History Books

Book SynopsisA wide-ranging, insightful history of culture in West Germany—from literature, film, and music to theater and the visual artsTrade Review“[An] excellent new book. . . . After the Nazis seeks to explore not only the details of West German culture, but also its importance to the nation in the first place.”—Ben Hutchinson, Times Literary Supplement“Kater paints a picture of a nation stripped of cultural touchstones it could rely on. . . . From the outset, Kater reflects on his own personal connections and experiences to draw readers into these stories.”—All About History

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Book SynopsisThe definitive history of the Spanish Armada, lavishly illustrated and fully revisedTrade Review“Will surely become the definitive account. . . . Distinguished by incisive analysis, Armada fuses the complementary skills of the historian and the underwater archaeologist, exploiting the latest discoveries from the archives and seabed alike.”—Stephen Brumwell, Wall Street Journal“Its extensive updates, drawing on international archive research and marine archaeology, mean it should remain the definitive English study of the Armada for at least another generation.”—Dan Jones, Times (UK)“Martin and Parker have been working together on the Armada since its quatercentenary in 1988. This is their most comprehensive work, the profit of decades of tricky deep-sea archaeology and archive-trawling. It is this archaeological focus that makes their writing stand out among many competent histories. The remains of musical instruments and medical tools tell a human tale, balancing out detailed analysis of the innovations that provided the English with a military edge.”—Daniel Brooks, Sunday TelegraphOn Wall Street Journal’s list of “10 Books to Read: The Best Reviews of January 2023”“The most authoritative account of the Armada yet published. . . . A window onto the early modern world and a complete analysis of an event that continues to intrigue and enlighten.”—Margarette Lincoln, Times Literary Supplement“Martin and Parker relish all the technical detail and their enthusiasm is infectious.”—Jessie Childs, London Review of Books“The most comprehensive and authoritative book on the subject to date. It is also lucidly written and beautifully illustrated—altogether a superb work of historical narrative and analysis.”—Sean McGlynn, The Spectator“This work of scholarship, percipient judgement and lively style, illustrated beautifully and in astounding forensic and archaeological detail, is a pearl of great price.”—Allan Mallinson, Country Life“This is a magisterial study bringing together 40 years of archival and archaeological research. It has no rivals as a comprehensive and authoritative account of the Spanish Armada.”—David Childs, Naval Review“Those who claim you cannot improve on perfection need to explain this book. Parker and Martin’s original account of the Armada campaign was the work from which all subsequent scholars took their lead; this one, with 30 years’ worth of extra research and thought, sets a new benchmark. Magisterial.”—Dan Snow, author of On This Day in History“An elegant marriage between archival research and marine archaeology yields new light on the Armada and its benighted crews in a compelling account of the 1588 campaign. After reading this absorbing book, who can now still believe that history is static, carved in stone?”—Robert Hutchinson, author of The Spanish Armada“A gripping, scholarly and masterful appraisal of the events of 1588. Piecing together a wealth of original sources, from letters and papers in the archives of England, Spain and the USA to evidence from the shipwrecks, Parker and Martin have constructed a narrative that is as vivid as it is dramatic. This brilliant book will rapidly take its place as the definitive work on the Armada.”—Tracy Borman, author of The Private Lives of the Tudors“Martin and Parker’s Armada is the best explanation of the defeat of the attempted Spanish Invasion of England in 1588. Skilfully combining archaeological and historical research, these great scholars provide here the authoritative edition of their lifetimes’ work on the subject.”—Hiram Morgan, University College Cork “This is a magisterial study of some 50 years in the making. Bringing together for the first time the latest insights from archaeological research with important new manuscript discoveries, Martin and Parker have written the authoritative book on the Spanish Armada of 1588, which is as comprehensive as it is compelling.”—James Daybell, University of Plymouth

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Book SynopsisThe story of the diverse communities of Eastern Europe’s borderlands in the centuries prior to World War IITrade Review“Bartov’s focus on Buczacz both personalizes this story and allows him to think in intimate ways about how the past might have gone differently. His fixation on the town in this project is profound.”—Kate Brown, Times Literary Supplement“[A]n erudite, highly readable book.”—Anna Wylegała, H-Soz Kult“This remarkable and moving book tells, on the basis of first-person accounts, the story of the emergence, development and destruction of the multi-ethnic and multi-confessional world of East Galicia. It is essential reading for all those interested in inter-ethnic conflict and in the way nationalism has come to dominate the modern world.”—Antony Polonsky, Brandeis University“A powerful and moving evocation of Jewish life and history in Galicia. The narrative elegantly intertwines history, legend, literature, and personal reminiscences, together with Bartov’s powerful observations. It is a poignant commemoration of an erased civilization—the annihilated Jewish communities of the East European borderlands.”—Saul Friedlander, author of Franz Kafka: The Poet of Shame and Guilt“A deeply personal, learned and literary coda to Bartov’s studies of Buczacz. Beautifully written and steeped in stories from Galician borderlands and Eretz Israel—a masterful achievement.”—Jan T. Gross, Princeton University“The world of Galician Jewry is, as Omer Bartov states, ‘irretrievably lost.’ Yet his book is more than an elegy. A work of erudition and personal revelation, it brings the diverse voices of the Galitzianers back to life.”—John-Paul Himka, University of Alberta

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Book SynopsisAn extensively researched, comprehensive biography of Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, one of the twentieth century’s most powerful and controversial figuresTrade Review“A long overdue reappraisal of the life of the Chinese leader.”—Francis Sempa, New York Journal of Books“A refreshing reappraisal of a man who was neither the corrupt fascist of standard historiography nor the tragic hero of more recent positive reassessments.”—Sheila Miyosh Jager, History Today, “Books of the Year 2023”“Drawing on Russian archival materials as well as his expertise on Chinese Communism, Pantsov offers a new and unique assessment of Chiang Kai-shek’s complex character.”—Chen Yungfa, author of Making Revolution: The Communist Movement in Eastern and Central China, 1937–1945“History dealt Chiang Kai-shek a cruel hand and to date, historians have been no kinder. However, recently opened archives and personal papers offer fresh insights into Chiang’s life. Be prepared for surprises in this gripping, masterful account of the life and times of a flawed but heroic figure.”—John Fitzgerald, Swinburne University, Melbourne“Alexander Pantsov brings his finely honed narrative and research skills to bear on the life of Chiang Kai-shek. No one interested in where today’s China came from can afford to miss this book.”—Hans van de Ven, Cambridge University

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the anthropogenic landscapes of Lucca, Italy, and how its people understand social and environmental change through cultivationTrade Review“Andrew Mathews tells an important story, tracing the trajectory of a human-managed landscape across recent centuries into our Anthropocene era of climate change. But he also shows us the role of story-telling and of other ways of learning, knowing, and communicating, offering new directions for action at this time of pressing challenges.”—Ben Orlove, author of Lines in the Water: Nature and Culture at Lake Titicaca“Trees Are Shape Shifters is original and rich, a fertile blending of local, place-based research with considerations of the global issue of climate change: the planet through the Tuscan landscape.”—Marco Armiero, president, European Society for Environmental History“A beautiful story of how peasants’ care and practices held Italian hillsides together, how abandonment makes them literally fall apart, and how history can be traced through a tree stump.”—Marianne Elisabeth Lien, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo

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Book SynopsisThe new paperback edition of Roy Strong's popular introduction to Elizabethan portraiture.Trade Review“Britain’s great Renaissance man – in the sense both that the Renaissance is his period, and that he can turn his hand to anything – appears as spring-chickenish as he is inexhaustible. His 43rd book, The Elizabethan Image, is published this month, and its sequel, The Stuart Image, is already being written – Hannah Betts, Telegraph“There is no better person to introduce this period afresh and to convey its richness and complexity, with the aid of the magnificent illustrations that run through this book” —Frances Spalding, Daily Mail (Book of the Week)“[A] lavish production [. . .] Strong has always had an instinctive feel for, and understanding of, the Elizabethan mindset and aesthetic. This book is no exception — and is particularly good on the ways in which the upwardly mobile used portraiture to signal their social ascent. Learned yet accessible, The Elizabethan Image provides a rich overview of the portraiture of the period which will appeal to fans of Strong's original publications as well as to a new generation of readers” — Elizabeth Goldring, Spectator “Engaging overview, in portraiture, of a rich period of English history.” —The Bookseller “Strong returns to his specialist subject in this sumptuously illustrated book” —Apollo Magazine (Off The Shelf)“An account rich in biographical detail”— Matthew Dennison, World of Interiors“When an academic with such a distinguished track record as Roy Strong's publishes a new work in the field to which he has already contributed so much, it is an important event –particularly when the publisher also has a history of producing sumptuously illustrated books. Indeed, the result is a book delightful both to read and to look at, in which text and image support one another in an ideal manner” —Paul Flux, Albion “Thorough, but never exhausting, this is an authoritative and comprehensive interpretation that provides a wealth of historical insight as well as artistic vision and presentation” — Henry Malt, The Artist “While many of Strong’s previous publications were beautiful artefacts, this one surpasses them all” — Helen Hackett, TLS“[Strong] returns to his first love, revealing that he has kept up with all the developments in modern scholarship. The result is a sumptuous, beautifully illustrated volume [. . .] A book to treasure” —A.N.Wilson, Spectator (Books Of The Year)“This beautiful book opens up to a wide audience a world of emblem and allegory, political manoeuvrings and religious conflict, serpents, sea monsters, and armillary spheres [. . .] In The Elizabethan Image Strong integrates a lifetime’s work with a synthesis of recent research by others, and the book will serve as an essential introduction to Elizabethan portraiture for many years to come”—Juliet Carey, Apollo MagazineCHOICE Outstanding Academic Titles, 2020

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Book SynopsisA compelling history of British imperial culture, showing how it was adopted and subverted by colonial subjects around the worldTrade Review“A useful and knowledgable primer. . . . Tensions, ambiguities and unintended consequences are resonant in John M. MacKenzie’s synoptic history of British imperial culture, which explores ceremony, sport, art, architecture and the mediums of print, radio and film from all sides of the imperial divide.”—Paul Lay, Daily Telegraph“Mackenzie has perhaps never received the credit he deserves. . . . His work has been as important as that of any postcolonial theorist.”—Stephanie Barczewski, Times Literary Supplement“It is difficult to imagine even a casual reader putting down Mackenzie’s book and not wanting to know more about one or two of its many characters.”—Barnaby Crowcroft, Literary Review“MacKenzie has mobilised his formidable knowledge of the many dimensions of an imperial culture rooted in racial hierarchies and designed to secure white power—from ceremonials and sports to the arts and the press—to tell a dynamic story of how colonised and indigenous peoples challenged and disrupted these practices, reconfiguring them to new purposes for new times.”—Catherine Hall, author of Macaulay and Son“Makes a compelling case for the reassessment of Britain’s ‘informal imperialism’ through various forms of culture. This is the definitive work on the reproduction, imposition, appropriation, and reinvention of British culture in the Empire at large.”—Souvik Naha, University of Glasgow“MacKenzie’s deep scholarship, honed over a lifetime of pioneering work, is on dazzling show in this lively survey of imperial culture and cultural imperialism. His timely reminder that protest against commemorative statuary is far from new is just one of the important insights sprinkled throughout this important work.”—Philippa Levine, author of The British Empire“MacKenzie is one of the most influential imperial historians of all times. This magnum opus is the perfect capstone for those familiar with his work, and the essential introduction for readers exploring British imperial culture for the first time.”—Ashley Jackson, author of Mad Dogs and Englishmen

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Book SynopsisA new look which fundamentally overturns our understanding of this famously “out of touch” queenTrade Review“Marie-Antoinette: The Making of a French Queen presents [Marie-Antoinette] as much more than a symbol whose meaning is in the eye of her beholder. In Hardman’s telling she is neither martyr nor voluptuary but rather a serious participant in politics.”—Lynn Hunt, New York Review of Books“Hardman utilises years of researching the fall of the French monarchy, weaving in accounts by those who knew, loved or loathed Marie Antoinette, to offer a broadly convincing portrait of a woman who ‘inspired loyalty in strangers who were willing to risk their lives for her, even when the chances of success were slight.’ It is a thought-provoking portrait of a brave, well-intentioned, if often misguided queen.”—Gareth Russell, Times (UK)“Splendid. . . . Masterly. . . . A wonderfully gripping biography.”—Allan Massie, Wall Street Journal“[A] splendid biography. . . . It sheds genuine new light on a celebrated and tragic figure whose faults did not merit the appalling fate she suffered.”—Munro Price, Literary Review“The impressive depth of Hardman’s knowledge of the old regime’s factional court politics makes it essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about the decision-making that led France into revolution—decisions in which the queen played an active part.”—Marisa Linton, BBC History Magazine“In his new biography of the queen, John Hardman goes beyond the cliches of Marie-Antoinette’s life—the enormous wigs, her extravagant spending and ‘let them eat cake’—to reveal her as a political mover and shaker with real influence, particularly during the last months of the French monarchy.”—Laura O’Brien, History Today“It is worth making time for John Hardman’s Marie-Antoinette. . . . A well written and sympathetic life of a woman out of her depth in the world of politics, and a good companion piece to the same author’s life of her husband Louis XVI.”—Jonathan Sumption, Spectator, “Books of the Year”“Hardman is far more than a biographer, his works are key to understanding the politics of the reign of Louis XVI. Steeped in the original sources and well able to decode the plots and schemes of the factions, this is both an entertaining and convincing new interpretation of the tragic Queen.”—Peter Campbell, author of Power and Politics in Old Regime France“Superb. Hardman draws upon his vast knowledge of the period to present a new, deeply researched and compelling portrait of a much-maligned queen.”—Julian Swann, author of Exile, Imprisonment, or Death“A fresh perspective grounded in robust scholarship, Marie-Antoinette offers readers new insight into the political role of the last Queen of France.”—Will Bashor, author of Marie Antoinette’s Darkest Days

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Book SynopsisA provocative account of the seismic shift in attitude toward the supernatural in seventeenth and eighteenth century BritainTrade Review“[D]evelops a different argument in suggesting that it was sceptical humanists and freethinkers, rather than scientists, who did most to discredit traditional magic.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times "Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of Keith Thomas’s Religion and the Decline of Magic, one of the 20th century’s seminal historical texts. Hunter’s book has a similar-sounding title, but develops a different argument in suggesting that it was sceptical humanists and freethinkers, rather than scientists, who did most to discredit traditional magic"—Tony Barber, Financial Times 'Best Books of 2020: History'“In forcing us all to think more critically about the ways in which intellectual and cultural change happens, Hunter has again made a major contribution to the history of early modern Britain.”—Dimitri Levitin, Literary Review“Hunter has taken us on a fascinating journey, providing us with some astute case studies and pointed observations along the way.”—Dr Jan Machielsen, Reviews in History“Michael Hunter provides a route-map of sorts with which to negotiate this sometimes precarious cognitive terrain.”—Mark Jones, Albion Magazine“[T]he author’s lucid and detailed exposition introduces us to a cast of lesser known writers – such as Francis Hutchinson, Obadiah Oddy and Richard Mead – as he sketches the broader context in which the seismic shift in attitude occurred, while acknowledging the gulf between educated and popular opinion.”—Paul Sieveking, Fortean Times“Although most of The Decline of Magic: Britain in the Enlightenment is straightforward intellectual history, folklorists will find two chapters exploring topics that are clear folklore case studies.”—William Pooley, Folklore “Hunter's book is particularly praiseworthy for its reflection on the nature of intellectual change...He provides us with a thoroughly engaging and stimulating study, which has a particular resonance today.”—Audrey Borowski, Times Literary Supplement "An original examination of the evolution of ideas that influenced the processes of community regulation such as medicine, justice, witchcraft and the supernatural”—Elizabeth Tingle, Family & Community History"Hunter’s book weaves a gripping account...He provides a compelling and erudite account that shines light on the origins of the English Enlightenment, while teasing out the complex processes of intellectual change that underpins his study.”—Stephen Brogan, Interlib"Hunter’s fascinating study sheds light on the roots of this tradition and opens new directions for research."—Kathryn Morris, The Canadian Journal of History"In 1971, Keith Thomas published what became a classic study on Religion and the Decline of Magic. Half a century later, Michael Hunter approaches that decline from another angle and offers an alternative explanation. Learned, lucid, acute and balanced, Hunter’s book deserves to become another classic."—Peter Burke, author of A Social History of Knowledge "This is an important and remarkable book, the product of a master of the subject and period. It completely overhauls our view of that subject, answering questions which have hung over it for decades, and raises some exciting and disturbing questions for the present."—Ronald Hutton, author of The Witch“Michael Hunter, a pre-eminent historian of early modern science, redresses a balance in recent scholarship by examining skepticism towards magical phenomena among British intellectuals of the early Enlightenment. The result is a readable, thought-provoking book that places scientific inquiry firmly within broader historical trends.”—Paul Kléber Monod, author of Solomon's Secret Arts“Definitely a book to think with. Hunter brings new figures to scrutiny—Obadiah Oddy, Richard Mead, John Wagstaffe, Francis Hutchinson—and expertly weaves them into this tapestry of intellectual and cultural change.”—Justin Champion, author of The Pillars Of Priestcraft Shaken

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Book SynopsisA concise history of how American law has shaped—and been shaped by—the experience of contagionTrade Review“In this brief and readable account, Mr. Witt describes the history of American efforts to prevent pandemics from breaking out and to grapple with them once they do.”—Adam J. White, Wall Street Journal“This thoughtful text asks readers to reflect upon the ways that epidemics reveal the nation’s weaknesses and its inequities, and to learn from a troublesome past so that we might walk toward a progressive future. A timely and accessible history of public health law.”—Erica Dunbar, Rutgers University“Professor Witt’s book is an original and thoughtful contribution to the interdisciplinary study of disease and American law. Although he covers the broad sweep of the American experience of epidemics from Yellow Fever to Covid-19, he is especially timely in his exploration of the legal background to the current disaster of the American response to the coronavirus. A thought-provoking, readable, and important work.”—Frank Snowden, author of Epidemics and Society"With this urgently needed book, John Witt has accomplished the seemingly impossible. In short order, he has produced a complex, authoritative, and accessible synthetic history of the interrelationship of law, epidemic, and public health regulation in America. As we again navigate the tortuous crises of pandemic, Witt's long history of the interplay of public safety, state power, legal right, and social exclusion brings a most welcome and necessary perspective and context."—William Novak, author of The People’s Welfare: Law and Regulation in Nineteenth-Century America“In this masterful book, John Fabian Witt knits together history and law to illuminate how deeply the COVID-19 pandemic has divided America, and how public health crises shape law and democracy itself. He guides us through the most consequential choices of our lifetimes, showing us that America can choose equity, compassion, science, and the rule of law.”—Lawrence O. Gostin, Georgetown University“Though caused by mysterious agents invisible to the naked eye, epidemics powerfully reveal the deep structures of power, authority, and inequality in human societies. In this timely, engagingly written, and admirably judicious account, John Fabian Witt vividly narrates the long history of American law’s entanglements with deadly diseases, from colonial times to our own, and offers valuable lessons for the American people in the age of COVID-19.”—Michael Willrich, author of Pox: An American History

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Book SynopsisFrom one of our most innovative singers, a vibrant history of song stretching from Hildegard von Bingen and Benjamin Britten to BjörkTrade Review“John Potter . . . ranges across centuries and styles in Song: A History in 12 Parts. . . . He doesn’t absolutely insist on a performance and an audience for a song to be a song, but he clearly prefers both.”—Eric Felten, Wall Street Journal“Potter has succeeded triumphantly, revealing fascinating detail about composers and writers, the times in which they lived and the singers who sang their songs.”—Henrietta Bredrin, Country Life“A very readable and engaging way to learn something new, while at the same time learning about much more than just the music itself.”—Steven Port, GetHistory“John Potter’s timely and ecumenical meditation on 12 songs explores the enigmatic nature of what constitutes a song, why songs continue to be important, and perhaps how or whether they can survive as a uniquely human undertaking.”—Sting“Erudite, witty, rewardingly provocative and absorbing—this book got me revisiting the songs I used to sing and rushing to seek out the ones I didn’t know.”—Catherine Bott, singer and broadcaster“A richly fascinating take on the enduring power and shape-shifting form of the art song, told with authority and wit by the uniquely qualified John Potter.”—Kerry Andrew, composer, performer, and author“John Potter’s wide-ranging experience across many styles of vocal music ensures an entertaining and original view.”—John Surman, saxophonist and composer“The mix of skill, erudition, and imagination that has distinguished John Potter’s recordings with the Dowland Project and the Hilliard Ensemble finds its echo in these wide-ranging texts on the history of song. Whether writing about the innovations of Josquin Desprez, the playful songs of Erik Satie, or Berio’s experimental settings of James Joyce, Potter’s perspective is always a fresh one.”—Manfred Eicher, founder of ECM Records

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Book SynopsisThe first telling of the unknown story of America’s two-hundred-year history as a slave-trading nationTrade Review“A work of impressive breadth, deep research, and evenhanded analysis.”—James Oakes, New York Review of Books“An authoritative historical account of American involvement in the slave trade. . . . A brutal but compelling read.”—The Tablet“This book will for many years to come be the only comprehensive and integrated overview of U.S. involvement in the North American–based slave trade from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries.”—David Eltis, coauthor of Atlas of the Transatlantic Slave Trade“This is one of the best syntheses of the history of the U.S. slave trade ever written. A book that offers not only a great historical narrative of a long-term process but also dives into specific themes in new ways.”—Leonardo Marques, Universidade Federal Fluminense

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Book SynopsisBy emphasizing Latin American reformers’ decades-long struggle to defeat authoritarianism, this transnational history challenges the timeworn Cold War paradigm and recasts the region’s political evolutionTrade Review“A masterpiece of historical description and analysis, filled with vivid characters and contextualized in transnational ways that invite American foreign policymakers to re-examine and practice the democratic principles we preach in Latin America.”—William B. Taylor, author of Fugitive Freedom: The Improbable Lives of Two Impostors in Late Colonial Mexico“Meticulously researched, Latin America’s Democratic Crusade provides a comprehensive reinterpretation of twentieth-century Latin American politics. It is a must read for anyone interested in understanding the complex processes of political and social change in contemporary Latin America.”—Miguel Tinker Salas, author of The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture, and Society in Venezuela“With engaging prose and fine-grained archival research, Wells compels us to rethink how Latin Americans—from poets and booksellers to revolutionaries and reformers—experienced and understood the Cold War. By framing the era as one marked by struggles between democracy and dictators rather than between capitalism and communism, Wells analyzes the Cold War in Latin America in new and original ways.”—David Carey Jr., author of I Ask for Justice: Maya Women, Dictators, and Crime in Guatemala, 1898–1944

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Book SynopsisThrough images and texts both historical and contemporary, this book looks at the Great Migration and its profound and ongoing impactTrade Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“In this major contribution to the history of the Holocaust, Clifford has written a highly original, deeply moving and perceptive study of the way child survivors struggled to come to terms with their personal tragedies.”—Saul David, Sunday Telegraph“A painful history. . . . Combining analysis of survivors’ testimonies recorded over the years, documents from the archives of organizations that came into contact with these children, and oral histories Clifford herself collected, the book shows how many of these survivors struggled with the act of making sense of their lives—even the lucky ones, who didn’t witness violence, and whose material needs were well met during the period of conflict and persecution. Clifford calls the work ‘fundamentally a book about the history of living after, and living with, a childhood marked by chaos.’”—Rebecca Onion, Slate“Rebecca Clifford’s remarkable book records the experiences of these children — now grandparents themselves — for whom survival was only a precursor to the challenges of peacetime…Courage and resilience shine through this timely history.”—Jane Shilling, Daily Mail“A finalist for the Cundill History Prize, [Clifford’s] book is based on the stories of 100 child survivors of the Holocaust, born between 1935 and 1944. The book, also shortlisted for Britain’s Wolfson History Prize, examines historical trauma and its sizable impact.”—Globe and Mail, (Best Books of 2021)“Clifford leads readers through this history of pain and incomprehension with the utmost sensitivity.”—Christopher Moore, Literary Review of Canada“[An] extraordinary book . . . original. . . . Any study of the Holocaust immediately raises questions of memory, of remembrance, of testimony—but what of those who simply don’t remember? Clifford explores how this led to a neglect or misunderstanding of child survivors in the world of Holocaust studies.”—Michael O’Loughlin, Irish Times Weekend“[A]n extraordinary book on children’s lives after the Holocaust. . . . There is, inevitably, heartbreak on almost every page of this book, as Dr. Clifford patiently pieces together what happened to the children.”—Jenni Frazer, Jewish Chronicle“Outstanding. . . . For those who wish to get beyond the witness testimonies, or especially the increasing number of fictional accounts of Holocaust story, this book is essential.”—Bruce Thompson, Methodist RecorderFinalist for the Cundill History Prize sponsored by McGill UniversityWinner of the 2021 Scholarship Award, sponsored by the Canadian Jewish Literary AwardsShortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize 2021Honorary mention in the 2021 British and Irish Association for Jewish Studies Book Prize“Really impressive, beautifully written, judicious and thoughtful. I have no doubt Survivors will be a major milestone in the history of the Holocaust and its legacy.”—Mark Roseman, author of The Villa, the Lake, the Meeting“A wonderful piece of writing, its power and intelligence so delicately crafted, a truly significant contribution to our understanding of the consequences over time of the interplay between trauma, memory and identity.”—Philippe Sands, author of East West Street and The Ratline“A comprehensive and highly readable examination of the experiences of child Holocaust survivors by an historian sensitive to the many variables that determined their survival during the Second World War and after. Drawing on her own interviews with child survivors, other people’s interviews, interviews with care workers, foster parents and mental health professionals, as well as archival documents, Professor Clifford ably navigates through this complex history and historiography with skill and great nuance.”—Helen Epstein, author of The Long Half-Lives of Love and Trauma“In this moving and beautifully written book, Rebecca Clifford has produced one of the best analyses of child Holocaust survivors to appear to date. Subverting commonplace assumptions about children yet remaining ethically attuned to their needs, suffering and hopes, Survivors is a book which demands our attention.”—Dan Stone, author of Liberation of the Camps

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Admirably thorough. . . . Anyone curious about the impact of migration on the history and culture of London could do worse than read the chapter on food in this exhaustive history.”—Andrew Holgate, Sunday Times“Panayi’s wonderfully detailed study is a glorious celebration of how migrants have contributed to London’s rich and many-stranded cultural identity: ‘cosmopolitanism has characterized the evolution of London since the arrival of the Romans who founded this city of immigrants.’”—PD Smith, The Guardian, “This Month’s Best Paperbacks”“This book convincingly argues that, more than in any other city in Europe, let alone the world, migrants have shaped the destiny of London.”—Francis Ghiles, Esglobal“Panayi’s superb study demonstrates how migrants have been crucial in the flourishing of skills, labour, and knowledge that have made London a cosmopolitan city.”—Charlotte Faucher, Journal of Contemporary History“An interesting and rewarding book. . . . You can be familiar with the facts of everyday life in a cosmopolitan, multicultural city but still be surprised and enriched by Panayi’s scholarly analysis.”—James Evans, Spectator“Said to be the first history of London to show how immigrants have built, shaped and made a great success of the capital city, Migrant City by Panikos Panayi is a fascinating and revealing book.”—John Singleton, Methodist Recorder“Migrant City, an invaluable and scholarly resource, chronicles multi-shaded, multi-ethnic London in all its glory.”—Ian Thomson, Evening Standard“[A] compendious and illuminating survey of London.”—Boyd Tonkin, Arts Desk“A love letter to the UK’s capital and its history of immigration.”—Maya Goodfellow, Prospect“Detailed and well-referenced. . . . A valuable resource.”—Jad Adams, Who Do You Think You Are?“This worthwhile and sensitive survey looks at the history of virtually every immigrant community to have settled in London since the eighteenth century, and in turn assesses almost every facet of that experience.”—Mike Berlin, Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society“This book celebrates London, its uniqueness, and its influence. It also acknowledges the drive, struggle and fortitude of the myriad migrants who call London their home. They and London have made a dynamic accommodation delivering a vibrant, if at times, fractious multicultural mega city.”—Barry Coidan, London Society“Whilst Migrant City will undoubtedly become a key text for students of migration, it will be of great use to anyone interested in urban history generally or the interplay between economic, political, and cultural change in Britain.”—Daniel Renshaw, Cultural and Social History“This is a brave and powerful book. . . . Migration is always present and is always at the heart of local histories. . . . We thus need more work such as the astonishing achievement of Migrant City to test out its wider claims. In the meantime, we should recognise the book as simply one of the finest contributions to the historical study of migration to Britain in recent decades.”—Tony Kushner, Immigrants & Minorities“Migrant City is a substantial achievement and is relevant to those interested not only in the history of migration, but also urban, economic, and social history. It makes clear in glorious and often surprising detail the myriad ways that migrants have contributed to the making of London.”—Jean P. Smith, Reviews in History“Immigrants from near and far are the lifeblood of any great city, none more than London. This is a masterly and invaluable history of a neglected topic.”—Simon Jenkins, author of A Short History of London“An eclectic integration of interviews, personal stories, case-studies and historical analyses, Migrant City: A New History of London tells a powerful story about London’s reliance on immigration. Its potency comes from its incontrovertibility; without immigration, London would not exist as we know it. Panayi bravely confronts the lazy and often arbitrary distinction between immigrant and native to boldly showcase what it really means to be a Londoner in the modern world.”—David Lammy, MP for Tottenham and campaigner for the Windrush generation“The history of London book I’ve been waiting a London lifetime for—Panayi delivers modern and ancient truths about this city through a personal, heartfelt style that beats from the page. In these divisive times, this is an urgent and necessary history of our capital city.”—Sabrina Mahfouz, contributor to The Good Immigrant

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A thrilling account of the capital during its most dramatic and important era” “Vivid and engrossing...Lincoln is adept at spotting eloquent details that stick in the mind.”—John Carey, The Sunday Times“Lincoln...not only takes us through the maze of this magnificently chaotic city, but skilfully interweaves the political convulsions that dogged it through the 17th century.”—Ben Wilson, The Times “Brings much engaging detail about London life...The great virtue of Margarette Lincoln’s new book is to show us a world in flux, and what we recognise as a sort of modernity coming into being.”—Ian Bostridge, Financial Times“Margarette Lincoln has a curator’s gift for selecting all the right details for a thoroughly absorbing account.”—Tony Barber, Financial Times ‘Best Books of 2021: History’“Here are charted the national events and personalities...researched in great depth...to indicate commercial ambition, expansion, and hardship and particularly the untold stories of ordinary Londoners showing how the nation emerged from a turbulent century.”—Paul Ridgway, Seagull of the Indian Maritime Foundation“Draws on a vast array of sources to explore how Londoners were affected by national events and changes in attitudes”—Caroline Sanderson, The Bookseller“A satisfying, lively book, befitting a fascinating subject. For anyone wishing to understand London in this vital, formative period of its history - or even just wishing to see how a growing early modern city ticked - this is a great place to start. A vivid portrayal of a vibrant city.”—Jonathan Healey, BBC History Magazine“Lincoln's colourful canvas is both a chronicle and an ever-shifting panorama — a vivid portrayal of a metropolis in the grip of alarming, bewildering and constant change [that] skilfully steers her narrative through such political squalls without losing sight of the background.”—Nigel Jones, Spectator “A hugely enjoyable read...[Lincoln’s] extended account of London in the chaotic last days of James II’s reign is the best I have read, capturing perfectly the uncertainty on the streets.”—Adrian Tinniswood, Literary Review “The book opens with Elizabeth I’s funeral procession in 1603 and ends with the foundation of the Bank of England in 1694...Lincoln skilfully intertwines such grand events with the lives of everyday Londoners: the gossip, the markets, the filth, the shops, the crime, the joyful jostling chaos of life in seventeenth century London.”—Travels Through Time“This well-researched, brilliantly-written and anecdotally-entertaining book does full justice to its own subtitle.”—Mike Paterson, London Historians“Margarette Lincoln, whose previous books have been about seafaring, has chosen the right moment for this new departure.”—The Oldie“Stands head and shoulders above the rest…Lively and arresting…[Lincoln] is as confident in handling the royal ceremonials of political transition...as she is with London's thriving coffee-house culture, and its turbulent maritime community.”—Ian W. Archer, Times Literary Supplement"With her curator's eye, Lincoln assembles the colourful details of everyday life to form a compelling narrative of how Londoners continued to live, adapt and struggle underneath the drama of public events." — Miranda Malins, History Today“London and the 17th Century must undoubtedly be considered the new definitive introduction and overview of the subject . . . It is a book that nobody with an interest in the history of London can do without.”—Joe Saunders, The Local Historian“[London and the Seventeenth Century] presents the reader with a vibrant and elegant overview of the transformation of the city into a global metropolis. Lincoln has deftly woven together social, political, and nautical histories into a compelling new narrative.”—Jasmine Kilburn-Toppin, Journal of British Studies"A fascinating journey round the best city in the world during the most turbulent period in its long history. Terrorism, war, plague, fire and revolution – they all have their place in an exciting story told with verve and wit."—Adrian Tinniswood, author of The Long Weekend“Lincoln has the keenest possible eye for the character of the key players, the court as well as the populace, for the process of historical change and for London’s street-life, the docks and palace ceremony, coffee houses, gardens and shops. She makes the whole look and feel of the period come alive.”—Charles Saumarez Smith, author of East London “London in the 17th century was visited by apocalyptic events: plague, fire and war. Yet it survived all these, emerging as one of the greatest cities of the Western world. In this lively account, Lincoln shows us how the transformation was possible.”—Margaret Willes, author of The Curious World of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“It’s not about gardening, nor is it about the structure or origins of plants, but a sort of engaging miscellany . . . There is much to be learnt on almost every page.”—Richard Eyre, Sunday Times“This lively and well-researched book is a garland of delights . . . Even among familiar flowers Boddy finds unexpected stories and connections.”—Peter Parker, Spectator“This joyful, elegant study of how poets, philosophers and politicians have seen meaning in various types of flowers—from the Cold War symbol of “Daisy Girl” to D H Lawrence’s verdict on the daffodil (“ruffled birds on their perches”)—is a tour-de-force.”—Iona McLaren, Daily Telegraph“This illustrated guide unearths the history and influence of iconic flowers from across the globe, from Spring daffodils to autumn chrysanthemums.”—Sophie Hannam and Caroline Wheater, Homes & Antiques“A book to dip into little and often, which serves up a year’s worth of intellectual stimulation [and] sensual pleasure . . . the breadth of references is quite simply breathtaking”—Jodie Jones, Garden Illustrated“There is something of interest for everyone, and it is charmingly illustrated too . . . [I]t gives joy to be ‘locked down’ with this book.”—Margaret Barrie, Flora Magazine“From the meaning of carnations in Sex and the City to the use of sunflowers in the cleanup of Chernobyl, from Henry VIII’s ban on saffron dye in Ireland to the modernist reinventions of roses, this is no ordinary flower book, and Kasia Boddy is no ordinary writer.”—Ali Smith, author of Spring“Unlike any book I have read on flowers. We get a superb range of cultural information and imagery from ancient times right through to the very modern, and from all parts of the world. Fascinating.”—Margaret Willes, author of The Gardens of the British Working Class“There is no doubt that anyone perusing the pages will view afresh the blooming flowers in their garden . . . A compelling, contextualising tapestry written with both vivacity and analytical rigour.”—Chris Beardshaw, Garden Designer and Broadcaster“Blooming Flowers is a gorgeously lush evocation of twelve different flowers, each one steeped in its own stories, cultural associations and botanical wonder. It is not just a sunny celebration of everything floral—we learn how intimately flowers are entwined with global warming, transatlantic slavery, US imperialism and nuclear radioactivity—but this is a beautifully written book, full of exquisite detail, startling facts and laced with just the right amount of poetry.”—Peter Fiennes, author of Oak and Ash and Thorn

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Book SynopsisHow Freud’s concept of the super-ego can help us to understand the harsh cultural climate of the digital ageTrade Review“Edmundson . . . is an engaging writer, whether he is describing Freud as heroic ideal, football, reading, teaching or . . . the politics of his students. His tone is friendly yet incisive, more conversational than academic. . . . Insightful.”—Michael Roth, Washington Post“In this timely, persuasive, and utterly compelling new book, Edmundson reveals the ingenious subtlety of self‑sabotage. The sheer wit and good humour of Edmundson’s writing make this a unique and indispensable work of cultural criticism.”—Adam Phillips, author of The Cure for Psychoanalysis and On Getting Better“Reading The Age of Guilt saved me years on the couch and made this cultural-political moment of super-ego warriors and their enthralled supplicants far more comprehensible. The urge to punish and be punished becomes the key to most human mysteries and miseries in this scandalously well-written and perversely funny intercession.”—Laura Kipnis, author of Love in the Time of Contagion: A Diagnosis“The Age of Guilt is exactly the book we need right now. Mark Edmundson explains how the superego, that huge roadblock to happiness, keeps getting bigger and more punishing in the internet age—and he even suggests some ways to make ourselves happier and less superego-driven. Whether or not you’re familiar with Freud, you will benefit from Edmundson’s sage advice.”—David Mikics, author of Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker

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Book SynopsisA pathbreaking look at Native women of the early South who defined power and defied authorityTrade Review“An artful, powerful book. Alejandra Dubcovsky has created a substantial contribution to our knowledge of women in the so-called ‘forgotten centuries’ of European colonialism in the southeast.”—Malinda Maynor Lowery, author of The Lumbee Indians“A remarkable book. Alejandra Dubcovsky pursued relentless research to uncover the histories of women previously unseen, even unnamed. As Dubcovsky shows, they had names, they had families, they had lives that mattered. The historical landscape is transformed by their presence.”—Lisa Brooks, author of Our Beloved Kin“Phenomenal. This pathbreaking scholarship returns our attention to the Indigenous women who shaped the early south. Blending Indigenous studies and historical methodologies, Dubcovsky offers innovative accounts of Native power and survivance amidst colonial invasion.”—Elizabeth Ellis, Princeton University“Dubcovsky breathes vibrant life into documentary fragments as she expertly leads her readers through the Spanish colonial archive to rediscover the many women—be they Timucuan, Apalachee, Spanish or African—awaiting scholarly resurrection.”—Juliana Barr, Duke University“Carefully researched and evocatively written, Dubcovsky’s book centers Indigenous women in the history of the early South, offering a timely reminder that stories of war, empire, and Indigenous worlds are transformed when we attend to women’s power.”—Joshua Piker, William and Mary Quarterly

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Dickson has written what is probably the most important work on Irish towns ever published. . . . The First Irish Cities is scholarly, authoritative, elegantly written, beautifully illustrated, and a delight to read.”—Leslie Clarkson, Familia“A very valuable and intriguing resource that answered many questions and gave satisfying explanations.”—Flicka Small, Estudios Irlandeses“Stylishly written and impeccably well researched.”—JP O’Malley, Irish Independent“This is a book that operates on a number of levels. For some readers the pleasure will be in excavating nuggets of information on particular places—and thanks to Dickson’s mastery of the evidence there are many gems to be discovered. . . . Whichever category you fall into, you will find enlightenment and entertainment in this volume.”—Raymond Gillespie, Irish Times“Highly original, well-researched and elegantly written. . . . Transforms our understanding of many important questions.”—Eugenio Biagini, author of British Democracy and Irish Nationalism 1876–1906“This is the book we have been waiting for. Dickson provides the first comprehensive overview of the great age of Irish urban development, in all its complexity and variety.”—Sean Connolly, author of Divided Kingdom“Exemplary. The study of Irish urban history has been until now patchy. Dickson’s work significantly reduces this scholarly deficit.”—Jim Smyth, emeritus professor, University of Notre Dame“Drawing on his magisterial knowledge of all facets of eighteenth-century Ireland, Dickson unpicks the country’s anomalous urban histories—stemming from the extraordinary mid-century growth spurts that created cities comparable to their great European and British counterparts.”—Finola O’Kane, professor, University College Dublin

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Book SynopsisA timely look at the impact of China’s booming emergence on the countries of Southeast AsiaTrade Review“[P]rovides an expert and lucid synthesis of the historical context and recent developments of south-east Asia’s rich and complex relations with Beijing”—John Reed, Financial Times"In the Dragon's Shadow is a very ambitious book but one that meets the challenge with carefully weighted judgement, insight and panache.”—Malcolm Cook, Contemporary Southeast Asia “Well-researched...A book that should prove valuable to the incoming Biden administration in the vacuum left by the abdication of the Trump administration across the region…The sum and substance of Strangio’s book is that the countries of Southeast Asia remain in an uneasy embrace from a country that seemingly has little sense of how to wield its power.”—John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel"A very relevant work...Chapter by chapter, Strangio provides valuable insights into the countries of Southeast Asia."—Manya Koetse, What's on Weibo“Comprehensive...meticulously researched"—Ron Gluckman, Nikkei Asia“Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year”—Kaiser Kuo, Sinica“Balanced and well-informed...The work of a journalist with an excellent grip on history”—Frank Beyer, Asian Review of Books“An outstanding explanation of how eight Southeast Asian countries have perceived China’s rise in the region”—Dr. Jagannath Panda, Strategic Analysis"Superbly researched... Could not be more timely and important.”—Sholto Byrnes, The National"A serious and rewarding account of China’s history, influence and possible future in South-East Asia, with little treasures scattered throughout...In the Dragon’s Shadow is a new entry on the “must-read” list. For those already entranced, it should become a well-thumbed reference of ideas, dates, quotes and further reading.."—Liam Cochrane, Australian Current Affairs, “Strangio knows his terrain well and guides us through the particularities of each country’s choice, or dilemma, with an eye to the big picture of the Indo-Pacific.”—Alec Ash, The Wire China“Comprehensive…meticulously researched.”—Rob Gluckman, Nikkei Asia "A very good book…The author has succeeded in writing a scholarly book that reads as an incisive, well-documented news analysis.”—Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS Thailand) “Based on scholarly research and years of front-line reporting, this is a singular guide both to China's international ambitions and to what will become of the world's most congested geopolitical region.”—New Statesman“An insightful account...Strangio's journalistic writing style makes it superbly readable; he should be applauded for this important and timely contribution, a must read for anyone interested in both the past and likely future of China and South-East Asia.”—Le Hong Hiep, History Today“Informative yet digestible and combining accounts of geopolitical developments with the anecdotes of taxi drivers, this book sets a high standard for future works on the topic.”—Thomas Kingston, LSE Review of Books‘A superbly well-informed, judicious and eloquent guide to the most important region in the world.’—Pankaj Mishra‘A penetrating tour de force. It will be a very long time before there is a better account of the past and present dynamics of the ever-more contested sphere of influence to China’s south.’ —Ambassador Chas W. Freeman, Jr., former US Assistant Secretary of Defense‘Indispensable for understanding one of the most important and often most misinterpreted stories of our day.’— Thant Myint-U, author of The Hidden History of Burma‘A candid and sometimes harrowing inside-look at China’s rise in the region.’ — Brian Eyler, author of Last Days of the Mighty Mekong‘A timely, deftly-researched, and provocative examination into one of the critical issues of our time.’— Joshua Kurlantzick, Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia, Council on Foreign Relations

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Book SynopsisA revealing exploration of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo’s genre paintings and the cultural significance of his depictions of ordinary people

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Book SynopsisA penetrating survey of contemporary art from Puerto Rico and the diaspora created since Hurricane Maria

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Book SynopsisAn engagingly accessible introduction to war, from ancient times to the present and into the futureTrade Review“Jeremy Black’s extraordinary body of work regularly returns to themes in military history. . . . His latest book distills his achievements as the most prolific historian in the English language into 40 short chapters that describe war from the ancient world to the present day. . . . A Short History of War offers an expansive and often evocative account of great causes that are never lost or won.”—Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal“This is a feat of remarkable compression and erudition...Studded with thought-provoking comparisons and insights and offers a handy introduction to the subject, and to Black’s oeuvre.”—Jonathan Boff, Spectator “Black has demonstrated an enormous capacity for the length, breadth and depth of global military history which will prompt readers to explore further into campaigns they know little about.”—Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, Aspects of History“This book should be a ‘must read’ for people entering into a study of military history. It will also be a valuable resource for those who already have some broader knowledge in the field or are already possessed of some expertise. This is a book well worth reading more than once, keeping as a reference, and as a start-point for future study.”—Rob Ellis, Royal United Services Institute of Victoria ‘Jeremy Black has somehow managed to condense a vast and complex subject into a very compact and compelling book. His global range, avoidance of repetition of the standard topics, and ability to capture the variety of warfare in all its forms throughout history is truly remarkable.’—Professor Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny ‘This is an excellent overview of the history of war. Highly recommended reading for anyone who wants to understand the evolution of war around the globe from prehistory to the present day.’—Professor Heather Jones, University College London‘This is a truly global survey which amounts to a miracle of compression. Indispensable for students and scholars alike.’— Professor Gary Sheffield, University of Wolverhampton

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Book SynopsisThe first modern history of St James’s Palace, shedding light on a remarkable building at the heart of the history of the British monarchy that remains by far the least known of the royal residences Trade Review“Thurley and co chart this rollercoaster history with scholarship and flair, while Yale’s collaboration with the Royal Collections Trust means the inclusion of some delightful and unfamiliar illustrations. St James’s Palace, warns Thurley in his introduction, “is a mysterious and confusing place”. Not any more. With this book, the accidental palace takes its place with the best of them.”—Adrian Tinniswood, The Sunday Telegraph

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Book SynopsisA compelling new history of the EU and the people who sought to shape and challenge it—from Maastricht to todayTrade Review“A glorious new book.”—Alex Andreou, The Bunker podcast“A fast-paced narrative of the European Union since the 1992 Maastricht Treaty.”—Denis MacShane, Encompass Europe“Most books about Europe written by academics are unreadable for the wider public… Circle of Stars helps the bigger public to understand why we live in a different Europe than just a few years ago.” —Caroline de Grutyer, euobserver “A highly original and wide-ranging history of the EU. Hodson skilfully weaves together the national and European stories, focusing on political personalities as makers-of-history, carefully picked from across the political spectrum.”—Luuk van Middelaar, author of The Passage to Europe“At last a book on Europe that infuses oceanic policy shifts with the personalities who drove the drama, and who for better or worse, forged a European Union that has, against the odds, survived one crisis after another. Circle of Stars is bright with colour and politics, yet does not shirk the hard analyses which the European project must command.”—Tony Connelly, author of Brexit and Ireland“Hodson’s beautifully written book is a fresh take on the multifaceted story of European integration, bringing to life the personalities and actions of many of the key characters in the drama. This is a must read for anyone interested in the European construction, and how we got to where we are today.”—Simon Hix, coauthor of The Political System of the European Union“A brilliant account. . . . Hodson once again shows why he’s one of the leading scholars of European integration. In impeccable prose, this contemporary history of the European Union is full of new insights into the central personalities and structural factors that have shaped the dynamics of the EU.”—Matthias Matthijs, Johns Hopkins University & Council on Foreign Relations“Full of anecdotes and colourful personalities, this lively account covers not only the political leaders who have shaped Europe, but the rock stars, cheap flights and festivals that brought Europeans together across borders.”—Heather Grabbe, author of The EU’s Transformative Power: Europeanization Through Conditionality in Central and Eastern Europe

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Book SynopsisThe first global history of the epic early days of the iron railwayTrade Review“One does not have to be a train-spotter to read it: it tells a crucial story of our social and economic history, and does so with recourse to exceptional scholarship.”—Simon Heffer, The Telegraph“Written with great confidence and considerable aplomb, The Coming of the Railway is a must for the train enthusiast.”—Jeremy Black, New Criterion“The iron railway truly made the modern world. . . . [An] authoritative, superbly footnoted account.”—Jack Watkins, Country Life“Even for those who have a library of books on railways this is a good addition. It is strongly recommended.”—Rev Dr Peter Howson, Methodist Recorder"This is the sort of book for which the word 'masterly' was coined.”—Roger Backhouse, Welsh Railways Research Circle“The nineteenth century was defined by the railway. In this compelling new book David Gwyn weaves together the disparate strands that led to its emergence as the singular new technology of its age; a monumental study, erudite, authoritative, and full of wider historical insights.”—Sir Neil Cossons, former director of the Science Museum London“This book is a real eye-opener for rail enthusiasts and scholars with a detailed and well researched account of the dawn of the railways. The rapid advancement in technology in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that the railways brought our society is truly astounding.”—Siddy Holloway, historian and presenter“A fresh perspective on the early railway story across time and world space, with a wealth of intriguing details. Gwyn ably demonstrates the role played by overlapping technologies, harmonising under the influence of shaping forces.”—Susan Major, author of Early Victorian Railway Excursions“The railways were the most important invention of the nineteenth century, but they only emerged thanks to a series of technological developments. This book documents these in a thorough and revealing way which makes it essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this great invention.”—Christian Wolmar, author of The Great Railway Revolution

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Book SynopsisInterweaving art, literature and chemistry, Charlotte Ribeyrol draws on rare archival material to explore the fascinating story of an extraordinary piece of furniture in the context of the Victorian “color revolution”

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Book SynopsisA fascinating study of the root motivations behind the political activities and philosophies of Putin’s government in RussiaTrade Review“What did Putin mean by ‘Eurasia’ and where does his project come from? This is the question Charles Clover sets out to answer in this though-provoking book. Part intellectual history, part portrait gallery . . . Black Wind, White Snow traces the background to Putin’s ideas with verve and clarity.”—Geoffrey Hosking, Financial Times“Clover writes knowledgeably and engagingly of the Russian political scene . . . Readers who would like to make that judgement for themselves in the case of today’s Russia will scarcely find a better introduction than Black Wind, White Snow.”—Edmund Griffiths, Times Literary Supplement“A veteran Financial Times correspondent analyses what really motivates the regime in Moscow by tracing the rise of Eurasianism: the belief (crudely put) that Russia’s national identity is determined by ethnicity, geography and destiny.”—The Economist, “Books of the Year 2016”“Black Wind, White Snow is required reading. This is a vivid, panoramic history of bad ideas, chasing the metastasis of the doctrine known as Eurasianism . . . Reading Charles Clover will help you understand the world of lies and delusions that is Eurasia.”—Ben Judah, Standpoint“An important contribution to this discussion . . . Mr. Clover’s reporting is excellent.”—The Economist“[A] deeply researched, fascinating account of how nationalist views that were once dissident or marginal in the Soviet Union seeped into the corridors of power in the Kremlin when Marxism-Leninism stopped working . . . Clover’s book deserves to win prizes for originality of mind as well as the strength of his liver—he has spent many nights drinking with these nationalists.”—Michael Burleigh, The Times“Utterly absorbing.”—Benjamin Nathans, New York Review of Books“Clover is as clear-sighted and sceptical as his subjects are obsessively totalitarian . . . [he possesses] an unfailing readability: however frightening the message one wants to read on to the last whistle.”—Brian Morton, Glasgow Herald“The new Russian nationalism for which Dugin speaks is entirely genuine. Clover casts a considerable light on its roots, on its passionate bias against the West, and on the Russian reality with which the rest of us now have to deal. His is therefore a book that needs to be read.”—Rodric Braithwaite, Open Russia“[Black Wind, White Snow] has significance beyond its immediate subject matter. Its meticulous observation provides us with a case study of birth of a new ideology, taking place before our very eyes.”—Antony Black, European Legacy“Essential reading. Charles Clover expertly traces how thinkers from Russia's nationalist fringe infiltrated the highest levels of Putin’s Kremlin and helped set Russian foreign policy on its current dangerous course.”—Andrew S. Weiss, Vice President for Studies, Russia and Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace“Panoramic and vivid. Informative and gripping. This is required reading on Russia now.”—Ben Judah, author of Fragile Empire: How Russia Fell In and Out of Love with Vladimir Putin“Nationalism—but not as we know it. Part poetic exercise, part proto-fascism, Eurasianism is the old-new idea eating away the Russian soul and spreading throughout Europe. Clover’s book is an intellectual adventure into a dangerous ideological Wonderland.”—Peter Pomerantsev, author of Nothing is True and Everything is Possible: Adventures in Modern Russia

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Book SynopsisMore than just a single-minded warrior-king, Henry V comes to life in this fresh account as a gifted ruler acutely conscious of spiritual matters and his subjects’ welfareTrade Review“The Henry who emerges from this study is not the stereotypical warrior-king feted (or vilified) for his military prowess. He is an altogether more complex figure: decisive in his leadership but collegiate in his approach to government; exceptional in his mastery of administrative detail and his determination to do right by all his subjects. . . . It is a fascinating and persuasive portrait of a controversial monarch and a major contribution to studies of his reign.”—Juliet Barker, Times Literary Supplement“Vale gives us a portrait of Henry V’s kingship and, not surprisingly, it is a good one.”—John Watts, London Review of Books“A superb example of scholarship . . . unsurpassable for what it reveals of what scholars can bring to light . . . erudite. . . . You’ll go more deeply than was previously possible into this phase of the history of England, this particular reign, and a king even greater than the one given voice by William Shakespeare.”—James M. Banner, Jr., Weekly Standard“Here is a book that pushes out the boundaries. We will never know what went on in Henry’s mind. But as a study of how he worked and what one can infer about his thoughts, Malcolm Vale’s book is unlikely to be surpassed."—Jonathan Sumption, Literary Review“Vale’s book is a clearly written study that does an admirable job providing new insights into Henry the man and the late-medieval ruler.”—Alexander Brondarbit, Royal Studies Journal“By giving greater authority to the archival record than most previous historians have done, and by adopting a thematic rather than a chronological approach to his subject, Malcolm Vale has succeeded in penetrating, as never before, the mind and intentions of Henry V. As this highly recommended study develops, the reader is presented with a king no longer primarily a soldier but a much more rounded, multifaceted figure who leads his country through a time of uncertainties social, political, military and religious, justifying the author’s claim to have revealed ‘another Henry V’ in the process.”—Christopher Allmand, author of Henry V“A highly original study of Henry V. It is difficult these days to say anything new about the king: Malcolm Vale manages it.”—Nigel Saul, author of For Honour and Fame: Chivalry in England, 1066–1500

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Book SynopsisA moving, deeply researched account of survivors’ experiences of liberation from Nazi death camps and the long, difficult years that followedTrade Review“[An] engrossing and illuminating book—the first full and comparative study of the subject.”—Richard J. Evans, New York Review of Books“[Stone] has produced a body of thoughtful, occasionally provocative work that has genuinely enhanced our understanding of these subjects. He writes with clarity, straightforwardness and a willingness to allow his personal commitment to show. . . . [A] typically engaging and rewarding read.”—Ben Barkow, Jewish Chronicle“The real power of Stone’s history lies in a sense in of indomitable vigour and self-belief. . . . Stone does a good job of showing how even as nations declared peace, individuals and families still had to fight on desperately.”—Sinclair McKay, Daily Telegraph“The real power of Stone’s history lies in a sense in of indomitable vigour and self-belief. . . . Stone does a good job of showing how even as nations declared peace, individuals and families still had to fight on desperately.”—Sinclair McKay, Daily Telegraph“[A] thoughtful, sensitive and well-researched treatment of an important and rarely covered subject.”—Roger Moorhouse, BBC History Magazine“Is freedom really a thing that can be brought by one person to another, for example by a soldier to an inmate of a concentration camp? It is appealing to think so, and thus to imagine a precise and satisfying ending to the war. Stone’s pioneering study of the process of liberation demands, instead, that we consider seriously the meaning of freedom.”—Timothy Snyder, Association for Jewish Studies“In recent years, Dan Stone’s name has been a guarantee of quality. . . . A clear step in the right direction, it focuses on the centre-piece of western Holocaust memory—the moment when the American and British armies, in April 1945, made the shocking discovery of the concentration camps in Germany.”—Jan Lanicek, History“Dan Stone’s history of the liberation of the camps is remarkable for the vast array of its sources, its extremely detailed inquiry and, nonetheless, for its highly readable narrative. It will remain a reference for years to come.”—Saul Friedländer, author of Nazi Germany and the Jews“The liberation of the camps in 1944–45 can be seen as a merciful release by Allied armies dedicated to eliminating the cruelties of Hitler’s Reich. Dan Stone in this searingly honest account of the liberation and its aftermath shows how many paradoxes and ambiguities there were in the whole process. This is the story of an awful human tragedy told with sympathy and understanding. There are lessons here for our own age.”—Richard Overy, author of Why the Allies Won“The Liberation of the Camps should become the most important and widely read book on its subject.”—Geoff Eley, author of Nazism as Fascism: Violence, Ideology, and the Ground of Consent in Germany, 1930–1945“Thoroughly researched, carefully conceived, wisely guided, and beautifully executed, The Liberation of the Camps should become the most important and widely read book on its subject.”—Geoff Eley, author of Nazism as Fascism: Violence, Ideology, and the Ground of Consent in Germany 1930–1945“This is the best book on the liberation of Jews from the Nazi camps—important and insightful. Drawing on many deeply moving testimonies, Dan Stone expertly charts the long and painful path from prisoner to survivor.”—Nikolaus Wachsmann, author of KL: A History of the Nazi Concentration Camps

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Book SynopsisFrom Ukraine’s leading writer-activist comes an intimate account of resistance and survival in the earliest months of the Russian-Ukrainian warTrade Review“[A] personal record of the first four months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, recounting the shelling and killing but also resistance in Kharkiv.”—New York Times Book Review“Offers an important window into those first days of war, and highlights the extent to which local volunteer movements stepped in when the state was unable to cope.”—The Telegraph, “Best Ukraine Books of 2023”“Costigan-Humes and Wheeler endearingly capture Zhadan’s wit and colloquial tone. . . . Language may not overrun mercenaries or shoot down missiles, but it can—when wielded by writers like Zhadan and so many of his compatriots—help defeat prejudice, ignorance, and skepticism, with words as well as arms bringing Ukraine one day closer to victory.”—Cory Oldweiler, Boston Globe“Zhadan’s Sky Above Kharkiv should be valued for preserving an important personal testimony from one of the most pivotal battles during Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine.”—Kate Tsurkan, Kyiv Independent“Instead of high politics, this book is about endurance. . . . Every day since the Russian invasion [Zhadan] has posted informative, descriptive articles and poems on Facebook.”—Allan Massie, The ScotsmanFinalist for the Witold Pilecki International Book Award, special prize category, sponsored by The Pilecki Institute“This powerful book from Ukraine’s iconic poet-activist is at once a moving testament to the spirit of a nation that will not back down, an indictment of a bloody and unnecessary war, and a call on the rest of us to defend the principles of freedom and democracy wherever they are threatened.”—Anne Applebaum“In this, his ‘diary for everyone,’ poet Serhiy Zhadan turns his Facebook posts into urgent wartime communiques in a language that digs through debris, sweeps up broken glass and records the valor of a city organizing to defend itself. His daily missives call for supplies, offer advice, issue warnings and preserve for posterity a record of ‘the chimerical, tenuous nature of danger and vulnerability.’ It isn’t meant to be poetry but poetry is everywhere within it. This is language with its breath held, language that, as the poet hoped, ‘stands up to silence and death.’ As Zhadan says of Ukrainian poetry, Sky Above Kharkiv ‘stitches up the body of history, holds everything together, doesn’t let us forget a single thing.’”—Carolyn Forché“The indefatigable Serhiy Zhadan is writing against death. His love-letter-in-posts to the people of Kharkiv will live far longer than Putin’s regime—as well as—let us all desperately hope—his example that real toughness does not emerge in coldness and cruelty, but in solidarity and kindness.”—Marci Shore“This is a sobering eyewitness account of the Russian aggression that turned the peaceful skies over Ukraine into clouds of fear and death. But more than that, it is a story of Ukrainian defiance and resistance, recorded in real time in the online posts of one of the country’s leading intellectual and cultural figures, who refused to abandon his city during the most dramatic months of the war. Sky Above Kharkiv conveys the indomitable spirit of the Ukrainians—revealing why they did not surrender, and why they will win.”—Serhii Plokhy, author of The Russo-Ukrainian War: The Return of History

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Book SynopsisA fast-paced narrative about the world-famous libertine Giacomo Casanova, from celebrated biographer Leo Damrosch Trade Review“The great virtue of Mr. Damrosch’s biography is that, while never losing critical distance, he fully succeeds in communicating that ‘vivid presentness,’ that ‘joyful eagerness’ for life, which is what keeps us reading Casanova—and reading about him.”—Gregory Dowling, Wall Street Journal“Damrosch’s biography is undoubtedly a huge achievement, at once erudite and vivid. By the end I was almost convinced that Casanova was worthy of such prodigious scholarship.”—John Carey, Sunday Times“[A] stern but measured book. . . . In his stylish, insightful and, yes, one must admit, sexy biography, Damrosch gives us the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly.”—Laura Freeman, Times (UK)“Colourful and entertaining. . . . The author is clear-eyed about Casanova’s faults.”—The Economist“There have been many biographies of Casanova before, some of them very good, although they have tended to be thesis driven. . . . [Damrosch] is in turn clear that he is writing a post MeToo Casanova. At the same time, he is also keen that we should understand just what a valuable document Histoire is for scholars working on the 18th century.”—Kathryn Hughes, The Guardian“Damrosch’s biography condenses a vast trove of Casanoviana into a well-researched, four-hundred-page narrative that is most engaging on its subject’s catholic interests as an intellectual and on the milieus he traversed as an itinerant charlatan.”—Judith Thurman, New Yorker“Leo Damrosch is a professor emeritus of literature with an emphasis on the 18th century. And he reads Casanova post-Weinstein, so to speak—but not sourly or dogmatically, instead confidently, inspired, admiringly and at the same time critically, passionately. And he can write brilliantly too.”—Jean-Martin Büttner, Basler Zeitung (Basel, Switzerland)“Damrosch’s adroit and balanced narration is never less than enthralling.”—Michael Prodger, New Statesman“Casanova rarely describes his surroundings and omits much on contemporary Venice that he simply takes for granted. Damrosch fills in the details, provides comment on Casanova from third parties, identifies those lovers whose identities Casanova attempted to obscure, adds previously unpublished material from Casanova’s later years, and places the libertine’s transgressions in the context of the mores of the time.”—Peter Neville-Hadley, South China Morning Post“Casanova’s life was in the best of hands with Leo Damrosch’s erudition. He follows Casanova’s escapades and escapes as a vertiginous heroic story. Out of Venice we are thrown into an experiment with the eighteenth century, its tastes, and transgressions, revealing a surprising ‘book of life.’”—Pierre Saint-Amand, author of Suite libertine: Vies du XVIIIe siècle“A pleasure to read, remarkably clear and readable, engaging, vivid, informative—in short, an excellent biography that both delights and instructs.”—April Alliston, Princeton University“The name Casanova has become synonymous with serial seduction—hardly a model in the age of #MeToo. The excellence of Leo Damrosch’s energetic biography is that it reveals so many other dimensions of this remarkable man: pioneering autobiographer, questioner of received ideas, traveler through high culture and low.”—Jonathan Bate, author of Radical Wordsworth: The Poet Who Changed the WorldPraise for Leo Damrosch’s The Club: Johnson, Boswell, and the Friends Who Shaped an Age “Damrosch brilliantly brings together the members’ voices. . . . As this stellar book moves from one Club member to another, it comes together as an ambitious venture homing in on the nature of creative stimulus.”—Lyndall Gordon, New York Times Book Review “Engaging and illuminating. . . . In The Club, as the actors appear one by one, surrounding Johnson and Boswell on Damrosch’s stage, we are transported back to a world of conversations, arguments, ideas, and writings.”—Jenny Uglow, New York Review of Books “Beginning in 1764, some of Britain’s future leading lights (including Samuel Johnson, Edmund Burke and Edward Gibbon) met every Friday night to talk and drink. Damrosch’s magnificent history revives the Club’s creative ferment.”—New York Times Book Review, Editors’ Choice

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Book SynopsisA harrowing account of brainwashing’s pervasive role in the twentieth and twenty-first centuriesTrade Review“Riveting. . . . Dimsdale takes readers through it all, animating the journey with a clear, energetic writing style that shows how the art of dark persuasion a generation ago led almost inevitably to today’s misinformation, cyberbullying and cultlike behavior on the Internet.”—Dina Temple-Raston, Washington Post“Teeming with intriguing tales of mental manipulation, including accounts of the Jim Jones cult, Patty Hearst’s post-kidnap transformation and the whole thorny subject of Stockholm Syndrome.”—Martin Chilton, The Independent“Joel E. Dimsdale describes the refinement of thought-manipulation over the past century, as rival ideologies competed for control of the mind.”—Peter Pomerantsev, Spectator“A brilliant, highly readable account.”—Charles Foster, Fortean TimesShortlisted for the 2022 William James Award, sponsored by the APA“In an age with deep concern that we are being manipulated by artificial intelligence and algorithms, this is an important topic and a timely, well-written book. The question of how large groups of seemingly reasonable people come to hold obviously unreasonable beliefs is one of the deepest questions of our age.”—Tanya Luhrmann, author of When God Talks Back“This book is a fascinating account of coercive persuasion from Pavlov to today's mass believers in conspiracy. Dimsdale’s sobering account makes the reader wonder if what anti-vaxxers, Big Lie believers, and victims of brainwashing techniques have in common is the story told in this book about the socialization of cognition and emotion. Provocative and eye-opening.”—Arthur Kleinman, author of The Soul of Care“A book for our times—timely, compelling, provocative, smart, and ultimately hopeful, in offering a means to our own protection from the forces of darkness.”—Philippe Sands, author of East West Street“A remarkable history of the historical background to brainwashing in the twentieth century. This book should be read by anyone interested in how people can believe in something dramatically different from their own observations.”—Thomas Wise, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine“Captivating. Illuminating. Frightening. Secrets revealed and myths debunked on the past century’s practices of brainwashing told from the perspective of an experienced psychiatrist and a gifted narrator. A journey never to be forgotten.”—Stephen M. Stahl, Neuroscience Education Institute

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Book SynopsisAn investigation into the evolution of the seven-day week and how our attachment to its rhythms influences how we liveTrade Review“[Henkin] scours American literature, diaries, periodicals, menus and other ephemera from as far back as the seventeenth century to unearth fascinating evidence of the stickiness of the seven-day cycle.”—Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Wall Street Journal“[Henkin’s] new book shows how the week came to rule the world.”—The Economist“Henkin makes clear that there is no obvious reason for the existence of the week, much less for its omnipresence in modern societies.”—Anthony Grafton, London Review of Books“This book grounds a great historical fact—the persistence of the seven-day week—in intimate histories of the consciousness of time in the past. Proust would be pleased. So will the general readers.”—Thomas Laqueur, author of The Work of the Dead“Given today’s high-wattage lifestyle, the week, among other traditional temporal rhythms, stands endangered as a barrier against the banality of quotidian life. The implications of Henkin’s powerful insights are bracing.”—A. Roger Ekirch, author of At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past“David Henkin works wizardry in the archives to give us the surprising story behind the week’s rhythms. Preachers, workers, brides and school children have all felt the beat of the week. Henkin reminds us what we miss when our weekly rhythms are lost in a plague year or battered by a timeless internet.”—Ann Fabian, author of The Skull Collectors

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Book SynopsisThe first complete history of Southwark, London’s stubbornly independent community over the ThamesTrade Review“A fascinating journey into a part of London which has been unjustly and unaccountably neglected – until now. Entertaining, informative and full of surprises. I loved it.”—Adrian Tinniswood, author of Noble Ambitions“A fascinating plunge into Southwark's past, ranging from Roman mosaics to the Tate Modern, bear-baiting to Borough Market. Essential reading for anyone interested in the evolution of modern London.”—Lee Jackson, author of Dickensland“No part of London has a more fascinating history than the ancient Borough of Southwark, yet no part of London has been more unjustly neglected. Margaret Willes puts matters right in this immensely readable book. It deserves pride of place on every Londoner’s bookshelves.”—Jerry White, author of Mansions of Misery“A compelling history of one of the most vibrant areas of London. A must-read for anyone who wants to find out about Southwark and its relationship with the City.”—Margarette Lincoln, author of London and the Seventeenth Century

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Book Synopsis

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