History and Archaeology Books

Book SynopsisVeil, the former French politician who became first President of the European Union, was born Simone Jacob in 1927. In her long-awaited memoir, she describes in vivid detail a time of happiness and innocence spent in Nice where she grew up. This happy time came to an abrupt end in 1944, when at the age of 17, her family was deported to the camps. Her mother, father and brother all died in captivity. With undeterred resolve, she studied law and political science and became Minister for Health (1974- 1979) in the government of Jacques Chirac where her hardest political fight was to introduce the law to legalize abortion. She was elected the first female President of the European Parliament (1979-1985) and returned to French government as Minister for Social Affairs (1993-1995). In 1998, aged 70, she received an honorary damehood (DBE) from the British Government for her contributions to humanity. Veil, one of France’s most beloved political figures, is admired for her personal and political courage, and enjoys respect from all political spectrums. Her memoir is a sincere and candid account of an extraordinary life and career, which reflect her humanity and determination to improve social standards at home and maintain economical and political.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on a wide range of unpublished material and observations gathered from his visit to Yugoslavia in 1999, Michael Parenti challenges mainstream media coverage of the war, uncovering hidden agendas behind the Western talk of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and democracy.Trade ReviewProminent social critic Parenti pens a fierce, elegantly constructed elegy not just for the lives sacrificed in the Balkan wars, but for concepts of national sovereignty and constitutionality, which appear to be lost to a corporate-sanctioned new world order. Extremely disturbing, but, for the brave, jolting and necessary reading. * Kirkus Reviews *Thought-provoking ... Parenti makes compelling points about biased media coverage of Serbia. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book Synopsis'An epic tale . . . told relentlessly well. If you want to read a serious account of the price of Zionism, and a sobering review of Israel's new role as conqueror and occupier, then Hirst is your man.' Christopher HitchensA myth-breaking general history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, The Gun and the Olive Branch traces events right back to the 1880s to show how Arab violence, although often cruel and fanatical, is a response to the challenge of repeated aggression.Banned from six Arab countries, kidnapped twice, David Hirst, former Middle East correspondent of the Guardian, is the ideal chronicler of this terrible and seemingly insoluble conflict. The new edition of this 'definitive' (Irish Times) study brings the story right up to date. Amongst the many topics that are subjected to Hirst's piercing analysis are: the Oslo peace process, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, the destabilising effect of Jewish settlement in the te

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Book Synopsis*One of The Times Best Art Books of the Year*'Looking to Sea is a remarkable and compelling book... I loved it.' Edmund de Waal'In her first, transporting book, Lily Le Brun sweeps the beaches of the past century of British art, collecting treasures from sea, shingle and shore... A book to pack in your picnic basket for shivering dips, heatwave day trips and ice-cream Sundays' The TimesAn alternative history of modern Britain, Looking to Sea is an exquisite work of cultural, artistic and philosophical storytelling. Looking to Sea considers ten pivotal artworks, from Vanessa Bell's Studland Beach, one of the first modernist paintings in Britain, to Paul Nash's work bearing the scars of his experience in the trenches and Martin Parr's photographs of seaside resorts in the 1980s, which raised controversial questions of class. Each of the startlingly different pieces, created between 1912 and 2015, opens a window onto big ideas, from modernism and the sublime, the impact of the world wars and colonialism, to issues crucial to our world today like the environment and nationhood. In this astonishingly perceptive portrait of the twentieth century, art critic Lily Le Brun brings a fresh eye to a vast idea, offering readers an imaginative new way of seeing our island nation.'Le Brun's writing is at once bold and delicate, far-reaching and fine-tuned. Her book explores the inexhaustible variety of human perception.' Alexandra Harris'A smart and clear-eyed set of meditations on marine gaze, made with a painterly touch worthy of the chosen artists. Empathy and intelligence lift memoir into cultural history.' Iain Sinclair'Elegant and endlessly interesting . . . as much a rich compendium of social history as it is a hard consideration of art itself' CriticTrade ReviewThis history of twentieth-century Britain, refracted through ten artistic responses to the sea, is beautifully written - authoritative and questioning; scholarly, but also vividly insightful about bodies, private lives, feelings, the often-overlooked quotidian. -- Aida Edemariam, judge of the RSL awardsLooking to Sea is a remarkable and compelling book. It is both a wonderfully sustained mapping of the intersection between artists, writers and the sea and a meditation on belonging and displacement. I loved it. * Edmund de Waal *Le Brun's writing is at once bold and delicate, far-reaching and fine-tuned. Her book explores the inexhaustible variety of human perception. * Alexandra Harris *A smart and clear-eyed set of meditations on marine gaze, made with a painterly touch worthy of the chosen artists. Empathy and intelligence lift memoir into cultural history. * Iain Sinclair *An elegant scheme, beautifully written... From Alfred Wallis to Tracey Emin's Margate beach hut, this is an elegant guide to a century of seaside art... This book will give you sea fever. Pack your sou'wester, fill your Thermos, take a train to the coast. Read this sitting on the pier and see what you can see -- Laura Freeman * The TImes *Ambitious . . . accessible . . . a chronicle of British art, unfurled against the panoramic backdrop of 20th-century history * Sunday Telegraph *A carefully considered and enjoyable mix of biography, art criticism and personal reflection -- Chloë Ashby * Spectator *One for wild swimmers, beachcombers, wind surfers and all who like to be beside the seaside with a sketchbook and watercolour set. In her first, transporting book, Lily Le Brun sweeps the beaches of the past century of British art, collecting treasures from sea, shingle and shore . . . A book to pack in your picnic basket for shivering dips, heatwave day trips and ice-cream Sundays. -- Books of the Year * The Times *Held within a neatly conceived structure and based on far-reaching research, this book is not only about art but also about national identity, belonging and displacement. It churns with large ideas as well as persuasive arguments . . . Le Brun has an eye and ear for details that catch the reader's attention. She handles words with great skill and piercing thought -- Frances Spalding * Literary Review *Ten hallmark, water-themed artworks provide a key into reading the modern history of the UK and the 20th century * Monocle *A beautifully illustrated, meditative book for art lovers who also like the sea . . . This guide will make you long for salty air, sand and fish and chips. Pack the book and a flask of tea (or whisky) and head for the coast * The Lady *[A] rich portrait of our island nation . . . Le Brun has written a study of Britain imagined, Britain as it recently was, and of Britain becoming . . . elegant and endlessly interesting . . . as much a rich compendium of social history as it is a hard consideration of art itself . . . reading Le Brun's book will give you a renewed love for this place that sits apart -- Patrick Galbraith * Critic *Each chapter mixes biography with anecdote, cultural criticism with lyrical description and wider philosophical musing . . . Le Brun apparently uses the artists' own visions to comment on today's Britain, though in fact her own range often outstrips theirs -- Jan Dalley * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis1961. The height of the Cold War. Just hours before work begins on the Berlin Wall, a KGB assassin and his young wife flee for the West before the Iron Curtain comes down and traps them in the East forever. This gripping story of real-life espionage and intrigue began when the Soviets invented a special weapon that killed without leaving a trace and put it in the hands of Bogdan Stashinsky. It is a tale of exploding parcels, fake identities, forbidden love and a man who knew the truth about the USSR’s most classified programme. By the time Stashinsky had his day in court, the whole world was watching.Trade Review‘Remarkable…moves nimbly from midnight shenanigans in Berlin to the bigger picture of superpowers arguing over captive nations.’ * The Times *‘With tensions once again rising…this book makes fascinating reading.’ * Spectator *‘Imaginative…insightful…alarmingly resonant.’ * New Statesman *‘Brims with skulduggery…balances its cloak-and-dagger element with historical insight.’ * Telegraph *‘Gripping.' * GQ *‘One of the greatest espionage stories of all time. Plokhy’s riveting tale of how a KGB assassin came in from the cold reads like a thriller because it is a thriller and all the more powerful because every word is true.’ -- Michael Smith, author of Foley: The Spy Who Saved 10,000 Jews‘This is a remarkable story about one Soviet agent’s attempt to free himself from the overweening and terrifying grip of the KGB at the height of the Cold War. Serhii Plokhy superbly captures the tense mood of the late 1950s and early 1960s in the USSR...thrilling.’ -- Roger Hermiston, author of The Greatest Traitor: The Secret Lives of Agent George Blake‘Evoking classic spy thrillers, Serhii Plokhy – one of the foremost experts on Russian and Cold War history alive today – masterfully tells the stranger than fiction tale of soviet spy Bogdan Stashinsky and the most publicized assassination case of the Cold War.’ -- Anne Applebaum, author of Gulag: A History and Iron Curtain‘The Man with the Poison Gun is the classic old-school Cold War spy tale. It’s all here—the trench coats, the cigarette smoke, the high stakes, the special weapons—deeply documented and smoothly told by Professor Plokhy. In the literature on 20th-century espionage, this book belongs on the top shelf.’ -- Mark Riebling, author of Church of Spies‘This book often reads like an Ian Fleming spy novel, but it is actually about real events that occurred during the tensest phase of the Cold War in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Serhii Plokhy provides a riveting account of the exploits of a Soviet assassin who used poison gas to kill exiled opponents of the Soviet regime amid East-West preparations for all-out war. Plokhy’s meticulously researched book sheds valuable light on the Soviet regime’s continued use of political assassinations in foreign countries long after the death of Joseph Stalin. A wonderful read for scholars and spy novel fans alike.’ -- Mark Kramer, director of Cold War Studies, Harvard University‘A gripping portrait of an assassin and his journey from recruitment to mission to defection, The Man with the Poison Gun exhumes one of the Cold War’s stranger episodes—the KGB’s murder of Ukrainian émigrés with a spray gun that squirted poison. Author Serhii Plokhy tells an evocative and informative tale, based on original archival research, that immerses us in the tradecraft of Soviet spies operating in Western Europe.’ -- Peter Finn, co-author of The Zhivago Affair: The Kremlin, the CIA, and the Battle Over a Forbidden Book‘Serhii Plokhy, one of the most brilliant historians of our era, has retraced the steps of a murderer and this gripping book is the result. The Man with the Poison Gun will appeal equally to students of history and lovers of spy thrillers.’ -- Mary Elise Sarotte, author of The Collapse: The Accidental Opening of the Berlin Wall‘Serhii Plokhy has alighted upon a fascinating episode in the history of Soviet intelligence…Plokhy, a leading Harvard professor, details the story in startling clarity and pinpoint accuracy from an impressive array of sources, German, Russian, Ukrainian and American. Yet he carries his learning lightly, which makes for a very readable story that could as well have emerged from the pen of a spy thriller writer.’ -- Jonathan Haslam, George F. Kennan Professor, School of Historical Studies, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, and author of Near and Distant Neighbours: A New History of Soviet Intelligence‘An extraordinary story told with verve and scholarship.’ -- Andrew Lownie, author of Stalin’s Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess

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Book SynopsisA Century of Barnsley offers an insight into the daily lives and living conditions of local people and gives the reader glimpses and details of familiar places during a century of unprecedented change. Many aspects of Barnsley''s recent history are covered, famous occasions and individuals are remembered and the impact of national and international events is witnessed. The book provides a striking account of the changes that have so altered Barnsley''s appearance and records the process of transformation. Drawing on detailed local knowledge of the community, and illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, this book recalls what Barnsley has lost in terms of buildings, traditions and ways of life. It also acknowledges the regeneration that has taken place and celebrates the character and energy of local people as they move through the first years of this new century.

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Book SynopsisThe Reinvention of Britain 19602016 explores the transformation of contemporary Britain, tracing its evolution from the welfare state of the post-1945 era to social democracy in the 1960s and 1970s and the liberal market society of 1979 onwards. Focusing primarily on political and economic change, it aims to identify which elements of State policy led to the crucial strategy changes that shaped British history over the past six decades.This book argues that since 1960 there have been two reinventions of the political economy of the United Kingdom: a social-democratic shift initiated by the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan and developed by Labour under Harold Wilson, and a subsequent change of direction towards a free market model attempted by the Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher. Structured around these two key policy reinventions of the late twentieth century, chapters are organized chronologically, from the development of social deTrade Review"I think this is the best, most modern, balanced, and scrupulous history of contemporary Britain available." - Martin Farr, Newcastle University, UK"Newton's is a stimulating history, notable for its detail and clarity." - John Moore, Morning Star "... this is an excellent book, intensively researched and with a strong narrative line that gives powerful support to the central argument. An ideal festive gift for anyone interested in the recent economic history of Britain." - Dan Atkinson, Lobster MagazineTable of ContentsList of figuresList of tablesAcknowledgementsIntroduction: why a political and economic history?Part 1: The Rise and Fall of Social-Democratic Britain1: Conservative Social Democracy 1961-642: Labour’s New Britain, 1964-70 3: Quiet Revolution, 1970-744: The Last Years of the Post-War Settlement, 1974-79Part 2: Neo-Liberal Britain5: Thatcher's Revolution, 1979-906: Major Interlude, 1990-977: New Labour in Power, 1997-2010EnvoiSelect BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Despensers were a baronial English family who rose to great prominence in the reign of Edward II (1307-27) when Hugh Despenser the Younger became the king's chamberlain, favourite and perhaps lover. He and his father Hugh the Elder wielded great influence, and Hugh the Younger's greed and tyranny brought down a king for the first time in English history and almost destroyed his own family. Rise and Fall tells the story of the ups and downs of this fascinating family from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries, when three Despenser lords were beheaded and two fell in battle. We begin with Hugh the justiciar, who died rebelling against King Henry III and his son in 1265, and end with Thomas Despenser, summarily beheaded in 1400 after attempting to free a deposed Richard II, and Thomas's posthumous daughter Isabella, a countess twice over and the grandmother of Richard III's queen. From the medieval version of Prime Ministers to the (possible) lovers of monarchs, the aristocratic Despenser family wielded great power in medieval England. Drawing on the popular intrigue and infamy of the Despenser clan, Kathryn Warner's book traces the lives of the most notorious, powerful and influential members of this patrician family over a 200 year span.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Alistair Moffat brings vividly to life the story of this great nation, from the dawn of prehistory through to the twenty-first century. Ambitious, richly detailed and highly readable, Scotland: A History From Earliest Times skilfully weaves together a dazzling array of fact and anecdote from a vast range of sources. The result is an imaginative, informative, balanced and varied portrait of Scotland, seen not just through the experience of the kings, saints, warriors, aristocrats and politicians who populate the pages of conventional history books, but also through that of ordinary people who have lived Scotland's history and have played their own important part in shaping its destiny.Trade Review'The great thing about Moffat's account is that, for all its emphasis on uncertainty, it rattles along with complete narrative certainty, to the extent that great events consistently take even a historically literate reader unawares' * Scottish Review of Books *'For Alistair Moffat, history is rooted in the personal. Now ... he has produced what is undoubtedly his most ambitious work. Scotland: A History From Earliest Times encompasses 500 million years, from when the tectonic plates were shifting to form the land mass we recognize today to the referendum and its aftermath' -- Alan Taylor * The Herald *'Moffat plunders the facts and fables to create a richly-detailed and comprehensive analysis of a nation's past and references a huge number of sources' * Scotland Magazine *'[T]his is a very readable, well-researched and fluent account' * Scotland on Sunday *'A very readable, well-researched and fluent account' -- Stuart Kelly * The Scotsman *'With his instinctive flair and accessible style, Moffat gets right under the skin of the country' * Farming Scotland *

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Book SynopsisThe rebellion that set Ireland free, told as a graphic novel. The 1916 Easter Rising was an attempt by a small group of militant Irish republicans to win independence from Britain. It was the most significant rebellion in Ireland. Though a military failure, it set Ireland on the road to freedom from Britain. The book covers the story from the early planning to the final executions and includes the tragic romance between Joseph Plunkett and Grace Gifford. Following on from the success of political graphic novels such as Maus and Persepolis, this is accessible, informative and insightful history at its best.Trade Reviewfantastic … it’s a great sign of what can be done through that medium and I hope we’ll see more like it … We featured this and asked some children to review it and they raved about it, they loved it -- TV3’s Ireland AMreally smart … tricks you into learning stuff -- Ireland AM, TV3a history that brings the Rising to life. Too many accounts of the rebellion are austere and gloomy, and portray the key personalities as distant, ascetic figures. Blood Upon the Rose restores to the story its spirit of adventure, and a rounded humanity -- Irish IndependentI've no idea why I haven't blogged about Gerry Hunts historical graphic novels before. We've had Blood Upon The Rose, the story of Easter 1916, since it was published in 2009. That was such a success that when At War With The Empire, the follow up came out, I ordered it straightaway. It was a no-brainer - my eldest son loved graphic novels and flew through them. And these books explained (in colourful detail) Irish history that he needed to know about, for school and for life. This latest one, 1913 Larkin's Labour War which I found in the library last week is his favourite of the lot -- onthestripeycouchonasaturdaymorning.blogspot.iethe comic would be particularly useful for Irish Junior Cert and Leaving Cert students studying history, or general history buffs of early 20th century Irish and British relations -- Girlslikecomics.com'a landmark Irish graphic novel' -- Irish Times'pulls the story together brilliantly … a lovely thing to have' -- Tom Dunne, Newstalk 106'Few other publications have brought the Rising to life as viscerally as Gerry Hunt's Blood Upon the Rose … an interesting and fresh take on a tale that most people would assume they knew by rote' -- Sunday Tribune'the Easter Rising as you’ve never seen it before … a colourful comic story about the famous revolt' -- Evening Herald'will appeal to youngsters and will familiarise with them with the heroes and heroines of the Easter Rebellion' -- Irish Examiner'shows the rising in all its multicoloured glory' -- Irish Examiner'compelling' -- Belfast Telegraph'a ground-breaking work' -- Primary Times Magazine'an excellent introduction to politics' -- Primary Times Magazine'an enjoyable read' -- CBI Bookfest Guide 2009'illustrations are bright and appealing' -- CBI Bookfest Guide 2009'I would certainly recommend this book' -- Michael Doorley, Inis Magazine'[a] new and exciting departure in Irish publishing' -- Inis Magazine'for 12 years and over' -- Primary Times Magazine'A colourful comic book is bringing the 1916 Rising to life for a new generation of young Irish people' -- Irish Daily Star'has already been snapped up by teachers and students alike' -- Irish Daily Star'Exciting' -- The Irish Daily Star'brings the story to life through illustration and lively text and could be a great resource to engage history students’ interest in that period in Irish history' -- Astir'rings the story to life through illustration and lively text and could be a great resource to engage history students’ interest in that period in Irish history' -- Astir'excellent illustrations and artwork ... an impressive work' -- Evening Echo'the artwork is second to none, handled with a light touch and there is none of the overwrought pomposity sometimes present in American graphic novels' -- Evening Echoan unexpected publishing hit -- Irish Independent'a fantastic way of digesting a bit of history in a fun and vivid format ... Hunt’s graphics bring the story of their struggle for Irish freedom to life in a way that sterile prose in a school history book never could' -- Books Ireland'graphics ... convey the tension and the atmosphere of fear that must have surrounded Dublin in those days' -- Books Ireland'the Easter Rising as you’ve never seen it before … a colourful comic story about the famous revolt' -- Evening Herald'Gerry Hunt gave a brief, excellent and very modest talk on the work ... It was more than fitting that Honor O Brolchain, grand-niece of Joseph Plunkett, was also present to deliver a fine talk on Joseph Plunkett, Grace Gifford and the importance of the j -- Come Here Me'Few other publications have brought the Rising to life as viscerally as Gerry Hunt's Blood Upon the Rose … an interesting and fresh take on a tale that most people would assume they knew by rote' -- Sunday Tribune'Following on from the success of political graphic novels such as Maus and Persepolis, this is accessible, informative and insightful history at its best ... help give a sense of realism to the story, Hunt presents an art style deeply influenced by his a -- Comic Related'pulls the story together brilliantly … a lovely thing to have' -- Tom Dunne, Newstalk 106'brings you back to your youth when comics were all the rage, but now you can enjoy all that again by reading a graphic novel about our great and proud history' -- An Cosantóir’s'a landmark Irish graphic novel' -- Irish Times'everyone has heard of the Easter Rising, but never has it been told in such a colourful and exciting way as this graphic novel' -- An Cosantóir’s'an enjoyable read' -- CBI Bookfest Guide 2009'illustrations are bright and appealing' -- CBI Bookfest Guide 2009'I would certainly recommend this book' -- Michael Doorley, Inis Magazine'[a] new and exciting departure in Irish publishing' -- Inis Magazine'a ground-breaking work' -- Primary Times Magazine'for 12 years and over' -- Primary Times Magazine'an excellent introduction to politics' -- Primary Times Magazine'shows the rising in all its multicoloured glory' -- Irish Examiner'will appeal to youngsters and will familiarise with them with the heroes and heroines of the Easter Rebellion' -- Irish Examiner'compelling' -- Belfast Telegraph'brings the story to life through illustration and lively text and could be a great resource to engage history students’ interest in that period in Irish history' -- Astir'A colourful comic book is bringing the 1916 Rising to life for a new generation of young Irish people' -- Irish Daily Star'has already been snapped up by teachers and students alike' -- Irish Daily Star'Exciting' -- Irish Daily Star'excellent illustrations and artwork ... an impressive work' -- Evening Echothe artwork is second to none, handled with a light touch and there is none of the overwrought pomposity sometimes present in American graphic novels -- Evening Echo

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Book SynopsisThe links between Cornwall, a county frequently considered remote and separate in the Middle Ages, and the wider realm of England are newly discussed. Winner of The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies (FOCS) Holyer an Gof Cup for non-fiction, 2020. Stretching out into the wild Atlantic, fourteenth-century Cornwall was a land at the very ends of the earth. Within itsboundaries many believed that King Arthur was a real-life historical Cornishman and that their natal shire had once been the home of mighty giants. Yet, if the county was both unusual and remarkable, it still held an integral place in the wider realm of England. Drawing on a wide range of published and archival material, this book seeks to show how Cornwall remained strikingly distinctive while still forming part of the kingdom. It argues that myths,saints, government, and lordship all endowed the name and notion of Cornwall with authority in the minds of its inhabitants, forging these people into a commonalty. At the same time, the earldom-duchy and the Crown together helped to link the county into the politics of England at large. With thousands of Cornishmen and women drawn east of the Tamar by the needs of the Crown, warfare, lordship, commerce, the law, the Church, and maritime interests, connectivity with the wider realm emerges as a potent integrative force. Supported by a cast of characters ranging from vicious pirates and gentlemen-criminals through to the Black Prince, the volume sets Cornwall in the latest debates about centralisation, devolution, and collective identity, about the nature of Cornishness and Englishness themselves. S.J. DRAKE is a Research Associate at the Institute of Historical Research. He was born and brought up in Cornwall.Trade ReviewDrake puts medieval Cornwall on the map... [this book] will be essential reading on its subject. It will be used for a hundred years or more. * MEDIEAVISTIK *Magisterial.... Thanks to the careful research and convincing argument presented in Cornwall, Connectivity and Identity, we should now regard Cornwall's distinctiveness not as separateness, but as holding an important place in the project of governing a heterogeneous polity, the history of which dates back to the fourteenth century and the Plantagenet project of creating an English kingdom * THE MEDIEVAL REVIEW *Sam Drake has produced a masterful and compelling work on Cornwall in the high medieval period, the first 'overarching study' in 60 years. [...] This book should be a must buy for all interested in medieval regional history and Cornwall. * THE LOCAL HISTORIAN *This fascinating study by Sam Drake is a welcome contribution not only to scholarship on late medieval Cornwall, it also represents an important and timely intervention in current approaches to history of regions in pre-modern Britain and Ireland. * PERITIA *An interesting and useful volume which offers a substantial amount of historical flesh to clothe the archaeological bones for this intriguing period of Cornwall's history. * CORNISH ARCHAEOLOGY *Dr Sam J. Drake's Cornwall, Connectivity and Identity in the Fourteenth Century is a most notable contribution [...] Drake offers a wide-ranging and richly researched portrait of life in fourteenth-century Cornwall which takes 'connectivity' as its theme. This allows Drake to make a scholarly contribution of great value not only for those primarily interested in Cornish history but also for those who work on the more general social and political history of England in the late middle ages: put simply, this is a book that will need to be added to a great many reading lists. * REVIEWS IN HISTORY *A well-written and engaging book. * ENGLISH HISTORICAL REVIEW *Table of ContentsPreface: a Little Understood Land Part I: Cornwall: Its Gentlemen, Government and Identity The Very Ends of the Earth: an Overview of Fourteenth-Century Cornwall Office-Holding in a Wild Spot Since the Time of King Arthur: Gentry Identity and the Commonalty of Cornwall An Extraordinary Folk: the Cornish People Part II: Distant Dominium: Comital, Ducal and Regnal Lordship The Final Tempestuous Years of the Earldom, 1300-1336 The Black Prince and his Duchy, 1337-1376 Richard of Bordeaux: Duke of Cornwall and King of England, 1376-1399 Part III: Connectivity: Cornwall and the Wider Realm Communication, Movement, and Exchange: Connectivity Frameworks Sovereign Kings and Loyal Subjects: Regnal Connectivity Pillagers with Long Knives: Military Connectivity Formidable Lords and True Tenants: Lordly Connectivity Gold, Tin, and Terrible Ale: Commercial Connectivity Lawless Judges and Litigious Cornishmen: Legal Connectivity God and Cornwall: Ecclesiastical Connectivity Of Shipmen, Smugglers, and Pirates: Maritime Connectivity Connecting Cornwall Conclusion: Cornish Otherness and English Hegemony? Epilogue: Contesting Cornwall Appendix I. Cornwall's Office-holders, c. 1300-c. 1400 Appendix II. Cornish Men-at-Arms and Mounted Archers who Served the King between c. 1298 and c. 1415 Appendix III. Cornish Ports that Sent Ships to Royal Fleets between c. 1297 and c. 1420 Bibliography

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Book SynopsisCovers the military history of a region encompassing Afghanistan, Central and South Asia, and West Asia, over some 2,500 years. This is the first comprehensive study in any language published on the millennia-long competition for domination and influence in one of the key regions of the Eurasian continent.Trade ReviewAli Ahmed Jalali has produced the first military history of ancient, medieval, and early modern Afghanistan on a scale commensurate with the subject. This work will be invaluable to military historians and area specialists; it combines sound scholarship and accurate translations from the full range of sources." - Jeremy Black, author of Military Strategy: A Global History

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Book SynopsisKing Richard III remains one of the most infamous and recognisable monarchs in English or British history, despite only sitting on the throne for two years and fifty-eight days. His hold on the popular imagination is largely due to the fictional portrayal of him by William Shakespeare which, combined with the workings of five centuries of rumour and gossip, has created two opposing versions of Richard. In fiction he is the evil, scheming murderer who revels in his plots, but many of the facts point towards a very different man. Dissecting a real Richard III from the fictional versions that have taken hold is made difficult by the inability to discern motives in many instances, leaving a wide gap for interpretation that can be favourable or damning in varying degrees. It is the facts that will act as the scalpel to begin the operation of finding a truth obscured by fiction. Richard III may have been a monster, a saint, or just a man trying to survive, but any view of him should be based in the realities of his life, not the myths built on rumour and theatre. How much of what we think we know about England's most controversial monarch will remain when the facts are sifted from the fictions?

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Book SynopsisGiles Chapman investigates the fascinating motoring history of the 1950s

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION War-torn, unstable and virtually bankrupt, revolutionary Russia tried to light its way to the future with the fitful glow of science. It succeeded through terror, folly and crime but also through courage, imagination and even genius. Stalin believed that science should serve the state and with many disciplines having virtually unlimited funds, by the time of his death in 1953, the Soviet Union boasted the largest and best-funded scientific establishment in history at once the glory and the laughing stock of the intellectual world. The human cost of this peculiar marriage between the state and its scientists was horrendous, yet, in Stalin and the Scientists, Simon Ings makes clear what Soviet science has done for us.

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Book SynopsisFollowing the Reformation, a growing number of radical Protestants came together to live and worship in Catholic France. These Huguenots survived persecution and armed conflict to win - however briefly - freedom of worship, civil rights, and unique status as a protected minority. This book tells the full story of the Huguenots' rise and fall.Trade Review"[An] enjoyable and authoritative account, which, in telling the story of the Huguenots, doubles as a fine political and religious history of France over the course of two troubled centuries.”—Peter Marshall, Literary Review -- Peter Marshall * Literary Review *“A rich distillation of French history.”—David J. Davis, Books and Culture -- David J. Davis * Books and Culture *Geoffrey Treasure’s thoughtful study charts the story of these Protestants, known as Huguenots, across nearly two centuries. It is a history of theology and high politics more than a ground-level study of Huguenot life, beginning with illuminating potted histories of the French monarchy and movements for religious reform.'—John Gallagher, The Sunday Telegraph -- John Gallagher * Sunday Telegraph *Winner of the 2014 National Huguenot Society award for the best original work of scholarship covering any aspect of the Huguenot movement. -- Naitonal Huguenot Society Award * National Huguenot Society *‘A richly detailed study of the politics and personalities of a religious minority.’—P D Smith, The Guardian -- P D Smith * The Guardian *“With clarity and depth . . . Treasure’s work tells brilliantly the history and life experience that the Huguenots carried out of France.”—James Blackburn, New York History Blog -- James Blackburn * New York History Blog *

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Book SynopsisHarthacnut was the last of three Danish kings to rule in England between 1013 and 1042. Although he was king of Denmark for many years, Harthacnut only ruled England directly for the last two years of his life. Yet he shaped the course of English history most profoundly. Because his mother was Emma of Normandy, Harthacnut ensured that Emma''s son by a previous marriage, Edward the Confessor, should succeed him as king of England. This established the Norman claim to the English throne. An understanding of Harthacnut''s adventurous career, his complicated family relationships, and the manner in which he created a northern empire based upon sea power and trade now enables us to appreciate more fully why the Norman Conquest of England came about.

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Book SynopsisThe French Revolution is a time of history made familiar from Dickens, Baroness Orczy, and Tolstoy, as well as the legends of let them eat cake, and tricolours. Beginning in 1789, this period of extreme political and social unrest saw the end of the French monarchy, the death of an extraordinary number of people beneath the guillotine''s blade during the Terror, and the rise of Napoleon, as well as far reaching consequences still with us today, such as the enduring ideology of human rights, and decimalization.In this Very Short Introduction, William Doyle introduces the French old regime and considers how and why it collapsed. Retelling the unfolding events of the revolution, he analyses why the revolutionaries quarrelled with the king, the church and the rest of Europe, why this produced Terror, and finally how it accomplished rule by a general. Doyle also discusses how and why the revolution destroyed the age-old cultural, institutional, and social structures in France and beyond. In this new edition, Doyle includes new sections highlighting the main developments in the field since the first edition, before exploring the legacy of the revolution in the form of rationality in public affairs and responsible government.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.Table of Contents1: Echoes 2: Why it happened 3: How it happened 4: What it ended 5: What it started 6: Where it stands Timeline: Important dates of the French Revolution The Revolutionary CalendarFurther readingIndex

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Book SynopsisBeating its biplane rivals in a 1936 Reich Air Ministry design competition, the Arado Ar 196 provided the Kriegsmarine with possibly the best shipborne reconnaissance seaplane of World War II. Replacing the Heinkel He 60 biplane as the standard catapult-launched floatplane embarked on the Kriegsmarine's capital ships, the Ar 196 flew an assortment of combat missions during World War II, including coastal patrol, submarine hunting, light bombing, general reconnaissance and convoy escort sorties. The first vessel to take its Ar 196A-1s to sea was the pocket battleship Graf Spee, which embarked two in the autumn of 1939. The battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz could carry six Arados each, the battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst four and smaller pocket battleships and cruisers two. Shore-based aircraft were also operated from coastal ports on the Channel, Baltic, North Sea and Bay of Biscay coasts, as well as in the Balkans and Mediterranean. In this tTable of Contents1. The Last Floatplane 2. First Blood 3. Ahead of the Atlantic Wall 4. The Seven Seas 5. Eastern Front and the Mediterranean 6. War's End and Foreign Use Appendices - Colour Plates Commentary - Bibliography - Index

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Book SynopsisThis compelling Icelandic history describes the life of King Harald Hardradi, from his battles across Europe and Russia to his final assault on England in 1066, less than three weeks before the invasion of William the Conqueror. It was a battle that led to his death and marked the end of an era in which Europe had been dominated by the threat of Scandinavian forces. Despite England's triumph, it also played a crucial part in fatally weakening the English army immediately prior to the Norman Conquest, changing the course of history. Taken from the Heimskringla—Snorri Sturluson's complete account of Norway from prehistoric times to 1177—this is a brilliantly human depiction of the turbulent life and savage death of the last great Norse warrior-king.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works thr

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Book SynopsisThis The Cold War 1945-1991 Revision Guide is part of the bestselling Oxford AQA History for A Level series developed by Sally Waller. Written to match the new AQA specification, this series helps you deepen your historical knowledge and develop vital analytical and evaluation skills. This revision guide offers the clearly structured revision approach of Recap, Apply, and Review to prepare you for exam success. Step-by-step exam practice strategies for all AQA question types are provided (including Source Analysis and essays linked to Key Concepts), as well as well-researched, targeted guidance based on what we now know from the new AQA examiner''s reports on The Cold War. Our original author team is back, offering expert advice, AS and A Level exam-style questions and Examiner Tips. Contents checklists help monitor revision progress; example student answers and suggested activity answers help you review your own work. This guide is perfect for use alongside the Student Books or as a s

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Book SynopsisA new translation of the complete, unabridged text of Galileo's Dialogue, with a detailed introduction and explanatory notes, giving contemporary readers access in English to Galileo's authentic text with comprehensive and up-to-date notes.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text and Translation Select Bibliography A Chronology of Galileo Dialogue on the Two Greatest World Systems Explanatory Notes

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Book SynopsisThis Very Short Introduction provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte''s character and career, situating him firmly in historical context.David Bell emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become absolute master of Europe''s most powerful country. In his early forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell emphasizes the importance of the French Revolution in understanding Napoleon''s career. The revolution made possible the unprecedented concentration of political authority that Napoleon accrued, and his success in mobilizing human and material resources. Without the political changes brought about by the revolution, Napoleon could not have fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held onto power. Though his virtual dictatorship betrayed the ideals of liberty and equality, his life and career were revolutionary.Table of ContentsList of illustrationsIntroduction1. The Corsican, 1769-17962. The General, 1796-17993. The First Consul, 1799-18044. The Emperor, 1804-18125. Downfall, 1812-1815Epilogue: 1815-2015ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThe SS grew out of Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler''s obsession to prevent the treachery they believed to have caused the German defeat in the First World War. The SS was to be an elite corps of politically aware soldiers whose primary aim was to prevent the undermining of the Nazi Party by rendering its potential enemies harmless. This disturbing story reveals not only the inner workings of the SS, but its paramount role in the mass murder of Europe''s Jews, homosexuals and gypsies, its organisation of the death squads and the military campaigns undertaken by the Waffen SS.

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Book SynopsisIt looks into the exciting world of hovercraft leisure, cruising and racing from amateur to Formula 1, and also explores the important role the hovercraft plays in rescues whether on water or delivering aid around the word in places that helicopters can’t reach.

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Book SynopsisGiles Chapman documents the whole turbulent decade stunningly illustrated book, from the cars that dominated our motoring lives to the much-maligned Morris Marina and Reliant Robin actually helped drivers out of a jam

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Book SynopsisMechele Leon is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at the University of Kansas, USA.Trade ReviewThis volume is full of information about the extratextual and performative aspects of theater and will be of interest to theater and drama scholars. * Lessing Yearbook *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Notes on Contributors Series Preface Editor's Acknowledgments Introduction: Theatre and the Enlightenment Matrix Mechele Leon, University of Kansas, USA 1 Institutional Frameworks: The State, the Market, and the People in the Age of Enlightenment John O'Brien, University of Virginia, USA 2 Social Functions: Audiences and Authority David Worrall, Nottingham Trent University, UK 3 Sexuality and Gender: Changing Identities Helen E. M. Brooks, University of Kent, UK 4 The Environment of Theatre: Power, Resistance and Commerce Mechele Leon, University of Kansas, USA 5 Circulation: Emergent Modalities of Intercultural Performance Mita Choudhury, Purdue Northwest, USA 6 Interpretations: From Theatrephobia to a Theatrical 'Science of Man' Logan J. Connors, University of Miami, USA 7 Communities of Production: Eighteenth-Century Acting Companies Deborah C. Payne, American University, USA 8 Repertoire and Genres: Cultural Logics and the Trick of Theatrical Longevity Lisa A. Freeman, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA 9 Technologies of Performance: Architecture, Scenery, Light Pannill Camp, Washington University, USA 10 Knowledge Transmission: Theatrical Intelligence and the Intelligence of Theatre Daniel O'Quinn, University of Guelph, Canada Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisDid early modern people care about their health? And what did it mean to lead a healthy life in Italy and England? Through a range of textual evidence, images and material artefacts Conserving health in early modern culture documents the profound impact which ideas about healthy living had on daily practices as well as on intellectual life and the material world in this period. In both countries staying healthy was understood as depending on the careful management of the six ‘Non-Naturals’: the air one breathed, food and drink, excretions, sleep, exercise and repose, and the ‘passions of the soul’. To a close scrutiny, however, models of prevention differed considerably in Italy and England, reflecting country-specific cultural, political and medical contexts and different confessional backgrounds.The following two chapters are available open access on a CC-BY-NC-ND license here: http://www.oapen.org/search?identifier=6331803 'Ordering the infant': caring for newborns in early modern England - Leah Astbury4 'She sleeps well and eats an egg': convalescent care in early modern England - Hannah NewtonTrade Review‘This volume represents a significant contribution to the burgeoning discussion of the non-naturals and to the comparative history of early modern European health care that will hopefully inspire further comparisons of other European examples.’Jennifer Evans, University of Hertfordshire, Social History of Medicine Vol. 32, No. 1History of emotions -- .Table of ContentsIntroductionConserving health: the Non-Naturals in early modern culture and society – Sandra CavalloPart I: A comparative perspective on preventive literature1 Regimens, authors and readers: Italy and England compared – Sandra Cavallo and Tessa StoreyPart II: The Non-Naturals and the vulnerable body 2 ‘What to expect when you’re always expecting’: frequent childbirth and female health in late Renaissance Italy – Caroline Castiglione3 ‘Ordering the infant’: caring for newborns in early modern England – Leah Astbury (available open access) 4 ‘She sleeps well and eats an egg’: convalescent care in early modern England – Hannah Newton (available open access)Part III: Airs and places5 Neapolitan airs: health advice and medical culture on the edge of a volcano – Maria Conforti6 The afterlife of the Non-Naturals in early eighteenth-century Hippocratism: from the healthy individual to a healthy population – Maria Pia DonatoPart IV: Spiritual health and bodily health7 Sleep-piety and healthy sleep in early modern English households – Sasha Handley8 English and Italian health advice: Protestant and Catholic bodies – Tessa StoreyPart V: Spaces, paintings and objects: performing and portraying health9 Chasing ‘good air’ and viewing beautiful perspectives: painting and health preservation in seventeenth-century Rome – Frances Gage10 Hot drinking practices in the late-Renaissance Italian household: a case-study around an enigmatic pouring vessel – Marta AjmarIndex

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Book SynopsisThe raising of the _Mary Rose_ in 1982 was a remarkable feat of archaeology and her subsequent preservation and display at Portsmouth a triumph of technical skill and imagination. She is more than a relic, however. She has a story to tell, and her sinking in the Solent in 1545, when under attack by the French, and the reasons for it, have intrigued historians for generations. With the benefit of access to her remains, archaeologists have been able to slowly unravel the mystery of her foundering on a calm summer's day in July 1545. This new book by one of the country's leading experts on the _Mary Rose_ contains much that is published for the first time. It has the first full account of the battle in which Henry VIII's warship was sunk, and tells the stories of the English and French admirals. It examines the design and construction of the ship and how she was used, and develops themes begun when he was earlier commissioned by the Mary Rose Trust to write the multi-volume history of the ship. He shows for the first time conclusively that the French fleet arrived unexpectedly to seize the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth a day later than was once believed, that the many bodies found in the wreck reflect her at action stations, and that the ship had had an extra deck added and was therefore more unstable than was previously thought. Finally, the author makes it clear who was responsible for the loss of the _Mary Rose_, after describing what happened onboard, deck by deck, in her last moments afloat. The fascinating revelation will intrigue the general reader as well as the historian and archaeologist and the book is set to become the last word on the career of this most famous of ships.

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Book SynopsisThe inspiring story of five women who set out to explore the furthest reaches of the globe and redefine scholarship At the dawn of the twentieth century, Katherine Routledge, Maria Czaplicka, Winifred Blackman, Beatrice Blackwood and Barbara Freire-Marreco set out to explore the furthest reaches of the globe. Resisting pernicious sexism and misogyny, they were among the first women to study at university and went on to chart now-vanished worlds, seeking new freedoms in in the wastelands of Siberia, the uncharted interior of New Guinea, on Easter Island, and in the villages of the Nile. Yet upon their return to England, they found only loss, madness and regret waiting for them. An extraordinary insight into women's suffrage at the turn of the century and a revelatory study of Britain's colonial legacy, Undreamed Shores is an extraordinary portrait of a pioneering quintet whose struggles helped usher in a brighter dawn.Trade ReviewA deeply poignant account of five women who defied convention to pioneer female scholarship at immense personal cost. If you want to understand why there is so little historical evidence of women's intellectual achievement, read this. A devastating indictment of prejudice and how it held women back -- Madeleine BuntingLarson's close and sensitive attention... gives this book, superbly researched and winningly written, its compassionate authority as well as its storytelling zest -- Boyd Tonkin * The Arts Desk *A vivid and moving history, sensitively told and rigorously researched. -- Sarah MossEngrossing, humbling and immensely enjoyable. These five courageous pioneers not only braved extreme conditions and heart-stopping dangers in remote lands, but also the prejudice and hostility of a male-dominated world. Their extraordinary lives are uplifting and tragic in equal measure, and Larson unfolds their story with her customary blend of scholarly insight and page-turning verve -- Wendy MooreAn absorbing biography of five extraordinary people - the hidden heroines of anthropology - which raises some intriguing questions about their era, and ours -- Jane Robinson, author of Ladies Can't Climb LaddersAbsorbing... With this tender and luminously written work, Larson has convincingly vindicated [the women's] careers * Rana Mitter, Literary Review *Larson's subjects aren't as well-known as they deserve to be... The expansiveness and meticulousness of Larson's research deserves applause * Lucy Scholes, Daily Telegraph *An extraordinarily well-crafted, many-layered and captivating book, in which the author makes the amount of research that underlies its chapters seem effortless -- Felix Haas * World Literature Today *Enthralling... the first generation of professional female anthropologists faced far more prejudice back home than they ever did out in the field -- Kathryn Hughes * Guardian *Undreamed Shores is a compelling group biography... This is a beautifully written and convincing book that is deeply sympathetic to the difficulties encountered by this first generation of British women anthropologists. It reveals much about how their work at the time was compromised by the myriad ways in which they, and the people they studied, depended on the colonial infrastructure * TLS *

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Book Synopsis'Kate Winkler Dawson is an unbelievable crime historian and such a talented storyteller.' Karen Kilgariff, cohost of the My Favorite Murder podcast'Heinrich changed criminal investigations forever, and anyone fascinated by the myriad detective series and TV shows about forensics will want to read [this].' The Washington Post'An entertaining, absorbing combination of biography and true crime.' Kirkus'Kate Winkler Dawson has researched both her subject and his cases so meticulously that her reconstructions and descriptions made me feel part of the action rather than just a reader and bystander. She has brought to life Edward Oscar Heinrich's character, determination, and skill so vividly that one is left bemused that this man is so little known to most of us.' Patricia Wiltshire, author of Traces and The Nature of Life and DeathBerkeley, California, 1933. In a lab filled with curiosities - beakers, microscopes, Bunsen burners and hundreds of books - sat an investigator who would go on to crack at least 2,000 cases in his 40-year career.Known as the 'American Sherlock Holmes', Edward Oscar Heinrich was one of the greatest - and first - forensic scientists, with an uncanny knack for finding clues, establishing evidence and deducing answers with a skill that seemed almost supernatural.Based on years of research and thousands of never-before-published primary source materials, American Sherlock is a true-crime account capturing the life of the man who spearheaded the invention of a myriad of new forensic tools, including blood-spatter analysis, ballistics, lie-detector tests and the use of fingerprints as courtroom evidence.Trade ReviewKate Winkler Dawson is an unbelievable crime historian and such a talented storyteller.' * Karen Kilgariff, cohost of the My Favorite Murder podcast *'Heinrich changed criminal investigations forever, and anyone fascinated by the myriad detective series and TV shows about forensics will want to read [this].' * The Washington Post *Kate Winkler Dawson has researched both her subject and his cases so meticulously that her reconstructions and descriptions made me feel part of the action rather than just a reader and bystander. She has brought to life Edward Oscar Heinrich's character, determination, and skill so vividly that one is left bemused that this man is so little known to most of us.' * Patricia Wiltshire, author of Traces and The Nature of Life and Death *'An entertaining, absorbing combination of biography and true crime.' * Kirkus *American Sherlock will take you on a journey to the origins of crime scene investigation by exploring the obsessive, troubled, brilliant mind of Oscar Heinrich, the nation's first true medical detective, an accomplished polymath who understood, far ahead of his time, that applied forensic science was the key to unlocking criminal mysteries. Kate Dawson offers a riveting, real, and sometimes-unsettling account of Heinrich's life and legacy in this thoroughly-researched and unblinking biography that will at times make you shake your head at the ways that true crime is stranger than fiction.' * Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell, authors of Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner *Part institutional history, part true crime account, and part dramatic tale of brilliant minds and clashing personalities, American Sherlock promises to be just as gripping as her first.' * CrimeReads *Those interested in the development of modern forensics will be enthralled' * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisA BBC History magazine Book of the Year and an amazon.com Best Book of the Month As religion divided sixteenth-century Europe, an extraordinary group of women rose to power. They governed nations while kings fought in foreign lands. They ruled on behalf of nephews, brothers and sons. They negotiated peace between their warring nations. For decades, they ran Europe. Small wonder that it was in this century that the queen became the most powerful piece on the chessboard. From mother to daughter and mentor to protégée, Sarah Gristwood follows the passage of power from Isabella of Castile and Anne de Beaujeu through Anne Boleyn – the woman who tipped England into religious reform – and on to Elizabeth I and Jeanne d’Albret, heroine of the Protestant Reformation. Unravelling a gripping historical narrative, Gristwood reveals the stories of the queens who had, until now, been overshadowed by kings.Trade Review‘Gristwood handles multiple narrative strands with tremendous finesse... Densely packed with fascinating material, this immensely ambitious undertaking succeeds triumphantly.’ * Literary Review *‘A masterpiece that effortlessly and enthrallingly interweaves the amazing stories of women who ruled in Europe during the Renaissance period...and a pacy and illuminating good read.’ * Alison Weir *‘Engaging and highly readable.’ * BBC History Magazine, Books of the Year *‘Gristwood brings them all to life with her usual mix of character study and pacy narrative’. * History Revealed *‘Gristwood interweaves the drama of monarchy with its more domestic moments.’ * Telegraph *‘A fast-paced chronological narrative bursting with intrigue.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Sarah Gristwood’s study of the brilliant, beleaguered and often bloody difficult women who kept Europe going in the sixteenth century is compelling, clear-eyed, beautifully rendered and never-more-timely.’ -- Jessie Childs‘A magnificent exploration of a most remarkable group…Gristwood gives us impeccable research, incisive attention to detail and exquisite writing as she investigates these truly fascinating women and their lives of courage, tribulation and determination. Absolutely unputdownable.’ -- Kate Williams, author of The Storms of War

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Book Synopsis‘An insightful, nuanced account that highlights the present multitude of currents at play in Europe' - Peter Pomerantsev The Baltics are vital democracies in North-Eastern Europe, but with a belligerent Vladimir Putin to their east – plotting his war on Ukraine – and ‘expansionist’ NATO to their west, these NATO members have increasingly been the subject of unsettling headlines in both Western and Russian media. But beyond the headlines, what is daily existence like in the Baltics, and what does the security of these frontline nations mean for the world? Based on her extensive research and work as a journalist, Aliide Naylor takes us inside the geopolitics of the region. Travelling to the heart of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania she explores modernity in the region, investigates smuggling and troop movements in the borderlands, and explains the countries’ unique cultural identities. Naylor tells us why the Baltics have been vital to the political struggle between East and West, and how they play a critical role in understanding the long running tensions between Russia and Europe.Trade ReviewIn this riveting debut, Naylor combines lyrical personal observations with insightful political analysis to offer a timely and comprehensive picture of the complex societies, economies, and political landscapes of this frequently overlooked region. * The Moscow Times *[A] captivating depiction of the relationship between domestic politics, geopolitics, socioeconomic issues and generational differences. * New Eastern Europe *An insightful, nuanced account that highlights the present multitude of currents at play in Europe, while showing how Russia has used the near-abroad as a laboratory for methods later deployed elsewhere. A mix of travelogue, social and political analysis, Naylor tells the stories and dynamics of the region from the inside, which is really the only way to understand them. * Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is not Propaganda and Nothing is True and Everything is Possible *Over the last six years, as Russia showed the world that it could, at will, seize territory on its Western border, the Baltic states were thrust into limbo, perpetually braced to become the next Ukraine. Aliide Naylor offers us a much-needed look at the netherworld that is the Baltics, an in-between space where anti-Putin intellectuals and shadowy money have sought shelter. Naylor, whose own relatives escaped West from Estonia, is an engaging companion, guiding us through pagan rites, cigarette smugglers' routes, and the lingering secrets of the Nazi occupation. Naylor takes us inside a swath of Europe in a state of suspended animation, forced to serve as a testing ground for a war that may never come. * Ellen Barry, Chief International Correspondent at The New York Times *Table of ContentsChapter 1: The past in the present Chapter 2: Tangible evidence Chapter 3: The view from Russia Chapter 4: Russia in the Baltics Chapter 5: The Baltics in the 21st century Chapter 6: The Baltic states in Europe Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisThrough a series of lively and accessible biographical essays, Red Valkyries explores the history of socialist feminism century Eastern Europe. By examining the revolutionary careers of five prominent socialist women active in the 19th and 20th centuries-the aristocratic Bolshevik, Alexandra Kollontai; the radical pedagogue, Nadezhda Krupskaya; the polyamorous firebrand, Inessa Armand; the deadly sniper, Lyudmila Pavlichenko; and the partisan turned scientist turned global women's activist, Elena Lagadinova-Kristen Ghodsee tells the story of the personal challenges faced by earlier generations of socialist and communist women. None of these women were "perfect" leftists. Their lives were filled with inner conflicts, contradictions, and sometimes outrageous privilege, but they still managed to move forward their own political projects through perseverance and dedication to their cause. Always walking a fine line between the need for class solidarity and the desire to force their sometimes callous male colleagues to take women's issues seriously, these five women pursued novel solutions with lessons for activists of today. In brief conversational chapters-with plenty of concrete examples from the history of the state socialist countries in Eastern Europe and contemporary reflections on the status of women in the world today-Ghodsee renders the big ideas of socialist feminism accessible to those newly inspired by the emancipatory politics of insurgent left feminist movements around the globe.Trade ReviewWe've needed this book longer than we know: celebrating and learning from revolutionary socialist women, Red Valkyries gifts us with models essential to today's struggles. Kristen Ghodsee breaks down the wall liberal feminism built in women's history, bringing to life a vision of emancipation that continues to be worth fighting for. -- Jodi Dean, author of ComradeWritten with clarity and zest, Red Valkyries is an illuminating introduction to the extraordinary lives of prominent socialist women in the Soviet Union and Bulgaria. -- Sheila RowbothamIn our historical moment, quotas of women in power positions and correct manners or expressions are obfuscating the long historical link between feminism and radical politics. Ghodsee's Red Valkyries is exactly the book needed to correct this misperception and help feminism to rejoin its radical past. The five figures analyzed were fighters who pursued the feminist cause through their full engagement in revolutionary political struggle. Can we still imagine this, in our era obsessed with victimization? -- Slavoj ZizekRed Valkyries is a fascinating alternative history of the feminist movement, told from the perspective of the east rather than the west. The women Ghodsee profiles are committed socialists who realise that women's liberation is incompatible with capitalism, and who also frequently struggle against the centralisation of power within their own countries. Required reading for anyone seeking out an alternative to #girlboss feminism. -- Grace BlakeleyA beautiful book about the intimate lives and bold ideas of a range of Communist women, people who built their revolutionary dreams into reality. Ghodsee lifts up the immense contradiction between the future-oriented social hopes of these revolutionaries, these exiles from the future, and the grip of the social conventions of the present. -- Vijay PrashadFunny and politically illuminating, Ghodsee writes with the clear-sighted directness of the revolutionary women she describes. Women's sexual, political and daily emancipation were the eye of the socialist storm for Kollantai, Krupskaya, Armand and Lagadinova. Ghodsee's book breathes new life into their stories of how to create a world without patriarchy. -- Elizabeth Armstrong, Smith CollegeKristen Ghodsee's new book is a well-documented and immensely personal guide to the 20th-century East European socialist women's movement. The author extracts from silence and saves from oblivion five women who have made an attempt to change not only their own, personal history, but also political, social and cultural history of women in Europe and worldwide. It is a story about a communist revolution in which women played a significant role, creating and implementing the project of a better world for all people. Reflections on the past are not, however, used to celebrate it nostalgically, but to draw conclusions for the future - how to act to build an alternative to the hegemony of capitalism and nationalism. This well-written, passionate story about the "red Valkyries" shows that socialism is not a song of the past, but still valid and long-awaited response to the challenges of the present world. Ghodsee argues that the history is not over, but rushes forward. Speeding up, however, it needs signposts to avoid falling into the abyss. The Red Valkyries will be perfect for this role. -- Agnieszka Mrozik, Institute of Literary Research of the Polish Academy of SciencesUntil the late 20th century, you could pay close attention in school, graduate from a prestigious university with a degree in history and still never find out who Harriet Tubman was. Outrageous, right? But due to capitalist ideology and Cold War hangover, you could still do all that and never learn about Alexandra Kollontai or Inessa Armand, or any of history's great Communist women. Kristen Ghodsee's riveting account of these complicated, imperfect and inspiring lives is an outstanding corrective to our miseducation, one that's long overdue. -- Liza FeatherstoneCompelling...by telling unfamiliar and forgotten stories, [Red Valkyries] suggests there are other fronts on which the battle can be fought than those favoured by western feminists. -- Desmond Bullen * Northern Soul *Illuminating...Ghodsee equips us with five extraordinary role models whose tenacity, perseverance and dedication to revolutionary politics should serve as inspiration to anyone seeking to build a better world for all. -- Rachel Collett * Red Pepper *This is an eye-opening deep dive into an underexamined aspect of feminist history. -- Publishers WeeklyAs an expert in her field, [Ghodsee] deftly covers vast amounts of history, political theory, and complicated personal relationships....A timely and fascinating volume for those interested in Russian and socialist history. -- Halie Kerns * Library Journal *Ghodsee weaves these women's ideologies and feminist views into the larger picture of a time, that of multiple world wars, open revolution, burgeoning socialist societies, and the knowledge that extreme change was needed in dire circumstances. -- Kathleen Townsend * Booklist *A compelling book, a call for a broader understanding of the history of women's political practice, the ideas that informed it, and its implications for our own time. -- Ben Clarke * Chicago Review of Books *Any utopia first needs to be imagined. For that endeavor, Ghodsee's gripping book, with its important ideas distilled (yet not made banal) for those who might be encountering them for the first time, is available. -- Oana Uiorean * LIBER *

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Book SynopsisIn the dictionary, a ''hero'' is described as a very brave person or someone who possesses incredible powers. Heroes are people who accomplish great feats that change the world somehow. In this book we read about 20 special heroes. Welsh heroes. Suitable for Welsh Learners at Intermediate Level.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Jim Larkin and the lockout of Dublin workers in 1913 led by William Martin Murphy, told in graphic novel form. On August 26th 1913, the trams of Dublin stopped. The Great Dublin Lockout had begun. Over the next four months, James Larkin would lead the workers of Dublin against William Martin Murphy and the Employers Federation in a conflict that would change the face of Irish industrial relations. Dublin was brought to its knees by the food shortages and the aftermath of Bloody Sunday. As winter approached, Larkin lead his Firey Cross campaign to England, hoping to rally the entire United Kingdom to strike in support of the Irish workers. Trade Reviewwith an evident respect for history, they bring the pages of textbooks to life for the young adult reader -- Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013enlightening -- Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013even-handed in its representation, Paddy Lynch’s understated artwork complements McConville’s engaging and historically accurate material -- Children’s Books Ireland Recommended Reads Guide 2013a wonderful atmospheric ambiance -- Books Irelandeffective text and graphics have brought the episodes vividly to life -- Books Irelandone to be highly recommended -- Books Irelandthis graphic novel is important -- http://girlslikecomics.comMcConville’s writing is at all times very tight; Big Jim is clearly a work that’s been edited and rewritten and edited some more, but the process stands to the finished product -- http://girlslikecomics.comI had my stepfather read it, to see what he thought. He’s a huge history buff. It was the first graphic novel he’d ever seen, He said – I think it would be a great introduction for young people coming to history for the first time, who want to know what happened and get a taste of the era, but don’t want to have to go diving into some big tome. -- http://girlslikecomics.comaccessible format -- eastwallforall.iebeautifully illustrated -- eastwallforall.iethe children … were fascinated by their [Rory and Paddy’s] presentation -- eastwallforall.ieMcConville’s writing is skilful -- Look LeftLynch’s artwork is extremely effective, as rough and dark as the era it depicts, and interesting use is made of archival photographs cleverly interspersed throughout -- Look Leftquite witty in places -- Look Leftan enjoyable and unique read, as well as being a great introduction to the Lockout in it its centenary year -- Look Leftan immersive, almost thriller-like, storytelling style -- NewsFourenjoyable to read ... a good sense of the time -- thecomiccast.comwould highly recommend people buy it -- thecomiccast.com'the Irish comics industry has never been in better form, something which this offering from Rory McConville and Paddy Lynch only serves to confirm' -- Sunday Business Post'[O’Brien Press graphic novels] appeal as much to children as to older readers' -- Evening Echo'a valuable and refreshing look at an important part of Irish history' -- Evening Echo

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Book SynopsisIn the early 14th century, a new weapon entered the arsenals of European armies. This first generation of black powder weapons put fear into the heart of the enemy and in 1453 Ottoman cannon succeeded in pummelling the once-impregnable walls of Constantinople. But cannons, which are both slow and cumbersome, were difficult to use and often proved inaccurate. The first handgonnes were the answer. Easily dismissed by later historians as nothing more than crude tubes that shot wildly inaccurate lead balls, more recent research has revealed the true accuracy of the medieval handgonne together with its penetrative power. This volume, complete with detailed illustrations and colour photographs of reconstructed handgonnes, reveals the true history of what could easily have been the most revolutionary weapon in history. This book will be a must for medieval enthusiasts and re-enactors.Table of ContentsIntroduction/ Development/ Use /Impact /Conclusion

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Book SynopsisAlong the coast of Fife, in villages like Culross and Pittenweem, history records that some women were executed as witches. Nevertheless, the reality of what happened the night that Janet Cornfoot was lynched at Pittenweem is hard to grasp as one sits by the harbour watching the fishing boats unload their catch and the pleasure boats rising with the tide. How could people do this to an old woman? Why was no-one ever brought to justice? And why would anyone defend such a lynching? The task of the historian is to try to make events in the past come alive and seem less strange. The details of the witch-hunt are fascinating. Some of the anecdotes are strange. The modern reader finds it hard to imagine illness being blamed on the malevolence of a beggar woman denied charity, or the economic failure of a sea voyage being attributed to the village hag, not bad weather. Witch-hunting was related to ideas, values, attitudes and political events. It was a complicated process, involving religious and civil authorities, village tensions and the fears of the elite. The witch-hunt in Scotland also took place at a time when one of the main agendas was the creation of a righteous or godly society. As a result, religious authorities had control over aspects of people's lives which seem as strange to us today as beliefs about magic or witchcraft. It was not accidental that the witch-hunt in Scotland, and specifically in Fife, should have happened at this time. This book tells the story of what occurred over a period of a century and a half, and offers some explanation as to why it occurred.

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisSeventy years since the radical music of the 1960s first hit the airwaves, the anthems of the era continue to resonate with our current times. Through studying these musicians and the political contexts in which their pioneering songs were birthed; amidst paranoia, psychedelic delusions, desire and civil unrest; Aaron Leonard’s Whole World in an Uproar is an important new critical history of countercultural music from the Summer of Love to the unwelcome arrival of Bob Dylan.Trade Review"What happened when HUAC, the FBI, Jim Crow, corporate media outlets, drug warriors, the religious right, and even the Old Left tried to stop a freight train? Drawing on a broad range of sources, including FBI files, Whole World in an Uproar recounts that momentous story.""Aaron Leonard integrates an amazing amount of research into a story that ranges from FBI surveillance of the Old Left to the rock scene to the social dissension around the anti-Vietnam War and Black liberation movements. A well-thought through, fascinating documentary about movements and people who were affected by oppressive societal actions.""A fascinating counter-history of the 1960s music revolution through the eyes of the persecutors, paranoiacs and culture warriors who tried to stop it."

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Book SynopsisMaharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda state towered over all the other rulers of princely states in British India. The book not only documents how a Maratha farmer''s son became a maharaja by a twist of fate, but also reveals interesting details about how the favourite son'' of the British Empire found himself on the brink of being deposed by the British. Extensively researched and engagingly written, the book unearths secret records from the India Office inondon and discloses the role played by Sayajirao in India''s fight for freedom. Despite failing health and great personal tragedies, Sayajirao governed the state with remarkable zeal and had many firsts to his credit. As early as 1881, he opened several schools for girls and a training college forady teachers. In 1893, he introduced free primary education for children and became the first Indian ruler to do so. He banned child marriage and untouchability and promoted inter-caste marriage and widow remarriage widely. This is a biography of a great ruler whoseegacy does notie just in great institutionsike theaxmi Vilas Palace, Ajwa reservoir, Kala Bhavan, Centralibrary of Baroda, Baroda College (now MS University of Baroda), Baroda Museum and Bank of Baroda, but in the scale, nature and foresight of his endeavours.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“No one masters so many primary and secondary sources. . . given character by the elegance and lightness of his literary touch. . . You will not read a work of wider interest on Thomas’s period.”—Blair Worden, Literary Review“This book is a fully realised successor to those classics by Thomas, Religion and the Decline of Magic and Man and the Natural World. . . The command of evidence is extraordinary, and the final result is of a huge poly-phony, as different voices disagree, conflict, reinforce each other and undermine another’s point of view. It is funny as well as heartbreaking, absurd as well as chilling. There is hardly a page without half a dozen extraordinary incidents, statements or facts — and the 100 pages of notes are a tour-de-force of learned command, intelligent investigation and compelling judgment. There can hardly be a more convincing statement of what civilisation means than Keith Thomas’s own work.”—Philip Hensher, Spectator“There is much scope for honest praise in this learned, humane and wide-ranging book, based on a lifetime’s reading in both early modern sources and recent scholarship on English social and cultural history.”—Ann Hughes, THES“Keith Thomas’s wonderful book, which is both erudite and energising, thoughtfully confirms that the way in which cultures deal with ethnic, religious and behavioural differences, as well as the often despised poor, is an index of its true civility. . . ought to be read and meditated upon by our increasingly boorish political classes.”—Brian Young, Daily Telegraph “Gloriously rich...an irresistible mosaic of 17th- and 18th-century life.” — Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times “The result is as entertaining as it is erudite.” — William Moore, Evening Standard“The author of the classic Religion and the Decline of Magic, Thomas is a national treasure who should be cloned so that future generations can benefit from his intelligence and urbane sensibility. . . His research is impressive, but even more so is his ability to bring the past alive by letting people such as Defoe and Swift tell their stories. This is a very civilised book.”—Gerard DeGroot, The Times “Thomas is one of Britain’s greatest living historians. . . In the final pages of his hugely rich and impressive book, [he] makes a strong case for the defence. What civility boiled down to, he says, was kindness, decency and cleanliness. And in some ways we have a lot to learn from our forebears.”—Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times“In Pursuit of Civility is a highly readable account of the ways in which the English have defined themselves and those around them, as well as of dissident voices who persistently criticised such fashioning. It also reminds us that we are part of a much older, global conversation about pluralism, difference and what it means to be members of the human species.”—Emily Jones, Financial Times“[A] fascinating but disquieting book about the history of English civility.”—Ysenda Maxtone Graham, Daily Mail“Reading [In Pursuit of Civility] is like listening to a continuous conversation between countless articulate voices from the past. . . A beautifully written and continuously stimulating tour-de-force.”—Fara Dabhoiwala, Guardian“Resting on an awesome foundation of scholarship, unobtrusively available in the endnotes, richly illustrated by contemporary quotations and produced in a handsome and remarkably affordable hardback, this is a book to ponder, to savour and to enjoy.”—Martin Wellings, Methodist Recorder“One of the most entertaining books imaginable.” —Philip Hensher, The Spectator (Books of the year 2018)"Our finest living historian gives a dismayingly entertaining survey of what was held to be civilised behaviour and what barbarous in England between 1500 and 1800.” —Claire Tomalin, New Statesman (Books of the Year)“Keith Thomas touches on the sentiment in his latest book on the history of early­modern England, in which he seeks, in his own words, ‘to demonstrate the importance of the ideals of civility and civilisation’ in England between the Reformation and the French Revolution.” — Serenhedd James, Church Times “Keith Thomas has produced a delightfully quirky book about how the English learnt to be nice.” —Gerard De Groot, The Times Ireland“A lively, engaging and perceptive book on the topic of civility in early modern England.” —Joan Redmond, Reviews in History “A thorough, lavishly illustrated account” —Karen Serres, The Burlington Magazine“A distinguished contribution to the "historical ethnography of early modern England" ” —Arnold Hunt, Times Literary Supplement“Brilliant study” —Bernard Richards, Oxford Magazine“A prodigious range of reference” — John Gallagher, LRB“In this magisterial study, Keith Thomas explores the history of socio-anthropological ideas about ‘manners’. They include not just conventional codes of politeness (such as behaviour at table) but the social customs which underpin all interpersonal relationships.”—Penelope J. Corfield, Cultural and Social History

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"If you want to understand why illiberal democracy is not the newest of ideas, or how a raft of leaders has emerged in Hungary, Poland and the Balkans who seem to echo a dark time in our continent’s history, this compelling book, covering the last 200 years in the region, is a good place to start. . . . Few recent works have made the past so relevant to our times."---Victor Sebestyen, Sunday Times"Connelly captures superbly the divergences and rivalries within his basket of nationalities: how little coordination took place between them; how little they recognised what he calls their ‘common predicament.’"---R.J.W. Evans, Literary Review"A rich narrative history of Central and Eastern Europe."---Damir Marusic, Washington Examiner"[From Peoples into Nations] will doubtless emerge as a landmark contribution to the study of nationalism as a political force in Eastern Europe." * Survival: Global Politics and Strategy *"The author has provided his reader not only with a detailed ‘crash course’ on how the people of Eastern Europe formednations there, but also with a ‘road map’ for further intellectual immersion. John Connelly’s monograph, therefore, serves as a valuable contribution to the broader understanding of Eastern Europe and an introductory textbook on a geographic space where more good and bad happened during the twentieth century than anywhere else."---Paweł Markiewicz, Slavonic and East European Review"A magisterial account about Eastern Europe that forcefully reminds us of the enduring and adaptable power of national passions in modern history. . . .Connelly is undeniably one of the best experts in regional history of central and eastern Europe, but most of all, he is a comparative historian of nation-states. . . .[B]efore any vast global comparisons can be made, we need rich, rigorous, and authoritative regional histories. From Peoples into Nations delivers just that."---Małgorzata Mazurek, H-Diplo"N/A"---Fabian Baumann, Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas

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Book SynopsisReflecting both the interlocked web of politics, economics, and academics, as well as the evolving contours of Japan’s Americanists, these essays highlight the diverse paths through which individuals have come to be ‘Americanists’ and the complex meanings that identity carries for them.

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Book SynopsisBy the end of the medieval period, Britain''s churches already had an architectural heritage of one thousand years, much of which remains on view today. This guide by architectural historian Jon Cannon uses high-quality photographs and diagrams to help us to analyze the leading changes in style from the Anglo-Saxon period, through the Romanesque as far as Gothic and Perpendicular. By identifying various clues left by each period, he enables us to date architectural features and styles, and explains the technical terms applied to them. If you have ever wondered how your church or cathedral developed, and want to know your triforium from your blind arcade or your vault from your hammerbeam, all the answers are here.Table of ContentsIntroduction / Anglo-Saxon / Norman or Romanesque / The Birth of Gothic: Transitional / Gothic I: Early English / Gothic II: Decorated / Gothic III: Perpendicular / Postscript / Glossary / Further Reading / Places to Visit / Appendix: Chronology of Styles / Index

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