History Books

Book SynopsisThis book explains the social and economic factors which enabled the UK to fund the coalitions that Napoleon faced.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis superbly researched book, written by two acknowledged experts, takes a wide-ranging examination of Operation MARKET GARDEN from the strategic, operational and tactical level. 80th anniversary is in 2024.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter over half a century of secrecy, a Swiss bank safe was opened, it contained the long-lost research notes of Josef Mengele, as well as those of his chief assistant in Auschwitz. They had been deposited there by the assistant who himself had been a Jewish doctor. Sent to Auschwitz, he was forced to participate in Josef Mengele's gruesome human experiments. Following the war, he completely disappeared, assuming a new identity and shrouding himself in silence. He did write his story down, but ordered the documents to be sealed away until decades after his death. With the release date drawing closer, his granddaughter, a well-connected Vatican doctor, wanted to have the documents examined by a professional historian. Thus, a great investigation was launched to track him down and pin down his place in the medical system in Auschwitz and the horrendous medical experiments conducted there. However, after some time, doubts regarding the authenticity of the documents began to emerge. Thus

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Isle of Man is predominantly a maritime nation. For many generations its menfolk have made their living from the sea, sometimes as fishermen, but often as crewmen aboard merchant vessels or warships. Indeed, such were their skills of seamanship that they were in great demand for the latter in time of war.As smugglers, or as privateers they made their living on the waves, in the Atlantic, Caribbean or Pacific. Whether taken by a Press Gang, or enlisted voluntarily, the Manx saw action in some of the greatest naval events between 1760 and 1815. The Isle of Man had a high degree of literacy and education even among the poor at this time, and consequently a significant body of first-hand evidence has survived from those who served below decks, aboard merchant ships, privateers and warships.Some, such as Peter Heywood, were eyewitness to the most famous event in naval history, the Mutiny on the Bounty. Others, such as John Quilliam climbed the naval career ladder, served with Nelson and

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor Ireland, the year 1798 saw a major rebellion breaking out against rule from London, a time in which Britain was in its fifth year of a hard-fought war against revolutionary France. Set in motion by the Society of United Irishmen, an underground organisation with links to Paris, the rebellion was eventually crushed by an overwhelming force of arms. In this new, dramatic account, Philip MacDougall shines a light on a little covered aspect of this history: the United Irish plot to capture a number of British warships and the planned use of those vessels in support of the rebellion that broke out in 1798. The means by which those ships were to be taken, not by direct external attack but by mutinous intrigue directed from on board, is fully explored. While ships blockading the French port of Brest returned to re-victual in Cawsand Bay, with many of the officers on shore leave, it was an ideal time for the plotting of mutinies. United Irishman alongside English and Scottish republicans

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn overview of German Gebirgsj ger (Mountain Troops) from their formation in 1935 to the end of the Second World War.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDeath comes for us all in the end. But it does not always come in a way you might expect. Throughout history there have been people who have suffered extraordinary, unusual, and downright weird demises. In Strange Ways to Die in History you will find out about the true stories behind unlikely stories of bizarre accidents, assassinations, and misadventures. Did a playwright really die from a tortoise being dropped on his head by an eagle? Why did an English vicar end up being eaten by lions? And what are the chances of fatality from falling into a toilet?Looking at the lives that came before the deaths reveals some of histories most fascinating individuals. Some of those examined are well known. Some are remembered only for the odd way they departed this life. Some have been forgotten entirely. Sometimes how a person dies, and how history has recorded the event, can tell us a lot about society and how we remember.This book uncovers eye-witnesses to the deaths described and contemporary

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new perspective on the Battle of the Little Big Horn and the death of G. A. Custer. Ground breaking new history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisLt. Col. George Armstrong Custer died at the hands of native americans by thebanks of the Little Big Horn in Montana 25th June 1876. This is an establishedundisputed fact. What is disputed is the real reason that he died.So forget all you have been led to believe and begin to learn the truth.George Custer was an anathema to his superiors, but the populace loved him. Ifhe were to stand for president in the coming elections there was a strongpossibility that he would win. Neither William T. Sherman nor Little Phil'Sheridan could allow that to happen. Thus they conspired to put Custer in aposition in the field where the opposing Sioux and Cheyenne were stronger andcould deliver the Coup de Gras'.This is the second of two books dealing with the circumstances that arose leading the nativeamericans on a collision course with the US Army that fateful day and the deathof a national hero. Subsequently the conspiracy is uncovered and shows howthese men used their powers and positions and so deft

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn early October 1795, Napoleon Bonaparte led the governing Directory's army against the rioting royalists in Paris (who were rebelling to restore the monarchy), crushing their campaign and beginning his rise to supremacy and greatness. Napoleon is one of the eight sovereigns discussed in _The Soldier Kings of France_, who brought glory, power and territorial expansion to France, while altering the course of European history. The work begins in the ninth century with King Charles II's seizure of the French crown and concludes in the nineteenth century with Napoleon's rise and fall. In the book, the reign of Philip II and his participation in the Third Crusade to the Holy Land is the second monarch reviewed, followed by Louis XI, who ended the Hundred Year War with the English and Louis XII's rule is next, which fought to expand French territorial holdings into the Lombardy region of Italy. The fifth king surveyed is Francis I and his enlargement of French lands into Italy, while the si

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first comparative and comprehensive analysis of the British and American navies. Illustrated throughout with a rich collection of photographs. Offers many original insights into how the naval war was fought.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Scythians were a horse nomads from the central Eurasian steppes who migrated south and west into the region around the Black Sea from the seventh century BC which they dominated until replaced and absorbed by the very similar Sarmatians from the third century BC. A harsh life spent riding, herding and hunting on the steppes made them into tough warriors, and highly skilled horsemen and archers. Their armies were highly mobile, mostly comprising swift mounted archers capable of elusive hit-and-run attacks but with the wealthier warriors constituting a core of heavier cavalry, armoured and equipped for close combat. Over hundreds of years the Scythians fought, and often defeated, such notable opponents as the Assyrians, Medes, Persians, Greeks and Macedonians. Their Sarmatian successors continued the tradition, being among the Romans' most dangerous opponents for several centuries.Gabriele Esposito discusses these remarkable warriors of the steppes, analysing what made them such form

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first of a series of volumes on the Hospitaller Knights of Saint John, this volume covers the period 13061522.The Hospitaller Knights had developed during the Crusades from a monastic order providing hostels for Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land. The need to provide armed escorts to these pilgrims brought about their evolution into a Military Order. An elite component of Crusader armies, Hospitallers were involved in most large-scale Christian-Saracen engagements following the First Crusade. Taking to the sea, the Hospitallers became a major naval power in the Mediterranean.The author draws on the work of the Order's official historians, Giacomo Bosio and his successor Bartolomeo dal Pozzo. He transcribes their writings for the modern reader, while also presenting new information revealed in the 400 years of scholarship since Bosio's death in 1627. This volume opens with Hospitaller relocation from Cyprus to Rhodes during the years 1306 to 1309 while introducing other entit

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough Africans and African Americans have been left out of most accounts of the Revolutionary years, this book pieces together their emerging path toward freedom. From Britain came the Great Awakening, the advent of evangelism in America, which would provide slaves with hope for future freedom. In 1775, black emancipation commenced in Chesapeake Bay with Lord Dunmore's proclamation and the resulting fleet, which attracted blacks, creating the first mass emancipation of slaves in British colonial history. At the end of the War for Independence, the British evacuations of loyal subjects from 1782 to 1785 were the turning point in the Emancipation Revolution. A majority of free and enslaved blacks would remain where the Royal Navy transports landed them in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Nova Scotia, or Britain. Blacks' love of freedom is concluded with the abolition of the slave trade throughout the British Empire.

Read more less

Book Synopsis_King Arthur and the Battle for Britannia_ is the last in a series of three books. The first, _King Arthur: Man or Myth_, weighed the evidence for and against a historical figure. The second, _The Battles of King Arthur,_ looked in detail at the famous battle list from the Historia Brittonum. Having looked at the questions of whether and where, this final book takes on the different question of who was Arthur? The book is intended to save readers time and money wading through the scores of competing theories. It explains the problems with many of these theories to date, their failure to gain widespread support and why many historians remain sceptical about the existence of a historical Arthur. There is however a reasonable consistency in medieval genealogies and a good reason why Arthur does not appear in any of the list of kings of early kingdoms. Instead he is placed in the context of a fragmenting post-Roman provincial structure, alongside the emergence of petty kingdoms with new

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, Daniel Taylor provides a minutely detailed examination of the course of the fighting, exploring both sides of the debate, allowing the reader to evaluate the strength of the argument. Dozens of first-hand accounts are brought together and placed into a comprehensible and accurate time-line.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrue account of the rise and fall of the American genius Robert Oppenheimer, chosen by the U.S. military to head a team of scientists to develop the first atomic bomb. Timed with the release of Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jnr

Read more less

Book SynopsisExtraordinary stories of escape and survival, but also of the everyday lives of youngsters living some 80 years ago.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA former Great War fighter pilot, Hermann Göring became, at his height, the second most powerful Nazi. Ambitious and ruthless, in addition to being a primary architect of the Third Reich state police and Gestapo, his numerous appointments included Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, Director of the Four Year Plan and playing a leading role in the Final Solution to the Jewish Question'. By the outbreak of the war in 1939, he was acknowledged as Hitler's successor and in 1940 was given the special rank of Marshal of the Empire and senior to all field marshals through the German armed services. Due to being held responsible for a number of military disasters, Göring's pre-eminent position declined as the war dragged on to the point where he was expelled from the Party for illegally attempting to seize control of the State'. Captured by the Allies, he was found guilty at Nuremberg of being a leading war aggressor and advocate of the persecution of Jews and other races. He cheated the hang

Read more less

Book SynopsisStep into the captivating world of the Middle Ages with _Saints and Sinners_, a groundbreaking exploration of history like no other. In this remarkable narrative, each chapter takes you on an immersive journey through time, unveiling the vibrant tapestry of events that shaped the medieval era told through the stories of Medieval Saints who experienced them. Gone are the distant voices of emperors and kings; instead, we hear from ordinary people who witnessed the world around them, sharing their intimate thoughts, fears, and attitudes towards world-changing events. Experience the gripping anxiety, fear, and paranoia that accompanied threats to the kingdom of heaven, as these saints fought to defend and restore their faith. But, as the Church solidifies its position, discover how saints were then utilised as instruments of control to shape public order. Saints and Sinners goes beyond a mere historical account, delving into topics that resonate with today's world. Uncover the incredib

Read more less

Book SynopsisComprehensive account of Allied convoy operations and German attempts to disrupt. Written by a published expert of naval operations in WW2.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTracing your Yorkshire ancestors using the internet has never been easier, with literally millions of records available to explore. But with so much material available, it can be difficult to know how to get started and what records to use. Rachel Bellerby's brand new guide is a follow-up to the best-selling Tracing Your Yorkshire Ancestors and is packed with up-to-date information on finding your Yorkshire forebears online. From the basics of birth, marriage and death, through migration and education, and looking at the tough times such as poverty and ill health, Rachel Bellerby guides us through the thousands of websites available, with tips and advice from family history professionals around Yorkshire. The themed chapters make it easy to decide what information you would like to find out and the best websites to use. With step-by-step guidance on smart searching and time saving tips, this guide has everything you need to enjoy the journey of tracing your Yorkshire ancestors on t

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn early October 1935 and without any declaration of war some two hundred thousand men, comprising soldiers and airmen of the Italian armed forces, Fascist Blackshirt' Militia, Eritrean ascari and Somali dubats, invaded the independent state of Ethiopia (Abyssinia). It was an operation entirely of choice, the chooser being Il Duce: Benito Mussolini. The resultant conflict is often described as a colonial war. Whilst it was certainly launched with the intent of turning Ethiopia into an Italian possession, it was in fact a war of aggression against an independent, sovereign, state with membership of the League of Nations. A state that had, according to one of its nineteenth-century rulers, been for fourteen centuries a Christian island in a sea of pagans'.The swiftness of the Italian victory resulted from their possession and ruthless use of technology; most particularly aircraft, mustard gas, and motorisation/mechanisation. Since they were fighting an enemy who possessed none of these t

Read more less

Book SynopsisFrederick the Great was an acknowledged master of war. Admired and studied by Napoleon, he commanded the Prussian army at sixteen major battles and numerous sieges and other actions, often leading from the front.Under Frederick the Prussian Army became arguably the most feared and efficient in Europe, often defeating numerically superior forces.Gabriele Esposito details the organization, uniforms and equipment of the various branches of service that made up the Prussian Army. Starting with the infantry, whose incredible discipline and excellent training made them the backbone of Frederick''s forces he details the famous Guards and the line regiments but also the light infantry jagers and even little-known garrison and auxiliary units. Equal attention is given to the cavalry: Guards, cuirassiers, dragoons, lancers and hussars. There is also a chapter devoted to the ''technical corps'' of artillery, pioneers and the like, and there are chapters on the mercenary ''freikorps'' and Frederic

Read more less

Book SynopsisGiacomo Casanova (1725-1798) was born the son of a moderately poor acting family at a time when the stage carried enormous social stigma. Yet in his own lifetime he achieved celebrity across Europe, rubbing shoulders with numerous of the eighteenth century''s greatest men and women, from Frederick the Great to Catherine the Great, from Voltaire to Albrecht von Haller, from Pope Benedict XIV to Pope Clement XIII. It was a fame that had little to do with his romantic exploits. This was to come later, following upon the posthumous publication of his magnificent History of My Life. An adventurer and a man of learning, his was an extraordinary life whose story was intertwined with the story of eighteenth-century Europe. To try to understand this fascinating character we need also to try to understand the period in which he lived. This is the aim of Casanova''s Life and Times.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Battle of Stalingrad was the bloodiest battle of the Second World War. An estimated 2 million individuals, military as well as civilian, became casualties in a savage struggle which lasted for more than five months. Stalingrad's strategic position on the River Volga in southern Russia meant that whoever controlled the city controlled access to the oil fields of the Caucasus. Without that oil, the Germans were ultimately destined to fail on all fronts. The Battle of Stalingrad was, therefore, arguably, the most important conflict of the entire war. Yet, the author argues that both Hitler and Stalin lost sight of the real objectives of the campaign, with the capture of Stalingrad becoming seen as the end in itself. Stalingrad was not specified as a particular objective of the Germans in the original plan of Operation _Blau_. But when the defenders of Stalingrad unexpectedly stood in the way of the Germans, it became the focal point of the German effort. Hitler and his generals we

Read more less

Book SynopsisUncovers the full story of the social unrest that was seen throughout Britain at the times of the Napoleonic Wars.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAssassination! Just mentioning the word is enough to send a shiver up the spine. And yet, for many years, the deliberate act of 'taking out' notable public figures has been the mainstay of political factions and individuals when faced with problems and dilemmas that discussion and debate cannot solve.Most monarchs, statesmen and military commanders of the ancient world, whether they were successful or failures, had to deal with threats. At one stage or another in their careers, they would all have been vulnerable to unexpected attacks. They would all have been potential targets for assassin's blades or poison. And they knew it. So common was the assassination of notable individuals that it became almost an occupational hazard in the ancient world. From Pharaoh Teti, the first recorded victim of assassination, to Julius Caesar, despatched on the Ides of March, from Pompey the Great to Commodious, the Gladiator Emperor of Rome, so many rulers perished before their allotted period of ti

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a biography of Edward Law, Lord Ellenborough (17501818) and a review of the Georgian ruling class from 1770 to 1820. We visit the established church, the public schools, the inns of court, the only universities in England, the law courts, the Houses of Commons and Lords, and the Royal Family. As a lawyer, a Member of Parliament and Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Ellenborough played a part in all of the contentious legal and political issues of the late Georgian period, including the impeachment of Warren Hastings, the turbulent 1790s, the reaction against the French Revolution abroad and political radicalism at home. He was a friend to the Prince Regent in his struggle against his wife Caroline and one of the custodians of George III during his illness. Our subject supported the institutions of church and state with a ferocity that surprised even the most fervent proponents of the status quo at the time. He used his court to prosecute atheism, libel, treason and immo

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Britain had eased its problem of crowded jails and surplus criminals by packing them into ships and sending them off to the American colonies to be sold as what amounted to slave labour. All this came to an end with the revolution of 1775 and the legal system was stuck with an ever-increasing army of desperate felons. As there was no national prison system, these felons were crammed on to derelict sailing ships, the hulks, and put to hard labour in appalling conditions, mainly along the rivers Thames and Medway. Their story has been largely ignored by generations of historians and here, for the first time, detailed accounts of their plight, along with the lives and careers of the quite extraordinary men who ruled over them, is examined. Duncan Campbell, for instance, was the ship's captain and plantation owner who first organised the hulk system, and Aaron Graham the magistrate who spied upon, and then defended, the leader of the Nore muti

Read more less

Book SynopsisHarry Edward Vickers, aka Flannelfoot, was possibly Britain's most successful ever burglar. Not financially - he stole cash and low-value items (even, bizarrely, false teeth!). The success was in his hundreds of burglaries spread over many years without being caught. The lives of career criminals are invariably dotted with prison sentences, but thanks to his caution and cunning, Flannelfoot operated night after night, year after year with an impunity which embarrassed the police.In the twenties and thirties, Londers were deserting the overcrowded capital for the burgeoning suburbs of Metroland'. Flannelfoot was equally attracted to these areas, and one of his hallmarks was to steal a bicycle at the scene of his last break-in of the night and cycle to the nearest tube station.Burglars and burglaries are never glamorous, but one reason why the Flannelfoot saga engendered fascination more than fear is that he was never confrontational, never violent, and in fact so stealthy that few ever

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHIS BOOK COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE! If you are planning to travel back to the England of Anglo-Saxon times and begin a new life without technology, how will you manage? If you were a king, a thegn or even a slave, what rights do you have under the law? Are women treated well by their husbands, and if you become sick, what are your chances of recovery? How might you earn your living, and the biggest worry: what to do about those fearsome Vikings?All these questions and more are answered in this self-help guide for time-travellers. It explores the difficulties you may encounter and the problems that might occur, especially as you are a newcomer in this very different world. Fear not: keep this little volume by you; it will help you find your place in society, learn the language and make friends. You will also meet some of the celebrities of the day, from Alfred the Great to the Venerable Bede, and more humble folk such as Tatberht of Lundenwic and Ardith the local baxter. Learn how to make

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe only modern biography of Marcus Furius Camillus available in English.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA revisionist history showing a gradual build-up of opposition and a drift to conflict which few expected or wanted. And this was despite growing Stuart absolutism, threats to Parliament and the accepted civil order and religious controversy. It is forensic study, full of fascinating and even unexpected details, principal actors come to life and readers will feel involved in an existential crisis of the British state(s).The study of the three Kingdoms covers the major themes of religious dispute with Laud, Wentworth and Strafford - towering figures - church reform, ''godly''religions and explosion of ''news'' and pamphlets, the King and Lords and Commons, the Queen''s, often suspect influence, King Charles'' absolutism and rigidity, and iconic events like the Grand Remonstance, arrest of the Five Members, Charles'' departure from London and the raising of the Royal Standard for war.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNo one can deny the enduring power of medieval myths and legends. Tales ofKing Arthur, Merlin, Robin Hood, Sir Lancelot, magic, dragons, giants,demons, and the Holy Grail are as fascinating for us today as they have everbeen. However, the stories we have inherited from our medieval forebears have oftenbeen transformed by the embellishments and additions of later generations. Inevery century since the Middle Ages, stories have been re-imagined, re-told, andsometimes radically changed to suit the audience of the day. This book aims to transport the reader back to the age of the Plantagenets andre-tell these stories as they would have been understood at the time. It exploresthe stories in detail and looks at what they meant to people living then, how theywere told and why they were important. Myths and Legends of the Medieval World provides a detailed account ofmedieval mythology in its original context. It offers a window into a medievalmind-set in which such things as angels, demons, visions, magic, holy relics, andother supernatural entities were an accepted reality. Explore some of the most puzzling and captivating mysteries of the Middle Ages. What lay behind the legend of the Holy Grail? How did people regard the perilous world of the medieval fairy? How did the medieval world view witchcraft? And what happened during the infamous trial of the Templars?These are all questions that Myths and Legends of the Medieval World sets out to answer.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe explosive findings within this book are history-changing. They discount the age-oldbelief that Captain James Cook, the great circumnavigator, left no modern direct descendants.Using compelling, detailed and verifiable evidence, Colin Waters completely unravels, for thefirst time, the full fascinating story concerning the mysterious supposed 18th centurydrowning of his son, James Cook junior. The author also presents genealogical evidence tosupport old rumours that after faking his own death, James travelled to North Yorkshirewhere he joined his wife & son, leaving behind him a scandal that resulted in him beingvirtually expunged from all official naval records. The Royal Navy cover-up that resultedmatches any modern-day conspiracy theory and gives credence to all those who today claimto be direct descendants of the famous Captain James Cook R.N.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJapanese mythology is filled with stories of larger-than-life characters that shaped thelandscape of Japan. They are the folk heroes who slayed monsters, fought in epic battles andreflected the most complicated emotions of the people who created them.Through a mix of essays, short stories and anecdotes, Japanese Fighting Heroes follows thelives of samurai, warriors, outliers and iconoclasts who forged their own paths.Legendary fighters like the demon-killing Minamoto no Yorimitsu, philosophising samuraiMiyamoto Musashi, and the One-Eyed Dragon Date Masamune.Creative heroes like the father of Japanese short stories Ryunosuke Akutagawa, the immortalpoet Ono no Komachi, the hilarious Sei Shonagon and her insight into human nature.Trailblazers who broke down barriers like the feminist Hiratsuka Raicho, the statesmanFukuzawa Yukichi, the photographic genius Hiroshi Hamaya.These Japanese folk heroes led fascinating lives that provide insight into our own through theprinciples and practices t

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisMuch more than a simple guidebook, Exploring Roman London is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the early history of England''s capital city. In addition to containing information on every site in London where Roman remains can be seen, the history of the foundation of the city and its subsequent development is meticulously chronicled. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the first incarnation of London, when the invading Romans established their settlement in the 1st century CE.Even those who pride themselves on their knowledge of the city will find much here which is new to them, as street-by-street instructions for self-guided walks around central London allow those interested to follow the hidden rivers and lost roads of the Roman town.Exploring Roman London describes the many fragments of Roman London on open display in the city, most of which are quite unknown to the average citizen. From the huge statue of Minerva which was standing unnoticed in a churchyar

Read more less

Book SynopsisFollowing the German attack on the Soviet Union in 1941, the German-Soviet non-aggression pact was officially broken.After initial successes, it quickly became clear that the enemy could not be defeated that easily, as the unknown terrain and extreme weather conditions continued to exacerbate the problems.Lieutenant Hohberg, who had previously fought in the French campaign, had been sent to the East after receiving his promotion. Having led his battery several times, he was now waiting in vain for tank support. However, the lack of supplies, not to mention the fire raids and air raids, made any further advance impossible, and with the Russian winter approaching, he knew that they would have to reach the Donets as soon as possible

Read more less

Book Synopsis_Don't you know there's a war on?!__Use it up Wear it out Make it do Or do without!__Loose Lips Sink Ships!__Any Bonds Today?__Remember Pearl Harbor!_Those were the slogans Americans called out to each other on the home front during WW II. They forged their days surrounded by fellow patriots sharing in the greatest endeavour of their lives: winning the war. The American Home Front in WW II presents the striking story of those times starting with little-known events well before Pearl Harbor the clashes between isolationists and those favoring intervention and America's first peacetime draft. The shock of Pearl Harbor transformed America from a peacetime country to a full wartime economy. Factories produced an airplane every sixty-one minutes. Women and Blacks entered the workforce as never before bringing about earthshaking changes. Americans describe in their own words the rigors of everyday life: rationing, air raid drills, rigging up black curtains and scrap drives. But Amer

Read more less

Book SynopsisFor six seasons, royal watchers across the globe have been hooked on Netflix's smash-hit factual drama, The Crown. Over sixty episodes, multiple casts and headline-grabbing storylines, The Crown has promised to throw open the closed doors of Britain's palaces to reveal the deepest secrets of the House of Windsor. From the last days of George VI to the accession of Queen Elizabeth II and into the twenty-first century, it has told the story of the monarchy in an ever-changing and turbulent world. The Royal Family vs 'The Crown'turns the spotlight on the glittering Netflix series and lays bare what's fact and what is very definitely fiction. Season by season, episode by episode, The Royal Family vs 'The Crown'digs deep into history to examine the plots, the trivia and the characters who have stepped out of the throne room and into the living room, telling the real stories behind the drama that has thrilled and scandalised audiences worldwide. From the abdication of a king to Princess Di

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is an original interpretation of domestic patriotism and limitations of wartime mobilization in rural and urban communities of the British Home Front at a local level from 1914-1918. It is a critical examination of the wartime role of the local elite as 'superintendents of patriotism'. The reader is immediately drawn into the riveting human and social interest with an account of 'khaki fever' leading to 'moral panic' resulting from the attraction of military uniforms and a perceived need for elite guidance and control while expanding mobilisation. Author is a local writer and commentator, with rare local sources with national relevance, he defines the local elite groups as 'provincial patriots', a hugely patriotic class who compared their patriotism with that of the local populace. They were the elite 'police-men and women' of patriotism and who tried to enforce their concept of patriotism and code of ideal conduct in wartime on the local population and to further mobilisation. Th

Read more less

Book SynopsisSecond book in a 3-book series showing how maritime trade has been the principle driver of our world story from the deepest antiquity to the present.; Bespeaks extremely wide reading, careful research and a lot of thought well written, comprehensive and informative' - Alfons van der Kraan

Read more less

Book SynopsisA look into the untimely death of Alexander Litvinenko, whose murder seems like an open-and-shut case to many.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHere is a classical story of a people's struggle for everyday normality and preservation of cherished traditions in a war-torn society.

Read more less