- Table View
- List View
The Prisoner's Wife
by Maggie BrookesInspired by the true story of a daring deception that plunges a courageous young woman deep into the horrors of a Nazi POW camp to be with the man she loves.In the dead of night, a Czech farm girl and a British soldier travel through the countryside. Izabela and prisoner of war Bill have secretly married and are on the run, with Izzy dressed as a man. The young husband and wife evade capture for as long as possible—until they are cornered by Nazi soldiers with tracking dogs. Izzy's disguise works. The couple are assumed to be escaped British soldiers and transported to a POW camp. However, their ordeal has just begun, as they face appalling living conditions and the constant fear of Izzy's exposure. But in the midst of danger and deprivation comes hope, for the young couple are befriended by a small group of fellow prisoners. These men become their new family, willing to jeopardize their lives to save Izzy from being discovered and shot.The Prisoner's Wife tells of an incredible risk, and of how our deepest bonds are tested in desperate times. Bill and Izzy's story is one of love and survival against the darkest odds.
Private: Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks, and the Biggest Exposure of Official Secrets in American History
by Denver NicksBradley Manning perpetrated the biggest breach of military security in American history. This intelligence analyst leaked an astounding amount of classified information to WikiLeaks: classified combat videos and hundreds of thousands of documents from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and from embassies around the globe. Almost all of WikiLeaks's headline-making releases of information have come from one source only: Bradley Manning. The leaks affected governments the world over--the Arab uprisings were spurred, in part, by Manning's revelations. They propelled WikiLeaks to a level of international prominence it never had before. The world would never be the same. Bradley Manning's story is one of global significance, and yet he remains an enigma. Now, for the first time, the full truth will be told about a man who, at the age of only twenty-two, changed the world. Nicks's book paints a nuanced portrait of a man haunted by demons and driven by hope, impulsive and cocky yet idealistic enough to follow his conscience. Relying on numerous conversations with those who know Manning best, Nicks gives the full story of a bright, gay kid from middle America who signs on to serve his country and finds himself serving a cause he finds far more sinister, and why he betrayed his oath and fellow troops--and his own future--in order to fulfill what he saw as a higher purpose. Denver Nicks has written for The Daily Beast, The Nation, AlterNet, and other publications. He lives in New York City.
Private: The Royals (BookShots)
by James Patterson Rees JonesGod save the Queen-only Private can save the Royal Family.Private is the most elite detective agency in the world. But when kidnappers threaten to execute a Royal Family member in front of the Queen, Jack Morgan and his team have just 24 hours to stop them. Or heads will roll...literally. BookShotsLIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading All original content from James Patterson
A Private Affair
by Beppe FenoglioA powerful World War II novel about a young soldier joining the anti-German resistance in occupied Italy, this classic—which touches on everything from wartime dangers and adventures to desperate love—is regarded as one of the greatest works of twentieth-century Italian literature.Milton—the name is a nom de guerre—is a member of a partisan band battling Italian Fascists and German forces in the chaotic last years of World War II. Before the war Milton was a student of English literature and a lover of poetry. He was in love with a girl, too, Fulvia, and from time to time she&’d invite him over to her rich family&’s fine house and have him read to her. Now, in the thick of war, he discovers that handsome Giorgio, his friend and fellow partisan, was sleeping with Fulvia at the time. Furious with jealousy, Milton hastens to have it out with Giorgio, but Giorgio has been captured by the Germans. A Private Affair tells the story of Milton&’s mad quest—through mud and fog, rain and terror, while barely evading enemy patrols—to rescue his friend, the better to settle a grudge from a lost world of peace. Beppe Fenoglio&’s masterpiece is a peerless story of the violent heart and world.
Private Armies And Military Intervention
by David ShearerThe nature and role of paid foreign forces have altered considerably in the late twentieth century. ‘Military companies’ – private firms providing active military assistance, in some cases involving combat – have exploited the increasing reluctance of Western governments and multilateral organizations to intervene directly in civil conflicts. As a result, their influence has increased. David Shearer argues that the debate over the use of these companies – notably the South African firm Executive Outcomes (EO) – has not, however, kept pace with their development. Companies such as EO are widely seen as merely modern-day mercenary outfits exploiting violence for private gain. <p><p> Shearer contends that the need to recast the debate on military companies is urgent. These companies are not a passing phenomenon; if anything, their influence and activities are set to increase in the next century as Western military retrenchment continues. Efforts to restrict the activities of military companies by drafting international or domestic legislation have to date been ineffective, and are likely to remain so. <p> This paper – the first detailed analysis of the private military sector – argues that dismissing it as an unpleasant aberration is misleading and unhelpful. Military companies can claim success in achieving immediate strategic objectives. The author cites two examples at length – EO’s operations in Angola in 1993–94, and in Sierra Leone in 1995–96 – and suggests that military force can stabilize a crisis. Engagement with military companies may create possibilities for them to complement international and regional peacekeeping efforts. Traditional UN peacekeeping is flawed in terms of its speed of mobilization and lines of authority, and is hampered by interference from contributing countries. The private sector may avoid many of these difficulties. <p> Private Armies and Military Intervention concludes that transparency of operations and business relationships is a crucial first step towards ensuring the accountability of the private military sector. However, a coherent policy towards military companies has yet to be formulated. Current frameworks under international law are insufficient and inappropriate. Characterizing the activities of military companies as ‘mercenary’ offers few useful means to tackle the issue within a framework of international policy. What is required is a more pragmatic approach that assesses the effectiveness of – and engages with – private armies.
Private Armies and Military Intervention (Adelphi series)
by David ShearerThe nature and role of paid foreign forces have altered considerably in the late twentieth century. ‘Military companies’ – private firms providing active military assistance, in some cases involving combat – have exploited the increasing reluctance of Western governments and multilateral organizations to intervene directly in civil conflicts. As a result, their influence has increased. David Shearer argues that the debate over the use of these companies – notably the South African firm Executive Outcomes (EO) – has not, however, kept pace with their development. Companies such as EO are widely seen as merely modern-day mercenary outfits exploiting violence for private gain. Shearer contends that the need to recast the debate on military companies is urgent. These companies are not a passing phenomenon; if anything, their influence and activities are set to increase in the next century as Western military retrenchment continues. Efforts to restrict the activities of military companies by drafting international or domestic legislation have to date been ineffective, and are likely to remain so. This paper – the first detailed analysis of the private military sector – argues that dismissing it as an unpleasant aberration is misleading and unhelpful. Military companies can claim success in achieving immediate strategic objectives. The author cites two examples at length – EO’s operations in Angola in 1993–94, and in Sierra Leone in 1995–96 – and suggests that military force can stabilize a crisis. Engagement with military companies may create possibilities for them to complement international and regional peacekeeping efforts. Traditional UN peacekeeping is flawed in terms of its speed of mobilization and lines of authority, and is hampered by interference from contributing countries. The private sector may avoid many of these difficulties. Private Armies and Military Intervention concludes that transparency of operations and business relationships is a crucial first step towards ensuring the accountability of the private military sector. However, a coherent policy towards military companies has yet to be formulated. Current frameworks under international law are insufficient and inappropriate. Characterizing the activities of military companies as ‘mercenary’ offers few useful means to tackle the issue within a framework of international policy. What is required is a more pragmatic approach that assesses the effectiveness of – and engages with – private armies.
Private Beatson's War: Life, Death and Hope on the Western Front
by Edited by Shaun SpringerUntil recently James Beatson was one of the millions of forgotten soldiers of the Great War. But after 90 years his diary has been rediscovered, perfectly preserved, and his story can now be told. It is a moving, intensely personal and beautifully written narrative by an extraordinary young man who witnessed one of the darkest episodes in European history. His experience gives us a telling insight into the thoughts and reactions of a self- educated, patriotic and religious individual confronted by the horrors of warfare on the Western Front. Indeed, after reading the diary of a dead German soldier, Beatson begins to identify more with the thoughts and fears of his enemy than he does with those he loves at home. Reminiscent of some of the greatest of the First World War authors, the diary is also the record of a gifted writer whose potential was tragically curtailed. For, shortly after marrying his childhood sweet heart, he was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme in one of the many failed attacks on High Wood. For this, the first publication of Beatsons diary, Shaun Springer and Stuart Humphreys have edited and illustrated the text and provided an introduction, describing Beatsons family background and the campaign on the Western Front in which he took part. James Beatson was the eldest of nine children. He was raised in Scotland by working-class parents. He was a civil engineer until, as with so many, the declaration of war offered him the chance of adventure. He enlisted in the first days of the war in the Royal Scots and was an eyewitness to the first poison gas attack by the Germans in 1915. Despite the horrors he experienced, Private Beatson never lost his love of humanity nor his faith. He now lies buried, lost somewhere on the Somme when in July 1916 he breathed his last in that infamous battle.
Private Contractors and the Reconstruction of Iraq: Transforming military logistics
by Christopher KinseyThis book explains how and why the US and UK governments became so dependent upon military contractors during the war in Iraq. <P><P>It also examines the ramifications this new dependency will have on future military operations, as the conflict in Iraq has shown that private contractors are now indispensable to the attainment of both the military and political objectives of war.
Private Contractors and the Reconstruction of Iraq: Transforming Military Logistics (Contemporary Security Studies)
by Christopher KinseyPrivate Contractors and the Reconstruction of Iraq examines the controversial role of military contractors in the reconstruction of Iraq. When 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' was launched in March 2003, few, if any, of the Coalition's political leaders could have envisaged that within a few months the number of private contractors engaged to keep the troops supplied would exceed their actual combat strength. This alternative 'army' was not only to become the largest assemblage of contractors in living memory to accompany a military force into a war zone, but was also responsible for a fundamental transformation of how military logistics were delivered. This book explains how and why the US and UK governments became so dependent upon military contractors during the war in Iraq. It also examines the ramifications this new dependency will have on future military operations, as the conflict in Iraq has shown that private contractors are now indispensable to the attainment of both the military and political objectives of war. Finally, the book discusses what advantages and disadvantages these companies have brought to the reconstruction of Iraq, and what lessons need to be learned from this experience. This book will be of great interest to students of military and strategic studies, Middle Eastern politics and international security, and as well as policymakers and military professionals. Christopher Kinsey is a lecturer in international security at King's College London, Defence Studies Department, at the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham. His previous publications include Corporate Soldiers and International Security: The Rise of Private Military Companies (Routledge: 2006)
The Private Diaries of Alison Uttley: Author of Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig
by Denis JuddPopular childrens author, Alison Uttley (Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig) spent over 40 years writing diaries. Professor Denis Judd, who knew Alison and has previously written her biography, reveals a different side to the writer whose husband committed suicide and whose close relationship with her son is recorded in detail. But the magic of the author rings through on every page as she writes about her daily life in Berkshire, the red lipped fisherwife near neighbor (better known as Enid Blyton!) and her tempestuous relationship with her illustrators. She also writes endearingly about the changing seasons, reflecting much of her adult writing. These beautifully written diaries have been skillfully edited by Denis Judd, one of the Trustees of her Estate and a renowned biographer in his own right. Wonderfully written with a truly nostalgic look at days long gone, this is a must-read not just for fans of Alison Uttley's work but for anyone who enjoys good writing.
The Private Heinrich Himmler: Letters of a Mass Murderer
by Michael WildtThe English translation of the letters of Heinrich Himmler and his wife, recently authenticated by the Bundesarchiv and serialized in Die WeltAt the end of World War II, it was assumed that the letters of Heinrich Himmler were lost. Yet sixty years after Himmler's capture by British troops and subsequent suicide, the letters mysteriously turned up in Tel Aviv and, in early 2014, excerpts were published for the first time by the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot providing a rare, if jarring, glimpse into the family life of one of Hitler's top lieutenants while he was busy organizing the mass extermination of the Jews. It was generally held that Himmler, once appointed head of the SS, blended seamlessly into the Nazi hierarchy. The image that emerges, however, is more subtle. Himmler is seen here as a man whose observations can often be characterized by their unpleasant banality; a man whose obsession with family life ran alongside a brutal detachment from all things human, a serial killer who oversaw the persecution and extermination of all Jews and other non-Aryans, and those opposed to the regime. His letters remove any doubt that he was the architect of the Final Solution, and a man who was much closer to Hitler than many historians previously thought.The letters in this edition were arranged by Katrin Himmler, the great-niece of Heinrich and Marga Himmler, and Michael Wildt, a renowned expert on the Nazi regime, who also provide historical context to the letters and their author. The entire work was translated by Thomas S. Hansen and Abby J. Hansen.
Private Hitler's War, 1914–1918: 1914-1919 (Eyewitnesses from The Great War)
by Bob CarruthersDuring the Great War Adolf Hitler served in the ranks of the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment from 1914 to 1918, and was awarded the Iron Cross. In later years, under the masterful control of Doctor Goebbels, Hitler was successfully portrayed by the Nazis as a valiant front-line soldier who, for four long years, had fought many hard battles in the front-line of trenches.The world has long accepted the Nazi version, and Hitler is often referred to as a Corporal, but a series of clues remained which pointed to an alternative version of the truth. Even at the zenith of his power, Hitler was always mindful that there were those who maintained that, far from being a brave front-line fighter, he was actually a fraud; a draft-dodger and rear area malingerer who in four years of war had only ever fought in one action.Hitler knew the uncomfortable truth. The Nazi machine acted ruthlessly and former colleagues such as Hans Mend, who didn't toe the party line, soon ended up in concentration camps.Now, almost a century later, as a result of a series of painstaking investigations, the producers of the ground-breaking documentary Private Hitler's War have resolved the century long controversy over Hitler's service in the Great War. This powerful documentary tie-in book finally turns the Nazi myth on its head and reveals the full unvarnished truth concerning Adolf Hitler's actions in the Great War.
A Private In Gray
by Thomas Benton Reed"Published in 1905, these are the recollections of Thomas Benton Reed during his time serving as a Private in the 9th Louisiana Infantry, Confederate, during the Civil War."-Print ed.
A Private In The Guards [Illustrated Edition]
by Stephen GrahamIncludes the First World War Illustrations Pack - 73 battle plans and diagrams and 198 photosStephen Graham was a noted writer and journalist who took the fateful step of enlisting in the Scots Guards at the less than tender age of 33. However as he did so in 1917 the manpower shortage of the First World War ensured his quick acceptance into the "Little Sparta" depot for recruits. Being a liberal, well-travelled gentleman with views as to his dignity, the author suffered greatly under the strict discipline and harsh training of which he complained bitterly in this book. He shipped out to France for the last bloody year of the war, and found that he had bonded with his comrades to an extent he could not have imagined. Even as part of an elite unit he experienced the casual brutality and suffering of the fighting troops which he noted with his eye for detail and recorded herein.A First World War One memoir controversial at the time of publication and still every inch a classic.
The Private Journal of F.S. Larpent - Vol. I: attached to the head-quarters of Lord Wellington during the Peninsular War, from 1812 to its close (The Private Journal of F.S. Larpent #1)
by Sir George Larpent F. Seymour LarpentWellington added a Judge-Advocate-General to his staff in 1812 "to ensure that courts-martial were conducted with proper forms and due appreciation of the validity of evidence - in which the commander-in-chief considered that they had often failed . . . Larpent, who has left an interesting diary of his duties and his personal adventures [he was captured briefly in 1813 but immediately exchanged], discharged the function of this office . . . down to the end of the war" (Oman, Wellington's Army pp. 159-160). "When in the Peninsula, Larpent wrote descriptive letters to his stepmother, Anna Margaretta Larpent. Publication of this important first-hand account of Wellington's headquarters was deferred until after Wellington's death. The letters were edited, with a biographical preface by Larpent's half-brother, Sir George Larpent, first baronet (1786-1855), in 1853 and passed through three editions in the same year" (Oxford DNB).Author -- Larpent, F. Seymour 1776-1845.Editor -- Larpent, George, Sir, 1786-1855.Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London: R. Bentley, 1853.Original Page Count - 296 pages.
The Private Journal of F.S. Larpent - Vol. II: attached to the head-quarters of Lord Wellington during the Peninsular War, from 1812 to its close (The Private Journal of F.S. Larpent #2)
by Sir George Larpent F. Seymour LarpentWellington added a Judge-Advocate-General to his staff in 1812 "to ensure that courts-martial were conducted with proper forms and due appreciation of the validity of evidence - in which the commander-in-chief considered that they had often failed . . . Larpent, who has left an interesting diary of his duties and his personal adventures [he was captured briefly in 1813 but immediately exchanged], discharged the function of this office . . . down to the end of the war" (Oman, Wellington's Army pp. 159-160). "When in the Peninsula, Larpent wrote descriptive letters to his stepmother, Anna Margaretta Larpent. Publication of this important first-hand account of Wellington's headquarters was deferred until after Wellington's death. The letters were edited, with a biographical preface by Larpent's half-brother, Sir George Larpent, first baronet (1786-1855), in 1853 and passed through three editions in the same year" (Oxford DNB).Author -- Larpent, F. Seymour 1776-1845.Editor -- Larpent, George, Sir, 1786-1855.Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London: R. Bentley, 1853.Original Page Count - 309 pages.
The Private Journal of F.S. Larpent - Vol. III: attached to the head-quarters of Lord Wellington during the Peninsular War, from 1812 to its close (The Private Journal of F.S. Larpent #3)
by Sir George Larpent F. Seymour LarpentWellington added a Judge-Advocate-General to his staff in 1812 "to ensure that courts-martial were conducted with proper forms and due appreciation of the validity of evidence - in which the commander-in-chief considered that they had often failed . . . Larpent, who has left an interesting diary of his duties and his personal adventures [he was captured briefly in 1813 but immediately exchanged], discharged the function of this office . . . down to the end of the war" (Oman, Wellington's Army pp. 159-160). "When in the Peninsula, Larpent wrote descriptive letters to his stepmother, Anna Margaretta Larpent. Publication of this important first-hand account of Wellington's headquarters was deferred until after Wellington's death. The letters were edited, with a biographical preface by Larpent's half-brother, Sir George Larpent, first baronet (1786-1855), in 1853 and passed through three editions in the same year" (Oxford DNB).Author -- Larpent, F. Seymour 1776-1845.Editor -- Larpent, George, Sir, 1786-1855.Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London: R. Bentley, 1853.Original Page Count - 293 pages.
Private Journal Of Henry Francis Brooke, Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade Kandahar Field Force,: Southern Afghanistan, From April 22nd To August 16th, 1880
by Brigadier Henry Francis Brooke"This is an essential book for anyone interested in warfare in Afghanistan. The author, Henry Brooke was given a brigade to command in the field, but soon found himself cooped up behind the walls of Kandahar surrounded by hostile tribesmen within an equally hostile environment. In his writings Brooke makes it clear that he has little faith in his mission from the outset. Inevitably his misgivings are well founded as his force became beset by threats of fanatical attacks from within the city as well as from enemies without. True to the pattern of the British experience of the region a disaster threw a defeated army back to Kandahar and soon the noose was tightened so that the villages under its very walls became 'no go zones.' This is an account of the Second Afghan War that resonates with chilling parallels to the modern conflict."-Print Ed.
Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries: From Medical Orderly to Cabinet Minister
by Christopher ArnanderFrom Britain’s only Cabinet-level politician to serve in the ranks during World War I, diary entries and letters detailing life on the Western Front.This unusual account is written by the 27th Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, an active Lancashire MP for eighteen years until he inherited the title on his father’s death in 1913. In 1915 his sense of patriotic duty drove him to join the RAMC as a Private, although he was married with seven children, head of a large company and well over age. Despite his privileged status in civilian life, he cheerfully served as a humble medical orderly on the Western Front for some fourteen months and was given responsibility for two operating theatres.A gifted author and diarist, his daily entries provide a fascinating insight into life near the front over this period and, together with his letters home, his writings reflect the stark contrast between his home life and the one he experienced in Flanders. Of particular interest are his astute observations on his contemporaries of all ranks, the conduct of the war, medical services and life in wartime France. Remarkably he never complains at his lot (although often sharply critical of GHQ and politicians) or regrets his decision.As the author was the only Cabinet-level politician to serve “in the ranks” during the conflict, this is a record without any parallel. In 1916 Crawford was persuaded eventually to return to London and join Asquith’s Cabinet before staying on under Lloyd George until 1922. After the war, he became a director, trustee or advisor of several museums, such as the British Museum, National Gallery and others. The Crawford Papers (his diaries, edited by Prof. John Vincent) describe his civilian experiences from 1892 to 1940 and are seen as an invaluable source for students of politics, art, industry and society in Britain.The book contains three maps and seventy-five illustrations.This fascinating book fills a needy gap at a time of unprecedented interest in The Great War.Praise for Private Lord Crawford’s Great War DiariesOne of The Times “Books of the Year” 2013“[Crawford’s] previously unpublished war diaries, meticulously edited by his grandson, offer a fascinating glimpse into life at the front and in the upper reaches of politics at home—and contain some frank comments on his former Cabinet colleagues.” —Literary Review“Lord Crawford was the only Cabinet-level politician to serve “in the ranks” during World War I as a private. A gifted author and diarist, his daily entries provide a fascinating insight into life in the frontline over a fourteen-month period.” —History Scotland
Private Memoirs of the Court of Napoleon
by Baron Louis-François-Joseph de Bausset-RoquefortThis ebook is purpose built and is proof-read and re-type set from the original to provide an outstanding experience of reflowing text for an ebook reader. As a member of the Imperial palace and closest aides and servants of Napoleon in both war and peace, Bausset was an eye-witness to the greatest events of the French court. The memoirs begin with the coronation of Napoleon as Emperor of the French; as Napoleon marches across Europe, his palace campaigns with him from the Pratzen Heights at Austerlitz to the snows of Russia in 1812. Bausset recounts all that he sees and hears of Napoleon and his marshals, generals and wives. A fine memoir. Author -- Baron Louis-François-Joseph de Bausset-Roquefort. (1770-1833) Translator -- Anon Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1828, by Carey, Lea and Carey, in Philadelphia Original - 426 pages. Title - Private Memoirs of the Court of Napoleon Sub-Title - And of some Publick Events of the Imperial Events, from 1805 to the 1st May 1814
Private Military and Security Companies: Ethics, Policies and Civil-Military Relations (Cass Military Studies)
by Andrew Alexandra Deane-Peter Baker Marina CapariniOver the past twenty years, Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) have become significant elements of national security arrangements, assuming many of the functions that have traditionally been undertaken by state armies. Given the centrality of control over the use of coercive force to the functioning and identity of the modern state, and to international order, these developments clearly are of great practical and conceptual interest. This edited volume provides an interdisciplinary overview of PMSCs: what they are, why they have emerged in their current form, how they operate, their current and likely future military, political, social and economic impact, and the moral and legal constraints that do and should apply to their operation. The book focuses firstly upon normative issues raised by the development of PMSCs, and then upon state regulation and policy towards PMSCs, examining finally the impact of PMSCs on civil-military relations. It takes an innovative approach, bringing theory and empirical research into mutually illuminating contact. Includes contributions from experts in IR, political theory, international and corporate law, and economics, and also breaks important new ground by including philosophical discussions of PMSCs.
Private Military and Security Companies and States
by Christopher SpearinThis book identifies and explains the functional and ideational boundaries regarding what states and Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) both do and possess regarding land power, sea power, and air power. Whereas the mercenaries, privateers, and chartered companies of years past held similar characteristics to state military forces, the PMSCs of today are dissimilar for two reasons: a conventional forces norm amongst states and a state proclivity towards the offensive. These factors reveal both the limitations of and the possibilities for contemporary security privatization. This volume is ideal for civilian and military practitioners and students wishing to develop a detailed understanding of what the private military and security industry has to offer and why it is structured the way it is.
Private Military Companies: New Actors of International Relations
by Lt. Colonel Emile MarieWe can only be struck by the range of services developed in a few years by private military companies (intelligence, training, operations support, logistical support, doctrine advice ...), to cover the entire spectrum activities formerly devolved to armies, including in the field of combat. In 2010, in the Afghan theater, nearly 60% of US-hired staff were employed by a private military company. With approximately one million employees worldwide and a turnover estimated at between $ 200 and $ 400 billion, it becomes particularly legitimate to ask the question of the place occupied by these private military companies on the international scene, and especially of evoking the extent of their influence, particularly in terms of foreign policy. Most state citizens do not really know how to situate private military companies in the corporate landscape. Their assimilation to mercenarism is still significant. The popular works about them only narrate the experiences of some of their employees. The more specialized works focus mainly on the lack of legislation or the history that surrounds these societies. Thus, almost no literature has been interested in the fact that private military companies play a fundamental role on the international scene, often at the service of the States that employ them. This game is actually played discreetly, but we can only note that private military companies have become essential elements in international relations, as well as large NGOs or large companies. If the latter are considered as “new actors” in international relations, can not we say the same of private military companies?
The Private Papers of John, Earl of Sandwich: 1771-1782, Vol. III
by G.R. Barnes J.H. OwenThe Fourth Earl of Sandwich was First Lord of the Admiralty (for the third time in his long career) from 1771 to 1782. Blamed by the Whig opposition for many of the disasters of the American War, he was additionally loaded by 19th-century Whig historians with the false image of a corrupt libertine.It was the publication of these volumes of his correspondence and papers (then in the family home, now in the National Maritime Museum), covering the years 1771 to 1782, which restored his reputation as a conscientious and imaginative naval administrator and reformer, especially of the dockyards and of the timber question. Without entirely rescuing his status as a strategist, they showed very clearly the weaknesses at the heart of the North administration which damaged its handling of the war, and undermined Sandwich’s efforts.A fifth volume intended to cover his handling of naval patronage was overtaken by the war.This volume is from May 1779 to December 1780.
The Private Papers of John, Earl of Sandwich: 1771-1782, Vol. IV
by G.R. Barnes J.H. OwenThe Fourth Earl of Sandwich was First Lord of the Admiralty (for the third time in his long career) from 1771 to 1782. Blamed by the Whig opposition for many of the disasters of the American War, he was additionally loaded by 19th-century Whig historians with the false image of a corrupt libertine.It was the publication of these volumes of his correspondence and papers (then in the family home, now in the National Maritime Museum), covering the years 1771 to 1782, which restored his reputation as a conscientious and imaginative naval administrator and reformer, especially of the dockyards and of the timber question. Without entirely rescuing his status as a strategist, they showed very clearly the weaknesses at the heart of the North administration which damaged its handling of the war, and undermined Sandwich’s efforts.A fifth volume intended to cover his handling of naval patronage was overtaken by the war.This volume is from 1781 to 1782. The planned fifth volume was never completed.