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A Nation in Arms: The British Army in the First World War (Pen & Sword Select)
by Ian F. Beckett Keith SimpsonThe Great War was the first conflict to draw men and women into uniform on a massive scale. From a small regular force of barely 250,000, the British Army rapidly expanded into a national force of over five million. A Nation in Arms brings together original research into the impact of the war on the army as an institution, gives a revealing account of those who served in it and offers fascinating insights into its social history during one of the bloodiest wars.
A Nation in Conflict
by Andrew Iarocci Jeffrey KeshenThe First and Second World Wars were two of the most momentous events of the twentieth century. In Canada, they claimed 110,000 lives and altered both the country's domestic life and its international position. A Nation in Conflict is a concise, comparative overview of the Canadian national experience in the two world wars that transformed the nation and its people.With each chapter, military historians Jeffrey A. Keshen and Andrew Iarocci address Canada's contribution to the war and its consequences. Integrating the latest research in military, social, political, and gender history, they examine everything from the front lines to the home front. Was conscription necessary? Did the conflicts change the status of Canadian women? Was Canada's commitment worth the cost?Written both for classroom use and for the general reader, A Nation in Conflict is an accessible introduction to the complexities of Canada's involvement in the twentieth century's most important conflicts.
A Nation of Small Shareholders: Marketing Wall Street after World War II (Studies in Industry and Society)
by Janice M. TrafletHow New York Stock Exchange leaders in the decades after the Great Crash of 1929 helped popularize equity investing.Immediately after the frightening Great Crash of 1929, many Americans swore they would "never" or "never again" become involved in the stock market. Yet hordes of Americans eventually did come to embrace equity investing, to an extent actually far greater than the level of popular involvement in the market during the Roaring 1920s. A Nation of Small Shareholders explores how marketers at the New York Stock Exchange during the mid twentieth century deliberately cultivated new individual shareholders.Janice M. Traflet examines the energy with which NYSE leaders tried to expand the country’s retail investor base, particularly as the Cold War emerged and then intensified. From the early 1950s until the 1970s, Exchange executives engaged in an ambitious and sometimes controversial marketing program known as "Own Your Share of America," which aimed to broaden the country’s shareholder base. The architects of the marketing program ardently believed that widespread shareownership would strengthen "democratic capitalism" which, in turn, would serve as an effective barrier to the potential allure of communism here in the United States.Based on extensive primary source research, A Nation of Small Shareholders illustrates the missionary zeal with which Big Board leaders during the Cold War endeavored to convince factions within the Exchange as well as the outside public of the practical and ideological importance of building a true shareholder nation.In these troubled economic times, every citizen should welcome studies that shed light on U.S. financial markets. A Nation of Small Shareholders puts the role of individual investors in broader, long-term perspective.
A Nation of Veterans: War, Citizenship, and the Welfare State in Modern America
by Olivier BurtinA Nation of Veterans examines how the United States created the world’s most generous system of veterans’ benefits. Though we often see former service members as an especially deserving group, the book shows that veterans had to wage a fierce political battle to obtain and then defend their advantages against criticism from liberals and conservatives alike. They succeeded in securing their privileged status in public policy only by rallying behind powerful interest groups, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and the American Legion. In the process, veterans formed one of the most powerful movements of the early and mid-twentieth century, though one that we still know comparatively little about.In examining how the veterans’ movement inscribed martial citizenship onto American law, politics, and culture, A Nation of Veterans offers a new history of the U.S. welfare state that highlights its longstanding connection with warfare. It shows how a predominantly white and male group such as military veterans was at the center of social policy debates in the interwar and postwar period and how women and veterans of color were often discriminated against or denied access to their benefits. It moves beyond the traditional focus on the 1944 G.I. Bill to examine other important benefits like pensions, civil service preference, and hospitals. The book also examines multiple generations of veterans, by shedding light on how former service members from both world wars as well as Korea and the Cold War interacted with each other.This more complete picture of veterans’ politics helps us understand the deep roots of the military welfare state in the United States today.
A Naval History of World War I
by Paul G. HalpernThere have been a number of studies published on the activities of British and German navies during World War I, but little on naval action in other arenas. This book offers for the first time a balanced history of the naval war as a whole, viewed from the perspective of all participants in all major theaters. The author's earlier examination The Naval War in the Mediterranean, 1914-1918, centered on submarine activities and allied efforts to counteract this new menace. With this welcome sequel he again takes the reader beyond those World War I operations staged on the North Sea. Halpern's clear and authoritative voice lends a cohesiveness to this encompassing view of the Italians and Austrians in the Adriatic; the Russians, Germans, and Turks in the Baltic and Black Seas; and French and British in the Mediterranean.Important riverine engagements--notably on the Danube--also are included, along with major colonial campaigns such as Mesopotamia and the Dardanelles. The role of neutral sea powers, such as the Swedes in the Baltic and the Dutch in the East Indies, is examined from the perspective of how their neutrality affected naval activity. Also discussed is the part played by the U.S. Navy and the often overlooked, but far from negligible, role of the Japanese navy. The latter is viewed in the context of the opening months of the war and in the Mediterranean during the height of the submarine crisis of 1917
A Naval History of the Peloponnesian War: Ships, Men and Money in the War at Sea, 431-404 BC
by Marc G. de SantisNaval power played a vital role in the Peloponnesian War. The conflict pitted Athens against a powerful coalition including the preeminent land power of the day, Sparta. Only Athens superior fleet, her wooden walls, by protecting her vital supply routes allowed her to survive. It also allowed the strategic freedom of movement to strike back where she chose, most famously at Sphacteria, where a Spartan force was cut off and forced to surrender.Athens initial tactical superiority was demonstrated at the Battle of Chalcis, where her ships literally ran rings round the opposition but this gap closed as her enemies adapted. The great amphibious expedition to Sicily was a watershed, a strategic blunder compounded by tactical errors which brought defeat and irreplaceable losses. Although Athens continued to win victories at sea, at Arginusae for example, her naval strength had been severely weakened while the Spartans built up their fleets with Persian subsidies. It was another naval defeat, at Aegispotomi (405 BC) that finally sealed Athens fate. Marc De Santis narrates these stirring events while analyzing the technical, tactical and strategic aspects of the war at sea.
A Naval Surgeon to Fight For
by Carla KellyBestselling author Carla Kelly&’s Regency seriesThe Channel Fleet continues, and the life-and-death stakes couldn&’t be higher for this dashing naval hero!Return to her respectable life…Or take a scandalous path to marriage? As her snobbish aunt&’s companion, penniless vicar&’s daughter Jerusha Langley is sent to take a donation to the local naval hospital. There she meets dashing surgeon Jamie Wilson and embarks on a secret mission—sneaking out to help him care for injured sailors! With his life in peril fighting Napoleon, Jamie has never considered taking a wife, yet he&’s impressed by Jerusha&’s nursing ability—and beauty inside and out. Jamie knows she&’s risking a scandal by helping him. Can he risk his heart and save her reputation with a marriage offer? From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.
A Nazi in the Family: The hidden story of an SS family in wartime Germany
by Derek NiemannWARTIME BERLIN: The Niemann family - Karl, Minna and their four children - live in a quiet, suburban enclave. Every day Karl commutes to work, a business manager travelling around inspecting his “factories”. In the evenings he returns home to life as a normal family man.Three years ago Derek Niemann, born and raised in Scotland, made the chilling discovery that his grandfather Karl had been an officer in the SS - and that his “business” used thousands of slave labourers in concentration camps, such as Auschwitz, Dachau, Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. Derek had known little about the German side of his family, but now a lifetime of unsettling hints and clues began to fall into place.With the help of surviving relatives and hundreds of previously unknown family photographs, Derek uncovers the true story of what Karl did. A Nazi in the Family is an illuminating portrayal of how ordinary people can fall into the service of a monstrous regime.
A Needle in the Right Hand of God: The Norman Conquest of 1066 and the Making and Meaning of the Bayeux Tapestry
by R. Howard BlochThe Bayeux Tapestry is the world’s most famous textile–an exquisite 230-foot-long embroidered panorama depicting the events surrounding the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is also one of history’s most mysterious and compelling works of art. This haunting stitched account of the battle that redrew the map of medieval Europe has inspired dreams of theft, waves of nationalism, visions of limitless power, and esthetic rapture. In his fascinating new book, Yale professor R. Howard Bloch reveals the history, the hidden meaning, the deep beauty, and the enduring allure of this astonishing piece of cloth. Bloch opens with a gripping account of the event that inspired the Tapestry: the swift, bloody Battle of Hastings, in which the Norman bastard William defeated the Anglo-Saxon king, Harold, and laid claim to England under his new title, William the Conqueror. But to truly understand the connection between battle and embroidery, one must retrace the web of international intrigue and scandal that climaxed at Hastings. Bloch demonstrates how, with astonishing intimacy and immediacy, the artisans who fashioned this work of textile art brought to life a moment that changed the course of British culture and history. Every age has cherished the Tapestry for different reasons and read new meaning into its enigmatic words and images. French nationalists in the mid-nineteenth century, fired by Tapestry’s evocation of military glory, unearthed the lost French epic “The Song of Roland,” which Norman troops sang as they marched to victory in 1066. As the Nazis tightened their grip on Europe, Hitler sent a team to France to study the Tapestry, decode its Nordic elements, and, at the end of the war, with Paris under siege, bring the precious cloth to Berlin. The richest horde of buried Anglo-Saxon treasure, the matchless beauty of Byzantine silk, Aesop’s strange fable “The Swallow and the Linseed,” the colony that Anglo-Saxon nobles founded in the Middle East following their defeat at Hastings–all are brilliantly woven into Bloch’s riveting narrative. Seamlessly integrating Norman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking, and Byzantine elements, the Bayeux Tapestry ranks with Chartres and the Tower of London as a crowning achievement of medieval Europe. And yet, more than a work of art, the Tapestry served as the suture that bound up the wounds of 1066. Enhanced by a stunning full-color insert that includes reproductions of the complete Tapestry,A Needle in the Right Hand of Godwill stand withThe Professor and the MadmanandHow the Irish Saved Civilizationas a triumph of popular history.
A New Chapter at the Little Penguin Bookshop: A heartwarming and uplifting World War Two novel about community, friendship and books
by Joanna ToyeNew stories are being written at The Little Penguin Bookshop…Carrie Anderson’s business selling books at her local train station is thriving and, with her beloved Mike returned from war, everything feels as though it is falling into place. That is, until Mike is sent to Washington as a liaison between Britain and America.When her twin brother, Johnnie, a fighter pilot, is injured, and her bookstall falls on hard times, Carrie misses the sage advice and comfort of Mike more than ever.Bolstered by her supportive station community, can Carrie battle through this challenging new chapter and reach the happy ending she deserves?Praise for Joanna Toye:'Romance, nostalgia, family, and books! The Little Penguin Bookshop has it all' Elaine Everest'Endearing characters [...] wartime loves, laughter and heartbreak' Annie Murray'A charming heroine, a dashing hero and books! I loved it!' Lesley Eames'An uplifting wartime saga with family at its heart' Tracy Baines'Meticulously researched and beautifully written' Helen Yendall
A New Constitution Now
by Henry HazlittIn "A New Constitution Now," renowned economist and social thinker Henry Hazlitt presents a bold and thought-provoking critique of the American political system. Written during a time of great economic and political turmoil, Hazlitt's seminal work calls for sweeping constitutional reforms to address the inherent weaknesses and inefficiencies of the existing government framework.With incisive analysis and clear prose, Hazlitt examines the structural flaws that have led to governmental overreach, fiscal irresponsibility, and the erosion of individual liberties. He argues that the original Constitution, while revolutionary for its time, has been compromised by amendments and interpretations that have strayed from the Founders' intent. To rectify this, Hazlitt proposes a new constitutional convention aimed at restoring the principles of limited government, individual freedom, and economic stability."A New Constitution Now" offers a detailed blueprint for reform, including specific amendments and structural changes designed to enhance governmental accountability, reduce the influence of special interests, and protect the rights of citizens. Hazlitt's proposals are grounded in his deep understanding of economics, political philosophy, and the historical context of constitutional development.Throughout the book, Hazlitt emphasizes the urgent need for a vigilant and informed citizenry to engage in the process of constitutional renewal. He provides a compelling case for why such reforms are necessary not just for the preservation of liberty but for the prosperity and stability of the nation. His arguments are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published, offering timeless insights into the challenges of governance and the enduring quest for a just and equitable society."A New Constitution Now" is a clarion call for thoughtful and deliberate action to safeguard the future of American democracy. Hazlitt's visionary ideas and principled stance make this book an essential read for policymakers, scholars, and anyone concerned with the health and direction of the nation. It serves as both a warning and a guide, urging us to reconsider and revitalize the foundational document that shapes our lives and our liberties.
A New Europe, 1918-1923: Instability, Innovation, Recovery (European Remembrance and Solidarity)
by Jay Winter Bartosz Dziewanowski-StefańczykThis set of essays introduces readers to new historical research on the creation of the new order in East-Central Europe in the period immediately following 1918. The book offers insights into the political, diplomatic, military, economic and cultural conditions out of which the New Europe was born. Experts from various countries take into account three perspectives. They give equal attention to both the Western and Eastern fronts; they recognise that on 11 November 1918, the War ended only on the Western front and violence continued in multiple forms over the next five years; and they show how state-building after 1918 in Central and Eastern Europe was marked by a mixture of innovation and instability. Thus, the volume focuses on three kinds of narratives: those related to conflicts and violence, those related to the recasting of civil life in new structures and institutions, and those related to remembrance and representations of these years in the public sphere. Taking a step towards writing a fully European history of the Great War and its aftermath, the volume offers an original approach to this decisive period in 20th-century European history.
A New Excalibur: The Development of the Tank 1909–1939
by A. J. SmithersThe story of the inventors, engineers, soldiers, and politicians behind the emergence of the armored fighting vehicle. The birth and infancy of the tank had an enormous number of technical problems to be solved—but the issues with its construction paled in comparison to the endless squabbles among the people involved. This fascinating study of the vehicle which was born out of the stalemate of the Western Front in the First World War looks at all the obstacles that had to be overcome. As is inevitable in almost any work of history set in the first half of the century, the figure of Winston Churchill looms large—but the role that he played in this instance is remarkable even by his standard, when it is remembered that at the crucial time he was First Lord of the Admiralty and theoretically had nothing to do with warfare on land. Foremost among the leading actors in the drama are Sir Eustace Tennyson-d&’Eyncourt, Sir Ernest Swinton, Bertie Stern, Sir William Tritton, and Walter Gordon Wilson. This is the first exhaustive study of the men behind the earliest tanks. The story of their furious quarrels and the machines they produced combine to make a remarkable and compelling study.
A New Generation Draws the Line: Humanitarian Intervention and the “Responsibility to Protect” Today (Chomsky from Routledge)
by Noam ChomskyIn this work, Chomsky explores the West’s uses and abuses of the principle of "human intervention." An updated foreword by Jean Bricmont explores the ongoing crises of humanitarian intervention in Afghanistan, Libya, Palestine, Syria, and Ukraine and reaffirms Chomsky’s excoriating critiques of Western foreign policy.Chomsky dissects the meaning and uses of humanitarian intervention grounded in the so-called "right to protect" (R2P). In doing so, Chomsky demonstrates how the principle of human intervention has been used as an instrument to justify military intervention in support of Western foreign policy aims. Through detailed case studies of the humanitarian intervention in East Timor and Kosovo, Chomsky also highlights how "humanitarian intervention" often leads to further atrocities and egregious abuses of human rights.As the question of humanitarian intervention looms ever larger, particularly with regard to the Middle East and Eastern Europe, this book is a vital overview of humanitarian intervention and its uses and abuses.
A New History of the Peloponnesian War
by Donald KaganA New History of the Peloponnesian War is an ebook-only omnibus edition that includes all four volumes of Donald Kagan's acclaimed account of the war between Athens and Sparta (431–404 B.C.): The Outbreak of the Peloponnesian War, The Archidamian War, The Peace of Nicias and the Sicilian Expedition, and The Fall of the Athenian Empire. Reviewing the four-volume set in The New Yorker, George Steiner wrote, "The temptation to acclaim Kagan's four volumes as the foremost work of history produced in North America in the twentieth century is vivid. . . . Here is an achievement that not only honors the criteria of dispassion and of unstinting scruple which mark the best of modern historicism but honors its readers."All four volumes are also sold separately as both print books and ebooks.
A New Leash on Love (Furever Yours #45)
by Melissa SenateWill true love strike twice……at the Furever Paws shelter?Army vet Matt Fielding is back—for good—and finding a puppy for his niece. He’s also avoiding Claire Asher, his high school ex—spotted at the local animal shelter! He can’t refuse her offer of puppy training, but soon their friendly reunion brings back memories of their teenage love, and sparks fly. Will their rekindled affair lead Matt to put a ring on it?
A New Look At The Battle Of The Atlantic
by Colonel Donald L. Davis USMCThe paper examines the Battle of the Atlantic from an operational rather than the usual strategic perspective. The impressive achievements of the small force of German submarines against such overwhelming odds was a direct result of Admiral Karl Doenitz's skillful practice of the Operational Art. An examination of his attributes and methods may provide useful guidance for the commander of the small, austere force of the future. Superior numbers or technology does not guarantee for military success. Sound doctrine, vision, operational excellence, initiative and audacity, on the other hand, can produce substantial advantages. The paper also cautions that the dramatic allied reconstitution which did so much to turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic is unlikely to reoccur and that the large, costly multi-purpose weapons platforms of today may be as ineffective in fighting the low intensity naval battle on the littoral as the large capital ships were in the Battle of the Atlantic.
A New Nationalist Europe Under Hitler: Concepts of Europe and Transnational Networks in the National Socialist Sphere of Influence, 1933–1945 (Routledge Studies in Second World War History)
by Johannes Dafinger Dieter PohlNazis, fascists and völkisch conservatives in different European countries not only cooperated internationally in the fields of culture, science, economy, and persecution of Jews, but also developed ideas for a racist and ethno-nationalist Europe under Hitler. The present volume attempts to combine an analysis of Nazi Germany’s transnational relations with an evaluation of the discourse that accompanied these relations.
A New Structure for National Security Policy Planning
by Stephen A. Cambone Patrick J. Carrity Alistair J. K. ShepherdThis book draws a contrast between the pre and post Cold War era, provides an insight into intellectual and operational frameworks, and suggests changes that can be made today as well as to foster further debate.
A New Way of Seeing: Distance and Traumatic Memory in the Poetry of World War II (American Wars and Popular Culture)
by Michael SarnowskiA New Way of Seeing considers the poetry of five writers—Louis Simpson, Keith Douglas, Richard Hugo, Howard Nemerov, and Randall Jarrell—whose work draws on their activities as soldiers in World War II. Basing his examination on extensive primary-source research, Michael Sarnowski identifies distance, both literal and figurative, and traumatic memory as two interconnected elements of how these poets internalized the war and made sense of the events they witnessed. The book is structured on a gradient related to each poet’s proximity to combat, as the chapters in turn focus on an infantryman (Simpson), a tank commander (Douglas), a bombardier (Hugo), a pilot (Nemerov), and a stateside flight instructor (Jarrell). Sarnowski relies on a wealth of archival material overlooked by previous scholarship, including poem drafts, correspondence, flight logs, and personal belongings. The conclusion revisits notions of legacy and representation by assessing factors that contributed to the early labeling of World War II soldiers as a “Silent Generation,” in contrast to the outpouring of poetry published during and following the First World War. By exploring how poets processed their wartime experiences, A New Way of Seeing offers a stark reminder of why it remains vital to recognize the physical, mental, and psychological consequences endured by veterans.
A Night of Secret Surrender: A Night Of Secret Surrender An Earl To Save Her Reputation A Warriner To Seduce Her (Gentlemen of Honor #1)
by Sophia JamesLovers reunite in Paris—on opposite sides of war—in this scorching-hot tale of passion and espionage in the Napoleonic Era.As a teenager in England, Celeste Fournier gave her innocence to the man she loved before moving to France with her father. Years later, that same man, Major Summerley Shayborne, is in Paris—and in danger! All of Europe has been transformed by Napoleon Bonaparte, and though France and England are bitter enemies, Celeste knows she must help Shay flee. Yet their dangerously intimate reunion makes her wish she could reclaim something of herself—to be the girl she was, the girl that Shay deserves.
A Nightmare's Prayer: A Marine Harrier Pilot's War in Afghanistan
by Michael FranzakWinner of the 2012 Colby Award and the first Afghanistan memoir ever to be written by a Marine Harrier pilot, A Nightmare’s Prayer portrays the realities of war in the twenty-first century, taking a unique and powerful perspective on combat in Afghanistan as told by a former enlisted man turned officer. Lt. Col. Michael “Zak” Franzak was an AV-8B Marine Corps Harrier pilot who served as executive officer of VMA-513, “The Flying Nightmares,” while deployed in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003. The squadron was the first to base Harriers in Bagram in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. But what should have been a standard six-month deployment soon turned to a yearlong ordeal as the Iraq conflict intensified. And in what appeared to be a forgotten war half a world away from home, Franzak and his colleagues struggled to stay motivated and do their job providing air cover to soldiers patrolling the inhospitable terrain. I wasn’t in a foxhole. I was above it. I was safe and comfortable in my sheltered cocoon 20,000 feet over the Hindu Kush. But I prayed. I prayed when I heard the muted cries of men who at last understood their fate.Franzak’s personal narrative captures the day-by-day details of his deployment, from family good-byes on departure day to the squadron’s return home. He explains the role the Harrier played over the Afghanistan battlefields and chronicles the life of an attack pilot—from the challenges of nighttime, weather, and the austere mountain environment to the frustrations of working under higher command whose micromanagement often exacerbated difficulties. In vivid and poignant passages, he delivers the full impact of enemy ambushes, the violence of combat, and the heartbreaking aftermath.And as the Iraq War unfolded, Franzak became embroiled in another battle: one within himself. Plagued with doubts and wrestling with his ego and his belief in God, he discovered in himself a man he loathed. But the hardest test of his lifetime and career was still to come—one that would change him forever.A stunning true account of service and sacrifice that takes the reader from the harrowing dangers of the cockpit to the secret, interior spiritual struggle facing a man trained for combat, A Nightmare’s Prayer brings to life a Marine’s public and personal trials set against “the fine talcum brown soot of Afghanistan that permeated everything—even one’s soul.”
A Noble Captive
by Michelle StylesA Roman tribune is captured and presented to the enemy’s priestess—who holds his life in her hands . . .Strong, proud, honorable—Marcus Livius Tullio embodied the values of Rome. Captured on the high seas and brought to the Temple of Kybele, he was drawn to the woman who gave him refuge.Fierce, beautiful, determined—Helena despised all that Rome stood for. In sheltering Tullio, she had to subdue her awareness of him—or she might confess all! The soldier’s strength and nobility tempted her to lean on him, but she knew that to succumb would be to betray her people. . . .Praise for Michelle Styles“Sexual tension, nonstop action, and spice.” —RT Book Reviews
A Noble Cause: American Battlefield Victories In Vietnam
by Douglas NilesIn the tradition of We Were Soldiers Once...and Young, A Noble Cause is a stirring tribute to the valor and courage of the allied forces in the Vietnam War and a vivid re-creation of hard-won battles from Ia Drang Valley to Khe Sanh and Hamburger Hill...<P><P>Celebrating the skill and bravery of the United States armed forces and their South Vietnamese allies, A Noble Cause presents a gripping chronicle of both large and small unit successful combat engagements, including the Battle of Dong Xoai (1965); the Battle of Ia Drang Valley (1965), the first major ground battle of the Vietnam War; the Battle of Loc Ninh (1967) by the Cambodian border; the Battle of Khe Sanh (1967-1968) leading up to the Tet Offensive; the Battle of Dong Ha (1968); the bloody siege on Hamburger Hill (1969); and the Battle of An Loc (1972), sixty-five miles north of Saigon, which contributed to the failure of the Vietcong's Eastertide Offensive.<P>Documenting the invaluable role of a tireless and determined infantry as well as air cavalry divisions and B-52 "Arc Light" air strikes, A Noble Cause chronicles the crucial strategic decisions that led to victory--often against steep odds--and honors the bravery of every soldier who stood his ground, faced the enemy, and gave his all.Includes photos and and maps
A Northern Thunder: Will Parker's North Korean Mission
by Andy HarpAuthor Andy Harp has created a crackerjack military/techno thriller that features Will Parker, a character at least as interesting as Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and who, at times, reminds readers of an updated, more serious, better-grounded, American version of Ian Fleming's James Bond. Here's Harp's A Northern Thunder in a nutshell: North Korea, a Communist nation in desperate financial straits, concentrates its military resources on a scientist bent on swiftly creating missile technology that can: a) take out other countries' satellites in space; b) disseminate nuclear payloads to all parts of the earth, thus giving it the power to extort trillions from the rest of the world; and c) be sold to terrorists and rogue nations at exceedingly high prices. To protect its investment, North Korea takes no chances. A super-skilled North Korean assassin with the latest lethal methods is dispatched to secretly kill the scientist's worldwide competitors. Meantime, the U.S. military plucks Marine reservist Will Parker from retirement. His mission? Penetrate dangerous North Korea, and flesh out its leading military scientist from an entourage of three doppelgangers-Parker roomed with the real guy his freshman year in college. At the same time, with the help of a North Korean asset, the FBI finally connects the dots, and starts on the trail of the North Korean assassin, hoping to catch him before he kills again. It's a corker of a well-paced story that makes you feel like you're there. And why not? Harp, a retired USMC colonel and longtime member of the Reserves, gives his protagonist an in-depth backstory and special set of characteristics that a broad audience can relate to and appreciate. He tells the story of a longtime military man relearning to do the right thing for the right reasons. He populates A Northern Thunder with some mind-blowing military technology-all little known, but actually in existence. And his North Korean theme and milieu couldn't be more timely or more important-and will remain so for decades. Plus, Harp's A Northern Thunder springs straight from the real world. The threat to the world's satellites is acutely and officially recognized by the United States, among others. With tons of action, intrigue, character, romance, and deception, A Northern Thunder has everything a good spy story needs. It's a riveting military thriller/spy novel, written in the much-praised tradition of Tom Clancy's very best work.