Social and cultural history Books

Book SynopsisAn original and profound portrait of contemporary Britain told through the testimonies of its inhabitants.''A spectacularly enjoyable and compelling reading experience . . . funny, moving, surprising and thought-provoking. It humanises literature in this toxic moment.''MAX PORTER, author of Lanny''Seemingly simple yet so deeply profound, The Passengers is an absorbing insight into the lives and minds of so-called ordinary people: their hopes and fears and idiosyncrasies at a specific moment in time.''CLIO BARNARD, director of Ali & Ava and The Essex Serpent''A nation's psyche comes to the surface. The Passengers is not just an oral history of the contemporary moment but, drenched in mood and texture, renders the country itself as a sonic collage.''SUKHDEV SANDHU, GUARDIANBetween October 2018 and March 2021, Will Ashon collected voices people talking

Read more less

Book SynopsisUproarious.' The TimesTerrifically entertaining.' Evening StandardIrresistible.' Daily MailGripping.' Sunday Telegraph''A scintillating gem: a cracking page-turner, historically illuminating, culturally fascinating, and a book which effortlessly passes comment on today.'' HeraldLondon, April 1870: Fanny and Stella were no ordinary Victorian women. They were young men who liked to dress as women: Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton. Stella was the most beautiful female impersonator of her day, Fanny her inseparable companion.But the Metropolitan Police were plotting their downfall. Fanny and Stella were arrested and subjected to a sensational trial where every lascivious detail of their lives was lapped up by the public.With a cast of peers and politicians, detectives and drag queens, Fanny and Stella is a dazzling and enthralling story of cross ex

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn the years1815-1832, Britain came close to revolution. Fewer than twenty years separate the Battle of Waterloo from the passing of the Great' Reform Act but during this period Britain's political elite was challenged as never before. In rising to that challenge, the political elite attempted, with considerable success, to ensure that Britain engineered that most perilous of transitions, from a less complex and more deferential society into a modern urban and industrial one, while avoding political revolution. In this extensively revised 2nd edition Evans engages with a welter of new material and fresh interpretations. The book sheds light both on the challenges to existing political and social authority and why those challenges were seen off. Evans examines:         The composition of Britain's political elite and how this elite coped with the problems thrown up by a society urbanising and modernising atTable of ContentsChronology. Who's Who. Glossary. Part One: Analysis. 1. Introduction. 2. Britain in crisis? 1815-20. 3. The achievement of stability? 1821-7. 4. Britain's influence abroad. 5. Stability shattered 1827-32. 6. Conclusion. Part Two: Documents. Further Reading. References. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA groundbreaking account of how the Roman Empire shaped the life and death of Jesus, overturning centuries of historical beliefs around the world?from the New York Times bestselling author of The First Clash.?Skillfully guides readers on a journey through the complexity and tumult of the Roman occupation of first-century Judea and its inevitable collision with the Jesus Movement.??Dr. T. J. Wray, professor of religious and theological studies and author of Good Girls, Bad Girls of the New Testament: Their Enduring LessonsIn late 31 AD, after the Roman senators murdered Lucius Sejanus, the Roman Emperor Tiberius''s closest confidant, the Empire was forever changed. If Sejanus had not been murdered, Jesus would never have been crucified.This profound connection between the lives of Sejanus and Jesus is the first of many revelations in this startling reexamination of the Roman world in which Jesus walked. With new evidence and meticulous research, Dr. James Lacey weaves a majestic and accurate description of who Jesus was.The Year God Died contradicts longstanding historical beliefs to reveal the most comprehensive and accurate view of the New Testament. Lacey explains how the events in Rome drove events in Judea?which is directly linked to Jesus'' crucifixion. He uncovers a vibrant and rich world, but one still coming to grips with the reality of Roman power. He introduces ten-year-old Boadicea, who is destined to lead Britain?s tribes in a great revolt against Rome. He depicts Varus marching his legions past a four-year-old Jesus on his war to Jerusalem. And he describes how Herod prospered by appeasing some of the most dangerous people in history?Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Cleopatra, and Augustus.In this sweeping chronicle, Lacey dissects reams of misinformation to reveal, for the first time, Jesus, as he was born and lived within the grand spectacle of the Roman world.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a history of the Huns in Europe from their first attacks on the Goths north of the Black Sea to the collapse of their central European empire after the death of the legendary Attila.Table of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Sources. 2. The History of the Huns Before Attila. 3. Hun Society Before Attila. 4. The Victories of Attila. 5. Peace on the Danube Frontier. 6. The Defeats of Attila. 7. Hun Society Under Attila. 8. Roman Foreign Policy and the Huns. 9. Conclusion. Appendixes:. A: The Songs of the Huns. B: The Causes of the War of 441. C: Valips. D: The Campaign of 441-3. E: Chronological Note on the Years 449-50. F: The Site of Attila's Headquarters. G: The Alleged Gothic Names of the Huns. Afterword by Peter Heather. Further Reading. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, accompany Sonal Ved on a journey of taste through the various timelines across the Indian subcontinent. We go from the banks of the Indus in 1900 bc to the great kingdoms of the north many centuries later; from the time of the Mauryansto when the Mughal Sultanate reigned supreme. Meet the Europeans merchants desperate to trade in Indian treasures, be it the deep-blue indigo or the pricey pepper.On this trip discover answers to such questions as What are the origins of chutney or of the fruit punch, and how are they connected to India? Who taught us how to make ladi pav and kebabs, and how did the Burmese khow suey land up on the wedding menus of Marwaris?

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""[A] riveting history. . . . The author navigates a complex story, bringing to life the passions and ideologies that shaped the early American lexicon." * New Yorker *"Wonderfully told. . . . For a tale of lexicographic intrigue, Mr. Martin’s book is unexcelled."---Bryan A. Garner, Wall Street Journal"Engaging and informative. . . . The Dictionary Wars . . . forays into copyright law, educational policy, religious revivalism, and other pressures on the verbal life of the nation."---Christopher Benfey, New York Review of Books"Martin is a steady and thorough guide to what he calls the ‘endless labyrinths of lexicography’, and in Dictionary Wars he succeeds in dramatising what could have been mere bibliography."---Max Norman, Literary Review"An informative and often pleasantly surprising cultural history." * Kirkus *"With an impressive breadth of research, The Dictionary Wars invites contemplation of the ways in which language itself can affect the soul of a nation."---Meagan Logsdon, Foreword Reviews"Reanimates a 19th-century ‘civil war over words’ that shaped how Americans speak and write. . . . Anyone who loves words for their own sake will be entertained." * Publishers Weekly *"What [The Dictionary Wars] does best is to demonstrate that while characters win or lose, the very viciousness of the fight ended up benefiting the whole language and all of us who use it. For those of us nerdy and wordy enough to love the language as well as use it, this is profound."---Nicholas Clairmont, Washington Examiner"Martin’s account of the dictionary feuds of the 19th century is as lively and entertaining as the battle itself."---Patricia T. O’Conner, New York Times"Peter Martin’s The Dictionary Wars: The American Fight Over the English Language shows Noah Webster as every bit the sort of ideologue who is convinced he has a historical mission and carries himself accordingly."---Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed"The Dictionary Wars is a fascinating unveiling of how American English became what it is today." * Desi News *"[The Dictionary Wars] celebrate[s] the development of literature and language that would give the United States of America its own cultural identity. [It] provide[s] a foundational context for the study of our literature and communication and help[s] us celebrate American culture."---Michel L. Ramsey, Roanoke Times"Martin’s book includes a substantial amount of archival research which will undoubtedly be a boon to scholars of the dictionary wars."---Kory Stamper, Times Literary Supplement"Martin gives a textured account of the personal, scholarly, and business conflicts that erupted with Webster’s first dictionary. . . . Folded into this tale are aspects of print capitalism, material culture, and business history."---Matthew Garrett, ALH Online Review"As well as providing an unparalleled account of the making of American English and the ineffable Anglo-American connection, Martin’s study is an invaluable contribution to the field. It is a prolific reference work of commendable scholarship drawing on laborious documentation, consistent, informative, and copious in exemplification, one that reads like a passionate saga and an academic resource at one and the same time."---Adriana Neagu, American, British and Canadian Studies

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisBeginning with the birth of the tattoo, John Miller explores this unique expression of personal, cultural and national identity, the tension between tattoo's status as a fashion item and its roots in subculture, and the relevance of magic -- a crucial part of tattooing's origins -- in contemporary society.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe seventeenth-century London Wenceslaus Hollar knew is now largely destroyed or buried. Yet its populous river, its timbered streets, fashionable ladies, old St Paul''s, the devestation of the Fire, the palace of Whitehall and the meadows of Islington live on for us in his etchings.Drawing on numerous sources, Gillian Tindall creates a montage of Hollar''s life and times and of the illustrious lives that touched his. It is a carefully researched factual account, but she has also employed her novelist''s skill to form an intricate whole - a life''s texture which is also an absorbing and occasionally tragic story.Trade ReviewHer intention is that fact and fiction should complement each other. They do perfectly -- Frances Spalding * Sunday Times *With clarity of purpose and clarity of style, she has written a book that is both elegant and thoughtful -- Michael Prodger * Sunday Telegraph *Gillian Tindall is a tapestry maker. She finds patterns in history - woven from close research into people and places - that no one else would have the persistence and insight to pursue * Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisInvestigates a broad selection of hoards that have come to light in recent times across the British Isles. The author looks at the variety of objects found and at the practice of hoarding itself. She also considers who the hoarders were and what might have compelled them - economic upheaval, war, or more complex social and ritual customs.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHandsomely illustrated' Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide The book is a resounding success a valuable guide to laypeople, students and scholars on the late Qing for years to come.' SEHEPUNKTE The exhibition catalogue's seven essaysare a guide to [a] re-reading of the past, threading the relics on display into a rich tapestry of what life entailed under the last century of Manchu reign.' Rhoda Kwan, The Mekong Review Cultural creativity in China between 1796 and 1912 demonstrated extraordinary resilience at a time of intense external and internal warfare and socioeconomic turmoil. Innovation can be seen in material culture (including print, painting, calligraphy, textiles, fashion, jewellery, ceramics, lacquer, glass, arms and armour, silver, and photography) during a century in which China's art, literature, crafts and technology faced unprecedented exposure to global influences. 1796 the official end of the reign of the Qianlong emperor is viewed as the close of the high QingTable of ContentsForewordsChronologyIntroduction: China’s long 19th century – Julia LovellChapter 1: The court – Mei Mei RadoChapter 2: The military – Stephen R. PlattChapter 3: Elite art – Chia-ling YangChapter 4: Vernacular culture – Jessica Harrison-HallChapter 5: Global Qing – Anne GerritsenChapter 6: Reform to revolution – Jeffrey WasserstromBibliographyList of lendersAcknowledgements and image creditsIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisJayne Carroll is Director of the Institute for Name-Studies and Associate Professor in the History of English at the University of Nottingham. Her main academic interests include place-names and language and literature in Old English and Old Norse. Stephen H. Harrison is an Honorary Research Associate in medieval history at Trinity College Dublin, having previously worked in museums, universities and commercial archaeology. He specializes in the social context of Scandinavian burials in the early Viking Age and has wider interests in Viking Age Britain and Ireland, particularly early settlement activity. Gareth Williams is Curator of early medieval coins at the British Museum. He has worked extensively on warfare, coinage, wealth and exchange, and towns in the Viking Age. Gareth was also lead curator of the British Museum exhibition Vikings: life and legend.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book tells the fascinating story of one of archaeology's icons, from its creation in the second century BC, to its discovery in 1799 during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign, to the subsequent race to decipher its hieroglyphic text.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMade from Bronze with eyes inlaid with glass pupils set in metal rings, the 'Meroe Head' is a magnificent portrait of Julius Caesar's great nephew and adopted heir Augustus (63 BC-AD 14).

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe never-before-told story of the club whose audacious ideas and unruly acts transformed an international feminist agenda into a modern way of life.Trade Review‘Joanna Scutts’ fascinating secret US club of early twentieth-century feminists… An enthralling story of rebellion but also of the power of female friendship… Rigorous social history is enlivened by brio and belief throughout’ Hephzibah Anderson, Observer‘Sets out to recover these forgotten activists, women who were engaged in some of the most important campaigns of the twentieth century... A series of illuminating vignettes that remind us how far feminism has come over the past century, but also how much remains familiar and yet to be achieved’ Kathryn Hughes, Sunday Times'[A] lively and absorbing new social history… it was only after I read Hotbed that I realized the type of feminist friendship from which I am more directly descended was that of the Heterodites' New York Review of Books'Incredibly resonant in today’s times, and a profound read' Fiona Davis, New York Times-bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue'Deeply researched and deftly rendered... a spirited, inspiring history' Lauren Elkin, author of Flâneuse'A transporting tour-de-force of storytelling' Janice P. Nimura, author of The Doctors Blackwell'Spirit and panache... one for anyone interested in the history of feminism, friendship, or New York City' Ruth Franklin, award-winning author of Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life'A wonderful tribute to the "restless audacious [and] creative spirit" that pushes a culture beyond convention and complacency and toward something new... fascinating' Maggie Doherty, award-winning author of The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s‘This enlightening book covers the first ten or so years of the club’s existence. It is also the story of the early feminist movement in the US, and highlights the underacknowledged part that these activist women played in psychology, education, theatre, journalism, anti-lynching legislation and the early-twentieth-century American labour movement’ Ann Kennedy Smith, Times Literary Supplement‘A deeply researched and kinetic historical telling of Heterodoxy’s fruitful, if also fraught, period, from its inception until the early 1920s. In vibrant prose that summons the idealism and daring of the very existence of Heterodoxy as a center for sisterhood and women-led political thought, Scutts brings to life the stories of women who formed friendships among their ranks, the majority of whom were upper-middle-class authors, journalists, sociologists and artists’ Washington Post'Joanna Scutts hones in on one particularly fascinating corner of this world: the Heterodoxy Club, a coterie of women that included Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Alice Kimball, Alison Turnbull Hopkins, and Susan Glaspell, among other influential figures. Hotbed brings you to the heart of the social world that sustained and supported them, and it is filled with fascinating details for anyone remotely interested in this history’ LitHub

Read more less

Book SynopsisA triumph of family story-telling' Hugo Hamilton, author of The Pages.A tale of three journeys, the final one a successful pursuit of shadows' Myles DunganGrowing up in Waterford, Tom McGrath never noticed the odd gaps in the stories of his parents' lives before he was born; it was only many years after they died that he uncovered the unspoken truths, which did so much to explain the people they had been.Here he tells the incredible true story of his father's conscription into the British Army, his escape from a prisoner-of-war camp in Poland, his daring journey across Europe and subsequent recapture and the devastating news that awaited him in England. Tom's research also led him to discover that his mother also carried a heartbreaking secret.In writing this book Tom not only recreated his father's nail-biting escape but also embarked on a journey of his own to reconnect with previously unknown family members. Unspoken pieces together an extraordinarily rare tale that encompasses memoir, family history, and two parallel stories that were almost lost for ever.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDust is a witty and highly original investigation into the development of modern history writing. This book considers how history writing belongs to the currents of thought shaping the modern world, and suggests that, like dust, the 'matter of history' can never go away or be erased.Table of ContentsAcknowledgementsPreface1. In the Archon's house2. 'Something she called a fever'3. The magistrates4. The space of memory: In an archive5. Middlemarch: Without benefit of archive6. What a rag rug means7. On how the end is different from an ending8. The story of Dust

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive survey of women in the Weimar Republic, exploring the diversity and multiplicity of women's experiences in the economy, politics and society. -- .Trade Review'This book was long overdue... a very successful and readable synthesis -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1. Women in the First World War2. Women and politics3. Women and work4. Women, the family and sexuality5. Women in the public realmConclusionBibliographyIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisTakes stock of the ‘new British queer history’. Topics range from newspaper reporting of sodomy cases, to homoerotic representations in art, to queer autobiographical accounts, to oral histories of Scottish lesbians, and much else besides.Trade Review'The historians are coming and they’re bringing the New Queer History. The essays collected in British queer history present original perspectives and fascinating new data on the social, sexual and gendered past. Recommended!'Jonathan Ned Katz, author of The Invention of Heterosexuality and founder of OutHistory.org -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: British queer history – Brian Lewis1. Politics and the reporting of sex between men in the 1820s – Charles Upchurch2. Naturalism, labour and homoerotic desire: Henry Scott Tuke – Jongwoo Jeremy Kim3. Bricks and Flowers: Unconventionality and queerness in Katherine Everett’s life writing – Mo Moulton4. ‘A peculiarly obscure subject’: The missing ‘case’ of the heterosexual – Laura Doan 5. ‘These young men who come down from Oxford and write gossip’: Society gossip, homosexuality and the logic of revelation in the interwar popular press – Ryan Linkof6. Thinking queer: The social and the sexual in interwar Britain – Matt Houlbrook 7. ‘I conformed; I got married. It seemed like a good idea at the time’: Domesticity in post-war lesbian oral history – Amy Tooth Murphy8. Mr Grey goes to Washington: The homophile internationalism of Britain’s Homosexual Law Reform Society – David Minto9. The homosexual as a social being in Britain, 1945–68 – Chris Waters10. Films and filming: the making of a queer marketplace in pre-decriminalisation Britain – Justin Bengry11. The cultural politics of gay pornography in 1970s Britain – Paul R. DeslandesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe story of life after the Great War: a turning point in historyTrade ReviewJuliet Nicolson examines a much overlooked period of history. She painstakingly recounts how those who had stayed at home came to terms with a brutally changed world in the aftermath of the first world war and how the returning soldiers struggled to cope with the horrors they faced * Elizabeth Day, Observer *Praise for The Perfect Summer:'As page-turning as a novel ' * Joanna Trollope, Guardian *'There is an unpretentious directness about Nicolson's approach to her subjects that gives the book a freshness and vitality. Happily, she also has an eye for the amusing or the ironic' * Scotsman *A fascinating read * Mail on Sunday *Thoroughly entertaining . . . full of memorable detail * Spectator *'The strength of the book lies in the sensitivity and skill with which the private lives and relationships of the protagonists are recounted. Nicolson writes fluently and paces her narrative expertly' * BBC History Magazine *'Nicolson writes well and thoughtfully' * Sunday Telegraph *'Nicolson has opened the door onto a time of misery, introspection and change' * Lancashire Evening Post *Praise for The Perfect Summer:'As page-turning as a novel ' * Joanna Trollope, Guardian *'There is an unpretentious directness about Nicolson's approach to her subjects that gives the book a freshness and vitality. Happily, she also has an eye for the amusing or the ironic' * Scotsman *A fascinating read * Mail on Sunday *Thoroughly entertaining . . . full of memorable detail * Spectator *'The strength of the book lies in the sensitivity and skill with which the private lives and relationships of the protagonists are recounted. Nicolson writes fluently and paces her narrative expertly' * BBC History Magazine *'Nicolson writes well and thoughtfully' * Sunday Telegraph *'Nicolson has opened the door onto a time of misery, introspection and change' * Lancashire Evening Post *'This detailed account of that period is both fascinating and lucidly written' * The Daily Telegraph *'Juliet Nicolson examines a much overlooked period of history. She painstakingly recounts how those who had stayed at home came to terms with a brutally changed world in the aftermath of the First World War and how the returning soldiers struggled to cope with the horrors they faced' * Observer, Great Poolside page-turners *'A fascinating read' * Observer *'I devoured it . . . It's a wonderfuly written book about the aftermath of the First World War with something I didn't know on every page' * Barry Humphries, Sun Tel Christmas books *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA celebration of Black History for babies and toddlers!We Are Black History Board Book from Mudpuppy is a wonderful introduction to the black leaders and trailblazers who have shaped our world! From the inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the incredible calculations of Katherine Johnson, celebrate the achievements of Black pioneers featuring colorful illustrations by Tequitia Andrews. Celebratory Message ? This book celebrates prominent Black individuals from the past and the present and includes information about each person featured in the book Bright and Bold Artwork ? Bright and colorful illustrations on 22 pages will make this a happy and rewarding experience for toddlers to experience and understand inclusion. Perfect Size - Small 7? x 7? board book is just the size for little hands. Great Gift Idea ? This board book makes a wonderful gift for birthdays and special occasions all year through.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe classic history of black people in Britain, an epic story that spans the Roman conquest to the present day.Trade Review'Encyclopedic, courageous and passionately written there is no more important and no more ground breaking a book on Black British history than Staying Power. Everyone who has researched or written on the subject since its publication in 1984 owes something to Fryer' -- David Olusoga, author of 'Black and British: A Forgotten History''Wonderful' -- Lenny Henry'Rare in its mastery' -- CLR James'A fascinating account of the growth of the black community in Britain over the past centuries' -- Guardian'For this retrieval of the lost histories of black Britain Mr Fryer has my deep gratitude. An invaluable book, which manages the rare feat of combining scholarship with readability' -- Salman RushdieTable of ContentsForeword by Gary Younge Introduction by Paul Gilroy Preface 1. 'Those Kinde of People' 2. 'Necessary Implements' 3. Britain's Slave Ports 4. The Black Community Takes Shape 5. Eighteenth-Century Voices 6. Slavery and the Law 7. The Rise of English Racism 8. Up from Slavery 9. Challenges to Empire 10. Under Attack 11. The Settlers 12. The New Generation Appendices Notes Suggestions for Further Reading Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisA popular history of the emergence of football in early twentieth century RussiaTrade Review'Football is an excellent way in to understanding any country, and if there's one country we need to understand better now, it's Russia. An extremely timely book.' -- Simon Kuper, co-author of 'Soccernomics''A fascinating, thorough and at times revealing investigation into the origins of football in the USSR.' -- Jonathan Wilson, author of 'Inverting the Pyramid''A fascinating, brilliantly researched insight into the patchwork origins of the ruthless powerhouse that Soviet football would become.' -- Robert O'Connor, author of 'Blood and Circuses'Table of ContentsIntroduction Part One. Infancy Part Two. Adolescence Part Three. Youth Epilogue Bibliography Acronyms

Read more less

Book SynopsisA moving memoir chronicling the friendship of two gay men coming of age in 1950s BritainTrade Review'Part eulogy, part memoir, this is a wonderfully clear-eyed piece of writing. And for anyone who has ever dreamt of leaving a small-town childhood behind them, this is going to really wring your heart. It certainly did mine' -- Neil Bartlett, author of 'The Disappearance Boy'

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book Peter Burke adopts a socio-cultural approach to examine the changes in the organization of knowledge in Europe from the invention of printing to the publication of the French Encyclopedie.Trade Review'In Peter Burke's scholarly hands the notion of a social history of knowledge sheds its philosophical provocation and becomes judicious, prudent and historically rich. A beautifully written and accessible exercise in historical synthesis.' Steven Shapin, author of "A Social History of Truth: Civility and Science in Seventeenth-Century England" (1994) and Professor of Sociology, University of California, San Diego 'Peter Burke is an exceptional historian: a polyglot, at home in a dozen languages; an intellectual, who is well versed in theoretical developments adjacent to history; a superb expositor, with the capacity to distil his findings in unpretentious and limpidly accessible prose; and an author of unflagging vitality, whose prolific studies in the cultural history of early modern Europe and in modern historiography constitute a formidable oeuvre ... He has succeeded in producing a balanced, judicious and highly stimulating work of synthesis. His book will be an indispensable starting point for years to come.' Keith Thomas, History Today 'Burke has made a significant contribution to cultural history ... [He] shows how knowledge was a form of exchange and how it became what we would recognize it as today. Burke's achievement in A Social History of Knowledge is to remind us that people in the past did not view knowledge in the same way as we do today.' HistoryTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. Preface and Acknowledgements. 1. Sociologies and Histories of Knowledge: an Introduction. 2. Professing Knowledge: the European Clerisy. 3. Establishing Knowledge: Institutions Old and New. 4. Locating Knowledge: Centres and Peripheries. Classifying Knowledge: Curricula, Libraries and Encyclopaedias. 6. Controlling Knowledge: Churches and States. 7. Selling Knowledge: the Market and the Press. 8. Acquiring Knowledge: The Reader's Share. 9. Trusting and Distrusting Knowledge; a Coda. Select Bibliography. Index.

Read more less

Book Synopsis* This is a new addition to Polity s highly successful What is History series.Trade Review"This is a wide-ranging survey which reveals urban history in a European as well as a British context. It is deeply informed, with ideas, approaches and anxieties explained, and shows how urban history opens the way to many histories, illustrated by an innovative section on transnational histories."Robert Morris, Edinburgh University"Strongly recommended. Truly international in scope, this much-needed introduction to the field offers a balanced survey of the issues that have engaged urban historians over the past century. It will be welcomed by historians and non-historians alike."Richard Harris, McMaster UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction: Why Urban History?Chapter 1: The Development of Urban HistoryChapter 2: Cities, Spaces, and IdentitiesChapter 3: Governing CitiesChapter 4: Cities and the EnvironmentChapter 5: Urban Culture and ModernityChapter 6: Transnational Urban HistorySuggestions for Further ReadingNotesIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisHandel called Britain ''The Ringing Isle'' because he heard bells ringing everywhere he went. Behind the quintessentially English sound of bells ringing lies a unique way of hanging bells and a special way of ringing them that evolved in the late sixteenth century. Ringing has since developed and spread, with some 6,000 towers worldwide with bells hung in the English style, and most of them in England. Over 40,000 active ringers keep alive the traditions and skills of change ringing that have been handed down over many generations.The book is an introduction to the world of bells and bell-ringing. It explains how bells are made and how a ringing installation works. It explains the nature of change ringing, which has mathematical as well as musical aspects. It provides insights into the ringing community its origins and culture as well as its relationships with the Church and the community.Table of ContentsBells and Bell-hanging / Change Ringing / Evolution of English-style Ringing / Ringing and the Church / Modern Ringing / Ringing Terminology / Further Reading / Useful Websites / Places to Visit / Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFollowing the 900th anniversary of the Crusader capture of Jerusalem, it is now time to reflect on how the phenomenon of the Crusades influenced the Muslim world, then and now: militarily, culturally and psychologically.Carole Hillenbrand discusses a group of themes that highlight how Muslims reacted to the alien presence of the Crusaders in the heart of traditional Muslim territory. She examines ideological concerns and the importance of the jihad in the context of the gradual recovery of the Holy Land and the expulsion of the Crusaders.Trade ReviewThis is ground-breaking work, and its value lies not only in the detailed reportage, but also in the way Carole Hillenbrand gives western historians a guide to source material, either unknown to them or available only in partial translation, and introduces her readers to the mindset of medieval Muslims, providing an entirely different angle from which to look at the crusading movement. By putting modern ideas into context the book will enable readers in both the western and Islamic worlds to understand better events which to some extent are shaping the present. -- Jonathan Riley-Smith The Crusades from a Western viewpoint have produced a very rich and abundant bibliography for more than a century. On the other hand, very few studies on the Muslim response to the Crusade have appeared. For the first time the subject is tackled here globally and an attempt is made to explain, through a deep analysis of the Arabic sources, the motives and aims of the Muslims ! This work - which shows very clearly the impact which the Crusades have had in Islamic territory up until our own time - is a remarkable contribution to the history of relations between east and west. -- Anne-Marie Edde Hillenbrand's admirable book, the first comprehensive attempt to pull together the relevant Muslim texts on these wars, lets the sources speak for themselves, and provides intriguing insights into the deeply rooted problems which face us today ! she has done a masterful job, providing us with a whole new way to examine the traditional western material on the Crusades. A magisterial and path-breaking study in its own right ! a veritable treasure trove of material heretofore unavailable to the non-Arabist ! The Crusades is a masterly and welcome contribution to the historiography of the Crusades. Hillenbrand has set an enviable standard of scholarship from which teachers and students of the Crusades, the medieval Middle East, and medieval Europe will long benefit. It is a major contribution !The book is profusely illustrated and the illustrations are on the whole well chosen. This is ground-breaking work, and its value lies not only in the detailed reportage, but also in the way Carole Hillenbrand gives western historians a guide to source material, either unknown to them or available only in partial translation, and introduces her readers to the mindset of medieval Muslims, providing an entirely different angle from which to look at the crusading movement. By putting modern ideas into context the book will enable readers in both the western and Islamic worlds to understand better events which to some extent are shaping the present. The Crusades from a Western viewpoint have produced a very rich and abundant bibliography for more than a century. On the other hand, very few studies on the Muslim response to the Crusade have appeared. For the first time the subject is tackled here globally and an attempt is made to explain, through a deep analysis of the Arabic sources, the motives and aims of the Muslims ! This work - which shows very clearly the impact which the Crusades have had in Islamic territory up until our own time - is a remarkable contribution to the history of relations between east and west. Hillenbrand's admirable book, the first comprehensive attempt to pull together the relevant Muslim texts on these wars, lets the sources speak for themselves, and provides intriguing insights into the deeply rooted problems which face us today ! she has done a masterful job, providing us with a whole new way to examine the traditional western material on the Crusades. A magisterial and path-breaking study in its own right ! a veritable treasure trove of material heretofore unavailable to the non-Arabist ! The Crusades is a masterly and welcome contribution to the historiography of the Crusades. Hillenbrand has set an enviable standard of scholarship from which teachers and students of the Crusades, the medieval Middle East, and medieval Europe will long benefit. It is a major contribution !The book is profusely illustrated and the illustrations are on the whole well chosen.Table of ContentsThe first crusade - the Muslim reaction; Jihad - the evolution of propaganda, 1100-1174; Jihad - military success, 1174-1291; Muslims and crusaders - the ideological divide; Muslims and crusaders - social and cultural relations; warfare - technology, strategy, theory and practice; epilogue - the heritage of the crusades.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStep away from sunny Jersey’s present day and into the sinister shadows of the past … the island’s history is filled with dark deeds and restless spirits.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA compendium of milestone stories and watershed events in popular culture, politics and news at home and abroad from 1968, including: Assassination of Martin Luther King; Bobby Kennedy shot and killed; The Beatles found Apple Records; Manchester United win the European Cup

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a beautiful study of the rich history of our food, its fads and its fashions to be combined with a practical cookbook of over xxx recipes from the reigns of George III and Queen Victoria

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a beautiful study of the rich history of our food, its fads and its fashions, combined with a practical cookbook of over xxx recipes from the Second World War onwards

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new book on the Thirty Years War, published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the conflict

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehenisve illustrated guide to the workhouses in Wales and the border counties of Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and GloucestershireTrade Review"I certainly will be keeping the book to hand and recommend it to those who already have already have an interest in the Poor Law and workhouses in England and Wales, or would like to further their research." * Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow to start researching your family history in Birmingham plus the history of our ancestors' lives in the cityTrade Review"If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to researching your Brummie ancestors, while learning a lot about the history of the area, then here it is!""If I had to research an ancestor from the area, I would definitely chose A Brummie in the Family.""It's very easy to read, well thought out and seems to cover most, if not all, a researcher would need to know."

Read more less

Book SynopsisLondon Cemeteries is a comprehensive guide to all cemeteries within Greater London. Listed alphabetically and with a map to help locate them, each entry includes the address, the date of foundation, the owner, the size, a note on its history, development and current state, and the names, dates and major achievements of any noteworthy people buried there. There are also chapters on the origins of London's cemeteries and cemetery history, planning, architecture and epitaphs.Illustrated throughout with both modern photographs and a wide range of rarely seen archive images, it is an essential source of information for anyone interested in London's social and architectural history. Alongside a refreshed design, this sixth edition has been extensively revised with updated biographies, additional details about buildings and visitor facilities, fresh research on flora and fauna and entries for 28 further cemeteries in the Greater London area.Trade ReviewInvaluable ... excellent * The Sunday Times *Excellently done, erudite and methodical * John Summerson *A valuable guide. * The Sunday Telegraph *Very readable. * The Journal of the London Society *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe charismatic campaigner who fought Victorian exploitation of vulnerable women, and the State organisation of prostitutionTrade ReviewHelen Mathers deftly brings together the public political drama and private emotional relations of Butler’s complex, sometimes tragic life. -- Sue Morgan

Read more less

Book SynopsisA treasure trove of gardening information in 50 often little known objects that have transformed the way we think about and work our gardens today.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first book to chart the extraordinary story of St James's in London, the home to the city's iconic clubland and a host of famous institutionsTrade ReviewStephen Hoare's genial history of this Clubland-at-home reveals to use just how the connection between the club and St James's arose and how it changed over time. It is a fascinating story and it is told with with and verve. -- Jerry White

Read more less

Book SynopsisA vital examination of Northern Ireland fifty years since the start of the Troubles, focusing on the events of 1969Trade ReviewKen's books adorn the shelves not only of those who witnessed these events unfold at first hand but also those of us who grew up in the shadow of the worst years of the Troubles. Having researched and written about the Troubles for over twenty years, I have found no better introduction to the military dimension of the conflict than Ken's work. -- Dr Aaron EdwardsKen Wharton has written a compelling history of the Troubles, the first to encompass the full 50 years. Full of authentic detail, this is exciting history at its best - and it's told with objectively and passion. His knowledge of the Troubles is second to none. -- Damien LewisKen Wharton deserves a knighthood for his brilliant work illuminating a dark passage of Britain's past. Torn Apart is everything history should be: truthful, wise and humane. -- Patrick Bishop

Read more less

Book SynopsisNew expanded edition of popular photographic bookTrade Review"His extraordinary pictures show the reality of post-war Britain, with some featuring in drama series Call the Midwife."Author interviewed on Robert Elms show

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn important record of ancient fishing traditions along Britain’s coastal fringes, now rapidly dying out

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exciting set of tales from the Buddhist tradition to inspire, move, challenge and amuse

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis first book to tell the full story of cricket in Sri Lanka is sure to be a contender for sports book awardsTrade ReviewNicholas Brookes has filled a gap in cricket literature. This wonderful book, based on compendious research, tells the great story of Sri Lankan cricket, how it began in schools and colleges and emerged to become one of the great forces in world cricket. It is more than a cricket book: it is also indispensable for understanding Sri Lanka itself. This book should be in the library of every serious cricket lover. It has been written with real passion and understanding. A great debut from a serious sports historian. -- Peter OborneThis is a great tale, and what’s more, it’s beautifully told. -- Simon Barnes

Read more less