History Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Nile
Book Synopsis
£20.10
Casemate Publishers Exploring Ancient Sounds and Places
Book Synopsis
£36.10
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Never Argue With A Matron
Book SynopsisThis is the account of a very ordinary woman who, during a 38-year career in nursing, had many exciting and far-from-ordinary adventures.Nursing was not always easy, as evidenced in various episodes,not least, during training, visits to matron with broken thermometers and later, stressful times when newly qualified, and during midwifery. There were exciting months as a Nursing Sister on board the P&O liner ''Oriana''followed by a few years as a domiciliary midwife in Liverpool,culminating in nineteen years serving in Queen Alexandra''s Royal Army Nursing Corps.They include the tale of a Christian Dior necklace, one of owning a rowing boat while a pupil midwife in Plymouth, and world exploration with the Merchant Navy. QA Postings included Hong Kong, Nepal, Germany and Cyprus, the latter working with the RoyalAir Force at Princess Mary''s RAF Hospital, Akrotiri. Several flights were great privileges, onein a Shackleton, one with the Red Arrows, one in a Lightning, and one in a helicopte
£18.00
Columbia University Press Spoiled
Book Synopsis
£17.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Fall of the Seleukid Empire 18775 BC
Book SynopsisThe concluding part of John D Grainger''s history of the Seleukids traces the tumultuous last century of their empire. In this period it was riven by dynastic disputes, secessions and rebellions, the religiously-inspired insurrection of the Jewish Maccabees, civil war and external invasion from Egypt in the West and the Parthians in the East. By the 80s BC, the empire was disintegrating, internally fractured and squeezed by the converging expansionist powers of Rome and Parthia. This is a fittingly, dramatic and colourful conclusion to John Grainger''s masterful account of this once-mighty empire.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Celtic Tribes
Book SynopsisThe people we know as the Celts were an Iron Age culture that originated in central Europe,probably around modern-day Hungary, Southern Germany and the Czech Republic, somethree thousand years ago. They were groups of distinct tribal peoples who shared a commonlanguage and culture that thrived until they were confronted by an aggressive andexpansionist Roman Empire set on conquest. This book traces their many migrations westward over the following centuries, and theiradvances into the Atlantic coastal regions, especially into countries like France, Spain,Portugal, Belgium, Britain and Ireland, largely replacing the Neolithic people that formerlyoccupied these territories. These migrations were rarely peaceful and as a result the Celtswere widely regarded as warlike and inherently aggressive. The book describes the many inter-tribal and territorial confrontations that occurred duringthe Roman period. It explains the fighting methods, tactics and style of Celtic warfare as wellas the
£21.25
The History Press Ltd The Piltdown Man Hoax
Book SynopsisPiltdown. Even today the name sends a shiver down the collective spine of the scientific community, for this was the most dramatic and daring fraud ever perpetrated upon the world of science and academia. Between 1908 and 1912, a series of amazing discoveries relating to what appeared to be the earliest human were made close to the little village of Piltdown in Sussex. These remains belonged to the developmental missing link' between man and ape. The basic principles of evolution, first propounded by Charles Darwin some fifty years before, now appeared as indisputable fact. The Manchester Guardian ran the first headline: THE EARLIEST MAN?: REMARKABLE DISCOVERY IN SUSSEX. A SKULL MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD' it screamed, adding that the discovery was one of the most important of our time'. The news spread quickly around the world, with many voicing their eagerness to examine the find. Few archaeological discoveries have the capacity to be front-page news twice over, but Piltdown Man' is a rar
£13.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Russian Concubine
Book Synopsis*** THE Sunday Times TOP TEN BESTSELLING AUTHOR ***''Wonderful . . . hugely ambitious and atmospheric'' Kate MosseDiscover a brilliant story of love, danger, courage and betrayal, from the internationally bestselling author of The Betrayal. *****Junchow, China, 1928.Lydia Ivanova was among the Russian elite until the Bolsheviks revolutions forced her to flee to China with her mother. But survival is hard.Lydia has a fierce spirit. Nothing can dim it, not even the foul waters of the Peiho River. Into the river''s grime bodies are tossed - those of thieves and Communists alike. A reminder that every time Lydia steals from someone to feed herself and her mother, she takes her life into her own hands. Even though mother and daughter live in the Whites-only settlement, no walls can keep Lydia in as she escapes to meet her lover, Chang An Lo. But Chang has enemies who are hunting him down, and theiTrade ReviewWonderful ... a gripping love story ... A hugely ambitious and atmospheric epic novel Kate Mosse, author of LABYRINTH The Russian Concubine is a great story of love, loss and conflicting loyalties in a fascinatingly precarious moment of history. The wonderfully drawn and all-too-human characters struggle to survive in a world of danger and bewildering change, constantly Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander series A pulse-racing romance ... breathtakingly good' Marie Claire '[an] achingly beautiful epic' New Woman Whether you like romance, history, action or adventure, this highly accomplished, sweeping epic is a perfect winter read ... Escapism at its best, this novel brilliantly captures the sights, sounds and atmosphere of early twentieth-century Russia and C 'A rollicking good read, with a fast-moving plot and oodles of colourful characters and evocative locations. The best thing about it, however, is Lydia ... a heroine that one hopes to meet for more adventures in the future' Telegraph
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co In the Name of Rome
Book SynopsisThe complete and definitive history of how Roman generals carved out the greatest and longest-lasting empire the world has ever seen.The Roman army was one of the most effective fighting forces in history. The legions and their commanders carved out an empire which eventually included the greater part of the known world. This was thanks largely to the generals who led the Roman army to victory after victory, and whose strategic and tactical decisions shaped the course of several centuries of warfare.This book, by the author of THE PUNIC WARS, concentrates on those Roman generals who displayed exceptional gifts of leadership and who won the greatest victories. With 26 chapters covering the entire span of the Roman Empire, it is a complete history of Roman warfare.
£13.49
Orion Publishing Co Revolution 1989 The Fall of the Soviet Empire
Book Synopsis'A compelling and illuminating account of a great drama in the history of our times which showed once again that ordinary men and women really can change the world' Jonathan Dimbleby, MAIL ON SUNDAYTrade ReviewThis pacy and vivid survey of the remarkably swift collapse of the Soviet empire is a considerable achievement. * DAILY TELEGRAPH *the heart dances with joy that politics can be so thrilling * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *A truly excellent read about one of the best years in European history * CATHOLIC HERALD *
£12.34
Orion Publishing Co Four Queens The Provencal Sisters Who Ruled
Book SynopsisThe four beautiful, cultured and clever daughters of the Count and Countess of Provence made illustrious marriages and lived at the epicentre of political power and intrigue in 13th-century Europe.Marguerite accompanied her husband, King Louis IX of France, on his disastrous first crusade to the Holy Land, where straight from childbirth she ransomed him from the Mamluks. And with her sister Eleanor, queen of England, Marguerite engineered a sturdy peace between France and England. Ambitious Eleanor walked a narrow line while she struggled to build her own power base without alienating her cowardly husband, Henry III. Beatrice''s coronation as queen of Sicily was the culmination of her long, hard-fought campaign to earn respect from her world-famous, mightily accomplished older siblings. Sanchia wed one of the richest men in Europe, but her reign as queen of Germany, brought her only misery. From Goldstone''s rich, beautifully woven tapestry, medieval Europe sTrade ReviewThis highly readable book is set against the bloody and turbulent backdrop of medieval Europe...a fascinating account * CATHOLIC HERALD *A gripping narrative -- the author is particularly good on the theatricality of the age * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *
£10.99
Orion Publishing Co Love and Louis XIV The Women in the Life of the
Book SynopsisMistresses and wives, mothers and daughters - Antonia Fraser brilliantly explores the relationships which existed between The Sun King and the women in his life. This includes not only Louis XIV''s mistresses, principally Louise de La Vallière, Athénaïs de Montespan, and the puritanical Madame de Maintenon, but also the wider story of his relationships with women in general, including his mother Anne of Austria, his two sisters-in-law who were Duchesses d''Orléans in succession, Henriette-Anne and Liselotte, his wayward illegitimate daughters, and lastly Adelaide, the beloved child-wife of his grandson.Trade ReviewA sparkling history which captures the giddy quality of the times * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Vividly capturing 17th-century Europe's most extravagant court -- Mark Comber * DAILY EXPRESS *Antonia Fraser's colourful history emphasises the conflict between private pleasure and religious dut in the life of Europe's grandest Catholic ruler -- Simon Shaw * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Fraser brilliantly dissects the intense rivalry of the ladies who indulged in 'commerce' with the king -- Ian Pindar * OBSERVER *Enjoyable ... Fraser brings to life the female stars circling the Sun King in an account that successfully combines erudition with gossipy stories of the kind the Versailles courtiers loved so much * SUNDAY TIMES *Louis springs to life as fresh and as fascinating as ever * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *
£15.29
Orion Publishing Co Tulipomania The Story of the Worlds Most Coveted
Book Synopsis'A fascinating exploration of human greed and self-delusion and also a tribute to our ageless search for beauty' DEBORAH MOGGACH.Trade Review[Dash] has the storyteller's knack of making his readers feel present in the sweaty, smoke-filled taverns of Haalem ... a shining tribute to this extraordinary flower * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *A marvellous parable of greed, skulduggery, opulence, extravagance and retribution -- Simon SinghA fascinating exploration of human greed and self-delusion and also a tribute to our ageless search for beauty -- Deborah MoggachDetailed and highly readable * DAILY TELEGRAPH *An enthusiastic historian's view of the subject with lots of colourful detail -- Jan Morris, Books of the Year * INDEPENDENT *I can't remember the last time I read a plant book or a gardening book that was such a page-turner. The story is a gift, of course - but the grip lies in the telling ... Such is the artistry of the writing that you will mop it all up, sponge like, and absorb it as you pursue the twists and turns of the story * HORTUS *A fine chapter of social history - enticing, splendidly written and informative * KIRKUS *Gripping ... a happy weight of detail * GUARDIAN *The fast-paced text brings to life the excitement caused in Europe by the introduction of this exotic flower from the East * BBC GARDENERS' WORLD *
£10.99
Headline Publishing Group The Zookeepers Wife An unforgettable true story
Book SynopsisNow a major motion picture, starring Jessica Chastain and Daniel Brühl, based on a remarkable true story of bravery and sanctuary during World War II - out in Spring 2017.When Germany invades Poland, Luftwaffe bombers devastate Warsaw and the city''s zoo along with it. With most of their animals killed, or stolen away to Berlin, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski begin smuggling Jews into the empty cages.As the war escalates Jan becomes increasingly involved in the anti-Nazi resistance. Ammunition is buried in the elephant enclosure and explosives stored in the animal hospital. Plans are prepared for what will become the Warsaw uprising. Through the ever-present fear of discovery, Antonina must keep her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and animal inhabitants - otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes - as Europe crumbles around them.Written with the narrative drive and emotional punch of a novel, The Zookeeper''s Wife is a remarkable tTrade ReviewI can't imagine a better story or storyteller. The Zookeeper's Wife will touch every nerve you have * Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Everything is Illuminated *Alternatingly funny, moving and terrifying. This powerful thriller would be a great novel - except that it happens to be true. * Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs and Steel *
£10.44
Schiffer Publishing Ltd Tupolev Tuâ144
Book Synopsis
£43.99
Gill A Pocket History of the Irish Famine
Book SynopsisThe Great Famine, an Gorta Mór in Irish, was a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration in Ireland between 1845 and 1852. Often referred to as the Irish Potato Famine, particularly outside Ireland, as around forty percent of the population were reliant on this crop. Over a million people died and over a million more emigrated, often in appalling circumstances. This book explains what happened before and during the Famine, with an account of the consequences of this epic tragedy.
£6.99
Yale University Press Wellington
Book Synopsis
£18.99
Yale University Press Henry IV
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Combines excellent scholarship with brilliant storytelling, relishing the detail of blood-splattered drama equal to any episodes of Game of Thrones."—Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Week -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * The Week *
£20.90
Luath Press Ltd Shale Voices
Book SynopsisFrom local legend, newspaper reports and family history, Alistair Findlay has pieced together a comprehensive documentary of Scotland's shale mining industry; of the people, communities and generations of families involved, and the cultural and political impact of the industry. Enlivened throughout with numerous photographs, drawings, poetry and short stories, this incredible history of human courage, endurance and endeavour will appeal to any reader with an interest in Scotland's social and cultural history.Trade ReviewAlistair Findlay has added a basic source material to the study of Scottish History that is invaluable... Scotland owes him a debt of gratitude for undertaking this work. - TAM DALYELL One of the finest pieces of social history I've ever read. - MARK STEPHEN, The Scottish Connection, BBC Radio Scotland For thousands of people across the country their attitudes, lifestyles and opinions have been formed through an industry which was once the envy of the world... captures the essence of the feeling of the time. - LINDSAY GOULD, The West Lothian Courier Findlay records their voices, as sharp and red as the rock they worked... The result is to recreate the directness, simplicity and power of everyday speech. - JOHN FOSTER, The Morning Star The real and rounded history of the people... important, informative, captivating and inspiring, speckled with hardship and humour, it is well worth a read. - JOHN STEVENSON, Scotland in Unison ... do you not feel echos of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's Sunset Song in this man's writing? - WILLIAM WOLDE, Scots Independent
£10.44
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Ethnographic Fieldwork
Book SynopsisNewly revised, Ethnographic Fieldwork: An Anthropological Reader Second Edition provides readers with a picture of the breadth, variation, and complexity of fieldwork. The updated selections offer insight into the ethnographer's experience of gathering and analyzing data, and a richer understanding of the conflicts, hazards and ethical challenges of pursuing fieldwork around the globe. Offers an international collection of classic and contemporary readings to provide students with a broad understanding of historical, methodological, ethical, reflexive and stylistic issues in fieldwork Features 16 new articles and revised part introductions, with additional insights into the experience of conducting ethnographic fieldwork Explores the importance of fieldwork practice in achieving the core theoretical and methodological goals of anthropology Highlights the personal and professional challenges of field researchers, from issues of profeTrade Review"This final section serves to bring full circle many of the central issues about the relationship between ethnographers and their research subjects and, thus, is a fitting conclusion to an extraordinary collection." (Anthropos, 2 October 2013) Table of ContentsAbout the Editors x Editors’ Acknowledgments xi Acknowledgments to Sources xii Fieldwork in Cultural Anthropology: An Introduction 1 Jeffrey S. Sluka and Antonius C. G. M. Robben Part I Beginnings 49 Introduction 51 Antonius C. G. M. Robben 1 The Observation of Savage Peoples 56 Joseph-Marie Degérando 2 The Methods of Ethnology 63 Franz Boas 3 Method and Scope of Anthropological Fieldwork 69 Bronislaw Malinowski Part II Fieldwork Identity 83 Introduction 85 Antonius C. G. M. Robben 4 A Woman Going Native 92 Hortense Powdermaker 5 Fixing and Negotiating Identities in the Field: The Case of Lebanese Shiites 103 Roschanack Shaery-Eisenlohr 6 Being Gay and Doing Fieldwork 114 Walter L. Williams 7 Automythologies and the Reconstruction of Ageing 124 Paul Spencer Part III Fieldwork Relations and Rapport 135 Introduction 137 Jeffrey A. Sluka 8 Champukwi of the Village of the Tapirs 143 Charles Wagley 9 Behind Many Masks: Ethnography and Impression Management 153 Gerald D. Berreman 10 The Politics of Truth and Emotion among Victims and Perpetrators of Violence 175 Antonius C. G. M. Robben Part IV The “Other” Talks Back 191 Introduction 193 Jeffrey A. Sluka 11 Custer Died for Your Sins 199 Vine Deloria, Jr. 12 Here Come the Anthros 207 Cecil King 13 When They Read What the Papers Say We Wrote 210 Ofra Greenberg 14 Ire in Ireland 219 Nancy Scheper-Hughes Part V Fieldwork Confl icts, Hazards, and Dangers 235 Introduction 237 Jeffrey A. Sluka 15 Ethnology in a Revolutionary Setting 244 June Nash 16 The Ethnographer’s Tale 256 Neil L. Whitehead 17 Anthropology from the Bones: A Memoir of Fieldwork, Survival, and Commitment 274 Cynthia Keppley Mahmood 18 Reflections on Managing Danger in Fieldwork: Dangerous Anthropology in Belfast 283 Jeffrey A. Sluka Part VI Fieldwork Ethics 297 Introduction 299 Jeffrey A. Sluka 19 The Life and Death of Project Camelot 306 Irving Louis Horowitz 20 Confronting the Ethics of Ethnography: Lessons From Fieldwork in Central America 318 Philippe Bourgois 21 Ethics versus “Realism” in Anthropology 331 Gerald D. Berreman 22 Worms, Witchcraft and Wild Incantations: The Case of the Chicken Soup Cure 353 Jeffrey David Ehrenreich 23 Code of Ethics (2009) 359 American Anthropological Association Part VII Multi-Sited Fieldwork 365 Introduction 367 Antonius C. G. M. Robben 24 Beyond “Culture”: Space, Identity, and the Politics of Difference 374 Akhil Gupta and James Ferguson 25 Afghanistan, Ethnography, and the New World Order 387 David B. Edwards 26 Being There … and There … and There! Reflections on Multi-Site Ethnography 399 Ulf Hannerz 27 A New Form of Collaboration in Cultural Anthropology: Matsutake Worlds 409 Matsutake Worlds Research Group Part VIII Sensorial Fieldwork 441 Introduction 443 Antonius C. G. M. Robben 28 Balinese Character: A Photographic Analysis 450 Gregory Bateson and Margaret Mead 29 The Taste of Ethnographic Things 465 Paul Stoller and Cheryl Olkes 30 Dialogic Editing: Interpreting How Kaluli Read Sound and Sentiment 480 Steven Feld 31 On Rocks, Walks, and Talks in West Africa: Cultural Categories and an Anthropology of the Senses 496 Kathryn Linn Geurts Part IX Refl exive Ethnography 511 Introduction 513 Antonius C. G. M. Robben 32 Fieldwork and Friendship in Morocco 520 Paul Rabinow 33 The Way Things Are Said 528 Jeanne Favret-Saada 34 Transmutation of Sensibilities: Empathy, Intuition, Revelation 540 Thomas J. Csordas 35 “At the Heart of the Discipline”: Critical Reflections on Fieldwork 547 Vincent Crapanzano Part X Engaged Fieldwork 563 Introduction 565 Jeffrey A. Sluka 36 Introduction – 1942 573 Margaret Mead 37 Scholarship, Advocacy, and the Politics of Engagement in Burma (Myanmar) 579 Monique Skidmore 38 “Human Terrain”: Past, Present and Future Applications 593 Roberto J. González 39 The Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Ethnographic Notes on “Othering Violence” 605 Nikolas Kosmatopoulos Appendix 1: Key Ethnographic, Sociological, Qualitative, and Multidisciplinary Fieldwork Methods Texts 612 Appendix 2: Edited Cultural Anthropology Volumes on Fieldwork Experiences 615 Appendix 3: Reflexive Accounts of Fieldwork and Ethnographies Which Include Accounts of Fieldwork 618 Appendix 4: Leading Cultural Anthropology Fieldwork Methods Texts 620 Appendix 5: Early and Classic Anthropological Writings on Fieldwork, including Diaries and Letters 622 Index 623
£45.55
Princeton University Press The Roman Market Economy The Princeton Economic
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Temin is a professional economist, and his book glows with the fervour of the true believer."--Peter Thonemann, Times Literary Supplement "[T]his important book should be a challenge to ancient economic historians of all persuasions to engage seriously with both economic theory and comparative history, as well as with its specific claims about the development and performance of the Roman Empire."--Neville Morley, Sehepunkte "In The Roman Market Economy Peter Temin accomplishes the quintessential task of the economic historian: to take shards of pottery, folios of brittle parchment, and patinated tools and fashion from them a credible, comprehensive and vivid picture of a society long gone."--Plamen Ivanov, LSE Review of Books "The Roman Market Economy effectively demonstrates the elegance and simplicity of economic demonstration. But Temin's methodological point would have been more persuasive had it shown that an economic methodology can lead to new, or challenge old, understandings of the ancient economy."--Sitta von Reden, Journal of Interdisciplinary HistoryTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgments ix 1. Economics and Ancient History 1 Part I: Prices *Introduction: Data and Hypothesis Tests 27 *2. Wheat Prices and Trade in the Early Roman Empire 29 *3. Price Behavior in Hellenistic Babylon 53 *Appendix to Chapter 3 66 *4. Price Behavior in the Roman Empire 70 Part II: Markets in the Roman Empire *Introduction: Roman Microeconomics 95 *5. The Grain Trade 97 *6. The Labor Market 114 *7. Land Ownership 139 *8. Financial Intermediation 157 Part III: The Roman Economy *Introduction: Roman Macroeconomics 193 *9. Growth Theory for Ancient Economies 195 *10. Economic Growth in a Malthusian Empire 220 *Appendix to Chapter 10 240 *11. Per Capita GDP in the Early Roman Empire 243 References 263 Index 289
£25.20
Beacon Press Brokers of Deceit
Book SynopsisWinner of the 2014 Lionel Trilling Book AwardAn examination of the failure of the United States as a broker in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, through three key historical moments For more than seven decades the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people has raged on with no end in sight, and for much of that time, the United States has been involved as a mediator in the conflict. In this book, acclaimed historian Rashid Khalidi zeroes in on the United States’s role as the purported impartial broker in this failed peace process. Khalidi closely analyzes three historical moments that illuminate how the United States’ involvement has, in fact, thwarted progress toward peace between Israel and Palestine. The first moment he investigates is the “Reagan Plan” of 1982, when Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin refused to accept the Reagan administration’s proposal to reframe the Camp David Accords more impartially. The second moment covers the period after the Madrid Peace Conference, from 1991 to 1993, during which negotiations between Israel and Palestine were brokered by the United States until the signing of the secretly negotiated Oslo accords. Finally, Khalidi takes on President Barack Obama’s retreat from plans to insist on halting the settlements in the West Bank. Through in-depth research into and keen analysis of these three moments, as well as his own firsthand experience as an advisor to the Palestinian delegation at the 1991 pre–Oslo negotiations in Washington, DC, Khalidi reveals how the United States and Israel have actively colluded to prevent a Palestinian state and resolve the situation in Israel’s favor. Brokers of Deceit bares the truth about why peace in the Middle East has been impossible to achieve: for decades, US policymakers have masqueraded as unbiased agents working to bring the two sides together, when, in fact, they have been the agents of continuing injustice, effectively preventing the difficult but essential steps needed to achieve peace in the region.
£15.29
Cornell University Press The Romanian Revolution of December 1989
Book SynopsisThe Romanian Revolution of 1989 was the most spectacularly violent and remains today the most controversial of all the East European upheavals of that year. Despite (or perhaps because of) the media attention the revolution received, it remains...Trade Review"Siani-Davies has reconstructed the rush of events during these three revolutionary weeks literally hour by hour. The effect is to draw the reader in as if he or she were there, while at the same time soaring above and viewing the overall flow and structure of a revolution. In short, Siani-Davies has done more than provide an exceedingly fine-grained account of the overthrow of the Ceausescu regime; he has given students of revolution an example with all the inner mechanics exposed."—Foreign Affairs, September/October 2005"Among the Communist governments in eastern Europe that collapsed, nowhere was the overthrow as violent and blood as in the Romanian revolution of 1989, which cost more than 1,000 lives. Peter Siani-Davies, utilizing a wide variety of Romanian sources, has written a detailed history of the revolution that brought the overthrow of the Communist government in Romania and the execution of Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife Elena on Christmas Day, 1989."—Keith Eubank, The Virginia Quarterly Review"Here is a remarkable portal to a crossroad in contemporary politics for Romanian aficionados and Cold War history buffs. Peter Siani-Davies touches western and southern urban locales in focusing on the immediate background and aftermath of Nicolae Ceausescu's overthrow. He critically assesses evidence gleaned from Romanian newspapers and offers probabilities and possibilities for matters still awaiting the disclosure of primary records."—Frederick Kellogg, Slavic Review, Summer 2006"Splendidly researched and compellingly argued, this book is an original and persuasive contribution to our understanding of the collapse of Ceausescu's dictatorship, the December 1989 revolutionary upheaval, and the difficult birth of democracy in Romania. It is mandatory reading for all those interested in a luminously sophisticated approach to the myths and realities of the Romanian Revolution."—Vladimir Tismaneanu, University of Maryland, author of Stalinism for All Seasons: A Political History of Romanian Communism"Finally, a near-definitive account of how Ceausescu fell! This fascinating book shows that this was indeed a classic revolution. It was violent, mass based, and it deeply transformed Romania. Peter Siani-Davies has made a valuable addition to the analytic literature on mass political movements. Impeccably documented and reasoned, his book will provide comparative students of revolution enormous amounts of material. We rarely get such detailed accounts of how various leaders, factions, and ordinary people are swept up in chaotic circumstances they often do not quite understand. In Romania, the outcome was deliverance from a stultifying tyranny, but this study makes it clear that chance and human errors play a role in determining outcomes, though underlying structural and historical factors ultimately count even more."—Daniel Chirot, Senior Fellow, United States Institute of Peace
£23.99
Five Leaves Publications Curious Camden Town
Book SynopsisPlenty of people think they know Camden ... but what about the spiritualist temple that Sherlock Holmes helped build or the folk dance revival that started in a Camden Hay Market or the site of the Camden Town Murder? Camden might have the best eels and mash shop in North London but it was also the home of a local priest who was deported as a political undesirable and of a Black revolutionary who was known all over the world. Curious Camden Town explores thirty or so locations across this lively locality and brings to life the remarkable stories attached to them.
£9.49
Cornell University Press The Search for God in Ancient Egypt
Book SynopsisFirst English-language edition, with revisions and additions by the author. This classic work by one of the world's most distinguished Egyptologists was first published in German in 1984. The Search for God in Ancient Egypt offers a distillation of...Trade ReviewVery occasionally there will appear a book, vibrant with intellectual fervor, which challenges jaded ideas and as such I welcome with the greatest admiration Jan Assmann, The Search for God in Ancient Egypt. At the outset I would urge readers to confront the complexity of the linguistic level of this book... because Assmann's total command of the ancient sources and his interpretative insights make joining him on his 'search' a unique experience. -- George Hart * Egyptian Archaeology *What has made Assmann not only an eminent Egyptologist, but, in Germany, a public intellectual as well, is his sympathetic operation from within Egyptian texts coupled with a deep and detailed knowledge of Western intellectual history.... We are very fortunate to see his extraordinary scholarship appearing at last in English, and owe our thanks to... Cornell University Press and David Lorton, as well as, of course, to Assmann himself, for this excellent new opportunity. -- Tom Hare, Princeton University * Cambridge Archaeological Journal *
£22.79
Johns Hopkins University Press Genealogies of Religion
Book SynopsisHe argues that religionis a construction of European modernity, a construction that authorizes-for Westerners and non-Westerners alike-particular forms of history making.Trade ReviewThis eloquent, lucid, and complex work is the product of remarkable intelligence and erudition; it is a profound contribution to the understanding of the cultural hegemony of the West. -- Ralph M. Coury Religious Studies Review All articles are extremely well written, exhibit impressive scholarship, and are thoughtful and are thoughtful and stimulating. Asad's criticisms are neither judgmental nor self-righteous but are generally driven by the will to understand. -- James R. Wood Contemporary SociologyTable of ContentsPart 1 Genealogies: the construction of religion as an anthropological category; toward a genealogy of the concept of ritual. Part 2 Archaisms: pain and truth in medieval Christian ritual; on discipline and humility in medieval Christian monasticism. Part 3 Translations: the concept of cultural translation in British social anthropology; the limits of religious criticism in the Middle East. Part 4 Polemics: multiculturalism and British identity in the wake of the Rushdie affair; ethnography, literature and politics - some readings and uses of Salmon Rushdie's "Satanic Verses".
£26.10
Cornell University Press Alliance Politics
Book SynopsisGlenn H. Snyder creates a theory of alliances by deductive reasoning about the international system, by integrating ideas from neorealism, coalition formation, bargaining, and game theory, and by empirical generalization from international history...Trade ReviewFor those who are truly interested in the relationship between politics and the military, reading Alliance Politics is worth the effort. -- LTC Laurence W. Mazzeno * Military Review *
£28.49
Cornell University Press The Forest of Symbols
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA collection of ten of the most brilliant and important essays on ritual yet written. These papers by Victor Turner... are all seminal and distinguished. * American Anthropologist *
£21.24
Little, Brown Book Group The War of Wars: The Epic Struggle Between
Book SynopsisRobert Harvey brilliantly recreates the story of the greatest conflict that stretches from the first blaze of revolution in Paris in 1789 to final victory on the muddy fields of Waterloo.On land and at sea, throughout the four corners of the continent, from the frozen plains surrounding Moscow and terror on the Caribbean seas, to the muddy low lands of Flanders and the becalmed waters of Trafalgar, The War of Wars tells the powerful story of the greatest conflict of the age.Trade Review"'This is the 'definitive' one-volume account of a particualry rich slab of history. Harvey is an energetic writer - he shuttles us along without ever losing pace.' Daily Express. 'Harvey's narrative and the development of his thesis are comprehensive, clear, persuasive and entertaining; indeed it is truly impressive. I doubt a better account of the never-ending war will be written in many a year.' Allan Mallinson, The Spectator. 'an exhillirating sequence of dramatic set-pieces in narrative history's best traditions.' Literary Review"
£17.00
Open Court Publishing Co ,U.S. The Man in the High Castle and Philosophy
Book Synopsis The Man in the High Castle is an Amazon TV show, based on the Philip K. Dick novel, about an alternate present (beginning in the 1960s) in which Germany and Japan won World War II, with the former Western US occupied by Japan, the former Eastern U.S. occupied by Nazi Germany, and a small neutral zone between them. A theme of the story is that in this alternative world there is eager speculation, fueled by the illicit newsreel, The Grasshopper Lies Heavy, about how the world would have been different if America had won the war.In The Man in the High Castle and Philosophy, twenty-two professional thinkers look at philosophical issues raised by this ongoing enterprise in alternative history. One question is whether it really made a profound difference that the Allies won the war, and exactly what differences in everyday life we may expect to arise from an apparent historical turning point. Could it be that some dramatic historical events have only superfi
£14.24
Pen & Sword Books Ltd How Can Man Die Better: The Secrets of Isandlwana
Book SynopsisWednesday 22 January 1879 was one of the most dramatic days in the long and distinguished history of the British Army. At noon a massive Zulu host attacked the 24th Regiment in its encampment at the foot of the mountain of Isandlwana, a distinctive feature that bore an eerie resemblance to the Sphinx badge of the outnumbered redcoats. Disaster ensued. Later that afternoon the victorious Zulus would strike the tiny British garrison at Rorke's Drift. How Can Man Die Better is a unique analysis of Isandlwana - of the weapons, tactics, ground, and the intriguing characters who made the key military decisions. Because the fatal loss was so high on the British side there is still much that is unknown about the battle. This is a work of unparalleled depth, which eschews the commonly held perception that the British collapse was sudden and that the 24th Regiment was quickly overwhelmed. Rather, there was a protracted and heroic defence against a determined and equally heroic foe. The author reconstructs the final phase of the battle in a way that has never been attempted before. It was to become the stuff of legend, which brings to life so vividly the fear and smell the blood.
£13.49
Stanford University Press The Practice of Conceptual History
Book SynopsisReinhart Koselleck is regarded as one of the most important theorists of history and historiography of the late 20th century, and is an exponent and practitioner of "Begriffsgeschichte". The 18 essays in this volume illustrate the four theses of Koselleck's concept of history.Table of Contents1 On the Need for Theory in the Discipline of History 2 Social History and Conceptual History 20 3 Introduction to Hayden White's Tropics ofDiscourse 38 4 Transformations of Experience and Methodological Change: A Historical-Anthropological Essay 45 5 The Temporalization of Utopia 84 6 Time and History 100 7 Concepts of Historical Time and Social History 125 8 The Unknown Future and the Art of Prognosis 131 9 Remarks on the Revolutionary Calendar and Neue Zeit 148 10 The Eighteenth Century as the Beginning of Modernity 154 11 On the Anthropological and Semantic Structure of Bildung I70 12 Three biirgerliche Worlds? Preliminary Theoretical-Historical Remarks on the Comparative Semantics of Civil Society in Germany, England, and France 208 13 "Progress" and "Decline": An Appendix to the History of Two Concepts 218 14 Some Questions Regarding the Conceptual History of"Crisis" 236 15 The Limits of Emancipation: A Conceptual-Historical Sketch 248 16 Daumier and Death 265 17 War Memorials: Identity Formations of the Survivors 285 18 Afterword to Charlotte Beradt's The Third Reich of Dreams 327
£25.19
John Wiley and Sons Ltd Witches and WitchHunts
Book SynopsisIn this major new book, Wolfgang Behringer surveys the phenomenon of witchcraft past and present. Drawing on the latest historical and anthropological findings, Behringer sheds new light on the history of European witchcraft, while demonstrating that witch-hunts are not simply part of the European past. Although witch-hunts have long since been outlawed in Europe, other societies have struggled with the idea that witchcraft does not exist. As Behringer shows, witch-hunts continue to pose a major problem in Africa and among tribal people in America, Asia and Australia. The belief that certain people are able to cause harm by supernatural powers endures throughout the world today.Wolfgang Behringer explores the idea of witchcraft as an anthropological phenomenon with a historical dimension, aiming to outline and to understand the meaning of large-scale witchcraft persecutions in early modern Europe and in present-day Africa. He deals systematically with the belief in witchcraTrade Review"An eye-opening accomplishment ... [Behringer's] careful and nuanced volume attests to the erstwhile human tendency, still tragically prominent, to succumb to paranoid fantasies about one's neighbours, colleagues and constituents: to accuse them of being in league with dark forces; to work to isolate, hound and even expunge them from the body politic." Journal of Genocide Research "Wolfgang Behringer establishes the importance of a truly global history of witchcraft. Setting aside familiar Western notions, he deploys a more comprehensive definition of witchcraft as the malicious use of evil magic. He brilliantly sketches the history of European witch-hunting and uses this to illuminate the twentieth-century struggle against witches in many parts of the post-colonial world such as South America, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. This book marks a real advance in our understanding of witchcraft, and a remarkable and astute blending of anthropology with history." H. C. Erik Midelfort, University of Virginia "Witchcraft has recently been the subject of an enormous amount of research and yet some of its main issues still need reappraisal. This book makes a compelling case for re-examining witchcraft in a fundamental way by reconnecting the new historical scholarship with the discipline of anthropology and treating the subject in a world perspective and as a universal phenomenon. Already Europe's leading expert on the early modern witchcraft trials, Wolfgang Behringer not only gives us a superb overview of where our knowledge of them currently stands but takes us on a global tour of witchcraft in modern societies. Unexpectedly, we discover how much the European and non-European experience have had in common." Stuart Clark, University of Wales SwanseaTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. List of Tables. Preface. Chronology. List of Abbreviations.. 1. Introduction.. 2. The Belief in Witchcraft.. 3. The Persecution of Witches.. 4. The European Age of Witch-Hunting.. 5. Outlawing Witchcraft Persecution in Europe.. 6. Witch-Hunting in the 19th and 20th Centuries.. 7. Old and "New Witches".. 8. Epilogue. Notes. Bibliography. Index.
£23.74
Fircone Books Ltd Merrily's Border: The Mysterious World of Merrily
Book Synopsis
£15.19
Oneworld Publications The Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession
Book SynopsisA New Statesman Book of the Year The wolf stands at the forefront of the debate about our impact on the natural world. In one of the most celebrated successes of modern conservation, it has been reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. What unfolds is a riveting multi-generational saga, at the centre of which is O-Six, a charismatic alpha female beloved by park rangers and amateur spotters alike. As elk numbers decline and the wolf population rises, those committed to restoring an iconic landscape clash with those fighting for a vanishing way of life; hunters stalk the park fringes and O-Six’s rivals seek to bring an end to her dominance of the stunningly beautiful Lamar Valley.Trade Review‘Deeply informed yet fast-paced and deftly structured…What ultimately makes this book so satisfying is that it is as much an account of the deep divisions within contemporary America as it is a tale about the world’s most enduring carnivore.' * New Statesman *‘Weaves together three narratives in one superb book…Blakeslee’s triumph is to tell all three stories with deep sympathy and insight.’ * New Statesman, Books of the Year *‘Blakeslee draws O-Six in novelistic…detail, using the conflicting insight and perspective of biologists, politicians, ranchers, environmentalists, lawyers, other animals, and hunters… Seeing a wolf is exceptionally rare, and this book is as close as most readers will come.’ * The New Yorker *‘Inspired by the most charismatic of animals, this is a story of dedication and determination, of conflict and passion and like all good stories it challenges your thoughts and fires up your emotions.’ -- Kate Humble‘Extraordinary…Blakeslee is a fine writer…Chilling and gripping by turns. The Wolf is a book that should be read, with care.’ * The National *‘The story of one wolf’s struggle to survive in the majestic Yellowstone National Park offers an ambitious look through the eyes of an endangered animal.’ * New York Times Book Review *‘The lives of the wolves in Yellowstone are often dramatic, but are full of touching, tender moments too, as Nate Blakeslee vividly writes in The Wolf.’ * Los Angeles Times *‘Gripping and fascinating! Wolf vs wolf, wolf vs man, man vs man.’ -- Margaret Atwood (via Twitter)‘Heartbreaking front-line coverage of our war on the wild… Blakeslee, hauntingly, gives the victims faces, families and stories. A quietly angry, aching, important book.’ -- Charles Foster, author of Being a Beast‘A compelling environmental drama of the reintroduction of wolves to the Rockies, as clear-sighted on human politics as it is on wolf politics. As wolf packs battle one another for control of precious territory, unknown to them another battle is taking place, between the wolves’ supporters and those who would eradicate them.’ -- Neil Ansell, author of Deep Country: Five Years in the Welsh Hills‘Wolves are neither gods nor demons. Real wolves are complex beings with personalities, ambitions, careers, and – thanks to us – more than their fair share of tragedy. The Wolf gives us true profiles of wolf lives lived in their actual families. And when humans get involved, the trajectory of their lives forever changes.’ -- Carl Safina, author of Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel‘Blakeslee…brings the feeling of a celebrity biography to the story of the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park and its aftermath… [He] escorts readers up close to interpack conflict as well as human enemies of wolf preservation.’ * Kirkus, starred review *‘Blakeslee gives us a very different sort of biography – the saga of a single female wolf, “the most famous wolf in the world,” and her exploits in Yellowstone National Park. It’s a startlingly intimate portrait of the intricate, loving, human-like interrelationships that govern wolves in the wild, as observed in real time by a cadre of dedicated wolf-watchers – in the end, a drama of lupine love, care, and grief.’ -- Erik Larson, author of The Devil in the White City and Dead Wake‘Wild, poignant, and compelling, The Wolf is an important, beautifully wrought book about animals, about values, and about living on this earth.’ -- Susan Orlean, author of The Orchid Thief and Rin Tin Tin‘The Wolf is a transcendent tale of the American West. I loved the doggedness and depth of the reporting, the texture of the writing. There are echoes of Jack London everywhere. But above all I loved the wolf herself, a character like no other I have ever encountered.’ -- S. C. Gwynne, author of Empire of the Summer Moon and Rebel Yell‘An intimate and riveting book about America’s most iconic and embattled predator. Blakeslee moves effortlessly between the ancient drama of the wolf pack, and its modern human counterpart, the sometimes vicious, red state-blue state partisans whose battleground is the fate of the American wolf. A wonderful and welcome addition to the pantheon of nature literature.’ -- John Vaillant, author of The Tiger and The Golden Spruce
£10.44
Birlinn General The Outer Hebrides: A Historical Guide
Book SynopsisThe Outer Hebrides lie 40 miles to the west of mainland Scotland, forming a barrier to the North Atlantic. Culturally distinct from early prehistory, the islands contain a wealth of historical and archaeological monuments, including the standing stones at Callanish, the magnificent St Clement’s church at Rodel as well as numerous brochs, castles, Pitish houses, croft houses and industrial and military buildings. In addition to descriptions of key historic sites from prehistory onwards and gazetteers covering every place of historical interest, this book also traces the development of the modern environment and landscape of the islands, enabling the visitor to appreciate the sites within their historical and cultural context.Trade Review'In short, this is an excellent and informative book, one which – I suspect – many people will carry in the glove compartment of their car while driving north or south through these islands’ -- Donald Murray, * Stornoway Gazette *'A well-researched guide covering all facets of island life… this book is perfect for anyone looking to diversify their knowledge of Scottish history' * Scottish Field *
£12.34
British Museum Press The Staffordshire Hoard New Edition
Book SynopsisComplete with new photography of the cleaned and conserved objects, showing off the stunning and intricate decoration, this book provides a fascinating account of the history and the discovery of this remarkable hoard.
£8.81
Vintage April Blood
Book SynopsisOne of the world's foremost authorities on the Italian Renaissance, Lauro Martines was born in Chicago, has a Ph.D. from Harvard University, but has been living in London since 1970. Until recently he communted to Los Angeles, where he was Professor of European History at the University of California. He and his wife, the novelist Julia O'Faolain, lived for some years in Florence. His best known books include Lawyers and Statecraft in Renaissance Florence (1968), Society and History in English Renaissance Verse (1985), An Italian Renaissance Sextet: Six Tales in Historical Context (1994), Strong Words: Writing and Social Strain in the Italian Renaissance (2001), and Power and Imagination, now available in Pimlico.Trade ReviewA spine-chilling political drama of conspiracy, murder and bloody revenge * The Times *A riveting tale in which we can recognise analogies with our own world * Financial Times *Sheds light on the whole apparatus of political powering Renaissance Florence * Week *Captivating * Times Literary Supplement *Elegant and incisive...a masterful reconstruction * Sunday Times *
£12.34
British Museum Press The GayerAnderson Cat
Book SynopsisThe Gayer-Anderson Cat has been one of the most admired objects at the British Museum since its arrival in 1947. This book presents a detailed description of the cat and a discussion of its possible meaning and role in ancient times.
£6.00
Gill The Pocket Book of Great Irish Speeches Inspiring
Book SynopsisSome of the finest speeches ever made have been spoken in Ireland. This book highlights 45 eminent and influential speeches, from Robert Emmet''s defiant speech from the dock on the eve of his execution, to Panti Bliss''s passionate 21st century oratory in support of gay marriage in Ireland. With a short biography of each speaker and highlights of their selected speech, this book features some of Ireland''s most inspiring and evocative speakers, from politics to the arts.
£6.99
Vintage The Washing Of The Spears
Book SynopsisDonald R. Morris was born in 1924 and grew up in New York City. In 1948 he graduated from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. After serving on several destroyers, he went on to Naval Intelligence School and Russian language training and was detailed to the CIA in 1956. He remained with the CIA and continued in the Naval Reserve until 1972, when he retired as a Lieutenant Commander. He earned two battle stars in Korea and holds the Navy Commendation medal. His 17 years with the CIA were spent almost entirely in Soviet counter-espionage operations. He was stationed for lengthy periods in Berlin, Paris, Kinshasa (Zaire) and Vietnam. For many years Donald Morris was also a foreign affairs columnist for the Houston Post. In 1989 he formed the Trident Syndicate and published a weekly newsletter on current events and foreign affairs. He died in 2002.Trade ReviewSuperb -- Noel Mostert * New York Times *Mr. Morris is evidently incapable of being dull... Hemingway would have relished his vigorous way of bringing history to life * The Times *An accomplished volume, anatomising the achievement of Zulu nationhood and its destruction by the British at the high watermark of Victorian imperialism. * Observer *The book to end all books on the tragic confrontation between the assegai and the Gatling gun... Colourful yet commendably fair * Times Literary Supplement *This magnificent book is not only a history of the Zulus, the "Black Spartans", from their rise under Shaka to the deliberate destruction of the independent Zulu nation through the war forced on them by Sir Bartle Frere, but also a full-scale immensely knowledgeable account of British Colonial and military policy in relation to Southern Africa, and of the men who carried it out. * Punch *
£21.25
John Murray Press Up and Down Stairs
Book SynopsisA history that brings to life the real country house servantsTrade ReviewThis is Gosford Park as non-fiction, and utterly fascinating * Times Literary Supplement *'Entertaining saga of the class divide' * The Daily Express *'Intimate and absorbing study' * The Sunday Times *Architectural historian Masson brings alive the symbiotic relationship between the houses, their owners, and the workers. * Financial Times *'Musson is excellent on the changing face of service in the twentieth century' * Spectator *'Personal anecdotes bring this well-researched book to life' * Mail on Sunday *'A brilliantly readable book full of human history and entertaining anecdotes' * Lancashire Evening Post *'He retells the story at a cracking pace... we are reminded that all kinds of likely lads, including Chaucer, started out as paper pushers and cup bearers' * Guardian *'Packed with quotes from memoirs and letters, as well as first hand accounts, a fascinating social history' * BBC Who Do You Think You Are Magazine *'An ideal read' * Field Magazine *
£10.44
John Murray Press Oracle Bones
Book SynopsisFrom the acclaimed author of River Town comes a rare and authentic portrait - both intimate and epic - of twenty-first century China as it opens its doors to the worldTrade ReviewTo come across a Westerner patient enough and tolerant enough to try and understand the immense, exasperating and ultimately lovable entity that is China is always a pleasure. To encounter one that is as literate and sensitive as Peter Hessler is a joy * Simon Winchester *'One of the most profoundly original books about China' * The Economist *'A swirl of interconnecting stories and histories make up Peter Hessler's extraordinary, genre-defying second book' * Daily Telegraph *'Oracle Bones, the much anticipated follow-up to his acclaimed debut, River Town, lays bare a rapidly evolving China through his often bizarre encounters with the engines of its social changes.' * South China Morning Post *'Extensive travel around China with occasional flits back home to the U.S., combine with some fascinating speculation on the origins of Chinese civilisation and how the remote past impinges on the present' * China Review *'Dip into it ... You will be hooked' * International Herald Tribune *'A brilliant tapestry of ancient and modern China' * Spectator *'He ranges widely and, in doing so, illustrates how Chinese history accumulates' * Mick Herron, Geographical Magazine *'Valuable for its necklace of vignettes - poignant, comic, and weird ' * Jonathan Mirsky, Literary Review *'[An] extraordinary survey of contemporary China...really quite unforgettable' * The Observer *'If you read one book on Chinese modern culture, read this one' * Dimsum.co.uk *'Ingenious ... Stretches back in time as well as criss-crossing present-day China' * John Dugdale, Guardian *'Anyone who wants to begin to understand the complexities that are China, and their bitter-sweet and pregnant relationships with the West, should read this idiosyncratic, brilliant book' * Ross Leckie, The Times *'An impressive and moving account of the lives of ordinary people' * Clover Stroud, Sunday Telegraph / Travel *
£12.34
John Murray Press Spitfire Portrait of a Legend
Book SynopsisIn June 1940, the German Army had brought the rest of Europe to its knees. ''Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world will move forward into broad, sunlit uplands,'' said Churchill. The future of Europe depended on Britain. A self-confident Herman Göring thought that it would be only a matter of weeks before his planes had forced Britain to surrender. The courage, resourcefulness and brilliant organisation of the RAF were to prove him wrong. By late September 1940, the RAF had proved invincible, thanks to the Vickers Supermarine Spitfire. It exceeded anything that any other air force possessed. RJ Mitchell, a shy and almost painfully modest engineer, was the genius behind the Spitfire. On the 5th March 1936, following its successful maiden flight, a legend was born. Prize-winning historian Leo McKinstry''s vivid history of the Spitfire brings together a rich Trade ReviewPraise for ROSEBERY: * . *Stunning ... As well as being meticulously researched, it is beautifully written and has tremendous pace * Literary Review *Absorbing ... McKinstry has here proved himself to be a first-class historical biographer * Mail on Sunday *With masterly skill and sympathy, Leo McKinstry resurrects him as the Hamlet of late Victorian England * Daily Mail *An authoritative and original biography which is also a riveting read' * Spectator *Superbly well-researched and well-written ... A truly first-class addition to the genre of Prime Ministerial biography * Sunday Telegraph *'An absolutely wonderful biography ... gripping and entertaining' * Evening Standard *'A first class biography, scholarly, judicious and always interesting' * Glasgow Herald *'Remarkable' * Country Life *'Judicious, well-researched and engrossing' * Sunday Times *'This is undoubtably the definitive biography of Rosebery. Written with elegance, clarity and well-judged colour' * Jonathan Parry, Times Literary Supplement *'It does a wonderful job of conjuring up the lost world of late Victorian politics' * Dominic Sandbrook, Daily Telegraph *'Admirable biography of a paradoxical figure whose tenure at No 10 was a disaster' * Jeremy Lewis, Sunday Times *
£12.34
Gill In Time of War
Book SynopsisWhen the Union Jack was hauled down over the Atlantic naval ports of Cobh, Berehaven and Lough Swilly in 1939, the Irish were jubilant. But in London, Churchhill brooded on the ''incomprehensible'' act of surrendering three of the Royal Navy''s finest ports when Europe was about to go to war.Eighteen months later, Churchill was talking of military action against Ireland. He demanded the return of the ports and the Irish made ready to defend their country against British as well as German invasion.In Northern Ireland, a Unionist Government vainly tried to introduce conscription. Along the west coast British submarines prowled the seas searching for German U-boats sheltering in the bays; British agents toured the villages of Donegal in search of fifth columnists while their German counterparts tried to make contact with the IRA.This is a fasinating study of Ireland during the Second World War.Anybody interested in Irish affairs will have to get Fisk''s book
£18.69
Manchester University Press Martial Races
Book SynopsisThis book provides an exploration of how and why Scottish Highlanders, Punjabi Sikhs and Nepalese Gurkhas became linked as the British Empire's fiercest, most manly soldiers in nineteenth century discourses of martial races.' -- .Trade ReviewAn excellent book, lucid and fluent throughout. An impressive contribution to the history of military thought and an original addition to imperial studies -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1. The transformation of the British and Indian Armies in the Rebellion of 18572. ‘Side by side in generous rivalry’: Highlanders, Sikhs and Gurkhas in the Rebellion3. A ‘question on which the safety of the Empire depends’: the European threat, recruiting, and the development of martial race ideology after 18704. ‘A power which a man should try to manage for himself’: military influence and martial race discourse in British popular culture5. Martial races: the Inter-imperial uses of a racially gendered language6. Representation versus experience: life as a martial race soldierConclusionBibliographyIndex
£23.84
Manchester University Press The Great Exhibition 1851 A sourcebook
Book SynopsisAn invaluable compendium of sources relating to the Great ExhibitionTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Origins and organisation 2 Display 3 Nation, empire and ethnicity 4 Gender 5 Class 6 Afterlives Index
£18.99
Getty Trust Publications Fashion in the Middle Ages
Book SynopsisFrom the costly velvets and furs worn by kings to the undyed wools and rough linens of the peasantry, the clothing worn by the various classes in the Middle Ages played an integral role in medieval society. In addition to providing clues to status, profession, and/or geographic origin, textiles were a crucial element in the economies of many countries and cities. Much of what is known about medieval fashion is gleaned from the pages of manuscripts, which serve as a rich source of imagery. This volume provides a detailed look at both the actual fabrics and composition of medieval clothing as well as the period's attitude toward fashion through an exploration of illuminated manuscripts in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The last portion of the book is dedicated to the depiction of clothing in biblical times and the ancient world as seen through a medieval lens. Throughout, excerpts from literary sources of the period help shed light on the perceived role and function of fashion in daily life.
£15.19
