True war and combat stories Books

Book SynopsisThe gripping life story of the great war correspondent Marie Colvin told by one of her closest friendsSHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARDWINNER OF THE JAMES TAIT BLACK AWARD Marie Colvin was glamorous, hard-drinking, braver than the boys, with a troubled and rackety personal life. She reported from the most dangerous places in the world and her anecdotes about encounters with figures like Colonel Gaddafi and Yasser Arafat were incomparable. She was much admired, and as famous for her wild parties as for the extraordinary lengths to which she went to tell the story. Fellow foreign correspondent Lindsey Hilsum draws on unpublished diaries and interviews with friends, family and colleagues to produce a story of one of the most daring and inspirational women of our times. A Sunday Times Book of the Year'A stunningly good biography' WILLIAM BOYDTrade ReviewAn extraordinary account of one reporter's fearless and ultimately fatal dedication... Hilsum draws an empathetic portrait of a woman whose courage often crossed into recklessness, both in combat zones and outside them... Now, thanks to Hilsum's deeply reported and passionately written book, Colvin has the full accounting that she deserves -- Joshua Hammer * New York Times *A wonderful book – a fitting tribute, certainly, but also a well-told tale of a remarkable life -- Jane Bonham Carter * Sunday Times *A stunningly good biography – compelling, revelatory and very moving. Lindsey Hilsum is the perfect writer to tell the story of Marie Colvin's rackety, brave and charismatic life -- William BoydWriting a biography of Marie Colvin is like capturing lightning in a bottle, but Lindsey Hilsum has the knowledge and personal experience to help us understand what drew Colvin to rush towards the eye of the storm at such great risk. It is a superbly fitting tribute -- Annie LennoxRarely has a friend and colleague written such a brave and uncompromising testament to such a rare, brave and uncompromising woman. Would that a few more of us should be so blessed in our courage and our friends -- Shami ChakrabartiHilsum marshals not just empathy for her subject, who was also a friend, but investigative and critical skills and damn fine storytelling... Hilsum's understanding of the background to each conflict, and the reality of life as a correspondent in the field, is one of the great strengths of the book... In Extremis rescues Marie Colvin from the rubble of Baba Amr, and brings her tragically, and tenderly, to life * Irish Times *Superb. A fitting account of the life of one of the finest war correspondents of our time, written by another. I admired Marie greatly, and In Extremis showed me I was right to do so -- John SimpsonThe clearest and most rounded picture...emerges from Hilsum's book. Colvin herself, courageous and often tortured, rises again from its pages -- Emma Graham-Harrison * Observer *One of the modern world’s most experienced and admired foreign correspondents, Lindsey Hilsum, has now written a riveting, intimate and deeply moving account of the epic life of her late friend and colleague, Marie Colvin, who will be long remembered – not least because of Hilsum’s fine work in this book – as amongst the great war reporters of her generation -- Jon Lee AndersonAn inspiring and intimate biography of one of the bravest journalists of our time by one of her finest colleagues. Lindsey Hilsum takes us inside the world of a woman who changed the world around her -- Lyse Doucet

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Book Synopsis'Extraordinary.' Philippe Sands'We are touched by the courage and dignity of Andrew Harding's characters - qualities that the author must surely possess in equal measure.' - Andrey Kurkov'A story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people. - James Meek'This gripping account is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in microcosm.' - Lindsey HilsumThe Russians are invading. But the locals have a plan.It's March 2022 and Russian tanks are roaring across the vast, snow-dusted fields of Ukraine. Their destination: Voznesensk, a town with a small bridge that could change the course of the war.The heavily-armed Russians are expecting an easy fight - or no fight at all. After all, Voznesensk is a quiet farming town, full of pensioners. But the locals appear to have other ideas.Svetlana, a grandmother with arthritis, reacts in fury when Russian troops turn her cottage into their blood-soaked headquarters. Valentin, a quick-talking lawyer, joins the town's 'Dads Army' defenders, crouching in a trench with an AK47. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Sergei grabs a Molotov cocktail and lies in wait for Russian tanks as they push towards Dead Water Bridge.The odds are terrible. But a plan is emerging, and there's a chance it could save not just Voznesensk, but the rest of southern Ukraine. Meanwhile, inside the tanks, an inner battle rages. As Russian officer Igor Rudenko prepares to invade, he has a secret. He is Ukrainian himself.A gripping work of reportage that tells the story of a pivotal moment in Ukraine's war, this is a real-life thriller about ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances with resilience, humour and ingenuity.'[Andrew Harding is] one of our most gifted and sensitive journalists' - Jon SnowTrade Review'Maybe the most compelling book on Ukraine published in English this year[...] A Small Stubborn Town reads like a novel, both in light of its beautifully wrought prose, and the extraordinary story of the remarkable civilian defence mounted by the town's eclectic residents' * The Telegraph *'A short, brilliant book... Its characters could have walked out of a novel' * Financial Times *'A cracking story ... that never loses sight of the "murderous absurdity" of Russia's war' -- Justin Marozzi * The Spectator *'[A] remarkable story ... propulsive' * The Irish Times *'The story of Ukraine in perfect microcosm - ordinary people doing absolutely extraordinary things - beautifully told' -- Christina Lamb'Riveting and vividly written ... this gripping story is the literary equivalent of a superb miniature painting' * The Observer *'A short, brilliant book on the battle for Voznesensk. Harding captures the mixture of courage, bewilderment and mania of Ukrainians who decide to fight the invasion' -- Gideon Rachman * Financial Times *'Harding has told a mesmerising story of how in the face of a mighty army, ordinary people can sometimes turn and simply say, "No."' -- Sinclair McKay * Mail on Sunday *'Elegantly told ... a deceptively simple narrative that explains a great deal about the dynamics of this war and many others' -- Roger Boyes * The Times *'Harding recreates the fighting blow by-blow ... [and] the personalities of his interviewees come to life' * The Telegraph *'Extraordinary; filled with a deep sense of enduring humanity. Immensely powerful, timely and real.' -- Philippe Sands, author of East West Street'It would be wonderful if the story told in this beautiful little book were the author's invention. But alas, the story itself is pure truth. Andrew Harding's characters invite the reader into their daily struggle which we witness with awe and empathy. We are touched by their courage and dignity - qualities that the author must surely have possessed in equal measure to record these extraordinary events.' -- Andrey Kurkov'This gripping account is the Russian invasion of Ukraine in microcosm.' -- Lindsey Hilsum'A piercing book: the story of extraordinary heroism by ordinary people, and an accessible, limpid account of what battle is actually like. -- James Meek'Fascinating, vivid, often harrowing, and deeply moving. A must-read for anyone trying to grasp both the human dimension and larger dynamics of this brutal contemporary war.' -- Fiona Hill, author of There Is Nothing for You Here'A captivating tale of one Ukrainian town and a heartening story of people's defiance, ingenuity and spirit. Originally reported and beautifully written.' -- Arkady Ostrovsky, author of The Invention of Russia'Reads like a daring tale from WW2' -- Will Brown * Tortoise Media *

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Book Synopsis**A Telegraph Best History Book of 2023* 'An astonishing achievement' ANTONY BEEVORAn intimate history of the most important month of the Second World War as experienced by those who lived through it, completely based on their diaries, letters and memoirs.At the beginning of November 1942, it looked as if the Axis powers could win the war; at the end of that month, it was obviously just a matter of time before they would lose.In between came el-Alamein, Guadalcanal, the French North Africa landings, the Japanese retreat in New Guinea, and the Soviet encirclement of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad. In this innovatively kaleidoscopic and riveting historical marvel, Peter Englund reduces these epoch-making events to their basic component: the individual experience.In thirty memorable days we meet characters including a Soviet infantryman at Stalingrad; an Italian truck driver in the North African desert; a partisan in the Belarussian forests; a machine gunner in a British bomber; a twelve-year-old girl in Shanghai; a university student in Paris; a housewife on Long Island; a prisoner in Treblinka; Albert Camus, Vasily Grossman, and Vera Brittain. We also witness the launch of SS James Oglethorpe; the fate of U-604, a German submarine; the building of the first nuclear reactor; and the making of Casablanca.Not since Englund's own The Beauty and the Sorrow has a book given us one of the most dramatic periods of human history in all its immensity and emotional range.'Thought-provoking' SUNDAY TIMES'Thoroughly worth reading' TELEGRAPHTrade ReviewAn astonishing achievement * Antony Beevor *By interweaving the detailed experiences of 39 individuals from all parts of the conflict, Englund presents an extraordinary panorama of this pivotal moment. A haunting narrative imaginatively conceived, brilliantly told * Julia Boyd *Absolutely revelatory. A stunning tour de force. So much in here that is truly fresh and new. Englund chronicles the gripping tale of one month that changed everything in WWII, and it is so beautifully written and timeless. Once read, you'll want to return to this again and again * Damien Lewis *Majestic … This is an extraordinary evocation of a pivotal moment in the 20th century. Englund captures not only the gnawing tension, the moments of terror and the flinty endurance but also the fractal complexity of this global conflict. Resonantly written and utterly gripping, this book will stay with you * Sinclair MacKay *Thought-provoking … Englund’s book … deserves an audience, to increase knowledge not only of this particular war, but also of the stupendous sacrifices and tragedies of all human conflicts * Sunday Times *Succeed[s] in giving a very human (and, inevitably sometimes, inhuman) snapshot of events ... Thoroughly worth reading * Telegraph *Superb ... a stimulating read * New Statesman *The stories of the individual people featured make the global personal in an astonishing way * Alan Parks, Daily Express *Books of the 2023* *Extraordinary ... with a scrupulous and skilful hand [Englund] has created an original panorama of humankind's most destructive war * New York Times *What makes Englund's work original and remarkable is his narrative technique, which could be called 'the mosaic method' ... A coherent and moving portrait of a world at war * BBC History Magazine *This gripping and propulsive account, expertly translated by Graves in lyrical prose, recreates the daily uncertainty of war as experienced by regular people ... It's a monumental work of history * Publishers Weekly *Engrossing … Englund’s approach echoes Homer’s Iliad which tries to understand at once the mayhem of war, the forces that drive it and the feelings its violence leaves behind … Englund’s tour de force casts a long shadow into our present – and its raw voices haunt me still * Wall Street Journal ***PRAISE FOR THE BEAUTY AND THE SORROW**In four decades of studying war, I've never read such a remarkable book * Washington Post *A literary as well as a historical achievement * Guardian *Intense and bighearted. ... The accounts of [these] lives can be terrifying or stirring, but are most fully alive in Englund's accumulation of small moments, stray details * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisAlready winning acclaim as one of the best accounts of combat ever written, Black Hawk Down is a minute-by-minute, heart-stopping account of the 1993 raid on Mogadishu, Somalia. Late in the afternoon of Sunday, October 3 1993, 140 elite US Soldiers abseiled from helicopters into a teeming market neighbourhood in the heart of the city. Their mission was to abduct two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord and return to base. It was supposed to take them about an hour.Instead, they were pinned down through a long and terrible night in a hostile city, fighting for their lives against thousands of heavily armed Somalis. Two of their high-tech helicopters were shot out of the sky. When the unit was rescued the following morning, eighteen American soldiers were dead and more than seventy badly injured. The Somali toll was far worse - more than five hundred killed and over a thousand injured.Authoritative, gripping, and insightful, Black Hawk Down is destined to become a classTrade Review'Rip-roaring stuff, with one of the most gruesome battlefield wound treatments ever committed to paper' * Maxim *A thrilling and visceral no-holds-barred classic of modern war'One of the most electrifying, immediate and detailed accounts of a single battle ever told...the whole 24-hour nightmare seems like it's happening to you' * Later *

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times bestseller, powerful, highly-charged and moving, No Way Out is Adam Jowett’s tribute to the men of Easy Company who paid a heavy price for serving their country in Afghanistan.'Fiercely immersive. Truly heroic.' – Tom Marcus, bestselling author of Soldier Spy.______________In Helmand province in July 2006, Major Adam Jowett was given command of Easy Company, a hastily assembled and under-strength unit of Paras and Royal Irish rangers. Their mission was to hold the District Centre of Musa Qala at any cost. Easy Company found themselves in a ramshackle compound, cut off and heavily outnumbered by the Taliban in the town.In No Way Out, Adam evokes the heat and chaos of battle as the Taliban hit Easy Company with wave after wave of brutal attack. He describes what it was like to have responsibility for the lives of his men as they fought back heroically over twenty-one days and nights of relentless, nerve-shredding combat. Finally, as they came down to their last rounds and death stared Easy Company in the face, the siege took an extraordinary turn . . ._____________'Vivid and brilliantly written: a pulsating account of the battle for Musa Qala, the Rorke's Drift of our times.’ – Martin Bell, OBE, war reporter.'A superb account of the chaos and brutality of conflict' – Levison WoodTrade ReviewFerociously immersive. Truly heroic. The action is relentless and claustrophobic as, surrounded by death, Easy Company fought for each other. I challenge you to read a more brutally honest account of brotherhood, survival and belonging. -- Tom Marcus, bestselling author of Soldier SpyA brilliant first hand account of men and war that crackles with action and brims with humanity -- Patrick Bishop, bestselling author of 3 Para, Fighter Boys, Bomber Boys, Air Force BlueSoldierly, vivid and brilliantly written: a pulsating account of the battle for Musa Qala, the Rorke's Drift of our times. * Martin Bell, OBE, war reporter *A superb account of the chaos and brutality of conflict which conveys the highs and lows of life on the front line with vivid accuracy. It us ultimately a fascinating story of modern soldiering and the bravery of Easy Company fighting a battle far from home. * Levison Wood *A truly extraordinary story of courage and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds . . . Brilliantly written and with a clear pride in the tenacity and grit of the nineteen-year-olds under his command who performed so bravely, Jowett's book belongs on the shelves of anyone interested in modern conflict and the experience of soldiering. -- Barney Campbell, author of RainA gritty, heart-pounding account of combat and courage that brings the siege of Musa Qala to life, from the 'crump' of mortar fire to the exhaustion and dogged determination of Easy Company as they fought on alone. -- Dan Jarvis MP

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Book SynopsisThis is the incredible true story of the unbreakable bond forged between Treo, the world's most highly decorated dog, and his handler Sgt. Dave HeyhoeWhen Dave Heyhoe was sent to Afghanistan to help detect the Taliban's murderous roadside bombs, he knew he'd need a special dog by his side. Luckily for him, his closest pal Treo, a staggeringly brave ball of energy and mischief was with him every step of the way. The two friends had a miraculous understanding that helped them save countless lives but, as they embarked on a roller-coaster emotional ride, Dave realized he needed Treo more than he could ever have imagined. Tear-jerkingly sad one moment, laugh-out-loud hilarious the next, It's All About Treo is a moving and uplifting story that will melt the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.

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Book SynopsisSecond Lieutenant Wilfred Owen was twenty-four years old when he was admitted to the newly established Craiglockhart War Hospital for treatment of shell shock. A nascent poet, trying to make sense of the terror he had witnessed, he read a collection of poems from a fellow officer, Siegfried Sassoon, and was impressed by his portrayal of the soldier’s plight. One month later, Sassoon himself arrived at Craiglockhart, having refused to return to the front after being wounded during battle.Over their months at Craiglockhart, each encouraged the other in their work, their personal reckonings with the morality of war, and their treatment. Therapy provided Owen, Sassoon, and their wardmates with insights that allowed them to express themselves better, and for the 28 months that Craiglockhart was in operation, it notably incubated the era’s most significant developments in both psychiatry and poetry.Soldiers Don’t Go Mad tells for the first time the story of the soldiers and doctors who struggled with the effects of industrial warfare on the psyche. As he investigates the roots of what we now know as PTSD, Glass brings historical bearing to how we must consider war’s ravaging effects on mental health, and the ways in which creative work helps us come to terms with even the darkest of times.Trade Review'A marvellous and very moving book' - Allan Massie, The Scotsman

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Book Synopsis- Private Sidney Phillips- First Lieutenant Austin Shofner- Ensign Vernon Micheel- Private Eugene Sledge- Sergeant John BasiloneThrough the eyes of these five fearless and devoted men, Hugh Ambrose tells the epic story of the war in the Pacific. It is an intimate, personal history of a brutal, unforgiving conflict.Trade ReviewA brutal account . . . for those who want more of the nightmare of those foxholes after ten hours of The Pacific, this book is for you * * The Times * *Extremely good . . . he lets his soldiers tell the story. Through those young men we are given an uncompromising picture of the war, which, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, most Americans believed to be their most important engagement. The TV series might offer us a glimpse of that distant conflict in the Pacific. Hugh Ambrose's book gives us the greatest generation in the round * * Scotsman * *A compelling book which affords Pacific veterans the testament they deserve -- Julian Fleming * * Sunday Business Post * *

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Book SynopsisA Times Political Book of the Year 2022A powerful and revelatory eyewitness account of the American collapse in Afghanistan, its desperate endgame, and the war's echoing legacy.Elliot Ackerman left the American military ten years ago, but his time in Afghanistan and Iraq with the Marines and, later, as a CIA paramilitary officer marked him indelibly. When the Taliban began to close in on Kabul in August of 2021 and the Afghan regime began its death spiral, he found himself pulled back into the conflict. The official evacuation process was a bureaucratic failure that led to a humanitarian catastrophe. Ackerman was drawn into an impromptu effort to arrange flights and negotiate with both Taliban and American forces to secure the safe evacuation of hundreds. These were desperate measures taken during a desperate end to America's longest war, but the success they achieved afforded a degree of redemption: and, for Ackerman, a chance to reconcile his past with his present.The Fifth Act is aTrade Review PRAISE FOR THE FIFTH ACT ‘Both an intellectual and a man of action… [Ackerman] tells the story of the ‘clusterf**k’ unfolding as he holidays in Venice with his children. This conjunction of banality and evil is very striking’ The Sunday Telegraph ‘[Ackerman] writes with power and raw honesty about how combat leaves no-one untouched and the survivors guilty… Ackerman takes this story far beyond the wars he fought and focuses on the changes the US has been through in 20 years…The Fifth Act is not just about collapse abroad, but a warning about collapse at home’The Times, Tom Tugendhat, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee ‘During the chaotic US ‘fighting retreat’ from Kabul in August 2022, the writer, a former Marine, desperately tried to extract Afghan interpreters and others who had served with the US military and diplomatic corps…The stories of the evacuation attempts …are extraordinarily affecting’TLS ‘The quality of the writing stands out. . . . part of a distinguished and growing literature by American veterans trying to understand the experience of those who served. . . . The Fifth Act’s contribution to understanding the war lies foremost in passages of reflection and well-chosen quotes . . . They give pause and offer a window into deeper thought’ Washington Post ‘[Ackerman] has a unique ability to center his and his comrades’ lived experience within the larger historical continuum’ Washington Review of Books ‘The Fifth Act is among the best books about war that I've ever read’Michael Morell, former Director, CIA ‘The American betrayal of Afghanistan took twenty years. Elliot Ackerman, a participant and witness, tells the story with unsparing honesty in this intensely personal chronicle’George Packer

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Book Synopsis**Formerly published as The Lost Boys**''Remarkable. A powerful, engrossing story of a journey into the heart of darkness and final escape from it'' Sunday TimesIn September, 1944, the SS march into a remote Italian castle, arrest a mother and seize her two sons, aged just two and three. If Hitler has his way she will never see them again. For Fey Pirzio-Biroli is the daughter of Ulrich von Hassell, executed days before after the failed assassination of the Fuhrer. Mercilessly cast into the Nazi death machine, Fey must cling to the hope that one day she will escape and rescue her lost children . . .''Riveting, important, reads like a terrifying thriller'' Daily Telegraph''Heartbreaking. It started with a plot to kill Hitler. It ended in one of the most astonishing and moving stories of the war'' Daily Mail''Extraordinary. A rich, deep, gripping read'' Guardian''AsTrade ReviewTo say that Catherine Bailey makes history come alive is such a cliché and yet it's so true, she is absolutely one of my favourite writers * Kate Atkinson *Bailey has an extraordinary talent for bringing history to life and The Lost Boys is as thrilling as any novel * Daily Mail *Extraordinary. A rich and deep portrait. . . a gripping read * Guardian *Riveting, important, reads like a terrifying thriller. So harrowing there were moments I had to put the book down. Bailey has an extraordinary ability to penetrate right to the heart of a family and uncover painful stories * Daily Telegraph *Bailey has a knack for bringing characters to life . . . Fascinating * Times *A brilliant analysis of senseless cruelty, and an inspiring account of how hope can still triumph over all odds * Julian Fellowes *

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Book SynopsisAdolf Hitler despised cricket, considering it un-German and decadent. And Berlin in 1937 was not a time to be going against the Fuhrer's wishes. But hot on the heels of the 1936 Olympics, an enterprising cricket fanatic of enormous bravery, Felix Menzel, somehow persuaded his Nazi leaders to invite an English team to play his motley band of part-timers.That team was the Gentlemen of Worcestershire, an ill-matched group of mavericks, minor nobility, ex-county cricketers, rich businessmen and callow schoolboys led by former Worcestershire CC skipper Major Maurice Jewell. Ordered not to lose' by the MCC, Jewell and his men entered the ''Garden of Beasts'' to play two unofficial Test matches against Germany. Against a backdrop of repression, brutality and sporadic gunfire, the Gents battled searing August heat, matting pitches, the skill and cunning of Menzel, and opponents who didn''t always adhere to the laws and spirit of the game. The tour culminated in a match at Trade ReviewEccentric and improbably entertaining * The Economist *Amusing, touching and chilling -- Christopher Hirst * The Independent *Cricket and Nazis! Can there be a more enticing combination of subjects to read about? A wonderful story... A story begging to be told -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''Escape... escape... escape... by God!'' was his constant exhortation. Never mind hunger pains, discomfort, or any other agony. Let escape become your passion, your one and only obsession until you finally reach home.''Shot down over Berlin in 1941, Richard Pape''s saga of captivity is a story of courage unmatched in the annals of escape. Four escapes took him across the breadth of German-occupied Europe; to Poland and Czechoslovakia; to Austria and Hungary. Aggressive and impetuous, his adventures sweep the reader along on a torrent of excitement.Trade Review'It's an extraordinary story of British pluck but also very moving. Pape survived torture by the Gestapo but many of those who helped him weren't so lucky' * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisHuntly Strathearn Gordon was born in Perthshire in 1898. Educated at Clifton College, he joined the army in 1916. After the war he studied medicine before going to China with Shell Oil. Returning in 1926, he joined London Transport, spending much of his spare time surveying archaeological sites with Sir Mortimer Wheeler. During the Blitz, he initiated food trains for the thousands sheltering in the Underground, and was awarded an MBE. Huntly Gordon died in 1982. Born in 1956, David Gordon is Huntly Gordon's youngest son. Educated at Sherborne and Sandhurst, he has been a soldier, parliamentary researcher and county councillor. A lifelong campaigner on environmental issues, his passions also include vintage vehicles and old houses. He lives in Somerset.Trade ReviewOne of the best First World War memoirs I've read - honest, intelligent and vivid, as fresh as if written yesterday. -- ALLAN MALLINSON * The Times *One of the best half-dozen memoirs . . . Your father writes beautfiully, had an interesting war and emerges as a man who did his bit without being overwhelmed by the horror or elated by the dark beauty of violence -- RICHARD HOLMES, author of Redcoat, Tommy etc.I have never read anything that gives such a vivid description of the hell of Passchendaele - nor of the spirit that enabled our troops to survive it. -- PROFESSOR SIR MICHAEL HOWARDA haunting account of the loss of a generation * Good Book Guide, Jan 2014 *

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Book SynopsisProvides the real story which inspired the film, One Life, where Winton is played by Sir Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn.

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Book SynopsisThe explosive, shocking and honest account from an MI5 officer, revealing never-before-seen detail into MI5''s operation ''I do it because it is all I know. I''m a hunter of people and I''m damn good at it.'' Recruited after the 7/7 attacks on London, Tom quickly found himself immersed in the tense world of watching, following and infiltrating networks of terrorists, spies and foreign agents. It was a job that took over his life and cost him dear, taking him to the limit of physical and mental endurance. Filled with extraordinary accounts of operations that saved countless lives, Soldier Spy is the only authentic account by an ex-MI5 officer of the round-the-clock battle to keep this country safe. ________ ''Very well written, gives a startling amount of operational detail, the biggest shock of all - MI5 agreed to its publication'' Sunday Times ''A blistering, visceral insight inTrade ReviewFor the very first time an MI5 undercover surveillance officer provides an unputdownable, eye-opening account of the on-going struggle to keep Britain's streets safe and terror free. * from the publisher's description *Gripping. One of the most successful MI5 undercover surveillance officers of his time * Sun *Very well written, gives a startling amount of operational detail, the biggest shock of all - MI5 agreed to its publication * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA Few Bad Men is the incredible true story of an elite team of U.S. Marines set up to take the fall for Afghanistan war crimes they did not commit—and their leader who fought for the redemption of his men.Ambushed in Afghanistan and betrayed by their own leaders—these elite Marines fought for their lives again, back home. A cross between A Few Good Men and American Sniper, this is the true story of an elite Marine special operations unit bombed by an IED and shot at during an Afghanistan ambush. The Marine Commandos were falsely accused of gunning down innocent Afghan civilians following the ambush. The unit’s leader, Maj. Fred Galvin, was summarily relieved of duty and his unit was booted from the combat zone. They were condemned by everyone, from the Afghan president to American generals. When Fox Company returned to America, Galvin and his captain were the targets of the first Court of Inquiry in the Marines in fifty years. “Fred Galvin is the real deal. His dramatic retelling of his experience as commander of Fox Company reads like a thriller, full of twists and turns, filled with unassuming heroes and deceitful villains.” — Rob Lorenz, Producer/Director, American Sniper, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Mystic River, The Marksman “Fred Galvin has written a real ‘page turner’ that demonstrates how politics permeates The Pentagon and posts abroad…I highly recommend this book.” — J.D. Hayworth, U.S. House of Representatives (Arizona), TV/Radio Host “This book is a must-read for every American who wants to know why, after twenty long years in Afghanistan, we did not win.” — Jessie Jane Duff, USMC, Analyst, CNN and FOX “A Few Bad Men is a must-read story of valor, betrayal, and keeping the Marines’ honor clean.” — Jed Babbin, USAF Judge Advocate, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense, Journalist, National Review, Washington Post “An incredible account and history of the fighting spirit of the ‘Marine Raiders’ under fire and the relentless fourteen-year campaign by their leader to clear their names.” — Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely, U.S. Army (Ret.), Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific CommandTrade Review“From changing ROE (Rules of Engagement) to a vivid story of leadership, challenging choices, betrayal, and the opportunities of the major players in the event to be either heroes of villains, A Few Bad Men creates a powerful, true story of adversity and choices...A Few Bad Men ideally will earn a place not just in military history libraries, but throughout military and civilian discussion groups interested in good and bad choices and the influences that lead not just individuals but nations into bad situations.” -- Midwest Book Review“Fred Galvin’s story is a page turner that reads like the fanciful plot of an A-list Hollywood movie. It’s an extraordinary cliffhanger that deserves attention, and shows just how dangerous ‘fake news’ can be, when no one is willing to stand up for the truth. This is a cautionary tale that should be read by all who are interested in politics, war stories, courtroom drama, and international affairs as this new world we’re living in, where simple lies are being propagated as the truth, is sadly not one that is going away anytime soon.” -- David Jung, Screenwriter and Director of films including Roam, The Possession of Michael King and Genre Summit“A Few Bad Men reveals how the U.S. military, desperate to protect its public image at all costs, sometimes sacrifices the honor of men in combat. The country’s first Marine special operations unit was falsely accused of killing Afghan civilians, then subjected to years of lies and deceit by top generals. The unit and its commander, retired Maj. Fred Galvin, were ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing, but not before their careers were ruined and their honor stained.” -- David Zucchino, Journalist covering the 2008 MARSOC Court of Inquiry for The Los Angeles Times“We take for granted that our American heroes will be supported by their own country when sent off to war. In A Few Bad Men, Maj. Fred Galvin, USMC (Ret.), and Sal Manna detail the painful story of these seven heroes who, when their honor and freedom were on the line, found themselves abandoned by those they counted on most. It reads like a Hollywood blockbuster but, as Galvin tells in personal detail, it was sadly true. It’s a story I was proud to report for local news in Los Angeles, and it’s now a story every American should read for themselves.” -- Jory Rand, television anchor with ABC-7 in Los Angeles where he covered the MARSOC 7 case for three years“Major Fred Galvin has written an incredible account of how our front-line leadership overcame insurmountable odds. A must read for all leaders.” -- Lieutenant General Thomas McInerney, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) former assistant Vice Chief of Staff—Headquarters U.S. Air Force“Simply put, A Few Bad Men captures the difficult nature of raising young men to fight our complex wars—from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and political beliefs—while expecting perfection and good decision making, while under fire, in such a short time. A Few Bad Men additionally illustrates the importance of proper training, leadership, and complete trust in the men and women on the ground fighting on the front lines. This book also shows us how big of a mistake it is to allow politics to get involved during investigations while some are chasing careers at any cost, and that there should be a separation between politics and war fighters to keep those actions that are distinctly different apart, and allow both sides to properly and honestly conduct their jobs. Major Galvin captures this well and explores the thoughts behind rushed judgments, politics, and those on the ground simply doing their jobs the best they can.” -- Sergeant Major Tom Satterly, U.S. Army (Ret.) former Command Sergeant Major of a Joint Special Operations Unit, Combat veteran, Author, Co-founder and Co-CEO of All Secure Foundation“A Few Bad Men is a journey into the mindscape of the warfighter, fought first on the battlefield, then in the court of opinion, where politicians and Monday morning quarterbacks rule. I believe that ‘the use of force produces many effects, not all of which can be foreseen.’ This book is a powerful depiction of combat and a battle for justice and vindication. A must-read.” -- Jason Van Camp, former U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment A-Team leader, Combat veteran, Executive Director— Warrior Rising, and bestselling author“Major Galvin epitomizes ‘no better friend, no worse enemy.’ This book should be required reading for the next generation of leaders who want a real-world lesson in honor, courage, and commitment from the first commander in modern Marine Raider history.” -- Nick Coffman, Journalist covering the MARSOC 7 case since 2015 for Special Operations Forces Report (SOFREP); Served in the Marine Corps in Iraq as a Sergeant“When America sends her Marines to war, we expect that our country will be as faithful to us as we are to our country; that our political and military leaders—those responsible for sending us to war—will have our backs; that we will always receive the benefit of doubt, especially in a war that we have been fighting for more than twenty years now—a war our political and military leaders seem unwilling to win, yet unable to leave. We sleep safely in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us. Major Fred Galvin is, and always will be, a Marine’s Marine; driven, focused, and totally committed to mission and his Marines. Someone our political and military leaders should be humbled by, or at the very least faithful to—always.” -- Perry Puccetti, retired Marine Corps AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter pilot, current Executive Director of VMLY&R a subsidiary of WPP plc, (NASDAQ: WPPGY)“A Few Bad Men is a blistering, top-to-bottom critique of how senior Marine Corps leaders (and the institution itself) completely mishandled a situation in which members of a Marine Raider unit were falsely accused of war crimes. I found myself unconsciously squirming in my chair as I read Galvin’s litany of shocking examples of failed leadership and unethical behavior by senior officers that illustrate the undeniable fact that he and his men were not only abandoned by the Marine Corps, but were subjected to a politically expedient ‘witch hunt’ that in some ways, continues to this day. I am hopeful that current Marine Corps leaders will publicly acknowledge the innocence of the MARSOC 7, and apologize for the grave injustices these brave Marines had to endure.” -- Michael Ettore, retired Marine Corps Infantryman, Drill Instructor, Infantry officer, combat veteran, author, and retired from Kfor (NASDAQ:KFRC) serving in various C-level roles including: Director - Leadership Development Program, VP of Operations, CIO, and Chief Services Officer

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

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

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Book SynopsisA personal history of the friendship between the great war poets, Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, 'Soldiers Don't Go Mad' tells the story of psychiatry, the traumatic effects of war, and the healing properties of poetry.

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Book Synopsis THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER Two sisters, one war and an extraordinary family secret1939. In the nation's hour of need, brave sisters Patricia and Jean Owtram answered the call of duty.With their fierce intelligence and steely determination, these remarkable young women would stop at nothing to help crack the Enigma code, support Allied troops, and defeat the Nazis.Their top-secret mission would finally see the tide of war turn in Britain's favour...This is their incredible true story.

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Book SynopsisFilmed as The Sea Wolves, this is the story of the secret exploit in WW2. A group of civilian bankers, merchants and solicitors , the remains of an old territorial unit called The Calcutta Light Horse, were tasked to sink German ships in the neutral harbour of Goa which were guiding U-boats against Allied shipping in the Indian Ocean.

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Book SynopsisA graduate of Yale University and a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Karl Marlantes served as a Marine in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals for valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten air medals. Matterhorn, his novel about the Vietnam War, took over three decades to complete and was an international bestseller. He and his wife Anne live on a small lake in western Washington state.Trade ReviewA searing account from within the guts of the war itself. * The Times *A novel of astonishing power and insight * OBSERVER *There has never been a more realistic portrait or eloquent tribute to the nobility of men under fire, and never a more damning portrait of a war that ground them cruelly underfoot for no good reason. * MARK BOWDEN *Karl Marlantes has written a staggeringly beautiful book on combat - what it feels like, what the consequences are and above all, what society must do to understand it. In my eyes he has become the preeminent literary voice on war of our generation. He is a natural storyteller and a deeply profound thinker who not only illuminates war for civilians, but also offers a kind of spiritual guidance to veterans themselves. As this generation of warriors comes home, they will be enormously helped by what Marlantes has written - I'm sure he will literally save lives. * Sebastian Junger *What It Is Like to Go to War is a well-crafted and forcefully argued work that contains fresh and important insights into what it's like to be in a war and what it does to the human psyche. * The Washington Post *brutally honest, clear-eyed and necessary. * Financial Times *You may not ever read a better book about war than this... There are some very gruesome things here, and some of the best philosophical thinking I've ever read in a memoir. * Evening Standard *the brave and illuminating work of a courageous and humane man. * The Times *Marlantes examines with lacerating frankness his experiences at the forefront of battle, in Vietnam more than 40 years ago. * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisIn one of the world's most intractable and under-reported rebellions, the Naxalites have been engaged in a decades-long battle with the Indian state. Presented in the media as a deadly terrorist group, the movement is made up of Marxist ideologues and lower-caste and tribal combatants who seek to overthrow a system that has abused them. In 2010, anthropologist Alpa Shah embarked on a seven-night trek with some of these communist guerrillas, walking 250 kilometres through the dense, hilly forests of eastern India. Speaking to leaders and living for years with villagers in guerrilla strongholds, Shah seeks to understand how and why some of India's poor have shunned the world's largest democracy and taken up arms to fight for a fairer society--and asks whether they might be undermining their own aims. Nightmarch is a compelling reflection on dispossession and conflict at the heart of contemporary India. SHORT-LISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING, 2019 SHORT-LISTED FOR THE NEW INDIA FOUNDATION BOOK PRIZE, 2019 WINNER OF THE 2020 ASSOCIATION FOR POLITICAL AND LEGAL ANTHROPOLOGY BOOK PRIZE A 2018 New Statesman Book of the YearTrade Review‘One of the most nuanced, informed accounts yet of this strange and awful conflict . . . one of the few accounts we possess that gives [the Naxalites] a voice.’'I’ve enormously enjoyed and admired Alpa Shah’s careful, rich, sympathetic account of the Maoist insurgency in India . . . a brave and necessary work'.'This remarkable account offers unprecedented insight into the Naxalite movement .... skilfully sketching characters such as Gyanji, the intellectual elder, Kohli, the tribal teenager 'adopted' by the guerrillas, and Vikas, the corrrupt commander ... What emerges is a portrait of India's diminishing democracy, under the yoke of its ultra-Hindu nationalist government.' -- Le Monde Diplomatique'Powerful, emotional and painstakingly detailed analysis . . . a rare insight. . . the book is engrossing and its characters will haunt you.' * The Hindu *'A subtle and moving portrait . . . Shah combines powerful first-hand description – as gripping as any novel – with analysis which understands the rebel’s motivations and backgrounds without ever falling into simplistic political binaries.’‘Powerful, reflective and deeply engaged scholarship . . . rarely does a work of social science transport one so fully into the lives and worlds of those whose stories are being recounted. Alpa Shah succeeds in doing just that and more by combining ethnographic profundity with almost cinematic vividness . . . the work is a perfect illustration of the unique contribution anthropologists can bring in comprehending the world we live in.’'An astonishing journey. A rare, granular portrait.' -- The Indian Express‘[Alpa Shah] treats the groups she is living with as equal social and political beings … The result is a powerful synthesis, warm but never uncritical, a distillation of her own scholarship and the experiences of her subjects, that immerses the reader in a lifeworld.’ -- New Left Review'A thoughtful and balanced account.' -- La Stampa'Simultaneously a major contribution to scholarship and at the same time written to entice a wider readership to care about the poor and their insurgent politics.' -- Journal of Peasant Studies‘A beautifully crafted and highly engaging narrative that draws the reader into the secretive world of one of today’s forgotten revolutions . . . [an] ethnographically rich and vivid rendering.’'An eloquent and compassionate account of revolutionaries whose voices are rarely heard. Shah skilfully analyses the individual motivations for the Naxalites' radical commitment, their failures, and the deep history of exploitation and neglect that has provoked their struggle for liberation.' -- David Lan, theatre producer and author of 'Guns and Rain'‘[A] vibrant piece of anthropological work . . . written in a way that provides food for thought and, at the same time, moves hearts, this book is an example of the unique contribution anthropologists can bring to understanding the world we live in.’'Shah’s brilliant, careful research and writing is not meant to be an apologia for her subject. It’s quite the opposite. . . . a book that dwells on the electrifyingly complex battle between ideas and experience.''As a committed independent observer and researcher, [Shah's] experience has endowed her with a genuine understanding of the Naxalite revolutionaries.''A story that could not be more important, told with the perfect balance of clear-eyed realism, thoughtful criticism, and deep and abiding love. ... Nightmarch reveals what anthropology can do in the hands of a master willing to take genuine risks in the name of human freedom.' -- David Graeber, author of 'Bullshit Jobs' and 'Debt: The First 5000 Years''One of the most gripping, engaging and accessible books I've encountered on the Naxalites. Shah fearlessly bears witness to the upheavals caused by India's rising inequalities, while also asking many urgent, difficult questions.' -- Meena Kandasamy, author of 'When I Hit You''Compassionate, courageous and uncommonly observant. This is an extraordinary work of rigorous, reflective and deeply engaged scholarship, full of unexpected insights. At the same time, it manages to be haunting, lyrical, occasionally harrowing, even racy--more compelling than some of the best fiction writing.' -- Harsh Mander, human rights worker and author of 'Fatal Accidents of Birth', 'Looking Away' and 'Ash in the Belly''It is hard to imagine a work of social science as a page-turner that you cannot put down. But this intrepid author has produced that rare find: ... a beautifully written and absorbing book that disturbs, moves and educates the reader all at once.' -- Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University‘A brilliant work of social anthropology that feels like watching Pontevecoro’s masterpiece, The Battle of Algiers, seamlessly illuminating the wider conditions that lead to insurgency with moving personal stories of those on the ground.’ -- Steve Chandra Savale, guitarist/composer/producer, Asian Dub Foundation'In this intimate and insightful book, Shah elucidates why Adivasis become Naxalites and are also able to alternate between being Naxalites and not being Naxalites; brings out several contradictions in the Naxalite movement; breaks stereotypes about the Adivasis; discusses issues of class, community, privilege, sexual behaviour, and the status of women; and asks one vital question: Is the Naxalite movement doing good for the Adivasis?' -- Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, author of 'The Adivasi Will Not Dance''Brave, brilliant and beautifully written, Nightmarch is an anthropological tour de force. Shah portrays the Naxalites' revolutionary dedication with love, respect and analytical acumen, while laying bare the tragic contradictions of their armed struggle.' -- Philippe Bourgois, author of 'In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio' and 'Righteous Dopefiend''Nightmarch is outstanding, combining ethnographic depth with almost cinematic vividness. From an extraordinary inside perspective, Shah reveals a complex interplay among the Naxalites of political ideals, cultural values, personal attachments, and the lure of money.' -- Sherry B. Ortner, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, UCLA'Riveting, finely textured, and acutely perceptive, Nightmarch captures both the Naxalite insurgency's contradictions and its human promise against the background of the crippling indignities and exclusions of Indian society. It is a model of what ethnography can offer.' -- James C. Scott, author of 'Against the Grain''Profoundly insightful and compassionate, but also critical. ... An admirable example of serious social science writing, this book exhibits the potential of ethnographic research with a comparative angle -- grounded and accessible, yet still theoretically rich.' -- Surinder S. Jodhka, Professor of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University'Bold and courageous, humane and sensitive, Nightmarch is an excellent illustration of how to take ethnography beyond the confines of the academic world.' -- Virginius Xaxa, author of 'State, Society and Tribes: Issues in Post-Colonial India'‘Woven into a fascinating account of her walk through the Maoist heartland, Shah tells a scorching story of dispossession, displacement, exploitation, intense inequality and state violence in India.’

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Book SynopsisIn 1945, as Allied bombers continued their final pounding of Berlin, the panicking Nazis began moving the assets of the Reichsbank south for safekeeping. Vast trainloads of gold and currency were evacuated from the doomed capital of Hitler's 'Thousand-year Reich'. Nazi Gold is the real-life story of the theft of that fabulous treasure - worth some 2,500,000,000 at the time of the original investigation. It is also the story of a mystery and attempted whitewash in an American scandal that pre-dated Watergate by nearly 30 years. Investigators were impeded at every step as they struggled to uncover the truth and were left fearing for their lives. The authors' quest led them to a murky, dangerous post-war world of racketeering, corruption and gang warfare. Their brilliant reporting, matching eyewitness testimony with declassified Top Secret documents from the US Archives, lays bare this monumental crime in a narrative which throngs with SS desperadoes, a red-headed queen of crime and American military governors living like Kings. Also revealed is the authors' discovery of some of the missing treasure in the Bank of England.Trade ReviewReads like the sleazy world described in Graham Greene's Third Man with several noughts added to the transactions * Daily Express *A major feat of detection . . . a remarkable story . . . the murky post-war world of racketeering and corruption . . . it is all here . . . they have solved the mystery as far as anyone could solve it * Birmingham Post *A riveting thriller-style account of what happened to the Nazi gold hoard * The Guardian *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Korda clearly has command of his subject...[Clouds of Glory] is well-considered and amply documented. Military buffs will find much to feast on." -- Christian Science Monitor "Masterful...Korda delivers the goods." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Superbly engaging." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Monumental." -- BookPage "Lively, approachable, and captivating...Llike Lee himself, everything about Clouds of Glory is on a grand scale." -- Boston Globe

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ORWELL PRIZE 2012. This is the gripping story of the men of the Welsh Guards and their bloody battle for survival in Afghanistan in 2009. Underequipped and overstretched, they found themselves in the most intense fighting the British had experienced in a generation. They were led into battle by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, a passionate believer in the justness of the war who was deeply dismayed by the way it was being resourced and conducted. Thorneloe was killed by an IED during Operation Panther's Claw, the biggest operation mounted by the British in Helmand. Dead Men Risen draws on secret documents written by Thorneloe, which raise questions from beyond the grave that will unnerve politicians and generals alike. The Welsh Guards also lost Major Sean Birchall, commanding officer of IX Company, and Lieutenant Mark Evison, a platoon commander whose candid personal diary was unnervingly prophetic. Not since the Second World War had a single British battalion lost officers at the three key levels of leadership. Harnden transports the reader into the heart of a conflict in which a soldier has to be prepared to kill and die, to ward off paralysing fear and watch comrades perish in agony. Given unprecedented access to the Welsh Guards, Harnden conducted hundreds of interviews in Afghanistan, England and Wales. He weaves the experiences of the guardsmen and the loved ones they left behind into a seamless and unsparing narrative that sits alongside a piercing analysis of the political and military strategy. No other book about modern warfare succeeds on so many levels.Trade Review'Dead Men Risen dilutes the saccarine perception of soldiering and replaces it with the gritty and gruesome reality of war' Patrick Hennessey, author of The Junior Officer's Book Club. * Patrick Hennessey *'Desperately moving ... Dead Men Risen is a serious work, far removed from the blood-and-thrills of the Bravo Two Zero school of military literary campaigning. Such books may grip but they do not engage. Harnden's does both' Spectator. * Spectator *'So vividly rendered that one can almost smell the sweat, the cordite and the acrid scent of fear' Daily Mail. * Daily Mail *'The best book so far on Britain's military adventure in Afghanistan ... Dead Men Risen will stand as a true, unsparing record of what happened there' Patrick Bishop, author of 3 PARA. * Patrick Bishop *Table of ContentsMaps. Order of Battle. Author's Note. Prologue. Cymru Am Byth. Green Zone. Whitehall Warrior. Fighting Season. The Afghan Factor. Barma Inshallah. Flashman's Fort. Life is Fragile. Mystery Junction. Low Metal Content. Heaven in Helmand. Big Hand, Small Map. On the Canal. Top Cover. Regret to Inform. Men of Harlech. Battle Shock. One Shot, Two Kills. Dragon Punch. Time and the Clock. Epilogue. List of Key Personnel. Chronology. Glossary. Notes. Bibliography. Acknowledgements. List of Maps. Picture Credits. Index.

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Book Synopsis'This book will take your breath away, break your heart, and leave you in awe' President Bill Clinton_______Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines speak in their own words about real life in today's armed forces. These are the brutally honest stories usually only shared amongst comrades in arms; stories of life-and-death decisions, and learning how to live with the effects of horrific injuries, both physical and mental. In the voices of the men and women who've fought overseas, from Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, this is a rare eye-opening look into what it's really like to wear the uniform, fight in combat, lose friends and come home. Walk in my Combat Boots is a powerful collection of never-before-told war stories crafted from hundreds of original interviews by James Patterson, the world's most trusted storyteller, and First Sergeant US Army (Ret.) Matt Eversmann, part of the Ranger unit involved in the infamous Battle of Mogadishu portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down._______'Raw, authentic, and above all, inspiring' Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Ret.) 'Each of these stories of the personal experience of combat is unique, homespun, and honest' Brigadier General Peter Dawkins, US Army (Ret.)'Painfully raw, improbably funny, and completely human' Stanley A. McChrystal, General, US Army (Ret.) 'A vivid and authentic portrait of life in the modern military . . . Powerful. This edifying collection captures the highs and lows of the military experience' Publishers Weekly 'Urgent and full of suspense . . . In this wide-ranging, consistently absorbing collection, the authors cover the entire spectrum of American military action during the last 50 years' Kirkus 'Extraordinary . . . a deeply intimate insider's look' Richard Engel, NBC News Chief foreign correspondentTrade ReviewThis book will take your breath away, break your heart, and leave you in awe -- President Bill ClintonRaw, authentic, and above all, inspiring -- Admiral William H. McRaven, US Navy (Ret.)Combat is hard to make sense of. Probably because, in many ways, it makes no sense. James Patterson and Matt Eversmann's unvarnished portrayal of soldiers is right on. Each of these stories of the personal experience of combat is unique, homespun, and honest. God bless them, one and all. -- Brigadier General Peter Dawkins, US Army (Ret.)A vivid and authentic portrait of life in the modern military . . . Powerful. This edifying collection captures the highs and lows of the military experience. * Publishers Weekly *Up close war is a tapestry of individual stories, as painfully raw, improbably funny, and completely human as the soldiers themselves. James Patterson and my former Ranger comrade Matt Eversmann, have brilliantly woven together an image that is as compelling as it is entertaining. -- Stanley A. McChrystal, General, US Army (Ret.)

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Book Synopsis'An incredible story, and so well told' Bear Grylls'Honesty, integrity and real experience that puts you in the thick of the action.' Billy BillinghamThere were three patrols that fateful January 1991 morning: Bravo One Zero, Bravo Two Zero and Bravo Three Zero. It was the opening hours of the Gulf War and the SAS were flown deep behind enemy lines to hunt down Saddam's Scud missiles, the use of which threatened a Third World War.The men of Bravo One Zero stepped off the chopper, took one look at the flat desert devoid of any cover and decided no way were they deploying into all of that. But Andy NcNab's famed Bravo Two Zero patrol did deploy, with fatal results - all bar one being captured or killed.And then there was Bravo Three Zero. These men were different. Thought differently. Acted differently. Treating as gospel the SAS's saying 'any fool can be uncomfortable', they deployed with vehicles, and while there was nowhere to hide they could make a dash for the border if desperate.Even as warnings came in that McNab's patrol was on the run, Bravo Three Zero remained undetected - the furthest Coalition forces behind Iraqi lines. Slipping through enemy positions, a string of targets were taken out. But with the desert turning bitter and snow starting to fall, they were forced to fight a running battle against the elements as much as the enemy.Though overshadowed by the fate of Bravo Two Zero, the achievements of this highly-decorated patrol are the stuff of elite forces legend. Now, for the first time, SAS veteran Des Powell reveals their story in gritty, blow-by-blow detail. Written with acclaimed military author Damien Lewis, this is a tale of edge-of-the seat daring deep inside enemy lands. Brutal, savage, unrelenting - prepare to be blown away, in a tale that proves utterly the SAS motto - who dares wins.

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Book SynopsisFew military organisations have had a greater importance than the Wagner Group: at a cursory glance no more than a disreputable private mercenary group dedicated to committing war crimes yet also, astonishingly, the challengers of the Kremlin on 23-24 June, 2023—unheard of in over two decades of Vladimir Putin’s rule. From its inception in 2014 this nebulous organisation operating from Russia was intentionally cloaked in questions. How was it able to operate alongside Russia’s top government officials? How could it deploy the logistical systems of the Russian army up to and including ordering air attacks with fighter planes of the Russian Federation, despite the deep antipathy of Russia’s powerful defence minister Sergei Shoigu? Why did the Kremlin provide such an ample helping hand to its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, for over a decade? In this compelling book, former Financial Times journalist Owen Wilson investigates the Wagner Group and their ties to Vladimir Putin. It skilfully sets out its history and the dramatic death of Yevgeny Prigozhin to cast a searching light on the person who ultimately stands behind the group.Trade ReviewAUTHOR’S PREVIOUS PRAISE: ‘Excruciating.’ Sunday Times; Financial Times Best Book of the Week; ‘Goes behind the headlines.’ Independent; ‘Shocking.’ MetroTable of ContentsPrigozhin’s Sledgehammer 5 Introduction 7 1 The ‘Polite Men’ 13 2 Syrian Massacre 20 3 War Crimes for Sale 23 4 The Conoco Battle 28 5 Expansion 37 6 Libya, 2018 43 7 Putin’s Key to Africa 53 8 Prigozhin 60 9 Troll Factory 70 10 Kremlin Bear Hug 77 11 Careful What You Wish For 85 12 Global Attraction 94 13 Mercenary Colonies 99 14 Moral High Ground 115 Part 2 Nemesis: the Second Invasion of Ukraine 123 1 Lukashenko 124 2 Botched Invasion 128 3 Beating the Russian Army 137 4 Dropping Like Flies 144 5 Prisoner Deception 149 6 Expanding the Empire of Death 159 7 Assassination Attempt 165 8 Bakhmut’s Meat Grinder 171 9 Army of Convicts 177 10 Pyrrhic Victory 182 11 Bakhmut Propaganda 189 12 Wagnerovcis on Steroids 195 13 Wings Clipped 200 14 Eastern Ukraine 206 15 Bombing Notice 212 16 Undermining 218 17 Retreat 225 18 Russian Clowns 233 19 Rebellion 240 Putin Inc 247

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Book SynopsisThe #1 New York Times bestselling memoir of U.S. Navy Seal Chris Kyle, and the source for Clint Eastwood’s blockbuster movie which was nominated for six academy awards, including best picture.From 1999 to 2009, U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle recorded the most career sniper kills in United States military history.Trade Review"Chris Kyle tells his story with the same courage and grit he displayed in life and on the battlefield. American Sniper is a compelling read." -- CLINT EASTWOOD "An amazingly detailed account of fighting in Iraq--a humanizing, brave story that's extremely readable." -- PATRICIA CORNWELL, New York Times Book Review "In the elite community of warriors, one man has risen above our ranks and distinguished himself as unique. Chris Kyle is that man. A master sniper, Chris has done and seen things that will be talked about for generations to come." -- MARCUS LUTTRELL, author of Lone Survivor "Chris Kyle was incredible, the most celebrated war hero of our time, a true American hero in every sense of the word." -- D Magazine "The raw and unforgettable narrative of the making of our country's record-holding sniper, Chris Kyle's memoir is a powerful book, both in terms of combat action and human drama. Chief Kyle is a true American warrior down to the bone, the Carlos Hathcock of a new generation." -- CHARLES W. SASSER, Green Beret (US Army Ret.) and author of One Shot, One Kill "Reads like a first-person thriller narrated by a sniper. The bare-bones facts are stunning. ... A first-rate military memoir." -- BOOKLIST #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER -- No Source "American Sniper is the inside story of what it's like to be in war. A brave warrior and patriot, Chris Kyle writes frankly about the missions, personal challenges, and hard choices that are part of daily life of an elite SEAL Sniper. It's a classic!" -- RICHARD MARCINKO (USN, Ret.), First Commanding Officer of SEAL Team Six and #1 bestselling author of Rogue Warrior

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Book SynopsisAn urgent, insightful account of the human side of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine by seasoned war reporter Tim Judah Making his way from the Polish border in the west, through the capital city and the heart of the 2014 revolution, to the eastern frontline near the Russian border, Tim Judah brings a rare glimpse of the reality behind the headlines. Along the way he talks to the people living through the conflict - mothers, soldiers, businessmen, poets, politicians - whose memories of a contested past shape their attitudes, allegiances and hopes for the future. Together, their stories paint a vivid picture of what the second largest country in Europe feels like in wartime: a nation trapped between powerful forces, both political and historical.''Visceral, gripping, heartbreaking'' Simon Sebag Montefiore''Haunting . . . timely . . . Interviewing a wide range of people who have been caught up in the recent conflict, Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost'' Alexander Larman, Observer ''Comes close to the master, Ryszard Kapuscinski'' Roger Boyes, The Times ''A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah looks at the present - what Ukraine looks and feels like now'' Marcus Tanner, IndependentTrade ReviewHaunting . . . timely . . . Judah concentrates skilfully and affectingly on the human cost of manoeuvres in Ukraine. He seldom makes his own thoughts and opinions seem intrusive, instead letting his eloquent and compassionate subjects give a far greater insight into the horror and privations -- Alexander Larman * Observer *Tim Judah has got a lot closer to the war in eastern Ukraine than most western reporters - close enough to be able to convey vividly to readers the smells and sounds . . . His experience of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s helped Judah spot this war as it mutated from malignant propaganda into blood-spattered reality. As a reporter, he excels at letting the Ukrainians themselves do the talking. -- Niall FergusonThe strength of Judah's In Wartime lies in the depth, range and balance of his reportage and his eye for telling details. -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *Tim Judah . . . does not tell us what to think about war but instead teaches us how: with courage, humility, attention to human detail, and admirable historical intuition. -- Timothy SnyderVisceral, gripping, heart-breaking and often shocking, based on interviews with witnesses and victims on the ground, In Wartime is both astute political analysis and vivid war reportage of what's really happening in the dirty war in Ukraine by a veteran observer of the Balkan wars who truly understands the complexities and nuances -- Simon Sebag MontefioreA compelling and acute piece of contemporary reportage -- David Edgar * London Review of Books *Judah has carved out a reputation as one of Europe's best writers on the Balkans. His job description should be something like History Wars Correspondent . . . comes close to the master, Ryszard Kapuscinski -- Roger Boyes * Times *A kaleidoscopic portrait . . . Judah Looks at the present - what Ukraine looks and feels like now. He criss-crosses the country from the Russian-speaking east to the Ukrainian-speaking west. -- Marcus Tanner * Independent *A timely account . . . a vivid human portrait -- Annabelle Chapman * Prospect *Essential for anyone who wants to understand events in Ukraine and what they portend for the West. . . . Mr. Judah has written the first important book about the war in Ukraine, and it should be on the shelf of every diplomat and journalist shipping out to the region * Wall Street Journal *The historical analysis in "In Wartime: Stories From Ukraine" is deep, fastidious and detailed. Judah articulately and comprehensively explains what happened in the region during World War II, and the important connection between history and present-day violence.... rich and beautiful... an impartial account of the situation today that depicts people from all sides of the conflict in a fair and respectful way. Additionally, "In Wartime" brilliantly explains the significance of the past, covering in detail World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires. * Chicago Tribune *A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine... Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage... This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach * Publishers Weekly *A fascinating and often grim portrait of Ukraine... Judah offers a compassionate human view of these conflicts, mixing personal stories, history, politics, and reportage... This special and timely book will provide lay readers with an apt introduction to Ukraine, and specialist will appreciate its atypical yet enlightening approach * Foreign Affairs *Judah's book is full of detailed reporting from both Western and Eastern Ukraine-he covered the conflict with Russia for The New York Review of Books-and although he sympathizes with the attempts to strengthen the government in Kiev and repel Russian aggression, his book offers a nuanced portrait of people on all sides of the conflict. -- Isaac Chotiner * Slate *Vividly clear... A portrait of what it's like living during wartime... Judah gives a very helpful overview of Ukraine's systematic economic difficulties... Brave, thoughtful, self-effacing, and effective. -- William T. Vollmann * Bookforum *An important new book... fast-paced and very topical... Judah's expertise is appealingly ambitious in its scope... Readers won't forget the pathos and violence Tim Judah has described, and they owe him a vote of thanks for that. * Christian Science Monitor *

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Book Synopsis“This is state-of-the-art alternate history, nothing less.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)When the Great War engulfed Europe in 1914, the United States and the Confederate States of America, bitter enemies for five decades, entered the fray on opposite sides: the United States aligned with the newly strong Germany, while the Confederacy joined forces with their longtime allies, Britain and France. But it soon became clear to both sides that this fight would be different—that war itself would never be the same again. For this was to be a protracted, global conflict waged with new and chillingly efficient innovations—the machine gun, the airplane, poison gas, and trench warfare.Across the Americas, the fighting raged like wildfire on multiple and far-flung fronts. As President Theodore Roosevelt rallied the diverse ethnic groups of the northern states—Irish and Italians, Mormons and Jews—Confederate President Woo

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Book SynopsisEven by SAS standards Mike Curtis has had a remarkable career. A former coal miner and likely Welsh international, he served with 2 Para in the Falklands before going on to join the SAS.In C.Q.B. he describes his gruelling experience in the Falklands and also focus on two more of his major SAS operations; the first in Iraq where he spent several weeks behind enemy lines; the second in Bosnia where he worked closely with all factions and latterly led a close protection team guarding visiting heads of State.Goose Green, the first land battle of the Falklands conflict, was the longest, hardest-fought, and most controversial. The outcome there was to set the tone for the remainder of the war, affect international opinion and the morale and determination of both armies.The SAS infiltrated Iraq in two guises - as road-watch patrols and mobile fighting columns. Constituting the biggest SAS overland fighting force since the Second World War, Mike Curtis''s troop cTrade ReviewWell paced, tightly written... an excellent book... genuinely outsanding * Daily Mail *

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Book Synopsis''A reminder that every childhood is different, and some are jaw-droppingly, mind-bendingly, heart-wrenchingly different.'' - Morris Gleitzman, Australian Children''s LaureateDeng Adut was six years old when war came to his village in South Sudan. Taken from his mother, he was conscripted into the Sudanese People''s Liberation Army. He was taught to use an AK-47 and sent into battle. Shot in the back, plagued by illness and the relentless brutality of war, Deng''s future was bleak. A child soldier must kill or be killed. But, after five years, he was rescued by his brother John and, miraculously, they became the third Sudanese family resettled in Australia. Songs of a War Boy is the inspirational memoir of a young man who has overcome unthinkable adversity to become a lawyer, refugee advocate and NSW Australian of the Year. It is also an important reminder of the power of compassion.Content warning: Parts of this book contain cTrade ReviewIt is an important reminder of the power of compassion and the benefit to us all when we open our doors and our hearts to fleeing war, persecution and trauma. * VIC [PRINT] Sunraysua Life *

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Book SynopsisWhen the US Navy send their elite, they send the SEALs. When the SEALs send their elite, they send SEAL Team Six.SEAL Team Six is a clandestine unit tasked with counterterrorism, hostage rescue and counterinsurgency. Until recently its existence was a closely-guarded secret. Then ST6 took down Osama bin Laden, and the operatives within it were thrust into the global spotlight.In this internationally bestselling chronicle, former ST6 shooter Howard Wasdin takes readers deep inside the world of Navy SEALs and Special Forces snipers. From the inside track on the operation that killed the world''s most wanted man to his own experience of the gruelling ST6 selection processes to his terrifying ordeal at the ''Black Hawk Down'' battle in Somalia, Wasdin''s book is one of the most explosive military memoirs in years.Trade ReviewAs action packed as a Ton Clancy thriller New York Times A compelling portrayal of a remarkable breed of men capable of things that few of us can imagine - and most would prefer not to Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisWith the outbreak of Gulf War hostilities a unit from 22 SAS slipped quietly over the border and into the enemy''s backyard. It would be six weeks before any of the patrol again reached safety.Sabre Squadron recounts in graphic detail their scud-busting operations deep inside Iraq. They were operating alone and out of reach of reinforcements, with the threat of detection and its fatal consequences ever present. Yet their determination to wreak havoc behind enemy lines remained undimmed, culminating in an attack that decisively reconfirmed the regiment''s awesome reputation.Cameron Spence, a senior NCO on the operation, takes you as close to the fighting SAS as you are ever likely to get, conveying the relentless tension, black humour and camaraderie punctuated by explosive, nerve-shredding action that characterized the mission.This is the true story of an SAS operation of breathtaking audacity and flair, carried out under unimaginable pressure, Trade ReviewA brilliantly authentic account of war with an SAS patrol, it's a fantastic read -- Andy McNab, bestselling author of Brave Two ZeroTense and at times terrifying... a well-told action story * Sunday Telegraph *A terrific read * The Times *Blood, guts and military macho - as authentic as anything you are likely to read * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the brave, shocking and remarkable true story of two RAF lieutenants'' capture during the Gulf War''HEROISM UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY'' Independent''THE MOST COMPELLING STORY OF THE GULF WAR'' Daily Mail_________RAF Flight Lieutenants John Peters and John Nichol were shot down over enemy territory on their first mission of the Gulf War.Their capture in the desert, half a mile from their blazing Tornado bomber, led to seven harrowing weeks of torture, confinement and interrogation.An ordeal which brought both men close to death.In Tornado Down, John Peters and John Nichol tell the incredible story of their part in the war against Saddam Hussein''s regime.It is a brave and shocking and totally honest story: a story about war and its effects on the hearts and minds of men.

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Book SynopsisBritish Commando George Thomsen's action-filled account of combat during the Falklands War.Trade Review'The untold story of how 22 Marines held off hundreds of Argentinians and disabled a warship on the eve of the Falklands war' THE DAILY MAIL 'Hero reveals Falklands very own 'Rorke's Drift'... told for the first time by one of the men involved' THE DAILY TELEGRAPHTable of ContentsAcknowledgements George's Thoughts Preface March 25th 1982 Chapter 1 April 1981; NP 8901 Have Landed Chapter 2 Hurry Up And Wait Chapter 3 In Cold Blood Chapter 4 Hearts And Minds Chapter 5 Round The Table Chapter 6 Enter The Pigs Chapter 7 The Glory Hour Chapter 8 A Brush With The Junta Chapter 9 The Rich And The Dead Chapter 10 Guns in Doorways Chapter 11 A Revealing Flight Chapter 12 Battle Fitness Chapter 13 Swimming With Penguins Chapter 14 Christmas 1981 Chapter 15 February 1982: The Swan Run Chapter 16 The Men For The Job Chapter 17 Chipping Off Chapter 18 The Eagle's Nest Chapter 19 A Drink With 'The Bear' Chapter 20 Red Alert Chapter 21 A Voice Across The Ocean Chapter 22 Force 11 Chapter 23 The Last Supper Chapter 24 Cold Steel Chapter 25 Enter The Predator Chapter 26 Firefight Epilogue Glossary

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Book Synopsis'An adrenalin-fuelled, gritty story of heroism on the frontline in Afghanistan' - Andy McNabUnflinching and laced with wry humour, Johnny Mercer's We Were Warriors is an action-packed account of his journey from young commando to a captain with one of the most pressurized and skilled jobs in the army.A captain in 29 Commando, Johnny Mercer served in the army for twelve years. On his third tour of Afghanistan he was a Joint Fires Controller, with the pressurized job of bringing down artillery and air strikes in close proximity to his own troops. Based in an area of northern Helmand that was riddled with Taliban leaders, he walked into danger with every patrol, determined to protect them. Then one morning, in brutal close quarter combat, everything changed . . . In We Were Warriors Johnny takes us from his commando training to the heat, blood and chaos of battle. With brutal honesty, he describes what it is like to risk your life every day, pushing through the fear that follows watching your friends die. He took the fight back to the enemy with a relentless efficiency that came at a high personal cost. Back in the UK, seeing the inadequate care available for veterans and their families, he was inspired to run for Parliament in the hope he could improve their plight.'This is NOT the stereotypical account of war, it's without doubt the best first hand account in a war zone I've ever read.' – Tom Marcus, ex MI5 Surveillance Officer, author of Soldier, SpyTrade ReviewThis is NOT the stereotypical account of war, it's without doubt the best first hand account in a war zone I've ever read. Brutally honest, humble and written with a pace that could induce a heart attack. Johnny is an MP now; he's what our country needs. A warrior. -- Tom Marcus, ex MI5 Surveillance Officer, author of Soldier, SpyAn adrenalin-fuelled, gritty story of heroism on the frontline in Afghanistan. Going into battle with Johnny and his highly skilled Fire Support Team will have you on the edge of your seat.' -- Andy McNabA highly-charged, vivid and moving account of frontline combat, and then an even harder fight to honour the sacrifice of so many. Utterly compelling throughout. -- Tom Newton Dunn, Political Editor, the SunOne of the great British accounts of close combat . . . It is the inner conflict, as much as the closing with a shadowy enemy, that gives the book its edge . . . a remarkable book by a man remarkable in his humanity and courage. -- Robert Fox * Evening Standard *His powerful memoir gives a devastating account of the fear, confusion and comradeship of close combat, but is pierced with moments of deep tenderness for both his young family and old comrades. * Daily Mail *This is a gripping and honest story of one man’s escape from the frying pan of an unhappy childhood into the fire of combat. From the brutal initiation of Sandhurst’s Rowallan Company to the killing fields of Afghanistan – it bears testimony above all to the redemptive power of that extraordinary institution, the British Army. -- Mark Urban

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Book Synopsis'The Book Collectors of Daraya celebrates the political and therapeutic power of the written word . . . defiant and cautiously optimistic' Financial Times'[An] incredible chronicle . . . The book tells the kind of story that often gets buried beneath images of violence' LitHub In 2012 the rebel suburb of Daraya in Damascus was brutally besieged by Syrian government forces. Four years of suffering ensued, punctuated by shelling, barrel bombs and chemical gas attacks. People’s homes were destroyed and their food supplies cut off; disease was rife. Yet in this man-made hell, forty young Syrian revolutionaries embarked on an extraordinary project, rescuing all the books they could find in the bombed-out ruins of their home town. They used them to create a secret library, in a safe place, deep underground. It became their school, their university, their refuge. It was a place to learn, to exchange ideas, to dream and to hope. Based on lengthy interviews with these young men, conducted over Skype by the award-winning French journalist Delphine Minoui, The Book Collectors of Daraya is a powerful testament to freedom, tolerance and the power of literature.Translated from the French by Lara Vergnaud.Trade ReviewThere is something seductive about the idea of knowledge as a bulwark against brutal force, and it’s an idea that immediately resonates with Minoui . . . She makes up for the lack of on-the-ground access with an abundance of attention and empathy. -- Mythili Rao * Guardian *The Book Collectors of Daraya celebrates the political and therapeutic power of the written word . . . defiant and cautiously optimistic -- Houman Barekat * Financial Times *[An] incredible chronicle . . . The book tells the kind of story that often gets buried beneath images of violence. -- Corinne Segal * LitHub *Just like prisons across the region, rebel strongholds are sometimes universities in exile; witnessing the unexpected joy of learning in such circumstances is both sobering and inspiring. -- Lisa Anderson * Foreign Affairs *A haunting portrait . . . Fluidly translated and emotionally powerful, this devastating account pays tribute to the "dream of a better world that never fully came true" * Publishers Weekly *This compassionate portrayal of an engaging group of rebels serves as a testament to both the resilience of the human spirit and to the power of story. Highly recommended for those interested in current events, Middle East history and politics, and personal accounts of war. * Library Journal *An extraordinary story . . . Heartbreaking, inspiring, and beautifully told * Kirkus Reviews *Readers will be moved by the plight of the people of Daraya, and inspired by their faith in the power of books to give information, release, and hope. * Booklist *The Book Collectors of Daraya is about hope and connection against unspeakable violence, deprivation, and tragedy. It is a meaningful addition to the literary subgenre that covers books and libraries. -- Martha Anne Toll * NPR *Precise yet passionate . . . The Book Collectors of Daraya is a phenomenal story of hope in the midst of complete devastation. -- Alice Cary * BookPage *The Book Collectors of Daraya hurt me like never before, because I hold this country I have never visited, my country, close to my heart . . . Readers discover how the magic of books kept the rebels motivated, hopeful, sane and, most importantly, alive . . . Honest and brutal, it opens your eyes to the nightmares of war but also to the glory of books and reading. -- Bader Saab * Patheos *This is an urgent and compelling account of great bravery and passion. Delphine Minoui has crafted a book that champions books and the individuals who risk everything to preserve them. -- Susan Orlean, author of The Library BookAbsolutely essential reading. With masterful storytelling, Delphine Minoui recounts the struggle and tenacity of the youth of Daraya who, in the shadow of a merciless war, rescue books from the rubble and bring to life a library unlike any other. Each page connects us to their strength and their spirit as well as to the power of words in a crumbling world. This book is an ode to resistance, to freedom, and to life. -- Négar Djavadi, author of DisorientalAfter reading this book, there can be no doubt. Not about the power of words versus the words of those in power. Not about the importance of literature in times of despair. And not about the strength of Delphine Minoui's pen, as she honors the act of resistance against the disaster of war. -- Atiq Rahimi, author of A Curse on DostoevskyI was so moved by this account of the young rebels of Daraya, Syria, who, in the midst of a four-year blockade by Assad’s forces (including having poison gas used against them), set up a library with books rescued from bombed and destroyed buildings, an underground (in both senses of the word) library that grew to more than 15,000 titles, ranging from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People to Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, and everything in between. In this testimony to the power of reading, these lines stood out: ‘Books are their best way to escape the war, if only temporarily. A melody of words against the dirge of bombs.’ -- Nancy Pearl, author of Book Lust and George and Lizzie

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Book SynopsisGraham Allen, a U.S. Army veteran and a rising star in the conservative movement, makes the case that the United States should look to the country as it was on September 12th, 2001 for lessons about our future. On the day after the World Trade Center was attacked, Americans came together regardless of color, religion, or sexual orientation. We were united. On that day, nearly every store in the country sold out of American flags.After the events of the last eighteen months, from the Covid-19 pandemic to the constant attempts to divide us by race, Graham Allen believes that we should all look back on the events of 9/12 and remember what unites us. He believes that we do not all have to be the same, that it's okay not to agree on everything, but that we share a common history and a set of values.Just as the year 1776 serves as a reminder of our beginning, 9/12 will serve as a reminder of our present and future.

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Book SynopsisWhen the Japanese invade in 1942, the Australian men and women stationed at the New Guinea port of Rabaul flee into the jungle.Written off by their government as ‘hostages to fortune’, the little-known garrison on Australia’s tropic frontier has been left with no modern equipment, no lifeline to the outside, and no means of escape. Most are captured and killed in the sinking of the prison ship Montevideo Maru, which remains Australia’s worst sea disaster. But the surviving soldiers and nurses carry on, to fight the Japanese on other fronts, or to witness the collapse of the Japanese Empire from the inside. Having borne the brunt of defeat, their letters and diaries also record the turning point of the war and the march to victory. Rich in detail drawn from first person accounts, Should We Fall To Ruin illuminates this untold period in military history. It is a compelling tale of bravery and resilience in the face of a seemingly unstoppable enemy.Trade Reviewan important addition to the Australian wartime canon * The Saturday Paper *

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Book SynopsisIn the years after the First World War, thousands of men who had fought on the battlefields were drawn back to the Western Front. For the former soldier, these journeys of remembrance offered a chance to pay homage to their past and to see what peace looked like in those places where they had only known war. Pilgrimage to the Western Front gathers together the first-hand accounts of veterans as they retrace their wartime footsteps and stand again at the scenes where they lived through history's bloodiest conflict. The fascinating reports reveal what they found on their return and their reflections and memories of places still healing from the devastation of the war years. Discover their emotions and what greeted the battle-scarred men as they revisited old haunts, met former friends and foes, and confronted their past. Illustrated with remarkable archive images of the destruction of post-war France and Belgium, many drawn from the collection of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, this volume features fifty personal stories spanning each of the interwar years. Join those who witnessed the Great War on a poignant voyage back to the Western Front and see a world recovering from one great conflict and edging towards another.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Acknowledgements; Glossary of terms; 1919; 1920; 1921; 1922; 1923; 1924; 1925; 1926; 1927; 1928; 1929; 1930; 1931; 1932; 1933; 1934; 1935; 1936; 1937; 1938; 1939; References; Index

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Book SynopsisHastings: Wartime Memories and Photographs weaves the personal stories of 75 people who endured life in Hastings during the Home Front war years with more than 140 photographs, the majority of which have never been published before. It describes the dramatic and turbulent way in which a peaceful seaside resort quickly became a town in grave danger of enemy attack, whose residents had to adapt very rapidly in order to cope with the numerous problems that now faced them. The book delves into the lives of ordinary men, women and children, as well as the soldiers and evacuees who made Hastings their home at the time and so lived with the constant fear of invasion, and provides a detailed and colourful account of life on the front line. The personal stories and photographs are complemented by documentary evidence from various sources, including local newspapers, local and national government records and two very informative private diaries that were meticulously kept in Hastings during the Second World War by John Turner and Charles Chalk. The focus of this book is once again Hastings and St Leonards, but inevitably the surrounding towns and villages are also included.

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Book SynopsisWithout Nancy Tennant, Humphrey Waterfield's exquisite horticultural creations might never have existed. The two of them were life-long partners and together created 'the most beautiful small garden in England' at Hill Pasture in Essex and collaborated on the restoration of the gardens at Le Clos du Peyronnet, Menton, France. It was Nancy who kept Hill Pasture going during the Second World War, and this garden and subsequently Le Clos became their earthly paradise, publicly acclaimed works of art and a consolation for the loss and trauma of their pasts. The gardens were a smokescreen for their deepest feelings, but one day, the smoke would begin to clear and the truth of who and how they really loved would be plain to see. It wasn't what it appeared to be, at all. This challenging love story of paradise lost, found and lost again is set against the backdrop of the 20th century, the traumas of two world wars, polarised British politics, the changing position of women in society, and the transformative power of nature's beauty on the human heart.

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Book Synopsis"Darling the hour has almost arrived. We leave tonight ... I am feeling it very much but I must not weaken. I must be brave. I think that will be the best attitude to take for us all" Harold Bishop is called up to the army in 1941, aged 39. He leaves behind his wife Joan, his children and his livelihood as butler of the grand Cardoness House. What follows is a tender and revealing collection of letters home. Despite the restrictions of the censors, Harold describes his time in a training barracks in Edinburgh, his health and clothes, and his eventual deployment to North Africa. His letters also reveal glimpses of Joan's experiences, making this a valuable social history and a record of a soldier's service. A tender and revealing collection that shares the life and cares of a soldier and his family during WWII

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