History Books

Book SynopsisA World Transformed explores how slavery thrived at the heart of the entire Western world for more than three centuries. Arguing that slavery can only be fully understood by stepping back from traditional national histories, this book collects the scattered accounts of the most recent scholarship into a comprehensive history of slavery and its shaping of the world we know. Celebrated historian James Walvin tells a global story that covers everything from the capitalist economy, labor, and the environment, to social culture and ideas of family, beauty and taste.This book underscores just how thoroughly slavery is responsible for the making of the modern world. The enforced transportation and labour of millions of Africans became a massive social and economic force, catalysing the rapid development of multiple new and enormous trading systems with profound global consequences. The labour and products of enslaved people changed the consumption habits of millions - in IndTrade ReviewPraise for James Walvin's The Trader, the Owner, the Slave: In telling the stories of three men, Walvin deftly reveals how slavery, like so many aspects of empire, has been erased from the British consciousness and conscience. (One of Sathnam Sanghera's five favourite books about the British Empire.) -- Sathnam Sanghera * The Week *Praise for A World Transformed: 'Transatlantic slavery is an essential part of the histories of early modern Africa, Europe and the Americas. It played a vital role shaping the modern world, as Britain's best historian of slavery and the lives of enslaved Africans, shows us in this marvellously enthralling, judicious and authoritative survey of the global impact of the slavery machine and how it transformed the whole world, in Asia and Australia as much as in the Caribbean and West Africa. A brilliant guide to a momentous part of our shared history.' -- Trevor G Burnard, Wilberforce Professor of Slavery and Emancipation and Director of the Wilberforce InstituteThis is a book that everyone should read. A distillation of a lifetime's research and reflection on one of the great issues in history. When we were young we were taught that the Slave Trade was something that happened in the past and ended with emancipation. What James Walvin shows is that slavery was fundamental to the rise of the West and that its consequences have widened out over time and space and still affect us all today - in politics and society, in the environment, in attitudes to race, and in cultural mentalities. With unrivalled knowledge and sureness of touch, this is a truly magisterial account of these great and tragic events that transformed and remade our world; in its pages you see slavery not just in its time but still running in the bloodstream of Western civilisation. -- Michael Wood, Historian and FilmmakerAt a time when facts, fiction and fantasies about the glories of the colonial pasts are dominating discussions, this splendidly well-researched volume is an essential compass that brings the debates back to the realities of European colonial enslavement. -- Olivette Otele, PhD, FRHistS, Professor of History of Slavery and Memory of enslavement, University of BristolNo historian on either side of the Atlantic has captured this sweeping, epic story of inhumanity, mass migration, and cultural transformation, and global empire quite like James Walvin. Walvin is to slavery and the slave trade in the Atlantic world what Dickens was to English literature in the nineteenth century. He writes like a perfectly-tuned machine that cannot be stopped; the results are lyrical, deeply informed, amd each new book takes us somewhere in our imagination. Walvin is at home in telling this tale in Jamaica, on the Gold Coast, at the quays of Liverpool, or in the tobacco fields of Maryland. A World Transformed is timely as will reach the hearts and minds of Walvin's multitudes of readers. -- David W. Blight, Sterling Professor of History, Yale University, and author of the Pulitzer Prize winning Frederick Douglass: Prophet of FreedomJames Walvin draws on his deep well of knowledge to offer an ambitious and capacious account of the ways in which slavery has shaped our world. This extremely compelling and important contribution draws on the key scholarship throughout, but does so in a way that allows readers to understand connections and the big picture. It will help everyone grapple with this vital topic. -- Laurent Dubois, author of The Banjo: America;'s African Instrument and Haiti: The Aftershocks of HistoryWhile it may be true that, in William Wells Brown's famous phrase, slavery "never can be represented," James Walvin describes with admirable brevity the contours of its massive global impact. Drawing on more than fifty years of research and reflection, he has produced a reader-friendly study of the great historical crime that was foundational to our modern world. It's ideal for students, but should be read by anyone interested in the history of the Americas, Europe, or Africa. -- Ned Sublette, co-author of The American Slave Cost and author of The World That Made New Orleans

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Book SynopsisCoinage - it is one of the most successful and consistent technologies ever invented. Nothing else we still use in everyday life has a history quite like it. Look around at all the things that would bewilder a Greek, Roman, or Renaissance ancestor; then, dig into your purse or pocket for that one artifact that they would immediately recognize as part of their world. Historian Frank L. Holt takes us on a lively journey through the history of numismatics, the study of coins - one of the oldest and most important contributions to the arts and humanities. For 2600 years, poets, economists, philosophers, historians, and theologians have pondered the mysteries of money. Who invented coins, and why? Does coinage function beyond our control as if it had a mind of its own? How has it changed world history and culture? What does numismatics reveal about our past that could never be discovered from any other source? How has numismatics advanced using modern science? Does it still suffer from racist ideas about physiognomy and phrenology? What does its future hold? The approach taken in this richly illustrated book is as multi-faceted as coined money itself. Coins are integral to our economic, social, political, religious, and cultural history. When Money Talks: The History of Coins explores each aspect of coinage, and takes a special interest in how coins have appeared in literature and pop culture, ranging in its analysis from Greek drama and the New Testament to T.V. sitcoms and meme theory.Trade ReviewLikeable.... It also conveys something very important: holding a coin that someone else held two thousand years ago creates a special feeling of connectedness. * London Review of Books *The author's enthusiasm for both coins and history of numismatics renders this slim volume positively unputdownable. * Ivana Petrovic, Greece and Rome *An excellent read and provides valuable insights into coins, the people who minted them, and now the people who study them. * Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society *When Money Talks should be required reading for economists, historians, archaeologists, classicists, sociologists, and contemporary scholars, each of whose fields, among others, can benefit from better understanding money and its use. * David Hendin, American Numismatic, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Holt's tour de force is his anecdotal history of coins and money.... Holt advocates for a multi-disciplinary field called "cognitive numismatics"...that the subtleties of history, economics, and other fields can gain a lot from the study of material artifacts such as the coins they used. * David Hendin, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *When a perfect author connects with his perfect subject, a book like When Money Talks is born. I found something I wanted to learn (or be reminded of) on almost every page. Holt is a specialist who has written a needed book for generalists. Using popular and academic themes, he explains numismatics in a broader context than it is usually understood.... When Money Talks should be required reading for economists, historians, archaeologists, classicists, sociologists, and contemporary scholars, each of whose fields, among others, can benefit from better understanding money and its use. * David Hendin, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *There really is no other book like this. Holt explores the origins of money in the form of coinage and the history of the discipline that studies it (numismatics) in a highly readable and entertaining fashion. His ability to simplify difficult concepts and find the perfect analogy is remarkable, as is the breadth of his knowledge of money from the ancient world to the world of today. * Peter van Alfen, American Numismatic Society *A holistic and creative introduction to an often-underappreciated subject -- readily accessible to those with no prior knowledge of numismatics, but equally a thought-provoking must-read for specialists. * Liv Mariah Yarrow, CUNY *Frank Holt's books are always interesting and usually groundbreaking... His books approach their given subjects with both wit and wisdom. Holt also has a way with words whose flow carries the general reader along with little effort. This book is no exception. It is surely the distillation of decades' worth of study of, and fascination with, ancient coins - witness the book's 30 pages of endnotes and 16 pages of select bibliography- but Holt always wears his learning lightly... When Money Talks is both accessible to anyone without any prior knowledge of numismatics and engrossing for experts in the field... Not only is the focus on the historical dimension of coins made clear, but so is the personal take on what will follow. Holt takes us by the hand for a tour that is intimate but no less scholarly for that. * Mouseion *Table of Contents1. INTRODUCTION 2. FROM THE COIN'S POINT OF VIEW 3. THE INVENTION OF COINS 4. THE FIRST NUMISMATISTS 5. THE SECOND WAVE 6. SCIENCE AND PSEUDOSCIENCE 7. FINDING HOARDS 8. UNDERSTANDING HOARDS 9. THE ETHOS AND ETHICS OF COLLECTING 10. THE JOURNEY CONTINUES

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Pulitzer Prize for HistoryThe unforgettable saga of one enslaved woman''s fight for justice--and reparations Born into slavery, Henrietta Wood was taken to Cincinnati and legally freed in 1848. In 1853, a Kentucky deputy sheriff named Zebulon Ward colluded with Wood''s employer, abducted her, and sold her back into bondage. She remained enslaved throughout the Civil War, giving birth to a son in Mississippi and never forgetting who had put her in this position. By 1869, Wood had obtained her freedom for a second time and returned to Cincinnati, where she sued Ward for damages in 1870. Astonishingly, after eight years of litigation, Wood won her case: in 1878, a Federal jury awarded her $2,500. The decision stuck on appeal. More important than the amount, though the largest ever awarded by an American court in restitution for slavery, was the fact that any money was awarded at all. By the time the case was decided, Ward had become a wealthy businessman and a pioneer of convict leasing in the South. Wood''s son later became a prominent Chicago lawyer, and she went on to live until 1912. McDaniel''s book is an epic tale of a black woman who survived slavery twice and who achieved more than merely a moral victory over one of her oppressors. Above all, Sweet Taste of Liberty is a portrait of an extraordinary individual as well as a searing reminder of the lessons of her story, which establish beyond question the connections between slavery and the prison system that rose in its place.Trade ReviewThe reader not only follows the fascinating narrative of a woman who lost her freedom, but also learns of the intricacies of slavery in a border state like Kentucky, the pain of separation from loved ones, and the ordeals of being sold "down the river," surviving on a large cotton plantation, and being an enslaved refugee in Texas during the Civil War... It is an enlightening account from the point of view of an enslaved woman about the arduous trip — and the subsequent years — that many enslaved people were forced to endure by their masters to avoid their being liberated by Union armies... [McDaniel] has turned these into a captivating account of this period, revealing how the legal and economic aspects of the institution of slavery interacted in very personal and human ways with those who were kept enslaved. * Angela Boswell, Professor of History at Henderson State University, Southwestern Historical Quarterly *As a whole, Sweet Taste of Liberty is the fruit of excellent scholarship and a timely and significant addition to the field of U.S. racial history. * Ken Chujo, J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, The Journal of Southern History *In this gripping study, Rice University historian McDaniel recounts the painful but triumphant story of one enslaved woman's long fight for justice... McDaniel tells this story engrossingly and accessibly. This is a valuable contribution to Reconstruction history with clear relevance to current debates about reparations for slavery. * Publishers Weekly *Sweet Taste of Liberty is a masterpiece. Using an extraordinary archival discovery, McDaniel expertly weaves a compelling, fine-grained narrative of the extraordinary life of Henrietta Wood. . . . But this is not simply a biography. It also a work of profound analysis, layered with McDaniel's deep knowledge of slavery, emancipation, and the law. The book raises the most profound questions about slavery, reparations, and the debt that the United States owes to the people whose unfree labor constructed a great deal of that nation. * Gregory P. Downs, author of The Second American Revolution: The Civil War-Era Struggle over Cuba and the Rebirth of the American Republic *As America grapples with reparations for slavery, Caleb McDaniel unearths the astounding story of a woman who survived bondage, twice, and fought for restitution against impossible odds. In lucid and vivid prose, he brings us a chilling, inspiring, and timely examination of both the necessity and complexity of redressing historical crimes. * Tony Horwitz, author of Confederates in the Attic and Spying on the South *Henrietta Wood's quest to be made whole by seeking reparations from the man who kidnapped and re-enslaved her is a heart-tugging page-turner. With fidelity to the historical record and insight into the emotions that run through it, Caleb McDaniel's Sweet Taste of Liberty tells how enslaved women lived along the jagged lines that divided house and field, city and countryside, North and South, and slavery and freedom. Her triumph is a tribute to one woman's persistence, courage, legal savvy, and an enduring devotion to family-its lessons for us are timeless. * Martha S. Jones, Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor, Johns Hopkins University, author of Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America *McDaniel renders an enthralling biography of a determined, resilient woman... A well-researched, well-told story that also contributes to the debate about reparations." * Library Journal *Sweet Taste of Liberty is a profound book that could not have been released at a better time... It is an account brimming with as much bittersweetness as it does hope." * ZORA *[A] superbly written chronicle . . . . rich with vivid personalities and unexpected turns." * Wall Street Journal *Through painstaking archival research, Bell and McDaniel have reconstructed their lives with such vivid detail, sensitivity, and riveting storytelling that you would think each of their figures left us whole autobiographies. For the simple act of recovering their stories, both books would be commendable. But what makes them essential reading is the larger questions they demand of us as readers: What exactly was the condition under which un-enslaved black people lived before emancipation * and what is it that they and their descendants are owed?The New Republic *W. Caleb McDaniel tells a breathless tale with an ominously dark feel through many of its pages, because the monsters here were real. Yes, it's a complicated tale that races from north to south, but the righteous audacity that ultimately occurred in Ohio in 1870 makes it worthwhile, fist-pumping, and satisfying. Historians, of course, will want Sweet Taste of Liberty. Feminists shouldn't miss it. Folks with an opinion on reparations should find it. All of you will want to take it home. * Miami Times *A deeply rich story... This beautifully written book is a must read. * Civil War Monitor *Sweet Taste of Liberty uses the past to show how the open wounds of slavery still exist. * The Advocate *Researchers, leisurely readers and those in the general public looking to be more informed about the history of slavery and reparations in this country, would be hard-pressed not to find this book compelling. It is a story that deserves to be heard and a conversation that needs to be had. * Bowling Green Daily News *A book that single-handedly proves that new American heroes can be found in the obscured corners of this country's history. * Bowery Boys, American History Book of the Year 2020 *Table of ContentsPrologue Part I - The Worst Slave of Them All Chapter 1: The Crossing Chapter 2: Touseytown Chapter 3: Down River Chapter 4: Ward's Return Chapter 5: Cincinnati Chapter 6: The Plan Chapter 7: The Flight Part II - Forks of the Road Chapter 8: Raising a Muss Chapter 9: Wood versus Ward Chapter 10: The Keeper Chapter 11: Natchez Chapter 12: Brandon Hall Chapter 13: Versailles Chapter 14: Revolution Chapter 15: The March Part III - The Return of Henrietta Wood Chapter 16: Arthur Chapter 17: Robertson County Chapter 18: Dawn and Doom Chapter 19: Nashville Chapter 20: A Rather Interesting Case Chapter 21: Story of a Slave Chapter 22: The Verdict Epilogue Acknowledgements Appendix: An Essay on Sources Notes Index

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Book SynopsisHistoric true tales from Devon and Cornwall, written with a light touch for the general reader

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Book SynopsisPetrarch fashioned so many different versions of himself for posterity that it is an exacting task to establish where one might start to explore. . . . Hainsworth's study meets this problem through examples of what Petrarch wrote, and does so decisively and succinctly. . . . [A] careful and unpretentious book, penetrating in its organization and treatment of its subject, gentle in its guidance of the reader, nimble and dexterous in its scholarly infrastructure—and no less profound for those qualities of lightness. The translations themselves are a delight, and are clearly the result of profound meditation and extensive experiment. . . . The Introduction and the notes to each work form a clear plexus of support for the reader, with a host of deft cross-references. --Richard Mackenny, Binghamton University, State University of New YorkTrade ReviewHainsworth's translations from the Italian are first-rate, both in terms of accuracy to the intent of the originals . . . and in terms of conveying the force of Petrarch’s imagery. The translations from the Latin read freshly and easily . . . they are sure-footed, managing to capture the mix of pride and playfulness which characterizes Petrarch's composite prose style. The notes to the individual poems are well-judged, just enough to keep the reader on track without parading off-putting erudition. --Jonathan Usher, Emeritus, University of EdinburghA judicious selection of the varied writings of the great humanist, translated from both Latin and Italian. The Introduction is admirably structured, clear, and coherent, and presents Petrarch to the reader without didacticism or oversimplification. Hainsworth has a light editorial touch. . . . All in all, a luminous portrait of the 'father of humanism'. --David Marsh, Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyTable of ContentsIntroduction: Mending a Broken Lineage: Women, Writing, Theology; Fear & Women's Writing: Choosing the Better Part; 'A Wretched Choice?': Evangelical Women & the Word; 'My God Became Flesh': Angela of Foligno Writing the Incarnation; Speaking Funk: Womanist Insights into the Lives of Syncletica & Macrina; 'A Moor of One's Own': Writing & Silence in Sara Maitland's "A Book of Silence"; With Prayer & Pen: Reading Mother E J Dabney's "What It Means to Pray Through"; Writing a Life, Writing Theology: Edith Stein in the Company of the Saints; Writing Hunger on the Body: Simone Weil's Ethic of Hunger & Eucharistic Practice; The Body, to be Eaten, to be Written: A Theological Reflection on the Act of Writing in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's "Dictee"; Not with One Voice: The Counterpoint of Life, Diaspora, Women, Theology, & Writing; Embodying Theology: Motherhood as Metaphor/Method; Postscript: Wounded Writing / Healing Writing.

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Book SynopsisIn 1871, the workers of Paris took control of the city. When they established the world's first workers' democracy, they found no blueprints or precedents for how to run their city without princes or politicians. As they built new institutions of collective power to overturn social and economic inequality, their former rulers sought to thwart their efforts. By noting the historic problems of the Commune, debates over its implications and the glimpse of a better world it provided, Gluckstein reveals its enduring lessons and inspiration for today's struggles.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Commune's Achievements 2. The Capital of the Human Race 3. War and Seige 4. Fighting and Civil War 5. Bloody Week 6. Interpretations: Critics and Champions Notes Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisIn this eye-opening companion to Netflix's acclaimed series The Crown, renowned biographer and the show's historical consultant, Robert Lacey takes us through the real history that inspired the drama. Covering two tumultuous decades in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, Lacey looks at the key social, political and personal moments and their effects - not only on the royal family, but also on the world around them. From the Suez Canal Crisis and the US/Russia space race to the legacy of the Duke of Windsor's collaboration with Hitler, along with the rumoured issues with the royal marriage, The Crown provides a thought-provoking insight into the historic decades that the show covers, revealing the truth behind the on-screen drama.Extensively researched and complete with beautifully reproduced photographs, this is a unique look behind the history that inspired the show and the years that would prove to be the making of the Queen.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Claudia Glatz reconsiders the concept of empire and the processes of imperial making and undoing of the Hittite network in Late Bronze Age Anatolia. Using an array of archaeological, iconographic, and textual sources, she offers a fresh account of one of the earliest, well-attested imperialist polities of the ancient Near East. Glatz critically examines the complexity and ever transforming nature of imperial relationships, and the practices through which Hittite elites and administrators aimed to bind disparate communities and achieve a measure of sovereignty in particular places and landscapes. She also tracks the ambiguities inherent in these practices -- what they did or did not achieve, how they were resisted, and how they were subtly negotiated in different regional and cultural contexts.Trade Review'With Making, Glatz has written a monograph that is both an exciting application and case study of the archaeology of imperialism, and a comprehensive archaeological treatment of an empire that has never adequately received one … the most significant booklength treatment of the Hittite Empire for many years to come, and has immediately emerged as essential reading for all those interested in this time and place.' James F. Osborne, Journal of Near Eastern StudiesTable of Contents1. Empire is always in the making; 2. Placing empire; 3. Sovereign performance; 4. The pontic shatter zone; 5. Nesting faults; 6. Arresting geographies – ambiguous edges; 7. Discipline and difference; 8. Plain things; 9. Ceasing empire; 10. Concluding thoughts.

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Book SynopsisIn this pathbreaking work, now available in paperback, Charles Tilly challenges all previous formulations of state development in Europe. Specifically, Tilly charges that most available explanations fail because they do not account for the great variety of kinds of states which were viable at different stages of European history, and because they assume a unilinear path of state development resolving in today's national state.Trade Review"Closely argued and thought-provoking book." Economic History Review "Tilly's thesis is presented with great lucidity... contributed to perform a service not merely for historians, but for mankind." French History "An important, provocative theory, with much originality and richly documented .... extremely well written." American Journal of Sociology "This is a good and important book. It is well written, and it presents the complex history of European state formation over a time span of one thousand years in a most understandable way. With a profound knowledge of history and an amazing compository skill, Tilly takes his readers by the hand and leads them." International Review of Social HistoryTable of ContentsPreface ix 1 Cities and States in World History 1 States in History 1 Available Answers 5 Logics of Capital and Coercion 16 War Drives State Formation and Transformation 20 Long Trends and Interactions 28 Prospects 33 2 European Cities and States 38 Absent Europe 38 States and Coercion 45 Cities and Capital 47 City–State Interaction 51 State Physiologies 54 Liaisons Dangereuses 58 Alternative Forms of State 62 3 How War Made States, and Vice Versa 67 A Bifurcation of Violence 67 How States Controlled Coercion 68 Wars 70 Transitions 76 Seizing, Making, or Buying Coercion 84 Paying the Debts 87 The Long, Strong Arm of Empire 91 4 States and their Citizens 96 From Wasps to Locomotives 96 Bargaining, Rights, and Collective Action 99 The Institution of Direct Rule 103 The French Revolution: From Indirect to Direct Rule 107 State Expansion, Direct Rule, and Nationalism 114 Unintended Burdens 117 Militarization = Civilianization 122 5 Lineages of the National State 127 China and Europe 127 States and Cities Reexamined 130 Coercive Trajectories 137 Capitalist Trajectories 143 Trajectories of Capitalized Coercion 151 6 The European State System 161 The Connectedness of European States 161 The Ends of Wars 165 Members of the System 170 The Creation of a State-Linked World 181 How Wars Began 183 Six Salient Questions 187 7 Soldiers and States in 1992 192 Political Misdevelopment 192 The Impact and Heritage of World War II 197 The Ascent of Military Men 203 Today’s Military in Historical Perspective 205 Military Buildup 209 Soldiers in Power 211 How Did the Military Gain Power? 217 Envoi 224 References 228 Index 263

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Book SynopsisThe life of pioneering photographer Barbara Ker-Seymer''Thoroughly entertaining... Knights expertly evokes this hedonistic period'' The Times''A picturesque portrayal of a world that sounds as thoroughly maniacal as it was modern'' Daily Telegraph''I just called myself Ker-Seymer Photographs,'' Barbara said. ''I didn''t think it was necessary to have your sex displayed on the photographs.''Vivacious, sassy, out to have fun, Ker-Seymer was committed to independence.One of a handful of outstanding British photographers of her generation, Ker-Seymer''s work defined a talented, forward-looking network of artists, dancers, writers, actors and musicians, all of whom flocked to her Bond Street studio. Among her sitters were Evelyn Waugh, Margot Fonteyn, Cyril Connolly, Jean Cocteau and Vita Sackville-West. Barbara Ker-Seymer (1905-1993) disdained lucrative ''society'' portraits in favour of unfussy ''modernTrade ReviewA picturesque portrayal of a world that sounds as thoroughly maniacal as it was modern... entertaining reading... full of colourful detail -- Catherine Ostler * Daily Telegraph *Thoroughly entertaining... Knights expertly evokes this hedonistic period -- Roger Lewis * The Times *Knights's book is so entertaining, skipping through affairs, snobbery and wild parties * Daily Telegraph *I can't remember reading a Bright Young Thing account that so graphically immerses a reader in their world * Julie Kavanagh, author of Rudolf Nureyev: The Life and Secret Muses: The Life of Frederick Ashton *

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Book SynopsisAward-winning New York Times reporter Donald G. McNeil, Jr. reflects on twenty-five years of covering pandemics?how governments react to them, how the media covers them, how they are exploited, and what we can do to prepare for the next one?in this ?fascinating, ferocious fusillade against humanity?s two deadliest enemies: disease and itself? (The Economist).For millions of Americans, Donald G. McNeil, Jr. was a comforting voice when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. He was a regular reporter on The New York Times?s popular podcast The Daily and told listeners early on to prepare for the worst. He?d covered public health for twenty-five years and quickly realized that an obscure virus in Wuhan, China, was destined to grow into a global pandemic rivaling the 1918 Spanish flu. Because of his clear advice, a generation of Times readers knew the risk was real but that they might be spared by taking the right precautions. Because of his prescient work, The New York Times won the 2021 Pulitzer Gold Medal for Public Service. The Wisdom of Plagues is ?must-reading for preparing us better for the next unavoidable epidemic? (Peter Piot, MD, co-discoverer of Ebola) as McNeil shares his account of what he learned over a quarter-century of reporting in over sixty counties. Many science reporters understand the basics of diseases?from how a virus works to what goes into making a vaccine. But very few understand the psychology of how small outbreaks turn into pandemics, why people refuse to believe they?re at risk, or why they reject protective measures like quarantine or vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic was the story McNeil had trained his whole life to cover. His expertise and breadth of sources let him make many accurate predictions in 2020 about the course that a deadly new virus would take and how different countries would respond. By the time McNeil wrote his last New York Times stories, he had not lost his compassion?but he had grown far more stone-hearted about how governments should react. He had witnessed enough disasters and read enough history to realize that while every epidemic is different, failure was the one constant. Small case-clusters ballooned into catastrophe because weak leaders became mired in denial. Citizens refused to make even minor sacrifices for the common good. They were encouraged in that by money-hungry entrepreneurs and power-hungry populists. Science was ignored, obvious truths were denied, and the innocent too often died. In The Wisdom of Plagues, ?one of the most enlightening books on public health? (Lena Wen, MD), McNeil offers tough, prescriptive advice on what we can do to improve global health and be better prepared for the inevitable next pandemic.

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Book SynopsisA bestselling national security expert delivers a chilling analysis of how Western indecision and apathy made possible the return of brutal Russian expansionism - with catastrophic consequences.

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Book SynopsisThe End of the Megamachine provides a uniquely comprehensive picture of the roots of the destructive forces that are threatening the future of humankind today. Spanning 5000 years of history, the book shows how the three tyrannies of militarized states, capital accumulation and ideological power have been steering both ecosystems and societies to the brink of collapse. With the growing instability of the Megamachine in the 21st century, new dangers open up as well as new possibilities for systemic change, to which everyone can contribute. "The topic could not be more important. A very valuable and surely timely contribution." Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology/University of ArizonaTrade Review"A must read for everyone rising against the system that is destroying life on earth and our future.” Vandana Shiva, World Future Council

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Book SynopsisFlorence Nightingale is synonymous with nursing in the Crimean War of 1854 -1856. There were, however, many other women who contributed to nursing at this time. Martha Clough, who dismissed the rule of Nightingale and took charge of nursing the HighlandRegiments; Eliza Roberts, an experienced hospital surgical nurse who became Nightingale'saide-de-camp, nursing Nightingale when she fell ill with Crimean Fever and those with a wider scope of caring, such as Mary Seacole,whose nutritious supplements andcaring demeanourmeant everything to the soldiers. This book focuses on therelationship between Nightingale and two very interesting characters: the irascibleBetsy Cadwaladyr and the equally strong-willed Mother M. Francis Bridgeman, head of thenursing Irish Sisters of Mercy in the Crimea. Bridgeman camefrom a similar social standing as Nightingale but whose pathway sawher leaving society lifestyle as a young girl and following the convent life.Cadwaladyr earned Nightingale's respect towards the endof her time in the Crimea due to her care of soldiers and her ability to run the kitchen atBalaklava, but nothing would change her stubborn dislike of Nightingale. The Sisters of Mercy, much overlooked in nursing history, were clinicallynursing the victims of cholera and dysentery (two of the biggest killers in the Crimea) in theirlocalities long before their journey to the battlefront. Betsy Cadwaladyrpreferred domestic service and cooking to nursing, whilst Nightingale had the unenviable taskof proving the nursing experiment to those watching from Westminster, trying not to upsetthe medical men as well as trying to filter out the best women to nurse with her,which was a nightmare in itself.

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Book SynopsisAn engaging and informative survey of medieval pet keeping which also examines their representation in art and literature. Animals in the Middle Ages have often been discussed - but usually only as a source of food, as beasts of burden, or as aids for hunters. This book takes a completely different angle, showing that they were also beloved domestic companions to their human owners, whether they were dogs, cats, monkeys, squirrels, and parrots. It offers a full survey of pets and pet-keeping: from how they were acquired, kept, fed, exercised, and displayed, to the problems they could cause. It also examines the representation of pets and their owners in art and literature; the many charming illustrations offer further evidence for the bonds between humans and their pets, then as now. A wide range of sources, including chronicles, letters, sermons and poems, are used in what is both an authoritative and entertaining account.Trade ReviewA novel and comprehensive survey. [...] Not only a milestone in the history of our obsession with pets, but also furthers our understanding of the complexity of human-animal relations in the past. * BBC HISTORY *Medieval Pets is a highly accessible and digestible look at one small slice of medieval life. * STUDIES IN MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE TEACHING *A delightful read for anyone interested in the history of pet-keeping, human-animal relations in general, and identity construction in later medieval Europe. * MEDIEVAL ARCHAEOLOGY *A useful addition to a growing body of specialist literature, and in addition, anyone who has ever owned a pet will find it fascinating. * REVIEWS IN HISTORY *Table of ContentsThe Medieval Pet Getting a pet Pet welfare Living with pets Pets in iconography Pets in literature

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Book SynopsisContaining an urgently needed archival database of historical evidence, this volume includes both a consolidated presentation of the documentary records of black people in Tudor and Stuart England, and an interpretive narrative that confirms and significantly extends the insights of current theoretical excursus on race in early modern England. Here for the first time Imtiaz Habib collects the scattered references to black people-whether from Africa, India or America-in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England, and arranges them into a systematic, chronological descriptive index. He offers an extended historical and theoretical interpretation of the records in six chapters, which serve as an introductory guide to the index even as they articulate a specific argument about the meaning of the records. Both the archival information and interpretive scholarship provide a strong framework from which future historical debates on race in early modern England can proceed.Trade Review'Imtiaz Habib's meticulous examination of English sources, both manuscript and printed, will profoundly reshape the ongoing arguments about "race" in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century England. For decades to come, scholars in many fields will gratefully mine Habib's chronological chart of 448 records of "black people" between 1500 and 1677 and debate his extensive analysis. Black Lives in the English Archives is a major contribution.' Alden T. Vaughan, Columbia University, USA '...A valuable reference for ethnic historians, archivists, and Anglophiles...Recommended.' Choice ’Imtiaz Habib has done us a great service by providing this accessible database of references to Africans, Indians and Americans in early modern England, some never published before.’ Times Literary Supplement '[Habib's] book is a detailed and sophisticated study that makes a significant contribution towards filling the yawning gap in our knowledge, a gap that apparently we did not know was there. ...[an] important contribution to advancing historical understandings of race and colonialism in early modern England.' ParergonTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Missing (Black) Subject1 Early Tudor Black Records The Mixed Beginnings of a Black Population2 Elizabethan London Black RecordsThe Writing of Absence3 Black Records of Seventeenth-Century LondonABenign Neglect and the Legislation of Enslavement4 Black People outside London, 1558–1677The Provincial Backdrop5 Indians and OthersThe Protocolonial DreamAfterword

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Book SynopsisFor more than a decade after the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, Henry VII''s fledgling dynasty was threatened by two Yorkist claimants. Lambert Simnel''s rebellion, though short-lived, ended at the Battle of Stoke in 1487, a far bloodier affair than Bosworth two years earlier. The second rebellion, centred on Perkin Warbeck, ended in ignominious surrender but was the fulcrum of a power struggle involving the major European powers for most of the 1490s.Who were these two men? Were they the imposters claimed by the King and generally accepted as such by most historians, or were they the nobles they claimed to be - Edward, Earl of Warwick and Richard, second son of Edward IV? What became of the other Prince in the Tower, Edward V? Were Edward IV''s two sons really murdered by their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, or were both alive and involved in the two rebellions? Was there any link between the rebellions, or were they the last desperate and uncoordinated rolls of the dice by remnants of the House of York unwilling to accept the new Tudor regime? Do we really know what became of Simnel and Warbeck after their rebellions failed other than what Henry VII told us?Part I of this book examines the evidence for the identity of Lambert Simnel while Part II recreates a courtroom trial for Perkin Warbeck allowing you, the reader, to act as jury.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A fair-minded, deeply researched account of how a school of thought developed and wielded influence . . . quite well done, and full of fascinating stories.”—Justin Fox, New York Times Book Review“A masterly history.”—George Melloan, Wall Street Journal“The book is a fair- minded, deeply researched account of how a school of thought developed and wielded influence”— Justin Fox, International New York Times“[A] book that no one interested in the interrelationships between Austrian economics and the renaissance of liberal thought can afford to disregard”—Hansjörg Klausinger, Contemporary Austrian Studies“Wasserman’s masterful book paints a much needed critical yet scholarly picture of the Austrian School...Unlike many of the accounts written by people personally connected to the School, he brings attention to these thinkers’ privileged backgrounds and lifestyles, their fundamentally elitist politics, and the important connections to wealthy benefactors with clear political agendas.”—Ola Innset, Erasmus Journal for Philosophy and Economics“Wasserman tells an original story of a real school of economic thought from its very beginnings to the present…tracing the constant interaction between individual thinkers and an intellectual community that has survived over time…The story as a whole is fascinating.”—Antonio Magliulo, The Journal of European Economic History“Likely to become a standard reference...The author is admirably even-handed in his assessments of both the adherents and critics of Austrianism.”—David Throsby, Times Literary Supplement“Shines in its treatment of the School as a sociological entity, and it demonstrates that social ties can overcome many intellectual differences...Makes a compelling case on sociological grounds for the inclusion of Friedrich Wieser, Hans Mayer, Joseph Schumpeter and Oskar Morgenstern in the School”—Erwin Dekker, European Journal of the History of Economic ThoughtWinner of the Joseph Spengler Best Book Prize, sponsored by the History of Economics Society “This is a vital book for our times. Janek Wasserman’s study is learned and accessible, demystifying and elegant; above all, it corrects popular misconceptions about the origins and legacies of Austrian economics.”—Jeremy Adelman, Princeton University“Over more than a hundred years, the Austrian School of Economics was born, emigrated, split, revived and transformed. Janek Wasserman has done the impossible, producing a readable guide to the whole story while shirking none of the school’s complexity. A serious achievement.”—Quinn Slobodian, author of Globalists: The End of Empire and the Birth of Neoliberalism“Janek Wasserman deftly traces the filiation of Austrian economic ideas from the café culture of pre-war Vienna to the online universe of the contemporary alt-right. The result is a stimulating history of economists such as Mises and Hayek, and their influence on our era. Well-written, compelling, and entirely accessible, this book deserves a broad readership.”—Robert Leonard, Université du Québec à Montréal“[ . . . ] Wasserman has succeeded in providing a rich and worthwhile overview of Austrian economics.”—D. Mitch, University of Maryland Baltimore County

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Book SynopsisHeretic and impostor or reformer and statesman? The contradictory Western visions of MuhammadIn European culture, Muhammad has been vilified as a heretic, an impostor, and a pagan idol. But these aren't the only images of the Prophet of Islam that emerge from Western history. Commentators have also portrayed Muhammad as a visionary reformer and an inspirational leader, statesman, and lawgiver. In Faces of Muhammad, John Tolan provides a comprehensive history of these changing, complex, and contradictory visions. Starting from the earliest calls to the faithful to join the Crusades against the Saracens, he traces the evolution of Western conceptions of Muhammad through the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and up to the present day.Faces of Muhammad reveals a lengthy tradition of positive portrayals of Muhammad that many will find surprising. To Reformation polemicists, the spread of Islam attested to the

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Book SynopsisTikTok sensation Katie Kennedy, aka @TheHistoryGossip, serves up a delicious blend of fascinating, witty and salacious history tea for every day of the year.With infectious wit and historical insight, The History Gossip brings you the mad, bad and dangerous tales from around the world. With entries for every day of the year, this is history … but not as you know it.Equal parts fascinating and funny, Katie's unique brand of humour takes readers on a romp through the history books and answers burning questions such as ‘Was Anne of Cleves a minger’, ‘Did Mary Shelley lose her V-card on her mother’s grave’ and ‘Did George IV eat himself to death’ and more.What better way to start your day than find out what other people have done before? The History Gossip reveals the funny, strange and utterly juicy tidbits throughout world history, each with a modern twist of pop culture refe

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Book SynopsisIlan Pappe is an Israeli historian and socialist activist. He is Professor of History and Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter, UK. His publications include the bestselling The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2006) as well as A History of Modern Palestine (2006); The Israel/Palestine Question (2006); The Forgotten Palestinians (2011); The Idea of Israel (2014); The Modern Middle East (2014); Ten Myths About Israel (2017) and with Noam Chomsky, Gaza in Crisis: Reflections on Israel's War Against the Palestinians (2010). He writes for, among others, the Guardian and the London Review of Books.

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Book SynopsisStudies the first half of Sidonius' fifth book of letters from a philological, literary and historical perspective

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Book SynopsisEdinburgh Studies in Later Latin Literature offers a forum for new scholarship on important and sometimes neglected works.

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Book SynopsisReinterprets the making of the Turkish-Syrian-Iraqi borderlands from a decentred and connected perspective

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Book SynopsisA pioneering overview of Scottish intellectual life during the long 19th century, focusing in particular on the legacy of the Scottish Enlightenment.

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Book SynopsisGeorgia is the most Western-looking state in today’s Near or Middle East and, despite having one of the longest, most turbulent histories in the Christian or Near Eastern world, no proper history of the country has been written for decades. Eminent historian Donald Rayfield redresses this balance in Edge of Empires, focusing not merely on the post-Soviet era, like many other books on Georgia, but on the whole of its history, accessing a mass of new material from the country’s recently opened archives. Rayfield describes Georgia’s swings between disintegration and unity, making full use of primary sources, many not available before in an English-language book. He examines the history of a country which, though small, stands at a crossroads between Russia and the Muslim world, between Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and is a dramatic example of state-building and, also, of tragic political mistakes.Trade ReviewA Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2013; `The most comprehensive and up-to-date history of Georgia available in English. This tour de force explains why the small south Caucasus nation looks longingly to the west. A work of consummate erudition from Britain’s foremost expert on Georgian history and literature.’ – Tony Barber, `Books of the Year’, Financial Times; `Donald Rayfield’s Edge of Empires is a wonderful history of Georgia, lifting the lid on that country’s torrid, rambunctious past (and present). Impeccably researched, limpidly written and full of insight.’– William Boyd, Books of the Year, The Guardian; `Donald Rayfield’s panoramic Edge of Empires is an impressive work that helps us understand why this south Caucasus nation of 6.4m people lodged in a hostile and unstable neighbourhood looks so longingly to the West . . . Edge of Empires is the most wide-ranging and reliable history of Georgia one is likely to find for many years to come.’ – Financial Times; `[An] ambitious and comprehensive history of a complex country . . . Mr Rayfield’s powerful theme is of brief periods of prosperity and security, ended by invasion, conquest, looting and despoliation.’– The Economist; `Basing his account on Georgain chronicles, secondary literature and archival materials as well as his in-depth knowledge of Georgian language and literature, Rayfield unleashes a whirlwind of battles, victories and defeats, invasions and annexations, dynastic arrangements, political shenanigans, and social and cultural changes . . . accompanied by a helpful chronology, detailed maps and dynastic tables.’ – TLS; `Rayfield offers the most comprehensive and detailed survey history of the country of Georgia to date. Although David Marshall Lang (1962), William Edward David Allen (1932), Kalistrat Salia (1983), and Ronald Grigor Suny (1989) have all written survey histories of Georgia in the past, Rayfield’s is the only one that takes readers from the region’s prehistory all the way up to recent demonstrations in 2011 against Georgia’s current government under Mikheil Saakashvili . . . An excellent and indispensible reference for libraries, students, researchers, and general readers. Essential.’ – Choice; `in its depth and attention to detail of more or less the whole of recorded Georgian history, Rayfield has produced the definitive one-volume work.’ – European History Quarterly; `Rayfield begins with archaeology and finishes with the upheavals of 2012. Breathtaking and breathless, his book is the equivalent of watching Shakespeare’s history plays in fast-forward mode or being put on the back of a Georgian steed and charged across the mountains of Khevsureti at daredevil speed.’– International Affairs; `This is a valuable work on a country that has not generally received sufficient attention in the literature. Rayfield, an expert on the twentieth century, is an excellent choice for the volume.’ – European Review of History; `This is a courageous book. In four hundred pages or so, the author attempts to chronicle the history of Georgia and Georgians over two millennia, bringing us in its final chapter to the closing years of the Saakashvili era in 2009–10. There is no doubt that Donald Rayfield is the man to tackle this task, a linguist and historian who speaks Georgian and has studied its culture and politics for over three decades. The text is bright, straightforward and speckled with irony and humour . . . Rayfield takes us through two thousand years of Georgian history with pace and efficiency.’ – Slavonic and Eastern European Review; `This book will fascinate anyone interested in the turbulent, tangled past of the Georgians.’ – Reviews in History; `Donald Rayfield is the English speaking world’s incomparable guide to Georgia’s language, literature and history. He revels in its fascinating complexities and, as we read him, so do we.’ – Thomas de Waal, author of The Caucasus: An Introduction

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Book Synopsis_______________ ‘Insightful ... Avoiding both modern conceits and romantic fantasies, Suzman chronicles how economics and politics have finally conquered some of the last outposts of hunter-gatherers, and how much humankind can still learn from the disappearing way of life of the most marginalized communities on earth.' - Yuval Noah Harari, author of Sapiens and Homo Deus 'Fascinating' - Sunday Times 'Elegant and absorbing' - Financial Times 'Profoundly moving' - Irish Times _______________ From acclaimed anthropologist James Suzman, a portrait of the 'original affluent society' – the Bushmen of southern Africa – and what their way of life can teach us today. What can we learn from the Bushmen? If the success of a civilisation is measured by its endurance over time, then the Bushmen of the Kalahari are by far the most successful in human history. Anthropologist James Suzman spent twenty-five years in Southern Africa documenting their way of life and encounters with modern society, gathering invaluable lessons about work, wealth, happiness, equality and time. 'To know what it is like to live as people lived for most of human history, you would have to find one of the places where traditional hunting-and-gathering practices are still alive…Fortunately for us, the anthropologist James Suzman did exactly that…The news here is that the lives of most of our progenitors were better than we think. We’re flattering ourselves by believing that their existence was so grim and that our modern, civilized one is, by comparison, so great.' - John Lancaster, The New YorkerTrade ReviewAn insightful and well-written book, describing the hard transition of foraging communities in Namibia from relative affluence during the Stone Age to contemporary poverty and misery. Avoiding both modern conceits and romantic fantasies, Suzman chronicles how economics and politics have finally conquered some of the last outposts of hunter-gatherers, and how much humankind can still learn from the disappearing way of life of the most marginalized communities on earth. * Yuval Noah Harari, author of SAPIENS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMAN KIND and HOMO DEUS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOMORROW *To know what it is like to live as people lived for most of human history, you would have to find one of the places where traditional hunting-and-gathering practices are still alive…Fortunately for us, the anthropologist James Suzman did exactly that…The news here is that the lives of most of our progenitors were better than we think. We’re flattering ourselves by believing that their existence was so grim and that our modern, civilized one is, by comparison, so great. * John Lancaster, The New Yorker *Suzman’s descriptive prose and affection for his subjects generate the reader’s genuine empathy…This fascinating glimpse into a disappearing way of life leads Suzman to reflect on our world today: a world where wealth and possessions are valued above all other pursuits. Suzman’s account of the lives of Bushmen, past and present, offers plenty of fuel for thought. * Rachel Newcomb, The Washington Post *Mr Suzman deftly weaves his experiences and observations with lessons on human evolution, the history of human migration and the fate of African communities since the arrival of Europeans. The overarching aim of the book is more ambitious still: to challenge the reader’s ideas about both hunter-gatherer life and human nature. * The Economist *[Suzman creates] a feeling for the landscape, the difficulties encountered by the Bushmen, and the pleasures of their simple, if rapidly changing, way of life... In all, this is a delightful book, full of perceptiveness and understanding. * Science *[A] fascinating book. . . Part-ethnography, part-memoir, this is a poignant account of a culture on the brink of extinction. * Sunday Times *Suzman’s talent for evoking the region’s vast and haunting landscapes, his elegiac account of a passing covenant with nature, and his warm and compassionate character sketches of individual Ju’/hoansi, make this a fascinating and at times profoundly moving work of literary non-fiction. * The Irish Times *[T]hrough neglect, abuse and misunderstanding, an ancient way of life is being finally extinguished… Yet, Suzman argues, even now the Bushmen have much to teach us about a social order that, in many ways, offered a freer, fairer existence and a non-invasive adaption to ecology. * Ben Collyer, New Scientist *This book has truth on every page and is filled with important insights that range from hunting and tracking to how we think about time, money, value or success. * Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of THE HARMLESS PEOPLE and THE OLD WAY *This beautiful book--part memoir, part ethnography--offers a window into the lives of one of the most enduring of human cultures . . . If you have ever wondered how it might be to measure wealth not by material possessions but by the strength of social relations between people, read this book. * Wade Davis, author of THE WAYFINDERS and INTO THE SILENCE *[A] beautiful, heartfelt paean. AFFLUENCE WITHOUT ABUNDANCE is learned without being condescending, tender yet unsentimental. It is both a celebration of an ancient way of life and a lament for all that has been lost in our own headlong pursuit of the material. * Peter Godwin, author of MUKIWA and WHEN A CROCODILE EATS THE SUN *A spirited ethnography of the ancestral peoples of the Kalahari . . . A welcome contribution to a once-vibrant anthropological literature without many recent entries. * Kirkus Reviews *In his thoughtful, in-depth look, [Suzman] focuses on the Ju/’hoansi people, whom he has been working with for more than two decades… A fascinating examination of a society drastically changed by forced modernity. * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisOffers an in-depth study of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus in its prime

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Book SynopsisIdentifies and contextualises a new work within the Animal Apocalypse, dated to the dawn of the First Jewish Revolt.

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Book SynopsisThis book offers new historical, legal and literary explorations of a status held by uncountable formerly enslaved persons in the Roman Empire: Junian Latinity. It is the first book in any language to provide comprehensive multi-disciplinary study of this status. Divided in two parts, the book sets the scene with six chapters that discuss the legal innovations that created Junian Latinity, as well as the historical contexts in which the status was conceived and in which it developed from the late republican period to the early medieval world. Four chapters in the second book part offer then new research on key Latin literary texts to provide fresh insights into the role of Junian Latinity in Roman imperial society. The book makes a strong case for the centrality of Junian Latinity in the Roman Empire and the importance of its modern study.

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Book SynopsisAmílcar Cabral’s charismatic and visionary leadership, his pan-Africanist solidarity and internationalist commitment to “every just cause in the world,” remain relevant to contemporary struggles for emancipation and self-determination. This concise biography is an ideal introduction to his life and legacy.Trade ReviewThe 209-page book is concise and accessible … dense with facts about Cabral and about struggles for independence from Portugal more broadly. Readers will learn of the movement in Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde and about the broader Pan-African revolution to end colonialism. Mendy wrote Amílcar Cabral because he was inspired by him. Reading, I was also inspired, in many different ways. * Washington Post *“An indispensable book for scholars and students of African history, politics, and military studies.” * Community of Gambianist Scholars *“Mendy brilliantly clarifies Cabral and his accomplishments; the historical context in which he lived; his academic and political education in Portugal; and his outstanding work as an engaged intellectual and a revolutionary leader. Readers already familiar with Cabral will find new information and insights, while Mendy’s lucid and concise writing also makes this perfect for nonspecialist audiences.”“An essential work for those interested in the biographical trajectory of Cabral and his fascinating journey as a theoretician of the nationalist struggles in Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, and Africa as a whole.” * H-Net Reviews *

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Book SynopsisWhy and how the French made the balloon into one of the quintessential symbols of late nineteenth-century modernity, and how the balloon?s reinvention shaped the airplane?s assimilation in the early years of aviation.On August 27, 1783, a large crowd gathered in Paris to watch the first ascent of a hydrogen balloon. Despite the initial feverish enthusiasm, the balloon remained relatively unchanged by the mid-nineteenth century and was no longer seen as the harbinger of a new era. Yet that all changed in the last third of the century, when following the traumatic Franco-Prussian War defeat, the balloon reemerged to become the modern artifact that captured the attention of many. Through this process, the balloon became an important symbol of the fledgling Third Republic, and France established itself as the world leader in flight. In Ascending Republic, Patrick Luiz Sullivan De Oliveira tells for the first time the story of this surprising revival. Through extensive research in the press and archives in France, the United States, and Brazil, De Oliveira argues that French civil society cultivated popular enthusiasm for flight (what historians call ?airmindedness?) decades before the advent of the airplane. Champions of French ballooning made the case that if the British Royal Navy controlled the seas and the Imperial German Army dominated the continent, then France needed to take ownership of the skies. The French appropriated this newly imagined geopolitical space through a variety of practices, from republican savants who studied the atmosphere at high altitudes to aristocrats who organized transcontinental long-distance competitions. All of this made Paris into the global capital of a thriving aeronautical culture that incorporated seemingly contradictory visions of sacrificial patriotism, aristocratic modernity, colonial anxiety, and technological cosmopolitanism.

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Book SynopsisScience, engineering, activism, poetry, politics and physics. Women of all ages, and from all over the world, have excelled in these fields – and so many more – despite the barriers they’ve had to overcome. Many of these disciplines have been either completely closed to women, or so male-dominated that even being heard can be laborious. The Greatest Women in History is a celebration of just some of the inspirational women who put their mark on the world we live in, and reveals the stories, accomplishments and adventures of many brilliant women from throughout history. • Get to know the political trailblazers who achieved greatness through underground resistance or sheer determination. • Understand the amount of talent and hard work it takes to excel in mathematics and the sciences. • Meet the women who exploded into the world of art and redefined it, and discover the stories of the queens who defied expectations and ushered in golden ages. From Cleopatra, Mary Wollstonecraft and Florence Nightingale to Harriet Tubman, Frida Kahlo and Malala Yousafzai, learn of their achievements, backgrounds, characters and the little-known details that make them even more remarkable.

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Book SynopsisIn this extraordinary volume, Kumar provides readers with a brilliant tour of some of history's most important empires, demonstrating the critical importance of imperial ideas and ideologies for understanding their modalities of rule and the conflicts that beset them.Trade Review"Co-Winner of the 2018 Barrington Moore Book Award, Comparative and Historical Sociology Section of the American Sociological Association""Winner of the 2018 Ab Imperio Award, KRES Poliskola"

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Book SynopsisThe city was one of the central and defining features of the world of the Greek and Roman Mediterranean. Challenging the idea that the ancient city ''declined and fell'', Andrew Wallace-Hadrill argues that memories of the past enabled cities to adapt and remain relevant in the changing post-Roman world. In the new kingdoms in Italy, France and Spain cities remained a key part of the structure of control, while to contemporary authors, such as Cassiodorus in Ostrogothic Italy, Gregory of Tours in Merovingian Gaul, and Isidore in Visigothic Spain, they remained as crucial as in antiquity. The archaeological evidence of New Cities founded in this period, from Constantinople to Reccopolis in Spain, also shows the deep influence of past models. This timely and exhilarating book reveals the adaptability of cities and the endurance of the Greek and Roman world.

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE STANFORD DOLMAN TRAVEL WRITING AWARD 2019One third of the earth's land surface is desert, much of it desolate and inhospitable. What is it about this harsh environment that has captivated humankind throughout history? Travelling to five continents over three years, William Atkins discovers a realm that is as much internal as physical. From the contested borderlands of the USA to Australia's nuclear test zones, via Nevada's riotous Burning Man festival and the ancient monasteries of Egypt, he illuminates the people, history, nature and symbolism of these remarkable but often volatile places.

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Book SynopsisThis well-rounded study of Oliver Cromwell does equal justice to the public and private lives, political career, military abilities and passionate religiosity of a key figure in British History.Ian Gentles synthesizes much recent research into Cromwell's life, including his activity as a lay preacher, his patronage of the arts, and promotion of horse breeding. With analysis of fresh findings on Cromwell's pay as a soldier, his personal enrichment as general and lord protector, his little-known erotic side, and his generosity in the cause of international Protestantism, Gentles offers a truly comprehensive study of a central player in the English Civil War.Building on the strong foundations laid by the 1st edition, Oliver Cromwell has been updated to include:-Expanded material on the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland and its aftermath-Enhanced coverage of the Protectorate-An updated conclusion with fresh analysis of Cromwell's legacy-A new timeline and family treeIdeal for students

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Book SynopsisThe Merovingian Kingdoms (c. 450?751) dominated much of what is now France, Belgium, and Germany, and were the most powerful and long-lived of the states that transformed the inheritance of Rome after the Crisis of the Fifth Century. Yet they often remain representative of an imagined ''Dark Age'', in which civility was eroded by migration, violence, illiteracy, superstition, and a retreat from globality. Through a deep exploration of manuscripts, charters, and burials, Merovingian Worlds offers a fresh account of the period, outlining its complexities, diversity and creativity. This was a world built on dynamic political, socio-economic, cultural, and religious interactions, and shaped by its wide-ranging connections from Britain and Ireland to Byzantium and beyond. The book provides a critical introduction to the rich source material and the modern debates that shaped our perception of Western Europe after the Fall of Rome.

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Book SynopsisPeter C. Caldwell is Samuel G. McCann Professor of History at Rice University, USA. Professor Caldwell is a Humboldt Fellow, and has received grants from the DAAD and the Humboldt Foundation. He is the author of several books, including Dictatorship, State Planning, and Social Theory in the German Democratic Republic (2003) and Democracy, Capitalism, and the Welfare State: Debating Social Order in Postwar West Germany, 1949-1989 (2019). He is also a series editor for Bloomsbury's short-format German History in Focus series. Karrin Hanshew is Associate Professor of History at Michigan State University, USA. Professor Hanshew has received grants from the DAAD, the United States Institute of Peace, and the Social Science Research Council. She is the author of Terror and Democracy in West Germany (2012) and is currently working on a monograph entitled From Axis to Europe: German and Italian Entanglements in the Social (Re)construction of Eu

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Book SynopsisA guide to exploring 325 of the most scenic, wildlife-rich and historically significant woodlands in Wales.From precious remnants of temperate rainforests to lesser-known wildwoods and urban copses, Welsh woodlands offer places of sanctuary for both wildlife and people.In this practical guide, Gabriel Hemery brings together the beauty, purpose, history and wildlife of some of the most extraordinary woodland sites in Wales, from the largest (like Tywi Forest, covering more than 6,000 hectares) to the smallest (measuring one hectare). Some woods are havens for rare wildlife such as the threatened red squirrel, spectacular lichens and the elusive goshawk. Others offer opportunities to explore archaeological features and discover some of Wales' magical and hidden histories. Many are ideal for simply enjoying the spectacular Welsh scenery.The book is divided into seven regions, each beginning with a summary of its woodland heritage. The 325 site entries contain details of ownership, designation, area, forest type, precise access details (including grid reference, post code and what3words reference) and a description of key features of interest. With clear maps and hundreds of remarkable photographs showcasing Wales' plants, animals and landscapes, this is an essential book for adventurers, ramblers and wildlife enthusiasts. Wherever you may be in Wales, with this guide you will never be far from a fascinating forest site.

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Book SynopsisChina through the Camera Lens combines Chinese language learning with film analysis, offering a unique and comprehensive learning experience beyond traditional methods.The book consists of twelve chapters, each based on a carefully selected short film or video. Each chapter is divided into a presentation section and a practice section. The presentation includes short narratives illustrated with color screen shots, with vocabulary glossed alongside for easy reference. It also introduces relevant film terms to help students focus on filmmaking techniques as well as the content of the films. The practice sections cover word collocations, near synonyms, word meanings, idiomatic phrases, paragraph structure, topics for class discussion, composition practice, and extended reading. By integrating short films, cultural insights, and film analysis, learners not only enhance their language skills but also gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between film and content.<

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Book SynopsisSafwan M. Masri explores the factors that have shaped Tunisia's exceptional experience, arguing that its history of reformism set it on a separate trajectory from the rest of the region. Based on interviews with experts, leaders, activists, and citizens, Masri's account is critical for understanding not only Tunisia but also the broader Arab world.Trade ReviewA wise and carefully drawn analysis of one of the mysteries of the Arab Spring. Safwan M. Masri explains why Tunisia, where the revolt germinated, has been the only country to give birth to a real democracy. In examining why Tunisia succeeded, Masri shows why other Arab countries failed. They lacked Tunisia’s culture of tolerance, moderation, and coexistence, which had been nurtured by decades of educational and social policy. Bottom line: Democracy needs deep roots, which sadly don’t exist in most of the Arab world. -- David Ignatius, Washington PostWhy did Tunisia’s Arab Spring experience succeed when others have failed? Drawing on Tunisia’s history of modernism, independent thought, and, most crucially, a progressive education system, Safwan Masri demonstrates that the country has a unique identity that sets it apart from the rest of the region, and accounts for a diverse culture and a spirit of moderation. Richly researched and analyzed, and based on a compelling historical narrative, this is a provocative book that will make a valuable contribution to the understanding of North Africa and to the body of work on the modern Arab world. -- Roula Khalaf, deputy editor of the Financial Times Masri’s work shines both through his incisive points of view and comprehensive factual data without losing itself in the details. No decisive phase of Tunisian history escapes him. Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly is an exciting work for those who want to understand the deep meaning of the political and social upheavals of the whole Arab world, using Tunisia as a lens. -- Yadh Ben Achour, Professor at Carthage University, Former President of the High Authority of the Revolution (Tunisia), and Member of the United Nations Human Rights CommitteeSafwan M. Masri offers an informed history and an astute assessment of the case of Tunisia, specifically focusing on the country’s distinctive blend of modern Islam and secular democracy. He provides an extended and authoritative contemplation and a unique synthesis of the phenomenon that is Tunisia. -- Brinkley Messick, Columbia UniversityDrawing on Tunisia’s rich history, Safwan Masri offers a convincing interpretation of why Tunisia has succeeded while other Arab states have not. -- L. Carl Brown, Princeton UniversityThis is a book that demanded to be written. Clearly, one of the great questions of our time is why some democratic movements succeed while others fail, either at birth or through erosion over time. And the story, and example, of Tunisia is at the core of that critical inquiry. Masri brings to the telling and the analysis of this modern tale of democracy what virtually no other author could: the lived knowledge of both the Arab and American worlds, a deep sensitivity to the evolution of societies, and a passion to understand what is on the surface, at least, a contemporary mystery of societal development. -- Lee C. Bollinger, president of Columbia UniversityMasri...has done Arabs an enormous service by highlighting the catastrophic state of their education systems - despotic and as intellectually sterile as the political systems that engendered them. -- David Gardner * Financial Times *Masri presents a stimulating account of Tunisia’s democratic transition that deserves to be read widely in the Arab world as well by students of the Middle East and policy makers. Highly recommended. * Choice *Tunisia at least offers some guidance as to how political actors elsewhere in the region might negotiate their own paths away from authoritarianism and how the challenges they confront could yet be overcome. * LSE Blog *Safwan Masri’s book is a very welcome explanation of why Tunisia has a reasonable chance of growing deeper democratic roots. * Arab Digest Newsletter *Masri's book offers a holistic account of the story of Tunisia through the ages. * Al Ahram *Masri does an excellent job of examining the historical factors that make Tunisia what it is. * Arab Weekly *Masri does an excellent job of showing that the success of Tunisia's Jasmine revolution has deep roots in history. * Development and Cooperation *Masri does an excellent job of showing that the success of Tunisia's Jasmine revolution has deep roots. * Qantara *Engaging and well-written. * Reading Religion *Highly readable. * Weekly Standard *Noteworthy. * Foreign Affairs *A deeply learned, sensitive, and searching book. . . . Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly is an essential document for those who wish to understand the Arab Spring’s lone (if tentative) democratic victory. * Journal of Democracy *The most important recent work on the topic.... the volume is gracefully free of jargon and the narrative flows freely and is well structured. The book shines in its easy storytelling fluency and therefore in its appeal to nonspecialists. * Journal of Global South Studies *Tunisia: An Arab Anomaly is a valuable addition to the plethora of scholarship about the Arab world, a must read for scholars, students, and the average reader who seek knowledge about the region. * Arab Studies Quarterly *Table of ContentsMapsForewordPrefaceIntroductionPart I. Tunisian Spring: Timeline of Tunisia’s Revolution1. Can Tunisia Serve as a Model?2. Prelude to Revolution3. If the People Will to Live4. A Remarkable Transition5. The Morning AfterPart II. Roots of Tunisian Identity6. Carthage7. Tunisian Islam8. Influencing Rivalries9. The Age of Modern Reform10. 1956Part III. L’École, la Femme, et “Laïcité”11. The Father of Tunisia12. Putting Religion in Its Place13. Educating a Nation14. A Different Trajectory15. The Education ParadoxEpilogue: An Arab AnomalyAcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsNotesGlossarySelected BibliographyIndex

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