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Giuseppe Garibaldi & the Army of the Vosges
Sixty years before the International Brigades fought for the Spanish Republic, international volunteers entered the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71 in response to the call of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s Army of the Vosges to save a fledgling French republic there from the new Prussianized German empire. Inspired by the lingering radical visions of 1848 and supported by elements of the First International of Marx and Bakunin, several thousand men (and women) came not only from neighbouring Spain, Italy, and Belgium but from Germany itself, as well as the Mediterranean societies and as far as the Americas to fight for a “universal republic”. Garibaldi and his volunteers faced enemies ultimately more powerful than the Prussian-led German Confederation. The French imperial interests that had started the war remained an ultimately dominant force in the republic and their hostility to “red republicanism” was evident even before their bloody repression of the Paris Commune. They shaped the histories of the war, the international volunteers and the French who fought alongside them. This study explores the politics of constructing historical memory to challenge that narrative and offers a different assessment of contemporary before its translations into the new language of anarchism and socialism.
Victorian Feminists
The Victorian era is often remembered for its rigid gender roles, yet beneath the surface, extraordinary women were challenging societal expectations and paving the way for future generations. Victorian Feminists explores the lives of ten remarkable women who defied convention, fought for their rights, and reshaped history. From Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first female physician and surgeon in Britain, to Emily Wilding Davison, whose ultimate sacrifice became a defining moment in the suffrage movement, these women refused to be confined by the limitations of their time. Christina Rossetti used poetry to challenge gender roles, Beatrix Potter turned her passion for nature into a publishing empire, and Lillie Langtry became the first celebrity to endorse commercial products, redefining women’s influence in the public sphere. Through resilience, intellect, and defiance, these women transformed their world. Victorian Feminists brings their struggles and triumphs to life, proving that the fight for equality did not begin in the 20th century—it was already being waged in the drawing rooms, lecture halls, and streets of Victorian Britain.
The Lister Sisters
When Anne Lister, ‘Gentleman Jack,’ and her infamous diaries hit the headlines a few years ago, their popularity spawned a plethora of Gentleman Jack blogs, research and books which have focused primarily on Anne Lister’s romantic relationships with (a huge) number of women, but whilst they are an integral part of the Lister story, there is another woman lurking in the pages of her diaries: The original Lister Sister, Marian. Marian Lister was Anne’s younger sister and the two women had a complex and fascinating relationship. The evidence reveals Marian to be a complicated woman who both resented, loved and was fiercely protective of her older sister. Forced to live together for a large part of their lives Anne vehemently disapproved of Marian’s desire to escape in order to marry a “carpet maker” feeling him to be unworthy of the sister she herself derided. Marian, for her part, did not understand her elder sister's relationships with women, but she accepted them, defended her and worried about her excessively even whilst she ranted about Anne’s spending, scheming and selfishness. When together, the two women bickered constantly with Marian, literally at times screaming in frustration at her headstrong sister. Anne, for her part, complained that Marian was “simple … good for nothing,” yet her approval meant a good deal to her. Here, for the first time, we look at the complex relationship between the two women, how it developed, its moments of triumph and tragedy, as well as the profound influence it had on each of their lives.
Closing the Ring
In the fall of 1778, the Franco-American attack on British-occupied Newport, Rhode Island, failed to materialize, bringing campaigning to an end for the year. Washington was occupied with ascertaining British intentions through his spy network in New York City and with the planning of an expedition led by General John Sullivan against the Six Nations to protect settlers on the Pennsylvania–New York frontier. Washington spent most of the winter of 1778/9 conferring with congressional members on the state of the army. As spring arrived, Washington learned that the British were headed to Kings Ferry on the Hudson, where the American forts of Stony Point and Verplanck’s Point were located. Washington broke camp at Middlebrook and moved northward to support West Point, but he arrived too late. However, the British offensive stalled. After stabilizing the situation, Washington assaulted the forts, failed to make a foothold, but captured everything of military value. The year 1779 became a contest for control of forts on the Hudson. Washington was also involved in smaller attacks such as the surprise attack on the British fort at Paulus Hook, New Jersey. The year ended with the British evacuation of Kings Ferry and Newport, Rhode Island. Washington had to deal with the fall of Charleston in May 1780. He planned for an attack on New York City in conjunction with Admiral d’Estaing’s French fleet but ended preparations as the season moved into November. He met with Rochambeau in Hartford, Connecticut, in September 1780 to plan strategy, but also had to cope with the defection of Benedict Arnold. His army entered winter encampment at Morristown, which turned out to be the worst winter of the 18th century. There were food, supply, and clothing issues, and Washington remained there until Lafayette arrived with news of a French expeditionary force sailing to America. Washington immediately set to work reinforcing the army. He handled two British incursions into New Jersey, which resulted in the Battle of Connecticut Farms on June 7–8 and Springfield on June 23, thwarting the British. As the British were attacking Groton Heights, Connecticut, on September 6, 1781, Washington and Rochambeau were preparing for the final advance to Yorktown. These often-overlooked campaigns in the north showed Washington at his best, managing administration, logistics, and diplomacy to keep the army in the field.
Unwilling To Know
Since the 1970s, historians have claimed that an insatiable 'will to know' has powered the growing concern with male homosexuality across Europe and the West, especially from the late nineteenth century onwards. Unwilling To Know challenges this dominant narrative by demonstrating how, unlike in neighbouring France, Germany, and Britain, a mixture of silence and code surrounded homosexuality in Belgium until well after the Second World War. Whereas over a thousand scientific monographs on homosexuality were published in wider Europe between 1898 and 1908, the lack of publishing in Belgium was combined with a marked lack of interest from the police, psychiatrists and wider society. Through internationally comparative analyses, and with particular reference to the importance of religion, Wannes Dupont complicates overly monolithic views of European developments based on a handful of familiar cases. In doing so, this study lays bare the many national, cultural, institutional, legal and religious differences that have shaped the scrutiny of homosexuality in diverging ways.
Battle of Britain The Gathering Storm
Dilip Sarkar, renowned for his meticulous research, delves into the Battle of Britain in this first volume of an eight-part series. His evidence-based approach offers a comprehensive view of the 1940 aerial conflict, exploring the development of air power, Britain’s defense, the German strategy, the Home Front, and political events. Sarkar goes beyond the well-known narrative, revealing new human stories and events.The book traces the conflict''s background, including the German invasion of Norway, the Fall of France, and the air battles over Dunkirk. Sarkar questions the official start date of the Battle of Britain, arguing that the fighting began earlier, on 2 July 1940. A detailed, day-by-day account follows, acknowledging aircrews lost before 10 July and recognizing contributions from Bomber and Coastal commands, not just the pilots of Spitfires and Hurricanes.Sarkar’s research, based on official sources and personal accounts, challenges many myths and the accepted narrative. This work is more than a record of combat losses; it’s a deep dive into the broader context of the battle, drawing on unique firsthand accounts, intelligence reports, and political documents. It’s an unprecedented look at the Battle of Britain and its far-reaching implications.
Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages
Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages takes an amusing yet grim dive into the bizarre, unexpected, and downright ridiculous ways people met their untimely ends in early medieval Europe. Join us as we recount tales of battles gone awry and tell the stories of monarchs who demonstrated they might not be all that fit for the throne. Together, we will uncover what weird and wonderful ways our ancestors attempted to cure themselves or the awful inventions created to torture and execute each other. Tread carefully in the past, though, as you never quite know what perils are lurking. From Viking warriors felled by cheese to kings who perished in toilet-related mishaps, this book uncovers the strange, often absurd realities of life and death in an age of superstition, blood feuds, and very questionable medical advice. Packed with dark humour, historical oddities, and stories so strange they simply must be true, this is history as you've never read it before—deadly, disturbing, and delightfully ridiculous!
Captive Scorpion
Trooper Mick Holland served seven months with the Long Range Desert Group as an interpreter, medical orderly, and gunner until his capture in September 1942. From there until the end of the war he spent more time ‘on the run’ than in PoW camps. He made seven escape attempts in Italy and two in Germany. Holland’s accounts take the reader on an incredible journey that exhibit an exceptional man with great tenacity and determination. The story begins with his time in the LRDG and the events leading up to his capture. This is followed by an overview which describes the life and conditions in the PoW camps in Europe, subsequential chapters outline the dramatic stories of his nine escape attemptsHis evasion skills were reflective of the LRDG motto ‘Not by Strength, by Guile’. Holland was a persistent and determined escaper who preferred to operate alone to bring less attention to himself. He gave his whole focus to the problems of planning escapes and was alert to seizing every opportunity and, if necessary, creating one. Holland spoke both German and Italian and was very stoic in all he did. He fought with the Italian partisans for several months and on another occasion was intercepted by a German unit in Italy and was given the option of being returned to a PoW camp or being imbedded with them as an interpreter. The offer was accepted but after six weeks he found the opportunity to escape again. Later in Germany he stole a Colonel’s staff car and almost made it to the Swiss border before being captured at the final checkpoint. This is an engaging and dramatic story of an intelligent and resourceful man who utilised all his LRDG Special Forces skills to help evade the enemy and win his eventual freedom.
12.SS Panzer Division ‘Hitlerjugend’ in the Ardennes and Hungary
Refitted and reorganized after the Normandy campaign, the 12.SS Panzer Division ‘Hitlerjugend’ participated in the Ardennes Offensive in December 1944. Tasked with covering the right flank of the offensive, the division fought hard, facing unexpectedly tough opposition from US forces. Despite repeated efforts and heavy losses, it never came close to a breakthrough. By the end of January 1945, when American reinforcements surged the front, the division had been pushed back to its starting positions. Next, in early March, the division took part in Operation Frühlingserwachen on the Eastern Front, an attempt to recapture the Hungarian oilfields. After initial success the advance was ground to a halt by increasing Soviet resistance. On 16 March the Soviets counterattacked, threatening to encircle the German forces. The 12.SS was involved in desperate rearguard fighting until driven into full-scale retreat towards Vienna. On 8 May 1945 its 10,000 survivors surrendered to the US forces. Proud and defiant to the bitter end, they refused to raise white flags, ignoring orders to the contrary, and marched into captivity in perfect formation as if on parade, with their vehicles bearing their national flags.
Unsinkable Lights
From the sinking of the Titanic to the heroic rescue at Dunkirk, Charles H. Lightoller’s life was anything but ordinary. Unsinkable Lights tells the gripping story of a man who braved and survived four shipwrecks, raging storms, a pandemic, a revolution in South America, being stranded on a desert island and two World Wars. Orphaned young and drawn to the sea aged just 13, Lightoller’s early adventures took him across the globe, from deserted islands to gold rush expeditions in the Canadian wilderness. Then, in 1912, as the most senior surviving officer of the Titanic, he saved countless lives and narrowly escaped death himself, three times in one night. When the First World War began, he continued his daring feats, sinking a German U-boat. During the Second World War, he took his motor yacht, Sundowner, and set out for Dunkirk to rescue members of the British Expeditionary Force. Though the Sundowner was only constructed to hold around 20 people, Lightoller's yacht dodged enemy bombs and gunfire to save 127 soldiers from France. A thrilling tale of courage, survival, and an unbreakable spirit, with details that have never been published before, Unsinkable Lights is the definitive biography of a man who truly earned his place in history.
A History of Scottish Witches
A History of Scottish Witches: The Devil's Handmaidens explores the phenomenon of witch persecution in Scotland between 1563 and 1736. Looking at the influence of the likes of John Knox and James VI of Scotland, this book examines the magic and fairy beliefs that underlay witchcraft and how this became twisted by the Scottish Kirk’s obsession with the Devil. Using examples from actual trial records and so-called witch confessions, this book explores how societal norms surrounding women caused so many to face the rope and the flames and how those norms were exacerbated by the chaos of the reformation and the wars of the Three Kingdoms. How did the magical beliefs of ordinary people become twisted into Devil worship? And why did so many come to believe this? How did the Scottish church and the courts fall into a frenzy of belief that the Devil was around every corner, causing terror across Lowland Scotland, and how did they extract themselves from that frenzy? Finally, the book looks at how this period of persecution affected the ordinary people of Scotland and what lessons it might hold for today.
From the Soviet Gulag to Arnhem
Caught Between Nazis and Soviets, Stanislaw Kulik was a man who dodged death. After the Russian occupation of Poland, Stanislaw Kulik, aged 15, was deported to the Soviet gulags and put to work. If you didn’t work, you didn't eat. While many died, Stanislaw managed to survive. Following the Nazis’ invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, he was given an opportunity to join the Polish army being formed somewhere in the Soviet Union, but nobody knew where. After months travelling on his own through central Asia, through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Stanislaw finally reached Iraq, where he worked in a camp which processed Polish refugees. Too young to join up, the Army faked his age and eventually he was then taken by ship to Great Britain via India, where he joined up with the Polish Parachute Brigade. After qualifying as a paratrooper in Scotland, he dropped at Arnhem, in Operation Market Garden, where he found himself trapped behind enemy lines. Thanks to the Dutch underground he avoided capture by the Nazis. This thrilling memoir is an inspiring story of a triumph of resilience and courage against great odds.
Queen Elizabeth I’s Maid of Honour and Shakespeare’s Dark Lady
Mary Fitton was born in 1578 in the delightful village of Gawsworth in Cheshire. She grew up to become a confident, intelligent and vivacious young woman who became a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and many of the gentlemen of her Court; had affairs with some and became pregnant by one resulting in a threat of being imprisoned in the Tower of London. She bore a few illegitimate children before taking two husbands, and then had at least five more legitimate children, and died in 1641, aged 63. Thus a colourful and eventful life. Added to this it is claimed that she is the ‘Dark Lady’ of Shakespeare’s Sonnets. So, Mary’s story is certainly an intriguing one. The name of Mary Fitton as a contender for the identity of the Dark Lady of Shakespeare's Sonnets has been known of since 1890 when Thomas Tyler first proposed it. Since then theories have been put forward as to why she is not and who therefore might fit the bill, equally arguments as to why she is. Added to which the actual authorship of what are known as Shakespear's Sonnets is hotly debated. This new book looks at Mary's story in the context of her immediate family, her life in the Queen's court, her companions, her lovers and her two husbands. It also considers the arguments for and against her identification as the 'Dark Lady' and refers to the authorship debate.
Fighting from Dunkirk to Berlin
Fighting from Dunkirk to Berlin chronicles the extraordinary military service of Wilfred Needler, from his mention in despatches at Dunkirk in 1940 and continuing through pivotal moments such as his battlefield commission in Africa, his participation in the Invasion of Sicily, landing on Gold Beach on D-Day, and his appointment as Brigade Intelligence Officer. Wounded at El Alamein and recommended for the Belgian Order of Leopold for his work with the Resistance, Wilfred’s remarkable journey is documented through firsthand accounts, personal diary records, and war diary archives, alongside powerful photographs that bring his story to life all the way through to his retirement as a Major, in 1957 and his life post-war. This book illuminates the critical role of intelligence officers in the Second World War, providing new insight into their often-unseen contributions to military strategy and espionage. Through Wilfred’s experiences, readers will discover the complex world of codebreaking, tactical intelligence, and the quiet heroism of those working behind the frontlines. His story offers a rare and invaluable perspective on the art of war, showing how intelligence shaped battles and altered the course of history. Beyond military service, this memoir is a rich family legacy, offering a profound and inspiring account of sacrifice, resilience, and bravery. Filled with powerful images and historical documents, it stands as both a tribute to Wilfred’s courage and a testament to the enduring impact of one family’s contributions to the war effort. His story, filled with tragedy, triumph, and a legacy of quiet leadership, will inspire and astound readers for generations to come.
Stereotypes in Black
Stereotypes in Black is a sharp examination of the representations and self-representations of Afro-descendants in Buenos Aires through the nineteenth century. Originally published in Spanish, this English language translation spotlights various forms of representation, focusing on the stereotypical images and visual culture constructed and repeated, and the important role they played in highlighting the need for a culturally and racially homogeneous nation in social discourse. María de Lourdes Ghidoli provides a detailed account of one of the most serious cases of social exclusion in Latin American and Argentine history, examining strategies adopted by some of the most recognized members of the Afro-Porteno community, and assessing whether they refuted the negative stereotypes or reinforced them. The book will aid in the revisualization of Afro-descendent Argentines, while highlighting how the repeated use of stereotypes exacerbated the invisibilization suffered by the Afro-descendant population in the Argentine Republic.
Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon
Reginald Bacon was no Drake, Hawke or Nelson, yet in a naval career that spanned four decades of critical change for the Royal Navy, he was a pivotal figure among Admiral ‘Jacky’ Fisher’s ‘five best brains in the navy’ who revolutionised Britain’s naval warfighting capability between 1900 and the end of the First World War. This new biography traces Bacon’s remarkable career from his service as a fifteen-year-old Midshipman aboard Sir Geoffrey Hornby’s Mediterranean flagship to his three years in command of the Dover Patrol. A mine and torpedo specialist, he was by turns the father of the Submarine Service, the first captain of HMS Dreadnought and Director of Naval Ordnance at the Admiralty before leaving the Royal Navy for five years to run Coventry Ordnance Works whose fortunes he transformed. Having ended the war as Controller of Munition Inventions with the rank of Admiral, over the next twenty-five years he re-invented himself as a writer, dividing his time between homes in Hampshire and Italy. No stranger to controversy, having been unwittingly caught in the bitter Beresford/Fisher feud of 1909, he robustly defended Sir John Jellicoe as C-in-C Grand Fleet against accusations of weak and defensive tactics that deprived the nation of a resounding victory at Jutland. He went on to write acclaimed biographies of both Jacky Fisher and Earl Jellicoe besides two novels and two layman’s guides to new technologies, the motor car and the wireless, the latter in his A Simple Guide to Wireless for All Whose Knowledge of Electricity is Childlike. His account of his service in Command of the Dover Patrol is considered a classic of naval reminiscence and reveals undercurrants of contested naval doctrine that resonate today. As war threatened again in the 1930s, he wrote two more books championing the role of the Royal Navy in wartime. This highly readable biography does justice to both the man – ‘the ablest and cleverest officer I have ever known,’ wrote Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Oliver – and his remarkable input into so many aspects of the development of the Navy at a time of exponential change.
A Lost Legionary in South Africa
The Zulu War has long captured the public imagination, yet original accounts by participants in the campaign are rare. This revised edition of Hamilton-Browne’s classic memoir is therefore a welcome addition to the literature on this legendary conflict. ‘Colonel’ George Hamilton-Browne was a British soldier of fortune and adventurer who served in the Ninth Cape Frontier War in 1878, before fighting in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884–5 and the uSuthu Rebellion of 1888. The centrepiece of the book is Hamilton-Browne’s vivid recollections of the battle of Isandlhwana – one of the greatest and most humiliating defeats in the history of the British Empire. He was also part of the force that returned to the stricken British camp after the battle and relieved Rorke’s Drift the following day. This new, expanded edition offers readers a greater insight into the events Hamilton-Browne describes thanks to an introduction and commentary throughout by John Laband and a Foreword by Adrian Greaves, both leading Anglo-Zulu War experts. This fascinating and distinctive memoir will be essential reading for anyone interested in the Anglo-Zulu War. ‘Colonel’ – he never held a rank higher than major – George Hamilton-Browne (1851 –1916) was a soldier of fortune of Irish descent who emigrated to New Zealand in 1872 and then to the Cape Colony in 1878. In southern Africa he commanded colonial and local troops in many campaigns: the Ninth Cape Frontier War (1878); the Anglo-Zulu War (1879); the Bechuanaland Expedition (1884 –5); the uSuthu Rebellion (1888); the First Matabele War (1893); the Second Matabele War (1896); and Mashonaland (1896–7). He returned to England in 1902 where he wrote three popularly received books of colonial adventuring, including this one. He died in Jamaica in 1916.Colonel George Hamilton-Browne (1844-1916) was a British soldier and adventurer of Irish descent who took part in Britain's march into Zululand under Lord Chelmsford and fought in the Anglo-Zulu War. As an officer of the Natal Native Contingent (a Major in the 1st Battalion/3rd Regiment), he took part in the action at Sihayo's Kraal on 12 January 1879 and witnessed the final moments of the the battle of Isandlhwana ten days later on 22 January 1879. He died in Jamaica in 1916.
The King Arthur Mysteries
An up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the history of the ''Arthurian'' phenomenon - the imaginary and historical world of the great British warlord and one of the huge historical mysteries of early and medieval Britain. The Arthurian story, based on fact and fiction, is central to Britain''s ''creation myth'' and the concept of Britain''s heroic past. This is a deeply researched and scholarly but essentially accessible history and analysis for general readers and specialists and based on an impressive array of sources including Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, rare medieval English, French and German sources, and archaeology - essential for modern historical research in early history. Modern and contemporary historiography is covered including ''debunking'' treatments. The study surveys King Arthur in fact and fiction, his family, knights, and the legends that have grown up around them and developed to the enduring interest from history, literature to TV and film.
Nuclear Family
A lyric exploration of the complicated shared legacy of the atomic west through the lens of family history and the aftermath of the Manhattan Project. Ty Bannerman’s family came to Los Alamos in 1952 to build nuclear bombs. This fact has become their origin myth, threaded into the very DNA of Bannerman himself, his relatives, and his children. No one on this planet has been untouched by the nuclear industry, but the Bannermans—working-class contributors to the atomic industrial complex—are a unique embodiment of this reality. Nuclear Family is a lyrical memoir, a series of connected essays that use hard science, popular culture, and personal meditation to explore the role of nuclear weapons and the legacy of Los Alamos in the lives of one American family. Unsung heroes and victims, McCarthy-era interrogations, the Incredible Hulk, and corpses preserved for display are all linked, ultimately, to the bomb and the people who created it.
V kategórii populárno - náučné encyklopédie nájdete široký výber kníh, ktoré vám poskytnú poznatky z rôznych oblastí zaujímavým a zrozumiteľným spôsobom. Encyklopédie vám pomôžu získať komplexný prehľad o rôznych témach, ako ľudské telo a človek, príroda, vesmír, veda a technika a história.
Naša ponuka encyklopédií populárno-náučného charakteru vám umožní objaviť fascinujúci svet poznania a rozšíriť svoje vedomosti o rôznych témach.




























