience and build a close bond between Party and people.Even more important was the Rallies role in presenting Adolf Hitler as the saviour of the German nation sent to restore national pride, power and prosperity after the shame and economic disaster of the post war years and the deeply resented Versailles Treaty. The Hitler Cult was blatantly promoted with revolutionary use of propaganda by the latest technology and iron control of the media.Using the authors superb collection of postcards and images, The Nazis Nuremberg Rallies takes the reader on a visual jo

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Book SynopsisBooks about Tudor rebellions exist, but none like this one, focusing exclusively on England under Elizabeth I and how rebellions during this period impacted the country and the monarchy and led to a sense of national pride and unity.

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Book SynopsisFeaturing contemporary letters, newspapers and memoirs, The Real Bridgerton opens the bedcurtains on a century where nothing was out of bounds.

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Book SynopsisThe second volume of Douglas Fermer's new history of the Franco-Prussian War.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating investigation into the historical figure of Lucius Artorius Castus, camp prefect of VI Victrix based at Eboracum, York. Dave Grainger, Legio VI Victrix, Re-Enactment Group, York.

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Book SynopsisAn accessible and intriguing account of the city of London, from Roman origins through to the 21st Century.

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Book SynopsisInside the Tudor Home sheds light on how people lived in the sixteenth century from plush royal palaces to wattle-and-daub cottages and everything in between.

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Book SynopsisIdentifies and narrates 40 sieges of the city that was Byzantion, then Constantinople and now Istanbul.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘A masterful account of the five classics that should become a classic itself … a triumph of readability: fine tales very well told’ * Road.cc *‘Peter Cossins has skilfully combined history, analysis and anecdote to bring these classic contests vividly to life’ * Independent on Sunday *‘The Monuments is a book that should be on every cyclist’s bookshelf’ * Podium Café *‘A treasure trove for the committed cycling fan’ * thewashingmachinepost *Table of ContentsPart 1: Liège­-Bastogne-Liège – La Doyenne Part 2: Paris-Roubaix – The Hell of the North Part 3: The Tour of Lombardy – The Race of the Falling Leaves Part 4: Milan-Sanremo – La Classicissima Part 5: The Tour of Flanders – Vlaanderens Mooiste Endpiece Appendix Bibliography Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisExamines the subject matter of the Republic and the full internal responsion of its parts.

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Book SynopsisThis history of Spain in the period between the end of Roman rule and the time of the Arab conquest challenges many traditional assumptions about the history of this period. Presents original theories about how the Visigothic kingdom was governed, about law in the kingdom, about the Arab conquest, and about the rise of Spain as an intellectual force. Takes account of new documentary evidence, the latest archaeological findings, and the controversies that these have generated. Combines chronological and thematic approaches to the period. A historiographical introduction looks at the current state of research on the history and archaeology of the Visigothic kingdom. Trade Review"Readers interested in more detailed accounts of Spanish history will ... find this book very accessible." British Bulletin of Publications "There is much to admire and enjoy in this volume … highly readable and impressively researched work." HistoryTable of ContentsList of Maps. Introduction: Visigothic Spain in the Twenty-First Century. Part I: A Political History:. 1. From Empire to Kingdom, 409-507:. A Turning Point. The Visigoths. The Gothic Conquests of Hispania, 456-507. 2. The Imposition of Unity, 507-586:. A Fractured Kingdom. The Reign of Leovigild, 569-586. 3. The Catholic Kingdom, 586-672:. Conversion and Reaction, 586-590. Changing Dynasties, 590-642. Kings and the Political Elite, 642-672. 4. Visigothic Twilight, 672-710:. Court Conspiracies, 672-681. The Uneasy Throne, 681-710. 5. The End of the Kingdom:. The Coming of the Arabs. The Last Kings, 710-713. Part II: Society and Culture:. 6. Books and Readers:. The Legacy of Africa. The Golden Age. 7. Archaeology: Cemeteries and Churches:. Goths in the Ground. A Visigothic Architecture?. 8. Archaeology: Rural and Urban Settlements:. Country Dwellers. Towns in Transition. 9. Law and Ethnic Identity:. The Fog of the Law. Gothia and Hispania. Bibliographical Essay. Index

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Book SynopsisIn this ground-breaking new study,Jacques Le Goff, arguably the leading medievalist of his generation, presents his view of the primacy of the Middle Ages in the development of European history. [A] superb and necessary book. This provocative assessment from a lifetime of scholarship might help us to place ourselves, not just territorially, but in that other precious element of history: time.The Guardian A book that never fails to be informative, readable and provocative. Le Goff... has been the bravest and best of champions for medieval history. This book... is in every sense an inspiration.BBC History Magazine Praised by prominent figures in Europe and history including: Rt Hon Christopher Patten, CH, Former Member of the European Commission, and Neil Kinnock, Vice-President, European Commission. Trade Review"Recommended ... .Illustrate[s] the continuing differences on how scholars treat the past, differences found among early modern scholars as well as medievalists." (Sixteenth Century Journal, Summer 2009) "A book that never fails to be informative, readable and provocative. [Le Goff] has been the bravest and best of champions for medieval history. This book, written by its author at the age of 80, is in every sense an inspiration." (BBC History Magazine) "[A] superb and necessary book. This provocative assessment from a lifetime of scholarship might help us to place ourselves, not just territorially, but in that other precious element of history: time." (The Guardian) "Le Goff authoritatively traces the initial development of virtually all aspects of modern society." (The Morning Star) "A fine survey of medieval Europe that will benefit both specialists and non-specialists alike." (History: Reviews of New Books) "Le Goff's book not only embodies his long-term project of a new political history but is a politically engaged history in the most valuable sense: it should be on the compulsory reading list of politicians everywhere." (Reviews in History)Table of ContentsSeries Editor’s Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Maps xii Introduction 1 Preludes: Before the Middle Ages 6 1 The Conception of Europe (Fourth to Eighth Centuries) 14 2 An Aborted Europe: The Carolingian World (Eighth to Tenth Centuries) 29 3 A Dream of Europe and the Potential Europe of the Year 1000 40 4 Feudal Europe (Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries) 49 5 The ‘‘Fine’’ Europe of Towns and Universities (Thirteenth Century) 99 6 The Autumn of the Middle Ages or the Spring of a New Age? 154 Conclusion 194 Chronology 202 A Selective Thematic Bibliography 211 Index 252

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Book SynopsisIn this history of Florence, distinguished historian John Najemy discusses all the major developments in Florentine history from 1200 to 1575. Captures Florence''s transformation from a medieval commune into an aristocratic republic, territorial state, and monarchy Weaves together intellectual, cultural, social, economic, religious, and political developments Academically rigorous yet accessible and appealing to the general reader Likely to become the standard work on Renaissance Florence for years to come Trade Review"Based on wide reading of the available secondary and printed sources, A History of Florence represents the achievement of a lifetime's devotion to the study of the city. Moreover, Najemy's categories of analysis should provoke debates and conversations for future lifetimes." (Renaissance and Reformation, 2009) "There is much to praise about this book. It is a model historical synthesis of the history of a great premodern European city. It is also a sophisticated political history in which class-based ideas and values matter as much as individual details of political events." (The Catholic Historical Review, July 2010)"[This] is the best history of Florence in any language, and it will long remain so, for Najemy has mastered the relevant literature more thoroughly than any other historian in living memory." (Times Literary Supplement) "John Najemy is a pre-eminent historian of Renaissance Florence ... a scholar of learning, imagination and intellectual penetration, with a profound knowledge of Florentine history from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century and with a remarkable range of interests in political, social and intellectual history. There has been no credible attempt to write a history of Florence in this period since the time of Perrens's multi-volume work, finished in 1883. Najemy has risen admirably to the challenge. He has assimilated the vast secondary literature on Florence, from the beginning of the thirteenth to the late sixteenth century. The range of his analysis and explication stretches across a vast range of fundamental social, political, economic, diplomatic, military and biographical topics. Nor is Najemy indifferent to intellectual history, especially questions involving political thought and ideology. This book is no mere synthesis of other scholars' work. Indeed, Najemy offers a distinctive interpretation, one which has already stimulated controversy and will doubtless continue to do so." (Reviews in History) "Highly recommended." (Choice) "An extraordinary accomplishment. Deserves rich praise as a fundamentally new and authoritative interpretation of four key centuries of this remarkable city's development.” Speculum“[Najemy], a veteran Renaissance historian offers a big and impressive survey of the Florentine city-state …. One of the justifications for the book [is] the need for an updated and accessible synthesis of the superabundance of recent specialized scholarship on Florence. He succeeds admirably at that task … [and] manages to explain and contextualize detailed scholarship while remaining a lively and engaging political narrative. [It] will surely become the definitive narrative of medieval and Renaissance Florence, a point of departure for students of Florentine politics and culture as well as a major interpretive statement providing much for specialists to engage with for some time." (Sixteenth Century Journal)Table of ContentsList of Illustrations viii List of Maps ix Acknowledgments x Introduction 1 1 The Elite Families 5 Lineages 6 Knighthood and Feuds 11 Political Alignments and Factions 20 Culture and Religion 27 2 The Popolo 35 Definitions 35 Guilds 39 Culture and Education: Notaries 45 Religion 50 Critique of Elite Misrule 57 3 Early Conflicts of Elite and Popolo 63 Before 1250 64 Primo Popolo 66 Angevin Alliance 72 Priorate of the Guilds 76 Second Popolo and the Ordinances of Justice 81 Elite Resurgence: Black and White Guelfs 88 4 Domestic Economy and Merchant Empires to 1340 96 Population: City and Contado 96 Textiles, Building, and Provisioning 100 Merchant Companies and the Mercanzia 109 Taxation and Public Finances 118 5 The Fourteenth-Century Dialogue of Power 124 Elite Dominance, 1310–40 124 Crisis of the 1340s and the Third Popular Government 132 Funded Public Debt and Bankruptcies 139 Elite Recovery and Popular Reaction 144 War against the Church 151 6 Revolution and Realignment 156 Workers’ Economic Conditions 157 The Ciompi Revolution 161 The Last Guild Government 166 Counterrevolution 171 Fear of the Working Classes 176 Consensus Politics 182 7 War, Territorial Expansion, and the Transformation of Political Discourse 188 First Visconti Wars 189 Territorial Dominion: The Conquest of Pisa 194 Civic Humanism 200 The Civic Family 211 8 Family and State in the Age of Consensus 219 The Family Imaginary 219 Households, Marriage, Dowries 225 Women, Property, Inheritance 232 Children, Hospitals, Charity 238 Policing Sodomy 244 9 Fateful Embrace: The Emergence of the Medici 250 A New Style of Leadership 250 Fiscal Crisis and the Catasto 254 Cosimo’s Money and Friends 262 Showdown 269 10 The Medici and the Ottimati: A Partnership of Conflict Part I: Cosimo and Piero 278 Institutional Controls 280 External Supports: Papacy and Sforza Milan 286 Cosimo’s Coup 291 The Ottimati Challenge Piero 298 11 The Luxury Economy and Art Patronage 307 Poverty and Wealth 307 Public and Private Patronage 315 Family Commemoration and Self-Fashioning 323 12 The Medici and the Ottimati: A Partnership of Conflict Part 2: Lorenzo 341 Lorenzo’s Elders 344 Lorenzo’s Volterra Massacre 348 Pazzi Conspiracy and War 352 The (Insecure) Prince in All but Name 361 Building a Dynasty 369 13 Reinventing the Republic 375 French Invasion and Expulsion of the Medici 375 The Great Council 381 Savonarola’s Holy Republic 390 Domestic Discord and Dominion Crises 400 Soderini, Machiavelli’s Militia, and Pisa 407 14 Papal Overlords 414 The Cardinal and a Controversial Marriage 415 Fall of the Republic and Return of the Medici 419 A Regime Adrift 426 Aristocratic and Popular Republicanisms 434 The Nascent Principate 441 15 The Last Republic and the Medici Duchy 446 Revolution 447 Siege 453 Imposition of a New Order 461 Ducal Government 468 Finances and Economy 473 Courtly and Cultural Discipline 478 Victor and Vanquished 482 Epilogue: Remembrance of Things Past 486 Index 491

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Book SynopsisSpanning over 1,300 years, this popular history of Rome combines an overview of political events with a balanced analysis of social and economic change, and of religious and cultural life. This new edition includes increased coverage of the late republic, and more attention is devoted to the impact of material culture.Trade Review“The fourth edition of this highly successful text retains the virtues of its predecessors while judiciously revising, expanding, and updating the presentation of material. In its new form A History of Rome will continue to provide excellent support for courses in Roman history, culture, and society.” Richard Tarrant, Harvard University “The new edition of this comprehensive and widely-used history of ancient Rome improves an already valuable and authoritative textbook, augmenting the range of maps and illustrations, expanding the historical horizons with additional literary material and discussion of inscriptional evidence, and updating the notes on further reading. The combination of visual material and detailed narrative offers a vivid and multidimensional perspective on the most powerful and enduringly influential of ancient empires.” Alan Bowman, University of Oxford Praise for the third edition: "Edition 3 maintains a good balance betweena general survey and a deeper analysis of Roman history, combining a traditional biographical and factual approach with thematic discussions of socio-political developments and institutions. I highly recommend all the new materials for both personal research and classroom use." Bryn Mawr Classical Review "A History of Rome is a solid textbook. With a strong and topical vision of the city's political, military and cultural history, the empire is brought firmly into the picture." AntiquityTable of ContentsList of Plates ix List of Figures and Maps xii List of Chronologies, Genealogies, and Boxes xiv Preface to the Fourth Edition xvi Preface to the Third Edition xvii Preface to the Second Edition xviii Preface to the First Edition xix List of Abbreviations xxi Introduction xxii The Sources for Roman History xxii Rome and the Mediterranean xxv The Origins of the “Roman Miracle” xxvii Part I: From the Origins to the Empire 1 1 Italy before Rome 3 1.1 The Peoples of Prehistoric Italy 5 1.2 The Cultures of Prehistoric Italy 7 1.3 The East’s Influence on the West 14 2 The Formation of Rome: From Romulus to the Tarquins 19 2.1 Latin and Sabine Kings 21 2.2 Etruscan Rome 26 2.3 The Religion of Archaic Rome 33 3 The Young Republic: The Fifth and Fourth Centuries BCE 41 3.1 The Birth of the Republic and the Struggle of the Orders 43 3.2 The Decemvirs and their Task 46 3.3 In Search of Equilibrium: 449–312 bce 49 3.4 The Republic’s Institutions at the End of the Fourth Century 56 vi Contents 4 The Growth of the Republic: War and Conquest in the Third Century BCE 61 4.1 Economy, Society, Army 63 4.2 The Conquest of Central and Southern Italy 66 4.3 The Hellenization of Art and Religion 68 4.4 The Punic Wars 73 4.5 Gladiatorial Combat: Rise and Early Development 82 5 Consequences of Conquest: The Second Century BCE 89 5.1 What Was Roman Imperialism? 91 5.2 Conquests from 200 to 148 bce: Defensive Imperialism 93 5.3 Conquests from 148 to 133 bce: Conscious Imperialism 95 5.4 War and Conquest: 133–96 bce 100 5.5 Roman Triumphs: Spectacles of Military Victory 103 5.6 The Economic, Social, and Political Consequences of the Conquests 107 5.7 Cultural Consequences 115 6 The Late Republic: The First Century BCE 121 6.1 Personal Ambitions and the Civil Wars 123 6.2 Toward a New Order 159 6.3 Social and Cultural Transformations 169 Part II: Rome, Master of the World 185 7 The Roman World in 31–28 BCE 187 7.1 Actium and its Aftermath 189 7.2 Rome and Italy 194 7.3 The Provinces 197 7.4 Boundaries and Frontiers 203 8 Augustus: The Birth of the Imperial Regime: 29 BCE–14 CE 207 8.1 The Formation of the Principate 209 8.2 The Emperor and his Entourage 218 8.3 A Hierarchy of Offices 224 8.4 The Army and its Conquests 230 8.5 The Administration of the Empire 237 8.6 Augustus: Showman and Gamesmaster of Rome 243 8.7 Religious Policy 249 8.8 The Succession 254 9 The Julio-Claudians: The System Under Stress: 14–68 CE 257 9.1 Four Personalities: Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, Nero 259 9.2 The Institutions and Innovations of the Julio-Claudians 271 9.3 Development of the Administration 285 10 The Flavians: Consolidating the Imperial Order: 68–96 CE 289 10.1 Events and Contenders 291 10.2 Interpretations 293 10.3 The Flavian Dynasty 294 10.4 Domitian and Tyranny: 81–96 ce 305 10.5 A Developing Municipal Life and a Changing Society 311 10.6 Social Changes 315 11 The Antonine Empire: 96–192 CE 319 11.1 Italo-Provincial Emperors 321 11.2 Italy in Decline, the Provinces Expanding 350 11.3 Romanization 364 11.4 A Mediterranean Economy 366 11.5 The Army 373 11.6 Spectacles and the Roman Empire 382 11.7 Religious Life 394 12 The African and Syrian Emperors: 193–235 CE 405 12.1 The Crisis of 193–197 ce 407 12.2 Septimius Severus and his Sons 408 12.3 Macrinus, Elagabalus, Severus Alexander 426 12.4 Provincial Upsurge and the Orientalization of the Empire? 431 Part III: Another Roman World: Third to Fifth Century CE 437 Introduction to Part III: The Nature of the Times 438 13 Equilibrium: 235 CE 439 13.1 A Fragile Balance 441 13.2 Rome and Italy 443 13.3 The Western Provinces 446 13.4 The Eastern Provinces 449 13.5 Beyond the Limes 452 13.6 Balance and Instability 454 14 A Disintegrating Order: 235–284 CE 457 14.1 Sinking into Crisis: 235–260 ce 459 14.2 The Nature and Limits of the Crisis 462 14.3 The Reaction of the Imperial Government: 260–284 ce 467 15 A Different Order: 284–361 CE 471 15.1 Diocletian and the Tetrarchy: 284–305 ce 473 15.2 Constantine: 306–337 ce 477 15.3 Constantine’s Sons: 337–361 ce 481 15.4 Three Emperors and their Achievements 484 16 Different Institutions: Reorganization 485 16.1 Central Government 487 16.2 The Army 491 16.3 Territorial Authorities 496 16.4 Cities and Municipal Life 498 16.5 An Absolute Monarchy 502 17 A Different Socio-Economic World: Recovery and State Control 503 17.1 The Economic Recovery 505 17.2 Society and the State 509 17.3 Towns and Villas 517 17.4 Expansion and Lifestyles 521 18 Between Paganism and Christianity 523 18.1 The Fourth-Century ce Renaissance 525 18.2 Paganism on the Defensive 526 18.3 Judaism between the Empire and the Church 533 18.4 Christianity Takes the Offensive 535 18.5 Boom and Decline 543 19 The End of the Roman World? 545 19.1 Julian: 361–363 ce 547 19.2 A New Crisis: 364–395 ce 550 19.3 The End of Rome? 554 Chronological Table 559 Glossary 578 Guide to Greek and Roman Writers 584 Guide to Further Reading 595 Index 617

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Book SynopsisModern Spain: 1808 to the Presentis a comprehensive overview of Spanish history from the Napoleonic era to the present day.Table of ContentsList of Maps xi Preface xii Acknowledgments xvi Abbreviations and Glossary of Foreign Terms xviii Political Chronology of Spanish History, 1808–2016 xxii Part I: 1808–1868: The Era of the Liberal Revolution 1 1 Spain in the “Age of Revolutions” 3 Spain in Europe and the World, 1780s–1820 4 A Snapshot of the Economy: Gradual Growth 7 Uneven Regional Development: Center/Periphery Divide 10 The Mediterranean Regional Network 10 The North Atlantic Regional Network 11 Regional Networks of the Center 12 Demography: A Growth Pattern 14 Characteristics of the Population: Occupation and Social Structure 15 Culture and Community 18 Political Crisis, 1808–1814 20 Dynastic Crisis 20 War and Resistance 21 The Cortes of Cádiz and the Constitution of 1812 22 A Spanish “Constitutional Culture” 23 The End of the Revolutionary Era 25 Conclusion 26 2 Political Transformation: From the Old Regime to the Liberal State, 1814–1868 28 Introduction: The Liberal Revolution in Comparative Context 28 The Major Players 31 Moderate and Progressive Parties 31 The Military and Pronunciamientos 32 The Crown 32 Popular/Local Mobilization 33 Counter]revolution: Carlists 33 The Catholic Church 34 Chronology: From the Restoration of Absolutism to the Construction and Crisis of the Liberal State, 1814–1868 35 1814–1833: The Restoration and Demise of the Absolutist State 35 Restoration of Absolutism, 1814–1820 35 The Liberal “Trienio,” 1820–23 36 Return to Absolutism, 1823–34 38 1833–1845: The Construction of the Liberal State 39 The Carlist War 39 Moderate and Progressive Constitutions and Platforms 40 The Parameters of a Liberal Political, Juridical and Administrative Order, 1833–45 42 1845–1868: The Liberal State: From Consolidation to Crisis 44 Conclusion: Achievements and Limits of the Liberal Political Transformation 45 Part II: 1868–1923: The Emergence of Mass Politics 49 3 Politics on the Margins of the Liberal State: From 1848 to the “Sexenio” (1868–1874) 51 Introduction: Mid]Nineteenth]century Popular Politics in Comparative Perspective 51 The Major Players 54 Carlists 54 Cuban Separatists 55 Democrats and Republicans 56 The Labor Movement and the First International 58 The First Democracy: The Sexenio, 1868–1874 60 The September 1868 Revolution 60 The Democratic Monarchy (June 1869–February 1873) 61 The Republic (February 12, 1873–January 4, 1874) 63 Conclusion 65 4 A New Era of Liberal Politics: The Second Restoration, 1875–1898 67 The Restoration in Comparative Context: State, Nation, Empire and Democracy 68 The Multiple Faces of the Restoration Regime 71 Constructing a New Constitutional Regime: Antonio Cánovas del Castillo and the turno pacífico 71 The Dark Side of the Turno: Electoral Fraud and Caciquismo 74 Evaluating the Constraints and Opportunities of Restoration Politics 75 Constraints on Political Liberties Imposed by the State 75 Political Constraints and Opportunities: The View “From Below” 77 The “Disaster” of 1898: The Start of a New Era? 80 5 Restoration Politics: From Fin de Siècle to Postwar Crisis, 1898–1923 83 Introduction: Early Twentieth]Century Spanish Politics in Comparative Context 83 1898–1914: Efforts to Reform the Regime “From Above” 85 The Conservative Party and Antonio Maura 86 The Liberal Party and José Canalejas 87 1914–23: From Elite Reform to Mass Mobilization: Alternative Political Projects 90 The First World War in Spain 90 From the Turno to Fragmentation of the Liberal and Conservative Parties, 1913–23 91 Movements on the Right 92 Catholic Mobilization 92 Basque Nationalism (PNV/CNV) 93 Mauristas/Spanish Nationalism 94 Movements on the Left 95 Socialists (PSOE/UGT) 95 Anarcho]syndicalists (CNT) 96 Movements of the Center 97 Republicanism 97 Catalanism/LLiga 98 Turning Points in the Crisis of the Restoration, 1917–23 99 The Democratic Assembly Movement, 1917 100 The La Canadiense Strike, 1919 101 A Last Effort at Reform “From Above,” 1920–23? 102 Conclusion 103 Part III: The Long View: Social, Economic and Cultural Change, 1830–1930 105 6 Economic and Demographic Evolution: 1830–1930 107 Spain in the World Economy, 1830–1930 108 General Economic and Population Trends: Gradual Growth and Structural Evolution 110 The Agricultural Sector 113 The Industrial Sector 115 Uneven Regional Development: Center/Periphery Divide 118 Conclusion: Missed Opportunities or Inherent Constraints? 120 7 Culture and Society, 1830–1930 122 Introduction: Social and Cultural Evolution in Comparative Perspective 122 The Social Order: Evolution and Diversity 124 A Hybrid Elite 125 The Urban Middle Classes 126 The Popular Classes or “el pueblo” 127 Rural Society 128 Sociability and Identity: A Diverse and Evolving Cultural Landscape 129 A New Urban Culture: Encoding Social Hierarchy in the Public Sphere 130 On the Margins of Middle Class Culture: The Avant]Garde and the Modern Woman 133 Urban Popular Sociability and Mass Culture 134 The Catholic Church, Religion and Rural Society 136 Local, Regional and National Cultures and Identities 139 Conclusion 142 Part IV: Dictatorship and Democracy, 1923–Present 143 8 The First Dictatorship: The Primo de Rivera Regime, 1923–1930 145 Introduction: The Primo Regime in Comparative Perspective 145 From Coup to “Temporary” Dictatorship, 1923–1925 148 Elements of a New Kind of Dictatorship: The Civil Directory, 1925–1929 149 Labor Relations 150 Nationalization Campaigns 151 Authoritarian Development 153 End of the Dictatorship, 1929–1930 154 Political Transition to a Republic, 1930–1931 155 Conclusion 156 9 The Second Republic: 1931–1936 158 The Second Republic in Comparative Perspective 159 Periodization: The Shifting Majority Coalitions of the Second Republic 161 The First Biennium (1931–1933): Pursuing a Center/Left Majority Coalition 164 What Went Wrong with the First Biennium? 167 Mobilizing against the Coalition 167 A Disintegrating Majority Coalition 169 The Second Biennium, 1933–1935: Pursuing a Center/Right Majority Coalition 173 What Went Wrong with the Second Biennium? 175 Mobilizing against the Coalition 176 An Unconsolidated Majority Coalition 178 The Popular Front, February–July 1936 180 What Went Wrong with the Popular Front? 181 Conclusion 182 10 The Civil War: 1936–1939 184 The Civil War in Comparative Perspective 185 From Military Coup to Civil War: The Summer of 1936 187 The Rebel Forces in the Summer of 1936 188 Ideology and Violence in Rebel Territory 190 The Loyalist Forces during the Summer of 1936 191 Revolution in Republican Territory 191 Violence in Republican Territory 194 Organizing for the Long War: The Republicans 195 Foreign Aid 196 Reconstructing a Republican State 198 Organizing for the Long War: The Nationalists 201 Constructing a “New State” 201 Foreign Aid 203 The Military Stages of the War 204 Conclusion 207 11 The Second Dictatorship: The Franco Regime, 1939–1976 209 The Franco Regime in Comparative Perspective 210 Periodization: The Stages of the Franco Dictatorship 212 Phase One, 1936–1945: Militarization, Fascist Influence and Extreme Repression 214 Phase II, 1945–1957: National Catholicism, Monarchist Restoration and International Integration 218 Phase III, 1957–1969: Authoritarian Development and Institutionalization 221 Phase IV, 1969–1975: Collapse of the Coalition and Death of the Dictator 227 Conclusion 229 12 Economic, Social and Cultural Transformation, 1930s–1970s 230 Economy, Society and Culture in Comparative Perspective 230 Economic and Demographic Trends 232 The “Years of Hunger”: Deprivation, Disease and Death in the 1940s 232 From Economic Stagnation to Rapid Growth: 1950s–1970s 234 Structural shift from Agriculture to Industry and Service Sectors 235 Consumption and Population Trends 236 Uneven Benefits 237 Social and Cultural Trends 238 Society and Culture in the Years of Hunger 239 Rupture and Restitution for Winners and Losers 239 Family and Gender 240 The Church, Religion and Education 241 The Public Sphere: Associations and Sociability 242 Social and Cultural Evolution in the Growth Years: 1960s–1970s 244 Migration and Social Mobility 244 Diversification of the Public Sphere 245 The Decline of “Tradition”: Youth, Gender and Religion 247 Conclusion 248 13 The Last Democratic Transition: 1976–1982 250 The Transition to Democracy in Comparative Perspective 251 Origins of the Transition: Favorable Factors vs. the 1930s 252 Economic Development 252 Geographic Location: Western Europe 252 Civil Society Mobilization 253 Francoist Elites: Reformers and the Bunker 254 The Institutional Transition: July 1976–December 1978 254 Elite Actors and the “Push from Below,” 1976–77 255 The June 1977 Elections and Building Consensus Through “Pacts” 257 The Constitution of 1978 259 The Basque Exception 261 From Transition to Consolidation, 1978–1982 261 Autonomous Governments 262 Local Governments 262 Leadership Crisis and Attempted Coup, 1981 263 The 1982 Election 264 Conclusion 265 14 Democratic State and Social Transformation, 1982–2016 266 The Democratic Era in Comparative Perspective 266 Democratic government under PSOE leadership: 1982–1996 270 Institutionalization and European Integration 270 Neo]Liberalism and Social Welfare 272 The End of the PSOE Era 273 From Consolidation to Crispación: PP and PSOE alternation from 1996 to 2011 274 Political Polarization 275 State/Regional Polarization 277 Democratic Society 277 2008–2016: Crisis and Uncertainty 278 Conclusion 280 Notes 282 Works Cited 314 Index 336

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Book SynopsisA History of Greece: 1300?30 BC, offers a comprehensive introduction to the foundational political history of Greece, from the late Mycenaean Age through to the death of Cleopatra VII, the last Hellenistic monarch of Egypt. Introduces textual and archaeological evidence used by historians to reconstruct historical events during Greece's Bronze, Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods Reveals the political and social structure of the Greek world in the late Mycenaean period (thirteenth century BC) through analysis of the Linear B tablets, the oldest surviving records in Greek Features numerous references to original source materials, including various fragmentary papyri, inscriptions, coins, and other literary sources Provides extensive coverage of the Hellenistic period, and covers areas excluded from most Greek history texts, including the Greek West Features judicious use of illustrations throughout, and considers Table of ContentsList of Figures ix List of Tables xii List of Boxes xiii Abbreviations and Reference Conventions xvi Preface xxii Introduction xxvii 1 The Geography of Greece 1 Part I: Bronze and “Dark Age”: circa 1300–800 BC 21 2 The Mycenaean Age 23 3 The End of the Bronze Age and the Great Migrations 46 4 Greece in the Later “Dark Age” (circa 900–750 BC) 58 Part II: The Archaic Period: circa 800–479 BC 73 5 Colonization 75 6 Sparta from the Messenian Wars to the Creation of the Peloponnesian League 93 7 Tyranny 106 8 Athens from Cylon to Cleisthenes 121 9 Persia and the Ionian Revolt 138 10 The Persian Wars 151 Part III: The Classical Period: 479–323 BC 169 11 The Athenian Empire 171 12 Sparta and Athens during the Pentecontaetia 182 13 From the Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War to the Peace of Nicias 196 14 From the Peace of Nicias to the Surrender of Athens 210 15 The Lacedaemonian Ascendancy in Greece 227 16 The Boeotian Ascendancy in Greece and the Second Athenian League 243 17 The West from the Sicilian Expedition to the Campaigns of Timoleon 257 18 Philip of Macedon and the Conquest of Greece 272 19 Alexander the Great and the Conquest of Persia 293 Part IV: The Hellenistic Period: 323–30 BC 317 20 The Wars of the Diadochi 319 21 The Creation of the Hellenistic States 336 22 Sicily and the West from Agathocles to the First Punic War 351 23 The Hellenistic World in Equilibrium 364 24 The Coming of Rome 387 25 Twilight of the Hellenistic World 409 Tables of Rulers 429 Glossary 434 Index 458

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Book SynopsisThoroughly updated and revised, the second edition of this successful and widely praised textbook offers an account of the classical' period of Greek history, from the aftermath of the Persian Wars in 478 BC to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. Two important new chapters have been added, covering life and culture in the classical Greek world Features new pedagogical tools, including textboxes, and a comprehensive chronological table of the West, mainland Greece, and the Aegean Enlarged and additional maps and illustrative material Covers the history of an important period, including: the flourishing of democracy in Athens; the Peloponnesian war, and the conquests of Alexander the Great Focuses on the evidence for the period, and how the evidence is to be interpreted Table of ContentsList of Illustrations vii List of Figures ix List of Maps x Preface xi Note on References xiii Chronological Table xv 1 Introduction 1 2 The Formation of the Delian League 14 3 The Peloponnese in the Early Fifth Century 24 4 Athens After the Persian Wars 34 5 The Athenian Empire in the Mid Fifth Century 47 6 Periclean Athens 59 7 The Greeks in the West: The Rise of Syracuse 77 8 The Peloponnesian War: Origins 87 9 The Peloponnesian War: Resources and Strategies 96 10 The Peloponnesian War: 431–421 107 11 The Athens of Cleon 122 12 The Peloponnesian War: 421–413 131 13 The Peloponnesian War: 413–404 149 14 Athens in the Late Fifth Century 163 15 The Athenian Empire: Retrospect 183 16 Life in the Classical Greek World 200 17 Culture in the Classical Greek World 209 18 Introduction to the Fourth Century: The Common Peace 224 19 Sparta’s Imperialism and Collapse 239 Appendix: Persia and its Rebels 256 20 The Second Athenian League 261 21 Thebes and Northern Greece 279 22 Athens After the Peloponnesian War 293 23 The Western Greeks from Dionysius I to Timoleon 311 24 Philip II of Macedon 332 Appendix: Persia and the Greeks in the Reign of Artaxerxes III 361 25 Demosthenic Athens 367 Appendix: Sparta 384 26 Alexander the Great: Sources and Outline 388 27 Alexander the Great: Topics 401 28 Epilogue 427 Glossary 431 Bibliography 435 Index 445

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Book SynopsisThis is an updated edition of the first truly concise introduction to the history of World War II in the West. The author, S. P. MacKenzie traces the major events on both fighting front and home front, explaining what happened and, just as importantly, why the balance of fortunes swung first towards the Axis and then towards the Allies. Along with overviews of the origins and consequences of the conflict, the book: Provides a narrative account of the course of events on land throughout the war Contains sections specifically devoted to societies and economies; resistance movements and collaboration; technology and intelligence; alliances and strategy; the war in the air and at sea Assesses the impact of the war and introduces the key historiographical debates surrounding it Far from being a blow-by-blow account, the book shows how the Second World War can only be understood by taking all the contributing factors - military, economic and social Table of ContentsList of maps Note on referencing system Preface AcknowledgementsChronologyWho’s WhoGlossaryPART ONE: BACKGROUND1. THE ROAD TO WARThe Origins of the Second World War Preparing for WarPART TWO: THE SECOND WORLD WAR 2. THE FLOW OF BLITZKRIEG, 1939–42 Campaigns East and West, 1939–40 Strategies for Survival and Expansion, 1940–41 The Limits of Blitzkrieg, 1941–42 3. PEOPLES AT WAR Economies and Societies at War Barbarism and the Holocaust Collaboration and Resistance 4. CONDUCTING WAR Technology and Intelligence Alliances and Strategy Strategic Bombing and the U-Boat War 5. THE EBB OF BLITZKRIEG, 1942–45 The Changing Balance of Fortune, 1942–43 Success and Failure South and East, 1943–44 Closing the Ring, 1944–45 PART THREE: ASSESSMENT 6. THE END OF THE WAR AND AFTER Costs and the Division of Europe Historical Debates Winning and LosingPART FOUR: DOCUMENTS Guide to Further Reading ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisIn the summer of 1940 a handful of volunteer pilots defied their country to fight when we needed them most. This is the story of their Battle of Britain.In the early days of World War Two when Britain stood alone against the terror of Hitler''s all-conquering Third Reich, her future hung in the balance; her defence in the hands of the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Royal Air Force''s Fighter Command. They were Churchill''s Few. This is their story - and a fresh perspective on the greatest air battle the world has ever seen.''Fine, deeply movingm scintillating...in the battle scenes this book soars heavenward like one of the Spitfires.'' - Andrew Roberts, Sunday Telegraph Trade ReviewFine, deeply moving, scintillating...in the battle scenes this book soars heavenward like one of the Spitfires -- Andrew Roberts * Sunday Telegraph *Praise for Alex Kershaw * - *Kershaw digs deep into the folk memories of young men who survived virtually impossible odds...harrowing, intimate, excellent. * Herald *Outstanding heroism...compelling. Kershaw's writing gives you a sense of "being there" * Daily Express *Fascinating, remarkable, riveting, terrifying. Kershaw does justice to the veterans and makes accessible their amazing story * Big Issue *

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Book SynopsisA Time Travellers Guide to Ancient Rome - by one of the best historians of the ancient worldLiving in ancient Rome was superbly and vividly recorded by Rome''s historians, philosophers, and poets who were acutely aware of the seething and voluptuous nature of a city that ruled the known world. Through the words of Tacitus, Seneca, Martial, and a host of others including ordinary Romans, Guy de la Bédoyère takes the reader into a world of violent politics, civil disorder, unspeakably brutal entertainments, extravagance, decadence, eroticism, exotica, and staggering inequality, participated in daily by the Roman people from the hyper-rich elite to the lowliest slaves. Populus places those who experienced Rome in person at the forefront of their story, from the rabble-rousing senator Clodius Pulcher to Pliny the Elder and Hortensia who defended the rights of women in court to the ex-slave and celebrity baker Eurysaces.''A superb combination of wit, firs

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Book Synopsis''Both pioneering and fundamental. This is the essential history of Ukraine, from one of the greatest Ukrainian thinkers and scholars.'' Timothy Snyder #1 New York Times and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of On Tyranny ''Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak''s vivid, sweeping book lays bare the enduring pride that persuaded his countrymen to resist Russian aggression and offers grounds for hope.'' Luke Harding, Observer With ''ambition and originality... [this is written with both an] honesty and common sense that are the book''s trademark.'' Financial Times ''People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity.'' John Adams UKRAINE The Forging of a Nation delves into the events that led to the creation of Ukraine, examining crucial moments of Ukrainian and world history and how connected the

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Book SynopsisThe astonishing drama of Cold War nuclear poker that divided humanity - reissued with a new preface to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the wall.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR 'DRESDEN' 'In narrative power and persuasion, he has paralleled in Dresden what Antony Beevor achieved in Stalingrad' Independent on Sunday '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 Synopsis''Hugely enjoyable'' - Kathryn Hughes, GuardianGlorious ... Full of eyebrow-raising and laughter-inducing vignettes'' - Daily TelegraphServants is the social history of the last century through the eyes of those who served. From the butler, the footman, the maid and the cook of 1900 to the au pairs, cleaners and childminders who took their place seventy years later, a previously unheard class offers a fresh perspective on a dramatic century. Here, the voices of servants and domestic staff are at last brought to life: their daily household routines, attitudes towards their employers, and to each other, throw into sharp and intimate relief the period of feverish social change through which they lived. Sweeping in its scope, extensively researched and brilliantly observed, Servants is an original and fascinating portrait of twentieth-century Britain; an authoritative history that will change and challenge the way we look at society.Trade ReviewHugely enjoyable ... a richly textured account of what it felt like to spend the decades of high modernity on your knees with a dustpan and brush ... an excellent addition to the history of domestic service in the 20th century ... Where Servants excels is in describing those placed where the older paradigms of domestic service, inherited from the late 19th century, began to break down -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Delightfully well-written ... scrupulously even-handed ... Hats off to Lethbridge for so touchingly and comprehensively chronicling those lives that history, like the snootiest of employers, has neglected for so long -- Craig Brown * The Mail on Sunday *Glorious ... Full of eyebrow-raising and laughter-inducing vignettes. But what is most fascinating is Lethbridge’s account of the dark side of the master-servant relationship * Daily Telegraph *Beautifully written, sparkling with insight, and a pleasure to read, Servants is social history at its most humane and perceptive. In broad terms, the world Lethbridge describes is a familiar one, but she nails it all down with the kind of detail that still has the power to astonish, outrage or amuse * Times Literary Supplement *Scholarly, thorough and vastly entertaining ... Lethbridge's style is elegant, detached and slyly witty, and her canvas sprawling and immense * Financial Times *Enthusiasts of bonnets and waistcoats will find Upstairs Downstairs or Downton Abbey all the more enjoyable after reading this nuanced and elegantly written account of the wider context. And in tracing the history of servants throughout the whole of the 20th century, Lethbridge offers a new vantage point from which to reassess British social history -- Lara Feigel * Observer *Humane, perceptive and dispassionate, Servants takes us more deeply and comprehensively than any previous account into the real world of Upstairs Downstairs -- David KynastonAbsorbing ... Lethbridge enables us to hear the voices of her subjects; she skilfully interweaves written and oral testimony ... Empathetic, wide-ranging and well-written * Spectator *Engrossing * Sunday Telegraph *Enlightening and elegantly written social history -- Joy Lo Dico * Independent on Sunday *Enthralling ... Lethbridge shows that the history of life below stairs is just as interesting as the story of life above them * Tatler *Excellent social history ... Anyone who longs to believe Downton Abbey’s comforting portrayal of life below stairs will emerge from its pages disabused of such sentimental notions * Daily Mail *Thoroughly researched and tremendously entertaining ... Illustrated with a host of terrific anecdotes * Sunday Times *Meticulously researched ... It makes a grand sweep, covering a rich swathe of social history which Lethbridge unpicks with delicacy, humanity and humour ... Lethbridge shows how complex and varied the relationship between servant and master could be * The Tablet *Comprehensively reached and charmingly engaging, Servants is a sensitive, humane and penetrating insight into British society * Western Morning News *Absorbing history ... Telling their story so fully and humanely * Economist *Fascinating * Independent *The stories are reminiscent of below-stairs life as depicted in TV’s Downton Abbey * Jewish Chronicle *Neither snobbish nor socialist, Lethbridge has produced a sympathetic and affectionate study, laced with invigorating anecdotes * Intelligent Life *By no means the standard Downton Abbey cash-in. Instead, a brilliantly researched and often eye-opening account of twentieth-century life below stairs * Reader's Digest *Excellent, thoroughly researched -- Paul Bailey * The Oldie *Comprehensive * Good Book Guide *

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Book Synopsis A delicious invitation into one of the largest Médoc vineyards owned by the Rothschild family Château Clarke, a vast estate of Bordeaux wine, has maintained a winemaking tradition for over two centuries. Named after the Irish family that owned the property in the 18th century, the vineyard was later acquired by Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 1973. With a vision and love for wine, Rothschild transformed Château Clarke into the icon it is today—one of the largest Médoc vineyards on a 145-hectare estate where wines and gardens bloom in harmony. Unfolding across four sections—Roots, Leaves, Flowers, and Fruits—Château Clarke tells the story of this estate, from Rothschild’s restoration and redesign of the entire vineyard to the aromatic brilliance of the wine. While the Edmond de Rothschild family continues to carry on this legacy, their archival materials grace the pages, in addition to an a

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