Military History Books

Book SynopsisDiscover the truth behind one of the greatest unsolved mysteries of World War II.Who was the enigmatic Jean Moulin, a man as skilled in deception as he was in acts of heroism? The memory of this French Resistance hero, who was betrayed to the Gestapo and tortured by Klaus Barbie, the infamous Butcher of Lyon', is revered alongside that of other national icons. But Moulin's story is full of unanswered questions and the truth of his life is far more complicated than the legend. Patrick Marnham, winner of the Marsh Prize for biography, thrillingly tells the epic story of France's greatest war hero, bringing to light the shadowy and often deceitful world of the French Resistance, and offers a shocking conclusion to one of the great unsolved mysteries of World War II.Trade ReviewSecret agents do not leave reliable accounts of their activities, nor do doubleand triple-agents act from simple motives. The lucidity comes, like the solution of a good detective story, towards the end of a tangled tale full of unusual suspects. * The Sunday Times *A brilliantly sustained, atmospheric and often tensely thrilling narrative [. . .] This book is a remarkable achievement that evokes the whole tragedy of wartime France. * The Independent *This is first-rate history that reads like a thriller and keeps the reader engrossed to the very end. * Literary Review *A gripping account of the last days of the French Resistance hero who was tortured to death by Klaus Barbie. Marnham’s biography is a brilliant mix of political thriller and wartime history. * J.G. Ballard *Enthralling and intelligent, a masterly exploration of the sinister labyrinth that was wartime France [...] It is a remarkable book, utterly fascinating. * Allan Massie *... Patrick Marnham is very good on French self-deception: a moral self-deception which began with Vichy for psychological reasons and continued under de Gaulle. His book is as gripping as a detective story. * Antony Beevor *If you are interested in France, the real France, or if you are interested in the Second World War, or if you are interested in courage, real courage, and how it can rise to meet the most severe test imaginable, then I believe you ought to make it your business to read Patrick Marnham’s extraordinary book.’ * Alan Furst *Table of ContentsIllustrations Acknowledgements Introduction The Legend Caluire Into the Pantheon Part I: Life 1. A Republican Cradle, 1789–1899 2. Growth of a Senior Civil Servant, 1899–1919 3. A Secret Man, a Complex Man, 1919–1934 4. Moulin Rouge, 1934–1939 Part II: War 5. The Prefect of Chartres, 1939–1940 6. Zones, 1940–1941 7. Life on Half-Pay, 1940–1941 8. An Envoy to London, 1941 Part III: Death 9. Life Underground, 1942–1943 10. Vive la Nuit! November 1942–June 1943 11. An Urn and a Pot of Jam, June–July 1943 Part IV: Resurrection 12. The machinery of Insurrection, 1943–1944 13. Murdering History, 1945–1949 14. The Doctor’s Waiting Room, 21 June 1943 Postscript Postscript to the New Edition Glossary Chronology Notes Select Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBorn in 1360, Jan Zizka was a formidable figure whose life and military career was set amidst the whirlwind of monumental revolutions - military, religious, political and social - that engulfed medieval Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. The leader of Bohemia's Hussite Revolution, the first of the religious wars during the Protestant Reformation, he was a forward-thinking military genius whose record is virtually unmatched. Zizka fielded a peasant militia, initially untrained and unequipped, and faced down the Holy Roman Empire's huge professional army of armoured knights known as The Men of Iron. Among his numerous innovations was the armoured wagon fitted with small cannons and muskets, presaging the modern tank. All this was achieved despite the fact that for much of his later career he went completely blind. Yet remarkably, beyond central Europe, very little is known about him, though today he is he is widely considered a Czech national hero. In this original and engrossing study, historian Victor Verney combines an authoritative analysis with colourful anecdotes to reveal the incredible exploits of this forgotten military genius and the fascinating cast of characters who surrounded him.

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Book SynopsisThe incredible true story of Louis Zamperini, now a major motion picture directed by Angelina Jolie.THE INTERNATIONAL NUMBER ONE BESTSELLERIn 1943 a bomber crashes into the Pacific Ocean. Against all odds, one young lieutenant survives. Louise Zamperini had already transformed himself from child delinquent to prodigious athlete, running in the Berlin Olympics. Now he must embark on one of the Second World War's most extraordinary odysseys. Zamperini faces thousands of miles of open ocean on a failing raft. Beyond like only greater trials, in Japan's prisoner-of-war camps.Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini's destiny, whether triumph or tragedy, depends on the strength of his will Now a major motion picture, directed by Angelina Jolie and starring Jack O' Connell.Trade Review‘The pages almost turn themselves. His tale is remarkable and his resilience inspiring.’ Ben Macintyre ‘An instant classic’ Mail on Sunday ‘One of the most remarkable survival tales ever recorded. Do yourself a favour and by the book’ Vanity Fair ‘”Unbroken” is an extraordinarily compelling read, a match for any thriller…a remarkable book.’ Evening Standard ‘More gripping than fiction’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Staggering … mesmerising … Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page’ People

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Book SynopsisCaroline Moorehead is a bestselling and prize-winning author, and the biographer of Bertrand Russell, Freya Stark, Iris Origo, Madame de la Tour du Pin and Martha Gellhorn. Her recent books a quartet focussed on resistance to dictatorship, particularly in Italy were shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize, the Orwell Prize and the Costa Biography Award. She lives in London.Trade ReviewBrilliant… It is refreshing to read a book that so confidently abandons the rhetoric of heroism and tries to see its subjects for who they were… Moorehead has had to master a huge amount of background material, and she pulls it off with skill and a remarkable lightness of touch -- Keith Lowe * Mail on Sunday *Riven with complexity… Stories of this weight could occupy several volumes and would still disorientate with all the possibilities – both altruistic and malevolent – of human nature -- Sinclair Mckay * Telegraph *Vivid...an unsparing yet balanced account of the Vichy years...we need books like this to make it impossible for us to forget. -- Alan Judd * Spectator *An especially poignant story… enthralling and meticulous book… amidst the horror of the Holocaust – and such horror is painfully evident in the lives of those left behind – this book shows that human kindness endured undimmed by the propaganda, the threats of violence and the vast rewards on offer for submitting to the will of Nazis -- Harry Hodges * Daily Express *Moorehead draws vivid portraits of those who helped…The emotional heart of the book beats in the children’s stories…The story does not end with Liberation. Moorehead, a biographer and historian, scrupulously records the emotional fallout from the children’s experiences -- Edward Stourton * The Times *

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Book SynopsisA.J.P. Taylor''s bestselling The Origins of the Second World War overturns popular myths about the outbreak of war.One of the most popular and controversial historians of the twentieth century, who made his subject accessible to millions, A.J.P. Taylor caused a storm of outrage with this scandalous bestseller. Debunking what were accepted truths about the Second World War, he argued provocatively that Hitler did not set out to cause the war as part of an evil master plan, but blundered into it partly by accident, aided by the shortcomings of others.Fiercely attacked for vindicating Hitler, A.J.P. Taylor''s stringent re-examination of the events preceding the Nazi invasion of Poland on 1st September 1939 opened up new debate, and is now recognized as a brilliant and classic piece of scholarly research.''Taylor''s most perfect work of art, a miracle of proportion, language and insight''  Robert Skidelsky''A dazzling exTrade ReviewTaylor's most perfect work of art, a miracle of proportion, language and insight * Robert Skidelsky *A dazzling exercise in revisionism which summed up Taylor's paradoxical, provocative and inventive approach to history * The Times *Taylor was a lifelong dissenter ... at his best - as in The Origins of the Second World War ... he shifted the gorund of major debates -- Ben Pimlott * Financial Times *No historian of the past century has been more accessible -- Niall Ferguson * Sunday Telegraph *An almost faultless masterpiece * Observer *Highly original and penetrating ... No one who has digested this enthralling work will ever be able to look at the period again in quite the same way * Sunday Telegraph *Table of ContentsForgotten problem; the legacy of the First World War; the post-war decade; the end of Versailles; the Abyssinian affair and the end of Locarno; the half-armed peace, 1936-38; Anschluss - the end of Austria; the crisis over Czechoslovakia; peace for six months; the war of nerves; war for Danzig.

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Book SynopsisThe final book in his acclaimed trilogy on the rise and fall of Nazi Germany, Richard J. Evans''s The Third Reich at War: How the Nazis Led Germany from Conquest to Disaster shows how Germany rushed headlong into destroying itself, shattering an entire continent. In 1939 Hitler mobilized Germany into all-out war. Richard Evans''s astonishing, acclaimed history conjures up a whole society plunged into conflict - from generals and front-line soldiers to Hitler Youth activists and middle-class housewives - tracing events from the invasion of Poland and the Battle of Stalingrad to Hitler''s plans for genocide and his eventual suicide. ''Masterly ... will surely be the standard history for many years to come ... This is a warning for the future, as much as a judgement on the past''   Richard Overy, Daily Telegraph ''We all know how the story ends ... but Richard Evans brings it masterfully home ... magnificent''  

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Book SynopsisGUARDIAN BOOKS OF THE YEARThe familiar image of the British in the Second World War is that of the plucky underdog taking on German might. David Edgerton''s bold, compelling new history shows the conflict in a new light, with Britain as a very wealthy country, formidable in arms, ruthless in pursuit of its interests and sitting at the heart of a global production system.The British, indeed Churchillian, vision of war and modernity was challenged by repeated defeat by less well equipped enemies. Yet the end result was a vindication of this vision. Like the United States, a powerful Britain won a cheap victory, while others paid a great price. Britain''s War Machine, by putting resources, machines and experts at the heart of a global rather than merely imperial story, demolishes some of the most cherished myths about wartime Britain and gives us a very different and often unsettling picture of a great power in actionTrade ReviewBrilliant and thought-provoking ... There are moments of edgy humour, too ... This remarkable book shows that whatever the reasons for the length of time it took to bring Hitler to heel, the quantity and quality of British war material was not among them -- Brendan Simms * Sunday Telegraph *Edgerton's book is a remarkable achievement. He re-envisions Britain's role in World War II and with it Britain's place in modernity. In place of a plucky island standing alone, he gives us a global empire of machines, not a welfare state, but a technocratic warfare state. The period will never look the same again -- Adam Tooze, author of The Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi EconomyConsistently lively, stimulating and authoritative * Observer *Absolutely fascinating. This book will make you think differently about Britain's role in the Second World War -- Laurence Rees, author of Auschwitz: The Nazis and The 'Final Solution'This book has certainly changed my views ... It is a necessary and timely corrective to a great deal of loosely thought-through conventional wisdom, and makes a real contribution to our understanding of the war -- Richard Holmes * Literary Review *For too long we have had a distorted view of Britain's position and role in the Second World War. David Edgerton has produced a stunning book that rectifies this misconception, and which is told with authority, clarity and compelling energy -- James Holland, author of The Battle of BritainAn important corrective to the black-and-white portrait of the period that still prevails * Financial Times *A stimulating exercise in muscular revisionism ... Offers a fresh and provocative view of our much-loved and much-misunderstood "finest hour" -- David Reynolds * Guardian *Accessibly written and deserves a wide audience. Above all, Edgerton demonstrates that the war is a subject we haven't yet heard nearly enough about. Britain's War Machine is a considerable achievement -- Graham Farmelo * Times Higher Education *Edgerton has excelled himself with this highly revisionist account of Britain's national performance during the Second World War ... an unusually provocative book * Twentieth Century British History, 2011 *Edgerton has written what could prove to be one of the most influential books on the history of the Second World War ... majestic ... [he] has successfully shown us that we still have a lot to learn about the conflict ... it will become the required reading for all students wishing to study the Second World War * Reviews in History *An astounding work of myth-busting ... Inspiring and unsettling in equal measure -- Tom Holland * Guardian *Majestic ... a wonderful read. It has probably popped more myths than any other book on the war in recent years -- Taylor Downing * History Today *Brilliant and iconoclastic ... debunks the myth that Britain was militarily and economically weak and intellectually parochial during the 1930s and 1940s -- David Blackburn * Spectator Book Blog *Truly eye-opening ... Edgerton's carefully researched book will fundamentally change the way you think about World War II * Daily Beast *Riveting ... a wonderfully rich book ... thoroughly stimulating -- Richard Toye * History *A major new assessment of Britain's war effort from 1939 to 1945. Never again will some of the lazy assessments of how Britain performed over these years ... be acceptable. That's why this is such an important book * History Today *Innovative and most important * Contemporary Review *Compelling and engaging ... an excellent read * Soldier *Edgerton's well-researched volume bursts with data that reveal Britain's true strength even when supposed to be in critical condition -- Peter Moreira * Military History *Britain's War Machine offers the boldest revisionist argument that seeks to overturn some of our most treasured assumptions about Britain's role in the war ... Edgerton [is] an economic historian with an army of marshalled facts and figures at his fingertips ... This is truly an eye-opening book that explodes the masochistic myth of poor little Britain, revealing the island as a proud power with the resources needed to fight and win a world war -- Nigel Jones * Spectator *Masterful Britain's War Machine promotes the notion that the United Kingdom of the Forties was a superpower, with access to millions of men across the globe, and forming the heart of a global production network * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisTHE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER ON THE LAST DAYS OF THE THIRD REICH2025 marks the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Read and remember the history that led to this important moment.''Recounts, in harrowing detail and with formidable skill, the brutal death-throes of Hitler''s Reich at the hands of the rampaging Red Army'' Boyd Tonkin, Independent''An irresistibly compelling narrative, of events so terrible that they still have the power to provoke wonder and awe'' Adam Sisman, ObserverThe Red Army had much to avenge when it finally reached the frontiers of the Reich in January 1945. Political instructors rammed home the message of Wehrmacht and SS brutality. The result was the most terrifying example of fire and sword ever known, with tanks crushing refugee columns under their tracks, mass rape, pillage and destruction. Hundreds of thousands of women and children froze to death or were massacred because Nazi Party chiefs, refusing to face defeat, had forbidden the evacuation of civilians. Over seven million fled westwards from the terror of the Red Army.Antony Beevor reconstructs the experiences of those millions caught up in the nightmare of the Third Reich''s final collapse, telling a terrible story of pride, stupidity, fanaticism, revenge and savagery - but also one of astonishing endurance, self-sacrifice and survival against all odds.''Makes us feel the chaos and the fear as if every drop of blood was our own . . . compellingly readable, deeply researched, and beautifully written'' Simon Sebag Montefiore, Spectator''Brilliant. Combines a soldier''s understanding of war''s realities with a novelist''s eye for detail'' Orlando Figes, Sunday Times''Startling, chilling, compelling. Beevor''s writing burns like a torch at night in a landscape of ruins''Literary Review''Powerful, diligently researched and beautifully written . . . even better than Stalingrad'' Andrew Roberts, Mail on SundayTrade ReviewFascinating, extraordinary, gripping * Jeremy Paxman *A masterpiece of modern historical writing -- Michael Burleigh * Guardian *This brilliant storyteller makes us feel the chaos and the fear as if every drop of blood was our own. It is much more than just a humane account; it is compellingly readable, deeply researched, and beautifully written -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis''A breathtaking, magisterial panorama, telling the epic story of post-war anarchy, dying empires and rising nation states. It makes us rethink our understanding of Europe''s twentieth century'' David Motadel, The Times Literary SupplementFor the Western allies 11 November 1918 has always been a solemn date - the end of fighting which had destroyed a generation, and also a vindication of a terrible sacrifice with the total collapse of their principal enemies: the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire. But for much of the rest of Europe this was a day with no meaning, as a continuing, nightmarish series of conflicts engulfed country after country. In this highly original, gripping book Robert Gerwarth asks us to think again about the true legacy of the First World War. ''Lucid, incisive and packed with fascinating details'' Financial Times, Books of the Year ''Important and timely ... obliges us to reconsider a pTrade ReviewThis narrative of continent-wide chaos makes it easier to understand why order came to seem a supremely desirable objective in 1930s Europe, trumping freedom ... it helps us understand why few wars reach tidy conclusions: once a society has suspended its instinctive, social and legal prejudice against killing, it often proves hard to restore. -- Max Hastings * The Sunday Times *Pulls together a complex narrative about the uneasy peace of the late Twenties and shine a piercing light into darkened corners of history ... an unnerving reminder of how stubbornly some geopolitical fault-lines endure -- Sinclair McKay * The Telegraph *A mixture of fast-paced narrative and fluent analysis ... Gerwarth demonstrates with an impressive concentration of detail that in central, eastern and south-eastern Europe the carnage of the first world war by no means came to an end, as it did for the British and French, in late 1918. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Combining a big-picture overview with close-up detail - we hear the voices of soldiers, politicians, civilians - Gerwarth has written a vivid if disturbing account -- Matthew Price * National *Searing and vivid ... a timely reminder that the roots of century-long violence can be traced back to the cataclysmic end of the Great War -- Richard Overy * Literary Review *A thorough explanation for the rise of the nationalist and fascist groups who set the stage for World War II. * Kirkus Reviews *Gerwarth's fascinating and finely crafted book is a rich combination of military, political, cultural and social history. He makes good use of literary sources and witness testimony to bring the events he narrates to life ... an impressive work of highly accessible scholarship -- Geoffrey Roberts * Irish Times *This is an important and compelling book with a fascinating and chilling narrative ... Gerwarth reveals how the forgotten postwar violence comprised a key step on Europe's descent into darkness. -- Alexander Watson * BBC History Magazine *While Gerwarth's warfare theories are cogent and convincing, he never loses sight of the human dimension. He skillfully avoids the danger of getting bogged down in a mass of detail, livening up his narrative by using contemporary quotes from politicians, soldiers and writers. One mark of a good history book is that it allows the reader to see familiar events from a new perspective. In this respect, The Vanquished is an exceptional history book. -- Andrew Lynch * Sunday Post Business Magazine *[Gerwarth] shines a light on what is, from a western European point of view, a somewhat obscure and relatively short period of time ... from the layman's vantage point, it is so well written that it reads like a novel. Tragically, for the people killed, wounded and forced to flee from their homes, it is not. This book is well worth the read. -- Frank MacGabhann * Irish Independent *This fine and timely study makes a compelling case for the argument that the bloody aftermath of the war did more to destroy European civilisation than the declarations of war in 1914 ... at a time when Vladimir Putin seems intent on regaining Tsarist Russia's frontiers, and the map of the Middle East drawn by the victorious powers becomes ever more blurred, we might well ask whether the First World War has ended yet. -- A.W. Purdue * Times Higher Education Supplement *A clear and excellent account of the abrupt break-up of the Habsburg, Hohenzollern, Ottoman and Romanov empires and the difficult birth of their successor states during 1917-23 * History of War Reviews *This is difficult, often horrifying reading, but Gerwarth provides an essential contribution to our understanding of the interwar years. -- Jay Freeman * Booklist *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA masterpiece of clear-eyed humility. . . Alexievich is the most inspired and inspiring of all Nobel prize winners, a genuine bearer of witness -- Tim Adams * Observer *Astonishing. . . Like the great Russian novels, these testimonials ring with emotional truth. . . Few people have ever conjured better the pain of loss -- Caroline Moorehead * Guardian *An antidote to nostalgic World War II narratives. . . Breathtaking, occasionally unbearably sad. Svetlana Alexievich is in a class of her own -- Paula HawkinsA major work by one of our greatest living historians. . . a profound, revelatory book. Through an artfully crafted and sincerely empathetic technique of enticing, soothing, and teasing out - gentle, unobtrusive, knowing when to encourage and when to let a pause run its course - Alexievich uncovers some of the most evocative war stories ever published -- Jane Graham * Big Issue *These stories demand to be read -- Gerard DeGroot * The Times *If God existed, or had an ear, she might listen the way Svetlana Alexievich does to the stories of her fellow ex-Soviets. . . These stories have a hallucinatory clarity, like visions or nightmares-except they are made simply from the stuff of life -- John Freeman * Lit Hub *The experience of reading these thousands of human confessions has an astonishingly powerful impact -- Gaby Wood * Daily Telegraph *A masterly and potent reminder that the memory of loss belongs to individuals and communities, and not to the states that turn its psychic energy to other ends -- Kevin Platt * TLS *An important historical document. . . offers a harrowing picture of the lives of Russian children caught up in Hitler's invasion on the Eastern Front -- Ian Thomson * Evening Standard *Svetlana Alexievich's books go as deep as the soul of woman can go. And now she investigates the soul in the agonized process of historical formation -- Geoff DyerThis new translation will no doubt leave another huge impression on this new generation of readers * Bustle *

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Book Synopsis''What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?''The First World War produced an extraordinary flowering of poetic talent, from poets whose words commemorate the conflict as enduringly as monuments in stone. Their poems have come to express the feelings of a nation about the horrors and aftermath of war. This new anthology provides a definitive record of the achievements of the Great War poets. As well as offering generous selections from the celebrated soldier-poets, including Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, and Ivor Gurney, it also incorporates less well-known writing by civilian and women poets. Music hall and trench songs provide a further lyrical perspective on the War. The work of each poet is prefaced with a biographical account that sets the poems in their historical context. In addition, Tim Kendall''s introduction charts the history of the war poets'' reception and challenges prevailing myths about their progress from idealism to bitterness. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review[It] will provide the best critical introduction to [the war poets'] body of work as its authority and accuracy supplants previous anthologies. * Agenda *extraordinary in scope ... an anthology to keep and treasure. Strongly Recommended for any secondary school or college library. * Martin Axford, The School Librarian *Of all the (many) books I've read over the years about the war poets and the poetry of war, I think this one comes the closest to capturing the breadth and depth of that extraordinary burst of creative engendered by The War to End All Wars. * Moira Briggs, Vulpes Libris *Kendall's judicious selections, and his concise and useful introductions to each of the chosen poets, suggest that his anthology will become a standard work. * Sean O'Brien, Times Literary Supplement *Oxford World's Classics' beautifully produced Poetry of the First World War is one of the most important and far-reaching anthologies to have been published in this, World War One's centenary year. * Kirsty Hewitt, Book Hugger *a thought provoking and moving collection * Sallie Eden, Roseland Online *Table of ContentsThomas Hardy (1840-1928) ; A. E. Housman (1859-1936) ; May Sinclair (1863-1946) ; W. B. Yeats (1865-1939) ; Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) ; Charlotte Mew (1869-1928) ; Robert Service (1874-1958) ; Edward Thomas (1878-1917) ; Wilfrid Wilson Gibson (1878-1962) ; Mary Borden (1886-1968) ; Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967) ; Rupert Brooke (1887-1915) ; Julian Grenfell (1888-1915) ; T. P. Cameron Wilson (1888-1918) ; Patrick Shaw Stewart (1888-1917) ; Ivor Gurney (1890-1937) ; Isaac Rosenberg (1890-1918) ; Arthur Graeme West (1891-1917) ; Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) ; Margaret Postgate Cole (1893-1980) ; May Wedderburn Cannan (1893-1973) ; Charles Sorley (1895-1915) ; Robert Graves (1895-1985) ; David Jones (1895-1974) ; Edmund Blunden (1896-1974) ; Edgell Rickword (1898-1982) ; Music Hall and Trench Songs

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Book SynopsisBarbara Tuchman''s The Guns of August is a spellbinding history of the fateful first month when Britain went to war.War pressed against every frontier. Suddenly dismayed, governments struggled and twisted to fend it off. It was no use . . .Barbara Tuchman''s universally acclaimed, Pulitzer prize-winning account of how the first thirty days of battle determined the course of the First World War is to this day revered as the classic account of the conflict''s opening. From the precipitous plunge into war and the brutal and bloody battles of August 1914, Tuchman shows how events were propelled by a horrific logic which swept all sides up in its unstoppable momentum.''Dazzling'' Max Hastings''Magnificent'' Guardian''Fascinating, splendid, glittering. One of the finest works of history'' New York Times''A brilliant achievement'' Sunday TelegraphTrade ReviewDazzling -- Max HastingsMagnificent. A masterpiece of the historian's art * Guardian *A brilliant achievement * Sunday Telegraph *Excellent * Wall Street Journal *A brilliant piece of military history. A writer with an impeccable sense of telling detail, Tuchman is able to evoke both the enormous pattern of tragedy and the minutiae which make it human * Newsweek *

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Book SynopsisStretch and challenge your students with SHP''s longest-lived and best-selling series for GCSE History.This is an SHP Official Text which means it has been created by the Schools History Project for use with the GCSE specifications. This is part of SHP''s comprehensive and authoritative range of books for GCSE level specifications. Click here to find out more about the Schools History Project and their award winning publications.Britain and the Great War This title is a comprehensive and authoritative depth study for use with all GCSE level specifications. It thoroughly covers the content requirements of the OCR, Edexcel, AQA and CIE specifications using an enquiry-based approach. It is also a popular international text being widely used in Australia.It is written by experts who understand both how to design good teaching material but also understand the exact assessment requirements of each specification. The Student''s Book combines:- Clear explanation of specification content- Classroom-trialled activities that really motivate students- Extensive and intriguing source material and case studies It will enliven any history course.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and detailed chronological study of the war, including the decisive encounters, profiles of important political and military figures, as well as the experiences of those who lived through it.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Hanns Scharff, the German master interrogator of the Luftwaffe who questioned captured American fighter pilots of the USAAF Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in World War II. German IntelligenceOfficerHanns Scharffgained the reputation as the man who could magically get all the answers he needed from the prisoners of war in World War 2. In most cases, the POWs being interrogated never realized that their words, small talk or otherwise, were important pieces of the mosaic Hanns Scharff was constructing for the benefit of Germany's war effort. In the words of one former POW, What did Scharff get from me? Nothing, yet there is no doubt he got something. If you talked about the weather or anything else, he no doubt got some information or confirmation from it. His technique was psychic, not physical.Another POW commented, Hanns Scharff could probably get a confession of infidelity from a Nun! To this day, ex-POWs fret

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Book SynopsisFighting for Hitler intricately weaves together the personal stories of German historical witnesses across thematic chapters, covering diverse facets of the wartime experience. From the frontlines of battle to the harrowing conditions in POW camps, these narratives are enriched with personal documents and photographs, vividly providing the human face of history. This book is more than just a chronicle of events; it is a profound exploration of human suffering and memory. Each testimony contributes to a larger mosaic, unveiling the emotional and psychological landscapes of those who endured one of history's darkest periods. Included are stories from the Eastern Front, from the invasion of Poland to Operation Barbarossa and the fierce fighting at Stalingrad. The book also contains accounts from those who served in the Kriegsmarine, depicting life on a battleship and gripping U-Boat battles. The book goes on to cover D-Day, the fall of the Reich, and stories of survival in POW camps across the globe.The author's dedication to impartial presentation allows these stories to resonate on their own, providing a rare and invaluable perspective on the past. Years of painstaking research, translation, and editing have transformed this book into a treasure trove for scholars and general readers alike. It serves as a vital preservation of a generation's voices, fostering a deeper understanding of how the Third Reich's profoundly impacted ordinary lives. By presenting these accounts in their unaltered and honest form, the author ensures that the true essence of these experiences is captured and conveyed.

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Book SynopsisDetailed account of an extremely rare unit in the Waffen SS

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Book SynopsisIf I should die, think only this of me:That there''s some corner of a foreign fieldThat is for ever England.From The Soldier to Anthem for Doomed Youth Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen are two of the best-loved poets from the heroic lost generation of the First World War. Brooke''s work was well-known before the war, with the now iconic lines:''Stands the Church clock at ten to three?And is there honey still for tea?'' from The Old Vicarage, Grantchester. And Wilfred Owen, awarded the Military Cross, had been writing poetry since he was ten years old.This superb collection is the perfect introduction to two of our greatest poets.

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Book SynopsisIn 1918, the RAF was established as the world''s first independent air force. To mark the 100th anniversary of its creation, Penguin are publishing the Centenary Collection, a series of six classic books highlighting the skill, heroism and esprit de corps that have characterised the Royal Air Force throughout its first century.The Last Enemy is Richard Hillary''s extraordinary account of his experience as a Spitfire pilot in the Second World War. Hillary was shot down during the Battle of Britain, leading to months in hospital as part of Archibald McIndoe''s ''Guinea Pig Club'', undergoing pioneering plastic surgery to rebuild his face and hands. The Last Enemy was first published in 1942, just seven months before Hilary''s untimely death in a second crash and has gone on to be hailed as one of the classic texts of World War II.The Centenary Collection:1. The Last Enemy by Richard Hillary2. Tumult in the ClouTrade ReviewOne of the classic books of World War Two * London Review of Books *The Last Enemy rapidly acquired the aura of a book that says something vital, whose importance goes beyond what it literally describes -- Sebastian FaulksRivetingly well told...It will speak to anyone who cares for the romance and tragedy of a lost hero. -- Godfrey Smith * Sunday Times *Elegantly affecting memoir -- David Horspool * The Times *This slim volume of Hilary's seems to have a weight which makes it sink into the depths of one's memory * Arthur Koestler *

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Book SynopsisPre-order the story of the legendary Hercules plane, told through the lens of 47 squadronAnytime, Anywhere, Anyhow. Whether it's war, natural disaster, or humanitarian emergency, for over fifty years the RAF's Hercules force was the first in and last out of any crisis faced by the UK government around the globe.First conceived in the 1950s, the US-built Lockheed C-130 Hercules earned its spurs flying difficult and dangerous missions in the Vietnam War before entering service with air forces around the world. Originally designed as transport aircraft, the Hercules has been pressed into service as an aerial tanker, gunship, spyplane, air-sea rescuer and bomber. It's even been flown from an aircraft carrier - the largest aeroplane ever to do so. Instantly recognisable, it became synonymous with daring special forces missions like the legendary raid in Entebbe in which dozens hostages were rescued from the clutches of terrorists. In RAF colours its seen action on

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Book SynopsisWhen Hitler attacked the Soviet Union in June 1941, he intended to capture Leningrad before turning on Moscow. Soviet resistance forced him to change tactics: with his forward troops only thirty kilometres from the city''s historic centre, he decided instead to starve it out. Using newly available diaries and government records, Anna Reid describes a city''s descent into hell - the breakdown of electricity and water supply; subzero temperatures; the consumption of pets, joiner''s glue and face cream; the dead left unburied where they fell - but also the extraordinary endurance, bravery and self-sacrifice, despite the cruelty and indifference of the Kremlin.Trade ReviewA masterpiece of modern historical writing. With a clear, unsentimental eye and in calm prose, she describes the horrors of the most lethal siege in modern history ... A terrible story, superbly researched and beautifully told * Anthony Beevor, Daily Telegraph Books of the Year *Magisterial * Orlando Figes, Daily Telegraph Books of the Year *An admirable retelling of the extraordinary story of the 1941-44 siege ... The author has assembled the testimony of many unfamiliar witnesses, and vividly portrays what some of us consider the most dreadful saga of the Second World War * Max Hastings, The Times Books of the Year *Impeccably researched, well-paced and beautifully written, Leningrad marks a new benchmark in the study of the subject and a more nuanced, objective interpretation for a new century * Financial Times *A moving and breathtaking examination of the terrible price extorted by unfettered political power on both sides -- Sally Moris * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe military heritage of Cornwall from medieval times to the present day. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Cornwallâs remarkable military history.

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Book SynopsisAl Murray''s passion for military history and the Second World War in particular has always run parallel with his comedy and was brought to the fore with several acclaimed and award-winning television shows and the recent huge success of his podcast We Have Ways of Making You Talk which he hosts with fellow bestselling military author James Holland. In his first serious narrative book, Command showcases Al Murray''s passion for this pivotal period in the twentieth century, as he writes an engaging, entertaining and sharp analysis of the key allied military leaders in the conflict. Command highlights the performance and careers of some of the leading protagonists who commanded armies, as well as the lesser-known officers who led divisions, regiments and even battalions for the British, Commonwealth and United States of American armies. By showcasing each combat commander across every major theatre of operations the allies fought in, Murray tells the storTrade ReviewAl Murray's new book proves, if anyone still feels the need to question it, that he is a major historian in his own right. Command is everything popular history should be: authoritative, full of deep wisdom and knowledge, genuinely fresh and original in approach and content, and both compelling and entertainingly written. Skilfully blending the famous names with those lesser known, he examines each in a completely fresh light, focussing on differing aspects that collectively offer a satisfyingly comprehensive whole that takes the reader on a journey across a wide range of landscapes, theatres and battles. It is an utter joy to read from start to finish. * James Holland *With his trademark combination of humour and deep-thinking - an iron fist in a velvet glove - Al Murray's brilliantly incisive debut history forces us to think again about the nature of Command and how the Allies were able to turn disaster into triumph in World War II. Quirky, original and hard-hitting, it is as enjoyable to read as it is instructive. -- Saul DavidCommand is a stunning achievement. This is a book that sucks you in from the first page. Deeply incisive, eachparagraph brings a new revelation. Al Murray's writing is as original and his conclusions as controversial as the generals he depicts. At the end of each chapter, you are left exhaling with a sense of "I didn't expect that." -- Peter Caddick-Adams

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Book SynopsisThe P-51B Mustang was delivered to the European Theater of Operations in the cherished hope that it could help achieve the destruction of Germany''s aircraft industry and the Luftwaffe before Operation Overlord. This title tells the story of that aircraft from its development prior to the American entry into the war through to D-Day in June 1944.During World War II, the United States Army Air Corps was led by a cadre of officers who believed implicitly that military aviation, particularly fast heavy bombers at high altitude, would be able to destroy strategic enemy targets during daylight with minimal losses. However, by 1942 the Flying Fortress was proving vulnerable to Luftwaffe fighters.This title charts the United States Army Air Forces'' struggle to develop a Long-Range Escort which would enable them to achieve the Combined Bomber Objectives and gain mastery of the skies over the Third Reich. The commitment of the USAAF to the Mediterranean and EurTrade ReviewWithin the pages of this book you will discover a detailed chronology and evolution of the P-51 airplane, from development to the battlefield. This is the most detailed and well-researched history that I have seen on the P-51 airplane, covering conception, design, development, manufacturing, and arrival at the field of battle. The story is both compelling and authentic. * Gerald Landry, GALCIT Wind Tunnel Manager, Ret. *The Mustang revisited. An exhaustive work with up-to-date research and something for all readers with the story of the famous fighter. A must-have for all Mustang lovers. -- Robert Gruenhagen, author of 'Mustang: The Story of the P-51 Fighter'It is a compelling story, told in a way that is both interesting and informative. For enthusiasts of aerospace history, WWII history, or merely the story of the march of technology, this is a book that deserves to be read and studied. -- Cindy Macha * Director of the Western Museum of Flight *For anyone interested in the US Air Force, or the Mustang itself, this is a very solid and attractive work. * The Armourer *A must have title that illustrates an outstanding American adventure. * JP4 Magazine *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Dedication Foreword Introduction 1: The Creation of NAA 2: NAA’s Struggle to Gain USAAC Acceptance 3: Building the Mustang Despite the USAAC-MD 4: The Birth of the Merlin Mustang 5: The Long-Hoped-For Single-Engined Escort Fighter 6: The Mission of Long-Range Escort Reaches Crisis Point 7: “Destroy the Luftwaffe – in the Air and on the Ground” Appendices Bibliography Endnotes Index

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Book SynopsisThis is a highly detailed study of the German auxiliary troops who fought for Britain in the American Revolutionary War and won a distinguished reputation on a host of battlefields.During the American Revolutionary War (177583), German auxiliary troops provided a vital element of the British war effort. Some 30,000 German troops served in North America, continuing a long-established relationship between Britain and various German principalities. These troops were widely referred to as mercenaries, implying that they sold their services individually, but they were in fact regular troops hired as a body by the British. Initially feared by the American population, the German troops came to be highly respected by their opponents. Their role in the fighting would inform the tactics and methods of a generation of German officers who returned to Europe after the war, many of whom went on to hold senior commands during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.The Table of ContentsIntroduction Recruitment and Organization The Hessian Corps Arrival in America Major Actions Involving Hessians Uniforms The Regiments Temporary Units Return from America Select Bibliography Plate Commentaries Index

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Book Synopsis''That nickname . . .''''Little bird. It wasn''t mine. I found out later he gave it to every little girl that came in to be injected. Little Bird didn''t mean anything. It was a trick. There were thousands of little birds, just like me, all thinking they were the only one.''As a reporter, Jacques Peretti has spent his life investigating important stories. But there was one story, heard in scattered fragments throughout his childhood, that he never thought to investigate. The story of how his mother survived Auschwitz.In the few last months of the Second World War, thirteen-year-old Alina Peretti, along with her mother and sister, was one of thirteen thousand non-Jewish Poles sent to Auschwitz. Her experiences there cast a shadow over the rest of her life.Now ninety, Alina has been diagnosed with dementia. Together, mother and son begin a race against time to record her memories and preserve her family''s story

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Book SynopsisIn August 1944 the British Pacific Fleet did not exist. Six months later it was strong enough to launch air attacks on Japanese territory, and by the end of the war it constituted the most powerful force in the history of the Royal Navy, fighting as professional equals alongside the US Navy in the thick of the action. How this was achieved by a nation nearing exhaustion after five years of conflict is a story of epic proportions in which ingenuity, diplomacy and dogged persistence all played a part. As much a political as a technical triumph, the BPF was uniquely complex in its make-up: its C-in-C was responsible to the Admiralty for the general direction of his Fleet; took operational orders from the American Admiral Nimitz; answered to the Government of Australia for the construction and maintenance of a vast base infrastructure, and to other Commonwealth Governments for the ships and men that formed his fully-integrated multi-national fleet.This ground-breaking work by David Hobbs describes the background, creation and expansion of the BPF from its first tentative strikes, through operations off the coast of Japan to its impact on the immediate postwar period, including the opinions of USN liaison officers attached to the British flagships. The book is the first to demonstrate the real scope and scale of the BPF's impressive achievement and this new affordable edition will be welcomed by all those who missed this major work first time around.Trade Review"...A modern classic of naval history... a must read for Australian naval professionals and an important source for those interested in naval operations in the 21st century..." - Australian Naval Institute

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Book SynopsisIn England in the eighth century, in the midst of the so-called Dark Ages, Offa ruled Mercia, one of the strongest Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. For over 30 years he was the dominant warlord in the territory south of the Humber and the driving force behind the expansion of Mercia s power. During that turbulent period he commanded Mercian armies in their struggle against the neighbouring kingdoms of Northumbria and Wessex and against the Welsh tribes. Yet the true story of Offa s long reign and of the rise and fall of Mercia are little known although this is one of the most intriguing episodes in this little-recorded phase of England s past. It is Chris Peers s task in this new study to uncover the facts about Offa and the other Mercian kings and to set them in the context of English history before the coming of the Danes.

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Book SynopsisAs part of the infamous Double Cross operation, Jewish double agent Renato Levi proved to be one of the Allies' most devastating weapons in the Second World War. ln 1941, with the help of Ml6, Levi built an extensive spy ring in North Africa and the Middle East. But, most remarkably, it was entirely fictitious. This network of imagined informants peddled dangerously false information to Levi's unwitting German handlers. His efforts would distort any enemy estimates of Allied battle plans for the remainder of the war. His communications were infused with just enough truth to be palatable, and just enough imagination to make them irresistible. ln a vacuum of seemingly trustworthy sources, Levi's enemies not only believed in the CHEESE network, as it was codenamed, but they came to depend upon it. And, by the war's conclusion, he could boast of having helped the Allies thwart Rommel in North Africa, as well as diverting whole armies from the D-Day landing sites. He wielded great influence and, as a double agent, he was unrivalled. Until now, Levi's devilish deceptions and feats of derring-do have remained completely hidden. Using recently declassified files, Double Cross in Cairo uncovers the heroic exploits of one of the Second World War's most closely guarded secrets.Trade Review"Nigel West tells the story well, and this has all the page-turning excitement of a le Carre spy thriller." - Choice Magazine "An object lesson in how to run a successful wartime strategic deception operation and easily explains why such files were kept classified for so many years." - Thomas McClung, New York Journal of Books

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Book Synopsis"A must read for all Damien Lewis fans" Compass ---------------------------------------------------------The most explosive true war story of the 21st Century It is the winter of 2001. A terror ship is bound for Britain carrying a horrifying weapon. The British military sends a crack unit of SAS and SBS to assault the vessel before she reaches London. So begins a true story of explosive action as this band of elite warriors pursues the merchants of death from the high seas to the harsh wildlands of Afghanistan. The hunt culminates in the single greatest battle of the Afghan war, the brutal and bloody siege of an ancient mud-walled fortress crammed full of hundreds of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. Fighting against impossible odds and bitter betrayal, our handful of crack fighters battle to rescue their fellow soldiers trapped by a murderous, fanatical enemy. ---------------------------------------------------------"The most dramatic story of a secret wartime mission you will ever read" News of the World "The author has been given unprecedented access" Zoo "Gripping" Eye Spy Trade ReviewThe most dramatic story of a secret wartime mission you will ever read. * News of the World *A gripping account that follows the exploits of British and American special forces involved in a secret, deadly dual in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. * Eye Spy magazine *A must read. * Compass magazine *

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Book SynopsisIn the 1880s, control over northeastern Africa was a political minefield into which Prime Minister Gladstone did not want to step - until his emissary Charles Gordon was besieged in Khartoum, and the city became the focal point for war. It was the height of European colonialism. Injustices were administered, bloody battles fought and civilians caught in the crossfire. Among the British officers were figures who would later adopt starring roles in the First World War, such as Egyptian Army sapper Captain Herbert Kitchener. By turns shocking and dynamic, Chain of Fire examines the terrible desert wars using the testimonies of the men who fought there.

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Book SynopsisAs Chief of the Imperial General Staff and chairman of the British Chiefs of Staff Committee, Alanbrooke was principal military advisor to Churchill for most of the Second World War and one of the chief architects of Anglo-American strategy. He also played a crucial role in saving the British Expeditionary Force in France in May 1940 and was Montgomery’s immediate superior throughout WW2. Whilst Alanbrooke the soldier and strategist has been covered by historians, Alanbrooke the man is unexplored territory. This book reveals – for the very first time – his complex and contradictory character and presents him in a markedly different, and more sympathetic, light to the way he has been portrayed since 1945. Based on a detailed analysis of Alanbrooke’s war diary, it also identifies the lessons which could have been learnt from his experiences in World War Two: these include the difficult relationship that exists between political and military leaders, the weaknesses of politicians (notably Churchill) and the invaluable template created by Alanbrooke as to how military leaders should handle their political masters. The importance of these lessons is illustrated by showing how some of the mistakes made in WW2 were repeated in the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

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Book SynopsisThe first detailed English-language study of Ukrainian Cossacks'' attire, equipment, and tactics from the late 16th to early 18th century.This is the first book about Ukrainian Cossacks for English-speaking readers. Based on historical sources, the book will relate and show in detail the appearance, clothing and equipment of the Ukrainian Cossacks and their methods of warfare.This book shows in detail the evolution of the Ukrainian Cossacks'' appearance. The author reconstructs the clothing, equipment, and weaponry of Ukrainian Cossacks from the late 16th to the early 18th century. Numerous historical sources, references, documents, pictorial sources, and descriptions left by eyewitnesses have been consulted. Archaeological finds from battlefields related to the Ukrainian Cossacks were also examined. The author considers both the clothing and equipment of ordinary Cossacks and separately the clothing and military equipment of the officer corps - Cossack petty officers and hetmans. Special attention is paid to banners and various accouterments. The reader will learn about the variations between the Cossacks, the difference between the Registry and Sichev Cossacks, how they fought, and what tactics were used on the battlefield. Also considered are the separate formations of Ukrainian hetmans modeled on Western European armies and mercenary formations of the last quarter of the seventeenth to early eighteenth century ? the Serdyuk and Kompanitsa. The book contains over 170 illustrations, iconographic sources, images of battles, archaeological artifacts and various types of clothing and equipment. There are also color plates of the author''s reconstructions of banners, images of banners from the collection of the Swedish Army Museum, and 20 colored figures of Cossacks and representatives of Cossack elders in the author''s style familiar to readers of the Helion series.

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Book SynopsisOtto Skorzeny, Germanys top commando in the Second World War, is one of the most famous men in the history of special forces. His extraordinary wartime career was one of high risk and adventure and here he tells the full story. Skorzeny quickly proved his worth in Yugoslavia and then Russia. In 1942 he was awarded the Iron Cross, and in April 1943 he was promoted to captain and named Chief of Germany's Special Troops, Existing or to be Created in the Future. When Mussolini was imprisoned in Italy in 1943, it was Skorzeny who successfully led the daring glider rescue, winning the Knights Cross and promotion as a result. Skorzenys talents were brought into play again when he was sent to Budapest to stop the Hungarian regent Admiral Horthy from signing a peace with Stalin in 1944. Now dubbed the most dangerous man in Europe by the Allies Skorzeny was awarded the German Cross in Gold. A few months later he took a critical role in the Ardennes offensive with a controversial plan to raise a brigade disguised as Americans with captured Sherman tanks. His captured colleagues spread a false rumour that he was planning to assassinate Eisenhower, who was consequently confined to his headquarters for weeks.

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Book SynopsisThe Lee-Enfield is one of the 20th century's most recognisable and longest-serving military rifles. It was adopted by the British Army in 1895 and only replaced by the L1A1 SLR in 1957. It saw combat from the Boer War onwards, and thousands are still in use today; it is estimated that 17 million have been produced. Soldier's recollections of the rifle are overwhelmingly affectionate (it was known as the Smellie); today it remains a very popular target rifle for competitive shooting, and modern copies are being manufactured to meet demand. Featuring first-hand accounts, brand-new full-colour artwork and close-up photographs, this is the story of the Lee-Enfield, the innovative, reliable and long-lived rifle that equipped British and other forces through the world wars and beyond.Trade ReviewThere is much to praise about this book and very little to find fault with. I highly recommend it and give it an “excellent” 5 out of 5. * Army Rumour Service *Table of ContentsIntroduction /Development /Use /Impact /Select Bibliography /Index

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

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Book SynopsisWhen the First Crusade ended with the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099, jubilant crusaders returned home to Europe bringing with them stories, sacred relics, and other memorabilia, including banners, jewelry, and weapons. In the ensuing decades, the memory of the crusaders'' bravery and pious sacrifice was invoked widely among the noble families of western Christendom. Popes preaching future crusades would count on these very same families for financing, leadership, and for the willing warriors who would lay down their lives on the battlefield. Despite the great risks and financial hardships associated with crusading, descendants of those who suffered and died on crusade would continue to take the cross, in some cases over several generations. Indeed, as Nicholas L. Paul reveals in To Follow in Their Footsteps, crusading was very much a family affair.Scholars of the crusades have long pointed to the importance of dynastic tradition and ties of kinship in the crusading movement bTrade Review[To Follow in Their Footsteps] is a stimulating contribution to each of the two subjects it covers. Its publication should mark a new phase in critical discussion about how the crusades were interpreted in the middle ages. * The English Historical Review *[Paul] weaves a history of the texts produced about crusader families into an analytic framework that draws on the insights of anthropology, literary theory, and sociology. Eschewing the more traditional positivist reading of crusade chronicles and family histories, Paul lays bare the various and variegated components of these texts, highlighting the role of women, objects, orality, romance, ritual, and liturgy in the collective articulation of dynastic memory. To Follow in Their Footsteps marks a critical moment in the creation of a new cultural history of crusading. * Speculum *A prominent example (of many) from Medieval Europe of how past generations were invoked to mould the actions of their successors is supplied by the crusades. As Nicholas Paul puts it in this lively new account, crusading was always a family matter. And by family he means the dead as wll as the quick.... In the first part of the book, Paul provides a splendidly informative, illuminating and often entertaining description and analysis of what, how and where ancestral voices could have been heard by putative crusaders in the twelfth century. * Times Literary Supplement *Paul showcases examples of two effective monarchs constantly exhorted to crusade, Henry II of England and Alfonso II of Aragon. For all the literary energy expended trying to persuade them, neither actually went, although their sons did. In the end, Paul suggests noble memory kept the idea of the crusade alive long after it had been laid to rest by governments and Christian society. Summing Up: Recommended. * Choice *Paul's book is an important contribution to crusading scholarship inthat it expands the current scholarship on memory and commemoration.An added strength of this work lies in the variety of themes undertaken.This is a compelling work that opens the way for further scholarship andmethodologies on many aspects of crusading, not least of all the ways inwhich texts and objects intersected with individuals and families to providemeaning and context to the early crusaders. -- Kathryn Smithies * Parergon - Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies *The real achievement of this book is not so much that it is the 'last word' on aristocrats and the Crusades. Rather, in the sheer variety of the themes that it tackles, it broadens scope for discussion of this crucial issue. Paul's book may well follow in Marcus Bull's footsteps, and set the agenda for the 'next generation' of investigation into the topic. That is no mean achievement for the author's first book. * Reviews in History *The result is a very thoughtful and thought-provoking study of the impulses, dynamics and mechanisms involved in the shaping of medieval social memories and identities, and the long-term impact of the crusades on Europe's collective memory and culture. It is by all measures an intensely meticulous piece of research, presented by the author in an engaging way. Those inspired to delve deeper into the 'memories' of the many families and individuals introduced throughout the chapters will be greatly helped by the book's four appendices. -- Jochen Schenk, University of Glasgow * History: Journal of the Historical Association *Table of ContentsIntroductionPart I. Family Memory: Form and Function 1. Ancestor, Avatar, Crusader 2. Relations 3. The Fabric of Victory 4. Missing Men 5. Opening the Gates ConclusionsPart II. Two Count-Kings and the Crusading Past 6. The Fire at Marmoutier 7. Triumph at Ripoll EpilogueAppendix 1: Dynastic Narratives and Crusading Memory Appendix 2: Dynastic Narratives in Local and Monastic Chronicles Appendix 3: Description of Paris, BNF, MS Lat. 5132 Appendix 4: Letter of "Clement" in Paris, BNF, MS Lat. 5132, f. 106Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe gripping and action-packed new Roman army adventure in the Eagles of the Empire series by Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Scarrow. The perfect read for readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell. Tribune Cato and Centurion Macro, hardened veterans of the Roman army, have faced the Empire''s enemies from Britannia to Parthia, from Hispania to Judea. Now once again they are on a mission that will imperil their lives and those of all who serve with them. Loyal to the last to their comrades in battle, fearless in the face of the most brutal or barbaric opponents, they are the finest men the Emperor can call on in the service of Rome. IF YOU DON''T KNOW SIMON SCARROW, YOU DON''T KNOW ROME!Praise for Simon''s novels:''Scarrow''s [novels] rank with the best'' Independent''Blood, gore, political intrigue'' Daily Sport ''Always a joy'' The TimesTrade ReviewPraise for Simon Scarrow's novels: 'Gripping... ferocious and compelling * Daily Express *A new book in Simon Scarrow's long-running series about the Roman army is always a joy * The Times *Scarrow's [novels] rank with the best * Independent *I really don't need this kind of competition... It's a great read -- Bernard Cornwell

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