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The Massacre at Atåte, 2nd Edition
by Jose M. TorresTorres' story of courage, endurance and heroism in 'The Massacre at Atåte'The Massacre at Atåte tells the story of the courageous people of the idyllic southern village of Malesso' in Guam, who liberated themselves from the violent occupation of their village by Japanese forces during World War II. After scores of their relatives were killed in two massacres, a group of CHamoru men rose up in a littleknown place called Atåte, where they fought and massacred the Japanese to protect their families. The book includes an introduction by Guam’s former Representative to U.S. Congress Dr. Robert A. Underwood, and an afterword by Guam Historian Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua.
The Master of Disguise: My Secret Life in the CIA
by Antonio J. Mendez Malcolm McConnellThe award-winning spy and author of the New York Times bestseller Argo recounts his service with the CIA during the Cold War.On the fiftieth anniversary of the CIA, Antonio J. Mendez was named one of the fifty all-time stars of the spy trade, and he was granted exclusive permission to tell his fascinating story—all of it.For the first time, the CIA has authorized a top-level operative to tell all in an unforgettable behind-the-scenes look at espionage in action. An undisputed genius who could create an entirely new identity for anybody, anywhere, anytime, Antonio J. Mendez combined the cunning tricks of a magician with the analytic insight of a psychologist to help hundreds of people escape potentially fatal situations. From “Wild West” adventures in East Asia to Cold War intrigue in Moscow and helping six Americans escape revolutionary Tehran in 1980, Mendez was on the scene. Here he gives us a privileged look at what really happens in the field and behind closed doors at the highest levels of international espionage, some of it shocking, frightening, and wildly inventive—all of it unforgettable.
The Master of Time: Roads to Moscow: Book Three
by David WingrovePart Three of The Roads to MoscowThe war for time is reaching its endAs the German and Russian forces seek to destroy a third, seemingly unstoppable faction, Otto Behr reluctantly finds himself at the centre of all timelines, his very existence the catalyst by which reality itself will be reset or destroyed. But for Otto, the battle to become the Master of Time has become a fight for family, love and reality itself...
The Master's Cry: Episode Five
by Chris Stewart"It really grips you....I lost a lot of sleep reading it." -Tim LaHaye, co-author of the LEFT BEHIND series EVERYTHING FELL SILENT "The flash was sudden and bright, white-hot, blazing and intense. It burst down from the night sky, leaving a yellow glow that quickly faded and then disappeared. Their car stopped suddenly. No chug. No cough or sputter. It was as if someone had reached over and turned the key off." In the wake of a devastating nuclear attack on Washington, D.C., the surviving member of the government begin to plot their retaliation. But, before they can act, the world goes insane. Missiles from Israel and Iran pass each other in the air, decades of threats finally giving way to death and destruction. Japan, South Korea and China watch as the North Koreans begin to fuel their missiles. Millions of Muslims in Western Europe begin to riot. India and Pakistan raise their defense levels. The entire world seems to be on the edge of the abyss. In Saudi Arabia, however, things are going exactly to plan. King Al-Rahman, prodded along by a mysterious old man, consolidates his power within the Kingdom and orders a final, debilitating blow on the United States. Against the backdrop of torn-from-the-headlines Middle Eastern drama, the Wrath & Righteousness series is a fast-paced thriller that explores man's role in the eternal battle between good and evil. Chris Stewart is the New York Times bestselling author of several books, including The Miracle of Freedom. He is a world-record-setting Air Force pilot (fastest nonstop flight around the world) and president and CEO of The Shipley Group, a nationally recognized consulting and training company. Wrath & Righteousness is a ten episode e-book series by New York Times bestselling author Chris Stewart. Each episode is approximately 50,000-60,000 words (roughly two-thirds the length of a normal full-length novel). This series was adapted from the previously published The Great and Terrible series that was released from 2003-2008.
The Master's Mistress
by Carole MortimerHired to catalog the Sullivan House library, Elizabeth Brown is in her element. Books she can handle. Men—well, she's a little less experienced in that department. She's certainly not at all prepared for the unexpected arrival of the master of the house, Rogan Sullivan!Rogan is dark, dangerous and wickedly sexy—exactly the kind of man Elizabeth has read she should stay away from. But it's not long before Rogan is showing his virgin librarian reasons she should let herself be seduced by a masterful rogue….
The Masters (The Strangers and Brothers Novels)
by C.P. SnowWinner of the James Tait Black Prize: An &“engrossing&” novel of power, politics, and academic rivalry in 1930s England (The New York Times). In 1937, the dark cloud of Nazi Germany hangs over Europe. Meanwhile, barrister Lewis Eliot is comfortably settled at Cambridge College, which is currently astir thanks to the imminent death of an ailing master. Little does the dying master know that two men are already jockeying for his position. Eliot and his crowd are in Jago&’s corner against his rival, Crawford, who holds a principled stand against Hitler but is lacking in social skills. The political maneuvering grows ever fiercer, and even in these hallowed halls of learning, the hunger for power can overwhelm all common sense. &“A faithful portrayal of English college life.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“The Masters not only portrays a power structure in microcosm but is tantalizingly told—perhaps the most engrossing academic novel in English.&” —The New York Times &“Lucid, compelling . . . generous in its fullness.&” —New Statesman
The Matabele Rebellion 1896 With the Belingwe Field Force: With The Belingwe Field Force (classic Reprint)
by D Tyrie Laing“The struggles for AfricaThere can be few more interesting and evocative periods of British imperial history than the struggles for south-eastern Africa. The empire had found itself colliding with the interests of many native powers across the globe during the decades of its expansion. Many had fought to maintain their independence and some, like the Sikhs of the Punjab, were sufficiently well versed in the practice of warfare as to be a serious threat. This could not be said of the tribes which rose from the Zulu nation, yet the Zulu War of 1879 gave British forces a chilling and brutal lesson in what a 'primitive' African tribal army was capable of achieving on the field of battle. The Matabele, as an off-shoot of the martial Zulus, also inevitably came into conflict with the British during the closing decade of the 19th century. The First Matabele War did not decisively subjugate the tribe and in 1896 it rose again laying siege to Bulawayo with over 10,000 Ndebele warriors.”-Print ed.
The Matchmaker (The Matchmaker Novels #1)
by Rexanne BecnelA genteel English lady looking for a spark is about to get a bonfire in this Regency romance by the USA Today–bestselling author of the Rosecliffe Trilogy. Olivia may have entered London society three years ago, but all she has to show for it is extensive notes. The pages of her diary are filled with details on every bachelor who has ever clamored for a spot on her dance card. Although her book has afforded her a new hobby in matchmaking, it has yet to provide her with a suitable man. And she is not about to settle for just anyone . . . Since returning from the war, Lord Neville Hawke slakes his thirst with any spirit he can find and satisfies his lust with any woman he desires. His charms, however, are lost on a well-bred lady like Olivia. After their disastrous meeting, she wants nothing to do with him. Neville, on the other hand, feels something he has not felt in a long time. Olivia makes the darkest days of his past feel a bit more bearable. But since Olivia has made up her mind on Neville and he is not in the market for a wife, it would take a miracle for them to get together—or a kiss. Perfect for fans of the Bridgerton series! &“If you like your heroes dark and flawed, then run, don&’t walk, to buy The Matchmaker. . . . Becnel gives us true insight into the human spirit and does not stint on creating the ideal atmosphere and recreating the era to near perfection. A powerful love story and a thinking reader&’s book.&” —RT Book Reviews &“Once again, Rexanne Becnel delivers a special reading treat. . . . The supporting cast is fantastic, and the story . . . will richly entertain you and have you clamoring for more works by the talented Rexanne Becnel.&” —The Belles and Beaux of Romance
The Matchmaker Novels, Books 1–3: The Matchmaker, The Troublemaker, and The Bridemaker (The Matchmaker Novels)
by Rexanne BecnelThe first three entries in a Regency romance series featuring a heroine with a knack for finding the right man, just not for herself. After three years in London society, Olivia has extensive notes on every bachelor she&’s met, and although she hasn&’t landed a husband yet, she&’s helped several young women find the perfect match . . . The Matchmaker Since returning from the war, Lord Neville Hawke satisfies his needs with spirits and women. His charms, however, are lost on a well-bred lady like Olivia. After their disastrous meeting, she wants nothing to do with him. Neville, on the other hand, feels something he has not felt in a long time. Olivia makes the darkest days of his past feel a bit more bearable. But since Olivia has made up her mind on Neville and he is not in the market for a wife, it would take a miracle for them to get together—or for just a kiss. The Troublemaker The parents of a troublesome beauty send her off to the Scottish countryside to keep her out of trouble. When she discovers her chaperone is not home, she vows to show her family she can be a good girl on her own. But the arrival of a handsome American in search of justice and revenge might stir up some trouble. The Bridemaker A straitlaced schoolmarm, Mrs. Hester Poitevant runs a successful academy for girls. Yet no one knows that underneath the guise of a stuffy widow, she&’s secretly a beautiful young woman. But when she&’s forced to stop rakish businessman Adrian Hawke from seducing one of her students, she falls victim to his charms. Now the clever rogue is intrigued by Hester and is determined to uncover what she&’s hiding, in more ways than one. Perfect for fans of Bridgerton.Praise for the Matchmaker series&“If you like your heroes dark and flawed, then run, don&’t walk, to buy The Matchmaker. . . . Becnel gives us true insight into the human spirit and does not stint on creating the ideal atmosphere and recreating the era to near perfection. A powerful love story and a thinking reader&’s book.&” —RT Book Reviews on The Matchmaker&“With this sparkling romance between a highly regarded widow and a thoroughly charming rake, Becnel . . . breathes life into the rigid Regency-era romance genre. . . . Hester&’s spirited personality and Adrian&’s devil-may-care attitude will appeal to a broad readership. Playful in tone and rich in character, this book is fun, breezy entertainment.&” —Publishers Weekly on The Bridemaker
The Mathews Men: Seven Brothers and the War Against Hitler's U-boats
by William Geroux&“Vividly drawn and emotionally gripping."—Daniel James Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boys in the BoatFrom the author of The Ghost Ships of Archangel, one of the last unheralded heroic stories of World War II: the U-boat assault off the American coast against the men of the U.S. Merchant Marine who were supplying the European war, and one community&’s monumental contribution to that effortMathews County, Virginia, is a remote outpost on the Chesapeake Bay with little to offer except unspoiled scenery—but it sent an unusually large concentration of sea captains to fight in World War II. The Mathews Men tells that heroic story through the experiences of one extraordinary family whose seven sons (and their neighbors), U.S. merchant mariners all, suddenly found themselves squarely in the cross-hairs of the U-boats bearing down on the coastal United States in 1942.From the late 1930s to 1945, virtually all the fuel, food and munitions that sustained the Allies in Europe traveled not via the Navy but in merchant ships. After Pearl Harbor, those unprotected ships instantly became the U-boats&’ prime targets. And they were easy targets—the Navy lacked the inclination or resources to defend them until the beginning of 1943. Hitler was determined that his U-boats should sink every American ship they could find, sometimes within sight of tourist beaches, and to kill as many mariners as possible, in order to frighten their shipmates into staying ashore. As the war progressed, men from Mathews sailed the North and South Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and even the icy Barents Sea in the Arctic Circle, where they braved the dreaded Murmansk Run. Through their experiences we have eyewitnesses to every danger zone, in every kind of ship. Some died horrific deaths. Others fought to survive torpedo explosions, flaming oil slicks, storms, shark attacks, mine blasts, and harrowing lifeboat odysseys—only to ship out again on the next boat as soon as they'd returned to safety.The Mathews Men shows us the war far beyond traditional battlefields—often the U.S. merchant mariners&’ life-and-death struggles took place just off the U.S. coast—but also takes us to the landing beaches at D-Day and to the Pacific. &“When final victory is ours,&” General Dwight D. Eisenhower had predicted, &“there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine.&” Here, finally, is the heroic story of those merchant seamen, recast as the human story of the men from Mathews.
The Mauthausen Trial: American Military Justice in Germany
by Tomaz JardimShortly after 9:00 a.m. on May 27, 1947, the first of forty-nine men condemned to death for war crimes at Mauthausen concentration camp mounted the gallows at Landsberg prison near Munich. The mass execution that followed resulted from an American military trial conducted at Dachau in the spring of 1946—a trial that lasted only thirty-six days and yet produced more death sentences than any other in American history. The Mauthausen trial was part of a massive series of proceedings designed to judge and punish Nazi war criminals in the most expedient manner the law would allow. There was no doubt that the crimes had been monstrous. Yet despite meting out punishment to a group of incontestably guilty men, the Mauthausen trial reveals a troubling and seldom-recognized face of American postwar justice—one characterized by rapid proceedings, lax rules of evidence, and questionable interrogations. Although the better-known Nuremberg trials are often regarded as epitomizing American judicial ideals, these trials were in fact the exception to the rule. Instead, as Tomaz Jardim convincingly demonstrates, the rough justice of the Mauthausen trial remains indicative of the most common—and yet least understood—American approach to war crimes prosecution. The Mauthausen Trial forces reflection on the implications of compromising legal standards in order to guarantee that guilty people do not walk free.
The Maverick Cowboy (Morgan Ranch #2)
by Kate PearceThe heartbreak of their childhood drove the Morgan brothers far from their family’s California ranch—and one another. But as they face the wounds of the past, each feels the land calling him home . . . Blue Morgan never thought he’d crave long days on horseback, working the cattle ranch where he grew up. But after a decade of getting shouted and shot at in the Marines, fresh air and hard work are just what he needs to settle his restless energy. Except no matter how hard he tries to focus, his mind wanders to the pretty, prickly new veterinarian instead. There’s no denying the spark between Jenna McDonald and Blue. But with her job at risk and her own family’s expectations to wrangle, Jenna isn’t looking for another sparring partner. Blue needs her expertise on horses. And if she can help solve his mother’s disappearance, she’s willing to pitch in. But she’ll leave his ideas about how love should be scheduled to him. Jenna is tired of being told what she can’t have—and ready to reach for what she wants . . . “If you love cowboys—and who doesn’t—you’ll love the Morgans!” —Cora Seton, New York Times bestselling author on The Reluctant Cowboy
The Mayfair Bookshop: A Novel of Nancy Mitford and the Pursuit of Happiness
by Eliza KnightOne of Hasty Booklist's Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Novels!USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight brings together a brilliant dual-narrative story about Nancy Mitford—one of 1930s London’s hottest socialites, authors, and a member of the scandalous Mitford Sisters—and a modern American desperate for change, connected through time by a little London bookshop.“An absolute must-read!”—Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author The Last Bookshop in London1938: She was one of the six sparkling Mitford sisters, known for her stinging quips, stylish dress, and bright green eyes. But Nancy Mitford’s seemingly dazzling life was really one of turmoil: with a perpetually unfaithful and broke husband, two Nazi sympathizer sisters, and her hopes of motherhood dashed forever. With war imminent, Nancy finds respite by taking a job at the Heywood Hill Bookshop in Mayfair, hoping to make ends meet, and discovers a new life.Present Day: When book curator Lucy St. Clair lands a gig working at Heywood Hill she can’t get on the plane fast enough. Not only can she start the healing process from the loss of her mother, it’s a dream come true to set foot in the legendary store. Doubly exciting: she brings with her a first edition of Nancy’s work, one with a somewhat mysterious inscription from the author. Soon, she discovers her life and Nancy’s are intertwined, and it all comes back to the little London bookshop—a place that changes the lives of two women from different eras in the most surprising ways.
The Meaning of Names
by Karen Getthert ShoemakerA German-American woman copes with a pandemic, and her neighbors&’ hostility during the Great War, in &“a heart-rending story of endurance&” (Historical Novel Society). Stuart, Nebraska is a long way from the battlefields of Western Europe, but it is not immune to the horrors of the first Great War for Peace. Like all communities, it has lost sons and daughters to the fighting, with many more giving themselves over to the hatred only war can engender. Set in 1918 in the farm country at the heart of America, The Meaning of Names is the story of an ordinary woman trying to raise a family during extraordinary times. Estranged from her parents because she married against their will, confronted with violence and prejudice against her people, and caught up in the midst of the worst plague the world has ever seen, Gerda Vogel, an American of German descent, must find the strength to keep her family safe from the effects of a war that threatens to consume the whole world. &“Suddenly, &‘liberty cabbage&’ replaces &‘sauerkraut&’ on food menus, job advertisements warn &‘no krauts need apply,&’ and neighbors demand the nearby university stop teaching courses in &‘that vile language&’. . . . Shoemaker crafts eminently realistic characters; her descriptions of unreasonable fear and hatred are particularly effective.&” —Publishers Weekly
The Meaning of Treason
by Rebecca WestWest&’s acclaimed examination of traitors, this gripping profile takes readers inside World War II spy rings and gets to the heart of what it means to betray one&’s country Throughout her career, Rebecca West dug into psyches, real and fictional, to try to understand the meaning of betrayal. In the aftermath of World War II, West was incensed when several wartime turncoats were tried with seeming indifference—and worse, sympathy—from the British public. In exploring these traitors&’ origins, crimes, and motivations, West exposes how class division, greed, and discrimination can taint loyalties and redraw the relationships between individuals and their fatherland. A fascinating book, The Meaning of Treason combines the intrigue of a spy novel with West&’s classic, careful dissection of man&’s moral struggles.
The Meaning of the Nuclear Revolution: Statecraft and the Prospect of Armageddon (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs)
by Robert JervisRobert Jervis argues here that the possibility of nuclear war has created a revolution in military strategy and international relations. He examines how the potential for nuclear Armageddon has changed the meaning of war, the psychology of statesmanship, and the formulation of military policy by the superpowers.
The Measure of a Man
by Kathleen Broome WilliamsMaj. Roger G. B. Broome, USMCR, died from wounds received on Saipan before his daughter had a chance to know him. Now a well-known naval historian and author of award-winning books, that daughter, Kathleen Broome Williams, has turned the research skills she honed studying naval technology to find her lost father. For this biography, she makes full use of an extensive collection of her father's colorful and articulate letters along with the testimony of surviving Leathernecks who served with Major Broome, backed up by official records.The book reconstructs her father's life as a University of Virginia Law School graduate who obtained a commission in the Marine Corps despite his colorblindness and eventually won the combat command he lobbied for. In April 1944 Broome took command of the Regimental Weapons Company, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. But his pursuit of glory came to an abrupt end just twenty-four days into the Saipan invasion when he sustained the wounds that condemned him to a lingering death. The author not only found a hero who was awarded the Navy Cross for his courageous actions, but also uncovered a profoundly human individual with strengths as well as obvious faults. In unfolding Broome's story, she takes significant world events from seventy years ago and places them in an intimate context, to show how they affected Americans on and off the battlefield. Her efforts provide an inside look at the U.S. Marine Corps during the pivotal years of World War II, including recruit training, amphibious assaults, high casualties, and, not least, the personal feuds and rivalries that shaped it.
The Measure of a Man (Facets Ser.)
by Dr Martin Luther King Jr.First published in 1959, this pair of meditations by the revered civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. contains the theological roots of his political and social philosophy of nonviolent activism. Eloquent and passionate, reasoned and sensitive.“AT THE first National Conference on Christian Education of the United Church of Christ, held at Purdue University in the summer of 1958, Martin Luther King presented two notable devotional addresses. Moved by the dear and persuasive quality of his words, many of the 3000 delegates to the conference urged that the meditations be made available in book form. They wanted the book for their own libraries and they were eager to share Dr. King’s vital messages with fellow Christians of other denominations.“In the resolute struggle of American Negroes to achieve complete acceptance as citizens and neighbors the author is recognized as a leader of extraordinary resourcefulness, valor, and skill. His concern for justice and brotherhood and the nonviolent methods that he advocated and uses, are based on a serious commitment to the Christian faith.“As his meditations in this book suggest, Dr. King regards meditation and action as indivisible functions of the religious life. When we think seriously in the presence of the Most High, when in sincerity we “go up to the mountain of the Lord,” the sure event is that “he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2: 3).”
The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com
by Lisa Smith Molinari"A wry and lighthearted journey through the seasons of family life."—W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's PurposeApplying her wit and humor to marriage and family life, award-winning columnist Lisa Smith Molinari shares her real-life family's humorous coming of age story, from marriage through raising kids to empty nest. Written in episodes, contained in seasons, her memoir is a sitcom for book lovers!Lisa leaves her law career to become a navy wife and Supermom, but somewhere between "I do" and "deploying again," waves of chaos threaten to overtake her. She has a husband who knows his chardonnay but can't identify a Phillips-head screwdriver, three quirky kids with their own agendas, a perpetually shedding dog, and a minivan full of cold french fries. Will she survive the endless minutiae of modern family life, or will she end up on the laundry room floor eating chocolate frosting out of a can?Multiple-Award-Winning Book!Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Gold—Best Humor BookMidwest Book Awards Gold—Best Humor BookMilitary Writers Society of America—Best Humor BookIBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards SilverReaders Choice Awards Silver"... hilariously honest, beautifully engaging, and vividly written ... A must-read." —Gina Barreca, author of They Used to Call Me Snow White ... But I Drifted"This is a wonderful look inside the kind of family we all want to invite home to dinner." —Amy Newmark, editor-in-chief, Chicken Soup for the Soul"... engaging stories that resonate ... pure Erma Bombeck ..."—Teri Rizvi, founder and director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop"Molinari writes about her naval officer husband, their three children and her own foibles with love, warmth and humor." —Jerry Zezima, nationally syndicated humorist and author"... wholesome and heartwarming and humorous. She weathers deployments, complete upheavals of life and location, childhood illnesses, devastating diagnoses, loneliness, toddlerhood, empty nests, sullen teenagers, and everything life throws at her with humor and good grace ..."—Lori B Duff, author of You Know I Love You Because You're Still Alive"How is it possible to blend belly-shaking laughs with poignancy? ... Calcium never did this much for my funnybone!" —Suzette Martinez Standring, award-winning author of The Art of Opinion Writing
The Medal of Honor (Cornerstones of Freedom, 2nd Series)
by Roger WachtelThe Medal of Honor is a simple medal--just a five-pointed star hanging form a ribbon--but it has great meaning. It differs from all other medals in that it is the only U.S. military decoration worn around one's neck. President Theodore Roosevelt, a war veteran, longed form this medal, as did famed army general George S. Patton, who once said he would trade his "immortal soul" for one. It can only be presented by the president of the United States, in the name of Congress.
The Medal of Honor at Gettysburg (Military)
by James GindlespergerAbove and Beyond the Call of Duty In early summer, 1863 Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia began moving northward. As Lee moved toward Maryland, the Union army followed, taking a parallel path on the opposite side of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From June 9 to the beginning of July the two armies skirmished at various locations along the route. Then, from July 1 through July 3, they clashed in the epic Battle of Gettysburg. Throughout the Gettysburg Campaign, seventy-two men earned the Medal of Honor, the highest honor in the American military. Discover the harrowing narratives of those who served to keep a nation united with the highest valor. Including the story of the unknown soldiers awarded the medal, these profiles showcase some of the most intense moments of the most important battle in the Civil War. Author James Gindlesperger presents the Medal of Honor at Gettysburg.
The Medal of Honor: A History of Service Above and Beyond
by The Editors of Boston Publishing CompanyA comprehensive history of America's highest award for military valor.The Medal of Honor chronicles the creation, evolution, and awarding of the Medal, from the battlefields of the Civil War to the jungles of Vietnam, through a wealth of illustrations and hundreds of authoritative, action-filled accounts of heroism in America's conflicts. This wonderfully detailed and beautifully designed history book puts the Medal and its recipients into the context of their times, with brief and accessible introductions explaining each war and conflict for which the Medal was awarded. It also includes photo essays, intriguing stories of the Medal's sometimes quirky personalities, effects on surviving recipients, and the Medal's preeminent place in the American story. Whether you're an avid reader on the history of the Medal of Honor or simply intrigued by its place in our history, you're certain to want to flip through the pages of The Medal of Honor again and again.
The Media and International Security (The Sandhurst Conference Series #Vol. 1)
by Stephen BadseyA collection of the papers from the 1995 Sandhurst conference presented by leading members of the armed forces, the media and academia. The conference marked a major advance in British thinking on this very topical and fast-moving subject, bringing together authorities from various fields in a multidisciplinary investigation which has been, and will be of great interest to a wide variety of specialist readers.
The Medic: Life and Death in the Last Days of WWII
by Leo LitwakLeo Litwak was a university student when he joined the Army to fight in World War II, "a na've, callow eighteen-year-old son prepared to join other soldier boys being hauled off to war." In 1944 he found himself in Belgium, in the middle of the waning European war, a medic trained to save lives but often powerless to do much more than watch life slip away. It was hard fighting that took Litwak and his rifle company into the heart of Germany at the close of the war. But Litwak learned there was more to war than fighting, more to understand than maps and ammunition. In the final months of the war, he watched the men in his company tenderly serve food at a Passover seder for a dozen brutalized Jewish women newly liberated from slavery. He watched those same men torture and execute defenseless German soldiers. He fell in love at the Moulin Rouge in a scene straight out of a Toulouse-Lautrec painting. The men in his company were dreamers, thieves, friends, killers, revolutionaries, and heroes. They were the men of their time: sometimes brave, sometimes compassionate, sometimes cruel, sometimes loving, usually scared. They were held together by loyalty, only to be scattered by the war's end. The Medic is the gritty, wise, bighearted, and unflinching account of one man's quest to find sense in war and its aftermath.
The Medieval Crossbow: A Weapon Fit to Kill a King
by Stuart Ellis-GormanThe crossbow is an iconic weapon of the Middle Ages and, alongside the longbow, one of the most effective ranged weapons of the pre-gunpowder era. Unfortunately, despite its general fame it has been decades since an in-depth history of the medieval crossbow has been published, which is why Stuart Ellis-Gorman’s detailed, accessible, and highly illustrated study is so valuable. The Medieval Crossbow approaches the history of the crossbow from two directions. The first is a technical study of the design and construction of the medieval crossbow, the many different kinds of crossbows used during the Middle Ages, and finally a consideration of the relationship between crossbows and art. The second half of the book explores the history of the crossbow, from its origins in ancient China to its decline in sixteenth-century Europe. Along the way it explores the challenges in deciphering the crossbow’s early medieval history as well as its prominence in warfare and sport shooting in the High and Later Middle Ages. This fascinating book brings together the work of a wide range of accomplished crossbow scholars and incorporates the author’s own original research to create an account of the medieval crossbow that will appeal to anyone looking to gain an insight into one of the most important weapons of the Middle Ages.