History Books

Book SynopsisPeter Ackroyd is an award-winning historian, biographer, novelist, poet and broadcaster. He is the author of the acclaimed non-fiction bestsellers London: The Biography, Thames: Sacred River and London Under; biographies of figures including Charles Dickens, William Blake, Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock; and a multi-volume history of England. He has won the Whitbread Biography Award, the Royal Society of Literature's William Heinemann Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Guardian Fiction Prize, the Somerset Maugham Award and the South Bank Prize for Literature. He holds a CBE for services to literature.Trade ReviewAckroyd is a knowledgeable and evocative guide to London’s different archaeological levels * Times Higher Education Supplement *As ever his research is meticulous, his scope expansive, his writing definitive. Every sentence is delivered with judicial gravity and command...Once again, Ackroyd shares his vision of a mythical city most do not see -- Euan Ferguson * Time Out *While many authors have shone a flashlight on London's catacombs and tunnels, Ackroyd's vision is infra-red...skilled at connecting the past, present and future...For those looking for a highly readable introduction, plumb and depth to get a copy * Londonist *This book is not a straightforward history of London's relationship with the clay on which it stands but a poetic invoking of what Ackroyd perceives as the diabolic terror of the earth -- Claire Allfree * Metro *Other worlds lurk below London, and Ackroyd revels in them. The book is both an absorbing history of those parts of the capital that lie beneath our feet and a meditation on the meaning we give them * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisAlison Weir is one of Britain's top-selling historians. She is the author of numerous works of history and historical fiction, specialising in the medieval and Tudor periods. Her bestselling history books include The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Elizabeth of York and The Lost Tudor Princess. Her novels include Innocent Traitor, Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession. She is an Honorary Life Patron of Historic Royal Palaces and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. She lives and works in Surrey.Trade ReviewA thrilling and chilling story * Sunday Telegraph *At last we have the truth about Henry VIII's wives. This book is as reliable and scholarly as it is readable * Evening Standard *An entertaining account of Henry VIII's complicated domestic history. It is full of interesting detail - Alison Weir's treatment of this perennially fascinating subject is a beguiling one * London Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisAfter studying history at Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania, Jonathan Powell worked for the BBC and Granada TV before joining the Foreign Office in 1979. In 1994 Mr Blair, then Leader of the Opposition, poached him to join his`kitchen cabinet' as his Chief of Staff. When Labour achieved its landslide victory in 1997 Powell was at the heart of the Downing Street machine. He was the only senior member of staff to remain at Blair's side throughout his time at the top of British politics. He has always maintained a low profile and has never before told his story.Trade ReviewIntriguing and engaging book... sets up fascinating parallels that prove there is really nothing new in politics * Financial Times *A gloriously indiscreet political memoir... From a unique vantage point he gives brilliantly observed and witty accounts of the vanity of modern European princes... The merit of Powell's memoir is precisely that it lacks the intrusive ego of the big politician -- Dominic Lawson * Sunday Times *It's a quirky, thoughtful take on the impact of The Prince on modern politics -- Anne McElvoy * New Statesman, Books of the Year *Anyone who wants an insider's account of what makes politicians tick should read this book -- Peter Mandelson * Guardian, Books of the Year *It tells us a great deal about the era that has just passed -- Chris Mullin * Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisA new re-issue of the cult swimming classic, a beautiful read filled with detailed description and powerful prose.WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY AMY LIPTROTA luminously romantic history of swimming' GuardianHaunts of the Black Masseur is a dazzling introduction to the great swimming heroes, from Byron leaping into the surf at Shelley''s funeral to Hart Crane diving to his death in the Bay of Mexico. Bursting with anecdotes, Charles Sprawson leads us into a watery world populated by lithe demi-gods a world that has obsessed humans from the ancient Greeks and Romans, to Yeats, Woolf, Fitzgerald and Hockney. Original, enticing and dripping with references to literature, film, art and Olympic history, this cult swimming classic pays sparkling tribute to water and the cultural meanings we attach to it.This splendid and wholly original book is as zestful as a plunge in champagne' Iris MurdochTrade Review[Sprawson] has an ornate style of prose, apparently smooth, but rippling with wit and candour… Haunts of the Black Masseur was a delight when I read it first time round and 25 years on, it strikes me as even better -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *­Original and sparkling… A haunting, sensual, slippery read that will make you long for seaweed on your skin and sand between your toes. A must for swimmers -- Rebecca Wallersteiner * The Lady *A wholly original idea...a brilliant translation of a singular passion -- Alan Ross * Times Literary Supplement *A devoted and luminously romantic history of swimming * Guardian *An exhilarating plunge into some of the deepest pools inside our heads... Magnificently obsessive, this social and cultural history of swimming is the best book I read this year -- J G Ballard

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Book Synopsis***PRE-ORDER THE SPECIAL COLLECTOR''S EDITION OF PRECIPICE, THE THRILLING NEW NOVEL FROM ROBERT HARRIS, NOW. PUBLISHING AUGUST 2024, AVAILABLE ONLY WHILE STOCK LASTS AND EXCLUSIVE TO THE FIRST PRINT RUN***''Impossible to stop reading'' OBSERVER''Thrilling, intricate and hilarious'' DAILY MAILAPRIL 1945: From the ruins of Berlin, a Luftwaffe transport plane takes off carrying secret papers belonging to Adolf Hitler. Half an hour later, it crashes in flames.APRIL 1983: In a bank vault in Switzerland, a German magazine offers to sell more than 50 volumes of Hitler''s secret diaries. The asking price is $4 million.40 years from the alleged discovery, Robert Harris chronicles the gripping tale of one of the biggest frauds in history.''Brilliantly chronicled'' NEW STATESMAN''A masterly account'' LITERARY REVIEWTrade ReviewA stunning and compelling story of human folly, duplicity and wishful thinking. Brilliantly researched and narrated, Selling Hitler is as fascinating and as telling today as it was forty years ago -- William Boyd

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Book SynopsisThe Irish potato famine of the 1840s, perhaps the most appalling event of the Victorian era, killed over a million people and drove as many more to emigrate to America. It may not have been the result of deliberate government policy, yet British ‘obtuseness, short-sightedness and ignorance’ - and stubborn commitment to laissez-faire ‘solutions’ - largely caused the disaster and prevented any serious efforts to relieve suffering. The continuing impact on Anglo-Irish relations was incalculable, the immediate human cost almost inconceivable. In this vivid and disturbing book Cecil Woodham-Smith provides the definitive account. ‘A moving and terrible book. It combines great literary power with great learning. It explains much in modern Ireland - and in modern America’ D.W. Brogan.

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Book SynopsisTHE GREEN FLAG stands as the most comprehensive and illuminating history of Irish Nationalism yet published. For many years available as three separate volumes (THE MOST DISTRESSFUL COUNTRY, THE BOLD FENIAN MEN and OURSELVES ALONE), this outstanding history is now available as a single volume.Table of ContentsWho were Irishmen?; the first Irish Republicans; the Union; the tragedy of home rule; ourselves alone.

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Book SynopsisEdward Gibbon's six-volume History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88) is among the most magnificent and ambitious narratives in European literature. Its subject is the fate of one of the world's greatest civilizations over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars and society, and the events that led to its disastrous collapse. Here, in volumes one and two, Gibbon charts the vast extent and constitution of the Empire from the reign of Augustus to 395 ad. And in a controversial critique, he examines the early Church, with fascinating accounts of the first Christian and last pagan emperors, Constantine and Julian.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductio

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Book SynopsisPlutarch traces the fortunes of Athens through nine lives - from Theseus, its founder, to Lysander, its Spartan conqueror - in this seminal workWhat makes a leader? For Plutarch the answer lay not in great victories, but in moral strengths. In these nine biographies, taken from his Parallel Lives, Plutarch illustrates the rise and fall of Athens through nine lives, from the legendary days of Theseus, the city''s founder, through Solon, Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, Pericles, Nicias and Alcibiades, to the razing of its walls by Lysander. Plutarch ultimately held the weaknesses of its leaders responsible for the city''s fall. His work is invaluable for its imaginative reconstruction of the past, and profound insights into human life and achievement. This edition of Ian Scott-Kilvert''s seminal translation, fully revised with a new introduction and notes by John Marincola, now also contains Plutarch''s attack on the first historian, ''On the Malice of Herodotus'

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Book SynopsisA daring critique of communism and how it had gone wrong behind the Iron Curtain, Camus' essay examines the revolutions in France and Russia, and argues that since they were both guilty of producing tyranny and corruption, hope for the future lies only in revolt without revolution. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

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Book SynopsisReginald Jones was nothing less than a genius. And his appointment to the Intelligence Section of Britain''s Air Ministry in 1939 led to some of the most astonishing scientific and technological breakthroughs of the Second World War.In Most Secret War he details how Britain stealthily stole the war from under the Germans'' noses by outsmarting their intelligence at every turn. He tells of the ''battle of the beams''; detecting and defeating flying bombs; using chaff to confuse radar; and many other ingenious ideas and devices.Jones was the man with the plan to save Britain and his story makes for riveting reading.

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Book SynopsisNorman Davies was for many years a professor at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, London University. He is the author of the acclaimed Vanished Kingdoms and the number one bestseller Europe: A History. His previous books, which include Rising '44, The Isles: A History and God's Playground: A History of Poland, have been translated worldwide. He has researched at universities from Harvard to Hokkaido, and is a Fellow of the British Academy, an Honorary Fellow of St Antony's College, Oxford, and a visiting scholar at Pembroke College, Cambridge.

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill''s six-volume history of the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisA vivid and human glimpse into Europe''s borderlands as they emerged from Soviet rule - back in print after nearly 20 years''In this superb book, in which one senses the spirit of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz, the dramatic world of the Eastern borderlands comes to life'' Ryszard KapuscinskiAs Europe''s borderlands emerged from Soviet rule, Anne Applebaum travelled from the Baltic to the Black Sea, through Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and the Carpathian mountains. Rich in vivid characters and stories of tragedy and survival, Between East and West illuminates the soul of a place, and the secret history of its people. ''A beautifully written and thought-provoking account of a journey along Europe''s forgotten edge'' Timothy Garton Ash''A vivid and penetrating assessment of the lands between the Baltic and the Black Sea in all their drama and desolation . . . a wise and useful book'' Robert Conquest''Combines the excitement Trade ReviewIn this superb book, in which one senses the spirit of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz, the dramatic world of the Eastern borderlands comes to life -- Ryszard KapuscinskiA vivid and penetrating assessment of the lands between the Baltic and the Black Sea in all their drama and desolation . . . A wise and useful book -- Robert ConquestBetween East and West combines the excitement of a well-written and adventurous travelogue with sophisticated reportage about one of Europe's least-known regions -- Norman DaviesA beautifully written and thought-provoking account of a journey along Europe's forgotten edge -- Timothy Garton Ash

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Longman''s History Today Book of the Year Award and the inaugural Westminster Medal for Military Literature More than a century had gone by since the Battle of Trafalgar. Generation after generation of British naval captains had been dreaming ever since of a ''new'' Trafalgar - a cataclysmic encounter which would decisively change a war''s outcome. At last, in the summer of 1916, they thought their moment had come...Andrew Gordon''s extraordinary, gripping book brilliantly recreates the atmosphere of the British navy in the years leading up to Jutland and gives a superb account of the battle itself and its bitterly acrimonious aftermath.

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Book SynopsisKehinde Andrews is a crucial voice walking in a proud tradition of Black radical criticism and action AkalaAn uncompromising account of the roots of racism today Kimberlé Crenshaw This clear-eyed analysis insists upon the revolutionary acts of freedom we will need to break out of these systems of violence Ibram X. Kendi The New Age of Empire takes us back to the beginning of the European Empires, outlining the deliberate terror and suffering wrought during every stage of the expansion, and destroys the self-congratulatory myth that the West was founded on the three great revolutions of science, industry and politics. Instead, genocide, slavery and colonialism are the key foundation stones upon which the West was built, and we are still living under this system today: America is now at the helm, perpetuating global inequality through business, government, and institutions like the UN, the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO. The West is rich because the Rest is poor. Capitalism is racism. The West congratulations itself on raising poverty by increments in the developing world while ignoring the fact that it created these conditions in the first place, and continues to perpetuate them. The Enlightenment, which underlies every part of our foundational philosophy today, was and is profoundly racist. This colonial logic was and is used to justify the ransacking of Black and brown bodies and their land. The fashionable solutions offered by the white Left in recent years fall far short of even beginning to tackle the West''s place at the helm of a racist global order. Offering no easy answers, The New Age of Empire is essential reading to understand our profoundly corrupt global system. A work of essential clarity, The New Age of Empire is a groundbreaking new blueprint for taking Black Radical thought into the twenty-first century and beyond.Trade ReviewKehinde Andrews shines a light on the truth of our past and in doing so lights the way forward. Essential reading -- Owen JonesAn uncompromising account of the roots of racism today -- Kimberlé CrenshawSkillfully interweaving economics, politics, and history to debunk popular narratives of social progress, this searing takedown hits home * Publisher's Weekly *Kehinde Andrews is a crucial voice walking in a proud tradition of Black radical criticism and action -- AkalaThis book is a provocation. It is not meant to make us comfortable or inspired, but rather to remind us of the hard truth that the West was built on slavery, genocide, and colonialism-the bases of racial capitalism and modern empire. And as Kehinde Andrews argues, we are still living this imperial nightmare, still reaping the consequences of contemporary racialized violence and exploitation. The lesson: no freedom under racism, no future under capitalism, no justice without decolonization. -- Robin KelleyProfessor Andrews takes the reader on a journey, and it isn't a comfortable one. I challenge you to pick up this book and read it carefully, once that is done, I am sure the reader will be challenged, in thinking and hopefully actions moving forward. -- Dawn ButlerThis book is a radical, necessary indictment of the racist structures that produced the current anti-Black world order. Historically rigorous and deeply researched, Kehinde Andrews writes with lucidity about the global tactics of Western imperialism, centuries ago and at present. His clear-eyed analysis insists upon the revolutionary acts of freedom we will need to break out of these systems of violence -- Ibram X. KendiProfessor Andrews never misses. And this is a compelling account of European Empires and the cost of their plunder -- Nikesh ShuklaUncompromising and intelligent. Kehinde is taking the conversation deeper and further - exactly where it needs to go. -- Jeffrey BoakyeDestined to serve as a kind of primary text for a new generation of students of antiracism looking to get to grips with the violence of our imperial inheritance * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisHere is a brisk, accessible, and vivid introduction to arguably the most important event in the history of the United States--the American Revolution. Between 1760 and 1800, the American people cast off British rule to create a new nation and a radically new form of government based on the idea that people have the right to govern themselves. In this lively account, Robert Allison provides a cohesive synthesis of the military, diplomatic, political, social, and intellectual aspects of the Revolution, paying special attention to the Revolution''s causes and consequences. The book recreates the tumultuous events of the 1760s and 1770s that led to revolution, such as the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party, as well as the role the Sons of Liberty played in turning resistance into full-scale revolt. Allison explains how and why Americans changed their ideas of government and society so profoundly in these years and how the War for Independence was fought and won. He highlights the major battles and commanders on both sides--with a particular focus on George Washington and the extraordinary strategies he developed to defeat Britain''s superior forces--as well as the impact of French military support on the American cause. In the final chapter, Allison explores the aftermath of the American Revolution: how the newly independent states created governments based on the principles for which they had fought, and how those principles challenged their own institutions, such as slavery, in the new republic. He considers as well the Revolution''s legacy, the many ways its essential ideals influenced other struggles against oppressive power or colonial systems in France, Latin America, and Asia. Sharply written and highly readable, The American Revolution: A Very Short Introduction offers a concise introduction to this seminal event in American history.About the Series:Oxford''s Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects--from Islam to Sociology, Politics to Classics, Literary Theory to History, and Archaeology to the Bible. Not simply a textbook of definitions, each volume in this series provides trenchant and provocative--yet always balanced and complete--discussions of the central issues in a given discipline or field. Every Very Short Introduction gives a readable evolution of the subject in question, demonstrating how the subject has developed and how it has influenced society. Eventually, the series will encompass every major academic discipline, offering all students an accessible and abundant reference library. Whatever the area of study that one deems important or appealing, whatever the topic that fascinates the general reader, the Very Short Introductions series has a handy and affordable guide that will likely prove indispensable.Trade Review[Authors] have produced centuries of works on this subject, but non of the comprehensive descriptions are as surprisingly crisp as Robert J. Allison's version...Allison's organization of the book is excellent...Only outdone by his excellent organization is Allison's experience with this subject, which is qualitively displayed throughout the book...Allison is an effect writer, and has produced a summary that captures most prevailing historical accounts in good form. * Army History *Robert Allison's volume serves as an ideal introduction to the American Revolution. All the central events and participants come alive in this brisk narrative that illuminates the origins and meaning of the War for Independence."-Louis P. Masur, Trinity CollegeAnyone looking for a compact, highly conceptualized, readable history of the American Revolution and its aftermath needs to look no further than The American Revolution: A Concise History. I would never have imagined that so big a picture could be conveyed in so few words, but Bob Allison has done it. That he has accomplished this feat without losing the voices and the character of individual people is an amazement indeed. A fine book."-Fred Anderson, University of Colorado, BoulderThis highly readable account is ideal for general readers and can also be utilized for college survey courses in U.S. history." - BooklistA scholar has to master a lot of material to present it so concisely and authoritatively, and Allison's book is one of the best places to get a reliable introduction to the Revolution and the Constitution." -Thomas S. Kidd, Books and Culture[Authors] have produced centuries of works on this subject, but non of the comprehensive descriptions are as surprisingly crisp as Robert J. Allison's version...Allison's organization of the book is excellent...Only outdone by his excellent organization is Allison's experience with this subject, which is qualitively displayed throughout the book...Allison is an effect writer, and has produced a summary that captures most prevailing historical accounts in good form. * Army History *Robert Allison's volume serves as an ideal introduction to the American Revolution. All the central events and participants come alive in this brisk narrative that illuminates the origins and meaning of the War for Independence."-Louis P. Masur, Trinity CollegeAnyone looking for a compact, highly conceptualized, readable history of the American Revolution and its aftermath needs to look no further than The American Revolution: A Concise History. I would never have imagined that so big a picture could be conveyed in so few words, but Bob Allison has done it. That he has accomplished this feat without losing the voices and the character of individual people is an amazement indeed. A fine book."-Fred Anderson, University of Colorado, BoulderThis highly readable account is ideal for general readers and can also be utilized for college survey courses in U.S. history." - BooklistA scholar has to master a lot of material to present it so concisely and authoritatively, and Allison's book is one of the best places to get a reliable introduction to the Revolution and the Constitution." -Thomas S. Kidd, Books and CultureTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ; Chronology of the American Revolution ; Preface ; Ch 1 The Revolution's origins ; Ch 2 Rebellion in the Colonies ; Ch 3 Independence ; Ch 4 War for independence ; Ch 5 Was America Different? ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisApproved by AQA and tailored to the latest specification, International Relations and Global Conflict c1890-1941 helps students understand a period in which political ambitions and rivalries between nations plunged the world into major wars.It explores:- nationalism- militarism- the balance of powerEvents and developments are covered with precision.Focus on skills building and exam practiceKey features are:- Source-Based Learning. Includes a wide range of sources and extracts to develop vital skills in historical interpretation and source analysis- Exam Practice. Features exam-style questions and study tips to help students prepare and performPerfect for any student studying AQA AS or A Level History, this book helps students achieve success in International Relations and Global Conflict c1890-1941.

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Book SynopsisThis The Making of Modern Britain 1951-2007 Revision Guide is part of the bestselling Oxford AQA History for A Level series. Written to match the new AQA specification, this series helps you deepen your historical knowledge and develop vital analytical and evaluation skills. This revision guide offers the clearly structured revision approach of Recap, Apply, and Review to prepare you for exam success. Step-by-step exam practice strategies for all AQA question types are provided (including Source Analysis and essays linked to Key Concepts), as well as well-researched, targeted guidance based on what we now know from the new AQA examiner''s reports on Modern Britain. Our original author team is back, offering expert advice, AS and A Level exam-style questions and Examiner Tips. Contents checklists help monitor revision progress; example student answers and suggested activity answers help you review your own work. This guide is perfect for use alongside the Student Books or as a stand-alo

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Book Synopsis''I envy no body but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do.''A unique celebration of the English countryside and the most famous book on angling ever published, Walton''s Compleat Angler first appeared in 1653. In 1676, at Walton''s invitation, his friend Charles Cotton contributed his pioneering exploration of fly-fishing. The book is both a manual of instruction and a vision of society in harmony with nature. It guides the novice fisherman on how to catch and cook a variety of fish, on how to select and prepare the best bait and make artificial flies, and on the habits of freshwater fish. It also promotes angling as a communal activity in which the bonds of friendship are forged through shared experience of the natural world.Anecdotes, poetry, music, and song intersperse the rural descriptions, which promote conservation as well as sport. This new edition highlights the book''s continuing relevance to our relationship with the environment, and explores the turbulent history from which it came.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review'infused throughout with good fun and good sense' * Simon Redfern, The Independent *'a fascinating snapshot of 17th-century England...far more of a page turner than I ever dared hope' * Trout Fisherman *'splendid introduction' * Land and Business *Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography A Chronology of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton Maps THE COMPLEAT ANGLER, PART I, by Izaak Walton THE COMPLEAT ANGLER, Part II, by Charles Cotton Explanatory Notes Glossary of Angling Terms

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) was one of the major intellectual figures of the twentieth century. Born in Konigsberg to secular Jewish parents, she was a student of the two major exponents of Existenz philosophy in Germany, Karl Jaspers and Martin Heidegger. Arendt escaped Nazi Germany in 1933, traveling first to Paris and then in 1940 to the United States, where she gained citizenship in 1951. As director of the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction she oversaw the collection and presentation of over 1.5 million articles of Judaica and Hebraica that had been hidden from or looted by the Nazis.This Very Short Introduction explores the philosophical ideas and political theories belonging to one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. As a survivor of the Holocaust, Arendt''s life informed her work exploring the meaning and construction of power, evil, totalitarianism, and direct democracy. Through insightful readings of Arendt''s best-known works, from The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) to The Life of the Mind (1978), Dana Villa traces the importance of Arendt''s ideas for today''s reader. In so doing, Villa explains how Arendt gained world-wide fame with the publication of Origins, and went on to have a distinguished career as a political theorist and public intellectual. A sometimes controversial figure, Arendt is now recognised as one of the most important political thinkers of the twentieth century and her works have become an acknowledged part of the Western canon of political theory and philosophy.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: Life and work 2: The nature and roots of totalitarianism 3: Political freedom, the public realm, and the Vita Activa 4: Revolution, constitution, and the 'Social Question' 5: Judgement, thinking, and willing Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringThe Arctic is demanding global attention. It is warming, melting, and thawing in a manner that threatens fundamental state-change. For communities that call the Arctic ''home'' this is unwelcome. A warming Arctic brings with it the spectre of costly disruption and interference in indigenous lives and communal welfare. For others, the disappearance of sea ice makes the Arctic appear more accessible and less remote. This also brings with it dangers such as the prospect of a new era of great power rivalries involving China, Russia, and the United States. Submarine and long-range bomber patrolling are now commonplace. New terms such as ''global Arctic'' are being used to capture the dynamic of change while others muse about the ''return of a Cold War''.The reality is inevitably more complex. The physical geography of the Arctic is highly varied and variable. Environmental change brings opportunities for indigenous and non-indigenous life-forms to survive and even thrive. The Arctic''s four million people are not helpless pawns in a game of global geopolitics. The Arctic is not only a resource hotspot but also a place where sustainable energy systems are being introduced. A warming Arctic with less ice and permafrost is not unique in the longer history of the Earth either. The Arctic is a complex space. In this Very Short Introduction, Klaus Dodds and Jamie Woodward consider the major dimensions of the region and the linkages beyond - from the geopolitical to the environmental. They examine the causes, drivers, and effects of cultural, physical, political, and economic change, and ponder the future of the Arctic. As they show, it is a future which will affect us all.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewThis book is an excellent introduction to the region and will appeal to almost every geographer. * Robert A. Francis, Progress in Physical Geography (2022) *This book will be of significant use to students and publics new to the Arctic. The authors have achieved exactly what is suggested by the title: a short but detailed introduction to the Arctic. Accessible and concise but comprehensive, tackling both physical and human Arctic worlds, The Arctic is a strong and necessary addition to the Very Short Introduction series. * Alice Oats, The Polar Journal *Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Arctic world Chapter 2: The physical environment Chapter 3: Arctic ecosystems Chapter 4: Peoples of the Arctic Chapter 5: Exploration and exploitation Chapter 6: Arctic governance Chapter 7: The Arctic carbon vault Chapter 8: Arctic futures

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the extraordinary story of Jewish POWs in German captivity during the Second World War - extraordinary because of the contrast between Germany''s genocidal policy towards Jews on one hand, and its relatively non-discriminatory treatment of Jewish POWs from western countries on the other. The radicalisation of Germany''s anti-Semitic policies entered its last phase in June 1941 with the invasion of the Soviet Union; during the following four years, nearly six million Jews were murdered. In parallel, Germany''s POW policies had gone through a radicalisation process of their own, resulting in the murder of millions of Soviet POWs, of Allied commando soldiers, and of POW escapees, with Adolf Hitler eventually transferring in July 1944 the responsibility for POWs from the Wehrmacht to Heinrich Himmler, in his role as head of the Replacement Army. And yet, despite all this, Jewish POWs from western countries were usually not discriminated against and were treated, in most cases, according to the 1929 Geneva Convention. Jewish Soldiers in Nazi Captivity combines memoirs, letters, and oral histories with Red Cross camp visit reports and other archival material to challenge the accepted view of the Holocaust as an indiscriminate murder of all Jews in Europe and will help to reshape our understanding of the Holocaust and of Nazi Germany.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: American and British Jewish POWs in German POW Camps 2: Being a Jewish Soldier in Nazi Captivity 3: Segregation of American and British Jewish POWs 4: Why Were They Kept Alive? Explaining the Nazi Treatment of Jewish POWs Conclusion Appendix A - Sample of POW commanders and camp commandants

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Goodman tells a very personal tale of nine years spent in the American criminal justice system, through travesties and victories, large and small. . . . From his first encounter with a client to the moments when some clients received their guilty verdict from a jury and were escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs, Goodman skillfully weaves a true tale of insightful advocacy and compelling conclusions. . . . He draws us in to the sights, sounds, and smells of the criminal legal system, forcing us to experience it with him because otherwise we might prefer to avoid it and thus avoid questioning its presumptions.” * Los Angeles Review of Books *“[An] important work of pulling the curtain back on the immense value of often-maligned public defenders.” * Booklist *“As the title of Goodman’s sobering book graphically conveys, public defenders often feel that everyone’s against us. While offering a firsthand view of the endemic corruption, racism, and wholesale injustice regularly practiced by police, prosecutors, and judges in criminal courts, Goodman sets the record straight and captures the true essence of the many dedicated public defenders across this country who are, as he writes, ‘overworked, underpaid, and vastly underappreciated guardians of liberty on behalf of those who need it most.’" -- Flint Taylor, The People’s Law Office, author of 'The Torture Machine: Racism and Police Violence in Chicago'“In Everyone against Us, Goodman offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a public defender in one of the nation’s largest criminal court systems. The result is a gripping and often heartbreaking memoir about one lawyer’s journey to find meaning and justice despite the odds against him.” -- Kevin Davis, author of 'Defending the Damned: Inside a Dark Corner of the Criminal Justice System'“Goodman’s fast-paced introduction to the harsh, unbalanced world of criminal justice leads readers from the dungeons of a big-city lockup through soul-jarring crime-scene investigations into the colorless chambers where the fates of the accused get decided. While weighing defenders’ and prosecutors’ roles, ideals, and actual practices, Everyone against Us reads like an on-the-job legal drama.” -- Mara Leveritt, author of 'Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three'Table of ContentsPreface I. Jail Rules II. Investigations III. Redemption IV. Trials V. DNA VI. Plea Deals VII. Chiraq VIII. Domestic Violence IX. Drugs X. Death XI. Regrets Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisChina’s dismantling of the Mao-era commune system under Deng Xiaoping has been seen as a successful turn away from a misguided social experiment. Joshua Eisenman marshals previously inaccessible data to overturn this narrative, showing that the commune modernized agriculture, increased productivity, and laid the foundation for future rapid growth.Trade ReviewIn this thought-provoking volume, Eisenman offers a unique analysis of China's most important local institution in Mao's time: the people's commune. * Choice *Mr. Eisenman calls for readers to look anew at one of the darker periods of human history. It's a worthy intellectual exercise and a useful check on lazy approaches to China's modern history. * Wall Street Journal *Joshua Eisenman brings a refreshing perspective to the field because his book challenges the mainstream evaluation – both inside and outside China – of the era of Mao Zedong. -- Mobo Gao * China Information *The book is well researched, drawing on careful readings of government documents, newspapers and other materials from the period. -- Li Zhang * Journal of Asian Studies *Incredibly well-researched . . . Red China’s Green Revolution is a fascinating book. -- Fabio Lanza * Asia Maior *This book is unquestionably well-researched. -- Brian DeMare * Journal of Chinese History *Exceptionally written. -- John A. Donaldson * Journal of Chinese Political Science *Red China’s Green Revolution is a great book. It develops an innovative and contrarian interpretation of China’s rural communes, describing a technological revolution that occurred in China’s countryside in the 1970s. What makes this book truly outstanding is that Eisenman provides new perspectives on the importance of commune organization and incentive structures, as well as a reassessment of what Maoism meant in the lives of ordinary rural people. One after another, he drags into the sunshine topics that have been overshadowed in recent years by over-simplification and myth-making. The book concludes with a compelling new narrative of elite politics in the late 1970s that explains why the commune was ultimately abolished. -- Barry Naughton, Sokwanlok Chair of Chinese International Affairs, University of California, San DiegoThis is a truly important book. Eisenman shows how the People’s Communes created contemporary China, both through what they built and through what they destroyed. His work is of enormous significance for anyone trying to understand China’s road from revolution to reform. -- Odd Arne Westad, S. T. Lee Professor of U.S.-Asia Relations, Harvard UniversityRed China’s Green Revolution revolutionizes our understanding of the Maoist period and history's biggest experiment with collective agriculture. It challenges the widely held view that the commune was a failure that required privatization, and thus calls into question the very basis by which structural reforms have been legitimated and propagated to shape economic development, not just in China, but around the globe. Everyone who studies contemporary China—and, indeed, the entire neo-liberal project—must confront this book. -- Marc Blecher, James Monroe Professor of Politics and East Asian Studies, Oberlin CollegeRed China’s Green Revolution totally remakes our understanding of Chinese economic development on the eve of Deng Xiaoping’s reforms. This carefully documented study shows that rather than being a total failure on the verge of collapse, the commune system introduced under Mao actually resulted in considerable increases in agricultural productivity, which provided a positive foundation for Deng’s economic reforms. Joshua Eisenman opens the way for an important reconsideration of how political motivations, rather than economic concerns, were a main driver behind Deng’s reforms. -- Edward A. McCord, George Washington UniversityJoshua Eisenman questions the conventional wisdom that China’s communes, which were failing institutions in the Great Leap Forward of 1958, continued to be so. Eisenman offers hard data to refute the conventional, quasi-official story that before 1978 China’s rural economy was in dire straits, requiring neoliberal efficiencies to fix it. -- Lynn T. White, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsList of Figures and IllustrationForeword, by Lynn T. White IIIPrologue: China’s Missing Institution1. Introduction: Assessing Commune Productivity Part I: Creating China’s Green Revolution2. Institutional Origins & Evolution 3. China’s Green Revolution Part II: Sources of Commune Productivity 4. Economics: Super-Optimal Investment 5. Politics: Maoism 6. Organization: Size and Structure 7. Burying the Commune 8. Conclusion Appendix A. Essential Official Agricultural Policy Statements on the Commune, 1958–1983Appendix B. National and Provincial Agricultural Production Data, 1949–1979Appendix C. Essential Official Agricultural Policy Statements on the Commune, 1958–1983NotesBibliography

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Book SynopsisFollow the epic 5,000-year story of warfare - from the earliest battles to the War on Terror - with this guided tour of every major conflict.Combining a clear and compelling historical narrative with a wealth of fascinating eyewitness accounts and photography throughout, this is the ultimate guide to the history of military conflict, from the armies of ancient Egypt to the rise of Isis in Syria and Iraq, and the ongoing Yemeni civil war.War explores the battles, the warriors, the tactics, and the weapons and technology that have shaped conflict worldwide. Lavishly illustrated with paintings, photographs, artefacts, and maps, this book offers a uniquely detailed and visually rich view of all major aspects of human conflict. Whether on the bloody battlefields of the ancient world or in the modern era of drones and laser-guided missiles, this is the complete story of the wars that have shaped our world.

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Book Synopsis''The master at his peak'' Daily TelegraphA Russian scientist is defecting to the West, in order to realize his dreams of contacting extra-terrestrial life among the stars. But when an insubordinate British agent and a top CIA operative are sent to the Sahara desert to bring him in, things don''t go to plan. The result is a violent chase stretching across three continents, where loyalties - between spies, partners, nations and lovers - become fatally divided.''Classic, world-ranging, marvellously knowledgeable ... in a word, quality'' The Times''Tightly and complicatedly plotted, so credible in detail'' Financial TimesA PATRICK ARMSTRONG NOVELTrade ReviewThe master at his peak. * Daily Telegraph *Classic, world-ranging, marvellously knowledgeable ... in a word, quality. * The Times *For sheer readability he has no peer. * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisA quest for belonging through the forsaken landscapes of BritainWhen Steven Lovatt's grandmother died, he lost not only a beloved family member but also his last link to the way of life she had represented: rooted in place, socially democratic, ecologically rich. Cut loose from the past and confronted with a present missing even the birds of his childhood, Steven's mind cracked. Drawing on field work, local library archives and oral history, as well as dreams, diaries and visions, Enchanted Ground charts a fractured course from breakdown to belonging. For if he is to survive, Steven realises he must set out, like a pilgrim, across the motorways and monoculture wastes of Britain in search of enchanted ground and those who have begun to rebuild it.

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Book SynopsisGo behind the scenes of the most shocking, hilarious, controversial genre of entertainment: reality television.Reality TV''s influence is seismic: twenty-five years ago, the concept didn''t exist. Yet today, it is one of the most powerful cultural forces on earth; a multi-billion-dollar machine. Despite that, it is often derided as trash; a cultural McDonalds not worthy of examination. The truth is that reality TV offers a profound insight into who we are as human beings, questioning the very nature of what we deem to be entertaining.Writer, broadcaster and reality TV-obsessive Jacques Peretti goes behind the scenes of a world that has entranced and consumed him for two decades. Meeting with people at every level of the reality TV machine, from those responsible for coming up with ever-more extreme formats, to the contestants and participants at the heart of some of the most iconic moments in television, who felt that their lives and their vulnerabilities were

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Book SynopsisThe defining experience of Chinua Achebe''s life was the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran War. For more than forty years Achebe was silent on those terrible years, until he produced this towering reckoning with one of modern Africa''s most fateful events. A marriage of history, remembrance, poetry and vivid first-hand observation, There Was a Country is a work of wisdom and compassion from one of the great voices of our age.Trade ReviewIt has the tense narrative grip of the best fiction. It is also a revelatory entry into the intimate character of the writer's brilliant mind and bold spirit. Achebe has created here a new genre of literature -- Nadine GordimerEngrossing ... an elegy from a master storyteller who has witnessed the undulating fortunes of a nation ... his strongest expressions are his poems, scattered between chapters, offering affecting interludes -- Noo Saro-Wiwa * Guardian *Matchless ... what a man; what a life -- Giles Foden * Daily Telegraph *Part-history, part-memoir, [Achebe's] moving account of the war is laced with anger, but there is also an abiding tone of regret for what Nigeria might have been without conflict and mismanagement * Sunday Times *A blend of historical overview, personal memoir and political manifesto ... fascinating * Evening Standard *

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Book SynopsisFrom the best-selling author of The Circle - the gripping true story of a young Yemeni American man, raised in San Francisco, who dreams of resurrecting the ancient art of Yemeni coffee but finds himself trapped in Sana''a by civil warMokhtar Alkhanshali is twenty-four and working as a doorman when he becomes fascinated with the rich history of coffee and Yemen''s central place in it. He leaves San Francisco and travels deep into his ancestral home to tour terraced farms high in the country''s rugged mountains. He collects samples and organizes farmers and is on the verge of success when civil war engulfs the country. Saudi bombs rain down, the U.S. embassy closes, and Mokhtar has to find a way out of Yemen with only his hopes on his back.The Monk of Mokha is the story of this courageous and visionary young man following the most American of dreams.''Extraordinary... No story is more urgent'' Observer''Dramatic, aspiTrade ReviewReaders will never take coffee for granted or overlook the struggles of Yemen after ingesting Eggers's phenomenally well-written, juggernaut tale of an intrepid and irresistible entrepreneur on a complex and meaningful mission, a highly caffeinated adventure story * Booklist *A most improbable and uplifting success story... Eggers offers an appealing hybrid: a biography of a charming, industrious Muslim man who has more ambition than direction; a capsule history of coffee and its origins, growth, and development as a mass commodity and then as a niche product; the story of Blue Bottle, the elite coffee chain in San Francisco that some suspect (and some fear) could turn into the next Starbucks; an adventure story of civil war in a foreign country... It is hard to resist the derring-do of the Horatio Alger of Yemenite coffee * Kirkus *The remarkable true story of a Yemeni coffee farmer... A vibrant depiction of courage and passion, interwoven with a detailed history of Yemeni coffee and a timely exploration of Muslim American identity * Entertainment Weekly *Works as both a heart-warming success story with a winning central character and an account of real-life adventures that read with the vividness of fiction * Publishers Weekly *It'll open your eyes - very wide - to the singular origins of your single origin * Esquire (UK) *Definitely one for book club * Elle (UK) *Eggers's narrative is guaranteed to be every bit as compelling as that of any novel * The Observer *Dave Eggers returns to his "factional" mode with The Monk Of Mokha, in which a Yemeni immigrant to the US discovers an obsession with coffee, returns home, and is caught in a war. Given his previous form with What Is The What and Zeitoun I have high hopes of this book * The Scostman *This is a book that celebrates ethnic diversity and the exuberance of the human spirit * Mail on Sunday *[Dave Eggers] is on a mission to use the platform he has created as a writer/activist to give direct voice to the marginalised or unheard... No story is more urgent * Observer *Bridgemakers such as Mokhtar courageously embody America's reason for being - as a place of radical opportunity and ceaseless welcome... a blended people united not by stasis and cowardice and fear, but by irrational exuberance, by global enterprise on a human scale * The Guardian *It's hard to imagine ALkhanshali's story being told with more pace, scope or sensitivity. An extraordinary adventure * The Times *Mokhtar's story is a remarkable one, full of derring-do, tenacity and exceptional luck * Metro *It is impossible not to root for Mokhtar. And as with all good bildungsromans, it is as much the reader as the hero who receives an education * The Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisA spirited and thought-provoking history of the vast changes that transformed Europe during the 1,000-year span of the Middle AgesTrade Review"A dazzling race through a complex millennium."—Publishers Weekly"A timely consideration of an oft-considered subject . . . Wickham has managed to produce a volume which combines brevity with deep learning, compelling argument and an authoritative and even-handed tone."—Katherine Harvey, TLS"This bold, sweeping narrative covers the entire sweep of European history between the years 400-1500, focusing on important changes century by century, accompanied by illuminating vignettes which underscore how shifting events affected individual lives."—Bookseller"Medieval Europe is a remarkably detailed and readable book, and, at only 250 pages in length it is, unlike the Middle Ages, both brief and clear."—Dominic Green, Minerva"Writing with great wit, style and clarity, Chris Wickham presents to us a powerful account of the middle ages as a period of considerable dynamism and massive change. Emperors, popes, theologians, knights and mystics are found herein, but so too are cities, peasants, merchants, and the material experiences of the many and not just the few. Above all else, Wickham shows us the economic and structural bones beneath the skin. This is the middle ages that the twenty-first century needs to know about – not the gaudy antithesis of 'modernity' but the centuries of human toil, ingenuity and compromise in which real people made choices, albeit not in circumstances of their own choosing."—John Arnold, Professor of Medieval History, University of Cambridge"Medieval Europe is a model of clarity and accessibility, the superlative answer to a challenge taken up by an eminent and wide-ranging historian: to interpret the history of a millennium in 250 pages. This yields a sense of intellectual adventure that remains compelling throughout, as Chris Wickham engages his readers in his arguments, choices and interpretations, and keeps them on their toes."—Mayke de Jong, Utrecht University"This is tremendously good. Chris Wickham has an outstandingly keen and understanding eye for the diversities of life across a broadly-framed Europe, and for changes over time. Impressive geographic reach is combined with nuance, and a keen sense of the particularities of different historical landscapes. The author continually makes illuminating connections and comparisons, and does not flinch from offering clear judgments or nailing his own colours to the mast. Indeed, he has a consistently refreshing ability to get the reader away from predictable or ingrained ways of thinking about and judging things."—Len Scales, University of Durham"Fascinating, judicious, authoritative: by far the best single book about the Middle Ages. I wish this had been around earlier in my teaching career. Perhaps Wickham's most unusual accomplishment is that this survey never seems hurried. Without apparent strain, details and examples of historical trends are related to grand themes and changes."—Paul Freedman, author of Out of the East: Spices and the Medieval Imagination

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Book SynopsisAn optimistic exploration of how, through radical economic reform, the United Kingdom can prosper and flourish in the new global economyTrade Review“A rollicking (and highly readable) account of Britain’s remaining and undersung strengths in high technology, financial services, universities, pharmaceuticals and the creative industries”—Will Hutton, The Guardian ‘Book of the Day’ “A clearly argued case...There are many good ideas here and food for thought for politicians.”—Jonathan Portes, Financial World “In a wide-ranging and upbeat analysis, Alex Brummer paints an ambitious outlook for the UK.”—Christine Shields, 'Reading Room' for The Society of Professional Economists "Brummer provides an inspiring list of reasons to be optimistic about British business."—John Kay, co-author of Radical Uncertainty "Thank goodness for Alex Brummer, someone who closely follows what is happening in the bowels of British business and brings back a mainly uplifting account of the dynamic and innovative core that will see the country prospering in the post-Brexit era."—David Goodhart, author of Head, Hand, Heart "Alex Brummer’s powerful vision of a positive post-Brexit UK future is heartening – but as he himself acknowledges, it depends on singlemindedly protecting, building on and enhancing current strengths. I hope for all our sakes that this can indeed be done."—Vicky Pryce, former Joint Head, UK Government Economic Service

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Book SynopsisA thought-provoking exploration of the loss of civilizations and communities, offering compelling stories of abandoned places, the important events and fascinating characters that punctuate their history, and lessons we can learn from them today Trade Review“Timely, powerful and electrifying. This is a huge exploration of our diverse histories. The story of how we try to carve out societies in a world where they are all predisposed to collapse. This is history and archaeology for now.”—Dan Snow, historian and broadcaster​“John Darlington takes us on an exhilarating and erudite encounter with ancient and lost peoples and places.”—Loyd Grossman, author of An Elephant in Rome​“With an expert archaeological eye, John Darlington reveals the very human stories behind awe-inspiring ruins around the world. Ambitious in scope and profound in its conclusions, it charts the changing fortunes of past civilisations and confronts the reality of the future of our own.”—Bettany Hughes, author of Istanbul

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Book SynopsisHow two men brought about the defeat of Louis XIV's previously unbeaten army and saved Europe from French domination - A Sunday Times Bestseller

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Book Synopsis'Among contemporary historians... Barbara Tuchman stands supreme' - The TimesTrade ReviewA Tuchman book always teems with colourful characters... observed with a relentless and unforgiving gaze... and what an eye for detail and flair for language she possesses! London Review of Books Admirers of her earlier works will find Barbara Tuchman's familiar virtues on display. She is lucid, painstaking and highly intelligent. She is also highly expert. Sunday Times Few historians, if any, write as well as Barbara Tuchman -- J.H. Plumb

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Book SynopsisThe history of nations is a history of haves and have-nots, and as we approach the millennium, the gap between rich and poor countries is widening. In this engrossing and important new work, eminent historian David Landes explores the complex, fascinating and often startling causes of the wealth and poverty of nations. The answers are found not only in the large forces at work in economies: geography, religion, the broad swings of politics, but also in the small surprising details. In Europe, the invention of spectacles doubled the working life of skilled craftsmen, and played a prominent role in the creation of articulated machines, and in China, the failure to adopt the clock fundamentally hindered economic development.The relief of poverty is vital to the survival of us all. As David Landes brilliantly shows, the key to future success lies in understanding the lessons the past has to teach us - lessons uniquely imparted in this groundbreaking and vital book which exemTrade ReviewA masterpiece * Norman Stone *One of the most important works of history to appear in my lifetime * A N Wilson *For once, amazingly, a book lives up to the hype ... a blast of fresh air, a work of militant good sense * EVENING STANDARD *Gripping ... well worth reading * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisThis book is the culmination of 15 years of research and travels that have taken the author completely around the world twice, as well as on other travels in the Mediterranean, the Baltic, and around the Pacific rim. Its purpose has been to try to understand the role of cultural differences within nations and between nations, today and over centuries of history, in shaping the economic and social fates of peoples and of whole civilizations. Focusing on four major cultural areas(that of the British, the Africans (including the African diaspora), the Slavs of Eastern Europe, and the indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere, Conquests and Cultures reveals patterns that encompass not only these peoples but others and help explain the role of cultural evolution in economic, social, and political development.Table of Contents* Conquests and Cultures * The British * The Africans * The Slavs * Western Hemisphere Indians * An Overview

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Book SynopsisA fascinating tour of cities that have been lost to history, from the Neolithic period up to the late Roman Empire, that offers a fresh new perspective on the roots of urban life. The ruins of ancient Athens, Luxor and Rome are familiar cornerstones of world history, visited by travellers from across the globe. But what about the cities that have dropped off the map that have been submerged under water, or swallowed up by the sands of time? Where are they, and what can they tell us about our past? In this compendium of forgotten cities, Philip Matyszak explores the trials, tribulations and triumphs they faced, revealing how people have embarked on the shared endeavour of living together since we first settled down 12,000 years ago. Illustrated throughout with important artefacts, ruins and maps, Lost Cities of the Ancient World brings to life the sites and settlements across Europe, the Middle East and beyond that time forgot, from the sunken city of Ropotamo in the Black Sea Table of ContentsIntroduction: Ghosts of the Past The Oldest Cities 1. Çatalhöyük 2. Skara Brae 3. Akkad 4. Pavlopetri 5. Zoar 6. Hattusa 7. Mardaman 8. Thebes 9. Phaistos From Troy to Rome 10. Troy 11. Thonis 12. Mycenae 13. Seleucia-on-the-Tigris 14. Sybaris 15. Plataea 16. Taxila 17. Tigranocerta 18. Persepolis 19. Numantia Across the Roman Empire 20. Glanum 21. Falerii Novi 22. Cyrene 23. Tipasa 24. Baiae 25. Volubilis 26. Stabiae 27. Maiden Castle 28. Timgad 29. Antinopolis The Empire’s Edge and Beyond 30. Palmyra 31. Waldgirmes 32. Sarmizegetusa Regia 33. Gerasa 34. Venta Silurum 35. Dura-Europos 36. Beta Samati 37. Derinkuyu Epilogue

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Book SynopsisA unique combination of travel guide and popular history that takes the reader on a vivid journey to the Rome of the Caesars.Trade Review'An excellent introduction to Roman life' - Times Literary Supplement'The ultimate in-joke book for classicist travellers' - Sunday Times'Brings the ancient city back to life' - Mail on Sunday'Altogether rather a magical book' - Minerva'A skilful combination of light-hearted fun and impressive research, you’ll find yourself entertained and educated at the same time' - Family Tree'Great to dip in and out' - Of Beauty and Nothingness'Ingenious … good fun!' - This EnglandTable of Contents1. Getting There: Puteoli, Hitting the Road • 2. The Environs of Rome:Villas, Aqueducts, Necropolises, The Pomerium, Walls and Gates • 3. Settling In – Where to Stay: The Seven Hills, Types of Accommodation, Sanitary Facilities, Medical Emergencies, What to Wear, Food) • 4. Out and About: Dining Out, Meeting People, Roman Names, The Social Order, Slaves, Family • 5. Shopping: Where to Shop, Changing Money, What to Buy, Aediles • 6. Law and Order: Praetorians, Urban Cohorts, Vigiles, Law Courts, Prison, Punishment • 7. Entertainment: Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Theatre, Brothels • 8. Religion: Temples to Visit, Religious Festivals • 9. Must-See Sites: The Forum of the Romans, The Arch of Titus, The Imperial Forums, The Forum of Augustus, Later Forums, Triumphal Columns, The Tomb of St Peter, The Baths • 10. Roman Walks: The Palatine, Along the Tiber, The Campus Martius

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate book on King Tut and his tomb--the most exciting archaeological find the world has ever known--now in a compact editionTrade Review'Unpack the treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb as spread after glittering spread unfurls in this sumptuous book' - The Times'The ultimate book on the boy king … breathtaking' - Daily Express'Rich, lavish, insightful … five stars' - All About History'Majestic … the book leaves the reader awe-stricken at the sophistication of ancient Egyptian civilisation, both culturally and creatively' - The Lady'This must be one of the most sumptuous and gorgeous books to ever have been produced on Tutankhamun … filled with outstanding photographs and illustrations' - Timeless Travels'The quality of the photographs is second to none … Quite extraordinary to be in the presence of such an account of one of the most remarkable treasure troves of the ancient world. Breathtaking' - Books Monthly Reviews'A book that writers, artists, historians, and dreamers will find not just invaluable – inspirational' - Film JuiceTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Adventures of Howard Carter and Zahi Hawass • The Stairway and Entrance Corridor • The Antechamber • The Burial Chamber • The Treasury • The Annexe • Conclusion

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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