European history Books

Book SynopsisSixteenth-century Augsburg comes to life in this beautifully chosen and elegantly translated selection of original documents. Ranging across the whole panoply of social activity from the legislative reformation to work, recreation, and family life, these extracts make plain the subtle system of checks and balances, violence, and self-regulation that brought order and vibrancy to a sophisticated city community. Most of all we hear sixteenth-century people speak: in their petitions and complaints, their nervous responses under interrogation, their rage and laughter. Tlusty has done an invaluable service in crafting a collection that should be an indispensable part of the teaching syllabus. --Andrew Pettegree, University of St. AndrewsTrade ReviewThis volume brings readers face-to-face with the experiences of the ordinary people living in Reformation-era Augsburg. The translations are lively, vivid, captivating . . . the voices of these ordinary citizens are heard here as clearly as if they were sitting in the next room. The introductions--to the volume overall, to each of its major sections, and to each of the individual documents--provide just as much information as is necessary. . . . Tlusty strikes just the right balance between breadth and depth. Outstanding. --Constantin Fasolt, University of ChicagoAn introduction to early modern German society. Tlusty reaps the harvest of scholars' mental shift over the last two generations, from concentration on those who wielded authority to those who were subject to them. The book contains a wealth of information and insight into the lives of ordinary people and the shoals of regulation upon which they might founder. Tlusty illuminates all of society in dynamic interaction. --Susan Karant-Nunn, University of Arizona"An engaging collection of primary sources, many available in English for the first time, that offer readers glimpses into how the Reformation changed local communities. Augsburg provides a compelling location in which to examine the impact of the Reformation because of its early exposure to the new religious ideas and its importance to the political events of the Holy Roman Empire. "For many college students, the voices of Luther and Calvin dominate the study of the Reformation, but Tlusty's collection allows the reader to explore voices up and down the social ladder, revealing that both the Augsburg city council and the weavers shaped and were shaped by the new doctrines and practices. "Any reader of this collection [will] gain new understanding about the complexities of urban life during the early modern period . . . [it] allows students . . . to explore many themes of social and cultural history during the Reformation. "Tlusty's compilation of sources offers a fresh view of the Reformation through documents previously accessible only to one able to venture into the archives." —History: Reviews of New BooksTable of ContentsPopular Responses to Reform, 1520-1554; Enforcing the Peace of Augsburg; A Society of Orders; Marriage, Household, & Sexuality; Work & trade; Sports, Entertainments, & the Control of Leisure; Ethnicity; Ritual & Ceremony; Magic & Popular Religion; Dealing with War & Catastrophe; Timeline of Events: 1517-1650; Index.

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Book SynopsisMonemvasia has a powerful visual and emotive separation from the world. The ‘Castro’ or fortress is set on a rock in the southern Peloponnese of the Aegean Sea, joined by a causeway to the Greek mainland. Inhabitants are further isolated behind the fortified walls, with only one gateway into the Castro. From the 6th century AD it has played a significant role in Byzantine and Mediterranean history. The unique environment determined how the community evolved through periods of social change. The photographic collection spans over a century, from 1890 until the present day, and alongside historic and contemporary quotations, provides a graphic description of Monemvasian society throughout its recent history. It is an illustration of how a community, living in unique, physical and historical surroundings, may flourish and recreate within itself a strong bond of solidarity, pride and continuity. This interaction determines the pattern of the book. It is a journey, on a physical and emotional level, through Monemvasia. The chapters move through the public spaces and activities into the private experiences of family life.Trade Review"This wonderful book of photographs, compiled by Ann Eldridge… captures the magic that is Monemvasia. It’s a handsome and hefty book that would grace any coffee-table, and be the ideal gift for anyone interested in Greece, in history, in photography… With several essays about Monemvasia, as well as the remarkable photos, this beautiful book should definitely be on the shopping list for anyone with any remote interested in Greece. And if you haven’t yet been to Monemvasia, it will tempt you to go" Greece Travel Secrets

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Book SynopsisHow the story of Noah's Flood was central to the development of a global environmental consciousness in early modern Europe. Winner, Morris D. Forkosch Prize, Journal of the History of IdeasMany centuries before the emergence of the scientific consensus on climate change, people began to imagine the existence of a global environment: a natural system capable of changing humans and of being changed by them. In After the Flood, Lydia Barnett traces the history of this idea back to the early modern period, when the Scientific Revolution, the Reformations, the Little Ice Age, and the overseas expansion of European empire, religion, and commerce gave rise to new ideas about nature, humanity, and their intersecting histories. Recovering a forgotten episode in the history of environmental thought, Barnett brings to light the crucial role of religious faith and conflict in the emergence of a global environmental consciousness. Following Noah's Flood as a popular topic of debate through lonTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction. A Natural History of SinChapter One. Before the Flood: Gender, Embodied Sin, and Environmental AgencyChapter Two. After the Flood: Biblical Monogenism, Global Migrations, and the Origins of Scientific RacismChapter Three. Protestant Climate Change: From Edenocene to Fallocene Chapter Four. The Flood and the Apocalypse: Building the Republic of Letters Chapter Five. Catholic Climate Change: Heritable Sin and Strategies of Toleration Epilogue. The Flood SubsidesNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Battle of Jutland, fought between the British and German fleets in 1916, was the greatest naval engagement of the First World War. John Brooks presents a full account of the Battle, based on contemporary sources, which offers challenging new interpretations of the action and of its technologies, tactics and leadership.Trade Review'At the centenary of Jutland, the most controversial of all naval battles, John Brooks' skilful, precise assessment, a masterclass in naval operational history, provides a new benchmark, the foundation text for all future studies.' Andrew Lambert, author of The Challenge: Britain against America in the Naval War of 1812'A key element [of this book] is the careful examination of the ferocious but chaotic night actions which were so important to the final outcome. The difficulties of operating at night, the preparations, material and doctrinal, of both sides and the uncertainties which so often meant the difference between success and disaster are made clear, allowing a much more comprehensive assessment of what was inevitable and what might have been.' James Goldrick, author of Before Jutland: The Naval War in Northern European Waters, August 1914-February 1915'To sum up, John Brooks's book is one of the best written on this battle. Of course, we do not learn anything about the situation on board during the battle, the horror of fighting and dying as well as the myth of Jutland both in Britain and in Germany. However, the author should not be blamed for this, for his topic was different - he wanted to give a true account of a great battle - no more, but also no less. He has achieved this aim marvelously.' Michael Epkenhans, The International Journal of Maritime HistoryTable of Contents1. Building the battlefleets; 2. Technologies; 3. Orders for battle; 4. Preliminaries; 5. The run to the south; 6. The run to the north; 7. Around windy corner; 8. The remains of the day; 9. Night and morning; 10. Technology and tactics; 11. An unpalatable result; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisEmanuele Senici’s new book provides a fresh look at the motives behind the Rossinian furore and its aftermath by placing his works into the culture and society in which they were conceived, performed, seen, heard, and discussed.

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Book SynopsisThis is a single-volume introduction to Ancient Greece, covering the period from the Golden Age of Knossos and Mycenae to the incorporation of Greece into the Roman empire in the second century BC and the transfer of Greek culture to Byzantium in the fourth century.Trade Review"This will make an excellent textbook. Everyone teaching Greek history complains constantly of the lack of a good book. This one has a good balance of narrative and social/economic history. It's also unusual in trying to cover all areas of Greece, not just Athens and Sparta. I should add that I've read a couple of other Greek history textbooks in preparation for other publishers in the last couple of years, and this book is head-and-shoulders above the rest. It's a really good book." Ian Morris, Stanford University " ... presents both an elegant narrative and an interesting assessment of the Hellenistic world" Greece and Rome "... innovative ... While the traditional 'glories' of Greek history - the classical period, the history of Athens - are excellently handled, this is not at the expense of less frequently covered terrain." Times Higher Education SupplementTable of ContentsAcknowledgements vii Translator's Note ix Figures xi Foreword xiii A Country 1 1 The Greek World's Earliest Times 5 2 The Archaic World 36 3 The Classical Period: The Fifth Century 114 4 The Classical Period: The Fourth Century 227 5 The Hellenistic Period 292 Conclusion 368 The Sources 371 Chronological Table 381 Lexicon 392 Guide to Further Reading 401 Index 413

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Book SynopsisOn October 10, 1941, the entire Jewish population of the Belarusian village of Krucha was rounded up and shot. This atrocity was the work of footsoldiers in a regular German army unit, acting on its own initiative. Marching into Darkness paints a searing portrait of the Wehrmacht's descent into ever more intimate participation in genocide.Trade ReviewWith a level of detail that is chilling to the bone, Beorn demonstrates that during the first phase of the war with the Soviet Union, a time when Germans were euphoric about their results on the front, every single Wehrmacht unit in Belarus contained a core group of men who could be counted on to murder Jews. Marching into Darkness convincingly shows how and why these atrocities could occur. A major contribution. -- Karel C. Berkhoff, author of Motherland in Danger: Soviet Propaganda during World War IIBeorn’s meticulously researched work confronts us with Nazi crimes, up close, as they happened. It allows us to see the choices that were available to the perpetrators, and the process by which many ordinary German soldiers gradually turned into willing criminals. In this way, it helps us to understand how such crimes were possible. -- Geoffrey P. Megargee, author of War of Annihilation: Combat and Genocide on the Eastern Front, 1941

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Book SynopsisPULITZER PRIZE WINNER • An “urgently readable” (Newsweek) biography of the captivating tsar who changed Russian history—from the New York Times bestselling author of Nicholas and Alexandra, The Romanovs, and Catherine the Great “Enthralling . . . as fascinating as any novel and more so than most.”—The New York Times Book Review Against the monumental canvas of seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Europe and Russia unfolds the magnificent story of Peter the Great, crowned co-tsar at the age of ten. Robert K. Massie delves deep into his life, chronicling the pivotal events that shaped a boy into a legend—including his “incognito” travels in Europe, his unquenchable curiosity about Western ways, his obsession with the sea and establishment of the stupendous Russian navy, his creation of an unbeatable army, his transformation of Russia, and his relationships with those

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Book SynopsisIn Redeeming "The Prince," one of the world's leading Machiavelli scholars puts forth a startling new interpretation of arguably the most influential but widely misunderstood book in the Western political tradition. Overturning popular misconceptions and challenging scholarly consensus, Maurizio Viroli also provides a fresh introduction to the workTrade Review"Maurizio Viroli wants us to grasp that The Prince was not the cynically devious tract it seems, but rather a patriotic appeal for a redeemer politician to arise and save Italy from foreign invaders and its own shortsighted rulers."--Michael Ignatieff, The Atlantic "[Viroli] makes a strong argument for rethinking widely held assumptions about The Prince."--Theodore Kinni, Strategy + Business "Whether or not they agree with Viroli, all students of Machiavelli owe him gratitude for calling our attention to an alternative way of conceiving The Prince."--Cary J. Nederman, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "[B]ecause of its subject and its rich scholarly argumentation, Redeeming The Prince proves exciting. Connoisseur of literature and tradition surrounding Machiavelli, Maurizio Viroli manages to deliver a clear and accessible can be a good introduction to Machiavelli text."--Quentin Verreycken, liens socio "As Machiavelli did, Viroli writes in a brisk, forceful style that reveals both a depth of thought and a vibrant passion for his subject."--ChoiceTable of ContentsList of Figures ix Preface xi Introduction 1 Chapter One The Prince as a Redeemer 23 Chapter Two A Realist with Imagination 66 Chapter Three A Great Oration 92 Chapter Four A Prophet of Emancipation 113 Notes 149 Index 181

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Book SynopsisLong before the photo op, political rulers were manipulating visual imagery to cultivate their authority. The Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) was, this title argues, the first ruler to exploit the propaganda power of printed images and text. It explores how Maximilian used illustrations and other visual arts.Trade Review"Marketing Maximilian is an excellent study of the first ruler to exploit print for verbal and visual propaganda and an appropriately triumphant example of what can be achieved when, allowing the risk of anachronism, modern perspectives are applied to past problems."--Kevin Sharpe, Times Literary Supplement "Silver's book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the political culture of late medieval and early modern Europe."--Joachim Whaley, H-Net Reviews "[I]n its attention to detail and its interpretation of complex iconography, Silver's study of Maximilian and his artistic entourage makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the early stages of the Habsburg imperium."--Lindsay Diggelmann, Parergon "One of the particular virtues of this intellectual biography is the way in which Silver illuminates connections between the intellectual and the spiritual, the visual and the physical worlds... He also makes accessible to English readers much previous research available only in German."--Susan Foister, Print Quarterly "Larry Silver's Marketing Maximilian is an invigorating contribution to the literature on Maximilian I from one of the foremost scholars on this topic. Silver's numerous articles on Maximilian's artistic patronage have formed a foundation for study of this major, yet idiosyncratic figure, and this book provides a comprehensive summation of Silver's decades of study. Yet the book reaches beyond his previous work as well, providing a larger, synthetic framework for understanding Maximilian's ideology and its visual representations as well as offering new information and insights into his various commissions."--Heather Madar, Sixteenth Century Journal "Silver's book makes important contributions to our understanding of Maximilian as a political actor... Silver ... provide[s] the finest study to date on Maximilian's efforts to reformulate political practice. Marketing Maximilian provides more than simply a study of Maximilian; it offers insights into the changing political culture in early modern Europe."--Darin Hayton, Austrian History YearbookTable of ContentsPreface vii Chapter 1: Introduction: Maximilian's Artworlds 1 Chapter 2: Family Ties: Genealogy as Ideology for Emperor Maximilian I 41 Chapter 3: Translation of Empire 77 Chapter 4: Caesar Divus: Leader of Christendom 109 Chapter 5: Shining Armor: Emperor Maximilian, Chivalry, and War 147 Chapter 6: Magnifi cence and Dignity: Princely Pastimes 169 Chapter 7: Conclusions: Dynasty and/or Nation? 215 Notes 237 Bibliography 289 Index 301

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Book SynopsisReveals Epizephyrian Locri - a Greek colony on the Adriatic coast of Italy - as a third way in Greek culture, neither Athens nor Sparta. Drawing on a range of literary and archaeological evidence, this work offers an account of this poorly understood Greek city-state, and in particular the distinctive role of women and marriage therein.Trade Review"The Locrian Maidens actually uncovers something new in the heavily trodden terrain of the classics, and in today's academy that amounts to a rara avis."--Tom Meaney, New Criterion "In this engrossing report on a quarter century of work, James Redfield reconstructs the distinctive culture of Epizephyrian Locri from rubble, rumors, and art to offer an unsuspected model of Greek social organization... The book shows a rare combination of rigorous documentation and theoretical imagination... This is a book of great learning and great charm."--Frederick T. Griffiths, New England Classical JournalTable of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xiii Abbreviations xv Introduction 1 PART ONE: Sexual Complementarity 15 One: The Sexes in Cosmos and History 17 Two: Women in Civil Society 27 Three: The Theology of Consent 57 PART TWO: The Locrian Maidens at Troy 83 Four: The Locrian Maidens at Troy 85 EXCURSUS 151 Five: On Development 153 PART THREE: Epizephyrian Locri 201 Six: Epizephyrian Locri 203 Seven: Locrian Culture: Locri, Locris, Sparta (and Crete) 241 PART FOUR: Four Iconographic Essays 309 Eight: Nymphs 311 Nine: The Tortoise and the Knucklebone 318 Ten: The Ludovisi and Boston Thrones 332 Eleven: The Locrian Pinakes 346 EPILOGUE 387 Twelve: Pythagoras at the Locrian Frontier 389 Appendix: Ritual Prostitution at Locri 411 Bibliography 417 Index 435

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Book SynopsisIn the summer of 972 a group of Muslim brigands based in the south of France near La Garde-Freinet abducted the abbot of Cluny as he and his entourage crossed the Alps en route from Rome to Burgundy. Ultimately, the abbot was set free, but the audacity of this abduction outraged Christian leaders and galvanized the will of local lords. Shortly thereafter, Count William of Arles marshaled an army and succeeded in wiping out the Muslim stronghold. The monks of Cluny kept this tale alive over the next century. Scott G. Bruce explores the telling and retelling of this story, focusing on the representation of Islam in each account and how that representation changed over time. The culminating figure in this study is Peter the Venerable, one of Europe''s leading intellectuals and abbot of Cluny from 1122 to 1156, who commissioned Latin translations of Muslim texts such as the Qur''an. Cluny and the Muslims of La Garde-Freinet provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to eTrade ReviewOverall, this is an impressive book. It diligently unpacks the development of the hagiographical legend surrounding the kidnapping of Maiolus and assesses its impact upon later Cluniac authors—especially Peter the Venerable. It makes positive contributions to several major debates surrounding Peter and the broad character of the Cluniac engagement with non-Christians and places that discussion within a long-term context. Bruce expresses himself with some neat turns of phrase and the book as a whole is a very easy read. It is much to be recommended! * Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations *Crisply written and easy to read, given the density of some of the material. Highly recommended. * Reading Religion *A thoughtful and provocative book... Bruce has demonstrated the importance of the vita of Maiolus on the attitudes of the twelfth-century abbot and raised new ways to think about Peter's approach to Islam. * Journal of Religion *Meticulously researched and highly readable, this book will be a valuable addition to the shelves of all scholars of polemic and interreligious interactions in the Middle Ages. In drawing scholarly attention to the influence of devotional and hagiographical texts in shaping the attitudes of medieval theologians, Bruce provides fresh material and an original perspective to ongoing conversations about the ways in which medieval Christian writers interacted with Islam and the texts that shaped their thought-worlds. * Journal of Medieval Religious Cultures *This is a welcome work, bringing greater attention to a small but telling episode in the life of one Cluniac abbot and the polemical work of another Cluniac abbot, while also satisfying a modern desire for insight into Christian-Muslim relations in the past. * American Historical Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Hagiography and Religious Polemic in the Cluniac Tradition 1. News of a Kidnapping The Perils and Promises of Transalpine Travel The Muslims of La Garde-Freinet "The Hordes of Belial Have Surrounded Me" 2. Monks Tell Tales By Savaage Hands Restrained The Preacher's Prowess Fulcher and the Great Wolf Enter Muhammed Interlude: A Cluniac Mission on the Spanish Frontier 3. Peter and the Venerable, Butcher of God Against the Heirs of Inquiry A Christian Arsenal against Islam Assailing the Monstrous Beast Recourse to Reason 4. Hagiography and the Muslim Policy of Peter the Venerable Reasoning with Unbelievers in the Decades around 1100 A Reservoir of Eastern Censure Nalgod's Industry Conclusion

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Book SynopsisA revisionist study of Roman imperialism in the Greek world, which considers the Hellenistic context within which Roman expansion took place.Table of ContentsVolume I Introduction Part I: The Instruments of Diplomacy Part II: Attitudes and Motivation Volume II Part III: The Patterns of Behavior Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe landscape of the Netherlands has been changing constantly since the end of the last ice age, some 11,700 years ago. Where we walk today was once a polar desert, a river delta or a shallow sea. The end of the last ice age marked the beginning of a new geological period - the Holocene, the relatively warm geological epoch in which we are still living today. The Atlas of the Holocene Netherlands contains special maps, supplemented by archaeological and historical information. These maps show the geographical situation for thirteen different points in time since the last ice age, based on tens of thousands of drill samples and the latest geological, soil and archaeological research. This magnificent atlas also paints a surprising picture of the position we humans have occupied in the landscape. It addresses such questions as: How did we take advantage of the opportunities offered by the landscape? And how did we mould the landscape to suit our own purposes? The Atlas of the Holocene Netherlands will change once and for all the way you look at the Dutch landscape.Trade Review"The Holocene history of the Netherlands is a learning site for coastal sedimentary landscapes all over the world. The international community is indebted to this team of experts that shared their deep understanding of landscape evolution. Learning the lessons from this atlas may prevent future catastrophes. It is the main reason why this book deserves very wide distribution."- Henry Hooghiemstra, Canadian Journal of Netherlandic Studies, 41.1 (2021)Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 The Netherlands in the Holocene 2 What came before? 3 Rising sea levels 4 Tides and waves shape the coast 5 The big rivers fill the delta 6 Peat covers the land 7 Human intervention 8 How the maps were compiled 9 Notes on the map legends The maps 9000 BCE Rising temperatures 5500 BCE Rising water levels 3850 BCE Expanding peat 2750 BCE The coastline closes 1500 BCE Peat covers the land 500 BCE The building of terps 250 BCE Changing tidal systems CE 100 Human impact CE 800 Return of the sea CE 1250 Dyking of rivers and salt marshes CE 1500 People shape the landscape CE 1850 Human 'nature' CE 2000 A country created by people Glossary Further reading Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisProminent components of Louis XIV's propaganda, the arts of spectacle also became sources of a potent resistance to the monarchy in late seventeenth-century France. The author tells the story of how the festive arts deployed an intricate network of subversive satire to undermine the rhetoric of sovereign authority.Trade Review"One of the great strengths of Cowart's book is precisely its chronological scope.... Cowart's reach, combined with her considerable erudition and meticulous scholarship, allows her to make some very suggestive parallels between works that might otherwise have passed unnoticed." (Times Literary Supplement)"

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in two volumes, an abridged edition of the author''s Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the Holocaust examines the anti-Semitism and persecution that led to Nazi Germany''s attempts to systematically exterminate Europe''s Jewish population, focusing on the people and events from the Nazi accession to power in 1933 to the end of World War II. Original. 20,000 first printing.

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Book SynopsisIn nineteenth-century Eastern Europe, the Jewish-run tavern was often the center of leisure, hospitality, business, and even religious festivities. As liquor became the region''s boom industry, Jewish tavernkeepers became integral to both local economies and local social life, presiding over Christian celebrations and dispensing advice, medical remedies and loans. Nevertheless, reformers and government officials, blaming Jewish tavernkeepers for epidemic peasant drunkenness, sought to drive Jews out of the liquor trade. Their efforts were particularly intense and sustained in the Kingdom of Poland. Historians have assumed that this spelled the end of the Polish Jewish liquor trade. However, in Yankel''s Tavern, Glenn Dynner uses newly discovered archival sources to demonstrate that many nobles helped their Jewish tavernkeepers evade fees, bans, and expulsions by installing Christians as fronts for their taverns. The result-a vast underground Jewish liquor trade-reflects an impressive lTrade ReviewGlenn Dynner has written a history of Jewish tavern keepers that serves as a point of entry into a much broader challenge to a surprisingly diverse swath of conventional wisdom about Jewish life in the Polish lands of the Russian Empire. For this reason, Yankel s Tavern should be required reading for anyone interested in Jewish history, Polish history, Russian imperial history, nationalism and national identity, and the economic history of eastern Europe. Without ever adopting an aggressive or polemical tone, Dynner has launched several debates that are sure to continue for years to come....[Dynner]offers a story of nuance and complexity, one that defies any attempt to squeeze it into the simplistic dualities that have long weakened both Polish and Jewish history. This alone should place Yankel's Tavern on everyone's must-read list. * AJS Review *[An] erudite, meticulously researched, and refreshingly original new book... * Jewish Review of Books *Yankel's Tavern is an interesting work that provides insight into the social, economic, political and religious realities of Jews during this time period. The book is a pleasure to read and accessible to the scholar and non-scholar alike. * Association of Jewish Library Reviews *Dynner s rich archival discoveries lead him into multifarious aspects of Jewish life in the Congress Kingdom. He offers a thoughtful survey of Jewish perspectives on the Polish insurrections of 1830 31 and 1863. * Times Literary Supplement *The sacred, the profane, and the 45-percent proof are at the heart of Glenn Dynner's new book, Yankel's Tavern: Jews, Liquor, and Life in the Kingdom of Poland. Like all fine scholarly work, this...volume contains multitudes. * Tablet Magazine *Meticulously researched, judiciously analyzed and deeply engaging, Yankel's Tavern sets a new standard in Jewish social history. Dynner succeeds admirably in cutting through the swath of filio-pietistic myth and anti-Semitic invective that envelops the Eastern European Jewish past. His enthusiasm for reconstructing the 'tragi-comic' lives of ordinary people is positively infectious. A rich and stimulating read. * Olga Litvak, author of Haskalah: The Romantic Movement in Judaism *Dynner shifts the focus of nineteenth-century Polish-Jewish history from government policy, ideological movements and secularization to the lives of real people and the persistence of traditional social, economic and cultural patterns. Using the pervasive liquor trade as a prism, he illuminates both the myths and the reality of the complexities and perplexities of the Polish-Jewish symbiosis. * Moshe Rosman, author of The Lords' Jews: Magnate-Jewish Relations in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth *Based upon massive new archival research, Glenn Dynner presents a wide-ranging portrait of the Jewish-run tavern, a central but overlooked institution of Polish Jewry. Drawing on a remarkable range of sources - legal, administrative, rabbinic, and literary - he illuminates the social, economic, religious and political ramifications of his subject. A sobering view of an intoxicating subject, told with sensitivity, nuance, and balance. * Jerry Z. Muller, author of Capitalism and the Jews *Dynner's short monograph is a remarkable achievement. The book is one of those rare academic accomplishments: persuasive yet concise. * Kevin Goldberg, European History Quarterly *Table of ContentsAuthor's Preface ; A Note on Translations ; Introduction ; Chapter 1: Entrance: Myths and Countermyths ; Chapter 2: Rural Jewish Prohibition in the Kingdom of Poland ; Chapter 3: The Urban Jewish Liquor Trade in the Kingdom of Poland ; Chapter 4: Patriots, Smugglers and Spies: Tavernkeepers during the Polish Uprisings of 1830 and 1863 ; Chapter 5: The Tavernkeepers Speak: Polish Jewish Tavernkeeping in the Wake of Peasant Emancipation ; Chapter 6: Farmers, Soldiers, and Students: Attempts to Transform Jewish Tavernkeepers ; Conclusion ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisOne of the principal characteristics of the European Neolithic is the development of monumentality in association with innovations in material culture and changes in subsistence from hunting and gathering to farming and pastoralism. The papers in this volume discuss the latest insights into why monumental architecture became an integral part of early farming societies in Europe and beyond. One of the topics is how we define monuments and how our arguments and recent research on temporality impacts on our interpretation of the Neolithic period. Different interpretations of Göbekli Tepe are examples of this discussion as well as our understanding of special landmarks such as flint mines.The latest evidence on the economic and paleoenvironmental context, carbon 14 dates as well as analytical methods are employed in illuminating the emergence of monumentalism in Neolithic Europe. Studies are taking place on a macro and micro scale in areas as diverse as Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany, the Dutch wetlands, Portugal and Malta involving a range of monuments from long barrows and megalithic tombs to roundels and enclosures. Transformation from a natural to a built environment by monumentalizing part of the landscape is discussed as well as changes in megalithic architecture in relation to shifts in the social structure. An ethnographic study of megaliths in Nagaland discuss monument building as an act of social construction. Other studies look into the role of monuments as expressions of cosmology and active loci of ceremonial performances. Also, a couple of papers analyse the social processes in the transformation of society in the aftermath of the initial boom in monument construction and the related changes in subsistence and social structure in northern Europe.The aim of the publication is to explore different theories about the relationship between monumentality and the Neolithic way of life through these studies encompassing a wide range of types of monuments over vast areas of Europe and beyond.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Gebauer, A. B., Sørensen, L., Teather, A. & A. C. Valera. List of contributors. List of content. Thoughts on Monumentalism Chapter. 1. Teather, A. Neolithic monumentality for the 21st Century. Origin of Monumentalism Chapter. 2. Watkins, T. Monumentality in Neolithic Southwest Asia: making memory in time and space Chapter. 3. Kinzel, M. and Clare, L. Monumental compared to what? A Perspective from Göbekli Tepe Chapter. 4. Hodder, I. From communal to segmentary: an alternative view of Neolithic ‘monuments’ in the Middle East. Comments on chapter 2 and 3 Chapter. 5. Jeunesse, Chr. Elite houses or specialised buildings? Some comments about the special buildings of Göbekli Tepe in relation to chapter 2 and 3 Chapter. 6. Response to comments by Ian Hodder and Christian Jeunesse by Trevor Watkins Chapter. 7. Response to comments by Ian Hodder and Christian Jeunesse by Lee Clare and Moriz Kinzel with notes on a potential Upper Mesopotamian “Late PPNA Hunter-Crisis” Monuments and social change Chapter. 8. Sørensen, L. Monuments and social stratification within the early Funnel Beaker Culture in South Scandinavia . Chapter. 9. Behrens, A. Do Hundreds of megalithic monuments signify a full Neolithic way of life? The establishment of Neolithic societies on Rügen Island, Germany Chapter. 10. Brozio, J. P. From hierarchies in balance to social imbalance - transformation processes in the later Funnel Beaker north societies in the western Baltic Sea region (3100-2900 BCE) Chapter. 11. Müller, J., J. P. Brozio, W. Dörfler and W. Kirleis Narratives of third millennium transformations: new biographies of Neolithic societies, landscapes and monuments Chapter. 12. Nobles, G. Settling the Monumental Issue in the Dutch Wetlands Chapter. 13. Wunderlich, M. Celebrating stones – Megalith building traditions among Angami-Naga, Northeast-India Chapter. 14. Wadskjær, A.V. & G. Hjortlund Megalithic structures and settlements in the Valley of Posic, Amazonas, Northern Peru Funerary monuments Chapter. 15. Larsson, L. Stones as Boundaries – Stones as Markers. A megalithic tomb in Southern Portugal Chapter. 16. Pospieszny, Ł., M. Jakubczak and G. Kiarszys Putting earthen long barrows back on map. Remarks about the Middle Neolithic monumentality of northern Poland Chapter. 17. Papiernik, P., R. Brzejszczak, D. Kacper Płaza, J. Wicha, and P. Wronecki In the search of the lost heritage. Non-invasive exploration of the monumental Funnel Beaker culture long barrows in the area of Wietrzychowice in central Poland Chapter. 18. Sheridan, A. and R. Schulting Making sense of Scottish Neolithic funerary monuments: tracing trajectories and understanding their rationale Chapter. 19. Gebauer, A. B. Group benefits? The story of a cluster of megalithic monuments in Danish Funnel Beaker society Enclosures and Landscapes Chapter. 20. Parkinson, E., S. Stoddart, C. Malone, C. Brogan and R. McLaughlin Storied Structures, Sustainability and Resilience in late Neolithic Malta: Excavations at the Santa Verna, Gozo Chapter. 21. Valera, A. C. Ephemeral and Cosmological Monumentality: the ‘strange’ ditched enclosures of Chalcolithic South Portugal Chapter. 22. Sanches, M. J. and A. M. Vale Connecting stories of the Neolithic in North-Eastern Portugal. Walled enclosures and their relationships with the genealogy of the landscape. Chapter. 23. Czerniak, L., A. Matuszewska, M. Dziewanowski, L. Pospieszny, M. Jakubczak and M. Szubski The Neolithic roundel and its social context on the furthest reaches of the Danubian World. Chapter. 24. Andersson, M. and M. Artursson, The living and the dead – the Early Neolithic monumental landscape of southwestern Scania, southern Sweden. Conclusion: Chapter. 25. Thomas, J. The Lives of Monuments and Monumentalising Life

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Book SynopsisSince 2016, the UK has been in a crisis of its own making: but this is not the fault of Brexit but of a larger problem of our politics. The status of political parties, the mainstream media, public experts and officials have all been disrupted. Along the way, there have been shocking and exhilarating events: the unforeseen 2017 election result, the horrific details of Grenfell Tower and the Windrush scandal, the sudden rise and fall of the Brexit Party.As the 'mainstream' of politics and media has come under attack, the basic norms of public life have been thrown into question.This Is Not Normal takes stock of a historical moment that no longer recognises itself. Davies tells a story of the apparently chaotic and irrational events, and extracts their underlying logic and long-term causes. What we are seeing is the effects of the 2008 financial crash, the failure of the British neoliberal project, the dying of Empire, and the impact of the changes that technology and communications have had on the idea of the public sphere as well as the power of information. This is an essential book for anyone who wants to make sense of this current moment. .Trade ReviewThis book presses pause on the dazzling contingent brightness of the present, and allows the reflections of the evening to gather and turn towards a new day. * Manchester Review of Books *Brilliant ... Davies will be one of the experts to turn to guide us through the coming years. * WIRED *As William Davies brilliantly articulates in his most recent book, This is Not Normal: The Collapse of Liberal Britain, it's hard to convincingly advocate for normality, or indeed for norms in general, if you've spent years openly trashing the very notion. -- Dublin Review of BooksThis Is Not Normal: The Collapse of Liberal Britain seeks to pore over the deeper roots, expressions and manifestations of four interlocking crises in British politics, addressing some of the most pressing and perplexing questions facing the UK ... as Davies so skillfully shows, it would be foolish to make any firm predictions of what happens next. * LSE Review of Books *This Is Not Normal: The Collapse of Liberal Britain seeks to pore over the deeper roots, expressions and manifestations of four interlocking crises in British politics ... as Davies so skillfully shows, it would be foolish to make any firm predictions of what happens next. * Brave New Europe *But as an example of what its author calls "real-time sociology," the book harbors more ambition and more value than just a chronicle. Building on theoretical insights developed in his earlier work, Davies undertakes an applied investigation into the intertwined fates of liberalism, democracy, and media in the Anglo-American present, an investigation anchored in the problem of trust. -- Adam Kelly * LA Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisWoodbrook is a rare house that gives its name to a small, rural area in Ireland, not far from the old port of Sligo. He stayed for ten years.This memoir, acknowledged as a masterpiece, grew out of two great loves - for Woodbrook and for Phoebe, his pupil.Trade ReviewA brilliantly original mix of love-story, memoir and history -- Brian MooreIt remains with one long after the story is told, a haunting sadness, a memory and a dream -- Olivia Manning * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisThis gossipy account of Louis XIV is a clear and fascinating historical biography from Nancy Mitford. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY STELLA TILLYARDDuring his reign Louis XIV was the most powerful king in Europe. He presided over a golden age of military and artistic achievement in France, and deployed his charm and talents for spin and intrigue to hold his court and country within his absolute control. The Sun King''s universe centred on Versailles, a glittering palace from where Louis conducted his government and complex love affairs. Nancy Mitford describes the daily life of this splendid court in sumptuous detail, recreating the past in vivid colour.Trade ReviewBeautifully evokes the period * Independent on Sunday *Delightfully gossipy...irreverently lifts the skirts of the dolls of Versailles and rummages about underneath, exposing one gem of irresistible detail after another...A glorious tribute to a glorious age * Irish Times *La Mitford plonks the reader amid the seething snobbery and maniacal struggle for High Life that was the Sun King's regime... brilliantly acerbic * Observer *Her style is skilfully succinct; and her wit proceeds from uncommon shrewdness...readers will wish her her book were twice as long * Sunday Times *Highly entertaining...written with her accustomed dash and gaiety, in a manner which frequently suggests one of her delightful novels... Because Miss Mitford is so at home in Versailles, she confers the same feeling of being at home upon a sympathetic modern reader * Sunday Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisJohn Julius Norwich expertly examines the history of the oldest continuing institution in the world, tracing the papal line down the centuries from St Peter to the presentOf the 280-odd holders of the supreme office, some have unquestionably been saints; others have wallowed in unspeakable immorality. One was said to have been a woman, her sex being revealed only when she improvidently gave birth to a baby during a papal procession. Almost as shocking was Formosus whose murdered corpse was exhumed, clothed in pontifical vestments, propped up on a throne and subjected to trial. From the glories of Byzantium to the decay of Rome, from the Albigensian Heresy to controversy within the Church today, The Popes is superbly written, witty and revealing. Charming and learned...The prose is elegant, the witticisms are plentiful, and the volume''s enthusiasm is addictive.' Jonathan Wright, BBC History MagazineTrade Review"The stories are glorious...stuffed with monsters, absurdities, wonders and politics... the parade is endlessly interesting" Scotsman "Norwich certainly has an eye for the tiny detail that illuminates a whole character" Mail on Sunday "A highly readable book" Sunday Times "One of the most bizarre and enjoyable history books I've ever read" Daily Express "[John Julius Norwich] approaches his vast canvas with broad brush strokes, dashing off profile after profile with aplomb, flashes of wit and a formidable accumulation of detail" Financial Times

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Book SynopsisBirkbeck traces the 200-year history of Birkbeck, University of London from its founding at a time when social elites deplored the notion of educated working people to the present day. Joanna Bourke writes a lively history of the institution, and how it contributed to the shaping of modern British higher education.Trade ReviewThe book succeeds in establishing Birkbeck as unique and with many special achievements. There are illustrations...There is a great deal to cover but reading it will certainly help convince anyone of its contribution to the world. In the chapter on teaching Bourke reminds us that the nature of the student cohorts meant lecturers had to be entertaining as well as knowledgeable. She has extended this approach to this impressive book. * Tim Lomas, The Local Historian *Table of ContentsPreface 1: Introduction Part I: From Mechanics to Graduates 2: The Crown and Anchor Tavern 3: Education for Whom? 4: Useful Knowledge 5: The Birkbeck Schools 6: Ravenscroft's Birkbeck Bank 7: Governing the College 8: What is a University? Part II: Pleasure and Preferences 9: Art and Architecture 10: Dancing the Polka 11: The New Woman 12: Minoritised Communities Part III: Student Life 13: 'Tea and Kippers' 14: Rabbits v. Hares; Or, Social Lives 15: Man v. Rabbits 16: Students' 'Joy-Night' Part IV: War and Politics 17: Worlds at War, 1914-1918 18: Worlds at War, 1939-1945 19: Reds in the Classroom 20: Radical Intellectuals Part V: Classrooms 21: Science in the World 22: Disciplines 23: Numerical Automation; Or, Computing 24: Paranormal Sciences 25: Teaching Part VI: Battles for Birkbeck 26: 'Birkbeck's Unique Mission?' 27: Containing the Crisis Part VII: Conclusion 28: Into the Twenty-First Century

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Book SynopsisKing Arthur is probably the most famous and certainly the most legendary medieval king. From the early ninth century through the middle ages, to the Arthurian romances of Victorian times, the tales of this legendary figure have blossomed and multiplied. And in more recent times, there has been a continuous stream of books claiming to have discovered the ''facts'' about, or to unlock the secret or truth behind, the ''once and future king''. Broadly speaking, there are two Arthurs. On the one hand is the traditional ''historical'' Arthur, waging a doomed struggle to save Roman civilization against the relentless Anglo-Saxon tide during the darkest years of the Dark Ages. On the other is the Arthur of myth and legend - accompanied by a host of equally legendary people, places, and stories: Lancelot, Guinevere, Galahad and Gawain, Merlin, Excalibur, the Lady in the Lake, the Sword in the Stone, Camelot, the Round Table. The big problem with all this is that ''King Arthur'' might well never have existed. And if he did exist, it is next to impossible to say anything at all about him. As this challenging new look at the Arthur legend makes clear, all books claiming to reveal ''the truth'' behind King Arthur can safely be ignored. Not only the ''red herrings'' in the abundant pseudo-historical accounts, even the ''historical'' Arthur is largely a figment of the imagination: the evidence that we have - whether written or archaeological - is simply incapable of telling us anything detailed about the Britain in which he is supposed to have lived, fought, and died. The truth, as Guy Halsall reveals in this fascinating investigation, is both radically different - and also a good deal more intriguing.Trade ReviewAn excellent antidote to fantasising. * Steve Moore, Fortean Times. *Table of ContentsPART I: OLD WORLDS; PART II: PRESENT WORLDS; PART III: MAD WORLDS; PART IV: NEW WORLDS?

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Book SynopsisDavid and Mary Norton present the definitive scholarly edition of one of the greatest philosophical works ever written. This first volume contains the critical text of David Hume''s Treatise of Human Nature (1739/40), followed by the short Abstract (1740) in which Hume set out the key arguments of the larger work; the volume concludes with A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend in Edinburgh (1745), Hume''s defence of the Treatise when it was under attack from ministers seeking to prevent Hume''s appointment as Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.Table of ContentsA Note on the Texts ; Contents of A Treatise of Human Nature ; A TREATISE OF HUMAN NATURE ; An Abstract of ... A Treatise of Human Nature ; A Letter from a Gentleman to his Friend in Edinburgh

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Book SynopsisThis is the life story of one of the most interesting human beings who ever lived. A political genius who remade Europe and united Germany between 1862 and 1890 by the sheer power of his great personality. It takes the reader into close proximity with a human being of almost superhuman abilities. We see him through the eyes of his secretaries, his old friends, his neighbours, his enemies and the press. Otto von Bismarck ''made'' Germany but never ''ruled'' it. For twenty eight years he acted as a prime minister without a party. He made speeches, brilliant in content but hesitant in delivery, and rarely addressed a public meeting. He planned three wars and after a certain stage in his career always wore military uniform to which he had no claim. The ''Iron Chancellor'', the image of Prussian militarism, suffered from hypochondria and hysteria. Contemporaries called him a ''dictator'' and several observers credited him with ''demonic'' powers''. They were not wrong. The sheer power of hiTrade ReviewThis is an austere and thoughtful book ... Steinberg has given us a major biography. * The Guardian *Otto von Bismarck became the dominant figure of his era and, as this rich and readable biography shows, had an almost uncanny sense of power. Steinberg's portrait is very much warts and all. * The Sunday Times *Jonathan Steinbergâs new biography of Bismarck has been widely acclaimed, and rightly so. I read a lot of German history, and this is the most enjoyable German history book I have read in years. As a deeply researched but accessible guide to the life of one of nineteenth-century Europeâs most compelling and significant political figures, it stands head and shoulders above other Bismarck biographies. * Abigail Green, European History Quarterly *Table of Contents1. Introduction: Bismarck's 'Sovereign Self' ; 2. Born Prussian and What that Meant ; 3. Bismarck: The 'Mad Junker' ; 4. Bismarck Represents Himself, 1847-1851 ; 5. Bismarck as Diplomat, 1851-1862 ; 6. Power ; 7. 'I have beaten them all! All!' ; 8. The Unification of Germany, 1866-1870 ; 9. The Decline Begins: Liberals and Catholics ; 10. 'The Guest House of the Dead Jew' ; 11. Three Kaisers and Bismarck's Fall from Power ; 12. Conclusion. Bismarck's Legacy: Blood and Irony ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisMrs Jordan''s Profession is the acclaimed biography of Dora Jordan by bestselling author Claire Tomalin''Intelligent, finely made and wonderfully readable. As gripping as the best fiction'' Independent on Sunday Acclaimed as the greatest comic actress of her day, Dora Jordan lived a quite different role off-stage as lover to Prince William, third son of George III. Unmarried, the pair lived in a villa on the Thames and had ten children together until William, under pressure from royal advisers, abandoned her. The story of how Dora moved between the worlds of the eighteenth-century theatre and happy domesticity, of her fights for her family and her career makes a classic story of royal perfidy and female courage.From the acclaimed author of Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self, Charles Dickens: A Life and The Invisible Woman, this celebrated biography is one of history''s most astonishing untold stories.''The strangest and mos

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Book SynopsisHistorical introduction to William Tyndale and his continuing influence on the world and how we see it.Trade Review"Bragg has established himself over the past decades as a fearlessly dedicated, popular educator.', The Sunday Times;'Our most trusted intellectual interpreter.', Evening Standard';It's is a terrific read, and really hits the spot - everything the non-specialist needs to know in a readily accessible format.', John Guy;'Eloquent...brilliant and very moving.', Paul Cartledge, Emeritus Professor of Greek culture, University of Cambridge;'An enjoyably pacey read.', Times Literary Supplement"

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Ancient Greek sculpture seems to have a timeless quality provoking reactions that may range from awe to alienation. Yet it was a particular product of its age: and to know how and why it was once created is to embark upon an understanding of its ''Classic'' status. In this richly illustrated and carefully written survey, encompassing works from c.700 BC to the end of antiquity, Nigel Spivey expounds not only the social function of Greek sculpture but also its aesthetic and technical achievement. Fresh approaches are reconciled with traditional modes of study as the connoisseurship of this art is sympathetically unravelled, while source material and historical narratives are woven into detailed explanations, putting the art into its proper context. Greek Sculpture is the ideal textbook for students of classics, classical civilisation, art history and archaeology and an accessible account for all interested readers.

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Book SynopsisWitches and Neighbours is a highly original and unconventional analysis of a fascinating historical phenomenon. Unlike other studies of the subject which focus on the mechanisms of persecution, this book presents a rich picture of witchcraft as an all-pervasive aspect of life in early modern Europe. This book is not available from Blackwell in the United States and the Philippines. A fascinating and accessible account of the central role of witchcraft in early modern Europe. A standard work on the subject of witchcraft now available in a revised edition with an updated bibliography. Presents an unconventional interpretation of the role and influence of witchcraft Argues that witchcraft was as complex and changing as the society of which it formed a vital part. Draws on a range of original sources to vividly illustrate the arguments. Trade Review"In this learned and meticulously researched book, Robin Briggs lays to rest many of the modern myths about the witch craze, without in any way diminishing its horror... Briggs skilfully shows how the myths of witchcraft were linked with fundamental human experiences of pain and anxiety... Lucid and important." Karen Armstrong, The Times "Briggs provides a fascinating psychological insight into the ideological system that produced the trials. To understand them within their own historical context, he argues, is to realize that a belief in the witches' power was neither irrational nor absurd... the evidence from this compelling book suggests that human actions are far more determined by irrational fears than our social selves are willing to accept." Julia Wheelwright, New Statesman "I salute [Briggs's] rigorous and thoughtful scholarship." James Morrow, The GuardianTable of ContentsMaps ix Preface to the Second Edition xiv Preface to the First Edition xv Introduction 1 1 Myths of the Perfect Witch 12 2 The Experience of Bewitchment 51 3 Supernatural Power and Magical Remedies 82 4 The Projection of Evil 115 5 Witch-Finders and Witch Cures 146 6 Love and Hatred: Spouses and Kin 191 7 Men against Women: The Gendering of Witchcraft 224 8 The Age of Iron 250 9 The Web of Power 276 10 Internal and External Worlds 321 Conclusion 343 Notes 357 Further Reading 377 Additional Bibliography 386 Index 390

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Book SynopsisIn 1896 a massive Ethiopian army routed an invading Italian force and brought Italy’s conquest of Africa to an end. In defending its independence, Ethiopia cast doubt on the assumption that all Africans would fall under the rule of Europeans, and opened a breach that would lead to the continent’s painful struggle for freedom from colonial rule.Trade ReviewJonas’s lucidly woven account masterfully repositions the role of contingency in the unfolding of history and uses the little-known battle to stand for the audacious imperial quest for glory unleashed by Western powers in the ‘scramble for Africa.’ …His remarkable cast of characters and insightful prose will be of interest to scholars of African history and issues related to counterinsurgency. -- Brian Odom * Library Journal *On March 1, 1896, near the town of Adwa, in Ethiopia, an African army convincingly struck down the colonizing Italian army in a battle that decisively shaped not only the contours of Ethiopia but also its future and that of the continent. As University of Washington historian Jonas so deftly observes in this nimble and artfully crafted work, the events at Adwa cast doubt upon Europeans’ unshakeable certainty that Africans would eventually fall under their rule. Jonas draws vibrant portraits of the personalities at the center of these events, from the shrewd Ethiopian monarch Menelik and his bold, aggressive wife, Taytu Betul, to the unfortunate Italian general Oreste Baratieri, the leader of the defeated Italian forces. As Jonas points out, the African victory at Adwa commenced the crumbling of European dominance of Africa; Ethiopia thus became a source of pride and lineage often indistinguishable from Africa itself, and writers such as W.E.B. Du Bois based their own model African states on Ethiopia. Weaving a colorful account from the stories of a dazzling array of characters, Jonas skillfully recreates this now mostly forgotten event that determined the color of Africa. * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Jonas offers the first comprehensive study of one of the most important events in modern African history. He brilliantly brings to life the story of Ethiopian leaders, Italian military officials, and quirky European advisors and observers. Written in a wonderfully evocative and lively style, this book firmly establishes the Battle of Adwa’s place in world history and will appeal to a broad readership. -- Jonathan Miran, author of Red Sea Citizens

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Book SynopsisThis book is about the formative period of the Roman state.

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Book SynopsisA compelling account of how Rome became supreme power in Europe and the Mediterranean world. The book highlights the significance of Rome''s success in the wars against Pyrrhys, Carhage, the Hellenistic kingdoms and in Spain that led to empire, and it shows how the Republic''s success in conquering an empire changed the conquerors.It is unusual in focusing on a discrete, vital period in Roman history rather than attempting to cover all of it or even just the Republic.Trade Review"Nathan Rosenstein's book provides an authoritative and accessible account of the Roman Republic's acquisition of Mediterranean-wide empire, combining a vivid narrative of the wars with searching analysis of political, social and military structures." -- Professor John Rich, University of Nottingham "Nathan Rosenstein's book provides an authoritative and accessible account of the Roman Republic's acquisition of Mediterranean-wide empire, combining a vivid narrative of the wars with searching analysis of political, social and military structures."Table of ContentsIllustrations; Tables; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Series Editor's Preface; Maps; 1. Introduction; The Aristocracy of the Middle Republic; 2. Rome, Pyrrhus, and Carthage; 3. The Imperium and the Army; 4. Hannibal; 5. The Conquest of Gaul, Greece, and Spain; 6. The New Brutality; 7. The Impact of Imperium; Chronology; Guide to Further Reading; Bibliography; Index.

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Book Synopsis'Cornwall in Prehistory' provides an introduction to this fascinating era in the county's past.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis''Bath is not only one of the best cities in the world to explore on foot; it is also surrounded on all sides by unspoilt countryside whose beauty is matched by its variety.'' This new edition of the best-selling walking guide to the city does full justice to that unique inheritance. As well as featuring its main attractions, it leads the reader to hidden corners and panoramic views over Bath and beyond. As well as tracing some of Jane Austen''s expeditions around the city, it also looks at the rigours of eighteenth-century social life, the architecture of John Wood and his successors, the city''s industrial heritage and the story of how window tax affected the design of its buildings. Finally, a postscript looks at the transformation of the city since the opening of Thermae Bath Spa in 2006. This new edition has not only been fully revised and updated; the opportunity has also been taken to improve some of the walks. As a result, the first walk now includes a visit to a newlTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Within the Walls: The Old City (1.25 miles) 2 Palladian Pleasures: The Georgian Expansion (3 miles) 3 A Constellation of Crescents: The Northern Slopes (3 miles) 4 Beyond the North Gate: Walcot Street, the Paragon & Broad Street (2 miles) 5 Into the East: Larkhall & the London Road (5 miles) 6 A Place in the Country: Lyncombe & Widcombe (3.5 miles) 7 The New Town of Bath: Over the River to Bathwick (3 miles) 8 A Glimpse of Tivoli: Combe Down & Prior Park (6.5 miles) 9 The Caliphate of Lansdown: A Visit to Beckford's Tower (6.5 miles) 10 River, Rail & Industry: Westwards to Twerton ((7 miles) 11 Over the Fields to Weston: In the Footsteps of Jane Austen (5.5 miles) 12 A Succession of Panoramas: Sham Castle & Smallcombe (4.5 miles) 13 Dreaming of Suburbia: Bear Flat, Oldfield Park & East Twerton (4 miles) 14 The Green Roofs: Snow Hill & the London Road (2.5 miles) 15 Where Every Prospect Pleases: With Jane Austen on Beechen Cliff (2.5 miles) Postscript: The Metamorphosis of Bath Acknowledgements Further Reading

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Book SynopsisFor anyone interested in Greek antiquity this booklet is as it says on the back cover: All you need to know about the island's myths, legends and its gods.

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