Pen & Sword Books Ltd strana 31 z 34

Perfect for both lovers of Venice and lovers of books, this unique guide takes you step by step around the city of Venice in the footsteps of the writers who lived there and visited. See where they lived, ate, drink, and played. Find out where the parties were held, details of their illicit encounters, and where the patrician families of Venice’s famous Golden Book gathered in their literary salons, which after the Republic of Venice ended were continued in the homes of American society heiresses. This is a book to be savoured slowly, from the city’s cafes and bars where writers such as Patricia Highsmith and Ernest Hemingway went, or from the comfort of your own living room as you let Venice feed your imagination, just as the writers did themselves. Read about their lives and read their words through their novels and memoirs, poetry, travelogues, travel guides and biographies. This unique travel guide tells of literary Venice within the story of the city, and places early Venetian women writers firmly within the Venetian literary canon. It also includes a list of all works mentioned and suggested reading throughout the book.

Barry Appleton investigated some of the most notable crimes of the twentieth century, from multi-million pound robberies to cold-blooded killings that shook the world. Walking the beat of the crime-ridden East End under the rule of the Krays, Barry went toe-to-toe with the underworld, earning multiple commendations for his courage. Following a series of high-profile murder cases, he was assigned to the Flying Squad and went undercover to investigate the assassination of Martin Luther King. Life in the ‘Sweeney’ was dangerous and the detective’s dedication to the job saw him injured in the line of duty, pushing him and his family to the limit. After 20 years’ exemplary service with the Met, Barry’s crimefighting adventures continued when he achieved overnight success as the lead scriptwriter of The Bill, adding gritty realism to 50 episodes of the groundbreaking drama. Now Barry has taken on one final case to unravel his own incredible life story. How did a boy from the Welsh valleys end up in a shootout on the streets of London? What made a hard-nosed cop swap his snub-nosed Smith & Wesson for a second-hand typewriter? And who was the angel always by his sid? eaturing dramatic flashback sequences and never-before-told behind-the-scenes stories from Britain’s longest-running police procedural drama, Twentieth Century Cop is an extraordinary true crime memoir that vividly captures life as an old school copper, on the streets and on the screen.

The year 135 BC saw the outbreak of the so-called ‘First Servile War’, which proved to be just the first of a series of conflicts that ravaged the Roman Republic during the following century and changed forever the institutions of the Roman state. This bloody and violent period of civil wars and recurrent slave revolts (most famously that of Spartacus) saw the ascendancy of many famous generals who obtained great military victories, including: Marius, Sulla, Crassus, Pompey, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian. They fought for complete dominance over Rome but, at the same time, conducted a series of imperialist campaigns that greatly expanded the territorial extension of the Roman Republic. In discussing these campaigns of conquest, the author shows how they were strongly linked with the civil conflicts and how the events that started in 135 BC progressively led to the birth of the Roman Empire under Octavian (Augustus). The author also describes the only civil war taking place during the Early Empire, i.e. that of AD 69 (‘The Year of the Four Emperors’) before providing a detailed description of the organization and equipment of the varied military forces that took part in the Roman civil wars during this crucial period, outlining crucial developments across the period. As usual for the Armies of the Past series, there are dozens of colour photos depicting replica arms, armour and dress in use.

Amphibious Warfare Post WWII is a collection of essays and articles written for various military publications during the author’s 32 years’ service. Following retirement he was able to express his opinions and views in a rather more forthright manner as the Editor of Jane’s Amphibious and Special Forces. As a renowned practitioner of amphibious operations much of what he has to say remains relevant and seminal to this day. The author also describes his time as a European Community Monitor in the Former Yugoslavia (from which he resigned after being ordered to falsify his daily reports to Brussels) and his experiences as a company commander during the Dhofar War.

Daughters of kings were often used to seal treaty alliances and forge peace with England’s enemies. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages: Royal Daughters from the Conquest will explore the lives of these young women, how they followed the stereotype, and how they sometimes managed to escape it. It will look at the world they lived in, and how their lives and marriages were affected by political necessity and the events of the time. Almost as interesting as the marriages these girls made are the ones that were never realised. Many English princesses were betrothed, or proposed as brides, three or more times before they were married. Their failed marriage proposals demonstrated their influence and worth on the international royal marriage market, as well as the changing allegiances between countries and the making and breaking of international friendships. Princesses of the Early Middle Ages will also examine how these girls, who were often political pawns, were able to control their own lives and fates. Whilst they were expected to obey their parents in their marriage choices, several princesses were able to exert their own influence on these choices, with some outright refusing the husbands offered to them. Their stories are touching, inspiring and, at times, heartbreaking.

Trent Park’s fascinating story is told for the first time in one dramatic narrative, with the spotlight on its key 20th century ‘lives’ and the stand-out characters and unsung heroines who played on its stage. An inter-war salon and playground for the titled, rich and powerful, overseen by millionaire, politician and socialite Sir Philip Sassoon; a wartime prison camp with a covert mission rivalling Bletchley Park in importance for the Allied war effort; and an urgent new peacetime purpose involving generations of young people. We meet the woman who lived through all three. With a century and more of rich history, Trent Park is an important part of our national story. Its secrets, held close for decades, are now brought into the light.

Is it true that the trans-Atlantic slave trade, about which so much has been heard in recent years, would have been impossible without the willing and enthusiastic cooperation of African leaders? Slavery was a common practice in Africa long before the arrival of Europeans, with the trade in black slaves, who were transported from Africa to America and the islands of the Caribbean, aided by the African traders who benefited from the arrangement. Even when Europe and America outlawed slavery and the slave trade, those living in Africa clung tenaciously to their old ways and refused to relinquish what was, to them, a time-honoured custom. It is for this reason that slavery lingers on in Africa to this day.In this book, Simon Webb explores the history of slavery in Africa and finds that it was not necessarily imposed upon the continent by Europeans, but was rather an integral part of many, perhaps most, cultures. Even when the British deployed their army and navy to try to suppress the trade in slaves during the nineteenth century, their efforts were largely ineffectual because many societies saw no reason to give up such an old, useful and profitable system.At a time when the subject of the trans-Atlantic slave trade is seldom out of the news, this book provides a vital corrective to the popularly accepted view of the matter. Nobody reading it will ever view slavery and the slave trade in quite the same light again.

This is a biography of the last man who can truly be considered a ‘Roman’ emperor. Maxentius was the last pagan emperor to rule in Rome itself, the last emperor to reside on the Palatine, the last emperor with a Praetorian Guard. He was a prolific builder, popular with the people and armies of Rome, and surprisingly successful against impressive odds, fighting off two opposing emperors, until felled by disaster at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. Simon Turney examines his background (he was the son of Emperor Maximian) and describes the context of the imperial situation of the Tetrarchy leading to his rise. He sifts all the evidence, architectural, numismatic and inscriptive, attempting to identify where Christian (and Constantinian) bias has warped the truth. He narrates Maxentius’ six year reign during a tumultuous time of civil wars, culminating in the dramatic battle of the Milvian Bridge, where he fell. He peels back the later vilification by Christian sources and reveals a capable emperor, a great builder (with a legacy of monuments still visible) and, ironically, a tolerant ruler who ended the Great Persecution of Christians in his territories years before Constantine followed suit.

On 4 September 1944, Allied forces and local resistance fighters captured the Belgian port of Antwerp, the largest harbour in Europe. Once opened to Allied shipping, the port would revolutionise the Allies’ delivery of supplies into mainland Europe, stores which were still having to make the long overland journey from Normandy and places such as Cherbourg. But to enable this to happen, the Scheldt Estuary and, more importantly, the island of Walcheren also needed to cleared of Hitler’s forces. The task of storming and liberating the heavily defended island of Walcheren was handed to the men of the Commandos. Under Operation Infatuate, the plan was to land Commandos at Westkapelle and Flushing, and have the Canadians push across the Walcheren Causeway. Launched on 1 November 1944, Operation Infatuate was the last and one of costliest Combined Operations attacks of the Second World War in Europe. Such was the bitter nature of the fighting, in one sector alone, out of twenty-eight landing craft deployed, only five survived touchdown. Despite the Allies’ victory, the fighting was far from over for the Commandos. Indeed, a number of them were rushed to help fill the lines during Hitler’s Ardennes offensive – the Battle of the Bulge. Despite the urgency of such a move, many of the Commandos felt they were wasted undertaking what they considered to be an infantry task, and should have reverted back to their original raiding role. In fact, the 4th Commando Brigade did find itself on the River Maas line until the end of the war in Europe, while the 1st Commando Brigade was called upon to lead the advance across a number of major rivers into the very heart of Germany. Starting with the mighty Rhine, the Brigade used its specialist amphibious skills as assault troops before advancing on across the Weser, Aller, and Elbe rivers, all of which was only achieved after much hard fighting. With the Commandos tells a story which has been largely forgotten, namely that of the Commandos’ role in the last few months of the war in Europe. It was a period when, following D-Day and the Normandy landings and subsequent breakout, these men battled their way into the heart of Third Reich fighting against a fanatical foe.

RAF in Camera: 1980s – The Later Years by Keith Wilson provides a visually rich account of the Royal Air Force during the transformative latter half of the 1980s. This continuation of Wilson’s earlier work examines the RAF’s operational and technological evolution during a pivotal decade for British military aviation.The period witnessed the retirement of iconic aircraft like the English Electric Lightning in 1988, symbolizing the end of a Cold War era. Simultaneously, the RAF introduced advanced platforms that redefined its capabilities, including the Tornado F.3 Interceptor, Harrier GR.5, British Aerospace BAe 146 CC.1, and Tucano T.1 trainer. Additionally, the innovative conversion of Lockheed Tristar and Vickers VC10 airliners into aerial refuelling tankers replaced the aging Victor K.2, enhancing the RAF’s strategic reach.Year-by-year coverage explores milestones such as the post-Falklands War recovery of military confidence and the integration of cutting-edge technology into RAF operations. Illustrated with numerous photographs, the book captures the RAF’s modernization and the cultural shifts within the service.Meticulously researched, RAF in Camera: 1980s – The Later Years offers aviation enthusiasts and historians alike a detailed exploration of the RAF’s evolution, blending iconic imagery with insightful analysis of this critical period in its history.

The Knights Templar were brutally crushed in the year 1307 by order of the King of France and the Pope. We still struggle to understand why this order of holy warriors was annihilated after years of courageous service in the Crusades. However, the investigation detailed here reveals the links between the trials of the Templars and the witch hunt mania that was about to grip Europe for three hundred years. Their downfall foreshadowed a dark phase in our history.The knights were accused of horrific crimes that included spitting on the crucifix of Jesus, worshipping a demonic head, and engaging in secret rituals that disgusted medieval Christians. Heresy and sodomy were the two main charges levelled at the Templars. Were they framed or was there a germ of truth in the allegation? or centuries, people have wondered what happened to the fabled treasure of the Templars, including the Holy Grail. The clues are examined to find out exactly what this treasure was and where it may have ended up.The most common question asked about the Knights Templar is: do they still exist today? This book introduces you to those who claim to be the inheritors of the Templar legacy. Is it possible that the knights survived and endured to the present day?

Standing at the base of a towering cliff, the layers of rock before you tell a story millions of years in the making. Few places on Earth reveal this tale as vividly as the Jurassic Coast of southern England. This book invites you to explore the geological, paleontological, and human history of this remarkable region, with a focus on the extraordinary life of Mary Anning.Mary Anning, a self-taught paleontologist of the early nineteenth century, made groundbreaking fossil discoveries along the cliffs of Lyme Regis. Her finds—ranging from great marine reptiles to ammonites—transformed our understanding of extinction, deep time, and evolution. Mary’s contributions not only advanced science but also sparked debates that shaped the emerging field of paleontology.Yet Mary’s story is also deeply human. As a working-class woman in Georgian England, she overcame societal barriers, navigating a world dominated by ‘gentlemen naturalists.’ Her determination and expertise earned her recognition from the prominent geologists of the time and even from figures like Charles Dickens, who celebrated her achievements in his writings.The book goes beyond Mary’s life to explore the broader context of her era. It examines the formation of the Jurassic Coast’s fossil-rich cliffs, the rise of professional geology and paleontology, and the harmonious interplay between faith and scientific discovery during the time. Mary’s story is intertwined with those of other trailblazing women who also defied societal norms to shape the emerging sciences. Together, they formed a network of pioneering women whose contributions revolutionized our understanding of Earth’s history.This is not just a story of fossils and science—it’s a tale of resilience, curiosity, and the enduring impact of those who dared to challenge societal norms, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire.

Among the many epithets associated with a prince, ‘unlucky’ tends not to come to mind first. Germanicus, nephew of Tiberius, grand-nephew of Augustus, seemed to possess all that a Roman man might desire: beauty, strength, virtue, education, a devoted and chaste wife, numerous offspring, illustrious ancestors, a brilliant career and the prospect of inheriting the throne of the mightiest state of antiquity. Until the Blind Goddess decided to turn her gaze elsewhere. Germanicus died suddenly in AD 19, aged only 33, shocking the Roman world. While his body was still warm, rumours about a murder involving poison were already spreading like wildfire, whispers of an uncle and a grandmother who, for fear and jealousy, had made sure the popular young man was eliminated before he might jeopardize their position. Alessio Perry investigates, by a careful re-evaluation of the historical sources and the archaeological record, whether this prince was indeed killed or whether he was just too unlucky. He examines the most significant events of Germanicus’ brief life: the campaigns on the Rhine; his visit to Egypt; his friction with the governor Piso; his relationship with his uncle the emperor. He considers Germanicus’ funerals and follows the trial against those suspected of his murder, seeking to ascertain if Tiberius really ordered his nephew killed. The reader will glimpse into the schemes of his wife Agrippina and, finally, see how the memory of Germanicus was instrumentalized by his widow and sons for their own political games.

When teenagers emerged as a unique television audience in the early nineties, the way stories were told on screen changed forever. Overnight vampires became about more than just horror, soap operas got a new lease on life and high school became the new home for clever, creative drama. In the years since the first episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer television has changed wildly, but teen dramas have remained a constant throughout.This is the story of what teenage tastes did to television. It’s the story of how music became an essential part of these worlds, how these shows incorporated a wealth of pop culture, and how the networks who staked their claim on the teen market became the homes of so many iconic and beloved shows. This is a history of how massive online subcultures sprang up around TV shows about high school, hell, cliques, cheerleaders and subverted cliches.Alongside Buffy, shows like Supernatural, Gilmore Girls and Riverdale have become cult classics; telling weird, unexpected and off-the-wall stories and building up hordes of obsessive, caring fans. The story behind these shows, how they came to be, the networks that nurtured them and the people that loved them, is essential to understanding television today. This is more than just television; these are teen dramas.

Reviled by his contemporaries and historians alike, ''the monstrous Titus Oates'' masterminded the fabricated Popish Plot of 1678–1681, a conspiracy that led to the wrongful execution of 27 Catholics. His story is one of staggering ambition, lies, and betrayal. Yet Oates’ life also opens a window into an age of religious tension, political intrigue, and moral complexity. Was he truly ''the vilest liar in the world,'' or has his story been shaped by the biases of his tim? rawing on a wealth of contemporary sources, from state papers to private letters and trial records, Jonathan Oates untangles fact from fiction, uncovering the truth about Oates’ character, his actions, and his legacy. By exploring his life in its full context, the author reveals a fascinating portrait of a man who played a pivotal role in shaping the political landscape of Britain.The Catholic Conspiracy to Kill King Charles II is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the turbulent world of Restoration England, and the shadow cast by one of its most controversial figures.

From the First World War''s Zeppelins to the Second World War''s large bombers, military aircraft were vulnerable to fast, manoeuvrable interceptors. To address this, fighter escorts were used, but their limited range often left bombers exposed. A solution was the use of Composite aircraft, where larger bombers carried smaller, short-range fighters, which could be launched and retrieved as needed.Zeppelins, particularly vulnerable to interceptors, were ideal for this concept. During the First World War, Germany briefly experimented with carrying parasite aircraft, while the British conducted post-war trials using airships like His Majesty’s Airship R-23 and R-33, carrying fighters such as the Sopwith Camel and de Havilland DH.53 Humming Bird. However, successful hook-on/retrievals were only achieved with the Humming Bird.The US Navy and Army further developed this concept. In 1918, the Navy launched a Curtiss JN ‘Jenny’ from a C-1 Blimp, and in 1924, the Army successfully flew a Sperry Messenger from a TC-Class airship. The US perfected the carry/launch/retrieval method for airship defence and scouting, notably with the USS Los Angeles, which carried aircraft on a ‘trapeze’ device. The Akron and Macon airships, with internal storage for aircraft, further advanced this technique, making them some of the most remarkable aircraft of their time.