Military History Books

Book SynopsisIllustrated with detailed artworks of Japanese aircraft and their markings, Japanese Aircraft of World War II is a detailed guide to all the aircraft deployed by the Japanese military from the Second Sino-Japanese War to the surrender in the Pacific in August 1945. Organised alphabetically by manufacturer, this book includes every type of aircraft, from fighters to seaplanes, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft, torpedo bombers and carrier aircraft. All the best-known types are featured, such as the Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’, Nakajima B6N2 Tenzan, Aichi B7A2 Ryusei torpedo bomber and the world- famous Mitsubishi A6M ‘Zero’ fighter. The entries are accompanied by exhaustive captions and specifications. The guide is illustrated with profile artworks, three-views, and special cutaway artworks of the more famous aircraft in service, such as the Aichi D3A1 ‘Val’, Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen, and Nakajima Ki.27 ‘Nate’. Illustrated with more than 120 artworks, Japanese Aircraft of World War II is an essential reference guide for modellers and enthusiasts with an interest in military aircraft of World War II.Table of ContentsMitsubishi G3M (July 1935) Mitsubishi Ki-15 (May 1937) Mitsubishi Ki-21 (Dec 1936) Mitsubishi Ki-30 (Feb 1937) Mitsubishi Ki-51 (June 1939) Kawasaki Ki-48 (July 1939) Nakajima Ki-49 (Aug 1939) Mitsubishi Ki-46 (Aug 1939) Mitsubishi G4M (Oct 1939) Mitsubishi Ki-67 (Dec 1942) Nakajima Ki-27 (Oct 1936) Nakajima Ki-43 (Jan 1939) Nakajima Ki-44 (Aug 1940) Kawasaki Ki-45 (May 1941) Nakajima J1N (May 1941) Kawasaki Ki-61 (Dec 1941) Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Dec 1942) Kawanishi N1K-J (Dec 1942) Nakajima Ki-84 (March 1943) Kawasaki Ki-100 (Feb 1945) Aichi D1A (1934) Mitsubishi A5M (February 1935) Nakajima B5N (January 1937) Aichi D3A (January 1938) Mitsubishi A6M (April 1939) Yokosuka D4Y (December 1940) Nakajima B6N (March 1941) Aichi B7A (May 1942) Mitsubishi F1M (June 1936) Kawanishi H6K (July 1936) Kawanishi H8K (Jan 1941) Aichi E13A ‘Jake’ Nakajima A6M2-N (Dec 1941) Aichi M6A (Nov 1943) Yokosuka MXY7 (October 1944) Mitsubishi J8M (July 1945) Nakajima Kikka (August 1945)

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Book SynopsisOne of the most remarkable stories in the history of Special Forces' operations - Daily ExpressIn the bleak moments after defeat on mainland Europe in winter 1939, Winston Churchill knew that Britain had to strike back hard. So Britain's wartime leader called for the lightning development of a completely new kind of warfare, recruiting a band of eccentric free-thinking warriors to become the first 'deniable' secret operatives to strike behind enemy lines, offering these volunteers nothing but the potential for glory and all-but-certain death. Churchill's Secret Warriors tells the story of the daring victories for this small force of 'freelance pirates', undertaking devastatingly effective missions against the Nazis, often dressed in enemy uniforms and with enemy kit, breaking all previously held rules of warfare. Master storyteller Damien Lewis brings the adventures of the secret unit to life, weaving together the stories of the soldiers' brotherhood in this compelling narrative, from the unit's earliest missions to the death of their leader just weeks before the end of the war.Trade ReviewOne of the most extraordinary stories of World War II is also one of the least commonly known ... compelling ... an eloquent and welcome tribute to their selfless, sometimes reckless courage - a howitzer of a tale that more people should know about * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative visual directory and history to ancient and modern sharp-edged weapons, photographed throughout.

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Book Synopsis''A magnificent story, brilliantly told. Read it!'' ANTHONY HOROWITZSIX GENTLEMEN, ONE GOAL - THE DESTRUCTION OF HITLER''S WAR MACHINE.In the spring of 1939, a top secret organisation was founded in London: its purpose was to plot the destruction of Hitler''s war machine through spectacular acts of sabotage. The guerrilla campaign that followed was to prove every bit as extraordinary as the six gentlemen who directed it. One of them, Cecil Clarke, was a maverick engineer who invented a lethal bomb. Another, William Fairbairn, was the world''s leading expert in silent killing. Led by dapper Scotsman Colin Gubbins, and aided by a group of formidable women, these six men and their sabotage attacks single-handedly changed the course of the war.''Terrific . . . a great read'' IAN HISLOP''Could not be faster-moving or more exciting'' LITERARY REVIEWPreviously published in hardback as The MiTrade Review[A] wonderful book . . . A fascinating and lively account . . . Milton writes with a pace and panache suitable to the subject * The Times *[A] wonderful book . . . A fascinating and lively account . . . Milton writes with a pace and panache suitable to the subject * The Times *[A] wonderful book . . . A fascinating and lively account . . . Milton writes with a pace and panache suitable to the subject * The Times *What sets Milton's work apart from other recounting is his behind-the-scenes access to the stories of the small group of men who put their minds to creating new ways to wage war * The Spectator *What sets Milton's work apart from other recounting is his behind-the-scenes access to the stories of the small group of men who put their minds to creating new ways to wage war * The Spectator *What sets Milton's work apart from other recounting is his behind-the-scenes access to the stories of the small group of men who put their minds to creating new ways to wage war * The Spectator *Milton is a meticulous researcher and masterful storyteller . . . a fascinating account of England's top-secret operatives who designed and deployed the chilling but effective weapons of clandestine warfare * USA Today *Milton is a meticulous researcher and masterful storyteller . . . a fascinating account of England's top-secret operatives who designed and deployed the chilling but effective weapons of clandestine warfare * USA Today *Milton is a meticulous researcher and masterful storyteller . . . a fascinating account of England's top-secret operatives who designed and deployed the chilling but effective weapons of clandestine warfare * USA Today *Milton is a first-rate storyteller . . . a rousing account - and celebration - of most insidious heroes * Wall Street Journal *Milton is a first-rate storyteller . . . a rousing account - and celebration - of most insidious heroes * Wall Street Journal *Milton is a first-rate storyteller . . . a rousing account - and celebration - of most insidious heroes * Wall Street Journal *[Giles Milton] writes with relish about the eccentrics who dreamed up the likes of anti-tank 'sticky bombs' while the adventures he describes could not be faster-moving or more exciting * Literary Review *[Giles Milton] writes with relish about the eccentrics who dreamed up the likes of anti-tank 'sticky bombs' while the adventures he describes could not be faster-moving or more exciting * Literary Review *[Giles Milton] writes with relish about the eccentrics who dreamed up the likes of anti-tank 'sticky bombs' while the adventures he describes could not be faster-moving or more exciting * Literary Review *This account of dirty bombs and derring-do rattles along with the pace of a spy novel * Daily Express *This account of dirty bombs and derring-do rattles along with the pace of a spy novel * Daily Express *This account of dirty bombs and derring-do rattles along with the pace of a spy novel * Daily Express *A magnificent story, brilliantly told. Read it! * Anthony Horowitz *A magnificent story, brilliantly told. Read it! * Anthony Horowitz *A magnificent story, brilliantly told. Read it! * Anthony Horowitz *Terrific . . . a great read * Ian Hislop *Terrific . . . a great read * Ian Hislop *Terrific . . . a great read * Ian Hislop *

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Book SynopsisRichard Freiherr von Rosen was a highly-decorated Wehrmacht soldier and outstanding panzer commander. His memoirs, richly illustrated with contemporary photographs, including key confrontations of World War II. After serving as a gunlayer on a Pz.Mk.III during Barbarossa, he led a Company of Tigers at Kursk, later a company of King Tiger panzers at Normandy and in late 1944 commanded a battle group (12 King Tigers and a flak Company) against the Russians in Hungary in the rank of junior, later senior lieutenant (from November 1944, his final rank.) ?? Only 489 of these King Tiger tanks were ever built. They were the most powerful heavy tanks to see service, and only one kind of shell could penetrate their armour at a reasonable distance. Every effort had to be made to retrieve any of them bogged down or otherwise immobilized, which led to many towing adventures. The author has a fine memory and eye for detail, his account is easy to read and not technical, and adds very substantially to the knowledge of how the German Panzer Arm operated in the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisAs the wars of Napoleon ravage Europe, chaos and fear reign and the darkness that once clung to the shadows has been emboldened. Supernatural creatures vampires, werewolves, ghouls, and worse take advantage of the havoc, striking out at isolated farms, villages, and even military units. Whether they are pursuing some master plan or simply revelling in their newfound freedom is unknown. Most people dismiss reports of these slaughters as the rantings of madmen or the lies of deserters, but a few know better The Silver Bayonet is a skirmish wargame of gothic horror set during the Napoleonic Wars. Each player forms an elite band of monster hunters drawn from the ranks of one of the great powers. Riflemen, swordsmen, and engineers fight side-by-side with mystics, occultists, and even those few supernatural creatures that can be controlled or reasoned with enough to make common cause. The game can be played solo, co-operatively, or competitively, with players progressing tTrade ReviewHorror games set in Napoleonic Europe, I'm pretty pumped for this. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun -- Ash Barker * GMG Reviews *“McCullough has proved his pedigree with his games so far… an interesting option for those of a more historical persuasion and those who like their horror and fantasy.” -- , * OnTabletop *The rules are refined, matches are tense and tight, and the narrative side of the game can be as focused or supplemental as you like. Most importantly, this might be the best jumping-on point for those totally new to small skirmishers. -- , * Wargamer *

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Book SynopsisFeaturing specially commissioned artwork, archive photography, and full-color maps, this engrossing study investigates the doctrine, training, equipment, and combat record of the French and German troops who clashed in three key battles during the epic struggle for the Verdun sector at the height of World War I. On February 21, 1916, the German Army launched a major attack on the French fortress of Verdun. The Germans were confident that the ensuing battle would compel France to expend its strategic reserves in a savage attritional battle, thereby wearing down Allied fighting power on the Western Front. However, initial German success in capturing a key early objective, Fort Douaumont, was swiftly stemmed by the French defenses, despite heavy French casualties. The Germans then switched objectives, but made slow progress towards their goals; by July, the battle had become a stalemate. During the protracted struggle for Verdun, the two sides'' infantrymen faceTable of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Bois des Caures Mort-homme Fort Vaux Analysis Aftermath Unit Organizations Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFormer Tornado Navigator John Nichol tells the incredible story of the RAF Tornado force during the First Gulf War in 1991; the excitement and the danger, the fear and the losses. It is an extraordinary account of courage and fortitude.‘We were doing about 620 miles-per-hour, 200 feet above the desert, in total darkness. Everything was running on rails as we approached the target. Then all hell broke loose. I remember the missile being fired at us; I broke left and shouted, “Chaff!” ‘All I could see was a flame, like a very large firework, coming towards me. Then there was a huge white flash. I remember an enormous wind and then I was knocked unconscious. My last thoughts were that I was going to die.’In 1990, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and occupation of neighbouring Kuwait, settTrade Review'Gripping…A story of unrivalled bravery' * Daily Express *'He has used his extensive knowledge and contacts to create a well-rounded record of the Tornado strike force during the Gulf War. He... brings the experience of flying and fighting the aircraft to life in a dramatic but expert fashion... Nichol combines a professional eye for the technicalities with the human stories to create a readable and informative work, and a fitting tribute to those who did not come home.' * History of War *‘Nichol superbly interleaves graphic stories of combat with the effects on those left at home. The author describes combat with a superbly written dispassionate voice, relating the technicalities and feelings of modern combat clearly and with a style that takes you seamlessly from the Tornado’s cockpit to the fears of those left at home … This is a fine book to join his “biographies” of the Spitfire and Lancaster … And one of the best pieces of sharp-end military history I have had the privilege and pleasure of reading.’ * The Aviation Historian *

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Book SynopsisIf you know your enemies and know yourself, you can win numerous battles without a single loss. – Sun Tzu, The Art of War Written in the 6th century BC, Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is still used as a book of military strategy today. Napoleon, Mae Zedong and Douglas MacArthur all claimed to have drawn inspiration from it. And beyond the world of war, modern-era business and management gurus have also applied Sun Tzu’s ideas to politics and corporate strategy. This illustrated dual-language edition not only presents the original Chinese characters with James Trapp’s translation on the facing page, it also tests Sun Tzu’s ideas against history. Each of the 13 chapters includes a new commentary giving examples of how Sun Tzu’s wisdom has been borne out on the world’s battlefields. When, for example, has information provided by spies changed the course of a battle? How has history shown Sun Tzu’s ideas on the importance of terrain in conflict to be true? And where can we best find examples of strategic warfare being waged? From the ancient world to the 20th century, the battles featured will be illustrated with colour battle maps, paintings and artworks. Of immense influence to leaders across millennia, The Art of War Illustrated is a classic text richly deserving this illustrated and expanded dual-language edition.Table of ContentsIntroduction Planning Case study: Sicily, 1943, by Kevin Dougherty Waging War Case study: Zama, 202 BCE, by Ralph Ashby Strategic Offence Case study: Granicus, 334 BCE, by Miles Doleac Deployment Case study: Gulf War, 1991, by Stephen Hart Momentum Case study: Vistula–Oder Offensive, 1945, by Stephen Hart The Substantial and the Insubstantial Case study: Somalia, 1993, by Kevin Dougherty Manoeuvres against the Enemy Case study: Mohi, 1241, by Stephen Turnbull The Nine Variables Case study: Mobei, 119 BCE, by Ralph Ashby On the March Case study: Jena–Auerstädt, 1806, by Frederick C. Schneid Terrain Case study: Gettysburg, 1863, by Kevin Dougherty The Nine Types of Ground Case study: Stalingrad, 1942–43, by Stephen Hart Attacking with Fire Case study: Ia Drang, 1965, by Kevin Dougherty Using Spies Case study: Shimabara, 1638, by Stephen Turnbull Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisThis fascinating millitary history tells the intriguing tale of the bitter and attritional Winter War between the USSR and Finland in the midst of World War II.On 30 November 1939, Soviet bombers unloaded their bombs on Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Stalin's ultimatum, demanding the cession of huge tracts of territory as a buffer zone against Nazi Germany, had been rejected by the Finnish government, and now a small Baltic republic was at war with the giant Soviet military machine.But this forgotten war, fought under brutal, sub-arctic conditions, often with great heroism on both sides, proved one of the most astonishing in military history. Using guerrilla fighters on skis, even reindeer to haul supplies on sleds, heroic single-handed attacks on tanks, and with unfathomable endurance and the charismatic leadership of one of the 20th century's true military geniuses, Finland not only kept at bay but won an epic, if short-lived, victory over the hapless Russian conscripts.Its surreal engagements included the legendary "Sausage Battle", when starving Soviet troops who had over-run a Finnish encampment couldn't resist the cauldrons of hot sausage soup left behind by their opponents - and were ambushed as they stopped to sup.Although by sheer attritional weight of numbers Stalin eventually prevailed over the Finns, their pointed resistance enabled their country to remain free, even as other countries fell one by one.This book gives a telling insight into the military history of Russia, as once again Russian troops march on foreign soil, and a nation at Russia's borders fights to retain its independence.

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Book SynopsisAcclaimed historian and best-selling author Antony Beevor vividly brings to life the epic struggles that took place in Second World War Crete - reissued with a new introduction.''The best book we have got on Crete'' ObserverThe Germans expected their airborne attack on Crete in 1941 - a unique event in the history of warfare - to be a textbook victory based on tactical surprise. They had no idea that the British, using Ultra intercepts, knew their plans and had laid a carefully-planned trap. It should have been the first German defeat of the war, but a fatal misunderstanding turned the battle round. Nor did the conflict end there. Ferocious Cretan freedom fighters mounted a heroic resistance, aided by a dramatic cast of British officers from Special Operations Executive.Trade ReviewAntony Beevor's unerring flair for the climate and the feel of the conflict ... his insight and his grasp of these events make them seem as though they had happened last week * Patrick Leigh Fermor, Daily Telegraph *Excellent . . . an arresting account of the whole war on Crete, including the ghastly experiences of the Cretans under German occupation * John Keegan, Sunday Telegraph *The best book we have got on Crete * Michael Foot, Observer *Beevor's account is excellent: fresh, lively and peppered with anecdotes * Mail on Sunday *'A new paperback edition is welcome for two reasons; reminding us that Beevor is a writer and historian of rare ability and for starkly illustrating the variables of war' * Neville Smith, Lloyd's List *

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Book SynopsisA riveting double biography of Nazi Germany's most highly decorated women test pilots - Hitler's personal Valkyries.Hanna Reitsch and Melitta von Stauffenberg were talented, courageous and strikingly attractive women who fought convention to make their names in the male-dominated field of flight in 1930s Germany. With the war, both became pioneering test pilots and both were awarded the Iron Cross for service to the Third Reich. But they could not have been more different and neither woman had a good word to say for the other.Hanna was middle-class, vivacious and distinctly Aryan, while the darker, more self-effacing Melitta, came from an aristocratic Prussian family. Both were driven by deeply held convictions about honour and patriotism but ultimately while Hanna tried to save Hitler's life, begging him to let her fly him to safety in April 1945, Melitta covertly supported the most famous attempt to assassinate the Führer. Their interwovenTrade ReviewVividly drawn . . . this is a thrilling story. * Telegraph *This is popular history of a high order. * Times *A satisfying, rollicking read . . . well researched and beautifully written. * Spectator *This compelling work has the drama and suspense of the best movie scripts. * Library Journal USA *Biographer Mulley comes through in a major way . . . absolutely gripping. * Booklist, USA *An utterly compelling read * Historia *Packed with detail and colour. * History Revealed *

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Book SynopsisAviation has revolutionised warfare over the last 100 years, and this new pocket guide gives the reader the essential details of 70 iconic aircraft, including the Sopwith Camel, the Spitfire, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the P-51 Mustang and the F-4 Phantom. Drawing on Osprey’s comprehensive aviation archive, the Plane Spotter’s Guide uses detailed profile artwork to illustrate and aid recognition, as well as specification boxes to provide all the technical details.Table of ContentsSopwith Pup /Albatros D III /Nieuport 17 /SPAD VII /Sopwith Camel /RAF SE 5/5a /Fokker Dr I /Fokker D VII /Polikarpov 1-16 /Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress /Bristol Blenheim /Consolidated PBY Catalina /Messerschmitt Bf 109 /Gloster Gladiator /Hawker Hurricane /Junkers Ju 87 /Supermarine Spitfire /Short Sunderland /Messerschmitt Bf 110 /Fiat CR.42 Falco /Junkers Ju 88 /Mitsubishi A6M Zero-sen /Curtiss P-40 Warhawk /North American B-25 Mitchell /Grumman F4F Wildcat /Douglas SBD Dauntless /Bristol Beaufighter /de Havilland Mosquito /Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik /Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa /Martin B-26 Marauder /Lockheed P-38 Lightning /Focke-Wulf Fw 190 /Hawker Typhoon /Consolidated B-24 Liberator /Republic P-47 Thunderbolt /Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien /Macchi C.202 Folgore /North American P-51 Mustang /Curtiss SB2C Helldiver /Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger /Vought F4U Corsair /Avro Lancaster /Lavochkin La-5/7 /Boeing B-29 Superfortress /Grumman F6F Hellcat /Messerschmitt Me 262 /Yakovlev Yak-3 /Mikoyan MiG-15 /North American F-86 Sabre /Grumman F9F Panther /Martin B-57 Canberra /North American F-100 Super Sabre /Boeing B-52 Stratofortress /Douglas A-4 Skyhawk /Handley Page Victor /Avro Vulcan /Vought F-8 Crusader /Republic F-105 Thunderchief /Mikoyan MiG-21 /McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II /Dassault Mirage III /Lockheed SR-71 /Grumman F-14 Tomcat /McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle/Strike Eagle /General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon /McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet /Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk /McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II /Rockwell B-1B Lancer

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Book SynopsisTells the complete, illustrated story of a momentous year in world history: 1945.

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Book SynopsisIn March 1943 a team of expatriate Norwegian commandos sailed from the most northerly part of Britain for Nazi-occupied Norway. Their mission was to organise and support the Norwegian resistance. They were betrayed, and only one man survived the ambush by the Nazis.Crippled by frostbite, snow-blind and hunted by the Nazis, Jan Baalstrud managed to find a tiny arctic village. There - delirious, near death - he found villagers willing to risk their own lives to save him. David Howarth narrates his incredible escape in this gripping tale of courage and the resilience of the human spirit.Trade ReviewExcellent...a deeply moving Arctic saga * * The Times * *We Die Alone fills one with humble admiration for the stubborn courage of a man who refused to die under circumstances that would have killed ninety-nine men out of a hundred. * * New York Times * *A book that I absolutely could not put down...and one that I will never forget. * * Steven E. Ambrose, author of Band of Brothers * *Almost unbelievable. We Die Alone is a spine-chiller. It was well become a legend. -- Boston PostHowarth's narrative is thoroughly involving; you can almost hear the shriek of the Arctic wind, be blinded by the snow and feel the frostbite. As vividly portrayed as his personal courage is the desolating impact of war on a handful of remote Norwegian fishing settlements. -- David Stafford * * Times Literary Supplement * *One of the most extraordinary escape stories you will ever read . . . outstanding -- Andy McNabastonishing and enthralling * * The Scottish Mail on Sunday * *

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Book SynopsisIn ancient times, the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) was home to warriors of great renown. Spanish and Celtiberian warriors, both infantry and cavalry, provided the backbone of the Carthaginian armies that terrorized Italy under Hannibal and proved even more ferocious in defence of their homeland against later Roman occupation. The Lusitanian resistance under Viriathus was among the toughest the Romans encountered anywhere. Professor Quesada Sanz details the arms, armour and equipment of the various warriors of the region in fantastic detail, drawing on his intimate knowledge of the latest archaeological and historical research. His clear and informative text is supported throughout by a wealth of photographs, diagrams and exquisite colour artwork by Carlos Fernandez del Castillo. This beautiful book is a rare combination of detailed, comprehensive information and sumptuous visual appeal that will be cherished by anyone with an interest in the warriors and weapons of the ancient world. The Spanish edition won the Hislibris Award for the 'Best Historical Book' for 2010 and is here faithfully translated into English.

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Book SynopsisHerman Hesse remained clear-sighted and consistent in his political views and his passionate espousal of pacifism and the bloody absurdity of war from the start of the First World War to the end of his life. He wrote the earliest essay in this book in September 1914, before he cemented his fame with the novels Steppenwolf and Siddhartha, and continued writing a stream of letters, essays and pamphlets throughout the war. In his native Germany his views earned him the labels 'traitor' and 'viper', but after World War II he was moved to reiterate his beliefs in another series of essays and letters.If the War Goes On . . . resonates as strongly today as it did when originally published and begs the question: have our politicians learnt nothing in the last seventy years?Trade ReviewJust as telling now as it must have been when it first appeared * * Guardian * *A writer of genius * * The Times * *A spectacular and deeply insightful read * * Brain Pickings * *

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Book SynopsisNapoleon Bonaparte held absolute political power in France and his influence stretched across Europe and beyond. Yet he remained between leading his armies and ruling over a vast empire an indefatigable reader who even carried libraries into battle. Bonaparte's love of the written word, birthed in childhood and nurtured as an adolescent and young adult, never left him. He was a lover of literature for its own sake often swooning over melodramatic love stories but he also understood the value of books as instruments of power. Before his campaigns, he poured over dozens of texts relating to the relevant theatres' geography, population, trade, and history. When contemplating grave decisions, such as his divorce to Empress Josephine, he consulted the historical record for useful precedents to justify and inform his actions. To bolster his troop's morale during challenging times, he constantly referenced history in his proclamations, making his contemporaries feel as if they were acti

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE MARK LYNTON HISTORY PRIZE LONGLISTED FOR THE RSL ONDAATJE PRIZE ‘A gripping reconstruction… utterly compelling reading.’ Adam Zamoyski ‘This is a grim story, thoroughly researched and brilliantly told.’ Geoffrey Alderman, Times Higher Education The Katyn Massacre of 22,000 Polish prisoners of war is a crime to which there are no witnesses. Committed in utmost secrecy in April-May 1940 by the NKVD on the direct orders of Joseph Stalin, for nearly fifty years the Soviet regime succeeded in maintaining the fiction that Katyn was a Nazi atrocity, their story unchallenged by Western governments fearful of upsetting a powerful wartime ally and Cold War adversary. Surviving Katyn explores the decades-long search for answers, focusing on the experience of those individuals with the most at stake - the few survivors of the massacre and the Polish wartime forensicTrade Review‘[Rogoyska] vividly recreates the last months of the officers – artists, scientists, engineers and poets as well as career military men – who were initially held at three special camps run by the NKVD.’ -- Sunday Times‘A gripping reconstruction of one of the most gruesome and haunting crimes of the Second World War… makes for utterly compelling reading, and lays bare its toxic legacy.’ -- Adam Zamoyski, author of Poland: A History‘This is a grim story, thoroughly researched and brilliantly told.’ * Geoffrey Alderman, Times Higher Education *‘In a riveting narrative, Rogoyska brings the victims out of the shadows, telling their stories as well as those of the people desperately searching for them. Throughout, the author’s humanity is on full display… Rogoyska is to be commended for resurrecting this heartbreaking tale. A work of significant moral clarity and elegant precision.’ -- Kirkus, starred review‘A well-researched and beautifully written narrative of the appalling fate of the Polish officers captured by the Soviets in 1939 and massacred in 1940. Through the testimony of the few survivors and the investigators, Rogoyska brings to life the suffering of the Poles which continued for decades after the war as Soviet culpability for the crime was denied across the world.’ -- Halik Kochanski, author of The Eagle Unbowed'One Second World War crime to escape judgment at the Nuremberg Trials was the massacre of thousands of Polish officers in the Katyń Forest in western Russia at the early stage of the war. The judges failed because, on their panel, they had the representatives of the perpetrator: the Soviet Union. Jane Rogoyska offers a riveting story of the crime, the cover-up and the search for the truth, which is far from over even today. In bringing the story of Katyń up to date, Rogoyska helps us understand not only the crimes of the past but also the political manipulations of the present.' * Serhii Plokhy, the author of Chernobyl and Forgotten Bastards of the Eastern Front: An Untold Story of World War II *'If you don't understand Katyn you don't understand the Second World War, you don't understand Europe, you don't understand crime and you don't understand lies. And you can't understand Katyn without reading this brilliant book. It is, I'm afraid, as simple as that.' * Daniel Finkelstein, Times columnist *‘Surviving Katyn is a pivotal contribution. Readers seeking to understand the plight of Poles during the Second World War, or come to terms with the duplicity and cruelty of Stalin and his NKVD, or submerge themselves in a rich and humane story of hope, suffering, and deceit, will find much of value in Surviving Katyn. With the empathy of a novelist and the precision of a historian, Rogoyska unfolds the story of Katyn.’ * American Conservative *‘Rogoyska’s study of men under extreme pressure draws out the nuances of these dilemmas, presenting us with ordinary people confronting their own doubts and fears.’ -- Times Literary Supplement‘Striking… Brought to life by the small, meticulous details, this immersive account of the Polish soldiers captured by the Soviets and how they were eventually led to their deaths is harrowing… Rogoyska’s empathy… permeates her book, ensuring that once read this story will not be easily forgotten.’ -- All About History‘A history book that makes the blood run cold.’ -- Five Books‘Within a well researched, politically challenging, and emotionally disturbing text, the author unravels and provides substantive evidence for Soviet responsibility for the heinous war crime.’ -- Love Wrexham

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Book SynopsisAs this superb memoir bears out, General Sir Frank Kitson's 41-year career ranks among the most distinguished and eventful of the post-1945 era. Commissioned into the Rifle Brigade at the end of the Second World War, he distinguished himself during the vicious Mau Mau campaign. His highly innovative tactics and personal courage earned him his first Military Cross. The second quickly followed in Malaya at the height of the Emergency. In typically understated style, the Author describes his role planning the fight against communist aggression in Oman and his two tours in Cyprus, the second when commanding 1st Battalion The Royal Green Jackets. His effective uncompromising approach while commanding 39 Infantry Brigade in Belfast in the early 1970s was to have life-long security implications for Kitson and his family. Despite controversy he was marked out for high command. As GOC 2nd Armoured Division in BAOR and Commandant of The Staff College, his forensic brain and experience made

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Book SynopsisThe five-month Monte Cassino campaign in central Italy is one of the best-known European land battles of World War Two, alongside D-Day and Stalingrad. It has a particular resonance now, because Cassino, with its multitude of participating armies - most notably the American 5th Army under the controversial General Mark Clark - was perhaps the campaign of the Second World War that most closely anticipates the coalition operations of today, with its ever-shifting cast of players stuck in inhospitable, mountainous terrain, pursuing an objective set by unknowing politicians in distant capitals, where victory is difficult to define. Monte Cassino was characterised by the destruction of its world famous Abbey: in retrospect, considered an unjustifiable act of cultural vandalism by the allies.The audit trail of decision-making to destroy an icon as well known then as the Eiffel Tower or Lincoln Memorial, is a chilling reminder that similar decisions are still being made in ITrade ReviewPeter Caddick-Adams has brought highly perceptive and much-needed fresh analysis to this new account of the Cassino battles. Both authoritative and compellingly written, his immense knowledge and understanding of the Second World War exudes off every page. It will unquestionably remain the standard text on this bloody episode of the war for many years to come * James Holland *

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Book SynopsisFrom Roger Knight, established by the multi-award winning The Pursuit of Victory as ''an authority ... none of his rivals can match'' (N.A.M. Rodger), Britain Against Napoleon is the first book to explain how the British state successfully organised itself to overcome Napoleon - and how very close it came to defeatFor more than twenty years after 1793, the French army was supreme in continental Europe. How was it that despite multiple changes of government and the assassination of a Prime Minister, Britain survived and eventually won a generation-long war against a regime which at its peak in 1807 commanded many times the resources and manpower?This book looks beyond the familiar exploits (and bravery) of the army and navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. It shows the degree to which, because of the magnitude and intensity of hostilities, the capacities of the whole British population were involved: industrialists, farmers, shipbuilders, gunsmiths and gunpowder manufacturers. The intelligence war was also central; but no participants were more important, Knight argues, than the bankers and international traders of the City of London, without whom the armies of Britain''s allies could not have taken the field.ROGER KNIGHT was Deputy Director of the National Maritime Museum until 2000, and now teaches at the Greenwich Maritime Institute at the University of Greenwich. In 2005 he published, with Allen Lane/Penguin, The Pursuit of Victory: the life and achievement of Horatio Nelson, which won the Duke of Westminster''s Medal for Military History, the Mountbatten Award and the Anderson Medal of the Society for Nautical Research. The present book is a culmination of his life-long interest in the workings of the late eighteenth-century British state.''Superb'' - SpectatorTrade ReviewA wonderfully disorienting read ... for [Knight] the real heroes of the struggle against Napoleon are not Wellington or Nelson or Collingwood or Cochrane but the clerks and administrators and 'silent men of business' who put Britain's armies in the field and kept her ships at sea and her allies in funds and ultimately won the war ... there is scarcely a wasted sentence here, not a duff page, not a chapter ... that does not bring you very close to the realities of a total war -- David Crane * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill (1874-1965) was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945 and from 1951 to 1955. A prolific writer, whose works include The Second World War and A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953.

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Book SynopsisWinston Churchill''s six-volume history of the cataclysm that swept the world remains the definitive history of the Second World War. Lucid, dramatic, remarkable both for its breadth and sweep and for its sense of personal involvement, it is universally acknowledged as a magnificent reconstruction and is an enduring, compelling work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. The Hinge of Fate describes how the tide of the war gradually turned for Britain and its allies from constant defeat to almost unbroken successes - Japan''s successful assault on the Pacific, Britain''s attempts to aid a beleaguered Russia and the defeat of Rommel at the Battle of Alamein.

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER''A parable written for the age of technological disruption . . . brilliantly told'' Sunday TimesThe international bestselling author returns with an exploration of one of the grandest obsessions of the twentieth century''The Bomber Mafia is a case study in how dreams go awry. When some shiny new idea drops from the heavens, it does not land softly in our laps. It lands hard, on the ground, and shatters.''In the years before the Second World War, in a sleepy air force base in central Alabama, a small group of renegade pilots put forth a radical idea. What if we made bombing so accurate that wars could be fought entirely from the air? What if we could make the brutal clashes between armies on the ground a thing of the past?This book tells the story of what happened when that dream was put to the test. The Bomber Mafia follows the stories of a reclusive Dutch genius aTrade ReviewA parable written for the age of technological disruption . . . brilliantly told -- James McConnachie * Sunday Times *Remarkable . . . a work of art . . . one puts this book down shaking one's head at the folly and human cost of it all -- Paul Kennedy * Wall Street Journal *Gripping . . . in Gladwell's deft hands, the Air Force generals of World War II come back to life as the stirring 20th-century equivalent of Adm. Horatio Nelson and his band of audacious captains from the age of fighting sail . . . Gladwell is a wonderful storyteller -- Thomas E. Ricks * The New York Times *Impassioned . . . engagingly written -- Saul David * Telegraph *Riveting . . .The Bomber Mafia looks at one of the greatest moral challenges of the Second World War -- Michael Lewis * author of The Fifth Risk *Told with the muscular, driving narrative and fizzingly charismatic (real-life) characters of a movie -- Ed Grenby * Radio Times *A thought-provoking, accessible account of how people respond to difficult choices in difficult times . . . Gladwell's easy conversational style works well . . . his portraits of individuals are compelling -- Diana Preston * Washington Post *Unexpected empathy . . . fabulistic energy * Esquire *Lively, engaging . . . a fascinating story -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *Important and characteristically readable . . . Gladwell is possibly the most confident storyteller in non-fiction. He always knows exactly where he is going, and he takes you with him in pleasure and comfort. -- Simon Kuper * New Statesman *Gladwell's eloquence and flair for lateral thinking make for a compelling read -- Simon Griffith * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisGitta Sereny reveals how Albert Speer came to terms with his own acts and failures to act, his progress from moral extinction to moral self-education and the question of his real culpability in the Nazi crimes.

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Book SynopsisBetween two attempts in 1800 and 1804 to assassinate Napoleon Bonaparte, the British government launched a campaign of black propaganda of unprecedented scope and intensity to persuade George III''s reluctant subjects to fight the Napoleonic War, a war to the death against one man: the Corsican usurper and tyrant.This Dark Business tells the story of the British government''s determination to destroy Napoleon Bonaparte by any means possible. We have been taught to think of Napoleon as the aggressor - a man with an unquenchable thirst for war and glory - but what if this story masked the real truth: that the British refusal to make peace either with revolutionary France or with the man who claimed to personify the revolution was the reason this Great War continued for more than twenty years? At this pivotal moment when it consolidated its place as number one world power Britain was uncompromising. To secure the continuing rule of Church and King, the British invented aTrade ReviewGroundbreaking -- Andrew Roberts * Sunday Times *What an astonishing story it all is, alternately inspiring and disturbing, a challenging addition to the Napoleonic canon . . . Clayton writes with a fine eye for detail. You smell the sewers in which these men (and some women) hid or escaped, the cells in which they were confined and sometimes died - and the fear * Spectator *In the era of fake news, this fascinating tale has obvious contemporary resonances * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisAfter Germany''s defeat in World War II, Europe lay in tatters. Millions of refugees were dispersed across the continent. Food and fuel were scarce. Britain was bankrupt, while Germany had been reduced to rubble. In July of 1945, Harry Truman, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin gathered in a quiet suburb of Berlin to negotiate a lasting peace: a peace that would finally put an end to the conflagration that had started in 1914, a peace under which Europe could be rebuilt.The award-winning historian Michael Neiberg brings the turbulent Potsdam conference to life, vividly capturing the delegates'' personalities: Truman, trying to escape from the shadow of Franklin Roosevelt, who had died only months before Churchill, bombastic and seemingly out of touch Stalin, cunning and meticulous. For the first week, negotiations progressed relatively smoothly. But when the delegates took a recess for the British elections, Churchill was replaced,both as prime minster and as Britain''s representativTrade Review2016 Harry S. Truman Book Award Wall Street Journal "An easily digestible page-turner." Financial Times "[A] crisp, elegantly organized account of Potsdam... [An] excellent book." Weekly Standard "[Neiberg is] a skilled storyteller." America in World War II "[A] well-researched, perceptive history." Library Journal "An intriguing and readable book about a conference that has been relegated to footnotes for much too long. A must-have account for everyone..." Publishers Weekly "[A] thoughtful, mildly controversial account... Neiberg's insightful history makes a case that Potsdam worked much better than Versailles had in 1919." Kirkus "This is a solid account of the conference, concisely summarizing its results and significance without excessive indulgence in entertaining personal anecdotes. Fills a hitherto surprisingly empty niche in the World War II library." Geoffrey Wawro, author of A Mad Catastrophe: The Outbreak of World War I and the Collapse of the Habsburg Empire "Michael Neiberg has given us a taut, masterful account of Potsdam, revealing that the Big Three operated more from fear--of each other, of their peoples, of their rivals, and of fast-moving events on the ground--than from any degree of confidence or certainty. The Cold War was born at Potsdam, and Neiberg seats us at the conference table, to feel the tension and acrimony." Jeremi Suri, author of Liberty's Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama "The Potsdam Conference defined international relations in the second half of the twentieth century, and it continues to influence contemporary events in Europe and East Asia. This book offers a compelling account of the events that led to the conference, the personalities who dominated the conference, and the consequences of their decisions. Neiberg explains why Potsdam was more successful than the Versailles Conference at the end of the First World War, and he analyzes how Potsdam contributed to postwar peace. This is a powerful book with high drama--a must-read for anyone interested in global affairs." Norman Stone, author of World War Two: A Short History "Michael Neiberg's Potsdam is a masterpiece of much needed compression on the Potsdam Conference of 1945, and the contrast with peacemaking in 1919 is excellently brought out." Dennis Showalter, Professor History at Colorado College "Ghosts and hopes informed the 1945 Potsdam Conference, which began a new era in European and world history. Michael Neiberg's comprehensively researched, smoothly presented analysis demonstrates that the statesmen who met at Potsdam were as much concerned with ending the era of total war that began in 1914 as with addressing the question of how best to go forward in securing peace and stability. Potsdam describes the processes and consequences in a perceptive work confirming the author's status as a leading scholar of the twentieth century experience." Jonathan Schneer, author of Ministers at War: Winston Churchill and His War Cabinet "With the end of war in Europe in May 1945, Truman, Stalin, Churchill, and their advisors met at Potsdam to solve the 'German problem' once and for all. They agreed upon the main task, but on little else. Shrewdly and economically, Michael Neiberg delineates the conflicting motives and interests that separated the leaders of 'the Big Three.' Mr. Neiberg provides deft pen portraits of the principals as well. He has taken an enormously complicated subject and made it comprehensible for the general reader." Andrew Roberts, author of The Storm of War: A New History of the Second World War "Although the Potsdam Conference isn't as famous as those held at Casablanca, Quebec, or Yalta, Michael Neiberg brilliantly shows how the decisions made at Potsdam color today's world far more than its counterparts. With compelling prose and first-class scholarship, Neiberg superbly captures its spirit of misplaced optimism, as the world teetered on the brink of a totally unnecessary Cold War." Jeremy Black, author of Rethinking World War Two "A first rate account of a meeting that played a key role in defining the postwar world. Scholarly, thoughtful, and well written."Table of Contents1. "Jesus Christ and General Jackson" 2. "The Most Terrible Responsibility Any Man Ever Faced" 3. May Days 4. "Our Troubles Might Not Yet Be Over" 5. "A Vast Undertaking": Coming to Potsdam 6. "What a Scene of Destruction" 7. "In Seventeen Days You Can Decide Anything" 8. "I Dreamed That My Life Was Over" 9. " Dismemberment as a Permanent Fate"? Solving the Problem of Germany 10. "The Bastard of Versailles" 11. Dr. Grove's Son and the Fate of East Asia

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Book SynopsisDrawing on extensive archival research and interviews with survivors of the period, Eric Lee has written the definitive account of the raid, putting it into the context of the German occupation of British lands during the war.Trade Review"An authentic and compelling read." -- Damien Lewis * best-selling author of Hunting Hitler's Nukes, Churchill's Secret Warriors, and The Nazi Hunters. *"Riveting." * The Wall Street Journal *"Gripping detail." * Jersey Evening Post *"Drawing on extensive research from a number of sources, including interviews with survivors from the period, the author tells the story of Operation Basalt for the very first time and exposes some fascinating detail which also puts into context the German wartime occupation of the Channel Islands ... Any reader with an interest in the war in the Channel Islands really needs to have this on his bookshelf!" * Britain at War *"Well-researched ... a most informative read." * Channel Islands Occupation Society newsletter *

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Book Synopsis‘We continued to receive unwelcome visits from the Hun – Fw 190s dropping bombs.’

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Book SynopsisLiving in the Third Reich intricately weaves together the personal stories of German historical witnesses across thematic chapters, covering diverse facets of the wartime experience. From the early years of National Socialism to the devastating bombings of German cities, these narratives are enriched with personal documents and photographs, vividly providing the human face of history. This book is more than just a chronicle of events; it is a profound exploration of human suffering and memory. Each testimony contributes to a larger mosaic, unveiling the emotional and psychological landscapes of those who endured one of history's darkest periods. Included are German perspectives on antisemitic violence, such as the Night of Broken Glass and the deportation of Jews. The book also contains accounts from those who witnessed allied bombings across Germany, and the civilians caught up in the Russian invasion. The book goes on to cover the aftermath of the war, with people displaced and some forced into labour, and life in post-war Germany. The author's dedication to impartial presentation allows these stories to resonate on their own, providing a rare and invaluable perspective on the past. Years of painstaking research, translation, and editing have transformed this book into a treasure trove for scholars and general readers alike. It serves as a vital preservation of a generation's voices, fostering a deeper understanding of how the Third Reich's profoundly impacted ordinary lives. By presenting these accounts in their unaltered and honest form, the author ensures that the true essence of these experiences is captured and conveyed.

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Book SynopsisThis is an important book on one of the most controversial campaigns of the Second World War. 'When we came out above ground there was rubble everywhere, asphalt on the roads had melted in the heat. My only thought was to get out of this hellhole.â Ivar Corneliussen, Waffen-SS trooper

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Book SynopsisIn-depth investigation of the problems of British tank design in the interwar years and during the war.

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Book SynopsisDescribes how the ambitious Allied airborne Landing at Arnhem was thwarted by the presence of two elite Waffen-SS divisions. Covers the fierce action as the lightly armed Paras were worn down. Superb contemporary images of action and equipment. Compiled by leading IOW author.

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Book SynopsisTHE GRIPPING FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT OF BIN LADEN''S EXECUTION For the first time, read the first-hand account of the planning and execution of the extraordinary mission to kill the terrorist mastermind. No Easy Day puts readers inside the elite, handpicked twenty-four-man team known as SEAL Team Six as they train for the most important mission of their lives. From the crash of the Black Hawk helicopter that threatened the mission with disaster, to the radio call confirming their target was dead, the SEAL team raid on bin Laden''s secret HQ is recounted in nail-biting second-by-second detail. Team leader Mark Owen takes readers behind enemy lines with one of the world''s most astonishing fighting forces, in the only insider''s account of their most spectacular mission. ''No Easy Day amounts to a cinematic account of the raid to kill Bin Laden: you feel as if you''re sitting in the Black Hawk as it swoops in'' NTrade ReviewNo Easy Day amounts to a cinematic account of the raid to kill Bin Laden: you feel as if you're sitting in the Black Hawk as it swoops in. * New York Times *A blistering first-hand account * The Sun *

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Book Synopsis''Rich and funny'' Julian Barnes, Guardian''Poirier''s hugely enjoyable, quick-witted and richly anecdotal book is magnifique'' The TimesA captivating portrait of those who lived, loved, fought, played and flourished in Paris between 1940 and 1950 and whose intellectual and artistic output still influences us today.After the horrors of the Second World War, Paris was the place where the world''s most original voices of the time came among them Norman Mailer, Miles Davis, Simone de Beauvoir, James Baldwin, Juliette Greco, Alberto Giacometti, Saul Bellow and Arthur Koestler. Fuelled by the elation of the Liberation, these pioneers hoped to find an alternative to the Capitalist and Communist models for life, art and politics a Third Way.Agnès Poirier transports us to a time when Paris was at the heart of all that was new and brave and controversial, skilfully weaving together a collage of images and destinies.Trade ReviewBriskly plotted, gossip-fuelled, character-driven cultural history ... Poirier’s hugely enjoyable, quick-witted and richly anecdotal book is magnifique’ * The Times *A tour de force … weaves together so many people, ideas, trends, occurrences, and above all Parisian places, into a tapestry of fascinations – a distillation of the essence of an amazing time … the best of its kind I have ever read -- A.C. GraylingA brilliant recapturing of a fascinating era. Artistic and intellectual Paris comes vividly and memorably alive in these pages. A tremendous achievement -- William BoydWeighty thought and earthy behaviour are the twin engines behind Agnès Poirier’s briskly entertaining ride through France’s most mouvemonté decade * Sunday Times *Poirier does not shy away from exposing the joy and pain of experimental living or from exploring with sensitivity the moral ambiguity of living through the Occupation ... compulsive reading -- Anne Sebba, author of 'Les Parisiennes: Resistance, Collaboration, and the Women of Paris Under Nazi Occupation'A book which combines rich and subtle intellectual history with all the pleasures of a great soap opera. Its gallery of characters is wonderfully realised - but the most wonderfully realised of all is Paris herself -- Tom HollandA remarkably exhilarating read … Left Bank is an enchanting account of how these exceptionally talented and original people not merely endured these harsh years but also found pleasure, and even a kind of joy, in creating small pockets of private utopia … Poirier is acute and witty on the love-hate relationship between Paris and America -- Kevin Jackson * Literary Review *Left Bank reads as an erudite and deeply satisfying gossip column, in which each story is more incredible than the last * New Republic *Left Bank moves scene to scene, cafe to cafe, tracing the affiliations and intrigues of a group of writers, philosophers, artists and curators ... [Poirier] manages to create the feeling we're peeking into the windows of her subjects, looking at buildings that still stand, at inhabitants long gone * International New York Times *A detailed chronicle of a decade alive with intellectual and political ferment. London-based journalist Poirier (Touché: A French Woman's Take on the English, 1997), a panel member of the BBC's weekly program Dateline London, offers a gossipy, well-informed cultural history of her native Paris, beginning in 1938, with Europe on the brink of war, and ending in 1949, with the Marshall Plan in effect to help the continent recover … An animated, abundantly populated history of dramatic times * Kirkus *Poirier does not miss a trick in her lively accounts of the intense discussions and adulterous liaisons that centred on the Café de Flore or the nearby nightclub Le Tabou; but her real achievement is to contextualise these politically and culturally … Entertaining and well-written story -- Andrew Lycett * Spectator *One of the most entertaining of the year -- Books of the Year * Telegraph *A vivid account of the lives of the bed-hopping intellectuals and artists of Paris * The Times *[Paris] is undeniably a mythic sort of town, and almost no period is richer in myths than the decade that Agnès Poirier charts in her excellent Left Bank…It has a huge cast, any of whom could be the subject of a book on their own, but Poirier marshals them deftly***** * Daily Telegraph *Poirier's unbounded energy, particularly in research, brings forth an entertaining, stimulating and, at times, insightful book … Left Bank is gloriously vibrant * Sunday Herald *Amid the tensions of the phoney war, Agnès Poirier deftly establishes what will become the central argument of her well-researched and compelling book: the fraught connection between action and intellectual engagement … Left Bank might not quite come complete with peeling wallpaper and a dubious lavabo, but in conjuring the atmosphere of this extraordinary period, it is surely the next best thing … Poirier navigates the philosophical and political intricacies of her subjects’ work, their intellectual feuds and alliances, with panache * Times Literary Supplement *With mastery of her sources, Agnès Poirier provides an engrossing synthesis of a great capital city's cultural and intellectual life in this crucial decade. It is acute, often brilliant and beautifully written. When liberal values on both sides of the Atlantic are being threatened by a recrudescence of xenophobia and nationalism, Left Bank could hardly be more timely and vital -- Oliver KammDelightful * Economist *A captivating portrait of those who lived, loved, fought, played and flourished in the City of Light and whose intellectual and artistic output still influences today … The cast of characters is long, varied and colourful * Irish Examiner *This is in many ways a very familiar story with a well-known cast of characters, but [Poirier] tells it in vivid and highly enjoyable detail … Poirier’s is an extremely busy book, recounted at a dizzying pace and packed with gossipy tales of sex, drugs, high art and low life … Poirier makes her case with wit, sympathy and elegance -- Andrew Hussey * New Statesman *Even correcting for nostalgia, Paris in the fifties seems to have been a time when giants really did walk the earth … Gossipy without being prurient, Poirier is good at tracing the links between the work and the ever-shifting sexual liaisons of her subjects * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisFrom its early beginnings in World War II, the Special Air Service (SAS) has won renown for some of the most dramatic, dangerous, and controversial special operations of the 20th century. It is a secretive and mysterious unit, whose operations and internal structures are hidden from the public eye. Now, one of its longest-serving veterans offers a glimpse inside its shadowy world. Rusty Firmin spent 15 years with ''The Regiment'' and was a key figure in the Iranian Embassy siege in May 1980. He also served with the SAS in the Falklands and in Northern Ireland during the 1980s. Now available in paperback, this is the unforgettable chronicle of Rusty''s combat experiences--a fascinating and intimate portrayal of what it was like to be part of the world''s most respected Special Operations Force.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements /Introduction/1. Childhood/2. Boy Soldier/3. Gunner/4. Commando/5. Selection/6. Continuation/7. New Kid on the Block/8. Learning the Ropes/9. First Blood/10. Back to Ireland/11. Suicide Mission/12. Water Jump/13. Back to Work/14. Later Years/15. Swan Song /Abbreviations and Glossary

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Book SynopsisThis fully illustrated new book describes and analyses the weapons and equipment traditionally associated with the samurai, Japan's superlative warriors. It examines the range of weapons used by them at different times and in different situations.Beginning with the rise of the samurai during the 10th century, this lively study traces the introduction of edged weapons (cutting and piercing) and missile weapons (bows and guns) over the next 500 years. The book shows clearly how they were employed by individual samurai using many previously untranslated primary texts, and explains how their use spread more widely among low-class troops, pirates and rebels. It also shows how schools of martial arts took over and changed the weapons and their uses during the peaceful Edo Period (16151868).Table of ContentsIntroduction Development Use Impact Conclusion Glossary Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA new supplement for Bolt Action focusing on the later Italian Campaign, following on from Soft Underbelly, adding new units, scenarios, and special rules.In Italy, the fight continues!As the Allies push north up the Italian Peninsula, they have encountered heavy resistance from the Axis and their multitude of fortified and defensive lines, slowing the allied advance to a crawl. The ''soft underbelly'' of Europe proved to be false, instead it was a ''tough gut''.This supplement for Bolt Action, and the counterpart to Soft Underbelly, focuses on the battles ranging from the Gustav Line in 1944 all the way to those of the Gothic Line in 1945, with the breakouts at Anzio and Monte Cassino of particular focus. Containing a host of scenarios to refight these famous battles, along with new units, special rules, and Theatre Selectors, this book contains everything players need to bring an end to the war and liberate Italy.Trade ReviewAn essential addition to your collection. -- Wargames Illustrated * Wargames Illustrated *

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Book SynopsisFirst in-depth study of the ingenious logistics plan for OP CORPORATE, written by a highly experienced and senior military logistician.

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Book SynopsisThis is a fresh, contemporary translation of Sun Tzu's The Art of War for the 21st century. As well as its historical importance, it is one of the most influential political and business books of our era. This edition rediscovers the essential clarity of the ancient masterpiece, cited by generals from a dozen Chinese dynasties, international business leaders, and modern military field manuals. It also contains a full commentary on Sun Tzu, the man and his ideas, contemporary of Confucius and Buddha; and a critical guide to further reading. This is the perfect introduction to one of the world's best-known classics.This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition of The Art of War is translated and edited by author and scriptwriter Jonathan Clements.Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

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Book SynopsisDrawing on a superb collection of rare and unpublished photographs the 5th SS Division Wiking 1941 - 1945 is the 5th book in the Waffen-SS Images of War Series by Ian Baxter. The book tells the dramatic story of the 5th SS Panzer Division�Wiking at War. �The men of the division were recruited from foreign volunteers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, the Netherlands and Belgium under the command of German officers. Not all were collaborators - the choice they were all too often presented with was join up or be locked up - or worse. During the course of the war, the division served on the Eastern Front in 1941. It surrendered in May 1945 to the American forces in Austria.

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Book SynopsisA snow-capped hill in modern day Czech Republic, dominated by a small church with black onion dome, stands on a field of battle that cemented Napoleon's position as Emperor of the French. His throne was secure. His power was limitless. Europe lay at his feet. The Battle of Austerlitz is almost universally regarded as the most impressive of Napoleon's many victories. The magnitude of the French achievement against a larger Russian and Austrian force was unprecedented, the great victory being met by sheer amazement and delirium in Paris, where, just days earlier, the nation had been teetering on the brink of financial collapse. It was a time when Napoleon's Grande Armée was at the apogee of its power. Trained on the Channel coast for over two years, the Grande Armée was considered to be the most powerful, and in many respects the most glamourous, fighting force in Europe. Using archive documents from the time, this book sets out to chart the story of the men who made up the army. Incorporating rare eye-witness reports, that have to date never been used in English or French histories, we assess if the army was indeed the best in the world. Men like Grouchy, Oudinot, Ney, D'hautpoul and many other famous names put the army through its paces it is their judgements that confirm or deny the effectiveness of the army. These men also minutely examined the men's clothing and equipment. Using these reports we present for the first time the true story of the Grande Armée. This has been possible due to the author's access to a vast resource, as yet untapped by the vast majority of researchers and historians for understanding Napoleonic era in general. These are the regimental archive boxes preserved in the French Army Archives. From the regimental inspections, as well as the observations of Divisional commanders written at the time, these sources provide, potentially bias free empirical data it is based on personal assessments thus is not error free from which we can reconstruct the life story of a regiment, its officers and above all its clothing. More uniquely, the text is supported by an unrivalled collection of full colour illustrations, many of which have never been published before, including images of original items of equipment that are held in both museums and private collections to which the author has been granted special access. In this beautifully illustrated book, Paul Dawson critically re-examines the mythos and presents the judgement call made at the time about the army, that has ever since been overtly romanticised by both lovers and haters of Napoleon.

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