History Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of BookAuthority’s Three Best New Robotics Audiobooks To Read in 2019"

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe book is a very valuable contribution… Highly recommended. -- Carol Joyce Blumberg * International Statistical Review *A well-written and thoughtful reflection on the doing of causal inference from one of causal inference’s noted experts. -- Jameson A. Quinn and Luke W. Miratrix * Journal of the American Statistical Association *The author’s voice is an important element in the book’s success. Rosenbaum is consistently clear and direct, and seems at times to be speaking directly to the reader. His excellent set of examples (twenty-five of them altogether) bring the more theoretical discussions to life. -- William J. Satzer * MAA Reviews *A treasure trove of considerations and strategies for making causal inferences from observational studies and experiments. The book is a joy to read and contains interesting material for readers at all levels of experience with causal inference. -- Dylan S. Small * Observational Studies *Rosenbaum is a gifted expositor, and as a result, this book is an outstanding introduction to the topic for anyone who is interested in understanding the basic ideas and approaches to causal inference. -- Joel B. Greenhouse and Edward H. Kennedy * Psychometrika *A researcher seeking instruction in the sophisticated use of [statistical significance] techniques may want to consult Observation and Experiment. -- James Ryerson * New York Times Book Review *Rosenbaum’s book is, as would be expected, a carefully and precisely written treatment of its subject, reflecting superb statistical understanding, all communicated with the skill of a master teacher. -- Stephen M. Stigler, author of The Seven Pillars of Statistical Wisdom

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis handsome boxed set brings together five delightfully individual books, each beautifully illustrated with archival images and postcards, on some of Egypt's most iconic institutions and landmarks. Included are: The Suez Canal: A History (edited by Sherif Boraie), The Egyptian Bourse (by Samir Raafat), Downtown Cairo (by Ola Seif; edited by Sherif Boraie), Egyptian Postage, 18661967 (preface by Samir Raafat; edited by Sherif Boraie), and Cinema Cairo: Dream Factory on the Nile (by Rasha Azab; edited by Sherif Boraie). Between them covering the period from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, the books illustrate how these icons, which are deeply embedded in the life of the nation, came to shape the course of modern Egypt and to lay its foundations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNation Within is the complex history of the events between the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1893 and its annexation to the United States in 1898. Highlighting the native Hawaiians' resistance during that five year span, Tom Coffman shows why occupying Hawaiʻi was crucial to American imperial ambitions.Trade Review"Nation Within explores those 'strange five years' from 1893–1898 during which a cabal of 'missionary boys' hijacked a sovereign nation, deposed its monarch, prostituted the words 'republic' and 'democracy' as badly as any Third World Communist dictator ever has, and handed over an unwilling native people to the care and keeping of the breast-beating, muscle-flexing expansionist United States. (And if you think I overwrite, then I challenge you to read the book.) . . . weep, grow angry . . . " -- Dan Boylan, Professor of History, University of Hawaii, * MidWeek *"[A] page-turner—and an eye-opener." * Honolulu Weekly *"Tom Coffman has gracefully constructed a new vision of Hawaiian history, broader perhaps than any produced in the last 100 years. . . . A stunning, transoceanic story." -- Kehaulani Lum * Honolulu Star-Bulletin *"The best single book on annexation." * The Nation *Table of ContentsForeword ix Introduction xiii 1. A False Spring 1 2. Retrieving History 7 3. Coping with Great Powers 23 4. Roosevelt's Frontier 33 5. The Queen's Dilemma 39 6. American Expanisionism 53 7. A Two-Layered Conspiracy 69 8. Trade-off for Pearl Harbor 91 9. An American Coup 109 10. Hawaiian Resistance 135 11. Battle on the Potomac 141 12. A Republic in Name 149 13. The Hawaiian Revolt 167 14. Conjuring the Yellow Peril 183 15. The Doorway to Imperialism 205 16. Hawaiian Protests 235 17. The Treay of Annexation 245 18. The Queen in Winter 263 19. The Hawaiian Petition 273 20. Cuba and the Philippines 289 21. Raising Old Glory 315 Notes and Acknowledgments 325 Endnotes 329 Index 339

Read more less

Book Synopsis''The English Civil War is a joy to behold, a thing of beauty this will be the civil war atlas against which all others will judged and the battle maps in particular will quickly become the benchmark for all future civil war maps.'' - Professor Martyn Bennett, Department of History, Languages and Global Studies, Nottingham Trent UniversityThe English Civil Wars (163851) comprised the deadliest conflict ever fought on British soil, in which brother took up arms against brother, father fought against son, and towns, cities and villages fortified themselves in the cause of Royalists or Parliamentarians. Although much historical attention has focused on the events in England and the key battles of Edgehill, Marston Moor and Naseby, this was a conflict that engulfed the entirety of the Three Kingdoms and led to a trial and execution that profoundly shaped the British monarchy and Parliament. This beautifully presented atlas tells the whole story of Britain's revolutionary civiTrade ReviewThis superb work provides a visually stunning guide to Britain’s civil wars from the opening Bishops’ War to the rule of Cromwell’s major generals. Based on the latest historical and archaeological research, the 156 detailed maps show not only the better known large battles and sieges, but also numerous smaller engagements and key political events. Essential for comprehending the full extent of the war and for understanding it conduct and outcome. * Professor Peter Wilson, Chichele Professor of the History of War, University of Oxford *There has long been a need for a good atlas of the English Civil War, and Nick Lipscombe, who has already fully met the need for one for the Peninsular War, now does so again. Effective and clear maps are ably combined with a text that reflects Lipscombe’s understanding of weapons characteristics, the complexity of battle, and the nuances of command. An important work that deserves wide attention. * Professor Jeremy Black, author of World War Two in 100 Maps *Nick Lipscombe’s The English Civil War is a joy to behold a thing of beauty, but much more than that book is clearly of no small importance. I am convinced that this will be the first port of call for all enthusiasts and scholars looking for a cartographic interpretation of the civil wars. This will be the civil war atlas against which all others will judged and the battle maps in particular will quickly become the benchmark for all future civil war maps. * Professor Martyn Bennett, Department of History, Languages and Global Studies, Nottingham Trent University *Without doubt one of the most foremost reference sources on the Civil Wars available today. * Tim Williamson, History of War *An absolutely essential volume for anyone interested in the period. -- Duncan Evans * The Armourer *The Atlas is an excellent work, which is a must for anyone who has any interest in the War of the Tree Kingdoms. -- Chris May * Battlefield *...An expert commentary and analysis, by a good historian linked into the Battlefields Trust. Highly recommended. * Miniature Wargames *This is a wonderful volume, hugely impressive in its breadth and depth, very attractive in its cartography and presentation, which makes a weighty contribution to the history of the civil war in every sense. -- Professor Peter Gaunt * University of Chester for The Protector's Pen *Table of ContentsForeword Preface Chronology – The Wars of The Three Kingdoms, 1639–52 Legend to Maps Introduction – Origins of Conflict Civil War Armies, Fighting Components and their Tactics 1 – The Early Stuarts and the Divine Right of Kings, 1603–37 2 – The Bishops’ Wars, 1639–40 3 – Rebellion in Ireland, 1640–42 4 – The Road to Civil War, 1641–42 5 – The Campaign and Battle of Edgehill, June to October 1642 6 – Advance to London, October to November 1642 7 – Nationwide Struggle, December 1642 to March 1643 8 – The Nation Divides, Mid-March to end of May 1643 9 – Events in The South-West, March to June 1643 10 – The Struggle for the North and Centre, June to August 1643 11 – The Struggle for Bristol and the South-West, June to August 1643 12 – Operations in the North, September to December 1643 13 – Events in Devon, September to the end of 1643 14 – The First Battle of Newbury, September 1643 15 – Irish Cessation and the Scottish Covenant, 1643 16 – The Scottish Invasion, Early 1644 17 – Nantwich And Newark: The Battles for Central England, January to March 1644 18 – Wales: The Conquest of Pembrokeshire, January to March 1644 19 – Waller’s Operations in the South, January to April 1644 20 – The Great Siege and Battle in Yorkshire,April to August 1644 21 – The Oxford Campaign, May to August 1644 22 – Events in the South-West, April to August 1644 23 – War in the Centre: the Second Battle of Newbury, August to November 1644 24 – Wales, Scotland and the North of England, August to the end of 1644 25 – A Time to Reflect: the end of 1644 26 – Nationwide Developments, Early 1645 27 – The Great and Decisive Battle at Naseby, 14 June 1645 28 – Taunton and Langport: Events in The South-West, January to July 1645 29 – Scotland in 1645: Montrose’s Royalist Campaign 30 – Post-Naseby, Part 1: Wales and the South, to the end of 1645 31 – Post-Naseby, Part 2: the North, to the end of 1645 32 – Sweeping up the South-West, January to April 1646 33 – The end of the First Civil War, 1646 34 – Wales, Scotland and Ireland in 1646 35 – Ireland 1647: Beyond Redemption 36 – The King’s Intransigence, 1647 37 – War Reignites in Wales, 1648 38 – War Reignites in England, 1648 39 – The Battle of Preston: the Death Blow to Royalism, 1648 40 – The ‘Endgame’: Regicide, 1649 41 – Cromwell and Parliament’s Army in Ireland, 1649–52 42 – The Invasion of Scotland, July 1650 to September 1651 43 – Worcester, 1651: The Final Battle 44 – The Interregnum, 1649–60 Notes to Maps Appendices Glossary Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe book clearly explains and illustrates the mechanics of how Roman commanders - at every level - drew up and committed their different types of troops for open-field battles. It includes the alternative formations used to handle different tactical problems and different types of terrain; the possibilities of ordering and controlling different deployments once battle was joined; and how all this was based on the particular strengths of the Roman soldier. Covering the period of classic legionary warfare from the late Republic to the late Western Empire, Ross Cowan uses case studies of particular battles to provide a manual on how and why the Romans almost always won, against enemies with basic equality in weapon types - giving practical reasons why the Roman Army was the Western World''s outstanding military machine for 400 years.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOsprey''s examination of French infantry tactics during the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815). For over 20 years France was the dominating, controlling and conquering power of the western world, a result not only of Napoleon''s inspired leadership, but of the efforts of almost an entire generation of Frenchmen under arms. The French Revolution heralded both social change and a seismic shift in how armies were organized, trained and deployed. This book provides an analysis of the preparation of French troops from manual regulations to the training ground, studying the changing quality of command and control within the army, which initially ensured that the French infantry were virtually unstoppable. Paddy Griffith not only explores the role of the French infantry at the apex of their powers and their actions in key battles, but also provides a detailed explanation of their eventual decline leading to defeat at Waterloo, providing a critical overview of French Napoleonic infantry ta

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt is 2011, and all universities in North Korea have been shut down for an entire year, except for the all-male Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. This is where Suki Kim has accepted a job teaching English. Over the next six months she will eat three meals a day with her young charges and struggle to teach them to write, all under the watchful eye of the regime.Life at the university is lonely and claustrophobic. Her letters are read by censors and she must hide her notes and photographs not only from her minders but also from her colleagues, evangelical Christian missionaries, whose faith she does not share.As the weeks pass she discovers how easily her students lie, and how total is their obedience to Kim Jong-il. She also, bravely, hints at the existence of a world beyond their own: the internet, free travel, democracy, and other ideas forbidden in a country where torture and execution are commonplace. Yet her pupils are also full of boyish enthusiasm, with flashes of curiosity not yet extinguished.Without You, There Is No Us offers a moving and incalculably rare glimpse of life inside the world's most inscrutable country.Trade ReviewStrangely terrifying...A beautifully written book that greatly expands the limited bounds of what we know about North Korea's ruling class -- Barbara Demick, author of Nothing To EnvyThis superb work of investigative journalism is distinguished by its grave beauty and aching tenderness. -- Kiran Desai, author of The Inheritance of LossA rare and revealing insight into the world of this closed nation's "priviligentsia", a sector of society about which very little information is available. * The Times Online *(Suki Kim) lived under constant surveillance, fearful that she might slip up. * Daily Mail *A glimpse into the North Korean mind. * Francis Wheen, Mail on Sunday *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSituated at the crossroads of three continents, the Middle East has confounded the ambition of conquerors and peacemakers alike. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all had their genesis in the region but with them came not just civilisation and religion but also some of the great struggles of history. A Short History of the Middle East makes sense of the shifting sands of Middle Eastern History, beginning with the early cultures of the area and moving on to the Roman and Persian Empires; the growth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; the invasions from the east; Genghis Khan's Mongol hordes; the Ottoman Turks and the rise of radicalism in the modern world symbolised by Islamic State.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsForeword: The Tribal Law Revolution in Indian Country Today, Robert A. Williams, Jr. Acknowledgments Introduction: Modern Issues, Ancient Traditions: Going Back to Fundamental Values 1. The Navajo Nation Court SystemBrief Navajo History History of the Navajo Nation Courts Modern Navajo Nation Courts2. Foundational Diné Law PrinciplesReturning to Traditional Navajo Laws and Methods3. Hózh= (Peace, Harmony, and Balance)Hózh= in Navajo Culture Hózh= in the Navajo Nation Courts4. K é (Kinship Unity through Positive Values)K é in Navajo Culture K é in the Navajo Nation Courts K é Informs Individual and Community Rights K é as the Basis for Equitable Rights5. K éí (Descent, Clanship, and Kinship) K éí in Navajo Culture K éí Informs Traditional Domestic Matters K éí in the Navajo Nation Courts Descent and DistributionConclusion: Law Is the Product of Human Experience Glossary of Navajo Names and Kinship Terms Notes Index Index to Navajo Nation Court Cases, Council Resolutions, and Statutes

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf there is one thing we can be sure of concerning the Saxons, Vikings and Normans who inhabited the medieval world, it is that they were a good deal more advanced than some writings would have us believe. This fascinating book by Terence Wise explores the history, organization, clothing, equipment and weapons of Saxon, Viking and Norman peoples, covering wide-ranging topics such as Anglo-Saxon shields, Viking raiding ships and the organization of Norman armies.The absorbing and readable text is enriched by numerous illustrations and museum photographs with commentaries, plus eight superbly drawn full page colour plates by renowned military artist Gerry Embleton.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first biography in more than a generation of the father of modern political Zionism and in effect the state of Israel.Drawing extensively on his diaries as well as his published works, this intellectual biographical follows Herzl's transformation from a private person into the founder and leader of a political movement which made the quest for a Jewish state into a player in international politics. Contrary to the conventional view which saw the Dreyfus affair as the trigger for Herzl's loss of belief in the promise of Jewish emancipation, Avineri shows how it was the political crisis of the Austro-Hungarian Habsburg Empire, torn apart by contending national movements, which convinced Herzl of the need for a Jewish polity.In response to the wide resonance for his 1896 THE JEWISH STATE, Herzl convened the first Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, which established the World Zionist Organization with its representative and elected institutions; this in turn became the foundation for Israel's democratic political system. In his efforts to gain international support for a Jewish state, Herzl met with the Ottoman Sultan, the German Emperor Wilhelm II, Pope Pius X, British, Russian and German ministers, as well as an enormous number of other government and public opinion leaders of most European countries. By the time of his early death in 1904 at the age of 44, Herzl succeeded in putting Zionism on the map of world politics, no longer an esoteric idea held by a small group of Jewish intellectuals in Eastern Europe.Trade ReviewTurning the idea of Jewish nationhood into an organised movement was Herzl's work of genius, which is expounded by Avineri with scholarship, sensitivity and wisdom. -- Oliver Kamm * The JC.COM *How Herzl conjured up the idea of a Jewish state out of the air is the subject of this book. It is a political biography; of Herzl's family life, his loves and his hatreds we learn little. With almost nothing but his will, he wrote, cajoled, talked and organised Zionism into existence. Between 1895 and 1897, in two short years, he provided the movement with its key text (Der Judenstaat), its destination (Palestine) and its organisational birth (the first Zionist Congress in Basle). Then he hawed his ideas around the leaders of Europe, to see if he could make a reality from the dream. These unlikely peregrinations are captured perfectly by Avineri. Without them there would have been no Israel. -- David Aaronovitch * THE TIMES *The great strength of Avineri's immensely readable biography is to deliver Herzl in all his tortured complexity and - something not always given its due - the philosophical clarity of his diagnosis of what had befallen the Jews in the modern age and what might be done about their predicament. He had the beard of a poet but a brain for realpolitik. As one might expect from Avineri, who is first and foremost a powerful historian of political thought, this is the most chewily cogent account yet of Herzl the political thinker and doer. -- Simon Schama * FINANCIAL TIMES *What...Shlomo Avineri, a professor of political sciences at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, offers is a different perspective on Herzl's life. Professor Avineri largely relies on Herzl's own writings, especially his obsessively written diary, rather than so much on secondary sources as many other books do. This device has the advantage of explaining Herzl's thoughts, as well as his actions. -- Alistair Dawber * THE INDEPENDENT *It was Austrian politics, not a French miscarriage of justice [the Dreyfuss case], which moved Herzl towards Jewish separatism, Avineri explains, with a rather more complex story than the one the professor tells us is taught to Israeli schoolchildren. Political liberalism had ended official anti-Jewish discrimination in Austria and widened the franchise; but, to the horror of liberals like Herzl, anti-Semitic demagogues were elected. It seemed that the more democratic Austrian society was, the more anti-Semitic it became. -- Jad Adams * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Magnificent -- Daniel Johnson * STANDPOINT *This Herzl remains a charismatic figure whose story is a romance. And so, in some measure, it should be, because that is how Herzl functioned and why he succeeded. He combined Disraeli's charm and political genius, Marx's analytical insight, and the towering authority of his people's lawgiver, Moses. -- Bernard Wasserstein * THE TABLET *In this book Avineri has reclaimed Herzl from the propagandists. -- Colin Shindler * HISTORY TODAY *Herzl [is telling] the story of Zionism from the beginning, one of the strangest, most romantic, most bewildering episodes in modern history, and to this day one of the most bitterly contentious. -- Geoffrey Wheatcroft * THE SPECTATOR *Herzl is an excellent biography of a great man and as such long overdue. -- Lord Mitchell * THE HOUSE *What Avineri gives us is a fine-grained and tender portrait of the Hungarian-born Herzl as a feverish romantic, dodgy dramatist, prolific writer and political organizer, a vibrant man whose energy and devotion to finding a national solution for a Jewish state were palpable and exhausting. -- Duncan Kelly * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *Avineri rightly sums up Herzl's work as a 'glorious failure that produced impressive results'. It is Avineri's understanding of the exigencies and difficulties of politics for a mere private individual, without money or official status that makes this book well worth reading. * ANGLO-ISRAEL ASSOCIATION *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSPECIAL COMMENDATION in Africa's 100 Best Books of the Twentieth Century. The series is illustrated throughout with maps and black and white photographs.Trade ReviewReviews of the Series: * . *... a real contribution to scholarship. - -- Roland Oliver * the TLS *The General History of Africa was launched in 1970, when an International Scientific Committee of 39 scholars was formed to oversee the writing and publication of a complete survey of the African past, from pre-history to the present. The laudable aim of the project was to break free from the straightjacket of Eurocentrism, and to provide a history that reflected a range of African views without imposing any set historical interpretation. - -- David M. Anderson * INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS *Table of ContentsThe unification of the Maghrib under the Almohads; the spread of civilization in the Maghrib and its impact on Western civilization; the disintegration of political unity in the Maghrib; society in the Maghrib after the disappearance of the Almohads; Mali and the second Mande expansion; the decline of the empire of Mali - the 15th to 16th centuries; the Songhay from the 12th to the 16th century; the peoples and kingdoms of the Niger Bend and the Volta basin from the 12th to the 16th century; the kingdoms and peoples of Chad; the Hausa and their neighbours in the central Sudan; the coastal peoples from Casamance to the Cote d'Ivoire lagoons; from the Cote d'Ivoire lagoons to the Volta; from the Volta to Cameroon; Egypt and the Muslim world from the 12th to the beginning of the 16th century; Nubia from the late-12th century to the Funji conquest in the early 16th century; the Horn of Africa - the Solomonids in Ethiopia and the states of the Horn of Africa; the development of Swahili cilvilization; between the coast and the Great Lakes; the Great Lakes region; the Zambezi and Limpopo basins 1100-1500; Equatorial Africa and Angola - migrations and the emergence of the first states; southern Africa - its peoples and social structures; Madagascar and the neighbouring islands from the 12th to the 16th century; relationships and exchanges among the different regions; Africa in inter-continental relations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe only account of this seminal trial, written by Mandela’s defence lawyer and with a new foreword by Denis Goldberg, accused alongside Mandela and sentenced to life imprisonment. On 11 July 1963, police raided Liliesleaf Farm in Rivonia near Johannesburg, arresting alleged members of the high command of the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). Together with the already imprisoned Nelson Mandela, they were put on trial and charged with conspiring to overthrow the apartheid government by violent revolution. Their expected punishment was death. In this compelling book, their defence attorney, Joel Joffe, gives a blow-by-blow account of the most important trial in South Africa’s history, vividly portraying the characters of those involved, and exposing the astonishing bigotry and rampant discrimination faced by the accused, as well as showing their incredible courage under fire.Trade Review‘Everyone interested in Nelson Mandela’s life and South Africa’s transition to democracy should read this book.’ -- Arthur Chaskalson – Chief Justice of South Africa, 2001-2005'Joffe devotes considerable care to his account of the trial and those who conducted it, crafting a dramatic indictment of apartheid justice.' * Publishing News *

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this worthy addition to the Elite series, Ian Heath transports us to the time of the Vikings examining their epic journeys and the ships they made them in, their methods of warfare - the organisation of their armies and tactics employed, their appearance and equipment and the general history of these fascinating warrior-explorers. His authoritative text is backed by many fine illustrations and photographs including 12 stunning full colour plates by Angus McBride, one of the world''s most respected military artists.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEric Williams, Royal Air Force bomber captain, was shot down over Germany in 1942 and imprisoned in Stalag Luft III, the infamous German POW camp. Digging an underground tunnel hidden beneath a wooden vaulting horse, he managed to escape after ten months and, accompanied by a fellow officer, made his way back to England. In this thinly fictionalized retelling, Williams relates his story in three distinct phases: the construction of a tunnel (its entrance camouflaged by the wooden vaulting horse in the exercise yard) and hiding the large quantities of sand he dug; the escape; and the journey on foot and by train to the port of Stettin, where Williams and his fellow escapee stowed away aboard a Danish ship, the Norensen. From painstakingly digging the tunnel to secretly depositing the dirt and gravel around the camp to dodging searchlights and search dogs and climbing barbed wire fences, this is an escape story hard to beat. For sheer heroism, courage and perserverance, this classic is arguably the most ingenious POW escape of WWII. The Wooden Horse became a legend among servicemen long before its publication in 1949 and remained one ever since.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe power of the Roman Empire was at its peak in the second century AD but in fact it started in 753 BC when Rome was founded and only faded in 476 AD.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars encompassed a period when rival European fleets vied for naval supremacy, and naval tactics were evolving. The British Royal Navy emerged triumphant as the leading world sea power, and the epitome of Britannic naval strength was the Ship-of-the-Line. These ''wooden walls'' were more than merely floating gun batteries: they contained a crew of up to 800 men, and often had to remain at sea for extended periods. This book offers detailed coverage of the complex vessels that were the largest man-made structures produced in the pre-Industrial era.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStephen R. Platt received his PhD in Chinese history at Yale and teaches Chinese history at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His work has been supported by the Fulbright program, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation.Trade ReviewEngaging and exciting ... Finely written * Literary Review *Lucid and gripping ... Highly recommended for anyone interested in China * TES *An impressive, gracefully written account * Wall Street Journal *A splendid example of finely calibrated historical narrative ... It is a tragic and powerful story -- Jonathan Spence, author of The Search for Modern ChinaA refreshing and gripping account ... Powerful, dramatic and unforgettable * San Francisco Chronicle *A marvellous account of a largely forgotten but major event. Combines great scholarship with a driving narrative and sharp characterisation -- Jonathan Fenby, author of The Penguin History of Modern ChinaStephen Platt brings to vivid life a pivotal chapter in China's history that has been all but forgotten ... A fascinating work by a first-class historian and superb writer -- Henry Kissinger

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisCollecting 635 meticulous recipes, Scents and Flavors invites us to savor an inventive cuisine that elevates simple ingredients by combining the sundry aromas of herbs, spices, fruits, and flower essences. This popular thirteenth-century Syrian cookbook is an ode to what its anonymous author calls the greater part of the pleasure of this life, namely the consumption of food and drink, as well as the fragrances that garnish the meals and the diners who enjoy them. Organized like a meal, it opens with appetizers and juices and proceeds through main courses, side dishes, and desserts, including such confections as candies based on the higher densities of sugar syrupan innovation unique to the medieval Arab world. Apricot beverages, stuffed eggplant, pistachio chicken, coriander stew, melon crepes, and almond pudding are seasoned with nutmeg, rose, cloves, saffron, and the occasional rare ingredient like ambergris to delight and surprise the banqueter. BookendeTrade ReviewAn extraordinary achievement, a brilliant translation of a very important work by an author who really understands cooking, and a valuable addition to our understanding of Middle Eastern culture and gastronomy. -- Claudia Roden, author of The New Book of Middle Eastern FoodAn extensive glossary, plus facing pages of the original Arabic text, make this a desirable reference work for scholars. * AramcoWorld *Hopefully, this cookbook can be made part of many library collections around the world, accessible to many Syrian chefs and food-lovers, wherever they may be. * Qantara.de *The book will interest epicures and cultural historians alike. * Islamic Horizons *We can learn a lot from an old cookbook. And the recent release of Scents and Flavors, a new translation from NYU Press's Library of Arabic Literature, provides a glimpse of social history that feels particularly timely. * FoodandWine.com *A significant scholarly contribution . . . Presented and framed in a way that renders it accessible to food scholars who work on other regions and cuisines . . . Provides a useful framing of the cookbook in the broader context of Middle Eastern culinary history, medieval Islamic medicine, and the specific sequencing and practices of feasting in thirteenth-century Syria. * Gastronomica *A good example of the best that can come out of a combination of quality scholarship and practical experience. * Journal of the American Oriental Society *Fun for history buffs and amateur chefs, the recipes making for a fantastic dinner party. * AlJazeera *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWoodman's translation masterfully conveys Tacitus' distinctive and powerful literary style and reflects the best of relevant current scholarship. His introduction provides a wealth of insight into the period about which Tacitus wrote, Tacitus himself, and the principles of translation that have shaped this rendering.Trade ReviewWoodman has produced the most sophisticated English translation of Tacitus' Annals to date, one that will likely remain the standard for years to come. . . . Woodman successfully incorporates into his translation the sense and sound of the author's literary style. His deft rendering into English of Tacitus' word order and sentence structure, mimicking the ancient writer's preference for the unusual word and his propensity to employ metaphorical expressions, alliteration, and an unbalanced syntactic structure, imparts to his translation the artistic texture of this work of history. Woodman's Introduction provides an informative background to Tacitus and an explanation of how the translator has attempted to capture the artistry of the ancient historian. Annotations to the text increase understanding of events and and their participants without burdening the reader or interrupting the flow of the story. In addition to maps and a list of further readings, the work contains useful appendixes, such as a list of political and military terms and a stemma of the Julio-Claudian Emperors. Summing up: Highly recommended. Readers of all levels. --R. I. Curtis, CHOICEAn elegant addition to Tacitean scholarship. . . . The appendices are comprehensive and extremely useful for students, covering political and military terms that are cross-referenced to the text, the deployment of the army which can be confusing in the Annals, Rome, geographical and tribal names, and maps as well as a good index of names. . . . This translation has many eminently practical features, including clear layout, the use of footnotes, and numbering of the text. . . . The Introduction is very accessible and, coupled with the text, will be very useful for students. --Alisdair Gibson, Journal of Classics TeachingThis work is more than a superb translation. It is also in effect a succinct commentary on the whole of the Annals. The section in the Introduction on problems of translation is particularly valuable. --J.N. Adams, All Souls College, Oxford

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe author challenges the scientific community's long held beliefs on the theory of evolution and gives evidence for extreme human antiquity.Forbidden Archeology's Impact offers readers an inside look at how mainstream science reacts with ridicule, threats and intimidation to any challenge to its deeply held beliefs.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDraws on a variety of eyewitness accounts, letters, and governmental documents to examine the causes of the Haitian Revolution and the impact it had on the eighteenth-century Atlantic world.Trade Review"Not only the best source-book [on the topic] available in English, but also an excellent model of research and interpretation. Geggus's concise account of the Revolution is clear, efficient, and remarkably free of the usual mythologies, hagiographies, and demonizations, while his excellently selected documents outline the story very well on their own. . . . ideal for students who want to learn how the craft of recording history is practiced." --Madison Smartt Bell, Goucher College"This broad-ranging selection of primary-source documents about the Haitian Revolution, based on David Geggus's unmatched knowledge of the subject, is an important resource for both students and readers already familiar with the topic. Students will learn about the conditions that drove slaves and free people of color to revolt in 1791; even scholars in the field will discover new sources and new perspectives on familiar passages." --Jeremy D. Popkin, University of Kentucky"A phenomenal resource. . . [This book] provides a clear and compelling introductory essay and a wonderful array of revealing documents, many drawn from Geggus's own thorough research in multiple archives in Europe and the Americas." --Ada Ferrer, New York UniversityTable of ContentsCONTENTS (tentative): Introduction; The Freedom of a Christian, including dedicatory preface to Hermann Muhlpfort; Introduction to the Related Documents -- The Reception and Impact of (and Contemporary Reactions to) The Freedom of a Christian; An Open Letter to Pope Leo X (1520); How to Use and Properly Acknowledge Christian Freedom (1524); Letter on Christian Freedom to Thomas Neuenhagen, Preacher at Eisenach (1526); Letter on Christian Freedom to Philipp Gluenspiess of Mansfield (1526); The Long-Term Reception of Luther's Concept: Excerpts from the Church Postils; Annotated Bibliography; Index of Scriptural Citations.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn abridgement of Stanley Lombardo's translation of the "Odyssey". It offers more than half of the epic, including all of its best-known episodes and finest poetry, while providing concise summaries for omitted books and passages.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIn these new translations Meineck and Woodruff have struck a near-ideal balance between accuracy and readability, formality and colloquialism. Their versions are simply a pleasure to read, conveying with remarkable vividness the powerful characterizations and poetic variety of the originals. The addition of succinct but illuminating notes makes this an exemplary volume for anyone interested in Sophocles' dramatic art. --Andrew Szegedy-Maszak, Department of Classics, Wesleyan University[T]his sequel to the same pair's well-received translation of the Theban plays hits an appropriate mean . . . a text that I could happily adopt for teaching. --Malcolm Heath in Greece and RomeTable of ContentsIntroduction; Notes on the Translations; Map: Sophoclean geography; House of Pelops Family Tree; Ajax; Women of Trachis; Electra; Philoctetes; Endnotes.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWolkow have produced an accurate and elegant translation accompanied by rich commentary.Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionThe Orphic HymnsOrpheus to Mousaios1. To Hekate2. To Prothyraia3. To Night4. To Sky5. To Ether6. To Protogonos7. To the Stars8. To the Sun9. To Selene10. To Physis11. To Pan12. To Herakles13. To Kronos14. To Rhea15. To Zeus16. To Hera17. To Poseidon18. To Plouton19. To Zeus the Thunderbolt20. To Astrapaios Zeus21. To the Clouds22. To the Sea23. To Nereus24. To the Nereids25. To Proteus26. To Earth27. To the Mother of the Gods28. To Hermes29. Hymn to Persephone30. To Dionysos31. Hymn to the Kouretes32. To Athene33. To Nike34. To Apollon35. To Leto36. To Artemis37. To the Titans38. To the Kouretes39. To Korbas40. To Eleusinian Demeter41. To Mother Antaia42. To Mise43. To the Seasons44. To Semele45. Hymn to Dionysos Bassareus and Triennial46. To Liknites47. To Perikionios48. To Sabazios49. To Hipta50. To Lysios Lenaios51. To the Nymphs52. To the God of Triennal Feasts53. To the God of Annual Feasts54. To Silenos Satyros and Bacchae55. To Aphrodite56. To Adonis57. To Chthonic Hermes58. To Eros59. To the Fates60. To the Graces61. Hymn to Nemesis62. To Dike63. To Justice64. Hymn to Nomos65. To Ares66. To Hephaistos67. To Asklepios68. To Hygeia69. To the Erinyes70. To the Eumenides71. To Melinoe72. To Tyche73. To Daimon74. To Leukothea75. To Palaimon76. To the Muses77. To Mnemosyne78. To Dawn79. To Themis80. To Boreas81. To Zephyros82. To Notos83. To Okeanos84. To Hestia85. To Sleep86. To Dream87. To DeathNotesSelect BibliographyIndex NominumIndex Locorum

Read more less

Book SynopsisForeword; Centenary Revaluations; Current Problems (1): Pagan Beliefs and Christian Impact; Current Problems (2): Scandinavian Society 800-1100.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis edition of a classic scrapbook is published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the end of the World War II.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWith over 1,000 colourful images, Robert Opie brings to life the 1920s and captures the mood of this radical decade in Great Britain. The Twenties were a time for change and invention. The arrival of the wireless provided a new form of entertainment and The Radio Times was launched in 1923. The popularity of the cinema continued and was changed forever with the coming of ''talkies'' and The Jazz Singer in 1926. While there were many notable events, from the Tutankhaman discoveries to the Empire exhibition at Wembley, unemployment and workers'' discontent pervaded everyday life, culminating in the General Strike of 1926. For children, however, fun and amusement could be found with new cartoon characters: the antics of Felix the Cat at the pictures, tales of Pooh Bear in A.A. Milne''s book Winnie-the-Pooh and, in newspapers, Bonzo the Dog (Daily Sketch), Rupert the Bear (Daily Express), Teddy Tail (Daily Mail) and Pip,

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"What [this] edition does with On the Freedom of a Christian is unique. It places one of Luther's most famous writings into its theological, political, and social context. [Helfferich's] goal is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of Luther's ideas and what his contemporary opponents thought about them; in this effort the editor/translator is successful. But this collection of texts is also successful on another level—it provides students with a case study of the importance of establishing and understanding context in the study of history. "Helfferich has done a fine job in compiling, editing and introducing this collection of texts. It has several strengths for use as primary source material in a class. First, it is focused. Students will see how the texts are interrelated. Second, it provides some unique selections. The Eck and Muntzer selections are rare finds. Third, the introductory material is clearly written and will be a great help to student learning. Fourth the translations are rendered very well into readable English. . . . This book is worthy of consideration as a textbook adoption. Hackett is to be commended for bringing into print another unique primary source for research and teaching." —Sixteenth Century Journal"On the one hand, [the related texts] introduce readers to the key theological concepts taught by Luther, the Catholic theologians, and the radical reformers. On the other hand, they disclose the social, cultural, and economic aspects—topics that are of paramount interest in recent Reformation scholarship. The introductory essay in each section is crisp, clear, and concise. The success of this work is the ability to distill complicated theological controversies and divergent contents into nuances that are accessible to a wider audience." —Dennis Ngien, Tyndale University College & Seminary, in Renaissance and Reformation"With a few key primary sources, [Helfferich] introduces the Reformation in all its complexity. While emphasizing the centrality of religion and belief in the Reformation movement—including key theological concepts of Luther and the mainstream Reformation, of Catholic theologians, and of Müntzer and the more radical elements in the Reformation—the texts collected in this volume also introduce readers to its social, cultural, and economic aspects, topics of so much of the recent scholarship on the Reformation. The work includes an excellent general Introduction that, in a lucid and systematic manner, presents the reader with those key aspects of the period's Christian thought and practice against which Luther would react in On the Freedom of a Christian. And although individually brief, the cumulative effect of the various introductions [to each related text] is to provide the reader with a broad range of information about the Reformation in general." —Robert J. Christman, Luther College"The translations are accurate and clear, and the introductory essay does a wonderful job of distilling complicated theological controversies into terms that are comprehensible by an undergraduate audience. The edition's greatest asset, though, is the range of texts that it includes. By including works by Luther's Catholic opponents and his erstwhile allies, this edition demonstrates that On the Freedom of a Christian represented not only a high point in Luther's thought, but also a starting point in a debate that spanned Christendom and had massive social and political implications." —Philip Haberkern, Boston University"An excellent introduction to both Luther's thought and the theological controversies that tore apart sixteenth century Europe. Like all good historical introductions should aspire to do, Helfferich's collection concisely displays the contingency and complexity of this epoch. [T]he selected texts . . . all contribute to the understanding of the period by serving as representations of crucial positions. The cumulative effect is an invitation to the reader to delve deeper into the primary material and to gain a better view of this strange and strangely familiar world." —Kye Barker, UCLA, in ComitatusTable of ContentsIntroduction; Martin Luther, On the Freedom of a Christian; Johann Eck, Selection from Enchiridion of Common-Places Against Luther & Other Enemies of the Church; Bishop John Fisher, Sermon Against Luther; The Twelve Articles (1525) of the German Peasants; Luther, Against the Thieving, Murdering Horde of Peasants.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"It is wonderful to have David Lowenthal's splendid translation of Montesquieu's Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline back in print. This neglected masterpiece deserves attention from all who are concerned with self-government--whether their focus is on history or on its prospects in our own time." --Paul A. Rahe, University of Tulsa

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo begin to understand this apparent contradiction in terms, we must first understand the exacting nature of space technologies and the concerns of those who create them.Trade ReviewSoundly based on the secondary literature and on archival research in the United States and Europe and provides an excellent overview of the topic within Johnson's chosen boundaries... I can highly recommend Johnson's book to historians of both the Cold War military and civilian space programs. Journal of Military History Johnson has been inspired by engineering to write good history. -- Jon Agar British Journal for the History of Science 2004 A book for general readers interested in business and management issues in the space program. Choice 2003 Johnson's in-depth, nuts-and-bolts manual sheds much light on a seldom studied secret of our recent space history. Space Review 2006 Well written and engaging in style. Satellite Evolution Group 2007Table of ContentsContents: Introduction: Managment and the Conrol of Research Social and Technical Issues of Spaceflight Creating Concurrency From Concurrency to Systems Managment JPL's Journey from Missiles to Space Organizing the Manned Space Program Organizing ELDO for Failure ERSO's American Bridge across the Managment Gap Coordination and Control of High-Tech Research and Development

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen the Army drafted Elvis in 1958, it set about transforming the King of Rock and Roll from a rebellious teen idol into a clean-cut GI trained for nuclear warfare. Brian Linn traces the origins, evolution, and ultimate failure of the army’s attempt to reinvent itself for the Atomic Age, and reveals the experiences of its forgotten soldiers.Trade ReviewBrian Linn’s history holds lessons for us: be wary about claims of revolutionary change in warfare; find ways to keep servicemen and women connected to those in whose name they serve; recognize that the American military’s advantage over potential enemies is more human than technological. This is a book for scholars, students, soldiers, and citizens. -- H. R. McMaster, author of Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to VietnamThe story of how the army sought to adapt to the atomic age is a compelling one, and Linn goes considerably beyond what has previously been written. -- Thomas G. Mahnken, U.S. Naval War CollegeA fascinating look at a neglected era in American military history—the time after the war in Korea and before the one in Vietnam—when the army was the most diverse, egalitarian, and racially mixed institution in American history. But it also was deeply troubled. -- Thomas E. Ricks, author of The Generals: American Military Command from World War II to TodayWell-researched, logically organized…Linn examines the atomic battlefield, military hardware, enlisted men, and officers, among other topics, providing a fascinating and enlightening look at the U.S. Army during a tumultuous era. -- B. T. Browne * Choice *Elvis’s Army immerses the reader in this world, documenting its complexities and contradictions in meticulous detail. [Linn’s] argument is bolstered by data from internal Army studies and the quoted recollections of those who—whether as generals, privates, or something in between—lived through the era and witnessed it from the inside. The sheer volume of material Linn marshals in support of his case is staggering, and the artfulness with which he wrangles it into thematic chapters on subjects such as doctrine, weapons, recruitment, training, and public relations is impressive. The book is dense with facts and examples, but Linn’s smooth, fluid prose means that it never feels like a slog. Quite the opposite: Anyone with a serious interest in one of Linn’s central themes—American military culture, the Cold War, or innovation—is likely to find Elvis’s Army compulsively readable. -- A. Bowdoin Van Riper * PopMatters *With mordant wit, a kaleidoscopic frame of reference, and deep research in army records, government publications, officers’ papers, and oral histories, Linn is an ideal guide to this service in continuous bureaucratic upheaval. Elvis’s Army will reward any student of the history of the U.S. Army. -- Christopher S. DeRosa * Journal of Military History *A highly convincing work of scholarship. [Linn] has shown the potential of ‘War and Society’ to incorporate cultural, social, technological, and strategic analysis into a volume of wide-ranging academic appeal. -- Alexandre F. Caillot * Strategic Visions *Elvis’s Army is meticulously researched and well written. This reader found the book hard to put down and highly recommends it to all those who are interested in learning how the Army negotiated the challenging middle years of the twentieth century. -- Roger D. Cunningham * Journal of America’s Military Past *Linn’s book is a valuable examination of—and a cautionary tale about—the challenges of identifying a role for soldiers on the atomic battlefield. -- Glenn C. Altschuler * Reviews in American History *The real focus of this rich, readable book is the institutional transformation of the army from the end of World War II to the eve of Vietnam…Linn keeps the focus on ordinary GIs and their coping strategies, reflected in Elvis’ advice to new soldiers: ‘Play it straight and do your best.’ -- Lawrence D. Freedman * Foreign Affairs *In his welcome new book, Brian Linn has skillfully contextualized the evolution of military strategic and tactical doctrine in the early atomic era. Elvis’s Army belongs on the reading lists of both beginning students and seasoned scholars of its subject. -- Gates Brown * Michigan War Studies Review *Linn presents a fascinating history of the U.S. Army and the atomic battlefield of the 1950s, during the height of the Cold War, when people believed tactical nuclear weapons could be used effectively in a European war scenario without escalation. -- William D. Bushnell * Military Officer *This is one of the most important books printed on the history of the U.S. Army in the past decade. Not only does Linn offer a detailed analysis of an understudied period of the Army, but he also provides a wealth of issues for today’s military professional to ponder. -- Lt Col. Richard S. Faulkner * Military Review *Linn’s clear explanations, illuminating examples, and easy, occasionally cutting, prose make Elvis’s Army accessible to casual readers. Yet it is also a seminal work. No historian of the American army during the Cold War can ignore this important book, whilst its comprehensive treatment of the subject will make it an invaluable source for any scholar whose work intersects in any way. -- J. P. Clark * British Journal for Military History *[Linn’s] lucid, insightful and extraordinarily well-researched and referenced book addresses a period of military transformation—specifically for the U.S. Army—that profoundly changed the role of this institution during a critical period following World War II and leading to the Cold War, while affecting the lives of the soldiers and their families in an equally significant fashion. -- Eric B. Schoomaker * Psychiatry *Elvis’s Army is a cautionary reminder of the limits of technology to revolutionize militaries without accompanying adjustments in other important areas, especially force structure. It should be required reading for anyone interested in the U.S. Army during the Cold War and the delicate balance between the articulation of military strategy and the difficulty of achieving it. -- William A. Taylor * Journal of American History *

Read more less

Book SynopsisPreviously published as Mandela''s WayWritten by the co-author of international bestseller Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela: Portrait of an Extraordinary Man presents fifteen powerful lessons on life and leadership based on the life and work of Nelson Mandela (1918 - 2013), whose fight against apartheid in South Africa has become an enduring example of resistance against injustice and oppression. A recipient of the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, Mandela is a man who truly changed the course of world history and is arguably the most inspirational figure of the past century.Stengel spent almost three years with Mandela working on his bestselling autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, and through that process became a close friend. Written with the blessing of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, to which the author will donate a percentage of his royalties, Nelson Mandela: Portrait of an Extraordinary Man is an inspirational book ofTrade ReviewIf we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievements of others. Richard Stengel is one of those people who readily grasps this idea ... He has shown remarkable insight into the many complex leadership challenges still facing the world today and all the individuals in it. Everyone can learn from it. * Nelson Mandela *A beautiful book - even better than A Long Walk to Freedom - and even more inspiring. * Sir Richard Branson *The most insightful explanation yet of what has become known as the "Mandela magic". * Financial Times *There is no man I admire more than Nelson Mandela. Rick Stengel's wise and moving book captures the Nelson Mandela I have been privileged to know ... I was inspired anew, and I know others will be too * Bill Clinton *

Read more less