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Adventures In Propaganda; Letters From An Intelligence Officer In France [Illustrated Edition]
by Captain Heber BlankenhornMany of the memoirs from the American Expeditionary Force cover the fighting that raged in 1918: from the shellfire to the wounds, glorious exploits and so forth. What marks Captain Blankenhorn's memoirs as so very different is the role that he served in during the War; he was an intelligence officer in charge of evaluating enemy propaganda and producing Allied propaganda for his own troops and those of the enemy. From posters to handbills, Blankenhorn's efforts whilst lesser known are equally fascinating and meritorious."...illustrations include some interesting samples of German and Allied propaganda. ." p. 214, Edward Lengel, World War I Memories, 2004, The Scarecrow Press, Lanham Maryland, Toronto, Oxford.
Adventures in the Connaught Rangers. Vol. I (Adventures in the Connaught Rangers #1)
by Lt.-Colonel William GrattanThis 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. Born into a well-known and respected family in Dublin, William Grattan has left no sketch of himself or his reasons for joining the 88th Regiment of Foot, the most Irish of all the Irish regiments according to Oman, as a subaltern in 1809. It is conceivable that he thirsted for adventure, and advancement, however little did he know that he would be joining as hard fighting, drinking and pilfering regiment that ever fought in the Peninsular under Wellington. Christened "The Devil's Own" by their divisional commander Picton, the Connaught Rangers as they were also known are detailed in all their varied adventures by Grattan. The "Adventures" are particularly well written by an author who had two sterling attributes as a writer above and beyond his contemporaries, the first an un-erring ability to describe the actions, skirmishes and battles that he was involved in despite smoke, carnage and confusion around him at the time. The second is an ability to provide a plethora of details and anecdotes that breathe life into normal day-to-day events in the army and more specifically his famous regiment. Wellington was to famously to congratulate them along with four companies of the 45th Regiment of their charge at Busaco; "Upon my honour, I never witnessed a more gallant charge than that just now made by your regiment." Grattan would eventually leave the service in 1817, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, but his association with the regiment that he dearly loved would continue on his continued writings in defence of Sir Thomas Picton, his divisional chief and his regiment in the pages of the United Service Magazine and monographs of his own. Warmly recommended. This is the first volume of the original two volume account left by Lieutenant-Colonel Grattan, rather than the heavily edited version commonly found. Author - William Grattan - (???? - ????) Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1847, London, by Henry Colborn Original - 329 pages. TOC included
Adventures in the Connaught Rangers. Vol. II (Adventures in the Connaught Rangers #2)
by Lt.-Colonel William GrattanThis 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. Born into a well-known and respected family in Dublin, William Grattan has left no sketch of himself or his reasons for joining the 88th Regiment of Foot, the most Irish of all the Irish regiments according to Oman, as a subaltern in 1809. It is conceivable that he thirsted for adventure, and advancement, however little did he know that he would be joining as hard fighting, drinking and pilfering regiment that ever fought in the Peninsular under Wellington. Christened "The Devil's Own" by their divisional commander Picton, the Connaught Rangers as they were also known are detailed in all their varied adventures by Grattan. The "Adventures" are particularly well written by an author who had two sterling attributes as a writer above and beyond his contemporaries, the first an un-erring ability to describe the actions, skirmishes and battles that he was involved in despite smoke, carnage and confusion around him at the time. The second is an ability to provide a plethora of details and anecdotes that breathe life into normal day-to-day events in the army and more specifically his famous regiment. Wellington was to famously to congratulate them along with four companies of the 45th Regiment of their charge at Busaco; "Upon my honour, I never witnessed a more gallant charge than that just now made by your regiment." Grattan would eventually leave the service in 1817, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, but his association with the regiment that he dearly loved would continue on his continued writings in defence of Sir Thomas Picton, his divisional chief and his regiment in the pages of the United Service Magazine and monographs of his own. Warmly recommended. This is the second volume of the original two volume account left by Lieutenant-Colonel Grattan, rather than the heavily edited version commonly found. Author - William Grattan - (???? - ????)Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1847, London, by Henry Colborn Original - 346 pages. TOC included
Adventures in the Rifle Brigade, in the Peninsula, France, and the Netherlands (The World At War)
by John KincaidThe memoirs of Capt. J. Kincaid covering his experiences in the famous Rifle Brigade. The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, formed in 1800 to provide sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers. They later became part of the Royal Green Jackets. The brigade was distinguished by its use of green uniforms as standard in place of the traditional red, the first regular infantry corps in the British Army to do so.
Adventures in the Rifle Brigade, in the Peninsula, France, and the Netherlands from 1809 to 1815 [Illustrated and Annotated Edition]
by Pickle Partners Publishing Captain Sir John KincaidThis 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. This edition contains over 60 annotations, illuminating the people and events recounted by Sir John, and also 6 maps illuminating the battles of Fuentes de Oñoro, Salamanca and Vittoria, also the sieges of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz and the fortifications of Torres Vedras. Sir John Kincaid served with the 95th Rifles throughout the Peninsular War and the Waterloo campaign in 1815. Written with verve and wit and an eye for an amusing story, Adventures in the Rifle Brigade (as the 95th was known at the time), Kincaid provided an oft imitated pattern for British Rife memoirs. Published originally in 1830 the originality of the book has led to numerous re-editions since. The narrative includes; The Battles of Sabugal, Fuentes D'Oñoro, Salamanca, Vittoria, the Nivelle and Waterloo,and the sieges of Badajoz and Cuidad Rodrigo. The Text has been taken from the edition published by T. and W. Boone, 1830 London Author - Sir John Kincaid 1787-1862
Adventures of a Cold War Fast-Jet Navigator: The Buccaneer Years
by David HerriotDavid Herriot served almost 40 years in the Royal Air Force as a navigator, first on the Buccaneer S2 and subsequently on the Tornado GR1. This volume recounts his early career operating the Buccaneer on three operational flying tours plus a tour as an instructor on the Operational Conversion Unit. With almost 2500 hours on an aircraft that was operated at high-speed, in all weathers and at ultra low-level, his task in the rear seat was a demanding one. But Herriot was more than just the guy in the back of a Buccaneer; he was, quite routinely, and often to the exasperation of his seniors, the life and soul of any party that was taking place either at home base or when overseas defending the flanks of NATO.This is an epic adventure for the aviation enthusiast, particularly those with affection for the Blackburn Buccaneer, and is one that provides a great deal more than the usual introduction to a specific aircraft type and the people who flew it. Here the reader will find an absolute insight into life on a fast jet squadron, at work and mischievous play during the Cold War and they will be introduced to some of the modern Royal Air Forces greatest characters.
Adventures of a Motorcycle Despatch Rider (The World At War)
by William Henry Lowe WatsonCaptain William Henry Lowe Watson (1891-1932) was the British author of Adventures of a Despatch Rider (1915). (Excerpt) "This book is not a history, a military treatise, an essay, or a scrap of autobiography. It has no more accuracy or literary merit than letters usually possess. So I hope you will not judge it too harshly. My only object is to try and show as truthfully as I can the part played in this monstrous war by a despatch rider during the months from August 1914 to February 1915. If that object is gained I am content."
Adventures of a Soldier; or Memoirs of Edward Costello, K.S.F. Formerly a Non-Commission Officer in The Rifle Brigade...
by Pickle Partners Publishing Edward CostelloThis 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. Edward Costello enlisted into his local militia regiment in Ireland in 1806, and transferred, not without having a few adventures in his native Ireland, to the 95th Rifles. Not quite well drilled enough to join in Sir John Moore's 1808-1809 campaign, he narrates some stories of his comrades who did including Tom Plunket, famous for shooting the French General Colbert. His service in the Peninsular campaign, started almost immediately with the epic forced march to Talavera under General "Black Bob" Crauford, a fierce discipliarian, but liked by his men as Costello points out. Numerous skirmishes, affairs of outposts and combats punctuate Costello's narrative, along with amusing asides of his comrades and their japes, drinking and occasionally their punishment by the lash. Present at the battles of Fuentes d'Oñoro, El Bodon, Salamanca, Vittoria, Nivelle and the storming of Cuidad Roderigo and bloody Badajoz, he captures the mood of the men and the hellish atmosphere of a battle, and the sorrow of lost friends. After a brief break in his active service Costello once more engages during the Waterloo campaign, and is heavily engaged at Waterloo and Quatre Bras. After the fall of Napoleon Costello's career turns to the British Legion , which is no sinecure despite his elevation to Lieutenant as he is posted to join the expedition to Spain and sees the vicious civil war at first hand, with scenes that remind him of the savagery of his experiences between the Guerillas and the French many years before. A gem in the sparkling vein of memoirs written by the men and officers of the famed Rifle brigade during their adventures in the Peninsular war. Costello writes with a verve and wit, and some idiosyncratic spelling, often only found in the works of the officers of his regiment such as Kincaid. A justly acclaimed classic. Author - Edward Costello - (26th October 1788 - ????) Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1841, London, by Henry Colbourn Original - 410 pages. Linked TOC
Adventures of a Young Man: A Novel
by John Dos PassosIn a novel that closely parallels author John Dos Passos's own ideological struggles during the Spanish Civil War, protagonist Glenn Spotswood, an American, travels to Spain to fight on the Republican side. There, Spotswood joins the Communist Party to help establish a more just society, but his idealism quickly degrades under the stress of party orthodoxy and hypocrisy.
Adventures of a young rifleman in the French and English armies,: during the war in Spain and Portugal, from 1806 to 1816. Written by himself
by Johann Christian MaempelDuring the Napoleonic Wars, few had such an unenviable job as the "poor bloody infantry"; fodder for cannon, unless tightly packed in ranks prey to cavalry, their only recourse was discipline and a highly inaccurate musket. As tactics evolved, the infantry would look for ways to maximize their effectiveness and minimize their own casualties. Increasingly the swift, the crafty and the most capable soldiers took to becoming skirmishers plying their trade away from the lines of death, fighting a personal war between the lines behind whatever cover they could find. In Wellington's ranks, many of these skirmishers were armed with the highly accurate but relative slow-loading Baker rifle; feared by their French opponents, the riflemen were not all British but also recruited from the ranks of the German principalities that Napoleon had pressed into his armies. One such soldier was Joseph Maempel: forced away from his native Germany to fight for the French, he was captured early in his career and decided to join the allied cause. After many escapes, scrapes, adventures and much hard fighting, the author returned to his native lands to write his book. The world famous German author and poet Goëthe volunteered to edit these memoirs, which contain an excellent account of the service of the young Rifleman across the battle-fields of Europe.Author -- Johann Christian MaempelEditor - Johann Wolfgang von Goëthe (1749 -1832)Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London, H. Colburn, 1826.Original Page Count - 363 p.
The Adventures of Arabella Ashby: Arabella of Mars, Arabella and the Battle of Venus, and Arabella the Traitor of Mars (The Adventures of Arabella Ashby)
by David D. LevineFollow the nineteenth-century interplanetary adventures of a fearless steampunk space warrior in this full-trilogy collection. A teenage girl enters the fray of the Napoleonic Wars in space in this enthralling series &“for young and young-at-heart readers who will enjoy a retro-flavored science fiction read&” (Fantasy Literature). This complete collection includes: Arabella of Mars Forced by her mother to enter London society on Earth, sixteen-year-old Arabella must disguise herself as a boy to gain passage on an airship and foil a deadly plot against her brother back on her home planet of Mars. Arabella and the Battle of Venus When her fiancé is taken as a prisoner of war on Venus—the very planet where the exiled Napoleon has fled—Arabella embarks on a spacefaring rescue mission filled with pirates, espionage, and cosmic combat. Arabella the Traitor of Mars Arabella and her husband are lauded as heroes in England, having defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Venus. But a new mission will pit Arabella&’s love and loyalty for her home planet of Mars against the most powerful realm in the universe. Praise for the Adventures of Arabella Ashby trilogy &“If Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jules Verne, and Patrick O&’Brien had sat down together to compose a tale to amuse Jane Austen, the result might be Arabella of Mars. So. Much. Fun!&” —Madeleine E. Robins, author of the Sarah Tolerance Regency mysteries &“A fanciful romp through a cosmic 1812 . . . A treat for steampunk fantasy fans.&” —Library Journal (starred review)
The adventures of Captain John Patterson: with notices of the officers, &c. of the 50th, or Queen's own regiment, from 1807 to 1821.
by Captain John PattersonCaptain Patterson's adventures are written in a companionable, good natured style which leads the reader through the Peninsular War towards the Pyrenees and Southern France Campaign. This account is filled with much essential information of the campaign and the battlefields, as well as entertaining anecdotes of the author's own experiences and those of his soldiers and comrades. An essential addition to the Napoleonic library of every enthusiast.Author -- Captain John PattersonText taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in London : T. & W. Boone, 1837.Original Page Count - x and 436 pages.
The Adventures of Colonel Daffodil
by Roy RedgraveMajor General Sir Roy Redgrave has enjoyed an unusual, some might say eccentric, life. Born into the same family as the well known actors, he was brought up in Romania as part of a thriving international community before he joined the British Army and advanced to high rank.Following on from the success of his memoir Balkan Blue the author has pulled together a superb pot pourri of anecdotes covering his family, his military career and post-retirement travels and experiences. Readers will delight in the scope of this book which ranges widely from aristocratic life in feudal Romania to the dangers an intrigue of the Cold War; from the charm of French rural life to Franz Josef Land and encounters with polar bears, walruses and seals. We travel with this intrepid man from Kathmandu to Lhasa where he lived with impoverished Tibetans whose generosity and friendliness made the discomfort of primitive living at such altitudes disappear.These and other extraordinary experiences made this a fascinating read.
Adventures Of An Ensign [Illustrated Edition]
by VedetteIncludes The First World War On The Somme Illustration Pack - 107 photos/illustrations and 31 maps.These are the wartime adventures of "Vedette", a pseudonym of noted journalist and screenwriter Valentine Williams, during the First World War. Williams volunteered for service at the age of 32, a little on the old side for service in as prestigious and hard fighting as the Irish Guards. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant or "Ensign", and found himself travelling to France and the frontline in 1916. There was little enough time for him to learn his duties and responsibilities in the field before he and his men were thrown into the hell of the Battle of the Somme. The sounds of the shells, bullets and cries of "Stretcher-BearER!" were to become all too familiar to the author before he was wounded and sent back to Blighty. His memoirs are told in the third person, with verve wit and vivid detail that belie William's journalist background.
The Adventures of Jack Lark: the Jack Lark omnibus
by Paul Fraser CollardThe first three Victorian military adventures featuring hero Jack Lark, now available together in ebook. If you love Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, Matthew Harffy and Patrick O'Brian, you won't want to miss Paul Fraser Collard's action-packed series.INTRODUCING ROGUISH HERO JACK LARK: SOLDIER, LEADER, IMPOSTER.'Brilliant' BERNARD CORNWELL'Once again, Paul Fraser Collard proves he is a true master of action adventure' MATTHEW HARFFY'Like all the best vintages Jack Lark has aged to perfection. Scarred, battered and bloody, his story continues to enthral' ANTHONY RICHES_________THE SCARLET THIEFCrimean Peninsula, 1854. The men of the King's Royal Fusiliers are in terrible trouble. Young officer Jack Lark has to act immediately and decisively. His life and the success of the campaign depend on it. But does he have the mettle, the officer qualities that are the life blood of the British Army?From a poor background in London's East End, Lark has risen through the ranks by stealth and guile and now he faces the ultimate test...THE MAHARAJAH'S GENERALBombay, 1856. Jack Lark barely survived the Battle of the Alma. In hospital, wounded, and with his stolen life left lying on the battlefield, he grasps a chance to prove himself a leader once more. Poor Captain Danbury is dead, but Jack will travel to his new regiment in India, under his name.Exposed as a fraud, he's rescued by the chaplain's beautiful daughter, who has her own reasons to escape. They seek desperate refuge with the Maharajah of Sawadh, the charismatic leader whom the British Army must subdue. And, in return for his safety, Jack finds he must train the very army the British may soon have to fight...THE DEVIL'S ASSASSINBombay, 1857. Jack Lark is living precariously as an officer when his heroic but fraudulent past is discovered by the Devil - Major Ballard, the army's intelligence officer. Ballard is gathering a web of information to defend the British Empire, and he needs a man like Jack on his side. Not far away, in Persia, the Shah is moving against British territory and, with the Russians whispering in his ear, seeks to conquer the crucial city of Herat. As the British march to war, Jack learns that secrets crucial to the campaign's success are leaking into their enemies' hands. Ballard has brought him to the battlefield to end a spy's deceit. But who is the traitor?_________READERS LOVE THE JACK LARK SERIES:'Jack Lark is one of my favourite literary creations' 5* Reader Review'Up there with the best of the genre' 5* Reader Review'Collard's development of Lark is brilliant' 5* Reader Review'This truly is edge of the seat writing' 5* Reader Review'A breathless, memorable read and I recommend it completely' 5* Reader Review'SO good. Redcoats, gunpowder, and the horror of battle. Anyone who read Sharpe should devour this . . . A masterclass of grit and determination' 5* Reader Review'WOW. This is a very fast paced story that I found incredibly difficult to put down . . . If you like Victorian novels especially military ones, this series is definitely for you' 5* Reader Review
Adventures Of A Motorcycle Despatch Rider During The First World War [Illustrated Edition]
by Major William Henry Lowe Watson D.S.O. D.C.M.Includes the First World War Illustrations Pack - 73 battle plans and diagrams and 198 photos"A young British soldier who went to war on two wheels"When the Great War broke out, the author of this book decided to leave his university studies and join the struggle. What attracted him immediately was the potential to combine his military service with his love of motorcycles and so it was that he found himself one of a select group of motorcycle despatch riders within the 5th Division of the 'Contemptible Little Army' that went to France and Belgium to halt the overwhelming numerical superiority of the advancing German Army. This book, an account of his experiences in the early months of the war, tells the story of a conflict of fluid manoeuvre and dogged retreat. Together with congested roads filled with military traffic and refugees, the ever present threat of artillery barrage and changing front lines the author had to constantly be aware of the presence of the deadly Uhlans-mounted German Lancers-who were always ready to pitch horseflesh against horsepower."--Print Ed.
The Adventures of Sir Samuel White Baker: Victorian Hero
by M. J. TrowSir Samuel White Baker is one of those larger-than-life heroes only the Victorians could invent. For too long, the British Empire has been denigrated and equated with arrogance at best and racial bigotry at worst. Samuel Baker transcends that. He was an explorer and naturalist, recording new species on his many travels; a big game hunter with huge expertise across continents; an engineer of skill and ingenuity; a general of ability; an administrator second to none; and an ardent opponent of African slavery. M. J. Trow, in this the first biography of Baker for twenty years, draws heavily on Bakers prolific writings to bring the extraordinary character of this Victorian adventurer and his achievements to life.
The Adventures of Thomas Williams of St. Ives, Cornwall: A Prisoner Of War In France, 1804-1814 (1901)
by Thomas WilliamsThis 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. An oft-forgotten number of British sailors, soldiers and merchantmen were taken prisoner during the long years of the Napoleonic Wars. Ranging from men such as Captain Moyle Sherer, who was captured in 1813, suffering less than a year of imprisonment, to Thomas Williams, who was captured only a year into the conflict. Thomas Williams was a sailor on a merchant ship and was captured after his ship lost its convoy en route to England. Williams left his memoir of his ten years in French captivity: ranging from mistreatment at the hands of his captors to his numerous escape attempts and the various characters he fell in with. A witty reminiscence on what was clearly a dark time for him, enlivened by a good sense of humour. Title - The Adventures of Thomas Williams of St. Ives, Cornwall Sub-Title - Who was a Prisoner of War in France from March 1804 to May 1814. Author -- Thomas Williams (1787-1862) Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition published in 1901, London, by Brentford Printing & Publishing Co. Original - 88 pages. Illustrations -- 3 Illustrations.
Adventurous Empires: The Story of the Short Empire Flying Boats
by Phillip E. SimsThis is a story from a bygone age recalling the most successful flying-boat airliner ever built. Designed to a specification for Imperial Airways, then Britains national airline, it carried passengers and, more importantly, mail throughout the British Empire. The airliner offered luxurious travel for the privileged few, every journey being an adventure shared by passengers and crew.Short Brothers built 42 Empires at their factory in Rochester during the late 1930s. Imperial Airways were expanding their network to the furthermost outposts of the British Empire, whilst laying down the principles of scheduled airline operation.This is the tale of the realization of a dream and the efforts of those who made it possible. During World War II, the military Sunderland version became an icon.
Adverse Reproductive Outcomes in Families of Atomic Veterans: The Feasibility of Epidemiologic Studies
by National Research CouncilOver the past several decades, public concern over exposure to ionizing radiation has increased. This concern has manifested itself in different ways depending on the perception of risk to different individuals and different groups and the circumstances of their exposure. One such group are those U.S. servicemen (the "Atomic Veterans" who participated in the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons at the Nevada Test Site or in the Pacific Proving Grounds, who served with occupation forces in or near Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or who were prisoners of war in or near those cities at the time of, or shortly after, the atomic bombings. This book addresses the feasibility of conducting an epidemiologic study to determine if there is an increased risk of adverse reproductive outcomes in the spouses, children, and grandchildren of the Atomic Veterans.
Advice And Support: The Final Years 1965-1973 [Illustrated Edition]
by Jeffrey J. ClarkeIncludes over 75 maps, photos and plans.In Advice and Support: The Final Years the author describes the U.S. Army advisory effort to the South Vietnamese armed forces during the period when the U.S. commitment in Southeast Asia was at its peak. The account encompasses a broad spectrum of activities at several levels, from the physically demanding work of the battalion advisers on the ground to the more sophisticated undertakings of our senior military officers at the highest echelons of the American military assistance command in Saigon. Among critical subjects treated are our command relationships with the South Vietnamese army, our politico-military efforts to help reform both the South Vietnamese military and government, and our implementation of the Vietnamization policy inaugurated in 1969. The result tells us much about the U.S. Army's role as an agent of national policy in a critical but often neglected arena, and constitutes a major contribution to our understanding of not only the events that occurred in Vietnam but also the decisions and actions that produced them.
Advice And Support: The Early Years 1941-1960 [Illustrated Edition]
by Ronald H. SpectorIncludes over 75 maps, photos and plans.The present volume describes the activities of the U.S. Army in Vietnam during World War II, military advice and assistance to the French government during the immediate post-war years, and the advisory program that developed after the Geneva Agreements of 1954. Its scope ranges from high-level policy decisions to low-echelon advisory operations in the field, presented against a background of relevant military and political developments. The author enjoyed access to the official records of the period and examined personal papers, interviews, other documentary sources, and miscellaneous published materials. Useful not only as a study of military assistance but as a view of the Army as an agent of national policy, this volume is a fitting introduction to the overall study of the conflict in Vietnam.
Advocate for the Doomed: The Diaries and Papers of James G. McDonald, 1932-1935
by Richard Breitman Barbara Mcdonald Stewart James G. Mcdonald Severin HochbergThe private diary of James G. McDonald (1886-1964) offers a unique and hitherto unknown source on the early history of the Nazi regime and the Roosevelt administration's reactions to Nazi persecution of German Jews. Considered for the post of U.S. ambassador to Germany at the start of FDR's presidency, McDonald traveled to Germany in 1932 and met with Hitler soon after the Nazis came to power. Fearing Nazi intentions to remove or destroy Jews in Germany, in 1933 he became League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and sought aid from the international community to resettle outside the Reich Jews and others persecuted there. In late 1935 he resigned in protest at the lack of support for his work.This is the eagerly awaited first of a projected three-volume work that will significantly revise the ways that scholars and the world view the antecedents of the Holocaust, the Shoah itself, and its aftermath.
Advocating Overlord: The D-Day Strategy and the Atomic Bomb
by Philip Padgett“Well there it is. It won’t work, but you must bloody well make it,” said the chief of Britain’s military leaders, when he gave orders to begin planning for what became known as Operation Overlord. While many view D-Day as one of the most successful operations of World War II, most aren’t aware of the intensive year of planning and political tension between the Allies that preceded the amphibious military landing on June 6, 1944. This intriguing history reveals how President Franklin D. Roosevelt, while on a fishing trip in the middle of World War II, altered his attitude toward Winston Churchill and became an advocate for Operation Overlord. Philip Padgett challenges the known narrative of this watershed moment in history and illuminates the diplomatic link between Normandy and the atomic bomb. He shows how the Allies came to agree on a liberation strategy that began with D-Day—and the difficult forging of British and American scientific cooperation that produced the atomic bomb. At its core this story is about how a new generation of leaders found the courage to step beyond national biases in a truly allied endeavor to carry out one of history’s most successful military operations.
Áedán of the Gaels: King of the Scots
by Keith ColemanThis is the first full-length work devoted to Áedán mac Gabráin, 6th century king of Dál Riata in Scotland. An associate of the famous St. Columba, he was the first recorded king to be ordained in the British Isles and was the most powerful ruler in his generation. His astonishing military reach took him from Orkney, Pictland, Ireland, Northumbria and the Isle of Man. This book details his dominant career, which came to a shattering end after decades of warfare at the Battle of Degsaston in AD 603. Beyond the record of warfare, there is a unique and tantalising accumulation of legend concerning Áedán, from stories about his birth, to tales of him in battle with Irish heroes. English sources mention him and he is one of the few Gaelic kings to feature prominently in Welsh tradition, where he is remembered as a uniquely powerful player in the north of Britain. Modern writers highlight Áedán as the father of a prince named Arthur, which has led to his place in Arthurian studies. Áedán’s prominence in his era qualifies him as a fascinating figure, whose life and legend are accessibly explored in this exciting account of this unique ruler.