History Books
Crecy Publishing RAF Airfields of World War 2
Book SynopsisThis book gives complete coverage of all the RAF airfields in World War 2 in Britain, including all the RAF Fighter, Bomber, Coastal, and Transport Command airfields and bases of the period. Each airfield is described with a short history, first-person accounts, and information on airfield buildings, illustrated with photographs and maps, making this book a complete and unique single-volume illustrated reference book covering all of the RAF''s frontline airfields in the UK during World War 2. General chapters also cover airfield construction and organization, orders of battle for each command at notable points of the war, and a significant part of the book is its tabular listings of RAF frontline airfields, including full details of location and user squadrons/units. Present-day usage of the airfields and the buildings is also covered. Firsthand accounts by veterans of the four wartime commands add a layer of compelling personal testimony to the book.
£28.00
Brewin Books The Worcester and Birmingham Canal: Chronicles of
Book SynopsisThe Worcester and Birmingham Canal, some thirty miles long, was created from 1791, when it was authorised by Act of Parliament, to 1815 when it was completed 24 years later. Although intended as a broad canal for barges and having five broad tunnels, it was eventually completed with narrow locks due to financial difficulties. From Gas Street Basin at the Birmingham end it passes through the suburbs of Edgbaston, Selly Oak and Kings Norton, then through the long West Hill Tunnel and via Hopwood and Alvechurch through countryside to Tardebigge, all this section being on the Birmingham Level. Then it descends in stages via fifty-six narrow locks and two barge locks to the River Severn at Diglis via Stoke Prior, Hanbury Wharf, Dunhampstead, Oddingley, Tibberton, Blackpole and the eastern suburbs of Worcester City. The earlier chapters of this book trace in detail the successive stages reached in making the canal and the reservoirs needed to safeguard the water supplies of millowners, the financial and other problems faced, and the saga of the Tardebigge Boat Lifi. Later chapters cover the history of the canal following its completion, its use for both commercial and pleasure purposes, its administration and management, its upkeep and maintenance, its involvement with railways, and the various industries and amenities which were established beside it, Three of the final chapters feature past and present places and items of interest located along the canal from Birmingham to Worcester. Of special interest throughout is the impact the canal had upon the lives of countless people, those involved in its construction, those who lived and worked on the boats, those who were employed by the Canal Company as engineers, lock-keepers and maintenance men, people who worked in canalside factories, shops, public house, boatyards, and on wharves, and those concerned for the welfare of canal boat families and their animals.Trade Review"Alan has produced a superb, and beautifully illustrated, definitive history of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal." - Chris Daniels, Waterways World. "Alan White's book is a very comprehensive account of the canal and has to be regarded as a definitive work." - Stanley Holland, Canals & Rivers.
£23.75
Brewin Books Saga Trees
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£12.85
Frith Book Company Ltd. Isle of Wight
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£999.99
Halsgrove Weymouth & Portland Then Meets Now
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£17.99
Golden Duck (UK) Ltd We Fought Them in Gunboats: HMS Beehive edition
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£14.24
Haus Publishing Ignacy Paderewski: Poland
Book SynopsisThe thirteenth of President Wilson's Fourteen Points of 1918 read: 'An independent Polish state should be erected which should include the territories inhabited by indisputably Polish populations, which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea, and whose political and economic independence and territorial integrity should be guaranteed by international covenant'. Ever since the Third Partition in 1795 brought Polish independence to an end, nationalists had sought the restoration of their country, and the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 did indeed produce the modern Polish state. The Western Allies saw a revived Poland as both a counter to German power and a barrier to the westward expansion of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia - a role the Polish army fulfilled by defeating a Soviet invasion in 1920. But caught between two powers and composed of territory taken from both of them, Poland was vulnerable, and in 1939 it was divided up between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The highest profile Polish representative at the Conference was the pianist and politician Ignacy Paderewski (1860-1941), the 'most famous Pole in the world', whose image had done much to promote the Polish cause in the West. But he was joined by the altogether less romantic figure of Roman Dmowski (1864- 1939), whose anti-Semitic reputation Paderewski took pains to distance himself from when seeking support in the United States.
£11.69
Pushkin Press Marie Antoinette
Book SynopsisBringing to life one of the most complex characters in European history Stefan Zweig based his biography of Marie Antoinette, who became the Queen of France at the age of fifteen, on the correspondence between her and her mother, and her great love the Count Axel von Fersen. Zweig analyzes the chemistry of a woman's soul from her intimate pleasures to her public suffering as a Queen under the weight of misfortune and history. Zweig describes Marie Antoinette in the King's bedroom, in the enchanted and extravagant world of the Trianon, and with her children. And in his account of 'The Revolution', he describes her resolve during the failed escape to varennes, her imprisonment in the Conciergerie and her final tragic destiny under the guillotine. Zweig's account has been the definitive biography of Marie Antoinette since its publication, inspiring Antonia Fraser and the recent film adaptation. Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) was born in Vienna, into a wealthy Austrian-Jewish family. He studied in Berlin and Vienna and was first known as a poet and translator, then as a biographer. Zweig travelled widely, living in Salzburg between the wars, and was an international bestseller with a string of hugely popular novellas including Letter from an Unknown Woman, Amok and Fear. In 1934, with the rise of Nazism, he moved to London, where he wrote his only novel Beware of Pity. He later moved on to Bath, taking British citizenship after the outbreak of the Second World War. With the fall of France in 1940 Zweig left Britain for New York, before settling in Brazil, where in 1942 he and his wife were found dead in an apparent double suicide. Much of his work is available from Pushkin Press.Trade ReviewCertainly no one can arise unmoved from the reading of this powerful work The New Republic Excellent biography The New York Times Stefan Zweig's remarkable study of Marie Antoinette; A full-bodied biography which bids fair to be the definitive life of that tragic queen The New York Times The most influential biography of Marie Antoinette The Guardian
£12.34
Fircone Books Ltd The Story of Worcester
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£14.25
Fircone Books Ltd The Story of Hereford
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£14.25
Atlantic Publishing, Croxley Green Lost England: 1870-1930
Book SynopsisLost England records the greatest transition in England''s history as the longstanding practices of a largely rural economy shifted focus into towns and cities: astonishing photographs give the reader access to the streets, living and working spaces of the growing cities as well as the daily routines of rural life.
£36.00
University of Chester Press A Really Short Entertaining Fully Graphic and as
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£18.22
NMSE - Publishing Ltd Stranraer and District Lives: Voices in Trust
Book SynopsisTopics discussed in these recorded oral interviews with residents of Stranraer and district, in south-west Scotland, include tattie howking, war, the capsizing of the Larne-Stranraer ferry and the stormy winter of 1947. The interviews took place over a period of time, the first being with Helen Davies who was 87 when recorded in 1997.This is the first book based on research carried out by the European Ethnological Research Centre (EERC) as part of their current research programme: Dumfries and Galloway: A Regional Ethnology - part of a wider research programme, The Regional Ethnology of Scotland Project.Co-published by NMS Enterprises Ltd - Publishing and the EERC.Trade Review'This volume is a welcome addition to the regional Flashbacks series … All the same elements of war, travel, and travellers feature in this regional history, but woven into the everyday rhythms of Stranraer and the surrounding district from the early twentieth to the early twenty-first century. … ' Oral History Society ReviewTable of ContentsTattie Howkers / Tramps and Travellers / Agriculture and Farming / Rural and Urban Living Conditions / Shops and Businesses / Community Life / Education / Health / Travel and Transport / War / Princess Victoria Disaster / The Storm in the Winter of 1947-48 / Ghostly Happenings / Exploring the Photograph Archive Collection held by the Stranraer and District Local History Trust / Appendix: Stranraer and District Local History Trust and List of Interviewees
£12.34
Rydon Publishing Scotland
Book SynopsisFor a country with a relatively small population, Scotland has had a massive impact on the world. This intriguing miscellany uncovers the culture surrounding its shores, and celebrates the many characters, legends, firsts and inventions that have shaped the country's rich and majestic history. This eye opening collection of trivia will enlighten you on many of the myths surrounding Scotland. Bagpipes, tartan and haggis are all archetypal images of Scotland, and yet none of them likely originated here. Clan wars, family feuds, invasions and battles are just some of the historical subjects divulged in this fascinating miscellany. Scots have also helped to create modern life, with innovators ushering in the Industrial Revolution, medical breakthroughs, not forgetting the Scottish engineers famed across the globe. Along the way you will also find entries on the food, the sporting heritage and darker tales of murder most foul. Brief, accessible and entertaining pieces on a wide variety of subjects makes it the perfect book to dip in to. The amazing and extraordinary facts series presents interesting, surprising and little-known facts and stories about a wide range of topics which are guaranteed to inform, absorb and entertain in equal measure. Table of Contents1 Introduction 8 2 Culture 10 3 We are Family 10 4 An Instrument of War 12 5 Battle of the Clans 15 6 The Best Plaid Schemes 18 7 The Tartan Conmen 20 8 Minding their Language 23 9 On the Trail 26 10 Makers of History 28 11 Snakes and Monsters 28 12 What Bloody Man is that? 29 13 The King Who Helped Create Scotland 31 14 The Guardian of Scotland 34 15 The Man Who Would Be King 36 16 A Royal Dynasty 40 17 Her End Was Her Beginning 43 18 The Monstrous Regiment 46 19 Crowning Achievement 46 20 Courage and Fidelity 49 21 The Woman with Star Power 51 22 Queen of the Comstock 53 23 Fighting the Pestilence of the Free Winds 54 24 Woman with a mission 56 25 Food and Drink 58 26 The Selkirk Grace 58 27 The Water of Life 59 28 Great Chieftan 'o the Puddin Race 62 29 Squared Away 64 30 Ale that was sweeter than honey 67 31 Scotland at War 70 32 The Lost Legion 70 33 The Deaths That Caused a Crisis 72 34 Death of a King 74 35 The Not-So-English Civil War 75 36 Royal Blood, Holy Wars 79 37 Castle Commando 81 38 The Bandit Masquerading as a Scottish Officer 83 39 Here We Go Round the Mulberry 85 40 Building a Country 87 41 The Northeast Passage 87 42 Big Wheel Keep on Rollin' 90 43 The Road to Peace 91 44 Planes, Trains - and trains That Are Planes 93 45 Rocket Science 94 46 The Men Who Made the Hollow Mountain 97 47 Bridges over the River Forth 100 48 The Sporting Life 103 49 War Games 103 50 An Unprofitable Sport 105 51 Sticking it to the Warriors 108 52 The Not So Beautiful Game 109 53 Sport on the Slide 111 54 The Eglinton Tournament 113 55 Just not Cricket 117 56 The first World Cup 119 57 Tales from the Dark Side 122 58 The Family from Hell 122 59 The Glen of Weeping 124 60 Bloody Deeds and Bloody Shirts 126 61 The Judge's Wife 128 62 The Ripper Connection 130 63 Index 132
£8.99
Fircone Books Ltd The Elan Valley Clearance: The Fate of the People
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£12.30
Fircone Books Ltd The Welsh Marcher Lordships: South-west
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£18.00
HarperCollins Publishers Singapore Then and Now®
Book SynopsisSingapore Then and Now brings together rare archival images of this global city-state and matches them with specially commissioned photos of the same sites as they appear today. Vaughan Grylls (author/photographer of Oxford Then and Now, Cambridge Then and Now and Hong Kong Then and Now) has rounded up all of the key sites that make up this fascinating and diverse place, from gleaming new skyscrapers and shopping malls to magnificent temples and ancient rainforests. The breathtaking contrast between past and present make this a fascinating addition to the long-running Then and Now series. Sites include: Elgin Bridge, Empress Place Building, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Fullerton Hotel, Johnston’s Pier, Singapore Cricket Club, the Supreme Court, Capitol Theatre, Raffles Hotel, Masjid Sultan Mosque, Ellison Building, Coleman Bridge, Fort Canning, National Museum, YMCA Building, Cathay Building, Thian Hock Keng Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Tanjong Pagar Dock, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Johor–Singapore Causeway, Ford Factory, Changi Village.
£14.24
National Galleries of Scotland Art Court of James VI I
Book SynopsisA dazzling selection of art, jewellery, clothing and objects that reflects the dynamic court of James VI & I.
£22.49
Cranachan Publishing Limited The Siege of Caerlaverock
Book SynopsisWINNER YOUNG QUILLS AWARD BEST HISTORICAL FICTION 2021 12-year-old Ada is a laundress of little consequence but the new castle commander Brian de Berclay has his evil eye on her. Perhaps she shouldn’t have secretly fed the young prisoner in the tower. But when the King of England crosses the border with an army of over 3000 strong, Ada, her friend Godfrey and all at Caerlaverock suddenly find themselves under attack, with only 60 men for protection. Soon, rocks and flaming arrows rain from the sky over Castle Caerlaverock - and Ada has a dangerous choice to make.
£6.99
Saraband Rocks and Rain, Reason and Romance: The
Book SynopsisDavid Howe tells the story of the Lake District, England's most dramatic landscape. Home to vistas of stunning beauty and a rich heritage, it is an area of England that fascinates, inspires - and has bewitched David for a lifetime. With passion and an endless curiosity, he reveals how half a billion years of shifting ice, violent volcanoes and (of course) falling rain have shaped the lakes and fells that have fired the imaginations of the great sons and daughters of the area, the poets and the scientists. He shows that Lakeland is a seamless web where lives and landscape weave together, where the ancient countryside has created a unique local history: of farming and mining, of tightknit communities, of a resilient and proud people. The Lake District is a place of rocks and rain, reason and romance, wonder and curiosity. And this book celebrates it all: the very character of Cumbria.Trade Review"Written in a tremendously readable narrative style (think `Mountains of the Mind' by Robert Macfarlane) ... skilful ... compelling." The Great Outdoors; "Chapters on mountains, ice and lakes, on farming and national parks and Wainwright ... set against Cumbria's wider cultural importance ... very accessible ... [yet] holds a considerable weight of authority." Country Life; "Interesting ... links the landscape with the scientists, the Romantic poets and other notable residents [of the Lake District] ... forensic details of the geology and geomorphology of the Lakes ... detailed biographies on the lives and loves of the Romantic poets." BBC Countryfile Magazine; "An ambitious and enjoyable biography of a landscape." Cumbria Life, Book of the Month; "Affectionately written ... a ramble through the Lake District ... elegiac ... a reflection on the transience of life and beauty." Workington Times and Star; Praise for Wandering in Norfolk: East Anglian Book Awards 2017, SHORTLISTED; "A real treat, and a perfect read for that comfortable armchair in front of the woodburner on a cold winter's day." Eastern Daily Press; "The pot pourri style is very effective ... thoughtful views on a variety of subjects and some beautifully written science lessons ... an excellent and well written book." Amazon reviewer; "Beautifully written, a joy to read." Amazon reviewerTable of ContentsUps and Downs; Atoms; Rain; Nature and the Romantics; Three Persons and One Soul; Love and More Romance; Friends, Family and Fame; Lakes; An Ocean, Ancient and Deep; Volcanoes; Mountain Building; Ice; Stone Age to Iron Age; Roman Roads to Victorian Railways; Where to Go and What to See; Love Letters to the Lake District; A Force of Nature; Back to Nature; Hedgehogs and Herdwicks; A National Property; Tales and Sails; Intimations of Mortality
£9.49
Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art English Garden Eccentrics: Three Hundred Years of
Book SynopsisA highly original study of eccentric English garden-makers and their extraordinary gardens In English Garden Eccentrics, renowned landscape architect and historian Todd Longstaffe-Gowan reveals a series of obscure and eccentric English garden-makers who, between the early seventeenth and early twentieth centuries, created intensely personal and idiosyncratic gardens. They include such fascinating characters as the superstitious antiquary William Stukeley and the animal- and bird-loving Lady Read, as well as the celebrated master of Vauxhall Gardens, Jonathan Tyers, who created at his home at Denbies one of the gloomiest and most perverse anti-pleasure gardens in Georgian England. Others built miniature mountains, shaped topiaries, displayed exotic animals, excavated caves, and assembled architectural fragments and fossils to realise their gardens in a way that was often thought excessive. With quirky and compelling illustrations and chapters including “Lady Broughton’s ‘Miniature copy of the Swiss Glaciers,’” “Topiary on a Gargantuan Scale: The Clipped ‘Yew-trees’ at Four Ancient London Churchyards,” and “The Burrowing Duke at Harcourt House,” English Garden Eccentrics brings together garden and landscape history with cultural history and biography. The book engagingly reveals what it is about the gardener and his or her creation that can be seen as eccentric and focusses on an area of garden history that has scarcely been explored: gardens seen as expressions of the singular character of their makers, and therefore functioning, in effect, as a form of autobiography. This lively and accessible book calls on gardeners today to learn from example and dare to be eccentric. Distributed for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British ArtTrade Review“This fine book by the garden historian and landscape architect Todd Longstaffe-Gowan raises the bar considerably on what constitutes a garden eccentric. . . . What really makes this book work, though . . . is Longstaffe-Gowan’s impeccable research combined with his ability to tell a story. . . . It is obvious that he cares about these people and believes their gardens function as a form of autobiography.”—Ann Treneman, The Times“A glorious cabinet of curiosities . . . English Garden Eccentrics is a compilation of enjoyably singular case studies but if there is an overarching theme it is that in gardens we find reflections of human yearning.”—Lucy Lethbridge, Financial Times“The book is rich in unexpected insights into cultural history that give a broader context to its theme.”—Bruce Boucher, Art Newspaper“English Garden Eccentrics profiles about two dozen mavericks who astonished visitors with sculptured terrain. . . . Hydraulics powered thunderous waterfalls, man-made mountaintops were covered with pulverized white stone to simulate snowfall, and grottoes teemed with ceramic gnomes or pet kangaroos.”—Eve M. Kahn, New York Times“[Todd Longstaffe-Gowan’s] new book divulges grottoes, toy hermits and a ‘parlour of Venus’ of questionable taste. . . . As most of them are unfamiliar, his detailed presentations enlarge the range of conventional histories of English gardens.”—Robin Lane Fox, Financial Times“Todd Longstaffe-Gowan defines eccentricity as behavior that’s ‘strange and, intriguingly, both engaging and disturbing.’ The historic garden-lovers in his new book fit the profile.”—Peter Saenger, Wall Street Journal“One of the strengths of this book is that Todd Longstaffe-Gowan has chosen garden makers who are mostly lesser known and in some cases virtually unknown. This is also an exceptionally well-made book. . . . Some well-known examples of garden eccentricity are included, but in every case the author provides new details.”—Tim Richardson, Literary Review“In English Garden Eccentrics landscape architect and author Todd Longstaffe-Gowan reveals a fascinating array of English garden-makers who, between the 17th and 18th centuries, created idiosyncratic gardens incorporating miniature mountains, exotic animals, caves and topiary.”—Bath Magazine“Worthy research and interpretation. . . . England was awash with eccentrics throughout the 19th century. Many of them populate the pages here—surely, one of the author’s chief difficulties was who to leave out.”—Steven Desmond, Country Life“As well as being a historian, Todd Longstaffe-Gowan is himself a gardener and practising landscape architect, and English Garden Eccentrics is enriched by the depth of his working knowledge. His experience also gives him an imaginative sympathy with each of his garden-making subjects who as a result spring from the page as real, if highly unconventional, human beings.”—Susan Owens, Times Literary Supplement“In his portly and absorbing new book, Longstaffe-Gowan. . . rescues from obscurity the dramatis personae of a long-lost, almost unimaginable world. . . . So rich are their details, so compelling their stories . . . English Garden Eccentrics is simply unputdownable.”—David Wheeler, The Oldie“The author delights us with the surprising tales behind the 20 or so individuals who from the early 17th century through the beginning of the 20th century fashioned a range of unusual gardens. . . . The stories are amusing, at times tinged with sadness but always informative and very entertaining. Each chapter is to be savoured because these gardens functioned as a form of biography, with each personality revealing themselves through their creativity. . . . I loved this book.”—Advolly Richmond, Gardens Illustrated“[Todd Longstaffe-Gowan] has brought his encyclopedic knowledge of the gloriously idiosyncratic gardens and garden makers of England to life in this sparkling text. If only there was as much imagination in the oeuvres these days. Hopefully, Todd will trigger a renaissance of the eccentric.”—Jinny Blom, House & Garden“Those who plan to enjoy green thoughts in green shades this summer should be accompanied by Todd Longstaffe-Gowan’s English Garden Eccentrics, a delightful, book-length survey of the work of many of the eccentric gardeners of England over the past 300 or so years.”—Michael Glover, The Tablet, “Summer Reading”“This book, considered simply as a reading experience, must be one of the most delightful in the canon of garden history. It is well written, beautifully produced and copiously illustrated.”—Brent Elliott, Garden History“Longstaffe's eyes are fixed firmly on the snippets of information about the wilder reaches of the human psyche which his research has unearthed and he conveys those snippets in prose which is both lucid and lively.”—Tim Longville, Hortus“This superbly researched collection explores the nature of eccentricity, expressed in garden creation from the 18th century onwards. It abounds with illustrations which tantalise our imagination since many of these eccentricities have disappeared over time.”—Jeremy Garnett, London Landscapes
£28.50
Eglantyne Books Sphinx
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£25.00
Lawrence & Wishart Ltd Photography: Race, Rights and Representation
Book SynopsisIn Photography: Race, Rights & Representation Mark Sealy discusses the critical work photographic images do in culture. Through photography, the book engages with notions of history, alienation, migration, civil and human rights, community and representational politics.
£18.06
Lawrence & Wishart Ltd From Sylhet to Spitalfields: Bengali Squatters in
Book SynopsisThis book explores the hidden history of the Bengali squatters' movement. Faced with institutional discrimination in council housing and the existential threat of the National Front, hundreds of Bengali families in 1970s East London decided to squat, taking over entire streets and estates.
£16.00
Helion & Company Cold War Berlin: An Island City Volume 1 - the
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£16.10
Helion & Company The Italian Wars Volume 3: Francis I and the
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£21.25
Daunt Books The Barefoot Woman
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£9.49
Welbeck Publishing Group Bridges of the World
Book SynopsisFifty bridges from all over the world to be crossed on foot or with one''s imagination. Throughout history bridges have been used as a way to link people, places and cultures. Whether a natural arch or a man-made feat of engineering, bridges can be both beautiful and functional, each in a unique relationship with the land around it. And the stories that accompany these bridges are just as fascinating: the legends, anecdotes and the inspirational lives of those who designed, built and crossed them.This book celebrates some of the world''s best bridges of all description: great icons such as the Tower Bridge in London, the Charles Bridge in Prague and the Golden Gate in San Francisco; a precarious thread stretched between the Twin Towers by an acrobat; treasures destroyed and rebuilt, like the Mostar Bridge in Herzegovina; and a streak of frozen snow between the crevasses of a glacier.
£11.69
Scribe Publications Jan Morris: life from both sides
Book Synopsis‘A marvel of clarity, fluency, and (Morris’s favourite word in her final days) kindness.’ The Sunday Times The first full account of the remarkable life of Jan Morris: writer, soldier, traveller, and trans pioneer. Jan Morris is widely considered one of Britain’s best-loved writers, known for her observational genius, lyricism, and humour. Born in 1926, she spent her childhood amidst Oxford’s Gothic beauty and later participated in military service in Italy and the Middle East, before becoming an internationally fêted foreign correspondent. However, public success masked a private dilemma that was only resolved when she transitioned gender in the late sixties. She went on to live happily with her wife Elizabeth in Wales for another five decades, and never stopped writing and publishing. Here, for the first time, the many strands of Morris’s rich and at times paradoxical life are brought together. Trade Review‘Engaging … meticulously researched.’ -- Kathryn Hughes * The Guardian *‘A measured and elegant biography that Morris aficionados will find fascinating.’ -- Melanie Reid * The Times *‘Paul Clements, a journalist and travel writer who knew Morris for 30 years, has produced a lovely and scrupulous biography … a boon companion to Morris’s sprawling oeuvre.’ -- Alexandra Jacobs * The New York Times *‘A marvel of clarity, fluency, and (Morris’s favourite word in her final days) kindness.’ -- John Walsh * The Sunday Times *‘A textured portrait brimming with details of Morris’s life and work.’ * The New York Times *‘A judicious, richly researched book.’ -- Tim Adams * The Observer *‘Lively and well-written … Clements deserves plaudits.’ -- Andrew Lycett * The Spectator *‘Clements’ respectful approach does raise some fascinating questions.’ -- Miranda Seymour * Financial Times *‘Meticulously researched biography.’ -- Kathryn Hughes * The Guardian *‘Fascinating.’ -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Daily Mail *‘A work worthy of its complex and much admired subject, and one that is unlikely to be surpassed … a painstakingly assembled portrait which brings her vividly to life.’ -- John McCourt * The Irish Times *‘Life from Both Sides suggests that Jan Morris was one of the greatest writers and one of the most astonishing humans to grace the stage of English literature — her achievements mock category; her story bamboozles convention; her travels will remain unsurpassed. There are no prizes for the mighty living of life, only biographies. This will not be the last awarded to Jan Morris, but it will surely be judged the best. Beautifully written, fizzing with adventure, alight with the fire-work prose, humour, and chutzpah of its subject … Jan Morris’s was a life-changing life, and Paul Clements’s is a life-lighting book.’ -- Horatio Clare, author of Running for the Hills‘Clements shows an insatiable appetite in immersing himself in Morris’ 70-year career … he has produced here an account which the author herself would unhesitatingly recommend. An amazing life captured as a fly in amber in this riveting study.’ -- Dan McCarthy * Irish Examiner *‘A beautifully written and meticulously researched biography of one of the 20th century’s best writers, who had managed to pack two extraordinary lives into one unique and ever-so-gripping travelogue ... Jan herself, as I knew her, would have loved reading it.’ -- Vitali Vitaliev, journalist and author of Borders Up!‘In her long and extraordinary life, Jan Morris was renowned for her many roles as a writer, a traveller, and a woman: the author of Pax Britannica, “the Flaubert of the jet age”, a courageous trans pioneer, and the quixotic champion of Wales. At the same time, she never ceased to be gloriously herself, and Paul Clements’ enthralling biography brings one of the great figures of the English-speaking world in the late 20th century into focus for the first time, with memorable sympathy and understanding.’ -- Robert McCrum, author of The Story of English‘An important new biography.’ -- John Bowman * Bowman: Sunday *‘Extremely readable.’ -- Jane Hardy * Irish News *‘A striking biography.’ -- Sean Rocks * RTE Arena *‘For anyone interested in world history, it makes for absorbing reading.’ -- Susan Flockhart * The Herald *‘The book of the moment ... Remarkable.’ -- William Crawley * BBC Radio Ulster Talkback *‘A fascinating account.’ -- Orna Mulcahy * The Gloss *‘This is careful, sifted, footnote-heavy stuff, a chronological canter through a century of an utterly captivating and outrageously blessed life … Clements leaves no research stone unturned.’ -- Mike Parker * Nation *‘Humane, reliable, and rounded — a rich, multifaceted portrait of someone whose own daughter, Suki, concurred was “a really complicated person”.’ -- Olivia Edward * Geographical Magazine *‘A stunning and hefty biography … It’s a beautiful tribute … Clement’s book will inspire you to discover Jan Morris if you haven't already, and for people like me who know a little of her work, well, it made me want to read more.’ -- Phil Brown * Q Magazine *‘This is a chaste, sparkling book.’ -- Peter Craven * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘Clements presents an intimate portrait of a writer of a writer of some of the world's most-read travel books.’ -- Barry Reynolds * SA Weekend *‘Clements presents an engaging and loving tribute to a life well lived.’ -- June Sawyers * Booklist *
£11.69
Haus Publishing Eric Warburg
£15.29
Crafty Birdie Designs The Great Welsh Women Colouring Book
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£9.64
At One Communications Adorned by Nature: Adornment, exchange & myth in
Book SynopsisSouth Seas islanders had little access to metals or precious stones, so they crafted superlative and fabled adornments from nature. They created currencies and ground-breaking trading networks that nurtured relationships and redefined value. This is their story.Trade Review"What a masterpiece!; Annie Boehm, owner at The Girl Adorned; Beautiful and informative. The pictures are amazing! A real work of art!" Barbara Kusnetzky, Bacara; "A great book and a 'must have'."; Andrew Pendergrast, Kiwa Art, New Zealand; "A visual delight. You will absolutely love this book's wide and kaleidoscopic approach. South Seas adornment is shown as being in perpetual development and adaptation, highlighting cultural interaction and its consequences. The author unlocks the world of adornment in bite-sized nuggets, easily digested and understood, all the while containing a plethora of details. The photographs, drawings and diagrams are fantastic and will certainly have you immersed in this vast world for hours on end. There is so much to see in these pages!"; Sigrid van Roode, researcher in traditional jewellery, BedouinSilver.com; "Amazing. A very personal and emotional book."; Ulrich Kortmann, Owner of Germany's top Tribal Art Gallery; "After over fifty-five years of study and collecting in this field, this is the best book I've seen on the subject."; Col Davidson, Researcher and collector of primitive money, Past President of the Traditional Money Association; "I am in awe of your deep dedication to the cultures of indigenous people."; Dr Dolly Guise, Anthropologist, University of Sydney, Australia; "An absolutely stunning book. Spectacular. The connection between nature and culture has never been highlighted in such a fascinating way."; Klaas Schoof, Curator, Papua Heritage Foundation (Stichting Papoea Erfgoed), Amsterdam
£36.00
De Coubertin Books There She Goes: Liverpool, A City on Its Own. The
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£9.49
Amberley Publishing The Mayflower in Britain
Book SynopsisCelebrating the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower, Graham Taylor focuses on the ship's place in British history and its fascinating history tied to the city of London.
£17.00
Scribe Publications Monsters: a memoir
Book Synopsis‘I was born as part of a monstrous structure — the grotesque, hideous, ugly, ghastly, gruesome, horrible relations of power that constituted colonial Britain. A structure that shaped me, that shapes the very language that I speak and use and love. I am the daughter of an empire that declared itself the natural order of the world.’ From award-winning writer and critic Alison Croggon, Monsters takes as its point of departure the painful breakdown of a relationship between two sisters. It explores how our attitudes are shaped by the persisting myths that underpin colonialism and patriarchy, how the structures we are raised within splinter and distort the possibilities of our lives. Monsters asks how we maintain the fictions that we create about ourselves, what we will sacrifice to maintain these fictions — and what we have to gain by confronting them.Trade Review‘A marvel of a book … Croggon spares no one, least of all herself, as she unearths colonial history and family complicity to scrutinise those demons that both torment and shape us. This is exactly the kind of book I have longed to see white authors write, and I love it for its refusal to provide easy answers to the dilemma at the heart of the modern human condition.’ -- Ruby Hamad, author of White Tears/Brown Scars‘Refreshing … admirable.’ -- Josephine Fenton * Irish Examiner *‘Croggon is an autodidact and digs deepest into issues which interest her most. Her writing on femaleness and the patriarchy is excellent and follows her own feminist evolution … This is a unique blend of memoir and critical theory.’ -- Bob Moore * Good Reading *‘Croggon’s background as a poet is tangible, and her language in Monsters is flavoursome … she is witty, self-reflective, raw.’ -- Anna Westbrook * ArtsHub, starred review *‘What makes Monsters distinct, from opening bars to melancholy coda, is the nature of the pain it describes. Not the physical kind which holds at least the potential for relief, but the emotional distress emerging from a breakdown in the author’s relationship with one of her two younger sisters: a connection that has grown increasingly poisonous over time … Monsters becomes the effort to draw a global map of human hurt using the fractal experience of one woman’s domestic discord.’ -- Geordie Williamson * The Weekend Australian *‘Monsters is a hybrid memoir about family, colonialism and how external forces invisibly shape us, by renowned critic and impressive brain Alison Croggon.’ -- Jo Case * InDaily *‘Steady and acute self-scrutiny such as Croggon’s is necessary to a widening interrogation of privilege that underpins the illumination and refusal of racism and sexism and promised a historical pivot away from overt and covert violence … Monsters is full of gloriously expressed insights, such as the image of the internet as ‘a trauma machine, recording and reproducing millions of psychic wounds’ and, on the subject of #MeToo, the way an accumulation of incidents can contribute to a ‘deformation fo self’ … stylistically, the rhythms and sonic patterns of Croggon’s prose are a poet’s.’ -- Felicity Plunkett * The Age *‘Sometimes it is in the gulf between what we value and how we act that we are truly revealed … Croggon cares deeply about this idea, of sitting with complexity … in every scorching appraisal of hierarchy and patriarchy, there is a central thought: there must be some explanation … For Croggon, the legacy of British colonialism is the notion that you can take someone’s story away from them. Monsters fights to reclaim the narrative.’ -- Sarah Walker * Australian Book Review *‘In language at once fiery and elegant, [Croggon] reckons with the collective failures of her imperialist ancestors and the personal shame of their legacy. It’s a book I will return to often for its power and its truths.’ -- Marina Benjamin, author of Insomnia‘The searing opening spares no one, least of all Croggon as she details a toxic relationship with her sister … Woven in and out of all this are other ugly but very differently scaled relationships, from colonialism through which she details her own history, to the patriarchy and how it distorts the way we see even ourselves. Croggon is a talented writer, librettist, playwright and thinker, and her focus here is to understand and, in some ways, reconcile with all this dysfunction.’ -- Penelope Debelle * SA Weekend, starred review *‘Monsters brings up interesting insights on trauma, power relations and the pathology of families.’ -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *‘Young Adult author Croggon grapples with both personal and historical demons … [she] asks probing questions about self-perception and trauma … The monsters of the title are plentiful: throughout the essays she addresses her British colonialist ancestors, her abusive mother, the “traumatic tedium” of her relationship to her sister, and herself … Lyrically rendered, this reckoning will leave readers with plenty to think about.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘With Monsters, [Croggon] tackles one of contemporary literature’s most electric (and eclectic) forms — a kind of glorious literary mutant that braids socio-cultural contemplation and memoir; anchoring high-theory with visceral intimacy. She joins a sorority of glittering thinkers … whose work mimics what it feels like to stretch an idea out in your brain. True to type, Monsters is digressive, kaleidoscopic, and alive with questions.’ -- Beejay Silcox * The Guardian *
£13.49
Wooden Books Mazes and Labyrinths: In Great Britain
Book SynopsisLabyrinths are found in rock, mosaics and turf all over the world, and seem to have been known to magicians from very ancient times. In the traditional designs no choices are offered to the seekers, the path simply delivering the walker to the centre in a certain way. But what does it mean? Can you really get lost in a maze? What have gremlins got to do with it all? And the Minotaur? This tiny book of graphic beginnings, endings and lanes in between is a beautiful and thought-provoking guide to this fascinating subject. WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. "Fascinating" FINANCIAL TIMES. "Beautiful" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. "Rich and Artful" THE LANCET. "Genuinely mind-expanding" FORTEAN TIMES. "Excellent" NEW SCIENTIST. "Stunning" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.Trade Review"Charming" - Country Living
£7.59
Icon Books Footmarks: A Journey into Our Restless Past
Book Synopsis'Lucid, poetic and fascinating' ALICE ROBERTS'Engaging, authoritative and full of fascinating stories of the past' RAY MEARS'A gentle, personal and very readable book' JULIA BLACKBURN AUTHOR OF TIME SONG'A triumph!' JAMES CANTON, AUTHOR OF THE OAK PAPERS'I loved this book' FRANCIS PRYOROn paths, roads, seas, in the air, and in space - there has never been so much human movement. In contrast we think of the past as static, 'frozen in time'. But archaeologists have in fact always found evidence for humanity's irrepressible restlessness. Now, latest developments in science and archaeology are transforming this evidence and overturning how we understand the past movement of humankind. In this book, archaeologist Jim Leary traces the past 3.5 million years to reveal how people have always been moving, how travel has historically been enforced (or prohibited) by people with power, and how our forebears showed incredible bravery and ingenuity to journey across continents and oceans. With Leary to show the way, you'll follow the footsteps of early hunter-gatherers preserved in mud, and tread ancient trackways hollowed by feet over time. Passing drovers, wayfarers and pilgrims, you'll see who got to move, and how people moved. And you'll go on long-distance journeys and migrations to see how movement has shaped our world.Trade ReviewEngaging, authoritative and full of fascinating stories of the past. This book shows that life is not centred on hearth and house, as we are so often told, but is shaped by relentless movement, along tracks and trails. By focusing on mobility, Jim Leary has managed to reanimate the past, revealing the hidden but vital contribution that migration has always made to the shaping of the world -- Ray MearsA gentle, personal and very readable book that gives life to the dynamic sequence of activity, effort and extraordinary determination that makes up our human past -- Julia Blackburn, author of Time SongI loved this book. It's a highly readable account of how and why people have moved around on the surface of the earth, across land and sea ... What makes this book so special is that everything is discussed within the context of life at the time: who were using the paths or the boats and why were they doing it? Most importantly it is so relevant to us today, as we try to steer our waythrough times of increasing instability -- Francis Pryor, archaeologist and authorArchaeologists have a superpower: time travel. Their digs show us cold hearths and colder graves, but as Jim Leary shows in this gripping read, the past was hot-blooded and alive with the movement of people who loved and laughed as we do. Yet history and archaeology are written as though humans and our creations are fixed, frozen entities: screenshots of past lives, not videos. Our ideas of our origins, history and ourselves today must all change, and those new ideas are not only more exciting, but tell us more about both our past and our future. They are also true -- John Harrison, award winning travel writerJim Leary takes us into the little explored realm of ancient movement. We walk with hominins and Neanderthals, explore deep caves, herd cattle, and become pilgrims, ocean voyagers and long-distance walkers. Leary is a passionate walker, who combines science with his first-hand experience and observation out and about. This beautifully written, entertaining essay melds personal experience with archaeological and historical wisdom. The result is a truly remarkable and original book that thinks profoundly about the past. Read this and be inspired! -- Brian Fagan, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, University of California and authorA book about the movements of humans could be a little dull, don't you think? Well, not a bit of it. Jim Leary's archaeological passion is "paths over pyramids" and Footmarks is as lively and entertaining an exploration of human wanderings as you could ever hope to read. It links our colourful and complex history to how we live today, clearing up a few notable misconceptions along the way. This compelling, highly original book will change the way you think about landscape and our place within it -- Ian Carter, author of Human, NatureEngaging and impassioned, Footmarks is an enchanting stroll through the deep history of human wanderings across the world. This book will delight and entice all who muse on the ways in which we have ever walked upon this earth. A triumph! -- James Canton, author of The Oak PapersFootmarks takes us on a magnificent voyage tracing the fascinating history and restless patterns of human movement. Leary explores the many ways archaeology can reveal the dynamism of past lives and the way in which we both make and are made by the paths we take. Brimming with detail yet written lightly and with unashamed affection, this delightful book shows how we are all part of a vast, whirling dance that's been going on for millennia -- Rebecca Wragg Sykes, author of KindredLeary awakes in the reader the desire to walk, to wander, to meander and ponder. With charm, wit and warmth, we are led through an alternative archaeology, one where movement and mobility take precedence over settlement and sedentism. Thought-provoking and sustained by a depth of knowledge of human cultures, Footmarks reminds us that the restless journey and some of the most meaningful experiences along its path leave no trace but the imprints where feet have trodden -- Alex Langlands, author of CraeftArchaeological writing at its best: lucid, rational and deeply woven with the real lives of real people from the past. You'll never think about - or walk around - historic sites the same way again -- Mary-Ann Ochota, broadcaster and anthropologistFootmarks is a joy. A dance with our predecessors, through settings that feel by turns intimate and familiar, then questing and bold. By animating the ancient past Leary reminds us that far from being distant observers of the ancient past, we are a product of it, in both spirit and substance -- Amy-Jane Beer, naturalist and author of The FlowLucid, poetic and fascinating - a beautiful journey through time and across diverse landscapes. From ancient hominin footprints to hollow ways, from cattle drovers to pilgrims, Leary explores how journeys make us human -- Alice Roberts, anatomist, author and broadcasterA touching, illuminating and fascinating book. Leary is a great guide through our restless history -- Rob Cowen, author Common GroundAn engrossing tour of the ways in which "people have moved over millions of years" ... This is a trip worth taking. * Publishers Weekly *In this beautifully written book, archaeologist Jim Leary explains how stretching back millions of years, our ancestors have moved across their landscapes ... Intertwined with explanations of discoveries and the methods used to examine historical journeys, the book paints a vivid picture of how mobility has shaped our societies and the world we live in -- Cat Jarman * British Archaeology *Footmarks is a thoroughly engaging stroll through the mystery and complexity of human history with a knowledgeable and amusing guide. It would make a great present for anyone with general interest in archaeology or history. * Current Archaeology *
£17.09
Guardian Faber Publishing Jackpot: How Gambling Conquered Britain
Book SynopsisA striking exposé of the insidious business practices that have generated enormous profits for the companies operating within the UK's gambling industry.'A methodical, sensitive and occasionally harrowing polemic about the gambling industry . . . The book has echoes of Patrick Radden Keefe's award-winning Empire of Pain.'SUNDAY TIMES'A serious attempt to grapple with the extent of Britain's problem.'THE SPECTATOR'Persuasive.' FINANCIAL TIMES'Fascinating.' IRISH TIMES'Eye-opening.' TELEGRAPH***716: the number of gambling logos displayed in a single Premier League football match£421 MILLION: the salary of Bet365's CEO in 2020.£14 BILLION: the annual losses incurred by British gamblers.Over half of the population gambles in the UK every year. How did we get here? What keeps us hooked when the odds are so heavily stacked against us? And who are the real winners and losers?Jackpot dives deep into gambling's seedy underbelly to answer these questions, and many more. From the first National Lottery draw in 1569 to the Wild West of today's online casinos, Guardian reporter Rob Davies follows the money to show who profits - and at what cost.
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton Whatever Next?: Lessons from an Unexpected Life
Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller 'This second volume of memoirs is as fascinating as the first....full of wit, joy, vivid vignettes and useful insights...she has another bestseller on her hands' India Knight, Sunday Times'It's great to have another memoir from Lady Glenconner . . . as open-minded and entertaining as she clearly is' Lynn Barber, Sunday Telegraph'A jolly anecdote for every day of the year and excellent advice' Hilary Rose, The Times'As glorious and highly readable as its predecessor - as well as being packed full of new stories' ipaper'Full of eye-popping detail' Sophia Money-Coutts, Daily Telegraph'Charm itself' Spectator'Anne Glenconner returns to charts her fascinating life and the hard-won lessons learnt in diplomacy, marriage and motherhood' Tatler.comBracing honesty, rare insight and hilarious revelations from internationally bestselling author of LADY IN WAITING as she shares everything she's learned from her extraordinary and unexpected life.Anne Glenconner's glittering life hasn't always been golden. As she revealed in her astonishing bestselling memoir Lady in Waiting, it has been one of stark contrasts - from growing up in the splendour of Holkham Hall to living in a tent in the jungle of Mustique, from travelling the world with Princess Margaret to coping with her wildly unpredictable husband Lord Glenconner. Tragically, she has also survived the loss of two of her sons and nursed a third son back from a coma.Now in her ninetieth year, and at her happiest, Anne brings her bracing honesty, characteristic wit and courage to reflect on and reveal more about her long and unexpected life, her extremely volatile marriage, and what it's taught her.As a wife, she became a master in the art of keeping the peace, knowing when to pick her battles, when she needed help - and when to take a lover. As a hostess, she acquired great practical skills in throwing marvellous parties and looking after magnificent homes, and, as a lady in waiting, became well versed in diplomacy and etiquette. It was as a mother she learnt the toughest lessons of all, and through them the value of friendship, family, and laughter to get her through the worst moments in life, as well as celebrate the best of them.Anne Glenconner's Whatever Next? is the richly entertaining proof that staying open to every new adventure and being ready for whatever happens sets an inspiring example for us all.
£18.70
Little, Brown Book Group Yorkshire
Book SynopsisIn Yorkshire: There and Back, Andrew Martin celebrates Britain''s most charismatic county, looking back at the Yorkshire of his 1970s childhood and as it is today.Journeying to every historic corner, Martin writes affectionally about its past, present and peculiarities. York is an evolving city of chocolate, trains, pubs and tourists. Scarborough should be viewed as the posh place it once was, with surprising secrets pertaining to Adolf Hitler and the sea. Leeds is seen as the ''hard'' town with its party goers and late-night provocateurs, but its indoor market never fails to offer a sense of quintessential Yorkshireness on a rainy Saturday afternoon, with milky tea served in beakers and the Leeds United result coming through by osmosis. And the Moors and Dales continue to boast beauty and danger alike.Effortlessly entertaining and wonderfully detailed, Yorkshire: There and Back is a memoir, guide, and all-round appreciation of ''God''s own countTrade ReviewThere is no one else who is writing like Andrew Martin today...unique and important * Guardian *Iconoclastic, entertaining and often devastatingly witty -- Barry Forshaw on Andrew Martin * Independent *He can stop you in your tracks with a well-turned phrase * Sunday Times *A genuinely funny writer...also a daring one * The Times *Very funny and touching... Martin is a journalist and novelist with splendid observational skills and a warm, comic touch, and he spots regional characteristics others have missed...Delightful and unexpected facts abound: who knew that the London Tube map was allegedly inspired by York's medieval street pattern? * Daily Mail *Martin guides up through the geography of "God's Own Country", but also writes amusingly about the blunt pithiness associated with a place that shows 'the merest glimmer of humour, like a small spark struck from a flint' * TLS *
£12.34
Headline Publishing Group Realm of Darkness Hugh Corbett 23
Book SynopsisPaul Doherty''s twenty-third medieval mystery featuring Sir Hugh Corbett is a gripping and gruesome tale of murder and mayhem sure to appeal to fans of C. J. Sansom and Bernard Cornwell.Spring, 1312. Edward II of England is absorbed with his favourite, Peter Gaveston, while his young wife, Isabella, is with child. Isabella''s father, the ruthless Philip of France, dreams of a grandson wearing the Crown of the Confessor and starts to meddle - even if that means murder...Amaury de Craon, Philip''s Master of Secrets, is despatched to carry out his deadly deeds and Edward II summons Sir Hugh Corbett, Keeper of the Secret Seal, to intercept. Both master spies lodge at the Benedictine abbey of St Michael''s in the forest of Ashdown. Supposedly a house of prayer, the abbey holds sinister secrets and treasures which include the world''s most exquisite diamond, The Glory of Heaven. However, shortly after their arrival, the diamond is stolen and its guardian murdered. OtherTrade ReviewHis fascination for history comes off the page * Daily Express *Deliciously suspenseful, gorgeously written and atmospheric * Historical Novels Review *Paul Doherty has a lively sense of history . . . evocative and lyrical descriptions * New Statesman *An opulent banquet to satisfy the most murderous appetite * Northern Echo *Supremely evocative, scrupulously researched * Publishers Weekly *
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Watling Street
Book SynopsisA journey along one of Britain''s oldest roads, from Dover to Anglesey, in search of the hidden history that makes us who we are today.''A bravura piece of writing - Bill Bryson on acid'' Tom HollandWinding its way from the White Cliffs of Dover to the Druid groves of Anglesey, the ancient road of Watling Street has gone by many different names. It is a road of witches and ghosts, of queens and highwaymen, of history and myth, of Bletchley Park codebreakers, Chaucer, Boudicca, Dickens and James Bond. But Watling Street is not just the story of a route across our island. It is an acutely observed exploration of Britain and who we are today, told with wit and an unerring eye for the curious and surprising.Trade Review'In Watling Street, an exploration of modern Britain and what it means to be British today, Higgs offers a more nuanced understanding of the national psyche . . . a book for our times' -- Ian Thomson * Observer *'Mischievous and iconoclastic . . . [Higgs's] is a systematising imagination, able to harness disparate elements and find the patterns that animate them; that he does so in a more socially inclusive manner than many enriches his theories enormously' -- Melissa Harrison * Financial Times *'A new vision of England . . . full of magic, mystery and bits of William Blake' -- Ian Samson * Times Literary Supplement *'A bravura piece of writing - Bill Bryson on acid' -- Tom Holland'It has been said by the old magicians that Watling Street was created in a single night. Or revealed to us between sleeping and waking - a potentiality that is always there but which we have to learn to read. John Higgs does just that: a bright necklace of recoveries and collisions and remarkable witnesses. A tale-telling pilgrim to entertain and inform as we jolt along the way' -- Iain Sinclair'A humorous and thoughtful guide' -- Huston Gilmore * Daily Express *'Myths combine with staggeringly fascinating facts, while Higgs' take on our national imagination and the nature of history is refreshingly original . . . [A] mad, but brilliant, odyssey' -- Rebecca Armstrong * I Paper *'Watling Street is unusual, original and strangely beautiful. It's full of wonderful stories about this remarkable road, expertly brought to life by Higgs. And even though it's a travel book, it has more to say about the current climate than most political books' -- Jamie Bartlett, author of Radicals'On a long drive like this, your companion matters as much as the route, of course - and Higgs is an entertaining one, garrulous but disinclined to hector' -- Tom Sutcliffe * Mail on Sunday Event *A very interesting book . . . great fun and many surprises. One of its glories is that you feel you are in the company of a real person - this is somebody talking to you on a walk, and that's a great feature -- Alexander McCall Smith, BBC Radio 4's A Good Read'A truly fascinating book . . . from one of the best writers on cultural history we have''In these divisive times, when British identity is so much discussed, Watling Street is a rich and relevant work, making a compelling case that our truest heritage is simply the spirituality of the land and the vast, vibrant patchwork of our individual stories' * The Lady *'One of those books where you constantly find yourself underlining pithy quotes, it's a compelling study of the origins of our national identity, at a time when it's becoming more complex than ever' * The Bookseller *'A fascinating, erudite and esoteric portrait of Britain . . . Cliche-free and engrossing, this is a wonderful book' * New European *'Juggling wit and wisdom, [Higgs] brings a lively twist to a thoroughly British story' * Choice *'Wry and thought-provoking. Higgs expresses a history that is not simply that of kings or victors, but of the British people who have shaped the Britain we know' * Who Do You Think You Are? magazine *'The range of reference in this book makes for an inspiring read, and anyone with an interest in British history or identity will find something to learn, and something to think about' * Your Family History *'In the same way that Watling Street slices through the UK, Higgs's trademark crystal clarity of thought slices through this country's nationalistic hysteria. We owe it to ourselves to join him on this vital and endlessly insightful journey''It is an ambitious attempt to find a grassroots British identity that eschews the political, and one that ultimately succeeds' * Big Issue in the North *'One of the best books I've ever read . . . addictively illuminating in these turbulent times''It's erudite, funny, philosophical, often wildly esoteric and packed with factual asides . . . Above all Watling Street provokes a new and exciting discourse on national pride and identity. You can hear the singing of our ancestors in a chorus of shared heritage whose melody is steeped in the land' * New European *'[A] delightful and inventive contemplation of the way history has shaped Britain, and vice versa' * Geographical *'Fascinating stuff' * History Revealed *A timely look at national identity and how it forges the world around us. * WANDERLUST *
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co Goose Green
Book SynopsisThe most in-depth and powerful account yet published of the first crucial clash of the Falklands war - told from both sides. 'An excellent and fast paced narrative' Michael McCarthy, historical battlefield guideTrade ReviewThorough and exhaustive * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Probably the best and most detailed description of a key battle in the 1982 Falklands War ... an excellent and fast paced narrative -- Michael McCarthy, historical battlefield guide
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Sex Lessons From History
Book SynopsisOut now: the new book by Dr Fern Riddell, a powerful and entertaining history of sex. Revised and updated. __________These are the facts: throughout history human beings have had sex. Sexual culture did not begin in the sixties. It has always been celebrated, needed, wanted and desired part of what it means to be human.So: what can learn by looking at the sexual lives of our ancestors? What does it tell us about our attitudes and worries today, and how can the past teach us a better way of looking forward?In this wide-ranging and powerful new history of sex, Dr Fern Riddell will uncover the sexual lives of our ancestors and show that, just like us, they were as preoccupied with sexual identities, masturbation, foreplay, sex, deviance; facing it with the same confusion, joy and accidental hilarity that we do today.Sex: Lessons from History is a revealing and fascinating look at how we''ve always been obsessed with how se
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Viva la Revolucion
Book SynopsisEric Hobsbawm (1917-2012) wrote that Latin America was the only region of the world outside Europe which he felt he knew well and where he felt entirely at home. He claimed this was because it was the only part of the Third World whose two principal languages, Spanish and Portuguese, were within his reach. But he was also, of course, attracted by the potential for social revolution in Latin America. After the triumph of Fidel Castro in Cuba in January 1959, and even more after the defeat of the American attempt to overthrow him at the Bay of Pigs in April 1961, ''there was not an intellectual in Europe or the USA'', he wrote, ''who was not under the spell of Latin America, a continent apparently bubbling with the lava of social revolutions''.''The Third World brought the hope of revolution back to the First in the 1960s''. The two great international inspirations were Cuba and Vietnam, ''triumphs not only of revolution, but of Davids against Goliaths, of the weak against theTrade ReviewThroughout, Hobsbawm writes with unrivalled clarity, making his historical arguments and political commentary compelling and urgent even at a distance of decades * Guardian *
£11.24
Penguin Books Ltd The Ball is Round
Book SynopsisTHE DEFINITIVE, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BOOK ABOUT FOOTBALL ''Football conquered the world with its capacity to astonish, and this is its definitive history'' The IndependentThere may be no cultural practice more global than soccer. Rites of birth and marriage are infinitely diverse, but the rules of soccer are universal. No world religion can match its geographical scope. The single greatest simultaneous human collective experience is the World Cup final. In this extraordinary tour de force, David Goldblatt tells the full story of football''s rise from chaotic folk ritual to the world''s most popular sport. The Ball Is Round illuminates football''s role in the political and social histories of modern societies, but never loses sight of the beauty, joy, and excitement of the game. ___________________________________''Goldblatt writes with authority, humour, and passion, not least in the accounts of famous or significant matches scattered throughout the book'' Times Literary Supplement''Since it became a worldwide phenomenon, nobody has attempted to write an overall history of the game. Now David Goldblatt''s stunning book will be the measure against which all other such volumes are judged'' The Guardian ''Goldblatt''s magnum opus . . . Anyone with a brain and an interest in football will enjoy this book'' The Daily Telegraph (London)
£18.70
Headline Publishing Group Migration The Movement of Humankind from
Book SynopsisThe history of migration from prehistoric man's first steps out of the Rift Valley to the present-day exodus from Syria, and the effects migration has had on language and culture, artistic and scientific advancement throughout history.Table of ContentsEarly forms of Migration. Migration in Recent History. Contemporary Migration. Controversies and Developments.
£17.00
WW Norton & Co Ice Ghosts The Epic Hunt for the Lost Franklin
Book SynopsisThe true story of the greatest mystery of Arctic exploration—and the rare mix of marine science and Inuit knowledge that led to the shipwreck’s recent discovery.Trade Review"... his [Paul Watson's] account of the final uncovering of Erebus and Terror wrecks is riveting..." -- The Observer"This fascinating book weaves together the story of the lost Franklin Expedition of 1845 and the remarkable people and events that led to the shipwreck’s discovery in 2014." -- Choice
£20.89
