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Charging Against Wellington: The French Cavalry in the Peninsular War, 1807–1814
by Robert BurnhamThis comprehensive military history details the generals, organization and movements of Napoleon&’s cavalry through the Peninsular War. In Charging Against Wellington, historian Robert Burnham draws on primary sources, manuals, memoirs, and regimental histories to reveal the experiences and activities of the French officers and soldiers who fought the British Army in Spain and Portugal. Burnham presents biographies of eighty French generals, focusing on their service in the Peninsula and its impact on their careers. Two become Marshals of France and many were promoted, while others saw their careers damaged in the conflict—including nine who were relieved from their commands. The author then examines the ever-changing organization of the cavalry, including the location and command of the various regiments and brigades. By April 1814, the Peninsula cavalry was down to 4,000 men, a shadow of the force that invaded six years before. Charging Against Wellington chronicles these changes, showing which units left and how their departure impacted the army. Finally, Burnham looks at the service record of the 70+ French cavalry regiments. There is a table for each that tracks the regiment&’s colonels, composition, organization, strength, and casualties while in the Peninsula.
Alexander Memoirs, 1940–1945
by Alexander of TunisAfter his first meeting with General Alexander in August 1942, Lieutenant-General Sir Brian Horrocks wrote that: By repute he was Winston Churchills fire brigade chief par excellence: the man who was always dispatched to retrieve the most desperate situations.Churchill was indeed in need of a fire brigade chief. Allied forces had been chased back across the desert by Rommel. Alexander bought a new hope to the Desert Rats: he instilled them with his own confidence and thought of victory. Under his command, Montgomery was ready to fight and win the battle of El Alamein. Even as his generals drove the enemy from North Africa, Alexander was planning far ahead for Sicily and Operation Husky: the first major seaborne invasion by either side during the war.It was said that before El Alamein the Allies never knew victory, and after El Alamein never knew defeat: much of the credit belongs to Alexander. For decades his contribution to the British efforts in both wars has been overlooked. Here, however, is a comprehensive edition of his personal and candid memoirs, which includes judgments on such men as Montgomery, Patton and Churchill. He also details his role in leading the withdrawal of the 1st Infantry Division at Dunkirk, his dealings with Stilwell in Burma and the bombing of the Monte Cassino abbey.
The Battle for Vimy Ridge, 1917 (Battleground Arras Ser.)
by Nigel Cave Jack SheldonIn a new departure in the Battleground Europe series, this book is a guide to both sides of a major battle in this case to the Canadian Corps operations against 1st Bavarian Reserve Corps at Vimy from 9 12 April 1917, which formed part of the opening of the British offensive, known as the Battle of Arras. Historically, the capture of Vimy Ridge was an event far more significant than its undoubted military importance alone. Here for the first time all four divisions of the Canadian Corps were deployed in line together in one offensive; and although the Corps went to fight even greater battles, Vimy marked a key point in the emergence of Canada as a fully sovereign nation.Although the Canadian side of the story has been well chronicled by a number of writers, until now there has been little concerning the defense during this great battle. Now, the accounts of the German soldiers and their commanders are combined with those of the Canadians and British deployed on the other side of No Mans Land and not simply those who fought above ground, but tunnelers also.
A Jade in Aries (The Mitchell Tobin Mysteries #4)
by Donald E. WestlakeA desperate man is trying to find his partner&’s killer by means of astrology, and resist as he may, ex-cop Mitch Tobin is destined to help him do it. Disgraced ex-cop Mitch Tobin is digging in his basement when he meets Ronald Cornell. A gay man from downtown Brooklyn whose partner was recently murdered, Cornell wants Tobin&’s assistance in an investigation that the NYPD has declared hopeless. Tobin sympathizes—he once lost a partner of his own, a fellow cop whose death he was partially responsible for—and asks how he can help. Cornell has a list of six suspects, and all he needs to know about them is where they were born and at what time, so he can make their star charts. Tobin has just met the world&’s first astrological detective. He tries to keep out of Cornell&’s harebrained investigation, but the cosmos has other plans. Whoever murdered Cornell&’s lover is not through with killing, and Tobin must delve deep into the lives a group of friends even more marginalized than he is in order to keep this hapless astrologer from coming to harm.
Private Angelo (Canongate Classics #13)
by Eric LinklaterThis satirical novel of a young innocent caught in the fascist machinery of WWII offers &“the drollest medley of muddle and misadventure&” (The Sunday Times, UK). A private in Mussolini&’s &‘ever-glorious&’ Italian army, Angelo may possess the virtues of love and innocence, but he lacks the gift of courage. And yet, due to circumstances beyond his control, he ends up fighting not only for Italy but also for the British and German armies. Through the shifting winds of war, as well as marriage and romance, Angelo&’s most enduring quality may be his talent for survival. Told with humor, insight and sympathy, Angelo&’s tale is a wittily satirical comment on the grossness and waste of war. Eric Linklater, who served with the Black Watch in Italy during World War II, is one of Scotland&’s most distinguished writers. In Private Angelo he has written a book which demonstrates that honor is not solely the preserve of the brave. &“He writes not only of an angel, but like one . . . Private Angelo is now a permanent portrait in the heavenly gallery of human futility.&” —The Observer, UK &“A quite unforgettable group of people take part, none of whom lacks the genuine Linklater stamp . . . A high-spirited entertainment which never loses its individual air.&” —The Sunday Times, UK
Women and Children First: Stories
by Francine Prose&“Reading [this book] is like driving down the road with a companion who is so smart and funny and insightful that her conversation transforms the landscape&” (Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of A Thousand Acres). The twelve &“meticulously observed&” stories of Women and Children First showcase New York Times–bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Francine Prose at her finest—offering a glimpse into the lives of men and women searching for connection and meaning in a world that often seems pre-programmed for absurdity (The New York Times). An adult daughter struggling to understand her father&’s newfound Hasidic faith, an alcoholic trying to improve himself by fasting, a housewife enrolled in the New Consciousness Academy, a French literature professor who&’s begun to fear Madame Bovary, and a young woman seeking direction from a Tibetan master in the company of neurotic, overeager followers—these are the achingly, hilariously real people who inhabit these &“wise and witty&” stories (Minneapolis Star-Tribune).
6th SS Mountain Division Nord at War, 1941–1945: Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)
by Ian BaxterDrawing on a superb collection of rare and unpublished photographs the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord 1941 - 1945 is the 6th book in the Waffen-SS Images of War Series compiled by Ian Baxter. The book tells the story of the 6th SS Mountain Division Nord, which was formed in February 1941 as SS Kampfgruppe Nord (SS Battle Group North). The Division was the only Waffen-SS unit to fight in the Arctic Circle when it was stationed in Finland and northern Russia between June and November 1941. It fought in Karelia until the Moscow Armistice in September 1944, at which point it left Finland. It suffered heavy losses in the Operation Nordwind in January 1945 and in early April 1945, the division was destroyed by the US forces near Budingen, Germany.
2nd Air Division Air Force USAAF 1942-45: Liberator Squadrons in Norfolk and Suffolk (Bomber Bases of WW2)
by Martin W. BowmanA history and guide to historic British airfields where American bombers were prepared to take off at a moment’s notice—includes photos.As part of the AHT series, the airfields and interest in this book are concentrated in a particular area—in this case Norfolk and Suffolk.The Second Air Division’s first bombing mission was flown on November 7, 1942; the last on April 25, 1945. A total of 95, 948 sorties were flown in 493 operational missions by the division’s B-24s, dropping 199,883 tons of bombs. Targets attacked ranged from Norway in the north, as far east as Poland and Romania, while several Mediterranean countries were reached from temporary bases in North Africa. Six 2nd Air Division groups received special presidential citations for outstanding actions and five airmen received the Medal of Honor (highest US award for bravery), four posthumously. In combat the 2nd Air Division gunners claimed 1,079 enemy fighters destroyed against losses of 1,458 B-24s missing in action and many others lost in accidents. This book looks at the history and personalities associated with each base, what remains today and explores the favourite local wartime haunts where aircrew and ground crew would go.
Flying, Fighting and Reflection: The Life of Battle of Britain Fighter Ace, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC AE
by Peter JacobsThis is the thrilling account of the last remaining Battle of Britain ace fighter pilot, Tom Ginger Neil. Neil was one of an elite band, nicknamed The Few by Winston Churchill, he flew Hurricanes during 141 combat missions in that battle and went on to command the first Spitfire XII squadron during 1942/43 as the RAF went on the offensive in north-west Europe.In this, the only full account of Neil's life to be published in collaboration with his family, we learn how he became a poster boy for the war effort and how he credits his sixth sense for keeping him alive during the Second World War.There was, however, one terrifyingly close brush with death, when in 1940 he had a mid-air collision with another Hurricane. With the rear section of his aircraft gone, the plane was out of control and hurtling to the ground, yet somehow he managed to bail out and miraculously survived with only a minor leg injury.As well as RAF service during the Siege of Malta, Wing Commander Neil, who is now in his late nineties, also served with the Americans during the D-Day landings.During his career, Neil was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses for the destruction of at least fourteen enemy aircraft, and was a successful test pilot after the war before commanding a jet fighter-reconnaissance squadron in Egypt's troubled Canal Zone during the 1950s for which he was awarded the Air Force Cross.With contributions from the man himself, this book also looks at his life after the RAF and his career as a successful author. For military buffs and novices alike, it is a must-read account of a true war hero.
Counter Insurgency: Lessons from History
by Ian F. Beckett John PimlottAn international study of counter-insurgency strategies, tactics, and techniques developed in warzones from Vietnam to Latin America and beyond.Insurgencies account for most of the modern world’s armed conflicts. Leading armies across the globe are constantly developing and adjusting counter-insurgency strategies based on experience in the field. Learning from this experience is essential to ongoing peacekeeping effort.Editors Ian Beckett and John Pimlott brought together a team of expert contributors who provided an international overview of counter-insurgency strategies and techniques as they were perceived and put into practice a generation ago. Each chapter considers a different army and describes its reaction to insurgency, its operations in the field and the thinking behind its counter-insurgency strategy. Changes made in strategy and tactics in response to shifting circumstances and new threats are given particular attention.
Leaving Alexandria: A Memoir of Faith and Doubt (Canons Ser.)
by Richard HollowayThe prize-winning memoir: &“an enlightening walk through a life that encompasses West Africa…rent strikes, the divided self and the question of grace&” (Scotland on Sunday, UK). An international bestseller and winner of the PEN/Ackerley Prize, Ricard Holloway&’s candid memoir &“is many things. It is a compelling account of a journey through life, told with great frankness; it is a subtle reflection on what it means to live in an imperfect and puzzling world; and it is a highly readable insight into one of the most humane and engaged minds of our times. It is, quite simply, a wonderful book&” (Alexander McCall Smith).At the tender age of fourteen, Richard Holloway left his hometown of Alexandria, north of Glasgow, and travelled hundreds of miles to be educated and trained for the priesthood at an English monastery. By the age of twenty-five he had been ordained and was working in the slums of Glasgow. Through the forty years that followed, Richard touched the lives of many people as he rose to one of the highest positions in the Anglican Church. But behind his confident public faith lay a restless heart and an inquisitive mind.&“Richard Holloway&’s memoir is endlessly vivid and fascinating. It&’s the record of a mind too large, too curious and far too generous to be confined within any single religious denomination…a delight and inspiration to believers, non-believers, and ex-believers alike.&”—Philip Pullman
Railways and Industry on the Brecon & Merthyr: Bargoed to Pontsticill Jct., Pant to Dowlais Central (South Wales Valleys)
by John Hodge R. J. CastonThis book on the Brecon & Merthyr, deals with the section from Bargoed to Pontsticill Junction, covering the line built by the B&M to join onto the section running north from Bargoed built by the Rhymney Railway, much dominated at the time by nearby Dowlais Ironworks. Included is the short section from Pant to Dowlais Central. It contains photographs of every location along the line, including many that have not before been published. The volume includes a fascinating account of the Pantywaun Marshalling Yard, operative until Dowlais Ironworks ceased production, when the B&M ran freight services to and from Pantywaun, before the many collieries and levels in the area were closed almost overnight and the location finally obliterated under the development of Cwmbargoed Opencast.
C-130 Hercules: A History
by Martin W. Bowman&“An engaging retrospective on the long-lived and ubiquitous C-130 Hercules tactical airlifter . . . Sweeping in its scope . . . an invaluable reference.&” —Aviation History Designed in response to a 1951 requirement, the C-130 Hercules is the most successful military airlifter ever built. Since it first flew in prototype form on August 23, 1954, more than 2,100 have been produced in over eighty different versions. Across its variants, the Hercules serves more than sixty air forces, as well as many civilian cargo operators, in a multiplicity of roles, including air-to-air refueller, gunship, airborne command post, flying hospital, and firefighter. This rugged and easily maintained aircraft entered service in 1956 with the USAF Tactical Air Command. Ten years later, the &“Charlie 130&” was providing essential logistical support in Vietnam. This period in Southeast Asia was the Hercules&’ finest hour. Paradrops, airlift, and evacuation operations were completed around the clock, often at low level, usually under fire and nearly always in bad weather. A generation later, this &“Mr. Dependable&” was serving with equal distinction in the Gulf War in the role of airlifter, radio-countermeasures, and &“psy-ops&” platform, gunship and, once again, &“block-buster bomber.&” The &“Herky Bird&” or &“Fat Albert,&” as the C-130 is fondly known, has proved a key component in humanitarian relief operations, as well, in all parts of the world. &“Martin&’s technical and informative look at their creation and use is absolutely fascinating. An iconic aircraft gets Martin&’s VIP treatment in this wonderful book.&” —Books Monthly &“A history of an aviation great, from the pen of a popular and well-established author of aviation history.&” —Firetrench
Hereford Locomotive Shed: Engines & Train Workings
by Steve BartlettHereford Locomotive Shed is the first in a series of in-depth studies to look closely at the changing engine allocations and operational responsibilities of motive power depots during the latter days of steam. In Herefords case this was a varied mixture of main line passenger, freight trip working, branch line passenger, station pilot duties and yard shunting. Unusually, the latter remained a steam preserve until months before depot closure in November 1964. Not forgotten are the depots small sub-sheds, which had varying responsibilities over the years, as the district boundaries changed at Ledbury, Leominster, Ross-on-Wye and Craven Arms. Their very different duties were inevitably a reflection of a bygone age and an all too rapidly changing future.The author personally recorded the Hereford railway scene from the late 1950s, until depot closure. He made shed visits several times a week, and at other times observed the ever-changing locomotive scene from the elevated Bulmers Sidewalk behind the depots coaling stage. Details carefully kept from those far-off days has proved a valuable cross reference with present-day research into Herefords role from official records at The National Archives, Kew, and other railway research sources.Having spent almost forty years working in the industry, the author is able to sympathetically unravel and interpret the story of this hard-working mixed traffic depot. Hereford is strategically located on the North & West route from South Wales and the West of England to the North West, as well as being an important junction for Worcester & the West Midlands. Branch lines to Brecon and Gloucester radiated from this Border Counties railway junction, and freight trips radiated out to serve the surrounding area. All of this made Hereford a fascinating rail centre and a locomotive shed worthy of its story for posterity, which is meticulously recorded in this book.
The Civil War in the South-West: 1642-1646 (Battlefield Britain)
by John BarrattBetween 1642 and 1646 two armies fought for control of Southwest England in one of the decisive confrontations of the English Civil Wars. In this short, turbulent period Royalists loyal to King Charles I clashed with the forces of Parliament in a series of hard-fought campaigns that crisscrossed the West Country landscape. Rearguard actions, sieges, skirmishes, retreats and pitched battles punctuated the course of the conflict, yet no previous book has retold the story of the Southwestern campaigns in detail. John Barratt's account of this bloody and disruptive phase in the West Country's history offers a graphic description of the engagements themselves and takes the reader on a tour of the battlefields.
The House of the Mosque
by Kader AbdolahThis &“beautifully written,&” international bestselling novel charts the triumphs and tragedies of an Iranian family on the brink of national revolution (Daily Mail, UK). Senejan, Iran, 1969. The family of Aqa Jaan has lived for eight centuries in the house of the mosque. Now it is occupied by the families of three cousins: Aqa Jaan, a merchant and head of the city's bazaar; Alsaberi, the imam of the mosque; and Aqa Shoja, the mosque's muezzin. The house itself teems with life, as each of their families grows up with their own triumphs and tragedies. Sadiq is waiting for a suitor to knock at the door to ask for her hand, while her two grandmothers sweep the floors each morning dreaming of travelling to Mecca. Meanwhile, Shahbal longs only to get hold of a television to watch the first moon landing. All these daily dramas are played out under the watchful eyes of the storks that nest on the minarets above. But this family will experience upheaval unknown to previous generations. For in Iran, political unrest is brewing. The shah is losing his hold on power; the ayatollah incites rebellion from his exile in France; and one day the ayatollah returns. The consequences will be felt in every corner of Aqa Jaan's family. &“Abdolah&’s is a powerful voice.&”—The Times Saturday Review, UK
A Twelvemonth and a Day (Canongate Classics)
by Christopher RushThis novel of boyhood on the Scottish seaside is &“powerful, vivid, evocative, funny, awesome, loving and so assured in its writing it catches the breath&” (Glasgow Herald, UK). One of The List Magazine&’s 100 Best Scottish Books of All Time In A Twelvemonth and a Day, Christopher Rush delivers a loving lament for the &“slow old tuneful times&” of St. Monans, the Scottish fishing village of his childhood. It is a semi-autobiographical tale about change and growth, the fluctuating patterns in the work-life of a fishing and farming community throughout the cycle of a year, and about the year itself, the life of nature. Recounting the first twelve years of his young protagonist&’s life, Rush tells of how that idyllic life can be destroyed by forces we cannot seem to control: ignorance and greed, profit and loss, the wider forces of politics that damage communities and individuals. Widely acclaimed upon its release in 1985, A Twelvemonth and a Day was adapted for the screen as the 1989 film Venus Peter. This edition features an introduction by Alan Bold. &“With its Bible-sized characters, its feeling for workaday rhythms and the cycle of seasons, its tall and grisly tales of storms and wrecks, whales and sharks, witches and fetches, drowning and exhumations, it does convey a sense of that fatalistic awe which the sea inspired in those deeply devout fishing communities.&”—Times Literary Supplement, UK
Clash of Eagles: USAAF 8th Air Force Bombers Versus the Luftwaffe in World War II
by Martin W. BowmanThe story of the air war over Western Europe, told firsthand by the American and German pilots and crew who took part—with never-before-published photos. What was it like to fly through the dense flak over the Ruhr and against the German Experten and to be hit by machine gun and cannon fire from Focke Wulf 190s and Bf 109s? How did so many badly damaged bombers manage to struggle back, against all odds, to their East Anglian bases? In this book, spanning the period between 1942 and 1945, many unique experiences are recounted from both the night and day bombing raids that were hurled against Hitler's war machine. Covering the encounters between the audacious Luftwaffe fighter pilots and the Fortress and Liberator bomber crews of the American 8th Air Forces flying from East Anglia, the author has sought the experiences of German fighter pilots, who explain how they stalked their prey in the sky over the Reich and how they pounced on their four engine victims from 12 o'clock high. With vivid accounts of some of the most heroic actions in the history of air warfare Clash of Eagles also contains many previously unpublished action photographs.
Air War Varsity
by Martin W. BowmanHere, Martin Bowman brings us the first book on Operation Varsity to include both British and US air and ground operations, as well as the US, British and Canadian paratroop and resupply missions, all presented together in one ambitious volume.Operation Varsity-Plunder, the last large-scale Allied airborne operation of World War II, was certainly no walk-over. Varsity was the airborne part, whilst Plunder represented the British amphibious operations by the British Second Army.The airlift consisted of 541 transport aircraft containing airborne troops and a further 1,050 troop-carriers towing 1,350 gliders. The American 17th Airborne Divisions C-46 Commando transports and Waco gliders joined the British 6th Airborne Division C-54s, C-47 transport aircrafts, Horsas and Hamilcar gliders to form an immense armada that stretched for more than 200 miles across the sky. The successful air attack involved more than 10,000 Allied aircraft and was concentrated primarily on Luftwaffe airfields and the German transportation system.The combination of the two divisions in one lift made this the largest single day airborne drop in history. In this impressive account, Martin Bowman weaves firsthand testimony and a compelling historical narrative together with a variety of photographic illustrations, many of which have never been published before, in order to create a complete and fascinating record of events as they played out in March 1945.
First In, Last Out: An Unconventional British Officer in Indo-China
by J.P. CrossThis is the astonishing tale of two episodes in the life of Colonel J P Cross, jungle fighter and linguist extraordinaire.As a young officer at the end of the war against Japan in 1945, he took part in counterinsurgency operations against the Vietminh at a time of chaos and confusion. Sent to the area to help disarm the defeated Japanese, Cross found himself commanding a battalion of the very same troops against the Vietminh.That period provides the backdrop to Crosss experiences as British Defence Attache to Laos between 1972 and 1976. His mastery of the languages of the region allowed him rarely accorded access to high Laotian political circles.Allowed to wander at will even by the Communists, he was in the unique position to survey the subterfuge and rivalry surrounding an overlooked yet fascinating sideshow to the Vietnam War. A remarkable man, J P Cross provides an absorbing account of his life amidst the cut and thrust of Laotion politics.
The Wall (An\american Mystery Classic Ser. #0)
by Mary Roberts RinehartMurder visits a seaside mansion in this gothic mystery from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author known as the American Agatha Christie. The house called Sunset has been Marcia&’s summer home for her entire life. Both of her parents died there, and she and her brother spent their youth exploring its rambling hallways and seaside grounds. They love the old house, but Marcia&’s sister-in-law has never taken to it. Juliette loathes the sea, and soon comes to loathe her husband, as well. After they divorce, Juliette pays a final visit to Sunset, demanding alimony. She is there for a few tense days before she disappears. It takes them a week to find her body. The peace at Sunset has been shattered, and Marcia must work quickly to keep her beloved childhood home from being forever spoiled. Somewhere in the creaky old mansion, a murderer lurks. Will Marcia be accused of the crime? Or will she be the next victim?
Aircraft Wrecks: Historic Crash sites on the Moors and Mountains of the British Isles
by Alan Clark Nick Wotherspoon Mark SheldonThis book gives readers a direct link to crash sites that can be visited, with accurate grid references, site description and current photographs. It covers some 450 selected sites with emphasis given to those on open access land. The areas covered are: Southern England: Dartmoor and Exmoor 20 entries * Wales 120 entries * Isle of Man 20 entries Peak District 75 entries * Yorkshire Moors: Eastern 20 entries * Lake District 25 entriesPennines: East Lancashire & West Yorkshire * Scotland: Central and Southern 30 entriesScotland: Highlands & Islands * Ireland 20 entries Each area includes a preamble describing the local geography and historical notes. Individual site entries include exact location, details of the aircraft and crew and the circumstances of the loss.
JG26: Top Guns of the Luftwaffe
by Donald Caldwell&“This unique, impressive study presents a history in microcosm of the entire Luftwaffe Fighter Corps . . . [a] spellbinding work.&” —Library Journal Jagdgeschwader 26, the German elite fighter unit, was more feared by the Allies than any other Luftwaffe group. Based on extensive archival research in Europe, personal combat diaries and interviews with more than 50 surviving pilots, Caldwell has assembled a superb day-to-day chronicle of JG 26 operations, from its first air victory in 1939 to its final combat patrol in 1945. A microcosm of World War II exists in the rise and fall of this famous fighter wing. For the first two years of the war it was an even match between the Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe&’s Messerschmitts and Focke Wulfs; but the scales tipped in favor of the Allies in 1943 with the arrival of the Eighth US Air Force and its peerless P-51 Mustang. The book has been endorsed by the top fighter commanders of three air forces: the RAF (Johnnie Johnson), the USAAF (Hub Zemke), and the Luftwaffe (Adolf Galland) and is considered essential reading for anyone interested in the aerial war of 1941–45.
Doing Sixty & Seventy
by Gloria SteinemReflections on women&’s aging from the New York Times–bestselling author who inspired the film The Glorias.One day I woke up and there was a seventy-year-old woman in my bed . . . Gloria Steinem has been an eloquent and outspoken voice for women&’s rights and equality for more than four decades. In Doing Sixty & Seventy she addresses an essential concern of people everywhere—and especially of women: the issue of aging. Whereas turning fifty, in her experience, is &“leaving a much-loved and familiar country,&” turning sixty means &“arriving at the border of a new one.&” With insight, intelligence, wit, and heartfelt honesty, she explores the landscapes of this new country and celebrates what she has called &“the greatest adventure of our lives.&” While appreciating everybody&’s experiences as different, Steinem sees these years as charged with possibilities. Dealing with stereotypes and the &“invisibility&” that often accompany a woman&’s senior years can be as liberating as it is frustrating. It frees women as well as men to embrace that &“full, glorious, alive-in-the-moment, don&’t-give-a-damn yet caring-for-everything sense of the right now.&” This ebook features an illustrated biography of Gloria Steinem including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s personal collection.
Borneo Boys: Indonesia Confrontation, 1962–66
by Roger AnnettThe author, Roger Annett, experienced first-hand the events detailed here. Flying with 215 Squadron, and co-piloting Argosy transport aircraft deep over Malayan jungle terrain from 1963 to 65, he is well placed to provide a colorful account of this dramatic period. Following a reunion of RAF Whirlwind veterans of Borneo, Annett began work on this record of their collective experience, attempting to stir the memories of both war veterans and civilians alike, riveted by the drama as it played out by opposing forces attempting to control the island of Borneo.The book describes the oppositions, antagonisms, victories, and defeats experienced on the island. Borneo itself, with its difficult terrain, jungles, and lack of adequate road networks, proved to be one of the biggest challenges from a military perspective, and it is brought to life here. The story of the 'Borneo Boys' of the title traces a journey from new recruits at boot camp to flying training, and on to Borneo itself. It was here where a fraternal bond was to be forged to last a lifetime and provide an impetus for this book. The process of Theatre familiarization jungle training, nursing Whirlwind 10s over and around the mountainous Malayan jungle is recorded here with first-hand authenticity.Setting this journey in context, Annett fills out the history of the wider conflict in which the boys were embroiled. The Far East colonial tensions, which bred antagonism and ultimately led to the conflict, are detailed, as are the cross-border raids and riots, which bred a fever of revolt.Much is written already on the Borneo conflict, a lot of it dealing with the politics of the situation. This book swoops its focus on the young men who were called upon to fly over such confusion, far away from home. It is their daily adventures, camaraderie, and learning trajectory, which we are faced with. All the excitement of the Aviator's adrenalin ride is translated into eloquent prose, strengthened by the kind of confident delivery that only a man involved in such proceedings could achieve.