European history Books

Book SynopsisA literary biography of one of the early heroes of radical Scottish Independence.Trade Review'This is an extremely interesting and well-researched book – it provides a valuable insight into the life of one of Scotland’s most important, respected and influential political figures, whose legacy shines on today' -- Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party'A beautifully structured and brilliantly written biography... Henry Bell's moving, evocative portrait of the complex man and his times is compelling and timely. It tells not just the story of the radical hero from the red Clyde, but a story of Scotland' -- Jackie Kay, novelist and Makar, Scottish Poet Laureate'John Maclean's swing towards the project of socialist independence for Scotland contains detailed lessons for today. Bell's biography tells the story of how a potter's son from the outskirts of Glasgow ended up schooling Lenin on the dynamics of class and nation' -- Paul Mason, journalist and author'A fine introduction to Scotland's most famous revolutionary. It acknowledges the power of the John Maclean legend but gives the facts from which that legend grew... and it reminds us of the tragic price that he and his family paid for his dedication to the cause of Marxist revolution' -- James Robertson, novelist and poet'There have been other biographies of John Maclean, but this clearly written narrative by Henry Bell sets a new standard in its careful balance and judicious conclusions. Maclean emerges from the pages of the book as a more complex figure than that depicted hitherto' -- Sir Tom Devine, Professor Emeritus at The University of Edinburgh'It is always good to see something new published about John Maclean. Since the Glasgow Labour Party retreated from Socialism it has done it's best to forget him... Scotland does not deserve its greatest people' -- Alasdair Gray, writer and artistTable of ContentsAcknowledgements List of Abbreviations 1. Out for Life and All That Life Can Give Us 2. Dispeller of Ignorance 3. The Revolutionary Gospel 4. The Rapids of Revolution 5. Internationalists First, Last, and All the Time 6. The War Within a War 7. Convict 2652 8. We are Going to Live to See the Day 9. Scotland's Bolshevik 10. The Accuser of Capitalism 11. Let's Kill Capitalism this Year 12. One Big Union 13. An Open Letter to Lenin 14. All Hail the Scottish Workers' Republic 15. The John Maclean March Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA smart and succinct history of the Labour leftTrade Review'A welcome corrective, This book astutely appraises British politics’ most frustrating but important dissident tradition' -- 'Guardian''Admirably clear-sighted' -- 'New Statesman''At a very crucial time in British politics, this book helps us to fill in important gaps in our knowledge' -- David Coates, author of 'Prolonged Labour: The Slow Birth of New Labour in Britain''A well-timed explanation of the class contradictions at the root of the Labour Party from its creation to the present day' -- 'Labour Briefing'Table of ContentsForeword to the Second Edition by Nadia Whittome MP Foreword to the First Edition by John McDonnell MP Preface to the Second Edition Introduction 1. Divided Beginnings 2. Second Time as Disaster 3. The Age of Consent 4. The Civil War 5. 'Though Cowards Flinch...' 6. The Broad Church Collapses 7. The Single Idea 8. The Corbyn Supremacy 9. From Ancient Grudge Break to New Mutiny… Conclusion: …Where Civil Blood Makes Civil Hands Unclean Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThomas More remains one of the most enigmatic thinkers in history, due in large part to the enduring mysteries surrounding his best-known work, Utopia. He has been variously thought of as a reformer and a conservative, a civic humanist and a devout Christian, a proto-communist and a monarchical absolutist.Trade Review"For too long, there have been multiple Mores: Thomas More – the 'man for all seasons' – has also seemed to be a man of many faces: More's identities as a statesman, humanist, and saint have seemed riven from each other and bafflingly incompatible. In this brilliant, lucid, and pithy account, Joanne Paul reunites More with himself by identifying the central idea that animated his thought and action. This is an original and illuminating work that should be compulsory for any reader of Utopia."�Suzannah Lipscomb, New College of the Humanities "A well-organized introduction to Thomas More's body of writing, some published only posthumously, which deftly introduces a general university-level reader to his written corpus."�Bethany Wiggin, University of Pennsylvania "Fascinating...Paul shows an impressive mastery of the assorted, disparate aspects of More�s work."� Spiked ReviewTable of ContentsPreface vi Abbreviations ix Key Dates xi Introduction: The Thought of Thomas More 1 1 Early Life, Education and Poetry 15 2 Utopia and ‘Common Things’ 29 3 Richard III and the Stage Play of Politics 60 4 The Common Corps of Christendom 83 5 Influence 116 Conclusion 141 Notes 146 References 158 Recommended Reading 169 Index 174

Read more less

Book SynopsisNapoleon Bonaparte's rise to power was neither inevitable nor smooth; it was full of mistakes, wrong turns and pitfalls. This book examines the evolution of Napoleon's character and the means by which at the age of thirty he became head of the most powerful country in Europe and skilfully fashioned the image of himself.Trade Review'This life of his hero in two volumes is the work that Dwyer was placed on earth to write ... We are clearly in the presence of what will be a monumental work ... meticulously researched and well-written first volume, which leaves the reader keenly anticipating the second' Andrew Roberts, Literary Review 'Remarkable ... a satisfying, psychologically convincing account of Napoleon's early years and ascent to power. Even-handed and authoritative, this fascinating and highly enjoyable book will be an eye opener even to those who think they know the subject well' Adam Zamoyski, Sunday Times 'Bonaparte's staggering ambition and penchant for blaming others for his mistakes are apparent throughout' Financial Times Summer Books 'An extraordinary story ... Dwyer has his own way of telling the story and this makes his book more than just a canter across familiar terrain ... an attractive addition to the literature on one of the most controversial figures in modern European history' Thomas Munch-Petersen, BBC History Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisThough most of us will have enjoyed strolling through beautiful British woodlands, we might not be aware of the ancient and often complex origins of our surroundings. From medieval times, woodlands were carefully managed commodities with hotly contested resources: conflicting demands from landowners, the Crown, the peasantry and local and national wood-based industries have all left their marks on today''s woodland. Ian D. Rotherham here explains the various uses of British woods and their industries, such as coppicing, charcoal-burning, basket-making and bodging, and helps the reader to seek out the clues to their woodland''s past.Table of Contents?Introduction / What is an ‘Ancient’ Wood? / Woods, Parks and Forests / Worked and Working Trees / Woodland Crafts and Other Industries / Woodland Archaeology and Ecology / The Future: Re-discovering the Old Crafts / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisGarden Cities: the phrase is redolent of Arts and Crafts values and nineteenth-century utopianism. But despite being the culmination of a range of influential movements, and their own influence, in fact there were only ever two true garden cities in England far more numerous were garden suburbs and villages. Crystallised in England by social visionary Ebenezer Howard and designed in many cases by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin, the concept arose from industrial settlements like Port Sunlight, and also from the American City Beautiful movement. Designed to promote healthy and comfortable individual and community life, as well as commerce and industry, they remain instantly recognisable. This book is a beautifully illustrated guide to the movement and to the communities which are its legacy. Sarah Rutherford has an MA in the conservation of historic parks and gardens and a PhD. She was Head of the English Heritage Historic Parks and Gardens Register and is now a freelance consultant, crTable of ContentsIntroduction / The Development of Planned Settlements / Influential Ideas and Examples / Howard, Parker and Unwin: Garden City Theory and Planning / Garden Cities in Practice / Garden Suburbs and Villages / Living in Utopia / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 146 BC the armies of Rome destroyed Carthage and emerged as the decisive victors of the Third Punic War. The Carthaginian population was sold and its territory became the Roman province of Africa. In the same year and on the other side of the Mediterranean Roman troops sacked Corinth, the final blow in the defeat of the Achaean conspiracy: thereafter Greece was effectively administered by Rome. Rome was now supreme in Italy, the Balkans, Greece, Macedonia, Sicily, and North Africa, and its power and influence were advancing in all directions. However, not all was well. The unchecked seizure of huge tracts of land in Italy and its farming by vast numbers of newly imported slaves allowed an elite of usually absentee landlords to amass enormous and conspicuous fortunes. Insecurity and resentment fed the gulf between rich and poor in Rome and erupted in a series of violent upheavals in the politics and institutions of the Republic. These were exacerbated by slave revolts and invasions from the east.Table of ContentsSection I:146-91 BC; 1. The crises of the later second century BC; 1.1 The Wars in Spain; 1.2 The tribunate of Tiberius Gracchus; 1.3 Rome and the Eastern Mediterranean, 146-122; 1.4 The tribunates of Gaius Gracchus; 1.5 Foreign and domestic politics at the end of the second century BC; 1.6 The outbreak of the Social War; 2. Domestic politics: violence and its accommodation; 2.1 Elite competition; 2.2 Issues and ideology; 3. Imperial power: failure and control; 3.1 The parameters of Roman foreign policy; 3.2 War and imperial expansion; 3.3 The administration of peace; 3.4 Rome and the rest of Italy; Section II: 91-70 BC; 4. Social War, Civil War and the imposition of a new order; 4.1 The Social War; 4.2 Losing the peace: the transition to civil war; 4.3 Domestic politics and foreign affairs in the 80s BC; 4.4 The Sullan res publica; 4.5 The consulship of Pompeius and Crassus: a fresh start?; 5. The limits of autocracy; 5.1 Power and armed force; 5.2 Experiments in autocracy; 5.3 The Sullan res publica; 5.4 Rome, Italy and the Mediterranean; 5.5 Causes of change; Section III: 70-44 BC; 6. The end of the Republic, 70-44 BC; 6.1 The continuing problem of Mithridates; 6.2 Pompeius' campaigns 67-62 BC; 6.3 Italian crises; 6.4 Factionalism, the people, and the collapse of order; 6.5 Foreign Policy in the 50s; 6.6 The last years of the Republic; 6.7 The Civil War; 7. Imperial expansion: novelty and success; 7.1 Patterns of expansion; 7.2 Structures and methods of imperial conquest and government; 8. Elite competition, popular discontent and the failure of collective government; 8.1 Political culture at the end of the Republic; 8.2 The career of Pompeius; 8.3 Popular arbitration; 8.4 The implications of Caesar's dictatorship.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCentring on the reign of the emperor Augustus, volume four is pivotal to the series, tracing of the changing shape of the entity that was ancient Rome through its political, cultural and economic history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Roman empire during the period framed by the accession of Septimus Severus in 193 and the rise of Diocletian in 284 has conventionally been regarded as one of crisis. This book describes and integrates the contrasting histories of different parts of the empire and assesses the impacts of administrative, political and religious change.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis series demonstrates how everyday routines and behaviours can open a window into the social, economic and cultural lives of ordinary Scots Each volume examines common topics such as landscape, homes, objects, rituals, beliefs, work and leisure patterns, conflict and communication Across the series there are some striking continuities and remarkable changes in aspects of Scottish everyday life, while the everyday is shown to be shaped by national and regional surroundings, and varied between urban and rural, highland lowland settings. Based on the collective research of a large team of established and younger scholars, this series presents an entirely new way of looking at Scotland''s pastAccounts of nineteenth-century Scotland have been preoccupied with the impact of change, unprecedented in its pace and extent. Through the shock of industrialisation and its close cousin urbanisation, society evolved from small scale and personal to larger scale, dense and urban, in the process transforming all aspects of the everyday.The chapters in this volume examine the lives of the Scottish people under the changes and continuities that enveloped the nineteenth century. Some of the most visible transformations were reflected in the Scottish landscape and in the work and culture found in urban areas. Locality and community were revitalised in new customs and ceremonies. The printed word brought insight into society at home and at a distance. Rural Scotland adjusted to changes in farming practice and the traumas of population loss and began to look to the opportunities presented by recreation and tourism. With new interpretations from some of Scotland''s most respected historians, this collection makes essential reading for anyone looking to understand the everyday lives of the Scottish people in this most dynamic century.Trade ReviewThis book, part of a landmark new series on the history of the everyday in Scotland, will become a fixture in the bibliographies of historians, students, and interested readers alike. The series consists of four volumes covering everyday life from the medieval period up to the twentieth century and aims to examine, "the ordinary, routine, daily behaviour, experiences and beliefs of the Scottish people" (ix). Some of the best historians in their field have contributed to this volume, in nine specialist chapters. There is also a very good series introduction, an introduction to the volume, an annotated bibliography, and a plethora of fascinating illustrations, making it an excellent resource for readers! It is a roaring success; theoretically informed, and all of the chapters clearly linked to create an admirably coherent whole without any overlap-the authors and editors are to be congratulated. -- Annie Tindley, Glasgow Caledonian University Journal of British Studies This book, part of a landmark new series on the history of the everyday in Scotland, will become a fixture in the bibliographies of historians, students, and interested readers alike. The series consists of four volumes covering everyday life from the medieval period up to the twentieth century and aims to examine, "the ordinary, routine, daily behaviour, experiences and beliefs of the Scottish people" (ix). Some of the best historians in their field have contributed to this volume, in nine specialist chapters. There is also a very good series introduction, an introduction to the volume, an annotated bibliography, and a plethora of fascinating illustrations, making it an excellent resource for readers! It is a roaring success; theoretically informed, and all of the chapters clearly linked to create an admirably coherent whole without any overlap-the authors and editors are to be congratulated.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Scottish soldier has been at war for over 2000 years. This illustrated pean to his rich heritage explores both the detail of battles and the cultural history of war, devoting eight separate chapters to 'The Cultural and Physical Dimensions' of Scottish military involvement.Trade Review"An ambitious and timely work... a very important book." (History Scotland)"Table of ContentsList of Illustrations; Acknowledgements; Preface by Hew Strachan; Introduction, Edward M. Spiers; I Early Warfare and the Emergence of a Scottish Kingdom; 1. War in Prehistory and the Impact of Rome, Fraser Hunter; 2. Warfare in Northern Britain, c 500-1093, James E. Fraser; 3. The Kings of Scots at War, c 1093-1286, Matthew Strickland; 4. The Wars of Independence, 1296-1328, Michael Prestwich; 5. The Kingdom of Scotland at War, 1332-1488, Alastair J. Macdonald; 6. Scotland in the Age of the Military Revolution, 1488-1560, Gervase Phillips; 7. Warfare in Gaelic Scotland in the Later Middle Ages, Martin MacGregor; II Forging a Scottish-British Military Identity; 8. The Wars of Mary and James VI/I, 1560-1625, Matthew Glozier; 9. 'Mercenaries': the Scottish Soldier in Foreign Service, 1568-1860, Allan Carswell; 10. The Wars of the Three Kingdoms, 1625-1660, Martyn Bennett; 11. The Restoration and the Glorious Revolution, 1660-1702, K. A. J. McLay; 12. Marlborough's Wars and the Act of Union, 1702-1714, John C. R. Childs; 13. The Jacobite Wars, 1708-1746, Christopher Duffy; III Scotland in Britain and the Empire; 14. The Scottish Military Experience in North America, 1756-1783, Stephen Brumwell; 15. The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, 1793-1815, Charles J. Esdaile; 16. Internal Policing and Public Order, c 1797-1900, Ewen A. Cameron; 17. Scots and the Wars of Empire, 1815-1914, Edward M. Spiers; 18.Commonwealth Scottish regiments, Wendy Ugolini; 19. The First World War, Trevor Royle; 20. Internal Policing and Public Order, c 1900-1994, Ian S. Wood; 21. The Second World War, Jeremy A. Crang; 22. The Cold War and Beyond, Niall Barr; IV The Cultural and Physical Dimensions; 23 Scottish Military Dress, Allan Carswell; 24. Scottish Military Music, Gary J. West; 25. The Scottish Soldier in Literature, Robert P. Irvine; 26. The Scottish Soldier in Art, Peter Harrington; 27. Castles and Fortifications in Scotland, Chris Tabraham; 28. The Archaeology of Scottish Battlefields, Tony Pollard; 29. Scottish Military Monuments, Elaine W. McFarland; 30. Scottish Military Collections, Stuart Allan; Epilogue: Reflections on the Scottish Military Experience, Alistair Irwin; Select Bibliography; Notes on the Contributors; Illustration Credits; Index.

Read more less

Book Synopsis''Here is art which conceals art, and intellect which conceals intellect, so that by the end of the book one feels that one understands something one had not understood before. Mr Hall is witty and amusing, but not snide; he has a lightness of touch which allows him to write of extremely serious matters without solemnity; he knows how to convey a great deal in a few words'' Sunday Telegraph''He is an observant and witty writer...you believe implicitly that he has met the people he writes about, and that they said what he quotes them as saying'' Sunday Times

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrincess Victoria Melita played a colourful role from her birth in 1876. The second daughter of Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, she made a brief and unhappy marriage at the age of 17 to her cousin, Ernest, Grand Duke of Hesse. In the face of strong opposition from her family she divorced him seven years later and married another cousin, Grand Duke Cyril of Russia, resulting in three years of exile. When revolution toppled the empire in 1917, the Grand Duke and Duchess and their children escaped to Finland, living in danger for three long years. Following the atrocities of the Bolsheviks at the time, including the murder of most of the Romanov family, the Grand Duke believed he was the senior surviving member of the imperial house, and proclaimed himself Tsar. However, they were never able to return to their homeland, and the Grand Duchess died in exile in 1936. Using previously unpublished correspondence from the Royal Archives and Astor papers, this is a portrait of the Princess, set against the imperial courst of the turn of the 20th century and inter-war Europe.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBecause an understanding of Arthur and all the different things he has meant to scores of generations up to the present is fundamental to our understanding of our own past, our understanding of ourselves and the ways in which we can benefit from history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRichard III's 'Beloved Cousyn'

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscovered in 1811, Bignor is one of the richest and most impressive villas in Britain, its mosaics ranking among the finest in north-western Europe. Now, after 200 years, the remarkable story of Bignor Roman Villa is told in full in this beautifully illustrated book.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKen Wharton''s latest book on the Northern Ireland Troubles is, as always, written from the perspective of the British soldier. Here he chronicles the worst year of The Troubles - 1972 - a year in which 172 soldiers died as a direct consequence of the insanity that would grip Ulster for almost 30 years. His empathy lies firstly with the men who tramped the streets and countryside of Northern Ireland - but also with the good folk of the six counties who never wanted their beautiful land to be the terrorists'' battleground. Ken Wharton is utterly condemnatory of the Provisional IRA and INLA but he certainly pulls no punches in his assessment of the Loyalist paramilitaries and terror gangs who sought to outdo the barbarism of their republican counterparts. Based on the testimony of the men who were there during that terrible year, the author tries to investigate every loss in as much detail as time and space permit, with longer chapters to describe ''Bloody Friday'' the appallinTrade ReviewThis is good honest history. Soldiers and civilians alike owe the author a debt of gratitude for telling it like it was. -- Patrick Bishop * author of 3 Para *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis revelatory biography disputes the popular belief that Katherine Howard committed adultery or that she was promiscuous

Read more less

Book SynopsisA vivid pictorial history of protest in the UK

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fully revised and updated edition of a vitally important piece of black British historyTrade ReviewA powerful, revelatory counterbalance to the whitewashing of British history -- Bernardine Evaristo

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the story of what happened, in the words of the people it happened to - the people's story of an incredible unification.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new book on the Thirty Years War, published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the conflict

Read more less

Book SynopsisGoering, Goebbels, Himmler, Heydrich, Bormann, Hess names synonymous with power and influence in the Third Reich. Perhaps less familiar are Carin, Emmy, Magda, Margaret, Lina, Gerda and Ilse These are the women behind the infamous men complex individuals with distinctive personalities who were captivated by Hitler and whose everyday lives were governed by Nazi ideology. Throughout the rise and fall of Nazism these women loved and lost, raised families and quarrelled with their husbands and each other, all the while jostling for position with the mighty Führer himself. And yet they have been treated as minor characters, their significance ignored, as if they were unaware of their husband's murderous acts, despite the evidence that was all around them: the stolen art on their walls, the slave labour in their homes, and the produce grown in concentration camps on their tables. Nazi Wives explores these women in detail for the first time, skilfully interweaving their stTrade Review‘[Wyllie] recounts their stories with a bracing combination of scholarship and an almost cinematic approach to spinning a compelling narrative.’‘Highlighting similarities in the women’s backgrounds, Wyllie provides a distinctive prism through which to view the period.’‘Wyllie’s study of the other halves of the Third Reich is exhaustive and studded with fascinating detail.’

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first full biography of Katherine Grey in decades, written by an acclaimed Tudor historianTrade ReviewThis was a very enjoyable read

Read more less

Book SynopsisSacrifice, like death, is one of the great taboo subjects of modern society. The notion that human sacrifice, murder most horrid and even cannibalism could be considered a most holy act is almost inconceivable. Yet the evidence for human sacrifice in north-west Europe, deriving from both archaeology and the testimony of Classical writers of the first centuries BC/AD, has to be confronted. This is the challenge of this original, but often disturbing, book. Brings together a wealth of archaeological, anthropological and historical evidence that has not been previously available is a valuable asset to scholars.Trade ReviewA very ambitious book, set fair to become a bestseller. * Journal of the British Archaeological Association *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPeople have lived in Scotland for at least 10,000 years. Yet, for the first 9000 of these years, no recognisable concept of ''Scotland'' even existed. Most books on Scottish history dispose of these nine millennia in a brief introduction, before moving on to the more familiar kings, queens, barons and battles of medieval Scotland. Ian Armit tells the story of Scotland''s earliest history by concentrating on 100 of the most exciting and accessible monuments, which he places firmly in their wider context. Armed with full information on ''How to get there'', the reader is encouraged to go out and discover the wealth of this archaeological evidence that can be seen all over Scotland - Neolithic chambered tombs and stone circles, Bronze Age rock carvings and hut circles, Iron Age hillforts and brochs, Roman forts, Pictish symbol stones, early Christian crosses and Viking graves. The book includes regional itineraries, a guide to museums and heritage attractions, and an archaeological glossary.Trade Review"'More than just a manual for the heritage tourist... a most attractive and stimulating handbook.' --Antiquity 'It's not just the writing which is attractive; the whole book has been carefully planned.... a marvellous job.' -- Historic Scotland 'For a work so obviously by an academic, it is eminently accessible to the general reader.' -- Scottish Daily Mail; 'The best introduction so far to Scottish brochs.' - Current Archaeology"

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrisons and Prisoners In Victorian Britain provides an illustrated insight into the Victorian prison system and the experiences of those within it - on both sides of the bars. Featuring stories of crime and misdeeds, this fascinating book includes chapters on a typical day inside a Victorian prison - food, divine service, exercise and medical provision; the punishments inflicted on convicts - such as hard labour, flogging, the treadwheel and shot drill; and an overview of the ultimate penalty paid by prisoners - execution. Richly illustrated with a series of photographs, engravings, documents and letters, this volume is sure to appeal to all those interested in crime and social history in Victorian Britain.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn 61 AD, Roman rule in Britain was threatened by a bloody revolt led by one of the most iconic figures in British history. Legend dictates that Boudica destroyed three Roman towns and thousands of lives in response to Roman cruelty and betrayal towards her and her family. However, in recent years, the debate about the revolt has developed little. This work therefore seeks to offer fresh proposals about why the revolt started, how it spread and where Boudica fought her last epic battle against a dangerously over-stretched and outnumbered Roman army. Boudica's Last Stand side-steps conventional thinking to approach the topic in a more pragmatic style. The result is a book which allows both general and specialist readers alike to form their own conclusions by reconsidering a familiar story from an alternative perspective.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis, combined with a number of spies within the fascist ranks, ensured the 43 Group almost always came out on top, closing down two-thirds of all fascist activity in the UK until its simultaneous demise with organised fascism in Britain in 1950.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLife of one of the greatest British Prime Ministers - by an author who knows the scene from his years as a senior Minister in Margaret Thatcher''s Cabinet.Robert Peel, as much as any man in the nineteenth century, transformed Great Britain into a modern nation. He invented our police force, which became a model for the world. He steered through the Bill which allowed Catholics to sit in Parliament. He reorganised the criminal justice system. Above all he tackled poverty by repealing the Corn Laws. Thanks to Peel the most powerful trading nation chose free trade and opened the door for our globalised world of today.Peel was not all politics. He built two great houses, filled them with famous pictures and was devoted to a beautiful wife. Many followers never forgave him for splitting his Party. But when in 1850 he was carried home after a fall from his horse crowds gathered outside, mainly of working people, to read the medical bulletins. When he died a few days later, factories closed, flags flew at half mast and thousands contributed small sums to memorials in his honour. He was the man who provided cheap bread and sacrificed his career for the welfare of ordinary people.Trade Review[An] impressive and entertaining biography -- John Stevens * THE TIMES *Hurd delivers a vivid and readable portrait of a semi-modern British titan. This biography is elegantly written -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * NEW STATESMAN *The author has a good grasp of the period, he has done a great deal of homework, and he has shaped the story magnificently -- A. N. Wilson * DAILY MAIL *[A] fascinating, eminently readable biography of Peel * ECONOMIST *This warm, sensible biography of Peel does a fine job of rescuing an important figure from relative obscurity -- Dominic Sandbrook * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Intelligent, rich reading with a lovely droll tone -- Duncan Fallowell * DAILY EXPRESS *Hurd writes well, and the book has the merit of bringing Peel alive as a human being -- Jane Ridley * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *The book is rich in every respect -- Mark Stuart * THE SCOTSMAN *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFeatures over 100 quotes from wartime documents, newspaper reports, books, letters, tape recordings and soliders' diaries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA gripping history of the elite brigade of the Royal Navy

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe second volume in Alan Walker's magisterial biography of Franz Liszt.Trade Review"Alan Walker's biography of Liszt ... has been widely hailed as a groundbreaking work of scholarship... Not only did his dogged research correct numerous, mostly damaging preconceptions aobut Liszt, but his cogent musical analyses made the case for the importance of the music... Love him or hate him as a saint or a sinner, Liszt still has the capacity to stir great passions ... and Mr. Walker has done a great service in correcting many misconceptions and thus raising the question about the true character of Liszt."-Johanna Keller, The New York Times. January 14, 2001 "You can't help but keep turning the pages, wondering how it will all turn out: and Walker's accumulated readings of Liszt's music have to be taken seriously indeed."-D. Kern Holoman, New York Review of Books "A conscientious scholar passionate about his subject. Mr. Walker makes the man and his age come to life. These three volumes will be the definitive work to which all subsequent Liszt biographies will aspire."-Harold C. Schonberg, Wall Street Journal "What distinguishes Walker from Liszt's dozens of earlier biographers is that he is equally strong on the music and the life. A formidable musicologist with a lively polemical style, he discusses the composer's works with greater understanding and clarity than any previous biographer. And whereas many have recycled the same erroneous, often damaging information, Walker has relied on his own prodigious, globe-trotting research, a project spanning twenty-five years. The result is a textured portrait of Liszt and his times without rival."-Elliot Ravetz, Time "The prose is so lively that the reader is often swept along by the narrative... This three-part work ... is now the definitive work on Liszt in English and belongs in all music collections."-Library Journal

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Wars of the French Revolution, 1792-1801 offers a comprehensive and jargon free coverage of this turbulent period and unites political, social, military and international history in one volume. It is the perfect resource for students of the French Revolution and international military history more broadly.Trade Review'Professor Esdaile has written a wide-ranging history of the French Revolutionary Wars. His insightful interpretation is presented in a clear and crisp narrative that explores the complex international dimensions of the conflict. The internal politics of Revolutionary France and European monarchies are woven into the decision-making process and conduct of the decade of war that preceded the climactic Age of Napoleon.'–Frederick C. Schneid, High Point University, USATable of ContentsChapter 1: The origins of the French Revolutionary Wars; Chapter 2: The armies of the ancien régime; Chapter 3: From the Bastile to Valmy; Chapter 4: Saving the Revolution; Chapter 5: Exporting the Revolution; Chapter 6: Sympathy, admiration and collaboration; Chapter 7: Resistance and revolt (1): Frances; Chapter 8: Resistance and revolt (2): the French imperium; Chapter 9: The reaction of the ancien régime; Chapter 10: The wider world; Chapter 11: The road to 18 Brumaire; Chapter 12: The end of the French Revolutionary Wars

Read more less

Book SynopsisBritain in 1946 witnessed extraordinary episodes of direct action. Tens of thousands of families walked into empty army camps and took them over as places to live. A nationwide squatters' movement was born and it was the first challenge to the 1945 Labour government to come 'from below'.Trade Review"...The definitive account of these events and, very usefully, the aftermath. The judgements are carefully made and convincingly argued." (Emeritus Professor James Hinton, University of Warwick)Table of Contents: Introduction; Housing for the Working Class: Politics and Resources; War, Peace and Requisitioning: Housing and Politics during the Second World War; 'Refugees from overcrowding': The Squatting Movement Begins; 'We were solid as a brick wall': Responses and Organisation; The 'Luxury Squatters': Occupying Empty Mansions; 'Such Desperate Need for Accommodation': Conditions, Costs and Priorities; Squatters and the Housing Lists: The Politics of Allocation; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDraws together previous antiquarian and archaeological work and more recent surveys at Isurium Brigantum to give a new understanding of the town's topography and development.Trade ReviewThe importance of the results, the clarity of thought and expression, and quality of production should garner this volume a wide readership across specialists and non-specialists alike. * Archaeological Journal *The book contains much scholarly discussion of the evidence and the competing interpretations, integrated with the broader history of Roman Britain. It is also highly readable, lavishly illustrated with photographs and plans. It will appeal to general readers, as well as specialists in the field. * ClassicsForAll *Table of ContentsList of figures Preface Resume Zusammenfassung Acknowledgements Notes on referencing and archives Chapter 1: Introduction Background to this study Geographical setting Historical background Previous inferences on urban origins Textual evidence History of the town Previous archaeological work Organisation of this volume Chapter 2: Previous antiquarian and archaeological work Knowledge up to the mid eighteenth century The later eighteenth century The first half of the nineteenth century From the 1850s to the 1920s Excavations of the 1920s and 1930s The 1940s to the 1980s The 1990s onwards Chapter 3: The geophysical surveys Introduction Methodology Presentation of the results Area 1: North-western intra-mural area Area 2: North-eastern intra-mural area Note on terracing in the southern half of the town Area 3: Central intra-mural strip Area 4: South-western intra-mural area Area 5: South-eastern intra-mural area Area 6: South-eastern extra-mural area Area 7: Eastern extra-mural area Area 8: South-eastern extra-mural area Area 9: Northern extra-mural area Area 10: Northern extra-mural area beside the river Area 11: The northern bridgehead Area 12: The western extra-mural area Area 13: The south-western extra-mural area Chapter 4: Re-evaluating the history of Isurium Brigantum The Iron Age background The Roecliffe fort Earliest activity on the site of Aldborough Town planning The forum and the establishment of the civitas The Town Wall The character of the early to mid Roman town The development of the extra-mural areas The later Town Wall and annexes The later Roman townscape The transition to the Middle Ages Epilogue: history, antiquarian development and landscape Appendix 1: Gazetteer of archaeological interventions Appendix 2: Concordance with RIB Appendix 3: Concordance with CSIR Appendix 4: Architectural stonework Appendix 5: Stone altars Notes Abbreviations and bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisDelightful, oft-reprinted guide to the foliate heads so common in medieval sculpture. This was the first-ever monograph dedicated to the Green Man.Trade ReviewThe rarest, most recondite and fascinating art book, which is a folklore and magic book as well... An incredibly thorough study, with every example illustrated, of the weird foliate heads or masks found in the medieval churches and cathedrals of Western Europe, with leaves sprouting from them. * THE TIMES *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn a newly revised version of this popular site guide, the current director of excavations in the Athenian Agora gives a brief account of the history of the ancient centre of Athens. The text has been updated and expanded to cover the most recent archaeological discoveries, and the guide now features numerous colour illustrations.Table of ContentsIntroduction; History of the Agora; West side; Administrative center; South side; The Hellenistic south square; East side; Central area; North side; History of the excavations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe author recreates, with contemporary photographs alongside others taken by him plus eyewitness accounts and narrative, the atmosphere, past and present, of that once famous salient. He aims to present a tribute to the men who fought with such courage and tenacity in the horrendous conditions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis work offers an account of the 45 days, from May 10 to June 24, 1940, that made up the Battle of France. Battles great and small are described and Pallud's camera records the scenes today where 50 years ago, soldiers from six nations were locked in mortal combat of Hitler's victorious campaign.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe 14th Canadian Army Tank Regiment, one of the first Canadian armoured regiments to be formed, was the first to be committed to battle. Every one of the regiment's tanks that landed at Dieppe is described and annotated aerial photographs identify vehicle postitions together with full crew lists.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less