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The Sea Road
by Margaret ElphinstoneThis vivid historical saga of Viking exploration follows the adventures of an intrepid 11th century woman who voyages to North America.11th century Iceland is a world where the old Norse gods are still invoked, even as Christianity gains favor, where the spirits of the dead roam the vast northern icefields, tormenting the living, and Viking explorers plunder foreign shores. Strong and self-reliant, Gundrid Thorbjarnardóttir lives at the remote edge of the known world, in a starkly beautiful landscape where the sea is the only connection to the shores beyond. With her husband Karlssefni, Gundrid traverses the sea from Iceland to Greenland, Norway, and even Rome. But it is the accidental discovery of North America, a place the Vikings call Vinland, that leads Gundrid to ponder the world and her place in it. Gudrid’s narrative describes a multi-layered voyage into the unknown, all recounted with astonishing immediacy and rich atmospheric detail.“The audacious female traveler Gudrid of Iceland is the original explorer’s explorer…Elphinstone has written a fine tribute to a woman whose tale is as warm and inviting as a hot spring on a clear winter day.’ The Times, UK
3rd Air Division 8th Air Force USAF 1942-45: Flying Fortress and Liberator Squadrons in Norfolk and Suffolk (Bomber Bases of WW2)
by Martin W. BowmanA history and guide to the historic British airfields where American bombers had to be ready to go at a moment&’s notice—includes photos. A magnificent centuries-old house in England, Elveden Hall served as the Headquarters of the 3rd Air Division of the 8th US Army Air Force during the Second World War. Broadly speaking, it flew B17 Flying Fortresses out of Suffolk, but also included some bases in Norfolk. Some units had short periods flying B24 Liberators. The famous Bloody Hundredth, based at Thorpe Abbotts, was typical of the units within the 3rd Air Division. This guide offers at comprehensive look at the history, covering: Targets: enemy airfields, submarine facilities, V-1 missile sites; aircraft factoriesMissions and campaigns: Big Week, the first daylight raid on Berlin, the Battle of the BulgeAirfields: Bury St Edmunds, Debach, Deopham Green Eye, Framlington, Great Ashfield, Horham, Knettishall, Lavenham, Mendlesham, Rattlesden, Snetterton Heath, Sudbury, and Thorpe Abbotts—site of one of finest aviation museums in EnglandStories and personalities associated with each base, and local haunts where air and ground crew would have taken a break from the pressures of wartime What remains today, including museums and historic sites
Devotion to a Calling: Far-East Flying and Survival with 62 Squadron RAF
by Joe Bamford Captain Harley BoxallHarley Boxall was awarded his RAF wings on 3 October 1936 and was posted to 40 Squadron flying Hawker Hinds. On 1 April 1937 he was posted to Bircham Newton in Norfolk to train with 206 Squadron which was a General Reconnaissance and Training unit equipped with the Avro Anson. He then joined 62 Squadron shortly after it was formed and received its first Blenheim in February 1938. During the summer of 1939 and because of increasing political tension in Europe, a decision was taken to reinforce the Far East Air Force with two squadrons of Blenheims. The urgency of the situation required that the aircraft, from 34 and 62 Squadrons, be flown out to their final destination at Tengah in Singapore. It took a total fifty flying hours to arriveOn Thursday 4 April 1940 a signal came through from Air Headquarters that aircraft were to make a reconnaissance of Sabang Harbour and photograph any shipping therein. Five Blenheims took-off from Alor Star at 1030 and on leaving Sabang behind at 1300 hours, Boxall climbed to gain height for the long return sea crossing. He had gained an altitude of 9,000 ft. when, some forty miles from the coast of Sumatra, the oil pressure of his starboard engine fell to zero. Within a minute or so, the port engine seized and he was flying in silence. After a successful crash landing on the sea the crew waded through the coral, heedless of the cuts inflicted, and fell exhausted on the beach. The island was roughly two miles long by one mile across, rising steeply from the shore to a height of about four hundred feet and covered with thick jungle down to the waters edge. By the morning of the third day they had been forty-eight hours without food. They wondered along the beach and collected more wood and ate unripe plums. It was not until the sixth day that a small native boat came silently round the edge of the mangrove heading for the beach, eventually rescuing the crew. In September 1940 Harley was promoted to flight lieutenant and given command of the RAF Station at Alor Star in Malaya. 62 Squadron flew on what Harley later described, as the first and only operation that it carried out as a unit, when he lead eleven Blenheims to bomb the Japanese invasion fleet. Against the odds, all of 62 Squadrons aircraft and crews returned to Alor Star safely but approximately half-an-hour after they had landed and while the Blenhiems were still being rearmed and refuelled, the Japanese attacked the airfield. A force of about twenty-seven enemy aircraft bombed Alor Star completely destroying at least three Blenheims and rendering another three damaged and unserviceable. As the Japanese invasion spread Harley finally escaped from Java on 2 March aboard the Tung Song , it was one of the last ships to leave.
Cavalier Generals: King Charles I & His Commanders in the English Civil War 1642-46
by John BarrattPrevious studies of the Royalist high command have concentrated largely upon a handful of notable individuals such as King Charles himself and Prince Rupert. In this ground-breaking study, John Barratt re-examines these key figures, but he also explores the careers and characters of some of the lesser-known, but equally able Royalist officers. These men played decisive roles in the war, but hitherto they have received little attention.
Crossroads: The Future of American Politics
by Andrew CuomoAn array of leading Democrats, Republicans, and independent thinkers provide a road map for America’s political future. America is at a turning point. For the first time in history, the United States is the world’s lone superpower—in Andrew Cuomo’s words, “both the tamer and target of an unstable world.” New technology and the omnipresent media have transformed the way we do everything, from amassing wealth to practicing politics. Simultaneously, the U.S. economy is in a shambles, with the largest federal budget deficit in our history. The coming octogenarian boom promises to put the greatest strain on federal government resources the United States has ever known, and America is faced with new security threats and diplomatic crises daily.The success of our nation in the coming decades will depend on how our elected leaders respond to these challenges. Can the Democrats, divided and ineffectual since well before the crushing defeats of 2002, revitalize their agenda, forge a meaningful message, and end the Republican stranglehold on the federal government? Can Republicans, fresh from new victories, build on their successes? And how will a younger generation, largely alienated from both parties but often intensely political, articulate its desires in the years ahead?The writers invited by Andrew Cuomo to contribute to this landmark book, a who’s who of American leadership, address these and other pressing questions of our political life. At once a diagnosis and a call to arms, Crossroads will set the terms of political debate as America moves forward.
Martha: 100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen
by Martha Stewart#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Martha Stewart celebrates her landmark 100th book with an intimate collection of 100 treasured recipes, along with stunning photos from her personal archives and the stories behind them. A must for anyone who has ever been inspired by the one and only Martha.Join Martha in the kitchen as she shares favorite recipes and invaluable tips. Learn how to cook her mother&’s humble Potato Pierogi, her decadent Gougères, a comforting Apple Brioche Bread Pudding, and the famous Paella she makes for the luckiest friends who visit her in summer. You&’ll find something to satisfy everyone&’s taste, whether it&’s a simple meal you make for yourself, a weeknight family dinner, or a special celebration, recipes range from breakfast & brunch to soups & salads, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, and of course dessert.Like a scrapbook of Martha&’s life in cookbook form, this is the ultimate collection for devotees as well as newer fans who want to become more confident in the kitchen and do what Martha does best: Start with the basics and elevate them. From timeless classics to contemporary delights, these recipes reflect storied moments from her legendary, trailblazing career.
Tremor: A Novel
by Teju ColeAn &“extraordinary, ambitious&” (The Times UK) novel that masterfully explores what constitutes a meaningful life in a violent world—from the award-winning author of Open CityNew York Times Book Review Editors&’ Choice • &“Cole&’s mind is so agile that it&’s easy to follow him anywhere.&”—The New YorkerWINNER OF THE ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARD • FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Time, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Vulture, Chicago Public Library, Publishers Weekly, Library JournalLife is hopeless but it is not serious. We have to have danced while we could and, later, to have danced again in the telling.A weekend spent antiquing is shadowed by the colonial atrocities that occurred on that land. A walk at dusk is interrupted by casual racism. A loving marriage is riven by mysterious tensions. And a remarkable cascade of voices speaks out from a pulsing metropolis.We&’re invited to experience these events and others through the eyes and ears of Tunde, a West African man working as a teacher of photography on a renowned New England campus. He is a reader, a listener, a traveler, drawn to many different kinds of stories: stories from history and epic; stories of friends, family, and strangers; stories found in books and films. Together these stories make up his days. In aggregate these days comprise a life.Tremor is a startling work of realism and invention that engages brilliantly with literature, music, race, and history as it examines the passage of time and how we mark it. It is a reckoning with human survival amidst &“history&’s own brutality, which refuses symmetries and seldom consoles,&” but it is also a testament to the possibility of joy. As he did in his magnificent debut Open City, Teju Cole once again offers narration with all its senses alert, a surprising and deeply essential work from a beacon of contemporary literature.
Lord of Ice (Knight Miscellany #3)
by Gaelen FoleyCelebrated as an extraordinary new talent in romance, Gaelen Foley astounds readers with her vibrant stories of passion and adventure. Now, hot on the heels of her daring Lord of Fire, she spins the powerful tale of a hero tempted by the one woman he is forbidden to love. . . . Damien Knight, the earl of Winterley, is proud, aloof, and tormented by memories of war. Though living in seclusion, he is named guardian to a fellow officer’s ward. Instead of the young homeless waif he was expecting, however, Miranda FitzHubert is a stunning, passionate beauty who invades his sanctuary and forces him back into society. Struggling to maintain honor and self-control, Damien now faces an even greater threat: desire.A bold, free spirit, Miranda has witnessed the darkest depths of Damien’s soul–and has seen his desperate need for love. But before she can thaw his unyielding heart, she must endure a terrifying nightmare of her own. . . .
What Would Jesus Pray?: A Story to Change the World
by Mack ThomasYou&’re Only a Prayer Away Meet Tyson and Stefan. One strange night, they suddenly—weirdly—connect with each other in a time contortion that spans exactly a thousand years. Stefan is a young warrior in training in the Middle Ages, trapped in a tower while raiders ravage everything below. Through a long, sleepless night, the two guys help each other wrestle with responsibilities they don&’t want. And Stefan shows how to link up with a source of strength that Tyson can hardly even imagine. It all has to do with a Man named Jesus, and the way He prayed. Follow their spiritual adventure, and walk into the journey Jesus wants for you. He&’ll show you, as no one else can, how to pray in the way that works. Story Behind the Book&“This book became a reality thanks to these four things: a recurring image in my fresh-from-sleep thoughts about a boy in a bell tower, extensive Bible study on Jesus&’ prayers, the publisher&’s request for a youth book focusing on Jesus and prayer; and then a friend&’s off-hand mention of the phrase, &‘What would Jesus pray?&’&” —Mack Thomas
Bruce Springsteen's America: The People Listening, a Poet Singing
by Robert ColesIn this compelling book, Robert Coles, the celebrated Harvard professor and Pulitzer Prize–winning author, turns his attention to popular music legend Bruce Springsteen, and to the powerful impact Springsteen’s work has had both on the lives of his audience and on this country’s literary tradition. Coles places Springsteen in the pantheon of American artists—Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Dorothea Lange, and Walker Percy, among others—who understood and were inspired by their “traveling companions in time,” the ordinary people of their eras.With wisdom and a unique personal perspective, Coles explores Springsteen’s words as contemporary American poetry, and offers firsthand accounts of how people interact with them: A trucker listens to “Blinded by the Light” during long, lonely nights and reminisces about his mother; a schoolteacher is astonished when a usually silent student offers a comparison between “Nebraska” and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness; a policeman responds to “American Skin (41 Shots),” reflecting on his own role in his family and community. As these people, and others, candidly discuss the meaning Springsteen’s words have in their lives, Coles listens and, with the special insight and compassion that are the trademarks of his art, sheds new light on “The Boss,” removing the legendary American rock musician from fan-filled stadiums and placing the poet in a greater social, cultural, and philosophical context. Coles sees Springsteen as a representative of a uniquely American documentary tradition—as a sing-ing and traveling poet who does not simply embody the culture of which he is a part but fully engages it, interacting with its people and creating a conversation that has helped to shape a distinct way of looking at, and living, American life today.
The Map of Knowledge: A Thousand-Year History of How Classical Ideas Were Lost and Found
by Violet Moller&“The Map of Knowledge is an endlessly fascinating book, rich in detail, capacious and humane in vision.&”—Stephen Greenblatt, author of The Swerve: How the World Became Modern, winner of the Pulitzer PrizeAfter the Fall of Rome, when many of the great ideas of the ancient world were lost to the ravages of the Dark Ages, three crucial manuscripts passed hand to hand through seven Mediterranean cities and survived to fuel the revival of the Renaissance--an exciting debut history. The foundations of modern knowledge—philosophy, math, astronomy, geography—were laid by the Greeks, whose ideas were written on scrolls and stored in libraries across the Mediterranean and beyond. But as the vast Roman Empire disintegrated, so did appreciation of these precious texts. Christianity cast a shadow over so-called pagan thought, books were burned, and the library of Alexandria, the greatest repository of classical knowledge, was destroyed. Yet some texts did survive and The Map of Knowledge explores the role played by seven cities around the Mediterranean—rare centers of knowledge in a dark world, where scholars supported by enlightened heads of state collected, translated and shared manuscripts. In 8th century Baghdad, Arab discoveries augmented Greek learning. Exchange within the thriving Muslim world brought that knowledge to Cordoba, Spain. Toledo became a famous center of translation from Arabic into Latin, a portal through which Greek and Arab ideas reached Western Europe. Salerno, on the Italian coast, was the great center of medical studies, and Sicily, ancient colony of the Greeks, was one of the few places in the West to retain contact with Greek culture and language. Scholars in these cities helped classical ideas make their way to Venice in the 15th century, where printers thrived and the Renaissance took root. The Map of Knowledge follows three key texts—Euclid's Elements, Ptolemy's The Almagest, and Galen's writings on medicine—on a perilous journey driven by insatiable curiosity about the world.
Fountain of Fire (Akora)
by Josie LittonThe legendary island nation of Akora endows its descendants with rare gifts. Now one compassionate young woman must discover her own extraordinary power--and her heart’s desire--by facing the greatest challenge of her life....Fountain of FireDaughter of a renowned Akoran warrior and an English-born beauty, Clio is content with her lot as a pretty, warmhearted girl among a family of compelling and exquisitely attractive people. Yet it is precisely her immensely soothing nature that is to bring her unexpected power--and passion. For a distressed young Queen Victoria has requested that Clio become her lady-in-waiting. During a time of political unrest, it is a position of inherent danger. But Clio is determined to be of service....Charged with safeguarding the queen from a suspected assassination plot, William, earl of Holyhood, is delighted to have the company of Clio. Not only is her sweetness a balm to the soul, but she is also, curiously, an Akoran princess. Long fascinated by the tantalizing island, William soon finds his interest superseded by an enchantment with Clio herself. Surprised by their deep mutual attraction, the couple have only to agree on how best to protect the queen--and themselves--from those who would steal their futures. But it is a task more easily said than done, and one that may hold the fate of an empire--and a blossoming love--in the balance.
What's in a Kiss?
by Lauren KateFrom # 1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Kate comes an enemies-to-lovers &“what if&” romance about a prom kiss that never was, and one woman&’s magical chance to live what might have been.This is not how Liv wanted to see Jake Glasswell for the first time in ten years. Once her high school rival and the prom date who humiliated her, now a successful TV personality, he&’s more attractive than he has any right to be. And he&’s her Lyft passenger.Since the prom night kiss that never was, Liv&’s life has not gone to plan. She deferred Julliard to be with her mom during a crisis, and now swears she&’s happy as a recently furloughed drama teacher going on no-strings dates. This weekend she&’s maid of honor to her best friend, Masha, and, of course, Jake is the best man. But when Liv glares into Jake&’s eyes as Masha says, &“I do,&” the universe turns on its axis and Liv is suddenly living a version of her life where prom night was the beginning of her and Jake, not the end, and it turns out he&’s the love of her life. The catch? Her mom and Masha hate her now. What&’s in a kiss? Maybe everything.
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know (The ParentData Series #1)
by Emily OsterFully revised and updated for 2025, from the bestselling author of Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected&“Emily Oster is the non-judgmental girlfriend holding our hand and guiding us through pregnancy and motherhood. She has done the work to get us the hard facts in a soft, understandable way.&” —Amy SchumerThe award-winning economist named one of TIME Magazine&’s 100 most influential people disproves standard recommendations about pregnancy to empower women while they're expecting. Pregnancy—unquestionably one of the most profound, meaningful experiences of adulthood—can reduce otherwise intelligent women to, well, babies. Pregnant women are told to avoid cold cuts, sushi, alcohol, and coffee without ever being told why these are forbidden. Rules for prenatal testing are similarly unexplained. Parents-to-be desperately want a resource that empowers them to make their own right choices.When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. Debunking myths and explaining everything from the real effects of caffeine to the surprising dangers of gardening, Expecting Better is the book for every pregnant woman who wants to enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy—and the occasional glass of wine.
The Black and Tans: The British Special Police In Ireland (History Press Ser.)
by Richard BennettA history of the infamous British temporary policemen sent to Ireland during the Irish War of Independence in the early 1920s.They could arrest and imprison anyone at any time. They murdered civilians. They wore a strange mixture of dark green tunics, khaki trousers, black belts, and odd headgear, including civilian felt hats. The Irish named them after a famous pack of wild dogs on County Limerick—The Black and Tans.Although they were only a small proportion of British forces in Ireland, they were the toughest, the wildest and the most feared. They knew nothing and they cared nothing about Ireland. They were sent there in March 1920 by Lloyd George’s coalition cabinet to make Ireland “a hell for rebels to live in.”Richard Bennett’s book is an accurate and authoritative account of an ugly and harrowing period in Anglo-Irish history—a period that the English have struggled to forget, and that the Irish cannot help but remember.
Prized Possessions: A Novel
by Avery CormanCollege freshman Elizabeth Mason grew up with every advantage, but her life is thrown into chaos after a violent encounter Elizabeth Mason&’s parents always strived for the best for their daughter, sparing no expense on her education and upbringing. Now, on the verge of her freshman year at prestigious Layton College, Elizabeth has grown into a brilliant and compassionate young woman, if a little spoiled and naïve. But when a senior tennis star named Jimmy date rapes her during freshman orientation, Elizabeth&’s once-tranquil life is shattered. Humiliated and guilt-ridden, she slips numbly through her first months of college before reporting the assault—a decision that launches her on a crusade to bring Jimmy to justice, one way or another. In this powerful and affecting novel, Corman explores the devastating repercussions—both private and public—of campus date rape and the double standards surrounding sexuality for young men and women. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Avery Corman, including rare images from the author&’s personal collection.
The Final Testament (Bibliomysteries #11)
by Peter BlaunerAs World War II draws near, a dying genius fights against hate to preserve his legacy. Cancer has ravaged Sigmund Freud. It is 1938, and the great doctor has fled Vienna for London, where he races to finish his final, most dangerous work: a radical reimagining of the origins of Judaism, which posits that Moses was murdered by his followers. Though his colleagues say that such a controversial text could only give grist to those who would do the Jews harm, Freud is adamant about releasing the book—until a Nazi named Sauerwald comes to visit. He has written a manuscript in Freud&’s name, a hateful screed that claims to prove that all of Jewish history is based on falsehood, and asks that Freud help him have it published—lest something unpleasant happen to the doctor&’s family in Austria. Horrified by this foul threat, Freud responds with the only weapon he has left. He picks up pen and paper and suggests that Sauerwald sit down on his couch.The Bibliomysteries are a series of short tales about deadly books, by top mystery authors.
Part of the Furniture: A Novel (G. K. Hall Core Ser.)
by Mary WesleyA smart, sharply written novel from a talent whose &“fresh and original&” works made her one of England&’s most beloved authors (The New York Times). Abandoned by her mother and betrayed by the men she thought she loved, Juno Marlowe is alone. So alone that when the air raid sirens ring out, she has nowhere to hide until a kind but frail man offers to take her in for the night. Her sad story inspires him to write her a letter of introduction to his family—a caring gesture that will turn out to mean more than she could have imagined. With nowhere to call home, she seeks out the man&’s father, Robert Copplestone, who lives on a quiet Cornwall estate where Juno is able to earn her keep by helping him tend to his animals. And she soon finds that the strong, handsome widower is more of a friend than she&’s ever had and more like family than anyone she&’s ever known. But when Juno&’s fractured past catches up with her, the fragile and unlikely bond Robert and Juno have formed may be in danger of breaking under the strain. This &“heartwarming story of May-December love&” is a gentle look at the folly of humanity, weaving a tale of friendship, love, and healing (Publishers Weekly). &“An elegant, satisfying entertainment.&” —Kirkus Reviews
First Hubby: A Novel About a Man Who Happens to Be Married to the President of the United States
by Roy Blount Jr.A funny novel of the first &“First Husband,&” from an author who &“writes in the grand tradition of such American humorists as Mark Twain and Will Rogers&” (Library Journal). Guy Fox first encountered Clementine on the campus of Dingler College. She was running, stark naked, away from an on-campus protest and the police who were pursuing her. Guy and Clementine&’s romance wound through turbulent social movements of the &’60s and &’70s, all the way to Clementine&’s ascension to the Oval Office. As the nation&’s very first First Husband, Guy is privy to the surreal intricacies of presidential life, and he sets out to write a light and thoroughly uncontroversial memoir about his relationship with Clementine. But the First Hubby can&’t help but let some of his more mischievous qualities slip through into his book . . . The thoroughly charming First Hubby is an engrossing novel about politics, family, and the art of marriage that &“offers an emphatic and romantic &‘yes&’ to the question &‘Can true love survive the Oval Office&’?&” (The New Yorker).
British Steam Sunset: A Vision of the Final Years, 1965–1968
by Jim BlakeIn this new album from Pen & Sword, transport historian and photographer Jim Blake presents a selection of pictures he took around the country in British steam's final years.British Railways withdrew their last steam engines with almost indecent haste in the mid- to late–1960s, many having seen only a few years' service before consignment to the scrapheap. Jim's pictures graphically show how not only the locomotives themselves were neglected in their final years, but also their working environment. Their motive power depots were also badly run down, particularly when slated for closure upon steam's demise.Most of Jim's pictures of steam locomotives, taken fifty years ago, are previously unpublished. In BR steam's last two years, they were based in two distinctly different areas on the London & South Western main line, and in the industrial north. However, their decline was just as sad and depressing in both areas once proud depots such as London's Nine Elms, with broken windows and roof open to the sky, not repaired after wartime, piles of ash and clinker everywhere, were just as derelict as those in such places as Wigan or Sunderland. Many scenes herein invoke the sad, eerie atmosphere of steam's last months.Ironically, it was London Transport who operated the last publicly-owned standard gauge steam locomotives in 1971, some three years after BR's had gone. These are included within these pages too.
Guinea Pig Club: Archibald McIndoe and the RAF in World War II
by Emily Mayhew'This book speaks to two of the most diametrically opposed yet mutually supportive aspects of war: the ability to inflict horrific injury and the ability to heal Mayhew is to be commended on an outstanding addition to expanding our knowledge of an area rarely discussed by historians. Her book should be mandatory reading for all defence members (both civilian and military) and on everyone's history shelf. This book is highly recommended.' Airforce MagazineThe history of the Guinea Pig Club, the band of airmen who were seriously burned in aeroplane fires, is a truly inspiring, spine-tingling tale.Plastic surgery was in its infancy before the Second World War. The most rudimentary techniques were only known to a few surgeons worldwide. The Allies were tremendously fortunate in having the maverick surgeon Archibald McIndoe nicknamed the Boss or the Maestro operating at a small hospital in East Grinstead in the south of England. McIndoe constructed a medical infrastructure from scratch.After arguing with his superiors, he set up a revolutionary new treatment regime. Uniquely concerned with the social environment, or holistic care , McIndoe also enlisted the help of the local civilian population. He rightly secured his group of patients dubbed the Guinea Pig Club an honoured place in society as heroes of Britain s war. For the first time official records have been used to explain fully how and why this remarkable relationship developed between the Guinea Pig Club, the RAF and the Home Front.First-person recollections bring to life the heroism of the airmen with incredible clarity.This is a revised and expanded edition with new material, including a foreword by HRH Prince Harry, published to tie in with a major new film expected to be released in late 2018.
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.