For generations, the ancestors of Welshmen Owen Tudor had fought Romans, Irish Picts, Vikings, Saxons, Mercians and Normans. His uncles had been executed in the Glyndwr Welsh War of Independence, his
Before the age of the lighthouse Scotland’s untamed seas and perilous rocky coast too often witnessed the watery end to the mariner’s voyage. From its establishment in 1786, it was the rem
The Second World War was the most widespread conflict in human history. Involving over 100 million people from more than thirty nations, it completely reshaped the world as we know it and led to the b
Macabre crimes have long fascinated us, and our murky past ensures that we have no shortage of tales to chill and entertain in equal measure. From Jack the Ripper to John George Haigh, from Dr Crippen
In 1562, Elizabeth I, the last of Henry VIII’s children, lay dying of smallpox, and the curse of the Tudor succession again reared its head. The queen was to recover, but the issue remained: if the qu
This is a fighter pilot’s memoir of four tumultuous years, 1938–1942, when he was first trained, then fought and survived in not one but two of the biggest aerial campaigns of the war, the Battle of B
America's many presidents, both famous and obscure, have been as vibrant and varied as the history of the country they have ruled. Over two centuries the presidential seat has been occupied by soldier
As one world vanishes, another takes its place. The objects we collect are a record of the past, and of these objects, the least recorded are often the ones we all take for granted. Antique and vintag
William John “Billy” Bremner is one of the true greats of British football. He captained Don Revie’s Leeds United during the late 1960s and early 70s – the most successful period in their history – an
Emergency Services Vehicle Models is a brief but comprehensive look at fire, police and ambulance toys and models from around the world - and across the decades. Within the pages there are examples of
Ancient Rome captures the imagination like few other historical places or periods. Its dress, buildings, mosaics and inscriptions are instantly recognizable the world over. Romans and their way of lif
In the second half of the fifteenth century, for over thirty years, civil war tore England apart. However, its roots were deeper and its thorns were felt for longer than this time frame suggests.The W
Our great British parks are one of the finest legacies of the Victorian age. Many of our high streets, town halls and public buildings are fitting reminders of this long-lost era, but public parks are
The lives of the sisters Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf have long been celebrated for their central roles in the development of modernism in art and literature. Inspired by European Post-Impressionis
Hill-forts are magnificent enclosures which were built around the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age (c.700-.100BC). There were many designs that were built and positions that these structures were situated
It is hard to imagine a more male-dominated field in the nineteenth century than that of sea navigation; this was the high-point of the British Empire and sea navigation drove it. Yet in the midst of
Beginning by drawing parallels between the author's experiences at the British Embassy in Kabul in 2010–2013 and her grandfather's experiences of the same just after Indian Independence in 1948–50, th
The Anglo-Saxon age was one of great change and unrest. Lasting from the departure of the Romans in approximately AD 400 until the Norman invasion in AD 1066, this era was defined by the continued spr
Railways, gaslamps and swirling fog are the vital ingredients in any Victorian melodrama. The truth, however, was often stranger, more thrilling and more horrifying than fiction. In this book, four em
One of the great beauties of Georgian society, Frances Villiers, Countess of Jersey, was a woman of enormous style and spirit whose life revolved around her pleasures. Clever and witty, her charm was
In an age when the airwaves were tightly controlled by the authorities, pirate radio was the illicit and illustrious haven for music lovers across the nation. From the first broadcast in 1964, the cow
Richard III. The name will conjure an image for any reader. Shakespeare’s hunchback tyrant who killed his own nephews or a long-denigrated, misunderstood king. This one man’s character and actions hav
The British Empire had a rich, varied and controversial history, commonly perceived to have spanned 500 years from the era of Columbus and his voyages of discovery to the break up of the Empire after
There are many accounts of the Battle of the Somme by surviving British soldiers. But the Somme was not a single battle but a series of offensives and small localized attacks fought over four and a ha
Henry Tudor has been called the most unlikely king of England. Yet his rise from obscurity was foretold by the bards, and the familial bloodbath of the Wars of the Roses by 1485 left Henry as the sole
The Reformation is one of the most important events in world history. It sparked changes in beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that set off a chain of devastating wars in Europe, created the United Stat
The Indian Scout motorcycle is the favoured mount for Wall of Death riders all over the world. Drawing upon modern and archive material, Wall of Death owner and rider Allan Ford and author Nick Corble
The Victorian age, the age of industrial revolution and expansion of cities, was also the age of an explosion of interest in the practice of gardening. This was not merely a private pastime. For the f
Richard, Duke of York is a man most frequently remembered by history as a pyromaniac who set England alight, his burning ambition and unquenchable desire for the throne igniting the Wars of the Roses.
The story of beer and brewing in Britain is a diverse tale. Like a deep, amber ale, the development of the brewing industry is rich and full of depth. The history of brewing in Britain is a cornerston
This accessible, chronological narrative for general readers and history buffs describes the leadership, strategy, and various missions of the German Luftwaffe in WWII, seeking to understand what led
The British weather. Subject of endless complaint, small-talk savior of the British public, famously changeable. We all feel we know it well, as a largely benign and gentle backdrop to our lives. But
Through images and brief descriptions, this volume traces the history of the Rosyth dockyard and naval base in Scotland, which was started in 1909 due to the naval arms race between Britain and German
The Roman Army reigned supreme for over 1,000 years. From Britain to Syria, and from the Rhine and Danube to North Africa, there is abundant evidence of the activities of its legionaries and auxiliary
There’s nothing quite like a refreshing drink after a day on the fells and hills of the Yorkshire Dales. Scenic beauty, majestic views, impressive crags, towering cliffs, peaceful tarns, extensive ca
The Battle of the Somme epitomized the mud and death of the Western Front. 1 July 1916 witnessed the opening round of the British Army attempt to break through an eighteen mile front of heavily defend
Light in the Darkness examines the origins of the lightship service, the obstacles and prejudices that faced originators of the idea and the subsequent development of the vessels and working practices
This book provides a fresh perspective on the lives of Henry VIII’s six wives by embarking on a journey through the manors, castles and palaces in which their lives were played out. This journey trace
The federal immigration station on Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay, opened on 1 January 1892. In the peak years of immigration to the United States, between 1905 and 1914, an average of 1 million
