Second World War Books

Book SynopsisThis study describes the air-sea offensive supporting the ground-force invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in February and April 1945, which led to the sinking of the Yamato and the onslaught of the Japanese kamikaze.The island invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were the last two major ground campaigns to be initiated during the Pacific War. This superbly illustrated volume explores the airsea aspects of these pivotal battles. Among the events covered are the ''death ride'' of the Japanese battleship Yamato (the largest ever built), and the mass kamikaze attacks off Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as the amphibious invasions themselves, including the airsea bombardment of the two islands. By early 1945, the US Navy had reached an exceptional level of coordination in its amphibious operations and was able to overrun and subdue Japanese territories efficiently. Faced with the increasing might of these forces and to prevent further defeat, Japan deployed its squadron of kamikTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION The strategic setting Origins of the campaign CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Japanese Allied OPPOSING FORCES Japanese Allied Operation Iceberg orders of battle, April 1, 1945 OPPOSING PLANS Japanese Allied THE CAMPAIGN Commencing Detachment, February 16–20, 1945 Kamikaze attacks against Fifth Fleet, February 21 Winning Iwo Jima, February 24–March 26 Iceberg preliminaries, March 1945 L-Day at Okinawa, April 1 The Great Onslaught: Kikisui No. 1, April 6–7 Ten-Ichi-Go: Yamato’s death ride, April 6–7 Kikisui No. 2, April 12–13 Kikisui No. 3, April 16 Kikisui No. 4, April 27–28 Kikisui No. 5, May 3–4 Kikisui No. 6, May 10–11 Kyushu diversion, May 13–14 Air and naval gunfire support of Tenth Army Kikisui No. 7, May 23–25 Kikisui No. 8, May 27–29 Okinawa secured, June–July 1945 AFTERMATH THE WARSHIPS TODAY FURTHER READING ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS INDEX

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Book SynopsisThis fully illustrated volume compares two of the most iconic AFV''s: the SU-152/ISU-152 and the Tiger, used on the Eastern Front during World War II.On the Eastern Front in 1943, the Tiger-equipped heavy Panzer battalions gave German armoured divisions an unmatched capability that cost the Red Army dearly. The Tiger's 88mm gun had the potential to carve through Soviet defences in the attack and cause havoc amongst advancing Soviet armoured formations when used in defence. Neither of the Red Army's heavy tanks (the KV-1 and KV-2) could match the Tiger's gun, and, more importantly, penetrate its armour at anything approaching standard combat range. The Soviet response was a stopgap Tiger-killing vehicle that mounted a 152mm artillery piece onto the KV tank's chassis: the SU-152. The latter would evolve into the ISU-152 in late 1943 (mounting the same powerful gun on an IS chassis). This fascinating book describes the mighty duels fought between these opposing AFVs. The colour illTrade ReviewAn absorbing work -- John Norris * Gun Mart & Militaria Mart magazine *Number 120 in the Osprey Duel series, an 80-page soft-cover book in the usual style for this series with plenty of archive images, maps and colour artwork. An opening Introduction sets the scene, along with a Chronology of key events. Then come the Design & Development story for both the German & the Soviet machines. The SU 152 was built on the KV chassis, while the ISU 152 was built on the IS tank chassis. The SU/ISU 152 was not built with the idea of a Tiger destroyer, more as an infantry support weapon capable of tackling fortifications. This is followed by an examination of the Technical Specifications, including the details of the guns, sights, ammunition, armour protection etc. There are some nice colour illustrations of the different ammunition rounds used by the German and Soviet vehicles, helpful detail for modellers. Combatants is the next section, looking at the units and organisation used by each side, before tackling several examples of Combat clashes which are described, such as the Belgorod-Kharkov Offensive in August 1943, Cherkassy in January-February 1944, Pleskau in April 1944 and Memel in October 1944, among others. That leaves just enough room for a closing Analysis. The two vehicles being considered are different in many ways, a turreted tank against a turretless SPG, albeit with a large calibre weapon. Interesting text throughout and some useful archive images to support the narrative, along with the good quality artwork by Ian Palmer. Thanks to Osprey for our review copy. -- Robin Buckland * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development Technical Specifications The Combatants Combat Analysis Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisUsing first-hand accounts and brand-new artwork, this book brings to life the realities of flying the Bf 109 in combat during the very first battles of World War II.The Bf 109 was one of the principal fighter aircraft types in the Luftwaffe''s inventory during the opening months of World War II and it was central to many of Germany''s early victories, before coming up against the unbeatable RAF during the Battle of Britain.This book presents first-hand experiences of the pilots who flew the Bf 109E, the aircraft which first featured a Daimler-Benz DB 601 powerplant, and which was in the front line in the skies over Poland, the Low Countries and France, and the older Bf 109D, still in use in the Polish campaign.The early variants of the Messerschmitt fighter, the Bf 109E-1, Bf 109E-2 and Bf 109E-3, swept all before them during the opening wartime campaigns, their successes only fading at the Battle of France, when the Bf 109''s seasoned pilots encounterTrade ReviewYou will not find any books out there with this high level of detail supported by superb artwork at such an affordable price. I highly recommend this book to any Luftwaffe historians, Bf 109 enthusiasts, or anyone wanting to learn more about early Luftwaffe fighter capabilities, design, and employment in the first year of the war. -- Todd Shughart * Aviation News Magazine *The swooping illustrations of individual actions add drama, being accompanied by a step by step explanation of the action. All this makes for a fascinating and original look at a well-documented subject material -- Gary Hatcher * Scale Aircraft Modelling *Table of ContentsChapter 1 In Battle Two case studies of aerial combat in the opening phases of World War II, these being the initial actions over Poland and the start of the Battle of France Chapter 2 Setting the Scene Design, development, production, early actions, the Polish campaign explained leading to detailed analysis of the Bf 109E’s participation in the Battle of France against French and British aerial opposition Chapter 3 Path to Combat Charting the careers of two Luftwaffe pilots who flew the Bf 109E in combat during the opening phases of World War 2, including Johannes ‘Hannes’ Trautloft who the author has studied in depth Chapter 4 Weapon of war A brief technical appraisal of the Bf 109E-1 and E-3, detailing their development and the weaponry they employed Chapter 5 Art of War Tactics for Bf 109E units at the start of World War II were in their infancy, and drew on combat experience during the Spanish Civil War and the actions of the Legion Condor. This chapter will look for example at the employment of the revolutionary ‘finger four’ combat formation, and how it revolutionised fighter combat to the point where all other air arms eventually adopted it as a standard offensive formation. The ‘Split S’ manoeuvre and the evolution of the Rotte and Schwarm tactical formations will also be explained. Chapter 6 Combat In this chapter, Bf 109E pilots explain what it was like fly the ‘Emil’ in combat against the widely differing opposition that was encountered in the opening months of World War 2, from such obsolete, but highly agile, types as the Polish PZL P.11 to the French Morane-Saulnier MS.406 and British Hawker Hurricane fighters that had comparable performance to the ‘Emil’. Appendices Listing of early Bf 109E units, aces and performance data Index

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Book SynopsisRobert Forczyk covers the development of armoured warfare in North Africa from the earliest Anglo-Italian engagements in 1940 to the British victory over the German Afrikakorps in Operation Crusader in 1941. The war in the North African desert was pure mechanized warfare, and in many respects the most technologically advanced theatre of World War II. It was also the only theatre where for three years British and Commonwealth, and later US, troops were in constant contact with Axis forces. World War II best-selling author Robert Forczyk explores the first half of the history of the campaign, from the initial Italian offensive and the arrival of Rommel's Panzergruppe Afrika to the British Operation Crusader offensive that led to the relief of Tobruk. He examines the armoured forces, equipment, doctrine, training, logistics and operations employed by both Allied and Axis forces throughout the period, focusing especially on the brigade and regimental level of operations.Fully illTrade ReviewWe heartily recommend this book on the early part of the desert war as a terrific addition to your library. * History of War *It's an essential read for anyone interested in armoured warfare. * Britain at War *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Introduction CHAPTER 1: Pre-war doctrinal and technological influences CHAPTER 2: The opposing armoured forces in 1940–41 CHAPTER 3: Early armoured operations in 1940–41 CHAPTER 4: The Afrika Korps arrives CHAPTER 5: The clash of armour Glossary Rank table Appendices Bibliography Notes Index

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Book SynopsisPacked with never-before-seen photos, plans and meticulous new digital artwork, this is the first history of the USAAF''s futuristic World War II prototype interceptor, the XP-67 Moonbat.The series of X-planes that sprang from the US Army's Request for Data R40C, focused on high-altitude, high-speed, long-range bomber interceptors. Among these aircraft was the McDonnell Aircraft Company's first ever clean sheet design, the XP67. Its futuristic lines promised performance that it was ultimately unable to deliver, but development was still underway when disaster struck. Just before Army performance demonstration flights were scheduled to begin, an engine fire destroyed the only XP-67 prototype, leaving a host of unanswered questions about what might have been, and leading to decades of continuing fascination with the XP-67 among aviation buffs and aircraft modelers.The authors of this book have uncovered new sources of information and a wealth of photographs and line drawings that Trade ReviewNot just an interesting story of a prototype design at a time when there was so much going on in aircraft development, but many archive images of this futuristic looking design show us what it looked like, and they are accompanied by some more superb artwork by Adam Tooby. Another good value, well researched book from Osprey in their X Planes series. -- Robin Buckland * Military Modelscene *A most worthwhile volume. * Aeroplane *Table of ContentsIntroduction Origins Prototype Design Test and Development Influence on Frontline Types Conclusion Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of the often-overlooked gunnery duels between the formidable artillery weapons in the Atlantic Wall defences and the mighty US and Royal Navy battleships.Amphibious landings were an essential tool of Allied military strategy in World War II. The Royal Navy and the US Navy provided operational mobility that allowed the Allies to strike unexpectedly across the vast coastlines of the Mediterranean and Atlantic. Nazi Germany did not have sufficient naval power to seriously contest this, and consequently relied heavily on the huge and costly Atlantic Wall fortification programme. By 1944, the French coast featured more than 1,900 coastal guns over 75mm in calibre. At the heart of this fascinating book by renowned military historian Steven J. Zaloga is the clash between Batterie Hamburg (defending Cherbourg) and the Allied naval bombardment group led by the battleship USS Texas on 25 June 1944. Stunning artworks reveal details of theTable of ContentsIntroduction Chronology Design and Development The Combatants The Strategic Situation Combat Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA fully illustrated study of the Nakajima Ki49 Helen', the twin-engined bomber of the Pacific War, from Japanese aviation expert George Eleftheriou.The Nakajima Ki-49 Donryu (Dragon Eater'), codenamed Helen' by the Allies, was a twin-engined Japanese bomber designed to undertake daylight attacks without the protection of escort fighters. Consequently, while it was officially known as the Army Type 100 Heavy Bomber, its formidable defensive armament and armour were so heavy that they restricted the Ki-49 to payloads comparable to those of smaller medium bombers. While only five heavy bomber sentai (regiments) were equipped with the Helen', the over 800 Ki-49s built between 1941 and 1944 saw extensive action in Burma, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, northern India and north Australia. In an act of desperation, a small number of Helens' were even employed, unsuccessfully, as kamikaze aircraft against US Navy warships operating off the Philippines and Okinawa. In this faTable of ContentsTable of Contents (Subject to Confirmation) Contents 1. Ki-49 Design and Development 2. Organisation of IJAAF heavy bomber units and pilot training 3. Battle of Burma 4. Raids against Darwin and northern Australia 5. Papua New Guinea 6. Battle of the Philippines 7. Final ‘Helen’ Missions Appendices: - Unit listings - Comprehensive plate commentaries Index

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Book SynopsisA detailed and fascinating exploration of the 1945 US combined land, naval and air operation to retake Corregidor and the other Japanese-held islands in Manila Bay from a determined and well-entrenched enemy. The islands guarding the entrance to Manila Bay, Luzon, had been seized by the Japanese in May 1942. In February 1945, US forces were back, and closed in on Manila from the north and south against heavy Japanese resistance. A joint US parachute and amphibious assault was planned to capture the largest island Corregidor, using the much-reinforced 503rd PRCT and elements of the 24th Infantry Division and 2nd Engineer Special Brigade. Facing them were over 6,000 Japanese troops recently evacuated from Bataan, where they had been cut off by advancing US forces. General MacArthur desired the island, once a symbol of American defiance, to be liberated with a flourish.This superbly illustrated work examines the ambitious US assault on Corregidor, which witnessedTable of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS United States Japan OPPOSING FORCES United States Japan Orders of Battle OPPOSING PLANS United States Japan THE CAMPAIGN Preliminary operations: January 23–February 15, 1945 L-Day on Corregidor: February 16, 1945 Consolidation on Corregidor: February 17–20, 1945 Mop-up on Corregidor: February 21–28, 1945 Taking the outlying islands: March 3–April 16, 1945 AFTERMATH THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY FURTHER READING ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS INDEX

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Book SynopsisDrawing on recently declassified files and interviews with veterans, this is a fascinating history of Bill Stirling and 2SAS pioneering founders of modern special forces. David Stirling is the name synonymous with the wartime SAS, but the real brains behind the operation was in fact Bill Stirling, David's eldest brother. Bill was described in the SAS War Diary as a man from the shadows'; it was an apt description for, unlike his attention seeking brother, Bill shunned the spotlight. Now for the first time the truth and the triumph of 2SAS is revealed. Having originally joined the SOE in March 1940, Bill Stirling sailed for Cairo in 1941 and there had the idea for a small special forces unit to be led by his mercurial brother. But despite some success, David allowed the legendary 1SAS to drift under his leadership. Following his capture, Bill re-directed 2SAS, under his personal command, to the strategy he had originally envisaged: parachuting behind enemy lines to gaTrade ReviewVivid and meticulously researched... Gavin Mortimer has certainly done the history of the SAS justice in this book. -- Paul de Zulueta * The Spectator *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Chronology Prologue: Stirling and Stirling Chapter 1: Commando College Chapter 2: Territorial Dispute Chapter 3: Cleaning up the Chaos Chapter 4: Warmer Climes Chapter 5: Training-ville Chapter 6: The Best Die First Chapter 7: Eyeing Up Italy Chapter 8: Use Your Initiative Chapter 9: Hitler's Henchmen Chapter 10: The Farren Phenomenon Chapter 11: The Hell of Termoli Chapter 12: Blinded by Science Chapter 13: Difference of Opinion Chapter 14: Hushed Up Chapter 15: Hell Raisers Chapter 16: Thick with Germans Chapter 17: The Winter War Chapter 18: Up Close to Evil Chapter 19: Boy's Own Finale Epilogue Glossary Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFeaturing evocative artwork plates and carefully selected photographs, this book assesses the US Marines and Japanese troops who contested the islands of Tarawa, Roi-Namur, and Eniwetok during 194344. On November 20, 1943, amphibious vehicles carrying Marines of the 2d Marine Division reached the shores of Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll, defended by a determined Japanese garrison that would fight to the last man. This began a test by combat of over two decades of US studies, analyses, and planning for capturing and defending naval bases in Micronesia. The Tarawa assault was followed in February 1944 by the rapid capture of the Kwajalein and Eniwetok atolls in the Marshall Islands. In these battles US Marines fought a mix of Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army ground units. All but a handful of the defenders, whether they were organized ground combat troops or infantry improvised from aviators and service troops, were determined to die for the Emperor while killinTable of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Betio Island, November 20–23, 1943 Namur Island, February 1–2, 1944 Engebi Island, February 18, 1944 Analysis Aftermath Unit Organizations Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFully illustrated, this study assesses the Soviet and Waffen-SS troops who contested the cities of Kharkov and Rostov-on-Don on the Eastern Front during 194243. As the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union unfolded, two places that suffered exceptionally severely were Kharkov (now Kharkiv) in Ukraine and Rostov-on-Don in Russia. In total, Kharkov would change hands violently four times between October 1941 and August 1943, and Rostov-on-Don also four times between November 1941 and February 1943. In this book, Chris McNab examines the fighting men of the Red Army and the Waffen-SS who clashed in three battles one for Rostov (July 1942) and two for Kharkov (FebruaryMarch and August). He clearly explains the key differences between these two opponents training, tactics, weaponry, ideology and motivation and examines how these differences played out in the three engagements, which ranged from open-terrain combined-arms battles to close-quarters street fighting in major urban zones. Trade ReviewAs ever the text is accompanied by plenty of archive images along with the usual array of artwork which includes plenty of detailed maps illustrating the three battles that feature in the book, along with excellent pictures of both a German and a Russian trooper with their equipment plus some battlefield artwork as well. * Military Model Scene *Table of ContentsIntroduction The Opposing Sides Rostov-on-Don, 20–25 July 1942 The Third Battle of Kharkov, 19 February–18 March 1943 The Fourth Battle of Kharkov, 6–11 August 1943 Analysis Aftermath Unit organizations Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the critically acclaimed author of Dünkirchen 1940, this is a groundbreaking history of the epic three-day battle for Hill 107 that changed the course of the war in the Mediterranean. In this remarkable history, we discover each of the individuals whose actions determined the outcome of the battle for Hill 107, the key event that decided the campaign to capture the vitally strategic island of Crete in May 1941. All the events are narrated through the filter of these eyewitnesses. The Allied perspective is from the summit of Hill 107. We experience the fear and the adrenalin of a lowly platoon commander, Lieutenant Ed McAra, perilously positioned at the top of the hill, alongside the combat stress and command fatigue of the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Andew. In contrast, the German view is looking up from below as they cling to the slopes while simultaneous dazzled by the morning glare and decimated by defensive fire. We join the regiment

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Book Synopsis''An epic tale of love, dishonour, bravery, cowardice, betrayal and high-treason. Beautifully written. A stunning debut'' Damien LewisPlayboy. Fascist. Strongman. Thief.Traitors.John Amery is a drunk and a fanatic, an exiled playboy whose frail body is riven by contradictions. Harold Cole is a cynical, murderous conman who desperately wants to be seen as an officer and a gentleman. Eric Pleasants is an iron-willed former wrestler; he is also a pacifist, and will not be forced into fighting other men''s battles. William Joyce can weave spells when he talks, but his true gifts are for rage and hate. By the end of the Second World War, they will all have betrayed their country. The Traitors is the story of how they came to do so. Drawing on declassified MI5 files, it is a book about chaotic lives in turbulent times; idealism twisted out of shape; of torn consciences and abandoned loyalties; and the tragic consequences that treachery Trade ReviewIn this clever, racy book [Josh Ireland] tells the stories of four British citizens who served Nazi Germany . . . full of energy and stylish phrase-making * The Times *An epic tale of love, dishonour, bravery, cowardice, betrayal and high-treason. Beautifully written. A stunning debut * Damien Lewis *A terrific read that is lucid, insightful and beautifully written. Josh Ireland's masterful prose breathes life into these complex, deceitful, yet profoundly fascinating traitors. Set against a backdrop of violent extremism and political failure, The Traitors rings a loud warning bell from history * Giles Milton *Josh Ireland's achievement is to tell the story of some of Britain's most inglorious, notorious and vainglorous characters in the most glorious and elegant way. He provides a warning for our times from this true story, painting the most vivid of pictures with the sharpest of novelist's pens * John Bew *Ireland gives a vivid account of this repellent, but fascinating, quartet * Daily Mail *[Ireland] comments intelligently on their motives and describes enough of their worlds and views to give us essential context * The Spectator *Ireland's book gives a good flavour of the personality defects that caused men to betray their country . . . Ireland tells their stories entertainingly, and examines their motives without prejudice * Daily Telegraph *Startlingly vivid . . . unmistakably a book of our times * Prospect Magazine *Absorbing . . . Josh Ireland organises this testament of treachery with vim and purpose . . . he skewers his subjects with a piercing revulsion * Mail on Sunday *A well-written and very readable account of these four unappealing characters . . . this is a tough subject to get to grips with. Ireland's book is a very worthy effort * Literary Review *His book is timely, certainly, in raising questions about patriotic loyalty . . . Josh Ireland writes with friendly immediacy. He is a suave raconteur who gets the pace of his stories right * TLS *Ireland tells his four characters' stories with immense skill, to reveal their motives and lead them to inevitable ruin. In the process, he raises a question of great importance now: what is patriotism, and why should we care? * Observer, Books of the Year *

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Book SynopsisA powerful combination of Second World War and British football.

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Book SynopsisThe BEF s 1940 Campaign - part of a series of Battleground Europe books on the performance of the British Expeditionary Force during the successful German Blitzkrieg conquest of northern Europe.

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Book SynopsisDay-by-day account of the Battle of Cotentin

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Book SynopsisLooks at how Shropshire was effected and reacted to the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisCovers all Allied Tank variants of the WW2 period across all theatres.

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Book SynopsisPresents numerous personal experiences of the war

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Book SynopsisContains 250 photographs, many previously unpublished, of German paratroopers (Fallschirmjger) in action during the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisThe most detailed biography of one of the Nazi Party s most important members, Roland Freisler, yet published in the English language.

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Book SynopsisPowerful combination of Rugby and Second World War action.

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Book SynopsisLooks at te local areas of Wimbledon, Merton & Morden in the Second World War.

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Book SynopsisComprehensive coverage of all German WW2 anti-tank vehicles.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first biography of ?Boy? Browning, whose name is inextricably linked with the creation and employment of Britain?s airborne forces in the Second World War. Commissioned into the Grenadier Guards, Browning served on the Western Front, earning a DSO during the Battle of Cambrai. As Adjutant at Sandhurst, he began the tradition of riding a horse up the steps at the end of the commissioning parade. Browning represented England and Great Britain as a hurdler at the 1928 Winter Olympics. In 1932 Browning married Daphne du Maurier, who was ten years younger and became one of the 20th century?s most enduring and popular novelists with titles such as Jamaica Inn and Rebecca. Browning commanded two brigades before being appointed to command 1 Airborne Division in 1941, later acting as Eisenhower?s advisor on airborne warfare in the Mediterranean. In 1944 he commanded 1st Airborne Corps, which he took to Holland for Operation MARKET GARDEN that September. Allegedly coining the phrase ?a bridge too far?, he has received much of the blame for the operation?s failure.In late 1944, Browning became Chief of Staff to Mountbatten. In 1948 he became Comptroller and Treasurer to Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip and then Treasurer to the latter following the Queen?s accession. He was a close adviser to the Royal couple, who respected and valued his judgment.By this time, Boy and Daphne lived separate lives with Boy working at the Palace in London and Daphne reluctant to leave her beloved Cornwall although the marriage remained intact. Questions exist as to Daphne?s sexuality and Boy had a succession of discrete mistresses. After a nervous breakdown probably due to marriage problems, he resigned in 1959 and retired to Cornwall. Browning died in March 1965.

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Book SynopsisThis book dispels the myth that military leaders, in adhering to the Nazi ideology of 'race defilement', strictly repressed soldiers' sexuality.

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Book SynopsisThe complete story of how the German Enigma codes were broken. Perfect for fans of THE IMITATION GAME, the new film on Alan Turing''s Enigma code, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.Breaking the German Enigma codes was not only about brilliant mathematicians and professors at Bletchley Park. There is another aspect of the story which it is only now possible to tell. It takes in the exploits of spies, naval officers and ordinary British seamen who risked, and in some cases lost, their lives snatching the vital Enigma codebooks from under the noses of Nazi officials and from sinking German ships and submarines. This book tells the whole Enigma story: its original invention and use by German forces and how it was the Poles who first cracked - and passed on to the British - the key to the German airforce Enigma. The more complicated German Navy Enigma appeared to them to be unbreakable.Trade ReviewCracking stuff -- Robert Harris * THE TIMES *Unquestionably deepens and enriches our understanding of the Bletchley story ... Sebag-Montefiore demonstrates superbly that the seizure of the Enigma codebooks was among the crucial episodes in Britain's prosecution of the war * OBSERVER *

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Book Synopsis''Brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless'' Spectator''Fascinating ... as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war'' Daily TelegraphAs Assistant Private Secretary to four monarchs, ''Tommy'' Lascelles had a ringside seat from which to observe the workings of the royal household and Downing Street during the first half of the 20th century.These fascinating diaries begin with Edward VIII''s abdication and end with George VI''s death and his daughter Elizabeth''s Coronation. In between we see George VI at work and play, a portrait more intimate than any other previously published.This compelling account also includes Princess Margaret''s relationship with Peter Townsend, and throws an intriguing new light on the way in which King George VI and Winston Churchill worked together during the Second World War. Lascelles was a fine writer - like most of the best diaries his are a delight tTrade ReviewElegant and precise ... a revealing glimpse into the drawing rooms of the great during the years of crisis and victory ... Lascelles was an excellent judge of character, and posterity has almost always proved him right * EVENING STANDARD *This fascinating volume is as much a contribution to royal legend as to the history of the war * DAILY TELEGRAPH *Most - though by no means all - of the facts we know already: it is the angle from which they are viewed and the humour and intelligence of the observer which make these diaries both brilliantly entertaining and historically priceless * SPECTATOR *Offers fascinating and hitherto unseen glimpses of some of the most significant figures of our age ... however, none emerges more engagingly than the diarist himself * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *Offers genuine insights into the role of the King's adviser * INDEPENDENT *A great read, written with humour and elegance * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *I greatly enjoyed KING'S COUNSELLOR -- Robert Harris * MAIL ON SUNDAY Book of the Year *

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Book Synopsis''This riotous and engaging biography has it all''GUARDIAN''As much fun to read as a good political thriller''WALL STREET JOURNALAt the outbreak of war, the British monarchy was in turmoil. Edward VIII had abdicated, leaving his brother Bertie to take on a role he never expected: King George VI. Meanwhile, as Edward awaited the decree that would allow him to marry his mistress, Wallis Simpson, he took an increasing interest in Hitler''s expansionist plans. How did this squabbling, dysfunctional family manage to unite in the face of the greatest conflict in their lifetimes? And what was the true extent of Edward''s betrayal?''Genuinely revealing, politically insightful, scrupulously researched . . . has the narrative pace of a champion thoroughbred''Tina Brown, author of THE PALACE PAPERSTrade ReviewAlexander Larman's 'The Windsors at War' is genuinely revealing, politically insightful, scrupulously researched, and has the narrative pace of a champion thoroughbred. It is also an eloquent study of two royal brothers, and of duty and betrayal. -- Tina Brown * author of The Palace Papers *A worthy successor to Larman's excellent account of the Abdication Crisis, exhaustively researched and written with wit and brio, The Windsors at War proves conclusively that the Duke of Windsor betrayed both his brother King George VI and his country. If there is ever a prequel to Netflix's The Crown, it should be based on this book. * Saul David *As profound and exhilarating as it is revelatory - and it is highly revelatory. Larman is a natural-born storyteller with a keen eye for a precious anecdote. I relished this -- Daisy Dunn * author of Not Far From Brideshead: Oxford Between the Wars *Alexander Larman's masterful follow-up to The Crown in Crisis combines thrilling action scenes with political skulduggery and intimate character studies of everyone from King George VI to his brother and nemesis, the Duke of Windsor. Deeply researched, fascinating and compelling from start to finish. -- Dan Jones * author of Powers and Thrones: A New History of the Middle Ages *The definitive version of how the Royal Family behaved in World War Two, by turns fast paced and furious. I couldn't put it down, except for occasional gasps of incredulity. Larman combines forensic investigative skills with some beautiful prose as he lays out in grim, unremitting detail how the Windsors wavered at critical moments in the war. What a story this is, and what a family -- Anne Sebba * author of Ethel Rosenberg: A Cold War Tragedy *Alexander Larman's enjoyable The Windsors at War [is] a buoyant account of the period from Edward's abdication to the end of the Second World War. -- Matthew Dennison * Telegraph *A detailed and fascinating account -- Tessa Dunlop * The Spectator *A lively, informative book, enriched by its author's fondness for gossip and sharp eye for absurdity... a pitch-black comedy * SPECTATOR WORLD *The Windsors at War opens with a bravura prologue ... Larman sharply contrasts the grim reality the world was facing with the solipsistic petulance of the duke and duchess ... Fortunately, The Windsors at War is about a great more than them. If it has a hero it is the shy, complex man who never had the slightest desire to be king and made extraordinary efforts to rise to the job, finally earning the unqualified admiration of world leaders ... What makes it fresh is Larman's use of recently disembargoed diaries and letters ... The recounting of the story of the handsome, sexually omnivorous, dope-addicted Kent, who reeled from affair to affair (Noël Coward was said to be among his lovers) but was transformed by war service into a brilliantly effective commander until his still-mysterious death in an air crash in the Highlands, is particularly vividly done. Nothing in the book, though, can compete for sheer entertainment with the Windsors' governorship of the Bahamas ... Every detail of it seems to have been penned by the Queen of Crime herself -- Simon Callow * The Sunday Times *A dashing prince with a respectable war record squandered public support by marrying an American divorcée, moving abroad and sponging off dodgy acquaintances. He was obsessed with titles, more than a little pleased with himself and flirted with dangerous causes, but thought he could bypass the British establishment by using the US media. The more he moaned, the worse became his lot. Prince Harry should read Alexander Larman's The Windsors at War ... breezily written [it] retells a cautionary tale * The Times *Larman tells the story with enough brio to make it worth revisiting. Along the way he reveals a handful of details that have never been published before, including a fascinating first-hand account of the kind of conversations that took place among the Royals on the eve of war ... it is when Larman is at his most scathing that the story really comes alive ... Readers can make up their own minds about whether there are any parallels among today's public figures -- Keith Lowe * Mail on Sunday *An insightful, pacy study of the original feud between royal brothers ... It shows how George VI became a Second World War hero after the abdication of Edward VIII - and suggests that the latter may have given insider information to the Nazis. Better than Spare -- Laura Hackett * The Sunday Times *This riotous and engaging biography has it all ... This book is even more rollicking than its predecessor - this is an author having an enormous amount of fun with his subject ... What Larman does so brilliantly is to give us two brothers who could not be less alike, two wives who clearly loathe one another, visions of two very different, but very loving marriages -- Alex Preston * Guardian Online *Larman has given us a great follow-up to The Crown in Crisis ... What shines through are the primary sources he has mined, the diaries and letters, he has worked his way through, yet wearing his scholarship lightly. We are transported back to the pre-war and wartime era, now made famous in Netflix's The Crown (which, to the author's credit, he never once refers to). That series is a dramatised and often fictionalised interpretation of the past, whereas Larman gives us solid factual evidence ... we are reminded that the new king loathed the debonair confidence of "the king across the water", fearing that if he made a hash of the kingship he never wanted, his scheming elder brother might return. This is one theme that runs throughout Larman's fine scholarship ... [a] compelling read -- Peter Caddick-Adams * The Critic *A gripping, fast-paced and absorbing work * CATHOLIC HERALD *Forget Prince Harry; here we have the truly jaw-dropping story of two kings, where the spare had become the heir and believed his brother was trying to kill his family with German bombs. Forget about the American wife who frets about royal titles and wears blood diamonds gifted by a murderer; here is one of the most stylish women of the 20th century, mingling with the Nazi enemy. This is an important story, as well as a gripping one, informed by never-before-used material. We hear the verdict of history on a couple who wanted privilege without responsibility and dealt with the devil to achieve it. I read this brilliant book in one sitting -- Leanda deLisle

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Book Synopsis''Fascinating ... this collection illuminates corners of the wartime world ... it provides a valuable and often entertaining window'' GUARDIAN''The horrors have not been suppressed. Everyone who speaks was very young then. You sense their wonder that they did the things they recall'' INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAYWhen we remember the Second World War in the air, we think of fighter pilots and bomber crews. But what was it like for the men and women working as ground crew and in the aircraft factories who also played a crucial role in defeating Hitler? What was it like making history? What sense did these individuals have of what they were doing, either at the time or later? Did they feel they were caught up in the tide of great events? Or were they simply doing their demanding and often dangerous duty?Originally published as ACES, ERKS AND BACKROOM BOYSTrade ReviewFascinating ... this collection illuminates corners of the wartime world ... it provides a valuable and often entertaining window * GUARDIAN *The horrors have not been suppressed. Everyone who speaks was very young then. You sense their wonder that they did the things they recall * INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY *

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Book SynopsisAn extraordinary account - from firsthand sources - of upper class women and the active part they took in the WarPre-war debutantes were members of the most protected, not to say isolated, stratum of 20th-century society: the young (17-20) unmarried daughters of the British upper classes. For most of them, the war changed all that for ever. It meant independence and the shock of the new, and daily exposure to customs and attitudes that must have seemed completely alien to them. For many, the almost military regime of an upper class childhood meant they were well suited for the no-nonsense approach needed in wartime. This book records the extraordinary diversity of challenges, shocks and responsibilities they faced - as chauffeurs, couriers, ambulance-drivers, nurses, pilots, spies, decoders, factory workers, farmers, land girls, as well as in the Women''s Services. How much did class barriers really come down? Did they stick with their own sort? And what aboutTrade ReviewA wonderful slice of social history, and Anne de Courcy is a skilled interviewer with a sure eye for the telling quotation or the stand-out detail * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Produces some memorable cameos. Among the most memorable are those of a young girl delivering local post from her grandmother's Scottish estate with a 4.10 rifle slung over her shoulder, ready to fire at German planes, oddest of all, perhaps, is an account from one of Lord Rothermere's daughters, of tea being served on the terrace by a butler in white gloves while a dogfight raged overhead -- Miranda SeymourDespite their odd upbringing and closeted lives, the young gels of upper-class England rose to the challenge of the Second World War with grit and gumption * DAILY TELEGRAPH *This book records the extraordinary diversity of challenges, shocks and responsibilities they faced - as chauffeurs, couriers, ambulance-drivers, nurses, pilots, spies, decoders, factory workers, farmers, land girls, as well as in the Women's Services. * EVENING STANDARD *She captures within one book a vivid impression of those years, a short history of the women's services, a closely focused view of an exotic corner of social history, and a lot of human interest. It all makes riveting reading * LITERARY REVIEW *A tale of derring-do, make do and make-up... De Courcy reveals the innocence and bravery of these young women. * EXPRESS *DEBS AT WAR covers a quirky and original subject and tells some cracking human interest stories. * HAM & HIGH *an irresistible account of high spirits, derring-do and real old-fashioned bravery * EVENING STANDARD *

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Book SynopsisHawaii, 7th December 1941, shortly before 8 in the morning: Japanese torpedo bombers launch a surprise attack on the US Pacific fleet anchored in Pearl Harbor. The devastating attack claims the lives of over 2,400 American soldiers, sinks or damages 18 ships and destroys nearly 350 aircraft. The US Congress declares war on Japan the following day. In this vivid and lively book, Takuma Melber breathes new life into the dramatic events that unfolded before, during and after Pearl Harbor by putting the perspective of the Japanese attackers at the centre of his account. This is the dimension commonly missing in most other histories of Pearl Harbor, and it gives Melber the opportunity to provide a fuller, more definitive and authoritative account of the battle, its background and its consequences. Melber sheds new light on the long negotiations that went on between the Japanese and Americans in 1941, and the confusion and argument among the Japanese political and military elite. He shows how US intelligence and military leaders in Washington failed to interpret correctly the information they had and to draw the necessary conclusions about the Japanese war intentions in advance of the attack. His account of the battle itself is informed by the latest research and benefits from including the planning and post-raid assessment by the Japanese commanders. His account also covers the second raid in March 1942 by two long-range seaplanes which was intended to destroy the shipyards so that ships damaged in the initial attack could not be repaired. This balanced and thoroughly researched book deepens our understanding of the battle that precipitated America’s entry into the war and it will appeal to anyone interested in World War II and military history.Trade Review"dramatic and highly readable"The Daily Telegraph "Melber offers a fresh, dramatic account of events in 1941, when Japan headed into a war with the United States that most Japanese policymakers knew their country was not likely to win.... Readers know how the story ends, but Melber's just-the-facts narrative re-creates the tension of the events as they were lived."Foreign Affairs "Melber clearly is on top of his subject matter, having mastered the story of Pearl Habor from the perspectives of both Japan and the United States. In so doing he offers fascinating new insights into what led to the attack on Pearl Harbor and thus to America's entry into the Second World War. He displays a thorough knowledge of the Japanese and American literature, and he writes in a manner that is both accessible and authoritative. This is an excellent book and it will find a ready readership both among university students and among the general public."Richard Bessel, University of York "There is no shortage of historical literature on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, so it is a brave historian who seeks to find a new way to present a familiar story. The great merit of Takuma Melber's new book on the battle is his access to Japanese sources and literature. This is the dimension commonly missing in most accounts, and it gives Melber the opportunity to provide a fuller, more definitive and authoritative account of the battle, its background, and its consequences. Melber writes with great economy on a big subject, and he writes with flair and precision: this book is a literary achievement as well as a work of exceptional scholarship."Richard Overy, University of Exeter "Here is a new look at the dramatic way Japan drew the United States into World War II. The drawing of additional details from a variety of Japanese sources as well as the published and archival material in English and German offers the reader an excellent and balanced introduction to a very important event."Gerhard L. Weinberg, William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor of History Emeritus, University of North Carolina"A fascinating look at the inner workings of Japanese political, military, and diplomatic circles."War on the Rocks "[A] penetrating study of one of the key events of the 20th century from the Japanese rather than the usual American perspective. Melber's nuanced picture of Japanese wartime decision-making exposes the deep rifts in the country's military and civilian leadership. His clinical analysis of the diplomatic to-and-fro between Tokyo and Washington in the months before the attack lays bare the inevitable slide towards war."The Australian "In this vivid book, Takuma Melber breathes new life into the dramatic events that unfolded before, during, and after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. By putting the Japanese attackers' perspective at the centre of his account, he provides a more comprehensive and authoritative history of the battle, its background, and its consequences."Military History"Pearl Harbor is a fine introduction to its subject, enhanced by useful additions from original Japanese sources."Michigan War Studies Review"His book eloquently synthesizes both Japanese and American secondary and primary sources on the attack, and the narrative is told primarily from the perspective of the Japanese. The result is an evenly balanced account that provides a “big picture” view of events."The Strategy Bridge"Melber’s ‘Pearl Harbor’ is an admirably concise and highly illuminating account. It mainly tells how things unfolded from the Japanese perspective. Melber's excellent book illustrates that so-called decisive attacks aiming to utterly destroy an enemy with a major attack can sometimes create terrible consequences for the perpetrators.”Iain Ballantyne, Warships International Fleet Review''Melber’s authoritative and persuasive book brings another vital and welcome dimension into play by revealing the Japanese side of the narrative''Shepherd "Melber provides a concise and judicious account of Pearl Harbor that makes good use of his familiarity with Japanese sources to provide a balanced narrative of the diplomatic run-up to the attack and the battle itself. Because Melber's book is comprehensive, clearly written,... it has the potential to become a gateway book for general readers interested in Pearl Harbor and a staple textbook in diplomatic and military history courses. ... a fascinating account of the planning and execution of the Pearl Harbor attack."Journal of American Culture“This is not purely a military history but one that interweaves diplomatic history into a vivid account of the battle. … Pearl Harbor serves as the most up-to-date, well-researched, and accessible account of the event for the broadest possible readership.”Japan ReviewTable of ContentsPrologue I. The background 1. The road to Pearl Harbor 2. The crisis intensifies 3. Japan’s proposals for resolving the conflict 4. The Hull Note II. The Japanese war plan 1. Admiral Yamamoto and Operation Hawaii 2. The plan of attack 3. The Kid Butai sets sail 4. Japanese spies in Hawaii 5. The first encounter III. The attack 1. The first wave 2. ‘Tora Tora Tora’ 3. Battleship Row in crossfire 4. The second attack wave 5. Egusa’s dive bombers IV. Consequences 1. The aftermath 2. The USA enters the war 3. The first prisoner-of-war 4. The Japanese-born victims of Pearl Harbor 5. Could Pearl Harbor have been prevented? 6. Conspiracy theories 7. Operation K Epilogue Select Bibliography Notes Index

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Book Synopsis‘Taylor has done us a great service in making the personal stories of what it was actually like to live through the most crucial year of the twentieth century vivid, compelling and salutary.’ - Roland Philipps, author of A Spy Named Orphan: The Enigma of Donald MacleanIn the autumn of 1938, Europe believed in the promise of peace. Still reeling from the ravages of the Great War, its people were desperate to rebuild their lives in a newly safe and stable era. But only a year later, the fateful decisions of just a few men had again led Europe to war, a war that would have a profound and lasting impact on millions.Bestselling historian Frederick Taylor focuses on the day-to-day experiences of British and German people trapped in this disastrous chain of events and not, as is so often the case, the elite. Drawn from original sources, their voices, concerns and experiences reveal a marked disconnect between government and people; few ordinary citizens in either country wanted war.1939: A People’s History is not only a vivid account of that turbulent year but also an interrogation of our capacity to go to war again. In many ways it serves as a warning; an opportunity for us to learn from our history and a reminder that we must never take peace for granted.Trade ReviewA fascinating and well-written book about how two nations embraced the prospect of war. By examining a turbulent year from the ground up, Taylor has inadvertently exposed crucial differences in national characteristics. -- Gerard De Groot * The Times *Taylor has done us a great service in making the personal stories of what it was actually like to live through the most crucial year of the twentieth century vivid, compelling and salutary -- Roland PhilippsWell-researched and intriguing -- Tim Bouverie * Daily Telegraph *A sinister and thrilling picture of how the year 1939 developed into war * Who Do You Think You Are Magazine *Taylor . . . does an excellent job of telling the story of the Coventry raid . . . Taylor's thorough, authoritative account elegantly explains the horrors of that night, as well as the wider story of the raid's significance in the air war's collective descent into barbarism. -- Review of Coventry * Financial Times *Riveting . . . vivid . . . Taylor's account of flame and ruin in the Midlands in November 1940, superbly researched, shows how terror could come to anyone, anywhere, any time. It still can. -- Review of Coventry * Spectator *Taylor weaves a chilling narrative from eyewitness accounts and documentary research . . . His account of the air operation . . . is quite superb. -- Review of Dresden * The Times *This scholarly, objective, sane and well-written book . . . a tremendously powerful work, profoundly moving in the accounts of the ordinary German families who met their deaths that dreadful night. -- Review of Dresden * Evening Standard *Table of ContentsSection - i: List of Illustrations Section - ii: Maps Introduction - iii: Introduction Chapter - 1: September 1938: ‘So, No War!’ Chapter - 2: October 1938: ‘More Popular than Hitler’ Chapter - 3: November 1938: ‘We Are Being Hunted Like Hares’ Chapter - 4: Winter 1938/1939: ‘Does Conscription Mean That the Men Will Have to Go Away?’ Chapter - 5: Spring 1939: ‘It’s Hitler Again: But Don’t Worry!’ Chapter - 6: April/May 1939: ‘We All Love Him Very, Very Much’ Chapter - 7: June/July 1939: ‘Fine, Fine, Fine. Blue and Sunshine Everywhere’ Chapter - 8: 1–22 August 1939: ‘To Die for Danzig?’ Chapter - 9: 23–31 August 1939: ‘Grandmother is Dead’ Chapter - 10: 1–3 September 1939: ‘So the Madness Unfolds’ Acknowledgements - iv: Acknowledgements Section - v: Notes Section - vi: Sources Index - vii: Index

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Book SynopsisIn the Axis War on the side of Germany, Mussolini's Italy was responsible for serious war crimes, especially in Yugoslavia and Greece. This 'dark side' of the fascist war, however, is not present in the national memory built after 1945. To distinguish Italy from the former German ally and avoid a punitive peace, the monarchist and anti-fascist ruling classes elaborated a master narrative that highlighted the opposition of the Italian people to Mussolini's war and the humanitarian behavior of Italian soldiers, depicted as saviors of Jews. All responsibility for the crimes committed in the Axis war was placed on the shoulders of the Germans, who thus became a convenient alibi for the national conscience.Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Italy and the Axis in Allied propaganda 2 Who betrayed their country? 3 The origins of war memory4 ‘Italy won too’: atonement and redemption of a ‘nation underground’5 Forgetting the Axis6 ‘Good Italians’ and ‘bad Germans’ 7 Humans or Germans?ConclusionIndex

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Book Synopsis‘Victor Gregg is the most remarkable spokesman for the war generation’ Dan Snow ‘A classic’ Mail on Sunday ‘Astonishing’ James Holland Born in 1919, Victor Gregg enlisted in the Rifle Brigade aged just eighteen and began a life of adventure. A soldier throughout the Second World War, he saw action across North Africa, was a driver for the Long Range Desert group and fought at the battle of Alamein. Taken into captivity at the Battle of Arnhem in 1944, he was sentenced to death for sabotaging a Dresden factory; he escaped only when the Allies’ infamous air raid blew apart his prison and very soon encountered the advancing Red Army. Revised and expanded with exclusive new material in time for Gregg’s 100th birthday, Rifleman is the extraordinary story of an independent-minded and quick-witted survivor.Trade ReviewSearingly honest in his appraisal of what that conflict did to the world, on society and, above all, on himself -- DAN SNOWQuite simply, it is one of the best first-hand accounts that I have read … This gripping book immediately joins a select band of the best soldiers’ stories told from the sharp end * MAIL ON SUNDAY *Hugely entertaining and often moving … As action-packed as any fiction, and yet this is no novel – Gregg's adventures were real. His is truly an astonishing story -- JAMES HOLLANDOne of the most shocking accounts of warfare you will ever read ... An account of heartache, violence and cunning by a man whose will to survive and unbreakable optimism are a true inspiration * INDEPENDENT *A thrilling story of a young man in extraordinary circumstances … Rifleman is an outstanding book that deserves to become a classic -- LLOYD CLARKFascinating … a gut-wrenching read * SUN *Evocative, detailed and unsentimental – gets us wonderfully close-up -- DAVID KYNASTONHis coldly factual account of the torments of its burned-to-death victims exceeds in power even Kurt Vonnegut's famous fictional account, Slaughterhouse Five ... Warrior Gregg has seen and experienced the stuff of nightmares, but remains a chirpy optimist in his 90s * DAILY MIRROR *Intensely moving * MAIL ON SUNDAY *It reads like the best fiction * SAGA *Vic’s honesty and warmth shine through this engaging story * CHOICE *Completely fascinating. This feels like one of the last voices of a vital generation. For the first-hand account of the Dresden fire-bombing alone, this is gripping reading. It has an immediate power throughout that makes war fiction a pale shadow of the real thing -- CONN IGGULDEN

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Book SynopsisA SPECTATOR, NEW STATESMAN AND THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR ‘The best biography I have read in years' Philippe Sands ‘Spectacular’ Observer ‘A remarkable portrait’ Guardian W. G. Sebald was one of the most extraordinary and influential writers of the twentieth century. Through books including The Emigrants, Austerlitz and The Rings of Saturn, he pursued an original literary vision that combined fiction, history, autobiography and photography and addressed some of the most profound themes of contemporary literature: the burden of the Holocaust, memory, loss and exile. The first biography to explore his life and work, Speak, Silence pursues the true Sebald through the memories of those who knew him and through the work he left behind. This quest takes Carole Angier from Sebald’s birth as a second-generation German at the end of the Second World War, through his rejection of the poisoned inheritance of the Third Reich, to his emigration to England, exploring the choice of isolation and exile that drove his work. It digs deep into a creative mind on the edge, finding profound empathy and paradoxical ruthlessness, saving humour, and an elusive mix of fact and fiction in his life as well as work. The result is a unique, ferociously original portrait.Trade ReviewA remarkable biography . . . The first major study of revered author and academic WG Sebald reveals an obsessive and brilliant mind . . . In her long and scholarly book, a testament to the powers of research and detailed dissection, Angier has presented a remarkable portrait of a writer consumed by work * Guardian *Meticulously researched … The brilliance of [this] biography, a spectacularly agile work of criticism as well as a feat of doggedly meticulous research, lies in Angier’s ability to look her subject straight in the eye while holding on to the sense of adoration that made her want to write it in the first place * Observer *The product of years of sleuthing … Angier’s openness about the difficulties she has encountered in trying to untangle [Sebald’s] enigma if anything adds to her portrait … The portrait which ultimately emerges convinces: of a tormented man, an isolated misfit, riven by self-doubt, who wrote to stave off depressive breakdowns and even madness and suicidal impulses * Spectator *It is a considerable achievement to unpick, so convincingly, mysteries Sebald has taken care to contrive. And to do it with such respect, and indeed generosity, that the great originals are burnished -- Iain SinclairSpeak, Silence is an extraordinary achievement. Carole Angier has been able to capture the genius of Sebald without trapping him in facile definitions, allowing his portrait the many hues and changing angles that those who knew him will recognize as profoundly true -- Alberto ManguelSebald once wrote to me that he would just like to be “a guardian of the lesser domains”. His work is enough, but this enticing and thorough book on his life and art proves that he was, in spite of his tragic and early death, an absolute master of the highest domains of literature -- Javier MaríasCarole Angier extends the scope of biography by turning her intense admiration for Sebald’s work into a personal quest for this enigmatic and disturbing writer -- Hilary SpurlingA biographer of great sympathy -- Michael HolroydEnthralling . . . I was exhilarated from start to finish, by subject, style and substance. It is the best biography I have read in years -- Philippe SandsA suitably unorthodox life of this singular writer . . . Angier’s strategy pays off: this is an insightful, compulsively readable book * Atlantic *W.G. Sebald so deliberately and cunningly blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction in his books that every reader longs for a clear-eyed guide to what is invented and what is ‘real’, while at the same time dreading the damage this might do to the delicate webs he weaves. Carole Angier’s tireless detective work has cleared up many of the mysteries, both in his life and in his work, while her critical acumen and manifest admiration for the latter ensures that it emerges enhanced rather than diminished from her labours. A riveting book -- Gabriel JosipoviciRemarkable, the definitive biography . . . Deeply researched, subtle, sympathetic * Claire Tomalin on 'Jean Rhys' *An acute literary intelligence . . . The reader comes to trust instinctively Angier’s assessments * New York Times on 'Jean Rhys' *Allows us to see Levi’s life in its full historical meaning * Financial Times on 'The Double Bond: Primo Levi' *Marvellous and visionary . . . Remarkable in all senses of the word * New York Times on 'The Double Bond: Primo Levi' *Angier writes with brio and occasional brilliance . . . By the end, I felt convinced that she had got to the heart of Levi * Guardian on 'The Double Bond: Primo Levi' *

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Book SynopsisWhile the Panzer I and II are not as famous as the German tanks produced later in the Second World War, they played a vital role in Hitler's early blitzkrieg campaigns and in the Nazi rearmament programme pursued, at first in secret, by the Nazi regime during the 1930s. Anthony Tucker-Jones's photographic history of their design, development and wartime service is an ideal introduction to them. Both panzers saw combat during the invasions of Poland and France, the Low Countries and Scandinavia during 1939-40. Although by the time the Wehrmacht invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Panzer I had been virtually phased out of service, in the form of self-propelled guns they continued to see combat well into 1943. The Panzer II was also phased out with the panzer regiments in late 1943, yet it remained in action on secondary fronts and, as the self-propelled Marder II anti-tank gun and Wespe artillery variant, it saw active service with the panzer and panzer grenadier divisions until the end of the war. The Panzer I and II were the precursors of the formidable range of medium and heavy tanks that followed-the Panzer III and IV and the Panther and Tiger-and this book is a fascinating record of them.

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Book SynopsisUnited States Marine Corps played a leading role in the war against Japan from Pearl Harbour in December 1941 until VJ Day on 2 September 1945. Living up to its motto the First to Fight , the 1st Marine Division landed on the Japanese-occupied island of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific on August 7, 1942 and fought its way up the central Solomon islands to Cape Gloucester in the territory of New Guinea. In November 1943, the Marine Corps captured Tarawa Atoll and so began their advance across the Central Pacific, fighting many famous and bloody battles such as Saipan, Tinian, Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and finally the 82-day epic struggle for Okinawa. These victories came at high cost, with 19,737 Marines killed, and 67,207 wounded. This classic Images of War title presents a graphic overview of the Corps' legendary campaign in text and contemporary images. The Author expertly describes the full range of Marine Corps weaponry and explains their organization, tactics and fighting doctrine.

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Book SynopsisDuring the Second World War, Darlington had a number of industries that were important to the war effort. With its historic links to the railway industry, the town possessed several engineering firms, as well as a number of companies that produced iron and steel products, and many of these companies switched some or all of their production over to wartime demands. The town also had an extensive rural hinterland and the farmers of Teesdale were faced with a barrage of new demands and regulations governing their vital work. Many residents of the area served as members of the armed forces and losses were grievous: the number of Darlington men killed while serving with the RAF was particularly high, with the impact of these losses spreading throughout the community. Despite many setbacks, Darlington was very efficient in bring its Air Raid Precautions and civil defence services up to full strength. With Britain facing invasion in 1940, many older men in the area, along with those younger men who were in reserved occupations, volunteered to serve in the Local Defence Volunteers (later the Home Guard) and one man was still serving at the age of 89. Thankfully, Darlington did not see the heavy bombing that many other communities in the North East of England suffered. However, there were still a large number of accidents in the area caused by the blackout, resulting in a number of fatalities. Locals also had to deal with rationing and not all were willing to pull together, seeing the wartime conditions, instead, as an opportunity to make illegal profits.

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Book SynopsisThe technical details of British warships were recorded in a set of plans produced by the builders on completion of every ship. Known as the `as fitted' general arrangements, these drawings documented the exact appearance and fitting of the ship as it entered service.Today these plans form part of the incomparable collection of the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, which is using the latest scanning technology to make digital copies of the highest quality. This book is one of a series based entirely on these draughts which depict famous warships in an unprecedented degree of detail - complete sets in full color, with many close-ups and enlargements that make everyaspect clear and comprehensible. Extensive captions point the reader to important features to be found in the plans, and an introduction covers the background to thedesign.HMS Birmingham was selected for the series because this famous interwar `Town' class cruiser is unusually well documented. Unusually, three separate sets of plans survive-as completed in 1937, as refitted in 1943, and as modernized in 1952-which allows this novel form of anatomy to cover the whole of the ship's long career.

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Book SynopsisOne of the main dangers to Britain during the Second World War was the possibility of the country being starved out of the war. Indeed, it was what Churchill feared the most. Before the war, Britain was hugely dependent upon foreign imports of food and supplies, but with unrestricted submarine warfare these lifelines were in danger of being cut and the amount of imports hugely reduced. Britain was not unprepared. Lessons had been learned during the First World War, when people had been encouraged to grow more of their own food. The Ministry of Food, in particular, had detailed plans in the event of a future war and the 'Dig for Victory' campaign rightly went down in history as one of the great successes of the British Home Front. For the farmers of Britain the war meant a massive upheaval, as the government ordered them to plough up millions of acres of land to grow valuable arable crops. Meanwhile, with rationing a daily and inescapable part of life, the people of Britain had to get used to different foodstuffs, including powdered egg, Spam and even whale meat. Incredibly, the diets of many British people actually improved during the war and the fact that the country avoided starvation demonstrated not only the success of government planning, but also the determination and ingenuity of the wartime generation.

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Book SynopsisThis book looks at the invaluable work carried out by members of the Air Transport Auxiliary during the course of the Second World War. Comprised of both men and women, it was a civilian organisation tasked with the collection and delivery of military aircraft from the factories to the RAF and Royal Navy stations. Men who undertook the role had to be exempt from having to undertake war time military service due to health or age, but other than that there were very few restrictions on who who could join, which accounted for one-legged, one-armed, one-eyed and short sighted pilots being accepted. Initially it was only men who were allowed to carry out this service, but by December 1939, British authorities were persuaded by Pauline Gower (the daughter of Sir Robert Vaughan Gower, a wartime Conservative MP, and an accomplished pilot in her own right), to establish a women's section of the Air Transport Auxiliary, of which she was put in charge. The first eight women were accepted in to the service, but it would not be until 1943 that its male and female members received the same pay. By the end of the war 147 different types of aircraft had been flown by the men and women of the Air Transport Auxiliary, including Spitfire fighter aircraft and Lancaster bombers. These brave pilots were not just British, but came from 28 Commonwealth and neutral countries and their efforts sometimes came at a price: 174 Air Transport Auxiliary pilots, both men and women, died during the war whilst flying for the service.

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Book SynopsisMunich is one of Europe s most enchanting cities. Exploring its narrow cobbled streets or wide sunlight boulevards with views of the Bavarian Alps is a delight. Each autumn, millions of revellers from around the world join locals in their legendary Octoberfest, one of the world's biggest festivals. Yet many visitors also know that Munich has a past so dark that it cast a looming shadow over the twentieth century: this was the city which played a unique role in the ascent of Nazism, the Third Reich and Adolf Hitler. It was in Munich that Hitler first entered the murky world of beer Keller politics after the First World War. It was here that he established the fanatical base of his NSDAP party so that the city was, in his words, the capital of the movement'. This illustrative new book explains how Munich and its surrounds became inextricably linked with the rise and fall of Nazism. It provides the modern reader with a detailed guide to what happened where in the city, why those events were important in the unfolding history of the Third Reich - and why they remain a timely warning today.

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Book SynopsisThe support provided by the Allied air armies to the preparations for the invasion of France and the Normandy campaign is overshadowed by the dramatic and protracted fighting on the ground. Yet the air campaign played a key role in blinding and isolating German forces in northern France in the months preceding the D-Day landings. These Allied air forces then supported the Allied armies as they pushed inland, most notably by hampering the march of Hitler's panzer divisions and controversially bombing the ancient Norman cities of Caen and Rouen. Anthony Tucker-Jones's photographic history is a vivid introduction to this enormous Allied air offensive and illustrates the many famous types of aircraft employed by the RAF, USAAF and Luftwaffe. Shots of the Allied bombers - Halifax, Lancaster, Fortress, Liberator, Havoc and Marauder - and the fighters and fighter-bombers - Lightning, Thunderbolt, Mustang, Spitfire and Typhoon - dominate the selection. Shots of the German warplanes are rarer because the Luftwaffe was overwhelmed by Allied air superiority. These images of the air war over northern France bring home in a graphic way the nature and conditions of combat flying over seventy years ago, and they emphasize the contribution of air power to the campaign.

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Book SynopsisBlitzkrieg. Lightning war. We are all familiar with the rapid thrusts the Germans made in the early days of the Second World War that saw the demise first of Poland and then the Low Countries and France. But were the German tactics, which appeared at the time to smash through all resistance, really as devastating as they seemed? That is the major question Jeffrey Plowman asks in this absorbing new study of the campaign in Greece in 1941\. Within three weeks they overran the country but, by looking into the campaign in detail, the author claims that at no time did the Germans gain ascendency over the token British and Anzac force sent to bolster the Greek defenders. They came close to doing so, but the Anzac troops and their Greek allies put up a spirited defence that sometimes turned the Germans' own methods against them. This perceptive new account should prompt a reassessment of the Greek campaign. It also offers a fascinating insight into the weaknesses of the Germans' all-conquering method of warfare which became increasing apparent during the later stages of the war.

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Book SynopsisBernard Dargols was a young Parisian student working in New York when war broke out in 1939. While his family remained in France and was threatened by the Vichy regime's anti-Semitic laws,�Bernard decided to enlist in the US Army, convinced that it would be more useful to fight the occupying forces. Following his long military training, Bernard became a GI in the Military Intelligence Service, 2nd US Infantry Division, and landed on the infamous Omaha Beach in June 1944.�He took part in the liberation of Normandy, Brittany and the Ardennes, before becoming a member of the CIC, the American counter-espionage service, and was finally demobilised in 1946. This extraordinary story of the 'GI from the Place des Vosges', is told here by his granddaughter, Caroline Jolivet.

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