Military History Books

Book SynopsisIf we seal off the past, how will we ever know the truth? In 1942, in Nazi-occupied Poland, a Jewish child was smuggled out of the Warsaw ghetto in a backpack. That child was Karen Kirsten’s mother, but she knew nothing about this extraordinary event until one day a letter arrived from a stranger. After Karen eventually discovered the grandparents she loved dearly were in fact not her biological grandparents, she travelled the globe to uncover her family’s past and to find the answers to baffling questions: why did her adoptive grandmother treat Karen’s mother so unkindly? Why did she hide the truth that she was her mother’s aunt? And why, if she appeared to dislike Karen’s mother, did she risk her life to save her and bring her to Australia? Irena’s Gift weaves together a mystery, history and memoir to tell the story of a family torn apart by war. From the glittering concert halls of interbellum Warsaw to the vermin-infested prison where a Jewish woman negotiates with an SS officer to save her sister’s child, Irena’s Gift is about the lies we tell to survive and what happens when those lies unravel. It is about the extraordinary resilience of three generations of women, and the sacrifices made for love. Trade Review'Deeply moving and beautifully written, Irena's Gift is a powerful unravelling of mysteries and memory. The journey of reconstruction and reconnection brilliantly evokes a lost era full of pain and love, as well as laying out the intricacies of intergenerational trauma. In addition to its value as Holocaust history, Irena's Gift deserves to become a classic of the memoir genre.' * Lucy Adlington, author of 'The Dressmakers of Auschwitz - the True Story of the Women who Sewed to Survive' *'Karen Kirsten’s debut is a harrowing family drama that spans the globe — from Jewish ghettos patrolled by Nazis to Melbourne suburbs of poodles, kookaburras, and refugees. Kirsten goes on a quest to piece together her family’s secrets and finds much more than a tale of survival from history’s nightmare. She tells a story of disillusionment and faith. She reminds us that sometimes heroes can be repulsive, and sometimes lies keep families together. Irena's Gift is beautifully written, deeply researched and deeply felt.' * Kevin Birmingham, NYT Bestselling author of 'The Sinner and the Saint' and 'The Most Dangerous Book: The Battle for James Joyce's Ulysses' *'With extremism and fascism again threatening democracies, 'Irena's Gift' is a must-read for our times. Stunningly researched, it explores themes of identity, secrets, grief and forgiveness. The author addresses the importance of naming our history and wrestles with the complexity of human nature - why a Nazi officer saved her mother.' * Michelle Bowdler, author of TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of 2020: 'Is Rape A Crime?' *'A family story as unique as a fingerprint. Enchanting.' * Thomas Keneally, author of Booker Prize-winning 'Schindler’s List' *'As Karen Kirsten sets out to solve the mystery of her mother’s past she takes us on a very personal journey of discovery. Skilfully, she unearths a thrilling story of war and survival against all odds. A keen researcher and sleuth, Karen uncovers a truth both astonishing and heartbreaking. Irena’s Gift is a beautiful, insightful, heartfelt and nuanced book. Masterfully crafted, it is both history and a memoir, but also so much more. Essential reading for anyone interested in WWII, trauma or family histories, this is one of the best second generation holocaust books ever published. I loved it and couldn’t put it down.' * Ariana Neumann, author of When Time Stopped. Winner of the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, US National Jewish Book Award for Best Memoir. *'An epic story and an epic search for the truth that is beautifully written and meticulously weaved together, in a page-turning read I couldn’t put down. Karen Kirsten has captured her remarkable odyssey to place the final pieces of her family jigsaw in place, with moving and at times gut-wrenching detail. Alicja’s poignant words, "you think someone will want to know all of this?" will ring in your ears with every twist and turn that Kirsten’s journey takes to find the truth of who her family really are and how they were saved. Compulsive enough to read in a single-sitting, this is ultimately a story of love, healing, hope and humanity that will tug at your heartstrings. Irena’s Gift offers a prescient reminder, as Alicja says, that "we should never forget what happened".' * Sue Smethurst, author of The Freedom Circus *'An extraordinary story of how secrets and lies can tear a family apart.' * Maya Lee, author of The Nazis Knew My Name *‘Since I first learned about my Opa escaping the Nazis in occupied Holland, I have been taken with the heroic stories of everyday people during WWII. With author and refugee advocate Karen Kirsten, I find a kindred spirit. In Irena’s Gift, Kirsten brings to life the true and remarkable story of her family, including her mother and her grandmother, who like my Opa, sabotaged munitions at an armaments factory. This is a story of extraordinary women, survival and sacrifice. A must read.’ * Tara Moss, human rights and disability advocate, and author of The War Widow and The Ghosts of Paris *

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Book SynopsisMajor Alexander Sanderson DSO, MC & Bar, MiD was one of the ablest and most experienced mining engineers to serve on the Western Front in the First World War. Following on from his early, adventurous life in the outback, in this biography, written by his grandson, we reveal the full story of the highly technical war he waged below, and above, No Man's Land near Lens in France as part of the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company. As a young New Zealand-born student of the West Australian Engineer-in-Chief, he attended the School of Mines and became an underground goldmine manager alongside H.C. Hoover, the future US President. After a construction business venture with his friend John Monash (later General Sir), he undertook camel treks across the harsh Ashburton desert, sinking artesian wells and gold prospecting, before joining the Army, having abandoned his claim to a million-acre cattle station to do so. Enrolling as a Captain (HQ staff), as a Mining Corps expert Sanderson was taske

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Book SynopsisNaval warfare is vividly brought to life, from first contact through how battles were won and lost to damage repair. Our understanding of warfare at sea in the eighteenth century has always been divorced from the practical realities of fighting at sea under sail; our knowledge of tactics is largely based upon the ideas of contemporary theorists[rather than practitioners] who knew little of the realities of sailing warfare, and our knowledge of command is similarly flawed. In this book the author presents new evidence from contemporary sources that overturns many old assumptions and introduces a host of new ideas. In a series of thematic chapters, following the rough chronology of a sea fight from initial contact to damage repair, the author offers a dramatic interpretation of fighting at sea inthe eighteenth century, and explains in greater depth than ever before how and why sea battles (including Trafalgar) were won and lost in the great Age of Sail. He explains in detail how two ships or fleets identified each other to be enemies; how and why they manoeuvred for battle; how a commander communicated his ideas, and how and why his subordinates acted in the way that they did.Trade ReviewWhen it comes to discussing shiphandling Willis is peerless. Not a page is wasted and virtually everything he writes is fascinating and provocative. This is indeed a wonderful book. Anyone interested in warships should have it on his or her bookshelf for frequent consultation. * NORTHERN MARINER *Will become widely read by students and academics of the subject, in addition to those who are fascinated by the literary world of Hornblower or Aubrey. * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY *A very valuable addition to the extensive literature on naval warfare in the age of sail, looking at a neglected topic. The events of individual battles have been extensively discussed, as have the technical aspects of ship construction, but this book fills the crucial gap between those two, and greatly expands our knowledge of the practicalities of naval warfare in this period. * HISTORY OF WAR.ORG *Is sure to become the standard reference on naval tactics in the Napoleonic era [and] is enthusiastically recommended to anyone with even a passing interest in this aspect of naval history. * INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MARITIME HISTORY *As a reference work for what these ships were like, how they handled at sea, and how naval officers sought to capitalize on these material constraints for both offensive and defensive purposes, Fighting at Sea is not likely to be surpassed any time soon. * JOURNAL OF BRITISH STUDIES *[A] superbly researched book [which] contains high-quality maps, many excellent illustrations, and an essential glossary, all of which give a better understanding of Willis's argument. * UNITED STATES NAVAL INSTITUTE *An excellent historical handbook with much to tell modern readers about military command. Highly recommended. * CHOICE *A detailed historical study based on extensive research. * . *A clear and well-documented account. * SEA HISTORY *By emphasising the critical role of practical seamanship and unwritten rules, this book offers students of the subject a new angle on an old subject. * MILITARY HISTORY *An insightful analysis of the practical realities of sailing warfare that probes deeply into the technical skills, written and unwritten rules, command and control necessary for the Royal Navy's century of unrivalled success in naval combat. * NAUTICAL RESEARCH JOURNAL *An illuminating read. * SKIRMISH, October 2008 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Contact Chase and Escape I: Speed and Performance Chase and Escape II: The Tactics of Chasing Station Keeping Communication Unwritten Rules Command The Weather Gage Fleet Tactics Fighting Tactics Damage Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the International Booker Prize shortlisted author of The Order of the Day and The War of the Poor comes a searing account of a conflict that dealt a fatal blow to French colonialism.'Excoriating and profound . . . A remarkable work' - Scotsman'Absolutely spectacular' - France Info19 October 1950. The war is not going to plan. In Paris, politicians gather to discuss what to do about Indochina. The conflict is unpopular back home in France: too expensive, and too far away for the public to care. Withdrawal is not an option – a global power cannot surrender to an army of peasants – but victory is impossible without more soldiers and more money. The soldiers can be sourced from the colonies, but the money is out of the question. A solution needs to be found.In this gripping and shocking novel, Éric Vuillard exposes the tangled web of politicians, bankers and titans of industry who

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Book SynopsisThis book explores why there is a major war again in Europe. Putin's actions need to be understood if not forgiven. With the Ukraine conflict increasingly seen as a proxy war of NATO versus Russia, how likely is the fighting to spread?The author, a highly respected journalist and political commentator, explains why Russia invaded a sovereign neighbour. To what extent did NATO's expansion to Russia's borders in the aftermath of the Cold War provoke Putin? Did the West's recent humiliating defeats in the Middle East and South Asia encourage Putin to exploit what he saw as its decadent strategic weakness and lack of resolve? What were the reasons for Russia's savage behaviour in Ukraine? How might the Ukraine war end and what will the post-bellum world look like?The war in Ukraine has had worldwide impact with cost of living, food and energy crises and raised the risk of nuclear Armageddon by accident or intent so this book has universal appeal; not just to military buffs. It examines the

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Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERDAILY MAIL BOOK OF THE WEEKTHE FIRST OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE RED ARROWS'Heart-pounding, exhilarating . . . A fascinating testimony of jeopardy, cool heads and the sheer exultant addiction of flying.' SINCLAIR MCKAY'Fantastic . . . It was wonderful to read about so many old chums and truly legendary aviators. Highly recommended.' JOHN NICHOL (Twitter)'An exhilarating read! The next-best thing to taking the controls of a Hawk fast-jet. And you're much less likely to throw up.' BEN MILLER'Inspirational . . . Precision, style and dedication. The Red Arrows are the ultimate in teamwork.' TIM PEAKE'Perfectly enjoyable . . . As the Red Arrows head towards their 60th anniversary, it's clear the team's place in our hearts is secure.' DAILY MAIL'A wild ride . . . The ultimate insider guide, relating with great enthusiasm and insight what it means to be inside the cockpit as you scream through the skies at 350 to 450 miles per hour, within what feels like touching distance of your wingman, making continual nanosecond decisions that will result in certain death if you get them wrong.' TELEGRAPH, Patrick Bishop_________________________________________"Occasionally, you and the team come within read of perfection, up there in the rarefied air of the skies. You never know when those moments will come, but it's what you yearn for as a pilot."The Red Arrows represent the very best speed, agility and precision aerobatic flying in the Royal Air Force, and the people who wear those iconic red flight suits are rigorously selected not just for their flying skills, lightning-fast reflexes and nerves of steel, but for their mental resilience, courage and humility.Written by the Officer Commanding and former Red 1 Team Leader, Wing Commander David Montenegro, and full of never-before-shared tales from pilots past and present, this thrilling history is both a faithful record and a fascinating account of not only what it takes, but what it means, to be a Red Arrow._________________________________________Praise for the Red Arrows:'A lifetime's ambition . . . I still can't believe I've been in a fighter jet. It was fantastic - just to feel the G-force was spectacular.' LEWIS HAMILTON'So tight, crisp and professional' CHRIS HADFIELD'I can never quite believe that anyone can fly and aircraft with such precision' PROF. BRIAN COX'The skill level they have is just off the scale. The Red Arrows is an amazing display of quality' DAVID COULTHARD

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Book SynopsisUsing archival photographs sourced directly from Vietnam, specially commissioned diagrams and combat accounts from veterans, István Toperczer reveals how the MiG-21 defended Vietnam between 1966 and 1968. One of the most successful communist jet fighters ever built, the MiG-21 Fishbed was involved in a series of deadly duels with American fighters over North Vietnam as the USAF and US Navy ramped up strike missions during Operation Rolling Thunder, culminating in the destruction of over 70 US aircraft for the loss of 35 Fishbeds.Having honed their skills on the subsonic MiG-17, pilots of the Vietnam People''s Air Force received their first examples of the legendary MiG-21 supersonic fighter in 1966. Soon thrown into combat over North Vietnam, the guided-missile-equipped MiG-21 proved a deadly opponent for the American crews striking at targets deep into communist territory. Although the communist pilots initially struggled to come to terms with the fighTable of Contents(Subject to confirmation) 1. In Battle 2. Setting the Scene 3. Path to Combat 4. Weapon of war 5. Art of War 6. Combat Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA hard-hitting exposé of SEAL Team 6, the US military's best-known brand, that reveals how the Navy SEALs were formed, then sacrificed, in service of American empire.The Navy SEALs are, in the eyes of many Americans, the ultimate heroes. When they killed Osama Bin Laden in 2011, it was celebrated as a massive victory. Former SEALs rake in cash as leadership consultants for corporations, and young military-bound men dream of serving in their ranks.But the SEALs have lost their bearings. Investigative journalist Matthew Cole tells the story of the most lauded unit, SEAL Team 6, revealing a troubling pattern of war crimes and the deep moral rot beneath authorized narratives. From their origins in World War II, the SEALs have trained to be specialized killers with short missions. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan became the endless War on Terror, their violence spiraled out of control.Code Over Country details the high-level decisions that unleashed the SEALs' carnage and the coverups that prevented their crimes from coming to light. It is a necessary and rigorous investigation of the unchecked power of the military-and the harms enacted by and upon soldiers in America's name.

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Book SynopsisThe Irish Times bestseller 'A gripping tale of savagery and courage' Noam Chomsky 'Fascinating and captivating' Irish Times 'A beautiful book... Full of pain and longing but also joy, adventure, and excitement' Janine di Giovanni 'A superb account of the life and work of the best reporter I have ever known' Patrick Cockburn When Lara Marlowe met Robert Fisk in 1983 in Damascus, he was already a famous war correspondent. She was a young American reporter who would become a renowned journalist in her own right. For the next twenty years, they were lovers, husband and wife and friends, occasionally angry and estranged from one another, but ultimately reconciled. They learned from each other and from the people in the ruined world they reported from: Lebanon, torn apart by a vicious civil war as well as Israeli and Syrian occupations; Iran, where they were the only journalists to interview the Middle East's chief hostage-taker and dispatcher of suicide bombers; the Islamist revolt that claimed up to 200,000 lives in Algeria; the disintegration of former Yugoslavia and two US-led wars on Iraq. This is at once a portrait of a remarkable man, the story of a Middle East broken by its own divisions and outside powers, and a moving account of a relationship in dark times.Trade ReviewPart biography, part autobiography, part love story and part a forceful condemnation of war, this is a fascinating and captivating book * Irish Times *This book is deeply honest and true, and reveals so much about Robert Fisk, his work and his engagement with the world. He and Lara Marlowe worked on the frontline of human experience, braided together by love and language and war. This is a portrait of a couple bound in a lovesong, which like all such songs confronts the vagaries of leaving, longing and loss -- Colum McCannThis is a superb account of the life and work of the best reporter I have ever known. Robert Fisk was unswerving in his defence of the weak and the powerless and in exposing the crimes of governments past and present. This book shows how he did it -- Patrick CockburnA beautiful book that chronicles the story of two people whose relationship and careers were shaped by the journalism of a different era. It is full of pain and longing but also joy, adventure, and excitement -- Janine di Giovanni, Foreign PolicyA gripping tale of savagery and courage, of history in the making, intertwined with rich personal reminiscences – and through it all, a captivating portrait of the life and work of Robert Fisk, a truly great journalist -- Noam ChomskyWorking alongside Robert Fisk was a joy – it was life on a roller-coaster, full of stories, insight, and boundless energy. His fierce independence was legendary: he looked for the raw truth, however uncomfortable -- Kate AdieA vivid memoir of life during wartime with a journalistic legend * Sunday Business Post *Saga of love, adventure, courage, and heartache * Irish Examiner *This is at once a portrait of a remarkable man, the story of a Middle East broken by its own divisions and outside powers, and a moving account of a relationship in dark times * Clare Champion *A genuinely 'unputdownable' and moving story, a fierce rebuke of violence and war, the arrogance and indifference of others. It is a great testament to the victims and survivors of conflict, and to the absolute necessity and importance of journalists such as Fisk and Marlowe -- David Peace

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Book SynopsisThis third volume of a three-volume set offers concise biographical information for generals and admirals of the Third Reich with surnames between P and Z. The set covers all branches of service, providing a brief but scholarly overview of each individual, including personal details and dates for all attachments to unit, and medals awarded, offering a readily accessible go-to reference work for all World War II researchers and historians.These books are packed with information on these senior officers of the Third Reich, many of whom are little documented in the English language. In addition to the biographic information, this volume includes detailed appendices on admirals of the Kriegsmarine and generals of the Waffen-SS.

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Book SynopsisAn illustrated exploration of the dramatic aerial combats between the US Navy''s long-range bomber and Japanese flying boats in the Pacific War.Edward Young explores these rarely written about combats, examining the aggressive and strategic tactics deployed by both US Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force and analyzing the technical improvements installed throughout the war.The PB4Y-1/2 Liberator/Privateer was the US Navy's first four-engined, land-based bomber, adapted and allocated to fight the U-boat menace in the Atlantic and protect the vast reaches of the Pacific Ocean. The long range, speed, armament and bomb load of the PB4Y-1 enabled the US Navy's Pacific squadrons to adopt more aggressive tactics. The PB4Y-1, and its follow-on PB4Y-2, engaged in dangerous bombing missions against Japanese installations, shipping strikes, and air combat. On the other side, with its doctrine of making the first strike against an enemy fleet, the Imperial Japanese Navy recognized theTable of Contents(Subject to Confirmation) Introduction Chronology Design and Development Technical Specifications The Strategic Situation The Combatants Combat Statistics and Analysis Aftermath Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisUsing maps, contemporary photographs, and new artwork, this book examines the Hellcat and the naval aviators who flew them.Joining combat in the Pacific in late 1943, the Hellcat squadrons soon demonstrated their ascendency over their Japanese opponents, culminating in the great Marianas Turkey Shoot during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944. The fighter proved to be a dream for pilots to fly, allowing both novice and veteran Naval Aviators alike to prevail in largescale aerial combats. From October 1944 to January 1945, the Fast Carriers supported General MacArthur's invasion of the Philippines.Featuring specially commissioned armament views and battlescenes, this book covers the key role played by Naval Aviators flying the Hellcat into action during the Fast Carrier Task Force's strikes against the Philippines in September and October 1944. Using maps, contemporary photographs, and technical diagrams, the volume examines the highly effective tactics used to prevail Trade ReviewOsprey have produced yet another high quality, and thoroughly enjoyable read. -- Simon Dalton * Books2Cover *Well worth considering as inspiration for any USN Hellcat build, or for those with an interest in the Pacific Arena of World War Two. * Scale Aircraft Modelling *Table of ContentsChapter 1 In Battle Chapter 2 Setting the Scene Chapter 3 Path to Combat Chapter 4 Weapon of War Chapter 5 Art of War Chapter 6 Combat Appendices Index

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Book SynopsisThe most shocking year in history. Week by week, hour by hour.In his brilliant reconstruction, Richard Collier vividly brings one of the most momentous years in world history to life once again.This was a time of blitzkrieg and the Blitz; of the Battle of Britain and Dunkirk. From the fighting in Finland to the destruction of Coventry, from the sinking of the French fleet in Oran to the invasion of Norway, this is history at its most extraordinary and engaging.By recounting major episodes from the viewpoint of those actually involved, Collier provides enlightening glimpses of just what war represented to both the great and to the unknown, and reveals that while 1940 was a year of incredible folly, it was also a time of inestimable bravery.Perfect for readers of Anthony Beevor and Max Hastings, this is an unforgettable book about an unforgettable year, a year that shaped the world we know today.‘Masterly… you could be reading a spine-tingling thriller’ Sunday Express‘I would like to see this book made compulsory reading’ Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisA wargaming ruleset for epic pre-WW1 battles in the sky.It's the dawn of the 20th Century and the Great Powers turn to war. Since the development of the air screw, leading to the creation of flying warships, the navies of the world have comprised an ever-growing number of these aerial ironclads. So fire up the turbines, ready the aether drives, and take to the air in Castles in the Sky: A Wargame of Flying Battleships.Featuring all the rules required to fight battles with fleets of flying behemoths. Assemble your fleet from 8 nationalities and fight through a variety of scenarios. With a full campaign system, Castles in the Sky contains everything adventurous aeronautical admirals need to find victory in the skies.

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Book SynopsisThis illustrated study explores, in detail, the RAF''s first concentrated air campaign of World War II against one of the hardest and most important targets in Germany the industrial heartland of the Ruhr that kept Hitler''s war machine running.Between March and July 1943, RAF Bomber Command undertook its first concentrated bombing campaign, the Battle of the Ruhr, whose aim was nothing less than the complete destruction of the industry that powered the German war machine. Often overshadowed by the famous ''Dambusters'' single-raid attack on the Ruhr dams, the Battle of the Ruhr proved much larger and much more complex. The mighty, industrial Ruhr region contained not only some of the most famous and important arms makers, such as the gunmakers Krupp of Essen, but also many other industries that the German war economy relied on, from steelmakers to synthetic oil plants. Being such a valuable target, the Ruhr was one of the most heavily defended regions in Europe.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION CHRONOLOGY ATTACKER'S CAPABILITIES Preparing for the ‘Main Offensive’ Navigation aids Aircraft Pathfinders (PFF) DEFENDER'S CAPABILITIES The rise, fall and rise of Germany’s air defences Night fighters and the Kammhuber Line Flak CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES The Reich’s industrial heartland and its workers The Ruhr cities, towns and industries Industrial workers and morale Dams, waterways and marshalling yards Synthetic oil plants The Rhineland cities THE CAMPAIGN The bomber battle in ‘Happy Valley’ Precursor: the ‘experimental’ Ruhr attacks and ‘diversions’, December 1942–February 1943 The main battle begins: Essen and Duisburg, March–April Supporting the main battle ‘Maximum effort’ at Dortmund and the ‘real catastrophe’ of Wuppertal, May 1943 The bitter battles of June Endgame: the attacks of July AFTERMATH AND ANALYSIS FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisMost people are familiar with the use of horses and their often-heroic actions in the First World War, but what about camels, monkeys and the mighty elephant? In this wonderfully illustrated title, learn about how animals were trained and used, the role pets had to play in the war, and the plight of animals on the farm, down the mine and in the street. Although animals were used heavily on the front line and in major battles such as the Somme, they also had a role to play at home and, indeed, in almost every aspect of wartime life. From their first use to how animals were treated when the war ended, and including the involvement of the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, this volume contains stories that will shock, delight and move you.

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Book SynopsisThe success of fast-moving Blitzkrieg tactics by the Nazi war machine depended on high mobility. With their on- and off-road capabilities, motorcycles became an important component of the Nazi war machine's arsenal making a particularly significant impact in French and Russian campaigns. The motorcycles were used in a variety of roles including patrolling, intelligence gathering, and police duties in occupied Europe. Motorcyclists could be found in every unit of an infantry and Panzer division including headquarters which had a motorcycle messenger platoon. Their versatility also enabled them to survey enemy positions until coming under fire before reporting back with vital intelligence relating to enemy locations and strengths. The German industry produced wide range of motor-bikes for military use. By 1938 some 200,000 motorcycles were produced in Germany and occupied territories. The principal makes included BMW, DKW, NSU, Triumph, Victoria, and Zundapp. Sidecar combinations, of

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Book SynopsisA genuinely new Second World War story, The 21 Escapes of Lt Alastair Cram by David M. Guss is a riveting account of the wartime exploits of the Scotsman. It is a tale of courage in the face of extraordinary odds and a testament to one man's dogged determination never to give up.‘The greatest serial escaper of the Second World War’ – The Times'Endlessly fascinating. Cram's story sizzles with adventure' – Giles Milton, Sunday Times In November 1941 Lt Alastair Cram was taken prisoner in North Africa as a devastating tank battle unfolded as Operation Crusader struggled to relieve Tobruk. His capture began a four year-long odyssey as he passed through twelve different POW camps, three Gestapo prisons and one asylum. Determined to regain his freedom, he became a serial escapee fleeing his captors no fewer than twenty-one times.The most dramatic of these attempts was from Gavi, the ‘Italian Colditz’. This maximum-security prison built inside a thousand year old stone fortress was for the pericolosi, those classified as the ‘most dangerous’ prisoners due to their unrelenting desire to escape. It was here that Alastair met David Stirling, the legendary founder of the SAS, and cooked up the plan for the ‘Cistern Tunnel’, one of the most audacious but little-known mass escape attempts of the entire war. ______________'Fascinating' – Daily Express'An enthralling portrait of true courage' Sunday Express S Magazine Trade ReviewEndlessly fascinating. Cram’s story sizzles with adventure and the author plays it for all it is worth. I found myself rooting for his hero at every scrape and turn. * Giles Milton, Sunday Times *The story of Alastair Cram is a remarkable one, perhaps richer for having remained untold for so long . . . a book that ranks among the best escape literature * The Times *Fascinating -- Dominic Midgley * Daily Express *An enthralling portrait of true courage * Sunday Express S Magazine *An extraordinary story, vividly told. * History Revealed *Reads like a John Buchan novel. * History of War *[A] masterful account . . . Harrowing and deeply touching 21 Escapes pays homage to an inspiring figure and the determination of the human spirit. * Scottish Field *

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Book SynopsisTHE REAL GAME OF THRONES... The Wars of the Roses were a prolonged brawl over an inheritance by a deeply dysfunctional extended family. The inheritance in question was the throne of England; the story is one of unbridled ambition and murderous treachery. From the 1450s, when the mentally unstable Henry VI struggled to control the violent feuding of his magnates, through the rise and fall of Richard of York, to the chaos and bloodshed of the 1470s which followed Edward IV's accession and his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, this is a saga of ambition, intrigue and bloodshed. Charting a clear course through the dynastic and factional minefield of the era, and offering an authoritative analysis of the battles that ensued, Hugh Bicheno's The Wars of the Roses is a compelling one-volume account of England longest and bloodiest civil war.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR HUGH BICHENO: 'Bicheno has an enviable ability to convey the horror of war' Literary Review, on The Crescent and the Cross. 'Invigoratingly fresh... Rich, multi-layered' Sunday Telegraph, on The Crescent and the Cross. 'Gripping' -- John Keegan, on Razor's Edge

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Book SynopsisIn 2012 Jean Paul Pallud wrote the After the Battle account of the Desert War; now he completes the story with detailed coverage of the landings of Operation `Torch’ in North-West Africa in November 1942. When the western Allies decided to launch a second front in North Africa, they carefully considered the anti-British feeling left in France by the ill-advised attack by the Royal Navy on the French Fleet at Mers el Kébir in July 1940. Consequently, the operation was given an American rather than a British complexion, General Eisenhower was chosen to lead a mostly American force into battle and the major Royal Navy contribution was kept as inconspicuous as possible. At this point in the war, the Allies had almost no experience with amphibious operations and it was a risky undertaking to carry out such an immense operation covering multiple landings over 600 miles apart. Even more amazing was the fact that part of the invasion forces was to depart from the United States, 6,000 miles away. As the orders were not confirmed until a month before Operation `Torch’ was launched, there was very little time to organise such a logistically complex operation involving American and British forces, and even less time for the pro-Allied French to organise more than small measures of support. There were two landings in the Mediterranean, at three main points near Algiers and three near Oran, and three landings on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. There, the main landing came ashore at Fédala, 18 miles north-east of Casablanca, and the armour was brought ashore at Safi, 140 miles south-east. In spite of all the difficulties, the landings all went well and the operation quickly achieved all of its initial objectives. However, the Germans reacted swiftly and, with little Allied interference, they rushed in reinforcements to Tunisia by air and sea. The Allies were thus drawn into a six-month campaign in Tunisia, the First Army from Operation `Torch’ soon joining hands with the Eighth Army advancing from Libya to finally clear Axis presence along the southern shore of the Mediterranean. This operation marked the first time that American troops fought against German forces during the Second World War. They had a rough baptism of fire in southern Tunisia in February 1943, training, equipment and leadership failed in many instances to meet the requirements of the battlefield, but the US Army was quick to learn and revise army doctrines, particularly with respect to the use of armour. The successful campaign created thousands of seasoned soldiers of all ranks whose experience would prove decisive in subsequent campaigns. The next test was only two months away — the invasion of Sicily. In addition, Operation `Torch’ brought the French army back into the war. Most important of all, the Allies had seized the initiative in the West.

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Book SynopsisFrom the award-winning co-author of I Am Malala, this book asks just how the might of NATO, with 48 countries and 140,000 troops on the ground, failed to defeat a group of religious students and farmers? How did the West's war in Afghanistan and across the Middle East go so wrong?Farewell Kabul tells how the West turned success into defeat in the longest war fought by the United States in its history and by Britain since the Hundred Years War. It is the story of well-intentioned men and women going into a place they did not understand at all. And how, what had once been the right thing to do had become a conflict that everyone wanted to exit. It has been a fiasco which has left Afghanistan still one of the poorest and most dangerous nations on earth.The leading journalist on the region with unparalleled access to all key decision makers, Christina Lamb is the best-selling author of The Africa House' and I Am Malala, co-authored with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai. This revelatory and personal account is her final analysis of the realities of Afghanistan, told unlike anyone before.Trade Review‘As a personal account of this sad, twisted story, Lamb's book is unlikely to be surpassed; gracious and humane, she always gives a fair hearing, while her observation is always needle sharp. It is one of the most rewarding and thought-provoking books by any journalist of my acquaintance’ Evening Standard ‘This is a journey through more than a decade of hell and futility, written vividly, with emotion but mercifully shorn of polemic … in this most captivating of war journals’ Observer ‘A spellbinding synthesis of analysis and highly personal reportage … Lamb's grasp of the back story enables her to weave illuminating historical context into the narrative’ Independent ‘She records with a clear eye and a longer perspective her successive encounters with the Afghans and their occupiers …she writes with sympathy and understanding … For anyone who wants to understand how Britain's road to Helmand was paved with well-meant but ill-founded intentions this magisterial memoir is the book to read and enjoy’ The Times ‘A brave and exceptional book … if you had to recommend one book on Afghanistan then ‘Farewell Kabul’ should be it" Daily Telegraph ‘As a personal account of this sad, twisted story, Lamb's book is unlikely to be surpassed; gracious and humane, she always gives a fair hearing, while her observation is always needle sharp. It is one of the most rewarding and thought-provoking books by any journalist of my acquaintance’ Evening Standard ‘Authoritative, wide-ranging and thoroughly readable, Lamb's knowledge and understanding of the region and its central players are impressively profound … Highly recommended’ Literary Review ‘A very good book … that sits with distinction in a growing library about where we – both Afghans and the international community – went wrong … Lamb has a forensic understanding of how things work and why they don’t. An impassioned, at moments anguished, love letter to Afghanistan’ New Statesman

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Book Synopsis''I would choose this account over and above the rest. It is a fabulous book: full of perceptive insight that conveys all the tragedy, triumph, humour and intense drama of Churchill''s time as wartime leader; and it is incredibly moving as a result'' James Holland, Literary ReviewIn this vivid biography, #1 bestselling historian Max Hastings tells the story of how Churchill led a nation through its darkest hour.A moving, dramatic narrative of crisis and fortitude, Hastings offers one of the finest biographies of one of Britain's finest men.When Churchill took power as Prime Minister in 1940, it was with the unprecedented support of the nation. People rallied behind their new commander in extraordinary fashion, but thereafter, as Hastings argues, there came a deep divide.Churchill was a hero, a dogged worker dedicated to steering the country through the war. He expected more from the British people than they were perhaps able to deliver.Taking us on an intimate, stirring journey throughTrade Review'One of the best books ever written about Churchill … Hastings's efficient, soldierly prose marches along at a brisk pace and carries the reader with it. He has drawn on copious original sources and consulted experts familiar with them, enabling him to cast fresh light on familiar episodes … a magnificent performance.' Sunday Times 'The book's portrait of Churchill is scrupulously fair and often deeply moving … in fact Hastings excels with all his character portraits, especially with Roosevelt and Stalin. Hastings is truly a master of strategy and high command.' Antony Beevor, Mail on Sunday

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Book SynopsisA gripping memoir written by a 96-year-old Jewish Holocaust survivor about his escape from Nazi-occupied Poland in the 1930''s and his adventures with the French Resistance during World War IIIn 1937, as the Nazi Party tightened its grip on the city of Danzig (now Gdansk, Poland), Justus Rosenberg's parents made the wrenching decision to send their son to Paris, where he would have the hope of finishing high school and going on to university in safety. He was sixteen years old, and he would not see his family again for sixteen years more.Even after war broke out in 1939, life in France was peaceful for a timebut when the Nazis pushed toward Paris in the spring of 1940, Justus was forced to flee south to Toulouse. There, a chance meeting put Justus in contact with Varian Fry, the American journalist who ran a refugee network that aided several thousand Jews in escaping Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. With his German background, understanding of French cultural, and fluency in several laTrade Review‘A natural raconteur, with a pleasing conversational style. What shines through this engaging book is his evident desire to be helpful and responsible and his acute consciousness of how extraordinarily lucky he was’ Times ‘Gripping … Fearless … Recalls imprisonments, escapes from confinement, and successful missions against the Nazis … A welcome addition to the World War II memoir shelf.’ Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

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Book SynopsisTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA stunning book, among the most immediate and thrilling works of history I have ever read' At 8:15am on August 6th 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. In an instant, the temperature at its core rose to millions of degrees. Sixty-thousand buildings were obliterated. A third of the city's population died, by heat, by the blast, and by a terrible new weapon in the history of warfare: radiation.In this riveting account, Stephen Walker follows the stories of real people in the extraordinary weeks leading up to the explosion and in its aftermath. From the atomic engineer who armed the bomb in mid-air to the Japanese doctors treating thousands of burnt bodies on the ground. From the flight crews and scientists to world leaders and civilian victims. With intimate testimony and remarkable stories, this is the startling narrative behind the dawn of the atomic age.Trade Review‘Shockwave is a stunning book, among the most immediate and thrilling works of history I have ever read.’ Irish Times ‘This is an utterly gripping work of micro-history … [Walker] proves himself a master of dramatic tension.’Sunday Express ‘The excitement of the time is wonderfully captured in Walker’s Shockwave. Brilliant.’Financial Times ‘Devastating.’Daily Mail ‘Timely and harrowing …succeeds in creating a dramatized documentary of the moment that changed history.’Scotland on Sunday ‘A roller-coaster ride through the memories of American servicemen, Japanese soldiers and civilians…invites comparison with John Hersey’s still-classic Hiroshima.’Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) ‘Superb …Walker writes with a sense of urgency and high drama.’Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review) ‘Uniquely readable, immediate and human …an exceptionally taut and revealing chronicle.’Booklist (Starred Review) ‘Dramatic …an important page-turner.’Entertainment Weekly ‘Remarkable. I have been waiting for this book for sixty years.’Gitta Sereny, author of Albert Speer: His Battle with Truth ‘Electrifying …The tension and concentration of Walker’s thriller-like prose elicits a visceral response.’ Chicago Tribune

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Book SynopsisA lyrical investigation both powerful and transcendent' CHIGOZIE OBIOMAAcutely observed, hauntingly rendered and deeply affecting' AMINATTA FORNABoth epic and intimate' MARGO JEFFERSONAn astonishing search for a missing person, the hidden tragedies of war and the truth of Nigeria's history.Emmanuel Iduma never met his uncle, his father's favourite brother and the man for whom he is named. The elder Emmanuel left home in 1967 to fight in the Biafran War and was not seen again. The war lasted for three years, with young Igbo men volunteering to fight for a breakaway republic in the chaotic wake of British decolonization. Around one hundred thousand others who fought in the war share a fate like Emmanuel's uncle, though there are no official records of these losses. The tensions that gave rise to the conflict remain live, threatening sometimes to bubble over. In this landscape, there are no monuments or graves. Instead, a collective remembering that remains, for the most part, silent.I ATrade Review‘A thorough and thoughtful reporter, Iduma explains how it has become taboo in Nigerian culture to discuss the war, and uses his family’s own tragedy to tell the devastating story of a country that has not been allowed to properly mourn its dead. I Am Still With You is a deeply felt eulogy for those who were lost and a sobering reflection on the shame that comes with silence’ Time Magazine, The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023 ‘A lyrical investigation into the nature of being, history, the collective memory of Biafra – a dark chapter in world history. Iduma writes with such startling clarity that the book ultimately becomes both powerful and transcendent’ Chigozie Obioma, Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Fishermen and An Orchestra of Minorities ‘A genre-defying work, I Am Still with You is a quest, both spiritual and real, a travelogue, a memoir, and a history of Biafra … Acutely observed, hauntingly rendered, and deeply affecting – a masterful achievement’ Aminatta Forna, author of The Devil That Danced on the Water ‘Iduma confronts and contemplates the wounds left by the Biafran war: death on a mass scale; deaths in his family; griefs, angers and questions that still plague the living. I Am Still With You is both epic and intimate. It gives us the beauties and consolations of an ethnical imagination’ Margo Jefferson, author of Negroland ‘In clear, elegiac prose, Iduma’s search leads to an affecting conclusion’ New Statesman ‘Iduma’s quietly brilliant new book … blends travelogue, reportage, criticism, memoir, and history in a hypnotic tale’ Vulture, Best Books of 2023 ‘An immersive memoir … Iduma’s unraveling of the past is bound to leave readers eager to uncover their own family secrets’ Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisHow could Nazi killers shoot Jewish women and children at close range? Why did Japanese soldiers rape and murder on such a horrendous scale? How was it possible to endure the torment of a Nazi death camp?Award-winning documentary maker and historian Laurence Rees has spent decades wrestling with such questions in the course of filming hundreds of interviews with people tested to the extreme during World War II. He has come face-to-face with rapists, mass murderers, even cannibals, but he has also met courageous individuals who are an inspiration to us all.In Their Darkest Hour he presents 35 of his most electrifying encounters.''A remarkably powerful collection'' Antony Beevor, Daily Telegraph''An incredible, well-written, must-read book'' Glasgow Evening Times''A lasting contribution to our understanding of the Second World War and a powerful insight into the behaviour of human beings in crisis''Trade ReviewA remarkably powerful collection * Daily Telegraph *Powerful and unsettling * Sunday Times *A lasting contribution to our understanding of the Second World War and a powerful insight into the behaviour of human beings in crisis * Independent *Fascinating but disturbing * Daily Mail *Chilling collection of eye-witness testimonies ... bringing nuance to our understanding of the horrific experience of war * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisDrawing on a wealth of material from the vast Imperial War Museum Sound Archive, this book offers insight into life on the front line: from the day-to-day struggle of circumstances to the white heat of battle and the constant threat of injury or death. It features contributions from soldiers of both sides and of differing backgrounds.Trade ReviewJoshua Levine is an experienced oral historian and author of Forgotten Voices of the Blitz and the Battle for Britain and On a Wing and a Prayer. He has also had plays performed on the London stage and on Radio 4, as well as scripting a television documentary about 18th century London for BBC2.

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Book SynopsisI lay there rather dazed for a while, expecting to be hit again at any moment.' John Hunter, Parachute Regiment, Northants.Seventy years ago, on 6 June 1944, a great Allied Armada landed on the coast of Normandy.

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Book SynopsisStephen Clarke lives in Paris, where he divides his time between writing and not writing.His Merde novels have been bestsellers all over the world, including France. His non-fiction books include Talk to the Snail, an insider's guide to understanding the French; How the French Won Waterloo (or Think They Did), an amused look at France's continuing obsession with Napoleon; Dirty Bertie: An English King Made in France, a biography of Edward VII; and 1000 Years of Annoying the French, which was a number one bestseller in Britain.Research for The French Revolution and What Went Wrong took him deep into French archives in search of the actual words, thoughts and deeds of the revolutionaries and royalists of 1789. He has now re-emerged to ask modern Parisians why they have forgotten some of the true democratic heroes of the period, and opted to idolize certain maniacs. Follow Stephen on @SClarkeWriter and www.stepTrade ReviewIndeed, as Stephen Clarke demonstrates in this cheeky book, they have spent two whole centuries 'indulging in outrageous denial' * Daily Mail *Clarke’s tone is larky, but his outrageously readable work is based on extensive research, with a wealth of enticing detail. * Daily Mail *This is Waterloo as stand-up, funny and caustic by turns * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFor centuries Spain had been the most feared and predatory power in Europe - it had the largest empire and one of the world''s great navies to defend it. Nothing could have prepared the Spanish for the devastating implosion of 1805-14. Trafalgar destroyed its navy and the country degenerated into a brutalized shambles with French and British armies marching across it at will. The result was a war which killed over a million Spaniards and ended its empire.This book is the first in a generation to come to terms with this spectacular and terrible conflict, immortalised by Goya and the arena in which Wellington and his redcoats carved out one of the greatest episodes in British military history.Table of ContentsLisbon - the origins of the Peninsula War; Madrid - the Iberian insurrections, May-June 1808; Bailen - the summer campaign of 1808; Vimeiro - the liberation of Portugal, August 1808; Somosierra - Napoleon's revenge, November-December 1808; La Coruna - the campaign of Sir John Moore, December 1808-January 1809; Oporto - conquest frustrated, January-June 1809; Talavera - the fall of the Junta Central, July 1809-January 1810; Seville - the Bonaparte Kingdom of Spain 1808-1813; Pancorbo - the emergence of guerrilla war, 1808-1810; Cadiz - the making of the Spanish Revolution, 1810-1812; Torres Vedras - the defence of Prtugal, July 1810-March 1811; Albuera - stalemate on the Portuguese frontier, March-December 1811; Badajoz - the Anglo-Portuguese offensive of 1812; Burgos - the autumn campaign of 1812; Vitoria - the defeat of King Joseph, January-June 1813; Pyrenees - the invasion of France, July-November 1813; Bascara - peace and thereafter.

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest contemporary records of fourteenth-century England and FranceDepicting the great age of Anglo-French rivalry from the deposition of Edward II to the downfall of Richard II, Froissart powerfully portrays the deeds of knights in battle at Sluys, Crecy, Calais and Poitiers during the Hundred Years War. Yet they are only part of this vigorous portrait of medieval life, which also vividly describes the Peasants' Revolt, trading activities and diplomacy against a backdrop of degenerate nobility. Written with the same sense of curiosity about character and customs that underlies the works of Froissart's contemporary, Chaucer, the Chronicles are a magnificent evocation of the age of chivalry.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and discipliTable of ContentsChroniclesIntroductionAcknowledgmentsThe Chronological BackgroundBook One (1322-77)PrologueThe Beginning of a ReignDeposition of Edward II and Accession of Edward IIIThe Scots Invade EnglandEdward III Does Homage to Philip VIPreliminaries of the Hundred Years WarBattle of SluysThe Order of the GarterThe Campaign of CrecyThe Siege of CalaisBlack Death, Flagellants and JewsSea Battle off WinchelseaThe Siege of Breteuil and the Poitiers CampaignConsequences of PoitiersThe Three Estates; the Free CompaniesThe JacquerieThe Last Days of Étienne MarcelBrigandry, Warfare and PredictionsKing John's Return to England and His DeathThe Battle of Montiel and Death of Peter the CruelThe Sack of LimogesThe Turn of the TideDu Guesclin Appointed ConstableLa Rochelle Goes Over to the FrenchJohn of Gaunt's Fruitless ExpeditionThe End of a ReignBook Two (1376-85)Papal Affairs and the Great SchismThe Great SchismThe Peasants' Revolt in EnglandAffairs of FlandersBattle of RoosebekeCharles VI Marries Isabella of BavariaBook Three (1386-8)At the Court of the Count of FoixThe Haunting of Sir PeterReminiscences of the Bascot de Mauléon, FreebooterThe Tale of the FamiliarPreparations for a French Invasion of EnglandTrial by CombatRichard II's First Struggle with His UnclesJohn of Gaunt's Expedition to SpainThe Battle of Otterburn (Chevy Chase)Book Four (1389-1400)Queen Isabella's Entry into ParisA Royal VisitationTournament at Saint-InglevertThe Duke of Touraine in TroubleThe Death of the Count of FoixCharles VI Goes MadFroissart Revisits EnglandThe English in IrelandTwo MarriagesThe Downfall of Richard IIThe Murder of GloucesterThe Challenge and Bolingbroke's BanishmentRichard loses ControlThe Return of BolingbrokeThe Surrender of King RichardRichard's AbdicationCoronation of BolingbrokePlots against Henry IVThe End of Richard of BordeauxNotes in Form of GlossaryMap: France and Neighbouring Territories in the Fourteenth CenturyIndex of Persons

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Book SynopsisMark Mazower''s Hitler''s Empire is a provocative account of the rise and fall of Nazi Europe by one of Britain''s leading historians. Hitler''s empire was the largest, most brutal and most ambitious reshaping of Europe in history. Inspired by the imperial legacy of those such as the British, the Third Reich cast its shadow from the Channel Islands to the Caucasus and ruled hundreds of millions. Yet, as Mark Mazower''s groundbreaking new account shows, it was an empire built on an illusion.From Hitler''s plans for vast motorways crossing an ethnically cleansed Russian steppe, to dreams of a German super-economy rivalling America''s, Mazower reveals the lethal fusion of mass murder, modern managerialism and colossal incompetence that underpinned the Nazi New Order. Ultimately Hitler''s empire ended up consuming its own, leaving destruction in its wake and finishing not just with the downfall of Germany, but an entire continent.''Remarkable ... provoTrade Review'[A] beautifully constructed account of life under the horrifying Nazi empire ! Splendid' - Norman Stone, Guardian 'Remarkable ! provocative ! an important new book' - Adam Tooze, Sunday Telegraph 'A brilliant account' - David Cesarani, Independent 'A first-class account' - Richard Overy, Literary Review 'Brilliant ! a must for anyone who has a serious interest in the dreadful Third Reich' - Justin Cartwright, Spectator 'Exposes the intellectual bankruptcy of the enterprise with forensic skill and wit' - Christopher Silvester, Daily Express

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Book SynopsisSaul David''s Zulu: The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 is a fascinating look at the most controversial and brutal British imperial conflict of the nineteenth century.The real story of the Anglo-Zulu war was one of deception, dishonour, incompetence and dereliction of duty by Lord Chelmsford who invaded Zululand without the knowledge of the British Government. But it did not go to plan and there were many political repercussions. Using new material from archives in Britain and South Africa, Saul David blows the lid on this most sordid of imperial wars and comes to a number of startling new conclusions.''Saul David''s brilliant and magisterial account must now be regarded as the definitive history of the Zulu War'' Frank McLynn, Literary Review''This meticulously detailed book...give[s] a fully rounded and judicious account of this dismal conflict Guardian''Fascinating, thrilling, convincing... reads like a novel'' E

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Book SynopsisThe destruction of the French army at Crécy in 1346 and the subsequent siege and capture of Calais marked a new era in European history. The most powerful, glamorous and respected of all western monarchies had been completely humiliated by England, a country long viewed either as a chaotic backwater or a mere French satellite.The young Edward III''s triumph would launch both countries, as we now know, into a grim cycle of some 90 years of further fighting ending with English defeat, but after Crécy anything seemed possible - Edward''s claim to be King of France could be pressed home and, in any event, enormous rewards of land, treasure and prestige were available both to the king and to the close companions who had made the victory possible. It was to enshrine this moment that Edward created one of the most famous of all knightly orders, the Company of the Garter.Barber writes about both the great campaigns and the individuals who formed the original membership of thTrade ReviewBarber [has an] infectious passion for and deep knowledge of his subject matter . . . elegant prose and rigorous historical analysis . . . a valuable and thorough addition to the body of work on this most impressive of English monarchs * Sunday Times *In Edward III and the Triumph of England [Barber] has written the kind of book that the king would have enjoyed: full of battles, glitter and ceremony . . . he has an original eye and an elegant pen -- Jonathan Sumption * Literary Review *Barber shares his hero's love of chivalry . . . The book sparkles with some of Edward's own glitz * Telegraph *This absorbing book is layered rather than linear, sifting with uncommon sensitivity through challenging sources to test the boundaries of what we can and cannot know . . . We discover the complexity of the world in which Edward and his commanders lived -- Helen Castor * The Times *

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Book SynopsisThroughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.Inspired by the trial of a bureaucrat who helped cause the Holocaust, this radical work on the banality of evil stunned the world with its exploration of a regime''s moral blindness and one man''s insistence that he be absolved all guilt because he was ''only following orders''.

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Book SynopsisFrom America''s preeminent naval historian, the first full-length portrait in over fifty years of the man who won the war in the Pacific in World War Twodestined, says Andrew Roberts, to be the defining life of Chester Nimitz for a long time to come. Only days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tapped Chester W. Nimitz to assume command of the Pacific Fleet. Nimitz was not the most senior candidate available, and some, including his new boss, U.S. Navy Admiral Ernest J. King, considered him a desk admiral, more suited to running a bureaucracy than a theater of war. Yet FDR''s selection proved nothing less than inspired. From the precarious early months of the war after December 7th 1941 to the surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay nearly four years later, Nimitz transformed the devastated and dispirited Pacific fleet into the most powerful and commanding naval force in history. From the start, the pressures on Nimitz were crushing. Facing demands from Washington to mount an early offensive, he had first to revive the depressed morale of the thousands of sailors, soldiers, and Marines who served under him. He had to corral independent-minded subordinatesincluding Admiral Bill Bull Halsey and General Holland Howlin'' Mad Smithand keep them focused on shared objectives. He had to maintain a sometimes-fraught relationship with his Army counterpart Douglas MacArthur, and cope with his superiors, including the formidably prickly King and the inscrutable FDR. He had to navigate the expectations of a nation impatient for revenge and eventual victory. And of course, he also confronted a formidable and implacable enemy in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which, until the Battle of Midway, had the run of the Pacific. Craig Symonds'' Nimitz at War reveals how the quiet man from the Hill Country of Texas eventually surmounted all of these challenges. Using Nimitz''s headquartersthe eye of the hurricaneas his vantage point, Symonds covers all the major campaigns in the Pacific from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. He captures Nimitz''s composure, discipline, homespun wisdom, and most of all his uncanny sense of when to assert authority and when to pull back. In retrospect it is difficult to imagine anyone else accomplishing what Nimitz did. As Symonds'' absorbing, dynamic, and authoritative portrait reveals, it required qualities of leadership exhibited by few other commanders in history, qualities that are enduringly and even poignantly relevant to our own moment.Trade ReviewIn December 1941, FDR's choice to take over the shattered US Pacific Fleet was an obscure desk admiral. His selection proved inspired beyond all expectation. Within six months, Nimitz helped set the stage for the ultimate defeat of Japan, holding his own with his superiors while quietly fashioning an outstanding set of subordinate commanders. Symonds has given us a Nimitz for the 21st Century. * John B. Lundstrom, Author of lack Shoe Carrier Admiral *Nimitz's genius lay in his ability to convince others that they could do great things. In that respect he was 'a force multiplier in the Pacific War,' one whose legacy was the Allied victory itself. Immersive, deeply researched, and superbly written, imitz at War will become the standard. * General Mike Hagee, USMC(Ret) 33rd Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, CEO Admiral Nimitz Foundation *Nimitz at War is the greatest biography yet written about the greatest admiral in American history. * Ian W. Toll *Craig Symonds' ability to put the reader in the shoes of the admiral who masterminded the US Pacific Fleet's response to Pearl Harbor is truly remarkable. In his brilliant pen portraits of Nimitz's comrades (and occasional rivals), Symonds delivers a masterclass in the influence of character on decision-making. Deeply researched, extremely well-written, and often genuinely exciting, this is destined to be the defining life of Chester Nimitz for a long time to come. * Andrew Roberts, author of Churchill: Walking with Destiny *This excellent book is the inspiring story of a great American leader, who rebuilt a broken fleet and led it to victory against a formidable foe, through four years of war without a major defeat Craig Symonds has done it with grace and a large spirit. In World War II, the United States Navy had a typically understated flag hoist for such an achievement: Baker Zebra (now Bravo Zulu): Well Done. * David Hackett Fischer, author of Albion's Seed and Washington's Crossing, winner of the Pulitzer Prize *A brilliant and balanced account of how Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz led the greatest naval campaign in history. Now often overlooked, Nimitz was the only American World War II theater commander—even compared to Eisenhower and MacArthur—who won great victories when fighting outnumbered or merely at parity. This deeply researched and highly readable book offers a timeless textbook on high command excellence. * Richard B. Frank, author of Tower of Skulls: A History of the Asia-Pacific War: July 1937-May 1942 *Table of ContentsPrologue I. Taking Command II. The South Pacific III. The Central Pacific Drive IV. Victory Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe Founding Fathers is a concise, accessible overview of the brilliant, flawed, and quarrelsome group of lawyers, politicians, merchants, military men, and clergy known as the Founding Fathers--who got as close to the ideal of the Platonic philosopher-kings as American or world history has ever seen. R. B. Bernstein reveals Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, and the other founders not as shining demigods but as imperfect human beings--people much like us--who nevertheless achieved political greatness. They emerge here as men who sought to transcend their intellectual world even as they were bound by its limits, men who strove to lead the new nation even as they had to defer to the great body of the people and learn with them the possibilities and limitations of politics. Bernstein deftly traces the dynamic forces that molded these men and their contemporaries as British colonists in North America and as intellectual citizens of the Atlantic civilization''s Age of Enlightenment. He analyzes the American Revolution, the framing and adoption of state and federal constitutions, and the key concepts and problems that both shaped and circumscribed the founders'' achievements as the United States sought its place in the world. Finally, he charts the shifting reputations of the founders and examines the specific ways that interpreters of the Constitution have used the Founding Fathers. A masterly blend of old and new scholarship, brimming with apt description and insightful analysis, this book offers a digestible account of how the Founding Fathers were formed, what they did, and how generations of Americans have viewed them.Table of ContentsPreface ; 1 Words, Images, Meanings ; 2 Contexts: The History That Made the Founding Fathers ; 3 Achievements and Challenges: The History the Founding Fathers Made ; 4 Legacies: What History Has Made of the Founding Fathers ; Epilogue: The Founding Fathers, History, and Us ; Chronology ; Appendix ; References ; Further Reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisOffers the full story of a fateful alliance between past and future mortal enemies--long preceding the well-known Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact--whose dimensions were kept secret from the outside world and yet which set the stage for World War Two and its outcome.Trade ReviewReaders interested in the technical aspects of experiments and in the development of prototypes will benefit from this book. Regarding the political aspects of the cooperation, Johnson confirms the assumptions of the authoritative literature. * Dietrich Beyrau, H/Soz/Kult *The strength of Johnson's work is that he clearly illustrates that most of the Reichswehr's top leadership had been on board for a war of revenge to assert Germany's primacy on the continent well before Hitler and the Nazis came to power. * Roger R. Reese, Texas A&M University, The Russian Review *Johnson's book is a revelation and a triumph. It lays bare one of the least-known and least-understood of inter-war relationships – the odious pariahs' dance between Germany and the Soviet Union. Well-written and academically impeccable, it is an essential read for everyone interested in the period. * Roger Moorhouse, author of Poland 1939: The Outbreak of World War II and The Devils' Alliance: Hitler's Pact with Stalin, 1939-1941 *Ian Johnson has done extraordinary research, drawing on twenty-three archives in five countries and three languages, which allows him to tell a highly original story: How the German-Soviet partnership of the early 1920s lay at the foundation of European politics in the two decades that followed, helping to determine Stalin's Terror, the German army's virulent contempt for Bolshevism, and ultimately the outbreak and conduct of the Second World War and the Holocaust. This is one of the most important and readable books in years on this critical period. * Benjamin Hett, author of The Nazi Menace: Hitler, Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and the Road to War *Ian Johnson's compelling study is a major contribution to twentieth century history.Based on significant research, this study takes forward our knowledge of an important aspect of the background to World War Two. * Jeremy Black, author of Rethinking Military History *Compelling, elegantly written, and based on meticulous excavation of the archives, Ian Ona Johnson's book forces a reckoning with the interwar continuity of relations between the Soviet Union and their German partners—Weimar and Nazi alike. It reveals in captivating detail how Germany's clandestine rearmament shaped the Nazi German Wehrmacht, the Soviet Red Army, and the ultimate destabilization of Europe. * Jennifer Siegel, The Ohio State University *This is an important book nonetheless for revealing the full nature of the Soviet-German relationship in the 1920s and early 1930s,...The writing is clear and there is an image section that is as original as the main subject area of the book. * Richard Overy, University of Exeter *This is a well-written and extremely well-documented treatment of the subject. * Evan Mawdsley, University of Glasgow, Journal of Modern History *Table of ContentsPART I: Sowing the Wind Chapter One: The Bolshevik's Army Chapter Two: Revolution and Reaction Chapter Three: The Treaty of Versailles Chapter Four: The Polish-Bolshevik War Chapter Five: The Corporate Program Chapter Six: The Road to Rapallo Chapter Seven: Poison Gas Chapter Eight: Coups and Countermeasures Chapter Nine: Partners in Mass Destruction Chapter Ten: From Fili to Lipetsk Chapter Eleven: The Military Futurists Chapter Twelve: The Junkers Scandal Chapter Thirteen: Resetting Relations Chapter Fourteen: Fires and Scandals Chapter Fifteen: Chemical Weapons and Fighter Pilots Chapter Sixteen: The Tanks ARrive Chapter Seventeen: Winter of Crisis Chapter Eighteen: Machines of the Future Chapter Nineteen: Yellow Cross Chapter Twenty: Hunger PART II: Reaping the Whirlwind Chapter Twenty-One: Schliecher Chapter Twenty-Two: Rearmament Begins Chapter Twenty-Three: The End of the Republic Chapter Twenty-Four: Enemies Again Chapter Twenty-Five: Long Knives Chapter Twenty-Six: The End of Versailles Chapter Twenty-Seven: War Returns to Europe Chapter Twenty-Eight: Purges and Panic Chapter Twenty-Nine: Storm Clouds Chapter Thirty: Fulfillment Chapter Thirty-One: From Winter to Phony War Chapter Thirty-Two: Whirlwind Conclusion Notes Index

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Book SynopsisBy narrating the Sarajevo assassination in a broad historical context, Misfire contends that the most consequential political murder in modern history would have remained inconsequential if not for the decisions made by the leaders of Europe's Great Powers.Trade ReviewMiller-Melamed has done a service to the field with what should be a new point of departure for discussion of the diplomatic crisis that followed the Sarajevo assassination. * Choice *Miller-Melamed aims to refocus narratives of war's outbreak in 1914 on substantive causes rather than on the inevitable responses to Franz Ferdinand's assassination. Drawing from a robust, multilingual array of scholarship and published sources, he situates the outbreak of war as unfolding in the capitals of Europe's great powers, not Sarajevo, because of a diplomatic misfire....[He] aims to show why southeastern Europe before 1914 should be understood as a site of a great power diplomatic conflict, why an assassination might take place there, and how the event should be understood as a tragedy rather than a reflection of regional or national backwardness....He rightly discards the tired narratives of inevitability or laundry list recitations that emphasize the centrality of one empire over others. Miller-Melamed has done a service to the field with what should be a new point of departure for discussion of the diplomatic crisis that followed the Sarajevo assassination. * Choice *Misfire is without doubt a tremendously important addition to the 1914 literature. It is also, it has to be said, a stylishly written, absolutely entrancing work. In it, Miller-Melamed combines his agnosticism with massive erudition to demonstrate how the explanatory constructs in the narratives about the Sarajevo assassination in fact turn out to be, on closer inspection, no more than 'neat explanatory fiction'. This makes his book uniquely original in a sea of studies detailing the road to war....Misfire is certainly not just yet another account of how the war began. It is much, much more appealing and engaging than that: in showing how history can be so easily misconstrued and then widely transmitted, it is a striking reminder, and something of a reprimand, about how we end up processing the past through a mythological prism. * John Zametica, Balcanica: Annual of the Institute for Balkan Studies *In this authoritative and meticulously researched book, renowned Balkan expert Paul Miller-Melamed argues that the death of the Archduke has been overly romanticised and that the mythology surrounding the plot has served to detract from a more considered understanding of why tensions in the Balkans escalated into a conflict which claimed approximately forty million lives. * Phil Curme, Stand To! *Misfire is an interesting and valuable book... a rewarding read, richly detailed, well researched and argued. * Gary Sheffield, The Critic *Miller-Melamed's compelling account of the assassination at Sarajevo in 1914 is a welcome addition to the literature on the outbreak of the Great War. Turning myth into history, Miller shows that the men responsible for the outbreak of war were not assassins, but prime ministers, foreign ministers, and generals who turned one crime into the justification for another, greater, crime we know as the First World War. * Jay Winter, Yale University *Paul Miller-Melamed asks why Gavrilo Princip is mythologized as a pivotal figure in world history when it was the actions of others which brought about war in 1914. This fresh, engaging retelling of a familiar story highlights the extent and longevity of the 'Sarajevo myths' and paints a vivid portray of the assassin, his victims, and their different, yet similar, worlds which collided on 28 June 1914 * Annika Mombauer, The Open University *The story of the assassination of Franz-Ferdinand has been so often told that most now assume to know what 'Sarajevo, 1914' was and meant. Miller-Melamed's compelling narrative, steeped in his masterful and nuanced command of the scholarly literature, show how little those events are understood to this day. Misfire's retelling shows the characters in this plot should not be dismissed as bit-part actors in the wider drama of the First World War. Neither should the Balkans be treated as a peripheral backwater of Europe when its politics and peoples played a critical role in shaping modern Europe as we know it. Misfire is a remarkable demonstration of the craft of historical writing. Anyone with a keen interest in history, not merely World War I historians, will thoroughly enjoy this book and learn a great deal from it. * Pierre Purseigle, University of Warwick *An engrossing examination of how World War I began, how it is remembered, and the differences between the two, Misfire does not complicate the story of World War I's origins; rather, it serves as a reminder that history is always more complicated than its mythmakers and storytellers suggest. * Eileen Gonzalez, Foreword Reviews *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: "I could have practically touched him" Chapter One: "Tools" of Progress Chapter Two: Worlds Apart Chapter Three: Vying Visions Chapter Four: An "Epic" Conspiracy! Chapter Five: "World History is Horrific From Up Close" Chapter Six: "The First Shots of the First World War" Conclusion: "The Bottom of the Matter" Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe true story of the Gestapo - the Nazis' secret police force and the most feared instrument of political terror in the Third Reich.Trade Reviewthis book not only offers a detailed study of the 12-year Gestapo reign of terror, but offers disturbing evidence about how the Gestapo assimilated back into German society * LSE Review of Books *Darms and Stolle offer their readers a succinct introduction to the subject while also managing to deconstruct a great number of myths still surrounding the Gestapo in public memory. * Irish Times *A welcome introduction * Military History Monthly *The Gestapo: Power and Terror in the Third Reich draws on all the latest scholarship to offer readers a compelling overview of what the organization was, what it did, and how it changed over time. Like many other penetrating explorations of the Nazi killing machine, it raises some very disturbing and ultimately unanswerable questions about the nature evil and cruelty in the world. A fine book all around, but not a book for the faint of heart. * The Daily Beast *Deeply researched and informative. * David Cesarani, Literary Review *An excellent short introduction to one of the most complex issues in the history of the Third Reich. * Richard Overy, author of The Third Reich: A Chronicle *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Foundation and Early Years 2: Development of the Organization 3: Gestapo Collaborators 4: How the Gestapo Worked 5: Persecution in the Reich 6: The Gestapo in Europe 7: The Gestapo after 1945 Conclusion: what is left of the Gestapo? Notes Selected Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisOf one-and-a-half million photographs related to Nazi concentration camps, only four depict the actual process of mass killing perpetrated at the gas chambers. This book reveals that these photos of Auschwitz, taken clandestinely by one of the Jewish prisoners forced to help carry out the atrocities there, were made as a potent act of resistance.Trade Review"Images in Spite of All provides the carefully extended anguished engagement, both epitaph and caption, that the subject demands." (William T. Vollman, Bookforum)"

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Book SynopsisA disturbing account of the Vichy period, demonstrating how in the interests of stability, French national feeling favored collboration with the German-controlled regime.Trade ReviewTells us as much of the truth about Vichy as we are likely to have for a long time... Paxton answers all the basic questions... in an even tone, with a vigorous style, allowing the devastating documents... to speak for themselves. New York Times Book Review

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Book SynopsisA compact and graphic account of the long-running global drama: The Cold War.Table of ContentsA Failed Peace • The Iron Curtain • The Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO • The Berlin Airlift • China and De-Colonization • McCarthyism • Korea: The Cold War Becomes a Military Struggle • Why The War Never Became Hot: The Bomb • Explosions in Europe: Poland & the GDR Uprising • Explosions in Europe: The Hungarian Uprising • Secret Services: East • Secret Services: West • Missiles, Sputnik, and the H-Bomb • Cuba: Bay of Pigs • The Berlin Wall • Cuban Missile Crisis • Vietnam • The Prague Spring • Detente: The Peak of Soviet Power • Afghanistan • Dissidents • Poland • President Reagan's Offensive • Living with the Bomb • Gorbachev: A Man to Do Business With • The Wall Comes Down • Revolutions in Eastern Europe • Fall of the Soviet Union.

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Book SynopsisA NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON MEDAL FOR MILITARY HISTORYSHORTLISTED FOR THE GILDER LEHRMAN PRIZE FOR MILITARY HISTORY''A masterpiece. It puts all previous single-volume works of the conflict in the shade'' Saul David, The TimesA bold new approach to the Second World War from one of Britain''s foremost military historiansRichard Overy sets out in Blood and Ruins to recast the way in which we view the Second World War and its origins and aftermath. He argues that this was the ''great imperial war'', a violent end to almost a century of global imperial expansion which reached its peak in the ambitions of Italy, Germany and Japan in the 1930s and early 1940s, before descending into the largest and costliest war in human history and the end, after 1945, of all territorial empires.How war on a huge scale was fought, supplied, paid for, supported by mass mobilization and mTrade ReviewMajestic and original ... Overy has written many fine books, but Blood and Ruins is his masterpiece. At almost 1,000 pages, it puts all previous single-volume works of the conflict in the shade. -- Saul David * The Times *This book is Richard Overy's magnum opus (in every sense of the phrase) ... It would be difficult to overstate the brilliance with which argument and insight are interwoven in a fast-paced narrative ... Extraordinarily compelling, and written with remarkable fluency. -- John Darwin * Times Literary Supplement *Monumental... [A] vast and detailed study that is surely the finest single-volume history of World War Two. * Wall Street Journal *This is a magnificent book that reflects the deep scholarship and humane judgment of a magisterial historian. * The Economist *Let's praise Overy's stupendous achievement. Anybody interested in the why and how of boundless violence in the 20th century should make space for Blood and Ruins on his or her shelf. It will help you to grasp and revisit the carnage of 1931-45 as the largest event in human history. This book is not Eurocentric, but truly geocentric ... it is history at its best. -- Josef Joffe * New York Times *Richard Overy has produced one of the most stunning accounts of the Second World War and the events that led up to it. -- Simon Heffer * Daily Telegraph Books of the Year 2021 *A magisterial new history ... remarkable in span, depth and scholarship, impressive in sweep and vision, that rightly sees WW2 as starting in China in 1931 and recasts the conflict as a distorted sequel to an earlier epoch. -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Aspects of History *A truly global view of World War II ... perhaps the single most comprehensive account of the Second World War yet to appear in one volume. You might think that by reading extensively, you could construct a book like this one. You could not ... Richard Overy has done a signal service with this compellingly written, impressively researched book. -- Rana Mitter * The Critic *Recasting World War Two as the logical continuation of decades of imperial growth and territorial ambition, this new exploration of the conflict is expansive in its geographical and chronological scope. Yet it never loses sight of the very human cost of that ambition ... A weighty, important take from a leading author in the field. * History Revealed *His masterly synthesis of the war's vast literature and sources has never been bettered. ... it is unflagging and consistently illuminating. -- Geoffrey Roberts * Irish Times *Dazzling ... Overy's reframing of WWII as the last gasp of imperialism is astute and incisive. WWII buffs should consider this a must-read. * Publishers Weekly *A whopping, fact-packed grand overview. * The Times *In this impressively detailed and innovative account of the 1930s and the Second World War, Overy frames the events leading up to the conflict as a last-ditch attempt to shore up or remake empires. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary history of French lives under occupation in the First and Second World Wars, this is an intimate, unforgettable meditation on the strange mixture of compromise and betrayal, collaboration and resistance that marks defeat, written by one of the greatest historians of France.''A splendid book for comprehending human kind ... Cobb has a strong sense of how ordinary life has to go on, even through disasters, and a sensitivity for what it was like at the time, matched by a gift for the telling phrase'' Economist ''Prophet of the past, Richard Cobb is a visionary'' New York Review of Books''His France - urban, northern, provincial, pedestrian, noisy, unpuritanical, festive - was in contrast to, and predicated upon, another France: bureaucratic, official, suburban, safe'' Julian BarnesTrade ReviewRichard Cobb is a visionary. His books will take you on an extraordinary intellectual and emotional journey. * The New York Review of Books *His France - urban, northern, provincial, pedestrian, noisy, unpuritanical, festive - was in contrast to, and predicated upon, another France: bureaucratic, official, suburban, safe, rule - crazy, scared. -- Julian BarnesCobb was a true historian of life 'from below', using archival evidence to bring alive the reality - and the suffering - of ordinary people's existence. -- Geoffrey Wheatcroft * New Statesman *

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