History Books

Book SynopsisThink you already know the story of Charles Dickens' life? Think again.Almost everything you're familiar with was first mentioned in an authorised biography written by Dickens' close friend John Forster 150 years ago. It's the version of events that Dickens himself chose to make public, and newly accessible archives reveal that it's crammed with gaps, inconsistencies, and outright lies. There's the sister whose existence Dickens kept secret and the Jewish relations whose faith he strove to conceal. There's plagiarism, fraud, and suicide.And that's only for starters. Helena Kelly, author of the acclaimed Jane Austen, the Secret Radical, retells Dickens' story from his childhood to his deathbed, uncovers the truths he tried to keep hidden, and offers a fresh - and deeply troubling - perspective on the man who remains one of Britain's best-known novelists.You won't be able to look at him - or his work - in the same way again.Trade ReviewA literary bio that deftly untangles truth from untruth. Diligent research and incisive close readings of Dickens' writings ground Kelly's investigation into the gaps, contradictions, and inconsistencies in the manipulated, self-serving story that many subsequent biographers have repeated. -- Kirkus ReviewsSpeaking of his fiction, when it comes to literary analysis, Kelly isn't just unimpeachable - she's energizing * The New York Times *As this fascinating book reveals, we don't actually know the truth at all ... for the real story, check out Helena Kelly * Daily Express *Praise for Jane Austen, the Secret Radical:"Bracing. Plausible and vivid."-- "The Atlantic""Jane Austen, The Secret Radical is wonderful; a revelation. It's difficult to stand out from the crowd when writing about such an influential figure, but Helena Kelly has certainly achieved that with this smart, knowing, perceptive book."--Amanda Foreman, author of A World on Fire"A fresh take on the life and work of the beloved writer Jane Austen. Reveals the subversive rebel soul behind such towering classics as Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, and Mansfield Park."-- "Elle""A thoroughly engaging read." - The Times Literary Supplement"An important revisionary work. Helena Kelly provokes."-- "The New York Times""Amply shows her deep research. She exposes a depth beyond what at first may seem to be silly characters. A fine-grained study that shows us how to read between the lines to discover the remarkable woman who helped transform the novel from trash to an absolute art form." - Kirkus Reviews"Ambitious. Illuminating, provocative. Kelly offers a salutary argument for reading Austen's novels with the serious attentiveness they invite and deserve."-- "The Spectator""Do we read Jane Austen's novels as she intended? In this riveting literary-biographical study, the answer is a resounding no. An interpretive coup that is dazzling and dizzying . . . You won't read Austen the same way again."-- "The New Yorker""Essential. What this radical re-reading of the novels does so brilliantly is to exhort us all to chuck out the chintz, and the teacups, and all the traditional romantic notions about Austen's work that have been fed to us for so long."-- "The Bookseller (London)""Helena Kelly makes the case for Austen as an author steeped in the fear of war and revolution. Meticulously researched. Kelly shows us that the novels were about nothing more or less than the burning political questions of the day. A sublime piece of literary detective work that shows us once and for all how to be precisely the sort of reader that Austen deserves."-- "The Guardian (London)""Kelly argues passionately and engagingly. Her critical method is . . . generating meaning from the smallest details of the novels."-- "The Washington Post" * Praise for Jane Austen, A Secret Radical *Helena Kelly's book presents a fresh view of Dickens, just as her previous book, Jane Austen the Secret Radical, did for Austen * The Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisFrom the Battle of Hastings to the Battle of Bosworth Field, Nicholas Vincent tells the story of how Britain was born. When William, Duke of Normandy, killed King Harold and seized the throne of England, England's language, culture, politics and law were transformed. Over the next four hundred years, under royal dynasties that looked principally to France for inspiration and ideas, an English identity was born, based in part on the struggle for control over the other parts of the British Isles (Scotland, Wales and Ireland), in part on rivalry with the kings of France. From these struggles emerged English law and an English Parliament, the English language, English humour and England's first overseas empires. In this thrilling and accessible account, Nicholas Vincent not only tells the story of the rise and fall of dynasties, but investigates the lives and obsessions of a host of lesser men and women, from archbishops to peasants, and from soldiers to scholars, upon whose enterprise the social and intellectual foundations of Englishness now rest.This the first book in the four-volume Brief History of Britain which brings together some of the leading historians to tell our nation's story from the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the present day. Combining the latest research with accessible and entertaining story-telling, it is the ideal introduction for students and general readers.

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Book SynopsisFinding Endurance is beautiful, thrilling, heroic and kind, a ripping yarn and a generous and humane reflection on this business of being human. Since the discovery of the wreck of Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance on the bed of the Antarctic ocean, the world has been enthralled anew by one of the greatest stories of all time. Acclaimed South African writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey, himself a Shackleton aficionado, revisits this dramatic event, which managed to sweep the tide of anger and rancour off the timelines and front pages of the world. He asks how so many ordinary people, who don't know a nunatak from a barquentine, were so moved at the finding of a small wooden ship once sailed by a half-forgotten Irishman? In re-examining the story and its players, he presents new details and a new understanding of the courage and hardship of the Endurance voyage, and reminds us of how extraordinary humans can be. Not all is lost, and what has been lost can be regained: the ocean has given us something back. What's more, we are reminded that miracles still happen: human miracles, performed by flawed people in helpless situations. AUTHOR: Darrel Bristow-Bovey is a prize-winning screenwriter and travel writer and a newspaper and magazine columnist. He's the author of six books which have been translated into seven languages, including Spanish, Estonian and Portuguese. He was born in South Africa, studied under JM Coetzee and Andre Brink, and currently divides his time between Cape Town, the UK and a hillside on the Greek Peloponnese.Trade ReviewFinding Endurance is beautiful, thrilling, heroic and kind, a ripping yarn and a generous and humane reflection on this business of being human. -- Claire Robertson, author of The Spiral House, winner of the 2014 Sunday Times Fiction PrizeTender, heartfelt and lyrical. -- Petina Gappah, author of Out of Darkness, Shining LightEngaging, absorbing and crammed with marvellous stories, Finding Endurance is a tale about exploring the cold, told with much warmth * Mick Herron *I was held spellbound by this recounting of one of the world's great adventure stories. But beyond the gripping polar ordeal, I was moved to the core by tender insights - into love, home, fathers and sons, and the long game of life - that emerge like veins of bright and dark water through the ice. Bristow-Bovey shares a deep knowledge of his subject with great style - and more than a touch of Shackleton's own verve and heart. An exhilarating read. * Henrietta Rose-Innes, author of Green Lion *A wonderful, thoughtful account of the Endurance expedition and its fabled boss: as Darrel Bristow-Bovey points out in these pages, "We should indeed all be such failures as Shackleton." In weaving in a personal story - his father claimed to have sailed south on Endurance - Bristow-Bovey reveals ways in which "the human heart has space for opposite things". I thoroughly enjoyed this book. -- Sara Wheeler, travel writer and biographerWith elegiac considerations of subjects including time, hope, and ice, Finding Endurance is a grace-filled memoir about a father and a resilient Antarctic legend ... complemented by beautiful elements of nature writing, biography, and the heroics of polar exploration ... a tender tribute to family. -- Karen Rigby * Foreword *

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Book SynopsisThe history of ancient Rome omitting all the boring bits. Following the success of BBC2 hit Rome on BBC2, no one has looked at the private lives of the Roman Emperors again in the same light. Anthony Blond's scandalous exposé of the life of the Roman emperors is a must-read for anyone interested in what really went on in ancient Rome. Julius Caesar is usually presented as a glorious general when, in fact, he was an arrogant charmer and a swank; Augustus was so self-conscious about his height that he put lifts in his sandals.But they were nothing compared with Caligula, Claudius and Nero. Blond's book is eye-opening in its revelations, and unfailingly entertaining.Trade ReviewThis is the sort of book that gives ancient history a good name. * Sunday Telegraph *...informative fun... * TLS *Lively and amusing - the Emperors enjoyably monstrous. * Observer *

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Book SynopsisAs commander of the Allied Military Mission to the Greek guerrillas in Greece in 1943-4, C.M. Woodhouse has to hold an uneasy balance between the communist and government sides. Against a background of conflicting communist doctrine, shifting foreign alliances, territorial disputes and personality differences, the communist struggle for Greece unfolded in three rounds. The first began in 1941 with the German occupation of Greece when the National Liberation Front attempted to regain control of the country and overthrow the monarchy. In the second round, the communists tried to seize power at the end of the German occupation in December 1944 and were frustrated by the intervention of British forces. The third round (1946-9) was marked by US intervention, UN fact-finding missions, and the shift from guerrilla tactics to conventional warfare. The communists were weakened by internal feuding and overcome by the US forces. The author based his research on interviews with participants, documentary sources and his own experience. He analyzes the characters, ideologies and events behind one of the longest and most bitter civil wars of modern times.Trade Review'This is the story of the communist and non-communist resistance to the Germans that sprang up in the Greek mountains, and its interaction with the politics of the old political world of Greece and the strategies of the allies. No one was better placed to describe the events of this turbulent period than C. M. Woodhouse, who came to know Greece intimately. The Struggle for Greece is his masterful telling of the story.' -- Michael Llewellyn-Smith, historian and former British Ambassador to GreeceTable of ContentsContents: I: The First Round Prelude to Revolution - Resistance and Reaction - War on Two Fronts - II: The Second Round Return to Legality - The December Events - The Bitter Truce - III: The Third Round Disorder into Guerrilla War - Guerrillas into Battle Order - Deadlock and Stalemate - The Final Breakthrough.

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Book SynopsisSavage Frontier traces the routes over the mountains taken by monks, soldiers, poets, pilgrims and refugees, examining the lives and events that have shaped the Pyrenees across the centuries. Its cast of characters includes Napoleon, Hannibal and Charlemagne; the eccentric British climber Lord Henry Russell; Francisco Sabaté Llopart, the Catalan anarchist who waged a lone war across the Pyrenees against Franco for years after the Civil War; and the cellist Pau Casals, who spent more than twenty-three years in exile only a few miles from the Spanish border, to show his disapproval of the regime. Acclaimed author Matthew Carr uncovers the fascinating story of one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth—both a forbidding, mountainous frontier zone of stunning beauty and a site of sharp conflict between nations and empires.Trade Review'Matthew Carr has written a rich, deeply researched and absorbing history, full of extraordinary and surprising tales and an impassioned sense of the unique beauty of one of Europe’s lesser-known places.' -- Roger Crowley, author of 'Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire''Carr conjures up a magical account of the mountainous divide between Spain and France, with its witches and heretics, its isolated villages, its ancient traditions of independence, and its babel of languages. A beautifully written book that nimbly weaves together his own travels and the history of the Pyrenees.' -- David Abulafia, Professor Emeritus of Mediterranean History, University of Cambridge, and author of 'The Great Sea: A Human History of the Mediterranean''There are so many inviting leads to be followed up in this book that no one who loves the Pyrenees or plans to explore them should be without it.' * The Spectator *‘Packed with drama, peril and ambition, these stories offer glimpses into how the physical world has shaped life in Europe across the centuries.’'A fascinating narrative . . . the book stands as a celebration of the Pyrenees.'‘Richly textured . . . a vivid, deeply informed travelogue.’

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Book SynopsisFrom the beginning of the eighteenth century to the high water mark of the Victorian era, the world was transformed by a technological revolution the like of which had never been seen before. Inventors, businessmen, scientists, explorers all had their part to play in the story of the Industrial Revolution and in this Brief History Thomas Crump brings their story to life, and shows why it is a chapter in English history that can not be ignored.Previous praise for Thomas Crump's A Brief History of Science:'A serious and fully furnished history of science, from which anyone interested in the development of ideas . . . will greatly profit.' A. C. Grayling, Financial Times'Provides an enduring sense of the extraordinary ingenuity that defines our relationship with nature.' Guardian'An excellent account . . Crump writes with authority.' TLSTrade ReviewA clear and concise explanation of an unwieldy but fascinating subject. * Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisEleftherios Venizelos (1864–1936) was the outstanding Greek statesman of the first half of the twentieth century. Michael Llewellyn-Smith traces his early years, political apprenticeship in Crete, and energetic role in that island's emancipation from both Ottoman rule and the arbitrary rule of Prince George of Greece. Summoned to Athens in 1910 by a cabal of officers, Venizelos mastered the Greek political scene, sent the military back to barracks, and led the country through a glorious period of constitutional and political reform, ending in a Balkan alliance waging successful war against Ottoman rule in Europe. By 1914, Greece had doubled in territory and population, and was about to face the challenges of European war. Tensions were rising between the king and the prime minister, foreshadowing political schism. This book illuminates Venizelos' political mastery, liberalism and nationalism, and traces his fateful friendship with David Lloyd George. A second volume will complete his story, with the Great War, the post-war peace settlement, Greece's Asia Minor disaster, and Venizelos' late years of renewed prime ministerial office, political polarisation and exile in Paris.Trade Review'[Outlines] Venizelos’s rise to power in superb detail.' -- The Telegraph'A great addition to modern Greek history, 'Venizelos' tackles broad questions of political leadership and nationalism. It fills a major gap and will strongly attract a cadre of international readers. Highly readable, enjoyable and instructive--it’s hard to ask for more.' -- Stathis Kalyvas, Gladstone Professor of Government, University of Oxford'Venizelos is a powerful portrait of an extraordinary man, painting a rich picture of his social and political environment. A masterful analysis of the personal, domestic and international factors at play, it is well-researched, original and vivid.' -- Helen Katsiadakis, Researcher Emerita, the Venizelos Foundation'An impressive work of scholarship, rendering outstanding services to the political history of Modern Greece and the art of political biography. Llewellyn-Smith deserves the gratitude of all those trying to promote knowledge and understanding in these fields of research.' -- Paschalis Kitromilides, Academy of Athens

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Book SynopsisTwenty of the most crucial moments in Britain's history.BBC History Magazine asked a selection of leading historians to choose and describe the twenty most important turning points in British history from AD 1000 to 2000. Collected together, their choices present a new way of looking at our nation's story. From the Danish invasion of Britain in 1016, to the Suez crisis in 1956, the key moments include victories (or defeats) both at home and abroad, plague, reform and even revolutions that have reshaped the British way of life. Each contribution brings the past to life, offering new perspectives and food for debate: did the Battle of Agincourt change England's role in Europe? What was the impact of American independence on Britain? Was 1916 more important than 1939? Thought-provoking and inspiring accounts.Trade ReviewIf the Turning Points series - first and foremost wonderful story telling - was taught as a school history course it would excite a new generation. * Christopher Lee *Much of interest and value in this short collection of essays. They provoke discussion; they invite us to ponder on our history and to consider what it means to be British. -- Allan Massie * The Scotsman *Fascinating and thought-provoking * Suite101.com *Wonderful * Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisWhy is the Middle East a crisis factory, and how can it be fixed? What does the future look like for its 500 million people? And what role should the West play? Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash tell the story of the modern Middle East as a series of broken promises. They chart the entrenchment of tyranny, terrorism and foreign intervention, showing how these systems of oppression simultaneously feed off and battle each other. Exploring demographic, economic and social trends, the authors paint a picture of the region’s prospects that is alarming yet hopeful. Finally, they present ambitious and thoughtful ideas that reject both aggressive military intervention and cynical deals with dictators. This book, written by two children of the region, is about the failures of history, and the reasons for hope. The Middle East Crisis Factory offers a bold vision for those seeking peace and democracy in the Middle East.Trade Review‘[The Middle East Crisis Factory] is not a statement of despair, but one of defiance from the generation of the 2011 uprisings [and] offers many insights.’ -- Middle East Eye'Part guide, part manifesto, [The Middle East Crisis Factory] is a succinct, accessible, and even-handed introduction to the Middle East that emphasises how the problems of the region have global repercussions.' -- Business Post

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Book SynopsisModern Singapore is a miracle. Half a century ago, it was thrown out of the Malay Federation and unwillingly became an independent nation. It was tiny, poor, almost devoid of resources, and in a hostile neighbourhood. Now, this unlikely country is at the top of almost every global national index, from high wealth and low crime to superb education and much-envied stability. But have these achievements bred a dangerous sense of complacency? Singapore now faces challenges from the constraints of authoritarian democracy to changing geographic realities and migration. Walking across this tiny island state, Nicholas Walton teases out its story from British rule and the war years to independence and beyond, exploring the problems and prosperity of the real Singapore.Trade Review'By traversing this island city state on foot, Walton explores questions worth asking . . . he is clear-eyed and unflinching in his portrayal of Singapore and its people.''Walton writes fluently and engagingly . . . his book is an excellent one-volume primer on the country.' * Literary Review *‘In this lively account of the republic. . . [Walton] writes engagingly . . . with a light touch and with a sense of humour, making judicious use of anecdotes which reveal the subterranean cracks in Singapore’s society.’ 'A rare jewel of a book--enchanting, illuminating and at times bloody funny. Much more than a travelogue or history, this is the story of a grand adventure, told in the tradition of Conrad with the eye of Theroux and the wit of Bryson. Brilliant.' -- James Brabazon, journalist, documentary filmmaker and author of 'The Break Line''What better way to discover Singapore than to walk across it? In this splendid book, Walton serves up riches of the island's history, geography, economics, and, most of all, serendipity.' -- Tyler Cowen, author of 'The Complacent Class' and 'Average Is Over''When Nicholas Walton moved with his family to Singapore, he began a voyage of discovery into the history of the city-state. Join him on his journey across the length and breadth of the island, from the fourteenth century to the present day.' -- Mark Leonard, Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations'Duly pays tribute to the way Singapore and its 5.6m inhabitants have come to top the charts that define success in the modern world. ... [Walton's] conclusions are more nuanced than either Singapore’s detractors or its cheerleaders would like.' -- The Financial Times

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Book SynopsisThis is a large-format, photo-led book showing golf in Scotland in the 20th Century as readers will remember it. The words accompanying the images explain the state of the game in Scotland at the time, from the tough days of the 1950s, to the re-emergence of The Open, and golf in Scotland, as a leading light in the world game.The book includes never-published photos of the most famous course of them all, The Old Course at St Andrews, the most difficult course on the Open rota at Carnoustie, and a chapter dedicated to the greatest golf head-to-head ever played, the Duel In The Sun at Turnberry in 1977 among many others.The changing face of the game is explored and explained. There is also a chapter dedicated to women in golf in the black & white era.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first in-depth, English-language history of modern Serbia in nearly half a century. It covers the period from the Serbian state's revolutionary rebirth in the early nineteenth century, under the rebel leaders Karadorde Petrovic and Miloš Obrenovic; its turbulent history of wars, uprisings and dynastic rivalries; the triumph of Yugoslav unification in 1918; and the catastrophe of occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941. It shows how the birth of the modern nation-state involved the creation of a new elitedynasty, army and bureaucracywhose rule over the peasantry generated a popular resistance that would ultimately take form in Nikola Pašic's mighty People's Radical Party. The resulting struggle between elitist Westernisers and pro-Russian populists became entwined with the struggle for pan-Serb and Yugoslav liberation and unification. These causes came together with the Sarajevo assassination of 1914, which triggered the First World War.Existing histories of the Yugoslav kingdom

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Book SynopsisThe Hazaras of Afghanistan have borne the brunt of many of the destructive forces unleashed by the establishment of the Afghan monarchy in 1747. The history of their relationship with the Afghan state has been punctuated by frequent episodes of ethnic cleansing, mass dispossession, forced displacement, enslavement and social and economic exclusion. Mostly Shia in a country dominated by Sunni Muslims, and identifiable because of their Asian features, the Hazaras became Afghanistan's internal 'Other'. They look different and practise a different school of Islam in a country that is prone to internal conflict and the machinations of external powers. The history of the Hazaras therefore offers a unique perspective into the deep contradictions of Afghanistan as a modern state, and how its ethnic and religious dynamics continue to undermine the post-2001 political process. This volume provides a fresh account of both the strategies and tactics of the Afghan state and how the Hazaras have responded to them, focusing on three key phenomena: Hazara rebellion and resistance to the intrusion of the Afghan state in the nineteenth century; the incorporation of the Hazara homeland into Afghanistan in the 1890s and their subsequent marginalisation and exclusion; and the Hazaras' ethnic mobilisation and struggle for recognition in recent decades.Trade Review'Ibrahimi's impressively detailed history helps us to make sense of the current political situation in Afghanistan ... throughout the book Ibrahimi adopts a healthy critical stance towards essentialist theories of ethnicity. He aptly shows that to get a full picture of Afghan politics it is necessary to both zoom out to the global and transnational level, and zoom in below the provincial level.' -- The Times Literary SupplementNiamatullah Ibrahimi's richly-textured account of Hazaras' relations with the Afghan state not only sheds light on the social and political complexities of a highly-vulnerable group; it also illuminates dimensions of the state building enterprise in Afghanistan in ways that highlight the challenges of internationally-supported state building more broadly. A pathbreaking book. -- William Maley, Professor of Diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University; author of 'What is a Refugee?' and 'Reconstructing Afghanistan: Civil-Military Experiences in Comparative Perspective''In this this sympathetic but nonpolemic book . . . Ibrahimi has undertaken field and archival research to trace the efforts of the Hazaras to protect their identity and patrimony and to find a legitimate place in the Afghan state.''An excellent forensic survey.'A work of great interest, which skilfully examines the link between nation-state formation since the late nineteenth century and the politicisation of ethnic identities. Focusing on the case of the Hazaras, Ibrahimi demonstrates how ethnicity, far from being a primordial form of social organisation, became an idiom of political mobilisation. -- Alessandro Monsutti, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva; author of 'War and Migration: Social Networks and Economic Strategies of the Hazaras of Afghanistan'Ibrahimi vividly relates the history of the long persecuted Hazara minority, unravelling their relations with the Afghan state for over two centuries, their complex internal political rivalries, the role of foreign interventions, and their recent successes in an on-going struggle for recognition. It is a bloody, tragic, but often inspiring story. -- Richard Tapper, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology in the University of LondonIbrahimi evaluates the costs in the creation of modern nation-states in multiethnic societies by narrating the sufferings of one group, the Hazaras, in the making of Afghanistan. A must-read for political analysts, policy makers and those wishing to understand why failed multiethnic nation-states provoke politics of rage and extremism in the region. -- Nazif M. Shahrani, Professor of Anthropology, Central Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Indiana University

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Book SynopsisOriginally written in 1936 by two young Cambridge Fellows, A Guide to the Classics is a light-hearted manual on how to pick the Derby winner. However, as the tongue-in-cheek title suggested, there is more to the book than meets the eye, especially as one of the young dons went on to become, according to his 1990 Telegraph obituary, ''the greatest political philosopher in the Anglo-Saxon tradition since Mill or even Burke''.The book takes the abstraction out of the Derby by attacking the systems which had been developed by generations of ''form'' experts. It exposes theoretical solutions as fraudulent instead it applies hard-headed empirical and historical analysis. Oakeshott went on to apply this methodology to his famous critique of ''rationalism'' in politics.This long-awaited edition of Griffith and Oakeshott's classic text includes a new preface and foreword by horse racing journalist and author Sean Magee, and political commentator Peter Oborne.

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2022 James Beard Book Award A Guardian Best History and Politics Book of 2022 Selected as one of the 25 Best Cookbooks of 2022 in Delicious Magazine Nominated for the 2022 Spirited Awards This is the forgotten history of women making, serving and drinking alcohol. Drink has always been at the centre of social rituals and cultures worldwide—and women have been at the heart of its production and consumption. So when did drinking become gendered? How have patriarchies tried to erase and exclude women from industries they've always led, and how have women fought back? And why are things from bars to whiskey considered ‘masculine’, when, without women, they might not exist? With whip-smart insight and boundless curiosity, Girly Drinks unveils distillers, brewers, drinkers and bartenders with a vital role in the creation and consumption of alcohol, from Cleopatra, Catherine the Great and the real Veuve Clicquot to Chinese poets, medieval nuns and Prohibition bootleggers. Mallory O’Meara’s fun and fascinating history dismantles the long-standing myth that drink is a male tradition. Now, readers everywhere can discover each woman celebrated in this book—and proudly have what she’s having.Trade Review'The history book that has made me laugh most this year. O’Meara takes readers on a wild ride from ancient Sumerian beer goddess Ninkasi, via 12th-century Chinese poet and boozehound Li Qingzhao, to the “Bahama Queen”, gunslinging prohibition bootlegger Cleo Lythgoe. Written in a conversational style, this book feels like having cocktails with some of the most fascinating – and dangerous – women in history. Cheers!' -- Alex von Tunzelmann, The Guardian, 'The Best History and Politics Books of 2022'‘This feminist history of alcohol . . . argues . . . that making and consuming alcohol has always been women’s business.’ -- The Sunday Times‘[An] intoxicating read.’ -- Delicious Magazine, 'The 25 Best Cookbooks of 2022''Girly Drinks is anything but--a raw shot of boozy history that stings as well as it soothes!' -- Patton Oswalt‘A fascinating history.’ -- Buzzfeed'[A] thorough, and thoroughly entertaining, history... Elegantly woven into each cheeky chapter is rigorous historical context... O'Meara glides easily from the 17th-century pulquerias of Mexico to the feminine 'fern bars' of the 1970s, making sure to not to forget the queen of girly drinks: the Cosmopolitan. Provoking both thought and laughter, this serves as bracing refreshment from a master textual mixologist.' -- Publishers Weekly, starred review'At last, the feminist history of booze we've been waiting for!' -- Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist'Feminist and very funny... O'Meara deftly blends in equal measures of social history, gossip, and solid research, and adds enjoyable footnotes... women have discovered, invented, advanced, championed, and celebrated alcohol.' -- Booklist'This is a book that should be on any beverage alcohol enthusiast's shelf.' -- American Whiskey Magazine'[In Girly Drinks] Mallory O'Meara... returns to the realm of historically overlooked women who did extremely cool sh*t with a feminist history of drinking through the ages.' -- Lit Hub'An insightful, entertaining feminist history of women and alcohol through the ages.' -- USA Today'With this lively book Mallory O'Meara has provided a real service, giving us not only a long-overdue new perspective on a great many familiar issues, but also raising all kinds of other issues that are unfamiliar and shouldn't be.' -- David Wondrich, author of Imbibe'Cheers to Mallory O'Meara and her serious yet seriously entertaining treatise on the history of gendered drinks. Girly Drinks will introduce you to queens and nuns, bootleggers and bartenders, telling their stories and proving the point that all drinks are girly drinks.' -- Jeanette Hurt, author of Wisconsin Cocktails and Drink Like a Woman

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Book SynopsisAfter the 1994 Oslo Accords, Palestinians were hopeful that an end to the Israeli occupation was within reach, and that a state would be theirs by 1999. With this promise, international powers became increasingly involved in Palestinian politics, and many shadows of statehood arose in the territories. Today, however, no state has emerged, and the occupation has become more entrenched. Concurrently, the Palestinian Authority has become increasingly authoritarian, and Palestinians ever more polarised and demobilised. Palestine is not unique in this: international involvement, and its disruptive effects, have been a constant across the contemporary Arab world. This book argues that internationally backed authoritarianism has an effect on society itself, not just on regime-level dynamics. It explains how the Oslo paradigm has demobilised Palestinians in a way that direct Israeli occupation, for many years, failed to do. Using a multi-method approach including interviews, historical analysis, and cutting-edge experimental data, Dana El Kurd reveals how international involvement has insulated Palestinian elites from the public, and strengthened their ability to engage in authoritarian practices. In turn, those practices have had profound effects on society, including crippling levels of polarisation and a weakened capacity for collective action.Trade Review‘A rigorous and impressively researched work, and a valuable and thought-provoking read for students of authoritarianism and Arab politics.’ -- CHOICE'A well-researched analysis of the disempowering legacy of the Oslo Accords... ['Polarized and Demobilized'] is also an engaging read that sheds light on the past, present and future of popular (non-PA sponsored) resistance to the occupation.' -- Morning Star‘Polarized and Demobilized provides such a sophisticated account that any sort of summary or short review would fail to do it justice. … Over and above, it is a truly enjoyable read: one of the very few academic works that combines theoretical sophistication with a smooth, seamless and beautifully articulated narrative.’ -- LSE Review of Books'Addresses an important question in a systematic and innovative way.''A strong and compelling book. El Kurd demonstrates how international involvement in Palestine has led to deeper polarization between the PA and its people, with serious implications for Palestinian society, the peace process and the future Palestinian state.' -- Amaney A. Jamal, Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics, Princeton University'This critical volume explains the transnational origins behind political polarization and institutional weakness in post-Oslo Palestine. El Kurd's work is theoretically sophisticated and empirically innovative--a must-read for any observer of the region.' -- Sean Yom, Associate Professor of Political Science, Temple University'How did the PA manage to demobilize Palestinian society, when years of direct Israeli occupation failed to do so? El Kurd brings novel data to bear on this provocative question, highlighting how internationally backed, "indigenous" authoritarian regimes can be particularly detrimental for political cooperation and resistance.' -- Diana B. Greenwald, Assistant Professor of Political Science, The City College of New York, CUNY'Palestinians have complained over the last generation about increasing authoritarianism and declining solidarity and activism, even as international donors spoke of democratic institution-building. El Kurd's rigorous empirical research shows not only that such complaints are valid but also how and why.' -- Nathan Brown, Professor of Political Science, George Washington University'A major contribution to understanding the dialectic between politically driven foreign aid and authoritarianism. El Kurd's rigorous and illuminating research shows a causal link between this process and social polarization, demobilization and the decline of collective action under the PA.' -- Azmi Bishara, General Director of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies

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Book Synopsis Throughout Bunyan’s great allegories his prime concern was that people would be able to discern the way to heaven. The ‘Footman’ is an athlete dogged in the pursuit of ‘winning’ the race. Bunyan wants us to be able run the race of the Christian life and finish the course so that we might all meet in Heaven. As he states in this book:– ‘Farewell, I wish our souls may meet with comfort at the journey’s end.’ Based on the text ‘so run that ye may obtain’ (1 Cor. 9:24), Bunyan’s terse and racy style gives us vital guidance on how to complete the journey. This is regarded as one of the classic texts to have come from the Puritan era on Christian living. Bunyan is well known for his perceptiveness in describing human motivation and thought processes with discernment as he gives us the ‘description of the man who gets to heaven.’ Trade Review"This is true, heartsearching, heartwarming John Bunyan on full throttle" -- J. I. Packer ((1926–2020), Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada)

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Book SynopsisField marshal and statesman Gustaf Mannerheim (1867-1951) was the most acclaimed and the most hated Finn of the twentieth century. After three decades of loyal and distinguished service in the Russian Tsarist army, he returned to his homeland in 1917 to defend its new independence. This iconic figure led the Finnish forces as Commander-in-Chief during both World Wars, then ended his career as President of Finland. This new critical biography sets Mannerheim's entire life's work, and his often nerve-wracking decisions as a Finnish leader on the world stage, against the backdrop of his elite upbringing and lifestyle, his adventurous imperial career, his outspoken anti-communism, and his keen instincts for great power politics. Painful details emerge about Mannerheim's private life, and myths and rumours are scrutinised, as Henrik Meinander charts the complex legacy of this nationalist cosmopolitan who found himself fighting on the same side as Hitler. Meinander paints his portrait with strong contrasts and bright colours. This is the story of a multicultural Russian empire, a newborn nation-state treading warily between Europe's military titans, a front of the Second World War not easily reduced to moral binaries--and, above all, a shrewd political operator playing many a dangerous game.Trade Review‘Authoritative and accessible to general readers. . . . Finland does owe a great debt to Mannerheim. As with Churchill or de Gaulle, a proper assessment of his historical importance requires us to strip away the myths and focus on the facts of his career — a task Meinander fulfils admirably.’ -- Financial Times‘A sensible and readable summary … [Meinander] has succeeded handsomely. Mannerheim oozes good sense and generosity to its predecessors and deserves to become the new standard popular book on its subject.’ -- The Times'Meinander’s biography is riveting… [and] especially timely.' -- Diplomatic Courier‘Meinander's biography provides a clear overview of… [Mannerheim’s] exceptionally intriguing life.’ -- Traces of War'Marshal Mannerheim was an intriguing character, a titan of Finnish history, but a person I did not understand well. This book is a compelling biography, and a much-needed one as Finland joins NATO.' -- Dan Kaszeta, author of 'Toxic' and 'The Forest Brotherhood''Impeccably researched and elegantly written, this biography of Marshal Mannerheim tells the story of one of the most remarkable lives and careers of any twentieth-century leader: a life around which so much appeared to turn. Highly recommended.' -- Roger Moorhouse, historian, researcher and author of 'The First to Fight: The Polish War 1939' and 'The Devils' Allliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin''A powerful biography of an oft misunderstood man who stood at the heart of Finland's history as one of its most important and complex leaders of the twentieth century. Meinander's epic biography deserves high praise.' -- Helen Fry, author of 'Churchill's German Army' and 'The Walls Have Ears: The Greatest Intelligence Operation of WWII''Henrik Meinander's eminently readable biography of Gustaf Mannerheim is a very well-rounded take on the life of this major figure of Finnish and European history. More still, it tells the epic story of Finland at a time of great upheavals.' -- Mart Kuldkepp, Associate Professor of Scandinavian History and Politics, University College London'A rich and balanced insight into the eventful life of Marshal Mannerheim. Meinander has brilliantly managed to construct a rigorously critical but empathetic portrait of his research subject.' -- Tiina Lintunen, Head of the Department of Contemporary History, University of Turku'Henrik Meinander's book is essential reading for anyone interested in Marshal Mannerheim's extraordinary biography, as well as those who want to understand the history and the present of geopolitics in the Baltic and Nordic countries.' -- Tuomas Tepora, Senior Research Fellow, Tampere University

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Book SynopsisMeltdown investigates and recreates the dramatic events behind the most notorious nuclear accidents in history, as well as those shrouded in secrecy. Combining human tragedy with intriguing science, each account reveals new aspects of humanity's complex relationship with nuclear power and the ongoing struggle to harness and control it. From the pioneers of Los Alamos who got up close and personal with the cores of atomic bombs, to the hapless engineers in Soviet fuel-processing plants who unwittingly mixed up a disaster in a bucket, and from the terrifying impact of a tsunami at Fukushima to the mystery of the recent Russian incident, Meltdown explores the past and future of this extraordinary and potentially lethal source of infinite power. Table of ContentsSplitting the Atom • Explorers of New Worlds • Louis Slotin and the Demon Core • the Town That Wasn't There • Spoilt Milk • Burning Up • the Wrong-shaped Bottle • a Slip of the Hand • Broken Arrow • Human Error • Don't Rock the Boat • Nuclear Nightmare • Concentration Critical • the Four Horsemen • the Nyonoska Mystery.

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Book SynopsisThe numbers that tell the story of humanity 'Vital ... If you're thinking about setting up a giant land empire in Asia, you cannot do so without this book ... If only the last Song emperor had had this book by his side, he might have avoided his appalling fate' Dan Snow What was history's biggest empire? Or the tallest building of the ancient world? What was the average life expectancy in medieval Byzantium? The average wage in Old Kingdom Egypt? Where did scientific writing first emerge? What was the bloodiest ritual human sacrifice ever? We are used to thinking about history in terms of stories. Yet we understand our own world through data: vast arrays of statistics that reveal the workings of our societies. So, join the radical historians Peter Turchin and Dan Hoyer for a dive into the numbers that reveal the true shape of the past. Drawing on their own Seshat project, a staggeringly ambitious attempt to log each piece of demographic and econometric information that can be reliably estimated for every society that has ever existed, Figuring Out The Past does more than tell the story of the past: it shows you the large-scale patterns.Trade ReviewVital ... If you're thinking about setting up a giant land empire in Asia, you cannot do so without this book ... If only the last Song emperor had had this book by his side, he might have avoided his appalling fate -- Dan Snow

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Book SynopsisIn 'Israel's History and the History of Israel' one of the world's foremost experts on antiquity addresses the birth of Israel and its historic reality. Many stories have been told of the founding of ancient Israel, all rely on the biblical story in its narrative scheme, despite its historic unreliability. Drawing on the literary and archaeological record, this book completely rewrites the history of Israel. The study traces the textual material to the times of its creation, reconstructs the evolution of political and religious ideologies, and firmly inserts the history of Israel into its ancient-oriental context.Trade Review"Liverani charts a sinuous and expert path through the minefield that has come to mark the discussion over how to reconstruct ancient Israelite history. No one will come away from reading him without being challenged, indeed exhilarated by the depth of his insights and the breadth of his vision." – Peter Machinist, Harvard University"Liverani's intentions in offering an account of the biblical transformation of Israel's past 'from trivial event to significant re-elaboration' are to be commended. His book is an appropriate and exciting alternative to the biblical narrative." – Times Literary Supplement"The work is stimulating, original in all its parts, and contains many original insights that will no doubt fertilize all future discussions about the Bible as a source for the history of ancient Israel." –Review of Biblical LiteratureTable of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements 1. Palestine in the Late Bronze Age (14th - 13th Centuries) Part One: A Normal History 2. The Transition (12th Century) 3. The New Society (c. 1150-1050) 4. The Formative Process (c. 1050-930) 5. The Kingdom of Israel (c. 930 -740) 6. The Kingdom of Judah (c. 930-720) 7. The Impact of the Assyrian Empire (c. 740-640) 8. Pause between Two Empires (c. 640-610) 9. The Impact of the Babylonian Empire (c.610-585) Intermezzo 10. The Axial Age 11. The Diaspora 12. The Abandoned Landscape Part Two: An Invented History 13. Returnees and 'Remainees': The Invention of the Patriarchs 14. Returnees and Aliens: The Invention of the Conquest 15. A Nation without a King: The Invention of the Judges 16. The Royal Option: The Invention of the United Monarchy 17. The Priestly Option: The Invention of the Solomonic Temple 18. Self-Identification: The Invention of the Law Epilogue 19. Local History and Universal Values Bibliography

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Book SynopsisLearn how your DNA can empower you to make life choices that lead to a happier, healthier lifeThe personalized medicine wave is here.In this book, biotechnology entrepreneur and CEO of The DNA Company Kashif Khan offers an action plan to help you live your best life. It starts by understanding your genetic makeup.The DNA Way is a preventative guide to various health issues and their link to an individual’s DNA. In it, readers will discover what the DNA Company experts have learned about chronic illness and genetic predispositions, based on years of in-depth genetic analysis of the DNA results of more than 7,000 people. Topics that will be addressed include mood and behavior, energy, diet and nutrition, weight management, sleep, and more. The book will delve into Kashif’s personal journey of overcoming his own genetic legacy and health challenges—using his own DNA results as a case study—and in navigating that journey, how he came to develop a company whose aim is to elevate humanity. It also outlines recommendations—including what foods to eat, how to exercise, and where and how to work—that have helped him prevent or reverse illness, slow down the aging process, and optimize his performance.Learn how to access your human instruction manual—the DNA way.

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Book SynopsisRichard Youngs examines the policy challenges and choices now facing Europe in the wake of Russia's war with Ukraine.

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Book SynopsisPocket Images Frodsham & Helsby.

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Book SynopsisIf the American foreign policy establishment is a grand citadel, Henry Kissinger is the specter haunting its dusty hallways. For half a century, he was an omnipresent figure in war rooms and at press briefings, dutifully shepherding the American empire through successive attempts at expansion. For multiple generations of antiwar activists, Kissinger personified the depravity of the US war machine. The Good Die Young assesses a career too frequently applauded in essays from respected scholars and journalists such as Gerald Horne, Carolyn Eisenberg, and Chip Gibbons, with an introduction from Bancroft Prize-winner Greg Grandin.The world Kissinger wrought is one we live in today, where ideal investment conditions are generated from the barrel of a gun. Today, global capitalism and United States hegemony are underwritten by the most powerful military ever devised. Any political vision worth fighting for must promise an end to the cycle of never-ending wars afflicting the world in the twenty-first century. Breaking that cycle means placing the twin evils of capitalism and imperialism in our crosshairs.The book follows Kissinger's fiery trajectory across the globe, covering Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. More than any other public figure, the life and career of this man illustrate the links between capitalism, empire, and the feedback loop of endless conflict that plagues us today.Trade ReviewAmong all this catharsis, no one could surpass the 'unbeatable levels of hater' reached by the lefty publishers Jacobin magazine and Verso Books...[The Good Die Young] features essays by celebrated scholars like Gerald Horne and Carolyn Eisenberg on the wide-spanning breadth of Kissinger's noxious foreign-policy legacy and the areas of the world still hurting thanks to his time in power. -- Nitish Pahwa * Slate *The collection strikes a blackly comic but erudite tone, opening with an introduction by Yale professor Greg Grandin that explores how Kissinger's intellectual and professional trajectory unfolded across presidential administrations and in parallel with American power at large. -- Sophia Nguyen * The Washington Post *Table of ContentsPreface - René Rojas, Bhaskar Sunkara, and Jonah WaltersIntroduction: To Die at the Right Time - Greg GrandinAmericas1. Kissinger and the South American Revolutions - Aldo Marchesi2. Kissinger in Chile - René Rojas3. Kissinger in Argentina - Leandro Morgenfeld4. Kissinger in Central America - Hilary GoodfriendEurope5. Kissinger in Cyprus - Leandros FischerMiddle East and Africa6. Kissinger in Angola - Piero Gleijeses7. Kissinger in South Africa - Gerald Horne8. Kissinger in Western Sahara - Aubrey Bloomfield9. Kissinger in the Gulf - Chip GibbonsAsia10. Kissinger in East Pakistan/Bangladesh - Mukhtar Mirjan11. Kissinger in East Timor - Alex de Jong12. Kissinger in Cambodia - Brett S. Morris13. Kissinger in Vietnam and China - An Interview with Carolyn Eisenberg14. From the War Room to Wall Street - Christy ThorntonAcknowledgmentsAbout the ContributorsNotes

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Book SynopsisIn mythology, art history and religious iconography, the apple has been imbued with every imaginable human desire. It has been a symbol of love and beauty, of temptation, of immortality, peace, death and poison, of sin and redemption. From Adam and Eve to the trials of Heracles, to the art of Cézanne and Magritte, to Newton’s theory of gravity, the death of Alan Turing and the growth of Steve Jobs, the apple resonates throughout western culture. It is Snow White, William Tell, it is The Beatles and the Viking gods, it is even the American frontier. Now, Barnaby Barford offers a celebration of this fruit, exploring its impact on the history of humankind. Apples have become a recent feature of Barford’s eye-catching installations, whether ripe and healthy or in a state of decay. The Apple is Everything guides the reader through Barford’s work and ideology.

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Book SynopsisA profusely illustrated history of the diplomatic embassy, from antiquity to today.

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Book SynopsisThese papers highlight recent archaeological work in Northern England, in the commercial, academic and community archaeology sectors, which have fundamentally changed our perspective on the Neolithic of the area. Much of this was new work (and much is still not published) and has been overlooked in the national discourse. The papers cover a wide geographical area, from Lancashire north into the Scottish Lowlands, recognising the irrelevance of the England/Scotland Border. They also take a broad chronological sweep, from the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition to the introduction of Beakers into the area.The key themes are: the nature of transition; the need for a much-improved chronological framework; regional variation linked to landscape character; links within northern England and with distant places; the implications of new dating for our understanding of the axe trade; the changing nature of settlement and agriculture; the character of early Neolithic enclosures; and the need to integrate rock art into wider discourse.Trade ReviewThe authors, editors and contributors are to be congratulated and commended on bringing these excellent volumes to publication. * Antiquity *This fine volume … [is] a fine counterbalance to the biases at the very core of the historical narrative of the Neolithic in Britain. * Archaeological Journal *Until recently, archaeologists took a broad-brush, sometimes ignoring local and regional nuances, so it is refreshing that Hey, Frodsham, and their team look at the Neolithic in terms of a northern tradition … The editors have skilfully integrated the academic, commercial and community sectors to provide a multi-interpretive approach to this dynamic period … This book is a much-needed addition to the Neolithic bookshelf and will be a useful reference for ongoing and future research. * Current Archaeology *This book, like the 2016 conference in Carlisle from which it derives, is an explicit bid to sing the glories of stone axe quarries, rock art, stone circles and other landscape features which proclaim the intense regionality of Britain’s earliest farming communities. * British Archaeology *Table of ContentsList of contributors List of figures List of tables and appendices Introduction Gill Hey and Paul Frodsham Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Langdale and the Northern Neolithic Richard Bradley and Aaron Watson Chapter 2: Stainton West: a Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic Site on the Banks of the River Eden Fraser Brown Chapter 3: The last hunter of a wise race: evidence for Neolithic practices in northern England Seren Griffiths Chapter 4: ‘Weird and atypical, even degenerate’… or then again, maybe not? Early Neolithic Enclosures in the North Al Oswald and Mark Edmonds Chapter 5: Documenting English Rock Art: a review of the ‘big picture’ Kate E. Sharpe Chapter 6: New Light on the Neolithic: a perspective from North-East England Clive Waddington Chapter 7: Street House in the Neolithic Period, Stephen J. Sherlock Chapter 8: Recent work on the Neolithic landscapes of Cumbria and North Lancashire Helen Evans, Antony Dickson and Denise Druce Chapter 9: Out of the Shadows: an emerging Neolithic in the Yorkshire Dales Yvonne Luke Chapter 10: ‘A most noble work', at the Heart of Neolithic Britain. Some Thoughts on the Long Meg Complex in the Light of Recent Fieldwork Paul Frodsham Chapter 11: A View from North of the Border Alison Sheridan Chapter 12: Monumentality in Neolithic Britain: The Case of South West Scotland Julian Thomas Chapter 13: A New Survey of The Carles Stone Circle, Castlerigg, Cumbria Al Oswald and Constance Durgeat Chapter 14: Two Newly-Identified Possible ‘Hengiform’ Monuments in the North Pennines Stewart Ainsworth, David McOmish, Al Oswald and Andrew Payne Chapter 15: The End of the Neolithic?: Early Bell Beaker Groups in Northern England A. P. Fitzpatrick

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Book SynopsisCounty Antrim, home to the Giant’s Causeway, has a rich heritage of myths and legends which is uniquely captured in this collection of traditional tales from across the county. Featured here are stories of well-known figures from Irish folklore, including Conal Cearnach, with his association to Dunseverick Castle, and Deirdre of the Sorrows, whose mournful plight is linked to the rock at Ballycastle, known as Carraig Usnach. Here you will also find tales of lesser-known Antrim characters such as the heroic outlaw Naoise O’Haughan and local lad Cosh-a-Day, along with fantastical accounts of mythical creatures, including the mermaid of Portmuck, the banshee of Shane’s Castle, and the ghostly goings-on in Belfast. These stories bring to life the county’s varied landscape, from its lofty mountains to its fertile lowlands and dramatic coastline.

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Book SynopsisCounty Kildare abounds in folk tales, myths and legends and a selection of the best, drawn from historical sources and newly recorded local reminiscence, have been brought to life here by professional storyteller Steve Lally. Included in this collection are the exploits of the Wizard Earl of Kildare who lived at Maynooth Castle, the legend of the lonely ‘Pooka Horse’ said to dwell amongst the ruins of Rathcoffey Castle, the story of St Bridgid, the patron saint of County Kildare, and the tale of the time the Devil decided to make a house call. Full of wit and wisdom, these tales tell of the strange and macabre; memories of magic and otherworlds; and proud recollections of county heroes such as Dan Donnelly, Ireland’s first Heavy Weight Boxing Champion. The captivating stories, brought to life with unique illustrations from the author, will be enjoyed by readers time and again.

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Book SynopsisThis lavishly illustrated volume presents a comprehensive architectural study of 87 individual temples and sanctuaries built in the Roman East between the end of the 1st century BCE and the end of the 3rd century CE, within a broad region encompassing the modern states of Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. Religious architecture gave faithful expression to the complexity of the Roman East and to its multiplicity of traditions pertaining to ethnic and religious aspects as well as to the powerful influence of Imperial Rome. The source of this power lay in the uniformity of the architectural language, the inventory of forms, the choice of styles and the spatial layout of the buildings. Thus, while temples have an eclectic character, there is an underlying unity of form comprising the podium, the stairway between the terminating walls (antae) and the columns along the entrance front - in other words, the axiality, frontality and symmetry of the temple as viewed from outside.The temples and sanctuaries studied in this volume demonstrate individual nuances of plan, spatial design, location in the sanctuary and interrelations with the immediate vicinity but can be divided into two main categories: Vitruvian temples (derived from Hellenistic-Roman architecture) and Non-Vitruvian temples (those with plans and spatial designs that cannot be analysed according to architectural criteria such as those defined by Vitruvius). The individual descriptions presented focus solely upon the analysis of the external and internal space of the temples of all types and do not involve any cultural or ethnic discussion.Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I Chapter 1: Temples in the Roman East: Typological Analysis Vitruvian Temples Non-Vitruvian Temples Nabataean Temples Chapter 2: Sanctuaries in the Roman East: Typological Analysis Urban Sanctuaries Extra-Urban Sanctuaries Part II Corpus of Temples and Sanctuaries Part III Selected Terms in Architecture Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis lively and entertaining collection of folk tales from the County Derry is rich in stories both tall and true, ancient and recent, dark and funny, fantastical and powerful. Here you will find stories of mythical beasts such as the Lig-na-Paiste, banished by St Murrough to Lough Foyle; the dark tales of Abhartach, the Irish Vampire, and the reason a skeleton features of Derry’s coat of arms; the cautionary tale of the man who raised the Devil and who never spoke another word for the rest of his life; and, of course, the legends of the great St Columba, founder of the City of Derry, whose prayer reputedly still protects its inhabitants from ever being struck by lightening. These well-loved and magical stories, retold by professional storyteller Madeline McCully and richly illustrated with enchanting line drawings, are sure to be enjoyed and shared time and again.

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Book SynopsisA monumental and exhilarating history of European thought, from the fall of Rome in the fifth century AD to the Scientific Revolution thirteen centuries later. The Awakening traces the recovery and refashioning of Europe's classical heritage from the ruins of the Roman Empire. The process of preservation of surviving texts, fragile at first, was strengthened under the Christian empire founded by Charlemagne in the eighth century; later, during the High Middle Ages, universities were founded and the study of philosophy was revived. Renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman thought provided the intellectual impetus for the Renaissance of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, whose ideas – aesthetic, political and scientific – were disseminated across Europe by the invention of the printing press. Equally momentous was Europe's encounter with the New World, and the resulting maritime supremacy which conferred global reach on Europe's merchants and colonists. Vivid in detail and informed by the latest scholarship, The Awakening is powered not by the fate of kings or the clash of arms but by deeper currents of thought, inquiry and discovery, which first recover and then surpass the achievements of classical antiquity, and lead the West to the threshold of the Age of Reason. Charles Freeman takes the reader on an enthralling journey, and provides us with a vital key to understanding the world we live in today. Praise for The Awakening: 'The subject of this stimulating and erudite book is nothing less than the development of the Western mind from the demise of classical civilisation in the fifth century AD, through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, to the Scientific Revolution of the seventeenth century. The Awakening is a work of serious scholarship by an author who has clearly been everywhere, seen everything and read voraciously. But it is also a work written with great elan and, given its scope, undertaken with considerable courage... An arrestingly clear design, combined with numerous judiciously chosen illustrations, completes an extraordinary achievement' Christopher Lloyd, Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, 1988-2005 'The Awakening recounts the slow evolution of Western thought that restored legitimacy to independent examination and analysis, that eventually led to a celebration, albeit a cautious one, of reason over blind faith. In the process, Freeman reminds us that quality, engaging narrative history has not gone extinct, while demonstrating that it is possible to produce a work that is so well-written it is readable by a general audience while meeting the rigorous standards of scholarship demanded by academia' Stan Prager 'The Awakening is a very timely book and an excellently written and produced one. Freeman is a good host, a superb narrator and tells his story with aplomb... His elegant prose is a treat for the mind and the accompanying illuminations a treat for the eye' International TimesTrade ReviewCharles Freeman has done it again – amassed a vast body of knowledge on a major subject and infused it with historical understanding and humane wit. Above all else, he makes us realise why the twelve centuries between late Antiquity and early Modernity remain urgently relevant to the world of the twenty-first century. Aquinas, Erasmus, Dante, Descartes... theirs and a host of others' mindbending ideas are made to leap off the page, grab us by the throat and demand our undivided attention -- Paul Cartledge, AG Leventis professor of Greek Culture Emeritus, University of CambridgeA remarkable work of scholarship by esteemed historian Charles Freeman... The book is a fine production, adorned with coloured images of frescos and ancient manuscripts' * Irish Times *My favourite book of the year... The wonderful images of the art, architecture and books bring to life the detailed argument of Awakening... Freeman makes the subject matter alive and relevant in a way that few historians of ideas can... A book to read slowly, to ponder and enjoy leisurely * Goodreads *PRAISE FOR THE CLOSING OF THE WESTERN MIND: 'An elegant story, engagingly told. Freeman has a talent for narrative history and for encapsulating the more arcane disputes of ancient historians and theologians' Independent. 'There is much here to admire... It is a panoramic view that Freeman handles with grace, erudition and lucidity' Washington Times. 'Entertaining... An excellent and readable account of the development of Christian doctrine' * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisThe early twentieth century saw the transformation of the southern Irish Protestants from a once strong people into an isolated, pacified community. Their influence, status and numbers had all but disappeared by the end of the civil war in 1923 and they were to form a quiescent minority up to modern times. This book tells the tale of this transformation and their forced adaptation, exploring the lasting effect that it had on both the Protestant community and the wider Irish society and investigating how Protestants in southern Ireland view their place in the Republic today.

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Book SynopsisIn the early 1970s, the athletes of the German Democratic Republic started to achieve incredible sports results, winning medals and setting new world records with astonishing frequency. For many years, their sporting supremacy was hailed as a triumph of the socialist government's commitment to scientific research and innovative training methods. But after the Cold War ended, the Stasi archives revealed a sinister secret behind the successes: a perverse doping system imposed by the government itself. Drugs were administered to young athletes, often without their consent, and the price their bodies are now paying is very high, both physically and mentally. Through the athletes' personal stories, Synthetic Medals reveals the events that led to the discovery of the state-doping system and the subsequent trial. It also explores the state's motives for this crime against its own people - people who were sacrificed on the altar of a distorted ideology, for the simple purpose of achieving glory on the international chessboard.

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Book SynopsisHope and Glory recreates the extraordinary era of Thatcherite Britain with the dramatic tension of a novel, revealing it as a critical moment in rugby league history when despite losing everything, anything seemed possible. Rugby league should never have survived Thatcher's Britain. As the sport of the working class, the expectation was that rugby league would suffer the same fate as the textile mills, factories and coal mines that once surrounded it. Having declined in the 1970s, the sport appeared to be at the point of no return in 1982, when the Australian team destroyed any remaining illusions of 'British exceptionalism'. But as it often does, rugby league found a way to turn itself around. From the pit villages which fought industrial decline to the players who ushered in the new professional era, the 1980s was the decade when rugby league finally came of age. By the 1990s, there was an optimism that it could even replace football as the global game for the 21st century.Trade Review"Hope and Glory perfectly captures an era of immense change, opportunity and upheaval. A must-read not only for rugby league fans but for those interested in politics, history and marketing." -- John Davidson * The i newspaper *"Across 352 absorbing pages, Anthony Broxton has deftly written a 'must have' book on the subject, contrasting Conservative fortunes (in government/in the country at large) with that of the top rugby league teams. The working man’s game, unlike the mining industry, has survived intact, and in Hope and Glory Broxton seamlessly succeeds at the coal face of the sport, despite the unemployment, strikes and a killer on the loose, The Yorkshire Ripper. Rating: 10/10." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"A timely book... Broxton is a superb and sympathetic chronicler of how this happened." -- Patrick Kidd * The Times *"Brilliant, illumintive. Hope and Glory is a literary triumph for rugby league chronicling the sport's rise in defiance of industrial decay." -- Chris Irvine * Former rugby league correspondent at The Times *"Rugby league's working class heritage is intertwined with the events of the 1970s and 1980s, from punk rock to rebellion and riots. Hope and Glory is a riveting account of how sport must change and adapt to survive in times of social upheaval." -- Steve Brady * League Express *"Fascinating...If (Labour) are looking for advice perhaps they could read this book." -- Patrick Maguire * Times Radio *"A great time for this book to come out...a generation scarred by Thatcherism living to see the glory days come back." -- Paul Mason * Author of Postcapitalism *"Gripping account of rugby league’s improbable resurgence in the face of industrial collapse in Thatcher’s Britain. A book that is not just for rugby league fans." -- Brian Groom * Author of Northerners *"Whatever sport you love, I'd recommend this book. Visionaries, villains and vaudeville all play their part in a brilliant tale, expertly told." -- Brian Carney * Sky Sports *"[An] innovative account of Thatcherism, resistance and Rugby League." * Philosophy Football *

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Book SynopsisDonegal (or Dun an nGall in Irish, meaning 'the fort of the stranger') is the name given to the most northerly county in Ireland. Strange things have happened, and continue to happen, in this wild and beautiful place and ghost stories are part of the fabric of life here. This spooky selection features the goblin child of Castlereagh, the Blue Stacks Banshee, the ghostly swans of Burt Castle, the Wraiths and Dunlewy Bridge, the legend of Stumpy's Brae, the Bridgend Poltergeist and many more. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources and including many first-hand experiences and previously unpublished tales, Haunted Donegal will enthrall anyone interested in the unexplained.

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Book SynopsisFOREWORD BY ADAM KAY, AUTHOR OF THIS IS GOING TO HURTPortion of proceeds go to NHS Charities Together.A beautiful and heart-warming collection of stories, this landmark publication tells, for the first time ever, the rich history of the NHS through the ordinary people who have experienced it.Founded on the concept of providing healthcare to rich and poor alike, the National Health Service (NHS) has been at the heart of our everyday experiences of life and death since 1948.From Joan Meredith, who stood on street corners in the freezing winter to campaign for a new health system, to one of the first patients diagnosed with HIV/Aids, Jonathan Blake, and Klarissa Velasco, who comforted and held the hands of people suffering from Covid-19, Our Stories follows our health service from its conception to today, and tells the many incredible stories that have happened throughout its lifetime.Filled with tales of every part of life, this beautiful book tells, for the first time ever, the moving history of our world-leading health service through the voices of the patients, nurses, doctors, porters and ordinary people who have turned it into the beating heart of our country. It is a heart-warming account of an amazing institution.Trade Review'What shines through with all the stories is a deep affection for the NHS' -- Henry Marsh, author of Do No Harm

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Book SynopsisThe Circular Archetype in Microcosm is the culmination of seven years research into the Carved Stone Balls of Late Neolithic Scotland. It is the first study of these enigmatic artefacts since that undertaken by Dorothy Marshall in 1977 and includes all currently known examples in both museums and private hands, described and analysed in considerable detail. For the first time, visual geological characterisation has been undertaken on approximately a third of carved stone balls, which has enabled a more detailed analysis of their potential origin and the landscapes in which they were found. The book offers a revised classification/typology of these artefacts which, following careful analysis, suggests that it is possible to determine individual craftspeople with a wide range of skills. It suggests that carved stone balls were used as unique and distinctive gestalts that represented the ideology of the core area of Aberdeenshire and enabled disparate groups to recognise one another.Trade Review‘Chris Stewart-Moffitt has given us that unfashionable thing, an enormous service to specialists in the form of a comprehensive corpus.’ – Mike Pitts (2022): British Archaeology 'The volume is accompanied by online appendices, including a detailed catalogue with photographs. These highlight the rigorous data collection behind this volume, and represent an exceptionally valuable resource for future researchers.' – Hugo Anderson-Whymark (2023): Current Archaeology Issue 395Table of ContentsForeword and Acknowledgements ; Chapter One: Introduction ; Chapter Two: Scotland: Early people and the environment ; Chapter Three: Antiquarian, Archaeological and New Age ideas regarding CSBs ; Chapter Four: The Geology of Scotland and Materiality of Carved Stone Balls ; Chapter Five: Landscape and CSB Distribution ; Chapter Six: CSB links to Monuments and other Artefacts ; Chapter Seven: The Classification of Carved Stone Balls and a Revised Typology ; Chapter Eight: CSB Decoration and their Revised Classification/Typology ; Chapter Nine: Origin, skill, lifecycle, use and demise ; Chapter Ten: Conclusions and Future Research ; Coda ; Bibliography ; Appendix One (Online) Master Carved Stone Ball Database 2021 ; Appendix Two (Online) Introduction to Gazetteer ; Appendix Three: CSB Skill Assessment ; Appendix Four: Cast/Replica Carved Stone Balls

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Book SynopsisIreland has charmed visitors for centuries, and this collection of intricate illustrations is a celebration of its unique appeal. Featuring a range of picturesque vistas, from the historic villages of Adare and Claddagh to the bustling streets of Dublin and Belfast, each stunning scene is full of intriguing detail sure to fire the imagination and make you reach for your colouring pencils. There are absolutely no rules – you can choose any combination of colours you like to bring these wonderful images to life. Suitable for children. If you love Ireland, then you will love colouring it in!

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Book SynopsisAnthropogenic climate change has become a reality, and in Australia this means longer wildfire seasons with more intense fires across a wider area. The GunaiKurnai people of southeastern Victoria saw a large proportion of their Country decimated by the Gippsland Fires of ‘Black Summer’ (2019–2020), prompting questions about the management of Country and its heritage places and artefacts, and of the role that traditional (‘cultural’) burning could play. This volume, written at the request of the GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GKLaWAC), seeks to investigate these twin issues. Bringing together a multi-disciplinary team of Aboriginal Elders, archaeologists, environmental scientists, ecologists, historians and art historians, it considers the histories of GunaiKurnai and European settler burning-based landscape management practices, the impacts of fire on specific classes of cultural materials, and the broader impact of changing wildfire patterns on cultural sites in the landscape. This is a truly collaborative venture that sees GunaiKurnai and academic expertise brought to bear in the service of common and pressing issues.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction – Bruno David, Russell Mullett, Joanna Fresløv and the GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation ; PART 1. Background to Fires and Cultural Burning on GunaiKurnai Country ; Chapter 2. Wildfires: Characteristics, Drivers and Impacts on Cultural Sites – Grant Williamson and Jessie Buettel ; Chapter 3. Accounts and Memories of Landscape Burning Practices in Gippsland – Seumas Spark ; Chapter 4. Eugene von Guérard on GunaiKurnai Country 1860–1861: Reading the Story of Fire in his Depictions of the Landscape – Ruth Pullin ; Chapter 5. 20th and 21st Century Wildfires and Prescribed Burning in GunaiKurnai Country – Jessie Buettel, Bruno David and Stefania Ondei ; PART 2. The Distribution of Cultural Sites in GunaiKurnai Country, and How Fires Affect Cultural Materials ; Chapter 6. Cultural Sites in GunaiKurnai Country – Jessie Buettel, Russell Mullett, Jessie Birkett-Rees, Bruno David, Jean-Jacques Delannoy, Joanna Fresløv, Stefania Ondei, Robert Skelly and Jerome Mialanes ; Chapter 7. The Impacts of Fire on Stone Artefacts – Jerome Mialanes, Bruno David, Joanna Fresløv and Russell Mullett ; Chapter 8. The Impacts of Fires on Rock Art Sites and Ochre – Jillian Huntley and Courtney Webster ; Chapter 9. The Impact of Fires on Bone – Matthew McDowell ; Chapter 10. The Impacts of Fire on Culturally Modified Trees – Joanna Fresløv, Russell Mullett and Bruno David ; Chapter 11. Shells and Fire—Indicators and Effects – Katherine Szabó and Annette Oertle ; PART 3. Understanding the Impact of Fires on GunaiKurnai Cultural Heritage Sites: Past, Present and Future ; Chapter 12. Landscape Fires and Cultural Sites in GunaiKurnai Country – Jessie Buettel, Stefania Ondei, Bruno David, Joanna Fresløv and Russell Mullett ; Chapter 13. Archaeological Surveys in GunaiKurnai Country – Robert Skelly, Bruno David, Joanna Fresløv and Russell Mullett ; Chapter 14. Understanding the Distribution and Impacts of Wildfires in GunaiKurnai Country through Subregions – Jessie Buettel, Stefania Ondei, Bruno David, Joanna Fresløv and Russell Mullett ; Chapter 15. Conclusion – Russell Mullett, Katherine Szabó, Joanna Fresløv, Bruno David, Jessie Buettel, and the GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation ; References

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