Search results for ""Amberley Publishing""
Amberley Publishing Catherine Parr: Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII
Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII. Catherine Parr was enjoying her freedom after her first two arranged marriages when she caught the attention of the elderly Henry VIII. The most reluctant of all Henry's wives, she offered to become his mistress rather than submit herself to the dangers of becoming Henry's queen. This only increased Henry's enthusiasm for the vibrant, intelligent young widow and Catherine was forced to abandon her handsome lover, Thomas Seymour, for the decrepit king. She quickly made her role as queen a success, providing Henry VIII with a domestic tranquillity that he had not known since the early days of his first marriage. For Henry, Catherine was a satisfactory choice but he never stopped considering a new marriage, much to Catherine's terror. Catherine is remembered as the wife who survived but, without her strength of character it could have been very different. It was a relief for Catherine when Henry finally died and she could secretly marry Thomas Seymour. Left with no role in government affairs in her widowhood, she retired to the country, spending time at her manors at Chelsea and Sudeley. It was here that her heart was broken by her discovery of a love affair between her stepdaughter, the future Elizabeth I, and her husband. She died in childbirth accusing her husband of plotting her death. Traditionally portrayed as a matronly and dutiful figure, Elizabeth Norton's new biography shows another side to Catherine. Her life was indeed one of duty but, throughout, she attempted to escape her destiny and find happiness for herself. Ultimately, Catherine was betrayed and her great love affair with Thomas Seymour turned sour.
£12.99
Amberley Publishing Sampans, Banyans and Rambutans: A Childhood in Singapore and Malaya
Growing up as a child in Singapore and Malaya in the 1960s was an idyllic experience. Thousands of children of naval personnel will have the same fond memories of the time spent there, as Derek has. Who could forget the constant hot weather or the strange smells that you only seemed to find in the Far East? Who could forget the heavy monsoon rains, chit-chats or Tiger Balm Gardens? Other memories will include the markets, hawkers, amahs and snake charmers. Shopping was an experience in itself. Bartering was a way of life and anyone who lived there at the time would remember CK Tang's and Change Alley. Only going to school till 1.00 p.m. because of the heat and spending the rest of the day on boat trips or at the beach was wonderful, as were all the fantastic toys that were available at the time. This book will remind people of those far off sunny days of childhood, and will bring back many happy memories to those who shared in the experience.
£12.99
Amberley Publishing School of Aces: The RAF Training School that Won the Battle of Britain
This is the fascinating true story behind one of the key reasons that RAF Fighter Command saw such success in the Second World War and emerged victorious from the Battle of Britain – the incredible training school that transformed young men from inexperienced pilots into some of the finest airmen in the world. From peacetime Armament Practice Camp, to fighter Operational Training Unit, to Central Gunnery School, this is the story of how, between 1926 and 1946, the RAF developed and implemented a world-beating training system. This allowed the RAF to have total faith in the men tasked with combatting the Nazi threat from the air, and School of Aces tells the astonishing story of the station through a wealth of individual stories – with famous names, drama, courage and pathos a-plenty – recalling how pilots, air gunners and ground crew came to be at RAF Sutton Bridge, what life was like for them there and what happened to them afterwards. Prior to and during the Battles of France and Britain, RAF Sutton Bridge played a vital role in the British success by creating, in a remarkably short time, an effective training programme for potential fighter pilots. It then turned out 494 Hurricane pilots with such rapidity that summer that no fewer than 390 graduates flew as part of that illustrious band of men known forever as 'The Few'.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing London Transport Buses, Trams and Trolleybuses in Preservation
When London Transport was formed in 1933 it became the world’s largest municipal transport undertaking, peaking at some 9,000 buses, trams and trolleybuses. London Transport inherited a small selection of historic vehicles that had been retained for preservation and continued this process of retention and display, leading eventually to the establishment of the London Transport Museum. With the growth of private preservation from the 1950s, it is no surprise that there are now more ex-London Transport vehicles preserved than from any other company and that these can be regularly seen both static and active at heritage and museum sites and at many enthusiast-themed events.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing A-Z of Bridlington: Places-People-History
The East Yorkshire town of Bridlington has over 1,000 years of history. Starting off as two smaller settlements, built around the medieval priory and the harbour, it was developed as a fashionable resort in the nineteenth century and had merged into one town by the early 1900s. Bridlington has seen its fair share of tragedies, triumphs, special events and royal visitors as well as being home to some unique stories and characters, from the award of the very first George Cross, the work of Lawrence of Arabia between the wars and bombing raids of the Second World War, to the Great Gale of 1871, the burning of the Royal Victoria Rooms in 1933, a visit by Queen Henrietta Maria and a lifeboat that goes back over 200 years. In A–Z of Bridlington, author Richard M. Jones reveals the history behind Bridlington, its streets and buildings, industries and the people connected with the town. Alongside the famous historical connections, he includes some unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well-known. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this coastal Yorkshire town.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing John of Gaunt: Son of One King, Father of Another
‘Old John of Gaunt, time-honour’d Lancaster’ John of Gaunt (1340–1399) was the son of one king and the father of another. He claimed a Spanish kingdom via his wife, daughter of King Pedro the Cruel. He was the wealthiest, most powerful and most hated man in England for decades. He had a famous and enduring love affair with his mistress Katherine Swynford, whom he later married. He was sometimes the ally and sometimes the enemy of his capricious nephew Richard II. His descendants battled for control of the kingdom during the Wars of the Roses. Via his three marriages, he was the ancestor of numerous royal and noble families across Europe. John of Gaunt is the first biography of this most intriguing of men to appear for decades, and the first to tell his personal story.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing Burgenland: Village Secrets and the First Tremors of the Holocaust
When Hitler marched into Austria in March 1938, he was given a rapturous reception. Millions lined the streets and filled the squares of Vienna. Tobias Portschy, a self-appointed regional Nazi chief, considered what to give the Fuhrer for his birthday, and devised a particular gift from the Austrian people: the elimination of Jewish life in the Burgenland, picturesque farming country about 70 km south-east of Vienna. Eichmann took note of the brutal methodology. The Holocaust had begun. Burgenland is an astonishing survey of Jewish history in Central Europe, an account of the opening salvo of what turned into the systematic industrial-scale genocide of European Jewry, a stern examination of British policy and the world’s wholly inadequate response. It is also a deeply personal memoir and family history. Impeccably researched and hugely ambitious in scope, it narrates the full arc of the Jewish experience in Central Europe over 300 years, following the lives of one family who played a significant part in events described, from the struggle for civil liberties to the resistance to fascism and the rise of Zionism. David Joseph has dissected an uncomfortable history, and the results demand a substantial reassessment of the orthodox narrative around the Holocaust both in Britain and in Austria.
£22.50
Amberley Publishing Paved with Gold: The Life and Times of the Real Dick Whittington
Richard Whittington, known to many as Dick Whittington, was the hero of modern pantomime. Born to a disgraced knight in Gloucester, he travelled to London seeking his fame and fortune. Whittington lived through five reigns – Edward III, Richard, II, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI – and was personally known and regarded by all these Medieval monarchs. A fabulously wealthy mercer and prosperous wool merchant, he became the most important benefactor to the City of London. His projects numbered funding a refuge for unmarried women; instituting a novel piped water system; creating a grand latrine that discharged into the River Thames; rebuilding Newgate Gaol; improving Guildhall Library; repairing London Bridge; and creating a College of Priests with an Almshouse that still flourishes today at Felbridge, Sussex. He also financed Henry V’s French campaign that culminated in the spectacular victory at the Battle of Agincourt. … But what of his ubiquitous cat?
£22.50
Amberley Publishing Love with No Tomorrow: Tales of Romance During the Holocaust
Love at first sight. During the Holocaust. Bonds as strong as steel, forged in the flames of hate. These are extraordinary stories of love affairs during the most dangerous, degrading, and deadly conditions of genocidal persecution. The extreme lengths to which two people will go to express their love, and the superhuman strength that is derived from such love, is the stuff of miracles and endless inspiration. This little-known aspect of the Holocaust, seen through the eyes of those in love, is a unique contribution to our understanding of the best and the worst qualities of human nature. This book must be read by anyone who wants to know more about life and love enduring the most horrendous conditions one could imagine.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing England in the Age of Dickens: 1812-70
Beginning with an overview of the age of Dickens, Professor Jeremy Black guides the reader through the biography and writings of the great man to show how his work not only expressed his experience of Victorian England, but also defined it, for his contemporaries and for generations to come. In some ways for us, Victorian England simply is Dickens’ England. Professor Black considers London as the centre of all but also examines Dickens’ effect on concepts of gender and social structure. Then there is government – from the Circumlocution Office to Britain as the supreme imperial power. There is also a valuable account of Dickens’ relationship with America. Dickens describes a culture – popular, middle and élite – and at the same time creates one. It takes a historian of Professor Black’s standing to differentiate between the two and show how they inter-react.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing Katherine Parr: Opportunist, Queen, Reformer: A Theological Perspective
Don Matzat here provides a new perspective on the life of Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of the infamous Henry VIII. While most biographers suggest that Katherine chose to marry the obese, irascible monarch in order to further some reformation or obey a divine imperative, the author goes against the tide and concludes that Katherine was an opportunist who married the king in order to enjoy the comforts of being the Queen of England, proven by her sumptuous lifestyle. But everything changed for Katherine when she had a dramatic conversion experience, embracing the primary tenets of the Protestant Reformation as described in her seminal work, The Lamentation of a Sinner. Her newly found belief placed her in a precarious position, not only with her husband but with the heresy hunters who, with the king’s blessing, beheaded those who held such beliefs. Yet Katherine had the courage to discuss her faith with her dangerous husband during the final months of his life. The life of Katherine Parr was one of drama, intrigue, danger, deceit, clandestine romance, scandal, tragedy and mystery. She came to a tragic end, and for three hundred years her burial site remained unknown. Katherine ruled England while Henry went to war against France. She was the first woman published in England under her own name. Her Lamentation of a Sinner is a little-known gem of the Protestant Reformation. Her influence upon the children of Henry, the future monarchs Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, would affect English history for many years to come.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing Railways of the Eastern Counties Since 1970
Over more than fifty years, the railways of the Eastern Counties have seen a great number of changes. In the early 1970s, many stations, even some of the smaller ones, had a resident diesel shunter for moving empty carriages or servicing the goods yard. First generation diesel multiple units ran most of the secondary lines, with locomotive-hauled expresses being used on the InterCity routes and the Harwich boat trains. Today, modern electric trains speed northwards to Norwich and Kings Lynn, while comfortable diesel units serve the cross-country routes. New electric or bi-mode sets are now operating on other lines. Semaphore signalling has mostly given way to centralised colour light systems.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing High Tension: FDR's Battle to Power America
From the highest halls of power to the remote corners of rural America, featuring amazing technological innovation and an epic battle between the captains of a corrupted industry and America’s most politically astute president, here is the story behind the greatest peacetime achievement in US history – the electrification of an entire nation under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. When Roosevelt took office in the depths of the Depression, high tension – or high voltage – power lines had been marching across the country for decades, delivering urban Americans a parade of life-transforming inventions from electric lights and radios to refrigerators and washing machines. But most rural Americans still lived in the punishing pre-electric era, unconnected to the grid, their lives consumed and bodies broken by backbreaking chores. High Tension is the story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s battle against the ‘Power Trust,’ an elaborate Wall Street-controlled web of holding companies, to electrify all of America – even when the corrupt captains of the industry and their cronies cried that running lines to rural areas would not be profitable and that in a free market there would simply have to be a divide between the electricity haves and have-nots. FDR knew better. And in this story of shrewd political manoeuvring, towering business figures and greedy villains, John A. Riggs has chronicled democracy’s greatest balancing act of government intervention with private market forces. Here is the tale of how FDR's efforts brought affordable electricity to all Americans, powered the industrial might that won the Second World War, and established a model for public-private solutions today in areas such as transportation infrastructure, broadband, and health care.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing Centuries Will Not Suffice: A History of the Lithuanian Holocaust
'Centuries Will Not Suffice' explores how different people responded to the Lithuanian Holocaust and the roles that they played. It considers the past history of the perpetrators and those who took great risks to save Jews, as well as describing the experiences of many who were caught up in the maelstrom. Unlike the figures at the top of the Nazi hierarchy, the men who were responsible for these killings have been largely forgotten. Karl Jäger was a senior SS figure who was in charge of the units that carried out most of them. He complained that his experiences caused him to suffer nightmares but continued to order his units to carry on and refused offers of sick leave on the grounds that he regarded it as his duty to remain in his post. He took refuge in compiling painstakingly detailed reports of the killings, listing the numbers executed at every location and breaking them down into men, women and children. The roles played by other figures, from Himmler and Heydrich at the summit, through the ranks of men down to Martin Weiss and Bruno Kittel who were personally responsible for carrying out Nazi policies, are all described. Before the German invasion of Lithuania, two diplomats – Chiune Sugihara from Japan and Jan Zwartendijk from the Netherlands – recognised the great danger that lay ahead for the Jews of the Baltic region and did what they could to help them escape. Karl Plagge, a major in the army, did all he could to save Jews. What perhaps make the terrible story of the Baltic genocide unique is that the Nazi regime was able to rely upon collaboration by convincing the populace that the Soviet invasion of the area was the responsibility of the Jews.
£22.50
Amberley Publishing Secret Redcar, Marske and Saltburn
The town of Redcar and the resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with the adjoining village of Marske-by-the-Sea, lie on an 8-mile stretch of the coast in north-east England. In this book author Colin Wilkinson reveals the stories behind how these once small villages along a remote coast grew into the present-day resorts. Centuries ago, the beaches were ideal for smugglers. The arrival of the railway in the nineteenth century brought an influx of visitors and at the same time new industries emerged following the discovery of iron ore in the local hills, bringing in more people looking for work. In the twentieth century war left its mark on the area. In the First World War lookout posts were set up on the beaches, an early warning station was built to listen for Zeppelins and at Marske an aerodrome was set up nearby to train pilots. Depression in the 1930s and post-war industrial decline brought hardship to the area, but the holiday industry boomed in the first half of the twentieth century and has seen a resurgence in recent years. Over the course of the last century Redcar has seen the birth of Redcar Racecourse, motor racing along the beach, famous visitors such as Emily Pankhurst and Keir Hardy and much more. With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events and tucked-away or disappeared historical buildings and locations, Secret Redcar, Marske and Saltburn will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of this corner of the coastline of the North East.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Rails Around Rugby: Pre-Grouping to BR Blue
Railways Around Rugby: Pre-Grouping to Rail Blue tells the story of change on the railway network in the Rugby area, covering a period spanning from before the Grouping of the Railways in 1923 to the BR Rail Blue era of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, The London & North Western Railway, The Great Central Railway and the Midland Railway all operated in and around Rugby. Rugby was served by two stations, Rugby and Rugby Central. The latter closed in 1969 and was an important railway junction on what became the West Coast Main Line, with routes to Birmingham and the North West and Scotland in one direction and to London Euston and Northampton in the other. The Great Central route from Sheffield and the East Midlands ran to London at Marylebone. By the 1960s, the West Coast Main Line was electrified around Rugby and the Great Central closed in the same decade, as well as the lines to Leamington, Leicester and Peterborough and the engine sheds at Rugby. In this book author Robert Hendry portrays the changing face of the railways around Rugby, utilising a wealth of rare and previously unpublished images.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Churches of Southern Yorkshire
The historic county of Yorkshire is the largest county in England, with 157 Grade I listed churches alone in the whole region. This book will cover a selection of churches throughout the southern half of Yorkshire, both well-known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience, showing a wide range of styles through the centuries. It covers a huge range of places and landscapes, and its churches reflect this variety, as well as representing the history of this section of Yorkshire. Some of the medieval churches reflect the wealth of their local area at the time, often from trade or monasteries nearby, or the importance of the local town or city, but others served more remote communities and still stand out in the landscape today. Later centuries also made their mark on Yorkshire churches, both in their structures and furnishings, from Georgian simplicity to often spectacular Victorian and twentieth-century architecture in the county’s industrialised towns and cities. In Churches of Southern Yorkshire, author David Paul explores a cross-section of historical churches throughout the county, both the well known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience. This fascinating picture of an important part of southern Yorkshire’s history will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this splendid county in England.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Range Rover
When the Range Rover was launched in 1970 it immediately drew attention. Its elegant but practical design mixed with exceptional off-road handling, as well as comfort on metalled roads, seemed to introduce a whole new way of driving. The Louvre museum in Paris exhibited it as a model of industrial design. Fifty years later, the Range Rover continues to be in demand. In this comprehensive book, Rover expert James Taylor covers all of the Range Rover models from the 1970s ‘classic’ to the fifth generation Range Rover of today. The book covers the remarkable engineering achievements of Land Rover in developing a vehicle just as at home on rugged hillsides as it was on the streets of Chelsea. He follows the developments that made the Range Rover ever more in demand as a luxury status symbol. This book will appeal to all Range Rover enthusiasts, offering concise but comprehensive coverage of one of the most admired British cars.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Rover P4
When it was launched in 1949, the new Rover 75 was considered revolutionary for its time, its sleek integrated styling being very much a break with the designs of the past. In this book, Rover expert James Taylor covers the development of all of the various P4 models, from the 75 to the 110 of the early 1960s, providing a unique insight into a car still affectionately known as ‘Auntie’. Despite its somewhat ponderous appearance, the solid build with wood and leather interiors matched by good driving dynamics made the Rover P4 a pleasure to drive and own. Complemented by the Rover P5 and eventually replaced by the Rover P6, the Rover P4 held sway for over a decade during which it became a favourite of the professional classes and an emblem of the conservative British lifestyle and values. After the end of production, it continued to remain a favourite among classic car enthusiasts. The various models and developments of the Rover P4 are all covered in this concise but comprehensive book, providing an endless source of interest for Rover P4 and classic car enthusiasts alike.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Wallasey Reflections
Wallasey expanded massively in the nineteenth century following the construction of the docks, which brought in a wealth of other industries, including shipbuilding. Wealthy Liverpool inhabitants moved to be beside the coast on the Wirral Peninsula and the area also attracted visitors as a resort was built up at New Brighton. What was originally a number of villages merged into the town of Wallasey, but in the second half of the twentieth century the town went into decline, having to rebuild following the devastation of aerial bombardment during the Second World War and as trade in the docks moved elsewhere. Going forwards into the twenty-first century, the individual towns have managed to keep a distinctive identity. Wallasey Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent colour view of Wallasey with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect readers can see how streets, buildings and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. This fascinating visual chronicle ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Wallasey and will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Farnham at Work: People and Industries Through the Years
Farnham in Surrey, with its Norman castle and lying on a major route, was an important market town in the Middle Ages. The town’s prosperity was also based on its proximity to Winchester and its trade in wheat, wool and pottery. Wool was also woven and fulled in Farnham. A large-scale brickworks used the ample supply of clay in the town. As the wheat market declined in the eighteenth century, hop growing took over and wealth generated led to the building of the Georgian streets that are still a feature of Farnham today. Farming and basket weaving with local willow continued to provide a living for many working on the land around Farnham, but the coming of the railways in the nineteenth century brought more people and new trades into the town, and some of the shops opened at that time still exist today. Farnham was home to early motor car manufacturing and also developed as a craft centre. The town is now a popular centre for visitors and has provided the location for a number of feature films in recent years. Farnham at Work explores the working life of this town in Surrey and its people and the trades, businesses and industries that have characterised it through the ages. This book will appeal to all those with an interest in the history of Farnham.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Peterborough in 50 Buildings
In the seventh century the Anglo-Saxons built an abbey dedicated to St Peter, where the Roman Ermine Street crossed the River Nene. The town around the abbey came to be known as St Peter’s Burgh, and is dominated today by the cathedral on the site. However, there are many other fascinating buildings in Peterborough that mark the stages of its history: the remains of a Saxon church and a Norman castle, the first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp at nearby Norman Cross, the grandeur of sixteenth-century Milton Hall and the seventeenth-century Guildhall, the Gothic Revival architecture of Sir George Gilbert Scott’s Peterscourt, through its industrial development and being the home of engine manufacturer Perkins. Designated a new town in the 1960s, Peterborough has tripled in population over the last fifty years, and it is now one of the UK’s environment cities, a green and thriving urban area with plenty of interesting historical structures to explore. Peterborough in 50 Buildings explores the history of this city through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. This book will appeal to all those who live in Peterborough or who have an interest in the area.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Swissair
For over seventy years the name Swissair stood for all things Swiss on the airways. The ‘flying arrow’ emblem of Switzerland’s national airline represented a company with deep financial reserves, enabling it to invest in the latest jets and the most modern technology. Yet from the 1970s onwards world events brought about a dramatic reversal in its fortunes. A new strategy of growth through investment in many other airlines misfired when these carriers became a loss-making burden, and the decision of the Swiss population to remain outside the European Economic Area restricted the airline’s opportunities for increasing passenger uptake. By 2001, in the wake of the collapse in traffic following the 9/11 atrocities, the carrier was reliant on government loans for its continued survival, and in 2002 Swissair ceased all operations, its routes and equipment being resurrected by rival Crossair. The humiliation did not end there. In 2007 Swissair’s entire former management board stood trial on charges relating to mismanagement, making false statements, and forgery. Commercial aviation author Charles Woodley has pieced together the story of Swissair’s rise to a glittering reputation for quality and reliability, and the factors leading to its downfall.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Portsmouth's Military Heritage
The dockyard at Portsmouth was founded by Henry VII, developing into a naval base that was essentially the nation’s most important military establishment. Here, in times of war, huge fleets were assembled and the harbour that lay alongside the dockyard witnessed the constant arrival and departure of ships engaged in convoy duties, blockading and attacking enemy ports or intercepting hostile seagoing fleets. In turn, it was a potential target for an enemy, for if the dockyard could be destroyed or captured, then the nation’s first line of defence, the Royal Navy, would cease to be effective. Sensitive to such a danger, successive governments built defence structures in and around Portsmouth as well as barracks to house the navy, army and marine personnel. As the firepower of guns increased and the nature of fortifications changed, so did the defences of Portsmouth, with these gradually pushed further and further back so that the forts and gun batteries would always ensure the safety of Portsea Island from either land or sea attack. In the twentieth century the defences were adapted further for the new threat of aerial bombardment or attack by submarine. This book will be of interest to all those who would like to know more about Portsmouth’s remarkable military history.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Action Likely in Pacific: Secret Agent Kilsoo Haan, Pearl Harbor and the Creation of North Korea
A story of espionage that could have changed the course of history and saved thousands of American and British lives ‒ and millions of Asian lives. ‘On the night of 3 December 1941, I could not fall asleep,’ Kilsoo Haan remembered. ‘I went to the Chop Suey House, the Chinese Lantern, and ordered a bowl of Chinese soup. Next to my table, a Japanese was trying to sell a Chinese a second-hand automobile. After the Japanese left, the Chinese said to me, “You like to buy cheap automobile?” After a pause he said, “This Japanese is selling four automobiles owned by the Japanese Embassy workers because they are going to Japan pretty soon… Oh so cheap.”’ Four days later the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Before the Second World War, Korean-American Kilsoo Haan repeatedly warned the United States about the Japanese attack and accurately supplied every conceivable detail as relayed to him by Korean agents: midget submarines as well as aircraft at Pearl Harbor, then giant submarine aircraft carriers on the high seas that almost bombed San Diego with plague germs until Tojo cancelled the air strike, and a joint Chinese-Japanese attack – Operation Ichi-Go – against the American and Chinese Nationalist forces, which drove through Chiang Kai-shek’s much larger army. When US political bungling helped to create a Communist North Korea, Haan continued to supply information about Soviet nuclear tests in Siberia, the development of Soviet guided missiles, and the North Korean invasion of the Republic of Korea, which led to thousands of American and British casualties. He was ignored. The story of American influence in Korea and dealings with Japan provides a little-known new perspective on the Pacific War and remains a factor today in international politics. Author John Koster explains the tragic and bloody entangled histories of Japan, China and Korea that form the backdrop to this extraordinary story.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing London's Transport and the Olympics: Preparation, Delivery and Legacy
When London first applied as a contender to stage the 2012 Olympic Games, there was cynical speculation as to whether the transport infrastructure could cope should it win. During the bidding process for 2012, Transport for London, the capital’s transport strategy provider, did its bit to promote the application with buses and Stratford station displaying prominent ‘Back the Bid’ slogans. There was a ‘can-do’ mentality among transport management on this occasion, and in this book Malcolm Batten looks at the preparation and delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic games by London’s transport providers. The transport legacy is also examined here, with previously unpublished photographs celebrating a landmark achievement in the history of London transport.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Invasion: The Forgotten French Bid to Conquer England
The Norman Conquest in the eleventh century is one of the best-known events in English history, but the French attempts to invade England three hundred years later are largely ignored and misunderstood. In fact, French invaders landed on English soil more than fifty times during the fourteenth century, sometimes accompanied by allies from Castile, Monaco, Genoa and Scotland. Each incursion was part of an overall strategy led by the French monarch of the time, and those participating were well-trained fighters and shipmen. They were certainly not pirates, which is how they have often been described. The incursions were brutal, involving murder of civilians and rapine. Those along the invasion front responded and fought back, often surprisingly effectively. Determined English locals, organised into well-trained posses, sometimes bested the Continental professional fighters; although the economic damage caused by the raids was long-term. In the later years of the century Charles the Wise and his great admiral Jean de Vienne made ambitious plans for full-scale conquest. The initial plans for the invasion were made at a time when France was engulfed by multiple crises, of which England was a prime cause. Whole forests of ancient trees were felled in the Seine Valley to build the fleet. Edward III and his son Richard II never were dislodged from the throne of England by the Valois – but the threat was real. The fourteenth-century French invasion of England was not a single overwhelming event – such as Napoleon’s invasion of Russia – but a long-lasting process, sometimes intensely violent, which led to important changes to English society and had a profound and lasting impact upon the areas along the invasion front. This is the Anglo-French conflict that time forgot.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing Prehistoric Sussex
Sussex is rich in remains of the prehistoric eras, from the earliest Palaeolithic (Old Stone Age) era when stone tools were first developed by ancient hominids, through the other Stone Age eras (Mesolithic and Neolithic), to the Bronze and Iron Ages up to the Roman invasion of Britain. Many features can still be seen today, including barrows and other tumuli, hillforts and earthworks, flint mines, many on or just below the South Downs, tracks and ancient woodlands, and the legacy of the human inhabitants of Sussex from this time includes burials, stone tools, weapons and jewellery. In this book author Alex Vincent surveys prehistoric Sussex. Alongside well-known sites such as Cissbury and Chanctonbury Rings, the hillforts prominent on the ridge of the South Downs, and the Devil’s Jumps Bronze Age barrows, is a Bronze Age burial mound in Berwick churchyard which may have been used for plague victims in the medieval period. Fully illustrated throughout, this fascinating picture of the prehistoric era in Sussex will be of interest to all those who live in this corner of south-east England or have known it well over the years.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing British Industrial Railways: 1960s-1980s
The earliest railways were built for industrial uses, coal being the principal commodity carried, perhaps from the pit to a dockside or canal for onward transport. After the passenger railway came onto the scene, industrial railways continued in operation, but largely as separate entities. Operation within the private works was by locomotives designed and built by the organisation concerned, which was also responsible for their maintenance and that of the track. This book illustrates many of the systems to be found around Britain in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, many no longer in existence. Traction was mostly steam, but also fireless, electric and diesel. These were the products of Andrew Barclay, Hunslet, Peckett and many other companies and included the wartime Austerity 0-6-0T steam locomotives, which in post-war Britain were often deemed surplus to requirements. A principal operator was the National Coal Board, nationalised in 1947, which often needed to move coal from pit head to washery before its despatch. Other users were quarries, paper mills, breweries and so on. Another user was the Army, notably for its Longmoor Military Railway. Other uses were the engineering trains of British Railways and London Underground. Not all were on standard gauge; that at Bowaters’ in Kent being a notable example. Starting with the Talyllyn in 1952, some of the Welsh narrow gauge slate railways survived into preservation and a few of these are represented here. With an array of superb photographs, John Glover presents a fascinating overview of the industrial railway scene in Britain in this period.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing A-Z of the Yorkshire Dales: Places-People-History
A breathtaking landscape and attractive small towns and villages draw many visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A huge variety of people, landscapes and wildlife can be found within its boundaries, from churches that acted as places of rest on long routes, pubs that doubled up as courthouses and Neolithic discoveries in the new extension of the park, to the longest, deepest and oddest caves in the region and rare flora and fauna – there’s plenty to discover. A–Z of the Yorkshire Dales reveals the history behind the area, its streets and buildings, businesses and the people connected with it. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well known. Fully illustrated throughout, this book will appeal to all those with an interest in this spectacular corner of England.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing North Eastern Motorsport: A Century of Memories
The North East has been a hotbed of motorsport since the early years of the last century. In this book motorsport broadcaster and journalist Larry Carter presents a selection of memorable motorsport events, competitors, venues and personalities in the region from the 1920s onwards. The circuit at Croft is justly famous, witnessing the early days of stars such as James Hunt, Barry Sheene, Niki Lauda and Wilson Fittipaldi, but the huge variety of motorsports, both cars and bikes, in the region are represented in this book, including circuit racing, rallying, rallycross and trials. The North East has spawned many great racers over the years, both men and women, some of whom died tragically young, such as motorcyclist Ken Redfern and sidecar legend Mac Hobson. Also included are famous clubs such as the Darlington & District Motor Cub and lesser-known venues at Catterick military base and Albemarle Barracks. This book is also a tribute to events that have declined or disappeared – grass track racing, sand racing on the Cleveland beaches, hill-climbs, scrambling, speedway and stock car racing. Delving through archives, Larry Carter has unearthed a fascinating collection of the most memorable motor-sporting events and achievements of the last 100 years in the North East which will appeal to all motorsport enthusiasts in the area.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Jigsaw Puzzles: Tactical Intelligence in the Falklands Campaign
On 2 April 1982, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. The British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, was determined that Argentina’s seizure of British sovereign territory would not stand. A Task Force, led by the Royal Navy, was ordered to the South Atlantic to recover the Falklands. The campaign that followed became a remarkable chapter in British military history. This book gives a ‘warts and all’ description of Giles Orpen-Smellie’s experience, as a battalion intelligence officer, of how battlefield or tactical intelligence, relevant at battalion level during the battles ashore, was collected and assessed to develop a picture of the Argentine defenders. He explains what information was known at the time, the gaps in that information and how the information that was available influenced decisions. He goes on to compare what he believed he knew in 1982 with what he now believes to have been a rather different reality. The South Atlantic was the last place on earth that Britain had expected to mount a military operation. Consequently, almost no peacetime contingency planning had been done. The campaign that followed, widely regarded as an efficient and spectacular British success, was actually a much closer-run thing than had been realised when Argentine forces on the Falklands surrendered on 14 June 1982. The British victory was won by a bloody-minded determination to ‘muddle through’ and get the job done with boldness and risk-taking overcoming the previous lack of planning and preparation. It was this determination that gave the British their edge. However, the harsh school of conflict exposed some gaps in British military training and capabilities. Tactical intelligence was one of those gaps and this book describes how tactical intelligence almost became an Achilles heel in what was otherwise an impressive British military operation.
£20.00
Amberley Publishing Britain's Motorways
Motorways are found all over Britain, from Perth in Scotland to Exeter in Devon. In fact, there are now over 2,000 miles of motorway in England, Wales and Scotland. They are used by millions of us every day, yet how often do we ever think about these marvels of civil engineering that help to speed people and goods around Britain? In a first, transport historian Mark Chatterton has brought together information about the history, construction, routes and workings of every motorway that is found in Britain in one book. Britain’s Motorways looks at each of the main motorways, including the M1, M6 and the M25 plus the other A-designated motorways, such as the A1(M), giving details of their history, routes and characteristics in a subject that has never been covered in such detail before. In researching this book, Mark Chatterton has spent many years travelling the length and breadth of Great Britain, visiting each motorway and capturing photographs.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Thrust 2: A Memory
Inspired by the sight of RAF Lightning fighter interceptors climbing vertically into the sky at 50,000 feet per minute and by other British engineering and design achievements, Richard Noble, determined to put Britain back in the lead during the resurgence of national confidence of the 1980s, wanted Britain to regain the world land speed record. Thrust 2, driven by Richard Noble, broke the world land speed record on 4 October 1983 in the Black Rock desert in Nevada. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Avon turbo-jet engine, it reached a speed of 650.88 mph (1,047,49 km/h}. It would hold the land speed record until 25 September 1987. In this fascinating book, Richard Noble tells the inside story of the development of the car that would beat the world. The story takes the reader from the drawing board, through the considerable technical difficulties, including aerodynamics, mounting an engine designed for jet fighter aircraft, and maintaining stability with suspension and wheels at speeds of over 650 miles per hour. Despite the huge challenges, including recovery from a crash, they were overcome by the confidence and determination of Richard Noble and his team. Including unseen illustrations, this is the true inside story of the world-beating Thrust 2 project.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Romans in Scotland and The Battle of Mons Graupius
In AD 77, Roman forces under Agricola marched into the northern reaches of Britain to pacify the Caledonian tribesmen. For seven years, the Romans campaigned across what is now Scotland. In AD 83, they fought the final battle at Mons Graupius, where 10,000 Caledonians were slaughtered with only 360 Roman dead. How much of this is true? The climax of the Agricola is the main source, a near contemporary account of the career of Gnaeus Julius Agricola, governor of Britannia in the reigns of the Emperors Vespasian, Titus and Domitian, written by his son-in-law Tacitus. This account of a steady advance into northern Britain and sudden withdrawal matched closely the evidence available on the ground, and for many years remained uncritically accepted. Archaeological investigations carried out recently at Roman sites in Scotland and northern England have, however, caused historians to cast a more sceptical eye over Tacitus’ account. Author Simon Forder considers the fine print of the Agricola ‒ together with the implications of Ptolemy’s Geography – and triangulates these with the very latest archaeological finds to suggest a new narrative, including a new location for the battle itself. Mons Graupius has fascinated historians for centuries, not only because of the uncertainties but also because it marks the withdrawal of Rome from the north: for the Empire, it is the beginning of the end.
£10.99
Amberley Publishing A-Z of Ealing: Places-People-History
Ealing is best known as the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’, but there is far more to its rich history than that. In the Middle Ages Ealing’s market gardens supplied much of London’s produce, and in later centuries it has played an often colourful part in history, being home to the royal mistresses of Edward III, George IV and Queen Victoria’s father, the Duke of Kent; and of Spencer Perceval, the only British prime minister to be assassinated. A–Z of Ealing reveals the history behind Ealing, its streets and buildings, industries and the people connected with the borough. Alongside the famous historical connections are unusual characters, tucked-away places and unique events that are less well-known. Readers will discover tales of the notorious highwayman Sixteen String Jack, Ealing’s connection with the British music scene in the 1960s and Acton’s history as a spa resort, among many other fascinating facts in this A–Z tour of Ealing’s history. It is fully illustrated and will appeal to all those with an interest in this historic part of West London.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Churches of Shropshire
The first churches in Shropshire were built in Saxon times and the county has a proud heritage of church building through the centuries. Although the county town of Shrewsbury and the other major towns contain many of the larger churches, villages and smaller rural settlements are also home to many historical churches of interest. This book will cover a cross section of churches throughout the county, both well-known and those waiting to be discovered by a wider audience, covering a wide range of styles through the centuries. This fascinating picture of an important part of the history of Shropshire over the centuries will be of interest to all those who live in or are visiting this attractive county in England.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Georgian Liverpool
Liverpool grew rapidly in the Georgian period as it was a major port for Atlantic trade, rivalling any other city in the UK outside London in terms of prosperity and population. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the city embarked on an ambitious building programme to demonstrate its new-found wealth and power. Although some of these buildings have been lost today, much of Georgian Liverpool remains. A vital part of the city’s heritage is the legacy of the Georgian town planners and the magnificent buildings they have left behind. In this book author Hugh Hollinghurst explores the Georgian buildings of Liverpool. Alongside the well-known landmarks and public buildings, there are docks, commercial and industrial buildings, churches and a wealth of squares, streets, terraces and individual houses that survive from that era. The author also covers Georgian buildings in Liverpool that are no longer standing, including other dock and mercantile buildings, lost public structures, leisure and entertainment venues and churches. Illustrated throughout, all those interested in the history of Liverpool will find this a fascinating exploration of the Georgian heritage of this city.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Paranormal Sunderland
Sunderland’s proud history encompasses its beginnings as a major centre of religious learning in the early medieval period and its growth into a major port and shipbuilding centre on the mouth of the River Wear. Today, the city and the surrounding Wearside area is a major centre of car manufacturing and other industries in the North East. In this book author Steve Watson investigates the rich supernatural heritage of this city and the surrounding Wearside area, not only the well-known phenomena but also lesser-known hauntings from the past and present day, including ghostly happenings at the North East Land Sea and Air Museum on the site of an old airfield near Washington and mysterious sightings at the Phoenix Lodge, the oldest purpose-built Masonic lodge in the world, and many more. Paranormal Sunderland takes the reader into the world of ghosts and spirits in the city, following their footsteps into the unknown. These tales of haunted places, supernatural happenings and weird phenomena will delight the ghost hunters and intrigue everybody who knows Sunderland and Wearside.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Alfred's Dynasty: How an Anglo-Saxon King and his Family Defeated the Vikings and Created England
In 878, Alfred, king of Wessex was on the verge of oblivion. Trapped on a small island in the Somerset Levels, it seemed as if he and his kingdom were about to be destroyed. Yet within months he had defeated the Viking invaders and started to reverse the tide of conquest. While Alfred was driven by the prospect of a land called England that did not yet exist, he was not the one who finally created it. Two of his children, Edward – king of Wessex after him – and his remarkable daughter Æthelflæd, the Lady of the Mercians, expanded his kingdom into Mercia in the Midlands. His grandson Æthelstan confirmed the conquest of the north at one of the great battles of the so-called Dark Ages at Brunanburh. The triumph of Alfred’s dynasty was cemented by the short but magnificent reign of Edgar ‘the Peaceable’, a man who could claim to be not just king of England but emperor of the whole of Britain. The ultimate collapse of Anglo-Saxon England, first of all in the face of Cnut of Denmark’s campaigns in 1015/16 and later in the Norman Conquest of 1066, has unjustly obscured their achievements. This book tells the story of the Anglo-Saxons and reasserts their right to be regarded as one of the greatest royal dynasties that Britain has ever seen.
£20.69
Amberley Publishing The Occupation of Hong Kong 1941-45
The Battle for Hong Kong lasted eighteen days. It was always going to be a losing battle. Winston Churchill knew that Hong Kong could not be defended or relieved if attacked. It had become an isolated outpost to be held as long as possible. After reaching the limits of endurance the British administration surrendered the Crown Colony on Christmas Day, December 1941. The military defeat ushered in a brutal occupation by the Imperial Japanese Army, who ruled the captured territory under martial law. The occupation lasted for three years and eight months until the Japanese capitulation in August 1945. During the occupation, there were shortages of food, firewood, and electricity. Almost everything was in short supply. The Japanese rationed necessities, such as rice, oil, flour, salt and sugar. Ration cards were only issued to those employed in roles that were supporting the Japanese concept of Greater Asia and the co-prosperity sphere. Many died in the streets from starvation and there were outbreaks of cannibalism. The Japanese set about reducing the population, by forced deportation, from 1.65 million to an estimated 500,000 by August 1945. Some were deported to work in coal mines on Hainan Island, some were put on boats which were then sunk or set alight, others were marooned on uninhabited islands. Philip Cracknell brings his unrivalled knowledge of the ground to bear, as he did in Battle for Hong Kong December 1941 to tell the harrowing story of suffering and courage during the Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. The story follows the civilian through the battle, the aftermath, the internment, and finally liberation. It is the story of the civilian during and after the Battle for Hong Kong.
£20.69
Amberley Publishing Portsmouth Murders and Misdemeanours
Portsmouth’s position on the south coast of England has meant it has been an important port for centuries, and the heavily fortified home of the Royal Navy. Industries surrounding the naval docks and shipbuilding led Portsmouth to become one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the country during the nineteenth century, and today this part of Hampshire is Britain’s most densely populated urban area. In Portsmouth Murders and Misdemeanours author Dean Hollands explores the history of serious crime in Portsmouth from medieval times to the twentieth century. He looks at how the punishments for crimes evolved, including the use of corporal and capital punishment and the sites of these grisly events. Tales include murder in many guises, crimes of passion, highwaymen, robbers and motor bandits, a conviction for witchcraft during the Second World War, arson and terrorism, and mutiny – most famously the trial of the crew of Captain Bligh’s Bounty, as well as the assassination of George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Bishop of Chichester. This collection of true life crime stories gives a vivid insight into life in historic Portsmouth. This book will fascinate anyone with an interest in the history of crime, as well as those who want to know more about the history of the city.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing BMW Mini
Launched in 2001, the second generation Mini, produced by BMW, was an instant success. Based on a design brief that stated that it could only be a Mini, the new car remained faithful to its heritage while offering numerous benefits, including increased size, engine power and performance. It also set new standards in refinement. In this readable book motoring expert James Taylor takes a multi-perspective look at the BMW Mini to give the reader a complete view of the many aspects of design, development, engineering and marketing that went into producing a highly successful range of new models under the Mini brand. The book explores how BMW has always been careful to retain the heritage of the original Mini and its variants as it continued to introduce subtle but significant changes to the three-door hatch while expanding its range of models to include the SUV Countryman and the Paceman. The book also covers the introduction of new engines and fuel options, including hydrogen and electric. Designed by an American for a German motor company but largely still built in Oxford, England, this is a complete picture of one of the world’s most successful cars.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Escape of Jack the Ripper: The Full Truth About the Cover-up and His Flight from Justice
For nearly 100 years, the question has repeatedly been asked: who was ‘Jack the Ripper’? The real question that should be answered, however, is why? Why were five poor, defenceless women savagely murdered in the slums of Whitechapel in the autumn of 1888? Credible Victorian sources including an Old Etonian police chief (Sir Melville Macnaghten), a famous writer on true crime (George R. Sims), a Conservative MP (Henry Farquharson) and, most incriminatingly, members of the killer’s own family knew that ‘Jack the Ripper’ was Montague John Druitt. He escaped earthly justice by drowning himself in the Thames. This book answers the question of why in 1888 Druitt, a barrister, part-time teacher and first-class cricketer, killed and mutilated women driven into prostitution through social neglect. Compiled from years of meticulous research, The Escape of Jack the Rippermoves from the suffering of impoverished Whitechapel to genteel London society, picturesque Dorset, the Inner Temple and the anonymity of the private asylums of France and England. The struggle of Druitt’s desperate, respectable family to cover up for their dead Montie, whilst preventing any innocent person being hanged for his crimes, is told here. In the Edwardian era, Sir Melville and G. R. Sims ensured that the public understood that the long-deceased Whitechapel fiend was neither poor nor an immigrant, but rather a product of the British establishment. The photographs include the newly discovered last known image of Druitt.
£9.99
Amberley Publishing Stena Line
The major company in the short-sea passenger and freight business in 2020 is the Swedish Stena Line, who operate services to Europe, Scandinavia and Ireland from United Kingdom ports. The company was founded in 1962 by Sten A. Olsson in Gothenburg, Sweden, and was one of the first ferry operators in Europe to introduce a computer-based reservation system. In the 1980s, Stena took over three other ferry companies and their ships. Various other acquisitions followed, including the Harwich to Hook of Holland route The company doubled in size in 1990 following its takeover of Sealink British Ferries and Sea Containers. The company became Sealink Stena Line, then Stena Sealink Line, and finally Stena Line. With a wealth of rare and previously unpublished images, Ian Collard celebrates this famous company.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing The Story of Bass: The Rise and Demise of a Brewing Great
This book tells the story of Bass, which during the mid-1800s grew from a small provincial brewery into the world’s largest ale brewer. Spanning 230 years, the story is set against a backdrop of changing social attitudes, economic conditions and government regulations, and relates how all these various factors affected the brewing industry. The book also tells the story of those brewing companies, ranging from Scotland, the north of England and Midlands, to London, which during the 1960s merged to form what became Bass Charrington – at that time the UK’s largest brewing company. Key to the story are the individuals and personalities who played their part in the formation of what was the dominant player in the UK brewing industry during the latter half of the twentieth century. Packed with rare and previously unpublished images, and authored by the chairman of the National Brewery Heritage Trust, this is an essential read for anybody interested in the history of beer and brewing.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Railways of Cumbria
No fewer than sixteen pre-grouping companies were represented within Cumbria’s borders, seven of these in Carlisle alone. To the east of the mountains are the great Anglo-Scottish lines of the London and North Western and the Midland. Venturing across the Pennines were the transversal routes of the North Eastern Railway, from Newcastle to Carlisle, and Darlington to Tebay and Penrith. The Cumbrian coast presents a completely different picture. Here the multiple competing companies were concerned principally with the transport of coal and mineral ores to serve the huge industrial complexes to the west and south. The two principal coastal lines were the Maryport and Carlisle in the north and the Furness in the west and south. In the Whitehaven/Workington hinterland there was a number of other railways, all concerned with mineral extraction and transport. Lines penetrating the interior of the Lake District were the Coniston, Lakeside and Windermere branches and the Cockermouth, Keswick & Penrith Railway that crossed the Lake District from west to east. In the north were the Caledonian with its main line to Carlisle and the short-lived Solway Junction Railway, and the North British with the Waverley, Port Carlisle, and Silloth lines. The Glasgow and South Western also ran trains into Glasgow. The history, development, and in some cases closure of each of these lines is described in turn, illustrated with a selection of photographs from different periods in their history.
£15.99
Amberley Publishing Nottingham Buses in the 1990s
During the mid-1990s Nottingham’s scene was dominated by Nottingham City Transport and the Wellglade group that included Trent buses and Barton buses. Notable independents had been purchased by Wellglade and Nottingham City Transport respectively, with evidence of their existence still very much on the road. Other players included Kinch, Nottingham Omnibus and Delta bus, who tried to make a mark on the scene but were eventually swept away. By the end of decade low-floor buses would start to become the new normal, and new operating practices began to change. This nostalgic look back at buses in Nottingham in the 1990s presents a picture of an interesting and varied bus scene.
£15.99