History Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Antarctica
Book SynopsisThere have been many books about Antarctica in the past, but all have focused on only one aspect of the continent - its science, its wildlife, the heroic age of exploration, personal experiences or the sheer awesome beauty of the landscape- but none have managed to capture the whole story, until now.Gabrielle Walker, author, consultant to New Scientist and regular broadcaster with the BBC has written a book unlike any that has ever been written about the continent. Antarctica weaves all the significant threads into an intricate tapestry, made up of science, natural history, poetry, epic history, what it feels like to be there and why it draws so many different kinds of people back there again and again. It is only when all the parts come together that the underlying truths of the continent emerge. Antarctica is the most alien place on Earth, the only part of our planet where humans could never survive unaided. It is truly like walking on another planet. And yet, in its siTrade ReviewWe are all anxious Antarctic watchers now, and Walker's book is the essential primer * Guardian *The early Antarctic expeditions are thoroughly covered in this enthralling book. But, then again, so is every other aspect of a place that continues to haunt the human imagination ... Perhaps best of all, Walker gives us a fantastically vivid sense of what it's like to be in Antarctica * Readers Digest *This is a fascinating insight into one of the most inhospitable places on Earth and its implications for the world's future * Irish Examiner *Brimful of science, heroism, tragedy and laugh-out-loud humour, Antarctica is an exciting and informative read ... Walker interweaves personal accounts and in-depth research to tell an intimate captivating story -- Kathryn Jeffs * BBC Focus *
£15.29
Yale University Press The History of Englands Cathedrals
Book SynopsisThe first history of all the English cathedrals, from Birmingham and Bury St Edmunds to Worcester and York MinsterTrade Review“A fascinating and detailed description of the historical development of the English cathedral from the arrival of Christianity in A.D. 314 until the present day.”—Joan Greatrex, Catholic Historical Review“Delightful. . . . A history of English cathedrals as living institutions as well as architectural monuments.”—Peter Atkinson, Journal of Ecclesiastical History“Magisterial. . . . Charts the remarkable voyage of cathedrals during their 1700-year history.”—Michael Tavinor, Church Times“A masterful narrator of the Cathedral story. . . . Cathedrals stand as shrines to the beauty of human creation, beauty as yet unsurpassed. To their survival we should all be dedicated.”—Simon Jenkins, Country Life“The Cathedrals of England are institutions older than the realm itself, and are perhaps more cherished and flourishing now than they have ever been, as this richly enjoyable volume makes clear. There can be no-one better qualified than Nicholas Orme to present the full range of their long history.”—Diarmaid MacCulloch, author of A History of Christianity“Clear, accessible, and superbly illustrated, this book should be essential reading for visitors to English cathedrals. The book has no rival in serious and accessible literature. Anyone interested in cathedrals should have it on their shelves.”—David Rollason, author of The Power of Place
£19.00
Oxford University Press The Tudors England 14851603 Oxford A Level
Book SynopsisThis title is suitable for any student studying: Exam Board: AQA Level: A Level Subject: History First teaching: September 2015 First exams: June 2017 The Tudors has been approved by AQA and matched to the 2015 specifications. With a strong focus on skills building and exam practice, this book covers in breadth issues of change, continuity, and cause and consequence in this period of English history through key questions such as how effectively did the Tudors develop the powers of the monarchy, and how did English society and economy change. Its aim is to enable students to understand and make connections between the six key themes covered in the specification. Students can further develop vital skills such as historical interpretations and source analyses via specially selected sources and extracts. Practice questions and study tips provide additional support to help familiarize students with the new exam style questions, and help them achieve their best in the exam.Trade Review"This is a great textbook for my Year 10 students, as it is just at their level. There is the right amount of content and source work with a good range of activities." * Amazon review, Sept 2015 *"In my opinion a stronger book than others!" * 5* Amazon review, Oct 2015 *"This is a great textbook for my Year 10 students as it is just at their level. There is the right amount of content and source work with a good range of activities." * 5* Amazon review *"Excellent book, clear explanations and a super aid for revision - recommended." * 5* Amazon review *Table of ContentsTimeline Introduction to this book PART ONE: AS AND A LEVEL CONSOLIDATION OF THE TUDOR DYNASTY: ENGLAND, 1485-1547 SECTION 1 Henry VII, 1485-1509 SECTION 2 Henry VIII, 1509-47 PART TWO: A LEVEL ENGLAND: TURMOIL AND TRIUMPH, 1547-1603 SECTION 3 Instability and consolidation: 'the mid-Tudor crisis', 1547-63 SECTION 4 The triumph of Elizabeth, 1563-1603 Conclusion: Restoring and developing the powers of the monarchy Glossary Bibliography Acknowledgements Index
£41.87
Little, Brown Book Group Chasing the Dark
£17.60
Faber & Faber The Log Books
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£17.00
Ebury Publishing Vertigo
Book SynopsisHarald Jähner (Author) Harald Jähner is a cultural journalist and former editor of the Berliner Zeitung. He was also an honorary professor of cultural journalism at the Berlin University of the Arts. His book Aftermath: Life in the Fallout of the Third Reich was shortlisted for the 2021 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in the UK and won the Leipzig Book Fair Prize for Non-Fiction in his native Germany.Shaun Whiteside (Translator) Shaun Whiteside is an award-winning translator from French, German, Italian and Dutch. His most recent translations from German include Aftermath by Harald Jähner, To Die in Spring by Ralf Rothmann, Swansong 1945 by Walter Kempowski, Berlin Finale by Heinz Rein and The Broken House by Horst Krüger.
£10.44
Simon & Schuster Ltd Mafia A Global History
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£20.00
Simon & Schuster Ltd The World Within
Book SynopsisWhat value does solitude bring to the creative mind? How can withdrawing from the world help us endure in times of crisis? As an author himself, Guy Stagg has long been fascinated by the role that retreat plays in the lives of writers and artists. Determined to see if seclusion could help his own work, he decided to follow in the footsteps of three seminal figures of the twentieth century: Ludwig Wittgenstein, David Jones and Simone Weil. Beautifully written and researched, THE WORLD WITHIN sees Stagg trace each of their journeys to isolation, hoping to see what they saw. He shadows Wittgenstein to the monastery outside Vienna where he worked as a gardener's assistant, and sails to the forbidding holy island off the Welsh coast where Jones immersed himself in his art. He visits the Solesmes Abbey in France that Weil found so transformative, and travels to Norway to stay in Wittgenstein's famous, rustic lake cabin. With an eye for natural beauty and sharp social observation, Stagg me
£17.00
Orion Publishing Co After the Fall
Book SynopsisTobias Buck arrived in Madrid in December 2012, in time to celebrate the bleakest Christmas the city had seen in a generation. Capital and country were reeling from a series of economic shocks that had brought Spain to the brink of ruin. The housing boom had dramatically turned to bust, a large chunk of the nation''s banking system was in state hands, businesses were closing across the country, debt was spiralling out of control and unemployment levels had reached a record high.AFTER THE FALL presents a rich and vivid portrait of contemporary Spain at a critical moment in the country''s history. The book tells the story of Spain''s long boom and sudden bust, the brutal economic crisis that followed, and the political and social aftershocks that reverberate to this day. It explores the origins of the separatist movement in Catalonia, and its bitter clash with the Spanish government that culminated in a failed secession referendum and a divisive declaration of independence. It lo
£17.00
Cornerstone The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'[A] clever, lively ... splendid new book'DAN JONES, SUNDAY TIMES'A big gold bar of delight'SPECTATORSixteen hundred years ago Britain left the Roman Empire and swiftly fell into ruin. Into this violent and unstable world came foreign invaders from across the sea, and established themselves as its new masters. In this sweeping and original history, renowned historian Marc Morris separates the truth from the legend and tells the extraordinary story of how the foundations of England were laid.'Marc Morris is a genius of medieval narrative'IAN MORTIMER, author of The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England'Brilliant ... Beautifully written, incredibly accessible and deeply researched'JAMES O'BRIEN'A much-needed book ... A gripping story, beautifully told'BERNARD CORNWELL, author of The Last Kingdom'Highly informative and hugely enjoyable'IAN HISLOP'A vivid, sharply drawn story of seven centuries of profound political change'THOMAS PENN, author of The Winter KingTrade ReviewThe historian Marc Morris masterfully picks out key themes and characters, from King Offa to Alfred the Great, to produce a coherent and compelling narrative of this turbulent time. * Pippa Bailey, New Statesman *A vivid, sharply drawn story of seven centuries of profound political change, told with wit, authority and shrewd historical judgement. The Anglo-Saxons is a superbly clear and evocative journey through England's beginnings, and Marc Morris is a wonderful guide. * Thomas Penn *This is a much-needed book - an accessible, eminently readable account of the peoples who first made England. It's a gripping story, beautifully told! * Bernard Cornwell, author of The Last Kingdom *
£10.44
Seven Stories Press Before the Flood
£15.29
UCL Press Thomas Cranmers Register
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£76.50
Equinox Publishing Ltd The US Constitution in Five Minutes
Book SynopsisThe U.S. Constitution was written more than 230 years ago for a new country on the periphery of the world. Two centuries later, it governs the most powerful nation on earth, and its meaning is constantly debated. The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes presents fifty-nine essays on subjects central to the meaning and application of the U.S. Constitution. Written by scholars, these essays cover origins; institutions, processes, and structural features; civil rights and liberties; and modes of interpretation and address common questions and misunderstandings about the Constitution, such as: • Can the president start a war? • Does the Constitution protect hate speech? • Does the Second Amendment give everyone the right to have a gun? • Does the Constitution protect noncitizens? • How can we tell what the Constitution means? Intended for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the underlying principles of the U.S. political system, the book will also be a valuable supplement to political science courses. As with all the “Five Minutes” books, the essays are written in lively and accessible prose and are brief enough to be read in five minutes.Table of ContentsPreface Origins Why do we have a Constitution? James Todd (Palm Beach Atlantic University) Who wrote the Constitution? Madison Shanks and Kirk A. Randazzo (both at University of South Carolina) Human nature and the Constitution David Lay Williams (DePaul University) Racism in the Constitution Leslie F. Goldstein (University of Delaware) Emulation and innovation in the constitutional system A.K. Shauku (SUNY Buffalo) How can we tell what the Constitution means? Sara C. Benesh (University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee) Is the Constitution what the justices say it is? Joseph L. Smith Congress and the States What can states do? John D. Nugent (Connecticut College) What is ‘commerce among the several states,’ and why does it matter? H. W. Perry (University of Texas, Austin) What can’t states do? Joseph L. Smith How can governments use the power to tax? Jolly A. Emrey (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater) Why is it hard to sue a state? Susan W. Johnson (University of North Carolina, Greensboro) Conflicts between the Branches What is the purpose of separation of powers? Joseph L. Smith The President as chief executive David Crockett (Trinity University. San Antonio) The crucial power to appoint and remove officials Robert J. Hume (Fordham University) Who really makes the laws? Eric Heberlig (University of North Carolina, Charlotte) Executive orders: statutes in disguise? Chris Edelson (American University) Can the President start a war? Rebecca U. Thorpe (University of Washington, Seattle) How can we get rid of a bad President? Donald A. Zinman (Grand Valley State University) Judicial review Allyson Yankle (Radford University) The challenge of judicial independence Charles Gardner Geyh (Indiana University) Representative Democracy Who can vote? Greg W. Vonhamme (University of Missouri, Kansas City) Why is my congressional district such a weird shape? Jeffrey L. Bernstein (Eastern Michigan University) Is the Electoral College undemocratic? Sheahan Virgin (Grinnell College) Why do Wyoming and California have the same number of senators? Ben Kassow (University of North Dakota) Term lengths, stability, and responsiveness Beth Henschen (Eastern Michigan University) Can the Constitution handle political parties? Michael Catalano (SUNY, Binghamton) Campaign finance and the First Amendment Bruce Larson (Gettysburg College) Is the administrative state unconstitutional? Christine Kexel Chabot Loyola University Chicago) Individual Liberties Does the Constitution protect hate speech? Tim Johnson (University of Minnesota) Does the Constitution protect the right to lie? Keith Bybee (Syracuse University) Can I be prosecuted for telling someone to break the law? David E. Klein Do the media have special rights? Mark J. Richards (Grand Valley State University) Is all religious behavior protected? Barry Pyle (Eastern Michigan University) Separation of church and state Chris Kromphardt (University of Iowa) Does a Twitter ban violate the Constitution? Lawrence Baum (Iowa State University) Does the Second Amendment give me the right to carry a gun? William Merkel (Charleston School of Law) Private property and the takings clause Bob Howard (Georgia State University) Is there a right to abortion in the Constitution? Chase Porter (California Baptist University) Equality and Civil Rights How did the Civil War amendments change the Constitution? Gbemende Johnson (Hamilton College) Who is a citizen? Anna O. Law (CUNY Brooklyn College) Does the Constitution protect non-citizens? Allen Linken (University of Alabama) Does the equal protection clause cover gender? Laura P. Moyer (University of Louisville) Equal protection beyond race and sex David E. Klein Regulating private discrimination Karen Swenson (Eastern Illinlois University) Does the Constitution permit affirmative action? Kyla K. Stepp (Central Michigan University) Is There a right to same-sex marriage? Robert J. Hume The Criminal Justice Process Homes and the Fourth Amendment Pamela C. Corley (Southern Methodist University) Automobiles and the Fourth Amendment Melinda Gann Hall (Michigan State University) Electronic surveillance and tracking Tinsley Griffin Hill (Alabama Legislative Services Agency) Taking the Fifth David E. Klein Police interrogations and the Miranda Warnings Ryan J. Williams (University of South Alabama) Why do courts throw out good evidence? Wendy L. Martinek (Binghamtpon University) Cruel and unusual punishments Taneisha N. Means (Vassar College) Looking Outward and Forward The U.S. Constitution as an international model Monica Lineberger (University of Wisconsin, Whitewater) Different approaches to national constitutions Matthew Reid Krell (Vassar College) Does the Constitution work in a crisis? David Crockett Does the Constitution cause gridlock? Richard L. Pacelle, Jr. (University of Tennessee) Does the amendment process need amendment? Bruce Peabody (Farleigh Dickinson University)
£23.70
Penguin Books Ltd Chernobyl Roulette
Book Synopsis'A necessary book and I can think of no writer better qualified to write it' Cal Flyn What if Chernobyl was just the beginning?The acclaimed winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize returns to Chernobyl to tell the gripping story of thirty-five days of warOn 24 February 2022, the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, armoured vehicles approached the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine. It was the most direct way for them to reach the capital - and an extraordinarily reckless plan after the disaster that had taken place there three decades earlier. Russian occupation of the plant had begun. It would last thirty-five days. Closely reported and narrated from multiple perspectives, this is the story of the Ukrainians who were held hostage and worked shifts for weeks instead of days to spare the world a new nuclear accident. We meet Valentyn Heiko, the foreman who had also been there for the clean-up of the Chernobyl accident in 1986 and turned sixty during the occupation; plant workers who found a way to celebrate International Women's Day despite all odds; Russian officers who had no knowledge of nuclear reactors; and four stalkers who were caught in the middle and stood in for the overworked cook. Gripping and unforgettable, Chernobyl Roulette sounds the alarm about the dangers of nuclear sites in an unprecedented time, when plant workers are left to fight on their own while the world holds its breath. In a book that reads like a thriller, Serhii Plokhy tells a remarkable story about human nature, uncertainty and courage.
£10.44
Bonnier Books UK A Medieval Monastery Spectacular Visual Guides
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£6.99
Verso Books Palestine
Book SynopsisA materialist analysis reframing the Palestinian struggle within the contexts of imperialism and global capitalism, debunking mainstream misconceptions and providing a critical, materialist perspective on the region's complexities and conflicts.
£11.21
History Press Odyssey Moscow
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£16.50
Simon & Schuster Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood
Book SynopsisA “fascinating and very moving” (Aaron Sorkin, award-winning screenwriter of The West Wing and The Social Network) chronological timeline spanning from Biblical times to today that explores one of the most interesting countries in the world—Israel.Israel. The small strip of arid land is 5,700 miles away but remains a hot-button issue and a thorny topic of debate. But while everyone seems to have a strong opinion about Israel, how many people actually know the facts? Here to fill in the information gap is Israeli American Noa Tishby. But “this is not your Bubbie’s history book” (Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher). Instead, offering a fresh, 360-degree view, Tishby brings her “passion, humor, and deep intimacy” (Yossi Klein Halevi, New York Times bestselling author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor) to the subject, creating an accessible and dynamic portrait of a tiny country of outsized relevance. Through bite-sized chunks of history and deeply personal stories, Tishby chronicles her homeland’s evolution, beginning in Biblical times and moving forward to cover everything from WWI to Israel’s creation to the disputes dividing the country today. Tackling popular misconceptions with an abundance of facts, Tishby provides critical context around headline-generating controversies and offers a clear, intimate account of the richly cultured country of Israel.
£10.44
Vintage Publishing Cider with Rosie
Book SynopsisLaurie Lee was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 1914, and was educated at Slad village school and Stroud Central School. At the age on nineteen he walked to London and then travelled on foot through Spain, as described in his book As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning. In 1950 he married Catherine Polge and they had one daughter. Cider With Rosie (1959) has sold over six million copies worldwide, and was followed by two other volumes of autobiography: As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (1969) and A Moment of War (1991). Laurie Lee also published four collections of poems, The Sun My Monument (1944), The Bloom of Candles (1947), My Many-Coated Man (1955) and Packet Poems (1960) as well as The Voyage of Magellan (1948), a verse play for radio, A Rose for Winter (1955), which records his travels in Andalusia, The Firstborn (1964), I Can't Stay Long (1975), a collection of his writing, and Two Women (1983). Laurie Lee died in May 1997.Trade ReviewUtterly captivating * Four Shires *A classic of English literature * Good Book Guide *[Laurie Lee] froze a moment in time for us. You don’t forget the language and he is wonderful at detail -- Michael Morpurgo * Daily Express *Evocative memoir. * RTE Guide *So convincing and atmospheric… This magical book will captivate you with its richly painted images * Woman's Weekly *
£8.99
Simon & Schuster Ltd Spitfire
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES NON FICTION BESTSELLER WHSmith NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018'The best book you will ever read about Britain's greatest warplane' Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of Fighter Boys‘A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic British machine’ Rowland White, bestselling author of Vulcan 607 'As the RAF marks its centenary, Nichol has created a thrilling and often moving tribute to some of its greatest heroes' Mail on Sunday magazine The iconic Spitfire found fame during the darkest early days of World War II. But what happened to the redoubtable fighter and its crews beyond the Battle of Britain, and why is it still so loved today? In late spring 1940, Nazi Germany’s domination of Europe had looked unstoppable. With the British Isles in easy reach since the fall of France, Adolf Hitler Trade Review‘A rich and heartfelt tribute to this most iconic British machine. By focussing on the men (and women) who flew the Spitfire, John Nichol has brought a fresh and powerful perspective to the story. And by recording their bravery, humility, camaraderie, tragedy and sheer joy in flying their beloved Spits he has done them - and us - a valuable service’ -- Rowland White - author of Vulcan 607'The best book you will ever read about Britain's greatest warplane.' -- Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of Fighter Boys'As the RAF marks its centenary, Nichol has created a thrilling and often moving tribute to some of its greatest heroes.' -- Jon Dennis * Mail on Sunday magazine *'A stirring portrait of a piece of aviation art in motion flown by the bravest of the brave. Nichol's Spitfire is still a sky-borne prima ballerina that kicks like Bruce Lee.' * RAF News *'A superb and compelling book. Brilliantly written with some incredible and astonishing stories; it is gripping, moving, emotional and sometimes humorous – just perfect' -- Squadron Leader (Ret) Clive Rowley, former Officer Commanding RAF Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight'A superb journey through the remarkable tale of that British icon, the Spitfire. Brilliantly and engagingly written, this is the most readable story of the aircraft and her pilots that I have ever had the pleasure to read in a period spanning some forty-odd years of personal study and research. Truly stunning.' -- Andy Saunders, Editor * Britain at War Magazine *‘It packs such an emotional punch. If you don't believe an object can bring you to tears and instil such passion - read this book, it will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.’ -- Stephen McEntee, WHSmith non-fiction buyer'A rich tribute to Britain's greatest warplane' * Sunday Times Culture *
£9.89
Crown Publishing Group (NY) The Fate of the Day
Book SynopsisIn the second volume of the landmark American Revolution trilogy by the Pulitzer Prize?winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The British Are Coming, George Washington?s army fights on the knife edge between victory and defeat.The first twenty-one months of the American Revolution?which began at Lexington and ended at Princeton?was the story of a ragged group of militiamen and soldiers fighting to forge a new nation. By the winter of 1777, the exhausted Continental Army could claim only that it had barely escaped annihilation by the world?s most formidable fighting force.Two years into the war, George III is as determined as ever to bring his rebellious colonies to heel. But the king?s task is now far more complicated: fighting a determined enemy on the other side of the Atlantic has become ruinously expensive, and spies tell him that the French and Spanish are threatening to join forces with the Americans.Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson provides a riveting narrative covering the middle years of the Revolution. Stationed in Paris, Benjamin Franklin woos the French; in Pennsylvania, George Washington pleads with Congress to deliver the money, men, and materiel he needs to continue the fight. In New York, General William Howe, the commander of the greatest army the British have ever sent overseas, plans a new campaign against the Americans?even as he is no longer certain that he can win this searing, bloody war. The months and years that follow bring epic battles at Brandywine, Saratoga, Monmouth, and Charleston, a winter of misery at Valley Forge, and yet more appeals for sacrifice by every American committed to the struggle for freedom.Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the Revolution, Atkinson?s brilliant account of the lethal conflict between the Americans and the British offers not only deeply researched and spectacularly dramatic history, but also a new perspective on the demands that a democracy makes on its citizens.
£28.00
Cornerstone The Norman Conquest
Book SynopsisDr Marc Morris is a historian who specializes in the Middle Ages. He studied and taught at the universities of London and Oxford and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. His other books include a bestselling history of the Norman Conquest and highly acclaimed biographies of King John and Edward I (A Great and Terrible King). He also presented the TV series Castle and wrote its accompanying book. He contributes regularly to other history programmes on radio and television and writes for numerous journals and magazines.Trade ReviewAlmost everything you know about 1066 is wrong. And there’s no better historian to put you right than the wonderful Marc Morris. His new book grips not only as a work of narrative history but also as a sleuthing exercise . . . Morris has captured the triumph and the tragedy of this tumultuous era with verve, insight and a rollicking narrative. * Mail on Sunday *Morris gives a compelling account of the invasion by William the Conqueror in 1066 ... Confidently, he opens with the Bayeux Tapestry as a powerful contemporary depiction of a famous battle ... Morris sorts embroidery from evidence and provides a much-needed, modern account of the Normans in England that respects past events more than present ideologies. -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *Marc Morris’s lively new book retells the story of the Norman invasion with vim, vigour and narrative urgency * Evening Standard *As every schoolboy knows, or used to, 1066 is the most important date in English history. But as Marc Morris points out in this enormously enjoyable book, the Norman conquest was much more violent, complicated and ambiguous then we usually think. Carefully steering the reader through the partisan and often contradictory sources, he paints a vivid picture of the collapse of the sophisticated Anglo-Saxon realm, and shows how William the Conqueror relied on sheer terror to establish his reign. Even a Norman chronicler admitted that William had “mercilessly slaughtered” the English, “like the scourge of God smiting them for their sins. -- Dominic Sandbrook * The Sunday Times, Books of the Year *I loved it – a suitably epic account of one of the most seismic and far-reaching events in British history. -- Dan Snow
£11.69
Monthly Review Press,U.S. Consciencism Philosophy and Ideology for
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£11.39
Penguin Books Ltd How to be a Victorian
Book SynopsisTRAVEL BACK IN TIME WITH THE BBC''S RUTH GOODMANWe know what life was like for Victoria and Albert. But what was it like for a commoner - like you or me?How did it feel to cook with coal and wash with tea leaves? Drink beer for breakfast and clean your teeth with cuttlefish? Catch the omnibus to work and do the laundry in your corset?How to be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman is a radical new approach to history; a journey back in time more personal than anything before. Moving through the rhythm of the day, this astonishing guide illuminates the overlapping worlds of health, sex, fashion, food, school, work and play. Surviving everyday life came down to the gritty details, the small necessities and tricks of living and Ruth will show you how.If you liked A Time Traveller''s Guide to Medieval England or 1000 Years of Annoying the French, you will love this book.*****''Goodman skilfully creates a portrait of daily Victorian life with accessible, compelling, and deeply sensory prose'' Erin Entrada Kelly''We''re lucky to have such a knowledgeable cicerone as Ruth Goodman . . . Revelatory'' Alexandra Kimball''Goodman''s research is impeccable . . . taking the reader through an average day and presenting the oddities of life without condescension'' Patricia HagenTrade ReviewWritten with such passion that one cannot help but be carried along . . . Will fascinate and inform anyone who is in any way interested in Victorian ways of life -- Dr Ian Mortimer, author of 'The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval England'A delightful read . . . allows us to see how the Victorians lived from day to day. A triumph -- Judith Flanders, author of 'The Victorian City'Shocking, exciting, wonderful -- Clive Anderson * BBC Radio 4 *Written with such passion that one cannot help but be carried along . . . Will fascinate and inform anyone who is in any way interested in Victorian ways of life -- Dr Ian Mortimer, author of The Time Traveller’s Guide to Medieval EnglandA delightful read . . . allows us to see how the Victorians lived from day to day. A triumph -- Judith Flanders, author of The Victorian CityShocking, exciting, wonderful -- Clive Anderson * BBC Radio 4 *I absolutely love this book. Exuberant, absorbing ... there's scarcely a detail of Victorian life Ruth has not tried -- A N Wilson * Mail on Sunday *Ruth - a woman who possesses so much elbow grease that she could probably can the overflow to sell on the side * Independent *Goodman's enthusiasm for history is as palpable as her contempt for misty-eyed interpretations of it * Telegraph *Beetonian, compendious * Guardian *Highly readable, often amusing and sometimes shocking, this is popular history at its best * BBC Who Do You Think You Are magazine *
£11.69
Orion Publishing Co Commandant Of Auschwitz
Book Synopsis'The chilling narrative presents a graphic and compelling self-portrait of the Nazi war criminal who oversaw Auschwitz concentration camp' JEWISH BOOK WORLD'This book is filled with evil ... and yet it is one of the most instructive books ever published' Primo LeviAn extraordinary and unique document: Hoess was in charge of the huge extermination camp in Poland where the Nazis murdered some three million Jews, from the time of its creation (he was responsible for building it) in 1940 until late in 1943, by which time the mass exterminations were half completed. Before this he had worked in other concentration camps, and afterwards he was at the Inspectorate in Berlin. He thus knew more, both at first-hand and as an administrator, about Nazi Germany's greatest crime than did any save two or three other men.Taken prisoner by the British, he was handed over to the Poles, tried, sentenced to death, and taken back to Auschwitz and there hanged. During the period between his trial and his execution, he was ordered to write his autobiography. This is it. Hoess repeatedly says he was glad to write the book. He enjoyed the work. And finally the most careful checking has shown that he took great pains to tell the truth. Here we have, painted by his own hand, a vivid and unforgettable self-portrait of one of the great monsters of all time. To this are added portraits of some of his more spectacular fellow-criminals. The royalties from this macabre but historically important book go to the fund set up to help the few survivors from the Auschwitz camps.Trade ReviewThe chilling narrative presents a graphic and compelling self-portrait of the Nazi war criminal who oversaw Auschwitz concentration camp * JEWISH BOOK WORLD *This book is filled with evil ... the author comes across as what he is: a coarse, stupid, arrogant, long winded scoundrel ... and yet it is one of the most instructive books ever published -- Primo Levi
£9.99
Penguin Books Ltd A Short History of Drunkenness
Book SynopsisTHE PERFECT GIFT FOR ANYONE WHO ENJOYS A TIPPLE . . . OR TWO . . . OR TEN! Almost every culture on earth has drink, and where there''s drink there''s drunkenness. But in every age and in every place drunkenness is a little bit different. Tracing humankind''s love affair with booze from our primate ancestors through to Prohibition, it answers every possible question:What did people drink? How much? Who did the drinking? Of the many possible reasons, why? On the way, learn about the Neolithic Shamans, who drank to communicate with the spirit world (no pun intended), marvel at how Greeks got giddy and Romans got rat-arsed, and find out how bars in the Wild West were never like the movies.This is a history of the world at its inebriated best.''This book is a laugh riot. I mean the way the author has presented it is hilarious and to the point'' Goodreads Reviewer ''Highly entertaining. Cheers! Bottoms up! Good health!'' Goodreads Reviewer''It can make a good gift for someone with a sense of humour and appreciation for the magical powers of alcohol'' Goodreads ReviewerTrade ReviewMy favourite book of this and possibly any other Christmas is Mark Forsyth's A Short History of Drunkenness -- Marcus Berkmann * The Spectator *Forsyth's jokes are snappy and well delivered. Unlike most comical writers he never falls into the trap of confusing long-windedness with irony -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *Haha! . . . Highly suitable for Xmas! -- Margaret AtwoodThis entertaining study of drunkenness makes for a racy sprint through human history -- Christopher Hart * Sunday Times *A brisk and brilliant romp through our hiccoughing history, drenched with wit. Bloody marvellous from first sip to last burp -- Jason Hazeley, co-author of the Ladybird series (including 'The Ladybird Book of the Quiet Night In' and 'The Ladybird Book of the Hangover'Reading like a TED talk delivered by a stand-up comedian, this made me laugh out loud more than my first ever night out on absinthe. As essential as a hip flask or a pack of pork scratchings for any true connoisseur of booze. A Short History of Drunkenness is this year's Châteauneuf-du-Pape of Christmas books, no less. Bloody entertaining. -- Emlyn Rees, author of 'The Very Hungover Caterpillar' and 'We're Going on a Bar Hunt'Sometimes you see a book title that simply gladdens the heart. Everyone I showed this book to either smiled broadly or laughed out loud . . . This is a book of some brilliance - probably best consumed with a restorative glass of something by your side. -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *As Mark Forsyth brilliantly shows, civilisation is built on booze. Egypt (beer), Greece and Rome (wine) depended on alcohol to create their mighty works. Where man drinks, he prospers, and vice versa. A toast to this spirits-fuelled spirits-lifter. Staggering! -- Harry Mount, editor of The OldieI thought I knew quite a bit about drinking but A Short History of Drunkenness made me look at inebriation anew. Each chapter amazed, challenged and stimulated me so much that I needed a stiff drink at the end of it. -- Henry Jeffreys, author of Empire of BoozeWith a great eye for a story and a counterintuitive argument, Mark Forsyth has enormous fun breezing through 10,000 years of alcoholic history in a little more than 250 pages. -- Henry Jeffreys * The Guardian *Well researched and recounted with excellent humour, Forsyth's alcohol-ridden tale is sure to reduce anyone to a stupor of amazement. -- William Hartson * Daily Express *This charming book proved so engrossing that while reading it I accidentally drank two bottles of wine without realising. -- Rob Temple, author of Very British ProblemsEverything we ever thought about Christmas is wrong! Great stuff -- Matthew Parris on 'A Christmas Cornucopia'Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully -- David Marsh, on 'The Elements of Eloquence' * Guardian *This year's must-have stocking filler ... the essential addition to the library in the smallest room is Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon -- Ian Sansom * Guardian *Mark imparts knowledge about Christmas traditions from the essential to the (very) abstruse in wry and sardonic style. An effortless and enjoyable way to learn more about this fulcrum of our calendar -- Paul Smiddy, Former Head of pan-European retail research, HSBC, on 'A Christmas Cornucopia'With his casual elegance and melodious voice, Mark Forsyth has an anachronistic charm totally at odds with the 21st century * Sunday Times South Africa on'The Horologicon' *[The Etymologicon is] a perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family, or just a cracking all-year-round-read. Highly recommended * The Spectator *A treat for the connoisseur who enjoys a robust anecdote from the past with his drink -- Sumit Chakrabarti * The Telegraph, India *As good as promised - could have been thrice as long -- Ben Schott, on 'The Elements of Eloquence'
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co What Is History Now
Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking new collection addresses the burning issue of how we interpret history today. What stories are told, and by whom, who should be celebrated, and what rewritten, are questions that have been asked recently not just within the history world, but by all of us. Featuring a diverse mix of writers, both bestselling names and emerging voices, this is the history book we need NOW.WHAT IS HISTORY, NOW? covers topics such as the history of racism and anti-racism, queer history, the history of faith, the history of disability, environmental history, escaping imperial nostalgia, hearing women''s voices and ''rewriting'' the past. The list of contributors includes: Justin Bengry, Leila K Blackbird, Emily Brand, Gus Casely-Hayford, Sarah Churchwell, Caroline Dodds Pennock, Peter Frankopan, Bettany Hughes, Dan Hicks, Onyeka Nubia, Islam Issa, Maya Jasanoff, Rana Mitter, Charlotte Riley, Miri Rubin, Simon Schama, Alex von Tunzelmann and Jaipreet Virdi.Trade ReviewWhat is History, Now? demonstrates how our constructs of the past are woven into our modern world and culture, and offers us an illuminating handbook to understanding this dynamic and shape-shifting subject. A thought-provoking, insightful and necessary re-examination of the subject for all students and lovers of history, which brings the past into the present * Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five *The importance of history is becoming more evident every day, and this humane book is an essential navigation tool. Urgent and utterly compelling * Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland *Important and exciting * Kate Williams, author of Rival Queens *THE history book for now. This is why and how historians do what they do. And why they need to. * Dan Snow *Engaging and personal * Spectator *A timely collection, varied and thought-provoking * New Statesman *What is excellent about this collection is the passion with which it champions pluralism of historical study, as well as the sheer quality of the writing... the essays in this collection are models of lucidity and literary skill. * The Critic *Simple yet intellectually sharp . . . The new volume is an active realization of the trajectory Carr proposes in What is History?, a filling of the archival gaps * Retrospect Journal *I recommend this book for tutors seeking to provoke critical thinking in their students or general readers . . . Ultimately, Lipscomb and Carr's editing shows diversity in history. It is contentious, diverse, intimate, and public, a space that contains gatekeepers and anarchists * Australian Policy and History *Fascinating * BBC History Magazine *
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers A Bookshop of Ones Own
Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Indie Book Awards, Christopher Bland Prize and The People''s Book PrizeA Waterstones Best Memoir of 2024An Independent and Stylist Best Non-Fiction BookThe captivating true story of an underdog business a feminist bookshop founded in Thatcher's Britain from a woman at the heart of the women's liberation movement.What was it like to start a feminist bookshop, in an industry dominated by men? How could a lesbian thrive in Thatcher's time, with the government legislating to restrict her rights? How do you run a business when your real aim is to change the world?Silver Moon was the dream of three women a bookshop with the mission to promote the work of female writers and create a much-needed safe space for any woman. Founded in 1980s London against a backdrop of homophobia and misogyny, it was a testament to the power of community, growing into Europe's biggest women's bookshop and hosting a constellation of literary stars from Margaret Atwood and Maya Angelou to Angela Carter. While contending with day-to-day struggles common to other booksellers, plus the additional burdens of misogyny and the occasional hate crime, Jane Cholmeley and her booksellers created a thriving business. But they also played a crucial and relatively unsung part in one the biggest social movements of our time.A Bookshop of One's Own is a fascinating slice of social history from the heart of the women's liberation movement, from a true feminist and lesbian icon. Written with heart and humour, it reveals the struggle and joy that comes with starting an underdog business, while being a celebration of the power women have to change the narrative when they are the ones holding the pen.
£10.44
Penguin Books Ltd The Sleepwalkers
Book SynopsisThe pacy, sensitive and formidably argued history of the causes of the First World War, from acclaimed historian and author Christopher ClarkFINANCIAL TIMES BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2014SUNDAY TIMES and INDEPENDENT BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2012Winner of the Los Angeles Times History Book Prize 2014The moments that it took Gavrilo Princip to step forward to the stalled car and shoot dead Franz Ferdinand and his wife were perhaps the most fateful of the modern era. An act of terrorism of staggering efficiency, it fulfilled its every aim: it would liberate Bosnia from Habsburg rule and it created a powerful new Serbia, but it also brought down four great empires, killed millions of men and destroyed a civilization. What made a seemingly prosperous and complacent Europe so vulnerable to the impact of this assassination? In The Sleepwalkers Christopher Clark retells the story of the outbreak of the First World War Trade ReviewFormidable ... one of the most impressive and stimulating studies of the period ever published -- Max Hastings * Sunday Times *Easily the best book ever written on the subject ... A work of rare beauty that combines meticulous research with sensitive analysis and elegant prose. The enormous weight of its quality inspires amazement and awe ... Academics should take note: Good history can still be a good story * Washington Post *A lovingly researched work of the highest scholarship. It is hard to believe we will ever see a better narrative of what was perhaps the biggest collective blunder in the history of international relations -- Niall Ferguson[Reading The Sleepwalkers], it is as if a light had been turned on a half-darkened stage of shadowy characters cursing among themselves without reason ... [Clark] demolishes the standard view ... The brilliance of Clark's far-reaching history is that we are able to discern how the past was genuinely prologue ... In conception, steely scholarship and piercing insights, his book is a masterpiece -- Harold Evans * New York Times Book Review *Impeccably researched, provocatively argued and elegantly written ... a model of scholarship * Sunday Times Books of the Year *Superb ... effectively consigns the old historical consensus to the bin ... It's not often that one has the privilege of reading a book that reforges our understanding of one of the seminal events of world history * Mail Online *A monumental new volume ... Revelatory, even revolutionary ... Clark has done a masterful job explaining the inexplicable * Boston Globe *Superb ... One of the great mysteries of history is how Europe's great powers could have stumbled into World War I ... This is the single best book I have read on this important topic -- Fareed ZakariaA meticulously researched, superbly organized, and handsomely written account * Military History *Clark is a masterly historian ... His account vividly reconstructs key decision points while deftly sketching the context driving them ... A magisterial work * Wall Street Journal *This compelling examination of the causes of World War I deserves to become the new standard one-volume account of that contentious subject * Foreign Affairs *A brilliant contribution * Times Higher Education *Clark is fully alive to the challenges of the subject ... He provides vivid portraits of leading figures ... [He] also gives a rich sense of what contemporaries believed was at stake in the crises leading up to the war * Irish Times *In recent decades, many analysts had tended to put most blame for the disaster [of the First World War] on Germany. Clark strongly renews an older interpretation which sees the statesmen of many countries as blundering blindly together into war -- Stephen Howe * Independent BOOKS OF THE YEAR *
£17.09
Penguin Books Ltd Human Rights
Book SynopsisA powerful and urgent explanation and vindication of our human rights and freedomsAfter the devastation of World War Two, the international community came together to enshrine fundamental rights to refuge, health, education and living standards, for privacy, fair trials and free speech, and outlawing torture, slavery and discrimination. Their goal was greater global justice, equality, and peace. That settlement is now in danger, attacked by opponents from across the political spectrum and populist and authoritarian movements worldwide. We are threatened by wars, inequality, new technologies and climate catastrophe, and we need our human rights now more than ever. In this powerful, accessible book, Shami Chakrabarti, lawyer, parliamentarian and leading British human rights defender, shows us why human rights are essential for our future.Outlining the historic national and international struggles for human rights, from the fall of Babylon, to the present day, Chakrabarti is an indispensable guide to the law and logic underpinning human dignity and universal freedoms. Her intervention will engage both sceptics and supporters, equipping believers in the battle of ideas and persuading doubters to think again. For human rights to survive, they must be far better understood by everyone.
£17.00
Yale University Press A Little History of the World
Book SynopsisNow available in paperback, a glorious illustrated edition of the international bestsellerTrade Review“Sumptuously illustrated. . . . Perfect for reading to alert and curious children, but it’s even better as a secret pleasure, read alone, with no children in sight.”—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post“His enthusiasm for his subject is irresistible. . . . With Gombrich’s Little History, at last available in English, there will be many generations of future historians who will attribute to it their lifelong passion for history—and for truth.”—Lisa Jardine, Times (UK)“In simple, vivid prose, Gombrich surveys the human past from pre-history to his own time. . . . Lucky children will have this book read to them. Intelligent adults will read it for themselves and regain contact with the spirit of European humanism at its best.”—Anthony Grafton, Wall Street Journal“A remarkable book, written in an amiable, conversational style, effortlessly explaining, without condescension, difficult matters like the achievements of Charlemagne, the monetary system of medieval Europe and the ideas of the Enlightenment. . . . This resurrected history deserves reading for all its delights.”—Edward Rothstein, New York Times“A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich is a bedtime treat to share with my two children and proof that brilliance and perspicacity needn’t be stuffy.”—Bettany Hughes, The Times“I am going to buy ten copies of this book and give it to my ten favourite children. . . . This is a book which teaches what it is to be civilised by its very tone, which is one of gentleness, curiosity and erudition.”—A. N. Wilson, Times Literary Supplement“A marvellous antidote to history without chronology: the whole experience of human history, from prehistory to the Second World War, compressed into a flowing narrative. . . . [Gombrich] excels in creating a sense of the continuities of history—the ways in which human nature has not budged over the millennium, and the smallness of the differences between people. A delight.”—Robert Hanks, Daily Telegraph“Gombrich opens with the most magical definition of history I have ever read. . . . Tolerance, reason and humanity . . . suffuse every page of the Little History.”—Amanda Vickery, Guardian Review“A work firmly aimed at educating young readers. . . . [I] marvelled at Gombrich’s uncomplicated presentation and brilliantly digestible prose when grappling with such awe-inspiring subject matter.”—Oliver Barker, Art Newspaper“Delightful . . . charming.”—PopMatters“Ostensibly a book for children, designed to present a chronology of world history, but it’s a delight for all ages. The pages sparkle with the learned author’s wit and wisdom—and reading them, one feels as if Gombrich, one of the greatest ever art historians, is guiding one through time with a grandfatherly gleam in his eye.”—Ben Schott, The Observer". . . the main body of the book retains an irresistible, boyish energy and enthusiasm. . . . Here, in this little book are answers to many of the questions you never dared to ask."—Margaret Drabble, New Statesman". . . an engrossing kaleidoscopic account of global history from the ancient Egyptians to the Treaty of Versailles."—Tristram Hunt, BBC History Magazine “A joyful book.”—Richard Aldous, Irish Times"It certainly couldn't be done more agreeably. . . . a perfect birthday present for a child with an enquiring mind. I wish it had been available when I was young."—Allan Massie, Literary Review"Written for children, this book is a source of entertainment and revision for adults too. Devoid of pretension and condescension it demonstrates how fluid communication between the generations can be. Without resorting to technical jargon or a raft of dates Gombrich has produced a text that appeals to all ages and inspires further reading. . . . Entertaining, information and enlightening, it will send the reader on a voyage of (re)discovery of the great story of our world."—Elizabeth Reid, Kensington Magazine"This is a lovely book which would be a fine addition to any bookshelf. Or better still, plonked into the lap of the nearest child."—Trevor Heaton, Eastern Daily Express (Saturday Magazine)"A perennial favourite, this is the illustrated edition of Gombrich’s brilliant history and contains 200 pictures, nearly all of them full colour."—Sonali Chapman, The Oldie"Now in a new fully illustrated format could there be any better book to inspire the historians of tomorrow?. . . . We will all want this elegiac, deceptively simple and elegant history. . . . a lovely piece of book production. . . . Yale has done the author proud, producing something that, in the age of electronic publishing, shows just what’s so special about the printed book."—Sue Baker, Lovereading"Beautifully produced, with elegant typeface and spacious design, this edition will keep old and young enthralled. A Timeless gift!"—The Good Book Guide"Every household should have this book. . . . enriching and enhancing. . . . It makes for an excellent introduction to the world’s history for knowledge-thirsty teenagers and upwards."—Mary Lussiana, Country & Town House (Books of the Year)". . . wonderful . . ."—Charlie Higson, Mail on Sunday (Christmas Books)"Christmas gift of the year is surely . . . A Little History of the World. This is a magical work for children. . . . Perfect for bedtime reading."—John Banville, Irish Times"The book is remarkable as an introduction to World history. Its style is unique . . . beautifully designed."—Cassone"[T]his gem of a book . . . [has] a lovely, personal preface [and] reminds us how clever, eloquent and inspiring an account EH Gombrich gave us for ourselves."—The Independent“A brilliant piece of narrative, splendidly organised, told with an energy and confidence that are enormously attractive, and suffused with all the humanity and generosity of spirit that Gombrich’s thousands of admirers came to cherish during his long and richly productive life. It’s a wonderful surprise: irresistible, in fact.”—Philip Pullman“Imagine the full story of human habitation on our planet being told in such flowing prose that you want to read it out loud. If you can’t imagine that, read A Little History of the World and experience it!”—Patricia S. Schroeder, president and CEO of the Association of American Publishers and former U.S. Representative from Colorado
£17.99
Taylor & Francis Ltd The Sovereignty of Good
Book SynopsisIris Murdoch once observed: 'philosophy is often a matter of finding occasions on which to say the obvious'. What was obvious to Murdoch, and to all those who read her work, is that Good transcends everything - even God. Throughout her distinguished and prolific writing career, she explored questions of Good and Bad, myth and morality. The framework for Murdoch's questions - and her own conclusions - can be found here.Trade Review'The project of founding morality not on changing human needs or wishes but on an immutable and absolute idea of goodness has been central to her thought.' - Mary Warnock, Women Philosophers'The theme is the inadequacy of the account of human nature and value provided by contemporary, academic analytic philosophy. Murdoch's attack is the fruit of a thorough professional involvement with the school of thought to which she is opposed.' - Anthony Quinton, Sunday Telegraph'All three essays which make up this book, The Idea of Perfection, On `God' and `Good', and The Sovereignty of Good over Other Concepts, are superb.' - The Guardian'One of the very few modern books of philosophy which people outside academic philosophy find really useful.' - Mary Midgely' ... Murdoch's attack is the fruit of a thorough professional involvement with the school of thought to which she is opposed.' - Anthony Quinton, Sunday Telegraph'All three essays which make up this book, The Idea of Perfection, On `God' and `Good', and The Sovereignty of Good over Other Concepts, are superb.' - The GuardianTable of ContentsForeword to Routledge Great Minds Edition 1. The Idea of Perfection 2. On 'God' and 'Good' 3. The Sovereignty of Good Over Other Concepts Index
£15.58
Princeton University Press Olympia
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£20.90
Headline Publishing Group POWER AND THE PALACE
Book SynopsisWhen Sir Keir Starmer visited Donald Trump in the White House and produced a letter from King Charles inviting the president for a second state visit, it was a gesture that spoke volumes about the continuing importance of the monarchy for Britain''s international relations. It was also a vivid illustration of the relationship between Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street.Power and the Palace lifts the lid on the mysterious power dynamic at the heart of the British state: the secretive and little understood relationship between the monarchy and the government. In vivid, page-turning prose, Valentine Low examines the extraordinary political life of Queen Victoria, who exerted her will in a way that no monarch has done since, the effect that had on her son Edward VII, and the turbulent and fascinating political times of George V. We are taken behind the scenes of the wartime meetings between George VI and Winston Churchill (the origin of the weekly audience) and discover how Elizabeth II played a crucial role in modernising - and saving - the monarchy.At the heart of the book are the famous meetings between sovereign and prime minister. Low shows how, from Victoria and Benjamin Disraeli to Elizabeth II and Margaret Thatcher, personal chemistry proved just as important as the constitutional relationship.Based on nearly 100 interviews with senior politicians, top civil servants, royal aides and constitutional experts, Power and the Palace rewrites our understanding of the political power of the monarchy.
£21.25
Pearson Education Limited Edexcel GCSE 91 History The American West
Book SynopsisSupporting great history teaching: developing confident, articulate and successful historians. Our new resources* include 16 Student Books – one for every option in the Edexcel GCSE (9–1) History specification – for first teaching from September 2016.
£21.45
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC An Impeccable Spy
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE PUSHKIN HOUSE PRIZE''The most formidable spy in history'' IAN FLEMING''His work was impeccable'' KIM PHILBY''The spy to end spies'' JOHN LE CARRÉBorn of a German father and a Russian mother, Richard Sorge moved in a world of shifting alliances and infinite possibility. In the years leading up to and during the Second World War, he became a fanatical communist and the Soviet Union's most formidable spy. Combining charm with ruthless manipulation, he infiltrated and influenced the highest echelons of German, Chinese and Japanese society. His intelligence proved pivotal to the Soviet counter-offensive in the Battle of Moscow, which in turn determined the outcome of the war itself. Drawing on a wealth of declassified Soviet archives, this is a major biography of one of the greatest spies who ever lived.Trade ReviewA fascinating biography ... Owen Matthews tells the story of Sorge’s extraordinary life with tremendous verve and expertise and a real talent for mise en scène ... The portrait of Sorge himself that emerges is richly authentic -- William Boyd * New Statesman *Gloriously readable … Every chapter of Matthews’s superbly researched biography reads like something from an Eric Ambler thriller -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *A superb biography … More than a hundred books have been written about him and this is undoubtedly the best: detailed, wry, sympathetic and occasionally oddly moving -- Ben Macintyre * The Times *A vividly told story, thoroughly researched and well-crafted ... I love a thrilling spy story, especially one as superbly narrated as this, full of Bond-like drama about Sorge’s brushes with death, his love of fast cars and women ... A highly relevant book for today * Financial Times *Magnificently written … An Impeccable Spy is packed with humour and insight and all served up with a rare lightness of touch … Ben Macintyre and John le Carré fans alike will find themselves very much at home -- Oliver Bullough * Observer *Vivid and revealing ... Within a few pages, it is clear that An Impeccable Spy is going to be a very good read ... Better than any previous biography -- Christopher Andrew * Literary Review *A gripping human story with the complexity of a political thriller … An excellent history, which sheds new light on Sorge and his work. Unless something significant turns up about him in the German Nazi-era intelligence archives, it is likely to be the definitive work on him in English * Standpoint *Brilliant ... A clear-eyed, deeply researched and finely-judged portrait -- Saul David * Telegraph *[An] impressive biography … Matthews captures all the drama of Sorge’s story … The complexities of Soviet, German and Japanese politics and infighting of the time are skilfully navigated and the personalities brought vividly to life. With this book as our evidence, we can say that Sorge was an impeccable spy, and also that Matthews is an impeccable biographer -- Vin Arthey * Scotsman *Riveting ... An eye-rubbing story * Spectator *Anyone praised by John le Carré deserves a meticulously researched and atmospheric biography such as Own Matthews’ An Impeccable Spy -- Terry Philpot * Tablet *Riveting … Owen Matthews sticks to the facts and gives a vivid portrayal of the man and his times … A cut above -- John Green * Morning Star *
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Queen Victoria
Book Synopsis AN INTIMATE ACCOUNT OF ONE OF BRITAIN''S LONGEST-REIGNING - AND MOST EXTRAORDINARY - MONARCHS FROM BESTSELLING HISTORIAN LUCY WORSLEY Readers LOVE Queen Victoria:''This book changed my whole perception of Queen Victoria'' ?????''Fascinating. Lucy has really brought her to life'' ?????''An insightful, interesting and readable account'' ?????******************************* Who was Queen Victoria? A little old lady, potato-like in appearance, dressed in everlasting black? She was also a passionate young princess who loved dancing. And there is also a third Victoria, the brilliant queen, one who invented a new role for the monarchy.Victoria found a way of ruling when people were deeply uncomfortable with having a woman on the throne.Her image as a conventional daughter, wife and widow concealed the reality of a talented, instinctive politician. Her actions, if not her words, reTrade ReviewSuch a brilliant idea! Drilling down into Victoria's diaries Worsley gives us Victoria in all her infinite variety - queen and mother, matriarch and minx...I loved it. * Daisy Goodwin, author, and creator of ITV's Victoria *A wonderfully fresh, vivid and engaging portrait of Victoria. * Jane Ridley, author of Bertie: A Life of Edward VII *The glory of this book is in the details, and the specific moments, that Worsley chooses to single out for mention, and in her cheerful voice as she leads us by the hand to the next window of Victoria's life calendar. * The Times *Queen Victoria has much of the abundant charm of its author -- A.N. Wilson * Spectator *In this lively, light-footed biography, just out in paperback, the popular TV historian Lucy Worsley looks at just 24 days of Victoria's 81-year long life to reveal unexpected sides to the monarch. * BBC History Magazine *The latest from historian Worsley is an insightful, sympathetic, and vividly written examination of the "good woman" who ruled England for 64 years... Worsley's command of the material and elegant writing style make this a must-read for anyone interested in the British monarchy. * Publishers Weekly *An intimate glimpse * Daily Mail *Lucy Worsley brings our most iconic of monarchs to life with this intimate and sympathetic portrayal... Even if you know Victoria's story, there's more to discover in this insightful biography. * Woman's Weekly *An engaging portrait of the monarch * i paper *Praise for Jane Austen at Home:This is my kind of history: carefully researched but so vivid that you are convinced Lucy Worsley was actually there at the party - or the parsonage. * Antonia Fraser *Jane Austen at Home offers a fascinating look at Jane Austen's world through the lens of the homes in which she lived and worked throughout her life. The result is a refreshingly unique perspective on Austen and her work and a beautifully nuanced exploration of gender, creativity, and domesticity. * Amanda Foreman *A vivid portrait of Jane Austen. A must for any Austenite. * Red Magazine *Brilliant and very moving, this book is a fascinating and original exploration of Jane Austen with lots of new material - Worsley brings Austen to life superbly, through her pages she is a flesh and blood woman, intelligent, powerful, contradictory, loving, loved. A magnificent book. * Kate Williams *Rarely, if ever, will you encounter a historian so in command of their material. Truly, this is a dazzling exercise in persuasion, written with sense and sensibility. * Saturday Express *A deep, prolifically researched dive into the houses, vacation homes, and schools where the author spent her life. * Vogue Magazine *Worsley offers us much that Austen's admirers wish to know... [she] is entirely convincing. * New York Times *
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Earth Transformed
Book SynopsisTHE TIMES BEST HISTORY BOOK OF 2023A BOOK OF THE YEAR PICK FOR THE TIMES, SUNDAY TIMES, BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE, GUARDIAN, INDEPENDENT AND FINANCIAL TIMESA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Humanity has transformed the Earth: Frankopan transforms our understanding of history'' Financial Times''Vast, learned and timely work'' Sunday Times------From the international bestselling author of The Silk Roads comes a major history of how a changing climate has dramatically shaped the developmentand demiseof civilisations across time.When we think about history, we rarely pay much attention to the most destructive floods, the worst winters, the most devastating droughts or the ways that ecosystems have changed over time. In The Earth Transformed, Peter Frankopan, one of the world's leading historians, sh
£12.34
Verso Books Bloody Panico
Book SynopsisThe most successful political party in history?The Tory Party has been in power for eighty-five of the past 135 years. In 2019 they won their largest parliamentary majority in more than three decades. They have had a long way to fall since, and they’ve done it at incredible speed.As Geoffrey Wheatcroft shows, we have witnessed not simply the collapse of the party but the shattering of its very foundations. Bloody Panico! opens the sorry tale with the Tories’ return to power in 2010, with ‘Call Me Dave’Cameron at the helm. The turmoil of the referendum followed, as Boris championed a Leave campaign he didn’t believe in for supporters with no clear idea what they were demanding.Beyond the pantomime of Boris, Truss’s kamikazee premiership, and the squirming managerial tedium of Sunak, the party is riven by resentment and confusion. It is a maelstrom of petty and shameless in-fighting. The Tories’ ancient i
£14.24
Batsford The Boroughs of London
Book Synopsis A stylish collection of beautifully designed maps of each individual London borough, paired with quirky and fascinating facts about what you'll find there. Cartographer and illustrator Mike Hall is renowned for his retro-themed print collection of boldly coloured, highly detailed maps of every London borough, inspired by classic 1960s graphic design. Published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the boroughs' establishment, The Boroughs of London brings together all of Mike's London maps in one elegant volume to pore over. But that's not all: alongside the maps is a wealth of authoritative but chatty commentary on each borough from Matt Brown, author of many Batsford books and acknowledged London expert. Packed with interesting facts, anecdotes and trivia, the book provides an introduction to each borough and its constituent neighbourhoods, as well as coverage of ten key places of interest per borough, including historic buildings, monuments, squares, parks and street markets, accompanied by quirky illustrations. It all adds up to a fascinating snapshot of the borough's rich history and present-day diversity and culture. From well-known, much-visited central London boroughs like Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to less famous, further-flung suburban areas such as Bexley and Hillingdon, this book provides endless revelations about one of the greatest cities of the world, borough by borough. It's the perfect book for London-dwellers, London visitors and London obsessives, history fans, cartophiles and graphic design aficionados. Readers will want to visit every borough!
£24.00
Yale University Press Wartime Letters
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£29.61
Oxford University Press Disorder
Book SynopsisGetting to grips with the overlapping geopolitical, economic, and political crises faced by Western democratic societies in the 2020s. The 21st century has brought a powerful tide of geopolitical, economic, and democratic shocks. Their fallout has led central banks to create over $25 trillion of new money, brought about a new age of geopolitical competition, destabilised the Middle East, ruptured the European Union, and exposed old political fault lines in the United States. Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century is a long history of this present political moment. It recounts three histories - one about geopolitics, one about the world economy, and one about western democracies - and explains how in the years of political disorder prior to the pandemic the disruption in each became one big story. It shows how much of this turbulence originated in problems generated by fossil-fuel energies, and it explains why as the green transition takes place the long-standing predicaments energy iTrade ReviewHelen Thompson's book stands tallest among the recent titles that attempt to make sense of our age of crises. Disorder is a singular work owing to the skill with which Thompson maps the intersecting relationships between energy, global monetary policy, and the state of liberal democracy. * New Statesman *Fascinating * Simon Nixon, The Times *A stimulating read. * Howard Davies, Literary Review *Exceptional * Gavin Jacobson, New Statesman *Excellent. * Peter Franklin, Unherd *Bold and brilliant, studded with insights...one of the year's most essential books. * Christopher Bray, The Tablet *A powerful guide to modern Hard Times...any reader will finish it with a deeper understanding of our contemporary challenges. * Paschal Donohoe, Irish Times *Most of us struggle to keep up [with the news], but not Helen Thompson - she doesn't merely grip each strand, but ties them together. * Tom Clark, Prospect *Bursting with ideas. * James Barr, The Critic *[Disorder is] as disturbing as it is thought-provoking. * Martin Wolf, Financial Times, Summer Books 2022: Economics *If you are looking for a well-developed and convincing theory of our time, I advise you to start here. * Gilles Gressani, Le Grand Continent, 'What to read this summer' *We are on the verge of a fascinating epoch that Thompson might write about in a second volume, but that doesnt invalidate her first. Instead, it underscores her larger point that energy and finance are often at the heart of geopolitics. * Tony Yates, Chatham House *Disorder is a brilliant extended essay on the troubles of the era in terms of energy, global finance, governance and democracy...So much of this tortuously fascinating book gives the background to the global crisis now upon us, specifically in energy and governance. * Robert Fox, Reaction *If you want to understand why Russia invaded Ukraine then this book will help * Richard Lofthouse, QUAD *Deftly weaving together the history of energy, economics, and politics, Disorder restores depth to contemporary history. Refusing familiar stereotypes, Thompson offers a truly eye-opening account of our current predicament and points the way to a deeper understanding of the energy transition that lies ahead. Challenging and essential reading. * Adam Tooze, Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Professor of History, Director of the European Institute, Columbia University *A remarkable history of the complex ways in which the global energy economy has shaped the wealth and politics of nations. Helen Thompson's command of her subject is second to none. Disorder is revelatory, sobering, and indispensable. * Gary Gerstle, author of The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order: America and the World during the Free Market Era *To read Thompson on the history of the past century is to see it in a sudden sharp definition. It is akin to looking through glass after the window-cleaner has been. * Tom Holland, bestselling author and co-host of The Rest is History podcast *There could be no better guide than Helen Thompson to the turbulence of the 21st century, with its successive disruptions, from financial crisis to energy transition, from Brexit to emerging geopolitical conflicts. When history seems to have come for us with a vengeance since the turn of the millennium, this magisterial book brings into focus the key structural forces driving, not only recent events, but also the inevitable changes still to come. * Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of Cambridge *In this absorbing and wide-ranging study Helen Thompson unravels the complex intersections of oil, money, and democracy for understanding the politics of the last century. She provides an indispensable and illuminating guide to our current predicaments. * Andrew Gamble, Professor of Politics, University of Sheffield *Thompson's conceptual work is...elaborate...full of revelations. * Thomas König, Austrian Journal of Political Science *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Disruption I: Geopolitics 1: Eurasian limits 2: The impossible oil guarantee 3: Eurasia remade II: Economy 4: Our currencies, your problem 5: Made in China, need dollars 6: We are not in Kansas any more III: Democratic politics 7: Democratic time 8: The democratic tax state 9: Whither reform Conclusions: The more things change Afterword Index
£12.34
Penguin Books Ltd Chinas War with Japan 19371945 The Struggle for
Book SynopsisWinner of the Duke of Westminster Medal for Military Literature Different countries give different opening dates for the period of the Second World War, but perhaps the most compelling is 1937, when the ''Marco Polo Bridge Incident'' plunged China and Japan into a conflict of extraordinary duration and ferocity - a war which would result in many millions of deaths and completely reshape East Asia in ways which we continue to confront today. With great vividness and narrative drive Rana Mitter''s book draws on a huge range of new sources to recreate this terrible conflict. He writes both about the major leaders (Chiang Kaishek, Mao Zedong and Wang Jingwei) and about the ordinary people swept up by terrible times. Mitter puts at the heart of our understanding of the Second World War that it was Japan''s failure to defeat China which was the key dynamic for what happened in Asia.Trade ReviewThe best study of China's war with Japan written in any language ... comprehensive, thoroughly based on research, and totally non-partisan. Above all, the book presents a moving account of the Chinese people's incredible suffering ... A must read for anyone interested in the origins of China's contribution to the making of today's world -- Akira IriyeA major contribution to the one aspect of the Second World War of which we know far too little, and should know much more if we are to understand the new superpower today ... a model of clarity and good writing -- Antony Beevor * The Times *[Mitter] restores a vital part of the wartime narrative to its rightful place. Now, for the first time, it is possible to assess the impact of the war on Chinese society and the many factors that explain the Japanese failure in China and the eventual triumph of Mao Zhedong's communists in 1949, from which the superpower has grown. It is a remarkable story, told with humanity and intelligence; all historians of the second world war will be in Mitter's debt ... [he] explores this complex politics with remarkable clarity and economy ... No one could ask for a better guide than Mitter to how [the rise of modern China] began in the cauldron of the Chinese war -- Richard Overy * Guardian *Illuminating and meticulously researched ... [China's War with Japan] is about the Chinese experience of war, the origins of the modern Chinese identity and the roots of a relationship that will shape Asia in the 21st century. It is about China's existential crisis as it tried to regain its centrality in Asia. It is also a story, pure and simple, of heroic resistance against massive odds * Economist *Mitter deftly sketches the plight of Chinese intellectuals ... This is a many-stranded story and the author keeps his focus on the big picture while including many convincing, often horrific, details ... [this] is the best narrative of that long-ago war, whose effects still linger in China today, with Japan the major hate figure -- Jonathan Mirsky * Spectator *This is a story told mainly from the Chinese perspective, in all its horror. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Mitter pulls together a rich and complex narrative without losing the drama of China's fight for survival and the individuals who played a part in it ... lively [and] comprehensive * Prospect *
£14.24
Pushkin Press Shooting Stars: 10 Historical Miniatures
Book SynopsisTen turning points in history, vividly sketched by the great Stefan Zweig "Such dramatically concentrated, such fateful hours, in which a timeless decision hangs on a single date, a single hour, even just a single minute, rarely occur in everyday life, and only rarely in the course of history." One of the twentieth century's great humanists and a hugely popular fiction writer, Stefan Zweig's historical works bring the past to life in brilliant Technicolor. This collection contains ten typically breathless and erudite dramatizations of some of the most tense and important episodes in human history. From General Grouchy's failure to intervene at Waterloo, to the miraculous resurrection of George Frideric Handel, this, Stefan Zweig's selection of historical turning points, newly translated by Anthea Bell, is idiosyncratic, fascinating and as always hugely readable. The perfect stocking-filler for the Europhile in your life' Philosophy Football 'Shooting Stars forms part of an ambitious project by Pushkin Press to bring Zweig's work to the attention of the English-reading public, an enterprise that has been entirely successful. Zweigmania seems to break out with the publication of each book, with readers discovering his work by word-of-mouth and by accident.' Guardian 'Zweig's impassioned pursuit of personal freedom seems more relevant than ever' Newsweek About the Author Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was born in Vienna, into a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator, then as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and was an international bestseller with a string of hugely popular novellas including Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok and Fear. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he moved to London, where he wrote his only novel Beware of Pity. He later moved on to Bath, taking British citizenship after the outbreak of the Second World War. With the fall of France in 1940 Zweig left Britain for New York, before settling in Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press. About the Author Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was born in Vienna, into a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator, then as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and was an international bestseller with a string of hugely popular novellas including Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok and Fear. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he moved to London, where he wrote his only novel Beware of Pity. He later moved on to Bath, taking British citizenship after the outbreak of the Second World War. With the fall of France in 1940 Zweig left Britain for New York, before settling in Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press.Trade ReviewGems of literary perfection. I felt I had seldom read such lucid, liquid prose Simon Winchester, Telegraph Shooting Stars forms part of an ambitious project by Pushkin Press to bring Zweig's work to the attention of the English-reading public, an enterprise that has been entirely successful. Zweigmania seems to break out with the publication of each book, with readers discovering his work by word-of-mouth and by accident. Guardian The perfect stocking-filler for the Europhile in your life Philosophy Football A source of great pleasure, even enlightenment Jewish Quarterly Pacey and animated The Herald
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle
Book SynopsisThe instant Sunday Times bestseller A Times, New Statesman and Spectator Book of the Year 'Simply the best popular history of the Middle Ages there is' Sunday Times 'A great achievement, pulling together many strands with aplomb' Peter Frankopan, Spectator, Books of the Year 'It's so delightful to encounter a skilled historian of such enormous energy who's never afraid of being entertaining' The Times, Books of the Year 'An amazing masterly gripping panorama' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'A badass history writer... to put it mildly' Duff McKagan 'A triumph' Charles Spencer Dan Jones's epic new history tells nothing less than the story of how the world we know today came to be built. It is a thousand-year adventure that moves from the ruins of the once-mighty city of Rome, sacked by barbarians in AD 410, to the first contacts between the old and new worlds in the sixteenth century. It shows how, from a state of crisis and collapse, the West was rebuilt and came to dominate the entire globe. The book identifies three key themes that underpinned the success of the West: commerce, conquest and Christianity. Across 16 chapters, blending Dan Jones's trademark gripping narrative style with authoritative analysis, Powers and Thrones shows how, at each stage in this story, successive western powers thrived by attracting – or stealing – the most valuable resources, ideas and people from the rest of the world. It casts new light on iconic locations – Rome, Paris, Venice, Constantinople – and it features some of history's most famous and notorious men and women. This is a book written about – and for – an age of profound change, and it asks the biggest questions about the West both then and now. Where did we come from? What made us? Where do we go from here? Also available in audio, read by the author.Trade ReviewA terrifically colourful and compelling narrative history... A hugely impressive achievement, bustling and sizzling with life on every page... This is now simply the best popular history of the Middle Ages there is' * Sunday Times *Excellent... Combines [Jones's] usual narrative exuberance and playfulness with the authority and span to bring together an amazing masterly gripping panorama' -- Simon Sebag MontefioreEmpires come and go, religions form and break up, ideas clash and mingle – 1,100 years, 16 sweeping chapters, 700 pacey pages... Masterly, muscular and direct' -- Ed Smith, New Statesman, Books of the YearA badass history writer... to put it mildly -- Duff McKaganA great achievement, pulling together many strands with aplomb -- Peter Frankopan, Spectator, Books of the YearAn audacious, entertaining page-turner. Dan Jones covers a thousand years of history with elegance and panache -- Dan Carlin, Hardcore HistoryDan Jones is in a class of his own... Read this book to wrap your head around 1,000 years of history with as much ease and enjoyment as relaxing into a good novel' -- Professor Suzannah LipscombJones is careful to entertain, as well as enlighten... Flashes of humour exist on the same page as academic rigour... Copious colour plates turn Powers and Thrones into a great gift, as well as a great read' * Aspects of History *An epic new history of the Middle Ages, which grippingly chronicles the forces that defined the period – and which would go on to shape ours * Huffington Post *This gripping history manages to bring novelty to a well-trod subject, spanning the Dark Ages and the globe. Traversing crises and empires and shedding new light on famous subjects, this archive of a fascinating time enthralls till the final page * Newsweek Magazine *I've never read such a comprehensive and storming history of the Middle Ages, nor am I ever likely to again. Crusaders swept me away, but this? This is electric: pumping energy into an era glossed over... Literally, I was in tears at the end; I didn't want the storytelling to end' -- David Learner (Toppings Booksellers, Ely)A rip-roaring read and exhilarating to the very end * International Times *Casts a new light on places such as Rome, Paris, Venice and Constantinople; and it features some of history's most notorious and famous men and women * Bexhill-on-Sea Observer *Despite the sweeping subject matter, Jones's reading feels relaxed as he delights in peculiar details and revels in witty asides... [darting] through the middle ages, from the Romans to the rise of Islamic empires' * Guardian *With his trademark narrative style, Dan Jones packs the thousand years between the fall of the Roman Empire [...] and the protestant Reformation into 16 chapters * Choice *From Rome to Paris, Venice to Constantinople, this gripping historical narrative touches on some of history's most famous and notorious men and women, while asking exactly how the West came to be the way it is. And you thought the perfect dad gift didn't exist * Stylist *Tells the story of an essential era of world history with skill and style * New York Times *Ambitious but brilliant * Catholic Herald *It's so delightful to encounter a skilled historian of such enormous energy who's never afraid of being entertaining * The Times, 21 best history books of 2021 *Mr Jones has a way of keeping things real -- Tessa Dunlop, Aspects of HistoryDan Jones is a brilliant storyteller. He keeps his hand on the tiller on this marathon voyage, guiding the reader with matchless dexterity. A triumph -- Charles Spencer, Aspects of HistoryIt is as gripping as all his books -- Barney White-Spunner, Aspects of HistoryJones is that rarity, a scholar with a novelist's feel for pace and drama, and this reads more like a thriller than a sober historical account * Tablet *In an age when medieval culture is easily and explicitly repurposed for ill, we are lucky to have a book that insists on portraying Europe's deep connections with other parts of the world and that wants to rehydrate the Middle Ages back from the flat, racist version. We are luckier still to have a book that narrates the past so thoroughly, vividly and joyfully * Independent *
£11.69
And Other Stories Tracker
Book SynopsisTracker is a collective memoir of the Aboriginal leader Tracker Tilmouth. He was a visionary who with irreverent humour told it like it is. Having known him for many years, Alexis Wright interviewed Tracker and those around him, weaving their stories together in a manner reminiscent of the oral history writing of Svetlana Alexievich.
£16.99
HarperCollins Publishers Where I Was From
Book SynopsisA memoir of land, family and perseverance from one of the most influential writers in America.In this moving and surprising book, Joan Didion reassesses parts of her life, her work, her history and America's. Where I Was From, in Didion''s words, represents an exploration into my own confusions about the place and the way in which I grew up, misapprehensions and misunderstandings so much a part of who I became that I can still to this day confront them only obliquely.The book is a haunting narrative of how her own family moved west with the frontier from the birth of her great-great-great-great-great-grandmother in Virginia in 1766 to the death of her mother on the edge of the Pacific in 2001; of how the wagon-train stories of hardship and abandonment and endurance created a culture in which survival would seem the sole virtue. Didion examines how the folly and recklessness in the very grain of the California settlement led to the California we know today a state mortgaged first to tTrade Review‘Her tough, beautiful, surgically precise prose is like nothing else I’ve ever read.’ Donna Tartt ‘She is a voice like no other in contemporary journalism.’ New York Times ‘Everything Didion writes has a land’s end edginess to it- a hyperattentiveeye on the dramas of the human condition. She writes as someone who has come through great shudders of the earth with a fundamental understanding that everything is subject to instantaneous and complete revision.’ Village Voice ‘She is the best chronicler California has.’ Vogue ‘Valediction and elegy alike, WHERE I WAS FROM is a storm-tossed book… Some writers see Californians as brilliant dreamers; others see failures, seeking a second start. Didion steps over both arguments and portrays the settlers of the state as shrewd entrepreneurs who would stop at nothing to turn dirt into dollars.’ Thomas Curwen, LA Times
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The State and Revolution
Book SynopsisIn July 1917, when the Provisional Government issued a warrant for his arrest, Lenin fled from Petrograd; later that year, the October Revolution swept him to supreme power. In the short intervening period he spent in Finland, he wrote his impassioned, never-completed masterwork The State and Revolution. This powerfully argued book offers both the rationale for the new regime and a wealth of insights into Leninist politics. It was here that Lenin justified his personal interpretation of Marxism, savaged his opponents and set out his trenchant views on class conflict, the lessons of earlier revolutions, the dismantling of the bourgeois state and the replacement of capitalism by the dictatorship of the proletariat. As both historical document and political statement, its importance can hardly be exaggerated.Translated and edited with an introduction by Robert ServiceTable of ContentsPart 1 Class society and the state: the state as the product of the irreconcilability of class contradictions; special bodies of armed men, prisons, etc.; the state as an instrument for the exploitation of the oppressed class; the "withering away" of the state and violent revolution. Part 2 The state and revolution - the experience of 1848-51: the eve of the revolution; the revolution in summary; the presentation of the question by Marx in 1852. Part 3 The state and revolution - the experience of the Paris Commune of 1871 - Marx's analysis: what was heroic about the Communards' attempt?; with what is the smashed state machine to be replaced?; the eradication of the parliamentarianism; organization of the unity of the nation; the destruction of the parasite state. Part 4 Continuation - supplementary clarifications by Engels: the housing question; the polemic with the anarchists; letter to Bebel; critique of the draft of the Erfurt Programme; the 1891 Preface to Marx's "The Civil War in France"; Engels on the overcoming of democracy. Part 5 The economic basis for the withering away of the state: the presentation of the question by Marx; the transition from capitalism to Communisim; the first phase of Communist society; the higher phase of Communist society. Part 6 The vulgarization of Marxism by the opportunists: Plekhanov's polemic with the Anarchists; Kautsky's polemic with the opportunists; Kautsky's polemic with Pannekoek. Part 7 The experience of the Russian Revolutions of 1905 and 1917.
£11.39
