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Matisse's War
by Peter EverettAt seventy, Henri Matisse is a trim, clean old gentleman with a passion for naked women. He is UN MONSTRE SACRE who depicts with passion and conviction only what he takes pleasure in, only what he chooses to see. He is art personified. If there were no Matisse there would be no art as such. . . . He has purged everything from his painting except anxieties concerning structure and colour; his struggle is with these alone! MATISSE'S WAR is a minutely researched yet fictional account of Matisse's life during the years 1939-1945. It is also a superb portrait of the lives of the major French artists and writers under the German occupation. Louis Aragon, Malraux, Picasso and Bonnard all appear prominently in the narrative.
Matron at Last
by Evelyn Prentis'When do you have a bath?' I asked Mrs Turgoose. 'I hope you're not suggesting that I don't look after meself properly,' she said crossly. 'There was a woman who used to use it, but that was because she was a bit stuck up. She soon went off the idea when it started to get cold.'After working as a nurse for thirty years, Evelyn left the hospital to become a full-time Matron at The Lodge - a home for elderly ladies of reduced circumstances. Evelyn was nothing like the matrons she had known and feared in the past. In spite of broken nights and hot dinners left to get cold, Mrs Peters with her temper and Mrs Harrison with her 24-hour piano playing, her new role offered a chance to make a difference to her ladies' lives. Even though it did mean she was on call twenty-four hours a day, this is Evelyn's funny and affectionate memoir of her years - at last! - as a Matron.
Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War
by Karl MarlantesIntense, powerful, and compelling, Matterhorn is an epic Vietnam war novel in the tradition of Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead and James Jones' The Thin Red Line. It is the timeless story of a young Marine lieutenant, Waino Mellas, and his comrades in Bravo Company, who are dropped into the mountain jungle of Vietnam as teenagers and forced to fight their way into manhood. Standing in their way are not merely the North Vietnamese but also monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, disease and malnutrition. Almost as daunting, it turns out, are the obstacles they discover between each other: racial tension, competing ambitions, and duplicitous superior officers. But when the company finds itself surrounded and outnumbered by a massive enemy regiment, the Marines are thrust into the raw and all-consuming terror of combat. The experience will change them forever. Written by a highly decorated Marine veteran over the course of thirty years, Matterhorn is a spellbinding and unforgettable novel that brings to life an entire world--both its horrors and its thrills--and seems destined to become a classic of combat literature. The end of the book includes two glossaries of terms used.
Matters of Chance: A Novel
by Jeannette HaienAn affluent family navigates life before, during, and after World War II in this “masterpiece” by the author of All of It (Fort Worth Star-Telegram).“One of the best books of the year.” —Publishers Weekly“Haien’s remarkable evocation of war at sea, her nuanced perception of the complexities of marriage, and the grand sweep of her tale remind us of the deep pleasures of an old fashioned read.” —ElleMatters of Chance is a glorious, captivating novel about Morgan and Maude Shurtliff, who fall in love and marry in the years before World War II. Unable to have children of their own, Morgan and Maude adopt twin girls. The four go home to their beautiful house in the country outside of New York City and begin to settle into what they hope will be a long and happy life. When the twins are still young, Morgan is called to serve in World War II, leaving Maude to raise her daughters alone. Jeannette Haien has rendered Morgan’s war experiences with astonishing detail, just as she has captured the American post-war era with a precision that is unrivaled in recent fiction . . . “Every description mingles missionary vigor with a touch of moral revelation in this kind and compelling book. . . . Haein has a musician’s ear, and her narrative voice is a study in measured grace.” —The New Yorker“Matters of Chance is a big, fat, wonderful, absorbing novel reminiscent of Anthony Trollope.” —Detroit Free Press“A marvelous new novel. . . . Elegant. . . . Exquisitely written. . . . One of Haien’s greatest gifts as a writer is her power to capture moments of heightened consciousness and sear them into a reader’s imagination.” —NPR’s Fresh Air
Mau-Mau Warrior
by Christa Hook Abiodun AlaoThe Mau-Mau uprising (1952-60) remains a controversial conflict, waged by warriors about whom many myths have been formed, but little truth has been written. Condemned by history as a brutal rag-tag force engaged in oath-taking, cannibalism and witchcraft, the military activities of the Mau-Mau have long been overlooked. Although their skill, organization and unique motivation forced the British government to undertake the longest airlift in military history, and to deploy extensive force at a cost of almost £60 million, before it could claim victory. This book reveals the real men and women behind the Mau-Mau; the truth behind the oaths that bound them together; and how they became a powerful force, paving the way for Kenya's independence.
Maura's Angel
by Lynne Reid BanksIt all started with a shattering bang. Maura found herself flat on her face on the pavement. For moments there was nothing, just blackness and silence. But she knew. Once again, a bomb had exploded in the streets of Belfast. Maura lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her life is hard. Her poor mother, thin and tired, depends on her to care for the baby, get her six-year-old brother off to school, and dress and feed her big sister Colleen, who is as helpless as an infant. Maura's big brother Kieran is in prison for sabotage against the Brits; her father is risking the same, or worse, as a member of the Irish Republican Army. And the war goes on and on. It seems so hopeless. Then, in the wake of the bomb blast, an amazing thing happens. Maura looks up from the pavement and sees a girl lying next to her who looks just like her--except that she's perfect...Also, she's naked! Maura quickly wraps the girl in her own coat and takes her home. Who is this strange creature? Where has she come from? She seems to know nothing of the world--not even simple things like how to eat or fall asleep or talk. She doesn't understand pain. Yet she has a magical way with people. The baby stops crying; quarrels dissolve. Even poor, simple minded Colleen responds to her. Maura's mother smiles again, and their home becomes peaceful and full of exciting moments of magic. When Maura discovers Angela's secret, she trusts her for the miracle that could bring her father and brother home. But Angela doesn't understand Maura's world--a world that spoils miracles, making them go tragically wrong.
Maurai and Kith
by Poul AndersonAfter Armageddon the People of the Sea created a new kind of civilisation, on based on the integrity of Life and the moral as well as pragmatic necessity of conservation. But the Sky People live by a different vision, and they have come to enforce it...
Maurice's Strategikon: Handbook of Byzantine Military Strategy
by George T. DennisAs a veteran campaigner, the Byzantine emperor Maurice (582-602) compiled a unique and influential handbook intended for the field commander. In this first complete English translation, the Strategikon is an invaluable source not only for early Byzantine history but for the general history of the art of war. Describing in detail weaponry and armor, daily life on the march or in camp, clothing, food, medical care, military law, and titles of the Byzantine army of the seventh century, the Strategikon offers insights into the Byzantine military ethos. In language contemporary, down-to-earth, and practical, the text also provides important data for the historian, and even the ethnologist, including eyewitness accounts of the Persians, Slavs, Lombards, and Avars at the frontier of the Empire.
Mauser Military Rifles
by Peter Dennis Neil GrantThe history of the iconic Mauser family of German bolt-action rifles is told here in extensive detail. Drawing on first-hand accounts of the weapons in combat and fascinating primary sources regarding their mechanical performance, this fully illustrated study charts the Mauser's origins, combat record and lasting influence. It explores the full range of Mauser rifles, beginning with the hugely successful Gew 98, which entered service in the time of the Kaiser, provided the basis for the US Springfield M1093 and equipped combatants as diverse as the South African Boers. It also investigates the Kar 98k, which was still in front-line use with Wehrmacht troops in 1945, saw use with Mexican and Yugoslavian forces, and even played a role in the 1990s Balkan conflicts in the hands of snipers. Featuring expert analysis, specially commissioned artwork and gripping first-hand accounts, this volume ideal for anyone seeking an understanding of these sturdy and accurate rifles' unique place in the history of small-unit tactics in the 20th century.
Maverick Marine: General Smedley D. Butler and the Contradictions of American Military History
by Hans Schmidt&“Traces Butler&’s stormy career . . . As pure biography, Maverick Marine is a colorful story about a swashbuckling establishment-shaker.&”—Publishers Weekly Smedley Butler&’s life and career epitomize the contradictory nature of American military policy through the first part of this century. Butler won renown as a Marine battlefield hero, campaigning in most of America&’s foreign military expeditions from 1898 to the late 1920s. He became the leading national advocate for paramilitary police reform. Upon his retirement, however, he renounced war and imperialism and devoted his energy and prestige to various dissident and leftist political causes. This biography of Smedley Butler is &“a sympathetic portrait of a Victorian officer-warrior who lost his way as he advanced in rank and his America and his Marine Corps changed after World War I&” (The Journal of American History). &“This long-awaited biography is as crisp as a David Brinkley commentary. Fact-packed and exquisitely documented.&”—Naval Institute Proceedings
Maverick One: The True Story of a Para, Pathfinder, Renegade
by David BlakeleyThe explosive sequel to the bestselling PATHFINDER.For the first time ever an elite British operator tells the gruelling story of his selection into the Pathfinders - Britain's secret soldiers. Pathfinder selection is a brutal physical and psychological trial lasting many weeks. It rivals that of the SAS and takes place over the same spine-crushing terrain, in the rain-and-snow-lashed wastes of the Welsh Mountains. For two decades no one has been able to relate the extraordinary trials of British elite forces selection - until now.Captain David Blakeley goes on from completing selection to serve with the Pathfinders in Afghanistan post 9/11, where he had a gun held to his head by Al Qaeda fighters. From there he deploys to Iraq, on a series of dramatic behind- enemy-lines missions - wherein he and his tiny elite patrol are outnumbered, outgunned and trapped. Maverick One is unique and extraordinary, chronicling the making of a warrior. It culminates in Blakeley fighting back to full recovery from horrific injuries suffered whilst on operations in Iraq, to go on to face SAS selection.
Maverick One: The True Story of a Para, Pathfinder, Renegade
by David BlakeleyThe explosive sequel to the bestselling PATHFINDER.For the first time ever an elite British operator tells the gruelling story of his selection into the Pathfinders - Britain's secret soldiers. Pathfinder selection is a brutal physical and psychological trial lasting many weeks. It rivals that of the SAS and takes place over the same spine-crushing terrain, in the rain-and-snow-lashed wastes of the Welsh Mountains. For two decades no one has been able to relate the extraordinary trials of British elite forces selection - until now.Captain David Blakeley goes on from completing selection to serve with the Pathfinders in Afghanistan post 9/11, where he had a gun held to his head by Al Qaeda fighters. From there he deploys to Iraq, on a series of dramatic behind- enemy-lines missions - wherein he and his tiny elite patrol are outnumbered, outgunned and trapped. Maverick One is unique and extraordinary, chronicling the making of a warrior. It culminates in Blakeley fighting back to full recovery from horrific injuries suffered whilst on operations in Iraq, to go on to face SAS selection.
Maverick Soldier: An Infantryman's Story
by John Essex-ClarkMaverick Soldier is the forthright, nuts-and-bolts account of John Essex-Clark's unmatched experience as a warrior, leader and teacher. Its telling is all of a piece with the man himself—bluff, astute, no-nonsense. In the course of stumbling, as he puts it, from the rank of private to brigadier, Essex-Clark has fought in wars with the Australian, British, United States and Rhodesian armies, and has led in battle Malay, South African, Rhodesian, Vietnamese, British, New Zealand, United States and Australian soldiers. In peacetime came tours of duty in North America and Western Europe. Nicknamed 'Digger' by the Rhodesian Army and 'The Big E' in the Australian, he led by force of personality, drive, common sense and self-confidence. Military readers and armchair witnesses to war will be challenged by his trenchant and timely views on army obsession with technology and the paucity of subtle tactical thinking. Various controversies are aired: whether we were 'pussyfooters' in Vietnam; bastardization at Duntroon; how best to conduct counter-terrorism. He is angered by what he sees as a 'surfeit of military dilettantes and budding bureaucrats and a dearth of warrior-chiefs'. Always one to lead from the front and to trust the courage and good sense of the ordinary infantryman, his interests have been strategy and battle tactics, leadership and training. He writes particularly for today's young soldier whom he loves with an old fashioned generosity, and to whom he can declare with conviction, 'I have no angst about being a soldier'.
Maverick: the Personal War of a Vietnam Cobra Pilot
by Dennis J. Marvicsin Jerold A. GreenfieldMemoir of a Vietnam combatant.
Mavericks of War: The Unconventional, Unorthodox Innovators and Thinkers, Scholars, and Outsiders Who Mastered the Art of War
by Jason S RidlerA military historian sheds light on the maverick thinkers who hatched outlandish plots and shaped warfare from WWI to Vietnam and beyond. During World War I, Oxford-trained archeologist Lawrence of Arabia used his knowledge of the Middle East to help organize the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire. In this entertaining and insightful book, Jason Ridler profiles the intellectuals, outsiders, and eccentrics who followed in Lawrence&’s footsteps across the next hundred years of warfare—those who relied on creativity, curiosity, and outside-the-box thinking to shape battlefields from World War II and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. These men were Ivy Leaguers and Oxford scholars, anthropologists and archeologists. Among them were an ad executive, an international activist, a Peace Corps veteran, an émigré journalist (and former teenage member of the French Resistance), and a diplomat. These mavericks and oddballs—both men and women—were not always heralded or heeded, and sometimes they were hated. But they each challenged traditional military thought and helped win wars, secure peace, and change the face of modern military conflict.
Mavericks of the Sky: The First Daring Pilots of the U.S. Air Mail
by Barry Rosenberg Catherine MacaulayIt was the pilots of the U.S. Air Mail service who made it possible for flight to evolve from an impractical and deadly fad to today's worldwide network of airlines. Nicknamed "The Suicide Club," this small but daring cadre of pilots took a fleet of flimsy World War I "Jenny" Biplanes and blazed a trail of sky routes across the country. In the midst of the Jazz Age, they were dashing, group–proud, brazen, and resentful of authority. They were also loyal, determined to prove the skeptics wrong. MAVERICKS OF THE SKY, by Barry Rosenburg and Catherine Macaulay, is a narrative non–fiction account of the crucial, first three years of the air mail service – beginning with the inaugural New York–to–Washington D.C. flight in 1918, through 1921 when aviator Jack Knight was the first to fly across the country at night and furthermore, through a blizzard. In those early years, one out of every four men lost their lives. With the constant threat of weather and mechanical failure and with little instrumentation available, aviators relied on their wits and instincts to keep them out of trouble. MAVERICKS OF THE SKY brings these sagas to life, and tells the story of the extraordinary lives and rivalries of those who single–handedly pulled off the great experiment.
Mavericks of the Sky: the First Daring Pilots of the U.S. Air Mail
by Barry Rosenberg Catherine MacaulayHistory of the introduction of the air mail service, and biographies of the first pilots.
Mawson: A Life
by Philip AyresSir Douglas Mawson was Australia's pre-eminent Antarctic explorer, a tall, quiet scientist who survived several gruelling polar expeditions, and went on to play a notable role in the academic and research establishment.He is most famed for an ill-fated expedition in 1913, in which he trekked hundreds of kilometres alone, without supplies, after his two companions perished. But he was also the main architect of Australia's official Antarctic presence in the first half of the twentieth century, instrumental in the Australian Government's decision to claim part of Antarctica, and in the founding of Australia's major organization for Antarctic exploration and research.Philip Ayres' life of Mawson is the definitive biography of the polar explorer, who died in 1958. In this richly researched and well-illustrated work, he paints a picture of a man who was a brave and resourceful hero, but also a deeply flawed personality.
Max and Finn: Max and Finn (Men of Smithfield)
by L.B. GreggWhen I walked out of his office after the hottest sex of my life, I thought I'd left Max Douglas behind me forever-along with my favorite argyle socks and my self-respect. The last thing I need is the too-serious, too-sexy former Marine living across the hall from me while he acts as a bodyguard for one of my students. Especially since he fired me from my job tutoring his brother-after we hooked up.I shouldn't want him. I should despise him after the way he treated me. But he's exactly my type: older, experienced, in control-and it's obvious the lust is still mutual. While I may not be able to keep our relationship strictly professional, I'm determined to keep it purely physical. But when the stalker threats escalate, it looks like Max is going to be sticking around the school for a while-and the more I get to know him, the more I'm in danger of losing my heart.Previously published, newly revised by author.39,000 words
Max: Best Friend. Hero. Marine.
by Jennifer Li ShotzNow a major motion picture, this movie novelization tells the story of a canine hero.When Justin's older brother, Kyle, is killed in Afghanistan, Justin can't believe that his brother is really gone. Except there's one thing that Kyle left behind....Max is a highly trained military canine who has always protected his fellow soldiers. But when he loses his handler and best friend, Kyle, Max is traumatized and unable to remain in the service.He is sent home to America, where the only human he connects with is Justin, and he is soon adopted by Kyle's family, essentially saving his life. At first Justin has no interest in taking care of his late brother's troubled dog. However, the two learn to trust each other, which helps the four-legged veteran become his heroic self once more. As the pair start to unravel the mystery of what really happened to Kyle, they find more excitement--and danger--than they bargained for. But they might also find an unlikely new best friend--in each other.
Maxie's Demon
by Michael Scott RohanMaxie's in trouble! Again. Only, this time it's serious. Driving a stolen Ferrari Testarossa off a motorway flyover at something approaching Mach 1, with the police in hot pursuit, is no way to make old bones. But it's child's play to what follows. For Maxie, small-time thief and general low-life, has crashed into the Spiral, a strange whirlpool of time and space, where, it seems, almost anything can happen, and anyone appear. The two Elizabethan alchemists, for instance, who are convinced that Maxie can help them with their magickal endeavours. And the swashbuckling band of spectral pirates who promise Maxie power and riches beyond his wildest dreams - if only he'll join them.
Maximinus Thrax: From Common Soldier to Emperor of Rome
by Paul N. PearsonThe first full-length biography of the half-barbarian emperor.Maximinus was a Thracian tribesman "of frightening appearance and colossal size” who could smash stones with his bare hands and pull fully laden wagons unaided. Such feats impressed the emperor Severus who enlisted Maximinus into the imperial bodyguard whereupon he embarked on a distinguished military career. Eventually he achieved senior command in the massive Roman invasion of Persia in 232 AD, and three years later he became emperor himself in a military coup-the first common soldier ever to assume the imperial throne.Supposedly more than seven feet tall (it is likely he had a pituitary disorder), Maximinus was surely one of Rome’s most extraordinary emperors. He campaigned across the Rhine and Danube for three years until a rebellion erupted in Africa and the snobbish senate engaged in civil war against him.This is a narrative account of the life and times of the Thracian giant, from his humble origins up to and beyond the civil war of 238 AD. Replete with accounts of treachery, assassination, and civil war, Maximinus Thrax is written for enthusiasts of Roman history and warfare.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Maya's Dance
by Helen SignyA powerful novel of survival, resilience and enduring love, based on an incredible true Holocaust story. Our dance. Do you remember how I spun and twirled? How I became more than a Jewish girl with battered shoes and dirty clothes ... We did not know then what it would mean, how that dance would change our lives. Poland, 1942: seventeen-year-old Maya Schulze is struggling to survive in a brutal Nazi labour camp. But despite days filled with hunger, fear and despair, she is able to find courage and beauty in dancing – it is only then that she feels free. One day a camp guard watches Maya perform, and both their destinies are changed for ever. Jan falls in love with Maya and promises to protect her; Maya lives for their stolen moments together, when her heart can dance again. Jan ultimately plots Maya&’s escape and promises to find her when the war is over, but fate cruelly intervenes. Fifty years on, having received news that changes everything for her, Maya tells her story to journalist Kate Young. As their friendship grows, they piece together the clues to find Jan before it&’s too late. &‘If there is one thing you learn from Maya's Dance, it is that art sets us free. An unforgettable and moving love story in the midst of one of the darkest and most terrible times of humanity. A book that from the first page you can't stop reading.&’ Armando Lucas Correa, bestselling author of The German Girl &‘Maya's Dance combines the perfect blend of tragic heartache and enduring hope.&’ Anita Abriel, bestselling author of The Light After the War &‘This novel, based on the true story of a Holocaust survivor, resonates with the horrors of these terrible times.&’ Maya Lee, bestselling author of The Nazis Knew My Name
Maybe This Kiss (Colorado Ice #1)
by Jennifer SnowLove is always worth the risk . . . Neil Healy was happy to be promoted to Air Force lieutenant colonel, but he's less than thrilled that the new job has brought him back to his hometown. The memories alone could kill a man, to say nothing of actually seeing the woman he never got over. Neil knew avoiding Becky Westmore would be impossible, but he didn't expect the chemistry between them to be as strong as ever.All Becky wants this holiday season is to get through the month of December with her sanity intact. Not helping? Her ex-boyfriend's return to Glenwood Falls. Even after a decade apart, Neil still makes her feel in ways no other man has. But Christmas is a time for miracles, and maybe Becky's will be a second chance at first love.***The Colorado Ice seriesMaybe This KissMaybe This TimeMaybe This LoveMaybe This SummerMaybe This Christmas
Mayday Over Wichita: The Worst Military Aviation Disaster in Kansas History
by D. W. CarterThe little-known story of a major catastrophe in a 1960s African American community: A “commendable, if unsettling, account.” —Richard Kluger, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Simple JusticeOn the cold Saturday morning of January 16, 1965, a U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker carrying thirty-one thousand gallons of jet fuel crashed into a congested African American neighborhood in Wichita, Kansas. When the fire and destruction finally subsided, forty-seven people—mostly African American children—were dead or injured, homes were completely destroyed and numerous families were splintered. As shocking as it may sound, the event was seemingly omitted from the historical record for nearly fifty years. Now, historian D. W. Carter examines the myths and realities of the crash while providing new insights about the horrific four-minute flight that forever changed the history of Kansas.Includes photographs