Social and cultural history Books
Amberley Publishing Dream Cities
Book SynopsisThe ideas that became the blueprints for the world we live in.Trade Review‘An ambitious study of the forms and ideas of the contemporary city.’ -- New York Times‘An excellent and novel exploration of key ideas behind city spaces … Mr Graham is as masterly as a novelist … He contends that the seven ideas that he considers are ones that “shape the world” … with a continuing influence on the way our cities look and function today. Urban life may occasionally appear to be chaotic, but it in fact possesses an order that a thoughtful man like Mr Graham can see.’ -- Wall Street Journal
£17.00
Amberley Publishing Chloe Co.
Book SynopsisThe best of one of Britain's longest-running and most popular cartoon strips.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Triang Collectables
Book SynopsisDave Angell explores the collectible nature of the iconic Tri-ang ( Hornby Hobbies Ltd) brand.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Allotments
Allotments are a much-loved part of every British city, town and many villages. At the height of their popularity around the Second World War, allotments were increasingly neglected towards the end of the twentieth century, but are now in the throes of a full-scale revival. Many allotments now have long waiting lists, and allotment keeping has become a fashionable hobby. This book explores the fascinating story of the allotment, from its roots in the Diggers of the seventeenth century to the influence of ‘food miles’ and GM. It includes insights into quirky rules and regulations, murder and looting, and even art and opera on the allotment. Drawing on archival and contemporary material, this richly illustrated book considers both the history and the future of the not-so-humble allotment. This book is part of the Britain’s Heritage series, which provides definitive introductions to the riches of Britain’s past, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with allotments in all their variety.
£8.54
Amberley Publishing The Brass Eagle Lecterns of England
Book SynopsisThe story of the wonderful brass eagle lecterns of England
£13.49
Amberley Publishing Railway Stations
Book SynopsisRailway stations are among Britainâs most special buildings. The start and end point of the daily commute and the magical holiday, they vary hugely in style and size. This book is the perfect introduction to the subject.
£8.54
Amberley Publishing Dresses and Dressmaking
Book SynopsisPam Inder explores the evolution of the woman's fashion over the long nineteenth century - from the late Georgians to the Edwardians.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Brutalism
Book SynopsisNo style has divided opinion more than brutalism. But now, fifty years since the heyday of the style, Brutalist buildings are more popular than they have ever been. This is the perfect introduction to Britainâs Brutalist monuments.
£9.49
Amberley Publishing Ruskin Pottery
Book SynopsisThis is the first book devoted to Ruskin Pottery, one of the most important potteries of the Arts and Crafts movement.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Abandoned Villages
Book SynopsisA lonely ruined church, mysterious bumps in a field, stone walls visible on the shoreline of a reservoir in high summer. All these are signs of settlements abandoned over the years, and this book is the perfect guide to these intriguing sites.
£8.54
Amberley Publishing Teddy Bears
Book SynopsisA lavishly illustrated look at the history behind one of the most iconic toys of all time - the Teddy Bear.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Family Cars of the 1960s
Book SynopsisThe cars of Austin, Ford, Standard, Hillman and Morris dominated the driveways of family homes in the 1960s, and provided many families with their first experience of four-wheeled motoring. This book tells the story of those beloved cars.
£9.49
Amberley Publishing Illustrated Tales of Norfolk
Book SynopsisExplore a highly illustrated collection of strange tales and local legends from the county of Norfolk.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Town Halls
Book SynopsisThis book traces Town Halls historical development from their early beginnings to the present day, at a time when many are being repurposed as they became redundant, while others have opened themselves up for more secular use.
£9.49
Amberley Publishing Heroines of the Medieval World
Book SynopsisNew paperback edition - The stories of women, famous, infamous and unknown, who shaped the course of medieval history.Trade Review‘As Connolly ably demonstrates, knowing about these fascinating women is essential to fully understanding medieval Europe’ -- Publishers Weekly
£10.44
Amberley Publishing Oscars Ghost
Book SynopsisThe dramatic story of the legal and emotional battle that raged between two of Oscar Wilde's closest friends â both former lovers â following the playwright's deathTrade Review‘A fascinating account’ -- COLM TÓIBÍN
£10.44
Amberley Publishing The Slate Industry
Book SynopsisFor thousands of years slate has been quarried in Britain, but in Victorian times it became big business, and the legacy of the industry now shapes the landscape of North Wales, especially.
£8.54
Amberley Publishing Tithe Barns
Book SynopsisA fascinating look at an interesting and important part of Britain's heritage and its landscape with Tithe Barns.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Everyday Life in Victorian London
Book SynopsisA portrait of London and its people - from the richest to the poorest - when it was the world's greatest and most quickly expanding city.Trade Review'The writing style is straightforward and clear, making it very accessible.' -- Rachel Knowles, regencyhistory.net
£19.54
Amberley Publishing A Flight of Figureheads
Book SynopsisThe fascinating and illustrated story behind the warship figureheads on display at The Box, Plymouth.
£14.39
Amberley Publishing Illustrated Tales of Northumberland
Book SynopsisDiscover some surprising, intriguing and curious stories, myths and legends from the county of Northumberland.Trade Review'A joy to read, mainly because it’s one of those books you can open at literally any page and a nugget of fascinating information is guaranteed to emerge... A really fascinating read.' -- Phenomena Magazine'It’s about time Northumberland – the site of the bloodiest battle in English history (Flodden Field, 1513) where 14,000 people died – had un updated local history and Rob Kirkup, a local historian and ghost-hunter, does it admirably and concisely.' -- Fortean Times, February 2024
£14.39
Bristol University Press Analysing the History of British Social Welfare
Book SynopsisThis book offers insights into the development of social welfare policies in Britain. By identifying continuities in welfare policy, practice and thought throughout history, it offers the potential for the development of new thinking, policy making and practice.
£26.59
Chronicle Books Legendary Ladies 50 Goddesses to Empower and
Book SynopsisGoddesses - Mythology - InspirationReaders who have enjoyed Warrior Goddess Training or Women Who Run with the Wolves will love Ann Shen''s Legendary LadiesGoddesses from mythology: Goddess mythology from our past are celebrated in this lushly illustrated goddess book by Ann Shen, the author and artist who created Bad Girls Throughout History. Ann is an illustrator, letterer, and author based in Los Angeles who has created artwork for a number of publications, campaigns, products, and galleries.Explore the feminine divine and feel empowered: Legendary goddesses and powerful deities are celebrated in gorgeous artwork and enlightening essays to empower women. Lushly illustrated goddesses that you will love include: Aphrodite, the Greek goddess whose love overcame mortality Mazu, the Chinese deity who safely guides travelers home Lakshmi, the Hindu provider of fortune and prosperity UniqueTrade Review"'Whether you see them as an inspiration, or purely stories, godessess have long been part of mythology. Legendary Ladies: 50 Goddesses to Empower and Inspire You celebrates these icons; like Gaia, pictured, the mother goddess who created all life, according to Greek mythology." -- Psychologies
£14.24
Union Square & Co. The Wine List
Book SynopsisA one-of-a-kind exploration of the relationship between culture, politics, history, and wine. Vintage refers to the year grapes are harvested, and that vintage holds meaning. You can look up the weather in any almanac, but some stories are known only to insidersuntil now. In this wine book Grant Reynolds, award-winning sommelier, deciphers these signatures to reveal the impact of marketing and mentorship, technology and trends, and influencers old and new. Beginning in the late eighteenth century with a tale about Thomas Jefferson's secret White House stash and spanning over a quarter of a millennium to social media's effect on chenin blanc's popularity, The Wine List explores both the chemistry and sociology that have made vintages taste a certain way, fetch a certain price, or go extinct altogether. Featuring sidebars on topics like the taste of climate change, mini timelines capturing significant historical moments, and collage-style illustration, these entries solidify the idea Trade Review “There’s always magic behind something that tastes great—whether it’s a simple dish or a bottle of wine. Learning about the passion and craft in the world’s greatest wines through the lens of one of the best sommeliers makes this both an informative and exciting read. Reynolds draws out the art from this technical science, offering a fresh and clever perspective.” —Daniel Humm, chef and owner of Eleven Madison Park "This is a fascinating, story-filled volume that provides wine aficionados with an insider view, but it’s also a great read for anyone wanting more information about the world of wine."—Library Journal, STARRED Review “Sommelier Grant Reynolds explores this complicated intersection of culture, politics, technology, and wine in his sweeping new book. Its pages zoom out, zoom in, and calibrate to give readers a 360 view of why we reach for the significant bottles we drink.”—VinePair “The author’s approach here is unique, and that’s saying a lot when it comes to wine. So many different approaches have been taken, but the focus here is vintages. With a readable style, he dives into what makes them special and drops trivial tidbits about the respective years along the way.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer “It is filled with wine info and insider stories, and it’s an enjoyable read.”—Cape Gazette “Never before has there been a more thoughtful and thoroughly researched almanac of winemaking. Spanning time, space, geography, and world history, with a deep appreciation for the artistry of this ancient (and ever-evolving!) craft, The Wine List is a modern grape lover’s greatest companion. And Grant Reynolds is the ultimate time-traveling, super-tasting guide.”—Gail Simmons, food expert, TV host, and author of Bringing It Home: Favorite Recipes from a Life of Adventurous Eating “A noteworthy addition"—Forbes
£18.00
Little, Brown & Company Bunny Mellon
Book SynopsisWhen Bunny Mellon died at age 103 on March 17th, she was the last embodiment of a Gilded Age lifestyle. Born into money (her grandfather invented Listerine), she married into even more money (the Mellon banking and oil fortune) and went on to build, decorate and preside over six luxurious homes in Washington, New York, Paris, Antigua, Cape Cod and Nantucket. She treated her pricy possessions as a casual backdrop to her daily life, including an unframed Van Gogh, Green Wheat Fields, Auvers, she propped upon her living room fireplace mantel. Bunny Mellon operated in the intersecting arenas of politics, art and fashion, mingling with Presidents, Queens, Duchesses, Hollywood actors, couturiers, artists and Russian ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. She was on intimate terms with the giants of her era: when she wanted to deal with lingering childhood insecurities and a difficult marriage, she went into analysis in the 1940''s with Carl Jung. Bunny reveled in putting amusing
£15.19
Dundurn Group Ltd Dibayndiziwin To Own Ourselves
Book SynopsisA collaboration exploring the importance of the Ojibway-Anishinabe worldview, use of ceremony, and language in living a good life, attaining true reconciliation, and resisting the notions of indigenization and colonialization inherent in Western institutions.Indigenization within the academy and the idea of truth and reconciliation within Canada have been seen as the remedy to correct the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadian society. While honourable, these actions are difficult to achieve given the Western nature of institutions in Canada and the collective memory of its citizens, and the burden of proof has always been the responsibility of Anishinabeg.Authors Makwa Ogimaa (Jerry Fontaine) and Ka-pi-ta-aht (Don McCaskill) tell their di-bah-ji-mo-wi-nan (Stories of personal experience) to provide insight into the cultural, political, social, and academic events of the past fifty years of Ojibway-Anishinabe resistance in Canada. They suggest tTrade ReviewThese messages must be for ourselves first and foremost in that a much-neglected area in our struggle is the reclaiming of our minds — our own imaginations. Di-bayn-di-zi-win will be useful for our people here in New Zealand and many of the Indigenous jurisdictions I have worked with across the world. * Graham Hingangaroa Smith, Distinguished Professor, Massey University - NZ *There are multiple ways to inhabit our deepest principles. There are also many ways to honor land and our elders by embodying the teachings of both. Here is life found in kindness, loving, and truth. How do we access healing and how do we share this healing with others? Reading this book is one way. Tears of gratitude are for you both, Jerry Fontaine and Don McCaskill. Mahalo nui no ko ?ike nahenahe. Thank you for this mutual emergence shaped as much by friendship as it is by ?ike kupuna - elder knowledge. What is within these pages are ceremonial gifts offered to all who will take the time to connect with what is inevitable about our collective evolution. * Manulani Aluli Meyer, University of Hawaii *The work that will take us towards the equitable and respectful mutual co-existence that our ancestors envisioned with each treaty signed to share land and resources includes this book and others to come. * Phil Fontaine, former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations *This book can be a source of inspiration to take a new path, in and out of academia, for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. * Gustavo Esteva, Universidad de la Tierra en Oaxaca *Table of ContentsContentsMaa-ji-taa (We Begin)Niinitam (My Turn) Don McCaskill1 Ka-pi-ta-aht di-bah-ji-mo (Don McCaskill Tells His Story) 2 Niizhwasso ishkode (Seventh Fire): Political Resistance and Ojibway-Anishinabe Cultural Renewal Cultural Renewal of the Seventh Fire: Anishinabe Ways of Doing and Knowing and Nah-nahn-gah-dah-wayn-ji-gay-win (How we came to think this way about our reality) The Continuance of Resistance and Revival Residential School System Environmental Protests Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Has Resurgence Made a Difference? 3 Indigenous Studies: Finding Understanding Through a Transformative Way of Knowing The Academic Program Applied Community Program Political Advocacy and Outside Pressures The Cultural Component Trent Department Expansion Bezhig onaagan gaye bezhig emikwan, biin-di-go-daa-di-win, and naa-wi aki: A Culturally Based Approach to Reconciliation and Indigenizing the Academy Challenges Moving Forward Niinitam (My Turn) Jerry Fontaine4 Makwa Ogimaa di-bah-ji-mo (Jerry Fontaine Shares His Story) Ni di-bah-jim (I’ll share my story) Kay-go-wah-ni-kayn andi-wayn-ji-ahn (Don’t ever forget where you come from) O-di-ni-gay-win zhigo Nay-nahn-do-jee-kayn-chi-gayd (Digging Around and Doing Research) Nah-nahn-gah-dah-wayn-ji-gay-win (How we came to think this way about our reality) I-nah-di-zi-win (Our way of being and way of life) Ojibway-anishinabe i-zhi-chi-gay-win zhigo kayn-dah-so-win gemaa a-zhi-kay-ni-mo-nahd-a-di-sid bay-mah-di-sid (Ojibway-Anishinabe ways of doing and knowing or how we used our way of thinking and ceremonies to find answers) 5 Gah-wi- zhi maw-ji-say-muh-guhk (The way it happened) 6 Ni-noon-dah-wah-min in-way-wahd gi-gay-tay anishinabeg on-ji-ning-gi-kayn-dah-so-min wayn-ji-da ji-ga-gway-dwaywi-nan (We hear the voices of our ancestors because we know how to ask the most basic questions) Di-bah-ji-mo-win o-nah-ko-nah (To ceremonially call upon the story) Di-bah-ji-mo maa-gi-zhaa gaye mah-zhi-nay-bi’i-gay (The story is shared and then maybe written) Ah-way-chi-gay-win (To teach by telling a story) G’gi-zhi-too-min (We’re finished)Timeline of EventsMaah-ni-ka-no-tah-gay-win (Interpretation and Glossary) Meegwetchiwenimaad (Acknowledgements) NotesIndexAbout the Authors
£16.14
Simon & Schuster Ltd Hells Half Acre
Book SynopsisA suspense filled tale of murder on the American frontier—shedding new light on a family of serial killers in Kansas, whose horrifying crimes gripped the attention of a nation still reeling from war. 'A carefully researched and horribly compelling examination of unimaginable evil intruding upon everyday life' The Observer In 1873 the people of Labette County, Kansas made a grisly discovery. Buried by a trailside cabin beneath an orchard of young apple trees were the remains of countless bodies. Below the cabin itself was a cellar stained with blood. The Benders, the family of four who once resided on the property were nowhere to be found. The discovery sent the local community and national newspapers into a frenzy that continued for decades, sparking an epic manhunt for the Benders. The idea that a family of seemingly respectable homesteaders—one among the thousands relocating farther west i
£999.99
Little, Brown Book Group Biracial Britain
Book Synopsis''Barack Obama had a special talent for making different kinds of people feel comfortable around him because of his biracial life experience, says Adekoya. By the same token, Adekoya himself seems poised to become one of the most important and subtle new voices in Britain''s never-ending conversation about race'' David Goodhart, UnherdMixed-race is the fastest-growing minority group in Britain. By the end of the century roughly one in three of the population will be mixed-race, with this figure rising to 75 per cent by 2150. Mixed-race is, quite literally, the future.Paradoxically, however, this unprecedented interracial mixing is happening in a world that is becoming more and more racially polarized. Race continues to be discussed in a binary fashion: black or white, we and they, us and them. Mixed-race is not treated as a unique identity, but rather as an offshoot of other more familiar identities - remnants of the twentieth century ''one-drop'' rule Trade ReviewWealth of thought-provoking experiences . . . firmly putting biracial Britain on the map * Sunday Times *Absorbing . . . refreshingly open-minded . . . [Adekoya is] an exceptionally good listener with an ear for nuance and complexity. If there are tales of emotional suffering, the book strikes a positive note too . . . this book is helping to broaden the conversation -- Saturday Review * The Times *. . . turning assumptions upside down. Largely composed of a mixed-race person sharing, in uninterrupted text, their experiences of growing up in Britain . . . followed by a shorter commentary by Adekoya - offering a more conceptual angle to these personal experiences . . . The effect of this structure is revelatory: many of the assumptions about what it means to be mixed-race are shown to bear only a superficial resemblance to reality * Evening Standard *An important treatise . . . there is wisdom to be garnered from the accounts contained within Biracial Britain * Buzz magazine *A bracing polemic * i news *The publishing world had already begun to reflect a growing appetite for writing on race and racism, and in 2021 the theme is developed and deepened * New Statesman *A valuable new addition to discussions on race * Black Business Guide *A ground-breaking book . . . Interspersed with Adekoya's engaging reflections of his own upbringing, crucially, Adekoya seeks to argue that being mixed race is a unique identity in and of itself * Cosmopolitan *Barack Obama had a special talent for making different kinds of people feel comfortable around him because of his biracial life experience, says Adekoya. By the same token, Adekoya himself seems poised to become one of the most important and subtle new voices in Britain's never-ending conversation about race -- David Goodhart * Unherd *
£10.44
Little, Brown Book Group Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know
Book SynopsisThe alarming history of the British, and European, aristocracy - from Argyll to Wellington and from Byron to Tolstoy, stories of madness, murder, misery, greed and profligacy.From Regency playhouses, to which young noblemen would go simply in order to insult someone to provoke a duel that might further their reputation, to the fashionable gambling clubs or ''hells'' which were springing up around St James''s in the mid-eighteenth century, the often bizarre doings of aristocrats. An eighteenth-century English gentleman was required to have what was known as ''bottom'', a shipping metaphor that referred to stability. Taking part in a duel was a bold statement that you had bottom. William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne certainly had bottom, if not a complete set of gonads following his duel with Colonel Fullarton, MP for Plympton. Both men missed with their first shots, but the colonel fired again and shot off Shelborne''s right testicle. Despite being hit, Shelborne del
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group How Sugar Corrupted the World
Book SynopsisAn ''entertaining, informative and utterly depressing global history of an important commodity . . . By alerting readers to the ways that modernity''s very origins are entangled with a seemingly benign and delicious substance, How Sugar Corrupted the World raises fundamental questions about our world.''Sven Beckert, the Laird Bell professor of American history at Harvard University and the author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History, in the New York Times''A brilliant and thought-provoking history of sugar and its ironies''Bee Wilson, Wall Street Journal''Shocking and revelatory . . . no other product has so changed the world, and no other book reveals the scale of its impact.'' David Olusoga''This study could not be more timely.'' Laura Sandy, Lecturer in the History of Slavery, University of LiverpoolThe story of sugar, and of mankind''s desire for sweetness in food and drink is a compelling, though confusing stoTrade ReviewA brilliant and thought-provoking history of sugar and its ironies -- Bee Wilson * Wall Street Journal *As an historian of slavery, Walvin is well-versed in the triangular trade and explains the role of sugar cane in bringing Africans to the Caribbean. His survey of sugar in our lives is very readable. -- Katrina Gulliver * Spectator *A convincing, deep history of this (in)famous product . . . This is not simply the tale of those who toiled to produce sugar . . . Something more than just a scholarly text, this study could not be more timely -- Laura Sandy, Lecturer in the History of Slavery at the University of Liverpool * History Today *This study could not be more timely. -- Laura Sandy, Lecturer in the History of Slavery, University of LiverpoolA refreshingly historical look at a substance we often take for granted * History Revealed *Former history professor James Walvin's latest book aims to untangle the social, political, and economic history of sugar, a commodity that began as the preserve of the elite, but which now saturates cultures the world over' * NZME *An 'entertaining, informative and utterly depressing global history of an important commodity . . . By alerting readers to the ways that modernity's very origins are entangled with a seemingly benign and delicious substance, How Sugar Corrupted the World raises fundamental questions about our world.' -- Sven Beckert, the Laird Bell professor of American history at Harvard University and the author of Empire of Cotton: A Global History * New York Times *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Coming Home
Book SynopsisSpring, 1947. In a few months'' time the British flag will be lowered all over India, and with Independence thousands of those who made their lives there - as planters, civil servants, or in the Indian army - will be returning to England. Among those coming home, as everyone speaks of it, are Will and Flo Sutherland, who fell in love at the end of the war. India has been the defining experience of their lives: how will they make a new life now? Sue Gee''s new novel is filled with pathos and humour, beautifully evoking an all-but vanished world.Trade Review'[An] elegantly written, sympathetic, quietly sensational tale' * Daily Mail *'Powerful and convincing... A compelling story with subtle characterisation and engaging humanity' * Daily Express *'Gentle, evocative and totally involving' * Woman & Home *A compelling read, Coming Home will awaken all your senses * Independent *
£10.44
Headline Publishing Group Women of Steel
Book SynopsisTrue stories of love and loss during WWII, from the tough Northern women who kept the foundry fires burning.When war broke out, the young women of Sheffield had their carefree lives turned upside down. With their sweethearts being sent away to fight, they had no choice but to step into the men''s shoes and become the backbone of the city''s steel industry. Through hard toil and companionship, they vowed to keep the foundry fires burning and ensured that soldiers had the weapons, planes and ships needed to secure victory over Hitler.When the men returned from the front in 1945, many of these women tragically found themselves discarded ''like yesterday''s fish and chip wrappers''. But decades later, a grassroots campaign spearheaded by the elderly Women of Steel finally brought their remarkable story to light.Women of Steel is the last chance to hear these unsung heroines'' voices, as they share first-hand how a group of plucky young women rallTrade ReviewA brilliant book of true stories of love and loss during WWII from the tough northern women who kept the foundry fires burning. * Bella Magazine *Stories of the unsung WWII heroines who took up jobs in the factories that kept the country running and built the weapons that beat Hitler are told... author Michelle Rawlins interviewed some of the last surviving women - many now in their 90s or 100s - who dropped everything to support the war effort. * Daily Mail *This blend of memoir and history, that comes complete with gorgeous wartime romance stories, celebrates a heroic generation. * Best Magazine *A worthy tribute to incredible grit * Sunday Mirror *A profoundly moving blend of fascinating social history and personal memoirs. * The People *Inspiring. * Take A Break *Celebrates the amazing stories of Sheffield's Women of Steel and their incredible working lives during two world wars. * Sheffield Star *
£12.34
Headline Publishing Group The Cuckoo The UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY Series Book
Book SynopsisLeo Carew''s much-lauded UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY trilogy draws to its spellbinding conclusion...Albion continues to be divided by revolt and bloodshed, as alliances collapse and are made anew.Driven obsessively for glory, the upstart Bellamus and his exiled queen Aramilla are marshalling resistance and building a powerful army.Returning to the Hindrunn, Keturah is forced to fend for herself, battling enemies on all sides just when she is most in need of a place of safety.And all the while, the young Black Lord must deal not only with the aftermath of a great betrayal, but the cold shadow of the Kryptea, threatening to destroy everything he has fought for...WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BREATHTAKING WORK OF LEO CAREW:''The next George RR Martin'' - Mail on Sunday''Imagine Game of Thrones rewritten by John le Carré ... A marvellously accomplished debut'' - Guardian''Full of dark con
£11.69
Headline Publishing Group The Spitfire Kids
Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''An inspirational read celebrating the incredible young people who gave so much for this iconic British aircraft''. John Nichol, bestselling author of Spitfire: A Very British Love StoryDespite the many films and television programmes over the decades since the end of the Second World War that portrays our allied heroes as grown-up men and women, the Battle of Britain was in the main actually fought and won by teenagers. The average age of an RAF fighter pilot was just twenty years old. Many of the men and women who designed and built their planes were even younger.Based on the hit BBC World Service podcast Spitfire: The People''s Story, we use contemporary diaries and memoirs, many of them previously unpublished, to tell the story of the Spitfire through the voices of the teenagers who risked everything to design, build and fly her.This isn''t a story of Trade ReviewDraws on unpublished diaries and archive recordings to chronicle the extraordinary national effort to construct the fighter aircraft that gave the Allies a critical edge over the Luftwaffe. * The Times *A truly epic account of the actual and symbolic role the plane played in defending Britain in the Second World War. * Sunday Times *Tells the inspiring story of how ordinary citizens came together to build the famous Battle of Britain aircraft. * The Observer *The story of how these fast and lethal little planes helped win the Second World War is stirringly told in this new BBC series. * The Mail on Sunday *The story of the Second World War's most famous plane is peppered with women - many of their stories untold in the decades since the conflict. * The Telegraph *An inspirational read celebrating the incredible young people who gave so much for this iconic British aircraft. * John Nichol, bestselling author of Spitfire: A Very British Love Story *Read Spitfire Kids and you'll start believing this plane has a pulse! * Tessa Dunlop, broadcaster and bestselling author of Century Girls *It is a story of heroism that goes beyond the spiffy moustaches and aerial acrobatics we have all seen in old movies, tapping into the verve and tenacity shown by a young workforce. * The Herald *
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC ReCyclists
Book SynopsisSomewhere in a German forest 200 years ago, during the darkest, wettest summer for centuries, the story of cycling began. The calls to ban it were more or less immediate.Re:Cyclists is the tale of the following two centuries. It tells how cycling became a kinky vaudeville act for Parisians, how it was the basis of an American business empire to rival Henry Ford''s, and how it found a unique home in the British Isles. The Victorian love of cycling started with penny-farthing riders, who explored lonely roads that had been left abandoned by the coming of the railways. Then high-society took to it--in the 1980s the glittering parties of the London Season featured bicycles dancing in the ballroom, and every member of the House of Lords rode a bike. Twentieth-century cycling was very different, and even more popular. It became the sport and the pastime of millions of ordinary people who wanted to escape the city smog, or to experience the excitement of a Trade ReviewAs witty, accurate and eloquently written a history of the bicycle as you are ever likely to read -- Chris BoardmanAn essential look at how cycling has taken over the world -- Sir Chris HoyAs if Bill Bryson had taken to two wheels * FT *A thorough and fascinating read, as you would expect from Dr Hutch. It charts the strange evolution of what we now unthinkingly accept: cycling is cool. How it came to be is another story altogether. -- Ned BoultingAn excellent history of the two-wheeled machine … Hutchinson plots his way through the physical, social and sporting history of cycling with immense pleasure, pace and humour. * Daily Express *Michael Hutchinson will already be known to many for his entertaining and humorous writing, and this book carries on in the same vein * road.cc *Michael Hutchinson has written a funny book about what could be – and often is – dry-as-sticks: the history of the bicycle. * bikebiz.com *Re:Cyclists is an enjoyable romp through Britain's cycling history ... If you want to know how the British got from the hobby-horse to hipsters on fixies, this is as good a place as any to start finding the answers. * Podiumcafe *Whether you’re a city boy banker racing into the Square Mile or a hipster wheeling around Shoreditch, this is for you. * Gentleman’s Journal *An historical and fascinating account of the last 200 years of the progression of cycling … A well-written and intelligent read. * Outdoor Fitness *Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Man Walks into a Bar 1 1817: The Big Bang 2 The 1860s: Parisian Perversions and the World's First Bicycle Race 3 The Dignity of the Victorian Clubmen 4 1870 – 1900: American Cycling and the Genius of Colonel Albert Pope 5 1874: The Honourable Ion Keith-Falconer 6 Safety Bicycles and Extreme Danger: Mile-a-Minute Murphy and the Lion's Den 7 The 1890s: The Great Society Cycling Craze 8 Twentieth-Century Racing and the Loneliness of the Time Triallists 9 1900 – 1920: Cycling and Moting 10 1920 – 1958: The Tourists 11 1942 – 1959: The British League of Racing Cyclists 12 1957: 'Most of Our People Have Never Had it so Good' 13 1960 – 1990: An Ugley Situation 14 1992 – 2016: The Life of Lottery 15 Towards a Cycling Tomorrow Endnotes Acknowledgements Index
£11.69
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC About Britain
Book SynopsisIn 1951, the Festival of Britain commissioned a series of short guides they dubbed ''handbooks for the explorer''. Their aim was to encourage readers to venture out beyond the capital and on to ''the roads and the by-roads'' to see Britain as a ''living country''. Yet these thirteen guides did more than celebrate the rural splendour of this ''island nation'': they also made much of Britain''s industrial power and mid-century ambition her thirst for new technologies, pride in manufacturing and passion for exciting new ways to travel by road, air and sea.Armed with these About Britain guides, historian Tim Cole takes to the roads to find out what has changed and what has remained the same over the 70 years since they were first published. From Oban to Torquay, Caernarvon to Cambridge, he explores the visible changes to our landscape, and the more subtle social and cultural shifts that lie beneath. In a starkly different era where travel has been transformed by Trade ReviewAbout Britain is a warm and timely meditation on our changing relationship with the landscape, industry and transport, providing a glimpse of modern Britain as seen from the driver's seat. * Countryside *[A] fascinating book. * People's Friend *Table of ContentsAbout Britain 1 West Country: Barnstaple–Exeter–Torquay (76 miles) 2 Wessex: Southampton–Whitchurch–Salisbury (104 miles) 3 Home Counties: Canterbury–Margate–Canterbury (104 miles) 4 East Anglia: Cambridge–Littleport–King’s Lynn (124 miles) 5 Chilterns to Black Country: Stafford–Coventry–Oxford (104 miles) 6 South Wales and the Marches: Hereford–Merthyr Tydfil–Caerleon–Hereford (147 miles) 7 North Wales and the Marches: Caernarvon–Capel Curig–Caernarvon (88 miles) 8 East Midlands and the Peak: Stamford–Ashby-de-la-Zouch–Stamford (108 miles) 9 Lancashire and Yorkshire: Southport–Glusburn–York (108 miles) 10 The Lakes to Tyneside: Newcastle on Tyne–Otterburn–Durham (108 miles) 11 Lowlands of Scotland: Edinburgh–Perth–Glasgow(146 miles) 12 Highlands and Islands of Scotland: Perth–Crianlarich–Oban (128 miles) Back About Britain Notes Acknowledgements
£10.44
Hodder & Stoughton The Women Who Shaped Politics
Book SynopsisSophy Ridge, presenter for Sky News, has uncovered the extraordinary stories of the women who have shaped British politics. Never has the role of women in the political world ever been more on the news agenda, and Sophy has interviewed current and former politicians including among others, Nicola Sturgeon, Ruth Davidson, Betty Boothroyd gain exclusive insight into the role women play in politics at the highest level. The book also includes Theresa May''s first at-length interview about her journey to becoming Prime Minister. These interviews have revealed the shocking truth about the sexism that is rife among the House of Commons both in the past and today, with sometimes shocking, and sometimes amusing anecdotes revealing how women in Westminster have worked to counter the gender bias. Sophy provides gripping insight into historical and contemporary stories which will fascinate not just those interested in politics but those who want to know more about womenTrade ReviewRidge is Sky News's rising star and is doing what she can to show that, in this era of new politics, she represents a new political journalism; one that has a two-way relationship with its audience. * i *It is straightforward, easy to digest and a good read. If I were education secretary I would make it a set book for A level politics. If I were Serjeant at Arms I would bulk-buy copies and stack them in the members' library with a notice saying 'Compulsory coursework for ALL members'. And if I chaired a major political party I would send copies to everyone on the candidates list. Chaps included. -- Julia Langdon * British Journalism Review *
£10.44
John Murray Press Pie and Mash down the Roman Road
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE HWA NON-FICTION CROWN 2018 AND THE ANDRÉ SIMON FOOD BOOK AWARDS 2019''Filled with hearty goodness and packed together with care, this will go down a treat'' Evening Standard''Rich and compelling'' Spectator''An accomplished social history ... lively and absorbing'' Who Do You Think You Are?The fascinating history of an iconic East End institution from the bestselling author of Silvertown, Melanie McGrath. G Kelly''s Pie and Mash has been run by the same family in the Roman Road in Bow for nearly a hundred years; an East End institution and the still point of a turning world. Outside its windows the Roman Road has seen an extraordinary revolution - from women''s liberation and industrialisation to wars and immigration - and yet at its heart it remains one of the last traditional market roads of London.Pie and Mash down the Trade ReviewExtraordinary and very moving; yet more proof, if proof were needed, that there is no such thing as an ordinary person. * Julian Fellowes *Brilliant, funny, fascinating. Beautifully written, carefully researched, wonderfully told. * Danny Wallace *Filled with hearty goodness and packed together with care, this book will go down a treat. * Evening Standard *Her empathetic ability to inhabit vanished streets and catch authentic voices - at a point when you wonder how much longer they will be around - is rich and compelling * Spectator *A still point in a turning world . . . a shop front onto the past * Mail on Sunday *An emotional encounter with Bow's very tumultuous history * Roman Road LDN *Beautifully written and impeccably researched, Pie and Mash down the Roman Road draws you right into the heart of the vibrant East End community * Rosie Hendry, author of the East End Angels series *An accomplished social history ... lively and absorbing * Who Do You Think You Are? magazine *Pacy and breath-taking; Melanie tells it like it is and was. The Roman Road market life is a force to be reckoned with, and I loved every word. * Carol Rivers, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Wartime Christmas *Fascinating insight, a love letter to London. It's very well written, thoroughly researched and a perfect insight into a slice of history, as tasty as the best pie and mash. * Glenda Young, author of Belle of the Back Streets *Anybody nostalgic about their London roots will love this impressively researched, absorbing gem of a book * Kay Brellend, author of the Campbell Road series *
£9.99
Hodder & Stoughton Not Forgotten
Book SynopsisThe hidden and often moving story of Britain's coming of age in the First World War.Trade Review'An important and poignant Christmas success.' * Bookseller *'Oliver has written a deeply moving book about a war that is rapidly receding in our national consciousness . . . This book tells not merely of captains and kings, but of the ordinary men who battled, and the women who cared for them, more than 90 years ago. They deserve to be remembered.' * Daily Express *
£10.99
John Murray Press Maiden Voyages
Book SynopsisHow the Golden Age of transatlantic travel between the wars transformed women's lives across all classes - a vivid portrait of life on-board the iconic ocean liners.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR QUEEN BEES: 'So entertaining' * The Times *The book, like their parties, is "enormous fun" * Guardian *Crammed with fascinating anecdotes * Independent *A whirl of a book, gossipy, light and fun * Times Literary Supplement *PRAISE FOR MAIDEN VOYAGES:In this riveting slice of social history, Siân Evans does a brilliant job of describing the unexpected textures of life at sea...By deep diving into the archives, Siân Evans has discovered a watery in-between world where the usual rules didn't quite apply and a spirited woman could get further than she ever would on dry land * Mail on Sunday *With coronavirus dramatically reducing the appeal of hopping aboard an aeroplane, it's the perfect time to delve into this atmospheric look at transatlantic travel a century ago. * History Revealed *Sian Evans captures the glamour of life on the upper decks (think dance bands, evening gowns and illicit romances with millionaires), alongside the desperation and discomfort of those who gambled everything on a one-way ticket in steerage. * BBC History Magazine *Wonderfully readable... invigoratingly feminist... the book's a treat. * Times Literary Supplement *Like the best salty yarns, Maiden Voyages splices together intriguing personalities in extraordinary settings sailing through dramatic times, a tale well worth the fare. * Air Mail *
£21.25
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Wives of George IV
Book SynopsisIn The Wives of George IV: The Secret Bride & the Scorned Princess, Maria and Caroline navigate the choppy waters of marriage to a capricious, womanising king-in-waiting.
£17.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Life in Stalins Soviet Union
Book SynopsisLife in Stalin''s Soviet Union is a collaborative work in which some of the leading scholars in the field shed light on various aspects of daily life for Soviet citizens. Split into three parts which focus on Food, Health and Leisure', the Lived Experience' and Religion and Ideology', the book is comprised of chapters covering a range of important subjects, including:* Food* Health and Housing* Sex and Gender* Education* Religion (Christianity, Islam and Judaism)* Sport and Leisure* FestivalsThere is detailed analysis of urban and rural life, as well as explorations of life in the gulag, life as a peasant, life in the military and what it was like to be disabled in Stalin's Russia. The book also engages with the wider Soviet Union wherever possible to ensure the most in-depth discussion of life, in all its minutiae, under Stalin.This is a vitally important book for any student of Stalin's Russia keen to know more about the human history of this complex period of dictatorship.Trade ReviewLife in Stalin’s Soviet Union is a welcome addition to the volumes currently available for teaching the history of Stalinism. While earlier collections tend to focus on the 1930s, many of the chapters in this work chart the full period of Stalinist rule, from the late 1920s to 1953. * Canadian Slavonic Papers *A popular interpretation of the Soviet Union in the West, particularly from the 1950s to the 1960s, emphasized the totalitarian nature of a communist regime that strictly controlled the daily lives of its citizens. Written for a general readership, Life in Stalin’s Soviet Union, edited by Kees Boterbloem, successfully challenges such a historiographical approach by highlighting the many strategies Soviet citizens used to circumvent, even defy, such a regimented and brutal government and, by the same token, recover some of their freedom. * Histoire sociale/Social History *Kees Boterbloem brings together a formidable cast of first-rate scholars for this study of daily life in Stalinist Russia. The result is an extremely impressive book that offers cutting-edge research with a remarkably wide scope. Its focus lies at the intersection of everyday life and the horrors of Stalinism, to which Soviet citizens were subjected for decades. This remarkable book helps us to see what it was to live in Stalinist Russia; I can think of no other text that does this as effectively. * Erik van Ree, Assistant Professor of Eastern European Studies, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands *With contributions from some of the most original and insightful historians of the Soviet Union, this volume demonstrates how the cataclysmic changes unleashed by Stalin impacted the daily lives of ordinary Soviet citizens. It is a story of brutal transformations and heroic resilience. * Jeffrey Veidlinger, Professor of History and Judaic Studies, University of Michigan, USA. *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Contributors Introduction, Kees Boterbloem (University of South Florida, USA) 1. The End of the Russian Peasants under Stalin, Kees Boterbloem (University of South Florida, USA) 2. Food Consumption, Diet and Famines, Elena Osokina (University of South Carolina, USA) 3. The Cities: Urbanization and Modern Life, Heather Dehaan (Binghamton University, USA) 4. On the Margins: Social Dislocation and Criminality in the Soviet Union from the 1930s to the 1950s, David Shearer (University of Delaware, USA) 5. The Gulag under Stalin, Golfo Alexopoulos (University of South Florida, USA) 6. Private Ivan’s Life and Fate: Daily Life in Stalin’s Red Army during the "Great Patriotic War", Kenneth Slepyan (Transylvania University, USA) 7. The History of Disability during Stalinism, Frances Bernstein (Drew University, USA) 8. Gender and Sexuality, Amy Randall (Santa Clara University, USA) 9. The Educational Experience in Stalin’s Russia, 1931-1945, Larry E. Holmes (University of South Alabama, USA) 10. A Year of Celebrations in the Life of a Soviet Student, Karen Petrone (University of Kentucky, USA) 11. Soviet People’s Informal Interactions with Officials of the Stalin-Era Party-State, James Heinzen (Rowan University, USA) 12. The Religious Front: Militant Atheists and Militant Believers, Gregory Freeze (Brandeis University, USA) Index
£25.64
Edinburgh University Press Cemberlitas Hamami in Istanbul
Book SynopsisThis original study, taking a biographical approach to tell the story of a Turkish bathhouse, contributes to the fields of Islamic, Ottoman and modern Turkish cultural, architectural, social and economic history.
£26.59
Edinburgh University Press Jews and Palestinians in the Late Ottoman Era
Book SynopsisUncovering a history buried by different nationalist narratives (Jewish, Israeli, Arab and Palestinian) this book looks at how the late Ottoman era set the stage for the on-going Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
£20.89
Edinburgh University Press Owning Books and Preserving Documents in Medieval
Book SynopsisExplores the only known private book collection from medieval JerusalemTrade Review"Hirschler and Aljoumani transform a seemingly humble library inventory into a window on a lost written culture - a window that allows us to glimpse a wide network of social exchange. The important findings of this book and the provocative questions it raises will keep historians busy for a long time." -Ahmed El Shamsy, University of Chicago
£81.00
Orion Publishing Co The Story of Britain
Book Synopsis''A triumph'' INDEPENDENT''A thought-provoking and indispensable book'' DAILY MAIL''An instant classic ... I have been reading it with unalloyed admiration and delight'' EVENING STANDARDRoy Strong has written an exemplary introduction to the history of Britain, as first designated by the Romans. It is a brilliant and balanced account of successive ages bound together by a compelling narrative which answers the questions: ''Where do we come from?'' and ''Where are we going?''Beginning with the earliest recorded Celtic times, and ending with the present day of Brexit Britain, it is a remarkable achievement. With his passion, enthusiasm and wide-ranging knowledge, he is the ideal narrator. His book should be read by anyone, anywhere, who cares about Britain''s national past, national identity and national prospects.Trade ReviewCombining an unsurpassed eye for detail with a visceral understanding of what it means to be British, Strong unfolds a saga of passionate intensity ... No one should be permitted to leave school until they have first read Sir Roy's rich, thought-provoking and indispensable book -- Roger Lewis * DAILY MAIL *Our forebears had the Bible and The Pilgrim's Progress. We have Stephen Hawking and Delia Smith. This book, for British people, has that kind of status. It is an instant classic ... I have been reading it with unalloyed admiration and delight -- A. N. Wilson * EVENING STANDARD *Elegantly written, beautifully illustrated and scrupulously fair ... Classic popular history -- Andrew Roberts * MAIL ON SUNDAY *His narrative steams along, his judgements are sharp and generally fair ... Essential reading -- Linda Colley * THE TIMES *A triumph ... The Story of Britain succeeds better than any other contemporary survey in conveying a sense of British identity -- Amanda Foreman * INDEPENDENT *A must for anyone interested in history -- Beryl Bainbridge * SUNDAY EXPRESS Books of the Year *A delight to read ... An admirably conceived and richly enjoyable book -- Richard Davenport-Hines * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *A brave, lucid, lively, majestically illustrated volume -- Blair Worden * SPECTATOR *Splendid ... a most enjoyable read -- Michael Kerrigan * SCOTSMAN *A magnificently produced book ... that will enlighten and inform his readers about the past of the land they live in, and how we arrived at where we are today -- Simon Heffer * DAILY MAIL *A writer of clear, unflashy, deeply well-informed prose ... This history of Britain, an updated version of his 1996 book, is a perfect example of it. No meretricious opinions; no show-off expressions. Just a considered explanation of British history, from the Celts to the present day. Every history-starvedschoolchild in the country should be given a copy ... an utterly enthralling picture of a country that remains as exceptional as it was when Virgil first mentioned Britain in literature in his First Eclogue: "penitus toto divisos orbe Britannos" - "the Britons, utterly separated from the whole world"' -- Harry Mount * CATHOLIC HERALD *A richly entertaining account of our island story -- Jane Shilling * DAILY MAIL *This is history at its best: clear, comprehensive, and told with huge aplomb and elegance of style -- Antonia Fraser
£12.34
Orion Publishing Co Who Loses Who Wins The Journals of Kenneth Rose
Book SynopsisThe wry and amusing second volume of the journals of royal biographer and Sunday Telegraph journalist Kenneth Rose, one of the most astute observers of the Establishment in 20th-century BritainTrade ReviewIntimate with the highest levels of society, politics, the arts and the Royal Family, Kenneth Rose has left us one of the most vivid, full and revealing records of the postwar era * Andrew Roberts *[Kenneth Rose] has written a historian's journal ... Nevertheless, Rose does cast a critical and acute eye over Vanity Fair ... this is how Kenneth wished to be remembered by the world: as a suave, amusing columnist and gifted historian who walked with the great -- James Stourton * LITERARY REVIEW *Kenneth Rose provides a fascinating window on the establishment in the second volume of his gossipy, scandalous and insightful diaries, * CHOICE magazine *Addictive stuff. Each entry is only a few lines long; it's like reading an extremely good newspaper diary for page after page. If you're a newspaper addict like me - and a gossip addict, too, again like me - you'll love it. You feel as if you're tucking into an enormous box of chocolates, happily dropping down into infinite layers of new chocs below, without ever feeling sick. * CATHOLIC HERALD *
£15.29
Orion Publishing Co Evensong
Book SynopsisParish churches have been at the heart of communities for more than a thousand years. But now, fewer than two in one hundred people regularly attend services in an Anglican church, and many have never been inside one. Since the idea of ''church'' is its people, the buildings are becoming husks - staples of our landscapes, but without meaning or purpose. Some churches are finding vigorous community roles with which to carry on, but the institutional decline is widely seen as terminal.Yet for Richard Morris, post-war parsonages were the happy backdrop of his childhood. In Evensong he searches for what it was that drew his father and hundreds like him towards ordination as they came home from war in 1945. Along the way we meet all kinds of people - archbishops, chaplains, campaigners, bell-ringers, bureaucrats, archaeologists, gravediggers, architects, scroungers - and follow some of them to dark places.Part personal odyssey, part lyrical history, EvensongTrade ReviewAt its best when reminding us how deeply embedded these buildings are in the English landscape and when exploring, how the intimate meanings they have held can be rediscovered . . . At the book's heart is the question of the place of faith in the modern world . . . a warm, thoughtful and generous-spirited book with a profound sense of the importance of traditional spiritual devotions in the modern world. * Catholic Herald *It can sometimes be regarded as an institution out of time but, as this intimate, idiosyncratic account notes, the Church of England continues to influence public life and private morality well into the 21st century. Centred around a series of reminiscences of the author's relationship with the church's practices, places and people, the book also has much to say about issues of community and identity. * BBC History *In Evensong, Richard Morris, whose father was himself a parish priest, considers the history and current fragile state of the Church of England * Choice *This memoir pulls off a difficult task . . . the story that it tells is a very human story of a father and son, a vicar and an archaeologist - and a compelling story it is . . . Richard Morris avoids nostalgia, and, as one would expect from an archaeologist, sets out a layered story of the different people and places whose character is vividly drawn here . . . On one level, it is a celebration of the parish; on another, it is a ringing affirmation of the importance of our church buildings * Church Times *An exploration of the current state of the Church of England amid messy legacies of colonialism and Empire * The Tablet *Extraordinary . . . Again and again he picks something up and it causes his mind to roam in a new direction, so the number of subjects covered, from steam engines to an unsolved murder in Zimbabwe, is impossible to list or put into any real order . . . Morris delves archaeologically deep into the foundations of Christian belief in England and explains the survival into today of ideas and rhythms that are almost impossibly old. * Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday *A song of praise to England's vanishing Church . . . Evensong is an apt title for this beautifully written and moving meditation on the history and current state of the Church of England . . . Morris is a man of extraordinary learning . . . The result is something extraordinarily rich, which interweaves past and present and illuminates many aspects of post-war Britain, including shifting class relations, housing and industrial policy, and the cultural tensions between conservationists and gung-ho modernisers - the latter especially important for the Church, which was torn between the two . . . wonderful * The Sunday Telegraph *Packed with quirky historical diversion . . . he writes beautifully about his parents and allows their love letters, which he discovered after his father's death, to speak largely for themselves . . . There are informative detours about bell-ringing and bell-casting, organ-building and choirs, 16th-century burial practices and a long account of Morris's involvement in a dig at Kellington, North Yorkshire, where 30 years ago the church had to be saved from subsidence caused by coal-mining . . . there is an elegiac decency to this book. In its restrained, courtly way it reminds us of the Christian context to British life that we are losing with each ahistorical shrug from our leaders * The Times *Eclectic, discursive, and multi-layered (as befits an archaeologist). Reading it is like sitting by the fire, listening to a skilled raconteur pouring out an endless stream of anecdotes . . . You could describe this wonderfully serendipitous book as an absorbing account of the history of archaeology from somebody who has played (and continues to play) an influential part - but it is so much more * Current Archaeology *With warm sentiment but no sentimentality, he communicates the ties of love that bound his family together . . . [Evensong] is like an archaeologist's diagnostic slice or test pit, exposing human history . . . Morris's narration of the wonders of Marloes, St Brides and the Pembrokeshire coast makes a moment of shared historical experience. But the greater pleasure of the book comes from its meta-narrative: if it is fair to say that the author is haunted by the past, then it must be added that the ghosts than haunt him are not fearsome but friendly -- Cally Hammond * TLS *
£10.79
