New updated edition, new statistics and Epilogue One country, four languages, 26 cantons, and 7.5 million people (but only 80% of them Swiss): there's nowhere else in Europe like it. Switzerland may be almost 400 km from the nearest drop of seawater, but it is an island at the centre of Europe. Welcome to the landlocked island. Swiss Watching is a fascinating journey around Europe s most individual and misunderstood country. From seeking Heidi and finding the best chocolate to reliving a bloody past and exploring an uncertain future, Diccon Bewes proves that there's more to Switzerland than banks and skis, francs and cheese. This book dispels the myths and unravels the true meaning of Swissness. In a land of cultural contradictions, this is a picture of the real and normally unseen Switzerland, a place where the breathtaking scenery shaped a nation not just a tour itinerary, and where tradition is as important as innovation. It's also the story of its people, who have more power than their politicians, but can't speak to one another in the same language and who own more guns per head than the people of Iraq. As for those national clichés, well, not all the cheese has holes, cuckoo clocks aren't Swiss and the trains don't always run exactly on time. Read more

Despite its position at the heart of Europe and its quintessentially European nature, Switzerland's history is often overlooked within the English-speaking world. This comprehensive and engaging history of Switzerland traces the historical and cultural development of this fascinating but neglected European country from the end of the Dark Ages up to the present. The authors focus on the initial Confederacy of the Middle Ages; the religious divisions which threatened it after 1500 and its surprising survival amongst Europe's monarchies; the turmoil following the French Revolution and conquest, which continued until the Federal Constitution of 1848; the testing of the Swiss nation through the late nineteenth century and then two World Wars and the Depression of the 1930s; and the unparalleled economic and social growth and political success of the post-war era. The book concludes with a discussion of the contemporary challenges, often shared with neighbours, that shape the country today. Read more

The award-winning author of Target Switzerland uses “a wide breadth of research to attempt to answer why Switzerland escaped the Nazi onslaught” (Daly History Blog).While surrounded by the Axis powers in World War II, Switzerland remained democratic and, unlike most of Europe, never succumbed to the siren songs and threats of the Nazi goliath.This book tells the story with emphasis on two voices rarely heard. One voice is that of scores of Swiss who lived in those dark years, told through oral history. They mobilized to defend the country, labored on the farms, and helped refugees. The other voice is that of Nazi Intelligence, those who spied on the Swiss and planned subversion and invasion. Exhaustive documents from the German military archives reveals a chilling rendition of attack plans which would be dissuaded in part by Switzerland’s armed populace and Alpine defenses.Laced with unique maps and photos, the book reveals how the Swiss mobilized an active “spiritual defense” of their country—including the use of the press and cabaret as weapons against totalitarianism—and explores the role of women in the military and economy, the role of Jewish officers in the highest levels of the Swiss army, and the role of Switzerland itself as America’s window on the Reich. “Halbrook succeeds not only in achieving a thorough analysis of Switzerland’s armed neutrality, but also in revealing through their own voices the willingness of ordinary citizens to accept total war in order to preserve their freedom.”—Swiss American Historical Society Review Read more

"Bewes' breezy prose makes him a pleasant traveling companion ... he clearly knows Switzerland inside and out." - The SpectatorIn June 1863 an English lady set off by train on the trip of a lifetime: Thomas Cook's first Conducted Tour of Switzerland. A century and a half later, travel writer Diccon Bewes, author of the bestselling Swiss Watching, decided to go where she went and see what she saw. Guided by her diary, he followed the same route to discover how much had changed and how much hadn't. She went in search of adventure, he went in search of her, and found far more than he expected. Slow Train to Switzerland is the captivating account of two trips through the Alps: hers glimpsing the future of travel, his revisiting its past. Together they make a journey to remember.This is a tale of trains and tourists, of the British and the Swiss, of a Victorian traveller and a modern-day Englishman abroad. It is the story of a tour that changed both Switzerland and the world of travel forever. Read more

After the Napoleonic Wars the borders of Europe were redrawn and relative peace endured across the region, but the volatile politics of the late nineteenth century generated an atmosphere of fear and distrust, and it gave rise to a new era of fortress building. In the neutral states situated between France and Germany - The Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland - the need for extensive fixed defences was particularly urgent, and this is the subject of this highly illustrated new study. The strategic thinking that gave rise to these defensive schemes is described in detail, as is the planning, design and construction of the lines themselves. Their operational history in wartime, in particular during the Second World War, is a key element of this expert account. Read more

Sate Your Hunger for Knowledge With This Complete Guide to Switzerland's History and Find Out What's Great About This Unique Country.Do you know what's so great about Switzerland? Well, first of all, the flag is a big plus!Mountains, watches, secret bank accounts, cheese, and chocolate – these are just some of the many great things that this country is famous for. The most interesting thing about this small country is that Switzerland always remained neutral even through history's most turbulent periods.How did such a small and cut-off land become so central (and not just in its location) to the events of the western world?In The History of Switzerland, you will be taken on a magnificent journey through Switzerland's history that will answer all questions you may have – from Switzerland's humble beginnings to the modern nation that it is today.So prepare yourself for a unique and incredible journey that will sate your hunger for knowledge and teach you everything about Switzerland.Here are some of the topics you can find in this historical guide:Switzerland's humble beginnings and early historyThe Swiss Confederacy and Habsburg interferenceThe warriors of Switzerland, Swiss mercenaries, and Swiss Papal GuardDefeat of emperor MaximilianPeasant uprisings and the Thirty Years' WarSwitzerland's role in World War I, War World II, and between warsCold War in SwitzerlandSwitzerland and the European UnionPresent and future of SwitzerlandAnd much more!If you want to embark on a unique journey through history and learn everything about Switzerland, then this book will be the perfect guide on that journey. What are you waiting for?Scroll up, click on "Buy Now with 1-Click," and Get Your Copy Now! Read more

Swiss watches are known the world over for their precision, elegance, and enduring legacy. In "All about Swiss Watches," Mehul Kothari takes you on a journey through the art and science behind these legendary timepieces. Discover the history, innovations, and renowned brands that make Swiss watches a timeless symbol of excellence and craftsmanship. Read more

If cinema can be approached as poetry and philosophy, it is because of Jean Epstein. Cocteau, Buñuel (who was his assistant), Hitchcock, Pasolini and Godard, and theoreticians Kracauer, Deleuze and Rancière are directly influenced by Epstein’s pioneering film work, writings, and concepts. This book is the first in English to examine his oeuvre comprehensively.An avant-garde artist and an anti-elitist intellectual, Epstein wanted to craft moments of pure transformative cinema. Using familiar genres – melodramas and documentaries – he hoped to heal viewers of all classes and hasten social utopia. A lover of cinema as cognitive and sensorial technology, and a poet of the screen, he pushed cinematography – as photogénie – towards the experimental sublime, through daring close-ups, rhythmic montage, slow motion, even reverse motion. Polish-born, half-Jewish, and the author of a treatise on homosexuality, Epstein has been unfairly relegated to the shadows of film history. This book restores him to the limelight of interwar world cinema, on a par with Renoir, Lang, Capra and Eisenstein. Read more

An account of the Swiss soldiers of fortune who plied their trade in the foreign regiments of European militaries and even the American Civil War.    The white mercenaries who attracted the world’s attention in the Congo during the early 1960s were never more than a few hundred in number. In contrast, no fewer than a million Swiss troops served as mercenaries in the armies of Europe during the preceding 500 years. Swiss mercenaries form a significant strand in the rope of European military history, and this book draws on many French and German-language sources to describe how the Swiss emerged from the isolated valleys of the Alps with a new method of warfare. Their massed columns of pike-carrying infantry were the first foot-soldiers since Roman times who could hold their own against the cavalry. For a brief period at the end of the fifteenth century the Swiss army appeared unbeatable, and after Swiss independence had been ensured they were hired out as mercenaries throughout Europe. Kings and generals competed to hire these elite combat troops. Nearly half of the million served with the French, their centuries of loyal service culminating with the massacre of the Swiss Guards during the French Revolution. Marlborough, Frederick the Great and Napoleon all hired large numbers of Swiss troops, and three Swiss regiments served in the British Army. Read more

“An entertaining, turbocharged race among the high mountain passes of six alpine countries.” —Liesl Schillinger, New York Times Book ReviewFor centuries the Alps have been witness to the march of armies, the flow of pilgrims and Crusaders, the feats of mountaineers, and the dreams of engineers. In The Alps, Stephen O’Shea ("a graceful and passionate writer"—Washington Post) takes readers up and down these majestic mountains. Journeying through their 500-mile arc across France, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia, he explores the reality behind historic events and reveals how the Alps have profoundly influenced culture and society. Read more

One hundred years ago, in July 1916, an act of terrorism in New York Harbor changed the world. The attack in New York Harbor was so explosive that people as far away as Maryland felt the ground shake. Windows were blown out uptown at the New York Public Library; the main building at Ellis Island was nearly destroyed; Statue of Liberty was torn into by shrapnel from the explosion, which would have measured 5.5 on the Richter scale. Chaos overtook Manhattan as the midnight sky turned to fire, lit up with exploding ammunition. The year was 1916. And it had been shockingly easy. While war raged in Europe, Americans watched from afar, unthreatened by the danger overseas. Yet the United States was riddled with networks of German spies hiding in plain sight. The attack on New York Harbor was only one part of their plans: secret anthrax facilities were located just ten miles from the White House; bombs were planted on ships, hidden in buildings, and mailed to the country's civic and business leaders; and an underground syndicate helped potential terrorists obtain fake IDs, housing, and money. President Woodrow Wilson knew an attack of this magnitude was possible, and yet nothing was done to stop it. Americans, feeling buffered by miles of ocean and burgeoning prosperity, had ignored the mounting threat. That all changed on a warm summer evening in late July, when the island in New York Harbor called Black Tom exploded, setting alight a vast store of munitions destined for the front.Three American lawyers -- John McCloy, Amos Peaslee, and Harold Martin -- made it their mission to solve the Black Tom mystery. Their hunt for justice would take them undercover to Europe, deep into the shadowy world of secret agents and double-crosses, through the halls of Washington and the capitals of Europe. It would challenge their beliefs in right and wrong. And they would discover a sinister plot so vast it could hardly have been imagined -- a conspiracy that stretched from downtown Manhattan to the very heart of Berlin. The Detonators is the first full accounting of a crime and a cover-up that resonate strongly in a post-9/11 America. And much of the atmosphere and rhetoric in play 100 years ago remains eerily similar to discussions surrounding national security and immigration today. As Millman deftly illustrates in The Detonators, an island may have disappeared, but the resulting lessons have only grown stronger and more urgent, and history has a persistent way of stirring up its ghosts. This is their story. "A gripping account of conspiracy." -- New York Times "A ready-made suspense thriller." -- Boston Globe "Exhaustively researched... fascinating." -- Entertainment Weekly, 50 Hot Summer Books Read more

Embark on a Magnificent Journey into the Past and Discover The Complete History of Central Europe!Are you a history lover yearning for some less-known historical information? Or you generally want to learn about history?If so, The Complete History of Central Europe will surely help you with that!Which tribes inhabited Central Europe?Which monarchies and empires rose there?What were the significant wars waged on the Central European soil?All the answers to the questions above and much more can be found inside this incredible historical guide that combines seven distinct guides to seven Central European countries – Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Switzerland.Even though some of these countries are not so big today, all of them had a significant impact on shaping the history of Central Europe at some point in time.This guide covers all the major historical events that transpired in this area, how these countries came to be, how they developed and influenced the world's history, and how they became the countries they are today.Here is what you can find in this historical guide:Complete guide to the history of Austria – from the dawn of humanity and bronze age, over Habsburgs and middle ages, through both World Wars, to modern-day AustriaComplete guide to the history of the Czech Republic – from its ancient origins, through medieval wars to the communistic regime and revolutionsComplete guide to the history of Germany – from humble beginnings, through protestant reformations, over both World Wars, to the super-power that Germany is todayComplete guide to the history of Hungary – from its early days, over Middle-age kingdom, to communist rule and rich Hungarian cultureComplete guide to the history of Poland – from the very first day, over Middle-ages and World Wars, to modern-day PolandComplete guide to the history of Slovakia – from the Iron Age, through Roman Empire turmoils and Middle-ages to Slovakia that is todayComplete guide to the history of Switzerland – from how it came to be, through a renaissance and how it managed to stay neutral throughout all major political events and wars, to the magnificent country that Switzerland is todayAnd much more!If you want to embark on a unique journey through history and learn everything about the history of Central Europe, then this book will be the perfect guide on that journey.So, what are you waiting for?Scroll up, click on "Buy Now with 1-Click," and Get Your Copy Now! Read more

The manuscript transcription of the document contained in this book was done during the reunion of several so-called “confederated Supreme Councils” of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The meeting took place in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1875.The goal of this annotated translation is to help us, students, scholars, and historians of Freemasonry, to understand the evolution of the rituals. It will also guide the leaders of Freemasonry in the necessary reforms that will help them and us adapt to the future without losing the integrity of our teaching and the cardinal virtues of our conduct.The rituals committees of all the Scottish Rite Supreme Councils around the world are guided by a deep study and evaluation of the founding texts. Annotated translations such as this one show that the present form of the rituals is a direct result of the scholarly research done in the past.Be assured that this book does not overtly reveal anything to the public because Freemasonry is like a culture; it has its own vocabulary, its written and spoken language, and its civic and spiritual habits. Its integrity is firmly protected by bodyguards of intentional innuendoes.The goal of translating and studying ancient rituals is to bring them out of the darkness of the “vaults,” where they are kept, to enlighten the generations to come. As the proverb says, “Today’s light always springs from the past to enlighten the future.”The original manuscript meticulously describes the candidate’s attire, the jewels and the decor of the lodge or the location where the Degree takes place, as well as the signs and passwords used.At the end of the manuscript, all the Degrees from the 1st to the 33rd are summarized and their symbolisms fully explained. The document ends with a synopsis progressively stating the true goal of Freemasonry. Whatever the goal, we are, however, urged to remember that “sentiments are inclined to unconscious exaltations, and nothing is easier than becoming a fanatic against fanaticism, a tyrant against tyranny and intolerant against intolerance.” Read more

Discover Switzerland's fascinating journey from ancient times to modern-day neutrality and prosperity. This concise and engaging ebook explores pivotal moments, iconic figures, and cultural milestones that shaped one of the world's most unique countries. Perfect for history buffs, travelers, and anyone curious about Switzerland's rich heritage and global impact. Read more

The story is one that is envisioned by many: a relative, an old woman who has lived in the same home for a lifetime, passes away, her death prompting the inevitable task of sorting through her effects by her surviving family. But in the attic in this particular house, a treasure trove of historic importance is found. Rarely does this become an actuality, but when Helene Elias died, no one could put a price on what she left behind. Helene Elias was born Helene Frank, sister to Otto Frank, and therefore aunt to Anne Frank. Ensconced upstairs in the house she inherited from her mother, and eventually passed on to her son, Buddy Elias, Anne’s cousin and childhood playmate, was the documented legacy of the Frank family: a vast collection of photos, letters, drawings, poems, and postcards preserved throughout decades—a cache of over 6,000 documents in all. Chronicled by Buddy’s wife, Gertrude, and renowned German author Mirjam Pressler, these findings weave an indelible, engaging, and endearing portrait of the family that shaped Anne Frank. They wrote to one another voluminously; recounted summer holidays, and wrote about love and hardships. They reassured one another during the terrible years and waited anxiously for news after the war had ended. Through these letters, they rejoiced in new life, and honored the memories of those they lost.  Anne’s family believed themselves to ordinary members of Germany’s bourgeoisie. That they were wrong is part of history, and we celebrate them here with this extraordinary account.  Insert Authors’ photo: © Jürgen BauerMirjam Pressler is one of Germany’s most beloved authors. She was the German translator of Anne Frank’s diary.     Read more

Throughout his controversial life the alchemist, physician and social radical known as Paracelsus combined traditions that were magical and empirical, scholarly and folk, learned and artisanal. He endorsed both Catholic and Reformation beliefs, but believed devoutly in a female deity. He travelled constantly, learning and teaching a new form of medicine based on the experience of miners, bathers, alchemists, midwives, barber-surgeons and executioners. He argued for changes in the way the body was understood, how disease was defined and how treatments were created, but he was also moved by mystical speculations, an alchemical view of nature and an intriguing concept of creation.Bruce T. Moran tells the story of how alchemy refashioned medical practice, and brings to light the ideas, workings and major texts of an important Renaissance figure, showing how his tenacity and endurance changed the medical world for the better, and brought new perspectives to the study of nature. Read more

In this long-awaited book (already a major bestseller in Italy) Ginsborg has created a fascinating, sophisticated and definitive account of how Italy has coped, or failed to cope, with the past two decades. Contemporary Italy strongly mirrors Britain - the countries have roughly the same extent, population size and GNP - and yet they are fantastically different. Ginsborg sees this difference as most fundamentally clear in the role of the family and it is the family which is at the heart of Italian politics and business. Anyone wishing to understand contemporary Italy will find it essential to have this enormously attractive and intelligent book. Read more

Part detective work, part treasure chest, full of history and scandal, The Gilded Chalet takes you on a grand tour of two centuries of great writing by both Swiss and foreign authors and shows how Switzerland has always been at the center of literary Europe. Two centuries after the Romantics went there to invent Gothic horror, the lure of Switzerland hasn't left us. Writers from the Fitzgeralds to Fleming, Highsmith to Hemingway, Conan Doyle to le Carré, came to escape world wars, political persecution, tuberculosis. They came for sanctuary (from oppression or the tax man), for fresh air and nude sunbathing, for scenery resembling, as Rooney puts it, 'Mother Nature on steroids.' Patricia Highsmith spent her last years in a granite home in Ticino with a fridge containing little but peanut butter and vodka. Hermann Hesse had himself buried to the neck as a cure for alcoholism. Nabokov chased butterflies and played tennis on the hotel courts. When it comes to literature, it seems all roads lead to Switzerland. Padraig Rooney peers through the chalet windows and discovers how Switzerland has influenced some of the greatest authors and characters of literature. Read more

HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.‘Don't you sometimes feel that this is the kind of life we were meant to live on this earth? Everything we need, everything, right here, right at our fingertips.’Said to be inspired by Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, Wyss’ tale of a family stranded at sea and washed up on a tropical island has become a much-loved classic. As the Swiss pastor, his wife and four sons struggle to create a life for themselves on the island, they soon learn to use their own ingenuity and rely upon the natural resources supplied by the nature that surrounds them. Daily challenges and struggles test the family, but each member discovers how to harness their own unique skills and qualities to overcome any obstacle. Read more

This book examines Jewish life in Vienna just after the Nazi-takeover in 1938. Who were Vienna’s Jews, how did they react and respond to Nazism, and why? Drawing upon the voices of the individuals and families who lived during this time, together with new archival documentation, Ilana Offenberger reconstructs the daily lives of Vienna’s Jews from Anschluss in March 1938 through the entire Nazi occupation and the eventual dissolution of the Jewish community of Vienna. Offenberger explains how and why over two-thirds of the Jewish community emigrated from the country, while one-third remained trapped. A vivid picture emerges of the co-dependent relationship this community developed with their German masters, and the false hope they maintained until the bitter end. The Germans murdered close to one third of Vienna’s Jewish population in the “final solution” and their family members who escaped the Reich before 1941 chose never to return; they remained dispersed across the world. Thisis not a triumphant history. Although the overwhelming majority survived the Holocaust, the Jewish community that once existed was destroyed. Read more