European history Books

Book SynopsisWhy did the Spanish Republic lose the Spanish Civil War - and could the Republic have won? These are the key questions Alexander Clifford addresses in this in-depth study of the People's Army and the critical battles of Brunete, Belchite and Teruel. These battles represented the Republic's best chance of military success, but after bitter fighting its forces were beaten back. From then on the Republic, facing the superior army of Franco and the Nationalists, aided by Germany and Italy, faced inevitable defeat. This tightly focused and perceptive account of the military history of the Republic and its army is fascinating reading. As well as providing a broad overview of the strategy and tactics of the People's Army and its Nationalist opponents, Alexander Clifford quotes vivid eyewitness testimony to give the reader a direct insight into the experience of the front-line soldiers on both sides during these three critical battles. Their recollections reveal to the reader what it was like to fight in the scorching heat of the plains around Brunete, in the shattered streets of Belchite - still ruined to this day - and in the frozen hills of Teruel.Trade ReviewWell written and offers a different perspective on the Spanish Civil War.--Balkan Wargamer The People's Army in the Spanish Civil War is exceptional, it is accessible in that it spans the divide between academic and populist publications. It can be read by anyone as the History teacher here presents the information in a way that is clear, but challenging. The chapter structure and style of writing make the reading of this volume a pleasure, the chapters are distinct units, part of a larger unit, one has the feeling of fulfilment on reaching the end of a chapter. It is usual to impose a qualification on recommendation, limiting the recommendation to a particular grouping of people. In this case this would be unnecessary, for experts on, and novices to, the topic will get something from this publication. - Tony Fox, The Battlefields Trust, March 2020 A meticulously researched analysis of the Republican and Nationalist armies... if you have a serious interest in the topic you will want to read this book. - Historical Novels Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe third and final volume of the Author's Americans in North-west Europe series covers the historic period December 1944 to May 1945. Launched in December 1944, the Nazis' Ardennes offensive, known as the Battle of the Bulge, was one of the most dangerous periods of the War. During six weeks of desperate fighting, more US soldiers were killed, wounded or reported missing than in any battle in American history. The Rhine was crossed in March 1945, first by the seizure of the railway bridge at Remagen and then by the combined American, British and Canadian ground and airborne operation codenamed Varsity. In the closing stages of the War, the western allies pushed remorselessly in the heart of Germany. Shocking evidence of Nazi atrocities was uncovered. Berlin fell to the Russians in early May and the Allies met up on the River Elbe. In the chaos that followed, Germany was divided into four zones of occupation. The immediate tasks were ensuring the survival of the civilian population, establishing law and order, and the capture of war criminals. In true Images of War style, this book graphically describes the magnificent role played by US forces under General Eisenhower's overall command.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the early morning of 10 May 1940, the sky literally fell on the heads of the defenders of Fort Eben-Emael, considered to be Belgium's most powerful fortress. This huge structure, with its powerful artillery and infantry weapons, was the key to the Meuse and Albert Canal defences. In the darkness of the pre-dawn, German DFS 230 gliders drifted silently over the southern Netherlands, landing one by one on top of Eben-Emael. Within minutes German Special Forces troops destroyed most of the fort's weapons and observation capabilities. The following day, the garrison surrendered, and the door to Belgium and France was open. But, as Clayton Donnell relates in this perceptive and meticulously researched study, Eben-Emael was only one of the nineteen forts of the fortified positions of Li ge and Namur attacked in May 1940\. Three new and sixteen refurbished forts held out for several days, and fought to the death. The story he tells contradicts the common assumption that these static defences were rolled over or bypassed powerless to resist the overwhelming force of the German combat engineer's assaults, Stuka bombs and heavy artillery shells. In vivid detail he demonstrates that their importance in the 1940 campaign has been seriously under reported, and he gives clarity to some of the legends that have grown up around the capture of Eben-Emael itself.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the Allied advance across northwest Europe in 1944, the opening up of the key port of Antwerp was a pivotal event, yet it has been neglected in histories of the conflict. The battles in Normandy and on the German frontier have been studied often and in detail, while the fight for the Scheldt estuary, Walcheren and Antwerp itself has been treated as a sideshow. Graham Thomas's timely and graphic account underlines the importance of this aspect of the Allied campaign and offers a fascinating insight into a complex combined-arms operation late in the Second World War. Using operational reports and vivid first-hand eyewitness testimony, he takes the reader alongside 21 Army Group as it cleared the Channel ports of Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk, then moved on to attack the Scheldt and the island stronghold of Walcheren. Overcoming entrenched German resistance there was essential to the whole operation, and it is the climax of his absorbing narrative.Trade ReviewA most interesting book, well researched and very well documented.-- "FSAddon"

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book completes the series of studies of the 'British Revolution of the Three Kingdoms of England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland ' and covers the period from the fall of the 'failed state' and Protectorate in 1657 to the restoration of the Stuart monarchy and Charles II in 1660, examines the Restoration settlement in depth and a high point in Stuart pro-French and Catholic policy - contrary to the 1660 Restoration understanding when Charles !! vowed reluctance 'go on {his} travels again' and follows the Stuart Restoration and pro-French - and pro-Catholic foreign policy to 1670. Cromwell's death had signalled the end of an overarching figure who held the failing state together and began England's nascent 'great power' foreign and 'colonial' policy. It covers Richard Cromwell's emergence and as a figure far from the 'Tumbledown Dick' of popular legend. Also, the remarkable role of General George Monck as the genial military man guiding the failing and chaotic state to Restoration and stability. Monck underpinned the gentry and merchant class as the root of state and society which outlived civil wars, military dictatorship, political chaos and Stuart monarchical rule.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Elegantly written, full of wit and charm, this is travel writing at its very best' Orlando FigesIn the summer of 1849, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy's legendary revolutionary hero, fled Rome and led 4,000 of his men hundreds of miles through Umbria and Tuscany, then across the Apennines, Italy's mountainous spine, toward the refuge of the Venetian Republic. After thirty-two exhausting days of skirmishes and adventures, only 250 survivors reached the Adriatic coast.This hair-raising journey is brought vividly to life by bestselling author Tim Parks, who in the blazing summer of 2019, followed in Garibaldi's footsteps. A fascinating portrait of Italy past and present, The Hero's Way is a celebration of determination, creativity and desperate courage.Trade ReviewA single page might contain a delightful mix of history, referencing accounts of the original journey...together with accounts of incidents that bring a smile to the reader's face... Tim Parks will remain a favourite author of mine * Writing Magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Magisterial . . . [a] fine, balanced and superb account. It deserves to be read for many years to come.' TELEGRAPHMarch 1945. Allied troops are poised to cross the Rhine and sweep on into Germany. Victory is at last within their grasp. But if they believe this victory can be easily won, they face swift disillusionment. The final I00 days of the Second World War will prove to be bitterly and bloodily fought, village by village, town by town.This is the extraordinary and gripping story of those final I00 days._________________________________________________'Superbly written and full of wisdom and deep understanding, this will stand as a defining work on these darkest months of the conflict.' JAMES HOLLAND'This is the most vivid and detailed narrative of the subject that we are likely to see.' MILITARY HISTORY MAGAZINE'An impressive work. Lively, informative and comprehensively researched.' CAROLINE MOOREHEAD, SPECTATOR'An important contribution to military history. A great read and powerful reminder of how the Second World War in Europe was definitely not over until the final surrender.' BBC HISTORY MAGAZINETrade ReviewPeter Caddick-Adams cements his place as one of our foremost historians of the Second World War with this major new account of the final months of the war in the West. Superbly written and full of wisdom and deep understanding, this will stand as a defining work on these darkest months of the conflict. -- James HollandMagisterial . . . Peter Caddick-Adams has done full justice to the vast range of the fighting in the west in those last months of the war , in all its complexity, brutality, awfulness and, frankly, pointlessness . . . [he] not only covers these events in detail but also does so with genuinely new and convincing perspectives . . . Caddick-Adams [has] an authority that oozes off every page. He has a particularly enjoyable habit of suddenly ducking down rabbit holes of anecdote, often personal or which delve into deeper history . . . [a] fine, balanced and superb account. It deserves to be read for many years to come. -- James Holland * The Telegraph *Caddick-Adams includes vivid anecdotes, small-unit fireworks, and strong, well-informed personal opinions on the often unwise decisions of the leaders . . . A first rate analysis for military buffs. * Kirkus Reviews *Excellent. Most accounts of the Second World War in Europe devote only a few pages to the last 100 days. 1945 corrects this balance and makes an important contribution to military history. It is also a great read and powerful reminder of how the Second World War in Europe was definitely not over until the final surrender. * BBC History Extra Magazine *This is the most vivid and detailed narrative of the subject that we are likely to see. * Military History Magazine *An immersive study of the last 100 days of the Western Front, when the Allies met ferocious resistance from Nazi fanatics who preferred death to surrender. -- Best History Books of 2022 * Daily Telegraph *Pacy and engaging. * The Past *A meticulous reconstruction . . . 1945 is an impressive work, lively, informative and comprehensively researched . . . It long stays in the mind. * Spectator *A thorough and well-researched dive into the often-forgotten final months of the war from the perspectives of the soldiers and commanders of the different army groups. * Classic Military Vehicle *There is no book like 1945 . . . Written with style and humour . . . Highly recommend. * Britain At War Magazine *

Read more less

Book Synopsis* * 'Very funny and astute . . . a loathly feast for royal-watchers' Hilary Mantel, New Statesman Books of the Year 2018'Almost every page is a gem'A. N. Wilson, Spectator Christmas Books'A complete delight, conjuring up, with a few sharp strokes of the pen, a mad, exotic species from a world gone by'Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday* * *When James Pope-Hennessy began his work on Queen Mary's official biography, it opened the door to meetings with royalty, court members and retainers around Europe. The series of candid observations, secrets and indiscretions contained in his notes were to be kept private for 50 years. Now published in full for the first time and edited by the highly admired royal biographer Hugo Vickers, this is a riveting, often hilarious portrait of the eccentric aristocracy of a bygone age. Giving much greater insight into Queen Mary than the official version, and including sharply observed encounters with, among others, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Duke of Gloucester, and a young Queen Elizabeth, The Quest for Queen Mary is set to be a classic of royal publishing.Trade Review'Arguably the most riotously funny volume published this year' -- Max Hastings * The Sunday Times *'A complete delight, conjuring up, with a few sharp strokes of the pen, a mad, exotic species from a world gone by . . . one of this year's funniest and most eccentric books' -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *'Superbly edited ... like all the best interviews, these are stories about the hunter circling his prey, and they reveal as much about the interviewer as his subject ... a splendid book' -- Jane Ridley * Spectator *'Illuminating, intriguing and boundlessly entertaining' -- Martin Williams * Country Life *'Intoxicating, frank and often hilarious anthology of interviews . . . what this fine book demonstrates with wit, candour, and unassailable force, is that royal persons are not at all like ordinary people' -- Alexander Waugh * New York Review of Books *'This is a wonderful book: both comedy and social history of the first order. Each page has something both hilarious and surprising. All with an undertow of melancholy - that the diaries have had to wait for so many decades to appear, and that the people in it are so long gone. We are lucky to enjoy their eccentricities and characters afresh.' -- Roland Philipps, author of A SPY NAMED ORPHAN

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Captivating, intimate, dazzling epic and revelatory' SIMON SEBAG-MONTEFIORE The story of the family who rose from the Frankfurt ghetto to become synonymous with wealth and power has been much mythologized. Yet half the Rothschilds, the women, remain virtually unknown. From the East End of London to the Eastern seaboard of the United States, from Spitalfields to Scottish castles, from Bletchley Park to Buchenwald, and from the Vatican to Palestine, Natalie Livingstone follows the extraordinary lives of the English branch of the Rothschild women from the dawn of the nineteenth century to the early years of the twenty first. As Jews in a Christian society and women in a deeply patriarchal family, they were outsiders. Determined to challenge and subvert expectations, they supported each other, building on the legacies of their mothers and aunts. They became influential hostesses and talented diplomats, choreographing electoral campaigns, advising prime ministers, advocating for social reform and trading on the stock exchange. Misfits and conformists, conservatives and idealists, performers and introverts, they mixed with Rossini and Mendelssohn, Disraeli, Gladstone and Chaim Weizmann, amphetamine-dealers, temperance campaigners, Queen Victoria, and Albert Einstein. They broke code, played a pioneering role in the environmental movement, scandalised the world of women's tennis by introducing the overarm serve and drag-raced with Miles Davies in Manhattan.Absorbing and compulsive THE WOMEN OF ROTHSCHILD gives voice to the complicated, privileged and gifted women whose vision and tenacity shaped history.Trade ReviewHugely entertaining...a fascinating story, stylishly told * Sunday Times *For far too long, the significant contribution made by Rothschild women to our family's extraordinary history and success has gone largely unacknowledged. In this gripping biography, Natalie Livingstone shows that Rothschild women were the velvet gloves guiding the iron fists of their male relatives and far from being mere appendages, they acted as trusted confidants and silent partners -- HANNAH ROTHSCHILD, author of The Improbability of Love, shortlisted for the Bailey's Women's PrizeCaptivating, intimate, dazzling epic and revelatory, this is a brilliant history of the most fascinating and influential dynasty suffused with politics and splendour that brings to life not only the Rothschild women but also power and society across three centuries -- SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIOREThis brilliantly researched and scintillatingly written book is proof positive that the female of the Rothschild species were even more fascinating and talented than the males. Indomitable matriarchs, ground-breaking scientists, political activists, witty and gorgeous socialites, tasteful philanthropists, hardened survivors: these pages are populated by outsized personalities who will live with you long after you have read the final page -- ANDREW ROBERTS, author of Churchill: Walking with DestinyLivingstone marshals a huge cast of characters, spanning two centuries and moving with ease from the Jewish ghetto to the grandest houses in England. She describes the Rothschild women as an 'overlooked source of power, strength and imagination', and in this absorbing book she has brought them out of the shadows * Daily Mail *Livingstone blows life into even the most casual textual references to [the women] to reveal fully formed women . . . a stylish and captivating tour through the three-century long history of one of Europe's most intriguing and sprawling family trees * Reaction *Pacey, accessible and engrossing . . . Livingstone's entertaining and richly detailed book reveals a cast of extraordinary women who defied the rules and shaped society across three centuries * Waterstones *In this scintillating family saga, Natalie Livingstone reveals that the Rothschild ladies were, if anything, even more extraordinary than their fathers, brothers and husbands . . .with consummate skill, Livingstone weaves together...the dark as well as the light, and the result is both thrilling and moving -- KATHRYN HUGHES * Mail on Sunday *Brilliantly conceived and beautifully written, The Women of Rothschild . . . represents a significant contribution to our understanding of the Jewish past * TLS *

Read more less

Book Synopsis"A remarkable and important story" BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour"Unputdownable . . . Urbach has also retold the tragic Holocaust story in quite unforgettable lines" A.N. Wilson"In a remarkable new book, Alice's granddaughter Karina, a noted historian, has traced what happened to her family but also what happened to the cookbook" Daniel Finkelstein"This fascinating book, by Alice's granddaughter Karina Urbach, shines a spotlight on this lesser-known aspect of Nazi looting" The Times"A gripping piece of 20th-century family history but also something much more original: a rare insight into the 'Aryanisation' of Jewish-authored books during the Nazi regime" Financial TimesWhat happened to the books that were too valuable to burn?Alice Urbach had her own cooking school in Vienna, but in 1938 she was forced to flee to England, like so many others. Her younger son was imprisoned in Dachau, and her older son, having emigrated to the United States, became an intelligence officer in the struggle against the Nazis.Returning to the ruins of Vienna in the late 1940s, she discovers that her bestselling cookbook has been published under someone else's name. Now, eighty years later, the historian Karina Urbach - Alice's granddaughter - sets out to uncover the truth behind the stolen cookbook, and tells the story of a family torn apart by the Nazi regime, of a woman who, with her unwavering passion for cooking, survived the horror and losses of the Holocaust to begin a new life in America.Impeccably researched and incredibly moving, Alice's Book sheds light on an untold chapter in the history of Nazi crimes against Jewish authors."As this engaging memoir makes clear, the theft of the cookbook remained for Alice's entire life the symbol of everything that had been taken from her" TLSTranslated from the German by Jamie BullochTrade ReviewA remarkable and important book * BBC Radio 4 "Woman's Hour" *A gripping piece of 20th-century family history but also something much more original: a rare insight into the "Aryanisation" of Jewish-authored books during the Nazi regime. Urbach has meticulously pieced together everything she could find about how and why Alice's publishers were able to deny her authorship for more than 80 years . . . It's impossible to read this moving and clear-eyed book without admiring Alice's fiercely optimistic spirit -- Bee Wilson * Financial Times *In a remarkable new book, Alice's granddaughter Karina, a noted historian, has traced what happened to her family but also what happened to the cookbook. -- Daniel FinkelsteinUnputdownable . . . I have read all Urbach's historical books with high admiration, but none of them can match this story, for its sheer oddity . . . By telling the story of the brazen theft of a cookbook, and the fate of its title long after the war, Urbach has also retold the tragic Holocaust story in quite unforgettable lines. -- A.N. WilsonUnlike Nazi art theft, about which there are many excellent books, there has been surprisingly little research into the Nazi theft of Jewish authorship . . . As this engaging memoir, smoothly translated by Jamie Bulloch, makes clear, the theft of the cookbook remained for Alice's entire life the symbol of everything that had been stolen from her. -- Caroline Moorehead * TLS *An unputdownable narrative, told with remarkable restraint. * Spectator Books of the Year 2022 *This fascinating book shines a spotlight on this lesser-known aspect of Nazi looting. -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * The Times *The extraordinary story of a phenomenal woman with a cookery school in pre-war Vienna . . . Thanks to [Urbach's] research, recognition and copyright was restored to Alice's descendants in 2021. * Tablet *A fascinating family history [about] a little-known strand of Nazi persecution. -- Matthew Reisz * Spectator *The sheer pettiness of the crime adds to our understanding of the Nazi intent: to rob Jews of any shred of standing, dignity or entitlement . . . Alice's is a story worth telling. -- Jenni Frazer * Jewish Chronicle *This new book is an important act of reclamation * Prospect Magazine Books of the Year *Engaging, elegant and moving . . . a compelling fusion of meticulous history accounting and a family memoir. -- Richard Cockett * Literary Review *What the historian has brought to light is perfect film material - persecution, murder, fraud, imprisonment, escape, rescue, friendship, secret service activities, rise, fall and a new beginning . . . And Urbach's writing is exciting, cinematic. -- Susanne Kippenberger * Tagesspiegel *Exciting, moving, informative - this family memoir belongs on the bestseller list. Simply terrific! -- Mike Altwicker * WDR *A remarkable book . . . The author describes the slow expropriation of Alice Urbach - a fate she shared with many Jewish authors. -- Martin Doerry * Spiegel *Karina Urbach not only reconstructs individual fates from family correspondence and tape interviews from her grandmother's estate, she also draws on a myriad of archives. [...] The fact that she - a traditional historian who is aware of the dangers of a lack of emotional distance - manages this without sentimentality is an achievement in itself. The facts are moving enough. -- Walter Schübler * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *Exciting, touching and insightful: Karina Urbach has written a great book about a strong woman who could not be shaken by anything and who turned her little happiness into happiness for others -- Heribert Prantl * Sueddeutsche Zeitung *A remarkable and important book * BBC Radio 4 "Woman's Hour" *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Moralist International analyzes the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state in the global culture wars over gender and reproductive rights and religious freedom. It shows how the Russian Orthodox Church in the past thirty years first acquired knowledge about the dynamics, issues, and strategies of Right- Wing Christian groups; how the Moscow Patriarchate has shaped its traditionalist agenda accordingly; and how the close alliance between church and state has turned Russia into a norm entrepreneur for international moral conservativism. Including detailed case studies of the World Congress of Families, anti-abortion activism, and the global homeschooling movement, the book identifies the key factors, causes, and actors of this process. Kristina Stoeckl and Dmitry Uzlaner then develop the concept of conservative aggiornamento to describe Russian traditionalism as the result of conservative religious modernization and the globalization of Christian social conservatism. The Moralist International continues a line of research on the globalization of the culture wars that challenges the widespread perception that it is only progressive actors who use the international human rights regime to achieve their goals by demonstrating that conservative actors do the same. The book offers a new, original perspective that firmly embeds the conservative turn of post-Soviet Russia in the transnational dynamics of the global culture wars. The Moralist International is available from the publisher on an open-access basis.Table of ContentsPreface | vii Introduction | 1 PART I: LEARNING THE CULTURE WARS 1 Religion: Conservative Aggiornamento and the Globalization of the Culture Wars | 17 2 History: The Sources of Russia’s Traditional-Values Conservatism | 29 3 Intellectual Roots: The Shared Legacy of Pitirim Sorokin | 50 4 Context: The Rise of Traditional-Values Conservatism inside Russia | 66 PART II: DOING THE CULTURE WARS 5 Ambitions: The Russian Orthodox Church and Its Transnational Conservative Alliances | 87 6 Networks: Civil Society and the Rise of the Russian Christian Right | 103 7 Strategies: The Russian Orthodox Anti-Abortion Discourse in a Transnational Context | 126 8 Leadership: Russian Traditional-Values Conservatism and State Diplomacy | 136 Epilogue | 153 Acknowledgments | 157 Bibliography | 159 Index | 193

Read more less

Book SynopsisWestern exceptionalism-the idea that European civilizations are freer, wealthier, and less violent-is a widespread and powerful political idea. It has been a source of peace and prosperity in some societies, and of ethnic cleansing and havoc in others.Yet in The Invention of Power, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita draws on his expertise in political maneuvering, deal-making, and game theory to present a revolutionary new theory of Western exceptionalism: that a single, rarely discussed event in the twelfth century changed the course of European and world history. By creating a compromise between churches and nation-states that, in effect, traded money for power and power for money, the 1122 Concordat of Worms incentivized economic growth, facilitated secularization, and improved the lot of the citizenry, all of which set European countries on a course for prosperity. In the centuries since, countries that have had a similar dynamic of competition between church and state have been consistently better off than those that have not.The Invention of Power upends conventional thinking about European culture, religion, and race and presents a persuasive new vision of world history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCapturing the times when lives and victory were in peril, this book records the exploits of the men who fought in WWII in the air and on the sea, including pilots and air crewmen of carrier squadrons, officers and men of the ship''s company and admirals and their staffs.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA reassessment of the journey Germans in East and West have taken during the past two and a half decades: even today, an open-ended, unfinished journey. On October 3, 1990, just a year after the Berlin Wall fell, the German Democratic Republic was absorbed into the Federal Republic of Germany, officially ceasing to exist. What was the GDR and how do we remember it? According to the dominant Western narrative, it was a country that brought neither unity nor justice nor freedom to its citizens. But if so, why does a virtual wall still seem to exist in Germany today between the erstwhile citizens of the GDR and FRG? The GDR very much remains in the public debate, and while political integration is well on its way, the cultural integration of the two former states has proven much more challenging. This volume analyzes the culturaltransformation - or lack thereof - that has followed political unification. The contributions are interdisciplinary: essays on history and politics provide a framework and others on art, film, literature, museums, music, and education provide specific examples. These case studies allow us to examine the state of unification beyond statistics, opinion polls, and glib generalizations. The volume, then, is a reassessment of the journey Germans in East and West have taken during the past two and a half decades. Even today, it is an open-ended, unfinished journey. But such journeys tend to be the most interesting. Contributors: Kerstin Barndt, Stephen Brockmann, Michael Dreyer, Andreas Eis, April A. Eisman, Peter Hayes, Franziska Lys, Charles S. Maier, Andreas Niederberger, Mary-Elizabeth O'Brien, Daniel Ortuno-Stühring. Franziska Lys is Professor of German at Northwestern University. Michael Dreyer is Professor in the Institute for Political Science at the University of Jena.Trade ReviewThe essays succeed both in presenting a mass of material and in raising questions that will interest anyone concerned with contemporary Germany...A very good basis for a student seminar at either undergraduate or graduate level. * JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES *Table of ContentsIntroduction: United Politics-Divided Culture? - Franziska Lys and Michael Dreyer Lost in Transition: Reflections on the Spectral History of the GDR - Charles S. Maier Reconstituting the Federal Republic? Constitutional Law and Politics before and since 1989 - Andreas Niederberger East German Literature and Reunification: Continuities and Discontinuities - Stephen Brockmann The Afterlife of the GDR in Post-Wall German Cinema - Mary-Elizabeth O'Brien Exhibiting 1989/2009: Memory, Affect, and the Politics of History - Kerstin Barndt Reexamining the Staatskünstler Myth: Bernhard Heisig and the Post-Wall Reception of East German Painting - April A. Eisman East German Orchestras and Theaters: The Transformation since the Wende - Daniel Ortuno-Stühring What Do German High School Students Think about the GDR? Memory Culture between Glorification and Evaluation - Andreas Eis The Ongoing Significance of East Germany and the Wende Narrative in Public Discourse - Michael Dreyer Epilogue: The Wende and the End of "the German Problem" - Peter Hayes Notes on the Contributors Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring their ascendancy and subsequent occupation of much of Europe, the Nazis plundered the documents and cultural treasures of Jewish organizations as well as other groups and individuals they deemed to be enemies of the Reich. When the Nazis were crushed, many of these looted collections, as well as records of Nazi state agencies that persecuted and murdered Jews, were discovered by the Soviet Army, then transferred to Moscow and held for decades in closed, secret archives. This catalog and guide supplies the first comprehensive, collection-by-collection English-language description of this historical and cultural documentation, which the Nazis meant to be among the only vestiges of the millions of victims they annihilated. Scholars and lay researchers will find this reference a unique and indispensable guide to the invaluable remains of a rich world brutally destroyed.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exploration of the origins, influences, and legacy of the scandalous Hell-Fire Clubs of the 18th century and beyond • Reveals the club’s origins in the work of Rabelais and the magical practices of John Dee and how their motto, “Do What You Will,” deeply influenced Aleister Crowley • Explores the cross-fertilization of liberty and libertinage within these clubs that influenced both U.S. and French Revolutions • Examines the debaucherous activities and famous members of many Hell-Fire Clubs, including Sir Francis Dashwood’s Monks of Medmenham Mention the Hell-Fire Clubs and you conjure up an image of aristocratic rakes cutting a swath through the village maidens. Which is true, but not the whole truth. The activities of these clubs of upper-class Englishmen revolved around not only debauchery but also blasphemy, ritual, quasi-magical pursuits, and political intrigue. Providing a history of these infamous clubs, Geoffrey Ashe reveals their origins in the work of François Rabelais and the activities of John Dee. He shows how the Hell-Fire Clubs’ anything-goes philosophy of “Do what you will”--also Aleister Crowley’s famous motto--and community template were drawn directly from Rabelais. The author looks at the very first Hell-Fire Club, founded by Philip, Duke of Wharton, in 1720 and then at the Society of the Dilettanti, a fraternity formed in 1732. Ashe examines the life, travels, and influences of Sir Francis Dashwood, founding member of the Society of the Dilettanti and the scandalous Permissive Society at Medmenham, also known as the Monks of Medmenham. He also explores other Hell-Fire clubs the movement inspired throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, including the violence-prone Mohocks and the Appalling Club. He shows how many illustrious figures of the day were members of these societies, such as Lord Byron. He also examines the rumors that Benjamin Franklin was a member, an allegation that can be neither confirmed nor denied. Exploring the political and magical ideas that fueled this movement, the author shows how the cross-fertilization of liberty and libertinage within the Hell-Fire Clubs went on to influence both the U.S. and French revolutions, as well as the hippie movement of the 1960s, the Church of Satan founded by Anton LaVey, and the motorcycle club known as the Hell’s Angels. The legacy of the Hell-Fire Clubs continues to impact society, beckoning both elite and outsider to cast aside social norms and “do what you will.”Trade Review“Geoffrey Ashe, one of Britain’s most outstanding historians, paints a vivid picture of Francis Dashwood’s Hell-Fire Club and other similar secret societies in this page-turning review of one of England’s most audacious periods of history.” * Andrew Collins, bestselling author of Göbekli Tepe *“A sweeping history of libertinism seen through the lens of the English ‘clubs’ of the eighteenth century. Precise and cogent, it also freely wanders the halls of infamy, painting portraits of some of the subject’s most notorious figures. The motto ‘do what thou will’ defines a stance through this history, one that pulls at the Gordian knots of pain and pleasure, freedom and destiny.” * Jesse Bransford, associate professor of visual arts and chair of the Department of Art and Art Profe *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsPreface to the 2019 Edition Prologue “Hell Is the Place for Me” PART ONE Speculation 1 The Abbey of All Delights 2 Occult Wife-SwappingPART TWO Realization 3 Whigs and Rakes4 A Dukedom in Hell 5 Whatever Is, Is Right 6 Bubb and Fred 7 Castle Building8 Medmenham 9 The Favorite and the Maverick 10 The Hell-Fire Ministry11 AftermathPART THREE Nightmare 12 The Gothic Plunge13 The Divine Marquis 14 End or Beginning?A Note on Sex Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs the multi-national Ottoman Empire began to fall apart in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish war of 1878, the Albanian people faced the peril of being absorbed into the surrounding newly formed nation-states of Southeastern Europe. Albanian leaders met at Prizren in 1878 to devise a strategy to defend their national rights. The Formation of the Albanian National Consciousness explores the origins of the movement that ultimately led to the creation of the modern-day Albanian nation-state.Had a national consciousness failed to develop prior to the crisis of 1878, the creation of a national movement, which not only sought to protect Albanian lands against foreign annexation but also strove to unite the four Albanian vilayets into a single autonomous administrative unit, would not have been possible. The development of a national consciousness during the decades preceding 1878 built the foundation for the national movement that culminated in the creation of the League of Prizren and ultimately led to the formation of an independent Albanian nation-state in 1912.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe acclaimed biography by Jeffrey Robinson, now revised and updated to coincide with the major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman as Princess Grace.It was one of the most famous romances of the 20th century-Europe's most eligible bachelor, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and America's most beautiful movie star, the Academy Award-winning actress Grace Kelly, fell in love against the backdrop of the closest thing the modern world has to a magical kingdom, the French Riviera's Principality of Monaco.Told with affection and humor, and written with the unprecedented cooperation of Prince Rainier III and his children, Prince Albert, Princess Caroline, and Princess Stephanie, Grace of Monaco takes readers beneath the surface glitz and the glamour of Monte Carlo for a never-to-be-forgotten portrait of the House of Grimaldi.Trade Review"One of the best biographies of the year." -- St. Louis Post Dispatch "Rekindles the magic of the century's greatest love stories." -- Daily Express "Wonderful." -- USA Today "Creates a picture of a fascinating woman and an enduring love affair." -- Boston Herald "The first inside story of the world's most glamorous family." -- Sunday Mirror Infodad blog, 7/9/15 "There is a fair amount of information here about Monaco, much of it interesting history...The book's discussion of how their public-relations work was handled by Nadia Lacoste certainly offers insight into celebrity management and marketing--at least in the 1950s...Robinson's book shows clearly how Grace and Rainier fit the "untouchable" model of celebrity, with people wanting to know everything they could about them, see as much of them as possible, but never for a moment believing that the glamorous lives of Grace and Rainier were anything like their own mundane ones...Grace of Monaco is a story of what celebrity used to be and how it changed over time."

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn intimate glimpse into the public and private world of one of history's most famous- and infamous-queens Marie-Antoinette (1755-1793) continues to fascinate historians, writers, and filmmakers more than two centuries after her death. She became a symbol of the excesses of France's aristocracy in the eighteenth century that helped pave the way to dissolution of the country's monarchy. The great material privileges she enjoyed and her glamorous role as an arbiter of fashion and a patron of the arts in the French court, set against her tragic death on the scaffold, still spark the popular imagination. In this gorgeously illustrated volume, the authors find a fresh and nuanced approach to Marie- Antoinette's much-told story through the objects and locations that made up the fabric of her world. They trace the major events of her life, from her upbringing in Vienna as the archduchess of Austria, to her ascension to the French throne, to her execution at the hands of the revolutionary tribunal. The exquisite objects that populated Marie-Antoinette's rarefied surroundings-beautiful gowns, gilt-mounted furniture, chinoiserie porcelains, and opulent tableware-are depicted. But so too are possessions representing her personal pursuits and private world, including her sewing kit, her harp, her children's toys, and even the simple cotton chemise she wore as a condemned prisoner. The narrative is sprinkled with excerpts from her correspondence, which offer a glimpse into her personality and daily life. Visually rich and engaging, this book offers a fascinating look at the multifaceted life of France's last, ill-fated queen.Trade Review"[A] sumptuous, gossipy volume."--Art Newspaper "A remarkable work of history, art, and storytelling."--Foreword Reviews

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen Natascha Wodin’s mother died, Natascha was only ten years old—too young to find out what her mother had experienced during World War II. All the little girl knew was that they were detritus, human debris left over from the war. Years later, Natascha set out on a quest to find out what happened to her mother during that time. Why had they lived in a camp for “displaced persons”? Where did her mother come from? What had she experienced? The one thing she knew is that her parents had to leave Mariupol in Ukraine for Germany as part of the Nazi forced labor program in 1943. Armed with this limited knowledge, Natascha resolved to piece together the puzzle of her family’s past. The result is a highly praised, beautiful piece of prose that has drawn comparisons to W. G. Sebald in its approach. Like Sebald, Natascha’s aim is to reclaim the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves. The author is not only in search of her own family’s history, but she is also aware that she is charting unmarked territory: accounts of the plight of forced laborers and displaced persons are still a rarity within literature about World War II and its atrocities. Natascha’s personal homage to her mother’s life story is an important lyrical memorial for the thousands of Eastern Europeans who were forced to leave their homes and work in Germany during the war, and a moving reflection of the plight of displaced peoples throughout the ages. This is a darkly radiant account of one person’s fate, developing momentous emotive power—its subject serves as a proxy for the fate of millions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs part of the massive Allied invasion of Normandy, three airborne divisions were dropped behind enemy lines to sow confusion in the German rear and prevent panzer reinforcements from reaching the beaches. In the dark early hours of D-Day, this confusion was achieved well enough, as nearly every airborne unit missed its drop zone, creating a kaleidoscope of small-unit combat.Fortunately for the Allies, the 505th Regimental Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division hit on or near its drop zone. Its task was to seize the vital crossroads of Ste Mère Eglise, and to hold the bridge over the Merderet River at nearby La Fière. Benefiting from dynamic battlefield leadership, the paratroopers reached the bridge, only to be met by wave after wave of German tanks and infantry desperate to force the crossing.Reinforced by glider troops, who suffered terribly in their landings from the now-alert Germans, the 505th not only held the vital bridge for three days but launched a counterattack in the teeth of enemy fire to secure their objective once and for all, albeit at gruesome cost. In No Better Place to Die, Robert M. Murphy provides an objective narrative of countless acts of heroism, almost breathtaking in its 'you are there' detail.Robert M. (Bob) Murphy, a Pathfinder and member of A Company, 505th PIR, was wounded three times in action, and made all four combat jumps with his regiment, fighting in Sicily, Normandy, and Holland. He was decorated for valor for his role at La Fière, and is a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. After the war, he was instrumental in establishing the 505th RCT Association.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe generation of young men and women who joined the British Army during the mid to late 1980s would serve their country during an unprecedented period of history. Unlike the two world war generations, they would never face total war – there was never any declaration of war and there was no one single country to defeat. In fact, it was supposed to have been the end of a war, a time of peace and stability. Politicians started to use the term, Peace Dividend, with government officials even planning on how and where it should be spent. But for those in the military, the two decades following the end of the Cold War would not be a time of peace. Government spending and the size of the military was reduced but the Army's commitments increased exponentially. Those serving not only faced continuous deployment in overseas operations, they would also be involved in immense upheavals that took place within the army. When the Berlin Wall came down, the British Army had not changed for decades. The ending of the Cold War, combined with a technological revolution, a changing society at home, and new global threats mean that the Army of the second decade of the twentieth-first century – the army this generation of soldiers is now retiring from – is unrecognizable from the one they joined in the late 1980s. This is the story of the soldiers who served in the British Army in those tumultuous decades.Trade Review...a powerful, brutally honest, soldier’s account of the operational, societal and morale challenges faced by the British Army from the moment the Berlin Wall fell. * Military Historical Society Bulletin 11/05/2021 *…an enjoyable and well researched history. […] It is a must read for anyone with an interest in how the army has continued beyond 1991, and probably should be read by many of ARRSE's old and bold who are still stuck in the cold war. * Army Rumour Service 16/08/2021 *This is an absorbing analysis of what it was like to serve during the most intense series of operations since the Second World War. […] It is an insightful review fo the cultural shifts, the impact of almost continuous overseas deployment and the disruption created by ever-changing policies. * Soldier Magazine 11/05/2021 *Andrew Richards provides a thoroughly absorbing account made all the more interesting due to the wide-ranging contributions of men and women who were there, did the jobs, experienced the changes and often have the scars to prove it. An excellent read. * Love Reading 02/08/2021 *Table of Contents1. Growing up in Thatcher's Britain; 2. Tear Down the Wall; 3 Train hard, Fight easy; 4. The Short Peace; 5. The Peace Dividend and Options for Change; 6. Racism and the ECHR Ruling – No Option but Change; 7. The Balkans; 8. Model Military Intervention – Kosovo and Sierra Leone; 9. Women in the Army; 10. The Home Front; 11. Northern Ireland the Good Friday Agreement; 12. 9/11; 13. The invasion of Iraq; 14. Afghanistan; 15. Terrorism, Security, the Olympic Games and Royal Wootton Bassett; The Aftermath

Read more less

Book SynopsisPicture a daredevil combatant, secret agent and brilliant inventor all rolled into one. Such a man was pyrotechnical genius Frank Brock, a scion of the famous firework family and one of Britain’s great, unsung heroes. A remarkable combination of James Bond and ‘Q’, Frank was killed in action one hundred years ago. His story has never been told before, yet he made an extraordinary contribution to the British war effort between 1914 and 1918, saving thousands of lives. Frank could easily have been the template for 007. A heavyweight boxer, rugby player and brilliant shot, he uniquely held commissions in all three branches of the armed services – army, navy and air force – during the First World War. As an inventor he ended Germany’s dream of air supremacy with his pioneering Brock Bullet. A year later he helped prevent German domination of the Channel by inventing giant flares which lit up the sea at night and forced U-boats into deep mine fields. It did not end there. As a secret agent he dashed to France on his wedding day, rowed across a lake into enemy territory, and prepared the ground for the world’s first strategic bombing raid – ordered by Winston Churchill – on a Zeppelin base in southern Germany. Later, as a combatant, he played a leading role in one of the war’s most daring naval raids – a raid only made possible because of the artificial fog heinvented to mask the attacking vessels.Gunpowder and Glory tells more than Frank’s remarkable story of invention and derring-do. Woven into the narrative is the dazzling history of Brock’s Fireworks, the world-famous firm started by Frank’s five-times great-grandfather, and which he was being groomed to run.Trade Review...highly recommended. It is hard to imagine what a display with 50,000 sq feet of set pieces would be like. It brings home what an amazing cultural history we have in the UK with fireworks. * Fireworks Discussion Forum 09/11/2021 *Gunpowder & Glory is an excellent addition . . a beautifully crafted book . . which conveys the huge Brock enterprise . . . and quite rightly includes many of the old photographs, particularly the incredibly convincing heads of famous people. . . . The modern firework displays are fast moving with a larger net explosive content . . . . but more limited in style. As we read about the famous displays at the Crystal Palace and the pleasure that they obviously gave, we must not forget them. * Fireworks Magazine *Brock was both an ingenious inventor and man of action – a man who well deserves this well written and illustrated biography authored by his grandson and a journalist. * Garrison Library 16/08/2021 *...a very well-written and gripping book partly on a global fireworks company and partly on apparently one of the most critical persons on the British side in WWI. * International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence *In places, Brock’s own life reads so fantastical you might think Rudyard Kipling had invented it, but all was true. […] This is a story well told. * Muster Magazine *Accessibly and attractively written . . . a fascinating story of one of the most amazing figures in the history of the Royal Navy and a recommended read. * Navy News *The style of his death during the Zeebrugge raid in April 1918 is something which reflects the way his lived his life and can be summed up in one word ‘extraordinary’ * gunmart.net *There is something of the ripping yarn about it, and with the descriptions of Frank Brock as a “…daredevil combatant, secret agent and brilliant inventor…. pyrotechnical genius, one of Britain’s great, unsung heroes….” plus the lurid cover, I felt that I was in for an enjoyable read. I wasn’t wrong. * Naval Review *Gunpowder & Glory is a glorious book to read, told at a racing pace and well-illustrated. This is a must read book. * Warships International *A book that reads like fascinating dinner conversation... Frank lived at a time when it was possible — and men, at any rate, were encouraged — to be more than one thing... He should have been in a lab somewhere, cooking up another bullet, another light ... Today, he surely would be suitably contained, his efforts efficiently channelled, his spirit carefully and surgically broken. * The Spectator *Admiral Keyes, in trying to dissuade him from taking part in the raid, had told Brock beforehand that his genius for inventions was just too valuable. Unfortunately, it was not in the nature of this unique individual to listen. * NavyBooks 05/07/2021 *“The real life Q and Bond all rolled into one... the first biography of a man whose initials appropriately spelt FAB.” * RAF News *A fascinating and engaging biography that will add depth and colour to any Great War Guide’s knowledge. * Despatches *A fascinating combination of military and corporate history. This fascinating book does a good job of telling their story. * Baird Maritime *Frank Brock is a hero whose story needs to be told. * The Globe and Laurel *Written in a very readable rollicking style of Wing Commander Frank Brock OBE, a quite extraordinary character who made a unique and special contribution in World War I… It provides a fascinating and at times a gripping read and is certainly well recommended. * Scuttlebutt 12/06/2020 *This very readable book has many connections with the subcontinent, and the story of fireworks and their role as entertainment and spectacle over the centuries is a bonus. * Durbar 09/06/2020 *It is a fascinating story in its own right! This is a great book, easy to read and with much background information useful for wargamers. Brock himself is larger than life and an astonishing figure; strongly recommended. * Miniature Wargames *The first biography of Frank Brock, one of Sutton’s most famous residents, has just been published. * Sutton Voice *..its fascinating dust cover is based on a Brock’s poster for the Crystal Palace summer display season of 1909, the fireworks for which were made in the factory on Gander Green Lane. * Past on Glass blog *Table of ContentsChapter 1: Come on, you Boys Chapter 2: A Whiff of Black Powder Chapter 3: Fireworks in their Blood Chapter 4: Taking the Palace by Storm Chapter 5: The Shakespeare of Pyrotechnics Chapter 6: Whatever you are, be Brave Boys! Chapter 7: Pomp and Circumstance Chapter 8: A Carpet of Violets Chapter 9: Monsters of the Sky Chapter 10: Seeking the Holy Grail Chapter 11: The Magic Bullet Chapter 12: Father of Invention Chapter 13: Striking the Viper’s Nest Chapter 14: Brock of the Mole Chapter 15: The Finest Feat Chapter 16: Brock’s Benefit

Read more less

Book SynopsisMajor-General Eugene Vincent Michael Strickland CMG, DSO, OBE, MM, CStJ, Star of Jordan - Strick - rose from penniless hardship to great military distinction. He was a tank man, a war hero who fought in France, North Africa and Italy during World War II, and whose name is revered even today among regiments that he commanded.His is the extraordinary tale of a man who gained a Regular Commission in the Indian Army from Sandhurst, but resigned soon afterwards. After a series of intriguing adventures, he then enlisted as a private soldier in the Royal Tank Corps. In May 1940, he played a major part in the counterattack at Arras in May 1940, where two British infantry tank battalions held up the German advance for three days, enabling the success of the Dunkirk evacuation – and perhaps saving Britain from ultimate defeat in the process.Strick's outstanding success as a troop-sergeant in France saw him immediately (re-)commissioned, and his rise to high command was then swift. He led the leading Squadron of the North Irish Horse with great distinction in Tunisia 1943, and later commanded North Irish Horse in its greatest battle, the breaking of the Hitler Line in Italy in 1944. This book focuses on his experience during World War II, drawing out the unique qualities required of leaders in close-combat battle; the particular demands of armoured infantry cooperation, and how an individual can make a success of such a rapid rise through the ranks during wartime.This fine story of adventure and achievement is brought alive by Strick’s remarkable correspondence - he wrote home to his family every second or third day throughout the war, except when action was too fierce to write - supplemented by the recollections of his comrades and years of archival research. More than a portrait of a gifted and morally courageous man, this biography also offers an insight into the arts of command and tactical control, and the difficulties of a family life fragmented by war.Trade ReviewThis biography is written by Strick's son, who painstakingly gathered his father's papers and other records to create a detailed and interesting account of his wartime experiences. This book has excellent maps and several personal photos. * WWII History 28/09/2021 *It is a book I literally could not put down. It is superbly written, absolutely gripping and most highly recommended and will appeal to a very wide readership and not least those with an interest in the development and conduct of armoured warfare during the Second World War, the brutal reality of close quarter all arms fighting and in the challenges faced by military wives which will be very familiar to generations of servicemen and their families. * Military Historical Society Bulletin 19/07/2021 *As well as being a riveting military history, the well drawn out aspects of his superb style of leadership should give this book a place on the required reading list for commanders at every level in the British Army. * The Iron Duke Regimental Magazine *The photos are a sublime bonus to the text as many have never been published before, again, great for the enthusiast with plenty of armour, and plenty showing the family and comrades that made Strick the great man he was. Thoroughly recommended, but beware, you may find yourself trying to read it in one sitting! * Scale Military Modelling International Magazine 05/07/2021 *It is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read, and I recommend it strongly. * Pennant Magazine *This is, on a number of counts, a remarkable book. […] This makes the book a valuable social history as well as a good read. * Fortress Study Group 02/08/2021 *Table of Contents1 India 2 England 3 To Follow the Drum 4 The Royal Tank Corps 5 Peace Before the Storm 6 Unto the Breach 7 Striking Back 8 Rearguard Actions 9 Escape to Dunkirk 10 Re-Commissioned 11 25 Army Tank Brigade 12 Return to Action 13 Longstop to Victory 14 Marking Time 15 Regimental Command 16 Entr'acte 17 To Italy 18 Prelude to Battle 19 Breaking the Hitler Line 20 Aftermath 21 Italian Scenarios 22 Advance to the Gothic Line 23 Through the Gothic Line 24 Impasse 25 Battle for San Martino 26 The Last Ridge 27 Winter in the Romagna 28 Intermezzo 29 Monty's Foxhounds 30 Home Again

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book discusses a number of raids undertaken by XXXXVIII Panzer Corps near the Black Sea in 1941/2 to explore the tactics used and why they were successful, based upon the detailed combat reports prepared by the corps staff immediately after each battle."Die Wehrmacht im Kampf" Battles and Problems of the Second World War is a series published in Germany in the 1950s and 1960s. Written by ex-members of the German army in WWII, it provides important information not available elsewhere on the German army's perspective of many crucial campaigns and battles. None of the volumes have previously been available in English. Each volume has a modern introduction by Professor Matthias Strohn, expert on the German army.Table of ContentsIntroduction Foreword I. Raid by XXXXVIII Panzerkorps, Black Sea II. The raid by II. Panzerkorps towards Kiev III. The raids by two panzerkorps in the battle of Kiev IV. The Raid by XXIV. Panzerkorps for Susha and Tula V. The Advance of 1. Panzerarmee into the Caucasus VI. Experiences with panzer raids Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisBetween the years 1550 and 1650, Italy's Jewish intellectuals created a unique and enduring synthesis of the great literary and philosophical heritage of the Andalusian Jews and the Renaissance`s renewal of perspective. While remaining faithful to the beliefs, behaviours, and language of their tradition, Italian Jews proved themselves open to a rapidly evolving world of great richness. The crisis of Aristotelianism (which progressively touched upon all fields of knowledge), religious fractures and unrest, the scientific revolution, and the new perception of reality expressed through a transformation of the visual arts: these are some of the changes experienced by Italian Jews which they were affected by in their own particular way. This book explores the complex relations between Jews and the world that surrounded them during a critical period of European civilisation. The relations were rich, problematic, and in some cases strained, alternating between opposition and dialogue, osmosis and distinction.Trade Review“Nine momentous essays in intellectual history of Italian Jewry in the Early Modern Period, by one of the most skilled specialists of the field. Topics deal with a wide range of issues, such as philosophy, Kabbalah, humanism, politics, allegorical representations of space, and others. Although deeply scholarly, the well-designed approach of the author will undoubtedly fascinate many broadminded ordinary readers.” — Robert Bonfil, Emeritus Professor of Jewish History, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem|“Alessandro Guetta is one of the leading scholars of the cultural history of Italian Jewry in early modern times today. Italian Jewry in the Early Modern Era brings together a fine collection of papers published over the last ten years, some of which were originally published in Italian and French, and now reproduced in an English translation. These nine studies, covering the period from the late fifteenth century to the early nineteenth century, focus on the diverse aspects of the process of modernization of Italian Jewish culture from the Renaissance until the Jewish Enlightenment.” — Abraham Melamed, Professor of Jewish History and Thought, University of Haifa

Read more less

Book SynopsisTens of thousands of Jewish children were orphaned during World War I and in the subsequent years of conflict. In response, Jewish leaders in Poland established CENTOS, the Central Union of Associations for Jewish Orphan Care. Through CENTOS, social workers and other professionals cooperated to offer Jewish children the preparation necessary to survive during a turbulent period. They established new organizations that functioned beyond the authority of the recognized Jewish community and with the support of Polish officials. The work of CENTOS exemplifies the community’s goal to build a Jewish future. Translations of sources from CENTOS publications in Yiddish and Polish describe the lives of the orphaned Jewish children and the tireless efforts of adults to better the children’s circumstances.Trade Review“For the Good of the Nation should be an interesting book and source of references for researchers of interwar Polish-Jewish society, culture, social politics, and education. All readers will have a chance to discover in this volume something relevant to their research. It may serve also as an important inspiration for the next research undertaking.” —Kamil Kijek, Institute for Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław, Slavic Review, Vol. 77, No. 4 -- Kamil Kijek * Slavic Review *“Although orphan care in Poland after World War I is often mentioned in Polish studies, Martin’s book is the first to cover this topic—and American assistance in particular—in such a thorough and detailed fashion. … Sean Martin collected material for his book in libraries and archives on three continents. Not every specialist on interwar Poland, Jewish history, Polish-Jewish-American relations, or history of social work—to whom this book would be of particular interest—has had such an opportunity. By publishing his documentary history, Martin has unlocked the libraries and archives for his colleagues. Documents sitting untouched on the shelves of archives or libraries, like books with uncut edges, remain silent. Martin has allowed them to speak. Moreover, by reconstructing the tragic history, he, either explicitly or implicitly, holds us accountable to children for all the wars that we have waged and, sadly, continue to wage.” —Olga Medvedeva-Nathoo, The Polish Review * The Polish Review *Table of Contents Introduction I: A History of CENTOS II: Descriptions of Homes for Children The “Orphanage in Pinsk” Ben-Levi The Publication of the Home for Orphans in Lwów, Zborowska 8 Maks Schaff Childish Stubbornness: Notes of a Teacher Tsvi Tarlovski Pen Strokes (From My Inspections in the Provinces) A. Goldin Images of Youth in School Publications Leon Gutman The Strike: An Image of Dormitory Life Yakov Sarner III: Home for Jewish Children and Farm in Helenówek Education or Crime? From the Diary of an Educator Yekhiel Ben-Tsiyon Kats IV: CENTOS in Otwock The Therapeutic and Educational Institution in Otwock (Three Months of Activity) Zofia Rosenblum Awakening in an Institution (Images of an Institution for Defective Children in Otwock) Kalman Lis Two Visits in CENTOS Helena Boguszewska Five Years of CENTOS Activity in Otwock Zofia Rosenblum Working with Abnormal Children: On Eight Years of CENTOS in Otwock Abraham Berger Afterword Acknowledgments Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Venice Ghetto was founded in 1516 by the Venetian government as a segregated area of the city in which Jews were compelled to live. The world's first ghetto and the origin of the English word, the term simultaneously works to mark specific places and their histories, and as a global symbol that evokes themes of identity, exile, marginalization, and segregation. To capture these multiple meanings, the editors of this volume conceptualize the ghetto as a "memory space that travels" through both time and space.This interdisciplinary collection engages with questions about the history, conditions, and lived experience of the Venice Ghetto, including its legacy as a compulsory, segregated, and enclosed space. Contributors also consider the ghetto's influence on the figure of the Renaissance moneylender, the material culture of the ghetto archive, the urban form of North Africa's mellah and hara, and the ghetto's impact on the writings of Primo Levi and Marjorie Agosí­n.In addition to the volume editors, The Venice Ghetto features a foreword from James E. Young and contributions from Shaul Bassi, Murray Baumgarten, Margaux Fitoussi, Dario Miccoli, Andrea Yaakov Lattes, Federica Ruspio, Michael Shapiro, Clive Sinclair, and Emanuela Trevisan Semi.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAndrew Mumford challenges the notion of a "special relationship" between the United States and United Kingdom in diplomatic and military affairs, the most vaunted and, he says, exaggerated of associations in the post-1945 era. Though they are allies to be sure, national self-interest and domestic politics have often undercut their relationship. This book combines for the first time a history of the US-UK interaction during major counterinsurgency campaigns since 1945, from Palestine to Iraq and Afghanistan, with a critical examination of the widely perceived special relationship that has been tested during these frequently difficult, protracted, and costly conflicts. An assessment of each nation's respective internal political discussions and diplomatic exchanges about the other's conflicts reveals that in actuality there is only a thin layer of specialness at work in wars that shaped the postcolonial balance of power, the fight against Communism in the Cold War, and the twenty-first-century "war on terror." This work is especially timely given that the US-UK relationship is once again under scrutiny because of the Trump administration's "America First" rhetoric and Britain's changing international relations as a result of Brexit. Counterinsurgency Wars and the Anglo-American Alliance will interest scholars and students of history, international relations, and security studies as well as policy practitioners in the field.Trade Reviewa fasincating interpretation . . . well-documented and well-written * H-Diplo *Mumford offers a fresh look at the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom against the backdrop of some of the most politically trying of wars, counterinsurgencies. Readers will come away with a better understanding of how the "specialness" of that relationship varied, leveraged as it was by both parties in some very ordinary ways. -- Antulio J. Echevarria II, Elihu Root Chair of Military Studies, US Army War CollegeTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Origins, Meaning, and Dynamics of the "Special Relationship"Chapter 1: Empires, Old and New: The Politics of CounterinsurgencyChapter 2: Anglo-American Military Culture and CounterinsurgencyChapter 3: The Changing of the Guard in the Postwar World: Counterinsurgency in Palestine and the Creation of IsraelChapter 4: The Malayan Emergency and America's Asian Cold WarChapter 5: Mayhem in the Mediterranean: Counterinsurgency in CyprusChapter 6: Middle Eastern "Winds of Change": Counterinsurgency in South Arabia Chapter 7: The Counterinsurgency Phoenix: Britain and America's War in VietnamChapter 8: The Old Country: America and the Northern Irish "Troubles"Chapter 9: "Shoulder to Shoulder" in the War in IraqChapter 10: Into the Hornet's Nest: The "Special Relationship" in AfghanistanConclusion: The Asymmetrical Alliance: Anglo-American Relations Then and Now BibliographyIndexAbout the Author

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Soviet Army was ill-prepared for its erstwhile ally's treacherous onslaught in 1941. Its officer corps decimated by Stalin's purges and its men less well-trained than the Germans, the Red Army was poorly led, hampered by the power of the political officers and only partly mobilised. But, in spite of the huge German victories and the speed of the Nazi attack, the Soviets proved fantastically capable of rolling with the punches. The vast territory of the Soviet Union and huge population were significant factors, as was substantial assistance from the West – the United States and Britain in particular – which was in evidence when the German columns got to within a few miles short of Moscow and were held and then forced back. The tide turned thanks to help from outside and the efforts of the Soviet soldiers, who proved hardy and durable. And just like its soldiers, Russian infantry equipment was rugged and effective. While Soviet infantrymen may not have had the flexibility or tactical nous of the Germans, they did not lack cunning: deception, camouflage skills and endurance made Russian snipers, as an example, more than the equal of the Germans. Most views of the Soviet soldier and campaign are influenced by self-serving German postwar accounts designed to excuse their loss by suggesting that Adolf Hitler's meddling and Soviet numbers were the main reasons for victory: this denigrates the Russian infantryman whose toughness and ingenuity helped destroy the Third Reich in spite of the faults of its own regime. Fully illustrated with over 200 contemporary photographs and illustrations, Soviet Infantryman on the Eastern Front in the Casemate Illustrated series provides an insight into the Soviets' main theater of operations in World War II.Table of ContentsIntroduction The soldier Logistics Tactics Life in the field

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAll twenty-two original articles in the current volume are based on lectures given at the conference “The Jews in Italy: Their Contribution to the Development and Diffusion of Jewish Heritage”, which was convened in September 2011, at the University of Bologna, Department of Cultural Heritage. Geographically, the articles range from Italy to the Ottoman Empire (the Balkans and Aleppo), from France and Germany to the Middle East, including Israel, North and East Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Ethiopia). Chronologically, articles begin with the Roman period, through the Middle Ages and Renaissance until modern times. In this collection, the reader will find a wide range of subjects reflecting various scholarly perspectives such as history; Christian-Jewish relations; Kabbalah; commentary on the Bible and Talmud; language, grammar, and translation; literature; philosophy; gastronomy; art; culture; folklore; and education.Trade Review“Individually and collectively [the articles] provide valuable information and analysis about the current state of research of Italian Jewry in particular and in the context of Jewish studies in general. ... The Jews in Italy: Their Contribution to the Development and Diffusion of Jewish Heritage highlights how at the communal level Italian Jewish culture embodies Italian, and indeed global, culture.” —Howard Adelman, H-JudaicTable of Contents Preface THE ROMAN PERIOD Roman Attitudes to Jews and Judaism in the First Century BCE Miriam Ben Zeev THE MIDDLE AGES & THE RENAISSANCE The Oldest Complete Extant Sefer Torah Rediscovered at the Bologna University Library: Codicological, Textual, and Paleographic Features of an Ancient Eastern Tradition Mauro Perani Palestinian and Babylonian Traditions in Italy at the Outset of the Middle Ages: The Yerushalmi in the Writings of R. Isaiah di Trani (the Rid) Yaron Silverstein Abraham de Balmes’s Miqneh Abram: An Adaptation of Modistic Concepts by a Hebrew Grammarian of the Renaissance Dror Ben-Arié The Anonymous Hebrew Translation of Giordano Ruffo’s De medicina equorum and Its Language Michael Ryzhik Between The Book of Jossipon and The Book of Jashar Carmela Saranga Italian Jewry and Kabbalistic Rites Moshe Hallamish Ladino Translations from Italy: The Bible, Pirke Avot, the Passover Haggadah, and the Siddur Ora (Rodrigue) Schwarzwald The Jews of France and Italy during the Later Middle Ages and the Renaissance Shimon Schwarzfuchs Torah and Nature in the Writings of Some Italian Jewish Thinkers of the Renaissance Miguel Antonio Beltrán Munar Prenuptial Agreements in Ketubot from Italy Yoel Shilo THE MODERN PERIOD Jewish Ashkenazi Gastronomy in Northern Italy in the Early Modern Period: The Testimony of the Book Mitzvot Hanashim Zahava Weishouse The Depiction of Jesus’s Circumcision and Presentation in the Temple in Early Modern Paintings in Venice: Some Questions on Jesus’s Identity Maria Portmann Freemasonry and Saint-Simonism as Carriers of Enlightenment Values in David Levi’s Weltanschauung Alessandro Grazi The Unique Characteristics of Dybbuk Exorcisms in Rabbinic Documents from Eighteenth-Century Italy Yaniv Goldberg Rabbinic Ties between Italy and Aleppo in the Eighteenth Century Leah Bornstein-Makovetsky THE CONTEMPORARY PERIOD Jewish Solidarity: The Actions and Support of the Union of Italian Israelite Communities for the Jews of Libya and Ethiopia in the 1930s Yitzhak Mualem The Dispute between Italy and France in Tunisia: The Role of Language and the Position of Italian Jewry Filippo Petrucci Jews as Promoters of Italian Civilization in Libya Rachel Simon The Relations of the Holy See with the Jewish People after the 1993 Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel: Divergence between the Interreligious Dialogue with the Jews of Rome and the Diplomatic Dialogue with Israel Eliav Taub Primo Levi: Chemist/Writer, Italian/Jew Smadar Shiffman Jewish Educational Proposals in Nineteenth- and Twentieth-Century Florence Silvia Guetta

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book captures the story of the Taratuta family and their struggle to flee the hardships of the USSR and repatriate to Israel in the late twentieth century. The narrative follows the lives of three family members, Aba, his wife Ida, and their son Misha, as they endure countless struggles throughout their journey to freedom. Tense moments ensue as the refuseniks print copies of forbidden Zionist literature and textbooks, publicly support those detained in prison and the Gulag, organize scientific and legal seminars in their apartment, receive Western visitors, and secretly partake in weekly Hebrew lessons. Well-recognized in the West as central players in the Soviet Jewish movement in Leningrad throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Taratutas underwent constant surveillance by the KGB until they were finally able to repatriate to Israel. In spite of their hardships, the family attempted to live a life of normalcy and to cherish moments of happiness and togetherness.Table of Contents From the Academic Editor, Michael Beizer, From the Authors 1. Grandmother Ida 2. Grandfather Aba 3. Father Misha 4. Hebrew, Leonid Fridkin: How I Studied Hebrew 5. Samizdat (Underground Literature) 6. Demonstrations: December 24, 1975 7. Telephone 8. Seminars 9. Unsanctioned Exhibition 10. Pesach 1977 11. Warning 12. Visits to Places of Detention 13. Search 14. Interrogation in the Prosecutor’s Office 15. Jewish Library 16. KGB Interrogation, 1982 17. Burglary 18. Contacts with the West 19. Three Demonstrations in 1987 20. Not by Zionism Alone… 21. Israel Afterword, Appendix Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisLike a Drop of Ink in a Downpour: in Soviet Russia is a memoir that traces the lives of a girl, Alёna, her mother and her grandmother, and their quest to preserve the legacy of Alёna's late grandfather, a prominent artist who depicted the Holocaust. For years his canvases are locked away in their apartment with no hope of being exhibited because of art policies of the state. When the family decides to emigrate the unexpected happens: Alёna's father refuses to let her go, her grandmother leaves alone with the paintings, and her mother is accused of a fabricated crime and incarcerated. She serves her sentence at the notorious Kresti prison, Sablino labor camp, and as an exile with compulsory labor in Gorky. The wonder of childhood and motherhood persists amid their battles, and three generations of women call on their resilience to find their way back to one another. Narrated in the voices of the girl and her mother, their shifting perspectives creates a vivid view of women and girls in Leningrad of the '70s and '80s.Table of ContentsNOTE ON NAMESPART ONE: ALЁNAIn the WoodsFrom the BeginningVillage in a StackRain and FrostThe Shared and the UnspokenA Time to UprootPápochkaTo FairylandWithin and WithoutPART TWO: GALIAThe Rain You Accidentally SawMy ChildhoodMy MarriageThe Decision to EmigrateAt the RailwayThe SupermarketThe Beauty SalonKosmétika’s District BranchThe UnplannedKrestí PrisonThe Zóna: Sáblino Labor CampThe City of Bitter PART THREE: ALЁNAAdolescenceA Time to WaitDrawing with ErasersOn the Ladders “MEMORY” by Galia Lembersky GLOSSARYCREDITSACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this intriguing new book, Onianwa Oluchukwu Ignatus investigates Britain’s decision to engage the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the relief operations during the Nigerian Civil War. The main area badly ravaged by the conflict being the Republic of Biafra was declared “a frontier of need.” Humanitarian concerns and mounting public pressures, both in Britain and other Western countries, prompted the relief condition in Biafra to be declared an emergency. International voluntary relief workers found themselves for the first time at the center stage of a relief crisis that involved numerous governments and public opinion across the globe. Despite the existing research on humanitarianism of the Nigerian Civil War, until now no scholar has explored the British move to deploy the RAF for relief flights to Biafra. The need to overcome the difficulties of the Nigerian Civil War, and the heavy pressure of British parliamentarians, the press, and the public served as major factors leading to engaging the RAF to supply relief materials. The RAF episode indicated that external actors in any conflict can produce good initiatives geared toward resolving conflicts.

Read more less