History Books

Book SynopsisThis is a survey of European history, from the coup d'etat of Napoleon, to the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand at Sarajevo. It concentrates on the twin themes of revolution and nationalism, which often combined, but which increasingly became rival creeds.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition From the first edition:A brilliant blend of synthesis and original insight. * T.C.W. Blanning *. . . includes an impressive amount of detailed information, a good deal of it not to be found in its more obvious competitors. * M.S. Anderson, Times Literary Supplement *This is a most complete and comprehensive study of 19th century Europe. It is scholarly yet readable and will be invaluable in the teaching of undergraduates for this period. It will be placed on the 'highly recommended' reading list. * Professor Paul Preston, Queen Mary College *An invaluable overview which gives full justice to 'history in the broad' for this important period. We have long needed an up-to-date treatment of the 19th Century which integrates new work with the long-established themes. * Dr J Stevenson, Department of History, University of Sheffield *Thoroughly first class effort at comprehensive interpretation - particularly impressive I think on cultural-intellectual aspect. * R T Shannon, University of Swansea *. . . a formidable achievement . . . the coverage is succinct and clear . . . the detailed treatment of particular themes is as satisfactory as the general arrangement of the work . . . the overwhelming impression is of a subtle intelligence at work and the result is an excellent and comprehensive study. * Jeremy Black, Times Higher Educational Supplement *From the second edition:This is by far the best general text on C19th Curope, rich in detail, clear in structure and with a useful bibliography. The new edition is far more attractive that its predecessor. * Dr David Laven, Lecturer, University of Reading *As well as discussing the necessary political events of the century, the book has much to say about cultural changes, education, urbanisation, and economic change. * Contemporary Review, 29/11/1996 *Table of ContentsPART I: EUROPE 1800-1850; PART II: EUROPE 1850-1880; PART III: EUROPE 1880-1914

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Book SynopsisThe history of National Socialism as movement and regime remains one of the most compelling and intensively studied aspects of twentieth-century history, and one whose significance extends far beyond Germany or even Europe alone. This volume presents an up-to-date and authoritative introduction to the history of Nazi Germany, with ten chapters on the most important themes, each by an expert in the field. Following an introduction which sets out the challenges this period of history has posed to historians since 1945, contributors explain how Nazism emerged as ideology and political movement; how Hitler and his party took power and remade the German state; and how the Nazi ''national community'' was organized around a radical and eventually lethal distinction between the ''included'' and the ''excluded''. Further chapters discuss the complex relationship between Nazism and Germany''s religious faiths; the perverse economic rationality of the regime; the path to war laid down by Hitler''Trade ReviewExcellent...work of exceptional quality. It is difficult to think of a better guide to Nazi Germany (even in German). It should gain an immediate place at the top of all reading lists. * Joachim Whaley, Journal of European Studies *In a brief format it provides a broad, state-of-the-art picture of Nazi Germany. The editor and the authors deserve credit for this service to scholars and teachers of the field. * Moritz Follmer, English Historical Review. *Jane Caplan's book encompasses overviews on the most important topics on an up-to-date level by experts who have established reputations from major research publications on their area...in their effort to combine precise information with balanced reflection of historical perspectives, most of those chapters achieve a remarkably high level of density while still being readable. This is no small achievement. * Magnus Brechtken, Times Higher Education Supplement *Caplan and her team of authors have succeeded in producing an extremely useful volume, which will definitely become standard reading for all university courses on National Socialism. * Patrick Bernhard, European History Quarterly. *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The Emergence of Nazi Ideology ; 2. The NSDAP, 1919-34: From Fringe Politics to the Seizure of Power ; 3. Hitler and the Nazi State: Leadership, Hierarchy, and Power ; 4. Inclusion: Building the National Community in Propaganda and Practice ; 5. The Policy of Exclusion: Repression in the Nazi State, 1933-9 ; 6. Religion and the Churches ; 7. The Economic History of the Nazi Regime ; 8. Foreign Policy in Peace and War ; 9. Occupation, Imperialism and Genocide, 1939-45 ; 10. The Third Reich in Postwar German Memory ; Further Reading ; Chronology ; Maps

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Book SynopsisThere are few moments in American history in which the course of events tipped so suddenly and so dramatically as at the Battle of Midway. At dawn of June 4, 1942, a rampaging Japanese navy ruled the Pacific. By sunset, their vaunted carrier force (the Kido Butai) had been sunk and their grip on the Pacific had been loosened forever. In this riveting account of a key moment in the history of World War II, one of America''s leading naval historians, Craig L. Symonds, paints an unforgettable portrait of ingenuity, courage, and sacrifice. Symonds begins with the arrival of Admiral Chester A. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor after the devastating Japanese attack, and describes the key events leading to the climactic battle, including both Coral Sea--the first battle in history against opposing carrier forces--and Jimmy Doolittle''s daring raid of Tokyo. He focuses throughout on the people involved, offering telling portraits of Admirals Nimitz, Halsey, Spruance and numerous other Americans, as well as the leading Japanese figures, including the poker-loving Admiral Yamamoto. Indeed, Symonds sheds much light on the aspects of Japanese culture--such as their single-minded devotion to combat, which led to poorly armored planes and inadequate fire-safety measures on their ships--that contributed to their defeat. Symond''s account of the battle itself is masterful, weaving together the many disparate threads of attack--attacks which failed in the early going--that ultimately created a five-minute window in which three of the four Japanese carriers were mortally wounded, changing the course of the Pacific war in an eye-blink.Symonds is the first historian to argue that the victory at Midway was not simply a matter of luck, pointing out that Nimitz had equal forces, superior intelligence, and the element of surprise. Nimitz had a strong hand, Symonds concludes, and he rightly expected to win.Trade Review"The Battle of Midway was the hinge on which the war in the Pacific turned. Its story deserves retelling, and Symonds' book does a wonderful job of it." --The American Spectator "Mr. Symonds has marshaled the data of seven decades to produce an account that is clear and readable, benefiting from his easy expertise in naval matters." --The Wall Street Journal "Important...documenting a role too often overlooked and too little understood: the essential role played by the U.S. Navy in winning the war in the Pacific." - The Dallas Morning News "[W]holly satisfying . . . a lucid, intensely researched, mildly revisionist account of a significant moment in American military history." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Craig Symonds has delivered yet another outstanding work, a work that will set the standard for studies of the Battle of Midway for years to come. Even if one thinks one knows all there is to know about Midway, Mr. Symonds' plethora of new facts, rationales for what and why each side performed the way it did, human interest stories and more make The Battle of Midway indispensable . . . The story of the battle unfolding and being fought is absolutely outstanding, but the events before and after it are equally well told. In addition, the supporting charts, photographs, references and bibliography are awesome. For anyone at all interested in the Battle of Midway, the Pacific War or the Navy, this is a must read." --The Washington Times Selected as a Best Book of 2011 by Military History Quarterly "Deeply researched, shrewdly argued, and powerfully narrated, The Battle of Midway is a superb work of the historian's craft. It easily takes its place as the best and most comprehensive account of the pivotal battle from the American perspective." -Richard B. Frank, author of Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle and Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire "In The Battle of Midway Symonds has effectively synthesized the huge mass of information about the Midway battle into a fast-moving, highly readable account filled with nuggets of fascinating biographical material about many of the principals, both American and Japanese . . . Symonds describes the scenes of the Battle of Midway itself with the knowing eye of a fine historian . . . Craig Symonds has crafted an excellent addition to the pantheon of important literature about the transcendent American naval victory at Midway. The Battle of Midway deserves to be read and enjoyed." --Naval History "Compulsively readable" --The Week "Well documented through interviews, official records, and secondary sources, the book will show readers that Midway was, as Wellington would have said, "a close-run thing." General military history enthusiasts will be fascinated, and specialists will revel in the careful dissection of the action. -- Library Journal "[A] superb narrative, clearly, vividly, and energetically written, with attention to detail that is always relevant to his interpretation . . . this book will be read appreciatively by other non-specialists. Indeed, it demonstrates why military history should not be considered 'merely' a 'niche' subject, but part of the mainstream of the national narrative." --HNN.com "A fascinating and informative retelling of the most important naval battle of the Pacific War. Symonds once again demonstrates his superb mastery of his craft." -Jonathan Parshall, co-author of Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway Chosen as one of Proceedings Notable Books of 2011Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. CinCPac ; 2. The Kido Butai ; 3. The Brownshoe Navy ; 4. American Counterstrike ; 5. Seeking the Decisive Battle ; 6. Pete and Jimmy ; 7. The Codebreakers ; 8. The Coral Sea ; 9. The Eve of Battle ; 10. Opening Act ; 11. Nagumo's Dilemma (4:00 A.M. to 8:30 A.M.) ; 12. The Flight to Nowhere (7:00 A.M. to 11:20 A.M.) ; 13. Attack of the Torpedo Squadrons (8:30 A.M. to 10:20 A.M.) ; 14. The Tipping Point (7:00 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.) ; 15. The Japanese Counterstrike (11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.) ; 16. Denouement ; Epilogue

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Book SynopsisThis Very Short Introduction provides a concise, accurate, and lively portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte''s character and career, situating him firmly in historical context.David Bell emphasizes the astonishing sense of human possibility--for both good and ill--that Napoleon represented. By his late twenties, Napoleon was already one of the greatest generals in European history. At thirty, he had become absolute master of Europe''s most powerful country. In his early forties, he ruled a European empire more powerful than any since Rome, fighting wars that changed the shape of the continent and brought death to millions. Then everything collapsed, leading him to spend his last years in miserable exile in the South Atlantic. Bell emphasizes the importance of the French Revolution in understanding Napoleon''s career. The revolution made possible the unprecedented concentration of political authority that Napoleon accrued, and his success in mobilizing human and material resources. Without the political changes brought about by the revolution, Napoleon could not have fought his wars. Without the wars, he could not have seized and held onto power. Though his virtual dictatorship betrayed the ideals of liberty and equality, his life and career were revolutionary.Table of ContentsList of illustrationsIntroduction1. The Corsican, 1769-17962. The General, 1796-17993. The First Consul, 1799-18044. The Emperor, 1804-18125. Downfall, 1812-1815Epilogue: 1815-2015ReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisA vivid narrative of an ill-fated Pan American flight during World War II that captures the dramatic backstories of its passengers and, through them, the impact of Americans'' global connections. On February 21, 1943, Pan American Airways'' celebrated seaplane, the Yankee Clipper, took off from New York''s Marine Air Terminal and island-hopped its way across the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving at Lisbon the following evening, it crashed in the Tagus River, killing twenty-four of its thirty-nine passengers and crew. Americans in a World at War traces the backstories of seven worldly Americans aboard that plane, their personal histories, their politics, and the paths that led them toward war.Combat soldiers made up only a small fraction of the millions of Americans, both in and out of uniform, who scattered across six continents during the Second World War. This book uncovers a surprising history of American noncombatants abroad in the years leading into the twentieth century''s most consequential conflict. Long before GIs began storming beaches and liberating towns, Americans had forged extensive political, economic, and personal ties to other parts of the world. These deep and sometimes contradictory engagements, which preceded the bombing of Pearl Harbor, would shape and in turn be transformed by the US war effort. The intriguing biographies of the Yankee Clipper''s passengers--among them an Olympic-athlete-turned-export salesman, a Broadway star, a swashbuckling pilot, and two entrepreneurs accused of trading with the enemy--upend conventional American narratives about World War II. As their travels take them from Ukraine, France, Spain, Panama, Cuba, and the Philippines to Java, India, Australia, Britain, Egypt, the Soviet Union, and the Belgian Congo, among other hot spots, their movements defy simple boundaries between home front and war front. Americans in a World at War offers fresh perspectives on a transformative period of US history and global connections during the American Century.Trade ReviewBlower shows us the Second World War from wholly novel and thought-provoking points of view. Recounting the doomed transatlantic flight of Pan Am's Yankee Clipper in 1943, Blower re-creates the strikingly worldly view of American civilians borne aloft and into a global cataclysm. Blower's original research and powerful prose carry us along on the journey, making us feel as if we know these people and allowing us to worry about their fates as if their story were happening right in front of us. * Eric Rauchway, author of Winter War: Hoover, Roosevelt, and the First Clash Over the New Deal *In this brilliant, creative, and compelling work, Brooke Blower brings readers into World War II through the lives of travelers on an ill-fated transatlantic flight, allowing readers to see the world on the edge of war. The author's beautiful writing and astonishing range of sources make this book a model of the integration of biography and global history. * Mary L. Dudziak, author of War Time: An Idea, Its History, Its Consequences *By expertly blending the international and the personal, Brooke Blower gives us a new and fascinating way to understand American reactions to the Second World War. This powerfully written and originally researched book shows the complexities and contradictions of America's rise to global superpower. Americans in a World at War is a prime example of the new and exciting generation of scholarly analyses of World War II. * Michael S. Neiberg, author of When France Fell: The Vichy Crisis and the Fate of the Anglo-American Relationship *It's a satisfyingly fresh perspective on the era. * Publishersweekly.com *Table of ContentsPreface Cast of Characters Maps Note on Names and Language Introduction: Into the Vortex Part I: 1914-1920 1. Balloon Work: George hopes to fight in France 2. Autumn Flies: Tamara survives civil war in Ukraine 3. Blood of the Earth: Harry learns the oil business in Romania 4. Tramp Trade: Manuel watches the Great War tear Spain apart Interlude: New York to Bermuda: Sully greets his passengers Part II: 1920-1939 5. Free Lunches: Frank competes in the Amsterdam Olympics 6. Unfinished People: Tamara struggles in the Bronx 7. The Silk-Stocking Revolt: George runs for Congress against the New Deal 8. Twelve Mile River: Ben falls in love with Roosevelt's Washington 9. Woman and Bird: Tamara finds fame on Broadway 10. Tea-Time: Frank moves to the Philippines 11. Stolen Soil: Manuel's schemes reach Mexico and Cuba Interlude: Bermuda to the Azores: Sully flies past the Point of No Return Part III: 1939-1942 12. Three-Minute Channel: Ben endures the London Blitz 13. Back to Porridge: Frank contends with the fall of the Netherlands 14. Ship's Stores: Manuel is arrested for smuggling 15. Easy Dish: Frank braves the invasion of Java 16. Red Mississippi: Ben reports from Russia 17. Hold Your Hats: George joins the army Interlude: The Azores to Portugal: Sully prepares for arrival Part IV: 1942-1943 18. Patent Denials: Harry manages his company's German ties 19. Dangerous Acts: Tamara volunteers to entertain troops 20. The Charter Offer: Manuel makes a bargain 21. Small Potatoes: Frank broadcasts from Australia 22. Acid Test: Ben witnesses the Quit India campaign 23. Hot Questions: George testifies before Congress Conclusion: A Strange and Frightening World Appendix: The Yankee Clipper's Last Passenger Manifest Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisThe Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology is a comprehensive survey of the field as seen through the eyes of nearly fifty scholars at a time when maritime archaeology has established itself as a mature branch of archaeology. This volume draws on many of the distinct and universal aspects of maritime archaeology, bringing them together under four main themes: the research process, ships and shipwrecks, maritime and nautical culture, and issues of preservation and management. The first section of the book deals with the best practices for locating, documenting, excavating, and analyzing submerged sites. This methodological foundation is followed by a sample of shipwreck studies from around the world as scholars trace the regional development of ships and seafaring. Chosen to balance the traditional core regions of maritime archaeology with important but lesser-studied areas, it aims at offering an international account of the study of submerged sites. Reflecting the growing number of sTrade Reviewa number of articles have very extensive bibliographies running six to ten pages, which make them a resource for students. ... this is a useful book ... and contributes to the scholarly literature on underwater archaeology. * Hector Williams, International Journal of Maritime History *Table of ContentsI. INTRODUCTION: The Development of Maritime Archaeology, George F. Bass ; II.THE PROCESS ; 1. Defining a Ship: Architecture, Function, and Human Space, Patrice Pomey ; 2. Wreck-Site Formation Processes, Colin Martin ; 3. Acoustic Remote Sensing in Maritime Archaeology, Rory Quinn ; 4. Archaeological Interpretation of Marine Magnetic Data, Robert Gearhart ; 5. Search and Documentation of Underwater Archaeological Sites, Michael C. Tuttle ; 6. Excavation Planning and Logistics: The HMS Swift Project, Chris Underwood ; 7. Ship Reconstruction, Documentation, and In-Situ Recording, Yaacov Kahanov ; 8. Ships on Land, James P. Delgado ; 9. Deep-Submergence Archaeology, Shelley Wachsmann ; 10. Recent Advances in Post-Excavation Documentation, Reconstruction and Experimental Maritime Archaeology, Morten Ravn, Vibeke Bischoff, Anton Englert and Soren Nielsen ; 11. Shipwreck Reconstruction Based on the Archaeological Record: Mediterranean Whole-Moulding and Kitten Wreck Case Study, Kroum N. Batchvarov ; 12. Historical Naval Architecture Practices as a Guide to Shipwreck Reconstruction: The La Belle Example, Taras Pevny ; 13. The Archaeological Role of Conservation in Maritime Archaeology, Donny L. Hamilton and C. Wayne Smith ; 14. Virtual Reconstruction of Maritime Sites and Artifacts, Donald H. Sanders ; 15. A Digital Library Perspective: The Synthesis and Storage of Maritime Archaeological Data to Assist in Ship Perspective, Carlos Monroy, Filipe Castro, and Richard Furuta ; III. SHIPS & SHIPWRECKS ; 16. Early Shipbuilding in the Eastern Mediterranean, Mark E. Polzer ; 17. The Maritime Archaeology of Greek and Roman Seafaring (450 BCE - 400 CE), Deborah N. Carlson ; 18. Mediterranean Ship Design in the Middle Ages, Eric Rieth ; 19. Medieval Ships and Seafaring, Susan Rose ; 20. Post-Medieval Ships and Seafaring in the West, Fred Hocker ; 21. Southern African Shipwreck Archaeology, Bruno E.J.S. Werz ; 22. The Red Sea, Lucy Blue ; 23. Maritime Archaeological Studies in India, Aniruddh S. Gaur and Kamlesh H. Vora ; 24. A Survey of East Asian Shipbuilding Traditions During the Era of Chinese Maritime Expansion, Randy Sasaki ; 25. Australian Maritime Archaeology, Mark Staniforth ; 26. Historic Period Ships of the Pacific Ocean, Hans K. Van Tilburg ; 27. The Archaeology of Steamships, Kevin Crisman ; 28. Caribbean Maritime Archaeology, Margaret Leshikar-Denton ; 29. Maritime Archaeology of the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Archaeology from the Age of Exploration to the Twilight of Sail, Amy Borgens ; 30. Shipwreck Archaeology in South America, Dolores Elkin ; 31. Underwater Archaeology of the World Wars, Robert S. Neyland ; IV. MARITIME CULTURE & LIFE ASHORE ; 32. The Maritime Cultural Landscape, Christer Westerdahl ; 33. Coastal Archaeology, Ben Ford ; 34. Submerged Prehistory in the North Sea, Antony Firth ; 35. Ancient Harbors in the Mediterranean, John P. Oleson and Robert L. Hohlfelder ; 36. Shipyard Archaeology, Jason D. Moser ; 37. Ship Abandonment, Nathan Richards ; 38. Maritime Communities and Traditions, Jesse Ransley ; V. BEYOND THE SITE ; 39. Maritime History and Maritime Archaeology, Francisco C. Domingues ; 40. Ethics, Underwater Cultural Heritage, and International Law, Thijs J. Maarleveld ; 41. Management of Maritime Cultural Resources: An American Perspective, Timothy Runyan ; 42. The Growth of Maritime Archaeology in Mexico: A Case Study, Pilar Luna Erreguerena ; 43. Aviation Archaeology, Peter Fix ; 44. Maritime Archaeology and Industry, Fredrik Soreide ; 45. Museums and Maritime Archaeology, Michael McCarthy ; 46. Maritime Archaeology, The Dive Community, and Heritage Tourism, Arthur B. Cohn and Joanne M. Dennis ; VI. CONCLUSION Future Directions, Paula Martin ; VII. GLOSSARY & APPENDIX Illustrated Glossary of Ship and Boat Terms, J. Richard Steffy ; APPENDIX: Scientific Analyses and Dating Techniques

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis Very Short Introduction is a concise, readable narrative of American political history. Critchlow has done a particularly good job at illustrating transitions in elite political culture. * Reviews in History, Mark Power Smith *Table of ContentsList of illustrations ; Chapter 1 The Politics of the Constitution, 1787-89 ; Chapter 2 Contentious People and Factious Parties in the Early Republic, 1789-1824 ; Chapter 3 The Age of Democracy, 1816-1844 ; Chapter 4 The Politics of Slavery: Prelude to the Civil War, 1844-1860 ; Chapter 5 Politics in War and Reconstruction, 1861-1876 ; Chapter 6 Gilded Age Frustration and the Progressive Response, 1877-1918 ; Chapter 7 Affluence, Depression, and World War, 1920-1945 ; Chapter 8 Early Cold War Politics, 1946-74 ; Chapter 9 America Divided, 1974-present ; References ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru is the most important and authorative source on Nehru's life, work and thought. The documents included in each volume are also fascinating to the lay reader

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Book SynopsisThis work studies the history of imperial hunting and conservation in colonial India from the end of the eighteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century. It analyses early colonial hunting during the Company period going on to survey, in depth, different aspects of hunting during the high imperial decades. Based on original, printed, and secondary sources, it examines hunting at various social and ethnic levels, and also in different geographical contexts. In doing so, the author covers vast ground, including about the rituals, the variety of prey, the hierarchies of animals shot and hunted, the technology of firearms, the forms of hunting on horseback, and the introduction of hunting with hounds.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Foreword Preface Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Introduction 1 Imperial Culture and Hunting in Colonial India 2 Nimrods on the Hills - Hunting, Environment and its Fauna: A History of Neglected Histories 3 Hunting as 'Sport' in Colonial India: Codes of Sportsmanship, Firearms, Race and Class in Hunting 4 Shikar in the Princely Reserves: Power, Privilege, and Protocol 5 The Raj and the Paradoxes of Wildlife Conservation: British Attitudes and Expediencies 6 Hunters-turned-Conservationists: Jim Corbett and Colonel Burton Epilogue Bibliography Glossary Index About the Author

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Book Synopsis''As with the commander of an army, or the leader of any enterprise, so it is with the mistress of a house.'' A founding text of Victorian middle-class identity, Household Management is today one of the great unread classics. Over a thousand pages long, and written when its author was only 22, it offered highly authoritative advice on subjects as diverse as fashion, child-care, animal husbandry, poisons, and the management of servants. To the modern reader expecting stuffy moralizing and watery vegetables, Beeton''s book is a revelation: it ranges widely across the foods of Europe and beyond, actively embracing new food stuffs and techniques, mixing domestic advice with discussions of science, religion, class, industrialism and gender roles. Alternately fashionable and frugal, anxious and blusteringly self-confident, Household Management highlights the concerns of the ever-expanding Victorian middle-class at a key moment in its history. The abridged edition does justice to its high status as a cookery book, while also suggesting ways of approaching this massive, hybrid text as a significant document of social and cultural history. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewThe recipes are excellent and there are all sorts of tips that help me save money, time and temper. * Sandi Toksvig, Daily Express *sold out in Central London book shops within weeks * Red, August 2000 *

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Book Synopsis''An ancient and ever-altering constitution is like an old man who still wears with attached fondness clothes in the fashion of his youth: what you see of him is the same; what you do not see is wholly altered.''Walter Bagehot''s The English Constitution (1867) is the best account of the history and working of the British political system ever written. As arguments raged in mid-Victorian Britain about giving the working man the vote, and democracies overseas were pitched into despotism and civil war, Bagehot took a long, cool look at the ''dignified'' and ''efficient'' elements which made the English system the envy of the world. His analysis of the monarchy, the role of the prime minister and cabinet, and comparisons with the American presidential system are astute and timeless, and pertinent to current discussions surrounding devolution and electoral reform.Combining the wit and panache of a journalist with the wisdom of a man of letters steeped in evolutionary ideas and historical kTrade ReviewI can still recall the excitement as a student in discoering a book that analysed how our political system worked. Dated it may be; worth reading it remains. * Mervyn King, Waitrose Weekend *

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Book Synopsis`Long may the barbarians continue, I pray, if not to love us, at least to hate one another.'' Cornelius Tacitus, Rome''s greatest historian and the last great writer of classical Latin prose, produced his first two books in AD 98. He was inspired to take up his pen when the assassination of Domitian ended `fifteen years of enforced silence''. The first products were brief: the biography of his late father-in-law Julius Agricola and an account of Rome''s most dangerous enemies, the Germans. Since Agricola''s claim to fame was that as governor for seven years he had completed the conquest of Britain, begun four decades earlier, much of the first work is devoted to Britain and its people. The second is the only surviving specimen from the ancient world of an ethnographic study. Each in its way has had immense influence on our perception of Rome and the northern `barbarians''. This edition reflects recent research in Roman-British and Roman-German history and includes newly discovered evidence on Tacitus'' early career. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated volume tells the story of Britain and its people over two thousand years, from the coming of the Roman legions to the present day. Encompassing political, social, economic, and cultural developments throughout the British Isles, the dramatic narrative is taken up in turn by ten leading historians who offer the fruits of the best modern scholarship to the general reader in an authoritative form, illuminating their text with carefully chosen pictures and maps. A vivid, sometimes surprising picture emerges of a continuous turmoil of change in every period, and the wider social context of political and economic tension is made clear. But consensus, no less than conflict, is a part of the story: in focusing on elements of continuity down the centuries, the authors bring out that special awareness of identity which has been such a distinctive feature of British society. By relating both these factors in the British experience, and by exploring the many ways in whTrade ReviewReview from previous edition belongs in every school satchel, on every student's desk, in every library's catalogue... on everyone's coffee table... wherever readers have a real curiosity to discover, in words and pictures, the current stage of historical inquiry in the field of British history * Peter Clarke, History Today *Here is a book to intrigue the mind and gladden the eye * Max Beloff, Art International *A lively and stimulating overview by a selection of our best historians, scholarly but very readable * John Kenyon, Observer *All ten authors... embody the very qualities Kenneth Morgan hopes his quite exceptional history will instil in its readers: clarity, subtlety, enthusiasm and even affection * TES *An essential part of the high culture of our times, something which every educated person will be expected to have read * Vernon Bogdanor, Encounter *For those who want a one-volume history of Britain this is ideal and with the superb illustrations a bargain * Glasgow Herald *Table of ContentsForeword to the new edition ; 1. Roman Britain (c.55 BC - c. AD 440) ; 2. The Anglo-Saxon Period (c. 440-1066) ; 3. The Early Middle Ages (1066-1290) ; 4. The Later Middle Ages (1290-1485) ; 5. The Tudor Age (1485-1603) ; 6. The Stuarts (1603-1688) ; 7. The Eighteenth Century (1688-1789) ; 8. Revolution and the Rule of Law (1789-1851) ; 9. The Liberal Age (1851-1914) ; 10. The Twentieth Century (1914-2000) ; Epilogue (the years since 2000) ; Further Reading ; Chronology ; Genealogies of Royal Lines ; Prime Ministers 1721-2008 ; Index

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Book SynopsisFirst published over thirty years ago, War in European History is a brilliantly written survey of the changing ways that war has been waged in Europe, from the Norse invasions to the present day. Far more than a simple military history, the book serves as a succinct and enlightening overview of the development of European society as a whole over the last millennium. From the Norsemen and the world of the medieval knights, through to the industrialized mass warfare of the twentieth century, Michael Howard illuminates the way in which warfare has shaped the history of the Continent, its effect on social and political institutions, and the ways in which technological and social change have in turn shaped the way in which wars are fought. This new edition includes a fully updated further reading and a new final chapter bringing the story into the twenty-first century, including the invasion of Iraq and the so-called ''War against Terror''.Trade ReviewI cannot think of a better book to put in the hands of someone setting out on the study of military history. * Military Times *Howard's chief strength...[is] that he widens the study of warfare to take in economic, political and social factors. * Military Times *Table of ContentsPreface to the 2008 Edition ; 1. The Wars of the Knights ; 2. The Wars of the Mercenaries ; 3. The Wars of the Merchants ; 4. The Wars of the Professionals ; 5. The Wars of the Nations ; 6. The Wars of the Technologists ; Epilogue: The End of the European Era ; Notes ; Notes on Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisFrom around 900 to 400 BC, the Etruscans were the most innovative, powerful, wealthy, and creative people in Italy. Their archaeological record is both substantial and fascinating, including tomb paintings, sculpture, jewellery, and art. In this Very Short Introduction, Christopher Smith explores Etruscan history, culture, language, and customs. Examining the controversial debates about their origins, he explores how they once lived, placing this within the geographical, economic, and political context of the time. Smith concludes by demonstrating how the Etruscans have been studied and perceived throughout the ages, and the impact this has had on our understanding of their place in history. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsFURTHER READING

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Book SynopsisA bestseller in 1859, Self-Help became one of Victorian Britain's most important statements on the allied virtues of hard work, thrift, and perseverance. Smiles's book is the precursor of today's motivational and self-improvement literature and encapsulated the aspirational Victorian desire for social advancement.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIncludes: Autobiography; 1726; Journal of a Voyage; Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind; The Kite Experiment; Poor Richard's Maxims; The Internal State of America; Speech in the Constitutional Convention at the Conclusion of its Deliberations

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Book SynopsisPoverty & Development in the 21st Century provides a fully updated, interdisciplinary overview of one of the world''s most complex and pressing social problems. The book analyses and assesses key questions faced by practitioners and policy makers, ranging from what potential solutions to world poverty are open to us to what form development should take and whether it is compatible with environmental sustainability.The third edition considers the complex causes of global poverty and inequality, introducing major development issues that include hunger, disease, the threat of authoritarian populism, the refugee crisis and environmental degradation.Three new chapters illustrate the impact of climate, refugee and health crises on development by drawing on accounts of lived experience to explore the real-world implications of theory.Refreshed student-centred learning features include boxes outlining key concepts, definitions and cases that explore contested issues in greater depth. These casTrade ReviewIf the problem of development is to empower people to gain control of their own destiny, then poverty - whatever its cause - means the challenge continues undiminished everywhere on our planet. This big book gets us to think about all this systematically, rigorously, and powerfully. * Danny Quah is Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore *This outstanding book is essential reading for students of international development, policy-makers, and anyone thinking about the human condition in our interdependent, globalised world. It asks the big questions. Why in an era of extraordinary wealth and scientific progress, do poverty and extreme deprivation continue to blight so many lives? How should we express human solidarity through international cooperation and multilateralism? As the climate crisis intensifies, ecological stress worsens, and inequality reaches ever more extreme proportions, is it time to rethink what we mean by 'development' and 'progress'? The author's combined academic rigour with readability and, critically practical reflections on how change happens. * Kevin Watkins, Chief Executive, Save the Children UK *This new edition of Poverty and Development marks a welcome return of one of the most interesting collection for teaching development. Lucid and comprehensive, the text covers the gamut of topics needed to teach international development, from the historical transformation of the Global South under the impact of European expansion, through the rival models of development propagated during the global Cold war, to the Great Transformation wrought by industrialisation of China and E. Asia. In addition, the book covers key issues in contemporary development, including new chapters on climate change, digital technologies, as well as on the changing nature of conflict. Comprehensive and up-to-date, the book illustrates clearly how policies in both North and South impact the welfare of the vast majority of humanity. * Jocelyn DeJong, Professor and Associate Dean, and Tariq Tell, Assistant Professor, American University of Beirut, Lebanon *Poverty and Development remains a foundational volume in understanding the intricacies between poverty and development in developing regions. For those of us interested in Public Policy, Governance and Development in Africa, this book provides critical points of reference for understanding pertinent policy, and governance domains in the development paradigm. It thus offers unconventional insights for teaching, researching and studying governing components in Africa and similar contexts for years to come. * Gedion Onyango, Lecturer in Political Science, Nairobi University, Nairobi *The dynamics of global change continually shift the frontiers of development practice, thought and theory. This thoroughly revised edition of Poverty and Development offers a measure of changes with collateral impact on development over the last twenty years. Some chapters and a thoughtful postscript consider the broad experience and implications of Covid-19. The online resources that accompany the book make it an extremely valuable reference, teaching and learning tool. * David Luke, Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre, UN Economic Commission for Africa *Poverty and Development is a succinct elucidation of how poverty and development interface in developing countries. * Lawrence Sao Babawo, Senior Lecturer, Njala University, Sierra Leone *This brilliant book is an essential and thought-provoking contribution on how we look at the global challenge of poverty. * Koen Vlassenroot, Professor and Director of Conflict Research Group (CRG), Ghent University *Allen and Thomas' book offers a dazzling, systematic and wide-ranging analysis of the most challenging topics in international development. It accomplishes this in an engaging and highly accessible way. This book is a must read for students, academics and those working in the field. * Professor Nicole Stremlau, Research Professor in the Humanities, University of Johannesburg *COVID-19 has thrown millions into poverty and threatens to undo decades of development. This updated and enhanced classic with its abundance of perspectives and rich insights helps us reflect again on the many inequalities the pandemic has unveiled and how to achieve more sustainable development. * Erik Berglöf Chief Economist of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) *This is exactly the sort of book that people go to university to read and discuss. It provides a great deal of food for thought for hungry minds: mixing theory and evidence very well, giving a wide geographical range of examples and drawing good conclusions. * Dr Kevin Manton, SOAS University of London *Migration, Security & Development is an excellent new chapter. Well-balanced, it tackles the politics of migration in a nuanced manner. * Professor Mustapha Pasha, Aberystwyth University *Table of ContentsPart One: Conceptions of Poverty and Development 1: Alan Thomas and Tim Allen: Why Poverty and Development? 2: Naila Kabeer and Alan Thomas: Poverty and Inequality 3: Alan Thomas: Meanings and Views of Development 4: Duncan Green and Tom Kirk: Agencies of Development Part Two: Aspects and Causes of Poverty 5: Tim Allen, Shun-Nan Chiang, and Ben Crow: Hunger and Famine 6: Melissa Parker and Cristin Fergus: Diseases of Poverty 7: Peggy Froerer: Poverty and Education 8: David Wield: Unemployment and Making a Living 9: Valeria Cetorelli and Alan Thomas: Population, Poverty and Development 10: Kathryn Hochstetler: Environmental Degradation and Sustainability 11: Tim Allen and Tom Kirk: War and Armed Conflict Part Three: Transformation and Development 12: Janet Bujra: Diversity in Pre-Capitalist Societies 13: Henry Bernstein: Colonialism, Capitalism, Development 14: David Potter and Alan Thomas: The Power of Colonial States 15: Tom Hewitt: The Era of Development - A short history 16: Guoer Liu and Andrew Kilmister: Socialist Models of Development and the Rise of China Part Four: Challenges for Development 17: David Potter, Alan Thomas, and María del Pilar López-Uribe: Democratization, Governance, and Development 18: Charlotte Brown and Ruth Pearson: Rethinking Gender Matters in Development 19: Peter Robbins, David Wield, and Gordon Wilson: Engineering for Development 20: Cristin Fergus, Tim Allen, and Melissa Parker: New Directions and Challenges for Health and Development 21: Helen Hintjens, Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits, and Ali Bilgic: Migration, Security, and Development Part Five: Prospects for Development 22: Tony Roberts, Kevin Hernandez, and Becky Faith: Digital Technologies 23: Jo Beall: City Life 24: Tom Kirk, Tim Allen, and John Eade: Identity Politics and Clashing Cultures 25: Dina Abbott, Gordon Wilson, and Alan Thomas: Climate Change and the End of Development 26: John Harriss: Returning to the 'Great Transformation' 27: Ikenna Acholonu, Charlotte Brown, and Ingrina Shieh: Poverty and Development: Prospects for the future Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThis introduction presents Martin Luther as historians now see him. Instead of singling him out as a modern hero, the book emphasizes the context in which Luther worked, the colleagues who supported him, and the opponents who adamantly opposed his agenda for change. Scott H. Hendrix explains the religious reformation and Luther''s importance, without ignoring the political and cultural forces that led the reformation down paths Luther could neither foresee nor influence. This Very Short Introduction pays tribute to Luther''s genius, but also recognizes the self-righteous attitude that alienated contemporaries, offering a unique explanation for that behaviour.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewA useful new book. * Scott Hendrix, The Daily Telegraph *This is a great addition to OUP's 'Very Short Introductions' series of books, which manages to pack a huge amount of fascinating and useful material into just over a hundred small pages. ... The author is clearly aware of a vast amount of scholarly discussion and secondary literature on Luther and has an enviable ability to summarise and critique it in short compass, and he does a good job of helping us appreciate the historical distance between us and Luther. * Lee Gatiss, Churchman *Table of ContentsForeword ; 1. Luther and the reformation ; 2. Becoming a reformer ; 3. The labours of reform ; 4. Luther's Bible ; 5. The new Christianity ; 6. The political reformation ; 7. From monk to family man ; 8. Angels and demons ; Afterword ; Chronology ; Glossary ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisHerodotus has come to be respected by most scholars as a responsible and important historian. Herodotus was both a critical thinker and a lively storyteller, a traveller who was both tourist and anthropologist. Like Homer, he set out to memorialize great deeds in words; more narrowly, he determined to discover the causes of the wars between Greece and Persia and to explain them to his fellow Greeks. In his hands, the Greeks'' unforeseeable defeat of the Persian kings Darius and Xerxes, with their vast hosts, made for fascinating storytelling. Influenced by the work of the natural scientists and philosophers of his own and earlier eras, Herodotus also brought his literary talents to bear on a vast, unruly mass of information gathered from many interviews throughout his travels and left behind him the longest work that had ever been written in Greek - the first work of history, and one which continues to be read with enjoyment today. Herodotus: A Very Short Introduction introduces readers to what little is known of Herodotus''s life and goes on to discuss all aspects of his work, including his fascination with his origins; his travels; his view of the world in relation to boundaries and their transgressions; and his interest in seeing the world and learning about non-Greek civilizations. We also explore the recurring themes of his work, his beliefs in dreams, oracles, and omens, the prominence of women in his work, and his account of the battles of the Persian Wars. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. The world of Herodotus ; 2. Origins and the historian ; 3. Greeks and Persians at war ; 4. Herodotus as Ethnographer ; 5. Women in history, women in the histories ; 6. Herodotus and the divine ; 7. Herodotus as storyteller ; 8. Herodotus as historian

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Book Synopsis''Philosophy is written in this great book which is continually open before our eyes - I mean the universe...''Galileo''s astronomical discoveries changed the way we look at the world, and our place in the universe. Threatened by the Inquisition for daring to contradict the literal truth of the Bible, Galileo ignited a scientific revolution when he asserted that the Earth moves. This generous selection from his writings contains all the essential texts for a reader to appreciate his lasting significance. Mark Davie''s new translation renders Galileo''s vigorous Italian prose into clear modern English, while William R. Shea''s version of the Latin Sidereal Message makes accessible the book that created a sensation in 1610 with its account of Galileo''s observations using the newly invented telescope.All Galileo''s contributions to the debate on science and religion are included, as well as key documents from his trial before the Inquisition in 1633. A lively introduction and clear notesTrade Reviewincludes substantial explanatory notes and a useful introduction, but what really brings it alive is the readable modern language of the translations ... it makes [Galileo's] ideas accessible ... and available to a much wider audience. * Astronomy and Geophysics *This book is an absolute joy. * The Observatory *Includes substantial explanatory notes and a useful introduction, but what really brings it alive is the readable modern language of the translations ... it makes [Galileo's] ideas accessible ... and available to a much wider audience. * Astronomy and Geophysics *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY; A CHRONOLOGY OF GALILEO; A SIDEREAL MESSAGE; LETTERS ON THE SUNSPOTS; SCIENCE AND RELIGION; FROM THE ASSAYER; DIALOGUE ON THE TWO CHIEF WORLD SYSTEMS; THE TRIAL; TWO NEW SCIENCES; EXPLANATORY NOTES; INDEX

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Book SynopsisIn this Very Short Introduction Kenneth Morgan provides a wide-ranging and thematic introduction to modern Australia. He examines the main features of its history, geography, and culture since the beginning of the white settlement in New South Wales in 1788. Drawing attention to the distinctive features of Australian life he places contemporary developments in a historical perspective, highlighting the importance of Australia''s indigenous culture and making connections between Australia and the wider word. Balancing the successful growth of Australian institutions and democratic traditions, he considers the struggles that occurred in the making of modern Australia. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. The Antipodes ; 2. Shaping the Continent ; 3. Governing Australia ; 4. Body and Soul ; 5. Australia and the World ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisThe Napoleonic Wars have an important place in the history of Europe, leaving their mark on European and world societies in a variety of ways. In many European countries they provided the stimulus for radical social and political change - particularly in Spain, Germany, and Italy - and are frequently viewed in these places as the starting point of their modern histories. In this Very Short Introduction, Mike Rapport provides a brief outline of the wars, introducing the tactics, strategies, and weaponry of the time. Presented in three parts, he considers the origins and course of the wars, the ways and means in which it was fought, and the social and political legacy it has left to the world today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Origins ; 2. Course ; 3. A revolutionary war ; 4. Soldiers and civilians ; 5. The war at sea ; 6. The people's war ; 7. Legacies ; References

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Book SynopsisThe Reformation was a seismic event in history, whose consequences are still working themselves out in Europe and across the world. The protests against the marketing of indulgences staged by the German monk Martin Luther in 1517 belonged to a long-standing pattern of calls for internal reform and renewal in the Christian Church. But they rapidly took a radical and unexpected turn, engulfing first Germany and then Europe as a whole in furious arguments about how God''s will was to be ''saved''.However, these debates did not remain confined to a narrow sphere of theology. They came to reshape politics and international relations; social, cultural, and artistic developments; relations between the sexes; and the patterns and performances of everyday life. They were also the stimulus for Christianity''s transformation into a truly global religion, as agents of the Roman Catholic Church sought to compensate for losses in Europe with new conversions in Asia and the Americas. Covering both PrTrade Review...a scintillating state-of-the-art survey of the Reformation... a marvellous collection of essays. * Henry A. Jefferies, Iris h Historical Studies *The Oxford Illustrated History of the Reformation is a beautifully presented single volume overview of the Reformation, including sections devoted to its medieval background and contemporary legacy. Its seven chapters, authored by leading reformation scholars, are lavishly adorned with reproductions of books, maps, paintings, statues, and relics that bring the text to life. The book is learned, although unencumbered by footnotes, being cognizant of the latest developments in reformation research, and sometimes challenging them...the resulting work is informative, readable, and authoritative. * Benjamin B. Saunders, Reading Religion *The illustrations are fascinating. * Robert Tanitch, Mature Times *Very well illustrated with vivid and relevant images. * The Irish Catholic *This is a fine book, beautifully produced, providing an easily accessible distillation of some of the best recent scholarship of the Reformation. A work of this kind is a vital resource for anyone concerned to understand what ideas, events and convictions compelled the sea changes in Christianity that took place in the sixteenth century, and, no less important, to understand the repercussions of these changes which are still felt today. * Anne Dillon, Times Literary Supplement *This short volume does a magnificent job in providing a birds eye view of the Protestant Reformation, including appropriate maps. and illustrations that grip the historical imagination. * Mark Greengrass, University of Sheffield, Huguenot Society Journal *This book does a fine job of unfolding the intricately decorated and richly textured fabric of this extraordinary era... a scintillating collection of essays that challenges conventional views of the Reformation. * Lucy Wooding, The Tablet *Expert essays * Theology, Diarmaird MacCulloch *An outstanding work of church history * Church of England Newspaper *Splendid book * Catholic Herald *Compelling collection...Brilliantly assembled by Peter Marshall * Literary Review, Paul Lay *it bears comparison with the very best studies and compendia... a a hearty 'bravo' is in order * Herald, Jonathan Wright *Wonderful... It's a huge achievement by Marshall, and by OUP, that cleverly gets the ball rolling head of the 500th anniversary of Luther's posting of his Ninety-five Theses * Oxford Today *This is a classic Illustrated Oxford History volume: its wealth of pictures forms an instructive rather than merely decorative complement to a text from some of the leading experts in the field, who present a fine panorama of current thinking on this formative era for the modern West. * Diarmaid MacCulloch, University of Oxford, and author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years *An outstanding work of church history. * Paul Richardson, Church of England Newspaper *Table of ContentsEditor's Foreword 1: Bruce Gordon: Late Medieval Christianity 2: Lyndal Roper: Martin Luther 3: Carlos Eire: Calvinism and the Reform of the Reformation 4: Brad S. Gregory: The Radical Reformation 5: Simon Ditchfield: Catholic Reformation and Renewal 6: Peter Marshall: Britain's Reformations 7: Alexandra Walsham: Reformation Legacies Further Reading Chronology Picture Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive history of the Nazi persecution and murder of European Jews, paying detailed attention to an unrivalled range sources. Focusing clearly on the perpetrators and exploring closely the process of decision making, Longerich argues that anti-Semitism was not a mere by-product of the Nazis'' political mobilization or an attempt to deflect the attention of the masses, but that anti-Jewish policy was a central tenet of the Nazi movement''s attempts to implement, disseminate, and secure National Socialist rule - and one which crucially shaped Nazi policy decisions, from their earliest days in power through to the invasion of the Soviet Union and the Final Solution. As Longerich shows, the ''disappearance'' of Jews was designed as a first step towards a racially homogeneous society - first within the ''Reich'', later in the whole of a German-dominated Europe.Trade ReviewThe most thorough and reliable account...deserves to be in the library of everyone interested in the history of the greatest genocide in history. * Richard J Evans, Times Literary Supplement. *Table of ContentsPART I: RACIAL PERSECUTION, 1933-1939; PART II: THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS, 1939-1941; PART III: MASS EXECUTIONS OF JEWS IN THE OCCUPIED SOVIET ZONES, 1941; PART IV: GENESIS OF THE FINAL SOLUTION ON A EUROPEAN SCALE, 1941; PART V: THE EXTERMINATION OF THE EUROPEAN JEWS, 1942-1945

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Book SynopsisFrom the eighteenth century until the 1950s the British Empire was the biggest political entity in the world. The territories forming this empire ranged from tiny islands to vast segments of the world''s major continental land masses. The British Empire left its mark on the world in a multitude of ways, many of them permanent. In this Very Short Introduction, Ashley Jackson introduces and defines the British Empire, reviewing its historiography by answering a series of key questions: What was the British Empire, and what were its main constituent parts? What were the phases of imperial expansion and contraction and the general causes of expansion and contraction? How was the Empire ruled? What were its economic effects? What were the cultural implications of empire, in Britain and its colonies? What was life like for people living under imperial rule? What are the legacies of the British Empire and how should we view its place in world history?ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short IntroductTrade ReviewProfessor Jackson has crafted a wide-ranging yet remarkably short introduction that successfully condenses recent scholarship without overwhelming the non-expert. * N.C. Fleming, University of Worcester, Political Studies Review *Jackson's pithy survey will be a welcome guide for anyone wanting to explore the wider picture without drowning in the literature. * BBC History magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. What was the British Empire? ; 2. The British Empire: An empire among empires ; 3. Motives of imperial expansion and themes in imperial expansion ; 4. Writing about the British Empire ; 5. Legacies and audits of the British Empire

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Book SynopsisIn the slum streets of the Jago, Dicky Perrott lives a life of petty crime and violence. With Father Sturt's arrival, he sees how his horizons might alter. Dicky's story highlights the terrible conditions of the Victorian underworld and the social policy that underpinned it. This edition provides rich contextual background material.Trade ReviewOur horrified fascination remains unabated * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisBeatrice''s Last Smile is a sweeping narrative history of the medieval west from the beginning of the third century to the beginning of the sixteenth. This book focuses on slow formation of Latin Christendom over a millennium in the aftermath of the disintegration of the western Roman Empire.Beatrice''s Last Smile is a sweeping narrative history of the medieval west from the beginning of the third century to the beginning of the sixteenth. The reader travels from the Mediterranean to the North Sea, from the Nile to the Volga, from north Africa to the central Asia, until finally ending in the Americas. Through a focus on slow formation of Latin Christendom over a millennium in the aftermath of the disintegration of the western Roman Empire, Beatrice''s Last Smile is a history of holiness which includes Judaism and the revelations of Muhammad. The narrative moves from the violence within fifth-century Britain and Gaul to the Hundred Years War between England and France, from the plague oTrade ReviewBeatrices Last Smile is undeniably well-researched. Pegg includes often marginalised groups, such as women and Jews, and the chapters on the later Middle Ages from the Albigensian Crusade to the Black Death are a particular highlight * Helen Carr, The Spectator *A fast-paced, cinematic, and sometimes wild ride through the Middle Ages. Expertly told vignettes, penetrating character studies, engaging walks through literary works, and periodic penetrating historical analyses-there is no other introduction to the Middle Ages quite like Beatrice's Last Smile. The book's countless short stories hang together in an intricate, delicate narrative structure, revealing a world of deep flaws and tremendous beauty and creating a reading experience that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. * Jay Rubenstein, author of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream *Mark Gregory Pegg offers a fresh, coherent, and entirely original vision of the western Middle Ages. The intensity of his engagement with a remarkable range and variety of primary sources, the boldness of his design, and the vigour of his prose combine the pace of a spirited charger with the depth and clarity of a timeless mosaic. * R. I. Moore, Professor Emeritus of History, Newcastle University *In some of the most beautiful word portraits I have ever read, Mark Gregory Pegg has crafted a history of the West (the later Roman Empire through the end of the Middle Ages) that will captivate readers. With precision and delicacy, the pages come alive with the spiritual yearnings of people so like ourselves in their desire for the good life and yet so different in how they conceived it and thought to achieve it. This book was almost impossible to put down. It is one of the major accomplishments of modern historical scholarship and in every way a tour de force. Pegg is the real thing, a genuine magister, and Beatrice's Last Smile is a masterpiece. * William C. Jordan, Dayton-Stockton Professor of History, Princeton University *The inclusion of such obscure figures is one of the greatest strengths of this book; accounts of little-known lives nestle alongside the stories of famous men such as Charlamagne and Chaucer. * Katherine Harvey, Church Times *Ambitious and luminous... This book is warmly recommended... Beatrice's Last Smile communicates a world connected to ours, yet brilliantly, beguilingly, strange. * TLS *

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Book SynopsisThis new, parallel-text prose translation of a generous selection of Martial's witty and satiric epigrams pulls no punches and matches the boldness of the originals. They bring Imperial Rome vividly to life. The edition establishes Martial's originality as a literary author and includes a full introduction and notes.Trade ReviewMartial is an epigrammatist of unmatched range and brilliance. Treating life, society and human foibles with coruscating wit, he mixes vicious abuse, frequently sexual, of individuals with biting satire on human weakness and lyrical reflections on Rome, friendship and country life. In his extremely useful edition Gideon Nisbet selects over 300 of his subject's c. 1600 poems, doing full justice to Martial's range. * Peter Jones, Classics for All *This translation is offering not only a reasonably comprehensive view of Martial's literary universe, but also a pleasant experience. Gideon Nisbet's version of Martial's Rome and Martial's world is enjoyable and lively. * Carmen Fenechiu, Journal of Ancient History and Archeology *

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Book SynopsisThe story of Saladin's recapture of the Holy City of Jerusalem from the Crusaders at the Battle of Hattin in 1187. A pivotal battle in the history of the Crusades - and in the subsequent history of the Middle East and the Muslim world.Trade Review[France] reminds us why Hattin, more so than the subsequent Christian victory four year later at Arsuf, became embedded in popular culture. * Victor Davis Hanson, Times Literary Supplement *France's highly accessible book examines the causes and consequences of [the Battle of Hattin], tracing its impact way beyond its immediate aftermath and impact on Euro-Islamic relations. He follows the path of its tremors all the up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the uneasy relationship between Eastern Islamic culture and Western Christian culture that still exists today. * History of War *The Battle at Hattin, despite its immense significance, is often overlooked or even forgotten by the twenty-first century student of military history. That being the case, it is wonderful to see the excellent 'Great Battles' series from the Oxford University Press redressing this fact and giving it the attention that it warrants ... A hugely interesting, engaging and accessible book which brings the period and the personalities of the battle to life. * Major P D Horne RA, British Army Review *a useful and absorbing examination of the importance of the Battle of Hattin * Battlefield Magazine *[A] tour de force. I was surprised how much information an author can squeeze into only 168 pages of text ... a delightful read ... Hattin is a good book, well-written and full to the brim with information. * Jona Lendering, Medieval Warfare *Table of Contents1. Salvation through Slaughter ; 2. Crusade and Jihad ; 3. The Battle of Hattin ; 4. Hattin: Bloody Consequences ; 5. Hattin Today: A Poisoned Heritage ; Notes ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisEgypt, Greece, and Rome is regarded as one of the best general histories of the ancient world, having sold more than 80,000 copies in its first two editions. It is written for the general reader and the student coming to the subject for the first time and provides a reliable and highly accessible point of entry to the period. Beginning with the early Middle Eastern civilizations of Sumer, and continuing right through to the Islamic invasions and the birth of modern Europe after the collapse of the Roman empire, the book ranges beyond political history to cover art and architecture, philosophy, literature, society, and economy. A wide range of maps, illustrations, and photographs complements the text.This third edition has been extensively revised to appeal to the general reader with several chapters completely rewritten and a great deal of new material added, including a new selection of images.Trade ReviewCharles Freeman is my favourite universal historian of the ancient world, which he interprets in the broadest geographical and temporal senses ... This new edition of Egypt, Greece, and Rome cannot be recommended too highly as the one-stop shop for all historically curious travellers in these eternally and endlessly fascinating lands. * Professor Paul Cartledge, Cambridge University *Freeman's survey of the ancient world is a remarkable achievement ... The book is written in a clear and approachable style ideally suited to the target audience, which is defined as the general reader and students in need of a foundation text to guide them into the study of the great and important cultures of antiquity. This new edition will certainly ensure that Freeman's study will continue to hold its place as a classic introduction to the ancient world in all its aspects. * Professor Alan B. Lloyd, President of the Egypt Exploration Society *This admirably ambitious work provides a very useful introduction to three of the great civilizations of the Ancient World: Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Charles Freeman should be applauded for having taken on this gargantuan task. * Professor Richard Miles, University of Sydney *Charles Freeman's work on updating this, the third edition of Egypt, Greece and Rome, has ensured this book continues to be a must-read, offering clear insights into the latest thinking and discoveries about the ancient Mediterranean world in an engaging and thought-provoking manner. * Dr Michael Scott, University of Warwick *an enormously ambitious book ... The text is approachable and readable. It can be used both for sustained study as well as for idle browsing and dipping into. It is informative, succinct. There are no tedious digressions or woolly bits. It offers an opinion where an opinion is useful but does not dogmatically press an agenda. For the general reader, it is difficult to imagine how it could have been better done. * Annabel Barber, Blue Guides *Freeman is to be commended for the scope and detail of the work ... [it] is beautifully illustrated and written in clear and clever prose. Freeman writes with the authority not only of a historian, but also an archaeologist ... and a traveler who has trod the well-worn paths of our ancient forebears. His rigorous approach ensures that the book will continue to be an authoritative survey of the history and culture of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions. * Carrie L. Sulosky Weaver, The Classical Journal Online *Table of ContentsDEDICATION; FOREWORD TO THE THIRD EDITION; AUTHOR'S PREFACE; ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS; LIST OF PLATES; LIST OF MAPS; LIST OF FIGURES; WHAT TO READ NEXT; DATE CHART; LIST OF EVENTS; INDEX

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Book SynopsisThe Romans first set military foot on Greek soil in 229 BCE; only sixty or so years later it was all over, and shortly thereafter Greece became one of the first provinces of the emerging Roman Empire. It was an incredible journey - a swift, brutal, and determined conquest of the land to whose art, philosophy, and culture the Romans owed so much. Rome found the eastern Mediterranean divided, in an unstable balance of power, between three great kingdoms - the three Hellenistic kingdoms that had survived and flourished after the wars of Alexander the Great''s Successors: Macedon, Egypt, and Syria. Internal troubles took Egypt more or less out of the picture, but the other two were reduced by Rome. Having established itself, by its defeat of Carthage, as the sole superpower in the western Mediterranean, Rome then systematically went about doing the same in the east, until the entire Mediterranean was under her control. Apart from the thrilling military action, the story of the Roman conquest of Greece is central to the story of Rome itself and the empire it created. As Robin Waterfield shows, the Romans developed a highly sophisticated method of dominance by remote control over the Greeks of the eastern Mediterranean - the cheap option of using authority and diplomacy to keep order rather than standing armies. And it is a story that raises a number of fascinating questions about Rome, her empire, and her civilization. For instance, to what extent was the Roman conquest a planned and deliberate policy? What was it about Roman culture that gave it such a will for conquest? And what was the effect on Roman intellectual and artistic culture, on their very identity, of their entanglement with an older Greek civilization, which the Romans themselves recognized as supreme?Trade ReviewThe story Waterfield tells is complex, but he tells it well. * Peter Jones, BBC History *This sorry story is told with great verve and pace by Waterfield. * Literary Review *Table of ContentsPreface ; Prelude: Clouds in the West ; 1. Rome Turns East ; 2. The Illyrian Wars ; 3. Barbarians, Go Home! ; 4. King Philip of Macedon ; 5. The Freedom of the Greeks ; 6. The Road to Thermopylae ; 7. The Periphery Expands ; 8. Remote Control ; 9. Perseus' Choice ; 10. The End of Macedon ; 11. Imperium Romanum ; 12. The Greek World after Pydna ; Key Dates ; Glossary ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisAlexander * Demosthenes * Phocion * Eumenes * Demetrius * Pyrrhus * Agis and Cleomenes * Aratus * Philopoemen * FlamininusThis selection of ten Lives traces the history of Hellenistic Greece from the rise of Macedon and Alexander''s conquest of the Persian empire to the arrival of the Romans. Plutarch''s biographies of eminent politicians, rulers, and soldiers combine vivid portraits of their subjects with a wealth of historical information; they constitute a uniquely important source for the period. We see how Greek politics changed as Macedon''s power grew, and we learn of the warlords who followed Alexander. Resistance to Macedon is reflected in the Lives of Demosthenes and Aratus, and that of Agis and Cleomenes, two revolutionary kings of Sparta. The volume concludes with the emergence of Rome in Greek affairs, and the life of Flamininus, the Roman general who defeated Philip V of Macedon.Plutarch''s elegant style combines anecdote and erudition, humour and psychological insight, consummately translated by Robin Waterfield and introduced by Andrew Erskine. These Lives from the Hellenistic period complement Greek Lives and Roman Lives in Oxford World''s Classics. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewWith a chronology and maps, this is a practical and helpful book for the student of the Hellenistic period * Ray Morris, Classics for All Reviews *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; SELECT BIBLIIOGRAPHY; CHRONOLOGY; MAPS; ALEXANDER; DEMOSTHENES; PHOCION; EUMENES; DEMETRIUS; PYRRHUS; AGIS AND CLEOMENES; ARATUS; PHILOPOEMEN; FLAMININUS; TEXTUAL NOTES; EXPLANATORY NOTES; INDEX OF PROPER NAMES

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Book SynopsisThe human race is on a 10,000 year urban adventure. Our ancestors wandered the planet or lived scattered in villages, yet by the end of this century almost all of us will live in cities. But that journey has not been a smooth one and urban civilizations have risen and fallen many times in history. The ruins of many of them still enchant us.This book tells the story of the rise and fall of ancient cities from the end of the Bronze Age to the beginning of the Middle Ages. It is a tale of war and politics, pestilence and famine, triumph and tragedy, by turns both fabulous and squalid. Its focus is on the ancient Mediterranean: Greeks and Romans at the centre, but Phoenicians and Etruscans, Persians, Gauls, and Egyptians all play a part. The story begins with the Greek discovery of much more ancient urban civilizations in Egypt and the Near East, and charts the gradual spread of urbanism to the Atlantic and then the North Sea in the centuries that followed.The ancient Mediterranean, where Trade ReviewSelected as a 2020 Book of the Year in The Times Literary SupplementA magisterial survey of ancient cities... "The Life and Death of Ancient Cities" is a big history that leaves aside some of those big comparative questions, preferring to draw out the contingent and the particular in its vivid portraits. Mr. Woolf makes for an authoritative, readable and thought-provoking guide through a few thousand years of our life as urban animals. * Kyle Harper, The Wall Street Journal *Fascinating and challenging... an impressive sweep of a book. * Charlotte Higgins, The Guardian *Greg Woolf reminds us of how vulnerable urban life has often been to plague, invasion and economic collapse. * Harry Mount, The Spectator *As I hope will be obvious, this is ever such a good book. Woolf has an enviable knack for getting across complex ideas in a deft and stylish way, without any sacrifice of precision... Whatever one thinks of the evolutionary underpinning of life and death, no one has ever made a more compelling case for seeing cities as part of the natural history of our species. * Peter Thonemann, Times Literary Supplement *A general history that manages to escape both the superficiality and the cretinous populism to which the genre is prone... From hydraulic despotism as the driver of urbanism to civilisation-ending vulcanism at Santorini, Woolf dismembers a lot of sacred cows. And, in a surely conscious paradox, he ventures a master hypothesis of his own: an evolutionary approach to urbanism. We are, Woolf contends, urban apes. * London Review of Books *An impressive overview of trends in urban histories and will have an impact outside the field of archaeology and ancient history, underlining the centrality of these disciplines to the humanities and social sciences in general, as well as to a wider audience. It is certainly worth the long read to let oneself be carried through urban moments from the Levantine and Mediterranean prehistory into Late Antiquity and beyond. It is a hugely enjoyable read that reminds us that cities and settlements are creations of, and tools for, humans, creating possibilities and unforeseen hindrances in our lives. * Journal of Roman Studies *This is a fine single-volume study of the ebb and flow of the European civilisations that built cities both large and small. * Sun News Tucson *If you have any interest in its subject, you won't regret the investment of time and money. * John Wilson, The American Conservative *Greg Woolf is a lively and learned guide to ancient cities... Woolf's book contains many brilliant insights and is a major contribution to the history of the Mediterranean. * David Abulafia, Literary Review *A deeply researched and ambitious "natural history" of the origins and growth of urbanism. * Andrew Robinson, Nature *An engaging and comprehensive read... Woolf provides an interesting discussion on how humans are suited to city life, and also offers some thought-provoking considerations on the current rate of globalisation that we're experiencing today This book should appeal to those who want to discover another perspective on the history of the Mediterranean or, indeed, the ancient world. * All About History *Woolf's The Life and Death of Ancient Cities: A Natural History is an engaging and richly detailed account that effectively tears down misconceptions about the ancient city and replaces them with a more diverse, more believable, and, ultimately, more interesting tale of kaleidoscopic urban experimentation across the ancient Mediterranean world. * Kathryn Grossman, The Metropole *This worthy book contains multitudes, and as interesting and certainly as instructive as Professor Woolf's studies of urbanization are the not-few cases of deurbanization that he is able to explore, most conspicuously the (possible causes of the) decline or rather transformation of the late Roman antique world. * Paul Cartledge, The New Criterion *This is a first-class publication that threads its way seamlessly through a complex topic across vast regions and time-spans. It is also accessibly written and highly recommended. * Mark Merrony, Antiqvvs *This is an important study which should stand alongside the tours de force of Fernand Braudel and David Abulafia. * Sir Michael Fallon, Classics for All *The Life and Death of Ancient Cities joins a shelf full of enlightening new fun reads on understanding our beginnings in the ancient world. * Robert S. Davis, New York Journal of Books *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgements PART 1: AN URBAN ANIMAL 1: To the City 2: Urban Apes 3: Settling Down 4: Uruk 5: First Cities 6: Cities of Bronze PART 11: AN URBAN MEDITERRANEAN 7: The First Mediterranean Cities 8: Mariners and Chieftains 9: Western Pioneers 10: A Greek Lake 11: Networking the Mediterranean 12: Cities, States, and Kings PART 111: IMPERIAL URBANISMS 13: City and Empire 14: Europe Awakes 15: Cities of Marble 16: Founding New Cities 17: Ruling Through Cities 18: The Ecology of Roman Urbanism PART IV: DE-URBANIZATION 19: The Megalopoleis 20: Postclassical Afterword Further Reading Timeline Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe dazzling new biography of one of history''s most misunderstood queensElizabeth Stuart is one the most misrepresented - and underestimated - figures of the seventeenth century. Labelled a spendthrift more interested in the theatre and her pet monkeys than politics or her children, and long pitied as ''The Winter Queen'', the direct ancestor of Elizabeth II was widely misunderstood. Nadine Akkerman''s biography reveals an altogether different woman, painting a vivid picture of a queen forged in the white heat of European conflict.Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James VI and I, was married to Frederick V, Elector Palatine in 1613. The couple were crowned King and Queen of Bohemia in 1619, only to be deposed and exiled to the Dutch Republic in 1620. Elizabeth then found herself at the epicentre of the Thirty Years'' War and the Civil Wars, political and military struggles that defined seventeenth-century Europe. Following her husband''s death in 1632, Elizabeth fostered a cult of widowhoTrade Reviewthis new biography surpasses all earlier studies of Elizabeth Stuart * Thomas Pert, The Seventeenth Century *An extraordinary biography of a much-maligned and much-forgotten queen... Akkerman knows her archive as few have ever done, and demonstrates how to resurrect an early modern woman. * Suzannah Lipscomb, Books of the Year 2021, BBC History Magazine *As a political biography, and as a sensitive exploration of the position of a royal woman, Nadine Akkermans book is excellent. * Jean Wilson, Times Literary Supplement *[A] masterful transformative biography * Noel Malcolm, The Daily Telegraph *Akkerman situates astonishingly comprehensive research against an even more complicated background, rooting her account in diplomatic reports, Elizabeth's own correspondence and numerous illustrations... [Her] erudite, pacey narration of the frustrations, downturns and highlights of Elizabeth's life make for compelling reading. I was gripped. * Anna Groundwater, Literary Review *[A] masterful transformative biography * 5 Star Review, Noel Malcolm, Daily Telegraph *After all the macho chevaliers who served her in life, this Elizabeth has found a superb and sisterly champion in death. * Kate Maltby, The Spectator *Akkermans sensitivity to literary and cultural symbolism deeply enriches this biography ... After all the macho chevaliers who served her in life, this Elizabeth has found a superb and sisterly champion in death. * Kate Maltby, The Spectator *This excellent book sheds light on a part of Scottish history – and European history – that is too little known. It is also a reclamation of a figure of genuine significance and strength. * Stuart Kelly, The Scotsman *[Akkerman's book] comprises both personal and political history in which, seamlessly, Elizabeth's reported giggles at her wedding to Frederick of the Palatinate and her dislike of purgatives keep company with – and are as well handled as – Count Mansfeld's military advances on Breda. * Steven Veerapen, Aspects of History *A goldmine for the Stuart enthusiast who wants to know everything about the fascinating and often misleadingly depicted Elizabeth Stuart, British princess and titular queen of Bohemia, and the times she lived in. * Eva Bonde, Historiskan *This is a scholarly and fascinating account of both an extraordinary woman and of the time in which she lived. Using original source materials, much of which has not been seen before, Dr Akkerman is particularly skilled at showing how easily women can be misrepresented or erased from history. * Kate Mosse *In Queen of Hearts, Nadine Akkerman combines matchless archival expertise with a story-teller's instinct to give new life to one of the seventeenth century's most misunderstood women. A gripping tale. * Natalie Zemon Davis *This is an important scholarly biography, of interest to those who work on British and European political, cultural, and religious history; court culture; and women's history; plus, it is readily accessible to anyone who enjoys a good, historical read. * Georgianna Ziegler, Folger Shakespeare Library (Emerita), Early Modern Women *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Winter Queen? Prologue Part I: 1596-1612 1: A Family Reunion 2: Periwigs and Powder Plots 3: Protestant Unions 4: The Marriage of Thames and Rhine Part II: 1613-1620 5: Heidelberg - The Eye of the Storm 6: In the Service of the Electress 7: Queen of Bohemia 8: Troubles in Prague Escalate Part III: 1621-1632 9: A Republican Queen 10: Military Manoeuvres 11: Unseverable Ties with Austria and Spain 12: 'I can send you nothing but deaths' 13: An 'Evil State' 14: Losing Champions Part IV: 1632-1642 15: A Widow's Weeds 16: Unlikely Bedfellows 17: The Archbishop Strikes Back Part V: 1642-1662 18: Obeisance to His Majesty and Love to the Parliament 19: Undesirable Matches, Unfortunate Endings 20: Three Widows Epilogue: Turn Out the Lights

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Book Synopsis''it appeared to me that the greatest and best feelings of the human heart were paralyzed by the relative positions of slave and owner''In Domestic Manners of the Americans, Frances Trollope recounts her travels through America between 1827 and 1830, describing her voyage up the Mississippi from New Orleans, a two-year stay in Cincinnati, and a subsequent tour of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. A transatlantic best-seller on publication in 1832, its forthright criticisms of American manners encompassed spitting, religious extremism, ladies'' dress, the relentless pursuit of money, and the unequal treatment of women, slaves, and Native Americans. Witty, satiric, and hugely entertaining, Trollope also had a serious purpose in warning her compatriots of the consequences of democratic freedoms at a time of great social change in England. Deploring slavery and the hypocrisy that sanctioned it, she fuelled abolitionist debate on both sides of the Atlantic and so impressed Trade ReviewIt's a hugely entertaining and informative read, and the new Oxford World Classics edition has all the extras youd expect from this publisher, including an excellent introduction and notes, and even some of the illustrations from the original 1832 edition. Splendid stuff. * Harriet Devine, Shiny New Books *Published in 1832, this feisty journal of a three-year spell in America remains delectably hilarious. * Christopher Hirst, Independent *

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Book SynopsisA journey through the life and thought of George Orwell, from public school satirist and imperial policeman to Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty Four.Trade Reviewan honest and at times brilliant essay in biography and intellectual history-writing...the book really does offer a nuanced and fresh view * The Journal of Bertrand Russell Studies *Robert Colls's fine study of Orwell... is sympathetic yet sceptical in tone, crammed with persuasive insights, bracing in its judgments and written in a pleasingly informal and occasionally idiosyncratic style * Dublin Review of Books, Enda O'Doherty *Scholarly and intriguing, it is a lovely semi-biography and a fascinating treatment of an English writer. * Les Gofton, Book of the Year 2014, Times Higher Education *In [Colls'] book, the reader catches echoes of the kind of spirited English conversation in which Orwell fervently believed. * Christopher Hilliard, History Today *No book about Orwell can be perfect; the man was too contradictory and too bloody minded to be an easy study. But Colls really gets it ... puts his finger on it... * Spiked *An eloquent reminder that George Orwell loved his country rebelliously ... both timely and necessary. * Calum Mechie, TLS *Full of learning and insight ... Colls is a lovely writer, who is fearless in a way that academics too often are not. He is happy to subvert clichés, make little speeches and is willing to permit useful generalisations ... There are several ways in which - quite apart from the success or otherwise of Colls' thesis - this book is a kind of Orwellian triumph. * David Aaronovitch, New Statesman *This is an excellent, provocative addition to Orwell ... an exceptionally interesting book ... Colls is now entitled to consider himself a prime ornament ... of Orwell studies. * D J Taylor, The Guardian *Colls is an honest and intelligent writer, interrogating a mind that he very much admires, about issues that he deeply cares about. * Roger Scruton, The Times *Illuminating insights ... [a] thought-provoking study. * Yvonne Sherratt, Times Higher Education Supplement *This is the most sensible and systematic interpretation of George Orwell's books that I have ever read ... This biography's achievement is to give us back Orwell the writer - neither a saint, nor an infallible sage, but a perverse, intelligent commentator on his time, and also, on occasion, a superb critic. * A. N. Wilson, The Spectator *a stunning piece of work, well researched, tautly written and often funny ... It is the best book on Orwell to appear for several years, erudite and original. It catches the extent to which Orwell lived on his wits better than any other account of his life. It's up there with Crick, Gordon Bowker and DJ Taylor. * Paul Anderson, Tribune *A compact intellectual biography with much political and social content ... There are useful critiques of Orwell's early "angry" novels, his gradual appreciation of the working class, and the political contradictions that he never fully resolved ... General readers will benefit from Colls's deft analysis of Orwell's writings and his attempt to pin down the author's politics. * Library Journal *[A] lucid work of intellectual biography Colls's engaging style and frequent bursts of astringent wit make for lively reading suitable for any Orwell enthusiast. * Publishers Weekly *Subtle, probing and refreshingly original study the closest and most intimate portrait of Orwell to date * John Gray, Literary Review *Short, witty and intelligent performing a valuable service by situating Orwell in the context of interwar history. * Robin McGhee, Prospect *There have been many books written about George Orwell but this is surely among the best. Rob Colls has taken on the man's Englishness, his personality, warts and all, and the elusive notion that he was a rebel in his own land. It's full of zesty prose, fine insights and a freshness of interpretation which made it a pleasure to read. It's a major achievement and a major work on George Orwell. * Melvyn Bragg *a lovely semi-biography and a fascinating treatment of an English writer. * Les Gofton, Times Higher Education *Colls's book is innovative and rewarding, despite covering a well-trodden field. * Gal Gerson, The European Legacy *Colls identifies and analyses a strand of Orwell's authorship the importance of which has been consistently underestimated: Orwell's highly problematic relations with his English inheritance By showing how this concern changed its shape over time Colls has changed our view of Orwell's life and work, and offered a fresh perspective on a pivotal period in English intellectual and political history. * John Gray, author of Straw Dogs: Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals *This book should interest both informed general readers and serious students of Orwell's work, for it represents a judicious and all-too-rare example of being an absorbing intellectual biography undergirded by scrupulous literary scholarship. * John Rodden, editor of The Cambridge Companion to George Orwell *Colls has written a highly entertaining book in the good plain jargon-free prose style so valued by its subject it has much for the general reader and student, and will ruffle a few ideological feathers which, as Orwell well knew, is always a good thing. * Spokesman *Thought-provoking and illuminating. * London Magazine *Refreshingly vibrant and all round excellent book ... George Orwell: English Rebel is as much a stimulating read as it is inspiring. Although more importantly, it's acutely informative. * David Marx Book Reviews *Superb. * Spiked *In his book the reader catches echoes of the kind of spirited English conversation in which Orwell fervently believed. * Christopher Hilliard, History Today *Table of ContentsPreface and Acknowledgements ; Introduction ; 1. Angry Old Etonian ; 2. North Road ; 3. Eye Witness in Barcelona, 1937 ; 4. Mr Bowling Sees it Through ; 5. England the Whale ; 6. Not Quite Tory ; 7. Last of England ; 8. Death in the Family ; Life After Death: A Bibliographical Essay ; Notes ; Index

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Book Synopsis''The Poetic Genius of my Country...bade me sing the loves, the joys, the rural scenes and rural pleasures of my natal Soil, in my native tongue.'' Many of the poems and songs of Robert Burns (1759-96) are familiar to readers the world over: lyrical, acerbic, comic, bawdy, democratic. They include ''To a Mouse'', ''John Anderson my Jo'', ''A red red Rose'', ''Auld lang syne'', ''Tam o ''Shanter'' and many more, whose vernacular energy and simple beauty have ensured lasting popularity. This generous new selection offers Burns''s work as it was first encountered by contemporary readers, presenting the texts in the contexts in which they were originally published. It reproduces the whole of Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect published at Kilmarnock in 1786, the volume which made Burns famous; and it reunites a generous selection of songs from The Scots Musical Museum and A Select Collection of Scottish Airs with their full scores. Comprehensive notes describe the circumstances in which other poems and songs found their way into print, both before and after the poet''s death. The edition also includes some important letters, and a full glossary to explain Scots words. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Chronology ; Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Kilmarnock 1786) ; from Poems, chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Edinburgh 1787) ; Songs from The Scots Musical Museum ; Song from A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs, for the Voice (1798-9) ; Other poems and songs published in Burns's lifetime ; Other poems and songs published posthumously ; Maps ; Appendix 1: from the Letters ; Appendix 2: contemporary reviews of the Kilmarnock Poems ; Notes ; Further Reading ; Index of Titles and First Lines

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Book SynopsisOne of the remarkable facts about the history of Western culture is that we are still in a position to read large amounts of the literature produced in classical Greece and Rome despite the fact that for at least a millennium and a half all copies had to be produced by hand and were subject to the hazards of fire, flood, and war. This book explains how the texts survived and gives an account of the reasons why it was thought worthwhile to spend the necessary effort to preserve them for future generations.In the second edition a section of notes was included, and a new chapter was added to deal with some aspects of scholarship since the Renaissance. In the third edition (1991), the authors responded to the urgent need to take account of the very large number of discoveries in this rapidly advancing field of knowledge by substantially revising or enlarging certain sections. The last two decades have seen further advances, and this revised edition is designed to take account of them.Trade Review'For the third edition the authors have not only brought the bibliographical notes up to date but also made extensive amendments and additions, both small and large, throughout the text.' James Diggle, Queens' College, Cambridge, The Classical Review'This is a very fine book indeed. The text is written with admirable lucidity, wit and charm. The book itself is a clearly printed and stout paperback, well worth the reommended retail price of $44.95, and of course, as befits a volume produced by the Oxford University Press on this topic above all, the text is flawless. Clearly I would recommend Scribes and Scholars as a valuable acquisition for a school library which could be consulted with profit by senior students ... this book, with its overwhelming proof of the centrality of Classics in the western tradition, is essential reading.' M. Dyson, University of Queensland, Ancient History, 1992, No. 2'This enlarged version remains a valuable resource for both graduate student and scholar. Scribes and Scholars is a book which has done much good and will continue to do so.' E. Christian Kopff, University of Colorado, Classical Bulletin (1992)'The third edition of this superb work has been carefully revised to reflect advances in classical scholarship since publication of the previous edition. The work is indispensable for classical students who have not read the previous edition, and recommended for those who want recent information on an essential subject.' Gerald O'Sullivan, Stockton State College, Classical WorldTable of ContentsPREFACE; ABBREVIATIONS; NOTES; INDEX OF MSS; GENERAL INDEX; NOTES TO THE PLATES; PLATES

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Book SynopsisSport is big business; international in nature and the focus of much media and cultural attention. In this Very Short Introduction, Mike Cronin charts the history of sport, from its traditional origins in folk football and cock fighting to its position as a global phenomenon today. Looking at a variety of sports from team games such as rugby, cricket, and football to games for individuals such as golf, tennis, and skiing, he considers how these first emerged and captivated the interest of ordinary people, and how sport has been transformed within our daily lives. Exploring the relationship between sport and class, gender, commerce, identity, and ethics, Cronin considers some of the central issues in sport today, including the high pay of professional footballers and the glamour of sports women, as well as fair play standards. Charting sport through the ages and around the world, this is a short guide to the history, development, and place of sport in contemporary global society. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Reviewhe has packed a lot of thought-provoking stuff into a small space, laced with telling facts * Independent on Sunday *Table of Contents1. Origins ; 2. Modern sport ; 3. Amateurs and professionals ; 4. The sports business ; 5. International sport ; 6. Sport and society ; Index

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Book SynopsisPublic health is a term much used in the media, by health professionals, and by activists. At the national or the local level there are ministries or departments of public health, whilst international agencies such as the World Health Organisation promote public health policies, and regional organisations such as the European Union have public health funding and policies. But what do we mean when we speak about ''public health''? In this Very Short Introduction Virginia Berridge explores the areas which fall under the remit of public health, and explains how the individual histories of different countries have come to cause great differences in the perception of the role and responsibilities of public health organisations. Thus, in the United States litigation on public health issues is common, but state involvement is less, while some Scandinavian countries have a tradition of state involvement or even state ownership of industries such as alcohol in connection with public health. In its narrowest sense, public health can refer to the health of a population, the longevity of individual members, and their freedom from disease, but it can also be anticipatory, geared to the prevention of illness, rather than simply the provision of care and treatment. In the way public health deals with healthy as well as sick people it is therefore a separate concept from health services, which deal with the sick population. Drawing on a wide range of international examples, Berridge demonstrates the central role of history to understanding the amorphous nature of public health today.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis is an easy but thought-provoking read for anyone wishing to understand the scope and origins of public or global health policy. It is well referenced with suggestions for further reading. * Peter Noone, Occupational Medicine *Table of Contents1: What is public health? 2: Current challenges 3: The origins of public health into the 1700s 4: Sanitation to education 1800-1900s 5: The rise of lifestyle 1900-1980s 6: Tropical and international public health 7: Present and future in the light of history References Further Reading

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Book SynopsisThe targeted destruction of ancient sites and monuments in the Middle East provokes widespread outrage in the West. But what is our connection to the ancient Near East? In this updated edition of What Makes Civilization? archaeologist David Wengrow investigates the origins of farming, writing, and cities in ancient Mesopotamia (Iraq) and Egypt, and explores the connections between these two civilizations. It is the story of how people first created kingdoms and monuments to the gods and, just as importantly, how they pioneered everyday practices that we might now take for granted, such as familiar ways of cooking food and keeping the house and body clean. Wengrow asks why these ancient cultures, where so many features of modern life originated, have come to symbolize the remote and the exotic. Today, perhaps more than ever, he argues, the beleaguered cultural heritage of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia stands as a warning for the future. A warning of the sacrifices people will tolerate to preserve their chosen form of life; of the potential for unfettered expansion that exists within any cultural tradition; and of blood perhaps yet to be spilled, on the altar of a misguided notion of civilization.Trade ReviewFor any student studying the question of what civilisation actually is this is valuable reading. * John Bulwer, Euroclassica *Convincingly concludes that the parallel development of Mesopotamia and Egypt demonstrates the deep attachment of human societies to the concepts they live by, and the inequalities they are prepared to endure in order to preserve those guiding principles. * Nature *What Makes Civilization? [...] is expertly grounded, thoughtfully written and discreetly radical in its findings. * Dominic Green, Minerva01/01/2019 *What Makes Civilization? is well written for a student or educated lay-person audience...when the past is being employed to understand the present or predict the future of human societies, archaeologists must be part of the discussion. * Current Anthropology *This book promises a lot and delivers even more...It guides readers into the heart of the sources of civilization. * Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institue *Provocative....stimulating... * Steven Snape, History Today *Lively and insightful work. * Geoff Ward, Western Daily Press *Table of ContentsPART ONE: THE CAULDRON OF CIVILIZATION; PART TWO: FORGETTING THE OLD REGIME

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Book SynopsisChina''s decade-long Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution shook the politics of China and the world. Even as we approach its fiftieth anniversary, the movement remains so contentious that the Chinese Communist Party still forbids fully open investigation of its origins, development, and conclusion. Drawing upon a vital trove of scholarship, memoirs, and popular culture, this Very Short Introduction illuminates this complex, often obscure, and still controversial movement. Moving beyond the figure of Mao Zedong, Richard Curt Kraus links Beijing''s elite politics to broader aspects of society and culture, highlighting many changes in daily life, employment, and the economy. Kraus also situates this very nationalist outburst of Chinese radicalism within a global context, showing that the Cultural Revolution was mirrored in the radical youth movement that swept much of the world, and that had imagined or emotional links to China''s red guards. Yet it was also during the Cultural Revolution that China and the United States tempered their long hostility, one of the innovations in this period that sowed the seeds for China''s subsequent decades of spectacular economic growth. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade Review"This remarkably full and efficient account provides a basic narrative of the Cultural Revolution, and then discusses in greater depth its politics, culture, economics, foreign relations, and memory. The book profits from Kraus's particular expertise on culture and the arts, and does not shy from controversial claims that are likely to provoke lively discussions." -Joseph Esherick, Hwei-chih and Julia Hsiu Chair in Chinese Studies, University of California, San Diego "It's just 152 pages, small enough to slip in your back pocket, and written by a political scientist who knows the complex event in question through and through, and does a nice job of, among other things, dealing with the strange shadows it continues to cast on contemporary Chinese politics." -- Jeffrey Wasserstrom, Chancellor's Professor and Department of History Chair, University of California at IrvineTable of ContentsPreface ; Chapter 1: The Coming of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution ; Chapter 2: "Politics In Command" ; Chapter 3: Culture: "Destroy the Old, Establish the New" ; Chapter 4: An Economy of "Self-Reliance" ; Chapter 5: "We Have Friends All over The World": The Movement's Global Context ; Chapter 6: Coming to Terms with the Cultural Revolution ; Timeline ; References ; Further Reading ; Index

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