TRAVEL BACK IN TIME WITH THE BBC'S RUTH GOODMANWe know all about the dramas that played out in the Tudor court - most notably those of Henry VIII - but what was life really like for a commoner like you or me? To answer this question, the renowned "method historian" Ruth Goodman has slept, washed and cooked as the Tudors did - so you don't have to!She is your expert guide to this fascinating era, drawing on years of practical historical study to show how our ancestors coped with everyday life. Using a vast range of sources, she takes you back to when soot was used as toothpaste and the "upper crust" was served to the wealthier members of the house.Exploring how the Tudors learnt, danced and even stood according to the latest fashion, she reveals what it all felt, smelt and tasted like, from morning until night.If you enjoyed the writing of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory, you will love discovering the true stories.*****'Ruth is the queen of living history, long may she reign!' Lucy Worsley'A deeply researched and endlessly fascinating account of what it was like to live as a Tudor' Tracy Borman, author of Thomas Cromwell'Always entertaining, and her narrative is often lifted by the fact that she has taken the trouble to experience many of the alien aspects of Tudor life' Observer'Goodman's latest foray into immersive history is a revelation . . . It's the next best thing to being there' Sarah Ferguson, New York Times Book Review Read more

Bestselling historian and broadcaster Tom Holland gives a thrilling panoramic account of the birth of the new Western Europe in the year 1000'An exhilarating sweep across European history either side of the year 1000; riveting' ALLAN MASSIE, SPECTATOR'I relished the blood and thunder narrative - the work of a great storyteller at his best' DOMINIC SANDBROOK, EVENING STANDARD'A splendid, highly coloured canvas' NORMAN STONE, GUARDIANIn AD 900, few would have guessed that the splintering kingdoms of Europe were candidates for future greatness. Hemmed in by implacable enemies and an ocean, there were many who feared that they were nearing the time when the Antichrist would appear, heralding the world's end. Instead there emerged a new civilisation. It was the age of Otto the Great and William the Conqueror, of Viking sea-kings, of hermits, monks and serfs. It witnessed the spread of castles, the invention of knighthood, and the founding of the papal monarchy. It was a momentous achievement: for this was nothing less than the founding of the modern West. Read more

In this New York Times bestseller, the author of A Night to Remember and The Miracle of Dunkirk revisits the Titanic disaster.   Walter Lord’s A Night to Remember was a landmark work that recounted the harrowing events of April 14, 1912, when the British ocean liner RMS Titanic went down in the North Atlantic Ocean, a book that inspired a classic movie of the same name. In The Night Lives On, Lord takes the exploration further, revealing information about the ship’s last hours that emerged in the decades that followed, and separating myths from facts.   Was the ship really christened before setting sail on its maiden voyage? What song did the band play as water spilled over the bow? How did the ship’s wireless operators fail so badly, and why did the nearby Californian, just ten miles away when the Titanic struck the iceberg, not come to the rescue? Lord answers these questions and more, in a gripping investigation of the night when approximately 1,500 victims were lost to the sea.   Read more

An easy-to-use, straightforward guide for British family historians looking to trace their ancestry using DNA testing.   DNA research is one of the most rapidly advancing areas in modern science, and the practical use of DNA testing in genealogy is one of its most exciting applications. Yet there is no recent British publication in this field. That is why this accessible, wide-ranging introduction is so valuable. It offers a clear, practical way into the subject, explaining the scientific discoveries and techniques and illustrating with case studies how it can be used by genealogists to gain an insight into their ancestry.   The subject is complex and perhaps difficult for traditional genealogists to understand but, with the aid of this book, novices who are keen to take advantage of it will be able to interpret test results and use them to help answer genealogical questions which cannot be answered by documentary evidence alone. It will also appeal to those with some experience in the field because it places the practical application of genetic genealogy within a wider context, highlighting its role as a genealogical tool and suggesting how it can be made more effective. Read more

Force of Evil:The Clydach Murders: finally demolishes the myth that David Morris was a brutal murderer and, instead, demonstrates that he was not only the victim of a terrible miscarriage of justice, but that he was set up by the police for the crime. The Clydach murders, which occurred in June 1999, and for which Morris was convicted in 2006, was a case which shocked the nation. Attractive divorcee Mandy Power, her disabled bed-ridden mother and Mandy’s two young daughters, were viciously battered to death with a four-foot solid metal pole for no apparent reason. Then, the house was set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence which might have led police to the perpetrators. Author and former solicitor John Morris, together with investigator and co-author Paul Dalling, have scrutinized every aspect of the case. They uncovered an almost-incredible story with a shocking unexpected twist. The case involved a government–led conspiracy where the stakes were unimaginably high, and which demanded that the true identity of murderers must be concealed, and a scapegoat found to take the blame for the crime. No forensic evidence or DNA connected Morris to the murders; he was convicted because he lacked a solid alibi, his gold neck-chain was found at the crime scene, and lies he told the police. This third, final and explosive edition explains why the government of the day became involved in what was effectively a local murder, and how they conspired and corrupted the police investigation. This new edition establishes conclusively that Morris was not the murderer, and points the finger squarely at those who were. And it explains the reason – the momentous state secret – why the government wanted the case covered-up, and why the police were only too happy to go along with it. Read more

The new novel from the acclaimed author of The House Between Tides, winner of the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year 2018!'Sarah Maine is a master of Scottish historical fiction' Sunday Post****It is the women who are keepers of tales.Atmospheric, intoxicating and filled with intrigue, this sweeping novel is an epic story spanning the centuries, that links three women together across history. Libby Snow spent her childhood hearing stories and legends from long ago. Now an archaeologist, her job is to dig deeper into the past, but her excavation at Ullaness, on Scotland's west coast has a very personal resonance. For the headland of Ullaness holds not only the secrets of the legend of Ulla, the Norsewoman, but also begins the strange story of Ellen.Libby's grandmother passed on these tales - of love, betrayal and loss - but the more Libby learns at Ullaness, the more twisted the threads become. When human remains are discovered in the dunes, it becomes clear that time, and intention, have distorted accounts of what happened there. Is it too late to uncover the truth? Or is Libby herself in danger of being caught up in this tangled web of fable and deceit? Praise for Sarah Maine:'An echo of Daphne du Maurier' - Independent'Maine adroitly weaves together the three strands of her novel'Sunday Times'Maine writes beautifully about the wilderness' - The Times'Maine skillfully balances a Daphne du Maurier atmosphere with a Barbara Vine-like psychological mystery...' - Kirkus Read more

TikTok sensation Katie Kennedy, aka @TheHistoryGossip, serves up a delicious blend of fascinating, witty and salacious history tea for every day of the year.With infectious wit and historical insight, The History Gossip brings you the mad, bad and dangerous tales from around the world. With entries for every day of the year, this is history … but not as you know it.Equal parts fascinating and funny, Katie's unique brand of humour takes readers on a romp through the history books and answers burning questions such as ‘Was Anne of Cleves a minger’, ‘Did Mary Shelley lose her V-card on her mother’s grave’ and ‘Did George IV eat himself to death’ and more.What better way to start your day than find out what other people have done before? The History Gossip reveals the funny, strange and utterly juicy tidbits throughout world history, each with a modern twist of pop culture references and contemporary slang.This is the ultimate blend of ‘On this day’ history education and humour, making it the perfect gift or self-purchase for history lovers. Read more

Named a best book of the year by Bloomberg and Nature.'Soni and Goodman have done their research...A Mind at Play reveals the remarkable human behind some of the most important theoretical and practical contributions to the information age.' (Nature)A charming account of one of the twentieth century’s most distinguished scientists…Readers will enjoy this portrait of a modern-day Da Vinci.' (Fortune)This is the extraordinary story of the little-known man who influenced every computer built, email sent, video streamed, and webpage loaded. He wrote the seminal text of the digital revolution, which has been called ‘the Magna Carta of the Information Age.’ His discoveries would lead contemporaries to compare him to Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. His work anticipated by decades the world we live in today and gave mathematicians and engineers the tools to create the digital technology we rely on.His career stretched from the era of room-sized computers powered by gears and string to the age of Apple. His life shows us the beginnings of modern technology: in the ‘idea factory’ of Bell Labs, in the ‘scientists’ war’ with Nazi Germany, and in the work of Shannon’s collaborators and rivals, including Alan Turing. With access to Shannon’s family and friends, A Mind at Playbrings this singular innovator and creative genius to life. Read more

There is little more terrifying than those who hunt, stalk and snatch their prey under the cloak of darkness. These hunters search not for animals, but for the touch, taste, and empowerment of human flesh. They are cannibals, vampires and monsters, and they walk among us. These serial killers are not mythical beasts with horns and shaggy hair. They are people living among society, going about their day to day activities until nightfall. They are the Dennis Rader’s, the fathers, husbands, church going members of the community. This A-Z encyclopedia of 150 serial killers is the ideal reference book. Included are the most famous true crime serial killers, like Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and Richard Ramirez, and not to mention the women who kill, such as Aileen Wuornos and Martha Rendell. There are also lesser known serial killers, covering many countries around the world, so the range is broad. Each of the serial killer files includes information on when and how they killed the victims, the background of each killer, or the suspects in some cases such as the Zodiac killer, their trials and punishments. For some there are chilling quotes by the killers themselves. The Big Book of Serial Killers is an easy to follow collection of information on the world’s most heinous murderers. Read more

When tragedy struck young Susie Greene, she inherited more than a fortune—she inherited a drive to uncover the stories of the past.Now, years later, Susie has traded the tech world of Silicon Valley for the serene beauty of the Grand Tetons, where she pursues her passions for genealogy and search-and-rescue work alongside her brilliant Border Collie, Delfina.During a routine cross-country skiing trip, Susie and Delfina make a chilling discovery: the body of a local man buried beneath the snow.As whispers of old family feuds and buried secrets ripple through the small mountain town, Susie’s curiosity and expertise in tracing ancestral lines lead her down a perilous path. With Delfina’s keen instincts uncovering vital clues and her own genealogy skills connecting the victim to a tangled web of town history, Susie pieces together a shocking truth that someone is desperate to keep hidden.As danger closes in, it’s up to Susie and her courageous canine partner to unravel the mystery before it’s too late. Read more

These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation.Heroines of the Tudor World focuses on the women who lived through the Renaissance and Reformation, examining the threats and challenges they faced and how they overcame them. Studying regents, writers, nuns and queens, and taking in the likes of Elizabeth Barton, Anne Boleyn, Catherine de Medici, Bess of Hardwick and Elizabeth I, Sharon Bennett Connolly shines the spotlight on the women who helped to shape Early Modern Europe. Read more

Longlisted for the 2014 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-Fiction (now the Bailie Gifford)‘A thrilling and complex book, enlarges our view of Homer … There’s something that hits the mark on every page’ Claire Tomalin, Books of the Year, New StatesmanLonglisted for the 2014 Samuel Johnson Prize for Non-FictionIn this passionate and deeply personal book, Adam Nicolson sets out to explain why these great ancient poems still have so much to say about what it is to be human, to love, lose, grow old and die.The Mighty Dead is a journey of history and discovery, sewn together by the oldest stories we have – the Iliad and the Odyssey, which emerged from a time before the Greeks became Greek. As nomadic tribes of the northern steppe, they clashed with the sophisticated cities of the eastern Mediterranean. These poems tell us how we became who we are.We witness a disputatious dinner in 19th-century Paris and Keats finding in Chapman’s Homer the inspiration to travel in the ‘realms of gold’. We go to Bosnia in the 1930s, with the god of Homer studies Milman Parry where oral poetry still thrived; to Spain to visit the possible site of Hades; to Troy, Ukraine, Syria and the islands of the Mediterranean; and to that most ancient of modern experiences, the open sea, in calm and storm.Reflecting on fathers and sons, men and women, on the necessity for love and the violence of warriors, on peace and war, youth and old-age, Homer is the deep voice of Europe, as dark as Mavrodaphne and as glowingly alive as anything that has ever been. Read more

When was the last time someone around you brought up World War Two? It’s a pretty popular war. Maybe you heard about it yesterday. Maybe last month. But it was probably recent. And when it came up, did you wish that you could be the one to casually drop a fact that would have everyone in the room going, “Wow, I never knew that!” With this book, you can be that person. You can read it in just a few minutes a day. Chapters are bite-sized and easy to read, meant for normal people instead of war historians! Each chapter ends with a bonus helping of trivia and some quick questions to test your knowledge. You’ll zoom through this book and be hungry for more. Get ready to impress your friends with your knowledge – not just of the main events of World War Two, but of all the gritty details and weird true facts. By the time you finish this book, you’ll have a fact for every occasion, from the first moment someone thought about having a second World War, to the most recent blockbuster movies about it. So get ready to meet characters from Adolf Hitler, rejected art student, to Jack Churchill, the broadsword-swinging male model. Find out why World War Two started in the first place, and why it’s never a good idea to invade Russia in winter. Learn why the United States was going to stay out of the war, how Canadians stole airplanes for the British, and what an orange soft drink has to do with the Nazis. Some of the things you’re going to learn are sad. Some are scary. Some are sexy. And some are downright strange! It’s everything your history teacher never got around to telling you. Read more

This book will explore the life and exploits of one of the most fearsome Vikings who has ever walked the earth - Ivar the Boneless. The records that talk about him are quite conflicting as they often are with mythical and historical figures. This book will do it's best and take a closer look to his origins, family and his notable exploits. We will also catch a glimpse into the possibilities of his demeanor and behavior without moving away from the fact that he is one of the most ruthless men to ever invade England in the 9th century. It is our hope that you'll enjoy this book and learn many new and exciting things about Ivar the Boneless! Read more

As Caesar's legions assemble at the border of Cisalpine Gaul, the five-year command he secured through brilliant political manoeuvring now opens a new chapter in his ascent. Beyond the familiar territories lies Gaul, a vast mosaic of warring tribes, ancient forests, and untapped wealth.The migration of the Helvetii provides the perfect justification to intervene, but what awaits Caesar is far more than a simple border dispute. The coming campaigns will test not just his military acumen but his ability to transform battlefield victories into political capital. Each conquest, each subjugated tribe, each new territory brought under Roman influence will strengthen his position against enemies who even now plot to prosecute him should his command expire.In the forests and plains, Caesar faces adversaries unlike any he encountered in Rome's political arena, tribal chieftains commanding fierce warriors who fear neither death nor Rome's legions, and military challenges that will require innovation beyond traditional Roman tactics.As Caesar gazes toward the northern horizon, he knows he stands at the threshold of greatness or destruction. The campaigns ahead will either secure his place in history or end in anonymous disgrace. The fields of Gaul await, ready to become his fields of glory Read more

To all thoughtful people World War I has brought to intention the importance of a knowledge of 19th Century European history. For without such knowledge no one can understand, or begin to understand, the significance of the forces that have made it, the vastness of the issues involved, the nature of what is indisputably one of the gravest crises in the history of mankind. No citizen of a free country who takes his citizenship seriously, who considers himself responsible, to the full extent of his personal influence, for the character and conduct of his government, can, without the crudest self-stultification, admit that he knows nothing and cares nothing about the history of Europe. Contents: The Old Regime in Europe The Old Regime in France Beginnings of the Revolution The Making of the Constitution The Legislative Assembly The Convention The Directory The Consulate The Early Years of the Empire The Empire at Its Height The Decline and Fall of Napoleon The Congresses France Under the Restoration Revolutions Beyond France The Reign of Louis Philippe Central Europe in Revolt The Second French Republic and the Founding of the Second Empire The Making of the Kingdom of Italy The Unification of Germany The Second Empire and the Franco-Prussian War The German Empire France Under the Third Republic The Kingdom of Italy Since 1870 Austria-Hungary Since 1848 England From 1815 to 1868 England Since 1868 The British Empire The Partition of Africa Spain and Portugal Holland and Belgium Since 1830 Switzerland The Scandinavian States The Disruption of the Ottoman Empire and the Rise of the Balkan States Russia to the War With Japan The Far East Russia Since the 1905 War With Japan The Balkan Wars of 1912 and 1913 The European War Making the Peace Read more

The acclaimed author of Witches, Druids, and King Arthur presents a “lucid, open-minded” cultural history of the Druids as part of British identity (Terry Jones).   Crushed by the Romans in the first century A.D., the ancient Druids of Britain left almost no reliable evidence behind. Historian Ronald Hutton shows how this lack of definite information has allowed succeeding British generations to reimagine, reinterpret, and reinvent the Druids. Hutton’s captivating book is the first to encompass two thousand years of Druid history and to explore the evolution of English, Scottish, and Welsh attitudes toward the forever ambiguous figures of the ancient Celtic world. Druids have been remembered at different times as patriots, scientists, philosophers, or priests. Sometimes portrayed as corrupt, bloodthirsty, or ignorant, they were also seen as fomenters of rebellion. Hutton charts how the Druids have been written in and out of history, archaeology, and the public consciousness for some 500 years, with particular focus on the romantic period, when Druids completely dominated notions of British prehistory. Sparkling with legends and images, filled with new perspectives on ancient and modern times, this fascinating cultural study reveals Druids as catalysts in British history. Read more

Brush Type 4 Class 47 locomotives have seen more than sixty years of service on Britain’s railways, celebrating their diamond jubilee on 25 September 2022. This book draws together previously unseen photographs by the author and others who have spent decades photographing, traveling behind and preserving these locomotives.Looking at the early years of the fleet of 512 locomotives as they settled into hauling passenger and freight, as well as the halcyon years of the 1980s and 1990s and more recent times, Martin Measures shares the importance of these locomotives to the railways and their many enthusiasts.Lavishly illustrated throughout, this fitting tribute to the Brush Type 4s commemorates their long and successful service. Read more

Holy Catholic Ireland! The Isle of the saints and scholars! In the mid 20th century 'Irish' and 'Catholic' were indeed synonymous, with the power and control of the Catholic Church in Ireland total, complete and absolute! But by the late 1960s, a new Ireland was emerging!1979 and 2018 saw the arrival of two different Popes to our shores, each with the same mission, - to halt the increasing moral decline in our country!And today? Ever decreasing attendances at Church services and ever-decreasing vocations to the priesthood and religious orders are symptomatic of the declining power of that same Catholic Church in Ireland! So, how did the Catholic Church come to be so powerful in Ireland by the mid 20th century? And how did it lose that power? Who were the main movers, makers and shakers in the rise and demise of the Catholic Church in Ireland?The answers are in this book! Read more

For many years, Plaxton of Scarborough has been at the forefront of British coachbuilding and has been the leading light in design and technological advancement on numerous occasions. During the 1960s, the Panorama was the best-selling British-built coach body, and its successor the Panorama Elite introduced several ground-breaking features we take for granted in coach bodies of today. The story of these elegant Yorkshire-built icons is told through 180 colour photographs, all taken during their operating heyday and accompanied by informative and sometimes humorous captions. Read more