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Words of Advice: A Novel
by Fay WeldonA weekend in the country goes awry in Fay Weldon&’s wickedly entertaining novel of lust, avarice, and murder Nineteen-year-old Elsa is poor in material goods, but rich in looks. Her employer and lover, forty-four-year-old Victor, used to be a tax accountant. Now he&’s an antique dealer who gave up his family for Elsa, and together they live in a room behind his shop. For her birthday, Victor is treating Elsa to a weekend in the country, courtesy of his rich friends, Hamish and his wheelchair-bound wife, Gemma, who mistakes Elsa for Victor&’s daughter. Not the most propitious way to start the weekend. Things go from bad to worse when Gemma starts treating Elsa like a home wrecker and Victor proposes a partner swap. Elsa is about to discover the darker side of &“happily ever after&” in this story about love, life, and fairy tales that never come true.
The Biggin Hill Wing, 1941: From Defence to Attack
by Peter CaygillAn in-depth study of England&’s most famous fighter station during the year of the Battle of Britain. The Biggin Hill Wing, 1941 looks at the political upheaval within Fighter Command that saw the removal of Sir Hugh Dowding and Keith Park and their replacement by Sir William Sholto Douglas and Trafford Leigh-Mallory. The ongoing Big Wing controversy and the resulting change in tactics during 1941 are examined. The main part of the book is a chronological account of the squadrons of the Biggin Hill Wing, with particular emphasis on the pilots. The units covered include No.s 66, 72, 74, 92, 124, and 609 Spitfire Squadrons and 264 Defiant Night Fighter Squadron. The author&’s research is based on combat reports and squadron Operation Record Books as well as firsthand accounts written by the participant pilots in the battles over southern England and northern France. Extensive appendices include Air Combat Claims of the Wing, Operational Aircraft Losses, Details of Selected Operations, and The Great Escape, which recounts the marked influence of ex-Biggin Hill pilots on the escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944.
The Battle for Cotentin Peninsula: 9–19 June 1944
by Georges BernageIn June 1944, the Americans left the Sainte-Mre-Eglise and Utah Beach bridgehead and crossed the Merderet river to the Chausse de la Fiere, taking Picauville on 10 June. Their advance was slowed following the failure of the 90th Infantry Division, but they were able to take Pont-l'Abbe on 12 June and Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte 16 June. Two days later they cut the Cotentin peninsula at Barneville, before heading north towards Cherbourg.As well as authentic eyewitness testimony, the book also acts as a field guide, including maps and both contemporary and modern photographs.
The Scared Stiff
by Donald E. WestlakeA couple&’s insurance scam could turn a faked death into a real one, in this witty crime thriller by the Edgar Award–winning author of the Dortmunder novels. After more than a decade of skipping out on their debts, Lola and Barry owe a lot of money to the wrong people. To escape the loan sharks, Barry decides it&’s time for one of them to die—or at least to pretend to. As the venue for this insurance fraud, they choose Lola&’s home country, Guerrera, where death certificates come cheap and government record-keeping is sketchy at best. There is only one problem: la familia. After Barry&’s &“death,&” Lola returns to the US, leaving her husband in the hands of her family as he begins to assume her brother&’s identity. But the South-American hospitality of Lola&’s relatives soon wears thin as they realize that their lives might be easier if Barry&’s death weren&’t just an act. Conning an insurance company is tricky enough, but no matter the country, no one is more dangerous than the in-laws.
Drop Zone Burma: Adventures in Allied Air-Supply, 1943–45
by Roger AnnettAir-dropped supplies were a vital part of the Allied campaign in Burma during World War II. The transportation of munitions, food and medical supplies was undertaken in the most difficult situations, both on the land where the air bases were often situated in remote tropical jungle terrain and in the air when hazardous flying conditions were met in the steamy airs above the carpet of forest treetops.This book is based upon the memories of nine veterans of the campaign: John Hart, an air-dispatcher with 194 Squadron; Peter Bray, a Dakota pilot with 31 Squadron; Arthur Watts, a fitter with both 31 and 194 Squadrons; Colin Lynch an Observer on 31 Squadron; Norman Currell, a Dakota pilot with 31 Squadron; George Hufflett, 1st Queens Infantry; Ken Brown, Royal Signals; Eric Knowles, the Buffs and Dame Vera Lynn who was with ENSA during the campaign. It describes how they arrived in Burma and their previous wartime experiences and then explains there parts in the famous actions such as The Defence of Arakan, The Sieges of Imphal and Kohima, the Allied Counterattack, the Advance to Mandalay and the Race to Rangoon.The author explains the background to this theater of war and then puts the veterans memories into context as the campaign progresses.
Hirschfeld: The Secret Diary of a U-Boat
by Geoffrey Brooks Wolfgang HirschfeldWhilst there have been many memoirs written by U-boat commanders of the Second World War, a book such as this, based upon the diaries of a senior Petty Officer telegraphist, written in 'real time' is something very special. Wolfgang Hirschfeld, whose diaries Geoffrey Brooks has translated is a born story teller. The principal chapters describe his experiences during six war patrols in U-109, in which he served as the senior telegraphist. His is a tale which covers the whole kaleidescope of emotions shared by men at war—a story of immense courage and fortitude, of remarkable comradeship born of the dangers, frustrations and privations shared and of transitory moments of triumph. Throughout runs a vein of humour, without which resistance to stress would have been virtually impossible. We get to know one of Germany's great U-boat aces, 'Ajax' Bleichrodt, holder of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and, in a special biographical appendix, learn how he finally cracked under the strain. The role of Admiral Karl Donitz, the dynamic commander of the U-boat service, so fascinatingly described by Hirschfeld, is of special interest—not least because even this dedicated Nazi had clearly realized by September, 1942, that the war was fast being lost. In 1944 Hirschfeld was promoted Warrant Officer and found himself on a large, schnorkel-equipped boat (U-234) heading for Japan with a load of high technology equipment and, in addition, a quantity of uranium ore. The possible significance of that uranium has been deeply researched by Geoffrey Brooks and is discussed in a second appendix.
Flesquieres–Hindenburg Line: Hindenburg Line (Battleground Europe)
by Nigel Cave Jack HorsfallThe third in a trilogy of books, the others being Cambrai -The Right Hook and Bourlon Wood by the same authors covering the battle for Cambrai in November 1917. It covers the defense against the German counter strike, the defense of the Flesquieres Salient against the Kaiserschlact in March 1918 and its recapture in Sept/Oct 1918 all key elements in great Allied advance to victory. This book and guide to the Battle for Flesquieres Ridge tells of the onslaught by 470 tanks and infantry battalions which smashed through the Hindenburg line to the great surprise of the Germans who thought it invincible. So successful was the initial assault that for the first time in the war church bells rang out and the face of land warfare was changed forever. The story illustrates the indomitable spirit of British infantry who in spite of being outnumbered and outgunned, and frustrated by political interference, still managed to thwart Ludendorff's last drive for the Channel Ports. They were then in a position to force him back eastwards, breaking through the reinforced Hindenburg Line once again before final victory in November 1918.
Alan Bristow, Helicopter Pioneer: The Autobiography
by Patrick Malone Alan Bristow&“You could be forgiven for taking Bristow&’s story as the invention of an action thriller writer . . . One of the best flying books you&’ll ever read.&” —Pilot Magazine Alan Bristow was a truly remarkable man. As a merchant navy officer cadet during the war, he survived two sinkings, played a part in the evacuation of Rangoon and was credited with shooting down two Stukas in North Africa. He joined the Fleet Air Arm and trained as one of the first British helicopter pilots, becoming the first man to land a helicopter on a battleship and Westland&’s first helicopter test pilot. He flew in France, Holland, Algeria, Senegal and elsewhere, narrowly escaping many helicopter crashes before winning the Croix de Guerre evacuating wounded French soldiers in Indochina. For four years he flew for Aristotle Onassis&’s pirate whaling fleet in Antarctica before joining Douglas Bader and providing support services to oil drillers in the Persian Gulf. Out of that grew Bristow Helicopters Ltd, the largest helicopter company in the world outside America. Bristow&’s circle included the great helicopter pioneers such as Igor Sikorsky and Stan Hiller, test pilots like Harold Penrose and Bill Waterton, Sheiks and Shahs and political leaders, business giants like Lord Cayzer and Freddie Laker, and the author James Clavell, a lifelong friend whose book Whirlwind was a fictionalized account of Bristow&’s overnight evacuation of his people and helicopters from revolutionary Iran. Bristow and precipitated the Westland Affair when he made a takeover bid which eventually led to the resignation of Michael Heseltine and Leon Brittain, and almost to the downfall of Margaret Thatcher.&“Has all the ingredients of a bestselling novel.&” —Firetrench
Bomber Barons (World War Ll Ser.)
by Chaz BowyerAt the end of the Second World War over 55,000 air crew of Bomber Command had lost their lives, in this authoritative book, the Author selects a number of men, some well known like Leonard Cheshire, Hughie Edwards, but many less known such as Nick Knilans, Syd Clayton and Jo Lancaster, and details their careers, relating episodes that reflect the qualities that made them outstanding. Bomber Barons shows the development of Bomber Command from compartively unorganised, non-cohesive raids of the early part of the war to the highly-trained and deadly offensive weapon it became under Sir Arthur Harris, from 1942 AOC-in-C of Bomber Command, the greatest baron of them all.
Anzac–The Landing: Gallipoli (Battleground Gallipoli)
by Stephen ChambersThe Anzac legend was born on the shores of Gallipoli during the historic morning of 25th April 1915. Landing on a hostile beach, under the cover of darkness, the Anzacs moved inland rapidly, but the response of the Ottoman forces was equally quick. The outcome of the campaign was arguably sealed during the first day, when the door for an Anzac victory was closed. With the order to dig, dig, dig and to stick it out, a stalemate was secured from the clutches of almost total disaster. After the Australians and New Zealanders received their baptism of fire, they became a stubborn thorn in the sides of the Ottoman army. Futilely after eight grueling months of fighting, the campaign came to an end with the complete evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula.Failure did not mar the actions and sacrifice of the Anzacs who bestowed a powerful legacy, as well as being a landmark in the birth of modern Turkey. Almost a century later, with all the veterans now sadly gone, their legacy still survives in Anzac Day and with the ever increasing numbers of pilgrims who visit the battlefield today.This attractive and well-written book will serve as either a handy guide or concise history (or both).
The Fetterman Massacre: Fort Phil Kearny and the Battle of the Hundred Slain
by Dee Brown&“One of the best studies that has been made of any sector of the Indian wars&” from the #1 bestselling author of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (Chicago Tribune). This dark, unflinching, and fascinating book is Dee Brown&’s riveting account of events leading up to the Battle of the Hundred Slain—the devastating 1866 conflict that pitted Lakota, Arapaho, and Northern Cheyenne warriors, including Oglala chief Red Cloud, against the United States cavalry under the command of Captain William Fetterman. Providing a vivid backdrop to the battle, Brown offers a portrait of Wyoming&’s Ft. Phil Kearney and the remarkable men who built and defended it. Based on a wealth of historical sources and sparked by Brown&’s narrative genius, The Fetterman Massacre is an essential look at one of the frontier&’s defining conflicts. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Dee Brown including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
The Complete Brigadier Gerard: Stories (Canongate Classics)
by Arthur Conan DoyleThese charming adventures of the 19th century French brigadier by the creator of Sherlock Holms are &“unjustly forgotten tales by a great master&” (Michael Chabon). Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his immortal character Sherlock Holmes, his tales of comic adventure featuring Brigadier Etienne Gerard, a French cavalry officer in the tine of the Napoleonic Wars, were equally beloved in their day. An old man who has retired in Paris, Gerard now recounts his escapades of younger days. In Napoleon&’s service, he fights battles, breaks hearts, and confounds the English all across Europe. This volume collects all of Doyle&’s Brigadier Gerard stories, originally published in The Strand Magazine between 1894 and 1903. In The Complete Brigadier Gerard Stories &“you will find adventure, action, romance, love and self-sacrifice, hair's-breadth escape and reckless courage, gallantry, panache and a droll, backhand humor that rivals that of P.G. Wodehouse. You will also find yourself, even more than with the celebrated stories of Holmes and Watson, in the hands of an indisputable artist. For more than any other adventure stories I know, these stories have a power to move the reader… unjustly forgotten tales by a great master" (Michael Chabon for NPR's You Must Read This). "The Brigadier Gerard stories display all the narrative gusto of Doyle's more famous Sherlock Holmes, together with an irresistible warmth and humor."—Philip Pullman
The Badges of Kitchener's Army
by David BiltonBadges of Kitchener's Army is based on thirty years research in museums, archives and collections. It is an exhaustive study of the development of the battalion, brigade and divisional signs of the thirty divisions raised by Kitchener's appeal for men. While the divisional signs are well known, there has been little authoritative work on the signs worn by the infantry battalions. The book will illustrate the unique cap and shoulder titles used, as well as cloth signs worn to provide easy recognition in the trenches. Each service battalion, of each regiment has a listing, which provides a brief history of the unit and detailed information on the badges worn.It is prodigiously illustrated and contains much information, like why a shape or color was chosen, when it was adopted, what size it was, whether it was worn on a helmet, what color the helmet was and even what colors were used on horse transport; the majority of this rich and detailed information has never been published before. What helps make the information accurate and authoritative is that much of it comes from an archive created at the time and from personal correspondence with hundreds of veterans in the 1980s, many of whom still had their badges and often had razor-sharp recollections about wearing them. The book will also provide some comments from these veterans. A further unique aspect of the book is that it will look at the uniforms and badges worn before the battalions left the country, providing much new information that will enable people to identify any photographs they have lying around.
Hitler's Atrocities Against Allied PoWs: War Crimes of the Third Reich
by Philip D. Chinnery“A chilling description of the ordeals that captured men and women were put through by the Third Reich regime and their Italian allies.” —Daily MailSeventy years ago, the Nuremberg Trials were in full swing in Germany. In the dock were the leaders of the Nazi regime and most eventually received their just desserts. But what happened to the other war criminals?In June 1946, Lord Russell of Liverpool became Deputy Judge Advocate and legal adviser to the Commander in Chief for the British Army of the Rhine in respect of all trials held by British Military Courts of German war criminals. He later wrote:“At the outbreak of the Second World War, the treatment of prisoners was governed by the Geneva Prisoner of War Convention of 1929, the Preamble of which stated that the aim of the signatories was to alleviate the conditions of prisoners of war.“During the war, however, the provisions of the Convention were repeatedly disregarded by Germany. Prisoners were subjected to brutality and ill-treatment, employed on prohibited and dangerous work, handed over to the SD for ‘special treatment’ in pursuance of Hitler’s Commando Order, lynched in the streets by German civilians, sent to concentration camps, shot on recapture after escaping, and even massacred after they had laid down their arms and surrendered.”Tens of thousands of Allied prisoners of war died at the hands of the Nazis and their Italian allies. This book is for them lest we forget.“A sobering and harrowing book, detailing many forgotten crimes committed against POWs who should have been offered the protection of the Geneva Convention, but tragically were not.” —Recollections of WWII
An Unspoken Art: Profiles of Veterinary Life
by Lee GutkindIn the tradition of James Herriot&’s All Creatures Great and Small, An Unspoken Art is Lee Gutkind&’s captivating look at the lives of veterinarians, from the zoos to the farmLee Gutkind, the godfather of creative nonfiction, explores with warmth and sincerity the worlds of modern-day veterinarians—from practitioners operating on Manhattan&’s Upper East Side to those working knee deep in mud in the English countryside. Gutkind profiles the men and women who have devoted their lives to the care of animals, almost all treating their patients with more humanity and compassion than physicians in human hospitals do. He writes of the people who do not bat an eye at sharing a bed with their dogs, and of those who spare no expense when it comes to the well-being of their pets.An Unspoken Art is an insightful look at the individuals who dedicate themselves to the care of creatures, and of the enduring bond between people and animals.
Ashley Jackson: An Artist's Life
by Chris BondAshley Jackson has had an extremely distinctive and illustrious life in the world of art. Since opening his first gallery back in 1963, he has become one of the country's leading and most successful landscape watercolorists. His unique evocative and distinctive paintings of brooding moorlands have become synonymous with Yorkshire, and more particular the moors above and around his Gallery situated in the heart of the Pennines, Holmfirth. His works have been exhibited worldwide, and adorn the walls of many successful and famous people, from politicians to actors, from Tsars to Princes. Ashley was honored when former US President, Bill Clinton, an avid art collector, was presented with an original watercolor. Ashley, throughout his career, has always been an ambassador for the arts. He has strived through his life to encourage people not just to take up art, but to appreciate the beauty of the landscape around us. His exhibitions have included "Ashley Jackson One Man Exhibition" at Patchings Artfarm, Calverton Notts in 2003 and "Ashley Jackson's Yorkshire Moors—a love affair"—Victoria Quarter, Leeds in 2002. He has also held exhibitions in New York, Chicago and Milan. His awards include the 2006 Life Time Achievement Award from Yorkshire Awards, and the 2007 Life Time Achievement Award from the Huddersfield Examiner. He is the present day Ambassador for Northernart. The local artist has done extensive charity work in the past and is part of the Prince's Trust.
The Further Adventures of an Idiot Abroad
by Karl PilkingtonA new book on the travails of travel by “the funniest man on the planet” (Spectator).Why on earth would anybody want to run with the bulls in Pamplona? Go “storm chasing” through Tornado Alley? Jump out of a plane? Have lunch with the queen or touch hands with the pope? The Further Adventures of An Idiot Abroad is a fresh take on the bucket-list mentality from television star Karl Pilkington, renowned for his comedic collaborations with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant.While he’s done some dumb things like putting sausages in a toaster, Karl has never been one for danger. But Ricky and Stephen managed to convince him to take on at least a few challenges, and in this hilarious and strangely inspiring book, Karl recounts brilliant stories of his adventures in Alaska, in Siberia, on a South Sea island, inside a gigantic rubber ball trying not to throw up, and more; states his opinions about what other people aspire to do with their lives; and shares his hard-won certainty that coming back home is the best thing about going away in the first place.
Under the Volcano: A Novel (Picador Bks.)
by Malcolm Lowry&“Lowry&’s masterpiece&” about a fateful Day of the Dead in a small Mexican town and one man&’s struggle against the forces threatening to destroy him (Los Angeles Times). In what the New York Times calls &“one of the towering novels of [the twentieth] century,&” former British consul Geoffrey Firmin lives alone with his demons in the shadow of two active volcanoes in South Central Mexico. Gripped by alcoholism, Geoffrey makes one last effort to salvage his crumbling life on the day that his ex-wife, Yvonne, arrives in town. It&’s the Day of the Dead, 1938. The couple wants to revive their marriage and undo the wrongs of their past, but they soon realize that they&’ve stumbled into the wrong place and time, where not only Geoffrey and Yvonne, but the world itself is on the edge of Armageddon. Hailed by the Modern Library as one of the one hundred best English novels of the twentieth century, Under the Volcano stands as an iconic and richly drawn example of the modern novel at its most lyrical.
Recce: Small Team Missions Behind Enemy Lines
by Koos StadlerA gripping firsthand account of life and combat operations in the elite South African Special Forces, known as Recces, by a veteran Recce officer. The South African Special Forces are one of the most effective—and mysterious—military units in the world. Working in secret on covert operations, the legendary Recces have long fascinated, but little is known about how they operate. Now Koos Stadler, a career officer in the South African Special Forces, shares a revealing chronicle of his life and his experiences in the Border War. Shortly after passing the grueling Special Forces selection course in the early 1980s, Koos Stadler joined the so-called Small Teams group at 5 Reconnaissance Regiment. This sub-unit was made up of two-man teams and was responsible for many secret missions behind enemy lines. Sent to blow up railway lines and enemy fighter jets in south Angola, Stadler and his partner stared death in the face many times.
The State vs. Elinor Norton
by Mary Roberts RinehartThough a woman has confessed to murder, her friend tries to piece together what really happened in a mystery from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. The state has accused beautiful young Elinor Norton of murder, and she refuses to mount a defense. Guilt is written all over her elegant features, but her childhood best friend refuses to believe it when Elinor confesses to the crime. Forced into a dull marriage against her will, Elinor is just beginning to adjust to life with Lloyd when she meets the man who will tear her world apart. Blair Leighton is her husband&’s best friend and was his companion in the war, and he has a charm that makes Elinor quiver from the inside out. At first, her husband is oblivious to this illicit attraction, but when the two men go into business together, the tension threatens to rip the triangle apart. Soon, Elinor is forced to make a chilling decision. One of these men must die—but which?
Judith: A Novel
by Lawrence DurrellA breathtaking novel of passion and politics, set in the hotbed of Palestine in the 1940s, by a master of twentieth-century fictionIt is the eve of Britain&’s withdrawal from Palestine in 1948, a moment that will mark the beginning of a new Israel. But the course of history is uncertain, and Israel&’s territorial enemies plan to smother the new country at its birth. Judith Roth has escaped the concentration camps in Germany only to be plunged into the new conflict, one with stakes just as high for her as they are for her people. Initially conceived as a screenplay for the 1966 film starring Sophia Loren, Lawrence Durrell&’s previously unpublished novel offers a thrilling portrayal of a place and time when ancient history crashed against the fragile bulwarks of the modernizing world. This ebook features an introduction by editor Richard Pine, which puts Judith in context with Durrell&’s body of work and traces the fascinating development of the novel. Also included is an illustrated biography of Lawrence Durrell containing rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s estate and the British Library&’s modern manuscripts collection.
Last Man Standing: The Memiors of a Seaforth Highlander During the Great War
by Norman CollinsA first-hand account of World War I by a nineteen-year-old Englishman who led a platoon into the carnage of the Battle of the Somme. While researching his excellent earlier book: Veterans of World War I, author Richard Van Emden encountered a fascinating personality of that long-ago conflict. After witnessing German naval attacks on British civilians, Norman Collins enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders of the 51st Highland Division, even though he was under age. Collins fought at the battles of Beaumont Hamel, Arras, and Passchendaele, and was wounded several times. Collins lived to be 100 and had an unusually detailed collection of letters, documents, illustrations and photographs. Richard Van Emden has written a moving biography of a unique personality at war, and his long life after the dramatic events of his youth.&“This is a harrowing tale of battle, loss and the horrors of war.&” —Scotland Magazine&“His collection of letters, photographs and the record of interviews as an old man are a treasure trove of information on Western Front fighting.&” —British Army Review/Soldier Magazine&“Enthralling memoir. These letters form the freshest part of this book, full of detail about kit and food that obsessed soldiers but which do not find a place in the history books.&” —Who Do You Think You Are?&“This is one of the last great first-person memoirs of the Great War. Extraordinary diary, letter collection and photos.&” —Scottish Legion News
A Scots Quair: The Complete Trilogy (Canongate Classics #2)
by Lewis Grassic GibbonThis classic trilogy—now in one volume—of a woman&’s life on the Scottish coast in the early 20th century &“may be read with delight the world over&” (The New York Times). Chris Guthrie, torn between her love of the land and her desire to escape the narrow horizons of a peasant culture, is the thread that links Lewis Grassic Gibbon&’s trilogy of novels set in the Mearns of Northeast Scotland. Gibbon interweaves the personal joys and sorrows of Chris&’ life with the greater historical and political events of the time, from the Great War to the Depression and beyond.Sunset Song introduces young Chris, the spirited daughter of a farming family. In the years leading up to World War I, she finds love for the land and for the man who becomes her husband. Chris and her son Ewan survive the war, but when tragedy strikes close to home, it subdues her wild spirit. In Cloud Howe, as a minister&’s wife, Chris learns to love again, and we witness the cruel gossip and high comedy of small village life. Grey Granite focuses on her son Ewan and his passionate involvement with justice for the common man. For Chris, with her intuitive strength, nothing lasts but the land. This edition of A Scots Quair is edited and introduced by Tom Crawford. &“A landmark work; it permeates the Scottish literary consciousness and colors all subsequent writing of its kind.&”—David Kerr Cameron
In Time Like Air: Poems
by May SartonFinalist for the National Book Award: May Sarton at her evocative and contemplative bestThe title poem of this entrancing collection compares love to salt for its ability both to dissolve and to crystallize &“into a presence.&” At once philosophical and fiercely corporeal, this work presents emotion as a sensory experience. Written with Sarton&’s characteristic concision, these deeply felt poems will delight readers.
Armada 1588: The Spanish Assault on England (Campaign Chronicles Ser.)
by John BarrattThe political machinations, the strategies, and the hour-by-hour accounts of the war that locked Elizabeth I and Philip II in a battle for naval supremacy. The defeat of the Spanish Armada is one of the turning points in English history, and it was perhaps the defining episode in the long reigns of Elizabeth I of England and Philip II of Spain. The running battle along the Channel between the nimble English ships and the lumbering Spanish galleons has achieved almost legendary status. In this compelling new account John Barratt reconstructs the battle against the Armada in the concise, clear Campaign Chronicles format, which records the action in vivid detail, day by day, hour by hour. He questions common assumptions about the battle and looks again at aspects of the action that have been debated or misunderstood. Included are full orders of battle showing the chains of command and the effective strengths and fighting capabilities of the opposing fleets.There is also an in-depth analysis of the far-reaching consequences of the wreck of Philip II&’s great enterprise.