History Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe epic plains and arid deserts of Central Asia have witnessed some of the greatest migrations, as well as many of the most transformative developments, in the history of civilization. Christoph Baumer's ambitious four-volume treatment of the region charts the 3000-year drama of Scythians and Sarmatians; Soviets and transcontinental Silk Roads; trade routes and the transmission of ideas across the steppes; and the breathless and brutal conquests of Alexander the Great and Chinghiz Khan. Masterfully interweaving the stories of individuals and peoples, the author's engaging prose is richly augmented throughout by colour photographs taken on his own travels. For all the complexity of the history, Dr Baumer, a noted authority on Central Asia, never loses sight of the sweeping grandeur of its overall setting. Volume 1 focuses on the geography of the area now occupied by present-day Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, northern Afghanistan, western and central Mongolia and parts of southern Russia and northern China. Discussing the changing climates of the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Ages, the author explores subjects as diverse as glacial retreat; the invention of the wheel; the legendary Cimmerians and Amazons; Hellenism and Zoroastrianism; and the Oxus Treasure. Future volumes will explore the later historical periods of the region.Trade ReviewThe Age of the Steppe Warriors is as magnificent as it is magisterial ... the book is filled with images that are in turn fascinating, mysterious and dazzling. * The Asian Review of Books *A welcome addition to a slender regional literature. * CHOICE *This is a truly remarkable book ... It's the first of four volumes and in this - the first - the author has set himself a formidable standard. * Geographical *A gorgeous creation, with creamy paper, crisp design and perfect colour pictures ... this is more than an encyclopaedia. It's a cultural guidebook on a grand scale. * Literary Review *The book provides a superb introduction to the history of Central Asia ... a welcome addition to the growing literature on a relatively unknown part of the world until recently. * OCA Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisJohn Kirk was the only companion of explorer David Livingstone to emerge untainted from the disastrous, tragic expedition up the Zambezi river between 1859 and 1863. Three years later, Kirk returned to Africa, to the notorious island of Zanzibar, ancient post of the slave trade between Africa and the Middle East.Half a century after the abolition of slavery in Britain, slave traffi cking persisted on Africa's east coast, apparently tolerated and even connived with by parts of the British Empire in the Indian Ocean. Kirk, appointed as medical officer to the British Consulate in Zanzibar, could do nothing.This extraordinary and controversial book brings Kirk's years in Zanzibar to life. The horrors of the overland passage from the interior, and the Zanzibar slave market itself, are vividly described, together with Kirk's final, bitter conflict with Livingstone, who blamed Kirk for his own failings. But it was Kirk's success in closing down the slave trade on the island which made him famous across the world. Using private diaries and papers, a long forgotten Victorian hero and an extraordinary chapter in British history are revived in detail.Trade ReviewThis is a humdinger of a tale. You might have thought that journeys into the heart of the Dark Continent with David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley and the likes of Richard Burton had already inspired so vast and breathless a literature that there were few surprises left to report. But that's the miracle of this story. Alastair Hazell's genius has been to plough through the huge and well-documented archive, follow his nose, and tell a tale from an entirely new perspective: the life of Dr John Kirk, an early companion to Dr Livingstone, and afterwards a humble Scottish medical officer and Acting British Consul in Zanzibar. In doing so he turns several accounts on their heads, rectifies a seriously skewed picture, rescues a reputation - and on every page enthralls his readers. -- Matthew Parris * The Spectator *Alastair Hazell is not afraid to tell a good story . . . [this is] the extraordinary story of how a medical functionary opposed to slavery became the effective ruler of the last of the world's great slave-trading nations. * TLS *There is much to enjoy and reflect upon in this carefully researched and briskly told account. * The Economist *Overdue. * Sunday Herald *A fascinating forgotten tale. * Metro *Despite abolition, the slave trade ?ourished on Zanzibar in the late 19th century, until a Scot, John Kirk, stamped it out. The place's exotic, murky history is well evoked. * The Sunday Telegraph *[a] grim but spellbinding account....Hazell tells his story with just the right mix of pace and detail, to keep you hooked. * Independent on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMaps can tell much about a place that traditional histories fail to communicate. This lavishly illustrated book features 70 maps which have been selected for the particular stories they reveal about different political, commercial and social aspects of Scotland's largest city. The maps featured provide fascinating insights into topics such as: the development of the Clyde and its shipbuilding industry, the villages which were gradually subsumed into the city, how the city was policed, what lies underneath the city streets, the growth of Glasgow during the Industrial Revolution, the development of transport, the city's green spaces, the health of Glasgow, Glasgow as a tourist destination, the city as a wartime target, and its regeneration in the 1980s as the host city of one of the UK's five National Garden Festivals. Together, they present a fascinating insight into how Glasgow has changed and developed over the last 500 years, and will appeal to all those with an interest in Glasgow and Scottish history, as well as those interested in urban history, architectural history, town planning and the history of maps.Trade Review'The book's large format does justice to the often highly detailed and colourful maps, whose significance is brilliantly explained by the author' * Press and Journal *

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor those who visit the UAE today, staying in air-conditioned hotels and shopping in ultra-modern malls, the country itself remains an enigma - a glass and concrete creation that seems to have sprung from the desert overnight. Keepers of the Golden Shore looks behind its glossy facade, tracing the traditional tribal bonds of an ancient land to the society of today and casting a new and revealing light on this intriguing, innovative and resilient people.Across the spread of its deserts and mountains, islands and seas, the UAE has a rich and diverse history. From the ancient people who came out of the desert to settle the land, through the invasions and wars these people fought, to the myth of piracy and the mystique of pearls, and the arrival of the oilmen in the stifling heat, Keepers of the Golden Shore tells the extraordinary story of how the Emirates and its ruling families evolved from a tribal society to become one of the richest countries on earth.Trade Review'A welcome, readable and much-needed starting point for new readers and new arrivals to the UAE who want a better understanding of the people and places around them. [...] Keepers of the Golden Shore draws from an extensive range of published sources to construct a detailed account of a time that saw the Arabian Gulf emerge from a fiefdom of the British Empire to a region of independent nations finding power and influence in the age of oil.' - James Langton, The National, UAE

Read more less

Book SynopsisDescribes how newly modernized Japan waged war against China in its first overseas campaign, marking its rapid transition into Asia''s leading military power only 30 years after emerging from centuries of feudalism.After the Meiji restoration of the Japanese imperial regime in 186877, modernization along Western lines of Japan''s industry, communications and land and naval forces advanced with remarkable speed and, by the 1890s, the rejuvenated nation was ready to flex its muscles overseas. The obvious opponent was the huge but medieval Chinese Empire, and the obvious arena for war was Korea, a nearby Chinese protectorate that Japan had long coveted. (A secondary campaign would be fought on Formosa/Taiwan, an autonomous Chinese island protectorate.) In this study, author Gabriele Esposito describes the bloodthirsty course of the Japanese campaign in China, using colour illustrations and photos to showcase the organization, equipment and appearance of the varioTrade Reviewthis is an outstanding and concise history of this campaign, the organisation of the armies involved, their uniforms and equipment. The author has done a significant amount of research and the fruits of his work illustrate this. Given the high-quality of this new Men at Arms addition it can be confidently said that this volume should be read by all parties interested in this conflict. -- Nick Stroud * Military Archive Research *Table of ContentsHISTORICAL BACKGROUND The opening of Korea – The ‘Imo incident’, 1882 – The ‘Gapsin coup’ and its aftermath, 1884–86– The ‘Donghak rebellion’, 1894 CHRONOLOGY MILITARY OPERATIONS Naval battle of Pungdo, 25 July 1894 – Battle of Seonghwan, 28 July 1894 – Battle of Pyongyang, 15 September 1894 – Naval battle of the Yalu river, 17 September 1894 – Japanese invasion of Manchuria, October–November 1894 – Liaodong Peninsula: capture of Port Arthur, 21 November 1894 – Shandong Peninsula: battle of Weihaiwei, 18 January–2 February 1895 – Manchuria: battle of Niuzhuang, 28 February 1895 – Treaty of Shimonoseki, and occupation of Pescadores, 20 March–17 April 1895 – Japanese occupation of Formosa, 29 May–21 October 1895 JAPANESE ARMY Conscription – Formations and strength – Imperial Guard– Infantry, cavalry and artillery units – Engineer, train and Gendarmerie units – Basic Japanese order of battle, 1894–95– Weapons CHINESE ARMIES Army of the Eight Banners – Beijing Bannermen – Army of the Green Standard – Yung-ying armies – Huai army – Other modernized forces – Weapons KOREAN ARMY Chinese domination, 1880s – Japanese reorganizations, 1896–1907 DEFENDERS OF FORMOSA Chinese garrison – Aboriginal forces SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY PLATE COMMENTARIES INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this fully illustrated introduction, Dr Michael Lynch provides a concise overview of the Chinese Civil War, a defining conflict in world history.Between the end of World War II and the dawn of the Cold War, one of the most important conflicts in modern history reached its climax. In this illustrated history, bestselling historian Dr Michael Lynch examines how the long struggle between Chiang Kai-shek''s Nationalists and Mao Zedong''s Communists exploded into an intense, brutal and ruthlessly fought civil war. Delving into the political background and complex ramifications of the conflict, he assesses Mao and Chiang''s millions-strong armies, their strategies and commanders, and the critical campaigns that won and lost China. By 1949 the Nationalist government was defeated and in exile in Taiwan, and the new People''s Republic of China was ready to emerge as a major Cold War power.Updated and revised for the new edition, with full-colour maps and new images Trade Reviewwhat handy little primers they can be in understanding the broader political, economic, social and military backgrounds to a conflict. -- Chris Jarvis * Miniature Wargames *There is an unlikely photo of Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-Shek toasting each other at banquet in 1946. Chiang was on a roll. With Communist collaboration the Japanese were defeated, Chiang’s Nationalist Revolutionary Army controlled most of China and was on good terms with the US. Three years later Mao announced the new Republic of China from Beijing and Chiang had fled to Taiwan. What went wrong? On resumption of the civil war, after initial set-backs, Mao switched his attacks to Manchuria where the NRA occupied former Japanese held Manchuguo and captured Harbin; his PLA generals transformed it into a modern army from its guerrilla roots. In Chiang’s “strongpoint offensive” of 1947 against PLA bases, Mao’s Yanan soviet was captured though Mao escaped after forewarning by a NRA commander. Counterattacks against overstretched NRA armies led to Communist Liaoshen autumn 1948 campaign capturing railway junctions of Jinzhou, Changchun and Shenyang, and the winter campaign north of the Huaihai River against Xuzhou threatening the Nationalist Goumindang government capital Nanjing. A simultaneous winter push netted Tianjin and prestigious Beijing, it falling in January 1949. Other besieged cities in the Nationalist southern heartlands fell, Nangking, Shanghai, Xian, and after the symbolic Yanzi crossing, Guangzhou, Chongching. Tibet and Xinjiang were occupied. This book is a revised version of Osprey ESS 61, 2010. Though the main battles are here, there is a substantial socio-political element, necessary to explain the complex twists and turns of this bloody civil war, which still encroaches on events today. Thanks to Osprey for the sample. John Ham, August 2022. -- John Ham * Tankette *Table of ContentsIntroduction Warring Sides The Fighting The Great Protagonists The World Around War Why the War Was Won and Lost Conclusion and Consequences Appendix & Chronology Further Reading Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA history of the enduring Essex-class ships, the US Navy''s finest and most numerous fleet carrier during World War II, which were modernized repeatedly and served with distinction.The Essex class was the USN's war-winning ship class of the Pacific War. Of the 24 ships completed, 14 saw action, making the Essex class the largest class of fleet aircraft carriers ever built. These ships had a fine balance of striking power, protection, and speed and were modernized during and after the war. There were five distinct programs carried out, adding not only angled flight decks for jet operations, but repeated upgrades to sensors, weapons, and equipment.Essex-class carriers were used in a number of roles and provided the vast majority of US Navy air power in the Korean War, and a sizeable proportion of air power in the Vietnam conflict. However, as the super carriers began to enter service in the early 1960s, the Essex class was relegated to secondary roles a single Essex carrier servedTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT - Essex-class carrier modernization - Essex-class modernization programs - ASW carriers - Amphibious assault carriers - Essex-class weapons - Essex-class radars and sonars THE ESSEX CLASS IN WAR AND PEACE 1945–1991 - Essex-class carriers and the Korean War - Essex-class carriers and the Vietnam conflict ESSEX-CLASS COLD WAR CAREERS CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy did a nation-state order emerge when nationalist activism was usually an elitist pursuit in the age of empire? Ordinary inhabitants and even most indigenous elites tended to possess religious, ethnic, or status-based identities rather than national identities. Why then did the desires of a typically small number result in wave after wave of new states? The answer has customarily centered on the actions of nationalists against weakening empires during a time of proliferating beliefs that peoples should control their own destiny. This book upends conventional wisdom by demonstrating that nationalism often existed more in the perceptions of external observers than of local activists and insurgents. Lynn M. Tesser adds nuance to scholarship that assumes most, if not all, pre-independence unrest was nationalist and separatist, and sheds light on why the various demands for change eventually coalesced around independence in some cases but not others.

Read more less

Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Association of Dress Historians Book of the Year Award, 2024In the first book to examine the role played by textile manufacturing in the development of fashion in Italy, A New History of Made in Italy' investigates Italy's transition from a country of dressmakers, tailors and small-scale couturiers in the early post-Second World War period to a major producer of ready-to-wear fashion in the 1980s. It takes the reader from Italy's first internationally attended fashion show in 1951 to Time magazine's Giorgio Armani April 1982 cover story, which signalled the fashion designer's international arrival, and Milan's presence as the capital of ready-to-wear.Chapters focus on the material substance of Italian fashion textile looking at questions including the importance of manufacturing quality, design innovation, composition, production techniques, commerce and the role of textile on the country's overall fashion system. Through th

Read more less

Book SynopsisGuru to the World tells the story of Swami Vivekananda, the nineteenth-century Hindu ascetic who introduced the West to yoga and to a tolerant, scientifically minded universalist conception of religion. Ruth Harris explores the many legacies of Vivekananda’s thought, including his impact on anticolonial movements and contemporary Hindu nationalism.Trade ReviewThis is a deeply researched and compellingly argued biography of Swami Vivekananda, one of the first Indian religious thinkers to become known in the west, and one of the makers of modern India. -- Rana Mitter * BBC History Magazine *Guru to the World is a triumph of research and ambition, drawing connections between a dazzling array of philosophies, figures, languages, geographies and religions. -- Abhimanyu Arni * Literary Review *This will be the standard biography of [Vivekananda] for years to come…Admirable. -- Jon M. Sweeney * Spirituality & Practice *Vivekananda’s life was an embarrassment of epiphanies and contradictions, and Harris exhaustively uncovers all of them. -- Pratinav Anil * History Today *Vivekananda was many things to many people: the first global religious celebrity, an apostle of Indian nationalism, a man whose message was heard, and heard differently, in salons as well as slums. It’s not just any biographer who can do justice to such a complex life. He’s fortunate to have found a perfect interpreter in Ruth Harris. -- Benjamin Moser, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Sontag: Her Life and WorkIn Ruth Harris’s vivid portrait of India’s Vivekananda, we discover a compelling story of interconnected lives—the guru, his disciple, the international followers, his own teacher—that sheds new light on religion, race, gender, colonialism, and nationalism. This impressive book introduces us to some important but half-forgotten cultural currents in the life of India, Europe, and America at the end of the nineteenth century. To understand contemporary India, we need to pay more attention to these currents, and Harris is a sure-footed guide. -- Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of CanterburyIn Guru to the World, Ruth Harris gives us riveting accounts of both the Indian and the international sides of Swami Vivekananda, one of the most provocative personalities of the nineteenth century. The connections between tradition and modernity forged by him over a century ago continue to influence culture, politics, and religion worldwide. A brilliant read. -- Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, author of An Aesthetic Education in the Era of GlobalizationAn inspired blend of religion, politics, and biography, Guru to the World takes a novel approach to the history of empire and cross-cultural encounters that foregrounds the workings of love, friendship, and faith. In the lives of Vivekananda and his associates, Ruth Harris delivers insight into topics ranging from yoga to anticolonial nationalism that should interest any readers curious to understand the workings of what might be called globalized culture. -- Maya Jasanoff, author of The Dawn Watch

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn epic new history . . . a work of epic scholarship, breathtaking range, and piercing originality' Daily ExpressAn astonishing achievement of narrative history . . . I think the word is magisterial.' SpectatorExcellent, thorough, detailed and combatively argued.' Sunday Times______________________________________Sing As We Go is an astonishingly ambitious overview of the political, social and cultural history of the country from 1919 to 1939.It explores and explains the politics of the period, and puts such moments of national turmoil as the General Strike of 1926 and the Abdication Crisis of 1936 under the microscope. It offers pen portraits of the era''s most significant figures. It traces the changing face of Britain as cars made their first mass appearance, the suburbs sprawled, and radio and cinema became the means of mass entertainment. And it probes the deep divisions that split the natio

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMany studies of China''s relations with and influence on Southeast Asia tend to focus on how Beijing has used its power asymmetry to achieve regional influence. Yet, scholars and pundits often fail to appreciate the complexity of the contemporary Chinese state and society, and just how fragmented, decentralized, and internationalized China is today. In The Ripple Effect, Enze Han argues that a focus on the Chinese state alone is not sufficient for a comprehensive understanding of China''s influence in Southeast Asia. Instead, we must look beyond the Chinese state, to non-state actors from China, such as private businesses and Chinese migrants. These actors affect people''s perception of China in a variety of ways, and they often have wide-ranging as well as long-lasting effects on bilateral relations. Looking beyond the Chinese state''s intentional influence reveals many situations that result in unanticipated changes in Southeast Asia. Han proposes that to understand this increasingly

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn addition to providing excerpts from classic tales of Japan’s warrior past, this volume draws on a wide range of lesser-known but revealing sources—including sword inscriptions, edicts, orders, petitions, and letters—to expand and deepen our understanding of the samurai, from the order’s origins in the fifth century to its abolition in the nineteenth. Taken together with Thomas Donald Conlan’s contextualizing introductions and notes, these sources provide a rare window into the experiences, ideals, and daily lives of these now-sentimentalized warriors. Numerous illustrations, a glossary of terms, and a substantial bibliography further enhance the value of this book to students, scholars, and anyone interested in learning more about the samurai.Trade Review"This sourcebook provides, for the first time in English, translations of the key primary sources for the study of the history of the samurai across all eras of Japanese history. Conlan has framed these sources with compelling historical analysis, making the book required reading not only for students of the warrior class but for everyone interested in the broad sweep of Japanese history. This is an astounding resource."—Morgan Pitelka, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill"Conlan is to be commended for putting together this volume. Samurai and the Warrior Culture of Japan smartly complements earlier, well-used anthologies but also forges in new directions—delving deeply into documentary sources, in particular—immeasurably enriching the resources available to teachers of pre-modern Japanese history and promising to become a mainstay in the classroom."—David Spafford, University of Pennsylvania

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Mak is the history teacher everyone should have had' Financial TimesFrom the author of the internationally acclaimed In Europe, a stunning history of our present, examining the first two decades of this most fragile and fraught new millennium.How did the great European dream turn sour? And where do we go from here?In this illuminating book, Geert Mak - one of Europe's best-loved commentators - charts the seismic events that have shaped people's lives over the past twenty years. He moves through the rocky expansion of the EU, the aftermath of 9/11 and terrorist attacks across Europe, the 2008 financial crash and the euro crisis, and on to the rise of right-wing populism and Brexit.Like no other, Mak blends history, politics and culture with the stories and experiences of the many Europeans he meets on his travels. He brings this continent to life, and asks: what role does Europe now play, and how might we face our fresh challenges together?'A powerful, humane and serious mind' Guardian'Mak is a truly cosmopolitan chronicler' IndependentTrade ReviewInstinctively cosmopolitan, Mak sweeps over his home continent in a colourful, convivial sprawl well captured in Liz Waters' pacy translation. * Financial Times *Compelling... Anecdotal nuggets sparkle on every page. * Economist *Absorbing... an illuminating odyssey... Mak is an astute observer. -- Piers Brendon * Literary Review *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA stunning tour de force and a remarkable achievement.- Alison WeirThis is Our Island Story for the modern age. - Charles Spencer'Not just a brilliant compendium of biographies, but the biography of an institution: a marvellous read' - Tom Holland'This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle'(William Shakespeare, Richard II)With 1000 years of royal history from 1066 to the present day, Domesday Book to Magna Carta the Field of Cloth of Gold to King Charles' accession, Crown & Sceptre is an unparalleled exploration of the British monarchy. From Sunday Times bestselling author and joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces Tracy Borman, comes a fresh, engaging and authoritative account of the crown's tumultuous history - including a chapter on King Charles III. Impeccably researched, Crown & Sceptre explores in gripping detail how this iconic institution has survived the storms of rebellion, revolution and war that brought most of the world's other monarchies to an abrupt and bloody end. It is a story of ruthless dynastic battles, political and social leadership, usurpation and abdication, all set against a backdrop of dazzling ceremony and pageantry."Crown and Sceptre shows an astonishing command of a thousand years of the British monarchy, its traditions, roles and realities beyond the pageantry and romance. Beautifully crafted, insightful, and a genuine pleasure to read, it underscores the royal heritage at the heart of a nation." - Lauren Mackay"Crown and Sceptre" combines an eminently accessible narrative with a lucid scholarly lens. Tracy Borman skilfully unravels the trials and triumphs of this ever-shifting institution. By charting both the majesty and mechanics of monarchy, we get a vivid understanding of why its glittering gears shifted over time, and by whom the levers of change were pulled. A triumph.' - Owen Emmerson, Curator at Hever Castle'Tracy Borman's passion for the British monarch and the crown is infectious and compelling!' - Estelle Paranque'Borman embraces a huge task' - Gerard DeGroot, The TimesEnlightening, gripping and skilfully composed, Tracy Borman navigates the twists and turns of the British monarchy with an expert hand. A pacy narrative that's simply bursting with colour and intrigue, Crown and Sceptre is both powerful and compulsively readable. A masterpiece. - Nicola TallisTrade Review"[E]ngaging and perceptive . . . Given its extensive timeframe and diverse cast of characters, Crown & Sceptre could easily have become little more than a potted history of Britain from 1066 to the present. But while Ms. Borman offers deft and thoughtful assessments of every reign . . . the chronological approach is enriched by details that help to humanize her subjects." * Wall Street Journal *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisParis in the Belle Époque is remembered as a golden age of cultural flourishing and political progress. The period between the revolutionary 1870s and the outbreak of war in 1914 saw the modern French capital take shape: by day Parisians could admire the rising Eiffel Tower and Sacré-Coeur Basilica, while at night they roamed the Bohemian world of the Moulin Rouge. But as Mike Rapport reveals in this authoritative and beautifully written new history, City of Light, City of Shadows, beneath the elegant veneer Paris was at war with itself. For the Belle Époque was also an era of social and religious unrest, arguments over women''s emancipation and violent clashes over what it meant to be French.Paris pulsated with pleasure, anxieties and tension stemming from the giddying speed of modernity: blazing electric lights illuminating the night, the first cars speeding down the boulevards, as well as the first Métro trains and aeroplane flights. At the same time reacti

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe war in Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray began in November 2020. It inflicted more casualties than any other contemporary conflict in the world. It has also been among the least understood. The fighting and accompanying blockade led to an estimated 600,000 deaths - more than the number who died in the 1984-5 famine. International journalists were banned as the region was sealed off from the outside world by Ethiopian and Eritrean governments prosecuting a strategy designed to crush Tigray at almost any cost. Hatred of Tigrayans was stoked by senior advisers to Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed: they have called Tigrayans 'weeds' who must be uprooted, their place in history extinguished. Their language was reminiscent of that which preceded the genocide in Rwanda. The war was also orchestrated by Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki, who came to wield increasing influence over Ethiopian affairs. It drew in Somali troops as well as Eritrean forces. Peace agreements signed in November 2022 ended the worst of the violence, but without resolving the war's underlying drivers, which continue to feed a tense and uncertain situation. This book provides the first clear explanation of the factors that led to the conflict, unravelling their roots in Ethiopia's long and complex history. It describes the battles that were fought at such terrible cost and the immense suffering, particularly of women, who were brutally abused.Trade Review‘Sarah Vaughan and Martin Plaut’s book represents the first serious attempt at an account of the conflict.’ -- London Review of Books'The book is well structured and insightful. Its strength lies in effectively connecting historical, political, social and international dimensions, making it invaluable for understanding the Tigray crisis and its broader implications across the Horn of Africa.' -- International Affairs'Timely, forceful and essential. A groundbreaking and deeply researched exploration of the war still ravaging Tigray. A vital contribution to the understanding of a devastating but largely hidden conflict, which could well prove to be a defining moment, not just for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa, but for the whole continent.' -- Andrew Harding, BBC Africa correspondent, and author of 'The Mayor of Mogadishu''With historical depth, trenchant analysis of current events and concern for the human suffering involved, this is essential for understanding the tragic war in northern Ethiopia.' -- Christopher Clapham, Centre of African Studies, University of Cambridge'The Ethiopian–Eritrean war against Tigray is the world's most lethal conflict, characterised by extreme brutality and the use of mass starvation as a weapon. It has unfolded behind a wall of silence and disinformation. This important book sets a high standard, paying scrupulous attention to the evidence and analysing the conflict and atrocities in their political context.' -- Alex de Waal, Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation'A moving account that chronicles the genesis, nature and key features of the Tigray war, as well as the Tigrayans' resistance. This lucid analysis of developments will be of significant interest to scholars of contemporary Ethiopia.' -- Mulugeta Gebrehiwot, Senior Fellow and Program Director, World Peace Foundation, Tufts University, and author of 'Laying the Past to Rest: The EPRDF and the Challenges of Ethiopian State-Building''Not only a good political history of modern Ethiopia, but an attempt at answering the question: is war the only way to arbitrate between a unitary and a federalist version of a nation?' -- Gérard Prunier, author of 'The Country That Does Not Exist: A History of Somaliland' and co-editor of 'Understanding Contemporary Ethiopia'

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA hands-on resource for the amateur, student or volunteer as well as a reference for those interested in the world's greatest archaeological finds and the people who discovered them.

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor the past 150 years, the Ku Klux Klan has murdered and tortured its way through US history. By reputation it is one of the most notorious and ultra-violent terrorist groups in the world; even today the Klan occasionally rears its ugly, trademarked, hooded head. But the truth is that it has been in terminal decline since the 1960s and the myth is now far more dangerous than the reality.From its Civil War origins as an insurgency in the defeated South, the Klan became a mass movement in the 1920s and a byword for bigotry and racism in the civil rights era. Since then, however, its numbers have fallen; yet it remains a potent symbol of white supremacist terror in our polarised world. Drawing on twenty years of primary research, The Ku Klux Klan: An American History seeks to demystify one of the most hated, feared and poorly understood organisations in history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis career-spanning anthology from prominent Jewish historian David Biale brings over a dozen of his key essays together for the first time. These pieces, written between 1974 and 2016, are all representative of a method Biale calls "counter-history": "the discovery of vital forces precisely in what others considered marginal, disreputable and irrational." The themes that have preoccupied Biale throughout the course of his distinguished career—in particular power, sexuality, blood, and secular Jewish thought—span the periods of the Bible, late antiquity, and the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Exemplary essays in this volume argue for the dialectical relationship between modernity and its precursors in the older tradition, working together to "brush history against the grain" in order to provide a sweeping look at the history of the Jewish people. This volume of work by one of the boldest and most intellectually omnivorous Jewish thinkers of our time will be essential reading for scholars and students of Jewish studies.Trade Review"Over the course of his career, David Biale has distinguished himself for both his critical acumen and his capacious interests. Written in the contrarian spirit of "counter-history," these essays exemplify his singular passion for unsettling conventional ideas concerning the norms and boundaries of the Jewish past. A superb, thought-provoking collection."—Peter E. Gordon, author of Migrants in the Profane: Critical Theory and the Question of Secularization"David Biale has always been a trailblazer. This collection highlights the many ingenious roads he has opened for scholars of the Jewish past. Rigorous in method, delicate in touch, Biale sheds light on corners of history that others deemed marginal or taboo, inviting us to engage in an exploration of "counter-history" that remains directly at the field's heart."—Sarah Abrevaya Stein, co-editor of Wartime North Africa: A Documentary History 1934-1950"Intellectually exciting and apleasure to read, the essays in this collection are a fine introduction to many important thinkers in the Jewish tradition."—Bob Goldfarb, Jewish Book Council"Taking a constructivist approach, Biale'sexamination of historical contexts includes the Tanakh, the midrash, myth, politics, and more to arrive at a complex exploration of radicalism embedded within Jewish traditions. His genealogical methodology traces critical topics from their historical or textual origins to present understandings, exploring and connecting diverging exegeses along the way.... Recommended."—A. Lieberman, CHOICE"Throughout the essays in this compilation, Biale traces diverse voices that some might call counter-canonical or even 'heretical,' or as Biale puts it, 'feature inversions of convention or hidden traditions that challenge the canon.' ...For those familiar with Jewish history, these essays provide interesting perspectives and alternative views."—David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries ReviewsTable of ContentsIntroduction: Between Canon and Counterhistory 1. The God with Breasts: El Shaddai in the Bible 2. Korah in the Midrash: The Hairless Heretic as Hero 3. Counterhistory and Jewish Polemics against Christianity: The Sefer Toldot Yeshu and the Sefer Zerubavel 4. "The Torah Speaks the Language of Human Beings": Abraham Ibn Ezra's Radical Interpretation of the Bible 5. Between Melancholy and a Broken Heart: A Note on Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav's Depression 6. The Kabbalah in Nachman Krochmal's Philosophy of History 7. Masochism and Philosemitism: The Strange Case of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch 8. Historical Heresies and Modern Jewish Identity 9. Shabbtai Zvi and the Seductions of Jewish Orientalism 10. Leo Strauss: The Philosopher as Weimar Jew 11. Arendt in Jerusalem: Hannah Arendt on the Eichmann Trial 12. Gershom Scholem's "Ten Unhistorical Aphorisms on the Kabbalah": Text and Commentary 13. The Threat of Messianism: An Interview with Gershom Scholem (August 14, 1980) 14. Mysticism and Politics in Modern Israel: The Messianic Ideology of Abraham Isaac Ha-Cohen Kook 15. The End of Enlightenment? Epilogue: By the Waters of San Francisco: A Partial Autobiography

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis'There have always been lighthouses in my life. There has been a closeness and steadiness to our relationship, as if they have kept pace and in close contact with me.' Lighthouses punctuate Scotland’s coastline – a stoic presence on the edge of the landscape. Since the earliest of these hardy structures were raised, they have been a lifeline for seafarers at the mercy of treacherous weather and uncertain navigation. Today over 100 of Scotland's lighthouses are listed buildings. The lighthouse is now one of many maritime resources which act ‘for the safety of all’. But we are still drawn to the solitary life of the keeper, the beauty of the lens of the lamp and the calm reassurance of a flashing light on a distant shore. Donald S Murray explores Scotland’s lighthouses through history, storytelling and the voices of the lightkeepers. From ancient beacons to the work of the Stevensons and the Northern Lighthouse Board, and from wartime strife to automation and preservation, the lighthouses stand as a testament to the nation’s innate connection to the sea. Published in partnership between Historic Environment Scotland and the Northern Lighthouse Board.Trade Review'illuminates a deep and powerful regard' * Scotland on Sunday *'a beautiful and insightful book' ***** * Scottish Field *'There is no doubt the author has hit upon a rich seam of lighthouse lore in this, his latest, and to my mind his best, work' * Stornoway Gazette *'a compilation of fascinating essays on a rich theme' * West Highland Free Press *'beautifully written and wonderfully illustrated' * Undiscovered Scotland *

Read more less

Book Synopsis‘An essential part of the library for anyone interested in the great political and military upheavals in the 15th century.’ – Graeme Rimer, Retired Former Academic Director of the Royal Armouries‘A creditable effort to examine a neglected aspect of medieval warfare.’ – Jim Bradbury, Cambridge University Press ‘Everything you need to know about being a soldier in the Wars of the Roses.’ – The Mail BookshopWhat was it like to fight in a Wars of the Roses battle? What kind of men fought at St Albans, Northampton, Wakefield, Towton, Tewkesbury and Bosworth? How was the medieval soldier recruited, paid, equipped, fed and billeted? And how was a battle contested once both sides resorted to all-out conflict?First published in 1998, this classic study of the medieval soldier in the Wars of the Roses examines these and other questions using various documentary sources and recent evidence. Eyewitness accounts, contemporary chronicles, personal letters, civic records, archaeology and surviving military equipment are used to paint a fascinating picture of the medieval soldier. Evidence gleaned from the mass war grave found close to the battlefield of Towton in North Yorkshire sheds new light on those that lived and died in the civil wars. But what do we know about the psychology of those involved? And how did soldiers feel about killing their fellow Englishmen?Andrew Boardman explores the grim reality of medieval soldiering on land and sea during this crucial period of aristocratic violence and dynastic upheaval. He makes us question the current historical record, such as it is, and our perceptions of chivalry and warfare in Lancastrian and Yorkist England. The text is supported by many contemporary illustrations, diagrams and maps, making this updated work an indispensable guide to medieval soldiering in the late fifteenth century.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplore Tokyo's incredible journey from a feudal past to a global metropolis in Edward Seidensticker's captivating narrative, a must-read for history enthusiasts and curious travelers eager to delve into the city's remarkable evolution. Edward Seidensticker's A History of Tokyo 1867-1989 tells the fascinating story of Tokyo's transformation from the Shogun's capital in an isolated Japan to the largest and the most modern city in the world. With the same scholarship and sparkling style that won him admiration as the foremost translator of great works of Japanese literature, Seidensticker offers the reader his brilliant vision of an entire society suddenly wrenched from an ancient feudal past into the modern world in a few short decades, and the enormous stresses and strains that this brought with it. Originally published as two volumes, Seidensticker's masterful work is now available in a handy, single paperback volume. Whether you're a history buff or Tokyo-bound traveler looking to

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this extensively updated edition of a book that was widely praised on its first publication nearly a decade ago, the acclaimed foreign correspondent and author Charles Glass, brings the the story of Syria up to date. In these pages he looks at the way the Assad government emerged victorious from a conflict that has left the country in ruins, wide swathes of its population immiserated, and a range of conflicts still unresolved.The nuances of the Syrian civil war have never been well-understood in the West, least of all, it seems, by governments in the US and Europe, who, anticipating Assad's departure, made it a condition of any negotiated settlement. The consequences of that miscalculation, Charles Glass contends in this illuminating survey, contributed greatly to the disaster we witness today.Glass has reported extensively from the Middle East, and travelled frequently in Syria, over several decades. Here he melds together reportage, analysis and history to provide an accessible overview of the origins and permutations defining the conflict, situating it clearly in the overall crisis of the region. His voice, elegant and concise, humane and richly-informed, is a vital antidote to the sloganizing that shapes so much commentary, and policy, concerning Syria.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy did killing a fox mean liberty? What did parish revels have to do with the Peterloo Massacre? What did animal cruelty have to do with the English constitution? What did the Factory Acts mean for modern football?In This Sporting Life, Robert Colls explains sport as one of England''s great civil cultures. The lived experiences of people from all walks of life are reclaimed to tell England''s history through its great sporting cultures, from the horseback pursuits of the wealthy and politically connected, to the street games in working-class neighbourhoods which needed nothing but a ball. It observes people at play, describes how they felt and thought, carries the reader along to a match or a hunt or a fight, draws out the sounds and smells of humans and animals, showing that sport has been as important in defining British culture as gender, politics, education, class, and religion.Trade Reviewa highly original, personal yet deeply accomplished, history of sporting pastimes * Mike Huggins, Cultural and Social History *This is an idiosyncratic work that is full of erudition and wit, being highly informative and often very entertaining ... a valuable addition to libraries specializing in modern British history or the history of sport. * M. Klobas, CHOICE *A compelling, evocative and unique explication of what sport has meant to the English. * Aberdare Literary Prize *Simultaneously insightful, beguiling and accomplished...it's not about the slow development of sporting rules and governing bodies. None of that matters. It is a tour de force account of how the love affair with liberty had a profound influence on the English and their sports. * Mike Huggins, Cultural and Social History *Eccentric, erudite and often very funny... [a] dazzling history of sport in England... Every page is a delight. * Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times, Best History Books of the Year 2020 *Robert Colls has taken on 200 years of English history through the prism of its culturally neglected sports - common, exclusive, innovative, brutal. He's written a definitive work not only of our sporting life, but also of our social texture. * Melvyn Bragg, New Statesman, Books of the Year 2020 *Robert Colls's exploration of sport in England between 1760 and 1960 is like no sporting history I have ever read... Eccentric, dazzlingly learned and often very funny... Colls is a historian of matchless insight and admirably democratic range. * Dominic Sandbrook, The Sunday Times *This Sporting Life displays exhausting quantities of erudition... The prose is lively even in the footnotes... there are jewels on every page... There is more life in these pages than can be explained, or needs to be. * Simon Kuper, Financial Times *Superb... This is much more than a history of sport; it is really an alternative history of England itself... This book is full of moments that pull you up short and make you think. * Alex Massie, The Spectator *Colls has combined painstaking research with elegant prose to produce a thoroughly readable history of British sports and pastimes over two hundred years. In doing so he has breathed new life into an often-neglected corner of British history. * Emma Griffin, Literary Review *[A] quirky and strikingly original social history of England through its sports, games and pastimes... beautifully and inventively expressed, witty and bawdy in places... perhaps the most impressive element of This Sporting Life is its light touch, the way it never quite loses sight of the fact that at its heart, sport is fun. * Jonathan Liew, New Statesman *A remarkably and admirably human history, full of empathy for people of all classes and condescension towards none... Crackling on the page, Colls's prose elucidates and amuses in equal measure and with equal sharpness. * Stephanie Barczewski, Times Literary Supplement *strongly recommended contribution to the history of the emotions * Daniele Serapiglia, Passato e Presente *thought-provoking...readable...valuable...novel..intuitive.. excellent example of how a topic can be revitalised by thinking creatively... * Dave Day, idrottsforum *A monograph of monumental importance...placing sport at the forefront of civil culture in Britain. A work of national and international importance that should provide a platform for similar studies in other countries. * Keith Laybourn, Labour History Review *I'd like to say something about style. Colls is a master. He can be--in turn--witty, slapstick comic, ironic, satirical, sarcastic, lyrical, sombre, or elegiac. Sometimes he's Robert Surtees and sometimes he's John Milton. Mostly, I think, he's Pierce Egan. Whatever the tone, he's a marvel at the epigram. * Allen Guttmann, author of From Ritual to Record. The Nature of Modern Sports *At heart this book is the best kind of social history: vivid, revelatory and penned by an author who seems to know the byways of every county in England... a joyous book of dazzling scholarship. * Dan Jackson, History Today *This is both a vivid and thought-provoking read... I would recommend the book to anyone skeptical of the historical significance of sport. * Lincoln Allison, The Critic *[This Sporting Life] is absorbing, original, and entertaining... Colls is a formidable historian of England and English identity * Simon Heffer, New Criterion *An exemplary work and one that illuminates with stories rather than numbing with statistics... Colls' previous work, in particular 'Identity of England' (2002) and 'George Orwell: English Rebel' (2013), established his credentials as a historian on a mission to restore the experiences of the working-classes to the national record - the Jack Tars, pitmen and pugilists - but to do so through hard evidence not special pleading... Nowhere is this better realised than in his final chapter on football. * John Mitchinson, Byline Times *It is when Colls rises to the challenge of his subtitle - 'Sport and Liberty' - that the book really soars. * John Mitchinson, Byline Times *A great read for anyone who loves sport... free of jargon and and full of what people actually did... The writing is full of memorable phrases, wry comments and thoughtful insights into human behaviour... a message that could have been penned by George Orwell himself. * Philip Cottam, The Arbuturian *This fascinating and engagingly written book is about much more than sport: customs, tradition, place, identity, national myths as well as national stories all have their place. Colls has written the best book I have read on George Orwell, and this book too is definitive. * Jason Cowley, Editor of The New Statesman *The two most successful and positive exports from this country are the English language and organized sport. The profound influence of sport has been grievously unacknowledged. In his new book, Robert Colls puts this right by bringing its history to life and linking it quite brilliantly with common notions of liberty, patriotism, and belonging. He also shows the part modern sport played in replacing the many textures of our traditional patterns of social life. It's vivid, passionate, and goes to the heart of a subject which in so many ways is now the dominating conversation in peoples' lives. * Melvyn Bragg, Broadcaster *A brilliant book by one of my favourite British historians...giving the real thrill of first hand research and covering every corner of our national life. Even if you don't like sport you will like this book. * John Mitchinson, Backlisted Podcast *This is a wonderful book. It is engrossing,beautifully written, overflowing with insight into England and English ideas of liberty as manifest through sport.It is a history of sport unlike any other and is nothing short of exhilarating. * Paul Rouse, School of History, University College Dublin *Sparkling and scholarly, Robert Colls' new history of sport is expertly set within the wider context of English society and culture. Abounding with fresh insights, sport is celebrated and explained from Regency prize-fights to Wembley Cup Finals; vibrantly written, full of dramatic incidents and exceptional individuals. * Richard Holt, author of Sport and the British: A Modern History *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Land of Liberty 2: 'Bottom' 3: Custom 4: Belonging 5: New Moral Worlds 6: Moderns Conclusion: Sport and the English Hero

Read more less

Book SynopsisA guide to exploring 365 of Scotland''s most scenic, wildlife-rich and historically significant woodlands. From the precious fragments of Caledonian pine forest to lesser-known wildwoods and urban copses, Scottish woodlands offer places of sanctuary, both for wildlife and for people. In this practical guide, Gabriel Hemery brings together the beauty, purpose, history, wildlife and ownership of some of the most extraordinary woodland sites in the country, from the largest (the Forest of Ae, which covers more than 10,000 hectares) to the smallest (Halligarth in the Shetland Islands, measuring less than a third of a hectare), and everything in-between. Some woods are notable for having the tallest or rarest trees, others are the best places in the country for spotting ospreys or red squirrels, or even marine mammals; some are known as the best places to explore preserved archaeological features, discovering hidden histories or simply enjoying spectacular scenery.Trade ReviewAn engaging and comprehensive route map to enjoying Scottish woodlands. * Trees for Life *Table of ContentsScotland’s forests How to Use this Guide Access to Forests Keeping Safe Angus & Dundee (Sites 1-12) Argyll & Bute (Sites 13-52) Ayrshire (Sites 53-67) Borders (Sites 68-90) Clyde (Sites 91-102) Dumfries & Galloway (Sites 103-119) Fife (Sites 120-132) Highlands (Sites 133-248) Lothian (Sites 249-273) Moray & Nairn (Sites 274-289) North-East (Sites 290-313) Outer Hebrides, Orkney & Shetland (Sites 314-325) Perth & Kinross (Sites 326-347) Upper Forth (Sites 348-365) Site Designations Glossary Useful Information Further Reading Regional Maps Index Acknowledgements

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this kaleidoscopic portrait, John Geraint captures with a filmmaker''s eye the exuberant life of this former mining community in changing times. Comic and evocative, the book shows how the values the valley has lived by could guide the Rhondda - and the wider world - towards a better future.

Read more less

Book SynopsisINSIDE IRAN'S NEW REVOLUTIONI've stopped pulling up my scarf to cover my hair when I pass by the guards. I know that nothing can stop one of them from raising his gun and targeting me. But this is for the greater good.Following the death of Mahsa-Jina Amini in September 2022, the angry cries of the Iranian people have rung out in the streets. Citizens of all ages and backgrounds come together to call for an end to the regime's injustice, violence and repression, chanting 'Woman, life, freedom'.The current protests are the most widespread and important the country has seen since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. But they are also part of a long struggle for women's rights in Iran. In this incisive, moving narrative, an anonymous Iranian woman describes her daily activism in the streets of Tehran, and shows it to be part of a long and powerful tradition of female resistance.Translated by Poupeh Missaghi.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRock Lighthouses of Britain & Ireland is a new edition of the classic work on the subject – but with some of the most famous Irish rock lighthouses included. The text has been updated to include the modern technology being used by the lighthouse authorities, as well as all the historical advances made over the centuries at British and Irish rock lights, complemented by scores of new and many stunning photographs. Also included are historic plans and drawings, many of them highly colourful and artistic, as used by the original lighthouse builders. At the end are comprehensive and detailed tables about the rock lighthouses maintained by all three lighthouse authorities. Building on the acclaim received for the earlier editions, it brings the history of these iconic structures completely up-to-date, from the day the first granite block was laid, through their construction, automation, the disappearance of the lighthouse keeper, right up to today’s automated operation. Here are some of the world’s most famous rock lighthouses. There are stories of men battling against Nature’s most powerful forces to build a structure designed to save lives on a seemingly impossible site. Rock Lighthouses of Britain & Ireland spans the centuries between the world’s first rock lighthouse on the Eddystone reef, to the very last rock lighthouse, constructed in the traditional style, on Ireland’s Fastnet Rock and accordingly will remain the premier book about rock lighthouses.Table of ContentsOut of the darkness – A history of the British and Irish lighthouses services; Eddystone – The beginning; The Skerries – The price of generosity; The Smalls – A rock lighthouse on legs; Longships – The Land’s End light; The Longstone – Grace Darling’s light; Bell Rock – The start of the Stevensons; Tuskar Rock – The lighthouse that almost killed a King; The Skelligs – The lighthouse at the end of the road; Skerryvore – The noblest of all; Bishop Rock – The Blue Riband light; Fastnet – The last of the great rock towers; Muckle Flugga – The northern light; The Bull and The Calf – If at first you don’t succeed…; Wolf Rock – The curse of the Cornish wreckers; Dubh Artach–- Guardian of the Hebrides; Chicken Rock – A Manx crag; Flannan Isles – The Marie Celeste lighthouse; Rockall – ‘The most isolated rock on the surface on the earth’; South Rock – A remarkable survivor; Rock lights – A new era begins; Appendix – Rock lighthouse data

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"For anyone interested in unique stories of historical myth, this book is worth it for the introduction alone. . . . Fantastic work has been done to bring this astounding historical epic to a wider twenty-first-century audience." * Buzz Magazine *Table of ContentsContents Introduction: Elis Gruffydd and His Chronicle Jerry Hunter Translator’s Note Patrick K. Ford THE TEXTS I. Earliest Times, Biblical and Ancient The Birth of Hercules The Birth of Alexander The Story of the Rood The Tower of Babel The Origins of Britain II. Merlin and Arthur The Birth of Merlin the Prophet Merlin and the Threefold Death Merlin and the Dreams of Gwenddydd Merlin’s Prophecy and the Reign of Caswalldan Custennin and the Rise of Gwrtheyrn/Vortigern Gwrtheyrn and Saint Germain Gwrtheyrn and the Falling Castle Gwrtheyrn’s Reign, Hengist, and Horsa Merlin and Stonehenge Merlin Explains the Dragon Image Uthyr Defeats the Saxons, Arthur Is Born The Death of Uthyr Pendragon Merlin Helps Arthur in His Earliest Battles Arthur and the Sword in the Stone The Death of Merlin Huail Son of Caw and Arthur Arthur Dreams of the Loss of Kingship Arthur and the Round Table The Final Battle, Arthur Dies Arthur’s Cave Found Charlemagne and Arthur III. Tales of Magic, Prophecy, and the Supernatural Maelgwn Gwynedd, His Wife, and the Ring The Story of Gwion Bach The Epiphany of Taliesin An Unfortunate Witch The Ring and the Necromancer Two Women and a Dead Husband A Sorcerer Who Fared Less Well Henry II: Piggyback Follies and an Ugly Priest The Prophesied Death of Edward I (the Confessor) Swearing on Bread in the Time of King Edward the Confessor The Reign of William II and His Death The Dream of Henry I and Matilda The Earl of Anjou Who Married a She-Devil Edward III and the Garter The Plague in the Time of Edward III Henry VI and His Gloves The Death of Edward I Llywelyn, Prince of Wales, and the Fool Richard I, the Lion, and the Heart Owain Tudur and Catherine de Valois and the Rise of the Tudors Henry VII and Necromancy Thomas More and the Garden of Pain Sir Thomas More and the Necromancer A Ghost Story for Henry VIII Rhobin Ddu Charles V and the Astronomer Glossary

Read more less

Book SynopsisTold for the very first time, this is the shocking and extraordinary story of the most-conniving and manipulative Tudor family you''ve never heard of . . .???????''A tour-de-force of Tudor history. Remarkable'' DAN JONES''Exciting and immersive. An immensely entertaining history'' SUNDAY TIMES''This is riveting stuff: death, desire, power and scandal'' SPECTATOR''A twist on the Tudors . . . Enormously entertaining - a sheer joy to read'' THE TIMES________Was the House of Dudley out to steal the throne?This was the question on the mind of Elizabeth I''s courtiers when a forbidden book accused generations of the Dudley family of poisonings, plottings, murders, treason, incitement and other ''evil stratagems.''For decades, the Dudleys had been close to the throne, rising from nobodies to the land''s highest offices.Under Henrys VII and VIII, Edward VI, Mary I anTrade ReviewA tour-de-force of Tudor history, as seen through the eyes of a family with a front-row view of almost every major political event in sixteenth-century England. Remarkable -- Dan Jones, Sunday Times bestselling author of Powers and ThronesExciting and immersive. An immensely entertaining history, capturing in full Tudor brilliance the cut-throat glamour of the English throne and the most audacious family to play its game * Sunday Times *House of Dudley is a full-blooded affair, as good on the horrors of war as it is on the soft power of the Dudley women, and written in a lively, episodic style that presents each Dudley as a foil to the monarch they served -- Jessie ChildsBreathes new life into an old and familiar Tudor story. [She] negotiates the labyrinth of Tudor politics with skill, producing a book much more comprehensible and illuminating than others I've read . . . It's delightful, a joy to read * The Times, BOOK OF THE WEEK *I am hugely impressed by The House of Dudley and by the depths of research. This is a pacy narrative, vividly written, that makes you want to read on and on.Joanne Paul is a major new talent in the field and I eagerly await her next book -- Alison WeirThis is riveting stuff: death, desire, power and scandal. Paul has made the most of it, producing a well written and historically grounded page-turner . . . Game of Thrones looks tame compared with the real-life machinations of the Dudleys and the Tudors * Spectator *A twist on the Tudors . . . Enormously entertaining - a sheer joy to read * The Times, '25 BEST HISTORY BOOKS OF 2022' *A hugely entertaining history of three generations of the Dudley family, who dominated the Tudor court * The Times *A thrilling and deeply researched study of power and conspiracy: the rise and fall of the other Tudor dynasty. The House of Dudley illuminates the fascinating men and women who almost became kings and queens in their own right -- Simon Sebag-MontefioreVivid, innovative and authoritative. I could not recommend The House of Dudley more highly. It's a real lesson in how to revitalise the writing of Tudor history -- Sarah GristwoodJoanne Paul's account of this family is rich and compelling. She manages to hit that sweet spot where scholarly history overlaps with dramatic storytelling; she conjures up the look and feel of Tudor life, down to the clothes, the medicines and the furniture, while also being a skilful filler-in of political background . . . Whether or not you have ever succumbed to Mantelmania, you will find yourself drawn in, fascinated, and richly informed * Telegraph *An enthralling read told by Paul with great verve and an eye for the telling detail . . . The family's complex history is concisely and compellingly related * Literary Review *Visceral and illuminating. The extraordinary House of Dudley is the Tudor Game of Thrones. Paul has produced a painstakingly detailed first book with spirit and verve * The Wall Street Journal *Captivating and thought-provoking . . . Sheds immense light onto this often-overlooked family * Royal Studies Journal *The crowning jewel in its genre . . . I can't recommend this book enough. Unputdownable -- Lindsey FitzharrisWhen reading Joanne Paul's lively history of the house of Dudley, it is impossible not to be reminded of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy . . . Paul uses the experiences of the Dudleys to light up odd corners and backroom spaces of Tudor palace life * Mail on Sunday *Joanne Paul chronicles the meteoric rise and deadly fall of the Dudleys * BBC History Magazine *Joanne Paul reveals how the might of the Tudor dynasty was built on the blood and sweat of three generations of another family - the Dudleys * BBC History Magazine *Hugely entertaining * The Times, Best Books of Summer 2022 *Fascinating -- Catherine Fletcher * History Today *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSex under the Swastika is a journey through the dark secretive corridors of the Third Reich's powerbase and it's near-pathological sexual obsession with young women, sex, Satanism and the occult. Based on interviews, eye-witness accounts and using newly revealed material from the sons and daughters of former SS officers who were part of Adolf Hitler and Reinhard Heydrich's personal staff, we learn about the sexual conduct, affairs, scandals and fetishes of some of Hitler's most trusted advocates, who used their positions of trust to execute their warped fantasies. It reveals how many leading Nazi's were actively involved in occult rituals and sexual practices, and how the abuse suffered by many young men and women was only permissible through the filtering down from the highest echelons of the regime, which was prepared to turn a blind eye. Learn about the exotic sex and drug-fuelled private cocktail parties of the Nazi political elite that spread far and wide into the society over which it presided. An unapologetically provocative volume, Sex Under the Swastika is an exploration of the Third Reich's darkest secrets, which left blood on the crisp white sheets of a nation and caused many to remain silent for decades after the death of National Socialist Germany. This unique work leaves the reader to make up his or her own mind as to the perverse, warped nature and the guilt and complicity of one of history's most sexually exploitive and evil empires.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn August 48 BC, following the earlier battle at Dyrrhachium, the two greatest Roman commanders of their generation met in battle again at Pharsalus in Greece. Julius Caesar, conqueror of Gaul, had been defeated at Dyrrhachium and forced to retreat but now stood at bay to face Pompey the Great, conqueror of the East. At stake lay the future of the ailing Roman Republic, each man believing he alone had the solution to restoring Republican government. Gareth Sampson examines the campaigns which led up to the battle as well as the role played by the various regional powers who got drawn into the Roman Civil War. The Battle of Pharsalus itself is analysed in detail to determine the strengths and weakness of both armies and their various commanders, as well as the organization, equipment and tactics of the forces involved in the battle which culminated in a decisive victory for Caesar. The author concludes with consideration of the aftermath of the battle, which saw Pompey murdered in Egypt and Caesar distracted by the affairs of the East.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBrings out the 'dark side' of gin - the lesser-known version of gin's history, as well as the tales of sinister, sad or criminal behaviour.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGermany''s success in the Second World War was built upon its tank forces; however, many of its leading generals, with the notable exception of Heinz Guderian, are largely unknown. This biographical study of four German panzer army commanders serving on the Eastern Front is based upon their unpublished wartime letters to their wives. David Stahel offers a complete picture of the men conducting Hitler''s war in the East, with an emphasis on the private fears and public pressures they operated under. He also illuminates their response to the criminal dimension of the war as well as their role as leading military commanders conducting large-scale operations. While the focus is on four of Germany''s most important panzer generals - Guderian, Hoepner, Reinhardt and Schmidt - the evidence from their private correspondence sheds new light on the broader institutional norms and cultural ethos of the Wehrmacht''s Panzertruppe.Trade Review'Already renowned for his brilliant studies of the war on the Eastern Front, David Stahel has once again used his forensic skills to great effect. Drawing on original research - notably a treasure trove of intimate correspondence, much of it never before published - Stahel has produced a revelatory portrait of the four Panzer commanders who spearheaded Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941. These military giants of historical myth re-emerge as complex, vulnerable and often deeply troubled human beings, who loved their families and their country but were also unswervingly loyal to the Nazi cause. This is revisionist history of the highest order. It is also a superb read.' Jonathan Dimbleby, author of Barbarossa: How Hitler Lost the War'In this penetrating, first-of-its-kind study, David Stahel critically examines the personal letters of the panzer generals. He skillfully strips away the layers of myth and exaggeration to reveal an intimate portrait of the men beneath-their personal lives, quirks, and flaws, as well as their complicity in Hitler's genocidal project. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding not only of Germany's command culture but the social world of the Third Reich.' David A. Harrisville, author of The Virtuous Wehrmacht: Crafting the Myth of the German Soldier on the Eastern Front, 1941–1944'Superb. David Stahel has become the foremost historian chronicling the war on the Eastern Front and this new study of four of the panzer generals is a major contribution to our understanding of how and why the German Army fought as it did and the consequences of their approach. Completely original in its study, this marks the first time any historian has so meticulously peeled back the layers of German high command in the war. The result is revelatory, immensely thought-provoking, compelling, and, frankly, eye-opening. It is a quite brilliant piece of work and deserves to be widely read for generations to come.' James Holland, author of Brothers in ArmsTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The letters of the Panzer generals: validity, veracity and verification; 2. The private generals: embracing family and war; body, mind and soul; Burdens of the heart; Burdens of command; 3. The public generals: military celebrity; Charm offensives; Status symbols; The power of privilege; 4. The criminal generals: enemy in the East; Criminal orders; The war behind the front; War of annihilation; 5. The military generals: Delusion and disclosure; Discord and dysfunction; Operational silences; Narcissistic command; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHomer's Iliad is the acknowledged masterpiece of Greek literature. Reading Homer makes it accessible to students who have only recently begun learning the language. It builds on their existing knowledge and enables them to appreciate the poem in its context.Table of ContentsList of illustrations; Preface; List of abbreviations; Notes for the reader; Introduction: A. Homer and the Iliad; B. The story of the Iliad; C. Reading Homer; D. Homer's language; E. Metre; Select bibliography; Iliad Book 16; Iliad Book 18; Vocabulary; Grammar index.

Read more less