History Books

Book SynopsisAssembles some of the top secret Soviet documents, from the era of Stalin's purges. This title includes the dossiers, police reports, private letters, secret transcripts, and other documents that expose the hidden inner workings of the Communist Party and the dark inhumanity of the purge process.Trade Review"'This book will be of great value to students of the Terror and... the material, such as Bukharin's last letter, is astounding.' Michael J. Ybarra, Wall Street Journal 'It will be indispensable for all historians and researchers of communism, the USSR, and Stalinism for many decades to come.' Roy A. Medvedev, author of Let History Judge"

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Book SynopsisA new appraisal of the first Tudor queen, her European connections, her ambitions and intentions, and the religious violence that stained her short reignTrade Review"[T]he most comprehensive and convincing account to date."—J.H. Elliott, The New York Review of Books -- J.H. Elliott * The New York Review of Books *“Edwards has comprehensively defeated a persistent and painful historical myth and replaced it with something more complicated, more human and much more accurate. This is the best biography of Mary we have yet seen.”—Lucy Wooding, Times Higher Education -- Lucy Wooding * Times Higher Education *

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Book SynopsisLate antiquity: decline or transformation, conflict or interaction?Late antiquity is the period (c.300 - c.800) in which barbarian invasions ended Roman Empire in Western Europe by the fifth century and Arab invasions ended Roman rule over the eastern and southern Mediterranean coasts by the seventh century. Asking ''what, where, and when'' Gillian Clark presents an introduction to the concept of late antiquity and the events of its time. Not only a period of cultural clashes, political restructurings, and geographical controversies, Clark also demonstrates the sheer richness and diversity of religious life as well as the significant changes to trade, economy, archaeology, and towns. Encapsulating significant developments through vignettes, she reflects upon the period by asking the question ''How much can we recognise in the world of late antiquity?''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. What and when is late antiquity? ; 2. Running the Empire ; 3. Law and welfare ; 4. Religion ; 5. What shall we do to be saved? ; 6. Barbarism ; 7. Bronze elephants: classical and Christian culture ; 8. Decisive change? ; Chronology

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Book SynopsisTrade Reviewplenty here to savour ... Tacitus was not just a fine writer, he was also a senior Roman politician. * Max Davidson, The Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis''Two things alone I long for: first, that when I die I may leave the Roman people free...and second, that each person''s fate may reflect the way he has behaved towards his country.''Cicero (106-43 BC) was the greatest orator of the ancient world and a leading politician of the closing era of the Roman republic. This book presents nine speeches which reflect the development, variety, and drama of his political career,among them two speeches from his prosecution of Verres, a corrupt and cruel governor of Sicily; four speeches against the conspirator Catiline; and the Second Philippic, the famous denunciation of Mark Antony which cost Cicero his life. Also included are On the Command of Gnaeus Pompeius, in which he praises the military successes of Pompey, and For Marcellus, a panegyric in praise of the dictator Julius Caesar.These new translations preserve Cicero''s rhetorical brilliance and achieve new standards of accuracy. A general introduction outlines Cicero''s public career, andTable of ContentsAgainst Verres (In Verrem I) ; Against Verres (In Verrem II.5) ; On the command of Gnaeus Pomeius (De imperio Cn. Pompeii) ; Against Catiline (In Catilinam I) ; Against Catiline (In Catilinam II) ; Against Catiline (In Catilinam III) ; Against Catiline (In Catilinam IV) ; For Marcellus (Pro Marcello) ; Philippic II

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Book SynopsisA broadly-illustrated overview of the contemporary state of Greco-Roman numismatic scholarship.Trade Review"As Metcalf notes (xvii), it is over 100 years since the last single volume guide to Greek coinage was produced, and there has never been an equivalent work for Rome. This new handbook is, therefore, long overdue and hugely welcome. All involved are to be congratulated and, while in a project as broad as this there are inevitably some omissions, we now have something where there was nothing, and for that we should be very grateful. It is much to be hoped that students of the history of all periods will find their way to this rich new resource." * Andrew Meadows, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *"This book represents an unprecedented innovation in numismatic literature and is becoming widely regarded as the best introduction to classical ancient coins. It is far more than a guide written solely for collectors. Instead, it was written to serve also as an introduction for graduate or post-doctoral students in the ancient cultures who seek training in classical numismatics. As a work in the renowned Oxford Handbooks series, this volume was written to offer an authoritative and annotated state-of-the-art survey of current thinking and research in the subject area. However, it is just that focus that makes it such a valuable text for serious collectors of ancient coins." * Roger Kuntz, Rochester Numismatic Association *Table of ContentsPreface ; Abbreviations ; Introduction, William E. Metcalf ; 1. The Substance of Coinage: The Role of Scientific Analysis in Ancient Numismatics, Matthew Ponting ; Archaic and Classical Greek Coinage ; 2. The Monetary Background of Early Coinage, John H. Kroll ; 3. Asia Minor to the Ionian Revolt, Koray Konuk ; 4. The Coinage of the Persian Empire, Michael Alram ; 5. The Coinage of Athens, 6th - 1st century B.C., Peter van Alfen ; 6. Aegina, the Cyclades and Crete, Kenneth Sheedy ; 7. The Coinage of Italy, N. K. Rutter ; 8. The Coinage of Sicily, Wolfgang Fischer-Bossert ; 9. Greece and the Balkans to 360 B.C., Selene Psoma ; The Hellenistic World ; 10. Royal Hellenistic Coinages from Alexander to Mithridates, Francois de Callatay ; 11. The Hellenistic World: The Cities of Mainland Greece and Asia Minor, Richard Ashton ; 12. The Coinage of the Ptolemies, Catharine C. Lorber ; 13. The Seleucids, Arthur Houghton ; 14. Greek Coinages of Palestine, Oren Tal ; 15. The Coinage of the Parthians, Fabrizio Sinisi ; The Roman World ; 16. Early Roman Coinage and its Italian Context, Andrew Burnett ; 17. The Denarius Coinage of the Roman Republic, Bernhard E. Woytek ; 18. The Julio-Claudians, Rienhold Wolters ; 19. Ancient Spain, Pere P. Ripolles ; 20. Flavian Coinage, Ian Carradice ; 21. The Coinage of the Provinces through Hadrian, Michel Amandry ; 22. Trajan and Hadrian, Martin Beckmann ; 23. Antonine Coinage, Liv Mariah Yarrow ; 24. The Provinces after Commodus, RAnn Johnston ; 25. Syria in the Roman Period, 64 B.C. - A.D. 260, Kevin Butcher ; 26. Roman Coinages of Palestine, Haim Gitler ; 27. The Severans, Richard Abdy ; 28. From Gordian III to the Gallic Empire (A.D. 238-74), Roger Bland ; 29. The Later Third Century, Sylviane Estiot ; 30. The Coinage of Roman Egypt, Angelo Geissen ; 31. Tetrarchy and the House of Constantine, Richard Abdy ; 32. The Coinage of the Later Roman Empire, A.D. 364-498, Sam Moorhead ; 33. The Transformation of the West, Alan M. Stahl ; Appendix 1: Marks of value on later Roman coins, Roger Bland ; Appendix 2: The earliest Christian symbols on Roman coins, Richard Abdy ; Indices ; a. Mints ; b. Persons ; c. General

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Book SynopsisIn the first two volumes of this work, Paul Ricoeur examined the relations between time and narrative in historical writing, fiction, and theories of literature. This final volume, a comprehensive reexamination and synthesis of the ideas developed in volumes 1 and 2, stands as Ricoeur's most complete and satisfying presentation of his own philosophy.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR BIOGRAPHY 2013Completely absorbing' Amanda Foreman''Enthralling' GuardianThe Three Musketeers! The Count of Monte Cristo! The stories of courseare fiction. But here a prize-winning author shows us that the inspiration forthe swashbuckling stories was, in fact, Dumas's own father, Alex - the sonof a marquis and a black slave... He achieved a giddy ascent from privatein the Dragoons to the rank of general; an outsider who had grown upamong slaves, he was all for Liberty and Equality. Alex Dumas was thestuff of legend' Daily MailSo how did such this extraordinary man get erased by history? Why arethere no statues of Monsieur Humanity' as his troops called him? TheBlack Count uncovers what happened and the role Napoleon played inDumas's downfall. By walking the same ground as Dumas - from Haiti toTrade ReviewRichly detailed, highly researched and completely absorbing... A triumph -- Amanda ForemanTotally thrilling... Brings to life one of history's great forgotten characters -- Simon Sebag MontefioreWe believe we know the glories of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. We believe we understand the horror of slavery and the oppression of Africans. But what is the relationship between the grand goal of liberation and the deep tragedy of racism? As Reiss shows us, answers can be found in the extraordinary life of a forgotten French hero of the great revolutionary campaigns - a hero who was black -- Timothy SnyderTom Reiss can do it all: gather startling research and write inspired prose; find life's great stories and then tell them with real brilliance. In The Black Count the master journalist-storyteller opens the door to the truth behind one of literature's most exciting stories, and opens it wide enough to show the delicate beauty of the lives within -- Strauss, National Book Critics Circle Award winning author of Half a Life and Chang and EngA terrific story…(Reiss) is to be congratulated for retrieving such a splendid character from the dustbin of history -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *A terrific story, every bit as good as one of Dumas’s novels, and Reiss tells it with suitable gusto and swagger -- John Preston * Mail on Sunday *A rarefied, intimate literary study delineating a roiling revolutionary era * Bookseller *Brilliant… Reiss directs a full scale production that jangles with drawn sabres, trembles with dashing deeds and resonates with the love of a son for a remarkable father -- Hugh MacDonald * Glasgow Herald *Fascinating * Robin’s Reviews *Enthralling…a swashbuckling tale -- Nigel Jones * Guardian *Richly imaginative… In 1802, Marie-Louise gave birth to their third child, Alexandre, Dumas pere. That Alexandre was a figure of vast appetite and incredible energy, but thanks to Reiss we now know that Dumas grandpere was even more interesting. A statue in his honour once stood in the Place Malesherbes in Paris, but it was destroyed by the Nazis since it celebrated a man of mixed race. There still isn’t a monument to him, but there should be -- Leo Damrosch * Scotsman *A cross between military biography and literary detective story…the author’s eye for colourful detail and palpable enthusiasm for his subject make for a highly entertaining read -- Andrew Lynch * Sunday Business Post *Heartfelt…highly readable…relentlessly, lovingly researched, indexed, cross-referenced and anecdotal. It is sustained by the author’s admiration for a singular individual, the brilliant father of a novelist whose subject was heroism and justice, the concepts by which his beloved sire had lived -- Eileen Battersby * Irish Times *A fascinating tale even more incredible than those penned by his famous son… Reiss writes his history with a suitably swashbuckling edge and brings to life a man who deserves to be remembered in his own right * Hampshire Chronicle (syndicated review) *This brilliantly researched book…deserves a film treatment all of its own -- Christopher Hudson * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisWhat is the definition of assassination? Robert Baer's boss at the CIA once told him, 'It's a bullet with a man's name on it.' Sometimes assassination is the senseless act of a psychotic, a bloodletting without social value. Other times, it can be the sanest and most humane way to change the course of conflict: one bullet, one death, case closed. Assassination has been dramatised by literature and politicised by infamous murders throughout history, and for Robert Baer, one of the most accomplished agents ever to work for the CIA, it's a source of endless fascination. Over several decades, Baer served as an operative, from Iraq to India and beyond. In THE PERFECT KILL, he takes us on a wildly entertaining narrative adventure through a history of political murder, interweaving his first-hand experience and his decades-long cat-and-mouse hunt for the greatest assassin of the modern age. A true maverick with an undeniably captivating personal story, Baer pulls back the curtain to give a glimpse of the underbelly of world politics, and the quiet murderers who operate on the fringe of our society.Trade ReviewThe Perfect Kill is a meditation on the art of political murder. Baer knows his subject -- ED CAESAR * SUNDAY TIMES *This potted history of assassination, with its carefully worded anecdotes and sense of absolute authenticity is intriguing, terrifying and occasionally lightened by the author's drily black sense of humour -- Russel D McLean * GLASGOW HERALD *riveting and insightful * BIGNEWSNETWORK.COM *

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Book SynopsisThe Habsburgs are the most famous dynasty in continental Europe. From the thirteenth to the twentieth centuries, they ruled much of Central Europe, and for two centuries were also rulers of Spain. Through the Spanish connection, they acquired lands around the Mediterranean and a chunk of the New World, spreading eastwards to include the Philippines. Reaching from South-East Asia to what is now Ukraine, the Habsburg Empire was truly global. In this Very Short Introduction Martin Rady looks at the history of the Habsburgs, from their tenth-century origins in Switzerland, to the dissolution of the Habsburg Empire in 1918. He introduces the pantheon of Habsburg rulers, which included adventurers, lunatics, and at least one monarch who was so malformed that his true portrait could never be exhibited. He also discusses the lands and kingdoms that made up the Habsburg Empire, and the decisive moments that shaped their history. Dynasty, Europe, global power, and the idea of the multi-national state all converge on the history of the Habsburg Empire. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewA master of compression and lively anecdote, Rady combines his sprightly account of Europe's most enduring and important ruling house with an illuminating commentary on the changing nature and efficacy of dynastic governance. * R.J.W. Evans, Regius Professor of History Emeritus, Oxford University *Table of ContentsREFERENCES; FURTHER READING; INDEX

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Book SynopsisPeter Heather was born in Northern Ireland in 1960 and educated at Maidstone Grammar School and New College, Oxford. He has taught at University College, London, and Yale University, and is currently a Fellow of Medieval History at Worcester College, Oxford.Trade Review"'a colourful and enthralling narrative...an account full of keen wit and an infectious relish for the period.' Independent On Sunday 'provides the reader with drama and lurid colour as well as analysis... succeeds triumphantly.' Sunday Times 'a fascinating story, full of ups and downs and memorable characters' Spectator 'bursting with action...one can recommend to anyone, whether specialist or interested amateur.' History Today 'a rare combination of scholarship and flair for narrative' Tom Holland"

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Book SynopsisEdward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire compresses thirteen turbulent centuries into an epic narrative shot through with insight, irony and incisive character analysis. Sceptical about Christianity, sympathetic to the barbarian invaders and the Byzantine Empire, constantly aware of how political leaders often achieve the exact opposite of what they intend, Gibbon was both alert to the broad pattern of events and significant revealing details.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 throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Book SynopsisThe full story of the most terrible siege in history when over a million people perished, illustrated by pictures recently released from Russian archives.Leningrad (now reverted to its pre-1914 name of St Petersburg) was surrounded by German forces in 1941 and cut off from the rest of Russia. It was besieged for nearly three years, the great city''s population suffering terribly in the bitter cold of the Russian winter. Over a million men, women and children died of starvation and hypothermia, but the city fought on and never surrendered.In 1943 the Russian army broke through to link up with the garrison and end the longest, bloodiest siege of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisA major work of economic, social and political history, Niall Ferguson's The House of Rothschild: The World's Banker 1849-1999 is the second volume of the acclaimed, landmark history of the legendary Rothschild banking dynasty.Niall Ferguson's House of Rothschild: Money's Prophets 1798-1848 was hailed as a great biography by Time magazine and named one of the best books of the year by Business Week. Now, with all the depth, clarity and drama with which he traced their ascent, Ferguson - the first historian with access to the long-lost Rothschild family archives - concludes his myth-breaking portrait of once of the most fascinating and power families of all time.From Crimea to World War II, wars repeatedly threatened the stability of the Rothschilds' worldwide empire. Despite these many global upheavals, theirs remained the biggest bank in the world up until the First World War, their interests extending far beyond the realm of finance. Yet the Rothschilds' failure to establish themselves successfully in the United States proved fateful, and as financial power shifted from London to New York after 1914, their power waned.A stupendous achievement, a triumph of historical research and imagination.—Robert Skidelsky, The New York Review of BooksNiall Ferguson's brilliant and altogether enthralling two-volume family saga proves that academic historians can still tell great stories that the rest of us want to read.—The New York Times Book ReviewSuperb ... An impressive ... account of the Rothschilds and their role in history.—Boston GlobeNiall Ferguson's new book The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook will be published in January 2018. Trade Review"A stupendous achievement, a triumph of historical research and imagination."—Robert Skidelsky, The New York Review of Books"Niall Ferguson's brilliant and altogether enthralling two-volume family saga proves that academic historians can still tell great stories that the rest of us want to read."—The New York Times Book Review"Superb ... An impressive ... account of the Rothschilds and their role in history."—Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisA major new history of the most infamous battle of the First World War, as described by the men who fought it.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Wolfson Prize for History, Ian Kershaw''s Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis is the concluding second volume of one of the greatest biographies of modern times. No figure in twentieth century history more clearly demands a close biographical understanding than Adolf Hitler; and no period is more important than the Second World War. Beginning with Hitler''s startling European successes in the aftermath of the Rhineland occupation, from Czechoslovakia to Poland; addressing crucial questions about the unique nature of Nazi radicalism; exploring the Holocaust and the poisoned European world that allowed Hitler to operate so effectively; and ending nine years later with the suicide in the Berlin bunker, Kershaw allows us as never before to understand Hitler''s motivation and impact. ''Magisterial ... anyone who wishes to understand the third reich must read Kershaw, for no on has done more to lay bare Hitler''s morbid psyche''  Niall Ferguson, Sunday Telegraph ''An achievement of the very highest order ... a marvellous book''  Michael Burleigh, Financial Times ''No previous biographer has examined Hitler''s devilishness in Kershaw''s detail ... his book is so comprehensive, so richly documented and so judicious that it will not soon be superseded''  Daniel Johnson, Daily Telegraph Ian Kershaw''s other books include Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis, Making Friends with Hitler, Fateful Choices: Ten Decisions that Changed the World 1940-4 and The End: Hitler''s Germany, 1944-45. Hitler 1936-1945: Nemesis received the Wolfson History Prize and the Bruno Kreisky Prize in Austria for Political Book of the Year, and was joint winner of the inaugural British Academy Book Prize.Trade ReviewWinner of the Wolfson History Prize, the Bruno Kreisky Prize in Austria for Political Book of the Year, and the inaugural British Academy Book Prize. * Prizes and awards *Magisterial ... anyone who wishes to understand the third reich must read Kershaw, for no on has done more to lay bare Hitler's morbid psyche -- Niall Ferguson * Sunday Telegraph *An achievement of the very highest order ... Kershaw communicates a genuine sense of tension as Hitler embarked on ever-riskier stratagems, bringing a fresh eye to the over-familiar diplomatic or military story ... a marvellous book -- Michael Burleigh * Financial Times *Extraordinarily convincing ... I do not know any other Hitler biography that so coolly, factually and devastatingly presents the phenomena of "obedience" and charisma -- Gitta Sereny * The Times *For the present generation, Kershaw's Hitler stands as our clear beacon of truth, illuminating a dark age of terror and mendacity -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *No previous biographer has examined Hitler's devilishness in Kershaw's detail ... his book is so comprehensive, so richly documented and so judicious that it will not soon be superseded -- Daniel Johnson * Daily Telegraph *A riveting narrative ... the text positively crackles with fascinating insights and interesting perceptions ... this is unquestionably an outstanding biography -- Frank McLynn * Herald *Magisterial ... anyone who wishes to understand the third reich must read Kershaw, for no on has done more to lay bare Hitler's morbid psyche -- Niall Ferguson * Sunday Telegraph *An achievement of the very highest order ... Kershaw communicates a genuine sense of tension as Hitler embarked on ever-riskier stratagems, bringing a fresh eye to the over-familiar diplomatic or military story ... a marvellous book -- Michael Burleigh * Financial Times *Extraordinarily convincing ... I do not know any other Hitler biography that so coolly, factually and devastatingly presents the phenomena of "obedience" and charisma -- Gitta Sereny * The Times *For the present generation, Kershaw's Hitler stands as our clear beacon of truth, illuminating a dark age of terror and mendacity -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *No previous biographer has examined Hitler's devilishness in Kershaw's detail ... his book is so comprehensive, so richly documented and so judicious that it will not soon be superseded -- Daniel Johnson * Daily Telegraph *A riveting narrative ... the text positively crackles with fascinating insights and interesting perceptions ... this is unquestionably an outstanding biography -- Frank McLynn * Herald *Table of ContentsCeaseless radicalization; the drive for expansion; marks of a genocidal mentality; miscalculation; going for broke; licensing barbarism; zenith of power; designing a "war of annihilation"; showdown; fulfilling the "prophecy"; last big throw of the dice; beleaguered; hoping for miracles; luck of the devil; no way out; into the abyss; extinction.

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Book SynopsisLigon's True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados is the most significant book-length English text written about the Caribbean in the seventeenth century. [It] allows one to see the contested process behind the making of the Caribbean sugar/African slavery complex. Kupperman is one of the leading scholars of the early modern Atlantic world. . . . I cannot think of any scholar better prepared to write an Introduction that places Ligon, his text, and Barbados in an Atlantic historical context. The Introduction is quite thorough, readable, and accurate; the notes [are] exemplary! --Susan Parrish, University of MichiganTrade Review"Ligon's True and Exact History is perhaps the most important document regarding English colonization efforts in the 17th-century Caribbean. The book offers a wealth of information about the natural world--Barbados's climate, flora, and fauna--as well as social and economic conditions on the island in the late 1640s. Scholars have long used the text as a source for tracing the development of sugar and slavery, in particular. Although previously available in a facsimile edition, Kupperman's is the first modern, edited version of the text, and it is a most welcome publication. Kupperman, one of the foremost scholars of the 17th-century Atlantic world, has written an excellent introduction that outlines what is known about Ligon and provides context on issues ranging from early modern ideas about the environment, to conditions in Barbados during the tobacco era, to the rise of sugar and the island's place in England's emerging empire. Throughout, Kupperman provides detailed, useful notes that make the text accessible to students and others. . . . This is a first-rate example of historical editing. Highly recommended." --M. Mulcahy, Loyola College in Maryland, in CHOICEA foundational text for the history and literature of the early Caribbean and the early Americas. Kupperman's expert Introduction and annotations . . . make this important text come alive for scholarly and undergraduate audiences alike. In all aspects, this edition is a model of historical and textual scholarship. --Ralph Robert Bauer, University of MarylandScholars, students, and general readers will applaud and greatly appreciate the context Kupperman provides in her highly informative, insightful Introduction and notes. This volume offers readers the opportunity to explore Ligon's world and times, when sugar and black slavery were dramatically and aggressively transforming Caribbean society and contributing to English economic, maritime, and imperial strength. --David Barry Gaspar, Duke UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction: Mending a Broken Lineage: Women, Writing, Theology; Fear & Women's Writing: Choosing the Better Part; 'A Wretched Choice?': Evangelical Women & the Word; 'My God Became Flesh': Angela of Foligno Writing the Incarnation; Speaking Funk: Womanist Insights into the Lives of Syncletica & Macrina; 'A Moor of One's Own': Writing & Silence in Sara Maitland's "A Book of Silence"; With Prayer & Pen: Reading Mother E J Dabney's "What It Means to Pray Through"; Writing a Life, Writing Theology: Edith Stein in the Company of the Saints; Writing Hunger on the Body: Simone Weil's Ethic of Hunger & Eucharistic Practice; The Body, to be Eaten, to be Written: A Theological Reflection on the Act of Writing in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's "Dictee"; Not with One Voice: The Counterpoint of Life, Diaspora, Women, Theology, & Writing; Embodying Theology: Motherhood as Metaphor/Method; Postscript: Wounded Writing / Healing Writing.

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Book SynopsisIn 1917, the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin revisited Marx and Engels' views on the state and realised that their ideas had been distorted by the Socialist movement created in their name. Written at the outset of WWI, this classic text puts to rest the notion that Lenin favoured dictatorship over the working class. With great insight and polemical bravado, Lenin elaborates on the Marxist concept of the state as a structure of domination.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Little wonder that before Paul Handley no one had really pried into the king’s sleeping habits, let alone the state of his marriage or political views. The story he uncovers is fascinating."—Economist"A new and comprehensive history of the Thai modern monarchy . . . [which] presents a direct counterpoint to years of methodical royal image-making."—Jane Perlez, The Sunday Telegraph"Thailand’s reigning monarch has just celebrated his sixty-year jubilee and this is the first serious biography of him. . . . It is key to understanding the extraordinary events of the past year. . . . For too long, the issue of the monarchy has been the prone elephant that analysts of Thai history and politics have had to treat carefully around. That era should now pass. . . . In sum, this is the classic story of an exceptional man recrafting a monarchy against the grain of an era. But with a difference."—Chris Baker, Asia Sentinel"[Handley’s] biography of King Bhumibol Adulyadej succeeds in engrossing the reader with the complex personality of the Thai king and his long and eventful life. . . . The chapters on political turbulence in Thailand between 1974-76, and on the impact of the 1997 financial crisis, find Mr. Handley at his analytic best. . . . Mr. Handley also has some important remarks on the uses and abuses of the lese majesté laws in Thailand."—Grant Evans, Far Eastern Economic Review

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Book Synopsis''Roy Porter, a historian of formidable range, turns to urban history in this marvellously lucid, informative and passionate book... Porter''s facts are always at the service of the narrative, which has a finely maintained momentum, balancing statistics with the words of historians, diarists and novelists, poets and churchmen: Pepys, Boswell, Fielding, Walpole, Blake, Mayhew, Wells, Woolf, Spark, ... a timely and brilliant book.'' CLAIRE TOMALIN, EVENING STANDARD ''A vivid celebration of the city, but also an elegy for its decline, bubbling with statistics and anecdote, from Boadicea to Betjeman.'' RICHARD HOLMES, DAILY TELEGRAPH BOOKS OF THE YEARTable of ContentsFormation to Reformation; Tudor London; war, plague and fire; the triumph of town - from Restoration to Regency; commercial city - 1650-1800; culture city -life under the Georges; capitalism in the capital - the Victorian age; "the contagion of numbers" - the building of the Victorian capital - 1820-1890; Bumbledom? London's politics - 1800-1890; social problems, social improvement - 1820-1890; Victorian life; "a fungus-like growth" - expansion - 1890-1945; modern growth, modern government - 1890-1945; swinging London, dangling economy - 1945-1975; Thatcher's London. Conclusion: the London Marathon.

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Book SynopsisThe two-and-a-half centuries after 1066 were momentous ones in the history of Britain. In 1066, England was conquered for the last time. The Anglo-Saxon ruling class was destroyed and and the English became a subject race, dominated by a Norman-French dynasty and aristocracy. This book shows how the English domination of the kingdom was by no means a foregone conclusion. The struggle for mastery in the book's title is in reality the struggle for different masteries within Great Britain. The book weaves together the histories of England, Scotland and Wales in a new way and argues that all three, in their different fashions, were competing for dominationTrade Review"This is a fine, up-to-date synthesis of a grand subject, now suitably enlarged." —T.N. Bisson, Henry Charles Lea Professor of Medieval History, Harvard UniversityTable of ContentsThe Struggle for MasteryList of Maps and Genealogical TablesPrefaceMapsMoney, Technical Terms, and Names of People and Places1. The Peoples of Britain2. The Economies of Britain3. The Norman Conquest of England, 1066-874. Wales, Scotland and the Normans, 1058-945. Britain and the Anglo-Norman Realm, 1087-11356. Britain Remodelled: King Stephen, 1135-54, King David, 1124-53, and the Welsh Rulers7. King Henry II, Britain and Ireland, 1154-898. Richard the Lionheart, 1189-99, and William the Lion, 1165-12149. The Reign of King John, 1199-121610. The Minority of Henry III and its Sequel, 1216-34, Llywelyn the Great, 1194-1240, and Alexander II, 1214-4911. Britain During the Personal Rule of King Henry III, 1234-5812. The Tribulations of Henry III, the Triumphs of Alexander III and Llywelyn, Prince of Wales, 1255-7213. Structures of Society14. Church, Religion, Literacy and Learning15. King Edward I: The Parliamentary State16. Wales and Scotland: Conquest and CoexistenceGenealogical TablesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A knowledgeable overview of [a] vast, vibrant country . . . a thorough study deeply informed by on-the-ground reporting.”—Kirkus Reviews * Kirkus Reviews *‘Until now, there has been no concise English-language history of Brazil – vastness has perhaps overwhelmed previous attempts. Michael Reid’s Brazil fills the gap with a valuable study likely to remain a well-thumbed reference for years. . .His clear, deeply researched account reaches back 500 years to identify three broad themes that continue to shape Brazil’s development.’—John Paul Rathbone, The Financial Times -- Michael Reid * Financial Times *‘Perfectly timed for the World Cup, Reid’s book is highly readable and scholarly. His subtle analysis is captured in a subtitle that makes clear that Brazil is both an emerging world power and a nation with deep-seated problems rooted in its colonial past, slavery and official paternalism.’—Gideon Rachman, The Financial Times -- Gideon Rachman * The Financial Times *“A rich, detailed account of Brazil’s tug-of-war between hope and disappointment”—Marcos Troyjo, Americas Quarterly -- Marcos Troyjo * Americas Quarterly *“This compelling account of the country’s history . . . represents the most thoughtful and balanced recent assessment of Brazil’s enormous triumphs and crushing failures, and of what lies ahead.”—Peter Hakim, Foreign Affairs -- Peter Hakim * Foreign Affairs *

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking investigation into the lives of London's underclass was undertaken by Henry Mayhew in the 1850s. His interviews with street traders, beggars, and thieves results in a work as vivid as a Victorian novel. This new selection includes original illustrations and an illluminating introduction and notes.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Robert Douglas-Fairhurst has a strong sense of the contradictory forces at work in Mayhew's writing, which he compares successively to a peep show, a collection of dramatic monologues and an early work of sociology...this selection is still as long as a fair-sized novel, with helpful notes and a springy, suggestive introduction that captures the energy and variety of Mayhew's world. * John Bowen, TLS 17/12/2010 *Should be required reading not just for lovers of Dickens, but for anyone who wishes to understand how our nineteenth century truly was. * Simon Heffer, Telegraph 14/01/2011 *superb new edition * Ian Thomson, Evening Standard 02/12/2010 *superb introduction * Michael Dirda, Washington Post 26/01/2011 *some of the best descriptive writing in the English language * Roy Hattersley, New Statesman 18/10/2010 *

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Book SynopsisTadeusz Borowski's concentration camp stories were based on his own experiences surviving Auschwitz and Dachau. In spare, brutal prose he describes a world where where the will to survive overrides compassion and prisoners eat, work and sleep a few yards from where others are murdered; where the difference between human beings is reduced to a second bowl of soup, an extra blanket or the luxury of a pair of shoes with thick soles; and where the line between normality and abnormality vanishes. Published in Poland after the Second World War, these stories constitute a masterwork of world literature.

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Book SynopsisThis new study offers a fresh interpretation of apartheid South Africa. Emerging out of the author''s long-standing interests in the history of racial segregation, and drawing on a great deal of new scholarship, archival collections, and personal memoirs, he situates apartheid in global as well as local contexts. The overall conception of Apartheid, 1948-1994 is to integrate studies of resistance with the analysis of power, paying attention to the importance of ideas, institutions, and culture. Saul Dubow refamiliarises and defamiliarise apartheid so as to approach South Africa''s white supremacist past from unlikely perspectives. He asks not only why apartheid was defeated, but how it survived so long. He neither presumes the rise of apartheid nor its demise. This synoptic reinterpretation is designed to introduce students to apartheid and to generate new questions for experts in the field.Trade ReviewThis work is a first-rate, clearly written account of a bizarre 20th century political experiment. * Alexander du Toit, Times Higher Education *As a lecturer on modern South African history, I will find this book extremely valuable. It provides a strong, textured historical narrative and simultaneously engages critically in key conceptual debates. It is impressively up-to-date and draws on an immensely wide range of literature, much of which is helpfully laid out in a bibliographical annexure ... the book stands in any context as an important work of synthesis with a coherent, and sometimes controversial, set of arguments. * Clive Glaser, South African Historical Journal *Dubow's history emphasizes ideas and contexts, from global realities like the Cold War to philosophical, theological, and theoretical debates. It is a superb, easily readable, book that offers a comprehensive historical overview and nuanced analysis. * Fran Buntman, American Historical Review *Apartheid 19481994 is relevant for a broad audience. * Melanie Boehi, H-Soz-Kult *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. The Apartheid Election, 1948 ; 2. The Consolidation of Apartheid ; 3. Sharpeville and its Aftermath ; 4. Apartheid Regnant ; 5. The Opposition Destroyed ; 6. Cracks within the System ; 7. The Limits and Dangers of Reform ; 8. A Balancing of Forces ; 9. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisA new analysis of the conflict considered a precursor to the World Wars and the originator of South African apartheid.

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Book SynopsisA generation after the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia shows every sign of having overcome its history- the streets of Phnom Penh are paved skyscrapers dot the skyline. But under this façade lies a country still haunted by its years of terror. Joel Brinkley won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting in Cambodia on the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime that killed one quarter of the nation's population during its years in power. In 1992, the world came together to help pull the small nation out of the mire. Cambodia became a United Nations protectorate- the first and only time the UN tried something so ambitious. What did the new, democratically-elected government do with this unprecedented gift? In 2008 and 2009, Brinkley returned to Cambodia to find out. He discovered a population in the grip of a venal government. He learned that one-third to one-half of Cambodians who lived through the Khmer Rouge era have P.T.S.D.- and its afflictions are being passed to the next generation. His extensive close-up reporting in Cambodia's Curse illuminates the country, its people, and the deep historical roots of its modern-day behaviour.Trade ReviewKirkus, February 15, 2011 "An excellent...account of a country whose historic poverty, exacerbated by the Vietnam War, remains remarkably unchanged." Publishers Weekly "A riveting piece of literary reportage." Booklist"A heartbreaking but vital status report on a people who deserve far better." Foreign Affairs, May/June 2011"Brinkley cuts a clear narrative path through the bewildering, cynical politics and violent social life of one of the worlds most brutalized and hard-up countries."

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Muir's painstaking recital of facts and descriptions of battles will delight military buffs."—Lawrence James, The Times"The first major Life of Wellington since Elizabeth Longford's work of 1969-72, Rory Muir's biography is matched by an extensive commentary online (at www.lifeofwellington.co.uk). Muir comes to his task after long research on the wars against Napoleon, from both political and military perspectives . . . giv[ing] us an exceptional insight into the struggle, the changes that were necessary to sustain British forces, and the impact made by determined and ambitious individuals."—Chris Woolgar, Times Literary Supplement"Mr. Muir provides an authoritative view . . . an important book."—Max Hastings, The Wall Street Journal"The Wellington biography for our time."—Gary Sheffield, BBC History Magazine"[E]xtensively researched and anchored in fact, [Muir] gives an invaluable picture of the duke in his early years that will be unfamiliar to many who know only of his military exploits. Muir has researched his subject for 30 years and it shows . . . [The] second volume – to judge by his first – cannot come soon enough . . ."—Simon Heffer, New Statesman"It's an important book and an enjoyable read . . . Muir's examination is thorough enough that many small myths about Wellington perish. Entire generations of questionable anecdotes are swept away."—John Brewster, Napoleon Historical Society Newsletter"Muir’s mastery of his subject is certain to make the second volume of Wellington’s life an equally fascinating read."—Jules Stewart, Military History"I strongly recommend Wellington: The Path to Victory to all readers who desire a persuasive and fascinating military-political analysis of the first forty-five years of one of history's greatest captains. Well done, Professor Muir!"—John T. Kuehn, Michigan War Studies Review"Overall, Wellington: The Path to Victory, 1769-1814 is an outstanding achievement. It is the definitive biography of Wellington, and fully realises the dedication that Rory Muir has shown to his subject and his exceptional grasp of the sources."—Kevin Linch, Reviews in History"It looks set to become the authoritative account of Wellington’s life."—Good Book Guide"There have been many biographies and histories written about the Iron Duke but none have been quite so detailed and precise as Rory … exceptionally detailed but manages to stay highly readable throughout and serves as probably the most comprehensive guide to Wellington's early years ever published."—History of WarWon Second place in the 2014 International Napoleonic Society book award"A biography of Wellington that far outclasses all its numerous competitors and will be enjoyed by specialists and general readers alike: truly a splendid achievement."—Charles Esdaile, author of Napoleon's Wars: An International History, 1803-1815"This deeply researched and brilliantly written book supersedes all previous work on the subject. A masterpiece."—Tim Blanning, author of The Pursuit of Glory: Europe, 1648-1815

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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 SynopsisTrade Review"Gideon Greif’s documentation and analysis of the inner world of the Jews who were forced to be part of the Grief in Auschwitz is a haunting reading experience. It is with rare sensitivity and empathy that Greif approached the last survivors of this unit, who were at the heart of the inferno. They poured their hearts out to him after long decades of silence. The reader is thus acquainted with the detGrief’sails of the death industry, and they accompany and disturb him for a long while."—Dina Porat, Head of the Rosenberg School of Jewish Studies, Tel Aviv University"This is a book that must be read by all who dare draw close to the killing, those who dare to come close—as close as non-survivors can come—to the inferno."—Michael Berenbaum

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Book SynopsisThis wide-ranging dictionary contains a wealth of information on all aspects of history, from prehistory right up to the present day. Over 4,000 clear, concise entries include biographies of key figures in world history (living and dead), separate entries for every country in the world (summarising key historical events), and in-depth entries on religious and political movements, international organizations, and major conflicts and events and their after-effects. For this new edition, existing entries have been revised and updated to reflect the very latest global events including changes in leadership, wars, political situations, and the statistical information given for each country (population counts, currency, languages, religions). New entries have been included for key figures who have recently come to prominence and world events. The book also contains twenty-five detailed maps linked to key historical events and topics. These include the African slave trade, the Black Death, anTrade ReviewIn these days, when a quick search on the web brings up much of this information, there is still room for a reference book, especially one as inexpensive as this, to provide corroboration and, sometimes, correction of unauthenticated postings. * Chris Green, Suffolk & Norfolk Life *packed with concise facts but just the rigt kind of detail

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Book SynopsisThe story of a small town near Auschwitz and of its local Nazi administrator. An ordinary functionary and family man without whose help, and those of thousands like him, the murderous plans of the Nazi elite could never have been fully realized.Trade ReviewIn many ways, A Small Town near Auschwitz is about seeing and not seeing, of integrating and not integrating. The book itself illuminates more than it hides, includes more than it omits. It is the work of a sensitive professional historian examining a matter of urgent personal interest: how could someone close to her family have perpetrated one of the great crimes of the century? Catherine Epstein, American Historical ReviewTable of ContentsPreface ; 1. Legacies of Violence ; 2. Bedzin before 1939 ; 3. Border Crossings ; 4. The Making of a Nazi Landrat ; 5. An Early Question of Violence ; 6. 'Only administration' ; 7. Means of Survival ; 8. Escalation, 1941-42 ; 9. Towards Extermination ; 10. The Deportations of August 1942 ; 11. Ghettoization for the 'Final Solution' ; 12. Final Thresholds ; 13. Afterwards and After-words ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisThis massive new reference work is broken up into sections presenting a detailed analysis of each corresponding order of battle for every German field formation above division. Additional new ground is broken by describing the orders of battle of the myriad German and Axis satellite formations assigned to security commands throughout occupied Europe and the combat zones, as well as those attached to fortress commands and to the commanders of German occupation forces in Eastern and Western Europe. An accompanying narrative describes the career of each field formation and includes the background and experience of many of their most famous commanding officers.Unlike similar works, these orders of battle are dynamic, and so account for the continuously changing character of Germany’s ground forces at war. For the first time, readers can follow the career of every German division, corps, army, and army group as the German armed forces shifted units to and from theatres of war, from the period of triumphant successes to the years of grinding defensive warfare and eventual defeat.Trade ReviewAfter decades of effort, William McCroden and Thomas Nutter . . . have accomplished that seemingly impossible task.'' * Misc US Reviewer *

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Book SynopsisThe Ancien Régime and the Revolution is a comparison of revolutionary France and the despotic rule it toppled. Alexis de Tocqueville (180559) is an objective observer of both periods providing a merciless critique of the ancien régime, with its venality, oppression and inequality, yet acknowledging the reforms introduced under Louis XVI, and claiming that the post-Revolution state was in many ways as tyrannical as that of the King; its once lofty and egalitarian ideals corrupted and forgotten. Writing in the 1850s, Tocqueville wished to expose the return to despotism he witnessed in his own time under Napoleon III, by illuminating the grand, but ultimately doomed, call to liberty made by the French people in 1789. His eloquent and instructive study raises questions about liberty, nationalism and justice that remain urgent today.

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Book SynopsisOf the more than one hundred books that H. G. Wells published in his lifetime, this is one of the most ambitious. Spanning the origins of the Earth to the outcome of World War I, A Short History of the World is an engrossing account of the evolution of life and the development of the human race. Wells brings his monumental learning and penetrating historical insight to bear on the Neolithic era, the rise of Judaism, the Golden Age of Athens, the life of Christ, the rise of Islam, the discovery of America, the Industrial Revolution, and a host of other subjects. Breathtaking in scope, this thought-provoking masterwork remains one of the most readable and rewarding of its kind.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 throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to prov

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Book SynopsisThe powerful and deeply disturbing book that was at the heart of the David Irving libel case, now dramatized in the film Denial.The denial of the Holocaust has no more credibility than the assertion that the Earth is flat. Yet there are those who insist that the death of six million Jews in Nazi concentration camps is nothing but a hoax perpetrated by a powerful Zionist conspiracy. For years those who made such claims were dismissed as harmless cranks operating on the lunatic fringe. But they have now begun to gain a hearing in respectable arenas.In this famous book, reissued now to coincide with the film based on the legal case it provoked, Denial, Deborah Lipstadt shows how--despite tens of thousands of witnesses and vast amounts of documentary evidence--this irrational idea not only has continued to gain adherents but has become an international movement, with ''independent'' research centres, and official publications thTrade ReviewStrong medicine... An antidote to the moral and intellectual virus that has spread from the crackpot fringe to the very heart of public discourse in the media, the courts and the world's universities. * Los Angeles Times *Important and impassioned... it illuminates with skill and clarity, not only the peculiarly disturbing world of the Holocaust deniers, but also the methods they have used to distort history, the motives that have driven them to do so, and the vulnerabilities of our educational systems, our culture, and ourselves that have made so many in our society ready to listen to them. * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisMark Greengrass''s gripping, major, original account of Europe in an era of tumultuous changeSUNDAY TIMES and FINANCIAL TIMES Books of the Year 2014This addition to the landmark Penguin History of Europe series is a fascinating study of 16th and 17th century Europe and the fundamental changes which led to the collapse of Christendom and established the geographical and political frameworks of Western Europe as we know it. From peasants to princes, no one was untouched by the spiritual and intellectual upheaval of this era. Martin Luther''s challenge to church authority forced Christians to examine their beliefs in ways that shook the foundations of their religion. The subsequent divisions, fed by dynastic rivalries and military changes, fundamentally altered the relations between ruler and ruled. Geographical and scientific discoveries challenged the unity of Christendom as a belief-community. Europe, with all its divisions, emergeTrade ReviewMark Greengrass succeeds brilliantly in bringing to life a vanished world that is consistently strange and surprising-and sometimes disturbing and repellent-even as he encourages us to recognise the ways in which it prefigures our own -- Peter Marshall * Literary Review *The Penguin History of Europe series ... is one of contemporary publishing's great projects * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisWilliam Hague has written the life of William Wilberforce who was both a staunch conservative and a tireless campaigner against the slave trade.Hague shows how Wilberforce, after his agonising conversion to evangelical Christianity, was able to lead a powerful tide of opinion, as MP for Hull, against the slave trade, a process which was to take up to half a century to be fully realised. Indeed, he succeeded in rallying to his cause the support in the Commons Debates of some the finest orators in Parliament, having become one of the most respected speakers of those times.Hague examines twenty three crucial years in British political life during which Wilberforce met characters as varied as Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Tsar Alexander of Russia, and the one year old future Queen Victoria who used to play at his feet. He was friend and confidant of Pitt, Spencer Perceval and George Canning. He saw these figures raised up or destroyed in twenty three years of war and revolution.Hague preTrade Review'The author has produced a splendid read for which he deserves the utmost credit. He tells Wilberforce's story with such enthusiasm and narrative skill that, in this bicentennial year, his book seems assured of bestsellerdom. I put it down liking Hague as much as I was moved by his tale, one of the most remarkable in British political history.' Sunday Times 'An authoritative account of a remarkable life.' Sunday Times 'A fine, informative tribute.' Observer 'A superb biography.' Daily Express 'An enthusiastic and balanced portrayal of an appealing figure.' Sunday Telegraph 'Gripping…absorbing…the definitive biography.' Daily Mail 'Informed by a nuanced sense of what was and was not politically possible at that moment…lucid and convincing…gripping.' Daily Telegraph ‘William Hague has assumed from Roy Jenkins the mantle of Britain's foremost politician-biographer. This magnificent biography of William Wilberforce succeeds his good debut life of William Pitt…his achievement goes far beyond an attractive prose style and meticulously accurate historical re-recreation. The insights drawn from a wide parliamentary and political experience bring to life the genius of the great anti-slave trade campaigner in a wholly new and vivid way.’ Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisAn absolute gem' Sunday TimesA mouthwatering history' The GuardianIn this delicious history of Britain's food traditions, Diane Purkiss invites readers on a unique journey through the centuries, exploring the development of recipes and rituals for mealtimes such as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to show how food has been both a reflection of and inspiration for social continuity and change.Purkiss uses the story of food as a revelatory device to chart changing views on class, gender, and tradition through the ages. Sprinkled throughout with glorious details of historical quirks trial by ordeal of bread, a fondness for small beer' and a war-time ice-cream substitute called hokey pokey' made from parsnips this book is both an education and an entertainment.English Food explores the development of the coffee trade and the birth of London's coffee houses, where views were exchanged on politics, art, and literature. Purkiss introduces the first breeders of British beef and reveals how cattTrade Review Praise for English Food : ‘An absolute gem… English Food is a fabulous read. I devoured it with gusto… My review copy will find a permanent place on my bookshelves… a richly entertaining and enlightening social history of England… Superb’ Sunday Times, Christopher Hart ‘Every page brings astonishing revelation… acerbic, witty, opinionated and devoid of pomposity… This book is about food, but it’s more importantly about how food defines us’ The Times, Gerald DeGroot ‘A mouthwatering history… A sumptuous survey of English cuisine leaves no morsel untasted… liberally seasoned throughout with literary references, from Anglo-Saxon poetry to Michael Ondaatje… fascinating… There’s an awful lot of good stuff to get your teeth into here’ The Guardian, Felicity Cloake ‘What a delectable banquet of a book this is… This magnificently readable and engaging book (which is also very generously illustrated) sets the record straight and should whet appetites for the attentive, seasonal cooking and gamier flavours of the past’ Literary Review ‘[A] fantastic book’ Evening Standard ‘A remarkable book, scholarly, entertaining and fascinating. Purkiss is extraordinarily well read, articulate, and writes beautifully. She goes under the skirts of convention to strip bare the many presumptions that surround what we eat and why. Mandatory reading for anyone involved, however peripherally, in food and what we now refer to as the food chain. Simply a brilliant work’The Guild of Food Writers Food Book Award judges

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Book Synopsis''Sensationally good ... A riveting story, the real-life spooks and spies far more compelling than anything you will see on the screen ... history doesn''t come more fascinating than this'' Evening StandardFor over 100 years, the agents of MI5 have defended Britain against enemy subversion. Their work has remained shrouded in secrecy - until now.This first-ever authorized account reveals the British Security Service as never before: its inner workings, its clandestine operations, its failures and its triumphs. ''Definitive and fascinating ... whether reporting on Hitler in the 1930s, the Double-Cross System of the second world war, Zionist terrorism, the atom spies, the Cambridge spies, the so-called Wilson plot or the 1988 shooting of the IRA bombers in Gibraltar, this book is essential reading'' Alan Judd, Spectator''The British Secret Service has opened its archives - and even ''insiders'' may be in for a surprise ... magisterial ... extremely readable'' Oleg Gordievsky, The Times''Compelling ... a feast'' Max Hastings, Sunday Times''A superb account ... He has captured every important detail of the Service ... unlikely to be surpassed for another 100 years'' Simon Heffer, Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisCutting through the headlines and spin, this is the first book to give us a true picture of the reality on the ground, through the words of the people there - from commanders to intelligence officers, army doctors to ordinary soldiers. Providing eye-witness accounts that contradict the official stories and figures, they give a chilling picture of the deceit, stupidity, wishful thinking, lack of forward planning and total intellectual failure of those behind the invasion. The result is an extraordinary new insight into the plight of ordinary soldiers doing nightmarish jobs, and the real nature of the fighting in Iraq.

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Book SynopsisDiscover inspiring stories of heroism, adventure, endurance and survival from throughout history. Captain Robert Falcon Scott didn''t start out life as a hero. In fact, as a boy he was considered small, frail and shy. So what was it that turned this ordinary man into a legend? Through his gripping account of how this modest naval officer became Scott of the Antarctic, Neil Oliver vividly relates the awe-inspiring tales of brave men that inspired Britain''s greatest hero, including Nelson, Sir John Moore, and the Demons of Camerone. And alongside these epic stories of courage, fortitude and sacrifice, Oliver recounts how the spirit of Scott lives on - from Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 13 mission, to the SAS and the Battle of Mirbat. Young and old alike will enjoy reading these brave stories of men who understood - as Scott always did - that it was more important to die a hero than live a coward''s life.________ ''A joy from sta

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Book SynopsisDuring 200 years the East India Company grew from an association of Elizabethan tradesmen into a powerful organization. As a commercial enterprise it came to control half the world's trade and as a political entity it administered an empire. This book looks at the history of the Company.

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Book SynopsisThis new historical atlas - richly illustrated with photographs, artwork recreations and full-colour maps - explores the Middle Ages from the coming of the barbarian invasions in the fourth century to the first voyages to the New World in the sixteenth. Coverage of major events - the Hundred Years'' War, the Christian Reconquest of Spain - is supplemented by discussion of such key topics as the medieval economy, the growth of towns and the spread of printing, resulting in a rich and multi-faceted introduction to Europe and its neighbours in the Middle Ages.

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Book SynopsisIt is unlikely that a clearer, more stimulating account of the Russians' extraordinary period of imperial history will be written.' Philip Marsden, SpectatorGeoffrey Hosking's landmark book provides us with a new prism through which to view Russian history by posing the apparently simple question: what is Russia's national identity?Hosking answers this with brilliant originality: his thesis is that the needs of Russia's empire prevented the creation of a Russian nation. The Tsars, and before them the Grand Dukes of Moscow, were empire builders rather than nation builders and, as consequence, profoundly alienated ordinary Russians.Trade Review‘Hosking’s book is a tour de force of historical argument, vividly written [and] courageously argumentative.’ Michael Ignatieff, Observer ‘Brilliant…an elegantly written, humane and rigorous work of empirical history.’ Michael Burleigh, Independent on Sunday ‘“Russia: People and Empire” is the most interesting and authoritative account of Russian imperial history in English. It is a masterful synthesis, intelligent and lucid, passionately argumentative, but always fair, which should be read by everyone who wants to understand the origins of Russia’s predicament today.’ Orlando Figes, The Times

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