Military History Books

Book SynopsisA delightful reminder of the techniques for household economies extolled by the wartime government. First published in 1943, all of the tips can be used to spruce up your wardrobe today. Old fashioned remedies for everything from washing silks and mending your clothes, to repelling the moth menace'!

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Book SynopsisIn a secluded Italian village, Jewish and Catholic families live side by side. As the storm clouds of war gather, everyone will have to make a heart-breaking choice to save the lives of those they love... Bella's Jewish family has run the local bookshop in her village for generations, sheltered by the olive groves and the purple vineyards surrounding it. On Bella's wedding day war is declared and Italy, like the rest of Europe, is plunged into deadly turmoil. Orphaned Jewish children from Nazi occupied territories arrive in the village seeking refuge and Bella knows she must do everything she can to keep them safe. Her neighbours also take up the fight and the children are welcomed with open arms. But when German soldiers arrive in the village, everyone is suddenly in terrible danger. Her father is forced to close the bookshop and go into hiding. Bella cannot bring herself to leave their home among the vines or abandon the children she has sworn to protect. She will fight for the home and the people she loves even if she must pay the ultimate price... An unforgettable story of the courage of ordinary people in the darkest days of war. Inspired by real events, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff. This book was previously published as The Tears of Monterini.

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Book Synopsis''The most comprehensive history in any language of the disastrous epoch of the Third Reich'' Ian Kershaw, author of Hitler''The most gripping account I''ve read of German life before and during the rise of the Nazis'' A.S. Byatt, Times Literary SupplementThe Coming of the Third Reich: How the Nazis Destroyed Democracy and Seized Power in Germany explores how the First World War, the Weimar Republic and the Great Depression paved the way for Nazi ruleThey started as little more than a gang of extremists and thugs, yet in a few years the Nazis had turned Germany into a one-party state and led one of Europe''s most advanced nations into moral, physical and cultural ruin and despair. In this consummate and compelling history, the first book in his acclaimed trilogy on the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, Richard Evans reveals how and why it happened, questions whether the rise of Hitler was inevitable and dramatically re-creates the maelstrom of disorder, economic disaster, violence and polarization that gave rise to the terror of the Third Reich.

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Book SynopsisPunchy. Trenchant. Heavyweight. Mark Urban's Tank blows the doors off, just as you'd expect from such an accomplished author. Take cover!' Damien Lewis, author of SAS Great EscapesAn authoritative history of the tank and the remarkable individuals who designed them and fought in them, from a former officer and best-selling historianTanks are the ultimate embodiment of industrial age warfare. In the popular imagination, they represent both a terrifying beast of destruction and a potent symbol of liberation. The technology behind these war machines has evolved relentlessly, and yet the coming of the information age has led many to predict that drones, missiles, and Artificial Intelligence have made the tank obsolete. Time and again, however, tanks have continued to shape and be shaped by -- battles around the world, from their introduction in 1916, through the Second World War and tank-on-tank fights in 1990s Iraq, to the current conflict in Ukraine. In TANK, best-selling historian and former officer in the Royal Tank Regiment Mark Urban draws on wide-ranging accounts from soldiers, designers, and politicians, from Winston Churchill to Volodymyr Zelensky, to tell the remarkable story of one of the most important developments in military history. Through the ten most important vehicles ever made, Urban chronicles the incredible advances in tank technology starting with the Mark IV, the first British tank to be used in large numbers in WW1, and following the story through the T-34 and Tiger to the M1 Abrams, a product of huge American Cold War investment that is still used to this day. Officially supported by The Tank Museum and using never-before-seen archival sources, interviews and declassified documents, this is a fascinating history of the vehicle that changed conflict forever. An illuminating and exciting drive through the mud and blood of twentieth-century warfare' Dr Robert Lyman, author of Operation Suicide

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Book Synopsis*** The New York Times Bestseller ***'Lucy Adlington tells of the horrors of the Nazi occupation and the concentration camps from a fascinating and original angle. She introduces us to a little known aspect of the period, highlighting the role of clothes in the grimmest of societies imaginable and giving an insight into the women who stayed alive by stitching' - Alexandra Shulman, author of Clothes...and other things that matter'Compelling... Adlington tells the stories of the women with clarity and steely precision' - Jewish Chronicle'An utterly absorbing, important and unique historical read' - Judy Batalion, NY Times bestselling author of The Light of Our Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos'Powerful... a fascinating account.' - WomanThe powerful chronicle of the women who used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust, stitching beautiful clothes at an extraordinary fashion workshop created within one of the most notorious WWII death camps. At the height of the Holocaust twenty-five young inmates of the infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp - mainly Jewish women and girls - were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions for elite Nazi women in a dedicated salon. It was work that they hoped would spare them from the gas chambers. This fashion workshop - called the Upper Tailoring Studio - was established by Hedwig Höss, the camp commandant's wife, and patronized by the wives of SS guards and officers. Here, the dressmakers produced high-quality garments for SS social functions in Auschwitz, and for ladies from Nazi Berlin's upper crust. Drawing on diverse sources - including interviews with the last surviving seamstress - The Dressmakers of Auschwitz follows the fates of these brave women. Their bonds of family and friendship not only helped them endure persecution, but also to play their part in camp resistance. Weaving the dressmakers' remarkable experiences within the context of Nazi policies for plunder and exploitation, historian Lucy Adlington exposes the greed, cruelty, and hypocrisy of the Third Reich and offers a fresh look at a little-known chapter of World War II and the Holocaust.

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Book SynopsisWhen the first notes of the air-raid sirens sounded on the evening of 10 May 1941, few citizens even bothered going into the shelters.The Longest Night reveals the untold story of the horrific bombing raid that almost brought Britain to military collapse - using extensive survivors'' testimony and previously classified documents to reveal just how close the Luftwaffe came to total victory. This vivid, dramatically told account depicts how fate shifted based on Hitler''s mistaken belief that he''d actually lost the air war over Britain - and portrays the unsurpassed ''we-can-take-it'' bravery of the British people when they''d been pushed beyond all human endurance.

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Book SynopsisA thrilling history of the dramatic siege of Acre in 1291, the bloody climax to the two hundred years of the Holy Land Crusades Trade Review"Crowley writes with authority and flair"—Peter Frankopan, Financial Times"Gripping and brilliantly researched [. . .] This is history red in tooth and claw"—Justin Marozzi, author of Islamic Empires“Crowley provides a fast-paced narrative, woven with dexterity, building to a crescendo that describes the siege in all its harrowing detail”— Sophie Therese Ambler, BBC History Magazine“This is an excellent all-encompassing account of the fall of the last Crusader strong-hold in the Holy Land” —Alexander Stilwell, Catholic Herald

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Book SynopsisA unique re-interpretation of the most devastating conflict the world has ever seen, using the tools offered by the latest information technology and graphic design.Trade Review'A masterpiece of illustrative endeavour … a fantastic achievement and a must-have addition to any WWII enthusiast’s bookshelf' - The Armourer'Hugely impressive … This is data visualisation at its absolute finest … a truly staggering achievement by everyone involved' - Geographical'Awe-inspiring' - History of War'Superb, beautifully presented … [has] successfully developed creative and unique means to explain this intricate detail. A pleasing aesthetic runs throughout' - Britain at War'Groundbreaking as a resource for students to think about the history and scale of modern conflict' - Dr Simone Gigliotti, Royal Holloway

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Book SynopsisBy the last year of the Second World War, the RAF's Bomber Command had become a devastating military force. The peak of its operations came in March 1945 when the squadrons that fell under its command dropped the greatest weight of bombs for any month in the war. In the total of 364,514 operational sorties flown since September 1939, the men and machines of Bomber Command dropped a staggering 1,030,500 tons of bombs on targets in Germany and Occupied Europe. However, the success achieved by Bomber Command came a cost, with 8,325 aircraft lost in action and 55,573 airmen were killed. So vast was Bomber Command, that to tell its full story in any detail would be a huge task. In Lancasters at War, Ian Reid has set out to explore its successes and failures through the men and machines that operated from one airfield, namely RAF Grimsby, and one unit, 100 Squadron. Located in what is today referred to as Bomber Country', RAF Grimsby was developed from the site of a pre-war civilian flying club just outside the village of Waltham in North-East Lincolnshire. It entered service in 1941\. As for 100 Squadron, its lineage stretches back to the 1917 and the days of the Royal Flying Corps. The wartime history of both RAF Grimsby and 100 Squadron provide a fascinating insight into the actions of the wider Bomber Command. From attacks on the Ruhr to the Battle of Berlin, and from supporting the D-Day landings to the campaign against Hitler's V-weapons, all are explored by the author in this book. A series of aircraft profiles, each of which is supported by a mini-history of the Lancaster depicted, also helps focus the story on individual crews and their aircraft - a valuable resource to historians, enthusiasts and modellers alike. Forty years of research has resulted in Ian Reid drawing together a remarkable record of one part of Bomber Command's wartime service. Packed full of first-hand accounts from aircrew, groundcrew and WAAFs, all of which are supported by many previously unpublished photographs, Lancaster at War is an important addition to the record of the Allies' Strategic Bombing Offensive in the Second World War, as well as Bomber Command's part in the defeat of the Third Reich.

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Book SynopsisThis title tells the story of the greatest night bomber of World War II, illustrated with over 275 photographs. It takes you through the design, development, construction and history of the Lancaster, as well as its role in the major battles of the war. It includes first-hand accounts from people who lived through the war in Germany and in Britain, as well as profiles of the pilots who flew and fought over Europe. Stunning photographs of the planes themselves and of the destruction wrought on its target cities bring the devastating power of these machines to life. It features a fascinating and engaging narrative written by a leading military history expert. "The Lancaster Bomber" led the air offensive in the darkest days of World War II. This book describes how the plane was developed to fit into an entirely new role in warfare, and explains how the Lancaster could take the war to the enemy to devastating effect. Also covered is the production of the plane and the modifications made throughout its lifetime. This book shows what it was like to fly a Lancaster over the flak-filled skies of Nazi Germany, and lists where surviving planes can be seen today. This fascinating text is the ultimate reference for anybody with an interest in military history or aviation.

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Book SynopsisA collection of Rudyard Kipling''s articles describing Sikh soldiers'' experiences of the First World War. Published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling''s birth.

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Book SynopsisThis is the forgotten tale of MI6s top spy in Nazi Germany and his bid to stop the Second World War. In the world of espionage, where the accounts of renowned spies often dominate the narrative, this is a rare gem - an untold story of a completely unknown spy. Baron William de Ropp, a Baltic German aristocrat, wasnt just any ordinary spy; he was MI6s top-secret agent in Nazi Germany from 1931 to 1939, managing to escape Berlin just before war broke out. This unsung hero had direct access to Adolf Hitler and an inside track on the Nazi regime. His reports, shrouded in secrecy, had the power to shape British policy toward Germany in a pivotal period of history. The Spy and the Devil is a riveting tale of espionage, intrigue, and the untold impact of one mans secret mission on the course of history. A journey into the shadows of Nazi Germany, where a forgotten British spy worked tirelessly to avert catastrophe, and discover the secrets that history almost left behind.Although aspects of de Ropps activities appear in other books, notably the authorised history of MI6, his story has never been published in full before, adding an extra dimension to what is, by any standard, the account of a very remarkable man. Drawing on his years of service in the Foreign Office, Tim Willasey-Wilsey offers an insiders view of this enigmatic British spy.

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Book SynopsisFrom the top ten bestselling author of Normandy 44 and Sicily 43The Second World War is the most cataclysmic and violent sequence of events in recent times. But for the past seven decades, our understanding of it has relied upon conventional wisdom, propaganda and an interpretation skewed by the information available. James Holland has spent over twelve years conducting new research, interviewing survivors, visiting battlefields and archives that have never before been so accessible and challenging too-long-held assumptions about the war that shaped our world. In Germany Ascendant, the first part of this ground-breaking new history, James Holland introduces the war, beginning with the lead-up to its outbreak in 1939 and taking us up to mid-1941 as the Nazis prepared to unleash Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia. To tell the real story, he weaves together the experiences of dozens of individuals, from civilians and soldiers, to sailors, Trade Review"A marvellously readable book" -- Gary Sheffield BBC History Magazine - Books of the Year 2015 "Impeccably researched and superbly written ... Holland's fascinating saga offers a mixture of captivating new research and well-considered revisionism. The next two volumes should be unmissable." -- Alexander Larman Observer "Holland's history is a work of revisionism with a vengeance. Through his emphasis on logistical support and technology, he continually demolishes cherished myths about the war ... This is a magnificent, authoritative contribution to the study of the Second World War." -- Leo McKinstry Literary Review "This brilliant, lucid and intimate history is a game-changer, the Second World War will never seem the same again. If you think you know the real history of the Second World War this book will astonish you: it renders other popular histories redundant" -- Professor David Edgerton King's College, London "The most refreshing and engaging book about the Second World War that I have read in a long time. The absorbing narrative is laced with a passion and enthusiasm and stands head and shoulders above the current crop of titles in the genre" Soldier Magazine "James Holland is the best of the new generation of WW2 historians. His epic new venture convincingly challenges many received ideas about the war and draws some exciting new conclusions" -- Sebastian Faulks "James Holland's War in the West takes a fresh look at the familiar and finds much food for thought - turning several conventions on their heads in a compelling and revelatory way" -- Al Murray "This book stands apart and for all the right reasons: Holland has something new to say. Every page is alive with a level of excitement and enthusiasm. Here is a perspective that turns on its head what I thought I understood about those astonishing years - filled with insight and detail" -- Neil Oliver "With this magnificent, hugely readable debut, James Holland's War in the West is set fair to become one of the truly great multi-volume histories of the Second World War" -- Andrew Roberts "James Holland has produced a gripping multi-layered study of the War in West. It weaves together accounts from all levels of those caught up in the opening stages of the war and provides an accessible and captivating narrative. More importantly still it offers a challenging reappraisal that forces us to rethink our attitudes to the conduct of the most destructive and important war in history. Essential reading" -- Professor John Buckley, Professor of War Studies, Wolverhampton University & author of Monty's Men

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Book Synopsis'It is rare to find a tale so strange, intimate and human yet at the same time so enormous, so global in its importance. Yet again John Nichol impresses us with his ability to weave together the little details and the grand narrative' Dan Snow *** Over one million British Empire soldiers were killed during the First World War. More than a century later, more than half a million still have no known grave. The scale of the fighting, the destructive power of high explosive, and the combination of relentless military engagement and glutinous mud meant that many of the dead were never recovered or identified. Names were left without bodies, and bodies, or fragments of bodies, without names. In an emotional personal journey, Sunday Times bestselling author John Nichol uncovers the dramatic story of the Unknown Warrior who lies in Westminster Abbey, and our nation’s deep-seated need to honour and mourn the fallen. <

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Book SynopsisThink you know about British history and the causes of the First World War? Think again. This fascinating and gripping study of events at the turn of the Twentieth Century is a remarkable insight into how political and social factors that we widely accept to be the causes of The Great War, were really just a construct put together by a very small, but powerful, political elite...'Thought-provoking . . . Docherty and Macgregor do not mince their words . . . their arguments are powerful' -- Britain at War'Simply astonishing' -- ***** Reader review'Very illuminating' -- ***** Reader review'You simply MUST read this book' -- ***** Reader review'This is a page-turner' -- ***** Reader review***********************************************************************************Hidden History uniquely exposes those responsible for the First World War. It reveals how accounts of the war's origins have been deliberately falsified to conceal the guilt of the secret cabal of very rich and powerful men in London responsible for the most heinous crime perpetrated on humanity. For ten years, they plotted the destruction of Germany as the first stage of their plan to take control of the world. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was no chance happening. It lit a fuse that had been carefully set through a chain of command stretching from Sarajevo through Belgrade and St Petersburg to that cabal in London.Our understanding of these events has been firmly trapped in a web of falsehood and duplicity carefully constructed by the victors at Versailles in 1919 and maintained by compliant historians ever since. The official version is fatally flawed, warped by the volume of evidence they destroyed or concealed from public view.Hidden History poses a tantalising challenge. The authors ask only that you examine the evidence they lay before you . . .Trade ReviewThought-provoking . . . Docherty and Macgregor do not mince their words . . . their arguments are powerful * Britain at War *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWestad has demonstrated that it is possible to tell the vast story of the Cold War in just 600 pages...a clear and well-written summary of a global conflict -- Gerard Degroot * The Times *A tremendous and timely history lesson for our age * Kirkus Reviews *Westad's panoramic history is an impressive feat * Publisher's Weekly *The Cold War evinces a lifetime of research and thought on the subject. Compelling ideas and valuable insights appear frequently... * National Interest *For generations, the Cold War was context, the inescapable setting of political life. This history sets the Cold War itself in context, within the greater landscape of world history, deeply understood, and masterfully presented. It is a powerful synthesis by one of our great historians -- Timothy Snyder, author of Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and StalinWestad has produced a grand narrative of the Cold War. Defining it as a struggle between capitalism and socialism as well as a bipolar international system, Westad brilliantly illustrates its ideological, geopolitical, technological, and economic dimensions. Westad, the world's foremost scholar of the Cold War, once again dazzles readers with the scope and depth of his analysis -- Melvyn P. Leffler, Edward Stettinius Professor of American History, Miller Center, University of VirginiaThe Cold War is the history of the twentieth century and the foundation for our current world. Arne Westad provides a powerful analysis of why the Cold War occurred, what it meant, and why it still matters. He is especially strong in elucidating the ideas of perfection that drove very imperfect, often brutal, leaders. Westad's book links the Cold War to globalization, recent wars in the Middle East, and American rivalries with Russia and China. This is a book that everyone interested in politics and foreign policy should read. It is a riveting story, told by one of the foremost world historians -- Jeremi Suri, author of The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of America’s Highest OfficeHis ambitious book wrests attention away from the classic arenas of Moscow, Berlin and Washington, and looks instead at Indonesia, Chile, Angola, China and Korea, showing how the Cold War affected the globe and how it was, in turn, shaped by events in seemingly distant lands. * Herald Scotland *Ambitious, perspicacious and panoramic in scope * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisNapoleon is an out-and-out masterpiece and a joy to read' Sir Antony Beevor, author of StalingradA landmark new biography that presents the man behind the many myths. The first writer in English to go back to the original European sources, Adam Zamoyski's portrait of Napoleon is historical biography at its finest.Napoleon inspires passionately held and often conflicting visions. Was he a god-like genius, Romantic avatar, megalomaniac monster, compulsive warmonger or just a nasty little dictator?While he displayed elements of these traits at certain times, Napoleon was none of these things. He was a man and, as Adam Zamoyski presents him in this landmark biography, a rather ordinary one at that. He exhibited some extraordinary qualities during some phases of his life but it is hard to credit genius to a general who presided over the worst (and self-inflicted) disaster in military history and who single-handedly destroyed the great enterprise he and others had toiled so hard to constructTrade Review'A pacy and characteristically unintimidated picture of how and why Napoleon achieved what he did and then succeeded in screwing it all up …. 600 pages of narrative history will seldom pass so easily' David Crane, Spectator 'Adam Zamoyski refreshingly downsizes the Corsican commander-in-chief' Nicky Haslam, Spectator ‘Always elegant in style and original in analysis. Zamoyski, a master of the sources and of the culture and politics that created his subject, produces a fresh, nuanced, beautifully written, gripping and outstanding biography of Napoleon that reveals him to be a triumph of luck and accident as much as the invincible genius of the legend’ Simon Sebag-Montefiore, author of The Romanovs and Jerusalem: The Biography ‘Napoleon is an out-and-out masterpiece and a joy to read’ Sir Antony Beevor, author of Stalingrad ‘A lifetime’s diligent research and profound thinking about Napoleon and his times has gone into this hugely readable, highly enjoyable and well-balanced biography. Zamoyski is at the top of his game as a biographer’ Andrew Roberts, Visiting Professor, Department of War Studies, King’s College, London ‘Adam Zamoyski has retold a story that we thought we knew and made it fresh: stripping away two centuries of mythology, discarding the apocryphal stories and legends, he finally brings us the real Napoleon’ Anne Applebaum, author of Red Famine: Stalin’s War on Ukraine

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Book Synopsis** THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER *** Selected as a 2024 Book of the Year by The Times, Daily Telegraph, Times Literary Supplement, Daily Express and Waterstones *'Extraordinary' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, SUNDAY TIMES An epic thriller . . . droll, moving, with a cinematic eye and not a boring line in it' OBSERVER Fascinating . . . gripping' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 'Excellent . . . a fresh, unexpected take on the liberation of Paris' JULIAN JACKSON, author of France on TrialFrom the Sunday Times-bestselling Patrick Bishop comes a heart-stopping countdown narrative recreating the liberation of Paris in 1944, one of the great and most dramatic hinge moments of WW2. When the Germans marched in and the lamps went out in the City of Light the millions who loved Paris mourned. Liberation, four years later, triggered an explosion of joy and relief. It was the party of the century and everybody who was anybody was there. General Charles de Gaulle seized the moment to create an instant legend that would take its place alongside the great moments in French history. After years of oppression and humiliation Parisians had risen to reclaim their city and drive out the forces of darkness or so the story went. This fresh new account of the liberation, packed with revelation, tells the story of those heady days of suspense, danger, exhilaration and vengeance through the eyes of a range of participants, reflecting all sides of the conflict: Americans, French and Germans; resisters and collaborators. Among them are famous names like Ernest Hemingway, J.D. Salinger and Pablo Picasso, but also some fascinating unknowns including a medic turned Resistance gunwoman, an androgynous Hungarian sculptor and a French bluestocking who quietly set about saving the nation's art treasures from the Nazi looters. Paris '44 looks behind the mythology to tell the real story of the liberation and expose the conflicts and contradictions of France under the occupation the shame as well as the glory. This gripping war-time narrative will enthral anyone who has a place for Paris in their hearts.

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Book SynopsisFeeling life is slipping him by, an American agriculturalist heads to Vietnam to try and make a difference in the lives of the people as part of President Johnson's 'Hearts and Minds' campaign. There is just one big problem - there's a war going on. ---- Eddie joins a small group of civilian advisors chosen to work with local farmers to help make Vietnam once again self-sufficient in rice. He is drawn to the adventure, the challenge, and the opportunity to make a difference, but he is leaving some problems behind. ---- His story follows the ups and downs of cultural and tropical agriculture training in Washington DC and the Philippines, and then his assignment in the Gia Dinh province just outside Saigon. The stakes increase as the war intensifies and Eddie's connections in the country deepen, providing the backdrop for the cultural, political and personal struggles that unfold. ---- This fictional memoir shines a light on a relatively unknown part of Vietnam War history as elements of Asian history and culture, including the introduction of 'miracle rice', are woven into the challenges of being a civilian trying to work - and live - in a war zone. ---- The poignant Foreword by his daughter, the Afterword by his second wife, the Appendix, and 25 hand painted illustrations by his granddaughter provide added layers to the story. The fragility of life was the late author's parting lesson; however, these words left behind were his ultimate gift.Trade ReviewWhat a brilliant, moving and vivid "through the looking glass" book this is. An irresistible read; beautiful, cover to cover. -Gareth J. Mitchell, Presenter, BBC World Service ---- Don't Break My Rice Bowl is an inspiring story - showing one man's dedication to helping others - at considerable personal cost. It is also instructive - revealing the limits of such dedication. I can only imagine what it meant to Robert Dodd's daughter to find this "hidden treasure". -Dr Kenneth Greene, Retired Chair of Social Sciences and History Department, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ, USA ---- From the fundamentals of getting food on the table, to the role and impact of fathers, from ambitions to benevolence, not to mention a "Godless" war, there is something for everyone. If I were back in the classroom, I'd teach this book in a heartbeat. It would encourage a plethora of classroom conversation! -Nicholas M. Guarracino, Editor and former English Teacher ---- To the thousands of histories, memoirs, and novels of America's Vietnam Experience, this is a laudable addition, a descriptive, fast-paced story told from the point of view, not of a combatant, journalist or citizen, but by a civilian agricultural expert inspired by the miracle of rice. Eddie represents the America and the Americans who really wanted to make life better for the Vietnamese. This thought-provoking book deserves a place in the light (not in a dark drawer from where it came!). It is about survival, and so much more than a story of war. -Dr Peter J. Woolley, American Political Scientist. ---- The making of Don't Break My Rice Bowl brought Dad back to me, one more time. I never expected this. It feels like we have had one last conversation, one I thought we would never have. -Patricia RykielTable of ContentsForeword * Prologue: The Jog * PART ONE * Hearts and Minds * RICE * Davinia and Rosita * PART TWO * Saigon, 'the Pearl of the Far East' * The Docks * Colonel Horst * The Orphanage * The Cooperative * Ted * Dynamo Will * Very Big Luck * Zoom * The VIPs * Carl * Village Piglets * Marshmallow and Cricket * House Party * PART THREE * Lunar New Year, 1968 * Deadly Believers * The Weed Killers * Evil Machine * Broken Rice Bowls * Face-Off * Love Song * Afterword * APPENDIX * A Vietnam Vet's Book Review * Character List * Writer Inspiration * Robert H. Dodd, Overseas Assignment Life * Acknowledgement and Thanks * Book Club Questions * The Team DBMRB Bios

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Book Synopsis'Orpheus, the pagan saint of poets, went through hell and came back singing. In twentieth-century mythology, the singer wears a steel helmet and makes his descent "down some profound dull tunnel" in the stinking mud of the Western Front. For most readers of English poetry, the face under that helmet is that of Wilfred Owen.' Professor Jon Stallworthy, from his Introduction.When Wilfred Owen was killed in the days before the Armistice in 1918, he left behind a shattering, truthful and indelible record of a soldier's experience of the First World War. His greatest war poetry has been collected, edited and introduced here by Professor Jon Stallworthy. This special edition is published to commemorate the end of the hellish war that Owen, though the hard-won truth and terrible beauty of his poetry, has taught us never to forget.Trade ReviewOthers have shown the disenchantment of war, have unlegended the roselight and romance of it, but none with such compassion for the disenchanted or such sternly just and justly stern judgment on the idyllisers. * Guardian, 1920 *For me, he is the greatest of all the war poets.... it is Owen's intense respect for the soldier that makes his poetry so powerful. Those who did not return have their meticulously maintained stone memorials on the fields of Flanders. But their memorial in our minds is largely built by Wilfred Owen -- Jeremy Paxman * Spectator *The greatest of all the War Poets… This edition…is a must for every poetry lover -- Emma Lee-Potter * Independent *

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Book Synopsis Meet the unit that posed as Nazi stormtroopers in the most daring mission ever undertaken SAS Ghost Patrol is the explosive true story of the day in 1942 when the SAS donned Nazi uniforms to perpetrate the most audacious and daring mission of the war. Beyond top secret, deniable in the extreme (and of course enjoying Churchill's enthusiastic blessing), this is one of the most remarkable stories of wartime lawlessness, eccentricity and raw courage in the face of impossible odds - a thoroughly British undertaking.What unfolded - the longest mission ever undertaken by Allied special forces - was an epic of daring, courage, tragedy and survival that remains unrivalled to this day, and which rightly became a foundation stone of Special Forces legend. It may read like the stuff of impossible myth or folklore, but every single word is true.PRAISE FOR SAS GHOST PATROL'Intensively researched and powerfully written. One of the great untold stories of WWII' Bear Grylls'Lewis has done a terrific job in resurrecting Heaven Platoon, portraying them as the brave, buccaneering heroes they undoubtedly were' Daily Mail'Another true tale of military derring-do from Lewis' Sunday Express'In SAS Ghost Patrol Lewis reveals a tale of suicidal bravery, untold daring and breath-taking deceit. Told with the panache and verve of a born storyteller, Lewis is in a class of his own' Saul David'Amazing tale of WWII great escaper's Nazi ruse . . . The extraordinary Second World War saga of the SIG and its legacy is revealed.' The Daily Mirror'British troops dressed in German uniforms and mounted a daredevil raid to take the Libyan port of Tobruk during the Second World War, reveals a fascinating new book' Daily Express'Lewis's account . . . reads like a Boy's Own adventure, except it isn't a work of fiction and the heroes don't come through unscathed. His storytelling enhances the bravery of the men and the danger of the missions without over-dramatising anything. There is no need to' Soldier Magazine'Reveals the true story of an ultra-secret fighting unit that posed as Nazi Storm Troopers to seize the German-held port city of Tobruk during the Second World War' Richard Hatch and Verity Geere, Forces Radio breakfast show

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Book SynopsisDr Adrian Greaves' is widely acknowledged as a leading expert on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and his previous account of Rorke's Drift has become a standard work on that battle. However, by his own admission, it is hopelessly out of date as are other existing accounts. Rorke's Drift Revisited is not merely a revised edition of that earlier work but a completely new account with much new research that challenges many misconceptions and myths. Explaining how previous accounts have been distorted by false reporting, false memory syndrome, ignorance of the site and archaeological evidence, the author presents fascinating fresh evidence and analysis. Among the more sensational revelations is that Lieutenant John Chard did not write the famous Chard Report, which has been the main primary source for the battle. He also shows that neither Lieutenant Ardendorff nor the missionary Reverend Otto Witt was there. Nor were the famous mealie-bag-and-biscuit-box barricades hastily erected, as per the film; they were carefully planned and built over several preceding days. Drawing on previously neglected eyewitness accounts as well as the latest archaeological evidence, there is a wealth of other new information and fresh perspectives. The shift in perceptions of the battle and its hold on the national psyche is also discussed. Uniquely, over a quarter of a century of physically revisiting Rorke's Drift and associated sites as a tour leader allows him to give an accurate appraisal of the battlefield today.

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Book SynopsisThe untold story of the army of men and women who kept British theatre alive during the First World War, and how the theatre aided the war effortTrade ReviewLays open the stage world of 1914-18 with a jolt or a marvel on every page -- Libby PurvesFluent and illuminatingFoss’s original take on the war is extremely well-researched and full of fascinating detail'Wonderful' -- Libby Purves

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Book SynopsisAn accessible history of the final six months in Hitler's rise to power, drawing on previously un-accessed archival materials.

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Book Synopsis''Addictive and deeply moving'' Independent''Utterly gripping'' Anthony Beevor, Daily Telegraph''Enthralling . . . A reminder that heroism can be found in the most unlikely places'' Evening Standard''I have seldom enjoyed a spy story more than this one'' Max Hastings, Sunday Times_____________________D-Day, 6 June 1944, the turning point of the Second World War, was a victory of arms. But it was also a triumph for a different kind of operation: one of deceit . . .At the heart of the deception was the ''Double Cross System'', a team of double agents whose bravery, treachery, greed and inspiration succeeded in convincing the Nazis that Calais and Norway, not Normandy, were the targets of the 150,000-strong Allied invasion force. Under the direction of an eccentric but brilliant intelligence officer in tartan trousers, working from a smoky lair in St James''s, these spies would weave a web of dec

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Book SynopsisLivia Manera Sambuy (Author) Livia Manera Sambuy is an Italian writer whose book of profiles of American writers, Non Scrivere Di Me, was published in 2015. She is also the author and co-director of two documentary films on Philip Roth. She has been a staff writer at the literary pages of the Italian national daily Corriere della Sera for over twenty years. She lives in Paris.Todd Portnowitz is the translator of The Greatest Invention; Long Live Latin; and Go Tell It to the Emperor: The Selected Poems of Pierluigi Cappello, for which he was awarded a Raiziss/de Palchi Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Book SynopsisA gripping eyewitness account of a major 20th-century military conflict by the UK's most popular writer on geopolitics; The shattering of Yugoslavia in the 1990s showed that, after nearly 50 years of peace, war could return to Europe. It came to its bloody conclusion in Kosovo in 1999.; Tim Marshall, then diplomatic editor at Sky News, was on the ground covering the Kosovo War. This is his illuminating account of how events unfolded, a thrilling journalistic memoir drawing on personal experience, eyewitness accounts, and interviews with intelligence officials from five countries.; Twenty years on from the war’s end, with the rise of Russian power, a weakened NATO and stalled EU expansion, this story is more relevant than ever, as questions remain about the possibility of conflict on European soil. Utterly gripping, this is Tim Marshall at his very best: behind the lines, under fire and full of the insight that has made him one of Britain’s foremost writers on geopolitics.

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Book SynopsisAdam Tooze''s The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy provides a groundbreaking new account of how Hitler established himself in power, mobilized for war - and led his country to annihilation. Was the tragedy of the Second World War determined by Nazi Germany''s terrifying power, or by its fatal weakness? This gripping and universally-acclaimed new history tells the real story of the cost of Hitler''s plans for world domination - and will overturn everything you thought you knew about the Third Reich. ''A tour de force'' Niall Ferguson ''Masterful ... smashes a gallery of preconceptions'' The Times ''This book will change the way we look at Nazi history ... nothing less than a masterpiece. Rejoice, rejoice, for a great historian is born'' Sunday Telegraph ''A remarkable and gripping revision of the history of Nazi Germany'' New Statesman Books of the Year ''A powerful and provocative reassessment of the whole story'' Richard Overy

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Book Synopsis''An unrivalled picture of the rumours, suspicions and treachery of civil war'' Antony BeevorEvery line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic Socialism as I understand it''. Thus wrote Orwell following his experiences as a militiaman in the Spanish Civil War, chronicled in Homage to Catalonia. Here he brings to bear all the force of his humanity, passion and clarity, describing with bitter intensity the bright hopes and cynical betrayals of that chaotic episode: the revolutionary euphoria of Barcelona, the courage of ordinary Spanish men and women he fought alongside, the terror and confusion of the front, his near-fatal bullet wound and the vicious treachery of his supposed allies.A firsthand account of the brutal conditions of the Spanish Civil War, George Orwell''s Homage to Catalonia includes an introduction by Julian Symons.Trade ReviewAn unrivalled picture of the rumours, suspicions and treachery of civil war -- Anthony BeevorA war story that is both brutally honest and lyrically beautiful * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisThe majority of work on Roman Britain's military focuses on the legions, with much less attention paid to the auxilia, even though the latter formed the vast majority of the manpower. The auxiliary units were drawn from all over the Empire and provided both infantry and cavalry units, many of which provided specialisms that the legions lacked. For example, the Cohors I Hamiorum Sagittariorum were a cohort of archers from Syria stationed at Carvoran fort on Hadrian's Wall. Simon Turney, following decades of research, presents this work, referencing every one of the fifty-nine auxiliary units identified in Britain. For each there is a unit history, detailing their movements, involvement in campaigns and anything noteworthy. This is followed by a set of lists detailing known, attested members of the unit and any inscriptions that mention them. Each entry is also accompanied by photographs and/or maps, including the sites the unit occupied, tombstones, images, inscriptions and so on. This is the finest, most up-to-date reference available for the auxiliary units of Britain.

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Book SynopsisNew B-format paperback edition. How Hitler used the murder of a Nazi diplomat to blame the Jews for WW2, based on new archive sources.Trade Review‘A riveting tale’ -- Wall Street Journal‘In a work of fact that reads like fiction, with a novelist’s relish for incident and character, he brings his troubled, troubling protagonist to life’ -- The Wall Street Journal‘A powerful book about justice, outrage and the preservation of truth’ -- The Spectator‘This book reads like a thriller’ -- New York Journal of Books‘Gripping’ -- Daily Mail Book of the Week

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Book SynopsisPublished to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the man voted 'the Greatest Briton', Churchill: A Visual History tells the incredible story of Winston Churchill's long life and lasting legacy through IWM's unique collections.

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

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Book SynopsisLeon Leyson (born Leib Lezjon) was only ten years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and his family was forced to relocate to the Krakow ghetto. With incredible luck, perseverance and grit, Leyson was able to survive the sadism of the Nazis, including that of the demonic Amon Goeth, commandant of Plaszow, the concentration camp outside Krakow. Ultimately, it was the generosity and cunning of one man, a man named Oskar Schindler, who saved Leon Leyson''s life, and the lives of his mother, his father, and two of his four siblings, by adding their names to his list of workers in his factory - a list that became world renowned: Schindler''s List. This, the only memoir published by a former Schindler''s List child, perfectly captures the innocence of a small boy who goes through the unthinkable. Most notable is the lack of rancour, the lack of venom, and the abundance of dignity in Mr Leyson''s telling. The Boy on the Wooden Boxis a legacy of hope, a memoir unlike anything you''ve ev

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Book SynopsisDetails the intense Eelam War III (1995-2002) between the LTTE and Sri Lankan Navy, covering battles, tactics, and equipment.In April 1995, the LTTE resumed the war by launching a surprise attack against the Sri Lankan Navy at Trincomalee, thus opening the third phase ? the so-called Eelam War III ? of the decades-long Sri Lankan civil war. From 1995 to 2002, both sides battled mercilessly against each other, both on land and sea, where the LTTE naval wing, the infamous Sea Tigers, managed to keep at bay the Sri Lankan Navy in the country?s northern waters whilst securing the last leg of the maritime routes connecting the LTTE-held areas with the outside world.However, the war began with a crushing blow for the insurgents with their loss of the Jaffna Peninsula. Thereafter, the sides traded massive blows with in northern Sri Lanka, and each won spectacular victories and suffered massive defeats. In early 2000, the LTTE managed to stun the world by capturing the crucial Elephant Pass, despite it being held by a full Sri Lankan division, thus winning its greatest victory ever. However, by this stage, both sides were exhausted and a fresh round of negotiations ended with a new cease-fire on 22 February 2002.This volume provides a detailed overview not only of the series of large-scale battles and campaigns fought by the two enemies, but also of their organization, tactics and equipment.

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Book Synopsis'One of my favourite historians' Dan Snow'McKay is a gifted writer; his prose has the cadence, tone and power of a Shostakovich symphony. Horror is majestically conveyed' Gerard DeGroot, The Times Richly-layered and packed with insight, this riveting account of terrible events tells us as much about the present as it does the past' Patrick Bishop, author of Paris '44. 'McKay's magisterial history of Peter the Great's monumental gift to Russia will become a classic' Amanda Foreman, author of GeorgianaIn the crucible of the Second World War, Saint Petersburg then known as Leningrad stands as a testament to human endurance. As the Nazis encircle the city, intent on annihilating its 1.5 million inhabitants, the narrative plunges into the harrowing 900 days and nights of relentless hardship and unyielding resilience. Starving residents, horrified by their own gaunt reflections, resort to bulking bread with wood shavings, consuming wallpaper paste, and even turning to their pets. Workers at the mass crematorium numb their horror with extra vodka rations. Yet, amid this suffering, the resilience of culture and hope shines through, with orchestras and theatres defiantly continuing their performances, a flicker of humanity against the backdrop of despair. This book not only chronicles the Siege of Leningrad but also traces the pivotal importance of Saint Petersburg across the centuries. From Peter the Great's visionary founding of the city, through its revolutionary rebirth as Petrograd and its Soviet identity as Leningrad, to its renaissance as Saint Petersburg in the post-Soviet era, we explore the layers of history that shape this extraordinary place. 'The story of the siege of Leningrad is one of the great epics of modern history. It has been told many times before, but never in such an engrossing, moving, often horrifying but also uplifting way' Brendan Simms

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Book SynopsisBringing together the work of nine leading historians, and superbly illustrated with contemporary photography and colour maps, The Second World War gives readers a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of history's greatest conflict.The period from 1939 to 1945 saw some of the most devastating and remarkable events in living memory. Labouring beneath a daily burden of fear, sacrifice, deprivation and uncertainty, soldiers and civilians of all nationalities were driven to extremes of selfless loyalty, dogged determination or bitter cruelty by the demands of a world at war. This book tells the stories of the men and women who lived and died during the Second World War, from politicians to factory workers, and from High Command to the conscripted men on the front lines. The experience of war is brought to life through a wealth of contemporary documentation, private writings and historical research, whilst the political, military and historical significance of the war isTrade ReviewA soundly written, well-illustrated, succinct and academically reliable single volume. * The National Army Museum *Table of ContentsEurope 1939–1943 · The War at Sea · The Mediterranean 1940–1945 · The Pacific · The Eastern Front 1941–1945 · Northwest Europe 1944–1945

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