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Book SynopsisThis book looks to fill the blue hole' in Global History by studying the role of the oceans themselves in the creation, development, reproduction and adaptation of knowledge across the Atlantic world. It shows how globalisation and the growth of maritime knowledge served to reinforce one another, and demonstrates how and why maritime history should be put firmly at the heart of global history. Exploring the dynamics of globalisation, knowledge-making and European expansion, Global Ocean of Knowledge takes a transnational approach and transgresses the traditional border between the early modern and modern periods. It focuses on three main periodisations, which correspond with major transformations in the globalisation of the Atlantic World, and analyses how and to what extent globalisation forces from above and from below influenced the development and exchange of knowledge. Davids distinguishes three forms of globalising forces from above'; imperial, commercial and religious, alTrade ReviewThis third volume focuses on the Atlantic world, detailing the factors driving globalization and the development, spread, and growth of knowledge and technology—but with a continuous focus on the effect of the maritime environment on how specific knowledge and technologies developed ... This work is a valuable addition to scholarship on the Atlantic world and globalization studies. * CHOICE *The study is based on a broad source [of] literature base and stands out positively from the work of numerous Anglo-Saxon historians ... Global Ocean of Knowledge is an excellent overview and reference work for all those interested in the history of ... the Atlantic world. * Zeitschrift fur Historische Forschung (Bloomsbury Translation) *Karel Davids has written a landmark book about globalization, maritime history, knowledge making, and the experience of Europeans at sea. * James E. McClellan III, Professor Emeritus, Stevens Institute of Technology, USA *‘I am impressed by the ambition, breadth of coverage and scholarly depth of the work, and welcome the specific aim of instilling a long overdue maritime element into the wider literature on globalization, global history and Atlantic history. Reading the introduction and conclusion before delving into the core six chapters, the historiographical contribution and argument of the book are well laid out and persuasive.’ * David J Starkey, Wilson Family Professor of Maritime History, University of Hull, UK *'[This is] an excellent manuscript by an outstanding scholar about the creation, development, reproduction and adaptation of knowledge across the Atlantic Ocean and how that affected its adjacent spaces. The subject of the book is outstandingly framed by a broad historiographical debate that brings together multiple strands of up-to-date research and excellent consideration of the development of those diverse debates over time. This positioning of the manuscript in such a broad historiographical context makes it attractive to students, specialists and a broad range of historians and educated readers’ * Catia Antunes, Professor of History of Global Economic Networks, Leiden University, The Netherlands *Bringing to bear his masterful understanding of ways knowledge about all aspects of the sea grew, Karel Davids shows how that understanding shaped and was shaped by the forces of globalisation in lands bordering the Atlantic, in the process revealing the complex interplay of varied mechanisms, personal and institutional, which helped people conquer the ocean and creating a book undoubtedly worth reading. * Richard W. Unger, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia, Canada *The striking advances in the capability to collect and share maritime knowledge during the 18th century are cogently and elegantly analysed by Karel Davids in this comprehensive and well-argued volume on the Atlantic world. Using a transnational and cross-disciplinary approach, he moves with agility across different national historiographies and approaches and delivers his important analysis with a lightness of touch and a clarity of exposition and argument which will grip readers’ attention. * Maria Fusaro, Professor of Social and Economic History, University of Exeter, UK *Table of Contents1. Introduction: Globalization, Maritime Knowledge and the Atlantic world PART I Globalizing Forces and the Growth of Maritime Knowledge in the Atlantic World, c.1660-1730 Introduction: Globalisation between c.1660 and 1730 2. Globalising Forces and the Growth of Maritime Knowledge 3. Growing Maritime Knowledge and Globalisation PART II Maritime knowledge and Globalisation in the Atlantic World, c. 1730-1800 Introduction: Globalisation Between c.1730 and 1800 4. Maritime Knowledge Aiding Globalisation 5. Globalising Forces and the Growth of Maritime Knowledge Machines, Infrastructures and the Circulation of Maritime Knowledge Part III The Reshaping of the Atlantic World and the Collectivisation of Maritime Knowledge, c. 1800-1860 Introduction: Globalisation Between c.1800 and 1860 6. Maritime Knowledge Aiding Globalisation 7. Globalising Forces and the Collectivisation of Maritime Knowledge Conclusion

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Book SynopsisFor centuries following the fall of Rome, Western Europe was backward and benighted, locked into the Dark Ages. Arab culture, however, was thriving, and had become a powerhouse of intellectual exploration and discussion that dazzled the likes of British adventurer Adelard of Bath. This title restores credit to the Arab thinkers of the past.Trade Review'A wonderful and important book which for the first time presents the Western debt to medieval Arabic learning in a clear, accessible manner. From the azimuth to the zenith, from algebra to the zero, so much of what the West takes for granted came to us from the Arab world ... A fascinating book' William Dalrymple 'Lyons tells the story of the House of Wisdom, the caliphs who supported it and the people who worked there, at a riveting, breakneck pace' The Times 'In this clear and well-written book, Jonathan Lyons delves into all sorts of musty corners to show how Arabic science percolated into the Latin world in the middle ages and helped civilise a rude society' Guardian 'Sophisticated and thoughtful ... Lyons's narrative is vivid and elegant' Wall Street Journal

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Book SynopsisThe hydra rears its many heads in a flurry of teeth and poisonous fumes. The cyborg lays waste to humanity with a ruthless, expressionless stare.From ancient mythology to modern science fiction, we have had to confront the monsters that lurk in the depths of our collective imagination. They embody our anxieties and our irrational terrors, giving form to what we don''t wish to know or understand. For millennia, monsters have helped us to manage the extraordinary complexity of our minds and to deal with the challenges of being human.In Enchanted Creatures, Natalie Lawrence delves into 15,000 years of imaginary beasts and uncovers the other-worldly natural history that has evolved with our deepest fears and fascinations. Join Lawrence on a tour of prehistoric cave monsters, serpentine hybrids, deep-sea leviathans and fire-breathing Kaiju. Discover how this monstrous menagerie has shaped our minds, our societies and how we see our place in nature.

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Book SynopsisA New Statesman, Financial Times and Economist Book of the Year ‘Brilliant’ NEW STATESMAN, BOOKS OF THE YEAR ‘Enlightening and a good read’ SPECTATOR ‘Moving and perceptive’ NEW STATESMAN Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong, Kim Il-sung, Ceausescu, Mengistu of Ethiopia and Duvalier of Haiti. No dictator can rule through fear and violence alone. Naked power can be grabbed and held temporarily, but it never suffices in the long term. A tyrant who can compel his own people to acclaim him will last longer. The paradox of the modern dictator is that he must create the illusion of popular support. Throughout the twentieth century, hundreds of millions of people were condemned to enthusiasm, obliged to hail their leaders even as they were herded down the road to serfdom. In Dictators, Frank Dikötter returns to eight of the most chillingly effective personality cults of the twentieth century. From carefully choreographed parades to the deliberate cultivation of a shroud of mystery through iron censorship, these dictators ceaselessly worked on their own image and encouraged the population at large to glorify them. At a time when democracy is in retreat, are we seeing a revival of the same techniques among some of today’s world leaders? This timely study, told with great narrative verve, examines how a cult takes hold, grows, and sustains itself. It places the cult of personality where it belongs, at the very heart of tyranny.Trade ReviewEssential reading … The standalone portraits of his eight dictators are riveting -- Justin Marozzi * Evening Standard, 'Book of the Week' *How to be a dictator? Ruthlessness matters a lot more than talent, but luck most of all. That is the upshot of Frank Dikötter’s elegant and readable study of the cult of personality in the 20th century … [Dikötter’s] penmanship and eye for anecdote brings [the dictators] to life * The Times *A brilliant study of twentieth-century dictatorship … The book’s psychological insight is devastating, the stories are eye-popping … Essential reading for any student of political manipulation, as a study of man’s inhumanity to man, it’s almost unbearably moving -- Sue Prideaux * New Statesman, Books of the Year *A disturbing emblem of our times -- Justin Marozzi * Evening Standard, 'Best Books to Take on Holiday' *A whistlestop tour of some of the most infamous leaders of the 20th century … What Dikötter does so well is to find the pathological and ideological connections among leaders who “teetered between hubris and paranoia” * Observer *Frank Dikötter provides a timely reminder of just how destructive toxic insecurity, and its corollary, pathological narcissism, can become … In terms of the dynamics of narcissistic authoritarianism, there is much in How to Be a Dictator that is of critical contemporary relevance … History only makes sense if we understand the psychological pathology that underlies it, and our own propensity for partaking in such pathology. We need a clear-eyed understanding of history as a recurring series of monumental follies, led by cretins who duped or forced millions of us into humiliating childish submission. Only then can we hope to avoid the repetition. Dikötter is in the vanguard of historians opening our eyes to this fundamental truth * Irish Times *Enlightening and a good read * Spectator *A heroic piece of research … Devastating in every sense of the word -- Praise for 'Mao's Great Famine' * Economist *Ground-breaking … Unsparing in its detail, relentless in its research, unforgiving in its judgements … Dikötter’s achievement in this book is remarkable -- Praise for 'The Tragedy of Liberation' * Sunday Times *Worryingly close to home … Dikötter has put together sharp portraits of Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Kim Il-sung, Duvalier, Ceausescu and Mengistu * Times Higher Education *How to Be a Dictator is a timely book and enjoyable to read. It is strangely comforting to be reminded that many of the dictators in Dikötter’s book came to an ignominious end. But that is no excuse for underestimating the need to protect democracy today * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis''A delightful storybook . . . a portrait of our whole world created from the contents of the ground'' Literary Review''A real cabinet of curiosities'' Sunday TimesFrom the hematite used in cave paintings to the moldavite that became a TikTok sensation; from the stolen sandstone of Scone to the unexpected acoustics of Stonehenge; from crystal balls to compasses, rocks and minerals have always been central to our story.3,000 years ago Babylonians constructed lapidaries - books that tried to pin down the magical secrets of rocks. In Lapidarium, renowned art critic Hettie Judah explores the unexpected stories behind sixty stones that have shaped and inspired human history, from Dorset fossil-hunters to Chinese philosophers, Catherine the Great to Michelangelo.Discover why alchemists sought cinnabar and sulphur. Unearth the mystery of the tuff statues of Rapa Nui, the lost am

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Book SynopsisA celebration of people and pride! Explore the achievements and contributions of Latinos in the United States with this illuminating history. Latinos in the United States are a vibrant mix of people and multiple identities, each unique, varied, and accomplished. Beginning with the Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century, Latinos have been an important part of American society. They’ve fought the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and all wars in between and since, and in the last decade, their businesses have grown at twice the pace of the overall U.S. economy. The most complete and affordable single-volume reference on Latino history available today, Latino Almanac: From Early Explorers to Corporate Leaders honors the history and the impact of Latinos on the United States. This hefty tome is a fascinating mix of biographies, little-known or misunderstood historical facts, and enlightening essays on significant legislation, movements, current issues, and achievements across a variety of fields, including business, labor, politics, the military, music, sports, law, media, religion, art, literature, theater, film, science, technology, and medicine. A large collection of 650 biographies includes both celebrated and lesser-known Latino stars, such as Dolores Fernández Huerta, labor leader Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court justice Juan Felipe Herrera, U.S. poet laureate Roberto C. Goizueta, businessperson, former CEO of Coca-Cola Selena Gómez, actor, singer, producer Rebecca Lobo, basketball player, sports analyst Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. congressperson Ellen Ochoa, astronaut, engineer Anthony R. Jiménez, entrepreneur María Hinojosa, journalist Dennis Chávez, U.S. senator Oscar Muñoz, businessperson, CEO United Airlines Antonia Novello, surgeon general of the United States Geraldo Miguel Rivera, journalist Lin-Manuel Miranda, playwright, actor, director Alex Rodríguez, baseball player Rodolfo Anaya, novelist Desi Arnaz, television producer, actor, singer Jessica Mendoza, sportscaster, softball player Nydia Velásquez, U.S. congressperson Edward James Olmos, actor Marco Rubio, U.S. senator Rita Moreno, actor, dancer César Chávez, labor leader Marcelo Claure, businessperson, former Sprint CEO Ariel Dorfman, playwright, novelist Miriam Colón, actress, theater owner, producer Joaquín Castro, chair of the Hispanic Congressional Caucus And many, many more! While Latinos are among both the original and newest immigrants, today the majority of U.S. Latinos were born here and most speak English—although most are bilingual to one degree or another. Their influence on the economy and culture continues to increase. Their impact on the United States has been wide-ranging. Salsa has even overtaken ketchup to become the most popular condiment in the United States! Devoted to illustrating the moving and often lost history of Latinos in America, Latino Almanac is a unique and valuable resource. Numerous photographs and illustrations, a helpful bibliography, a timeline, and an extensive index add to its usefulness. Commemorating and honoring Latino achievements, honors, and influence, this important book brings to light all there is to admire and discover about Latino Americans!

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Book Synopsis'Powerful and gripping... Goñi [is] impressively relentless: leaving no discoverable stone unturned' Philippe Sands, author of The Ratline As Russian forces closed in on Berlin, and Hitler's regime drew to a close, many Nazi officials began to organize their escape from Germany. Thanks to an international effort - which included the enthusiastic support of the Vatican and President Juan Perón - they were able to evade justice, and found refuge in Argentina. In this startling, meticulously researched account, acclaimed author Uki Goñi unravels the complex network that protected these fugitives, revealing the 'ratline' that allowed Adolf Eichmann - the architect of the 'Final Solution' - Josef Mengele, Erich Priebke, and many more to escape Europe. Both compelling and revelatory, this remarkable investigation sheds vital light on a disquieting period in Europe's history. This revised edition includes a new foreword by the author, new interviews, and a comprehensive list of the Nazi and European World War Two criminals who fled to Argentina.Trade ReviewUki Goñi's five year search for collateral evidence led him to files in Europe that confirmed a true story more gripping than... fiction * The Times *A fascinating expose... essential * New Statesman *Breathtakingly sinister - the stuff of every postwar spy novel * Sunday Telegraph *Historical honesty shines through the pages of one of the most dishonest episodes in history -- Richard Overy * Sunday Telegraph *Despite being thwarted by Argentine bureaucracy, we now have the full scandalous picture... [Goñi] has performed an essential task with bravery and discipline * Guardian *A brilliant work of detection and painstaking perseverance * Morning Star *Goni has powerfully exposed the deceits and conniving, and pierced what he calls the "wall of silence" * Sunday Times, Culture *

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Book Synopsis‘Can one part of humanity learn from the bitter experience of another or can it not? Is it possible or impossible to warn someone of danger...to assess soberly the worldwide menace that threatens to swallow the whole world?I was swallowed myself. I have been in the dragon’s belly, in its red-hot innards. It was unable to digest me and threw me up. I have come to you as a witness to what it is like there, in the dragon’s belly’During 1975 and 1976, Nobel Prize-winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn embarked on a series of speeches across America and Britain that would shock and scandalise both countries. His message: the West was veering towards moral and spiritual bankruptcy, and with it the world’s one hope against tyranny and totalitarianism.From Solzhenitsyn’s warnings about the allure of communism, to his rebuke that the West should not abandon its age-old concepts of ‘good’ and ‘evil’, the speeches collected in Warning to the West provide insight into Solzhenitsyn’s uncompromising moral vision. Read today, their message remains as powerfully urgent as when Solzhenitsyn first delivered them.Trade ReviewWhen we look back at the 20th century, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn will be remembered not just as an influential author, but as one of the few authors who actually altered the way in which millions of people thought about politics... Solzhenitsyn stood out, even among an exceptional generation of Russian dissidents and writers, for his extraordinary commitment to truth-telling -- Anne Applebaum

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Book SynopsisCharles Wheeler, the BBC's longest-serving foreign correspondent, was one of Britain's greatest news reporters. For more than four decades, he reported for radio and television from most of the world's trouble spots. Present at many of the key episodes of the twentieth century, he had - as a BBC manager noted after the shooting of George Wallace, Presidential candidate and Governor of Alabama, on 15 May 1972, 'a knack of being in the right place at the right time'. It was typical of Charles that he ran towards the sound of the gunshot while the crowd was running in the opposite direction.Wheeler's investigative skill and sense of judgement made him one of the most authoritative reporters of his generation. But what was it like to have been witness to the events that shaped our modern world? In this book - part memoir, part history, part reflection - his daughter, Shirin Wheeler, examines her father's journalistic legacy and brings her personal knowledge to bear on the project. She will tell the story of her father: a patient listener and forensic interrogator who was driven by curiosity and passion to report and expose injustice, and above all to give a voice to people ignored or unheard by many.

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Book SynopsisThe Colour of Time spans more than a hundred years of world history from the reign of Queen Victoria and the US Civil War to the Cuban Missile Crisis and beginning of the Space Age. It charts the rise and fall of empires, the achievements of science, industry and the arts, the tragedies of war and the politics of peace, and the lives of men and women who made history. The book is a collaboration between a gifted Brazilian artist and a leading British historian. Marina Amaral has created 200 stunning images, using contemporary photographs as the basis for her full-colour digital renditions. Dan Jones has written a narrative that anchors each image in its context, and weaves them into a vivid account of the world that we live in today. A fusion of amazing pictures and well-chosen words, The Colour of Time offers a unique – and often beautiful – perspective on the past. This compact edition of The Colour of Time makes the perfect gift for anyone (and not just anyone interested in history).Trade ReviewA clever, deftly executed book... Marina Amaral has chosen 200 black-and-white photographs, taken between 1850 and 1960, and skilfully colourised them, which gives them new life, new relevance and new power... Dan Jones gives a nicely thoughtful commentary to it all' * Daily Mail, Coffee Table Books of the Year *Purists argue that colourising black and white photographs is sacrilege, but the world has always been in colour... Truth be told, monochrome is a contrivance. Human experience is always colourful' * The Times, Books of the Year *[The Colour of Time] does something simple yet extraordinary. It takes black-and-white photos of historic events and colours them in. The effect is transformative * Daily Telegraph *There is something of The Wizard of Oz about Marina Amaral's photographs. She whisks us from black-and-white Kansas to shimmering Technicolor Oz... When you see Amaral's coloured portraits, you think: phwoar!... She changes the way we see a period or a person' * Spectator *The effect of colour is far more transformative than you might imagine... [Amaral's] touched-up photographs look even more realistic, and closer to life, than a photograph taken yesterday... Extraordinary' * Mail on Sunday *What also elevates The Colour of Time above regular coffee table fare is the startling vivacity and impact of the photographs chosen, and the concise but focused and gripping texts by Jones, making the book a worthwhile cover-to-cover read as much as it serves as a showcase book to dip into at will * All About History *Spanning more than 100 years of world history, from Queen Victoria to the Cuban missile crisis, this book offers a fresh perspective on the past by transforming the black and white photographs that defined global events into full colour * BBC History *Illustrator Marina Amaral has digitally colourised 200 historic black-and-white photographs, making them look as though they were taken yesterday. Dan Jones explains the historical context of each startling image * Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year *I have long considered colourisation sacrilege... after reading this book, I've changed my mind' * The Times. *The most breathtakingly colourised black-and-white pictures ever * Daily Mail. *Both revelatory and familiar. Amaral's skills bring 19th- and early 20th-century photographic images to wholly unexpected and vivid life... Jones offers perceptive commentary, contextualising the events and people depicted with concise skill, meaning that this fine book is hugely readable' * Observer *Jones sketches the historical context with wry economy. Even familiar images take on a new dimension in colour * Daily Mirror *Stunning photos. The perfect gift for any historian * Bristol Life *

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Book SynopsisA both controversial and comprehensive historical analysis of how the British Empire worked, from Wolfson Prize-winning author and historian John DarwinThe British Empire shaped the world in countless ways: repopulating continents, carving out nations, imposing its own language, technology and values. For perhaps two centuries its expansion and final collapse were the single largest determinant of historical events, and it remains surrounded by myth, misconception and controversy today.John Darwin's provocative and richly enjoyable book shows how diverse, contradictory and in many ways chaotic the British Empire really was, controlled by interests that were often at loggerheads, and as much driven on by others' weaknesses as by its own strength.Trade ReviewA breadth of perspective few other imperial historians can boast. The British Empire really does look different in the light of it ... Breadth of vision, fizzing ideas and a brilliant style as well as superb scholarship ... It deserves to supplant every other book on this topic, including - though my publisher and bank manager won't thank me for saying this - my own. It is British imperial history at last without hang-ups; the one we've been waiting for -- Bernard Potter * History Today *A brilliantly perceptive analysis of the forces and ideas that drove the creation of an extraordinary enterprise ... Bringing together his huge erudition, scrupulous fairness and elegant prose, Mr Darwin has produced a wonderfully stimulating account of something that today seems almost incredibly yet was, in historical terms, only yesterday. It is also a much-needed antidote both to the leftish consensus of the past 50 years that Britain's empire was unrelievedly awful ... and the recent triumphalist revisionism of more conservative historians * Economist *Engrossing ... What Darwin adds to this insight is a rare, wonderful capacity for comparison. Empire here is a jigsaw of dreams and anxieties, conquests and loss of faith ... Seeing the imperial experience in the round like this does gives us a clearer, more subtle appreciation of the range of power and violence at play. It raises the historical writing on empire to another level * BBC History Magazine *How incredibly refreshing it is when as distinguished an historian as John Darwin ... writes something as thoughtful, well-researched and persuasive as Unfinished Empire, which explains the half-millennium-long expansion of Britain across the globe in terms that genuinely make sense ... The author's deep familiarity with all the key sources of this vast subject allows him to pluck examples for his arguments from across the centuries and continents ... Best of all ... is the thought that Darwin's book might at long last herald the victory of the post-Marxist phase of imperial historiography, and not a moment too soon -- Andrew Roberts * Sunday Telegraph Book of the Week *Balanced, original and impressive ... Subtle ... intelligent * Literary Review *Comprehensive ... Darwin's erudition allows him to skirt around the narrow orthodoxies of apologist v critic and provide an insightful account of Britain's unlikely period of global hegemony * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisThe author decided to write a comprehensive history of iron working from the Iron Age to Victorian times. The completion of this monumental task was spread over many years, during which time she attained a deep understanding of the craft plus gaining practical experience from the masters themselves.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisOne of the world's leading authorities on war and international politics synthesizes the vast history of strategy's evolution in this consistently engaging and surprising account of how it came to pervade every aspect of life.Trade ReviewThis is the paperback version of what is one of the most thorough histories of strategic thinking * Military History *I include this to show that it is possible to find a genuinely new insight on finance by reading beyond the obvious. * Professional Investor *Stunning reviews in hardback * The Bookseller *Professor Freedman teaches War Studies at King's College, and was the official historian of the Falklands War. His book is the type of work you dive into, reread, underline, and ponder. And I did just that, making copious notes while being watched by the guy sitting next to me. He leaned over and pointed at the book. "Excellent choice, sir. Couldnt pick a better book." * Ancient Rome Refocused, Rob Cain *The book is a masterly and definitive account of strategy. * David Lorimer, Network Review *Rich in detail and deeply contextualising, this book is not only the longest but also the most diverse work in recent years on the evolution of strategy ... This book belongs with the classics in the field of strategic studies ... it provides a huge fund of information about the concept of strategy. It is first and foremost its historical depth that requires Freedman's work to be included in every library of status. * Marcel Berni, Reviews in History *[Freedman's] books manage to delight the experts yet are still comprehensible to the general reader, a rare skill in this genre. On this occasion, he has produced what is arguably the best book ever written on strategy. * Washington Post *Magisterial... wide-ranging erudition and densely packed argument. * The Economist *This is a book of startling scope, erudition and, more than anything, wisdom. * Financial Times *Comprehensive, vigorous survey of strategy and its evolution...A lucid text that raises questions while answering others * of great value to planners, whether of an advertising campaign or a military one.Kirkus Reviews *Sir Lawrence Freedman's 750-page magnum opus, Strategy: A History, is encyclopedic, although not alphabetical, a pleasure to dip into here and there...There are grand strategies set forth in several of the greater works covered by Freedman, but Strategy: A History holds the reader to the strategic level, a subset of grand strategy. * New Criterion *Strategy: A History is easily the most ambitious book that I have read in many years... With a book of this scope anybody can find something to disagree with but nobody can come away from this book without feeling enriched and intellectually challenged. It will live on as a classic. * Mark Stout, War on the Rocks *Strategy: A History, is an ambitious and sprawling book by a British military historian who has written widely, and very well, about nuclear and cold war strategy, the Falklands War, and contemporary military affairs, among other subjects... With admirable candor, Freedman tells us that he received the contract for this book in (gulp!) 1994, and that he made a 'number of false starts' with the manuscript. Considering the daunting scope of the subject, this is entirely understandable. Considering the wisdom and analytical brilliance he brings to bear on that subject, it's been well worth the wait. * The Daily Beast *Tour de force... Unusually thoughtful and clearly written, Freedman's dense tome is a serious academic study in political theory, but it has crossover potential and will attract readers interested in military planning, strategic systems, and the nature of power. * Publishers Weekly starred review *A vast exploration of strategy... full of surprises, and marked by unsurpassed erudition. It also is witty and reminds us that he in the world who knows most about strategy may be the one who is the most unimpressed with it. * National Review *An erudite, encyclopedic study that will surely become a standard reference in the discipline. * strategy + business *A fascinating review of the tools available to all of us to create agile, informed and interesting decisions. * Sheridan Jobbins, the World Economic Forum blog *Lawrence Freedman shows here why he is justly renowned as one of the world's leading thinkers about strategy, which he defines as the central art of getting more out of a situation than the starting balance of power would suggest." * Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Harvard University and author of The Future of Power *A marvelous grand tour of the meaning, implications, and consequences of strategic thinking through the ages and in multiple contexts. Freedman is a master of the subject and unsurpassed in his ability to unravel the twists and turns of strategic complexities and paradoxes. * Robert Jervis, Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University *This is a wonderful book * a comprehensive yet deeply considered summation of the very nature of strategy by the premier social scientist of the subject. Strategy: A History is lucid and dispassionate, sometimes rueful, often ironic, always informative.Philip Bobbitt, author of The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History *This substantial, comprehensive, hermeneutic work examines the various dimensions and history of "strategy," which Freedman defines as "the art of creating power"...this very ambitious exploration provides readers with a useful introduction to the field of strategic studies. * CHOICE *[Freedman's] books manage to delight the experts yet are still comprehensible to the general reader, a rare skill in this genre. On this occasion, he has produced what is arguably the best book ever written on strategy. * Washington Post *Magisterial... wide-ranging erudition and densely packed argument. * The Economist *This is a book of startling scope, erudition and, more than anything, wisdom. * Financial Times *Comprehensive, vigorous survey of strategy and its evolution...A lucid text that raises questions while answering others * of great value to planners, whether of an advertising campaign or a military one.Kirkus Reviews *One the most significant works in the fields of international relations, strategic studies, and history to appear in recent years. * Foreign Affairs *Sir Lawrence Freedman's 750-page magnum opus, Strategy: A History, is encyclopedic, although not alphabetical, a pleasure to dip into here and there...There are grand strategies set forth in several of the greater works covered by Freedman, but Strategy: A History holds the reader to the strategic level, a subset of grand strategy. * New Criterion *Strategy: A History is easily the most ambitious book that I have read in many years... With a book of this scope anybody can find something to disagree with but nobody can come away from this book without feeling enriched and intellectually challenged. It will live on as a classic. * Mark Stout, War on the Rocks *Strategy: A History, is an ambitious and sprawling book by a British military historian who has written widely, and very well, about nuclear and cold war strategy, the Falklands War, and contemporary military affairs, among other subjects... With admirable candor, Freedman tells us that he received the contract for this book in (gulp!) 1994, and that he made a 'number of false starts' with the manuscript. Considering the daunting scope of the subject, this is entirely understandable. Considering the wisdom and analytical brilliance he brings to bear on that subject, it's been well worth the wait. * The Daily Beast *Tour de force... Unusually thoughtful and clearly written, Freedman's dense tome is a serious academic study in political theory, but it has crossover potential and will attract readers interested in military planning, strategic systems, and the nature of power. * Publishers Weekly starred review *A vast exploration of strategy... full of surprises, and marked by unsurpassed erudition. It also is witty and reminds us that he in the world who knows most about strategy may be the one who is the most unimpressed with it. * National Review *An erudite, encyclopedic study that will surely become a standard reference in the discipline. * strategy + business *A fascinating review of the tools available to all of us to create agile, informed and interesting decisions. * Sheridan Jobbins, the World Economic Forum blog *Lawrence Freedman shows here why he is justly renowned as one of the world's leading thinkers about strategy, which he defines as the central art of getting more out of a situation than the starting balance of power would suggest." * Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Harvard University and author of The Future of Power *A marvelous grand tour of the meaning, implications, and consequences of strategic thinking through the ages and in multiple contexts. Freedman is a master of the subject and unsurpassed in his ability to unravel the twists and turns of strategic complexities and paradoxes. * Robert Jervis, Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Politics, Columbia University *This is a wonderful book * a comprehensive yet deeply considered summation of the very nature of strategy by the premier social scientist of the subject. Strategy: A History is lucid and dispassionate, sometimes rueful, often ironic, always informative.Philip Bobbitt, author of The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History *This substantial, comprehensive, hermeneutic work examines the various dimensions and history of "strategy," which Freedman defines as "the art of creating power"...this very ambitious exploration provides readers with a useful introduction to the field of strategic studies. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsDEDICATION ; PREFACE ; Part I ORIGINS ; 1 ORIGINS 1: EVOLUTION ; 2 ORIGINS 2: THE BIBLE ; 3 ORIGINS 3: THE GREEKS ; 4 SUN TZU AND MACHIAVELLI ; 5 SATAN'S STRATEGY ; Part II STRATEGIES OF FORCE ; 6 THE NEW SCIENCE OF STRATEGY ; 7 CLAUSEWITZ ; 8 THE FALSE SCIENCE ; 9 ANNIHILATION OR EXHAUSTION ; 10 BRAIN AND BRAWN ; 11 THE INDIRECT APPROACH ; 12 NUCLEAR GAMES ; 13 THE RATIONALITY OF IRRATIONALITY ; 14 GUERRILLA WARFARE ; 15 OBSERVATION AND ORIENTATION ; 16 THE REVOLUTION IN MILITARY AFFAIRS ; 17 THE MYTH OF THE MASTER STRATEGIST ; PART III STRATEGY FROM BELOW ; 18 MARX AND A STRATEGY FOR THE WORKING CLASS ; 19 HERZEN AND BAKUNIN ; 20 REVISIONISTS AND VANGUARDS ; 21 BUREAUCRATS, DEMOCRATS, and ELITES ; 22 FORMULAS, MYTHS, AND PROPAGANDA ; 23 THE POWER OF NONVIOLENCE ; 24 EXISTENTIAL STRATEGY ; 25 BLACK POWER AND WHITE ANGER ; 26 FRAMES, PARADIGMS, DISCOURSES, AND NARRATIVES ; 27 RACE, RELIGION, AND ELECTIONS ; PART IV STRATEGY FROM ABOVE ; 28 THE RISE OF THE MANAGEMENT CLASS ; 29 THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS ; 30 MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ; 31 BUSINESS AS WAR ; 32 THE RISE OF ECONOMICS ; 33 RED QUEENS AND BLUE OCEANS ; 34 THE SOCIOLOGICAL CHALLENGE ; 35 DELIBERATE OR EMERGENT ; PART V theories of strategy ; 36 THE LIMITS OF RATIONAL CHOICE ; 37 BEYOND RATIONAL CHOICE ; 38 STORIES AND SCRIPTS ; 37 BEYOND RATIONAL CHOICE ; 38 STORIES AND SCRIPTS ; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

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Book SynopsisReconstruction of the life of St Paul, paints a picture of the world in which he preached his revolutionary message and explains the significance of his lasting impactTrade Review'A biography of St Paul by his greatest living interpreter: it is a dream come true. This is the book that I had always hoped Tom Wright might write, while doubting that he ever would. And now here it is - and, my goodness, it does not disappoint!’ * Tom Holland, author of Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic *An enthralling journey into the mind of Paul by one of the great theologians of our time, a work full of insight, depth and generosity of understanding. * Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks *'Wright’s excellent book not only brings Paul to life but places that life in the complex and overlapping array of Jewish and non-Jewish communities, all set within the Roman empire. The result provides much to think about both for students of Paul and the early Christian communities of which he was so significant a founder and shaper, but also for anyone interested in the history of the first century of the Christian era.' * John Richardson, Emeritus Professor of Classics, University of Edinburgh *In eloquent and inviting prose, one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars retells the story behind the story, the story of the Apostle Paul whose letters have shaped so much of subsequent history. . . A master teacher here communicates Paul in language every reader can understand. * Craig S. Keener, Professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary, Kentucky *'A compelling portrait.' * Edith M. Humphrey, Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary *"Wright is worthy of his protagonist. His prose is also more lucid, his line of thought more direct, and his analogies more telling. Many a reader will be rightly grateful for this book." -- Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Pulitzer Prize for Non-FictionA devastating indictment' SUNDAY TIMESAn important book, a superb piece of reporting' OBSERVERWith great narrative verve, and a sober and subtle intelligence, she carries us deep behind the scenes of history-in-the-making' PHILIP GOUREVITCHWhy do leaders who vow never again' repeatedly fail to prevent genocide?In her award-winning modern classic, Samantha Power presents a deeply researched and powerfully argued answer to this haunting question. Disproving claims that successive American leaders were unaware of genocidal horrors occurring around the world, Power tells the stories of courageous individuals who risked their careers and lives in an effort to save others, revealing how policy makers and outsiders alike ignored chilling warnings and rationalised inaction. A riveting account, A Problem From Hell has forever reshaped debates about foreign policy, while inspiring a new generation to raise their voices in the face of contemporary injusTrade Review‘Fascinating. An important book, a superb piece of reporting which cumulatively grows into a major political work, part polemic, part moral philosophy.’ Observer ‘Deeply researched and trenchantly argued. A devastating indictment not just of the American foreign policy establishment but of the country’s entire political class, the media and even the wider public.’ Niall Ferguson, Sunday Times ‘Power is part of an inspiring generation of political thinkers who are academically brilliant but who also know how to write.’ David Hare, Books of the Year, Observer

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Book SynopsisBetween the birth of Dante in 1265 and the death of Galileo in 1642 something happened which completely revolutionized Western civilization. Painting, sculpture and architecture would all visibly change in a striking fashion. Likewise, the thought and self-conception of humanity would take on a completely different aspect. Sciences would be born - or emerge in an entirely new guise.In this sweeping 400-year history, Paul Strathern reveals how, and why, these new ideas which formed the Renaissance began, and flourished, in the city of Florence. Just as central and northern Germany gave birth to the Reformation, Britain was a driver of the Industrial Revolution and Silicon Valley shaped the digital age, so too, Strathern argues, did Florence play a similarly unique and transformative role in the Renaissance.While vividly bringing to life the city and a vast cast of characters - including Dante, Botticelli, Machiavelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Galileo - Strathern shows how these great Florentines forever altered Europe and the Western world.Trade ReviewA thought-provoking re-examination of the great Florentine artists, scientists and business wizards of the Renaissance... Strathern has an engaging habit of dwelling on the close connection in the Florentine cultural sphere between art and money, matters seldom so intimately juxtaposed...His prose glimmers with the spark of rekindled discovery. * Wall Street Journal *Strathern keeps readers engaged throughout with a sprinkling of colourful anecdotes, often taken from contemporary (or slightly later) sources... Those coming to the period for the first time will be able to sense the flavour of the social, political and cultural life that shaped a city that still attracts so many tourists. * BBC History Magazine *[Strathern] has a knack for conveying in pleasing prose, spiced with anecdotes, the essentials of an argument, an interesting juxtaposition, or the importance of an episode or person. * Times Literary Supplement *Vivid biographical sketches cast famous Florentines in a more dynamic light than most modern portrayals... Buoyed by incisive details and a brisk pace, this is a welcome introduction to the city and the personalities behind the Renaissance. * Publishers Weekly *If Vanity Fair magazine had existed during the Renaissance, every issue might have brought tales of Florentine A-listers and their power plays, artistic triumphs, sexual exploits, and financial chicanery. Strathern aims to show how such Florentines paved the way for a global humanism focused on people's lives on Earth instead of on the medieval view that existence was only preparation for an afterlife. Strathern is an intellectually agile writer who covers four centuries briskly - and serves up occasional surprises. * Kirkus Reviews *Strathern meticulously guides readers through the lives of famous Renaissance visionaries... this book doesn't just describe each individuals' accomplishments, but also shows how their lives full of shared experiences and unique circumstances were intricately intertwined in a way which positioned them to lead Europe into the Renaissance. Bringing the Renaissance into better focus, this well-researched work is highly recommended for readers with an interest in the era, art history, and Italian history. * Library Journal *Very occasionally we are offered an entirely new perspective on a body of detail with which we already seem entirely familiar but which has the effect of transforming our understanding. Paul Strathern's The Florentines is such a work... Powerfully argued and very carefully researched... A major commentary on the development and evolution of the Renaissance. * Historical Association *A marvelous, wide-ranging, and accessible history of Florence and the historical giants from the city that have influenced the course of western civilization. There should be more history books like The Florentines to delve in specific time periods and geographic locations. It is not just the intrinsically interesting period that Strathern delves into that makes this a truly excellent book, but his skill at understanding and connecting the people and ideas of the time. * The Interim, ‘Book of the Week’ *Well-written and exhaustively researched... It is a page-turner, and on that presents a fascinating new perspective on the stories and people of Florence. * All About History *Table of Contents1: Dante and Florence 2: Wealth, Freedom and Talent 3: A Clear Eye Amidst Troubled Times 4: Boccaccio and Petrarch 5: War and Peace 6: The Dome 7: The Mathematical Artists 8: Those Who Paid the Bills 9: The Renaissance Spreads Its Wings 10: Medici Rising 11: A Medici Artist 12: Il Magnifico 13: Leonardo 14: Shifting Ground 15: Undercurrents 16: The Bonfire of the Vanities 17: Machiavelli 18: Michelangelo 19: Galileo 20: Epilogue

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Book SynopsisEusebius''s account is the only surviving historical record of the Church during its crucial first 300 years. Bishop Eusebius, a learned scholar who lived most of his life in Caesarea in Palestine, broke new ground in writing the History and provided a model for all later ecclesiastical historians. In tracing the history of the Church from the time of Christ to the Great Persecution at the beginning of the fourth century, and ending with the conversion of the Emperor Constantine, his aim was to show the purity and continuity of the doctrinal tradition of Christianity and its struggle against persecutors and heretics.

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Book SynopsisThe Roman Empire was a remarkable achievement. It had a population of sixty million people spread across lands encircling the Mediterranean and stretching from drizzle-soaked northern England to the sun-baked banks of the Euphrates in Syria, and from the Rhine to the North African coast. It was, above all else, an empire of force - employing a mixture of violence, suppression, order, and tactical use of power to develop an astonishingly uniform culture. This Very Short Introduction covers the history of the Empire from Augustus (the first Emperor) to Marcus Aurelius, describing how the empire was formed, how it was run, its religions and its social structure. It examines how local cultures were romanised and how people in far away lands came to believe in the emperor as a god. The book also examines how the Roman Empire has been considered and depicted in more recent times, from the writings of Edward Gibbon, to the differing attitudes of the Victorians and recent Hollywood blockbusterTrade ReviewThis mervellous little book...succeeds in sketching the remarkable way in which the Roman Empire spread across Europe... * Barbara Finney, The Journal of Classics Teaching *"...the author has succeeded admirably. This is no cop out - themes are chosen sensibly and well presented. This book does what it says on the cover... This book is intellectual, yet accessible, well written, stimulating, original, and essential for those who wish to gain a rapid overview of the subject without getting bogged down." * Dr Mark Merrony, Minerva *Table of Contents1. Conquest ; 2. Imperial Power ; 3. Collusion ; 4. History Wars ; 5. Christians to the Lions ; 6. Living and Dying ; 7. Rome Revisited

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Book SynopsisNeil MacGregor''s A History of the World in 100 Objects takes a bold, original approach to human history, exploring past civilizations through the objects that defined them. Encompassing a grand sweep of human history, A History of the World in 100 Objects begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with objects which characterise the world we live in today. Seen through MacGregor''s eyes, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. A stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people; Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency; and an early Victorian tea-set speaks to us about the impact of empire. An intellectual and visual feast, this is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years. ''Brilliant, engagingly written, deeply researched'' Mary Beard, Guardian ''A triumph: hugely popular, and rightly lauded as one of the most effective and intellectually ambitious initiatives in the making of ''public history'' for many decades'' Sunday Telegraph ''Highly intelligent, delightfully written and utterly absorbing '' Timothy Clifford, Spectator ''This is a story book, vivid and witty, shining with insights, connections, shocks and delights'' Gillian Reynolds Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisA captivating compendium of rare and exquisite first-hand records of ocean voyages around the world and in different ages, providing a fascinating insight into exploration and adventure at sea.Trade Review'A captivating collection of exquisite first-hand records providing fascinating insights into exploration and adventure at sea' - Traveller'Beautiful … readers could easily be left with the impression that all 18th-century seafarers were also talented artists' - CNN Travel'Lewis-Jones’s book has everything from illustrated accounts of whaling voyages and naval battles to depictions of Kamchatkan kayakers and fluorescent sea slugs' - The Scotsman'Thrilling ... succeeds in illustrating not only the diversity of maritime sketchbooks but also how vital they were for their creators' - Times Literary Supplement'Magnificent first-hand accounts of the thrills and spills of sea exploration' - The Lady'The sort of book to curl up with … you will relish each turn of the page as you explore the nautical journeys … humorous, poignant and most definitely informative … this is a book to learn from and treasure' - Family Tree'Endlessly diverting and beautifully produced' - Daily Telegraph'A remarkable treasure chest' - Geographical'Gorgeously produced … a lovely present for anyone who’s fascinated by exploration' - Practical Boat Owner'Readers of this beautifully-produced volume will be far from miserable, and may even be inspired to keep their own journals and images of life' - Nautilus Telegraph'One of the most spectacular and fascinating books I have ever read. A real privilege! Superb' - Book Reviews Monthly'Remarkable' - Bookanista'Wide-ranging and beautifully illustrated' - Books of the Year, Spectator

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Book SynopsisA unique account of one of history’s most intriguing literary groups.Trade Review“Excellent! This is one of the best books on the Inklings I’ve ever read.” -- Walter Hooper, Literary Advisor to the C.S. Lewis Estate“Few people know the Inklings as intimately as Duriez who makes us feel as though he has just come from a morning with them at the Eagle and Child.” -- Harry Lee Poe, author of The Inklings of Oxford and C.S. Lewis Remembered“Just when I thought nothing new could be said about Lewis, Tolkien, Barfield, Williams, and the others, gifted author Colin Duriez presents fresh and fascinating insights.” -- Carolyn Curtis, authorTable of ContentsContentsPreface 11Introduction C.S. Lewis and the dinosaurs 15Chapter 1 Through love and beyond: Charles Williams, the enigmatic Inkling 28Chapter 2 Roots and shoots: Friends who will become Inklings 46Chapter 3 The 1920s: Oxford, wistful dreams, and a war with Owen Barfield 65Chapter 4 J.R.R. Tolkien returns to Oxford and C .S. Lewis meets God 91Chapter 5 The birth of the Inklings 109Chapter 6 The 1930s: Writing books they liked to read 132Chapter 7 The war years and the Golden Age of the Inklings 154Chapter 8 The close of the Golden Age 172Chapter 9 The Final Years 192Chapter 10 A fter the Inklings 210Chapter 11 Just a Group of Friends? 217Appendix 1 A n Inklings gallery 230Appendix 2 A select Inklings chronology 238Bibliography 252Notes 260Index 275Acknowledgments 288

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Book SynopsisExam board: International BaccalaureateLevel: IB DiplomaSubject: HistoryFirst teaching: September 2015First exams: Summer 2017Reinforce knowledge and develop exam skills with revision of key historical content, exam-focussed activities and guidance from experts as part of the Access to History Series.· Take control of revision with helpful revision tools and techniques, and content broken into easy-to-revise chunks.· Revise key historical content and practise exam technique in context with related exam-focussed activities. · Build exam skills with Exam Focus at the end of each chapter, containing exam questions with sample answers and examiner commentary, to show you what is required in the exam.

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Book Synopsis''Do we need another history of the First World War? The answer in the case of Norman Stone''s short book is, yes - because of its opinionated freshness and the unusual, sharp facts that fly about like shrapnel'' Literary ReviewIn 1914 a new kind of war, and a new kind of world, came about. Fourteen million combatants died, a further twenty million were wounded, four empires were destroyed and even the victors'' empires were fatally damaged. The First World War marked a revolution in the technology of slaughter as trench warfare, artillery barrages, tanks and chemical warfare made their mark on the battlefield for the first time. The sheer complexity and scale of the war have encouraged historians to write books on a similar scale. But in only 140 pages, Norman Stone distils a lifetime of teaching, arguing and thinking to reframe the overwhelming disaster whose aftershocks shaped the rest of the twentieth century. ''Bold, provocative and wittTrade ReviewBold, provocative and witty ... one of the outstanding historians of our age * Spectator *Do we need another history of the First World War? The answer in the case of Norman Stone's short book is, yes - because of its opinionated freshness and the unusual, sharp facts that fly about like shrapnel * Literary Review *One of the most original modern commentaries on the conflict ... this stimulating work can be read for pleasure in an afternoon, even if you are not particularly interested in World War One. That truly is the mark of a great history book * Evening Standard *Exhilarating ... scintillating ... a heady cocktail * Observer *Entertaining and insightful ... one of the handful of living historians who can write with style and wit -- Tibor Fischer * Sunday Telegraph, Books of the Year *A corker of a book ... brings more clarity to this complex, much-written about subject than some historians manage to do in books three or four times as long * History Today *

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Book SynopsisThe first part of his trilogy on the Spanish Empire, Hugh Thomas''s Rivers of Gold brings the rise of Spain''s global empire vividly to life, capturing the spirit of an ebullient age. Inspired by hopes of both riches and of converting native people to Christianity, the Spanish adventurers of the fifteenth century convinced themselves that an Earthly Paradise existed in the Caribbean. This is the story of the hundreds of conquistadors who set sail on the precarious journey across the Atlantic - taking with them wheat, the horse, the guitar and the wheel as well as guns, malaria and slaves - to create an empire that made Spain the envy of the world. ''Affirms Hugh Thomas''s record as one of the most productive and wide-ranging historians of modern times''   The New York Times ''Splendid ... bold and strong in its outlines, rich in fasinating details''   Paul Johnson, Literary Review ''So steeped is he in the spirit of the time, so familiar with its people and places that we almost feel he must have been there at the time''   Sunday Telegraph ''A vivid, dramatic and compelling narrative''   Arthur Schlesinger, Jr ''As a historian, Thomas is master of the big picture ... Rivers of Gold sweeps us restlessly on''   Jonathan Keates, Spectator ''An epic history of an extraordinary age''   Michael Kerrigan, Scotsman Hugh Thomas is the author of, among other books, The Spanish Civil War (1962) which won the Somerset Maugham Award, Conquest: Montezuma, Cortés and the Fall of Old Mexico (1994), An Unfinished History of the World (1979) and The Slave Trade (1997). The second volume of his planned trilogy on the Spanish Empire, The Golden Age: The Spanish Empire of Charles V was published in 2011.Trade Review"As a historian, Thomas is master of the big picture ! Rivers of Gold sweeps us restlessly on" - Jonathan Keates, Spectator 'As an intelligent and incisive narrative the book would be hard to better... It is unusual to finish so long a book wishing for more' Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe complex world of Egyptian myth is clearly illuminated in this fascinating new approach to ancient Egypt. Geraldine Pinch explores the cultural and historical background behind a wide variety of sources and objects, from Cleopatra''s Needle and Tutankhamun''s golden statue, to a story on papyrus of the gods misbehaving. What did they mean, and how have they been interpreted? The reader is taken on an exciting journey through the distant past, and shown how myths of deities such as Isis and Osiris influenced contemporary culture and have become part of our cultural heritage. 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 Reviewa masterly, clear, and concise account of a complex subject * Dr Richard Parkinson, Department of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, British Museum *Table of ContentsTIMELINE OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY; SUGGESTED FURTHER READING

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A fascinating tale." * New York Times Book Review *"A gripping portrayal of [Billy] Garland’s marathon campaign to get the Games." * Los Angeles Times *“Wonderfully written narrative. . . . Recommended." * CHOICE *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Author’s Note Prologue: Billy’s Parade 1 Billy’s Migration 2 LA on the Cusp 3 The Quest 4 A Foot in the Door 5 The Hand of Man 6 Rome, 1923 7 The Great Migration 8 Protecting the Image 9 A Bolt from the Blue 10 Planting a Seed 11 Then Came the Crash 12 Berlin, 1930 13 A Sacred Duty 14 Desperate Hours 15 Competing Narratives 16 Playing His Cards 17 A Lush New World 18 A Parallel Universe 19 The Games 20 A Footing in the World Epilogue Acknowledgments Notes and Sources Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOn 1st May 1915, the luxury ocean liner Lusitania sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool. Her passengers were anxious. Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone and its submarines were bringing terror to the Atlantic.Trade ReviewGripping, superbly well-researched...he ratchets up the tension as the doomed ship speeds towards the inevitable. Though you know it’s going to happen, you keep praying that it won’t, right up until the moment when the torpedo strikes. You feel this way because Larson makes you care...Thanks to Larson’s vivid narrative, you are there with those passengers in the thick of it. It may have happened 100 years ago, but this masterpiece made it feel like yesterday. -- James Delingpole * MAIL ON SUNDAY *A fascinating, well-researched read. * Kate Atkinson *With practised skill Larson confronts the emotional pathos of wartime tragedy. -- Iain Finlayson * THE TIMES *Vivid...Larson tells his story well. -- Andrew Holgate * SUNDAY TIMES *Larson's irresistibly pacey narrative moves between the various scenes of action, conjuring them up in vivid detail...the sources are remarkable...[his] detailed conversational endnotes are an added bonus. -- Lucy Moore * LITERARY REVIEW *

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of the Anglo-American amphibious assault and subsequent battle on the Italian west coast at Anzio which was launched in January 1944 in a bold attempt to outflank the formidable German defences known as the ''Gustav Line''. ANZIO - THE FRICTION OF WAR outlines the strategic background to the offensive before detailing the landing, the development of an Allied defensive position, the battles in and around the perimeter, the stalemate, the breakout and the capture of Rome on 4 June 1944. While assessing the events at Anzio with the eye of an experienced military historian, Lloyd Clark also examines in detail the human response to the battle from high command to foot soldier. He also emphasises the German story - the first time this has ever been done.Trade Review'Lloyd Clark's lucid, elegantly written book is well overdue... Absolutely first class' * Alex Kershaw *

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1870, The Wild Garden challenged the prevailing garden style of the day and advocated a naturalistic style, in which hardy plants, both native and exotic, are arranged in groupings that mimic wild landscapes. Thanks to Robinson’s passionate advocacy, the naturalistic style triumphed, and Robinson's urgent message continues to resonate today. For this newly designed edition, Rick Darke has written an introductory essay that not only underscores Robinson’s importance in the evolution of garden design and ecology, but also explains his relevance for today’s gardeners, designers, and landscape professionals. The book contains over 100 stunning photographs taken by Darke, including images of Gravetye and of modern “wild” gardens. Trade ReviewWill truly inspire you. Originally published in 1870, [it] remained in print for more than 50 years with a message that is just as revolutionary today. -- Doug Bergstrom Wenatchee World 20091130 Rick Darke could well be Robinson's reincarnation. -- Ailsa Francis Ottawa Citizen 20091205

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Book SynopsisThis series is for the Cambridge International AS History syllabus (9489) for examination from 2021. Written by an author with experience writing, examining and teaching, this coursebook supports the Cambridge International AS History syllabus. With increased depth of coverage, this coursebook helps build confidence and understanding in language, essay-writing and evaluation skills. The coursebook also develops students'' conceptual understanding of history with the five new ''Key concepts'', for example exploring cause and consequence in the Second Sino-Japanese War. In addition, it encourages individuals to make substantiated judgments and reflect on their own learning. Students can also consolidate their skills though exam-style questions with source material and sample responses.Table of ContentsHow to use this book; Introduction; 1. Empire and the emergence of world powers, 1870 ̶ 1919; 2. The League of Nations and international relations in the 1920s; 3. The League of Nations and international relations in the 1930s; 4. China and Japan, 1912–1945; 5. Preparing for Assessment; Index.

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Book SynopsisA Guardian Best Book of 2020 A History Today Book of the Year, 2020Renowned historian Olivette Otele uncovers the untold history of Europeans of African descent, from Saint Maurice who became the leader of a Roman legion and Renaissance scholar Juan Latino, to abolitionist Mary Prince and the activist, scholars and grime artists of the present day. Tracing African European heritage through the vibrant, complex, and often brutal experiences of individuals both ordinary and extraordinary, she sheds new light not only on the past but also on questions very much alive today - about racism, identity, citizenship, power and resilience. African Europeans is a landmark celebration of this integral, vibrantly complex slice of European history, and will redefine the field for years to come.Trade ReviewThis is a book I have been waiting for my whole life. It goes beyond the numerous individual black people in Europe over millennia, to show us the history of the very ideas of blackness, community and identity on the continent that has forgotten its own past. A necessary and exciting read -- Afua Hirsch, author of Brit(ish)This is a book that all must read now. This story has been lived not just for centuries but for millennia, all the while being consistently suppressed, denied or untold. Searing scholarship and heightened humanity combine to illuminate, appal, explore and ultimately inspire -- Bettany Hughes, historian and broadcasterFascinating . . . One of the book's great pleasures is its cast of memorable characters [and] though this is a work of synthesis, it's an unusually generous and densely layered one -- The GuardianPeople of African heritage have contributed greatly to Europe's music, literature and more. But their achievements have long been overlooked . . . African Europeans works to bring more of this past to public attention -- Wall Street JournalFascinating. Otele reconnects us with the men and women who came from Africa to shape European history: rulers, diplomats, slaves and soldiers-above all, our ancestors -- Dan Snow, historian and broadcasterSuperbly researched . . . This richly layered history brims with stories of how African Europeans contributed to the culture, politics and language in the countries they lived in . . . This book is more than just the stories of interesting lives; it is also a careful study of the scholarship on these individuals -- ProspectA thrilling, informative read -- LSE Review of BooksA brilliant, important and beautifully written book that forces us to think about the past differently -- History TodayYoking together the ''African'' and the ''European'', too often treated as entirely separate categories, Otele skilfully invites her reader to navigate the multiple intersecting worlds inhabited by her characters. This is fundamentally reparative writing that undoes the cultivated ignorance around race and blackness in Europe and shows us what is irrefutably true that black history is European history, indeed, world history -- Priyamvada Gopal, author of Insurgent EmpireOlivette Otele is a scholar with a vivid intellect and a deep sense of right and wrong. African Europeans forces us to reassess the past so that we can imagine a different future -- Fiammetta Rocco, chief culture writer, The EconomistImportant, exciting and illuminating. Otele takes us through centuries of history we think we know, but shifts the lens onto those have been deliberately excluded from traditional historical narratives. This book will change how you look at the past and introduce you to wonderful characters with rich and revealing lives -- Janina Ramirez, historian and TV presenterRich in storytelling, discovery, question-making and a way forward, African Europeans covers no old ground. This is new and European history itself is not complete without this book -- Bonnie Greer, playwright, novelist and broadcasterA magisterial book brilliant, humane and gripping, and a call to arms for an end to violence and subjugation. Otele explores the individual lives of African Europeans against great shifts of history, and the result is a masterpiece -- Kate Williams, historian and broadcasterThe scope of Otele's research is awesome, as is her unflinching analysis of the shifting prisms through which African Europeans particularly women have had to contest their identities. Full of powerful stories with deep roots and livid scars, African Europeans is scholarly, revelatory and important -- Jessie Childs, author of God's Traitors and Henry VIII's Last VictimThe first survey this century of the fascinating 2,000-year-long history of Africans in Europe. Otele's masterful narrative weaves together the lives of prominent figures St Maurice, Jacobus Capitein, Manga Bell, Paulette and Jane Nardal with those of everyday people -- Hakim Adi, author of Pan-Africanism: A HistoryA nuanced, thoughtful retelling of the stories of African Europeans, with extraordinary scope. Otele triumphs in her commitment to countering the experiences of the privileged with those of the enslaved. This is a learned, impassioned and searingly important history -- Suzannah Lipscomb, historian and broadcasterAn extensive rendition of African European history from the third century to the 21st... A thorough, dynamic, accessible narrative that pulls together disparate strands into a unique, fresh history -- Kirkus ReviewsA dazzling history of Africans in Europe, revealing their unacknowledged role in shaping the continent . . . African Europeans is a landmark celebration of this integral, vibrantly complex slice of European history, and will redefine the field for years to come -- BookAuthorityMeticulously researched and beautifully written, this is an essential work of historical scholarship that is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries -- Library Journal

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Book SynopsisDon't believe what you've heard from the columnists and the critics: snowflakes won't end the world, they'll save it.

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Book SynopsisPain, while known to almost everyone, is not universal. The evidence of our own pain, and our own experience, does not provide us with automatic insight into the pains of others, past or present. No matter how self-evident and ubiquitous the sting of a paper cut or the desolation of heartbreak might seem, pain is situated and historically specific. In a work that is sometimes personal, always political, Rob Boddice reveals a history of pain that juggles many disciplinary approaches and disparate languages to tackle the thorniest challenges in pain research. He explores the shifting meaning-making processes that produce painful experiences, expanding the world of pain to take seriously the relationship between pain’s physicality and social and emotional suffering. Ranging from antiquity to the present and taking in pain knowledge and pain experiences from around the world, his tale encompasses not only injury, but also grief, exclusion, chronic pain, and trauma, and reveals how knowledge claims about pain occupy what pain is like. Innovative and compassionate in equal measure, Knowing Pain puts forward an original pain agenda that is essential reading for those interested in the history of emotions, senses, and experience, for medical researchers and practitioners, and for anyone who has known pain.Trade Review‘How can we know the pain of others? If we have no access to their suffering, how can we hope to alleviate it? By an astute and complex analysis of the ways people experienced distress in the past and continue to do so in the present, Rob Boddice reflects on such questions. It will change the way we think about pain.’Joanna Bourke, Birkbeck, University of London‘Boddice illuminates the history of pain, one of the most fundamental biological mechanisms and cultural experiences of humankind. It is a rich history of the experience of pain, but also a history of its different conceptualizations, our ways of studying it, and its social dimensions. This is a book that will captivate scholars and scientists across disciplines.’Manos Tsakiris, Royal Holloway, University of London‘ambitious history of pain’Nature Table of ContentsPrologue Introduction: Disrupting a Definition 1. Scripting: The Politics of Knowledge 2. Experiencing: Objectivity versus Subjectivity 3. Worlding: Expressing and Managing 4. Suffering: Chronicity and Pain Syndromes 5. Commiserating: Sensing, Feeling, and Witnessing the Other in Pain 6. Contextualising : Pleasure and Punishment 7. Embodying: Nocebo/Placebo Conclusion: The Mutable Patient Epilogue

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Book SynopsisIn this monumental book, Chris Harman achieves the impossible-a gripping history of the planet from the perspective of the struggling people throughout the ages.From earliest human society to the Holy Roman Empire, from the Middle Ages to the Enlightenment, from the Industrial Revolution to the end of the millennium, Chris Harman provides a brilliant and comprehensive history of the planet. Eschewing the standard histories of 'Great Men,' of dates and kings, Harman offers a groundbreaking counter-history, a breathtaking sweep across the centuries in the tradition of 'history from below.' In a fiery narrative, he shows how ordinary men and women were involved in creating and changing society and how conflict between classes was often at the core of these changes. While many pundits see the victory of capitalism as now safely secured, Harman explains the rise and fall of societies and civilizations throughout the ages and demonstrates that history never ends. This magisterial study is essential reading for anyone interested in how society has changed and developed and the possibilities for further radical change.Trade ReviewI have had many people ask me if there is a book which does for world history what my book A People's History of the United States does for this country. I always responded that I know of only one book that accomplishes this extremely difficult task, and that is Chris Harman's A People's History of the World. It is an indispensable volume on my reference bookshelf. -- Howard ZinnThe left ... has few accounts which convey as well as this book does the broad sweep of human history. -- Robin Blackburn

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Book SynopsisEver since the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, scientists have dreamed of preventing catastrophic outbreaks of infectious disease. Yet, despite a century of medical progress, viral and bacterial disasters continue to take us by surprise, inciting panic and dominating news cycles. From pneumonic plague in LA and ‘parrot fever’ in Argentina to the more recent AIDS, SARS and Ebola epidemics, the last 100 years have been marked by a succession of unanticipated outbreaks and scares. Like man-eating sharks, predatory pathogens are always present in nature, waiting to strike; when one is seemingly vanquished, others appear in its place. The Pandemic Century exposes the limits of science against nature, and how these crises are shaped by humans as much as microbes.Trade Review‘Some of the scenes in Mark Honigsbaum’s The Pandemic Century were so vivid they had me drafting movie treatments in my head . . . each chapter is deeply researched.'Chosen as a 'Sizzling Summer Read' 2019 -- Mail on Sunday'A gruesome round-up of the pandemics that have plagued us over the past 100 years . . . A lively but less than reassuring read for those on exotic travels.' * Financial Times *'[A] riveting, vivid history of modern disease outbreaks . . . Honigsbaum has written a fascinating account of a deeply important topic – for if the past 100 years have taught us anything, it is that new diseases and viral strains will inevitably beset us.' * The Observer *'Timely but disturbing.''Lively, gruesome, and masterful . . . Honigsbaum mixes superb medical history with vivid portraits of the worldwide reactions to each [pandemic] event.''Gripping.''Engrossing. . . . Combining history, popular science, and policy, he describes each pandemic with journalistic immediacy, emphasising the patterns that characterise responses to them. . . an important and timely work.''Offers a mixture of gripping storytelling and insightful science. . . . Alternately chilling and optimistic, Honigsbaum's reporting on a recurrent public health issue deserves wide attention.''Infectious diseases remain among the most urgent health threats we face, but too often are considered something that happens to other people, far away. In our interconnected world, this is no longer true, as Honigsbaum shows. His unique account drives home the human impact of epidemics, and the need for increased preparedness.' -- Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust'Mark Honigsbaum does a superb job covering a century's worth of pandemics and the fears they invariably unleash. The moral of his cogent tale is that the next deadly pandemic is not a matter of "if" but of "when" and preparing for that fact is a far better prescription than reacting with panic, fear, or indifference.''Gripping.' * Nature *‘Ultimately, this book celebrates medical curiosity. [It is] a cautionary tale about the need for medical science to be open minded. Practitioners need to be aware that their knowledge of what is possible and impossible when it comes to infectious diseases will be challenged by the forces of globalisation, urbanisation and climate change.' -- International Affairs

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Book Synopsis

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