General and world history Books

Book SynopsisAnyone interested in military history or indeed history in general will find it fascinating to read.' The SpectatorTrade Review"'Anyone interested in military history or indeed history in general will find it fascinating to read.' Spectator 'Pure, almost illicit pleasure... What makes these essays tremendously diverting is how little they strain one's sense of credibility.' Andrew Roberts, Sunday Telegraph 'These informed, elegant essays authoritively analyse incidents over the past 3,000 years.' The Times 'One of the delights of the book is that broad speculative analysis is built from a mass of exciting detail. This make for a top-class bed-side read.' Financial Times"

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Book SynopsisThe Franklin expedition was not alone in suffering early and unexplained deaths. This title makes the case that this illness was due to the crews' overwhelming reliance on a new technology, namely tinned foods.Trade Review'A remarkable piece of forensic deduction' Margaret Atwood 'Simply compelling' Mordecai Richler 'A cautionary tale of scholarly merit' William S. Borroughs 'Galvanizing ... in one stroke it elicited a new flurry of Franklin mania in documentary film, childrens' books, adult non-fiction, fiction, painting, and newspaper accounts around the world' Sherrill E. Grace, author of Canada and the Idea of the North

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2015 BANCROFT PRIZE WINNER OF THE 2015 PHILIP TAFT PRIZEFINALIST FOR THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR HISTORYSHORTLISTED FOR THE 2015 CUNDHILL PRIZE IN HISTORICAL LITERATUREEconomist BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2015''Knowledgeable and stunning'' Orhan Pamuk ''A masterpiece of the historian''s craft'' The NationFor about 900 years, from 1000 to 1900, cotton was the world''s most important manufacturing industry. It remains a vast business - if all the cotton bales produced in 2013 had been stacked on top of each other they would have made a somewhat unstable tower 40,000 miles high. Sven Beckert''s superb new book is a history of the overwhelming role played by cotton in dictating the shape of our world. It is both a gripping narrative and a brilliant case history of how the world works.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of the historian's craft: combining a global scope with concern for the nuances of individual experience, Beckert tracks the fortunes of a single commodity, cotton, across six continents and thousands of years. That sweeping project is driven by the attempt to unravel the causes and consequences of one overarching puzzle: "why, after many millennia of slow economic growth, a few strands of humanity in the late eighteenth century suddenly got much richer." On the way to his answer, Beckert uncovers a history he claims "provides the key to understanding the modern world." . . . The belief that discovering the origins of economic growth might unlock modernity's secrets raises questions that are even more tantalizing -- Timothy Shenk * The Nation *A fascinating and profound examination of the history of a crop that played a transformative role in the making of the modern world. Beckert manages to keep in view a remarkable cast of characters, from planters and slaves in the United States to British industrialists and factory workers, and farmers in India, Egypt, and China. The Empire of Cotton is global history as it should be written -- Eric FonerMasterly . . . Deeply researched and eminently readable, "Empire of Cotton" gives new insight into the relentless expansion of global capitalism. With graceful prose and a clear and compelling argument, Beckert not only charts the expansion of cotton capitalism. . . he addresses the conditions of enslaved workers in the fields and wage workers in the factories. An astonishing achievement -- Thomas Bender * NY Times *Persuasive . . . brilliant . . . Beckert's detailed narrative never scants the rich complexity of the cotton trade's impact on many different societies -- Wendy Smith * Boston Globe *Empire of Cotton' proves Sven Beckert one of the new elite of genuinely global historians. Too little present-day academic history is written for the general public. 'Empire of Cotton' transcends this barrier and should be devoured eagerly, not only by scholars and students but also by the intelligent reading public. The book is rich and diverse in the treatment of its subject. The writing is elegant, and the use of both primary and secondary sources is impressive and varied. Overviews on international trends alternate with illuminating, memorable anecdotes . . . Beckert's book made me wish for a sequel -- Daniel Walker Howe * The Washington Post *Important . . .a major work of scholarship that will not be soon surpassed as the definitive account of the product that was, as Beckert puts it, the Industrial Revolution's 'launching pad -- Adam Hochschild * New York Times Book Review *Hefty, informative, and engaging . . . Beckert's narrative skills keep the story of capitalism fresh and interesting for all readers * Publishers Weekly *An engrossing narrative -- Giorgio Riello * History Today *Beckert is a big-order thinker. His book offers a masterly picture of the empire of cotton as an economic system that held together myriad different parts...Beckert's ability to write a history on this scale is impressive indeed -- Stephanie McCurry * Times Literary Supplement *Sven Beckert's Empire of Cotton: A Global History is certainly a must-read for specialists as well as the lay reader. The lucid style and the wide canvas, both in time and space, make the book riveting -- Dr. V. Krishna Ananth * The Hindu *

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Book SynopsisRobert Service is a Fellow of the British Academy and of St Antony's College, Oxford. He has written several books, including the highly acclaimed Lenin: A Biography, Russia: Experiment with a People, Stalin: A Biography and Comrades: A History of World Communism, as well as many other books on Russia's past and present. His book Trotsky: A Biography was awarded the 2009 Duff Cooper Prize. Married with four children, he lives in London.Trade ReviewBrilliant, original and compelling -- Saul David * Evening Standard *The best book yet on Nicholas after his abdication -- Dominic Lieven * Financial Times *A myth-busting account of the final months of the ruler’s life, from abdication to execution * Guardian *Detailed and painstakingly researched -- Peter Conradi * Sunday Times *A clear-eyed portrait of Nicholas and his limitations . . . an essential corrective * TLS *

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Book SynopsisA Spectator Book of the Year''Sweeping . . . Poetic . . . Not only readable but also vital'' Literary Review''A terrific storyteller'' New York Times''Exceptional . . . tender and beautifully written'' Country LifeThe groundbreaking story of Nomadic peoples on the move across history.Tracing the epic paths of wanderers across twelve thousand years, acclaimed travel writer Anthony Sattin recovers the stories of tribes who lived beyond imperial borders and created their own kingdoms and empires: Scythian, Xiongnu, Persian, Hun, Arab, Mongul, Mughal, Ottoman and others. With their embrace of multiculturalism, respect for nature''s rhythms, and need for free movement, wandering peoples brought a glorious cultural flourishing to Eurasia, enabling the Renaissance and changing the human story. This sweeping narrative reconnects us with our deepest mythology, our unrecorded antiquity and oTrade ReviewIn a book of sensitivity and grace, Sattin does not just describe the nomadic way of life, but also evokes it . . . This is a book of beauty and beguiling rhythm that offers unsettling lessons about our present-day world of borders -- The TimesThoughtful, lyrical yet ambitiously panoramic . . . As fleet and light-footed as its subject, it takes us along a dizzying path, over many of the highest ridges of human history . . . An important, generous and beautifully-written book -- William Dalrymple, author of 'The Anarchy'A terrific storyteller -- New York TimesA fabulous piece of evocative writing, mixing personal stories with an epic sweep of history, the unique insight of location and an intimate connection to the subject. I loved it -- Jerry Brotton, author of 'A History of the World in Twelve Maps'Anthony Sattin's Nomads spreads before us a sweeping panorama of nomadismthat resonates through the past and echoes poignantly even in the present -- Colin Thubron, author of 'Shadow of the Silk Road'I was riveted by the shifts to nomadic culture, Sapiens-like, and by the feeling of learning lightly worn and deftly transmitted. This is a major book -- Roland Philipps, author of 'A Spy Named Orphan'The saga of the lost mobile cultures and empires that have impacted global history . . . a spirited defence of freedom of conscience, freedom of movement and migration, a romantic tribute to independence and to free spirit, and to being in tune with the rhythms of nature -- Marc David Baer, author of 'The Ottomans'An incredible work combining brilliant scholarship with an epic, page-turning narrative . . . His landmark book -- Nicholas CraneSweeping . . . Poetic . . . Sattin brings together a huge range of material with great elegance, making it not only readable but also vital -- Literary ReviewExceptional . . . tender and beautifully written -- Jason Goodwin, Country LifeNomads is a kind of rhapsody on how this aspect of human nature has contributed as much, if not more, to civilization, than the tillers of the soil -- Asian Review of BooksNomads is a monumental work, exhaustively researched that sets out to explain nomadism, its importance, rise and decline over the centuries in the minutest detail -- Irish ExaminerNot only readable but also vital -- Literary ReviewTriumphantly tells the story of another way of living . . . This is a book that does not labour in the fields but gallops full stretch towards the horizon -- SpectatorA much-needed act of historical revisionism -- Times Literary SupplementAn unashamedly impressionistic paean to nomadic life interwoven with travelogue and memoir -- The Times

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Book SynopsisFROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE SILK ROADS ''Filled with Byzantine intrigue, in every sense this book is important, compellingly revisionist and impressive in its scholarly use of totally fresh sources'' Simon Sebag Montefiore In 1096, an expedition of extraordinary scale and ambition set off from Western Europe on a mass pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Three years later, after a journey which saw acute hardship, the most severe dangers and thousands of casualties, the knights of the First Crusade found themselves storming the fortifications and capturing the Holy City. Against all the odds, the expedition had returned Jerusalem to Christian hands. In ''the most significant contribution to rethinking the origins and course of the First Crusade for a generation'' (Mark Whittow, TLS), Frankopan paints a strikingly original picture of this infamous confrontation between Christianity and Islam. Focusing on ConstantTrade ReviewFrankopan has written a remarkable book that makes as strong case as the incomplete and episodic evidence permits * Literary Review *Scholarly and yet accessible, and unashamedly partisan, The First Crusade, as any vibrant history should, is bound to set a lot of feathers flying * Daily Telegraph *A dazzling book, perfectly combining deep scholarship and easy readability. The most important addition to Crusading literature since RuncimanA nuanced and often counterintuitive story of power politics, international diplomacy and war and, ultimately that very rare thing - a truly fresh interpretation of an old story * Time Out *Frankopan's qualities as a historian and writer are of a high order * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisCook led three famous expeditions to the Pacific Ocean between 1768 and 1779. In voyages that ranged from the Antarctic circle to the Arctic Sea, Cook charted Australia and the whole coast of New Zealand, and brought back detailed descriptions of the natural history of the Pacific. Accounts based on Cook''s journals were issued at the time, but it was not until this century that the original journals were published in Beaglehole''s definitive edition. The JOURNALS tells the story of these voyages as Cook wanted it to be told, radiating the ambition, courage and skill which enabled him to carry out an unrivalled series of expeditions in dangerous waters.Table of ContentsList of mapsGeneral IntroductionThe First Voyage, 1768-1771Voyage MapsIntroductionJournalThe Second Voyage, 1772-1775Voyage MapsIntroductionJournalThe Third Voyage, 1776-1780Voyage MapsIntroductionJournalPostscript: The Death of CookGlossaryIndex of PersonsIndex of PlacesLocation Maps

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Book Synopsis''A riveting and illuminating tour of how nations deal with crises - which might hopefully help humanity as a whole deal with our present global crisis'' YUVAL NOAH HARARI, author of SAPIENS ** NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** Author of the landmark international bestsellers Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, Jared Diamond has transformed our understanding of what makes civilizations rise and fall. Now, at a time when crises are erupting around the world, he explores what makes certain nations resilient, and reveals the factors that influence how nations and individuals can respond to enormous challenges. In a riveting journey into the recent past, he traces how six distinctive modern nations - Finland, Chile, Indonesia, Japan, Germany and Australia - have survived defining catastrophes, and identifies patterns in their recovery. Looking ahead, he investigates the risk that the United States and other countries, faced by grave threat, are set on a course towards catastrophe. Adding a rich psychological dimension to the in-depth history, geography, biology and anthropology that underpin all of Diamond''s writing, Upheaval is epic in scope, but also his most personal book yet.''Fascinating ... I finished the book even more optimistic about our ability to solve problems than I started'' BILL GATES''Jared Diamond does it again: another rich, original and fascinating chapter in the human saga - with vital lessons for our difficult times'' STEVEN PINKERTrade ReviewFascinating... I'm a big fan of everything Jared has written, and his latest is no exception. ... I finished the book even more optimistic about our ability to solve problems than I started. -- Bill Gates, Summer Reading Recommendations 2019Upheaval is bold, wide-ranging and original ... probes large and important questions. Unlike most social scientists, Diamond can write invigorating prose that carries the reader along with its sweep ... It deserves to be widely read and pondered. -- Vernon Bogdanor * The Sunday Telegraph *A riveting and illuminating tour of how nations deal with crises-which might hopefully help humanity as a whole deal with our present global crisis. -- Yuval Noah Harari, author of 'Sapiens' and '21 Lessons for the 21st Century'Jared Diamond is an undisputed global star of comparative history... Britain could learn from this book about how other nations have dealt with turmoil... He finds intellectually stimulating and unusual examples that provide much food for thought. -- Andrew Marr * The Times *Diamond writes so well, and his frame of reference (across disciplines and languages) is so considerable, that almost everything he describes comes across as fresh. -- Douglas Murray * The Evening Standard *[Diamond] wears the mantle of a modern-day prophet . . . opens textures of historical possibility. Only the most obtuse reader of his latest book, on national resilience, could miss the signs and portents with which it is studded ... The prophet spares us chiselled commandments, but we have been warned. -- Colin Kidd, Book of the Day * The Guardian *Fascinating globe-hopping study * The Telegraph *As a meditation about a world on edge, it is well worth reading * The Economist *Persuasive . . . runs refreshingly counter to conventional wisdom * Bloomberg *Jared Diamond does it again: another rich, original, and fascinating chapter in the human saga-with vital lessons for our difficult times. -- Steven Pinker, author of 'Enlightenment Now'Upheaval is a brilliant, gripping, personal account of nations in crisis, informed by how people respond to crisis. It's an especially timely read today, when nations are stressed and have much to learn about how to survive big challenges. I urge you to read it. -- Paul Ehrlich, author of 'Jaws: The Story of a Hidden Epidemic'In Upheaval, I find eye-opening lessons about the political and psychological forces that lead to crisis and then resilience, how individuals and nations experience trauma in similar ways, and what that suggests about our future and the world's . . . wise and beautiful. -- Diane Ackerman, author of 'The Zookeeper's Wife'Jared Diamond is one of the deepest thinkers and most authoritative writers of our time-arguably of all time-and Upheaval proves his prescience in analyzing historical crises within nations at a time when national crises have erupted around the world . . . No scientist has ever won the Nobel Prize for literature. Jared Diamond should be the first. -- Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of 'Heavens on Earth'

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Book SynopsisHow has feminism developed? What have feminists achieved? What can we learn from the global history of feminism?Feminism is the ongoing story of a profound historical transformation. Despite being repeatedly written off as a political movement that has achieved its aim of female liberation, it has been continually redefined as new generations of women campaign against the gender inequity of their age.In this absorbing book, historian Lucy Delap challenges the simplistic narrative of ''feminist waves'' - a sequence of ever more progressive updates - showing instead that feminists have been motivated by the specific concerns of their historical moment. Drawing on an extraordinary range of examples from Japan to Russia, Egypt to Germany, Delap explores different feminist projects to show that those who are part of this movement have not always agreed on a single programme. This diverse history of feminism, she argues, can help us better navigate current debates and controversies.A tour de force from an award-winning expert, Feminisms shows that a rich relationship to the past can infuse today''s activism with a sense possibility and inspiration.

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Book SynopsisShould historians make value judgements about the past? Many historians think not, but Donald Bloxham contends that it is legitimate, often unavoidable, and frequently important. History and Morality illuminates how far tacit moral judgements infuse works of history, and how strange those histories would look if the judgements were removed.Trade ReviewBloxham's book is a call for nuance and self-awareness, arguing that moral judgement is not only important, but is actually inescapable. What matters is how we deploy it - and that we are conscious of doing so. * Jonathan Waterlow, H/Sz/Kult *It is all too rare that a scholarly book - the product of decades of research and careful thought - emerges at precisely the moment when it is most needed ... Masterfully spanning multiple academic disciplines, Bloxham takes us back to the very foundations of Western thinking, charting the development of our conceptions of core values like 'truth', 'justice', 'responsibility', and 'guilt' ... History and Morality will be immensely useful not only for a generation of historians wary of making value judgements about the past, but also for a new generation who, in their drive to bring morality back into the picture, are sometimes too hasty to appreciate the importance of context and the pitfalls of anachronism. * Jonathan Waterlow, H-Soz-Kult *Bloxham['s] digressions and byways are often as rich as the main thread of the argument...History and Morality ought to achieve wide readership. * Professor Daniel Woolf, Queen's University, Reviews in History *

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Book SynopsisSpanning the divide between Europe and Asia, Russia is a multi-ethnic empire with a huge territory, strategically placed and abundantly provided with natural resources. But Russia''s territory has a harsh climate, is cut off from most maritime contact with the outside world, and has open and vulnerable land frontiers. It has therefore had to devote much of its wealth to the armed forces, and the sheer size of the empire has made it difficult to mobilise resources and to govern effectively, especially given the diversity of its people. In this Very Short Introduction, Geoffrey Hosking discusses all aspects of Russian history, from the struggle by the state to control society, the transformation of the empire into a multi-ethnic empire, Russia''s relationship with the West/Europe, the Soviet experience, and the post-Soviet era. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewHosking is a master storyteller * The Week *A beautifully written volume ... Hosking gives us significant details and real insight * Spectator *recommend[ed] to everyone who is eager to get an insight view into Russian, Soviet and post-Soviet history of the (until now) biggest country in Eurasia. * Zaur Gasimov, Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; CHRONOLOGY; FURTHER READING; GLOSSARY

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times-bestselling author of Dresden returns with a monumental biography of the city that defined the twentieth century - BerlinThroughout the twentieth century, Berlin stood at the centre of a convulsing world. This history is often viewed as separate acts: the suffering of the First World War, the cosmopolitan city of science, culture and sexual freedom Berlin became, steep economic plunges, the rise of the Nazis, the destruction of the Second World War, the psychosis of genocide, and a city rent in two by competing ideologies. But people do not live their lives in fixed eras. An epoch ends, yet the people continue - or try to continue - much as they did before. Berlin tells the story of the city as seen through the eyes not of its rulers, but of those who walked its streets.In this magisterial biography of a city and its inhabitants, bestselling historian Sinclair McKay sheds new light on well-known characters - from idealistic scientist Albert Einstein to Nazi architect Albert Speer - and draws on never-before-seen first-person accounts to introduce us to people of all walks of Berlin life. For example, we meet office worker Mechtild Evers, who in her efforts to escape an oncoming army runs into even more appalling jeopardy, and Reinhart Cruger, a 12-year-old boy in 1941 who witnesses with horror the Gestapo coming for each of his Jewish neighbours in turn. Ever a city of curious contrasts, moments of unbelievable darkness give way to a wry Berliner humour - from banned perms to the often ridiculous tit-for-tat between East and West Berlin - and moments of joyous hope - like forced labourers at a jam factory warmly welcoming their Soviet liberators.How did those ideologies - fascism and communism - come to flower so fully here? And how did their repercussions continue to be felt throughout Europe and the West right up until that extraordinary night in the autumn of 1989 when the Wall - that final expression of totalitarian oppression - was at last breached? You cannot understand the twentieth century without understanding Berlin; and you cannot understand Berlin without understanding the experiences of its people. Drawing on a staggering breadth of culture - from art to film, opera to literature, science to architecture - McKay''s latest masterpiece shows us this hypnotic city as never before.''Remarkable . . . A majestic work of non-fiction'' Matthew d''Ancona''Sinclair McKay was born to write this book'' David Aaronovitch, The Times''A masterful account of a city marked by infamy . . . If there is a book that must be read this year, this is it'' Amanda Foreman''An electrifying new account of Berlin'' Julia Boyd, author of Travellers in the Third Reich''One of my favourite historians'' Dan SnowTrade ReviewI loved this book. McKay's writing is vivid and sometimes even beautiful . . . his own observations and summaries seem always apposite and wise . . . To anyone who knows Berlin a little and is fascinated by it, but would like to understand it better, this is a wonderful aid . . . Sinclair McKay was born to write this book -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Remarkable . . . A majestic work of non-fiction -- Matthew d'Ancona * Tortoise *McKay has written a masterful account of a city marked by infamy. Supported by meticulous research, Berlin is by turns terrifying and fascinating. If there is a book that must be read this year, this is it -- Amanda ForemanThe book's principal subject is Berliners doomed role in the Second World War. Through their eyes, McKay brilliantly captures Germany's initial successes, and then the reverses and escalating defeats . . . To have uncovered so many previously unknown characters and fascinating anecdotes is especially admirable -- Iain MacGregor * Spectator *I thought I knew everything about Berlin, but then I read this stunning book. It's eye-opening, enlightening and wonderfully told -- Norman Ohler, author of BlitzedMcKay's powerful imagery and magnetic prose combine to produce an electrifying new account of Berlin. 'You cannot understand the twentieth century without understanding Berlin', claims the author. He makes a compelling case -- Julia Boyd, author of Travelers in the Third ReichPowerful. Visceral. Truly revelatory. Beautifully written and utterly compelling. I didn't think Sinclair McKay could top his previous book, Dresden, which was masterful. He has proven me wrong with Berlin -- Damien Lewis, author of SAS Bravo Three ZeroOne of my favourite historians -- Dan Snow, History HitGreat subject, well-researched, brilliantly written. Anyone who wants to understand Berlin's incomparable place at the very centre of twentieth century history should begin with Sinclair McKay's remarkable, mesmerising book -- Keith Lowe, author of Savage ContinentPowerful . . . there is rage in his ink. McKay's book grips by its passion and originality -- Max Hastings, Sunday Times, on DresdenPainstakingly researched and fascinating -- John Harding, Daily Mail on The Secret Listeners

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together twelve chapters from feminist historians from around the world to offer new perspectives on aspects of the campaign for women's suffrage in Britain.Although the focus is on Britain, this volume signals how the women's suffrage campaign in Britain embraced both national and global aspects. The historical developments and structures that affected women's lives and suffrage struggles were not limited to national contexts. Early chapters focus on particular individuals both well and lesser known, including Millicent Garrett Fawcett and Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy, Princess Sophia Duleep Singh, Lady Isabel Margesson and Isabella Ford. Later chapters highlight the interrelationship between the British movement and suffrage campaigns across the globe with reference to Austria, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and the USA. The chapters deal with issues around strategies, social class, employment, religion, nationalism, empire and Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Millicent Fawcett (1847–1929): the making of a politician 2. Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928): the making of a militant 3. ‘A particularly interesting kind of “heroine” to have’: marriage, motherhood and votes for women in the archives of Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy (1833–1918), feminist, rebel and radical 4. Isabella Ford (1855–1924) and women’s suffrage 5. Suffragette palace: Sophia Duleep Singh (1876–1948), Hampton Court Palace and votes for women 6. ‘Being militant in her own way’: using the individual life of Lady Isabel Margesson (1863–1946) as a prism to explore complex suffrage histories 7. The wrong kind of working-class woman? Domestic servants in the British suffrage movement 8. Class and adult suffrage in Britain during the Great War 9. A colonial for the cause: Lady Stout (1858–1931), suffrage and New Zealand as exemplar to the empire, 1909–1914 10. Narratives of democracy, the emotions of politics and memories of militant suffragism: Britain, Ireland, the USA and Australia 11. Covering the suffragettes: Austrian newspapers reporting on militant women’s rights activism in the United Kingdom 12. The influence of the British women’s suffrage movement upon the emergence and development of the Japanese women’s movement

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Book SynopsisThe internationally bestselling author says if we can save the salmon, we can save the worldTrade Review‘Mark Kurlansky’s book is an epic, environmental tragedy, with the salmon at its centre as the abused hero… one of the great strengths of Kurlanksy’s book is the way he links the fish’s plight to so many major environmental concerns… Kurlanksy is at his best when illuminating the lives of people who have been disregarded in the name of progress.’ * Spectator *‘What Kurlansky did for Cod, he now does for Salmon — a book not just for fishermen, but for everyone who cares about our world. A blistering account of “civilised” man’s blind obsession with bending Nature and its resources to his will.’ -- Geoffrey Palmer OBE‘It is a beautiful book, spangled throughout with stunning color photographs of a lovely fish, of pristine streams and landscapes. It’s a coffee-table book shrunk to shelf-size, but the images are pertinent and illuminating, and there is nothing throwaway about the text that surrounds them or about the recipes for salmon dishes from all over the world and past centuries.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘Few fish can be as iconic as the salmon… Kurlansky’s Salmon perfectly illustrates this… Kurlansky leaps into subjects such as hatcheries, salmon’s life-cycle and the impact humans have on this very special fish. It’s a varied book that any angler and naturalist will thoroughly enjoy.’ * BBC Wildlife *‘More than an environmental book about overfishing, the text includes a comprehensive natural and cultural history about how the salmon impacts the world… A fascinating mosaic of history and science… The real beauty of the book is in its subtle transformation of a species often thought of in terms of food into one that needs to be considered with care and even championed.’ -- Foreword Reviews‘[A] handsomely illustrated work of natural history and environmental advocacy... In championing a critically important part of the natural world, Kurlansky sounds an urgent alarm that commands our attention.’ * Kirkus *‘If there was ever a totem species for the planet, it’s the noble salmon – back and forth between ocean and stream, between salt and fresh water, these creatures have nurtured our imagination as surely as our bodies. This book does them justice!’ -- Bill McKibben‘[Kurlansky’s] beautifully written book explores the natural history of this remarkable fish – whose ancestors were alive at the same time as the dinosaurs – as well as the role it has played in human history.’ -- Guardian‘Mark Kurlansky takes us on a journey from the 16th century to the present day, encompassing history, politics and biology, and visiting hatcheries and fisheries to investigate the fascinating yet harrowing life cycle of this iconic species. The message is clear: if we can save the salmon, we can save the world.’ -- Coast Book of the Month

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Book SynopsisIn the Cause of Humanity is a major new history of the emergence of the theory and practice of humanitarian intervention during the nineteenth century when the question of whether, when and how the international community should react to violations of humanitarian norms and humanitarian crises first emerged as a key topic of controversy and debate. Fabian Klose investigates the emergence of legal debates on the protection of humanitarian norms by violent means, revealing how military intervention under the banner of humanitarianism became closely intertwined with imperial and colonial projects. Through case studies including the international fight against the slave trade, the military interventions under the banner of humanitarian aid for Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire, and the intervention of the United States in the Cuban War of Independence, he shows how the idea of humanitarian intervention established itself as a recognized instrument in international politics and intTrade Review`In the Cause of Humanity' is a masterful intervention into the debate on the origins and the first century of humanitarian intervention. Fabian Klose has written a methodical and textured history of that explores how 19th century humanitarian intervention was entangled with new discourses of humanity, a newly evolving international law precariously situated between notions of legal equality and European confidence in their civilizational superiority, and imperial impulses and colonial conquest. Klose has written an exceptionally compelling guide to the past and the present. Michael Barnett, author of Empire of Humanity: A History of HumanitarianismBy addressing the dilemma of state sovereignty and human rights, Fabian Klose examines one of the greatest challenges of our time in a profound and exciting book. The author challenges conventional narratives and convincingly presents the long 19th century as the formative age of humanitarian intervention on a global scale. His extensively researched and compelling book sharpens our understanding of the possibilities and limits of humanitarian interventions as they emerge in the context of the 'responsibility to protect' at the beginning of the 21st century. Madeleine Herren-Oesch, author of Hintertüren zur MachtDeftly weaving together threads of international humanitarianism, imperialism, and state interventionism, Klose demonstrates that coercive actions for the 'protection of humanity' are nothing new — they have a long, fraught history. Grounded in voluminous research, and tracing practices and ideas across four continents, this book represents an extraordinary tour de force Julia Irwin, author of Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation's Humanitarian AwakeningTable of ContentsAcknowledgements; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Interventionism and humanitarianism under the sign of internationalism; 2. The struggle against the Atlantic slave trade and the emergence of a humanitarian understanding of intervention; 3. Humanitarian intervention and its solidification as an imperial and colonial practice; Epilogue: Perspectives on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated study of some of the final and most fierce aerial clashes of the Pacific War, featuring first-hand accounts and combat reports.For four months in 1945, the skies over Tokyo saw USAAF P-51 Mustang pilots clash with Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) and Imperial Japanese Naval Air Force (IJNAF) fighters in some of the most intense aerial battles of the Pacific War. The Japanese marshalled ten different fighter types to defend the relatively small and well-defined target area, but the already iconic Merlin-engined P-51D Mustang, with its game-changing Very Long-Range (VLR) capabilities, would prove more than a match for their combined forces.In this engaging new study, respected Pacific War historian Carl Molesworth employs combat reports and first-hand accounts to tell the story of how VII Fighter Command's Mustang pilots went from escorting B-29 bombers to actively seeking out enemy aircraft to attack. Newly commissioned armament, cockpit and battlescene illustrations, as well as a wealth of archive photos, bring the narrative to life, giving a vivid and illuminating sense of what it was like to be a fighter pilot in the air war over Japan in 1945.

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Book Synopsis''Superbly explained'' Washington Post''Fascinating'' Sunday Times''Engrossing'' Evening StandardEvery phase since the advent of the industrial revolution - from the fate of the British Empire, to the global challenges from Germany, Japan and Russia, to America''s emergence as a sole superpower, to the Arab Spring, to the long-term decline of economic growth that started with Japan and has now spread to Europe, to China''s meteoric economy, to Brexit and the presidency of Donald Trump - can be explained better when we appreciate the meaning of demographic change across the world.The Human Tide is the first popular history book to redress the underestimated influence of population as a crucial factor in almost all of the major global shifts and events of the last two centuries - revealing how such events are connected by the invisible mutually catalysing forces of population.This highly original histTrade ReviewA readable, trenchant, up-to-date overview of the biggest story on the planet * Lionel Shriver, The Spectator *Engrossing * Evening Standard *Fascinating * Sunday Times *An admirable introduction to a vital subject * The Times *Paul Morland has rudely awakened us to the hidden hand of demography in shaping history and politics in the modern world ... If you want to understand our times, you must read this book. * Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics, Birkbeck University of London, author of 'Whiteshift' *A fascinating account of how much sheer population numbers have mattered in human history - and why major demographic upheavals, happening now and over the next few decades, are going to affect us all * Alison Wolf *Population has been historically one of the key factors that has defined the relations between states. As Paul Morland shows in this nuanced, highly informative and rigorously argued book, it has now become the defining factor for the political dynamics within states. The Human Tide shows that we live in an age of hard and soft demographic engineering * Ivan Krastev *As Morland argues arithmetically but convincingly, a society's rise or downfall is mirrored in its numbers * New Statesman *Rigorous and detailed * Foreign Affairs *A clever analysis * Evening Standard *A fascinating account of how much sheer population numbers have mattered in human history - and why major demographic upheavals, happening now and over the next few decades, are going to affect us all * Alison Wolf *

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Book SynopsisThroughout history we have told ourselves stories to try and make sense of our place in the universe. Richard Holloway takes us on a personal, scientific and philosophical journey to explore what he believes the answers to the biggest of questions are. He examines what we know about the universe into which we are propelled at birth and from which we are expelled at death, the stories we have told about where we come from, and the stories we tell to get through this muddling experience of life. Thought-provoking, revelatory, compassionate and playful, Stories We Tell Ourselves is a personal reckoning with life's mysteries by one of the most important and beloved thinkers of our time.Trade ReviewThis may be the book I've been searching for, desperately, throughout most of my life . . . it represents a first step toward a new form of spiritual thought . . . What Holloway does most powerfully is dismiss certainty in all its forms, political as well as religious . . . Holloway brings a message of spiritual hope for all * * Herald * *An engaging, erudite explanation of how he came to be where he now stands and is a warning against the cruel righteousness of many belief systems * * Sunday Times * *If every priest and imam, every MP and CEO, every person like you and me read this, then the world would be a better place. It is devastatingly humane. It blends science, philosophy and religion and admits the art (and artifice) in these avowedly objective forms. Erudition and empathy; I wept -- DAMIAN BARREngaging and uplifting. . . . this personal, scientific and philosophical journey to explore what might be the answers to the world's biggest questions is both playful and inspiring . . . The richness of this book challenged the short space of a review * * Daily Mail * *Thought-provoking [and] stimulating . . . a sane guide through the turbulence of the modern world, one written with humour and self-deprecating pessimism * * Independent * *There is much in this book to make you think, much to provoke argument for and against * * Scotsman * *Wise, witty and provocative . . . This is an important book, for all of us who want to understand the world and each other. You put it down refreshed * * The Tablet * *[Told] exceptionally well . . . Holloway is right to ask us to examine the story we live by to see whether it does in fact make us respond in practice to suffering. He does so with his characteristic honesty, verve and punch * * Church Times * *Praise for Waiting for the Last Bus: A wonderful, wise, compassionate and befriending piece of work -- KATHRYN MANNIX, author of With the End in MindThought-provoking, revelatory, grave and comforting. It is impossible not to be moved by it in the most profound way -- ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER 1 IRISH TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 An Irish Times Book of the Year 2024'Ferriter tells the latest chapter in Ireland's story with authority and insight, deftly weaving together economic and political upheavals with equally tumultuous societal and cultural shifts' Financial Times 'Forensic and insightful... A major achievement. Ferriter delivers his material with the authority and conviction of a born teacher' Irish Independent Ireland is a strikingly different country now to the one it was in the mid-1990s. Dramatic economic, social and cultural changes, including the Celtic Tiger boom and increasingly secular debate about abortion, the status of women and same-sex marriage underlined the scale of the transformation. The new diversity of the population and literary and musical prowess also revealed a country experiencing rapid alteration. The road to peace - that saw an end to war in Northern Ireland and culminated in the first visit to southern Ireland of a reigning British monarch in 100 years - illuminated the new Anglo-Irish dynamic. Explosive revelations about deep betrayals from the past destroyed the credibility of the traditionally powerful Catholic Church. And in the wake of the 2008 financial crash, Ireland rebounded and rebuilt to great success, but remained plagued by health and housing failures. Economic recovery, the end of civil war politics, ever closer European involvement and Anglo-Irish highs were followed by Brexit lows and increasing talk of Irish unity. There is much to open people's eyes in this riveting account of contemporary Ireland. As the Republic enters its second century of independence, and the North continues to grapple with the legacy of the Troubles, Diarmaid Ferriter makes historical sense of post-1990s Ireland, and what lies in the darkest corners of its archives.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisBy the New York Times?s Global Economics Correspondent, an extraordinary journey to understand the worldwide supply chain?exposing both the fascinating pathways of manufacturing and transportation that bring products to your doorstep, and the ruthless business logic that has left local communities at the mercy of a complex and fragile network for their basic necessities.A tale that will change how you look at the world.?Mark LeibovichOne of Foreign Policy''s Best Books of the YearHow does the wealthiest country on earth run out of protective gear in the middle of a public health catastrophe? How do its parents find themselves unable to locate crucially needed infant formula? How do its largest companies spend billions of dollars making cars that no one can drive for a lack of chips?The last few years have radically highlighted the intricacy and fragility of the global supply chain. Enormous ships were stuck at sea, warehouses overflowed, and delivery trucks stalled. The result was a scarcity of everything from breakfast cereal to medical devices, from frivolous goods to lifesaving necessities. And while the scale of the pandemic shock was unprecedented, it underscored the troubling reality that the system was fundamentally at risk of descending into chaos all along. And it still is. Sabotaged by financial interests, loss of transparency in markets, and worsening working conditions for the people tasked with keeping the gears turning, our global supply chain has become perpetually on the brink of collapse.In How the World Ran Out of Everything, award-winning journalist Peter S. Goodman reveals the fascinating innerworkings of our supply chain and the factors that have led to its constant, dangerous vulnerability. His reporting takes readers deep into the elaborate system, showcasing the triumphs and struggles of the human players who operate it?from factories in Asia and an almond grower in Northern California, to a group of striking railroad workers in Texas, to a truck driver who Goodman accompanies across hundreds of miles of the Great Plains. Through their stories, Goodman weaves a powerful argument for reforming a supply chain to become truly reliable and resilient, demanding a radical redrawing of the bargain between labor and shareholders, and deeper attention paid to how we get the things we need.From one of the most respected economic journalists working today, How the World Ran Out of Everything is a fiercely smart, deeply informative look at how our supply chain operates, and why its reform is crucial?not only to avoid dysfunction in our day to day lives, but to protect the fate of our global fortunes.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThree thousand years of Chinese history in an accessible and authoritative single volume.Despite the recent rise of China to a position of dominance on the world economic stage, Chinese history remains an elusive subject. Yet it is this vast narrative of appalling loss, superhuman endeavour and incredible invention that has made China the superpower it is today. From the dawn of legend to the succession of great dynasties, from Confucius to Chairman Mao and from the clamour of revolution to the lure of slick capitalism, John Keay takes the reader on a sweeping tour through Chinese history. This is a definitive and indispensable account of a country set to play a major part in our future.Trade Review‘There is no understanding China, present or future, without a sense of its past…Anybody fascinated by the puzzle of what comes next for our frail, perplexed planet will find unexpected answers in this crisp, often witty chronicle of amazements.’ Peter Preston, Observer 'Dynasties lead to world domination: John Keay's forensic analysis of China's history makes the world of the ancient emperors strikingly modern and relevant.' Observer ‘As John Keay’s ambitious new book makes clear…China’s history is intoxicatingly interesting and is sure to keep us on the edge of our geopolitical seats.’ Independent on Sunday ‘Absorbingly readable.’ Independent ‘An epic history of China…There’s no way of understanding China’s stirring future without a sense of its awe-inspiring past.’ Traveller magazine

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author of The American Story and How to Lead and host of PBS’s History with David Rubenstein—David Rubenstein interviews living American presidents and top historians and journalists who reflect on the US presidency, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Maggie Haberman, Ron Chernow, and more.For years, bestselling author David M. Rubenstein has distilled the contours of American democracy through conversations with noted leaders and historians. In The Highest Calling, he offers an enlightening overview of arguably the single most important position in the world: the American presidency. Blending history and anecdote, Rubenstein chronicles the journeys of the presidents who have defined America as it exists now, what they envision for its future, and their legacy on the world stage. Drawing from his own experience in the Carter administration, he engages

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Book SynopsisWhen was the last time you spoke to a stranger?In our cities, we barely acknowledge one another on public transport, even as rates of loneliness skyrocket. Online, we carefully curate who we interact with. In our politics, we are increasingly consumed by a fear of people we''ve never met. But what if strangers, long believed to be the cause of many of our problems, were actually the solution?In The Power of Strangers, Joe Keohane discovers the surprising benefits that come from talking to strangers, examining how even passing interactions can enhance empathy, happiness and cognitive development, ease loneliness and isolation, and root us in the world, deepening our sense of belonging. Warm, witty, erudite and profound, this deeply researched book will make you reconsider how you perceive and approach strangers, showing you how talking to strangers isn''t just not a way to live, it''s a way to survive.Trade Review'In a thrilling, immersive journey across time and continents, Keohane upends everything we thought we knew about the people we don't know' -- Will Storr, author of The Science of Storytelling'Keohane draws on an abundance of new research in social psychology which finds that connecting with strangers helps to dispel partisanship and categorical judgments, increase social solidarity and make us more interested in and hopeful about our lives' * Guardian *'There is a hint of Bill Bryson about the author Joe Keohane: he wears his knowledge lightly and his exuberant curiosity leads him to inform his readers of a vast array of random, intriguing facts - so once you start reading you may find that you don't want to stop' * Independent *Joe Keohane has changed my life. The very thought of talking to strangers has always given me mild nausea and stress sweats. But after reading this book, I've been converted. Joe has inspired me to push through the awkwardness and reap the benefits: A more open and curious mind, less loneliness and depression. This book is an important tool in rescuing our tribal, smartphone-obsessed world. If you see me on the street, please say hi so we can discuss it -- AJ Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically'Rare is the book that delivers on the promise of a big answer to an even bigger question, but Joe Keohane's The Power of Strangers does just that. This lively, searching work makes the case that welcoming "others" isn't just the bedrock of civilization, it's the surest path to the best of what life has to offer' -- Ayad Akhtar, author of Homeland Elegies'This is one of those remarkable books you may not realize you're going to love (or need) until you're well into it. Is it a work of psychology, philosophy, anthropology, history, cultural studies, self-help? All of the above! The Power of Strangers is deeply and gamely researched, lucidly and engagingly written (as if by a pal), informative, thought-provoking, playful, useful and possibly life-changing. What a great way to start the post-pandemic' -- Kurt Andersen, author of Evil Geniuses'Reading this book is like taking a college course that becomes a cult favorite because the witty, enthusiastic professor makes the topic seem not only entertaining, but essential. Possibly life-changing ideas supported with extensive sociological research, lively storytelling, and contagious jollity' * Kirkus *'An eye-opening account blending sociology and self-help. After this enlightening and uplifting exploration, readers will undoubtedly view strangers in a different way' * Library Journal *'This perceptive and rather chatty offering considers the sociological research behind why human beings are so averse to making connections with strangers, and why it's so important to do so. Journalist Keohane is a good storyteller and great proponent of engaging with the unknown, extolling the informational, emotional, and psychological benefits of talking to new people. This authoritative, thoroughly entertaining read comes along just at the right time,and will help readers re-engage after their long quarantines' * Booklist *'The lesson (...) is that the easing of restrictions is not just a coveted opportunity to reconnect with those you love and resemble. It also restores a freedom, long taken for granted, even if a little used, to come to know the profoundly different' * Economist *

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Book SynopsisThe brilliant untold story of three daughters of diplomacy: Anna Roosevelt, Sarah Churchill, and Kathleen Harriman, glamorous, fascinating young women who accompanied their famous fathers to the Yalta Conference with Stalin in the waning days of World War II.With victory close at hand, the Yalta conference was held across a tense week in February 1945 as Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin attempted to agree on an end to the war, and to broker post-war peace.In Daughters of Yalta, Catherine Katz uncovers the dramatic story of the three young women who travelled with their fathers to the Yalta conference, each bound by fierce ambition and intertwined romances that powerfully coloured these crucial days. Kathleen Harriman, twenty-seven, was a champion skier, war correspondent, and daughter to US Ambassador to Russia Averell Harriman. She acted as his translator and arranged much of the conference's fine detail. Sarah Churchill, an actress-turned-RAF officer, was devotTrade Review‘A vivid portrait of one of history’s great international summits through the eyes of three young women, each a daughter of a key participant. We get the inside story, and learn the compelling details that bring history to life’Erik Larson ‘A stirring account of one momentous week that would unleash fifty years of tyranny for half of Europe and plunge the world into the Cold War … A marvellous and extraordinary work that reveals the human experience of the conference, with all its tragedy, love, betrayal, and even humour’Julian Fellowes ‘A revelation. It’s a story of World War II, the origins of the Cold War, a key moment in diplomatic history, but above all a coming-of-age tale about three fascinating women in an extraordinary time.’Jeffrey Toobin ‘Both intimate and sweeping … vividly captures a little known story against the backdrop of a very big one. Meticulously researched and emotionally gripping.’Amy Pascal ‘Yet more proof that behind every great man is an army of exceptional women. We need their stories told; so three cheers for Catherine Katz’Amanda Foreman ‘Making superb use of unpublished diaries and letters, Katz demonstrates how illness, clandestine romance and fraying political relationships ran alongside the tortured negotiations that would shape the post-conflict world … The women’s keyhole perspective of these momentous negotiations humanises the Yalta summit as never before, shedding new insight on the minute-by-minute tensions of international diplomacy at a time when the future of millions depended on the outcome’Spectator ‘This entertaining history is packed with vivid personalities, jockeying aides and insider observations about a pivotal moment in history’New York Times Book Review ‘The research is impressive … It is a riveting read and the detail is fascinating … Oh, to have been a fly on the wall’Anne de Courcy, Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe compelling and provocative history of world government, from acclaimed author Mark MazowerShortlisted for the RUSI 2013 Duke of Wellington Medal for Military LiteratureIn 1815 the shocked and exhausted victors of the decades of fighting that had engulfed Europe for a generation agreed to a new system for keeping the peace. Instead of independent states changing sides, doing deals and betraying one another, a new, collegial ''Concert of Europe'' would ensure that the brutal chaos of the Napoleonic Wars never happened again.Mark Mazower''s remarkable new book recreates two centuries of international government - the struggle to spread values and build institutions to bring order to an anarchic and dangerous state system.Trade ReviewMazower has strengthened his claim to be the preeminent historian of a generation ... On rare occasions, a work of history emerges that not only fundamentally refashions our understanding of the past, it enables us to reassess the present and, with luck, influence our future. I advise everyone who is concerned about our precarious situation to learn from and absorb Mazower's remarkable achievement -- Misha GlennyA significant contribution to historical scholarship, with the chapters on the 19th century's remarkable swirl of politics, ideas and organisations being particularly original and valuable ... Simply for giving us this lucid account, Mazower deserves our gratitude. But Governing the World is also an intriguing read because of the strong argument he places within it ... This new work certainly gave this reviewer an awful lot to think about - to an author, there may be no greater praise than that -- Paul Kennedy * Financial Times *Governing Europe, and then the whole world ... this idea has found its perfect chronicler in Mark Mazower, whose perceptions are cosmopolitan, humane, learned, and properly skeptical. What is more, his history is written in clear, elegant prose. Essential reading not just for historians, but anyone interested in the troubled world we live in -- Ian BurumaA prodigious work: a master historian's reconstruction of how individuals and nations since 1815 have sought to promote national interests in ever more complicated international settings. A dramatic, novel account of ideas and institutions in collision with hard realities. Indispensable also for its full and subtle account of American policies since 1917, always with a fine touch for the hitherto neglected person or little noticed moment that illuminates historic processes. Profound, relevant, and morally instructive - and a pleasure to read -- Fritz SternThis is a book that needed to be written ... [Governing the World] is truly illuminating ... The story is a fascinating one, and Mazower tells it with authority and verve -- Adam Zamoyski * Literary Review *The idea of global government has entranced the world for centuries. Mark Mazower's brilliant book shows how much effort has gone into this idea - and how futile it has mostly been in an era of individualism and growing divisiveness -- Alan BrinkleyMazower is a man of immense erudition, a real scholar ... [A] remarkable book ... Reading him is like being lectured by the best left-wing professor you'll ever have. Or like reading the best foreign affairs writer the Guardian or the Nation has to offer ... You can learn a lot from him * Standpoint *

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Book SynopsisA. J. P. Taylor was one of the most acclaimed and uncompromising historians of the twentieth century. In this clear, lively and now-classic account of the First World War, he tells the story of the conflict from the German advance in the West, through the Marne, Gallipoli, the Balkans and the War at Sea to the offensives of 1918 and the state of Europe after the war. Containing photographs and maps, this an essential history of the war that ''cut deep into the consciousness of modern man''.Trade Review'The most readable, sceptical and original of modern historians' - Michael Foot 'Remarkable ... Taylor here manages in some 200 illustrated pages to say almost everything that is important for an understanding and, indeed, intellectual digestion of that vast event' Observer 'It is unlikely that there will be a more satisfactory compact survey of that Armageddon' Newsweek 'What makes Taylor's book outstanding is his capacity to penetrate through the undergrowth of controversy and conflicting interpretation to the central truth' New York Review of Books 'Probably the most controversial historian in the English-speaking world' The Times

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and colourful social history of the nighttime.''A wonderful revelation of a vanished age of darkness'' SPECTATOR''Fascinating'' SUNDAY TIMES''A splendid book ... great entertainment'' Sir Patrick Moore''A triumph of social history. Almost every page contains something to surprise the reader ... one of the most enjoyable literary experiences of the year'' MAIL ON SUNDAYFrom blanket fairs to night kings, curfews to crime, At Day''s Close is an intriguing and captivating investigation into the night. Until now, this rich and complex universe in which we spend nearly half of our lives was a world long-lost to historians. Here, Ekirch explores how the night was lived in the past, through travel accounts, memoirs, letters, folklore, poems, court records and coroner''s reports. More than this, it is a passionate argument in the case for less artificial light in an increasingly bright world.Trade ReviewA wonderful revelation of a vanished age of darkness * SPECTATOR *A triumph of social history. Almost every page contains something to surprise the reader ... one of the most enjoyable literary experiences of the year * MAIL ON SUNDAY *An enthralling anthropology of the shadow reals of Western Europe from the late Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution ... a passionate case against too much artificial light * HARPER'S MAGAZINE *In his fascinating survey of the dark hours of the pre-industrial era, A Roger Ekirch takes us deep into an age when the very lack of light threw life into confusion ... an engrossing book that illuminates the darker recesses of the past * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Meticulously researched ... AT DAY'S CLOSE is a splendid book ... great entertainment, and to social historians it will be of immense value -- Sir Patrick Moore * TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT *A comprehensive account of nightlife...bursting with esoteric and well-sourced information about everything from candles and curfews to church bells and chamber pots * EVENING STANDARD *Wonderful... Ekirch spares no pains to rediscover the lost world of the dark ... A book that can't be summarised but must be experienced -- David Wootton * LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS *Just the sort of browsable treat guaranteed to cause insomnia * THE SCOTSMAN *Night-time has been curiously ignored by social historians. This fine book corrects that lack ... Entertaining and informative * THE TIMES *Ekirch's absorbing history reveals an alternative universe shaped by real and imaginary perils * SUNDAY TIMES *Fascinating ... exploring what went on at night between 1500 and 1830 ... Here are microcultural tales of pirates and robbers, blanket fairs (people climbing into bed together to talk before going to sleep), curtain lectures (wives who felt emboldened by the dark to complain to their recumbent husbands) and night-kings (sewer cleaners in German) * GUARDIAN *The book is especially engaging on the social significance of the night, the moral meanings projected into the dark * FINANCIAL TIMES *There are so many good stories here which do not usually find themselves between the same covers * LITERARY REVIEW *This enlightening book ... is one of the most fascinating and rewarding literary experiences you are likely to discover this year * HERTS & ESSEX OBSERVER *Absorbing ... fascinating ... tells us about everything from witches to firefighting, architecture to domestic violence ... a monumental study * THE NATION *Just the sort of browsable treat guaranteed to cause insomnia. * THE SCOTSMAN (29/4/06) *Wonderful... Ekirch spares no pains to rediscover the lost world of the dark. ... A book that can't be summarised but must be experienced. -- David Wootton * LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS (9/3/06) *Night-time has been curiously ignored by social historians. This fine book corrects that lack. ... Entertaining and informative, this book is also challenging. * THE TIMES (25/3/06) *Ekirch's absorbing history reveals an alternative universe shaped by real and imaginary perils. * SUNDAY TIMES (23/4/06) *This enlightening book ... is one of the most fascinating and rewarding literary experiences you are likely to discover this year. * HERTS & ESSEX OBSERVER (11/5/06) *

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Book SynopsisA wide-ranging collection of essays written by the award-winning writer and historian over his forty-year career, chosen by the man himself.

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill''s six-volume history of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisApproved by AQA and tailored to the latest specification, International Relations and Global Conflict c1890-1941 helps students understand a period in which political ambitions and rivalries between nations plunged the world into major wars.It explores:- nationalism- militarism- the balance of powerEvents and developments are covered with precision.Focus on skills building and exam practiceKey features are:- Source-Based Learning. Includes a wide range of sources and extracts to develop vital skills in historical interpretation and source analysis- Exam Practice. Features exam-style questions and study tips to help students prepare and performPerfect for any student studying AQA AS or A Level History, this book helps students achieve success in International Relations and Global Conflict c1890-1941.

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Book SynopsisFollow the epic 5,000-year story of warfare - from the earliest battles to the War on Terror - with this guided tour of every major conflict.Combining a clear and compelling historical narrative with a wealth of fascinating eyewitness accounts and photography throughout, this is the ultimate guide to the history of military conflict, from the armies of ancient Egypt to the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq, and the ongoing Yemeni civil war.War explores the battles, the warriors, the tactics, and the weapons and technology that have shaped conflict worldwide. Lavishly illustrated with paintings, photographs, artefacts, and maps, this book offers a uniquely detailed and visually rich view of all major aspects of human conflict. Whether on the bloody battlefields of the ancient world or in the modern era of drones and laser-guided missiles, this is the complete story of the wars that have shaped our world.

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Book SynopsisA thought-provoking exploration of the loss of civilizations and communities, offering compelling stories of abandoned places, the important events and fascinating characters that punctuate their history, and lessons we can learn from them today Trade Review“Timely, powerful and electrifying. This is a huge exploration of our diverse histories. The story of how we try to carve out societies in a world where they are all predisposed to collapse. This is history and archaeology for now.”—Dan Snow, historian and broadcaster​“John Darlington takes us on an exhilarating and erudite encounter with ancient and lost peoples and places.”—Loyd Grossman, author of An Elephant in Rome​“With an expert archaeological eye, John Darlington reveals the very human stories behind awe-inspiring ruins around the world. Ambitious in scope and profound in its conclusions, it charts the changing fortunes of past civilisations and confronts the reality of the future of our own.”—Bettany Hughes, author of Istanbul

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Book SynopsisThe history of nations is a history of haves and have-nots, and as we approach the millennium, the gap between rich and poor countries is widening. In this engrossing and important new work, eminent historian David Landes explores the complex, fascinating and often startling causes of the wealth and poverty of nations. The answers are found not only in the large forces at work in economies: geography, religion, the broad swings of politics, but also in the small surprising details. In Europe, the invention of spectacles doubled the working life of skilled craftsmen, and played a prominent role in the creation of articulated machines, and in China, the failure to adopt the clock fundamentally hindered economic development.The relief of poverty is vital to the survival of us all. As David Landes brilliantly shows, the key to future success lies in understanding the lessons the past has to teach us - lessons uniquely imparted in this groundbreaking and vital book which exemTrade ReviewA masterpiece * Norman Stone *One of the most important works of history to appear in my lifetime * A N Wilson *For once, amazingly, a book lives up to the hype ... a blast of fresh air, a work of militant good sense * EVENING STANDARD *Gripping ... well worth reading * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisOn 8 March 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China. The ships, some nearly five hundred feet long, were under the command of Emperor Zhu Di''s loyal eunuch admirals. Their mission was ''to proceed all the way to the end of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas'' and unite the world in Confucian harmony. Their journey would last for over two years and take them around the globe but by the time they returned home, China was beginning its long, self-imposed isolation from the world it had so recently embraced. And so the great ships were left to rot and the records of their journey were destroyed. And with them, the knowledge that the Chinese had circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan, reached America seventy years before Columbus, and Australia three hundred and fifty years before Cook...The result of fifteen years research, 1421 is Gavin Menzies'' enthralling account of the voyage of the Chinese fleet, the reTrade ReviewMenzies has come up with something entirely new... it is a startling claim * Guardian *Exhaustively researched... an intriguing and highly persuasive thesis, told with passion and energy * Evening Standard *Popular history at its best * The Times *A book as engrossing as any adventure story * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisIn Britain we have lost touch with the Great War. Our overriding sense now is of a meaningless, futile bloodbath in the mud of Flanders -- of young men whose lives were cut off in their prime for no evident purpose. But by reducing the conflict to personal tragedies, however moving, we have lost the big picture: the history has been distilled into poetry. In TheLong Shadow, critically acclaimed author David Reynolds seeks to redress the balance by exploring the true impact of 1914-18 on the 20th century. Some of the Great War''s legacies were negative and pernicious but others proved transformative in a positive sense. Exploring big themes such as democracy and empire, nationalism and capitalism and re-examining the differing impacts of the War on Britain, Ireland and the United States,TheLong Shadowthrows light on the whole of the last century and demonstrates that 1914-18 is a conflict that Britain, more than any other nation, is still struggling to comprehend. Stunningly bro

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