Social and cultural history Books

Book SynopsisCelebrate the LGTBQ community with this small but perfectly formed guide to Pride. What began as a protest for gay rights following the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York has grown to become a global celebration of LGBTQ culture. In the 50-odd years since the original protest, and what is now widely accepted to be the first Pride march – Christopher Street Liberation Day, 1970 – Pride events are now attended by millions each year, celebrating how far we’ve come, recognising where we have to go and highlighting important causes in the queer community. The Little Book of Pride is a concise look at everything you need to know about Pride, revealing the history, the key people involved, the best Pride events around the world, inspirational quotes from famous queers, Pride facts and a fun Pride survival guide.Trade Review'A little book with a huge insight. I wish I’d had this book growing up gay.' – Tom Allen, Comedian 'Wonderful...Despite what the title may indicate, this book is far from little.' - USA Today.com"Wonderful... With over 140 pages, this is a comprehensive look at Pride." – MSN.com

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Book SynopsisA new re-issue of the cult swimming classic, a beautiful read filled with detailed description and powerful prose.WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY AMY LIPTROTA luminously romantic history of swimming' GuardianHaunts of the Black Masseur is a dazzling introduction to the great swimming heroes, from Byron leaping into the surf at Shelley''s funeral to Hart Crane diving to his death in the Bay of Mexico. Bursting with anecdotes, Charles Sprawson leads us into a watery world populated by lithe demi-gods a world that has obsessed humans from the ancient Greeks and Romans, to Yeats, Woolf, Fitzgerald and Hockney. Original, enticing and dripping with references to literature, film, art and Olympic history, this cult swimming classic pays sparkling tribute to water and the cultural meanings we attach to it.This splendid and wholly original book is as zestful as a plunge in champagne' Iris MurdochTrade Review[Sprawson] has an ornate style of prose, apparently smooth, but rippling with wit and candour… Haunts of the Black Masseur was a delight when I read it first time round and 25 years on, it strikes me as even better -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *­Original and sparkling… A haunting, sensual, slippery read that will make you long for seaweed on your skin and sand between your toes. A must for swimmers -- Rebecca Wallersteiner * The Lady *A wholly original idea...a brilliant translation of a singular passion -- Alan Ross * Times Literary Supplement *A devoted and luminously romantic history of swimming * Guardian *An exhilarating plunge into some of the deepest pools inside our heads... Magnificently obsessive, this social and cultural history of swimming is the best book I read this year -- J G Ballard

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Book SynopsisThe Irish potato famine of the 1840s, perhaps the most appalling event of the Victorian era, killed over a million people and drove as many more to emigrate to America. It may not have been the result of deliberate government policy, yet British ‘obtuseness, short-sightedness and ignorance’ - and stubborn commitment to laissez-faire ‘solutions’ - largely caused the disaster and prevented any serious efforts to relieve suffering. The continuing impact on Anglo-Irish relations was incalculable, the immediate human cost almost inconceivable. In this vivid and disturbing book Cecil Woodham-Smith provides the definitive account. ‘A moving and terrible book. It combines great literary power with great learning. It explains much in modern Ireland - and in modern America’ D.W. Brogan.

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Book SynopsisA vivid and human glimpse into Europe''s borderlands as they emerged from Soviet rule - back in print after nearly 20 years''In this superb book, in which one senses the spirit of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz, the dramatic world of the Eastern borderlands comes to life'' Ryszard KapuscinskiAs Europe''s borderlands emerged from Soviet rule, Anne Applebaum travelled from the Baltic to the Black Sea, through Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine and the Carpathian mountains. Rich in vivid characters and stories of tragedy and survival, Between East and West illuminates the soul of a place, and the secret history of its people. ''A beautifully written and thought-provoking account of a journey along Europe''s forgotten edge'' Timothy Garton Ash''A vivid and penetrating assessment of the lands between the Baltic and the Black Sea in all their drama and desolation . . . a wise and useful book'' Robert Conquest''Combines the excitement Trade ReviewIn this superb book, in which one senses the spirit of Franz Kafka and Bruno Schulz, the dramatic world of the Eastern borderlands comes to life -- Ryszard KapuscinskiA vivid and penetrating assessment of the lands between the Baltic and the Black Sea in all their drama and desolation . . . A wise and useful book -- Robert ConquestBetween East and West combines the excitement of a well-written and adventurous travelogue with sophisticated reportage about one of Europe's least-known regions -- Norman DaviesA beautifully written and thought-provoking account of a journey along Europe's forgotten edge -- Timothy Garton Ash

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Book Synopsis''I envy no body but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do.''A unique celebration of the English countryside and the most famous book on angling ever published, Walton''s Compleat Angler first appeared in 1653. In 1676, at Walton''s invitation, his friend Charles Cotton contributed his pioneering exploration of fly-fishing. The book is both a manual of instruction and a vision of society in harmony with nature. It guides the novice fisherman on how to catch and cook a variety of fish, on how to select and prepare the best bait and make artificial flies, and on the habits of freshwater fish. It also promotes angling as a communal activity in which the bonds of friendship are forged through shared experience of the natural world.Anecdotes, poetry, music, and song intersperse the rural descriptions, which promote conservation as well as sport. This new edition highlights the book''s continuing relevance to our relationship with the environment, and explores the turbulent history from which it came.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'infused throughout with good fun and good sense' * Simon Redfern, The Independent *'a fascinating snapshot of 17th-century England...far more of a page turner than I ever dared hope' * Trout Fisherman *'splendid introduction' * Land and Business *Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Select Bibliography A Chronology of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton Maps THE COMPLEAT ANGLER, PART I, by Izaak Walton THE COMPLEAT ANGLER, Part II, by Charles Cotton Explanatory Notes Glossary of Angling Terms

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring Hannah Arendt (1906-1975) was one of the major intellectual figures of the twentieth century. Born in Konigsberg to secular Jewish parents, she was a student of the two major exponents of Existenz philosophy in Germany, Karl Jaspers and Martin Heidegger. Arendt escaped Nazi Germany in 1933, traveling first to Paris and then in 1940 to the United States, where she gained citizenship in 1951. As director of the Jewish Cultural Reconstruction she oversaw the collection and presentation of over 1.5 million articles of Judaica and Hebraica that had been hidden from or looted by the Nazis.This Very Short Introduction explores the philosophical ideas and political theories belonging to one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. As a survivor of the Holocaust, Arendt''s life informed her work exploring the meaning and construction of power, evil, totalitarianism, and direct democracy. Through insightful readings of Arendt''s best-known works, from The Origins of Totalitarianism (1951) to The Life of the Mind (1978), Dana Villa traces the importance of Arendt''s ideas for today''s reader. In so doing, Villa explains how Arendt gained world-wide fame with the publication of Origins, and went on to have a distinguished career as a political theorist and public intellectual. A sometimes controversial figure, Arendt is now recognised as one of the most important political thinkers of the twentieth century and her works have become an acknowledged part of the Western canon of political theory and philosophy.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1: Life and work 2: The nature and roots of totalitarianism 3: Political freedom, the public realm, and the Vita Activa 4: Revolution, constitution, and the 'Social Question' 5: Judgement, thinking, and willing Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisGo behind the scenes of the most shocking, hilarious, controversial genre of entertainment: reality television.Reality TV''s influence is seismic: twenty-five years ago, the concept didn''t exist. Yet today, it is one of the most powerful cultural forces on earth; a multi-billion-dollar machine. Despite that, it is often derided as trash; a cultural McDonalds not worthy of examination. The truth is that reality TV offers a profound insight into who we are as human beings, questioning the very nature of what we deem to be entertaining.Writer, broadcaster and reality TV-obsessive Jacques Peretti goes behind the scenes of a world that has entranced and consumed him for two decades. Meeting with people at every level of the reality TV machine, from those responsible for coming up with ever-more extreme formats, to the contestants and participants at the heart of some of the most iconic moments in television, who felt that their lives and their vulnerabilities were

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Book SynopsisMankind likes to consider itself civilized. Sadly, this civilization is only skin-deep and man's inhumanity to man, both in war and peace, has always been a cause for shame. But how should traitors, criminals and society's enemies be dealt with? This book shows some of the means used to chastise and punish down through the ages.

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Book SynopsisA nostalgic photographic look back at some of the best and most bizarre wrestling merchandise of the 1990s.

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Book SynopsisLavishly illustrated throughout, this is the fascinating history of Britain's unique patchwork of footpaths - the priceless 'rights of way' that have enriched the lives of millions.

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Book SynopsisThe word 'pirate' conjures up images of the swashbuckling men featured in the likes of Black Sails and Pirates of the Caribbean, but the world of piracy has a centuries-long history that is filled with little-known women who wielded real power in a man's world long before they were able to even vote in democratic elections. Their stories are compelling and encompass women of all ethnicities and cultures. From Sayyida al Hurra, Queen of the Barbary Pirates, a muslim womanwho successfully preyed on the shipping of her enemies and became governor of Tétouan, to Zhèng Shì, an outlawed Tanka woman born in a brothel who rose to successfully command seventeen thousand men in the Red Flag fleet, which at the time outrivaled the Imperial Chinese Navy. During the Golden Age of Caribbean Piracy, many transgendered women joined pirate crews even though the presence of a woman aboard ship meant death. Their stories have largely been ignored by history but A History of Women in Piracy uncovers the lives and loves of these daring women who flaunted convention and proved themselves to be every bit as capable (or more so) as their male brethren.

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Book Synopsis''Timely, necessary and important'' J.K. Rowling''[This book is] guaranteed to remind us what we have still to fight for. I can''t think of a single person who wouldn''t benefit from reading it'' Observer''Bindel is a rock star of second-wave feminism . . . an important, courageous book'' The Times''Bindel delivers a robust call to arms in every chapter . . . this book could not be timelier . . . As a young feminist who has finally seen the light, I consider it essential reading'' The CriticFeminism is a quest for the liberation of women from patriarchy. Feminism strives for a world in which women are not oppressed. Feminism prioritises exposing and ending male violence towards women and girls.This is Julie Bindel''s feminism, a definition born of 40 years at the front line of the feminist movement. Why then, she asks, is feminism the only social justice movement in

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Book SynopsisThis is a book for people who are interested in statues . . . and for people who aren''t. It explores those immortalised in marble and bronze - and what the rest of us think about them.As Roger Lytollis travels Britain he encounters a man at Liverpool''s Beatles statue convinced that Rod Stewart was in the Fab Four. In Edinburgh he walks into a row over Greyfriars Bobby''s nose and in Glasgow learns why the Duke of Wellington wears a traffic cone on his head. London brings a controversial nude statue and some hard truths about racism.Elsewhere, Roger sees people dancing with Eric Morecambe, finds a statue being the backdrop to a marriage proposal and, everywhere he goes, pigeons. Always pigeons . . .On a Pedestal is the first book to examine public statues around the nation. It looks at their emergence into our culture wars; the trend for portraying musicians, sports stars and comedians rather than monarchs, politicians and generals; the amazingTrade ReviewIt's about the good and the bad in people, and how the two intertwine; it's about who we love to celebrate, who want to punish, and who we want to see immortalized * Bath Magazine *

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Book SynopsisJews in Britain have risen to the top of nearly every profession, they run major companies, sit at the top tables in politics and are prominent in science, arts and media. Of course there is poverty and disadvantage, just as there is in any community, but objectively, British Jews have done well. Particularly when we consider where they came from: the impoverished, often oppressed lives that many Jews lived in Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire less than 200 years ago. British Jews have lived safely and continuously in Britain longer than any other modern Jewish community has lived anywhere else in the world. Jews are so ingrained into the national fabric of Britain that they are often not considered to be a minority at all.They have organised themselves in a way that serves as a model both to more recent immigrant communities in Britain and to Jewish communities elsewhere. Being British, they wear their distinctions lightly, they don''t trumpet their achievementsTrade Review[Freedman’s] survey is detailed and fair … For non-Jews, this explains us as well as is possible outside fiction. * The Spectator *Freedman, a prolific author of books on Jewish subjects, has produced something that could fairly lay claim to becoming the definitive guide to British Jewry…And as a portrait of a community at a particular moment, it is an exhaustive, impressive achievement. * The Tablet *The book is a great primer as an introduction to what makes Jews tick today. * Jewish News *[Freedman] writes clearly and knows the community inside and out. * New Humanist *Freedman’s insider account of Britain Jewry...tells a story of “confidence”, “maturity”, even relative cohesion. * Times Literary Supplement *Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The New Confidence 3. Life 4. Religion 5. Conformity and Dissent 6. Community and Cohesion 7. Not Just London 8. Giving and Caring 9. Education 10. Migrations 11. Glossary

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Book SynopsisThe haunting effects of crime, violence, and death in our history, memory, and media spacesFrom Abu Ghraib and Holocaust death camps to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and slave plantations, spaces where violent crimes have occurred can often become forever changed, or haunted, in the public imagination. In this volume, Michael Fiddler, Travis Linnemann, and Theo Kindynis bring together an interdisciplinary group of distinguished scholars to study this phenomenon, exploring the origins, theory, and methodology of ghost criminology. Featuring Jeff Ferrell, Michelle Brown, Eamon Carrabine, and other prominent scholars, Ghost Criminology takes us inside spaces where the worst crimes have imprinted themselves on our history, memory, and media spaces. Contributors explore a wide range of these hauntological topics from a criminological perspective, including the excavation of graffiti in the London underground, the phantom of Robert E. Lee in CharlottesvillTrade Review"The further we travel into the twenty-first century, the more otherworldly criminology feels, possessed by long-dead theoretical spirits who refuse to be exorcised, and covered over with the spider webs and pentagrams of ancient methodological approaches. It's no surprise, then, that a 'ghost criminology' has now made its presence felt with this innovative and exciting new collection. Like all good ghost stories, Fiddler, Kindynis and Linnemann’s Ghost Criminology: The Afterlife of Crime and Punishment evokes a range of emotions but never once flinches from its underlying goal of posing reflective questions about the soul and purpose of criminology as a critical endeavour. " -- Keith J. Hayward, editor of Cultural Criminology

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Book Synopsis'With spot-on injections of humour and a frequently raised sardonic eyebrow, joy and warmth shine from this fascinating and funny book' Jo BrandA joyful celebration of amateur theatreFrom the Mystery Plays of the Middle Ages, via the Georgian aristocrats who built opulent private theatres in their own homes, to the radical lefties taking political theatre to the streets, this is the story of amateur dramatics in Britain. We meet a cast of characters who tell us about the joy amateur theatre brings them and we follow the full arc of a production, from first auditions to last night party, with all the mishaps and forgotten lines that come in between. In a triumphant mix of memoir, social history and manifesto, Jenny Landreth opens our eyes to am-dram and shows us a vibrant world that is a crucial part of our culture.Trade ReviewAn unputdownable, utterly delightful stroll through British amateur theatre and why it has a vital place for us all -- Shappi KhorsandiLandreth's charming book is both a cultural history of amateur theatre and a loving look at am-dram and its role in British life -- Sarah Hughes * i *This funny and interesting book makes you yearn for a long-lost sense of community, and then realise it’s been there all along. Jenny Landreth, take an Am Dram style bow -- John O’FarrellAmateur is not a dirty word, but implies disinterested love, dedication and a clubbable, community feeling . . . Landreth reminds us, importantly, that the word amateur includes student and community theatre, vital seed corn and support to the professional world -- Libby Purvis * The Times *With spot-on injections of humour and a frequently raised sardonic eyebrow, joy and warmth shine from this fascinating and funny book -- Jo Brand

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Book Synopsis** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER **'This book is a must' Peter HennessyOn Boxing Day 1962, when Juliet Nicolson was eight years old, the snow began to fall. It did not stop for ten weeks.The threat of nuclear war had reached its terrifying height with the recent Cuban Missile Crisis, unemployment was on the rise, and yet, underneath the frozen surface, new life was beginning to stir.From poets to pop stars, shopkeepers to schoolchildren, and her own family's experiences, Juliet Nicolson traces the hardship of that frozen winter and the emancipation that followed. That spring, new life was unleashed, along with freedoms we take for granted today.'An absolutely mesmerising book' Antonia FraserTrade ReviewNicolson makes social history feel like reading the best and most gripping novel. A beautiful, wholly original book -- India KnightA brilliant concept transformed into a brilliant and revelatory book. Completely fascinating and engrossing -- William BoydAs gripping as any thriller, Frostquake is the story of a national trauma that came out of nowhere and changed us forever. Brilliantly written and almost eerily relevant to our current troubles -- Tony ParsonsAn engagingly written mixture of social history and memoir -- Trevor Phillips * Sunday Times *Fascinating, quirky and evocative . . . Nicolson takes us right back to that muffled, snowbound world -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThrough extraordinary photographs, The Horgan Brothers documented both common folk and kings, fishermen and political activists. This stunning collection reveals a vanishing Ireland through the eyes of two brothers who knew exactly where to point their camera.

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Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in the vanished world inhabited by Austen's contemporaries. Packed with detail, and anecdotes, this is an intimate exploration of how the middle and upper classes lived from 1775, the year of Austen's birth, to the coronation of George IV in 1820. Sue Wilkes skilfully conjures up all aspects of daily life within the period, drawing on contemporary diaries, illustrations, letters, novels, travel literature and archives. Were all unmarried affluent men really 'in want of a wife?' Where would a young lady seek adventures? Would 'taking the waters' at Bath and other spas kill or cure you? Was Lizzy Bennet bitten by bed-bugs while travelling? What would you wear to a country ball, or a dance at Almack's? Would Mr Darcy have worn a corset? What hidden horrors lurked in elegant Regency houses?

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Book Synopsis A charming guide to the story of the English village, celebrating this beloved heart of the countryside.The village remains a quintessential and much-loved treasure that is often representative of England. This rural idyll has inspired generations of great poets, novelists and artists including the likes of Constable, Hardy and Wordsworth.The English Village champions all that is unique and loved about a typical village – the pub, the green, the school, the church, the pond, the local shop and more – as well as exploring how the village has changed over the centuries, and how it has adjusted to modern-day life.A fascinating compendium of interesting details, facts, customs and lore, this is an unabashed toast to the English village, as well as a record of a disappearing world.Trade ReviewA perfect introduction to the subject * Yorkshire Evening Post *Jam-packed with interesting facts ... celebrates all aspects of village life * Family History Monthly *A quirky and fascinating look at more than 15 centuries of rural dwelling, covering everything from cottage industries to rustic superstitions * Countryside Voice *

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Book SynopsisOn 23 May 1988, Paul Baker sat down with his family to eat cake on his sixteenth birthday while The Six O’Clock News played in the background. But something was not quite right. There was muffled shouting – ‘Stop Section 28!’ – and a scuffle. The morning papers would announce: ‘Beeb Man Sits on Lesbian’. The next day Section 28 passed into law, forbidding local authorities from teaching ‘the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship’. It would send shockwaves through British society, silencing gay pupils and teachers while galvanizing mass protests and the formation of the LGBTQ+ rights groups OutRage! and Stonewall. Now available in paperback, Outrageous! tells the full story: the background to the Act, how the press fanned the flames and what politicians said during debates, how protestors fought back to bring about the repeal of the law in the 2000s, and its eventual legacy. Based on detailed research, interviews with key figures – including Ian McKellen, Michael Cashman and Angela Mason – and personal recollection, it is an impassioned, warm, often moving account of unthinkable prejudice enshrined within law, and of the power of community to overcome it.Trade Review'I loved Baker's previous book, Fabulosa!. Now he has written this engaging history of Section 28, the act that forbade local authorities from teaching "the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretend family relationship". Interweaving elements of memoir, it charts how the press fanned the flames around the act, and how protestors fought to bring about the repeal of the law in the 2000s.' – The Bookseller; 'An important and fascinating deep dive into one of the most damaging pieces of legislation in modern history.' – Matthew Todd, author of Straight Jacket and Pride; 'A surprising, smart, funny, and beautifully written book. Equal parts memoir and cultural history, it tells a detailed and deeply personal story of grassroots LGBT activism and everyday queer life in the UK over the past thirty years.' – Jason Baumann, editor of The Stonewall Reader; 'Blowing the lid off a circus of sanctimony with flair, enormous heart and an eye for the absurd, this indispensable history reads like a madcap caper – reaffirming Paul Baker as an expert malarkey decoder, hope detector amid calamity rubble, and dab hand at the queer deep dive.' – Jeremy Atherton Lin, author of Gay Bar; 'The entirely pleasing thought that Outrageous! will be stocked in school libraries is a satisfying slap in the face to the battle-bus of bigots who thought Section 28 was a good idea in the first place . . . A lovely conversational social history.' – Paul Flynn, author of Good As You; 'Peppered with wry asides and anecdotes, this is a profile of Britain not so long ago – and of the people who fought back.' – History Revealed magazine; 'As Paul Baker sets out in this vivid look at the legislation and its effects, Section 28 represented "the culmination of the moral panic around homosexuality that took place over the 1980s". He sets this panic into its broader historical context, charting the long-burning cultural and political embers ignited when a London school stocked Jenny Lives with Eric and Martin . . . Baker movingly recounts the more pernicious ways in which it affected the lives of gay people . . . Baker's chatty, tart tone and personal asides serve to throw the heady extremes of a not-so-distant era into even sharper relief.' – BBC History magazine; 'Outrageous! tells the history of this legislation, interwoven with anecdotes from the author’s own adolescence. It balances the fraught subject matter with humor, particularly in its exploration of the inventive protests Section 28 inspired. This included a group of lesbian protestors who abseiled into the House of Lords on a clothesline as the legislation was being debated; and two years later, when Princess Diana’s speech at a family conference was invaded by five protestors holding placards that said "Lesbian mothers aren’t pretending.' – Huck Magazine; 'Entertaining, informative and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, this history of how Margaret Thatcher’s Section 28 was eventually defeated is also a timely reminder that the old demons of bigotry and exclusion are never far away.' – The Scotsman; 'Lucid, clear-eyed, warmly personable and peppered with deliciously wry commentary, it is a detailed, incisive background to the Act and the ideological and party politics from which it germinated, revealing how the press fanned the flames, what precisely politicians said during debates, and how protestors fought back to bring about the repeal of the law in the 2000s . . . Fascinating, engaging, inspiring.' – Attitude Magazine; 'As anyone familiar with Paul Baker's fantastically camp Fabulosa! would expect, his new book, in spite of its bleak subject matter, is more uproarious than self-pitying . . . A strength of Baker's book is the clear outline of the history of Section 28 and the context in which it arose . . . Baker's style is ultra-accessible.' – Literary Review; 'Outrageous! is a vitally important book that charts a very specific time in history and ensures that it can never be forgotten . . . Despite the heavy topic, it is written in a surprisingly light-hearted and conversational style, something that helps a lot given the sensitive topics it covers on every page.' – GeekMom.com

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Book Synopsis Conflict, domination, violence—in this wide-ranging, briskly narrated volume from acclaimed Mexican historian Carlos Illades, these three phenomena register the pulse of a diverse, but inequitable and discriminatory, social order. Drawing on rich and varied historical sources, Illades guides the reader through seven signal episodes in Mexican social history, from rebellions under Porfirio Díaz’s dictatorship to the cycles of violence that have plagued the country’s deep south to the recent emergence of neo-anarchist movements. Taken together, they comprise a mosaic history of power and resistance, with artisans, rural communities, revolutionaries, students, and ordinary people confronting the forces of domination and transforming Mexican society.Trade Review “Unequivocally, a very timely work that expands the understanding of Mexico’s social history…Highly recommended.” • Choice “Students and scholars of Mexican and Latin American history will benefit greatly from this accessibly written and timely collection.” • Bulletin of Latin American Research “This book pieces together emblematic fragments of Mexican social history to shed light on their structural continuities (in the repertoires of violence, forms of domination and cycles of contestation), and succeeds in posing important historical and political questions that may ultimately pertain to the present and future of social movements in and beyond Mexico.” • Journal of Latin American Studies “As one of the preeminent Mexican historians of his generation, Carlos Illades is uniquely able to provide a long-term perspective on themes of great contemporary relevance. This long-awaited translation of his work into English demonstrates his expertise on a range of historical topics, making a vital contribution to Mexican historiography.” • Pablo Piccato, Columbia UniversityTable of Contents Spanish Terms Used in This Book List of Organizations List of Figures, Illustrations and Tables Preface Chapter 1. The Historiography of Social Movements Chapter 2. The Organization and Collective Action of Craftsmen Chapter 3. The ‘Pueblos Unidos’ Rebellion Chapter 4. Revolution and Xenophobia Chapter 5. The Circle of Violence Chapter 6. Taking the Streets Chapter 7. Violence and Public Protest Chapter 8. The Autumn of Discontent Sources and Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis"Throughout his long career, Frederick Douglass cut an imposing figure, renowned as an impassioned abolitionist, a fiery writer and newspaper editor. He was a great public speaker, who became a one-man crusade for black liberation." - Robert McCrum, The Guardian."It is difficult to think of anyone, at any time, who examined the race problem in its many aspects more profoundly, extensively, and subtly than W. E. B. Du Bois." - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy."I knew that, in a large degree, we were trying an experiment--that of testing whether or not it was possible for Negroes to build up and control the affairs of a large educational institution. I knew that if we failed it would injure the whole race." ?Booker T. Washington.Three African American Classics contains three of the most significant works of African American literature by three authors who led vastly different lives. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), a runaway slave, describes the horrors and humiliations of slavery, his escape, and his journey to becoming one of America''s great statesmen and orators. Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), born into slavery, was freed at the age of nine at the end of the Civil War. Until his first day at school he was known only by the name "Booker," but to be like all the other children, he quickly added "Washington," beginning his non-confrontational approach to self-advancement. Up from Slavery describes his childhood as a slave, his dogged pursuit of education, his founding of the Tuskegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, his work promoting educational and business opportunities for former slaves, and as an advisor to several US presidents.The Massachusetts-born, Harvard-educated W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963) begins The Souls of Black Folk with the prescient phrase: "the problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colour line." Lyrically and poetically written, The Souls of Black Folk is a seminal work in the history of sociology and a cornerstone of African-American literature. It is a profound examination of race in America, drawing on both Du Bois''s academic training and his personal experience as an African American in the United States. The Souls of Black Folk has been called "the political Bible of the Negro race."This edition is set in an easy to read 11-point font. 

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Book SynopsisThe Colour of Time spans more than a hundred years of world history from the reign of Queen Victoria and the US Civil War to the Cuban Missile Crisis and beginning of the Space Age. It charts the rise and fall of empires, the achievements of science, industry and the arts, the tragedies of war and the politics of peace, and the lives of men and women who made history. The book is a collaboration between a gifted Brazilian artist and a leading British historian. Marina Amaral has created 200 stunning images, using contemporary photographs as the basis for her full-colour digital renditions. Dan Jones has written a narrative that anchors each image in its context, and weaves them into a vivid account of the world that we live in today. A fusion of amazing pictures and well-chosen words, The Colour of Time offers a unique – and often beautiful – perspective on the past. This compact edition of The Colour of Time makes the perfect gift for anyone (and not just anyone interested in history).Trade ReviewA clever, deftly executed book... Marina Amaral has chosen 200 black-and-white photographs, taken between 1850 and 1960, and skilfully colourised them, which gives them new life, new relevance and new power... Dan Jones gives a nicely thoughtful commentary to it all' * Daily Mail, Coffee Table Books of the Year *Purists argue that colourising black and white photographs is sacrilege, but the world has always been in colour... Truth be told, monochrome is a contrivance. Human experience is always colourful' * The Times, Books of the Year *[The Colour of Time] does something simple yet extraordinary. It takes black-and-white photos of historic events and colours them in. The effect is transformative * Daily Telegraph *There is something of The Wizard of Oz about Marina Amaral's photographs. She whisks us from black-and-white Kansas to shimmering Technicolor Oz... When you see Amaral's coloured portraits, you think: phwoar!... She changes the way we see a period or a person' * Spectator *The effect of colour is far more transformative than you might imagine... [Amaral's] touched-up photographs look even more realistic, and closer to life, than a photograph taken yesterday... Extraordinary' * Mail on Sunday *What also elevates The Colour of Time above regular coffee table fare is the startling vivacity and impact of the photographs chosen, and the concise but focused and gripping texts by Jones, making the book a worthwhile cover-to-cover read as much as it serves as a showcase book to dip into at will * All About History *Spanning more than 100 years of world history, from Queen Victoria to the Cuban missile crisis, this book offers a fresh perspective on the past by transforming the black and white photographs that defined global events into full colour * BBC History *Illustrator Marina Amaral has digitally colourised 200 historic black-and-white photographs, making them look as though they were taken yesterday. Dan Jones explains the historical context of each startling image * Mail on Sunday, Books of the Year *I have long considered colourisation sacrilege... after reading this book, I've changed my mind' * The Times. *The most breathtakingly colourised black-and-white pictures ever * Daily Mail. *Both revelatory and familiar. Amaral's skills bring 19th- and early 20th-century photographic images to wholly unexpected and vivid life... Jones offers perceptive commentary, contextualising the events and people depicted with concise skill, meaning that this fine book is hugely readable' * Observer *Jones sketches the historical context with wry economy. Even familiar images take on a new dimension in colour * Daily Mirror *Stunning photos. The perfect gift for any historian * Bristol Life *

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Book SynopsisA WATERSTONES BEST BOOK OF 2023This is a neglected history. Not a sweeping, definitive, exhaustive history of the world but something quieter, more intimate and particular. A single journey, picked out in 101 objects, through the fascinating, too-often-overlooked, manifold histories of women.Open up this cabinet of curiosities and you'll find objects that have been highly esteemed - even, like the Bayeux tapestry, fought over by nations - and others that are humble and domestic. Some (like a sixteenth century glass dildo) are objects of female pleasure, some (a thumbscrew) of female subjugation. There are artefacts of women celebrated by history and of women unfairly forgotten by it; examples of female rebellion and of self-revelation; objects that are inspiring, curious or (like radium-laced chocolate) just fundamentally ill-conceived.Through the variety and nuance in all these 101 objects, Annabelle Hirsch has created a new history - teeming, unexpected, witty and always illuminating. This overdue corrective reveals what a healed femur says about civilisation, what men have to fear from hat pins, and it shows that the past has always been as complicated and fascinating as the women that peopled it.Trade ReviewAn ambitious project, wide in scope, idiosyncratic in approach . . . The power of this book is cumulative; read as a whole it becomes increasingly affecting. At its heart it is about female pain, female bravery and female creativity * * Sunday Times * *Hirsch provides a rich, subversive take on history . . . The scope and delicious imaginative leaps of Hirsch's work, translated from German by Eleanor Updegraff, start to work their magic. I guarantee many readers will be exposed to something new * * Financial Times * *Whimsical, fun and witty. Annabelle Hirsch's book is a like a treasure hunt through history, culture, politics, fashion and art -- ANDREA WULFA reminder, lest we forget, that women are and have always been, whether quietly or vociferously, on the periphery or centre stage, the engine, the glue, the inspiration behind it all -- GILLIAN ANDERSONI adored this book! Hirsch's intimate observational gifts turn that world into a rousing, living record of all that we have wrestled with -- OLIVIA COLMANA History Of Women In 101 Objects isn't just my best book of 2023. I'll keep it on my desk for years and whenever I need a coffee break or a pause for inspiration, I'll dip into it. Annabelle Hirsch's book is written with great flair and style, her sly wit giving us a new perspective on our lives -- JACQUELINE WILSONA fantastic cabinet of curiosities that rethinks the role of women in history. Educational, funny - a joy! -- LEILA SLIMANII love this book . . . A new feminist history of the world . . . Stirring, provocative and carefully researched -- LAUREN ELKINAn intimate, inspiring and unexpected look at the overlooked lives of women. Far from being weighed down with academic heft, this is the literary equivalent of spending a happy afternoon rooting through your grandma's handbag. A treasure trove of ideas, artefacts and stories -- SAM BAKERAn excellent reminder that women have always been there. They may be written out of texts, but the objects they leave behind reveal them in all their complexity. Women that fought, women that worked, women that wielded power and carried agency. Through these 101 objects you can touch the hands of ancestors and understand the worlds they inhabited -- DR JANINA RAMIREZI loved every chapter of this compelling, enlightening and inspiring book. Annabelle Hirsch writes with such warmth, humour and generosity. This book illuminates our past so we can envision a bolder and brighter present -- SALENA GODDENFrom cave painting to the newest frontiers of technology, women have made so many aspects of the world we live in whilst also witnessing their presence in the halls of history being cast into shadow or erased. Annabelle Hirsch grabs back the spotlight and through an astonishing, eclectic array of objects she places women's achievements centre stage. Splendid and inspiring -- JUDE KELLYThe domestic nature of many objects may seem of minor consequence, but Hirsch channels a steely perceptiveness and not a little subversive humour in revealing their quiet power and enduring significance. Eleanor Updegraff captures the sparky wit of Hirsch's prose with a jaunty elegance. It's a book with a large personality which is as enjoyable to dip into as it is to read from cover to cover -- CAROLINE SANDERSON * * Bookseller * *The book creates new stories . . . Where women throughout time have always been multifaceted, multi-talented and powerful. Reading about it, I feel it deep in my robust bones * * Sunday Star-Times * *Quirky [and] idiosyncratic . . . wide-ranging, beautifully presented book * * Herald * *

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Book SynopsisOn 1 September 1939 Operation Pied Piper bgan to place the children of Britain's industrial cities beyond the reach of the Luftwaffe. 1.5 million children, pregnant women and schoolteachers were evacuated in 3 days. A further 2 million children were evacuated privately; the largest mass evacuation of children in British history. Some children went abroad, others were sent to institutions, but the majority were billeted with foster families. Some were away for weeks or months, others for years. Homecoming was not always easy and a few described it as more difficult than going away in the first place. In When the Children Came Home Julie Summers tells us what happened when these children returned to their families. She looks at the different waves of British evacuation during WWII and explores how they coped both in the immediate aftermath of the war, and in later life. For some it was a wonderful experience that enriched their whole lives, for others it cast a long shadow, for a few it changed things for ever.Using interviews, written accounts and memoirs, When the Children Came Homeweaves together a collection of personal stories to create a warm and compelling portrait of wartime Britain from the children's perspective.

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Book SynopsisA compelling history of the lives of five Scottish medical explorers set in the context of British dominance in exploration. It opens a new and enlightening window on this great era of exploration.

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Book SynopsisA history of Reading's iconic gaol: architectural landmark, cultural emblem and symbol for a community determined to cherish the town's heritage. Layers of history and art are carefully peeled back as Peter Stoneley reveals its past as architectural showcase for Sir George Gilbert Scott's decorative (and expensive!) style, location for experiments in prison reform, training ground for the leaders of the Irish Independence movement and, of course, the inspiration for Oscar Wilde's famous Ballad of Reading Gaol. Bringing the narrative right up to the present day with the discussions over its future use, the impact of the ArtAngel exhibition and Banksy's graffiti, this book is a timely platform for the building to tell us its story.

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'A racily written, well-researched and heart-warming account' Scots MagazineToo many historians have ignored the role of women in the '45. This book aims to redress the balance. Damn' Rebel Bitches takes a totally fresh approach to the history of the Jacobite Rising by telling fascinating stories of the many women caught up in the turbulent events of 1745-46. Drawn from original documents and letters, Maggie Craig brings their stories to life in this often touching and always engrossing reframed history.'A modern classic' The Herald 'Bold and argumentative...resounds with authority' Scotland on Sunday

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Book SynopsisAs a psychiatrist-in-training fresh from medical school, Carl Erik Fisher came face to face with his own addiction crisis, one that nearly cost him everything. Here, he investigates the history of this age-old condition. Humans have struggled to define, treat, and control addictive behaviour for most of recorded history, including well before the advent of modern science and medicine. The Urge is a rich, sweeping history that probes not only medicine and science but also literature, religion, philosophy, and sociology, illuminating the extent to which the story of addiction has persistently reflected broader questions of what it means to be human and care for one another. Fisher introduces us to the people who have endeavoured to address this complex condition through the ages: physicians and politicians, activists and artists, researchers and writers, and of course the legions of people who have struggled with their own addictions. He also examines the treatments and strategies that have produced hope and relief. The Urge is at once an eye-opening history of ideas, a riveting personal story of addiction and recovery, and a clinician’s urgent call for a more expansive, nuanced, and compassionate view of one of society’s most intractable challenges.Trade Review‘The Urge is an absolutely brilliant exploration of humanity’s ever-present struggle with addiction, or what psychiatrist Carl Erik Fisher calls "the terrifying breakdown of reason." Dr Fisher’s firsthand experience, as both a doctor and a patient, gives The Urge a layer of insight that deepens its historical focus. Readers will walk away with a nuanced grasp of the high stakes of our broken medical system and the bias baked into our understanding of addiction and mental illness in general. This book is special — as edifying as it is electrifying, as meaningful as it is humane.’ -- Susannah Cahalan, author of Brain on Fire‘Carl Erik Fisher expertly weaves his own story of addiction into a comprehensive and fascinating narrative. The Urge is an engaging read that also helps us gain a fuller picture of our own nature and how society has capitalised on it to drive addiction. Even as an addiction psychiatrist and researcher, I learned a great deal from this book.’ -- Dr Judson Brewer, PhD, author of Unwinding Anxiety‘Thoughtful, moving, and wonderfully informative, Carl Erik Fisher’s The Urge arrives just in time to help us, as a nation, rethink our failed war on drugs. In telling his own story, that of a young physician wrestling with both alcohol and rehab, Dr. Fisher humanises the struggles that ensnare so many of us. Addiction, this marvellous book makes clear, is confounding, seductive, and elusive. In facing it without prejudice, we can learn a lot about ourselves.’ -- Dr Mark Epstein, author of The Trauma of Everyday Life and Advice Not Given‘This thoughtful, wise, and thoroughly researched book is sure to be a crucial contribution to our understanding of addiction — a crisis that demands a deeper, more truthful conversation.’ -- Johann Hari, author of Chasing the Scream‘Carl Erik Fisher’s The Urge is the best-written and most incisive book I've read on the history of addiction. In the midst of an overdose crisis that grows worse by the hour and has vexed America for centuries, Fisher has given us the best prescription of all: understanding. He seamlessly blends a gripping historical narrative with memoir that doesn't self-aggrandise; the result is a full-throated argument against blaming people with substance use disorder. The Urge is a propulsive tour de force that is as healing as it is enjoyable to read.’ -- Beth Macy, author of Dopesick‘The Urge is an insightful, thought-provoking, and beautifully written book that stands to revolutionise our understanding of one of medicine’s — and society’s — most challenging problems. Carl Erik Fisher is a masterful physician-writer who is equally attentive to the grand sweep of history and the subtleties of each individual’s experience of addiction. A remarkable achievement.’ -- Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies ‘This courageous, urgent book tells the story of addiction, narrating its history, the author's own mêlées with alcohol and stimulants, and the narrative of other people’s struggles, which he has grappled with as a clinician. In poignant, episodic accounts, he describes historical conflicts that remain alive today, when we view addiction sometimes as a social circumstance, sometimes as a biological disease, and sometimes as a personal failure. Fisher has undertaken the difficult but necessary job of reconciling these multiple points of view.’ -- Andrew Solomon, author of Far from the Tree and The Noonday Demon‘This is a brilliant, fascinating, important book. Combining riveting cultural history and cutting-edge neuroscience with his own searing experiences with (and recovery from) substance abuse, Carl Erik Fisher has produced a work that deserves a place alongside volumes by fellow physician-writers Oliver Sacks, Kay Redfield Jamison, Siddhartha Mukherjee, and Abraham Verghese. Full of insight and wisdom, this is a profound meditation on the nature of addiction and what it means to be human.’ -- Scott Stossel, author of My Age of Anxiety‘Fisher … makes a striking debut by skillfully combining a cultural history of addiction with his own story of recovery. He first looks to ancient philosophers and thinkers … Along the way, he shares plenty of moving stories of the scientists, preachers, and patients on the front lines of addiction and movingly recounts his own struggle with alcohol and Adderall addiction while he was a physician in Columbia's psychiatry residency program … There’s as much history here as there is heart.’ * Publishers Weekly, starred review *‘Fisher, a psychiatrist and a patient recovering from addiction, wonders, “Is everyone somewhere on the addiction spectrum?” What factors — biological, psychological, social, cultural — play a role? A unique perspective on a frustrating, often devastating problem.’ * Booklist *‘A compelling history … Fisher, an addiction physician and a recovering addict, illustrates the ‘terrifying breakdown of reason’ that accompanies the condition by drawing on patients’ anecdotes and on his own experience.’ * The New Yorker *‘Doggedly researched, layered with empathy, The Urge pulls back multiple curtains at once in examining an ailment that will likely never go away … The Urge contains a wealth of such research and insight, rendered with a gimlet eye and a physician’s care. Addicts who make it to the other side often feel they have survived to fulfill a higher purpose. The Urge qualifies as just such an accomplishment, an inspired dive into a condition that, in one way or another, touches us all.’ * The Boston Globe *‘Eye-opening, humane, and meticulously researched.’ -- Caitlin Allen * Reaction *‘Carl Erik Fisher takes the reader on a vivid tour over several thousand years of multiple cycles of science, medicine and literature, woven together by the thread of the author’s own alcohol and amphetamine addiction and treatment. It is made even more emphatic and moving because he is also a psychiatrist who treats such patients … [The Urge] is thorough and revealing … [and is] a mature view of the topic from someone with immense experience of it.’ -- David Nutt * The Guardian *‘This compassionate history urges us to leave behind moral panic and the temptation to stigmatise drug victims, and find more than one solution to a very human problem.’ -- Robyn Douglass * SA Weekend *‘Thought-provoking.’ -- John Meagher * Irish Independent *‘I devoured [The Urge] … Drawing on his experience with addiction, as well as his training in medicine and bioethics, Fisher has produced a meticulous history of addictions — exploring why, across time and place, we pursue our compulsions and obsessions unto grave consequences.’ -- Zachary Siegel * The Baffler *‘[A] marvellous gift of hope … Fisher’s work is a challenge and an invitation to discard narrow conceptions, abandon punitive strategies, and “free ourselves to look instead at the full variety of interventions available to help.” … We are fortunate that his book is here, now, within reach of policymakers, prosecutors, family members, people who are suffering from addiction, and those in recovery.’ * American Scholar *‘Fisher’s writing glows with compassion … The Urge is an ambitious book.’ -- Catherine DeMayo * The South Sydney Herald *‘Addiction is variously described as a brain disease, a personal demon, and an epidemic. This compelling history holds that it is simply “part of humanity.” Fisher, an addiction physician and a recovering addict, illustrates the “terrifying breakdown of reason” that accompanies the condition by drawing on patients’ anecdotes and on his own experience. He also highlights the ways in which stigmas — such as the “firewater” myth, which held that Native Americans were uniquely vulnerable to alcohol addiction — have provided “ideological cover” for policing certain groups.’ * The New Yorker *‘Dr Carl Erik Fisher’s impressive debut tackles the cultural history of addiction, offering a nuanced, personal perspective on a health crisis that remains stigmatised and misunderstood … The Urge is several excellent books in one: a complete and sweeping history of addiction, a compassionate doctor’s approach to treating people with addictions, and a blistering critique of outdated, draconian government policies around drug use and addiction.’ -- BookPage, starred review

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Book SynopsisA vibrant history of English landscape preservation over the last 150 years, told through the lives of four remarkable womenTrade Review“As Kelly demonstrates, the achievements of these four preservationists deserve to be remembered and indeed celebrated. . . . Kelly’s book is rich with insights into their motivations. . . . As well as exploring their lives and activism, Kelly guides the reader through the landscapes that they fought to preserve.”—PD Smith, The Guardian“Matthew Kelly celebrates four women whose work created the organisations and attitudes to conservation we take for granted today. . . . I am proud to have worked in their shadows and grateful to Prof Kelly for telling their stories.”—Fiona Reynolds, Country Life“An essential and delightful read. . . . With an engaging, accessible, page-turning style, Matthew Kelly reveals an innate awareness of his reader as he illuminates the achievements of these four extraordinary women.”—Katharine Norbury, BBC Countryfile“One thing that Covid lockdown made us appreciate was the importance of being outdoors. . . . How timely, then, that Matthew Kelly has written an account of four redoubtable rural activists. . . . According to Kelly’s thorough examination of these women’s efforts, the two least known appear to be the ones who fought their corner hardest.”—Camilla Swift, Spectator“[A] deeply researched examination of the battles fought to protect the landscape.”—Will Smith, Cumbria Life“An inspiring look at connections between people, place and period.”—BBC History Magazine“A welcome celebration of environmental heroes who deserve to be better known.”—BBC History Revealed“Kelly’s book dives deeply and effectively into the archives to describe this band of high-born troublemakers. . . . Many millions enjoy the fruit of their campaigning every year.”—Boyd Tonkin, Times Literary Supplement“[an] intriguing group biography ... Kelly’s prose draws vitality from his subjects’ conviction that in alienating ourselves from nature, we curb our own happiness.” —Hephzibah Anderson, The Observer“Kelly’s book is rich with insights… As well as exploring their lives and activism, Kelly guides the reader through the landscapes that they fought to preserve.”­—Oldie “At last, the full and proper place of these women in the narrative of English conservation is established. And how much we can learn from them! As Kelly describes in his meticulously researched book, revealing intricate detail and fresh insight with every page, each was driven by a mix of personal passion, moral fervour and a sharp and often piercing intellect. We owe them so much. And now, thanks to Matthew Kelly, their story is told.”—Dame Fiona Reynolds, former director general of the National Trust“The National Trust owes a debt particularly to Octavia Hill and Beatrix Potter, and the work we do today stands on the shoulders of all that they made possible. What unites all four women’s stories is the firm belief in the benefits of nature for people. That’s a mission with enduring relevance, and it drives me now just as it drove Octavia in the 19th century.”—Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust“A fascinating account of four courageous women who, often against the odds, helped to save the countryside and our access to it. This important book describes their motivations, influence, frustrations, and victories—and ensures that they are not forgotten.”—Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society

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Book SynopsisDiscover a vast treasure trove of botanical knowledge in The Botanist’s Library, a superbly illustrated collection of 300+ seminal books and illustrations from throughout history. From the earliest manuscripts penned by visionary naturalists, to the modern tomes that continue to shape our understanding of the plant kingdom, this book is a testament to the tireless dedication of the world's greatest botanists. Its compelling narrative and visual journey make it a must-have addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the beauty and complexity of the plant kingdom. This complete guide traces the development of botanical science through era-defining publications, covering: Historia Plantarum, the first history of botany, written between c. 350 BC and c. 287 BC, in which Theophrastus described plants by their uses, and attempted a biological classification, based on how plants reproduced, to the authors of the herbal

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Book SynopsisThis beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on a journey through natural history and shows the richness of animal life on our planet like you’ve never seen it before.

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Book SynopsisThe Times' Best History Books of 2017Winner of the Gilder Lehrman Prize for Military HistoryWinner of the 2017 Caroline Bancroft History PrizeShortlisted for the Military History Magazine Book of the Year AwardNominated for the 2017 PEN Hessell-Tiltman'Extraordinary... Cozzens has stripped the myth from these stories, but he is such a superb writer that what remains is exquisite' The TimesAt the end of the Civil War, the American nation continued its expansion onto tribal lands, setting off a struggle that would last nearly three decades. Peter Cozzens chronicles the conflict from both sides in comprehensive and singularly intimate detail, bringing together a pageant of fascinating characters, including Custer, Sherman and Grant, as well as great native leaders such as Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and Red Cloud. This is the tale of how the West was won... and lost.Trade ReviewExtraordinary... Few writers possess the descriptive talent that the immensity of the American west demands. * The Times *Peter Cozzens's sweeping, expert and appalling account of the murder of America's Indians * Spectator *A detailed recounting of random carnage, bodies burned, treaties broken and treachery let loose across the land. * New York Times *Truly epic and beautifully written * Tribune *Treachery on such an epic scale can bear many retellings, and this account stands out for its impressive detail and scope. * Washington Post *Cozzens does an exceptional job of examining the viewpoints of both sides, making heavy use of previously untapped primary sources... This is a timely and thorough book, presenting the story without hyperbole or histrionics. * New York Journal of Books *Peter Cozzens, one of our finest working historians, has taken on a massive chunk of Native American history and delivered it with power, style, and insight. He is above all a great storyteller. I have never read better, more concise, or more entertaining versions of the Little Bighorn story, Geronimo's wild run to glory, the Ute War, or Captain Jack's rebellion in the northwest. There is much wisdom here, and much good writing. -- S.C. Gwynne, author of EMPIRE OF THE SUMMER MOONMagnificent... This is a beautifully written work of understanding and compassion that will be a treasure for both general readers and specialists. -- Jay Freeman * Booklist (Starred review) *I've been waiting for an up-to-date, objective, and well-researched book on the Indian Wars, and Peter Cozzens' The Earth Is Weeping is all that and more - an elegantly written narrative of one of the great sagas in American history, and better than Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. -- James Donovan, author of A TERRIBLE GLORYPeter Cozzens reminds us that tragedy, not melodrama, best characterizes the struggles for the American West...The Earth Is Weeping is the most lucid and reliable history of the Indian Wars in recent memory. -- Victor Davis Hanson, author of CARNAGE AND CULTUREIn sobering detail, Peter Cozzens has chronicled this dark chapter in our history. -- James M. McPherson, author of BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOMFor 25 years the United States Army and the native peoples of the West struggled for their destiny, and the region's, an oft-told story more tragic with each retelling. Peter Cozzens' The Earth is Weeping provides all that, and adds a missing perspective on the lives of ordinary people on both sides. -- William C. Davis, author of THREE ROADS TO THE ALAMOCozzens is an erudite storyteller, meticulous in his approach to documenting the west. * BBC History Magazine *

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Book SynopsisThis entertaining Very Short Introduction reflects the enduring popularity of archaeology - a subject which appeals as a pastime, career, and academic discipline, encompasses the whole globe, and surveys 2.5 million years. From deserts to jungles, from deep caves to mountain tops, from pebble tools to satellite photographs, from excavation to abstract theory, archaeology interacts with nearly every other discipline in its attempts to reconstruct the past.In this new edition, Paul Bahn brings the text up to date, including information about new discoveries and interpretations in the field, and highlighting the impact of developments such as the potential use of DNA and stable isotopes in teeth, as well the effect technology and science are having on archaeological exploration. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Very lively indeed and remarkably perceptive - a quite brilliant and level-headed look at the curious world of archaeology. * Barry Cunliffe, University of Oxford *It is often said that well-written books are rare in archaeology, but this is a model of good writing for a general audience. [The] chapters rattle along, packed with information by never getting bogged down in too much details. The book is full of jokes, but its serious message-that archaeology can be a rich and fascinating subject-it gets across with more panache than any other book I know. * Simon Denison, editor of British Archaeology *Table of ContentsFURTHER READING; INDEX

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Book SynopsisFlora Thompson's classic evocation of a vanished world of agricultural customs and rural culture is reissued in a handsome hardback edition including the original wood-engravings by Julie Neild and a new introduction that looks at the background to the trilogy and its enduring popularity.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Text Further Reading A Chronology of Flora Thompson Lark Rise Over to Candleford Candleford Green

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Book SynopsisThe history America never wanted you to read. 'The narrative took my breath away' Philippe Sands 'An extraordinarily and shockingly powerful read' Peter Frankopan 'One of the must-reads of the year' Suzannah Lipscomb 'Brilliant and provocative' Gavin Esler Sarah Churchwell examines one of the most enduringly popular stories of all time, Gone with the Wind, to help explain the divisions ripping the United States apart today. Separating fact from fiction, she shows how histories of mythmaking have informed America's racial and gender politics, the controversies over Confederate statues, the resurgence of white nationalism, the Black Lives Matter movement, the enduring power of the American Dream, and the violence of Trumpism. Gone with the Wind was an instant bestseller when it was published in 1936; its film version became the most successful Hollywood film of all time. Today the story's racism is again a subject of controversy, but it was just as controversial in the 1930s, foreshadowing today's debates over race and American fascism. In The Wrath to Come, Sarah Churchwell charts an extraordinary journey through 160 years of American denialism. From the Lost Cause to the romances behind the Ku Klux Klan, from the invention of the 'ideal' slave plantation to the erasure of interwar fascism, Churchwell shows what happens when we do violence to history, as collective denial turns fictions into lies, and lies into a vicious reality.Trade ReviewEye-opening and at times jaw-dropping; a powerful reminder of the prejudices and suffering horrors of the recent past, and a call to arms to learn from the lessons of history. Highly recommended -- Peter FrankopanAn extraordinarily and shockingly powerful read... With meticulous research and fine structure, it offers a most disturbing arc that transports us from now back to what we thought was another era but which is, in reality, so deeply enmeshed with the intolerances and prejudices of today. At times the narrative took my breath away. I was riveted from start to finish -- Philippe SandsSarah Churchwell's brilliant and provocative guide to understanding the twenty-first century dis-United States of America explores America's myths about itself, through that great Hollywood myth about the South and racism, Gone With the Wind. If you want to know why Donald Trump connects with so many Americans today, as a link to the 'Lost Cause' of the Confederacy, Churchwell's account offers the answers -- Gavin EslerA brilliant and important book that exposes the truths hidden by one of the world's most famous stories and, in so doing, reveals how the (im)moral weight of this tale has not only shaped American culture over the last century but is shaping American politics and society today. One of the must-reads of the year -- Suzannah LipscombThe Wrath to Come is packed with fascinating, well-researched and often jaw-dropping history * Daily Telegraph *Churchwell's excoriating analysis is energising * Literary Review *Stylish and thoughtful, Churchwell's book is an exemplary exploration of how Gone with the Wind reflects, and continues to affect, American culture * Spectator *A painful reflection on how the ghosts of the civil war still haunt US culture * The Times *The case Churchwell builds against Gone with the Wind is a compelling one * Sunday Times *Rich in detail and rigorously argued, this is cultural history at its very best * Tortoise Media *A stylish blend of literary criticism, cultural history and political polemic * Sunday Business Post *She has a deep scholarly understanding of America's literature and history, and her writing is smart and crisp, creating a narrative that is as gripping as it is enlightening * Mail Plus *An exceptional book, smart and searing and scary * Baptist News *

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Book Synopsis'Timely and important' THE TIMES 'Considered and nuanced ... A must-read' The Rt Hon. Sajid Javid MP 'Compelling and moving' Tom Holland, author of Dominion __________________ Islam is the fastest-growing faith community in Britain. Domes and minarets are redefining the skylines of towns and cities as mosques become an increasingly prominent feature. Yet while Britain has prided itself on being a global home of cosmopolitanism and modern civilisation, its deep-rooted relationship with Islam – unique in history – is complex, threatened by rising hostility and hatred, intolerance and ignorance. There is much media debate about embracing diversity in our communities, but what does integration look like on the ground, in places like Dewsbury, Glasgow, Belfast and London? How are Muslims, young and old, reconciling progressive values – of gender equality, individualism, the rule of law and free speech – with literalist interpretations of their faith? And how is this tension, away from the public gaze, unfolding inside mosques today? Ed Husain takes his search for answers into the heart of Britain’s Muslim communities. Travelling the length and breadth of the country, Husain joins men and women in their prayers, conversations, meals, plans, pains, joys, triumphs and adversities. He tells their stories here in an open and honest account that brings the daily reality of British Muslim life sharply into focus – a struggle of identity and belonging, caught between tradition and modernity, East and West, revelation and reason.Trade ReviewTimely and important ... A compelling account -- Jawad Iqbal * The Times *Fascinating … Mr Husain makes a compelling case * Economist *Considered and nuanced, with the voices of Muslim communities across the country at its very heart. Among the Mosques is a must-read for anyone wanting to learn more about modern Britain's admirable Muslim communities -- The Rt Hon. Sajid Javid MPBracingly honest, often challenging, yet ultimately optimistic, Ed Husain goes on a road trip around Muslim Britain that is also a road trip into the country’s future. A compelling and moving read -- Tom Holland, author of DOMINIONEd Husain is a well-informed and sure-footed guide -- David Goodhart, author of HEAD HAND HEART

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Book SynopsisWhat did your face look like before your parents were born? Who are you? What is your true self? These are the questions in Ruth Ozeki's mind as she challenges herself to spend three hours gazing into her own reflection, recording every thought and detail.What follows are a lifetime's worth of meditations on race, ageing, family, death, the body, self-doubt and, finally, acceptance. In this profound encounter with memory and the mirror, Ozeki weaves together personal history, professional experience, Zen philosophy, Japanese culture and more to paint a rich, intimate and utterly unique portrait of a life as told through a face.Trade ReviewStrange in the best sense, plus funny, moving and deeply wise * * San Francisco Chronicle * *The Face, as with the best of literary nonfiction, incorporates elements of memoir and essay, conjecture and meditation, allowing the reader to accompany each author as [she] creates a text that is utterly unique and universally affecting . . . funny, sad and profound * * Los Angeles Review of Books * *Throughout Ozeki's essay her refreshing and cultivated wisdom leads us through the mind of a compassionate, grounded human and a writer of real integrity * * Electric Literature * *One of those perfect books you can read in an afternoon, but think about for days and days afterward * * Book Riot * *Praise for The Book of Form and Emptiness: Heart-breaking and heart-healing - a book to not only keep us absorbed but also to help us think and love and live and listen. No one writes quite like Ruth Ozeki and The Book of Form and Emptiness is a triumph -- MATT HAIGPraise for A Tale for the Time Being: This is one of the most deeply moving and thought-provoking novels I have read in a long time. In precise and luminous prose, Ozeki captures both the sweep and detail of our shared humanity, moving seamlessly between Nao's story and our own -- MADELINE MILLERA triumph . . . Ozeki explores what it means to be human in this moment, right now (Nao). Her novel is saturated with love, ideas and compassion. In short, an absolute treat * * Sunday Times * *A Tale for the Time Being is a timeless story. Ruth Ozeki beautifully renders not only the devastation of the collision between man and the natural world, but also the often miraculous results of it. She is a deeply intelligent and humane writer who offers her insights with a grace that beguiles. I truly love this novel -- ALICE SEBOLDIngenious and touching, A Tale for the Time Being is also highly readable. And interesting: the contrast of cultures is especially well done -- PHILIP PULLMANA beautifully interwoven novel about magic and loss and the incomprehensible threads that connect our lives. I just finished it, and loved it -- ELIZABETH GILBERT

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Book SynopsisWith over 1,000 colourful images, Robert Opie brings to life the 1920s and captures the mood of this radical decade in Great Britain. The Twenties were a time for change and invention. The arrival of the wireless provided a new form of entertainment and The Radio Times was launched in 1923. The popularity of the cinema continued and was changed forever with the coming of ''talkies'' and The Jazz Singer in 1926. While there were many notable events, from the Tutankhaman discoveries to the Empire exhibition at Wembley, unemployment and workers'' discontent pervaded everyday life, culminating in the General Strike of 1926. For children, however, fun and amusement could be found with new cartoon characters: the antics of Felix the Cat at the pictures, tales of Pooh Bear in A.A. Milne''s book Winnie-the-Pooh and, in newspapers, Bonzo the Dog (Daily Sketch), Rupert the Bear (Daily Express), Teddy Tail (Daily Mail) and Pip,

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Book SynopsisA wonderful novel and perfect book club choice, The Right Stuff is a wildly vivid and entertaining chronicle of America's early space programme.WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY US ASTRONAUT SCOTT KELLY‘What is it,’ asks Tom Wolfe, ‘that makes a man willing to sit on top of an enormous Roman Candle…and wait for someone to light the fuse?’ Arrogance? Stupidity? Courage? Or, simply, that quality we call 'the right stuff'?A monument to the men who battled to beat the Russians into space, The Right Stuff is a voyage into the mythology of the American space programme, and a dizzying dive into the sweat, fear, beauty and danger of being on the white-hot edge of history in the making.‘Tom Wolfe at his very best… Learned, cheeky, risky, touching, tough, compassionate, nostalgic, worshipful, jingoistic...The Right Stuff is superb’ New York Times Book ReviewTrade ReviewTom Wolfe’, article: ‘You only had to look at him… or read such books as The Bonfire of the Vanities and The Right Stuff to know that Tom Wolfe was like no other -- John Pye * The Scotsman *The hero you couldn’t hope to emulate’, article: ‘Journalism, it is said, is the first draft of history. Nobody exemplifies the dictum better than Wolfe, the cultural observer and social critic par excellence -- Mick Brown * Daily Telegraph *Effortlessly, elegantly, Tom Wolfe bestrode both fiction and non-fiction… a style at once objective, subjective, and hallucinatory -- Andy Martin * Independent *[Tom Wolfe’s] gleeful use of punctuation and italics, along with entertaining asides and neologisms that often quickly cemented themselves into the English lexicon, helped Wolfe stand out from other journalists * Guardian *[Wolfe] made literature fun and bores don’t like fun -- Freddy Gray * The Catholic Herald *

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Book SynopsisThis title presents a visual record of a turbulent decade, with over 1000 images in colour.

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Book Synopsis'Timely... wonderfully entertaining' - The Wall Street JournalIn It's All A Game renowned games expert Tristan Donovan opens the box on the incredible and often surprising history and psychology of board games. He traces the evolution of the game across cultures, time periods, and continents, from the paranoid Chicago toy genius behind classics like Operation and Mouse Trap, to the role of Monopoly in helping prisoners of war escape the Nazis, and even the scientific use of board games today to teach artificial intelligence how to reason and how to win. With these compelling stories and characters, Donovan ultimately reveals why board games have captured hearts and minds all over the world for generations.Trade Review[A] timely book... It's All a Game provides a wonderfully entertaining trip around the board, through 4,000 years of game history. * The Wall Street Journal *A brisk and hugely readable account of some of the world's great board games and the amazing people who played them. Packed with fascinating tales from ancient Egyptian senet to Google's AlphaGo. Highly recommended. -- Ian Stewart, author of SIGNIFICANT FIGURESTable of Contents0: Introduction 1: TOMB RAIDERS AND THE LOST GAMES OF THE ANCIENTS 2: CHESS: THE 'MAD QUEEN'S GAME' 3: BACKGAMMON: THE FAVOURED GAME OF INTERNATIONAL PACESETTERS AND ANCIENT EMPERORS 4: THE GAME OF LIFE: A JOURNEY TO THE UNIQUELY AMERICAN DAY OF RECKONING 5: THE FORGOTTEN MESSAGE OF MONOPOLY 6: FROM KRIEGSSPIEL TO RISK: BLOOD-SOAKED AND WORLDSHAPING PLAY 7: I SPY 8: CLUEDO'S BILLION-DOLLAR CRIME SPREE 9: SCRABBLE: WORDS WITHOUT MEANING 10: PLASTIC FANTASTIC: MOUSE TRAP, OPERATION AND THE WILLY WONKA OF TOYS 13: RISE OF THE MACHINES: GAMES THAT TRAIN SYNTHETIC BRAINS 14: TRIVIAL PURSUIT: ADULTS AT PLAY 15: PANDEMICS AND TERROR: DISSECTING GEOPOLITICS ON CARDBOARD 16: MADE IN GERMANY: CATAN AND THE CREATION OF MODERN BOARD GAMES

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Book SynopsisIn retelling the story of the radical Alexander Hamilton, Parenti rewrites the history of early America and the global economy. For much of the twentieth century, Hamilton-sometimes seen as the bad boy of the founding fathers or portrayed as the patron saint of bankers-was out of fashion. In contrast his rival Thomas Jefferson, the patrician democrat and slave owner who feared government overreach, was claimed by all. But more recently, Hamilton has become a subject of serious interest again.He was a contradictory mix: a tough soldier, austere workaholic, exacting bureaucrat, sexual libertine, glory-obsessed romantic with suicidal tendencies-and pioneer of industrialisation. As Parenti argues, we have yet to fully appreciate Hamilton as the primary architect of American capitalism and the developmental state. In exploring his life and work, Parenti rediscovers this gadfly as a pathbreaking political thinker and institution builder. In this vivid portrait, Hamilton emerges as a singularly important historical figure: a thinker and politico who laid the foundation for America's ascent to global supremacy and mass industrialisation-for better or worse.Trade ReviewIn praise of Lockdown America: "In the best tradition of investigative journalism, paced like a fine novel, it carries the authority of meticulous academic research." * Independent *In praise of Lockdown America: "Exhaustively documented ... deserves a full hearing from anyone serious about ending the often horrific realities of the criminal justice system." * Washington Post *In praise of Lockdown America: "Essential reading for those in law enforcement and politics who are attracted by the rhetoric of zero tolerance." * Times Literary Supplement *In praise of Lockdown America: "Terrifying, informative and gripping." * New York Press *

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