In 1939 and 1940, the Nazi blitzkrieg crushed Poland and the Low Countries and France. This was a new type of warfare, with air and ground forces sweeping away all resistance. In the air its symbol wa
Science has a reputation as the most logical and rational of human pastimes—but this has not always been the case. From the inventor Nikola Tesla, who fell in love with his favorite pigeon and t
Diana Rowden was a woman of the finest character. As an agent with the Special Operations Executive (SOE), she was dropped into France alongside Noor Inayat Khan and worked in the Resistance stronghol
A sunlit lawn, blossom-laden trees, rustic chairs grouped around tables laden with teapots, and burdened with scones, the tinkle of teacups, and the murmur of conversation, what could be more English
Duncan Menzies flew with the RAF in the Middle East, the Aeroplane and Armament Evaluation Establishment, and finally Fairey Aviation in a flying career that lasted from the late 1920s to the 1950s. I
Although the Seymours arrived with the Normans, it is with Jane, Henry VIII’s third queen, and her brothers – Edward, Duke of Somerset, and Thomas, Lord Seymour of Sudeley – that they became prominent
William Shakespeare is the world’s best-loved playwright. His work is performed all over the globe and his life still tantalises us with its mysteries. The man who created classics such as Romeo and J
Henry III became King of England within days of his ninth birthday, inheriting a country embroiled in a bitter, entrenched war with itself. As he grew into adulthood, Henry had to manage the transitio
The Wars of the Roses were a tumultuous period in English history, with family fighting family over the greatest prize in the kingdom—the throne of England. But what gave the eventual victor of
The grand seaside hotel dominates the seaside resort landscapes of Britain, with bold, large scale buildings, often magnificent examples of the most fashionable architectural style of the time. From t
The Morris Minor was a much-loved car while it was in production and has remained popular as a classic car, with many clubs devoted to keeping it on the road. Though retrospectively it has gained a ra
When the tall, athletic Edward of York seized the English throne in 1461, he could have chosen any bride he wanted. With his dazzling good looks, few were able to resist his charm and promises. For th
Ancient Greece was never just one nation: it was a disparate collection of independent city states, often embroiled in war, with separate governments, their own armies and distinct politics, economi
Like his crusading father before him, Simon de Montfort’s combination of charisma, determination and fearlessness, reinforced by a wife with similar qualities, made him one of the greatest men of his
Calling to mind a time when butchers and executioners knew more about anatomy than university-trained physicians, the phrase ‘Medieval Medicine’ conjures up horrors for us with our modern ideas on hyg
Few things are more evocative of Victorian Britain than its criminals; they are vital ingredients in any Victorian melodrama. The truth, however, was often stranger, more thrilling and more horrifying
The Viking Conquest of England in 1016 saw two great warriors, the Danish prince Cnut and his equally ruthless English opponent King Edmund Ironside, fight an epic campaign that scarred much of Englan
This book looks at the lives of the women who broke the mold: those who defied social norms and made their own future, consequently changing lives, society and even the course of history. Some of the
Of Charles’s mistresses, everybody’s favorite was the perky Cockney actress, Nell Gwyn. Nell and the French aristocrat (and not-so-very secret agent) Louise de Keroualle were the two women
Despite—or perhaps because of—the privations of war, the 1940s was one of the greatest decades for fashion in Britain. The mantra of ‘make-do and mend’ spawned a decade of crea
From traditional seaside holiday treats like candy floss, ice cream and fish ’n’ chips, to the British fascination for baking, the Victorian era has shaped British culinary heritage. Victo
It is hard to imagine a more male-dominated field in the nineteenth century than sea navigation. This was the high-point of the British Empire and sea navigation drove it. Yet in the midst of this dom
Though images of women were ubiquitous in the Roman world, these were seldom intended to be taken simply at face value. The importance of marriage, motherhood and political stability was often conveye
The rise and fall and subsequent rise again of brutalist architecture in Britain is a fascinating story of an architectural style that strove to unify but in reality divided public opinion, and contin
Love him or loathe him, everybody is interested in the phenomenon that is Donald Trump. In the 100 facts contained within, Ruth Ann Monti brings us up close to the man and the brand. Even seasoned Tru
Not all history is recorded in school textbooks. Quite often the most intriguing (and most bizarre) bits are forgotten and fall away into obscurity. This fascinating book shines light on the almost fo
From the moment it became public news, the validity of Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Widville, the beautiful widow of a Lancastrian knight, was called into question. This alarmed Elizabeth and
This is the story of Britain’s model villages: miniature worlds that have captivated garden guests and paying public since the early twentieth century. This history of these small-scale utopias
The Landscape Garden: the quiet but startling national revolution that overthrew the parterres, avenues and canals of formal French-inspired gardens littering Britain by the 1720s. Then the drive took
A strict code of conduct governed courtship and marriage in Regency England during the period in which Jane Austen's novels were set, broadly 1796 to 1816. At a time when womens' only real amb
Harold Godwinson, King of England, was unable to defend his realm from William the Conqueror's invading Norman army in 1066. The Normans wreaked havoc across the country and changed the history of
One way or another the Romans spent quite a lot of time in bed, in between conquering and civilizing the known world. The men were intent on demonstrating their power and virility; the women were busy
The Wars of the Roses call to mind bloody battles, treachery and deceit, and a cast of characters known to us through fact and fiction: Edward IV, Elizabeth Woodville, Richard III, Warwick the Kingmak
This book on Dinky Toys takes a brief look at the fascinating life of the founder of Meccano, Frank Hornby, and the very varied range of children’s products which came out of the Binns Road factory in
The great religions, civilizations, peoples and empires of the world and how they interacted are all folded here into a narrative of what happened when, how and why. The book eschews the Eurocentric a
The story of the Queensway and Kingsway road tunnels, together known as the Mersey Road Tunnels, is a story of progress and growth as the area around them developed and changed. No tunnel of comparabl
As familiar as the ubiquitous deckchair seller and ice cream stands, the humble beach hut is a recognisable stalwart of today’s seaside landscape. It is hard to imagine a time when their often colour
The overthrow and execution of Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian Imperial family is a cause celebre of 20th-century history. Andrew Cook's re-investigation of the story finally solves one of the greate
The discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard in 2009 has captured the imagination and stimulated renewed interest in the history and culture of the Anglo-Saxons. The discovery poses some interesting quest
When we think of ancient Egypt, we think of the gods, the pharaohs and the pyramids. However, life for the average Egyptian was very different from this glorious perception and was not so unrecognisab
