History Books

Book SynopsisMichael Gove is one of the most recognisable faces in British politics - and one of the most divisive. Whether it's taking on the education `blob', acting as a frontman for the Brexit campaign or orchestrating one of the bloodiest political assassinations in the history of British politics, Gove is a man who makes things happen. But it was almost so different, and his story, from being born into care to standing for the leadership of the Conservative Party, could have come straight from the pages of a Charles Dickens novel. A charming man to his friends, and a cold-blooded zealot to his enemies, Gove provokes a reaction from everyone, be it loyalty, anger, respect or fury. Love him or hate him, it's impossible to deny Gove's impact on the UK over the past ten years, and, with Brexit still up in the air, he will continue to play a key role in the future of the country. Political journalist Owen Bennett's groundbreaking biography takes in original research as well as interviews with current and former Cabinet ministers, ex-colleagues from the BBC and The Times, and numerous other key players in Gove's life story. Lively and insightful in equal measure, Michael Gove: A Man in a Hurry reveals what turned the adopted son of an Aberdeen fishing family into one of the key political figures of the decade.Trade Review"Essential reading for anyone trying to make sense of the last three years at Westminster." Choice Magazine "A lively, entertaining and highly perceptive profile." The Sunday Business Post

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Book SynopsisFor more than 300 years, Kensington Palace has played host to a colourful cast of kings, queens and assorted aristocratic hangers-on. A stone’s throw from the bustling streets of central London, this grand building has served as the stage for some of the most dramatic and bizarre events in the history of the royal family. It was here that the young Queen Victoria was held a virtual prisoner for eighteen years; and it was here that George II installed both his wife and his mistress, giving the latter rooms so damp that there were said to be mushrooms growing on the walls. More recently, the palace has witnessed an extraordinary series of scandals, from Princess Diana’s bombshell TV interview with a journalist smuggled into the palace disguised as a salesman, to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shock departure – first for Frogmore Cottage, and then for America – amid rumours of a rift with William and Kate. With exclusive interviews with palace staff past and present, fascinating historical details and a fully updated postscript considering what life after Kensington holds for Harry and Meghan, Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle offers a rare behind-the-scenes insight into one of Britain’s most iconic residences.Trade Review"A sparkling account of the often very unregal goings-on at the palace. Richly laced with insider gossip, this is behind-the-scenes royal history at its most entertaining." - Jane Shilling, Daily Mail "A fascinating must-read." - Bella

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Book SynopsisThe Sword of Albion concludes the most comprehensive and intimate life of Nelson ever written, one that teems with a glittering array of sailors and civilians, heroes and villains, husbands, wives and lovers. Here are Nelson's famous victories at the battles of the Nile, Copenhagen and Trafalgar as well as his lesser-known yet equally gripping campaigns. But behind the military prowess is a man riven with paradoxes and schisms: the fighting admiral and the glory-hunter, the national hero and the indigent commoner, the family man and the adulterer. This is an epic, triumphant and tragic life, and a masterpiece of the biographer's art.Trade ReviewAn absolutely excellent book. Every bit is beautifully judged -- William Leith * Evening Standard *Sweeping, thrilling and psychologically acute, this second volume in John Sugden’s biography will hardly be bettered...this book is a monumental achievement. Some readers may be daunted by its length, but the investment of time and effort is unquestionably worth it... It is a tribute to Sugden’s skill that as Nelson lies stricken below desks, gasping for air, blood pouring into his chest, his officers biting back the tears and Hardy desperately wringing his hand, you pray that somehow, against all sense and reason, England’s greatest hero might just pull through -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *The Last eight years of his [Nelson’s] life dealt with in thrilling, monumental detail * Sunday Times *There isn’t the slightest hint of modishness in Sugden’s study, which not only has all the old-fashioned scholarly virtues but is also, in the time-honoured tradition of naval history, a thumping good read * Scotsman *John Sugden’s utterly epic Nelson: The Sword of Albion is the longest, richest, most absorbing biography I’ve ever read… Sugden’s book is of Tolstoyan dimensions -- Roger Lewis * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisUnearths the British national obsession with the suburban garden.

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Book SynopsisRobert Conquest's The Harvest of Sorrow helped to reveal to the West the true and staggering human cost of the Soviet regime in its deliberate starvation of millions of peasants and remains one of the most important works of Soviet history ever written.More deaths resulted from the actions described in this book than from the whole of the First World War.Epic in scope and rich in detail, The Harvest of Sorrow describes how millions of peasants in the USSR were dispossessed and deported as a result of the abolition of private property, and how millions in the newly established ‘collective’ farms of the Ukraine and other regions were then deliberately starved to death through impossibly high quotas, the removal of all other sources of food and their isolation from outside help.With the publication of this and his earlier book, The Great Terror, which revealed the truth about Stalin’s political purges, Robert Conquest revealed to the West the staggering human cost of the Soviet regime.Trade ReviewThis narrative is even more dreadfully surreal, more astoundingly alien, than that of The Great Terror -- Martin AmisMassive and devastating ... The Harvest of Sorrow reveals the truth about the dreadful years as fully and unflinchingly as Mr Conquest's The Great Terror presented it about Stalin's later crimes * The Times *A harrowing story, told with great power and a wealth of detail * Evening Standard *It is to Robert Conquest's undying credit that he has at last brought this incredible story into the light of day * Spectator *Majestic ... The detachment of Conquest's telling adds to the story's horror and its effectiveness * Sunday Times *The first thoroughgoing account of the tragedy ... heartrending * Telegraph *Essential reading for those who wish to understand the nature of the Soviet system * Wall Street Journal *

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Book Synopsis‘The greatest biography of our era … Essential reading for those who want to comprehend power and politics’ The TimesRobert A. Caro’s legendary, multi-award-winning biography of US President Lyndon Johnson is a uniquely riveting and revelatory account of power, political genius and the shaping of twentieth-century America. In this second instalment we witness a momentous turning point in American politics: the tragic last stand of the old politics versus the new. Following Johnson through his service in the Second World War, it describes the foundation and the myths of his long-concealed fortune. The explosive heart of the book is Caro’s revelation of the shocking true story of the fiercely contested 1948 senatorial election, which Johnson won with the the ‘87 votes that changed history’.Trade ReviewThe greatest biography of our era … Essential reading for those who want to comprehend power and politics * The Times *Monumental … sets a standard by which future political biographies must be judged * Telegraph *Thrilling … never has it been told so dramatically, with breathtaking detail piled on incredible development * New York Times *A white-knuckle hair-raising tale … riveting and explosive * Time *Uputdownable … as compulsive as any Hollywood thriller * Evening Standard *A wonderfully detailed, magnificently readable study that gives us not only Johnson’s character but also a vivid picture of America in the 1940s * Literary Review *His depiction of Texas is as brilliant as his account of Lyndon Johnson’s driven soul … a richly rewarding book * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisIn 2020 and 2021, at the height of the Covid pandemic, Gwrych Castle was familiar to the British public as the setting of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Lesser known is that, at the beginning of the Second World War, this once-grand country house in North Wales became home to around two hundred Jewish refugee children who had been rescued from Europe on the Kindertransport. Under trying conditions, while the families they had been separated from faced the gravest of dangers, these children and their adult guardians established a Hachshara at Gwrych Castle: a training centre intended to prepare them for the dream of establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine (Eretz Yisrael), where they hoped one day to be reunited with the families they left behind. In this fascinating debut, historian Andrew Hesketh tells the story of these refugees and the community they built, shining a light on a chapter of Jewish history that deserves to be far more widely known. He recounts moving moments of friendship, respect, tension and humour as the new arrivals and local residents came to know each other, while the shadows of war loomed ever closer, and the Hachshara project found itself facing an uncertain future.Table of ContentsAuthor’s Note Prologue ‘Are you from the castle?’ Chapter 1: ‘The young generation of a great people’ 1933–39: The Jews, the Nazis and Abergele Chapter 2: ‘A field in the middle of nowhere’ Summer 1939: The gathering of the Gwrych refugees Chapter 3: ‘On a dark night’ 30 August–6 September 1939: Arrival at Gwrych Castle Chapter 4: ‘I wanted to do something useful’ September 1939 (Part 1): Establishing the Gwrych Hachshara Chapter 5: ‘We had good plans’ September 1939 (Part 2): Developing the Gwrych Hachshara Chapter 6: ‘I didn’t tell them I was German’ October–November 1939: Aliens, football and meeting the neighbours Chapter 7: ‘An old bowler hat’ December 1939–February 1940: Blackouts, winter and The Wizard of Oz Chapter 8: ‘Leck mich am arsch’ March–April 1940: Learning Welsh, fancy dress, the ‘naughty’ boys and girls, and a car crash Chapter 9: ‘A very traumatic experience’ May–June 1940: Spy fever and internment Chapter 10: ‘I couldn’t see any purpose to it’ July–September 1940: Departures, arrivals and divisions Chapter 11: ‘Not quite the haven they anticipated’ October 1940–September 1941: Bombs, weddings and the closing down of the Gwrych Hachshara Epilogue ‘This place gave us a new life’ Appendix I: Nominal roll of those known to have been at Gwrych Castle between 1939 and 1941 Appendix II: Glossary Acknowledgements Notes Sources and Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis'The perfect guide to the hidden history of London's streets.' BBC History MagazineIn Cruickshank's London, Britain's favourite architectural historian describes thirteen walks through one of the greatest cities on earth. From the mysterious Anglo-Saxon origins of Hampstead Heath, via Christopher Wren's magisterial City churches, to the industrial bustle of Victorian Bermondsey, each walk explores a crucial moment in our history - and reveals how it helped forge the modern city. Along the way, Cruickshank peppers the book with vivid photographs, sketches and maps, so you can immediately follow in his footsteps.Every street in London contains a story. This book invites you to hear them.___'An inspiringly illustrated guide to walks across London . . . It proves how much we can miss if we don't pay close attention to our surroundings.' Country Life'All power to Cruickshank and his intrepid and knowledgeable kind. We need them.' Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewAll power to Cruickshank and his intrepid and knowledgeable kind. We need them. * TLS *An inspiringly illustrated guide to walks across London . . . Proves how much we can miss if we don't pay close attention to our surroundings. * Country Life *There can be few people more passionate about Georgian architecture than Dan Cruickshank . . . A call to explore London. * Daily Telegraph *Such a beautiful book . . . Absolutely fascinating. * Monocle *Reveals the capital . . . Cruickshank finds great stories in the Big Smoke. -- Best Travel Books * Shortlist *Historic walks covering all corners of the city . . . [Cruickshank] tells little known stories including the West Ham churches inscribed with the occult symbols of the Knights Templar, and the features of Tower Bridge that were included to appease Queen Victoria’s temper. * Londonist *A closer look at our magnificent city, under the eagle eye of Dan Cruickshank. -- Robert Elms, BBC Radio LondonFeaturing maps and photographs, this new book is the perfect guide to the hidden history of London’s streets. * BBC History Magazine *For armchair walkers or history buffs wanting a stroll with a headful of interesting facts to share, it’s an excellent guide. * This England *

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Book SynopsisThis innovative collection offers a reappraisal of gender as a category of analysis in modern Welsh history. Beginning with sex work in the eighteenth century and concluding with women’s late twentieth-century anti-nuclear activism, the contributors show how gender has been constructed, represented, performed and experienced by men and women at different times and places throughout Wales’s modern past. Using a variety of approaches, the collection interrogates gender as a concept that encompasses both femininity and masculinity, provides fresh perspectives on familiar themes, and demonstrates the value of gender analysis for our understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic history of modern Wales. Chapters by leading historians and early career academics each set an agenda for exploring the intersection of gender with nationality, race, class, age and sexuality. Table of ContentsAbbreviations List of Contributors Foreword Introduction Angela Muir, ‘Sex Work and Economies of Makeshift in Wales, c. 1750-1830’ Marion Löffler, ‘Family Matters: War-Time Discourses on Women in Wales, 1793–1805’ Paul O’Leary, ‘Masks and Matter: Mining Masculinities in the South Wales Coalfield, 1870-1914’ Steven Thompson, ‘“Can You Look in the Mirror and Say, I See a Man?’ Masculinity and the Labour Movement in South Wales, c.1870-1939’ Neil Evans and Beth Jenkins, ‘Spaces and Places of Women’s Social Movements in Wales, 1890-1914’ Mike Benbough-Jackson, ‘Nation and Gender: St David, St David’s Day and Masculinity during the Great War’ Simon Jenkins, ‘Exploring Race and Gender in Cardiff, c.1900-c.1945’ Stephanie Ward, ‘Heroic Housewives: Political Worlds, Domesticity and the Welsh Mam in Interwar Wales’ Jay Rees, ‘“Beware you free, emancipated girls, your warden wouldn’t like it”: Women’s Activism at Swansea University, 1970-1990’ Elaine Titcombe, ‘Reflections of gender in anti-nuclear politics in Wales 1970-2000’ Endnotes

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Book SynopsisNow a major film starring GEORGE CLOONEY, MATT DAMON, CATE BLANCHETT, BILL MURRAY, JOHN GOODMAN, HUGH BONNEVILLE, BOB BALABAN, JEAN DUJARDIN and DIMITRI LEONIDAS.What if I told you that there was an epic story about World War II that has not been told, involving the most unlikely group of heroes? What if I told you there was a group of men on the front lines who didn’t carry machine guns or drive tanks; a new kind of soldier, one charged with saving, not destroying.From caves to castles in a thrilling race against time, these men risked their lives daily to save hundreds of thousands of the world’s greatest works of art. THEY were the Monuments Men, and THIS is their extraordinary true story.‘Remarkable’ Washington Post‘Engaging, inspiring’ Publishers WeeklyTrade ReviewAfter World War Two I served as a British member of the 'Monuments' section in Germany. Our task, I believe, was truly important - we were restoring to Europe evidence of its own civilization, which the War seemed virtually to have destroyed - and I was lucky to have had a chance to participate. It is excellent that Mr Edsel has now recorded this remarkable episode, and I am grateful to him for devoting so much energy to telling the stories of those involved -- Anne Olivier BellIn the great storytelling tradition of my longtime friend, Stephen Ambrose, Monuments Men is a marvelous addition to the many great books on World War II and is a reminder that we fought to save western civilization as well as our freedom. Robert Edsel's brilliant work tells the story of how a small unit of American soldiers raced across the front lines in Europe to rescue the art treasures of western culture that had been stolen by the Nazis. Edsel's book is a thriller, in the style of Indiana Jones, but in this case it's all fact and great history. I read the book from cover to cover - couldn't put it down! * Dr. Gordon 'Nick' Mueller, CEO/President and co-founder of the National World War II Museum *Highly Readable . . . a remarkable history * Washington Post *Engaging and inspiring * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisWhen they met at a motorcycle club in 1912, Elsie Knocker was a thirty year-old motorcycling divorcee dressed in bottle-green Dunhill leathers, and Mairi Chisholm was a brilliant eighteen-year old mechanic, living at home and borrowing tools from her brother. Little did they know, theirs was to become one of the most extraordinary stories of the First World War.In 1914, they roared off to London 'to do their bit', and within a month they were in the thick of things in Belgium driving ambulances to distant military hospitals. Frustrated by the number of men dying of shock in the back of their vehicles, they set up their own first-aid post on the front line in the village of Pervyse, near Ypres, risking their lives working under sniper fire and heavy bombardment for months at a time. As news of their courage and expertise spread, the 'Angels of Pervyse' became celebrities, visited by journalists and photographers as well as royals and VIPs. Glamorous and influential, they were having the time of their lives, and for four years, Elsie and Mairi and stayed in Pervyse until they were nearly killed by arsenic gas in the spring of 1918. But returning home and adjusting to peacetime life was to prove even more challenging than the war itself.Trade ReviewA compelling story of famous but forgotten heroines: two exceptional Edwardian ladies in the front line mud and mayhem of World War I -- Kate AdieDiane Atkinson has uncovered the lives of two extraordinary women who brought medical comfort and relief to the wounded of World War I. Her book is as absorbing as it is thorough, as entertaining as it is warm-hearted. A terrific story -- Joan BakewellThe true story of best friends Elsie Knocker and Mairi Chisholm who, when the First World War broke out, set up a first aid post on the Western Front. Their courage frequently made the headlines in Britain and both were awarded medals for their bravery. This biography is a fitting tribute to their role on the frontline -- Charlotte Vowden * Daily Express *A terrific, true story, brought vividly to life * Mail on Sunday *Brilliantly readable * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisThis charming little book provides a feast of original recipes from Victorian times, which are still perfectly reliable today. How about spring soup or mayonnaise of chicken in shells to start? Followed by toad in the hole made with steak and kidney, maybe served with asparagus pudding? And for dessert there could be canary pudding with a sweet sauce, or perhaps the exotic pears à l’allemande? Interspersed with delightful illustrations, Victorian Recipes is sure to make a welcome addition to the recipe collection of any keen cook, and a nostalgic and thoughtful gift for those who love all things from the Victorian era.

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Book SynopsisBy the outbreak of World War II, Germany had done much to replace the Kaiser''s High Seas Fleet, which was scuttled following their surrender at the end of World War I. Forced to build anew, the Kriegsmarine possessed some of the most technically advanced warships in existence. Although the heavy units of the fleet were too small in number to pose much of a threat, Germany was particularly well served by her Navy''s smaller vessels, in particular the U-Boats and the S-Boats. Known to the allies as the E-Boats (''Enemy''), they performed sterling duties in the Black Sea and English Channel, where they became a particular scourge.

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Book Synopsis'A kind of epic poem, one that moves in circular fashion from passionate denunciation to intense autobiographical reflection ... should be required reading for every MP, peer, councillor, civil servant and commentator. The fury and sense of powerlessness that so many people feel at government policy beam out of every page.' The Guardian'It is not enough to read Harry's record of the struggles and hopes of a generation - we have to re-assert his principles of common ownership and the welfare state. If Harry can do it, we should too!' Ken Loach, Director of I, Daniel Blake'As one of the last remaining survivors of the Great Depression and the Second World War, I will not go gently into that good night. I want to tell you what the world looks like through my eyes, so that you can help change it.' In November 2013, 91-year-old Yorkshireman, RAF veteran and ex-carpet salesman Harry Leslie Smith's Guardian article - 'This year, I will wear a poppy for the last time' - was shared over 80,000 times on Facebook and started a huge debate about the state of society.Now he brings his unique perspective to bear on NHS cutbacks, benefits policy, political corruption, food poverty, the cost of education - and much more. From the deprivation of 1930s Barnsley and the terror of war to the creation of our welfare state, Harry has experienced how a great civilisation can rise from the rubble. But at the end of his life, he fears how easily it is being eroded. Harry's Last Stand is a lyrical, searing modern invective that shows what the past can teach us, and how the future is ours for the taking.'Smith's unwavering will to turn things around makes for inspirational reading.' Big Issue North'[With] sheer emotional power ... Harry Leslie Smith reminds us what society without good public services actually looks and feels like.' New StatesmanTrade ReviewA kind of epic poem, one that moves in circular fashion from passionate denunciation to intense autobiographical reflection ... should be required reading for every MP, peer, councillor, civil servant and commentator. The fury and sense of powerlessness that so many people feel at government policy beam out of every page. * Melissa Benn, Guardian *Smith's unwavering will to turn things around makes for inspirational reading. * Big Issue North *[With] sheer emotional power ... Harry Leslie Smith reminds us what society without good public services actually looks and feels like. -- Melissa Benn * Books of the Year *Mr Smith's is a rousing, earthy writing that's part Tony Harrison, part Dennis Skinner * NudgeMeNow.com *This hymn of wrath against the toxic nexus of money and power in austerity UK from a Bradford pauper's son, excommunicated from the Catholic church for marrying an "enemy" woman in post-war Germany, is a compelling life-verdict. * Paul Routledge, The Tablet *Harry's Last Stand is fast becoming a well-deserved publishing phenomenon. It is a breathtaking argument, brilliantly delivered, who said only the new generation have the capacity to make a difference? -- Mark Perryman * Left Futures *A moving first-person account from 91-year-old Harry Leslie Smith of growing up before the creation of the welfare state and NHS. Making a simple, emotive case for progressive politics, Smith was the star turn at this year's Labour party conference. * Guardian [Best Political Books of 2014] *Harry Leslie Smith is absolutely one of my heroes. Everyone should read this and be humbled. -- Annie LennoxIt is not enough to read Harry's record of the struggles and hopes of a generation - we have to re-assert his principles of common ownership and the welfare state. If Harry can do it, we should too! -- Ken LoachI read Harry's Last Stand in a single sitting. Labour should read to get fire in bellies. Tories should read in shame. -- Alastair CampbellSeek this one out. If it doesn't make you angry there's something wrong with you. It's inspirational stuff. -- Rick O'Shea * Radio 1 Presenter *

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Book SynopsisW. B. Yeats believed that a poet's life should be an experiment in living. His poems fashion into memorable words the sometimes puzzling emotions that hover over important life events. Yeats's remarkable work can clarify our own thinking about similar situations. Joseph M. Hassett's Yeats Now: Echoing into Life extracts and distils the rich harvest of Yeats's experiment. As Yeats's biographer Roy Foster comments, Yeats Now is 'a personal, quizzical, imaginative testament that ranges through Yeats's thought and writings, showcasing and discussing a series of ringing statements, suggestions and aphorisms that evolve into a kind of vade-mecum or guide to life. The subjects cover love, anger, friendship, politics, violence and the competing claims of perfecting the life, or the work'. This book is a wonderful companion to the work of this significant poet. Hassett's writing provides an excellent frame of context through which to explore one of Ireland's greatest poets.Trade ReviewHassett seeks always to restore the full poetic and personal context to many famous lines. … The result is one of the most beautiful and enjoyable books on Yeats ever to call forth the skills of a gifted designer [a]nd of a true critic. -- Declan Kiberd * Dublin Review of Books *Subtle and often illuminating study of what we can learn from Yeats … and how we can let his words echo in our own lives. -- Michael O'Loughlin * Irish Times *Thought-provoking, a fresh, accessible look at the shimmering legacy of WB Yeats in all its wonder and poise. -- Paddy Kehoe * RTE *This is a handsome and stylish book, both in looks and, more importantly, in its capacity to appreciate the magic of William Butler Yeats’s poetry. -- Michael Langan * NBC-2 *I can’t think of a more inspiring way to fill the unforgiving minute than to read this book, to be renewed and invigorated by Yeats’ relevance today – Now – and to rediscover the nobility of his poetry, the endurance of his hope. -- Anne Cunningham * Anne Cunningham Blog *

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Book SynopsisThe first full-length book on these charismatic and unique vessels.

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Book SynopsisIn a nation lacking a comprehensive social safety net, people often scramble to find private solutions to structural problems. While existing scholarship primarily focuses on how adults, particularly mothers, navigate systematic gaps in social support, Language Brokers shifts our attention to bilingual children securing crucial resources for their families. Drawing upon interviews with working-class Mexican and Korean American language brokers, as well as healthcare providers, and months of participant observation in a Southern California police station, Hyeyoung Kwon reveals how children of immigrants translate more than simple verbal exchanges. Living at the intersection of multiple forms of inequality, these youth creatively use their in-between status to resolve structural problems to ensure their families'' basic citizenship rights are upheld in interactions with teachers, social workers, landlords, doctors, and police officers. In an era of widespread racialized

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Book SynopsisWe live in a world of seemingly limitless consumer choice. Yet, as every shopper knows without thinking about it, many everyday goods from beds to batteries to printer paper are available in a finite number of standard sizes. What makes these sizes standard is an agreement among competing firms to make or sell products with the same limited dimensions. But how did firms often hotly competing firms reach such collective agreements?In exploring this question, Colleen Dunlavy puts the history of mass production and distribution in an entirely new light. She reveals that, despite the widely publicized model offered by Henry Ford, mass production techniques did not naturally diffuse throughout the U.S. economy. On the contrary, formidable market forces blocked their diffusion. It was only under the cover of collectively agreed-upon, industrywide standard sizes orchestrated by the federal government that competing firms were able to break free of market forces and transition to mass pr

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards Irish-Published Book of the Year A TREASURE TROVE OF LETTERS TO AND FROM OUR NINE PRESIDENTS FROM 1938 TO THE PRESENT DAY With over 400 letters, memos, cards, telegrams, drawings, notes and photographs, The Presidents’ Letters reveals a personal and unexpected story of Ireland since the inauguration of our first president, Douglas Hyde. Most of these have never been published before and a handful have never been seen by the public. They are letters of congratulations, of resignation, of sympathy. A handwritten note from a president to a queen, a message sent to the moon, a fond farewell from a poet. There are letters of joy and loss, begging letters and threatening ones, sent from palaces, parliaments and prisons, from war zones, refugee camps and homeless shelters. Meticulously researched and hand-picked for this unique book, these correspondences bring to life our presidents, Áras an Uachtaráin and all those who have passed through its doors. The Presidents’ Letters is a beautiful homage to the art of the letter, exploring how each of our presidents defined their eras and how they strengthened the relationship between Ireland and all who identify as Irish. The book is divided into thematic sections, rather than separate chapters on the individual presidencies and featuring contributions in the form of one-page chapter introductions to contextualise the correspondence. Contributors include: David McCullagh Rory Montgomery Martina Devlin Catriona Crowe Samantha Barry Joseph O’Connor Harry McGee Lise Hand Justine McCarthy Paul Rouse Terri Kearney

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Book SynopsisThis text retells the story of a brotherhood of young men who together laid claim to one of the most notorious frontiers in the world: India's north-west frontier, which in the late 1990s forms the volatile boundary between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Known collectively as Henry Lawrence's Young Men, each had distinguished himself in the East India Company's wars in the Punjab in the 1840s before going out to carve out names for themselves as politicals on the frontier. Drawing extensively on the men's diaries, journals and letters, Charles Allen weaves the individual stories of these Soldier Sahibs together with the tale of how they came together to save British India, ending climatically on Delhi Ridge in 1857.

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Book SynopsisIn a world where protocol was everything, discover how the princesses kicked back against the stifling solitude that threatened to consume them.

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Book SynopsisFrom the very beginnings of torpedo craft, all naval powers have seen the occasional need for larger, more powerful or in other respects special designs that stand outside the contemporary norms for flotilla craft. The driving forces were often different from country to country and varied over time, but all the resulting ships may be conveniently defined as super destroyers'. This book is a history of these out-of-the-ordinary vessels, the specific conditions that produced them, and their impact on naval warfare, especially during the two world wars. Notable highlights of this story include the introduction of destroyer leaders' during the Great War, the Japanese Special type' of the late 1920s, the British Tribal' class, German Narviks', and the interwar Franco-Italian rivalry that produced some of the fastest of all super destroyers. By the end of the Second World War only the largest designs seemed adequate, so although built in quantity the US _Gearing_ class were effectively sup

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Book SynopsisFrom minding your Ps and Qs to wondering why X should mark the spot, Alphabetical is a book for everyone who loves words and language. Whether it's how letters are arranged on keyboards or Viking runes, textspeak or zip codes, this book will change the way you think about letters for ever. How on Earth did we fix upon our twenty-six letters, what do they really mean, and how did we come to write them down in the first place? Michael Rosen takes you on an unforgettable adventure through the history of the alphabet in twenty-six vivid chapters, fizzing with personal anecdotes and fascinating facts. Starting with the mysterious Phoenicians and how sounds first came to be written down, he races on to show how nonsense poems work, pins down the strange story of OK, traces our seven lost letters and tackles the tyranny of spelling, among many, many other things. His heroes of the alphabet range from Edward Lear to Phyllis Pearsall (the inventor of the A-Z), and from the two scribes of Beowulf to rappers. Each chapter takes on a different subject - codes, umlauts or the writing of dictionaries. Rosen's enthusiasm for letters positively leaps off the page, whether it's the story of his life told through the typewriters he's owned or a chapter on jokes written in a string of gags and word games. So if you ever wondered why Hawaiian only has a thirteen-letter alphabet or how exactly to write down the sound of a wild raspberry, read on . . .Trade Review[Michael Rosen's] beguiling journey through the alphabet will entrance anyone interested in the quirks of language and its history . . . Rosen has written a charming and thought-provoking book about what written language represents, how we use it, and the joys and mysteries therein. His humor and obvious love for his subject are winning elements * Publishers Weekly *Enjoyable history of the alphabet * The Times *Substantial and engaging * Guardian *Forget party crackers - when you settle down to the turkey and trimmings this year simply make sure you have this book to hand. There's even a chapter devoted to family friendly alphabet games: perfect for playing after the Queen's been on. That letters can and should be fun, not just functional, is one of the main messages of this book * Sunday Telegraph *The perfect book for anyone who relishes the intricacies of language and letters . . . [Rosen] reveals a gift for seamlessly meshing hard information, personal anecdote, jokes and puzzles with educational, cultural and linguistic questions and wry, pointed, observations . . . There are delights in this book for all ages * Australian *[Michael Rosen] gives each letter a neat CV . . . enjoyable * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThe ancient Sibylline prophecies had foretold that the Roman Empire would last for 1000 years. As the time for the expected dissolution approached in the middle of the third century AD, the empire was lapsing into chaos, with seemingly interminable civil wars over the imperial succession. The western empire had seceded under a rebel emperor and the eastern empire was controlled by another usurper. Barbarians took advantage of the anarchy to kill and plunder all over the provinces. Yet within the space of just five years, the general, later emperor Aurelian had expelled all the barbarians from with the Roman frontiers, re-united the entire empire and inaugurated major reforms of the currency, pagan religion and civil administration. His accomplishments have been hailed by classical scholars as those of a superman, yet Aurelian himself remains little known to a wider audience. His achievements enabled the Roman Empire to survive for another two centuries, ensuring a lasting legacy of Roman civilization for the successor European states. Without Aurelian, the Dark Ages would probably have lasted centuries longer. This is a new, revised edition.Trade Review"Incorporating new material, British historian White has revised and expanded his 2006 life of Aurelian... White weaves into this story not only Aurelian's life, but that of several other emperors as well, plus an ongoing discussion of the evolution of the Roman Army."--The NYMAS Review, Autumn 2017 "White's account is supported by careful research, as demonstrated by extensive notes, some including interesting variant treatments of the evidence, and some very interesting appendices. Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian"--StrategyPage Well written, The Roman Emperor Aurelian, one of a series on the Roman Emperors from Pen & Sword/Casemate, offers the lay reader an excellent picture of the Crisis of the Third Century and the life and work of Aurelian, which can be read with profit by those with a more serious interest in thesubject as well--StrategyPage

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Book SynopsisRoads to Berlin maps the changing landscape of Germany, from the period before the fall of the Wall to the present. Written and updated over the course of several decades, an eyewitness account of the pivotal events of 1989 gives way to a perceptive appreciation of its difficult passage to reunification. Nooteboom's writings on politics, people, architecture and culture are as digressive as they are eloquent; his innate curiosity takes him through the landscapes of Heine and Goethe, steeped in Romanticism and mythology, and to Germany's baroque cities. With an outsider's objectivity he has crafted an intimate portrait of the country to its present day.Trade Review'He writes in a voice that blends the acuity of Martha Gellhorn with the meditative grace of W.G. Sebald' Economist. * Economist *'As Jan Morris is to Venice or Trieste, as Edmund White to Paris and Claudio Magris to the Danube, so is Cees Nooteboom to Berlin' Rebecca K. Morrison, Independent. * Independent *'An exciting account of those turbulent far-off events' Ian Thomson, Sunday Telegraph. * Sunday Telegraph *'An exciting account of those turbulent far-off events' Ian Thomson, Sunday Telegraph. * Sunday Telegraph *Table of ContentsList of illustrations. PART I - Prologue: Crossing the Border. Intermezzo in the Third Person: Vestigia pedis. Second Intermezzo: Ancient Times. PART II - Berlin Suite. Dead Aeroplanes and Eagles Everywhere. Village within the Wall. Rheinsberg: An Intermezzo. Return to Berlin. PART III. PART IV - A Visit to the Chancellor. Epilogue. Glossary including biographical and other explanatory notes. Index. Afterword to Part I. Notes on this Edition.

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Book SynopsisThe Ypres sector of the Western Front was held predominantly by the British and Dominions Armies from 1914 to 1918. The Ypres Salient, at the centre of this sector, was one of the most intensively fought over single locations of the First World War. By the end of 1917 the sector was full of railways, dumps, camps, and other facilities. Much was lost in the German advance in April 1918, but from September 1918 the German Army was driven eastwards until the Armistice.Although Ypres and most of the forward areas are in Belgium, much of the support area is in northern France. In this book the metre gauge networks of both countries established before the First World War are examined, with their uses and extensions during the War. The build up of light (60cm gauge) railways from 1916 to 1918 is described, with an assessment of the contribution of both narrow gauges to the war effort.After the war the light railways in this sector were generally used only for short term clearing up and salvag

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Book SynopsisThe Number One International Bestseller.The heartbreaking, inspiring true story of a girl sent to Auschwitz who survived the evil Dr Josef Mengele’s pseudo-medical experiments. With a foreword by His Holiness Pope Francis.Lidia Maksymowicz was just three years old when she arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau with her mother, grandparents and foster brother. They were from Belarus, their ‘crime’ that they supported the partisan resistance to Nazi occupation. Once there, Lidia was picked by Mengele for his experiments and sent to the children’s block. It was here that she survived eighteen months of hell. Injected with infectious diseases, desperately malnourished, she came close to death. Her mother - who risked her life to secretly visit Lidia - was her only tie to humanity.By the time Birkenau was liberated her family had disappeared. Even her mother was presumed dead. Lidia was adopted by a woman from the nearby town of Oswiecim. Too traumatised to feel emotion, she was not an easy child to care for but she came to love her adoptive mother and her new home. Then, in 1962, she discovered that her birth parents were still alive. They lived in the USSR - and they wanted her back. Lidia was faced with an agonising choice . . .The Little Girl Who Could Not Cry is powerful, moving and ultimately hopeful, as Lidia comes to terms with the past and finds the strength to share her story - even making headlines when she meets Pope Francis, who kisses her tattoo. Above all she refuses to hate those who hurt her so badly, saying, ‘Hate only brings more hate. Love, on the other hand, has the power to redeem.’Trade ReviewUnforgettable * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisCirencester Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of the country. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of Cirencester, the famous streets and the famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this area throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture, and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of this market town's history. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of this charming town, as David Viner guides us through the streets of Cirencester. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in the area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting this beautiful town. It also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

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Book SynopsisThe beautiful site the Romans called Vindolanda lies in south-west Northumberland, in the district of Tynedale, more or less half way between the North Sea east of Newcastle and the Irish Sea to the west of Carlisle. It is just within the boundary of the Northumberland National Park, and is a part of the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall. The Wall itself was built on the whinstone ridge a mile to the north, with the fort of Housesteads two miles to the north-east, and that of Great Chesters five miles to the north-west. This book follows the site throughout its many phases of use and occupation. It explores the everyday life of those who lived and worked on the site and provides valuable new insight into the larger context of Rome's Northern Frontier: Hadrian's Wall. The translations of the Vindolanda Scrolls ('send fresh socks' etc) are also a treat!

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Book SynopsisAt the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Mormons were deliberately excluded from one of the main attractions, the Parliament of Religions. Organizers believed that Mormonism, with its connections to polygamy, did not merit a place alongside other world religions being showcased for the similar ways in which they inspired people to follow God. At the same time, however, Americans who had long shown hatred or distrust toward their Mormon neighbors had begun to look at Mormonism in a different light. Underlying this new look at Mormonism was a rapidly developing belief in America's fading western frontier as a place linked to core American values such as self-reliance, personal freedom, and democratic rule. With a unique history intimately tied to the frontier, Mormonism began to be seen less as something outside America, and more as a faith closely associated with the country's most important principles. In Frontier Religion Konden Smith Hansen examines the dramatic influence these perceptions of the frontier had on Mormonism and other religions in America. Endeavoring to better understand the sway of the frontier on religion in the United States, this book follows several Mormon-American conflicts, from the Utah War and the antipolygamy crusades to the Reed Smoot hearings. The story of Mormonism's move toward American acceptability represents a larger story of the nation's transition toward modernity and religious pluralism. This book challenges old assumptions and provokes further study of the ever changing dialectic between society and faith.

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Book SynopsisPublished for the first time in English, this is a German account of the German invasionof Norway in the spring of 1940. It focuses on the efforts of Group “1” led by Eduard Dietl. This group of gebirgstruppen was landed at Narvik in early April by tendestroyers. These ships were then all sunk by the Allies. Dietl’s troops wereoutnumbered by Allied troops but his defense utilized ammunition, food and sailorsfrom the sunken ships and his men retook Narvik once the Allies abandoned theirefforts to push the Germans out of Norway.Trade ReviewWhile the essentials of this campaign are well known, this book brings it vividly to life. It contains a wealth of detail of small unit actions which amply illustrate the superior fighting power of the German Armed Forces at the time. * Miniature Wargames - John Drewienkiewicz 24/05/2021 *A most interesting and important book. * Baird Maritime 21/04/2021 *...a fresh new modern perspective with the advantage of 80 years of analysis and study. * Warships International *Table of ContentsForeword 1.The Way to Narvik 2.Consolidation of conditions in the battle group Narvik 3.The fight for the south flank 4.Defensive fight with the Windisch group in the north 5.The sections Narvik and Erzbahn until the end of May 6.The situation in the north worsens 7.Large-scale attack against Narvik section 8.Final battle of the group Narvik Notes Appendices Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThis was the first book on London's ghosts, when Peter Underwood was President of the Ghost Club. He is uniquely qualified to write Haunted London, presenting a parade and gazetteer of the psychic phenomena of Britain's capital city - a city with nearly ten million living inhabitants and the ghosts of many dead ones. As well as all the famous hauntings - the Cock Lane ghost, the Grey Man at Drury Lane, the Tower ghosts, the haunted house at Berkeley Square etc. - the book contains many new and hitherto unpublished findings. Not all ghosts date back to earlier centuries: there are ghost motorcyclists, for instance, and new buildings on the sites of older ones are as likely to have ghosts as those which still stand. For easy reference, Haunted London has divided up London geographically. Ghostly associations are uncovered in churches, theatres, hotels, inns and scenes of murders. Poltergeist infestation is another phenomenon included in this work which is sure to fascinate anyone wanting to get to know London better - whether they be visitors, psychic researchers, students of history, of legend or folklore, or simply lovers of one of the world's finest cities.

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Book SynopsisThe Red Air Force versus the Luftwaffe in the skies over Eastern Europe. June 1941: Having conquered most of Western Europe, Adolf Hitler turned his attention to the vast Soviet Union. Disregarding his Non-Aggression Pact with Joseph Stalin, Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, a full-scale invasion of the Soviet homeland... aimed squarely at Moscow. In the skies over Russia, the battle-hardened airmen of the Luftwaffe made short work of the Red Air Force during opening days of Barbarossa. To make matters worse, Stalin had executed many of his best pilots during the perennial "purges" of the 1930s. Thus, much of the Red Air Force was destroyed on the ground before meeting the Luftwaffe in the skies. By 1944, however, the Soviet airmen had regained the initiative and fervently wrested air superiority from the now-ailing Axis Powers.Trade Review...this slim survey provides a quick, convenient intro to the deadly totalitarian duel. Make it a launchpad to further study of Eastern Front air combat in WWII. * Cybermodeler *Anyone interested in the air campaigns fought between Germany and Soviet Union during World War Two will find this volume ideal, whether their interest is modelling or purely historical. There's even a handy timeline at the beginning. * Airfix Model World *

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Book SynopsisAuthor and paranormal investigator Bunty Austin reveals insights into Anglesey folklore and resurrected ghost stories, which have long been forgotten, in this compelling read. The ghosts of Anglesey are of great age, their manners and appearance hinting at beliefs older than the oldest books. They are bold and memorable, striking in appearance, forceful in character, often terrifying and sometimes even dangerous. Within the pages of this book you will discover the daunting behaviour of the ghost in Coal Hole and the terrible goings-on at Amlwch Lockup; you will find yourself drawn in as a spectator to the trial of Dic Richardson for blood-thirsty murder (and the haunting that followed); and you will uncover what really happened to Megan, who was led away on horse-back by a group of soldiers (if you're not too scared). Prepare for a fascinating tour of ghostly encounters from the haunted hub of North Wales - no other island has such a rich store of history, which must be kept alive at all costs.

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill famously instructed the head of the Special Operations Executive to “Set Europe ablaze!” Agents of both the British Special Operations Executive and the American Office of Strategic Services underwent rigorous training before making their way, undetected, into Occupied Europe. Working alone or in small cells, often cooperating with local resistance groups, agents undertook missions behind enemy lines involving sabotage, subversion, organizing resistance groups and intelligence-gathering.The SOE’s notable successes included the destruction of a power station in France, the assassination of Himmler’s deputy Reinhard Heyrich, and ending the Nazi atomic bomb program by destroying the heavy water plant at Vemork, Norway. OSS operatives established anti-Nazi resistance groups across Europe, and managed to smuggle operatives into Nazi Germany, including running one of the war's most important spies, German diplomat Fritz Kolbe.All of their missions were incredibly dangerous and many agents were captured, tortured, and ultimately killed – the life expectancy of an SOE wireless operator in occupied France was just six weeks.In No Moon as Witness, historian James Stejskal examines why these agencies were established, the training regimen and ingenious tools developed to enable agents to undertake their missions, their operational successes, and their legacy.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent, if perhaps somewhat short, history of these two unconventional organisations, helping to see how they differed, how they were similar, and what impact they had on the course of the war. * History of War 13/09/2021 *The book is well written with good details on the agents, their specialized equipment, and a selection of their missions. * WWII History 28/09/2021 *...concise, more easily readable but nevertheless thorough account that benefits from the author’s particular knowledge and background [...] An excellent read. * Love Reading 13/08/2021 *…the book is well organized and also an excellent read. Some books that I read end up going to the ‘annual used book fair’; this one is a keeper and has found a home on my reference bookshelf. * Special Operations News from Around the World 19/07/2021 *...illustrates the challenges of recruiting and training a clandestine force to conduct military operations or intelligence gathering missions in support of operational goals. The examples of daring raids and tragic failures help to immerse the reader in the action and danger that people endured in service to the cause. * Military Review 14/12/2022 *While refreshingly brief, the book has considerable value as a modern overview of activities that took place more than 75 years ago and were then mostly highly secret. * Baird Maritime 19/07/2021 *Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Need Arises; Timeline; Glossary; Origins of SOE and OSS; Training; Tools of the Trade; Operations; Legacy; Sources; Index

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Book SynopsisAt the heart of Memphis lies Overton Park, a 342-acre public space that contains the world-class Memphis Zoo, an old-growth forest, the Memphis College of Art, an amphitheater, and the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, among other beloved amenities. Founded in 1901, the park has been at the center of both celebration and controversy. Performers like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash have dazzled audiences there, while local children have long enjoyed its playgrounds and runners its jogging trails. During the civil rights era, desegregating the park became a major goal of local activists, and the park’s Greensward was the scene of protests against the Vietnam War. Late in the 1960s and throughout the 1970s, when the proposed route of Interstate 40 threatened the park, concerned citizens banded together to fight the plan—a struggle that reached the Supreme Court and eventually saved the park for future generations.This delightfully informative book, filled with historic photos, offers a history of the park from the perspective of those who lived it. Brooks Lamb interviewed nearly a score of Memphians—from civil rights activist Johnnie Turner to U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen, from artist Martha Kelly to retired zookeepers Kathy Fay and Richard Meek—to learn what the park has meant to them and to discover the transformations they have witnessed. The stories they tell reveal a dynamic place that remains, despite changes and challenges, a people’s park and, in the words of one resident, “the heartbeat of Memphis.”

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Book SynopsisNorfolk has many associations with the paranormal, from ancient tales of Shuck the hound that has haunted the county's lanes for a thousand years to tales of ghosts from the Second World War and of unidentified f lying objects. This book takes a new approach by looking at the paranormal as recorded in the archives of the county. The stories include those collected by some of the county's keenest folklorists such as W. H. Cooke, Mark Taylor, and W. G. Clarke, as well as first-hand records of paranormal experience. Many tales are published for the very first time, such as Mottie Green, the Wells 'witch', and a new light is thrown on more familiar stories such as the haunting of Syderstone Parsonage and the Snettisham ghost. Not least, the book also explains the key role of Norwich in the development of the vampire story! Read this book and your view of Norfolk will never be the same again!

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Book SynopsisBetween the 1880s and 1920s, a broad coalition of American dissidents, which included rabble-rousing cartoonists, civil liberties lawyers, socialist detectives, union organizers, and revolutionary martyrs, forged a culture of popular radicalism that directly challenged an emergent corporate capitalism. Monopoly capitalists and their allies in government responded by expanding conspiracy laws and promoting conspiracy theories in an effort to destroy this anti-capitalist movement. The result was an escalating class conflict in which each side came to view the other as a criminal conspiracy.In this detailed cultural history, Michael Mark Cohen argues that a legal, ideological, and representational politics of conspiracy contributed to the formation of a genuinely revolutionary mass culture in the United States, starting with the 1886 Haymarket bombing. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, The Conspiracy of Capital offers a new history of American radicalism and the alliance between the modern business corporation and national security state through a comprehensive reassessment of the role of conspiracy laws and conspiracy theories in American social movements.

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Book SynopsisRugby From Old Photographs offers a captivating glimpse into the history of this town, providing the reader with a visual representation of Rugby's intriguing and chequered history. Drawing upon an eclectic collection of over 200 photographs, the Rugby History Group presents the reader with an insight into the history and life of this popular town. Rugby From Old Photographs provides something for everyone, whether they have lived in the Rugby all their lives, or whether they are just visiting this Warwickshire town. Rugby life is well represented here and many poignant memories are given a new lease of life. This stunning collection of photographs also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

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Book SynopsisThe Scarborough & Whitby Railway was opened in July 1885. The 21 miles of line traversed the picturesque coast between the two towns for eighty years. There were eight stations on the line all with their own distinctive character and serving the different needs of visitors and local people. All of the stations along the route are fully illustrated in this book. The line closed in March 1965 and the buildings were later sold into private ownership and have been put to a variety of uses since that time. The aim of this book is to illustrate the changes both before and after closure along this fascinating and historical railway which has become a very popular walking and cycling trail that passes through the spectacular and varied scenery of the North Yorkshire coast.

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