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Elizabeth: England's Slandered Queen
by Arlene OkerlundElizabeth Wydeville, Queen consort to Edward IV, has traditionally been portrayed as a scheming opportunist. But was she a cunning vixen or a tragic wife and mother? As this extraordinary biography shows, the first queen to bear the name Elizabeth lived a tragedy, love, and loss that no other queen has since endured. This shocking revelation about the survival of one woman through vilification and adversity shows Elizabeth as a beautiful and adored wife, distraught mother of the two lost Princes in the Tower, and an innocent queen slandered by politicians.
Guide to the Crew of Titanic: The Structure of Working Aboard the Legendary Liner
by Günter BäblerMuch has been written about Titanic, the British passenger liner that sank on her maiden voyage after a collision with an iceberg in 1912; however, until now little mention has been made about the intricate world of the ship’s complement, which comprised more than the total of third-class passengers alone. Titanic researcher Günter Bäbler examines in detail the working structure of the crew, including the complex arrangement of the engineering department and information on tips, salaries and hidden bonuses, while each of the 899 crew members on board is mentioned. This valuable study breathes life into the forgotten but significant story of the ship and its relationship to its crew, of whom over 75 per cent died when Titanic sank.
Haunted Lambeth
by James ClarkHaunted Lambeth is a collection of real-life stories of apparitions and poltergeists from all across the London Borough of Lambeth. Included are the ghost stories of Lambeth Palace, the terrifying tradition of the ‘Tomb of the Tradescants’, a ghost at The Old Vic Theatre, the dream house that haunted the entertainer Roy Hudd, supernatural echoes of Waterloo’s Necropolis Railway, the ghosts of Ruth Ellis and others at Streatham’s Caesar’s Nightclub. These stories have been collected and researched over many years, and come from a variety of sources including original newspaper articles, books and, as often as possible, personal communication with people directly involved.
Welsh Genealogy
by Bruce DurieWelsh genealogy is usually included with its English cousin, but there are significant differences between the two, and anyone wishing to trace their Welsh ancestry will encounter peculiarities that are not covered by books on English family history. There is a separate system of archives and repositories for Wales, there are differences in civil registration and censuses, Nonconformist registers are dissimilar to those of other Churches and Welsh surnames and place names are very different to English ones. Welsh Genealogy covers all of this as well as the basic Welsh needed by family historians; estate, maritime, inheritance, education and parish records; peculiarities of law; the Courts of Great Sessions and particular patterns of migration. Written by Dr Bruce Durie, the highly respected genealogist, lecturer and author of the acclaimed Scottish Genealogy, this is the ideal book for local and family historians setting out on a journey to discover their Welsh ancestry.
Hannibal and Scipio: pocket GIANTS
by Greg FisherIn 218, Hannibal Barca, desperate to avenge the defeat of Carthage in the First Punic War, launched an ambitious ground invasion of Italy. With just a small force, he crossed the Alps – a feat reckoned to be impossible – and pitted his polyglot army against Rome’s elite citizen infantry. At Cannae, in 216, Hannibal destroyed an 80,000-strong Roman force in one afternoon, delivering a blow unequalled in Roman history for half a millennium to come.The Romans had no answer to Hannibal until the young Scipio volunteered to take over Rome’s armies in Spain, which were close to defeat, and left leaderless by the death of Scipio’s own father and uncle. In the decade which followed, Scipio turned Rome’s desperate fortunes into a stunning victory over Carthage. The portrait of Hannibal and Scipio takes the reader through one of the greatest military campaigns in history, driven by two remarkable and fascinating men.
Dead Born: A Detective Sergeant Best Mystery 2
by Joan Lock‘A gripping and satisfying murder mystery with an unguessable final twist’- Mystery Women‘[A] gripping Victorian mystery’- Publishers Weekly‘Asking an historian to review a historical novel is asking for trouble – but Joan Lock’s book is something else. Her knowledge of London and its policing in the 19th century makes this into a very different kind of novel – one with an extremely realistic setting’- London Archive Users ForumWhen the bodies of a number of babies are found scattered around Islington, Detective Sergeant Best is sent undercover to lodge next door to a suspected baby farm. He shadows an alleged 'child dropper' onto a Thames pleasure steamer and finds himself caught up in Britain's worst civilian tragedy — the 1878 sinking of the Princess Alice — a horrific experience which will haunt Best forever. Meanwhile, his determination to avenge the death of a young girl he had befriended and save the life of another becomes a crusade.
Bedlam: London's Hospital for the Mad
by Paul ChambersBethlem Hospital is the oldest mental institution in the world, to many famously known as ‘Bedlam’: a chaotic madhouse that brutalised its patients. Paul Chambers explores the 800-year history of Bethlem and reveals fascinating details of its ambivalent relationship with London and its inhabitants, the life and times of the hospital’s more famous patients, and the rise of a powerful reform movement to tackle the institution’s notorious policies. Here the whole story of Bethlem Hospital is laid bare to a new audience, charting its well-intended beginnings to its final disgrace and reform.
The Clockmaker: Nonsuch Classics
by Thomas Chandler HaliburtonSam Slick, a clock-peddler who accompanies a visiting English gentleman on an unforgettable tour of Nova Scotia, first appeared in the 'Novascotian' in 1835. His shrewd observations and witty commentaries addressed important contemporary issues, such as race, slavery and colonialism.
Blackpool at War: A History of the Fylde Coast during the Second World War
by John EllisAlthough it escaped bombing raids, Blackpool played an important role in the Second World War as a centre for training — with numerous airfields and factories surrounding the area. This book is the first to offer a dedicated history of the town in the period. It includes many interesting stories such as the people’s playground, the Freckleton Air Disaster and an event-by-event account of activities. Despite being less affected than some other areas, the difficult war years still impacted on local people. Filled with true tales of local courage and of the spirit of the people of Blackpool during these tumultuous years, this nostalgic volume will be of interest to all who know and love Blackpool.
VCs of the First World War: Spring Offensive 1918
by Gerald GliddonAt the end of 1917, after three years of trench warfare on the Western Front, the Allied armies of Britain and France, and those of their main opponent, Germany, had reached a point of exhaustion and hibernation. On March 21 1918, the German Army launched a massive assault on the Western Front, hurling fifty-nine divisions into battle against the British Fifth Army, smashing through British lines and advancing 40 miles per week. More offensives were to follow throughout the spring, including at Aisne and Marne, with the aim of ending the war before American forces could reach the Continent and reinforce the Allied lines. Nevertheless, although the German Army left the British Army reeling, the Tommies retreated in good order and fought all the way. It was during these bloody battles, which lasted until July 1918, that fifty-seven men stood out for acts of extraordinary daring and bravery. To these men the highest military honour was awarded – the Victoria Cross. This book reveals the true extent of their bravery, their backgrounds and their lives after the war.
Under the Bloody Flag: Pirates of the Tudor Age
by John C ApplebyLong before Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and Black Barty terrorised the Caribbean, the seas around the British Isles swarmed with pirates. Thousands of men turned to piracy at sea, often as a makeshift strategy of survival. Piracy was a business, not a way of life. Although the young Francis Drake became the most famous pirate of the period, scores of little-known pirate leaders operated during this time, acquiring mixed reputations on land and at sea. Captain Henry Strangeways earned notoriety for his attacks on French shipping in the Channel and the Irish Sea, selling booty ashore in south-west England and Wales. John Callice, and his associates, sailed in consort with others, including another arch-pirate, Robert Hicks, plundering French, Spanish, Danish and Scottish shipping, in voyages that ranged from Scotland to Spain. The first British pirates led erratic careers, but their roving in local waters paved the way for the more aggressive and ambitious deep-sea piracy in the Caribbean.
Night Fighters: A Development and Combat History
by Bill GunstonFrom its beginnings during World War I, the role of the dedicated night fighter aircraft and its pilots in the 21st century has evolved greatly. This work reflects the massive changes in technology and in tactics. It also covers the problems of tracking aerial targets by radar.
Wings of War: Personal Recollections of the Air War 1939-45
by Martin W. BowmanOf the 7,953 Bomber Command aircraft lost on night operations during the Second World War, an estimated 5,833 fell victim to Luftwaffe night fighters. In this detailed re-enactment of the air war over Western Europe and the raids flown by the men of RAF Bomber Command, author Martin Bowman pieces together official data with the words and memories of the pilots and air crew who took part. Detailing many unique experiences during the night bombing raids that were hurled against Hitler’s war machine, these truly epic stories span the period between November 1939 and 1945 and form an appropriate epitaph to the men of RAF Bomber Command.
The Making of the Tudor Dynasty: Classic Histories Series
by Ralph A. Griffiths Roger S. ThomasTudor monarchs have consistently attracted more popular and scholarly attention than any other royal dynasty in British history.The peculiar origins of the Tudor family and the improbable saga of their rise and fall and rise again in the centuries before the Battle of Bosworth have, however, received far less attention.?Based on original sources from Britain and France, The Making of the Tudor Dynasty sets the record straight by providing the only authoritative account of the ancestors of the Tudor family in North Wales at the start of the thirteenth century; their royal English and French connections in the fifteenth century; their unique role in the Wars of the Roses; and Henry Tudor’s victory at Bosworth Field in 1485.
Longford Folk Tales
by Philip ByrneLongford Folk Tales is a treasure trove of wonderful stories of saints and deities, fairies and devils, kings and ghosts, shoemakers and other engaging characters. Read about The Blake Millions, butter stealing, the Wooing of Étaín, and ‘The Walking Gallows’, Hempenstall – all your favourite legends and many more.This selection of tales and stories from every corner of the county of Longford reflects the wisdom of the countryside and its people. Legends, folk customs and local lore from earliest times up to the county’s more recent past are expertly told by storyteller Philip Byrne.
Wiltshire Folk Tales
by Kirsty HartsiotisThese lively and entertaining folk tales from one of Britain's most ancient counties are vividly retold by local storyteller Kirsty Hartsiotis. Their origins lost in the oral tradition, these thirty stories from Wiltshire reflect the wisdom of the county and its people. From the Giant's Dance to the Great Western Railway, no stone is left unturned to discover the roots of the county. Discover the Moonraker's passages and Merlin's trickery, dabchicks and the devil, the flying monk of Malmesbury and a canal ghost story. These tales have all stood the test of time, and remain classic texts that will be enjoyed time and again by modern readers.
The Gaelic Games Quiz Book: Tyrone
by Alan RodgersThis is the ultimate quiz book on Tyrone GAA. An ideal gift for fans of all ages, this is your chance to interact with the counties’ long and eventful history in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie from early successes and classic matches to more recent glory and cult heroes. Informative and fun, it is the perfect companion for those long match-day trips up, down and across the country or for simply testing you and your mates’ knowledge of our illustrious club. From the obscure to the frivolous, the book is packed with 35 themed rounds of questions designed to entertain and amuse all Tyone supporters. So get your thinking caps on – it’s quiz time!
Pleasure Boating on the Thames: A History of Salter Bros, 1858-Present Day
by Simon WenhamThe River Thames above London underwent a dramatic transformation during the Victorian period, from a great commercial highway into a vast conduit of pleasure. Pleasure Boating on the Thames traces these changes through the history of the firm that did more than any other on the waterway to popularise recreational boating. Salter Bros began as a small boat-building enterprise in Oxford and went on to gain worldwide fame, not only as the leading racing boat constructor, but also as one of the largest rental craft and passenger boat operators in the country. Simon Wenham’s illustrated history sheds light on over 150 years of social change, how leisure developed on the waterway (including the rise of camping), as well as how a family firm coped with the changes brought about by industrialisation – a business that, today, still carries thousands of passengers a year.
Kingsnorth Airship Station: In Defence of the Nation
by Tina BilbeKingsnorth Airship Station played a vital role during the First World War, developing airships which successfully protected the fleet from submarine attack. It was the proud boast of the Airship Service that no vessels accompanied by one of their airships were lost to submarine attack. This book tells the story of Kingsnorth, exploring the development of the station, the challenges faced and overcome, the people who contributed to the station’s success and how the station and its legacy have changed the local area. Contemporary accounts and pictures bring this story to life, whether for the local historian, military enthusiast or a relative linked with Kingsnorth.
The Normans
by Trevor RowleyThe Normans were a relatively short-lived cultural and political phenomenon. The emerged early in the tenth century and had disappeared off the map by the mid-thirteenth century. Yet in that time they had conquered England, southern Italy and Sicily, and had established outposts in North Africa and in Levant. Having traced the formation of the Duchy of Normandy, Trevor Rowley draws on the latest archaeological and historical evidence to examine how the Normans were able to conquer and dominate significant parts of Europe. In particular he looks at their achievements in England and Italy and their claim to a permanent legacy, as witnessed in feudalism, in castles, churches and settlement and in place-names. But equally from the political stage. The reality is that, even within this short time-span, the Normans changed as time and place dictated from Norse invaders to Frankish crusaders to Byzantine monarchs to Feudal overlords. In the end their contribution to medieval culture was largely as a catalyst for other, older traditions.
All the Kaiser's Men: The Life and Death of the German Soldier on the Western Front
by Ian PassinghamConvinced that both God and the Kaiser were on their side, the officers and men of the German Army went to war in 1914, confident that they were destined for a swift and crushing victory in the West. The vaunted Schlieffen Plan on which the anticipated German victory was based expected triumph in the West to be followed by an equally decisive success on the Eastern Front. It was not to be. From the winter of 1914 until the early months of 1918, the struggle on the Western Front was characterised by trench warfare. But our perception of the conflict takes little or no account of the realities of life 'across the wire' in the German trenches. This book redresses that imbalance and reminds us how similar these young German men were to our own Tommies. Drawing from diaries and letters, Ian Passingham charts the hopes and despair of the German soldiers, filling an important gap in the history of the Western Front.
Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield: The Story of a Parish Church and its People, 1250-2020
by Stella ThebridgeFor the first time in its 750-year existence, a full history of Holy Trinity is available to the general public. One of only a small number of parish churches to be Grade I listed, Holy Trinity displays its rich heritage through stained glass, memorials, unique woodwork and glorious painted ceilings. It also houses the tomb of Sutton Coldfield’s most famous son, John Vesey, Bishop of Exeter, whose work for the benefit of both church and town, with the blessing of King Henry VIII, continues to earn him the respect of the local community in every generation. Funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2017-19 has enabled this book to be researched and written. The timing of its publication enables the history to be as up-to-date as possible, following on from a major reordering of the church interior to create a space for church and community fit for the 21st century.
Napoleon's Greatest Triumph: The Battle of Austerlitz
by Gregory Fremont-BarnesIN AUGUST 1805, Napoleon abandoned his plans for the invasion of Britain and diverted his army to the Danube Valley to confront Austrian and Russian forces in a bid for control of central Europe. The campaign culminated with the Battle of Austerlitz, regarded by many as Napoleon’s greatest triumph, whose far-reaching effects paved the way for French hegemony on the Continent for the next decade. In this concise volume, acclaimed military historian Gregory Fremont-Barnes uses detailed profiles to explore the leaders, tactics and weaponry of the clashing French, Austrian and Russian forces. Packed with fact boxes, maps and more, Napoleon’s Greatest Triumph is the perfect way to explore this important battle and the rise of Napoleon’s reputation as a supreme military leader.
The Little Book of Dundrum
by Hugh OramThe Little Book of Dundrum is a compendium of fascinating, obscure, strange and entertaining facts about this vibrant suburb of Dublin. This book takes the reader on a journey through Dundrum and its intricate past. Here you will find out about Dundrum’s famous sons and daughters, its churches, pubs, shops and great houses, its industries and its natural history. You will also glimpse a darker side to Dundrum’s past with a look at crime and mayhem in the district. A reliable reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped into time and time again to reveal something new about the people, the heritage and the secrets of this south Dublin suburb.
History's Most Dangerous Jobs: Navvies (History's Most Dangerous Jobs)
by Anthony BurtonThis is the story of the men who built Britain’s canals and railways – not the engineers and the administrators but the ones who provided the brawn and muscle. There had never been a workforce like the navvies, a great army of men, moving about the country following the work as it became available. This book will tell of their extraordinary feats of strength and their often colourful lives. They lived rough, usually having to make do with huts and shelters cobbled together from whatever materials were available. They worked hard and drank hard. Often exploited by their employers, they were always liable to erupt into riots that could have fatal results. The book will look at who these men were, where they came from – and destroy the myth that they were all Irish. It is a story full of drama, but above all one of great achievements.