History Books

Book SynopsisA critical history of the roots of Nazi occultism and its continuing influence• Explores the occult influences on various Nazi figures, including Adolf Hitler, Albert Speer, Rudolf Hess, Alfred Rosenberg, and Heinrich Himmler• Examines the foundations of the movement laid in the 19th century and continuing in the early 20th century• Explains the rites and runology of National Socialism, the occult dimensions of Nazi science, and how many of the sensationalist descriptions of Nazi “Satanic” practices were initiated by Church propaganda after the warIn this comprehensive examination of Nazi occultism, Stephen E. Flowers, Ph.D., offers a critical history and analysis of the occult and esoteric streams of thought active in the Third Reich and the growth of occult Nazism at work in movements today. Sharing the culmination of five decades of research into primary and secondary sources, many in the original German, Flowers looks at the symbolic, occult, scientific, and magical traditions that became the foundations from which the Nazi movement would grow. He details the influences of Theosophy, Volkism, and the work of the Brothers Grimm as well as the impact of scientific culture of the time. Looking at the early 20th century, he describes the impact of Guido von List, Lanz von Liebenfels, Rudolf von Sebottendorf, Friedrich Hielscher, and others. Examining the period after the Nazi Party was established in 1919, and more especially after it took power in 1933, Flowers explores the occult influences on key Nazi figures, including Adolf Hitler, Albert Speer, Rudolf Hess, and Heinrich Himmler. He analyzes Hitler’s usually missed references to magical techniques in Mein Kampf, revealing his adoption of occult methods for creating a large body of supporters and shaping the thoughts of the masses. Flowers also explains the rites and runology of National Socialism, the occult dimensions of Nazi science, and the blossoming of Nazi Christianity. Concluding with a look at the modern mythology of Nazi occultism, Flowers critiques postwar Nazi-related literature and unveils the presence of esoteric Nazi myths in modern occult and political circles.Trade Review“Much ink has been spilled on the topic of occult Nazism, but this book goes wider and deeper than most previous literature on this subject. It aims, as the author writes, ‘to bring the question of Nazi occultism into sharper focus with a more refined lens of understanding.’ One of the great merits of the book is that Flowers examines not only the question of the actual nature and extent of occult elements in the Nazi movement and its antecedents but also the huge amount of myth and hype that has grown up around the subject since the end of the Second World War. A central theme of the book is the power of myths, including those that ‘lead to misery and destruction,’ as in the case of the Third Reich. This searching book sheds new light on a troubled subject.” * Christopher McIntosh, author of Occult Russia: Pagan, Esoteric, and Mystical Traditions *“Going way beyond the typical sensationalistic tabloid press approach toward the occult undercurrents of National Socialism, as adopted invariably by most authors on the subject for far too many decades, this book is equally a highly welcome counterweight to Nicholas Goodricke-Clarke’s pioneering scholarly study. Himself a well-acknowledged and established occult practitioner as well as an academic scholar, Stephen Flowers deploys the entire arsenal of his critical tradecraft, both emic and etic (in-depth research, shrewd analysis, informed interpretation, historical contextualization, etc.), to present us with a sweeping detailed overview of the contemporary occult and political scene and its eventual culmination in the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust: a sober--and sobering-- depiction that is certain to set new standards for coming research well into the foreseeable future.” * Frater U?D?, author of Practical Sigil Magic, High Magic, and Living Magic *“Although nothing is ‘easy’ about this book--not its argument, subtleties, or beneath-the-floorboards history--Stephen E. Flowers’s study of Nazism and the occult resounds with vitality and depth; this work must be encountered and reckoned with by anyone who hopes to make a serious consideration of its subject.” * Mitch Horowitz PEN Award–winning author of Occult America and Uncertain Places *“In The Occult in National Socialism, Stephen Flowers approaches this murky and phantasmal historical grotto with a bright lantern of illumination, an undistorted analytical lens, and a keen, unflinching eye. His exploration dispels propaganda from all sides, including that of the Nazis themselves as well as from the Catholic and Protestant churches; overturns cartloads of dubious claims; and punctures a host of untethered hot-air balloons fueled by vaporous theorizing. But this is more than just a debunker’s manual. Flowers is equally adept at cataloging and elucidating the hidden (or even ‘occult’) influences, shadowy organizations, and mysterious personalities that did exist in the pre-Nazi period and the Third Reich. Likewise groundbreaking is the final part of the book: a methodical survey of the postwar era of mythologizing, in which the smoldering ashes of a defeated criminal aggressor-state became a quaggy garden for the cultivation of bizarre tales and pseudo-history. Overall, this volume is a complex study of competing spiritual and ideological forces in a period when the obscured truth often turns out to be more unsettling than the overblown fictions that replaced it.” * Michael Moynihan, Ph.D., coauthor of Lords of Chaos *“Stephen Flowers rises to the unenviable task of sorting fact from fiction in one of the most notorious questions of the 20th century: To what extent was the Third Reich influenced by and reliant on occult ideas in its quest for world domination? The further we are removed in time from these earth-shattering events, the more the facts about the Nazis’ supposed occult interests will be lost in neo-mythology; we need someone like Flowers to put this history in its proper context and to give a sober assessment of what actually lay behind the few genuine occult interests at work within the Third Reich. Flowers skillfully examines the influences on the intellectual and spiritual life of Germany in the early 20th century, while avoiding the typical sensationalist narrative that takes every insinuation of sinister influence at face value. The bar is now considerably higher with the publication of this long-awaited expert analysis.” * Toby Chappell, author of Infernal Geometry and the Left Hand Path *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONEssential Questions That Must Be Answered PART I Foundations of the Nineteenth Century (1800-1900) Introduction to Part I1 Foundations of Volkism The Deep Background of What Became National Socialism 2 Foundations of the Scientific CultureScience and Pseudoscience of the Nineteenth Century at the Root of National Socialism 3 Foundations of German OccultismThe Deep Occult Background of the Age PART II Before Hitler Came(1900-1919/1933)Introduction to Part II 4 Symbolic Volkism The World of Symbols and Signs into which the Third Reich Entered 5 Preludes in Science and Pseudoscience Science as Symbol and Weapon6 Occult Culture in Greater GermanyThe Fantastic Occulture of the Age PART III Myth of the Twentieth Century (1919-1945) Introduction to Part III 7 Symbolic Elements in the NSDAP How Signs, Symbols, and Ceremonies Were Wielded to Gain and Maintain Power and Control 8 Rituals of National Socialism Magic and Manipulation 9 Religious Revolution in the Third ReichThe Rise of New Religions 10 Occult Dimensions of Nazi SciencesThe Weaponization of the Occult 11 Occultism and the Third Reich The Anti-occult Reich as a Step toward Political SpellcastingPART IV The Mythology of Nazi Occultism Introduction to Part IV 12 The Roots of the Myth of Nazi Occultism in Wartime Propaganda Imaginative Propaganda Lays the Foundation of Postwar Tabloid Scholarship 13 Aftermath: Esoteric Nazism Since 1945 The Generation of a New-Age Mythology A Summary and Final Assessments APPENDIX A A Simplified Version of the Organizational Structure of the Ahnenerbe APPENDIX B The Word NaziA Chronological Annotated BibliographyReferences Index

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Book SynopsisA meticulous study of the social, economic, and religious significance of coffin reuse and development during the Ramesside and early Third Intermediate periods, illustrated with over 900 imagesFunerary datasets are the chief source of social history in Egyptology, and the numerous tombs, coffins, Books of the Dead, and mummies of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Dynasties have not been fully utilized as social documents, mostly because the data of this time period is scattered and difficult to synthesize. This culmination of fifteen years of coffin study analyzes coffins and other funerary equipment of elites from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-second Dynasties to provide essential windows into social strategies and adaptations employed during the Bronze Age collapse and subsequent Iron Age reconsolidation.Many Twentieth to Twenty-second Dynasty coffins show evidence of reuse from other, older coffins, as well as obvious marks where gilding or

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Book SynopsisThis is the absorbing story of the development, combat use and legacy of the influential sidearms used by the armed forces of the Soviet Union. Featuring archive and present-day photography and specially commissioned artwork, this is the story of the pistols that armed the forces of the Soviet Union and its allies during and after World War II. In 1930 the TT, a single-action semi-automatic pistol developed by Fedor Vasilyevich Tokarev and firing 7.62×25mm ammunition, began to supplement the venerable Nagant M1895 revolver in Soviet military service. From 1933 the TT-33, a simplified version, was also issued; all three would equip Soviet and proxy forces throughout and after World War II, seeing action across the globe. In 1951 a new pistol designed by Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov entered Soviet service; it became the primary Soviet military and police sidearm during the Cold War era and continued in use into the 21st century. The 9×18mm Makarov round was used in various weapons useTrade ReviewIn summary, this is a superb and concise book on the range of pistols developed during the Soviet era. It is well presented, highly informative and wonderful to read. It is a “must have” book for any connoisseur of Soviet pistol designs. -- Stuart Blank * Military Archive Reseach *Highly illustrated throughout, there are plenty of detailed photos showing the various pistols, and their holsters, plus some fine sectioned artwork. There are archive photos and a lot of modern pictures showing preserved examples. As an owner of a deactivated example of a Tokarev, I found this an interesting read. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *The author clearly knows these weapons very well, and has test fired just about all of them. This shows in the clarity of the text, and also in the choice of illustrations, which support the text very well. -- John Rickard * Historyofwar.org *Table of Contents[provisional] Introduction Development Use Impact Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive overview of the work of the Military Vehicles Research and Development Establishment on Chobham Common, which provided armoured vehicles for the British Army from 1945 to its close in 2004.Through much of World War II British tanks and armoured vehicles were outmatched by the German tanks they encountered and this led to the British Army placing much emphasis on ensuring that the same situation would not arise again if the Cold War turned hot. The task of developing the Main Battle Tanks and supporting armoured vehicles to out-range and quickly destroy the Soviet threat fell to the scientists and engineers at the Fighting Vehicle Research and Development Establishment on Chobham Common near to Chertsey. It was the design authority for all British Military vehicles for most of the period.Military vehicle and equipment expert William Suttie draws extensively on official MOD reports to tell the story of the development of the British Cold War armoTrade ReviewBy its nature, the book is fairly technical, but explained clearly and with fine supporting photos and diagrams. Of particular interest to wargamers will be the tables giving ‘hit’ and ‘kill’ probabilities for NATO and Soviet anti-tank weaponry against main battle tanks, based on official systems that reflected target size, armour, ranges, etc, with some comparisons that may surprise you. A quality publication. -- Chris Jarvis * Miniature Wargames *The author has spent around 45 years working in the field of military vehicle/equipment research and development and that experience shines through in this book. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *An excellant resource for those interested in Cold War British Armour -- Duncan Evans * The Armourer Magazine *As one would expect the book is lavishly illustrated, with photographs of those vehicles that were actually constructed and plans for most of those that weren’t. Well written and lavishly illustrated, this is an excellent guide to the mainly successful military vehicles designed at Chobham. -- John Rickard * Historyofwar.org *Table of Contents(Subject to confirmation) Part 1. Main Battle Tank Development Centurion FV215 Conqueror Countering the Soviet Tank Threat FV4201 Chieftain Chieftain Variants Novel Concept Studies UK/German Future Main Battle Tank MBT80 and the 4030 Programme Challenger 1 Challenger 1 Variants Challenger 2 Future Concept Studies Part 2. Medium and Light Tracked AFV Development Light Tanks and Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance Tracked 93 Carriers and Armoured Personal Carriers Warrior AFV of the 80s Stage 1 Other Light and Medium Tracks Concept Studies Part 3. Wheeled AFV Concepts and Development Saladin and Saracen Ferret and Fox Part 4. Other Vehicles Associated with Chertsey 1 Ton Armoured 4x4 Humber FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor SP70: 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer Annex A: List of FV Numbers Annex B: Centurion Data Annex C. Chieftain Data Annex D: Challenger 1 Data Annex E: CVR(T) Data Annex F: FV430 Series Data Annex G: Warrior Data Annex H: Saladin Data Annex J: Saracen Data Annex J: Ferret Data Annex K: FV721 Fox Data Index

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction 1. Peaceful Climate 2. Anxious Air 3. Endangered Atmosphere 4. Global Greenhouse 5. Climate Negotiations 6. Allocated Atmosphere 7. Global Security 8. Climate Crisis Epilogue Index

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Book SynopsisThe artist Norman Thelwell (1923–2004) was famous for his horse and pony cartoons, but his work was far more wide ranging. He focused his exceptional talent and humour on many diverse subjects, with his witty and wry observations providing amusement and sharp social comment. Some Damn Fool’s Signed the Rubens Again is Thelwell’s look at life in Britain’s stately homes, and what happens when they are opened to the public. Here are the castles, country estates, and the quirks of the British class system all depicted in the artist’s inimitable style. When an ancestral home is crumbling, or an aristocratic family is debt-ridden, the solution calls for drastic action. It is time to welcome in the paying public. Thelwell’s cartoons capture the comic situations that result when the noble residents come face to face with the curious visitors. See the duke in his tower preparing to repel the coachloads with boiling oil; a ghost train in the family vault; toddlers wrecking treasured heirlooms; and animals in the safari park watching the hilarious human spectacle unfold.Trade Review'This is a lovely book to gift a friend or just to have sitting on a coffee table.' -- Country Squire, January 2024

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Book SynopsisAmerican history and self-understanding have long depended on the notion of a “colonial America”, an era that—according to prevailing accounts—laid the foundation for the modern United States. In Indigenous Continent, the acclaimed historian Pekka Hämäläinen shatters this Eurocentric narrative by retelling the four centuries between first contacts and the peak of Native power from Indigenous points of view. Shifting our perspective away from Jamestown, Plymouth, the American Revolution and other well-worn episodes on the conventional timeline, Hämäläinen depicts a sovereign world of distinctive Native nations whose members, far from simple victims of colonial aggression, controlled the continent well into the nineteenth century, fundamentally shaping the actions of the European imperialists and the development of the United States. Indigenous Continent restores Native Americans to their rightful place at the very fulcrum of American history.Trade Review"[A] towering achievement. By gathering the experiences of multiple Native peoples—across an astounding expanse of time and space—Indigenous Continent explodes the view that American history unfolded inexorably according to European and American design." -- Andrew Graybill - The American Scholar"[M]agisterial . . . the pace and the scope of the book have a force of their own: Hämäläinen makes it clear that America’s past is crazily, energetically, tumultuously crowded with incident; that Indigenous power has affected everything about America . . . I can only wish that, when I was that lonely college junior and was finishing Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, I’d had Hämäläinen’s book at hand. It would have helped me see that there was indeed a larger story: that my civilization hadn’t been destroyed; that my tribe’s contribution to the past wasn’t merely to fade away in the face of history; that Native peoples—for better or for worse—made this country what it was, and have a role to play in what it now struggles to be." -- David Treuer - The New Yorker"[T]he single best book I have ever read on Native American history, as well as one of the most innovative narratives about the continent." -- Thomas E. Ricks - The New York Times Book Review"Mr. Hämäläinen’s book provides a useful introduction to a vast history..." -- Kathleen DuVall - The Wall Street Journal"The author, an Oxford historian, recasts the history of North America from a Native American perspective, making clear that Native tribes controlled the continent for millenniums (‘On an Indigenous time scale, the United States is a mere speck’). One of the best books ever written on Native American history." -- The New York Times Book Review"Indigenous Continent, by the Oxford-based Finnish historian Pekka Hämäläinen, looks at the US from a distance—and sees something that others have neglected. There are numerous other books about Native American history, but few that have made it so central to the American story as a whole. Here, the indigenous people aren’t just the objects of nonindigenous violence" -- Prospect"What could be more exciting than a book upending everything you thought you knew? Better yet if that book is peppered with interesting facts and written in a pacey, intriguing style by one of the finest minds of his generation: Pekka Hämäläinen" -- Joy Porter - BBC History Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe Middle Ages, in our cultural imagination, are besieged with ideas of wars, tournaments, plagues, saints and kings, knights, lords and ladies. In his era-defining work, Inventing the Middle Ages, Norman Cantor shows that these presuppositions are in fact constructs of the twentieth century. Through close study of the lives and works of twenty of the twentieth century''s most prominent medievalists, Cantor examines how the genesis of this fantasy arose in the scholars'' spiritual and emotional outlooks, which influenced their portrayals of the Middle Ages. In the course of this vigorous scrutiny of their scholarship, he navigates the strong personalities and creative minds involved with deft skill.Written with both students and the general public in mind, Inventing the Middle Ages provided an alternative framework for the teaching of the humanities. Revealing the interconnection between medieval civilisation, the culture of the twentieth century and our own assumptions, Cantor providTable of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements Credo 1. The Quest for the Middle Ages 2. Law and Society: Frederick William Maitland 3. The Nazi Twins: Percy Ernst Schramm and Ernst Hartwig Kantorowicz 4. The French Jews: Louis Halphen and Marc Bloch 5. The Formalists: Erwin Panofsky and Ernst Robert Curtius 6. The Oxford Fantasists: Clive Stephen Lewis, John Ronal Revel Tolkien, and Frederick Maurice Powicke 7. American Pie: Charles Homer Haskins and Joseph Reese Strayer 8. After the Fall: Michael David Knowles and Étienne Henry Gilson 9. The Once and Future King: Richard William Southern 10. Outriders: Johan Huizinga, Eileen Edna Power, Michael MoisseyPostan, Carl Erdmann, and Theodor Ernst Mommsen Notes A Core Bibliography in Medieval Studies Index

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Book SynopsisCorporate Coup looks at the attempted overthrow of the elected government of Venezuela, an intervention which, despite open backing by the United States, failed spectacularly. In January of 2019, the Trump Administration recognized a little-known opposition lawmaker named Juan Guaidó as President of Venezuela. While Washington’s history of coups in Latin America is well-documented, this step was unprecedented: Never before had the United States offered legal recognition to a new government before an actual change in leadership had taken place. Within months it became clear that the attempt at regime change had fallen flat: all Venezuelan territory, government ministries, and the country’s military remained under the control of President Nicolás Maduro. While US officials, notably Trump’s Venezuela Envoy Elliott Abrams, boasted that roughly 54 countries had followed Washington’s lead in recognizing

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Book SynopsisJames Hankins challenges the view that the Renaissance was the seedbed of modern republicanism, with Machiavelli as exemplary thinker. What most concerned Renaissance political theorists, Hankins contends, was not reforming laws but shaping citizens. To secure the social good, they fostered virtue through a new program of education: the humanities.Trade ReviewMagisterial…Humanist scholars in the Italian Renaissance were concerned with many of the same puzzles that obsess us today…Hankins shows that the humanists’ obsession with character explains their surprising indifference to particular forms of government. If rulers lacked authentic virtue, they believed, it did not matter what institutions framed their power. * Wall Street Journal *Puts the politics back into humanism in an extraordinarily deep and far-reaching way…This is certainly a landmark publication…For generations to come, all who write about the political thought of Italian humanism will have to refer to it; its influence will be—like that of virtue itself in the theories of the authors it studies—nothing less than transformative. -- Noel Malcolm * American Affairs *Perhaps the greatest study ever written of Renaissance political thought. The breadth of James Hankins’s book surpasses that of the reigning incumbents, Hans Baron’s Crisis of the Early Italian Renaissance and the first volume of Quentin Skinner’s classic Foundations of Modern Political Thought. It is also a book of bold argument and relevance. Hankins concentrates on the classic Italian Renaissance—Petrarch to Machiavelli…However, he escapes the conventional fixation on Florence and its chancellors. Leonardo Bruni and Machiavelli are here, but so too are the Roman jurist Mario Salamonio, the Greek translator George of Trebizond, the travelling ‘merchant scholar’ Cyriac of Ancona. Nor does Hankins limit himself to the familiar canon, but mines a deep vein of histories, biographies, letters, orations and treatises, both printed and scribally published. His mastery of the archive is astonishing. -- Jeffrey Collins * Times Literary Supplement *Extraordinary…The central theme…is that Renaissance humanism was neither a superficial aesthetic movement nor a purely political one. At its core, it was a movement of moral reform…Hankins’s grasp of the Italian Renaissance is deeply learned and insightful…Virtue Politics demonstrates why Hankins has earned his place as one of the world’s best intellectual historians of that period. -- Khalil M. Habib * New Criterion *A magisterial work by one of the world’s leading experts on the intellectual history of the Renaissance…One of the many strengths of Hankins’ volume is the great erudition with which he persuasively presents a different paradigm for understanding the Italian Renaissance. -- Carl O’Brien * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *A work to celebrate…A major book which not only synthesizes much of his previous work, but develops it further in ways both pathbreaking and panoramic…As Hankins shows, the central project of humanism was political, to instill virtue in rulers; there was broad agreement on this one point, but fascinating disagreement on many others. Deeply scholarly but marvelously lucid and reader-friendly, this book will be the indispensable study of this whole topic. -- Noel Malcolm * Times Literary Supplement *So timely…A book that is not only the fruit of a long and accomplished career but that also offers a rich and deep perspective on two time periods simultaneously: the Italian Renaissance and our own. Which is another way of saying that Virtue Politics gives readers a clear-eyed account of how the most creative minds of the Italian Renaissance addressed the permanent problems of human nature, virtue, tyranny, and political decay. * Washington Examiner *Magisterial… Hankins has piled up evidence more than sufficient to make his case. He has, moreover, opened up a new field of study…Whatever the course of future scholarship, it will have been Virtue Politics that opened up the field and set the agenda for those who came after. -- Paul A. Rahe * Claremont Review of Books *[A] magnum opus…A history of the political thought of the Italian Renaissance: from Petrarch in the middle of the 14th century to Machiavelli in the early 16th…Hankins is a stylish and sensitive guide to these men and their works, acutely aware that the political questions with which they grappled—what made a tyrant? Could a good man serve him?—were, for them, far from purely theoretical…Readers of Virtue Politics will close the book not only with a richer understanding of the Renaissance, but with a sense of how very differently we might think about politics today. * Standpoint *A bold new argument about the nature and significance of Renaissance political thought and a sweeping new vision of humanism itself…An exceptional scholarly accomplishment—a tour-de-force defense of the aspiration to improve character, a survey of Italian humanism with a uniquely wide recognition of the range of issues it encompassed, and a provocative reinterpretation of Machiavelli’s thought that makes modernity’s dark prophet appear positively naive in comparison with Petrarch, all accompanied by lucid forays into contemporary political theory and philosophy. For students of early modern political thought and philosophy, Hankins’s book will be an essential point of departure for some time. -- Mark Jurdjevic * Journal of Modern History *[A] masterpiece…It shows—with erudition, diligent scholarship, and great intelligence—how the Renaissance humanists, beginning with Petrarch, became convinced that the viciousness and lawless violence of fourteenth-century Italy was not, as previous thinkers had suggested, a problem that could be solved through drafting better laws. Instead, they argued that the eight centuries of peace, stability, and unity under the Romans were a reflection not of that state’s laws but of the moral qualities of its rulers. -- Rory Stewart * Times Literary Supplement *Wide-ranging and magisterial…If a greater focus on character education based on classical virtue does come about in our own time, it’s reasonable to think that this shift will take its bearings and example from the past. Hankins’s history of the Renaissance humanists offers a useful starting place for discovering what that kind of cultural rejuvenation might look like. -- Ian Lindquist * Education Next *An accomplished study of the Renaissance humanists’ political thought…We are unlikely to see soon another book that combines such extensive and precise learning with such a mature and subtle grasp of important matters. We are fortunate to have it. -- Mark Blitz * Law & Liberty *Investigates how [Renaissance humanists] explored a whole range of political issues. These included questions of wealth and economic injustice, the legitimacy of imperial rule, whether states should freely accept migrants and how to deal with debilitating partisanship… This work should prompt us to ask profound questions about the current culture of politics…A landmark piece of scholarship that will influence the study of political thought in the Renaissance for years to come. -- Bijan Omrani * Literary Review *Virtue Politics gives an impressive and thorough tour of Renaissance humanism from Petrarch to Leonardo Bruni to Machiavelli…[It] puts on display the detailed investigation of sources that can only come with decades of thought and research. -- Amanda Madden * Renaissance and Reformation *James Hankins is one of the most important scholars at work today in Renaissance intellectual history, so a new monograph from him demands attention…Virtue Politics will reset the discussion of Renaissance political thought for the next generation. -- Craig Kallendorf * Neo-Latin News *An enormous, sprawling work, providing rich and detailed but nonetheless succinct encapsulation of much of classical and medieval as well as, of course, Renaissance political theory…[A] rich and deeply erudite discussion of the Italian Renaissance. -- Jesse Russell * VoegelinView *Virtue Politics…is both intellectual history and an intervention into contemporary education and political culture…[Hankins’s] sensitive and erudite readings of an impressively broad array of humanist texts make important contributions to our knowledge and understanding of humanism during Italy’s long fifteenth century. -- Charles F. Briggs * Intellectual History Review *Gives Renaissance political thought the place it deserves within the history of Western political thought. -- Tommaso De Robertis * Bibliotheca Dantesca *A magnificent and major reinterpretation of Italian Renaissance political thought, and of the Italian Renaissance itself…It is a pleasure to spend time with this text…Anyone teaching the Renaissance or the history of political thought should have this volume readily at hand. -- Stephen Varvis * Fides et Historia *Virtue Politics is suffused with eloquence, and truly innovative. James Hankins argues that Renaissance humanists worked for political regimes of vastly different types. What was important to them was that leaders put the interests of the state—its stability, peace, and flourishing—before their own more immediate enrichment, or desire for power, or other selfish imperatives. In short, they believed that you could and should judge the moral character of a state and of the people who ran it. The concept of ‘virtue politics’ offers a helpful corrective to prior attempts to situate Renaissance thinkers into teleologically conceived narratives of the history of political theory. Not only is this one of the most important books written on humanist political thought, it is in many ways the first, given the unique way Hankins frames his project. It will change the way scholars conceive of the history of political thought. -- Christopher Celenza, author of MachiavelliJames Hankins’s masterwork takes us from Petrarch’s struggles against a decadent academic clerisy to Machiavelli and Confucius. But the central narrative thread never loosens: that character and virtue are the anchors of all healthy political systems, whether democratic or not. The lessons for today are clear and profound. -- Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Revenge of GeographyA tour-de-force revisionist account of Italian humanism, and a courageous effort to revive the humanist practice of moral education for political leaders in our own day. Machiavelli thought that he lived in an age of historically unprecedented corruption among political leaders. If he were to survey the behavior of so-called leaders in our contemporary world…he might very well concede that at least a measure of Hankins’s moral virtue must accompany his own realist virtue if good government were to have any chance of being achieved today. -- John P. McCormick, University of ChicagoJames Hankins is one of the world’s most distinguished authorities on the political thought of the Italian Renaissance, and Virtue Politics is a truly monumental work of scholarship, destined to leave its imprint for decades to come. It is—to a quite remarkable degree—a history of newly discovered things: new writers, new texts, new ideas, new connections. -- Peter Stacey, University of California, Los Angeles[The] magnum opus of a consummate intellectual historian. James Hankins is the living authority on Italian fifteenth-century neo-Latin literature…Hankins understands that by breathing new life into a beleaguered Renaissance movement, one can also come to the rescue of the Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian heritages, now under fire, on which the Renaissance drew, in order to understand the currently debated legacy of Western modernity. Inviting readers into the midst of an ongoing fray, Virtue Politics reminds us that we all have high stakes in this game. -- Rocco Rubini * European Legacy *Magisterial…Humanist scholars in the Italian Renaissance were concerned with many of the same puzzles that obsess us today…Hankins shows that the humanists’ obsession with character explains their surprising indifference to particular forms of government. If rulers lacked authentic virtue, they believed, it did not matter what institutions framed their power. * Wall Street Journal *Puts the politics back into humanism in an extraordinarily deep and far-reaching way…This is certainly a landmark publication…For generations to come, all who write about the political thought of Italian humanism will have to refer to it; its influence will be—like that of virtue itself in the theories of the authors it studies—nothing less than transformative. -- Noel Malcolm * American Affairs *Perhaps the greatest study ever written of Renaissance political thought. The breadth of James Hankins’s book surpasses that of the reigning incumbents, Hans Baron’s Crisis of the Early Italian Renaissance and the first volume of Quentin Skinner’s classic Foundations of Modern Political Thought. It is also a book of bold argument and relevance. Hankins concentrates on the classic Italian Renaissance—Petrarch to Machiavelli…However, he escapes the conventional fixation on Florence and its chancellors. Leonardo Bruni and Machiavelli are here, but so too are the Roman jurist Mario Salamonio, the Greek translator George of Trebizond, the travelling ‘merchant scholar’ Cyriac of Ancona. Nor does Hankins limit himself to the familiar canon, but mines a deep vein of histories, biographies, letters, orations and treatises, both printed and scribally published. His mastery of the archive is astonishing. -- Jeffrey Collins * Times Literary Supplement *Extraordinary…The central theme…is that Renaissance humanism was neither a superficial aesthetic movement nor a purely political one. At its core, it was a movement of moral reform…Hankins’s grasp of the Italian Renaissance is deeply learned and insightful…Virtue Politics demonstrates why Hankins has earned his place as one of the world’s best intellectual historians of that period. -- Khalil M. Habib * New Criterion *A magisterial work by one of the world’s leading experts on the intellectual history of the Renaissance…One of the many strengths of Hankins’ volume is the great erudition with which he persuasively presents a different paradigm for understanding the Italian Renaissance. -- Carl O’Brien * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *A work to celebrate…A major book which not only synthesizes much of his previous work, but develops it further in ways both pathbreaking and panoramic…As Hankins shows, the central project of humanism was political, to instill virtue in rulers; there was broad agreement on this one point, but fascinating disagreement on many others. Deeply scholarly but marvelously lucid and reader-friendly, this book will be the indispensable study of this whole topic. -- Noel Malcolm * Times Literary Supplement *So timely…A book that is not only the fruit of a long and accomplished career but that also offers a rich and deep perspective on two time periods simultaneously: the Italian Renaissance and our own. Which is another way of saying that Virtue Politics gives readers a clear-eyed account of how the most creative minds of the Italian Renaissance addressed the permanent problems of human nature, virtue, tyranny, and political decay. * Washington Examiner *Magisterial… Hankins has piled up evidence more than sufficient to make his case. He has, moreover, opened up a new field of study…Whatever the course of future scholarship, it will have been Virtue Politics that opened up the field and set the agenda for those who came after. -- Paul A. Rahe * Claremont Review of Books *[A] magnum opus…A history of the political thought of the Italian Renaissance: from Petrarch in the middle of the 14th century to Machiavelli in the early 16th…Hankins is a stylish and sensitive guide to these men and their works, acutely aware that the political questions with which they grappled—what made a tyrant? Could a good man serve him?—were, for them, far from purely theoretical…Readers of Virtue Politics will close the book not only with a richer understanding of the Renaissance, but with a sense of how very differently we might think about politics today. * Standpoint *A bold new argument about the nature and significance of Renaissance political thought and a sweeping new vision of humanism itself…An exceptional scholarly accomplishment—a tour-de-force defense of the aspiration to improve character, a survey of Italian humanism with a uniquely wide recognition of the range of issues it encompassed, and a provocative reinterpretation of Machiavelli’s thought that makes modernity’s dark prophet appear positively naive in comparison with Petrarch, all accompanied by lucid forays into contemporary political theory and philosophy. For students of early modern political thought and philosophy, Hankins’s book will be an essential point of departure for some time. -- Mark Jurdjevic * Journal of Modern History *[A] masterpiece…It shows—with erudition, diligent scholarship, and great intelligence—how the Renaissance humanists, beginning with Petrarch, became convinced that the viciousness and lawless violence of fourteenth-century Italy was not, as previous thinkers had suggested, a problem that could be solved through drafting better laws. Instead, they argued that the eight centuries of peace, stability, and unity under the Romans were a reflection not of that state’s laws but of the moral qualities of its rulers. -- Rory Stewart * Times Literary Supplement *Wide-ranging and magisterial…If a greater focus on character education based on classical virtue does come about in our own time, it’s reasonable to think that this shift will take its bearings and example from the past. Hankins’s history of the Renaissance humanists offers a useful starting place for discovering what that kind of cultural rejuvenation might look like. -- Ian Lindquist * Education Next *An accomplished study of the Renaissance humanists’ political thought…We are unlikely to see soon another book that combines such extensive and precise learning with such a mature and subtle grasp of important matters. We are fortunate to have it. -- Mark Blitz * Law & Liberty *Investigates how [Renaissance humanists] explored a whole range of political issues. These included questions of wealth and economic injustice, the legitimacy of imperial rule, whether states should freely accept migrants and how to deal with debilitating partisanship… This work should prompt us to ask profound questions about the current culture of politics…A landmark piece of scholarship that will influence the study of political thought in the Renaissance for years to come. -- Bijan Omrani * Literary Review *Virtue Politics gives an impressive and thorough tour of Renaissance humanism from Petrarch to Leonardo Bruni to Machiavelli…[It] puts on display the detailed investigation of sources that can only come with decades of thought and research. -- Amanda Madden * Renaissance and Reformation *James Hankins is one of the most important scholars at work today in Renaissance intellectual history, so a new monograph from him demands attention…Virtue Politics will reset the discussion of Renaissance political thought for the next generation. -- Craig Kallendorf * Neo-Latin News *An enormous, sprawling work, providing rich and detailed but nonetheless succinct encapsulation of much of classical and medieval as well as, of course, Renaissance political theory…[A] rich and deeply erudite discussion of the Italian Renaissance. -- Jesse Russell * VoegelinView *Virtue Politics…is both intellectual history and an intervention into contemporary education and political culture…[Hankins’s] sensitive and erudite readings of an impressively broad array of humanist texts make important contributions to our knowledge and understanding of humanism during Italy’s long fifteenth century. -- Charles F. Briggs * Intellectual History Review *Gives Renaissance political thought the place it deserves within the history of Western political thought. -- Tommaso De Robertis * Bibliotheca Dantesca *A magnificent and major reinterpretation of Italian Renaissance political thought, and of the Italian Renaissance itself…It is a pleasure to spend time with this text…Anyone teaching the Renaissance or the history of political thought should have this volume readily at hand. -- Stephen Varvis * Fides et Historia *Virtue Politics is suffused with eloquence, and truly innovative. James Hankins argues that Renaissance humanists worked for political regimes of vastly different types. What was important to them was that leaders put the interests of the state—its stability, peace, and flourishing—before their own more immediate enrichment, or desire for power, or other selfish imperatives. In short, they believed that you could and should judge the moral character of a state and of the people who ran it. The concept of ‘virtue politics’ offers a helpful corrective to prior attempts to situate Renaissance thinkers into teleologically conceived narratives of the history of political theory. Not only is this one of the most important books written on humanist political thought, it is in many ways the first, given the unique way Hankins frames his project. It will change the way scholars conceive of the history of political thought. -- Christopher Celenza, author of MachiavelliJames Hankins’s masterwork takes us from Petrarch’s struggles against a decadent academic clerisy to Machiavelli and Confucius. But the central narrative thread never loosens: that character and virtue are the anchors of all healthy political systems, whether democratic or not. The lessons for today are clear and profound. -- Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Revenge of GeographyA tour-de-force revisionist account of Italian humanism, and a courageous effort to revive the humanist practice of moral education for political leaders in our own day. Machiavelli thought that he lived in an age of historically unprecedented corruption among political leaders. If he were to survey the behavior of so-called leaders in our contemporary world…he might very well concede that at least a measure of Hankins’s moral virtue must accompany his own realist virtue if good government were to have any chance of being achieved today. -- John P. McCormick, University of ChicagoJames Hankins is one of the world’s most distinguished authorities on the political thought of the Italian Renaissance, and Virtue Politics is a truly monumental work of scholarship, destined to leave its imprint for decades to come. It is—to a quite remarkable degree—a history of newly discovered things: new writers, new texts, new ideas, new connections. -- Peter Stacey, University of California, Los Angeles[The] magnum opus of a consummate intellectual historian. James Hankins is the living authority on Italian fifteenth-century neo-Latin literature…Hankins understands that by breathing new life into a beleaguered Renaissance movement, one can also come to the rescue of the Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian heritages, now under fire, on which the Renaissance drew, in order to understand the currently debated legacy of Western modernity. Inviting readers into the midst of an ongoing fray, Virtue Politics reminds us that we all have high stakes in this game. -- Rocco Rubini * European Legacy *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive. illustrated account of the wartime Italian battle fleet, from its ships and technology to command structure, logistics, codebreaking and more.In the 1920s, the Italian Navy faced great challenges. Mussolini's ambitious Italy turned away from its alliance with Britain and France, and the Regia Marina faced the prospect of confronting both the French Navy and the Mediterranean Fleet of the Royal Navy. In the years leading up to World War II, the Regia Marina built and deployed a powerful battleship-led fleet known in Italy as La Squadra' intended to make the Mediterranean an Italian sea once more. In this book, Italian naval historian Enrico Cernuschi offers a fresh assessment of the wartime Italian battle fleet, based on his lifetime of primary-source research from both Italian and Allied sources. It offers a comprehensive portrait of this proud armada, how it was devised and built, and how it operated and fought. It covers a multitude of fac

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Book SynopsisIn a page-turning tale brimming with adventure, author Richard Sanders tells of the remarkable exploits of Bartholomew Roberts (better known as Black Bart), the greatest of the Caribbean pirates. He drank tea instead of rum. He banned women and gambling on his ships. He never made his prisoners walk the plank, instead inviting them into his cabin for a friendly chat. And during the course of his extraordinary two-and-a-half-year career as a pirate captain, he captured four hundred prizes and brought trade in the eastern Caribbean to a standstill. In If a Pirate I Must Be..., Richard Sanders tells the larger-than-life story of Bartholomew Roberts, a.k.a. Black Bart. Born in a rural town, Roberts rose from third mate on a slave ship to pirate captain in a matter of months. Before long, his combination of audaciousness and cunning won him fame and fortune from the fisheries of Newfoundland to the slave ports of West Africa. Sanders brings to life a fascinating world of theatre and ritual, where men (a third of whom were black) lived a close-knit, egalitarian life, democratically electing their officers and sharing their spoils. They were highly (if surreptitiously) popular with many merchants, with whom they struck incredibly lucrative deals. Yet with a fierce team of Royal Navy pirate hunters tracking his every move, Roberts’ heyday would prove a brief one, and with his capture, the Golden Age of pirates would pass into the lore and legend of books and movies. Based on historical records, journals and letters from pirates under Roberts’ command, and on writings by Roberts himself, If a Pirate I Must Be... is the true story of the greatest pirate ever to sail the Caribbean.

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Book SynopsisA brilliant polymath and part of the 'first wave' of British Romanticism, Thomas Manning was one of the first Englishmen to study Chinese language and culture. Like famous friends including Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Charles Lamb, Manning was inspired by the French Revolution and had ambitious plans for making a better world. While his contemporaries turned to the poetic imagination and the English countryside, Manning looked further afield – to China, one of the world’s most ancient and sophisticated civilizations. His travels included the salons of Napoleonic Paris, a period as a prisoner of war, a dramatic shipwreck and, disguised as a Buddhist pilgrim, a trek through the Himalayas to Tibet, where he met the Dalai Lama. Manning’s extraordinary story sheds a new light on English Romanticism.Trade ReviewChina Books Review's best biography of 2023, as recommended by Paul French, author of Midnight in Peking.'Thomas Manning did many remarkable things and knew many remarkable people. He deserves a biography. Such a book will hold particular interest for those who care about the British Romantics, British culture in the early nineteenth century, or British “orientalism”.' Michael Ferber, author of Romanticism: A very short introduction 'I had heard of Thomas Manning, but by name only and knew little about his life and travels, therefore the work has proved to be extremely interesting and educational. What an exciting ‘boy’s own’ adventure Manning appears to have had.' Sarah Murden, All Things Georgian'Edward Weech has successfully rescued one of Britain’s earliest Sinologues from obscurity and for that he should be thanked. That he has written such a highly readable and engaging biography of the man is really the cream on the coffee that makes Chinese Dreams in Romantic England an important study of early Sinology.'Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society China -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Early life2 Romantic, 1798-18013 France, 18024 Delay and departure, 1803-18065 Canton, 1807-18096 On the skirts of creation, 1810-18167 Home againConclusion: Why did Thomas Manning want to learn about China?Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBalinese-style villas and resorts are popping up everywhere, from Ibiza to St. Barts to Singapore. In this comprehensive guide, author Julian Davison explores the intricacies of the architecture and the reasons for its global popularity. You'll learn why innovative international architects have been designing Bali-inspired resorts and villas for decades, drawing their inspiration from a rich vernacular tradition. The thirty chapters in this book cover dozens of topics like:Architecture and Social StatusThe Balinese VillageSacred Rice and Subak TemplesContemporary Hotels and ResortsGardens and Water FeaturesAnd many more!This one-of-a-kind book features detailed information on building materials, construction techniques and intricate traditional ornamentation. Over 200 photographs and watercolor illustrations provide a clear picture of the island's architecture and an eye-opening look at a culture that has captivated the world's imagination for over a century.

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Book SynopsisGermany did not have professional players or a national league until the 1960s, yet it became one of the most successful football nations in the world. Tor! (Goal!) traces the extraordinary story of Germany’s club and international football, from the days when it was regarded as a dangerously foreign pastime, through the horrors of the Nazi years to postwar triumphs and the crisis of the new century. Tor! challenges the myth that German football is ‘predictable’ or ‘efficient’ and brings to life the fascinating array of characters who shaped it: the betrayed pioneer Walther Bensemann; the enigmatic genius Sepp Herberger; the all-conquering Franz Beckenbauer; the modern misfit Lothar Matthäus. And even the radio commentator Herbert Zimmermann, whose ecstatic cries of ‘Tor!’ greeted the winning goal in the 1954 World Cup final and helped change a whole nation’s view of itself. Fully revised and updated ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Tor! is the definitive history of German football.

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Book SynopsisFrom bra burning and body hair to Beyoncé and body positivity, feminism has come a long way.The illustrated story of the women's movement, Badly Behaved Women is a compelling and entertaining journey through the four waves of feminism and beyond. Featuring rare photographs and paraphernalia, reading lists, playlists and timelines, Anna-Marie Crowhurst's new history of an ongoing battle captures the pop culture and politics that have shaped modern feminism, and where the fight for equal rights will take us next.Personal testimony essays from: Alice Coffin; Juno Dawson; Diana Evans; Nadia Ghulam; Susie Orbach; Helen Pankhurst; Gisela Pérez de Acha; Laura Perlongo; Emeli Sandé; Anne Wafula Strike; Hibo Wardere; Harriet Wistrich; Rosie Wolfenden.Trade Review'Such a joyful book. You'll be needing an extra copy for your daughter too' -- Lucy WorsleyTable of ContentsIntroduction - Early Feminism • 1970s • 1980s • 1990s • 2000s • 2010s • Conclusion • Afterword.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on newly-declassified government documents and international archives in Spain and beyond, this book explores the many ways in which Scots responded to the Spanish Civil War (1936-9).

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Book SynopsisA riveting pocket guide to the history, culture, and landscape of Pembrokeshire

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Book SynopsisA gripping royal saga of charmed lives in a changing world. The Jaipurs were India’s mid-century golden couple; its answer to the Kennedys, or Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Jai and Ayesha, as they were known to friends like Frank Sinatra, Truman Capote and ‘Dickie’ Mountbatten, entertained lavishly at their magnificent palaces and hunting lodges in Rajasthan—and in the nightclubs of London, Paris and New York. But as the Raj gave way to the new India, Jaipur—the most glamorous and romantic of the princely states—had to find its place. The House of Jaipur charts a dynasty’s determination to remain relevant in a democracy set on crushing its privileges. Against the odds, they secured their place at the height of Indian society; but Ayesha would pay for her criticism of Indira Gandhi during the Emergency. From the polo field and politics to imprisonment and personal tragedy, the Jaipurs’ extraordinary journey of transformation mirrors the story of a rapidly changing country.Trade Review'John Zubrzycki does an impressive job of … building up a memorable picture of a glittering family brought to its knees.' -- Daily Mail'Thrilling, deeply satisfying ... a must-read.' -- The Week‘As historian John Zubrzycki dives into the lives of India’s most powerful ruling family in a new book, we look at the power players, past and present, of the grand royal dynasty.’ -- Tatler‘A riveting saga … assiduously researched.’ -- India Today'Extremely readable . . . a nuanced view of the failings and contributions of Indian princes.' -- Sir Mark Tully, former BBC Bureau Chief, New Delhi'Zubrzycki unearths hidden gems with his remarkable storytelling.' -- The Hindu'An intriguing book which will keep the readers hooked till the end.' -- The Times of India'Goes beyond the glitter and gold of the Jaipur royal household to dig out the obscure accounts of romantic jealousies, property feuds, fatal addictions, suppressed grief and more.' -- Indian Express'A fascinating and absorbing book with an unforgettable cast of characters.' -- Sagarika Ghose, author of Indira: India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister

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Book SynopsisIn 1940s India, revolutionary and nationalistic feeling surged against colonial subjecthood and imperial war. Two-and-a-half million men from undivided India served the British during the Second World War, while 3 million civilians were killed by the war-induced Bengal Famine, and Indian National Army soldiers fought against the British for Indian independence. This captivating new history shines a spotlight on emotions as a way of unearthing these troubled and contested experiences, exposing the personal as political. Diya Gupta draws upon photographs, letters, memoirs, novels, poetry and philosophical essays, in both English and Bengali languages, to weave a compelling tapestry of emotions felt by Indians in service and at home during the war. She brings to life an unknown sepoy in the Middle East yearning for home, and anti- fascist activist Tara Ali Baig; a disillusioned doctor on the Burma frontline, and Sukanta Bhattacharya's modernist poetry of hunger; Mulk Raj Anand's revolutionary home front, and Rabindranath Tagore's critique of civilisation. This vivid book recovers a truly global history of the Second World War, revealing the crucial importance of personal documentation in challenging a traditional focus on the wartime experiences of European populations. Seen through ordinary Indian eyes, this was not the 'good' war.Trade Review'Excellent' -- Kavita Puri, BBC History Magazine‘[This] is an excellent book, innovative, well-constructed, and superbly written.’ -- Asian Affairs'It is impossible not to be impressed and moved by Diya Gupta's humane, thoughtful writing. This book is full of rich academic insight on the far-reaching impact of the Second World War on South Asia. It is also a must-read for all that it poignantly teaches us about how humans have coped with and made sense of brutal conflict and major socio-political change.' -- Priya Atwal, author of 'Royals and Rebels: The Rise and Fall of the Sikh Empire''Explores the delicate yet often compromised textures of Indian soldiers' lives in the western spheres of the Second World War, separated from home, and trying valiantly, uncertainly, to make their way. A beautifully illustrated, sensitively researched emotional history.' -- Elleke Boehmer, Professor of World Literature in English, University of Oxford'A significant book for anyone interested in the Second World War, the history of the subcontinent, or Indian literature, drawing on extensive, multilingual archival research and conveyed in lively, smart prose.' -- Daniel Ryan Morse, Director of Core Humanities and Associate Professor of English, University of Nevada, Reno, and author of 'Radio Empire''An engaging, persuasive and innovative read, bringing an emotional history lens to the subject while seamlessly integrating Indian combatant and civilian experiences of the war.' -- Jonathan Saha, Associate Professor of South Asian History, Durham University

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Book SynopsisBelief in magic was, until relatively recent times, widespread in Britain; yet the impact of such belief on determinative political events has frequently been overlooked. In his wide-ranging new book, Francis Young explores the role of occult traditions in the history of the island of Great Britain: Merlin''s realm. He argues that while the great magus and artificer invented by Geoffrey of Monmouth was a powerful model for a succession of actual royal magical advisers (including Roger Bacon and John Dee), monarchs nevertheless often lived in fear of hostile sorcery while at other times they even attempted magic themselves. Successive governments were simultaneously fascinated by astrology and alchemy, yet also deeply wary of the possibility of treasonous spellcraft. Whether deployed in warfare, rebellion or propaganda, occult traditions were of central importance to British history and, as the author reveals, these dark arts of magic and politics remain entangled to this day.Trade Review'The history of magic – in comparison to the history of witchcraft in Britain – has been under-researched in the Anglophone academy. The relationship of occult traditions to the politics of the realm has thus far been virtually ignored. A ground-breaking study of the history of occult traditions – of 'high' magic (elite, literate, clerical and courtly) as compared to 'low magic' (popular, non-literate, non-clerical) – is therefore to be warmly welcomed. This book is full of fascinating and previously little-known vignettes on the significant influence of the role of magic and the occult in the history of British politics, most of which will be unknown to the non-specialist. It would be an excellent text for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the history of the occult.' Philip. C. Almond, University of Queensland'A terrific book. Francis Young is quite correct to say that no such survey has been done before, and the evidence presented by him unequivocally demonstrates that politics in pre-modern Britain cannot be fully understood without some attention to the notion and practice of magic and the occult sciences in general such as alchemy and astrology. The author has also brought together a tremendous amount of scholarship in this volume which is commendable in its own right.' Frank Klaassen, University of Saskatchewan'This is an important and accomplished project which demonstrates that – contrary to received opinion, and in modernity as well as the past – magical beliefs are central to political, religious and social lives, as conventionally categorised. I think the book will provoke much interest and comment with its claim that magic is as important as religion, and think too that there are likely to be over the next few years a series of books and theses that render that claim stronger. Magic's time has indeed come: and in that development the book will lead from the front. It will be accessible to a wide range of readers, written as it is with a light and engaging touch. The scope and detail never overwhelm, while the author's definition of magic and his inclusions and exclusions are convincing.' Marion Gibson, University of Exeter'Thought-provoking' William Tipper, The Wall Street Journal'… an immensely readable book with an engaging style, and likely to capture the attention and curiosity of anyone who explores its pages … it is well researched and referenced, striking an excellent balance between scholarship and entertainment.' Helen Hall, Law and Justice, the Christian Law ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. 'Britain indulges in magic': the origins of occult traditions in Britain; 2. The secrets of the king: occult and royal power in medieval Britain; 3. Arthurian dynasty: the Tudors and occult power; 4. House of the unicorn: Stuart monarchy and the contest for occult authority; 5. Politics and the decline of magic, 1649-1714; 6. Emanations of Albion: politics and the occult in modern Britain; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisInspired by Charles Mackay's 19th-century classic Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, William Bernstein engages with mass delusion with the same curiosity and passion, but armed with the latest scientific research that explains the biological, evolutionary and psychosocial roots of human irrationality. Bernstein tells the stories of dramatic religious and financial mania in Western society over the last 500 years - from the Anabaptist Madness that afflicted the Low Countries in the 1530s to the dangerous end-times beliefs that animate ISIS and pervade today's polarised nations; and from the South Sea Bubble to the Enron scandal and dot com bubbles of recent years. Through Bernstein's supple prose, the participants are as colourful as their motivation, invariably 'the desire to improve one's well-being in this life or the next.'As revealing about human nature as they are historically significant, Bernstein's chronicles reveal the huge cost and alarming implications of mass mania as he observes that if we can absorb the history and biology of mass delusion, we can recognise it more readily in our own time and avoid its frequently dire impact.Trade ReviewFascinating...Bernstein is an entertaining chronicler and analyst * The Times *Table of Contents1: Joachim's Children 2: Believers and Rogues 3: Briefly Rich 4: George Hudson, Capitalist Hero 5: Miller's Run 6: Winston Churchill's Excellent Adventure in Monetary Policy 7: Sunshine Charlie Misses the Point 8: Apocalypse Cow 9: God's Sword 10: Entrepreneurs of the Apocalypse 11: Dispensationalist Catastrophes: Potential and Real 12: Rapture Fiction 13: Capitalism's Philanthropists 14: Hucksters of the Digital Age 15: Mahdis and Caliphs

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Book SynopsisThe Queen is a timely book with beautiful photos and fascinating details about one of the most famous women of modern times: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch in history. “Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.” —Queen Elizabeth II, Coronation Speech, June 2, 1953 When the Queen passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, she had reigned over the United Kingdom for a total of 70 years and 214 days, having endured the ups and downs that long life will bring. She was a beacon of hope during and after the Second World War in difficult times when the world faced a precarious future, and she served as a role model for generations of men and women who continue to be in awe of her commitment to service, sacrifice, and the Commonwealth of nations over which she ruled. The abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII, in 1936 turned her family’s world upside-down. When her father was crowned King George VI, Elizabeth was thrust into the eye of the storm as a future queen. A shy and reserved child, she grew into a wise and insightful monarch who dealt ably with 15 British Prime Ministers during her long reign, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss. It was, of course, not always straightforward and the Queen found herself in hot water several times, most notably during the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. When Diana was tragically killed in a car crash, the standing of the Royal Family was probably at its lowest ebb. It is unlikely that we will ever see a monarch reign so long or so effectively again, holding together a disparate group of nations, each with its own aspirations, customs, and traditions. From her uncle’s abdication to the marriage of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, this intriguing biography includes all the ups and downs of Queen Elizabeth’s long life.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 A Beacon of Hope 2 The Duke of York’s Speech 3 The Gathering Storm 4 Abdication and Coronation 5 Coming of Age 6 Rumors of a Royal Romance 7 The Unpolished Prince 8 Announcing the Betrothal 9 The Future of the Monarchy 10 The Passing of George VI 11 Becoming the World’s Queen 12 Princess Margaret’s Impossible Dream 13 Prince Philip and the Thursday Club 14 The Little British Sovereign 15 The Wind of Change 16 The Future King Swears Allegiance 17 The Wealthiest Woman in the World 18 Diana and the Deputy Queen 19 At War with the Queen of Hearts 20 A New Century Dawns 21 Lines of Succession 22 HAPPINESS AND HEARTACHE 23 THE PASSING OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisA simply outstanding book' Astonishing' [A] rich treasure-trove of photographs of objects' The book truly is a delight, and is a book of the ancestors' in a very real sense.' Highly recommended.' - Sacred Hoop Magazine, March 2022 Stonehenge is one of the best known, but most misunderstood, monuments in the world. Contrary to common belief, it was not a static, unchanging structure built by shadowy figures or druids. Rather it represents the cumulative achievement of numerous generations who were woven into a complex and widespread network of cultural interactions, environmental change and belief systems. This publication, which accompanies the first exhibition about Stonehenge ever staged in London, uses the monument as a gateway to explore the communities and civilisations active at the time of its construction and beyond, between 4,000 and 1,000 BCE. Recent archaeological findings regarding the origin of Stonehenge's striking bluestones' have reignited interest in this ancient wonder, the people who built it and the beliefs they held. Through the iconic' structure, spectacular objects of precious and exotic material and more humble, personal objects, authors Duncan Garrow and Neil Wilkin examine the dramatic cultural and societal shifts that characterised the world of Stonehenge, including the introduction of farming and development of metalworking. Covering a period of thousands of years, the publication traces the appearance of the first monuments in the landscape of Britain around 4,000 BCE, the arrival of the bluestones from the Preseli Hills in Pembrokeshire 1,000 years later, all the way up to a remarkable era of cross-Channel connectivity and trade between 1,500 and 800 BCE. Through a new study of the enigmatic and beautiful objects made and circulated during the age of Stonehenge, connections are charted in the shared religious practices and beliefs of communities from across Britain, Ireland and continental Europe. The presence of other stone and wooden circles hundreds of miles from Salisbury Plain including Seahenge, discovered on a beach in Norfolk in 1998 is further evidence of these shared ways of thinking. At a critical moment in the narrative of Stonehenge, around 2,500 BCE, the significance of the cosmos and the heavens expressed through the construction of stone circles and megalithic passage tombs began to wane and portable objects gained increasing importance. This key transformation is demonstrated by a highlight object from Germany: the Nebra Sky Disc, a bronze disc inlaid with gold symbols believed to represent the sun, a crescent moon and the Pleiades constellation. More modest items found in tombs, burials and settlements are no less important in shedding light on the development of ideas relating to identity, religious practices, and relationships between the living and dead. Monuments such as Stonehenge cannot be understood in isolation. Stonehenge was not always a static, monolithic structure: over generations it was adapted and added to by communities that changed and developed the landscape on which it still stands today.Table of ContentsIntroduction – introduces the connections between people and nature, people and the heavens above, and between different peoples. Explores the relevance of Stonehenge and other stone circles to the wider world at the time. 1. Working with Nature – before Stonehenge; the first farmers; grave goods and belief 2. Sermons in Stone – major developments at Stonehenge and the surrounding landscape c. 3,000–2,500 BCE; other sites in Britain and Ireland; artistic expression 3. Under One Sky – the relationship of Stonehenge to the sun; the sun, moon and the cosmos 4. New Horizons: People and Pilgrims – modifications at and the significance of Stonehenge c. 2,500–2,000 BCE; new burial traditions; 5. Facing the Ocean: Cosmological Travellers – transformation around and across the Stonehenge landscape; cross-Channel connections; metalwork and its links to the natural world; economic and social change at the end of the early metal age. Conclusion – highlights the need to consider ‘iconic’ monuments and objects within a broader context to counter the narrative that Stonehenge can be understood in isolation. Bibliography Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThe award-winning guide to everything we know about the Neanderthals, from their emergence to their extinction, now updated and expanded to feature the latest discoveries in the field of Neanderthal DNA.Trade Review'A beautifully synthesized portrait of a powerful people' - Nature'[A] compelling and engaging account … Prepare to have your prejudices shattered and your understanding of humanity challenged' - Clive Gamble, University of Southampton'Excellent and absorbing' - Current World ArchaeologyTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. A Long Underestimated Type of Human 2. The First Europeans: 1 million to 600,000 years ago 3. Defeating the Cold: 600,000 to 250,000 years ago 4. Meet the Neanderthals: 250,000 to 130,000 years ago 5. An End to Isolation: 130,000 to 60,000 years ago 6. Endgame: 60,000 to 25,000 years ago 7. Still With Us?

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Book SynopsisDetails the epic struggle between the mighty Chinese dynasties and their Mongol foesBased on first class research and told in accessible, compelling styleThrilling tale culminating in the Ming revolution and the Mongols expulsion from China

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Book SynopsisOn 27 January 1945 Otto Frank was liberated from Auschwitz by Russian soldiers. At that point not only his journey home started, but also his long quest to find out what had happened to his wife Edith, his daughters Margot and Anne and the four other people with whom he had been in hiding in the Annex at 263 Prinsengracht in Amsterdam: Herman and Auguste van Pels, their son Peter and dentist Fritz Pfeffer. In the months after his liberation Otto Frank would discover that he is the only survivor out of these eight people. After the Annex continues the journey that Otto began. It is the ultimate attempt, based on thorough research in archives and available eye witness accounts, to reconstruct as precisely as possible what happened to the eight people in hiding after their arrest.Trade Review"Author Bas von Benda-Beckmann has pieced together rare accounts from camp survivors who met Anne to build a moving picture of her final days." Daily Mirror "a haunting new book reveals her life in Auschwitz and Belson - and how her indomitable spirit survived to the very end" Daily Mail "Clearly written and superbly researched ... descriptions of the last days of Edith Frank in Auschwitz and of Anne in Bergen-Belsen, desperately ill, naked, wrapped in a blanket, are unbearable." David Herman, The Jewish Chronicle

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Book SynopsisFrom government ministers and spies to activists, drag queens and celebrities, Odd men out charts the tumultuous history of gay men in 1950s and 60s Britain. It takes us from the earliest tentative steps towards decriminalisation to the liberation movement of the early 1970s. Along the way, it catalogues shocking repression, including laws against homosexual activity and the use of brutal medical ‘treatments’. Odd men out draws on medical data and opinion polls, broadcast recordings, theatrical productions, and extensive interviews with key players, as well as an in-depth analysis of the Wolfenden Report and the circumstances surrounding its creation. It brings to life pivotal moments in gay mens’ cultural representation, ranging across the West End and emerging writers like Joe Orton, the British film industry, the BBC, national newspapers, fashion catalogues and music magazines. Celebrating the joy of gay lives as well as the hardships, Odd men out preserves the voices of a disappearing generation who revolutionised what it meant to be a gay man in twentieth-century Britain.Trade Review'John-Pierre Joyce admirably describes the oppression from which we were so narrowly rescued and the courageous and unflagging determination that made the present dispensation possible. Let us take good note of the past and learn its lessons, lest we be condemned to repeat it.'Simon Callow CBE'The brutal truth about an era of persecution, setbacks and triumphs, as told through the personal stories of tormentors, campaigners, victims and survivors. Compelling and moving. An often heartbreaking but very necessary illumination of a dark period of modern British history.'Peter Tatchell 'Rigorously researched and detailed ... accessible and engaging ... a fantastically detailed account of this period and a treasure trove of information ... impressive.'Professor Brian Lewis, McGill University'Beautifully written ... kept me riveted ... fascinating illustrative detail ... a model of clarity.'Professor Matthew Cook, Birkbeck University of London -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction by Simon CallowForeword by Lord Taverne1 Huntleys2 The doctrine of Saint Wolfenden3 The germ inside4 A huge homosexual kingdom5 Do I look like a bloody pansy?6 A wind of change7 It’s legal nowAfterword by Nicholas WrightSelected bibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisA gorgeous volume celebrating the eternal splendour of the boy pharaoh. On November 4th, 1922, after months of unsuccessful expeditions and excavations, a young Howard Carter was close to giving up his Egyptian experience in the Valley of the Kings when, unexpectedly, he and his team discovered one of the most important masterpieces in the history of archaeology. The intact royal burial palace and the golden mask of the boy king Tutankhamun are probably the most iconic symbols of Ancient Egypt. This luxurious volume will retrace, with never-seen-before pictures, the history of those exciting moments.

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Book SynopsisA History Book of the Year in The Times 'Cozzens is a master storyteller; his books weave a wealth of intricate detail into gripping historical narrative.' The Times'Marvellous... One of the best pieces of Native American history I have read.' S.C. Gwynne, bestselling author of Empire of the Summer MoonWinner of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for Best Biography.Shawnee chief Tecumseh was a man destined for greatness - the son of a prominent war leader, he was supposedly born under a lucky shooting star. Charismatic, intelligent, handsome, he was both a fierce warrior and a savvy politician. In the first biography of Tecumseh in more than twenty years, Peter Cozzens thoroughly revises our understanding of this great leader and his movement, arguing that his overlooked younger brother Tenskwatawa, the 'Shawnee Prophet', was a crucial partner in Tecumseh's success.Until Tecumseh's death in 1813, he was, alongside Tenskwatawa, the co-architect of the greatest pan-Indian confederation in history. Over time, Tenskwatawa has been relegated to the shadows, described as a talentless charlatan and a drunk. But Cozzens argues that while Tecumseh was the forward-facing diplomat, appealing even to the white settlers attempting to steal Shawnee land, behind the scenes, Tenskwatawa unified multiple tribes with his deep understanding of Shawnee religion and culture. No other Native American leaders enjoyed such popularity, and none would ever pose a graver threat to colonial expansion than Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa. Bringing to life an often-overlooked episode in America's past, Cozzens paints in vivid detail the violent, lawless world of the Old Northwest, when settlers spilled over the Appalachians to bloody effect in their haste to exploit lands won from the War of Independence. The Warrior and the Prophet tells the untold story of the Shawnee brothers who retaliated against this threat - becoming allies with the British army in the process - and reveals how they were the last hope for Native Americans to preserve ways of life they had known for centuries.Trade ReviewCozzens is a master storyteller; his books weave a wealth of intricate detail into gripping historical narrative... In this book descriptions of battles are especially enthralling; one can almost smell the gunpowder, the blood and the loamy forest floor. * The Times *Mr. Cozzens puts his narrative skills to great use. His compelling prose and deep research in both primary sources and histories of the period combine to place the reader on the ground with the Shawnee brothers... Sharply drawn. * Wall Street Journal *A towering work of scholarship... Indispensable -- Frank McLynn * Literary Review *Marvellous... The Warrior and the Prophet tells a story of nation-defining events and larger-than-life leaders, and Cozzens' nuanced portrait stands as one of the best pieces of Native American history I have read. -- S.C. Gwynne, bestselling author of EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOONA thorough profile of the notable Tecumseh and his brother. Author Peter Cozzens sculpts his narrative deftly and compellingly. In relating the barbarity of the frontier wars, the author remains objective yet empathetic. Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa are fascinating figures, capable of greatness and leadership, yet destined for tragedy. A+ work. * San Francisco Book Review *The strength of Cozzens' book is his ability to bring to life the thrilling adventures of Tecumseh and his people. Many a war yarn gets bogged down in minutiae, but the author animates these battles by sharing the human stories behind the fighting. By ably piecing together a history that is equal parts engaging and amply sourced, Cozzens has crafted a satisfying work that leads us to sympathize with his subjects without putting his finger on the scale to prove his point. * Washington Independent Review of Books *Cozzens expertly mines the surprisingly varied array of sources for the brothers' early lives; he presents the fullest picture yet of who these men were before they achieved national fame. His book balances them more than any previous retelling of the story ever has... As close to a fully realized popular biography of Tenkswatawa as is ever likely to be written... Paints in vivid colors the grandest effort of Native Americans to retain their independence - and the political and spiritual leaders who tried to make it happen. * Christian Science Monitor *Award-winning historian Peter Cozzens admirably brings this lost world to life... Cozzens's descriptions of Tenskwatawa's spiritual agenda, centered on Indian independence and rejection of White culture, will remind readers that tribal leaders from Osceola to Sitting Bull attempted to preserve native culture with the weapons of war. The tragedy of their failure haunts America today. * American History Magazine *An insightful, unflinching portrayal of the remarkable siblings who came closer to altering the course of American history than any other Indian leaders. -- Professor H.W. Brands, author of HEIRS OF THE FOUNDERSCozzens has a gift for depicting the intricacies of combat with both clarity and flair... the dual biography comes across as fair and impartial. Without sentimentality, and without overlooking the faults of its heroes, it presents a nuanced look at their attempt to halt the invasion of their lands. * Columbus Dispatch *An enthralling, deeply researched dual biography of Shawnee leader Tecumseh and his younger brother... Cozzens's cinematic narrative is steeped in Native American culture and laced with vivid battle scenes and character sketches. * Publishers Weekly *Cozzens... shows his skill at revealing the social and daily realities of late 18th- and early 19th-century life, including wonderfully vivid descriptions of pioneer conditions and Algonquin villages... A long overdue non-fiction account. * Library Journal (Starred review) *Engrossing... Cozzens' biography is solidly researched, fluently written, and bound to stand as the best history to date about the Shawnee brothers' lives and effort to rally pan-Indian resistance. * Booklist (Starred review) *Comprehensive... Blending historical fact with solid storytelling, Cozzens delivers a nuanced study of the great warrior and his times. * Kirkus Reviews *Table of Contents1: The Great Awakening 2: A Restless People 3: A Turbulent Youth 4: A Nation Divided 5: War and Wanderings 6: Out from the Shadows 7: The Making of a Chief 8: A Culture in Crisis 9: A Prophet Arises 10: Black Sun 11: Greenville Interlude 12: A Double Game 13: One Treaty Too Many 14: No Difficulties Deter Him 15: Southern Odyssey 16: The Prophet Stumbles 17: From the Ashes of Prophetstown 18: Into the Maelstrom 19: Kindred Spirits 20: A Man of Mercy 21: An Adequate Sacrifice to Indian Opinion 22: Death on the Thames 23: Twilight of the Prophet

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Book SynopsisThis book covers the military history of the Vikings from their early raiding to the final failure of their expansionist ambitions directed against England.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the true history that inspired the international bestseller and TV series, _Outlander_.

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Book SynopsisThe first detailed and comprehensive record of the warship losses of the last 100 years. Much original research from primary sources. Indexes and cross referencing make for highly usable reference work.

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Book SynopsisAn award-winning historian’s revisionary account of the early modern world, showing how apocalyptic ideas stimulated political, religious, and intellectual transformationsTrade Review“Martin’s case that the apocalypse is the midwife of modernity seems self-evidently right to me. My main frustration is that we need a second volume, on how the apocalypse has fared since 1800.”—Alec Ryrie, Financial Times“[A] beautifully produced book. . . . Martin’s book ends beautifully as it begins, its apocalypse in the eternal now.”—Jonathan Locke Hart, Renaissance and Reformation“What does it mean to live near the end of time and await the world’s rebirth, as generations of Jews, Christians and Muslims did? A Beautiful Ending is a masterful synthesis of the prognostications of faith, knowledge, and politics on a global stage. Martin’s book illuminates one of the enduring themes that shaped the medieval and early modern world.”—Paula E. Findlen, Stanford University“In his elegantly braided analysis of the apocalyptic imagination among Christian, Muslim, and Jewish thinkers, John Jeffries Martin recasts the world-making events of the late medieval and early modern periods. A Beautiful Ending is a beautiful book.”—Alan Mikhail, author of God’s Shadow: Sultan Selim, His Ottoman Empire, and the Making of the Modern World“Martin’s masterful and wide-ranging study places ideas about the end of the world in their historical context, demonstrating how the apocalyptic imagination allowed historical actors to confront difficult and often frightening circumstances. Their experiences inform our own contemporary historical moment.”—Elizabeth Horodowich, New Mexico State University“A sweeping history of early modern apocalyptic and millenarian thought among Christians, Muslims, and Jews, when the end of history brought expectations of a golden age of peace. Martin provides a powerful history of the hopes and horrors produced by these apocalyptic fantasies with an eye to their continuity into our own times. Few books make early modern history more relevant to the present.”—Stuart Schwartz, Yale University“In his richly detailed new book, John Jeffries Martin advances the striking hypothesis that apocalyptic thinking not only did not go away with the advent of modernity; it was one of the key forces that gave us our modern world. If he’s right, much of what we thought we knew bears rethinking.”—Benjamin M. Friedman, author of Religion and the Rise of Capitalism “Engaging and profoundly original, A Beautiful Ending treats Christian, Jewish, and Muslim thought about End Times as a source of modernity. Martin’s deft argument convinces that the proverbial rise of modern secularism is a myth.”—Edward Muir, Northwestern University

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Book SynopsisPresenting a history of Israel through 100 cartoons, Colin Shindler offers an original, visually exciting and accessible way to help understand Israel's complex past, including the Israel-Palestine conflict. Richly illustrated with an image for ever year from 1949-2020, Shindler offers new perspectives on Israel's past, politics, and people.Trade Review'A leading expert on the history and politics of Israel, Professor Shindler has endeavoured something unique in this engaging book. Through 100 cartoons and accompanying commentary that draws on his extensive understanding of the issues, Shindler provides an illuminating and very welcome addition to the literature on Zionism and Israel.' Rory Miller, Georgetown University in Qatar'Professor Shindler uses the medium of cartoons to reflect on the major issues that have faced Israel. Selecting just one cartoon for each year out of many thousands is no easy task, but Shindler's selections and commentary highlight the key issues and personalities in a way which no other previous political analysis has attempted.' David Newman, Ben-Gurion University'Professor Shindler has added a new dimension to his highly esteemed body of writing on Jewish and Israeli history. Cartoons and caricatures offer vividness and insights to conventional historiography. This is an instructive and entertaining new book.' Itamar Rabinovich, Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States'It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Colin Shindler's outstanding collection of cartoons, with comments and timelines, sheds light on the Palestinian Arab/Israeli conflict. This innovative format makes it an outstanding teaching resource and a must-read for those interested in gaining greater insight into this conflict.' Suzanne D. Rutland, University of Sydney'In this excellent academic study on contemporary Israel's history, carefully selected images are not merely illustrations, but they reflect the atmosphere of a certain time, convey multiple meanings, and signal the power of interpretations. They encourage readers to reflect on emotions, the ever-present but oft-forgotten driver of human activities.' Joanna Dyduch, Jagiellonian UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction: Jews: caricatures, cartoons, comics; Zionism: Ideology and the building of the state; Before Israel: The road to 1948; A history of Israel: 1949-2020; The 1950s; The 1960s; The 1970s; The 1980s; The 1990s; The 2000s; The 2010s; Collections of works of early Israeli cartoonists.

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Book SynopsisEmotionally resonant photographs of everyday life in the Jewish Lódz Ghetto taken during WWII

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis elegantly written history of the relationship between East Asia’s two major powers deploys a 1,500-year chronology with a confidence that comes from decades of deep research on the topic, illustrating how influence and power have waxed and waned between the two countries. -- Rana Mitter * Financial Times *Will become required reading…Vogel delves broadly into Japanese and Chinese societies to urge less acrimony and better mutual understanding…Displays a lifetime of deep engagement with sources in English, Chinese and Japanese…He is one of the few thinkers alive with sufficient traction to speak equally with leaders in both countries as well as people on the street. -- Alexis Dudden * Times Literary Supplement *For 1,500 years, China and Japan have taken turns as the major Asian power players, shaping each other’s destinies even as they’re often at odds. Vogel traces the nuances. * New York Times Book Review *The importance of this book—by one of the great Asian specialists from the U.S. of the modern era—is in alerting what will hopefully be a wide readership to how complex, and crucial, Sino-Japanese relations are, and how any complacency about the two being able to get on easily and unproblematically can be cured by attending to their long, complex and frequently acrimonious history. -- Kerry Brown * Times Higher Education *Vogel uses the powerful lens of the past to frame contemporary Chinese-Japanese relations…With scholarly care and an eye on contemporary policy, Vogel suggests that over the centuries—across both the imperial and the modern eras—friction has always dominated their relations. -- Sheila A. Smith * Foreign Affairs *A sweeping, often fascinating, account…Impressively researched and smoothly written, China and Japan is a timely reminder of how public perceptions are shaped by political expediency, how new leaders and propaganda can efface existing goodwill. -- Nicolas Gattig * Japan Times *While it is not easy for outsiders to plumb the deep-seated emotions and complex psychology of the Sino-Japanese relationship, no one is better qualified to help us than Ezra Vogel. As the author of many important and influential books on both countries and possessing an extraordinary network of contacts among scholars and policy makers in China, Japan, and the United States, he is truly a unique scholar of Asia, and it is no surprise that his new volume is a work of exceptional learning. -- Kenneth Pyle * Monumenta Nipponica *Ezra Vogel’s China and Japan is more than just an important, new addition to scholarship. Based on more than half a century of Vogel’s own work, along with that of many others, this masterful book traces the long relationship between China and Japan in a way that favors neither over the other and covers a wide range of social, political, economic, and cultural ties. General readers and scholars alike have much to gain from reading this marvelous and welcome history of the interactions between China and Japan. -- Joshua A. Fogel, author of Articulating the SinosphereVogel’s wonderful book offers a compelling account of over a millennium of China–Japan history…Powerful and riveting. -- Edward Friedman * China Review International *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive overview of the strategy, operations and vessels of the United States Navy from 1941 to 1945.Although slowly building its navy while neutral during the early years of World War II, the US was struck a serious blow when its battleships, the lynchpin of US naval doctrine, were the target of the dramatic attack at Pearl Harbor. In the Pacific Theatre, the US was thereafter locked into a head to head struggle with the impressive Imperial Japanese Navy, fighting a series of major battles in the Coral Sea, at Midway, the Philippine Sea, Leyte Gulf and Okinawa in the struggle for supremacy over Japan. Having avoided the decisive defeat sought by the IJN, the US increased industrial production and by the end of the war, the US Navy was larger than any other in the world.Meanwhile in the west, the US Navy operated on a second front, supporting landings in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, and in 1944 played a significant part in the D-Day landings, the largest and most comTrade ReviewIf you are looking for a complete single volume of USN ships in WWII, you will have found it with this book. You will not be disappointed. * Gunmart *In this superbly illustrated and detailed work, naval expert Mark E. Stille combines new research and archival material to examine the carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers and submarines used by the US Navy throughout the war. * Warship World *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. United States Naval Strategy and Tactics in World War II 2. Operations 3. Carriers 4. Battleships 5. Heavy Cruisers 6. Light Cruisers 7. Destroyers 8. Submarines 9. The United States Navy in World War II – an Assessment Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNahum Dimitri Chandler examines W. E. B. Du Bois's early thought and its continued relevance, demonstrating that Dub Bois must be re-read, appreciated, and studied anew as a philosophical writer and thinker contemporary to our time.Trade Review“Nahum Dimitri Chandler's "Beyond This Narrow Now" gives the reader the marvelous benefit of Chandler's exquisite knowledge of the DuBoisian oeuvre and his singular unrelenting commitment to tarrying with it. As one of our master teachers, Chandler is at his best here in leading us systematically, virtually line by line, through early Du Bois in his critical conceptual formation.” -- Hortense J. Spillers, Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Professor, Vanderbilt University“‘Beyond This Narrow Now’ is a seminal contribution to foregrounding Du Bois’ epistemological roots and its implication for the future.” -- Mosa M. Phadi * Ethnic and Racial Studies *"Chandler is a meticulous scholar and a brilliant thinker with much to say about Du Bois as an intellectual problem. Parts of the book will be accessible to many readers, and Chandler’s approach to analysis serves as a master class in close reading. However, because of the occasionally esoteric nature of Chandler's approach, readers with a background in critical theory or philosophy have the most to gain. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, researchers/faculty, professionals/practitioners." -- J. W. Miller * Choice *“Chandler’s work is a definitive contribution towards a re-assessment of contemporary orientations of Du Boisian scholarship. His original thoughts and perspectives on Du Bois . . . provide new, innovative approaches to the work of such an iconic thinker and writer.” -- Lena Dallywater * Connections *"Insofar as he remains a critical resource in the present, perhaps one of the things that is most useful about Du Bois today is his ability to interpret historical possibility as the other side of historical limit, and to convince us that the future can still be altogether otherwise than the past that has been given to us, even now. There is no better guide to these aspects of Du Bois’s thought than Nahum Chandler’s 'Beyond This Narrow Now.'. . . Chandler is a poetic and evocative stylist, as well as a profound thinker, who offers the reader aesthetic and intellectual pleasures that help compensate for whatever syntactic or semantic hurdles pop up along the way." -- Ian Litwin * Georgia Review *"Chandler provides a patiently elaborated study of Du Bois’s early thought—a 'delimitation' of this thought that argues for the openness of its investigations and thus our perennial return to its hermeneutics." -- Rebecka Rutledge Fisher * American Literary History *"The merit of Chandler's work is that he stretches Du Bois's reflections along the arc drawn by contemporaneity and brings them into conversation with a constellation of critical theories from post-structuralism to post-colonialism, highlighting the specificity and contemporary importance of Du Bois's thought." -- Vincenzo Di Mino * Journal of Critical Race Inquiry *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Note on Citations xiii An Opening—At the Limit of Thought, a Preface xvii A Notation: The Practice of W.E.B. Du Bois as a Problem for Thought—Amidst the Turn of the Centuries 1 Part I. "Beyond This Narrow Now": Elaborations of the Example in the Thought of W.E.B. Du Bois—At the Limit of the World 25 Part II. The Problem of the Centuries: A Contemporary Elaboration of "The Present Outlook for the Dark Races of Mankind," circa the 27th of December, 1899—Or, At the Turn of the Twentieth Century 145 Another Coda, the Explicit—Revisited 221 Notes 231 References 269 Index 291

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Book SynopsisSanjay Subrahmanyam is becoming well known for the same sort of reasons that attach to Fernand Braudel and Carlo Ginzburg, as the proponent of a new kind of history - in his case, not longue durée or micro-history, but 'connected history': connected cross-culturally, and spanning regions, subjects and archives that are conventionally treated alone. Not a research paradigm, he insists, it is more of an oppositionswissenschaft, a way of trying to constantly break the moulds of historical objects. The essays collected here, some quite polemical - as in the lead text on the notion of India-as-civilization, or another, assessing such a literary totem as V. S. Naipaul - illustrate the breadth of Subrahmanyam's concerns, as well as the quality of his writing. Connected History considers what, exactly, is an empire, the rise of 'the West' (less of a place than an idea or ideology, he insists), Churchill and the Great Man theory of history, the reception of world literature and the itinerary of subaltern studies, in addition to personal recollections of life and work in Delhi, Paris and Lisbon, and concluding remarks on the practice of early-modern history and the framing of historical enquiry.Trade ReviewAn acerbic but highly respected historian. These essays are an absolute delight -- T. C. A. Srinivasa-Raghavan * Business Standard, New Delhi *A riveting read -- Srinath Raghavan * Caravan *The most brilliant promoter of the new history. Heretical and highly stimulating. * Books and Ideas *Subrahmanyam reminds us of the need for different prisms. * Times Literary Supplement *Subrahmanyam is an exemplary scholar. His knowledge of the subject is unsurpassed * Sunday Times (for The Career and Legend of Vasco da Gama) *Subrahmanyam reminds us of the need for different prisms. His lucid insights deserve to be far better known -- Elizabeth Buettner * Times Literary Supplement (for Europe's India) *Covering an impressive geographical area and chronological span, this is an extraordinarily elegant study of individuals who lived at the intersection of cultures, religions, and political systems -- Laura Nenzi * American Historical Review (for Three Ways to Be Alien) *

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Book SynopsisThe most shocking year in history. Week by week, hour by hour.In his brilliant reconstruction, Richard Collier vividly brings one of the most momentous years in world history to life once again.This was a time of blitzkrieg and the Blitz; of the Battle of Britain and Dunkirk. From the fighting in Finland to the destruction of Coventry, from the sinking of the French fleet in Oran to the invasion of Norway, this is history at its most extraordinary and engaging.By recounting major episodes from the viewpoint of those actually involved, Collier provides enlightening glimpses of just what war represented to both the great and to the unknown, and reveals that while 1940 was a year of incredible folly, it was also a time of inestimable bravery.Perfect for readers of Anthony Beevor and Max Hastings, this is an unforgettable book about an unforgettable year, a year that shaped the world we know today.‘Masterly… you could be reading a spine-tingling thriller’ Sunday Express‘I would like to see this book made compulsory reading’ Evening Standard

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Book Synopsis***'Reads like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy' -James Risen, The Intercept'A compelling account of the ongoing search for the Fourth Man... a gripping and mind-bending read' - Dr. Mark Stout, The Daily Beast For the first time ever, New York Times bestselling author and former CIA operative Robert Baer tells the explosive story of how insiders believe a KGB mole rose to the highest ranks of the CIA.In the aftermath of the Cold War, US intelligence caught three high-profile Russian spies. However, these arrests left major questions unanswered, and rumours have long swirled of another mole, often referred to as the Fourth Man. Three pioneering female veterans of counterintelligence were tasked with unearthing him. With steadfast determination and expertise, they came to a shocking conclusion, one which had, and continues to harbour, dramatic consequences for American security.In this gripping insider account, Baer tells a thrilling story of Russian espionage and American intelligence. With profound implications for the rise of Vladimir Putin and international relations with Russia, The Fourth Man is a real-life spy thriller with echoes of John Le Carré.Trade ReviewReads like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy * James Risen, The Intercept *A compelling account of the ongoing search for the Fourth Man... a gripping and mind-bending read * Dr. Mark Stout, The Daily Beast *If you want a good thriller to read, here it is: The Fourth Man by Bob Baer * Erica Hill, CNN New Day *Fascinating stuff from one of the best experts on this in the business. * Jim Acosta, CNN *

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Book SynopsisA stunning collection of images from photographer Matthew Pinner revealing the beauty of Dorset in all its many faces.

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Book SynopsisAs the United Kingdom left the European Union, during a period of international and domestic turmoil, London found itself at a turning point. This critical moment presents an opportunity to look back, with a distinctive perspective, a focus on London in its national and, perhaps even more importantly, its international contexts, rather than on the city itself in isolation. It is the interactions of London that Black considers, and he does so in order to address the question as to why London became the foremost international city, how it sustained that position, and what its future holds. The book is as much about economics and culture as it is about politics and society. It deals with migration, communications, empire and cultural energy, rather than the mechanisms of parish vestries. London''s earlier period is covered, but the principal focus is on the last half millennium, the period during which London became a major trader with the trans-oceanic world, and the rTrade ReviewPraise for Jeremy Black's The Holocaust: A demanding but important work. -- R. S. Levy, University of Illinois at ChicagoPraise for Jeremy Black's Insurgency and Counterinsurgency: A Global History: A significant and timely contribution to understanding the new meaning of war. * Choice *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"An awesome book about the Catiline conspiracy."---Rep. Jamie Raskin, Axios"“[A] cautionary warning for our own volatile and perilous political moment. ... Osgood’s clear, engaging translation of Sallust’s The War Against Catiline brings vital aid from the past to the present.”"---Emily Katz Anhalt, Arts Fuse"Rings uncomfortably familiar"---Mark Danner, New York Review of Books

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Absolutely fascinating."---Paul Zimansky, Times Literary Supplement"Like the best tales from the golden age of archaeology, Digging Up Armageddon combines the grandeur of ancient history, the currency of modern fame and the cast of a malarial soap opera."---Dominic Green, The Spectator"An original and lively study that skilfully mixes archaeology with personalities, and politics with culture, science and technology."---Andrew Robinson, Nature"[Cline] writes with the deft surety of someone familiar with both the site and its archive . . . . What makes [Digging Up Armageddon] such a smart historical treatment of Megiddo is Cline’s nuanced examination of how labor, privilege, politics, and capitalism underscored much of the archaeology done in the United States and Europe in the early to mid-20th century."---Lydia Pyne, Los Angeles Review of Books"Enjoyable reading . . . riveting."---Amanda Borschel-Dan, Times of Israel"Engaging." * Moment Magazine *"It’s really quite amazing how he pulls it off—Cline has written a book deeply-imbued with scholarship, an in-depth look at the history and archaeology not just of the expedition at Megiddo, but of the whole Near Eastern region and ancient Israel. . . . So vivid is Cline’s telling of the story that readers might be forgiven for finding the personal dimension just as interesting as the archaeology. Anyone who thought that archaeologists were just boring people digging up ancient relics which were of no interest to anyone outside their own field, will be quickly disabused of such a notion."---John Butler, Asian Review of Books"A fascinating read. . . . So detailed is [Cline’s] account of those involved that the book reads better than many a modern novel."---Peter Costello, Irish Catholic"If it is thrills, spills and devious political machinations of past excavations that take your fancy, why not check out Eric Cline’s new book. . . . This is the story about Megiddo that they didn’t want you to know." * Anglo-Israel Archaeological Society *"[A] diligent, clear, and engaging guide through the individuals, relationships, and (more or less) serendipitous events that shaped one of the most influential excavations. . . . Part biography and part history, Cline’s Digging Up Armageddon is an exemplary work of scholarship and story-telling that will entertain and inform scholars and interested nonexperts alike."---C. A. Strine, Palestine Exploration Quarterly"If you love to read about crossroads of history, are fascinated by the years between wards and well beyond, and really just like a good story, this is the book to begin that journey."---Elaine Holden, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript"At the time this massive dig was undertaken, it was criticised for high costs and never-ending delays. Cline celebrates the high points, but he also exposes the mission's failures."---Sam Waters, Current World Archaeology"Cline writes with wry insight into human nature and a saving sense of humour."---Patrick Madigan, Heythrop Journal"[Cline] has placed the project in the context of its times."---Neil Faulkner, Minerva

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