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Book SynopsisIn recent times the popularity of the Camino de Santiago has prompted renewed interest in pilgrim walks in Ireland. Increasing numbers now follow ancient Irish pilgrim paths to such holy places as Glencolumbkille, Croagh Patrick, Lough Derg and Glendalough. John G. O'Dwyer has walked - or, in the case of Clonmacnoise, cycled - the pilgrim trails of Ireland, from Slieve Mish in the northeast, where Christianity may have had its first dawning in Ireland, to Skellig Michael in the southwest, where the known world once ended. Each walk description has directions, the degree of difficulty, estimated time and a map. The paths are varied and suited to a range of abilities, from casual ramblers to committed walkers. In each route the author recounts his feelings and experiences, and describes the entertaining and insightful characters he meets along the way.Trade Review"The author recounts his feelings and experiences, and describes the entertaining and insightful characters he meets along the way.""This one has earned its place in the rucksack.""A great addition to the seasoned hillwalker's library." "Beautifully produced with fine photographs and clear, if rather basic, maps.""Even in familiar surroundings O'Dwyer's prose seems fresh ... for those who are prepared to acknowledge a rationale beyond just visiting summits, this may well end up being considered to be a bit of a minor classic.""Excellent." "Attractive little guide." "This book acts as the perfect satnav. It leads you along your chosen path."

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Book Synopsis''An outstanding work of historical artistry, a brilliantly woven and pacy story of the men who surrounded, influenced and sometimes plagued Henry VIII.'' Alison WeirHenry VIII is well known for his tumultuous relationships with women, and he is often defined by his many marriages. But what do we see if we take a different look? When we see Henry through the men in his life, a new perspective on this famous king emerges.Henry''s relationships with the men who surrounded him reveal much about his beliefs, behaviour and character. They show him to be capable of fierce, but seldom abiding loyalty; of raising men only to destroy them later. He loved to be attended and entertained by boisterous young men who shared his passion for sport, but at other times he was more diverted by men of intellect, culture and wit. Often trusting and easily led by his male attendants and advisers during the early years of his reign, he matured into a profoundly suspicious Trade ReviewIn this stunning book, Tracy Borman proves yet again that she is at the top of her field. It's an outstanding work of historical artistry, a brilliantly woven and pacy story of the men who surrounded, influenced and sometimes plagued Henry VIII. Borman is in complete command of the vast source material, and affords us a new perspective on a king who has dominated the national consciousness for centuries - no mean achievement. Masterful, and hugely impressive, this is one Tudor book you must not miss! * Alison Weir *An arching overview of Henry's reign with small surprises on virtually every page. Why wait for the final installment of Wolf Hall, when the real tale is every bit as compelling? We meet a Henry who for once is a wholly convincing man - neither a monster, nor the monolith of the Holbein portrait [Borman] unpacks so deftly. * Sarah Gristwood *A fresh and interesting approach to Henry VIII's story, revealing a new side to the famous king's character through the lives of the men who surrounded him. * Elizabeth Norton, author of The Lives of Tudor Women *This is a superbly told and impeccably researched account of Henry VIII's reign and the men who surrounded him. At the centre of Borman's narrative is the majestic horror created, and inflicted, by Henry's charisma. * Gareth Russell, author of Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard *Henry VIII and The Men Who Made Him is a meticulously researched and compellingly presented narrative, which presents the infamous Tudor King in a whole new light from the eyes of the men who knew him: family, friends, servants and enemies. It's a refreshingly brilliant approach to a well known story, which is beautifully and engagingly written. * Nicola Tallis, author of Crown of Blood *Praise for The Private Lives of the TudorsBorman approaches her topic with huge enthusiasm and a keen eye for entertaining...this is a very human story of a remarkable family, full of vignettes that sit long in the mind. * The Sunday Times *Tracy Borman's eye for detail is impressive; the book is packed with fascinating courtly minutiae...this is a wonderful book. * The Times *Borman is an authoritative and engaging writer, good at prising out those humanising details that make the past alive to us. * The Observer *Fascinating, detailed account of the everyday reality of the royals... This is a book of rich scholarship. Tracy Borman is a chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces and she knows her Tudor history inside out. * Daily Mail *Praise for Thomas CromwellThis deeply researched and grippingly written biography brings Cromwell to life and exposes the Henrician court in all its brutal, glittering splendour. * Independent *Dr Tracy Borman has crafted an exceptional and compelling biography about one of the Tudor age's most complex and controversial figures. With expert insights based on a wealth of research, and riveting detail, she has brought Thomas Cromwell to life as never before. * Alison Weir *Tracy Borman tells us succinctly in 400 pages what we need to know about the man who rose to be the king's highest adviser ... a very good book. * The Times *Borman's is a highly readable account, and will add to the debate surrounding this ultimately elusive character. * Financial Times *Elegant...her prose, as ever, glides beautifully along. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisRobert Conquest's The Great Terror is the book that revealed the horrors of Stalin's regime to the West. This definitive fiftieth anniversary edition features a new foreword by Anne Applebaum.One of the most important books ever written about the Soviet Union, The Great Terror revealed to the West for the first time the true extent and nature Stalin’s purges in the 1930s, in which around a million people were tortured and executed or sent to labour camps on political grounds. Its publication caused a widespread reassessment of Communism itself.This definitive fiftieth anniversary edition gathers together the wealth of material added by the author in the decades following its first publication and features a new foreword by leading historian Anne Applebaum, explaining the continued relevance of this momentous period of history and of this classic account.Trade ReviewMore than any other writer, Conquest has been responsible for bringing to the attention of the West the extent of the crimes committed against humanity in the name of Soviet Communism * Sunday Times *Stalin was not only the master criminal; he was the master concealer. It took a master detective, and a poet, like Mr Conquest, to unmask him completely * New York Times *Monumental * Washington Post *A very important book. No one has written about Stalin's terror so deeply -- Milovan Djilas

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The battles fought between the Allied armies and the German Wehrmacht at Monte Cassino in 1944 were key episodes in the protracted Italian campaign, and the eventual Allied victory was a decisive step in the wider war to liberate Europe from German occupation. Much has been written about Cassino, but few books have chosen to tell the story through photographs - to give a visual insight into the fighting and the forces involved, the conditions in which they fought, and the landscape around the Monte Cassino abbey which became a battlefield. That is why Jeffrey Plowman's photographic history is of such value. Using almost 200 wartime images, many of which have not been published before, he gives a graphic impression of the realities of the fighting as it was experienced by the troops on the ground. He focuses on the tanks - the array of armoured vehicles deployed by both sides which played a critical role. This aspect of Cassino has rarely been covered in such detail and in such a vivid way. The book will be of special interest to modellers and historians of armoured warfare, but it will also appeal to readers who have a more general interest in the Italian campaign.

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Book Synopsis· · A Daily Mail Book of the Week · ·The sensational story of the rise and fall of one of the most notorious families in history.____________________ 'A wickedly entertaining read' The Times____________________The Borgias have become a byword for evil. Corruption, incest, ruthlessness, avarice and vicious cruelty - all have been associated with their name. But the story of this remarkable family is far more than a tale of sensational depravities - it also marks the golden age of the Italian Renaissance and a decisive turning point in European history. From the family's Spanish roots and the papacy of Rodrigo Borgia, to the lives of his infamous offspring, Lucrezia and Cesare - the hero who dazzled Machiavelli, but also the man who befriended Leonardo da Vinci - Paul Strathern tells the captivating story of this great dynasty and the world in which they flourished.'A vivid insight into the hothouse world of papal politics in the tumultuous years before the Reformation.' Daily Telegraph'Authoritative and well-written' Wall Street JournalTrade ReviewStrathern strikes a successful balance between gorblimey Horrible Histories and the reverence due to Renaissance men. Don't be beside a pool or under a loggia in Italy this summer without a copy from which to read (luridly) aloud... This history of ruthlessness, intrigue and men broken on Fortune's Wheel is a wickedly entertaining read. * The Times *A vivid insight into the hothouse world of papal politics in the tumultuous years before theReformation. * Daily Telegraph *Authoritative and well-written... Strathern has an admirable talent for the biographical sketch, particularly of artists and writers. * Wall Street Journal *The Borgias, Mr Strathern explains, did not merely acquire their reputation through roistering and making the bureaucracy run on time. They also earned it through the ruthless elimination of their enemies - and friends... This is a book rich in such telling details. * The Economist *Strathern's latest venture into Renaissance Italy proves just as exciting as his previous histories... One of the author's great strengths has always been his ability to keep the many assorted players from confusing readers, and that holds true in his latest. Strathern's smooth narrative and comprehensive insight bring the Borgias to life. * Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) *Engaging and informative... To be immersed in this group biography is to visit a particularly exciting and consequential period in European history in all its high drama and richness of character... Outstanding * Booklist *In this accessible look behind the curtain, Strathern lays out the history of the infamous Italian clan. Strathern makes a tangled and thorny history readable. * Publishers Weekly *Highly recommended for readers interested in the drama surrounding the Borgias that spurred a number of scandalous rumors that continue to circulate today. * Library Journal (Starred Review) *Table of Contents0: Prologue: The Crowning Moment 1: Origins of a Dynasty 2: The Young Rodrigo 3: Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia Emerges in His True Colours 4: The Way to the Top 5: A New Pope in a New Era 6: 'The Scourge of God' 7: The Best of Plans... 8: A Crucial Realignment 9: A Royal Connection 10: Il Valentino's Campaign 11: Biding Time 12: The Second Romagna Campaign 13: The Borgias in excelsis 14: Cesare Strikes Out 15: Changing Fortunes 16: Cesare Survives 17: Borgia's 'Reconciliation' 18: Lucrezia in Ferrara 19: The Unforeseen 20: Desperate Fortune

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Book SynopsisBeyond the affluent centre of Paris and other French cities, in the deprived banlieues, a war is going on. This is the French Intifada, a guerrilla war between the French state and the former subjects of its Empire, for whom the mantra of 'liberty, equality, fraternity' conceals a bitter history of domination, oppression, and brutality. This war began in the early 1800s, with Napoleon's lust for martial adventure, strategic power and imperial preeminence, and led to the armed colonization of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, and decades of bloody conflict, all in the name of 'civilization'. Here, against the backdrop of the Arab Spring, Andrew Hussey walks the front lines of this war - from the Gare du Nord in Paris to the souks of Marrakesh and the mosques of Tangier - to tell the strange and complex story of the relationship between secular, republican France and the Muslim world of North Africa. The result is a completely new portrait of an old nation. Combining a fascinating and compulsively readable mix of history, politics and literature with Hussey's years of personal experience travelling across the Arab World, The French Intifada reveals the role played by the countries of the Maghreb in shaping French history, and explores the challenge being mounted by today's dispossessed heirs to the colonial project: a challenge that is angrily and violently staking a claim on France's future.Trade ReviewThere is some terrific and chilling reporting [here] and Hussey is at his best when on the streets... Provocative... an important new book * Economist *Compelling... Hussey makes a strong case that France's contemporary malaise can only be understood in the light of [its] tragic history... Fascinating and hugely readable -- Matthew Campbell * Sunday Times *Vivid, arresting, and striking... Hussey is a talented writer, and knows his subject... Nuanced and persuasive * Guardian *Rigorous, perceptive, clear-eyed, colourful and powerful, Andrew Hussey's The French Intifada is an important, and highly readable, book which should be read by anyone interested in France today, and in the broader question of Islam in Europe in the 21st century -- Jason BurkeDisturbing and provocative -- Rupert Edis * Daily Telegraph**** *A refreshing account [that] blends colourful narrative history with lively reportage and analysis... [This is] a good introduction to the most sensitive issues of race, religion, citizenship and history that grip modern France -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *[It] mixes lively street reportage with the history of two brutal centuries in France's former Maghreb territories... This is strong stuff -- Charles Bremner * New Statesman *A vivid illumination of the ongoing, painful and perhaps insoluble French dilemma * Kirkus *Hussey stresses the dire economic circumstances that prevail and the toxic mix of big ambitions, poor education and refusal to believe in hard graft -- Michael Burleigh * The Times *[This book] deserves our admiration -- Nick Fraser * Observer *Hussey is an engaging guide... writing with authority and humour about everything from Zinedine Zidane to architecture... A fascinating and enjoyable read * Irish Examiner *Pithy... [with] effective potted histories of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco -- Farah Nayeri * Independent *Extremely readable... a page-turner... Highly recommended * Morning Star *Urgent and brilliant... Superb writing on the complexities of race, religion and immigration that situates this in the legacies of Empire and colonialism -- Mark Perryman * Counterfire *Lively and well paced -- Natasha Lerner * TLS *Indispensable -- Patrick Marnham * 'Books of the Year' Spectator *Excellence recurs in The French Intifada, where a lust for travel and understanding of the past produces a book of disturbing power. [Hussey] brings a depth of knowledge to a study of the legacy of French colonial sojourns in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, making his travelogue read like a literary history-cum-dark documentary thriller -- Tom Adair 'Travel book of the year' * Scotsman *Fascinating and hugely readable -- Matthew Campbell ‘Pick of the Paperbacks’ * Sunday Times *Andrew Hussey knows France and its colonial history better than most French people. He tells the ugly truth... He offers no solutions, but his willingness to delve into other belief systems is a worth-while, sobering journey. French officials should read Hussey's book -- Lara Marlowe * Irish Times *Fascinating -- Charles Moore * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisAfter the Normandy break-out, the Allies' headlong dash east came to a halt in the autumn with the ill-fated MARKET GARDEN operation and over-extended supply lines short of the Rhineland. After repulsing the Nazis' daring Ardennes offensive, Montgomery's and Bradley's Army Groups cleared the Reichwald and Rhineland and closed on the Rhine. With both sides aware of the strategic significance of this physical barrier the stakes could not have been higher. Eisenhower's plan involved a vast airborne assault by General Ridgway's XV11 Airborne Corps (codename VARSITY) and the simultaneously coordinated river crossing by Monty's 21 Army Group codename PLUNDER with Dempsey's British Second Army and General William H. Simpson's US Ninth Army. This superbly illustrated and researched book describes the March 1945 assault crossing involving naval amphibious craft, the air and artillery bombardment and diversionary attack by the British 1st Commando brigade at Wesel. In concert with VARSITY and PLUNDER, Patton's US Third Army Group crossed further south. As a result of this triumph of strategic planning and tactical execution, the fate of Hitler's Thousand Year Reich' was finally sealed.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOLFSON HISTORY PRIZE 2017 SHORTLISTED FOR THE ELIZABETH LONGFORD PRIZE 2017'A magnificent study of one of history's most compelling and divisive figures' Richard J. EvansWhen Martin Luther nailed a sheet of paper to the church door of a small university town in 1517, he set off a process that changed the Western world for ever.Within a few years Luther’s ideas had spread like wildfire. His attempts to reform Christianity by returning it to its biblical roots split the Western Church, divided Europe and polarised people’s beliefs, leading to religious persecution, social unrest and war; and in the long run his ideas would help break the grip of religion on every sphere of life.Yet Luther was a deeply flawed human being: a fervent believer tormented by spiritual doubts; a prolific writer whose translation of the Bible would shape the German language yet whose attacks on his opponents were vicious and foul-mouthed; a married ex-monk who liberated human sexuality from the stigma of sin but who insisted that women should know their place; a religious fundamentalist, Jew-hater and political reactionary who called ‘for the private and public murder of the peasants’ who had risen against their lords in response to his teaching. And perhaps surprisingly, the man who helped create in the modern world was not modern himself: for him the devil was not a figure of speech but a real, physical presence.As an acclaimed historian, Lyndal Roper explains how Luther’s impact can only be understood against the background of the times. As a brilliant biographer, she gives us the flesh-and-blood figure. She reveals the often contradictory psychological forces that drove Luther forward and the dynamics they unleashed, which turned a small act of protest into a battle against the power of the Church.A New Statesman, Spectator, History Today, Guardian and Sunday Times Book of the YearTrade ReviewThis is a smart, accessible, authoritative biography of one of the most dynamic figures in European history. Lyndal Roper writes with clarity and discernment, so that nothing stands between the reader and her grimly fascinating subject; she earths the reformer, situating him psychically as well as geographically in a Germany she describes as vividly as if we lived there: mining towns as well as lecture halls, courts as well as cathedrals. She creates a context for a man who arouses both admiration and horror in the modern reader. Here he stands: never more vocal, more controversial, more compelling -- Hilary MantelA fine achievement, deeply researched and fluently written, and it brings its difficult and cantankerous subject to life as no other biography has... A magnificent study of one of history’s most compelling and divisive figures -- Richard J. EvansImpeccable scholarship and painstaking fair-mindedness characterize his deeply illuminating biography. Roper has mined the correspondence, and Luther’s charisma and complexity shine through the letters -- Andrew Pettegree * New York Times *Lyndal Roper's new book is a compelling and provocative attempt to restore some flesh and blood to this static icon...the work of one of the most imaginative and pioneering historians of our generation -- Alexandrda Walsham * Guardian *Lyndal Roper provides a fine scholarly narrative of Luther’s extraordinary life...She paints the picture of a “difficult hero”, with full attention to both light and shadow. A compellingly readable and richly documented study -- Rowan WilliamsExcellent and wholly absorbing biography… Roper’s biography, distinguished by the excellence of its writing and research, is the beginning of wisdom in all things Reformation, anti-Roman and, alas, proto-Hitlerite. -- Ian Thomson * Guardian *[Martin Luther is] exemplary history: imaginative yet empirical, rounded and profound. -- Malcolm Gaskill * Financial Times *Roper’s immaculate scholarship…gives a complex account of his inner life, without ever straying beyond what the evidence will allow. -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian, Book of the Year *[It] deploys its considerable learning with the lightest of touches: a seductive, shimmering and significant retelling of a man whose rise to power was…as unlikely as it was extraordinary -- Thomas Penn * Guardian, Book of the Year *An impressive and fascinating read. -- David Crane * Spectator, Book of the Year *A superb evocation of Luther’s Germany… Roper captures so well his coarseness and cruelty. -- A.N. Wilson * New Statesman, Book of the Year *[A] magnificent book. * New Statesman *A revelation of psychological insight and breathtaking historical detail… Extensive and engaging biography… Very strong on the economic background and how it translates into spiritual questions… This book brings clarity to how complicate, strange, ennobling and disgusting the period was. -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *Roper…has an extraordinary talent for making complex theological issues not just clear but entertaining. -- Gerrard DeGroot * The Times *Beautifully written… Among the most interesting, provocative and original biographies of Luther to appear in recent years… This unfailingly inventive and compelling account is a welcome gust of fresh air… Anyone seriously interested in one of the most influential figures of the last half-millennium will need to make time to read this one. -- Peter Marshall * Literary Review *[It is] fresh and captivating… A closely focused and compellingly intimate study of Luther’s perceptions. -- Alexandra Shephard * History Today, Book of the Year *[A] rewarding biography… Roper brings him alive as a very human figure. -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times, Book of the Year *This is the book about Luther we’ve missed among all the holy books and the case studies: the whole engrossing story of a soul and a mind and the man who broke the old world and its old ways for ever. Lyndal Roper brings alive the struggle for ideas, adds a subtle sense of how human beings work, and distils a lifetime of scholarship to conjure Luther’s own world with its princes, demons, scandals and sheer brave defiance of a whole old order -- Michael Pye, author of The Edge of the WorldCompelling and above all deeply honest biography. -- David Crane * Spectator *This book will continue to bring the reformer and his theology to life for generations to come. -- Bridget Heal * History Today, Book of the Year *[An] excellent study. -- Jonathan Wright * BBC History Magazine ****** -- Christopher Howse * Sunday Telegraph *Roper’s Luther is an angry man: a renegade and a rebel… [She] paints a vivid picture of the political and economic context in Mansfeld, where Luther grew up, and of the situation of Wittenberg and its political governance. There are important findings here, particularly relating to Luther’s early life -- Charlotte Methuen * The Times Literary Supplement *Roper writes with the virtuosity of an unsurpassed archival researcher, the grace of an elegant stylist, and the compassion of a seasoned student of human nature. Her nuanced and insightful portrait brilliantly evokes the inner and outer worlds of the man Luther. The book is a complete triumph. -- Joel F. Harrington, author of The Faithful ExecutionerMagnificent and surely definitive – a work of immense scholarship, acute psychological insight and gloriously fluent prose. Lyndal Roper has got under the skin of her subject and the result is thrilling. -- Jessie Childs, author of Henry VIII’s Last Victim and God’s TraitorsRoper’s scholarly strengths plus 10 years of careful research have yielded a richly contextualised biography of a man whose influence has been and remains enormous, for good or ill or both. -- Brad Gregory * Tablet *This is a helpful and insightful examination of Luther’s attitudes and relationships… Highly recommended. -- Martin Wellings * Methodist Recorder *Roper portrays a deeply flawed but fascinating human being to rival any of the major personalities of Tudor England. -- Caroline Sanderson * Bookseller *I heartily commend Martin Luther… It is simply the best English-language biography of Luther I’ve read and I’d be amazed if its combination of rigorous scholarship and approachable tone is bettered. -- Francis Philips * Catholic Herald, Book of the Year *[A] superb new biography… A challenging and deeply stimulating study of a major historical figure. -- Elaine Fulton * History Today *

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Book SynopsisIncredible detail on every aspect of the infantrymans daily life, from weapons drill and unit organization to hygiene and cooking regulations, field punishments and hair styles etc.

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Book SynopsisGermany did not have professional players or a national league until the 1960s, yet it became one of the most successful football nations in the world. Tor! (Goal!) traces the extraordinary story of Germany’s club and international football, from the days when it was regarded as a dangerously foreign pastime, through the horrors of the Nazi years to postwar triumphs and the crisis of the new century. Tor! challenges the myth that German football is ‘predictable’ or ‘efficient’ and brings to life the fascinating array of characters who shaped it: the betrayed pioneer Walther Bensemann; the enigmatic genius Sepp Herberger; the all-conquering Franz Beckenbauer; the modern misfit Lothar Matthäus. And even the radio commentator Herbert Zimmermann, whose ecstatic cries of ‘Tor!’ greeted the winning goal in the 1954 World Cup final and helped change a whole nation’s view of itself. Fully revised and updated ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Tor! is the definitive history of German football.

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Book SynopsisA BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. Two vast lakes joined by underground rivers. Two lakes that have played a central role in Kapka Kassabova's maternal family. As she journeys to her grandmother's place of origin, Kassabova encounters a civilizational crossroads. The Lakes are set within the mountainous borderlands of North Macedonia, Albania and Greece, and crowned by the old Roman road, the via Egnatia. Once a trading and spiritual nexus of the southern Balkans, it remains one of Eurasia's oldest surviving religious melting pots. With their remote rock churches, changeable currents, and large population of migratory birds, the Lakes live in their own time. By exploring the stories of dwellers past and present, Kassabova uncovers the human history shaped by the Lakes. Soon, her journey unfolds to a deeper enquiry into how geography and politics imprint themselves upon families and nations, and confronts her with questions about human suffering and the capacity for change.Trade ReviewTo the Lake is an exquisitely written rallying cry to embrace the notion that the people of the Balkans-and indeed humanity as a whole-have more in common than what divides them, despite generations of strife suggesting otherwise * Financial Times *[An] extraordinarily haunting mixture of travelogue, history and family memoir...a delight, exquisitely written and brimming with compassion... [a] wonderful book * Sunday Times *From the deep labyrinths of the Balkan past, Kapka Kassabova has returned with another hoard of extraordinary lives, tales of survival, dark comedy and horror. Humanity glitters under her gaze in all its facets. Her prose is spectacularly good and her storytelling is a joy -- Philip MarsdenNeatly adhering to rules of three, Kassabova's well-researched and personal book contains three strands: vivid travelogue, ancestral memoir and historical analysis... excellent... deft storytelling * New Statesman *To the Lake's objective is not healing so much as reconciliation, a quest for spiritual wholeness... The book's achievement [...] is to reconcile, thrillingly, what those twin bodies of water represent to Kassabova: the unconscious and the conscious; the darkness of history and the radiance of life and love * Guardian *Kapka Kassabova made her name with a travel book about the turbulent lands on the fringes of the former Ottoman empire. Now she's back in the Balkans in search of her family history -- Best books of 2020 * Times *Kassabova writes with such energy and style that you feel she could visit the dullest place on earth and still make it burst into life -- Philip MarsdenKassabova is a brilliant traveller, an astonishing interviewer and a writer with near clairvoyant understanding of the real lives of men and women -- Horatio ClareA beguiling mixture of memoir, travelogue and historical investigation... The book is marbled with memorable images * Scottish Sunday Times *An intimate portrait of loss * Wanderlust *Kassabova attempts to bring out... the quiet lives that get hidden by history... she is too good a writer not to allow us many individual pleasures... any writer who uses the marvellous word "lacustrine" - "of the lake" - deserves to be celebrated * Spectator *Enlightening, surprising and elegiac ... a joy to read... very elegantly written ... The actual descriptions of the lakes are written with a filigree grace, unostentatious, not overly "poetic", and with a sharp eye for telling detail... I always like books that I leave feeling bigger on the inside, and Kassabova certainly achieves that * Scotland on Sunday *Evocative... Kassabova is an excellent describer of nature... At times, Kassabova's prose seems to literally dissolve into poetry. Her narrative glides through different locations, time periods and perspectives so subtly that you don't quite realise the full scope of its ambition until it's over... You could open this book at any page and immediately get sucked into the beauty of her writing * Open Democracy *

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Book SynopsisA detailed study of Tudor textiles, highlighting their extravagant beauty and their impact on the royal court, fashion, and taste.Trade Review“The book shines the most when it presents new and exciting research into surviving pieces such as the Bacton Altar Cloth. Non-specialist readers will find the material they encounter very thorough and will leave with a better understanding of the role of textiles in the Tudor courts, and those who are specialists will still find this a useful guide to the major topics in this area of study.”—Sarah A. Bendall, Parergon (Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies)“Altogether there is so much to recommend this book: Eleri Lynn has carved an immensely enjoyable read out of her impressive, holistic survey of the Tudor period and its love affair with textiles.”—Embroidery magazine“If you’re a history lover, an enthusiast for historical textiles, if you are curious about the Tudor period and the royalty and palaces from that era, if you’re into art history—you’ll love this book!”—Mary Corbet, Needle ’n Thread magazine“[F]ull of detail and evidence that may not have been drawn together in a book before.”—HALI magazine“Deftly told [and] nicely illustrated.”—Fisun Güner, Art Quarterly“Dress expert Eleri Lynn’s lavishly illustrated volume Tudor Textiles shines a light on the dazzling beauty and extravagance of court fashion and decor. In raiding the sumptuous Tudor royal wardrobe, Lynn has uncovered some real gems.”—Tracy Borman, BBC History Magazine, “Best Books of 2020”“Eleri Lynn’s sumptuous new book and her careful and wide-ranging research offer the reader a glimpse of this vibrant, colourful world.”—Maria Hayward, Burlington Magazine

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Book SynopsisFrom the foremost historian of 20th century Spain, A People Betrayed is the story of the devastating betrayal of Spain by its political class, its military and its Church. This comprehensive history of modern Spain chronicles the fomenting of violent social division throughout the country by institutionalised corruption and startling political incompetence. Most spectacularly during the Primo de Rivera and Franco dictatorships, grotesque and shameless corruption went hand-in-hand with inept policies that prolonged Spain's economic backwardness well into the 1950s.A People Betrayed looks back to the years prior to 1923 when electoral corruption excluded the masses from organized politics and gave them a choice between apathetic acceptance and violent revolution. Bitter social conflict, economic tensions and conflict between centralist nationalism and regional independence movements then exploded into the civil war of 1936-1939.It took the horrors of that war and the dictatorship that foTrade Review Praise for A People Betrayed A Financial Times Best History Book of 2020 ‘For decades, Paul Preston has been one of the English-speaking world’s premier historians of modern Spain. His latest book, dealing with the controversial topic of corruption in Spanish politic, public administration and business, is particularly good on the Franco dictatorship and post-Franco democratic era’Financial Times ‘Fascinating … The depth of the book’s research cannot be faulted and the examples of grand malfeasance and political corruption are extraordinary … Buried in the narrative lies ample treasure … I applauded Preston’s heroic feat.’ Times ‘Tremendously rich and learned … Preston is one of Britain’s finest historians … This book, massively researched … Powerful, persuasive and utterly fascinating – makes for harrowing reading’Sunday Times ‘A magisterial study of [Spain’s] turbulent past, seen through the optic of those apparently ineradicable twins: corruption and political incompetence … Races along in a riveting fashion, replete with eye-catching and often blackly humorous anecdotes …Preston’s narrative combines his gift for cogent, summarising clarity and for telling details …Preston has written an admirable book – a lively, comprehensive history of modern Spain.’Guardian ‘The work of a very great historian who knows all there is to know about his often sanguinary subject and who,beyond that, can impart his knowledge in swift muscular prose. His bias towards the underdog is humane and tonic’ Daily Telegraph ‘The scope of the narrative and the obvious depth of research are impressive. Likely to be the go-to history of modern Spain for many years to come.’Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisA litany of fresh heroes to make the embattled heart sing' Caitlin MoranNewman is a brilliant writer' ObserverA fresh, opinionated history of all the brilliant women you should have learned about in school but didn't.For hundreds of years we have heard about the great men of history, but what about herstory?In this freewheeling history of modern Britain, Cathy Newman writes about the pioneering women who defied the odds to make careers for themselves and alter the course of modern history; women who achieved what they achieved while dismantling hostile, entrenched views about their place in society. Their role in transforming Britain is fundamental, far greater than has generally been acknowledged, and not just in the arts or education but in fields like medicine, politics, law, engineering and the military.While a few of the women in this book are now household names, many have faded into oblivion, their personal and collective achievements mere footnotes in history. We know of EmmeliTrade Review‘Newman is a riveting teller of history. We are given an insight into the lives of women from Queen Victoria to the suffragists and suffragettes fighting for franchise, political pioneers and present day female advocates of the arts … A celebration of women who helped shape modern Britain – as entertaining as it is enlightening … Newman is a brilliant writer; each chapter throws up something even more interesting than the last and the prose shifts seamlessly between them … I could read a whole second volume’ Hannah Jane Parkinson, Observer ‘Modern, punchy and fresh. A pacy compendium of fascinating nuggets’ Katie Glass, Sunday Times ‘For far too long, women’s achievements have been airbrushed out of history. In this groundbreaking book, the first of its kind, Cathy Newman has done a bloody brilliant job of painting them back in bright, vivid colours. She has repaid the debt due by all of us to women pioneers of the past and created a treasure trove of inspiration for women of today and tomorrow. I just wish this book had been written when I was growing up.’ Nicola Sturgeon ‘Powerful, poignant and often provoking – this book shines a light on the contribution of women of all ages, ethnicities, faiths and backgrounds who have helped to make our city and country so great. Cathy Newman narrates the stories of women who have helped shape the world in which we live today, by challenging gender stereotypes, smashing glass ceilings and blazing a trail for the next generation to follow. Eloquently written and hugely enjoyable to read.’ Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London ‘Brilliant, enlightening, and a powerful reminder of the extraordinary and sustained courage of the women who fought against overwhelming odds for equality of opportunity, for rights and respect. This book is so important. No library, no school or university, should be without a copy.’ Michael Morpurgo

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Book SynopsisDavid Kenyon Webster left Harvard to join the paratroopers, training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. He could have used the influence of his wealthy family to land a comfortable desk job, but he was determined to do his duty and to see the war from the point of view of an ordinary soldier. He parachuted into Normandy the night before the D-Day landings and later into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden, going on to participate in the capture of Hitler's Eagle's Nest at the end of the war. After the war Webster worked as a journalist. On 9 September 1961, he went missing while shark fishing off the coast of California. His body was not found. His memoir remained unpublished until Stephen Ambrose discovered it, using it as a key source for his book Band of Brothers and later the series. It was Ambrose's championing of the work that led to its eventual publication.Trade ReviewGutsy, sometimes bemused and sometimes angry … it bites and hangs on * New York Times *[A] first-rate, skillfully written soldier's story * Booklist *Beautifully written and perfectly evokes life and battle in a parachute infantry company * Washinton Post *He understood the ties that bind men in battle have more to do with brotherhood and its obligations than ties to God or country * Kirkus Review *Perfectly pitched ... an authentic witness to the combat experience * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisWITH AN INTRODUCTION BY KATE WILLIAMSFrederick II of Prussia attempted to escape his authoritarian father as a boy, but went on to become one of history''s greatest rulers. He loved the flute, and devoted hours of study to the arts and French literature, forming a long-lasting but turbulent friendship with Voltaire. He was a military genius and enlarged the borders of his empire, but he also promoted religious tolerance, economic reform and laid the foundation for a united Germany. Nancy Mitford brings all these contradictions and achievements to sparkling life in an fascinating, intimate biography.Trade ReviewHe is everything I like, brave, funny, no nonsense, marvellous taste, common sense, interested in everything -- Nancy Mitford on Frederick II of PrussiaThe unmistakable Mitford trill, in whose light, bright cadences an entire hard-to-shock and easy-to-bore view of life is made manifest -- Zoe Heller * Daily Telegraph *Elegant and entertaining * Chicago Tribune *Witty and atmospheric * Sunday Times *[Her books] have the air of having been talked on to the page, in a voice as direct and intimate and clear as a child's -- Laura Thompson * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis**NOW A HIT STAGE PRODUCTION**Take a journey around the archaeological and cultural remains of Roman Britain with the award-winning author of Greek Myths. This is a book about the encounter with Roman Britain: about what the idea of ''Roman Britain'' has meant to those who came after Britain''s 400-year stint as province of Rome - from the medieval mythographer-historian Geoffrey of Monmouth to Edward Elgar and W.H. Auden. What does Roman Britain mean to us now? How were its physical remains rediscovered and made sense of? How has it been reimagined, in story and song and verse? Charlotte Higgins has traced these tales by setting out to discover the remains of Roman Britain for herself, sometimes on foot, sometimes in a splendid, though not particularly reliable, VW camper van. Via accounts of some of Britain''s most intriguing, and often unjustly overlooked ancient monuments, Under Another Sky invites us to see the British Trade ReviewWonderfully written and full of unexpected facts. Higgins brings Roman Britain into the present. -- Richard SennettBeautifully crafted… The beauty of this book is not just in the elegant prose and the precision with which she skewers her myths. It is in the sympathy that she shows for the myth-makers, the men and woman who so very much wanted their very own Roman Britain. -- Peter Stothard * The Times *Mesmerising… Sophisticated and passionate. She personalizes the story in a diaristic, almost poetic tone…her prose reminds me at times of W. G. Sebald’s The Rings of Saturn…similarly haunted by a sense of a past slipping away. -- Tim Whitmarsh * Guardian *Smart and up-to-date, sensitive but hard-headed, impeccably researched but gloriously poetic. The layering of themes, moods and topics is staggering. There's nothing like quite it. -- Tom Holland, author of 'Rubicon' and 'Persian Fire'Under Another Sky should be on every shelf in the UK. Part travelogue, part handbook and part revisionist history, it is a personal and vivid encounter with landscapes, artefacts and people… Beautifully considered and written. -- Ruth Padel * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisLeanda de Lisle is the highly acclaimed author of several bestselling and prize-winning books on the Tudors and Stuarts including Tudor: The Family Story, White King: The Tragedy of Charles I and Henrietta Maria: Conspirator, Warrior, Phoenix Queen. She writes and speaks on historical matters for TV, radio and publications including The Times, the Spectator and History Today.Trade ReviewA wonderfully fluent portrait of five generations... de Lisle brings an entirely fresh feel to the Tudor story, reminding us of the one thing the monarchs themselves wanted us to forget: the sheer improbability of their royal rule -- Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets * The Times (Saturday Review) *Violent, heady, glamorous stuff, this is popular history of a very superior sort -- Lucy Worsley * Country Life *Vivid... Part of the interest of this book lies in the portraits of strong women -- Charles Moore * Daily Telegraph *Tudor is a gripping account of a family riven by passionate jealousies, murderous ambitions and crippling tragedies. Leanda de Lisle is a master storyteller, and this is her greatest work yet. Immersive and exhaustively researched, Tudor is a triumph. * Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire *While many Tudor fans have been crying out for an accessible narrative history of the entire period, few historians have felt able to rise to the challenge... [de Lisle] manages to achieve that very feat... should now be the go-to book -- Chris Skidmore * History Today (Books of the Year 2013) *

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Book SynopsisSelected as a Book of the Year by the New York Times, Times Literary Supplement and The TimesDespite his status as the most despised political figure in history, there have only been four serious biographies of Hitler since the 1930s. Even more surprisingly, his biographers have been more interested in his rise to power and his methods of leadership than in Hitler the person: some have even declared that the Führer had no private life. Yet to render Hitler as a political animal with no personality to speak of, as a man of limited intelligence and poor social skills, fails to explain the spell that he cast not only on those close to him but on the German people as a whole. In the first volume of this monumental biography, Volker Ullrich sets out to correct our perception of the Führer. While charting in detail Hitler's life from his childhood to the eve of the Second World War against the politics of the times, Ullrich unveils the man behind the pTrade ReviewEveryone concerned about democracy should read this book. -- Richard J. Evans * The Nation *A superb biography of the Führer’s pre-war years… It is a tribute to Ullrich’s absorbing biography that one contemplates its second volume with a shudder. -- Miranda Seymour * Daily Telegraph *[A] fascinating Shakespearean parable about how the confluence of circumstances, chance, a ruthless individual and the wilful blindness of others can transform a country. -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times *A substantial addition to the Fuhrer canon. -- David Aaronovitch * The Times, Book of the Year *Where Ullrich adds greatly to our understanding is by making the mercurial, changeable and…profoundly unknowable Hitler believable… This is a major achievement… Impressive and revealing biography. -- Nicholas Stargardt * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisA military leader of legendary genius, Caesar was also a great writer, recording the events of his life with incomparable immediacy and power. The Civil War is a tense and gripping depiction of his struggle with Pompey over the leadership of Republican Rome - a conflict that spanned the entire Roman world, from Gaul and Spain to Asia and Africa. Where Caesar''s own account leaves off in 48 BC, his lieutenants take up the history, describing the vital battles of Munda, Spain and Thapsus, and the installation of Cleopatra, later Caesar''s mistress, as Queen of Egypt. Together these narratives paint a full picture of the events that brought Caesar supreme power - and paved the way for his assassination only months later.Table of ContentsThe Civil WarIntroductionHistorical backgroundCaesar - the man and his aimsThe Civil War and the continuationsBibliographical NoteTranslator's NoteCaesar: The Civil WarPart I: The Struggle Begins1. Intransigence at Rome2. Caesar reacts3. The Seige of Corfinium4. Pompey leaves Italy5. Caesar's Senate6. Resistance at Massilia7. The First Spanish campaign - Ilerda8. A naval fight at Massilia9. Spain - a war of attrition10. The Pompeians capitulatePart II: Securing the West1. The Seige of Massilia2. Spain - the surrender of Varro3. Massilia capitulates4. Africa - Curio's campaign5. Curio's last standPart III: The Great Confrontation1. Caesar in Italy - Pompey's preparations2. Negotiations in Epirus3. Trouble in Italy4. Antony runs the gauntlet5. The Lieutenants in Macedon6. Stalemate at Dyrrachium7. Setbacks for Caesar8. Caesar moves to Thessaly9. Pompey follows10. The battle of Pharsalus11. The death of Peompey12. Caesar at AlexandriaThe Alexandrian WarI. Events in Egypt1. Miltary preparations2. The water supply poisoned3. Naval engagements4. The last stagesII. Events in AsiaIII. Events in IllyricumIV. Events in SpainV. Caesar Chastens Pharnaces: ZelaThe African War1. Initail landings in Africa2. Waiting at Ruspina3. Consolidation4. Caesar takes the offense5. The Pompeians lose the initiative6. Thapsus7. The settlement of AfricaThe Spanish War1. Caesar pursues the Pompeians2. The victory of Munda3. 'Mopping-up'NotesThe Civil WarThe AlexandrainThe African WarThe Spanish WarAppendixesI. The TextII. The Ultimate DecreeIII. PharsalusIV. Chronological Outline of the Careers of Pompey and CaesarGlossary or Persons and PlacesIndex of MapsMaps and Sketch-Plans

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Book SynopsisOliver Bullough studied modern history at Oxford University and moved to Russia after graduating in 1999. He lived in St Petersburg, Bishkek and Moscow over the next seven years, travelling widely as a reporter for Reuters news agency. He is now the Caucasus Editor for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting. His first book, Let Our Fame Be Great, Journeys Among the Defiant People of the Caucasus, received the Cornelius Ryan award in the United States and was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize in Britain. Oliver Bullough received the Oxfam Emerging Writer award in 2011.Trade ReviewAn ambitious and wide-ranging journey into the heart of a great, sad country ... He has a talent for sketching the people he meets, often administering a welcome dose of humour, and he appreciates the absurd, in the best Russian tradition -- Arthur House * Sunday Telegraph *Vivid ... very engaging * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book Synopsis''In the craven world of architectural criticism Hatherley is that rarest of things: a brave, incisive, elegant and erudite writer, whose books dissect the contemporary built environment to reveal the political fantasies and social realities it embodies'' Will SelfDuring the course of the twentieth century, communism took power in Eastern Europe and remade the city in its own image. Ransacking the urban planning of the grand imperial past, it set out to transform everyday life, its sweeping boulevards, epic high-rise and vast housing estates an emphatic declaration of a non-capitalist idea. Now, the regimes that built them are dead and long gone, but from Warsaw to Berlin, Moscow to post-Revolution Kiev, the buildings, their most obvious legacy, remain, populated by people whose lives were scattered and jeopardized by the collapse of communism and the introduction of capitalism.Landscapes of Communism is an intimate history of twentieth-century communist EuropTrade ReviewCan one talk yet of vintage Hatherley? Yes, one can. Here are all the properties that have made him one of the most distinctive writers in England - not just 'architectural writers', but writers full stop: acuity, contrariness, observational rigour, frankness and beautifully wrought prose. This is a tempered love letter to eastern Europe and a fullblown love letter to an eastern European woman. I can't think of anything remotely akin -- Jonathan MeadesThe latest heir to Ruskin. -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Hatherley is the most informed, opinionated and acerbic guide you could wish for. -- Hugh Pearman * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Penguin Monarchs series: short, fresh, expert accounts of England''s rulers - now in paperbackCharles II has always been one of the most instantly recognisable British kings - both in his physical appearance, disseminated through endless portraits, prints and pub signs, and in his complicated mix of lasciviousness, cynicism and luxury. His father''s execution and his own many years of exile made him a guarded, curious, unusually self-conscious ruler. He lived through some of the most striking events in the national history - from the Civil Wars to the Great Plague, from the Fire of London to the wars with the Dutch.Clare Jackson''s marvellous book takes full advantage of its irrepressible subject.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Above the Fray is a major effort to analyze the development of a distinct humanitarian field animated by the religious worldview of the nineteenth Calvinist milieu of Geneva, which connects a network of philanthropists, pacific activists, and religious actors concerned with addressing human tragedies. In telling the story of the emergence of this institutional field, Dromi innovates by bringing meaning-making into Bourdieusian field analysis in a non-reductivist fashion. Thus, he makes a brilliant contribution to historical sociology, and offers a much-needed addition to the sociological theory of fields. His book will be a crucial point of reference for several fields of research in the years to come."--Michele Lamont, professor of sociology and African and African American studies, Harvard University "Humanitarianism is not just an ethical orientation, but a whole sector of social institutions and practical actions. Dromi's Above the Fray superbly illuminates both the history of this field since the founding of the Red Cross and its increasingly difficult challenges today."--Craig Calhoun, university professor of social sciences, Arizona State University

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Book SynopsisA guide to the wonders of Venice, conveyed by means of an artist''s sketchbookMatthew Rice is a long-time observer and illustrator of cities, buildings and all those who inhabit them, with an uncanny ability to express the energy of a place through a few lines of ink and splashes of paint. For years, Venice has been a source of deep creative inspiration for him; and now, in Venice: A Sketchbook Guide, he captures the highlights of this most beguiling of Italian cities. Unsurprisingly, given his abiding passion for architecture, Matthew provides a wealth of information about the ''stones'' of Venice, including an illustrated guide to the main building styles of the city - Byzantine, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Modern - and exemplars of its balconies, bridges and campaniles. Further sections explore the city''s sestieri - its six residential quarters - as well as its history, paintings, festivals, wildlife and, not least, its cicchetti

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Book SynopsisThe sensational second volume of Charles Moore''s bestselling authorized biography of the Iron LadyIn June 1983 Margaret Thatcher won the biggest increase in a government''s Parliamentary majority in British electoral history. Over the next four years, as Charles Moore relates in this central volume of his uniquely authoritative biography, Britain''s first woman prime minister changed the course of her country''s history and that of the world, often by sheer force of will.The book reveals as never before how she faced down the Miners'' Strike, transformed relations with Europe, privatized the commanding heights of British industry and continued the reinvigoration of the British economy. It describes her role on the world stage with dramatic immediacy, identifying Mikhail Gorbachev as ''a man to do business with'' before he became leader of the Soviet Union, and then persistently pushing him and Ronald Reagan, her great ideological soulmate, to order world affaTrade ReviewMoore has finally completed one of the most thrilling, comprehensive, fair-minded and elegantly written biographies of modern times. It is full of complex argument, and a very large cast, but it is a joy to read.—Andrew Marr, New StatesmanReviewers are supposed never to use the word "definitive" about a history book or biograph, but with Charles Moore's life of Margaret Thatcher, of which this is the triumphant last volume, one has no other option. ... an absolute masterpiece of the biographer's art.—Andrew Roberts, Daily TelegraphMoore's Margaret Thatcher is one of the truly great biographies. Throughout the three volumes it has been comprehensive and subtle, breaking new ground while being surefooted on familiar terrain. He provides a portrait of Thatcher - her anxiousness and her certainty, her strength and her frailty - that is surprising and fresh while still convincing. This volume completes a historical masterpiece.—Daniel Finkelstein, The TimesNot merely the authorized biography, Moore's is the definitive biography of Thatcher, and perhaps one of the definitive books about Britain in the late twentieth century.—Anne Applebaum, New York Review of BooksThis is a magnificent political biography which takes its place next to Robert Blake's Disraeli and Robert Caro's Lyndon Johnson on the highest level. Outstanding... superb... extraordinarily compelling.—Philip Hensher, Spectator

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Book SynopsisAn epic adventure: from the Vikings to the Enlightenment, from barbaric outpost to global hub, this book tells the dazzling history of northern Europe''s transformation by sea.''Pye writes like a dream. Magnificent'' Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps______________This is a story of saints and spies, of anglers and pirates, traders and marauders - and of how their wild and daring journeys across the North Sea built the world we know.When the Roman Empire retreated, northern Europe was a barbarian outpost at the very edge of everything. A thousand years later, it was the heart of global empires and the home of science, art, enlightenment and money. We owe this transformation to the tides and storms of the North Sea.Boats carried food and raw materials, but also new ideas and information. The seafarers raided, ruined and killed, but they also settled and coupled. With them they brought new tastTrade ReviewIt's fascinating to understand [these] historical trends and ideas -- Jeremy CorbynAn utterly beguiling journey into the dark ages of the north sea. A complete revelation . . . Pye writes like a dream. Magnificent -- Jerry Brotton, author of 'A History of the World in Twelve Maps'A closely-researched and fascinating characterisation of the richness of life and the underestimated interconnections of the peoples all around the medieval and early modern North Sea. A real page-turner -- Chris Wickham, author of 'The Inheritance of Rome: A History of Europe from 400 to 1000'Elegant writing and extraordinary scholarship . . . Miraculous -- Hugh Aldersey-Williams, author of 'Periodic Tales' and 'Anatomies'Splendid. A heady mix of social, economic, and intellectual history, written in an engaging style. It offers a counterpoint to the many studies of the Mediterranean, arguing for the importance of the North Sea. Exciting, fun, and informative -- Michael Prestwich, Professor of History, Durham UniversityBrilliant. Pye is a wonderful historian . . . bringing history to life like no one else. Who knew that the Irish invented punctuation? -- Terry JonesA masterly storyteller * Vogue *Pye has a great journalist's eye for a story and the telling anecdote as well as a great historian's ability to place it in the bigger picture. Here he fuses those talents in a hugely eclectic study of the very first stirrings of modernity in northern Europe -- Alexander McCall SmithPye draws on a dizzying array of documentary and archaeological scholarship, which he works together in surprising ways . . . He advances on several fronts at once, following the overlapping currents of customary, religious and empirical ways of thinking. He writes about difficult concepts with vivid details and stories, often jump-cutting from exposition to drama like a film. It's complicated, but fun * Economist *Hugely enjoyable. it is the measure of Pye's achievement that he can breathe life into the traders of seventh-century Frisia or the beguines of late-medieval Flanders as well as into his more celebrated subjects . . . Grey the waters of the North Sea may be; but Pye has successfully dyed them with a multitude of rich colours -- Tom Holland * Guardian *A dazzling historical adventure * Daily Telegraph *An extraordinary book . . . Pye makes astonishing discoveries. Brevity is the bane of the reviewer; the best books are impossible to summarise in just 900 words. That's especially true with a treasure chest like this one . . . The end result is brilliantly illuminating. Pye's creativity brings light to this once dark time * The Times *A multi-layered book that demands time to read and be digested but rewards by giving one plenty to chew on * Observer *Excellent. The Edge of the World does what good non-fiction should, in making the reader see the world in a different light * Scotland on Sunday *An inspiring book, full of surprises . . . this is the kind of book that can open up new vistas. It might just rekindle a sense that Britain really is a North Sea nation and not just a rootless post-Imperium searching for a niche in the global emporium * Independent *Bristling, wide-ranging and big-themed ... Pye's view of the North Sea and European history succeeds in reorienting our thinking about the past * New York Times Book Review *A joy to read and reread. Pye challenges all our notions of the Dark Ages and shows the vast accomplishments completed long before the Renaissance. This book must be ranked right up there with the works of Mark Kurlansky and Thomas Cahill as a primer of the steps that led to modern civilization * Kirkus, starred review *An eye-opening reexamination of of Europe during the Dark Ages, and delightfully accessible. Pye's style is leisurely yet authoritative, scholarly but engaging; his approach resembles that of a docent leading a group through a vast museum, with each section devoted to a different aspect of society * Publishers Weekly *Refreshing. Pye excels at painting a unique portrait of the political, economic, and cultural transformation that has occurred on the shores of the North Sea. His frequent use of primary sources as well as fictional literary works gives the work an ethereal nature * Library Journal *Wonderful - well researched and beautifully written; he weaves in glorious anecdotes that show the Viking world as it should be seen -- Dr Peter Frankopan, Director, The Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research

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Book SynopsisA Times/Sunday Times Book of the Year''Powerful . . . there is rage in his ink. McKay''s book grips by its passion and originality. Some 25,000 people perished in the firestorm that raged through the city. I have never seen it better described'' Max Hastings, Sunday TimesIn February 1945 the Allies obliterated Dresden, the ''Florence of the Elbe''. Explosive bombs weighing over 1,000 lbs fell every seven and a half seconds and an estimated 25,000 people were killed. Was Dresden a legitimate military target or was the bombing a last act of atavistic mass murder in a war already won?From the history of the city to the attack itself, conveyed in a minute-by-minute account from the first of the flares to the flames reaching almost a mile high - the wind so searingly hot that the lungs of those in its path were instantly scorched - through the eerie period of reconstruction, bestselling author Sinclair McKay creates a vast canvas and brTrade ReviewPowerful . . . there is rage in his ink. McKay's book grips by its passion and originality -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *A shrewd, humane and balanced account of this most controversial target of the Anglo-American strategic bombing campaign, the ferocious consequence of the scourge of Nazism -- Allan Mallinson, author of Fight to the FinishAuthentic and authoritative, a masterpiece of its genre -- Damien Lewis, author of Zero Six BravoCompelling . . . Sinclair McKay brings a dark subject vividly to life -- Keith Lowe, author of Savage Continent

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Book SynopsisThe definitive account of the superior fighting force that powered the English RevolutionTrade Review“Authoritative and incisive. . . . This is far from just a military history. Gentles, formerly of York University, deals briskly with the key battles and sieges that made, for better or worse, the New Model’s reputation—Naseby, Dunbar, Colchester, Drogheda. . . . Gentles is fascinating too when writing about procurement.”—Paul Lay, Times (UK) “Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army won the decisive battles of the English civil war, overthrew the monarchy in 1649 and sustained the republic until its collapse in 1660. In this expanded version of a study published in 1992, Gentles shows why he is considered the leading authority on the army.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times, “Best Summer Books of 2022: History” “A thorough study. . . . The author’s mastery of the relevant manuscript and printed primary sources and secondary works is exemplary.”—Edward M. Furgol, Seventeenth-Century News “Explores not just the intricacies and complexities of the army, but also what made it such a formidable battlefield force.”—Military History Matters “This new account shows how powerful the New Model Army was at fighting not just with the sword but also with “The Word.” . . . New insight is given, proving that religion was beating strongly at its heart and that this faith was a force in building morale, military skill and ultimately victory.”—Bruce Kemble-Johnson, Let’s Talk “The purpose of this book is not to provide yet another military history of the wars, but to look beyond the accounts of the fighting, and to consider why the New Model Amy was so formidable on the battlefield, and why it had such an impact on politics and religion off it. Here the author succeeds admirably, delivering an indispensable study that is both insightful and thoroughly readable.”—David Flintham, Military History Matters “A richly detailed and authoritative survey of Parliament’s formidable army formed in 1645 and disbanded at the Restoration.”—Jackie Eales, History Today “Gentles provides a lively and accessible prose, without sacrificing scholarly rigour and analysis. The book will become a standard text for students of the Civil Wars in the Three Kingdoms for decades to come.”— Andrew Hopper, International Journal of Military History and Historiography Shortlisted for the 2023 Military History Matters Book of the Year “Ian Gentles has long been the leading authority on the most important and influential army in English history: and this latest book proves that he still is!”—Ronald Hutton, author of The Making of Oliver Cromwell “Gentles recovers the heart of revolutionary England in this indispensable and definitive landmark book. He masterfully charts the astonishing rise and successes of the New Model Army. Now, in this updated and fresh edition, he provides a view from the inside into the fears, failures, and wider aspirations of the army during its final and most elusive years.”—Polly Ha, associate professor of the history of Christianity, Duke University “Students of the English Revolution, for whom the first edition of The New Model Army has long been required reading, will be thrilled. . . . A tour de force which presents the New Model as a political phenomenon as well as a highly effective military force.”—David Appleby, author of Black Bartholomew’s Day “This is an important and timely reworking of a classic study of the military wrecking ball of the English Revolution. Authoritative yet accessible, the lively narrative guides the reader through a complex and transformative period in the histories of England, Ireland, and Scotland. Henceforth, Gentles’ account will be essential reading for those interested in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.”—Micheál Ó Siochrú, Trinity College Dublin, author of God’s Executioner: Oliver Cromwell and the Conquest of Ireland

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Book SynopsisOn 30 July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was steaming through the South Pacific, on her way home having delivered the bomb that was to decimate Hiroshima seven days later, when she was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine. Of a crew of 1196 men an estimated 300 were killed upon impact; the remaining 900 sailors went into the sea. Undetected for five days, they struggled to stay alive, fighting off sharks, hypothermia and madness. By the time rescue arrived, only 317 men were left alive. Interweaving the stories of some of these survivors (including the ship''s Captain Butler McVay, who would be unjustly court-martialled for the loss of his ship and, twenty years later and tormented by the experience, take his own life), Doug Stanton brings this incredible human drama to life in a narrative that is at once immediate and timeless. The definitive account of a near-forgotten chapter in the history of the last war, In Harm''s Way has become a classic.And, some 72 years laTrade ReviewThe story of the 1945 sinking of the USS Indianapolis ... 1196 men went into the Pacific... their entire ordeal, from the intial fireball to the 1968 suicide of the captian, is spelt out here in vivd, horrific detail. Brilliant stuff. * Later *A thoroughly researched, powerfully written account of a nightmare at sea, one of the most poignant tragedies and injustices of World War II -- Mark Bowden, author of Black Hawk DownSuperb...it's the stuff about the men in the sea that'll make you weep. Four days without water, being picked off one by one by sharks...and no-one in the world even realising they are missing. Gripping * FHM *How could a WWII battleship carrying over 1,000 men be torpedoed by a Japanese submarine and sink, leaving the survivors to bob in the Pacific Ocean at the mercy of elements and predators, without anyone realizing the loss for more than four days? Stanton not only offers a well-researched chronicle of what is widely regarded as the worst naval disaster in U.S. history, but also vividly renders the combatants' hellish ordeal during the sinking, and the ensuing days at sea as well as attempts to cope with the traumatic aftermath . . . absorbing, novelistic . . . illuminating and emotional without being maudlin * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA professional solder for thirty-five years, Allan Mallinson began writing while still serving. His first book was a history of four regiments of British light dragoons, one of which he commanded. His debut novel was the bestselling A Close Run Thing, the first in an acclaimed series chronicling the life of a fictitious cavalry officer before and after Waterloo (The Tigress of Mysore is the fourteenth in the series). His The Making of the British Army was shortlisted for a number of prizes, while 1914: Fight the Good Fight won the British Army's Book of the Year' Award. Its sequel, Too Important for the Generals, is a provocative look at leadership during the Great War, while Fight to the Finish is a comprehensive history of the First World War, month by month.Allan Mallinson reviews for the Spectator and the TLS and also writes for The Times. He lives on Salisbury Plain.Trade ReviewFascinating... clear and concise... important. It is hard to see this book being bettered in the near future -- Simon Heffer * DAILY TELEGRAPH *I learned a lot -- Jeremy Paxman * OBSERVER *This is no mere paperback edition of Mallinson's acclaimed 2009 hardback. He presents a revised and updated version that no self-respecting defense commentator can risk being without * THE TIMES *A compelling history of the British Army -- Emmanuelle Smith * FT *Mallinson is surely right to stress the one enduring quality of the British Army: 'operational resilience' -- Saul David * SPECTATOR *

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Book SynopsisEmpires - vast states of territories and peoples united by force and ambition - have dominated the political landscape for more than two millennia. This title departs from conventional European and nation-centered perspectives to take a look at how empires relied on diversity to shape the global order.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2011 Book Prize, World History Association One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2010 "This is a very big book on an enormous subject. For anybody who assumes imperial history is all about Britain, with some 19th-century European imitators on the side, it will be something of a shock. For Burbank and Cooper, imperial history is world history. The authors also make a point popular among academics who hate the idea of borders keeping the underprivileged out of rich nations, that empires can be confederations of different peoples united by an all-encompassing ideal. 'Sovereignty can be shared, layered and transformed,' they write. Whether or not you agree with the implications of this argument, the weeks it will take bedtime history buffs to get through this book will be time well spent."--Stephen Matchett, The Australian "This exemplary work, clearly laid out and fluently written, is a must for every undergraduate library, though more advanced scholars will also find much in it."--Choice "A tour d'horizon through world history based on a stupendous knowledge of the literature, both authors take as their leitmotif the question of how empires have dealt with diversity and analyze the most varied constellations of imperial control."--Andreas Eckert, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung "Jane Burbank's and Frederick Cooper's Empires in World History is a very useful and impressive reference book."--Sheldon Kirshner, Canadian Jewish News "Empires in World History provides a powerful teaching tool for framing the sometimes fluid and complex relationships between empires and nation-states, subjects and citizens, inclusion and exclusion... This book will likely prove most useful in graduate courses in empire and/or world history and to teachers who are seeking a way to teach about empire without simply jumping from one to the next."--Clif Stratton, World History Bulletin "A good read for those interested in any of the empires discussed or in the rise and fall of megastates."--A. A. Nofi, StrategyPage.com "Empires in World History is one of the clearest written surveys of empires available. It will serve well as an introductory text for university students and as a reference for scholars."--Michael J. Seth, European Legacy "Empires in World History ... provides fresh insight into the strategies of imperial rule that have sustained empires over time... It will be a useful text for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as general readers interested in imperial histories."--Paula Hastings, World History ConnectedTable of ContentsList of Illustrations vii Preface xi Chapter 1: Imperial Trajectories 1 Chapter 2: Imperial Rule in Rome and China 23 Chapter 3: After Rome: Empire, Christianity, and Islam 61 Chapter 4: Eurasian Connections: The Mongol Empires 93 Chapter 5: Beyond the Mediterranean: Ottoman and Spanish Empires 117 Chapter 6: Oceanic Economies and Colonial Societies: Europe, Asia, and the Americas 149 Chapter 7: Beyond the Steppe: Empire-Building in Russia and China 185 Chapter 8: Empire, Nation, and Citizenship in a Revolutionary Age 219 Chapter 9: Empires across Continents: The United States and Russia 251 Chapter 10: Imperial Repertoires and Myths of Modern Colonialism 287 Chapter 11: Sovereignty and Empire: Nineteenth-Century Europe and Its Near Abroad 331 Chapter 12: War and Revolution in a World of Empires: 1914 to 1945 369 Chapter 13: End of Empire? 413 Chapter 14: Empires, States, and Political Imagination 443 Suggested Reading and Citations 461 Index 481

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in folio size complete with fine engravings, this new collection of Captain Charles Johnson's tales of rogues includes the very best of the bunch, along with decorative plates from the British Library collections.

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Book SynopsisBlack Victorians shows how Black lives were visible, present and influential â not temporary presences but established and rooted; and how paradox and ambivalence characterised the Victorian view of race.Trade Review‘The history of Black people in this country is woven into the tapestry that is the United Kingdom. Black Victorians shows us, in vivid detail, how Black people didn't just take part in the Victorian era, they shaped it’ David Lammy MP, author of Tribes‘Meatily researched and illuminating... [brings] to swaggering life a group of Britons who have spent too long in the shadows’ Susie Goldsbrough, The Times‘An important survey of the subject based on painstaking research. Woolf and Abraham's Black Victorians: Hidden in History provides an indispensable introduction to the subject told through the lives of some of the most eminent personalities of the era, as well as those hitherto little known. A significant contribution to the field’ Hakim Adi'This book will generate discussion and change mindsets. It is brilliant’ Dr Maggie Semple OBE‘The book's telling details are liberating for, in spite of the Black Victorians' subjection and degradation, they are presented not as victims, but rather as resourceful, inventive, assertive human beings in their quests for betterment. Their cumulative experiences are skilfully woven into an engaging, richly textured book – an insightful work of scholarship’ Ron Ramdin, author of The Making of the Black Working Class in Britain‘Fascinating, thorough, well-researched and extremely readable, Black Victorians provides invaluable insight into a history of Victorian Britain that is not often told’ Hafsa Zayyan, author of We Are All Birds of Uganda‘Engaging, informative and accessible, Black Victorians shines a light on a little-known aspect of British history. It is written with passion and attention to detail. I highly recommend this book’ Stephen Bourne, author of Black Poppies: Britain's Black Community and the Great War‘Revelatory. Exposing whitewashing, tackling archival obfuscation, and returning little known figures to history, this book restores colour to our vision of Victorian Britain’ Suzannah Lipscomb, author of What is History, Now?

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Book SynopsisRe-Discovering the Past is SHP''s ideal series for mixed-ability teaching in Key Stage 3, combining clear author text, accessible but worthwhile activities and clear lines of enquiry.About the seriesThrough this series you can ensure your teaching of National Curriculum History is totally accessible, interesting and worthwhile. It is based on the Schools History Project''s awarding-winning series Discovering the Past but for this series SHP have: streamlined the content, simplified the language, scaffolded the tasks, while retaining their characteristic emphasis on challenging readers to think deeply and pursue historical enquiry. SHP have also provided extensive support for further differentiation through FREE online support material via the Hodder History Nest. About this titleRe-Discovering Britain 1750-1900 provides an accessible textbook for studying the industrial revolution and the growth of empire and trade as part of the revised History National Curriculum: ''Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain 1745-1901''. It combines overview and depth study. -Overview: How did Britain change between 1750 and 1900?-Depth Study 1: The Industrial Revolution-Depth Study 2: Empire and trade-Depth Study 3: Towns-Depth Study 4: The vote-Depth Study 5: Victorian valuesBritain 1750-1900 Special Needs Support Materials and Re-Discovering Britain 1750-1900 Teacher''s Resource Book are available FREE from the Hodder History Nest.The full series:Re-discovering Medieval Realms 1066-1500Re-discovering the Making of the United Kingdom 1500-1750Re-discovering Britain 1750-1900Re-discovering the Twentieth Century World

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Book SynopsisMore than a footnote to the Second World War, or a foreword to the youth-obsessed exhilaration of the Sixties, the Fifties was a thrilling decade devoted to newness and freshness. The British people, rebuilding their lives and wardrobes, demanded modern materials, vibrant patterns and exciting prints inspired by scientific discoveries and modern art. Despite the influence of glamorous Paris couture led by Dior, home-grown fashion labels including Horrockses and the young Queen Elizabeth's couturier Norman Hartnell had an equally great, if not greater impact on British style. This book, written by an assistant curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum, is a fascinating look back to the days when post-war Britain developed a fresh sense of style.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The End of Rationing Everyday Fashion: Work and Pleasure Hats: Crowning Glory Formal Wear: Going to the Ball Underwear: Things Seen and Unseen Menswear: Genesis of the Peacock Epilogue: Slipping into the Sixties Further Reading Places to Visit Index

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Book SynopsisA striking and sympathetic portrait of England''s first Queen, Mary I - whose character has been vilified for over 400 years. Instead of the bloodthirsty bigot of Protestant mythology, Mary Tudor emerges from the pages of this deeply-researched biography as a cultured renaissance princess, a courageous survivor of the violent power struggles that characterised the reigns of her father, Henry VIII, and brother Edward VI. The author does not belittle Mary''s burning of heretics, which earned her the subriquet ''Bloody Mary'', but she also had many endearing personal qualities and talents, not least the courage of leadership she showed in facing down Northumberland''s rebellion. A well-balanced and readable biography of Mary I is long overdue.Trade ReviewDrawing on new, contemporary scholarly research, this is a fascinating new take on a much misunderstood monarch * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *A richly researched, marvellously realised historical biography * TELEGRAPH *Mary deserves her proper account and this friendly and appreciative biography gives her the credit she is due * THE TABLET *This well-researched biography about "Bloody" Mary is fascinating. I loved the way the author shattered the misconceptions we have of her * WOMAN'S OWN *

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Book SynopsisA study of the ideology of Savitri Devi, whose beliefs combined Aryan supremacism and anti-semitism with Hinduism, social Darwinism and a fundamentally biocentric view of life. This book examines how Devi has been lionized by the fringe radical right as a foremother of Nazi ideology.Trade Review"An engrossing, disturbing, and important book. Well-researched and evocatively told, the strange story of Savitri Devi is a mirror of the twentieth century's dark undercurrents and deserves to be widely read and pondered." -- Robert S. Ellwood,University of Southern California"[A] superb study. . . . Goodrick-Clarke has done a service to sanity, even if the gullible will go on swallowing [Devi's] recycled poison rather than his antidote." * Times Literary Supplement *"An excellent, thought-provoking volume. . . . We may readily accept that Devi was a revolting creature. But it is as well that we realise that such demons in human form existed and still do exist." * Independent *"An admirably cool-headed history of an inflammatory subject. . . . It is likely to stand as the definitive study of a subject that a lesser author would have exploited for maximum sensationalism." * Gnosis *"[A] provoking volume." * Bulletin of the Arnold and Leona Finkler Institute of Holocaust Research, No. 10 *

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Book SynopsisAlthough the Battle of Arnhem was fought over sixty years ago. It still evokes such interest that it would seem to rank with the great victories of Agincourt, Trafalgar, Waterloo and the Battle of Britain, all of which proved to be turning points in the history of our nation. Arnhem was not a victory, but its outcome may have had results equally vital to the more recent history of the world. To many people the Battle of Arnhem was the Battle of Arnhem Bridge, which has now passed into history as The Bridge Too Far. This is understandable

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Book SynopsisWhat happens when you put the Roman Empire in the hands of a teenage boy? The life and times of the worst Roman emperor of all.What happens when you put the Roman Empire in the hands of a teenage boy? Discover the scandalous life and times of Rome''s worst emperor. ''Buy the book; it''s very entertaining.'' David Aaronovitch, The Times On 8 June 218 AD, a fourteen-year-old Syrian boy, egged on by his grandmother, led an army to battle in a Roman civil war. Against all expectations, he was victorious. Varius Avitus Bassianus, known to the modern world as Heliogabalus, was proclaimed emperor. The next four years were to be the strangest in the history of the empire. Heliogabalus humiliated the prestigious Senators and threw extravagant dinner parties for lower-class friends. He ousted Jupiter from his summit among the gods and replaced him with Elagabal. He married a Vestal Virgin - twice. Rumours aboundeTrade Review'Sidebottom is an agile guide and draws the reader’s attention to the remarkably inclusive nature of the empire, from its acceptance of different cultures into citizenship (the exact and polar opposite of, say, Qatar), its routine freeing of slaves and its acceptance of new gods into its pagan pantheon… Buy the book, it’s very entertaining.' -- David Aaronovitch, The Times'The decadence, debauchery and sexual promiscuity that marked the adolescent’s time on the imperial throne make for a rollicking read.' -- Daily Mail‘Ancient history was never less dry than in Harry Sidebottom’s superbly entertaining and always scholarly account of the reign of Heliogabalus... There is something for every reader: sex, politics, scandals and a compelling portrait of imperial society and culture.’ -- Tony Barber * Financial Times, Book of the Year *'We are used to being told that the historical truth is less exciting than the myth. But, as Harry Sidebottom’s The Mad Emperor demonstrates, this is one of those rare cases when the history does not fall short. While working hard to correct the preconceptions of both scholars and general readers, Sidebottom presents a picture of third-century imperial Rome that is, if anything, wilder than the popular imagination.' -- Telegraph‘Harry Sidebottom certainly makes the most of this potential. In thirteen chapters he takes us on an enjoyable romp through the few highs and many lows of Heliogabalus’s fleeting four years as emperor, between 218 CE and 222… Throughout Sidebottom showcases the historian in action, assessing his sources, trawling through prosopography and carefully identifying marble portrait busts. He offers a scholarly but readable biography of an emperor who has been rather short of such attentions.’ -- TLS‘Sidebottom has an expert’s command of the rebarbative source base for third-century Rome… A whole scholarly architecture lies beneath and underpins his thoroughly convincing portrait of a failed emperor. His conclusions must be taken seriously.’ -- LRB‘The Mad Emperor recreates the Ancient World with the eye of a poet and the sure hand of a scholar.’ -- Barry Strauss, author of Ten Caesars'Harry Sidebottom skilfully juggles what to believe and what not to believe… The racy story is told with the vivid phrasing and descriptive powers of an accomplished novelist… supported by a rich back story and a fascinating discussion of his legacy… a well-illustrated and absorbing read.' -- Guy de la Bédoyère, BBC History Magazine'Sidebottom brings [Heliogabalus] vividly back to life. His prose feels vibrant and effortless but also rewards close reading.' -- Daisy Dunn, author of Not Far from Brideshead: Oxford Between the Wars‘A scholarly but highly readable account of the teenager who became classical Rome’s most reviled emperor, but who may be viewed with a touch more sympathy now.’ -- Matthew Kneale, author of Rome: A History in Seven Sackings‘A riveting and rollicking account of a much maligned but truly thrilling era in Roman history.’ -- Emma Southon, author of A Fatal Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum'Combining the pace of a novelist, the training of a scholar and the instincts of a true historian, this is a wonderful exploration of the Roman world under its strangest emperor.' -- Adrian Goldsworthy, author of Pax Romana'An absolute belter' -- Paul Ross * TalkSPORT, Book of the Week *

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Book SynopsisThis text reveals the true story of Zephaniah Job, the Cornishman who masterminded the flourishing contraband trade in Polperro during the Napoleonic wars, as well as the privateers whose adventures led to the capture of handsome prizes.Trade Review"This book reveals a great deal about a number of Cornish families. Essential for historians and a delightful insight for visitors and locals alike." Cornish World "Absorbing biography" Western Morning News

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Book SynopsisMarking the third centenary of the office of Prime Minister, this book tells its extraordinary story, explaining how and why it has endured longer than any other democratic political office in world history. Sir Anthony Seldon, historian of Number 10 Downing Street, explores the lives and careers, loves and scandals, successes and failures, of all our great Prime Ministers. From Robert Walpole and William Pitt the Younger, to Clement Attlee and Margaret Thatcher, Seldon discusses which of our Prime Ministers have been most effective and why. He reveals the changing relationship between the Monarchy and the office of the Prime Minister in intimate detail, describing how the increasing power of the Prime Minister in becoming leader of Britain coincided with the steadily falling influence of the Monarchy. This book celebrates the humanity and frailty, work and achievement, of these 55 remarkable individuals, who averted revolution and civil war, leading the country through times of peace,Trade Review'A tremendous, magisterial book, informed and underpinned by brilliant historical and political insight. A triumph.' William Boyd, author of Trio, Restless and Any Human Heart'Anthony Seldon enriches our understanding of what it takes to run Britain, with some intriguing ideas for improving the Premiership.' Camilla Cavendish, former Head of No. 10 Policy Unit, and author of Extra Time: Ten Lessons for Living Longer Better'A brilliant, panoramic survey of the fifty-five individuals who have been prime minister since Robert Walpole - and their families too. The most moving sentence is right at the end. On the evening of David Cameron's resignation, his daughter asks him at bedtime: 'Daddy, when are we going back home?' By then, you feel you know many of the holders of the office of prime minister intimately, how they changed it and it and how it changed them. A must read.' Andrew Adonis, former transport minister, education minister and Head of No. 10 Policy Unit, and author of Ernest Bevin, Labour's Churchill'Three hundred years of one of the world's most difficult jobs is worth some reflection - and there is no better way to go about that than to read this excellent book. With a rich knowledge of our prime ministers and the eye of an expert historian, Anthony Seldon has produced a stimulating and enjoyable study of the unceasing development of their power and role. There is much here to inform everyone from the general reader to the political addict, and some important indicators of what the future may hold.' William Hague, former Leader of the Opposition, First Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary, and Leader of the House of Commons'A fascinating review of the role of the prime minister and those who have filled it. How were they constrained, how did they change the role, and how did it change them and the country. Anthony Seldon also suggests some improvements including making No. 10 more streamlined, agile and diverse and ensuring that prime ministers and those around them understand the role. Reading this book would give them a good start.' Jacqui Smith, former Home Secretary'Anthony Seldon has a brilliant ability to capture the humanity of prime ministers as well as their role in history which is why this fascinating account is so readable as well as authoritative. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand both how Downing Street works and the extraordinary characters of those who have lived there.' Rachel Sylvester, The Times'A good guide to the constitutional position of the Sovereign's Minister.' Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph'… an intelligent and insightful account of the evolution of the role.' Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer (Book of the Week)'… chockful of fascinating Prime Ministerial history …' Paul Donnelley, Daily Express'The author [is to be] congratulated on producing a readable, lively, amusing, and serious account of the office of prime minister.' Michael Wheeler, Church Times'We need some answers, and Anthony Seldon is one of the few prime ministerial biographers to seek to provide them. He does so insightfully and mischievously …' Steve Richards, Literary Review'… a readable, lively, amusing, and serious account of the office of prime minister.' Michael Wheeler, Church Times'… a remarkable and important work.' John Bartle, Department of Philosophy'Over the last 30 years, Seldon has established himself as the court historian of Downing Street. Here he provides a history of the premiership and its antecedents and an analysis of the challenges, potentialities, and 'constraints' of an office 53 men and two women have held so far … the anecdotes about the prime ministers, their families, and their colleagues are engaging … Recommended.' D. R. Bisson, Choice ConnectTable of ContentsPreface; 1. The Bookend Prime Ministers: Walpole and Johnson; 2. A Country Transformed, 1721–2021; 3. The Liminal Premiership: From the Saxons to 1806; 4. The Transformational Prime Ministers, 1806–2021; 5. The Powers of the Prime Minister, 1721–2021; 6. The Constraints on the Prime Minister, 1721–2021; 7. The Falling Power of the Monarchy, 1660–2021; 8. The Rise and Fall of the Foreign Secretary, 1782–2021; 9. The Rise, and Rise of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1660–2021; 10. The Impossible Office: The Prime Minister by 2021.

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