European history Books

Book SynopsisThis book shows how a military colony became a large, impressive and prosperous city. Legendary for its walls and port, it was able to play a basic role in the great strategy of ancient Rome between the Po and the Danube, spanning the centuries from its foundation (181 BC) to the fateful days of blood and violence of its fall (AD 452).Based on a study of ancient sources, contemporary literature and the latest archaeological research, and written in a fast-paced and accessible style, the book provides a portrait of Aquileia in a diachronic key, under various aspects; it sets the city in the complex societal and political system of the time, gives a thorough account of the great events of which it was a protagonist or victim and offers detailed portraits of key figures, whether famous or less well-known, and analyses of epic battles.Combining academic scholarship with storytelling, biographies of important personalities and stories of political intrigue, assassinations and full-scale warfare which narrate the evocative epic of the rise, decline and disappearance of ancient cities, the volume highlights a significant topic in Roman political, social, economic, religious and military history, but one which has been inexplicably neglected in the Anglo-Saxon world until now.Trade ReviewThis book traces the history of the Roman city-fortress of Aquileia, the fulcrum of the defensive system of the eastern Alps, from its foundation in 181 BCE. to its fall in 452 CE. to Attila the Hun, based on a study of ancient sources, contemporary literature, and the latest archaeological research. It shows how what started as a military colony became a large, impressive, and prosperous city, legendary for its wall and its port on the Adriatic Sea, and able to play a fundamental role in the strategy of ancient Rome between the Po and the Danube. * New Testament Abstracts *Table of ContentsAbbreviations Preface Introduction: The background 1. The northernmost stronghold 2. Caesar's seat for Illyrian affairs 3. The capital of the Regio X-Venetia et Histria 4. A portrait of a Roman city in the Early Empire 5. In the whirlwind of the Marcomannic Wars 6. Aquileia’s War 7. The Great Constantinian Aquileia 8. A residence of emperors and an evangelizing Church 9. Aquileia in the sunset of the Empire 10. Aquileia's fall Appendix: The Roman expansion in northern Italy Chronology Contemporary references Further reading

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Book SynopsisThe Danubian provinces represent one of the largest macro-units within the Roman Empire, with a large and rich heritage of Roman material evidence. Although the notion itself is a modern 18th-century creation, this region represents a unique area, where the dominant, pre-Roman cultures (Celtic, Illyrian, Hellenistic, Thracian) are interconnected within the new administrative, economic and cultural units of Roman cities, provinces and extra-provincial networks. This book presents the material evidence of Roman religion in the Danubian provinces through a new, paradigmatic methodology, focusing not only on the traditional urban and provincial units of the Roman Empire, but on a new space taxonomy. Roman religion and its sacralised places are presented in macro-, meso- and micro-spaces of a dynamic empire, which shaped Roman religion in the 1st-3rd centuries AD and created a large number of religious glocalizations and appropriations in Raetia, Noricum, Pannonia Superior, Pannonia Inferior, Moesia Superior, Moesia Inferior and Dacia.Combining the methodological approaches of Roman provincial archaeology and religious studies, this work intends to provoke a dialogue between disciplines rarely used together in central-east Europe and beyond. The material evidence of Roman religion is interpreted here as a dynamic agent in religious communication, shaped by macro-spaces, extra-provincial routes, commercial networks, but also by the formation and constant dynamics of small group religions interconnected within this region through human and material mobilities. The book also presents for the first time a comprehensive list of sacralised spaces and divinities in the Danubian provinces.Trade ReviewThis book presents the material evidence of Roman religion in the seven Danubian provinces through a new methodology, focusing not only on the traditional urban and provincial units of the Roman empire, but on a new space taxonomy. * New Testament Abstracts *Table of ContentsList of illustrations Foreword 1. Introduction 2. Emerging Roman religion: the beginnings 3. Lived religion and its macro-spaces in the Danubian provinces 4. Space sacralisation in meso-spaces 5. Religious experience in micro-paces: housing the gods 6. Conclusions: beyond the materiality of Roman religious communication Annexes 1. Sanctuaries in the Danubian provinces 2. Divinities in the Danubian provinces 3. Diagrams Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMacedonia is a region that provides its own intriguing questions due to its position on the fringe of the classical Greek world. It is also an area that is of special interest to students of history and archaeology of Roman period Greece, since it was the first to be incorporated in the Roman state. Macedonia shared a similar path of development with Achaea during the imperial period. As provinces far from productive zones and frontiers, both played a minor role in the imperial administrative structure. Beneath this similarity, however, lie many differences: in Macedonia’s proximity to the Balkans, its early contact with Rome, its relatively low level of urbanization, its multicultural context and its sizeable economy, which played their own role in the formation of the urban and rural environments.With a focus on elements of the built environment and human habitat, this book examines old and new archaeological evidence to present a concise overview of the archaeology of the area and develop a better perception of the region in terms of archaeology of the built environment, architecture and architectural influences, urbanization and use of land and resources from the 2nd century BC to the early 4th century AD. Driven by a set of key questions that are addressed through the archaeological evidence, the book explores key issues in understanding the archaeology of the area, like the role of architectural tradition and innovation, the interdependency between practical bases of architecture and socio cultural aspects, the exploitation of local resources, and the role of external influences. Special importance is given to the interaction of Greek, Roman and local cultures and the ways that the formation of the built environment eventually led to the assimilation of ideas from East and West in terms of workmanship, use of materials, design and function.Trade Review[T]here is no other book, to my knowledge, that discusses Roman Macedonia in an overall manner… The author undoubtedly dedicated many working hours to gathering all the evidence for the built environment of the area, scattered mostly in Greek publications and thus difficult for the international public to access. Moreover, he offered useful and detailed remarks on the architecture of the region, and most importantly, having created the “big picture,” facilitated the comparison with other provinces. * American Journal of Archaeology *[T]here is much to like about this book. Evangelidis strings together the full spectrum of architectural features within a large “built environment,” and creates useful syntheses of new and ongoing archaeological work in northern Greece and elsewhere. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Table of ContentsList of illustrations Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction by D. Grigoropoulos Part I. Roman Macedonia: history, people, cities and resources 1. The historical framework: Roman Macedonia. From the revolt of Andriscus to the reign of Galerius 2. Land and Resources: Ownership and exploitation 3. Decline and continuity of settlements: urban and rural sites 4. Via Egnatia and the provincial road network Part II. Built Environment: the archaeological evidence 5. The archaeology of Built Environment. A short history of the archaeological research of Roman Macedonia 6. The transformation of old and the construction of new public spaces: Agoras and fora 7. Public and administrative Buildings 8. Buildings for commerce and industry 9. The architecture of ritual space: temples and sanctuaries 10. An architecture of entertainment: Theatres and spectacle buildings 11. An architecture of water: aqueducts, baths, latrines, fountains 12. An architecture of movement and passage: colonnaded streets and gates 13. Housing in urban and peri-urban contexts 14. An architecture of defence: the refortification of the cities 15. Deathscapes: Urban and rural burial grounds 16. Outside the cities: villas, farms and other types of rural sites Part III. Urban and rural environments in Roman Macedonia 17. Building methods – construction techniques 18. Urban Environments: The course of development 19. Rural Environments. Villas and beyond 20. Macedonia in a wider perspective: contrasts and comparisons Epilogue Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Archaeology of Roman Portugal contributes to the wider debate on Roman imperialism and expansionism, by bringing to the fore a much-underrepresented area of the Roman empire, at least in English-language scholarship: its westernmost edge in modern day Portugal. Highlighting the perspective from Roman Portugal contributes to our understanding of the Roman empire, through presenting both an extraordinary landscape in the sense of economic opportunities (ocean resources, marble and metal mining), and also settlement history. The volume presents new data and insights from both archaeology and ancient history, discussing their significance for our understanding of Roman expansion and imperialism.A key goal of the volume is to discuss how the Portuguese panorama compares to other areas of the Iberian peninsula, and to better integrate Portuguese scholarship in the academic debate on the Mediterranean Roman world, and to contextualise it firmly within the wider Iberian and Western Mediterranean. The volume brings together an internationally diverse team of scholars in archaeology and ancient history from Portugal, Spain, Germany, the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. It explicitly discusses different national and disciplinary research traditions and historical frameworks in order to assess the potential of integrating best practices in archaeological approaches and methodology.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements List of contributors Introduction Tesse D. Stek and André Carneiro I. Contested landscapes: between pre-Roman polities and early Roman encroachment 1. Exploring Rome’s early military deployment strategies in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula Jordi Principal and Carles Padrós Gómez 2. Late Iron Age and early Roman conflict and interaction in southern Callaecia (north-west Iberia) João Fonte 3. Towers, territory, and the negotiation of a colonial landscape in the early Roman Central Alentejo Joey Williams, Rui Mataloto, and Karilyn Sheldon 4. The last frontier: Late Iron Age society, Roman conquest, and the Romanisation of the territory north of the River Duero Jesús García Sánchez II. Economic targets: integrating and energising resources 5. Upgrading town appearances: relating white marble exploitation and town development in Roman Lusitania Devi Taelman 6. Shifting landscapes: change and adaptation in the Lusitanian territory during the first globalisation André Carneiro 7. Adding complexity to a complex world: the role of tableware imports in Portugal during the 2nd and 1st centuries BC Vincenzo Soria III. Cities and hillforts: settlement organisation in the Roman west 8. Land-use and settlement patterns around Ercavica in Antiquity: initial findings Miguel Ángel Valero Tévar 9. Understanding the town-territory relationship: a case study from Lusitania Cristina Corsi 10. Why would we need a city? The dispersed civitates in Lusitania Pieter Houten 11. Roman rural life in the far west: the case study of the Serena Region (Badajoz, Spain) Victorino Mayoral Herrera, Martina Cecilia Parini, and Luis Sevillano Perea IV. Local religious and cultural identity 12. The role of cult places in shaping landscapes during the Roman expansion: an Iberian perspective on a Mediterranean process Ignasi Grau Mira 13. Men, women, children, animals: the votive statuary from the sanctuary of Endovellicus at São Miguel da Mota/Alandroal (Portugal) Thomas G. Schattner 14. Romanising the mountains? Exploring cultural change through archaeological spatial analysis in western Sierra Morena (Spain) Maria del Carmen Moreno Escobar 15. Oppida and public spaces: constructing identities in Late Iron Age and early Roman north-west Iberia Manuel Fernández-Götz and Marco V. García Quintela 16. Funerary practices and material culture: a ‘portrait from life’ in the fields of Lusitania Mónica Rolo

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Book SynopsisThis book collects recent works on the subjects of sacrificial offerings, ritualised violence and the relative values thereof in the contexts of Scandinavian prehistory from the Neolithic to the Viking era. It provides a detailed re-appraisal of key aspects of prehistoric bog bodies using the latest forensic and material culture analytical techniques to examine questions of sacrifice, execution and ritual behaviour.The volume re-opens investigations into notions of value relating to diverse evidence and suggested evidence for human sacrifice and related ritualised violence. It covers a broad spectrum of issues relating to novel interpretations of the existing archaeological materials, but with a focus on the study of value and value dynamics in these diverse ritual contexts, engaging in questions of identity, cosmology, economics and social relations. Cases span from the Scandinavian Late Neolithic and Nordic Bronze Age, through to the well-known wetland deposits and bog bodies of the Iron Age, to Viking era executions, ‘deviant’ burials and contemporaneous double/multiple graves, exploring the implications for the transformation of sacrificial practices across Scandinavian prehistory.Each contributor untangles the myriad forms of value at play in different incarnations of human offerings, and provide insights into how those values were expressed, for example in the selection and treatment of victims in relation to their status, personhood, identity and life-history.The volume builds on a workshop hosted at the National Museum of Denmark in 2018 which inaugurated the beginning of the research project ‘Human Sacrifice and Value: The limits of sacred violence’ and was supported by the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo. It brings together research and perspectives that go beyond the who, what and where of most archaeological and anthropological investigations of sacrificial violence to address both the underlying and explicit forms of value associated with such events.Table of ContentsList of figures List of plates List of tables List of contributors Acknowledgements Foreword Rane Willerslev Introduction: In the darkest of days: Tracing human sacrifice through Scandinavian prehistory Matthew J. Walsh, Marianne Moen, Sean O’Neill, Svein H. Gullbekk and Rane Willerslev 1. Noble hunter-gatherers and ‘cruel’ farmers – a discussion of the evidence of human sacrifices during the Mesolithic and Neolithic in South Scandinavia Lasse Sørensen and Poul Otto Nielsen 2. Societies that sacrifice? Examining the potential for attendant sacrifices in the Nordic Bronze Age Matthew J. Walsh, Samantha S. Reiter and Karin M. Frei 3. Human sacrifice and human remains – the ultimate sacrifice? Pernille Pantmann 4. Naked or clothed? Bog bodies and the value of clothing in the Early Iron Age Ulla Mannering 5. Sacrifice or execution? A brief forensic medical and archaeological perspective on the Danish bog bodies Niels Lynnerup and Pauline Asingh 6. Six human skulls in a bog: Svennum – a 1st century AD sacrificial bog Sidsel Wåhlin 7. Haraldskær Woman under a new light: Bog bodies, martial rituals and value Mads Ravn 8. Figuring out bodies in watery places: Posthumanism, figurations and ecological relations Christina Fredengren 9. Thrown stone for flesh and bone? ‘White’ stones in sacrificial context in Iron Age Scandinavia Matthew J. Walsh, Pernille Pantmann and Marianne Moen 10. ‘Better not to pray than to sacrifice too much’ Human sacrifice and its alternatives in Northern Europe AD 750 - 1050 Bo Jensen 11. Regulated deviancy – ritual executions at Viking Age Tissø as indications of a complex judicial culture Mads D. Jessen and Jesper Olsen 12. Human sacrifice in Old Norse skaldic poetry Klas Wikström Af Edholm

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Book SynopsisBosworth stands alongside Naseby and Hastings as one of the three most iconic battles ever fought on English soil. The action on 22 August 1485 brought to an end the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses and heralded the dawn of the Tudor dynasty. However, Bosworth was also the most famous lost battlefield in England. Between 2005 and 2010, the techniques of battlefield archaeology were used in a major research programme to locate the site.Bosworth 1485: A Battlefield Rediscovered is the result. Using data from historical documents, landscape archaeology, metal detecting survey, ballistics and scientific analysis, the volume explores each aspect of the investigation – from the size of the armies, their weaponry, and the battlefield terrain to exciting new evidence of the early use of artillery – in order to identify where and how the fighting took place. Bosworth 1485 provides a fascinating and intricately researched new perspective on the event which, perhaps more than any other, marked the transition between medieval and early modern England.Table of Contents1. A battlefield lost 2. The armies: an historical perspective 3. The battle: an historical perspective 4. The battlefield terrain 5. Surveying the battle archaeology 6. Interpreting the artefacts 7. Gunpowder weapons 8. A new perspective on the battle

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Book SynopsisRenowned archaeologist, Dale Serjeantson, tells the story of human engagement with birds from the end of the last Ice Age to around AD 1650. In this book, she integrates the study of archaeological bird remains with ethnography and the history of birds and avian biology. It identifies changing patterns of wetland, water bird and game species through time, and in addition to their food value, examines our changing interactions with them. This includes considering evidence for use of bird body parts in religious rituals; taboos, totemism and superstitions surrounding eating certain species; their capture and role in falconry and as companion animals; and their importance in the economy from the Viking period onwards. Essential reading for archaeologists, zooarchaeologists, and historians, it is an eye-opening, accessible introduction to the archaeology of wild birds in Britain and Ireland for anyone interested in our natural history.Trade ReviewThis book is a must read for anyone with an interest in the ornithological history of Britain and Ireland. * Birdbooker Report *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Ravens and crows 3. Raptors and owls 4. Fenland birds 5. Game birds 6. Waders 7. Songbirds 8. Ducks, geese, and swans 9. Pigeons 10. Seabirds 11. Gannets and cormorants 12. Auks and gulls 13. Hawks and hawking 14. Changing roles and perceptions Appendix: list of assemblages referred to in the text with bibliographic reference Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of Pinkie, fought between the English and the Scots in 1547, was the last great clash between the two as independent nations. It is a well-documented battle with several eyewitness accounts and contemporary illustrations. There is also archaeological evidence of military activities. The manoeuvres of the two armies can be placed in the landscape near Edinburgh, despite considerable developments since the 16th century. Nevertheless, the battle and its significance has not been well understood.From a military point of view there is much of interest. The commanders were experienced and had already had battlefield successes. There was an awareness on both sides of contemporary best practice and use of up-to-date weapons and equipment. The Scots and the English armies, however, were markedly different in their composition and in the strategy and tactics they employed. There is the added ingredient that the fire from English ships, positioned just off the coast, helped decide the course of events.Using contemporary records and archaeological evidence, David Caldwell, Victoria Oleksy, and Bess Rhodes reconsider the events of September 1547. They explore the location of the fighting, the varied forces involved, the aims of the commanders, and the close-run nature of the battle. Pinkie resulted in a resounding victory for the English, but that was by no means an inevitable outcome. After Pinkie it briefly seemed as if the future of Britain had been redefined. The reality proved rather different, and the battle has largely slipped from popular consciousness. This book provides a reminder of the uncertainty and high stakes both Scots and English faced in the autumn of 1547.Table of ContentsList of Figures and Tables Acknowledgements Copyright and Abbreviations 1 Introduction Slaughter near Musselburgh Modern understandings of Pinkie Purpose of this book 2 Causes of conflict in 1547 Warning of war Dynastic ambitions Religious conflict Attack on Langholm Objectives in September 1547 3 The English forces The commanders Cavalry Infantry Artillery Naval forces Logistics and supply 4 Scotland’s military capability The host Wappenshaws The mobilisation The Scottish commanders The structure of the army Scottish battlefield successes 5 Early sources for the battle – a review Official documentation Diplomatic reports English descriptions of the battle Scottish descriptions of the battle 6 Pinkie Battlefield – Topography and Archaeology What’s in a name? Topographical overview Lordships and lands Settlements Communications Land use On manoeuvres, September 1547 The Archaeology of the Battle of Pinkie 7 A New interpretation of the battle The English advance into Scotland Scottish preparations Thursday 8 and Friday 9 September Saturday 10 September 8 Pinkie First and Last After Pinkie – the English policy After Pinkie – the Scottish response Pinkie and military change in Early Modern Britain Pinkie – future directions Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisTony Brooks was unique. He was barely out of school when recruited in 1941 by the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the wartime secret service established by Churchill to 'set Europe ablaze'. After extensive training he was parachuted into France in July 1942 - being among the first (and youngest) British agents sent to support the nascent French Resistance. Brook's success was primarily due to his exceptional qualities as a secret agent, although he was aided by large and frequent slices of luck. Among much else, he survived brushes with a British traitor and a notorious double agent; the Gestapo's capture of his wireless operator and subsequent attempts to trap Brooks; brief incarceration in a Spanish concentration camp; injuries resulting from a parachute jump into France; and even capture and interrogation by the Gestapo - although his cover story held and he was released.In an age when we so often take our heroes from the worlds of sport, film, television, music, fashion, or just 'celebrity', it is perhaps salutary to be reminded of a young man who ended the war in command of a disparate force of some 10,000 armed resistance fighters, and decorated with two of this country's highest awards for gallantry, the DSO and MC. At the time, he was just twenty-three years old.This remarkable, detailed and intimate account of a clandestine agent's dangerous wartime career combines the historian's expert eye with the narrative colour of remembered events. As a study in courage, it has few, if any, equals.

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Book SynopsisThe number one Irish Times bestseller In 1970, Taoiseach Jack Lynch accused two cabinet ministers, Charles Haughey and Neil Blaney, of smuggling arms to the IRA in Northern Ireland. The criminal prosecution that followed was a cause célèbre at the time. All the accused were acquitted, but it generated a political crisis that would be one of the major events of modern Irish history. In the fifty years since, myth and controversy has surrounded the trial and its aftermath. Michael Heney has unearthed astonishing new evidence, raising serious questions about Lynch and his relationship with Haughey. The Arms Crisis of 1970 is the first comprehensive investigation into the arms trial prosecution, and how the jury came to their verdict of acquittal. Reviews: 'An indisputable, forensic interpretation of the events of 1970... Impressive for its methodology, and is indispensable for anyone interested in what actually happened 50 years ago' Colm Tóibín, Irish Times, Books of the Year 'Persuasive... A real life whodunnit written with the pace and drama of a political thriller' Eilis O'Hanlon, Irish Independent 'Heney strips away the lies associated with the great Irish scandal of 1970... A ground-breaking book' Diarmaid Ferriter 'Brilliant de-bunking of the myths, heroes and villains of the Arms Crisis' Mary O'Rourke, Sunday IndependentTrade ReviewFinally, a path has been cleared through the dirty fog of the Arms Crisis. Michael Heney has provided us with an original and textured history of one of the most controversial and misunderstood episodes of modern Irish history. Driven by evidence and attention to detail, and with dynamism and doggedness, Heney strips away the lies, myths and speculation surrounding the events and personalities associated with the great Irish scandal of 1970 and uncovers the realities. His clarity and painstaking research have resulted in a ground-breaking book -- Diarmaid FerriterA brilliant, forensic investigation of the 1970 arms trial, with much new material -- Vincent BrownePacked with astonishing detail and absorbing observations, interpreted anew through study of the State Papers of 2001, [The Arms Crisis of 1970] will leave you gasping with interest as you turn the pages... I cannot recommend this book highly enough' -- Mary O'Rourke, Sunday IndependentHeney's book is a reminder of how a version of the frictions that led to splits in Sinn Féin and the foundation of Fianna Fáil in the 1920s surfaced again in the late 1960s and early 1970s * RTÉ *Michael Heney, a former RTÉ journalist who has spent the 50 years since the Arms Crisis considering it more deeply, has written a fascinating and thoroughly researched book about this episode and found new evidence * The Times *As a former journalist with RTÉ for over 40 years, Heney knows how to tell a story and keep an audience hooked... It's written with the pace and drama of a political thriller, with characters that you just couldn't invent' * Irish Independent *Heney tracks these key players' movements like pieces on a chess board, constantly asking the fundamental questions of who knew what and when... Heney's detective skills deserve great respect and he has written an undeniably important book' * Sunday Business Post *An indisputable, forensic interpretation of the events of 1970... Heney's book is impressive for its methodology, and is indispensable for anyone interested in what actually happened 50 years ago' * Irish Times. *

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Book Synopsis‘Profane Death in Burial Practices of a Pre-Industrial Society: A study from Silesia’ discusses phenomena characteristic of the funeral practices of the pre-industrial society of Silesia (Poland). The author explores specific groups of people: unbaptised children, women who died in childbirth, suicides, convicts and those who perished in epidemics, who were refused an honorary burial in consecrated land or had ceremonies conducted on special terms. Also discussed are the places where the bodies of these excluded individuals were interred. The study is supplemented by an analysis of the results of archaeological research, which mainly involved fieldwork carried out at former execution sites. The skeletal remains of numerous convicts were discovered during these investigations, together with the remnants of stonebuilt gallows. This analysis is especially relevant for interpreting selected funeral finds, socalled ‘vampire burials’, and the general question of atypical treatment of bodies perceived as unworthy, badly-deceased or ‘unclean’. The research subject is novel, as no similar synthetic studies on unusual funerary practices have yet been conducted in Polish archaeology for this particular era and territory. The author is primarily concerned with cases mentioned in historical and archaeological sources from the region of Silesia, but evidence from beyond this area is also presented. Chronologically the study covers the period between the 15th and early 19th centuries.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Valorization of cemetery space; 2.1. Cemetery boundaries; 2.2. Functions of cemeteries; 2.3. Hierarchy of cemeteries; 2.4. Hierarchy within cemeteries; 2. Suicide; 2.1. Differences in religious denominations and legal bases for punishment of suicides; 2.2. Place of death - profane space; 2.3. Suicides in cities; 2.4. Significance of crossroads and boundaries for burials; 2.5. Executions of suicides — prevention or punishment?; 2.6. Beliefs and magical practices associated with suicide death; 3. Executed bodies and execution sites; 3.1. Superstitions and magic practices associated with execution sites; 3.1.1. Magical properties of criminal body parts; 3.1.2. Magical properties of the hanging rope and other items from the gallows; 3.1.3. Hanged men’s clothes; 3.1.4. Magical properties of plants growing on the execution site; 3.1.5. The role played by the hangman in perpetuating these superstitions; 3.1.6. Archaeological evidences of the popular beliefs and superstitions; 3.2. The location of execution sites; 3.3. Burials of the executed and false cemeteries’; 3.3.1. Uses of the gallows structure interior; 3.3.2. Different uses of the area outside the gallows; 3.4. Gallows remains variation; 3.5. Analysis of small finds; 4. Women who died in childbirth; 5. Unbaptized children; 5.1 Status of children who died before being baptized; 5.2. Changelings and other superstitious beliefs about new born children; 5.3. Magic properties of body parts of unbaptized infants; 5.3.1. Infant burials in vessels; 5.3.2. The pot burial of an infant from Wrocław; 6. Other groups in breach of the established order; 6.1. Drunkards; 6.2. Non-practicing Christians; 6.3. Other groups denied standard burial; 7. The ‘living dead’ and related apotropaics; 7.1. Categories of the harmful dead; 7.2. Preventive measures; 7.3. Executions of the harmful dead; 7.4. Rationalization and possible natural explanation of deviant burials; 7.5. Grave goods and the belief in ‘living dead’; 7.6. Archaeological finds; 8. Time of the plague — abnormal situation; 8.1. Finding and punishing those ‘guilty of the plague’; 8.2. Plague burial sites and commemoration of plague victims; 8.3. Archaeological record of epidemics; Conclusion; References; Figures; Index

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Book SynopsisEvery Wrong Direction recreates and dissects the bitter education of Dan Burt, an American emigré who never found a home in America. It begins in the row homes of Jewish immigrants and working-class Italians on the mean streets of 1950s South Philadelphia. Every Wrong Direction follows the author from the rough, working-class childhood that groomed him to be a butcher or charter boat captain, through America, Britain, and Saudi Arabia as student, lawyer, spy, culture warrior, and expatriate, ending with a photo of his college rooms at St John's College, Cambridge. Between this beginning and end, through a Philadelphia commuter college, to Cambridge, then Yale Law School, across the working to upper classes, three countries, and seven cities over forty three years, it maps his pursuit of, realisation, disillusionment with, and abandonment of America and the American Dream.Trade Review'Dan Burt is a fine poet, and this memoir has all the sensitivity and vigilance you might expect from a writer with such a background. But his prose also has a robustness and documentary power that continually startles and engages.' - Sir Andrew Motion

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Book SynopsisThe epic story of how the Second World War was won.On 4 January 1945, General ‘Blood and Guts’ Patton confided gloomily to his diary, ‘We can still lose the war.’ The Nazis were attacking in Eastern France, Luxembourg and Belgium. General Eisenhower’s allied armies had lost over 300,000 men in battle (with a similar number of non-battle casualties) and they were still in the same positions they had first captured three months before. Would the German will to resist never be broken?Veteran military historian Charles Whiting assembled individual stories from the frontline as the war entered its last bloody, but ultimately victorious phase. From material such as diaries, interviews and battalion journals he vividly builds up a picture of the soldiers and combatants. As the greatest conflict of them all came to its epic crescendo, those on the ground knew that paths that lead to glory could also lead to death…Perfect for fans of Anthony Beevor, Richard Overy and Damien Lewis.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a timely and original overview of the Dissolution of the Monasteries and its longer term affects on the social and physical landscape of England and Wales during the decades that followed. Combining for the first time the full wealth of archaeological evidence gathered over the last century with the established documentary sources, it takes a more nuanced approach to the understanding of an event that has polarized debates ever since the 16th century. The book examines the most immediate and destructive outcomes of the Dissolution, such as the ruination and asset stripping of religious property and the dispersal of monastic lands. However, it also presents its longer term, albeit often unexpected outcomes, such as the creation of economic opportunities for individual entrepreneurs and civic authorities, the stimulation of new forms of polite architecture and the development of previously unimagined leisure landscapes. It concludes that whilst the Dissolution had devastating impact upon those in religious orders, its lasting legacy was the remarkable preservation of the country’s medieval Christian heritage through the monuments and archaeological sites that remain to this day in every area of the country. While primarily focusing on archaeological material, the book also encompasses a range of diverse historical sources. It is aimed at students and scholars seeking an introduction to the main debates surrounding the Dissolution, as well as providing original in-depth case studies to illustrate these.Table of Contents1 Introduction 2 Monastic England and Wales at the Dissolution 3 The Destruction and Asset Stripping of the Religious Houses 4 The Dispersal and Acquisition of Monastic Property 5 Avenues for Common Opportunity 6 The Conversion to Domestic Use 7 New Landscapes of Leisure 8 Concluding Remarks

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Book SynopsisAn ambitious history of Britain told through the stories of twenty-five notable structures, from the Iron Age fortification of Maiden Castle in Dorset to the Gherkin. Building Britannia is a chronicle of social, political and economic change seen through the prism of the country's built environment, but also a sequence of closely observed studies of a series of intrinsically remarkable structures: some of them beautiful or otherwise imposing; some of them more coldly functional; all of them with richly fascinating stories to tell. Steven Parissien tells both a national story, tracing how a growing sense of British nationhood was expressed through the country's architecture, and also examines how these structures were used by later generations to signpost, mythologise or remake British history. Rubbing shoulders with some 'expected' building choices – the Roman baths at Aquae Sulis, the early Gothic splendour of Lincoln Cathedral and the Tudor jewel that is Little Moreton Hall – are some striking inclusions that promise to open doors into what will be, for many readers, less familiar areas of social history: these include The Briton’s Protection, a Regency pub close in Manchester city centre and the Edwardian Baroque Electric Cinema in Notting Hill, one of the country's oldest working cinemas. Thus as well as identifying the relevance of certain iconic structures to the unfolding of the national story, Building Britannia finds fascination and meaning in the everyday and the disregarded.Trade ReviewSteven Parissien has an extraordinary ability to present the complex story of buildings with both wisdom and humour; each chapter in this book is a memorable cultural encounter with place, each illuminating in different ways the shifting story of British nationhood. * Jeremy Musson *An ingeniously personal journey through British history written with authority, flair and humour. * Jacqueline Riding *Steven Parissien brings a fresh eye and a new perspective to Britain’s architectural history. A hugely enjoyable read, both erudite and entertaining. * Adrian Tinniswood *This book offers a surgically precise section through the nation to reveal – with great clarity – how people have lived and built in Britain during the last 2,600 years. Erudition and insights coupled with lightness of touch makes Building Britannia as entertaining as it is informative. * Dan Cruickshank *Steven Parissien vividly recaptures the rich variety of life in ancient and historic Britain in just twenty-five buildings, getting to the heart of each structure and revealing what motivated people to create it. The range here is extraordinary, from an Iron Age hill fort to Paul McCartney’s post-war family home in Liverpool. Building Britannia is a remarkable book, full of surprises. * Francis Pryor *Thoroughly enjoyable * Country and Town House *PRAISE FOR STEVEN PARISSIEN: 'The most stunning art books of the year' Sir Roy Strong, Sunday Express. 'An outstanding work of reference and beauty' Interiors Magazine. 'There's plenty here to fuel the petrolhead and the social historian for many miles' Literary Review. 'A read to fascinate anyone interested in the history of the industry' Daily Express. 'A beautiful, highly original book' * Apollo Magazine *

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Book SynopsisWorld War One took place just after the birth of powered flight, when aerial technology was still in its infancy. At the outbreak of war, the military potential of this novelty invention was not fully recognised until commanders began to use the aeroplane to see what the enemy was planning on the other side of the hill. During the course of the war, the role of the aeroplane evolved from a stable, lumbering observation platform to a more agile fighter, capable of shooting down another aircraft. In a bid to out-do the enemy, the ongoing arms race saw rapid developments in aeroplane technology, which led to an incredible array of ever-advancing aircraft seeing service during this time. This book features a potted history of the British aircraft that were involved in World War One. It includes the frontline fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft that contributed to the iconic events between 1914 and 1918. The story is supported by high-quality images of surviving, reproduction, replica and restored aircraft.

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Book SynopsisAdvances in aerodynamics and jet engine technology after World War Two led to the RAF Air Staff producing an Operating Requirement (OR229) for a bomber that could use these new technologies. To meet this requirement, the Avro Initial Projects team adopted a Delta wing design. This was a major change in aircraft design, as little was known about the Delta wing. The design of the Delta wing Vulcan was a major gamble by all concerned. However, it proved an incredibly valuable asset, especially during the Cold War. It was used in both high- and low-level roles and performed some of the longest bombing and anti-radar missions by the RAF during the Falklands War in 1982. After serving over three decades with the RAF, the Vulcan was retired in1984, but it continued display flying with the Vulcan to the Sky Trust until 2015, delighting the public with its noise and manoeuvrability. Fully illustrated with over 150 images, this book explores the history of the Vulcan, from concept to manufacture to service, providing insight from those who developed, designed, and flew it.

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Book SynopsisThe Dassault Super tendard, which became the Super tendard Modernis in due course, had a remarkable career. It was a humble aircraft that was often faced with thankless and difficult tasks. There was no excessive power in this aircraft, but simply a remarkable versatility that made it the backbone of French carrier aviation for 40 years. Solid, reliable, well-designed, and adaptable, the Super tendard was an aircraft that France regularly upgraded, enabling it to maintain its rank with increasingly sophisticated equipment and armaments. It gained notoriety for its role in anti-ship missions flown by Argentinian pilots, but paradoxically, France never used it in combat in this role. On the other hand, the aircraft was extensively used as a bomber in numerous wars, in a variety of places, including Lebanon, Syria, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan. With over 160 images, this book looks at the history of the Super tendard and the impact it had on aviation.

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Book SynopsisThe US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) rapidly expanded its presence in the 1980s, as it became the most dangerous decade of the Cold War. Most controversially, a new generation of intermediate-range nuclear weapons was deployed by both sides. As tensions between the East and West escalated, a new generation of aircraft arrived at bases across Western Europe - state of the art F-15 Eagle air superiority fighters were followed by the A 10 tank busters and the multi-role F-16 Fighting Falcons. Illustrated with over 180 images, this book examines the aircraft and bases of the USAFE during the 1980s. It also describes the vital support provided by other arms of the USAF, including Military Airlift Command's transport and tanker fleet. The part played by Strategic Air Command's iconic SR-71s, U-2s, and giant B-52 bombers is outlined, as is the role of Tactical Air Command, which would have rapidly reinforced USAFE in time of war.

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Book SynopsisThe F-104 Starfighter was one of the most fascinating aircraft of the Cold War era in Europe. Several European air forces operated the aircraft, with Germany alone having 916 Starfighters in its inventory. The General Electric J-79 engine howl was unique and filled the European skies for many years. This book details the purchase decisions, service introduction and aircraft production by Lockheed and European manufacturers. This is followed by a deep look at the entire period of Starfighter operations with the Luftwaffe and Marineflieger combat wings. Fighter, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance wings were all equipped with this aircraft. With over 240 images, many unpublished outside of Germany, this book, the first volume of two covering the Starfighter in German service, provides a dynamic history of this versatile multi-purpose aircraft in service with the Luftwaffe and Naval Air Wings.

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Book SynopsisThe Anglo-Saxons held sway in this country from the Romans departing until the Norman Conquest; a period of over 600 years: in other words the same length of time from the late medieval England of the War of the Roses until the present day. This Anglo-Saxon legacy has endured. They gave us our language, place names, an English identity and an administrative system of dividing the country into shires which is still with us today. This Guide brings the tremendous accomplishments of the Anglo-Saxons to life. It is written in an accessible and clear way and is aimed at the general reader but could also be used as a springboard to more advanced study. The book is presented in two parts. Part One is an overview of the course of events in Anglo-Saxon England. Its purpose is to put Part Two into context. Part Two is a richly illustrated place-by-place exploration of what there is to see and enjoy today of the Anglo-Saxon world. The book is designed to be used in the field by those who enjoy exploring our country with guide book in hand, as well as by the armchair reader. All well-known places are described, from the magnificence of Bede’s Jarrow and Monkwearmouth, to the wonderful churches at Brixworth and Earl’s Barton. As well as the famous, more secret and hidden treasures are described from the fells of Cumbria to the South Downs in Sussex. The simple but breath-taking architecture of Anglo-Saxon churches, their intricate sculpture and captivating historical associations are all waiting to be discovered

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Book SynopsisThis book is the second of a series documenting a thousand years of selected London streets and their respective histories. Some of the streets have their roots and foundations in places of worship, locations for trading or because of their geographical location or particular topography. With St Paul's at its western end and St Mary-le-Bow as its centrepiece, Cheapside goes back further than a thousand years, all the way to the Romans and beyond. Its colourful history includes kings, queens, poets, playwrights, murderers, criminals, broadcasters, inventors, politicians, pioneers, philanthropists, religious fanatics, revolutionaries, diarists and architects who all played their part in making Cheapside what Charles Dickens Jnr called the greatest thoroughfare in the City of London. With London's streets harbouring a multitude of long lost stories ripe for the recounting, Mike Read's A Thousand Years of a London Street series is one with endless potential. The only question that remains is which street will pique the interest of this broadcaster turned historical supersleuth next?

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Book Synopsis‘This is the house by Cromer town …’Built in 1884 as the grand summer home for the well-connected Locker-Lampson family, the red -brick, turreted mansion Newhaven Court once sat high on a windswept hill above Cromer. Before its dramatic destruction in flames nearly eighty years later, the house played host to such eminent figures as Sir Winston Churchill, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Sir Ernest Shackleton, illustrator Kate Greenaway and French tennis superstar Suzanne Lenglen.It was a home where poets rubbed shoulders with politicians and aristocracy with artists and authors. There was dance, dining and song – but also family tragedy and hidden love. Follow the true story of Newhaven Court and its colourful inhabitants from the decadent years of the late nineteenth century and the elegant Edwardian era, through the tragedy of the First World War and terrible conflict of the Second to the roaring twenties and the uncertain post-war age.Trade Review"In its heyday it was visited by celebrated names including Albert Einstein, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Shackleton. And now Newhaven Court in Cromer is the subject of a book written by a descendent of the family who once owned the house." * Coverage in Eastern Daily Press *“Helen Murray charts the true story of Newhaven Court and its colourful inhabitants from the decadent years of the late 19th century and the Edwardian era, through the tragedy of the two World Wars, and the uncertain post-war age.” * Family Tree magazine *“Read the story of this remarkable house" * This England magazine *

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Book SynopsisThe summer of 2022 saw the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the first time in British history that a monarch has reached this remarkable milestone.As the event was the first of its kind to be televised, images from the ceremony inside Westminster Abbey are instantly recognisable. Far less familiar are the scenes in the streets outside, where huge crowds assembled to see a procession of state coaches and historic regiments marching past public buildings festooned with patriotic banners and colourful grandstands erected outside many famous landmarks.Using a private collection of more than 200 rare images of London’s West End, Protect and Keep looks back to the day that the Queen pledged herself to her country. It provides a unique and precious record of an historic occasion: the day of the Coronation as it was seen by ordinary members of the public.

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Book SynopsisIn the early hours of Thursday, 8 August 1963, sixteen masked men ambushed the Glasgow–Euston mail train at Sears Crossing in Buckinghamshire.Making off with a record haul of £2.6 million, the robbers received approximately £150,000 each (over £2 million in today’s money). While twelve of the robbers were jailed over the next five years, four were never brought to justice – they evaded arrest and thirty-year prison sentences, and lived out the rest of their lives in freedom. In stark contrast to the likes of Ronnie Biggs, Buster Edwards and Bruce Reynolds, they became neither household names nor tabloid celebrities.Who were these men? How did they escape detection for so long? And how, almost sixty years later, are their names still not common knowledge? In No Case to Answer, Andrew Cook gathers and examines decades of evidence and lays it out end to end. It’s time for you to draw your own conclusions.

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Book SynopsisThe seminal account of the heroism, daring and ingenuity of the men of Allied Bomber Command, who took the war to the enemy’s doorstep.The Second World War saw aerial bombing – of both civilian and military targets – become a new front line in warfare, as advances in aircraft and engine design allowed planes to fly further, faster and carrying heavier loads.The RAF pilots in their Lancasters, Wellingtons and Halifaxes, the USAAF pilots in their B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators, and the Luftwaffe pilots in their Junkers and Heinkels, flew thousands of sorties deep into enemy territory, into the teeth of flak and agile enemy fighters, with staggering losses.In Bomber!, Robert Jackson uses thirteen famous raids to chronicle the bomber mission as it evolved over the course of the war, from the ferocious North Sea Battle in 1939 to the French crew who became the first Allied airmen to bomb Berlin. From the US bombing of Tokyo that forced Japan to commit her navy in the Pacific to the Earthquake Raids carried out by 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron in the closing days of the war with terrifying 12,000lb ‘Tallboy’ bombs.Here, Jackson gives bomber crews a voice, weaving their accounts with historical analysis to create a minute-by-minute account of these events, letting you experience them as they happened.Perfect for readers of John Nichol and Rowland White.**Praise for Bomber!**‘Jackson has made a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the air war’ New York Times

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Book SynopsisOne of the Second World War’s most brutal and dramatic campaigns brought to life in this vivid and epic historyIt could have all been over much quicker. In this gripping account, bestseller John Strawson analyses how the slow, bloody and fiercely fought Italian campaign delayed the end of the Second World War after the tide had turned against Hitler and the Germans. Here was a point of dogged resistance; and also indomitable advance and eventual victory from a huge Allied push up the peninsula.What was the justification for opening up a major new front against Hitler? What were the effects of doing so, the consequences of the important tactical decisions made by politicians and generals, the hostility between Patton and Montgomery, and the larger disagreement between the US and Britain? In answering them Strawson gets to the heart not only of this too-often overlooked struggle, but the entire War.Military history at its finest, full of unforgettable detail and grand strategy, this is perfect for readers of Max Hastings or James Holland.

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Book SynopsisOver Britain’s first century of mass democracy, politics has lurched from crisis to crisis. How does this history of political agony illuminate our current age of upheaval? To find out, journalist Phil Tinline takes us back to two past eras when the ruling consensus broke down, and the future filled with ominous possibilities – until, finally, a new settlement was born. How did the Great Depression’s spectres of fascism, bombing and mass unemployment force politicians to think the unthinkable, and pave the way to post-war Britain? How was Thatcher’s road to victory made possible by a decade of nightmares: of hyperinflation, military coups and communist dictatorship? And why, since the Crash in 2008, have new political threats and divisions forced us to change course once again? Tinline brings to life those times, past and present, when the great compromise holding democracy together has come apart; when the political class has been forced to make a choice of nightmares. This lively, original account of panic and chaos reveals how apparent catastrophes can clear the path to a new era. The Death of Consensus will make you see British democracy differently.Trade ReviewThe Times Politics Book of The Year 2022A Morning Star Best Book of 2022'Stylishly written … In the age of Brexit and “post-liberalism”, The Death of Consensus has much to communicate about how Britain has successfully navigated past moments of unnerving shift.' -- The Church Times

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Book Synopsis How was heritage understood and implemented in European socialist states after World War II? By exploring national and regional specificities within the broader context of internationalization, this volume enriches the conceptual, methodological and empirical scope of heritage studies through a series of fascinating case studies. Its transnational approach highlights the socialist world’s diverse interpretations of heritage and the ways in which they have shaped the trajectories of present-day preservation practices.Trade Review “The introduction nicely summarizes the general issues that distinguish this work from other post-socialist heritage studies in the region. Importantly, this volume takes socialist approaches to heritage seriously rather than seeing socialism as a past best forgotten…Recommended” • Choice “The chapters collected together in this volume offer valuable insights into the diverse and complex field of cultural heritage studies in Eastern and Central Europe… Due to the sheer variety of themes, methodologies and approaches, the book constitutes an important contribution not only for heritage studies scholars, but also for Cold War historians, and specialists in Eastern European, Soviet as well as transnational and global cultural history.” • Heritage & Society “Looking into the nuances of the socialist heritage definition is one of the major values of this volume. The papers convincingly demonstrate that heritage experts addressed issues similar to their colleagues outside the Iron Curtain and were parts of a global discourse contributing to the theoretical and practical processes that took the field where it is today…Specialists in heritage studies dedicated to decolonizing the academic discourse will find the contributions inspiring. The volume, however, also offers a new insight into the cultural and political history of the region through analyzing the heritage domain.” • Austrian History Yearbook “This coherent, well-conceived book presents a wide range of issues through a selection of interesting cases. Its focus on the Central and Eastern Europe region is an important addition to the wider discussion concerning the geopolitics of knowledge.” • Magdalena Banaszkiewicz, Jagiellonian UniversityTable of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction: Heritage Under Socialism: Trajectories of Preserving the Tangible Past in Postwar Eastern and Central Europe Corinne Geering and Paul Vickers Part I: Transfers and Exchanges in Heritage Policies and Practices Chapter 1. The Past Belongs to the Future: Heritage in Soviet Policymaking on Cultural Development Corinne Geering Chapter 2. International Experts – National Martyrdom – Socialist Heritage: The Contribution of the Polish People’s Republic to the Early UNESCO World Heritage Program Julia Röttjer Chapter 3. International Tourism and the Making of the National Heritage Canon in Late Soviet Ukraine, 1964–1991 Iryna Sklokina Chapter 4. International Contacts and Cooperation in Heritage Preservation in Soviet Estonia, 1960–1990 Karin Hallas-Murula and Kaarel Truu Part II: Canonizing and Contesting the Past: Heritage, Place and Belonging under Socialism Chapter 5. Socialist Royalty? The Ambiguities of the Reconstruction of the Royal Residence in Budapest in the 1950s Eszter Gantner Chapter 6. Justifying Demolition, Questioning Value: Urban Typologies and the Concept of the “Historic Town” in 1960s Romania Liliana Iuga Chapter 7. Making Sense of Socialism through Heritage Preservation: Stories from Northwest Bohemia Čeněk Pýcha Chapter 8. Socialism and the Rise of Industrial Heritage: The Preservation of Industrial Monuments in the German Democratic Republic Nele-Hendrikje Lehmann Conclusion: Transnational Heritage Networks in Socialist Eastern and Central Europe Corinne Geering

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Book SynopsisThe slogan that launched the tourist industry in the 1960s, Spain is different, has come to haunt historians. Much effort and energy have been expended ever since in endeavouring to show that Spain has not been different, but normal. Still, many of the defining features of the country's past -- the civil wars, the weak liberalism, the Franco dictatorship -- are taken as evidence of its distinctiveness. A related problem is that few historians have actually placed Spain's trajectory over the last two centuries within a truly comparative context. This book does so by tackling a number of key themes in modern Spanish history: liberalism, nationalism, anticlericalism, the Second Republic, the Franco dictatorship and the transition to democracy. Is Spain Different? thereby offers a fresh and stimulating perspective on Spain's recent past that is not only of interest to students of Spanish and European history alike, but also sheds new light on the current political debates regarding Spain's place in the world. Contributors to this volume include: José Álvarez Junco (Universidad Complutense, Madrid); María Cruz Romeo (University of Valencia); Edward Malefakis (Columbia University, New York); and Pamela Radcliff (University of California, San Diego).Trade Review"Analytically the most intelligent book to come out of Spain in recent years." -- Stanley Payne, University of Wisconsin-MadisonCompiled and edited by Nigel Townson this collection of essays is as good an introduction to thepast 200 years of Spanish history as could be hoped for. What is refreshing about this volume is that it scrapes away at ingrained mythologies and on the whole exhibits a genuinely balanced view ofevents, deeds and leading characters. Its comparative approach is intrinsic to this success,taking us out of local arguments and into a broader domain. Spain is different in many ways;this book is also different, in very many good ways. Volume XCIV, Issue no. 9, November 2017, of the Bulletin of Spanish Studies

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Book SynopsisSynthesizes Welsh history of science during the long eighteenth century.‘A World of New Ideas’: 1650–1820 is a series of two volumes revealing the often-forgotten contributions made by Welsh scientists to the scientific history of the long eighteenth century. The first volume—The Isles—centers on the contribution made in Wales particularly, but also includes England, Scotland, and Ireland. By presenting a synthesis of published material and original research in three sections (Theory, Practice, and Results), its chapters examine how Welsh contributions fit into the history of science developed from the quasi-magical worlds of alchemy and early chemistry, through the advent of Cartesian and Newtonian science, to the world of technological innovation and industrial development.

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Book Synopsis'Puts Cavendish back into the literary history books where she belongs' Kate Mosse 'Scholarly, articulate, and never less than fascinating' Alice Loxton A biography of the remarkable, and in her time scandalous, seventeenth-century writer Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle. ‘My ambition is not only to be Empress, but Authoress of a whole world.’ Margaret Cavendish, then Lucas, was born in 1623 to a wealthy family. In 1644, as England descended into civil war, she joined the court of the formidable Queen Henrietta Maria at Oxford, before following the court into exile in France. It was there that she met her much older lifelong partner, William Cavendish, Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Cavendish was a revolutionary writer. At a time when literature was dominated by men, she wrote passionately on gender, science and philosophy, defied convention by publishing under her own name, and advocated for women in work that predates the feminist movement. In 1666, she published The Blazing World, a brilliant, trail-blazing proto-novel thought to be one of the earliest works of science fiction. But her legacy divides opinion. And history has largely forgotten her. In Pure Wit, Francesca Peacock shines a spotlight on the fascinating, pioneering, yet often complex and controversial life of Margaret Cavendish.Trade ReviewIt’s a gripping read, wonderfully researched and puts Cavendish back into the literary history books where she belongs. I loved it. * Kate Mosse *Fascinating * William Boyd *Well-written, well-researched, interesting and peppy. * The Observer *5 STARS... Margaret Cavendish was a woman out of time. This blazing biography does her proud * The Telegraph *[An] erudite and entertaining book * The Spectator *Scholarly, articulate, and never less than fascinating, this is a sensational debut. * Alice Loxton *[A] sparky celebration of a remarkable woman * Financial Times *Pure Wit is thorough and scholarly * Literary Review *A stellar debut. Francesca Peacock is as bold, bright and witty as her subject. Margaret Cavendish sears through every page and so does her blazing world. * Jessie Childs *This is historical biography as it should be written: intelligent and nuanced, witty and thoroughly riveting. * Lucasta Miller *A fascinating book on a fascinating woman, who was not the “crazy duchess” of hostile legend, but a daring feminist pioneer. * Penelope Corfield *Francesca Peacock adroitly recounts Cavendish’s ordeals as a monarchist under Cromwell, her years in exile in Paris, her supportive marriage, her ennoblement and fame. * New Statesman *[Peacock's] enjoyable book is enriched by accounts of other women who lived remarkably in those remarkable times. * The Times *Perceptive and nuanced. A blazing account of a blazing woman. * Holly Kyte *

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThe last of Lawrence's travel books, Etruscan Places is an ephemeral and vivid account, replete with hauntingly evocative descriptions of the way of life of this once great civilisation. The Etruscan civilisation, which flourished from the 8th until the 5th century BC in what is now Tuscany, is one of the most fascinating and mysterious in history. An uninhibited, elemental people, the Etruscans enthralled D.H. Lawrence, who craved their 'old wisdom', the secret of their vivacity and love of life. To him they represented the antithesis of everything he despised in the modern world, perhaps because their spontaneity and naturalness struck a chord with his own quest for personal and artistic freedom - so often censured or repressed. Lawrence approaches the enigmatic Etruscans as a poet, passionately and searchingly, and so the reader is swept up in his luminous descriptions of a utopian world where dancing and feasting, art and music were everything. The exhilaration of Lawrence in his Etruscan adventures stands in stark contrast to his intimations of the darkness of Mussolini's Italy - at a time when Europe was beginning its inexorable drift towards tragedy.Trade ReviewHe wrote something like three dozen books, of which even the worst page dances with life that could be mistaken for no other man’s, while the best are admitted, even by those who hate him, to be unsurpassed. * Time and Tide *He is an extraordinarily acute noticer of the world, human and natural. And it is not just the natural world that beckons Lawrence to flood it with beautiful language . . . he can be as precise and compact an observer of human interaction as Flaubert or Forster. * The Guardian *Table of ContentsForeword by Michael Squires 1. Cerveteri 2. Tarquinia 3. The Painted Tombs of Tarquinia 4. The Painted Tombs of Tarquinia 5. Vulci 6. Volterra

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Book Synopsis'Frank and incisive - an insightful look at the most tumultuous period of the Troubles.' Ian Cobain'This is the Belfast I grew up in. Malachi writes from first-hand experience and brings back memories that will always resonate with those who lived in those times.' Eamonn HolmesIn the eleven months between August 1971 and July 1972, Northern Ireland experienced its worst year of violence. No future year of the Troubles experienced such death and destruction. The 'year of chaos' began with the introduction of internment of IRA suspects without trial, which created huge disaffection in the Catholic communities and provoked an escalation of violence. This led to the British government taking full control of Northern Ireland and negotiating directly with the IRA leadership. Operation Motorman, the invasion of barricaded no-go areas in Belfast and Derry, then dampened down the violence a year later. During this whole period, Malachi O'Doherty was a young reporter in Belfast, working in the city and returning home at night to a no-go area behind the barricades where the streets were patrolled by armed IRA men. Drawing on interviews, personal recollections and archival research, O'Doherty takes readers on a journey through the events of that terrible year - from the devastation of Bloody Sunday and Bloody Friday to the talks between leaders that failed to break the deadlock - which, he argues, should serve as a stark reminder of how political and military miscalculation can lead a country to the brink of civil war.Trade ReviewA haunting portrait of a vanished place and time... written with such grace, tenderness, anger and, most of all, sorrow. The Year of Chaos is a gripping and brilliant imaginative reconstruction of that "strange kind of war, if it was a war at all." Every word is suffused with humanity. * Sunday Independent *Frank and incisive - an insightful look at the most tumultuous period of the Troubles. -- Ian Cobain, author of Anatomy of a KillingMalachi O'Doherty recalls this tumultuous period in a confessional and autobiographical tone. Backing up political opinion with lived experience gives an authority that an academic writing on the same subject simply wouldn't possess. O'Doherty's analysis is convincing precisely because he lived through what he is analysing. * Sunday TImes *This is the Belfast I grew up in. Malachi writes from first-hand experience and brings back memories that will always resonate with those who lived in those times. -- Eamonn Holmes, TV presenterO'Doherty is a literary surgeon who uses his pen like a scalpel, cutting through the cancerous tissue of propaganda that has served all sides during "The Troubles". This excellent book is a must-read for all who want to understand what happened during the first years of the conflict. -- Richard O’Rawe, author of BlanketmenEssential reading for anyone trying to make sense of a past frequently distorted by rival sectarian myths and attempts to rewrite history. We need more of this kind of pragmatic history if we are to move forward into a more peaceful future. -- Aaron Edwards, author of Agents of InfluenceThis is an important book which reminds us of the reality and brutality of Belfast in 1971-72. The narrowness between living and dying is laid bare by someone who lived through the "heat of that crazy time", and is a totally authentic account as a result. -- Arlene Foster, former DUP First Minister of Northern IrelandAn impressive, rounded review of a turbulent and formative year, looking at state failures and paramilitary roots with thoughtfulness but not indulgence. -- Claire Hanna MP, SDLPOne year, described by one Belfast writer which lays bare the whole story of Northern Ireland... A vital book for understanding how Northern Ireland has reached deadlock and how it might yet escape, with incredible insights from boy soldiers of the 1970s, on both sides of the religious divide. -- Lesley Riddoch, author of Huts: A Place BeyondA unique insight into the unfolding chaos. Reads like a game of chess. Protestant and Catholic civilians, police and soldier pawns. Politicians, army generals, Republican and Loyalist godfathers prepared to risk lives with dangerous moves. All sides made wrong moves... Sadly the game is still in play. -- George Larmour, author of They Killed the Ice Cream ManA brilliant, utterly moving account of life in the North between 1969 and Internment and after... This is a work which exposes the inconvenient truths of the past, once again in need of recognition and healing. An absorbing, utterly driven political memoir. -- Mary O’Donnell, author of Massacre of the BirdsWithout ego or self-aggrandisement, Malachi O'Doherty captures the thrill and horror of being young in a war zone. A war zone on the doorstep of England. This is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the Troubles. -- Rowena McDonald, author of The Threat Level Remains SevereMalachi O' Doherty brings a unique perspective to the Northern Ireland conflict. Unsentimental, accomplished and authoritative writing is tempered by vivid and compelling lived experience. As Ulster teetered on the edge of civil war, this book travels back to a terrifying tipping point for the province. Opportune and apposite, it should be read as a cautionary tale in these challenging times. -- Paul Burgess, author of Through Hollow LandsIn his final paragraph, O'Doherty suggests that maybe the question is not the more usual one of what tore Northern Ireland apart, but what held it together. His answer, that it never really wanted to be torn apart in the first place, helps us gain some semblance of hope from his thought-provoking account of such a horrifying year. -- Sheila Llewellyn, author of Winter in TabrizThis book reminds us that there are those of us who want to be friends and those that want to drive us apart. It is an invaluable insight not only into the mistakes that we made but also of the true character of the people here that want to live in peace with their neighbours and that they are the foundation on which we must build a future together in Northern Ireland, this island and between these islands. -- Trevor Ringland, former Unionist and Conservative politicianA vivid account of an awful year. There are lessons here for Northern Ireland today. -- Sarah Creighton, commentatorTable of Contents1: Introduction 2: The Boy Soldiers 3: Gearing Up 4: Internment 5: One of Those Things That Happen in War 6: Summitry 7: Shooting Women 8: The Army Gets It Wrong 9: Deepening Deadlock 10: Living in the Middle of It 11: Routines of Murder 12: It's Normal Now 13: A New Year 14: Bloody Sunday 15: Britain Is Now the Problem 16: The Abercorn 17: London Takes Control 18: New Strategies 19: Dublin's Pitch for Unity 20: The Building Backlash 21: Hunger Strikes 22: Negotiations for a Ceasefire 23: Breakdown 24: Bloody Friday 25: Motorman 26: Conclusion: Not Like Other Wars

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Book Synopsis***Published in honour of our late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, The Platinum Queen presents seven decades of world history through the words of Britain's longest-reigning monarch: over 256 exquisitely designed pages, packed with 130 photos and featuring every single major speech given over the course of Her late Majesty's time on the throne, a foreword by Jennie Bond and historical context to each decade.***For the first time, all 70 of our late Queen's Christmas speeches are published together in full, along with six additional feature speeches made at significant points in her life.Organised by decade, each chapter opens with a narrative essay on the key events that follow, providing an important contextual backdrop to the speeches. From times of national and global turmoil - including wars, terror attacks and health crises - to times of joy - such as the new millennium and Olympics - The Platinum Queen is a testament to the late Elizabeth's unwavering resolve, faith and dedication to her role.

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