History Books
Austin Macauley Publishers Reimagine Hong Kong
Book Synopsis
£17.09
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd. The Conduit
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Austin Macauley Publishers Echoes from the Land
Book Synopsis
£15.29
Austin Macauley Publishers One Familys Journey Through Ten Centuries Book 2
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£20.39
Austin Macauley Publishers Prevention Is Better than Cure
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£10.44
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Hitlers Secret Bankers
Book SynopsisThere were no death certificates issued at Auschwitz. Nevertheless, Swiss banks still demand them before handing over the assets of account holders killed in the Holocaust to their surviving relatives. When the Jews of Europe entrusted their families'' wealth to what they hoped would be a safe haven the banks of Switzerland they were wrong. Millions of dollars, deposited decades ago in good faith by Jews who were to die in the Nazi genocide, still lie in their vaults, earning interest and providing working capital for Swiss banks. However the involvement of neutral Switzerland in the finances of the Third Reich goes far beyond the dispute over dormant accounts. Swiss banks were the key foreign currency providers of the Nazi war machine; they knowingly accepted looted gold, stolen from the national banks of occupied Europe; and they operated an international banking centre for the Third Reich. Reissued with a new afterword, Adam LeBor reveals the true extent to whicTrade ReviewExtensively researched... LeBor's highly charged work will appeal to readers interested in World War II and will be embraced by Holocaust survivors and their families trying to seek restitution from Switzerland's banks' * Publishers Weekly *
£999.99
Bloomsbury USA Homecoming
Book SynopsisIn this collection of essays on African and Caribbean literature, culture, and politics, Ngugi wa Thiong''o delivers a groundbreaking critique of colonialism and capitalism in postcolonial Africa. In these essays, Ngugi wa Thiong''o eloquently interweaves a range of issues including religious oppression, consumerism, and independence with the powerful intellect and passion that has come to characterise his writing. These pieces are essential for readers wishing to uncover a critical perspective on African society and culture. Homecoming is a groundbreaking collection intended to provoke and encourage thoughtful debate on how best to ''restore the creative glory of Africa and of all Africans'' in the wake of postcolonialism. ''One of the greatest writers of our time.'' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ''A tremendous writer... It''s hard to doubt the power of the written word when you hear the story of Ngugi wa Thiong''o.''
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Hitler Years
£28.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Titanic Freak Accident or Farce
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd MANFRED VON RICHTHOFEN
Book SynopsisIt is more than a hundred years since Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron', was killed in combat on the Western Front. Yet this gallant fighter pilot is probably as well known today as he was his lifetime. Beginning in 1916, when his lethal skills were first realised, his image proved a godsend to his country's propaganda machine. There, far above the misery of life in the trenches, was a shooting star of unimaginable potency to help pacify a weary nation that was now beginning to believe that the war was no longer necessary or the losses justified. And so, an image of chivalry was conjured up and exploited with little regard of the cost of this to an increasingly war weary man. _Manfred von Richthofen: The Red Baron and the High Price of Glory_ draws on many sources, some previously untapped, including interviews with pilots he fought alongside and against, official documents held in collections around the world and the work of three noted Great War historians, two of whom began
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Silent Services First Hero
Book SynopsisCelebrating 100 years since the first submariner received the Congressional Medal of Honor, dive into pre-World War II submarine history through the first comprehensive, analytical, investigation into the life and times of Henry Breault. From 1900-41, Breault''s life is reconstructed as lived through his Official Military Personnel File, census records, newspaper clippings, and connecting previous research. Breault''s childhood, his enlistments in the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve and the United States Navy are carefully reconstructed. From there, the conditions aboard the submarines he served on, his relationship with friends and family, his relationship to the women in his life, and his concept of masculinity and material identity allow us to better understand his life in the context he likely understood them. This book provides a new template for microhistorical observations into subjects whose primary sources are official military documentation to help better understand enl
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Hitler at Hintersee
Book SynopsisHitler at Hintersee tells two stories. On the one hand there is Gerhard Bartels, who still lives at Hintersee outside Berchtesgaden. As a small boy Gerhard was photographed on a number of occasions with Adolf Hitler when the Führer visited Hintersee. Gerhard tell us about his life growing up in an area frequented by senior members of the Nazi hierarchy. He talks about the lives of ordinary local people and how the remaining German forces in the area considered putting up a last defence as the Allies advanced towards Berchtesgaden and Hintersee in April and May 1945. His family hotel was taken over as a last stand headquarters. This fascinating book also examines the significance of the region to the ruthless all-powerful regime and why the Nazi leadership established a southern headquarters on the Obersalzberg above Berchtesgaden. It reveals Hitler's connection to the area and looks at why he was initially drawn to this beautiful Alpine region in 1923. Hitler's close links with Ber
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Alum More Precious than Gold
Book SynopsisNever heard of alum? You're not alone. Yet, for centuries, alum was vital to the production of coloured cloth. Alum was needed to fix dyes and colours to the cloth. Without alum, the colours ran and faded. With alum, they shone and were fast. As a result, as the Italian scientist Vanoccio Biringucci put it in the 16th century, alum was as essential to dyers as bread is to man'. Corner the market in alum, and you could make a fortune. Manufactured from a rock called alunite that was mined in China, Egypt and Turkey, alum contributed to the fabulous wealth of the Chinese emperors, the Pharaohs, the Byzantines and the Ottomans. A prized commodity in international trade, alum funded the opulence of Genoa, Bruges and late Renaissance Rome. Henry VII cannily exploited it, but it nearly ruined Elizabeth I. But alum also allowed crooks to make debased coins and to adulterate bread, and was at the heart of one of the most spectacular bankruptcy scandals of the 18th century. And the Black
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Archaeology Versus Metal Detecting
Book SynopsisThis book offers a no-holds-barred insight into the often passionate, sometimes controversial, subject of tension and mistrust between the worlds of archaeology and metal detecting with the intent of shedding new light upon and bringing into the open some of the working practices, procedures and thoughts which have fuelled an ill-wind that flurries through levels of archaeological academia. Beginning in the mists of history, the author explores the birth of archaeological investigation from a Kings search, the grave robbers, through the antiquarian collectors, museum artefact collections through to a profession which appears these days to rely upon the construction industry and its commercialism for survival. Integrating various sources of information to highlight analytical information as well cultural, social, and economic intervention to form an unbiased argument. The later appearance of metal detecting as a hobby which fired discontent, distrust, and deliberate efforts to eithe
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd From Bicycle to Bentley A Bookmakers Story
Book SynopsisStephen takes the reader from his earliest school days when it became clear he was academically bright, especially in maths, attending prep school, winning a scholarship to major public school Uppingham where he won maths prizes and, aged 16, passed 3 S (scholarship) levels.
£17.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd From Bicycle to Bentley A Bookmakers Story
Book SynopsisStephen takes the reader from his earliest school days when it became clear he was academically bright, especially in maths, attending prep school, winning a scholarship to major public school Uppingham where he won maths prizes and, aged 16, passed 3 S (scholarship) levels. By then he had decided to be a bookie. He attended an interview for Cambridge University only because it was on his bicycle route to Newmarket races!Unable to work in any gambling job until 18, he set about visiting racecourses by bicycle, staying in youth hotels (17p per night), eventually cycling to all racecourses in the UK, including several now-defunct courses. At 18 he found employment with Beresford & Smith in London; aged 24 he got his first bookie's licence in 1971 and by the age of 40 in 1986 was betting big on the rails at major meetings such as the Grand National, Cheltenham, Derby, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, often laying bets to lose 100,000 or more - when money was worth nearly twice today's value - one of the few bookies who happily stood toe to toe and traded blow for blow with big hitters like JP McManus, Barney Curley, Michael Tabor and Harry Findlay. In 1998 changes in pitch administration prompted early retirement, and he sold his pitches, worked for a few unsatisfactory years for Corals and then departed the big time - with a Bentley as well as a bicycle, a house in Georgian Bath and a satisfactory bank balance.
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Penda Mercias First King
Book SynopsisSince the Venerable Bede wrote his iconic Ecclesiastic History of England in the eighth century, King Penda has been relegated to the role of villain and treated as a barrier to advancement in a battle between new ideas and a new culture. Paul Barrett outlines the background to the Anglo-Saxon takeover in England and explores the broad concepts of the Angles' traditional culture, before delving into the life of Penda (605 655). Penda's life spanned the first half of the seventh century, the era which gave birth to national identities which still form the central components of modern Britain; Wales, Scotland, and England all take shape through this period. Penda's seemingly impossible ascent to prominence starts on the very periphery of power and ends with the dominance of Britain. He is at the centre of Mercia's birth, expansion and rise. Throughout his reign his kingdom becomes a bastion of stability in a period of endemic warfare, climate change challenges, cultural competition, and
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Rescue Ships and The Convoys
Book SynopsisThe Rescue Ships and the Convoys tells the history of one of the least known aspects of Second World War maritime history. Despite the threat of heavy losses of ships and lives, no hospital ships, which had to be lit, could accompany the convoys as they would betray a convoy's position. The solution was to create a fleet of 30 small Merchant Navy vessels of about 1,500 gross tons, mostly from coastal trade. These Rescue Ships', commanded and manned by Merchant Navy personnel, carried medical teams, and life-saving equipment including operating theatres, hospital beds, Carley' floats, and hoists. Undeterred either by either enemy action or atrocious weather conditions, these vessels accompanied close to 800 convoys and saved 4,194 lives from ships sunk in the North Atlantic and with the Arctic convoys. During their service, seven Rescue Ships were lost. This is a story packed with suspense, danger, achievement and tragedy. As the author, Vice Admiral Schofield, who was closely inv
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Roman Empire in Transition and Crisis
Book SynopsisThis is not a success story but one of transition and ultimate fall. It is detailed, hugely researched, full of action, peronality, and a vivid narrative of political struggle for imperial power as Roman Emperor. It is especially impresive on the role of women, the tangled personal lives, of the elite family competition. And all against the backdrop of transition and decline. But struggle and competition take the Roman Empire and its agents, military and civil, to action on a global scale, to extreme northern Europe, Europe, the Balkaons, Near and Middle East, South and East Asia, Africa and even fringes of (later) America. And all to defend or extend imperial interest. But defence against declne is always presnent and a consant plea is for ''Something to be done'' to keep the show on the road. The actual history is set out in brief with the time lines, original Original Time Lines (OTL). Here is the changing and struggling Empire with Western and Eastern Empires and emperors and popes
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Prehistoric London
Book Synopsis
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Elton John Album by Album
Book SynopsisIn 1969, Elton John and Bernie Taupin gave the world Empty Sky, a heady mix of rock, folk, rhythm and blues, jazz, psychedelia, and classicism that announced the arrival of one of the most potent creative teams in the history of popular music. In the fifty-five years since that release, Elton's astounding output of thirty-one studio albums, nine soundtrack albums (ten if you count the unreleased Lestat!), and three collaboration albums has enchanted new generations, as grandparents who grew up with Your Song and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road on their turntables have shared their love of Elton with parents who played Sacrifice and The One on their cd players who in turn are sharing it with their children who know The Lion King soundtrack by heart and dance to Cold Cold Heart in their bedrooms through Spotify playlists and YouTube remixes. Elton John: Album by Album takes you on a guided journey through those forty-four albums that have engaged three full generations of music lovers, exploring the history behind the production of each, uncovering the hidden stories and meanings of each track, and delving into the musical nuts and bolts of Elton John's unique gift for conveying the meaning of Bernie Taupin's lyrics through his unrivalled and almost otherworldly sense of tonal architecture. Whether you have been spinning Elton records since the days of Lady Samantha, or found your way to his work in the post-Rocketman revival of appreciation for his legendary career, Elton John: Album by Album has what you need to navigate your way through the vast richness of his recorded catalogue, allowing you to answer such questions as How did Ray Cooper make a gong sound like a spaceship?, Why is Ego in Lokrian mode anyway? and Just what is the Pilot, and why would anybody want to be taken there?
£31.88
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Black Death in England
Book Synopsis
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd A History of Womens Work
Book SynopsisA History of Women''s Work explores the often overlooked contributions of women throughout history, particularly in a patriarchal society where men have dominated the historical record. While men were more likely to leave traces through wills, leases, and civic duties women laboured behind the scenes, performing crucial yet unpaid tasks for their families and communities. In many households, women supported their husbands' work, ran home-based industries, or sought paid employment despite societal restrictions.This book delves into three main areas of women's work: household tasks, home industries, and paid employment outside the home. Through case studies and practical research tips, it sheds light on the lives of these women, encouraging readers to uncover their own female ancestors'' stories and contribute to a richer understanding of women's history.
£18.70
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Killing Monarchs
Book SynopsisRulers (and would-be rulers) have always faced the possibility of a violent death. Between the seventh and eighteenth centuries over 20% of all British and European monarchs suffered such a fate. Some died in battle or in accidents but most of them were murdered or executed. During the time of the Tudors and Stuarts some monarchs were the victims of lone assassins, some were killed after palace coups led by relatives or royal officials, and others after being defeated in a civil war. Their manner of death included public beheading, internal injury as a result of a knife attack, being hacked down by a group of noblemen, and ritual strangulation with a silk cord. Killing Monarchs takes us on a journey across Europe. Starting in England and Scotland (Lady Jane Grey and Mary Queen of Scots), it moves to France (Kings Henry III and Henry IV), and then further east to Russia (Tsar Feodor II and various pretenders to the throne) and the Ottoman Empire (Sultans Osman II and Ibrahim I). It then returns to Britain to consider why Charles I was executed. It provides a clear picture of the various forces that existed in society at the time and these are reflected in the motives of the regicides - the killers of monarchs even though many were not honest about them. The lust for power, the desire for a more effective leader, religious differences, and occasionally the wish to do away with monarchy altogether, all played a significant role.
£19.80
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Corsairs and Captives Narratives from the Age of
Book SynopsisFrom the mid-sixteenth to the early nineteenth centuries, Barbary corsairs from North Africa swarmed the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, seizing enormous amounts of booty and tens of thousands of captives, hauling them back to the slave markets in their home ports and auctioning them off to the highest bidder. The conflict between these Barbary corsairs and Europe was military, but not just that; religious, but not just that; social and economic, but not just that either. Above all, it was a human conflict, with all the confusion, blurred lines, and inherent messiness of such things, and the narratives it generated were more complicated than simple swashbuckling pirate tales. _Corsairs & Captives_ presents a collection of these narratives, all based directly on primary-source documents, a number of which are translated into English for the first time. They include biographies of four renegade corsair captains (Europeans who converted to Islam and became corsairs), descriptions of s
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Blowing Hot and Cold
Book SynopsisAir-conditioning is one of those universal modern conveniences whose origins are entirely unknown to the general public. Online sources credit the first commercial system to the American Willis Carrier in 1902 but this is not true. The first workable machine was patented four years earlier by Alexander Stewart, a Scottish marine engineer, who called his invention the Thermotank. It offered a massive improvement in comfort for passengers and was rapidly adopted by the shipping industry, eventually equipping many of the greatest liners of their day like _Lusitania_ and _Mauretania_. From these beginnings Alexander and his brothers William and Frederick Stewart built an immensely successful engineering firm with subsidiaries in America, Africa, Australia and Europe. Based on Clydeside, its fortunes were always closely linked to the shipbuilding industry, but with the slump at the end of the First World War the company was forced to look to other markets. At this point Alexander came up
£16.99
Pen & Sword Books Ltd How To Survive in Georgian Britain
Book SynopsisThe Georgian era was unique, so unlike what preceded it and never since repeated. What would it have been like to live there? With no welfare and little charity, people lived on their wits alone, and the sweat of their brow. There was a huckster on every street corner, a pickpocket in every crowd, and cheap gin was readily available to drown every conceivable sorrow. What was it like to live in a smuggling community where the criminals made the rules and enforced them arbitrarily, brutally, and without hindrance? How would you survive the highwayman intent on taking your riches, your dignity, and your life too, if required?But Georgian Britain also underwent a great flourishing in the arts, commerce, industry and innovation. It was a time of great opportunity should you have the means to seize it. For all its harsh realities, the Georgian era is also famous for its gentility and refinement, for the pottery of Josiah Wedgwood, the furniture of Thomas Chippendale, the sculpted landscapes of Capability Brown, the elegance of the Georgian Ball, the romantic and evocative novels of Jane Austen, but also the tawdry excesses of the Prince Regent and the cutting edge of the satirist's pen. Let this book be your guide to the past, and learn from their own lips the conversation, what drove the narrative, what was whispered in the taverns and shouted in the streets. It was a time of excess, but of great achievement too, a transformative time that changed Britain forever. So be prepared, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.
£19.00
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Tracing your Staffordshire Ancestors
Book SynopsisWhether you're just beginning your genealogical journey or have been tracing your family tree for years, Tracing your Staffordshire Ancestors provides a comprehensive roadmap to uncovering your family history in the heart of England. Delve into a variety of historical records, from the well-known census and parish registers to the less-explored realms of manorial court rolls, tithe apportionments, and records from the potteries. Each chapter focuses on a specific type of record, providing clear instructions on where to find it, how to interpret it, and the unique insights it can offer into your family's past. With vivid examples of real Staffordshire people brought to life through these records, you'll see how each piece of the puzzle can reveal more about your ancestors. Beyond the archives, learn how to enhance your research with visits to local museums, utilise social media and DNA testing, and understand the significance of Staffordshire's surnames and traditional occupations.Tracing Your Staffordshire Ancestors is an invaluable resource for anyone with ties to this historic county. With its practical advice, expert guidance, and real-life examples, it's the perfect companion for bringing your family's history to light.
£14.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Marcus Aurelius and his Legacy
Book Synopsis
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Real Pink Panther
Book SynopsisThe Pink Panther series is one of the most enduring and financially successful franchises in movie history, beginning with 1963's The Pink Panther, which introduced audiences to the iconic Inspector Clouseau, unforgettably played by Peter Sellers. Drawing on previously unseen material and exclusive' interviews with stars of the films and crew members, along with friends and colleagues of Peter Sellers, Robert Sellers presents, for the very first time, the untold story and some of the secrets behind the Pink Panther films. The original Pink Panther movie proved popular enough to spawn eight sequels. The films also inspired a popular animated TV series based on the pink panther cartoon character that appeared in the film's credit sequences. There were also spin-off toys, games, clothes, even breakfast cereal. In the 2000s, comedy legend Steve Martin twice stepped into the role of Inspector Clouseau. But behind the laughs, there was madness and darkness, and at the series' heart was
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Tracing your Surrey Ancestors
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland
Book SynopsisIreland is an extraordinarily beautiful island from which millions can claim their direct ancestry. But Ireland is also an island which has experienced some truly extraordinary moments of crisis which will have directly impacted our forebears, helping to shape us into the individuals that we are today. Whenever such crises happened, whether on a national scale or within the home, there was invariably somebody standing close to hand with a quill and parchment to document the misfortunes that befell so many. In this latest book, family historian Chris Paton takes a look at some of the darkest episodes of Irish history over the last four hundred years, as well as the everyday crises that affected everyone throughout their lives. He will discuss the impact of many major events on our ancestors, including colonisation, conquest and rebellion, as well as the various pressures endured from within the family, the church, and the state. Along the way Chris highlights the records that can he
£14.39
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Victorian and Early 20th Century Baby Farming
Book SynopsisMrs. Amelia Dyer was probably the most notorious baby farmer, but she was not working in isolation. The wider story of the myriad of others also classed as baby farmers is told here. Detailing the stories of over 100 baby farmers, the good, the bad and the murderous, it looks at why baby farming became so prevalent during the Victorian period. Why did so many mothers choose to hand their babies over to the care of these people, usually, women? What care' was meted out to the innocent victims of these crimes? How did baby farmers come to the notice of the authorities, and how did the police track down the perpetrators of this darkest of businesses? What were the punishments meted out to them? And how, eventually, the practice was brought to an end? Find the answers to the questions about the darkest business to be carried out during the Victorian and early Twentieth Century periods in this book that traces the stories of so many baby farmers, many of whom have not had their stories told
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Using Gravestones to Trace Your Ancestors
Book Synopsis
£13.49
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Worlds of Dorothy L. Sayers
Book SynopsisDorothy L. Sayers: the name conjures images of Lord Peter Wimsey's sleuthing adventures, and masterful translations of Dante. Yet, she was more than a literary luminary of the interwar Golden Age of crime fiction; she was a trailblazer, a feminist, and a scholar, whose influence resonates to this day. In this new biography, delve into the complexities of Sayers' life and legacy. From her iconic status as one of the 'Queens of Crime' alongside Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh, to her thought-provoking explorations of feminism and Christian philosophy. Through thematic analysis of Sayers' writings and beliefs, the author illuminates the depth and breadth of her influence. From her incisive fiction and scholarly interests to her contributions as an advertising copywriter where she penned the line, 'Guinness is good for you', Sayers left an indelible mark on literature and beyond. As a crime writer, historian, and poet, Wade brings his own passion and expertise to t
£19.80
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Buried Alive
Book SynopsisThe macabre meets the factual in this spine-chilling exploration of humanity's darkest fear: being buried alive. From ancient folklore to modern medical marvels, Buried Alive delves deep into the annals of history, uncovering tales of premature interment and miraculous escapes. Imagine the horror of waking up in a coffin, surrounded by suffocating darkness, with no hope of escape. Drawing on historical records and eyewitness accounts, this book reveals the grim reality of those who were inadvertently entombed before their time. From cases of war, where whole battalions have been covered in earth whilst still living, to ritual and superstition, from voodoo to suttee in Haiti and India, as well as the immurement in walls or errant monks and convent sisters. Less-known cases of burials of the living, through murderous intentions and natural disasters are also told, alongside tales of fakirs and hypnotists whose challenges were to have themselves put into a grave and left for days. Amidst tales of terror, this book also celebrates the resilience and heroism of those who defied death's grasp, providing a wealth of historical detail and many cases which have never before appeared in print. From the invention of bell-rigged coffins to the formation of societies dedicated to preventing premature burials, discover the remarkable measures taken to combat this age-old fear. Through meticulous research and a gripping narrative, Buried Alive separates fact from fiction, shedding light on the truth behind centuries of taphophobia. This book is a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of human resilience in the face of our deepest fears.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Queen Katherine and the Howards
Book SynopsisWritings of certain nineteenth and twentieth-century historians continue to colour ourperceptions of the past, but is the picture of Katherine Howard painted by some of themnecessarily fair? Was she really a neglected young girl set up by an unscrupulous family toenable them to exercise control over Henry VIII, or a secure teenager brought up in the homeof her illustrious step-grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, who treated her well?Ultimately, was her untimely death the fault of others or the result of Katherine's own ill-advised choices?Through original research and use of primary sources, Queen Katherine and the Howards: ATudor Family on the Brink of Disaster examines the Howards' journey from practising law inEast Anglia to their elevation to the dukedom of Norfolk by Richard III and, following theYorkist defeat at Bosworth, their decades of service and loyalty to the fledgling Tudordynasty. The final weeks of Katherine Howard's short life, presented as a day-to-day narr
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Armies of the Byzantine Empire 3951204
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Godfather Lovers Guide to Sicily
Book SynopsisHonour and dishonour. Loyalty and betrayal. Love and loss. Exile. Revenge. Light and dark. This, set against the background of mountaintop villages, baroque churches, and the sun-drenched landscapes of Sicily, makes The Godfather film series a work of enduring art considered by many to be the greatest films of all time. The cinematic heritage of the films' locations is as visually and historically savoury as an Italian feast, as sweet as cannoli. Yet a formal guide to follow in the films' footsteps has never been published! Much of the online information is fragmented, incomplete and often completely wrong. This book changes that, explaining the in-depth history and exact locations of the film sites and tailored to both tourists and film connoisseurs alike. Written by a Mediterranean archaeologist and well-studied Godfather superfan of several decades, everything needed for a Godfather aficionado to experience Sicily for themselves is included. This book is an extensively researched and trusted resource for both the traveller (armchair or otherwise) and anyone interested in understanding the history and lore surrounding the filming locations. It may even inspire casual tourists to convert into Godfather film fans themselves. Film facts and scene analysis are presented and suggested side trips are included along with tidbits of cultural information and over 100 photos.
£23.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Peoples Story of the Great Fire of London
Book SynopsisThe Great Fire of London which destroyed much of England's capital city in the autumn of 1666 was one of those seminal events that stand out in history, enthralling, fascinating and yet repulsive in the damage and destruction it caused. The story of the fire, which began in the early hours of Sunday 4th September, has been told many times. Phil Carradice's new re-telling of the disaster is different in focusing mainly on the people involved. From Thomas Bloodworth, the inept Lord Mayor, to diarists Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, from the supposed arsonist Robert Hubert to Puritan foretellers of disaster like Humphrey Smith, these people witnessed the Great Fire first-hand. Their views and descriptions make compelling reading. The book does not necessarily give reasons and causes for the fire. Rather it explores how people responded to what was, in reality, the greatest challenge they had faced in their lives. Heroes, cowards and villains are presented in illuminating fashion. King Charles and his brother James, the Duke of York, emerge with nothing but credit, leaving you to wonder how and why James switched from hero of the hour to a position of villain once he became king on the death of his brother. The upsurge of anti-Dutch and French emotion, the panic which seized the population as they tried to flee the stricken city, the breadth and width of the disaster, along with the gradual re-building of London, are all dealt with in Phil Carradice's easy and elegant style. Historical facts and individual characterisation make this book a compelling and accurate read.
£19.80
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Londons Royal Parks
Book SynopsisLondon's Royal Parks are among its most beautiful and beloved spaces: just as much as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace or St Pancras Station, the mere mention of Hyde Park or Greenwich Park is enough to evoke the capital in all its glory for residents and tourists alike. They have a magnificent history some were royally owned as far back as the Norman conquest, others were acquired by Henry VIII during the Reformation and were great hunting grounds for successive monarchs and since being opened to the public, they have hosted some of London's great events, including the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park and innumerable jubilees, international games and competitions and celebrations. Today, the Royal Parks are visited by over 77 million visitors. But what are the ingredients of these magnificent green spaces? We often think of wider landscapes of trees, grass, lakes, meandering footways, bedding displays and herbaceous borders. But the Royal Parks are much more than this. Defin
£22.10
Pen & Sword Books Ltd How to Survive in Ration Book Britain
£19.80
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Titanic Ship of Lost Illusions
Book SynopsisWhen it set sail on its ill-fated maidenvoyage, RMS Titanic was a marvel of moderntechnology and the latest in luxury, providing agilded setting and false sense of security for itspassengers to act out their imagined ideal livesin a reflection of pre-First World War society.When disaster struck in the form of an icebergfour days into its maiden voyage, that societywas frozen in a moment of time, revealing class,gender and racial discrimination that pervadedcontemporary social attitudes. Kevin Brown takes a fresh approach inexploring the social attitudes to class, manliness,heroism and cowardice, social redemption,the proper role of women and the social,religious and racial prejudices revealed by thesinking. He re-evaluates the code of womenand children first, revealing how attitudesglorifying manliness influenced the behaviourof passengers and crew during the sinking, aswell as suggesting a narrative of chivalry andself-sacrifice to create heroes from the victimsand brand the surviving men as cowards; aninterpretation that is challenged here. Eyewitness accounts evoke the horror of thenight and reveal the underlying ideas of the day.They also show that women played a less passiverole than expected of them. The responses to thesinking by politicians across the spectrum, thelabour movement and suffragettes, suffragistsand anti-suffragists is explored to show morecritical contemporary responses to the disasterthat challenge the heroic narrative. It was aworld that was never so confident in modernityafter the disaster but yet still held on to illusionsof chivalry.
£27.75
Pen & Sword Books Ltd A Guide to the Wars of the Roses
Book SynopsisSo much has been written, and is still being written, about the Wars of the Roses both in print and on the internet - that the interested student of history is in grave danger of being utterly overwhelmed. The key players in the conflict are very interesting personalities but they have become so distorted by caricature that they now appear as a procession of heroes and villains rather than living, breathing people. The aim of AGuide to the Wars of the Roses is simple: to help the reader understand what happened and why during the great political upheaval of the fifteenth century. It describes the origins, nature and aftermath of the wars in short, accessible chapters and explains how the period can be divided into three separate, though related, political crises. In describing the rise of Richard, Duke of York, in the mid-fifteenth century, the Guide traces how his rivalry with Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, ultimately led to the deposition of the hard-pressed, and wholly unsu
£22.50
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Dark Ages The Emergence of An English Identity
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Life and Times of a Medieval Knight
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£19.80
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Development of British Amphibious Operations 18821914
Book SynopsisThe projecting of military force to a distant shore has come to be seen as a uniquely British way of waging war. To be sure, many of these operations would now be classed as administrative landings with battle, if occurring at all, only following sometimes afterward. Others, of course, merit the label of opposed landings. To contemporaries of the period covered by this study, the evolutions went by the appellation of conjoint or combined operations. Less important than how they were styled remains the thought and the purpose giving rise to these ventures. In the decades before the First World War, professionals appreciated the myriad difficulties and dangers associated with amphibious operations. The laity, including statesmen, thought rather less of these matters but could recount numerous examples of their occurrence before 1914. Indeed, whatever operational failings Britain demonstrated during the World War a corpus of relevant experience was the least of these. What is now styled joint amphibious operations were difficult because they were never of a single type. Naval support to a military force standing on the defensive, raids, feints, blocking operations, riverine operations, and, yes, an opposed landing, spoke to a series of joint operations of ever-increasing complexity. Meanwhile, as every operation must at some point end, even the manner of evacuation came to be viewed as a special type of combined operation to be understood and learned. Finally, it remained that in a campaign of the grandest scale, examples of each might feature at differing moments along the way. Landings before 1914 were difficult and what military and naval authorities thought feasible before the onset of the World War in the realm of joint operations is a neglected field of studya surprising omission given the ink that has been spilt retelling the debacles experienced at Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and East Africa. Every campaign has its contextoperational and strategic to be surebut also political, doctrinal, and bureaucratic. How Britain elected to wage war in 1914 proved a product of these variables just as surely as the military and naval capabilities it could muster. Tying the strands of pre-war military experience and thought in the realm of joint operations is the chief purpose of this study which takes as its starting point 1882 and the British assault against Egypt. The choice is far from arbitrary as the moment saw several earning their spurs who would later play a central role in the amphibious operations executed during the Great War. To the extent learning is more than the product of self-experience, this work pays special attention to the Russo-Japanese War. Thinking officers appreciated that fundamental changes were occurring in the nature and style of war. A learned public also appreciated this courtesy of works such as Ivan Bloch's Is War Now Possible? Notwithstanding what British officers understood on the eve of the World War, the problem of time and scale remained. This alone should give one pause before chiding others over past mistakes. This study looks at what was thought, what was taught, what was expected, and what occurred in the thirty years before Britain found herself facing a scale of conflict not witnessed in a century.
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd British Amphibious Operations of the First World War
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.25
