European history: medieval period, middle ages Books

Book Synopsis''Superb on the human consequences of war, ravishing in its evocations of wartime life'' The Times''Compassionate and thought-provoking history'' Daily TelegraphLess than a month after it marched into France in summer 1870, the Prussian army had devastated its opponents, captured Napoleon III and wrecked all assumptions about Europe''s pecking order. Other countries looked on in helpless amazement. Pushing aside further French resistance, a new German Empire was proclaimed (as a deliberate humiliation) in the Palace of Versailles, leaving the French to face civil war in Paris, reparations and the loss of Alsace and Lorraine.Bismarck''s War tells the story of one of the most shocking reversals of fortune in modern European history. The culmination of a globally violent decade, the Franco-Prussian War was deliberately engineered by Bismarck, both to destroy French power and to unite Germany. It could not have worked better, but it also had lurking inside it the poisonous seeds of all the disasters that would ravage the twentieth century.Drawing on a remarkable variety of sources, Chrastil''s book explores the military, technological, political and social events of the war, its human cost and the way that the sheer ferocity of war, however successful, has profound consequences for both victors and victims.

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Book Synopsis''It''s often said that books are compulsory reading, but this book really is compulsory. You cannot understand slavery, or British Empire, without it'' Sathnam Sanghera Arguing that the slave trade was at the heart of Britain''s economic progress, Eric Williams''s landmark 1944 study revealed the connections between capitalism and racism, and has influenced generations of historians ever since.Williams traces the rise and fall of the Atlantic slave trade through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to show how it laid the foundations of the Industrial Revolution, and how racism arose as a means of rationalising an economic decision. Most significantly, he showed how slavery was only abolished when it ceased to become financially viable, exploding the myth of emancipation as a mark of Britain''s moral progress.''Its thesis is a starting point for a new generation of scholarship'' New YorkerTrade ReviewA classic critique * Guardian *Groundbreaking * New York Review of Books *A landmark study * Wall Street Journal *It's often said that books are compulsory reading, but this book really is compulsory. You cannot understand slavery, or British Empire, without it. -- Sathnam Sanghera * author of Empireland *This book, recommended to me by a Jamaican fellow-student in 1968, changed my view of the world. It was the first time I was brought up hard and fast, face to face, with how modern Britain developed off the back of the transatlantic slave trade and the wealth created from the labour of slavery -- Michel RosenThe slave trade built capital for the slave-owning Empire, on which the Industrial Revolution was formed. The slave trade was abolished not because of moral outrage but because of a decline in returns. Slavery and capitalism are linked, and Williams launches a full frontal attack on it in this classic, which first appeared almost a century ago. Essential reading for anyone who wishes to know more about the Caribbean. -- Monique Roffey * author of The Mermaid of Black Conch *Wherever you stand on the legacies of slavery and colonialism, Williams' elegant, passionate analysis is simply inescapable. Essential reading for anyone who really cares about history. -- Trevor PhillipsA vital, urgent read. A forensic examination of the system behind systemic racism. Eric Williams succinctly sets out how racism, and all its implications, injustices and inhumanities, was a harrowing repercussion of slavery, invented as a justification for lining a few dead men's pockets -- Nick Hayes * author of Trespass *There can be no effective understanding of modernity and the post-colonial world without an engagement with Eric Williams' Capitalism and Slavery. This is where the rubber hits the road. -- Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West IndiesNo historian of colonialism or slavery can ignore Eric Williams. This book endures as a seminal moment in the historiography of the British Empire -- Michael Taylor * author of The Interest *Groundbreaking and inspiring - a gripping, brilliantly original analysis of British slavery, racism, and the enduring legacies of imperialism -- Fara Dabhoiwala, Princeton UniversitySince Capitalism and Slavery was first published some eighty years ago, no writer on the subject has been able to ignore it. It is a true classic -- Hakim Adi, University of Chichester * author of Pan-Africanism: A History *A superb book about the history of the transatlantic slave trade that basically became a manifesto for the independence of Williams's own country ... Williams is an extraordinary figure, particularly if you're interested in the way certain kinds of observations of injustice can motivate research by historians that, ultimately, lead to massive political change. -- William A. Pettigrew, Professor of History, Lancaster UniversityFew books stand the test of time and remain a catalyst for continuing historiographical debate. Capitalism and Slavery on all accounts is one of these rare books. -- Anthony Bogues, Asa Messer Professor of Humanities & Critical Theory and Inaugural Director of the Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice, Brown UniversityCapitalism and Slavery sparked a scholarly conversation that has yet to die down. In many ways, the debates it generated are more vibrant now than ever and promise to be a lasting touchstone for historians well into the future. -- Guy Emerson Mount, assistant professor of African American history, Auburn University * Black Perspectives *Few works of history have exerted as powerful an influence as Capitalism and Slavery. -- Steven Mintz, Professor of History & member of the Society of American Historians, the University of Texas at AustinWilliams's masterwork is so rich with ideas and historical insights that it still speaks to today's historiography. -- Gerald Horne, Moores Professor of History and African American Studies, University of HoustonIt is a work of conceptual brilliance, intellectually mature, bold, incisive, and immensely provocative... Capitalism and Slavery will remain a historical treasure. -- Colin A. Palmer, Dodge Professor of History and African American studies at Princeton UniversityOne of the most learned, most penetrating and most significant [pieces of work] that has appeared in this field of history. -- Henry Steele Commager, Professor of History, New York UniversityEric Williams's study identifies many of the sinners and the sins committed in the building of British and global capitalism ... Capitalism and Slavery makes us stare down that history and compels us to seek redress from the relevant culpable parties -- Professor William A. Darity, Samuel DuBois Cook Professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics, Duke University

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Stalingrad, Berlin and D-Day comes the story of the German''s ill-fated final stand.''Rich in detail and drama. Enthralling'' Mail on Sunday ______________On 16 December, 1944, Hitler launched his ''last gamble'' in the snow-covered forests and gorges of the Ardennes. He believed he could split the Allies by driving all the way to Antwerp, then force the Canadians and the British out of the war. Although his generals were doubtful of success, younger officers and NCOs were desperate to believe that their homes and families could be saved from the vengeful Red Army approaching from the east. Many were exultant at the prospect of striking back. The Ardennes offensive, with more than a million men involved, became the greatest battle of the war in western Europe. American troops, taken by surprise, found themselves fighting two panzer armies. Belgian civilians fled, justifTrade ReviewThis is World War II as Tolstoy would have described it - the great and the small * Washington Post (on 'The Second World War') *Rightly deserves its place on the shelves of any serious historian of the Second World War. Powerful and authoritative . . . Beevor weaves a masterful narrative based on the viewpoints of a vast range of people. Marshalling a coherent narrative out of an unwieldy sequence of localised attacks, counterattacks, deceptions, and feints demands the attention of a master military historian. In Antony Beevor, the Ardennes offensive has found one * Military History Monthly (Book of the Month) *What leaves a lasting impression is the huge power the American army as a whole mustered to smash back the Germans. A superpower was being born * Bookseller, Interview with Antony Beevor *Unflinching. As Ardennes 1944 makes clear, Hitler misjudged the strength and resilience of the US army. It was his last gamble and it failed * Prospect *What stands out most . . . is the effects of violent warfare. By the end of the counteroffensive the snowfields were littered with frozen corpses and the wreckage of hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles * Literary Review *A superb addition to the canon which has taken us from Stalingrad to Normandy in 1944 and the final gruesome battle for Berlin, not forgetting the masterly single-volume history of the entire war. It is written with all of Beevor's customary verve and elegance. His remarkable and trademark ability is to encompass the wide sweep of campaigns yet never forget the piquant details of what happened to the individual . . . He focuses brilliantly on the key moments that turned the battle * Evening Standard *As impeccably researched, insightfully observed and superbly written as its bestselling predecessors -- Charlotte Heathcote * Sunday Express *If there's one thing that sets Beevor apart from other historians - beyond his gifts as a storyteller - it's that he is not afraid to look at the most uncomfortable, even frightening subjects, but does so in a way that doesn't threaten the reader. It's like having Virgil there to lead you through the underworld: he doesn't leave you stranded amid the horror but leads you back again, a wiser person for having undergone the journey -- Keith Lowe * Daily Telegraph *An indispensable book. It is a great strength of Beevor's writing that he takes time to explain how small pieces of knowledge - the kind of thing passed on by battle-hardened soldiers themselves - could make the difference between survival and a futile death -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *A portrait of war . . . startling in its detail. Beevor has the art of preserving the individual perspective on the battlefield while placing it among the perspectives of platoon, regiment, division, commanders, politicians and civilians. This book clarifies, without simplifying, the human experiences and political stakes of the battle for the Ardennes Forest, bringing realism to the battlefield and coherence to the larger history of the war -- Timothy Snyder * Guardian *Formidable . . . Beevor is a field marshal of facts. Under his brisk control the story of Hitler's final gamble is another example of the kind of action-packed, densely informed narrative that has proved such a formidable model -- Nicholas Shakespeare * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisAn original and irreverent retelling of overlooked stories from Irish history, hailed by Sebastian Barry as 'a stirring atlas of Irishness'Trade Review'Delicious … a stirring atlas of Irishness' - Sebastian Barry, Guardian'Marvellous … a magnificently eclectic collection' - BBC History Magazine'Bunbury’s voice … is warm and engaging. He draws the reader in for a bit of a chat and a bit of a laugh about the eccentricities of his Irish antecedents' - Irish Examiner'A rare and cherishable thing … Bunbury’s great skill is to illuminate the past through the picaresque activities of significant contemporary individuals. The approach is profoundly effective' - Yorkshire Times'Corking' - The Corkman'Fascinating' - Offaly Express'Informative' - Wexford TodayTable of ContentsIntroduction – It Starts with a Bear • 1. Of Tetrapods and Volcanic Rings • 2. The Bear from Clare • 3. Neolithic Stargazers • 4. The Bell-Beakers • 5. Bog Toghers • 6. Roman Hibernia • 7. Pagan Christianity • 8. The Kingdom of Ossory • 9. The Uí Dúnlainge Kings of Leinster • 10. Sitric Silkbeard & Queen Gormflaith • 11. The Knights Templar of Ireland • 12. Rohesia’s Castle • 13. Great Scot: Edward the Bruce’s Invasion of Ireland • 14. Prince Lionel Comes to Carlow • 15. Great Pretenders & Warring Roses • 16. The Midland Shires • 17. Sir William Stanley, Public Enemy No. 1 • 18. Rise & Fall: The Maguires of Fermanagh • 19. Cromwell’s Tailor • 20. The Byerley Turk: A Warhorse on the Boyne • 21. The Lixnaw Project • 22. Joshua Dawson, Spymaster • 23. Lord Rosse & the Hell-Fire Club • 24. The Butcher’s Column • 25. Peg Plunkett, Queen of Vice • 26. The Cherokee Club • 27. The Avoca Gold Rush • 28. The Lucan Spa • 29. The Night of the Big Wind • 30. The Crimean Banquet • 31. The Prince of Wales & the Curragh Wren • 32. John Henry Foley – Sculptor of an Empire • 33. Bloody Balfour’s Kindly Deeds • 34. Queen Victoria’s Dublin Visit, 1900 • 35. Killer Gas in the Great War • 36. Operation Shamrock

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Book SynopsisA concise history of France from prehistory to the present, recounting the great events and personalities and exploring France's cultural and political influence today. Artists, martyrs, kings, revolutionaries: France's sense of national identity is inextricably linked to its dramatic history, which fascinates the world and attracts millions each year to visit its chateaux and cathedrals, boulevards and vineyards. Ancient roots allied to a social, political and military history that has witnessed revolution, conflict and occupation mean that France holds a unique position in the modern world. In this short, easy-to-digest history of a vast subject, Jeremy Black succinctly narrates how France's past has created its distinct character. Country and destination, nation and idea, France has an incomparable cultural legacy, and exerts a powerful artistic, intellectual and political influence across the globe. Black's vivid take on history emphasizes the unexpected nature of events Trade Review'A superb account of 2,000 years of France and the French in the making by a master of his craft. Bold insights and evocative detail are combined in a narrative that is a pleasure to read. A tour de force' - Robert Gildea, Professor of Modern History, University of Oxford'Readers of his many previous works will not be disappointed by this addition to the Jeremy Black canon. Encyclopaedic knowledge and a lifelong enthusiasm for visiting French historical sites underpin his new concise survey of French history from prehistoric times right down to Emmanuel Macron' - William Doyle, Professor Emeritus of History, University of Bristol'An excellent and thought-provoking introduction to the history of France. Concisely and accessibly written, it skilfully interweaves long-term social, cultural and even climatic factors with the more familiar narrative of wars, revolutions and coups d’état. In particular, and in a highly stimulating way, it shows just how much the shape of today’s France, both geographical and political, owes to sheer chance' - Munro Price, Professor of Modern European History, University of Bradford'The perfect history book for anyone travelling to France. Packed with information from the Sun King to Monet, via chateaux and artists’ cafes, this is an adroit whistle-stop tour illuminating the very essence of La France ' - Waterstones, History Books of the YearTable of ContentsPreface Introduction 1. Prehistoric Legacies 2. Roman France 3. The Early Middle Ages 4. Medieval France 5. Renaissance France, 1494–1598 6. From Henry IV to Louis XIV, 1598–1715 7. The Ancien Régime, 1715–89 8. The Revolution, 1789–99 9. From Napoleon I to Napoleon III, 1799–1870 10. The Third Republic, 1870–1939 11. The Second World War, 1939–45 12. France Reborn, 1945–69 13. Modern France, 1969–2000 14. France Today, 2001– 15. Conclusions

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Book SynopsisNew B-format paperback edition. A definitive new biography of one of British history's most controversial figures, that seeks to bring peace to Richard III's reputation.

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

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative, richly illustrated history, and affectionate celebration, of Siena, one of the best-loved and most-visited cities in Italy. Occupying a hilltop site in the midst of a vast, undulating landscape, Siena is as much a magnet for contemporary tourism as Florence. However, its proud republican past presents an intriguing contrast with its Medici-dominated northern Tuscan rival, with which it tussled for local supremacy for much of the High Middle Ages. From the twelfth century, profiting from its advantageous position on a major pilgrim route, the Republic of Siena developed into a major European power and remained an important commercial, financial and artistic centre for four centuries. Jane Stevenson charts the changing fortunes of a city that rose to an astonishingly productive cultural heyday in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, suffered a catastrophic late medieval decline in the aftermath of the Black Death, but transcended the loss of its wider political power to enjoy a prosperous civic afterlife. Siena today enjoys a cherished position as a uniquely well-preserved medieval city, crammed with world-class art and architecture, furnished with appealing and intriguing traditions, and set in a heavenly landscape.Trade ReviewI loved this book. Its narrative is rich, tasty, dramatic and full of surprises, exactly like the astonishing Tuscan city it evokes. Jane Stevenson is not content to stand back and admire Siena's manifold beauties but dwells fascinatingly on its various contexts and after-lives, endlessly alert to the place's singularity within the wider world of Italian history, culture and experience. The whole work, lavishly illustrated, does honour to its theme -- Jonathan KeatesJane Stevenson has written a perfect history on this most beautiful of Italian cities -- James StourtonInformed history with a personal touch. An enchanting intimate and knowledgeable evocation of the history of Siena, from its Etruscan beginnings, through its medieval and renaissance glories and travails, its long rivalry with Florence, to the present-day financial shenanigans of the world's oldest bank, the Monte dei Paschi di Siena -- Paul StrathernIn her sumptuously illustrated history of Siena, Jane Stevenson celebrates a proud, hard-working Italian city state, ruled by the church on one side and by bankers, traders and artists on the other... Siena, "one of the best-loved cities" in the world, has found an ideal chronicler in Stevenson, who brings her history up to fascism under Mussolini' * Spectator *PRAISE FOR THE LIGHT OF ITALY: 'Painstakingly researched and yet unfailingly readable' Ross King. 'An insight into one of Renaissance Italy's most glamorous courts' Catherine Fletcher. 'In a narrative matching her book's sumptious illustrations, Jane Stevenson celebrates Urbino as an essential place of pilgrimage for all lovers of Italian art and literature' Jonathan Keates. 'A fascinating account of the patrons and artists behind the creation of one of Italy's hidden treasures' -- Mary Hollingsworth

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Book SynopsisA unique and textured portrait of a city under siege, through the eyes of those who were there

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Book SynopsisThe genesis, sacrifice and enduring consequences of The Decembrist Revolt.

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Book SynopsisIn the eleventh century, the rulers of the lands surrounding the North Sea are all hungry for power. To get power they need soldiers, to get soldiers they need silver, and to get silver there is no better way than war and plunder. This vicious cycle draws all the lands of the north into a brutal struggle for supremacy and survival that will shatter kingdoms and forge an empire. The Wolf Age takes the reader on a thrilling journey through the bloody shared history of England and Scandinavia, and on across early medieval Europe, from the wild Norwegian fjords to the wealthy cities of Muslim Andalusia. Warfare, plotting, backstabbing and bribery abound as Tore Skeie weaves sagas and skaldic poetry with breathless dramatization to bring the world of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons to vivid life.Trade Review“The turbulent [Second Viking Age] that straddles the first millennium is brought to life in a history worthy of a modern television epic.”--Financial Times“Skeie’s account of ruthless conflict, political intrigue, and diplomatic machinations reads like a real-life Game of Thrones—without the dragons. Medieval history buffs will be riveted” --Publishers Weekly Table of ContentsChapter overview Overview of persons 1241 A regime facing ruin The warrior’s good life Fire and smoke Midgard hvíti kristr To Norway Broad ancestral lands Two kingdoms The Great Silver coins for the king’s head Chronology Afterword

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Book SynopsisOne of the great landmarks of modern history writing, Simon Schama''s Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the French Revolution ever produced. ''Monumental ... provocative and stylish, Simon Schama''s account of the first few years of the great Revolution in France, and of the decades that led up to it, is thoughtful, informed and profoundly revisionist'' Eugen Weber, The New York Times Book Review ''The most marvellous book I have read about the French Revolution'' Richard Cobb, The Times ''Dazzling - beyond praise - He has chronicled the vicissitudes of that world with matchless understanding, wisdom, pity and truth, in the pages of this marvellous book'' Bernard Levin, Sunday Times ''Provides an unrivalled impression of the currents and contradictions which made up this terrible sequence of events'' Antony Beevor

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Book Synopsis''A rich treasure-chest of a book'' ANTHONY HOWARD, Sunday Telegraph''A spectacular history of the sixties'' NICK COHEN, Observer''Sandbrook''s book is a pleasure to read ... he is a master of the human touch'' RICHARD DAVENPORT-HINES, TLS''Rivetingly readable'' GODFREY SMITH, Sunday TimesFrom the bloodshed of the Suez Crisis to the giddy heyday of Beatlemania, from the first night of Look Back in Anger to the sensational revelations of the Profumo scandal, British life during the late 1950s and early 1960s seemed more colourful, exciting and controversial than ever. Using a vast array of sources, Dominic Sandbrook tells the story of a society caught between cultural nostalgia and economic optimism. He brings to life the post-war experience for a new generation of readers, in a critically acclaimed debut that will change for ever how we think about the sixties.Trade ReviewUnforgettable vignettes and revelations in this prodigious and ground-breaking study of British life * SundayTimes *A clever and engaging study of Britain as it prepared to swing into the sixties. Never Had It So Good is very good indeed * Amanda Foreman *It is a tribute to Sandbrook's literary skill that his scholarship is never oppressive. Alternately delightful and enlightening, he has produced a book that must have been an enormous labour to write but is a treat to read * Observer *A clever and engaging study of Britain as it prepared to swing into the sixties. Never Had It So Good is very good indeed * Amanda Foreman *A wonderful book -- a most accomplished, readable and convincing tour through seven years from Suez to Beatlemania. It is refreshing because it probes beneath the surface of events, dissolving many of the myths of the sixties and suggesting, quite rightl * Lawrence James *Unforgettable vignettes and revelations in this prodigious and ground-breaking study of British life. * SUNDAY TIMES *It is a tribute to Sandbrook's literary skill that his scholarship is never oppressive. Alternately delightful and enlightening, he has produced a book that must have been an enormous labour to write but is a treat to read. * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary tale of family feuds, forbidden love, civil unrest and the downfall of a mining dynasty Wentworth in Yorkshire was surrounded by 70 collieries employing tens of thousands of men. It is the finest and largest Georgian house in Britain and belonged to the Fitzwilliam family. England''s forgotten palace, it belonged to Britain''s richest aristocrats. Black Diamonds tells the story of its demise: family feuds, forbidden love, class war, and a tragic and violent death played their part. But coal, one of the most emotive issues in twentieth century British politics, lies at its heart. This is the extraordinary story of how the fabric of English society shifted beyond recognition in fifty turbulent years in the twentieth century. ''Magnificent . . . peels back the grand façade of Wentworth to reveal a family riven with fueds, mental illness and forbidden love'' Tatler ''A compelling new history . .

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Book SynopsisDr Suzannah Lipscomb is an historian, broadcaster and award-winning academic. She holds a BA (Hons) First in History and M.St. in Historical Research from Lincoln College, Oxford, and a D.Phil. in History from Balliol College, Oxford. Following posts as Research Curator at Hampton Court Palace, and Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of East Anglia, she is now Convenor for History and Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History at New College of the Humanities, London, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Suzannah has presented historical documentaries on BBC4, ITV, Channel 5 and National Geographic Channel, and writes a regular column for History Today. Her other books include 1536: The Year that Changed Henry VIII and The King is Dead! The Last Will and Testament of Henry VIII; and (co-edited) Henry VIII and the Court: Art, Politics and Performance.Trade ReviewA genuinely useful and discriminating guide for all Tudor fans. Full of fascinating true stories... it helps us see the world as the Tudors must have seen it -- Hilary MantelLipscomb is an eloquent tour-guide, and each of her 50 destinations allows her deftly to unfold a different chapter of Tudor history ... As a pocket-guide to the dynasty of brutes, this is as good as it gets * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisAustria 1867-1955 connects the political history of German-speaking provinces of the Habsburg Empire before 1914 (Vienna and the Alpine Lands) with the history of the Austrian Republic that emerged in 1918, presenting the case of modern Austria as a fascinating example of democratic nation-building.Trade ReviewIn his brilliant opus magnum John Boyer shows why Austria needed three attempts to build a stable democracy and how co-operation of formerly antagonistic political elites finally succeeded in the years after World War II. * Michael Mesch, Wiener Geschichtsblätter, Vol. 78/3 *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Terms of Austrian History 1: The Settlement of 1867 and the Creation of a Liberal Constitutional Order 2: Liberalism Ascendant: State Politics and Administration in the Austrian Lands, 1867-1879 3: The Era of the Iron Ring: State Consolidation and the Emergence of Civic Radicalism, 1879-1895 4: Two Decades of Constitutional Upheaval, 1895-1914 5: Late Imperial Society and Culture: The Crucible of Vienna 6: The Monarchy in the First World War 7: The Revolution of 1918-1919 8: The First Austrian Republic, 1920-1932 9: The Catholic Dictatorship and the Nazi Occupation, 1933-1945 10: The Reconstruction of a Republican Political System, 1945-1955 Conclusion: The Construction of a New Political Culture, 1955-1983

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Book SynopsisAn immersive radical walking guide to one of Europe's most popular citiesTrade Review'A guide through Berlin's riveting history that is gripping, tragic, triumphant and above all, authentic' -- Dan Arrows, host of 'The Iron Dice' Podcast'Fascinating and eclectic. This guidebook illuminates hidden histories with clarity, honesty, wit and irony. Read it and walk it!' -- David Rosenberg, author of 'Rebel Footprints''Inspirational. This collection of walking tours of Red Berlin is full of wonderful tales from a city which has, despite everything, remained experimental and revolutionary while others have become little more than malls or museums, all related with a deliciously bone-dry Berlinische humour' -- Owen Hatherley, author of Red MetropolisTable of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations and German Words Introduction 1. (Anti)Colonialism 2. November Revolution 3. Rosa Luxemburg’s Berlin 4. Neukölln Will Stay Red! 5. 1968 in West Berlin 6. Riots in Kreuzberg 7. The East Is Red 8. Queer Berlin 9. Berlinerinnen 10. Afterword: Where This Book Was Written About the Author Index

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Book SynopsisThis up-to-date history of Britain's Jewish community focuses on the experiences of Jewish people themselves. It offers insight into the lives of queer Jews, Jews married to non-Jews, Israel-critical Jews, Messianic Jews and others. -- .

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and revealing new biography of Mary Queen of Scots, drawing on dozens of newly decoded letters.For almost two decades before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was a prisoner. From her chambers, she wrote countless letters, many encrypted using complex ciphers to prevent her communications from being intercepted. In this way, she used language to exert her will and her influence, even while incarcerated.More than 400 years after her death, fifty-seven of these encoded letters were unearthed in a French archive and decoded, a discovery described by experts as a ‘literary and historical sensation’ and the most important new find on Mary for more than a century.In Captive Queen: The Decrypted History of Mary, Queen of Scots, Jade Scott, a historian and expert on Mary’s correspondence, draws on these ground-breaking letters to paint a vivid portrait

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

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

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Book SynopsisAt a time when issues of gender and sexuality are as prominent as they have ever been, Gender, Sex and the Shaping of Modern Europe provides an authoritative exploration of the history of these deeply connected subjects over the last 250 years. Incorporating a blend of history and historiography, Annette F. Timm and Joshua A. Sanborn write engagingly on gender and sexuality in a way that illuminates our understanding of historical change and individual experience throughout Europe.The new and improved 3rd edition of this textbook now includes: Personal vignette textboxes which shed light on key themes through individual life stories Added material on Russia, Eastern Europe, the Holocaust and the 21st century Historiographical updates throughout that bring the text up-to-date with new scholarship 30 new images and mapsThrough 6 thematic chapters that cover democracy, capitalism, imperialism and war, Timm and Sanborn trace the social construction ofTrade ReviewThis revised and expanded version of Joshua Sanborn’s and Annette Timm’s widely acclaimed study is essential reading for students and teachers of modern European history alike. In their thorough examination of how sex and gender have shaped and were shaped by the various social, cultural, and political contexts of modern Europe, the authors bring together broad thematic discussions with a wide range of lively individual vignettes, from Catherine the Great to Idris Elba. The result is an engaging and panoramic overview of Europeans’ experiences as gendered and sexual citizens across the past two and a half centuries. * Dr Siobhán Hearne, Historian of Gender and Sexuality, University of Durham, UK *The third edition of Gender, Sex and the Shaping of Modern Europe improves on what was already an excellent text notable for its clarity, accessibility, and thoughtfulness. The inclusion of individualized vignettes at the beginning of each section brings abstract ideas to life and clearly establishes that personal is political, and vice versa. Also to be emphasized is this edition’s enhanced attention to trans lives and individuals. This updated volume remains a stand-out in the field. * Marko Dumancic, Director of Graduate Studies; Assistant Professor, Western Kentucky University, USA *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Prefaces Introduction 1. Liberty, Equality and Fraternity 2. Gendered Capitalism and its Discontents 3. The Imperial Drive and the Colonial World 4. Brothers and Sisters at War 5. The Long Sexual Revolution 6. 21st-Century Europe Conclusion Works Cited Appendix: Further Images Index

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Book SynopsisJohn Kampfner is an award-winning author, broadcaster and foreign-affairs commentator. He began his career reporting from East Berlin (during the fall of the Wall) and Moscow (during the collapse of communism) for the Telegraph. After covering British politics for the Financial Times and BBC, he edited the New Statesman. He is a regular TV and radio pundit, documentary maker and author of six previous books, including the bestselling Blair's Wars. His most recent book, Why the Germans Do it Better, was a top ten bestseller, Book of the Year in the Guardian, Economist and the New Statesman, and sold over 100,000 copies in all editions.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Duff Cooper and Lionel Gelber prizesIn 1932-33, nearly four million Ukrainians died of starvation, having been deliberately deprived of food. It is one of the most devastating episodes in the history of the twentieth century. With unprecedented authority and detail, Red Famine investigates how this happened, who was responsible, and what the consequences were. It is the fullest account yet published of these terrible events.The book draws on a mass of archival material and first-hand testimony only available since the end of the Soviet Union, as well as the work of Ukrainian scholars all over the world. It includes accounts of the famine by those who survived it, describing what human beings can do when driven mad by hunger. It shows how the Soviet state ruthlessly used propaganda to turn neighbours against each other in order to expunge supposedly ''anti-revolutionary'' elements. It also records the actions of extraordinary iTrade ReviewMeticulously researched, blisteringly written -- Dominic Sandbrook * The Sunday Times (Books of the Year) *Magisterial and heartbreaking -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Evening Standard *Compelling in its detail and in its empathy -- Nick Rennison * The Sunday Times *Her account will surely become the standard treatment of one of history's great political atrocities -- Timothy Snyder * Washington Post *An exhaustive, authoritative and eloquent book. She deals with questions that have hitherto lacked unequivocal answers -- Donald Rayfield * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisThe story of how a group of warriors, driven by faith, greed and wanderlust, carved out new Christian-ruled states in the Middle East is one of the most extraordinary of all epics. The crusaders'' stunning initial success started a sequence of great Crusades, each with its own story, that fundamentally shaped the Christian and Muslim worlds for two centuries, until the last Crusader castles were finally expunged. The energy and commitment that sent army after army into the eastern Mediterranean also led to the invasion and conversion of Central and Baltic Europe, Spain, Portugal, the destruction of the Cathars in Provence and the settlement of America. Told with great verve and authority, God''s War is the definitive account of a fascinating but also horrifying story.We are still living with the images and legends of the crusadesTyerman tells us how the Church set about preaching the crusades, exploiting the perennial pessimism and guilt of the European nobility of the Middle Ages. He shows how crusading ideology penetrated the religious sensibility of the period, as well as its secular fiction and poetryOf all the modern histories of the crusades it is the shrewdest, the most reliable and the most complete.' The Spectator

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Book SynopsisArranged thematically, Vikings: A History of the Norse People is an illustrated guide to the Norsemen, from exploration, trade and settlement to weaponry, religion, and their legacy.

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Book SynopsisA remarkable popular history of the English Civil War, from the perspectives of those involved in this most significant turning point in British history.The compelling narrative draws on new sources such as letters, memoirs, ballads and plays to bring to life the Roundheads and Cavaliers, the foot soldiers, war widows and witchfinders of one of the most significant turning points in British history, culminating in Oliver Cromwell's triumph and the execution of Charles I.By blending the political and the personal, Diane Purkiss illuminates both the ideologies behind the English Civil War and the fears of those who fought in it; the men who were destroyed by the conflict and those, such as Oliver Cromwell, who were defined by it.Trade Review‘Rich, vivid and passionate…a moving, lyrical and principled piece of writing…Purkiss has a gift for evocation.’ Independent ‘You begin to get close to what it would have been like to live through the nine momentous years from 1640 to 1649…it would be hard to imagine anything more irresistible than this rich layer cake of a book, crammed with the stories and the voices that make history human.’ Guardian ‘Purkiss has an eye for the narrative vignette that can illuminate the age.’ Sunday Times ‘Wonderful…Purkiss offers a sumptuous portrait gallery of the men and women who lived, wrote and died during this turbulent period…A joyous read.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Narrative history at its best: gripping, heartfelt, complex.’ Mail on Sunday ‘This book vigorously brings the horror and humanity of the conflict to life.’ Financial Times ‘Light in touch, though grounded in an enormous wealth of documentary material this “people's history” shows how England’s men and women coped with quite extraordinary times.’ Scotsman

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Book SynopsisA concise, illustrated history of Portugal, offering an introduction to the people and culture of the country, its empire, and its search for economic modernisation right up till the present day. This third edition encapsulates recent changes to Portugal and Europe to bring the story up to date.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Peoples, cultures and colonies; 2. Rebellion and independence in the seventeenth century; 3. The Golden Age and the earthquake in the eighteenth century; 4. Brazilian independence and the Portuguese Revolution; 5. The bourgeois monarchy and the republicans; 6. The dictatorship and the African empire; 7. Democracy and the European Community; Afterword: entering the twenty-first century.

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Book SynopsisA vivid journey around England's great seaside resorts, exploring their history and current struggle, and what they reveal about England, from the award-winning author of Love of Country.

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Book SynopsisTHE #2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER As gripping as any thriller. History doesn't get any better than this' BILL BRYSON 'A brilliant read Game of Thrones but in the real world' ANTHONY HOROWITZTrade Review‘How a drunk teenager shipwrecked the monarchy … As colourful and racy narrative history goes, this absolutely gallops … Whips through a hundred years of complex history from the Norman Conquest to Henry II’ Daily Mail “Vividly conjures up this half-forgotten medieval tragedy and its consequences”Daily Mail, Books of the Year “An epic, gripping history of hubris, piety, treachery, happenstance, rebellion and slaughter.” Catholic Herald ‘Rooted in the medieval chronicles, but crafted like a Hollywood thriller. Spencer is one of the finest narrative historians around’Mail on Sunday ‘Charles Spencer is a gifted storyteller … Pivoted on one single, tragic winter evening. It is an event and a period of history that should be better known, and now it will be’The Times 'Spencer proves himself more than a match for the story. He guides the reader well through the dramatic twists and turns of these years, which first placed Henry on the throne, then seemed set to deny the succession of his progeny. Spencer has a particularly good eye for detail, enriching his account with vivid pen-portraits of the main players … Fast-paced and immensely enjoyable'Literary Review ‘Neglected by popular historians, [Henry I] … has found a master storyteller in Charles Spencer … rooted in excellent historical research … a lyrical, vivid and compelling portrait. He succeeds in bringing to life huge characters from nearly a millennium ago’Spectator ‘An exhilarating narrative full of incident and insight. Here is the story, marvellously told, of the post-Conquest kings – and one almost-queen – of England: unpredictable, violently dramatic, and never less than compelling’Helen Castor 'Told with verve and an exceptional eye for detail, this is the story of how a single catastrophe changed the course of British history forever. Dramatic, compelling and utterly addictive’Tracy Borman

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Book SynopsisThe seventeenth century, writes Mark Kishlansky, was “a wheel of transformation in perpetual motion,” a period of political and religious upheaval that defined the nation for decades to come and remains critical for understanding the nation today.   Beginning with the accession of James I and concluding with the death of Queen Anne, this compelling account describes the tempestuous events that took place during the Stuart dynasty and provides lively pen portraits of the many fascinating personalities involved. Conspiracies, rebellions, and revolutions jostle side by side with court intrigues, political infighting and the rise of parties. In 1603 Britain was an isolated archipelago; by 1714 it had emerged among the intellectual, commercial, and military centers of the world.   “Kishlansky’s century saw one king executed, another exiled, the House of Lords abolished, and the Church of England reconstructed along Presbyterian lines . . .Table of ContentsThe social world; the political world; the Scottish ascension, 1603-1618; the Duke of clubs, 1618-1628; the reign of Charles I, 1629-1637; rebellion and civil war, 1637-1649; civil war and revolution, 1645-1649; saints and soldiers, 1649-1658; the restoration settlements, 1659-1667; for church and king, 1668-1685; a Protestant succession, 1685-1689; a European union, 1689-1702; Great Britain, 1702-1714.

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Book Synopsis*WINNER OF THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2018**WINNER OF THE PUSHKIN HOUSE BOOK PRIZE 2019*''As moving as it is painstakingly researched. . . a cracking read'' Viv Groskop, Observer''A riveting account of human error and state duplicity. . . rightly being hailed as a classic'' Hannah Betts, Daily TelegraphOn 26 April 1986 at 1.23am a reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Soviet Ukraine exploded. While the authorities scrambled to understand what was occurring, workers, engineers, firefighters and those living in the area were abandoned to their fate. The blast put the world on the brink of nuclear annihilation, contaminating over half of Europe with radioactive fallout.In Chernobyl, award-winning historian Serhii Plokhy draws on recently opened archives to recreate these events in all their drama. A moment by moment account of the heroes, perpetrators and victims of a trTrade ReviewAn insightful and important book, that often reads like a good thriller, and that exposes the danger of mixing powerful technology with irresponsible politics -- Yuval Noah Harari, author of SapiensAs moving as it is painstakingly researched, this book is a tour de force and a cracking read. . . Without losing any detail or nuance, Plokhy has a knack for making complicated things simple while still profound -- Viv Groskop * Observer *A work of deep scholarship and powerful stroytelling. Plokhy is the master of the telling detail -- Victor Sebestyen * Sunday Times *A compelling history of the 1986 disaster and its aftermath. . . Plokhy's well-paced narrative plunges the reader into the sweaty, nervous tension of the Chernobyl control room -- Daniel Beer * Guardian *The first comprehensive history of the Chernobyl disaster. . . here at last is the monumental history the disaster deserves -- Julie McDowall * The Times *Plokhy, a Harvard professor of Ukrainian background, is ideally placed to tell the harrowing story of Chernobyl. . . he has an immense knowledge of Russian and Ukrainian history and maintains the highest standards of scholarship -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *A meticulous account of the disaster - and how the Soviet authorities tried to cover it up. . . A worthy winner of this year's Baillie Gifford prize for nonfiction -- Robbie Millen * The Times Books of the Year *A riveting account of human error and state duplicity. . . rightly being hailed as a classic -- Hannah Betts * Daily Telegraph *A masterful retelling. . . Mr Plokhy's book will endure as a definitive history * Economist *

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Book SynopsisCharman 'writes with intelligence and generosity, and sprinkles her history with details that are enraging, provocative and, frequently, amusing' - Megan Gibson, The New StatesmanMother State 'blows open the dominant view of mothering instead Charman's history from below situates a radical collective conception of motherhood and care as central to all our lives meticulously researched... Mother State is both a prodigious historical analysis and a sobering one' - Ruth Gilbert, New Internationalist'Intellectually luminous and deeply affecting, Mother State is a remarkable, revelatory and life-changing book, and an indispensable tool and guide in the ongoing struggle towards radical, liberated and collective care' Daisy Lafarge'With ease and precision, Charman examines all the waged and unwaged labour that create mothers as well as the political processes that produce their vexed relationship to the British state. Mother State is at once a sorely needed politicised history of motherhood

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Book SynopsisThe first full account of the medieval struggle for Jerusalem, from the seventh to the thirteenth centuryTrade Review“Hosler is a sure guide to this winding story. . . . This is an intriguing and occasionally eye-opening account of the Middle Ages’ most alluring city.”—Dan Jones, Sunday Times“This elegantly written monograph carefully evaluates a wide variety of surviving written and archaeological evidence to identify the factors that led to violence and/or peace in Jerusalem.”—Jessalynn Bird, sehepunkte“During the Middle Ages, Jerusalem did not go a century without armies surrounding and entering its walls. The city was continually sacked and the inhabitants massacred. Jerusalem Falls covers this violent and bloody history with thoroughness and brilliance. Reading it one can clearly agree with so many throughout history who wished that God cared a little less for a city that so many religions call ‘holy.’”—Kelly DeVries, author of Battles of the Crusades 1097–1444“With an original and thought-provoking approach, Hosler tackles the always controversial topic of Jerusalem. The seven centuries, from the Persian sack of 614 until the final fall of the Crusader city in 1244, are studded with successive brutal conflicts and conquests, but also with remarkable examples of rapprochement and concord. Hosler’s history will come as a revelation, and perhaps an optimistic one for readers mainly acquainted with the violent aspects of the Holy City’s past and present.”—Adrian J. Boas, author of Jerusalem in the Time of the Crusades

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Book SynopsisThe Irish famine that began in 1845 was one of the nineteenth century''s greatest disasters. By its end, the island''s population of eight million had shrunk by a third through starvation, disease and emigration. This is a brilliant, compassionate retelling of that awful story for a new generation - the first account for the general reader for many years and a triumphant example of narrative non-fiction at its best.The immediate cause of the famine was a bacterial infection of the potato crop on which too many the Irish poor depended. What turned a natural disaster into a human disaster was the determination of senior British officials to use relief policy as an instrument of nation-building in their oldest and most recalcitrant colony. Well-meaning civil servants were eager to modernise Irish agriculture and to improve the Irish moral character, which was utterly lacking in the virtues of the new age of triumphant capitalism. The result was a relief programme more concerned with fostering change than of saving lives.This is history that resonates powerfully with our own times.

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Book SynopsisOxford Revise Edexcel GCSE History: Crime and punishment in Britain, c1000-present is a complete revision and practice book covering the full topic specification. with everything you need to know to revise for this choice of period topic. All key knowledge is clearly covered in one book, supported by case studies of crime and punishment from Medieval England right up to Modern Britain. By working through the Knowledge - Retrieval - Practice sections, you will be using proven ways to revise, check and recall so that what you revise sticks. Knowledge Organisers arrange the information you need to revise helping you to make connections with what you already know. Timelines and charts are used so that key information is presented in a meaningful way. An online glossary helps you to learn the definitions to key terms. Use Retrieval questions to check that you have remembered what you have just revised before moving on. Regular retrieval questions help to combat the forgetting curve. FinalTable of Contents1: Medieval England: criminal activity 2: Medieval England: law enforcement and punishment 3: Medieval case study: the influence of the Church 4: Early modern England: criminal activity 5: Early modern England: law enforcement and punishment 6: Early modern case studies: Gunpowder Plotters and Matthew Hopkins 7: Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain: criminal activity 8: Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain: law enforcement and punishment 9: Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century case studies: Robert Peel and Pentonville Prison 10: Modern Britain: criminal activity 11: Modern Britain: law enforcement and punishment 12: Modern case studies: Conscientious Objectors during the First World War and the Derek Bentley case 13: Historic Environment: Living in Whitechapel 14: Historic Environment: Policing in Whitechapel

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Book SynopsisIncorporating sharp questions and big ideas, Niven shifts deftly between history, politics, culture and literature to offer a fascinating and provocative analysis of the marginalisation of the North. Madeleine Bunting, author of Labours of Love: the Crisis of CareAn in-depth exploration of the importance of the North of England in the modern era.The North Will Rise Again covers the colourful adventures of its inhabitants, the expansiveness and optimism that defines Northern culture, and the recurrent sense of failure and despair that is at the heart of one of the West's most impoverished regions. By telling the story of the North in the last few decades, Alex goes in search of answers to some of the big questions at the forefront of British politics and society today, touching on live issues including the North/South divide, austerity, the impact of Brexit, the collapse of Labour's Red Wall', and calls for regional devolution. He cTrade ReviewA great book. -- Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater ManchesterIncorporating sharp questions and big ideas, Niven shifts deftly between history, politics, culture and literature to offer a fascinating and provocative analysis of the marginalisation of the North. -- Madeleine Bunting, author of Labours of Love: the Crisis of CareAlex Niven’s elegant, heartfelt book is the best I have read about the North’s subordination by the South in modern England, and about how visionary northern culture of all kinds has defied that imbalance. -- Andy Beckett, Guardian journalistAlex Niven reveals the north of England in all its variety, potential and vitality. One Nation Under a Groove in book form. -- Lynsey Hanley, author of Respectable: Crossing the Class DivideA bold, compelling attempt to imagine a new future for England's industrial north by looking at its cultural and progressive past. -- John McTernan * Financial Times *The North Will Rise Again is thought-provoking, evocative, tenderly appreciative and optimistic. -- Katherine Backler * The Tablet *The history of the North of England is one of astonishing visions, great attempts to realise true progress, and painful deferrals of these dreams, so argues Alex Niven, who constructs this argument incisively, elegantly and movingly in The North Will Rise Again. Niven’s intervention is a timely one. At a moment where appeals to an insurgent, anti-establishment Northern identity are galvanised by the right and neglected by the left, never before has it been more urgent to revive the modernist, utopian dreams of those who made the region what it is. -- Fergal Kinney, Tribune[Niven] sees the north as craggy cradle of tradition but also crucible of modernity, from T Dan Smith’s doomed architectural dreams of Newcastle as “the Brasilia of the north” to the experimental poetry of the 1960s centred around the Morden Tower poets … Niven is good on the melancholic, bitter-sweet descant of failure detectable in Victoria Wood, Phoenix Nights, Morrissey and others – the sad, plangent bottom note audible beneath the raucous swagger. -- Stuart Maconie, New StatesmanA fascinating, expansive book, which takes in civic architecture, modernist poetry, postmodern art, independent filmmaking, and popular music, from the queer futurism of Frankie Goes to Hollywood to the utopian aspirations of Factory Records. -- James Greig, DazedA lively cultural and political history of the lands between the Tweed and the Mersey–Humber line … Niven skilfully connects Wyndham Lewis’s northwards-looking BLAST magazine and the Vorticists’ love of concrete and machinery with Yevgeny Zamyatin’s inspiration in the “grand mechanised ballet” of Tyneside shipyards, Aldous Huxley’s formative visit to the Imperial Chemical Industries’s huge plant in Billingham (which “opened the doors of his perception”) and on to the influence of industrial Teesside on the aesthetics of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. -- Dan Jackson, Prospect

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