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Publius Quinctilius Varus: The Man Who Lost Three Roman Legions in the Teutoburg Disaster
by Joanne BallThis unique full-length English biography of Varus reassesses how he has been held responsible for one of the most infamous and humiliating defeats in Roman history. Publius Quinctilius Varus is famous as the incompetent commander duped into an ambush that wiped out three legions in one of the most humiliating defeats in Roman history. Yet this is the first full length biography of the man. Dr Joanne Ball revisits the ancient sources alongside the most recent archaeological evidence from the Teutoburg battlefield in Germany, where she has been personally involved in excavations. The result is a fresh, detailed new analysis of this significant battle and a reappraisal of the Roman commander. Examination of his earlier career reveals that Varus, who had married into the Imperial family, was an experienced and competent, if harsh and ruthless, governor and general. He had served in Africa and put down rebellions in Syria and Judaea before being posted to Germany. Dr Ball sets his German command in the context of wider events, explaining the weakness of the Roman position there and the necessary reliance on auxiliary forces. Although Varus was clearly fooled by Arminius, the former Roman auxiliary who masterminded the Teutoburg battle in AD 9, she questions the extent of Varus’ culpability and asks whether he was scapegoated by Roman historians to deflect blame away from the Emperor.
Tudor Feminists: 10 Renaissance Women Ahead of their Time
by Rebecca WilsonThe term ‘feminist’ would have been anachronistic in the Tudor period, but surely we would not hesitate to call the lady, who would be queen, Anne Boleyn, a feminist? All ten women, from Catherine Par to Margaret Beaufort, lived their lives in a way that challenged the patriarchal world they lived in. Each chapter is dedicated to one remarkable woman, ahead of her time. It explores her achievements and examines the impacts she had on a male-dominated world, while placing her in the context of her particular circumstance and background. These Renaissance women, from the high born to the merchant class, were rule breakers, they railed against the rigid social norms of their time and stand out vividly against a backdrop of domestic servitude.
Air War Vietnam
by Martin W. Bowman"Showcasing specific aircraft and highlighting significant missions illuminates the skills and emotions of the men who flew the machines. Bowman does an excellent job recounting stories about battles in the air and decision-making on the ground." — The VVA Veteran Martin Bowman’s revealing narrative of the aerial conflict in South-East Asia, 1965-1972, which had its beginnings in 1 November 1955, engulfed Viêtnam, Laos, and Cambodia and only ended with the fall of Sàigòn on 30 April 1975 has resulted from decades of painstaking fact-finding as well as detailed correspondence with surviving aircrew incorporating a wealth of first-hand accounts, some never told before, supported by dozens of rare and unusual photographs. Together they describe in adrenalin-pumping accuracy the furious aerial battles of a long suffering and bitter war in South-East Asia and in particular the frontline action in the skies over Vietnam that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. They too will find a new and useful perspective on a conflict that cost the Americans 58,022 dead and brought the USA worldwide condemnation for its role in Southeast Asia. Nearly 2,500 Americans remained ‘missing’. This work serves as a tribute to the courageous pilots who flew the F-104 Starfighter in the ‘Widowmakers’ war and B-52 bomber crews on ‘Arc Light’ ‘Linebacker II’ strikes and the eleven days of Christmas which ultimately ended the aerial campaign against North Viêtnam. And as well, strike aircraft such as the USAF F-4 Phantom and the F-105 ‘Thud’ and the US Navy carrier-borne jet and propeller-driven strike aircraft and the Americans’ sworn enemy, the North Việtnamese MiG fighters, feature large, from ‘Rolling Thunder’ onwards. Equally, the Hueys and Chinooks and other notable work horses that participated on combat assaults or Ash & Trash missions and transports like the C-130 ‘Herky-Bird’, C-123 Provider, Caribou and Viêtnamese C-47 - the ‘Haulers On Call’ - that performed sterling service during the gruelling air campaign are not forgotten either. Here, at first hand, are their stories which also include some of the less publicised American forces like the pilots and crewmen who flew the Bird Dogs and all manner of helicopters as well as the largely forgotten Australian and New Zealand Air Force units and the Anzac Battalions whose valuable contributions are too often overlooked. So too is the cost in human misery, death and destruction.
The Waterloo Archive: Volume VI: British Sources
by Gareth GloverSo much has been written on the subject of the Battle of Waterloo and the campaign that surrounds it that the reader might think that there is simply nothing new to tell. However, the archives of Europe are teeming with fascinating documents personal letters to family and friends, private journals and official reports that have been virtually ignored in many standard histories of the period. In the ground-breaking Waterloo Archive series Gareth Glover has set out to unearth this buried material and to finally expose it to public scrutiny. In doing so he brings the human aspect of war and military campaigning to the fore: the humor and exhilaration, the fears and miseries, the starvation and exhaustion, the horror and the joy. He also provides an invaluable new source which will challenge preconceptions, disprove theories, destroy myths and allow for a complete re-evaluation of many key aspects of the campaign. In this sixth and final volume in the series, published to coincide with the two hundredth anniversary of the campaign, Glover has again turned his attention to the British sources.
Casanova's Life & Times: Living in the Eighteenth Century
by David John ThompsonThis is both the life of Giacomo Casanova and a chronicle of eighteenth-century Europe. Giacomo Casanova (1725-1798) was born the son of a moderately poor acting family at a time when the stage carried enormous social stigma. Yet in his own lifetime he achieved celebrity across Europe, rubbing shoulders with numerous of the eighteenth century's greatest men and women, from Frederick the Great to Catherine the Great, from Voltaire to Albrecht von Haller, from Pope Benedict XIV to Pope Clement XIII. It was a fame that had little to do with his romantic exploits. This was to come later, following upon the posthumous publication of his magnificent History of My Life. An adventurer and a man of learning, his was an extraordinary life whose story was intertwined with the story of eighteenth-century Europe. To try to understand this fascinating character we need also to try to understand the period in which he lived. This is the aim of Casanova's Life and Times.
Ancient Rome's Worst Emperors
by L. J. TraffordWho qualifies as the worst of Roman emperors and why? Join L J Trafford for a tour of the very worst leadership in ancient Rome featuring Caligula, Commodus and many more. Between 27 BCE and 476 CE a series of men became Roman Emperor, ruling a domain that stretched across Europe, North Africa and the Near East. Some of them did this rather well, expanding Rome’s territories further, installing just laws and maintaining order within the city. Others, however, were distinctly less successful at the job. Ancient Rome’s Worst Emperors takes an engaging and amusing look at the mad, the bad and the catastrophically incompetent of Rome’s rulers. From the sadistically cruel Caligula to the hopelessly weak Valentinian II, there were many who failed dismally at the top job for a variety of reasons. But what qualifies someone as a worst emperor? What evidence is there to support it? And should we believe any of it? Join us on a tour of the very worst leadership ancient Rome has to offer as we delve into sadistic acts of cruelty, paranoia run rampant, poor decision-making skills and the danger of being the wrong man at the wrong time.
Exploring Roman London
by Simon WebbDiscover the secrets of Roman London with this invaluable and lavishly illustrated travel companion that blends history and self-guided walks to explore all visible Roman remains throughout Greater London. Much more than a simple guidebook, Exploring Roman London is an indispensable guide for anyone interested in the early history of England's capital city. In addition to containing information on every site in London where Roman remains can be seen, the history of the foundation of the city and its subsequent development is meticulously chronicled. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the first incarnation of London, when the invading Romans established their settlement in the 1st century CE. Even those who pride themselves on their knowledge of the city will find much here which is new to them, as street-by-street instructions for self-guided walks around central London allow those interested to follow the hidden rivers and lost roads of the Roman town. Exploring Roman London describes the many fragments of Roman London on open display in the city, most of which are quite unknown to the average citizen. From the huge statue of Minerva which was standing unnoticed in a churchyard until two years ago, to the Roman house which lies in a church crypt, this book will allow anyone curious about London's history to examinethe archaeology for themselves.
Feeding Wellington's Army in the Peninsula: The Journal of Assistant Commissary General Tupper Carey, Volume I
by Gareth GloverTranscribed for the first time from Commissary General Tupper Carey's handwritten journals, this is the first of two volumes which cover the lively career of a Commissary who served throughout the Peninsular war and Waterloo campaign. Written with vivid detail, these journals offer a truly unique window into the life of a Commissary and the campaigns in which he served. Although a civilian and greatly discouraged from putting himself in mortal danger, Tupper was often to be found watching the fighting from some nearby vantage point and often describes the actions he witnessed, particularly where it affected his own charge, whether a battalion, a brigade or even later an entire division. Interspersed with these primary roles, he was often seconded to form supply bases in the rear of the army, or to hastily remove or destroy stores when threatened by enemy advances. He also talks freely about fellow officers, and being a private journal written simply for the eyes of his immediate family, he is not shy in giving his honest opinions of both his subordinates or indeed his superiors. This first volume covers Tupper's early life, joining as a clerk and his early years as a Commissary up until the spring of 1813, just before the Duke of Wellington launched his troops on that memorable campaign, designed to drive the French back out of Spain, across the Pyrenees. Also detailed are Tupper's role in the Corunna campaign, The Border War, Battle of Salamanca and the Siege of Burgos. The rest of Tupper’s incredible career will be covered in the second volume.
Seafood Journey: Tastes and Tales From Scotland
by Ghillie Basan Gary MacleanScotland has some of the best seafood in the world, so we why don’t we eat more of it? Why don’t we highlight the bounty of our seas and the people who fish, produce, sell, preserve and cook it? Acclaimed cooker writer Ghillie Basan embarks on a journey around Scotland’s coastline and over to the islands to capture the essence of our nation’s seafood through the stories of fisherman, farmers, artisan smokers and curers, boat builders and net makers, creels and shacks, skin tanners and age-old traditions. In addition, she offers 90 original recipes showcasing the wonderful produce she encounters on her journeys to all parts of the country. Features a foreword by Gary Maclean, winner of MasterChef: The Professionals
A Beautiful World
by Yael GoverThis beautifully written, eye-catching book takes young readers on a journey through the story of creation. With the help of a magic paintbrush, the whole world is formed out of the darkness. First the oceans and land, then the moon and stars, followed by all the animals and people. The book is notable for the way it invites children to be creative and use their imagination: producing art is shown as a beautiful act of creation, and vice-versa. The message is a simple one: we all have the power to create beauty. This exceptional work of children’s literature has been a long time in the making. The illustrations were originally produced in 1973 by renowned Israeli artist Paul Kor. More than 25 years later, award-winning author Yael Gover completed the text, and the book was published in Hebrew. For this much anticipated first English-language version of the book, Kor’s original artwork has been rescanned, making the colors more vibrant and accurate than in any previous edition. This is a wholly unique book, made even more so by the fact that it recently made it into space! Israeli astronaut Eitan Stiva chose the book to take into space, where he read an edition of the work printed especially for the occasion – a spectacular journey for a spectacular book.
The British Oskar Schindler: The Life and Work of Nicholas Winton
by Edward Abel SmithWhen Nicholas Winton canceled his skiing holiday in favor of going to Prague to visit a friend, little did he know this decision would change the course of thousands of lives, including his own. As millions of Jewish families attempted to flee the growing clutches of the brutal Nazi war of terror, this twenty-nine-year-old stockbroker decided to act, pulling off one of the most remarkable rescue missions of the century. The British Oskar Schindler tells the story of this remarkable man’s life and those around him who helped him to achieve all he did.
19th Century Female Explorers
by Caroline RoopeAs any historian will testify, a nineteenth-century woman’s place was very much at home. Or was it? For a lucky (and plucky) few, who had a little determination, and the ability to withstand lice infestations, climbing mountains in corsets, rascally guides and occasional certain death - as well as the raised eyebrows of the society they left behind – then the world really was their oyster. In this lively re-telling of twenty-two extraordinary ladies who did just that, Caroline Roope invites you to journey to the further corners of the earth along with them. From humble missionary Annie Royle Taylor, who knew God would keep her safe, to the haughty aristocrat, Lady Hester Stanhope who defied convention and dressed as a Turkish man including pistol, knife and turban, their collective voices still resonate hundreds of years later. Drawing on their original accounts and archival sources, this expertly researched book brings to light a wealth of stories that are full of grit (sometimes literally), courage, and just enough humor to wish we’d been there with them on their adventures on the other side of the horizon. So, pack a suitcase, along with a ‘good thick skirt’ à la Mary Kingsley, and prepare to go beyond the garden gate…
The London Underground, 1968–1985: The Greater London Council Years
by Jim BlakeLONDON’S HISTORIC, iconic Underground railway system in the period from 1968 to 1985 was a very different place to what it is in the 2020s. Much of its rolling stock dated from before World War Two, and with the exception of the new Victoria Line and the isolated Woodford to Hainault shuttle, trains were all two-person operated as the 1970s dawned. Transport photographer Jim Blake recorded most of the system on film before it would change forever, concentrating on the older rolling stock as well as other items of interest due for replacement or modernisation, during this period when, regrettably, London Transport was often starved of much-needed funds by central government. The eminently sensible transfer of overall control of London’s buses and Underground system to the city-wide Greater London Council at the beginning of 1970 was snatched away by the Thatcher regime in 1984, after which things rapidly went downhill. This book covers the years of GLC control, including the months prior to their taking charge in order to set the scene. Many rare and unusual scenes are included in this volume, especially of the then still basically intact portion of the uncompleted Northern Line extension between Drayton Park and Highgate, which had been so close to completion when work was halted during the war, but then abandoned in the early 1950s, incurring much wasted work and expenditure. For anyone with a serious interest in London’s Underground, this book is essential reading, including as it does many pervious unpublished photographs.
A Boy from Baghdad
by Miriam Halahmy“Jews are no longer safe in Iraq. When are you going to get it through your thick head?” It’s 1951, and twelve-year-old Salman Shasha is happy with his life in Baghdad. But trouble is brewing. Salman and his family are Iraqi Jews and their government has been turning against their community for years. Things become so dangerous that the whole family are forced to leave Iraq for Israel, the “Promised Land”. Once they arrive, however, they realize that things are not what they dreamed they would be. Taken to a refugee camp, the Shasha family try to make the best of their situation. But the dominant group in the country – the Ashkenazi Jews – look down on families like Salman’s and treat them horribly. Salman decides to focus on his greatest passion, swimming, and beating his rivals in a race. Facing taunts from his bullying peers, Salman feels defeated, but he soon realizes that with hard work and determination anything is possible. An inspiring, atmospheric tale about the power of perseverance, friendship and family in the face of hardship, hatred and change, A Boy From Baghdad is an important story of diversity in the modern world. Essential reading for any child 8 years and over.
Mosquito Intruders—Target Burma: The RAF’s Daring Low-Level Mosquito Operations
by Jeremy WalshUses diaries, first-hand accounts, and official records to take the reader through the Mosquito intruders’ three-year campaign to help force the Japanese out of Burma, living and dying with the brave warriors in the five squadrons which flew the FB VI. The exploits of the Mosquito crews in Burma, skimming at low-level and at speed along rivers and over treetops to their targets, are the stuff of legend. Surprisingly, however, only five RAF squadrons ever flew these operations. Mosquito Intruders – Target Burma explores the achievements of these intruder squadrons, as well as the costs to the men who flew and supported them. Their story starts in mid-1943, almost as soon as the fighter-bomber variant of the ‘Mossie’, the iconic de Havilland Mosquito FB VI, had been introduced to squadron service in the UK. The first challenge was to deliver the new aircraft, with its radical wooden construction, to India and build a supply chain to support it. Then, with few dual-control aircraft, they needed to train the crews to operate the Mosquito to the limits of its performance in often hostile weather over inhospitable territory against an aggressive enemy. Some crews converted from a similar low-level role to extend the reach of the impressive but already obsolescent Beaufighter. Other squadrons, converting from the single-engine Vultee Vengeance dive bomber, needed to learn how to handle a faster twin-engine intruder and to fly at low level. Against the odds, both the aircraft and their crews delivered! Mosquito Intruders – Target Burma uses diaries, first-hand accounts, and official records to take the reader through the Mosquito intruders’ three-year campaign to help force the Japanese out of Burma, living and dying with the brave warriors in the five squadrons which flew the FB VI. The first operations were flown by 27 Squadron, led by the renowned Wing Commander James Nicolson VC, the only person in RAF Fighter Command to be awarded the Victoria Cross during the Second World War. Many of the airmen, like the author’s father who flew Mossie intruder ops with both 27 and 45 Squadrons, felt that they were ‘forgotten’ by the public back home and often by their own high command. But importantly, they knew that their actions were shortening the war in the Far East.
Armoured Warfare in the British Army 1945–2020 (Find, Fix and Strike)
by Richard TaylorIn this, the third volume in his comprehensive, highly illustrated three-volume history of the evolution of armored maneuver warfare in the British army, Dick Taylor covers the post-war period, up to the present day. He explains how the Royal armored Corps contracted rapidly after 1945, then faced the twin challenges of National Service and heavy involvement in numerous wars and campaigns around the globe. He recounts how the RAC became a fully-professional organization by the early 1960s, and continues the tale of disbandments, down-sizing and amalgamations. In a narrative which is as much a social history as an operational one, the vivid personal accounts of soldiers feature heavily throughout. The story of the Cold War in Germany (BAOR) is told. Then, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the book describes the role British armor played in conflicts in the Gulf, the Balkans and Afghanistan. Dick Taylor’s thoroughgoing account concludes with an assessment of the RAC in 2021 in the immediate aftermath of another defense review.
Churchill's German Spy: Revelations on Appeasement, Operation Torch & Nazi Intelligence from Double Agent Harlequin
by David TremainCompared to many of MI5's other double agents, HARLEQUIN’s career was very short-lived, lasting only for a few months in 1943. However, during that time he provided insights into the various parties involved in the Appeasement process in 1938; the Czech crisis of 1939; the enterprises of a Franco-American businessman who hosted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor’s marriage in France; the espionage activities of an aristocratic German family; Admiral Canaris, the head of the Abwehr – many of the Abwehr’s personalities with whom he had come into contact or had known about and the agents he employed – as well as relations between the disparate organisations of the German intelligence services – the Abwehr, Gestapo, and Sicherheitsdienst (SD), the intelligence arm of the SS. Furthermore, he revealed the German Armistice Commission’s involvement in espionage and their links to the Abwehr. MI5 shared this intelligence with the FBI and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) before HARLEQUIN requested that he be returned to American custody where he remained for the rest of the war. His effectiveness as a double agent will be examined using newly-released official files as a primary source.
One Step in a Poppy Field: The Inspirational Story of Lance Corporal Cayle Royce MBE
by Bronwyn Royce‘A deeply moving and profoundly important account not only of one soldier’s survival, but of optimism, courage, of a dogged determination to succeed whatever it takes, and of the enduring power of love between a mother and her son. The lessons for us all in this book are immeasurably powerful. It offers hope to the many whose lives have been changed forever, directly or indirectly, be that as a result of war, or through accident. I am so very grateful to have read it.’ Major General David Rutherford-Jones CB ‘This is an astonishing true story that no work of fiction could ever match. A brave soldier is blown up by the Taliban, losing both legs, part of his left hand and his lungs are crushed. There is, seemingly, no hope of survival. Except that death hadn’t reckoned on the fortitude and resilience of Cayle Royce, underpinned by the all-embracing love and dedication of his remarkable mother Bronwyn. The book is told by both of them and might be the most moving and joyous account of determination against all odds you will ever read. A triumph of the Human Spirit.’ Alan Frame, Author ‘A story of fortitude and courage from the perspective of both a mother and son. From the depths of despair of a near death experience through to an amazing recovery with a row across the Atlantic as skipper of an all amputee crew of ex servicemen, four guys with three legs between them!’ Brigadier Chris Dick CBE Thousands of miles away from where her son was deployed, a powerful premonition is devastatingly confirmed by a knock on the door from two faceless strangers bearing the news that her son had stepped on an improvised explosive device in the poppy fields of Afghanistan. He had lost both of his legs and suffered multiple other injuries, including partial amputation of all the fingers of his left hand. For 48 days she stood at his bedside, praying and willing him to pull through. Not only did he survive against all odds, but in time he began to test the limits of his new capabilities and undertook the first of, what would prove to be, many physical challenges. Just 18 months after injury, and as part of a team of four servicemen, he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean for the first time. Told mostly from a mother’s perspective with contributions from Cayle, the genesis of the book was in the diary she kept while he was in a medically induced coma. It is the story of an extraordinarily brave man who has been through the agonies of rebuilding his life, with the encouragement of family and friends. This was never meant to be another book about war or Afghanistan; it is a message of how love and hope can overcome adversity. If even just one reader takes inspiration from this story then … mission accomplished.
The Battle of Bong Son: Operation Masher/White Wing, 1966
by Kenneth P. WhiteFinalist, 2024 Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Writing Awards"...a deeply researched and comprehensive book, chronicles the battle in great detail, including all American and allied units involved and some of the enemy units of the NVA’s Sao Vong (Yellow Star) Division." — The VVA Veteran Operation Masher/White Wing targeted the regiments of the North Vietnamese Army Sao Vang Division operating in the Bong Son area in northeast Binh Dinh Province in central South Vietnam. The operation started on January 24, 1966, immediately after the Vietnamese New Year (Tet) and ended six weeks later. It was led by newly promoted Colonel Harold G. Moore, who as a lieutenant colonel commanded the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry in the battle of Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley two months earlier. In 41 days of sustained fighting, the 1st Cav battled each of the three regiments of the Sao Vang Division, resulting in enemy losses of more than 3,000 KIA. This came at the cost of 199 Americans killed on the battlefield and 46 more who died in the crash of a U.S. Air Force C-123 aircraft en route to the battlefield, making it one of the deadliest battles of the entire Vietnam War. Operation Masher/White Wing was a success. The 1st Cav demonstrated that it had the firepower, mobility, and leadership to find the enemy and deliver a severe blow to it in terms of personnel and equipment losses and in forced evacuation from formerly “secure” base areas, seemingly proving the value of the search-and-destroy strategy. However within a few weeks, intelligence reports indicated that North Vietnamese soldiers were returning to the Bong Son area in small groups. By late April, the Sao Vang Division was back in the area in force. Operation Masher/White Wing proved to be the start of a very long and deadly struggle between the 1st Cav and North Vietnamese for control of Binh Dinh Province—multiple search & destroy operations eventually resulted in more than 9,000 enemy KIA and 2,358 enemy detained, with friendly losses of more than 1,200 KIA, 5,775 WIA, and 27 MIA. While Masher/White Wing demonstrated that search & destroy operations were very effective at the tactical level but without a high-level strategy to stop the unabated flow of fresh Communist troops and supplies into South Vietnam, it wasn’t clear just how they contributed to overall victory. At the start of 1968, General Westmoreland ordered the 1st Cav to terminate its operations in the Bong Son area, bringing the battle to a close.
The Battle for Kyiv: The Fight for Ukraine’s Capital
by Christopher A. LawrenceThe story of the heroic resilience of the Ukrainians against the military forces of a country with more than three times its population. On 24 February 2022, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, unleashed an attack on Ukraine that developed into the most significant conflict in Europe since the Second World War. Fought over the same ground that the Germans and the Soviet Union battled on between 1941 and 1944, Russia attempted to advance to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and replace its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with a puppet regime. Facing determined resistance, the Russians failed to reach the city, being compelled to withdraw and redirect their forces to other fronts. The Battle of Kyiv tells the story of the heroic resilience of the Ukrainians over the military forces of a country which has more than three times its population and an economy almost ten times larger. This book is also an analysis of the enormous support given to Ukraine, both politically and militarily, by NATO and other nations, without which Ukraine’s military might have failed to beat back the invaders. The author explores the first phase of the war, during which Russian armor, mechanized and air mobile troops drove on Kyiv, surrounded Chernigov, seized Kherson twice, and threatened the very existence of the Ukrainian state. The United States’ intelligence services estimated that the Russians would seize Kyiv within three days. They offered to evacuate President Zelensky back to Lvov. His alleged response to the Americans was: ‘I need ammunition, not a ride.’ He and his government stayed in Kyiv and the battle lines were drawn. The Russians continued their offensive. As well as bearing down on Kyiv and Kherson, Putin’s troops also threatened Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkov, Mykolaiv, and the beleaguered port city of Mariupol. This book covers all the fighting for these areas up until Russia’s subsequent withdraw from the region around Kyiv. It addresses the military operations on the ground, the destruction of the buildings and the Ukrainian infrastructure, the suffering of the civilian population and the day-by-day struggles for survival. Writing as the battle raged on, the author examines the conflict with an unparalleled immediacy and poignancy. This also means that The Battle of Kyiv is an important historical document, reflecting not subsequent outcomes, but depicting the uncertainty and anxiety faced not just by the contesting forces, but by the rest of the world as the result of the war in Ukraine hung in the balance.
The Battles of Bonnie Prince Charlie: The Young Chevalier at War
by Arran JohnstonPrince Charles Edward Stuart (1720-1788) was the grandson of Britain’s last Stuart king and the last of his line to fight for their right to the throne. Born in Rome and raised at his father’s cultured and cosmopolitan court-in-exile, the young prince grew up beneath a heavy weight of expectation and yearned for the chance to prove his worth. In 1745, just as it seemed his best opportunity had already passed, Charles threw caution to the wind and embarked on a secret and seemingly desperate expedition to Scotland. What followed is one of the most remarkable, famous, and often misrepresented episodes of Scottish history: the ’45. This is the story of the last Jacobite rising and the charismatic but controversial prince who led it, presenting a human portrait of the Stuart prince through the words of those who served alongside him. The picture revealed is one of a humane and capable young man taking on a mission far greater than his experience had prepared him for, pushed to the limits of his abilities at a cost from which he never recovered. Following Charles Edward Stuart over the battlefields of Prestonpans, Falkirk and Culloden, this book reveals the prince’s strengths and flaws as a commander, and the difficult relationships he had with the very people on whom his fortunes, and reputation, would depend. It is the story of how the prince faced conflicts both on and off the battlefield, weathered challenges posed by friends as well as foes, and left a legacy which remains hotly contested to this day.
A Guardsman in the Crimea: The Life & Letters of William Scarlett
by Martin SheppardThe Brigade of Guards was the elite force of the British Army in the Crimea. William Scarlett, a captain in the Scots Fusilier Guard and one of the most active junior officers in the regiment, fought throughout the entire campaign. After the Allied landing at Kalamita Bay, Scarlett rallied his regiment at a critical moment during the battle of the Alma, supported by his company sergeant, who was awarded the VC. William Scarlett’s life may well have been saved after the battle of Balaklava by becoming an aide de camp to his uncle, General James Scarlett, the commander of the Heavy Brigade. This meant that he did not fight at Inkerman, which took a heavy toll on the officers of the Guards Brigade. Returning to the trenches early in 1855, William Scarlett was involved in all the phases of the siege of Sebastopol until its fall in September 1855. The survival of 139 previously unpublished letters record Scarlett’s deeds and thoughts. Written to nineteen different correspondents, and deliberately intended by him to form a personal account of his rôle in the war, his letters provide a forceful commentary on the successes and failures of the British army in the East. His life before and after the war is well recorded. Becoming the third Lord Abinger in 1861, Scarlett was the second English peer to marry an American. He built a castle in Scotland, where Queen Victoria stayed in 1873, and two of his daughters became notable suffragettes.
Eyes on the Enemy: U.S. Military Intelligence in World War II
by Chris McNab"...a comprehensive reprint of the Intelligence doctrine that supported the American drive to victory on numerous fronts against a wide range of enemies and environments. It is worth the read to reinforce the basics of what we still do today." — The Vanguard: Journal of the Military Intelligence Corps Association On December 7, 1941, an imperial Japanese carrier strike force attacked the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, taking advantage of what was one of the most profound intelligence failures in US history. Galvanized into action, the branches of the U.S. military subsequently developed one of the greatest, albeit imperfect, intelligence-gathering and analysis networks of the combatant nations, opening an invaluable window onto the intentions of their enemies. The picture of U.S. military intelligence during World War II is a complex one. It was divided between the fields of signal intelligence (SIGINT) and human intelligence (HUMINT), combat intelligence and War Department intelligence, and between numerous different organizations, including the Military Intelligence Division (MID), Military Intelligence Service (MIS), the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC), the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and the many intelligence units organic to Army, Navy, Army Air Forces, and Marine Corps. The documents collected in this book reveal the theoretical and practical principles behind wartime intelligence gathering and analysis, from the frontline intelligence officer to the Washington-based code-breaker. They explain fundamentals such as how to observe and record enemy activity and intercept enemy radio traffic, through to specialist activities such as cryptanalysis, photoreconnaissance, prisoner interrogation, and undercover agent operations. The painstaking work of an intelligence operator required a sharp, attentive mind, whether working behind a desk or under fire on the frontlines. The outputs from these men and women could ultimately make the difference between victory and defeat in battle.
A History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895)
by George SaintsburyA History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895)